THEWILL NEWSPAPER, JUNE 22, 2025

Digital IS NOW WHOLLY

Few names in Nollywood can be said to carry the icon title, and Tony Umez is one of them. With a career of over two decades, Umez is easily one of the most recognised and revered actors in Nigerian cinema. His charm and delivery made him a staple in many dramas that defined Nollywood’s golden era.

For Umez, one of his defining moments was when he had to audition against two of Nollywood’s greatest at the time for the lead role in Died Wretched: Buried In A N2.3M Casket, and he got the role.

Playing different roles can be challenging. For Umez, the most challenging role is an emotional one because, according to him, you have to dig deep to bring out the emotions. As for whether he has any regrets about the movie roles he turned down, Umez has none whatsoever.

Read Tony Umez’s story on pages 8 through 10 of this issue.

Emails are one of the most powerful tools for communicating professionally, but not many people know the proper way to send them. That’s why our Career page highlights email etiquette for modern professionals. Scroll to page 13.

Bootcut jeans are back. This style flatters almost any body type and gives a cool retro vibe. It can be styled in many ways, and we show you how easily you can do so on pages 4 and 5. So get yourself one if you don’t already own a pair.

This week, our movie review page spotlights How to Train Your Dragon. Not the animated one, but the 2025 live-action version. By now, our readers know that the reviewer is not a fan of making live-action films from animations. He scores it okay, so I’m guessing it can’t be that bad. See the movie and let us know your thoughts.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

Photo: Kola Oshalusi

@insignamedia Makeup: Zaron

OnahNwachukwu Editor, THEWILL DOWNTOWN

SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2025

THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnews.com

THEWILLNIGERIA

COVER

2027: Shettima Going, Going, Going…

BY AMOS ESELE

Testing the waters and flying the kite are familiar tactics for politicians, while assessing their strengths and weaknesses in preparation for upcoming contests.

The Sunday, June 8, 2025, Gombe State fiasco of the All Progressives Congress, APC, regarding the non-endorsement of Vice President Kashim Shettima alongside President Bola Tinubu had all the hallmarks of ‘flying the kite’ and ‘testing the waters’, as part of calculations ahead of the 2027 general election.

At that event, a fight broke out after some party leaders endorsed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election without adopting Shettima as his running mate.

In response to what they considered a calculated move to disgrace their principal, aggrieved APC delegates loyal to Shettima disrupted the summit, insisting that the Vice President must be on the ticket with Tinubu in 2027.

that is voted for in an election.

Providing an insight on the forces at play, a dependable party source confided in THEWILL that part of the agenda at the Gombe APC delegates summit was to confirm in the VP’s backyard whether he has a solid political camp as was being canvassed in some circles.

“The truth is that the VP has no camp vis-à-vis the President. He has no political mileage and has virtually nothing to leverage on,” the source told this newspaper asking to not be identified. When reminded that he was being harsh in his choice of words for a former two-term governor, former senator, former top banker and versatile politician with working knowledge of Nigerian politics which warranted his selection as Vice President, the source went on to paint the picture of politically cold calculations showing that Vice President Shettima would in likelihood be dropped in 2027.

To calm frayed nerves, host governor, Mohammad Yayaha of Gombe State and his Yobe and Borno counterparts, Mai Buni Mala and Babagana Zulum alongside National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje and National Vice Chairman, Mustapha Salihu, restated their support for the VP, even as they clarified that the presidential ticket is a joint one and it is only the President

“What happened is political strategy at play and rather than reaching out to other stakeholders, they are pouring emotions all over the place. This will not work,” another source said.

Even so, THEWILL checks reveal that the ongoing political calculations by the President’s camp are dual. The first is in reaction to ongoing political coalition talks among politicians. Rather

2027: Shettima Going, Going, Going…

performance in the 2023 general election. The zone is made up of some of the highest voting states in the country, notably Kaduna, Katsina and Kano, besides Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Jigawa which make the zone one with the highest number of states, totalling seven, in the country. This zone gave the President the highest number of votes in the 2023 general election.

A state-by state analysis of votes cast in the zone shows that the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, won in four out of the seven North-West states, namely Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto. President Tinubu won in only two, namely Jigawa and Zamfara. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) took his home state, Kano. In Kano, Tinubu polled 517, 341 votes; Dr Kwankwaso scored 997,279 votes; Atiku Abubakar came third after polling 131,716, while Peter Obi, the Labour Party, LP, candidate, came fourth with 28,513 votes. But when it comes to the total number of votes cast for each of these three candidates in the North-West, Tinubu led the pack.

Tinubu led with 2,652,824 votes, compared to Atiku’s 2,197,824 votes. Kano, where Tinubu got almost half a million votes did the magic. Overall, Tinubu got 30 per cent of the total number of 8,794,726 votes he scored in the 2023 election from the North-West. This is almost onethird of the total votes he scored in the entire poll. In comparison, the South-West, where he hails from, gave him 2,542,979 votes.

Compared to the North-West, the North-East where VP Shettima hails from returned a total of 933,176 votes for President Tinubu, trailing Atiku who polled 1,741,846 votes. Shettima, however, delivered the votes of his home state, Borno State, which Tinubu won with 252,282 votes, compared to Atiku’s 190, 921 votes. Another challenge facing the APC in the Northeast is that the party and its main rival, the PDP are head -to- head in the control of the six states there: The PDP governs in Bauchi, Adamawa and Taraba while APC governs in Borno, Yobe and Gombe.

Regionally, however, Tinubu had a better showing in the North than in the South. Of the total number of 13, 716,667 votes cast in the North region, Tinubu got 5,346, 404 votes, followed by Atiku who scored 4,834, 767 votes, Obi who polled 2,080,847 votes and Kwankwaso who polled 1, 454,649 votes.

Prior to the incident that happened in Gombe, the North-East and North-West geo-political zones had endorsed President Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.

This impressive showing by the President in 2023 in the North is being threatened by the ongoing political coalition, whose leaders are capitalising on the hardship and worsening insecurity in the country to drive their agenda, especially in the North.

These leaders include Atiku, Obi, former Kaduna governor, Nasir el-Rufai, ex- National Vice Chairman of the APC, Salihu Lukman, former Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, former Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke, former senate president David Mark and former presidential aide, Prof Umar Ardo, as well as

many other political bigwigs across political parties in the country.

On Thursday, June 19, 2025, the National Coalition Group took their 2027 bid higher when they publicly unveiled a new group called the All Democratic Alliance, ADA, and formally wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for its registration as a political party. They have chosen Chief Akin Ricketts, a former Chairman, board of the Nigeria Ports Authority, as its Interim National Chairman.

the other states in the zone, courtesy of the stateof -the art security infrastructure built by exGovernor Abdullahi Ganduje. Picking a VP from the North-West, the President’s camp reckons, is the best way to secure it and prevent the coalition from taking it.

Reacting to this development on Friday, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, said the ADA is a failed attempt to clone the 2013 legacy parties that formed the APC in 2013.

In a post shared via his official X account (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Keyamo ridiculed the move, describing it as a “pedestrian joke.”

“If they are thinking of recreating what the APC did in 2013, then this is nothing but a pedestrian joke; a complete mockery of that seismic political coalition,” Keyamo wrote on his X platform, adding, “It is an unnecessary hype that the promoters have been struggling to create all along; it is just psychological warfare on Nigerians — a weak attempt at mass appeal. This is not different from several political associations springing up every day for the same purpose.”

ENTER KWANKWASO AND KANO

Amidst the political calculations ahead of the 2027 poll, there are whispers that Rabiu Kwankwaso, could be Shettima’s replacement and Tinubu’s joker to contain the potential threat posed by ADA.

Apart from having arguably the highest voter population in the country, Kano is a key state in the all-important North-West geo-political zone. Among the six other states, Kano is king when it comes to voting strength. In addition, it has a unique quality: It is free from insecurity that plagues and reduces the political integrity of all

“ I’m not aware of any issues between the President and the Vice President. From what I know, they have an excellent working relationship. All the speculation is just beer parlour gossip

Sources say Kwankwaso has left his political options open and may grab the deal when offered. NNPP is currently factionalised. The party’s National Chairman, Dr Agbo Major said recently that the former Kano governor remained expelled from the party, just as one of its Senators from Kano, Abdulrahman Kawu, recently defected from the party alongside some other party representatives from Kano State. Moreover, Kwankwaso has been playing smart recently, neither speaking for nor against the political coalition. An offer of a VP position by the governing party would not only keep him politically relevant but keep his presidential ambition alive.

Kwankwaso has however restated that he has never held meetings with President Tinubu to discuss his political future and the APC National Chairman, who had been opposed to his readmission into APC recently, reversed himself while receiving Senator Kawu and other federal lawmakers into the party, saying APC was ready to admit the NNPP presidential candidate into the party without conditions.

PRESIDENCY RESPONDS

Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the president on information and strategy, waded into the matter last Thursday. In an interview with a national newspaper, he said the President and the Vice President were on good terms and any speculation of a rift between them amounts to trading in “beer parlour gossip.”

According to him, President Tinubu will choose his 2027 running mate after the next convention of party, obviously in 2026.

“That’s what happened under Buhari; he was nominated first and later picked his running mate. You don’t do both at once. Once INEC releases the timetable, the party convention will hold and if the President is nominated again, he will choose his running mate,” Onanuga told the national newspaper, adding, “I’m not aware of any issues between the President and the Vice President. From what I know, they have an excellent working relationship. All the speculation is just beer parlour gossip.”

Meanwhile, an Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has warned President Tinubu and the governing APC against picking another running mate ahead of the 2027 general election, saying that such a move is illadvised.

When THEWILL asked the leader of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola to explain further, he said the group asked the APC to “do more consultation so that the decision to drop Vice President Shettima does not boomerang. I will not say more than that.”

Chief Executive Officer (CEO),

Ejikeme Okoli, at the launch of United Capital Asset Management West Africa, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on June 18, 2025.

2027: Opposition Against Tinubu Thickens as Coalition Unveils New Party, Seeks INEC Registration

BY FELIX IFIJEH

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Nigerian National Coalition Group (NNCG), led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration as a political party.

THEWILL reports that the coalition is seeking registration under the name All Democratic Alliance (ADA) with the slogan “Justice for All.”

In a letter dated June 19 and addressed to the INEC Chairman, the application was jointly signed by the Protem National Chairman of ADA, Chief Akin Ricketts, and the Protem National Secretary, Abdullahi Musa Elayo. The electoral body, on Friday, acknowledged receipt of the application.

The letter reads in part:

“We respectfully write to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance, ADA, as a political

party. “This is sequel to the decision taken by the Nigerian National Coalition Group to sponsor our association for full registration.

“The name of the party shall be All Democratic Alliance, with ADA as our acronym and Justice for All as our slogan.

“The National Secretariat of the party is as stated at the bottom of the association’s letterhead used in this application.

“We have also herewith attached our logo describing in detail the symbolism of our party colours and the maize (corn) emblem.

“We have further attached our manifesto encompassing the ideology of the party, and our constitution, which defines our identity, structure, and organisation, regulates our affairs, and guides our actions in alignment with Section 40 and 222 of the Constitution, Section 75 of the Electoral Act (2022), and global democratic principles.

“Please find attached the following documents: our party flag

depicting our name, acronym, and slogan, the manifesto, constitution, and minutes of meetings.

“While we eagerly await further action from the Commission on the next step toward attaining our desired goal, please accept the assurances of our highest regard.

“Yours sincerely,

“Chief Akin A. Ricketts,

“Protem National Chairman.”

Sources within the coalition revealed that the move is part of a broader strategy to provide a strong alternative platform against President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Apart from Atiku, prominent politicians behind the formation of the party include former Kaduna State Governor Nasir ElRufai, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Umar Ardo (a former aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo), and several others across party lines.

Court Grants CUPP Leave to Serve 4 Ogun Commissioners, EFCC, ICPC

BY SEGUN AYINDE, ABEOKUTA

AFederal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has granted the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) permission to serve court processes on four Ogun State commissioners and other parties involved in a suit over alleged lack of transparency in land and housing allocations.

The directive was issued by Hon. Justice A.A. Okeke, who ordered that the originating summons filed in suit number FHC/AB/CS/43/2025 be served on the Commissioners for Housing, Finance, Works, and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

Abeokuta. The motion, dated March 21, 2025, and signed by Prof. Yemi Oke (SAN), sought nine reliefs, primarily concerning the disclosure of names and details of allottees of state-owned lands and housing schemes spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Specifically, the plaintiffs asked the court for an order of mandamus compelling the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; the Attorney General; and the Commissioners for Housing, Works, and Finance to release the full particulars of allottees, including proof of payment and documentation of the allocation processes.

Village in Iperu-Remo.

The plaintiffs said the requested documents are essential for onward transmission to the EFCC and ICPC for verification and confirmation, citing Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

They argued that the requested information would help determine whether the allocations followed due process, if competitive bidding was observed, and whether the contractors involved have a record of verifiable past performance.

Also joined as defendants in the suit are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The Ogun State chapter of CUPP, through its Chairman, Otunba Olufemi Soluade; the State Secretary, Comrade Samson Okunsanya; and a member, Alhaji Moshood Adesina, filed the ex parte motion before the Federal High Court in

The housing schemes under scrutiny include the GRA Regeneration Scheme in Abeokuta; Idi-Aba Housing Scheme; Old Government Technical College, Olobe, Abeokuta; Igbeba Housing Scheme in Ijebu-Ode; and the Muhammadu Buhari Estate, Kobape, Abeokuta.

Others include Workers’ Estate, Kobape; Prince Court Estates in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, and Ilaro; as well as the Gateway Aviation

It was gathered that the legal action followed the refusal of the Ministry of Housing to provide the information earlier requested by CUPP in January 2025. A final notice was sent to the state government on February 10, 2025, before the suit was eventually filed.

Justice Okeke ruled that the court has jurisdiction to hear the matter and adjourned further proceedings to October 15, 2025, for the hearing of the originating summons.

United Capital Asset Management West Africa: Labas Bamba; Chairman, United Capital Plc, Chika Mordi; Group Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony O. Elumelu, Group CEO, United Capital Plc, Peter Ashade; Director, Africa Operations, United Capital Plc,

L-R: Technical Adviser to the President on Economic & Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar, Executive Director, Business Development - NIBSS - Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo,  Director General/CEO, NIMC -  Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote; Managing Director/CEO, NIBSS -  Premier Oiwoh, Chief of Staff to the Executive Govenor of Lagos State - Mr. Samuel Egube, Director, Payment System Policy- Central Bank of Nigeria, Musa Jimoh at the unveiling of the National Payment Stack (NPS) powered by NIBSS in Lagos on June 17, 2025.

Yelwata Killings: One Suspect Arrested – Benue Police

BY FELIX IFIJEH

Less than 48 hours after President Bola Tinubu ordered the arrest of the perpetrators behind the deadly attack on Yelwata community in Benue State, the State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one suspect in connection with the killings.

President Tinubu, while addressing stakeholders in Makurdi on Wednesday, had openly rebuked the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for the lack of arrests following the massacre that claimed over 50 lives.

“How come no one has been arrested for committing this heinous crime in Yelwata? Inspector General of Police, where are the arrests? The criminals must be arrested immediately,” the President demanded.

Speaking with journalists at the Command Headquarters in

Makurdi on Friday, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Enemari, confirmed that one suspect had been arrested and was currently being interrogated. He said the suspect had already provided useful information to investigators.

Enemari disclosed that four security operatives — including two soldiers, one officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and one civil protection guard — were killed in the attack. He added that one police officer remains missing. He explained that the incident began with an assault on a police station in Daudu, near Yelwata. Officers at the station engaged the attackers in a gun duel, killing two of the assailants. While security forces responded to that attack, another group of armed men invaded Yelwata, launching a coordinated and deadly raid.

Initial reports put the civilian death toll at 45, but the Commissioner said the figure rose to 47 following the discovery of another body behind St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Eight others were critically injured, and two later died in the hospital, bringing the total number of civilian deaths to 47, excluding the two gunmen killed in the earlier exchange.

In response to the attack, Enemari said security has been beefed up in Yelwata and neighbouring areas with the deployment of mobile police units, tactical squads, and military support.

Addressing discrepancies between police casualty figures and Governor Hyacinth Alia’s earlier report of 59 deaths, the CP said his figures were based on on-the-ground assessments conducted in conjunction with community leaders and other security agencies.

NNPC Spokesperson, Soneye Resigns

Spokesperson of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Olufemi Soleye has resigned. In an emotional letter addressed to his professional media colleagues, he said he resigned to devote more time to his family and personal duties that require closer attention.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you all for the unwavering support, professionalism, and genuine commitment you’ve shown in helping to shape and amplify the NNPC Ltd story over the past 20 months. Your role in building a vibrant and effective communications presence for our national energy company has

been nothing short of invaluable, he said.

While he expressed his gratitude to the company’s management he served as Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd for 20 months, he disclosed that “this decision will allow me to devote more time to my family and attend to personal responsibilities that now require my closer presence.

“I remain a steadfast supporter and ambassador of NNPC Ltd wherever I go. I enjoin you, dear colleagues, to continue your robust, balanced, and constructive reportage in support of the

Company’s noble mission and strategic role in Nigeria’s energy future.’ Soneye was ppointed on 18 October 2023 to replace Mallam Garba Muhammad, who was appointed in August 2021 during a management reshuffle.

Before joining NNPCL, Soneye built a reputation as an international journalist, having worked in Nigeria, Australia, and the United States. He previously served as Editor of the US Air Force One magazine in Washington, D.C., and was President of the Nigerian Media Practitioners in the U.S. capital.

24 Killed, Seven Injured as Suicide Bomber Hits Borno Fish Market

BY FELIX IFIJEH

At least 24 people were killed and several others injured in a suicide bombing carried out by a female attacker in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State on Friday night.

The blast which also injured seven others occured when a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber detonated an explosive device on Friday, at a bustling fish market in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

Security sources and eyewitnesses confirmed to Zagazola Makama that the attacker had disguised himself as a civilian and infiltrated the crowded market before triggering the deadly blast. The explosion, which occurred around 8:30 p.m., instantly killed the bomber and 10 civilians, while leaving seven others with varying degrees of injuries.

Nigerian Army troops, alongside emergency response teams, swiftly arrived at the scene and evacuated the injured to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care. Confirming the incident on Saturday, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahun Daso, said the attacker detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) at a crowded food joint where residents had gathered to buy food.

“The explosion caused massive casualties. The body of the suicide bomber was severely dismembered, with only her head recovered from the scene,” Daso said.

He noted that a joint emergency response team comprising the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal – Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Unit, the military, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and local hunters was

immediately deployed to the site. The area was cordoned off and thoroughly searched for other explosive devices, but none were found.

Injured victims were taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), where they are currently receiving treatment. The bodies of the deceased have also been deposited at the hospital mortuary.

Medical personnel at the hospital confirmed the deaths, while efforts are underway to identify the victims and inform their families for proper burial in accordance with religious rites. Security has since been reinforced in Konduga and neighboring communities to prevent further attacks and reassure the public of their safety.

L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola; Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mr. Arsenio Dominguez; Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola; Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Mercy Haruna-Adeoye and the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, during the launch of Nigeria’s campaign for election to Category C of the IMO Council for the 2026–2027 biennium, at the IMO Headquarters in London Wednesday, June 18, 2025..

Southern/Middle-Belt Leaders Blame Executive, Legislature for Nigeria’s Insecurity Crisis

BY FELIX IFIJEH

The Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) has condemned the rising spate of violence and banditry, especially the continued genocidal attacks in the Middle Belt region, saying the persistent killings, kidnappings, and displacement of indigenous communities indicate that both the executive and legislative have failed in their primary duty.

The Forum declared this position in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday. Jointly signed by leaders of Afenifere, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu; Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata and PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali, the communique charged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to address the pressing security

challenges to avoid instability and social disintegration.

The Forum also condemned the proposed establishment of the National Forest Guards scheme by the Federal Government, describing it as an attempt to impose additional federal security structures within the states. It reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria and particularly the National Assembly must now accept their failure to provide the most fundamental security of life and property across the country whilst we witness the impunity of Fulani terrorists and their foreign collaborators wrecking genocidal attacks on indigenous communities across the nation and particularly in the Middle Belt region as happening currently in Benue State. “That SMBLF condemns the planned National Forest Guards as an additional Federal Security structure in the states and demands that all

security institutions or formations apart from the armed forces, police, civil defence and the state security services should be part of the security architecture of the states, more so as lands and forests are exclusive constitutional prerogatives of the federating states. “For the umpteenth time,

SMBLF calls on the president and the National Assembly to rise to their constitutional responsibility and duty to protect the life and property of Nigerians as we propose as follows: towards true federalism, governments of the states of the federation should take immediate measures to provide security for their people in the nature of the Amotekun South West Security Network with the full complement of weapons to face and deter insurgency and terrorism.

Five Killed as Bomb Explodes in Kano

The police command in Kano State has confirmed the death of five people from a military-grade mortar bomb explosive in the state. The police confirmed that the military vehicle was coming from Yobe state when the explosion happened.

Speaking to newsmen, Police Commissioner Ibrahim Adamu Bakori said he was called about an emergency explosion in the area and arrived at the scene shortly after the explosion. He said the blast may have originated from a military ordnance believed to have been improperly handled or transported.

He added that on arrival at the hospital, five people were confirmed dead, while 10 others were receiving treatment.

The Police Commissioner said from preliminary investigation, the vehicle came from Yobe, adding that though the matter is under investigation, he was informed that the vehicle carrying the bomb was a truck from Yobe state.

“I received a call that something serious had happened. When I arrived, I found that it was a suspected explosion—possibly a military mortar bomb. Fifteen people were injured, and

unfortunately, five died,” he said.

He added that the victims were quickly evacuated, with some taken to nearby hospitals.

“The situation is still under investigation, but we understand the vehicle involved may have come from Yobe State.

“Preliminary findings suggest the explosive material was being transported by a trailer, but it remains unclear whether the vehicle was carrying military personnel or contractors,” he added.

Benue Killings: Ezekwesili Faults Tinubu, Past Leaders for Ongoing Insecurity

Following the recent massacre of over 200 people in Benue State, former Minister of Education and renowned public policy advocate, Dr Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, has declared that condolences or mere words after each tragedy ring hollow and decried the government’s inability to protect and preserve the lives of citizens .

In a statement entitled ‘A Memo to My Fellow Citizens on the Gruesome Genocide in Benue’, she accused President Bola Tinubu, like his predecessors, of displaying “zero duty of care” towards victims of mass killings and families in the country.

“Over the weekend, our fellow citizens were slaughtered in cold blood; hundreds lost with gross impunity. Yet again, Tinubu, the man who now bears the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Army, has shown zero duty of care towards the deceased, their families and the millions of Nigerians left in anguish,” the

former Vice President of the World Bank wrote.

Describing the tragedy as another chapter in a pattern of “normalised genocide,” Ezekwesili criticised “the lack of fierce urgency from the presidency and political leaders,” adding that their inaction emboldened perpetrators of violence. “In 2018, when the most horrific massacres were unleashed against the people of Benue, following a series of attacks across the country, it was clear the Nigerian President and government of that time did not care. The world watched as our country grew indifferent to the daily slaughter of its own citizens.

“I, however, refused to stay silent. I called out then President Muhammadu Buhari relentlessly and embarked on a solo protest march to the Villa, demanding immediate and decisive action to end the bloodshed and bring the killers to justice,” she

recalled. Security operatives, according to her, were instructed to stop her, but she stood her ground – defending her right to protest, determined to send her message directly to the Nigerian government.

She added: “What many citizens – those who looked away, mocked or dismissed the solo protest – failed to realise then was that if we did not collectively demand action from the President, who holds the constitutional power and duty as Commander-in-Chief, to protect Nigerian lives, these killings would become normalised. And now, here we are – seven years later.” Ezekwesili, who founded and chairs the board of School of Politics, Policy and Governance, said Nigerians must no longer settle for “words of sympathy” or “feeble responses,” arguing that repeated condolences without action had lost their meaning.

INTERVIEW

Air Peace Has Been Representing Nigeria Well – Onyema

Chief Allen Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, speaks with ANTHONY AWUNOR, about the airline, its operations and sundry issues. Excerpts:

Abuja-Heathrow Flight Operations

On the international scene, daily flights from Lagos to London are ongoing. From October, we will start Abuja  to London flights as the British authority has granted Air Peace access to Heathrow Airport directly. We appreciate President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo for their support. If our safety record is dented, there will be problems. We have represented Nigeria so well. With this, we shall be running seven days a week, that is, four days to Heathrow and three days to Gatwick Airport from Abuja. If you are not good, foreign airlines won’t allow you to fly there commercially.

Why We Must Continue To Be Patriotic

We called you here today to let you know that we will continue to do that and nothing will stop us from doing those things that will promote the wellbeing of every Nigerian. Government cannot do it alone. Nowhere in the world has government done everything for its citizens. Patriotism demands that every citizen must play its own role. Air Peace has been playing its patriotic role for this country. And don’t forget that in the not so distant past, Nigerians were paying through their noses to undertake international travels. This airline came in and till date, we made flying to UK affordable to Nigerians. Without Air Peace, that wouldn’t have happened. Today, we are happy Nigerians could fly other airlines. You don’t need to fly Air Peace but we want you to fly other foreign airlines at the right price. Whatever you pay to a foreign country depletes our reserves. So when you overpay, it  hurts the nation. We should begin to fight for our own.

Where We Are

Overtime, it was as if if we are seeing Air Peace, we are seeing delays, cancellations and all that. But let the truth be said, no airline cancels or delays flights for the fun of it because you are losing money. You know better than I do that, no airline will gain from cancelling or delaying flights. You are losing instantly. A lot of videos out there are fake and they were deliberately shot just to hurt us. Even recently, they started recycling old videos against Air Peace. Take a look at the ICAO list of  things that cause flight delays. About 94 per cent or 95 per cent of delays are not caused by airlines. Weather, infrastructural progress, bird strikes, inadequate landing equipment, sunset airport, congestion at the airport, unruly passenger behaviour are some of the causes. All these things cause delays and cancellation of scheduled flights. Unruly passenger behaviour is an obstacle to the development of the aviation industry in this country. Unimaginable things that, they will not do in Cotonou, they do it here. So these are external factors.

Indigenous Businesses

Don’t equate indigenous businesses with the ownership of those businesses. Don’t look at the fact that this business is owned by an Igbo man, Hausa man or Yoruba man. That is the thinking of people who are very myopic. If you destroy any business that is providing massive jobs opportunities for the people, you don’t know where the next suicide bomber or armed robber will come from. And you don’t know who will be the next victim. It could be your siblings or parents. Nigerians should begin to do things that will promote the image of indigenous investments. Anything other than that is an aberration. Whether you like him, hate him, this country should be grateful to Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, Mike Adenuga and Allen Onyema. I say it without any regrets. If you hate Dangote and you try to destroy him, you are destroying your country. Take his business down, billions of Nigerians will suffer. What Dangote has contributed to the nation is unimaginable. Look at the billions of lives he is touching and employing. Look at what he has set up. If Nigeria is going to import  all those things Nigeria will collapse. Nigeria should begin to jettison this Pull Him Down syndrome. It has become a culture, this tendency for some people to destroy things they are supposed to protect. Nobody is God Almighty. When you hate someone, it is is like taking poison. At Air Peace, we don’t care where you come from. That is why Air Peace is like a mini Nigeria. We have over 4,000 staff of Air Peace, irrespective of their tribes.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

That is one thing I like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is detribalised. You may not know. He is a detribalised president. He has an open ear and he listens to everyone. This country cannot be good if you don’t have a detribalised mind. We should make use of our diversity. This is important. What I am saying today has no bearing with anything of present. It is something I have been saying overtime. We must support our own. Like I said, if you bring Dangote down today, you are bringing down the country. Dangote businesses are no longer about Dangote. It is about your well-being and my well-being. It is about our country. We must, as Nigerians, be deliberate in promoting the wellbeing of

Nigerian businesses because they provide jobs. Government cannot provide all the jobs and every nation is run by the private sector while government provides the enabling environment.

Festus Keyamo

I must also commend the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo. Like or hate him. However, we at the Airline Operators of Nigeria know what we are enjoying now. We have a minister that has a listening ear and that has trickled down to all the agencies. If you call the FAAN MD, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku now and complain about anything, it is done immediately. The one she cannot do, she will sit you down and give you timelines. I thank President Tinubu for appointing someone like Festus Keyamo that has brought a lot of revolution in the industry. But for President Bola Tinubu, the aviation industry would have been dead by now. The beginning of good governance starts with the kind of people you bring to the saddle to run the ministries and agencies. Do you know that Nigeria is now about to start receiving their first dry lease opportunities. It will happen in the next three weeks. What has not happened in a decade because Nigeria was unofficially blacklisted 10 years ago. We are talking about issues of capacity, what the past administration did. In the next three weeks, announcement will be made and dry leased planes will start coming. All the big airlines you see, they don’t have up to 20 planes bought with their money, yet we fly them. Everything is originally finance leased.  In Nigeria we have airlines with over 35 newly purchased planes, 20 and some 10, some 5, and you still call them names. You don’t even know the conditions under which they operate. Now this government is making it easy for aviation to thrive. They need our support. Once again, I must commend Keyamo for running round the aviation world and getting them. To the extent of the fact that the language of Capetown has changed in favour of this country. It is the first time a home grown airline is being treated that, this is our airline. I am proud of Mrs Kuku. Our first flight from London to Nigeria, the wahala was so much. They young lady insisted that this airline is our own and gave us support. Kuku deserves applause.

Flight Delays, Cancellation Mitigation Plan

Since May 10, 2025, when we introduced the buffer system where aircraft are set aside to serve as a standby to support in situations of flight delays and cancellations, we have noticed that our operations improved as regards on-time performance. Currently, we are recording 85 percent one-time departures

daily. Last week, we recorded two bird strikes. In the past five years, Air Peace has recorded 115 bird strikes and over 30 bird strikes this year alone. There was a year we had 43 bird strikes. But passengers do not understand that the flight delays and cancellations are not the fault of the airline. When bird strikes occur, it automatically takes out our equipment from operations. Remember, it was a bird strike that took out an airplane in America; the pilot had to dive into the river. Bird strikes can explode your engine, depending on how it happens. We should be thankful to God Almighty bird strike hasn’t caused an accident in Nigeria. We are even having animals attacking our aircraft. Because of our capacity and the number of places we operate flights to, you see many people on social media shouting and blaming Air Peace. Sometimes we encounter thunderstorms and rain, and we are not able to operate flights. This will definitely affect other flights on our schedule. Air Peace has zero tolerance for unsafe practices. What we sell to Nigerians is our safety protocols, and we are very proud of this. We’ve not been validated alone by Nigerians. Air Peace has also been validated to be the pride of this nation by one of the most stringent Civil Aviation Authorities all over the world.

International Flights

Today, Air Peace is still operating flights to London. The British and European authorities came here and audited our airline. We passed in flying colours. That is why they invited us to come. And over the last one and a half years, Air Peace has proved its ability on international routes.To the admiration of those who gave us that validation, we never cancelled any flight to the UK for one day. The only times we delayed were the times the airport itself called on us, telling us to delay our departures from here because they were doing runway repairs. We stopped going to Dubai because of the visa ban, but the traffic is not like it used to be. So we are studying the route and gathering data on how the traffic is doing. We are, however, in partnership with Emirates now.

As for South Africa, the visa regime in South Africa is frustrating, even our pilots are being denied a Visa to South Africa. Also, we stopped the Dubai route because of the Visa ban, but now it has been lifted and we know there is no traffic currently, but we will continue to monitor the situation. We are going to do a direct flight to the Caribbean nations, starting with Antigua. A few days ago we flew to St. Kitts and Nevis. I’m sure some of you have seen the stories. We came back on June 12th. We flew to St. Kitts and Nevis. We came back the same day. And yesterday we went to St. Kitts and Nevis again and came back this morning. This is a 20-hour flight, 10 hours going, 10 hours coming. We landed in St. Kitts and Nevis, we tried our cargo, our passengers.

Covid-19 Era

My greatest moment as the CEO of Air Peace was when we deployed all our aircraft to the service of this country, free of charge, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most nations in West Africa wished they were Nigerians. We went to Turkey and brought medical supplies for over 220 million Nigerians free or charge. We deployed to India 20 times. In the wake of that bringing Nigerians to their country. We deserve to be applauded by our nation by everybody including government agencies. We deserve it. Anything other than that, should be questioned.

Xylophobia In South Africa

Of course, not forgetting that this airline brought pride to every Nigerian when Nigerians were being killed in South Africa.. We stopped xenophobic attacks in South Africa. It was the action that Air Peace took that stopped xenophobic attacks in South Africa. We deployed our jumbo jets, entered South Africa and brought Nigerians back to their own land, free of charge. They comprised Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Nupe, Gwari all of them. Nigerians were walking tall worldwide during those periods.

Sudan

At the same time, we also deployed our aircraft during the war in Sudan because we didn’t want any Nigerian to die in Sudan. We didn’t wait for a twinkle of a minute to come because we know the request. We deployed free of charge to bring back Nigerians. So if it were in other climes, this airline should have been celebrated by everybody. Air Peace is the airline for this country. So we have done a lot for our fatherland and we will continue to do it because we see it as a calling and not to make money. This interventions on behalf of Nigerians have caused Air Peace several billions. I don’t know how much that would be, to recover that. If anyone doubts it, ask government, when they did on their own, how much they paid, even from Libya that is about 3 hours away. Not to talk about deploying your jets 14 hours going and 14 hours coming from China three times, 13 hours to India and 13 hours back into India 12 times. Air Peace has spent several billions rescuing this country, rescuing the government of Nigeria, rescuing Nigerians free of charge. We demand to be applauded and appreciated by our country men. Anything other than this should be questioned.

POLITICS

National Honour Awards for June 12 Heroes, Heroines Still Ongoing

BY FELIX IFIJEH

For an administration that still has two years to complete its four-year tenure, learning to manage and assuage the feelings of its people is an endless political exercise. Shortly after President Bola Tinubu conferred national honours on perceived heroes and heroines of June 12 on Democracy Day, the stage was set for unexpected protests.

A week after the initial conferment, the President, who was on a working visit to Kaduna State, announced the conferment of the Commander of the Federal Republic on a former military Governor of the state, Col Abubakar Umar (retd.). “Let me use this opportunity to correct an omission,” Mr Tinubu said. “One of the people I missed in my June 12 broadcast is Colonel Dangiwa. Let me honour him with CFR.”

Col Umar lost his commission for criticising the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, voting for justice and democracy. He governed Kaduna from August 1985 to June 1988 during the Ibrahim Babangida military regime. He retired from the army in 1993 after the June 12 debacle. He was jailed by the Sani Abacha regime for demanding good governance and a return to democratic rule.

Like many activists, families and associates who failed to see the names of their parents and prominent figures on the President’s honour list and continued to raise objections, associates of retired Col Umar had published a critical piece, calling for redress and they were happy the President obliged them.

Others are calling for an amendment, too. Prominent among them are the families of the leaders of the pro-June 12 National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, the late Michael Ajasin, activists who fought alongside President Tinubu for the revalidation of the June 12 election.

The family of late Ajasin, who was also a fourth republic governor of Ondo State on the platform of Alliance for Democracy, expressed regret over the omission of their father’s name in the honours roll.

Reacting to this, the eldest son of the late NADECO leader said, “I would be lying if I didn’t say that I and other members of my family were rather surprised that the name of our father was not among those honoured by President Tinubu as he doled out National honours to June 12 heroes.”

Arguing that the humble and low profile character of his family may have led to the oversight, he protested, “It is unconscionable that the leader of the group (NADECO) best known for fighting the military and bringing about the muchtouted democracy never got a single mention in the scheme of June 12 celebration/anniversary! I do not know whether this conspicuous omission was deliberate or not, but be it known that Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin CFR in his lifetime doubled as the Leader of Afenifere and NADECO, the two organisations that were the arrowheads and in the forefront of the fight against military dictatorship.”

According to him, even where no awards or rewards are dispensed to these heroes of democracy, they certainly deserve to be recognised and mentioned in a country that has a dearth of heroes.

Other protesters include activists and a child of one of the ‘Ogoni four’ -Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage- who were murdered on May 21, 1994, in Gokana during the conflict between the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, and the Nigerian Government, leading to the arrest and subsequent execution on November 10, 1995, of environmentalist and author, Kenule Saro-Wiwa and other MOSOP activists, namely Barinem Kiobel, John Kpunien, Baribor Bera, Saturday Dobee, Felix Nwate, Nordu Eawo, Paul Levura, and Daniel Gbokoo.

Thirty years after the ‘MOSOP nine’ were executed for instigating the death of the ‘Ogoni four’ President Tinubu conferred “posthumous national honours on Ken Saro Wiwa (CON), the leader of the Ogoni Nine Saturday Dobee (OON), Nordu Eawo (OON), Daniel Gbooko (OON), Paul Levera (OON), Felix Nuate (OON), Baribor Bera (OON), Barinem Kiobel (OON), and John Kpuine (OON).”

The afore-mentioned were tried by a military tribunal for protesting against Shell’s activities in the oil-rich Niger Delta and hanged.

Reacting to the posthumous award for the ‘Ogoni nine’, Sauge Barde, son to Albert Barde, a retired Rivers State permanent secretary who later became a traditional ruler in Ogoniland, said the President by giving honour to the ‘Ogoni nine,’ reopened deep wounds that gave him sleepless nights akin to mourning all over again the brutal murder of his father and three other Ogoni chiefs.

He said,“Since Thursday night, I started mourning my father again. It is a complete disregard for the memory of our fathers, who actually served this country diligently without blemish over the years and were killed, murdered in cold-blood in broad daylight by the same men that are being honoured today (Thursday) – and they made no mention of the four. It’s a very sad development.

“A pardon is okay, as I said. It’s the President’s prerogative to grant pardon. But to now honour murderers, I think we are now introducing a new low in our Nigerian society… You can now be a career murderer and be given an honour in Nigeria. That’s what it means. That’s the new low.”

Barde said he would have rejected the idea of his father being honoured “side by side with murderers,” as he was not in “a hurry to betray my father for any form of compensation.”

Alluding to the presidential pardon as a product of misinformation and driven by the government’s desire to pave the way for the return to Ogoniland for oil exploration, Barde said the honour, “ is going to pass through generations and Ogoni will remain divided. I’m so sad. What the President did

is wrong. I used to see him as one who listens to both sides and does the right thing. But unfortunately, I think he is misguided and I don’t know why he fell for that.”

Interestingly, an Ogoni activist, Celestine Akpobari, coordinator of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum, rejected a posthumous conferred on the ‘Ogoni nine’.

“You cannot pardon someone that has not committed an offense; we are demanding total exoneration,” he said adding, “To say ‘pardon’, I think it is insulting. If there is any group who needs pardon, it is the Nigerian Government that has committed so much crime against the Ogoni people.”

In another protest, a group under the aegis of Quintessential Professionals called on President Tinubu to update the list and include the names of those it considered an unpardonable omission. They include former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, for his collaboration with pro-democracy activists for the revalidation of the June 12 presidential election results.

According to Stanley Dunia who spoke on behalf of the group, Tinubu’s allies in the Afenifere and NADECO movements, who were in the trenches during the struggle, were also left out of the honours lists. He wondered what could have informed such an omission. These names include NADECO Secretary, Chief Ayo Opadokun, Pa Olanihun Ajayi, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, and Senator Jonathan Zwingina.

Others are Kofo Akerele-Bucknor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Reverend Adebiyi, Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, Innocent Chukwuma, Mike Ozekhome, Yinka Odumakin and Joe Okei-Odumakin.

Some of these activists have risen to speak up for themselves. Akerele-Bucknor who became Tinubu’s deputy for a year during his first term as governor of Lagos State, said the President still habours grievances against her for their turbulent relationship during the governorship, while Senator Ojudu, former political adviser to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said it is all about politics.

“It would be unrealistic, especially in the African political context, to expect magnanimity from a sitting President toward individuals who have been openly critical of his policies or withheld support for his political ambitions. I did not vote for this President in 2023 and have remained vocal about the direction of his administration. I understand, therefore, the political nature of recognition and take no offense in being omitted from the list,” said Ojudu who was given a CON award by former President Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that he did not join the pro-democracy struggle in expectation of a national award.

Responding, Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said, “The president has done what is normal. They can make an argument for exoneration and the president will look into it,”

“

Let me use this opportunity to correct an omission,” Mr Tinubu said. “One of the people I missed in my June 12 broadcast is Colonel Dangiwa. Let me honour him with CFR

COLOUR BLACK AND WHITE SPECIAL SPOTS

Center Spread Half Page N1, 300, 000

Double Spread N1, 550, 000

Double Spread Half Page N1, 200, 000

10X6 N700, 000

10X5 N650, 000

10X4 N600, 000

10X3 N500, 000

9X6 N440, 000

9X5 N395, 000

9X4 N335, 000

9X3 N310, 000

8X6 N410, 000

8X5 N380, 000

7X5 N320, 000

7X4 N315, 000

6X5 N280, 000

6X3 N145, 000

6X2 N85, 000

5X2 N70, 000

4X4 N160, 000

4X3 N95, 000

4X2 N65, 000

3X3 N60, 000

3X2 N50, 000

2X2 N30, 000

2X1 N15, 000

1X1 N7, 000

That Disgraceful Letter from Ministry of Agric

TThe prayer was to address the apprehensiveness of staff over the recent untimely and successive deaths of management staff. It must be emphasised that this is NOT an official policy of the Ministry to address agricultural and food security issues in the country

he Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was recently in the news for the wrong reason. It was widely reported that it declared a three-day nationwide prayer and fasting session to seek divine intervention for national protection and food security.

According to an internal circular dated June 11, 2025, and signed by the Director of Human Resource Management, Mrs. Adedayo Modupe O, the prayer sessions were scheduled to be held at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on three consecutive Mondays—June 16, 23, and 30, 2025.

Addressed to all directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, value chain desk officers, and other staff members, the memo said the theme of the prayer is “Divine Intervention for Protection and National Development.”

The circular emphasised the importance of seeking spiritual guidance amid ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to stabilise and secure the nation’s food systems.

“This is to invite all staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to a solemn prayer session for God’s guidance and success in supporting the government’s efforts to achieve food security,” it read. Staff were further directed to observe a fast on each of the designated days, as part of the ministry’s call for divine assistance in confronting the country’s food security challenges.

Alarmed by public reaction to the letter, obviously leaked, because it was an internal memo, the ministry tried with negligible success to reverse itself.

Speaking on behalf of its Director of

Information, Ezeaja Ikemefuna clarified that the prayer session was a welfare initiative targeted at staff morale, not an official government policy intervention.

The ministry said the prayer initiative was in response to a series of untimely deaths among senior staff members, which had sparked concern and anxiety within the ministry.

“The prayer was to address the apprehensiveness of staff over the recent untimely and successive deaths of management staff. It must be emphasised that this is NOT an official policy of the Ministry to address agricultural and food security issues in the country,” the statement read.

The ministry further noted that the prayer session was part of a broader internal welfare programme that also includes monthly aerobics, the provision of a gymnasium, and regular medical check-ups for staff.

The first memo was explicit enough to warrant any explanation as the second one sought to do. The clarification was a further exposure on how officials at the ministry think and do their work. Nowhere in this second memo that sought to clarify the previous one was a reference made to a doctor, in-house or invited, or any health expert for that matter.

So, if staff are dying for whatever reasons, it would take the prayers of staff, who are probably facing similar threats. to restore everybody to health.? Or are these officials unaware that worsened insecurity in Nigeria has impacted farming by disrupting production, hindering access to farmlands, and increasing costs, ultimately leading to food shortages and higher prices.?

Police ‘Mobilisation’ and Efforts to Combat Witch-Hunting in Nigeria

BY LEO IGWE

Police mobilisation is undermining the fight against witch persecution in the country. The police institution needs to take action. When alleged witches file complaints with the police in Nigeria, they are expected to mobilise the officers, that is, pay the police to arrest and investigate suspects. Paying the police to investigate cases is illegal; it is against the law. However, in Nigeria, it is an everyday practice.

The practice is hampering the fight against witch-hunting and ritual attacks. Victims of witch-hunting are often poor people in rural communities who cannot afford to mobilise the police. They are usually sick and ageing persons, peasant farmers who barely scrape by. Assaulted and traumatised, only a few victims can afford to lodge a complaint with the police. Now, police officers add salt to the injury. They demand mobilisation fees. The police ask victims to fuel their vehicles or provide them with some allowance for the job. And in cases where victims are unable to mobilise, the police abandon the case. Many victims resign to their fate because they cannot afford police mobilisation costs.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has intervened in many cases across the country where the police refused or delayed investigating cases and complaints because petitioners did not mobilise them. For instance, someone drew the attention of the Advocacy for Alleged Witches to a witch-hunting incident in Ebonyi State. An advocate visited the community and sent a report. The incident happened on May 14, 2025. Someone accused the victim, Kingsley, of killing his two elder brothers for rituals. The deceased were 83 and 90, respectively. The accuser said that Kingsley was planning to kill him, too.

According to Kingsley, there was a plan to sell some family land. But he opposed the plan. So, some relatives planned to kill him. On that fateful day, they had an altercation, and his accuser said that he was sleeping with his brother’s wife and also using his brother for rituals. He went on to concoct stories to disgrace him. The accuser connived with 13 elders to execute this plan. They gave him two options: death or being paraded naked in the community. To be killed, some of the relatives must endorse it. They waited, but no relative came forward to support that he be killed. Therefore, they decided to parade him naked, smearing his body with faeces, waste from the cassava processing mill, and cow dung. A video of Kingsley tied with a rope and paraded in public was circulated on social media.

In response to this incident, AfAW sponsored a medical checkup for the victim. AfAW also petitioned the police area command office in Afikpo, urging them to investigate the matter. Our advocate sent this report: The petition was filed on 30/5/25 and

was followed up on 2/6/25. The duplicated copy was stamped by the Area Command in Afikpo and handed over to me. Mr Kingsley documented his statement, and an investigative police officer was assigned to the case. The police requested funds to support their logistics for the arrest of the suspects. The police asked us to pay 200 thousand naira and we started negotiating. I told them we could only support them with N50,000. They said we should add some money to the N50,000; otherwise, the police would not arrest the suspects or investigate the matter, even though a petition had been filed.

Our advocate recounted another case in the state that the police failed to investigate due to a lack of mobilisation by the victim: “I discovered another witch-hunting case in the course of my investigation in the community. The name of the victim is Egwu Oko Egwu. He is a motorcycle mechanic in his community. The incident happened in 2023. He was not the person directly involved. The father was the one accused. They accused the father of keeping Juju on a farm.

Following the allegation, his father was tied with a rope. A mob beat him mercilessly. Someone called and informed Egwu. He rushed to the scene to rescue the father. In the process, the mob descended on him and beat him into a stupor. Egwu almost lost his life. The father later died as a result of the assault. He reported the case at the police station, but the police have not investigated the matter to date because he did not mobilise them.

POLICE OFFICERS ARE POORLY PAID; MANY RELY ON EXTORTION AND MOBILISATION TO SURVIVE. NEVERTHELESS, THIS UNFORTUNATE STATE OF THE POLICE IS NOT A JUSTIFICATION FOR INDULGING IN EXTORTION AND OTHER CORRUPT PRACTICES

There have been similar cases across the country. In Ogun State, for example, a mob accused, attacked, and brutalised an elderly woman with dementia. The police intervened, and they took the victim to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead. The police extorted 60 thousand naira from the family of the victim.

In another case in Ebonyi, the family of the victim mobilised the police with 60 thousand naira. The police went to make an arrest but turned back on the way, complaining that the road was bad. Later, the police asked the family to re-mobilise them if they had to go back to arrest the suspect. The family decided to abandon the case. The police are failing too many victims of witchhunting and ritual attacks and their families. They indirectly enable impunity and denial

Godswill Akpabio, Saraki and Statesmanship in Political Leadership

BY JUDE NDUKWE

Many have argued that there is no morality in politics; not only in our clime but also in other otherwise politically sophisticated climes like the West.

Those who argue along this line would always be quick to refer to the saying, “the end justifies the means.” In other words, they consider politics to be a do-or-die affair where, according to Shakespeare, “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” .

To a typical politician, power is the ultimate end of politics, not necessarily to serve humanity but to serve self at the expense of the people, even if it means crushing one’s enemies to attain such power. Some call it being pragmatic, while others say it is primarily a matter of self-interest after which all other things may align.

While a majority of politicians all over the world think in line of the above, only very few with the conscience to do good by all, irrespective of ethnic, religious or party differences, still abound.

One of such leaders is the President of the 10th Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON. And one political leader who recently testified to this fact is no other but a former Senate President himself, Senator Olubukola Saraki. Saraki had become a pariah of some sort at the National Assembly following his tenure as Senate President during the 2015-2019 tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari. His emergence did not go down well with the establishment and he was marked for political annihilation. All through his tenure as senate president, Oloye, as he is fondly called, was harassed, humiliated and hounded by the Muhammadu Buhari Administration.

The full instrumentality of the executive arm of government was brought down heavily upon him. He was dragged through different courts for what is now confirmed to be trumped-up charges. The situation was so ridiculous that the administration tried to implicate him in a dare-devil robbery incident that happened at Offa, Kwara State.

In all of these, Saraki stood firm and refused to budge. He remained unbowed, uncowed and unfazed to the

consternation of Buhari and his boys. And after his tenure as senate president, Ahmad Lawan, the preferred candidate of the establishment, emerged as senate president in 2019.

Rather than start on a clean slate and move on from all the needless drama and reckless executive interference that characterised the senate between 2015 and 2019, Lawan’s leadership continued with the same policies of vindictiveness. His leadership ensured the removal of Saraki’s official portrait from the Senate Gallery where portraits of current and former senate presidents hung as both an honour and historical monument. It was such a bizarre action by Lawan’s administration that attempted to, albeit vainly, obliterate an integral part of our political history. But rising above such petty politics, the current senate president, Godswill Akpabio, though he belonged to a different political party, immediately ensured the restoration of his portrait in the senate gallery. He did not stop at that, as a leader who understands that the onerous task of nationbuilding would be better and easier achieved through dialogue, fairness, equity and justice, Saraki, a PDP chieftain, was appointed to present a paper titled “The National Assembly and Nigeria’s Democracy in the Last 26 Years” to a joint session of the National Assembly headed by Akpabio on the occasion of Nigeria’s celebration of Democracy Day on June 12.

TO A TYPICAL POLITICIAN, POWER IS THE ULTIMATE END OF POLITICS, NOT NECESSARILY TO SERVE HUMANITY BUT TO SERVE SELF AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PEOPLE, EVEN IF IT MEANS CRUSHING ONE’S ENEMIES TO ATTAIN SUCH POWER

Saraki used the opportunity to thank the leadership of the 10th Senate for restoring his portrait in the gallery. He extolled the virtues of Akpabio as different from that of the immediate past senate leadership, saying: “If it were in another time, they would have been looking at the body language of the President and my invite would have gotten missing, just as my portrait was missing for four years in the Senate gallery created for all former presiding officers. It was brought in just recently. I thank my good friend, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for that.”

These gestures by Akpabio are not only uncommon in our clime and time but are also significant, given that Saraki is not only a chieftain of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), but that in the heat of the Akpabio-Natasha saga, Saraki took sides with Natasha against Akpabio even before the commencement of judicial processes.

PenCom Goes Tough on Defaulters as Funds Assets

Hit N23.33trn in Q1 2025

It is evident that the National Pension Commission (PenCom) has stepped up measures to deal with those whose actions sabotage the 21-year-old scheme.

The Commission recently said it will blacklist organisations that fail to meet their pension remittance obligations from November 10.

The Director-General of PenCom who disclosed the plan during the commission’s second-quarter media briefing held in Lagos, said it is now “zero tolerance for non-compliance” as PenCom adopts a firmer stance to enforce the 2014 Pension Reform Act.

“Effective immediately, PenCom has launched an uncompromising compliance drive to ensure the Pension Reform Act is complied with by every operator,” the DG said.

“Every organisation, public, private, big or small, must comply with pension remittance obligations. No exceptions, no delays.

“All Pension Fund Administrators and Custodians have been directed to ensure every vendor, service provider, and counterparty has a valid Pension Clearance Certificate (PCC) that evidences that they have been up to date and compliant with pension contribution.

“By November 30 this year, any entity without a PCC will be blacklisted and cut off from pension business with all PenCom regulated entities.”

The PenCom boss said the directive also extends to banks, investment counterparty, parent companies, and shareholders of licensed pension funds administrators and custodians.

She said all pension fund-affiliated entities must enforce the pension clearance certificate requirements across their operators and “across all ecosystem and submit our compliance attestations”.

EDITOR Sam Diala

Sterling Financial Holdings Penalised

Sterling Financial Holdings Company

Plc (SFHC) paid a total of N388 million to settle contravention penalties imposed on it by the regulatory authorities in FY 2024.

The figure represents a 1,238 per cent increase compared to what it paid for the same misbehaviour 2023.

The report also showed that SFHC directors earned a total of N653 million in 2024 as against N222 million in the previous year, representing a 194 percent increase in the review period.

A further study of the Group’s audited financial statements filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) last week, showed that the contravention penalties include N250 million in respect of ‘2024 AML/CFT/ CPF examination’, ‘Mystery shopping and spot checks on cash disbursements’, and ‘Late rendition of regulatory return’.

Industry analysts stress that, irrespective of the amount, regulatory penalties constitute a negative impact on the shareholders’ assets at this time when the financial services industry is faced with numerous operating challenges.

They also argue that the onerous task of beefing up their capital base to comply with the March 2026 deadline prescribed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), demands that the banks husband their resources in the most efficient manner.

“No matter how small or insignificant, no bank should give room for a regulatory penalty at this time because banks are passing through a difficult operating environment. They also need all the resources to meet up their capital base to beat the reca;italisation deadline announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria last year. Every kobo matters,” said Macaulay Obot, a finance expert.

THEWILL recalls that on March 28, 2024, the CBN issued a directive to financially reshape the domestic money banks (DMBs), which spiked a theatre of competition among the operators.

“We are drawing the red line, pension compliance is no longer optional, it is existential,” Oloworaran said.

“Only those who value the future of their employees can participate in this ecosystem and the reward that it offers.”

Oloworaran said PenCom is committed to Continues on page 35

In a direct memo, the CBN revised the capitalisation requirements, setting new benchmarks for banks with international operations at N500 billion; national licences, N200 billion; and regional licences, N50 billion. This directive, a crucial step towards a stronger banking sector, initiated a time-sensitive two-year

raising of N75 billion, and the listing of the company’s shares on the Nigerian Exchange Limited in April 2023.

Gross Earnings rose to N337.19 billion from N221.77 billion in 2023 constituting a 54 percent increase, while Profit Before Income Tax grew by 102.1 percent to N45.86 billion against N22.69 billion recorded in the preceding year.

Despite its efforts to stay atop the industry’s modern digital banking space, the Group recorded a marginal increase in electronic banking revenue from N8.11 billion in 2023 to N8.46 billion in the review period, constituting a 4.31 percent rise

Sterling Financial Holdings Penalised... BUSINESS WEEKLY

Continues from page 34

who were unable to use the bank’s services for days.

The upgrade which commenced in August 2024 was completed in September 2024, earning Sterling Bank the reputation of having what was touted as the first indigenous core banking solution on the continent.

Despite its efforts to stay atop the industry’s modern digital banking space, the Group recorded a marginal increase in electronic banking revenue from N8.11 billion in 2023 to N8.46 billion in the review period, constituting a 4.31 percent rise.

This places it among the lowest e-banking revenue earners in 2024.

A recent study of 10 selected money deposit banks by THEWILL showed that United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) came top in digital banking revenue. It raked in N284.7 billion during FY 2024 against N157.1 billion it recorded in the previous year, translating to an 85.9 percent increase.

It was followed by Access Bank with a total digital transaction fee of N178.61 billion which constitutes a 75.6 percent increase against N101.62 billion in FY 2023. Zenith Bank pooled N80.05 billion in e-banking revenue in FY 2024 against N51.8 billion it earned in the previous year which represents a 54.5 percent increase for the period.

FirstBank e-banking transaction income increased to N77.01 billion in FY 2024 from N66.34 billion in the previous year, representing a jump of 16.08 percent during the period.

Guaranty Trust Bank posted a total digital transaction revenue of N56.56 billion which represents a 38.5 percent increase from N40.82 billion it achieved in the previous year -- ranking fifth among the Tier-1 banks,

also referred to as the FUGAZ group (First Bank, UBA, GTB, Access and Zenith Bank).

Continues from page 34

PenCom Goes Tough...

United Capital Plc has officially commenced operations of its latest subsidiary, United Capital Asset Management West Africa

Limited (UCAMWAL) with the launch of two CFA franc-denominated mutual funds: the AMWAL Bond Fund and the UCAMWAL Diversified Fund, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

This milestone marks a significant step in the Group’s strategic pan-African expansion and signals a kickstart of the operations of the newly launched subsidiary.

The new mutual funds, denominated in CFA francs, represent a significant milestone in UCAMWAL’s mission to deliver sophisticated yet accessible wealth management solutions to instors throughout Francophone West Africa.

These products have been carefully designed to meet the diverse needs of both individual and institutional investors, offering tailored support to long-term wealth creation while addressing varying risk appetites.

The funds will be available for intending customers across the eight member countries - Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, GuineaBissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo within the WAEMU Region.

The UCAMWAL Bond Fund is a low-risk, openended fund that focuses on fixed income and money market instruments, making it ideal for steady capital preservation and long-term wealth building. This fund is particularly suited for conservative investors who prioritize capital preservation while seeking steady, consistent returns.

The UCAMWAL Diversified Fund provides investors with a balanced risk approach through strategic allocation across multiple asset classes by

The reports showed that Stanbic IBTC Bank posted a total e-banking revenue of N63 billion which is 11.1 percent higher than 56.7 billion it generated in the previous period.

Others are Wema Bank and Fidelity Bank which posted N14.1 billion and N7.02 billion against N7.3 billion and 4.02 billion in FY 2023, which translated to 93.2 percent and 72.9 percent respectively.

FCMB’s digital revenue declined by 22.83 percent from N17.69 billion in FY 2023 to N13.65 billion in the review period.

Sterling Bank transitioned into a holding structure, Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc, in 2022. The transition involved restructuring the bank into a holding company with subsidiaries, including Sterling Bank Limited. The process was finalised with the listing of the holding company’s shares on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on April 6, 2023.

On stock performance, the current share price of Sterling Bank is N5.60. Sterling closed its last trading day (Friday, June 20, 2025) at N5.60 per share on the NGX, recording a 3.3 percent drop from its previous closing price of N5.79.

Sterling Bank is the 23rd most traded stock on the NGX over the past three months (Mar 14 - Jun 20, 2025), according to data by The Exchange. The stock has traded a total volume of 404 million shares—in 12,128 deals— valued at N2.25 billion over the period, with an average of 6.41 million traded shares per session. A volume high of 27.2 million was achieved on May 6th, and a low of 771,731 on March 21st, for the same period.

restructuring the pension industry to build a more robust and inclusive system that supports sustainable economic development.

THEWILL recalls that PenCom had introduced a new pension contribution remittance system in May to improve transparency and efficiency, setingt June 1, 2025 as the deadline for adoption by employers.

The Commission has also disclosed that the total assets under the Contributory Pension Scheme rose to N23.33 trillion as at March 31.

The Director of Surveillance, PenCom, Mr Saleem Abdulrahman, disclosed this in Lagos.

Abdulrahman said that the figure represented an increase of N820 billion when compared with the N22.51 trillion recorded as of Dec. 31, 2024.

He attributed the growth in pension assets to additional contributions from Retirement Savings Account holders and investment income, including gains from the appreciation of equity prices and interest income on fixed-income securities.

Breaking down the pension assets, he said the Retirement Savings Account Funds I–VI accounted for N17.90 trillion or 76.73 per cent of the total pension assets.

According to him, Existing Schemes accounted for N2.77 trillion or 11.87 per cent while Closed Pension Funds accounted for N2.66 trillion or 11.40 per cent. Fund Assets were mainly invested in Federal Government Securities which accounted for 62.09 per cent of the total Pension Assets as at March 31.

“This is followed by domestic ordinary shares with 11.02 per cent and money market instruments which accounted for 8.91 per cent.

“The Industry portfolio reported annualised year to date performance of 19.29 per cent as at 31 March 2025.

“The commission in collaboration with Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) is organising a workshop on Investment in Alternative Assets, for Chairpersons of the Board Investment Strategy and Risk Management Committees of PFAs.

United Capital Asset Management West Africa Limited Launches New Mutual Funds

investing across fixed income assets, money market instruments, and equities.

It is targeted at investors seeking a balance of capital appreciation and income diversification over the long term.

Commenting on the significance of the launch of the products, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Ashade, had this to say:

“This product launch signals the kick-off of the expansion of our pan-African footprint, starting with the WAEMU region. As a group, our mission is to shape a more financially inclusive and economically resilient Africa, for Africa by Africans. We are here to make a difference, and we are bringing our proven investment expertise into this market, to support cross-border investment, and support Africa-driven prosperity.

This is the beginning of a legacy, for wealth creation, financial empowerment, and a new chapter in Africa’s story of innovation, and enduring success.”

The Director, Africa Operations at United Capital Plc, Mr. Ejikeme Okoli, shared the company’s longterm vision for the WAEMU region, saying:

“Our expansion into WAEMU is about more than presence, it’s about impact. We’re building a truly Pan-African financial institution that partners with local economies to unlock long-term prosperity.

“Our strategy is not exploitative but collaborative and will harness local insights to create shared value. We aim to deliver tailored financial solutions, manage risk effectively, and drive inclusive growth across the region. I invite investors to join us on this journey of growth and empowerment, as we stay true to our promise of driving progress, delivering value, and powering economic improvement across

Africa.”

Also speaking at the launch, Labas Bamba, Managing Director of UCAMWAL, said:“Today marks a pivotal step in our mission to reshape asset and wealth management in Francophone West Africa. These funds are tailored to meet the distinct needs of our investors, blending global standards with local market insight.

“We recognize that every investor’s journey is unique, which is why our solutions are built to support diverse goals across different life and business stages.”

The launch of these funds comes at a critical time for the WAEMU region, as governments and the private sector increasingly seek innovative solutions to mobilize domestic savings and channel

them into productive investments.

UCAMWAL’s entry into this market is expected to contribute significantly to the development of the region’s capital markets while providing investors with professionally managed alternatives to traditional savings instruments.

Backed by a strong track record and trusted legacy of United Capital Plc, which manages nearly ₦2 trillion in assets and more than $500 million in mutual funds in Nigeria, UCAMWAL is positioned to become a leading investment partner for individuals, institutions, and governments across the WAEMU region.

Key highlights of the product include:

a) United Capital recently launched United Capital Asset Management West Africa Ltd (UCAMWAL), its first fully operational subsidiary in Francophone West Africa, headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The company is licensed to operate as a portfolio management company within the WAEMU region.

b) UCAMWAL is licensed by the Financial Markets Authority of the West African Economic & Monetary Union (AMF-UMOA), enabling operations across eight WAEMU member countries - Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, GuineaBissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.

c) The subsidiary will provide asset management services, including portfolio management, mutual funds, and financial advisory.

The newly launched mutual funds –UCAMWAL Diversified Fund and UCAMWAL Bond Fund are approved by the Financial Markets Authority of the West African Economic & Monetary Union (AMFUMOA) and open for subscription to investors.

FINANCE

The Global Sustainability Shift: A Second Chance for Accountants?

BY OLUWATOBI ABISOYE

Research and several literatures show that in the 20th century, accountants were seen as the trustees of financial truth. However, a series of devastating corporate scandals eroded public trust and exposed deep flaws in the profession’s ethics.

From the Enron collapse in 2001, which wiped out $74 billion in shareholder value and led to the downfall of Arthur Andersen, to WorldCom’s $11 billion fraud in 2002, the early 2000s marked a turning point in public perception.

The Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in 2008, fuelled by deceptive accounting practices, triggered a global financial crisis.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, scandals such as the Cadbury Nigeria financial misstatements between 2003 and 2006 and the Tingo Group fraud in 2023, where the company made a false claim that its Nigerian subsidiary held $461 million in cash but had only $50, caused massive economic damage but also eroded the credibility of the accounting profession.

As the world shifts attention to sustainability and demands greater transparency in both financial and sustainability reporting, accountants are being offered a rare opportunity, a second chance to restore trust and redefine their role as stewards of integrity in an ever-dynamic and rapidly changing world.

In June 2023, the IFRS Foundation, through the International Sustainability Board (ISSB), issued IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, a global framework that harmonises sustainability reporting across the world. So far, the board has issued two disclosure standards: IFRS S1 – General requirements for disclosure of sustainability-related financial information and IFRS 2 – Climate-related disclosure.

IFRS S1 set out the basis for reporting sustainability-related financial information.

Some of the key highlights of these disclosure standards are the provision of an explicit source of guidance for identifying sustainability-related risks and opportunities compared to the hitherto position where companies choose to report sustainability disclosure topics that suit their purpose and intent.

The disclosure of sustainability-Related information is to be embedded within the general-purpose financial report of companies, except local regulations or other requirements, such as pronouncements from the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria or similar bodies, suggest otherwise.

The time frame for reporting sustainabilityrelated information should coincide with the entity’s related financial statements and comparative information for the earliest prior period is to be disclosed alongside any reporting period. The latter and the previous may not apply in this first year of adoption.

Others are disclosures on the level of judgements exercised in identifying disclosure topics, sustainability risks and opportunities, and their source of guidance.

Also, disclosures of the amount disclosed are subject to a high level of uncertainties, and the source of measurement uncertainties includes assumptions, approximations, and judgement in measuring those amounts.

The ISSB anchored the disclosure standards of IFRS S1 and S2 on four main pillars of governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets. This set the tone for subsequent disclosure standards that will be issued in the future.

The governance pillar focuses on a governance body, either a board committee or related body with appropriate depth of skills and competence, charged with the responsibilities to monitor, manage, and oversee sustainabilityrelated risks and opportunities in the company. These responsibilities are cascaded to the management.

The strategy pillar focuses on the entity’s strategy for managing sustainability-related risks and opportunities, specifying the time horizons (short, medium, or long term) for those risks and opportunities, their effect on the business model, value chain, financial position, performance, and cash flows, how it intends to respond to them, and its level of resilience to adjust to uncertainties.

The risk management pillar focuses on processes to identify, assess, prioritise, and monitor sustainability-related risks and opportunities, including whether and how those processes are integrated into and inform the

As the world shifts attention to sustainability and demands greater transparency in both financial and sustainability reporting, accountants are being offered a rare opportunity, a second chance to restore trust and redefine their role as stewards of integrity in an everdynamic and rapidly changing world

entity’s overall risk management process. Lastly, the metrics and targets pillar entails metrics to measure and monitor sustainability risks and opportunities, such as industry metrics, cross-industry metrics, metrics specific to the entity, and metrics specified by local regulations or other requirements.

While the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria has outlined a roadmap to ensure timely compliance with the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards beginning with early adoption in December 2023, followed by voluntary adoption between 2024 and 2027, mandatory adoption for Public Interest Entities (PIEs) by 2028, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) by 2030, further direction and regulatory guidance will be essential.

Especially for areas requiring localised interpretation and implementation and as government entities remain under consideration within the broader adoption framework.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has not experienced a corporate scandal severe enough to destabilise its economy, a situation not unique to Nigeria. This suggests that there remains a measure of trust and integrity within the accounting profession, which continues to serve as a guardian of financial transparency. As we move forward into the era of sustainability reporting, only time will reveal whether accountants worldwide can be trusted to faithfully and accurately report on sustainability.

•Abisoye is a Chartered Accountant & Corporate Reporting Specialist

Why Nigeria Needs Robust Greenhouse Gas Inventory to Tackle Climate Change

Climatechange is no longer a looming threat, as it presents immediate, intensifying crises both on a global and local scale. This has ramifications for the safety, food security and consequentially, economy of Nigeria. With food costs already high, anticipated exacerbated scenarios exist, such as erratic rainfall patterns disrupting agriculture in Northern Nigeria.

The need to develop strong frameworks for climate management is expedient. Yet, one of the most crucial tools for crafting an effective climate strategy remains underdeveloped: a robust, science-based inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Greenhouses are the primary drivers of global warming, emitted through activities such as fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, and industry. Though climate change is global, these emissions originate locally. A comprehensive framework for accounting for emissions source and quantity inadvertently becomes the cornerstone of any serious climate policy.

Countries with reliable data are better positioned to track progress, design targeted interventions, attract climate finance, and engage meaningfully in today’s global carbon economy. Despite years of pledges and fragmented efforts, Nigeria still lacks the granular, up-to-date data needed to support meaningful climate action.

Although the country has submitted National Communications and Biennial Update Reports to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and revised its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), these efforts rely heavily on outdated data—often pre-2017. Much has changed since 2017.

Global CO2 emissions have continued to rise, and the understanding of how greenhouse gases are produced—and how they must be tracked—has deepened. Methane has come under heightened scrutiny as satellite technologies have made it easier to detect emissions from sources like agriculture, landfills, wetlands, and fossil fuel operations. The shipping sector has also emerged as a growing global contributor to emissions, prompting stricter international monitoring and reporting standards.

Carbon markets have grown significantly over the years, with global market value reaching nearly $950 billion in 2023. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement now enables international carbon trading, but only for countries with credible, up-to-date emissions tracking. Climate finance institutions have also raised the bar, making recent, verifiable data a

prerequisite for funding. The share of global emissions covered by carbon pricing has risen from 15 to over 24 percent in just eight years.

Countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda have updated their inventories through 2020 or beyond, unlocking access to partnerships and finance. Nigeria, still reliant on 2017-era data, risks being left behind in this evolving carbon economy. This paucity weakens both domestic credibility and access to climate finance, where transparency and data quality are now essential.

At the same time, Nigeria’s forests, wetlands, and rangelands offer major potential for carbon offset projects. But without systems to track and verify emissions reductions, especially at the subnational level, these resources remain economically untapped.

Furthermore, a major weakness in Nigeria’s GHG inventory is its continued reliance on IPCC default emission factors that may inadequately capture the nuances of Nigeria’s energy systems, agricultural practices, or land use dynamics. These efforts signal intent, but they fall short of the actionable intelligence required to confront the policy.

These generalised figures do not reflect the country’s specific energy systems, farming practices, waste handling, or land use. For example, emissions from a diesel generator in rural Nigeria may differ significantly from global averages. This disconnect can distort national estimates and lead to poor policy decisions.

To address this, Nigeria must invest in country-specific emission factors based

Countries with reliable data are better positioned to track progress, design targeted interventions, attract climate finance, and engage meaningfully in today’s global carbon economy

on local research, field data, and sectoral realities—an area where universities and technical institutions can play a central role. Equally limiting is the absence of disaggregated state-level emissions data. Climate policy is implemented locally, but state and regional actors often lack access to the data they need. Emissions in Lagos, shaped by traffic and urban energy demand, are vastly different from those in agrarian states like Nasarawa or Ebonyi.

A decentralised inventory system, where states gather and report data using standardised methods, would enable more targeted interventions, stronger accountability, and better alignment with local development goals.

This shift is achievable.

Several African countries have strengthened their emissions tracking systems by prioritising political will, interagency coordination, and long-term investment. Nigeria already has the technical and institutional capacity to do the same. What is needed now is not another short-term periodic deliverable but a continuous institutionalised monitoring, reporting, and verification system.

On balance, a credible inventory requires sustained collaboration across federal ministries, state governments, research institutions, civil society, and the private sector. It calls for investment in localised data systems, standardised tools, and long-term capacity.

As the world moves from pledges to performance, Nigeria must decide whether to lead or lag. Without accurate, location-aware data, the country is navigating the climate crisis with blind spots. To act effectively, we must first measure what matters—when and where it happens.

SHOTS OF THE WEEK

Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]

L-R: Group Corporate Communications and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Temitope Ashiwaju; former President, African Public Relations Association (APRA), Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; Managing Director/Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Africa, Israel Opayemi; Managing Director, Integrated Indigo Limited, Bolaji Abimbola and President, African Public Relations Association (APRA), Arik Karani, during the SABRE Africa Awards held in Mombasa, Kenya recently.

L-R: Future -X Unilever Campus Ambassador (UNILAG), Tunde Dare; Skill Development & Youth Empowerment Specialist, UNICEF Nigeria, Bharat Kundra; Human Resources People Partner, Unilever Nigeria, Zainab Ajadi; Chief Field Officer, UNICEF Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Development Services, UNILAG, Prof. Afolabi Lesi and Human Resources & Employer Brand Projects Specialist, Unilever Nigeria, Oreoluwa Dina during the Future -X Unilever Campus Ambassadors Programme (FUCAP) 2.0 Career Seminar organised by Unilever in collaboration with UNICEF and University of Lagos, held on  June 17, 2025.

L-R: Marketing Director, VISA West Africa, Oluwaseun Adaramola;  Gbemi Denni;  Chiamaka Nwokedi; winners of the VISA Chipper Kenya Trip, Henry Uduku and Vice President & Head, Visa West Africa, Andrew Uaboi, at the prize presentation at the VISA Nigeria office in Lagos,  recently.

L-R: Gbenga Onimowo, Commercial Director, Viola Graham-Douglas; Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development Director, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi; Group Managing Director/CEO, Yadagani Srinivasa Rao; Industrial Director, Emmanuel Ilaboya; Head of Innovation & New Product Development, all of Lafarge Africa during the unveiling of Lafarge Africa PLC’s new product, Ecoplanet Elephant at the Corporate Head Office in Lagos, June 17, 2025.

L-R: Group Head, Climate and Finance Sustainability, Bank of Industry, Lanre Babalola; General Manager, Regulatory Affairs, MTN Group, Oyeronke Oyetunde; Head of Programmmes, UN Global Compact Network Nigeria, Gloria Okorie (Moderator); Director, Sustainability, IHS Nigeria, Titilope Oguntuga; Head, Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility Wema Bank, Abimbola Agbejule, after a private sector dialogue on Environmental Stewardship organised by the United Nation Global Compact Network Nigeria in Partnership with IHS Nigeria, in commemoration of 2025 World Environment Day in Lagos, recently.

L-R: Celebration Church International Pastor, Emmanuel Iren; Lead Pastor, Global Impact Church, Pastor Yemi Davids; Global Lead Pastor, The Elevation Church Pastor Godman Akinlabi, and Global Co-Lead Pastor, The Elevation Church Pastor Bolarinwa Akinlabi at a Conference held in  Lagos, recently.

Ogazi’s NCAA Victory was Long-Awaited

BY JUDE OBAFEMI

On a cool evening in Eugene, Oregon, USA Samuel Ogazi, a 19-year-old Nigerian sprinter, stood at the starting line of the men’s 400-metre final at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The Hayward Field stadium, a hallowed ground for track athletics, buzzed with anticipation.

Ogazi, representing the University of Alabama, carried the weight of a nation’s hopes, aiming to end a 26-year drought for Nigeria in this event. When the gun fired, he exploded from the blocks, his fluid stride and tactical pacing carrying him to a commanding victory in 44.84 seconds, the only sub-45-second time in the race. This triumph marked him as the first Nigerian to win the NCAA 400-metre title since Clement Chukwu in 1999. It was a historic moment for Nigerian athletics.

Ogazi’s path to victory began in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, where he grew up in a modest environment, far from the world’s elite tracks. Discovered at the 2019 Kaduna School Athletics Championships by coach Sani Mohammed, he initially competed in the 200 metres, showing early promise with a personal best of 22.09 seconds at the 2021 National Sports Festival. His transition to the 400 metres came in 2022, a pivotal year when he joined Nigeria’s 4x400-metre relay team at the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia. His talent earned him a scholarship to the University of Alabama, where he trained under coach Dan Wiley, a mentor who helped refine his raw speed into disciplined race-craft.

By 2023, Ogazi had claimed gold in both the 200 metres and 400 metres events at the African U18 and U20 Championships in Ndola, Zambia, and the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, setting the stage for his collegiate career.

The road to the NCAA title was not without challenges. Ogazi began 2025 with an injury sustained during his first-ever 300-metre indoor race, forcing him to skip the indoor season entirely. His recovery demanded patience and faith, supported by his coaches and teammates at Alabama. He credited their encouragement for his return to form. His perseverance paid off at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Outdoor Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, where he won the 400-metre title with a time of 44.58 seconds, the fastest by a Nigerian male in 37 years and a new Alabama school record.

At the NCAA Championships, Ogazi’s dominance was evident from the semi-finals. He clocked 44.77 seconds, the fastest time across all heats, leaving competitors like DeSean Boyce (45.15 seconds) and Auhmad Robinson (45.35 seconds) trailing. The final, contested in cold, unfavourable weather, tested his adaptability. Ogazi executed a measured race, conserving energy through the first 200 metres before unleashing a powerful surge in the final 100. His time of 44.84 seconds outpaced Gabriel Moronta (45.47 seconds) and William Jones (45.53 seconds), securing the gold and immortalising his name alongside Alabama’s legendary Kirani James, the 2012 Olympic champion and the last Alabama athlete to win the NCAA 400-metre title.

The race itself was a study in control and execution. Ogazi’s long, fluid strides contrasted with the compact, aggressive styles of his American rivals. William Jones of Southern California, who took silver, and Jordan Pierre of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, who earned bronze, were formidable opponents, each with personal bests under 45.5 seconds. Yet Ogazi’s tactical approach, staying relaxed through the backstretch and accelerating off the final curve, gave him a full second’s lead at the finish. His time, though slower than his personal best of 44.41 seconds set at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was remarkable, given the chilly conditions,

which he noted were unfamiliar to him.

This victory capped a breakout year for Ogazi, who had already made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the first Nigerian male to reach the 400-metre final since Innocent Egbunike in 1988. In Paris, he ran a personal best of 44.41 seconds in the semi-finals, finishing seventh in the final against a field that included Olympic champion Quincy Hall and Grenada’s Kirani James. His NCAA win, however, carried a different weight, representing not only personal redemption after a second-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Championships but also a milestone for Nigeria. The country’s athletics history, rich with sprinters like Egbunike and Favour Ofili long sought a new standard-bearer in the 400 metres. Ogazi’s performance, coupled with Ezekiel Nathaniel’s national record-breaking 47.46 seconds in the 400-metre hurdles at the same meet, signalled a resurgence of Nigerian talent on the global stage.

Ogazi’s mindset before the race reflected his maturity. At just 19, he approached the NCAA final with a blend of confidence and humility, drawing inspiration from his faith and his connection to Nigeria. So far, he has acknowledged his ambition to break the 44-second barrier, a feat no West African has yet achieved. His ability to stay composed under pressure was evident in his strategic racing, a skill honed through months of training with Alabama’s track team. Coach Wiley’s emphasis on pacing and mental preparation helped Ogazi navigate the high-stakes environment of the NCAA Championships, where American collegiate athletes dominate. The celebrations that followed the Ogazi victory were heartfelt. Ogazi, draped in the Nigerian flag, stood on the podium as the first Nigerian in over two decades to claim this title.

The significance of Ogazi’s win extends beyond the track. For Nigeria, battling limited sports infrastructure and funding, his success highlights the potential of its youth

Samuel Ogazi

Samuel Ogazi

ogannah@thewillnews.com

With Fuel Imports Significantly Cut, 51% Trade Surplus Achieved, Why Has Naira Not Strengthened?

Nigeria’s much-publicised shift away from refined petroleum imports in 2023, following the commissioning of the Dangote Refinery, has not led to an anticipated rebound in the naira’s value. The mega refinery, which began operations in mid-2023, was hailed as the solution to decades of foreign exchange outflow as Nigeria continued to import its fuel requirements.

Official forecasts claimed that this shift would ease dollar pressure and lift the naira. Yet halfway through 2025, the currency remains weak ($1 – N1600 is just unacceptable), raising a simple but urgent question: If dollars are no longer draining from the economy through oil imports, why has the naira not strengthened?

Policymakers and market analysts expected that eliminating refined product imports, once accounting for more than 20 per cent of foreign exchange usage, would reduce overall dollar demand. The Dangote Refinery, with capacity to process 650,000 barrels per day, was seen as the vehicle to deliver this outcome. It was reported that Nigeria stood to save about $17 billion annually once the refinery reached full output.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor at the time, Godwin Emefiele, assured that the refinery would be encouraged to sell foreign exchange to commercial banks at reasonable market rates. The CBN and government also partnered to provide funding in both naira and dollars, reportedly around N125 billion for local expenses, along with dollar facilities to bring the refinery project to completion.

These interventions were intended to ensure that the refinery would promptly begin supplying local fuel for local and international consumption and free up foreign exchange in return.

With import-based demand shrinking and with a deliberate strategy to save foreign exchange, why is the naira still weak, exchanging well above N1,500 per dollar? May I also state that crude oil production has also significantly increased from 1.2mbpd to about 1.6mbpd, which should easily translate to additional foreign exchange revenue with a higher market price today.

I am asking these questions because it is frustrating to accept the naira’s current reality.

This is very unacceptable to me and millions of citizens who believe that the Nigerian economy and the local currency deserve better. Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics show that the economy is on the path of growth and recovery, although this is yet to positively impact the lives of the average Nigerian who still struggles to eat even a meal a day. Things are tough on the streets. People are hungry and finding it very hard to survive these days.

The NBS however said Nigeria recorded a remarkable 51 per cent trade surplus in Q1 2025, with the oil and agricultural sectors contributing significantly to this feat. This means that we exported more than we imported.

“The merchandise trade balance for Q1 2025 remained positive at N5,172.31bn, indicating an increase of 51.07 per cent, compared to the value recorded in the preceding quarter,” the report noted.

So why is the naira still exchanging at this level? I know I am not an economist, but my basic knowledge of how these things work tells me that something is not adding up. If we are producing more and exporting more than we are importing, it should increase our foreign reserves and in turn make our currency stronger.

Like millions of Nigerians, who want inflation down so that we can buy more with our naira, I am only trying to understand why we have not seen at least a 20 per cent appreciation of the local currency against other currencies.

If we are producing more and exporting more than we are importing, it should increase our foreign reserves and in turn make our currency stronger