FRIDAY 21ST NOVEMBER 2025

Major Win for Nestoil as Court Lifts Asset Freeze in Alleged $1 Billion Debt Dispute

Revokes alleged indefinite Mareva orders, restores control of assets to Nestoil Receiver/Manager to withdraw immediately from continued occupation of premises Affirms statutory power of Chief Judge to assign cases

Wale Igbintade

In a major legal victory for

Nestoil Limited and its affiliates, the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday, November 20, vacated the Mareva injunction that had frozen the company’s assets and those of its directors

over an alleged $1 billion debt claim.

Justice Daniel Osiagor issued

the order following transfer of

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www.thisdaylive.com

The United States House Foreign Affairs Africa Sub-committee yesterday held a public hearing on religious persecution in Nigeria and President Donald

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Nnamdi Kanu’s Terrorism Trial Ends After

10 Years, Bags Life Imprisonment Verdict

To be held in protective custody Abaribe: His life sentence a preconceived plot against the S’east Army dismisses fake ‘sit-at-home’ order, assures South-east of full security

came to an end yesterday after 10 years, with the court finally convicting him on all seven count amended charges. The court subsequently sen- tenced him to life imprisonment for committing acts of terrorism

Continued on page 9

L-R: Group CEO, Saroafrica-SIAT Group, Rasheed Sarumi and the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency, Sen. Uba Sani, at the signing ceremony of Saroafrica’s 20 million dollar landmark investment in large scale commercial seed production in Kaduna State to enhance improved seed availability nationwide

Dr. Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi

emmanuel addeh in Abuja

alex enumah, sunday aborisade and linus aleke in Abuja

The terrorism trial of leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the Federal High Court, Abuja,

L-R: University Chancellor, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto; Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, honoured with a Doctoral of Science (honoris causa); and Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, during the conferment of honourary doctorate degree of science by the University of Ibadan…recently

PROMOTING FG’s NIGERIA FIRsT POLICY...

Founder/Group Chief Executive Officer of Solewant Group,

former Nigeria’s

to Thailand and Founder of

Africa Energy Summit, held in Abuja... recently

CBN: Monetary Policy Adjustments Have Helped to Lower Lending Rates Amid Disinflation

Economist urges apex bank to deploy loan-to-deposit ratio to boost private sector liquidity

Eromosele Abiodun, Ndubisi Francis, James Emejo in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, Operations, Ms. Emem Usoro, yesterday said current monetary policy adjustments were supporting lower lending rates, as inflation continued to ease amid reforms by the apex bank.

Usoro stressed that inflation had declined to 16.05 per cent in October while the exchange rate stabilised below N1,500/$ with minimal volatility.

She spoke in Lagos at the opening of the CBN annual seminar for finance correspon- dents and business editors, with the theme, “Aligning Monetary and Fiscal Policies towards Achieving a Robust Financial System.”

Usoro stated that external reserves had exceeded $46 billion, providing over 10 months of import cover.

She attributed major achieve-

ment in the macro-economy to reform efforts by CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, on assumption of office in September 2023.

Represented by CBN acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali, Usoro said, “When the Governor, Olayemi Cardoso management team assumed office two years ago, the macroeconomic environment was challenging.

“Inflation was high, the naira was unstable due to forex scarcity, external reserves and oil receipts were low, and the economy faced significant FX backlogs and dependence on ‘Ways and Means’ financing. These conditions stressed the financial system and highlighted the urgent need for reforms.

“Guided by strong and transparent leadership, the bank implemented well-sequenced and compliance-driven measures, including orthodox

monetary policies, strengthened corporate governance, and the ongoing bank recapitalisation programme.

“These actions, aligned with the Federal Government’s reform agenda, have helped restore stability and improve key macroeconomic indicators.”

Usoro added that the achieve-

ments reflected the commitment of the central bank leadership under Cardoso and his team, and underscored the importance of the media in communicating the benefits and progress of reforms to the public.

She emphasised that effective communication strengthened public understanding and

supports successful policy outcomes.

However, the central bank deputy governor pointed out that while progress had been recorded, more work was needed to improve macroeco- nomic fundamentals and the standard of living for Nigerians.

She said, “This makes part-

nerships among policymakers, regulators, and the media even more important. Aligning fiscal and monetary policies is essential to strengthening the financial system, enhancing regulation, and ensuring resilience, especially as technological innovation and digital finance continue to expand.”

NSE, Partners Launch Engineering Olympiad to Spur Innovation among Young Professionals

The Nigerian Society of Engi- neers (NSE), alongside some key partners, yesterday launched the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), a platform for innovation and reward for young engineering professionals. The programme was unveiled in partnership with the Nige- rian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB),

House Gives 7-day Ultimatum to MDAs, Stakeholders to Submit Documents on Naira for Crude Probe

The House of Representa- tives Ad-Hoc Committee on Implementation and Oversight of the Naira-for-Crude Oil Policy has given a seven-day ultimatum to invited agencies to furnish it with requested documents on or before the 27th November 2025.

The committee lamented that despite ample notice, the majority of stakeholders failed to recognise the role of the legislative arm in working with the executive for the effective

implementation of the policy, by their failure to submit their required documents within the stipulated time frame.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Boniface Emerengwa, gave the ultimatum on Thursday in Abuja after agencies invited for the investigation failed to show up and refused to submit relevant documents requested by the committee.

He stated: “The investigative hearing scheduled for today, 20th November 2025, has been adjourned due to the

gross negligence and lack of seriousness displayed by relevant stakeholders.

“This dereliction of duty has not only undermined the integrity of the committee’s work but has also cast a shadow of unseriousness over a matter of national importance.

“The committee views this conduct as a blatant disregard for the legislative process and a disrespect to the Nigerian people whose interests we are mandated to protect. Let it be unequivocally stated: the committee is deeply disappointed.

Renaissance Africa Energy Com- pany (RAEC), First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P), and Enactus Projects Ltd/Gte.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, the President and Chairman-in-Council of the NSE, Mrs Margaret Oguntala, noted that the engineering profession remains the bed- rock of human development, maintaining that nations that have advanced through the field have done so by being intentionally strategic.

She explained that the Olympiad was envisioned as a

platform for similarly intentional engagement and a catalyst to reinvent engineering innovation in Nigeria.

Over the years, Oguntala stressed that Nigeria’s engineer- ing students have proposed intelligent inventions as final-year projects, yet there has been little deliberate effort to translate those concepts into viable products and services.

Too often, she pointed out that brilliant ideas end up gathering dust on library shelves instead of powering small and medium-scale enterprises, a narrative she said the olympiad

is designed to change. Oguntala emphasised that this will be mostly done by providing a structured pathway to carry academic innovations beyond the university and nurturing young engineers into real-life solutions that can drive economic growth and social development.

“As the foremost engineering professional body, the NSE believes that ideation – the birth of new ideas – is critical for professional development and community impact. Every great invention in history began with a single idea.

Yuletide: CBN Cautions Nigerians against Wrongful Handling of Naira Notes

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has called for caution in handling Naira notes, describ- ing it as Nigeria’s essential national symbol.

The apex bank stated this yesterday in Awka, during a fair organized in Awka, under the theme: “Driving Alternative Payment Channels

as Tools for Financial Inclusion, Growth and Accelerated Economic Development.”

The warning is coming ahead of the yuletide when several social activities are held, leading to wrongful use of the Naira notes through spraying, mutilating and others.

Acting Director of Corporate Communications Department

Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, who stated this during the fair called for caution in handling the notes. She said: “We strongly advise you to depend solely on information disseminated through the verified official channels of the Central Bank of Nigeria. I also encourage you to uphold and maintain the integrity of the Naira.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

L-R:

Mr. Solomon Ewanehi; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume;

Ambassador

The New Diplomat, Ambassador Oma Djebah; and Technical Aide to the SGF, Professor Bolaji Babatunde, at the end of a meeting on the

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

EMPOWERING AND EXPANDING WOMEN UK-NIGERIA TRADE...

L-R: Programme Management Officer, International Trade Centre, Dr.

Director, Policy and

Lagos State to Utilise N244.8bn Bond

Proceeds in Critical Infrastructure Devt

Fund to be expended on blue, red rail lines’ expansion to ease urban mobility, construction of Lekki-Epe airport road, housing, healthcare, others

Segun James and Kayode Tokede

The Lagos State Government yesterday announced plans to utilise proceeds from its recent bond issuance, totaling N244.8 billion, in critical infrastructure development.

The state achieved a historic milestone in Nigeria’s capital markets with the successful

signing and completion of a dual bond issuance, compris- ing a N14.815 billion Series 3 Green Bond and a N230 billion Series 4 Conventional Bond, under its N1 trillion Debt and Hybrid Instruments Issuance Programme.

The combined transaction represented the largest bond issuance ever by any State government in Nigeria and

the first subnational Green Bond in the country’s history.

The funds would be invested in key sectors such as transpor- tation, housing, environmental sustainability, healthcare, and education, aiming to drive sustainable and inclusive growth in the state.

Precisely, proceeds from the debt instrument are to be expended on expansion of the

Blue and Red Rail Lines to ease urban mobility; construction of the Lekki-Epe Airport Road to boost connectivity; development of affordable housing schemes for growing population; up- grading healthcare facilities, including a 280-bed hospital; installation of alternative solar power across schools in Lagos and establishing agro-produce hubs to strengthen food security.

Shettima Lauds Agribusiness Conglomerate’s Move to Create Over 6,000 Jobs with Multi-million-dollar Investment in Nigeria

Assures firm of security of its investments

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima has hailed the multi-milliondollar investment portfolio by African agribusiness conglomer- ate, Export Trading Group (ETG), in Nigeria, assuring that ongoing reforms by the administration of President Bola Tinubu will guarantee the company’s investment.

Shettima said the company’s interests across agro-logistics, fer- tiliser systems, seed production and industrial processing, among others, were commendable and

fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Tinubu.

Shettima made the assertions on Thursday when he received in audience a delegation from the ETG, led by its Global Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Niren Murugan, at State House, Abuja.

The vice president assured the ETG team, “You have been in the country since 2010, but this time around, you have decided to play a more active role in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain. This is where the action is. We have the population and abundance of resources for your

investments to thrive.

“All your investment decisions are wonderful. I am particularly thrilled by your interventions especially in seed development, oil processing, fertilizer blend- ing, and agricultural extension services, among others.

“I commend the efforts of your team in Nigeria in the selection of locations for the proposed Centres of Excellence.”

Shettima urged the company to explore the abundant op- portunities across the country to expand its stake in the country’s agricultural value

NDDC DCR Dept Set to Examine Conflict Dynamics in the Region Using Early Warning System as Resolution Tool

Sunday Okobi

The Department of Dispute and Conflict Resolution (DCR) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) yesterday reinstated its commitment to examine the landscape of conflict dynamics in the Niger Delta region, and explore best practice and innovations in the early warning systems to resolve conflict in the region.

The DCR further stated that it would also identify gaps in its existing frameworks and propose actionable solutions to strengthen inter-agency coordination and capacity for rapid response.

These promises were made yesterday at the retreat and summit organised by the DCR department, held in Lagos to “align our strategies with the Renewed Hope Agenda of

the president to ensure that peace and development go hand in hand in the Niger Delta region.”

In his lecture, one of the resource persons and keynote speaker, Professor Isaac Olawale Albert of the University of Ibadan, said the matter of utmost importance to the nation and, indeed, to the future of the Niger Delta region.

chain, particularly in boosting foodEarlier,production. ETG’s Global COO, Murugan, said his visit was to inform the vice president of the company’s investment portfolio in Nigeria, seek high-level alignment, secure government guidance, and accelerate coordination with stakeholders in the public sectors across all levels.

This was disclosed at the Lagos State Government Ministry of Finance/Debt Management Office (DMO) bond signing ceremony held in Lagos, which was attended by government officials, financial institutions, and investors.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu expressed gratitude to investors for their confidence in Lagos State and pledged to ensure prudent man- agement of public resources.

An elated Sanwo-Olu, said his administration was building a State that is not only prosper- ous but also environmentally secure for future generations.

The Governor added his administration would be leaving behind a sustainable infrastructural masterpiece for today’s Lagos and generations coming behind.

He said, “This is not just a financial transaction, but a global statement of confidence in Lagos’ future and a testament to our shared commitment to sustainable development.

“We are here to finalise the documentation for the

issuance of our Green Bond and Conventional Bond as part of the Lagos State N1 trillion Debt and Hybrid Instruments Issuance Programme.

“Since our administration took office, our journey in bond issuance has been pioneering. The first bond we issued in 2020, valued at approximately N100 to N110 billion, marked a record at the time. Each subsequent bond has surpassed its predecessor, and today we embark on another groundbreaking opportunity.” Sanwo-Olu stated further that, “Lagos State has issued Nigeria’s first subnational Green Bond, securing N14.815 billion.

“The enthusiastic response, with total bids reaching N29.29 billion to N27.79 billion of which were within the advised price guidance, affirms our vision for environmental responsibility aligned with the second pillar of our THEMES+ Agenda and our long-term goal of constructing a Lagos that is prosperous, resilient, and environmentally secure for future generations.”

Wesley Varsity VC: Human Life in Nigeria Now Less Valued than Animals’

Vice Chancellor of Wesley University, Ondo, Professor Samuel Obeka, has raised deep concerns over the declining value placed on human life in Nigeria, lamenting that “the life of animals now seems more appreciated than that of humans”.

Speaking on Thursday at a press briefing as part of activi- ties marking the university’s convocation ceremony, Obeka

warned that the country was drifting towards disaster unless urgent interventions were put in place to address insecurity and restore public confidence. He stated, “Our nation is passing through a traumatic experience. When I watch some of the messages online, I become worried. A country where free fellowship has become an issue of concern, where citizens are afraid to travel freely as we once did, where have we gotten it

wrong?”

Obeka recalled a time when clergy could travel at night to Maiduguri, Jos, and Damaturu for crusades without fear, but said such freedom was now lost.

“Today, a few people tagged as insurgents have weapons and attack innocent citizens freely without being arrested. It has come to a stage where Nigerians must have the liberty to use weapons and be trained for self-defence,” he stated.

Fidelis David in Akure

Michelle Kristy;

Strategy, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Dalhat Shehu Lawal; Officer, Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and the Executive Director/ CEO, NEPC, Nonye Ayeni, during the She Trades UK - Nigeria Trade Mission Summit, Theme: “Empowering Women, Expanding UK - Nigeria Trade” held in Abuja yesterday

PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN

COURTESY VISIT TO NCC...

Dr. Matthew Adepoju, Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) (L), and Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, during a courtesy visit to the Commission at the Commission’s head office in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday

Save Nigeria N900bn by Implementing Cargo Tracking Note, SEREC Tells FG

Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has urged the federal government to implement the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) and save the country an esti- mated N900 billion annually in revenue leakages. ICTN disclosed this in a document on its policy commentary on, “The Urgent Imperative of Implementing the ICTN in Nigeria,” which was issued to newsmen by its Head of Research, Dr. Eugene Nweke, on Thursday in Abuja.

Nweke stated that when implemented, ICTN could cut cargo clearance time by 25 to 35 per cent and curb trade malpractices by 40 per cent within 18 months, boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness and credibility in the regional maritimeDescribingeconomy. ICTN as a trade facilitation system aimed at improving transparency, security and efficiency in Nigerian ports, Nweke stated that it

enabled pre-arrival processing of cargo data for faster clear- ance, reduced demurrage and documentation time, curbed illicit trade, closed revenue leakages as well as enhanced Nigeria’s competitiveness in global maritime trade. He expressed concern that in spite of the Federal Executive Council’s approval of the imple- mentation of ICTN in 2023, it

was yet to be implemented.

The director stated that although various digital modernisation efforts were underway in the maritime sector, ICTN remained the key missing link needed to fully integrate trade intelligence across the system.

He emphasised that the continued delay in ICTN deployment posed critical

national risks, including rev- enue leakage, national security exposure, reputational deficit and a fragmented digital ecosystem.According to him, “Without this pre-verification system, Ni- geria’s trade regulators would continue to operate in a reactive intelligence model, allowing room for cargo under-declarationconcealment, and falsified

manifests.

“Experts estimated that the delay in implementation could lead to an estimated annual loss from non-standardized cargo declarations and transhipment concealment between N800 billion and N1.2 trillion.

“The delayed implemen- tation could also affect the smooth implementation of the National Single Window (NSW)

projected for the first quarter of 2026 and the modernisation drive of the Nigerian Customs Service.”

Nweke added that with customs modernisation advancing rapidly and the NSC approaching rollout, Nigeria must not operationalise these systems without ICTN integration or risk reinforcing data fragmentation.

Chappal Energies: EFCC Breached Due Process in Declaring Our CEO Wanted

Threatens legal action against anti-graft agency Says its operations remain uninterrupted

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Chappal Energies Thursday raised concern over a public notice by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declaring its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ufoma Immanuel, wanted.

The energy independent in a statement, noted that the decision was taken by

the anti-graft agency without any recourse to established procedures, despite the fact Immanuel and Chappal Energies remain fully reachable through their established official addresses, phone lines and electronic contacts.

In the notice issued on Wednesday, the EFCC had said that Immanuel was wanted in connection with an alleged case of obtaining money by

Resident Doctors Fault FG’s Claim of Settling NARD’s Demands

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD has dismissed as misleading claims by the Federal Ministry of Labour that substantial progress has been made in addressing the demands of strikingNARDdoctors. also defended its refusal to sign any Memorandum of Understanding, saying, “it is built on a foundation of unfulfilled promises and lacks clear, binding, and time-bound deliverables.

“We will not be party to an agreement that merely papers over cracks while our members continue to suffer. An MoU that does not guarantee immediate and verifiable action is not worth the paper it is written on.

“Our Position Remains Unchanged: The nationwide total, indefinite, and compre- hensive strike action, which commenced on 1st November 2025, continues. As resolved by our NEC, the strike will persist until our minimum demands are met.”

Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, had asked the resident doctors to suspend their strike, saying the federal government has made substantial progress in addressing their demands

In a statement on Wednesday, Dingyadi said with the high percentage of the association’s demands (19 out 20 demands) already being addressed in a series of negotiation meetings, NARD had no reason to continue the industrial strike.

false pretence and forgery.

“Chappal Energies is aware of the public notice issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding its Managing Director, Ufoma Immanuel. Enforcement actions under Nigerian law are governed by established procedures that require reasonable attempts at direct engagement through official channels before issuing or acting on a warrant.

“To our knowledge, no attempt was made to engage

Mr. Immanuel or the Company through these channels prior to the issuance of the notice, which creates the unfortunate impression of a public escalation where standard procedures were readily available.

“Both Mr. Immanuel and Chappal Energies remain fully reachable through their established official addresses, phone lines and electronic contacts, all of which are publicly available,” the company stated.

The statement noted that Chappal Energies and its

Directors have recently faced coordinated pressures linked to an ongoing civil dispute. These developments, it explained, ultimately led to an order by Hon. Justice J.E. Obanor of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, who on September 11, 2025 granted an interlocutory injunction restraining the EFCC and other listed respondents from inviting, questioning, arresting, detaining or otherwise acting against Immanuel or Chappal Energies.

Diversify Source of Income, Invest in Canadian Real Estate, Expert Tells Nigerians

Blessing Ibunge in Port

Harcourt

An investment expert, Mr. Andrew Enofe, has urged Nigerian investors and businessmen to diversify their funds by taking advantage of the lucrative Canadian real estate sector.

Enofe, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Golden Gate Investment made the call while speaking with journalists shortly after a meeting with potential

investors and businessmen in Port Harcourt. He said the stable Canadian economy and low inflation rate gives it an investment destination edge for most people seeking to diversify their funds.

He held that investing one’s funds in one country’s economy could be risky as an economic policy could wipe it off and render the investor handicapped, hence the need to diversify and look into other economies.

Enofe called on participants at the meeting to consider investing in an economy where their capital would be secured abroad while plowing back same into the Nigerian system. He explained that through the company’s facilities, Nigerian investors who wished to take advantage of the Canadian real estate sector can do that using their private funds, private mortgage funds, or real estate funds amongst others.

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

COP30: NALDA Seeks to Earn Carbon Credits from Farm Estates

James Emejo in Abuja

National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has commenced a strategic drive to generate high-integrity carbon credits from its expanding network of farm estates in a bid to accelerate rural wealth creation and lift thousands of Nigerians into the middleincome economy.

A carbon credit refers to a tradable certificate representing the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent from the atmosphere. These credits are generated

against Nigeria and the Nigerian people.

The pro-Biafran was first arrested in Lagos in 2015 and subsequently arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Abuja, before his re-arraignment at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The case went back and forth and was tried by four different judges of the Federal High Court, before its conclusion yesterday by Justice James Omotosho.

The trial was also stalled for about four years, when Kanu jumped bail and fled the country, following invasion of his family house in Abia State, by military personnel in 2017. He was rearrested in Kenya in 2021 and brought back to continue his trial.

In 2022, then trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, had dismissed eight out of the 15

Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”, with members expressing divergent opinions on the current situation in TheNigeria.hearing brought together lawmakers, human rights experts, as well as civil society organisations and advocates to discuss growing violence and alleged legal restrictions affecting religious communities in Nigeria, especially in the Northern part of the country.

In recent years, Nigeria has experienced security challenges, wherein non-state actors, including militant herders and terrorist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic States West Africa Province, as well and bandits have carried out attacks targeting both Christians and Muslims.

While a number of the speakers spoke in favour of designating Africa’s most populous nation as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’, a status reserved for nations engaging in systematic, ongoing, and serious violations of religious freedom, a handful of the speakers sought balance, maintaining that the issues were not as simplistic as being portrayed by the US.

Chair of the Panel, Chris

by projects that avoid, reduce, or remove greenhouse gas emissions, such as renewable energy or reforestation efforts, and are bought and sold in carbon markets to offset emissions elsewhere.

Speaking at the COP30 Side Event hosted by NALDA in Belém, Brazil, Executive Secretary/Chief Executive, NALDA, Mr. Cornelius Adebayo, said the authority’s carbon-credit initiative was not only a climate solution but also a socio-economic reform that empowers farmers.

Under NALDA’s Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estates, each farmer is allocated five

counts and ordered him to open his defence in the remaining seven count

The case also went all the way to the Supreme Court in 2023 before it was returned to the trial court.

Delivering judgement in the suit, yesterday, Omotosho found the defendant guilty on all the seven counts.

The judge held that the pros- ecution was able to established the ingredients of the charge against the IPOB leader.

The federal government had called five witnesses and tendered bundles of documentary and video evidences to prove that Kanu committed acts of terrorism through his broadcast on social media platforms, which led to the deaths of many Nigerians in the South-east.

The videos included several broadcast of the Biafra nation

Smith, who represents the State of New Jersey, in his opening remarks, described the hearing as critical to the systematic and accelerating violence against ‘predominantly’ Christian communities in Nigeria.

Quoting data from Open Doors, he stated that Over 52,000 Christians in Nigeria have reportedly been targeted and killed by Islamist extremists while approximately 34,000 moderate Muslims have been murdered in Islamist attacks since 2009.

However, he posited that the United States must not stand by idly, the reason why he has repeatedly championed legislation calling for action. According to Smith, while designating Nigeria as a country of concern is a first step, the US must also help the country to overcome its current security challenges.

“I applaud President Trump’s recent decisive action to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in and tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. This was a critical step, reversing an inexplicable and unjustified previous decision by the Biden administration that had only emboldened the purveyors of hate.

hectares of farmland, enabling them to earn sustainable agricultural income while also benefiting from a share of carbon credit revenues generated through structured tree-planting and estate-wide reforestation.

Adebayo said the authority was developing large-scale agricultural settlements ranging between 5,000 and 25,000 hectares, stating that its pioneer estates have begun in Ekiti and Kwara with over 1,200, and 1,050 hectares under cultivation.

He said the estates were fully mechanised and equipped with complete

agitator issuing various threats to Nigerians, including the en- forcement of sit-at-home orders to residents of the South-east region.Other video evidence included occasions where the IPOB leader described Nigeria as a zoo, issued threats against security personnel as well as threatened the destruction of public infrastructure, includ- ing banks, schools and police stations.

However, Kanu failed to open his defence in the seven count charge against him, resulting in the court foreclosing him and adjourning to November 20, forDeliveringjudgement. judgement, Omotosho stated that facts not controverted were deemed admitted, and subsequently found him guilty in count one, which bordered on committing

“But the designation is only the first step. Now, we must rigorously utilise every tool embedded in the International Religious Freedom Act of 1988, authored by Congressman Frank Wolf, and the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016, which I authored.

“I urge the State Department

the case from Justice Dehinde Dipeolu to his court.

The court declared that the disputed ex parte order had lapsed and was no longer in effect, after hearing arguments that the order became spent 14 days after the filing of a motion to set it aside, in accordance with the Federal High Court Rules.

Dipeolu had, on October 22, 2025, granted a far-reaching Mareva injunction restraining Nestoil, its affiliate, Neconde Energy Limited, and the company’s promoters, Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi and Nnenna Obiejesi, from tampering with funds, shares, and other assets in over 20 financial institutions.

The order had also empow- ered First Trustees Limited and FBNQuest Merchant

infrastructure, such as roads, irrigation systems, processing hubs, housing, and energy systems to function as full agricultural settlements.

He said, “As part of their sustainability framework, each estate will receive comprehen- sive perimeter fencing, along which NALDA will plant thousands of climate-resilient trees capable of generating significant carbon credits over time.

“This ensures that beyond food production and job creation, farmers within these estates can earn additional income from carbon markets, allowing them to transition

Acts of Terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by making broadcast with intention to intimidate the population.

The judge cited and quoted Kanu in some of his broadcast as saying Somalia would be a small thing compared to what would happen to Nigeria, if they failed to give them Biafra.

The court also cited another instance where Kanu had threatened that, “in the next two weeks, the slaughter will begin to happen… We are ready to die than be slaves… The army of Nigeria will die in Biafra land,” among others.

According to Omotosho, all the above scenario which were not controverted by the defendant amounted to acts of terrorism against Nigeria and punishable under the Terrorism Prevention Act.

Omotosho also found Kanu

to seriously consider supporting human-rights vetted Nigerian forces to defend and protect Nigerian Christians and moderate Muslims. First, we must condition U.S. foreign assistance. Aid must be tied to verifiable progress from the Nigerian government

Continued on page 36

Bank Limited, acting for a consortium of creditor banks, to take possession of Nestoil’s assets under receivership.

At yesterday’s proceedings, Babajide Koku, SAN, appeared for the plaintiffs; Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN, represented Nestoil; Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, leading Mr. Bode Olanipekun, SAN, appeared for Neconde Energy Limited; while Chinonye Obiagwu, SAN, and Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, represented the third and fourth defendants respectively. Counsel Olufemi Oyewole appeared for parties seeking to be joined. Addressing the court, Koku informed the bench that the plaintiffs had filed a Notice of Appeal challenging Dipeolu’s November 7, 2025 decision to recuse himself from the case.

from low-income status into the middle-income economy.

“This project will, no doubt, create no fewer than 12,000 direct jobs, 30,000 indirect jobs, and lift over 100,000 thousand lives out of poverty.”

Adebayo said, “Our goal is simple. We want to move Nigerians from a low-income bracket to a true middle-class economy. By combining agricultural productivity with carbon-credit earnings, farmers can become independent, prosperous and globally competitive.

“As global conversations continue on the integrity of carbon markets, finance flows,

guilty on count two, which bor- dered on making broadcast with intention to threaten members of the public with sit-at-home, especially in the five South-east states.

According to the judge, prosecution witnesses testified that due to Kanu’s threat of violence many banks, markets and churches were grounded.

He quoted the defendant as issuing a threat in his broadcast of May 30, 2021, wherein Kanu said, “tomorrow...there is complete lockdown... nobody should be seen outside tomorrow...if you want to be alive don’t come out tomorrow...we will burn you inside that shop.”

The judge, in holding that the statement Kanu made amounted to intimidation of people of the South-east, considering that they were predominantly Christians, who went to church and merchants who opened shopsBesides,daily.Omotosho pointed out that Kanu not being the president of Nigeria or a person of authority lacked the power to order a sit-at-home in the South-east or any part of Nigeria.

The judge concluded that the sit-at-home orders issued by Kanu were “unconstitutional” and “amounts to nothing more than a terrorist act”.

He stated that the record of appeal had been transmitted, and urged the court to halt proceedings pending the appeal.

Responding, Banire argued that filing a Notice of Appeal did not automatically stay proceedings. Citing Order 32 Rule 1 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2025, he submitted that the court retained inherent power to make preservative orders where necessary.

Chief Olanipekun highlighted that under Section 22(1) of the Federal High Court Act, the Chief Judge had statutory authority to transfer any matter at any stage, and such transfers were not subject to appeal. He further emphasised that once the matter was transferred, hearings must commence de

and climate justice, Nigeria is positioning itself as a country that brings solutions, not problems-collaboration, not complexity.

Similarly, the court found the defendant not only guilty of belonging to a proscribed group (IPOB), but being the leader of the group.

The court further convicted Kanu on counts four, five and six, which bordered on making a broadcast encouraging members of the public to kill Nigeria security officers, including the personnel of the Nigeria Police. According to the judge, the prosecution proved that Kanu by his many broadcasts incited his followers to violence, which resulted in the killing of security personnel, including Mr Ahmed Gulak, a former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, and the destruction of several properties, including police stations across the country. Similarly, the court found Kanu guilty on count seven, which bordered on illegal importation of a radio transmitter into the Beforecountry.handing down the sentence, the judge stated that he would not allow the unruly behaviour of the defendant to deny him the opportunity to plead for leniency.

The judge subsequently called one of his consultants, Alloy Ejimakor, to plead allocutus on behalf of the IPOB leader,

Continued on page 37

novo, and previous rulings could not bind the new court. He stressed that justice must balance the interests of the plaintiffs, defendants, and the state. Citing several authorities, Olanipekun added that the Supreme Court had repeatedly warned against indiscriminate grants of Mareva injunctions capable of suffocating businesses and eroding years of investment. Ogunwumiju and Obiagwu submitted that since the matter was restarting afresh, the ex parte injunction could not sur- vive the transfer. Ogunwumiju specifically stated that under the rules, an ex parte order automatically lapsed 14 days after a defendant filed a motion to discharge it.

Continued on page 33

Cornelius Adebayo

Former Governor obonG AttAh’s 87th birthdAy celebrAtion And presentAtion oF his bioGrAphy...

L-R: Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi; Former President Goodluck Jonathan; Celebrant and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Obong Victor Attah, his wife Mrs Peace Attah and wife of the minister of state for petroleum resources (gas) Lady Esitinbom Ekpo; during his 87th birthday celebration and the presentation of his biography titled “Attah: Architect of a New Democratic Dawn in Abuja ... yesterday

Tributes Pour In on Jonathan’s 68th Birthday, Foundation Clocks 10

deji elumoye, emmanuel Addeh, chuks okocha, sunday Aborisade in Abuja and blessing ibunge in Port Harcourt

Tinubu, Fubara, others eulogise ex-president President says Jonathan is guardian of democracy Fubara: He has made remarkable contribution to Nigeria Ex-President: Attah responsible for Akwa Ibom’s improved revenue PANDEF hails Jonathan, Attah of the state. Tinubu called for national unity and respect for democratic processes, urging Nigerians to accept electoral outcomes regardless of personal preferences.

President Bola Tinubu yesterday felicitated former President Goodluck Jonathan on his 68th birthday, noting the simplicity and humility that defined Jonathan’s style of leadership, particularly his demonstration of statesmanship during the 2015 presidential poll.

The President, in a release issued by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, joined family, friends, and political associates to celebrate the former President on this special occasion and for his contributions to nation-building.

Tinubu recalled his various meetings with the former President, and the support and counsel that made Jonathan’s ascent possible, particularly in 2010, and the presidential election of 2011.

Tinubu said he believed that Jonathan’s statesmanship has continued to inspire many

leaders, even as he takes up chal- lenging international diplomatic responsibilities, particularly in promoting democratic culture and values in Africa.

The President prayed for the wellbeing of the former President, his wife, Patience, and the rest of his family.

Separately, Tinubu described Nigeria’s former leader, Jonathan, as a guardian of democracy whose legacy has extended far beyond his time in office, characterising him as a profound lesson on life after public service.

Stressing that Jonathan preserved Nigeria’s democracy at a moment when it mattered most, Tinubu, who spoke during the 10th anniversary dinner of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Abuja, said the former president’s decision to establish the foundation demonstrates that life begins anew when we leave the high offices for which we are elected.

Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shet- tima said: “There can never be

enough words to express the depth of our national gratitude to him. (He has) remained the same guardian of our collective values since leaving office.”

Tinubu drew a contrast between leaders who use their post-office influence destructively and those who devote themselves to serving humanity. “Some choose a vehicle that serves only themselves, one that pursues causes capable of harming the very society that once carried them. The other group chooses a nobler path: devoting their life to the service of humanity,” he said.

The President warned that democracy across West Africa and globally has come under severe threat over the past decade, weakened by adventurists, by extremists and by actors intoxicated by power as well as by those who see institutions as inconveniences and elections as formalities.

He emphasised that Jonathan had demonstrated a crucial principle that nobody’s ambi- tion supersedes the sovereignty

WASSCE: WAEC Assures Inclusive

Full Computer-based Exam, Sets 2026 Deadline

boniface okoro in Umuahia and Funmi ogundare

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), yesterday, reaf- firmed its commitment towards migrating the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to a computer-based mode by 2026, assuring parents, schools and candidates that no student will be left behind in

the transition.

Chairman of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC) of WAEC, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir, who made this known at the formal opening of the 63rd annual meeting of the com- mittee in Umuahia, Abia State, disclosed that WAEC had already achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first examining body in Nigeria to conduct a

Computer-Based WASSCE (CBWASSCE) for school candidates, following last year’s rollout for private candidates.

She noted that although the federal government’s directive for full CB-WASSCE adoption in 2026 had generated concerns, the council was working closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure a smooth national transition.

“No matter whether our preferred candidates win or lose, we must learn to respect the wishes of those who vote differently. Because democracy offers us repeated opportunities to renew our mandates,” he added.

The President described the foundation as a template for everyone, noting that service is a continuum and that leaving office is not the end of one’s national duty but the beginning of a new chapter.

He said: “No government can succeed without the cooperation of its people, and no people can advance without a government that listens and leads with clarity. Our democracy stands because of people like former President Goodluck Jonathan. People who believe that the Nigerian state is bigger than any individual.”

Tinubu congratulated Jonathan and his team, expressing hope that the foundation would continue to be a light on our path toward a more peaceful and prosperous Africa.

Earlier, the former President thanked Shettima, former President Ernest Koroma of Sierra Leone and other dignitaries for the honour of attending his Foundation’s 10th anniversary. Recalling the incident that led to the birthing of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, the former President said the focus of the foundation was prompted by his experience and challenges while in office as Nigeria’s leader.

He said over the years, the foundation has paid close atten- tion and worked relentlessly on the issues of diplomacy, good governance, election management and promoting the development of democratic institutions.

Jonathan expressed his condolences over the recent incidents of abduction and attack on citizens across the country, calling on political leaders to be more responsible to the is- sue plaguing the security and wellbeing of Nigerians.

Also speaking, the guest speaker, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, underscored the sig- nificance of functional democracy in Nigeria, emphasising that the youths must be at the centre of all interventions.

He said building a stable future for Africa must be anchored on the functionality of democratic institutions, effective youth em- powerment schemes, a free press and an independent judiciary.

Chambas extolled the leadership qualities of President Goodluck Jonathan, describing him as an African leader who believes in the values of true democracy and the sanctity of human lives, noting that the former president has proven his relevance even outside public office.

Also present at the event were former President of Sierra Leone, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma; former First Ladies, Dame Patience Jonathan and Hajiya Maryam Abacha; Former Secretaries to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim and Mr Boss Mustapha; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Waziri Tambuwal; former Governors of

Emeka Ihedioha; Sokoto, Attahiru Bafarawa; Adamawa, Boni Haruna; Plateau, Chief Jonah Jang; philanthropist, Hajiya Bola Shagaya; former deputy governors; serving and former legislators; former Ministers; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and captains of Industry, among others.

Also, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has felicitated with the former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on his 68th birthday. Fubara, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi praised the former President for his leadership qualities and commitment to Hedemocracy.

eulogised former president Jonathan for his contributions to the nation’s development, particularly during his tenure as President.

The governor stated: “On behalf of my family, Government and the good people of Rivers State, praised Dr Jonathan for his leadership qualities, commitment to democracy, peace, unity and development”, noting that his patriotic and selfless service to the nation, Africa, and the world have been truly exemplary.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Rivers State, I warmly congratulate His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on his birthday today. We eulogise his remarkable achievements and contributions to our nation’s development, particularly during his tenure as President. His commitment to democracy, peace, unity and stability has earned him respect and global admiration.”

PhOtO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE

Imo,

L-R: Managing Editor, Business Hallmark Newspaper, Mr. Uche Chris; Chief Executive Officer, Nordica Fertility Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi; international journalist and author of ‘Why Some Men Shoot Blank Shot and Infertility: What You Must Know Before Saying, I Do’, Uche Akolisa; Managing Director, Deo Science Discovery World, Festac, Lagos, Mr. Dennis Osadebe; and Medical Director, LivingSpring Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Joseph Akinde, during the book launch/fertility lecture in Lagos… recently

L-R: President of SONUBTHA International, Philomena Kerobo; Chief Medical Director, UBTH, Prof. Idia Nibokun-Ize-Iyamu; and SONUBTHA International Financial Secretary and Founder, Mrs. Mabel Okungbowa, during the presentation of medical equipment to SCBU and School of Midwifery, as well as scholarship awards to some deserving students of the College of Nursing Sciences in Benin-city, Edo State… recently

L-R: Executive Sous Chef, Marriott Hotel Ikeja, Mr.

Some members of the Tailors Association of Nigeria, Agodo branch, presenting an award of excellence and appreciation to the Chairman, Oredegbe CDA Ijagemo/the newly installed Tayeshe of Ifeodaye of Alimosho, Chief Olusesi Babatunde Afeez (middle) in Lagos… recently

and Chief Executive Officer, King

of this year’s World Food Day celebration

Members of staff and management of the Mother and Child Specialist Hospital, OwaAlero, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State during a health walk on the need for healthy living, held at Owa-Alero… recently

Samson Balogun; Head of Marketing and Partnerships, Leky Mills Limited, Tracy Dabul; Team Lead, Foodclique Support Initiative, Mr. Ibrahim Onilegbale; Administration Manager, Eric Kayseri Limited, Funmi Williams;

Glab Cuisine, Mr. Segun Anifowose Johnson, at a symposium organised by the Foodclique Support Initiative in commemoration

held at Alausa, Lagos… recently

L-R: Members, Nnokwa Progressive Union (NPU), Chief Ndubusi Udeh and Mr. Chinedu Orji; representative of wife of the Chairman, Africa Export and Import Bank Limited, Mrs. Nkieru Ezeagwu; representative  of Chairman, Africa Export and Import Bank Limited/Special Guest of Honour, Dr. Uchenna Ezeagwu; Chairman, NPU, United Kingdom branch, Mr. Ifeanyi Ezenwamme; cleric, Pastor John Achu; and Chairman, Awards Ceremony Committee, Hon. Chibuzor  Ibezim at NPU, UK branch National Convention/Iriji Festival/Special Awards and Recognition Ceremony held in London… recently

Politics

As S’West Monarchs Support Special Seats for Women Bill...

Traditional rulers from South West region at a recent forum with female civil society groups in abuja charge National assembly to swiftly pass the Special Seats Bill to boost women’s representation. Sunday Aborisade reports.

Last Friday in Abuja, Nigeria witnessed a political moment unusual not only for its scale, but for the symbolic weight behind it. More than 100 traditional rulers from the six states of the South-West geo-political zone, who are custodians of centuries of Yoruba history and social authority, sat shoulder to shoulder with women’s rights coalitions, civic groups, and policy experts.

The monarchs, who were led by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwunsi Ojaja Il, include Oba Joseph Moronfoye OkuntolaOni, Onigbaye of Igbaye Osun State; Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, Oore of Otun Ekiti, Ekiti State; Oba Dr Sunday Aikuirawo Aniyi Obaleo of Erinmope Ekiti, Ekiti State; Oba Dr Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Deji of Akure, Ondo State; Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye, Olowo of Owo, Ondo State; Oba Dr Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, Alara of llara Epe, Lagos State; Oba Dr Adeoriyomi Oyebo, Obateru of Egbin, Lagos State; Oba Olawale Oyebola Adeyeri Asipa, Aseyin Aseyin, Oyo State; Oba Sunday Oyediran, Onipetu Ogbomosho, Oyo State; Oba Sulaiman Adekunle Bamgbade Ayodele Ill, Olofin of Isheri;Ogun State; Oba Benjamin Olanite, Onimeko Imeko, Ogun State; Oba Joseph Adewole, Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State and Oba Jacob Adetayo Hastrup, Lumobi Imobi, Osun State.

Their mission was clear: to push, with unprecedented unity, for the National Assembly to pass the Special Seats Bill for Women, the most ambitious constitutional effort so far to correct Nigeria’s entrenched gender imbalance in elected governance.

The gathering, facilitated by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), was neither ceremonial nor perfunctory. It was agenda-driven, strategically timed, and politically deliberate. With the National Assembly already warming up constitutional amendments for the 10th Assembly, advocates believe this moment may be the closest the country has come to enshrining guaranteed legislative representation for women.

But what electrified the room, and what has since reframed national conversations, was the dramatic entry of the South-West traditional institution into what has long been a battle led mainly by women’s advocacy groups.

Seated at the centre of the hall, robed in white and gold, was His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, leading the royal delegation and serving as the face of a new moral and cultural front for the Bill.

And from the moment he began to speak, it became clear that the politics of the Special Seats Bill may never be the same again.

The Ooni did not mince words. He did not hedge. He did not speak like a neutral observer. Instead, he delivered a passionate, almost prophetic appeal, partly sermon, partly political argument, and partly cultural rebuke.

The monarch said, “We treat women like caterpillars that clear the road. They prepare the road, they nurture us, they build the platform. And when it is time to move forward, we tell them they cannot pass on the same road they built.”

For a room filled with female intelligentsia and political strategists, the message was unmistakable: this was an intervention from the heart of Yoruba traditional authority, insisting that the exclusion of women from political decisionmaking has become a cultural injustice, not just a constitutional flaw.

According to the Ooni, the Bill, which proposes six additional Senate seats per geo-political zone, 37 in the House of Representatives, and 108 across state assemblies, is “the minimum acceptable corrective step.”

He said, “We must give women more inclusion, more participation in anything we do. They produce, nurture and multiply everything we give them, yet we treat them as afterthoughts. It is not fair.”

The monarch then issued what may become one of the most consequential political pledges of the year: South-West monarchs, he said, would

mobilise their subjects, including political leaders, community stakeholders, and, critically, their children and protégés now serving in elected positions.

Ooni said, “We understand how to speak to our subjects. We are not using force, but appealing with wisdom. And we are fully

supporting this Bill.”

He also extended praise to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, calling her “mother of the nation” whose long years in advocacy for the girl child had paved the way for the moment.

If the traditional rulers gave the day its soul,

NILDS provided its political and intellectual backbone.

In his agenda-setting address, NILDS DirectorGeneral, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman made a clear and data-driven case for affirmative action, warning that Nigeria’s current level of women’s representation, which is less than 5% nationally, is not only indefensible but “a structural failure that decades of elections have failed to correct.”

This, he argued, is what makes the Special Seats Bill not just desirable but inevitable.

“Across Africa, affirmative action has transformed political systems,” he said, citing examples: Rwanda, with over 60% women in parliament. Tanzania, where “special seats” increased women’s legislative presence to 37%. Uganda, whose district woman-representative system has produced a pipeline of female political leadership.

Senegal, where a parity law now ensures that women occupy over 40% of parliamentary seats.

Sulaiman further said, “These are not theories. They are African models that have enhanced the quality of governance. When women are at the table, policy outcomes improve in education, healthcare, social welfare and human security.”

NILDS, he explained, convened the meeting because legislative reform must align with both institutional design and cultural legitimacy.

“Traditional leadership has moral authority. Political leadership carries constitutional authority. Today, both have come together. It was a carefully constructed coalition,and one that may prove decisive.”

While monarchs and NILDS provided strategy and symbolism, civil society brought urgency and painful statistics.

Former ActionAid Country Director and member of the 100 Women Lobby Group, Ene Obi, delivered what became the most sobering intervention of the day.

She began by pointing to the stark gender deficit in Nigeria’s legislative bodies: Only four women in the 109-member Senate.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Abia Lawmaker’s Broken Head Defies Explanation

abia State House of assembly has found itself in a difficult situation to extricate itself from an embarrassing event involving two of its members over alleged sharing of money. Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo captures the concentric layer of doubts that follows every explanation by the dramatis personae.

For a legislature that cuddles opacity in its affairs, the Eighth Abia State House of Assembly got a big jolt when an uncomfortable story and accompanying picture surfaced on the internet. It was about a bloody exchange between two lawmakers over the sharing formula of a financial gift. The largese was said to have come from Governor Alex Otti in appreciation for a legislative job done for him by the House.

The money sharing meeting in Aba at the home of Hon Fyne Ahuama, who represents Osisioma Ngwa South State Constituency, could have passed off quietly without attracting public attention more so as only the ruling Labour Party caucus was involved. But Hon Akachukwu Ucheonye, who represents Aba Central State Constituency, came out with a bloodied head hence the cat was eventually let out of the bag.

For almost two months the incident that happened in August, 2025, was covered and sealed up. However, the veil was lifted when an ostensibly interested person decided to leak the information to an online platform.

A distressing photo of Ucheonye with a gash on the right side of his head oozing blood was trending.

A video clip depicting him receiving medical attention also surfaced. While the lawmakers were taken aback by the exposure of the aftermath of their secret dealing, the Abia opposition camp feasted on the rather

scandalous incident.

According to reports, the apple of discord was an unspecified amount of money meant as a pat on the back after a supplementary budget of N150 billion was hurriedly passed in the last week of July. The way and manner the supplementary budget was passed by the Abia Assembly left much to be desired. It was passed with no amendment whatsoever and the speed with which the passage of the bill into law was carried out succeeded in not attracting media attention.

It was on August 15, 2025 that Governor Otti acknowledged the existence of the supplementary appropriation during his

monthly media chat. He merely mentioned it in passing while giving updates on the progress of work on his projects, saying the Assembly had “already passed the supplementary budget”.

He neither mentioned the figure involved nor elaborated on why he asked for additional N150 billion barely six months into the implementation of the N750.3 billion Abia “Budget of sustained momentum” in 2025.

The executive supplementary appropriation which was sponsored by the Majority Leader was lauded by the lawmakers. They could not conceal their eargerness to do the bidding of the Abia chief executive after the House Speaker, Rt Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa, had read the accompanying correspondence from the Governor. He stated that the bill was meant for the services of Abia Government for the year ending December 31, 2025, and for other related purposes.

To underscore the urgency of the supplementary appropriation bill tagged HAB 33, Emeruwa pledged accelerated passage. In elaborating on the bill, the Majority Leader described it as “a straightforward bill” that needs no amendment. He emphasised that the support of every member of the House was needed for its accelerated passage in view of the infrastructural development activities of Governor Otti across the state.

NOTE:

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TINUBU, OBOREVWORI AND DELTA SECURITY

Delta is critical to the realisation of the Tinubu vision, argues RAY UMUKORO

TURAKI AND THE CALL FOR INTERVENTION

EMMA AGU argues that Turaki’s invitation to Trump is a bold, patriotic call against democratic backsliding in Nigeria

opinion@thisdaylive.com

JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA laments the difficulties of even getting our football out of the valley

WHERE NIGERIAN FOOTBALL MEETS ITS INSECURITY

This week has been one of our worst in many years, starting on Sunday when the Super Eagles were finally delivered from their miserable FIFA World Cup journey. Then there was Kebbi, Kwara and a host of other tragedies; terrorism, banditry, accidents. It’s been a bloody week. Nigeria has been fighting terrorism for about a decade and a half now. In that time, it’s done almost everything when it comes to engaging terror militarily and on other fronts. What Nigeria hasn’t done enough of is provide opportunities for its teeming young population to be engaged, not just in work but in fun. This has cost us on multiple fronts; disastrous showings at major sporting events, inability to qualify for even the ones we once dominated, not to mention the pool of young people who now form the army for those whose means of livelihood is to mete out terror.

The options are just so limited and even platforms that once thrived, like school sports, have become a thing of the past. The Super Eagles not qualifying for the World Cup after one of its poorest runs ever, four wins in regulation time out of 12 games, and the upsurge in insecurity may appear to be two different news stories but they are aligned in the lack of development plan for sports in the country.

The Nigerian youth doesn’t feel they’ve got options here. Those who can are leaving, those who can’t are doing everything they can to, those without hope take to crime in different forms whilst the privileged and hopeful stay building here. Almost every country has to deal with one form or the other of these categories of young people, but we’ve got enough of them to make a country; those who have given up hope and are taking up arms against the state, in different forms.

There are ramifications for a country missing out on the World Cup beyond the players. Multidimensional outcomes, but the biggest loser, without a doubt, is the player whose career is defined by their absence at the World Cup. In that sense, one cannot cry more than the bereaved. Everyday people are either back at their desk or on their way to work or in search of same. Life must go on. The bigger costs extend beyond these Super Eagles players. Think of the young people who are far from playing for the national team. Grassroots players and their ability to access opportunities abroad becomes even more limited. The football economy squeezes a little

harder, for everyone involved, players, journalists, photographers, marketers, brands, entrepreneurs.

On the whole, the Morocco minitournament was a false dawn. We have been abysmal at this series since the very beginning. That we drew seven out of 12 games in regulation time tells its own story. Even with a lifeline, we could only produce two draws, 1-1 each time. We drew more than fresh okra in these series. Our viscosity would have made okra draw back in shock. We just never flowed. We did our best not to qualify.

Missing out on one is bad enough, on two, back to back compounds all the negative effects. Those at the helm of Nigerian football over the last decade have not moved the needle a tad forward. The Super Eagles may be the greatest reflection of that but a look at all the national teams, U/17, U/20, U/23 reflects the depth of our fall. The Super Falcons are enjoying their head start over the rest of Africa, their results don't reflect the state of our football, it is despite it.

In that period, Morocco has shown us that prayers isn't what is required to do great in sports development. It is intentionality, design and commitment to sporting excellence. If God be for everyone, calling on God to moderate your mediocrity or lack of preparation amounts to asking God to cheat for you. Never has Nigeria built a team solely dependent on one player. Morocco are showing us that, to every action, there are multiple order reactions. Matter of fact, that it was in that country we were hosted to lose the ticket we never deserved to win is a reflection of the great work the country's football system has been putting in place for years now. Whether or not they win AFCON, the

legacy is telling and obvious enough, on and off the field. They are already winning. And whilst in Achraf Hakimi they now have the African Player of the Year, they haven’t a built team that is dependent on one player like ours depends almost solely on Victor Osimhen.

We led ourselves here. The players did play the games and were responsible for the result they got. That said, they are also victims of a system that was designed to only hope on their talents rather than a design that'd have thrived even amidst limited talent. Some 48 teams are going to the next World Cup, any country that does not qualify cannot blame it on luck. You had to be really poor to the point of being a disaster to miss out on a World Cup where almost every other country will appear. This is where we are now, rock bottom.

What are we going to do about it? That we are here isn't even as big a mess as the fact that nothing will change. For a sport that is such a great contributor to the GDP elsewhere, it is such a shame we have no clue how to even help it thrive at the lowest of levels, let alone build layers of opportunities and excellence on top of it. We started Lagos Liga to address the shortage of opportunities for Nigerian footballers. But it’s a drop in the ocean. Between the Nigerian ruling class and its corporate elites, they must either work out a way to expand opportunities for our young people or continue to negotiate the outcomes of terror for another decade and half. Enough has to be enough.

Omojuwa is chief strategist, Alpha Reach/BGX Publishing

Delta is critical to the realisation of the Tinubu vision, argues RAY UMUKORO

TINUBU, OBOREVWORI AND DELTA SECURITY

In the spirit of the Renewed Hope agenda, President Bola Tinubu should be upbeat about the recent security development in Delta State. On Wednesday, October 15, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori formally launched the Delta State Security Trust Fund. This launch rings with a note of determination and verve. It has a renewed focus on public-private partnership in the real sense of such arrangement.

Oborevwori did not mince words. He was serious about the necessity of such Fund and the collaboration with the private sector. Aside fulfilling the constitutional duty of government to protect the lives and property of the citizenry, the focus on security by Delta state government syncs with the ambition of the Tinubu government to grow Nigeria’s economy to a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

Many Nigerians have questioned the feasibility of the Tinubu’s ambition. But recent developments in the economy typified by improved external reserves, clearance of backlog of forex debts to companies operating in Nigeria, dipping inflation, increasing non-oil export among others, point to a healing national economy. In that mix of turnarounds and stimulants of economic rebound is the iron-cast resolve of the President to ensure a spike in crude oil production at a time when importation of petrol and allied products is being curtailed by resurgent indigenous production of the same products which ultimately frees up the dollar reserve. It is on this premise that whatever happens in Delta should matter to the President and Nigerians at large.

Delta as one of the topmost oil-producing states in Nigeria holds the ace in this journey to a $1 trillion economy. From 2023 to 2024, Delta was Nigeria’s top producer of crude oil and condensates, maintaining a wide lead over other states.

Data by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which covered crude oil and gas production figures from November 2023 to September 2024 placed Delta at the cusp of oil-bearing states as the chief driver of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon economy. In post-Independence Nige-

ria, Delta State has played key role in the development of Nigeria. As a critical part of the oil-rich Niger Delta region, it has had its fair share of oil-induced violence and crimes, internecine upheavals and in some cases inter-communal crisis. All of this impaired the security of the state with reported cases of shooting, arson, piracy, illegal oil bunkering and other vices. The result was that some oil and gas companies and those in related services shipped out of the state and out of the country. Some declared force majeure and quit. This development stymied oil production. The aftermath was reduced forex earnings from crude oil and loss of jobs due to shuttered oil corporates. But Oborevwori has reset the insecurity algorithm of Delta. The communal crises that once rocked the ‘Big Heart’ state has ceased. The restiveness of the youths has stanched by the stroke of youth engagement and undeniable development. It is a development model worth replicating across the nation. A bottom-up approach which minds both the vertical and horizontal pillars of development in a multicity and multi-ethnic state. He won the confidence of the people by keeping the books open. He did not just make electoral promises for votes amassment. He has been keeping to his words. Upskilling the people, building infrastructure and fostering a conducive environment for both endogenous and exogenous investments. As the investors of Delta origin have ramped up their investments in the state, so has Delta continued to attract multinationals in diverse fields.

All the socio-economic indicators point to a state on the ascendancy in a season of Renewed Hope. Knowing that only insecurity can burst the bubble of steady advancement, Oborevwori is staking everything in his arsenal to ensure that the state is secured. He believes, like President Tinubu, that the surest path to development is the path of peace and security.

For sure, Oborevwori recognises the diversity of the state which also reflects the diversity of the needs of the people. On this, he has carefully structured wealth and infrastructure distribution to suit the different needs of the variegated communities, from rural communes to urban centres.

Umukoro, policy analyst, writes from Warri

EMMA AGU argues that Turaki’s invitation to Trump is a bold, patriotic call against democratic backsliding in Nigeria

TURAKI AND THE CALL FOR INTERVENTION

If anyone had thought that the newly elected PDP Chairman, Tanimu Turaki’s invitation to Donald Trump and the international community to intervene in Nigeria’s disturbing political debacle would go unnoticed or unchallenged, such a person would be slumbering in dreamland.

If everyone else forgot, certainly it wouldn’t be the members of the vibrant media team of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Of course, such a response would be perfectly understandable given that any proposed action against Nigeria would touch off on his mandate!

Thus, I was not surprised when I read that Bayo Onanuga, the President’s fearless spokesman had described Turaki’s call as treasonable. For the avoidance of doubt, at his first meeting after his election last Saturday, Turaki had asked President Donald Trump to save Nigeria’s democracy. That invitation was actually a throwback to Trump’s subsisting threat to send ‘gunsa-blazing’, to stop what he described as Christian genocide in Nigeria. Trump’s allegation has been vehemently denied by the Federal Government.

Condemning the invitation to Trump and the United States into what is a mere intra-party squabble, Onanuga cautioned Turaki to take heed that ‘we would never forget’.

Onanuga would have been failing in his duty if he had not responded to Turaki’s invitation to Trump. As the President’s apex spokesperson (he speaks for the President while the information minister speaks for the government), any statement or action that touches on the nation’s sovereignty should be within his remit. However, Onanuga’s position raises a number of posers.

To start with, what was treasonable in Turaki’s call? For another, did Turaki step out of precedent in calling on Trump to intervene? Is this the first time that the Nigerian elite is calling on the United States to intervene, one way or the other, in Nigeria’s internal affairs? By the way, hasn’t Nigeria intervened in the internal affairs of other countries? Lastly, is a clarion call to the international community, of which Nigeria is part, to intervene in redirecting Nigeria’s convoluted democratic path not preferable to a resort to self-help by the people?

Before answering the above posers, it is important to understand the background to Turaki’s desperate invocation. Yes! You read me correctly. There is an active disagreement among leaders of the party who share divergent views on the direction that the party should follow. At the centre of the disagreement is the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike who, as a former governor, has been a leading member of the party until his recent expulsion, at the party’s elective national convention, last Saturday, for antiparty activities.

Wike has all long insisted that he would back the incumbent President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2027, implying that his

party would not field a candidate. If that is not anti-party, nothing else would qualify as one. The belief is that, despite pious pronouncements of goodwill towards the party, Wike’s real intentions have been to either control the party at all levels to achieve his goal or destabilize it through his surrogates. His suspension, with his surrogates, is seen as a last-ditch effort to rescue the party from total collapse and to provide Nigerians with an alternative platform that parades the organisational capacity, grassroots spread, institutional memory and possibly, the financial muscle to wrest power from the APC in 2027.

But it has been a tough battle. And there is a growing concern that what is playing out dangerously mimics the dark days of the First and Second Republics. On both occasions, the unguarded desire of the government in power to emasculate the opposition had sparked a chain of irreversible events that culminated in military coups. With some officers already in detention for acts prejudicial to military discipline, it can be said without any fear of contradiction that the country is now perching dangerously on the precipice of an implosion.

The only way out is a virile opposition. But virtually all the opposition parties are afflicted by one destabilizing virus or the other. To make matters worse, agencies of government that ought to mediate these crises seem to be either heavily compromised or comatose. With judicial, executive and other institutional bodies stacked heavily against those who wanted to keep the PDP alive, it is not surprising that Turaki, in his first public speech, called global attention to the dangerous situation in Nigeria.

Turaki’s concerns are not without justification. First, should democracy fail in Nigeria, it will be a very unfortunate drawback to the sustenance of democracy in Africa. If such a failure is accompanied with the ever-looming religious and ethnic conflict, the attendant refugee implosion and economic paralysis would travel beyond the West African sub-region. Such a prospect would also impact adversely on the global community. It is in this context that Turaki’s call should be regarded, not as a treasonable act as Onanuga has alleged, but as a genuine, patriotic and timely plea, to the global community, to avert the clear and present danger. Agu is a Veteran Journalist

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

AND THE GENERAL DIED

Musa Uba, a brigadier-general, dies in the frontline

The tragic death of Brigadier General Musa Uba is a huge national loss. He was commander of the 25 Brigade in Damboa, Borno State, before he fell victim to an attack by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents. General Uba was ambushed, captured, and executed by the terrorists. We join the government and the people of Nigeria in mourning the loss of this hero.

In this war against terrorism, our armed forces are directly challenged to perform their constitutional role of defending Nigeria and its citizens. General Uba fell in the discharge of that duty. In a nation where patriotism has been largely trivialised, the sacrifice of one heroic life in the service of our collective existence and national survival is patriotism of the highest order. We urge the authorities to assuage the tragedy of his loss through generous support to his family. Besides, the life and death of an illustrious hero such as General Uba should be an object lesson to our leaders and the generality of our people. To live and perhaps die in defence of the nation and fellow citizens is perhaps the most noble of sacrifices.

uated from the Nigerian Military School.

The loss of a General in a theatre of war sends the message that the counter insurgency war has entered a serious national emergency. It is therefore not enough to condole the bereaved family or mechanically affirm the casualty. Political authorities in the country must admit that we have a serious external invasion to deal with. We are also dealing with enemies who have a clear territorial objective that is at variance with Nigeria’s national interest.

The time has come to realise the severity of the threat to our national security by reassessing the current strategies

T H I S D AY

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU

DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE

MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI

Born on 27th January 1978 in Zamfara State, Uba was in August 1996 enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) where he studied political science and international relations. Following his graduation in August 2001, he was posted to the Infantry Corps where he rose through the ranks to become a Brigadier General in August 2024. He also held various staff, instructional and command appointments before being appointed as Commander for the Damboa sector, one of the most dangerous locations that has claimed no fewer than three senior officers in recent years. Musa Uba was married and blessed with children, one of whom just grad-

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH

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DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor

Beyond the case for adequate training and equipment of the military, the issue of commensurate welfare has been raised several times. For years, there have been pathetic reports on the plight of military widows and their children. Indeed, in many cases, entitlements and benefits of those killed in the line of duty were hardly paid promptly, leaving their families and dependents to the vagaries of the harsh social and economic situations. What is even more alarming is the sheer number of families faced with this colossal tragedy. From a never-ending Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast to general banditry in the Northwest, to herder-farmer crisis in the North Central, and sundry other criminalities in other parts of the country, many of our military personnel are constantly paying the supreme price.

We must also recognise that the current violence in Nigeria speaks to a national psychology that has devalued human life to the lowest level. Across the country, hundreds of people are being killed almost daily either by criminal cartels or lone wolves who seem to have overpowered the capacity of the state. But the situation becomes more worrisome when these criminals also target our military personnel. The time has come to realise the severity of the threat to our national security by reassessing the current strategies.

Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

JUSTICE FOR CHILDREN ABUSED FOR WITCHCRAFT

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches is disappointed by the way the police and government in Bayelsa are handling the case of children abused for witchcraft in the state. About a week ago, the police arrested an inspector, Sunday Idey, for accusing and subsequently abusing his children for belonging to a witch coven. People circulated images of the children with serious injuries on social media. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches contacted advocates in the state, and they confirmed the story. They noted that the children were in a hospital receiving treatment. Given the severity of the abuses, AfAW, with Do Foundation, and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) applied to the Ministry for Women's Affairs for temporary custody so that the children could be medically checked and rehabilitated before handing them over to the family. AfAW urges the commissioner of police to ensure prop-

er investigation and prosecution of the suspect. Meanwhile, from the information reaching the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, the police have compromised on this matter. Regarding the investigation, the police had asked the suspect to go for a psychiatric test. Sources in Yenegoa are saying the police had asked him to go for the test outside the state. AfAW had been informed that this was a way the police planned to get him to escape and evade prosecution. A legal expert in Yenegoa who heard about this development stated, "I have always suspected this. Why would it be the police who would evaluate the mental state of the perpetrator? If he wants to rely on insanity, we know that it is a defense, so it should be the defendant pleading it and proving the same, while the prosecution, whose duty is to prove guilt, counters the plea with superior evidence". Apparently, the police are trying to exonerate

the suspect without charging him in court. This is sad.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has messaged the Commissioner of Police(CP) notifying him about this concern: "Dear CP, I am writing concerning the case of a police inspector who has been arrested for abusing the children for witchcraft. We are worried about how the case is going and how it would reflect on your office and the credibility of the Nigerian Police. First, we have been informed that he has been recommended for a psychiatrist test, and the plan is for him to travel outside Bayelsa for this test. Meanwhile, we have been informed that there are competent doctors who can conduct this test in Bayelsa. That the idea to get him to go conduct the test outside is a pretext to help him evade justice".

Leo Igwe, director of the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, Columbia, Maryland, in the United States.

RATES AS AT Nov E mb ER 20,2025

Chinedu Eze

Despite the deployment of advanced technology to expedite passport processing, coupled with the increase in the official rate of international passports by the federal government, officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) are still extorting passport applicants, an undercover

investigation carried out by THISDAY has revealed.

A Nigerian who recently applied for passport, and was asked to pay additional money or his passport would not be processed, narrated his experience to THISDAY.

The applicant revealed that he went to the Nigeria Passport Office at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos and after filling

the form online and made payment of N208, 000, for 10 years passport, one of the officials attached to the office of the Passport Controller Officer (PCO) insisted that he must pay N5000 cash before his passport would be processed.

According to the applicant, “I told him I don’t have the money but he insisted I must pay. The

visibly angry officer told me, “you have the money to pay N208, 000 but you cannot pay N5000.” I called my auntie and told her about it, and she called a senior official in Abuja. I am sure the official in Abuja called the PCO, and the official was still insisting that I should pay, but I refused. He took me to the PCO who asked

me my name. I told him and he asked me not to pay. That was how I did not pay but others who were also processing their passports paid the money. Some did not even ask questions. They just paid.”

THISDAY investigation confirmed that officials in all the passport offices except Abuja ask for additional payment and

many Nigerians are angry because after increasing the price of the passport, raising cost of five years passport to N100, 000 with N4000 service charge and that of 10 years, N200, 000 with N8000 service charge, it is not expected that applicants should be forced to make other payments.

Dike Onwuamaeze

Experts at the “LCCI Power Conference” has declared that the decentralisationin of the electricity regulation in Nigeria would usher in a new era that is marked by innovation, competition and efficiency in Nigeria’s quest for energy security to power homes and businesses.

The power conference, which took place in Lagos, was organised by the power

sector group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

Speaking during the conference, the President of LCCI, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, said that Nigeria is standing at a defining moment in its energy transition, shaped by constitutional reforms that have opened the door to state-level participation, localized solutions, and a more distributed electricity market.

Idahosa said: “This moment calls for clarity, strategy, and collective action. The reality before us is clear: while decentralisation introduces new opportunities for innovation, competition, and efficiency, it also exposes long-standing weaknesses in our infrastructure, from generation bottlenecks and limited gas supply to inadequate transmission lines, weak distribution

networks, and insufficient investment in off-grid systems.

“These gaps raise critical questions: How do we align new regulatory structures with investor confidence? How do we balance cost-reflective tariffs with affordability? How do we embed renewable energy, deploy technology for smarter systems, strengthen data management, and ensure harmonised

Market data a s at t hursday, Nove

regulation across federal and state levels?

“These are not theoretical questions; they are urgent imperatives that sit at the heart of Nigeria’s economic competitiveness and industrial future.”

He said that decentralisation must therefore be accompanied by harmonsed standards, enabling policies, and clear roles for all actors to prevent fragmentation and

encourage synergy. In his remarks as the special guest of honour at conference, the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, said that the decentralisation of electricity regulation via the Electricity Act has empowered states to drive their own electricity markets.

To Promote Tinubu’s ‘Nigeria First Policy,’ Akume Mobilises Support for Solewant Group, Other Nigerian Companies

Lawal Adeniyi

President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to boost Nigeria’s domestic economy by prioritizing locally made goods and services, and reducing import dependency by stimulating local production through the ‘Nigeria First Policy, received a boost on Wednesday as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume threw his weight behind the efforts of Solewant Group and other Nigerian companies to develop adequate indigenous manpower and facilities.

Tinubu’s Nigeria first policy also aims to foster industrialisation through strict local content rules in government procurement.

This policy requires agencies to buy ‘Nigerian first’, while there are waivers for genuinely unavailable items.

Speaking when the Group Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Solewant Group, Mr. Solomon Ewanehi, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, Akume called on indigenous companies across all sectors of the economy to leverage on the full potentials of the Nigeria First Policy, which he described as a strategic initiative designed to promote local content, stimulate economic growth and strengthen Nigerian industries for economic development.

Akume reaffirmed the commitment of the Tinubu-led administration to create a conducive environment for Nigerian businesses to flourish through the policy, which he said is yielding positive results

He charged Solewant Group and other indigenous companies to take advantage of the policy to reduce the nation’s dependency on imported products and services.

Akume commended Ewanehi for taking bold steps towards harnessing the divestment opportunities created by foreign International Oil Companies (IOCs) by investing in the oil and gas sectors with steel pipes, metal fabrication, and specialised coating solutions.

The former governor of Benue State also rallied support for Solewant Group’s 9th Africa Energy Summit billed for November 27–28, 2025 in Port Harcourt.

Speaking earlier, Ewanehi said that his company is spreading its tentacles across the production of steel pipe, coating materials and coating products as well as supply of coated pipe to oil and gas industry in Nigeria and across Africa.

He also added that his company is working in line with the federal government’s marching order to the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) and other industry stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at significantly increasing the nation’s crude oil production.

He also informed the SGF of the company’s plan to host the 9th Africa Energy Summit.

Solewant Group is a global leader in the provision of steel pipes, pipe coating solutions, metal fabrication, manufacturing and supply of specialty protective paints, and specialty coating application solutions.

Ewanehi was among the global oil and gas industry players, including the Managing Director of TotalEnergies Nigeria, Mattieu Bouyer; Managing Director of ExxonMobil Nigeria, Jagir Baxi; Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Seplat, Mr. Roger Brown, who were in Dorchester, London, for NUPRC’s Roadshow held recently.

Other industry leaders who showed strong presence include: Chairman of AA Holdings, Austin Avuru; and the Chairman of Governing Board, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mr. Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, and federal lawmakers.

Tagged: “Project 1MMBOPD’ Additional Production Investment Forum”, the two-day event was aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s goal of producing an additional 1 million barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) through innovation and collaboration.

At the event, he listed transparency, innovation, collaboration, and emerging technologies as key drivers necessary for the growth of Africa’s energy sector.

Sharing insights on the roadshow in an interview on ARISE News Channel, Ewanehi had disclosed that international investors at the event sought and were given assurances by federal lawmakers and regulators on adequate robust legal framework to give investors comfort and protect investments in Nigeria.

Earlier at the roadshow, the CCE of NUPRC, Komolafe had announced the commencement of the 2025 licensing round from December 1, 2025.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Alhassan Doguwa, promised investors that his committee would not push any legislation that would undermine investments, adding that the PIA of 2021 would not be tampered with arbitrarily.

Similarly, his counterpart in the Senate, Senator Eteng Williams, also restated the commitment of Nigeria’s legislature to business-friendly laws and urged investors not to fret.

Ewanehi was also among the leading professionals and solution providers in the global oil and gas industry who gathered in Houston, Texas, in the

Group Roadmap Plus’ was part of the company’s renewed commitment to its 10-year strategic vision.

Meanwhile, in demonstration of its commitment to technological innovations in the African oil and gas industry, the company will focus on transformative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, automation, data analytics, and other digital innovations in this year’s annual energy summit, convened by Solewant Energy Training Institute (SETI).

The company has not only sustained leadership in pipeline coating, fabrication, and asset integrity management across Nigeria- it continues to pioneer new frontiers in industrial and energy infrastructure development. Its industrial park at AlodeOnne now includes one of Africa’s most advanced multi-layer pipe coating plants, a dedicated pipe bends multi-layer coating plant (commissioned in mid-2025) developed in partnership with Euro-American OEMs, and full steel pipe milling capabilities.

The annual summit attracts policymakers, energy executives, DFIs, development partners, and researchers from across Africa and the rest of the world, who brainstorm on strategies for building a sustainable and technologically advanced energy future for Africa continent.

United States of America (USA) for the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2025 from May 5 to 8.

As one of the companies making the major technological, humanitarian, environmental, and leadership contributions to the global oil and gas industry, Solewant Group unveiled the latest and most advanced technologies at the event.

The company was also among Africa’s most innovative businesses across multiple sectors that converged at the SAFEX Building in Algiers, Algeria, for the 4th edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025).

The company showcased cutting-edge technologies and its robust portfolio of subsidiaries at IATF 2025, which was convened by Afreximbank.

Solewant Group also joined other global players in the oil and gas, as well as maritime industries to dissect Gulf of Guinea’s (GoG) energy, maritime and investment prospects at a high-level roundtable on the sidelines of the recent 80th Session of UN General Assembly (UNGA 80) in New York, United States.

In his goodwill message at the highlevel roundtable, Ewanehi had noted that the GoG is richly endowed and strategically vital.

The company also showcased its technological innovations at the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) 2025, held at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

At the conference, Ewanehi announced the unveiling of ‘Solewant Group Roadmap Plus’ to deepen its advancement in technological innovation and also boost its contributions to Nigeria’s industrial development and energy transition.

The unveiling of the ‘Solewant

This year’s summit, the 9th in the series, is scheduled to take place from November 27–28, 2025, at the Solewant Industrial Park, Alode-Onne, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Nigeria from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.

Themed “Emerging Technologies and the Future of Sustainable Energy Development in Africa,” the 2025 summit seeks to spotlight how transformative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, automation, data analytics, and other digital innovations are redefining the frontiers of Africa’s energy transition.

Key highlights of the summit include: Key paper presentations from industry leaders and government representatives; strategic panel discussions on technology and energy integration; technical presentations and emerging research and keynote messages from NNPC, IOCs, and EPC companies.

Other key highlights include: exhibitions of intelligent energy solutions; case studies from Across Africa and beyond; capacity-building workshops and networking opportunities.

The summit will facilitate new partnerships and funding pledges between governments, investors, and private sector playersunlocking capital for energy infrastructure, manufacturing, renewable projects, and technology-driven ventures across Africa.

There will also be a launch of the “Africa Energy Innovation Network (AEIN)” The summit will also strengthen Local Content and Capacity Development Frameworks.

Through policy dialogues and technical sessions, the summit will produce actionable recommendations to deepen local participation, enhance industrial skills, and strengthen indigenous technology deployment in the oil, gas, and renewable sectors.

Outstanding organisations and individuals contributing to Africa’s industrial and energy advancement will be celebrated, inspiring excellence, innovation, and leadership across the sector.

• Adeniyi, an oil and gas expert and public affairs analyst writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

Group Chief Executive Officer of Solewant Group, Mr. Solomon Ewanehi addressing journalists after a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at SGF’s office in Abuja recently

Need for Multimodal Transport System in Nigeria

In

order to meet the demand of surging population growth, Nigeria must

its different transport means to effectively drive the economy,

Over the years there has been tremendous pressure on Nigerian roads because the road system is the major means of transport that connects the nooks and crannies of the country. The rail system became moribund until few years ago when government began to revive them in a slow pace, providing obsolete infrastructure and still maintain narrow gauge in most of the areas in the country.

Transportation via the waters is grossly underutilised, but if well-developed, it could connect cities like Calabar, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Lagos, Warri, Sapele and all the other littoral towns and cities in the country.

According to experts, in a country with large population, the easiest and cheapest way to move the people is by rail and by the waters but these are underdeveloped means of transportation in a country that is going to contain 240 million by the next decade. Nigeria currently ranks the 6th most populous country in the world.

To address the transportation challenges in the country, experts have suggested multimodal transportation, considering the growing population of Nigeria.

Multimodal transportation has been described as movement of goods using at least two different modes of transport, such as road, rail, air, and sea, under a single contract. It optimises efficiency, cost, and speed by combining the strengths of various transport methods to create a seamless journey from origin to destination. For example, a container can be trucked to a port, loaded onto a ship, and then moved by rail to a final inland destination, all coordinated through one

agreement.

Last week, discussions on the need for integrated transport system came to the fore during the 2025 Transport Infrastructure Summit in Lagos. In his keynote speech, the Chair of the Lagos State Government Endowment on Transport Studies, Professor Bamidele Badejo, emphasised on the necessity to intergrade all transport modes in Nigeria to unlock the nation’s economic and social potential.

In the presentation themed: ‘The Future of Transportation in Nigeria: Trends, Challenges, Opportunities and the Way Forward’, Badejo said that multimodal transport integration remained Nigeria’s most viable route to inclusive development, job creation, and sustainable urban growth.

He emphasised that transportation is the lifeline of any nation and its dysfunction has a ripple effect on productivity, trade, and safety. He noted that when transport systems collapse, every aspect of life grinds

to a halt, from essential services to economic activity.

“Transport is life, nurtures life, and keeps life going! Imagine what it would mean for an individual, a community, and a country, if for one day, all the means of transportation available grinds to a halt; it means life itself will halt for that period. Workers, including all essential services staff like the doctors, nurses, policemen, fire fighters, to mention a few, will be nowhere at their duty posts. Risks will be at the highest premium, for all. Traders, of all varied descriptions, too, will be unavailable at the various markets. Then, individual and communal life will be at a state of paralysis, for the entire time. Nothing and no one will be in the state of living, as no one is able to move, a temporary death of existence,” he said.

Badejo described Nigeria’s transport reality as a paradox, a nation of vast opportunities trapped by poor planning and weak infrastructure, remarking that

despite its population and resources, Nigeria still relies overwhelmingly on road transport, which carries over 90% of passengers and freight. This dominance, he stressed, has come at a high cost: crumbling roads, constant congestion, environmental degradation, and soaring logistics prices that hinder industrial growth.

Badejo, therefore, urged the Federal and State governments to move from road-centric planning to multimodal transport integration, linking rail, road, air, and waterways into a single efficient network. He emphasised that this approach not only boosts connectivity but also reduces travel time, cost, and emissions.

“Developing an integrated multi-modal transportation system is crucial for Nigeria’s sustainable national development. By combining road, rail, air, and water transportation modes, Nigeria can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and promote environmental sustainability. Addressing challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, undue political interference, and funding constraints will be essential to achieving this goal. With a well-planned and executed strategy, Nigeria can create a transportation system that supports economic growth, improves quality of life, and enhances the country’s global competitiveness,” Professor Badejo said. He also noted that transportation should be viewed as a derived demand; one that responds directly to population, trade, and industrial activity; hence, planning must be data-driven and responsive to evolving urban and rural mobility patterns.

Edo Government, NDLEA Move to Tackle Cannabis Cultivation

Chinedu Eze

The Edo State Government and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are strategizing to address the problem of cannabis cultivation in the state.

The agency said this drug control measures aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural practices were discussed during a working visit on Wednesday by Dr Jerry Uwangue, the Edo

State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, to the Edo State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, at the NDLEA headquarters in Benin City.

The meeting focused on potential collaboration between the two agencies in areas such as the adoption of Alternative Development programmes and strategies for the confiscation of land used for cannabis

cultivation. Commander Mitchell disclosed that the Edo State Command has conducted nine cannabis farm destructions since January 2025.

“We have carried out nine major cannabis farm destruction operations covering 77.5122197 hectares with an estimated yield of 193,491.1kg since January 2025. This huge amount would have contributed immensely to reducing the problem of food insecurity in the state,” Ofoyeju.

Lagos–Toronto Emerges Nigeria’s Busiest Aviation Long-Haul Routes

Passenger demand between Lagos and Toronto is surging, with new data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealing a sharp rise in traffic in 2024.

Air WAtCh

for Aviation Sector

Area Manager and Head of Account Management for West and Central Africa at IATA, Dr Samson Fatokun, made this known recently as a member of the panel of discussants at the 2025 FAAN National Aviation Conference (FNAC) in Lagos.

Fatokun said the sharp rise in traffic on routes such as Lagos–Toronto,

IATA stated that the route posted one of the strongest growth rates among Nigeria’s longhaul markets last year, strengthening arguments for future nonstop flight connections between the two cities.

Lagos–Manchester and Lagos–New York signalled increasing passenger demand that Nigerian airports and airlines should strategically harness.

He explained that several Nigerian routes appear prominently on global lists of unserved or underserved destinations, yet have strong commercial potential based on passenger movement patterns.

PHCCIMA Flag-off Port Harcourt International Trade Fair

Blessing ibunge in Port harcourt

The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (PHCCIMA) has officially flag-off Port Harcourt international trade fair 2025.

According to Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, President PHCCIMA, disclosed that the Trade Fair with the theme “Growing Through Innovation and Sustainability: Bridging Markets and Encouraging Disruptions” will commence on December

12 to 22, 2025. She further revealed that the tradefair will attract participants and exhibitors from within and outside the country.

“We are targeting key industry players they are no longer captains, but are Generals of Industries, Government

MDAs, diplomats, research institutions, Manufacturers, Trade associations, professional institutions, the Press, and the general public.”

Nwoga continued that the tradefair will promote private visibility to business through the display of their goods and services.

JMG Secures Healthcare Operations at Lagos Health Centre

Group Business Editor

Eromosele Abiodun

Deputy Business Editor

chinedu Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Asst. Editor, Energy

Emmanuel Addeh

Asst. Editor, Money Market

Nume Ekeghe

Correspondents

Kayodetokede(CapitalMarkets)

James Emejo (Finance)

Ebere Nwoji (Insurance)

reporter Peter Uzoho (Energy)

JMG Limited has announced the successful commissioning and donation of a state-of-theart solar-powered energy system that would ensure 24 hour electricity supply to Ketu Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Lagos State.

The newly commissioned solar power solution is made up of a 10-kilowatt hybrid (KWH) inverter, 18 N-Type solar panels, and a high-capacity 20.48 KWH Lithium battery, which would guarantee that the healthcare centre has access to clean, uninterrupted energy.

JMG Group General Manager, Mr. Rabi Jammal, said that constant supply

of electricity is vital for supporting critical services like emergency operations, immunisation storage, maternity care, and laboratory diagnostics as well as ensuring that doctors and nurses are focused on healing without fear of a sudden power outage.

Jammal said: “Healthcare reflects our belief that reliable power is a right, not a privilege. And energy access is essential to life, to health care and to human progress, so through this project and what we did last year in Bariga and hopefully following projects, reaffirms JMG commitment to a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future.”

Chinedu Eze

The 2025 National Aviation Conference held recently at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, where industry stakeholders deliberated on issues affecting the development of the aviation sector, has been described as the best outing since its inception in 2022.

Organised by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the 2025 outing attracted top political leaders in Nigeria, business moguls, aviation industry experts both in Nigeria and beyond, and other high net worth entrepreneurs, who in their contributions drew new roadmap for the future development of the aviation industry.

For the first time, the conference hosted five governors, including Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma. The governor of Plateau State was represented, and the governor of Ogun State was also represented by his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele.

Chairman, Board of Directors, FAAN and former Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr Abubakar Kana, also attended the summit.

The key points raised at the meeting, themed: ‘Elevating the Nigerian Aviation Industry through Investment, Partnership and Global Engagement’, were focused around Nigeria, being ready for private sector investment in the aviation industry. The need for the review of taxes and charges paid by airlines and passengers, were also discussed in order to promote a more viable aviation industry.

The Managing Director and CEO of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, said with what the management of the agency has achieved in the last two years, government was opening its doors to attract more entrepreneurs to invest in the sector.

Kuku said the aviation industry had overcome the setback and lethargy occasioned by COVID-19, and now it is soaring both at the global and domestic levels.

“The industry is not just recovering; it is

soaring to new heights. According to IATA (International Air Transport Association), global passenger traffic is set to reach a historic 4.99 billion this year, decisively surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

“But look further ahead. The Airports Council International forecasts a surge to 9.7 billion passengers by 2040. And where is the centre of this next wave of growth? Africa. This is not just a statistic—it is a signal of billions of journeys, connections, and opportunities waiting to be unlocked. At the heart of this opportunity, lies Nigeria,” she stated.

Reviewing the growth of aviation industry in Nigeria, Kuku took cognisance of the retards of the past and boldly said that the industry has overcome some of them. She noted that those infrastructure gaps, foreign exchange pressures are being effectively managed now, stressing that the currently realities demand for the modernisation of the industry.

“But today, I ask you to see what we see. These are not merely obstacles; they are Nigeria’s unparalleled investment portfolio. Every “gap” is a clearly marked space for transformative returns. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) affirms that for every dollar invested in aviation, nearly four dollars are generated in broader economic growth. Where else can you find such a compelling multiplier?

“And we are not starting from scratch. Under the visionary leadership of the Federal Government, we have laid a robust foundation. As we speak, six airports and numerous runways are undergoing a government-funded transformation. This is a direct investment in our shared future, and we are grateful for this decisive commitment. Thank you, Mr President.

“At FAAN, we have built our strategy on six strategic pillars: Customer-Centric Service Delivery, Operational Excellence and Innovation, Effective Governance and Workforce Excellence, Airport Viability Infrastructure, Modernisation and Expansion, and Safety and Security. And our commitment is already yielding results,” she said.

Some of these fruits include the fact that in the last past two years, 7,320 staff members have been trained by ICAO-accredited FAAN Training School.

Dr. Charles m ba, C eo of CDV Properties Development l imited

engr. Stella ifeoma okengwu, managing Director of Win homes Global Services ltd

Chief Kelvin Jombo onumah, mD/Ceo of Sublime industries limited

Chief emmanuel Udechukwu, Chairman of Roxbury leisure homes limited

Dr. i kem Ume- e zeoke, m D/C eo h omes and h omes Real e state Company Nigeria/UK e ngr. Chidi Amechi, Chairman of m oorex Properties l imited

Chief e dwin Jeffrey Agbim, C eo of Jedmoon i mpex l imited

Chinedu e zidiegwu, m D/C eo of Chikong h omes

Spotlight on Nigeria’s Leading Business and real estate Innovators

This November, some of Nigeria’s most accomplished business leaders and real estate innovators will be honoured as awardees of Crime Reporters association of Nigeria (CRaN) awards, a prestigious platform that has for three decades celebrated outstanding contributions of Nigerians to national development. These individuals, drawn from the real estate and housing sector distinguished themselves through transformational leadership, social impact, and unwavering dedication to uplifting communities. Chiemelie ezeobi writes

Come Thursday, November 27, eight real estate leaders, who share more than entrepreneurial drive but also embody a vision of Nigeria where housing, community development, and empowerment intersect, will be honoured at the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria’s (CRAN) 30th lecture and award series in Lagos.

From Dr. Charles Mba, CEO of CDV Properties Development Limited to Engr. Stella Ifeoma Okengwu, Managing Director of Win Homes Global Services Ltd; Chief Kelvin Jombo Onumah, MD/CEO of Sublime Industries Limited; Chief Emmanuel Udechukwu, Chairman of Roxbury Leisure Homes Limited; Dr. Ikem Ume-Ezeoke, MD/CEO of Homes and Homes Real Estate Company Nigeria/ UK; Engr. Chidi Amechi, Chairman of Moorex Properties Limited; Edwin Jeffrey Agbim, CEO of Jedmoon Impex Limited; and Chinedu Ezidiegwu, MD/CEO of Chikong Homes, each of them have contributed to shaping the nation’s socio-economic fabric, created homes, transformed communities, and inspired a new generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs.

DR. ChaRles mba: Real estate Colossus and Philanthropist

At the forefront is Dr. Charles Mba, CEO of CDV Properties Development Limited in Lekki Phase 1. Beyond constructing quality estates such as 3 Diank Terraces, Applewood Estate, Southlake Homes, and White Oak Estate, Mba is celebrated for his philanthropic work through The Charles Mba Foundation.

Dr. Mba will on November 27, 2025, in Lagos, bag the award for “Real Estate Icon” for leveraging real estate expertise to deliver both economic value and meaningful community development.

Scholarships spanning primary to tertiary education have empowered countless youths in Enugu State, enabling them to become medical professionals, engineers, and leaders in their communities.

A committed Christian, Mba’s work reflects the ethos of service and love for humanity. His contributions have made him a pillar of education in Orba, Udenu Local Government Area, and inspired other wealthy individuals to invest in societal development.

Awards such as the Nigerian Entrepreneur Award of Excellence and an honorary Doctorate in Property Development underscore his impact, while his board memberships in educational and corporate institutions highlight his multifaceted influence.

engR. sTella ifeoma oKengwu: Trailblazer for women in business and Real estate

Engr. Stella Ifeoma Okengwu, Managing Director of Win Homes

Global Services Ltd, is a trailblazer recognised internationally with The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award 2025.

Engr. Okengwu was nominated for “Trailblazer Award for Women in Business and Real Estate”, celebrating her role in creating inclusive opportunities and inspiring women entrepreneurs.

Her journey from a chemical engineering graduate at the University of Benin to a globally respected real estate entrepreneur embodies courage and determination.

Transitioning from a successful oil and gas career into real estate, Okengwu founded Win Homes to deliver luxurious yet affordable housing. Her company has addressed Nigeria’s housing deficit through smart home technology, eco-friendly designs, and energyefficient practices.

Beyond business, she mentors women entrepreneurs, promotes inclusivity, and leads philanthropic initiatives, including support for

orphanages and internally displaced persons. Known as the “Luxury Queen of Real Estate,” her leadership style blends vision with pragmatism, inspiring a generation of Nigerian women and business leaders.

Chief Kelvin Jombo onumah: Redefining luxury in hospitality and Real estate

Chief Kelvin Jombo Onumah, MD/CEO of Sublime Industries Limited, brings a global perspective to luxury real estate and hospitality.

Born in Abia State, educated in sociology at the University of Lagos, and fluent in multiple languages, Onumah combines analytical acumen with an appreciation for high-end living.

Chief Onumah was nominated for the “Trailblazer in Luxury Hospitality and Real Estate” for redefining standards of luxury within Nigeria’s hospitality landscape.

Under his stewardship, Sublime Hotels along the Lekki/Ajah axis

have become premier destinations, while his numerous companies, spanning property development, logistics, pharmaceuticals, and more, showcase his strategic vision.

His philanthropic Kelvin Jombo Foundation has supported community projects across Abiriba and beyond, while recent political aspirations reflect his desire to serve the public further. Recognised as The Sun Hospitality Personality of the Year 2022, Onumah’s work seamlessly merges entrepreneurial success with societal impact.

Chief DR. amb. emmanuel uDeChuKwu: Transforming nigeria’s Property landscape

Known as “Omemma Ojoto,” Chief Dr. Amb. Emmanuel Udechukwu, Chairman of Roxbury Leisure Homes Limited, has redefined Nigeria’s property sector through innovative, sustainable developments.

Chief Udechukwu was nominated

for “Most Transformative and Innovative Real Estate Leader of the Year” for redefining Nigeria’s property landscape through visionary and sustainable development”.

With over a decade of experience, Udechukwu has created modern residential and commercial properties catering to both local and international clients.

Beyond real estate, Udechukwu is a mentor, philanthropist, and national figure recognised for promoting peace and national unity.

Through his community initiatives in Ojoto and partnerships supporting youth empowerment and small businesses, he has improved lives and inspired entrepreneurship.

Awards such as Anambra Real Estate Person of the Year and the Icon of Peace and Societal Transformation highlight his broad influence.

Udechukwu continues to expand Roxbury Leisure Homes globally, blending affordability with quality while fostering social and economic development.

Dr. IKeM UMeezeOKe: Dedication and Transformative Impact in Housing

Dr. Ikem Ume-Ezeoke, MD/CEO of Homes and Homes Real Estate Company Nigeria/UK stands out for his meticulous approach to housing development. Nephew of the late Chief Edwin UmeEzeoke, he combines strategic thinking with a commitment to addressing Nigeria’s housing gap.

Nominated as “Outstanding Nigerian Entrepreneur in Housing and Real Estate” for dedication, hard work, and transformative impact in the housing sector, UmeEzeoke’s ventures extend internationally, including projects in the UK, South Africa, Dubai, Ghana, and Liberia.

His accolades, including the African Achievers Awards and Integrity International Award, recognise both his business acumen and social contributions.

Known for humility despite his success, he has demonstrated that careful planning and dedication can create transformative impact in the housing sector.

eNGr. CHIDI AMeCHI: Innovating Housing Solutions for Communities

As Chairman of Moorex Properties Limited, Engr. Chidi Amechi exemplifies the marriage of entrepreneurship with community development.

Nominated for “Real Estate Visionary Award for Housing Innovation and Community Impact” which entails pioneering innovative housing solutions and driving human and community development

across Nigeria, Amechi’s visionary projects have provided affordable, high-quality housing while directly contributing to human capital and social development in Nigeria.

His efforts have earned multiple awards, including the Great Achievers Award for Human and Community Development and the Real Estate Personality of the Year by Igbere TV.

Known for mentorship and generosity, Amechi continues to inspire young entrepreneurs and expand the reach of his innovative housing initiatives.

CHIeF eDWIN JeFFrey AGBIM: excellence in Durable and Affordable real estate

Edwin Jeffrey Agbim, CEO of Jedmoon Impex Limited, has made a mark by developing durable, elegant, and accessible residential housing.

Agbim was nominated for “Excellence Award in Durable and Affordable Real Estate” for outstanding leadership in developing high-quality, durable, and affordable residential housing while promoting long-term client satisfaction and urban development. Since establishing Jedmoon in 2007, he has consistently blended quality with affordability, creating communities that combine modern design with lasting value.

Agbim emphasises client experience, urban sustainability, and employee development, ensuring his company contributes meaningfully to both residents’ lives and the broader Nigerian real estate industry.

His vision is clear: to make quality homeownership accessible to all Nigerians while setting new standards for professional integrity in the sector. Chief Agbim is also the President of F15 Club, one the most prominent Igbo clubs in Nigeria.

CHINeDU ezIDIeGWU: Pioneering Affordable Housing Innovation

Chinedu Ezidiegwu, MD/ CEO of Chikong Homes, has established himself as a leader in modern housing solutions, combining architectural excellence, affordability, and sustainability. Through his developments, Ezidiegwu addresses Nigeria’s housing deficit while promoting community development and empowerment.

His work blends technological innovation with local expertise, ensuring projects are inclusive, environmentally conscious, and socially impactful. Recognised for integrity, mentorship, and philanthropy, Ezidiegwu exemplifies how business success can go hand in hand with societal progress. s po T l I g HT on nI ger IA’s l e ADI ng

A Nation Seen: Amaechi Okobi on Witnessing Nigerian Modernism at Tate

When Amaechi Okobi walked into the Tate Modern in London, he did not expect to feel emotional. Standing before seven sculptures by Ben Enwonwu, he found himself overcome by pride, nostalgia, and a quiet sense of awe.

For years, those same sculptures, familiar to many Access Holdings employees, stood in the lobby of the company’s Lagos headquarters.

Staff encountered them daily, sometimes pausing to take them in, often simply moving past on their way to meetings or errands. But here, beneath the precision lighting and reverent silence of one of the world’s foremost museums, they appeared transformed. “They were beautiful,” Amaechi recalled. “For years, they stood quietly in our building. But here they were, bathed in light, surrounded by awe. It was as if I was seeing them for the first time.”

The sculptures, on loan from Access Holdings, are part of Nigerian Modernism, a landmark exhibition at Tate Modern celebrating Nigeria’s post-independence artistic renaissance from the 1940s to the 1970s, an era when Nigerian artists asserted their own voice, blending global influences with distinctly African expression.

For Amaechi, who is the Chief Communications Officer at Access Holdings, the moment was more than aesthetic appreciation. It was an affirmation of identity, history, and presence.

“This was not just art on display,” he said quietly. “It was us, seen, celebrated, and appreciated.”

From Lagos to London: A Story of Preservation

The seven Enwonwu sculptures, once fixtures at Access Holdings’ headquarters, now command global attention at Tate Modern. Their journey from a corporate lobby in Lagos to the halls of an international museum is more than logistical, it is an act of cultural preservation.

“Loaning them to this exhibition was not just an act of generosity. It was an act of preservation,” Amaechi explained. “It ensured that Nigeria’s story, told through Enwonwu’s genius, reached the world.”

He has a point. Many African artworks disappear into private collections, inaccessible to the public and scholars. By opening its collection, Access Holdings not only safeguarded the works but restored their visibility, ensuring they continue to illuminate Nigeria’s creative legacy.

“Had they been acquired by others, these sculptures might have vanished into obscurity,” he added. “Instead, they now stand as ambassadors of Nigerian creativity, reminding

Culture, Knowledge, and Capital in Harmony

This moment reflects a broader philosophy within Access Holdings, championed by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede CFR, its chairman, that national wealth thrives where culture, knowledge, and capital intersect.

“This exhibition is a perfect expression of that belief,” Amaechi noted. “Financial capital allowed us to acquire and preserve these sculptures. Knowledge helped us recognise their importance. And culture gives them meaning, connecting them to the people and nation they represent.”

By supporting Nigerian Modernism, Access demonstrates how corporate institutions can shape global conversations about African creativity, identity, and heritage.

Beyond Finance: Culture as Brand Strategy

For a financial powerhouse like Access Holdings, investing in culture may seem unconventional. But for Amaechi, it is entirely consistent with the company’s purpose.

“Culture humanises finance,” he said. “It tells the world who we are, what we value, and why we exist beyond profit.”

Through its enduring support for art, music, literature, and social impact initiatives, Access has built a brand identity that transcends traditional banking, one that celebrates African excellence and connects emotionally with its stakeholders.

“When people see Access investing in art and culture, they see a brand investing in them and their future,” Amaechi reflected. “That emotional connection is something money alone can’t buy.”

A Global Stage for African Stories

Seeing Nigerian art celebrated

at the heart of global modernism carries both symbolic and strategic weight. For Access, this is cultural diplomacy, an act of shaping how Africa’s story is told and understood.

“It is surreal,” Amaechi said. “Those sculptures carry our pride and our brilliance. Seeing them here proves what we have always believed: that Africa’s excellence belongs anywhere in the world.”

This act of sharing reflects Access Holdings’ broader philosophy: to enrich Africa not only economically, but culturally and intellectually.

“When brands like Access champion culture, we do not just fund exhibitions, we shape how the world sees Africa,” he said. “We remind everyone that Africa is not emerging, it has always been.”

Leadership, Storytelling, and the Power of Culture

As visitors moved through the galleries at Tate Modern, Amaechi lingered before the sculptures, contemplating not only his role as a communicator but as a storyteller and leader.

“Leadership is not only about performance; it is about preserving meaning,” he said. “Facts may inform, but stories inspire. What we did here was not just about displaying art; it was about telling a story of identity and the partnership between business and culture.”

That is what made the moment so emotional. Beyond marble and bronze, beyond the curated space, this exhibition symbolises something larger: a generation of Africans reclaiming their narrative and institutions like Access helping to make that narrative visible.

In Amaechi’s words, “Culture dissolves borders. It invites empathy, curiosity, and connection.”

If he had to summarise the experience in a single word, he does not hesitate. “Emotional,” he says again, smiling.

Ben Enwonwu’s Access Holdings Sculptures the world of our enduring brilliance.”

CBN Takes Fair to Enugu, Pledges to Sustain Monetary, Price Stability

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Enugu

Basking on the positive results arising from its policies, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has pledged its commitment to sustain the monetary and price stability being currently experiended in the economy.

The CBN Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, who is the CBN Fair Team Lead, gave the assurance Tuesday at the CBN Fair which berthed at Enugu, drawing a huge crowd of participants.

She said that the Fair themed “Driving Alternative Payment Channels as Tools for Financial Inclusion, Growth and Accelerated Economic Development” was one of the apex bank’s platforms designed to engage with members of the public on its policies.

The Acting Director, who

was represented by Mr. Tobias Uche explained that the Fair was aimed at promoting sustainable economic growth and development of Nigeria, and to find ways to enhance the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians.

“Under the leadership of Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the Bank’s management remains strongly committed to maintaining monetary and price stability, and performing other essential functions of the Central Bank of Nigeria, as outlined in the CBN Act, 2007, as amended,” she said.

Side Ali said that the range of “bold reforms” introduced by Cardoso in the CBN operations “are already producing positive results, evidenced by the steady decline in inflation, ongoing growth in our foreign reserves, and the current stability observed

in the foreign exchange market”.

Citing the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) to back her claims, she noted that the NBS report “indicates that headline inflation decreased for the seventh consecutive month in October 2025, to 16.05 percent from 18.02 in September 2025, the lowest level in three years”.

The Secretary to Enugu State Government (SSG ), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, said that the present government was committed to providing the enabling environment for sustainable economic growth.

Represented by a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Hon Ifeanychukwu Onyia, he said that Enugu government is at the forefront in making policies that drive economic growth.

13 Year-old Student Wins 15th UBA Foundation Essay Competition

Funmi Ogundare, Kayode Tokede

History was made in Lagos on Tuesday, as 13-year-old Ebunoluwa Seth Oluwatimilehin, of Igando Community Senior High School, Igando, a suburb of Lagos, emerged as the overall winner of 15th UBA Foundation National Essay Competition (NEC), thus becoming the youngest winner in the fifteen years of the competition.

Master Ebunoluwa, a public school student of the school in SS2, also emerged the first male winner in over 8 years, as female winners have repeatedly dominated the

competition. He clinched the grand prize of N10 million educational grant to be used for his future studies at any African higher institution of his choice.

The second-place winner, Njoku-Kelechi Emerald of Christian International High School, Owerri, received N7.5 million educational grant, while the third-place prize of N5 million educational grant was awarded to Bayero, Fatima Auwal of Cornerstone Montessori Schools, Gudu, Abuja.

UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who commended the Foundation’s 15-year commitment to the initiative, explained the

competition’s strategic role in reviving a culture of reading and writing among youth.

Emphasising the bank’s broader mission and the significance of the essay topic, he stated, “UBA encourages diversity. Nobody in UBA will ever be judged based on ethnicity, religion, or culture. We see diversity as a strength. In fact, if you get diversity right in Africa, you have gotten the whole world right.”

The Managing Director/ CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, who expressed profound gratitude to all stakeholders, reiterated the importance of education and how it is pivotal to the future of Africa.

FCMB SheVentures Inspires Women Entrepreneurs at Networking Summit

Lagos, Nigeria: First City Monument Bank (FCMB), through its flagship women-in-business initiative, SheVentures, has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering female entrepreneurs with the successful hosting of the 2025 SheVentures Networking Summit.

The event, themed, “Engage, Empower & Unwind 2.0: The Power of Balance,” convened hundreds of female entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals from diverse industries.

The summit focused on how women can pursue ambitious business goals while maintaining the balance necessary for personal and professional well-being.

The event featured inspiring fireside chats and networking sessions, creating a vibrant atmosphere of learning, sharing, and empowerment. A key highlight was a fireside chat featuring the CEO of Happy Coffee Nigeria, Princess Adeyinka Tekenah, Dr Ella Ezeadilieje, a growth and personal development strategist, and Teni Stuffman, CEO, Lebara Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director of Corporate Services and Service Management, Felicia Obozuwa, noted that the SheVentures platform continues to

drive inclusive economic growth by supporting female entrepreneurs with capacity building, mentorship, and zerointerest loans. She said, “At FCMB, we believe that empowering women is not just a social imperative — it is an economic strategy. Through SheVentures, we are building an ecosystem where women can grow businesses sustainably while finding the balance that fuels long-term success.”

Since its inception, SheVentures has empowered thousands of women across Nigeria with tailored financial support and access to professional mentorship.

Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo),

(Equatorial Guinea),

(Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic

Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

L-R: Founder and Chairman, Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh; Chief Technology Officer, OPay, Mr. Dotun Adekunle; Executive Director, Bosak UK Limited, Dr. Kolawole Bello; MD/CEO, AIICO Insurance PLC Babatunde Fajemirokun; and CEO, ITH Holdings, Mr. Olusegun Enitan Dada, during the launch the ITH Holdings newly redesigned office in Gbagada, Lagos…recently

Aiyesimoju: UAC has Accelerated Growth with CHI Acquisition

Kayode Tokede

The Group Managing Director, UAC, Mr. Fola Aiyesimoju, yesterday stated that the company has accelerated its growth momentum with the recent acquisition of CHI.

Aiyesimoju , who was speaking to the capital market community during

the company’s “facts behind the figures”” event on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) in Lagos, maintained that UAC has bolstered its house of scable quality brands with CHI acquisition.

“With the admission of CHI, we have further accelerated our growth. We have been growing very fast, but we further accelerated our growth

when we consolidated the companies. We have gone from N80 billion company to a N700 billion company in six years, ”he said.

“So, our core business has been growing and will continue to grow very fast. We have added three new engines. We feel UAC has taken over an effective CHI and it allows us to focus on value creation instead

of solving problems,” Aiyesimoju said. He stated that the risk of CHI acquisition include import-driven foreign exchange risk and inventory management risk.

On the import-driven foreign exchange risk, he disclosed that over 90 per cent of the raw and packaging materials are imported resulting in high demand for dollars, stressing

that the management of UAC will focus on replacement cost pricing and treasury risk management. Longer term focus on developing domestic value chains. No disadvantage relative to other industry players.

On the inventory management risk, Aiyesimoju stated that there are high levels of inventory (2024FY: 229 days) linked to a meaningful

portion of imported raw materials.

To tackle this risk, he said, “We will leverage insights and experience from our existing operations to optimize high inventory days. Historical levels are considered excessive, our business CAP Plc with similar sourcing characteristics operates with 90 days of inventory.”

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 18 November 2025, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price:

DEWALE CONSULTING’S GATEWAY TO EAST AFRICA EVENT...

L-R: Managing Director, Mureithi Valuer Limited, Stephen Muchiri; Managing Partner, MMW Advocates LLP, Stella Muraguri; CEO, ANH Realtors and Investment Ltd., Niro Ajayi; Managing Director, Dewale Consulting/Convener, Gateway to East Africa, Adewale Ajibade; Lead, Diaspora, Real Estate and Investment, MMW Advocates LLP, Maurine Njeru; Managing Director, Condos Beyond Borders, Bukola Awosika; and Branch Manager, Access Bank Plc, Saturday Egbedi, during Dewale Consulting’s

Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic Boosted as TETFUND Commissions 244-bed

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

As part of measures by the federal government to allevi- ate students’ accommodation challenges in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commissioned a 244-bed female hostel at Ken SaroWiwa Polytechnic, Bori, in Rivers State.

The commissioning was performed by the member representing South-south

on the TETFund Board of Trustees, Hon. Aboh Uduyok. Uduyok commended the management of the institution for the timely delivery of the project.

He said it was gratifying to note that the project had been delivered under the present challenging economic conditions and this was a tangible symbol of resilience, integrity, and commitment.

Uduyok stated, “We are assembled here today for the commissioning of a 244

MAjor WIn for neSToIl AS CourT lIfTS ASSeT freeze In AllegeD $1 bIllIon DebT DISpuTe

He cited judicial authorities affirming that ex parte orders—particularly Mareva orders—were temporary emergency measures that could not subsist indefinitely, saying prolonging them violates Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees fair hearing.

Obiagwu argued that the defendants filed a motion dated October 30 to set aside the order, making the injunction spent by law.

Obiagwu contended that the ex parte Mareva injunction obtained by FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited and First Trustees Limited against Nestoil Limited and Neconde Energy Limited had lapsed by operation of law as of Friday, November 14, 2025, under Order 26 Rule 10(1) and (3) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.

After hearing oral arguments, Osiagor ruled that the ex parte Mareva injunction had expired 14 days after the filing of a motion to set it aside, rendering any argu- ments based on the order academic.

The court also stated that the decision to transfer the

matter to a new judge was not subject to appeal and emphasised that proceedings would not be stayed simply because filings at the Court of Appeal referenced the previous judge.

The order read, in part, “The decision that transferred this matter is not appealable. This court will not stay proceedings where filings at the Court of Appeal refer to Dipeolu J. and not Osiagor J.

“There is no longer a subsisting ex-parte order, having elapsed 14 days from the Motion on Notice challenging it. As the order has expired, the arguments of parties affected by the exparte order are now mute or academic.

“The case is adjourned to 25th November, 2025 for Motion for Joinder and to 12th December, 2025 for hearing of pending applications.”

The ruling effectively restored Nestoil Limited’s control over its assets. It represents a major procedural victory for the company and its affiliates in the ongoing dispute with FBNQuest Merchant Bank and First Trustees Limited.

Female Hostel Worth N1.3bn

-bed female student hostel project whose total cost is N1,399,965,179.25, sponsored by TETFund.”

In his goodwill message, Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, represented by Engr. Sam-

son Imoni of TETFund’s Monitoring and Evaluation Department, commended the institution for demonstrating prudence, integrity and discipline in its management of public funds.

Also speaking at the event,

Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Ledum Gwarah, expressed appreciation to TETFund for its intervention role in the institution.

Gwarah said, “This project brings us immense joy because it is not merely a

building, it is a facility that transforms lives. With the comfort provided here, our students will be encouraged to remain on campus, concentrate on their studies, and thrive in a safe and conducive environment.”

Peter Obi: FG Aiding, Abetting Destruction of Democracy Amid Overwhelming Insecurity

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, reviewed the general security and political situation in the country, concluding that the federal government is aiding and abetting the destruction of democracy by conspicuously undermining the opposition parties.

Reacting to the multiple terror attacks across the country, particularly in Kwara and Kebbi states, and the killing of a one-star General by terrorists

of the Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP sect, in Borno State, Obi bemoaned the apparent insensitivity of theThegovernment. LP leader, in a statement, wondered why, amid the gloomy picture created by insecurity, the struggle to destroy opposition parties should be paramount to the government and their agents.

Lamenting the security situation in the country said, “A few weeks ago, when President Trump described our country as ‘now disgraced,’ many were

outraged. Yet, how can we dispute it when, within a single week, 25 people were kidnapped, and one of our generals, along with other officers, was killed?

‘’Today, we witness another troubling terror attack in Kwara State. Rather than uniting in this critical moment, we are consumed by internal wrangling, party squabbles, and distractions.

“Look closely at what is happening in the PDP, the Labour Party, SDP, and other political formations - crises

deliberately orchestrated by a government that should be embracing everyone so we can unite in this troubling period.

“I am reminded of a pivotal moment under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. During an internal crisis in my then-political party, he instructed the INEC Chairman, Professor Maurice Iwu, that the stability of every political party - not just the ruling party - was essential for democracy. No party was to be undermined; all were to function within the law.”

First Lady: Digital Skills for Women Critical for Nigeria’s Economic Future

Charges women to start small, build strong and embrace digital skills

Deji

Elumoye in Abuja

Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday declared that Nigeria could not achieve true economic diversification without equipping women with modern digital skills.

Speaking at the closing of the Women ICT Training Programme, a joint initiative by the National Information Technology Development Agency and the Renewed

Hope Initiative, at State House, Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu stressed that women’s digital empowerment was no longer optional, but essential to Nigeria’s economic future.

She added that the partnership with NITDA aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to accelerate industrialisation and digitalisation.

The first lady advised Nigerian women to embrace humble beginnings and harness digital skills to build stronger

economic future, saying small, consistent steps often lead to transformative success.

According to her, the steady expansion of the scheme since its inception demonstrates the country’s growing commitment to equipping women for a technology-driven future.

Mrs. Tinubu stated, “Don’t be afraid to start small. When you do something small, and do it well, someone will notice. Even in business, start with what you have. Start, even if it is small,

someone will see your effort.” She stated that many of her long-standing initiatives in girl- child education and alternative schooling models also began modestly, but grew through consistency and conviction, proof that perseverance turns ideas into institutions.

Mrs. Tinubu said expanding ICT training to women nationwide was helping to build “a digital future where more women and girls can thrive, innovate and lead”.

Gateway to East Africa event in Ikoyi, Lagos…recently

Presentation of tPP Board Chair award to otunBa ashiru...

L-R: Principal, Chris O. Okunowo & Co, Chris O. Okunowo; Group Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru and Convener, The Peak Performer (TPP) Fest, Dr. Abiola Salami during the presentation of TPP Board Chair award to Otunba Ashiru in Lagos...recently

Amaechi: Tinubu’s Govt Lacks Political Will to Curb Incessant Killings, Terrorism

ADC to APC: Take responsibility for once President’s trip cancellationan exemplar

of tokenism, says PDP

This was as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the comments made by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,

A former Governor of Rivers State and erstwhile Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has said the govern- ment of President Bola Tinubu lacked the political will to curb incessant killings and terrorists’ attacks.

George Akume, which blamed therecent terrorist attacks in Kebbi and Kwara States on the remarks made by the U.S. President Donald Trump, saying the government should learn to take responsibility for once.

At the same time, the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP)has said the announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu canceling his planned trip to South Africa and Angola, stoodas the latest and boldest example of tokenism.

Meanwhile, the Federal High

Nigerian Engineering Olympiad Launched to Strengthen Global Engineering Competitiveness

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has expressed commitment to bolstering engineering education in the country through linking academia with industry sector to bring about meaningful growth in Nigeria.

While announcing a bold step toward strengthening its global engineering competitiveness with the launch of the maiden Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), an initiative the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigeria expressed willingness to transform university inventions

into market-ready technologies capable of advancing national development.

Speaking during inauguration of the maiden Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), a national programme designed to identify, nurture, and commercialise engineering talent across tertiary institutions, the President of NSE, Margaret Oguntala, disclosed that the Olympiad aims at tackling pressing needs in infrastructure, manufacturing, energy transition, sustainability, and digital technology, as ultimate goal to produce a generation of job creating engineers, problem

solvers, and globally competitive innovators.

The Nigerian Engineering Olympiad was organised by Enactus Nigeria in partnership with NSE, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Renaissance Africa Energy Company (RAEC), and the First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P).

Oguntala said, “As the foremost Engineering professional body, NSE believes that the addition of new ideas is critical for professional development and community impact.

“Every great invention in his-

International Fraud Week: CIFCFIN Calls for Concerted Efforts to Combat Fraud

Bennett oghifo

The Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), has called on government institutions, private sector organisations, professionals, the media, and the public to join hands in confronting the threat of fraud.

According to the Insti- tute’s Founder/Chairman, Governing Council, Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbaki, fraud has evolved into one of the most pressing global risks of the 21st century, costing economies, institutions, and individuals, trillions of dollars annually.

“According to the As- sociation of Certified Fraud

Examiners (ACFE), organ- isations worldwide lose an estimated 5% of their annual revenues to fraud, amounting to a staggering $4.7 trillion in global losses every year.”

The figure, he said, is almost equal to the nominal GDP of Germany ($4.74 trillion), and exceeds the current GDPs of India ($4.19 trillion) and Japan ($4.17 trillion).

tory began with an idea. All the transformations humanity has seen from the steam engine, to towering skyscrapers, electricity, internet, and artificial intelligence started as ideas acted upon.

“Ideas do shape the world. The power of ideas in transforming societies cannot be over stressed; indeed, great nations have stood on the shoulders of men and women of ideas to advance growth and development.

Court in Abuja has convicted one of the leaders of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), Ismaila, popularly known as Mai Tangaran, on a four-count terrorism charge after he pleaded guilty.

However, speaking on the latest security situation in the country, Amaechi said, “It is clear that the government in power has no political will to curb the incessant killings and terrorist attacks plaguing our country today.

“The government has failed to provide adequate protection for its citizens, as evidenced by the surge in terrorist attacks and mass kidnappings in some parts of the country – challenging our national security. This failure to act decisively has sadly emboldened terrorists and eroded public trust.

“The incessant attacks on innocent citizens in Plateau; the reported attack and kidnap-

ping of secondary schoolgirls in Kebbi; an ambush on soldiers in Borno resulting in the abduction and killing of a Brigadier General, M. Uba; the attack on a church in Kwara; and the kidnapping of a priest, Rev. Fr. Bobbo Paschal, in Kaduna –all within a week – are too much to be “Theignored.Federal Government needs to step up its game, sharpen its response to terrorist activities, strengthen military intelligence and tactical operations, and live up to the expectations of its people.

“To Mr. President: your primary assignment is the security of lives and property. Enough of looking the other way or issuing watery statements of condemnation. Prioritising a summit or jetting out for whatever reason when Nigerians are dying can never be the trait of a good leader.

Enugu Caucus in House of Representatives Mourns Senator Okey Ezea

The Enugu State Caucus in the House of Representatives has expressed profound shock and sadness over the sudden passing of Senator Okey Ezea.

Until his demise, the parliamentarian, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District, died on Tuesday, after a brief illness.

In a statement signed by its leader, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, the Caucus described Senator Ezea’s death as a traumatic loss, noting that he was a

vibrant member of the 10th Senate.

The caucus observed that his passing has dealt a significant blow to Enugu State and the Southeast, particularly the push for the creation of Adada State.

“We recognise Senator Ezea’s tireless efforts and commitment to Enugu State’s progress,” the statement said, stressing that his exit had created a void that will take time to fill.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Senator Ezea’s family, the people of Enugu

North Senatorial zone, the Nigerian Senate, and the Enugu State Government,” the statement said.

While in the senate, Ezea served as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions; Vice Chairman of the Committee on Housing and Urban Development. He was also the Vice Chairman of both committees on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD.

The deceased is survived by a wife and four children.

ndubuisi francis in Abuja

Michael olugbode in Abuja

Chuks okocha and Linus aleke in Abuja

Lee engineering at 34...

Tinubu Directs Matawalle to Move to Kebbi, Eruku Bandits Want N100m Ransom Each

Afenifere: Attempts to turn people against govt likely in latest upsurge in insecurity Expresses shock over Kwara, Kebbi attacks PGF visit Kebbi gov over students’ kidnap House minority caucus urges decisive actions as NOA condemns attacks Mohammed: It’s painful wound on Nigeria NILDS DG raises the alarm as Kwara communities gripped by fear Teachers, students stay out of schools in four Kwara LGAs, Bagudu assures on kids’ future Concerns rise in Benue over insecurity, others COAS seeks stronger partnership with media to enhance national security intelligence operations.

Deji elumoye, Olawale ajimotokan, adedayo akinwale, James emejo, Sunday aborisade, Folalumi alaran in Abuja, Segun awofadeji in Bauchi, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin, Seriki adinoyi in Jos, and Onuminya innocent in Sokoto

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State in the heat of the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in the state earlier in the week.

According to a statement by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Matawalle, who was governor of Zamfara State, was asked to remain in the state to monitor security efforts to secure the release of the abducted students.

This was as the suspected bandits that kidnapped about 38 worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun in Eruku town in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State have placed N100 million ransom each on the 38abductees.

Matawalle, who is expected to arrive in Birni-Kebbi today,Friday, was believed to have gained some experience in dealing with banditry and mass kidnapping during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023, even though his succes- sor, Dauda Lawal, believed otherwise.

On 26 February 2021, armed bandits abducted 279 female students aged between 10 and 17 at the Government Girls Science Secondary School, a boarding school in Jangebe, in Zamfara State. The bandits released all the hostages on 2 March 2021.

Gunmen abducted 24 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi State, around 4am on Monday.

President Tinubu had post- poned his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, as he awaited further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.

Eruku Bandits Want N100m Ransom Each on 38 Abducted Victims, Contact Families

The suspected bandits that kidnapped about 38 worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke-Isegun in Eruku town in Ekiti local government area of Kwara State have placed N100 million ransom each on the 38abductees.

THISDAY checks revealed that the kidnappers had started contacting the families of the victims, who were abducted during a church service on Tuesday.

A community leader and Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun whose four relatives were among the kidnapped victims confirmed this to THISDAY in an interview last night.

Olukotun, who said he was in the church with five of his family members when the incident occurred, said he and one of his wards escaped the attack around 6:06 p.m through the church’s window.

He confirmed that the kidnappers had made contact with the people of the community and were N100millionransomdemanding on each of

the 38 victims.

“From what we gathered from the kidnappers camp, they (kidnappers) have grouped the victims according to their relations and are now calling our people through each of the group.“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100m for each person but as regard my own people I have not receive any call concerning them. So, I am still waiting,” he said.

Olukotun, who expressed gratitude to the government, particularly Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for identifying with the community on the attack, also appealed for more security presence in Eruku, being a border community to ensure the security of life and property of the populace.

He also called for fortification of the community’s vigilante members with relevant and more

sophisticated combat weapons that would match those of the kidnappers in case of armed attack.

Afenifere: Attempts to Turn People Against Govt Likely in Latest Upsurge in Insecurity

A pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has said the level of insecurity in the country called for a thorough overhaul of the entire security architecture, saying high level complicity, sabotage and attempts to turn the people against the government could not be ruled out in the upsurge of terrorists’ attacks.

Afenifere, therefore, expressed shock over the attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State during a special service on Tuesday as well as the killing and abduction of rice farmers in Bokungi in Edu Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

National Publicity Secretary of

Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, in a statement, also decried the attack on the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State and and the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba, who was ambushed on Damboa-Biu by terrorists.

Afenifere noted that the incidents further brought the level of insecurity to the fore.

“The level of insecurity is call- ing for a thorough overhauling of the country’s security architecture as high level complicity, sabotage and attempts to turn the people against the government cannot be ruled out in the upsurge of terrorists’ attacks presently,” he said.

Afenifere noted that the dimension, which the attacks were taking as well as their sophistication, showed that the attacks were carefully planned and were being carried out by elements verse in military and

“This supposition was lent credence to by no less a person than Kebbi State Governor, Mohammed Nasir Idris, who disclosed that there was an intelligence report that the school was going to be attacked and he acted on the information with a view to preventing the attack from being carried out,” he explained.

Afenifere recalled that, “The federal government allotted humongous N6.576.5 trillion to security and defence in the 2025 budget. But the budgetary allocation debunked this impression.

“Questions can however be on how the allocation is being expended. Going by what is happening, impression was being created that the situation was getting out of hand because the government failed to provide needed funds.”

Alia: No Genocide in Benue

Groups urge UN security council, ICC to investigate accuracy

george Okoh in Makurdi and Kuni tyessi in Abuja

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has said the insecurity challenges facing the state should not be classified as genocide. He made the clarification at a consultative forum on protecting the rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs), organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in

Abuja.

Alia, a Catholic priest, described recent claims of genocide in the state as inaccurate and inconsistent with internationally recognised definitions.

“I am a Reverend Father, so being in governance does not take that away from me. In my state of Benue, we do not have any religious, ethnic, racial, national, or state genocide. We do not have that,” he said.

Adding that communities

in Benue have experienced significant security incidents over the years, he emphasised that these incidents didnot meet the criteria for genocide as defined by the United Nations.

“Do we have insecurity in the state? Yes, we do. But it is not a genocide. One would need to go through the United Nations definitions for this,” he explained.

The governor traced the long-running tensions in the state to conflicts between

agro-pastoralists and crop farmers. According to him, the situation escalated gradually over many years but should not be labelled as genocide.

“Have we lost people? Yes, at different stages. I’m giving a background of the challenges we’ve had for many years — talking about agro-pastoralists and typical farmers. It began like a minor issue and then grew to huge proportions. But that does not fit the parameters of a genocide,” he said.

Lee Engineering and Construction staff in Port Harcourt celebrating the company’s 34th Anniversary … recently

LAUNCH OF THE LAGOS STATE HEALTH FINANCING REFORMS...

L-R: Chairman, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Adebayo Adedewe; Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Mr. Abdul Kabir Opeyemi Ogunbo; Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem; Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; President, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Njide Ndili; and National President, Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN), Dr. Jimmy Arigbabuwo, at the launch of the Lagos State Health Financing Reforms, also known as the Lagos Private Health Partnership (LPHP), by the Ministry of Health at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos…recently

Oyebanji Set to Scale Up Security in Ekiti, Meets Select Security Chiefs

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has assured residents that the state remained safe, peaceful and secured. He said his government had taken decisive steps to strengthen intelligence gathering, tighten surveillance across all borders and communities, as well as ensure that criminal

in preventing persecution, prosecuting perpetrators, and protecting all communities.

“Second, we must provide direct humanitarian assistance to the faith-based groups working on the ground in the Middle Belt, who are best equipped to reach the internally displaced.

“Third, we must impose targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, using visa bans and asset freezes against individuals and entities responsible for these gross human rights abuses. The complicit must pay a price,” he added.

Congresswoman: US Military Threat Reckless

But at the hearing, US Congresswoman, Sara Jacobs, described as reckless, Donald Trump’s military threat to Nigeria over alleged Christian genocide, arguing that blaming Nigeria’s violence solely on religious conflict fails to capture the full scale of the crisis.

She said: “President Trump’s threat is reckless, and any unilateral military action in Nigeria is illegal. Congress has not authorised force in Nigeria to protect Christians.”

Jacobs, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa added that the violence affects both Christians and Muslims,

elements found no space to operate anywhere within the State.

Oyebanji gave the assurance in Ikogosi-Ekiti, shortly after a meeting with some heads of security agencies in the state.

He said his government would not relent in progressively scaling up security architecture in and around the state, adding that the meeting

urging the Nigerian government to do more to protect its citizens.

THISDAY recalls that weeks ago, the US President said he had designated Nigeria a country of particular concern, and asked the Defence Department to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria if the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians.

CSIS: Labelling Killings as Christian Persecution Oversimplifies Situation

In her submission, a Director and Senior Fellow of the Africa Programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Stud- ies (CSIS), Oge Onubogu, who spoke at the event, argued that branding Nigeria’s insecurity as Christian persecution was an oversimplification of a complex situation.

Onubogu, who said she grew up in Jos, cautioned against a narrow narrative that reduces the crisis to simply Christian per- secution, arguing that religious and ethnic violence in Nigeria is driven more by governance failures and worsened by hate speech and conspiracy theories.

“A narrow narrative that frames Nigeria’s security situ- ation solely as the persecution of Christians oversimplifies the issue. Religious and ethnic violence is driven more by gov-

was part of his administration’s on-going efforts to keep the state secured against any potential threat and to improve inter-agency coordination and collaboration.

Explaining that the safety and wellbeing of residents was paramount to him, Oyebanji said he had to cut short his leave to personally meet the security chiefs in view of current

ernance failures and worsened by hate speech and conspiracy theories,” she maintained.

According to her, the inse- curity in Nigeria stems from several years of governance failures, historical grievances, and social tensions rather than a single religious narrative, stress- ing that while Nigeria holds significant regional influence, it also faces persistent instability.

She added: “Nigeria’s instability stems from a key shortcoming. Despite (over) 64 years of independence, it has yet to establish a national identity grounded in basic freedoms and dignity.”

According to her, religion, ethnicity, and language continue to shape identity more than nationality, noting that understanding Nigeria’s violence requires looking beyond its apparent religious framing.

Describing Nigeria’s crisis as a mix “of religious extremism, banditry, criminality, resource competition, communal conflict, and separatist agitation, onu- bogu warned that religion will continue to influence politics in Nigeria.

Onubogu cautioned against military intervention and noted that any unilateral U.S. military action “would likely endanger the very Christians it aims to protect” and deepen Nigeria’s religious divisions and called on the US to avoid “reactive

development in some parts of theHecountry. said further that all efforts were being put in place to ensure Ekiti did not serve as a refuge for criminals.

While commending the security agencies for their unity, professionalism and commitment to safeguarding the State, the governor appealed to residents to support security

quick-win actions” and adopt a wider approach.

According to her: “Engaging with communities of all faiths, supporting moderate leaders, tying security assistance to governance reforms, and working more closely with state and local authorities,” and also the “revival of a bipartisan U.S. Congressional Caucus on Nigeria,” would be critical to the success of any US cooperation withBesides,Nigeria.she called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint “a capable Nigerian ambassador to the US” to address mass killings and insecurity in the country.

Anagbe: Christianity Faces Risk of Extinction in Nigeria

In his presentation, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Wilfred Anagbe, who joined the hearing virtually, maintained that Christians in Nigeria risked being wiped out by terrorists, pointing out that Nigeria was entering “one of its darkest periods” for Christians.

He said: “Christianity risks elimination in parts of Northern and Middle-Belt Nigeria within a very short time.”

To the cleric, the ongoing crises marked by killings, kidnappings and widespread destruction have intensified despite recent international attention, stressing that millions

agencies with credible intelligence, stressing that community participation remains vital to the success of security operations.

Oyebanji commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for leaving no stone unturned in the bid to secure the country.

“Well, we are elected to serve the people and though I’m on leave, but with what is happening around borders and

of displaced persons remain in camps, unable to return to their ancestral lands. “This threatens cultural continuity, religious and economic survival,” he argued.

He added that women “endure sexual violence as a weapon,” warning that such tactics are designed to ensure that “no more Christians will be born from so many traumatised”, recalling a series of recent violent incidents, including the May 22 attack on his hometown.

“An entire convent of Reverend Sisters of the Order of St. Clare was displaced, along with the local Catholic parish,” he stated.

“It took the prayers of the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for the government in Nigeria to even acknowledge this evil,” he maintained, accusing the federal government of failing to confront the insecurity in the country head-on.

He asked : “Who is killing the Muslims up north? Is there any Christian militia displacing millions and occupying lands in Nigeria?“, warning that the violence is now spreading southward, displacing millions and destroying farmland.

He added: “The church alone cannot stop the killings. It requires coordinated political, military and humanitarian intervention. Mr Chairman and members, we cannot afford to wait any longer. Please enact

neighbouring states, there is a need for me to cut short the leave, come back home and meet with our security chiefs.

“We just had a meeting where they briefed me on what they are doing, and I’m so grateful to them for being professional and for securing the State. So, I’m comfortable and I’m at peace with what they have told us.

concrete actions according to the CPC designation. We all know that inaction emboldens the extremists even more.”

Debate Splits US Lawmakers

However, it was observed that the debate caused serious divisions. For instance, Jacob McGee, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, defended the CPC redesignation, insisting that ‘atrocities’ against Christians, particularly in the Middle Belt, were faith-driven.

“These attacks directly target Christian populations. Witness testimonies confirmed attackers used religious language and specifically targeted Christians for killing, abduction, and rape,” McGee said.

Besides, he criticised Nigeria’s handling of blasphemy cases, describing slow judicial processes and mob violence as evidence of systemic religious freedom violations.

But another US Representative, Pramila Jayapal, pushed back strongly against what she called a one-sided narrative.

“The killings in Nigeria aren’t just the persecution of Christians. It is the persecution of multiple groups. We should be careful not to portray it as just prosecution of Christians; that would be simplistic,” she said.

US Congre SS Hol DS He A r I ng on In S e CU r ITY, Seek S

COURTESY VISIT TO BIC’S LAGOS OFFICE...

L-R: Conference Director and Strategic Partner, Let There Be Teachers Conference, Miracle Egbude; Convener, Let There Be Teachers Conference, Mr. Oluwaseyi Anifowose; Marketing Manager, BIC Nigeria, Foluke Femi-Sanda; and General Manager, BIC Nigeria, Mr. Anthony Amahwe, during a courtesy visit to BIC’s Lagos office by the Let There Be Teachers team and presentation of their Guinness World Record certificate for the largest gathering of teachers, recognising BIC’s vital role as headline sponsor, held in Lagos…recently

Tinubu, Family Mourn as Former Executive Director at NEPC, ‘Segun Awolowo, 62, Dies

It’s

a

tragic loss to Nigeria, says president Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun grieve

Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos and Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, last night, joined the Awolowo family, to mourn the passing of Olusegun Awolowo, a former Executive Director at the Nigerian Export

but Ejimakor, who observed that he was not a counsel on record and not being properly dressed as a minister in the temple of justice could not plead allocutus.

He, thereafter, yielded the floor to the lawmaker from Kanu’sAguocha,constituency. who informed the court that Kanu was his schoolmate back then urged the court to be lenient to the convict, who according to him should be between 56 and 57 years.

Earlier, prosecution counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, prayed the court to hand down the maximum punish- ment of death penalty, so as to serve as deterrent to others, pointing out that terrorism related offences have been on the increase in the country of recent.

Besides, the senior lawyer submitted that the maximum punishment would serve justice to all the victims of his acts of terrorism.

He predicated the demand on the grounds that more than 75 security personnel lost their lives due to the terrorism activities of Kanu, his groups and followers, while many other innocent Nigerians were also killed and public property destroyed.Delivering sentence, the court observed that although Kanu deserved death going by the gravity of the offence and his lack of remorse, the court was

Promotion Council (NEPC) and grandson of the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Awolowo, aged 62, passed away yesterday, November 20, 2025. His death was announced in a statement by his family.

however mindful to show mercy and subsequently sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The judge also ordered that the IPOB leader be held in protective custody in any part of the country, to prevent attack on him due to the harm he caused a lot of people, especially citizens of the South-east region of the country.

The court in making the order remarked that the Kuje Correctional Centre may not be appropriate due to jail break.

Omotosho, in addition, ordered the Correctional Centre should not allow Kanu access to computer devices, on the grounds that he had used the devices to call for all the atrocities.

“He should not be allowed to near any of this device,” Omotosho held, adding that he could have limited access but must be monitored by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

While in counts 1,2,4,5 and 6, Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment, he was on count three sentenced to 20 years and five years on count five.

The court in addition ordered the forfeiture of the radio transmitter to the federal government.

Abaribe: Kanu’s Life Sentence a Preconceived Plot Against the SouthEast

Former Senate Minority

“With extreme heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Olusegun Awolowo,” adding that the family would receive condolences at his residence between 2 and 4 p.m. daily.

However, the president, in

Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Aba- ribe, condemned the conviction and life imprisonment handed Nnamdi Kanu, describing the judgement as the culmination of a long-running plot against the South-east.

Abaribe, representing Abia South Senatorial District in the 10th Senate, in a statement in Abuja by his Media Adviser, Uchenna Awom, said the outcome did not come as a surprise to “the Igbo nation and other right-thinking Nigerians”.

He insisted that the process leading to the conviction had beenPartpredetermined. of the statement read, “We are not surprised. The life jail handed down to Kanu was a preconceived plot that has only reached its expected end. For many of us, the outcome was foretold.”

Abaribe said the warning signs became clear the moment the federal government refused persistent appeals to extend to Kanu the same amnesty and reconciliation gestures previously granted to other armed groups in different parts of the country.

“At the time the federal government refused to factor in pleadings to extend amnesty to Nnamdi Kanu, as was done for others, we knew that today’s outcome was imminent,” the senator stated.

Abaribe drew comparisons with the handling of insurgents and militants in other regions, describing the disparity as a

a statement by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Segun Awolowo’s death at 62 as unfortunate and a tragic loss “not only to the Awolowo family, but also to the entire country.”

Tinubu noted that the late Segun

glaring injustice.

He stated, “Is it not an irony that negotiations and peace deals with rampaging terrorists in the North-east and North-west were gleefully initiated by local governments, states and the federal government?

“Just like the amnesty granted to ex-militants in the Southsouth, many of whom were later rewarded with lucrative oil pipeline contracts. This is to say that justice in Nigeria is not for the South-east.”

He lamented that despite repeated interventions, appeals, and advocacy for clemency in the interest of national unity, justice, and inclusiveness, all entreaties were ignored.

Abaribe said, “So we are not surprised. Our people can only endure and hope for a time when justice in Nigeria would become the sine qua non.

“We have done our best; we have variously made the case for the authorities to be circumspect and at least accede to pardon for the sake of unity and inclusiveness.”

The senator said the latest development had now placed a heavy responsibility on President Bola Tinubu, whom he urged to act decisively in the interest of equity and national cohesion.

“The Igbo nation is now left with no other option than to place her fate squarely on the desk of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

Abaribe appealed for calm

distinguished himself as a true scion of the Awolowo family.

According to him, “Segun exemplified the Awolowo pedigree in appearance, character and demeanour. Like his grandfather, he was a lawyer committed to defending truth and justice.

among Nigerians, especially in the South-east, urging citizens not to resort to violence in expressing their frustration over the ruling.

“We ask the Igbo nation and other lovers of Nigeria to remain calm, pray, and not take the law into their hands,” he said.

Nigerian Army Dismisses Fake ‘Sit-At-Home’ Order, Assures S’east Full Security

The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army dismissed a threat message circulating online announcing a fake “sit-at-home” order for yesterday, ahead of the verdict, describing it as the work of criminal elements seeking to create panic and destabilise the South-east.

According to the army, the message was crafted to instil fear, disrupt economic activities and undermine government authority, despite recent gains recorded by security forces in ending unlawful sit-at-home directives imposed by proscribed groups.

In a statemen by Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, the military assured residents that the threat held no weight and would not be allowed to disrupt peace or restrict the freedom of law-abiding citizens.

It said, “We wish to unequivo- cally assure the good people of the South-East that such

“He made significant contri- butions to Nigeria. He served diligently as the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council from 2013 to 2021, standing as the longest serving executive director of the agency in history.

Continues online

threats are baseless and will not stand, as no illegal order will be permitted to interfere with the peace and freedom of law-abiding citizens.”

Ayeni said the 82 Division, working in collaboration with the police and other security agencies, had put in place a comprehensive security plan to guarantee the safety of all residents.

He said security forces had been deployed to protect lives, property and critical infrastruc- ture, while preventing any attempt at sabotage or violence. The army further emphasised that freedom of movement remained fully protected and residents were free to carry out their lawful activities without fear.

“There will be peaceful coex- istence, and economic activities will continue to thrive across the region,” the statement said. The public was urged to disregard fear-inducing messages circulated by groups intent on causing panic for selfish reasons. Citizens were also encouraged to continue their daily business without hesitation, remain calm and report any suspicious activity to relevant authorities.

The army issued a warning to criminal elements attempting to enforce the purported order, stressing that anyone found taking the law into their own hands will face decisive action in accordance with the law.

CRMi WOMEN’s ROUNdTaBLE ...

Insecurity, Underdevelopment Dominate ACF’s 25th Anniversary Dialogue

The calls for urgent and innovative action to tackle the North’s deepening insecurity and growing development gaps dominated discussions yesterday as prominent leaders from the region converged on Kaduna for the 25th anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

Speakers at the anniversary, including ACF Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), representatives of Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa,

Charcoal Artist, Uzoigwe,

Unveils “Guardian of Stillness”

drawing titled “Guardian of Stillness,” which is a large scale work that moves beyond traditional portrait studies and explores presence through symbolic form.

Known for his steady, tonal approach to drawing, Uzoigwe continues to refine a technique built on patience, observation and slow shading.

The work presents a sculptural dragon form emerging from cloud like textures, all rendered entirely in charcoal. Though the subject differs from his familiar portrait pieces, the drawing maintains the emotional weight and structural control that define his practice. Each section is shaped through gradual tonal layering, giving the artwork a quiet intensity and depth.

Uzoigwe describes the piece as part of a study into internal strength, memory and reflective emotional states. Completed in the United Kingdom, the work continues the visual discipline he developed through previous exhibitions and collaborations in Nigeria and Ghana, where his portraits received attention from collectors and studio communities.

cautioned that the North must urgently rethink its developmental trajectory or face deeper instability.

Speaking while declaring the event open, Dalhatu

urged the region to embrace “bold, modern developmental models” capable of reducing inequality and empowering young people.

“We must begin in earnest

to plunge into modern developmental efforts,” he said.

Dalhatu explained that the ACF intentionally structured the anniversary around mentorship and innovation,

creating a space where experts “will mingle with our young entrepreneurs and coach us in ways and means that must become necessary parts of our lives from now on.”

Gani Adams: Unity among Diaspora Nigerians Vital Economic Growth

OPC gives succour to families of deceased members

sunday Ehigiator

The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has urged Nigerians living in South Africa; particularly Yoruba groups and associations, to strengthen unity among themselves,

describing it as essential for cultural preservation, social cohesion, and the economic empowerment of the Diaspora community.

Adams made the call at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU), South Africa chapter, where he emphasised that unity remains the strongest tool for safeguarding Yoruba heritage abroad.

He said a more united Yoruba community in South Africa would be better positioned to advocate its interests, mobilise resources, and participate effectively in socio political and economic activities both locally and in relation to Nigeria. “Unity fosters a strong sense of community and belonging among Yoruba people in South Africa,” Adams said.”

CRMI Urges Women to Leverage Networks, Strengthen Mentorship

Oluchi Chibuzor

The Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI) has called on women professionals to more deliberately leverage their networks, build resilience, and strengthen mentorship pathways as part of a broader effort to cultivate innovative leadership across Nigeria’s

corporate and public sectors.

This message resonated strongly at the institute’s maiden Women’s Roundtable held yesterday in Lagos, a forum designed to elevate the voice, visibility and influence of women in risk management, governance and enterprise development.

Speaking at the event, CRMI Chairman of Council,

Kevin Ugwuoke, said the roundtable held under the theme “Resilient Leadership: Stories of Resilience, Adaptability and Innovation” goes beyond a symbolic gathering and is designed to “ignite possibilities” for women leading in complex and rapidly evolving sectors.

According to him, “This platform is to celebrate

women who are shaping industries, influencing policy, transforming organisations, and leading with resilience, innovation, and vision. The theme of this roundtable reminds us that when women rise, industries strengthen, when women lead, societies thrive; and when women are equipped and empowered, nations prosper.

2027 Guber: Kano Ex-Lawmakers, APC Stakeholders Deny Endorsing Barau

ahmad sorondinki in Kano

A forum of former members of the Kano State House of Assembly and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress(APC) have firmly denied a purported report claiming that they have endorsed the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, as their preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election in the state.

Ishaq Yakasai, dismissed the report, saying “There is no truth whatsoever in that story. It has no basis and no foundation.”

Speaking on behalf of the forum, the former Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Mukhtar

Onuminya innocent inSokoto

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Sokoto zone, has warned the federal government to act now or risk renewed crisis in Nigeria’s public universities.

Representing a coalition of nine institutions, Usmanu Danfodiyo

University Sokoto (UDUS), Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University (UMYU), Abdullahi Fodiyo University of Science and Technology Aliero (AFUSTA), Sokoto State University (SSU), Federal University Dutsin‑Ma (FUDMA), Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK), Federal

He said in a statement yesterday in Kano,” It is unfortunate that people continue to spread false information simply to achieve certain political objectives.”

Ishaq revealed that, “This misleading report nearly caused unnecessary tension among us who attended the meeting, prompting us to schedule an emergency meeting tomorrow(today) to address the matter.

Prioritise Education, Respect Agreements, ASUU Urges FG

University Gusau (FUG), Shehu Shagari University of Education Sokoto (SSUES), and Federal University of Agriculture Zuru (FUAZ), the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Abubakar Sabo, opened the session with the headline slogan in a press conference in Sokoto yesterday, urging

the government to act fast to avoid industrial disharmony. Prof. Sabo explained that the ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) had met at Taraba State University, Jalingo, on November 8 and 9, 2025, where it was briefed on the latest offers from the federal government’s negotiating team.

Nigerian charcoal portrait artist, Munachi Kenneth Uzoigwe, has released a new

John shiklam in Kaduna

L-R: Chairman, Board of Directors, Global Accelerex Limited, Mobola Faloye-Adedeji; Principal Consultant, Delt-R Company Limited, Ronke Onadeko; First Vice President, Chartered Risk management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI), Eneni Oduwole; Registrar/CEO, CRMI, Victor Olannye; Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, MTN, Oby Ugboma; Managing Director/CEO, CreditRegistry, Jameelah Sharieff-Ayedun; Non-Executive Director, Access

ARM Pensions/First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Remi Odunlami; and Chairman, Planning Committee, CRMI Women’s Roundtable, Olayimika Bolo at the 2025 CRMI Women’s Roundtable in Lagos…yesterday

Atalanta New Coach Banks on Ademola Lookman to Steer Club Back to Reckoning

Atalanta new coach, Raffaele Palladino, has said Ademola Lookman as “a fundamental” player as he attempts to steer La Dea back to their proper place in the Italian Serie A.

The former Fiorentina coach said: “Lookman is fundamental.”

This declaration could mean that Atalanta will not let go the Super Eagles star without a big

DR Congo Get Easy Draw Against New Caledonia or Jamaica to Reach World Cup

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) who defeated Super Eagles 4-3 in shootouts to pick Africa’s sole ticket to the Intercontinental playoffs next year in Mexico, have been handed a favourable draw that will see the Central Africans play just a match to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

DR Congo battled Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time before going all the way to win the ticket in the penalty shootouts in Rabat, Morocco.

At yesterday’s draw in the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, as one of the two seeded teams in the six-nation tournament, DR Congo advanced directly to the final of Pathway 1, where they will face either New Caledonia or Jamaica in March in Guadalajara or Monterrey, Mexico.

For Congolese fans still celebrating their dramatic victory over Nigeria in the African qualifying playoffs,

the draw represents a realistic route to their first-ever World Cup appearance. The first time they played in the World Cup was as Zaire and were scandalously mauled in 1974 by former Yugoslavia 9-0 amongst other woeful results. In Pathway 1, New Cale- donia will face Jamaica in the semi-final, with the winner taking on DR Congo in the final. Jamaica, who failed to secure direct qualification after dropping crucial points against Curaçao, have been plunged into uncertainty fol- lowing the resignation of head coach Steve McClaren. New Caledonia will be seeking a rare global Observersbreakthrough. say either op- ponent presents challenges, but Congo’s recent form and rising confidence give them anAedge.

DR Congo victory in March next year would mark an extraordinary milestone, ending decades of near-misses and disappointment in African World Cup qualifying history.

Enugu Comes Alive as Southeast Badminton Championship Serves off

The city of Enugu is agog as the 2025 Bet9ja Southeast Badminton Championship officially serves off at the indoor sports hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. The annual regional tournament, powered by Bet9ja Foundation, brings together players from the five eastern states for three days of thrilling action from yesterday to Saturday.

Now in its third consecutive year since debuting in 2022, the championship continues to grow as a key platform for talent discovery and sports development in the Southeast. The tournament features senior men’s and women’s categories, as well as a veterans’ class, further expanding its reach andSpeakingcompetitiveness. at the opening ceremony, Adaobi Cuomo, Vice Chairman of the Bet9ja Foundation, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to advancing grassroots sports

across“WeNigeria. are committed to this as it is part of our cardinal programmes,” she said. “The Bet9ja Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of Nigerians across the country through initia- tives that address the unique needs of diverse communities.

Sports development is a core pillar of our mission.”

She added that the champion- ship is one of many projects undertaken by the Foundation to provide access to quality healthcare, support education, drive community development, and empower young people.

In her remarks, Yetunde Osunnuga, Bet9ja’s Agents Liaison Officer, highlighted the Foundation’s national footprint.

“At the moment, the Foundation has 160 projects across more than 31 states, impacting 150 communities with an investment exceeding N587 million,” she disclosed.

fight in January as several top clubs are now circling around him.

Palladino said the best formation for the team is 3-4-2-1, while adding that “Atalanta don’t deserve the position they are now on the table, we have to climb back Meanwhile,up”.Turkish giants, Galatasaray, have submitted a substantial offer for Ademola Lookman, who remains unsettled at Atalanta after the summer transfer saga that did not go his way.

According to Italian news medium, Calciomercato, Galatasaray have submitted a concrete and substantial offer for the Super Eagles forward.

The report stated that Galatasaray consider the former Leipzig player a top priority.

The offer is described as significant and could impact the upcoming winter transfer

window. If Atalanta accepted the offer, the transfer could be one of the most notable of the window.

Ademola Lookman is highly valued and he is under contract until the summer of 2027, and is paid €2,310,000 per year in Italy.

Atalanta will sell Ademola Lookman for a suitable offer, with the condition that any transfer must be a permanent deal or a loan that includes a mandatory purchase option.

According to Giordano Signorelli, correspondent,Tuttosport’sAtalanta the price for the player is approximately €50-55 million including bonuses, a figure that has not changed from a few months ago.

Lookman wants to change clubs because he has not fully adapted in Bergamo, but Atalanta are setting the conditions for a transfer.

The subject of Lookman and

Galatasaray was discussed at the end of August. Giordano Signorelli reported that at that time, the player gave his

approval for the transfer if the two clubs could reach an agreement, but an agreement was not reached.

Rivers Utd in Cairo to Open Group Stage Campaign against Holders Pyramids

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Africa’s blue-riband club competition, the CAF Champions League will return this weekend with a blockbuster Match-day 1 as Cup holders, Pyramids of Egypt host Rivers United of Nigeria in the headline fixture of Group A in Cairo. It will be good news for Riv- ers United coached by former Nigerian international, Finidi George, as Pyramids will be without three key players like Ramadan Sobhi, Osama Galal and Mostafa Fathi. However, Krunoslav Jurcics Pyramids are buoyed by a Super Cup win and a rising

spine built around goalkeeper Ahmed El-Shenawy, Walid El Karti and striker Fiston Mayele. Expectations remains high after last season’s title. Rivers on the other hand will make the trip with defensive sting and renewed attacking intent.

Finidi is happy with Pride of Rivers’ return to winning ways in the domestic topflight league and will want to carry the enthusiasm into this continental group“I’mstage.quite happy that we have scored two; maybe by

the next game, we can score three… Let’s take it one game at a time. We just have to enjoy this now and focus on Pyramids,” Finidi George mouthed after a morale-lifting league win at the weekend.

Of course, there are other mouthwatering fixtures like Egypt’s Al Ahly welcoming JS Kabylie of Algeria while Mamelodi Sundowns meet giant-killers St Éloi Lupopo of DR Sudan’sCongo.Al-Hilal will face MC Alger of Algeria while Espérance of Tunisia launch battle against

Rivers United FC are already in Cairo to open their CAF Champions League group stage campaign against Pyramids FC on Saturday

Ademola Lookman...penciled in new Atalanta coach’s plans to turn around the team

Stade Malien. The opening round will set the tone before the competi- tion pauses for AFCON in December/January.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Debt Management Office, Mrs. Rukayat Sanusi; the Accountant General and Permanent Secretary, State Treasury Office, Dr. Abiodun Muritala; Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro; SSG, Barr. ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin; Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Oluyomi Abayomi; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; CEO, Chapel Hill Denham, Mr. Bolaji Balogun; Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Pedro Lawal, SAN and the committee chairman on Finance, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Femi Saheed during the official signing ceremony of the Lagos State government transaction document, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, ... yesterday

MAgnusONYIBE

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Nigeria and Trump, What Lobbying Cannot Do Does Not Exist

Last July, I spent about two weeks in Washington, D.C., lodged at the historic Mayflower Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue—just a stone’s throw from the White House. The visit coincided with three major events: the signing of a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 militia, America’s Independence Day celebrations on July 4th, and the visit to the White House by five (5) African heads of state.

The U.S. President Donald J. Trump presided over the DRC peace accord aimed at ending a bloody conflict in which the M23 militia—reportedly backed by Rwanda—was accused of fighting to control Congo’s vast mineral wealth, the so-called rare earth resources coveted by the global tech industry.

During the Independence Day celebrations, America projected its military power spectacularly. A B-22 bomber, fresh from destroying Iranian nuclear facilities, performed a low-altitude flyover above the White House. Standing on the lawns with others, I could not help but marvel at the symbolism of America’s unrivaled might.

But beyond the fireworks and military display, the last summer marked an unusual diplomatic moment: President Trump received five African presidents at the White House. Within just 200 days in office, he had met with at least seven, including South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa. It was an unprecedented level of engagement with Africa, signaling a willingness to treat African leaders as individual partners rather than as a faceless bloc.

Trump and Africa: A Different Kind of Engagement

To appreciate this shift, consider that President Barack Obama—the first Black occupant of the White House—hosted several African presidents during his two terms but never as many as Trump did within his first four years (2016–2021). Obama also never visited Nigeria, although he did receive then-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Trump, in contrast, invited and hosted President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020. Historically, only two U.S. presidents—Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton—had both visited Nigeria and hosted our leaders. Most others, including President Joe Biden, had kept their distance.

Biden during his one-term tenure received only two African presidents—Kenya’s William Ruto and Angola’s João Lourenço—but never visited Nigeria.

Trump’s approach, however, went beyond symbolic visits. During his first tenure 2016-2021, he approved the sale of the Super Tucano aircraft to Nigeria to strengthen the fight against Boko Haram and other insurgent groups threatening the nation’s stability.

For perspective, President Obama had denied Nigeria’s earlier request to buy arms, citing the Leahy Doctrine, which bars U.S. arms sales to countries accused of human-rights violations. That denial forced Nigeria to seek weapons through unconventional channels, resulting in the embarrassing 2014 incident in which a private jet loaded with cash and flying out of Nigeria was detained in South Africa while attempting to purchase arms.

Seen in that light, Trump’s willingness to sell weapons to Nigeria was not hostility—it was partnership. Yet, ironically, the same President Trump in his second term has declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged lack of religious freedom and unacceptable violence against Christians.

How Lobbying Shaped the Narrative

Trump’s decision to sanction Nigeria was reportedly influenced by powerful lobbyists who presented him with a grim picture of Nigeria as a theatre of religious persecution—Christians being slaughtered by Islamist insurgents while

the government looked the other way. The narrative gained traction among the influential Evangelical Christian community in the U.S., a key segment of Trump’s political base.

Once that perception took hold, the president was under pressure to act. Due to a lack of a counter-narrative from Nigeria’s side, the U.S. government moved swiftly to categorize Nigeria as a CPC.

This outcome underscores one harsh truth: in international politics, narratives are shaped by those who show up—and Nigeria did not. At the time and to date, the country had no ambassador in Washington, nor was a special envoy appointed to engage the U.S. government or Congress. In the absence of official representation, lobbyists filled the vacuum, influencing policy against Nigeria’s interests.

Had an ambassador been in place, President Trump or then-Secretary of State Marco Rubio could have formally summoned Nigeria’s envoy to express concerns and hear the country’s side of the story. That basic diplomatic process never happened, and Nigeria’s image suffered as a result.

Given that Nigeria is undergoing reforms and President Tinubu has prioritized fixing the economy above other challenges, it is not unexpected that much attention has not been paid to insecurity ravaging the country, hence what appeared to be ambivalence towards insecurity.

But incidentally, President Tinubu had just changed military service chiefs that had been on the job for barely two (2) years and had also just returned from Rome where he attended a global counter-terrorism meeting, Aqaba. All that was done to boost efforts to restore security. It would appear as if his stepping up security in his scheme of activities came a little late to avert the sanction.

Unfortunately, that is a fallout of the fact that where Nigeria’s voice was needed in the White House and Capitol, there was deafening silence.

Trump’s Bilateral Strategy vs. Africa Summits

Trump’s Africa policy was distinct from that of his predecessors. Rather than gathering dozens of African leaders in one room—as Obama did in 2014 and Biden replicated in 2022—Trump preferred small, direct, bilateral

meetings. His goal was to meet as many African heads of state as possible, focusing on one -on - one meetings with leaders of strategic countries like Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa.

Critics saw this as transactional diplomacy, but in truth, it was a more personal form of engagement. Unlike the large-scale “photo-op” summits where 50 leaders are assembled for general pledges, Trump’s approach allowed for deeper, country-specific discussions. Nigeria, being one of Africa’s powerhouses, was in line for such a meeting before events elsewhere diverted Washington’s attention. The escalating Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza wars consumed U.S. foreign-policy bandwidth, truncating what could have been a valuable opportunity for Nigeria to clarify its position and rebuild trust.

Lost Opportunities and Diplomatic Lessons

Had that meeting taken place, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could have corrected misconceptions and defended Nigeria’s image before both the U.S. executive and legislative branches—potentially preventing sanctions and repairing strained relations. But global conflicts thousands of miles away robbed Nigeria of that crucial moment.

The episode offers a sobering lesson: in modern geopolitics, lobbying is diplomacy by other means. Nations that fail to invest in strategic communication risk being defined by others. In Washington, perception is power—and those who can shape it wield influence far beyond their borders.

For Nigeria, the takeaway is clear. We cannot afford diplomatic inertia, especially in an era where advocacy groups and lobbyists can alter global narratives overnight. Effective representation, both at the ambassadorial and legislative-liaison levels, is not optional—it is essential to defending national interests abroad.

Indeed, as the Trump-Nigeria saga illustrates, what lobbying cannot do simply does not exist.

To underscore the supremacy of lobbying in diplomacy, I have replaced the word “God” in the popular slogan “What God cannot do does not exist” with “lobbying.” Indeed, in international relations, what lobbying cannot do does not exist.

US President Donald Trump