After 3 Deferments, $2.8bn AKK Pipeline Set for Mechanical Completion in November
614km gas transportation facility hits over 86% execution
Boost Cancer Care, FG Inaugurates Oncology Centres in Katsina, Enugu, Edo...
Bala Mohammed: Only Transparent Convention Will Turn PDP Around
Damagum claims members who left for coalition are coming back Saraki: My c’ttee delivering on its assignment
cratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, has said only a transparent national convention of the party would be the game changer for the turnaround of the party. This came as the acting national
Tinubu: It’s Not Easy Navigating Stormy Economic Instability, But
We’re Stable Now
Tells progressive govs Nigerians complaining at grassroots, says they should wet grass more Describes opposition as coalition of confusion
Lauds Ganduje’s role in party devt, ideological clarity Yilwatda emerges APC National Chairman, NEC reshuffles NWC positions for balancing
I do not take this mandate for granted, new chair pledges Abbas: ADC coalition desperate, lacks ideology Ganduje, Alia back new ruling party’s chair
14TH NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Vice President Kashim Shettima;
of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, National Secretary of APC, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, and Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum/Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, during the
Chuks Okocha in Abuja The chairman of the Peoples Demo-
chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, claimed that some members of the party, who initially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), have started coming back to the party.
CEREMONY...
L-R: Group Head, Corporate Operations, Access Bank Plc. Foluso Adedeji; Head,Trade Finance, Deutsche Bank, Sub-Saharan Africa, Andreas Voss; Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc. Chizoma Okoli; Vice President, Institutional Cash/Trade Finance, Deutsche Bank, Mayowa Egunjobi; and Group Head, Retail Operations, Access Bank Plc, Tosin
presented by Deutsche Bank Group to Access Bank for outstanding performance in Institutional Cash and Trade Finance, held recently at Access Bank head Office, Lagos….. yesterday
To Boost Cancer Care, FG Inaugurates
Oncology Centres in Katsina, Enugu, Edo
Edun restates commitment to medical tourism reversal Pate reveals plan to establish 350,000 diagnostic centres Idris: Tinubu positioning Nigeria for medical industrialisation
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja, Francis Sardauna in Katsina, Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City and Gideon Arinze in Enugu
In a major step towards strengthening cancer care in Nigeria, the federal government yesterday inaugurated world-class oncology centres in Katsina, Edo, and Enugu states.
While three of the centres located at Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (Nsukka); and University of Benin Teaching Hospital were inaugurated yesterday, another three were in the pipeline in Zaria, Jos, and Maiduguri.
The new facilities, equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, are part of a broader national effort to expand access to quality cancer treatment, reduce medical tourism, and improve survival rates.
With cancer cases on the rise across the country, the centres are expected to play a critical role in early detection, effective intervention, and patient support services.
In Katsina, the facility was inaugurated at the Federal Teaching Hospital to tackle cancer cases in northern Nigeria.
The oncology centre, inaugurated through the Federal Ministry of Health
and Social Welfare, would focus on the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Chief Wale Edun, described the Katsina, Edo, and Enugu oncology centres as major milestones in healthcare and national development.
Edun explained that the stateof-the-art oncology centres marked a significant step forward in the federal government’s effort to build a healthcare system that delivered results for all Nigerians.
He stated that the centres would provide world-class healthcare opportunities for Nigerians, tackle the “japa” syndrome, work with world-class technology, and conduct global research.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said Nigeria accounted for 127,000 cases of cancer, with 80,000 deaths annually, hence the construction and equipping of the oncology centres in the three states to tackle the scourge.
Pate stated that apart from the three oncology centres inaugurated in the states, the federal government remained committed to building additional three cancer treatment centres in other regions of the country.
He stressed that the federal
government, in partnership with development partners, would expand and provide 350,000 diagnostic centres across Nigeria for early detection and treatment of the non-communicable disease.
“So that we can detect cancers early and make them much more treatable because if cancers are detected late, even if there is treatment, it may be
too late to have the benefits of that treatment,” he added.
The minister stated that 500 clinicians would be trained by the federal government, in addition to the existing ones, to provide cancer treatment to patients in the oncology centres.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris,
said the inauguration of the oncology centres underscored President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to addressing Nigeria’s health challenges. Idris described the Katsina oncology centre as a world-class cancer treatment centre, and urged Nigerians to patronise the centre for diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
The minister assured that the
president was doing everything within his capacity to ensure medical industrialisation in Nigeria, at a pace never seen before.
He said the three oncology centres were world-class facilities established by the president to provide accessible and affordable treatment for cancer patients, thereby reducing the need to seek medical care abroad.
Nigeria, UK Launch Partnership to Boost SMEs’ Access to Global Markets
3,500 Nigerian products to benefit from duty-free access to UK
Nigeria and the United Kingdom yesterday unveiled the Standards Partnership Programme (SPP) to deepen bilateral trade ties.
The UK-funded initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s quality infrastructure, and support local institutions and empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to meet international standards.
The initiative further seeks to
NASENI CEO Honoured in UK Parliament for Driving Africa’s Industrial Innovation
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Halilu, has been honoured with the prestigious African Achievers Award at the 15th edition of the ceremony held at the historic House of Lords, UK Parliament.
The award, presented during an event that brought together royals, global leaders, policymakers, and innovators, recognised Halilu’s outstanding contributions to advancing Africa’s technological infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and industrial growth through his leadership at NASENI.
Hosted by Baroness Sandip
Verma, Chancellor of the University of Roehampton and a respected member of the House of Lords, the ceremony was a powerful global showcase of African excellence and transformative leadership, a statement by NASENI’s Director of Information, New Media and Protocol, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, said. Halilu joined a distinguished group of honourees including public officials, business executives, and philanthropists shaping the future of the continent. In his remarks, Halilu emphasised Africa’s readiness to lead in innovation, manufacturing, and sustainability.
“It is a great honour to receive this award alongside fellow visionaries committed to Africa’s future. At NASENI, we are bridging the gap
between ambition and access, turning ideas into industries, empowering indigenous solutions, and driving forward Nigeria’s and Africa’s industrial transformation. Africa is not just rising, it is ready,” he said. Under his leadership, NASENI, the statement said, has been repositioned as Nigeria’s leading technology transfer agency, delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu by enabling local production in critical sectors such as clean energy, agriculture, transportation, and digital infrastructure.
Through strategic partnerships and an Accelerated Technology Transfer & Adaptation Strategy, NASENI, it said, is turning Nigeria into a hub for sustainable innovation and industrial self-reliance.
enhancing the country’s access to global markets.
Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, Trade Market Access Lead at the UK Department for Business and Trade in Nigeria, Simeon Umukoro, said the programme will boost the country’s capacity to engage in international trade particularly with the UK by supporting local institutions and SMEs.
He said the initiative aligns with the UK’s commitment under the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) with Nigeria.
Essentially, the initiative seeks to enable Nigerian businesses benefit from the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which grants dutyfree access to the UK market for more
than 3,500 Nigerian products.
The programme, which officially launched in 2023, in 11 countries and island regions including Nigeria, aims to enhance trade and boost sustainable and inclusive growth through the use of international standards.
Umukoro pointed out that the initiative was intentionally inclusive, designed not just for large corporations but specifically structured to assist smaller businesses in meeting the technical and regulatory standards required for exporting to international markets.
He said, “These institutions are being equipped with the tools and expertise necessary to ensure Nigerian products meet global quality and safety standards”.
The programme involves
establishing institutional frameworks and strengthening national agencies including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS).
According to him, the programme works closely with the National Quality Council and other relevant bodies to implement the National Quality Policy.
The collaboration fosters a coordinated national approach to quality infrastructure something many countries struggle to achieve—giving Nigeria a competitive edge in the global market.
Umukoro also stated that the SPP which began in 2022, is currently in its third phase and set to continue until March 2026.
Glo Introduces Device Protection Service for Subscribers
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has launched a Device Protection service for its customers, an industry first in Nigeria. This was introduced in partnership with Cubecover, Nigeria’s leading technology solutions enabler. The innovative offering enables both new and existing Glo subscribers to protect their mobile devices against screen and water damage for a small premium, while they receive up to N50,000 worth of screen repairs or replacement when
damage occurs. According to Mojeed Aluko, Globacom’s Head of Value Added Service (VAS) for as low as N50 per day, customers can ensure their device is covered against screen or water damage at any time. There is also a N300 subscription for those who would like to pay the premium weekly, while those who prefer to pay the premium monthly only need to pay N600 every month. With this affordable micro-
protection, Aluko stated, subscribers will receive up to N50,000 worth of screen repair free when damage occurs. However, the device protection is only active after the customer maintains an active subscription for one month.
“As a responsive and innovative network, we are leveraging this opportunity to provide meaningful protection to our customers, helping them stay connected even in the event of accidental damage,” Aluko added.
James Emejo in Abuja
Olatunji, during the Client Excellence Award Ceremony
AFTER CLOSE-DOOR MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT...
L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; former Ekiti State Governor, Chief Olusegun Oni; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele after a close-door meeting with the president at the State House, Abuja … Wednesday
Citing $130 million Funding Shortfall, World Food Programme to Suspend Nutrition Aid to North-east
Action takes effect end of July, declares regional operations will collapse without immediate, sustained funding Warns vulnerable Nigerians risk exploitation by extremist groups
James Emejo in Abuja
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), yesterday, announced that it was forced to suspend all emergency food and nutrition aid for 1.3 million people
in North-east of the country due to critical funding gaps. The action, which takes effect at the end of the month, comes at a time of escalating violence and record levels of hunger in the region. In a statement, the programmes’
Country Director for Nigeria, David Stevenson, said WFP urgently needed $130 million to prevent an imminent pipeline break and sustain food and nutrition operations through the end of 2025.
Stevenson said, “Nearly 31 million
people in Nigeria are now facing acute hunger, a record number. At the same time, WFP’s operations in North-east Nigeria will collapse without immediate, sustained funding.
“This is no longer just a humani-
LPPC Unveils 57 New Senior Advocates of Nigeria
Alex Enumah in Abuja Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has unveiled the list of lawyers newly elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The list sighted by THISDAY on Thursday comprised 56 advocates and one from the academia.
According to Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Mr. Kanir Eniola Akanbi, the list was approved by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, at LPPC’s 169th Plenary Session held on Thursday. Akanbi stated, “The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is conferred as
a mark of professional excellence upon legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional distinction either as advocates in the courts or as academics contributing significantly to the development of legal scholarship.
“During the session, the Committee also considered three (3) petitions submitted against certain applicants. Upon thorough review, each petition was found to be lacking in merit and was accordingly dismissed.
“In accordance with the directives of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), all shortlisted prospective Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) conferees are required to attend and successfully complete the Pre-Swearing-In Induction Programme.”
According to the LPPC secretary, participation in the induction programme is a mandatory prerequisite for the formal conferment of the SAN rank.
The conferees were barred, in line with Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and the provisions of Rule 393 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023, from publishing advertisements, congratulatory messages, or goodwill notices related to their nomination or conferment.
“Any breach of these provisions may attract sanctions for violations of statutory or ethical rules as expressly stated,” Akanbi said.
Obi Dismisses Okpebholo, Says He Receives Threats Daily, Vows to Return to Edo Again
Abuja and David-
Former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, has dismissed a recent threat by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, saying he received threats daily.
Obi was reacting to questions from journalists in Awka on recent threats by Okpebholo, who stated that his safety would not be guaranteed if he visited his state.
Obi, who was at his alma mater, Christ the King College, Onitsha, Anambra State, to make a donation, said he was not afraid of threats, because he received threats everyday.
He added that if he had need to be in Edo State to make a donation, he would not hesitate to go there,
as threats meant nothing to him any longer.
“Threats don’t make any meaning to me. I receive threats everyday. Do you know how many times I have been threatened all over Nigeria? I receive threats everyday actually, the ones you know about was because it was vocal, but I will not be afraid.
“If I have the opportunity to go to Benin and make donations again, trust me, I will. I have always said that we should de-emphasise politics and think more of how to invest in the people. I went to Benin to invest in people because if they have good doctors, good nurses, they will have a better life.
“What the governor should have done is to complement what
I was doing in his state instead of threatening me. He should be sincerely grateful.
“I’m in school today to make a donation, I’m going to be in school somewhere in Nigeria tomorrow too. I’m going to be in school on Saturday, I’m going to be in school on Sunday and even on Monday. Forget about the threat, it’s a waste of time.”
Obi, however, donated N50 million to the school, which was made available by he and other old boys of the institution.
He said he merely met and spoke with some old boys of the school about the need to rally round the school for it to get a staff quarters and a better administrative building and they obliged.
The Swearing-In Ceremony for the 57 successful applicants was scheduled to hold on September 29.
Among the advocates were Theophilus Kolawole Esan, Fedude Zimughan, and Ernest Ikeji, while the successful candidate from the academia was Professor Chima Ubanyionwu.
The list of the new SANs in order of seniority is as follows: Theophilus Kolawole Esan, Fedude Zimughan, Ernest Chikwendu Ikeji, Victor Esiri Akpoguma, Leslie Akujuobi Njemanze, AKintunde Wilson Adewale, Preye Agedah, Omamuzo Erebe, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, Olumide Ekisola, George Ejie Ukaegbu and Oromena Justice Ajakpovi.
tarian crisis, it’s a growing threat to regional stability, as families pushed beyond their limits are left with nowhere to turn.”
The statement added that WFP’s food and nutrition stocks had been completely exhausted, saying the organisation’s last supplies left warehouses in early July and life-saving assistance will end after the current round of distributions.
Stevenson pointed out that without immediate funding, millions of vulnerable people will face impossible choices – endure increasingly severe hunger, migrate, or possibly risk exploitation by extremist groups in the region.
“Children will be among the worst affected if vital aid ends,” the statement stressed.
It added that more than 150 WFPsupported nutrition clinics in Borno and Yobe states will close, ending potentially life-saving treatment for more than 300,000 children under two and placing them at increased risk of wasting.
WEP further stated that in conflict-affected northern areas, escalating violence from extremist groups was driving mass displace-
ment. It said some 2.3 million people across the Lake Chad Basin had been forced to flee their homes, straining already limited resources and pushing communities to the brink.
Stevenson said, “When emergency assistance ends, many will migrate in search of food and shelter. Others will adopt negative coping mechanisms – including potentially joining insurgent groups – to survive.
“Food assistance can often prevent these outcomes. It allows us to feed families, help rebuild economies and support long-term recovery.”
In the first half of 2025, WFP was able to hold hunger at bay across northern Nigeria, reaching 1.3 million people with life-saving food and nutrition assistance, he said. Support for an additional 720,000 people was planned for the second half of the year before funding shortfalls put life-saving programmes in jeopardy.
WFP had the capacity and expertise to deliver and scale up its humanitarian response, but the critical funding gap was paralysing operations, the organisation said.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has held a meeting with stakeholders and concessionaires in an effort by the federal government to enhance transparency in Nigeria’s Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI) signed under the previous administration.
In a statement by Umahi’s spokesman, Uchenna Orji, the minister noted that this will enhance funding and private sector participation in the road infrastructure development under the HDMI.
Besides, he said that it aims to have a more realistic, transparent and productive approach to financing in the construction and maintenance of road projects under Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
At the two-day meeting held in Abuja, the minister identified certain articles and clauses in the
existing concession agreements executed on May 23, 2023 that needed to be reviewed both in the original concession agreement and the proposed addendum to ensure value for money. Besides, he noted that this will strengthen long term collaboration, transparency and accountability as well as degravitate potential put-call option agreement and litigation. He raised issues for discussion including the issue of PCOA, additional facilities, performance security, shifting of encumbrances on site, the role of the independent engineer, competing road/alternate road, change in project scope, revision of toll fees, force majeure and stakeholder consensus building.
Umahi recalled that contractors were already on some of the project sites before the signing of the concession agreement by concessionaires and that innovations had been introduced to add value to
the works sector, hence the need for a review of the existing concession agreement and its addendum. He listed some of the requirements for the concessionaires to activate the implementation of their projects, including their obligation to ensure mutual termination of existing contracts before taking over their respective sites as well as the need to show evidence of their capacity and readiness. In addition, Umahi stressed that they must show proof of source of funds for the project, payment of all outstanding debts owed to the existing contractors, evidence of technical and financial competence, and availability of company or partner’s equipment. He restated that the Federal Ministry of Works would not disengage any existing contractor from the site in any of the projects unless the conditions precedent are complied with by concessionaires.
Chuks Okocha in
Chyddy Eleke in Awka
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
ICC NIGERIA BANKING COMMISSION’S MEETING...
L-R: Head, Trade Product Services, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Paul Unuakhe; Vice Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN) Banking Commission, Mr. Olu Vincent; Group Head, International Trade Services, FCMB, Mr. Taiwo Shekoni; Executive Director, Corporate Services and Service Management of the Bank, Mrs. Felicia Obozuwa; Chairman, ICCN Banking Commission, Dr. (Mrs.) Omolara Akanji; Group Head, Operations and International Trade Services, FCMB, Mr. Ademola Idowu; Secretary-General of the Commission, Mrs. Olubunmi Osuntuyi; and Vice Chairman, Africa, ICC Global Commission on Trade and Investment, Mr. Lanre Kola-Banjo, at the ICCN Banking Commission’s meeting, hosted by FCMB on Wednesday
Court Nullifies CAC’s
Change of ALGON’s Trustees
Says Reps resolution not binding on private entities
Alex Enumah in Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja has held that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) does not possess the powers to change the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON).
Justice Obiora Egwuatu consequently nullified the commission’s change of the trustees, because the CAC made the change without complying with the relevant law.
Delivering judgement in a suit brought by the trustees of the local government association, the judge held that ALGON was a private organisation, pursuant to the judgement of the Supreme Court in Riyuk and Incorporated Trustees of ALGON and as such, not bound by the resolution of the House of Representatives.
CAC was said to have purportedly removed the trustees of the association, pursuant to a resolution of the House of Representatives Committee on States and Local Governments.
However, the trustees – Chukwudi Ezinwa, Gabriel Ugor, Shaba Shuaibu, Benjamin Kure-Solomon and Sani Hassan – who were first to sixth plaintiffs, respectively, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1980/2024, sued CAC as the sole defendant.
In the originating process filed by their lawyer, Joe Agi, SAN, they
sought two issues for determination.
They prayed the court to determine whether CAC’s action of changing their names as ALGON Trustees based on the so-called investigation report of the status of ALGON trusteeship, findings and resolution of the House of Representatives Committee on States and Local Governments did not violate their right to fair hearing as enshrined in Section 851(4) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020, as amended, and also Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution , as amended.
They also urged the court to determine whether CAC could validly replace and appoint additional trustees for ALGON on the basis of the resolution of the House Committee on States and Local Governments in the face of the mandatory statutory provisions of Section 834 and 835 of CAMA.
In their reliefs, they urged the court to declare that the removal or substitution of the names of the second to sixth plaintiffs as trustees of ALGON without a valid resolution at a general meeting of the association and the assent of same in writing to the board or the association was unknown to law.
They asked the court to declare the act as illegal, void and a violation of their right to fair hearing as
provided for in Section 851(3&4) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020.
They sought an order directing CAC to immediately cancel the status report issued on August 20, 2024, and revert to the status report issued on December 12, 2023, as valid and authentic status report of the association.
They sought, “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the
CAC from tampering or altering the status of the trustees of ALGON, save with a valid resolution passed in a general meeting of the first plaintiff,” among other reliefs.
In a 17-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Shaban Shuaibu in support of their suit, the plaintiffs averred that the House committee members were not members of ALGON and that no member of the association’s trustees called
any general meeting authorising, by resolution, the alteration of the names of ALGON Trustees.
Shuaibu stated in the affidavit, “That, the Registrar General, as chairman of the administrative committee did not, before acting on the resolution of the House Committee on States and Local Governments or thereafter, invited me or any of us to give us a hearing as required by law.
“That, we deserve to be heard by the defendant under any circumstances before it purported to remove our names.”
Egwuatu, while delivering the judgement, held that the removal of ALGON Trustees without following the law was illegal, null and void. The judge, consequently, ordered that the Incorporated Trustees of the Association that was removed be returned immediately by CAC.
Senate Adjourns Plenary till September 23, Directs Committees to Conduct Oversight During Break
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The Senate on Thursday adjourned its plenary sessions until Tuesday, September 23, 2025, to allow lawmakers engage in oversight responsibilities across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government.
This resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), which was carried without objection during the session.
The motion, a procedural one that often precedes parliamentary
NSIB, FRSC Partner to Strengthen Transport Safety
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has strengthened its commitment to improving road safety through a strategic partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies in Abuja, aims to broaden safety investigations across all modes of transport, including road, aviation, maritime, and railway.
The Director General, Capt. Alex Badeh, Jnr, in his remarks at the event yesterday in Abuja, stated that the collaborative action is poised to elevate the standards of safety, addressing critical areas such as enforcement and real-time response to accidents, which are crucial for safeguarding Nigerian lives.
The partnership, he added will
enable both agencies to create a more holistic approach to transportation safety.
He said: “Through shared expertise and resources, the two agencies plan to ensure comprehensive investigations into safety-related incidents, a key step toward preventing future accidents.”
Captain Badeh praised the FRSC’s ongoing improvements in enforcement and responsiveness to road safety, acknowledging the agency’s recent strides in road safety management.
He emphasised the partnership would help NSIB in providing safety recommendations that enhance the FRSC’s ability to carry out its mandate effectively.
This collaboration, according to Badeh, is key to ensuring that safety protocols are continuously updated
and relevant to emerging transport challenges.
Responding, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Shehu Mohammed, highlighted the significance of the partnership, stating, “The signing of the MOU with NSIB is all about making all our environment safer.
“Not just the aviation space, but also the road and the railway, because they are in charge of safety investigations of the entire transport sector.
“We are going to put more effort so that both agencies can collaborate to make our roads safe for the motoring public.”
Mohammed said that by signing the MOU, NSIB and FRSC have taken a significant step towards reinforcing the safety infrastructure of Nigeria’s transport sector.
recesses, was adopted shortly after the chamber stepped down the consideration of a number of reports and legislative items on its order paper.
Bamidele, while moving the motion, urged his colleagues to use the break productively, particularly in performing their constitutionally assigned oversight functions.
In his closing remarks following the adoption of the motion, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio (APC, Akwa Ibom North-West), emphasized the importance of the oversight mandate of lawmakers.
He stated the recess was not intended for leisure but for work that strengthens the legislature’s role in governance.
Akpabio, addressing his colleagues from the presiding chair,
urged each of the Senate standing and ad-hoc committees to deploy the break period to engage robustly with relevant agencies under their purview.
According to him, these oversight functions are a critical component of legislative accountability and essential to the effective functioning of Nigeria’s democracy.
He further stressed that the Senate, upon resumption, expects comprehensive reports from all committees detailing their findings and recommendations based on their engagements during the recess.
These reports, he said, would form the basis for subsequent debates, resolutions, and possible policy interventions by the upper chamber.
He said, “The recess is not just a time for rest, it is a constitutional
period set aside to enable us to perform our oversight functions.
“Each committee is hereby mandated to carry out comprehensive oversight of the ministries, departments, and agencies relevant to their mandates, and we expect detailed reports to be submitted to the plenary when we reconvene.” The Senate President reiterated the legislature’s commitment to upholding transparency, effectiveness, and accountability in governance.
He noted the oversight reports would also help the Senate make more informed decisions during subsequent budget considerations and in its evaluation of policy implementation.
The timing of the recess also comes as the National Assembly gears up for the 2026 budget cycle.
CDS Warns that Global Fragility Threatens Nigeria’s Stability,
Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, yesterday warned that Nigeria must urgently rethink its security strategies in the face of increasing global fragility.
He gave the warning during the second Distinguished Personality Lecture hosted by the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management (TECESM), held at the University of Ibadan.
General Musa, while delivering a lecture titled, “Global Fragility and Security Management in Nigeria,” emphasised the growing
inter-connectivity between global insecurity and Nigeria’s internal security dynamics, stating that fragile states are no longer isolated issues as they pose a direct threat to regional and global peace - and with Nigeria not immune.
He highlighted the various ways Nigeria’s security is being undermined by external crises and instability, including the proliferation of arms, economic shocks, transnational terrorism, cyber threats, and environmental stressors.
The CDS disclosed that over 500 million illicit small arms and light weapons are circulating in West
Africa with an estimated 40 per cent of these weapons ending up in Nigeria, noting that porous borders and weak governance in remote regions are responsible for this. According to him, these weapons, often smuggled from conflict zones in the Sahel and North Africa, have empowered terrorists, bandits, and ethnic militias, escalating violence in Nigeria’s northern regions, citing worsening food insecurity and inflation as consequences of global events such as the war in Ukraine, which he noted disrupted global supply chains and weakened Nigeria’s economy.
Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
SEC Clarifies First Holdco’s
N323.4bn
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja and Kayode Tokede in Lagos Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday said there was no market irregularity in the recent First Holdco Plc’s N323.4 billion single off-market block transaction.
SEC stressed that the process was duly approved and met all applicable regulatory standards.
Head of External Relations, SEC, Mrs. Efe Ebelo, in a statement, said, “In line with extant laws and SEC regulations, the commission granted a ‘no objection’ to the transaction after due consideration and in full compliance with applicable requirements.
“There was no subsequent request for additional information from the Central Bank of Nigeria following the conclusion of the transaction.”
On whether a query was issued on the transaction by the commission, Ebelo explained, “It is important to note that the commission’s correspondence with the operators involved was not a query. Rather, it was an automated compliance mechanism designed to promote transparency and ensure proper conclusion of large transactions within the market.”
Reaffirming its regulatory role, the commission, in the statement, added, “The SEC remains firmly committed to its mandate of regulating a fair, orderly, and efficient market; protecting investors; and fostering capital formation in Nigeria.”
Barbican Capital Limited, Leadway Group, and their affiliates had sold approximately 10.43 billion ordinary shares in First HoldCo in a single off-market block transaction
Shares Transaction
at N31.00 per share, worth N323.4 billion.
Oba Otudeko, founder of Barbican Capital offloaded a total of 7,786,641,500 shares at N31.00 per share valued at N241.3 billion, while Mr. Tunde Hassan-Odukale, Group Managing Director of Leadway Assurance, sold 2,288,798,807 shares worth N70.8 billion at a price of N31.00 per share.
The breakdown showed that Otudeko, in an off-market deal, offloaded 5,875,980,151 units of shares in Barbican Capital, 1,517,746,454 units of shares in Peace Account GASL Nominee, and 392,914,895 units of shares in RAML/MEF9.
For Odukale’s, the shares were sold through a mix of corporate entities and pension fund accounts that included 1,036,914,805 units of shares in Leadway Holdings
Limited, 432,258,388 units of shares in Leadway Assurance Co. Limited, and 392,345,513 units of shares in UBAPC/Leadway Pensure PFA Limited.
Others were 323,563,889 units of shares in ZPC/Leadway Assur. Premium Coll. & Inv. A/C, 39,941,304 units of shares in UBAPC/Leadway Pensure PFA Ltd FundIII-T, 24,033,333 units of shares in ZPC/Leadway/ NNPC Staff Pen Inv A/C-TRA, 6,037,543 units of shares in UBAPC/ Leadway Pensure PFA Ltd FD1-T and 30,701,032 shares units of share in Hassan-Odukale Tunde (direct).
The erstwhile Chairman of First Holdco was forced to sell off over 20 per cent of shares linked to him.
An obscure firm with the name RC Investment Management Ltd was the beneficial owner of the transaction that bid fair to warrant
a mandatory takeover of ownership if only the investor wished to up his stake to about 31per cent with regulatory approval.
The transaction, which involved the sale of approximately 25 per cent of First HoldCo - the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. - was executed on July 16.
While the shares were transferred to RC Investment Management Ltd., a special purpose vehicle, the beneficial owner behind the acquisition, remained undisclosed.
“This transaction must have been endorsed by the Central Bank of Nigeria,” said Kato Mukuru, founding partner at London-based Emerging & Frontier Capital LLP (EFC). “If that is the case, why have minority investors not been told who the beneficial owner of this controlling stake is?”
TINUBU: IT’S NOT EASY NAVIGATING STORMY ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, BUT WE’RE STABLE NOW
Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and George Okoh in Makurdi
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, reflected on his over two years old administration, saying it is not easy navigating the stormy waters of economic instability, but reassuring, “Now, the economy is stabilised.”
Speaking at the 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Banquet Hall of State House, Abuja, Tinubu told governors of his party that Nigerians were still complaining about lack of development at the grassroots, and urged them to do more.
the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said the outcome of yesterday’s NEC meeting was an indication that the Reconciliation and StrategyCommittee that he headed was delivering on its assignment.
The 101 NEC meeting was observed by five officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to Mohammed, ‘’Only a transparent and a successful national convention will help heal this self-inflicted wound. We would be taken serious as a party when we conduct a transparent and successful national convention. This would be a game changer for us.
‘’This is a long way we have travelled. This is how PDP is known, a party with a history, with a logo that has not changed over the years. The party that has shown resilience, and we have the governors solidly behind all the organs of the party. We don’t have to make a lot of noise.
The president, who stressed the need for increased community engagement and greater responsiveness to citizens’ concerns, described the opposition parties as a coalition of confusion, just as he lauded former National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje’s contribution to the party’s development and ideological clarity.
Equally, yesterday, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, emerged as National Chairman of APC at its NEC.
The development forced the party’s NEC to reshuffle some positions within the National Working
it is the PDP that should be able to drive it, because it is the main opposition party,’’ Mohammed stated.
Damagum, on his part, said, “On this issue of coalition, ‘I am pleased to report that this political experiment is nothing to lose sleep over. They say, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. Some persons have recently learned this truth in the most uncomfortable way.
“Many who jumped on the coalition bandwagon have already returned to our fold. Some even claim they never left and merely attended a meeting, we accept their confessions without prejudice.
‘’Let me add that, this reversal is not limited to PDP members alone.
Individuals from other political parties, who initially joined this coalition have realised that the venture is ill-fated and their swift return is proof of this.
Committee (NWC) in order to achieve geo-political balancing.
While Yilwatda promised the party stakeholders that he did not take the mandate for granted, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, lashed out at African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying the coalition is desperate and lacks ideology.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, declared support for the new ruling party’s leader.
Acknowledging the economic challenges, Tinubu affirmed that progress had been made under his administration.
He cited the record N14.9 trillion in revenue collected by the Federal
only poised and ready to take back power, but also the only party with the structure, national acceptability, and legacy capable of bearing the weight of this great national undertaking.
“To close this matter, I believe that all of us look forward to the total dismantling of this ill-fated coalition, even as we extend our best wishes to those involved.’’
Saraki, in a statement personally signed, said, “Our great party, the PDP, successfully held its 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting today. Several issues were successfully resolved during the meeting.
Inland Revenue Service in the first six months of the year, a 43 per cent increase from the amount collected in 2024.
“It is not easy to navigate the stormy waters of economic instability. Now, the economy is stabilised—there is no fear for the country except for continued upward movement and sustained growth. I can assure you,” he stated.
On security, the president stated that significant efforts had been made to restore safety across Nigeria.
He stated, “Thousands of terrorists and bandits have been neutralised. You can see that fear is decreasing. However, we must remain vigilant and take the matter seriously. We
national secretary, Sen. Sam Anyanwu, and the Ag. National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, working together peacefully with the rest of the NWC members.
“This will finally allay the fears of those who speculated that the national secretary would return to frustrate the party’s move to hold a successful NEC meeting and undermine the efforts to hold a national convention.
must invest more in our people, be accommodating, and remain committed to ensuring national security.”
He told the 23 APC governors present at the meeting, “Nigerians are still complaining at the grassroots. To you, the Governors, you must wet the grass more and deliver progressive change to Nigerians. May God bless our democracy and grant us more fertile lands.
“To those working with me to achieve food sovereignty for our country, we will continue to work hard for you, Nigerians, and to listen to everyone to achieve the national goals.”
Tinubu reiterated APC’s inclusive posture and affirmed that the party remained open to new members and fresh ideas.
He dismissed the opposition as “a coalition of confusion” and urged progressive-minded Nigerians to join APC and participate in its developmental agenda.
He said, “Our doors are still open, and we should wholeheartedly embrace those who join us.”
lasting legacy, including building a party secretariat in Abuja.
He said, “We should leave a legacy of development. The governors are here—23 of them—to help identify a land, along with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. We should establish a committee of progressive governors to identify suitable land and construct the secretariat.”
The president welcomed new entrants into APC, including Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, and other key political figures.
The meeting also observed a minute’s silence in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
BALA MOHAMMED: ONLY TRANSPARENT CONVENTION WILL TURN PDP AROUND AFTER 3 DEFERMENTS, $2.8BN AKK PIPELINE SET FOR MECHANICAL COMPLETION IN NOVEMBER
“We are working behind the scene, behind the NWC, behind the BoT, the caucuses of the National Assembly and the six chapters to ensure that we remain intact and provide a credible platform for Nigerians to actualise their aspirations.
‘’As the BoT Secretary has said, this is not time for calling names. This is not time for abusers. We sympathise for those who became impatient and left but certainly they will understand and we would still leave the door ajar for them to come in when they wish to, within a time limit.
‘’We will not continue to condone indiscipline in this place, because indiscipline is what brought us all the problems and challenges. Definitely, the party has shown resilience, and the governors are going through a lot of challenges, just like the NWC. We will continue to express confidence in the organs of the party.”
Continuing, he said, “Now with the necessary recognition by the regulator INEC, at the end of the day, we’ll give the APC political party a run for their money in terms of contest that will be given on a level playing field with a party that is intact, and also give answer to our people wishing to come in.
‘’In terms of whatever permutation or conjecture we call it, whether it is coalition, whether it is alliance,
‘’The Peoples Democratic Party remains the only party that is not
said the gas pipeline will be ready by December 2023, but it was first shifted to Q4, 2024 and subsequently pushed to Q1, 2025.
Speaking in Abuja yesterday at the “2025 AKK Pipeline Progress Update and Opportunities Engagement”, new Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, described the AKK as a milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards energy security, economic revitalisation, and industrial resilience.
Beyond being a piece of infrastructure, Ojulari stressed that the project is a lifeline for economic advancement, job creation, and national integration, highlighting its strategic significance in unlocking the vast gas reserves of Nigeria to power homes, industries, and innovations across the country.
“The AKK gas pipeline is a strategic economic catalyst for Nigeria and is poised to reshape the landscape in so many other ways. First, power generation and industrial growth. The pipeline will supply up to 2.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, fueling power plants in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and others.
“This will revive industries, especially in the northern Nigeria where
“These include the constitution of a committee to organise the National Convention, which has now been fixed for November 15th and 16th in Ibadan, Oyo State, and the setting up of the Zoning Committee for allocation of party offices to the various geo-political zones.
“The meeting saw the returned
I grew up and I still remember all those industries in those days in Kaduna and all the trips to Kano. Industries are expected to bounce back, creating thousands of jobs.
“For local content, over 1,900 skilled and semi-skilled Nigerians have already been employed directly on the project. Thousands more will be employed once the pipeline becomes operational due to economic spin-offs that will occur all across the sectors,” the GCEO stated.
The project funded by the state-owned oil company, Ojulari said, will also see industrial parks being developed in Ajaokuta, Kano, and others, along the AKK corridor, while catchment areas will not only deliver incremental tax revenue to the government, but also create employment and other ancillary opportunities.
In terms of economic diversification and energy security, Ojulari stated that the AKK pipeline supports Nigeria’s decade of gas initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on oil and expanding gas-based industries, explaining that it enhances energy equality by extending gas infrastructure to the northern region which he said
“To confirm that the party is toeing the path of legality and following due process, we invited observers from the regulator, INEC to witness the deliberations at the NEC meeting. This is a milestone for us as a party.
“I am particularly elated that with the success of today’s meeting, the Reconciliation and Strategy Committee headed by me has achieved parts of the mandate given to us by the PDP Governors Forum on
Continued on page 35
has historically lagged behind in access to energy.
“The pipeline will deepen compressed natural gas adoption for transport, lowering fuel costs and emissions as well as transportation of food from the north to other regions of the country and sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
According to him, it is expected to support agro-processing industries, improving value chains, and rural economies as well as huge regional integration and export potential and eventually link Nigeria to North Africa, opening transcontinental gas trade routes and economic uplift.
“The pipeline will transport natural gas, which is the cleanest burning fossil fuel, emitting significantly less carbon dioxide and coal or oil when used for power generation. Diesel will be displaced massively with the coming of this pipeline.
“This aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the gas flare commercialisation programme, which repurposes gas flare for productive use. In short, the AKK pipeline isn’t just laying of steel, it’s ensuring that the good people of Nigeria realise the full benefits derivable from our God-given resources,” he added.
The president emphasised that the party’s strength was in expanding its ranks, and encouraged the new national chairman to establish a committee of NWC members to visit states, and ensure that all new members were seamlessly registered and integrated.
Tinubu thanked Ganduje for his contributions to party development and ideological clarity.
“I gave him an assignment on forming a progressive doctrine and a progressive institute. I believe the National Secretary will help revitalise and coordinate this effort,” the president said.
He told the APC governors to work collectively to leave behind a
In his presentation, the Executive Director, Projects, Nigeria Gas Infrastructure Company Limited (NGIC), Audu Ibrahim, said the AKK which was officially kicked off in 2020, now has a clear path to delivery in 2025/2026. However, he noted that the mechanical completion will be done by November this year.
“ It will also support the gasbased industries. So you have 1,350 megawatts in Abuja, in Kaduna, and then 900 eventually in Kano… We have a continuity of pipeline from KP303 all the way to Kano. That pipeline is complete. It’s welded. It’s pre-commissioned. It’s tested. It’s ready to receive gas.
“But that’s the second segment… we’ve been able to do quite a lot of creative rearrangement, and then the most critical success factor of the project, which is the River Niger Crossing, has actually been completed. This for us has given us a pathway.
“This has derisked the project and all other outstanding work is visible. So today, overall completion of this project is 86.05 per cent . That’s where it stands, and we’re hopeful that by November 30, we should have the pipeline end-to-end
At the president’s request, the meeting also observed a minute of silence in honour of Alhaji Aminu Dantata and Oba Sikiru Adetona (the Awujale of Ijebuland), who both passed away recently. Tinubu stated that although the two late statesmen were not party members, “their lives and contributions to national development command our respect.”
Yilwatda emerged National Chairman of APC at its National Executive Committee (NEC) held yesterday. This forced the NEC to reshuffle some positions within NWC in order to achieve geo-political balance.
To that extent, the position of National Chairman was zoned back from North-west to North-central geo-political zone, while the office of National Legal Advisor was zoned from North-central to North-west. The ruling party also extended the tenures of ward, local government, state and zonal executive committees.
Chairman of Progressives
Continued on page 36
mechanically completed,” Ibrahim stated.
Typical of such humongous projects, Ibrahim listed security threats; difficult terrain, which he described as rocky and the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the challenges, noting that funding was also an issue, wherein the national oil company went outside the country for financing.
“So this is our revised strategy, main line completion is by the end of 2025, and then the terminal gas station, the intermediate pigging station, and the BVSCs (Baseline Verified System Completion) are to be closed by 2026,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Vice President (EVP), Gas , Power and New Energy at the NNPC, Olalekan Ogunleye, noted that with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), NNPC is now able to raise funding when needed.
“Funding was a major area of focus. It’s not so much of an issue again, because traditionally, like every corporate organisation, NNPC now can go to the money market and borrow money for bankable projects just based on its profile and based on the commercial credentials of those projects,” he stated.
CBN and NGX are yet to issue any statement despite public interest, intensifying concerns about governance standards and investor transparency in Nigeria’s financial markets.
Dr Emomotimi Agama
Residents Protest Stalled N200m FG Healthcare Project in Kwara
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
Residents of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday embarked on a peaceful protest over the alleged stalled renovation of the N200 million federal government healthcare project facilitated by the Senator representing Kwara Central senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Saliu Mustapha.
The protesters, who were mainly from various communities across Ilorin East Local Government Area, converged on the Awodi Primary Healthcare Centre, the proposed site of the project, before marching through major roads to express their concerns on the issue.
The protest, it was gathered, might not be unconnected to the recent comment of the Chairman
FUGUS Governing Council Approves Promotion of 11 Academic Staff Members
Onuminya Innocent
The Governing Council of the Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) has approved the promotion of 11 senior academic staff members to higher academic ranks in recognition of their dedication and scholarly contributions.
The decision was taken at the Council’s 30th Regular Meeting held on July 23, 2025, in Abuja.
The promotion affected four academics elevated to the rank of a professor, including Dr. Lawal Sa’adu, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, who has been instrumental in driving the university’s administrative reforms. Dr. Aliyu Usman Moyi, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, was also promoted to the rank of a professor, in recognition of his contributions to the university’s academic growth.
Other academics promoted to
the rank of a professor included Dr. Nasir Garba Anka and Dr. Rabiatu Musa Mafara. Dr. Anka’s research work in his field has been widely acclaimed, while Dr. Mafara has been a leading voice in her academic discipline.
Seven other academics were elevated from Senior Lecturer to the rank of Reader (Associate Professor). These included Dr. Taofiki Aminu, Dr. Abbas Sani Dahiru, Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha Muhammad, Dr. Adamu Muhammad, Dr. Precious C. Ezeh, Dr. Ahmad Kainuwa, and Dr. Omokhuale Emmanuel. The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Rt. Hon. Aminu Sani Isa, congratulated the newly promoted staff, and urged them to view their elevation not just as a reward but as a call to greater service to the university, the community, and humanity at large.
of Ilorin East Local Government Area, Mr. AbdulWasiu Agbelere, on the stoppage of the renovation work on the healthcare facility, a federal government project facilitated by Senator Mustapha.
In a widely circulated video, the council boss was seen addressing a gathering declaring that the renovation was disapproved because of the alleged crisis between Senator Mustapha
and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq . The comment of the council boss has drawn criticism from residents, traditional leaders, and civil society groups in the town.
However, the protesters yesterday took to the streets of Ilorin to express their dissatisfaction with the purported stoppage of the renovation of health facility on the order of the council Chairman,
Sanwo-Olu Unveils Oniru’s Memoir on Lagos Urban Growth
Sunday Ehigiator
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, unveiled a landmark publication authored by the Oniru of Iruland, His Royal Majesty Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, detailing the transformation of Lagos from 1999 to 2023.
Soludo Appoints
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has appointed an indigene of Abia State, Mr. Joachim Achor, as the state Accountant-General.
This appointment marks a decisive departure from the longstanding tradition of reserving top government positions exclusively
The high-profile book launch, coincided with the monarch’s 55th birthday celebration and attracted dignitaries across government, traditional institutions, and academia.
Titled, ‘From City to Megacity: A Memoir of Lagos Urbanisation (1999–2023),’ the 465-page memoir captures more than two decades of the state’s evolution across key sectors, including housing, transportation, security, agriculture, and the environment. It draws heavily from Oba Lawal’s extensive career in public service and his academic training in urban development. Representing Governor Sanwo-Olu at the ceremony, Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, praised the book as a “vital and timely contribution to the policy discourse on urban development,” noting that it blends governance insight with historical documentation.
Abia Indigene as Anambra’s Accountant-General
for state indigenes and reinforces the Soludo administration’s commitment to meritocracy and inclusion.
The governor’s Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, who disclosed the appointment in a statement, said the appointment was not politically motivated but followed a rigorous and transparent selection process.
“The process included computer-
based examinations, a merit-based screening exercise, and a final stage of personal interaction with Governor Soludo.
“This personalized interaction enabled the governor to deeply assess each candidate’s vision, alignment with the administration’s reform agenda, and their capacity to deliver results,” he stated.
Achor, an indigene of Abia State,
was said to have come to Anambra State as a student seeking academic opportunity. After graduating from the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, he was posted to Anambra State for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. During his service year, he distinguished himself as the best corps member in the state, earning the prestigious NYSC State Merit Award.
Bayelsa Proffers Solution to Nigeria’s Out-of-school Crisis
Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa
In order to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country, the Bayelsa State Government has called on states across the country to adopt its educational model, BayelsaPRIME.
This is contained in a paper titled: ‘Restoring Confidence in Public Education: How Bayelsa is Tackling the Root Causes of Out-of-School Children’, by the state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah.
Emelah delivered the paper yesterday at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum programme ‘State-Level Solutions to Foundational Learning and Out-of-School Children’, for Commissioners of Education in Yenagoa, the state capital.
He pointed out that access to education, building of classrooms and hiring of teachers are only part solutions, which cannot solve the nation’s out-of-school crisis.
Emelah stressed that the deeper challenge lies in what happens inside the classroom explaining that children are dropping out of school because schools are not working.
David-Chyddy ElekeinAwka
INTERVIEW
Speaker Bodinga: Sokoto’s Parliament is Helping Transform State’s Devt Story
Speaker of the 10th Sokoto State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tukur Bala Bodinga, speaks with LOUIS ACHI on the challenges of cooperation with the executive and judiciary and the Assembly’s passing of 25 consequential bills which are helping to transform the state’s development
What is the working relationship between the Sokoto House of Assembly and the executive branch, led by Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto
The relationship between the Executive and the Legislature is very, very cordial and it’s the same with the Judiciary, even though our interaction for obvious reasons is limited. We are three arms of government with different roles, but wedded by the constitution to work in harmony for the good of the people. We are partners in progress who must work together in the overall interest of our people.
A lot of credit for the smooth working relationship goes to the Executive under the able and inspiring leadership of His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto who has continuously treated the Honourable House as partners in progress and with utmost respect. The governor in spite of his enormous power consults us and he always carries us along because he understands that we are partners in the Sokoto State project.
In summary, the governor gives to Ceaser what’s due to Ceaser and like they say respect is reciprocal - so we equally respect him as the Chief Executive and he in return respects us as the legislature - the representatives of the people. We are satisfied with the way he is running the state and the fact that he consults widely.
What feedback mechanisms do your legislature have enabling it gauge the opinion of the people on its performance.
The House has quite a number of feedback mechanisms - public hearings, town hall meetings. We also have a website where every member can be reached by his or her constituents. It’s a functional and interactive website, so members of our various constituencies interact with us online, real time.
We also maintain constituency offices with staffs whose duties include bringing to our attention issues affecting our communities. Without the people we can’t be members. So, we have several ways of communicating with the people. And this is something we take very seriously.
Any politician that takes the people for granted will certainly be a one-term member, because the people are well informed contrary to the impression of some people. And being grassroots people we meet during weddings, funerals and we always have conversations. They also know that they can present bills through their members. The feedback mechanism is working well. And we are very happy.
In the Sokoto State 10th House of Assembly, how many of your members are returnees from 2019?
More than 16 members came back from the 2019 set. It’s important to stress that some members for personal reasons decided not to seek re-election; some members died and of course some didn’t get their party ticket to contest in 2023. So, the number of those who returned goes to show that we are truly in tune with our people.
The casualty rate is not as bad as that of the National Assembly. However, Nigerians must understand that there are several other reasons why many members don’t go back. For instance, some constituencies practice zoning. A member elected in 2023 won’t spend beyond one term. The high turnout of members is a tragedy because it affects the capacities of the legislature. We need to do something about this.
Would you say the 10th Assembly you are leading has effectively represented the interests of all citizens of Sokoto State?
Yes, I can beat my chest and proclaim we have. The evidence is in our work which is obvious. And I am happy that the governor and the people agree that we have always stood by them and solidly aligned ourselves with the interest of the state. Though for some Nigerians, a harmonious relationship means that the legislature has been compromised. On the whole the Sokoto State House of Assembly has kept its covenant with the people of Sokoto State.
Let me be blunt here. Is Sokoto legislature a rubber-stamp parliament?
Absolutely not. Again, let me fundamentally address the issue of rubber stamp legislature. The Sokoto State House of Assembly takes its oversight functions very seriously. We have a responsibility on behalf of the people to effectively monitor the executive on behalf of our people. It’s a sacred mandate. I don’t think there’s any other house that
gives priority to its oversight functions like this assembly. I must commend my colleagues because they take this and every assignment very seriously.
We religiously ensure we monitor the executive, even though the executive governor has made our assignment a lot easier for us by appointing very serious-minded people into positions
The Sokoto State House of Assembly has never subjected any bill to unnecessary amendments just to prove a point. I must also commend the executive for sending us well researched and crafted bills. In fairness to the governor, he is always ready to listen to our opinion.
For instance, during the debate on the 2025 budget we discovered that some important areas were not included- an oversight and we pointed this out and the governor was very okay with our observations. I think it’s essentially a matter of approach. And this has reduced areas of friction. Thankfully, there hasn’t been any issue that we haven’t been able to amicably resolve because of the good communication between both branches.
In Sokoto State, we work as a team, there is a lot of constant consultations and because we understand the governor’s position - the development of Sokoto State - we are able to work in harmony. I repeat again that Governor Sokoto, in spite of his enormous powers is a democrat and a man that believes in the rule of law.
Let’s look at accomplishments of the 10th House of Assembly. To date, how many bills has the House under your leadership passed?
We have substantially achieved our major legislative goals for this year. And we are satisfied with our performance. So far, so good. But if something comes up and we are on holidays, we will immediately report for duty. Once the executive sends a bill to us, we have no choice because every issue touches on the life of our electorate directly.
This House in the last two years has passed 25 bills, of which 22 have been assented to by the governor. The remaining three will soon be transmitted to the governor for assent.
The private member bill on Mandatory and Compulsory Premarital Medical Screening is one of the outstanding bills. The bill has been passed by the House, but it is yet to be transmitted to the governor for his signature, so it is not yet a law. What informed the passage of the bill by the
House is the social and health challenges that the society is facing as a result of the failure of intending couples to carry out these tests.
Was the Sokoto State Community Security Corps Bill an executive bill?
Yes. That’s another consequential bill that we passed, and we rose to the challenge because the House of Assembly is about the welfare and security of the people. Once the governor intimated us about his plans we quickly went to work. We immediately sent some members on study tour to states with similar bodies. This tremendously helped us in crafting the bill and the governor wasted no time assenting the bill. This is what synergy is all about.
What of knowledge updates? Do your legislators regularly get relevant training?
We take capacity building for our members as seriously as we take our assignments as lawmakers. We don’t joke with training. Members must constantly and continuously improve themselves because the world is in a constant state of change. Take cyber security threats, Artificial Intelligence, etc, members must have a good understanding of these developments to be able to fashion out legislative solutions to them.
Each quarter, our members and staff of the assembly who provide us with the necessary support to function are sent for training. And again, we must thank His Excellency and our development partners who have ensured that we are adequately equipped to perform our responsibilities.
Are you satisfied with the contribution of the Sokoto State Community Corps to the security of the people?
Yes, because the members of the corps are from the communities being harassed by these insurgents, they are giving it their all. The other advantage is that they know the terrain. We lost five gallant members of the corps in the line of duty. The governor’s main objective of creating the corps is to complement the security agencies. And they have been providing the security agencies with credible intelligence which they find extremely useful. They have lived up to our expectations.
The opposition has often accused the governor of not doing much in terms of security. Your
reaction…
I don’t think the opposition elements have been fair to the governor who has been up and doing on the issue of insecurity confronting the state and indeed the other North-West states. By the way you don’t expect the opposition to be fair to the government. There are certain security actions that for obvious reasons I can’t disclose. But it’s public knowledge that the state government has provided the security agencies with critical logistics support - over 140 buffalo vehicles, and thousands of motorcycles. The governor built a military base at Illela for the army because it would help in the war against the bandits. There is also financial support for the security agencies.
The noticeable reduction in the activities of these bandits is because of the huge investment of the Sokoto State Government and the determination of the governor to secure our people. Governor Sokoto has never held back his support for the security agencies, because the people being killed are his citizens. He is very responsible and alive to his duty. He is up and doing in terms of security and he’s doing well. All that he needs is the continued support and encouragement from the people and the press. So, when the opposition says the governor is not doing well, it’s highly political. And we expect them to increase the volume of their falsehoods with the 2027 elections drawing closer.
Last year Sokoto’s legislature passed some consequential amendments: the Sokoto State Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Law, Sokoto State Local Government 2009 Law, Land Tenancy, Zakat and Rural Roads. Unfortunately, that of the Local Government generated some controversy…
This goes to prove that the Sokoto State House of Assembly is a very productive assembly. Like they say when you want to kill a dog you give it a bad name. So, to derail the good intentions of the governor the opposition went to town that the amendment was targeted at the Sultan of Sokoto, as a prelude to his deposition.
Unfortunately, based on their mischief and falsehoods they succeeded in overheating the polity. The laws that we passed include the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Commission’s Law, the Zakat and Endowment Commission’s Law, the Tenancy Control and Safety of Persons Commission Law, which by their functions can only function as agencies of government and not as commissions like the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice said in his presentation during the consideration of the amendment to the bills.
The amendment was absolutely necessary in order to bring these laws into conformity with the Nigerian Constitution. And the House wholeheartedly agreed with his submission and that of other stakeholders.
After the local government bill was passed, I am happy the people finally understood that they were misled by the opposition despite our efforts to convince them that the bill had nothing to do with the Chieftaincy Appointment and Deposition Law, which is the one that relates to the removal of the Sultan.
Thankfully, we stood our ground and everyone is enjoying the benefits of all the bills that we have passed. As a result of the rural roads law the governor has been able to construct several roads. Those roads wouldn’t have been possible without the instrumentality of the law.
The amendment of the local government law changed the tenure of the Chairmen and Councilors from two to three years. For a governor who ran on a 9- Point Smart Agenda that includes Local Government Autonomy, this amendment was very important to him.
In all honesty what can an elected chairman achieve in two years? The answer is - very little. This explains why the governor deemed it necessary to increase their tenure to enable them initiate and execute projects. The last administration changed the law to two years in 2016, before that amendment the tenure was three years.
The other amendment was in respect of Section 76 of the Local Government Law as it relates to the functions of the Sultanate Council in the appointment of districts and villages heads.
The Attorney General enlightened the people of the state during the Public Hearing, that under the Nigerian constitution, executive powers are vested in the governor, and that it’s the governor that can appoint, while the Sultanate Council can only recommend. We have been vindicated by the outcome.
Rt.Hon.TukurBalaBodinga
L-R: Member, Safer Localities Safer Nation Programme, Hon Solomon Tor-Abam; representative of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Elder N. C. I. Okoye; Faculty Chair, Safer Localities Safer Nation Programme, Maj. Gen. Ishola Williams (rtd); Chairman, Congress International Limited, owner of People’s Dividend, the magazine for Local Government, Ogah Columba; and ALGON representative, Chief Venatus Okafor, at a meeting to discuss collaboration on Safer Localities Safer Nation Programme at ALGON headquarters in Abuja… recently
L–R: Chairman, Catholic Brothers United (CBU) 21st Annual Lecture Planning Committee, Dr. Fred Anigbogu; President, CBU, St Agnes Catholic Church Maryland, Lagos, Mr. Gabriel Akumhegie; Guest Speaker and Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, His Lordship, Prof Godfrey Onah; Parish Priest, St Agnes Catholic Church Maryland, Very Reverend Father Anthony
L-R: Lecturer, Department of Performing Arts and Film Studies, Kwara State University, Malate, Dr. Joe Odedina; Playwright, ‘The Okeho Exodus’, Olutayo Irantiola; former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof Emeritus Musibau Akanji; and Director of Academic Planning, University of Ilorin, Prof Abdulrasheed Abiodun Adeoye, at the presentation of a distinguished playwright award to Irantiola during the stage production of ‘The Okeho Exodus’ by students of the Kwara State University, Malete… recently
Fadairo; and Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Emmanuel Ojibo, during the CBU 21st Annual Lecture held in Lagos… recently
L-R: Provost, Orange Academy and Managing Director, Nitro 121, Lampe Omoyele; winner of the Bola Akingbade Marketing Excellence Initiative Awards (BAMEI), Anuoluwapo Adebayo of IBX Class 31; and Dean of Studies, Orange Academy, Franklin Ozekhome, at the 2025 Orange Academy Immersion and the BAMEI Awards held in Lagos… recently
L-R: Convener, Sustainability of Nigeria’s Forest to Unlocking $2 Billon Potential for Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia; Royal Father of the day, HRH, Alhaji Kevin Danesi; and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Sustainability Limited, Dr. Sadiq Sani, during the ‘Sustainability of Nigeria’s Forest to Unlocking the $2 Billon Potential for Economic and Financial Inclusion’ meeting held at the Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa, Abuja… recently
PHOTO:GODWIN OMOIGUI.
L-R: Former President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and Chairman, Organising Committee, Insurance Week 2025, Eddie Efekoha; Commissioner for Insurance/Chief Executive, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Olusegun Omosehin; Managing Director, Leadway Assurance, Gboyega Lesi; President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mrs. Yetunde Ilori; and Chairman, Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), Kunle Ahmed, at the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of Insurance Week organised by the CIIN in Lagos… recently
Sam Ifeanyi Onuigbo reflects on ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s pivotal Climate Change Act, examining its lasting impact on Nigeria’s environmental policy and global standing.
He had withheld assent to the Climate Change Bill in 2019. As one given to meticulous observation, he noted some grey areas that required clarity for operators of the law. It is painful to speak of Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari in the past tense.
But, when news of the passing of the late President reached me, my mind immediately flashed to his climate change legacy. As if driven by an unseen force, I found my gaze fixed on the framed photograph hanging on the wall of my office: It was the picture of that historic scene on 22 September 2016, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York during the 71st United Nations General Assembly, where I stood beside him alongside Abubakar Malami, then Attorney General and Minister of Justice; former Minister of Environment, Amina J Mohammed currently, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations; former Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama; Abdulrahman Dambazzau, Minister of Interior; Babagana Monguno, National Security Adviser; Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Solid Minerals; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, Governor of Zamfara State; Senator Sabi Abdullahi, currently, the Minister of State for Agriculture; among so many others as he signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
As a legislator at the time, I was both inspired and burdened. Inspired, because here was a President aligning Nigeria with the world’s most pressing cause; burdened, because I knew how much work lay ahead to translate these pledges into law and policy.
Yet, true to his word, Buhari ensured that Nigeria ratified the Paris Agreement by 2017.
He pushed for a National Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification framework, a technical feat that richer nations still struggle with. Behind the scene, Buhari’s administration crafted sector- specific plans, targeting oil and gas, agriculture, and power, with a becoming pragmatism that balanced economic growth and ecological responsibility. Few appreciated then, how revolutionary it was: A fossil-fuel dependent nation voluntarily committing to a low carbon future.
I recall how his hands, weathered by decades of service, moved with deliberate precision as he appended his simple, but elegant signature on that far-reaching agreement.
At that point, the tip of his pen touching that document carried a huge significant weight that most people would never understand.
To me, we have lost, not just a president, but the architect of Nigeria’s environmental conscience.
That was the essence of the man: he planted trees, whose shade, he knew he may never sit under. The transformation that followed was nothing short of remarkable.
As I continue to reflect on the passing of the late President, I find myself drawn to memories of our work together on what was to become one of his most enduring legacies, the Climate Change Act of 2021.
The journey through this landmark legislation began long before its eventual presidential assent. It spanned multiple National Assembly plenaries, and overcoming numerous obstacles that would have deterred a less determined nation.
At the onset, when the Climate Change Bill was first introduced, during the 6th Assembly, the concept of climate legislation was still novel in Nigeria’s political discourse. It was often misunderstood or dismissed as being secondary to more pressing economic concerns.
By the time I was appointed Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change--in the 8th Assembly--by the then Speaker, Rt. Honourable Yakubu Dogara, I was aghast. However, the defining moment that fired my resolve to pursue and achieve a Climate Change Act, was COP 21 in Paris, France, during which the Paris Agreement on Climate Change was adopted.
The head of that delegation was the late President Buhari. Other prominent participants
were the then Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, Amina J Mohammed and others.
At an event sponsored by Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) at the French Parliament, as part of the COP21, Parliamentarians were enjoined to return to their home country’s Parliament and
sponsor legislations on climate change so as to provide the legal framework to guide their nations in achieving the lofty goals contained in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
As it turned out, that charge by speakers at that GLOBE event was like a tonic. I resolved to work hard to realise the national and international objectives or goals of the Paris Agreement on
Climate Change. The collective insights gleaned from those climate change events, including my personal observation of the drying up of five out of the six springs in my native Obuohia Obi-Ibere, Ikwuano, spurred me to sponsor the Climate Change Bill.
Records at the National Assembly show that, the bill experienced sluggish progression. It was rejected successively in the 6th and 7th Assemblies. And, even in the 8th Assembly, when I sponsored it again and it passed, assent was declined by the late President.
Then, in the 9th Assembly, I reworked and reintroduced the Climate Change Bill, and followed it up with a lot of coordination, expanded collaboration with different critical stakeholders in the executive, the private sector, and within the parliament. These critical stakeholders were drawn from some Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), the Academia, and Civil Society Organizations.
Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, exercised admirable leadership through his evident support and encouragement. He was ably assisted by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Idris Wase, the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, and other members of the 9th National Assembly in delivering this important legislation. The Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, provided immeasurable support and guidance.
In view of past multiple setbacks that befell the Bill, there were moments when I wondered whether that critical legal framework for Nigeria’s sustainable future would ever see the light of day.
-Onuigbo, a former member of the House of Representatives, writes from Abuja.
NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com
Of Mbah, Enugu Air and Enemies of Good Thinking
Ifeanyichukwu Jaja writes that Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State recently launched an air carrier for the Coal City State despite the ranting of some failed politicians in the state
The year 2025 opened with very auspicious circumstances for the Government and peoples of Enugu State. Specifically, the months of January and July delivered poignant messages for the cause of socio-economic development in the state.
Earlier this year, that was exactly on January 4, the President, Bola Tinubu, paid a working visit to Enugu, during which the Nigerian leader inaugurated a wide range of impactful projects embarked upon by Governor Mbah.
Speaking in the course of the inauguration of infrastructure projects and social amenities scattered all over the three Senatorial zones and 17 Local Government Areas of the state, President Tinubu praised Governor Mbah for his meticulous appropriation and deployment of resources.
The President also commended Enugu people for making a right choice in their election of Mbah as their governor, even as he extolled the benefits of having governors from the private sector.
Referring to Governor Mbah and his Abia State counterpart, Dr Alex Otti, the President stated: “These my friends are doing well, they have shown the benefits of having governors with private sector experience. Governor Mbah is a successful entrepreneur and Enugu State is very lucky to have him as governor.”
Nearly six months after the Nigerian leader made those remarkable observations about the Enugu State governor, Governor Peter Mbah raised the bar of excellent mandate delivery further to the chagrin of the enemies of good governance in the state.
Penultimate Monday, the Governor of Enugu State launched Enugu Air, as part of
his administration’s plan to open up the state as an aviation hub and boost its tourism and commercial potentials.
On that fateful July 7, Governor Mbah showcased three Embraer Aircrafts, which he disclosed would kick off the airline’s initial operations along what he described as the Golden Triangle of Enugu to Abuja and Lagos.
Speaking highly of the prospects of the airline, the governor observed that with the three Embraer aircrafts would help to “spur job creation, boost tourism and improve inter-city connectivity for members of the Diaspora and business community using the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
“This venture,” Mbah stressed, “would offer simpler, more dignified access to home. It would also present as a giant leap for Enugu State and a gold standard for government and
private partnership.”
But, before the ceremony unveiling the Airline could wind up, hack writers sponsored by a desperate politician from the state, started making the rounds on various social media and online platforms.
The bogus politician pushed his E-rats to question the rationale for the airline, just as they tried to pick holes on the partnership arrangement that birthed Enugu Air. Long used to opaque practices and shady business practices, the politician, exposed the shallowness of his intellectual capacity and the shallowness of his business acumen.
For clarity and objectivity, the following is exact sample what the misguided hirelings were busy sharing on various platforms:
“Enugu “Airline” Governor Mbah Exposed — Is This another Hadi Sirika-Style Scam in Disguise?
“Yesterday, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State introduced XEJet, now rebranded as ‘Enugu Air’, and you can bet Nigerians are already spotting the red flags flying higher than the planes themselves!
“Here’s the kicker: Despite the flashy launch and all the marketing hype, ‘Enugu Air’ isn’t actually owned by Enugu State—this is a statement of fact. It’s really XEJet, a private airline. if you want to book a ticket, you’ll find yourself redirected to XEJet’s official website, not a platform run by the Enugu government.
-Dr Jaja, writes from University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Sex, Trump and the Epstein Files
Chido Nwangwu writes on the implication of the controversial Epstein files on the political future of United States President, Donald Trump.
An unfolding issue that should be of interest to President Donald Trump, his MAGA base, Republicans and Democrats was revealed a few hours ago, the evening of July 23, 2025 by The Wall Street Journal. It is one of the newspapers owned by Trump’s (shall we say, now), former ally Rupert Murdoch. He also controls FOX News and several other influential media networks under NewsCorp.
Remarkably, The Wall Street Journal has reported that Trump-picked Attorney General Pam Bondi told President Trump during a meeting in May 2025 that his name appeared multiple times in Department of Justice documents about sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The May date reported by the Journal was weeks before the same Department of Justice announced on July 7, 2025 that it would not release the Epstein files. There were earlier statements by Bondi and other senior officials that the material would be disclosed to the public.
Meanwhile, Trump has filed a multibillion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal and others for publishing an article detailing his ties to the late Epstein.
It was on July 6, 2019, that Mr. Epstein was arrested in New York City on multiple charges, including sex trafficking.
Sex-related scandals have also impacted the careers of many politicians. Whenever members of the business elite, social headliners and highly-
Oyebanji Enriching History of the Land of Honour
Raheem Akingbolu reflects on the rising popularity of Govermor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State and what it holds for the unfolding political development ahead of 2026 gubernatorial poll.
The emergence of Biodun Oyebanji as an elected governor of Ekiti State was not only epochal but remains a game changer. For a long time, the conversation had always been that those who have emerged as elected governors of the state since 1999 have been those referred to as ‘Ekiti Abroad’. While this description is not derogatory on strict terms, it stems from the fact that Ekiti being an agrarian state, many indigenes would have preferred someone who grew up in the state to emerge as her elected leader. And that ‘prayer’ was answered when Oyebanji was sworn- in on October 16th, 2022.
Born in Ikogosi-Ekiti, the town known for the famed meeting point between warm and cold water in the late 60s, Oyebanji had all his education in Ekiti. From primary to secondary school, he cut his educational teeth in the state. In fact, he became the first alumnus of the state university to emerge as the governor of the state. This was a game changer.
Oyebanji met a state though peaceful but battling quite a number of socio-economic challenges. It is a state that relies heavily on government patronage as the only viable industry that employs quite a number of indigenes is government. Most salary earners in Ekiti are either civil servants or teachers. In other words, they are both government employees. With this in mind, the economic capabilities of indigenes are not that strong going by the low value of the Naira, which practically renders the purchasing power of indigenes weak.
a common purpose.
As earlier mentioned, Ekiti is a civil service state. And like they usually say on the streets in the state; any governor that takes care of civil servants, especially teachers in Ekiti State, can never have a problem. Oyebanji is doing more than this. Salaries are not only regular, the era of having months of unpaid salaries had gone into history. No retired public servant has to shed tears of sorrow before getting his or her entitlements. Pensions are paid as at when due, and other allowances are paid without any industrial action by workers. They Ekiti State public servants have not had it this good.
placed politicians are mentioned in the titillating areas of romantic and sexual dalliances, they heighten the interests of the citizenry. A major complication for President Trump, in this matter, is that an unusually high and increasing number of his MAGA supporters want full disclosure of the facts and information about the Epstein saga.
Consequently, I think the coming eight weeks of August to September 2025 are going to be slippery, politically, for President Trump.
In many ways, it will not be out of place to classify him as the other cat with nine lives.
He was associated and friendly with the same controversial and wealthy man, Epstein.
As more revelations unfold, I believe that several influential persons are likely to be caught or embarrassed by the Epstein licentious pecadillos involving some men who seek for and frolick in the sexual exploitation of underage girls. He had tons of money and private jet and luxury hideaways/ homes and his “own island” where he took his fellow wealthy men of power and influence to “play” with those young, impressionable and awestricken girls!
-Dr Nwangwu, author of the forthcoming book, MLK, Mandela & Achebe: Power, Leadership and Identity, is Founder of the first African-owned, U.S-based newspaper on the internet, USAfricaonline.com, and established USAfrica in 1992 in Houston. Follow him on X @Chido247
Oyebanji made it clear that this narrative needed to be changed. But before then, he had to battle the little matter of insecurity. There was a time when the state was reeling under the devastating effect of kidnapping, especially in the northern part of the state bordering Kogi State. In fact, the lowest point was when two traditional rulers were brutally killed by kidnappers after they (the monarchs) tried to escape from them. It was one terrible news Oyebanji was not happy to hear. However, rather than going melancholic and blaming imaginary political adversaries (as is the norm with politicians), he rolled up his sleeve and got down to work.
The first thing he did was, in collaboration with security agencies, to re-jig the state’s security architecture. It moved from knee-jerk response to intelligence based approach to handling security challenges. He also ensured that he engaged critical stakeholders and involved them in the onerous job of securing the state so that people could go about their duties without fear or trepidation.
Beyond this is the management of the state’s social engineering. The state is notorious for political banditry. It used to be a state where politicians and their followers usually engage in a war of attrition. The battle for political power is always very deadly, and the fallout is a vicious polarisation of the people of the state along political lines. While political pluralism is good for the growth of democracy and enhancement of good governance, Oyebanji has succeeded in eliminating the politics of bitterness and acrimony that used to be the hallmark of political engagement in the state.
No one can remember the last time the state witnessed any political violence or disturbances. Oyebanji has extended a hand of fellowship and friendship across party lines. He has engaged stakeholders across party lines, and he has succeeded in making them see the need to make Ekiti State great again than whatever they stand to gain politically. Many of them have not only keyed into this, but they are ready to work with governor in unity towards
Infrastructure wise, Ekiti used to be a state battling to catch up with the rest of the South-West. But Oyebanji is changing that narrative in less than three years on the saddle. The overhead bridge at Ejigbo is nearing completion. The aim of this bridge is to ease commuting within Ado-Ekiti metropolis, which even the most ardent critic will admit is growing at a very fast rate.
In the area of power infrastructure, the Oyebanji administration is making determined efforts to ensure that Ekiti gets a sustainable power supply. To achieve this, the government has embarked on various power infrastructure projects. One, it has established and transferred regulatory control of the electricity market to Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau.
There is also the recent identification of four Meter Assess Providers (MAP) and collaboration the MAPs BEDC and Ekiti State to provide prepaid meters for households at affordable cost, starting with five pilot communities vis Erinmope, Ode, Aisegba, Imesi, Ipole-Iloro. Also there is issuance of an Order on tariff setting for Ekiti State customers under BEDC/IBEDC services Areas in Ekiti State, among others. With a view of increasing the commercial hours and security across the state, several solar streetlight projects were executed to enhance security and increase the business hours for State’s economy. Other projects in this direction are replacement and installation of transformers in various communities, rehabilitation of 33KVA network from Ilumoba to Ikole Ekiti and extension of 33KVA electricity network from Ilawe to Igbara Odo Ekiti.
Under electricity, perhaps the most significant was the rehabilitation and connection of Ijan, Ilumoba, Aisegba, Agbado, Imesi, Ode, Isinbode, Egbe, Iro Ayeteju and Omuo in Aiyekire back to the national grid after many years of being in total blackout. Also connected to this was the extension of electricity from Omuo Ekiti to Eda Ile, Ikun Oba, Araromi and Ilasa Ekiti.
www.thisdaylive.com
Friday July 25, 2025 Vol 27. No 11065
opinion@thisdaylive.com
CRACKING DOWN ON TERROR
The partnership between Kaduna State government and the military is paying off, reckons ADAMU ADAMS
See page 21
MATHEMATICAL SEGUN
ODEGBAMI… AUSTIN ISIKHUEMEN pays tribute to the ace sportsman and intellectual humanist
See page 21
Personal excellence is the engine that drives visionary decisions, and responsible governance, contends KALU OKORONKWO
PERSONAL EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP
Conversations around leadership often veers toward politics, power, and privilege, but rarely toward personal excellence. Yet, history has shown that nations rise or crumble not simply because of policies or party manifestos, but because of the character of those entrusted with leadership.
Specifically, Nigeria’s leadership crisis, like most of other African countries and the rest of the world (where leadership has failed enormously), isn’t just about poor governance, it is a crisis of internal bankruptcy, where those in power often lack the foundational discipline, integrity, and vision needed to lead themselves, let alone a nation.
Or what can you say about a country where most of its leaders are still forging certificates to meet the threshold of primary requirement as low as school leaving certificate, still forging age and birth certificates, disobeys court orders while judges give justice to the highest bidder, use their children name to acquire public properties at the expense of the masses who should benefit from it and spend billions of dollars un-accounted for or even without appropriation by the statutory authorities among other ills.
In systems already riddled with corruption, impunity, and institutional decay, the absence of personal excellence becomes the final nail in the coffin.
Take a look around infrastructural development efforts of governments in Nigeria for instance, roads built today collapse tomorrow; budgets disappear before they’re disbursed; and national visions fade with every new election cycle.
The tragedy is not just that our systems are failing, but that those meant to fix them are themselves compromised, void of self-leadership, integrity, and the moral clarity to act in the public good.
Personal excellence is about becoming a person of worth, whose inner compass is guided by principles, whose vision is driven by service, and whose words align with action. It is not a skill one picks up for the cameras; it is a commitment to living above board even when no one is watching.
What most failed leaders have in common is not lack of education or exposure as many are globally trained, credentialed, and eloquent, however the real deficit lies within as you cannot compensate moral bankruptcy with global education or exposure. Every failed leader lack excellence within, that deep-seated commitment to doing right, the discipline to resist excess, and the courage to stand alone when principles are at stake.
Leadership without personal excellence is like steering a ship with no compass. It may appear to be moving, but it’s directionless, reactionary, and ultimately doomed. When leaders lack selfdiscipline, they overindulge; when they lack empathy, they exploit; when they lack vision, they cling to outdated power games at the expense of progress. Imagine a governor who does not inflate contracts, who comes to work on time, listens to citizens, and responds to crises with competence. Imagine a senator who reads every bill thoroughly, consults with constituents, and stands against executive excesses not for media praise, but because it is right. These simple acts, when grounded in personal excellence, become revolutionary in a country worn down by mediocrity.
Certainly, the failure of leaders due to a lack of personal excellence and vision is a major contributor to systemic collapse in many nations.
In Nigeria for instance, President Sani Abacha
(1993–1998): was not lacking in strategic capacity as he was a military tactician but he lacked integrity and national empathy. Under his regime, over $5 billion was looted and stashed abroad, crippling public trust and infrastructure development. The result was that Nigeria became a pariah state, sanctions were imposed, and civil liberties were crushed. His personal greed overshadowed any economic stability achieved during his tenure.
Also, President Goodluck Jonathan (2010–2015) was said to be weak in the face of corruption. Though Jonathan was seen as a mild-mannered leader, but his failure to decisively act against corruption and insecurity (e.g., Boko Haram's rise) signaled weak personal leadership.
Under his watch, the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal, in which funds meant for military equipment were embezzled exposed a leadership lacking in accountability and discipline, and contributed to the country’s worsening security crisis and his loss in the 2015 election.
While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu campaigned on competence and reform, his half term has been clouded by perceived nepotism, economic hardship, and cabinet appointments criticized for rewarding loyalty over merit. ritics argue that his inability to decisively address fuel subsidy management and forex instability among other seeming corruption tendencies of his admiration reflects leadership without clear moral and economic direction.
The next years will determine whether he rises above these concerns or becomes another example of a leader who failed from within.
Similarly, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, once a liberation hero, lost his moral compass over time. His desire to cling to power and inability to prioritize national interest over personal rule led to economic collapse and political repression. Hyperinflation, mass emigration, and Zimbabwe’s economic ruin stemmed from one man’s ego and detachment from personal responsibility.
Also Jacob Zuma of South Africa’s presidency was marred by corruption, most notably his ties to the Gupta family, who were accused of “state capture”—influencing cabinet appointments and state contracts, resulting to weakening of South Africa’s institutions while investors’ confidence dropped, and social unrest increased all due to a president who allowed personal loyalty and greed to eclipse national duty. The list can go on and on especially among African leaders. Also in Nigeria at the state levels, Zamfara State, once rich in gold, is now a symbol of what happens when leadership fails. There, illegal mining, banditry, and lawlessness thrive—because those who were tasked with protecting the state allowed greed to override governance. The same trend echoes in Benue, Niger,
and even Cross River, where corruption, landgrabbing, and political thuggery grow unchecked.
These crises are not just systemic; they are deeply personal. They stem from the failure of individuals who, despite occupying high offices, never cultivated the personal excellence necessary to use power responsibly.
True leadership begins not with the title, but with the individual behind the title. Personal excellence is the inner engine that drives visionary decisions, ethical conduct, and responsible governance. It is the ability to consistently pursue high standards, not just for applause, but because excellence is a duty owed to those you lead.
In failing systems, where corruption is normalized and mediocrity rewarded, personal excellence is revolutionary as it resists shortcuts, demands accountability, and insists on transparency even when the system resists. A leader who embodies excellence leads by example, setting a new standard in the face of systemic rot.
Let’s consider Nelson Mandela, former South African President who spent 25 years in prison fighting for the country’s liberation from apartheid, not perfect, but principled. His strength did not come from his title but from his moral authority. Decades of personal sacrifice, self-discipline, and commitment to justice gave him a credibility that no political office could manufacture. He didn't just lead a nation, he embodied the excellence it desperately needed.
That same spirit is needed now more than ever especially in Nigeria. As the country inches closer to the 2027, general elections, in every local council, national assembly, and presidency, Nigeria’s future demands leaders who have first conquered themselves.
For Nigeria to fulfill its promise, it must shift its focus from celebrating loud leadership to demanding excellent leadership; quiet, disciplined, principled, and effective. This must begin from the grassroots to the presidency. Schools, families, political parties, religious institutions, every segment of society must teach and reward the value of personal excellence. Nigeria and the rest of Africa does not lack resources; it lacks leaders of character. The revival of any failing system begins with the emergence of individuals who choose personal excellence over political expedience. Leaders who show up prepared, informed, and morally grounded. Leaders who lead from within.
As Nigeria and the rest of Africa continent navigates a future riddled with uncertainty, one truth must remain clear: no system, no matter how broken, can stand against the force of leaders who possess excellence within. Nations are waiting—not for saviors, but for self-led servants.
The excellence Nigeria and Africa seeks in its roads, hospitals, schools, and institutions must first be born within the hearts of its leaders. A nation cannot rise above the character of those who lead it. If we desire progress, then the next revolution must not be in the streets, it must be in the souls of those who seek to lead.
Because leadership without personal excellence is merely occupation of space. But leadership with personal excellence is what builds nations.
Okoronkwo, a leadership and good governance advocate writes from Lagos Nigeria and can be reached via kalu. okoronkwo@gmail.com.
The partnership between Kaduna State government and the military is paying off,
reckons ADAMU ADAMS
CRACKING DOWN ON TERROR
On a quiet Thursday morning in Kaduna State, a major breakthrough was recorded in the ongoing fight against terror and banditry. Acting on credible intelligence, troops of the 37 Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Demonstration Battalion intercepted a vehicle along the Kauya–Old Afaka–Sabon Birni axis in Igabi Local Government Area, arresting three suspected terrorists and gunrunners. The suspects—Yakubu Jilbril (45), Abubakar Yahaya (45), and Isiya Sani (30), were found in possession of a cache of arms and ammunition suspected to be destined for criminal elements operating in the forested outskirts of Kaduna. This successful operation was not an isolated incident, it was the latest in a string of security gains under the watch of Governor Uba Sani, whose administration has prioritized strategic partnerships between state and federal security agencies, intelligence-driven operations, and community-based vigilance. Since assuming office, Governor Sani has made security and public safety a cornerstone of his administration. Recognizing that insecurity, particularly banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping, was hampering economic activity and disrupting education in the state, Governor Sani adopted a multi-layered security approach. Central to his plan has been close coordination with the military, Nigeria Police Force, Civil Defence Corps, and local vigilante groups. His government’s investment in intelligence gathering, community trust-building, and technology-enabled security infrastructure has yielded tangible results. The arrest of the three suspects this week is a direct reflection of this new synergy. The quick mobilization of NDA troops and the effective use of local intelligence were made possible, in part, by policies enacted to foster cooperation between citizens and security forces—a major theme of Governor Sani’s leadership. Speaking on the operation, Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, commended the troops and emphasized the importance of collaborative intelligence: “The swift response of our forces reflects improved intelligence channels and operational readiness, made more effective by strong support from local governance structures.” Kaduna has long been one of the most volatile regions in Nigeria’s northwest, plagued by recurring episodes of banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency. The Igabi Local Government Area, in particular, has been a flashpoint. Yet under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership, the narrative is slowly changing. His administration has implemented reforms to digitize surveillance, improve patrol response times, support military deployments, and most critically, rebuild trust between security agencies and local communities. “The governor’s calm but firm leadership style has created an enabling environment for joint operations like these,” said Dr. Habiba Abdullahi, a security analyst based in Zaria. “You can’t overstate the value of civil-military relations, and Governor Sani has been deliberate in fostering that.”
Beyond responding to incidents, the governor has laid the groundwork for long-term stability in the state. Among his key initiatives: Creation of the Kaduna State Security Trust Fund, which supports security operations with logistics, vehicles, and intelligence tools; launch of the community policing framework, which empowers traditional and community leaders to provide early warning signals. Also, deployment of smart surveillance technology in ur-
ban areas like Kaduna North and Chikun to deter crime, and regular security council meetings, where the governor brings together military and civilian stakeholders to assess threats and responses, have all been pivotal in the fight against terror and other violent crimes in the state. Through these efforts, Kaduna has recorded a decline in rural school abductions, improved security around its transportation corridors, and increased farmer confidence during planting seasons. Residents of Igabi and nearby Afaka say the arrest of the suspected gunmen offers renewed hope. “Governor Sani has been very active,” said Malam Idris Abubakar, a local farmer. “Now we see real efforts. There’s more military presence, and these arrests show that things are changing.” Social media was abuzz following the arrest, with hashtags like #SecureKaduna and #UbaSaniDelivers trending. Many Nigerians praised the synergy between the state government and the Armed Forces. Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, also weighed in, applauding the troops and reaffirming the Armed Forces' commitment to partnering with state governments like Kaduna’s to enhance national security. “This resolute action sends a clear message to all criminal elements,” Gen. Musa said. “The Nigerian Armed Forces are unwavering in their mission to protect citizens, and the support of proactive leaders like Governor Uba Sani makes our job easier and more effective.” He also reiterated the military’s intention to build on this momentum with more intelligence-led raids and surveillance activities throughout the region. The suspects are currently in military custody, and investigations are underway to determine the scope of their network and affiliations. Authorities are confident the arrest will lead to more crackdowns in the coming weeks. “The interrogation process will reveal more about where the weapons came from, who sent them, and how widespread the network is,” said a security source. “This arrest is just the beginning.”
As Kaduna continues to recover from years of insecurity, the arrest of these suspects is a symbolic win—not just for the military, but for a state government that has taken a hands-on approach to security. Governor Sani’s strides in mobilizing local intelligence, supporting military operations, and rebuilding community trust. Though the road ahead remains challenging, the progress made so far offers a model for other states battling similar threats. In this crucial hour, the partnership between the state government and the military may well be Kaduna’s most potent weapon—not just against terror, but in building lasting peace.
Adams writes from Kaduna State
AUSTIN ISIKHUEMEN pays tribute to the ace sportsman and intellectual humanist
MATHEMATICAL SEGUN
ODEGBAMI…
On March 22, 1980, we listened to the irrepressible Ernest Okonkwo on Radio Nigeria. We were many, mostly secondary school students. We gathered around the radio set listening as if hints about the WAEC examination questions of that year were going to be given! The volume of the radio set was only slightly lowered when it started vibrating and rattling at the maximum volume. We were listening to live commentaries from the Africa Cup of Nations final. Then he scored. Ernest Okonkwo went berserk, his voice thundering away in ecstasy. We exploded in joy, some jumping up and down while other more ascetic guys called for calm to enable us listen to the continuing analysis by the numero uno sports commentator in English-speaking Africa. He must have mentioned the scorer, Mathematical Odegbami ten times in one minute! The goal had been scored in the second minute of the much-anticipated final at the National Stadium in a place called Surulere in faraway Lagos.
In the 42nd minute, Mathematical doubled our joy. The second goal, from the foot of the same man, sent the nation into a frenzy. The Algerian team was being turn to ball boys by a superior force in Shagari’s Nigeria. By the time the third goal was scored by Muda Lawal in the second half, we knew the match was over and the cup, ours. There was no way Aloysius Atuegbu, the one they called Blockbuster, Khadiri Ikhana, gangling Emmanuel Okala and the other compatriots in the football pitch would let down President Shehu Shagari who was watching intensely with pride in the state box.
The Green Eagles, later renamed Super Eagles by Admiral Augustus Aikhomu years later, had delivered and won the first Africa Nations Cup for their country. Olusegun Odegbami had etched his name in Nigeria Hall of Sports Fame! The national euphoria did not wear out for months. The gifts of a house and Peugeot 504 sedan by the President to each player and coaching team was as unprecedented as the victory itself. I can still recall seeing Khadiri Ikhana in his sparkling white 504 coming to Ekenwan Campus of the University of Benin for light practice when I stayed there in my first year early 1981.
This story is not about that game, but its recall provides a superb prelude to a story about the man, ‘Segun Odegbami. His exploits outside participatory sports are as legendary as the joy he brought to Nigerians on the football pitch. He has gone on to do great things with the same dexterity with which he handled the round leather that earned him the sobriquet that Earnest Okonkwo bestowed on him and which has stuck, many decades on.
My immense respect for the man was re-awakened when our paths crossed at a local eatery called Stomach Care along the railway line on Agege Motor Road near Onipetesi in Lagos. While a manager in Guinness, we frequented Stomach Care which we cherished for the “native touch” to its cooking. The environment was not quite alluring but the atmosphere of unsurpassed bonhomie and convivial camaraderie was irresistible. So were their cuisine that sometimes made us leave the free 3-course meals in the company dinning room to go and spend money at the eatery.
It was at Stomach Care I met Mathematical Odeggbami physically for the first time in the company of my late friend Julius Singerr and ‘Layi Adeyemi, the owner, now late, of Fumman Juice and chemicals business. Unlike most superstars, even those who falsely claim that status, egbon ‘Segun exuded no superiority airs. For someone who was only preparing to write WAEC at the time he was already a household name in the African Continent and beyond, he related as a contemporary.
Even today that we have become friends on social media and relate there frequently and on some WhatsApp platforms, ‘Segun Odegbami never ceases to amaze. Like he did recently when I called him to express appreciation for his efforts in bringing Kadiri Ikhana’s plight to the public space, a call that have already yielded immense positive responses.
They were football team-mates 45 years ago, but Mathematical is still in touch and taking Kadiri’s matter as his own!
Who did not see on social media the visit paid by the legends of that golden era of Nigeria football to the Man Mountain, Emmanuel Okala of Enugu Rangers and Green Eagles fame? The man whose spread hands left no space in the goal post for opponents to score through. In the team of sports legends sponsored by Allen Onyeama, owner of Air Peace and a patriot extra-ordinary, they presented Chief Okala in full colour, in his home, cracking jokes. Nigerians were thrilled to see their iconic goal-keeper, after so many years of absence from public glare, ageing gracefully with his wit intact! Watch that video again and see the deference with which Egbon ‘Segun treated his football team mate!
I cannot speak about what his team mates have gone on to do after their football life. None made the millions and billions football went on to provide its players from Stephen Keshi’s time in European club football following his stint in Cote d’Ivoire. Odegbami and his contemporaries played for the fame but money was not in the equation in their time. He has gone on to develop himself and hone business skills that have kept him busy, solvent and healthy.
He has invested in teaching young Nigerians football skills through his Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy (SOCA) so that they can go on and make fame and fortune as they grow. This academy, located in Orile-Wasimi, near Abeokuta in Ogun State, is a multi-sport academy offering football, tennis, basketball, track and field sports as well as dance, photography, etc. This educational incubator will hatch several superstars who would make Nigeria proud in the near future.
Mathematical Odegbami has also given voice to sports broadcasting and entertainment through his establishment of Eagle7 Sports Radio, a name that resonates with the Eagle he was and the number he played. That radio station, one of the best there is since its launch three years ago, is available on social media. In its few years on air, Eagle7 has etched its mark in sports, arts and culture. During the build-up to AFCON 2024 in Cote d’Ivoire, you got all you needed to know about the plans, who was playing for which country, coaches, game schedules, interviews and analyses from that station.
The icing on the cake during the AFCON for me was seeing Mathematical Odegbami, the legend himself, on the streets of the towns in which the Super Eagles played, doing grassroots mobilization and enlightenment with local Ivorian folks.
Isikhuemen writes from Lagos
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
PDP AND MEMBERSHIP DEFECTIONS
The opposition party is paying heavily for disobeying its own rules At a period when Nigerians desire a
T H I S D AY
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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.
IN PRAISE OF MUKTAR BETARA
The major responsibility of the legislature in democracies is to make laws for the socio-economic development of the society. Lawmakers elected into the legislature are usually immersed in law making process to justify their mandate.
However, some with progressive vision and developmental ideas veer into other people-centric activities that have the potential and capabilities to touch the lives of their people.
One of such people is Muktar Aliyu Betara , representing federal constituency of Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya-Kusar of Borno state for about 20 years. His ability to connect with diverse groups sets him apart and his appeal bridges the urban and the rural, the elite and the masses. Whether in the chamber or the streets of Abuja or Biu, his message of service remains the same.
His legislative focus extends beyond law making and policy papers. Apart from his legislative functions, Aliyu Muktar Betara has carved out an enviable niche for himself as one with incurable penchant for good governance, superlative service delivery, grassroots empowerment, wealth creation for constituents, youths development, as well as attracting development projects.
Betara’s progressive vision and development ideas embodies a paradoxical legacy where visionary ambition intersects with persistent influ-
ence extends far beyond legislation and veer into other people-centric activities that have the potential and capabilities of touching the lives of people.
Muktar Aliyu Betara, who was Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation in the 9th assembly, and now Chairman, Committee on the Federal Capital Territory in the current 10th Assembly, has not only made significant impact on the lives of his constituents, but has transformed them in all ramifications especially on human capacity building and community development. These include skills acquisition, entrepreneurship training, and scholarship for students of all categories. Its also on record that he has built and equipped clinics in all the wards in his constituency to provide free medical services to the people. His ability to connect with diverse groups sets him apart. Whether in the chamber or the streets of Biu, his message of service remains the same. Betara, whose stewardship in the green chamber since 2007, has prioritised rural electrification through the provision of transformers to over 289 communities. On education, Betara has constructed over 48 blocks of classrooms across the four local government areas that form his federal constituency. He has also prioritised the construction of Trunk B and rural roads as well as the training of his constituents on mechanised agriculture.
What stands out in Betara’s approach is how he integrates diplomacy with development. Last Sallah, Betara donated N200 million to vulnerable households across his constituency, supported over 300 members of his youth group, the Betara Old Boys, in his constituency with N1 million each. He supported 500 farmers with each receiving bags of rice, farming tools, and N120,000, and provided family support to widows and orphans with each receiving N500,000. Every councillor in his constituency received N200,000. Local government executives were given N100,000 each for their Salah celebration, ward executives got N50,000 while supervisory councillors received N200,000 each.
Thus the name Betara resonates with profound reverence not only within the verdant borders of Borno State but also across the vast expanse of Nigeria. He was not pleading for sympathy but projecting competence, ambition and confidence.
Like a titan, he is venerated and adored by his people, who, in a testament to their unwavering devotion, catapulted him to the hallowed halls of the National Assembly for a record-breaking five consecutive terms. This phenomenal feat was a testament to the unshakable faith and confidence reposed in him by his constituents.
Mohammed N. Imam, Abuja
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Insider Collaborators at Nigerian Airports Promote Drug Trafficking, Says NDLEA
Chinedu Eze
A director with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmed Garba, has revealed that most drug movements through Nigeria’s airports have insider collaborators at the airports.
He also disclosed that drug traffickers that use scheduled commercial airlines, carry relatively small volume of drugs, while large volumes are conveyed in private jets and through cargo freighting.
Garba, who disclosed this during his presentation at the 10th Airport Business Summit and Expo (ABSE), held in Lagos, said Nigeria remained a strong drug traffic route, adding that there are factors that made Nigeria a preferred route for drugs that pass through the nation’s airports to farther destinations.
The factors, according to him, include strategic geographical location; high volume of
international passenger traffic and cargo; security gaps; insider collaboration; weak interagency collaboration and coordination; and inadequate profiling tools.
He explained that from Nigeria, people have easy access to Europe, Asia and other African countries.
Citing 2021 Aviation Report, he further said the Nigerian airports processed about five million international passengers annually and 1.5 million metric tons of cargo.
“Airports serve as gateways, connecting nations, fostering trade, tourism and cultural exchange. However, in recent days, Nigerian airports have also become attractive transit points for international drug trafficking syndicates, seeking to exploit security gaps and human vulnerability. The strategic geographical location of Nigeria, coupled with high international passenger traffic, have made airport corridors increasingly susceptible to illicit drug trafficking.
“Drug trafficking through airport corridors refers to the illegal movement of narcotics via commercial or private aviation routes. Traffickers employ a wide range of methods, including courier smuggling using moles. Here, I mean, we have instances where you recruit passengers, they swallow these drugs, and they take it to the destination or transit countries where if it is the destination for where the drug is going to be used, they excrete it and they pass it forward. If it is a transit point, then they will excrete, then somebody else will come and take it to what we call the relay,” Garba said.
According to him, if the volume of cargo is much, people use the cargo shipments to conceal the drug and pass it through.
He lamented that some highly placed persons were involved in the trafficking. “Sometimes we misuse some privileges like diplomatic bags or official baggage, are used
to just beat law enforcement in the airport. They also use airport insiders, which is a big problem here,” Garba further said.
So, using privileged position one can take drugs through the airports without being screened and take them into the aircraft but another efficient vehicle for the conveyance of drugs are private charter flights.
“Then private or chartered flights. This is bigger than we are thinking. Unfortunately, I think there is not much that has been done to general aviation (which provide charter services),” he said.
The Director explained that drugs are concealed in different ways, which include body packing that includes body packing internal, which is the ingestion where the couriers swallow the drugs through insertion, which could be through the anus and other parts of the body.
“Then body packing external is where you hide the drug, either you wrap it up around your body,
you tape it, put it in your brassieres and in your (under) pants and what have you. Then if you want to use luggage, any hollow point in any luggage can be used to hide drug, false bottom, anything. Then we have instances of the cargo, like I said earlier, if the cargo is much, you have to use cargo.
“If the volume of what you want to take out of the country is much, you have to use the cargo. Sometimes they use liquids to disguise drug.
We have instances where drugs are inserted inside wine bottles, inside creams, women body creams, spirits and what have you,” he also said. He revealed that concealment could include foot wares, a very common strategy; and there are instances cocaine is dried in clothes or even towels but in many occasions NDLEA processed them and arrest those involved.
“Minors and pregnant women are people that we take for granted. And we have instances where they
have been used to traffic drugs and charter private flights. This is a very serious area that we need to look at. A single movement of drug of two tons of drug on using general aviation will be more than 35 years of arrest in any commercial airport because it’s huge. So that means it’s an area that we need to really look at and make sure nothing happens in that route,” he emphasised Speaking about security gaps, he said more needs to be done in reining insecurity at the airports, noting. “There are one or two things that are not in place and it’s not peculiar to only Nigeria. There is no airport that is 100% secure. So many airports have their own gaps, but because the gaps are there, couriers, drug barons always want to take advantage of that and come to the airport to make sure they try their trade.”
The federal government, in collaboration with the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and other stakeholders, has adopted climate-smart technologies to improve pasture management and enhance national food security.
The move is part of a broader strategy to modernise the livestock sector and promote
sustainable practices amid growing environmental and resource challenges.Best restaurants near me
The Minister of Livestock Development,Mr. Idi Maiha made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ workshop themed, “Technologies for Sustainable Pasture Production and Management in Nigeria,” in Abuja.
Maiha who was represented by his Special Assistant on Livestock Entrepreneurship, Mr. Ishaq Bello,
described the initiative as a crucial, forward-looking step. Maiha said that sustainable pasture management goes beyond agriculture, it is essential for environmental protection, social stability, and economic resilience.
“As we face mounting pressures from overgrazing, climate change, and rising tensions over limited pasture resources, innovation and collaboration have become indispensable,” he said.
The minister emphasised that
the workshop, which brought together both local and international stakeholders, signified a serious commitment to long-term transformation in Nigeria’s livestock sector. He noted that global partnerships, including technical collaborations with Israeli institutions and government agencies, are being leveraged to introduce climate-smart technologies and digital solutions to improve pasture practices.
He added that the involvement
of a diverse group of participants from farmers and researchers to policymakers and development partners—demonstrated a shared resolve to strengthen rangeland management in Nigeria’s arid and semi-arid zones
Also speaking at the event, L-PRES National Project Coordinator Dr. Sanusi Abubakar said the forum aimed to explore innovative and technology-driven solutions for restoring and sustainably managing
Nigeria’s pasture ecosystems. He noted that pasturelands, vital to livestock production, are increasingly threatened by overuse, land degradation, and climate-related stress.
“These threats not only undermine productivity but also contribute to recurring conflicts over scarce natural resources,” Abubakar explained.
Arthur Eriye
NCAA Pushes for Improvement in Airport Security across Nigeria
Stories by Chinedu Eze
In line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit recommendation to fortify the airports, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has pushed for improvement of security at nation’s airports in accordance to its regulatory oversight functions.
To encourage the realisation of this goal, ICAO and NCAA on Monday, started a five-day national quality control workshop at its Lagos Regional Office.
The workshop, which runs through the week, aims to sharpen Nigeria’s aviation security oversight
Nigeria,
and bring it in line with global best practices.
At the heart of the initiative is the Universal Security Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach, or USAPCMA, a global benchmark used to measure aviation security compliance.
Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of the Director General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, NCAA’s Lagos Regional Manager, Barrister Olubukola Aduragbemi Terriba, described the workshop as a direct response to findings from ICAO’s audit of Nigeria’s aviation security earlier
this year in March.
The DG noted that the training is not just a capacity-building exercise, but a critical step toward tightening compliance with ICAO’s Annex 17 standards, which govern security in international civil aviation.
Also speaking at the opening, ICAO’s Regional Aviation Security Officer for West and Central Africa, Mr. Ademola Oladele, underscored the importance of Nigeria’s growing role in global aviation.
He pledged continued ICAO support, noting that a strong security oversight system is key to protecting civil aviation from ever-evolving threats.
Egypt Sign MoU to Strengthen Aviation Relationship
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo and the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdellatty, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and an Enhanced Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) for Nigeria and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The agreement, which was initially conceived during the 2024 International Civil Aviation Negotiations (ICAN) Conference, marks a significant milestone in the deepening of bilateral cooperation between both nations in the field of civil aviation.
Speaking during the brief but symbolic ceremony, the aviation Minister described the signing as a “strategic breakthrough” that
reflects the mutual commitment of both countries to strengthening connectivity, facilitating technical exchange, and opening new investment opportunities within their respective aviation sectors.
“This agreement is not only a fulfilment of the engagements we started during ICAN 2024 but also a bold step toward enhancing air connectivity, boosting tourism, promoting trade, and fostering knowledge transfer in aviation management and infrastructure,” Keyamo noted.
The enhanced BASA allows for expanded route access and operational flexibility for designated carriers from both countries, while the MoU covers technical cooperation, training, and infrastructure
development initiatives.
On his part, Abdellatty expressed Egypt’s strong desire to build a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship with Nigeria, particularly in sectors where aviation serves as a catalyst for broader economic growth.
He commended Keyamo for his visionary leadership and proactive drive to modernise Nigeria’s aviation sector, noting that Egypt views Nigeria as a strategic partner on the continent.
A statement by Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Tunde Moshood, said both ministers reaffirmed their governments’ commitment to implementing the provisions of the agreement in the spirit of mutual respect and shared progress.
NiMet Moves to Improve Revenue, Increase Service Recovery
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) on Tuesday, witnessed the conduct of a public hearing on a bill sponsored by the former Chair of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade.
The bill proposes amendments to the 2022 version of the Agency’s Establishment Act. The proposed amendments seek, among other key issues, to provide a clear and detailed framework for the Agency’s cost recovery across various sectors of the economy, especially the non-aviation sectors. The aim is to strengthen the Agency’s capacity to fulfil its mandate, promote efficiency, improve infrastructure, ensure safety, and enhance staff welfare.
The public hearing, convened by the House Committee on Aviation Technology, featured a presentation from the Director-General/CEO,
Professor Charles Anosike, who emphasized that cost recovery is a globally accepted practice and a critical requirement for the Agency’s sustainability.
Other key stakeholders from various socio-economic sectors attended the hearing, including representatives from WMO, NIMASA, FAAN, NCC, trade unions, and former DirectorGenerals of the Agency—Dr. Jide Adeniji, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, and Professor Mansur Matazu. Past directors of the Agency also made both written and oral submissions.
Declaring the hearing open, the Speaker of the House, represented by the Deputy Chief Whip, reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to a
AIR WATCH
Operators’ Agitation over $300 Helicopter Landing Levy
Chinedu Eze
For over two years Nigerian airline operators that provide shuttle services to oil and gas companies in Nigeria have kicked against the payment of $300 Helicopter landing levy, which was introduced by the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
Although the implementation of the landing levy started recently under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the operators continue to kick against the levy, insisting it amounts to double taxation.
In May, 2024, the federal government started the collection of the levy but the helicopter operators resisted the payment, prompting the new Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to suspend it and later reintroduced it.
people-oriented legislature that ensures MDAs like NiMet have the capacity to support public growth, uphold transparency, respond to national needs, address climate change and hazardous weather, and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Tajudeen Kareem Abisodun, assured attendees that the committee would holistically consider all oral and written submissions and deliver amendments that align with the law. He highlighted the importance of NiMet’s mandate in ensuring the safety of lives on land, in the air, and on water—an effort that requires the collective responsibility of all.
Qatar Airways Partners Hans Zimmer for Signature Symphony
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Qatar Airways has unveiled an iconic partnership with the multiple Oscar and Grammy award-winning composer, Hans Zimmer, to create a new sonic identity for the airline, featuring a signature sound that will elevate the passenger experience onboard and beyond.
The exclusive score will be featured across Qatar Airways’on board music and will also be released as a full musical album on major streaming platforms and the airline’s official channels. The collaboration with the worldrenowned composer, reflects Qatar Airways’ commitment to delivering memorable and emotional lyres.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Badr Mohammed Al Meer, said: “At Qatar Airways, we aim to inspire the world with every newhorizon and music plays
a powerful role in shaping the emotional journey of our passengers, both in the air and on the ground. We are thrilled to partner with Hans Zimmer to compose our new signature music, exclusively for Qatar Airways. This bespoke soundscape will be more than just music; it will be a reflection of our brand’s elegance and ambition. Our partnership with Hans Zimmer marks a bold new chapter in the Qatar Airways experience, one that deepens the emotional connection with our passengers and enhances every moment of their journey.”
Hans Zimmer said: “It’s an honour to collaborate with Qatar Airways on this visionary project. Together, we’re crafting an experience that reflects the beauty of travel and the pioneering spirit that defines this world-class airline.”
It is good to state that the company behind the collection of the levy is a private firm, NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Limited, which from the beginning, worked with Sirika to introduce the levy under the arrangement fashioned in a private, public partnership (PPP) manner. It has been alleged that agreement must have been reached on how the company and the Ministry of Aviation would share the revenue.
But the operators oppose the payment of the levy because they see it as double taxation. According to them, before the introduction of the levy, the operators have been paying their statutory taxes and charges and they have never negated such payments.
They said when the new levy was first introduced, the company involved, was ambivalent about the service it was going to render, which the operators needed to justify the payment.
They saw it as government highhandedness and arbitrary use of power in which the Ministry of Aviation could collaborate with the private sector to sap the operators already being asphyxiated with high cost of operation and taxes.
The operators last year wrote a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Limited.
The key point in the MoU is that the federal government’s desire to increase its revenue has engaged the private company to collect the $300 helicopter landing levy on its behalf.
“In furtherance of the approval, the Ministry, the Agency (NAMA) and the Company (NAEBI) executed an Agreement in November, 2022 for the Collection of Helicopter Landing Levy on all helicopter operations by the oil companies on oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, floating productive storage and offloading (FPSO) on heliports, helipads, airstrips aerodromes etc.,” the MoU states.
AON had said: “Helicopter Landing Levy shall only be on helicopter operations by oil companies on oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, floating productive storage and offloading (FPSO) on helicopters, helipads, airstrips, aerodrome and shall therefore not be applicable to the Airline Operators of Nigeria. The Helicopter Landing Levy shall not apply to the AON for all other types of helicopter operations.”
Further in the MoU, AON requested that the Helicopter Landing Levy, “shall only apply to helicopter operations that were undertaken by the oil companies on oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, floating productive storage and offloading (FPSO) on helicopters, helipads, airstrips, aerodrome.
“The AON shall not be liable to pay the Helicopter Landing Levy with respect to helicopter operations by the oil companies at the oil fields, terminals, platforms,
rigs, floating productive storage and offloading (FPSO) on helicopters, helipads, airstrips, aerodrome.
“The oil companies shall be solely responsible for the payment of the helicopter landing levy on helicopter operations at the oil fields, terminals, platforms, rigs, floating productive storage and offloading (FPSO) on helicopters, helipads, airstrips, aerodrome.”
NAMA reinforced that it was oil and gas companies that were agreed to pay the levy in the press statement it issued in May, 2024 and signed by its Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Musa.
The statement said: “The federal government has lifted the temporary suspension on enforcement granted to Messrs NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Ltd, consultants for the collection of helicopter landing charges for air navigation services related to helicopter operations by oil companies in the Gulf of Guinea.”
The statement further said: “According to a ministerial directive on the above subject, Messrs Naebi Dynamics Concepts Ltd is to immediately resume collection of levies related to air navigation services for helicopter operations by oil companies operations at fields, platforms, terminals, rigs, FPSOs (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading), heliports, helipads and aerodromes in line with its contract.
“The ministerial directive which specified that NAEBIi Dynamic Concepts Ltd shall strictly invoice oil companies directly however excluded helicopters operated by Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) from the said levies by the consultant.
“It woild be recalled that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo had in June 2024 temporarily suspended the collection of helicopter landing levies following concerns raised by Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).”
From the press statement, which emanated from NAMA, helicopter companies were exempted from paying the levy, which dovetailed with the MoU signed earlier between the participants and AON.
In the ensuing development, it became evident that the oil and gas companies were not disposed to pay the levy because they were convinced that NAEBI Dynamic Concepts Ltd was not providing any additional service and it is insisting that the levy should be paid, which seemed very arbitrary.
Some of the stakeholders reinforced the position of the oil and gas companies when they spoke with the media.
The President of Topbrass Aviation Limited, Captain Roland Iyayi, a Trustee member of AON, condemned the imposition of the levy, saying the helicopter companies have been paying all their taxes in accordance to industry regulations, insisting the additional $300 landing fee is a burden on the operators that might undermine the industry, observing that with the involvement of NAMA the levy ought to have legislative and regulatory approval.
“When this matter came up during the tenure of the former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, we shut it down because we felt already the industry was overtaxed. Introducing something like this, we felt, was even going to be inimical to the growth of the industry. Again, if you ask all these individuals who are justifying the collection, they always say to you that the money is going to government, but the money is leaving the aviation sector,” Iyayi, said. Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, called the federal government to stand down the levy because the demand has no regulatory backing.
Adenuga: Securing Africa’s Digital Future Key to Economic Growth
CEO, Olla Systems, Olusola Adenuga, speaks about the need to build trusted local cloud services for regulated industries through compliance frameworks, as well as the need to secure Africa’s digital future for economic growth. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts:
Congratulations on Olla Systems achieving Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and the ISO 27001:2022 (Information Security Management Systems) and ISO 22301:2019 (Business Continuity Management Systems) standards. What do these milestones mean for your company and your clients across Africa?
Thank you. Achieving PCI DSS and ISO certifications is a major milestone for us because it validates the rigorous security controls we have put in place to protect sensitive data. For our clients – manufacturing companies, healthcare, banks, fintechs, e-commerce platforms, and government institutions – it provides assurance that their data is managed according to internationally recognised standards.
Beyond compliance, these certifications reinforce our commitment to being a trusted infrastructure partner in a landscape where data breaches can erode customer trust overnight. Ultimately, it’s about enabling our clients to focus on their core business with confidence, knowing their data and operations are secure with us.
You bring a rare blend of perspectives; first as a former bank Chief Information Officer and now as CEO of a cloud infrastructure company. How has that shaped your approach to building trusted cloud services for regulated industries?
My time as a bank CIO gave me firsthand understanding of the scrutiny, regulatory expectations, and security controls required in highly regulated environments. Banks are built on trust - every system decision is weighed against risk, resilience, and compliance. And as CIO, for about two decades, I functioned as Chief Technical Officer, Chief Digital Officer and all the technical C’s then. Transitioning to lead Olla Systems, I brought that same mindset. We design our cloud solutions with strict controls, auditability, and compliance frameworks embedded from the ground up. But equally, we aim to remove complexity for CIOs and CTOs so they can innovate faster without worrying about regulatory pitfalls.
From your time in banking to leading Olla Systems, what key shifts have you seen in how African organisations think about IT security and digital infrastructure?
One significant shift is that security is no longer treated as an afterthought or a cost center – it’s now central to business continuity and customer trust. The rise of digital banking, payments, and cloud-native startups has forced organizations to rethink their infrastructure strategies. They’re prioritizing resilience, data protection, and compliance earlier in the technology design phase. There’s also growing awareness that infrastructure decisions directly impact business agility, user experience, and regulatory risk, which was not the case a decade ago.
There’s growing interest in local cloud solutions across Africa. Why is ‘local’ so important when it comes to cloud adoption in sectors like finance, e-commerce, and government?
Local cloud infrastructure addresses several critical needs. Firstly, regulatory requirements are increasingly mandating data residency – keeping critical data local, whether citizen or financial data within national borders. Secondly, local cloud reduces latency, which improves application performance and user experience. Finally, it reduces exposure to foreign exchange volatility and geopolitical risks tied to offshore hosting. For banks, e-commerce platforms, and governments, these factors directly affect operational resilience, compliance, and cost predictability.
How is Olla Systems positioning OllaCloud as a locally compliant alternative to global cloud giants? What differentiates your offering?
OllaCloud is built from the ground up to align with local regulations while delivering enterprise-grade performance. Our differentiation lies in three areas: compliance, proximity, and partnership. Compliance because we integrate standards like PCI DSS, ISO 27001: 2022 and ISO 22301, Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines into our architecture. Proximity is one of the areas because our data centers are local, giving clients low-latency connectivity and data residency compliance. Partnership is also another area because we see ourselves not just as infrastructure providers, but as committed stakeholders helping clients navigate their regulatory and digital transformation journeys.
Nigeria’s regulators are increasingly focused on data residency and compliance. How does Olla Systems help clients meet these evolving requirements without compromising on innovation?
We achieve this by embedding compliance as a foundational design principle rather than as an add-on. Our infrastructure is hosted locally, and meets regulators’ expectations. This ensures clients can deploy cloud-native solutions while satisfying data residency, privacy, and sector-specific mandates. We also engage continuously with regulators to stay ahead of emerging guidelines, ensuring our clients remain compliant without stifling their
innovation pipelines. We are strong advocates of local data hosted locally and work with enterprises willing to migrate critical data into local cloud. My experience in banking, combined with the broad expertise of the Olla Systems team, enables us to understand compliance from an operator’s perspective and apply this knowledge when designing solutions for our clients.
Your infrastructure serves high-growth startups and enterprise clients alike. How do you balance scalability with compliance and performance?
We architect OllaCloud to be modular and scalable. Companies can launch quickly with our standard secure configurations, while enterprises can customize controls to align with internal policies. Our infrastructure leverages high-performance computing resources with robust security controls, ensuring that as clients grow, they don’t have to sacrifice compliance for scalability or performance for security. This balance is crucial in today’s competitive environment where agility and trust are both business imperatives. We are also partners with global companies, such as Oracle among others.
What are the top concerns enterprise clients share when migrating workloads to the cloud, and how do you address them?
The main concerns are data security, regulatory compliance, vendor lock-in, and service reliability. We address these by ensuring our platforms meet stringent security standards like PCI DSS and ISO, maintaining transparent Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for uptime, and building our solutions on open standards to reduce lock-in fears. Additionally, our local presence reassures clients that we understand the unique regulatory and operational environments they operate in, and we are very accessible too!
You recently supported a leading bank with a cloud-powered infrastructure upgrade. What lessons from that project stand out, especially for other financial institutions considering similar transitions?
We were able to work with a first-generation bank, and that project reinforced the importance of strong stakeholder alignment from day one. Cloud migration is not just an IT decision; it’s a strategic business move. The bank’s migration to on-prem cloud helped it to steadily outpace its peers in operational efficiency and innovation agility. Another lesson was the need for phased migration with robust testing at each stage to ensure business continuity. Finally, for banks, it is important to work with a local partner familiar with both banking regulations and cloud infrastructure, to accelerate timelines and reduce compliance risks.
Africa is seeing increased geopolitical interest in its digital infrastructure, from submarine cables to cloud regions. How should governments and private sector players respond to ensure digital sovereignty?
Africa’s digital sovereignty hinges on deliberate policy, local investment, and regional collaboration. Governments should prioritise regulatory frameworks that encourage data domiciliation, protect citizens’ data, and create incentives for local infrastructure buildout. But it is not only about policies; what is more
important is creating the enabling environment for private sector to thrive and flourish.
When enabled, private sector players will invest in indigenous capacity – building data centers, cloud platforms, and talent pipelines that keep Africa’s data within Africa. At Olla Systems, we believe sovereignty does not mean isolation; it is about ensuring Africans can store, process, and govern their data locally while remaining connected to global markets on our terms.
How can Africa effectively scale its digital infrastructure to match the pace of innovation?
Scaling requires a two-pronged approach: accelerating investments in critical infrastructure – such as data centers, fiber, interconnection hubs as well as the hardware required, as this is a critical component for innovation. As mentioned earlier, it is also about creating an enabling environment that attracts global
and local players. We must address barriers like power costs, licensing complexity, and limited local financing. At Olla Systems, we are working with partners to build scalable cloud regions across Africa designed to handle emerging workloads such as AI, IoT, and advanced analytics, while remaining compliant with regional data regulations.
With AI adoption growing, how can companies like yours support AI workloads, especially those that require high-performance computing and secure, compliant environments?
AI workloads demand three key ingredients: compute power, secure environments, and proximity to data sources. At Olla Systems, our cloud infrastructure is designed with high-performance computing nodes, scalable Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) capabilities and offered out of Nigerian Tier III+ certified data centers, to support data sovereignty. We are also exploring strategic partnerships to bring AI-optimised infrastructure to market, ensuring that African enterprises can build, train, and deploy models without compromising on performance or compliance.
There is a rising interest in cross-border digital services across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. How can digital businesses explore regional expansion while navigating diverse regulatory environments? AfCFTA is a transformative opportunity, but regulatory fragmentation remains a challenge. Companies must adopt a compliance-by-design approach, investing in legal and regulatory expertise for each market they enter. At Olla Systems, our cloud offerings are designed to accommodate multijurisdictional compliance requirements, and we work closely with local regulators to ensure our customers can expand seamlessly while meeting data residency and protection laws in each country.
The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com
Adenuga
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 21 Jujy-2025, unless otherwise stated.
Iroghama Ogbeifun: Building on a Legacy of Vision and Excellence
In a remarkable journey marked by innovation, leadership, and an unwavering pursuit of greatness, Iroghama Ogbeifun has emerged as a shining star in the business world. As the Managing Director/CEO of Starzs Investments Company Limited, she has defied conventions and shattered glass ceilings, inspiring countless individuals along the way. This month of July, Iroghama marks a significant milestone - her 40th year of impactful living and leadership, with a legacy spanning decades. Iroghama’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and purpose. Building on a legacy of excellence established by her outstanding father, she has remained focusedoncreatingapositivechangethatrubsoffonseveralpeopleacrossdifferentsectors.Withnumerousawardsandcitationsforherleadership,Ogbeifunhas excelled in male-dominated sectors like maritime, energy, and oil & gas, driving her company’s growth while empowering women and girls through various initiatives. Remarkably, her expertise in the maritime sector wasn’t informed by her educational background, yet she is a respected thought leader, thus her appointment to NIMASA’s Governing Board by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on July 2, 2025, further validates her exceptional leadership and industry expertise. As she clocks 40, Ogbeifun, in this interview with MARY NNAH, shares her inspiring story, revealing the driving forces behind her success and vision for the future
As you clock this major milestone, what thoughts and feelings are you experiencing on your 40th birthday?
First of all, I feel a sense of great gratitude for being alive. And that is because I consider spending 40 years on earth as a remarkable landmark. I know a number of people, including classmates and friends, who were born in the same year but are no longer around. So, I don’t take being alive for granted, nor do I see it as a simple gesture. I see it as a privilege that God has preserved my life, and not only am I alive, but I am healthy and blessed with children. Also, my businesses are thriving, and I can impact lives; that is why I continue to count my blessings.
What struck you most upon realising that you were approaching the fourth floor?
It was the actual thought that I was going to be 40 soon. I was not afraid, and I won’t say that I felt any kind of pressure, but it made me pause and think. I was able to dwell on my accomplishments, especially thinking back to around 10 years ago. Looking back to the time, I couldn’t have imagined that I would be where I am today; particularly that I would have twin girls and be thriving as much as I am in the maritime industry, considering that that is not my background. And then all the myriads of businesses that I have had the privilege to set up, supermarkets, pharmaceutical stores and the number of salons I now have. They all represent a far cry from what the case was ten years ago. I wasn’t even plotting most of it, so what struck me most were the interesting twists and turns my life has taken in the last ten years as I realised I was actually approaching 40. It gave me an idea of what the future, especially the next ten years, could potentially look like.
An accomplished medical doctor mother and a shipping magnate father, what was it like growing up under their guidance and mentorship?
My parents’ impact no doubt had a significant influence on my life trajectory. My late Mum, Dr. Cecilia Ojezua, was an epitome of a role model; Smart, brilliant, and a go-getter. Literarily, she was my mirror. Watching her removed every limiting belief that could have existed in my mind, especially as a girl-child, the cultural beliefs in which we live, in Nigeria, in Africa, and generally even in the world. Honestly, she prepared me to thrive in a male-dominated work environment because she showed me that anything was possible. There was no vision or dream she set her mind to that she didn’t achieve. And she did it with so much grace, charisma, and ease. Although she still faced many obstacles along the way. Against all odds, my mother achieved all her dreams by facing her goals and shoving aside distractors.
As for my dad, Sir Greg Ogbeifun, I consider him the Greatest of All Time in terms of vision, purpose and achievements. He is also my role model; my dad showed me what it meant to have a male ally. When I was young, he never treated me preferentially because I was a female child and that has been very beneficial for me. From him, I learnt the importance and merit of hard work, along with the fact that there are consequences for every action. My father would always say life is choice-driven, and I also watched how he supported the women in his life. He allowed them to thrive in whatever role they desired while setting the stage and providing whatever support was needed to reach their potential. My dad showed me that men could support women to do well and chase their dreams. That showed me a different colour to life and also raised the bar for me. My father is also my mentor by setting the stage for me to do well and be successful. He provided quality education for me, both home and abroad and above all, he has allowed me to fly under his wings. I remember a mantra of his when we were in secondary school, to the effect that whatever you do in life, you do if for yourself. It was a piece of advice for us to take ownership of our failures or our successes. That was a defining moment for me and the words shaped my thinking and my commitment
to succeed.
Your career in the maritime industry has been remarkable. What drives your passion for this sector, and how do you think it can be further developed in Nigeria?
For me, the driving force, first of all, was coming in to sustain the family business. It is not that I have the core technical expertise; for instance, I am not an engineer, a marine engineer or in a field related to such expertise. But I did have the ability to take the vision of the founder, who is my father, and try to amplify it. And I think we have managed to do that in the last 11 years, growing the business in leaps and bounds, even taking it beyond the shores of Nigeria. And on how the industry at large can be propelled, first of all, it is wonderful what the current administration under the amiable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done already, which was creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. This is a dedicated ministry for the sector, we have never had that in the past, so having a ministry concerned with the affairs of the industry and championing various policies and objectives to create an enabling environment for the industry to grow is great. Now, there is also the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), which Nigeria can very easily take great advantage of. We have the population, we have the resources, and it is an agreement that encourages intra-African trade. Most trade transactions, even at the global level, are facilitated by maritime transport, and Nigeria is a maritime nation. So, the opportunity for us to facilitate regional and cross-continental trade between African countries is also there. I know that there are a few other initiatives which the ministry is working on, for example, financing structure. The Africa Regional Maritime and Regional Development Bank was established a few years ago but it became moribund after sometime but now, they have just recruited a very competent CEO and we are hoping that with his emergence, we will see the bank begin to create a financing platform for African or Nigerian companies to take advantage of and grow their fleet, which will now grow regional trade in Africa.
What is Cabotage Fund (CVFF Fund) all about, and how do you think it can help indigenous shipping owners in Nigeria?
The Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) was established, and its purpose is to enable and promote indigenous vessel ownership through vessel acquisition and maritime asset financing in line with the Cabotage Act. The Act has four pillars:
the vessel must be owned by Nigerians. It must be built in Nigeria. It must be flagged Nigerian. And it must be manned by Nigerians. So, the CVFFund was set up to facilitate the bit of the vessel being built and owned by Nigerians. So obviously, you need money to buy a ship, even if you’re buying it from abroad. And, you also need money to set up a shipyard that can build those boats. So that way, the buying and the ownership, the Nigerian ownership, and the Nigerian building pillars of the Cabotage Act could be fulfilled. That is what the CVFF was set up for. To build the fund, NIMASA charges 2% on all maritime activity that takes place within the Nigerian coastal waters. Since the Cabotage Act was enacted in 2003, which is 22 years ago, we have had no luck in the disbursement of a penny from that fund. However, under the current leadership of Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, it seems that the jinx might be broken as he has secured the approval of Mr. President for the disbursement of CVFF to qualifying beneficiaries. While there are still some grey areas around the workability of the fund disbursement, it is encouraging to note that at least the process has commenced. As stakeholders, we are keeping a very close eye on it and I believe that the Honourable Minister is committed to ensuring that he finally breaks this jinx of the CVFF disbursement.
You are a strong advocate for women in the energy sector. What initiatives have you found most impactful in promoting women’s empowerment, and how do you see this movement evolving in the future?
I discuss women empowerment from two angles. One is regarding my broader activities within this industry through associations that I am a member of. And then, of course, there are the personal activities that I am driving through a platform that I have influence over, which is my company. So, I am a founding member of Women in Energy Network, and really what the network does is to shine a light on the number of women that are actively participating within the industry, from professional and business standpoints.
So, we become advocates for advancing women in leadership positions within the industry, advocates for securing a quota for female contractors within oil companies in the industry. And then also, more importantly, feeding the funnel, because if you don’t have more female STEM students; science, technology and mathematics students, you are not going to have women who are emerging as engineers, as scientists, surveyors and things like that.
You are not going to have them coming into the industry, because right from secondary school, they are already dropping out of those science-related courses.
We are taking the message to secondary schools and providing sponsorship towards the establishment of STEM labs in schools, supporting some girls for graduate internships within oil companies, so they can also build their resumes and become eligible to seek work in the broader energy industry.
So, that is really what the Women in Energy Network has been doing for the last five years. I am currently the sponsorship director of the network and I participate in most of these initiatives as well. That is on a broader level, we also come out with an industry report every two years that just sort of educates the industry on the gender report, showing what is happening from a gender perspective within the industry.
Then for STARZS, the maritime company I lead, even though we are operating within the energy industry, and we own vessels, we create an avenue to employ female officers, or have a quota. And we also create an avenue to train, because like I said, if you don’t feed the funnel, you just wake up one day and discover there are no female officers to even employ. So, you have to ensure that you are creating that funnel for the children to go to school and become qualified seafarers. And then for them to be able to come in after school to get their 12-month sea time on board a ship, after which they can now qualify to become officers that can work on board the vessels. So, we start with the scholarships. We have a scholarship programme that we do every two years and our scholarships take you to a maritime institution. We don’t do scholarships for other disciplines. If you benefit from our scholarship, it means that you are ready to go and study a maritime-related course. We send you preferably to Maritime Academy, Oron in Akwa Ibom State. And then of course, we have our cadetship, a very robust cadetship programme that runs every two years, where out of 14 slots, we give four dedicated slots to female cadets, so they are guaranteed sea time, training time on board a ship. And then I am also the chairman of the technical committee, which means while I am doing that in my own sphere of influence in my company, I am also evangelising to other ship-owners to be intentional about creating opportunities for women to come on board and qualify both as officers who are earning a salary or even for training as cadets to enable them to go on to become officers. That evangelism is on and I think we are partnering with a couple of other women maritime organisations to drive the message louder on a larger scale platform.
As a serial entrepreneur, what inspires you to start new ventures and how do you balance the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship?
What inspires me is opportunity. I have an eye for opportunities, so when I see an opportunity, I go for it. I am always about my business providing a solution to a need or solving a problem? And the number of people who are willing to pay for that problem, are they sufficient to help us make a profit? If the answer to both is yes, then I am jumping in. And that is why I do businesses that require capital that is somewhat within my reach. The second part of the question relates to balancing risks and rewards. While I am balancing the risk by investing at the onset with my own cash, I am taking the risk and betting on myself. And then, I am taking the reward as well. And then if it goes well, at least I have been approached by banks who are willing to help me scale up very quickly.
So, I am trying to build a structure but I recognise that to scale quickly, I need to build a structure that can handle that level of scaling and I am in that structure-building phase. And once the structure is in place, I will be willing to then take on greater risk by, maybe, having a bank sponsor our rapid growth.
Ogbeifun:
How NOGICD Act Has Been Pivotal to the Growth of Nigeria’s Cable Industry
The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act has been instrumental in the growth and advancement of Nigeria’s cable manufacturing sector, the Chief Executive Officer of MicCom Cables and Wires Ltd and President of the Cable Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CAMAN), Mrs. Bukola Adubi, has said.
Speaking at the 24th NOG Energy Week in Abuja, where she moderated a panel session on the “Impact of the NOGICD Act on the Ease of Doing Business and Cost Competitiveness,” Adubi emphasised how the legislation has created opportunities for indigenous cable manufacturers to thrive. “For my industry (cables and wires) we can absolutely and categorically state that the NOGICD Act has been pivotal in our growth,” she said.
The panel featured other key industry figures including Barr. Naboth Onyesoh, Acting Director of Legal Services at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Rosario Osobase, Chairperson of the Petroleum Contractors Trade Section (PCTS) and Managing Director of Tenaris Nigeria; and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya, Chairman of
the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN). The speakers collectively called for additional incentives such as tax reliefs to strengthen local manufacturing, warning that without a robust industrial base, Nigeria’s local content policy would remain largely symbolic.
Since its enactment in 2010, the NOGICD Act has played a central role in promoting indigenous participation, skill development, and value addition in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Recent policy actions, including Presidential Directives and the “Nigeria First Policy,” have been introduced to reduce operational costs, attract investment, and stimulate local production. On the sidelines of the event, Adubi announced that MicCom Cables, which was a platinum sponsor, is scaling up its operations as part of a renewed growth strategy to increase visibility and market share across Nigeria.
“We are expanding our scope and increasing our visibility across key markets within Nigeria,” she said. “Our goal is to ensure that Nigerian-made cables are widely recognized for their quality and reliability.”
Despite challenges such as the surging cost of copper, now nearing $10,000 per metric ton, she noted that the company remains committed to high production standards and brand integrity. “All we
truly have—beyond infrastructure—is our name, our equity, and our association with excellence,” she said.
Adubi also stressed the importance of making International Oil Companies (IOCs) recognise the capabilities of Nigerian manufacturers, insisting that local content should translate into performance and global competitiveness.
As CAMAN President, she encouraged more member companies to obtain the certifications required to participate in the oil and gas value chain, noting that some members already supplying to the industry are performing well and helping to boost confidence in local production.
She further emphasized the urgent need for investment in gas pipeline infrastructure to enable industries to switch to cleaner and more efficient energy sources such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
“There’s immense potential in gas for industrial growth, but until the pipeline infrastructure is addressed, we’re limited in how much we can benefit,” she said.
Established in 1978, MicCom is Nigeria’s first indigenous cable manufacturing company and holds triple ISO certifications in quality management, environmental management, and occupational health and safety.
As OCIS Clocks 40 , Sultan Sa’ad Extols Centre
Nasir Danladi Bako
Last Thursday in the University town of Oxford, some 48 miles North West of London the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies celebrated its 40th anniversary with the King of England Charles ||| superintending over the event. It was headlined by the speech of the very venerable King and also climaxed with the Annual General Meeting of the Board of Trustees as well as a tree-planting ceremony at the Centre’s garden.
Sultan of Sokoto , Saad Abubakar ||| extolled the Centre and it’s management for the remarkable achievements recorded in the last 40 years which has witnessed visits , lectures, seminars and speeches by very important dignitaries like former President Nelson Mandela and former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan. Sultan Saad lauded the administration of the Centre and expressed hope that the rest of the world especially the developing world would emulate the foresight and vision of the founding fathers of the Islamic Centre.
He expressed delight at the highly intellectual endeavor and community service both local and international that the Centre has become synonymous with.
Over the last four decades the Centre has become a citadel of learning incorporating lectures, seminars , provision of scholarship, research , fellowship, and engaging a multi-racial and multi-religious congregation as it’s students and clientele. A huge number of visiting lecturers frow the world over , are available to the academic faculty of the Centre.
Similarly, it’s Board or Trustees
reflects variegated , ethnic, racial and cultural diversity with both Muslim and non-muslims co-habitating successfully on the Board .
While Saudi Prince Turki Al Faisal sits stop the board as Chairman, Sultan Nazrin Shah of Malaysia occupies the seat of Vice Chairman , Sheikh Mohammed Al Sabah former Prime Minister of Kuwait remains one of the pillars of the Centre.
There is also a strong British membership on the board , Rt Hon Dominic Grieve KC is former Attorney General for England and Wales , Sir Martin Donnelly KCB is former Permanent Secretary at the Department of International Trade as well Dr Catherine Swales , Director Clinical , Medical Sciences Division University of Oxford .
This array of Distinguished personalities on the board is further dignified by the inclusion and membership of the only African on the leadership of the Centre in the person of His Eminence Sultan Muhammad Saad Abubakar III.
The achievements of the Centre include the Research components of its study programme focusing on “the social and intellectual history of the Muslim world, the social and economic development of Muslim societies, science, technology and environment in Muslim societies and Muslims in Britain”.
Similarly, the Centre witnessed the emergence and growth of its publications , “The Journal of Islamic Studies” and the “Makers of Muslim Civilization”. The Lectures an Roundtables have also been a major highlight , while in the area of teaching the Centre has promoted multi- disciplinary study of culture
and Islam and contemporary Muslim societies through fellowships like The King Charles fellowship, Nelson Mandela Fellowship, the Globe Fellowship and Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Fellowship among twenty others
The Director of the Centre Farzan Nizami in highlighting some of the story behind the success stated the centre proudly launched an Exhibition of “Lines of Faith:: Astronomy and the Art of the Astrolabe in the Islamic World”.
Two highly intellectual lectures that brought recognition to the Centre in the last one year are that of Lord Neuberger (former President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom) “Threats to the Rule of Law” and that of Professor Phillipe Sands of the Universe College London titled “On Genocide : Then ad Now”.
It is remarkable as well as instructive that the Centre came into existence in 1986 in a wooden hut on St Cross Road and grew tremendously into the oak it is today, esconsced on a beautiful piece of land on Martson road in the heart of Oxford town vigorously propagating interfaith dialogue and inter- civilization co-habitation as well as social harmony and general well-being of the human race.
Without doubt with the continued commitment of the Centre’s Grand patron King Charles ||| and the unique, sagacious capacity of it’s African monarch Sultan Saad of Sokoto the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is bound to continue to grow in leaps and bounds probably surpassing the successes of the last 40 years in another 40 years.
Can Urban Farming Contribute Meaningfully to Nigeria’s Food Security?
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, faces a complex web of food security challenges. Soaring food inflation, exacerbated by climate extremes, persistent insecurity in food-producing regions, and an inadequate supply of nutritious foods, has pushed millions into acute hunger. Despite vast agricultural resources, the country ranks low on the Global Food Security Index, underscoring a critical need for innovative solutions. Amidst this backdrop, urban farming, often dismissed as a niche activity, is gaining traction as a strategy to enhance food security, create income opportunities, and promote sustainable practices in urban areas.
Urban farming, encompassing a range of practices from rooftop gardens and vertical farms to community plots and aquaculture, offers the potential to localise food production, reduce reliance on distant supply chains, and enhance access to fresh, nutritious produce. As Nigerian cities continue to urbanise, converting agricultural land to other uses, the importance of maximizing food production within urban limits becomes crucial.
One of the most immediate and impactful contributions of urban farming is its ability to enhance food availability and access. By cultivating crops within city limits, fresh produce can reach consumers more quickly, drastically reducing post-harvest losses and transportation costs. This localised production directly addresses issues of food scarcity, especially for vulnerable urban populations who often struggle with the high cost and limited availability of fresh food. Successful initiatives in Lagos for instance have demonstrated how urban farms can become reliable sources of fruits, vegetables, and even protein through urban livestock and aquaculture for surrounding communities.
Beyond mere availability, urban farming plays a crucial role in improving nutritional outcomes and dietary diversity. Access to fresh, diverse produce encourages healthier eating habits, helping to combat prevalent issues like protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. When families cultivate their own food, they gain greater control over its quality and freshness, often opting for more nutritious varieties. This direct link between cultivation and consumption can lead to a measurable increase in dietary diversity within urban households.
Urban farming is not just about subsistence; it holds substantial economic promise and fosters job creation. It directly generates employment opportunities in various stages, including planting, harvesting, processing, and distribution. Small-scale urban farmers can sell their surplus produce at local markets, generating income and fostering entrepreneurship. This can be particularly impactful for Nigeria’s large youth population, offering a viable path to employment and self-reliance in a landscape of high unemployment. Initiatives that provide training and access to markets, like “FarmInTheCity” in Lagos, exemplify how urban farming can blossom into full-scale enterprises.
Urban farming contributes significantly to environmental sustainability and climate resilience. Innovative urban farming techniques, such as hydroponics and vertical farming, are inherently resource-efficient, using less land and water compared to traditional agriculture. They also reduce “food miles,” significantly lowering carbon emissions associated with long-distance transportation. Additionally, urban green spaces created by farming initiatives can help mitigate the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and enhance urban biodiversity. This makes urban farming a crucial component of climate adaptation strategies, helping cities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change, such as erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged droughts that affect traditional agriculture.
Finally, community gardens and collaborative urban farming projects serve as powerful tools for fostering community cohesion and social impact. They provide shared spaces where residents can connect, build knowledge, and foster a sense of community pride and ownership. These initiatives can also serve as educational platforms, promoting sustainable practices and raising awareness about local food systems. This collaborative spirit can be particularly beneficial in diverse urban settings, breaking down social barriers and strengthening community bonds.
For Urban farming to work in Nigeria, policy support and integration are crucial. Governments at all levels need to recognize urban farming as a legitimate and vital part of the food system. This involves developing supportive policies, streamlining land-use regulations, and integrating urban agriculture into city planning. Second, capacity building and education are essential. Investing in education and training programs is vital. Access to finance and technology is a significant factor for urban farmers. Innovative financing models, perhaps incorporating “pay-as-you-grow” schemes for technology adoption, are needed. Also, leveraging technology like mobile apps for market access can significantly boost productivity. Lastly, adequate infrastructure, including reliable energy sources and efficient storage facilities, is crucial to minimize post-harvest losses and ensure the economic viability of urban farms.
Urban farming in Nigeria is more than just a passing trend; it can represent a tangible and impactful pathway towards enhanced food security. By embracing innovative approaches, fostering supportive policies, and empowering urban communities with the necessary resources and knowledge, Nigeria can unlock the immense potential of its cities to feed their populations, create economic opportunities, and build a more resilient and sustainable future. The revolution of urban farming, if nurtured effectively, can indeed contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s quest for food security.
Diana Tenebe
Tenebe
L-R: Naboth Onyesoh, Ag. Director Legal Services; Bukola Adubi, CEO, MicCom Cables & President of CAMAN; Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary, NCDMB; Rosario Osobase, MD of Tenaris & Chairperson of PCTS and Wole Ogunsanya, MD of Geoplex and Chairman of PETAN at the just-concluded NOG Energy Week
Netherlands Urges Nigeria to Enhance Agricultural Systems for Food Security
Oluchi Chibuzor
The government of the Netherlands has expressed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural sector while calling on the country to improve its agricultural systems to achieve sustainable food security.
This was communicated by the Consular General of the Netherlands in Lagos, Mr. Michel Deleen, during a Public-Private Dialogue themed, “Inclusive Agribusiness in Nigeria,” to mark the end of the 2SCALE agriculture accelerator programme in Nigeria.
2SCALE, an acronym for Toward Sustainable Clusters in Agribusiness through Learning in Entrepreneurship, is an agricultural accelerator programme launched in 2012
In a bold and inspiring move to bridge the gender gap in engineering, WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria has launched its inaugural EngineerHer programme — a strategic initiative aimed at increasing female representation in engineering roles at WACT, while empowering female engineer graduates in its host communities and across Nigeria.
The first cohort features eight talented young women who will receive hands-on technical training, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities. This one-year programme is designed to kick-start their careers and strengthen WACT’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by nurturing the next generation of female engineering professionals.
and funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs to scale up agricultural production across Africa.
Deleen emphasised the urgent need to expand sustainable agricultural systems across Nigeria to address growing food insecurity, noting that the country’s current agriculture sector still produces below potential and global yield capacity.
“Nigeria needs a green revolution. The level of yields that a Nigerian farmer gets today is way below what is possible. It is way below international standards and way below what is possible in Nigeria. The yields need to increase.
“To achieve this, we need to work on all different levels, from training, to input, to fertilisers, to markets, to storage,
Despite making up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, women account for just 5% of practicing engineers in the country- a stark statistic that underscores the importance of deliberate, inclusive programmes like EngineerHer (National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, 2024).
The Managing Director, WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria, Jeethu Jose emphasized the company’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) agenda.
“The WACT EngineerHer programme is more than just a programme. It is a testament to our commitment to our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) agenda. Equal opportunities for all is a big priority broadly in the organisation.
During the intensive one-year programme, the beneficiaries
to transport. Everything needs to improve, and that is the duty we all have; to work on all these elements,” he remarked.
Highlighting the imperative of a sector-wide approach to closing existing gaps, he urged the government to strengthen policy responses by expanding the adoption of high-performing strategies across the country’s agricultural industry.
“The 2SCALE programme, as successful as it has been, cannot change the agricultural system in the entire country. But it changed systems in those locations where it was active, making sure that agriculture was done in a more professional way and that the link between the farmer and the market was really established in a better way,” he said.
will get an on-the-job training designed to equip them with the skills and experience that they need to thrive in the workforce, either at WACT or any multinational company. We are proud to create a platform where women can thrive, lead and shape the future of Engineering,’’ he said.
The Senior People Business Partner, WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria, Chinelo Obienyem, highlighted the importance of the initiative.
“By providing opportunities for female engineers to develop their skills, gain industry experience, and build their professional networks, we hope to increase female representation in WACT and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive industry. We also recognize that meaningful change requires intentional action,” she said.
Niger Govt, AfricaRice Signs $1.2bn Partnership to Boost Rice Production
Arthur Eriye
In a strategic move to make the state Nigeria’s rice powerhouse, the Niger State Government has signed a $1.2 billion partnership with AfricaRice, an international agricultural research institution headquartered in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire.
The partnership arrangement facilitated through the state’s investment company, Niger Foods Limited aims to dramatically scale up annual paddy rice production in the state from 1.5 million metric tons to an impressive 10 million metric tons by 2030.
Under the agreement, a 5,000-hectare seed production farm will be established to produce 25,000 tons of top-grade breeder, foundation, and certified rice seeds. These seeds
will support cultivation on over 500,000 hectares of land—comprising 100,000 hectares of new commercial farms and 40,000 hectares of micro, small, and medium-scale farms—creating over 100,000 jobs across the rice value chain.
The partnership also targets the deployment of climate-smart and innovative agricultural technologies tailored to Niger State’s unique agro-ecological conditions, ensuring sustainability and resilience in rice farming.
AfricaRice, a key member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), will contribute expertise, advanced technologies, and facilitate engagement with global development partners to
support the initiative’s implementation.
Umaru Bago, fondly called the farmer governor, hailed the pact as a “milestone initiative” that aligns with his administration’s vision for food self-sufficiency and economic transformation.
“This partnership with AfricaRice is a clear reaffirmation of our resolve to drive innovation, create massive employment, and position Niger State as a leader in agricultural development—not just in Nigeria, but across Africa,” Governor Bago said.
In response, the management of AfricaRice applauded Bago’s agricultural transformation drive, noting that his bold steps are setting the pace for sustainable food systems in Nigeria and beyond.
Firm Launches Fund to Address $2.1trn Mining Shortfall
Kasim Sumaina
The Africans for Africa Fund has officially been launched at the AFNIS 2025 conference, marking a significant milestone in promoting African ownership in the continent’s lucrative mining sector.
The fund aims to address the projected $2.1 trillion funding shortfall in the mining industry by 2050 and, expects to close an initial $50 million from institutional partners
within the first 90 days of the fund’s launch. The initiative also aims to empower Africans to take an active and equitable role in harnessing their vast mineral wealth.
The Managing Director of the Africans for Africa Initiative, Mr. Tim Tokun, noted that the objective is to create wealth for Africans from African resources, gain respectable parity alongside foreign exploration and min-
ing companies, facilitate a visible uplifting of frontline communities, who are the indigenous landlords of these mineral resources and hold the social license to operate Tokun, in a statement in Abuja by the Co-founder, AFA initiative, Suleiman Zakari stated that the fund is a closed-end specialist fund with a hybrid structure, drawing capital from both retail investors and institutional investors.
Saharan Blend
Djeno
(Gabon), Iran Heavy
Basrah
(Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).
NAIRA)
Afrinvest Asset Management Woos Investors with N2.5bn Halal Fund
Kayode Tokede
Afrinvest Asset Management
Limited, one of the subsidiaries of Afrinvest, yesterday launched a N2.5 billion Halal fund, targeted at bridging the gap between faith and finance.
The Halal Fund is an openended unit trust scheme offering 25 million units at N100 per unit, totaling a public offer size of N2.5 billion.
Speaking at the unveiling
press conference in Lagos, the Group Managing Director, Afrinvest, Mr. Ike Chioke noted that the Halal Fund was necessary to attract more investors who seek to invest in Shariah compliants instruments.
He expressed that there is high appetite for Halal Fund, focused on ethical investment, calling on other investment advisors to join and create products that meet the tenants of Islamic finance that support
other faith based investors.
Managing Director, Afrinvest Asset Management Limited, Mr. Chris Omoh noted that the fund is specifically aligned to people who want to invest their money in a particular instrument that protects their faith.
He noted that part of investing in the Afrinvest Halal Fund is aimed to serve as an income generation opportunity.
“The profit that is generated from these businesses are
shared across unit holders. So everyone that is a unit holder also earns income from this particular investment.,” he said.
He added that the fund to investors also serves as diversification which include fixed income, equities and other Shariah compliant instruments.
“An investors can invest in Sukuk issued by state governments and corporate entities. An investor can also invest in quoted equities, which are
shariah compliant,” Omoh added.
Earlier, the Senior Business Development Manager, Afrivest, Mr. Kabir Ibrahim in a presentation stated that the fund is designed for investors who wish to grow their wealth in accordance with Islamic principles, most especially in the Northern part of Nigeria.
“We wanted to make sure we have the right product for all the markets, particularly, the
northern market. But indeed, ethical funds are available for everyone because the issues that is fund deals with is applicable regardless of your religious need
The fund adheres strictly to Shari’ah investment guidelines and is supervised by an Advisory Committee of Experts (ACE), a body comprising renowned Islamic scholars with both national and international experience.
PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF JULY/24/25
LAUNCH OF PARTNERSHIP AIMED AT ENHANCING WORKFORCE CAPACITY...
L-R: Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Corps MarshalShehu Mohammed and Director of Programmes, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Mrs. Chioma Njoku, during the signing of a memorandum of understanding to launch a partnership aimed at significantly enhancing workforce capacity and strengthening positive organisational culture within the FRSC in Abuja, yesterday
FRSC: Nigeria Records 5,281 Road Traffic Crashes Involving 39,793
People in Six Months
Records 2,838 deaths with 17,818 persons rescued Says figure represents an increase in crashes by 3.9% and a rise in fatalities by 2.2%
The Federal Road Safety Corps
available statistics at its disposal, shows that the first half of 2025 has presented a tough challenge in road traffic crashes.
It disclosed that between January and June, 5,281 road traffic crashes occurred across the country involving 39,793 people.
Sadly, 2,838 lives, it said, were lost, while 17,818 were rescued. This figures it added, represents an increase in crashes by 3.9% and
EU, Editors Collaborate to Fight Fake News, Disinformation
As EU ambassador to Nigeria/ECOWAS declare workshop open
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the European Union (EU) are collaborating through a one-day training programme for editors and media executives to stem the negative impact of fake news, disinformation and misinformation in the Nigeria media landscape.
In a statement signed by the NGE President, Mr. Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, the Guild said the training programme, which takes place in Lagos today (July 25, 2025), with institutional support by the EU, is informed by the growing concern that fake news has a huge capacity to damage the credibility of journalists and the media, if not checked.
‘’The EU and the NGE will organize a one-day training programme
for editors and media executives across different media platforms.
“The objective of the programme is to equip editors with the necessary skills and knowledge required to identify and debunk misinformation, fake news, disinformation, promoting accurate/trustworthy reporting, and imbibing the discipline of verification in news reporting - in the Nigerian media industry’, the NGE stated.
Giving a background and justification to the programme, the professional body of editors and media executives in Nigeria said that the spread of misinformation, fake news and disinformation has become a major concern in Nigeria, with fake news and propaganda threatening to undermine the credibility of the mass media and the
stability of the country.
It added: “It is a common knowledge that editors/media executives play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information published in their respective media organizations.
“However, recent experiences have proved that editors need the necessary technical skills and training to effectively identify and debunk misinformation.’’
The Guild explained further that the proliferation of social media and other digital platforms has made it easier for misinformation and fake news to spread quickly, often with devastating consequences.
According to the Guild, ‘’the Nigerian media industry requires accurate and trustworthy reporting to promote informed decision-making,
NSE President Lauds Enugu Gov for Appointing Okoh as Commissioner
The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Margaret Oguntala, has sent commendations to the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah for the appointment of a committed member of the Society, Benjamin Okoh, as the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in the state.
Okoh was sworn into office yesterday in a ceremony presided over by the governor who described the appointment as a strategic move anchored on Okoh’s track record of excellence and professionalism.
Mbah highlighted that the appointment is based on Okoh’s astuteness and wealth of experience in infrastructure development, charging him to bring
innovative solutions that will fast-track the delivery of democratic dividends to the good people of Enugu state. Okoh, the statement said, is a distinguished Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). He is the Immediate Past Chairman of the NSE Abuja Branch, where Oguntala said he served with distinction and made significant contributions to the advancement of engineering practice in Nigeria.
“A product of excellence, Okoh graduated in 2004 with a Second-Class Upper Division in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). He is a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)
and a member of multiple professional engineering institutions,” the statement signed by Executive Secretary, NSE, Abubakar Muazu stated.
In response to the appointment, Oguntala said she has transmitted a letter of appreciation to the Enugu governor, Mbah.
Part of the letter read: “Your Excellency, the recent reshuffle in the Executive Cabinet of Enugu State which included the appointment of Engr. Benjamin Osita Okoh, FNSE as the Honourable Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, reflects not only your resolve to deliver high-impact governance but also your understanding of the indispensable role of engineering in achieving sustainable development.
stability and holding government at all levels to account.
“Editors play a critical role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information published in their respective media outfits.’’
On the expected outcomes of the training programme, the NGE said it aims to improve fact-checking skills and knowledge to effectively identify and debunk misinformation; enhance accuracy and reliability of reporting in the Nigerian media landscape.
a rise in fatalities by 2.2%.
The total number of people involved in road crashes in the period under review, the Corps said also increased by 8.9% compared to the same period in 2024.
Disclosing this at a Press briefing to mark the agency’s 2025 half-year strategy session in Abuja, the Corp Marshal, FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, explained the essence of the press briefing is to evaluate the agency’s progress and to recalibrate its operations for greater impact and outcome.
According to him, it is also on record that during the same period, FRSC operatives arrested 290,887 traffic offenders for committing 319,798 offences.
“Meanwhile, 250,720 offenders were arrested and 271,895 offences recorded in 2024. This reflects a 16% rise in arrests and 14.9% increase in offences booked.”
He noted the increase in the percentage of arrests and offences does not reflect FRSC as a weakened institution, stating: “On the contrary, it affirms that the corps is more vigilant and responsive to ensuring
safety through visible enforcement.” Furthermore, in the period under review, the FRSC boss disclosed that over 30 million passengers travelled using 2.3 million vehicles across national road network.
The volume of vehicles and passengers, on the roads, he said had a corelative impact on the total number of offenders and offences booked.
“It also called for more effort from our operatives to meet up with the expectations for safety by the motoring public.
“For instance, Anambra and Kano States alone accounted for over 6.5 million passengers representing 22% of the total passenger travels.
“These figures clearly demonstrated that the scale of road usage was quite high with attendant pressure on the road infrastructure and on our workforce. Let me state unequivocally that FRSC is not overwhelmed.
“The Corps is a resilient and committed agency rising to meet up with the growing national challenge with professionalism and innovation,” Mohammed noted.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos
FGN Power Company in collaboration with Siemens Energy yesterday successfully commissioned a 63MVA, 132/33kV mobile substation at the Eleyele transmission substation in Ibadan, Oyo state, marking a key step in the implementation of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
This new substation will significantly improve the transmission wheeling capacity by 50.4MW, directly benefiting households and businesses in Eleyele and its environs, a statement by Bolaji Tunji, spokesman to Nigeria’s Power Minister, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, stated.
By providing a more reliable and efficient power supply, the substation, it said, will lead to improved electricity supply for the community, while the mobile substation at Eleyele has enabled the radiation of more feeders to
Apete, Ologun-Eru, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Sango and Bodija, fostering opportunities for new businesses.
“The commissioning of this mobile substation is a testament to our commitment to delivering reliable and sustainable power to the people of Oyo State and Nigerians. The project aligns with the federal government’s vision to modernise Nigeria’s power sector and improve the quality of life for our citizens.
“We are proud to be part of this transformative initiative. This mobile substation, along with other equipment undergoing installation under the pilot phase of the PPI, represents a strategic deployment aimed at improving the transmission capacity constraints by over 1300MW across the nation,” Adelabu said.
Managing Director of FGN Power Company, Kenny Anuwe, in his remarks, stated that it was part of the federal government’s decisions to address critical infrastructure gaps and enhance the overall power system’s capacity and reliability.
“We are delighted to commission this state-of-the-art mobile substation. This achievement underscores our dedication to providing innovative solutions to Nigeria’s power challenges. By strategically deploying these mobile substations, we are addressing critical infrastructure gaps and enhancing the overall power system’s capacity and reliability,” he said.
The particular substation, located at Eleyele, holds special significance, the statement said, noting that it will not only improve power supply to the immediate community but also to the surrounding areas, empowering households and businesses.
“Since inception FGN Power Company has successfully installed, energised, and commissioned eight power transformers, contributing an additional 569.6MW to the transmission network. Also, five Mobile Substations have been successfully deployed, contributing an additional 252MW.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
(FRSC) Thursday revealed that
PHOTO: KINGSLEY ADEBOYE
DIPLOMATIC/SECURITY CONFERENCE 2025...
European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier
Institute of Project
of Nigeria
NERC Wades into Enugu, Discos, Gencos’ Tariff Imbroglio, Says States Have No Jurisdiction over National Grid
Again, Discos reject tariff review by Enugu, say it will deepen liquidity crisis Threaten blackout over development
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday intervened in the ongoing disagreement over tariffs by power Distribution Companies (Discos) and Generation Companies (Gencos) on the one hand, and the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) on the other.
Specifically, NERC in an advertorial seen by THISDAY last night, maintained that states do not have regulatory power to fix electricity prices when the power is generated and transmitted from the national grid.
Although it admitted that the 2023 Electricity Act (EA) gave states the power to regulate electricity in their domains, NERC insisted that states’ regulatory power does not supersede that made by the National Assembly to regulate electricity in the country.
In the last few days, the reduction of tariff for Band ‘A’ customers in Enugu by the state’s electricity regulatory commission had created confusion, eliciting public debate by experts as to whether states have the authority to set tariffs based on subsidy to be paid by the federal government.
“As states do not have jurisdiction over the national grid and over
electric power stations established under federal laws/operating under licences issued by the commission; they must holistically incorporate the wholesale costs of grid supply to their states without any qualification or deviation in their design of tariffs for end-use customers in order not to distort the dynamics of the market or be prepared to make a policy intervention by way (of) a subsidy for any deviation in the tariff structure that distorts the wholesale generation, transmission and legacy financing costs in NESI,” part of the advertorial stated.
NERC acknowledged that the N160.4 per kWh was arrived at by Enugu largely by reducing the current average generation tariff of 112.60 per kWh to NGN45.75, with an assumption of subsidy component, a difference of N66.85 per kWh.
However, it stressed that although tSection 34(1) of the EA places a statutory obligation on the commission as well as state electricity commissions to “create, promote and preserve efficient electricity industry and market structures,” neither NERC nor EERC as responsible regulatory institutions would take decisions that expose the national grid and wholesale electricity market to a financial crisis in contravention of express powers granted to them
by the constitution. In addition, NERC stated that the commission is currently talking to the EERC on their tariff order as it relates to any perceived area of misinterpretation or misunderstanding on wholesale generation and transmission costs on their import of power from the national grid.
Also, yesterday, distribution companies have again kicked against the recent tariff reduction by the EERC to N160/kWh for Band ‘A’ customers, saying it was done without adequate coordination with NERC and or other market participants.
In a statement by the umbrella body of the Discos, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors
(ANED), the power distributors said that the recent move by EERC raises significant concerns for the stability and liquidity of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Signed by the Chief Executive of ANED, Sunday Oduntan, the Discos said that since the release of the tariff order by EERC for Enugu state residents, Discos in other states have come under intense pressure and scrutiny to also reduce tariffs.
Besides, the Discos stated that some customers have taken a position that they will no longer pay their electricity bills until tariffs are reduced.
Stressing that it is not their intention to make life difficult for their customers, the Discos said that they had been aligning with the federal
government to ensure provision of stable power supply, but said the cost-reflective tariff is as a result of the economic realities of the nation.
“We note that one of the principles adopted by EERC is to place reliance on the policy of the federal government on electricity subsidies to enable them to crash Band A tariffs. While Discos are not opposed to subsidies in principle, we strongly emphasise that subsidies must be transparently structured and promptly funded.
“Delayed or unfunded subsidies create cashflow disruptions, undermine market confidence, and deepen the existing liquidity crisis across the electricity value chain. In a clear position, the federal government through the Minister of Power, Chief
Bayo Adelabu has stated that states slashing power tariff must be ready to pay subsidy, and be accountable for the financial implication.
“It is already a fact today that the delay in the prompt payment of electricity subsidies has put the generation companies and gas suppliers under severe operational burden due to the almost N5 trillion outstanding to these market participants,” the Discos added. They stressed that the Nigerian power market, in the short term, remains largely centrally coordinated, especially for bulk energy purchases, transmission, and market settlements involving Generation Companies (Gencos) and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET).
FG Partners UN, EU, INTERPOL to Combat Malicious Use of Technology by Terrorists
The federal government, through the National Counter Terrorism Centre Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA),
NAPTIP Alerts Nigerians to Increasing Challenges in Human Trafficking
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajiya Binta Bello, has alerted of the increasing challenges in human trafficking where traffickers have continued to deceive victims with pseudo job opportunities and harvested their organs.
Addressing a press conference on activities lined up for this year’s World Day Against Human Trafficking, Bello said it should interest all that the fight against human trafficking has continued to take new dimensions with emerging trends daily.
She said this is coupled with a new destination and further exploitation of victims.
She lamented that some of the
disturbing trends that are on the increase, include Fake Job Opportunities and Scholarships in some destination countries; Recruitment of Victims as Marketing Agents for some branded products with the intention to exploit them; Recruitment of unsuspecting youths for Online Scam (Yahoo-Yahoo) within Nigeria, Ghana and some West African Countries; Online Trafficking/ Sextortion, and revenge porn.
Others are Baby Factory; Organ Harvesting; Online Loan SchemeThis is a situation where the suspect uses social media handles to lure unsuspecting victims into accepting, but at the end of the day, compel them into prostitution in return for the loan.
She noted that even though the crime of Trafficking in Persons (TIP)
continues to evolve, becoming more complex, transnational and interlinked with other forms of violence and exploitation, particularly affecting women, children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly, NAPTIP has continued to perform maximally in line with its mandates.
Bello said: “The Agency has continued to carry out its activities in line with the 5Ps Strategies of Prevention, Partnership, Policy, Protection, and Prosecution. These have metamorphosed to massive awareness across the country to reduce the vulnerability of the citizens, increased collaboration and coordination, development of counter trafficking policies, rescue and rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking, and prosecution of offenders.”
is collaborating with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the European Union (EU), and other critical stakeholders to build the capacity of state forces and law enforcement officers to combat the malicious use of technology by terrorists and other criminal elements in Nigeria.
The government stated that strengthening law enforcement capabilities to counter the misuse of new and emerging technologies by terrorists is the core focus of the ongoing workshop.
Speaking at the CT TECH Plus First National Workshop on Nigeria’s Law Enforcement Capabilities for New Technologies in Countering Terrorism in Abuja on Thursday, the National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), Major General Adamu Laka, stated the workshop builds upon the momentum generated during the CT TECH Plus kickoff meeting held in April.
Noting that since the milestone event, he has been consistently briefed by focal persons on the
detailed planning and strategic engagements that have taken place, General Laka said that yesterday’s session marks the beginning of a deeper national dialogue on law enforcement readiness.
The workshop, he said, aims to enhance national policy, legal frameworks, institutional preparedness, and international cooperation, while fully upholding human rights, the rule of law, and gender responsiveness.
“At the National Counterterrorism Centre, we continue to drive our mandate through two fundamental pillars: the whole-of-government and the whole-of-society approaches.
“These principles are deeply embedded in the design and delivery of this workshop. Today’s gathering exemplifies this model by bringing together key government stakeholders to confront the growing threats posed by the malicious use of technology.
“Participants have been carefully selected based on recommendations by our partners, an approach that aligns with our own strategy to ensure broad representation from policymakers, law enforcement, cybersecurity agencies, criminal justice actors, regulators, and academia,” he said.
This deliberate mix, he said, reflects Nigeria’s enduring commitment to inclusive and multi-sectoral collaboration in strengthening national response capabilities. He told participants their roles as policy shapers, operational leaders, and subject-matter experts are critical, not just to this workshop, but to the sustained success of the national counter-terrorism strategy. The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, said the workshop will facilitate a self-assessment, gap analysis, and lead to the development of a roadmap for the implementation and improvement of the application of law enforcement frameworks for new technologies in countering terrorism, developed under the CT Tech Initiative and successfully applied already in five different member states.
Represented by Peace and Development Advisor, UN Nigeria, Kimairis Toogood, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator restated that effective counterterrorism measures and the protection of human rights are not conflicting goals, but are actually complementary and mutually reinforcing.
L-R:
Mignot; Chairman, Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (DICAN), Mr. Idehai Fedderick and Registrar General, Chartered
Managers
(CIPMN), Mr. Henry Ifeayi, during the DICAN Diplomatic/Security International Conference 2025 in Abuja on Wednesday
PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN
Linus Aleke in Abuja
AKANDE
AT GRANDDAUGHTER,
OMOWUMI’S GRADUATION...
Days After Attending Event at the Villa, Kwankwaso Accuses Tinubu of Marginalising North
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
A former Kano State Governor and ex-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, yesterday lashed out at the administration of President Bola Tinubu, accusing it of sidelining Northern Nigeria in federal development projects while concentrating resources in the southern part of the country.
Speaking during the Kano State Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the 2025 Constitutional Amendment, Kwankwaso criticised the government for what he called lopsided allocation of the national budget, warning that the imbalance could deepen insecurity and poverty in the North. “From the information available to us, it’s like most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction,” he said.
Kwankwaso, who came fourth in the 2023 presidential election with 1.49 million votes, said poor infrastructure in the North, particularly roads, reflected years of underinvestment by successive governments, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Recalling a recent travel experience, he said: “I had to go by road from Abuja to Kano, and it was a nightmare. The roads are terrible. That road has been under construction since the beginning of APC’s leadership.”
In contrast, he noted that the federal government was allocating massive funds to new road projects connecting the South to the East, which, though beneficial, shouldn’t come at the expense of the North.
“We support infrastructure development anywhere in Nigeria. But taking our collective resources and concentrating them in one part of the country while other regions are abandoned is not only unfair, it’s dangerous,” he said.
2025 Family Convention: Catholic Group, Awosika, Onah, Others to Address Dignity of Marriage, Gender Ideology, AI Relevance
Sunday Okobi
The Lagos Archdiocesan Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria (LACMON) has stated this year’s family convention will be used to address the preservation, development, and protection of the dignity of marriage, family values as well as the growing confusion in gender ideology.
The leaders of the Catholic body noted that a healthy family engenders efficient and effective productivity in society and the economy of every nation, including Nigeria.
They added: “we believe our faith is strongly built on the covenant of marriage and family,” as they promised not to relent in their pursuit of what a traditional understanding of a marriage should be in society.
LACMON, at a press conference to herald the convention, also lamented the effect of AI tools on the youths and even adults, and how to address, expressing concern over the potential misuse of artificial intelligence, warning that: “AI should serve humanity, not the other way around. It can be misused - from
cloning people, to exam malpractice, to aiding crime. We must educate ourselves and our families on its proper use.”
At the event, the President of LACMON, Kingsley Ekwem, who addressed journalists on what is expected at the 12th edition of the annual convention of the Lagos Archdiocesan Catholic Men Organisation (LACMON) scheduled for August 8 and 10, 2025, at the fields of St. Gregory College, Obalende, Ikoyi in Lagos, disclosed the general theme of the convention is: ‘The Family, the Vocations and Path to Love of God.’
It is aimed at promoting, protecting and preserving ideal marriage (the family) as a unit in today’s rapidly evolving world.
He added: “The 2025 family convention (unlike the 2024 family convention that focused on Overcoming Drug and Pornography additions in Family Life) would focus on ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI), New technologies, devices and family life’; ‘Confused gender ideologies and Family life; “Family business/ entrepreneurship and family life’,
His Real Presence: The Eucharist ‘human’ or God’s design-Healthcare vs. Wellness.
“We are focused on the preservation, development and protection of the dignity of marriage and family values. A healthy family engenders efficient and effective productivity in the society and the economy of every nation, including Nigeria. We believe our faith is strongly built on the covenant of the family.”
Reading out the programme, where many resource persons and experts are expected to espouse the topical issues, Ekwem said on August 8, 2025, Family business, entrepreneurship and family life will be discussed by Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh (Founder, Zinox Technologies) at 4.30 pm; ‘His Real Presence: The Eucharist, will be taken by Dr. Phil Igbodike (a renowned medical practitioner) at 5.30 p.m., while there will be a welcome Mass and Adoration from 6.20 to 8.20 p.m.
On August 9, 2025, “we will focus on: ‘Confused gender ideologies and Family life’ which will be taken by His Lordship, Most Rev. (Prof.) Godfrey Onah, the Bishop
of Nsukka Diocese at 9.45 a.m.
‘Artificial intelligence (AI), new technologies, devices and family life’, will be presented (recorded) by Chief (Mrs.) Ibukun Awosika at 11.20 a.m. with the following presenters/ discussants: Abidemi Akanle (trail brazing architect, Social Innovator, Coach and Director of Family Life, Rock Foundation NGO); Oluseyi Akindeinde (Founder, Hyperspace and NeuRal AI); Henry Andoh (Director of Alumni Relations, Lagos Business School, and Dr. Obielumani Ideh (Gynecologist with special interest on addictions).
“On August 10, 2025, ‘Human’ or God’s Design-Healthcare vs. Wellness’ will be taken by Dr. Patrick Ijewere (Internal medicine physician, Holistic Wellness practitioner) at 10 a.m., while the closing mass and induction of new members and
thanksgiving within the Mass will take place at 11.20 a.m.
“So far over 11,009 people have already registered to attend the convention which will be beamed on social media platforms and others. Participants and guests expected at the convention include entrepreneurs, captains of industries, the leadership of the youth groups, the women group and many others,” the president said.
Ekwem, flanked by other leaders of the Catholic group, including the Chairman, 2025 LOCMON Planning Committee, John Maka, and former Chairman, 2023 Convention Planning Committee, Mike Ogbechie, added the LACMON Annual Convention is one of the largest gatherings of people not just from Lagos alone but from different parts of the country and the West African sub-region.
He warned that the neglect of the north would have nationwide consequences, comparing it to a desert whose effects would eventually spread.
“That is why we have insecurity, we have poverty. These things may be concentrated in the north now, but like a desert, they will eventually affect every region,” he added.
Kwankwaso called on the federal government to demonstrate fairness in project distribution and use the moment to correct the growing perception of regional bias.
“This is the time for the government to change to convince our people that it is not just on one side of the country,” he said.
Kwankwaso’s remarks came just days after attending Sustainability of Nigeria’s Forest to Unlocking the $2 Billion Potential for Economic and Financial Inclusion which held at the Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa, Abuja
Though it is not certain whether he met with the President on that on occasion, but all these are unfolding at a time of heightened political calculations, as parties begin positioning for the 2027 general election. The recent closed-door meeting with Tinubu had sparked speculation about a potential alliance, especially as Tinubu’s APC eyes consolidation against opposition coalitions being formed by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
The Kano politician remains a key political figure with vast influence in Kano, particularly through his Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Chief Bisi Akande, former Osun State Governor and former All Progressives Congress National Chairman, attended the graduation of his granddaughter, Omowumi Akande, who graduated as a medical doctor at the University of Nottingham in the UK on Wednesday Annual Health Check: LASUBEB Conducts
The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), yesterday concluded its 2025 annual health checks, with over 300 staff members receiving free Full Blood Count (FBC) tests as part of efforts aimed at promoting early detection and preventive healthcare in the education workforce.
The two-day health drive included comprehensive screenings such as blood pressure checks, glucose tests, and FBC, vital diagnostics that support the early identification of conditions such as anemia, infections, and blood cancers.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the board, Dr. Hakeem Babatunde Shittu, stressed the significance of this year’s theme - ‘Healthy Blood, Healthy Life: Why Blood Count Matters’ - noting the campaign serves as a critical call to action rather than just a slogan.
“Regular blood tests are among the most effective tools in early detection and prevention,” Dr. Shittu said. “Too often we wait for symptoms to escalate, but prevention must become a culture. What flows through us sustains our life.” He reaffirmed the Sanwo-Olu
administration’s commitment to the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of the Lagos State workforce, particularly within the basic education sector.
“We must commit to routine health checks as part of our daily wellness culture,” Shittu stated.
Medical Consultant and Guest Speaker, Dr. John Kolawole of Afriglobal Medicare Limited educated staff on the diagnostic value of Full Blood Count testing, advocating for regular check-ups and healthy lifestyle habits such as iron-rich diets, physical activity, and stress management.
The National Youth Committee of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) expresses deep concern over uncomplimentary remarks against police personnel made by an activist and a presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.
PCRC noted the activist’s involvement of the Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, in the alleged disappearance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) eyeglasses during the protest by retired police personnel to demand removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme in Abuja is uncalled for.
A statement by the National Youth Coordinator of PCRC, Junaid Olatunji
Victor, noted that the allegations are entirely baseless, malicious, and lack any factual foundation.
According to him, “They not only seek to impugn the character of a disciplined and highly regarded officer, but also aim to demoralise the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and undermine public trust in the institution.
“Such claims are unbecoming of anyone in public life. This is part of a calculated effort to discredit the Nigeria Police Force and disrupt the stability of our national security architecture.”
“Given the foregoing, the PCRC National Youth Committee hereby issues a 7-day ultimatum to him to publicly apologise to ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi and retract
the statements through the same media channels in which they were originally made.”
PCRC noted that failure to comply with this demand will compel the PCRC National Youth Committee to take further action, including exposing the individuals and foreign interests allegedly sponsoring his actions, whose sole objective appears to be the destabilisation of Nigeria and the erosion of confidence in its security institutions. The PCRC, the National Coordinator said, remains unwavering in its support for the Nigeria Police Force and will continue to uphold the values of integrity, professionalism, and mutual trust between the police and the communities they serve.
Funmi Ogundare
Linus Aleke in Abuja
COURTESY VISIT TO TAMROSE VENTURES...
South-South
Hole at Abuja Airport Runway Forces Lufthansa to Drop, Reschedule Passengers
Chinedu Eze
German mega carrier, Lufthansa Airlines, Wednesday offloaded 45 passengers and all the luggage of about 200 passengers fully booked for the Abuja-Frankfurt flight, to reduce the weight of the aircraft so that it could take off from a shorter length of the runway.
This was because a big hole developed at one end of the 3, 610 meters (20km) runway, which forced the management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to cordon off that part, thus limiting aircraft from building thrust through the normal runway distance, but to take off after taxing from the usable part of the facility.
Lufthansa which operated Airbus A330-300 with capacity for 250-290 seats is a double aisle aircraft that needed to taxi for a longer distance before taking off.
In order to operate safely, using the safe distance of the runway, the pilot of the aircraft had to offload some passengers and luggage to reduce the aircraft weight and enable it to lift after a short distance of taxiing.
THISDAY spoke to the Managing Director and CEO of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, a seasoned pilot who confirmed that when a runway is not long enough, an aircraft would have to reduce its weight so that it can gain thrust and take off at a short distance.
“In order to overcome the challenge posed by the reduced length of the runway, the aircraft had to find an effective way to take off from the usable length; so, you reduce the weight,” Sanusi said.
One of the passengers who spoke to THISDAY on the condition of anonymity, said that the passengers who were dropped were taken to Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja by the airline by about 4: 00 am the following morning and that his flight was now rescheduled to take off on Sunday, July 27, 2025, which is four days after he was scheduled to travel back to Germany.
According to the passenger, selecting the number of the people to drop caused commotion because everybody wanted to travel, but the airline who invited them in groups, skipped the group that was eventually told they would not travel with the flight and even those that travelled did so without their checked in luggage.
The decision not to take any checked in luggage was due to the problem of sorting them out at that critical time, as the flight was supposed to take off by 10:20 pm but was later shifted to 10; 50 and eventually took off later after that.
The passenger also said that they were miffed by the failure of the airline to take them according to schedule and some of the passengers are considering class action against the airline.
THISDAY also learnt that the pilot in command of the flight at a time considered aborting the operation because there was no certainty about the bad portion of the runway that night, as it was drizzling and the weather was inclement.
This indicated that the pilot did not know about the damaged portion of the runway prior to the flight, which means that the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which informs
pilots about the status of any airport they wish to fly to, was not activated on the limitations of the runway.
“The incident was really saddening because I have not been in Nigeria for eight years and I faced this problem on my way back to
Germany. What happened has disrupted the schedule of many of the passengers. Some were billed to resume work the following day and others had their appointments; so, it was saddening.
“But I liked the dedication of
the staff of the airline who booked me for Sunday. They seemed very organised and friendly. They had to make sure that the offloaded luggage was in order before they moved us to Abuja Continental Hotel.
“The time it would take to sort
out the luggage and their owners and to further reduce the weight of the aircraft were the reasons why they offloaded all the checked in luggage. They paid for the hotel until Sunday when we will leave for our flight,” he told THISDAY.
ADC to Tinubu: Diplomacy Not Side Hustle
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has issued a scathing rebuke of the Tinubu administration’s foreign policy over what it describes as a “national humiliation” following the United States government’s latest travel advisory, which placed Nigeria on Level 3: “Reconsider Travel.”
In a strongly worded statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the US travel advisory, citing Nigeria’s rising insecurity and failing healthcare infrastructure, was a damning reflection of the Tinubu government’s inability to protect both its citizens and the country’s image abroad.
The ADC further criticised the absence of Nigerian ambassadors in key global capitals, particularly Washington D.C., describing the diplomatic vacuum as abdication of responsibility.
The party also took a swipe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accusing it of trivialising the urgent need for ambassadorial appointments under the guise of reforms.
According to the ADC, Tinubu’s government has reduced diplomacy
INEC Registers 168,187 New Voters Ahead of Anambra Governorship Poll in November
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),has said it has registered a total of 168,187 new voters ahead of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement said as earlier announced, the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) scheduled to end on 17th July 2025 was extended to 29th July 2025 following appeals by citizens.
He noted that, “The final figure of new registrants is 168,187 which is the highest number recorded in two weeks in Anambra State
since the introduction of the CVR ahead of the governorship election in 2017.
“Although these are preliminary figures pending data clean-up, the detailed breakdown shows that 97,832 (58 per cent) are female while 70,355 (42 per cent) are male.
“In terms of age, 90,763 (53.97 per cent ) are young people aged 18-34 while the occupational distribution shows that 62,157 (36.92 per cent) are businessmen/women while 44,243 (26.31 per cent) are students.
“In terms of Persons with Disability (PWDs), 303 (24.92 per cent) have physical impediment, followed by 207 (17.02 per cent) with albinism.” Olumekun added that the
detailed breakdown has been uploaded on the commission’s website and other platforms for public information.
He explained that the immediate next step was to display the preliminary register of new voters for claims and objections by citizens who are the ultimate owners of the register.
This, Olumekun noted, would take place in all the 326 Wards in Anambra State from Saturday 26th July 2025 to Friday 1st August 2025.
He said once this process was concluded, including the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), the new registrants would be added to the existing register and published on Polling Unit basis ahead of the election.
to a “side hustle,” warning that no country could afford to be voiceless on the world stage.
‘’Again, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is alarmed—but sadly, not surprised—by the latest travel advisory from the United States Government, which now classifies Nigeria as a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” destination.
“For a nation of over 200 million people, this is another public indictment of the Tinubu administration’s failure to govern. The U.S. explicitly mentioned the collapse of Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure and the inability of our government to guarantee even the most basic emergency services,’’ he said.
According to the advisory, medical
facilities in Nigeria “are generally not equipped to U.S. standards,” and “many medications are unavailable. “Foreigners are being told to consider evacuation insurance before they arrive. We ask: what kind of country are we becoming? One where a visitor must plan for emergency airlift before stepping off the plane?
BALA MOHAMMED: ONLY TRANSPARENT CONVENTION WILL TURN PDP AROUND
May 12, 2025.
“We were mandated to clear all obstacles preventing the party from holding its NEC meeting and moving on to have a hitch-free national convention.
“The outcome of today’s meeting is an indication that our committee is delivering on our assignment. The NEC meeting was successfully held.
Also, the machinery for a successful convention has been set in motion,” he said,
He, however, explained that, “What is left is for all of us to continue working towards the success of the national convention in Ibadan. I am very sure that all is set for the PDP to move into a new frontier as a solid platform that will truly serve Nigeria and provide good governance for her people.”
Also, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara represented by the Secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said the meetings of Wednesday and yesterday had started yielding results.
‘’These meetings are very, very critical. We thank God that stability that has returned to the party. We have to build on that stability, but we must never take things for granted, because for one reason or the other, some of our friends and associates have left us.
“I don’t believe they have left us for good. I believe, when you look at the agenda, the success of the items scheduled is what will bring most of them back. I cannot say all of them, we can even bring new hands into the PDP.
‘’So the ball is in our court, not only to discuss and approve the items on the agenda, but to make sure the outcome of the schedule
National Convention sends a strong positive message to Nigerians, because that is what is going to define the political landscape in this country.
‘’I urge all members to be cautious of what they say or do. Some cannot be working to rebuild the party, and some trying to de-market it.
‘’There is a difference between personal opinion and party position. If anybody is speaking on personal opinion, he or she should say so. The party has formal organs for speaking, and that should be respected.
‘’We must never show to the public that we are a group that anybody can do what he or she likes anytime and anyhow. We must be cautious of each other by what we do or what we don’t do as we move forward.
‘’I will also advise that, yes, we may have differences, where we should be conscious in expressing opinions, even on those who have left us, because what we want is for them to come back now or very, very soon,
‘’Mr. Chairman, we know that some people are aggrieved, but we don’t have to come down and pull down whatever our grievances may be. If we work together, the convention should resolve all grievances. It’s an opportunity, and we must not miss it.
“We should be patient and make use of it. May God Almighty guide this meeting and subsequent missions, and may God Almighty shower and crown our efforts with victory in whatever we set out for ourselves,’’ he stated.
The national caucus of the PDP has however shifted the National convention to November, while the next NEC meeting is expected to
take place on August 25, 2025. Ahead the PDP elective National Convention in Ibadan from Saturday, November 15 to Sunday, November 16, 2025, National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the National Chairman and National Secretary have been directed to formally notify INEC of the planned convention.
This announcement was part of the resolutions reached at the NEC in Abuja. The NEC also approved the membership of the National Convention Committee and the Zoning Committee, aimed at ensuring a transparent and credible electoral process.
Ologunagba stated that the party leadership expressed satisfaction with the resolution of internal disputes, describing it as a demonstration of the PDP commitment to dialogue and unity.
He added that the party remained united, strong, and well-positioned to offer a credible alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In another resolution, the committee disclosed plans to initiate legal action to recover legislative seats held by members who had defected to other parties, citing constitutional provisions that rendered such seats vacant.
The NEC further expressed concern over reports of PDP members participating in the activities of other political parties and called for renewed loyalty, discipline, and commitment to the party’s ideals. The party reaffirmed its willingness to collaborate with like-minded individuals and groups in what it described as a collective effort to rescue Nigeria from the APC-led administration.
L-R: Regional Executive,
and East, Union Bank, Mrs. Ngozi Osuji; MD/CEO, Union Bank, Mrs. Yetunde Oni; MD/CEO, Tamrose Ventures Ltd., Mr. Ambrose Ovbiebo; Executive Director, North, South and Public Sector, Union Bank, Mr. Mannir Ringim; and Area Business Executive, Port Harcourt 1, Union Bank, Mrs. Regina Ahana, during a courtesy visit to the MD/CEO of Tamrose Ventures in Lagos on Wednesday
FIDELITY SME EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME 2025...
L-R: Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Osita Ede; Executive Director, Lagos and Southwest, Fidelity Bank, Plc, Dr. Ken Opara; Chief Executive Officer, Manmark, Adaonah Kene-Uyawune; Executive Director/Chief Operations and Information Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Stanley Amuchie; Deputy Director and Lagos State Manager of SMEDAN, Bunmi Kole-Dawodu; and Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Meksley Nwagboh, at the Fidelity SME Empowerment Program 2025 in Lagos ... recently
Olawepo-Hashim: Nigeria Needs Good President, Not Regional Leader
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Presidential hopeful, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has declared that Nigeria’s future depends not on regional calculations or ethnic alliances, but on the emergence of a competent, patriotic and visionary president, who can tackle insecurity, create jobs and improve the living conditions of all citizens.
He said this while weighing in on what he said seemed to be a coordinated campaign by
some politicians for a president of southern extraction in the 2027 election, a statement he released condemning what he described as the “continuous manipulation of religion and ethnicity by corrupt political opportunists” who have failed to deliver real development to Nigerians, said.
“Nigeria does not need a Southern or Northern President. What our country urgently needs is a good President, one with the capacity to secure the nation, revive
the economy, and restore hope among our people,” OlawepoHashim stated.
He noted that recent political trends and past elections had shown that Nigerians are capable of making decisions based on competence rather than tribal or religious sentiment, citing examples of Lagos, Kano, and Gboko constituencies.
“In the 1993 election, Kano people rejected their own son, Bashir Tofa, in favour of Chief M.K.O Abiola from Ogun State. In more recent
times, voters in Lagos rejected the incumbent President for a candidate from another region.
“In Gboko, a largely Tiv and Christian constituency, a Kanuri Muslim, Kashim, was elected into the Northern regional assembly in the first Republic. These are testaments to our national maturity,” he said.
Olawepo-Hashim accused politicians who promote regional presidency of pursuing selfish interests rather than national unity.
“Those advocating for a southern or northern presidency are not doing so for the people, but for their own stomachs. Nigerians are not interested in such games anymore. They want leaders who can work, not leaders who merely belong to their region or faith,” he declared.
Calling on all political parties to adopt credibility, competence and character as the sole criteria for fielding candidates in the 2027 elections, he emphasised that the survival of the country is now at
stake.
“The time for political shenanigans is over. Our future cannot be mortgaged to merchants of ethnicity and religious manipulation. Nigerians deserve a decent country managed by decent people,” he added.
The former presidential candidate reaffirmed his commitment to building a united, secure, and prosperous Nigeria, and urged citizens across all regions and faiths to join hands in rejecting divisive politics.
IT’S NOT EASY NAVIGATING STORMY ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, BUT WE’RE STABLE NOW
Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, said there was a need to collectively condemn the divisive and irresponsible conduct of some elements, who claimed to be opposition, whose actions did not reflect the spirit of statesmanship, patriotism, or national unity.
Speaking at the NEC meeting of APC at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday, Uzodinma said as progressives they must remain focused, united and responsive to the yearnings of the Nigerian people who had placed their hope in the ruling party.
The governor acknowledged the recent resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the party and expressed appreciation for his service to the party and the nation.
Uzodinma said, “As we turn this page, it is imperative that we quickly move to nominate a capable and unifying replacement, someone who can build on the foundation laid and help reposition the party to its rightful place of pride in Nigeria’s democratic history.”
He commended the notable progress made on the party’s membership e-registration exercise, saying it is a vital step in the deepening of internal democracy, ensuring credible datadriven planning, and opening new channels of inclusion for millions of Nigerians, who wished to identify with APC.
Uzodinma added that the advantages of the innovation were far-reaching and timely, as they modernised APC’s operations and prepared it for future engagements.
He said while the future of APC was bright, the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, had continued to inspire a renewed confidence in governance.
Uzondinma stated, “It will be a thing of joy for me to take advantage
of this moment to drive this composite motion that I, Senator Hope Uzodima, Governor of Imo State, and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, want to humbly move the motion that the National Executive Committee approve the office of the National Chairman of APC to be zoned back from the North-west, where it is now, to the North-central geopolitical zone.
“That the office of the National Legal Advisor of the APC be zoned from North-central, where it is now, back to the North-west geopolitical zone.
“That the office of the Deputy National Secretary of APC already zoned to North-central be zoned back to North-central zone. That Professor Nantawe Goshwe from Plateau State, North-central geopolitical zone, be nominated and be elected as the National Chairman of All Progressive Congress.
“That the current National Legal Advisor Professor Abdulkarim Kana shall now be the Deputy National Secretary of our great country. That Barrister Murtala Kogiya from Katsina State, North-west Zone, be nominated and elected as the National Legal Advisor of our great party.
“That the review of the compressed political activities going on in our great party, that the tenure of Office of the Ward Executives, local government executives, be extended to 31st day of December 2025.
“The consequential adjustment as a result of the election of the new National Chairman of the party will be made wise, properly and implemented by the National Working Committee in proper consultation with the National Leader of the party. I so move.
“I will, therefore, invite the Right Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives to second the motion.”
Seconding the motion, Abbas
said, “I, Abbas Tajudeen, Member of the All Progressive Congress from Kwarbe Zaria Local Government of Kaduna State, hereby second the following motions.
“One on zoning of enumerated national offices in accordance with the terms of the motion. Nomination of Professor Nentawe as the National Chairman of APC.
“Filling of offices of the Deputy National Secretary and the National Legal Advisor in accordance with the new zoning arrangements in accordance with the terms of the motion.
“Extension of the tenure of Office of the World Executives, local government executives and the State Executives and Zonal Executive Committees of APC in accordance with the terms of the motion moved by Senator Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State. I do hereby second.”
Abbas also described the ADC coalition against the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general election as a desperate attempt that lacked ideology.
He said the ruling party must strengthen internal cohesion by addressing grievances and rewarding loyalty, while ensuring no faction felt side-lined.
The speaker said the coalition, which had now adopted ADC as its platform for the election, only wanted to replicate the merger of political parties that formed APC ahead of the 2023 election.
He stated, “Since our last (APC NEC) meeting, the opposition has undergone seismic shifts. The PDP is fracturing due to leadership tussles and defections, with many members joining either the APC or a new opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“This coalition, cobbled from former PDP, APC, and Labour Party players, plots to challenge
us in 2027.
“While this poses a challenge, it is a desperate coalition attempting to replicate our 2013 APC merger. Their unity appears opportunistic, and their lack of a clear ideology weakens their appeal compared to our proven and tested governance.”
Abbas stressed that smaller parties, such as Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), were clearly in decline.
He added, “The Labour Party’s momentum has drastically dimin- ished. The NNPP buckles beneath bitter bickering and internal conflicts. The ADC is desperately courting other parties, such as the SDP and PRP. Amid all these, the APC must remain vigilant, preparing for a potentially united opposition in 2027.
“The APC dominance is clear, but complacency is not an option. The formation of the ADC coalition necessitates a proactive response. We must strengthen internal cohesion by addressing grievances and rewarding loyalty, ensuring no faction feels side-lined.”
The speaker, who stated that the APC NEC meeting took place “at this critical moment for our party and nation,” said since the last meeting in February, Nigeria’s political landscape has undergone significant shifts, necessitating a strategic response.
Abbas also said APC had navigated a smooth leadership transition following the resignation of Ganduje, and the election of his successor, Yilwatda under the guidance of Tinubu.
While stating that APC’s maturity in managing this transition without rancour underscored members’ unity and discipline, he said their strength continued to grow, bolstered by defections from opposition parties.
“These defections affirm the APC’s credibility as the party of choice for progressive Nigerians. I warmly
welcome our new members and assure them of our commitment to good governance,” he said.
Yilwatda expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the party, from the president to the governors, and the National Assembly members, all members of NEC, for reposing the big burden and trust in him to lead the party at this juncture.
He stated, “Let me thank you also for picking me among millions of members of this party, and that the party will see me good enough and responsible enough to take this party to the next level. I do not take this mandate for granted.
“I want to accept it with gratitude and with my full heart and with my full mind to work together with you, to build the party knowing that all of us here are the mechanics of the party and the party is our vehicle and we will fix it and move it to our destination of choice.”
Yilwatda pledged that he would work with everybody in the party, unite, build and expand the party with members as the focus, the building block and the support he would require to drive the party so that they could fulfil the dream of Nigerians who had reposed their hope in the renewed hope agenda.
Ganduje described the appointment of Yilwatda as strategic.
In a statement he personally signed yesterday, Ganduje expressed profound confidence in the capacity, intellect, maturity and administrative competence of the new chairman to move the party forward
He commended the APC NEC and other organs of the party for ensuring a transparent and consensus-driven process that led to the emergence of Yilwatda.
Ganduje urged Yilwatda to build on the solid foundations and legacies he laid during his tenure, just as he built on the efforts and achievements of his own predecessor.
Ganduje stated, “Our President and Vice President have once again shown maturity and far-sightedness in the affairs of our great party. Their commitment to ensuring cohesion and stability within the APC is commendable, and I urge all stakeholders to rally around the new leadership to deliver on the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“As I bow out with a sense of fulfilment, I wish to assure Prof. Yilwatda of my unflinching support, counsel, and brotherly solidarity.
“I urge all our leaders, governors, lawmakers, and faithful party members across the federation to queue behind him and give him the necessary backing to consolidate on our party’s vision of building a united, progressive, and inclusive political platform for all Nigerians.” Ganduje pledged to continue offer his experience and political guidance whenever called upon, reaffirming his dedication to APC’s growth and the democratic development of the country.
In a related development, Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, extended his felicitations to Yilwatda.
In a press statement by Chief Press ecretary (CPS) to the governor, Tersoo Kula, Alia described Yilwatda as a distinguished academic and a visionary leader, saying he has no doubt in the ability of the Plateau State-born scholar and politician to succeed in taking the party to more enviable heights.
He cited the new chairman’s intellect, brilliance, expertise, integrity and his unwavering commitment to excellence as some of the qualities that would draw more admiration and attract more support and love for the ruling APC across the country. Alia also wished the former Benue State Electoral Commissioner and the APC candidate for the 2023 Plateau governorship election all the best as he steered the affairs of the party.
TINUBU:
COLLABORATION FOR SKILLS ACQUISITION …
Director of Programmes and Coordination, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Ms. Oyindamola Egbeyemi(left), and General Manager, Diageo Africa, Mr. Adebayo Alli, during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for the launch of the Diageo Learning for Life (L4L) Hospitality Skills Programme in Lagos...recently
Gani Adams: OPC Battle Ready to Provide Security in South-west if States ‘ll Support
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has declared that the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) was battled ready to conquer any security challenges that may threaten peace and stability in the South West states of Nigeria.
Aare Ona Kakanfo who made this declaration while speaking in Ado Ekiti during the National
Coordinating Council meeting in the state pointed out that without the co-operation of the South-west Governors this would be impossible.
He revealed that he had formally written to all six South-west governors proposing a collaboration with 14 groups under the South-west Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG), but had yet to receive any response.
“We are not trying to interfere
Tech Expert Identifies Severe Shortage of Skilled Workers
Ayodeji Ake
A United States-based Nigerian construction technology expert and Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology at Tarleton State University, Texas, Dr. Adedeji Afolabi, has identified severe shortage of skilled construction workers as Africa accelerates efforts towards industrialisation and infrastructure growth, saying the continent must act urgently and smartly to address these issues.
According to him, “Africa is building more but training less. We’re witnessing an expanding construction sector without a proportional development of its human capital. Digital Twin and AI present an immediate and scalable solution.”
Afolabi disclosed that Digital Twin is a virtual model of a real-world process, system, or asset. It allows users to simulate, monitor, and optimize scenarios before physical
CHANGE OF NAME
I, formerly known and a dressed as AKANBI SIDIKAT OLAWUNMI, now wish to be known and address as AKANBI ANIMASHAUN
SIDIKAT OLAWUNMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.
I, formerly known and addressed as AJIBOLA RUKAYAT ASHABI, now wish to be known and address as ALAYANDE RUKAYAT ASHABI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.
I, formerly known and addressed as KOKUMO ADEOLA TIMILEYIN, now wish to be known and address as OSHIKOYA ADEOLA TIMILEYIN All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.
deployment. When embedded with AI algorithms, Digital Twins can identify skill gaps, predict equipment failures, optimize task sequences, and simulate ergonomic risks in real time.
Afolabi’s award-winning research proposes a humanin-the-loop digital twin framework, which has shown promising results in boosting worker safety, reducing task fatigue, and increasing productivity by up to 28 per cent, based on pilot studies in controlled environments.
TCN Replaces Chairman over Governance
Concerns
The Board of Directors of Tourist Company of Nigeria Plc (TCN) has announced the appointment of Mrs. Erejuwa Gbadebo as the new chairman to Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN.
In a statement signed by the new chairperson, the changes, which took effect from July 22, 2025, were the outcome of an emergency Board meeting convened to address mounting governance concerns. According to the board, the board disclosed that the removal of Chief Idigbe was necessitated by multiple issues bordering on conflict of interest and interpersonal conduct.
Specifically, the board cited concerns over conflict of interest linked to his role as a director in the firm serving as the company Secretary.
Also, Chief Idigbe was also accused of adopting an overbearing approach in his leadership, marked by condescending behaviour towards fellow board members.
with the state security architecture. We are only offering our support as a private organisation to restore peace and stability,” he said. He warned that continued insecurity could cripple agriculture and food production in the region.
“If we don’t protect our farmers, the future of agriculture in Yorubaland is threatened. It also undermines food security and the livelihood of our people,” he said.
“Our presence in any state
should be seen as a contribution to peace and cultural development, not as a threat,” he added.
The OPC leader therefore, called on governors in the South-west to collaborate with OPC in a bid to jointly address growing security
challenges across the region.
Specifically, Aare Ona Kakanfo said the organisation was ready to support state governments in maintaining law and order through a structured security partnership.
Police Arrest Suspected Kidnappers, Witch Doctors, Internet Fraudsters in Delta
Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba and Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Police operatives in Delta State have arrested two notorious witch doctors, three suspected kidnappers, and 184 internet fraudsters at different locations in Delta and Edo States.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP
Bright Edafe, disclosed in a statement yesterday that 247 rounds of ammunition for submachine guns (SMG), charms, laptops, phones, and other items were recovered in the operations.
He said the arrests were sequel to a series of intelligence reports received regarding the planned abduction of several
high-profile individuals in Sapele, Oghara, and the environs by a notorious syndicate led by one Owei Abebo (alias Adusa). He disclosed that Adusa had been on the Command’s watch list since 2021, but was recently caught when operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) led by ASP Julius Robinson swung into a strategic operation. According to him, “In the early hours of July 19, 2025, the operatives arrested one Peter Benson, a 35-year-old male suspect from Kwale in Ndokwa LGA of Delta State, who is a suspected spiritual (witch) doctor responsible for ritual preparations for the criminal gang.
Army: Recirculation of Old Videos Undermining Counter-Terrorism Efforts
Linus Aleke inAbuja
The hierarchy of the Nigerian Army yesterday said that the resurgence of old video footages on social media is aimed at misinforming the public, as well as undermining the ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-banditry efforts of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
A statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, averred that the Nigerian Army is aware of a video currently circulating on various social media platforms purporting to show the arrest of a foreign arms dealer, Shehu Ali Kachalla, as a recent development linked to Nigerian Army operations in Zamfara State.
The Nigerian Army, she said, categorically states that the said video is not recent.
“To set the records straight, the individual featured in the footage, Shehu Ali Kachalla, a 30-year-old Nigerien national, was arrested by the Zamfara State Police Command on 14 May 2021 in a joint intelligenceled operation involving operatives of the Federal Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Nigeria Police Force. The suspect confessed to having illegally supplied over 450 rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition to criminal elements across Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger States,” Colonel Anele explained.
Benue Attacks: EU Releases N886.3m for Needs of Displaced Persons
Michael OlugbodeinAbuja
The European Union (EU) has released €500,000 (approximately N886,315,000) to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs of displaced persons in Benue State.
The financial aid is in response to the influx of displaced people following the recent attacks in the North Central State.
According to a statement
yesterday, this EU funding will support, for a period of six months, and in partnership with the IOM, efforts to implement activities in sectors such as protection, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as multi-purpose financial aid.
Escalating armed violence in Benue State, Nigeria, has displaced thousands of people, exacerbating an already critical humanitarian crisis. In June 2025, a wave of
attacks forced almost 23,000 people to flee, many of whom had already been displaced in the past, triggering a cycle of heightened vulnerability.
Conditions inside the camps are said to be dire. There is a severe lack of shelter for families, and inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Access to livelihoods remains precarious, while protection
risks have increased considerably, particularly for women, children and people with disabilities, making the humanitarian response even more complex.
This latest wave of violence is part of a protracted humanitarian crisis that has been shaking the state of Benue since 2018. More than 1.5 million people have been reported displaced from their homes since 2018.
‘Voter Ignorance Creates Fertile Ground for Manipulation by Political Actors’
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has lamented that voter ignorance creates fertile ground for manipulation by political actors.
To this end, it added that genuine reform must begin with equipping citizens with the information that would
help them make informed decisions and hold the system accountable.
The Executive Director of PAACA, Ezenwa Nwagwu, made the call at a Citizens’ Town Hall Meeting on Electoral Reform held in Owerri, Imo State.
The meeting organised by PAACA, and supported by the MacArthur Foundation, drew participants from representatives
of civil society groups, security agencies, traditional institutions, political parties and the media.
Ezenwa, in a statement issued yesterday, therefore, called for a sustained sensitisation campaign to deepen citizens’ understanding of the reforms and technological innovations introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ezenwa pointed out that lack
of knowledge about electoral laws, processes, and tools remain one of the biggest obstacles to credible elections in the country.
Ezenwa stated: “We must stop treating civic knowledge as optional. People can’t defend their votes if they don’t understand the rules or how results are transmitted. Technology alone won’t save our democracy — we need informed participation.”
NEPAD Forges Strategic Alliance with African Business Roundtable
Sunday Okobi
In its commitment to African economic integration, the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN) under the leadership of its President, Bashorun J. K. Randle, has successfully
relaunched NBGN’s strategic agenda and underscored its renewed partnership with continental powerhouse African Business Roundtable (ABR), as well as co-hosted a pivotal Business Forum on Operationalising the African
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The landmark event was recently held in collaboration with ABR on the sidelines of the recently held Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM 2025).
In a statement made available
yesterday to THISDAY, the forum, convened at a critical juncture for Africa’s economic future, brought together over 100 high-level public and private sector leaders, development financiers, regulators, and thought leaders.
BACK PAGE CONTINUATION
AWUJALE SHOULD HAVE ABDICATED
he would share the same sad legacy of Henry the 8th. To the contrary the nearer he got to his grave the more strident he became in proclaiming his privilege to eat his cake and have it.
In a barrage of spiteful ridicule of the traditional leadership institution and wanton display of arrogance these are the representative samples of Awujale’s outbursts. They are of a kind that no traditional institution can long survive. In a fit of wanton self-adulation, Awujale launched a tirade
“Let me start by making it clear that I, as the Awujale of Ijebuland, reserve the exclusive right and prerogative, to the exclusion of anybody – be it Oba or chief, the control over tradition and customs in Ijebuland. Once I say this is what it is, that is what it is. Nobody can challenge me”
Yet, according to Richard Sklar and consistent with universal scholarship on the Yoruba; ‘the powers of the Yoruba kings were regulated by custom and limited institutionally by countervailing organs of the state. Unlike the Northern emirates, the Yoruba monarchies were constitutional rather than despotic; fear of authority does not appear to have been a normally important factor in tribal government. Great kings lived in the midst of their people, and lesser chiefs, like the titled lineage heads who controlled the election of kings, were necessarily close to the people. Government was a communal interest and at some point every adult had a say”
On Ipebi (ritual seclusion)
Awujale said: What we did in seclusion is nothing secret. We were just there making merry and enjoying ourselves while relatives, friends and other well-wishers came around to visit and rejoice with the king.
Question: What is the role of traditionalists in the crowning of an Oba in Ijebuland – especially, in the behind-the-scenes ceremonies or rites leading to the coronation?
Awujale mocked: What rites are you referring to? I cannot recall any rite that was done behind the scenes. Let them come and tell me. It is all lies. Nothing like that. They even tell you that they give the heart of a deceased oba to the new one to eat! They are crazy. Nothing like that.
Question: Are you saying as the Awujale of Ijebuland, you don’t perform certain traditional rites on behalf of your town and people?
Awujale taunted: Which rites? What are those rites? Do you know those rites because I don’t know of any? If you can say this rite or that rite, maybe I will understand.
Question: Are you saying you don’t intercede and or pray on behalf of your subjects?
Awujale retorted: That is not part of my function. The churches and the mosques are there to do that. Intercede? What sort of intercession?. Spiritual leader of what or where? I don’t know about that. It is all rubbish. People are just talking
about what they don’t know about. I have been on the throne for sixty years and I have never been tired because that is my job. Otherwise, I have to quit the place.
Can anyone imagine a more hostile witness in the adjudication over whether or not the institution of Obaship should be rretained?. What emerges from this arrogance and less than candid testimonies is the profile of a significant echo chamber of colonialism steeped in hypocritical self-denial and self-hating ideologue of neocolonialism. It is on account of personalities like him and the damage they have wreaked that prompted Professor Bolaji Idowu, pioneering scholar on Yoruba culture and tradition to admonish that “We must begin to think deeply about our indigenous philosophical traditions, history and culture”.
Jean-Paul Sartre calls it ‘the sinister strategy of erasing native identities in which the aim is to
NEW CONSTITUTION OR NEW OPERATORS? office for lawmakers who defect from their party mid-term, aimed squarely at Nigeria’s culture of opportunistic cross-carpeting, and a judiciary with full financial autonomy. These proposals resonate in households burdened by rising insecurity—over 40,000 lives lost to banditry and terrorism in the last five years—and by the exodus of two million Nigerians to greener pastures in Canada, the U.K., and beyond.
However, bold ideas alone cannot escape Nigeria’s familiar snare: the gulf between the conference hall and the council chamber, between the draft report and the statute book. Amending any section of the current Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of both legislative houses and 24 of the 36 state assemblies—a tall order when so many incumbents benefit from the status quo. Meanwhile, mounting public debt (approaching 40 per cent of GDP) and dwindling revenues mean that cost-saving measures—such as trimming ministries from today’s 44 to a leaner 15—must compete with urgent budgetary demands for health, education, and debt service.
Yet while legal and fiscal hurdles loom large, deeper challenges lie in transforming political culture. In countries like South Africa and Kenya, the success of referenda in 1996 and 2010 owed not just to the righteousness of the proposals, but also to the breadth of coalitions—from labour unions to traditional leaders—that mobilised citizens. In Ghana, incremental constitutional amendments over the last two decades have strengthened checks and balances precisely because they were accompanied by civil society monitoring and judicial backing. These experiences suggest that Nigeria’s quest for reform must align with the temperament of its people.
To many Nigerians, these proposals are not just theoretical fixes; they are a direct response to lived realities. The average Nigerian now associates the political system with elite impunity, the absence of consequences, and hollow campaign promises. The Patriots’ recommendations reflect a collective demand for a federation that is leaner, fairer, more accountable, and genuinely federal in spirit and operation.
Most daunting is the deficit of public trust. Nigerians have seen reform documents come and go, many of which have ended up as dusty volumes on government shelves. The 2014 Confab is a case in point—widely lauded at the time, it remains unimplemented almost a decade later.
legitimacy and acceptance at home, a contrary trend ensued in the diaspora especially in South America where ‘African descendants in Brazil adopted the Yoruba religious culture (as Afro-Brazilian) and built an all embracing African identity around its universal character’.
The phenomenon prompted the remark by Robin Horton on a contemporary ‘Ifa distinctiveness being dramatically revealed, not in Yorubaland itself, but in the Afro- American societies of Brazil’. In Cuba ‘Babalawos have been researchers and archivists of written Ifá materials continuously since the late 1800s until today’ (Okediji).There is the intriguing spectacle of the incorporation of Orisha ministries into the chaplaincies of the U.S. Army and Federal Bureau of Prisons’
The admonition is rife that while foreigners are researching, documenting and teaching our culture, in institutions outside our shores, we are busy at home demeaning, jettitioning, demonizing and disregarding the beauty, richness and unique guiding philosophical thoughts.
As James O’Connell noted, ‘unfortunately this kind of attitude tends to take root among literate opinion-makers in the developing countries, who, having internalised inferiority complex, often are no better than outsiders in interpreting the complexities of their own situation”. Typical of this observation are the following reflections by African scholars
In the understanding of the negritude poet and founding father of Senegal, Leopold Senghor proposed that Africans are incapable of analytic reasoning. He believed that “the reason of classical Europe is analytic through utilisation, the reason of the African Negro is intuitive through participation.”
supplant Indigenous culture with the colonizer’s own, leaving the population in a vacuum of identity’. “
Among the Yoruba, there is indeed something of a paradox in the contradiction between the subconscious individual belief in the relevance of Ifa to the resolution of any resurgence of crisis in human experience and a conscious social and hypocritical disavowal of its reality. It is a paradox that is borne out in the ambiguity of individual and private accommodation of Ifa by those who simultaneously profess Christianity and Islam.
Newell S. Booth observed that whilst 95% of the Yoruba professed Islam or Christianity, the answer to the question of what percentage practice the traditional religion was equally 95%!.
It is noteworthy, that as African indigenous religion (the core element and organising principle of Yoruba tradition) was steadily losing adherence,
Understandably, the public is weary of another high-sounding initiative that fails to cross the bridge from rhetoric to reality. And yet, the need for reform has never been more urgent. The rising insecurity, staggering unemployment, mass emigration of the middle class (the ‘Japa’ syndrome), and eroding public confidence in elections all point to a system under severe stress. A system that was never designed for 220 million people across 36 states, all governed from a centre that controls everything from policing to mineral rights to local government allocations. Still, does this mean the solution lies solely in rewriting the Constitution? Or is the obsession with a new legal document a way of avoiding the more complex, more intangible work—cultivating a new political culture? Obasanjo’s argument is hard to dismiss: China’s Constitution is just 39 pages long, the U.S. Constitution is under 8,000 words, and the United Kingdom has no codified constitution at all. Yet, these nations enjoy relatively stable governance, not because their documents are perfect, but because institutions are respected and officeholders are held to account. This points
to an uncomfortable truth: laws, no matter how well-drafted, cannot compensate for a lack of political ethics or civic responsibility.
But it’s also true that a flawed constitution can incentivise or even institutionalise bad behaviour. Nigeria’s current structure concentrates too much power at the centre, allowing for excessive executive discretion and offering little deterrent to corruption and electoral malpractice. It is no surprise that public office has become, in many cases, an investment portfolio rather than a call to service.
What then is the way forward?
First, a dual-track approach is essential. We must push for immediate “integrity fixes” to the existing Constitution—like completing the judiciary’s financial autonomy, enforcing BVAS and electronic result transmission, and tightening campaign finance laws. These are achievable within the current framework and can set the tone for deeper reforms. At the same time, we must begin the process of promoting a political culture based on ethics, service , accountability and backed by consequences for misconduct .
Second, we need to invest heavily in civic educa-
Of the same mould, John Mbiti proclaimed “African ideas of time concern mainly the present and the past, and have little to say about the future, which in any case is expected to go on without end”. Kwasi Wiredu was merciless in demeaning fellow Africans whom he characterized as “intuitive; essentially...unscientific and unanalytical… Abosede Emmanuel contrasted this self-abnegating disposition to the detached scholarly disposition of (The Reverend Samuel Johnson, The Reverend E Lijadu, Bishop James Johnson, Dr J.O Lucas and Professor E. Bolaji Idowu) who, regardless of being ordained priests of the Anglican communion, were able to free their minds of Christian prejudice, to undertake an examination of the merits of their native culture’.
In the typical behaviour of the Awujale, there is perhaps the utility of precipitating, once again, research scrutiny and attention to the debasement of African culture and tradition. If a traditional ruler gets to choose and pick the aspects of the rites and ritual he would conform with then the extinction of traditional society is in sight.
tion. Nigerians must understand their rights, the structures that govern them, and the mechanics of power. The next generation of political leaders must not only be elected but also educated in the spirit of true federalism, constitutionalism, and public service.
Third, we must commit to performance-based leadership. Governments at all levels should be legally bound to publish annual scorecards detailing their performance on Chapter II of the Constitution—the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy. Health, education, jobs, and security must become measurable, reportable, and enforceable mandates, not just campaign slogans.
Fourth, and most urgent, is the need to rig-proof our electoral process. Without credible elections, any new constitution is doomed to fail from the outset. Nigeria must prioritise airtight election logistics, biometric verification, real-time electronic transmission of results, and criminal penalties for manipulation or interference. If the people cannot freely choose their leaders, the entire democratic process becomes a farce.
Finally, the recommendations from the 2014 National Conference and the 2025 Patriots Summit must not be lost in the shuffle of political manoeuvring. They provide a rich starting point for conversation, negotiation, and eventual implementation. The risk of doing nothing is no longer abstract; it is a tangible reality. It is manifesting in daily insecurity, brain drain, economic volatility, and growing disaffection with the very idea of the Nigerian project.
The choice Nigeria faces—new Constitution or new operators—is ultimately a false dichotomy. A leaner, people owned constitution provides the skeletal framework for a healthy federation, but only a new breed of ethical, accountable leaders can animate it. If we insist on one without the other, we are doomed to repeat past mistakes. Yet if we press forward on both fronts—text and temperament—Nigeria stands at a rare inflexion point: the chance to transform decades of gridlock into a future defined by genuine federalism, responsive governance, and shared prosperity. Time is not on our side; the cost of delay is counted in lost lives, stunted growth, and a widening social divide. However, if we can summon the political will, harness civic energy, and learn from global exemplars, we may yet fulfil the promise that has eluded us since our independence: a truly more perfect union.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio
The late Awujale of Ijebuland, Sikiru Adetona
Madugu: Winning the WAFCON Trophy is Our Target
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Coach of the Super Falcons, Justine Madugu, has insisted that Nigeria’s focus as the nine-time African champions face hosts Morocco in the final of the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday is to
win the trophy for the 10th time.
The Super Falcons, one of only seven teams to have played at every single edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals since the competition was launched in 1991, saw off the challenge of gutsy Cupholders Banyana Banyana of South
CHAN Eagles Depart Ikenne for Zanzibar for Final Training Camp
After several weeks of preparation at the Remo Stars Sports Institute in Ogun State, Nigeria’s Super Eagles B team departed Lagos last night for Zanzibar, Tanzania for the second-phase training camp before the kickoff of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
In the final list released by the Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday night, nine players from Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Remo Stars dominated the final 23-man under the watch of Head Coach Eric Chelle.
Chelle’s squad blends youth and experience, with key figures such
as team captain Junior Harrison Nduka, Godwin Obaje, and Sikiru Alimi expected to play influential roles.
Also included are goalkeeper Ozoemena Ani, defenders Stephen Mayo and Sodiq Ismaila, midfielders Hadi Haruna and Alex Oyowah, and forwards Ijoma Anthony and Anas Yusuf, the NPFL’s top scorer.
The NFF has also lined up two warm-up matches against the Zanzibar on 28 and 31 July, as Chelle’s side intensifies preparations for their CHAN opener. Nigeria is drawn into Group D, alongside defending champions Senegal, Sudan, and Congo.
Trump Mourns Legendary WWE Pro Star Hulk Hogan
President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has expressed sadness at the death of WWE Pro Wrestler, Terry Bollea, (a.k.a. Hulk Hogan).
The legendary WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan died aged 71 years on Thursday morning in Florida, USA.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “We lost a great friend today, the ‘Hulkster’.
“Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart,” wrote the American President in tribute to the late pro wrestling star.
While Hogan endorsed Barack Obama in 2008, his allegiance shifted to Republicans in recent years.
In his post, Trump referred to the Hulk Hogan’s famed speech at the RNC.
“He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week,” Trump wrote further. “He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive. To his wife, Sky, and family, we give our warmest best wishes and love. Hulk Hogan will be greatly
missed!” Concludes Trump.
Similarly, American Vice President, JD Vance, remembered Bollea as a “great American icon.”
“One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid,” Vance wrote on X. “The last time I saw him we promised we’d get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.”
In the official statement released by Hulk Hogan’s Family on Instagram, it announced the death and requested for his privacy to be respected at this moment.
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we confirm we have lost a legend,” a post on Hulk Hogan’s official Instagram account says.
Hogan passed away “surrounded by his loved ones,” it reads.
“At this time of grief, we ask that everyone please respect the privacy of his family and friends.” He will be missed “but never forgotten”, it adds.
Hulk Hogan will be remembered for his wrestling stardom, but also for many, they will remember the various controversies surrounding him.
Africa in Tuesday’s second semi final, thanks to an eye-widening cross-cum-floater goal by defender Michelle Alozie in added time.
Speaking before the team left Casablanca for Rabat, Madugu said: “We thank God for making it to the final. I want to assure you that we are not going to relent or take our eyes off the ball. Our focus is on lifting the trophy in Rabat on Saturday.”
He stressed that Super Falcons will not depart from the game plan that has taken them this far. “We knew South Africa, as Cup holders, would be difficult but we were ready for them. I am glad that our
tactics paid off. As I said before the tournament, we will always assess the opposition first and then determine what tactics would suit us better and serve our purpose. We have done these in our previous five games and we will do the same in the final.”
Nigeria go up against hosts Morocco at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat from 9pm on Saturday night, in what has been labelled as the most-anticipated match of the 13th Women AFCON – a clash of the dominant power and one of the emerging powers of women’s football on the continent.
It is the second time in 17 months
that Nigeria will confront the host nation in a major continental final (the Super Eagles faced hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the final of the men’s AFCON in Abidjan in February 2024), with South Africa as the stepping stone in the previous hurdle.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade’s on-field elegance, team-carrying role and resoluteness have found ample support from the rapid pace and energy of Folasade Ijamilusi, the attacking potency of Chinwendu Ihezuo, the vibrancy and spiritedness of Esther Okoronkwo and Jennifer Echegini, the attack-minded play of defender Ashleigh Plumptre,
and the near-impregnability of goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie (Africa’s Goalkeeper of the Year back-to-back).
Nigeria’s tally has been an impressive 11 goals for and one against – a penalty scored by Linda Motlhalo as the Banyana vainly sought a way back into the game in Tuesday’s semi final in Casablanca.
Saturday’s final is guaranteed to be played in front of a capacity crowd at the Olympic Stadium – a fitting showcase to the rising profile and steady progress of women’s football on the African continent.
46th CBN Senior Tennis: Top Seeds Adeleye, Khadijat Crash Out
Top seeds of the men and women’s singles categories of the ongoing 46th edition of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Tennis Championship, Daniel Adeleye and Khadijat Mohammed have been sent packing from the tournament.
Playing in the men’s singles category, Daniel Adeleye who is the Number 1 seed, succumbed to the superior firepower of Emmanuel Michael who defeated him in two straight sets of 6-1, 7-6, in the quarter finals clash.
The other semifinalists are; Canice Abua, Uche Oparaoji and Prosper Ikenna Okonkwo. Canice Abua beat Yulsif Abubakar 2-1 (6-4, 4-6, 6-4 ) while Prosper Ikenna Okonkwo stopped Mohammed Musa 6-2 (retired) in the first set to advance to Friday’s semi-final. Also out of contention is the women’s singles top seed, Khadijat Mohammed, who was beaten 2-1 by emerging national junior tennis star, Aina GoodNews, (6-3, 0-6, 6-3 ) in the quarterfinals as well.
Aina, 14, who won the CBN Junior Championship Girls 16 event in March had a shaky start but soon attained her cruising altitude to out-rally the top seed in the first set. Mohammed, known for her consistent ground strokes and powerful forehand found her range to overwhelm the junior Champion
in the the second set. Undaunted, Aina took a bathroom break, came back and broke serve in the opening game and weathered all the bullets the top seed fired at her to emerge victorious.
Many observers who watched the match attributed the victory to Aina’s mental toughness, defensive skills and all-round court play. “Khadijat is a very good player
and as a CBN Junior Champion before us, we looked up to her. I decided to take it one point at a time and give her a good fight. It turned out to be a win,” Aina told reporters after the match.
Her coach, Wunmi Ogunsakin, said:
“We are glad that all the time, energy and resources we are investing on our players in Ekiti State are beginning to yield results. I am really proud of her.
Aina will take on Bright Emmanuel who
The finals of the men and women’s doubles events will come up today, Friday, 25 July 2025 ahead of Saturday’s grand finale.
Upsets, Thrills as Top Seed Crashes Out at WTT Contender Lagos
The main draw of the 2025 WTT Contender Lagos burst into life on Thursday with fireworks and a major upset that sent shockwaves through the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall at Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Japan’s Hina Hayata, the women’s top seed, bowed out of the $100,000 prize money championship in a stunning opening-day defeat.
The day was packed with excitement and powerful rallies as top seeds launched their campaigns.
India’s Sreeja Akula, the defending women’s singles champion, made her intentions clear with a
commanding performance, while Egypt’s former African champion Dina Meshref also advanced to the second round after a solid first-round win.
Akula, who claimed her first WTT Contender title in Lagos in 2024, approached her match with caution and tactical discipline. Her strategy paid off as she delivered the tournament’s first major upset, defeating Hayata in straight sets, 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-3), to move into the second round.
“I was well-prepared for the match, even though it was my first time playing against her,” Akula
said. “She’s the top-ranked player, but I didn’t focus on rankings. I just concentrated on my game, and I’m happy with how I played.” Seeded ninth, Akula described Lagos as a lucky venue, having made history as the first Indian to win a WTT title.
“Being the defending champion gives me a lot of confidence. I won both the women’s singles and doubles titles last year. Lagos has been a good hunting ground for me, and I’m really happy to be back. I just want to play my best and enjoy the tournament,” she added.
defeated Etoro Bassey while USA- based Osabuohen Adesua who outplayed No.2 seed, Mary Udofa, will take on Blessing Omotayo. Omotayo eliminated Rebecca Ekpeyong in straight sets.
Super Falcons are now primed for their 10th WAFCON title as they take on hosts Morocco on Saturday night
Hulk Hogan ...dies aged 71 years
OYO STATE INTERNATIONAL TOURISM SUMMIT...
AKIN OSUNTOKUN
Awujale Should Have Abdicated
In the allegory of the elusive past of Africa, the young traveler was reported to have asked the old man, “What happened to the Black people of Sumer....!?? For ancient records have it that the people of Sumer were Blacks. What happened to them?”* *”Aaaaahhhhh!!!!” sighed the Old man, “They lost their history, and they“Iródied.”* ni won ñpa, Ifa ò lèe pa run.Àtélewó la bá ìlà, a kò mo eni tí ó kó”
Translation: It is a lie, Ifa cannot lapse into extinction. After all no one knows who imprinted the marks we bear on our palms.
At the conclusion of the Ekiti parapo war, the warlords and the warriors repaired to their various native communities. One of those warlords was Ishola Fabunmi, my predecessor (four generations removed) as the Balogun of Okemesi. My forefather, Dada Akoja was his confidant and deputy of the Ekiti parapo contingent in the war against Ibadan imperialism. In history, returning war heroes constituted an implicit threat to the incumbent holder of the throne. In the case of Fabunmi, the threat was magnified by the fact
that he was equally a prince.
Hubris is the second name of hot headed warlords and so, my predecessor requested the reigning monarch to vacate the throne for him at the pain of being forcefully removed.The latter
(who actually was his uncle) readily spurned the demand. In the ensuing battle between Uncle and Nephew, Fabunmi was emboldened by the prevalent circumstances in which fellow warlords had pledged their comradeship and loyalty to him. But one of them, Dada, apparently, saw the future and warned him of the probability that his war confederates would not hold fast to their pledge. He proved prescient. On D Day, the confederates turned their cannons not on the king but on the homestead of Fabunmi. Defeated and wounded, the abortive coup maker took to his heels
Killer mobs pursued and caught up with him but his conscientious friend, Dada, stood against the mob and paved the way for his escape. Burning with anger, the mob turned on the enabler and burnt down his compound and forced him to embark on exile. The community soon developed remorse and went to plead with him to return home. He accepted their entreaties with the caveat that his descendants must neither accept the offer of kingship nor dedicated traditional title in the town.
DAKUKU PETERSIDE
BENEATH THE SURFACE
In this regard, the Balogun title that I hold is meritorious and reserved for the most distinguished warrior of the era, not a dedicated traditional chieftaincy title. Beyond the constraint of this pedigree, I have no interest whatsoever in becoming a monarch (partly for the same objection the Awujale exercised). For that matter, It is also the reason I would not be a member of any secret cult and I say this without being necessarily judgemental but more because I’m somewhat a control freak. In the event the honourable step to take is to back off to your comfort zone and accept your limitations.
After a lifelong exploitation of the attendant sumptuous privilege, the pomp and pageantry; the perquisites and perks, and generally living large of the spoils of the land, it is opportunistic of the Awujale to renounce the enabling platform at the twilight of his reign. The moment he resolved to distance himself from the traditional regulations of his throne, honesty of purpose demands he voluntarily abdicate the throne. Barring which,
New Constitution or New Operators?
IIn every generation of Nigeria’s postindependence journey, the question has lingered like a stubborn echo in the nation’s democratic soul: Is our problem the rulebook or the people who enforce it? Is the solution a brand-new, people-owned constitution, or is it the emergence of a new generation of honest, competent, and selfless political actors who can make the existing laws work? It is a question that refuses to go away because, despite numerous attempts at reform, Nigeria remains trapped in a seemingly cyclical dance of dysfunction, disappointment, and disillusionment. In truth, the dilemma is neither binary nor straightforward: it is both a question of what is written and who wields the pen. From colonial ordinances to the rapid-fire reforms of the early 2000s, successive attempts to remake Nigeria’s governing charter have stumbled at a familiar hurdle: politics. General Babangida’s 1989 draft never saw the light of day, not for lack of ideas but for lack of will. The 1999 Constitution, hastily compiled by the Niki Tobi committee, emerged as
a compromise text that was neither entirely military nor fully civilian in spirit. The 1999 Constitution, born in the twilight days of military rule, continues
to draw fierce criticism. Critics argue that it was not the product of a democratic process but rather a hasty compromise, crafted by a military government anxious to hand over power without relinquishing too much control. As a result, it is often described as overly centralised, bureaucratically cumbersome, and fundamentally disconnected from the complex, multi-ethnic reality of the Nigerian state. Yet, a growing school of thought—championed by voices like former President Olusegun Obasanjo—insists that Nigeria’s problems do not stem from the letter of the law but from the character and conduct of those entrusted to implement it. This tension between “structure” and “stewardship” is not unique to Nigeria, but its consequences here are more acute. For over two decades, Nigeria has endured cycles of election-related violence, widespread corruption, poor public service delivery, judicial compromise, and institutional paralysis—symptoms that have prompted many to call for a total constitutional overhaul. And yet, each effort at constitutional reform, from Obasanjo’s 2005
National Political Reform Conference to Jonathan’s 2014 National Conference, has ended the same way: sidelined, shelved, or stymied by political resistance and elite apathy.
The latest initiative, spearheaded by a coalition of respected elder statesmen and civic leaders under the Patriots group, led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has rekindled national attention. Their 2025 National Summit on Constitutional Democracy didn’t just revisit old frustrations; it produced a detailed 22-point proposal aimed at addressing the constitutional contradictions and governance failures that have hobbled Nigeria’s progress for decades. The recommendations reflect a deepening yearning for structural realignment: a six-year single presidential term to curb the corrupting influence of second-term politics, a cost-effective unicameral legislature, a truly autonomous judiciary, and caps on bloated ministries and appointments. Perhaps most boldly, it proposes automatic loss of
The late Awujale of Ijebuland, Sikiru Adetona
President Bola Tinubu
L-R: Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; his Deputy, Barr Bayo Lawal; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Debo Ogundoyin and Secretary to the State Government, Prof Olanike Adeyemo, during the 2025 Oyo State International Tourism Summit, held at International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
