MONDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2026

Dangote Refinery Opens Landmark Initial Public Offering Today to the Investing Public

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE today announced the commencement of its Initial Public Offering

(IPO), marking a historic milestone in Nigeria's economic development and the evolution of Africa's capital markets. The

offer will be formally launched at a ceremony on the trading floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) in Lagos, bringing to

the public, for the first time, an opportunity to own a stake in Africa's largest refinery and one of the world's most significant

industrial projects.

The IPO, which opens today, September 14, 2026, consists of 4.1 billion new ordinary shares

offered at N525 per share, with a minimum subscription of 10 Continued on page 7

FG to BRICS: It’s High Time Rules of Global Governance, Finance Were Rewritten... Page 7 Monday, Monday, September January14, 6, 2026 2025 Vol Vol 29.

31.No No10865.

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PAGE SEVEN

Dele Oye: Uber Exit Exposes Nigeria’s Transport, Regulatory Gaps Seeks review of emerging mobility platforms’ regulation Says Nigerians shouldn't have to choose between security, affordability

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Chairman of the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics (AERE), Dele Oye, has said Uber’s decision to exit Nigeria after 12 years of operations exposed gaps in the country’s transport and regulatory system, particularly around competition, consumer choice, airport operations and transparency in governance and management.

In a statement yesterday,

Oye said the exit of the global ride-hailing company should prompt a broader review of how Nigeria regulates emerging mobility platforms, stressing that regulation must protect security and public interest without creating unnecessary barriers to competition or increasing the cost of transportation for consumers.

Uber announced on September 2, 2026 that it would wind down its ride-hailing operations in

Nigeria after 12 years. The company said the decision followed a review of its business priorities and investment focus across Africa.

Oye, ex-President of the Nigerian Association of the Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), said the timing of the exit, coming amid an intense dispute over e-hailing operations at airports, had raised legitimate questions about Nigeria’s

regulatory environment and the implications for consumers and mobility businesses.

“The issue is not whether Nigeria should regulate airport transport. It must. Airports are sensitive security environments, and authorities have a legitimate responsibility to know who is transporting passengers from their premises,” Oye said.

“The question is whether regulation is transparent, proportionate and designed in

a way that protects both security and competition,” he pointed out.

The AERE chairman said recent developments at Nigerian airports had highlighted the need for greater transparency in the regulation of transport services.

Oye said the public experience surrounding airport transport had exposed a wider affordability and competition concern, citing a reported case in which an airport car-hire desk quoted an American traveller N30,000 for a journey

Dele Oye

to Ikeja GRA, compared with a reported Uber fare of about N6,000–N8,000 for the same journey.

FG to BRICS: It’s High Time Rules of Global Governance, Finance Were Rewritten

Positions Nigeria as a gateway to Africa’s expanding market under AfCFTA Seeks deeper BRICS cooperation in AI, digital public infrastructure, fintech, telecommunications, cybersecurity, biotechnology, others

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday took centre stage at the ongoing 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, calling for an urgent overhaul of global governance structures and international financial institutions.

He also called for a more representative, equitable and responsive global governance architecture and international financial system, restating Nigeria’s support for institutions that reflect contemporary economic and demographic realities.

Speaking at the summit in an address delivered on his behalf by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu said the transformation championed

by BRICS must also extend to the international system.

His words: “Nigeria supports a more representative, equitable and responsive global governance architecture, including reform of the United Nations Security Council and the international financial system.

“BRICS amplifies the voice of

the Global South and advances a more inclusive international order, consistent with Nigeria’s call for institutions that reflect contemporary economic and demographic realities."

Accordingly, the president made Nigeria’s case for “a BRICS partnership that moves from dialogue to delivery, from commitments to implementation, and from cooperation to measurable development outcomes.”

Inviting foreign investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s investment opportunities, he urged them to view the country “as a gateway to Africa’s expanding market under the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

Tinubu defined economic resilience for Nigeria as building an economy capable of withstanding global shocks while creating sustainable opportunities for its citizens.

This, he noted, is embedded in his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda through reforms aimed at strengthening macroeconomic stability, diversifying production,

raising productivity, expanding infrastructure and human capital, attracting investment, promoting private-sector-led growth and deepening climate resilience.

“We welcome BRICS cooperation in trade, agriculture, food security, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare and critical minerals, especially partnerships that advance technology transfer, local value addition, industrial capacity and employment,” he added.

The president identified Nigeria’s young and dynamic population as one of its greatest assets, saying its creativity and enterprise are driving the country’s innovation agenda.

He outlined key areas of investment to include digital skills, entrepreneurship, research, artificial intelligence, and technology-enabled businesses through initiatives such as 3MTT, Project BRIDGE, and national AI programmes.

According to him: “We welcome deeper BRICS cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital public

infrastructure, fintech, telecommunications, cybersecurity, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing, because developing countries must produce technology, create knowledge and own intellectual property. A nation that owns no technology risks renting its future.

“Nigeria sees cooperation with BRICS as a practical opportunity for trade, investment, technology transfer, and human-capital development. We support partnerships in infrastructure, connectivity, energy, agriculture, healthcare, education, and industrialisation, backed by development finance.

“As Project BRIDGE expands broadband, fibre and digital public services, we seek an open, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystem that advances innovation, digital trade, responsible artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity” Noting that Nigeria’s sustainability model balances climate action with the development aspirations of emerging economies, Tinubu reaffirmed the country’s support for affordable climate finance,

technology transfer, and capacitybuilding for Africa.

He also emphasised cooperation in renewable energy, gas, clean technologies, climatesmart agriculture, sustainable infrastructure, and responsible critical-mineral development to ensure that climate responsibility drives broader economic growth.

The president expressed Nigeria’s readiness to contribute to a BRICS partnership that is resilient enough to withstand global shocks, innovative enough to embrace the future, cooperative enough to advance shared prosperity and sustainable enough to protect future generations.

“Our partnerships must create jobs, expand trade, transfer technology, and strengthen our nations’ productive capacity. We must build a future in which Africa moves from the margins of global development to the frontiers of global growth and innovation,” he maintained.

Earlier, opening the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said confidence in BRICS among countries of the Global South

had grown because their voices were being heard, their experiences respected and solutions developed with them rather than for them.

Modi said the strength of BRICS lies in its diversity and cooperation, noting that the bloc was also expanding participation beyond governments to entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women, and young people.

“We may be rooted in different realities, but together, we rise through cooperation and blossom for humanity."

He added that initiatives such as BRICS CONNECT, the BRICS MSME Cooperation Portal, and the BRICS Urban Mobility Hub were designed to promote skills, employment, enterprise development and knowledge-sharing among member and partner countries.

The Indian Prime Minister also stressed the need to balance development with environmental responsibility, saying sustainability must remain central to BRICS cooperation and the interests of future generations.

DANGOTE REFINERY OPENS LANDMARK INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING TODAY TO THE INVESTING PUBLIC shares valued at N5,250. The offer is expected to remain open until October 13, 2026, subject to the terms outlined in the Prospectus. The transaction is targeted at retail, institutional, and eligible African investors, reinforcing Dangote Refinery's commitment to broadening ownership and deepening participation in Nigeria's capital market.

The public offer is expected to raise approximately N2.15 trillion, making it one of the largest equity offerings ever undertaken in Africa. The proceeds will support the Refinery's long-term growth plans, operational expansion, strategic investments, and the creation of additional value for shareholders and stakeholders

alike.

Speaking on the significance of the IPO, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, said: "Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Dangote Refinery and, indeed, in the economic future of our nation. This offering is about more than raising capital; it is about creating an opportunity for ordinary Nigerians, Africans, and investors across the globe to participate directly in one of the most transformative industrial projects ever built on the continent.

We established this refinery to transform Africa's energy landscape, create jobs, conserve foreign exchange, and unlock shared prosperity. With this IPO,

we are extending that vision by democratising ownership and ensuring that millions of people can benefit from the value being created.

We believe that broad-based ownership is one of the most effective ways to build wealth, strengthen the capital market, and accelerate economic inclusion. We invite investors to join us as partners in building a globally competitive enterprise that will continue to shape the future of energy, manufacturing, and economic development in Africa."

According to Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group: “The launch of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery IPO is an important

moment for Nigeria’s capital market, not simply because of the scale of the transaction, but because of what it represents.

Our capital market must increasingly become a place where Nigerians can participate in the value created by our country’s most important businesses. That means broadening ownership, expanding access and creating stronger connections between Nigerian enterprise and Nigerian capital.

At NGX Group, we have been deliberately building the infrastructure to make that possible. Through NGX Invest and connectivity across more than 50 distribution channels, including stockbrokers, banks and fintechs, we are making

participation in the public market more accessible.

This is how we build an ownership economy: strong Nigerian businesses accessing long-term capital, and more Nigerians having the opportunity to participate in their growth.”

Dangote Refinery has emerged as a strategic national asset, helping to strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on imported refined products, conserve foreign exchange, and position Nigeria as a major exporter of petroleum products.

Since commencing commercial operations, the Refinery has supplied premium-quality petroleum products to domestic and international markets while supporting industrial growth and economic transformation

across the region.

The Company emphasized that participation in the offer has been designed to be accessible, transparent, and technology-enabled. Eligible investors can subscribe through approved distribution channels, including NGX Invest, designated commercial banks, and authorized investment platforms, subject to the provisions contained in the Prospectus.

As the commencement ceremony takes place on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange today, Dangote Refinery reaffirmed its commitment to operational excellence, corporate governance, sustainable growth, and long-term value creation for shareholders.

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NEWS

T H I S D AY • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 08074010580

HONOUR FROM ALMA MATER...

The Provost and Vice President, London Campus, University of East London (UEL), United Kingdom, Professor Hassan Abdalla (left) presents Doctor of Law Degree (Honoris Causa) to Governor of Enugu State and former student of UEL, Dr. Peter Mbah (right), during the institution's graduation ceremony in London

UN Deputy Scribe, Oramah, Oyedele, Others Say Africa Must Own Its Narrative Mohammed: Continent must start shaping global power dynamics Oramah: Dangote refinery more than industrial project Oyedele says Nigeria needs to make it easier to build the next Aliko

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja African leaders have challenged the continent’s younger generation to take greater control of Africa’s economic and political future by building institutions, businesses and productive capacity capable of competing globally.

The call was made at the closing of the 2026 Aliko Dangote Foundation Africa Diaspora Leadership Programme Young Global Leaders Convening in Lagos, where the leaders argued that the continent must move beyond being defined by its challenges and natural resources and become a producer, financier and owner of globally competitive enterprises and technologies.

Those who spoke at the four-day programme themed: “Building Africa at Scale”, included the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed; former President and Chairman of

the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele.

Others were: Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa and Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board, Jean Guy Afrika.

Mohammed, a statement said, told the young leaders that Africa’s struggle for influence was increasingly a contest over power, institutions and who gets to define the continent’s story.

She said Africans should no longer be satisfied with representation at global decisionmaking tables but should seek the power to shape the decisions taken at those tables.

“We can no longer be the people that are profited from.

You have to own what it is that is your power,” Mohammed said.

Recalling discussions with young Africans about

representation at the United Nations, she said their expectations had evolved from merely seeking representation to demanding the power to influence global decisions.

Mohammed noted that African countries collectively constituted the largest regional grouping within the United Nations and had significant influence over decisions of the global body.

However, she said the continent often approached international affairs as a recipient rather than a power broker, urging African leaders to strengthen institutions, improve strategic coordination and recognise the collective economic and political weight of the continent.

She also warned that artificial intelligence was emerging as another major arena of global power in which Africa could not afford to lag behind. “Don’t follow the status quo,” she said.

“Have the courage of your

conviction and just bloody well do it,” she added.

For Oramah, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery represented more than an industrial project, arguing that its greatest impact could be psychological because it demonstrated that Africans could conceive and execute complex projects at global scale.

“The greatest thing that the Dangote Refinery has done and will do for us is our ability to take back our minds,” Oramah said.

He said the project was helping to consign to the “rear view mirror” the notion that Africa lacked the capacity to undertake world-scale industrial ventures. But Oramah warned that the continent could not rely on isolated success stories, stressing the need to systematically build productive capacity.

“Unless we manufacture, unless we produce,” he said, Africa would struggle to

Alawuba: Improvement in Economic Indicators Point to Nigeria’s Stabilisation Journey Nume Ekeghe

Group Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Chairman of Body of Bank CEOs in Nigeria, Oliver Alawuba, has said the improvement in key economic indicators points to Nigeria’s gradual stabilisation.

Alawuba called for deliberate policies and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to translate the gains into inclusive prosperity.

He made the call while delivering his goodwill address at the 19th Annual Banking

and Finance Conference of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), held recently in Abuja.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Building a Resilient Economy in an Era of Disruptions: Imperatives for the Banking and Financial Services Industry,” Alawuba said resilience must be deliberately designed into Nigeria’s policies, institutions, infrastructure, supply chains, energy systems, financial architecture, and human capital.

Alawuba, in a statement, reiterated that a resilient

economy was not one that never encountered shocks, but one that could absorb, adapt, and advance without transferring the full cost of every disruption to its most vulnerable citizens.

He stated, “The global economy continues to face structural disruptions, from geopolitical conflicts and volatility in energy and shipping markets to inflationary pressures, making it imperative for Nigeria to build systems capable of withstanding future shocks rather than responding only after they occur.”

Alawuba commended the

federal government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the increasingly effective coordination between fiscal and monetary policy, stating that recent improvements in key economic indicators provide important milestones in Nigeria’s stabilisation journey.

He also stressed that the gains must now be translated into broader economic opportunities and improved living standards.

He highlighted the critical role of the banking industry in Nigeria’s resilience agenda, describing banks as the country’s “financial shock absorbers and growth partners”.

transform its position in the global economy.

He also called for greater control of Africa’s financial resources, urging commercial banks on the continent to embrace what he described as “developmental commercial banking” to support long-term productive investments.

Nigeria's Finance Minister, Oyedele, in his comments, said governments had a responsibility to create an environment that would enable more entrepreneurs to build businesses on the scale

achieved by Dangote.

Describing Dangote as “a fighter”, the minister said his interaction with the industrialist had changed his perception of the challenges involved in executing major investments in Nigeria.

“Until I got close to him, I saw that he was more stressed than the rest of us. But he would never give up,” Oyedele said.

“What if we create the right conditions so that he will be less stressed, so that other people will be encouraged to do the same thing?” he added.

Ogun EXCO Approves New Roads, Hospitals, Power Investment, MSME Agency Ogun State Executive Council has approved a fresh package of infrastructure and economic development projects, including new road constructions, two general hospitals, a powergeneration investment, and the establishment of an agency to drive the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The decisions, approved at the weekend, further reinforce the administration’s drive to expand infrastructure, strengthen healthcare delivery, support businesses and provide the energy required to sustain Ogun’s rapidly growing industrial economy.

Briefing journalists on the outcome of the Council meeting on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, said the Council approved the reconstruction of the 4.87-kilometre Siun Junction–Iperu Junction Road,

linking Obafemi Owode and Ikenne Local Government Areas.

It also approved the reconstruction of the 4.87-kilometre Simawa–Lukosi/ Ogijo Road in Sagamu Local Government Area.

Akinmade said the Council further approved variations for the reconstruction of the Sango–Ota–Ijoko–Agbado–OkeAro–Akute Road (Phase I) in Ifo Local Government Area and the 69.2-kilometre Abeokuta–Abule Egba Road.

He said the projects would improve connectivity, ease the movement of people and goods and open up more opportunities for economic activities across the state.

In the health sector, the Council approved the construction of new General Hospitals at Itori in Ewekoro Local Government Area and Aiyepe in Odogbolu Local Government Area.

9

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 • T H I S D AY

The National Essay Competition is UBA Foundationʼs annual education initiative, designed to promote a culture of reading and to encourage healthy intellectual competition amongst secondary school students in Nigeria and across Africa.

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Nigerian senior secondary school students Complete contact details Scanned copy of your handwritten essay of 750 words maximum (not typed) Recent passport photograph Scanned copy of birth certificate or National ID or International Passport

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T H I S D AY • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

NEWS

18TH EDITION OF BRICS LEADERS’ SUMMIT IN NEW DELHI...

Prime Minister of Indian, Minister Narendra Modi and Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima at the ongoing 18th Edition of BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, India, yesterday

US Govt Writes Oyetola, Commends Nigeria on Removal of 12-Year Condition of Entry Minister credits President Tinubu for historic maritime security achievement

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The United States government has commended Nigeria for its sustained maritime security reforms, which culminated in the lifting of the 12-year Condition of Entry (CoE) imposed on vessels visiting the United States from Nigeria, saying the development will deliver tangible benefits to shipping operators, reduce shipping costs, and strengthen trade between the two countries.

In a letter dated August 26, 2026, addressed to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank W. Garcia Jr., formally congratulated Nigeria on the milestone, describing it as evidence of the country’s “sustained strengthening of port security and antiterrorism compliance.”

The letter provides a fresh endorsement from Washington following the United States

Donald Duke Urges President Tinubu to Commercialise Crude By-products to Cut Petrol Price to N200-N300 Sunday Ehigiator

Former Cross River State governor and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has urged President Bola Tinubu to commercialise the by-products of crude oil to enable Nigerians access petrol at between N200 and N300 per litre.

Duke said the federal government could significantly reduce the cost of petrol by supplying crude oil allocated for domestic refining at its production cost, rather than at the international market price, while selling other refined products at commercial rates.

He spoke during an interview with journalists over the weekend in Abuja, against the backdrop of renewed debate over petrol subsidy following former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s declaration that he would restore subsidy if elected president in 2027.

Duke argued that the debate over subsidy had failed to take into account the fact that crude oil produced in Nigeria was a national resource belonging to Nigerians.

“I don’t believe there is a subsidy. I have said it at several forums. This oil is our own. It belongs to all of us. It is our commonwealth. Don’t look at the price of the oil in the international market,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria produces approximately 1.7 million barrels of crude oil daily, with about 300,000 barrels required for domestic consumption, while the remaining 1.4 million barrels are sold commercially.

He said the crude allocated for local refining should therefore be priced according to the actual cost of production.

“We produce about 1.7 million barrels. About 1.4 million barrels we sell commercially. These 300,000 barrels, look at the cost of production, not the international price.

Coast Guard’s decision, announced in August, to lift the long-standing security restriction on vessels arriving in the United States from Nigeria.

Garcia specifically highlighted the economic significance of the decision, stating that the removal of the restriction “will reduce security-related requirements and associated costs for vessels operating between our two countries.”

According to the senior U.S. diplomat, the change will also improve turnaround times and schedule reliability for vessels engaged in Nigeria-U.S. trade.

The letter reads in part: “Please allow me to join you in welcoming the U.S. Coast Guard's decision to lift the 12-year security restriction on Nigerian-flagged vessels

calling at American ports. This achievement reflects Nigeria's sustained strengthening of port security and antiterrorism compliance.

“We are pleased that this milestone will reduce securityrelated requirements and associated costs for vessels operating between our two countries. It will also improve turnaround times and schedule reliability.

“The United States values its maritime and economic partnerships with Nigeria and looks forward to continued collaboration promoting secure, efficient, and mutually beneficial trade between our nations.

“We appreciate the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency's years-long collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and its continued

commitment to addressing the current high threat environment. Please accept my sincere congratulations on this significant accomplishment.”

Speaking on the development, Oyetola credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership and strategic support for the milestone, particularly the administration’s decision to prioritise the marine and blue economy as a key pillar of Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.

The Marine and Blue Economy Minister, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser, Bolaji Akinola, described the lifting of the CoE as a major achievement for Nigeria’s maritime sector and an affirmation of the progress made in strengthening

maritime security and compliance.

The development, he asserted also underscores the importance of the federal government’s sustained engagement with international maritime partners, with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) playing a central role in the long-running collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard.

“With the Condition of Entry now removed, Nigerian ports are better positioned to compete for international shipping business, while shipping lines operating between Nigeria and the United States stand to benefit from lower security-related costs, fewer procedural burdens, improved turnaround times and greater schedule reliability,” Minister Oyetola added.

Retired Perm Sec, Ex-Presidency Official Clarify Payment of Terminal Benefits to Defunct Nigeria Airways Workers FG confirms final settlement of pension arrears of former MTEL/NITEL employees

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja A retired permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance, and a former presidency official clarified that the payment of severance benefits to former employees of the defunct Nigeria Airways actually commenced under late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and continued in the late President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Finance Minister, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele had last Friday announced that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had commenced the payment

of severance benefits to the exemployees of the defunct national air carrier.

According to the minister, following the directive of President Bola Tinubu, 2,100 former Nigeria Airways workers in batches one to seven had been paid, while another 600 beneficiaries in batches eight and nine were being finalised for payment within the next few days.

Combined, Oyedele said the total amount came to N18 billion in benefits for 2,700 former workers.

However, reacting to the development, a former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance, who preferred anonymity said,

" I saw your headline of yesterday (Saturday), September 12, 2026 on payment of pension to Nigeria Airways retirees.

"For the record, it is incorrect to say that "FG Begins Payment of N18bn Severance Benefits to Defunct Nigeria Airways Workers after 22 Years".

"The correct position is: President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua made — payments in 2008 to clear five years of pension arrears.

"President Muhammadu Buhari made substantially larger payments, with about N22.68 billion actually released in 2018/ early 2019 as the first 50% of the N45.3bn settlement.

"So the recent payment by the current administration follows these earlier payments and is intended to address the remaining outstanding obligation. In fact, as recently as May 2026, the retirees said approximately N36 billion remained unpaid.

Above is for your information and records only."

In yet another reaction, a former presidency official who served under late President Muhammadu Buhari administration, said the impression created by the current administration was that they initiated the payment of severance benefits to the former Nigeria Airways workers.

11

T H I S D AY • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

NEWS

CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE 2026 ADF AFRICA DIASPORA LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME...

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), Zouera Youssoufou; Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed; President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele; Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Elsie G. Attafuah; and former President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, during the closing ceremony of the 2026 ADF Africa Diaspora Leadership Programme Young Global Leaders Convening in Lagos at the weekend

NUPRC: Oil Output Rose Slightly by 6,887 Bpd, Climbed to 1.677m Bpd in August Nigeria meets OPEC quota for fourth straight month August production improved by resolution of challenges at Erha field Dangote refinery buys 16m barrels of Nigeria's crude for October

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production rose marginally by 6,887 barrels per day (bpd) in August 2026, reaching 1,677,777 bpd, according to the latest data from the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The August output represented a 0.4 per cent increase over the 1,670,890 bpd recorded in July, with the commission attributing the improvement largely to the resolution of operational challenges involving the Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) at the Erha field.

In strict crude oil terms, excluding condensates, Nigeria produced 1,500,190 bpd during the month, allowing the country to meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota for the fourth consecutive month.

During the period under review, the lowest daily production of crude oil and condensates stood at 1.64 million barrels per day, while the highest combined daily output reached 1.71 million bpd.

A breakdown of average daily crude oil and condensate production by terminals and streams showed that Bonny Terminal was the largest contributor in August, with 320,040 barrels per day.

Forcados Terminal followed closely, recording an average daily production of 317,400 barrels per day, while Qua Iboe Terminal accounted for 171,720 barrels of crude oil and condensates.

Escravos Oil Terminal recorded an average daily production of 131,710 barrels per day, while

Bonga ranked as the fifth-highest producing terminal, with an average of 92,500 barrels per day of crude oil.

The NUPRC said the modest increase in overall production was largely driven by the resolution of SBM operational challenges at the Erha field, which had negatively affected production performance in the preceding month.

According to the commission, the restoration of normal evacuation and production operations at the asset contributed positively to Nigeria’s overall production volumes in August.

Production activities across most other producing assets, it added, remained relatively stable, with operators continuing to implement measures aimed at optimising production efficiency, maintaining asset integrity and minimising operational disruptions.

Routine production and crude evacuation operations were also generally sustained across the industry, supporting the improvement recorded during the month.

Although the increase in August production was modest, the commission said it reflected the industry’s continuing efforts to address operational bottlenecks and restore affected production capacity.

It noted that stakeholders remained focused on improving asset reliability and operational resilience, while advancing intervention programmes designed to support sustained production growth in the coming months.

The August performance, according to the NUPRC, also underscored the importance

of the timely resolution of operational constraints, effective asset management practices and continued collaboration among industry stakeholders in safeguarding and improving Nigeria’s crude oil production capacity.

Meanwhile, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has purchased at least 16 million barrels of Nigerian crude oil for delivery in October, in a development that underscores the refinery’s growing appetite for domestic crude as it ramps up processing.

Four industry sources told Reuters that the volume was broadly in line with the refinery’s purchases in recent months, but significantly higher than its average Nigerian crude purchases last year.

The 16 million barrels comprise

monthly allocations from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and additional volumes purchased through a tender, amounting to about 520,000 bpd and accounting for most of the 700,000-bpd refinery’s monthly intake.

Ossiomo Power Plant Disowns CCETC, Says Not Partner Only a Contractor Felix Omoh-Asun in Benin

The management of Ossiomo Power Company, Ologbo, Edo State, has disowned a Chinese firm, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Co. Ltd (CCETC), with regard to an ownership tussle between the two companies.

Ossiomo plant said that CCETC has neither been a partner nor a shareholder in the power company.

The Managing Director of the Ossiomo Power Company, Dr. Uwa Igiehon, who disclosed this in Benin City while fielding questions from journalists, alleged that the relationship that existed between Ossiomo Power Company

and CCETC was that of owners (Ossiomo) and a contractor (CCETC).

There has been ownership tussle between the two firms that has shutdown the power plant for sometime now.

The Edo State Government recently expressed worries over the closure of the plant, noting that many offices and businesses hitherto connected to the power plant have been left in limbo ever since.

The managing director insisted that CCETC was only a contractor to Ossiomo Power Company (COPC), the project company, with no stake, until it switched off its engines.

"COPC is 100 percent owned

by Ossiomo Power. There is no direct relationship between Ossiomo Power and CCETC".

Dr. Igiehon, a renowned international developer, investments banker and a process engineer, was a managing director with the Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets, London and a director at the NatWest Markets, UK, has financed over US$50 billion of energy, oil and gas, mining, metals and infrastructure projects all over the world, including the US, UK, Canada, France, Spain, Russia, the Sultanate of Oman, Egypt, amongst others.

He stressed that he solely founded Ossiomo Power Company.

He explained that the Ossiomo Power Company is one of the corporate players within the Ossiomo Industrial Park which acquired the landed property in Ologbo, noting that "Ossiomo Power facilities are within the Ossiomo Industrial Park which comprises the energy, oil and gas, metals, marine, agricultural sectors.

"In 2008, Ossiomo Industrial Park acquired the site in Ologbo from Oba Erediauwa. In 2013, Ossiomo Power was incorporated as a special purpose company for the power generation and transmission and in 2015, NERC granted the Ossiomo companies electricity generation, transmission and distribution licences.

Values, Not Titles, Will Shape Nigeria’s Future, NIPSS D‑G Tells Senior Officers Yemi Kosoko in Jos

Director‑General of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Professor Ayo Omotayo, has urged senior public officers and security personnel to place national interest above personal or sectional considerations, warning that Nigeria’s progress

hinges on leaders who embody integrity and ethical conviction.

Speaking at the National Values and Leadership Course (Batch 7) in Kuru, Jos organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in partnership with Tomruk iHub Multiverse and DAFUDA. Omotayo, represented by Prof. Musa Umar, said Nigeria was at a

defining moment where “the character of its leaders, not infrastructure or policy alone, will determine the country’s direction.”

He stressed that leadership must be rooted in values, not titles. “Nigeria needs leaders who rise above ethnic suspicion, reject impunity and see public office as a platform for solving

problems,” he said, calling for value‑based performance systems across institutions.

Omotayo urged participants to develop organisational “values action plans” tied to integrity, unity, excellence, inclusivity and environmental care, backed by quarterly reviews and mentorship structures.

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NEWS

INAUGURATION OF AN ULTRAMODERN HOSTEL AT LAGOS COLLEGE OF NURSING...

L-R: Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Alimosho Constituency II, Hon. Kehinde Joseph; Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs) Kemi Ogunyemi; the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule; Chairman, APC Lagos, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi and the SSG, Barr. ‘Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, during the formal inauguration of an ultramodern Hostel at the Lagos State College of Nursing, Igando, on Friday

US-Iran War: Saudi Pipeline Outage Threatens Loss of 4% of Global Oil Supply Strike on Iranian cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz kills 1

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

or how long the route will stay off-line.

Sources that spoke to Reuters Saudi Arabia will run out of oil stocks for exports if it doesn't gave varying estimates, with one restart its major pipeline to the saying t​he damage could take as Red Sea within days, leading long as five to six weeks to repair, to a loss of up to 4 per cent of while another said it could be global supply, Saudi oil buyers​ fixed sooner and could resume pumping partially while repairs and traders have said.

A further decline in Saudi are ongoing.

For the past six months, flows will worsen the global supply crunch, which has already the pipeline running through pushed global fuel prices ​to the ​desert across the Arabian record highs, spurred inflation Peninsula has spared Saudi around the world and sent U.S. Arabia from the brunt of the bond yields to the highest levels impact of the wartime shutdown since the 2008 financial crisis. of the Strait of Hormuz ​that Since drone attacks forced has crippled exports from its Saudi Arabia to shut its huge neighbours.

The world's biggest exporter east-west oil pipeline on Friday, Riyadh has not given full details​ has used the pipeline to reroute about the extent of the damage around 4 million barrels per day,

around 4 per cent of global ‌supply to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea. But with the pipeline out of service, Yanbu now has stocks to maintain exports for just five to seven days, according to three industry sources familiar with Saudi exports.

Saudi Arabia also has stocks to supply customers for several days from Egypt's ports of Ain Sukhna on the Red Sea and Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean, a fourth source said.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue Yanbu storage capacity stands at around 35 ​ million barrels, according to industry estimates, ​ with Ain Sukhna and Sidi Kerir able to store 18 million and 20 million barrels respectively. Stocks are not full

and will ultimately run out day of oil before the war. Flows the region intensified last week without the east-west pipeline through the ​Strait of Hormuz when Iran-backed Houthi rebels resuming operations, the four have slowed to just 6 million to 9 captured an island on the Bab sources told Reuters . million bpd, industry sources say. el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. Saudi oil supply has already Meanwhile, anIranian cargo Iran’s state-run IRNA news fallen to a m ​ ore than three-decade vessel was struck early Sunday agency quoted the Qeshm low in August on reduced flows off Qeshm Island in the Strait governor as blaming a “terrorist via Hormuz and the Red Sea, of Hormuz, Iranian state media enemy” for Sunday’s attack. the International Energy A ​ gency said, a day before Tehran plans There was no immediate (IEA) said on Friday. World oil to brief countries in the region on comment by the U.S. military, supply will decline this year by its contested efforts to manage which has struck Iranian-flagged 5.7 million bpd, or about 6 per shipping traffic there. vessels during its blockade cent, the IEA, which coordinates The attack, which the reports of Iranian ports and faces Western energy policies, said. said killed one and wounded a new threat from Iranian In addition to the attack on four, drew attention back to the ballistic missiles launched at the pipeline, Houthi fighters in strait after threats to shipping in its warships.

Yemen who have threatened Saudi oil shipments seized an island on Friday in the mouth of the Red Sea The Middle East supplied​ Preye Aganaba, was prepared to around 22 million barrels per Olusegun Samuel in work with relevant stakeholders Yenagoa to build support for the president Ahead of the 2027 presidential ahead of the election.

“Our target is nothing but total election, the Tinubu Support Group (TSG) in Bayelsa State victory. And at the end of the has pledged to mobilise voters day, we will ensure that Bayelsa across the state and deliver “bulk delivers bulk votes to President votes” to President Bola Tinubu. Tinubu in 2027,” Eradiri said. also reflects the increasing He said the group would work The group made the intersection between energy commitment after its maiden with Governor Douye Diri and resilience and public security, meeting at the weekend, with the various leadership structures particularly in densely populated its leadership saying it would of the All Progressives Congress commercial areas where take its mobilisation campaign (APC) in the state to achieve its disruptions to either can affect to communities across the state objective. businesses, residents and other in support of Tinubu's re-election Eradiri said the group believed economic activities. the performance of the Tinubu bid.

The company said the The Bayelsa State Director of administration had provided a solar installation had both Media of TSG, Udengs Eradiri, basis for its campaign ahead of environmental and social said the group would mobilise the election. benefits, with the renewable across political, ethnic and social He said the group would energy component reducing divides as part of efforts to secure respond to criticism of the dependence on conventional victory for the president in the administration by presenting electricity sources while the state. what it described as facts and improved power supply was Eradiri, a former President of figures on the government's expected to support police the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) policies and achievements. operations.

“Those who speak against the Worldwide, said the group would The donation is also expected use its grassroots structures to president speak out of ignorance. to strengthen the relationship communicate what it described as We are going to show them the between the private sector and the achievements of the Tinubu facts, the figures and the numbers the police in an area where administration to residents across that will make them change their security remains important to Bayelsa. perception and see the re-election the movement of people, goods He said the group, under the of President Tinubu as a matter and investments. leadership of its State Coordinator, of public interest,” he said.

ESG: NEPCL Donates 12KVA Solar System to Lekki Police Station

Emmanuel Addeh in Lagos

Nembe Exploration and Production Company Limited (NEPCL), operator of the NNPC/Nembe Joint Venture (OML 29), has donated a 12KVA invertersolar power system to the Nigeria Police Force, Lekki Division, as part of its corporate social responsibility and environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives.

The company, in a statement, said the intervention was aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the Lekki Police Station while providing the facility with a more reliable and cleaner source of electricity.

The initiative comes against the backdrop of the growing economic importance of the Lekki axis, which has developed into

a major residential, commercial, industrial, hospitality, logistics and investment corridor in Lagos.

The area also hosts or connects to major economic developments, including port, industrial and real estate projects, making security and reliable infrastructure increasingly important to businesses and residents operating within the corridor.

Quoting data cited in the Lagos State Economic Development Update 2025, it stated that the state generated N43.06 trillion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023, representing 18.38 per cent of Nigeria's national GDP. In the first half of 2024, the state recorded N27.39 trillion, accounting for 22.36 per cent of national GDP. The Nigerian Investment

Promotion Commission (NIPC), it emphasised, has also described Lagos as contributing approximately one-third of Nigeria's GDP, although the estimate is based on a different reference period and methodology.

Against this backdrop, NEPCL said strengthening public infrastructure in communities where economic activity is expanding was part of its commitment to sustainable development and responsible business practices.

For the police, it stated that access to a dependable electricity supply can support routine administrative and operational functions, including lighting, communications and other activities required for the effective running of the station.

The project, the firm explained,

Tinubu Support Group Vows to Deliver Bulk Votes for President in 2027

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 • T H I S D AY

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Politics

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com 08033025611 sms only

M O N D AY D I S C O U R S E

Obi’s Botched Benue Visit: A Warning Signal Ahead of 2027 Polls?

The recent blockade of the convoy of the Presidential Candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Peter Obi in Benue State followed by the arrest of 46 suspects, has transformed a disputed political incident into an early test of Nigeria’s democratic tolerance ahead of 2027. With competing allegations, official denials and calls for investigation, the episode raises questions about political violence, security coordination and accountability. Sunday Aborisade reports.

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hat began as a planned visit by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to sympathise with victims of the Yelwata killings in Benue State has quickly become one of the first major tests of political tolerance as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general election.

The incident on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in which Obi’s convoy was stopped by a group of youths on the Makurdi-Gboko Federal Highway while he was heading towards Yelwata, has generated accusations, denials, counter-accusations and demands for accountability.

But the controversy assumed a new dimension last Wednesday when the Benue State Police Command announced the arrest of 46 suspects allegedly connected with the obstruction.

The State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, said the arrests followed intelligence-led operations launched after the incident. He also disclosed that the investigation was continuing and that some key leaders of the youths involved were still being traced.

The police warning that political intolerance would not be allowed to flourish as the 2027 election approaches has consequently shifted the focus from the initial confrontation to a more fundamental question: Can Nigeria enter another fiercely contested presidential election without allowing political rivalry to degenerate into intimidation and violence?

That question deserves serious attention.

Obi had travelled to Benue ostensibly to visit Yelwata, in Guma Local Government Area, where scores of people were killed in a devastating attack in June, 2025. According to his account, his convoy was confronted by youths who blocked the road and chanted, “Peter Obi, go back.”

Rather than force his way through, Obi said he chose to withdraw to avoid a confrontation that could result in casualties.

The NDC subsequently alleged that the youths were suspected thugs and claimed that an aide to Governor Hyacinth Alia was involved in mobilising them. The party condemned the incident as an attack on democratic freedom and demanded investigation and prosecution.

The Benue State Government rejected the allegation, describing it as unfounded and denying any involvement in the obstruction.

The competing accounts would ordinarily have left the incident as another political controversy in which one side accused and the other denied. But the police investigation has introduced an important factual development.

The police have confirmed that the obstruction occurred and have arrested 46 people in connection with it. That does not, however, establish who organised the incident, whether it was politically motivated, whether any political party was involved or whether any government official directed the youths.

Those questions remain matters for investigation. Indeed, the police commissioner has indicated that the investigation is still ongoing and that key figures allegedly involved are being pursued.

That distinction is crucial. In a politically charged environment, the arrest of suspects can easily be presented by rival camps as proof of whichever narrative they already believe. But an arrest is not a conviction, just as an allegation is not proof of guilt. The responsibility now

Obi

rests with investigators to determine what actually happened.

The police have also clarified an issue that had become central to the controversy: whether the security authorities were informed of Obi’s visit. According to Nwadiogbu, the police command was informed about the visit at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 7, and subsequently deployed three police escort vehicles led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

The commissioner later clarified that the NDC did not ask him to transmit any letter notifying Governor Alia of Obi’s visit.

Rather, he said, members of the NDC presented the letter to the police command primarily for security arrangements. That clarification is significant because the question of notification had become part of the competing narratives surrounding the incident.

If the police had received prior information and deployed security personnel, the central issue becomes less about whether security authorities knew of the movement and more about whether the security arrangements were adequate to guarantee the

candidate’s safe movement and prevent the roadblock.

The police have defended their conduct, saying their officers made a professional and tactical decision not to use force to disperse the crowd because doing so could have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property.

That decision is understandable from a crowd-control perspective.

No responsible security agency should rush into a confrontation where the immediate use of force could produce greater casualties.

But there is also a legitimate democratic question about how opposition politicians are protected when they travel into politically sensitive areas.

The objective of security should not merely be to prevent bloodshed after a confrontation has started. It should also be to anticipate potential threats and ensure that lawful political activities can proceed peacefully.

This becomes particularly important because Obi was not travelling to Benue as an ordinary private citizen. He is a former governor, a presidential candidate and one of the major opposition figures positioning himself for the 2027 contest.

His presence in a state inevitably has political implications, even when the immediate purpose of a particular visit is humanitarian.

As Nigeria heads towards 2027, the question is no longer simply whether Obi was stopped on a highway in Benue. It is whether Nigeria will allow political competition to remain a contest of ideas, or permit it to become a contest of intimidation.

That is the warning signal from Benue.

That is precisely why political parties, state authorities and security agencies must develop a common understanding of how such visits should be handled.

The answer cannot be to deny opposition politicians access to communities because they may attract political controversy.

Nor should opposition parties ignore legitimate security concerns or fail to properly coordinate movements.

Democracy requires both political freedom and responsible conduct.

The Benue incident has also attracted condemnation from politicians outside the NDC. Former Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom condemned the obstruction, describing it as wrong and arguing that Obi should have been allowed to visit Yelwata and sympathise with victims of the killings.

Ortom’s intervention is significant because the incident has increasingly moved beyond a dispute between the NDC and the Benue State Government.

The Vice-Presidential candidate of the NDC, Rabiu Kwankwaso, also condemned the incident and called for those responsible to be identified and prosecuted, describing it as a disturbing development for democracy.

Another presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement, similarly condemned the obstruction and described it as unacceptable.

Even Minister of Aviation and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, said the incident should not be part of Nigeria’s democracy.

Such reactions suggest that the concern is no longer limited to Obi and his supporters.

It is about the precedent the incident could establish. If political candidates can be stopped from moving through particular communities by organised crowds, the danger is that similar incidents could be replicated elsewhere as the political temperature rises.

A candidate from the governing party could be prevented from entering an oppositioncontrolled community. An opposition candidate could face hostility in a governing-party stronghold. Supporters could interpret every confrontation as justification for retaliation.

That is how political intolerance can become a cycle.

Nigeria has experienced the consequences of election-related violence too many times to treat such developments casually.

The greatest danger may not necessarily be the incident itself but the political culture that could grow around it.

Already, the Benue episode has produced allegations of state involvement and equally strong denials. An APC faction in the state has condemned the incident and called on Governor Alia to apologise, while the state government has maintained that it had no involvement.

The NDC, for its part, has demanded accountability. But accountability must be based on evidence. The police investigation should therefore go beyond the 46 people already arrested if evidence indicates that others were involved. If organisers, financiers or political sponsors are identified, they should be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

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

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FEatures

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com,

Stolen by Deception: Inside NAPTIP’s Rescue of Over 180 Trafficked Children

Behind the rescue of over 180 trafficked children lies a disturbing pattern of deception, as suspected criminal networks allegedly prey on families displaced by violence and hardship, promising education and support before taking their children away. With its latest operations stretching across several states, NAPTIP is now unravelling the network and tracing those behind the alleged trafficking of vulnerable children. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

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or a father in Kajuru, Kaduna State, the sight of his son after three long years was almost too much to bear. He had lost hope. The boy was only three when gunmen invaded their community, forcing families to flee and leaving many displaced and vulnerable. Then came people who appeared to offer help.

They promised education. They said they represented an NGO helping communities affected by crisis. For parents struggling to rebuild their lives, the offer appeared to be a lifeline.

But the promise of a better future, the father would later discover, was allegedly a carefully laid trap.

Three years later, his son was among children recovered by operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in a widening operation that has so far led to the rescue of over 180 children allegedly trafficked from communities across five states.

The latest recoveries have again drawn attention to a disturbing dimension of child trafficking: criminal groups allegedly hiding behind the image and credibility of civil society and humanitarian intervention to prey on distressed families The Promise That Turned Into a Nightmare The recent rescue operation involved the recovery of three children allegedly trafficked from Kajuru in Kaduna State and found inside a high-rise private building in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Another child was recovered from the care of a clinical staff member at the Federal Medical Centre, Onitsha.

For the father whose son was among those rescued, the reunion brought both joy and pain.

“I am overwhelmed with joy because I had initially lost hope of seeing my Son. It happened three years ago when some unknown gunmen invaded Kajuru, my Community. We were all affected and displaced. " A few weeks later, some people, some of whom were known to us, came around and, in an effort to console us, promised to take our children to the city for proper education. They said they run an NGO that helps people affected by one situation or another.

“I and some other parents were convinced, and since it has to do with the future of our children, we allowed them to take them away. We never knew that they deceived us. They tricked us and took our children away.

“A few months later, when it was obvious that the children ought to have vacated and spent the holiday with us in the village, we approached them; rather than giving us the right answer, they further tricked us, and later we did not see them anymore.”

For three years, there was no certainty about the fate of his child.

“This my son was three years old then, and now he is six years old. It is a mixture of joy and sadness for me because he looks very unkempt, unhappy, and it appears that he is being used as house help. On the other hand, I am happy that I am seeing him alive.”

Then came an unexpected breakthrough.

NAPTIP DG with some of the rescued children

“How it happened was the pure act of God. I was directed to the Facebook page of NAPTIP where it was published that some children were recovered and their pictures were published. " I saw my son among them and started chatting with NAPTIP only to find out that my Son was indeed among them. I thank the Director General of NAPTIP and the gallant Officers of the Agency for rescuing my Son. This is just like a dream. I am happy,” the visibly excited father of the survivour said.

A Wider Web Across States The recovery of the Kajuru children is only the latest in what appears to be a much broader trafficking network.

Following reports of missing children across the country, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, had established a Special Squad within the Agency’s Investigation and Monitoring Department a few months ago.

The squad was specifically tasked with tracing and recovering children allegedly trafficked from different communities and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.

The first batch of recovered children reportedly included those taken from communities in Benue and Nasarawa States.

According to NAPTIP, some of the children were taken to orphanages in Abuja and other states before allegedly being sold to unidentified individuals under the guise of adoption, after substantial sums of money had changed hands.

The latest operation has pushed the number of recovered children to over 180 across five states.

The pattern emerging from the investigations is particularly troubling. Rather than simply

abducting children, the suspected traffickers allegedly exploit the vulnerability of families already devastated by insecurity, displacement and poverty.

They allegedly arrive with promises of assistance, education and a better life for the children. For parents who have lost homes, livelihoods and a sense of security, such promises can be difficult to refuse.

A Child Recovered From a Nurse One of the latest discoveries was the recovery of a child from the care of a clinical staff member at the Federal Medical Centre, Onitsha. The nurse, according to NAPTIP, confessed that she obtained the child from a prominent orphanage in Abuja in 2023 after paying N771,000. The development again raises troubling questions about the channels through which trafficked children allegedly move and how legitimatelooking structures can sometimes be exploited to conceal criminal activities.

While investigations continue, the case has become another reminder of the need for greater scrutiny of child-care and adoption processes.

It also underscores the challenge confronting law enforcement agencies: trafficking networks often thrive not in the shadows alone, but by exploiting systems, institutions and public trust.

Masquerading as Humanitarians It was this alleged abuse of public trust that prompted the Director General of NAPTIP to call for an internal cleansing within the civil society community.

Bello expressed concern that some criminal elements may be hiding behind the identity of civil society organisations to gain access to vulnerable families and communities.

“I am seriously disturbed by the activities of some persons masquerading as members of the Civil Society Organisations, who have been fingered in several issues of child trafficking from across the country.

“I am confident that we have very

committed members of the Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria working in the humanitarian and counter – trafficking space. But it seems that they have been infiltrated by some criminal elements whose mission is to steal and traffic children for various forms of reasons.

“From the various confessions of survivors and their relations as well as the investigation by NAPTIP, these criminal elements often use the platform of prominent and popular Civil Society Organisations to lure and deceive parents from security-challenged communities and villages, take away their children in the name of educational support, and disappear into thin air with the children.

"These children are later sold allegedly to the highest bidders. This is criminal, and it is a direct way of adding more sorrow to already traumatized families.”

The allegation strikes at the heart of humanitarian work. Civil society organisations often operate where government institutions and other support systems are weakest. They work with displaced persons, victims of conflict and impoverished communities.

That credibility, Bello warned, must not become a shield behind which criminals operate.

A Call for Cleansing The NAPTIP boss therefore challenged the umbrella body of civil society organisations, particularly those working in the humanitarian and counter-trafficking space, to identify and expose suspected criminal elements.

“I want to challenge the umbrella body of the Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, especially those working closely with us in the counter trafficking space, to carry out in-house cleansing and expose those suspected to be criminal elements among them. They must be flushed out.

“On our own part, we have commenced a manhunt for those mentioned in our investigation, and we shall ensure that they are made to face the full wrath of the Law." Beyond the arrests and recoveries, the rescue of more than 180 children tells a larger story about the vulnerability created by insecurity and displacement.

For many families, particularly those in crisis-ridden communities, the promise of education or humanitarian support can represent hope. But, as the latest NAPTIP operation has shown, that hope can allegedly be exploited by people with criminal intentions.

For the father from Kajuru, however, the operation has brought back something he thought he had lost forever: his son.

His story is one of joy, but it is also a reminder of the many families still searching for their children.

And as NAPTIP continues its investigation and manhunt, the recovery of the over 180 children may be only one step in uncovering a trafficking network that, according to the agency, has fed on the pain and vulnerability of already distressed communities.

The challenge now is not only to recover the remaining children and prosecute those responsible, but also to ensure that the promise of help is never again turned into a weapon against the people who need it most.

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DIGITAL ASSET MARKETS Digital Assets and Sub-National Development with Nicky Okoye

( digitalassets@anabelgroup.com )

I

n the 21st century, the battle for capital is not just about growth; it is about strategic positioning. As we witness global GDP approaching $200 trillion by 2050, the real-world mechanisms for raising and deploying capital are undergoing a seismic shift. The old financing model, which involved travelling to Geneva, London or New York with “caps in hand”, is becoming increasingly inadequate for the scale of the infrastructure Africa requires to support its growing youth bulge. This is especially true for Nigeria, which is projected to reach a population of over 400 million by 2050.

In my opinion, the rise of digital asset markets and the tokenisation of real-world assets (RWA) are two of the most fundamental shifts in global finance and capital, and they will rewire the financial architecture of our nation-state, sub-nationals and regions.

I took a serious look at Lagos, for instance; it will tell any knowledgeable observer that the challenge of growing its megacity status cannot depend on federal or state budget allocations, or even traditional borrowing.

The GIAC estimates that Lagos will need to raise a staggering N20 trillion over the next five years, for infrastructure requirements alone, just to remain competitive as a viable investment destination. Across Africa and the Caribbean, we continue to observe that billions of dollars in public assets, including idle land and buildings, pipelines and power plants, are considered “dead capital,” sitting on balance sheets yet unable to generate revenue or liquidity. In my opinion, a unique strategy to unlock these dead assets is not only required but is imperative.

Why Tokenisation Matters for Sub-Nationals Tokenisation of real-world assets (TRWA) is the process of digitally representing ownership of a physical or financial asset on a blockchain. This sounds like a simple act of transformation, but it offers three very powerful transformative value positions which are tailor-made for sub-national financing: 1. Financial Inclusion: Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenisation allows sub-national governments to fractionalise large state-owned assets, such as a portfolio of infrastructure projects or state-owned buildings, into digital asset-backed tokens. This dramatically lowers the minimum investment amount, enabling ordinary citizens to invest as little as one thousand naira directly in their State’s development. This approach can transform the way governments meet their capital needs by providing a channel for the vast pools of household savings held outside the traditional banking system. All sub-nationals across Nigeria and Africa should consider this now.

2. Unlocking Illiquid (Dead) Assets: RWA Tokenisation creates liquidity for assets that are traditionally illiquid. For instance, we can convert a 30-50-year asset such as a toll road or a power-generating plant into tradable, digital, asset-backed tokens, creating new, vibrant markets for public infrastructure and making it easier to attract and exit investments.

3. Efficiency and Cost Reduction: By automating settlement and compliance with “Smart Contracts”, RWA tokenisation drastically reduces reconciliation time, counterparty risk, and operational costs.

This makes a lower minimum investment viable and creates a more efficient, transparent digital-asset-based capital market.

RWA Tokenisation is a New Strategic Toolkit for Sub-Nationals

As we observe the adoption of Tokenisation

launched the “Plan B” initiative, which facilitated the use of cryptocurrencies to pay taxes and municipal services.

Digital Significance: The partnership with Tether, a major stablecoin issuer, demonstrates a municipal-level strategy to adopt digital assets as a functional part of daily life and public finance. This model is now being exported, with Tether replicating this partnership in other jurisdictions.

Digital Asset Markets, Nation Building, and Enterprise Development

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq , Chairman Governor’s Forum of Nigeria

strategies by Nation States and Sub-Nationals, it’s exciting to study what is already happening across Africa.

Pioneering Efforts in Africa: In Ghana, the partnership between GFX and Libera is exploring the tokenisation of government-issued financial instruments to provide inclusive access to regulated financial instruments.

This is supported by the Bank of Ghana’s regulatory sandbox and Ghana’s upcoming Virtual Asset Services Providers Bill.

Transformative Vision in Nigeria: Our Global Investment Advisory Community partnered with the Nigerian SEC in April 2025 to launch a Digital Asset Markets Strategy for Nigeria’s capital market industry.

Our strategy is aligned with the regulatory provisions of the Investment and Securities Act 2025. Lagos State, which participated in our Digital Asset Market Strategy unveiling, announced that it is preparing to launch a groundbreaking securitisation initiative for over 300 state-owned assets, with a specific vision to create room for RWA tokenisation and fractional investment.

The Sub-National “Crypto Valley” Strategy To illustrate the long-term potential, I have taken another look at the city of Zug, Switzerland, a small canton that has since positioned itself as Europe’s “Crypto Valley.” By creating a progressive regulatory environment and offering low corporate tax rates, the Zug local authorities attracted a thriving community of blockchain foundations, fintech companies, and institutional investors. This has transformed Zug from a historic trading hub into a modern centre of commerce and digital finance. This Crypto Valley Strategy approach is not limited to Switzerland. With the right strategic support, I expect that sub-national regions across Africa and the Caribbean can create similar Crypto and Digital hubs. The Global Investment Advisory Community has already demonstrated the power of international partnerships by leading a delegation of Nigerian capital market executives on a technical roadshow to Zug and Geneva, securing technical capacity-building on RWA tokenisation from leading experts at the EU Business School and engaging with the best of Switzerland’s wealth management and digital investment bank community.

Zug, Switzerland: The Original “Crypto Valley” The city of Zug remains the benchmark for

a successful digital asset hub, having built its position through foresight, regulatory clarity, and the strategic attraction of flagship projects.

I can attest to this, having been there and witnessed its strategic positioning within the European digital asset ecosystem. In 2017, FINMA issued the world’s first clear guidelines on Initial Coin Offerings (ICO), framing blockchain as an opportunity rather than a risk, while other major jurisdictions were still considering bans.

Institutional Innovation: In 2019, the world’s first crypto banks emerged, including SEBA Bank and Sygnum, which received Swiss banking licences and subsequently integrated crypto services into a traditional, regulated framework for the first time globally. This created a hybrid banking model that institutional investors trusted.

Early Adoption: In 2016, Zug became the world’s first municipality to accept Bitcoin for tax and fee payments, a small step that normalised digital currency use in public administration.

The Ecosystem Today: By early 2025, 1,749 blockchain companies were registered in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Industry giants like Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano are based in Zug, and even BlackRock chose the Zug “Crypto Valley” for its European Bitcoin ETP. Challenges and Lessons: Today, Zug faces competition. The rise of global competitors like Dubai and Singapore, combined with stricter financial regulations, indicates that building a new hub today requires a more deliberate, regulatory-integrated strategy than in the “Wild West” early years.

Key Pillars for Sub-Nationals: Zug, as a Crypto Valley, demonstrates the power of the first-mover advantage, provides regulatory clarity, and underscores the importance of attracting a flagship project to anchor an ecosystem, such as Ethereum. However, the model is becoming harder to replicate; modern hubs must also contend with global competition and heightened regulatory standards.

Lugano, Switzerland, a Second Attempt and the “Plan B” Municipal Model Lugano is a Swiss municipality that offers a second Swiss model of local government, integrating digital assets into its payment systems through its collaboration with Tether.

The Digital Municipal Initiative: Lugano

Nation-building should be primarily focused on job creation, rising standards of living for citizens, and sustainable economic prosperity for the nation-state and its citizens. In this respect, all nation-building efforts at the national and sub-national levels must consider how digital asset markets can stimulate enterprise development and entrepreneurship. In my opinion, nothing will affect entrepreneurship and enterprise development more significantly than implementing our GAIC digital asset markets Strategy and the sub-nationals’ ability to expand access to capital through the blockchain’s global reach.

Nicky Okoye; Global Investment Advisor’s opinion Our growing community, the GIAC, is a strategic private coalition of global and local Investment Banks, Capital Markets operators, and Fintech firms dedicated to adopting digital asset markets in Nigeria and across Africa.

We are not just theorists. We are practitioners building the digital plumbing, systems, networks and investment infrastructure required to make the promises of the 21st-century digital economy a reality. We currently provide guidance to ministries of finance, governors’ offices, and national enterprises by giving them the tools, strategies, and networks needed to position themselves in the global digital asset market now and in the future.

Key points to note: Providing Strategic Technical Guidance: The GIAC provides sub-national, executive-level capacity building on the processes, technologies, and funding strategies for tokenising real-world assets.

Facilitating International Partnerships: The GIAC builds unique international bridges to renowned blockchain hubs such as Zug in Switzerland, Singapore and Hong Kong, facilitating strategic alliances that usher in best practices and large-scale foreign investment.

Supporting Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks: The GIAC works closely with local and international regulators, as well as legislative committees, including Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Capital Markets, to create a supportive legal basis for digital asset markets to thrive, ensuring innovationdriven investment is balanced with investor protection.

The future belongs to sub-national authorities and governments willing to think creatively and leverage every possible resource. By embracing the tokenisation of real-world assets, sub-nationals can position their states and regions at the forefront of 21st-century capitalformation structures. This is our generation’s opportunity to rewrite the narrative.

Indeed……Great Things are Happening.

•Dr Nicky Okoye Global Investment Advisor Founder, Global Investment Advisory Community (GIAC)

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T H I S D AY • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

TRIBUTE

A Sardauna’s Path in Kwara: A Postscript

Rafiu Ajakaye, PhD

O

n Wednesday, September 16, history will be made as His Excellency Kwara State Governor and Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (CON) will be turbaned the Sardauna of Ilorin. We are grateful to Almighty Allaah and to His Royal Highness Mai Martaba Emir of Ilorin Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, for this rare honour.

Africa’s most outstanding Sardauna of all time is the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, a prince of the Sokoto Caliphate and the only Premier of the Northern Nigeria.

There was something unique about the late Sardauna: not only was he known for his infectious love for Arewa; the Sardauna was a folk hero among northerners for how he welded the north together with equitable development and his support for everyone who called the North their home. Many of our late fathers and mothers from the old Kwara State were proud protégés of the late Sardauna.

AbdulRazaq is not an Ahmadu Bello. But the unrivalled rise of Ilorin in modern infrastructure, his investment in his aides, and the spread of development to every part of the state aptly earn him a right to be called the Sardauna of Ilorin, succeeding the late business mogul and philanthropist Alhaji Umaru Saro who first held the title in Ilorin.

On February 6, 2025, I wrote a piece entitled ‘A Sardauna’s Path in Kwara https://kwarastate.gov. ng/press_releases/a-sardaunas-path-in-kwara/ amp/) to spotlight the strides of Governor AbdulRazaq and Chairman of Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF) in Kwara State. I had also mentioned how the Governor is such a down-to-earth but self-effacing personality who really doesn’t take himself too seriously.

As an aide and someone young enough to be his son, I recall instances that I tried to give him the ‘distance’ that I felt befits the exalted office of the Governor, especially during meal times.

I recall many times in Nigeria and abroad that he would gesture to me to come sit next to him to eat on the same table. When he isn’t quietly eating his food, he would raise issues

Gov Abdulrazaq

of governance and development which often leaves me convinced of his good intentions for our state and why he does some things that he does.

At no time did he pretend to be a perfect person or feign not having his own sentiments. But something again stands him out: he is almost a fatalist. That does not mean he does not try his best to fix things within his capabilities, but he is quick to tell me: ‘regardless, what will be will be’.

He is a very deep human being — as deep as the sea. His signature silence, which his detractors use to attack him, appears to me to be his own interpretation of the words of Umar (may God be pleased with him), who reportedly said: “I have never regretted my silence; as for my speeches, I

have regretted over them again and again.”

On one afternoon in the early days of 2022 at the Presidential Lodge, I had asked him why he was contemplating another high-rise hotel and an international conference centre a few metres away from the iconic Kwara Hotel, which he was also transforming in a way no one has done since the 1970s when it was built. He looked up and asked if I had been to Dubai before. Of course, I had visited many cities and countries of the world, but the UAE wasn’t one of them.

He didn’t answer my question. He only asked me to prepare to attend a conference later in May that year. I attended and I never bothered to ask him that question again. I got my answer— and a lot more.

He is a man who has truly benefited from

his many travels to cities of the world. The Kwara Smart City project is partly modelled after the New Delhi (India), Washington DC, or Upper Cairo. He felt Ilorin is filled to the brim and its inevitable expansion must be planned to ensure sustainable living for the people. The tragic June 15, 2020 incident in Ilorin tells us a painful story of how not to allow cities to grow without regulation. That partly bred the Ilorin City Master Plan, an offshoot of which is the urban renewal initiatives and the Kwara Smart City project which is projected to host at least 500,000 residents over the next decades.

A few years after, Ilorin, our capital city, has become far more accessible, viable, alluring, and enterprising than at any time in its contemporary history. That is one of the many legacies of the Sardauna. Many parts of our state have become more accessible with state and rural roads, whilst the 294km tax credit roads he facilitated are things for posterity.

The Sardauna of Ilorin is simple enough to relate with anyone, whatever their class, and he is deep enough to steadily transform Kwara to an economic powerhouse in Northern Nigeria, rising above the old tag of being a civil service state. This has never been so at any point in our history.

He is a reliable friend of the underprivileged, a champion of gender parity, and a promoter of equitable education. His Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) and the free health insurance, both of which he activated, have cumulatively benefitted at least a million residents. Like the late Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Ilorin gave ordinary people a reason to believe that Kwara belongs to all.

You can ask the 8,912 teachers he has hired, among others.

His love for culture, history, geography, and sports is a topic for another day!

As His Excellency is deservedly turbaned the Sardauna of Ilorin, my family and I send our heartfelt congratulations to a man of courage, strong conviction, and great vision with a seemingly inexhaustible dosage of patience.

•Dr. Ajakaye, former CPS to the Governor, is the APC House of Representatives Candidate for Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency

NEWS

NCC Restates Commitment to Network Security, Integrity to Boost Digital Economy

Emma Okonji

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) has restated its commitment to the deployment of technology platforms that will strengthen trust, security and integrity within Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem and the broader digital economy.

NCC restated this in a communique it issued at the end of its 110th board meeting, which held in Abuja recently.

At the meeting, the board received updates on strategic priorities, operational performance and market developments as part of the report of the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida. The board

also considered key regulatory and industry matters affecting the telecommunications sector.

According to the communique, Device Management System (DMS) is now live and is supporting enhanced type approval compliance through technology.

The DMS will improve the commission’s ability to verify device compliance, discourage the circulation of non-compliant devices and support efforts to deter mobile device theft by enabling reported stolen devices to be blocked across Nigerian networks.

According to NCC, the Telecommunications Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS), together with its associated business rules, is scheduled to go live in

October 2026. TIRMS will strengthen the governance of telecommunications identities, including mobile numbers, and reduce risks associated with the misuse, reassignment or recycling of such identities, particularly as they are

increasingly linked to financial, social and other digital services.

The NCC board reaffirmed the importance of deploying these regulatory technology platforms in a manner that protects consumers, supports lawful digital services,

strengthens market integrity and remains consistent with applicable legal, privacy and data protection requirements.

In the area of infrastructure expansion, NCC noted that 8,526 out of the 12,179 committed coverage and capacity sites

have now been deployed across the country, representing approximately 70 per cent of the communicated commitments.

This, according to NCC, reflects accelerated progress from the approximately 5,000 sites reported at the last meeting.

NIS Graduates The1,626 Officers, Demands Professionalism officers passed out Management, Samuel Agba, in addressing contemporary

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has graduated 1,626 officers from its Fourth Combined and Upgrading Course, 2026, with the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, urging them to deploy professionalism, technology and sound judgment in tackling emerging border-security and migration challenges.

during a ceremony held at the Immigration Training School, Kano, and the Digital Bridge Institute, marking one of the Service’s largest training exercises and reinforcing its drive to strengthen operational capacity through continuous professional development.

Nandap, represented by the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resources

said the changing nature of border management required officers to combine statutory responsibilities with technological competence and a commitment to professional standards.

She congratulated the graduating officers and charged them to uphold professionalism in the discharge of their duties, stressing that technology remained a critical enabler

challenges in border security and migration management.

The Comptroller-General reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to continuous training, upgrading and the welfare of its personnel, describing human-capital development as essential to building an effective and responsive immigration service.

T H I S D AY MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 20 TR

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& RE A S O

Monday September 14, 2026 Vol 27. No 11472

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opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

BETTER LIFE FOR ACADEMICS

The payment of CATA to academic staff signals that agreements matter, argues ELIJAH BASHIRI

See page 21

WHAT REMAINS WHEN FUNDING ENDS?

WALE OSOFISAN writes that people affected by crisis should not depend solely on external organisations for basic public services

See page 21

EDITORIAL

STATES AND UNVIABLE AIRPORTS

See page 22

1

Leaders must learn to distinguish between what is urgent and what is consequential, contends LINUS OKORIE

WHEN BEING BUSY BECOMES A LEADERSHIP WEAKNESS

There was a time when being busy was considered evidence of importance.

A full diary suggested influence. Backto-back meetings signaled responsibility.

Constant phone calls meant someone was needed somewhere.

Today, many leaders wear busyness almost like a badge of honour.

But there is a question worth asking: What if being constantly busy is making us worse leaders?

In 2001, Bill Gates was already one of the most powerful business leaders in the world. Microsoft was enormous, the technology industry was moving rapidly, and the demands on its chairman were considerable.

Yet Gates deliberately created periods when he would step away from the noise.

He called them “Think Weeks.”

During these periods, Gates would isolate himself with books, research papers and information from Microsoft employees. He used the time to think deeply about technology, competition and the future of the company.

The practice became part of his leadership rhythm because Gates understood something that many executives forget: Thinking is not the opposite of work.

For leaders, thinking is part of the work.

The problem is that thinking produces little visible activity.

No one sees a leader thinking.

There is no impressive email trail.

No calendar full of meetings.

No urgent phone call.

No immediate deliverable.

Yet some of the most consequential leadership decisions begin in precisely that invisible space.

A leader’s job is not merely to respond to what is urgent.

It is to determine what deserves to become important.

That requires attention.

And attention has become one of the most valuable resources in modern leadership.

The digital economy has made distraction almost effortless.

Notifications arrive continuously.

Messages demand immediate responses.

Social media produces an endless stream of commentary. Meetings multiply.

Information arrives faster than anyone can properly process it.

Leaders can therefore spend an entire day responding to everything and still fail to think about what matters most.

This is a dangerous form of productivity.

It feels productive because something is always happening.

But movement is not necessarily progress.

A leader who spends eight hours answering questions may have solved eight problems while failing to notice the ninth problem that could determine the organization's future.

This is where the distinction between reactive leadership and reflective leadership becomes important.

Reactive leaders ask: “What needs my attention now?”

Reflective leaders also ask: “What deserves my attention before it becomes urgent?”

The second question is where strategy begins.

History offers many examples of leaders who understood the value of deliberate thinking.

Winston Churchill was known for spending significant time reading, writing and reflecting even during periods of extraordinary political pressure. His famous speeches were not produced simply through inspiration; they were built on years of reading, historical knowledge and careful preparation.

Nelson Mandela’s years in prison provide another, very different example.

His confinement was intended to restrict his freedom and influence. Yet he used years of isolation to study, reflect and understand the people and political forces he would eventually need to negotiate with.

The lesson is not that leaders should withdraw from the world.

It is that distance from noise can sometimes create clarity about the world.

For African leaders, this is particularly relevant because many operate in environments where every day brings genuine urgency.

Economic challenges need attention.

People need decisions.

Customers need responses.

Governments change policies.

Markets fluctuate.

The temptation is therefore to remain permanently available.

But availability and effectiveness are not the same thing.

A leader who is available for everything may eventually become useful for very little.

This is especially dangerous at the executive level because the higher a leader rises, the more expensive their attention becomes.

If a junior employee spends an hour in an unnecessary meeting, the cost may be relatively small.

If a CEO spends that same hour on an issue that should have been delegated, the organization has lost an hour of strategic attention.

This is why delegation is not simply about reducing workload.

It is about protecting leadership attention for the decisions only the leader can make.

A leader should not be the organization's most efficient problemsolving machine.

The leader should be building an organization where problems are solved at the appropriate level.

That requires trust.

It also requires discipline.

Leaders must learn to distinguish between what is urgent and what is consequential.

Urgency shouts.

Importance often whispers.

A crisis demands immediate attention.

But culture, succession, innovation, talent development and long-term strategy rarely arrive with flashing lights.

They become visible slowly.

By the time they become urgent, it may already be too late.

This is why some of the most important leadership work looks remarkably unproductive from the outside.

Okorie MFR is a leadership development expert spanning 30 years in the research, teaching and coaching of leadership in Africa and across the world. He is the CEO of the GOTNI Leadership Centre.

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MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

The payment of CATA to academic staff signals that agreements matter, argues ELIJAH BASHIRI

BETTER LIFE FOR ACADEMICS For years, the Nigerian university system was trapped in a frustrating cycle. Successive governments announced reforms. Academic unions raised concerns. Negotiations followed. Agreements were reached. Implementation faltered. Another dispute emerged. Eventually, students stayed at home while lecturers stayed away from classrooms.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) became synonymous with prolonged industrial action, and university strikes became almost a recurring feature of Nigeria's academic calendar. That cycle carried a heavy cost.

Students lost valuable months. Parents endured uncertainty. Universities struggled to maintain academic calendars. Lecturers became increasingly frustrated. And Nigeria's reputation as a destination for serious higher education suffered.

Against that background, the Federal Government's latest announcement on the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) to academic staff across federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education represents more than the release of another allowance.

It is part of a potentially important change in the relationship between the government and the nation's academic community. The federal government has announced the full payment of CATA for the period January to August 2026, in line with the 2025 agreement between the government and ASUU. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the funds had been released to all federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, with institutions notified to commence payment to academic staff. The importance of this development lies in what CATA represents. Academic work is not performed with certificates and goodwill alone.

A lecturer needs access to teaching materials, research tools, digital resources, laboratory equipment and other professional necessities. Researchers need the resources to conduct investigations, produce knowledge and contribute to national development.

When academics are expected to perform world-class work without the tools required to do so, the system inevitably suffers. That is why the payment of the allowance should be viewed as an investment in the productivity of Nigerian scholars.

More significantly, it reflects the growing emphasis of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration on the welfare of those who keep the country's tertiary education system running.

Alausa explicitly linked the payment to the President's commitment to academic and non-academic staff, saying Tinubu had prioritised their welfare.

The administration's attention to staff welfare is important because the crisis in Nigerian tertiary education has never been exclusively about salaries.

It has also been about working conditions, infrastructure, research funding, professional development and the credibility of agreements reached between government and academic unions.

When agreements are implemented, trust grows. When promises remain unfulfilled, distrust becomes entrenched.

That is why the current payment has significance beyond the money reaching individual lecturers' accounts. It reinforces the principle that negotiated agreements should be honoured.

One of the most damaging features of Nigeria's education system in previous years was the seemingly endless cycle of ASUU strikes. The issue was not simply the inconvenience of a few weeks away from school.

Repeated industrial action disrupted the lives of millions of students and families. Students who should have graduated in four years sometimes spent considerably longer in university. Academic programmes were repeatedly interrupted.

Some students eventually lost interest or sought opportunities outside Nigeria.

The economic consequences were equally serious.

Universities are engines for producing the professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs and public servants needed to sustain an economy. When universities are shut, the consequences spread far beyond the campus.

That is why the apparent reduction of the old strike-and-negotiation cycle under the Tinubu administration is worth highlighting. The real achievement is not that the government has somehow eliminated disagreements between itself and ASUU. Disagreements are normal in a democracy.

The achievement is that disputes can increasingly be channelled through negotiation and implementation rather than allowing them to become prolonged disruptions of the academic calendar. Industrial peace should never be taken for granted.

Bashiri writes from Lagos State

WALE OSOFISAN writes that people affected by crisis should not depend solely on external organisations for basic public services

WHAT REMAINS WHEN FUNDING ENDS?

I have spent much of my career working in places where the public systems we take for granted elsewhere are under enormous pressure.

That experience has convinced me of something that should be obvious but often gets lost in development financing: if we want development to last, we have to invest in the systems that sustain it.

This is particularly important for philanthropy.

Philanthropic capital can fund innovation, take risks and support things that governments may not yet have the resources or appetite to finance. But if that investment creates another programme that disappears when the funding ends, we should ask whether we have really invested in development or simply financed another intervention.

I saw the difference in Northeast Nigeria.

When my team at the International Rescue Committee helped co-design and implement the HeRoN health systems strengthening programme with partners, we were working in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, states affected by years of conflict, displacement and institutional disruption.

The immediate needs were enormous.

But the programme was intentionally designed around a different proposition: humanitarian action could save lives today while also helping strengthen the institutions that would have to provide services tomorrow.

HeRoN was initially funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and later by USAID, and was implemented in close partnership with the state Ministries of Health.

One result I remain particularly proud of was the integration of Community Health Influencers, Promoters and Services (CHIPS) into the government system.

The significance was not simply that community health workers had been trained or supported. It was that the people doing this work were integrated into a system that could continue beyond the life of the project. That distinction matters enormously.

A donor can pay for a community health worker for three years. The more difficult question is what happens in year four. Does the worker disappear when the project closes? Or has the investment helped create a public system in which the role, supervision, accountability and connection to primary healthcare can continue?

This is where I think we sometimes misunderstand the respective strengths of international organisations and governments even in fragile and conflict affected settings.

Think of it as a pipeline problem.

An INGO may arrive with one large, 20-inch pipeline. It has the people, systems, equipment and funding to push an intervention quickly and efficiently

through that pipeline. It can often move faster than government because its systems have been designed specifically for the project and its funding is concentrated.

But that pipeline usually exists only for as long as the funding lasts.

Government, by contrast, may have hundreds of two-inch pipelines reaching communities across the country. Many may be old, rusty, poorly maintained or partly blocked. They may be much less efficient than the INGO's 20-inch pipeline.

The instinct is often to build another large pipeline because it is faster and produces visible results. But what if, instead, we invested in servicing and strengthening those hundreds of smaller pipelines?

We could clean them, repair them, improve the pressure, fix the connections and make sure someone is responsible for maintaining them. Individually, each pipeline may carry less. Collectively, however, they can reach far more people.

And crucially, they remain in place after the external funding ends.

That, to me, is what systems strengthening should mean.

It is not about making government deliver exactly as an INGO does. It is about making the infrastructure government already has work better.

There are other examples of this across Africa.

Rwanda's community health programme demonstrates what can happen when community-based health workers become part of the country's wider public health architecture rather than remaining attached to individual projects.

Ethiopia's Health Extension Programme similarly built a national cadre of health workers connected to government health structures and primary healthcare.

These experiences are not perfect, and neither country has eliminated the challenges of financing, quality and accountability. But they demonstrate an important principle: external support can help build public capability rather than permanent external delivery capacity.

That principle matters even more in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

Dr Osofisan is senior director of the Governance Technical Unit at the International Rescue Committee

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T H I S D AY MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

D

STATES AND UNVIABLE AIRPORTS States should be prudent in spending their scarce resources

espite repeated warnings by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), many state governments are still embarking on airport projects without considering the implications. “The cost and investment in airports are actually greater than you think. It’s not just about the building,” FAAN Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku said recently while arguing that the airports being built in some states are unviable. But not many seem to be paying attention despite the fact that only six airports in the country record above 5,000 aircraft movement in a year. All the others depend on just these six airports (Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Owerri, Port Harcourt and Enugu) to stay afloat.

When in 2020 some state governments decided to build airports in Anambra, Benue, Ekiti, Nasarawa and Ebonyi while the federal government was being urged to take over the ones built by Kebbi, Jigawa and Gombe States, we queried the rationale behind the decision. The question we posed at the time remains unanswered: In a period of lean resources when the same government is borrowing to meet commitments, why does it have to saddle the country with more cost centres?

The consequences of building unviable airports are that huge resources, which would have been used to provide essential infrastructure and other amenities are being frittered away. With the astronomical rise in the cost of air tickets in recent years, the number of air travellers has dwindled considerably. We fail to understand the obsession at a period the shortage of aircraft has forced local airlines to streamline their operations thus rendering many of the airports operationally redundant.

In recent times the federal government has taken over some state-built airports and handed them to FAAN to manage, but none is viable. For instance, the cargo airport at Lafia, Nasarawa State, has been

abandoned with its facilities allowed to rot away.

Conceived by former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, the airport was estimated to have cost about N10 billion with the sole purpose of dumping it on FAAN, as many others have done. Unable to complete that process, most of the facilities and equipment at the airport have now collapsed.

Today, FAAN is shopping for money to rehabilitate the runways of 17 unviable airports under its management. It is not only that these airports cannot generate revenue to justify the huge investment on them but also that they push aviation agencies like the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and others into spending huge resources recruiting personnel and providing training and logistics to manage redundant airports. Meanwhile, in many states where airports have been built, their primary and secondary school infrastructure have collapsed, essential roads that connect to different parts are dilapidated while most of their residents do not have access to social amenities like hospitals and potable water.

Looking at market projections, there is not going to be sudden rise in air transport in Nigeria because of low per capita income, even if alternative means of transport like rail and road do not expand. We therefore do not understand the rationale behind building airports by the states beyond political consideration. Most of these airports only serve the interest of the governors and other government officials who travel through them with charter services, as scheduled passenger services cannot break even for commercial airlines due to low passenger throughput.

Today, most of the existing airports rely on obsolete facilities because there are not enough funds to upgrade them. Now that it is obvious most of these airports are unviable, we expect the federal government to put a cap on such projects.

The consequences of building unviable airports are that huge resources, which would have been used to provide essential infrastructure, are frittered away T H I S D AY

EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor 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.

LETTERS

BUBA MARWA: A LIFE FORGED IN PURPOSE

Readership is rarely an accident of history; rather, it is the deliberate intersection of rigorous preparation, unwavering integrity, and an unyielding commitment to the public good.

As Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) marks his 73rd birthday, the Nigerian public space pauses not merely to celebrate an age, but to honor an enduring institution of public administration.

Across decades of service—from the elite corridors of military command and complex state governance to his current crusade cleansing the nation's bloodstream of illicit drug cartels—Marwa has remained a shining example of what happens when a patriot treats public office as a sacred trust.

Born on September 9, 1953, into a distinguished military family where his father and grandfather proudly served the Nigerian Army, Marwa’s path was predestined by a heritage of honor.

His foundational education crisscrossed the nation— from Enugu and Zaria to Abeokuta and Lagos—inculcating an early, pan-Nigerian worldview that transcends ethnic or sectional fault lines.

Following his formative years at the prestigious Nigerian Military School, Zaria, and the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Recce Corps in June 1973, marking the official beginning of a remarkable journey in military and civic excellence. ​Behind the crisp military fatigues lay an insatiable intellectual appetite. Marwa pursued advanced scholarship with the same clinical precision he brought to tactical field operations, earning master's degrees in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, and Public Administration from Harvard University.

These elite academic credentials equipped him with the modern theoretical frameworks that would later define

his legendary administrative interventions, proving that true military might is most potent when wedded to deep intellectual rigor. ​History reserves its most luminous ink for those who transform crises into moments of national rebirth. When Marwa was appointed Military Governor of old Borno State between 1990 and 1992, he confronted cross-border security threats and severe developmental deficits with visionary infrastructure expansion and the establishment of the state's first Ministry of Water Resources.

Yet, it was his stewardship as Military Administrator of Lagos State from 1996 to 1999 that permanently etched his name into the national consciousness. Inheriting a volatile megacity choking under urban decay and violent criminality, Marwa unleashed a seminal in pragmatic governance.

Erasmus Ikhide, ikhideluckyerasmus@gmail.com_

T H I S D AY • Monday, September 14, 2026

BusinessSpecial

23 Editor: Goddy Egene goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com 0803 350 6821

Fadahunsi: Nigeria’s Capital Market Needs More Depth, Trust, Awareness

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, AVA Capital Plc, Mr. Kayode Fadahunsi, in this conversation with Kayode Tokede, stresses that Nigerian capital needs greater depth, emphasising that trust is one of the ingredients to deepen the market and create opportunities. He also speaks on the listing of AVA Capital on the Nigerian Exchange and other economic issues. Excerpts: What is your view of the Nigerian capital market in terms of driving economic growth? believe Nigeria’s capital market needs greater depth, but above all, it needs trust. A strong capital market depends on confidence. Investors need confidence that their capital is being allocated responsibly.

Businesses need confidence that they can access long-term funding. And the wider public needs confidence that the institutions operating within the market are disciplined, transparent and accountable. One of the most important responsibilities of market participants is therefore, to connect capital to credible and productive opportunities. If capital is consistently misallocated or investors do not believe that institutions are acting responsibly, confidence in the market is weakened.

There is also a significant need for greater financial education and investor awareness. Market participation cannot deepen meaningfully if people do not understand the opportunities available to them, the risks involved and the mechanisms through which they can participate. Luckily for us at AVA Capital, we have been able to connect capital to opportunities in some critical sectors. Investment banks and other financial institutions also have an important role to play beyond executing transactions.

They can help businesses access the capital required to grow, professionalize their operations and prepare for larger markets.

This is particularly important for businesses with strong potential that may lack access to appropriate long-term financing. When a viable business is able to access capital and grow successfully, the impact extends beyond that individual transaction. It can lead to greater employment, increased production, stronger businesses and broader economic activity.

That is why I believe financial institutions should see themselves not simply as intermediaries in transactions, but as institutions with a responsibility to contribute to the productive development of the economy.

The capital market should ultimately be one of the mechanisms through which Nigeria converts savings into productive investment and productive investment into sustainable economic growth.

I

Fad ahunsi

How can stakeholders further drive retail investors in Nigerian markets ?

I am excited that we are where we are today.

We have seen more investor education by capital market stakeholders. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria had introduced regulations for digital assets, recognising them as securities under the Investment. The SEC’s approach extends existing traditional securities law to digital assets, similar to the approach taken by regulators in developed countries. The SEC’s rules cover various operations of digital assets, including issuance, offering platforms, custody, and service providers.

earns trust through competence, discipline, transparency and consistency. When individuals or institutions entrust you with their capital, they are placing something of significant value in your care. That creates a responsibility to manage that capital prudently, communicate clearly and always operate within a strong framework of governance and accountability.

There is also an important issue of financial awareness in Nigeria. Many people still primarily associate financial institutions with storing money rather than intentionally growing and preserving wealth over time. As an industry, we have a responsibility to help people better understand the opportunities available to them and the risks that come with different investment decisions. Financial institutions should therefore do more than provide products.

They should help clients make informed decisions and participate meaningfully in the growth opportunities available within the economy. The Nigerian capital market and its regulatory infrastructure have evolved significantly over time, but confidence in any market ultimately depends on the quality of the institutions and individuals operating within it. That is why trust cannot be built through marketing alone. It is built over time through responsible behavior, good governance, transparency and a consistent record of doing what you say you will do. At AVA Capital, that is the standard we aspire to meet.

Why should people trust a financial institution with their capital?

People cannot trust a financial institution simply because it asks them to. Trust has to be earned. For me, a financial institution

What has actually prevented businesses to access long term capital needed to expand and further drive economic growth?

It is all about meeting the requirements

of accessing. The requirements are so simple, but you know when you ask people to fit themselves into it, you will start hearing all sorts of stories.

The market is able to require truth, transparency. The market can cope with the truth when it is said exactly the way it is. What it cannot cope with is a lie. People don’t want you to tell them beautiful stories. Regulators and operators want you to tell them the story and be able to back it up. So the greatest challenge is structuring it.

The first basic foundation of it is proper bookkeeping. The second foundation is having proper governance. All the listed companies have submitted themselves to the basic governance rule. So after you do that, then you now commit to tell people that this is my direction.

Going to two months, AVA Capital was listed by Introduction on NGX. What has changed since becoming a quoted company?

A lot has changed since we got listed on the NGX. We were listed on July 31, 2026 and we are close to two months on the trading floor of the Exchange.

In that period, the initial frenzy for newly quoted companies had happened and the stock went up about N13 per share at one point. The stock dropped to N8 per share, till it closed recently at above N5 per share.

People keep asking about the swing in price and my answer has been if you look at the history of all companies on the Exchange, you will see the movement of the share price. It achieves new levels as we continue to release credible results to the investing public.

We are committed to periodic financials.

Investors will get all information from us on the things we are doing and we will make them available to the public. We’ll have that first opportunity at the end of this quarter, September 30th . We will release those results before the deadline set by the Exchange, and the results will be good.

We are working very hard to ensure that we reward our investors.

Our focus now is on the general philosophy of the company. Our job is not as complicated as it looks. Our job is to connect opportunities to capital. We have about four ways to do that. We have a way of doing it in the capital market through investment banking. We have a way to do it on the trustee side. We have a way to do it on the asset management side, and we have a way to do it on the securities trading side.

The job of the capital market is to give long-term capital to opportunities as it appears within an economy. About 1.2 billion people in Africa and 250 million of those people are in Nigeria. Those are huge figures. Those are huge opportunities: feeding, fashion, entertainment, construction, among other sectors. And no matter how brilliant your opportunity is, if it’s not connected to capital, there’s absolutely nothing you can do.

And interestingly, I will tell you, you know, it is not the brilliance of the opportunity that connects it to capital. It is the ability to structure, put together your opportunity in such a way that it will attract the required capital that you need to attract. So we are listed and there are so many opportunities to be connected to capital. We want to be here for many years, just like people who run this business for years, like the J.P. Morgans and The Goldman Sachs of this world are still here. You first start when you start a business like this. Where do you start from?

You start from catering to opportunities of individuals. Then you move. You start catering to the opportunities of corporations. Then, if you are very lucky, you start catering to the opportunities of nations.

When you start catering to the opportunities of nations, then you have, you know, worked hard on the scale of, you know, getting capital to opportunity because nations need capital.

There are many institutional asset managers globally that manage nations. In fact, the real reason why we listed, and I think I mentioned, is that you cannot tell people to structure and position for opportunity without structuring and showing them how to position.

How has your operations changed transforming into a publicly quoted company?

You know, listing a company is not radically supposed to change anything that is not already foreseen, or you have already forecasted in your strategy. But listing a company will give you increased visibility because every evening there are multiple media channels that carry reports on you.

There is a lot of face time on you, and because of that, it has also increased tremendously patronage.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 • T H I S D AY

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 • T H I S D AY

Why I Am Running We are children of the same soil, and political power must return to public purpose

GOOD MORNING, RIVERS STATE,

I

address you today with humility, gratitude and a clear sense of duty. We are children of the same soil. Whether we come from the riverine communities or the upland communities, whether we were born here or have built our lives here, we share the benefits when Rivers State succeeds and the consequences when it fails. I am asking for your trust because I believe political power must return to public purpose.

For too long, political conflict has consumed attention that should have gone into jobs, schools, healthcare, safer communities, working infrastructure and stronger businesses. The cost of this crisis is not only found in economic estimates. It is found in postponed government decisions, weakened citizens’ confidence, projects delayed or abandoned, businesses that did not expand, young people who waited too long for opportunity, and communities that watched politics become louder than governance.

I do not believe that our people are condemned to fear, factionalisation or permanent quarrel. We can disagree without making enemies of one another. We can compete without violence. We can protect the dignity of every community without turning government into the property of any godfather, faction or private political estate. Rivers State belongs to the people.

Rivers State possesses much of what it needs to succeed: human resources, energy and gas, ports and waterways, industrial experience, including enormous potential in tourism, blue economy, agriculture, culture and creativity, and the commercial strength of Port Harcourt. Our challenge is conversion, turning these assets into reliable power, productive firms, safer movement, skilled work, stronger local businesses, better public services and more secure household incomes.

That is why I am running: to move Rivers State from politics without purpose to disciplined and committed public work; from sharing poverty to creating prosperity; and from a State known mainly for oil and gas to a State respected for what its people built, produced and became.

Rivers State belongs to the people. It needs a Reset.

We must return to the proper rules and habits of good government, from fear to purpose; from conflict to competence; from noise to work; from political connection to fair opportunity; and from public wealth that is difficult to see in people’s lives to a government that can be judged by clear results.

Reset is not revenge.

For me, Reset Rivers State has six clear implications: We must reset politics so that it becomes peaceful, civil and purposeful; We must reset government so that institutions are honest, predictable and competent; We must reset the economy so that production, services, logistics, enterprise and exports matter more than dependence on monthly allocation; We must reset opportunity so that work, finance, markets and advancement do not depend on political connection; We must reset trust through fairness, truth, continuity and respect for the rule of law; We must reset our commitment to the environment so that clean water, monitoring, emergency response, remediation and resilience are treated as public safety and economic justice.

Our vision is long term but remains honest about what one administration can do. We will lay the foundation for moving Rivers State from the current approximation of a US$20bn economy to one that will become a US$200bn economy in fifteen years.

We will lay the essential foundations for safer politics, honest public finance, more reliable power supply, better logistics, serviced industrial land, thriving tourism sector, employer-linked skills, stronger farms and fisheries, cleaner and safer communities, and projects prepared well enough to attract serious finance and reach operationalisation.

We will be honest about jurisdiction. Rivers State does not control every port, petroleum asset, federal regulator or private concessionaire. We will use our own powers fully and cooperate lawfully where others must act.

This is therefore the covenant I offer you, an administration that can be judged by what works, what reaches the people and whether government tells you the truth about its progress.

Our manifesto is not a catalogue of wishes. Every Local Government Area has a productive role to play. Our statewide systems, power, logistics, skills, food and fisheries, digital services, environmental protection and accountable government must connect communities to the larger Rivers economy. Women, young people, persons with disabilities and people outside political networks must be able to see fairer routes into work, enterprise and public services.

We will use public money with discipline.

The State budget should provide essential public services, prepare serious projects and build infrastructures that enables production.

Government should not pretend that ownership is the only path to progress when a commercial project can attract private development financing and professional operatorship, Useful inherited projects and lawful obligations will be judged on evidence, not on who started them.

We will also treat environmental protection as part of the core duty of government. From riverine communities facing pollution and coastal risk to urban communities facing flooding, unsafe water and failing drainage systems. Our people deserve credible information, faster response and practical protection.

Development that destroys the conditions for life and livelihood is not transformation.

I do not ask for a blank cheque. I ask for the opportunity to serve and be judged by the evidence we publish and the difference our people can see in their lives and communities.

At the end of our tenure, ask whether politics is safer; institutions are more trusted; priority projects have moved beyond announcement; whether small and medium scale enterprises work better in supported areas; whether tourism, the creative sector and blue economy have been given their proper places; whether more people have moved from training into real work; whether environmental monitoring and response are stronger; and whether government tells you clearly what succeeded, what failed and what must be corrected.

I am not asking you merely to support Dumo Lulu-Briggs. I am asking you to join us to return political power to service. Let us choose purpose over capture, work over noise, competence over permanent conflict and prosperity over poverty. Let us build a Rivers State in which every community can say: the State sees us, hears us, respects us and works for us.

Together, by the grace of God, we can Reset Rivers State.

I have set my sights on where our collective strides can take us.

I ask for your trust, and I pledge myself to your service.

Yours ceaselessly,

Dumo Lulu-Briggs

NDC Governorship Candidate for Rivers State | 2027 NIGERIA DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS

25

26

T H I S D AY • Monday, September 14, 2026

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

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REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

S eptember

S & P INDEX

1 1 , 2 0 2 6

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EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

25.34%

CALL

23.25%

INDEX LEVEL

595.26

1/4 to daTE

0.24%

N1,381/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

25.18%

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YEAR TO DATE

-10.99%

*AS AT Fri., September 11, 2026

3-MONTH

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Banks, Insurers, Others List N2.7tn Shares on NGX Amid Recapitalisation

Kayode Tokede Following the conclusion of the banking/insurance sectors recapitalisation exercise, among other sectors raising fresh capital, the overall corporate listings on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) so far in 2026 stood at N2.7 trillion.

The funds were raised through bond, private placement and public offering exercises .

Analysis of NGX data showed that Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, led others with the highest listed amount, followed by Presco Plc.

Dangote Sugar Refinery listed 8,097,918,827 Ordinary Shares of 50 Kobo Each at N60.00 Per Share, translating into N485.9 billion while Presco Plc listed N236.7 billion worth of shares arising from Rights Issue at N1,420.00 per share on the basis of one (1) new ordinary share for every existing six (6) ordinary shares.

Dangote Sugar Refinery listed additional shares from the company’s Rights Issue of 8,097,918,827 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N60.00 per share on the basis of two (2) new ordinary shares for every existing

three (3) ordinary shares held as at the close of business on Monday, 20 April 2026.

A total of 10 insurance companies listed N118.89 billion on the backdrop of complying with the sector’s recapitalisation directive by the National insurance Commission (NAICOM).

A breakdown of the insurance sector listing showed that International Energy Insurance Plc listed N25.8 billion, arising from a public offer of 5,468,750,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N3.20 per share.

Lasaco Assurance Plc, N18.47 billion; Linkage

Assurance Plc, N16.26billion; Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc, N15billion; Fortis Global Insurance Plc, N12 billion; Coronation Insurance Plc N9.79 billion; Sunu Assurances Nigeria Plc, N9.3 billion; Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, N5.02billion; Prestige Assurance Plc, N4.62 billion and Regency Alliance Insurance Plc, N2.54 billion.

On a flipside, Fidelity Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), FCMB Group Plc, First HoldCo Plc, Access Holdings Plc,Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc led

listed firms with listings of N652.01 billion in the period under review.

The N652.01 billion listing is in the backdrop of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy that mandated raising fresh equity to meet the paid-up capital thresholds.

While GTCO listed N10 billion after a successful private placement of 125,000,000 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N80.00 per share, NGX admitted UBA Plc and First Holdco’s N157.8billion and N128.7billion rights issue and private placement early January 2026, respectively.

Other new listings on

NGX are: Access Holdings, N21.4 billion; FCMB Group, N231.83billion and Fidelity Bank, N227.05 billion.

Also, Zichis Agro-Allied Industries Plc was admitted on NGX by introduction, listing shares worth N1.09 billion.

Morison Industries Plc listed N400.3 million after offering 266,838,125 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N1.50 per share through a Private Placement.

A newly listed company, AVA Capital Plc listed by introduction about N37.5 billion on NGX. The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

NAICOM: Insurance Sector Raised Additional N1.079tn During Recapitalisation Exercise Ebere Nwoji

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has said that the insurance sector raised a total of N1.079 trillion during the recently concluded recapitalisation exercise.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Ayo Omosehin, stated this while giving an update of the

recapitalisation exercise in the insurance industry to the media during the weekend.

He said the exercise was successfully concluded in line with the Minimum Capital Requirements (MCR) guidelines issued by the commission and in line with the stipulations of Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act( NIIRA 2025).

According to him, 48 insurance companies and two reinsurance companies scaled the recapitalisation hurdle and had been appropriately relicensed.

He said among the recapitalised companies, 24 of them raised money through various capital raising options such as Righs Issues, private placement, public offer,

special placement and fresh equity injection among other options, adding that some insurance firms were serious minded and had more than the minimum required capital as their capital base even before the recapitalisation exercise.

The fund he said is domiciled in Escrow Accounts of the insurance firms with the Central Bank

of Nigeria (CBN) in line with recapitalisation guidelines.

Omosehin assured the fund owners that the money would be released to them for operations on or before September 30th, 2026.

He said the recapitalisation exercise produced 48 primary insurance underwriters now well positioned to carry larger risks unlike before and two reinsurance firms .

“We have handed over their new licenses to them, and they have since renewed their strength in protecting and providing resilience to the Nigerian people,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that six insurance licences had been cancelled following the exercise.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

M a r k e t d ata A s at F r i d ay, S e p t e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 2 6 BONDS Description Price Yield Change Updated Time (%) ^13.98 23September 96.72 16.60 0.00 11, 2026 FEB-2028 September ^21.00 200.00 11, 105.70 16.60 2026 MAR-2028 ^19.30 17September 105.35 16.65 0.15 11, APR-2029 2026 ^14.55 26September 95.91 16.51 0.00 APR-2029 11, 2026 ^18.50 21September 105.62 16.65 -0.05 11, FEB-2031 2026

BILLS Maturity NTB 8-Oct26 NTB 5-Nov26 NTB 3-Dec26 NTB 7-Jan27 NTB 4-Feb27

Discount Yield

Change (%) Updated Time

17.00

17.22

September -0.01 11, 2026

17.30

17.77

September -0.01 11, 2026

17.79

18.55

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18.54

19.73

September -0.01 11, 2026

18.25

September -0.01 11, 2026

17.00

CLEARED NAIRA-SETTLED NDFS

CPs Maturity PCLL CP V 25-SEP-26 AGRO CP IV 7-DEC-26 DAIL CP II 26-NOV-26 JVIL CP XXIV 29-DEC-26 EMZO CP II 14-JAN-27

Discount Yield 22.92

23.14

22.74

24.06

21.09

22.07

22.21

23.80

21.69

23.44

Change (%)

Updated Time

September 0.00 11, 2026 September -0.01 11, 2026 September 0.00 11, 2026 September 0.01 11, 2026 September 0.01 11, 2026

Contract Tenor Contract (Month)

Current Rate ($/₦)

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Monday, September 14, 2026 • T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

News

L-R: Director of Industrial Development Department, Federal Ministry Of Industry, Trade & Investment, Bala Mohammed; Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Iya Gamawa; President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Francis Meshioye; Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh; Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, John Uwajumogu; Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Dr. Olasupo Olusi; Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Fasua, during the Industrial Revolution Work Group (IRWG) Technical Session II, organised by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment in Lagos… recently

Minister Reviews Industrial Reforms, Weighs in on Slow Manufacturing Growth Omolabake Fasogbon

The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh has said that the Nigerian Industrial Policy (NIP) is measuring up to set objectives, just as he officially inducted new private-sector members to scale reform gains.

The NIP was launched in February 2026, emerging from the efforts of the Industrial Revolution Work Group (IRWG) inaugurated in February 2025. Comprising stakeholders across the private and public sectors, development partners, and

academia, the group was formed to drive industrial and manufacturing growth.

Specifically, IRWG set out to chart real solutions to the key constraints of the nation’s industrial ecosystem, revolving around finance, energy, infrastructure, regulation, Made-in-Nigeria patronage, and skills.

Analysing developments in the industrial sector at the second technical session of the IRWG in Lagos, themed, “From Technical Consensus to Policy Reality: Advancing the IRWG Execution Mandate after the Launch

APM Terminals Apapa Strengthens Exports with 24-Hour Barge Operations

APM Terminals Apapa, Nigeria’s largest container terminal, is stepping up efforts to ease persistent bottlenecks in the country’s export logistics chain, targeting a significant increase in rail evacuation and introducing round-the-clock barge operations in Q4 2026.

The initiatives were announced at the third edition of the APM Terminals Apapa Exporters Forum,

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Deputy Business Editor Chinedu Eze Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Energy Emmanuel Addeh Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Correspondents KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Reporter Peter Uzoho (Energy)

themed “Exports – Voice of Customers Forum”, which brought together exporters, shipping lines, logistics operators, regulators, industry stakeholders and academia to identify challenges across Nigeria’s export supply chain and develop practical solutions.

Speaking at the forum, Head of Commercial, APM Terminals Apapa, Kayode Olufemi-Daniel, said the terminal was taking a collaborative approach to improving export logistics by focusing on the root causes of delays and working with stakeholders on practical solutions.

“We want to understand the pain points with the export process end to end.

From there, we look at the root causes of those pain points, identify those root causes, then collectively come up with an action plan on how we can address those issues to increase the export flow,” he said.

“This gives us the capacity to handle more barges unlike the past when we had to do barging on our main quay,” Olufemi-Daniel said.

of the Nigerian Industrial Policy,” Enoh pointed to tangible economic progress accelerated by NIP and the IRWG. He said that NIP ,anchored on eight objectives and a single delivery framework, has produced defensible results within its first 90 days.

According to him, the policy has seen over $380

million in strategic financing mobilized for industrial projects across the country.

“On the table is a proposed N350 billion MSME development fund; 400 young Nigerians trained in mechatronics across four states, with thousands more in the pipeline; Nigerian products being certified for continental markets under

the African Quality Marks; and quick-win financing tracks activated with the Bank of Industry,” he said.

The Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir equally sought targeted interventions for the sector.

He noted that while manufacturing has shown

resilience, that resilience has not translated into deep growth.

He said growth in manufacturing has not been as impressive as the broader industrial figures, urging stakeholders to disaggregate manufacturing performance from overall industrial statistics to avoid masking underlying problems.

NCC Opens Free Digital Learning Pathways with Zero-rated Data Access The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched the Zero-rated Data Access to Educational Platforms and Content initiative to expand access to learning resources, bridge educational inequalities and support the country’s longterm economic growth by investing in human capital.

Launched in Abuja, the Zero-rated Data Access to

Educational Platforms and Content, is a coordinated national approach to improving affordable and equitable access to digital education across Nigeria, which is aligned with Nigeria’s broader digital economy objectives.

Speaking at the launch, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, explained

that the initiative, which provides learners with free access to approved educational platforms, is part of broader efforts by the government to equip Nigerians with digital skills and knowledge.

Maida said the programme would align with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy, which

according to him, depends heavily on developing the country’s human capital.

“We need to appreciate how critical education is to economic development because of the role of human capital. The president has made it very clear the role of human capital towards achieving the $1 trillion economy goal,” Maida said.

Fidelity Bank Rallies Support for Northern Businesses at Kano SME Forum

Kayode Tokede

Fidelity Bank Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the growth and sustainability of Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) through the Kano edition of its Quarterly Business Forum, which brought together entrepreneurs, business owners, industry stakeholders and customers to explore

practical strategies for business growth and resilience.

The forum, themed, “Positioning Northern Businesses for Growth,” provided participants with valuable insights into strengthening business operations, improving access to finance, enhancing financial management and leveraging opportunities that can drive sustainable enterprise development across Northern

UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the commencement of the 2026 edition of its annual National Essay Competition (NEC), with a total of N41.5 million in educational grants and prizes to be awarded to

the top five winners.

Now in its 16th consecutive year, the competition continues to provide senior secondary school students in Nigeria and Africa, with a platform to showcase their creativity, writing skills and critical thinking while earning financial support towards

Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank, Mr. Sufiyanu Garba, described Northern Nigeria as a critical driver of the country’s economic future and stressed the need to unlock the region’s vast entrepreneurial potential through strategic support and partnerships.

“The North occupies a critical place in Nigeria’s

economic future. With its vast agricultural resources, strong trading culture, manufacturing capacity and large consumer market, the region has enormous potential for sustainable economic growth. Fidelity Bank remains committed to helping businesses unlock this potential through financing, market access, advisory support and strategic partnerships,” he said.

UBA Foundation Raises National Essay Competition Winning Prizes to N41.5m their university education.

A major highlight of this year’s competition is the expansion of educational grants to the fourth- and fifth-place winners for the first time. The first-place winner will receive a N15 million university grant, representing a 50 per cent increase from the N10 million

awarded in 2025, while the second- and third-place winners will receive N10.5 million and N7.5 million respectively.

The fourth- and fifth-place winners will receive N5 million and N3.5 million each in grants towards their university education at any African university of the winners’ choice.

T H I S D AY • Monday, September 14, 2026

28

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Management of Nigerian Economy: Staying the Course but Pausing to Reflect

Hafiz Bakare

T

he Nigerian Government has taken a number of policy decisions in the last 18 months, mainly fuel subsidy removal and floating/unification of the exchange rate, with subsequent dire consequences on the purchasing power and well being of the people.

Given the dependence on fuel importation due to eroded local refining capacity over many years, the effect of fuel subsidy removal (whether partly or fully) has led to significantly increased pump price of fuel with excruciating consequence on the populace more from the impact of currency devaluation than the removal of subsidy itself. Even with the coming on board of the Dangote Refinery, the expectation of reduced pump price and relief for citizens has dimmed given the recent increases in pump price heralding the commencement of operations by the refinery. This is still traceable to the high exchange rate despite the idea of selling crude oil to the refinery in Naira since the underlying commercial transactions even in Naira are essentially still benchmarked to the equivalent Dollar value of a barrel of crude oil in the international market where it is traded in Dollars.

There is a well established correlation between the exchange rate and domestic inflation particularly in Nigeria. So, as long as the exchange rate remains high, inflation will be high, and with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) focused on price stability and inflation management as core mandates, it would do what it considers necessary to curb inflation. For the current CBN regime, this has been through a resolute laser focus on inflation targeting mechanism utilizing the instrumentality of interest rate i.e the Monetary Policy Rate which it has increased significantly by 850 basis points since the first quarter of this year 2024.

With this background, I had a chat with some colleagues recently and the key thrust of my submission was that given the outcomes of recent decisions and the centrality of the exchange rate in our national life, it might be necessary to pause and reflect even as we “stay the course”. Some of the points are highlighted below: 1. The decision to float and unify the exchange rate may have achieved one of its objectives of (near) unification of official and parallel market rates to reduce arbitrage which was hitherto a major issue, and there has even been relative stability over the last couple of months.

However, at over N1,600, the exchange rate is still very high as the naira is undervalued compared to other African countries (at least in terms of the degree of devaluation against the Dollar over the last 18 months) and also the initial projections of equilibrium exchange rate around N600-N700 by Government officials and representatives (e.g Minister of Finance & Economic Planning, CBN Governor, Chairman of Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy & Tax Reforms) at different times in 2023.

The key issue remains inadequate FX supply or accretion into reserves. Therefore, it is imperative that we significantly increase supply of FX given low oil output (below budget and OPEC quota) arising from continued oil theft, pipeline vandalization, insecurity and weak infrastructure because we cannot give what we don’t have i.e FX. Even the argument about devaluation being of benefit for exports due to the expected competitiveness of such exported products in the international market is challenged by the low oil output. This is exacerbated by our economy being essentially mono product, depending

on crude oil.

2. Still on foreign exchange (FX) supply, the recent domestic Dollar-denominated bond issuance was said to be 180% oversubscribed but there has not been any material impact yet on the exchange rate.

When the idea of the bond was initially mooted, a key concern in some quarters was that while the bond would encourage locally based Nigerians to bring out their Dollars from domiciliary accounts and “under pillows”, it would equally encourage significant demand for FX by other locally resident Nigerians who would convert Naira to Dollar to partake in the bond, thereby creating distortions.

We cannot be justifiably discouraging dollarization of the economy in one breath and in another breath encouraging the same thing. This informed the suggestion about possibly restricting the bond only to Nigerians in diaspora and marketing it aggressively that way but it was eventually launched making it open to everyone including locally based Nigerians.

Given the limited impact of oversubscription on the exchange rate thus far, there might be a need for scope review as to whether another tranche should still focus on all Nigerians resident both home and abroad or it should focus only on diaspora Nigerians and other international investors. And also to generally review learning points on the bond in order to achieve the desired objectives of increasing fresh FX supply and lowering the exchange rate.

3. As earlier stated, there is a clear correlation between exchange rate and domestic inflation/high prices. We’ve seen that play out in the last 18months.

While we might say that the rate of increase of inflation has reduced, is reducing or

stabilizing, the inflation rate itself remains unprecedentedly high.

So, given CBN’s dogged resort to orthodoxy in managing inflation, we need to consider at what point to put a hold on Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) hikes or even consider reducing the MPR to facilitate lowering of interest rates which have remained unusually high (due to the high MPR) thereby stiffling access to credit for the real sector or granting very expensive access to credit leading to sustained high cost of products keeping inflation high and stunting economic growth. Without a threshold to put interest rate hikes in check, couldn’t we inadvertently defeat the original objective of inflation management?

In conclusion, the prognosis for exchange rate in the next six months to one year will be determined by decisive measures that must be taken to boost FX supply significantly on one hand and on the other hand by the expected considerable reduction in FX demand arising from local refining of petroleum products. If the latter does not happen, then what would be the point of having a local refinery with such capacity?

These, coupled with other fiscal measures/ tax policies just gazetted for implementation, the need to review the extent to which interest rate hikes can continue to be used for managing inflation as well as enhanced communication and engagement with citizens should be given serious attention.

The preceding issues underscore the fact that while Government needs to “stay the course” regarding overall objectives, it surely needs to pause and reflect at this point on the component steps to ensure that it is able to ultimately deliver intended value to the generality of Nigerians who are currently at the highest threshold of endurance!

• Hafiz Bakare, a Consultant and former bank chief executive, writes from Lagos.

CIS, ASHON Urge Nigerians to ParticipateinDangoteRefineryIPO

Kayode Tokede

The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) and the Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) have welcomed the initial public offering of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Free Zone Enterprise.

The described the offering as

a significant development for Nigeria’s capital market and an opportunity for Nigerians to participate in the ownership of a strategically important national enterprise.

The offer is scheduled to open today at N525 per share, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares. CIS and ASHON encouraged retail and institutional

investors, particularly those with a long-term outlook, to consider participating through the approved channels.

The two bodies noted that the refinery’s integrated refining and petrochemicals model, its scale and its role in domestic energy supply give the business strategic relevance to Nigeria.

They added that the enterprise has the potential to support import substitution, foreign- exchange earnings, industrial development and greater economic participation through the capital market.

CIS and ASHON also clarified that all stockbroking firms licenced by the Securities and Exchange Commission

(SEC) are accredited receiving agents for the offer.

President of CIS, Dr Fiona Ahimie, said: “The proposed listing is a welcome development for Nigeria and for our capital market. The refinery combines a strong integrated business model with the scale and strategic importance required to

contribute meaningfully to the country’s energy security and industrial growth.”

Chairman of ASHON, Sehinde Adenagbe, said: “Bringing an enterprise of this scale to the public market broadens participation, supports wealth creation and adds depth to Nigeria’s investment landscape.

Otti Targets Seven Lagos PWDs Seek More inDrive Records 96% Sectors to Attract Digital Skills Development Surge in App Installs Investment Capital to Abia inDrive, a global mobility model that offers consumers Oluchi Chibuzor

The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has identified seven priority sectors the state is targeting to attract investment, deepen industrialisation and drive economic growth.

Otti spoke at the Meet the Governor Series of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) in Lagos, themed, “Repositioning Abia for Enterprise, Industrialisation and Sustainable Economic Growth.”

The sectors, he said, are agribusiness and agro-processing, trade and markets, creative and digital economy, manufacturing and industrialisation, small and medium enterprise growth, inclusive finance and diaspora investment and innovation.

Declaring Abia open for business, Otti said his administration had, in the past 39 months, focused on removing barriers to productivity and encouraging value creation to make the state more attractive to investors.

He said reforms in fiscal governance and infrastructure were aimed at creating a conducive environment for businesses, adding that the state’s 2026 budget of N1.016 trillion allocated 80 per cent to capital expenditure, which he described as the highest per-resident capital spending in the country based on available national expenditure figures.

According to him, the state’s projected internally generated revenue (IGR) of N223.4 billion is expected to cover recurrent expenditure.

He added that Abia was ranked fourth in the BudgIT States Fiscal Transparency League in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Otti said a 15 per cent budgetary allocation to healthcare had helped the state top the national chart on health emergency preparedness, while a security assessment by Phillips Consulting also ranked it favourably on the safety of lives and property.

and delivery services platform, is gaining traction among Nigerian consumers as the country’s ride-hailing market continues to evolve, recording a 96 per cent increase in app installs and emerging as the number one ride-hailing app in Nigeria by installs.

According to independent third-party data from Sensor Tower, inDrive has continued to grow its active user base, further strengthening its position in Nigeria’s evolving ride-hailing market, as consumers increasingly turn to mobility options that offer affordability, flexibility, and greater control over their rides.

Commenting on the changing market landscape, the Country Manager, inDrive Nigeria, Timothy Oladimeji, noted that the platform’s growth reflects the relevance of a business

greater choice while responding to the realities of emerging markets, where affordability remains an important consideration.

Oladimeji added that inDrive is evolving beyond ride-hailing to build a broader mobility and delivery services ecosystem designed to serve passengers, drivers and businesses, with Delivery extending the platform’s value to the B2B market.

“The growth we have recorded reflects the strength of our model and our deep understanding of the Nigerian market. While the market continues to evolve, our focus remains on giving passengers greater choice, flexibility, and access to affordable, reliable mobility, while creating flexible earning opportunities for drivers.,” he said.

Training Emma Okonji

Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) from Lagos State have called on the government and the private sector to extend digital skills development training to them, in order to empower them to become self-reliant and productive.

They made the call at the end of a two-day training session, organised for PWDs in Lagos, and facilitated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

“We are grateful to NCC and to NCC’s Consultant, Fornido Development Company, for the hands-on training on digital skills. We need more training. It should not be a one-off training. We need the private sector and the government to organise regular training for us,” some

of the participants said.

Lead Facilitator, Digital Citizenship Training at Fornido Development Company Limited, Binta Gali, who trained the PWD participants in Lagos, expressed satisfaction over the willingness of the participants to learn new digital skills.

According to her, she has passion for teaching and will continue to share that passion with people that are willing to learn new things that will better their lives.

In his address on the first day of the training session, Programme Manager, Christian Blind Mission (CBM) Country Office Nigeria, Mr. Michael Idah, said the training would advance the vision of a society, where every person, regardless of disability, has equal opportunity to participate and thrive in the digital age.

29

Monday, September 14, 2026 • T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Reintegration or Monopoly? Reading MTN–IHS Deal Through Nigeria’s Antitrust Framework Akinnuoye Abisola Blessing

A

n recent months, there has been a lot of conversation around market dominance and monopolization of various sectors by businesses in Nigeria. Of particular interest is the MTNIHS acquisition deal. The transaction raises concerns not just because of its value, but because of what it represents. MTN, Africa’s largest mobile network operator, is seeking to acquire control of one of the continent’s largest independent telecommunications infrastructurecompanies, an infrastructure company whose towers are also used by MTN’s competitors. This article discusses the instruments put in place to prevent monopoly, using the MTN-IHS deal as a case study, and examines how effective these instruments are likely to be.

Regulatory Framework Before getting into the deal itself, it helps to look at the framework surrounding competition in Nigeria; the antitrust laws designed to promote fair competition in the market. Their core objective is to prevent the abuse of market power, prohibit collusive practices, and ensure that mergers and acquisitions do not substantially lessen competition. In Nigeria, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 serves as the primary legislation governing antitrust matters. Section 70 of the Act provides that a company controlling at least 40% of the market may be presumed dominant unless proven otherwise. In determining market dominance, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will assess the entity’s ability to unilaterally raise prices above competitive level, its position in the relevant markets as defined under relevant FCCPA regulations in Nigeria,

and based on a number of competitive factors such as market shares, financial strength, bargaining strength of the entity’s customers versus buying power, threat of future expansion by competitors, or entry by potential competitors. A company with significant market power is not automatically acting unlawfully. While Dominance itself is not prohibited; the abuse of dominance is.

This distinction is important when analysing the MTN–IHS transaction. The important question is whether MTN’s ownership of critical infrastructure could enable it to disadvantage competitors or substantially lessen competition in Nigeria’s telecommunications market.

MTN-IHS case study On 17 February 2026, IHS Holding Limited announced that it had entered into a merger agreement under which MTN Group would acquire the remaining shares in IHS that it did not already own. At the time, MTN held only 24% of IHS shares and would, at the close of this transaction, wholly own IHS. Under the agreement, IHS shareholders are to receive $8.50 per ordinary share in cash, in a transaction valuing IHS at an enterprise value of approximately $6.2 billion.

The offer represented: a. approximately a 239% premium to IHS’s share price when it announced its strategic review in March 2024; b. approximately a 36% premium to its 52-week volume-weighted average share price as of 4 February 2026; and c. approximately a 3% premium to its unaffected closing share price of US$8.23 on 4 February 2026.

This means that although the $8.50 offer represents a significant premium when compared with IHS’s historical and average share prices, it is only slightly higher than the company’s

share price immediately before news of the proposed acquisition became public.

IHS’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the transaction and recommended it to shareholders. IHS shareholders subsequently approved the transaction in August 2026, although completion remains subject to outstanding regulatory requirements and other closing conditions. If completed, IHS will be taken private and delisted from the New York Stock Exchange, and become a wholly owned subsidiary of MTN. On its face, the transaction represents one of the most significant telecommunications infrastructure deals in Africa in recent years.

But to understand why the transaction is particularly important, it is necessary to go back to the relationship between MTN and IHS. IHS and MTN’s Exit from Towers In the early years of mobile telecommunications, network operators generally owned and managed much of the physical infrastructure required to operate their networks, including telecom towers.

However, building and maintaining towers is capital-intensive. It requires acquiring or leasing land, constructing and maintaining infrastructure, providing power, securing sites and managing thousands of geographically dispersed locations.

As mobile networks expanded, a new business model emerged: the independent tower company, commonly known as a TowerCo. Rather than every telecommunications operator building and maintaining its own towers, an independent company could own the physical infrastructure and lease space to multiple mobile network operators (called

We celebrate you today as you clock 60 phenomenal years.

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Your love, wisdom, strength and kindness have blessed our lives in so many ways.

We pray that God continues to grant you good health, peace, joy, and many more beautiful years ahead.

Happy 60th Birthday!

From: Judith Somtochukwu Chukwudiebube Odiakaose

colocation model). The model was simple, one tower could serve several operators.

IHS Towers was founded in Nigeria in 2001 and grew into one of Africa’s largest telecommunications infrastructure companies. Over the years, MTN entered into several transactions with IHS under which tower infrastructure was transferred to IHS and subsequently leased back to MTN under long-term arrangements. This formed part of a broader industry strategy commonly described as sale-and-leaseback. The arrangement allowed MTN to unlock capital tied up in physical infrastructure while continuing to use the towers necessary to operate its network. The relationship between the two companies therefore evolved into one of the most significant partnerships in African telecommunications leaving MTN with a minority stake of 24% in IHS. Now, this proposed acquisition represents a reversal of that strategy. MTN is now seeking to bring significant portions of that infrastructure back within its corporate structure.

When the Tenant Becomes the Landlord The MTN–IHS transaction raises a concern that goes beyond ordinary corporate expansion. IHS Nigeria provides telecommunications infrastructure that is used not only by MTN but also by other mobile network operators. For example, IHS and Airtel Nigeria entered into agreements extending approximately 6,000 existing Airtel tenancies until December 2031, while also providing for thousands of additional tenancies and network infrastructure arrangements. MTN’s acquisition of IHS therefore creates an unusual competitive relationship.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

30

MARCHSEPTEMBER 11, 2026 • T H14, I S2026 D AY T HWEDNESDAY, I S D AY • MONday,

business/MOnEYGUIDE

Stakeholders Call for Development to Unlock Efficiency in Nigeria’s Shipping Sector Esther Oluku Stakeholders across Nigeria’s shipping industry were at the weekend unanimous in their call for development of Nigeria’s shipping value chain to unlock efficiency in the sector.

They warned that if indigenous players do not take advantage of Nigeria’s growing shipping traffic, foreigners will seize the opportunity, close the gaps and reap the economic benefits.

This submission was raised in the keynote address of the Group Vice President, (Oil, Gas and Fertiliser) Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Edwin Devakumar, at the Member’s Evening of the Nigeria Chamber of Shipping (NCS) themed: “A Public-Private Dialogue with CEOs: Unlocking Efficiency in the Marine and Blue Economy Value Chain,” held in Lagos.

According to him, as Nigeria’s international trade volume expands and with the commencement of application for the

Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) targeted at providing loan facilities to support acquisition of vessels, Nigeria must move beyond vessel acquisition to developing competences across the entire international shipping value chain.

He explained that vessel acquisition must be tied to cargo availability and a robust shipping business value-chain which ensures that economic value is retained locally across the end to end shipping process.

“The Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund scheme can help to check whether the vessel owners are linked up with the cargo owners, whether they just have vessels or whether they are building up a whole management scheme to support and operate the business. So, it’s not just about one more cargo but more of a shift to build up the whole system,” he said President, Nigeria Chamber of Shipping, Aminu Umar, said: “The biggest challenge for us as ship owners, is access

to capital. There are ships required by Dangote Refinery, most especially for their import, which is delivery of crude oil.

Those ships are huge.

“The capital requirement to acquire them is huge, and it is very difficult for we to get that access in our system. Even with the CVFF, we cannot buy those size of vessels.

They are in hundreds of millions of dollars. So it’s not possible as the CVFF is already limited to $25 million per ticket.”

In his remarks, founding President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, noted that the government has a role to play.

“The role of the government is not to give loans because they cannot sustain it. They can create the environment and the funds will be generated.

That link between cargo and vessel ownership is very important. Otherwise we would continue to be a cargoless, vesselless county. Others would continue to come and take our cargo,” Agbakoba said.

L-R: Partnerships Manager, Anglophone, West Africa, Sun King, Mr. Bright Ameh Agbo; VP Public Policy and Government relations, Dr. Wale Aboyade; Acting Component Coordinator, Nigeria Electrification Programme (NEP), Rural Electrification Agency, Mr Tobi Ogunlesi; Mrs. VP Marketing, Sun King, Catherine Mudachi; Technical Adviser to the Minister of Power and Team Lead, Nigeria’s Mission 300 Compact Delivery and Monitoring Unit (CDMU), Mr Adedayo Olowoniyi; Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy to the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Titi Oshodi; Global Head, Treasury and Investor Relations, Sun King, Mrs. Victory Olumuyiwa and Global Head of Paygo Programs Optimisation, Sun King, Aliyu Abimbola at the launch of Sun King Big Power Campaign in Lagos…recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA) October 2025

Month

Money Supply (M3)

119,037,577.07

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

9,291.49

Money Supply (M2)

119,028,285.58

Quasi Money

79,681,419.97

-- Narrow Money (M1)

39,346,865.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

4,646,794.28

Sun King Expands Solar Inverter Range, Launches Solar-Powered Freezer

---- Demand Deposits

34,700,071.33

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

34,804,442.84

Sun King, a leading global off-grid solar energy company, has expanded its range of solar inverter systems in Nigeria and formally launched PowerFreeze, a solar-powered freezer designed to provide reliable refrigeration for households and businesses.

The new products were unveiled at an event in Lagos attended by customers, partners and government representatives, with discussions focusing on the growing role of solar energy in meeting the power needs of Nigerian homes and businesses.

The expansion significantly broadens Sun King’s PowerHub portfolio, which now ranges from 2.2 kVA to 30 kVA, providing solar energy solutions for users ranging from small households to large businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and light industrial

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

84,233,134.23

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

99,199,655.08

---- Credit to Government (Net)

24,787,980.96

operations.

In addition to the existing 2.2 kVA and 3.3 kVA systems, Sun King has introduced new PowerHub options of 5 kVA, 10 kVA, 15 kVA and 30 kVA. The systems are designed to be scalable, allowing customers to select the inverter capacity, battery storage, and solar panels that meet their immediate requirements and subsequently expand their systems as their energy needs increase without having to replace their existing installations.

According to the company, the expanded range responds to the growing demand among Nigerian households and businesses for reliable alternatives to grid electricity and fuel-powered generators.

The higher-capacity systems can support more energyintensive requirements, including air conditioning

and business operations, while the larger configurations provide sufficient capacity to power entire buildings such as schools, clinics, commercial premises and light industrial facilities.

Speaking at the launch, Country Business Leader, Nigeria, Sun King, Lisbon Ogunsanmi, said the expanded portfolio gives customers greater flexibility to adopt solar energy according to their needs and financial capacity.

“Our rooftop solar range now runs from a hyper-affordable solar home system all the way to 30 kVA of inverter power,” Ogunsanmi said.

“Customers can start where their budget is, expand as they grow, and stay with one company throughout.

That is big energy: power that keeps up with your ambitions, whatever their scale.”

NACC Welcomes AGOA Extension, Calls for Action by Nigeria, Others The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) has applauded the signing by United States President, Donald Trump of the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, which extends the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through December 31, 2028.

The legislation preserves duty-free access to the United States market for Nigeria and 31 other sub-Saharan African countries, providing businesses across the region with greater certainty as they plan investments, production and exports.

The measure passed the United States Senate by 90 votes to six and the House of Representatives by 340 votes to 54.

In a statement, the NACC

commends President Trump, the United States Congress, particularly Congressman Jason Smith and Senator Raphael Warnock, as well as the African Union, for their sustained engagement in support of the continuation of AGOA. NACC National President, Sheriff Balogun, said the extension presents Nigeria with a valuable opportunity to strengthen its export base and attract new investment.

“This extension gives Nigeria the certainty needed to invest and expand our exports. But we must use these twenty-eight months to move beyond oil.

Nigeria is the second-largest AGOA beneficiary, yet we’re underutilising it. We need to diversify into agricultural products, textiles, processed foods and manufactures where

we have real advantage.”

The Chamber stressed that the extension should be viewed as an opportunity for Nigeria to address the structural challenges that have limited the country’s ability to take full advantage of preferential access to the US market.

“The NACC is therefore calling on the federal government, the private sector and state governments to take coordinated and practical steps during the extension period. We urge stakeholders to diversify Nigeria’s AGOA exports beyond crude oil by developing and promoting agricultural products, textiles, processed foods and manufactured goods with the potential to compete in the US market,” it said.

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

74,411,674.12

--Other Assets Net

2,603,854.03

Reserve Money (Base Money)

36,641,142.21

--Currency in Circulation

5,057,881.01

--Banks Reserves

31,583,261.21

--Special Intervention Reserves

284,361.95 • Source - CBN

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

October 2025

Inter-Bank Call Rate

October 2025

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

27.00

Treasury Bill Rate

15.07

Savings Deposit Rate

7.43

1 Month Deposit Rate

11.37

3 Months Deposit Rate

11.32

6 Months Deposit Rate

11.12

12 Months Deposit Rate

11.78

Prime Lending rate

18.89

Maximum Lending Rate

29.56

NSE MARKET INDEX CAP

0.75%(52%YoY)

Index

0.9% (29%Y/D) • Monetary Policy Rate - 27%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE As At 24TH NOVEMBER , 2025

The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $63.14 a barrel on Monday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

31

T H I S D AY • monday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

mARKET NEWS

‘Vetiva Acting as Lead Adviser to Dangote Petroleum Refinery IPO’

Kayode Tokede

Vetiva Advisory Services Limited has said that is acting as Lead Adviser to the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE (DPRP), in what

is expected to be one of the most significant capital market transactions in Nigeria.

The IPO has received the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is scheduled to open for subscription today.

“As Lead Adviser, Vetiva Advisory

P R I C E S MaiN Board

F O R DEALS

Services Limited is leading the advisory and transaction coordination process, working closely with DPRP, other professional parties and relevant market institutions towards the successful execution of the landmark transaction.

S E C U R I T I E S Market Price

quantity traded

“The Offer will comprise an offer for subscription of up to 4.1 billion ordinary shares in DPRP. The final terms of the Offer, including the issue price and offer timetable, will be set out in the SECregistered Prospectus.

“The role of Vetiva

T R A D E D

value traded ( N )

MaiN Board

A S

O F

Advisory Services Limited as Lead Adviser to the transaction further reinforces Vetiva’s position as a leading investment banking franchise and its track record in structuring and executing landmark capital market transactions in Nigeria.

S E P T E M B E R DEALS

Market Price

It also reflects Vetiva’s continued commitment to initiatives that deepen Nigeria’s capital markets, broaden investor participation and facilitate the mobilisation of long-term capital for strategically important enterprises,” it said in a statement.

1 1 / 2 6 quantity traded

value traded ( N)

T H I S D AY • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

32

NEWS

CAUCUS 7202 MEGA RALLY...

L-R: The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming general election and Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola; the Deputy Governorship Candidate, Mrs. Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun; and the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who is the All Progressives Congress candidate of the Ogun East Senatorial District arriving at the Dipo Dina International Stadium, IjebuOde, venue of the Ogun State Caucus 7202 Mega Rally, last Thursday

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim: No One Can Exclude Me From 2027 Presidential Race Says INEC has no power of finality over party’s candidate S'Courts’ll do justice Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The presidential candidate of Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has declared that no administrative action by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can extinguish his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election.

Olawepo-Hashim was reacting to his exclusion from the final list of presidential candidates published by INEC at the weekend.

In a statement issued yesterday

in Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim described the development as a matter that remained subject to judicial determination, insisting that he remains the duly nominated presidential candidate of Accord Party.

He said, “I am the candidate of the Accord Party. No one can exclude me from the 2027 presidential election. The court will do justice.”

Olawepo-Hashim said Nigeria’s constitutional democracy did not confer on INEC an overriding power

of “finality” over disputes concerning who emerged as a political party’s candidate.

According to him, the adjudicatory powers vested in the courts exist precisely to prevent administrative decisions from becoming instruments of impunity or a means of foreclosing legitimate political rights.

Olawepo-Hashim stated, “Our democracy does not give INEC any right of finality over who stands as the candidate of a political party.

“Where there is a dispute over the emergence or exclusion of a candidate, the adjudicatory functions of the courts are provided precisely to prevent impunity and to ensure that no administrative process becomes a pre-planned mechanism for keeping particular candidates off the ballot.

“We have seen this before.

In the last Osun governorship election, the courts intervened in circumstances where candidates initially excluded from INEC’s processes were subsequently

NiDCOM: 198 Nigerians Visited in Maharashtra Prisons as FG Seeks Fresh Amnesty in India Michael Olugbode in Abuja The federal government has intensified efforts to secure the release of Nigerians detained in India, with the Nigeria High Commission in the country visiting 198 inmates across five prisons in Maharashtra as negotiations continue for a fresh six-month amnesty for Nigerians held over immigration-related offences.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, AbdurRahman Balogun, said the prison visits were conducted as of September 1, 2026, adding that Nigerians remained incarcerated in other Indian provinces.

The commission said the visits formed part of the Nigerian mission’s ongoing consular intervention in cases involving hundreds of Nigerians in Indian prisons, amid concerns over prolonged detention, immigration violations and delays in the

prosecution of criminal cases.

According to NiDCOM, the Nigeria High Commission secured an amnesty programme between September last year and May this year that led to the release and repatriation of thousands of Nigerians detained mainly for immigration offences and other irregularities.

However, it said some Nigerians failed to take advantage of the amnesty before its expiration or did not utilise the opportunity when it was available.

The commission disclosed that Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, was engaging her Indian counterpart to secure another six-month amnesty for Nigerians detained in camps who had no pending trials but remained in custody over immigration-related offences.

The development followed public concerns over the detention of a Nigerian identified as Mr Ekene in India, with NiDCOM assuring that the High Commission would examine his

case and determine whether he qualified for early release and repatriation.

It said that where Ekene was eligible to leave India, arrangements could be made for his return, provided his family was able to raise the necessary funds, stressing that established legal and administrative procedures would have to be followed.

“The Nigerian High Commission is on his case and that of others in similar circumstances and has also been putting pressure on the Indian government to speed up cases of those awaiting trials for various offences,” the statement said.

NiDCOM, however, clarified that the proposed amnesty would not cover Nigerians awaiting trial for criminal offences, including drug-related crimes.

The commission urged Nigerians living in India without valid immigration status to take advantage of the

next amnesty programme once it was implemented, warning that those who continued to remain in the country illegally risked arrest.

“Nigerians in India, who are in India irregularly, should take advantage of the next set of amnesty being negotiated when effected, while others who are still staying there illegally should utilise the opportunity or risk being arrested,” NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike DabiriErewa, advised.

The commission also appealed to Nigerians abroad to respect the laws of their host countries and avoid conduct that could lead to arrest, prosecution or prolonged detention.

The latest intervention underscores the continuing challenge of irregular migration involving Nigerians in India, where immigration violations have contributed to the detention of nationals without valid documentation, while separate criminal cases remain subject to the Indian judicial process.

restored to the ballot. That is why nobody should assume that an administrative publication

by INEC is the final word in a matter that is before the courts.”

Olawepo-Hashim had already taken the matter before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking, among other reliefs, an order compelling Accord Party to recognise him as its presidential candidate and transmit his name to INEC. The case had been heard and reserved for judgement.

Olawepo-Hashim’s case was based on his contention that he emerged as the sole winner of Accord’s presidential primary conducted on May 30, 2026, after paying the prescribed nomination fee, with the exercise monitored

by INEC officials.

He insisted that the dispute could not be conclusively determined by an administrative listing.

He stated, “The publication

by INEC is not the final determination of my candidacy.

There is a subsisting legal dispute before the court, and I have confidence in the judicial process.

“I emerged from the presidential primary as the candidate. I have done what the law requires, and I believe the court will uphold the law.

“No individual or administrative action can take away a right that has been lawfully acquired. I remain the presidential candidate of Accord, and we will see this process through to its lawful conclusion.”

Olawepo-Hashim also condemned what he described as the political forces that would prefer presidential contest built around division, sentiment, and weakened opponents rather than one centred on substantive national issues.

NDLEA Busts UK Colos Pipeline, Seizes 2.3 Tonnes of Drugs

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled multiple drug trafficking networks operating across eight states, intercepting consignments from the United Kingdom and recovering more than 2.3 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs, including synthetic cannabis, tramadol, pregabalin and cannabis.

The operations, which also exposed the increasingly elaborate methods used by traffickers to move narcotics, resulted in the arrest of a real estate agent, a tour agent, a 70-year-old woman and several other suspects.

The spokesman of the

agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, said operatives intercepted two consignments of Colorado, also known as Colos, concealed in consolidated cargoes from the United Kingdom at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

He revealed that in the first seizure, 27 parcels of the synthetic cannabis weighing 32.2 kilogrammes were recovered from a large luggage. A real estate agent, Abideen Salami, who arrived to collect the consignment using a secret collection code allegedly sent by his UK-based brother, was arrested last Wednesday.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 • T H I S D AY

His Excellency,

Dr. Peter Mbah Governor, Enugu State

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SIGNED:

HON. JOHN CHUKWUMA OGBODO Chairman, Nkanu West LGA

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NEWS

2026 WOMEN AUGUST MEETING...

First Lady of Imo State, Barr. Chioma Uzodimma (L) with the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, during the Grand Finale of the 2026 Women August Meeting at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square Owerri, on Saturday

CPPE: Escalating Petrol Prices Not Enough to Return to Old Subsidy Regime at N19.16trn Annually

Dike Onwuamaeze

Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has stated that the severe pressures arising from the current increase in petrol prices were not enough for Nigeria to return to the old subsidy regime at a fiscal cost of N19.16 trillion annually.

CPPE said the subsidy debate should not be viewed solely through the lens of pump prices because of its wider implications for fiscal sustainability, foreign-exchange stability, investment, domestic refining, industrialisation, employment and energy security.

It said that “the central policy question is therefore not whether Nigeria should return to the old subsidy regime, but how to preserve the gains of the reform while reducing its social costs and translating the resulting fiscal space into tangible improvements in citizens' welfare.”

The CPPE expressed these views yesterday in its policy brief on fuel subsidy titled “Petrol Subsidy: Preserving Reform Gains While Protecting Citizens,” in which it stated that “Nigeria's strategic objective should be to transition from dependence on imported petroleum products to becoming a competitive regional

refining and petrochemical hub.”

The Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, estimated in the policy brief that Nigeria spent between $10 billion and $15 billion annually to fund petrol subsidy until it was removed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that it would cost the federal government approximately N20 trillion annually to restore the petrol price at its May 2023 level.

Yusuf said: “Using an estimated PMS consumption benchmark of 50 million litres per day and an indicative subsidy requirement of N1,050 per litre, the potential fiscal exposure

would be approximately N52.5 billion daily, N1.575 trillion monthly and N19.16 trillion annually (approximately N20 trillion).

“An annual subsidy bill approaching N20 trillion would impose an enormous opportunity cost. It would compete with spending on infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, agriculture and social protection, while potentially widening the fiscal deficit and increasing borrowing and debt-service pressures.

He stated that CPPE recognised the current petrolprice escalation presented a

PEBEC DG: Tinubu’s Greatest Leadership Claim Rests on Reform, Institution-Building Michael Olugbode in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu’s claim to a place among Nigeria’s most consequential leaders should be measured by the structural reforms he has undertaken, the institutions he is building and his willingness to confront problems successive administrations postponed This position was argued by the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC),

Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu.

Audu who is also the National Publicity Secretary of the City Boy Movement made the case in an opinion article titled “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Is Nigeria’s Greatest-Ever Leader,” contending the president’s leadership should not be assessed solely by the immediate economic hardship associated with his policies.

She acknowledged that the reforms had imposed genuine difficulties on Nigerians but argued that the more important

question was whether the old economic arrangements could have been sustained indefinitely without imposing greater costs on the country.

According to her, Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy represented a break with what she described as Nigeria’s “political economy of postponement,” in which governments repeatedly deferred difficult decisions because their political costs were immediate, while the consequences of inaction

were transferred to the future.

“Leadership sometimes requires choosing not between difficulty and comfort, but between the difficulty of adjustment today and the greater danger of structural failure tomorrow,” she stated.

Audu’s argument places the administration’s economic reforms within a broader assessment of state capacity, presenting the reduction of bureaucratic obstacles to businesses as an essential component of national development.

Activists Seek New Indigenous Model to Tackle Ogoni Environmental Crisis Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Environmental activists and stakeholders have called for the development of a new, community-driven model of environmental protection that places indigenous knowledge,

local languages and collective action at the centre of efforts to address the ecological crisis in the Niger Delta.

The call formed part of the outcomes of a one-day brainstorming session, tagged “Wisdom Gathering,” organised by the Health of

Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) at Kaani, in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Highlight of the event was the unveiling of MEEDECOR Ecological Knowledge Centre.

The gathering, which focused on exploring alternative

approaches to environmental protection and socio-ecological justice, also celebrated the legacy of the late Ogoni environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, while challenging the younger generation to sustain the struggle for environmental justice.

serious cost-of-living, inflation and competitiveness challenge requiring urgent intervention.

“However, restoring the prereform universal subsidy regime is neither fiscally sustainable nor economically prudent.

“The appropriate policy direction is to preserve the downstream petroleum reforms while aggressively mitigating their social and economic costs.

“Government should prioritise affordable transportation, reliable electricity, food production, targeted social protection, healthcare,

education and support for productive enterprises. Equally important, the fiscal gains from subsidy removal must become more visible in infrastructure, public services and productive investment.

“There must also be greater transparency and accountability in the utilisation of the additional resources accruing to federal, state and local governments.

“The subsidy debate should, therefore, move beyond the binary question of whether petrol subsidy should be restored.

Police Trace Fake OPay Shutdown Notice to X Account, Arrest 27-Year-Old Sunday Ehigiator

The Nigeria Police Force has traced the circulation of a fake notice announcing the purported shutdown of OPay operations to an X account allegedly operated by a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, following a digital forensic investigation by the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC).

The police said Abubakar was arrested on September 4, 2026, in connection with the investigation, while three Apple iPhones were recovered from her as exhibits.

Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja on Wednesday, saying the investigation followed a formal petition submitted by OPay Digital Services Limited.

Iniedu said the petition was received by the NCCC on August 31, 2026, through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.

According to him, OPay requested an urgent investigation, tracing and apprehension of persons responsible for creating and circulating the fraudulent document.

“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, received a formal petition from OPAY Digital Services Limited through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, requesting urgent investigation, tracing and apprehension of persons responsible for the creation and simulation of a fraudulent document falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited,” Iniedu said.

The purported notice, which circulated widely on social media, falsely claimed that OPay would stop processing transactions and account-related services from September 1, 2026, and urged customers to withdraw their funds.

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NEWS

2026 AFRICA SECURITY STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE...

L-R: Awardee of Fellow at African Institute of Management and Administrative Science (AIMAS), Mrs. Aishatu Adamu Umar; Special Assistant to the Governor of Kaduna State on Labour/AIMAS Fellow, Ismaila Adamu; Bwari Regional Overseer, Deeper Life Bible Church/Guest Speaker, Pst. Dare Olusegun Richard; Registrar, AIMAS, Dr. Ibrahim Simon; Fellow at AIMAS, Mohamed Bello M Bello and Guest Speaker/Fellow AIMAS, Wing Commander, Nelson Okorie, during the 2026 Africa Security Strategic Management Conference, organised by AIMAS in Abuja, on Saturday PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN

Catholic Bishops Warn Political Leaders Against Manipulation of 2027 General Poll Say Illegal mining worsening insecurity, congratulate Adeleke over re-election Fayemi urges Nigerians to opt for competence over ethnicity, religion in next election

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo and Gbenga Sodeinde in Ekiti

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has warned political leaders against manipulating the 2027 general election, calling for free, fair, and

credible polls capable of restoring the confidence of Nigerians in the democratic process.

The Bishops also urged eligible voters to reject vote-buying and selling, resist political cronyism and refuse to allow themselves to be used as political thugs by

desperate politicians during the forthcoming elections.

This was as a former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has urged Nigerians to make competence, integrity and commitment to the common good the basis of their choices in

the 2027 general election.

President of the CBCN and Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, gave the warning at the opening session of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at Our

Matawalle Rallies Zamfara Stakeholders in Kaduna, Says Tinubu is Devoted to Security

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has reassured residents of Zamfara State and other communities affected by banditry that the federal government would not relent in its drive to restore peace and security across the country.

Speaking at the weekend in Kaduna during an interactive meeting with former members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, ex-commissioners, Special Advisers and other political associates, Matawalle said President Bola Tinubu was treating insecurity as a

national emergency.

The meeting, which brought together key political figures who served under his administration between 2019 and 2023, provided a platform to deliberate on security, political realignment and the development trajectory of Zamfara State.

Matawalle declared that the protection of lives and property remains the foremost responsibility of any serious government, noting that the Tinubu-led administration had placed national security at the center of its policy agenda.

“Security of lives and property is the major concern

of every serious government in any country. That is why the APC-led administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has focused strongly on securing the nation,” he said.

According to him, the president’s commitment was evident in his frequent engagements and consultations on security matters, both within Nigeria and abroad, aimed at strengthening the capacity of security agencies.

The minister urged the gathering to mobilise grassroots support for what he called the ‘Tinubu Again Movement’,

charging them to take the message of continuity to communities across Zamfara and beyond ahead of the 2027 general election.

He described President Tinubu as a leader, who would not overlook issues of insecurity, economic development, peace and national unity despite the distractions of political activities and emerging challenges.

In their separate remarks, leaders of the various groups at the meeting commended Matawalle for sustaining a formidable political structure in Zamfara since leaving office as governor in 2023.

Fubara Mourns Former SSS DG, Albert Horsfall, Hails Legacies of National Service Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of a former DirectorGeneral of the State Security Service (SSS), Chief Albert K. Horsfall, describing him as a patriot whose contributions to Nigeria’s national security remain a benchmark for future

generations.

Horsfall, who hailed from Buguma in Rivers State, was a Director-General of the State Security Service, where he was recognised for his role in Nigeria’s security architecture.

In a condolence message, yesterday, Fubara described Horsfall, a distinguished son of Rivers State, as a disciplined and intelligent public servant, who served the country with

dedication, professionalism and integrity.

The governor said the former SSS Director-General was not only an accomplished security officer but also an elder statesman, mentor and ambassador of the values of service, honour and excellence associated with Rivers State.

According to Fubara, Horsfall’s death had deprived the country of “a patriot, a

bridge-builder, and a man of integrity,” while his record in the security sector would continue to serve as an example to those entrusted with safeguarding the nation.

“Chief Horsfall was a patriot, a disciplinarian, and an embodiment of quiet strength and intelligence. As DG SSS, he served Nigeria with utmost dedication, professionalism, and integrity,” the governor said.

Lady and St. Kizito’s Pastoral Centre, Oke-Gada, Ede, Osun State.

The plenary, which started on September 10 to end on the 18, brought together Catholic bishops, the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, clergy, consecrated men and women, lay faithful and other Church leaders to deliberate on issues affecting the Church and the Nigerian society.

Archbishop Ndagoso, while addressing the gathering, said the 2027 general election presented another opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its democracy and restore public confidence in the electoral process.

He described politics as a noble profession when practised in the

service of the common good, urging elected and appointed public officials to ensure that the electoral environment remained fair and inclusive.

He said political office holders, including the President, governors, National Assembly members, ministers and local government chairmen, had a responsibility to ensure that the rules of the democratic process were respected by all.

According to him, conducting credible elections was within the capacity of Nigerians and should not be treated as an impossible task.

“Politics is a noble profession at the service of the common good and should be treated as such,” he said.

Onawo is Nasarawa APM Guber Candidate Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

The Senator for Nasarawa South, Mohammed Onawo, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the 2027 general election in Nasarawa State.

Onawo was elected during the party’s special delegates primary held on Saturday in Lafia through affirmation by delegates drawn from the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

The congress was convened to fill the vacancy created by the withdrawal of the former candidate, Dr Mohamed Auwal, who also serves as the Nasarawa State Chairman of APM. Speaking after his affirmation, Onawo thanked the party members for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to

run an issue-based and inclusive campaign focused on security, infrastructure development, agriculture, education, and job creation.

“I accept this nomination with humility and a strong commitment to serve the people of Nasarawa State. Together with APM, we will build a state where every citizen has opportunity and hope,” he said.

The Senator explained that he was the most experienced of all the candidates contesting the governorship of the state at the moment having served in the state legislature, the House of Representatives and now as a senator.

Earlier, Auwal, in his remarks, said he stepped down in the interest of party unity and to support a candidate with broader reach ahead of 2027.

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INAUGURAL COHORT WITH A GRADUATION AND PITCH CEREMONY...

L-R: Founder & CEO of FashionEVO, Yetty Ogunnubi; Arts Project Officer, British Council, Onodugo Ikechukwu; Managing Director, OSC Group, Olusola Babatunde; Pitch Competition Winner, Moses Agosu (MAK); Founder, Grow Enterprise Africa, Remi Ademiju; Director of Programmes and Partnerships, LEAP Africa, Amabelle Nwakanma; and Founder /MD of 360Creative Innovation Hub, Blessing Ebere, at the Fashion Advancement and Startup Training (F.A.S.T) Accelerator close of inaugural cohort with a graduation and pitch ceremony held in Lagos... recently

Bamanga Tukur Buried in Yola as Shettima, Ododo Mourn Deceased Elder Statesman

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The remains of former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and elder statesman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, were laid to rest in his hometown, Yola, Adamawa State, on Sunday.

The burial, conducted according to Islamic rites, was led by the Chief Imam of Modibbo Adamawa Central Mosque, Yola, Alhaji Ahmadu Bobboi.

His remains were buried in the family house at Fadde-Sanda, Abuja Road, Yola.

Tukur died on Saturday at the age of 91. He is survived

by two wives and 18 children, among them the Secretary to the State Government of Adamawa, Awwal Tukur.

The funeral prayers were attended by Aliko Dangote, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Senator Iya Abbas representing Adamawa Central, former Governor Jibrilla Bindow, traditional leaders and other dignitaries across the state and beyond.

Meanwhile, Vice-President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep sadness over his passing.

Shettima, in a release by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, described his demise as a huge loss to Nigeria, saying

he was a true patriot, a global citizen and an institution in his own right.

According to him, Tukur’s demise was not just a loss to Adamawa State or the Fombina Emirate, but a monumental loss to Nigeria and the African continent.

“I am deeply grieved by the passing of our father, mentor and one of Nigeria’s greatest institution-builders, Alhaji Dr. Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, CON, the Tafidan Adamawa, who returned to his Creator today, September 12, 2026, at the age of 90, just three days shy of his 91st birthday.

“Alhaji Bamanga Tukur lived a life of impact in three distinct

but interlinked worlds — as a technocrat who built Nigeria’s modern maritime infrastructure, as a statesman and politician who governed with vision, and as a pan-African business leader who put Africa’s private sector on the world map.

“Nigerians of my generation will never forget that in 1975, when Nigerian ports were gridlocked by the infamous cement armada, a young, brilliant Bamanga Tukur was called to lead the Nigerian Ports Authority. He did not just clear the congestion; he built for the future.”

He recalled that, as General Manager and Chief Executive of the NPA from 1975 to 1982,

Tukur conceived and delivered the Tin Can Island Port Complex, modernised Apapa, Warri, Calabar, Sapele and Onne ports, and expanded the nation’s cargohandling capacity.

“That singular intervention saved the Nigerian economy from collapse and created the gateway that still powers our trade today.

In doing so, he became the first African Vice President and later a global icon in the International Association of Ports and Harbours in Tokyo, flying Nigeria’s flag high at a time when few Africans had such an opportunity,” he added.

On his political career, Shettima recalled that although his tenure as Governor of the old Gongola State, comprising present-day Adamawa and Taraba states, was cut short by the military intervention of December 1983,

“Bamanga Tukur’s vision for rural development and education left an enduring mark.

“He later served as Minister for Industries under the Abacha administration and came full circle between 2012 and 2014 as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party at a most turbulent time.

“Even his fiercest political opponents attest that Tukur was a man of consensus, a man who chose the stability of the party over his own comfort when he voluntarily resigned in January 2014."

On his part, the Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, in a statement signed by his Commissioner for information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, described his death as a great loss to Nigeria.

At Book Presentation, IBB, Otti, Amaechi Others Laud Amuta's Contribution to Nation Building Security: Adeleke Tasks Oluchi Chibuzor Former Nigerian Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, at the weekend joined the Governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, in celebrating the contributions of academic and literary critic, Chidi Amuta on the presentation of his memoir, HOMAGE, Return to Familiar Places.

The book was presented in Lagos with many eminent Nigerians and close friends in attendance.

The meeting also had in attendance veteran journalist and Co-Founder of Newswatch, Mr. Ray Ekpu; Mr. Yemi Ogunbiyi; Chairman, THISDAY Editorial Board, Mr. Segun Adeniyi; and former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Dakuku Peterside, among others.

Babangida in his tribute to the author described Amuta as a journalist of international repute whose contribution to the academia and journalism

has shaped public discourse, supported public policy formation and inspired patriotism across various sphere of the nation's polity.

"Amuta is one of those intellectuals that can be categorised as a national asset.

His mind is a fertile ground of ideas and unusual insights.

In his writing, he is bold and courageous when necessary.

"He assumes rational and balanced positions on national issues. Sometimes he looks power in the face and states his stand fearlessly. He is infinitely creative, very resourceful, and has a mind that understands Nigeria and its contemporary problems and challenges," Babangida said The former head of state who was represented by Abé Ibrahim, speaking on the topic: 'The Writer is an Author and the Writer is a Collector of History' described Amuta as an intellectual whose national outlook remains 'flawless' transcending ethnicity, religion, and partisanism.

According to him, Amuta's HOMAGE, Return to Familiar Places, was written in refreshing prose sharing deep insight into the modest life of a fine writer from very humble beginnings adding that the book is a piece of national history.

Also, Vice Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Rotimi Amaechi, described Amuta as one of the best Nigerians, stressing that Amuta's guidance as a student at the University of Port-Harcourt has shaped him into who he has become.

"As a teacher, your qualification is something nobody will take for granted. You are one of the best Nigerians we have," he said.

In his remarks, Governor of Abia state, Mr. Alex Otti, while congratulating Amuta stated that the book is a challenge to the younger generation who may feel they are too old to write.

Also, Chairman of the ceremony, Ogunbiyi, described the writer as a brother and

friend, adding that Amuta's writing will remain a unique and powerful human voice in a world increasingly being defined by artificial intelligence.

HOMAGE, Return to Familiar Places, he said, brings a refreshing human perspective to events of Amuta's life in simple yet relatable prose.

"Voices like Amuta's carries an unmistakable human touch that cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence. People with unique personalities like Chidi Amuta will be there for all time because nobody writes like Chidi Amuta.

Chidi has the ability of writing that no amount of AI can take away from whether now or in the future," Ogunbiyi said.

In his praise of Amuta, veteran Journalist and Co-Founder of Newswatch, Ray Ekpu, thanked Amuta for contributing his wealth of knowledge to the world through the book's publication stating that through the book Amuta has reaffirmed that journalists are indeed professionals.

Osun Residents on Alertness and Threats Reporting

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has tasked residents of the state to report any suspicious movements or individuals in their areas or neighbourhood to security agencies without any delay.

The governor, who made the appeal in response to reported planned terrorist attacks on places of worship in the state called on members of the public to alert security agencies if they noticed the influx of strange faces especially across the border communities.

“We must provide the police and other security agencies with intelligence reports, with noticeable threats, in our communities. As we are aware of alleged plots to attack our places of worship, we must become extra vigilant.

Report anything unusual without any delay.

“I commend the Department

of State Service (DSS) for taking proactive measures to counter the threats. I charge other security agencies to review the situation and develop an action plan to strengthen security of lives and properties.

“I will soon convey the State Security Council meeting to assess the situation and the workability of our response plans. As residents of this state, we must collaborate with the security agencies through information sharing.

“We should be wary of people we host in our communities.

On this note, I charge our royal fathers to also host their traditional council meetings on this development. We must nip in the bud the evil plans of enemies of public peace.

“Our administration is committed to post-election peace building and we must tighten state security to foil any attempt by terrorists and bandits to disrupt public peace,” Adeleke stated.

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NEWS

FORUM ON HOUSING, CAPITAL AND FUTURE OF LAGOS AND LAUNCH OF GTI RESEARCH ‘S SEMINAL STUDY...

L-R: Managing Director, GTI Capital Limited, Mr. Kehinde Hassan; Group Finance Controller, GTI Group, Mr. Boye Adegbemi; Founding Director, Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development (CHSD), University of Lagos, Prof. Timothy Nubi; Group Managing Director, GTI Group, Mr. Abubakar Lawal; Director, GTI Group, Mr. Siyanbola Oladapo; and Group Executive Officer, GTI Group, Olusegun Olawuyi, during a forum on housing, capital and future of Lagos and launch of GTI Research‘s seminal study and publication, Beyond Rent, Beyond the Conversation, Towards Solutions held at GTI House in Lagos... recently

Obi Media Office Lists Failures of Tinubu's Govt, Defends Ex-Anambra Governor Says NDC presidential candidate's aspiration based on performance

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Peter Obi Media Office yesterday launched a fresh offensive against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, listing what it described as “10 failures Nigerians cannot ignore” while defending the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate’s credentials for the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued yesterday and signed by Idris Zekeri Jnr, the media office dismissed claims by what it described as “surrogate campaigners” of the president that Obi’s popularity and political ratings were being exaggerated.

It argued that Obi’s claim to the presidency was based not on political patronage but on his record as a former governor of Anambra State, businessman

and banker.

According to the statement, Obi “is not asking Nigerians to make him President so that he can learn how government works,” but is seeking their mandate after demonstrating his capacity to manage public resources, build institutions, invest in human capital and plan for the future.

The media office listed 10 areas

which, it said, demonstrated Obi’s preparedness for the presidency.

It cited his tenure as governor of Anambra State between 2006 and 2014, including his re-election in 2010, arguing that his experience of managing a state gave him practical executive experience before seeking the presidency.

It also highlighted what it described as Obi’s fiscal discipline,

SERAP Gives INEC Seven Days to Account for Alleged N126 Billion Electoral Funds Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seven days to explain the spending of more than N126.46 billion in electoral funds flagged by AuditorGeneral of the Federation.

The funds included payments allegedly made without proper procurement procedures and for goods and services whose delivery

could not be established.

SERAP also asked the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, to refer the alleged financial irregularities to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for investigation, prosecution and recovery of public funds where wrongdoing is established.

The organisation made the demands in a statement by

its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

SERAP based its demands on findings contained in the 2023 audited report of the AuditorGeneral of the Federation, published on August 7, 2026, covering government transactions between January and December 2022 and, in some instances, extending to December 31, 2023.

The organisation said the affected funds covered the procurement of ballot boxes,

electoral devices and materials, sensitive electoral materials, result sheets, vehicles and other services required for election administration.

It specifically demanded that INEC account for the amounts paid, beneficiaries of the payments, contracts and procurement processes involved, contractors and suppliers engaged, as well as evidence showing that the goods and services were delivered, used and remained accounted for.

FG, VGN Deepen Partnership on National Security, Economic Development Linus Aleke in Abuja

The federal government has pledged to strengthen collaboration with the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) as part of coordinated and concerted efforts to enhance the security of lives and property across the federation.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande Wisdom, made the pledge when the CommanderGeneral and National Chairman

of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Otunba James Udoma, led his management team on a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja.

According to a statement by the National Public Relations Officer of the VGN, ACG Igho Akeregha, the minister described the Vigilante Group of Nigeria as an important grassroots security organisation contributing to the protection of lives, community safety and national development.

He said there was considerable

scope for a stronger partnership between the Ministry and the VGN, adding, “We are prepared to engage, identify practical areas of collaboration and develop programmes that will translate this relationship into measurable benefits for Nigerian youths and our communities.”

The minister stressed that such collaboration must operate within the law and complement the constitutional and statutory responsibilities of Nigeria’s

recognised security agencies.

Olawande commended VGN personnel for the sacrifices they make daily in communities across the country, describing their commitment as a demonstration of patriotism and service to humanity.

“The work you do is not ordinary. When men and women voluntarily put themselves at risk to save lives, protect communities and support the peace of the nation, that sacrifice must be recognised.

claiming that Anambra was among the least-indebted states during his administration and that substantial savings and investments were accumulated.

The statement referred to Obi’s 2023 manifesto, which it said documented approximately $500 million in investments and savings, including $156 million in dollar-denominated bonds.

The media office further argued that Obi demonstrated that government could save public resources instead of concentrating exclusively on expenditure.

It said his administration’s reported savings and investments represented an important component of his argument for fiscal responsibility and prudent management of public funds.

Education was also cited as a major component of his record, with the statement recalling the return of mission schools to their original owners and partnerships established with them.

The media office claimed that Anambra subsequently moved from 24th position to first in WAEC/NECO performance for three consecutive years.

It also pointed to scholarships, education and healthcare interventions, poverty mapping and other human-capital initiatives as evidence that Obi’s administration focused on improving citizens’ productive capacity.

On healthcare, the statement cited investments in health institutions and accreditation, claiming that more than 12 health institutions, including two hospitals, had secured accreditation by the end of Obi’s tenure compared with none at the beginning.

The former Anambra governor was also credited with attracting

development partnerships involving organisations including the World Bank, UNDP, DFID and the European Union.

The statement further cited diplomatic engagements with foreign governments and claimed that Obi received recognition from the Millennium Development Goals Office and UNDP for development programmes implemented during his tenure.

It said his administration also employed data and planning through poverty mapping, aerial mapping and the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS).

His experience in business and banking before entering politics was equally presented as an advantage, with the media office arguing that it gave him a combination of private-sector, financial-management and publicsector experience.

“Peter Obi is not asking Nigerians to make him President so that he can learn how government works,” the statement declared.

“He is asking Nigerians to entrust him with Nigeria after demonstrating, as Governor of Anambra, how he manages money, builds institutions, invests in human capital and plans for the future,” it added.

Turning its attention to the Tinubu administration, however, the media office accused the federal government of failing to adequately cushion the effects of its economic reforms on Nigerians.

It identified the rising cost of living as its first major criticism, arguing that the removal of the petrol subsidy and other reforms had been accompanied by sharp increases in the cost of food, transportation and other necessities.

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NEWS

INAUGURATION OF MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE OF STATE EXECUTIVES OF PPA/BUREAU OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT...

L-R: Chairman, Forum of States Public Procurement Agencies/Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Ehimoni Ibiyomi; Director-General/CEO, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun; Director-General, Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Abudlateef Shittu; Director General, Niger State, BPP, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed; and Managing Director/CEO, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Idowu Fatai Onafowote, during the inauguration of the Members of Committee of Practice of the State Executives of PPA/Bureau of Public Procurement in Abuja...recently

Atiku to Tinubu: Tell Nigerians Why You Can't Pay ASUU Despite Subsidy Savings Asks president to explain what he's spending Nigeria's money on Says government promises exist only in speeches, press releases

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to explain why his administration cannot meet the financial obligations to university lecturers despite the removal of petrol subsidy and the savings the government said would be channelled into

education and other essential services.

Atiku, in a statement issued yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said Nigerians had already borne the cost of subsidy removal through higher petrol prices, transport fares, food prices, energy bills and

school fees, but were yet to see corresponding improvements in public education.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the upcoming 2027 elections specifically questioned why the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was again threatening industrial action over unresolved agreements

and unpaid entitlements more than three years after subsidy removal.

“If the subsidy is gone and Nigerians have paid for that decision through unprecedented hardship, then President Tinubu owes the country a simple answer: where is the money?” he asked.

Atiku argued that the

Middle Belt Stakeholders Seek Dickson’s Intervention in Plateau NDC Guber Ticket

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A group, Middle Belt Young Political Stakeholders, called on the national leader of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, to intervene in the attempt to displace the party’s governorship candidate, Jonathan Akuns.

Its President, Gaius Shekwolo and Secretary, Abdulllahi Iliya, made the call while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja.

The group noted that the time has come for Dickson to look into the shenanigans of those it described as political jobbers in Plateau State.

It maintained that Dickson should ensure that the planned substitution or rerun governorship primary scheduled for Tuesday September 15, 2027 was unwarranted for Akuns who remained the candidate.

It added that the plan was part of a broader effort to displace the sole candidate that emerged

unopposed at the initial primary on 29th May 2026.

“We heard that an influential political leader in the state doled out large sums of money to some NDC leaders to set the groundwork for possible disqualification of the party for the February 2027 governorship election in the state.

“With the experience of PDP that suffered a judicial loss of its election victory of the 2023 national election during which the party won the National Assembly and State House of Assembly seats,

it was expected that political leaders in Plateau State should avoid actions capable of repeating that costly mistake.

“Plateau State should not be a Guinea pig for political merchandising that robs voters the power to elect their leaders.

NDC should fish out those building the foundation for another judicial intervention in the electoral process due to breach of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) guidelines,” the group stated.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said it has enlisted 600 pharmacists (already working in different fields) into a new initiative Pharmacists Reserve Volunteer Program - of the Agency.

A statement signed by the Resident Media Consultant Sanyo Akintola, the agency said the initiative is part of the renewed efforts to mitigate substandard and falsified drugs and unwholesome food with a view to taking regulation to the

doorstep of the Nigerian people.

Speaking while receiving the pharmacists, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye urged them to serve Nigeria with honour and integrity, She explained that the 600 service-ready pharmacists, already pursuing their careers in different fields, were drawn from all thirtysix states and the Federal Capital Territory, representing every one of Nigeria's six geopolitical zones.

Adeyeye also said that each of the volunteer was selected not by chance, but through a deliberate and transparent process

that balanced merit, availability, and fair geographic representation, so that no state and no region is left behind in this national effort, adding that the Programme is more than an internship or an attachment.

‘It is an investment in you, and through you, in the regulatory future of this country.’

She said they would be exposed to the real work of medicines regulation: pharmacovigilance, compliance monitoring, quality assurance, data collection, and public sensitisation against drug abuse.

collapsing before our eyes,” Atiku said.

According to him, the government had removed the economic cushion available to citizens, collected the supposed savings and imposed severe hardship, but had failed to deliver the improvements Nigerians were promised.

He said families were struggling with soaring food prices, high transport costs, expensive energy and shrinking incomes, while public universities remained underfunded and lecturers continued to raise concerns over unpaid salaries and unresolved agreements.

FG to Train 50,000 SouthWest Youths in BPO Skills, Link Graduates to Jobs

Sunday Ehigiator

The federal government, through the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme, has commenced a major initiative to train 50,000 youths across the six South-West states in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) skills and The DG - NAFDAC said they connect successful participants would also learn what it means with employment opportunities.

The iDICE BPO Trainingto stand between the Nigerian to-Jobs Programme is being public and substandard, falsified, implemented through the Bank or dangerous products.

She said the vision behind of Industry (BoI) and co-financed the programme was to build, by the African Development over time, a national reserve of Bank (AfDB), Agence Française working pharmacists who can de Développement (AFD) and be called upon at short notice Islamic Development Bank wherever the health of Nigerians (IsDB).

In the South-West, the is at risk: during a product recall, programme is being delivered a suspected circulation of falsified medicines, or an emergency in by Premier Startups Limited and a hard-to-reach community to Ethica Resolve Nigeria Limited.

According to the programme’s volunteer for a few hours or media brief, it is designed to days. .

NAFDAC Trains 600 Pharmacists on Medicine Regulation Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

administration had justified subsidy removal on the basis that freeing up the resources previously spent on subsidising petrol would provide more funding for education, healthcare, infrastructure and other critical services.

He said the renewed threat of an ASUU strike had exposed what he described as a contradiction between the government’s claims of increased revenues and the condition of the country’s public universities.

“The house of cards of falsehoods erected by the Tinubu administration to justify the suffering of Nigerians is

equip young Nigerians with practical skills for customer service, data, digital services and back-office operations, while providing access to employers in Nigeria and abroad.

“The iDICE BPO Trainingto-Jobs Programme is a Federal Government of Nigeria initiative under the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme. It is implemented through the Bank of Industry and co-financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB),” the statement said.

The training, which will last between four and eight weeks, is free and will be delivered virtually and through hybrid learning, with successful participants earning industryrecognised certification.

monday September 14, 2026 • T H I S D AY

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ELEVATING AFRICA’S BEVERAGES SECTOR...

L-R: Founder, Building for Africa, David Idagu; Co-Founder & Convener, Drinkabl Africa & The New Pour Summit, Tosin Balogun; Sustainability, Risk & Compliance Manager at African Originals, Caroline Gichure, and Founder/CEO, Handas Juice, Brian Kiriba, during the 2026 New Pour Summit in Nairobi, Kenya… recently

FCC Charged to Resist Pressure from Influential Nigerians, Ensure Transparency Yinka KolawoleinOsogbo

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to resist pressure from influential Nigerians and ensure transparency and equal access to federal government employment opportunities by

qualified Nigerians.

Oyintiloye made the call while speaking with newsmen yesterday in Osogbo.

The former lawmaker urged the newly appointed Chairman of the commission, Hon. Ayo Omidiran, a former federal lawmaker representing the Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan federal constituency in Osun state at the House of Representatives,

Abuja to sustain efforts towards making operations of the commission very transparent to restore public confidence.

He charged Omidiran to confront intimidation and harassment that may come her

The Bauchi State Chapter of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) has called on voters to assess political aspirants based on character and performance rather than religion, ethnicity or hate rhetoric as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

The call was made yesterday by the CCN Chairman in Bauchi, Rev. Prof. Collins David Agbong, during the council’s 2026 Annual Revival, Harvest and Awards held at the Church of Pentecost, Anglican Communion, Bauchi.

Agbong, who said the Church must play a central

role in promoting peaceful and issue-based politics, dismissed the idea that politics is inherently corrupt, saying it is the actions of politicians that give it a bad name.

According to him, “As CCN leaders we have always sensitised our people to go out and exercise their franchise,” he told the congregation. “We have also used the pulpit to advise our pastors not to preach politics of hate.

“Rather, let the people know that God guides the hearts of men to choose right leaders.

How do you know a right leader? From what the leaders have done. We know a good person by his character.”

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the federal government and the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chief Idris Olorunimbe, for introducing zero-rated access to online educational platforms for students.

The commendation was made by the NANS President, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye, during the launch of the initiative in Abuja. 10.

Akinteye said the intervention directly addresses one of the biggest barriers to

modern learning.

He stated: “In today’s world, education is no longer confined to classrooms. Knowledge lives online — in e-libraries, research databases, digital courses, coding platforms, and virtual classrooms.

“Yet, the cost of data remains one of the biggest barriers preventing millions of Nigerian students from accessing these resources.

“By proposing zero-rated data access to educational platforms, the NCC is addressing the real bottleneck of modern learning; connectivity.”

towards building a commission where merit, fairness, and the principles of federal character will be adopted in managing employment opportunities in the public service.

He noted that the FCC

occupied a strategic position in Nigeria’s public sector, given its constitutional responsibility to promote equitable distribution of opportunities and ensure that no section of the country was unfairly disadvantaged.

Abians are Under Heavy Tax Burden, Says Anosike of PDP

Boniface Okoro in Umuahia

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Bauchi CCN Urges Christians The in Abia State, Dr. Kelechi has promised to to Shun Hate Speech Anosike, abolish taxes on wheelbarrow Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

way in the course of acting in line with the confidence reposed in her by President Bola Tinubu for the assignment.

According to him, FCC must continue to demonstrate a new approach to commitment

and truck pushers, and institute a welfarist tax regime to reduce the burden on workers, traders and artisans if elected in February 2027.

Anosike, who pledged a radio simulcast relayed by 12 stations across the state, said his administration would harmonise salary discrepancies in the civil service in the state.

The programme was part of activities marking the formal kick-off of his campaign in line with INEC guidelines.

Speaking during the programme, the international

lawyer and public policy expert decried what he described as a “heavy tax regime” currently choking residents and businesses in the state.

“Why do you tax a truck pusher, a barrow pusher N1,000, N2,000 per day? I will abolish it. He’s not using your electricity nor your diesel. He’s just using his raw strength,” he said.

Anosike said his administration would institute a welfarist tax regime backed by a holistic review of the state’s tax policy to ease the burden on traders, artisans and other citizens “struggling to eke out a living.”

He noted that traders, particularly those in the Ariaria International Market, have been lamenting high taxation.

Northern Leaders Admit Failure, Resolve to Tackle Almajiri Crisis Northern leaders and stakeholders have acknowledged deep-rooted social, political, and leadership failures across the region, warning that insecurity, neglect of education, corruption, elite rivalry, and the Almajiri crisis are threatening the future of Northern Nigeria.

The concerns were contained in the communiqué of the

third Late General Hassan Usman Katsina Memorial Conference organised by the New Vision Development Initiative (NEVDI) at the Arewa House, Kaduna.

The communique of the conference, which was held on July 25, 2026, with the theme: ‘From Sacrifice to Strategy: Rekindling General Hassan Usman’s Katsina Vision

for Prosperous Northern Nigeria’, was released over the weekend. The conference brought together political, traditional and religious leaders, academics, and other stakeholders.

Major-General Alwali Kazir, a former Chief of Army Staff, chaired the conference, while President Bola Tinubu was represented by Alhaji Ibrahim

Masari.

The Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, Prof.

Ango Abdullahi, presented a special report, while Dr Usman Bugaje of the Arewa Research Development Project delivered the lead paper, which was discussed by Prof. Siddique Abubakar Mohammed of the Centre for Development Research and Training, Zaria.

to Unveil Speaking N10mduring Welfare Bond for Deceased Officers the our journey, however, we have the Committee, has proposed Linus Aleke inAbuja NANS Commends FG, NCC Police commemoration of 30 years paid the supreme price, with a N10 million welfare bond for on Free Data for Students The Nigeria Police Force of dedicated service to the 51 of our course mates losing the families of the deceased. We (NPF) has announced plans nation, the Chairman of the their lives in active service to will commence disbursement to unveil its proposed N10 million welfare bond for the families of deceased officers.

The Force made this known at the 30th anniversary celebration of Course 19/1996 of the Nigeria Police Academy.

Organising Committee, DCP John Paul Echeta, said that 51 of the more than 200 members of Cadet ASP Course 19/1996 had died in active service to the nation.

He said: “In the course of

the fatherland—three of them this year alone. May you join us in praying for the souls of the departed, as we continue to do our best collectively to support the families of the deceased.

“The Course, most especially

soon.

“As we celebrate 30 years of service and stewardship, it is equally important that we take a moment to reflect on our journey and consider the future that lies ahead.”

Otu Mourns Commissioner Eka Williams, Says His Death Irreparable Bassey InyanginCalabar

The Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has expressed profound grief over the death of the Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Prince Eka Williams, describing his passing as an “irreparable

loss” to the Government and people of the state.

Prince Williams reportedly passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at a hospital in Abuja, throwing the Cross River political and administrative establishment into mourning.

Until his appointment as

Commissioner, he had served as Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State and was widely regarded as a committed political associate and public servant.

Reacting to the development, Governor Otu, in a statement released by His Chief Press

Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Linus Obogo, described the death as “a dark shadow of grief” over Cross River State, lamenting that the circumstances of Prince Williams’ departure had made the loss particularly painful.

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LP Chieftain Sues WAEC, UNN, NYSC over Peter Obi’s Credentials Alex Enumah in Abuja

A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Abayomi Arabambi, has dragged the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), the University Of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), to court, over the credentials of the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi. Arabambi, who is the sole plaintiff in three separate suits, predicated his action on the alleged refusal of the affected federal institutions to release details of Obi’s academic record in their custody in

line with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The suit against WAEC, marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/2064/, 2026, was filed on September 1, that against the UNN, marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9, while that against the NYSC marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2063, was filed on September 1.

His lawyer, Anderson Asemota, who filed the three separate suits on his behalf, pointed out that his client is not asking the court to determine whether the certificates the NDC candidate attached to his Form EC 9, submitted to the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the purpose of the 2027 presidential election, were “genuine or forged” but merely seeking “disclosure of the respondents’ official records from which the status and particulars of the certificate may be ascertained.”

According to the plaintiff, he had written separately to the respondents demanding information concerning the certificates he believed they issued to Obi, but up till the time of filing the suits he was yet to receive the requested information or even communication on why the said information would not be given to him.

REDAN Executive: Abuja Estate ‘ll Help Cut Nigeria’s Housing Deficit Sunday Okobi The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Abuja Chapter, has reiterated its commitment to reducing Nigeria’s housing deficit through increased housing delivery and innovative financing options.

The Vice President of REDAN, Abuja Chapter, Dr Gbadewole Kayode, stated this at the groundbreaking ceremony of The Embassy, a 2,400-unit housing estate in Wasa District, Abuja.

Kayode, who is also the chief executive officer of Crown Allied Global Realty, said the project was part

of the company’s efforts to contribute to solving Nigeria’s housing shortage, which he put at 14.98 million units.

“Officially, we have a housing deficit of 14.98 million in Nigeria. We are committed to reducing the housing deficit, especially in the FCT, and that is why we are doing the groundbreaking of The Embassy,” he said.

He explained that the estate would provide energy-efficient homes while increasing the supply of housing units available to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Kayode said the company had also introduced flexible payment arrangements to make home ownership more accessible to low-income earners.

“For low-income earners, they can pay part of the cost and spread the balance over the next six months. That is also one of our efforts to address the housing deficit,” he said.

He added that the company was offering blocks of flats through mortgage arrangements in partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and other Primary Mortgage Institutions.

PTDF Trains 32 Researchers on Modern Geophysical Exploration Gideon Arinze in Enugu The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has trained 32 lecturers and postgraduate students from universities across the Southeast on modern geophysical exploration techniques as part of efforts to strengthen research and technical capacity in Nigeria’s petroleum and energy sector.

The participants were selected from federal, state and private universities across the region for a capacity development workshop organised by the PTDF Professorial Chair in Petroleum

Geology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Speaking at the event yesterday, PTDF Executive Secretary, Prof. Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, said that the workshop, with the theme: ‘High Resolution Geophysical Exploration Techniques: Data Acquisition, Processing and Interpretation’, focused on equipping participants with skills required to apply modern technologies in understanding the subsurface and addressing practical exploration and development challenges.

Aliyu, who was represented by the agency’s Director/

Manager, Research and Development, Favour AdaurePrince, said the growing application of modern geophysical technologies in petroleum and energy exploration had made capacity development increasingly important.

“The PTDF remains committed to supporting universities to develop the knowledge and skills required to advance Nigeria’s energy industry,” he said while urging the lecturers and postgraduate students to maximise the opportunity by learning, sharing ideas, and building professional connections.

GLOWFUX Concert Organises Seeks Babajimi Benson’s Support Representatives of the Bundle of Hope Child Care & Empowerment Foundation, owners of the GLOWFUX Charity Concert, members of the GLOWFUX @ 10 Planning Team, and representatives of Fanafillit Integrated Concepts, have paid an appreciation visit to the Member of the House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Babajimi Benson, in recognition of his longstanding support for the GLOWFUX Charity Concert.

The visit also an

opportunity for the delegation to formally present the plans for GLOWFUX @ 10 to the lawmaker and seek his deeper involvement as the charity event prepares to celebrate a decade of bringing joy, dignity, love and memorable experiences to children and young people in organised needy homes across Lagos State and beyond.

The delegation comprised Comrade Olukunle Adelabu, Reporter-in-Chief of Impact Newspapers and member of the Advisory Board of the Bundle of Hope Child

Care & Empowerment Foundation, who represented the Foundation; Miss Chisom Oparaugo, Project Coordinator of GLOWFUX @ 10; and Miss Adewunmi Tijani and Miss Elizabeth Lasisi, who represented Fanafillit Integrated Concepts, the production consultants.

Also in attendance were two GLOWFUX Young Ambassadors, Ambassador Hilary Adelabu and Ambassador Hiradat Aroyewun, whose presence further underscored the child-focused character of the initiative.

NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES COMMISSION SPECIFIC PROCUREMENT NOTICE Date: 14th September 2026 Name of Country: Nigeria Name of Project: Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project IFB No: NG-NUC-ICT-Dev-NC-002-2026 1. The National Universities Commission has received funds from the Agence Française de Développement towards the cost of Blueprint’s Information and Communications Technology Development (Blueprint-ICT-Dev) Project.

It is intended that part of the proceeds of these funds will be applied to eligible payments under the contract for the Supply and Installation of Anti-Plagiarism Software for the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project.

2. The National Universities Commission now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the Supply and Installation of Anti-Plagiarism Software for the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project (“the Non-Consulting Services”).

3. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from and inspect the Bidding Documents at the office of the Project Coordinator, National Universities Commission, at 26 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, Tel: +234 802 122 5843, ictdev@nuc. edu.ng & jaatah@nuc.edu.ng. Bidding Documents may be inspected between the hours of 0900 and 1700.

4. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested bidders upon the submission of a written application to the addresses indicated above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of One hundred thousand Naira (N100,000.00) via Remita by generating a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) in favour of the National Universities Commission Secretariat, Access will be provided to enable bidders to download the Bidding document upon confirmation of payment.

5. The provisions in the Instructions to Bidders and in the General Conditions of Contract are the provisions of the Agence Française de Développement’s Bidding Documents for Procurement of Non-Consulting Services.

6. Bids must be delivered to the above office on or before 12:00 on 9th November 2026 and must be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration.

7. Bids will be opened in public and in the presence of bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at 12:01 pm on 9th November 2026 at the National Universities Commission (Blueprint-ICT-Dev) Project Peter Okebukola Building 26, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama 900288, Abuja Nigeria Tel: + 2348021225843 E-mail: ictdev@nuc.edu.ng; E-mail: jaatah@nuc.edu.ng

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BACKPAGE CONTINUATION

MEMORIES OF BRIGADIER MUSA USMAN their boss, General Yakubu Gowon is still alive and he graciously provided a rich insight into his old subordinate.

Also available to provide rich insights are former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, who served under Usman when the latter was Commander of Nigeria Airforce Base in Kaduna in 1966. Then there was Usman’s ADC, retired Group Capt. Murtala Salami; his Principal Private Secretary, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu; his Commissioner of Finance, Adamu Wazirin Fika [now deceased]; his brother-in-law, General Ike Nwachukwu, and Usman’s widow, Hajiya Chioma Jummai Usman, herself a retired permanent secretary in Kaduna State.

When Theophilus Abbah and I started work on the book, I initially wondered where the material will come from, given that too much historical, administrative and military water has passed under the Nigerian bridge. Beginning from the serial split of Usman’s old domain; a year after he left Maiduguri, his state was carved into three, Borno, Bauchi and Gongola.

Fifteen years later, Yobe and Taraba were carved out of it, and five years later, Gombe was carved out of Bauchi. A territory that Musa Usman once ruled from one Government House, now has six.

We sent researchers to dig into the State Library in Maiduguri. Luckily, civil servants of old were meticulous record keepers. There we found all of Musa Usman’s speeches at program launches and project commissionings, his annual budget speeches, and his long speeches at the launch of the Second and Third National Development Plans, all well preserved.

Another rich source of material was the archives of New Nigerian Newspapers. The then six Northern states inherited the newspaper from the Northern Nigerian Government. They apparently run it well, and in return activities of the region’s six military governors were copiously reported on its pages. Musa Usman’s activities were well covered on its pages, and our researchers photocopied every mention of him, including photographs, which filled many files.

Then there were the family members, as well as the boss, remaining colleagues and former subordinates to fill the story gaps. The resultant book is being launched today in Abuja.

Brigadier Musa Usman’s relatively short life of only five decades was nevertheless a study in the rich complexity of Nigeria’s history, ethnic mix, formation of the colonial army and its subsequent development into the Nigerian Army, the tumultuous events of the mid 1960s, the epic struggle for the take off and development of the new states as well as the events of the mid-1970s and his subsequent personal travails.

Usman’s family history is deeply rooted in the old Kanem Borno Empire, which British, German and French colonial powers serially split among themselves. His father, Usman Kakagida, a Kanuri man of Chadian ancestry, was born in Maiduguri, joined the colonial West African Frontier Force in the 1930s, was stationed at Ankpa and married Musa Usman’s mother, who was Igala, in 1938.

So when Musa Usman, who was born in 1940, enrolled in Boys’ Company [later renamed Nigeria Military School], Zaria in 1954 and became its Senior Prefect, he was only following in his father’s footsteps.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he received the best military training at Regular Officers Training School, Teshie, Ghana; Mons Officers Cadet School, Aldershot, UK and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Ask old soldiers what all that means.

He was a staff officer in the epic Nigerian contingent that was part of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force during the Congo crisis in the early 1960s, did further infantry training at Fort Benning, USA, and was one of the Army officers that was drafted to form the nucleus officer corps of Nigerian Air Force in 1966, where he became head of NAF station in Kaduna. In 1965, Musa Usman continued his family’s tradition of inter-ethnic mix when he married Chioma Jummai, herself of Abia Igbo father and Katsina Fulani mother, sister of General Ike Nwachukwu.

In May 1967, only 27 years old, Usman was

appointed Military Governor of North Eastern State and member of the Supreme Military Council, alongside Service Chiefs and other military governors.

Talk about Gen A careers.

Musa Usman’s lasting imprints in all sectors of the North East in the next eight years are well documented in the book, including the road networks, irrigation projects, housing projects, the state secretariat [since renamed Musa Usman Secretariat], Ashaka Cement factory, expansion of Yankari Game Reserve, North East College of Arts and Science, which became University of Maiduguri; Government Technical College, Maiduguri [which became Ramat Polytechnic]; Savannah Sugar Company, Numan; Maiduguri Airport; and numerous other schools and health projects that all bore his huge imprints.

As General Gowon testified, Musa Usman undertook many international assignments on his behalf, especially to do with neighbouring countries during the Civil War, and also in establishing the epic Chad Basin Agricultural Project. General Gowon, who appointed him Military Governor, said Usman had been recommended by the Air Force for the appointment but he personally knew him as “young, very bright, very capable and had a good record in his confidential report.” He also knew his record at Sandhurst, and Gowon was Adjutant General in 1965 when he selected Usman for posting to the Air Force.

Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar was a cadet at Nigeria Air Force base in Kaduna when Musa Usman, then a Major, arrived as Commandant. On one occasion, Usman locked up the future Head of State when, as Duty Cadet, Abdulsalami abandoned his post and went into town due, the General now says, “to youthful exuberance.”

He said Usman restored discipline to the base because prior to his coming, Air Force cadets gave a lot of trouble to NCOs drafted from the Army.

There were also interesting testimonies from Major General I.B.M. Haruna, together with whom Usman was recruited into Boys Company, Zaria in 1954. From former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal

Abdullahi Dominic Bello, who told of the unrest at Kaduna Air Force base following the January 1966 coup and the detention of its senior officers, including the Commander, Col. Jacob Esuene, and how Musa Usman was brought in and he speedily restored order.

From Major General John Obada, former ADC to First Republic President Nnamdi Azikiwe, Musa Usman’s mate at Sandhurst and best man at his wedding.

Obada also succeeded him as Commander of the Air Force base, and had to move Usman’s family to safety when a Biafran plane dropped a bomb at the air base. And by Major General Ike Nwachukwu, Musa Usman’s brother-in-law, who told of how his string of military officer friends in 1961, including Musa Usman, made him to abandon his career as a newspaper reporter and join the Army.

Also a rich account by veteran journalist Dan Agbese, who in 1967 was sent by his Editor at New Nigerian, Adamu Ciroma, to interview all six military governors of the Northern states. By Wazirin Fika, his Commissioner of Finance, who told of Usman’s central role in the Interim Common Services Agency [ICSA] and in getting Ahmadu Bello University [ABU], Zaria to establish the School of Basic Studies [SBS]. By former civilian Governor of Borno State Muhammadu Goni, who spoke of how and why Musa Usman moved the state’s capital from Bauchi to Maiduguri. And by his ADC, Group Captain Murtala Salami, who said Musa Usman’s only property was a house he bought in Kaduna with a loan from Union Bank, which the government seized and later returned.

Brigadier Musa Usman’s widow, Hajiya Chioma Jummai Usman, narrated how she met him in Lagos in 1962, when he was a Second Lieutenant just back from the Congo. At their wedding in 1965, she listed the cream of top military officers that attended, including Major General Adeyinka Adebayo, Colonel Kur Mohamed and Colonel Arthur Unegbu, who presided. The marriage itself and the wedding gathering were a reflection of what Nigeria was at the time, before things fell apart a few months later in January 1966.

LEADERSHIP MAN OF THE YEAR: WHY ABDUL SAMAD, NDUKA MATTER

rest of Africa, $50,000,000 (USD) in what is the largest private philanthropic giving of its kind by an individual on the continent.

He believes in using wealth to uplift society and to address some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. From education to healthcare, water supply to rural development, Samad’s charitable efforts have touched countless lives.

As one of the world’s leading philanthropists of the 21st century, Abdul Samad’s compassionate ethos of giving is evident in his generous donations to education and healthcare.

ASR has built, among many other projects, a N310 million students hostel at the Federal University of Technology, Minna; a N270 million Abdul Samad Rabi’u Sports Complex at the University of Jos; N250 million admin block at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri; N250 million sports center at UNIPORT; N1 billion learning facility at UNILORIN; another billion Naira Integrated Agric Center at the Bayero University, Kano and a language center at the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA. The foundation has, to its credit, several other projects including lecture theaters, auditoria, classrooms, libraries, laboratories, staff quarters and offices, ICT facilities, books, journals and periodicals, machines and other research equipment thrown at institutions of learning in Nigeria, Ghana and other African countries.

ASR Africa has also made contributions to the well-being of our defence and security agencies through projects such the N2 billion Naira Nigerian Navy medical center in the FCT; a N500 million immigration staff accommodation for the Immigration Service and another N500 million for the Correctional Center (Prisons Service); a 150 bed mega hospital for the police in Abuja, and a hospital for the immigration service in Bauchi.

The foundation has built a palace for the Royal Igbogila Kingdom in Ijesha in Ogun State for N1 billion; a contribution of N5 billion to the IBB national library project and the ongoing construction of the Malam Abdulkarim Juma’a mosque in Zaria.

The history and extent of his passionate support for health and welfare is another little-known detail about Samad.

Through this foundation, he has enabled the construction and rehabilitation of healthcare facilities, equipping them, developing research capabilities for researchers, healthcare practitioners and community level service providers.

Among the many projects executed include a N2.5 billion teaching hospital at Akwa Ibom State University, Uyo, a N2.5 billion school of nursing at Sokoto State University in Tambuwal, a N2.5 billion school of health technology in Gwadabawa also Sokoto state; a N2.5 billion Oncology and diagnostic center in Ilorin; a N2.5 billion Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Edo state, a N250 million clinic at the Nigerian Law School as well as a record number of hospitals in Kano,

Nigerian Guild of Editors 1998 Award Recipient on the 11th of Sept 1998, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena being presented award as Fellow of Nigerian Guild of Editors by the Chairman of the occasion Alhaji Ismaila Isa (right) (Exclusive from the CRIMMD Archive)

Katsina, FCT, Bauchi and Sokoto given ambulances and tuberculosis centers. Ten states got kits for sexual assault repentance centers.

In his effortless stride of his giving, Samad sparked a national enthusiasm when he offered a cash reward package of up to USD1.5 million to the Super Eagles during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January, 2025.

In the end, we lost the semi-final to the host nation, Morocco in a penalty shootout.

Despite the defeat, he still went ahead dishing out USD 500,000 in appreciation of the team’s “resilience, passion, and strong performance throughout the tournament.”

Through philanthropy and strong conviction with an eye on nation building, Abdul Samad continues to create and support countless social uplift programmes in areas such as health, education, national security, water, sports , livelihoods and social welfare, all with one core purpose — to improve the quality of life of those it touches at home in Nigeria and other countries in Africa.

His selection as the 2026 “Man of the Year” by the Leadership Media Group is an eloquent testimony to why Abdul Samad, a major global player, matters. … And Nduka Obaigbena.

I have told my Nduka story on these pages before but

given the importance I attach to it, its bears repeating.

Many years ago, we met at his instance to decide if would partner with him in his upcoming magazine, TheWeek, with ties to the Time Magazine where Mr. Obaigbena had worked in the past.

After all has been said, our representative at meeting asked an important question: What happens if the beautiful dream crashes? Is there a fallback to it?

Our host, Nduka Obaigbena shoved aside the issue, saying we are all taking a risk, there is nothing to lose.

None of us here has a family.

We, (I and my editor, Malam Kabiru Yusuf) decided that this would be a dangerous journey; the the guy is not a serious person, we concluded.

TheWeek took off and crashed but in its place, he went on to found ThisDay. Malam Kabiru, with a few friends started the Daily Trust which has gone on to break so many barriers and myths and about the success or lack of it in publishing in Northern Nigeria.The Trust Newspapers are today printed simultaneously in Abuja, where they are headquartered in a five-story building, in Kano, Maiduguri, Lagos and Port Harcourt, the only one to so in the country.

Nduka Obaigbena has built ThisDay (Leaders and Company) into one of the country’s most respected media organisations, comprising not only the flagship ThisDay but also several other publications, and Arise

International TV network.

Recognizing the potential importance of digital media, Nduka launched Lekeelekee, the first global social media platform built out of Africa, “blending Tik-Tok, X , WhatsApp into a culturally aligned , mobile-first experience for African and the diaspora.” Users say Lekeelekee is fun and easy to use.

In this growing communications empire, ThisDay has a reputation for thorough, accurate, and well-written journalism, setting standards for politics, economy, business and society reporting. Through this paper, Nduka gave this country its first all-color newspaper.

Arise continues to grow in size and reputation with a tradition of being a watchdog for misdeeds by politicians and aggressive interviewing techniques that have become a subject of discussion among for communications scholars and practitioners. Nduka must be credited with a rare ability to create and manage this world class media empire and in the people he choses to run it, the choice of a top flight management team, and a willingness on his part to support the staff in and out of office, even when pressured to do otherwise.

In addition to being publisher, Nduka has led the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN and is a patron of the Nigerian Press Organization, NPO, after leading it as chairman, giving him, overall, a latitude of authority, wealth, financial power, social privilege, and outstanding public respect.

47

T H I S D AY • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026

MONDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe

Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

08111813083 SMS Only

Brave Falconets Demolish New Caledonia 10-1, Set up Last 16 Clash with England Duro Ikhazuagbe

With elimination staring at them after losing to Spain in their opening Group F game and held China goalless, Nigeria’s Falconets, responded in emphatic fashion yesterday to crush New Caledonia 10-1 to advance to the last 16 stage of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

Now, Moses Aduku and his wards will similarly have to maintain their form when facing Group E winners England in the Last 16 stage of the tournament on Thursday.

The result at the Stadion Miejski ŁKS Łòdz secured progression to the Round of 16 and marked the team’s largest winning margin in the tournament to date.

Winner Onajite David led the scoring with a hat-trick in the 60th, 75th and in added time of the second period.

Additional goals came from Ramotalahi Kareem in the 64th minute, Rebecca Adegbemile in the 74th minute, and Tosin Rafiu in the 70th minute, with the assist

U20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP provided by Onyedikachi Ekezie.

The goals were concentrated in the second half as Nigeria’s attack overwhelmed the New Caledonia defence.

The two-time World Cup runners-up controlled possession and created a high volume of chances throughout the second period. From the 60th minute onward, Nigeria recorded attempts at goal in quick succession, with Janet Akekoromowei, Amber Ogbolu and Kareem all threatening.

Set pieces were a key feature, as Tumininu Adeshina and Tosin Rafiu delivered a series of corners that sustained pressure on the opposition.

Head Coach Moses Aduku utilised his bench to maintain intensity, introducing Amber Ogbolu, Victory Lucky and Bright Effiong Etim in the 62nd and 79th minutes. The changes helped sustain the tempo and contributed to the late surge in goals.

New Caledonia registered a

Ronaldo Demands Life Ban for Fans Chanting Late Jota’s Name Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has called for lifetime bans to be issued to fans who chanted the late Diogo Jota’s name towards his international team-mate Ruben Neves.

Liverpool forward Jota died in a car crash at the age of 28 in July last year, and was a close friend of midfielder Neves, having played together for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portugal.

Supporters appeared to target Al-Hilal midfielder Neves before his side’s 6-0 win against AlTaawoun in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday by repeatedly shouting “Jota” at him.

“The league must take action and punish this kind of fan behaviour,” forward Ronaldo, who also plays in the Saudi league for Al-Nassr, wrote on social media.

“This is no longer football, and there have to be limits. People who behave like this should

never be allowed to enter a stadium again.”

Neves also now wears the number 21 shirt for Portugal in Jota’s memory, and has a tattoo on his calf of him and Jota embracing.

Ronaldo played with both players for the national team.

In the footage, Neves can be seen sarcastically applauding a section of fans off-camera, before pointing to the sky and then looking towards them.

After the match, Neves told reporters: “I just hope they don’t go to pray later after what they did.”

Liverpool forward Jota died alongside his brother Andre Silva in the crash in the Spanish province of Zamora.

He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool after signing from Wolves in 2020, and made his international debut in 2019, scoring 14 goals in 49 games for Portugal.

Four-man CAF, FIFA Team in Abuja over Nigeria Football Crisis A four-man team believed to be from CAF and FIFA arrived Abuja at the weekend to meet with the leadership of National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Interim heads of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

THISDAY sources close to the NSC confirmed the arrival of the officials without confirming their names.

The visit is in connection with the situation that led

to Ibrahim Gusau and his board members to vacate the board of the NFF after pressure from stakeholders.

Nigeria’s back-to-back failures across the board of national teams created room for the exit of Gusau and his men.

A Normalisation Committee is expected to be named to lead to the reforms of the governing statutes before an election will hold for new officers of the NFF

consolation goal through Joceline Kourevi in the 89th minute before David completed her hat-trick in stoppage time.

With the win, Nigeria concluded the group stage on four points from three matches, having previously lost 2-0 to Spain and drawn 0-0 with China PR. The 10-1 result significantly improved the team’s goal difference and confirmed a

second-place finish in Group F. NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, saluted the historic feat by the Falconets. “The Presidency through the National Sports Commission, the NFF and Nigerian Football stakeholders, and I believe all Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, are very proud of the outing of the Falconets against New Caledonia.

They showed the true Nigeria spirit and overcame the odds when it mattered most.

Ramotalahi Kareem was selected as the MVP of the Nigeria v New Caledonia clash in the on-going FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Łódź, Poland…on Sunday

Awoniyi Sees Red as Five-star Brighton Crush Coventry Super Eagles forward, Taiwo Awoniyi was shown a straight red card as his Coventry were battered 5-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.

The dismissal of the former Nottingham Forest front man followed his elbowing of Brighton’s Maxim de Cuyper in the face while attempting to challenge for an aerial ball.

Referee Tony Harrington immediately showed Awoniyi a straight red card, with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewing and supporting the decision.

His dismissal left the Sky Blues with 10 men, allowing Brighton to take control and eventually secure a 5-0 victory

at the CBS Arena.

Speaking on Sky Sports, former Manchester United legend, Roy Keane described the decision as harsh but questioned Awoniyi’s arm movement and whether the striker had given the referee an opportunity to send him off.

“I think the red card is a tough one. Awoniyi raised his elbow as he was waiting for the Brighton player coming in, but was it a real swing?

I don’t know,” Keane said.

“I think it’s harsh, but you have to ask Awoniyi: ‘Did you give the referee an opportunity to send you off today?’ - the answer is yes.”

Awoniyi is expected to miss

three consecutive games for the Sky Blues, including the Carabao Cup clash against Aston Villa, the return to his former club Nottingham Forest and the meeting with Newcastle United The defeat continued condemned Coventry to a fourth successive defeat of the season after their return to the Premier League.

Frank Lampard’s side became only the second in Premier League history to lose their first four matches without scoring - after Crystal Palace in 2017-18 - while it is the first time in Coventry’s history they have failed to register a goal or point in their first four league matches.

Only in 1919-20 - their first league campaign - have they lost each of their first four league matches.

Taiwo Awoniyi...sent off against Bighton

Rivers Utd, Shooting Stars Crash, El Kanemi, Rangers Through Two of Nigeria’s representatives Rivers United FC and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) crashed out of continental campaigns yesterday while El Kanemi and Enugu Rangers pulled through to the next round.

Rivers United’s CAF Champions League campaign ended in heartbreak at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo as Ivorian side, FC San Pedro survived a dramatic second-half comeback to force a 2-2 draw and advance to the next round.

In Tunisia, CS Sfaxien defeated 3SC 2-0 to qualify for the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup. Shooting Stars had won the

CAF COMPETITIONS first leg with a slim 1-0 margin in Abeokuta. CS Sfaxien qualified on 2-1 aggregate.

The other Nigerian team in the CAF Confederation Cup, El Kanemi Warriors lost 1-0 to Guinea Bissau’s UDIB but secured their ticket to the next round with an aggregate 3-1 victory.

The Maiduguri team win the first leg 3-0 in Ikenne last week.

Earlier on Saturday, Nigerian champions, Enugu Rangers had escaped into the next round of the CAF Champions League after they were held held 2-2 aggregate but won 5-4 on penalty shootouts.

Rivers United had to settle for elimination despite recovering from a two-goal deficit to level the scores and throw the tie into a tense finish.

The result was particularly painful for Rivers United, who had returned from the first leg in Côte d’Ivoire with a 1-1 draw and the advantage of playing the decisive fixture at home.

San Pedro, however, produced a stunning first-half performance in Uyo, scoring twice to put Rivers United under enormous pressure and leave the hosts facing an early continental exit.

Eight Finalists Emerge to Compete for Zenith Bank League Title in Lagos

All is now set for the final of the 2026 NBBF/Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball Premier League after the conclusion of the second phase of the two conferences - Atlantic and Savannah.

All roads now lead to the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos for the ultimate battle

between the best four teams from each conference.

MFM Women Basketball team and Nigeria Customs emerged the winner of both conferences winning all their games from both the First Phase and the Second Phase and looking as teams to beat in the Final 8.

With 14 matches played

across two phases, MFM won all while Customs won 10 out of 10 to lead the charge to Lagos.

From the Atlantic Conference, First Bank, Victoria Queens and Bayelsa Blue Whales joined MFM while the three others joining Customs from the Savannah Conference are AS SKY Queens, Titans and Air Warriors.

R E S U LT S PREMIER LEAGUE Coventry 0-5 Brighton Man Utd 0-1 Man City BUNDESLIGA RB Leipzig 5-0 Hamburger Elversberg 1-2 B’Munich SERIE A Lecce 3-2 Monza Napoli 1-0 Bologna Sassuolo 3-2 Juventus LA LIGA Celta Vigo 1-1 Malaga Levante 2-4 Barcelona Getafe 1-1 Dep.A Coruna Sociedad 0-3 Atletico EUROMATCH NPFL Doma Utd 2-0 Enyimba Int’l Kwara Utd 3-0 Katsina Utd B’Insurance 4-2 Kun Khalifat Barau FC 3-1 Ranchers Bees Abia Warriors 2-2 Ikorodu City Inter Lagos 0-3 Sporting Lagos N’Tornadoes v Plateau Utd Rivers Utd v Warri Wolves Rangers Int’l v Nasarawa Shooting Stars v K’Pillars

Price: N400

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 • T H I S D AY BACK PAGE LEAD PHOTOGRAPH

ADF AFRICA - DIASPORA LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME FOR THE WEF YOUNG GLOBAL LEADERS...

L-R: Chairman, Access Holdings and Coronation Group, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR; MD/CEO, Nigerian Exchange Group, Temi Popoola; Chief Financial Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Murat Erden; YGL/Chief Economist, First Bank of Nigeria, Chinwe Egwim; Group MD/CEO, Vetiva Capital Management Limited, Chuka Eseka; MD/CEO, Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF); Zouera Youssoufou; MD/CEO, Dangote Refinery, David Bird, and Group Chairman, NGX Group, Dr. Umaru, Kwairanga, at the ADF Africa - Diaspora Leadership Programme for the WEF Young Global Leaders hosted by Aig-Imoukhuede at Access Tower, Victoria Island, Lagos...Friday

MAHMUDJEGA VIEW FROM THE GALLERY

Memories of Brigadier Musa Usman

T

here is a popular song regularly played on Radio Kaduna in the mid-1970s, when we were school boys, but which still rings in my ears. It was, “Birgediya Musa Usman!”

I cannot even remember who the singer was. In the mid-1970s, when the peanut farmer and hardly known Governor of Georgia State, Jimmy Carter, began a long-shot run for US President, many Americans asked, “Jimmy Who?” Today, many young Nigerian folks will look at this article’s headline and ask, “Brigadier Who?” Brigadier Musa Usman, in case you never heard of him. One young lad may even ask me, “You mean Brigadier General?” No, sir. Before, during the Civil War and for many years after, we didn’t have Brigadier Generals in Nigeria; only plain Brigadiers.

Brigadier Musa Usman

GARBASHEHU

There were quite a few of them then, including Brigadier Hassan Usman Katsina, first and last military governor of Northern Nigeria and later Army Chief. Many state military governors of the Yakubu Gowon era were also Brigadiers, including Mobolaji Johnson [Lagos], Abba Kyari [North Central], Oluwole Rotimi [Western State], Samuel Ogbemudia [Mid-Western State], Udo Jacob Esuene [South Eastern State], Theophilus Bamigboye [West Central, later renamed Kwara State], as well as Musa Usman.

Three others were policemen [Usman Faruk of North West, Audu Bako of Kano and Joseph Gomwalk of Benue Plateau]; one was a Naval officer [Alfred Diete-Spiff of Rivers] and one, Ukpabi Asika of East Central State, was a civilian.

If young folks do not remember Brigadier Musa

Usman, it must be due to effluxion of time and also the banishing of History from the school syllabus.

Musa Usman, born in Enugu in 1940, became Military Governor of the huge North Eastern State, one fifth of Nigeria, 59 years ago. He ceased to be a Military Governor when the Gowon regime was overthrown 51 years ago, and he passed away in Kaduna 35 years ago. It was therefore highly welcome when his family decided to have a book written on their late father, and they drafted me as co-author. It appeared to be difficult because most of his contemporaries are gone. Of the Gowon era’s eleven military governors and one civilian Administrator, only Alfred DieteSpiff of Rivers is still living today. Luckily however, Continued on page 46

GUEST COLUMNIST

Leadership Man of TheYear: Why Abdul Samad, Nduka Matter

T

his year, the Leadership newspaper is conferring its prestigious Man of the Year award on two Nigerian icons in recognition of their leadership journeys: Prince Nduka Obaigbena, one of Nigeria’s most famous and admired media figures is a man who shaped, and continues to shape different eras in Nigerian journalism.

Abdul Samad Isyaku Rabi’u, born on August 4, 1960 is a Nigerian billionaire businessman and cement magnate.

His is a name that goes far beyond the boardroom.

While he is renowned as the chairman BUA Group of Companies which he transformed into a global business empire, his contributions extend well beyond

the corporate world.

Abdul Samad’s philanthropy is a beacon of hope for millions, and his selfless giving continues to leave lasting impressions on Nigeria, Africa and the world.

By showing that business can move beyond the notion of profit, Samad, as fondly called by friends has showcased how true leadership is not only about business success but also about creating a lasting social impact.

As the executive chairman of BUAFOODS, he drove the expansion of the conglomerate into Nigeria’s most capitalized company, with a share price of approximately ₦760.60 and a market capitalization of roughly ₦13.69 trillion.

Currently, he is Africa’s second richest person with

a net worth estimated at between $13 billion and $19 billion in 2026.

Samad has always stood for more than business.

To Nigerians, he personifies kindness, purpose, and institution-building. He is Nigeria’s, indeed Africa’s philanthropic giant.

When the Covid-19 crisis rocked and racked livelihoods, lives and even nations across the globe, Nigerian business leaders formed what they called the Coalition Against COVID-19, known as CACOVID. Led by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man, the coalition was backed by Access Bank Group, Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and several others including the BUA Chairman, Abdul Samad.

Rather than solely funding temporary relief, which

he noted was the major shortcoming of the CACOVID relief programs he and the others put in place, Abdul Samad seized the momentum to sharpen and accelerate his visionary legacy of transforming lives in Nigeria through philanthropy and social impact initiatives.

It’s the famous American author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins who said “by changing nothing, nothing changes.”

Like a bolt from the sky, came in 2021, the Abdul Samad Rabi’u foundation, ASR Africa Initiative which is the brainchild of the industrialist and philanthropist, with an annual pledge of $100,000,000 (USD) with Nigeria to benefit $50,000,000 (USD) yearly and the Continued on page 46

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