MONDAY 28TH JULY 2025

Okocha in Abuja

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

Group, Aliko Dangote, has hailed

Bola Tinubu

Senate Denies Akpabio, Bamidele Rift, Affirms Unity in Leadership

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate has issued a firm denial of recent media reports suggesting a rift between President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

An altercation between Akpabio and Bamidele had allegedly occurred during a recent executive session convened to deliberate on whether the Senate should proceed on its annual recess, according to the reports.

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the federal government not to see the nominal increase of 18.3 per cent year-on-year Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth recorded in the latest rebasing of Nigeria’s economy as evidence of significant economic progress.

It explained that this is because it might have obscured some of the economy’s deep-rooted challenges as real GDP’s average growth remained weak at 1.95 per cent between 2020 and 2024.

MAN also said the declining performance of the manufacturing sector from 27.65 per cent in the 2010 base year to 21.08 per cent in 2019 as seen from the rebased GDP was a strident call for structural industrial reforms.

These views were expressed by the Director General of MAN, Mr.

country’s future in mountains of debts in the name of economic reform.

The party also slammed the National Assembly for acting as a rubber stamp, saying lawmakers have abdicated their duty to protect Nigerians from the consequences of unsustainable debt.

ADC said it was deeply concerned by the Tinubu administration’s dangerous obsession with borrowing.

It said, “What Nigerians are witnessing, following the approval of a fresh $21 billion in foreign loans, is nothing short of a calculated decision to mortgage the country’s future just to cover up the failures of today.

“Under President Buhari, Nigeria borrowed an average of N4.7 trillion per year, and

Dangote Fertiliser Limited, in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, according to a statement by the Dangote Group.

Commending Tinubu’s efforts to address crude supply challenges to domestic refineries, Dangote praised the ‘Naira-for-Crude initiative and the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy as bold and transformative steps capable of revitalising the economy.

“I believe we must sincerely thank His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for ensuring that there have been improvements in the supply of crude oil. His insistence that all crude oil transactions be conducted in naira has been particularly commendable.

“For us to effectively meet

But in a press statement released on Sunday, Chairman of Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, dismissed the reports as baseless and misleading.

Adaramodu said the accounts misrepresented the nature of parliamentary deliberations and the time-honoured traditions that govern legislative practices, both in Nigeria and across democratic institutions worldwide.

The Senate, Nigeria’s highest legislative chamber, plays a critical

Segun Ajayi-Kadir, in his response to THISDAY’s questionnaire on the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) rebasing exercise of the economy.

Ajayi-Kadir pointed out that although the GDP’s rebasing has confirmed that Nigeria’s economy has become statistically larger; it has also made it plain that Nigeria’s economy is neither more productive, nor more industrialised.

He said: “The revised nominal GDP estimate, showing an 18.3 per cent year-on-year increase, is a direct outcome of improved data capture, especially in agriculture, services and informal sector activities. Notwithstanding, MAN strongly cautions against interpreting this nominal expansion as evidence of significant economic progress.

“MAN, therefore, calls on the government to treat the rebased GDP not as a celebration

even that caused widespread concern. But under President Tinubu, borrowing has jumped to N49.8 trillion per year. In just two years, this administration has borrowed more than 10 times what Buhari borrowed in the same timeframe.

“At this rate, Nigeria’s total public debt will crash through N200 trillion before the end of the year. We are speeding toward a financial cliff, and those in charge seem to have no brakes, thinking they can borrow their way out of economic problems that require more thoughtful actions and greater fiscal discipline.”

According to the ADC spokesman, supporters of the government like to argue that Tinubu’s borrowing is smaller in dollar terms, just $1.7 billion annually, compared to Buhari’s

market demand—which we have the capacity to do—it is essential that crude is priced and purchased in our local currency,” Dangote said.

The leading industrialist noted these initiatives, along with other economic reforms, have brought a measure of stability to the naira-to-dollar exchange rate.

He expressed optimism that the naira would continue to strengthen in the coming weeks as the effects of the reforms become more visible.

According to him, the improved market predictability has helped investors make sound business decisions and restored confidence in the investment climate.

“We are also beginning to see

role in shaping national policies and laws that affect over 230 million Nigerians.

The institution operates through a system of rigorous debate, oversight, and collaboration.

This process often involves spirited discussions and divergent viewpoints as lawmakers scrutinise bills, motions, and executive proposals.

Such robust exchanges are essential to the Senate’s mandate to ensure that every piece of legislation serves the national

of growth, but as a strident call for structural industrial reforms,” adding that “Nigeria must re-industrialise to achieve inclusive growth, build export capacity, and reduce dependence on primary commodities and informal activities.”

MAN therefore urged the government to prioritise manufacturing policy, financing and infrastructure development because without a strong industrial base, GDP expansion may just become a ‘hollow statistic’ that is not backed by productive transformation.

The director general of MAN said that despite the upward revision, the real GDP growth remains weak, averaging just 1.95 per cent between 2020 and 2024.

“This sluggish real growth shows the underlying fragility of Nigeria’s productive base and the capacity of the economy to deliver sustainable and inclusive

$4.15 billion.

However, he said, “But that argument collapses the moment we look at the exchange rate. With the naira now in free fall, again thanks to this administration’s poor policy choices, these same loans are costing the country far more.

When converted to naira, Tinubu’s foreign borrowing amounts to N25.5 trillion every year, more than Buhari’s annual average of N2.2 trillion.

“What we are witnessing is the deepening of a debt trap created by economic mismanagement and a collapsed currency. Since the APC took over in 2015, our total public debt has grown from N12.6 trillion to over N149 trillion in 2025. Over $35 billion has been borrowed from external lenders alone in the last decade

some stability in the naira-todollar exchange rate, which has had a positive impact. There is now less fluctuation, and this has brought a degree of predictability to the market

“For those of us in the business sector, this is a welcome development, as it allows us to plan more effectively. Looking ahead, as market conditions continue to improve, we can expect to see a more favourable exchange rate,” he said.

Dangote also commended the federal government for establishing a One-Stop Shop (OSS) initiative to improve coordination among regulatory and security agencies, thereby facilitating smoother operations under the Naira-for-Crude

interest effectively.

Adaramodu stressed that robust debates and intense scrutiny of legislative matters were not only routine but also hallmarks of a vibrant democracy.

He said, “Every initiative brought before the Senate undergoes thorough examination in plenary and committee sessions.

“This ensures that lawmakers fully understand and assess the implications before granting approval or authorisation.”

He added that such debates

development,” he added.

He also expressed MAN’s concern over the declining role of the industrial sector, which the rebased figures have made unmistakably clear.

He said: “Industry’s share of GDP fell from 27.65 per cent in the 2010 base year to 21.08 per cent under the 2019 rebased structure, marking a structural shift away from production toward low-productivity service activities.

“While the rebasing exercise reveals a more diversified economy, it also exposes the underperformance of industry, particularly the manufacturing sector that should be the backbone of Nigeria’s economic transformation.

“Manufacturing is structurally weak, with sub-sectors that should be growth drivers performing below potential, as indicated in the report. Based

of the APC.

“This is nearly 12 times more in just 10 years. Our debt to the World Bank has tripled. What we owe in Eurobonds has grown eleven times over. And now, this government wants to borrow even more, pushing our foreign debt ceiling to $67 billion.

“This reckless borrowing, repeated year after year, with no plan to repay it, and no effort to use it productively, will leave our children repaying debts that they did not incur or benefit from. The debts have continued to mount, but infrastructures have remained poor, universities are still grossly underfunded, hospitals are still ill-equipped and electricity supply is as poor as ever.

“So, what exactly are these loans used for? This is the question that Nigerians expect

programme.

He emphasised that the OSS had significantly reduced bottlenecks and allowed for real-time resolution of issues, in line with President Tinubu’s directive.

“The administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has established a One-Stop Shop that is working diligently. I am confident that the government intends to replicate this model in other sectors, particularly to streamline the clearing of goods—an essential area of business.

“At present, we are not experiencing any significant issues with loading. All the relevant agencies have been brought together under one roof,

should not be mistaken for personal conflicts or disunity within the leadership.

Adaramodu emphasised, “It is crucial for the public and media to appreciate that parliamentary procedures demand vigorous discussion. This does not imply any crack or discord in the Senate leadership.”

The recent media claims alleged that Akpabio and Bamidele engaged in a heated confrontation during an executive session concerning the Senate’s annual recess schedule.

on the figure released, the average annual growth rate of the manufacturing sector between 2019 and 2024 is negative (-0.76 per cent)

“This means that Nigeria’s manufacturing sector has been shrinking in real terms over the past five years.”

According to MAN, the upward revision of Nigeria’s GDP to $243 billion could offer a lift in investors’ confidence and improve headline macroeconomic ratios such as the debt-to-GDP ratio.

It, however, noted that confidence in the economy is anchored not just on size but also on structural resilience, depth of industrial capacity, and productivity growth.

“In this regard, we need to refocus on the development of the real and high-impact driven sector. More worrisome is the underperformance of the

IN LAST 10 YEARS

the National Assembly to ask. Instead, it has continued to approve these loans without asking the hard questions, without demanding a plan, and without standing up for the Nigerian people.”

Quoting the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria, ADC stated that the cost of Tinubu’s borrowing was already crushing the very backbone of the economy, explaining that small businesses can no longer access credit.

Abdullahi stated, “Investors are losing confidence and pulling out. And because over 60 per cent of our national income is now used to service debt, the government is turning to ordinary Nigerian families and taxing them beyond their limits.

While other countries are fighting

including the Navy, NIMASA, NPA, and others.

“This coordination has greatly improved efficiency. Whenever issues arise, they are promptly addressed through the leadership of the Chairman of the Technical Committee, Mr. Zack Adedeji, who is doing an excellent job", he stated.

The business magnate further disclosed that the refinery is set to launch a new initiative involving the deployment of 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tankers to distribute petroleum products more efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner.

He explained that the move would reduce logistics costs and ensure Nigerians receive products

The reports painted a picture of a divided leadership at the helm of Nigeria’s legislature. However, Adaramodu categorically rejected the allegations, affirming that no such clash occurred.

manufacturing sector whose contribution to GDP remains low and increasingly volatile.

“This scenario speaks loudly for sustained industry-centric policies, which has already been exemplified by the Industrial Revolution Working Group, infrastructure investments, and improved access to longterm finance to revitalize the industrial sector. This is the way for the growth in GDP to alleviate poverty, create jobs, and contribute to macroeconomic stability,” it added.

MAN said that the rebased GDP should not be seen as an endpoint, but as a starting point for strategic reform, emphasising that, “if Nigeria is to achieve inclusive and sustained growth, manufacturing must move from the margins to the mainstream of economic policy.”

to reduce their debts, the APC is taking out more loans. ''The recent devaluation of the naira should have reduced the need for external borrowing, but instead, the government has treated it as an excuse to borrow even more.”

ADC demanded a full disclosure of all loan agreements signed over the past 10 years by APC and the Tinubu government, stating that Nigerians have a right to know the terms, interest rates, payment timelines, and final recipients of the loans. It stated, “We also call on President Tinubu to put an end to this fiscal recklessness, and focus instead on meaningful reform, by investing wisely, and spending responsibly. The era of borrowing to cover policy failures must come to an end.”

at more affordable prices, closer to their locations. In her remarks, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Oduwole, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to promoting domestic investment and addressing the challenges faced by local investors.

“We are here today as a result of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s clear focus on domestic investment. As you are aware, we held a Domestic Investment Summit on Monday—the first of its kind. Today, we are gathered at the invitation of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, a leading investor who has committed an extraordinary amount of resources to Nigeria’s

Akpabio

NEMA DELIVERS RELIEF MATERIALS...

L-R: Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, Secretary to Katsina State Government, Alhaji Abdullahi Faskari, and Executive Secretary, Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hajiya Binta Hussaini Dangani, during the visit of the Director General NEMA to deliver relief materials approved for distribution to persons affected by various disasters and banditry in six Local Government Areas of the state on Wednesday

Wale Edun: Stable Financial System, Essential for Lifting Millions out of Poverty

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has declared that a trusted and stable financial system, anchored by institutions like the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) was essential to lifting millions out of poverty and driving Nigeria’s transition to a $1 trillion economy. Edun stated this while inaugurating the new board of directors of

the corporation in Abuja at the weekend.

He identified domestic savings as the engine of sustainable investment.

The minister stated, "Domestic savings are the engine of sustainable investment. A trusted and stable financial system, anchored by institutions like the NDIC, is essential to lifting millions out of poverty and driving Nigeria’s transition to a $1 trillion economy."

The new NDIC board of

directors, led by Managing Director, Dr. Thompson Olu Dare Sunday, and Executive Director, Dr Ibrahim Sabokatata, appointed by President Bola Tinubu, was expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s macroeconomic reform agenda.

Earlier, Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris UzokaAnite, described NDIC as "a cornerstone of public trust in the banking system," emphasising its renewed mandate under the 2023 Act.

In his remarks, the new NDIC Managing Director pledged the board’s commitment to national development, stating, “We will deliver on our responsibilities and play our part in achieving the president’s $1 trillion economic vision.”

In her closing remarks, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, praised the seamless leadership transition and affirmed the ministry’s full support for

Tasks Newly Inaugurated NDIC Board on Financial System Stability, Investor Confidence

Edun charges new leadership to align with $1tn economy vision

Nume Ekeghe

The federal government has tasked the newly inaugurated board of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to reinforce public confidence in the banking sector, enhance financial system stability, and support the country’s drive toward a $1 trillion economy.

In a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, the new leadership led by Managing Director, Dr. Thompson Olu Dare Sunday and Executive Director, Dr.

Ibrahim Sabokatata, was appointed by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s macroeconomic reform agenda.

The NDIC, established to protect depositors and uphold confidence in the banking system, is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s drive to boost investment, deepen financial inclusion, and maintain systemic stability.

With increased coverage limits now set at N5 million for deposit money banks and

N2 million for microfinance institutions, the Corporation is positioned to support domestic capital mobilisation and strengthen the financial ecosystem for the private sector.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held in his office in Abuja over the weekend, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, charged the new board to execute the Corporation’s expanded mandate under the 2023 NDIC Act with diligence and integrity.

"Domestic savings are

the engine of sustainable investment. A trusted and stable financial system, anchored by institutions like the NDIC, is essential to lifting millions out of poverty and driving Nigeria’s transition to a $1 trillion economy,” said Mr. Edun.

Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, also described the Corporation as a cornerstone of public trust in the banking system, and urged the new leadership to deliver on its renewed mandate in line with the administration’s economic goals.

FG Grants Amnesty to Foreigners with Expired Visas in Nigeria

In a renewed effort to strengthen Nigeria’s immigration system and promote compliance with the New Visa Regime, the federal government has declared an amnesty window for foreign nationals currently residing in the country with expired visas or immigration permits. The initiative, known as the Expired Visa Initiative (Amnesty), was jointly announced by the

Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The amnesty, which took effect from May 1, 2025, will remain open until September 30, 2025.

It provides a unique opportunity for foreigners whose visas have lapsed or who have overstayed their visa terms to regularize their immigration status without facing penalties.

According to a statement issued by the NIS, the amnesty covers foreign nationals with expired Visa on Arrival (VoA), as well as those holding expired Single or Multiple-Entry Visas. It also applies to individuals whose Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) has expired for over 30 days without renewal. All affected individuals

are urged to complete the regularization process through the dedicated online portal at https://amnesty.immigration. gov.ng before the end of the grace period. To support a smooth and stress-free application experience, the Nigeria Immigration Service has assembled a support team that can be reached via email at amnesty@immigration.gov.ng.

the new board’s efforts to entrench sound governance and protect public interest.

The NDIC, established to protect depositors and uphold confidence in the banking system, is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s drive to boost investment, deepen financial inclusion and maintain systemic stability.

With increased coverage limits now set at N5 million for deposit money banks and N2 million for microfinance institutions, the corporation is positioned to support domestic capital mobilisation and strengthen the financial ecosystem for the private sector.

"This inauguration reaffirms the federal government’s commitment to strengthening financial institutions and creating an enabling environment for enterprise and inclusive growth," a statement issued by Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, said.

Dabiri-Erewa Advises Youth, Hard Work Pays

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has advised Nigerian youths to embrace hard work, discipline and dignity, saying these values open doors to success.

Speaking on Day Two of the 2025 National Diaspora Day Youth Empowerment Summit at the weekend in Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa shared her personal journey from journalism to national leadership.

She said: “As a journalist at NTA, I did my job well and was proud of it. That hard work got me nominated for a Harvard course, thanks to the then Rev. Father Kukah. Though the fee was $10,000, Arcor Group sponsored me. That changed my life.”

Dabiri-Erewa further told the youth: “After Harvard, I left Newsline on NTA and entered into politics. With support from Senator Remi Tinubu and encouragement from now President Bola Tinubu, she contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives, serving for 12 years before becoming

SSA on Diaspora and later NiDCOM boss.

“My hard work earned me respect. Wherever you are, work hard and carry yourself with dignity.”

Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, on his part thanked the NIDCOM Boss for always involving the youth. “Commitment is the key to success,” he said, urging youth to stay focused and believe in their potential.

Speaking in the same vein, Hon. Bobby Digi-Olisa from New York, also advised youths to know themselves and take bold steps.

Similarly, Prof. Fene Osakwe advised youth to always make Nigeria proud wherever they find themselves.

On migration, Alex Oturu from National Commission for Refugees and Migration warned that overstaying visas or ignoring travel rules can make one an irregular migrant. He also cautioned youths on the risks of human trafficking.

Ms. Pelumi Nubi, who drove from London to Lagos, encouraged youths to dream big despite challenges. “Start with what you have and trust yourself,” she said.

President Celebrates Victorious Super Falcons, Says He's Waiting to Receive Trophy at the Villa

Declares entire nation proud of them because they’ve lifted Nigeria’s spirit Atiku, Akpabio, Barau, Sanwo-Olu, Uzodinma, Tuggar, Odumegwu-Ojukwu, LP hail female team VON apologises for misinformation, blames hacking for error

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode, Olawale Ajimotokan and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, celebrated Nigeria's female team,

Super Falcons, following their 3-2 victory over host Morocco in the finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), marking a record 10th win of the cup.

This followed their 2-3 victory over host Morocco in the finals

At NSChE Lecture, Ex-NNPC Chief, Yar'Adua, Seeks Less Reliance on Expatriates

A former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Abubakar Yar’Adua, at the weekend called for less reliance on expatriates to the detriment of Nigerian professionals, especially engineers.

Yar’Adua made the call at a public lecture held in his honour to mark his 76th birthday in Abuja, organised by the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE), FCT/Nasarawa chapter. The NSChE is a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

The event was themed: “Artificial Intelligence as a Catalyst for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Productivity in the Digital Age”.

In his remarks, Yar’Adua urged citizens not to lose hope in the country, noting that a prosperous Nigeria would benefit all, but decried the country’s continued reliance on foreign professionals in vital industries despite decades of local capacity-building.

He said: “My uncle graduated as a civil engineer in 1952. Imagine, up till now, we are still bringing expats. During his time, most of the expats we are bringing, were not even born.

But up till now, we bring them. After two years, the roads have collapsed again. So what's really happening? It's the supervision.”

Speaking to the young people at the event, Yar’Adua stressed the importance of humility in learning and the value of asking questions when necessary, highlighting the importance of honesty and discipline.

He also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s development potential, urging leaders to prioritise national interest over personal gains.

He added: “God has blessed Nigeria with everything it needs to develop to the highest standard. Our leaders must focus on progress, not their pockets.”

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and a former Group Executive Director (GED), Corporate Services at NNPC, Ibrahim Abba, described Yar’Adua as a visionary engineer who brought transformative changes during his time at the national oil company.

According to him, Yar’Adua spent most of his career in the downstream sector before transitioning to the upstream segment towards the end of his service at NNPC, where he discharged his duties excellently. Abba, praised Yar’Adua’s commitment to integrity, mentorship, and excellence.

to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Cup for a record 10th time

"Safe journey home, enjoy yourselves, avoid injuries, God bless you,'' the president, in a video call yesterday, told the jubilant players and officials, who repeatedly interjected with ''Thank you, Mr President!''

Tinubu expressed his delight at the Super Falcons' spectacular victory at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), stating that he eagerly looked forward to receiving the trophy in Abuja.

In a post-match video call with team captain Rasheedat Ajibade, her teammates, and Nigerian officials, Tinubu, according to

a release by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, congratulated the team on securing a record 10th continental title and lifting the nation's spirits.

"I am very, very proud of you. The entire nation is proud of you. You have lifted our spirits. You are a pride to your generation and we are all very happy.

"You will be celebrated, and I congratulate all the coaches and management of the team, including the ministers and the officials," he said.

The president extended his best regards to Rasheedat Ajibade, who emerged as the tournament's Most Valuable Player and clinched the Woman of the Tournament award.

He also praised Esther Okoronkwo's composure during a crucial moment in the final, describing her 64th-minute penalty kick, which sparked a dramatic comeback, as "very courageous."

Okoronkwo created the second goal and delivered the decisive free-kick that Jennifer Echegini converted to seal Nigeria's 3-2 victory.

Responding on behalf of the team, Ajibade thanked the president for approving the full payment of players' allowances. She assured him the team was eager to present him with the WAFCON trophy in Abuja.

The lively exchange ended with a spirited rendition of the national anthem and three thunderous

"Gbosa" cheers for the president. Meanwhile, Nigerians from different. Walks of life have continued to celebrate the female national team for doing the country proud.

Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubukar has congratulated the Super Falcons on their historic victory against the Moroccan female team in Rabat Atiku, who took to his X account said, ''It’s an even more beautiful morning with the victory of our high-flying Super Falcons in last night’s WAFCON final.

Nigeria Gifts Ethiopia 2,000 Cashew Seedlings and

As

100,000 Cashew Seeds

Shettima arrives Addis Ababa for 3-day UN food systems summit

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The Nigerian government on Sunday presented Ethiopia with 2,000 cashew seedlings and 100,000 cashew seeds.

The donation, sufficient to cultivate approximately 600 hectares of land, was received by Ethiopia's Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Efa Muleta Boru, as part of a shared commitment between both nations to sustainable agricultural development across Africa.

The exchange builds on Ethiopia's earlier donation of 2,000 Haas avocado seedlings and 2,000 coffee seedlings to Nigeria in June.

The initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu's agricultural transformation agenda and highlights Nigeria's commitment to "Green Revolution

Diplomacy" as a tool for strengthening diplomatic ties while addressing food security challenges.

Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, on Sunday to represent Nigeria at the second United Nations (UN) Food Systems Summit, taking place July 27 – 29.

The vice president's aircraft, according to a release issued by his media assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, touched down around 4:26pm local time at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

On arrival, Shettima was received by Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Temesgen Tiruneh; Chargé d'Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy, Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasir Aminu; Finance Attaché, Dr. Suleiman Dauda; Deputy Defence Attaché

(Air Force) to Ethiopia, Wing Commander Gabriel Batubo; Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Mercy Ogbede; First Secretary, Mr. Jangado Ishaku, and other top officials of the embassy.

Immediately after his arrival, the vice president met with members of the Nigerian delegation, including the Chargé d'Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy to Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasir Aminu, and the Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture and Executive Secretary of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), Marion Moon, among others. During the meeting, he was briefed on Nigeria's expected deliverables at the summit.

Shettima will join global leaders at the high-level event on

advancing the transformation of the coffee value chain, roundtables and meetings aimed at bolstering Nigeria's food security drive. The summit will bring together global leaders to reflect on progress made since the inaugural 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and accelerate commitments towards building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems.

The vice president will also participate in other events on the side-lines of the summit, designed to spotlight real-world examples of food systems transformation, promote knowledge exchange and partnership. One of the events on the sidelines of the summit is a ministerial roundtable on public finance, trade, and responsible investment to accelerate the transition, field trips, and networking sessions.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

TINUBU RECEIVES GAMBIAN PRESIDENT...

L-R: First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; President of Gambia, Mr. Adama Barrow; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and First Lady of Gambia, Mrs. Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, during the condolence visit over the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the weekend

FELLOW OF THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS AWARD...

L-R: Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Gbazuagu Nweke; recipient of the Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers Award (FNSE) and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Engr. Jennifer Adighije; and father of the award recipient, Senator Chris Adighije, during the conferment ceremony in Abuja…recently

Use Your Autonomy Wisely, Lagos Governor, Sanwo-Olu, Charges New Council Chairmen

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, swore in the newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state, with a charge to use their autonomy well. Sanwo-Olu urged the new council helmsman to embrace inclusive leadership and prioritise the welfare of residents, saying they should be courageous, transparent, and accountable to the people at the grassroots.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony held

at the Sports Ground, Lagos House, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu described the emergence of the chairmen and their deputies as a call to service and selfless leadership.

He said the strength of Lagos rested in the vibrancy, capacity, and effectiveness of its 57 local councils, and urged the newly sworn-in chairmen to lead with courage, compassion, and clarity of purpose, adding that they must not be driven by ambition but service.

The governor stated, “The people have placed in your hands not just votes but their

UN Food Systems Summit: Shettima

Departs Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday departed the nation's capital, Abuja, for Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, to represent Nigeria at the second United Nations (UN) Food Systems Summit holding from 27 to 29 July, 2025.

In a statement issued by the vice president's media assistant Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima will join other global leaders at the high-level event on advancing the transformation of the coffee value chain as well as engage in other roundtables and meetings aimed at bolstering Nigeria's food security drive.

The summit is organised in collaboration with the United Nations, the governments of Ethiopia and Italy and will bring together global leaders to reflect on progress made since the inaugural 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and accelerate commitments towards building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems.

The vice president will also

participate in other events on the sidelines of the summit designed to spotlight real-world examples of food systems transformation, promote knowledge exchange and partnership, and inspire collective action through evidence-based solutions and creative expression.

One of the events on the sidelines of the summit is a ministerial roundtable on public finance, trade, and responsible investment to accelerate the transition, field trips, and networking sessions.

At a recent briefing by the Task Force on the 2nd UN Food Systems Summit, Shettima had outlined three key objectives for Nigeria's delegation: positioning Nigeria as a leader of thought on African food systems reform, leveraging international partnerships aligned with domestic priorities, and advancing a private sectorled model for continental food transformation.

The vice president is expected back in Nigeria after his participation in the activities at the summit.

dreams. Their expectations are clear: better roads, safer streets, functioning health centres, thriving schools, modern markets, environmental sanitation, youth engagement, and community security.

“These are not abstractions; they are daily necessities. And your performance will be measured not by the eloquence of your speeches but by the visibility of your actions.

“Lagos is counting on you to bring development to every street, every ward, every community. Let the THEMES+ agenda of our

administration come alive in your domains.

“Translate our vision in Transportation, Health, Education, Environment, Security and Social Inclusion into projects that impact lives. Let rural communities feel the presence of the government.”

Sanwo-Olu also told the newly elected officials, “Let our riverine and underserved areas know that they, too, are not forgotten. Governance must be inclusive, equitable, and people-centred.

“Your success is our success. The state government stands firmly with you. We will

support you. We will work with you. But we will also hold you to the highest standards.

“There will be no tolerance for underperformance. Those who betray the people’s trust will be held accountable. Lagos deserves nothing less.”

Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State had stayed true to the local government autonomy and, therefore, charged those at the helm of affairs at the council level to use their power wisely and guard it with transparency.

He said, “We are living through a new era of local government autonomy—

fiscal and administrative independence now affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“Lagos has consistently taken the lead in this regard. As chairmen, you now have direct access to your council’s funds. With this comes direct accountability. No excuses. No finger pointing. The buck now stops with you.

“Use this autonomy wisely. Guard it with transparency. Let your tenure reflect not political entitlement, but public responsibility. Leadership must never be about personal gain; it must be about public impact.”

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) have announced a joint action plan to strengthen safety, enforce standards and regulations, and enhance metering accuracy across the country’s power sector.

At the meeting, the Managing Director of NISO, Abdu Mohammed reaffirmed NEMSA’s vital role in enforcing technical standards and

regulations, conduct testing and certification of electrical installations and equipment throughout the sector.

He highlighted the urgent need to address Nigeria’s high Technical Loss Factor (TLF), which is largely attributed to inaccurate and poorly calibrated metering systems, a statement in Abuja by the Head Communications & Protocol of NEMSA, Ama Umoren, stated.

The CEO of NISO urged NEMSA to prioritise transparent and accurate certification of

meters to reduce losses and improve efficiency, stressing that all new substations and transmission lines — whether managed by Transmission Service Providers (TSPs), Generation Companies (Gencos), or Distribution Companies (Discos) must be thoroughly tested and certified by NEMSA before commissioning.

In his response, the CEO NEMSA & Chief Electrical Inspector of the Federation, Aliyu Tukur Tahir, underscored the agency’s unwavering

commitment to enforcing safety, technical standards and regulations in line with its mandate.

He outlined the challenges facing the sector, including grid instability caused by the indiscriminate use of 33kV feeders, lengthy enforcement processes, and non-compliance by some Discos.

To address these challenges, both agencies agreed to collaborate as well as fast-track enforcement by introducing administrative sanctions to avoid lengthy legal processes where necessary.

NEMA Delivers Emergency Relief Materials to Disaster Victims in Katsina

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has delivered relief materials approved for distribution to persons affected by various disasters

including security challenges and displacement across six local government areas in Katsina State. The Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, who flagged off the official handover and direct

distribution of the items, said the intervention was part of the federal government’s commitment under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to support communities affected by disasters.

Umar sympathised with the government and people of Katsina state over the incidents, which displaced households, disrupted livelihoods in Musawa, Kurfi, Safana, Bakori, Sabuwa, and Kankara LGAs.

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

NATIONAL DIASPORA DAY 2025 CELEBRATIONS...

Idigbe: My Purported Removal as Chairman of Tourist Company of Nigeria False

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos Chairman of The Tourist Company of Nigeria Plc (TCN), Dr Anthony Idigbe (SAN), has said reports of his purported removal at an emergency board of directors meeting claimed to have been held on July 22 were unfounded.

In a statement by his personal assistant, Philomena Philips, Idigbe, who is also Senior Partner, PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors, and Chairman, Hans Gremlin Limited, stated that the issue of the removal of the chairman was not on the agenda.

He listed the only items

for discussion on the said day as, “Opening, apologies, reading and adoption of the agenda, disclosure of conflict of interest, business of the day – consideration of the memo on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) forensic audit findings and directives and their implementation thereof, and closure of meeting.”

Some reports had asserted that the board of TCN announced a major shake-up in its leadership structure, removing Idigbe and appointing Mrs Erejuwa Gbadebo as the new chairperson of the board.

But a statement from Idigbe, obtained by THISDAY, stated that the chairman closed the

Constitutional

meeting when it became rowdy, and stated that the items on the agenda for that day were not discussed.

Idigbe insisted that his alleged removal as chair as well as retirement and removal as a director, together with Alhaji Abatcha Bulama, the other SEC-appointed director and representative of Ikeja Hotel Plc (IHPLC) at the purported Annual General Meeting (AGM) of TCN allegedly held on July 25, 2025 at Federal Palace Hotel Victoria Island was without basis.

He maintained that the so-called AGM had been cancelled by the regulators, the SEC and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

The statement said, “The removal of the chairman was not on the agenda. The chairman closed the meeting when the meeting became rowdy. The items on the agenda were not discussed. The company is still under regulatory action by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Appropriate reports have been made to the SEC by the SEC-appointed directors under the February 17, 2017, settlement agreement between the disputing shareholders of Alex Ibru/OMA Investment and RFC on the one hand and Goodie Ibru/AVI on the other hand in Ikeja Hotel Plc (IHPL), a company listed on the NGX

Reforms: Stakeholders Prioritise LG Autonomy, Education, Traditional Institutions

Jibia, Dasuki tell stakeholders we will honour your views at plenary

As discussions around constitution review in Nigeria gain momentum, stakeholders in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states are converging to deliberate on key issues.

At the forefront of these discussions are State and Local Government Creation, Local Government Autonomy, Legislative Autonomy,

Education as a Fundamental Human Right, and Recognition of Traditional Institutions.

Stakeholders from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara who presented memorandum before House of Representatives Committee at International Conference Centre, Sokoto, said the call for local government autonomy is particularly significant, as it seeks to address the longstanding issue of limited autonomy for local

governments in Nigeria.

They explained that currently, local governments derive their powers from the state government, which can limit their ability to operate independently.

They further stated that despite the supreme court judgement granting local government autonomy, local governments are still run by the state governments.

Similarly, they noted that

the push for legislative autonomy aims to strengthen the independence of state assemblies, allowing them to carry out their legislative duties without undue interference from the executive arm of government.

On education they said it is also a critical area of focus, maintaining they are advocating for its recognition as a fundamental human right.

Energy Expert: Current National Electricity Tariff Framework Outdated

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

An energy economist and Executive Director of the Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro), Mr. Abdulrasaq Hamzat, at the weekend said the current national electricity tariff framework is outdated, centralized, and fundamentally

misaligned with Nigeria’s federal structure and the Electricity Act 2023. He said that, “It’s time to end one size fits all electricity and pricing".

The expert argued that, “Expecting Enugu to pay the same electricity tariff as Lagos is both illogical and unjust. He noted that, "electricity

tariffs must be rooted in service delivery, not political grandstanding, and proposed that NERC adopt a suite of tariff models tailored to statespecific economic realities, infrastructure status, and energy goals.

"Nigeria is a federation, and our energy pricing must reflect that".

Hamzat therefore proposed 5 Multi Tariff Basket which includes Cost-Reflective Tariff, for states with high commercial viability, ensuring full cost recovery for DisCos and GenCos, Service-Based Tariff, where tariff rates are directly tied to supply hours and encouraging improved service for fair pricing.

and investor and substantial creditors of TCN, among other companies.

“The purpose of the regulatory intervention in IHPLC and its investee companies was to prevent the business from collapsing, restore corporate governance, and resolve the deadlock.

“Chief Idigbe is proud of the work he, the board, and management have done over the years, leading to the share

price moving from 70 kobo in 2017 to N23 last week, creating over 3,000 per cent in value for the shareholders.

“The cash reserves of IHPLC over the period have grown from negative to over N20 billion. The current contrived crisis from the agenda reproduced above is driven by the release on June 27, 2025, of the SEC’s findings and directives on the forensic audit conducted on the group by Deloitte.

Niger Delta: Senate Back BlueMyCreek Campaign to Plant One Billion n Mangroves, Clear 600,000 Tons of Marine Waste

The Senate has thrown its weights behind the Free2Blue Niger Delta. campaign to generate one billion mangroves, create one million blue jobs, and clear 600,000 tons of marine waste by 2035.

The flagship campaign, also tagged BlueMyCreek is a sweeping regional effort to revive the mangrove wetlands of Nigeria’s Niger Delta and ignite a just, regenerative blue economy across the region in commemoration of the 2025 International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.

Senator Dickson Seriake, Chairperson, Nigerian Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate applauded the initiative insisting that creeks are not wastelands but are lifelines that must be preserved.

"We affirm that protecting wetlands is protecting our collective future. Through BlueMyCreek, we are investing in a Niger Delta where environmental justice meets economic opportunity," he noted.

Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, Deputy Chairperson, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate, remarked that wetland loss has for too long meant job loss, food insecurity, and cultural erosion.

Stating that the BlueMyCreek campaign would reclaim that narrative, she acknowledged that the launch remains a climate, cultural, and economic renaissance that would restore ecosystems and rebuild the futures of the people of the oil rich Niger Delta region.

Mr. Victor Wilkinson Agih, Project Director, Free2Blue AfricaBlue Justice Through Finance and Policy Reform explained the initiative is a people-powered blueprint for wetland resilience and dignitycentered growth.

"The mangroves we restore today will protect our coastlines tomorrow. BlueMyCreek sets a new standard for what the just blue transition must look like. It is not just a campaign-it is a movement. BlueMyCreek aims to restore more than mangroves; it seeks to restore agency to communities long left behind by extraction-driven development,” he stressed.

As the world races to meet SDG 14 and the Paris Agreement goals, BlueMyCreek places the Niger Delta at the forefront of global wetland restoration. Its methods and mission reflect Africa’s commitment to sustainable ocean economies and climate adaptation, and echo the spirit of the COP30 Presidency's Just Transition Framework for coastal communities.

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

L-R: Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande; Travel Content Creator, Pelumi Nubi; Youth Advisor, Netherlands Consulate Office, Lagos, Miss Funmilayo Ajala; Group Managing Director, Arco Group Plc, Mr.

Alfred Okoigun; Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Miss Nigeria Diaspora USA, Queen Oyemen Ehikhamhen; and CEO, Canvas Institute, New York, Mr. Bobby Digi-Olisa, during the National Diaspora Day 2025 celebrations organised by NIDCOM at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja…weekend PHOTO; ABIODUN AJALA

deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com 08033025611

Post-NEC: PDP Embraces Peace, Charts Way Forward

Chuks Okocha writes that the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, seems to have found its peace and appears united ahead of a national convention in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital in November, 2025.

At last, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) successfully held it’s 101th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting without any rancour with various stakeholders suggesting way forward to make the party stronger and united as well as position it ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Specifically, speakers at both the NEC and stakeholders’ meetings in Abuja last week said the only way that could guarantee the party’s rebound and taken serious is through a transparent national convention devoid of impunity and imposition of leaders.

They also suggested that the leadership of the party should in zoning of it’s elective offices both nationally and at party level be guided by the mood of the nation.

This was why the 101th NEC meeting decided to increase the membership of the zoning committee to reflect the mood of the nation.

Under the circumstances, the zoning committee was ensured to have a member from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and another additional member from each of the six geo-political zones and three members to represent the leadership of the party.

This enlarged group is expected to meet with the existing zoning committee to decide which zones of the federation will produce the leaders of the offices of the party as well as the zone to produce the presidential candidate of the party.

The Board of Trustees of the party also used the NEC meeting to caution members against personal opinions that could suggest that a decision has been taken on crucial issues of the party.

One thing that was constant at the NEC meeting was the unanimity of members to ensure a transparent national convention come November 16, 2025 in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Also, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara represented by the Secretary, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said the stakeholders and NEC meetings held last Wednesday and Thursday have started yielding results.

Wabara noted that, ‘’These meetings are very,

very critical. We thank God that stability has returned to the party. We have to build on that stability, but we must never take things for granted, because for one reason or the other, some of our friends and associates have left us.

“I don’t believe they have left us for good. I believe, when you look at the agenda, the success of the items scheduled is what will bring most of them back. I cannot say all of them, we can even bring new hands into the PDP.

‘’So the ball is in our court, not only to discuss and approve the items on the agenda, but to make sure the outcome of the scheduled National Convention sends a strong positive message to Nigerians, because that is what is going to define the political landscape in this country.

‘’I urge all members to be cautious of what they say or do. Some cannot be working to rebuild the party, and some trying to de-market it.

‘’There is a difference between personal opinion and party position. If anybody is speaking on personal opinion, he or she should say so. The party has formal organs for speaking,

and that should be respected.

‘’We must never show to the public that we are a group that anybody can do what he or she likes anytime and anyhow. We must be cautious of each other by what we do or what we don’t do as we move forward.

‘’I will also advise that, yes, we may have differences, we should be conscious in expressing opinions, even on those who have left us, because what we want is for them to come back now or very, very soon.

‘’Mr. Chairman, we know that some people are aggrieved, but we don’t have to come down and pull down whatever our grievances may be. If we work together, the convention should resolve all grievances. It’s an opportunity, and we must not miss it.

“We should be patient and make use of it.

May God Almighty guide this meeting and subsequent missions, and may God Almighty shower and crown our efforts with victory in whatever we set out for ourselves,’’ he stated.

Toeing the same line, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state who also repudiated the level of indiscipline within the PDP said, ‘’Only a transparent and a successful national convention will help heal this self-inflicted wound. We would be taken serious as a party when we conduct a transparent and successful

Specifically, speakers at both the NEC and stakeholders’ meetings in Abuja last week said the only way that could guarantee the party’s rebound and taken serious is through a transparent national convention devoid of impunity and imposition of leaders. They also suggested that the leadership of the party should in zoning of it’s elective offices both nationally and at party level be guided by the mood of the nation.

national convention. This would be a game changer for us.

‘’This is a long way we have travelled. This is how PDP is known, a party with a history, with a logo that has not changed over the years. The party that has shown resilience, and we have the governors solidly behind all the organs of the party. We don’t have to make a lot of noise.

“We are working behind the scene, behind the NWC, behind the BoT, the caucuses of the National Assembly and the six chapters to ensure that we remain intact and provide a credible platform for Nigerians to actualise their aspirations.

‘’As the BoT Secretary has said, this is not time for calling names. This is not time for abusers. We sympathise with those who became impatient and left but certainly they will understand and we would still leave the door ajar for them to come in when they wish to, within a time limit.

‘’We will not continue to condone indiscipline in this place, because indiscipline is what brought us all the problems and challenges. Definitely, the party has shown resilience, and the governors are going through a lot of challenges, just like the NWC. We will continue to express confidence in the organs of the party.

“Now with the necessary recognition by the regulator INEC, at the end of the day, we’ll give the APC political party a run for their money in terms of contest that will be given on a level playing field with a party that is intact, and also give answer to our people wishing to come in.

‘’In terms of whatever permutation or conjecture we call it, whether it is coalition, whether it is alliance, it is the PDP that should be able to drive it, because it is the main opposition party,’’ Mohammed stated.

On his part, former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki who has been doing a great job to ensure a united PDP said, “Our great party, the PDP, successfully held its 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting today. Several issues were successfully resolved during the meeting.

NOTE:

Damagum

Wabara

Saraki

www.thisdaylive.com

opinion@thisdaylive.com

OBOREVWORI AND THE MORE AGENDA

Delta State government is committed to transforming its landscape for the common good, reckons JOHNMARK ODUMODU

page 21

BATTLE OVER 76 OIL WELLS

It’s time for Cross River to move on, argues ETIM ETIM

Generational intelligence is about leading with context and care, argues LINUS OKORIE See page 21

HOW TO PRACTICE GENERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS A LEADER

In 2021, a TikTok video went viral. A Gen Z employee recorded herself crying because her boss told her, “You need to toughen up. You’re too soft for corporate life.” The comments section was divided. Some accused her of being fragile while others defended her emotional honesty. But the real issue had nothing to do with emotions. It had everything to do with a leadership blind spot; generational intelligence.

In today’s workplace, we have five generations present at different cadres. And if you are still expecting everyone to think, communicate, and respond like you, you are not leading. If you want to lead effectively in today’s workplace, you need more than empathy. You need the ability to understand, navigate, and lead people who grew up with wildly different assumptions about time, work, communication, and authority.

The problem is, most leaders are winging it. They’re frustrated by missed deadlines, awkward meetings, tone-deaf emails, and what feels like resistance or entitlement. But what they’re really seeing is culture clash. When you don’t know what triggers each generation, you interpret their actions through your own lens, and that’s when the whole thing falls apart.

In a consulting firm in Lagos, a Gen Z analyst submitted a deliverable over Slack during work hours. He didn’t include the usual formalities like “Hi” or “Best regards.” Just the file link and “let me know if this works.” His Boomer manager was livid. She read it as dismissive and disrespectful.

The thing here is that the Gen Z grew up sending short, direct messages. Meanwhile, his boss was trained to write long, expressive messages, where greetings and closings signaled professionalism. None of them was wrong. But without context, both felt slighted. This happens every day. Gen X might interpret lowercase, emoji-filled messages as careless. Gen Z might see formal messages on the company’s Slack or WhatsApp group as robotic and cold.

Small misunderstandings spiral into bigger issues because leaders fail to recognize the cultural wiring behind them. The trigger is the interpretation, not what was done. It’s. And if leaders don’t learn to decode these generational cues, they end up policing style instead of addressing substance. Therefore, generational intelligence means understanding that what offends you might not be personal, but cultural. Generational intelligence starts with choosing curiosity over assumption. Ask questions without sarcasm or passive-aggression. Back in the 1990s, when Lou Gerstner took over a rigid, hierarchical IBM, he realized that its inability to adapt was about its culture. He created environments where employees could challenge assumptions, ask questions, and teach leadership what they actually needed. This is what saved the company.

Leaders today need the same posture. If a younger team member seems to “push back,”

don’t assume defiance. Ask what they’re seeing that you might be missing. Instead of saying, “We’ve always done it this way,” you can ask “What would you do differently and why?”

Instead of asking, “Why don’t young people stay?” try “What does a sustainable career path look like to you?” Instead of asking, “Why aren’t young people committed anymore?” ask, “What does commitment look like to this generation?”

Instead of saying, “Back in my day, we didn’t expect a promotion after one year,” try, “What kind of growth are you hoping to see here?”

Better questions open doors. Lazy assumptions shut them. And if you feel out of touch? Admit it. Saying something like, “I’d love to understand how you approach this, because it’s different from how I was trained,” is not weakness. It’s leadership.

Now, let’s talk communication. You don’t need to start using stickers and memes just because you’re leading Gen Z. That’s pandering. You also don’t need to keep everything formal and top-down because you have Baby Boomers on your team. This is rigidity. Generational intelligence means adapting without losing your authenticity.

General Electric in the Jack Welch era was were trained to “speak in the language of the listener,” whether talking to factory workers, engineers, or shareholders. The same rule applies across generations. Understand your audience.

Gen Z often prefers quick, real-time feedback through chats or collaborative docs. Boomers may prefer more formal updates in person or via email. Millennials tend to like regular oneon-ones and collaborative dialogue. Gen X will likely appreciate you getting to the point and letting them work independently. What works is effective communication. Don’t use vague phrases like “circle back” or “we’ll revisit.” Say what you mean clearly.

Feedback is where leaders get stuck. Some still cling to annual reviews like a relic of the past. Others think praise on Slack is enough. Neither approach works for everyone. Boomers and some Gen Xers often value formal reviews. They see structured feedback as professional and fair. Gen Z, on the other hand, thrives on more frequent, informal check-ins. Millennials appreciate regular praise but want critical feedback to be actionable, not sugarcoated.

Don’t assume everyone wants feedback the way you like it because feedback styles are

generationally coded. Ask each team member how they preferred to receive feedback. Document it, and lead accordingly. And don’t forget about upward feedback. Gen Z will freely tell you how you’re doing as a manager. Take it seriously, not personally.

In 1999, Procter & Gamble launched an experimental reverse mentoring program where senior leaders were paired with junior staff who were younger and more tech-savvy to learn how to navigate the rapidly changing digital world. At the end of the program, the senior executives improved digital literacy, and junior employees gained confidence and visibility. That model has been replicated globally, from PwC to General Motors.

In today’s workplace, reverse mentoring is a necessity. A Boomer’s strategic depth or a Gen Xer's resilience can shape a younger employee's path in meaningful ways. Gen Z has a lot to offer. They bring tech fluency, social awareness, and a different way of thinking that can help your business stay relevant. Letting them teach, not just learn, builds respect and mutual understanding.

As a leader, create opportunities for crossgenerational mentoring both ways. Pair employees up for monthly learning sessions. Let younger staff teach emerging tools or trends. Let older staff share stories about how they handled crises, managed people, or scaled their careers.

Generational intelligence is about expanding your awareness and updating your approach. It’s not about pleasing everyone but leading with context and care. Your Gen Z team member didn’t grow up with voicemail. Your Gen X team member remembers working without internet. Your Millennial employee graduated into a recession. Your Boomer teammate watched their parents work 30 years for the same company. All of that shapes how they interpret your tone, your feedback, your policies. Therefore, if you want your multigenerational team to stay, grow, and lead with you, then stop leading by assumption. You don’t need to agree with every mindset. You do need to understand it.

Linus 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.

Delta State government is committed to transforming its landscape for the common good, reckons JOHNMARK ODUMODU

OBOREVWORI AND THE MORE AGENDA

Something remarkably exciting is happening in Nigeria’s oil-rich Delta State. A quiet revolution is unfolding, one that has left naysayers dumbfounded and citizens beaming with pride. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, once dismissed by critics as an unlikely leader, is rewriting the narrative of governance with a cascade of transformative projects that are reshaping the state’s landscape. His administration’s recently approved 30 billion infrastructure package, headlined by two ambitious flyovers, is a testament to his unrelenting drive to deliver on his M.O.R.E Agenda—Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security.

Absolutely far from the timid figure some painted him to be, Governor Oborevwori is proving to be a master of pragmatic leadership, turning Delta into a sprawling canvas of progress where every stroke of development tells a story of vision, resilience, and hope.

When Governor Oborevwori assumed office on May 29, 2023, skepticism hung heavy in the air. Detractors, armed with their soothsayers and negative energy, predicted failure, claiming he lacked the gravitas to steer Delta’s complex socio-political and economic terrain. Yet, two years later, let’s repeat that for emphasis and the avoidance of doubt, just two years after being sworn into office, the man they wrote off is silencing critics not with words but with concrete, steel, and asphalt. The 230 billion project portfolio, approved by the Delta State Executive Council on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, is a bold declaration of intent. It spans critical sectors—roads, flyovers, flood control, healthcare, education, and energy—each project meticulously aligned with the M.O.R.E Agenda’s promise to touch every corner of the state, from the mangrove-lined riverine communities to the bustling urban centers.

At the heart of this infrastructure blitz are two marquee flyovers, designed to unclog the arteries of Delta’s economic hubs. The first, a 59.7 billion flyover at Uromi Junction in Agbor, Ika South, is a strategic masterpiece. Commissioner for Works Reuben Izeze described it as a “bold intervention” to curb the junction’s notorious history of fatal accidents, particularly for night travelers en route to Abuja. With two roundabouts and a 30-meter span beam—longer than those used in similar projects in Warri—this flyover, to be executed by construction giant Julius Berger, promises not only safety but also enhanced productivity for Agbor’s agrarian communities. The second flyover, costing 39.3 billion, will rise at Otovwodo Junction along the Asaba-Ughelli Highway, easing traffic in a critical corridor connecting Delta’s hinterland to its industrial and port cities. These projects, part of a broader 230 billion package, underscore Oborevwori’s commitment to urban mobility and economic vitality.

But the flyovers are just the tip of the iceberg. Oborevwori’s vision, encapsulated in the M.O.R.E Agenda, is a tapestry of legacy projects weaving together Delta’s three senatorial districts—Delta North, Central, and South. In the realm of road infrastructure, the administration has embarked on an audacious mission, with over 513 roads and bridges spanning more than 1,500 kilometers under construction or completed. The Ughelli-Asaba dual carriageway, now 99% complete, stands as a flagship achievement, slashing travel times and boosting commerce across multiple sectors. The Okpanam-Ibusa Bypass in Asaba, already commissioned, has decongested the capital territory, offering residents smoother commutes and a renewed sense of urban pride. In Warri and Effurun, a 78 billion contract with Julius Berger for three flyovers, a cloverleaf, and road expansions is transforming the twin cities into a modern metropolis, with completion slated for early 2026.

Beyond roads, Oborevwori’s administration is redefining rural connectivity. The Trans Warri-Ode-Itsekiri Road, with its 18 bridges, and the Ayakoromo Bridge are monumental efforts to knit riverine communities into Delta’s economic fabric. In Warri North, the Ogbudugbudu-Ogbeinbiri Road and internal roads in Kurutie Town are bringing long-neglected areas into the fold. These projects, executed under the newly created Ministry of Riverine Infrastructure, reflect Oborevwori’s insistence that no community be left behind. A fish seller in Ogidigben now reaches markets faster, her catch fresher, while a health worker in Esama, Ughelli South, attends to patients in minutes rather than hours. These are not just roads; they are lifelines, breathing vitality into Delta’s farthest reaches.

The M.O.R.E Agenda’s reach extends far beyond infrastructure. In healthcare, Oborevwori’s administration is making bold strides. The renovation and re-equipment of 150 Primary Health Care Centers and 64 General Hospitals are ensuring that quality medical care is accessible, even in remote areas. Over two million Deltans have enrolled in the state’s health insurance scheme, a lifeline for the vulnerable. The administration’s commitment to maternal and child health is unwavering, with free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five sustained and expanded. In a recent move, Oborevwori approved the procurement of eight dialysis machines and CT scans for hospitals in Warri, Asaba, and Oghara, ensuring cutting-edge diagnostics for critical care.

Education, a cornerstone of the M.O.R.E Agenda, is also witnessing a renaissance. The administration has employed over 3,000 teaching and non-teaching staff to bolster primary education, renovated schools, and provided materials to enhance learning. At Dennis Osadebay University, Anwai-Asaba, and Southern Delta University, Ozoro, infrastructure upgrades are turning these institutions into hubs of academic excellence. The planned world-class stadium in Warri aims to cement Delta’s dominance in sports, following its haul of 111 medals at the National Sports Festival. Meanwhile, bursary payments of 674 million to over 30,000 students and 3.55 billion in counterpart funding for the 2024 Universal Basic Education Programme underscore Oborevwori’s commitment to nurturing Delta’s human capital.

Social welfare is another pillar of the M.O.R.E Agenda, with programs designed to uplift the most vulnerable. The MORE Grant Scheme has empowered 5,426 petty traders, artisans, and female entrepreneurs, while 6,000 farmers have received agricultural inputs to boost food security. A dedicated widows’ welfare initiative supports 10,000 women with a monthly 15,000 stipend and free healthcare, offering dignity to those often overlooked. The D-CARES program, expanded to benefit over 250,000 vulnerable households, and the Women Empowerment Skill Acquisition Programme, which has empowered 311 beneficiaries, including 91 persons with disabilities, reflect a governance model that prioritizes inclusivity.

Odumodu,

an architect and good governance advocate, writes from Asaba, Delta State

It’s time for Cross River to move on, argues ETIM ETIM

BATTLE OVER 76 OIL WELLS

It’s been 26 years since the legal battle over the ownership of some 76 offshore oils wells arose between Cross River and Akwa Ibom; and despite the fact that the Supreme Court has adjudicated and passed judgments in favour of Akwa Ibom, tensions have arisen once again between the two states. In recent public statements, some citizens and officials of Cross River State government have claimed that the matter is up for a review and that Akwa Ibom State will have to forfeit the oil wells to them. They have also claimed that Akwa Ibom State has not been receiving derivation payments on the 76 oil wells because such payments have been warehoused in an escrow account awaiting to be either shared between the two states or given only to Cross River. Akwa Ibom officials have repudiated these claims to seek political solution and dialogue.

It would seem that some Cross River officials have not yet come to terms with the judgment of the International Court of Justice at The Hague that the state is no longer a littoral state after the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroun. The loss of Bakassi and its littoral state status imply that Cross River cannot possibly claim ownership of offshore oil assets. The Supreme Court has affirmed this fact in two landmark judgments, but instead of accepting it, Cross River officials have recently resorted to making false and incendiary claims that are capable of causing crisis between the two states. It is important that Akwa Ibom State’s Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Uko Udom, SAN, has issued a comprehensive statement, laying out the government’s position and repudiating the unfounded messages that have been circulating in the social media.

The whole problem started in 1999 when Cross River State government under Gov. Donald Duke sued Akwa Ibom State in Suit No. 124/1999 over the northern non-estuarine boundary (involving 24 villages of Oku/Itu/Ayadehe Ward in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State), as well as the southern estuarine boundary where the 76 oil wells are located. On 24th June 2005, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Cross River State only on the matter of the 24 villages in the north. It, however, dismissed their claim over the estuarine southern territory, where the oil wells are situated. In its landmark ruling, the Supreme Court declared: “In considering the merit of the plaintiff’s case, it is important to bear in mind that the effect of the judgment of ICJ dated 10/10/2002 on the land and maritime boundary case between Nigeria and Cameroon is that it has wiped off what used to be the estuarine sector of Cross River State… Cross River no longer has a seaward boundary.”

Before Cross River instituted the second case marked Suit No. SC. 27/2010, Akwa Ibom State made several conciliatory efforts to resolve the issue amicably. These included a proposed 250 million ex gratia monthly payment to Cross River State from Akwa Ibom’s derivation revenue, a gesture misunderstood and ultimately rejected. Cross River even wrote a letter dated 27th March 2006, formally turning down the N250 million monthly payment. Who does that?

Undeterred, Akwa Ibom went further to engage elder statesmen and other important citizens and stakeholders to discourage litigation, emphasizing the bond of kinship between the two states, and the potential for long-term damage to inter-state harmony. Unfortunately, these peace overtures were rebuffed.

But despite Akwa Ibom’s posture of restraint and goodwill, Cross River State government initiated fresh legal action seeking judicial clarification on ownership and revenue entitlements over the 76 oil wells, which are situated within the 200-meter isobath and contiguous to Akwa Ibom State. After nearly three years of litigation, the Supreme Court on 10th July 2012 again ruled decisively in favour of Akwa Ibom State. The Court stated, per Adekeye, JSC: “The facts before the court do not support the claim of the plaintiff to being a littoral state. A non-littoral state cannot claim oil wells offshore, as it has no maritime

boundary.” Rhodes-Vivour, JSC (as he then was) also pronounced: “The plaintiff’s case crumbles due to the wrong assumption that it is a littoral State… That reasoning is strange and unfortunate. It is wrong.”

This judgment reaffirmed the principle of derivation as provided under Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 1(1) of the Allocation of Revenue (Abolition of Dichotomy in the Application of the Principle of Derivation) Act, 2004. As I mentioned earlier, a critical legal and geographical fact underpinning this matter is the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment ceding the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. This effectively stripped Cross River State of littoral status and rendered it ineligible to claim offshore oil assets—a fact confirmed by the Supreme Court.

In a recent meeting convened by Vice President Kashim Shettima, both Gov Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom and Bassey Otu of Cross River were encouraged to meet and amicably recommend a political solution. As Chairman of the SouthSouth Progressive Governors’ Forum, Gov. Otu was expected to initiate this engagement by inviting Eno to settlement talks. But this has not happened. Rather, Cross River officials have been making public statements that do not conduce to amicable coexistence of the peoples of the two states. Several officials of the Cross River State government have made false claims that have agitated the people of Akwa Ibom and introduced an unwarranted sense of apprehension. Agitated, I have personally spoken to Gov. Eno up to three times on this matter; and two weeks ago, during a stakeholders’ meeting, the governor assured Akwa Ibom people that the matter was under control.

The peoples of the two states, especially the Efik people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom people are too interrelated to fight. My younger brother is married to an Efik woman. Gov. Otu himself is Efik. I am therefore pleased to note from my conversations with Akwa Ibom officials that the state is open to a political solution, “provided such does not seek to deny our people their lawful and judicially-affirmed rights’’, as Attorney-General Uko Udom put it. However, political solution cannot be limited to the matter of the 76 oil wells. It must also address the Akwa Ibom communities added to Cross River State. These were the two issues considered by the Supreme Court in determining the land and maritime boundaries between Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State. The federal government has several policy and fiscal options for assisting Cross River State to mitigate the economic consequences of the ICJ judgment.

Etim is a Journalist and Author

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

SEX FOR FOOD IN IDP CAMPS

The authorities must put an end to the impunity in the camps

We appeal to all critical stakeholders to help in tackling the diminishing quality of life in the IDP camps and the exploitation by those who ordinarily should ensure that 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

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GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE

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LETTERS

YILWATDA, APC, TINUBU, AND 2027

The emergence of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, as the substantive National Chairman of the APC is purely a product of political calculations ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Tinubu and the APC appear to be working with three key objectives:

One, to re-solidify the APC’s fortunes in the North-Central; to reassure the North-Central geopolitical zone of its stake in the APC — the zone now holds both the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the APC National Chairman positions, and to attract votes from the northern Christian population, which in 2023 overwhelmingly rejected the APC.

Whether this strategy will bear fruit remains to be seen, especially once the opposition PDP and ADC swing into full action. The APC and President Tinubu face a Herculean task in the NorthWest and North-East. The truth is, at this critical juncture, the APC is confronting a major challenge in one of its traditional strongholds: the North.

Yilwatda’s selection appears to be driven more by geographical considerations than by his personal political weight. No doubt, he is highly educated - an engineering professor , relatively young and

well-experienced, and a good candidate in his own right, he was the flagrunner for the APC in the 2023 gubernatorial elections in Plateau State and resident electoral commissioner in Benue State from 2017 to 2021

However, I foresee two major problems. First, Yilwatda is relatively unknown outside Plateau State and has not thoroughly passed through the mills of geopolitical, regional, and national politics. In fact, many Nigerians are not even aware that he is currently serving as a minister in the Tinubu administration. The APC urgently needs massive rebranding and deeper grassroots penetration in the North. But Yilwatda will first be burdened with the task of selling himself, especially at the national level, where he lacks prior visibility. This personal branding effort is likely to distract from the party’s broader and more urgent need to reestablish itself and reconnect with its base. Although there are other members of the APC National Working Committee, and Tinubu is currently building elite consensus, especially in the North, the challenges remain significant.

With the election of Yilwatda as National Chairman, the APC has now had seven substantive National Chairmen — all of them

heavyweights in regional and national politics, except Nentawe Yilwatda: Chief Bisi Akande (2013–2014), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (2014–2018), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (2018–2020), Mai Mala Buni (2020–2022), Senator Abdullahi Adamu (2022–2023), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (2023–2025), and Nentawe Yilwatda (2025–

If Yilwatda fails to play his cards right, using not only raw politics but also political science, he may end up consumed by the task of promoting his own image and recognition, potentially overshadowing the APC’s critical objective in the North: rebuilding its presence and political credibility.

Tinubu’s calculations may be grounded in Nigeria’s traditional geopolitical balancing, but the outcome depends not just on political arithmetic. It also hinges on strategy, visibility, and the ability to connect with the people , which remains one of Tinubu’s biggest headaches.

Zayyad I. Muhammad, Abuja

Kayode Tokede

Following the hike in price of cement fuelled by increased private sector and government demands, three listed cement manufacturing companies on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) generated an estimated N3.2 trillion revenue in the first half of 2025.

The N3.2 trillion H1 revenue generated by Dangote Cement Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc and BUA Cement Plc is about 97.78 per cent increase over N1.6 trillion generated in the first half of 2024. THISDAY market research revealed that the average price of a bag of cement in H1 2025 was N10,000 at retail outlets in Ogun and Lagos states. According to market sources, the cost per bag of cement is influenced by rising energy costs and raw material scarcity that have increased manufacturing expenses.

Specifically, higher diesel prices and road conditions that is making distribution more expensive; weakening of the Naira against the Dollar impacting negatively on the cost of imported materials used in cement production and massive construction projects (both private and government-led) increase demand, has been blamed for higher prices.

Experts believe the price of cement may remain high through 2025 due to double-digit inflation, rising energy costs, and continuous housing demand. However, they stressed that government efforts to stabilise the economy and boost local production could help control extreme price fluctuations later in the year.

Meanwhile, analysis of the revenue showed that Dangote Cement during the period under review generated N2.07 trillion revenue, about 119.7 per

cent increase over N942.71billion reported in H1 2024.

BUA Cement on its part, saw its revenue jumped to N580.3 billion in H1, representing an increase of 59.44 per cent from N363.9 billion in H1 2024, while Lafarge Africa declared N516.98 billion revenue about 74.9 per cent increase over N295.58 billion reported in H1 2024.

Lafarge Africa in a report noted that the Nigerian infrastructure and construction sector is projected to sustain its growth trajectory despite the challenges posed by macroeconomic activities on purchasing power.

“Consequently, we uphold a positive outlook for the latter part of 2025, anticipating that the market will maintain a growth rate consistent with the trend from the first half of the year. We will continue to capitalize on volume opportunities across our markets while diligently managing our costs.

“Our commitment to sustainability remains steadfast, as we pursue our strategy of ‘Accelerating Green Growth’ through innovative building solutions that enhance stakeholder value,” the company explained to investors.

Despite challenges, the three firms generated an estimated N1.14 trillion profit before tax (PBT) in H1 2025, about 201.43 per cent increase over N379.7 billion reported in H1 2024.

A breakdown showed that Dangote Cement reported N730.03 billion PBT, about 149.2 per cent increase over N292.96 billion in H1 2024.

BUA Cement declared N214.8 billion PBT in H1 2025, about 435.3 per cent growth over N40.13 billion declared in H1 2024 while Lafarge Africa posted N199.74 billion PBT in H1 2025, representing an increase of 328.3 per cent increase over N46.6 billion reported in H1 2024.

The Managing Director/ CEO, BUA Cement, Yusuf Binji in a statement stated the company in H1 2025 delivered a strong performance, reflecting the Company’s continued growth momentum and operational resilience.

“The results affirm the positive trajectory of the business and the confidence of stakeholders in its long-term value. When we started out at the beginning of the year, we were clear-eyed on our priorities, which were: margin recovery and its sustenance, cost focus and efficiency, and market penetration. I am delighted with how we have progressed on the first two.

“Currently, our margins have returned to and being sustained at acceptable levels, and cost improvements are also being achieved. In the coming quarters, we remain well set

up to consolidate on the gains achieved, advance the rest of our objectives and maintain our cost discipline,” Binji added. A report by ResearchAndMarkets disclosed that the cement market in Nigeria is expected to grow by 8.4 per cent annually to reach $1.44 billion in 2025.

According to the repoort, the cement market in the country recorded strong growth during 2020-2024, achieving a CAGR of 9.4 per cent. Growth momentum is expected to remain positive, with the market projected to expand at a CAGR of 7.9 per cent during 2025-2029.

“By the end of 2029, the cement market is projected to expand from its 2024 value of $1.33 billion to approximately $1.96 billion,” the report added.

Google, at the weekend, announced its bold initiatives and commitment to deepen the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), through a wave of funding and partnerships that would enhance AI research, talent development, and infrastructure across Africa.

This includes $37 million in cumulative funding, as well as the opening of the AI Community Centre in Accra, Ghana, a platform for inclusive AI collaboration, learning, and innovation.

According to Google, the initiatives are designed to deepen

local impact, support African-led research, and expand access to cutting-edge tools that address pressing challenges across sectors.

Giving reasons for the initiatives, Google said Africa’s AI opportunity has been projected at $30 billion, but the continent also faces some of the world’s most urgent development challenges.

“From food insecurity and climate change to gaps in healthcare access and language inclusion, AI can be a powerful tool for African researchers, developers, and startups working to solve real problems. Google’s latest commitments address these needs by investing in people, platforms,

and partnerships that enable scalable, locally grounded innovation,” it said.

A breakdown of the investment, showed a $25 million AI Collaborative for Food Security from Google.org, supporting African researchers and organisations using AI to improve hunger forecasting and food systems resilience; A $3 million funding allocation from Google.org to the Masakhane Research Foundation to grow African-led development of open-source AI tools for over 40 local languages; A catalytic funding initiative to empower AI-powered startups across Africa. By blending philanthropic funding, venture capital, and Google’s technical

support, this initiative will help over 100 startups scale solutions in health, agriculture, and education.

The breakdown also showed that beyond Ghana, Google.org is also commiting $7 million to support AI curriculum development, AI skills training and online safety programs across Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.

The initiative, it said, also covered the launch of 100,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships in Ghana, offering fully-funded, self-paced programs focused on AI skills like AI Essentials and Prompting Essentials, alongside IT Support, Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity.

Google also announced a $1 million grant to the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AfriDSAI) at the University of Pretoria to drive applied AI research and build capacity among African researchers. Also, a $1 million grant to the Wits MIND Institute to support graduate and postdoctoral researchers students and foster foundational AI research that positions Africa as a global leader.

Speaking about the initiatives, Senior Vice President for Research, Labs, and Technology & Society at Google, James Manyika, said: “Africa is home to some of the

most important and inspiring work in AI today. We are committed to supporting the next wave of innovation through long-term investment, local partnerships, and platforms that help researchers and entrepreneurs build solutions that matter.”

Vice President of Engineering and Research at Google, Yossi Matias, said: “This new wave of support reflects our belief in the talent, creativity, and ingenuity across the continent. By building with local communities and institutions, we’re supporting solutions that are rooted in Africa’s realities and built for global impact.”

Emma Okonji

Lafarge Africa: Significant Increase in Revenue Pushes Profit Upward

Lafarge Africa Plc has released its unaudited result and accounts for half year (H1) ended June 30, 2025, showing significant increase in revenue that translated into an outstanding profit generation in the period under review. The cement manufacturing company declared N516.98 billion revenue in H1 2025, about 74.9 per cent increase over N295.6billion declared in H1 2024.

The growth in revenue was driven by strong growth across all business segments—cement (+70.4per cent y/y to N504.36 billion in H1 2025 | 97.4 per cent of revenue), aggregates & concrete (+63.7per cent y/y to N12.04 billion in H1 2025 | 2.5 per cent of revenue), and mortar and power (+90 per cent y/y to N577.91 million in H1 2025| 0.1 per cent of revenue).

The revenue performance in the period under review was driven by a combination of higher sales volumes, supported by improved plant stability, and upward price adjustment. Analysts at InvestmentOne Research stated the stellar revenue performance was driven by volume expansion, following the introduction of Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC) in Q1 2025 and the successful launch of ECOPlanet cement in the Western market in Q2 2025 complementing the earlier launch of the product in the Eastern market in 2024.

“In addition, upward price adjustments and improved plant stability also contributed meaningfully to revenue expansion. The impressive performance largely mirrors Lafarge Plc’s dedication to value creation and its continuous rollout of innovative products. We still believe that the group remains well-positioned for continued growth underpinned on its enhanced operational efficiencies.

“Additionally, the company’s deleveraging strategy, anticipated foreign exchange stability, and the prospect of monetary policy easing later in the year present supportive macro-economic tailwinds,” analysts at InvestmentOne Research added.

Lafarge Africa’s topline performance is rapidly converging with peers in terms of growth, despite its smaller production footprint. In 2024, the company delivered revenue growth of 71.8 per cent y/y, reaching N696.76 billion, outperforming Dangote Cement (+62.2per cent y/y to N3.58 trillion) and trailing BUA Cement (+90.6per cent y/y to N876.47 billion), despite operating at a smaller capacity (10.50 metric tonnes per annum vs. Dangote Cement’s 52.00 metric tonnes per annum and BUA Cement’s 17.00 metric tonnes per annum).

This momentum extended into Q1 2025, with Lafarge Africa posting 80.3per cent y/y growth in revenue to N248.35 billion, nearly matching BUA Cement’s 80.5per cent y/y to N290.82 billion and far ahead of Dangote Cement’s revenue growth of 21.7per cent to N994.66 billion.

“Looking ahead, we forecast Lafarge Africa’s topline

to grow by 40.7per cent y/y to N980.21 billion in 2025E, outpacing Dangote Cement’s 21.4per cent y/y to N4.35 trillion and slightly ahead of BUA Cement’s 40.6per cent to N1.23 trillion,” analysts at Cordros Research said.

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR GROWTH

The company in a statement noted that the Nigerian infrastructure and construction sector is projected to sustain its growth trajectory despite the challenges posed by macro-economic activities on purchasing power.

“Consequently, we uphold a positive outlook for the latter part of 2025, anticipating that the market will maintain a growth rate consistent with the trend from the H1 2025. We will continue to capitalise on volume opportunities across our markets while diligently managing our costs. Our commitment to sustainability remains steadfast, as we pursue our strategy of ‘Accelerating Green Growth’ through innovative building solutions that enhance stakeholder value,” the company’s statement added.

Lafarge Africa’s cost of production stood at N221.21billion in H1 2025 from N147.94 billion in H1 2024, driven by production variable costs of about N146.6 billion in H1 2025, 52.4 per cent increase from N96.19 billion in H1 2024, while production fixed costs moved from N20.8 billion in H1 2024, up by 76.2 per cent from N36.67 billion declared in H1 2025.

The interplay between revenue and cost of production led gross profit to N295.77billion in H1 2025, representing an increase of 100.34 per cent from N147.64billion in H1 2024.

Meanwhile, gross profit margin expanded significantly by 7.26 basis points to 57.2per cent from 49.9 per cent, reflecting the relatively slower growth in cost of sales ex-depreciation.

Operating expenses (OPEX) in the period under review stood at N108.14 billion in H1 2025, representing a 54 per cent increase from N70.41billion in H1 2024.

The higher OPEX was stemmed from N77.41 billion distribution costs (diesel, gasoline, freight) in H1 2025, an increase of 44.3 per cent from N53.65 billion in H1 2024, while administrative expenses stood at N30.7 billion in H1 2025, about 83.4 per cent increase from N16.76billion in H1 2024.

Nonetheless, OPEX-to-revenue ratio improved by 100 basis points to 20.92 per cent from 23.8 per cent in H1 2024, indicating enhanced operational efficiency. Lafarge Africa reported N192.27 billion operating income in H1 2025, about 144 per cent growth from N78.91 billion in H1 2024 to position operating margin at 37 per cent in H1 2025 from 27 per cent in H1 2024.

“In addition, upward price adjustments and improved plant stability also contributed meaningfully to revenue expansion. The impressive performance largely mirrors Lafarge Plc’s dedication to value creation and its continuous rollout of innovative products. We still believe that the group remains wellpositioned for continued growth underpinned on its enhanced operational efficiencies.”

Below the operating line, the company recorded net finance income of N7.47 billion, compared to a net finance cost of N32.28 billion in the corresponding period of 2024. Finance income, however, stood at N10.25billion in H1 2025, about 896 per cent increase from N1.03 billion in H1 2024.

Interest income from short term fixed deposits and current accounts of about N7.2 billion in H1 2025 from N629.01 million in H1 2024 and N3.07 billion foreign exchange gain contributed to the company’s finance cost in the period under review.

For finance costs, the company declared N2.78billion in H1 2025 from N33.31billion in H1 2024- as the management cut down on letters of credit charges and other bank account operational charges.

LAFARGE’S

PROFIT GENERATION

As a result, profit before tax in H1 2025 stood at N199.74 billion, about 328 per cent increase over N46.6 billion in H1 2024, while profit after tax grew significantly to N132.7 billion in H1 2025, 352.05 per cent increase over N29.35 billion declared in H1 2024. Lafarge Africa Plc had announced N100.15 billion profit after tax in 2024, about 96 per cent increase over N51.11 billion reported in 2023 financial year.

The company in its profit & loss figures declared N152.52 billion profit before tax, representing an increase of 89 per cent from N80.7 billion declared in 2023 financial year.

Amid growth in profit, the management of Lafarge Africa declared a final dividend of 120 kobo per unit (N19.3 billion) of 50 Kobo ordinary share when compared to N1.90 dividend pay-out in 2023 financial year.

STRONGER BALANCE SHEET POSITION

Lafarge Africa, as of June 30, 2025 closed with N1.03 trillion total assets, about 3.7 per cent increase over N990.51billion reported in 2024 full financial year.

From the balance sheet position, the company declared N619.22 billion total non-current assets as of June 30, 2025, about 7.4 per cent increase over N576.51 billion in 2024, while current assets moved to N407.74billion as of June 30, 2025, a decline of 1.5 per cent from N414 billion in 2024FY.

On the other hand, total liabilities stood at N473.4billion as of June 30, 2025, about 2.6 per cent drop from N485.87 billion in 2024- as current liabilities contributed 83.2 per cent as of June 2025 from 84 per cent in 2024.

The breakdown of total liabilities showed that current liabilities closed June 30, 2025 at N393.93 billion, a drop of 3.6 per cent from N408.85 billion reported in 2024, while noncurrent liabilities moved from N77.02 billion in 2024, to N79.47 billion as of June 30, 2025 (a growth of 3.2 per cent).

COMMENTS ON H1 PERFORMANCE

The CEO of Lafarge Africa, Lolu AladeAkinyemi in a statement said, “Following our impressive Q1 results, Q2 performance further showcases the strength of our team, market positioning, operational efficiency, cost management, and dedication to value creation. We achieved excellent financial results in Q2, with Net Sales growth of 70 per cent, Operating Profit up 153 per cent, and Profit after tax of N84 billion, up 248 per cent vs prior year.

“’With this strong Q2 result, we closed H1

with sales and operating profit growth of 75 per cent and 144 per cent respectively; driven by volume growth, operational excellence, innovative product offerings and our proactive market Initiatives.

“Looking ahead and mindful of the ever-evolving macroeconomic conditions, we are confident in our ability to continue to deliver value by focusing on our strategic priorities, while leveraging innovation and green growth, in line with our sustainability ambitions.

“I am deeply grateful to our exceptional team, valued customers, and loyal stakeholders for their unwavering contributions and support of Lafarge Africa. Despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, your commitment continues to inspire us and strengthen our confidence in the future.”

IMPRESSIVE QUARTER

According to analysts at Cordros Research, Lafarge Africa delivered another impressive quarter in H1 2025, reinforcing the positive momentum established in the first quarter of 2025.

While strong topline growth was largely anticipated, the material reduction in cost-to-sales ratio to 32.4 per cent from 44 per cent in Q2 2024 and 47.4 per cent in Q1 2025, was a notable highlight. With H1 2025 EPS of N8.24 already ahead of 2024’s N6.22, the outlook for 2025 is increasingly positive. We expect the company’s performance to remain resilient in H2-25, supported by continued demand from the construction and real estate sectors. Our estimates are under review.

Lafarge successfully launched ECOPlanet cement in the Western market in Q2, complementing the earlier launch of the product in the Eastern market in 2024 and driving our commitment to a greener planet.

This product accounts for over 50 per cent of our sales in the West since its launch, and is expected to further reduce our carbon footprint.

Lafarge Africa continues to drive the use of Calcined Clay, a low-carbon raw material, in its cement manufacturing process, to further drive the reduction of our CO2 emissions and carbon footprint.

Lafarge Africa had launched Ground Calcium Carbonate (GCC) in Q1. GCC can be used in multiple industries, such as the construction industry for filler in concrete, providing improved workability and stability, density, and compactability in asphalt mix. GCC also helps to reduce the carbon content in concrete solutions. The product has continued to gain further acceptance in the market in Q2. “This further demonstrates our innovation drive and greener planet ambition,” it said.

LAFARGE’S STOCK MARKET RALLY

The company stock price on NGX closed July 25, 2025 at N125.05 per share and it has appreciated by 78.8 per cent from N69.95 per share it closed for trading 2024.

For much of the past two decades, WAPCO’s share price — despite bouts of appreciation — has remained below its 9th October 2014 all-time high of N127.00 per share, reflecting the overhang of legacy challenges that tempered investor confidence.

The stock has quietly staged a remarkable rally, with its share price appreciating by 78.8per cent Year-till-Date (YtD), outperforming the NGX AllShare Index (ASI), which gained 30.63 per cent in the same period.

“While optimism surrounding the proposed Huaxin acquisition has played a role in the re-rating, the sustained price momentum suggests a broader market reassessment of Lafarge Africa’s fundamentals, including earnings recovery, operational efficiency, and balance sheet strength. Thus, after years of trading at a discount to intrinsic value, the market may finally be pricing in the turnaround,” added analysts at Cordros Research.

Inclusive Empowerment, SDGS: Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo Sets the Standard

Wema Bank has spearheaded a multifaceted approach to addressing multiple SDGs, as seen in a good number of the bank’s initiatives and solutions. One of the most outstanding of such initiatives is Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo. Oluchi Chibuzor writes

In the quest to build a better world and a more sustainable future for all, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a practical blueprint that both addresses the needs of the global populace and applies to all categories of nations—developed, developing and underdeveloped. Anchored by 17 strategic pillars, the SDGs concisely summarise the critical aspects of interconnected global challenges across a broad spectrum of life, presenting a call to action for all, on individual, institutional and governmental levels. This call to action, simply put, is to take decisive steps in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs towards building a future where all can thrive regardless of race, colour, financial status and any other discriminating factors. Over time, individuals and institutions have carved niches in addressing particular SDGs. However, some unique entities have made it a point to simultaneously promote multiple SDGs towards accelerating the rate of progress in achieving the SDGs. In both the small and big actions, every effort counts towards addressing the needs of the global populace, as captured in the SDGs.

For institutions like Wema Bank, promoting the achievement of the SDGs has grown from simply being a step in the right direction. It has become a mission so vigorously pursued that the Bank has been reputed to have touched on over 90% of the SDGs so far. Going steps further, Wema Bank has spearheaded a multifaceted approach to addressing multiple SDGs with one single initiative, as seen in a good number of the bank’s initiatives and solutions. One of the most outstanding of such initiatives is Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo.

Launched in 2021, the 5 for 5 Promo is a rewardfocused initiative pioneered by Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous, most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT. Furthering its foundational mission of empowering the lives and businesses of indigenous Nigerians, Wema Bank launched the 5 for 5 Promo with the goal of giving back to its customers in appreciation for their loyalty, a goal the Bank has achieved and sustained by giving out cash rewards to customers who have remained loyal to the brand and its products.

Over the course of three seasons, Wema Bank, through the 5 for 5 Promo, disbursed a total of over N150,000,000 to 2,378 Nigerians, kicking off season 4 on October 1, 2024, with a staggering cash prize of N135,000,000 set for disbursement to thousands of Nigerians across Nigeria. This means that by the end of the ongoing Season 4, Wema Bank will have disbursed over N285,000,000 to Nigerians across Nigeria.

But, the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo doesn’t only stand out because of its purpose of giving back to the people. The Promo stands out because of its intentional and strategic approach to not only empowering lives and businesses but more importantly, ensuring inclusivity in the achievement of this goal of empowerment.

Vast in its reach and range, the impact of the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo in empowering lives and promoting the achievement of the SDGs can be viewed under 3

solid pillars, each critical in their own unique way.

EMPOWERING LIVES

No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well Being, Quality education : SDGs 1-4. Addressing the foremost SDGs, Wema Bank’s 5 for 5 Promo has been instrumental in eliminating hunger and poverty, as well as promoting good health and wellbeing. The Proo, through its random selection process, has continued to support its customers with surprise financial rewards in dire moments of need.

According to Harcourt Emmanuel, a student who emerged winner in the first season of the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo, the cash prize played an important role in the furtherance of his education, providing funding at a crucial time to cover the payment of school fees as well as purchase of text books. Such was the case of Amarachi Esther Ihetu, a student of Afe Babalola University who emerged winner in Season 3.

Munam Victor, an Investment Banker who emerged winner in Season 3 had simply funded his Wema Bank Domiciliary Account to foot the bill for his Masters’ abroad. One can imagine his shock on receiving an unexpected credit alert in a moment where financial needs were at a peak.

Also, on this unending list of beneficiaries of Wema Bank’s 5 for 5 Promo was a young man named Farouq Adewale, who had taken up a job as a Barber to gain money for his education. Helping his dreams come true, Farouq’s story took a positive turn when he won in the third season of the Promo, receiving funds which he used to pay his school fees and continue his education.

Corper Aderogba Joyce Adesayo, another winner from Season 1, also expressed deep gratitude in reflection of the impact her 5 for 5 Promo cash win had on her at the time. Referring to the cash win as unexpected, she explained how the money supported her at a time when she was “entirely broke”, helping a growing Corps Member like her to buy foodstuffs and motivating her to expand her “side hustle”, a petty trading business she had begun to support herself.

But it wasn’t just Corper Joyce. Hundreds of other Nigerians have also attested to the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo’s impact in addressing their financial needs, motivating their business expansion and kickstarting ventures that they would ordinarily have never thought to invest in due to lack of funding. With each credit alert, the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo has not just saved lives from poverty and hunger; it has footed medical expenses, furthered educations and promoted quality wellbeing for all.

BUILDING BUSINESSES

Decent Work and Economic Growth; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities and Communities: SDGs 8, 9 and 11. Much like Corper Joyce, the 5 for 5 Promo has also

provided support for the establishment and expansion of dozens of Nigerian businesses. In a gesture that would sustain SDGs 1-4, the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo has not just given fish, it has empowered dozens to fish.

From 50-year-old Madam Ibidapo Muidat who channeled her win towards expanding her business to Fashion Designer, Alake Raimot Shofolahan, who invested her win in acquiring a sewing machine for her business, trader Jimoh Zainab who got unexpected capital to stock up her shop, Onyelusi Goodnews Festa who invested her win in her rice business and Oluwatoyin Ayinde who channelled her wins towards acquiring her dream shop to showcase her unique fabrics; the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo has become a pillar of support for intending and existing businesses across Nigeria. With some of these businesses also cutting across key areas like recycling, green energy and infrastructure, the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo is not just building businesses; it is empowering entrepreneurs for positive societal impact and building resilient economies where the people can thrive today and in the future.

PROMOTING EQUALITY AND GENDER INCLUSION

Gender Equality, Reduced inequalities: SDGs 5 and 10. Wema Bank has proven beyond words that it is committed to empowering women, promoting inclusion and intentionally ensuring diversity in its efforts to empower lives and businesses. Over the course of the 5 for 5 Promo, one thing that has stood out significantly is inclusion; and it’s not just with gender.

Since its launch, the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo has touched on various parts of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, ensuring that Nigerians across Nigeria can access the opportunities provided regardless of their location in the country. Naturally, the 5 for 5 Promo’s pool of winners is as diverse as can be, featuring Nigerians from all walks of life across different ethnicities and tribes.

Beyond location, the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo has proven itself intentional in ensuring that even the rural class of Nigerians can become winners. From Domiciliary account holders well-to-do enough to bank in dollars to the petty traders making a living off market sales and small profits, the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo has promoted financial inclusion reaching far into the grassroots of the nation, ultimately improving national economic indices like Gross Domestic Product (GDP), GDP Per Capita, Unemployment and Underemployment, among others. Addressing one of the most critical aspects of equality, the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo has remained particularly invested in gender equality. Over the course of the 5 for Promo, the Bank has introduced special women-focused draws where the cash prizes have been reserved for only women, bridging the gap in gender equality

by promoting women inclusion. In March 2024, Wema Bank, as part of its Women’s Month celebration itinerary, rewarded 113 women with cash prizes out of the 120 winners for the 5 for 5 Promo March monthly draw. Just this year, in March 2025, Wema Bank raised the bar, rewarding 131 women with N11,000,000 in just one monthly draw, also in commemoration of the Women’s Month celebration; a;l these in addition to the Promo’s track record in the women to men ratio in the gender distribution of winners so far. As of 9th July 2025, a total of 4,361 winners have emerged so far in just Season 4 of the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo, 2180 of whom were women; accounting for slightly over 50% of the winners so far this season.

THE IMPACT: WEMA BANK 5 FOR 5 PROMO

The Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo has continued to empower lives and transform stories, standing firmly as a beacon of hope to millions of Nigerians as economic fluctuations continue to prevail. With each unexpected cash reward, Wema Bank, through the 5 for 5 Promo continues to provide funding for individuals to fulfill their basic needs, aspiring entrepreneurs to set up profitable ventures across various industries and verticals, existing businesses to expand beyond borders; stimulating economic growth and promoting national development. With each cash reward, Wema Bank’s impact through the 5 for 5 Promo is simultaneously addressing multiple SDGs, spearheading accelerated progress in the achievement of this global objective. This is how the UN-stipulated Sustainable Development Goals will be achieved. As earlier established, the achievement of the SDGs is a goal that requires collective effort on individual and institutional levels; and the 5 for 5 Promo is just one way that Wema Bank is playing its part, multiple SDGs at a time.

As the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo Season 4 approaches its end, over 4,000 lives stand living witness to the profound impact generated as hundreds more look ahead to this beacon of hope, anticipating the day their own lucky moment where their stories may be transformed forever through one intentional gesture by an institution that clearly cares.

Since its establishment in 1945, Wema Bank has built a legacy of empowering lives and businesses through resilient commitment, unparalleled innovation and a strategically intentional approach to delivering value. With the Bank’s 80th anniversary celebration on May 2nd 2025, arose a challenge to every institution across Africa: Deliver value beyond your primary functions or risk becoming forgotten in the decades to come. Wema Bank has lived through 80 years of impact on millions of lives, businesses, industries, institutions and the nation as a whole. As the Bank continues to actively champion the achievement of the SDGs, the world looks ahead to a future of limitless possibilities, powered by Nigeria’s oldest indigenous and leading innovative bank, Wema Bank.

Tariff Reduction: EERC Acted Within its Constitutional Powers – Odion

CEO New Hampshire Capital Limited, Odion Omofoman, a financial advisory and energy investment firm. He was also an expert adviser to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, towards the development of the Meter Asset Provider regulations. In this interview monitored on Arise News, he speaks with Rotus Oddiri on the controversy surrounding the power tariff reduction by the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Everybody knows what is going on with the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC), making that decision to slash Band A electricity tariff from N209/ kWh to N160/kWh. Every other band is frozen. The Forum of Commissioners for Power and Energy in Nigeria said it is in line with the Constitution and the Electricity Act. But there is a pushback by the GenCos. So, first of all, what is your take?

The Enugu decision on tariff is in line with what was envisaged under the Constitution. It was also what was envisaged under the Electricity Act of 2023 signed by President Bola Tinubu. I think people now need to realise that with the decentralisation of electricity regulation, we are now in that regime. So, states that have created electricity market can now decide and implement electricity tariff within their jurisdiction.

People also need to realise that Nigeria runs two broad electricity markets: one, the wholesale market, which includes the generation and transmission tariffs or markets and then the subnational market, which has the whole gamut of transmission and distribution, but generation within the states. So, when it comes to distribution, the tariff decision of the state stands, regardless. States regulatory commissions have that power to do it and EERC has done that.

Now let us come to the pushback by the GenCos, who are now saying, we generate the electricity, we are owed money. They say Enugu State is not supposed to be reducing this tariff because it will impact them.

Obviously they have a right to be concerned. But I think it is, respesctfully speaking, a misplaced concern because as I have just said, there is a wholesale market regulated by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and then there is the distribution side of it regulated by the state. The tariff order by EERC only deals with the distribution value chain. The wholesale tariff as given by NERC to the Distribution Company, DISCO, still remains.

But let us state this very clearly, MainPower is a subsidiary of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, the DISCO that serves the five South Eastern states. So, NERC, looking at Enugu, has situated that Enugu DISCO will pay certain amount for power generation. In that subset, EERC will ask, what is the share of Enugu State in that? It has, therefore, left that intact and has looked at other metrics and said, let us look at your customer base, let us look at your regulatory assets base; the same data that was provided to them. They have done a lot of regulatory rigours to come to that decision. That is what we don’t see when we have a central regulation.

I will shock you, all the 11 DISCOs that we have across Nigeria charge N209.50 for Band A. How is that possible? We can’t have a unified tariff system when you have different cost structures for different entities. Now, somebody has said look, let us do the regulatory scrutiny of these numbers. Let us see how you arrived at this N209.50. But, guess what, nobody has touched the wholesale tariff. So, the GENCOs, I need to assure them, you will get your revenues. What has happened is that based on the regulatory scrutiny done by Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, they have ascertained that tariff on Band A should be N160 and anybody can go look at what they have done. You can’t fault it.

I must say, in Enugu State, you have one of the most experienced electricity regulators in the country and we trust what they have done. They know what they are doing.

Ok. The statement that was put out by the Forum of States Commissioners of Power and Energy is pretty much in line with what you have said. They are saying that what Enugu has done is in line with the Constitution and Electricity Act, 2023. What the Forum tried to communiucate is that they said that look, the fact that Enugu State has looked at the cost structure of electricity market in the state and has dropped down Band A is not reflective of what other states would do. For instance, Enugu is not the first place to issue regulatory tariff orders. Ekiti and Ondo have done similar. Enugu only reduced theirs tariff. People should not be scared that other states will now start to slash tariff. It is not like that. I have heard a lot of commentators and stakeholders speaking.

Everyone is just scared that this is a new trend. What will now happen is that people will now do the regulatory diligence that should have been done to say look, how did you arrive at this tariff? How Enugu arrived at tariff.

Another point EERC is making is that the subsidy is within Enugu DISCO. MainPower is just one state. Why would the people of Enugu state pay more than the people in Abia, Anambra and co, who now enjoy the federal subsidy? One more thing to know is that if Enugu State had kept Band A tariff at that level, the over recovery wouldn’t have gone to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC, NBET, because NBET has a cap that Enugu must pay, which is like 45/42 per cent.

People must understand that every DISCO

“The Enugu decision on tariff is in line with what was envisaged under the Constitution. It was also what was envisaged under the Electricity Act of 2023 signed by President Bola Tinubu. I will shock you, all the 11 DISCOs that we have across Nigeria charge N209.50 for Band A. How is that possible? We can’t have a unified tariff system when you have different cost structures for different entities.”

has what we call a minimum distribution remittance obligation that they must pay, which is like half of the GenCo tariff. So, even if they over recover, NERC does not see it. These guys just sit down and they collect the money and that is what EERC is trying to avoid by saying ‘I wont give you more than you are required to pay to the market.’ Based on what is given you, you can recover your cost and even have excess. Simple.

Fantastic. Is this good that this decision was made by Enugu and finally we are now having a decentralisation conversation? Has Enugu sparked something here?

I think this conversation has been a long time coming. The reality is that it is being avoided at the federal level. I am very excited about this conversation because it will now bring us to two issues, the fact that states can now start to implement their tariff and then execute it. The second is the conversation on subsidy. Subsidy is a big conversation that nobody wants to touch or talk about because it is the big elephant in the room. So, let us now have a proper conversation around electricity subsidy and around the ability of the states to run their markets. The conversation has now been opened and I hope that people approach it with facts and not emotions and with the mindset that we must make the power sector work. This fear mongering on one side will not help anybody.

Now, having that conversation alongside the subsidy matter, how do we clear the debts to GENCOs? Is it not by raising tariffs?

I do not know how the federal government will pay. Now, I’m being very careful. I have situated it with the federal government because I don’t think they went to states collectively with how to implement subsidy. So, the federal government needs to come out and say this is how we want to clear it. But here is another thing we need to kickstart conversations around it: there should be clear rules for states that want to run a cost reflective market so that in a case where states want to do a cost reflective tariff, that money should go upstream and not to the DISCO within the system. We need to say, okay, state entities, enter into power purchase agreement, PPA, with NBET so that what you have to pay is clear. Not that you have to pay NBET through the whole distribution companies, which already has a set threshold to pay. It is just a teething challenge that conversations will solve and I don’t know why everybody seems to be up in arms.

“And we are seeing one very big impediment - the recent proposed amendments to the electricity Acts. That amendment is a backdoor review of the Constitution. That amendment seeks to make NERC have overriding power over states’ electricity markets. That amendment seeks to enforce one single unit and to enforce the implementation of electrical standards. That amendment seeks to make NERC the entity to set consumer tariff for states. It will take us back.”

Now, let us talk about the DISCOs. We have a quarterly revenue of N533.63 billion, which is the highest and they are attributing it to a higher tariff on Band A. So, let us bring the metre conversation into it too. On the aspect of metres, again I keep saying this, if somebody is connected to a utility network, the minimum you should have is a metre. It is either the customer is able to buy it, or the utility says I would buy it and bill you to pay it off. That is why a lot of states are about to address this issue of metering because a lot of states have said look, “It is 100 per cent metering.” All we need is a strong will to say, “we will make sure that before you are connected, go and get a metre.” It is either you buy or the DISCO is giving you. A DISCO like Aba is already connecting their customers for free.

Lastly, we can only solve the power challenges at smaller units. There is no reason a customer in Maiduguri will be paying the same thing as a customer elsewhere when the circumstances of their electricity markets are not the same. So, you will find out that subnationals will hit 24/7 power supply faster than a whole federation. My concern is that federal government should not put impediments to the abilities of states to develop their electricity markets

And we are seeing one very big impedimentthe recent proposed amendments to the electricity Acts. That amendment is a backdoor review of the Constitution. That amendment seeks to make NERC have overriding power over states’ electricity markets. That amendment seeks to enforce one single unit and to enforce the implementation of electrical standards. That amendment seeks to make NERC the entity to set consumer tariff for states. It will take us back.

The electricity Act is just two years old. So, why are you amending it now? Allow this to work. Thank God for EERC for sparking off a conversation. That is how you get things done and solve the problem because first and second reading happened behind the states back.

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 23 Jujy-2025, unless otherwise stated.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

RMDB Seeks Mobilisation of Domestic Capital for Critical Sector Development

Oluchi Chibuzor

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB), Mr Adeniran Aderogba, has stressed the need for the mobilisation of domestic capital to support the development of Africa’s critical sectors.

Speaking at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2025), held at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Aderogba highlighted the strategic role of financial institutions like the RMDB in advancing sustainable development across the continent.

The summit, themed, “Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development,” convened senior government

officials, industry leaders, investors, and development partners from Africa and beyond. Discussions centred on leveraging local content development as a cornerstone of economic growth, with a focus on building inclusive, resilient and future-facing resource governance frameworks.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Aderogba underscored the critical importance of shifting the financing narrative from dependence on foreign capital to a more deliberate mobilisation of domestic financial resources.

He said, “If we are serious about sustainable development, we must stop relying solely on external capital. Africa needs to harness its own domestic financial instruments, institutions and networks to fund infrastructure, energy, mari-

time logistics, and other critical enablers of industrialisation.”

He noted that local content development cannot be achieved in isolation from financial sustainability and that African capital markets and institutions must evolve to meet the scale and complexity of the continent’s development needs.

According to him, the RMDB was established with a mandate to close long-standing gaps in maritime and trade-related infrastructure financing and is now positioning itself as a partner for broader development finance initiatives.

Aderogba also stressed the need for improved coordination between governments, financial institutions, and private investors to align policies and reduce duplication.

Caverton Marine Celebrates Naval Architect’s Victory

One of Caverton’s talented naval architects has emerged victorious in a prestigious paper competition organised by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), Western Europe Section. The winning paper, titled, “Electrification of Inland Waterway Transportation in Lagos State,” showcases ground-breaking solution for sustainable marine mobility, an initiative that resonates deeply with Caverton Marine’s vision for a greener future.

The paper, authored by David C. Okafor, delves into the electrification of inland waterways transportation in Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous city. With the city’s rapidly growing population and increasing traffic congestion, Okafor’s research

investigates the feasibility and benefits of transitioning from conventional petrol-powered ferries to electric-powered vessels. This transition not only aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also to enhance operational efficiency and reliability in Lagos’ underutilised inland waterways.

Speaking of the feat, CEO Caverton Offshore Support Group, the parent company of Caverton Marine, Bode Makanjuola said, “We are immensely proud of David’s achievement. His innovative approach aligns perfectly with our commitment to sustainability and the advancement of marine technology. This recognition from SNAME underscores our dedication to exploring and implementing eco-friendly solutions in the

maritime sector and ferry design and transportation in particular.”

According to Makanjuola, such revolutions are at the heart of Caverton’s partnership towards integrating innovative electric board systems into its water transportation project in Lagos.

“It is in line with these innovative strategies that Caverton Marine partnered with ExploMar (Suzhou) Energy Technology Co. Ltd. China to integrate cuttingedge electric outboard systems into its OMIBUS passenger ferries. Commissioned by the Lagos State government, these ferries are designed to revolutionize public transportation in the region, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional petrolpowered vessels,” he said.

BBNaija’s Tastiest Twist Yet — Terra Cube Enters the House

Terra Seasoning Cube, one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing seasoning brands, is turning up the heat this season with Big Brother Naija, Africa’s biggest reality show. As the country’s most anticipated television event returns, fans are already buzzing about the possibilities this spicy collaboration could unlock.

For years, Terra Seasoning Cube has demonstrated a deep understanding of how to connect with Nigerian consumers in spaces where culture and memories are created. Known for extending its presence beyond kitchen shelves into homes, markets, and lifestyle conversations, Terra continues to redefine what it means to be a food brand in a country where food is not just nourishment, but also identity, celebration, and togetherness.

As the only seasoning brand in the house, Terra will take its place in the Big Brother kitchen, becoming a daily part of cooking moments, mealtime conversations, and bonding experiences. From quick breakfasts to celebratory dinners after task wins, housemates will season every dish exclusively with Terra Seasoning Cube.

This season, Terra Cube isn’t just seasoning meals, it’s seasoning the entire BBNaija experience, and it’s unwrapping joy in ways you never saw coming!

As the heat turns up in the BBNaija house, Terra is stirring more than just pots. This season’s drama comes seasoned with flavour. The action won’t stay confined to the house. During the show, viewers will get the opportunity to unwrap joy and

unleash taste as Terra Cube takes over TV screens & feeds with extended moments of behindthe-scenes content and interactive experiences across social media.

Speaking on the partnership, Chief Marketing Officer, TGI Group, Probal Bhattacharya, remarked, “More than a product, Terra Seasoning Cube is a celebration of Nigerian culture, taste, and togetherness. Big Brother Naija remains one of the most influential entertainment platforms in Africa. For us, this partnership is about strengthening our bond with the Nigerian consumer, showing up where they are, and being part of the stories they love. Nigerians have embraced Terra, and we’re excited to deepen that connection in a space that naturally brings people together.”

OVL Partners IHS to Empower 6,000 Youth with Digital,Vocational Skills

OVL Foundation with sponsorship from IHS Nigeria is set to train 6,000 youth across Nigeria with digital and vocational skills through the 9ja Youth Drive project.

According to the Founder, OVL Foundation, Mrs Omobolanle Victor, the vision was birthed out of the need to bridge digital skills gaps which hinders Nigerian graduates from taking on modern opportunities and prepare young people for

a tech-driven world.

“We cannot afford a digital skills gap in a digital age because that means we are not training our people for the future of work,” she said.

“A 2024 survey revealed that 85 per cent of nigerian graduates lack digital skills with over 100 million young nigerians unprepared for modern job opportunities.

“The lack of adequate job opportunities limited access to quality education

and vocational training and mismatch between skills and labour market demand and a rapidly growing youth population makes the problem even worse,” she added.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos recently, she explained that to ensure maximum participation, the program has extended the age demography to include men and women between the ages of 18 and 45.

(Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny

(Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

L-R: Director, Ellah Lakes Plc, Mr. Kofo Majekodunmi; Chairman, Board of Directors, Mr. Joe Attueyi; CEO / Managing Director, Mr. Chuka Mordi; Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Hewett Benson and Director, Ellah Lakes Plc Ms Osaro Oyegun at the recent Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held in Lagos...recently

Stock Market Sustains Rally, Appreciate by N1.81trn in One-Week

Kayode Tokede

The Nigerian stock market, last week, sustained its positive momentum with a gain of N1.81 trillion buoyed by half year (H1) ended June 30, 2025 corporate earnings and declining yields in money market instruments.

The sharp drop in Treasury bill yields at the mid-week primary market auction, a direct consequence of interest rate cut expectations prompted a

wave of portfolio reassessments, particularly in light of the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) decision to maintain status quo on Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 27.50 per cent and other parameters.

The market’s benchmark indicator, the Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX ASI), rose by 2.18 per cent weekon-week (W-o-W) to close at 134,452.93 basis points, lifting the Month-till-Date (MtD) and

Year-till-Date (YtD) returns to +12.1per cent and +30.6per cent, respectively Consequently, the overall market capitalisation gained N1.81 trillion to close the week at N85.055 trillion.

Sectoral performance was broadly positive following gains in the NGX Industrial Goods Index gained 4.7per cent, NGX Insurance Index added 3.1per cent, NGX Consumer Goods advanced by 2.8per cent, NGX Banking Index appreciared by

1.8 per cent and NGX Oil & Gas inched up by 0.9per cent. However, the market breadth remained positive, underscoring the broad-based optimism as 60 stocks recorded gains against 43 decliners across the five trading sessions. The Initiates Plc (TIP) led the gainers table by 60.82 per cent to close at N16.13, per share. Academy Press followed with a gain of 33.00 per cent to close at N9.31, while Nigerian Enamelware went up by 32.68

per cent to close to N27.00, per share.

On the other side, Secure Electronic Technology led the decliners table by 23.97 per cent to close at 92 kobo, per share. Omatek Ventures followed with a loss of 23.93 per cent to close at N1.24, while Meyer declined by 21.43 per cent to close at N16.50, per share. Overall, a total turnover of 3.691 billion shares worth N112.261 billion in 138,250 deals was traded last

week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 17.498 billion shares valued at N500.762 billion that exchanged hands prior week in 142,082 deals.

On market outlook, analysts at Cowry Asset Management Limited said, “we expect a mixed performance in the coming week, shaped by the ongoing release of corporate earnings and typical month-end window dressing activities.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF JULY/25/25

High Expectations as Emmanuel Ikazoboh Becomes Chairman of Dangote Cement

Shareholders are excited over the appointed of Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh as Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc and are expecting him to sustain and improve on the commendable performance of the leading cement group, writes Goddy Egene

Shareholders and other stakeholders of Dangote Cement Plc have expressed excitement over announcement of a new chairman for the company to take over from Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

After founding and nurturing the leading cement group to an enviable level, with presence in many other African countries, Aliko Dangote stepped down as a director and chairman last Friday for Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh in line with principles of good corporate governance and succession planning.

It is believed that he is relinquishing his position as chairman and retiring from the board to focus more attention on the refinery, petrochemicals, fertilizer arm of his business empire.

The announcement the board changes was made the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina.

Chiejina said that the board of Dangote Cement Plc, apart from appointing Ikazoboh as chairman, also appointed Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote as a director, while Prof. Dorothy Ufot retired from the board.

The company’s spokesman explained that as Africa’s leading investor, Aliko Dangote left giant footprints as he retired from the board, noting that his vision and tenacity redefined not just a company, but the entire cement industry landscape by becoming Africa’s largest cement producer and largest exporter of cement and clinker in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Aliko Dangote’s journey with cement began with a bold dream: to make Nigeria and Africa self-sufficient in cement production. Through strategic investments in state-of-the-art plants and a commitment to local content, he not only met that goal but exceeded it.

‘’Dangote Cement Plc has 52.0Mta capacity across African continent with Nigeria accounting for 35.25Mta. Currently, additional greenfield plants are coming up in Cote Ivoire (3.0Mta) and Itori, Nigeria (6.0 Mta) and on completion this year will push total capacity to 61.0Mta,” he said.

This development has been received with excitement and high expectations that Ikazoboh will not only sustain the legacy being left by Aliko Dangote but will also improve on the company’s performance given his wealth of experience.

COMPANY’S PERFORMANCE

Over the years, Dangote Cement Plc has not only become the continent’s leading cement producer but has also played a vital role in driving economic growth and development across numerous African nations.

Dangote Cement has equally been one investors’ favourites, recording consistent improved performance, declaring regular dividends to shareholders, paying huge amount as taxes to government coffers and giving back to the society in form of corporate social responsibility(CSR).

In the past five years, Dangote Cement has recorded a turnover of over N9.82 trillion and profit after tax of N1.81 trillion. Out this, government has benefitted over N582.74 billion as tax and several billions of Naira going into CSR projects.

Shareholders have equally reaped bountifully from their investments in the last five years, receiving dividends every year. For the 2024 financial year, for instance,

shareholders went home with N503 billion as dividend, translating to N30 per share. A higher dividend is even expected at the end of the current financial year given the half year results already posted by the Dangote Cement Plc.

According to the unaudited results for the six months ending 30th June 2025, the group revenue went up by 17.7 per cent to N2.071 trillion, from N1.760 trillion at the same period in 2024, representing the highest revenue in the history of the company.

Group Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) grew by 41.8 per cent to N944.900 billion from N666.22 billion.

Profit before tax grew faster by 149 per cent from N292.96 billion to N730 billion, while profit after tax surged by 174.1 per cent from N189.9 billion to N520.5 billion. In the six months, export volumes from Nigeria increased by 18.2 per cent, with 18 successful clinker shipments made to Ghana and Cameroon.

NEW CHAIRMAN OUTLINES VISION

Ikazoboh, in his acceptance speech, said he is truly honoured to accept the role of Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc while pledging to uphold the highest standards of leadership and dedication in this role.

Ikazoboh described the company as a beacon of African enterprise, which has consistently demonstrated resilience, innovation, and a commitment to excellence.

Giving an insight into what his tenure holds for the company, he said: “My vision for Dangote Cement Plc is built upon a foundation of sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and unwavering commitment to our core values. We will continue to focus on the following key priorities: Operational Excellence, Strategic Expansion, Sustainability, Innovation and Community Engagement.’’

Part of the strategies he intends to introduce includes driving down costs through the implementation of robust cost-reduction strategies to navigate inflationary pressures and enhance competitiveness.

The company, he stated, will accelerate efforts to adopt alternative fuels and technologies, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Regarding staff welfare, he promised that the company will continue to invest in training and development, fostering a culture of excellence and empowering employees to reach their full potential.

CHAIRMAN’S WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE

Ikazoboh began his professional journey at Akintola Williams Deloitte, now known as Deloitte Nigeria, one of the world’s largest professional services firms. He became the Managing Partner for Deloitte’s offices in Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon. His leadership in these regions helped expand

Deloitte’s footprint across West and Central Africa, allowing him to build a strong foundation in finance and strategic management. He later became the Managing Partner for Deloitte West & Central Africa, where he served until 2009.

In 2010, he was appointed by Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as Interim Administrator to oversee reforms at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS). He was instrumental in restructuring the stock market, improving transparency, and implementing robust governance frameworks that helped rebuild investor confidence in the Nigerian capital markets. His work was key in shaping Nigeria’s modern securities markets and ensuring their stability during a critical time.

After completing his assignment at the NSE, Ikazoboh became the Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), which is one of Africa’s largest banking groups, with a significant presence across the continent, in 2014. Under his guidance, Ecobank expanded its operations and reinforced its position as a key player in the African banking sector. His leadership was crucial during the bank’s transformation phase, where the company focused on digital innovation and customer-centric banking services. Ikazoboh served as the Group Chairman of Ecobank until 2020, leaving behind a legacy of sustainable growth and strategic leadership.

He later joined Dangote Cement as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Dangote Cement Plc, playing a critical role in driving the company’s continued growth and profitability before his elevation as chairman of the group last Friday.

SHAREHOLDERS’ EXPECTATIONS

Welcoming the decision of Aliko Dangote to step down and appoint a competent replacement, the President of Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS),Dr. Faurk Umar, said the African richest man must be commended for his foresight in the establishment of Dangote Cement Plc and choosing Ikazoboh as his successor.

“Firstly, we need to commend Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his foresight in establishing the first indigenous cement factory and his ability to remove Nigeria from importing to exporting cement to other African countries. He has also established cement factories in some African countries including Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, South Africa, Senegal, and Tanzania.

“His ability to establish the largest refinery in the world is a strategy towards making Africa self reliance. Shareholders have benefited tremendously from the dividends paid since the listing of the company.

“We also commend the appointment of Mr. Ikazoboh as the chairman of the company to succeed Alhaji Aliko Dangote . As a former

Interim Administrator of NSE, he has the experience required to chair the company. We believe he is going to add a lot of value to the operations of the company. His appointment has demonstrated the strength of the succession planning of the company. With the experience and qualification of Alhaji Aliko’s children who can chair the companies, his decision to retire and not allow them to succeed him is commendable. But they should be made vice chairmen and groomed for future succession,” Umar said.

On her, part the National Coordinator, Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mrs. Bisi Bakare, said shareholders expectations are very high.

“We welcome the new chairman and we have confidence in him. We want him to exceed what he met in terms of capital appreciation, dividend payout to shareholders, increase in the sales volume and growth in the profit. We expect continuous returns on our investments. We want him to sustain the community CSR. Furthermore, during his tenure, we don’t want division amongst the board members. He should be a listening leader not to be autocratic. And I wish Alhaji Aliko Dangote happy retirement from the board of Dangote Cement, I wish him success in his future endeavors,” Mrs Bakare said.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr. Moses Ibgrude, said Ikazoboh should bring his wealth of experience to enhance and improve the growth and expansion of the company for the benefits of all stakeholders.

“The sustainability is of paramount importance to the shareholders as the founder Aliko Dangote has put together a great company. The new chairman’s coming must lead to better performance. I am using the opportunity to appreciate the founder for the great and wonderful job he has done,” Igbrude said.

In his comments, Mr. Boniface Okezie of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, said he had no doubt that Ikazoboh will perform as chairman of Dangote Cement having been there as one of the longest non-executive directors.

“And as a seasoned administrator, he will deliver as chairman. His job is to preside over the board meetings of the company; over see the affairs of the company with his fellow board members making sure company ‘s policies are maintained at all times. He is to also encourage the company’s management and its workforce to adhere good corporate governance structure at all times and as well ensure the production standards are maintained. He is not the one that saddled with the running of the company on day-to-day basis. His own is to chair the board and preside over annual general meetings (AGM) of the company. He does not have to interfere in the management affairs if they are doing well. Besides, Aliko Dangote will still have an eye on the company even though he has stepped aside.

The most important is the entire board should work together and see that dividend payment remained consistent and share price maintains its growth trajectory,” Okezie said.

Ikazoboh

This Week In Tech

Olatunji: We Want to Weave Voice Tech into Africa’s Social, Civic, Economic Fabric

In a world where speed and precision are everything, Intron is quietly revolutionising how professionals, from doctors to lawyers, get things done. Best known for bringing cutting-edge speech-to-text technology to Nigeria and beyond, Intron has quickly become a name to watch. At the heart of it all is Dr. Tobi Olatunji, the founder and CEO, whose journey from medicine to machine learning is as compelling as the product he has built. In this exclusive conversation, Olatunji opens up about what sets Intron apart in a crowded market, its bold expansion into new sectors, and how exactly the technology works under the hood. This is not just tech, it is transformation. Nosa Alekhuogie presents the excerpts:

Can you provide an overview of Intron?

Intron is Africa’s leading voice AI platform, delivering best-in-class speech recognition and text-to-speech technology purpose-built for African languages and accents. Our goal is to empower modern enterprises across healthcare, justice, finance, and more to automate workflows, accelerate documentation, and unlock inclusive, voicedriven experiences for customers in communities across the continent. But Intron goes beyond just voice transcription. It aims to bridge digital inequality by enabling voice-first experiences that cater to local linguistic diversity. Its tools are deployed in critical sectors such as healthcare, justice, finance, call centres, and government. By doing so, it seeks to empower clinicians, judges, customer service agents, and citizens with voice-driven workflows that are faster, more inclusive, and more accurate than what Big Tech currently offers on the continent.

Your mission began in healthcare but has expanded. Was this expansion a deliberate strategy or an opportunistic pivot?

We started in healthcare’s noisiest wards, where getting accurate speech recognition was a daily battle. The combination of unpredictable background noise, technical terms, heavy accents, and high patient loads exposed the poor performance of mainstream ASR tools. Faced with this challenge, we built Sahara from the ground up, collecting vast datasets, inventing the AccentMix algorithm, and optimising for real-world noise and multilingual contexts. The result was speech transcription that outperformed global models in clinics across Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Africa. The expansion into legal, finance, and call centres was not pre-planned. It was purely organic. As our models outperformed Big Tech on African voices, new opportunities came knocking from courts, call centres, banks, and beyond. The pan-African vision we laid out at the onset and our flexible model architecture made it significantly easier to respond to these opportunities. The expansion was organic, responding to market demand for better and more inclusive models. We built for the hardest environment first, and the rest followed.

Intron now supports finance, legal, and other areas. Which of these new sectors is showing the strongest uptake and why?

While Sahara is being adopted across multiple industries, legal and customer-experience (CX) applications are showing particularly strong uptake. For example, in Ogun State, Nigeria, judges have halved court session time, shrinking four-hour hearings to just two to three hours by automating transcription, freeing up courtroom focus, and minimising delays. We have also seen fintech players like Branch International and Flare/Rescue.co (in Kenya) using Sahara for agent compliance scoring, conversational bots, and after-hours interactions. This enables responsive, voice-driven customer support in local accents without text barriers.

Call centres across the continent process millions of hours of calls per day. The need is clear: local accents, faster service, workflow integration, and better access, which is something global platforms cannot match. Healthcare remains vital. Clinics in Nigeria and Uganda can now complete 100-word clinical notes in 57 seconds, significantly faster than before, but the recent traction in legal workflows and voice-powered customer engagement shows Sahara’s broad appeal where accuracy and local nuance matter.

How exactly do Intron and Sahara outperform Big Tech platforms such as OpenAI, Google, and AWS on African accents?

The secret lies in specialisation. We train our speech recognition and text-to-speech models on African voices, not generic datasets. Sahara is built on over 3.5 million recordings from 18,000+ speakers in 30+ countries, covering 300+African accents. While global models like Whisper, Google Speech-to-Text, Azure, or AWS stumble on names, currencies, dialects, or domain-specific terms, Sahara remains robust. Under the hood is AccentMix, a patented algorithm that intelligently augments voice training to manage accent variability, technical terms, African names, and currencies that Big Tech routinely misses. Our public and verifiable benchmarks not only show how we outperform across critical sectors like health, finance, and legal, they also show how better we are on accents from several countries, including those in North Africa.

How do you ensure the quality and accuracy of your text-to-speech voices across diverse African languages?

We use vast, locally sourced data and deep collaboration with native speakers. Sahara-TTS (text-to-speech) offers over 80 female and male voices across 40+ African accents from 10+ countries. We collate large, region-specific voice data from tens of thousands of hours collected in-field from native speakers. We also conduct rigorous authenticity testing

where voices are benchmarked against fluency, naturalness, accent authenticity, and domain usage, with feedback loops involving local users and testers. We are now working toward next-generation TTS (Sahara-Primus) and translation models that synthesise speech in twenty major African languages like Swahili, Hausa, Zulu, and others with natural prosody and accent fidelity.

How do you choose which languages and dialects to prioritise?

We follow the data and the demand. Our priorities are shaped by user feedback, market needs, and social impact. Now with over 30,000 hours of local language data from 64+ languages, we target the top 20 African languages like Swahili, Hausa, and Zulu that power the widest access and impact. Language selection is driven by three key factors, which are Demand & impact, Data availability, and social inclusion. Next-gen models (TITAN, PRIMUS) will intensify presence in twenty major African languages, driven by these metrics and the alignment of technical readiness with user interest.

How do you manage privacy concerns, especially with sensitive legal and medical voice data? Security is baked into our platform. We offer flexible data retention configurations, letting clients choose where and how data is stored and processed. Robust multilayer encryption, strict access controls, and regular security reviews are designed to meet privacy laws and build trust with

institutions handling sensitive voice recordings from patients, witnesses, or clients.

How do you view competition from larger platforms like Azure?

While big tech like Azure, Google, and AWS have vast resources, they train on Westerncentric datasets and struggle with African accents. Sahara’s advantage is purpose-built specialisation and deep local data. Intron is quick-moving, agile, and intimately connected to local users and partners. Understandably, Big Tech needs to optimise for their “primary” revenue-dominant markets, often overlooking Africa’s rich linguistic diversity, inevitably leaving users frustrated by low accuracy and bias, especially with African names. Although we have learned a lot from them, our approach is different. We are built by Africans, for Africans, using African data. Rather than wait for global players to catch up, we’re already setting the standard for voice AI on the continent. By embedding itself at the ground level and solving real, localised problems, Intron is creating a defensible moat that Big Tech would find hard to replicate quickly.

What is your long-term Vision for Intron?

We aspire to become the voice infrastructure layer for Africa, an inclusive and robust platform that ensures no accent or language is ignored by the digital revolution. With next-gen models like Sahara-Titan and Sahara-Primus, we envision a world where African speech is equally respected in AI systems globally. In the long run, we want to enable seamless voicedriven applications, telemedicine, courtroom AI assistants, financial coaching bots, and educational tools, all offering local language support and playing in low-resource settings. The aim is not just to build voice tech, but to weave it into Africa’s social, civic, and economic fabric.

As you scale across various African regions, what kinds of roadblocks have you encountered regarding local infrastructure and differing national policies?

We’ve had to navigate patchy internet, inconsistent power, budget-constrained clients, and a maze of data policies across borders. That’s why we invest in both cloud and on-prem solutions, and work closely with governments and regulators to ensure compliance and smooth rollouts. Flexibility is key to thriving in Africa’s dynamic landscape.

If you were to bet on one major area where voice-driven AI could transform lives or businesses across Africa in the next five years, what would it be and why?

I will say Healthcare hands down. With overworked clinicians, acute staff shortages, and multiple languages in every hospital, voice AI can unlock massive gains in doctorpatient communication, documentation speed, patient care, and health access. Imagine voice-driven triage, real-time dictation, multilingual patient communication, and automated translation during clinical rounds. Given rural health worker shortages and language barriers, voice AI could affect outcomes for millions by enhancing care accuracy, reducing burnout, and expanding access. But the ripple effect extends: success in healthcare proves Sahara’s impact, builds trust, and opens doors to justice, finance, education, remote learning, and civic engagement. In short, healthcare is the springboard as its value undeniable and its reach immense.

Olatunji

POLITY

How Nigerian Independents Can Lead Africa’s Energy Future

Emmanuel Etomi

Africa is blessed with abundant energy resources - and even greater potential. As global capital, regulation, and technology reshape the energy landscape, the question for African producers isn’t whether change is coming - it’s how we can be at the forefront of that change.

For far too long, the story of Africa’s energy sector has been told from the outside in, often highlighting risks, gaps, and dependency. It’s time we changed the narrative. Because the continent’s future will not be built by aid or ideology. It will be built by local ingenuity, responsible production, and inclusive development led by African players.

Nigerian independents like FIRST E&P stand at the forefront of this shift. We are not waiting to be shaped by the transition. We are shaping our role within it - on our terms, in our context, and with a firm belief that sustainability is not a burden, but an enabler of enduring value.

From reducing emissions and gas flaring, to delivering health, education, and enterprise solutions in host communities; our approach is rooted in performance, purpose, and partnership. This article shares the philosophy, progress, and proof points that demonstrate how African independents can lead responsibly and successfully in a future that demands both.

Sustainability Begins with Purpose

At FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited (FIRST E&P), we see sustainability as the cornerstone of how we operate; an extension of our purpose, not just a compliance obligation. This viewpoint is anchored on three principles.

First, operational integrityprioritising safety, efficiency, and trust must remain non-negotiable. Second, climate alignment is essential. Setting measurable, science-based targets and reporting transparently are now fundamental to earning long-term credibility.

Third, meaningful community investment should no longer be seen as a philanthropic afterthought but as a strategic imperative. Businesses that align their success with the well-being of their people, host communities, and the environment build deeper resilience and unlock enduring value.

When businesses align their success with the well-being of their people, communities, and the environment, they grow stronger and create value that truly lasts.

For African independents, embracing these principles early and authentically will define who thrives in the next era of energy. These are not nice-to-haves. They are becoming baseline expectations in a sector under rising scrutiny.

This moment presents both a challenge and an opportunity: to prove that growth and sustainability can and must go hand in hand.

FIRST E&P Sustainability Report

Our recently released and inaugural 2024 Sustainability Report is a milestone for FIRST E&P and a prompt for the broader industry. It reflects what’s possible when performance and purpose are pursued in tandem.

The report offers a transparent account of our environmental progress, social investments, and governance practices - grounded in data, shaped by collaboration, and guided by a longterm vision. It outlines the principles,

partnerships, and priorities shaping our sustainable future, and the values that will anchor our performance along the way.

Producing Responsibly in a Changing Landscape

The energy industry is standing at a crossroads; one that calls for bold choices and thoughtful action. In 2024, investment in low-carbon energy reached a record $2.1 trillion, a 17 per cent increase over the previous year (BloombergNEF, 2025). Clean energy now attracts twice as much capital as fossil fuels.

This redirection of global capital sends a clear message: only companies with credible, actionable climate strategies will stay competitive.

At FIRST E&P, we recognise that future relevance depends not only on what we produce, but how we produce it. That’s why we’ve committed to reaching net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2045, and Scope 3 by 2060. These targets align with Nigeria’s national climate ambitions and the Paris Agreement and are guided by global best practices, including the IPCC pathways, the GHG Protocol, and the TCFD’s scenario planning framework.

A notable achievement: In 2025, the NNPC Ltd/FIRST E&P Joint Venture (JV) achieved a 96 per cent reduction in routine gas flaring at the Anyala and Madu fields. Oil production by the JV increased by 15.8 per cent in the same period - evidence that climate action and operational efficiency are not mutually exclusive.

Collaboration: Catalyst for Scaled Impact

Sustainability is a team sport. Our strategic partnerships drive our impact. Our Joint Venture partnership and collaboration with NNPC Ltd has been instrumental in advancing environmental goals, while organisations like the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) help us protect biodiversity and natural carbon

shared value, and co-designed projects. We’ve made notable strides in health-focused initiatives. In the first year of our three-year partnership with the Healthy Heart Foundation, we supported life-saving cardiovascular procedures for 45 individuals through a N1.5 million grant. Our annual NNPC/ FIRST E&P JV Medical Outreach also mobilises healthcare professionals across sectors to deliver services in our host communities.

Our education programmes are equally impactful. We’ve upgraded six schools for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State, placed 40 children from our host communities on full scholarships at a top Lagos secondary school, and trained local teachers to use K-YAN multimedia teaching devices donated to support digital learning.

To further expand our social impact, our Impact FIRST initiative has awarded grants to 15 reputable NGOs addressing critical social issues across Nigeria. At the core of these initiatives is a simple philosophy: success is measured not just in barrels, but in lives improved, opportunities unlocked, and futures transformed. These are not peripheral initiatives - they are embedded in our business model. Because when communities thrive, so do the projects that depend on them.

Our People, Our Strength

sinks. Our role in the Renaissance Africa Energy Holdings consortium, which acquired Shell’s divested assets, is a case study in responsible scaling by indigenous players.

Each of these partnerships embodies a principle we believe in deeply: that collective ambition unlocks collective value.

Beyond Compliance: Driving Human-centred Devt

At FIRST E&P, sustainability isn’t just about reducing emissions. It’s about people, about equity, opportunity, and building shared prosperity.

Our social investment strategy targets health, education, and enterprise development, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals on poverty, education, decent work, and economic growth.

We are fully compliant with our obligations under the Host Community Development Trust Fund (HCDTF), and have embedded a 40 per cent local content sourcing policy into our operations. To date, we have spent over $700 million on Nigerian contractors and contributed $246 million in royalties and taxes, reinforcing our commitment to national development.

We’ve also invested in supporting capacity development through landmark projects—such as the local fabrication of the Anyala and Madu Conductor Supported Platforms and the full EPC installation of subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines.

In our 11 host communities in Southern Ijaw and Brass LGAscollectively referred to as KEFFESO - our impact is personal, deliberate, and inclusive. Since inception, we have operated without community disruptions, a reflection of the mutual trust built through consistent dialogue,

Our people are our most important asset. We actively create a workplace founded upon diversity, equity, and inclusion. We promote equal opportunity, career growth, and equal treatment for all. In 2024, new female hires increased by 210 per cent and new recruits under the age of 30 by 150 per cent, reflecting our commitment to gender balance and youth empowerment.

This open culture is also evident in our leadership. Two female members joined our Board of Directors this year, representing the open culture that we encourage across the organisation. We also recorded a 45 per cent lower turnover of staff across both age and gender groups compared to 2022, clear evidence of our ability to attract, retain, and grow talent in a competitive industry.

To us, success is not just quantified in barrels made, but in lives enhanced, futures changed, and communities empowered.

Africa’s Energy Future Can Be Sustainably Led

So, what does our experience tell us? That a future built on sustainability is not only possible - it’s already unfolding.

Achieving a sustainable future for African independents will require more than intent. It will demand bold action, new partnerships, and the courage to challenge conventional thinking. For too long, Africa’s energy story has been shaped from the outside in, but the future must be different.

The next chapter must be written by African voices, powered by African innovation, and grounded in the realities of our economies and communities. At FIRST E&P, we are committed to that future. One where we lead with integrity, act with urgency, and grow with purpose.

To us at FIRST E&P, “FIRST” is more than just a name, it reflects how we think, work, and lead. And through it, we’re working to build an energy future that delivers for people, protects the planet, and drives real progress.

•Emmanuel Etomi is Executive Director, Corporate Services, FIRST E&P

Etomi

FEATURES For the Nigerian Army, the ‘Soldier First’ Concept Prioritises Welfare of Personnel

At the core of the Nigerian Army’s evolving internal reforms is the “Soldier First” concept, a policy direction that places the wellbeing, motivation, and professional fulfilment of troops at the heart of military leadership and planning. At the recent commemoration of the Nigerian Army’s 162nd anniversary in Kaduna, the concept was prominently reaffirmed, reflecting a growing institutional recognition that operational effectiveness begins with the condition of the soldier. In line with this commitment and contrary to recent claims, the Nigerian Army has placed renewed premium on welfare, entitlements, housing, promotions, and structured career progression. Central to the implementation of these reforms is the Army’s strict adherence to the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2024, which provides the regulatory framework guiding the careers, welfare, and promotion of soldiers, ratings, and airmen across the services. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, this approach has gained strong momentum in pushing for policies that centre personnel as the core of the military

In an era of increasing operational demands and internal security pressures, the Nigerian Army is gradually repositioning itself, not only on the battlefield, but also in the hearts of its personnel.

At the heart of this quiet transformation is a renewed emphasis on the welfare and promotion of personnel, an area that has long defined morale, discipline, and commitment within the ranks.

The Soldier First Concept

For Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), welfare is not a footnote in military planning, it is a core pillar. A seasoned combat officer with a reputation for both discipline and empathy, Oluyede has consistently championed the idea that the strength of any fighting force lies as much in its barracks as it does in its armoury.

In fact, he has aligned the "Soldier First" concept as a key driver in the Nigerian Army's transformation drive, aiming to build a more resilient, motivated, and effective fighting force

This Soldier First concept, which prioritises the training, equipping, responsive leadership and effective administration of the NA soldiers to enable them carry out their duties effectively, was the core message of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration 2025 Lecture at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, earlier this month.

According to the COAS, this concept ensures they do not ignore the human dimension of military service by reinforcing it's not just about the operations, but about the soldiers. Thus, the renewed drive towards this concept has influenced their policies in some key areas like the conscious promotion where commanders prioritise the needs of their subordinates and their mission above personal gain.

To this end, he opined that “a soldier who understands that his well-being is the priority of his commanders at all levels and his Chief of Army Staff, will naturally be motivated and encouraged to perform better even in the face of adversity”.

Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2024 for the Modern Military

His views are not just rhetorical. Under his watch, deliberate steps are being taken to restructure how Nigerian soldiers experience service life, which includes their entitlements, promotional prospects, and how they eventually exit the system, whether voluntarily or at retirement.

The clearest manifestation of this policy shift is the adherence to the recently realigned Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS) 2024 for Soldiers, Ratings and Airmen, a sweeping document that standardises how non-commissioned personnel in the Army, Navy, and Air Force are treated, promoted, and disengaged from service.

For the uninitiated, the HTACOS 2024 may appear on paper as just another bureaucratic update, but within the military, it is widely viewed as a turning point. For the first time, the document provides a unified and transparent structure for career progression across the three services, ensuring that a corporal in the Army is no less visible to the system than a counterpart in the Air Force or Navy.

The framework lays out time-in-rank requirements, merit-based assessments, and clear pathways for promotion. From the first stripe to the senior noncommissioned levels, each promotion is now tied to specific years of service, satisfactory performance appraisals, and successful completion of relevant trade or professional military education.

A recruit may now expect to move up to lance corporal after three years of solid service, with progression to corporal and sergeant following at intervals of two to four years, provided they meet all required standards.

Promotion is no longer a function of chance or favour; it is structured, measured, and earned, a factor the NA strictly adheres to.

Importantly, HTACOS introduces mandatory promotion examinations, trade tests, and fitness assessments.

Medical certification has also become a requirement, underscoring the military’s growing attention to both physical readiness and personal accountability.

“We want a system where hard work is rewarded, not overlooked,” a senior Army administrative officer explained, adding that “you can’t keep soldiers motivated if there’s no clear road ahead.”

Beyond promotions, the new terms also clarify the conditions under which personnel can disengage from service, whether by retirement, voluntary discharge, or other non-punitive means. One of the more

talked-about provisions is the introduction of a minimum 18 years of service as the threshold for voluntary retirement, offering soldiers a dignified exit point well ahead of the old 35-year maximum. This has been received as a welcome development among rank-and-file personnel who had often felt trapped in a system that didn’t account for fatigue, career transition, or family needs.

The HTACOS document also includes guidelines on reversion, where promotions given in error or under questionable circumstances can be reversed. While tough, the policy is seen as necessary for cleaning up practices that had long damaged confidence in the system.

Tackling Allegations of Promotion Delays, Pay Stagnation

This approach has become increasingly relevant in the face of public scrutiny, following a recent publication alleging delayed promotions and pay

No soldier can bypass these processes and any change in timeline is strictly tied to these professional standards, not arbitrary decisions or personal discretion as erroneously suggested by the publication. Claims of pay stagnation are completely unfounded, as pay structure adjustments falls under the constitutional purview of the appropriate federal institutions and not within the unilateral control of the Army leadership

stagnation among NA personnel.

Describing the report as false, misleading and malicious, the NA maintained that promotions are strictly governed by transparent procedures rooted in the HTACOS 2024 for soldiers, ratings and airmen, while pay structure adjustments falls under the constitutional purview of the appropriate federal institutions.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the acting Director Army Public Relations, The HTACOS framework, specifically paragraph 04.01, made it clear that promotion is granted only in recognition of hard work, professionalism, and efficiency, with criteria to include performance reports, successful completion of requisite courses, proven medical fitness, duration of service, and endorsement by a duly constituted Promotion Board.

She said: “Furthermore, paragraph 04.02 and 04.04 of HTACOS Soldiers provide detailed timelines and criteria for promotion across all ranks, from Private to Army Warrant Officer. These regulations are transparent, well-structured and in line with global military best practices. Every service personnel is aware of this provision and guideline.

“No soldier can bypass these processes and any change in timeline is strictly tied to these professional standards, not arbitrary decisions or personal discretion as erroneously suggested by the publication. Claims of pay stagnation are completely unfounded, as pay structure adjustments falls under the constitutional purview of the appropriate federal institutions and not within the unilateral control of the Army leadership.”

Promotion within the Nigerian Army, therefore, is not only merit-driven but also bound by institutional regulations that ensure fairness and professionalism, thus it would be impossible for any personnel to bypass these established structures.

Still on the “Soldier First” Concept, she said the current Army leadership, under Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has consistently demonstrated commitment to the welfare of personnel, including timely promotions, improved living conditions, and entitlements.

“It is on record that the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen OO Oluyede, on assumption of office, doubled the personnel Ration Cash Allowance. He also enhanced the Nigerian Army Welfare Loan Scheme for troops.

“This is aimed at empowering personnel through SME development and assets acquisition with minimum bureaucracy and low interest rate. These are among several other welfare schemes, programmes and interventions of the Chief of Army Staff aimed at improving the quality of lives of personnel and their families,” she stated.

“The Nigerian Army remains a professional and disciplined Army, guided by due process, and will not be distracted by propaganda from discredited platforms seeking to destabilise the morale and cohesion of its gallant troops. The Nigerian Army continues to uphold excellence, transparency, and dedication to duty in service to the nation”, Anele added.

While critics may continue to probe, what is evident is that the Nigerian Army, under Lt. Gen. Oluyede’s stewardship, is building an institution that values its personnel. Even though it’s not uhuru yet, from structured promotions to welfare-driven programmes, the signals are clear, the Nigerian soldier is not being left behind.

As the NA continues its operations across various theatres, the leadership remains steadfast in its commitment to sustaining troop morale and professionalism, even with “attacks” on the institution’s credibility which they said only serves to undermine the sacrifices of its men and women in uniform.

COAS, Lt. Gen. Oluyede

INAUGURATION OF THE REMODELLED COUNCIL SECRETARIAT...

France to West Africa: Your Security Issues No Longer Our Concern

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The insecurity plaguing West Africa is no longer France's concern, its State Minister for ties with Francophone countries and international partnerships said at the weekend, a week after Paris handed over control of its last major military base in the region.

The minister, Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, was speaking to journalists in a

phone briefing in South Africa, where he was attending the Group of 20 top economies' week of discussions on global development, Reuters reported.

"I'm sorry to say, but it no longer concerns us," MohamedSoilihi said, in answer to a Reuters question about the risk of insecurity posed by France's military absence.

"That's a shame, because everyone can see the difference between (now and then)," he added. "But we are looking

for other ways to maintain ties (that are) not necessarily military," he said.

In the past three years, France has gradually dismantled its once-substantial military presence in its African ex-colonies, where for decades it had beaten back jihadist militants, arrested armed criminals, rescued several presidents from armed rebellions - and, in earlier times, backed coups itself.

Since 2022, France has pulled

its soldiers out of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, after military coups brought in leaders hostile to the French presence, the report said.

Chad - a linchpin of the West's war against jihadists in the Sahel - abruptly ended its security cooperation pact with its former colonial master in November.

More than a decade of insurgencies in the Sahel have displaced millions and engendered economic collapse,

Menstrual Health Takes Centre Stage as Nigeria's Inaugural Summit Sets New Agenda

Mary Nnah

Nigeria recently hosted its inaugural National Menstrual Health Summit in Abuja, a landmark event that brought together experts to drive awareness on menstrual health and hygiene management.

Titled "Empowering Lives, Breaking Barriers, and Building Dignity," the Summit, organised by Menstrual

Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Nigeria in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, emphasised the critical need for inclusive policies and accessible facilities to support menstrual health and hygiene, according to Shakirah Alaga, Summit Communications Lead.

Speaking at the event, the founder, AWA Initiative and Alora Reusable Pads, Sarah

Kuponiyi, said: “We’ve moved from handing out pads in underserved communities to influencing national conversations and policy.

“That’s what peoplepowered advocacy can do. This summit is the result of years of grassroots advocacy that demanded national attention. We have created a national platform where menstrual health is now a national priority.”

Echoing her, Edith Augustine, Founder of Wonder Woman Nigeria, reflected on the deep emotional and structural challenges surrounding menstrual health, saying “This issue is personal. Many of us have lived the pain of silence and stigma. Convening this summit wasn’t just about policy — it was about creating a national space for dignity and justice.”

PENGASSAN Bails Out Indigent

Nigerians, Defray Hospital Bills

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

As part of its programme to give succor to the less privileged members of the society, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN)

Foundation has provided financial support to some

patients in hospitals in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, unable to foot their medical bills.

The foundation in its media outreach programme paid hospital bills of indigent patients in critical conditions in Karshi General Hospital and Bwari General Hospital, both located in Federal Capital

Territory (FCT), Abuja

On the whole, over 50 patients some in critical conditions received financial assistance amounting to over N6 million to offset their hospital bills and to support their treatment.

At Karshi General Hospital, the team was escorted to Wards

by the Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Sani Wilfred.

At the Paediatrics Ward, the Foundation team met a child with a hole in his heart that was supposed to undergo major surgery since two weeks but due to lack funds, the hospital could not proceed with the surgery.

with violence pushing further south towards West Africa's coast. The last two months have seen a surge in jihadist attacks, making them one of the deadliest periods of the Sahel's history, the report said.

"We continue to deal with countries that so wish," Mohamed-Soilihi said. "But ... France won't be able to respond to the security problems of countries with which there is no longer a relationship," he stressed.

In June this year, THISDAY reported that the United States blamed the rising attacks by terrorist groups in Nigeria and other African countries on its forced exit from bases in some neighbouring countries, including Niger and Chad, pointing to its inability to

effectively monitor the activities of the violent organisations. Commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), US Marine Corps, Gen. Michael Langley, who spoke during a digital press briefing after the “African Chiefs of Defence Conference” in Kenya, described the recent attacks in Nigeria and other parts of the Sahel as deeply concerning. Nigeria and other West African nations have experienced a significant escalation in terrorist attacks in recent times, with incidents spanning multiple regions and involving various extremist groups. In Borno State, Northeast Nigeria, Boko Haram and its faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have intensified their assaults.

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

A Kwara State High Court has ordered the former Senior Special Assistant on Community Intervention to the Kwara State Governor, Kayode Oyin-Zubair to forfeit two tractors and two tricycles to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Oyin-Zubair, who served between 2020 and 2023, had allegedly approached SEAP to finance the procurement of 100 tricycles and 100 mini-buses for members of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

SEAP disbursed N192 million for the scheme, but

investigations allegedly revealed that N72 million in repayments made by the beneficiaries was diverted and used to acquire two tractors and two tricycles in Oyin-Zubair's name.

But, Mr. Kayode Oyin Zubair, has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, challenging the ruling of the Kwara State High Court which ordered the forfeiture of his two tractors and two tricycles to the federal government.

In the appeal, marked CA/ IL/2025 and filed on Friday, July 25th, 2025, is contesting the entire decision delivered by Hon. Justice H.A. Saleeman in Suit No. KWS/294M/2024, which granted a final order of forfeiture in favour of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

L-R: Member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Eti-Osa Constituency 2, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu; Outgoing Chairman of Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, Hon. Fuad Atanda-Lawal; representative of the

Private Secretary to the President, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Mr. Kolawole Peregrino; and former Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mrs. Teju Phillips, at the inauguration of the remodelled Council Secretariat of Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA held in Lagos…recently

GRACE CHILDREN SCHOOL PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY VALEDICTORY SERVICE...

Bauchi Gov Intervenes in Farmer/Herders

Crisis in Darazo LGA, Averts Crisis

Awofadeji in

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has mediated in the growing tension between crop farmers and herders in Darazo Local Government Area of the state, following recent clashes that resulted in injuries.

The governor was accompanied to the high-level peace meeting with stakeholders and residents of the affected areas by senior security officials, including Bauchi State Commissioner of Police and the

state Director of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The meeting provided a platform for open dialogue and conflict resolution.

Speaking at the peace dialogue held at Nahutan Darazo village, Mohammed expressed deep concern over the escalation of hostilities stemming from disputes over land use.

He acknowledged the complex history of forest allocations in the region, particularly the state's decision to allocate 2,500 hectares of forest

land for farming activities across the state, with some allocated in Alia, Sade, and Yautari in Darazo Local Government Area to meet the growing demand from farmers, as Fulani herders were believed to have compromised their traditional grazing routes and forest settlements.

The governor said, "The forests have over the years served the herders peacefully, providing grazing, and livelihood. However, due to demographic pressure and

administrative lapses, the allocations have stirred mistrust."

He lamented that some of the allocated lands had not been used for farming by the original allotees, but were rather sublet for profit.

The governor condemned the recent violence and called for calm and restraint from all parties. He assured residents that his administration would strengthen mediation efforts and adopt further measures to ensure peaceful coexistence.

He reiterated his

NDDC Boss Conferred UNN's Doctor of Public Administration Degree

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has conferred the Degree of Doctor of Public Administration, (Honoris Causa) on the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku.

A statement signed by Director, Corporate Affairs, NDDC, Seledi ThompsonWakama, explained the conferment was in recognition of Ogbuku's transformative

leadership and service to the people of the Niger Delta region.

Speaking at the UNN 54th Convocation ceremony in Nsukka, Enugu State, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oguejiofo Ujam, commended Ogbuku and the NDDC management for their contributions to the country's educational development.

He highlighted the achievements of the Commission in the education sector, including the foreign postgraduate scholarship

awards and the construction of school buildings and hostels across the Niger Delta region.

Giving details of the postgraduate awards, Ujam said: “We are also conferring 616 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, 1,101 Master of Science (MSc) degrees, 133 Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees, and 42 Postgraduate Diplomas (PGDs).”

The Pro Chancellor of the university, Mr. Kayode Olubunmi Ojo, listed the challenges facing the

university, which included power supply and a general infrastructure decay.

Aside from Ogbuku, Chinedu Eric Okeke, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Senator Abdul-Aziz Abubakar Yari, Mr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, Dr. Jimoh Rauf Badamosi and Chief Andrew Oru, were also conferred with honorary Doctorate degrees.

According to a citation by the university, Ogbuku was acknowledged as a transformational leader who has changed the fortunes of the Niger Delta region.

Babcock University Graduates

3,229 Students, Records 241 First Class Honours

Funmi Ogundare

It was celebration all the way, weekend, as Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, recorded 241 First Class graduates in various faculties out of the 3,229 students that graduated from the institution. A breakdown of the graduating students showed 2,543 undergraduates and 686 postgraduate students, a cohort

that included 217 PhD, 30 MPhil, 359 Master’s, and 80 Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) awardees.

Miss Fatima Lawal of the Faculty of Law emerged the overall Best Graduating Student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.97. Speaking at the 23rd undergraduate and 14th postgraduate convocation ceremony for the award of degrees, prizes, and honorary

doctorate degrees, President/ Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Ademola Tayo, whose tenure expires December 1, emphasised the institution’s achievements in inspiring students’ success stories.

Tayo said the feats included research, expanding access to quality education, staff development and motivation, bolstering community bonds through university engagement,

and exceptional medical initiatives.

He explained that 20 openheart surgeries, 22 paediatric cardiac catheterisations, spine surgeries, neurosurgeries, joint replacements, GI endoscopies, and renal dialysis procedures were successfully performed at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), a testament to the institution’s rising stature as a top-tier medical facility.

administration's commitment to promoting security and social harmony across Bauchi State, emphasising that peace remains a shared responsibility among government, community leaders, and citizens alike.

Mohammed announced the formation of a high-level committee comprising land officers, traditional leaders, and security officials to review land allocations, demarcate boundaries, and protect designated cattle routes and grazing reserves.

He emphasised that any allocation contributing to

instability might be revoked.

The governor praised the efforts of security agencies and local leaders, including Alhaji Bala, a prominent Fulani elder known for championing peace across Bauchi Central.

Mohammed stressed the need for mutual understanding, stating that both farmers and herders play a vital role in sustaining the state’s economy through informal, yet, indispensable means.

A closed-door session with community stakeholders followed the public address, aimed at charting a path for lasting peace.

Chinese Businessman, 80-year old Grandma Arrested as NDLEA Seizes “Colos” in Moimoi Satchets

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

A Chinese businessman, Liang Tak You and an 80-year-old grandma, Mrs. Grace Ekpeme were among those arrested in the course of last week by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in nationwide interdiction operations leading to the seizure of consignments of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis hidden in bean pudding (moimoi) sachets and Canadian Loud, another strong strain of cannabis concealed in canned food items imported from Canada.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, Liang was arrested by NDLEA operatives at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos last Friday, based on actionable intelligence.

He said the suspect, who arrived Nigeria from Bangkok via Dubai, UAE, on Emirates Airline flight, is a Chinese national, naturalised and based in Malaysia, but flew to Thailand where he picked

two suitcases filled with 50 parcels of Loud weighing 26.1 kilogrammes before heading to Nigeria via UAE.

Babafemi said upon his arrival at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives who were tracking his movement from his port of departure allowed him to pass through necessary protocols before picking him up on his way out of the airport.

The octogenarian grandma, Mrs. Grace Ekpeme, according to Babafemi, was arrested at Edet-Nsa Street, Base Site, Calabar South, Cross River State with over 3 kilogrammes skunk in the early hours of Saturday following intelligence on her drug dealing activities. He said in Lagos, NDLEA operatives last Wednesday intercepted a suspect Chidi Agbafo along Epe-Ajah expressway while taking consignments of 21.7 kilogrammes Colorado, some of which were packaged in moimoi cooking sachets and 3.8 litres of codeine based syrup in a commercial bus to deliver in Warri and Oghara, Delta State.

Segun

Bauchi

L-R: Guest Speaker, Mrs. Juliet Adekoya; Head of Grace Children School, Dr. (Mrs.) Olanike Akindayo; Chief Executive Officer, Grace Schools, Mrs. Iyiola Edun; Chairman of the Occasion, Barr. Samson Olowoyo; Vice Chairman, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Grace Schools, Mrs. Atinuke Obafemi-Aminu; and PTA Welfare Representative, Mrs. Oreoluwa Oduyoye, at the Grace Children School Prize-Giving Ceremony and Valedictory Service held in Gbagada, Lagos…recently

SWEARING IN CEREMONY OF NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL CHAIRMEN...

Jerry Gana: There Are Plans to Woo Peter Obi Back to PDP Ahead 2027 General Poll

CP-PDP applauds move to zone party’s presidential ticket to south

A founding member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Jerry Gana, disclosed that he was holding discussions with the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, and other prominent southern political figures ahead of the 2027 general election. Gana, a former Minister of Information, stated this during an interview monitored by THISDAY.

PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, had earlier said, “Peter Obi is our product. We want to get him back, indeed, because he is a very, very great capital for any political party.”

When asked to confirm the discussion with Obi during the interview, Gana said, “Yes, why not? He was our member. In fact, if I were the former vice president, I would have said in 2023, ‘No, Peter, you were my vice presidential candidate in 2019. Now, I’ll support you.’ It would have been a strong statement.”

Gana, who is leading one of the party’s consultative delegations, said although formal talks with Obi had not yet occurred, discussions were underway with people close to him.

“I have met people. I have met him (Obi), and I have met people he would refer to, and I have sat with them for hours. We are moving step by step,” the former minister said.

Gana added that Obi was not the only figure being courted, as PDP was exploring broader options across the southern region.

“We’re not just looking at one person. One, two, three, even more. You know, the south is full of talent,” he said.

Gana, who had been leading the advocacy for a southern presidency in 2027, urged PDP to restore the zoning principle,

He stated, “In tune with this patriotic wisdom of the founding fathers, we urge all our leaders to support the strategy of bringing out our presidential candidate for 2027 from the southern states.

Ardo Raises the Alarm over Threat to Electoral Integrity, Seeks United Action

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Convener of League of Northern Democrats (LND), and one of the key advocates of the registration of All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Dr. Umar Ardo, has warned about a looming threat to Nigeria’s electoral integrity, following the appointment of Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to a statement by Ardo, Yilwatda, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) with extensive technical expertise in ICT and electoral systems, now leads the ruling party at a time when public trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains fragile.

Ardo said regarding Yilwatda, “His deep insider knowledge of INEC’s technological infrastructure, protocols and vulnerabilities has raised widespread concern over a potential conflict of interest and the erosion of public confidence in future elections, particularly in the post-Yakubu era.

“This development shifts the APC advantage from the political arena to the digital-electoral battlefield. It poses a grave danger to the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process and must be addressed with urgency, strategy, and unity.”

Ardo referenced the “technical glitch” that marred the 2023 presidential election, describing it as a turning point in public trust.

“Such a strategy will not only ensure victory at the polls, but promote justice, fairness and equity.”

The former minister also advised PDP to choose a credible party leadership in a transparent election at the proposed national convention.

He said, “We must also develop a new focus on empowering the next generation. We reaffirm our commitment to youth inclusion and generational

equity, which is very crucial.

“The PDP must deliberately open the space for younger Nigerians. Brilliant, energetic and innovative minds should be allowed to participate actively as leaders within our party structures and as candidates at all levels in the 2027 general election.

“Their ideas, energy and digital fluency are essential for building the Nigeria we all deserve and our 2027 electoral strategy must

elevate young leaders with fresh ideas and proven commitment.

“We should deliberately mainstream youth and women into our party’s core leadership structure, ensuring that their voices are heard and their contributions are highly valued.”

Similarly, Conference of Professionals in the PDP (CPPDP), yesterday, applauded the disposition of the party towards zoning the 2027 presidential ticket to the southern region.

A statement by Protem National Coordinator of CPPDP, Obinna Nwachukwu, said, “As an umbrella assembly of dedicated professionals in the PDP, the CP-PDP, after far-reaching consultations and analysis of the electoral fortunes of the party, submits that zoning the presidential ticket to the south gives the PDP a vantage position to defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

Ekiti 2026: Fayose, Fayemi, Oni's Loyalists Join ADC, Vow to Unseat Gov Oyebanji

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Political situation in Ekiti State seems cloudy as loyalists to former Governors Ayodele Fayose, Kayode Fayemi and Segun Oni, have officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in an effort to complicate the electoral fortunes of the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji in next year’s gubernatorial election in the state. The trio of Fayose of

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Oni of Social Democratic Party (SDP) had earlier thrown their weight behind Oyebanji, declaring him as the only candidate to steer the wheel of the state till 2030.

However, some of their loyalists have come together in Ado-Ekiti to officially unveil the ADC ahead of the state and general election in 2026 and 2027 respectively.

These individuals included

former Deputy Governor, Chief of Staff, Secretary to the State Government and Head of Service under Fayose, Professor Kolapo Eleka, Dipo Anisulowo, Modupe Alade and Gbenga Faseluka.

Among them was former Commissioner for Information under Fayemi, Akin Omole; former Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government under Segun Oni, Sikiru Lawal and Ambassador Dare Bejide, former Speaker of Ekiti House of Assembly,

Gboyega Aribisogan, and former commissioner, Chief Segun Akinwumi among others.

Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti after the event that pulled thousands across the 16 local governments areas of the state, Eleka, who is the Ekiti ADC Stakeholders Coordinator, described the party as the only coalition that would save Nigerians from the claws of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

DANGOTE: TINUBU IS LISTENING PRESIDENT, HIS POLICIES REVIVING PRIVATE development,” she said.

Oduwole hailed the refinery as a landmark project, noting that even governments shy away from initiatives of such scale.

She said the administration is demonstrating real support for domestic investors by taking practical steps to reduce constraints and foster growth.

"He has taken on a project of such magnitude—one that even governments often hesitate to undertake. As an administration, we do not take this lightly. We are here to show our full support for him, both as a foremost domestic investor and as a prominent champion of African investment on the global stage.

“Our support is not limited to words; we are demonstrating our commitment through action. We are encouraging other domestic investors by recognising

and backing those, like Alhaji Dangote, who put Nigeria first.

This is not mere rhetoric—our time, attention, and effort are fully aligned with our priorities.

“That is why we have dedicated an entire day to immersing ourselves in this project—the Dangote Refinery", Oduwole stated.

She added that the federal government is continuously engaging with stakeholders and reviewing regulatory and legislative frameworks to reduce business costs and stimulate industrial development.

Meanwhile, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the arrival of 4,000 brand new CNG-powered trucks in Lagos, marking a major milestone in its nationwide fuel distribution initiative scheduled to begin on August 15.

The announcement was made at the weekend via the official Dangote Group X page and was accompanied by a video clip showing the vessel berthing at the port.

THISDAY observed in the footage, that cranes were offloading the CNG trucks onto the company’s base, followed by a wide aerial view of hundreds of the newly imported vehicles lined up in an expansive formation.

“We are delighted to receive 4,000 brand-new CNG trucks as part of our bold distribution initiative, championing cleaner energy and more efficient transportation across Nigeria and beyond,” part of the post read.

The delivery brings the company closer to implementing its targeted investment programme aimed at revolutionising Nigeria’s

downstream sector by directly supplying refined petroleum products across the country.

From mid-August, the refinery had said it plans to commence direct delivery of petrol and diesel to filling stations, industrial plants, and large-volume fuel consumers, eliminating logistics bottlenecks and cutting out middlemen.

This move has however been resisted by some oil and gas suppliers as well as petrol retailers, who have argued that the refinery will take over their functions, leading to job losses.

The Dangote refinery had said that it aims to meet Nigeria’s daily demand of 65 million litres of refined petroleum products comprising 45 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 15 million litres of diesel, and 5 million litres of aviation fuel.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

L-R: Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; and Lagos APC Chairman, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, during the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Council Chairmen at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday

MEETINGS WITH SENATE LEADER...

Also, responding to the result of the latest GDP rebasing exercise, the Director General of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said that the rebased GDP highlighted Nigeria’s potential that would require reforms that reflect the country’s current economic landscape to unlock.

Oyerinde said: “We need to take a coordinated approach. This means enhancing productivity across sectors, empowering SMEs, improving infrastructure, and implementing fiscal and monetary policies based on solid evidence.

“The rebased GDP highlights our potential, but unlocking that potential will require reforms that reflect our current economic landscape.”

He also urged the federal government and relevant agencies to leverage this new data to reshape industrial policy, create job-focused initiatives, and align incentives with sectors that are genuinely growing.

Oyerinde remarked that this is not just about boosting numbers but a rallying cry for action. “So, we need to cultivate a diverse, job-rich economy grounded in accurate data, proactive

governance, and development led by the private sector,” he said.

NECA also commended the NBS for the recently released rebased GDP, describing it as a timely and essential move towards gaining clearer insights into the economy and boosting investment confidence.

Oyerinde pointed out that the new rebased GDP, now estimated at $243 billion and reflecting an 18.3 per cent increase from the previous year, offers a more reliable, evidence-based perspective on the actual size and structure of Nigeria's economy. He also said that it highlighted

emerging and often overlooked sectors like real estate, telecommunications, and trade, while also showcasing the vital role of the informal sector.

Oyerinde stressed that this rebasing, which shifts the base year from 2010 to 2019, goes beyond just numbers; it serves as a crucial tool for strategic economic planning, fiscal benchmarking, and performance assessment.

“This change is set to positively impact key macroeconomic indicators such as debt-to-GDP, tax-to-GDP, and investmentto-GDP ratios, providing both

policymakers and the private sector with a solid foundation for making informed decisions,” he said.

He also noted that the shift in economic activity rankings, particularly with real estate surpassing crude oil in its contribution, served as a strong reminder of the need for intentional economic diversification.

Oyerinde observed that for too long, Nigeria’s economic growth has been viewed through the narrow lens of extractive industries, overlooking the vibrant growth of service-oriented

and urban-based sectors. He also emphasised that having clearer and more current data would help Nigeria to boost its credibility and appeal on the global economic stage.

“The rebased GDP brings transparency and aligns with international standards, which is crucial for both portfolio and direct investors who seek reliable data before putting their money on the line,” he said.

The director general of NECA also said that the $1 trillion GDP projection in 2030 is within reach, but would require a coordinated approach to realise.

TINUBU CELEBRATES VICTORIOUS SUPER FALCONS, SAYS HE'S WAITING TO RECEIVE TROPHY AT THE VILLA

''Their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title came through a dramatic comeback, driven by the Nigerian spirit of never giving up.

''I congratulate the Super Falcons and join millions of Nigerians in celebrating this special victory. It is a perfect send-off for Asisat Oshoala, one of the greatest African female footballers of all time, as she retires from international football,'' Atiku said.

Godswill Akpabio

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, while hailing the female national football team, described the triumph as a testament to the Falcons’ resilience, unity, and unwavering dedication.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio said, “This victory will forever be etched in the annals of African football history.”

He likened the Falcons’ comeback to some of Nigeria’s most iconic sporting moments, including the “Saudi ’88 Daman Miracle” and the Atlanta ’96 Olympics Dream Team’s success.

Akpabio emphasised that the Falcons’ display of grit and determination reignites the spirit of unity and resilience that Nigerians were known for, saying “Your dedication, skill, and perseverance have brought glory to Nigeria and inspired a nation.”

Expressing pride on behalf of the Senate and the entire 10th National Assembly, Akpabio assured them of continued legislative support for sports development across the country.

“As a legislature, we remain committed to promoting sports through relevant laws and

adequate funding,” he added.

Labour Party

The Labour Party led by Senator Nenadi Usman, has congratulated the Super Falcons, saying this remarkable achievement was a testament to the resilience, courage, and indomitable spirit that defines Nigerians both at home and across the diaspora.

The party said, at a time when the nation was weighed down by hardship, hopelessness, and a deluge of disheartening headlines, the uplifting victory brought a much-needed ray of hope and inspiration to our people.

''It is our firm belief that this win is more than just a sporting feat – it is a symbolic reminder of what is possible when determination meets purpose.

“May this moment of national pride herald the beginning of a new chapter of glory and resurgence in our country’s collective journey, despite the suffering and setbacks caused by failed leadership.

''On behalf of the entire Labour Party family, I salute and celebrate this sweet victory with all Nigerians.''

Jubrin Barau

Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Ismail Mudashir, hailed the Super Falcons’ victory as a shining example of resilience, talent, and unyielding national pride.

He said, “The Super Falcons have once again demonstrated why Nigeria remains a powerhouse in African women’s football.

“Their determination, discipline,

and passion throughout the tournament are commendable and serve as an inspiration to young Nigerian girls everywhere.”

Barau, a founder of Barau Football Club, recently promoted to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), commended the team’s coaching staff, the Nigerian Football Federation, and all stakeholders who contributed to the success.

“This victory is a moment of immense pride and celebration for all Nigerians. I congratulate the Super Falcons and urge all Nigerians to join in celebrating their historic achievement,” he added.

Hope Uzodimma

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has said the victory of Nigeria's women team, Super Falcons, against their Morocco counterpart, Atlas Lionesses, has rekindled the county's national pride.

Uzodimma, in a statement personally signed, he was not only proud of the performance of the entire Super Falcons team and their handlers, but also extolled the superlative performance of his Imo State daughters in the team – Chiamaka Nnadozie, Michelle Chinwendu Alozie and Osinachi Ohale – who contributed in no small measures in making our country proud.

"On behalf of the government and good people of Imo State, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Super Falcons of Nigeria on their glorious victory at the #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024, emerging as the undisputed Champions of Africa.

"A special commendation goes

to our own illustrious daughters, Chiamaka Nnadozie, for clinching the Best Goalkeeper award, to Michelle Chinwendu Alozie and Osinachi Ohale, for their outstanding performance.

"They continue to be shining examples of excellence and resilience, making Imo State and Nigeria immensely proud. Their outstanding performance inspires our younger generations, and we salute them as true role models.

"We eulogise our indefatigable players for their energy, resilience, and unity, which played a vital role in this triumphant journey.

We also applaud the Technical and Management Team for their strategic leadership.

"This well-deserved victory answers the call of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his goodwill message to the Team ahead of the finals, and rekindles national pride.

As you soar, know that Nigeria stands solidly behind you."

Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while congratulating the Super Falcons hailed them for securing their record 10th continental title.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described the victory against Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses as a testament to the determination, resilience, and commitment of the Super Falcons to winning the WAFCON Cup in Rabat.

The governor praised the Super Falcons players and technical crew for their brilliant performance and for making Nigeria proud during the drama-filled final on

Saturday night.

“Congratulations to our incredible Super Falcons on their well-deserved WAFCON victory. They fought gallantly to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

"The victory over Morocco is a testament to the determination, resilience, and commitment of the Super Falcons to accomplish Mission X. It is a reminder of what can happen when talent, discipline, and belief come together.

"To the players, coaches, and everyone who worked behind the scenes, thank you for making the country proud once again and for winning the 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations title.

“You have shown the world the strength and spirit of Nigerian football, and I celebrate you wholeheartedly. A flawless 10 out of 10 performance. We are beyond proud,” he said.

Yusuf Tuggar

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, while congratulating the Super Falcons, in a statement, lauded the Falcons for their resilience, discipline, and unyielding spirit, describing them as “true ambassadors of Nigerian excellence on the global stage.

“The Super Falcons have once again shown what it means to represent Nigeria with pride and purpose. Their determination, unity, and consistency reflect the values we hold dear as a nation.”

He further commended President Bola Tinubu for his steadfast support for sports development in Nigeria, as well as Mr. Shehu Dikko, and the

leadership and management of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their strategic guidance and commitment to excellence in women’s football.

“This victory is the result of purposeful leadership, sound management, and the unshakable spirit of Nigerian athletes. I congratulate President Tinubu, Mr. Shehu Dikko, and the entire NFF family for creating the enabling environment for this triumph,” he added.

Tuggar also noted that the team’s success not only brought immense pride to Nigeria but also served as an inspiration to young girls across Africa, proving that excellence knew no gender. He, however, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s soft power through sports diplomacy and international representation.

“Their victory is not only a sporting achievement but a diplomatic symbol of Nigeria’s strength, unity, and global presence,” he stated.

Bianca OdumegwuOjukwu

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has insisted that Nigeria’s allconquering female team, the Super Falcons, were the nation's strongest ambassadors.

The Minister had before the match made a viral video encouraging the team to go all out and bring the trophy home. In the morale-booster message, she declared them formidable, indisputable and strongest ambassadors of the nation.

L-R: Chief of Staff, Office of the Leader of the Senate, Mr. Charles Luri-Bala; Managing Director/Chief Executive, Pamatech Limited, Mr. Bright Malik; Managing Director/Chief Executive, Origin Technology Group Nigeria Limited, Mr. Samuel J. Samuel; Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Managing Director, South-West Development Commission, Mr. Charles Akinola after separate meetings with Bamidele in his office, Abuja … weekend

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILY IN ACTION…

L-R: Student of Esteem Schools, Abak, Master Victor Essiet; Alhaji Bishara Abatcha of Dangote Group; Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo; Managing Director/CEO, Engineering Automation Technology Limited (EATECH), Dr. Emmanuel Okon; another student, Miss Abasiono Otu, and Director of Esteem Schools, Mrs. Esitmbom Ekpo, during the inauguration Chemistry, Physics & Biology laboratories provided by EATECH in Abak, Akwa Ibom State...recently

Govt‘ll Soon Prosecute Parents of Out-of-School Students, Says Adamawa Commissioner

Daji Sani in Yola

The Adamawa State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Umar Pella, has disclosed that the state government will soon enact a law that will compel parents to enrol their children in school.

The commissioner disclosed this at a meeting of education stakeholders, traditional rulers, and parents, sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and others in Yola,

Nume Ekeghe

eTranzact International Plc has reported a 54.12 per cent growth in profit after tax (PAT) for the 2024 financial year, closing at N3.39 billion, a performance the board described as a major turnaround for the electronic payment firm.

The announcement was made at the company’s 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos recently, where the board also proposed a dividend payout of 12.50 kobo per share, marking a return to dividend payment following a restored retained earnings position.

Adamawa State

He said the state government would soon prosecute parents who refused to enroll their wards to school, because that is also part of the Child’s Rights Act signed which is in operation now in the state

Pella explained that this act will take a lot of students out of the streets and also reduced the number of out-of-school students

Pella, who, meanwhile, blamed insecurity in the North as the reason for the poor embrace

of educational values by many parents, advised the parents to enrol their children in school. This, he pointed out, would reduce the attraction to criminal activities that are encouraging insurgency in the Northeast.

He also commended UNICEF for the support to promote quality education in the state and urged traditional rulers to join the fight against out-of-school children, especially the girl-child in Adamawa State and the North

East subregion. Speaking also, the Chief Field Officer in Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, disclosed that the UNICEF data showed that over 80 million school-age children are out of school in

Nigeria. She pointed out that the meeting, therefore, aimed at fashioning out ideas that would ensure that every child has access to quality education in Adamawa State and the country at large.

Court Halts Developer from Reselling N206m Lekki Property

Wale Igbintade

Justice A.F. Pokanu of the Lagos State High Court has issued a pre-emptive injunction restraining a property developer, Mr. Raymond Irabor Okpere, and his company, Raybok Development and Construction Company Limited, from tampering with a disputed

N206 million terrace duplex located in Blockville Estate, off Freedom Way, Lekki Phase 1 Extension.

In a ruling delivered on July 1, 2025, the court granted an ex-parte motion for pre-emptive remedies filed by the buyer, Mr. A.A. Sanda.

further developing the fourbedroom corner-piece terrace duplex with a maid’s quarters, pending compliance with pre-action protocol or referral to arbitration.

The order restrains the developer, his agents, and any affiliates from entering, reselling, relocating, or

The disputed property is part of a joint venture residential development located on Elegushi Royal Family land within Itedo Ancient City, Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos.

the AGM, Chairman of the Board, Mr. Wole Abegunde, said the impressive result was underpinned by a disciplined revenue strategy and sustained cost-efficiency initiatives across the company’s operations.

“eTranzact has posted a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N4.9 billion and a PAT of N3.39 billion, representing significant year-on-year growth. This is a testament to the resilience and commitment of the board, management, and staff,” Abegunde stated. “We are confident that the company is well-positioned to deliver consistent shareholder value as we move into a new era of growth and innovation.” FY2024: eTranzact Records

Addressing shareholders at

Olorunyomi Tasks Media to Strengthen Democratic Values

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

The Publisher of Premium Times and Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, Dapo Olorunyomi, has said that despite the various threats staring the Nigerian press in the face, the local media has consistently sustained a Democratic Culture.

He described the local media as an engine room to continue to strengthen democratic culture in the country.

Olorunyomi, who disclosed this while speaking at the 19th Distinguished Public Lecture titled: ‘Local media in the making of democratic culture’, organised by Federal University, Lokoja (FUL), stressed that the importance of local media cannot be overemphasised.

He posited that: “Local media operate closest to the people, pointing out that journalists live among their audiences, attend the same churches and markets, and understand the community’s daily struggles.”

News Central Honoured at 2025 PR Power List Awards

News Central earned distinguished recognition at the prestigious 2025 PR Power List awards, an event that celebrates Nigeria’s most influential public relations and communications professionals. The awards ceremony, held in Ikoyi, Lagos, highlighted 50 top individuals and organisations reshaping Nigeria’s communications landscape with innovation and impact.

According to a statement, News Central’s inclusion alongside leading media houses and communicators underscores the station’s rising prominence and excellence in storytelling and public engagement. This accolade reflects the station’s unwavering commitment to delivering credible and insightful journalism, as well as its influential role in shaping public discourse across Nigeria and beyond.

According to court filings, Mr. Sanda entered into a contract with Raybok Development in early 2024 for the off-plan purchase of the luxury unit. He claimed to have paid over N136 million by March 2025, after an initial deposit of N61 million— but was later issued a termination notice by the developers.

Constitution Review: ACF Kano Backs National Restructuring

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Kano State Chapter, has submitted a memorandum to the National Constitutional Review Committee calling for salient restructuring of the country’s constitution to promote good governance and inclusive development.

At the Zonal Public Hearing for North-west held in Kano, Chairman, ACF, Kano State Chapter, Goni Faruk Umar submitted the memorandum to the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin.

Umar said the memorandum articulated key areas of

concern and corresponding recommendations for the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to him, the memorandum encapsulated the collective aspirations, informed viewpoints, and

strategic reflections of a broad spectrum of stakeholders across Kano State and Northern Nigeria. “It is a product of inclusive consultations and deliberations, carefully distilled to present our position on critical national imperatives.”

Paul Chukwuma: Soludo has Lowered Bar of Governance in Anambra

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, Mr Paul Chukwuma, has accused the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo of lowering the bar of governance in the state.

Edo

Chukwuma, in a press release made available to journalists in Awka and signed by his campaign office, said Soludo has lowered governance in Anambra to construction of few kilometers of roads.

He insisted that governance entailed a lot more, and that Anambra needs a bold, youthful, and ambitious leadership, away from rhetoric.

He said: “Development can no longer be measured by road construction alone. Our people want an economically viable Anambra, a state where young talents can thrive without having to migrate to western Nigeria in search of opportunities.

“We cannot continue to allow Western Nigeria to harvest our brightest minds while our government remains amused with amusement parks.

ADC Raises Committee on Membership Registration, Revalidation

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Stakeholders in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Edo State at the weekend met in Benin City and set up a committee for membership registration and revalidation in the state.

The committee is to work with the party’s state coalition to ensure a rancour-free process.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and now leader of ADC in Edo State, Chief

John Odigie-Oyegun, said the stakeholders’ meeting was to, among other things, receive groups from different political parties who want to affiliate with ADC.

Odigie-Oyegun explained that the membership registration and revalidation was to ensure

the message of the coalition gets to every corner of Edo State in cooperation with the incumbent executive.

According to him, “I think the message has gotten home very largely. The entire state will convulse at the mentioning of the ADC.

COAS Applauds Participants of Course 33 on National Security Challenges

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has applauded the participants of National Defence College (NDC) Course 33 for proffering innovative solutions

to national security challenges.

He further praised the participants for their futuristic thinking and innovative approach to addressing emerging security challenges, urging them not to relent but to continue developing practical solutions.

A statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, quoted the COAS as saying that the College remains a citadel of military strategy and capacity development.

General Oluyede gave the

commendation at the Army Headquarters Conference Room during the presentation of the COAS Research Paper by the participants, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the prestigious Fellow Defence College (fdc).

Nigeria’s Pioneer Female Train Driver Receives Award in China

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Nigerian pioneer female train driver, Issah Abiola, has received the prestigious ‘Friendship Envoy Award’ at the second Orchid Award Ceremony held in Beijing, China.

The award, hosted by the China Foreign Language Bureau, recognises international individuals and institutions that promote global cultural exchange and mutual understanding. Abiola, who is widely known by her Chinese name, Bai

Yang, was recognised for her outstanding contributions to China-Nigeria cultural ties, having grown from an office assistant at China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to becoming Nigeria’s first female train driver and a

national symbol of resilience and cross-cultural collaboration. Established as a major international cultural award by China, the Orchid Award aligns with the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping.

Echegini: Scoring WAFCON Winning Goal Will Stay in My Heart Forever

Jennifer Echegini has said that her Women’s Africa Cup of Nations-winning goal for Nigeria will remain a highlight to look back on for the rest of her career.

The 24-year-old midfielder swept home Esther Okoronkwo’s free-kick in the 88th minute to complete a stunning second-half comeback as the Super Falcons beat hosts Morocco 3-2 on Saturday.

“I’m just going to carry this moment close to me,” she told the BBC World Service in Morocco.

“If I’m ever doubting myself as a player, I just think of this to encourage me and give me confidence.

“It’s my first trophy I’ve ever won in my career, so definitely a memorable one that I’ll keep in my heart forever.”

A record-extending 10th continental title for the Super Falcons had looked a distant dream at half time, as goals from Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Mssoudy put Morocco 2-0 up at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.

But Esther Okoronkwo pulled a goal back from the penalty spot midway through the half and then laid on two more goals in a compelling team display of mental strength.

“We’re 2-0 down in the final, it’s half-time, you absolutely have nothing to lose,” Echegini said. “It’s either you play with fear and you lose the game or you put everything into the game and you hope you win - and we did so.”

The Chairman of Oramah Football Club & Academy, Abuja, Dr. Pat Ifeanyi Oramah, has congratulated the Super Falcons for winning the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Rabat, Morocco last Saturday. Oramah, who had pledged an incentive of N500,000 for each goal scored in the finals, said he would redeem the N1.5million earned by the Super Falcons for beating the Moroccan female nation team

3-2 in a thrilling encounter, as soon as the Team return to Nigeria with the trophy.

“By winning the 2024 WAFCON, their 10th trophy, the Super Falcons have reconfirmed their preeminence in female football in Africa and given us immense pride and joy as Nigerians”, Oramah said.

“The fact that they emerged victorious after going 2-0 down in the match, speaks eloquently to their all-conquering spirit and the never-say-never attitude of the average

Nigerian”, he added. He also congratulated the Team Captain, Rasheedat Ajibade and first choice goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, for winning the Player and Goalkeeper of the Tournament respectively, praising the invaluable contributions of the entire team to the special recognition for the two players.

Oramah equally had special accolades for the Technical crew, especially the Coach Mr. Justin Madugu, who was also adjudged the Coach of

46th CBN Tennis: Emmanuel, Adesuwa Emerge New Champions

The absence of the men and women’s singles defending champions notwithstanding, the best of tennis was on display at the finals of the 46th edition of the Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Tennis Championship at the Package ‘B’ of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, at the weekend.

Emmanuel Michael and Chicago-based Adesuwa Osabuohien surpassed all odds to emerge men and women’s singles champions of the 2025 edition of the CBN senior tennis championship.

Playing in the men’s singles category, Emmanuel Michael defeated hard fighting Prosper

Okonkwo, 2-1 ( 7-5, 2-6, 6-3) to lift the trophy and take home the star cash prize while Chicago-based Adesuwa Osabuohien came from a set down to stop Omotayo Blessing, 2-1 also ( 3-6, 5-1, 6-4 ) to emerge the new women’s champion.

In her closing remarks, the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mrs Emen Usoro, ably represented by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, said for over four decades, the CBN has remained consistent sponsoring the tournament and has gone the extra mile with the introduction of the junior tennis tournament since 2006.

the Tournament for leading the Super Falcons to victory.

“The fact that Coach Madugu was named the Best Coach of WAFCON 2024 has reaffirmed the depth of quality, expertise and experience of our indigenous Coaches and should be the basis to give them more opportunities in our national football teams”, he said.

The Oramah FC Boss said he was spurred to announce the financial incentives for the final game by the sheer talent and determination shown by the Super Falcons, adding that one of the key reasons behind Oramah Football Club & Academy was to discover and nurture young football talents who can win laurels for the country.

Goldberg Lager, one of the flagship brands of Nigerian Breweries, has congratulated the Super Falcons of Nigeria on their hard-fought victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where they lifted their record-extending 10th continental title.

In its congratulatory message after the match, Goldberg hailed the Super Falcons’ journey as a “true symbol of Naija resilience and pride,” celebrating a team that continues to inspire millions of Nigerians and football fans across the continent.

“The Super Falcons have once again shown why they are the pride of Africa,” the statement read. “Their courage, discipline, and unity reflect the

true spirit of champions. We are proud to celebrate this achievement with them and with all Nigerians,” the Brand Manager, Goldberg, Titilayo Famodimu stated.

Beyond match-day cheers, Goldberg and Nigerian Breweries have been fuelling the rise of women’s football in Nigeria through consistent brand partnerships, grassroots engagements, and national team support campaigns. From spotlighting female athletes in their advertising to backing platforms that promote the women’s game, the brand has stayed committed to breaking barriers and opening more opportunities for Nigerian women in sports.

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana will play host to three-time African champions Nigeria in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, 9th September 2025.

According to information from Gordon Savic, FIFA’s Head of Qualifiers and International Matches, the

highly-anticipated game will commence at 4pm GMT (which is 5pm Nigeria time and 6pm in South Africa). Formerly known as the Vodacom Park and later as Free State Stadium, the Toyota Stadium in South Africa’s judicial capital, was opened in 1995 and has capacity for 46,000 spectators. The potentially-explosive

Matchday 8 encounter is expected to have enormous implications for which team will eventually win the only ticket from Africa’s qualifying Group C to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, and comes three days after the Super Eagles would have hosted Rwanda’s Amavubi on Saturday, 6th September.

As part of its ongoing commitment to youth engagement and empowerment across Nigeria, the Wamufat Youth Community Development Foundation (WYCDF), in collaboration with the Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF), will host a seven-day Youth Sports Clinic at the Agroterra Sports Complex, Joga-Orile, near Abeokuta, Ogun State, from August 10 to 16, 2025.

According to a statement from the foundation, the clinic is a transformative initiative designed to equip young people through structured sports activities, mentorship, and personal development. With a strong emphasis on grassroots impact, the programme will bring together coaches, Game Masters, facilitators, and volunteers to instill values such as discipline, teamwork, and wellness in participants.

The clinic aligns with WYCDF’s broader mission to harness the power of sports as a catalyst for positive change, particularly in underserved communities. Throughout the week, participants will engage in daily athletics training, motivational sessions, wellness education, and valuesbased coaching. Activities will include sports drills, mentoring, wellness talks, and leadership development sessions.

Peter Uzoho

Jennifer Echegini (right) and Michelle Alozie celebrating Super Falcons 3-2 win over Morocco as Nigeria cruised to 10th WAFCON title in Rabat...last Saturday

L-R: Winner of the Men’s Singles title of the CBN Senior Tennis Championship, Emmanuel Michael; Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali; and winner of the Women’s Singles, Adesuwa Osabuohien, shortly after the presentation of trophies to champions in Abuja at the weekend

DEEPENING STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT...

L-R: Chairman of 11Plc (formerly, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc), Ramesh Kansagra; President Bola Tinubu; former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Director, 11Plc, Rishi Kansagra, during a visit to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja... recently

MAHMUDJEGA

VIEW FROM THE GALLERY

Banana Peels in Yilwatda’s Path

Should Mr. Nentawe Goshe Yilwatda, who out of the blues grabbed the biggest chairmanship there is on Nigeria’s political scene last week, be celebrating with home-grown Plateau potato and radish, or should he be looking over his shoulders and casting a wary eye on his future steps, lest he slides away on banana peels the way many of his predecessors did in the last five decades?

Yilwatda abandoned his lucrative position as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development after only ten months in office to become National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. It was not said that he resigned from the cabinet position but he may likely do so this week, partly because no minister that I ever know of in Nigeria ever served simultaneously as Chairman of a political party.

Did he make a wise choice? Being chairman of the ruling party is a very big deal. The Presidency, 23 governors and counting, Senate and House of Reps leadership, nearly two-thirds of National Assembly members, nearly fifty ministers, at least 23 state assembly speakers, several hundred state assembly members, hundreds if not thousands of chairmen and board members of federal parastatals and companies, hundreds of local government chairmen and councilors, and some one hundred ambassadors and high commissioners if and when they come on board, will all defer to you and say, “My Chairman!” Many other closet members of the ruling party, such as federal agency heads and security chiefs, will bow and tremble before Yilwatda and say, “My Chairman!”

He may still be pinching himself and wondering how he got here, the way one minister in the military era used to stretch his arms and legs every thirty minutes, pinched his body and asked himself whether he was the one in the ministerial chair or he was dreaming. Even though Yilwatda has been a federal minister for nearly a year, he was not very visible in the newspapers. His Ministry in its earlier form, which was created by the Buhari Administration with agencies nixed away from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s office, was once extremely visible, and quite controversial, under Hajiya Sadiyya Umar Faruk. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Buhari made a national broadcast and said her ministry will provide relief to Nigerians. The very next day, Minister Sadiyya appeared post-haste at a village on Abuja city outskirts, NTA cameras in tow, placed huge piles of money on desks, and proceeded to distribute it to anyone in the long queue. Yilwatda did no such thing during his ministerial tour; nor did he approve transfer of ministerial funds to a private account as his predecessor was alleged to have done.

He got his ministerial portfolio because ex-governor Samson Bako Lalong abandoned Plateau State’s seat in the cabinet only a year after he got it. Maybe Lalong was not grateful that he was made Minister in charge of the troublesome Labour sector, even

though he was Director General of the Tinubu/ Shettima 2023 campaign and did what he could to cool tempers generated in the Middle Belt against the Muslim/Muslim ticket. So when the courts suddenly disqualified the elected PDP senator and handed him the seat, Lalong abandoned the cabinet and grabbed the senate seat with both hands. It was politically well thought-out; if he didn’t take the seat, there would be a bye election and with PDP controlling the state government, APC will most likely lose it. No such danger with Yilwatda abandoning the ministerial seat, because another person from Plateau must get it back.

Why wasn’t Lalong made the party chairman? It would be logical because all previous APC national chairmen were ex or even serving governors. Bisi Akande, John Odigie-Oyegun, Adams Oshiomhole, Mai Mala Buni, Abdullahi Adamu and Abdullahi Umar Ganduje were [and in Buni’s case, still is] state governors. There must be a reason why governors were always preferred as APC chairmen; they have a lot of political and administrative experience, they know how to win elections, they are familiar with protocol and security matters, they have handled a lot of money, they are media savvy, and they are not easy to intimidate.

The curious thing is, how are APC chairmen chosen these days? Virtually no aspirants emerged before the last APC National Executive Committee [NEC] meeting where Yilwatda was chosen. There were no public campaigns, no screening of candidates and no publication of manifestoes. Which raises the suspicion that the President alone decided

who will be party chairman, rammed it through APC governors, and NEC then rubber stamped it. It wasn’t the first time this was happening; the former chairman Ganduje was chosen in much the same manner, and Ganduje’s predecessor Abdullahi Adamu was removed in exactly the same manner, which has set a dangerous precedent. Nor did APC even state that it was re-zoning the chairmanship to North Central, as some party leaders from the zone had agitated for long.

If the president single handedly chose the chairman, he was not the first to do, because President Obasanjo single-handedly brought his military colleague Colonel Ahmadu Ali out of retirement and installed him as PDP chairman. President Jonathan did the same with both Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Ahmadu Adamu Mua’zu [both of them ex-governors again, incidentally] and President Buhari did the same with both Adams Oshiomhole, Mai Mala Buni and Abdullahi Adamu [all three of them governors, former and serving]. This style of choosing party chairmen by presidential fiat, which emerged in the Fourth Republic, means presidents do so based on their personal political calculations. In the case of Yilwatda, the primary consideration is to calm Middle Belt sentiment against the Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket. While President Tinubu appeared to have given some thought to the idea of changing it, he might have backed away lest he throws away all far Northern votes. Making a North Central Christian the party chairman is the least he can do in the circumstances.

Is this system the best for politics? Party chairmen in this Republic are decidedly less powerful in relation to the Presidency than was the case in the Second Republic. In 1978, NPN chose its chairman in an open contest at the Lagos convention, having zoned the seat to the South West. Chief Meredith Adisa Akinloye, who was national chairman of the ruling NPN throughout the four years of the Second Republic, was extremely powerful. An old politician in Kaduna once told me that during their NPN days, if you got a note from Akinloye and went to deliver it to any minister, the minister will come running out of his office. It was unknown in NPN, he said, for a party chairman to spend hours in the waiting room of a governor or even the president, as he observed is the case in this Republic.

While Yilwatda and his close associates are busy celebrating his rise, they must also spare some thought for the manner of his eventually leaving the seat. This position is very slippery, what former Senate President Dr. Chuba Okadigbo once described as walking on a banana peel. For starters, we are yet to hear why former chairman Ganduje was unceremoniously forced to resign. There are many rumours, but nothing official. If it is to placate the Middle Belt, APC could as well have waited until its convention scheduled for later this year. In any case, given the tremendous help and personal loyalty to Tinubu that Ganduje exhibited during his days as Governor of Kano, up

to and including describing then President Buhari as Habu Na Habu [the character in Hausa music who ruined what he built], the shabby treatment he got will make many loyalists to ponder.

Even if, as some newspapers reported, that state security chiefs visited Ganduje in the dead of night and forced him to sign a resignation letter [wasn’t that an undue mix-up of state and politics?], it was still short of what President Obasanjo once did to Chief Audu Ogbeh. For a man known for his staunch Africanist posture, it was very unAfrican that Obasanjo appeared at Ogbeh’s house uninvited, demanded to eat pounded yam [since Ogbeh’s home state of Benue State is the home of pounded yam], washed his hands and then brought out a resignation letter for the PDP chairman to sign. At gun point, according to some people. Look, even the chairmen who got their positions after the most rigorous campaigns, got thrown out shabbily. I am thinking here of four party national chairmen of the Third Republic, namely Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, Chief Tom Ikimi, Dr. Hameed Kusamotu and Chief Tony Anenih. The first two, national chairmen of SDP and NRC respectively, were thrown out by General Babangida when he cancelled the party presidential primaries of 1992 [the prelude to annulling the June 12, 1993 election]. Anenih and Kusamotu, who succeeded them at hotly contested party conventions in Jos and Port Harcourt respectively, were thrown out by General Sani Abacha when he seized power from the Interim National Government [ING] in November 1993. Before them, Akinloye’s eventful tenure as NPN chairman was also ended by soldiers in December 1983. So, there are many ways of booting out party chairmen. Yilwatda may have been appointed essentially to assuage Middle Belt sentiment. If it is not assuaged and the clamour for a Muslim/Christian presidential ticket re-emerges next year, it will be a big banana peel in his path. An even bigger peel is that he must remain in sync with the president’s personal desires, first of securing a second term, secondly of keeping the party completely on his leash, including singing “On Your Mandate We Stand” as the party’s anthem. It is a contradiction in terms because the chairman is expected to be fair to all party members and maintain a level playing field for other aspirants that may emerge in the party.

The trouble with totally aligning with the president’s aspiration, such as this wave of endorsements by party organs and branches, is that APC governors who are aspiring for a second term will soon demand the same treatment. Shortly afterwards, followed by senators and MPs’ demands for automatic return tickets. It is precisely the kind of stuff that drives some people out of the party when their own aspirations are blocked. People will then turn around and blame the party chairman, saying his “style of leadership” created crises and factions in the party. What is a man to do, when he is being chased by a leopard and he is running towards a hyena’s den?

Yilwatda