President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, with the victims of herdsmen attack at the hospital during the President’s visit to Benue State, yesterday
Ndubuisi FrancisinAbuja
In a renewed commitment to Nigeria’s energy sector, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Nigeria Limited has confirmed its capital investment in the Bonga North deep-water project and associated infrastructure—part of a broader
$5 billion commitment, and the company’s first major project of its kind in Nigeria in over a decade. The confirmation followed a high-powered delegation from the company, led by the Managing Director and Country Chair, Mr. Osagie Okunbor which paid a visit to the Minister of Finance
and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun in his office in Abuja, Wednesday.
In a statement, the Director, Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga disclosed that members of the delegation included the incoming Chairman of Shell Nigeria Explo-
Emmanuel AddehinAbuja
ration and Production Company (SNEPCO) and Executive Vice President for Nigeria, Mr. Marno De-Jong.
The visit served to formally introduce De-Jong and reaffirm Shell’s strategic commitment to Nigeria, following recent economic reforms under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Shell confirmed its capital investment in the Bonga North deep-water project and associated infrastructure—part of a broader $5 billion commitment—marking the
company’s first major project of its kind in Nigeria in over a decade.
“The delegation also highlighted Shell’s recent acquisition of TotalEnergies’ stake in OML 118, a transaction valued at $500 million, which further strengthens its long-term position in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“The leadership attributed its renewed momentum to improved policy coherence, greater regulatory certainty, and the government’s efforts to address legacy challenges related to local content implementation,” the statement said.
In his remarks, the minister welcomed Shell’s renewed commitment to Nigeria’s energy sector, expressing optimism about the company’s investments in the country Edun, applauded Shell’s continued contributions to Nigeria’s economic development. He reaffirmed the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to sustaining macro-economic reforms, attracting long-term capital, and ensuring a transparent and investor-friendly environment for domestic and global partners.
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) on Wednesday shared a total sum of N1.659 trillion, as May 2025 Federation Account Revenue to the federal, state and local governments.
The N1.659 trillion distributable revenue was from a gross revenue of N2.942 trillion which was available for the month of May, with total deduction for cost of collection standing at N111.908 billion while total transfers, interventions and refunds stood at N1.171 trillion.
“The market owes us about N457 billion as of March, being the market shortfall and legacy debts. We have traced N217 billion to legacy debts, and we are in discussion with MOFI to pay us something out of it,” Ajiboye said.
Nigeria’s electricity sector has been grappling with a deepening debt crisis that totals up to N4 trillion which threatens its stability and performance. At the heart of the issue is a complex chain of unpaid
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) yesterday disclosed that it is currently owed N457 billion in electricity tariff shortfall and legacy debts by the federal government. Speaking in Nasarawa state at a three-day media workshop for members of the Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN) led by Obas Esiedesa, the Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider (TSP) of the company, Oluwagbenga Ajiboye, said that the amount comprises N217 billion in legacy debt. He added that the TCN has already opened up discussions with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) for the debts to be repaid to free funds for transmission projects expansion.
obligations in terms of subsidy backlog by the government.
Ajiboye further stated that the federal government is yet to sell off its five National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) because of the low prices the bidders are offering. This is coming after the government in 2023 announced its decision to sell the plants.
They include: The 434 megawatts gas-fired Geregu II power plant located in Kogi; 451MW Omotosho II plant in Ondo; 750MW Olorunshogo II plant in Ogun State; 563MW Odukpani power plant in Calabar, Cross River State, and the 451MW Benin-Ihovbor plant in Edo State.
Michael Olugbode inAbuja
The recent reported planned visa ban of WestAfrican States including Nigeria, by the United States (US) Government has been described as unfortunate by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar Tuggar, said this yesterday, while giving an opening speech at the 54th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the Ministerial Level in Abuja.
The Director (Press and Public Relations) Department of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation(OAGF),BawaMokwamade the disclosure, citing a communique issued at the end of the monthly FAAC meeting in Abuja. The N1.659 trillion total distributable revenue comprised statutory revenue of N863.895billion,ValueAddedTax(VAT) revenue of N691.714 billion, Electronic MoneyTransferLevy(EMTL)revenueof N27.667 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N76.614 billion. From the N1.659 trillion total
distributable revenue, the federal government received N538.004 billion, state governments received N577.841 billion while the local governments got N419.968 billion. The sum of N124.076 billion as 13 per cent mineral revenue was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue. According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N2.094 trillion was received for the month of May 2025. This was higher than the sum of N2.084 trillion received in the month of April 2025 by N10.023 billion.
The Minister who is also the Chair of the Economic Community of West African States Mediation and Security Council, while decrying the apparent inclusion of all ECOWAS member states in a new wave of United States visa restrictions, described the policy as a significant barrier to trade, diplomacy, and regional prosperity, stressing that the sub-region has lots to offer and should not be discarded just like that.
Tuggar, stated that what the US and other superpowers needed to do right now was to seek to make deals with the sub-region.
He added: “It would therefore be remiss of me if I did not mention the apparent recent decision by the Government of the United States to include all ECOWAS countries
in its visa restrictions (Togo was on an earlier list).
“This would be most unfortunate if it comes to pass, because we are a region of opportunities ready to do deals.
“We possess critical minerals and even rare earths such as Samarium from the Monazite found in my home State of Bauchi. We would like to do deals with the US, but visa restrictions are Non-Tariff Barriers to deals.
“We in this part of the world are students of the Art of the Deal and have been part of the international trading system even before the modern state system.
“ECOWAS countries and the US have a rare opportunity to create a partnership based on principles of need.”
He added: “We are also a strategic alternative to more distant and politically divergent energy producers. So, we will do deals for our prosperity; the only question is with whom? “Who takes up the opportunities in our region by allowing government officials and technocrats, business executives and entrepreneurs to travel freely back and forth to close the deals?”
He stressed the importance of ensuring peace in the region, stating that: “In these challenging times, our ability to come together to consult,
collaborate and take decisive action remains vital to advancing peace, security and good governance across our region.”
Furthermore, he revealed that the meeting would deliberate on a number of key issues that directly address the stability, cohesion, and resilience of our region.
He said: “The meeting is also expected to deliberate on the trends and developments in the transition process in the Republic of Guinea, as well as updates on the preparations for Presidential and Parliamentary elections in two other member states at the last quarter of the year.
“The meeting will consider other current challenges, including developments in maritime security, terrorism and transnational organised crime.”
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Alieu Touray, in his remarks said the regional body was making progress in strengthening regional peace and security.
He also listed some of the efforts made by the region in this regard to include the ECOWAS Standby Force Logistics Concept and the ECOWAS Logistics Depot Policies; the Supplementary Act relating to the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) Regional Platform.
L-R: Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd); and Deputy Country Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Danilo Campisi, during the commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025 in Abuja, yesterday
The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, in a landmark decision, yesterday, upturned a 2013 judgment of the Federal High Court, in a matter between RCN Networks
Ltd and Guaranty Trust Bank PLC. The Federal High Court ruling had previously resulted in the “unlawful foreclosure” by GTB PLC of a 30 billion Naira
44-room mansion owned by Alhaji Agboola Abiola, one of the sons of the late winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election, Bashorun M.K.O Abiola.
The PZ Cussons Plc has sold its 50 per cent stake in PZ Wilmar to Wilmar International Limited (Wilmar) for $70 million.
The sale, which would enable Wilmar to hold 100 per cent stake, was announced yesterday, in a joint press statement issued by PZ Cussons and Wilmar, which clarified that PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc is unaffected by the transaction.
The statement read: “PZ Cussons Plc and Wilmar International Limited today jointly announce that the two parties have agreed on definitive terms for Wilmar to purchase the 50 per cent equity stake in PZ Wilmar Limited (PZ Wilmar) held by PZ Cussons Plc for cash consideration of US$70 million.
“Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of relevant approvals. Following the completion of the transaction, Wilmar will hold 100 per cent of the equity in PZ Wilmar.”
The PZ Wilmar, which was formed in 2010 through a joint venture between PZ Cussons Plc (UK) and Wilmar, is one of the largest sustainable palm oil business in Nigeria.
The joint venture also owns minority stakes in two palm oil plantations in Nigeria, which are majority owned by Wilmar.
According to the statement, “Wilmar, a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, is acquiring the 50 per cent stake from PZ Cussons plc, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange.”
It also stated that, “PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of PZ
In a unanimous judgment in the suit with number CA/L/888/2014, the court held that the trial court had ignored glaring discrepancies on the execution page of a tripartite
legal mortgage registered by the bank at the Land Registry of Lagos State against the said property. The court found that the said discrepancies made the tripartite
Cussons Plc, is not a shareholder of PZ Wilmar and its operations are unaffected.”
It also said that: “following completion of the transaction, PZ Wilmar’s name will be changed and an announcement on the new name will be issued in due course.
“The transaction between the two existing joint venture partners of PZ Wilmar establishes a strong basis for continuity and a smooth transition of ownership, with no substantive impact expected on people or operations.
“Completion, which remains conditional on a number of relevant approvals, is expected to take place in the last quarter of calendar 2025.”
Commenting on the transaction, Wilmar Chairman & CEO, Mr. Kuok Khoon Hong, said: “We would like to thank PZ Cussons for their cooperation
Emma Okonji
TheAssociation of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the umbrella body for all licensed telecoms operators (Telcos) has stated that migration to end-user billing for the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) took effect yesterday.
Following the successful migration, telecoms operators have commenced direct billing of telecoms subscribers who will make use of the USSD service, going forward.
This was disclosed in a statement co-signed by its Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo and its Publicity Secretary, Damian Udeh.
According to the statement, the transition marked a significant milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s digital financial ecosystem
and was being implemented per the Determination of USSD Pricing and Services issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The determination was developed in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other key stakeholders to ensure a sustainable, transparent, and customer-friendly framework for USSD service delivery.
USSD services play a vital role in expanding access to financial services, particularly for unbanked and underbanked populations. However, the previous corporate billing model, where banks were billed by telecom operators, led to prolonged disputes over unpaid charges, service interruptions, and uncertainty for customers.
To address these challenges, the NCC’s 2025 Determination
introduced the End-User Billing model, which allows mobile network operators to charge customers directly for USSD sessions.
According to the statement, “To achieve the implementation of the EUB model, the CBN and NCC have stipulated that only banks that meet certain regulatory and operational conditions are permitted to migrate.
“One of which is the notification to customers of the billing change in advance, and to ensure that customers are fully aware of the new airtime-based charges and how they will be applied.
“Accordingly, under the new billing model, USSD charges will be deducted directly from the customer’s airtime balance, not from their bank account, and each USSD session will attract a charge of N6.98 per 120 seconds.
and support since inception of this joint venture in 2010, which has contributed to its success and leading market position in Nigeria.
“Wilmar is acquiring PZ Cussons Plc’s 50 per cent stake in PZ Wilmar as we are bullish on the long-term potential of Nigeria’s palm oil sector, given its large and growing population and suitability for palm cultivation.
“The Nigerian market’s strong demographics, with more than 200 million consumers, offers a significant opportunity for growth in food and
nutrition.
“It is Wilmar’s intention to continue developing the upstream palm plantation and downstream businesses in Nigeria.
“As a global industry leader, Wilmar is well positioned to invest and realise these opportunities following the completion of the transaction.
“However, we recognise the importance of having strong local partnerships in the markets where we operate and will be looking for a suitable local partner for the business.”
legal mortgage document so deficient that it was incapable of conferring on the said bank, any legal rights to foreclose on the property. The court further found that discrepancies on the document included the fact that it was unsigned by alleged mortgagor, Alhaji Abiola.
In addition, the court further discovered that the footer therein contained handwritten alterations not present on other pages of the document, which the Appellant had alleged in the case was indicative of the fact that the document had actually been forged by the bank. Consequently, and after establishing the facts of the case, the court discharged all legal charges levied on the property by GTBank in favour of the Appellant. The Appellant was represented by Dr. Charles Adeogun-Phillips, SAN, while the respondent was represented by Mr. Norrison Quakers, SAN.
The federal government is ready to sign over 30 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) as Nigeria prepares to host the second session of the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM) scheduled to begin on Monday, June 23, 2025. Agriculture, energy, defence, the creative economy, and innovation are among the key sectors driving this new investment initiative.
The three-day event will provide a platform for the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to tap into new investment flows, facilitate technical cooperation, and open pathways for enhanced strategic engagements for businesses.
This was made public yesterday, by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, during a press conference at the State House, Abuja, on the planned visit of the Vice President of Brazil, Geraldo Alckmin, to Nigeria.
According to him, the visit of the Brazilian delegation was a landmark event in Nigeria’s international diplomacy and a strategic platform for deepening bilateral relations between the two influential regional powers.
Hadejia said the session was particularly significant as it aligns seamlessly with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises economic revitalisation, global partnerships, and the repositioning of Nigeria on the world stage.
“During the visit of the Brazilian delegation, we will engage in comprehensive discussions aimed at expanding collaboration across key sectors such as trade and investment, agriculture, energy, defence, innovation, and cultural exchange.
“These areas are critical to the sustainable development aspirations of both nations,” the Deputy Chief of Staff noted.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the bilateral dialogue, first established
in 2013, has gained significant traction following Tinubu’s official visit to Brazil in late 2024. She revealed that a Nigeria-Brazil Business Forum would take place on June 25, bringing together government officials, private sector leaders, and over 400 million combined consumers.
A major highlight of the forum would be the introduction of sectorspecific engagement platforms, including a Digital Trade Room.
“Brazil’s expertise in digital inclusion and Nigeria’s dynamic fintech ecosystem offer powerful synergies for scalable innovation,” the Minister added.
In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said Nigeria and Brazil have held discussions to enhance agricultural productivity in Nigeria and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in key areas such as research and development in animal genetics, soya beans production and related areas endorsed under the SDM.
L-R: Commander No. 3 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Enugu, ACP Azeez Idowu; Commander No. 29
Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 13, AIG
Giwa; Deputy Commissioner
Ajachukwu, during a
DCP
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Netherlands is set to return 119 looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, following a request from the Nigerian government, a statement from the embassy of the North-western European country said yesterday.
The transfer agreements were signed by the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Mr. Eppo Bruins and Nigeria’s Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway.
The objects are expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year, the statement said, explaining that the restitution underscores the strong partnership between the Netherlands and Nigeria.
According to the release, the country is returning the Benin Bronzes unconditionally, recognising that the objects were looted during the British attack on Benin City in 1897, and should have never ended up in the Netherlands.
Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Bruins, said: “This restitution contributes to redressing a historical injustice that is still being felt today. Cultural heritage is essential for telling and living the history of a country and a community. The Benin Bronzes are indispensable to Nigeria. It is good that they are going back.”
The Netherlands and Nigeria,
the statement added, are working closely together to realise this historic restitution.
In his remarks, Ambassadordesignate of the Netherlands to Nigeria, Mr. Bengt van Loosdrecht, said: “We congratulate Nigeria for being at the forefront of efforts to reclaim colonial looted art. For over 50 years, Nigeria has advocated for the return of the Benin Bronzes. This restitution is a testament to the enduring strength of our partnership with Nigeria.”
Also, the Director General of NCMM, Holloway, highlighted the significance of the return, noting that the objects from the Netherlands will represent the single largest return of Benin antiquities directly linked to the 1897 British punitive expedition.
“The return of 119 objects from the Netherlands will represent the single largest return of Benin antiquities directly linked to the 1897 British punitive expedition. We thank the Netherlands for their cooperation and hope this will set a good example for other nations of the world in terms of repatriation of lost or looted antiquities,” he said.
The signing ceremony took place at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden, the Netherlands, where the Benin Bronzes were previously displayed.
The Dutch museum expressed its willingness to continue working with Nigeria, adding: “We find it valuable that the objects are returning to Nigeria. We hope
that this return is not the end of a process, but the start of further cooperation between museums in Nigeria and the Netherlands.”
The event was attended by high-level guests, including the DG
NCMM, Holloway; Mr. Babatunde Adebiyi, Legal Director of NCMM; and Mrs. Nnenne Ebere Ebekaku, Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in the Netherlands.
The Dutch government’s deci-
sion, according to the statement, followed the recommendation of an independent expert committee in line with the Dutch policy on the restitution of objects from a colonial context.
“Of the 119 objects being returned, 113 of the objects were part of the Dutch State Collection, while the remaining six were given back by the Municipality of Rotterdam,” the embassy stated.
Records 85% improvement in on-time performance
Secures approval from UK authorities for direct Abuja-London Heathrow flights
Chinedu Eze
Nigeria’s major carrier Air Peace has taken a radical step to significantly curb flight delays and cancellations in its operations and has placed three aircraft on standby to be deployed whenever any aircraft on duty is interrupted by bird strike, technical problem or other issues to ensure that passengers are taken to their destinations with least disruptions.
The airline said that it introduced this process on May 10, 2025 and from May 12 till now it has recorded 85 per cent improvement in on-time departure.
The Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Dr. Allen Onyema, made this known yesterday in a press conference in Lagos and also disclosed
Ndubuisi
Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), Dr. Umaru Kwairanga, has stated that the group is exploring areas of collaboration with Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) that would be mutually beneficial. Kwairanga spoke during a board interaction between both exchanges in Shanghai, China. He stated that China had overcome many challenges and was now recognised as an economic powerhouse, a manufacturing giant, and a key driver of the world’s economy.
According to him, that success is mirrored in Shanghai Stock Exchange, which in a little over
three decades of its re-establishment became one of the world’s leading exchanges with a market capitalisation in excess of $6 trillion.
The NGX chairman observed that Nigeria and China shared many similarities, adding that just like China, Nigeria has a diverse and hardworking population that is the largest in Africa.
He said, “Nigeria’s economy is driven by small and medium scale enterprises, but there is a large public sector with government-owned enterprises controlling significant portions of the economy.
“In terms of exchanges, Nigeria has several but the first and foremost is the Nigerian Exchange Group,
which was founded more than 60 years ago and presently has over 400 listed securities and a market capitalisation of about 325 billion Chinese yuan.
“This is small compared to the capitalisation of some companies I see quoted on your board, but we are determined to multiply those numbers with the assistance of your exchange and China’s entrepreneurial citizens.
“So we are here to congratulate you on your success as a nation and an exchange, but, more importantly, to learn from your experiences as a vibrant, innovative, technologydriven exchange in a bustling economy.”
that the airline has secured daily Abuja-London Heathrow flight approval from UK authorities and would commence the service from October 26, 2025.
Onyema said the decision to keep three aircraft on standby is an aberration in civil aviation, where all airworthy aircraft are fully deployed for service but the airline decided to take the decision to show its determination to put to an end the protracted problem of flight delays, 95 per cent of which are caused by extraneous factors beyond the airline like weather, bird strike, infrastructural limitations and others.
“Our decision to buffer (place on standby) three aircraft followed a detailed analysis of operational disruptions. Many of these were traced to factors outside the airline’s control.
“These include bird strikes, ground handling issues, poor airport infrastructure, and weather-related delays, all of which heavily impact scheduling.
“By reserving aircraft, the airline has posted over 85% on-time performance since adopting the strategy. We are losing capacity and turning away paying passengers every day. But it is a price we’re willing to pay to avoid delays and cancellations.”
Onyema said this measure is part of a broader push to improve passenger experience and shift the public perception of the airline’s reliability, recalling that last week, Air Peace faced two serious bird strike incidents in one day - one in Owerri and another in Port Harcourt.
He said the Port Harcourt incident happened during landing, when a large bird hit the aircraft’s landing gear, resulting in significant damage, but the flight landed safely without injuries.
According to Onyema, the Owerri bird strike posed a greater danger. A bird suspected to be an eagle struck the aircraft mid-flight, shattering the windshield and covering it in blood, thus compromising visibility
and risked depressurization of the aircraft, which prompted the pilot to quickly descend to 10, 000 feet. So, the aircraft on Owerri-Abuja service aborted the flight and returned to base at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri.
“If they had climbed higher, there would have been decompression that could endanger passengers’ lives. We thank God and commend the pilot’s actions. Air Peace pilots undergo rigorous training to handle such emergencies.
“The airline has a special bird strike simulation programme where pilots must pass bird strike simulated drills. You don’t fly if you fail that module. Foreign airlines often don’t go that far. We do it for safety,” he said.
On the new Abuja-London Heathrow route, Dr. Onyema said the United Kingdom Government, through the Airports Coordination Limited, has allocated daily flight slot to Air Peace at Heathrow Airport in London.
KuniTyessi inAbuja
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has directed institutions to verify and upload their students’ data on the Student Loan Application System (SLAS).
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday by the Director, Strategic Communications of NELFUND, Mrs Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.
Oluwatuyi said SLAS had now been fully digitised to streamline
and accelerate the student loan processing experience for institutions and applicants.
According to her, with this upgrade, all accredited institutions are now required to request access to SLAS to verify and upload student data related to loan applications.
“This is a critical step that ensures the timely processing and disbursement of approved student loans.
“Institutions that have not yet on boarded onto the system are kindly requested to send an access
request to registration@nelf.gov.ng without delay.
“Once granted access, institutions will be able to view a real-time dashboard of their students’ loan applications, verify submitted data, and track the status of each application,” she said.
Oluwatuyi however urged all institutions to take immediate action in the interest of their students, as verification and data upload by the institutions were mandatory steps before final approval and disbursement could be completed.
Emmanuel AddehinAbuja
The Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO), Nigeria’s Omar Farouk, yesterday disclosed that over 95 per cent of the $89 billion capital requirement in the gas sector in Africa is tied to projects with uncertain timelines.
Farouk stated that a staggering $85 billion remains tied to proposed projects, describing it as a severe bottleneck and a clear call to action. He noted that if the continent is genuinely committed to building a resilient gas economy,theninfrastructureinvestment must take centre stage.
Speaking at the Africa Gas Innovation Summit (AGIS) 2025 in Abuja, organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigeria Council, the APPO chief who questioned the wisdom of continued global integration at the expense of local development, said the current model fosters dependence rather than genuine interdependence.
He said: Furthermore, out of a projected capital requirement of $89 billion, only $4 billion is currently committed to projects being built, while the staggering $85 billion remains tied to proposed projects with uncertain timelines.
“It’s a severe bottleneck and a clear call to action. If we are genuinely committed to building a resilient gas economy,theninfrastructureinvestment must take centre stage. New ways of addressing challenges must be tried, and this is exactly what APPO has been doing.”
He criticised the framing ofAfrica’s role in the global gas sector as one of “integration” instead of self-reliance, citing statistics that showAfrica, home to 600 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, operates just 30,000 kilometres of gas pipelines, less than one-seventh the length found in Europe.
“We are made to believe that it is in our best interest to export our energy to get foreign exchange. We see nothing wrong with a continent that has the unenviable record of being home to the largest proportion of the world’s population living without access to modern energy.
“It is exporting 45 per cent of the gas that it produces and 75 per cent of the crude oil that it produces. We have failed to understand that access to energy is a central element to economic and social development,” he lamented.
Accordingtohim,withapopulation of about 230 million and a land size of nearly a million square kilometres,
speed and safety of transactions.
Nigeria has just a total gas pipeline network of about 7,000 kilometres and another 5,000 kilometres of crude oil, making a total of about 12,000km.
In contrast, he argued that France, with a population of 68 million and a land size of a little more than half of Nigeria’s, has a gas pipeline of 37,000 kilometres and an oil pipeline of 8,000 kilometres, making a total of 45,000 kilometres.
“Put differently, while every kilometre of pipeline in France serves 1,511 people, in Nigeria, a kilometre serves 19,166 people. Territorially, the
ratio is even worse, 1 to 12 for France and 1 to 77 for Nigeria. The pattern is no different from what occurs in other developed countries and other African countries,” he stated.
Farouk also revealed ongoing APPO initiatives, including the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) located in Abuja in partnership withAfreximBank, and the launch of coordinated research and training efforts among member states to build local capacity and technology.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, emphasised the
government’s reforms aimed at boosting investor confidence, streamlining regulations, and expanding domestic gas utilisation.
Ekpo, who was represented by the Technical Adviser on Downstream, Abel Igeghe, said: “The African continent is blessed with abundant natural gas resources, yet we continue to face challenges that hinder our ability to convert this potential into inclusive and sustainable growth.
“For Nigeria, the ‘Decade of Gas’ initiative under the Renewed Hope AgendaofPresidentBolaTinubuisour national response to this opportunity. We are focused on unlocking gas for power, transportation, cooking, and industrial development.
“Just last year, we advanced infrastructure projects, rolled out the LPG Penetration Programme across the geo-political zones, and deepened domestic supply reforms, all anchored on the belief that gas is not just a fuel, but a catalyst for prosperity”.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), Philip Mshelbila, represented by the General Manager, Technical, Joseph Alagua, stressed that infrastructure remains the biggest challenge to domestic gas development in Nigeria.
He noted that while Nigeria has six LNG trains currently operational, with Train7underconstruction,thedomestic gas market remains underdeveloped due to poor infrastructure planning and investment.
“Pipelines, metering systems, and storage facilities are not just technical assets, they are an economic lifeline. Without them, gas remains stranded and energy access remains a mirage,” he stated.
Earlier, in her opening remarks, Chairperson of SPE, Nigeria Council, Amina Danmadami, described the summit as not just an event, but a call to action. She emphasised that the 2025 theme: “Building a Resilient African Gas Economy through Innovation and Collaboration” was both timely and transformative.
“Africa’s gas sector is at a defining moment. We possess abundant reserves, yet we face infrastructure gaps, fragmented markets, and underinvestment. The solution lies in innovation and collaboration,” she noted.
Besides, Danmadami called on participants, regulators, chief executives, policymakers as well as youths and academics to engage and challenge assumptions so as to co-create sustainable solutions.
ZenITH BAnk To exIT CBn’S RegulAToRY FoRBeARAnCe June 30, ASSuReS SHAReHolDeRS oF ConTInueD DIvIDenD PAYouT would be brought within the applicable regulatory limit on or before June 30, 2025.
The bank also confirmed that the forbearance granted on other credit facilities applies to only two of its customers, noting that it has made substantial provisions in respect of these facilities and taken appropriate and comprehensive steps to ensure full provisioning by June 30, 2025.
The bank further emphasised its strong financial footing, stating that it has successfully raised and surpassed the new regulatory capital requirement of N500 billion, and was therefore well positioned to continue delivering value to all its key stakeholders.
Zenith Bank has continued to distinguish itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service offering, unique customer experience and sound financial indices.
The bank has remained a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in the deployment of innovative products, solutions and an assortment of alternative channels that ensure convenience,
The bank’s track record of excellent performance has continued to earn the brand numerous awards including being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the fifteenth consecutive year in the 2024 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, published by The Banker Magazine.
The bank was also awarded Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards for 2020, 2022 and 2024; Best Bank in Nigeria from 2020 to 2022, 2024 and 2025, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023; and was listed in the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023.
Further recognitions include Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria for four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024 in the World Finance Banking Awards and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria in the International Banker 2023 and 2024 Banking Awards.
Additionally, Zenith Bank has been acknowledged as the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria,
in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards for 2022, 2023 and 2024 and ‘Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023 by the Ethical Boardroom.
The bank’s commitment to excellence saw it being named the Most Valuable Banking Brand in
Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands for 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year 2023 and 2024 at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, and Retail Bank of the Year for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022 and in 2024 at the BAFI Awards.
The bank also received the ac-
colades of Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria, in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards. Zenith Bank was also named Most Responsible Organisation in Africa, Best Company in Transparency and Reporting and Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment at the
SERAS CSR Awards Africa 2024; Bank of the Year 2024 by THISDAY Newspaper; Bank of the Year 2024 by New Telegraph Newspaper; and Best in MSME Trade Finance, 2023 by Nairametrics. The Bank’s Hybrid Offer was also adjudged ‘Rights Issue/ Public Offer of the Year’ at the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025.
The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) yesterday officially launched the National Payment Stack (NPS), a unified, ISO 20022-compliant payment platform designed to modernise, simplify, and deepen Nigeria’s payment ecosystem.
The NPS is a transformative innovation that seamlessly
integrates payments, identity, and data into one intelligent infrastructure.
The platform’s features include real-time settlements, automated reconciliation, improved dispute management, request-to-pay capabilities, and direct debit, which are all underpinned by global payment standards and built with interoperability at its core.
Emejo
The federal government yesterday said it is taking concrete steps to support farmers in the cashew value chain, in a calculated move to position the cash crop as one of the country’s major sources of Foreign Exchange (FX).
The government pointed out that the commodity holds untapped potential to transform rural economies and create jobs across the country.
Speaking at a media briefing organised by the National Apex Cashew Farmers, Processors, and Marketing Cooperative in Abuja, Federal Director of Cooperatives, Idris Ali Sani, therefore, urged cashew farmers to form registered cooperatives to access government’s interventions.
He also stressed that cooperative registration remained key to accessing finance, technology, and government interventions.
Sani said, “The essence of this registration is to identify individual cashew farmers in all the producing states and see how they can come together to register as a cooperative society.
“By doing this, they gain recognition from the government, international partners, and other stakeholders for possible support.
“An individual farmer who is a smallholder cannot do it alone. But when they come together and register as a cooperative body, they have that advantage to elect leadership, access finance, and receive capacity development.”
He further emphasised the economic potential of the cashew industry, adding that the country had already made its mark as one of the top global producers of cashew nuts.
He said, “Cashew is an important economic tree that brings multiple benefits to both the producers and the nation. It can be processed into juice, biscuits, and many more. These are the kinds of products we are trying to promote in Nigeria.”
In his remarks, President of the Cooperative,Yunusa Gabriel Enemali, described the cashew sector as a “diamond from the tree,” adding that the crop can power Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
He said the cooperative has a vision to make the country a leading cashew producing and processing
nation, enhancing economic growth and farmers’ livelihoods.
He noted that despite Nigeria being among the top global cashew producers, the industry is still struggling with poor infrastructure, limited access to markets, lack of finance, and weak policy support.
He said, “The cashew sector in Nigeria has tremendous potential, especially at the rural communities. But we face challenges like inadequate infrastructure, pest and disease management, and lack of quality research institutes and standardization. Cashew is the fourth largest earner for Nigeria in the last five to six years.”
Highlighting the inclusiveness of the sector, Enemali stressed that 90 per cent of the workforce in the cashew sector are women and youth - on the farm, in factories, and beyond.
He announced the First National Cashew Cooperative Summit scheduled for August 13–15, 2025, which will bring together stakeholders from all 36 states and the FCT to discuss the future of the industry, validate a national cashew policy, and explore financing and value chain development opportunities.
Managing Director/Chief Execu-
tive Cooperative Financing Agency, EmmanuelAttama, pledged financial and institutional support to cashew farmers through a cooperative-driven strategy.
He said, “Those involved in cashew farming and suffering losses will now be empowered. The cooperative development fund is already in place, and the cashew farmers’ apex body is part of it.
“This will give them access to refined products, markets, finance, and essential services like health care, pensions, and housing.”
Attama stressed the need to aggregate smallholder farmers to scale up production for both local consumption and export.
He said, “The entire cooperative movementinNigeriaissolidlybehind the cashew efforts. Cashew should be developed as a major enterprise and a way to put food on the table for ordinary Nigerians.”
Government officials, cooperative leaders, and private sector actors present at the event agreed that cashew, if fully developed, can significantly boost non-oil revenue, lift rural populations, and enhance Nigeria’s global agricultural competitiveness.
The unveiling reinforces NIBSS’ commitment to redefining digital payments in Africa and building on a legacy of innovation that began over a decade ago with the introduction of NIBSS Instant Payments (NIP), Africa’s first real-time account-based digital payment solution.
At the unveiling held recently in Lagos, which brought together bank managing directors, key players in Nigeria’s payment ecosystem, and senior officials from central banks and national payment infrastructure providers of 20 African countries, the Managing Director and CEO of NIBSS, Premier Oiwoh, said:
“This is more than a technology upgrade; it’s a national leap forward. The NIBSS Payment Stack reflects our vision to equip Nigeria and Africa with a platform that not only meets global standards but speaks to our unique payment realities.
“From Request-to-Pay to real-time settlements, automated reconciliation, and advanced dispute management, NPS is designed to deliver smarter, faster, and more transparent payment experiences for all.”
With NPS, payments can now be settled in real time across various use cases, from single and bulk transactions to direct debits and merchant payments. It also enables automated dispute resolution, real-time messaging, and robust KYC verification using existing national identifiers such as the BVN, TIN, and RC Number. Its multi-currency capabilities and cross-border potential position it as a regional asset in Africa’s evolving digital finance landscape.
Built with interoperability at its core, NPS offers partners and developers the ability to integrate via sandbox in as little as 48 hours, enabling innovation at scale. It also features a modern risk management framework that enhances fraud detection and offers improved transparency and traceability across the payment ecosystem. Speaking also at the event, the chief host, the Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria and Chairman of the NIBSS Board, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, who was represented by Director of Payment System Policy at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Musa Jimoh, highlighted the significance of the NPS.
He described it as a transformative milestone for both the NIBSS and Nigeria’s financial ecosystem, one that lays the foundation for deeper trust, greater inclusion, and the next wave of innovation across the digital payment landscape.
The launch event featured live demonstrations of the NPS functionalities and was graced by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola SanwoOlu, who was represented by Mr. Samuel Egube, Deputy Chief of Staff, who delivered a goodwill message reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting innovation in the digital payment space.
Also in attendance was the Director General and CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, who emphasised the pivotal role of digital identity in driving financial inclusion and national development.
"For any young democracy, the most difficult but important step is burying the legal legacy of tyranny and establishing an economy, a government and institutions that abide by the rule of law". Joe Biden.
In our Newspaper publications (This Day and Guardian) of 221" May, 2025 we alerted the public and those concerned about the imminent violation of our member's fundamental human rights by NIHOTOUR and the steps taken by us to seek court protection in suit No: FHC/L/906/2025, pending before Justice Alagoa. We also alluded to the fact that at the last sitting, the court advised all the parties to maintain same position until our interlocution motion on notice is heard and dispensed with.
However, on 23d May, 2025, the DG of NIHOTOUR circulated a press release indicating among many others that NIHOTOUR will proceed with their unconstitutional registration drives notwithstanding the court advice. We thought the NIHOTOUR DG response was a mere media jive. Alas! On Tuesday, 10* June, 2025, the NIHOTOUR DG actualized his threat by sending his enforcement team with a bus load of armed policemen to close down some of our members' hotels.
Thereafter, same principal officers of those hotels were arrested and taken to NIHOTOUR Lagos campus at Mushin. The concerned hotels were made to pay N2.5 million as penalty for noncompliance with NIHOTOUR registration demand before their arrested staff were released. Those whose hotel could pay N2.5million were left off hook and one of our members who could not complete their payment formalities was taken to Lagos State Police Command Ikeja where he was detained overnight. When our members drew the attention of NIHOTOUR enforcement team to the fact that the matter is subjudice they were totally ignored.
The following day, Wednesday 11" June, 2025 the NIHOTOUR enforcement team continued their invading onslaught on some other members and in one hotel, a staff member was beaten and in the process lost an eye.
It is instructive to note that throughout their action no court papers or order of court to seal off or arrest any of our members' staff was presented despite persistent demand made for such. This made NIHOTOUR a complainant, prosecutor and judge in their own case. We wish to clarify that the claim making the rounds by NIHOTOUR that our members willingly comply with their registration is a total fallacy. The payment collected from our members were achieved at gunpoint by NIHOTOUR as a penalty fee. No sane person would have done otherwise. These penalties were made to be paid in favour of NIHOTOUR TRAINING, RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES LTD bank account at Polaris Bank or Access Bank Ple. It is instructive to state that NIHOTOUR Act 2022 under which the DG of NIHOTOUR is purportedly acting contains no provision for sanction of employers of defaulting employees let alone imposes N2.5 million penalties on the employers.
Of course, our lawyers have been duly briefed and necessary applications are being filed before the court where our case is pending. We trust in Nigeria Judiciary and we hope our members' rights violated will be addressed and damages suffered assuaged accordingly.
We must also alert the public that NIHOTOUR as it is today is being run on a one man show basis in view of the fact that the Governing Board of NIHOTOUR is yet to be constituted. We implore His Excellency, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to constitute the board of NIHOTOUR in order to whittle down the seemingly absolute and undiluted prerogative of the current DG of NIHOTOUR. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
On another breath, we implore the Inspector General of Police to avoid granting approval for the deployment of the policemen for duties that could expose Police institutions to unnecessary damages in court.
ADENIYI OLOGUN Director General
On this momentous occasion of your 80th birthday, we joyfully celebrate the life and legacy of our beloved father, mentor, and patriarch, Pastor Nko Usifoh. His journey has been one of steadfast purpose, markedbyalifelongdedicationtofamily,nation, andfaith.
Your journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, grounded in unwavering faith, seless service, and an enduring commitment to truthandexcellence.
Your life stands as a testament to resilience and impact. From your commendable service in the Nigerian military to your transformative roles in Civil governance and the Federal Road Safety, you have shown what it means to lead with integrity and heart. As Chairman of the Bendel State Task Force / Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sanitation, you pioneered the Environmental
Sanitation Days campaign-an initiative whose legacylivesoninnationalpolicy.
Your dedication extended to the global stage through your service in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force, demonstrating your commitment to International peace and humanitarianefforts.
Above all, your calling as a spiritual leader has touched countless lives. In your current role as Divisional Supervisor of the RCCG Northern Council of Elders, you continue to model grace, wisdom, and faith in action, guiding others with quietstrengthandunshakabledevotion.
We thank God for the gift of your life and celebrateallthatyouare,abeacontoourfamily, our community, and the nation. May your days overow with joy, and may you continue to reap theblessingsofalifewelllived.
"May you continue to spend your days in prosperity and your years in pleasure, in the name of Jesus." Job 36:11
sundayEhigiator
The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has terminated the contract with Levant Construction Ltd for the reconstruction of the BeninSapele-Warri Road (Section 1: Benin-Imasabor), being executed under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, due to non-performance. Thisisjustasherevealedthetrue cost of different road infrastructures across the country. In a statement yesterday, signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, Orji Uchenna Orji, Umahi, expressed disappointment over Levant’s failure to meet its contractual obligations, despite several warnings and interventions by the government.
segun James
Ahead of the July 12 local government elections in Lagos State,theformerDeputyNational Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has charged the party’s candidates in the election to challenge the status quo and be bold to take on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at their supposed stronghold.
George, who stated this at the commencement of the PDP campaigns with the presentation of flags to its candidates, urged them to prove to nay sayers that the PDP is not dead in the state.
In his address to the party faithful,theAtonaOoduacharged the candidates and others to be courageous as they go for the campaign.
He likened PDP to an Iroko tree that would not be uprooted in the country.
“I will join you as humanly
possible to campaign to our people. I know the LASIEC, the electoral commission was packaged by the state government, but above all the contestants, put Almighty God before you, He will lead you there. Even if they manipulate the results, let the vibration wake up Lagos.”
“For those who are contesting, be courageous because you are serving the Almighty God. God told us in the holy books, you must be a servant leader.”
“The essence of today is to convince the Lagos electorate that the rumours that have been flying around is most irresponsible statement that any sane person would say. How can an Iroko tree die. The only political party that is Iroko is PDP,” Gorge boasted.
Speaking on the hardship in the country, George said: “Don’t beafraid,goandcampaign.There are millions who are suffering.
Umahi also revealed that the Lagos-Ibadan road project was valued at N195 billion under the previousadministration,andisnow being completed by the current administration with an additional
investment of N33 billion.
The statement read in part: “We have three sections there. We have the Levant section. Unfortunately, Levant has not lived up to expectations. We even had to
intervene and beg the Governor of Edo State to please get the worst sections of that route done.”
“We divided the worst sections into two and told Levant to concentrate on one part. While the
Governor of Edo State intervened, which I think is about 23 kilometres for N35 billion, and that section the Governor of Edo State intervened in is ongoing very well, Levant has since left the site.”
ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja
As part of efforts to get rid of criminal activities in Kogi State ,the operatives of Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in collaboration with the security agencies, has arrested no fewer than 26 kidnappers in a clean-up operations in Kogi West.
The State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), disclosed this while parading the suspects yesterday in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu LGA.
It was learnt that some of the arrested suspects claimed to have come from Zamfara State and some local who act as accomplice were also apprehended in the area.
Omodara explained that the operation, which was carried out in the last two weeks, was part of the government’s efforts to tackle insecurity in the state.
He stated that the arrested suspects include natives who have been aiding the activities of bandits by supplying them with logistics such as food, drinks, water, and others. “It is not only the kidnappers group in the forest that have been arrested, but also the natives that are collaborating with them.They serve as their logistics suppliers to the bandits and kidnappers in the bush.”
Michael Olugbode in abuja
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has identified hate speech as a violation of the human rights to dignity and freedom from discrimination against others.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, gave the description yesterday in Abuja at the commemoration of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
He noted that this year’s theme, “Hate Speech and Artificial Intelligence”, invites us to examine the growing intersection between technology and human rights. It challenges us to reflect on the double-edged nature of AI as both a tool for development and a potential amplifier of harmful narratives, including hate speech.”
He said: “As the lead institution charged with the protection and promotion of human rights in Nigeria, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) asserts the intricate relationship between hate speech and human rights. In its base form, hate speech seems to be an illustration of the freedom of expression. However, in its impact, hate speech is a violation of the human rights to dignity and freedom from discrimination against others.”
sunday Okobi
In a significant move to boost agricultural development in the South-west, the South West Agricultural Company Limited (SWAgCo), the agribusiness subsidiary of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), in
Onuminyainnocent
In a move aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties and fostering cooperation, Ambassador Dr. Marshall Jonathan Ojadah has been appointed as the Special Representative, Counsellor, and Advisor to Ivory Coast Presidential Candidate, HE Ousman Camara. Ojadah, a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in international relations, trade, and investment, is expected to bring his expertise to bear in this new role.
With a strong track record of promoting social justice, advocating for marginalized communities, and facilitating cultural exchange programmes, AmbassadorOjadah’sappointment is seen as a significant boost to Camara’s presidential campaign.
Details of the appointment were revealed in a statement issued by the presidential candidate’s office, which highlighted Ojadah’s impressive credentials and his commitment to promoting peace, stability,anddevelopmentinAfrica.
Ojadah’s appointment has been widely welcomed by diplomats, politicians, and civil society leaders, who see it as a positive step towards strengthening ties between Nigeria and Ivory Coast.
As special representative, Ojadah will be responsible for advising H.E. Ousman Camara on diplomatic matters, fostering cooperation between Ivory Coast and Nigeria, and promoting the presidential candidate’s vision for a more prosperous and peaceful Africa.
david-Chyddy Eleke in awka
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, has admonished operatives in the state on exercising extreme care in the use of their firearms.
Orutugu made the admonishment when he visited Police Mobile Force 29 Squadron at Amansea, Awka, where the deceased police officer, Inspector Amaechi Okolie, who was shot by his 10-year-old son, served.
The commissioner also visited the family of the deceased,
where he made financial contribution to the family.
Inspector Okolie was two days ago shot dead by his son while fiddling with his service rifle, without knowing it was fully loaded. His second son, a six years old boy was equally wounded as a result of the incident.
A statement issued by the state Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the commissioner was atAmansea to condole with the family members and officers
and men of the Squadron over the sad incident of the loss of Inspector Okolie and bullet injury to one of his sons.
Ikenga said: “The CP, during the visit, described the Police Mobile Force as hisAlma Mater, and reminded the officers of the importance of adhering to Police Operational Protocol, especially in their line of duty.
“He emphasized the need for teamwork, and encouraged the personnel to remain focused and dedicated to their duties, despite the loss.
Mary Nnah
Trinity Chorale’s N1.5 million win at the Dominican Media
‘Easters Glory’ Music and Chorale Competition is not just a victory for the group, but a beacon of hope for the Nigeria’s music industry.
The competition, held recently in Lagos, showcased talented individuals from across the country, highlighting the potential
for music to unite and inspire Nigerians
According to NnamdiAmadi, the group’s founder, “We are excited to say the least.Although we saw it coming because we worked for it.”
The prize money will be used to support their annual concert and charitable initiatives, including training for Catholic priests.
Amadi noted that their music
is “music for the soul,” aimed at edifying and bringing peace to listeners.
The group’s charity-based approach to music demonstrates the positive impact that music can have on society.
Amadi said: “Our music, our intention, is, through our music, we want to edify the soul. We want to bring peace to people. We want people to have some formofcomfortandconsolation.”
collaboration with the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has launched a support initiative targeting over 100 smallholder maize farmers at the Odu’a Agro Industrial Hub in OkeAko Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The flag-off ceremony, which took place yesterday at the Odu’a Agro-Industrial
Hub in Oke-Ako, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was graced by the state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, alongside traditional rulers, government officials, and key stakeholders from the agricultural sector.
The project, titled: ‘Sustainable Development of Maize Micro-Enterprise Farmers in Ekiti State,’ is aimed at enhancing maize productivity, improve access to quality inputs and extension services and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
The project is being implemented by Westlink Integrated Agriculture Limited, the operating subsidiary of SWAgCo Limited.
The Management and Staff of Stonegate Engineering and Quarries
Limited warmlywelcomethePresidentandCommanderInChief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to Kaduna for the commissioning of legacy projects executed by the Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Uba Sani, CON.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Governor Uba Sani for his remarkable strides in delivering purposeful, transformative, and inclusive leadership—ushering Kaduna State into a new era of progress and development.
Signed: Walid A. Khabbazi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer
Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
08033025611 sms only
Drawing from a deep historical perspective, Gerald okoye urges south East to forge new political alliances to regain lost political and economic grounds under the Peoples Democratic Party.
The serial humiliation of the South East region by the Peoples DemocraticParty(PDP),especiallycanbe likened to the story of an irresponsible husband that has thoroughly abused a loyal and obedient wife. Although PDP owes a significant chunk of its history, electoral fortunes, and survival till this day to the region, the party has not really been fair to Ndigbo. The height of it is the rigmarole over the position of National Secretary.
But before we get there, a historical background becomes imperative because a man, whodoesnotknowhishistory,urinatesonthe graves of his forefathers. Born in 1998, PDP is an offshoot of the G-34, a group of fearless Nigerians led by the second Republic Vice President, late Dr. Alex Ekwueme. When it was convenient and lucrative to dine and wine with the General Sani Abacha junta, these men risked their lives and estates to challengeAbacha,anddemandedthemilitary to go back to the barracks.
The natural thing would have been for Ekwueme to fly the party’s presidential flag in 1999. It is actually a fact of history that one of the founding fathers of PDP, Alhaji Lawal Kaita had, during the party’ formative years pushed for a clause that would make Ekwueme the party’s sole presidential candidate. Ekwueme explained why he turned this down in a no-holds barred interview published in a national newspaper inAugust, 2009 His words: “I said we should not let people conclude that all we did at the constitutional conference, to the all politicians summit, which I chaired, to the Institute of Civil Society, which I chaired, the G-34, which I chaired and the party, which I was then chairing was merely calculated to make me presidential candidate of the party by fiat without going through any democratic process.”
Nevertheless, Alhaji Kaita’s worst fears came to pass at PDP’s presidential primary in Jos,thePlateauStatecapital,whereEkwueme was thrown under the bus. Chief Olusegun Obasanjoemergedinwhatmanyhavelikened to a man dropping through the roof to take over a house you laboured to build and eventually throwing you out through the window. They said the military and “owners of Nigeria” wanted to compensate the South West for the wrong done to the Yoruba via the annulment of M.K.O Abiola’s election on June 12, 1993. And which animal’s head would be more suitable for this appeasement
sacrifice than that of the cockerel, in this case the Igbo man, who had no chair at the discussion table?
The cold breakfast on the plateau notwithstanding, Ekwueme and the South East rallied a humongous 3.2 million votes for Obasanjo’s election. This represents 78 percent of votes they cast in the 1999 presidential election. They took it a notch higher in 2003, delivering 4.5 million votes to Chief Obasanjo’s re-election bid. That election was remarkable in the sense that the highly revered Ezeigbo Gburugburu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, was also on the presidential ballot.
Remarkably also, when the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua ran with a son of the South South, Dr. Goodluck Jonathanin2007,theSouthEastchose him over and above his Katsina kinsman, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), who had their son, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) as the vice-presidential candidate.
Fast-forward to 2011 after the unfortunate demise of Yar’Adua, Jonathan got 4,985,246 votes from the South East, while former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) got 76,228 votes. It did not matterthattheirson,SenatorBenObi, was Atiku’s running mate. During Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015, the region queued behind the PDP, once again. The lowest vote amassed by the PDP in the five states of the South East was 79.55 percent in Imo State. Anambra gave 98.42 percent
of their votes to Jonathan and zero percent to Buhari.
2015 was not different. As a matter of fact, whereasmostPDPtraditionalstrongholdsbetrayed or revolted in the face of the “Change” fever that swept through the country, leading to the party’s loss, the South East showed up for Jonathan and PDP.
In fact, it was too hard for Buhari that he swore to never forget or forgive the region. He swore in faraway Washington that he would never treat the people that gave him five percent of their votes as equals with those who gave him 98 percent.
As a result, the region was totally excluded from strategic positions, including the armed forces and related agencies. It was so bad that Buhari regime extended the tenure of the Commandant-General (CG) of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, by six months beyond his July 2021 retirement date, just to sidestep the most senior officer, Hilary Kelechi Madu. When the CG eventually left in January 2021, Madu could barely open the handover notes he received from the retired CG before Buhari kicked him out and appointed Ahmed Abubakar Audi as the new CG of NSCDC. Also, Calistus Nwabueze Obi was removed four days after his appointment as Acting Director-General of the Nigerian MaritimeAdministration and SafetyAgency (NIMASA) and Baba Haruna Jauro appointed as a replacement.
Again, but for Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s return as Deputy Senate President by a stroke of luck in June 2015, the South East could have gone for a whole eight years without a principal officer of the Federal Government. Buhari’s scorched earth policy was such that none of the two or three APC House
It is time to think strategically and forge new political alliances that serve the region’s short, medium, and long term political and economic interests. It is time to connect to the centre and allow PDP, that brutal husband that abuses his loyal wife to please his wayward concubines, to die a natural death.
of Representatives members of the South East extraction was considered for any principal office the House of Representatives. Furthermore, the region was totally excludedfromtherailwaydevelopmentprojects powered by Chinese loans. Most ridiculously, Buhari prioritised a new railway project from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic over the Eastern Rail Line that should have served the South East.
But South East PDP leaders were not deterred and party faithful as the region became the heartbeat of the opposition. They stayed putinthepartyandworkedwithotherleaders to rescue and rebuild the party. The likes of Atiku, Senator Bukola Saraki, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, then governors Samuel Ortom, Aminu Tambuwal,AbdulfatahAhmed, and other political heavyweights were rallied back and PDP became viable again.
The PDP 2015 Post Election Review CommitteeheadedbyEkweremadurecommended the zoning of the presidential ticket to the North to compensate for the 2015 mistake and ensure a fellow northerner squared up to Buhari. They gave PDP massive support in 2019. Therefore, in 2023, a just party should have naturally zoned the presidential ticket to the South East region, it was their turn. It should have been a twohorse race between Senator Bola Tinubu and Mr.PeterObioranyotherSouthEasterner.But the closer the party got to the 2023 election, the clearer it became that PDP leaders were not ready for a President of Igbo extraction. First, Governor Dave Umahi, shipped off, citing this reason. Next, Obi left.
Pray, how did PDP think it was okay for power to remain in the North after Buhari’s eight years, but an anathema for a South Easternertoflytheparty’sflag?EvenJonathan for whose sake the region suffered tribulation under Buhari could not put his foot down to demand justice for the region. Instead, he became a frequent visitor to Aso Villa, hobnobbing Buhari. There were even stories that he was being primed to succeed Buhari as the only southerner restricted to just one term by the constitution or that power would revert to its “owners” in 2027.
-Okoye writes from Onitsha, Anambra State.
Assam E AssamchroniclesthelongpoliticalsojournofthepeopleofakwaIbomStateinthePeople’sdemocratic Party before Governor Umo Eno spearheaded their recent defection to the all Progressives Congress.
IntheevolvingpoliticallandscapeofAkwa Ibom State, recent developments have reignited debates about party loyalty, political identity, and the future of governance in the region. For decades, the People’sDemocraticParty(PDP)hasheldsway, not only as the ruling party but as a political institutiondeeplywovenintothefabricofthe state’s history and leadership structure.
To some, PDP is more than a party, it is an article of faith, a symbol of continuity, and a guarantorofstability.Assuch,anyperceived departure from its fold is viewed by loyalists as political heresy or outright betrayal. However,thenarrativeisbeginningtoshift. GovernorUmoEnoisleadinganunprecedented number of political actors and stakeholders to declare allegiance to the All Progressives Congress(APC),challengingthelongstanding dominanceofthePDP.Whilethemediaspace isfloodedwithemotionallychargedrhetoric, rangingfromwarningsofdoomtoaccusationsof disloyalty,evenbypeoplewhohavenointerest in the affairs of the State, it is crucial to locate theperspectiveoftherelationshipbetweenthe Party(PDP)andtheStateinsubstancerather than sentiment.
InAkwaIbom,PDP’suninterruptedcontrol sincethereturntodemocracyin1999hascreated a perception of invincibility. Generations of leaders, appointments, and political legacies havebeenbuiltwithinitsfold.Thislonghistory hascontributedtotheparty’sidentitybecoming interwoven with the political psyche of the people.
Asaresult,formany,politicalrelevanceand legitimacy seem to stem almost exclusively fromPDPaffiliation-anybodywhohasheld a political appointment or won an election has done so under the PDP – there lies the perception!
Theemotionalreactiontodefections,therefore, seeks to becloud the substance of this collective decision. It is not just politics—it is about identity, belonging, and a collective history.Theuseofwordslike“betrayal”reflects a deeply personal connection to the party, a feeling that those of us who leave are turning theirbacksnotjustonaparty,butonashared legacy.
Whateverourviews,itismootthatdemocracy must remain dynamic, and political realignments are part of its natural progression. Governor Eno cited his fundamental right to associate. He clearly stated that his defection to APC was not self-serving but was driven by the need to connect with the Government
at the centre in view, particularly, of frustrationwithinternalpartydynamics ofthePDP’slackoftransparency,and resistance to reform.
The fixation on loyalty to PDP as a measure of political value risks overlookingtherealquestions:Istheparty supportive of the people delivering on their mandates? Are they accountable? Are they serving the interests of the people of Akwa Ibom State?
Akwa Ibom’s political evolution need not be seen as a threat. Instead, itshouldbeembracedasevidenceofa maturingdemocracy.Changeisrarely comfortable,especiallyinenvironments wheretraditionhaslongdefinedpolitical behavior.
Butthetruetestofademocracyisnot inhowtightlypartiesholdontopower, butinhowwelltheyadapttochanging realities, accommodate dissent, and prioritize the will of the people.
Imakeboldtosaythat,frommyown perspective, the Peoples Democratic Party has always given Akwa Ibom the short end of the stick. Governor Eno has been bold about ending the charade.
Six months before he formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party,GovernorEnousedallhispublic
speechestoshowhisdiscontentwiththeleadershipstyleoftheParty.Heregularlyquestioned the rationale of leaving the resolution of the internal problems of the party to attack and insultPresidentTinubuwhilethepartyclearly abandoned its role as the leading opposition party. His discontent was palpable. Even the blind saw it. He was completely ignored.
For those of us in the state, we wondered why the NEC or NWC of the PDP could not invite our Governor for a discussion on why he would decide to dump the PDP midway into his four-year term. They learnt no lesson from the Parable of the missing sheep.
Itwasforthissameattitudeandreasonthat we lost the Presidential elections of 2015 and 2023 and allowed Governor Amaechi and Governor Wike to lead people who would havesupportedustovictory,outoftheparty. Theycouldnotbebothered,andthishasbeen the trade mark of the party.
FromMay1999,PresidentOlusegunObasanjo took office under the platform of the Peoples DemocraticParty,thePDP.Foreightlongyears, he held the reins of power. But for the people ofAkwaIbomState,thoseyearsweremarked notbyprogress,butbypainfulneglect.Despite beingastatethatvotedoverwhelminglyforthe PDP,AkwaIbomwastreatedasanafterthought —apoliticalorphaninahouseithelpedbuild. Ouronlyrewardforloyalty?Hostility.Instead of partnership, what Governor Obong Victor Attah met inAso Rock was resistance.
Thisisnolongerapartisandebate.Thisiscommon sense. It is clear now.The PDP does not want Akwa Ibom State as a partner in its political structure. They want subjects, not stakeholders. Slaves, not equals. But let this be known — we are not slaves. We are a proud people. Industrious. Resilient. Dignified. And we will no longer accept crumbs from the table we helped build. We demand justice. We demand respect. We demand leadership that sees Akwa Ibom not as a pawn, but as a partner.
Rather than support, he was given silence. Andwhenhedaredtospeak—whenhebanged thetabletodemandfairnessforhispeople,the responsefromthePresidentwaschilling:“He hadtobecaged.”Caged—forwantingwhat wasright.Foraskingfortherightsofhispeople. For requesting approvals for an airport , not for himself, but for the state. Obasanjo, both President and PDP National Leader, denied those approvals.
Hedeniedourpeopletheirfairshareoftheoil wealthdrawnfromtheirland.Notonekilometer of federal road. Not one federal project. Not onegestureofgratitudeforourvotes,loyalty and support.
Yetthroughitall,GovernorAttahpersevered. He borrowed when he had to, just to keep the lights on and salaries paid. He found a way, where there was none. And against all odds, that same airport Obasanjo refused to approvenowstandsproudly,bearingGovernor Attah’s name — a monument to resilience, notfederalsupport.-Officiallyinauguratedby Chief OlusegunObasanjo, former President, CommanderinChiefoftheFederalRepublic of Nigeria.
AndwhatdidthePDPdotohelpAkwaIbom in all this? Nothing. Not a word. Not a hand ofsupport.Noteventhepretenseofconcern. But perhaps the most shocking part of this narrative is what came next.
In2007,aftereightyearsofmarginalization, thepeopleofAkwaIbomStatestillvotedoverwhelmingly for the PDP. We gave the party a secondchance.Anotheropportunitytoprove that loyalty means something.
Whatdidwegetinreturn?Moreofthesame. AnotherPDPGovernmentreturnedtopower in 2007. It came with fresh hopes, renewed expectations. But before President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua could fully chart a course, fate struck. He passed on — leaving behind dreams half-drawn, a vision unfulfilled. ThemantleofleadershipfelltoDr.Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a brother from the oil-rich, long-neglected minority South. For many in Akwa Ibom State, it felt like a homecoming. Perhaps, finally, we would be seen. Perhaps, finally, justice would flow from the center to our corner of the nation.
-Assam, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, writes from Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
In today’s volatile and uncertain environment, organisations and their leaders in Nigeria are confronted with a complex web of strategic challenges that demand more than operational excellence. Indeed, they require courageous governance, visionary foresight, and agile execution. One of the most critical issues is the persistent gap between short-term survival and enduring profitable growth. Boards and executive teams often find themselves reacting to daily fires, unable to pause, reflect, and recalibrate their organisations to remain resilient and relevant in a world of constant disruption. The story of Volkswagen Nigeria serves as a cautionary tale in this regard. Once a beacon of industrial promise, it failed to adapt to evolving market realities and industrial policy shifts, eventually shutting down. What could have been a thriving automotive hub turned into an emblem of missed strategic renewal. Fast forward to recent years, even multinational giants have not been immune—GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), after operating for over five decades in Nigeria, exited in 2023, citing a harsh business environment and supply chain disruptions that leadership failed to foresee or sufficiently mitigate.
Stakeholder trust, once easily assumed, is now increasingly fragile. Governance lapses, inconsistent communication,andadisconnectbetweenleadership decisions and societal realities have eroded confidence. Today’s leaders must move beyond compliance and embrace strategic empathy, while boards must evolve from ceremonial oversight to active custodians of purpose and accountability. This erosion of trust was palpable in the downfall of Savannah Bank. The bank once held strong public confidence, but inadequate risk management, weak board oversight, and governance failings undermined its credibility and led to its eventual revocation. The lessons are clear: trust, once lost, is hard to regain, and its loss has institutional consequences that can be existential. Procter & Gamble (P&G), another global powerhouse, also closed its Nigerian manufacturing operations in 2023. While they remain present via imports, the strategic withdrawal from local production reflected not just currency volatility, but a deeper governance gap in adapting to regulatory shifts and aligning operations with evolving local realities.
As digital disruption accelerates, many organisations remain stuck in outdated modes of operation. Executives may lack the fluency to drive innovation, and boardrooms often struggle to frame the right strategic questions around cybersecurity, platform shifts, and future-of-work dynamics, leaving critical blind spots unaddressed. The collapse of NITELexemplifiesthis.AsNigeria’snationaltelecoms provider, NITEL stood at the centre of a digital revolution it failed to lead. Mired in bureaucracy and bereft of bold leadership, it missed pivotal transitions to mobile and data-led services. Private competitors surged ahead while NITEL clung to outdated infrastructure and hierarchical governance models. What was once a national asset became a casualty of digital stagnation and strategic inertia. Similarly, Sanofi, the French pharmaceutical giant, halted local operations and shifted to an import- based model in 2023. This decision reflected the consequences of poor long-range planning and an overdependence on fragile supply chains without the buffers or scenario plans that effective boards ought to oversee.
The dissonance between strategy and execution is another silent saboteur. Grand visions articulated in the boardroom frequently lose momentum as they cascade, if at all, through layers of management. Performance frameworks remain fixated on lagging indicators, missing the very metrics that drive agility, innovation, and stakeholder impact. Today, similar gaps are visible in the retail sector. Shoprite, once hailed as the gateway to modern retail in Nigeria, exited in 2021. Rising operating costs, insecurity, and supply chain challenges were contributing factors, but at the heart of it was an inability to localise strategy, strengthen stakeholder partnerships, and empower in-market leadership to execute effectively in a dynamic environment. Meanwhile, few leadership teams are truly prepared for the geopolitical shifts and regulatory unpredictability that increasingly shape the African and global business terrain. Boards and executives must cultivate the ability to read these signals early and act with speed, clarity, and conviction. Those who fail to anticipate disruption often become overwhelmed by it. The experience of Niger Insurance offers yet another telling lesson. Once a strong player in Nigeria’s insurance sector, its fall was driven by undercapitalisation, regulatory breaches, and insufficient board oversight on financial sustainability. Strategic drift over the years, worsened by governance complacency, led to regulatory sanctions and loss of market relevance. Its story reflects the cost of reactive, rather than anticipatory, leadership.
Equally pressing is the issue of talent flight and the growing leadership vacuum. Experienced
professionals leave, promising talent becomes disillusioned, and without deliberate action, the winning culture erodes. Succession becomes reactive rather than strategic, and organisations lose the very people who should shape their future. Underpinning all of this is the absence of a compelling strategic narrative. In too many organisations, there is no single, shared story that inspires alignment, enables execution, and rallies internal and external stakeholders around a unifying purpose. When the narrative is unclear, the mission falters. When leadership is silent or misaligned, organisations lose their moral and strategic compass—and eventually, their market position. These challenges, while daunting, are not
insurmountable. They are inflection points. They are urgent calls for directors, executives, and public sector leaders to think differently, lead boldly, and govern strategically. This is exactly what TEXEM’s powerful executive development programme, Strategic Governance and Leadership: Steering Excellence in Turbulent Times, scheduled between 16–17 July at Wheatbaker, Ikoyi, is designed to deliver. It is a transformative platform for those ready to lead their organisations with clarity, courage, and a deep sense of purpose. Guided by an exceptional faculty, this programme brings together rare insight and practical relevance. Bradley Jones, Executive Director of the UAE–UK Business Council, offers participants the benefit
of a global perspective shaped at the highest levels of government and corporate diplomacy. His expertise is shaped by his work as a former advisor to five foreign ministers in the UK and his proven experience in equipping leaders to navigate complexity, drive performance, and lead change. Leveraging TEXEM’s tested and proven methodology, he will provoke critical thinking, challenge assumptions, and foster deep learning that endures long after the programme ends. What makes TEXEM different is not just what is taught, but how it is delivered. This isn’t passive learning—it’s an immersive experience that blends robust academic content with experiential techniques. Participants engage in simulations, live case studies, reflective assessments, gamified learning, and peerdriven dialogue. It is a rich, dynamic environment where knowledge is not just acquired but tested, contextualised, and applied. This methodology ensures leaders leave not with notes, but with new mindsets, frameworks, and strategies they can immediately put to work.
For organisations, the value is tangible and lasting. Boards emerge better equipped to steer strategic direction and ensure long-term value creation. Executive teams gain the confidence and capacity to lead in uncertainty and translate vision into measurable impact. Governance mechanisms are recalibrated to reinforce strategic priorities, enhancing performanceandstakeholderalignment.Transparency and accountability become cultural anchors, not mere aspirations. The ability to lead digital and structural transformation becomes embedded, rather than outsourced. Internal leadership pipelines are reinvigorated, and the seeds of succession are planted with intention. And, perhaps most powerfully, a shared strategic language begins to emerge—one that cuts through noise, dissolves silos, and aligns the entire organisation behind a common purpose. The exits of GSK, P&G, Sanofi, and Shoprite from Nigeria serve as sobering reminders of what happens when strategic misalignment, weak foresight, and inadequate governance go unaddressed. TEXEM’s programme empowers leaders to anticipate disruption, align boards and management with clarity of purpose, and embed resilience into the very fabric of the organisation. It is not just an opportunity—it is an antidote to organisational fragility, a lifeline for those who wish to lead with impact, and a strategic imperative for those determined to thrive in turbulent times.
•For more information, visit https://texem. co.uk/strategic-governance-and-leadership-steeringexcellence-in-turbulent-times/
President Bola Tinubu Wednesday’s journey to Benue, a state which has been under the heavy yoke of uncurbed violence by marauders, went beyond symbolism, write Emmanuel Addeh and George Okoh
It was not just a visit; it was a reckoning long overdue. When President Bola Tinubu touched down in Benue State yesterday, he entered not only a physical landscape but an emotional terrain scorched by months of grief, anger, even abandonment.
The air was heavy with the weight of loss: communities decimated by gunmen, mass graves hastily dug, families torn apart, and a people desperate for reassurance that their government still sees them.
For months, the cries from Nigeria’s food basket had gone largely unanswered, seemingly, at the highest level. But yesterday, the President stood on the very soil where blood had soaked into farmland, where classrooms had emptied not from holidays but from horror.
As expected, Tinubu came bearing promises of justice, security, and healing in a place where hope has grown brittle. The visit was more than ceremonial. It was a test of his presidency, and a moment that demanded more than words.
Yet among the rubble, there flickered a fragile flame of resilience. It was that fragile ember that Tinubu went to fan, to let the people of Benue know they are not abandoned in their darkest hour. It was hope that finally, the voice of the nation was being heard in Yelwata, Logo, Ukum, and beyond.
As it were, Tinubu carried with him the solemn task of rebuilding what violence had shattered; not just structures, but hearts and trust.
Between Desperation and Hope
President Tinubu arrived in Makurdi amid palpabletension.Theland,onceNigeria’sbreadbasket, has become ground zero for grief and fear. Trails of blackened grain sacks and charred granary doors stared out from the wreckage, ghostly reminders of lives lost and livelihoods destroyed.
His convoy emerged onto the the tarmac in Benue, a state under siege after about 200 villagers were slaughtered by suspected herders only two nights earlier. Homes were gutted, cattle stolen or killed, with over 3,000 displaced families: men, women. Tinubu’s arrival marked the first such presidential presence in Benue since 2023, a long-overdue acknowledgment of the suffering there. His step onto Benue soil carried both the weight of two years’ silence and the burden of massive expectations.
Upondisembarking,TinubuwasmetbyGovernor HyacinthAlia and leaders of traditional communities silhouetted against the cloudy light. Their faces, etched with grief and resignation, bore witness to unrelenting violence.
Seemingly overwhelmed with the level of carnage, Tinubu spoke quietly to grieving mothers whose eyes had dried of tears and suffering. Behind him, the security apparatus, military and police chiefs conferred anxiously.
Tinubu told them bluntly: “Enough is enough.”
He demanded fresh, aggressive strategies including targeted patrols, community protection units, and rapid-response teams stationed within kilometers of vulnerable villages. He said that those responsible must be found and prosecuted, and that federal government forces must collaborate deeply with local authorities and traditional rulers.
Voices of Aggrieved
In a hall at the state Government House, Tinubu sat among victims and displaced persons, among them persons who lost wives and children in the raging terror, including the one at Yelwata.
Tinubu listened, somber, eyes fixed. Then he addressed the room: “No mother should bury a child in such an unspeakable way. No father should
stand before flames that consumed his home and harvest. This administration will not stand aside.”
He announced immediate relief packages: emergency Naira distributions, medical outreach teams, repairs for damaged schools and clinics. Yet among the crowd, suspicion hung like dust in the wind.
Echoes from the Field
Outside the formal events, the backdrop remained bleak. Fields lay untended, commerce stalled, and fear tempered every gathering. Many had fled far from their homes. A recent study found that insecurity has slashed Benue’s crop and livestock output.
The decline ripples across national food supply, feeding anxieties far beyond Benue’s boundaries. In their hearts, citizens ask: will this pivot be pivotal, or another fleeting promise?
Children as Pun
The sight of schoolchildren lining the streets of Benue State during President Tinubu’s visit, uniformed, waving flags, and chanting rehearsed praises, raised troubling questions about the priorities of governance and being sensitive in moments of national distress.
In a region still bleeding from massacres, the decision to pull children out of class to stage a reception for a politician, no matter how highranking, revealed a misplaced sense of pageantry over purpose. It reduced children to props in a political theatre. Yesterday’s action was simply emblematic of a broader disconnect between leadership and lived reality. Schools in Benue, particularly in vulnerable rural areas, have been repeatedly shut due to insecurity. Many pupils have no access to safe classrooms or even basic amenities like desks and books.
Yet some of the children cheering on the roadside may well be survivors of violence themselves, or have witnessed their schools torched and peers murdered. To co-opt them into ceremonial duties under the current conditions reflected not celebration, but tone-deafness.
Moreover, the optics of the decision were at best damaging, for want of a better word. While the President came to Benue to express solidarity with a grieving population, the forced joy and choreographed reception of children inadvertently muffled the message. Instead of solemnity and reflection, what the world saw was a hollow show of unity, one in which the most vulnerable were, once again, made to perform. It was not merely a logistical error; it was a moral one. Children belong in school, not on parade grounds. Especially not in a state where education is under siege, and where healing, not show;off is urgently needed.
The visit of Tinubu to Benue witnessed a handful of people who were dressed in black wears to signify the feeling of mourning due to the heinous killing of over 200 people in Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. Billboards adorned all major roads around the state capital with welcome messages. Many residents turned out after the early morning downpour to express their solidarity with victims of the Yelewata community despite the heavy presence of security men. From the moment the presidential plane torched down at the Tactical Air Command (TAC) Airforce base in Makurdi the mood was that of despair and anger. Many residents turned out after the early morning downpour to express their solidarity with victims of the Yelewata community despite the heavy presence of security men.
The president after arriving,was received by the state Governor Alia, SGF, Senator George Akume and other past governors of the state, who drove to the state teaching hospital where they saw some of the victims of the attack.
The President who was visibly shocked at the sight of the survivors of the Yelewata killings expressed sadness over the attack while sympathising with those receiving treatment in the hospital.
One of those at the airport to welcome the president was the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Mr Pius Akutah, who disclosed that the president’s coming was timely and assuring.
He said: “The president coming will lift the mood of the people who have suffered this terrible tragedy and it is a very good thing that he came. We in Benue have continue to suffer these attacks and I expect that President Tinubu will put a stop to it because of his experience and profesionalism”
Many people on social media platforms expressed misgiving over the president’s coming, insisting that it will not have an effect on the senseless killings in the state.
Tinubu also directed the security chief to arrest perpetrators of last Friday’s massacre in Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. “Christopher… We need to get our ears to the ground.
“Let’s get those criminals. Let’s get them out,” Tinubu told the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa. To Alia, he said, “Your political enemies don’t want you to succeed…Are you just realising that?” He called on leaders from across the region to work together.
He added: “We cannot do without another. I will want us to create a leadership committee now to meet in Abuja to fashion out a strategy for lasting peace. And I am ready to invest in that
peace,” he said.
Tinubu earlier visited persons recovering from last Friday’s attack by armed herders at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.
Tinubu also directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to immediately arrest killer herders who perpetrated the heinous killing of people. The governors of Kwara, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Ondo, and Nasarawa also attended the meeting.
Particularly, Tinubu called out the Inspector General of Police to know why arrests have not been made.
“How come no one has been arrested for committing this heinous crime in Yelewata. Inspector General of Police, where are the arrests? The criminals must be arrested immediately,” Tinubu said.
He urged the heads of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to intensify surveillance and gather actionable intelligence to apprehend the perpetrators.
Advising Governor Alia on the importance of stakeholder management for peaceful and progressive governance, the President urged the governor to set up a peace committee in the state that will include former governors of Benue, elders, traditional rulers, federal government officials, and non-indigenes living in the state.
Tinubu urged Alia to allocate land for ranching and directed the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to follow up.
President Visits Injured Survivors
Tinubu also visited victims of the recent brutal attack in Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where over 59 people were killed and many others injured.
Arriving at the Tactical Air Command, Nigerian Air Force Base in Makurdi around 12:58 p.m., Tinubu went directly to the hospital to see survivors of the massacre.
Following his hospital visit, the President proceeded to the new Banquet Hall of the Benue State Government House for a closed-door meeting with key stakeholders to address the spate of violent attacks in the state.
It formed part of a wider effort to find a lasting solution to the escalating crisis affecting several rural communities in Benue. Aside Alia, governors from the North-central region, National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, were among other top officials.
He called for blood donations to support the injured receiving treatment at the Benue State Teaching Hospital, where he had earlier visited victims and medical staff.
While underscoring the importance of peace for sustainable development, President Tinubu implored the Governor to ensure Benue is peaceful, adding that the circumstances of his visit this time should not have been a reason to visit.
“I wanted to come here to commission projects, to reassure you of hope and prosperity, not to see gloomy faces. But peace is vital to development,” he said.
“The value of human life is greater than that of a cow. We were elected to govern, not to bury people”, he stressed. He charged Governor Alia with working with the federal government to restore peace.
“Governor Alia, you were elected under the progressive banner to ensure peace, stability, and progress. You are not elected to bury people or comfort widows and orphans. We will work with you to achieve that peace. You must also work with us.
“Not everyone will like you in politics. They hate me, too—like hell. But here I am, still your President. I made a promise to protect democracy, freedom, and prosperity, even for
my abusers and accusers. That’s leadership,” the President emphasised.
Tor Tiv: It’s Full-scale Genocidal Invasion
Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, Tor Tiv, Orchivirigh Prof. James Ayatse, took time to address misinformation and mischaracterisation, saying that land grabbing was at the heart of the decades-long conflict.
“Your Excellency, it is not herder-farmer clashes. It is not communal clashes. It is not reprisal attacks or skirmishes. What we are dealing with here in Benue is a calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder-terrorists and bandits.” He cautioned that mischaracterising the crisis had led to inadequate responses and accused some political actors of exploiting the situation for selfish gain.
“We hear that some politicians would even prefer that the crisis worsens, so it would serve as a basis for declaring a state of emergency. This is unfortunate. Any politician who prays for more people to die for such a project is working against the wishes of the people of Benue State,” he said.
Hope?
As the President left, planes slicing across a darkening sky, behind them remained thousands in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, injured bodies, traumatised children. Ahead lay new promises, reform, security, reconstruction. But just promises are not enough. Tinubu’s visit must translate into swift action: villages secured, displaced returned, cattle destroyed and herders relocated, harvests resown.
If leadership is to be measured not by rhetoric but by results, then Benue’s journey back from the precipice must begin now, with deeds, not words.
At a time when global politics increasingly demands local relevance, African leaders and thinkers are reimagining culture not just as heritage—but as strategy. Recently, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), in partnership with Nigeria’sMinistryofForeignAffairs,convenedalandmarksymposiuminAbuja.Themed“CulturalDiplomacyandAfricanUnity: Promoting Pan-African Intercultural Dialogue,” Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the gathering explored how culture can serve as a powerful diplomatic and developmental tool—unifying African nations, shaping international perception, and strengthening regional collaboration in an era that demands both identity and innovation
In a world increasingly defined by geopolitical uncertainty and the search for national identity, the African continent is turning its gaze inward—to culture, heritage, and the arts—as instruments for unity and progress. This shift was the focus of a landmark symposium jointly organised by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at the Rotunda Hall of the Ministry in Abuja, the event explored the theme: “Cultural Diplomacy and African Unity: Promoting Pan-African Intercultural Dialogue.”
The gathering brought together diplomats, thought leaders, policymakers, cultural practitioners, students and young influencers to discuss how culture can unite Africans and contribute to regional peace, cooperation and development. It offered a platform for deep conversations, cultural showcases and cross-generational networking—all centred on the power of culture as a unifying force.
CBAAC, now operating under the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, was established by Decree 69 of 1979 to promote African cultural heritage, preserve creative works, and organise events to project African cultures worldwide.
Thus, for the centre, the symposium also served as a platform to remind participants of Africa’s unfinished cultural agenda and the work still needed to achieve true integration.
In her welcome address, Hon Aisha Adamu Augie, Director-General of CBAAC, expressed profound gratitude to stakeholders and partners, emphasising the significance of culture in international relations and Africa’s development, adding that the gathering would ensure innovative ideas and strategies for leveraging culture in the diplomatic efforts.
Stressing that the event was designed to reignite Pan-African ideals through culture; recognising that Africa and African Diaspora unity depends not just on political and economic factors but also on the cultural, she said; “It is with deep sense of joy and profound gratitude that I welcome you all on behalf of the Management and entire Staff of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), to this very important occasion. My joy stems from the fact of the realisation of the pivotal role of culture and its varied elements in strengthening and deepening ties among Africans and peoples of African descent through diplomatic efforts.”
She acknowledged the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hon Hannatu Musa Musawa Esq., for her consistent support of CBAAC’s mandate. “Honourable Minister Ma, your presence here today despite your other equally important engagements underscores your resolve and commitment in ensuring that our varied cultural elements are deployed not just as an instrument for promoting peace, unity and regional and continental integration but most importantly, that of economic reconstruction and sustainable development of the African continent.”
She also thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, for collaborating with CBAAC. “Permit me to also express my sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly the Honourable Minister of ForeignAffairs,Ambassador Yusuf Maitama
L-R: Professor Tunde Babawale,
the Anti-Corruption
Honourable
Tuggar, for partnering with CBAAC in organising this event. Sir, we are quite grateful for your rare show of solidarity and support.”
Augie further described cultural diplomacy as a growing force in global relations. “You will agree with me that of all forms of diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy has continued to gain traction as a means of deepening international relations and friendships among nations of the world. It is a form of diplomacy that places emphasis on cultural understanding as basis for dialogue and trust.”
She highlighted that intercultural dialogue is central to building trust among Africans and people of African descent. “Intercultural dialogue as an integral component of Cultural Diplomacy is a course of actions that utilises the exchange of ideas, values, traditions and other aspects of culture and identity to strengthen relationships, enhance socio-cultural cooperation and promote national, regional or continental interest.”
Reflecting on global competition and Africa’s place in it, she added, “As the world engages in fierce socio-political and economic competition, Africans
and peoples of African descent must close ranks and continue to deepen interactions, synergise and fine-tune strategies in order to compete favourably in a world already skewed against them. Africa must therefore work harmoniously together in order to take their rightful place in global affairs.”
The keynote address, delivered by Professor Mudasiru Ilupeju Akanbi of the University of Lagos, brought historical clarity to the conversation. He attributed Africa’s longstanding disunity to the European partitioning of the continent. He called for a new cultural contract grounded in African agency. Akanbi urged the continent to negotiate its place in the global order by focusing on internal coherence.
“Africa should focus on cohabitation and negotiation, allowing the continent to dictate its own terms,” he said. His remarks called attention to how colonial-era divisions along language and ideological lines have persisted, weakening
collective identity.
Similarly, Professor Tunde Babawale, of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, examined the commonalities in African languages and cultures, suggesting they could serve as powerful unifying factors. “A return to Africa’s cultures and shared cultural values can reset FESTAC’s objectives of promoting African cultures and unity,” he stated.
Babawale warned that “western influences on African culture and neocolonialism have diminished the tempo of Africa’s unity established with FESTAC ’77.” According to him, only a deliberate cultural revival could counteract these external influences.
Cultural Diplomacy as a Strategic Tool Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa offered a stirring message about the potential of cultural diplomacy in shaping Africa’s narrative and influence on the world stage. “Today, I had the honour of joining thought leaders and cultural ambassadors at the Annual Dialogue of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), themed: ‘Cultural Diplomacy and African Unity: Promoting Pan-African Intercultural Dialogue’. In a time when Africa’s voice is rising stronger than ever, cultural diplomacy is not just a soft power strategy. It is a bridge. A bridge between nations, between generations, and across the diaspora.”
She added, “Nigeria continues to take its place on global platforms, using stories, traditions, and creativity to shape perception and build unity.” She also praised CBAAC’s Director-General, Aisha Augie, for her dedication: “Your passion is inspiring, and your efforts are not going unnoticed,” she said. “As we move closer to FESTAC at 50, I honestly cannot wait. It will be a powerful opportunity to reflect, reconnect, and reimagine the future of African arts and civilisation.”
As the African Union implements its Agenda 2063—which includes the aspiration for “an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics”—this symposium appears timely and necessary. “Given the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 aspiration for ‘an African with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics’, the symposium is expected to address some salient issues that are important to Africa’s development,” Augie said.
She recalled ECOWAS’ recent 50th anniversary and described it as an opportunity to reaffirm regional commitments.
“On the 28th of May, 2025, ECOWAS commemorated her 50th anniversary and reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation.
“This is a welcomed development because in a world ravaged by climate change, regional and continental challenges; leading to ethnic and racial prejudices, ignorance, discrimination and racial profiling, the pivotal role of culture in driving foreign policies has been firmly recognised as the most potent vehicle of intensifying cross-cultural understanding and appreciation among nations.”
As the curtain fell on the event, one thing became clear: Africa’s future may not be determined by its politics alone but by its people’s ability to unite through the stories they tell, the traditions they preserve, and the identities they reclaim.
Famous Obebi Famous
As the demands for pragmatic leadership continue to resonate amidst pervasive public dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s judicial sector and political fabric, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Yenagoa Branch, has emerged as a pacesetter in projecting the Law as a means ofarresting a dangerous slide into anarchy.
The 2025 Law Week of the NBA’s Yenagoa Branch was in many respects an elevation from previous editions. Held under the theme“Setting the Pace: Law, Leadership, and Transformational Development,” this year's event did more than gather the finest legal minds. It sparked a necessary national conversation about the evolving role of law as a catalyst for holding leadership accountable to the people, for ensuring the rule of law and for radically improving access to justice for the public.
After several weeks of diligent preparation by the Law Week Planning Committee, the anticipated programme teed off on May 5, 2025, with a well orchestrated Press Conference at the Koripamo Ungbuku High Court Complex in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital.
Addressing a packed room of journalists from national and international media, the NBA Yenagoa Branch Chairman, Mr. Somina Johnbull, set the tone: “The branch is poised to build on the successes of previous editions of the Law Week to ensure that participants and guests have a first-rate experience this year; by offering solutions to generational challenges affecting leadership in Nigeria.”
He said with the investment in critical infrastructure upgrade in the state judiciary, such as automatic recording system and research support for judges, as well as the availability of small claims courtsand a multi-door courthouse, litigation and adjudication had been greatly enhanced.
On his part, Chairman of the Law Week Planning Committee, Iniruo Wills, remarked that stakeholder satisfaction was the key objective in organizing the events, hence the choice of theme and sub-themes that address issues of vital public interest, such as governance based on the rule of law and revolutionizing access to justice.
But as they say, health is wealth and all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. So on the morning of Saturday May 10th, the BranchChairman, Somina Johnbull, led the teeming lawyers in a 10-kilometreroadwalk to keep body and mind fit. Only a sound mind in a sound body can do justice to the aggrieved. In the evening of that day, the lawyers let their hair down in an Embeleakpo (Ijaw for enjoyment) Night, where they shared fun times by way of various indoor games such as Chess, Scrabble, Whot and Monopoly, along with music and dancing, spiced with roasted fish and like delicacies at the poolside of a major hotel.
Continuing in that tempo, a novelty football match between the Branch and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria took place at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa on Monday May 12, ending in favour of the learned team.
And the next day, the Branch Chairman, Mr Johnbull, the Planning Committee Chairman, Mr Wills, and the Law Week Facilitator, Dr (Mrs) Boma Miebai, led the branch to pay a visit to the Daisy Home for Special Children at Igbogene, where they spent about an hour with the children and donated food items worth over a million Naira, after a joint rendition of the classic charity song by global stars, We are the World. Before leaving, the lawyers took time to motivate the kids towards becoming teachers, doctors, lawyers, pastors and successful
business people in the future.
A SUMMIT OF LEGAL MINDS AND POLICY THINKERS
The week’s icing on the cake was the plenary session held on Friday May 16 at the ornate NCDMB Conference Hall, reportedly the first non oil and gas event to be held in the impressive Hall. The venue’s architectural elegance was matched only by the intellectual weight of the audience and resource persons of the day, headlined by one of Africa’s leading policy icons and public speakers, Prof Yemi Osinbajo(GCON, SAN), former Vice President of Nigeria, who delivered the keynote address.
Declaring the session open, the Bayelsa State Governor, SenatorDouye Diri, stated unequivocally, “If lawyers stand by the truth and the rule of law, Nigeria will survive-and thrive.” His words resonated across the capacity-filled auditorium and synced with the profound exploration of the intersections of law, leadership and transformational development that followed.
Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, in her remarks stated her confidence in the Keynote Speaker’s renowned ability to do justice to the theme and also expressed her admiration for the organizers of the Law Week, noting that they had “raised the bar”, putting Bayelsa State in bright lights
Also speaking the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo, SAN, thanked the NBA "for choosing themes that reflect the urgent really of our time", noting that in moments of upheaval people look to the law as a hope. In quotable words, he charged the NBA to continue to be "a conscience of the nation, not just an association."
In what many have described as one of the most thought-provoking addresses of the year, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo delivered a keynote titled “The Legal Profession: A Vision for a New Era.”
With characteristic depth and clarity, evoking comparison with former US President Barrack Obama’s speech making,, Osinbajo glidedthough the emerging landscape of technology and law. “We are at the threshold of a major transformation,” he said, firing the first salvo.“Artificial Intelligence—tools like ChatGPT—are already reshaping the legal profession. The question isn’t whether we should adapt, but how.”
He warned that AI is not simply a convenience; it is a force that will change how legal services are delivered in the
years to come, adding that, "Our profession needs a new set of tools to work with, that is AI tools which … could process huge volumes of documents in minutes."
He said, "Before 2022, Lawyers were the sole gatekeepers of legal knowledge. But with AI, we are no longer the custodian and gatekeeper of legal knowledge.” However, he was quick to stress that no machine could replace a lawyer’s ethical compass or moral reasoning. “What machines can’t replicate,” he said, “is the lawyer’s ability to exercise discretion, to uphold justice, and to reason ethically.”
Against this backdrop he pointed out that the true value of lawyers must lie in focusing on the aspects of legal practice that machines cannot replicate. So in the face of this foreboding threat, what can lawyers do to remain relevant and competitive? The erudite silk has a gamut of solutions:
First, he asserted that the legal community must reform its educational system and curriculum to reflect new realities, urging a paradigm shift from rote theoretical training to hands-on, mentorship-driven models. He cited the British “filtered entry” approach as an example of how Nigeria might professionalize the Bar and the Bench to be effective and efficient.
Osinbajo also called for crossdisciplinary training for lawyers and the integration of AI as a subject in the curriculum while legal education must emphasize problem solving and adopt simulation-based learning.What is more, he posited that the mandatory one year law school where lawyers are kept in classrooms and taught physically was anachronistic and must now be reviewed, emphasizing the imperative for online, virtual learning in law school and university campuses."The days of in person law school are over. This is the emerging trend," he pointed out.
Pivoting to the ethical dimension, Professor Osinbanjo observed that with the integrity and reputation of the bar and bench greatly threatened by corruption, it was time for lawyers to "Sacrifice personal comfort for collective growth" He expressed worry over the unprecedented spate of conflicting court judgments which has greatly eroded the credibility of the legal system, urging the courts to "focus on justice over faults" "We have entered a new era, one that
demands a new tool kit. This must be the pillar of our renewed vision", he intoned.
Following the keynote, a robust panel discussion unfolded, moderated by the erudite Justice Peter Affen, who provided a sobering reminder that legal education in Nigeria must catch up with global technological realities.
Boma Ayomide Alabi, SAN, Chairperson of the NBA Section on Legal Practice, was forthright when asked of the possibility of AI replacing lawyers: “AI will not replace lawyers. But lawyers who embrace AI will replace those who don’t.” Her point was echoed by Mr. Naboth Onyesoh, Director of Legal Services at NCDMB, who emphasized the Impact of law on business and investment: “The UK’s legal sector contributes over £45 billion annually to the GDP. Imagine what Nigeria could do if we reformed and digitized our legal systems.”.
But according to him, "People choose to arbitrate in the UK, causing capital flight due to the problem of lack of integrity and prestige here in Nigeria" He urged lawyers to take advantage of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act which provides for local content (indigenous lawyers) participation in oil and gas matters.
On his part, Hon. Kemela Okara, former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, spoke on the role of government in promotung the rule of Law. “Law alone can’t do it; the government must be the catalyst enforcing laws, investing in the judiciary, and modeling discipline”, he said.
On his part, another panelist, Dr. Ayibakuro Matthew, framed the conversation philosophically, declaring that “a society with bad laws being implemented by good people will produce better justice than good laws being implemented by bad people. But with both good laws and good people, we can truly transform.”
Prof Festus Emiri, SAN, former Deputy Director-General of theNigeria Law School, gave a most thought-provoking presentation on the need to improve ease of access to justice even at the highest level of leadership. He skillfully touched on various critical sectors. On legal education reform, the Professor advocated for a shift from content-based to concept-focused curricula, centralizing experiential and apprenticeship education, and either abolishing or significantly reforming vocational legal education. On judiciary reforms, the distinguished Professor advocated for a more responsive and efficient judiciary through periodic institutional assessment and continuing education.
The day after the epic Plenary Session, the lawyers had their traditional annual Dinner/ Gala Night at the Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, with Prof Solomon Ebobrah giving a dinner talk on the quizzical topic “The Legal Profession: One Way Creek or Ocean of Opportunities?” With every reason to do so, the Yenagoa legal community marked the formal end of the Law Week on Sunday 18th May with a special thanksgiving service at the St Peter's Anglican Church, Yenagoa.
A NEW STANDARD IS SET, A NEW PAGE OF HISTORY OPENS
Indeed, the 2025 NBA Yenagoa Law Week will be remembered for opening vistas of insight and opportunity for a new era of bridging the gap between law, leadership and transformational development. The Yenagoa Branch of NBA has been receiving applause since the events, for raising the bar in branch law week standards.
Indeed, the Yenagoa Bar made an eloquent statement — that it has come of age and is setting the pace.
www.thisdaylive.com
opinion@thisdaylive.com
The people deserve justice, writes MARCEL MBAMALU
See page 21
OF WAR
FAIZAT BADMUSBUSARI argues the urgent need to end sexual violence in Sudan
See page 21
MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE writes that the senseless, large-scale deaths in Nigeria must not continue undefeated
The real tragedy of the mindless killings in Nigeria now is that most people appear to have become numbed by them. States like Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Taraba and Zamfara have contributed disproportionately to the huge morbid statistics, sadly. Not to mention other parts of the country, like Kogi East, that have suffered heavy casualties from terror attacks and banditry without commensurate media exposures. Sometimes coverage is not provided because such incidences are considered too common in news reporting. On many occasions, editors aren’t sure of the right quantities of violence-related items to publish or air in order not to breach professional ethics. Lost in the milieu is the consciousness of what the actual worth of a single human life is, not to talk of the hundreds and thousands which are gunned down at will. But some incidents, like last week’s murderous invasion of Yelewata in BenueState,dostepupanddefyanyattempts to side-line them.
The sheer cruelty and magnitude of that operation in which 200 people, including babies, adolescents, young adults, pregnant women and other vulnerable persons, were cornered and exterminated at night, ensured that it attracted rare interventions from critical individuals like President Bola Tinubu and Pope Leo XIV. It was part of the pope’s prayers during his mass last Sunday. And Tinubu visited the state on Wednesday. Now, the world awaits the tangible outcomes of the presidential move, especially as earlier visits by topmost security officers there haven’t yielded visible results.
Already, fears that Tinubu’s dash to Benue may have been over-hyped are validated between the lines of the state government’s invitation letter to welcome him which was addressed to “esteemed leaders and registered support groups” and signed by the state governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Special Groups Mobilisation, Hon. Francis Ngutswen. “I am pleased to notify you at the instanceofourdearGovernor,HisExcellency, Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the leader of All Progressives Congress in Benue State, to mobilise massively to give a rousing welcome to our president,” he declared as if his state was in its best of times. “The Support Groups Constituency is required to form a colourful shoulder-to-shoulder spread/procession from airport to Wurukum Roundabout and down to Government House, Makurdi, where the president will address a town hall meeting. Accreditation will be done strictly by the numbers and colours…. Kindly accept the governor’s gratitude for your commitment and be assured of my highest regards and esteem.” Nothing in the tone and diction here indicates that only five days before, families, dreams, potentials and also hopes for the living were wiped out within the territory by elements who shouldn’t be classified as human. Official insensitivity was, thereby, piled upon the people’s misery, grief and despondency.
Governor Alia couldn’t even wait for another opportunity to demonstrate his allegiance to the president in pursuit of his second term ticket, like his other desperate colleagues. And no one should blame Tinubu for the shameful packaging of a condolence visitation in the form of a grand hosting. That communication even undermined Alia’s own previous statement that, “we are bleeding. We are in sorrow.” Let him pray that his obsequious posturing is not in vain. Benue people may not forget on the day of reckoning.
How would they? Janet Erdoo Terhemba who lost many members of her family in the attack explained the disaster thus: “I wasn’t around when it happened. At first, I was told my uncle was missing. Later, they said they found my father and stepmother. But my uncle and the others, including a toddler, were burnt beyond recognition. They were butchered before they were set ablaze. My uncle was butchered, his wife too. In total, I lost eight people in one night. They include my two stepmothers, my uncle, aunt, another uncle, my little sister, and two cousins. They were all killed.” And those bloodless, soulless assailants simply vanished as often.
Will this helplessness continue forever?
SenatorDavidMark,anindigene,appealedfor orderbutwarnedthat,“thisistheunfortunate reality the Benue people are confronted with. The government must rise to its responsibility or risk leaving the people with no option but to defend themselves. This is a trying time for our people. We must stand together, mobilise, and speak with one voice against the invaders. We must not succumb to fear.” True, phobia shouldn’t be an option. If nothing changes significantly, today’s victims may just find solutionstotheonlythingsthatseparatethem from their predators: sophisticated weapons. For, endurance does have its limits, as suggested by the flurry of emotion-laden rhetorical questions that the frontline social critic and former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, churned out at the painful mass murders: “How much longer will we, as citizens, tolerate a system led by this wicked band of mis-leaders, those who lack the empathy and effectiveness needed to end the horror of normalised genocide in our land? How much longer will we allow presidents -
past and present - to coddle the killers of our people, as President Tinubu did in his feeble and infuriating response to the tragedy in Benue? When will we, the citizens, finally rise - collectively and unwaveringly - to demand that the president, senate president, speaker, governors, and all those in power put an end to these massacres?
“When will we stand as one and fight against a political class that has always valued barrels of oil over human lives? When will we demand a Nigeria with leadership that serves its people? When will we say ‘enough’ and truly mean it? When? It must be now! The only condolences that hold meaning for our murdered compatriots in Benue are those backed by actions by standing together against the indifferent, heartless governments that allow this bloodshed to persist.” Her criticshavedismissedthisreactionaspartisan and exaggerated but can they seriously deny its moral justification?
Nodoubt,thetimeforfresherapproachesis now.AccordingtotheleaderofNorthCentral Peace Advocates, Frank Utor, “the killers are notherdsmen.Theydonotrearcattle.Theydo not engage in any known pastoral activities. On the contrary, they rustle cattle from legitimate herders to raise money for their nefarious activities. They then weaponise the confusion to destabilise society…. Intelligence and on-ground evidence indicate that the killers are well-trained members and affiliates of international terror groups whose only mission is warfare against the indigenous communities of Benue, Plateau and other parts of north central Nigeria.
“The killers don’t come on donkeys, or camels or horses; they ride on motorcycles, well-armed to attack communities and retreat to their camps. By describing these terror groups as herdsmen, government after government have misdiagnosed and downplayed this major national security threat to the peace and stability of Nigeria. This mischaracterisation is one of the greatest obstacles to ending the Benue and north central crisis. It deprives the security agencies of the legal and operational clarity needed to confront the threat decisively.” Well put. Themuch-travelledroadsofover-publicised meetings between the president and military/ police chiefs, and the ones amongst field commanders are now clearly insufficient to arrest the sorts of bloodletting comparable in Nigeria only to those experienced during the civil war. Let’s galvanise our intelligence capabilities, deepen community/vigilante policing and reengineer other public safety machineries. The president and his team ought to know that the persistent failure to arrest, prosecute and punish perpetrators will keep mocking the nation’s capacity for accountability and deterrence. Let’s halt these incessant carnages now. It’s ominous to keep watching innocent blood flow unchecked.
Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board
The people deserve justice, writes MARCEL
The recent killings in Benue State, which claimed over 200 lives in a brutal nighttime attack, has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation across Nigeria and beyond. The attack, linked to the long-standing herder-farmer conflict in the region, has left deep scars and raised questions about the government's response to the crisis.
Human rights groups like Amnesty International have condemned the "nearly daily violence" and called on the government to end the relentless killings.
Protests erupted in the state capital, Makurdi, with citizens demanding justice and accountability, criticising what they see as a muted federal response to one of the deadliest massacres in recent years. Social media has been flooded with calls for urgent government action, highlighting the perception of neglect and the failure to protect lives. The Catholic Pope also reacted.
As usual, President Bola Tinubu has described the violence as “inhuman and anti-progress” and ordered security forces to end the killings. However, the persistence of attacks underscores the need for a comprehensive strategy addressing root causes such as land disputes, ethnic tensions, and resource competition as well as the inhuman efforts of foreign interests to destabilize Nigerian communities for the sake of exploiting resources unchecked.
The humanitarian toll is severe, with thousands displaced and agricultural productivity plummeting, further deepening food insecurity in a state known as Nigeria’s food basket.
Interestingly, the president visited Benue on yesterday, June 18, to confirm and commiserate with the people. But who arms these terrorists with AK47s? The government always mentions security when it knows the situation is beyond the current strategy of Nigerian security operatives. Just days ago, the country condemned the attack on Iran by Israel. It is not just about commenting. Can Nigeria ever use the kind of strategy employed by foreign security operatives to resolve this kind of crisis?
Since May 2023, Benue State has witnessed a horrifying surge in violence, with over 1,043 people killed between May 2023 and May 2025, according to security experts.
From February to May 2025 alone, over 150 fatalities were recorded in Guma, Logo, and Ukum LGAs, with a separate 25 May attack in Gwer West claiming at least 20 more lives. The violence escalated further this June 2025 with the horrific Yelewata and Daudu massacres in Guma LGA, where suspected herdsmen killed over 200 people, burning homes and overwhelming local security forces. This is in addition to incidents in other states like Enugu, Ebonyi, and Plateau.
Despite government promises and security operations, the violence continues unabated, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive peacebuilding and protection efforts.
The Federal Government has been criticised for a selective response to security crises, focusing mainly on attacks linked to the opposition or politically sensitive areas, while downplaying or delaying action on the devastating killings in Benue State and the South East. Such a government’s response has been viewed as muted compared to its swift reactions to attacks involving the active party or politically charged power struggles ahead of the 2027 elections.
This is evidence that the government prioritises security responses based on political calculations, focusing resources and attention where it affects political rivals or power dynamics rather than addressing the root causes of violence in Nigeria comprehensively.
One widely held view is that President Tinubu’s cautious or muted response reflects a political calculation to avoid alienating influential northern
power blocs. Maybe the president who hails from the Southwest may be navigating a complex political landscape where taking a strong stance could risk fracturing alliances critical for his administration’s stability and his political future, especially with the 2027 elections approaching. Of course, anyone who saw how the APC seized power would feel so.
Another perspective links the government’s silence to the broader geopolitical context. Nigeria’s vast natural resources have historically attracted foreign interests, and some narratives suggest that external powers, often labelled as colonial or neo-colonial actors, may have vested interests in destabilising Nigeria to maintain economic and strategic advantages. Whatever anyone thinks, this angle remains a deep-seated suspicion among many Nigerians about foreign interference in internal affairs.
Ultimately, Tinubu’s silence or selective engagement may be an attempt to balance national unity with political survival. Nigeria’s ethnic and regional diversity makes governance challenging, and presidents often tread carefully to avoid exacerbating divisions. This balancing act sometimes results in perceived inaction or silence on urgent issues, frustrating citizens who demand decisive leadership.
The brutal massacre in Benue State, where so many lives were lost in a single night, is not just a tragedy. So if allowed to continue, it means three days are enough to clear a state. It is a glaring indictment of a silence that has stretched too far, dangerously bordering on complicity. When a government, sworn to protect its citizens, responds to such carnage with muted statements and delayed actions, it risks becoming an accomplice to the violence.
This silence is not only deafening. It sends a message to perpetrators that their actions will go unpunished, that lives lost are mere statistics, and that justice is negotiable. Worse still, it deepens the wounds of a nation already fractured by distrust and fear.
Silence in the face of such atrocities is not neutrality. It is tacit approval. It emboldens armed groups and undermines the rule of law.
What is worse is that the government reacts when victims react: For example, after the horrific massacre in Yelewata and Daudu communities, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, only visited the area and condemned the attacks following widespread outrage and protests by victims and civil society. He pledged increased security deployment, but this came after the bloodshed and public outcry. This further supports the claim that security agencies only come to inspect corpses and do not fight the terrorists.
As always in Nigeria, in Makurdi, peaceful protests demanding justice for the killings were met with tear gas and force by police, escalating tensions rather than calming the situation. Protesters under the Stop Benue Killings banner were dispersed violently despite calling for protection and government action.
Dr Mbamalu, Jefferson Journalism Fellow, member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and Media Consultant, is the publisher of Prime Business Africa
FAIZAT BADMUS-BUSARI argues the urgent need to end sexual violence in Sudan
On June 19 annually, the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. It is a day dedicated to honoring survivors, demanding accountability, and renewing the commitment to justice. But for too many women andgirlsinSudan,thisdaywillpassinsilence,because their stories remain unheard, their pain unseen, and their suffering weaponized.
Sudan is experiencing one of the gravest crises of our time. Since April 2023, brutal fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated cities, displaced millions, and left women and girls exposed to widespread and systematic sexual violence. Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Sudan has been deliberately used by the warring parties as a weapon of war to terrorize, dehumanize, displace, and destroy.
According to the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) Network, which has been documenting these atrocities across Sudan since the war began in April 2023, the patterns are undeniable.
A vast majority of the 386 cases verified involve gang rape, some with as many as 12 perpetrators at a time violating a single woman or child. In many instances, women are abducted, held in inhumane conditions, and subjected to prolonged sexual torture. Children account for almost 25% of these documented cases, exposing a horrifying level of brutality.
In our documentation work, we have spoken to women who survived unimaginable brutality. One woman, abducted in El Geneina, West Darfur, was passed from soldier to soldier, and she described herself as being treated “like a gift.” When she was finallyreleased,shewalkedbackintoherdisplacement camp, bloodied, in pain, and in silent torment. In another case, a mother sobbed as she recounted how both she and her teenage daughter were taken away. She was eventually freed after days of assault, but her daughter never returned. “Every morning, I wake up and wait,” she told us. “But the sun keeps rising, and she’s not here.
These are not isolated crimes. They are part of a deliberate strategy, a campaign of gendered terror designed to humiliate communities, punish dissent, and assert dominance. And yet, there has been no accountability. Armed actors continue to operate with impunity. While Sudanese women cry out, the global community remains largely silent, treating this war and the women it targets as though African lives are less important and unworthy of the world’s full attention. The international system continues to respond selectively, where some conflicts are considered emergencies, and others, such as Sudan, are often forgotten.
For Nigeria, these accounts should strike a chord. We have seen how Boko Haram used abduction and sexual slavery as tools of terror. We know the scars left behind by insurgencies, from the Northeast to the Middle Belt. But we also know the power of collective outrage, the global call to #BringBackOurGirls
showed that global solidarity is possible, yet Sudanese women continue to be met with silence. Sudan needs that same solidarity now. #KeepEyesOnSudan.
Despite multiple United Nations (UN) briefings and African Union (AU) resolutions, there has been little concrete progress in delivering justice to survivors or in ending the war that continues to place them at risk. While some courts remain operational, most survivors have no safe or trusted pathway to report. Fear of retaliation, lack of protection, and deep-rooted social stigma silence many. With a lack of access to or the availability of safe shelters and severely damaged medical infrastructure, survivors are left to navigate trauma in isolation, often without the hope of redress.
We must ask ourselves: What will it take for Sudanese women to be seen? Nigeria as a leading voice in Africa and a member of the African Union Peace and Security Council can no longer afford to be silent. We must support Sudanese organizations to: Call for a hybrid tribunal on Sudan that includes CRSV as a core pillar, ensuring an end to the cycles of impunity and that perpetrators of crimes are finally held accountable; Fund survivor protection and recovery programs across Sudanese refugee camps in Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt; Support Sudanese women’s organizations already doing frontline response work with little to no resources; and Push the UN, AU, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to include CRSV in all peace and mediation processes, not as a side note, but as a central issue of justice.
The crisis in Sudan demands a continental reckoning with how war continues to target women’s bodies and with how the absence of justice has allowed war to repeat itself. This is not the first time sexual violence has been used as a weapon in Sudan, and it will not be the last, unless impunity ends. Justice must no longer be an afterthought. It must be central to our progress.
On this International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, Nigeria must move beyond words towards action. I call on Nigerians to join me in naming the violence, the perpetrators, and standing with the survivors — not just in words, but through action, funding, and political will.
Because until we do, the war on women’s bodies will continue. History will remember those who stood by and watched, versus those who chose to act.
Dr. Badmus-Busari is a Nigerian Lawyer and the Regional Programme Manager of SIHA Network, a panAfrican feminist organization working across the Horn of Africa
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
The society must be united against barbaric acts
To stem the tide of the get-rich-quick syndrome that has become a national menace, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State is taking the battle to spiritualists of various shades and nomenclatures. These ‘native doctors’ are believed to be driving the surge in ritual killings, kidnapping, robbery, internet and advance-fee fraud, among others. Although such reports have become rampant across the country, the Enugu approach includes pragmatic steps to execute existing laws while also taking proactive legislative steps to mitigate future occurrences.
Driven largely by ignorance and poverty, the bizarre practice of killing for rituals has become commonplace in Nigeria. So rampant is the crime that in many cosmopolitan cities like Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu and Port Harcourt, there is a growing group of desperadoes murdering innocent people, particularly women, children and sometimes the physically challenged, for ritual purposes. These murderers, sometimes called head-hunters, go to any extent in search of body parts. Due to these nefarious activities, ritual killing is said to account for many missing people in the country. That is the menace that the Enugu State government has chosen to confront.
prescribes 20-year jail term without an option of fine for anyone, who performs, facilitates, demands, directs, or participates in any ritual or traditional practice involving the use of human parts.
Again, where a person claims spiritual powers under this law, the burden shall lie on such a person, during investigation, to provide reasonable proof of the purported supernatural abilities claimed. Going further, the Bill places obligations of surveillance and crime reporting on communities, traditional rulers and Presidents-General of towns, failing which they will henceforth be deemed as accomplices in illicit spiritual services. Landlords and proprietors of hotels, guest houses, and estate associations are to obtain and transmit valid means of identification and other details of their prospective tenants and guests to the relevant authority.
It is difficult to prove that these sacrifices, done at the instruction of some crafty traditional medicine practitioners and witch doctors, can catapult people from penury into instant wealth
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
Mbah’s intervention followed the rescue of an 11-year-old boy from a notorious ritualist in the state in whose house were discovered many dead bodies, including that of a pregnant woman. In line with Section 315 (Second Amendment) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State, the suspect is now in police custody. Mbah has equally initiated the ‘Maintenance of Internal Security, Vigilance and Order Bill’ to checkmate criminal activities among native doctors, herbalists and related persons in the state. The proposed legislation, while making registration with the government mandatory for anyone who claims to render spiritual services, outlaws outright money rituals, and criminal bulletproof charms. It also
THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI
SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI
CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI
DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO
TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com
Even though the belief lacks common sense, perpetrators of rituals indulge in these bestial acts for the purpose of making ‘instant wealth’ or what some have aptly dubbed ‘blood money’. Many students of tertiary institutions in the country are also now involved in what is called, ‘Yahoo Plus’ with the aid of these rituals. Meanwhile, it is difficult to prove that these sacrifices, done at the instruction of some crafty traditional medicine practitioners and witch doctors, can catapult people from penury into instant wealth. We endorse the approach by Enugu State. But beyond legislation, the society must be united in taking a stand against the perpetrators of these evil acts and the increasing erosion of our values, which indeed recognise and place hard work, rectitude, and morality way above riches and power. The churches, mosques, and traditional institutions must revive the crusade against money worship and illicit affluence as were the days of old. There is also an urgent need for enlightenment campaigns to put a lie to the erroneous belief that money can grow out of the body parts of murdered people. It is time we put an end to these criminal and barbaric practices.
Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.
I must acknowledge that there are numerous fallacies that requirecorrection.Firstly,crudeoilpricesduringPresidentOlusegun Obasanjo's growth period were not impressive, hovering around $25.ItwasduringPresidentGoodluckJonathan'stenurethatcrude oil prices surged to $100. I don’t agree with Obasanjo on many things but they was a lot of fiscal discipline under him.
Secondly, many individuals misunderstand Keynesian theory, which advocates for increased spending and constituency projects tostimulategrowthanddevelopment.However,acrucialaspectof Keynesian theory is the presence of functional institutions with adequateaccountability;otherwise,thefundswillbesquandered.For instance,Irecallaformergovernorwhoclaimedthathissolutionto unemployment was infrastructure development, but I argued that thisapproachdoesnotcreatejobsbutrathertargetsinterventions.I was correct,today his state still has a high unemployment rate. It’s not about throwing money around.
In a Keynesian framework, he believed that building infrastructure was sufficient, but the money failed to boost aggregate demand due to limited circulation. Therefore, I reiterate that effective Keynesian institutions cannot exist without accountable institu-
tions; it is akin to burning cash on a barbecue stake. Moreover, I am astonished that my comparison of LAPO's impact to constituency projectswasintentionallydistorted.Myargumentisthatinsteadof allocating funds to constituency projects, it would be more beneficial to invest in a viable credit scheme for development. If all constituency funds per local government were channeled into a credit bank with proper oversight and loan repayment, it would ensure sustainabilityratherthantheone-offdistributionofitemslikeKeke Marwa, which lacks accountability. Local government autonomy has already been established by the Supreme Court, making it a law that requires implementation and adherence to the rule of law. This further supports my argument, as a society that disregards its highest court cannot effectively operate a Keynesian model, and the funds will remain in the hands of politicians. Finally, it is essential to acknowledge that Keynesian spending leads to inflation, which offsets any intended gains, highlighting the need for structural intervention.
Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com
A HOLY WAR - AN IMPOSSIBILITY
There are a number of countries attacking each other at the moment, and frequently in the past, with the basic intent of bombing the hell out of each other.
The countries in the Middle East include some with strong religious foundations but why are they fighting?Religionsprovideasetofguidelinestolive by and also promote living with your neighbours. There have already been many conflicts but more do not help improve anything. It's time to back off and back down, take some time to breathe and to heal.Talkingmightnotworkbutbombsdon'teither. Hell might be the final place for those that hurt others and it currently looks like it won't be a lonely place.
Stories by Emma Okonji
The latest statistics on Mobile Number Portability (MNP), released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has revealed that MTN Nigeria, which has the largest market share of 52.42 per cent, is currently leading in inward porting (incoming telecoms subscribers), with a total of 3,960 as at April 2025.
Next to MTN, is Airtel, which recorded 1,860 inward porting, followed by Globacom, which recorded 966 inward porting as at April 2025. 9mobile, the last entrant into the GSM market, recorded only three inward porting, thus bringing the total number of telecoms subscribers that engaged in inward porting, to 6,789.
But for outward porting, 9mobile
recorded the highest number of telecoms subscribers that ported out of its network, which reached a total of 5,042, followed by Globacom, which recorded 1, 233 outward porting, and Airtel, which recorded 295 outward porting. MTN recorded the list number of outward porting of 219 subscribers as at April 2025. Inward porting refers to the number of subscribers that ported from other networks into a particular network, while outward porting refers to the number of subscribers that ported to other networks, from a particular network.
In Mobile Number Portability, telecoms subscribers are allowed to port from one network to another, in search of better service quality, while retaining their original GSM number on the new network. The
rule however stipulates that all porting subscribers must remain on their new network for a period of 90 days, before they are allowed to port out of the network to any other network.
According to the NCC data, MTN has maintained the highest number of inward porting in the last one year. As at April 2024, MTN recorded a total of 2,482 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 784 inward porting and Globacom, which recorded 370 inward porting. 9mobile recorded 33 inward porting.
As at May 2024, MTN recorded a total of 3,379 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 766 inward porting and Globacom, which recorded 286 inward porting. 9mobile recorded 226 inward porting.
As at June 2024, MTN recorded a total of 2,655 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 698 inward porting and Globacom, which recorded 347 inward porting. 9mobile recorded 22 inward porting.
As at July 2024, MTN recorded a total of 4,238 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 1,629 inward porting and Globacom, which recorded 483 inward porting. 9mobile recorded 11 inward porting.
As atAugust 2024, MTN recorded a total of 3,617 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 2,287 inward porting and Globacom, which recorded 569 inward porting. 9mobile recorded 40 inward porting.
As at September 2024, MTN recorded a total of 4,987 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 2,205 inward porting and
Globacom, which recorded 664 inward porting. 9mobile recorded 30 inward porting.
As at October 2024, MTN recorded a total of 3,624 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 1,747 inward porting and Globacom, which recorded 451 inward porting. 9mobile recorded 25 inward porting.
As at November 2024, MTN recorded a total of 3,019 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 1,266 inward porting and Globacom, which recorded 414 inward porting. 9mobile recorded 27 inward porting.
As at December 2024, MTN recorded a total of 1,856 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 835 inward porting and Globacom, which recorded 290 inward porting. 9mobile recorded
17 inward porting.
As at January 2025, MTN recorded a total of 5,551 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 2,414 inward porting and Globacom, which recorded 736 inward porting. 9mobile recorded seven inward porting.
As at February 2025, MTN recorded a total of 2,899 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 1,299 inward porting and Globacom, which recorded 659 inward porting. 9mobile recorded one inward porting. As at February 2025, MTN recorded a total of 1,956 inward porting, followed by Airtel, which recorded 758 inward porting and Globacom, which recorded 348 inward porting. 9mobile recorded two inward porting.
Organisations and government agencies across Africa have been urged to consider digital transformation as key component of their business and adopt it in order to innovate, compete and enhance economic growth.
Technology experts gave the advice at the opening session at the ongoing five-day training workshop for government agencies, HR managers and businesses executives in Lagos.
“Adoption of digital transformation is not only a choice, but a necessity for unlocking the fundamentals, improving productivity and enhancing opportunities.
By leveraging digital transformation, we can streamline processes, foster innovation, and create new opportunities for economic development. In
The training was organised by Tetconsult for some selected government agencies and business executives in Nigeria and Ghana, with the theme: “Digital Transformation-Strategies for the New Digital Age.” In his keynote address, Osun State Commissioner for Innovation, Science, Technology and Digital Economy, Ayofe Olatunji, stressed the need for government agencies and organisations to adopt digital transformation.
Osun State, we are committed to harnessing the power of digital transformation to drive economic development. Our vision is to create a digital-enabled economy that is innovative and quite competitive. In the next three months, the state will complete its e-governance plan to digitise all government activities in the state,” Olatunji said.
The General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency, LASIMRA, Oyekanmi Elegushi, in his presentation as a guest speaker, stressed the importance of digital transformation in the area of data analytics for decision making.
Elegushi, who was represented by
the Head of Business Development at LASIMRA, Ms.YemisiAkinnuoye, talked about the landmark achievement of Lagos State, through digital transformation to include the laying of additional 2,700km of fibre to complement the existing 3,300km fibre deployment in the state.
Senior Consultant at Tetconsult South Africa, Dr. Edmond Katiti, in his presentation, described digital transformation as the redesigning and reimagining of how an organisation does business, engages with its customers, clients, stakeholders, by taking advantage of the benefits that digital technology offers us.
“As the world evolves and gets
more sophisticated, organisations and government agencies need to ensure that they empower customers, and not just the other way of making money out of them. We used to be concerned about privacy, now it’s more about transparency. We used to be concerned about controlling, now we want to be enabling and empowering not just our members of staff in the organisation, but our clients as well. We use it to delegate tasks, now we have more of autonomous functions. We use it to hire managers, now we create leaders,” Katiti said.
CEO of Tetconsult, Shola Taylor, said the training programme was
convened to encourage various institutions to embark on a realistic digital transformation agenda.
“With the way the world is going and the challenges that we have, the digital transformation is being driven by many factors. Industries are now changing and every organisation must have a strategic rethink of their businesses, of their processes, of how they deal with their people, managing them and managing the mission and vision that they set out to do,” Taylor said. According to him, the training will help organisations and government agencies to assess the state of their digital readiness.
L-R: Executive Director, Business Development, NIBSS, Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo; Director General/CEO, NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote; Managing Director/CEO, NIBSS, Premier Oiwoh; Chief of Staff to the Executive Govenor of Lagos State, Mr. Samuel Egube, Director, Payment System Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Musa Jimoh, Technical Adviser to the President on Economic & Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar and Director, Advocacy & Capacity Development Africanenda Foundation, Jacqueline Jumah, at the Unveiling of National Payment Stack (NPS) powered by NIBSS held in Lagos…recently
Calm returned to the Nigerian equities market yesterday following spirited efforts by banks to reassure investors of their compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive on forbearance with the sharepriceofZenithBankPlc,United Bank for Africa (UBA) and other banking stocks, witnessing massive rally.
Banks’ shares had plummeted at the beginning of trading activities this week following reports of the decisive return to orthodox monetary policy by the CBN and its roll out of stringent measures aimed at strengthening banks’ capital buffers, curbing regulatory forbearance abuses.
However,clarificationsfrommajor banks on their forbearances, single obligor limit (SOL) exposures, and steps being taken to abide by the CBN prudential guidelines triggered positive sentiment on the bourse.
At the close of trade, the stock price of Zenith Bank appreciated by 5.32per cent to close at N48.50 per share, while UBA’s stock price gained5.59percenttocloseatN34.00 per share.
Access Holdings gained 4.49 per cent to close at N20.95 per share, as Fidelity Bank advanced by 1.92 per cent to close at N18.55 per share.
Also, the stock price of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) gained 4.43 per cent to close at N79.00 per share, while Stanbic IBTC Holding Plc grew by 0.63 per cent to close at N80.50 per share.
The banks reassured investors before trading commenced on the stock market yesterday, with the likes of Access Holdings, Zenith Bank, FCMB Group and Fidelity Bank, issuing statements explaining when they will exit the CBN’s forbearance regime.
In a statement filed with the NGX, Access Holdings stated that its banking subsidiary, Access
Bank Plc was the first bank to meet and exceed the CBN’s N500 billion minimum capital requirement for commercial banks with international authorisation, and expected to comply by June 30, 2025.
On its part, Zenith Bank announced its readiness to fully exit the regulatory forbearance arrangements granted by the CBN by June 30, 2025, signalling a return to full compliance with all prudential requirements.
In a statement filed with the NGX, Access Holdings stated that its banking subsidiary, Access Bank Plc was the first bank to meet and exceed the CBN’s N500 billion minimum capital requirement for commercial banks with international authorisation, and expected to comply by June 30, 2025.
The company Secretary, Access Holdings, Mr. Sunday Ekwochi in the statement noted that the banking subsidiary of the Holding is currently compliant with the single
obligor limit requirement as of the date herein and would continue to ensure adherence to this regulation.
“Regarding the regulatory forbearance on credit facilities, the Bank will comply with the apex bank’s directive by June 30, 2025, while maintaining strong capital buffers and paying dividend to its shareholders.
“We assure our esteemed shareholders and stakeholders of our commitmenttodeliveringsustainable value in the immediate and long term and thank them for their trust and support over the years,” the statement by Ekwochi added.
The Company Secretary, FCMB Group, Funmi Adedibu in a statement, said the Group’s Nigerian banking subsidiary currently has loans under CBN forbearance (credit exposures to 3 entities and 2 obligors) amounting to N207.6 billion as at 31st May 2025 (down from N538.8 billion as at September 30th, 2024).
According to the statement, the
Stories by Emma Okonji
A report by Project Management Institute (PMI)) has highlighted that more agencies, as much as 97 per cent face mounting pressure to deliver bold, fresh experiences that boost brand awareness and keep customers engaged in an increasingly saturated market.
The online survey was commissioned by the Project ManagementInstitute(PMI),butwas conductedbyPSBInsightsfromApril 28 to May 6, 2025, among creative campaign professionals in the United States working at an advertising, marketing, creative, PR agency, or in-house agency/department.
In a statement released by
PMI at the ongoing Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025, the institute said:
“PMI highlights that 97 per cent of respondents faced at least one major campaign challenge in the last year, including:goingoverbudget–55per cent, overdue deadlines – 54 per cent, and constraints on creativity – 47 per cent.”
The survey, which was conducted among 130 US marketing and advertising agency professionals, also found that a third of campaigns – 34 per cent do not resonate with their target audience or generate new leads – 35 per cent.
Analysing the survey, Chief Marketing Officer at PMI, Menaka Gopinath, said: “In a tough
marketing climate, with rising demands, tighter budgets, and shorter timelines, the execution side of creativity has never been more critical. The survey reveals that 10 (90 per cent) creative professionals agree that great creative campaigns do not happen without great project management.”
Creative leaders also said project management professionals could allow the organisation’s leaders to focus on driving growth (52 per cent), ensure campaigns contribute positively to the brand over time (52 per cent), get all the different parts of the campaign working together (50 per cent), manage increasingly complex campaigns (45 per cent) and ensure campaigns
are long-lasting (45 per cent).
President and CEO of PMI, Pierre Le Manh, said: “Marketing matters more than ever, but it also has to perform, in spite of its increasing complexity.
“Every dollar must drive measurable impact, and every great idea must scale. That’s where project professionals become a force multiplier. They don’t constrain creativity, they operationalise it. They fight waste, play an essential role in managing complex assets, teams, cultures, tech stacks - and turn ideas into results. Ultimately, they drive more execution efficiency and speed, which translates into more profit for both agencies and clients.”
Following the recent election of new directors into the executive board of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the registry for the .ng domain, NiRA has announced the upcoming implementation of the WHOIS Privacy Redaction service, an initiative aimed at enhancing digital trust and privacy within Nigeria’s internet ecosystem.
The new service, which is now live, will allow registrants of .ng domain names to shield their personal information, such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, and physical addresses,
from public visibility in the WHOIS database.
The data points will be replaced with the label ‘Data Redacted’, in a move that prioritises user privacy, curtails unsolicited contact, mitigates spam, and aligns with global best practices in data protection and internet governance.
Giving details of the initiative, President of NiRA, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, said: “The introduction of WHOIS Privacy Redaction is a pivotal development for the .ng domain ecosystem. At NiRA, we are committed to safeguarding
the privacy of our registrants and fostering a secure online environment. This free service reflects our dedication to data protection, public trust, and the continued growth of the .ng country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD).”
While personal contact details will be redacted, essential technical information such as nameservers, domain status, and registration or expiration dates will remain visible to ensure the stability and transparency of internet operations.
To accommodate legitimate access needs, NiRA has implemented a
structured mechanism to support lawful inquiries, including from law enforcement agencies, through registrar-facilitated communication that protects the identity of the registrant.
“Technically, the redaction will be managed at the registry level, using infrastructure that already supports data protection protocols for EU citizens, thereby ensuring compliance with the provisions of Nigeria’s Data Protection Act (NDPA) and reinforcing NiRA’s partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC),” NiRA said in a statement.
loans are currently classified as Stage 2 loans, maintaining the Bank has made provisions for these loans over the last few years, and intensified resolution efforts have led to over 60 per cent reduction in its credit forbearance exposures.
“Once these loans exit the CBN forbearance regime, we anticipate that this would lead to an initial spike in Stage 3 loans to ~11.5per cent of the total loan book which would decline below 10per cent by the end of the financial year, based on anticipated loan book growth.
“The Bank has one (1) additional obligor (classified as a Stage 1 loan sincedrawdowntodate)ontheCBN forbearance for Single Obligor Limit (SOL). This Obligor will be brought within SOLlimit by September 30th , 2025, following the conversion to equity of a recently concluded N23.1 billion Convertible Loan and audited nine (9) months projected retained earnings.
“The group has already received CBN approval for the capital verification of the Convertible Loan and we are currently processing the other regulatory approvals required. We intend to conclude this process, including downstreaming the capital proceeds to the Bank by the end of July 2025,” the statement added.
Also, Fidelity Bank Plc stated that it remains committed to ensuring compliance with regulatory policies and directives, including the CBN circular on forbearance, which is aimedatstrengtheningcapitalbuffers and enhancing financial prudence within the banking industry.
“In terms of Capital, the Bank successfully raised N273 billion through a recent Public Offer and Rights Issue which were oversubscribed by 237.92% and 137.73% respectively and intends to raise the additional sum of N200 billion through a Private Placement in 2025FY, to achieve the new minimum regulatory capital requirement of N500 billion for banks with international authorisation. The CBN and Shareholders’ approval have been obtained for the Private “Placement, while other regulatory approvals are being processed to ensure completion in 2025. The Bank’s exposure under the SOL forbearance relates to two obligors. We are confident that this exposure will be brought within the applicable regulatory limit in H1 2025. With respect to the forbearance granted on other credit facilities, the Bank confirms that this applies to four customers.
Leadway Assurance Company Limited, has said that it posted N173.2 billion premium for the year ended December 31, 2024.
This represents a 51 per cent increase from N114.4 billion in 2023.
The company said the exceptional growth not only solidifies it’s market leadership but also significantly supports the federal government’s initiatives aimed at growing the Nigerian economy by contributing substantially to the nation’s financial servicessectorandfosteringeconomic stability.
In a move that aligns with the regulatory intention of deepening insurance penetration across Nigeria, the company also reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to policyholder protection by settling N117 billion in total claims. This payout , it stated, maintains Leadway’s eight-year streak as the industry’s highest claims-paying insurer, demonstrating the tangible benefits of insurance and building public trust, which is crucial for expanding the reach of insurance services.
According to Leadway Managing Director, Gboyega Lesi, said the revenuegrowthwasprimarilydriven by strong performance across key lines of business in the company’s insurance portfolio.
Claims expenses rose from N70.4 billion in 2023 to N117
in 2024, with the non-life segment accounting for N49.5 billion, followed by N44.9 billion in annuity payouts and N23.2 billion in life business claims.
“Our 2024 results reflect our resilience and readiness to adapt in anevolvingmarket.Thisachievement is a testament to our commitment to innovation, technology-driven service delivery, and the relentless efforts of our exceptional workforce and partners,” Gbeyoga said. He further emphasised the company’s forward-looking agenda, stating: “We are committed to acceleratingourdigitaltransformation journey, enhancing risk management frameworks, and deepening strategic partnerships to sustain our market leadership.
“Our 2024 financial performance demonstrates the agility, foresight, and robustness of our business model. It reflects the dedication of our people and the enduring trust of our customers.”
“I am confident that Leadway is strategically positioned to navigate industry shifts and deliver long-term value to all stakeholders. Our ambition remains to be Nigeria’s leading insurance and non-banking financial services provider, guided by integrity, professionalism, and innovation.”
The Nigerian Communications Commission, in exercise of its functions under the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 (the Act), published a Draft General Authorization Framework in the Communications Sector in Nigeria on its website www.ncc.gov.ng.
In accordance with Section 57 of the Act, the Commission will be holding a Virtual Stakeholders Forum on the Draft General Authorization Framework on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 11.00am. The Forum will review the Draft Framework as well as comments received from Stakeholders. The Virtual link to the Forum will be available on the Commission’s Website on July 16, 2025.
Interested stakeholders are, by this notice, invited to make written submissions on the Draft General Authorization Framework and all submissions must reach the Commission on or before Friday, July 11, 2025 and should be addressed to:
The Executive Vice Chairman
Nigerian Communications Commission
Plot 423, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja
(Attention: Director, Licensing and Authorization)
Submissions can also be done via email to: stakeholders@ncc.gov.ng.
Dated this 19th Day of June, 2025.
Signed: Nnenna Ukoha Head, Public Affairs Department
Plot 423 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, Tel: +234-9-461-7000-29 fax: +234-9-461-7514
Toll Free No: 622. E-mail: ncc@ncc.gov.ng www.ncc.gov.ng
www.ncc.gov.ng
Stories by Agnes Ekebuike
The Odimma Umuada Igbo Prestigious Women Foundation was formally inaugurated in Lagos on Saturday, marking a pivotal moment in grassroots philanthropy and female-led community development.
The event, held amidst cultural pageantry and emotional testimonies, drew stakeholders from across the Igbo community and beyond, heralding a new era of social impact driven by women.
During the launch, the foundation empowered over 20 indigent Nigerians with cash gift of N100,000 each, to begin small business that will support their livelihood.
Delivering the keynote address, National President and Founder, Mrs. Violet Uche-Obiora, said:
“We gather today at a time when survival has become a luxury for the privileged. The foundation was born out of the need to lift others when our society is burdened by
economic hardships.”
Uche-Obiora, who previously served as the Women Leader of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Lagos Chapter, recounted the evolution of the foundation from cultural leadership to humanitarian impact.
She highlighted the group’s previous achievements, including support for orphanage homes, blind schools, and indigent women and children across Lagos State. The foundation, she noted, remained a vibrant cultural force, with a performing troupe that uses music and dance to fund charitable causes.
In a remarkable show of commitment at the event, the founder personally sponsored over 20 indigent individuals, further underlining the foundation’s mission to bring immediate and tangible relief to the less privileged in the society.
“Our priorities for the next year are bold. We aim to take 100 child-hawkers off the streets,
support imprisoned women, pay hospital bills for the poor, and strengthen petty trade businesses for vulnerable women. But we cannot do it alone—we need the support of well-meaning Nigerians,” Uche-Obiora said. The Planning Chairperson and Matron, Ada Ofoegbu, emphasised the foundation’s authenticity and grassroots commitment. “This is not just another NGO in name. We are empowering real people with real needs,” she said, citing a recent case of a woman aided after a public legal dispute. Saturday’s inauguration also served to induct new members into the foundation and showcase its community-based strategy for empowerment. “We are officially launching what we’ve been doing quietly for years. From now, when we knock, the society should know we’re not just asking, we’re delivering,” Ofoegbu added.
The Chief Executive Officer, New Horizons Technologies, Tim Akano, has bagged several industry recognitions for his role in mentoring youths and others in the country.
Akano, who is also a distinguished thought leader, pan Africanist and advocate for youth development, innovation, was honoured by the Committee of Pro Chancellors (CPC) of Nigeria Federal Universities; Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); Rotary International; Obafemi Awololo University Governing Council; and Osun State Youth for his relentless commitment for
Nigeria and Africa’s transformation, using the instrumentality of technology advancement.
Akano received five honours from the respected national bodies.
First, he was warmly welcomed as the keynote speaker at the 38th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Ikeja South, where he delivered a lecture, titled: ‘Empowering the Next Generation:APath to Youth Success’. His message, which emphasised practicalskillacquisitionandvisionary leadership for young people, earned him a heartfelt award of appreciation from the Club.
Similarly, the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal
Universities also honouredAkano, by presenting him with a special award for his remarkable contribution to their Knowledge Sharing Program. His lecture on ‘Exploring Institutional Growth Opportunities Through Big Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence’, sparked a fresh wave of insight among academic leaders and reaffirmed his role as a catalyst for educational reform.
Also, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) conferred on him the distinguished title of Fellow, thereby officially recognising his consistent impact in advancing public discourse and national development.
The Senior Director of Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability at Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Nwamaka Onyemelukwe has emerged winner of the Leadership Award in Sustainability at the recently held Industry Awards, organised by The Industry Newspaper Limited, a brand marketing publication in sub-Saharan Africa.
Onyemelukwe was adjudged the winner of the category by the award jury led by Business Editor at TVC News, Mr. Tolulope Ogunjobi, after a painstaking debate and analysis among the members.
Others in the category are Funder/CEO of the SERAsAwards, Ken Egbas, Chief Executive Officer of OVL Foundation and Kratos Sustainability Consults Ltd, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan, and CEO of CSR-in-Action, Bekeme
Masade-Olowola.
Speaking on the awards, Ogunjobi said: “We carefully evaluated all nominations based on their contributions to the field in the last one year. Her dedication, expertise, and innovative approach to the sustainability industry in the country have truly made a significant impact, and we are honoured to recognize your achievements.”
Onyemelukwe is a recognised CSR and sustainability advocate in Nigeria’s FMCG sector. At Coca-Cola Nigeria, she has led the company’s environmental initiatives, particularly the ‘World Without Waste’ campaign aimed at plastic recycling and pollution reduction. Her work also includes community projects focused on clean water, education, and women empowerment.
Convener of the awards, Goddie Ofose, said: “The prestigious award is a testament to her hard work, commitment, and passion for excellence in the sustainability industry, especially her role as senior director in sustainability at The Coca-Cola Company. Your contributions have not only elevated the standards of the industry but have also inspired others to strive for excellence.”
In her current role, Onyemelukwe is the architect of Coca-Cola’s compelling corporate narrative in Nigeria, seamlessly integrating sustainability into the brand’s core business strategy. Her stewardship ensures that Coca-Cola’s operations in Nigeria not only thrive commercially but also contribute positively to environmental stewardship and community development.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) through the African Regional At-Large Organisation (AFRALO) is supporting the 2025 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum series is organised by ITREALMS Media and hosted under DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA).
The Lead Consulting Strategist, DigitalSENSE Africa and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media, Remmy Nweke revealed this and said that the upcoming forum would hold on June 19, 2025, at the Welcome Centre Hotels, MM International Airport Road, Lagos.
He also listed the likes of the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC), Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, Internet Society Nigeria chapter,Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), among other stakeholders drumming support. Nweke also revealed that the chairperson of AFRALO, Hadia Elminiawi is expected to address stakeholders at the 2025 NDSF on the theme ‘Global Digital Compact: Opportunities for Multi-stakeholders in Nigeria.’
Also, he said the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida will be giving a keynote on ‘Global Digital Compact: Opportunities for Multi-stakeholders in Nigeria, via Telecoms,’ while
the Managing Director, IXPN, Mr. Muhammed Rudman, the chairman, ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo and President, ISOC Nigeria Chapter, Kunle Olorundare, would be dissecting the role of stakeholders on the overarching theme.
This 2025 edition of Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum, Nweke said, would be chaired by the former President, Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria and Principal Consultant, Kontemporary Konsulting Ltd, Jimson Olufuye, who is currently, serving as a member, UN Secretary-General’s IGF Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG).
Oluchi Chibuzor
When Emmanuel Omeogah first began teaching himself to code on an old laptop, plugging in his computer and sitting still wherever he managed to find electricity, he could not yet foresee where exactly the road would take him. But he pursued it with relentless determination and perseverance, a choice that has shaped the accomplishments he claims today. He was not chasing a formal degree — that part was over for him and his course of study, Quantity Surveying, no longer felt aligned with his future. Instead, he chose to chase his future head-on. Today, that future is taking shape in Nagoya, Japan, where he is the technical co-founder of Fainzy Technologies, a robotics company developing contactless service technologies for the hospitality industry. As a self-taught developer navigating two continents, Omeogah is not just building machines and systems, he is designing a future where innovation knows no boundaries.
Without any formal background in computer science, Omeogah’s tech journey began out of necessity and pure curiosity in 2017. He describes curiosity as a major propelling force in his career, a constant and unsettling need to understand how and why systems work. As for necessity, the urge to build a platform to support a business idea — without the funds to hire a developer — led him to join the Andela Android Learning Community straight out of university. With just internet access and an aging laptop, he relied on free online resources to build his knowledge from the ground up. He joined several free bootcamps and internships to sharpen his skills, and he never stopped pushing himself to learn. This ongoing self-education fueled his early projects — some self-initiated, others completed during internships, and eventually as an employee in Fidelity Bank’s cybersecurity division in 2021. He began solving real-world problems, and each success, no matter how small, moved him forward. Over time, his expanding portfolio and growing confidence led to a full-time role as a software developer at SenexPayment Services.
At SenexPayment Services, a Nigerian fintech company that gained media recognition for its contributions to the local cryptocurrency ecosystem, Omeogah quickly
became a core member of the development team. There, he built the company’s flagship product: a digital wallet system that allows users to hold, swap, and convert over a dozen cryptocurrencies. The product includes a native feature called SenCash, which enables instant crypto-to-fiat exchange. He also developed the company’s crypto exchange platform, designed for scalability and capable of accommodating additional digital assets over time. Drawing from his earlier experience in cybersecurity, he ensured that security remained central to all system architecture. His talent for translating business needs into scalable technical solutions earned him a reputation as both a reliable engineer and a systems thinker. This led to his promotion to Lead Programmer in 2024.
Today, Omeogah is applying his skills on a global stage as the technical co-founder and CTO of Fainzy Technologies, a robotics company based in Nagoya, Japan. Fainzy is developing contactless service technologies for the hospitality industry, aiming to streamline operations such as hotel room service, restaurant table delivery, and even
outdoor food delivery. Omeogah’s involvement in the venture began as an early-stage collaboration with his Japan-based co-founder and CEO in 2021. As a self-taught developer from Nigeria entering Japan’s highly advanced robotics ecosystem, Omeogah has faced both cultural and technical hurdles — from language barriers to navigating a high-stakes innovation environment.
Yet, under his technical leadership, the team has built a functional MVP: a robotic system that autonomously delivers meals from the kitchen to designated restaurant tables, along with a web application that enables the robots to localize their position and route efficiently. Since late 2021, the system has been piloted in a café at Nagoya University. Building on this, the team is developing a second-generation solution — outdoor delivery robots capable of navigating rugged terrain for last-mile food delivery. To support this, Omeogah’s team has developed a mobile application through which users can place orders from nearby stores, which are then fulfilled and dispatched using Fainzy’s robotic fleet. A centralized monitoring
system — also designed under Omeogah’s technical direction — provides real-time oversight and ensures the proper functioning of all deployed units. Reflecting on one of the early technical challenges in 2022, he notes, “Building the multi-tenant architecture for the Fainzy Stores marketplace was one of the hardest parts when I started. There was no ChatGPT then — I had to do a lot of digging and pore through documentation just to make it work.”
While the startup’s initial deployment is in Japan, Omeogah envisions transformative applications in emerging markets like Nigeria, where robotics could help bridge labor shortages, improve hygiene standards, and enable contactless delivery in underserved areas. His work at Fainzy represents not just a personal milestone, but a broader narrative of boundary-crossing innovation — redefining who gets to shape the future of high-tech industries.
Omeogah’s story is not just impressive, it is rare. It’s uncommon to see a self-taught technologist from Nigeria not only enter but lead innovation in robotics, a space still dominated by elite institutions and resource-rich nations. His cross-border work with Fainzy Technologies challenges the traditional geography of innovation, proving that meaningful, high-impact technology can emerge from unconventional paths and underrepresented regions. In developing countries like Nigeria, where human resource limitations and logistical inefficiencies remain persistent, robotics offers more than novelty — it presents a practical solution to real-world problems in healthcare, food service, and urban delivery. Omeogah’s work reflects a growing shift in the global tech landscape: one in which the Global South is no longer just a consumer of advanced technology, but an originator of it. His trajectory signals what’s possible when access, ambition, and ingenuity converge — regardless of geography.
“If you want to learn anything, you can,” Omeogah often says — a philosophy that has defined his journey. “If we can build something world-class from Nigeria or Japan with limited resources, then there’s no excuse.” As he continues scaling Fainzy and exploring frontier technologies, he’s also looking ahead to partnerships within Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, with the goal of creating more structured and accessible learning pathways for aspiring developers. His mission remains clear: to build intelligent systems that solve real problems — and to make that kind of innovation possible for others too.
With three trophies- Most Admired African Brand, induction into the Brand Africa Hall of Fame and the clinching of Lifetime Achievement Award by Aliko Dangote, at the 15th annual Brand Africa 100 awards, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Dangote brand appears to be moving towards becoming one of the most admired global brands, reports Raheem Akingbolu
Think of a brand that has consistently put Nigeria on the world map and Dangote brand will readily come to mind. From the word go, promoters of Dangote Industries Limited knew that building a brand is best achieved by developing a reputation in the community. Over the years, the management has been conscious of the need to have expert knowledge within their industry niche. While everyone wants to have their brand become an overnight sensation, the strategist behind Dangote brand’s success story knows that becoming a leader within a niche takes time and determination. Therefore, for them to establish the brand as a leader in the public eye, they have been consistent and relentless when promoting the brand’s image. As reflected in the profile of most successful brands, a deliberate brand can only be an offshoot of strategic planning, core competence and marketplace realities. At the 15th annual Brand Africa 100 awards, held recently at the iconic Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dangote Industries Limited set a new record when it beat MTN, DSTV, AZAM and other top African brands to emerge Most Admired African Brand, following an independent, consumer-led survey conducted across more than 30 African countries. Having consistently remained on top of the chart in Africa for years, the brand was also inducted into the hall of fame while the President of the Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. According to the organisers, Aliko Dangote won the award in recognition of his leadership in driving impactful industrialisation, establishing a world-class African brand, and reshaping the continent’s economic future through a benchmark, homegrown enterprise. Meanwhile, with the company’s induction into the Brand Africa Hall of Fame, it thus became the first African firm to receive this distinction. The induction recognises Dangote’s transformative impact on African consumers and its influential role in shaping a positive
narrative for the continent.
Joining Dangote Industries in the inaugural Hall of Fame were MTN, M-Pesa, Ethiopian Airlines, and South Africa, for consistently ranking among Africa’s most admired brands over the past 5 to 15 years and for building sustainable, globally respected brands.
Many things determine the place of a brand in the market but perhaps the most enduring factor is the ability of the brand to resonate with consumers. Thus, a brand with Top of mind awareness, which is a measure of how high brands rank in the consciousness of consumers, tends to be one of the most talked-about brands in the market.
In the Nigeria market and a few African countries, the Dangote Brand fits in perfectly as the first brand that comes to mind when consumers think of some certain niche products and this has helped the brand achieve top of mind awareness. No wonder, year in, year out, the organisers of the Top 50 Brands Nigeria have consistently adjudged Dangote as the Nigeria’s most valuable brand. The 2024 edition was the seventh year in a row that the brand would be so adjudged.
By securing an impressive aggregate score of 89.6 percent on the brand strength measurement index, (BSM) conducted by the ranking company, Dangote proved resilient in the face of testing market conditions, justifying premium prices with positive perceptions, and proving that meaningful, different and salient brands are best placed to weather global and economic disruptions.
The organisers of the 2025 Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands award, has just taken the honour further with the rating of Dangote brand as the ‘Most Admired African brand’.
According to the organisers, the 2025 rankings reveal a stark contrast between rising African optimism and declining brand
loyalty. While 68% of Africans expressed belief in the continent—up from 64% in 2024—only 11% of the Top 100 Most Admired Brands are African, marking a historic low and down from 14% in 2024. The report indicates the urgent need for homegrown brands to translate belief into consumer loyalty, and for Africans to more actively support Made-in-Africa products and enterprises.
“It is disappointing to see the sharp drop in African brands, which mirrors the ranking of non-African nations as the most influential in Africa,” says Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa. “It’s a wake-up call for Africa—and a barometer of the continent’s lagging industrialisation agenda. It’s not enough for Africans to say they believe in the continent—they must buy made-in-Africa. For that to happen, African brands must invest in R&D, continue to innovate, deliver quality, and use authenticity as a differentiator.”
Reacting to the awards, Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina, said the honours reflected the unwavering commitment, excellence, and innovation that define the group’s journey.
He added that they are a testament to the dedication of the company’s outstanding team, partners, and stakeholders, who continue to believe in the mission to drive sustainable development and economic growth across the continent.
“We also extend our heartfelt appreciation for the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to our Founder and President, Aliko Dangote for building a purposeful world-class industrial brand that has exceptionally transformed African lives and the African narrative. This accolade celebrates not only his visionary leadership but also his tireless efforts in transforming industries, creating opportunities, and championing African enterprise on the
global stage. His legacy is an inspiration to generations of entrepreneurs and leaders across Africa,” he said.
Noting that the recognition would further inspire the company to push boundaries, empower communities, and deliver meaningful value across Africa and beyond, Chiejina reaffirmed Dangote Industries’ commitment to excellence, integrity, and transformative growth.
In his keynote address, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr. Claver Gatete, praised Aliko Dangote, the Hall of Fame inductees, and the Brand Africa laureates for advancing the African agenda. He highlighted the alignment between Brand Africa and the ECA’s mission to promote inclusive industrialisation, regional integration, and private sector-led growth. He also called for increased investment in youth-led innovation, regional value chains, and the establishment of a Pan-African Creative Innovation Fund to identify, finance, and globalise Africa’s most promising brands.
“I wish to particularly acknowledge MTN, Dangote Group, mPesa and Ethiopian Airlines for consistently maintaining their distinguished positions among the “Most Admired African Brands” category and continuing to set benchmarks in brand leadership, innovation and continental impact,” he said.
A brand is a tool of trust. Consumers tend to trust brands that put them at the centre of their thinking. This is where Dangote gets it right. It puts consumers first and ensures it meet their needs at the right place, time, quantity and quality. Today, the brand is a highly recognized and admired brand in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. It has consistently been recognized as the Most Admired Brand in Africa for multiple years, demonstrating its strong reputation and influence. The brand is synonymous with quality and is known for its diverse range of products and services across various sectors.
Dike Onwuamaeze
SUNU Assurances Nigeria Plc, a member of SUNU Group, has demonstrated strong performance 2024 financial year by paying N3.28 billion in claims and posting profit after tax of N3.59 billion.
This result marked a substantial 57.8 per cent increase from the N2.08 billion paid out in 2023, which underscored the company’s dedication to meeting its obligations despite economic challenges.
The company’s Gross Written Premium (GWP) for the year 2024 reached N13.03 billion, a significant increase from N8.16billion in 2023.
This growth of N4.87 billion, representing a 59.6 per cent rise, also surpassed the full-year budget of N10.16 billion by an impressive 128.3
per cent.
At its recent annual general meeting, which was held in Lagos last week, a resolution was approved for the payment of of the declaration of 10k per share on 50k ordinary shares for the financial year ended December 31, 2024, which is scheduled for payment on Monday, June 16, 2025.
In his speech at the 38th annual general meeting (AGM), the Chairman of SUNU Assurances, Mr. Kyari Abba Bukar, said that the impressive revenue growth was driven by several key factors such as higher business renewals, contributing to portfolio stability and expansion.
Bukar said that other factors are increase in motor insurance premium rates, boosting revenue from this segment, growth in the number of insured vehicles, expanding
customer base and favourable foreign exchange movements, positively impacting underwriting results.
Speaking during the AGM, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Sunu Assurance Plc, Mr. Samuel Ogbodu, said: “We are delighted to have successfully concluded our 38th Annual General Meeting. The approval of the dividend for the 2024 financial year reflects our commitment to delivering value to our shareholders and underscores our robust financial performance. This meeting was a vital platform for engaging with our esteemed shareholders, reinforcing our dedication to transparency and strong corporate governance. We look forward to building on these achievements and driving sustainable growth in the coming year.”
As the season one of Parallex Bank Save and Win Promo rounded off with a grand finale in Lagos, a total of 925 customers of the bank were rewarded with different sum of money ranging between N5,000 to N1,000,000. At the grand finale which held in the Isolo Branch of the bank in Lagos, two lucky customers, Chidiebere Azubuike and Ese Fidelis walked away with N1 million each while 153 others won different amount of money.
The Save and Win Promo, which launched in October 2024 with draws in cities such as Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Warri, and Abuja has seen 925 customers benefit from various rewards, ranging from N5,000 to N1 million. Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director
at the finale event, Mr. Frank Alarapon, Chief Digital Officer and Head of Retail and SMEs, said the goal of the campaign is to reward customers for their trust and loyalty in choosing Parallex Bank as their financial partner.
“Over 900 customers have been rewarded in the last six months. For the grand finale, we made it even more exciting by having two millionaire winners, unlike previous draws where only one customer claimed the top prize,” Alarapon said.
Declaring the grand finale opened, Mrs. Margaret Aboluwade, Zonal Coordinator, Southwest Region of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) lauded the bank for maintaining transparency and fairness throughout the promo. She
commended Parallex Bank its commitment to ethical practices and customer satisfaction.
One of the top prize recipients, Chidiebere Azubuike, was initially skeptical when contacted by phone but was soon overwhelmed with joy upon confirmation of his win.
The Head of Products, Parallex Bank, Azeez Arogundade said the Save and Win promo is only one of the many ways Parallex Bank is connecting with their loyal customers. He said the bank has several products designed to offer Nigerians limitless banking experience in personal, business, corporate or private banking. Arogundade added that the bank is positioned to meet the banking needs of all Nigerians across all strata of the economy.
CEO of Nestlé Indonesia, Samer Chedid, has been appointed CEO of Nestlé Central and West Africa (CWAR) replacing Mauricio Alarcón who has taken on a new role within the Nestlé group.
Abusiness leader with diverse experiences across Nestlé including Middle East, Asia, and Africa, Chedid is no stranger to CWAR as he previously served as Country Manager for Nestlé Ghana.
“In his new role, he will steer affairs of the business across 25 countries in CWAR,” Nestkle said in a statement.
“I am delighted to return to a region that has been a part of my career within the Nestlé group. Together with our resilient team of over 5,000 employees, I will continue to advance our purpose through innovation, high-quality product offerings, and meaningful partnerships. Our goal is to enhance livelihoods, promote community development, and maintain our commitment to environmental stewardship,”
Chedid commenting said.
Chedid joined Nestlé in 1998 as a Sales Development Manager. He was later appointed Head of Channel Category Sales Devel-
opment for Nestlé Middle East Region before his assignment as General Business Manager in Bahrain, Qatar and Dubai. He then moved to CWAR as Country Manager, Ghana then returned to the Middle East as Nestlé Middle East Region Sales Director. He was later appointed Country Manager, Saudi Arabia and eventually promoted to become CEO, Nestlé Pakistan.
Chedid is recognised for his strong leadership and strategic mindset, his passion for people and for building strong and effective teams.
In continuation of its mission to make financial services simpler, faster, and more accessible, SmartCash Payment Service Bank, a subsidiary of has announced a strategic partnership with Leadway Assurance to offer Smartcash users an effortless access to Leadway’s mobile-friendly motor insurance service.
Commenting on this partnership, Chief Executive Officer, Smartcash PSB, Tunde Kuponiyi highlighted the importance of the collaboration in driving convenient and inclusive insurance access for Nigerians.
“At Smartcash, our goal has always been to bring inclusive financial solutions closer to everyday Nigerians.
By partnering with Leadway Assurance, we’re making it easier for motorists to insure their vehicles without stress or delays. It’s insurance that moves at your speed,” he said.
He also noted that Smartcash users could complete the entire purchase process in under three minutes, from plan selection to payment with no physical paperwork or documentation required.
Also speaking on the partnership, Director, Sales, Retail and Partnership, Leadway Assurance, Kike Fischer, added: “At Leadway, innovation and exceptional service are at the core of our mission to deepen insurance penetration and inclusion. This collaboration with SmartCash enables us to deliver real-time protection to more Nigerians via a trusted, everyday platform. It marks a bold step in transforming how insurance is accessed and experienced across the country.”
Kayode Tokede
PZ Cussons Plc and Wilmar International Limited, yesterday jointly announced that the two parties have agreed on definitive terms for Wilmar to purchase the 50 per cent equity stake in PZ Wilmar Limited held by PZ Cussons plc, for cash consideration of $70 million.
Astatement seen by THISDAY stated that completion of the transaction is said to be subject
to a number of relevant approvals. According to the statement, following the completion of the transaction, Wilmar will hold 100per cent of the equity in PZ Wilmar. Following completion of the transaction, PZ Wilmar’s name will be changed and an announcement on the new name will be issued in due course, the statement partly reads.
The statement stressed that completion of the transaction remains conditional on a number
of relevant approvals, but is expected to take place in the last quarter of calendar 2025.
The companies stated that the transaction between the two existing joint venture partners of PZ Wilmar establishes a strong basis for continuity and a smooth transition of ownership, with no substantive impact expected on people or operations.
Commenting on the transaction, Wilmar Chairman & CEO, Mr. Kuok Hong in a statement
said, “We would like to thank PZ Cussons for their cooperation and support since the inception of this joint venture in 2010, which has contributed to its success and leading market position in Nigeria.
“Wilmar is acquiring PZ Cussons plc’s 50per cent stake in PZ Wilmar as we are bullish on the long-term potential of Nigeria’s palm oil sector, given its large and growing population and suitability for palm cultivation.
“The Nigerian market’s strong
demographics, with more than 200 million consumers, offer a significant opportunity for growth in food and nutrition. It is Wilmar’s intention to continue developing the upstream palm plantation and downstream businesses in Nigeria. As a global industry leader, Wilmar is well-positioned to invest and realise these opportunities following the completion of the transaction.
However, we recognise the importance of having strong
local partnerships in the markets where we operate and will be looking for a suitable local partner for the business.”
Onhispart,CEOofPZCussons, Mr. Jonathan Myers, said the joint venture with Wilmar in Nigeria has been a long-term and rewarding partnership for both parties.
The official thanked the Wilmar leadership for their support and the PZW employees for their contribution and great results over the years.
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.
GUIDETO DATA:
Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 17 June-2025, unless otherwise stated. Offer
The
Return: Denotes the
Edited by nseobonG okon-ekonG |
gamingweek1117@gmail.com | Tel: 08114495324
Iyke Bede reports on a recent Responsible Gaming Symposium organised by the
address the growing gap in responsible gaming practices, raising concerns
In 2023, Nigerians wagered over N730 billion on sports betting, with nearly 60 million people placing bets regularly. As the industry continues to grow, so does the number of bettors and, with it, the cases of problem gambling.
This steady rise signals a growing gap in responsible gaming practices, raising concerns about the social costs of unchecked betting. It was in response to this challenge that stakeholders convened at a recent Responsible Gaming Symposium organised by the non-profit organisation Gamble Alert to address the issues and push for practical solutions.
Platforming operators, regulators, and stakeholders across the sports betting and casino sectors, each representative, guided by the standard operating procedures of their respective organisations to prevent problem gambling, shared insights into the measured steps being taken to identify individuals with problem gambling and provide them with appropriate support systems: self-exclusion, counselling, among others.
Guided by the symposium’s theme of ‘Building a Sustainable Industry Through Responsible Gaming Practices’, operators, during a plenary session, highlighted their role in curbing problem gambling using tools such as KYC to screen potential underaged and vulnerable punters, advertising and marketing choices, self-exclusion tools embedded on their websites, hotlines, sensitization campaigns, training of agents, and channelling more resources to self-regulate.
While these approaches are widely adopted, Olabimpe Akingba, Head of Responsible Gaming at PawaTech, charged operators to view compliance with responsible gaming as not just another box ticked but rather as one that should be viewed through a lens of helping punters make informed decisions, emphasising that healthy punters equate to a sustainable sector.
On his part, the President of Casino Gaming Operators, Abayomi Oketope, pointed out the ineffectiveness of current self-exclusion practices due to their being operator-specific, stating that punters who self-exclude on one platform hop onto the next to feed their addiction to gambling. Oketope further pointed out the need for a central database where a self-exclusion act by a punter triggers a ripple effect on other platforms, effectively locking that punter out of the system until the time barrier is lifted and the punter can provide proof of seeking help. He also suggested the introduction of a single, universal hotline accessible to punters across all registered platforms, as well as the integration of support institutions like Gamble Alert into each platform.
The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com
An offshoot of Gaming Advisory Africa and Velex Group, Velex Advisory was established to create a niche for the gaming and technology industry, ensuring ease of doing business, promoting business growth and foreign direct investment, and navigating compliance hurdles to drive the success of its clients.
With its headquarters in Dubai and branch offices in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Uganda, and Zambia, Velex Advisory remains a pan-African boutique professional services consortium, providing bespoke advice and expertise across a range of sectors.
The company runs as a multi-dimensional group offering diverse expertise for gaming entities, Information Technology organisations, payment services (fintech) and other related industries across Africa.
Over the past decade, Velex Advisory has established itself as a trusted partner for businesses and investors seeking to capitalise on emerging opportunities across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.
Velex Advisory focuses on delivering tailored financial, legal, and business advisory services with startups, scale-ups, and established enterprises, utilising a results-driven approach, robust market insights, and deep regulatory knowledge.
The company is inspired by its vision to be the most trusted advisory partner for businesses and investors seeking to innovate and expand in the emerging markets of the Middle East and Africa.
“Our mission is to provide strategic, financial, and
legal insights that empower startups, scale-ups, and established enterprises to achieve sustainable growth and transformational impact,” said Adenike Oyebanji, a member of Velex Advisory Nigeria’s legal team. Within the gaming and technology ecosystem across Africa, Velex Advisory provides gaming investors and owners with market scope and research, including feasibility studies, market entry and growth strategies, assessing business models and market fit, and allied business solutions.
In an era of accelerating digital disruption and shifting global markets, Velex Advisory stands as a trusted partner for companies and investors seeking to harness the vast opportunities in the MEA region. By uniting global best practices with local expertise and an innovation-first mindset, Velex Advisory equips its clients to navigate complexity, drive transformation, and realise lasting success.
Michael Olugbode inAbuja Nigerians have been urged to take ownership of the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking, as their input is important in efforts to end the scourge.
The appeal was made on Wednesday in Abuja by Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of National Drug Law EnforcementAgency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), at a joint press conference with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)toannouncetheweeklong activities to commemorate this year’s World Drug Day.
Marwa said, “As we enter another United Nations year focused on prevention, it is vital to stress that the responsibility of shielding our citizens from harmful substances does not rest solely on the shoulders of the NDLEA.
“It is a collective duty – one that demands the involvement of all, including the general public. On our part, we shall intensify our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy initiatives to further support families, schools, communities, workplaces, places of worship, associations, and trade unions in raising awareness on the dangers
of illicit drug use and how to avoid falling victim.”
The NDLEA chairman stated that each year, the World Drug Day was guided by a unique theme that shaped the global response to the challenges of drug abuse and illicit trafficking over the following 12 months.
He added that this year’s theme “willonceagainserveasaframework for our awareness campaigns, stakeholder engagements, and community outreach efforts, with the theme for this year being, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”.
Marwa said a variety of activities
had been lined up for the event, beginning with the press briefing, and culminating in the grand finale on June 26.
“These events are designed to raise public awareness, encourage dialogue, and galvanise collective action towards combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking,” he said.
He explained, “On Friday, June 20, we will hold a Juma’at service at the National Mosque, Abuja. The following day, Saturday, 21st of June at 8am, we will stage a WalkAgainst Drug Abuse in collaboration with MTN Nigeria Foundation and the University ofAbuja at the University
The Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom, Her Majesty, Olori Atuwatse III, delivered a stirring keynote address at the 2025 FLAIR Summit in London, calling on African nations to consciously recognise and elevate women’s leadership at all levels of society, from homes and markets to state houses and boardrooms.
Speaking during a high-level session of the First Ladies of Africa Impact and Resilience (FLAIR) Summit, the queen stressed that Africa’s growth will remain incomplete unless women, who already played central roles in families, economies, and communities, were fully empowered and included in policy, leadership, and nation-building efforts.
The event drew dignitaries, including the first ladies of Oyo and Kwara states, lawmakers, investors,
and global development partners.
The summit featured exclusive engagements at iconic venues, such as UK House of Lords, House of Commons, London Stock Exchange, and Royal Leonardo Hotel.
In her keynote, titled, “Elevating the Role of Women in Africa’s Development,” Olori Atuwatse shared a deeply personal experience from her life. “Shortly after my father passed on, I, his firstborn, was told to watch from the side-lines. ‘There’s a difference between a firstborn and a first son,’ they told me,” she recounted.
The moment was a reminder of how traditional norms still attempted to reduce women’s role, regardless of their qualifications or achievements, she said.
She explained that that painful experience reaffirmed her purpose as a leader and strengthened her
drive to advocate for gender equity.
“Nothing – not privilege, not age, not achievement – insulates women from the limitations society tries to impose,” he said.
Olori Atuwatse praised recent milestones in African leadership, highlighting Namibia’s Presidentelect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan. “For the first time, Africa has two sitting female heads of state. It’s remarkable and it shows that change is possible,” she stated.
She emphasised that African women had always led often without titles or applause.
According to her, “In Warri and across Africa, women are breadwinners, entrepreneurs, teachers, and caregivers. They are birthers, binders, and builders of communities.”
She said, “Yet people still ask whether women can lead. What
a tired question.”
Her speech stressed that Africa’s future depended on mobilising the untapped leadership force.
“Africa cannot thrive on the efforts of a few prominent female leaders alone,” she said, adding, “We need grassroots women, those without formal power, seen, heard, and empowered.”
Through her EstablishHer mentorship programme in Nigeria, Olori Atuwatse has been helping women recognise their value and unlock their potential.
“We don’t make them leaders,” she said. “We help them see they already are.”
campus in Gwagwalada.
“On Sunday, 22nd of June, a Thanksgiving Service will be held at Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Regional Church, Wuye, Abuja, starting at 10am. We will begin the following week with the final stage of an Essay Competition on Monday, 23rd of June.
“In this round, schoolchildren will present letters they have written on the theme, ‘Why I Must Not Take Drugs.’ The event will be held at the NDLEA Conference Room at our headquarters in Jahi. The day will also include a range of NGO-led activities focused on drug prevention and youth engagement.”
Marwa stated, “Our focus on Tuesday, 24th of June, will be on out-of-school youth. To this end, we will conduct an outreach campaign in markets and motor parks across the FCT Area Councils, beginning at 8 am.
“Finally, on Thursday, 26th of June, which marks World Drug Day, we will hold the grand finale – a commemorative event at the State House Conference Centre, commencing at 9am.”
He said as part of efforts to address the country’s drug use situation, NDLEA had continued on an upward trajectory in terms of arrests, convictions, and seizures.
According to Marwa, NDLEA is modernising its approach to the enforcement of drug laws by entrenching innovation in its operations.
“Notably, the use of body cameras has now been fully integrated into our field activities,” he said. “Overall,
thepastyearhaswitnessedsignificant positive developments in our offensive against drug traffickers and barons,” he added.
He said in the last four and a half years of his stewardship at the agency, there had been a steady advancement in reforms.
Marwa disclosed that in February, the agency commissioned its first barracks in Yola, Adamawa State, and in April, it commissioned both an accommodation facility and a rehabilitation centre in Kano.
“At present, the barracks inAbuja stands almost ready for commissioning, while the one in Lagos is nearing completion,” he added.
Speaking at the briefing, also, UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Toure, who was represented by Deputy Head of UNODC in Nigeria, Danilo Campisi, emphasised the importance of preventive measures in addressing the global drug use problem.
Toure said, “The illicit drug trade is deeply connected to other crimes, including human trafficking, illegal mining and environmental destruction.
“Its proceeds often finance violent extremist groups, further destabilising affected regions. Together these interconnected crimes are part of a vicious circles that entrench poverty, exploitation, institutional weakness and addiction.”
While commending Marwa and NDLEAfor doing an excellent work in Nigeria, UNODC called on state governments to get actively involved in the efforts being coordinated by NDLEA at the centre.
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
A group, Tinubu Next Level has faulted the Borno State governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, for masterminding the fiasco that greeted the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-East zonal meeting on Sunday. Recall that on Sunday, a caucus meeting of North-East APC members held a meeting to announce their endorsement of President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Their endorsement left out Vice
President Shettima, who hails from the North-East zone. The action sparked reaction from the pro-Shettima faction led by the Borno State governor, Zulum.
The situation has since thrown the ruling party into a gale of controversy, fueling speculations that President Tinubu would not pick Shettima as running mate in 2027.
The controversy has thus opened the ruling APC to internal wrangling, with the pro-Shettima faction insisting their support for President Tinubu’s election would
be based on Vice President Shettima being on the ticket.
However, the group, in a statement issued by its President, Ango Zubair, on Wednesday, noted the action of the Zulum-led dissidents brought embarrassment to President Bola Tinubu and APC members across the country.
It stressed that asking the North-East zone of the party to force the President’s hands into appointing Shettima as his running mate was against the principles of democratic politicking in a presidential system of government.
Onyebuchi EzigboinAbuja
Managing Director, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, has urged employers of labour to enrol in the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS) and fulfil their obligations; so that more families could benefit from its safety net.
Faleye made the appeal on Wednesday, when the fund presented a cheque of N18,652,908.20, as death benefits to the family of an employee, who died in the course of official duty.
The NSITF boss said the cheque presentation highlighted the importance of employers’ role in the efforts to protect their employees and their dependents, as well as the success
of ECS.
The managing director was represented at the occasion by Executive Director, Operations, NSITF, Hon Mojisola Alli-Macaulay.
He pointed out that all responsible employers concerned with the welfare of their employees were major stakeholders, who had a great role to play in the successes of ECS.
A statement by Deputy General Manager, CorporateAffairs, at NSITF, Alex Mede, said the managing director also highlighted some of the ways stakeholders could help. He stated that they should encourage better safety practices by employees in the work place, and “minimise the risk of work-related injuries and/ or diseases as far as is practicable,
even though the ECS is a no-fault scheme”.
The NSITF boss called for a proactive approach to reporting workrelated injury or disease within the stipulated timelines to avoid penalties, while also supporting the fund in explanation of the ideals and benefits of the scheme to other stakeholders. He advised that employers should re-assign injured or disabled employees to more suitable job functions within the organisations. Faleye commended the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, the deceased employee’s employer, for their cordial relationship with NSITF, adding that both organisations are committed to promoting the principles of ECS, as enshrined in the ECA2010.
L-R: Chief Executive Officer, The Republic Media Limited, Dr. Monday Micheals Ashibogwu; former Chief Operating Officer, Fintech Association of Nigeria, Dr. Babatunde Obrimah; Head, Capital Markets, FairMoney, Mr. Ogochukwu Odum; Moderator/TV Host, Joanna Mustapha; Senior Vice President, Distribution Network Sales, Moniepoint Inc, Mr. Ezekiel Sanni; and Acting National President, Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN), Dr. Obioha Oti, at the 5th MSME and Startup Summit 2025 held in Lagos …recently
AlexEnumahinAbuja
A fourth prosecution witness (PW4) of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Wednesday, told a Federal High Court in Abuja how incitement by pro-Biafra nation’s Nnamdi Kanu caused widespread violence in the south-eastern part of the country.
The witness, simply identified as PWDDD, in his evidence-in-chief alleged that Kanu, through his Biafra Radio broadcast, directed his followers to deal with some targeted persons, including security operatives.
Kanu is standing trial on a sevencount charge bordering on alleged terrorism and treasonable felony, though he pleaded not guilty to all the seven-count charge.
At the resumed trial on Wednesday, PWDDD, who is an operative of DSS, alleged that the number of security agents killed owing to the activities of members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in the South-east was between 170 and 200.
Led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, ChiefAdegboyegaAwomolo, SAN, the witness also attributed the killing of a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak, to the alleged order of Kanu to IPOB.
He gave details of how the late former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Gulak, was killed on May 30, 2021 in Owerri. Meanwhile, the witness informed thecourtthattheNationalBroadcasting Commission (NBC) did not issue
license to the defendant to import the radio transmitter he allegedly smuggled into the country to operate Radio Biafra.
The witness said shortly after himself and members of his team recovered the transmitter from a premises in Ubuluisiuzor, Anambra State, and brought it toAbuja, the DSS wrote the NBC to inspect it.
The witness told the court that on November 9, 2015, the NBC sent a team of engineers, who inspected the transmitter and wrote a report.
Awomolo then tendered a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the provisional assessment of radio transmitter report submitted by the NBC.
The witness was asked to read a portion of the report, which he did. He said the report indicated that the transmitter was German made and that it was a radio transmitter made for use on FM frequency.
The witness said the report also stated that such transmitter could only be procured and installed after being issued a licence and that the NBC had not licensed Radio Biafra to broadcast in Nigeria.
The witness said, “In this case (Kanu’s case) there was no application from the defendant, he brought the transmitter in illegally without approval.”
He also said investigation confirmed that the defendant was the owner of the transmitter, which he kept in the premises of one Benjamin Madubugu.
The witness said Kanu later came into the country and inspected the transmitter and made a video to
satisfy members of IPOB, who contributed money for the purchase of the transmitter.
Speakingfurther,thewitnessalleged that investigation revealed that the invasion of the Owerri prison by IPOB members was directed by Kanu in one of his broadcasts for his followers to attack and kill security operatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The DSS official alleged that further investigation revealed that the defendant, in his broadcast, directed that Ikonso should be buried with
2000 heads, but only 30 were gotten.
He said during one of DSS’ agents’ raid of ESN members’ hideout, “we saw some ESN members, about seven, with human heads and some eating human flesh, which they said was for spiritual fortification.”
On how the ESN members operated, the witness alleged that they were combatants, who carried arms and attacked homes of prominent individuals and traditional rulers in the region.
He said because they lacked suf-
ficientoperationaltools,theysometimes set up roadblocks during which they hijacked vehicles for their operation.
Undercrossexaminationbydefence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the witness said there was no record of the importation of the transmitter said to have been smuggled into the country by Kanu. He said he could not say when the transmitter was brought into the country, but he was among those who located where it was kept in Anambra State and brought it to the
DSS headquarters in Abuja. On how they were able to locate the transmitter, the witness said his team used some equipment to analyse a video (showing Kanu inspecting the transmitter) to ascertain the location of the transmitter in
He said he did not come across the names,
the
He also said he was not aware that Benka cleared the transmitter, as claimed by Ikpeazu.
Onyebuchi Ezigbo inAbuja
The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling global health challenges through stronger cooperation, domestic reforms, and strategic investment.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this the 15th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting held in Brasilia, Brazil.
Astatement signed by the Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations, Mr. Alaba Balogun, quoted the minister as saying Nigeria is increasing domestic resource mobilization and enhancing its
Samuel in
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, on Tuesday, inaugurated two projects undertaken by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Bayelsa State.
They are the NDDC Renewed Hope 1,000 capacity Multipurpose Training Centre and Internally Displaced Persons Camp at Otupkpoti in Ogbia Local Government Area and the NDDC Bayelsa State Office in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Inaugurating the projects at Otuokpoti, Olukoyede noted with delight that the two projects being
inaugurated were proceeds from recovered funds which were returned to the NDDC.
He expressed satisfaction over the judicious utilization of the funds and promised further release of more funds recovered from past administrations of the interventionist agency.
He said: “I have come to identify with this project and good governance in NDDC. I have come to identify with accountability and transparency, judicious use of resources which is within my mandate. By virtue of the recovery we have made, this NDDC project was made possible and other projects that are also in the offing.
“The NDDC Boss was able to convince me of the transformation he was bound to bring to NDDC, so what I’m seeing in the past two years have actually convinced me that this man knows what he is doing.
The Managing Director, NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, speaking at commissioning of the Ultra-Modern Bayelsa State Office, disclosed the commission was willing to partner state governments in any area that will benefit people of the Niger Delta Region.
Ogbuku maintained that NDDC was not government but an interventionist agency in the Niger Delta Region.
pharmaceutical and diagnostic production capacity.
Delivering Nigeria’s national statement at the Itamaraty Palace (venue of the meeting) on Tuesday, Dr. Salako emphasized the importance of global solidarity in confronting the complex and interconnected threats facing public health systems including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), pandemics, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate change, and dwindling health funding.
“These challenges call for stronger South-South cooperation and global solidarity to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and create a more equitable world.
“Nigeria is proud to be a BRICS partner and contributor to the new thinking needed in today’s changing health landscape,” Salako said. Salako outlined the ongoing
implementation of Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the operational arm of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The initiative is anchored on four pillars: effective governance, an efficient and equitable health system, unlocking healthcare value chain and health security.
According to the Minister of State for Health, digitalization, smarter spending, data-driven decisionmaking, and cultural transformation were cited as cross-cutting themes.
“In a significant shift toward self-reliance, Nigeria is increasing domestic resource mobilization and enhancing its pharmaceutical and diagnostic production capacity. This includes revitalizing primary healthcare, promoting pooled procurement mechanisms, and scaling digital health and artificial intelligence
tools across the system.” One of the standout achievements mentioned was Nigeria’s HPV vaccination campaign. Dr. Salako reported that over 14 million girls aged 9-14 were vaccinated by May 2025, the highest number achieved globally in a single round. In response to a decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA), he highlighted that Nigeria committed an additional $200 million in its 2025 budget to sustain its AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria programs. Additionally, the minister told the gathering that Nigeria is addressing the social determinants of health and introducing policies to reduce the modifiable risk factors of non-communicable diseases. Nigeria’s proactive stance includes hosting the next high-level ministerial conference on antimicrobial resistance in June 2026 in Abuja.
Alex Enumah
inAbuja
AHigh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, threatened to revoke the bail of 20 former leaders of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Justice Yusuf Halilu who frowned at the slow progress the case has made since 2023 when the defendants were arraigned on
a five-count charge bordering on attempted murder, breach of peace and assault in the charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/042/2023, warned he may have no choice to revoke the defendants’ bail, so that their lawyers would give the matter the seriousness it deserves.
The defendants which include a one-time PTD National Chairman, Lucky Osesua, were alleged to have attacked NUPENG National President, Mr. Williams Akporeha; the Union’s Secretary-General,
and the
The
Commemoration of World environment day...
L-R: Representative of Directorate of Produce Service, Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, Tunde Popoola; Director, Inspectorate and Compliance Management, Ogun State Environment Protection Authority, (OGEPA), Osinaike Oluwayemisi; Plant Manager, International Breweries PLC), Gateway Brewery, Akintayo Oguntunde; Representative of Orange Strategy Ltd, Michael Adefioye; and Director, Hazardous Material Management and Environmental Safety, OGEPA, Lawal Babatunde, at a river cleanup at Ereku River as part of IBPLC’s efforts towards reducing plastic pollution in commemoration of World Environment Day in Ogun State
and
In a bold entry into the international market, Dangote Petroleum Refinery is set to export 90,000 metric tonnes of gasoline, popularly known in
Nigeria as petrol, to Asia. It would be the company’s first attempt at exporting the product outside the West African market.
In another development, the senate gave Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) one-
week ultimatum to provide detailed explanation on discrepancies totalling more than N210 trillion uncovered in the company’s audited financial statements from 2017 to 2023.
The directive followed a probe session by Senate Committee on Public
Accounts, which on Wednesday interrogated NNPCL officials over irregularities in figures listed under “accrued expenses” and “receivables” in the company’s financial reports.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery, a 650,000 barrels per day refinery
My belief in united Nigeria flow from a deep sense of duty, national loyalty
emma okonji andagnes ekebuike
Nigeria’s former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, rtd., yesterday, reflected on Nigeria’s tumultuous journey and unfinished business, and shared a rare, reflective account of his nine-year rule and the complex events that shaped the nation at that time.
Gowon spoke in an exclusive interview with ARISE News Channels, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, reaffirming his belief in a united Nigeria is guided by a deep sense of duty and national loyalty.
The encounter was anchored by veteran journalist, Mr. Charles Aniagolu.
At 91, Gowon remains a towering figure in Nigeria’s political memory, not just as the country’s youngest head of state as at the time he presided over the affairs of the
country, but also as the man who presided over one of its most defining and tragic chapters: the Nigerian Civil War.
Appointed as the head of state at 31, Gowon emerged as Nigeria’s leader in 1966 after a bloody countercoup that followed an earlier military takeover in January of the same year.
His assumption of office came in the wake of the assassination of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi the erstwhile head of state.
Describing his sudden elevation to power, Gowon recalled being unprepared but deeply grounded in military training and a strict Christian upbringing which helped him ‘appreciate any situation’ and develop strategic responses.
He emphasised that the creation of 12 states to replace the four original regions was not merely a
political calculation, but a response to persistent demands from marginalised communities.
These agitations, he noted, became louder after the coups, especially as fears grew over domination by any single region.
Addressing the aftermath of the July1966coup,Gowonacknowledged the ethnic violence that erupted, particularly against eastern Nigerians in the North and parts of the West.
While he condemned the violence, he attributed much of it to spontaneous civilian reactions rather than a coordinated military agenda.
He recalled reaching out to traditional rulers and regional leaders to quell tensions and protect lives, citing interventions such as his appeal to the Emir of Bauchi.
According to Gowon, the inability to contain the spiraling violence and political distrust ultimately led to
secession by the Eastern Region and the declaration of the Republic of Biafra.
This marked the beginning of the civil war, a conflict he still insists was avoidable, had dialogue and national unity prevailed.
Reflecting on the war and its heavy toll, he reaffirmed his belief in a united Nigeria, noting that his decisions were guided by a deep sense of duty and national loyalty.
His famous declaration of ‘no victor, no vanquished’ upon Biafra’s surrender was a call for healing one that, over half a century later, remains both a historical landmark and an unfulfilled promise of reconciliation.
located at Lagos Lekki Free Zone, had expanded its global reach, including shipments to Singapore and Saudi Arabia.
The Aliko Dangote-owned mega facility reputed as the world’s largest single train refinery supplied jet fuel to the United States, exporting approximately 1.7 million barrels to key ports.
Reuters quoted a source familiar with the shipment as saying the refinery was set to export 90,000 metric tonnes of gasoline to Asia, marking its first gasoline shipment outside West Africa.
Since the refinery began exporting gasoline last year, its shipments had remained within West Africa. The trading firm, Mercuria, is expected to load the cargo on June 22, Reuters reported.
Dangote Refinery continues to expand its global footprint, ensuring steady production and solidifying its role as a significant player in the international fuel market.
In April, Singapore received a separate shipment of low-sulphur straight-run fuel oil (LSSR) from the refinery, indicating a shift in trade flows toward Asia.
LSSR is typically mixed with other fuels to produce low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) for bunkering or used as feedstock in various refining processes, further expanding its
utility in global energy markets.
In addition to Asia, the refinery has made substantial inroads into other markets. For instance, it exported two consignments of jet fuel to Saudi’s Aramco, the world’s largest energy company, highlighting its growing influence in the global energy sector. Furthermore, the refinery has been supplying jet fuel to the United States, with reports indicating shipments of approximately 1.7 million barrels across six vessels to U.S. ports.
In January, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said Dangote’s oil push in Nigeria was beginning to disrupt the oil market in Europe. Experts revealed that the Dangote refinery might end the decades-long gasoline trade from Europe toAfrica, which is valued at $17 billion per year. LastApril, the refinery was ranked above Europe’s 10 largest refineries in capacity. Meanwhile, appearing before the senate committee were NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Dapo Segun, and other senior executives. During the session, lawmakers expressed alarm at what they described as “mind-boggling” inconsistencies flagged in reports prepared by the company’s external auditors.
Kunityessi inAbuja
The Sokoto State Government has accorded special interest to effective and efficient Public Financial Management System which is principle of transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business.
The Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Mohamad Zayyana, disclosed this while declaring open a Two-Day Training Workshop for Relevant Stakeholders on Updated National Chart of Accounts (NCoA) codes, Budget Performance Reporting and State Financial Account. The training was organized by the Ministry at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja. He assured the practices would be sustained to ensure prudent management of public resources under the Dr. Ahmad Aliyu’s led administration.
The Commissioner explained the state has gone far in reforming its budgetary process and performance reporting in line with International Public System Accounting Standard (IPSAS) as well as National Chart of Accounts (NCoA). He assured of government’s readiness to support and enhance the capacity of its workforce in all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to enhance their productivity for effective service delivery.
Dr. Abubakar Zayyana to this end, reiterated government’s commitment at institutionalizing realistic, scientific and all-inclusive Budget in the State.
This is to accommodate and
contextualized the aspirations of different segment of the Society in the distribution of wealth, and to spread programs and projects across the State using realistic variables assumptions.
The Commissioner while appreciating the commitment and support of Governor Ahmad Aliyu in strengthening the Public Financial Management System also charged the participants of the training to be focused and cooperative for achieving the desired goals.
In her address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajiya Maryam Ahmad Barade, said the training is in line with focus of the current administration’s desire of ensuring service delivery at the grass root level.
The Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC and with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF have endorsed three books to enhance the teaching of climate change and the mitigating of violence in schools.
The books are, “Climate Change Education for Schools in Nigeria”, Early Warning: A Guide to Protecting Schools in Nigeria”, and “Managing School Related Violence in Nigeria”.
The permanent secretary of the ministry, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, who spoke yesterday during the unveiling of the books, said they are more than just documents, and represent a commitment to the wellbeing and learning our comes of school children.
Represented by the Director in charge of Education Support Services, Larai Nana Ahmed, the
permanent secretary said climate change education will empower school children to become environmentally conscious and responsible citizens.
His words: “The early warning guide will help us to protect our schools and learners from potential threats.And the managing of schoolrelated violence will enable us to create safer and more supportive learning environments.
“We are not just distributing documents, we are equipping educators, policy makers, and stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to drive meaningful change. We are investing in the future of our children and our nation”.
UNICEF Chief of Education in Nigeria, Vanessa Lee, in her speech, recalled that in 2021, the Federal Ministry of Education developed the National Policy for Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools together with the Minimum Standards for
Safe Schools.
Represented by education specialist, Nneka Ogbansiegbe, she said the tool was first deployed in 6,000 schools twice in 2023, but regrettably, the result of the findings shows that only 1 in 5 schools are implementing 70% of the minimum standards for safe schools.
She stated that in 2024, UNICEF expanded the survey to reach 16,023 schools in 18 states which include Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba, Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Niger, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Benue, Lagos and Oyo states.
The result of the findings showed that only 1 in 4 schools are implementing at least 70% of the minimum standards. According to her: “Another key finding showed that more than half of the schools assessed scored below average on disaster management, managing violence in schools, on the way to schools, and at home.
L-R: Member MFM Land of Mercy Branch, Igbe Laara, Sister Comfort Adesina;
Igbogbo 2, Pastor (Mrs.) Ngozica Sabinus; Head of Glorious Women
Pastor Matthew Adejola, at the inaguration
Queries police for not making any arrests yet Tasks NIA, DSS DGs on intelligence
Gives marching order to CDS: Flush criminals out of Benue Directs formation of inclusive peace c’ttee Abbas urges arrest of suspects, commends president’s intervention NEF, catholic laity, others condemn massacre
DejiElumoye,ChuksOkocha, OnyebuchiEzigbo,KuniTyessi, JulietAkoje,Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole,FolalumiAlaranin AbujaandGeorgeOkohinMakurdi
Sambre, but confident and assertive, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, in Benue State, vowed to convert last weekend’s tragedy in the state, which claimed some 200 lives, into prosperity for the people.
This was part of his visit to commiserate with the government and people of Benue State over the recent killings in Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area.
The president, who promised to invest in the peace of the state, however, queried the police authorities for not having made any arrests since the killings to show some level of seriousness by the government.
Also, tasking the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed on intelligence gathering, Tinubu charged him to work with his counterpart in the Department of State Service (DSS), Tosin Ajayi, in other to apprehend those behind the crime.
The president further gave a marching order to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa to, without further delay, flush out all the criminal elements fomenting trouble in the state and environs.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with Benue stakeholders at the Government House in Makurdi, the state capital, he assured the people
of the federal government’s backing and his personal resolve to end the cycle of bloodshed
“I give you the assurance that we will find peace, we will convert this tragedy to prosperity again and again.
“I want the traditional rulers—the Tor Tiv, the Och’Idoma and others—to be included in this peace committee. I’m ready to invest in that peace. Let’s establish the committee of leaders. We cannot do without one another.
“Whatever we need to do, I will want us—this leadership committee now—we’ll meet in Abuja to really fashion out the nucleus of a lasting peace, and I’m ready to invest in that peace,” president Tinubu said.
Directing the CDS and other security agencies to smoke out the criminals wreaking havoc in the state, he thanked the military high command for their response so far but pressed for greater vigilance and coordination on the ground.
His words: “Christopher (Chief of Defence Staff), thank you very much. I watched your comments. I know you can’t be tired of staying in the bush, including Oluyede (Chief of Army Staff) and the Air Marshal.
“Thanks to all of you, but we need to keep our ears to the ground. Let’s get those criminals, let’s get them out,” even as he charged the heads of the intelligence agencies to improve their surveillance and response systems.
Further, Tinubu said, “DG NIAand DG DSS, retool your information channels and let’s have tangible intelligence that this will not occur again.”
The president also expressed dis-
satisfaction with the lack of arrests by the police following the mass killings.
He said: “Police, I hope your men are on alert to listen to information. How come no arrest has been made? I expect there should be arrest of those criminals.”
The president reiterated that his administration remained committed to national development, but noted that meaningful progress depended on peace and the protection of lives.
“We’ve been fastening our belts to give development to our country. It’s only when you make the people of your state the priority that you can plan good for them and you can execute good programmes,” he said.
Tinubu reaffirmed that the federal government would do all it takes to
ensure Benue found healing and a path forward after the latest tragedy.
In the same breath, the president directed Governor Hyacinth Alia, to immediately constitute an inclusive peace committee to help restore calm following the massacre of over 200 persons inYelewata community, Guma Local GovernmentArea, by suspected armed herders.
He said the peace committee must include all stakeholders – former governors, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and even non-indigenes – and announced that he would personally be involved in its work.
He stressed that the peace effort would only be meaningful if it was broad-based and collaborative, calling for synergy with neighboring
Nasarawa State, whose governor, Abdullahi Sule, was also present at the meeting.
“The governor of Nasarawa is here and the governor of Benue is here, let’s create that synergy for peace, development, and prosperity. We’re here to govern, not to bury. We’re here to raise families, not to lose some,” he said.
The president, therefore, called on the people of Benue to support Alia at this critical moment, urging communities to also embrace peace and inclusion.
“This is a very critical time. The governor needs your help. Let’s have a committee with non-indigenes incorporated,” Tinubu pleaded.
He emphasised the importance
of ranches to curb the indiscriminate movement of livestock, assuring the people that the federal government would provide the necessary support to the state government in setting up the ranches.
In his remarks, Alia appealed to Tinubu to back the creation of state police, highlighting it as a viable and sustainable approach to addressing insecurity. He said the governors needed the necessary tools to respond effectively to security challenges within their domains.
Alia also urged the federal government to establish a special intervention fund for communities affected by insurgency, to provide relief
Oyebode faults omission of Gani Fawehinmi from Tinubu’s democracy heroes’list CJN embodies integrity, excellence, says Olanipekun
Wale Igbintade
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called for a radical digital transformation of the Nigerian judiciary to ensure it remains relevant, respected, and responsive to the needs of the people.
TheGeometricPowerGroup,developers of Nigeria’s first integrated power project, hosted members of the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Power and Public Utilities during an official visit to Aba Power and its generation plant.
The engagement was chaired by the Founder and Chairman of Geometric Power Group, Prof. Bart Nnaji, a former Minister of Power.
According to a statement, in his opening remarks, Nnaji reiterated the strategic intent behind the Aba Integrated Power Project (Aba IPP),
emphasising that the facility was conceived to, “power the progress of Aba’s vibrant industrial sector, known acrossAfrica for its innovation, resilience, and craftsmanship.”
According to him, Geometric Power’s investment in Aba was not just infrastructural but visionary.
“We built this project because we believeAba holds the key to Nigeria’s industrial resurgence. Power is the oxygen of industry,” he stated.
Also speaking at the meeting, Managing Director of Aba Power, Ugochukwu Opigbe, underlined the
company’s commitment to delivering improved electricity to all customers.
“Our vision is to ensure that every customer feels the impact of our operations, starting with stable supply and comprehensive metering,” he said.
Opigbe noted that the company had already metered customers on seven feeders, with plans to complete mass metering of all customers within the next 12 months.
“We have hit the ground running.
Our goal is full metering across the ring-fenced area in record time,” he affirmed.
She made the call at a public lecture themed “Justice in the Digital Age: Leveraging Technology for an Efficient and Accessible Judiciary in Nigeria”, organised by the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.
Kekere-Ekun emphasised that the judiciary, as a vital arm of government, bore the constitutional responsibility of interpreting the law and safeguarding the rights and liberties of Nigerians.
She noted that adopting digital tools could help streamline court processes, promote transparency, reduce case backlogs, and eliminate geographical and financial barriers to accessing justice.
“Digital innovations such as e-filing, virtual courtrooms, and digital case management are already transforming our judicial landscape,” she said, while acknowledging that rising caseloads continue to impede timely justice delivery.
To address these challenges, she advocated the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence for legal research, blockchain for evidence tracking, and automated scheduling systems to improve court efficiency.
“These technologies must be deployed strategically to eliminate bottlenecks, enhance accessibility, and strengthen public trust in our justice system,” she stated.
She stressed that the judiciary must meet growing public expectations for a justice system that is not only fair but also fast, accessible, and inclusive, regardless of literacy, location, or socio-economic background.
The Chief Host and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, in her welcome address, described Kekere-Ekun as a distinguished, forward-looking, and incorruptible jurist.
“We are privileged to receive an informative, educative, and inspiring lecture from our innovative and visionary Chief Justice of Nigeria, a woman deeply committed to justice.
“I urge everyone to listen attentively, especially our students here today, some of whom may one day become Chief Justices of the Federation,” she said.
In his remarks, renowned Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence and pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the University ofAdo-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University), Prof.Akin Oyebode,
underscored the growing relationship between law and technology. He said law students should consider themselves fortunate to have the Chief Justice of Nigeria speak on such a relevant topic at their institution.
However, Prof. Oyebode expressed disappointment over the exclusion of the late human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, from President Bola Tinubu’s list of democracy heroes. Speaking at the event, the ProChancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, described Kekere-Ekun as the pride of Nigeria’s judiciary. He praised her composure, intellect, and unwavering commitment to the rule of law, noting that she has consistently upheld the dignity and integrity of the judiciary.
“Justice Kekere-Ekun is a jurist of uncommon grace and a symbol of judicial excellence. Her judgments are well-reasoned, grounded in law, and delivered with impartiality. She exemplifies the best of our judiciary and continues to inspire confidence both within and outside the legal profession,” he said.
L-R: Commercial Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Gbenga Onimowo; Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development Director, Viola Graham-Douglas; Group Managing Director/CEO, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi; Industrial Director, Yadagani Srinivasa Rao; and Head of Innovation and New Product Development, Emmanuel Ilaboya, during the unveiling of Lafarge Africa PLC’s new product, Ecoplanet Elephant, at the Corporate Head Office in Lagos, yesterday
The Conference of Professionals in PDP (CP-PDP),yesterday, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not and had no statutory powers to cancel or reject the convening of the 100th
National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP scheduled for Monday, June 30th, 2025, The Conference said it was disturbed by the mischievous misrepresentation of the Part 2(12) 3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022 by the INEC
Acting Secretary Haliru Aminu, as a deliberate but failed design by INEC to scuttle the NEC meeting. In a statement by the chairman of the PDP Professionals, Obinna Nwachukeu, ‘’This is because it is crystal clear that the Part 2(12) 3 of the Regulations and Guidelines
for Political Parties, 2022 cited by Haliru Aminu in his malicious letter derived from Part 2(12) 1, which is unambiguous in providing that the 21 days notice to be signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of a political party is only applicable to Convention, Congress,
Conference or Meeting convened for the purpose of merger and electing members of its national executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified in the Electoral Act 2022.
“The CP-PDP has carefully read
Chuks OkochainAbuja
The National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Mr. Peter Ameh, has questioned the decision by the Federal Capital Development Authority to construct a new headquarters for the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Ameh, a former National President of the Inter-PartyAdvisory Council, also warned about what he called the politicisation of the electoral umpire.
In a statement, the former presidential candidate said, “The recent decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission to allow the Federal Capital Development Authority to construct its new national headquarters in Abuja is deeply troubling and constitutes a direct assault on the commission’s constitutional independence.
“I strongly condemn this move as an unacceptable return to practices that undermine Nigeria’s democratic progress. The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as
amended) explicitly safeguards INEC’s autonomy under Section 158(1), which insulates the commission from external control in its operations.
“Furthermore, Section 81(3) provides for a direct line charge to INEC’s budget, ensuring financial independence through funds drawn directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
“This mechanism, reinforced by the ElectoralAct 2022, was designed to eliminate INEC’s reliance on politically controlled entities, thereby
curing the historical problem of undue influence over the election management body.”
Ameh argued that the justification offered by INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, that the FCDA’s role in building the commission’s initial headquarters when it relocated from Lagos validates its current involvement, “Is outdated and indefensible.”
According to the CUPP scribe, “Nigeria’s electoral laws have evolved significantly, and such arrangements are no longer accept-
able for an institution tasked with conducting free, fair, and credible elections.”
“The mere fact that FCDA was allowed to initiate and carry out the construction of the new headquarters speaks volumes.
For an agency under the Federal Capital Territory Administration and subject to political oversight by Nyesom Wike, to fund and construct its headquarters, INEC risks compromising its impartiality and eroding public trust in the electoral process.
TINUBU IN BENUE, SAYS WE’LL CONVERT CURRENT TRAGEDY INTO PROSPERITY, I’M READY TO INVEST IN PEACE for displaced persons and mitigate their hardships.
On his part, the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty, Professor James Ayatse, pleaded with the president to end what he described as genocide in Benue He told the president that the killings in Benue were not clashes between herders and farmers, but a planned attack aimed at taking over land.
The traditional ruler said many people had misunderstood the crisis and wrongly advised Benue citizens to stay calm and live peacefully with their neighbours.
“We do have grave concerns about the misinformation and misrepresentation of the security crisis in Benue State. We can’t farm without getting killed. YourExcellency,it’snotherders-farmers clashes, it’s not communal clashes, it’s not reprisal attacks or skirmishes,” he said.
He described the violence as a “calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign” by herder-terrorists and bandits that has lasted for decades.
“Wrong diagnosis will always lead to wrong treatment… We are dealing with something far more sinister than we think. It’s not about learning to live with your neighbours; it is dealing with a war.”
Abbas Urges Arrest, Commends Tinubu
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has
condemned the recent mass killings in Benue State, describing the violence as “barbaric and unacceptable.”
He also called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the attack.
In a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Abbas backed Tinubu’s directive for security agencies to bring the attackers to justice.
Heemphasisedthatjusticeremained the only path toward bringing some solace to the victims and affected communities.
Offering his condolences to the governmentandpeopleofBenueState, Abbas expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and the destruction of property.
He urged security forces to act swiftly and decisively in apprehending and prosecuting those responsible.
He also commended Tinubu for personally visiting the state to conduct an on-the-spot assessment, describing the visit as a demonstration of true leadership.
He said the president’s directive to the heads of the military, paramilitary, and intelligence agencies should now be treated as a mandate requiring urgent compliance.
“I commiserate with the people of Benue, especially in Guma LGA, for the loss of their loved ones and livelihoodinthegruesomeandbarbaric attacks on them. This incident is not only tragic but condemnable.
“Now that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has ordered the heads of the military, paramilitary,
and intelligence agencies to get the suspect arrested, it is our hope that the victims will get justice,” he said.
Silence from Govt is Betrayal, Demands Urgent Action to Halt Bloodshed, Says NEF
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF), has condemned the wave of killings in Benue State, describing the situation as a “genocide” and a direct consequence of government inaction, political complicity, and systemic collapse.
In a statement by the spokesperson of NEF, Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere, the Forum decried the alarming scale of human loss and suffering across Benue.
It warned that the state, once a pillar of agricultural productivity and economic stability, is now descending into lawlessness and despair.
“The situation has degenerated into unrestrained bloodshed and lawlessness, turning communities into killing fields and exposing the utter collapse of governance, accountability, and security.
“BenueState,oneofNigeria’scritical agricultural hubs, plays a vital role in national food production, youth and women employment, and economic stability. Today, this once-thriving state is under siege.
“The lives of its innocent citizens are being violently cut short, and its socio-economic structure is being systematically destroyed, while the government stands by in silence, helplessness, or worse, complicity.
“The NEF is outraged by the
continued massacres. In just recent days,over150peoplewereslaughtered in the Yelewata community. In Guma and Logo local government areas, another 200 lives were wiped out.
“Thousands have been displaced into squalid, unsafe IDP camps with no access to healthcare, clean water, or basic necessities. Medical services are overstretched and collapsing. Women, children, and the elderly are dying in silence while the government looks away.
“Let it be clearly stated: this is not an ethnic conflict, as it is deceptively portrayed. It is an internal political crisis, one that has been allowed to fester due to criminal negligence, partisan interests, and a complete failure of leadership.
“The deliberate attempt to reframe this politically driven violence as an ethnic or communal issue is dishonest, irresponsible,anddangerous.Itdeflects from the truth and emboldens those behind these atrocities.”
The Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria (CLCN), has urged the federal and state governments to take a firm stance against the cycle of violence that has claimed thousands of lives and devastated countless communities.
In a statement by its acting National President, Martins Braimah and National Secretary, Dame Chisara Egwim-Chima, the CLCN said current happenings in Benue had necessitated an urgent action by government to
address the atrocities and hold security agencies accountable for its actions or inactions.
Highlighting some of the root causes of violent conflict in Benue State, CLCN said the crisis had deep roots in historical grievances, disputes over land usage, and ethnic tensions.
According to the Council, while these factors had existed for decades, recent escalations in violence had been driven by a complex interplay of climate change impacting agricultural practices, economic disparities, and political instability.
“In recent years, Nigeria has faced an alarming surge in violence, particularlyinruralareassuchasBenue State, where clashes between farmers andherdershavebecomeagrimreality.
“The landscape of Benue State serves as a stark reminder of the struggles faced by many Nigerian communities. Murders, kidnappings, and violent clashes have led to the loss of innocent lives and the displacement of entire families.
“The phrase ‘sacrificial ground’ illustrates both the senseless loss of life and the resignation felt by many who witness these tragedies without governmental intervention.
“The CLCN in speaking out against this violence, reiterates the call for peace and justice for all Nigerians, regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliations. It demands accountability from leaders, urging them to prioritize the safety and well-being of their citizens over political gains and tribal loyalties,” it said.
the invitation extended to INEC by the Acting National Chairman of our great party, Ambassador Iliya Damagum. The letter dated Friday, 30th May 2025 and addressed to the Chairman of INEC did not make any reference to 21 Days Notice neither did it state that the 100th NEC meeting is convened for the purposes specified under 2(12) of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022.
‘’It is, therefore, clear that INEC Acting Secretary HaliruAminu acted in bad faith, perhaps influenced by external interests in his letter to import ideas and issues that were not contained in the invitation letter from the PDP.
‘’The Conference, therefore, demands that INEC should protect its integrity by immediately relieving Haliru Aminu of his duties and investigate his conduct and activities, especially given allegations that he is compromised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to frustrate the PDP.
‘Killings in Benue and Other States Could Have Consequences If Not Stopped Now’
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has called for the stoppage of the killings in Benue State and other states, explaining that it could generate severe consequences, if not holistically stopped.
In an interview in Abuja with newsmen, he said it was a clarion call that this comedy show of killings called politics has to stop, adding that it has a consequence that could affect the nation in the future.
‘’It has practical consequences, lives are wasted unabated. It shouldn’t be about wail and wail and mourning, at another time it get worst. The causes are known and are preventable, the solution is good governance,’’ he said.
On the defection of politicians to the rulingAllProgressivesCongress(APC), he said, “The so-called defections are sometimes coming out of closet for people claiming to be opposition because they’ve been compulsorily retired unto the opposition and not by choice.
‘’If you are in opposition by choice, you have access to the ruling party but you don’t agree with them because of the interest of the Nigerian people.
“There is zero risk of you defecting because it will be borne out of conviction that the fundamental problems, disagreement, corruption, poverty, insecurity and poor ethics are not eliminated,’’ he stressed.
John shiklaminKaduna
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has vowed that the Commission would never allowed the relooting of recovered assets.
Olukoyede stated this yesterday during a visit to the main campus of the newly established Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State.
The institution initially known as Nok University was a established in 2021 as a private institution by Anthony Hassan, a retired Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Ministry of Health.
An Abuja federal high court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, had in June 2024,
issued a final order of forfeiture of the university to the federal government, after it was established that Hassan used illicit public funds to establish it.
Hassan was also found guilty of using proceeds of corruption to establish a water factory, hotel, and an event centre.
Olukoyede said good governance was a possibility in Nigeria, adding that Nigerians must enjoy the proceed of accountability.
“This is a testimony that good governance is a possibility in Nigeria. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given us a marching order to go and ensure delivery of good governance and he has provided the leadership directly and indirectly, by actions and by words.”
Raheemakingbolu
TheHonourableMinisterofFinance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy,Mr.WaleEdun,hasbeen confirmed as the Special Guest of Honour at the PEARL Awards 30th Anniversary Corporate Summit, scheduled to hold next week Tuesday, in Lagos.
According to a statement signed by the PEARL Awards Project Manager, Mr. Olisemeka Obi, the summit will feature Dr. Biodun Adedipe, a renowned economist and management consultant, as the Lead Speaker. Adedope is expected to deliver key insights on the theme: “Built to Last: Roadmap for Corporate Nigeria.”
Also expected at the event are: Hon. James Faleke, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman, NGX Group, and Mr. Emomotimi JohnAgama, Director General, Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC).
The statement also quoted the Awards President and CEO, Mr. TayoOrekoya,emphasisingthatthe summit’sfacultyhasbeencarefully curatedtoprovideparticipantswith practical and time-tested strategies forbuildingenduring,legacy-driven businesses.
“Wehavejustafeworganizations in Nigeria that have lasted up to 100 years, and even at that, most were founded by foreigners,” Mr. Orekoya noted. “This summit is aimed at identifying the right pathwaytoorganizationallongevity and sustainability in the Nigerian corporate landscape.”
The panel of distinguished panelists will include: Dr. (Mrs.) Toyin Sanni, CEO/MD, Emerging Africa Group, Dr. (Mrs.) Owen Diana Omogiafo, President/ CEO, Transcorp International, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, MD/ CEO, Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) as well as Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, MD/CEO, First Registrars & Investor Services Ltd.
Heart of Gold Support & Care Initiative, a foundation devoted to rekindling hope and empowering lives around the world, has officially unveiled its new brand identity at a media launch in Lagos.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the founder, Chief Ehiagwina Joy Patrick, described the unveiling as both historic and strategic.
“Today marks a significant milestone,” she said. “We are formally presenting to the world a new identity that reflects the work we’ve been passionately committed to for over 12years—restoring hope, helping individuals rediscover purpose, and transforming them into agents of change. Our mission has never been about handouts, but about investing in people through tailored empowerment programs that inspire dignity, productivity, and self-actualisation.”
Managing Director of Intercontinental Distilleries Ltd and Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Patrick Anegbe, praised the founder’s selfless service and described the initiative as a timely and impactful endeavor.
“Teaching people how to fish, especially at a time like this, is
“Never in the history of this country are we going to allow recovered assets to be relooted again. So, this is a testimony of accountability, it is a testimony
of transparency, it is a testimony of judicious use of recovered asset,” he said. The EFCC boss stated further that, “Nigerians deserve to enjoy the proceeds of
accountability and that is why we decided to give this (institution) back to the people.”
“After recovery, we feel the people of the immediate
community must be the first beneficiaries. So, it is important for us to appreciate the leadership of Mr. President because this has not been happening before.”
MichaelOlugbodeinabuja
The Nigerian government has finalised arrangements for the emergency evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Israel and Iran as crisis between the two nations has escalated with incessant bombings.
ThearrangementsbytheNigerian government was communicated yesterday in a statement by the
spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa.
Thestatementread:“TheMinistry of ForeignAffairs wishes to inform that following the escalation of the crisis between the State of Israel and Islamic Republic of Iran, the Federal Government is finalising arrangements for the emergency evacuation of stranded Nigerians in both countries.
“All affected Nigerian citizens are therefore strongly advised to abidebynecessarysecurityprotocols and contact the nearest Nigerian EmbassyorMissionforregistration and further instructions.
“The ministry commends the effortsputinplacebyourMissions in TelAviv, Israel and Tehran, Iran fortheirdedicationandcommitment to reaching out to the Nigerian
invaluable. It’s commendable that this has been going on quietly for over a decade,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the Organising Committee and Member of the Board of Trustees, Emmanuel Ejeje-Enya, reflected on his journey with the foundation:
“The vision behind Heart Of Gold Support & Care Initiative has always been clear—to make a meaningful impact on lives and communities regardless of race, tribe, or religion. This new identity strengthens our call to uplift humanity daily.”
Also speaking at the event, Managing Director of Brand Dimension, John Akuwudike, explained the inspiration behind the new logo.
“The golden heart design symbolises giving, healing, and enduring impact—core values of the initiative. The two interwoven sections represent connection and compassion, reminding us that true care stems from love and empathy. The golden hue signifies wisdom, generosity, and hope—elements that define the mission and legacy of Heart Of Gold Support & Care Initiative.”
community in these difficult times. “We wish to assure the general publicthattheFederalGovernment ofNigeriaremainscommittedtothe safety and welfare of all its citizens, both at home and abroad, and is working in close coordination with relevant international partners and localauthoritiestoensurethetimely andsecureevacuationofNigerians in affected areas.
Fidelisdavidinakure
Academic and non-academic activities across all Ondo Stateowned tertiary institutions are expected to grind to a halt as workers under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Ondo State Tertiary Institutions begin a 14-day warning strike.
The institutions affected include Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko(AAUA);Olusegun
Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH); University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED); and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO).
In a communique signed by Olutayo Ogungbeni, chairman, JAC-ODSTI,andKunleAkinwonmi, secretary, JAC-ODSTI, issued yesterday, the unions comprising SSANU, NASU, NAAT, and SSANIP, cited failure by the state government to implement the
nationalminimumwage,paysalary arrears, and release outstanding wage awards, among other grievances. They also highlighted the government’s delay in paying gratuities to retired workers and six months’ unpaid salaries for RUGIPO staff.
“We met with the governor on May 1, 2025. Promises were made, but nothing has been done. The government is playing politics with our lives and the future of
education in Ondo State,” the communique read. It added: “Having realised that the state government is playing politics with our lives and the lives of our children in all the state-owned institutions as well as tertiary education sector in Ondo State, we have no other alternative than to direct our members to embarkona14-daywarningstrike (at first instance) with effect from 12:00 midnight of June 19, 2025.
Kunle Adewale
The English Premier League has released the full list fixtures for the 2025/2026 season, confirming the dates and matchups for all 380 games via its official website.
Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey’s Fulham will start the season on August 16 when they visit the Amex to face Brighton & Hove. The two Nigerians started for the Cottagers in their last visit to Brighton.
Nigeria internationals Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis’ Nottingham Forest will begin the Premier League season with a home game against Frank Onyeka’s Brentford at the City Ground.
The standout fixture of the opening weekend takes place at Old Trafford, where Chido Obi’s Manchester United face Ethan Nwaneri’s Arsenal in a blockbuster clash.
Last season, Nwaneri started for the Gunners at Old Trafford, while fellow Hale End Academy graduate Obi was an unused substitute.
Former Flying Eagles striker Ahmed Abdullahi will be aiming to make his Sunderland debut at the Stadium of Light when the Black Cats face Graham Potter’s West Ham United on the opening day, marking the first encounter between the two sides in over eight years.
Nigeria Football Federation target, Jacob Murphy and Newcastle United will begin their campaign with an
away
One-time UEFA Champions League winners, Celtic, have rekindled their chase for Super Eagles and Sevilla forward, Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Record SPFL Giants were linked with the 28-year-old attacker during the winter transfer window, but he joined EFL Championship side, Middlesbrough instead.
Iheanacho couldn’t help Boro gain promotion to the English Premier League and has now returned to Spain ahead of the 2025/2026 campaign.
According to the Daily Record, Celtic could revive their interest in Kelechi Iheanacho after they failed in their January pursuit.
The former Manchester City forward excelled under Brendan Rodgers during their time at Leicester City, and the Celts are
hopeful of rekindling the relationship between both parties, but this time in Scotland.
With Leon Balogun’s exit from Rangers confirmed, and Dessers closing in on a move to AEK Athens, a move for Iheanacho would excite the Nigerian fans in Glasgow as they’ll have one of their own to support.
Sevilla’s Sporting Director, Victor Orta, opened an exit door for Iheanacho by branding the addition of the Nigeria international 12 months ago a “mistake”. However, the forward wants to fight for his place.
“I’m really excited to be here. It’s a wonderful place. It was good to go out and to feel football in a
HORROR TALES FROM BENUE STATE
I am writing this column from the neighbouring Plateau State where I have been on assignment as a member of the fact-finding panel on similar killings. With a range of beautiful hills amid fat rich lands, Plateau State is also blessed with a vital mineral resource. These endowments of nature are now at the root of the crisis. As we travel the state, both AVM Ibrahim Shafi’i (rtd) and Justice Esther Lolo (rtd), with whom I have had several interactions in recent days, share my view on how we waste opportunities in Nigeria. Sadly, the tragedy in Benue State offers many parallels. On Monday, we had a session with the Plateau State Traditional Council at the palace of their chairman, Gbong Gwom Jos, HRH Da Jacob Gyang Buba in Jos. The exchanges were quite revealing. On Tuesday, we were in Mangu local government, the epicentre of the killings, where we first met with the council chairman, Emmanuel
different environment,” the one-time FA Cup winner said in an interview
with Mundo Deportivo.
“Seville is a great club. I loved my experience there. It’s a great team and I’ll be happy to get back there,” he concluded.
Chelsea winger, Mykhailo Mudryk, has been charged by the Football Association with violating its anti-doping rules after he failed a drugs test and could now face up to a four-year ban.
The Ukraine international, 24, was provisionally suspended by the FA in December after an “adverse finding in a routine urine test” provided by the player.
Players found to have intentionally taken a banned substance can be banned for up to four years under FIFA guidelines.
At the time Mudryk said he was in “complete shock” and he “never knowingly used any banned substances”.
“As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time.”
Chelsea have not commented but in December said, external they would work to establish what caused the failed test, adding: “Mykhailo has confirmed categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances.”
He has not played for Chelsea since 28 November and has not been included in a match day squad since 1 December. In a new statement on Wednesday, the FA said: “We can confirm that Mykhailo Mudryk has been charged with Anti-Doping Rule Violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance, in terms of Regulations 3 and 4 of The FA’s Anti-Doping Regulations.
Phil Foden inspired defending champions Manchester City to 2-0 victory over Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in their FIFAClub World Cup opener in Philadelphia.
The Premier League side had seen fellow European heavyweights Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich and Chelsea all record victories in their first games and made no mistake themselves against the north African side, helped by Foden’s return to form with a goal and assist.
Though there were banks of empty seats visible inside the stadium, City fans arrived at Lincoln Financial Field in their thousands and witnessed a masterclass from
the England midfielder. Pep Guardiola’s men were heavy favourites and made the perfect start as Foden stroked in from 12 yards out inside two minutes, before the 25-year-old’s inswinging corner was poked home by Jeremy Doku three minutes before half-time. Ballon d’Or winner Rodri was introduced off the bench for just his second appearance since September following a serious knee injury, while Erling Haaland was given a huge ovation after entering the action and scooped a shot over from a promising position and had a late effort saved by Mehdi Benabid.
Three-time English Premier League winners, Leeds United, have joined Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in pursuit of Super Eagles and Club Brugge midfielder, Raphael Onyedika.
The 24-year-old midfielder has been linked with a plethora of clubs over the past two summers, but a move is yet to surface, although talks are holding about a departure from Belgium this summer.
Leeds United have now joined in the pursuit of the versatile midfielder as they look to maintain a place in the English top-flight when next season ends.
Over the last two Premier League seasons, the three promoted clubs from the EFL Championship suffered relegation at the end of each campaign suffered relegation.
Leeds United are keen on avoiding such a scenario, and are
seemingly intent on improving the spine of their team.
Daniel Farke’s side have already secured the services of Lukas Nmecha from Wolfsburg, while Jaka Bijol is expected to sign from Udinese in the coming days.
According to Graime Bailey of Leeds United News, Onyedika is strongly on the radar of the one-time FA Cup winners.
“I’ve been told one name who
West Ham like is Onyedika at Club Brugge. Leeds have looked at him as well. They want that type of player, that physicality.
“He’s a very good player, and it wouldn’t surprise me either. He’s a threat. West Ham are looking at him as a replacement for Soucek, but he’s one player Leeds are looking at, and Leeds have got loads of options,” the transfer expert reavealed.
Nwoipon, and the heads of all military/security agencies. After that, we headed for the palace of the Miskhaham Mwaghali, HRH Da John Putmang Hirse who had assembled all district heads and Mwaghavul community leaders for a town hall meeting that lasted almost four hours. Although, it was getting dark and I felt quite agitated, our chairman, Major General Nichola Rogers (rtd) insisted on our visiting some of the ‘war zones’ because that is the only way to describe the level of carnage that we saw in some of the communities. Yesterday, we were at Bokkos local government where we visited some IDP camps and difficult-to-access communities that were recently attacked. Mbor, a big community where seven people were killed and many of the houses razed, is now completely deserted with inhabitants condemned to the IDP camps.
But I have also been following developments in
Abuja where, apparently responding to local and international pressure, there is attention on Benue.
Beyond the usual lamentations on Tuesday, the Senate pledged to organise “a national security summit, not just for the military, but for CSOs, media, women, youth, and other critical stakeholders, because enough is enough—according to a statement by its spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu.
“We cannot keep going from Plateau to Benue, paying condolence visits...Together with traditional rulers and communities, we must put a stop to this bloodshed.”
Promising that yesterday’s presidential visit would “signal that the government is serious--both the legislature and executive,” Adaramodu raised the hope that there would be a new approach, although talk is cheap and Nigerians have been regaled with several of such pledges in the past.
“When we hold the national security summit, we
hope to uncover hidden problems and find lasting solutions to the killings of innocent Nigerians, not just in Benue or Plateau, but across the country.”
Here in Plateau State, we are learning a lot about this vicious cycle of killings, and I will share my experiences at the end of our assignment. But the horror tales from Benue States reveal a brutal conflict that has devastated lives and communities. They call for urgent action, effective security measures, and the requisite political will to address the root causes of the violence. For Benue State to heal and rebuild from the madness that has engulfed it in recent weeks, there must be a new resolve not only by the authorities in the state and Abuja but also by other critical stakeholders.
It is distressing that our country is fast becoming a funeral home given all the stories about brutal killings, displacement of people, conflicts, and disasters. We cannot continue like this!
olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com
In the heart of Nigeria’s ‘Food Basket,’ horror has become a recurring visitor, and the tales are written in blood and tears. But the latest attack in Benue State stands as one of the deadliest in recent memory, both in scale and brutality. In the early hours of Saturday, 14th June 2025, gunmen descended on Yelewata, a community in Guma Local Government Area, unleashing terror. While the messengers of death were on the prowl, dozens of families were reportedly locked inside their homes and burnt alive, with many bodies charred beyond recognition. I understand the dead bodies are still being counted but behind the chilling statistics are countless personal tragedies. A mother who lost five children. Widows who mourn husbands killed while tending their farms. Internally Displaced People being brutally massacred in their camps. Orphaned children who are now forced to grow up amid violence and entire villages erased from the map. A traumatised father united with his 10-month-old baby after wife and other children were murdered. Today, survivors live with deep psychological scars, haunted by memories of bloodshed and loss. Wanting to sleep one night without fear is a simple wish. Yet, for too many in Benue State, that remains out of reach.
Take the story of Tsegba Gbam Ayua recounted by DAILY TRUST. “I had been displaced from Ayua in Nasarawa State for over two years and was taking refuge with my family in Yelewata. A few days before the incident, I travelled back to Nasarawa to do menial jobs so I could support my family,” Ayua told the newspaper in what has become a familiar story for many. “Then, around 11 pm on Friday, I got a call that our host community was under attack. I rushed back early Saturday morning, only to find the worst nightmare of my life. My wife and four children had been burned to ashes inside the market stalls where they were sleeping.”
In recent days, I have heard (from survivors of such brutality) and read (from various memoranda) many of these tales but let me not get ahead of myself. In Benue, the number of fatalities depends on who is doing the counting, but available reports indicate what happened could only be described as a pogrom. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that more than 100 people, including security personnel were killed,
while 46 others were hospitalized. Many have also reportedly died from their injuries. Thousands of people have fled their communities and hundreds remain missing or wounded without adequate medical care. The scale of this massacre and the chilling reports of families incinerated in their bedrooms, have sparked outrage nationwide and President Bola Tinubu visited yesterday.
To understand the Benue killings is to confront a tangled web of history, ethno-religious politics, and failure of leadership both at the national and subnational levels. In recent years, the conflict has escalated into cycles of reprisal attacks, with herdsmen often accused of raiding villages, killing civilians, grabbing lands, and destroying farmlands. Over the years, villages have been razed, and thousands of people have been forced to internally displaced persons (IDPs) with little protection or aid. The failure to prosecute perpetrators, slow response to attacks, and lack of meaningful dialogue have only deepened wounds. The immediate past Governor Sam Ortom enacted an anti-open grazing law to curb the violence, but this has not resolved the problem. If anything, the result has been a tragic escalation of violence, with the security agencies often accused of indifference or even complicity.
The pattern is depressingly familiar. In 2023, over 400 people were killed and more than 100 others wounded, raped, or kidnapped in attacks across Benue State. Since then, entire communities have been decimated, and the trauma of displacement compounds the horror of the killings. Just a few weeks ago, in May 2025, over 40 people were killed in three separate attacks on villages in Gwer Local GovernmentArea of Benue. Victims included innocent civilians and security personnel.
In Benue State today, no rural community seems safe. In Logo, Guma, and Katsina-Ala, similar stories abound: Village razed, families decimated, and a government struggling to restore order. The cycle of attack and reprisal has become a grim routine, and the sense of abandonment is palpable. The motive remains unclear, but the incessant attacks underscore the ongoing insecurity and the failure to protect vulnerable communities. The attacks often come without warning and nowhere to run for help, leaving the people distrustful of government protection. Authorities in Abuja may have been shocked by the magnitude of the latest killings, but they are not a new development. What makes the tragedy dangerous is the unavoidable sectarian slant based on the identities of victims—even if this is not a religious crisis. Speaking just before delivering last Sunday’s Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow while offering prayers for the deceased. “A terrible massacre took place, in
Following Monday’s release of ‘The Ghost of June 12’, I received a deluge of messages from those who asked for copies. But my discussion with the CEO of Roving Heights, Dotun Eyinade yesterday suggests they can deliver to any interested buyer in Nigeria. The contacts: www.rhbooks.com.ng and WhatsApp: +2349092158968; +2348028287089. It is also available on Amazon and Kindle.
which about 200 people were killed, with extreme cruelty, most of whom were internally displaced, hospitalised by the local Catholic mission,” said the Pope who then prayed “that security, justice and peace prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country, so affected by various forms of violence. And I pray, in particular, for the rural Christian communities of Benue State, which have been incessantly victims of violence.”
Aweek after I received the book, ‘In the Twilight of Time:ABiography of anAfrican Medicine Man’, which formed the basis of my last November’s column, ‘What Yoruba People Have Lost’, Professor Jacob Olupona of Harvard sent me the message below on Tuesday about Chief Lóògò Bámútùlá, who, as I wrote, was not only a cultural avatar but also a symbol of the body of knowledge in Yorubaland that is gradually going into extinction: “Dear Segun, this is to inform you of the transition of a great man, Baba Lóògò Bámátùlá. I am glad that we were able to tell the story of his eventful life to academic audiences in many citadels of learning, including Harvard and Yale in the United States and McGill in Canada. Scholars of indigenous knowledge systems around the world now know him as a community leader, medicine man, psychiatrist, farmer, hunter and indeed as a wise man—the likes of men the book of Ecclesiasticus eloquently praised. Baba Lóògò’s biography written by me and Wole Akinyosoye will remain a testament to his wisdom, noble character, gallantry, and kindness. The story of Baba Lóògò’s conversion to Christianity is a narrative that students of world religions and spirituality now read and discuss in university seminars. We will miss this great man. But the consolation remains that he left his story behind for posterity.” May God comfort the family the old man left behind.
