At NISO Stakeholders’ Meeting, FG Vows Estimated Billing to End in 3 Years
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government
Adelabu says WAPP alignment will strengthen nation’s power grid Assures synchronisation won’t leave Nigeria stranded Reiterates $2bn fresh investment attracted under Tinubu Mohammed declares NISO will maintain neutrality in all market decisions yesterday pledged to end the problematic estimated electricity billing in the country in the next three to five years, a move that could considerably raise liquidity and restore confidence in the nation’s power sector. Speaking at the maiden Nigerian Independent System
Operator (NISO) Stakeholders’ Engagement in Abuja, the Minister of Power, Chief Continued
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Oloworaran: N26 Trillion Pension Assets Fueling National Development...
US Congressman Confirms Meeting
FG’s
Delegation over Alleged Christian Genocide
Ezeobi in Lagos, Chuks Okocha, Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Wale Ajimotokan in Abuja
A United States Congress-
mounting tension between both nations, over alleged genocide against Christians in Nigeria.
Apart from the meeting with
Continued on page 38
We stand by our position, says CAN SGF: US’ genocidal claim encouraging extremist groups man, Riley Moore, yesterday, confirmed meeting with a federal government delegation led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, as part of diplomatic efforts to douse the
FG Places Nation’s Security on Red Alert
As Tinubu postpones trip to G20, AU-EU summits in S’Africa, Angola over insecurity Awaits further briefings on kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls, attack on worshippers in Kwara Directs military, police to deploy more men to Kwara President deeply troubled, shares your anguish, Shettima tells students’ families in Christian enclave, LG chair releases names Kwankwaso demands decisive action
NSITF VISITS FUBARA TO PROMOTE THE ADOPTION OF EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION SCHEME...
L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr. Oluwaseun Faleye; Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara; Executive Director, Operations, NSITF, Barrister Mojisola Alli-Macaulay; Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr. Benibo Anabraba, at Government House, Port Harcourt, during a courtesy visit by NSITF to the Governor to promote the adoption of Employees’ Compensation Scheme by the Rivers State Government, yesterday
on page 38
Adebayo Adelabu, stated that
Chiemelie
Excellency Kashim Shettima GCON Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Excellency Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu Executive Governor, Lagos State
Jim Ovia, CFR Founder & Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc
Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON GMD/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc.
Shivagami Gugan Chief Technologist for Middle East, Turkey and Africa, AWS
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, OON Founding Partner, Future Africa
David Kpakima Co‑Founder, Rasab Group, Sierra Leone
Aisha Tofa Board Chair, Startup Kano Center for Innovation Development Bradwin Roper Chief Payments & Partnerships
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF KICKSTART AWARDS CEREMONY...
L-R: Chairman Advisory Board, International Breweries Foundation, Dr. Peter Bamkole; Independent Non-Executive Director, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), Mrs Awuneba Ajumogobia; Managing Director, IBPLC, Mr Carlos Coutino; Keynote Speaker at the IBPLC 2025 Kickstart Entrepreneurship Awards Ceremony, Former Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; 2025 IBPLC Kickstart Entrepreneurship Awards Grand Prize winner, Mr Samuel Adewumi; First Lady Ogun State, Her Excellency, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; 2025 IBPLC Kickstart Entrepreneurship Awards Grand Prize winner, Miss Oluwadunsin Bolaji; Assistant Director, Entrepreneurship Dept, Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr Babawale Thompson John; Corporate Affairs and Regulatory Director, IBPLC, Mrs Temitope Oguntokun, and Independent Non-Executive Director, IBPLC, Mrs Olutoyin Odulate, at the 2025 and 10th Anniversary of Kickstart Awards Ceremony, an Entrepreneurship Initiative of International Breweries PLC held in Lagos...yesterday
Oloworaran: N26 Trillion Pension Assets Fueling National Development
Abuja
The Director General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, yesterday declared that the country’s pension assets under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) valued at over N26 trillion is currently fueling economic development.
She said the CPS represented more than a change in retirement policy, and demonstrates a shift in national consciousness, signal- ing a decisive break from past dependencies on state-provided old-age financial security to a new culture of retirement savings and forward planning.
The PenCom DG spoke in Benin City, Edo State, at the Second Run of the 2025 Consultative Forum for States and the FCT.
She noted that the scheme, covering 10.9 million workers at the federal, state and private sector levels, established a contract between the worker
and the employer, with the assurance that a lifetime of labour would be rewarded with financial security in old age.
Represented by PenCom Commissioner Inspectorate, Chief Samuel Chigozie Uwandu, Oloworaran, commended states that have made significant prog- ress by enacting pensions laws and commencing contribution remittances for their workers.
She said, “But our mission as an industry is not complete. The success of this national reform rests on its implementation in every state, local government, and across the informal sector. This forum is the engine of that collaboration.
“This November marks one year since I assumed office as Director General of the National Pension Commission.
“It has been a year of deliberate reform, focused on strengthening governance and expanding the value of the pen- sion system for all Nigerians.”
Highlighting some key
milestones under her watch, the PenCom DG noted that together with her team, the timely payment of Accrued Pen- sion Rights had been achieved, including a landmark increase in monthly pensions for retirees as well as the National Executive Council (NEC)’s approval of a N758 billion
bond to settle legacy pension liabilities such as accrued rights, pension increases and minimum pension guarantee, among others.
She said, “The success of Nigeria’s pension system depends on the extent to which the sub-national governments embrace the full implementation
of the CPS/CDBS.
“To those still on this journey, we affirm: PenCom is your partner. We provide technical assistance and policy guidance because because we believe that pension reform is not a Federal agenda, it is a national imperative.
“Every reform we enact, every
pension liability we clear, is a step toward one unifying goal; to make a dignified retirement not just a hope, but a guarantee to the teaming Nigerian workers. “I therefore, call on every state government, pension bureau, and social partner here today, to join us in advancing the goals of pension revolution 2.0.”
Senate Probes Alleged Illegal Removal of Equipment Leasing Authority Boss
The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions has commenced fresh scrutiny into the controversy surrounding the leadership of the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA).
LCCI Applauds Declining Inflation Rate, Warns Progress Still Fragile
Dike Onwuamaeze
The Lagos Chamber of Com- merce and Industry (LCCI) has applauded the latest NBS data, which showed that headline inflation and food inflation declined to 16.05 per cent and 13.12 per cent respectively in October 2025.
The Director General of LCCI Dr. Chinyere Almona, in a statement yesterday, noted that this marked Nigeria’s seventh consecutive month of cooling prices, and it is the clearest signal yet that economic
pressures were beginning to loosen their grip.
Almona said: “This decisive drop, driven by softer food prices, a stronger currency, and improved harvest outcomes, offers a glimmer of stability for businesses struggling with rising costs and households strained by months of high food costs.”
She, however, observed that this progress remains fragile with month-on-month inflation continuing to tick upward and sharp state-level disparities persisting.
She also stated that the
monthly data on the headline figure tells a more complicated story.“The month-on-month inflation climbed to 0.93 per cent in October, up from 0.72 per cent in September.
“It can be taken that while the broader trend is improv- ing, short-term price pressures remain a concern.
“Most of our concerns come from the components of the food basket, which still carry the most significant weight in estimating Nigeria’s Consumer Price Index,” Almona added.
This is just as the Northern Alliance Committee (NAC) alleged in a petition to the federal parliament that the removal of the agency’s former Acting Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Saidu Njidda was illegal, arbitrary, and executed without adherence to public service rules.
At an investigative hearing chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen, the leaders of the Northern Alliance, led by Prof. Ibrahim A. Madugu, alleged that Njidda, who previously served as Executive Chairman and Acting CEO, was “unceremoniously and unlawfully” eased out of office without any formal communication or due process as required for the exit of a public officer. Madugu, who appeared before the committee with the former ELRA helmsman as directed during the previous sitting, recalled that a petition earlier presented through Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, had detailed what the group described as “grave injustice” in the manner
Njidda was removed.
According to him, Njidda, a fellow of several professional bodies and a former director of NAC for the North-East, was appointed in line with the ELRA Act and was expected to oversee the agency pending the amendment of the enabling law.
His removal, he insisted, violated multiple public service regulations, including the Code of Conduct Bureau Act and the Pension Reform Act.
Madugu maintained that without a formal disengage- ment letter, a CEO could not be said to have exited public service lawfully.
He argued that as a public officer, one must comply with the Code of Conduct Bureau, Pension Act, and other regulations, adding that if there was no official communication at the point of exit, it becomes a serious problem for the individual.
He also faulted the alleged appointment of a new Regis- trar as the substantive CEO without observing Public
Service Rule 17–0201, insisting that the rule was “blatantly violated.”
Quoting President Bola Tinubu’s recent remarks at a conference of judges, he said that when there is no integrity, the reforms of government cannot stand.
Madugu told the committee that the NAC was urging the reinstatement of Njidda as Acting CEO pending the amendment of the ELRA Act and called for strict adherence to Section 8(a) of the Act in future appointments. He argued that mistakes or omissions by supervising ministries should not be converted to punishment for an officer who merely obeyed lawful directives.
In a spirited defence, the representative of ELRA at the Committee hearing, Mr. Oluwasogo Adeuja, told the panel that the board under which Njidda served was dissolved on 19 June 2023, by a circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
James Emejo in
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT FOCUSED ON ADVANCING NATIONAL REFORMS IN JOBS, SKILLS AND PRODUCTIVITY...
L-R: Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Dr. Tayo Aduloju, and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, during a strategic engagement focused on advancing national reforms in jobs, skills and productivity, held at the NESG Office in Lagos on Tuesday
FAAC Disburses N2.94tn as Federation Grosses N2.934tn in October
Ndubuisi
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), has disbursed a total sum of N2.094 trillion to the federal, state and local governments as Federation Allocation for the month of October 2025.
The disbursement, which was made during the monthly
meeting of the committee in Abuja, Wednesday, was from a gross total of N2.934 trillion garnered during the month of October.
The shared amount comprised Gross Statutory Revenue of N1.376 trillion, Value Added Tax (VAT) of N670.303 billion, and N47.870 billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL),
bringing the total distributable amount for the month to N2.094 trillion, a statement issued by Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga,, said.
Citing the communique issued at the end of the meeting chaired by Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Shamsu-
deen Ogunjimi, the statement disclosed that the federal government received N758.405 billion while the states received N689.120 billion.
Local government councils got N505.803 billion, while the oil producing states received N141.395 billion as 13 per cent Derivation (13 per cent of mineral revenue).
Oil Falls Sharply after Reported Proposal to End Russia-Ukraine War
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Oil prices fell sharply yesterday after a report of a U.S. proposal to end the Russian war in Ukraine and as oversupply concerns continued to weigh on prices.
Brent crude futures fell $1.72, or 2.65 per cent, to $63.17 a barrel by 1421 GMT after gaining 1.1 per cent the previous session.
Also. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down $1.65, or 2.72 per cent, at $59.09 after rising by 1.4 per cent
Oluremi
onUkraineTuesday. has received “signals” about a set of U.S. proposals to end the war, which Washington has discussed with Russia, a senior Ukrainian official told Reuters on Wednesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was expected to hold talks in Turkey on Wednesday and meet U.S. Army officials in Kyiv on Thursday in a new drive to revive peace negotiations with Russia.
Successful peace talks would reduce oil supply risks, said
Tinubu’s
Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that U.S. sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil imposed in October after peace talks stalled, have had no impact on Russian oil output.
The U.S. Treasury said on Monday that sanctions now squeezing Russia’s oil revenue are expected to curb its export volumes. Crude buyers in China and India have already started switching to alternative suppliers.
Those sanctions come into full effect on November 21
RHI Lifts 600 Vulnerable Persons in Imo with Palliatives
Amby Uneze in Owerri
No less than 600 vulnerable persons in Imo State, particularly the physically-challenged were yesterday lifted out of the poverty lane through the Renewed Hope Initiatives (RHI), the brain-child of Senator Oluremi, wife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The exercise which took place at the Government
House Owerri was carefully designed to achieve inclusion of the vulnerable persons in the scheme of things of government, with emphasis on lifting such population in the State out of poverty.Represented on the occasion by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, Mrs Tinubu who is the Chairman of RHI gave out different food items and cash to the beneficia-
ries before a large audience of invitees that included National and State government officials. Speaking at the event, Mrs. Tinubu emphasised the need to empower women, citing their critical roles in shaping the nation’s future. She encouraged women in general to take on leadership roles, embracing their unique strengths and seeking opportunities to make a positive impact in their various homes.
when a U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) winddown licence ends, except for assets given separate operating licences.
“There is maximum pressure right now as Friday’s deadline is looming,” said Rystad Energy oil analyst Janiv Shah, adding that a lower geopolitical risk premium would leave investors focusing more closely on weak market fundamentals.
The sum of N115.278 billion was for the cost of collection, while N724.603 billion was allocated for Transfers, Intervention and Refunds.
The gross revenue available from VAT for the month of October was N719.827 billion, as against N872.630 billion distributed in the preceding month, signifying a decrease of N152.803 billion.
From the stated amount, the sum of N28.793 billion was allocated for the cost of collection, N20.731 billion for Transfers, Intervention and Refunds.
The balance of N670.303 billion was distributed to the three tiers of government, with the federal government getting N100.545 billion, the states-- N335.152 billion, and local government councils, N234.606 billion.
The statement said Gross Statutory Revenue of N2.164 trillion received for the month was higher than N2.128 trillion received in the previous month by N36.832 billion.
From the stated amount, N84.490 billion was allocated
for the cost of collection while a total sum of N703.872 billion for Transfers, Intervention and Refunds.
The balance of N1.376 trillion was distributed to the three tiers of government as follows: Federal Government, N650.680 billion; states, N330.033 billion; while N254.442 billion was allocated to local councils, and N141.395 billion was for 13 per cent derivation.
The sum of N49.865 billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) was distributed to the three tiers of government. The federal government received N7.180 billion, states got N23.935 billion, local government councils received N16.755 billion, while N1.995 billion was allocated for cost of collection.
Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT)/ Hydrocarbon Tax (HT) and Company Income Tax (CIT) on Upstream Activities, Company Income Tax (CIT)/CGT and SDT, Oil and Gas Royalty, Import Duty, Excise Duty and CET Levies increased significantly during the reference month, while VAT, EMTL, and fees recorded decreases.
MAN Calls for Investment in Blue Economy, Diri Pledges 24-hour Power Supply
Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called for investment in the blue economy, highlighting emerging prospects in fish processing, seaweed cultiva- tion, ship repairs, and marine technology as pathways for industrialisation in the Niger Delta. MAN made this known at the 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Bayelsa/ Rivers states Branch, which ended at the weekend in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State
capital.
In a communique issued at the end of the AGM, the association said its members as well as the African Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative (AFMESI) had the capacity to unlock Nigeria’s blue economy sustainably and inclusively, but the region re- quired dedicated infrastructure upgrades, including roads, waterways, and power.
The communique was signed by Vincent Okuku (Chairman of Rivers/Bayelsa States Branch); Michael Nosa
In the resolutions, MAN said the future of the Niger Delta economy lied in diversification rather than dependence on extractive industries.
The communique stated, “Technology and innovation, value addition and local pro- cessing, strategic infrastructure, and a skilled workforce are essential pillars for the future of manufacturing in the region.
Agana (Branch Vice Chairman/ Chairman AGM planning Committee); and Chibuzor Eze (Executive Secretary, Rivers/ Bayelsa States Branch).
Francis in Abuja
ToTalEnErgiEs annual ChariTy golf TournamEnT...
L-R: General Manager, TotalEnergies Country Services, Adesua Adewole; Deputy Managing Director, JV Asset, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Olivier Cassassoles; Managing Director/Chief Executive, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, Mr. Matthieu Bouyer and Executive Director, TotalEnergies Corporate Services, Olatunji Akinwunmi during the 2025 TotalEnergies Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Course, Lagos...recently
Fubara Hails NSITF as Gift to Nigerian Workers
Says fund projecting Tinubu’s government in positive light NSITF offers N75m cheques under employees’ compensation scheme
Rivers State Governor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, yesterday hailed the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) for projecting President Bola Tinubu’s administration in positive light through the Employees’ Compensation Scheme (ECS).
Fubara described the fund as a gift to Nigerian workers, saying the state will key into the scheme.
Fubara made the remarks when he received in audience Managing Director/ Chief Executive of NSITF, Mr. Oluwaseun Faleye, and his team in Port Harcourt.
Faleye had paid a courtesy visit to the governor after presenting cheques to differ- ent beneficiaries of ECS in the state, which amounted to N75 million.
Fubara heartily welcomed Faleye, saying, “The good work of NSITF, through the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, is projecting the federal government in a very positive light. In fact, it is a gift to Nigerian workers and everyone who has keyed into the scheme.”
He also assured that the state would embrace the scheme.
According to the governor, “We are trying in our little ways to improve the fortunes of our workers. We will take it as a matter of priority to ensure we subscribe to the Employees’ Compensation Scheme managed by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.”
The governor said the scheme could come in handy in the fight against corruption.
He said, “One way of fighting corruption is for the state
to key in into the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.”
He explained that corruption was “fuelled by the fear of what happens to the individual when they are no longer able to work”.
The governor emphasised the importance of institutions, such as NSITF, that could allay workers’ fears of the future and also give them hope.
He expressed joy that the “Scheme is working and catering for the needs of injured and disabled workers as well as families of deceased ones”.
Fubara said, “Nothing will stop us from working towards subscribing to the scheme.”
In his remarks, Faleye thanked the governor for the warm reception.
He explained that his mission in Rivers State was to present cheques to beneficiaries under the ECS and solicit the governor’s support for the scheme.
He said, “We are here in Rivers State to present cheques to some private sector employees who are beneficiaries of the scheme.
“We are also here to solicit for your support in ensuring that the Rivers State government subscribes to the Employees’ Compensation Scheme in the bid to improve the state workers’ welfare.
“Rivers State keying into the scheme will be a trailblazer. Rivers can be the leading light of the ECS in the South-south region.”
Further explaining the scheme to the governor, Faleye said, “We are mandated by law to implement the ECS in the case of death, injury or diseases that may occur in the course of work. It is instructive to note that our compensation goes
on for some while to provide social safety net for employees.
“In the same vein, it offers a lot of economic benefits to the state and its workforce, as the scheme builds resilience in the workforce ecosystem thereby contributing to economic productivity.”
Faleye appealed to the governor to make NSITF compliance certificate a pre- requisite for doing business with the state government, which the governor readily accepted.
Fubara said Rivers State would start by ensuring that contractors undertaking reno- vation of the state secretariat complied with ESC.
Earlier, at the awards ceremony, the NSITF boss presented three cheques totalling N75.84 million to beneficiaries in the state.
Presenting a cheque of N54.64 million to the dependants of late
Mr. Ositoyibo Ogaga Joseph, Faleye commiserated with the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased.
While acknowledging that nothing could compensate for life lost, he expressed hope that the money “brings some measure of comfort and support during this difficult time”.
Joseph, an employee of Depthwize Nigeria Limited, drowned when the drilling rig he was working on collapsed on August 15, 2023. He left behind a young family con- sisting of a totally dependent housewife and mother of four children.
Faleye assured that aside the lump sum payment, “The dependents will be paid monthly death benefits of N2. 02 million, representing 90 per cent of the deceased’s salary, until the last child turns 21 years in 2042.”
Orela Okulue VP, representing the managing director of Depthwize Nigeria Limited, lauded NSITF’s commitment to alleviating the burden of families when work place accidents occur.
Okulue thanked NSITF for giving hope to the dependants of the deceased.
She appreciated the fund for making the process seamless and bringing succour to the families and the organisation.
According to her, “It has made our work very easy and we appreciate the management team of NSITF for coming.”
Similarly, the NSITF team presented a cheque of N13.19 million in favour of Okochi Aaron, an employee of Dae- woo, who was involved in an automobile accident in March 2022, leading to amputation of his left leg.
Faleye explained, “This cheque, representing Medical
Expense Refunds (N8,481,560) and Disability benefits (N4,715,517.34), totalling N13,197,077.34, demonstrates our commitment to fulfilling our mandate.”
He revealed that the beneficiary would continue to receive monthly payments until he turns 55 years old in 2033.
Responding on behalf of Daewoo, General Manager, Mr. Akabo Clement Abrakasa, expressed delight to NSITF for the visit and stated that fund was a critical stakeholder in the Daewoo family. Abrakasa stated, “We are a critical stakeholder with NSITF and we are particularly happy with your presence because it’s a demonstration of your commitment to keeping to your promise of providing succour and support to deceased employees and injured staff.”
FG Raked in N26 Billion Revenue from Mining Sector in 10 Months
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The federal government has revealed that the mining sector recorded N26 billion revenue from licensing fees, which had been remitted to the federation account as of October 2025.
This represented an increased compared with the N6 billion recorded in 2023 and N12 billion in 2024.
It was disclosed that according to the World Mining Data 2025, as at 2023, Nigeria produced 108,414,478 metric tonnes of minerals, thus ranking as the 24th out of 166 countries in
total production of minerals, and has ranked 20th out of 166 in monetary value, with total minerals produced amounting to $48,961 million.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, disclosed this during a breakthrough in the country’s mining sector yesterday, with the groundbreaking of a $400 million rare earth minerals processing plant in Uke, Nasarawa State Delivering his speech titled, “The Road to Self-Reliance in the Solid Minerals Sector”, Alake said progress was being made as a result of changes in global
technology driven by climate change, which has made electric vehicles and appliances the new normal.
He said under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, the solid minerals sector has been turned into the newest pillar of growth of the Nigerian economy with enforced compliance with the mining laws, and has increased the security of the sector as well as enabled more investors.
While pledging the support of the federal government to the initiative, the minister added that the groundbreaking of the
$400 million rare earth plant by the Hasetins Group was an eloquent testimony to the drive and willpower of the Nigerian which is the awakening of the national consciousness.
“Remittances from licencing fees to the federation account have increased from N6 billion in 2023 to N12 billion in 2024, to N26 billion as of October 2025.
“According to the World Mining Data 2025, as at 2023, Nigeria produced 108,414,478 metric tonnes of minerals, thus ranking as the 24th out of 166 countries in total production of minerals.
James Emejo in Abuja
He was a brother, a good brother. He always showed up. Not because he had to, But because that is who he was.You knew him for his laugh, his loyalty, and his largesse. He lived fully, quietly, reliably. We will all miss him.
Rest easy, OCJI.
The table is quieter without you.
But the memories? They’re loud. Very loud.
OLOROGUN
IBRU OSKAR
(Aug. 11, 1958 – Sept. 24, 2025)
FRIENDS
Mr. Princewill Utchay
Mr. Mina Oforiokuma
Capt. Akinbowale Johnson
Mr. Joseph Ndubisi Obiago
Prince Oscar N. Onyema, OON
Mr. Chike Ogeah
Mr. Dere Otubu
Ibidolapo A. Balogun
Prince Ike Iloghalu
Mr. Michael Igbinedion
Mr. Paul Mbadiwe
Mr. Collins C. Chikeluba
Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe
Mr. Anthony Njoku
Mr. Casimir C. Maduafokwa
Prince Nduka Obaigbena
Mr. Iwinosa Edo-Osagie
Dr. Benny Obaze
Mr. Opuiyo Oforiokuma
Dr. Lloyd Amechi Atabansi
Capt. Sam Mokwenye
Arch. Arthur Obi Nwandu
Chief Victor Ngozi Mbadiwe (Osuohia of Arondizuogu)
Ogbuagu Emeka Okwuosa
Mr. Gbenga Sokefun
Mr Frederick O. Igbinedion
Mr. Francis Mbadiwe
Mr. Ken Odogwu
Mr. Ernest Orji
Mr. Chikwendu R. Odigwe
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On this special occasion of your 68th birthday, I celebrate you for being a great leader and good ambassador of Nigeria.
May your light continue to shine bright across the world.
I wish you many more years of grace and purpose ahead.
Mohammed Bello Adoke CFR, SAN Former Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice
DR
GOODLUCK JONATHAN GCFR PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (2010-2015)
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REBIRTH OF TOURISM
Akwa Ibom is stepping into a future where tourism is a pillar of prosperity, writes BASSEY ATTAH
DROWNING IN OIL
calls for the clean up of the oily mess in Ogale in the Niger Delta
In the midst of the reports and counterclaims about genocide, monitoring unconscionable religious crusaders is now pertinent, writes MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE
NIGERIA AND THE VAGARIES OF RELIGION
First, a tribute. Chief Dan Agbese, accomplished journalist and writer, who has just passed on is being showered with well-deserved panegyrics from several quarters. The impact of his superlative writing skill on me was such that I wanted to write on his liquid, manicured and profound articles as my Long Essay at the University of Benin, Benin City. My supervisor, however, turned it down as she felt that the subject was narrow. But, somehow, I had to find a way to work on a personality who had become a stubborn force in the process of choosing my own career. Four decades after, I still hope that I’ve not been a poor student of this legend. Yesterday, as I pulled out my bachelor’s degree project, “Tone and Diction in Selected Editions of Newswatch Magazine”, from my bookshelf, it took on a new meaning. The one who inspired it and who had sufficiently demonstrated that the written word could actually have a robust life of its own had gone the way of all flesh. Good night, Sir!
Now, religion. Or, better still, where it has led the country; what it’s up to here and how to make it work optimally for us all. To be clear, God and religion are not one and the same. The former is the supreme being seen by many as the creator and ultimate controller of all things. Even some of those who spend their entire lives denying his very existence are known to have cried for his help at the point of death. The mystery of his relevance and sovereignty is that compelling. And the latter represents the ways human beings attempt to know and serve him.
All through the ages, problems show up as people grapple with the arduous tasks of trying to understand the almighty and his words for themselves and also communicating same to others. Scriptures contained in the Bible and Quran, for instance, have remained unchanged for centuries –a major proof of their immutability and sanctity, at least in the estimation of their believers. But not so for their interpretations. Transcendental meanings are sometimes attributed to what is recorded in black and white. That way, whole denominations have grown out of existing establishments. Virtually all religious schisms are products of irreconcilable differences emanating from how individuals and groups view what they consider to be holy teachings. The conflicts produced by religions are, therefore, both intra and inter and their scopes can indeed be complicated.
The challenge is never with God. And no apologies for that submission. It is, instead, with the human agents who go into the profession of speaking on his behalf with their own prejudices and other shortcomings. It’s difficult to convince me that the men and women who continually spew hate, bloodletting, chaos and doom from their pulpits are true representatives of the God of love and mercy. That such persons keep growing more confident in their dark trade in this country and in this dispensation indicates assured collective destruction if nothing is done to stem the tide.
In Nigeria, Christianity and Islam, two faiths that lay claims to God’s direct commandments, have since pushed the traditional modes of worship to the background. Perhaps, the ways our forefathers sought to reach and please God were inferior to these two religions and could simply not withstand their crusading powers. Whatever the case, the Nigerian population is now largely distributed among both entrants. Nothing to worry about, ordinarily. But these aren’t the best of times.
Nigeria’s current most daunting predicament – insecurity – is traceable to Boko Haram, a group of bloodthirsty people who hid behind their own interpretation of religious dictates to enter and disrupt public consciousness. It wasn’t hard for the discerning to see murderous criminality through their façade from the beginning. It’s on record that Christians and churches were their initial targets. Sadly, it was only a matter of time before everyone became unsafe. The other terrorists and bandits who came after them only helped in further dragging the name of a religion literally translated as peace into the mud.
But, make no mistake! Violence and bloodshed are not synonymous with Islam. The history of Christianity too
isn’t spotless. From the 12th Century to the 19th, the Inquisitions – Medieval, Portuguese, Spanish and Roman – saw the torture and extermination of hundreds of thousands of people considered to be heretics and non-believers. Just imagine such horrors perpetrated in the name of Jesus who had declared that he wasn’t here to condemn the world but to save it! So, one responsibility before us is to checkmate the ‘holy’ energisers of wickedness in our midst. We shouldn’t underrate the greater havoc and pain they’re capable of causing.
Robert Greene and Joost Elffers’ 1999 bestseller, The 48 Laws of Power, provides a window into the psyche of these merchants of morbidity. Law 27 - Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cult-like Following - reads in part: “Having a large following opens up all sorts of possibilities for deception; not only will your followers worship you, they will defend you from your enemies and will voluntarily take on the work of enticing others to join your fledgling cult. This kind of power will lift you to another realm. You will no longer have to struggle or use subterfuge to enforce your will. You are adored and can do no wrong…. As humans, we have a desperate need to believe in something, anything. This makes us eminently gullible. We simply cannot endure long periods of doubt, or of the emptiness that comes from a lack of something to believe in.…
“Always in a rush to believe in something, we will manufacture saints and faiths out of nothing.… The great European charlatans of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries mastered the art of cult-making. They lived, as we do now, in a time of transformation. Organised religion was on the wane, science on the rise. People were desperate to rally round a new cause or faith. The charlatans had begun by peddling health elixirs and alchemic shortcuts to wealth.”
There’s no doubt that the army of misguided and helpless Nigerians is swelling. Vulnerable, willing recruits everywhere. Leaving them as ready preys can only further jeopardise the nation’s safety and prosperity. One urgent duty is to identify our common foes, particularly those who callously utilise God’s name, shame and then disarm them by all means. Religion mustn’t continue to neutralise our capacity for cohesion.
Dr Ekpe# is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board
Akwa Ibom is stepping into a future where tourism is a pillar of prosperity, writes BASSEY ATTAH
REBIRTH OF TOURISM
The courtyard of the once-abandoned Ibom International Convention Centre in Uyo had a familiar echo, grand ambition suspended in concrete, steel and scaffolding. For 15 years, the massive edifice had stood as an unfinished dream, a symbol of what Akwa Ibom could become but had not yet managed to fully claim. But on this day, the atmosphere was different. Hope was palpable. Machinery hummed. Hope is restored. Architects hovered over new drawings. And banners announcing “Reconstruction Flag-Off Ceremony” fluttered in the breeze.
At the centre of the scene was Governor Umo Eno, the man many now describe as the state’s quiet transformer. With a hard hat in hand and a calm confidence that has increasingly defined his administration, he signalled the beginning of a new chapter: the reconstruction of the Ibom International Convention Centre and the long-stalled Ibom 200-bedroom Hotels.
It was not just another government event, it was indeed a statement of intent. A declaration that Akwa Ibom is ready to grow beyond oil, and a demonstration of the governor’s belief that tourism is not merely a sector, but a pathway to economic reinvention.
In his address, delivered against the backdrop of cranes and half-completed structures, Governor Eno placed the day’s significance within the broader compass of the ARISE Agenda, the administration’s comprehensive development policy. Tourism, he reminded the audience, is one of the agenda’s pivotal pillars. And tourism does not thrive on rhetoric; it thrives on infrastructure.
“We are gathered here,” he said, “in our determined effort to position Akwa Ibom State as the tourism hub of Nigeria.”
The governor, a former hotelier and past chairman of the State Hotels and Tourism Board, spoke with both conviction and practical understanding. He noted that the convention centre and hotel are vital signposts in the state’s evolving tourism master plan, complementing the emerging ARISE Resort, another ambitious project shaping the state’s future.
To frame the significance of the moment, he turned to scripture, Hebrews 11:39–40, reflecting on how the struc-
tures had been started by visionary leaders 15 years ago but remained unfinished, awaiting a time and a leadership that would bring them to completion.
“I believe God wanted us to be part of these projects and to drive them to conclusion,” he said quietly, acknowledging the efforts of past leaders while asserting the unique role his administration is now called to play.
In characteristic humility, Governor Eno responded directly to those who have questioned the decision to invest in a previously abandoned hotel project.
His answer was disarmingly simple: “I came not just to deepen peace and unity in my State but to deploy my finishers’ anointing, especially on projects that may have gulped billions of our State’s resources already.”
It was a subtle rebuke of the common Nigerian pattern where incoming administrations abandon the works of their predecessors. Instead, Eno has chosen continuity—finding value where others saw political baggage.
And he is uniquely suited for the task. With decades of experience in hospitality, he understands the demands of operating a world-class convention and hotel facility. He understands global tourism trends. He understands what travellers seek and what destinations must offer. By bringing this practitioner’s insight to governance, he is bridging the gap between ambition and expertise.
With these elements working together, Akwa Ibom is no longer dreaming about tourism; it is building the infrastructure to dominate it. “Akwa Ibom stands at the cusp of expansion and growth,” the governor said,
Throughout the event, Governor Eno returned to a recurring theme, unity. He urged Akwa Ibom people to rise above political bickering and focus on the collective pursuit of progress. The ARISE Agenda, he emphasized, is the governing blueprint and must remain the centre of shared aspiration.
His call resonated widely. Leaders from across the political spectrum acknowledged that the governor’s leadership style, calm, inclusive, pragmatic is gradually reshaping the tone of governance and civic engagement in the state.
The ceremony became a chorus of bipartisan endorsements. Senator Aniekan Bassey, speaking on behalf of National Assembly members, praised the governor’s inclusive approach and affirmed their readiness to stand with him in the journey ahead.
Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, commended the transparency in project execution, noting that lawmakers were satisfied that funds were being judiciously deployed.
Chief Assam Assam, SAN, a respected statesman, offered perhaps the most memorable endorsement, calling Governor Eno a jinx breaker.
Attah writes from Akwa-Ibom State
GODWIN BEBE OKPABI calls for the clean up of the oily mess in Ogale in the Niger Delta
DROWNING IN OIL
Shell’s tanker, the Hemifusus, carried the first ever shipment of Nigerian oil to Rotterdam in 1958. The company’s operations expanded massively in the Niger Delta over the following years, with hundreds of wells drilled, thousands of miles of pipelines laid, and the construction of two export terminals at Bonny and Escravos. From a purely commercial point of view, the company’s investment has earned billions of pounds for its shareholders.
If anyone wonders whether we, the people of the Niger Delta, have also benefitted, I’d invite them to visit Ogale, the community of which I am the Paramount Ruler. I’d take them to a tap in the centre of the main town. This is connected to a borehole that reaches more than 100 metres underground. This tap is open for anyone to use, and people do use its water for cooking, washing, and laundry. But they should not be touching it. It reeks of oil. The white tiles on which the water splashes are stained yellow and brown. The water is tainted from leaks over the years from Shell’s pipelines and is clearly unsafe, but people have little choice.
Ironically, this tap was provided to Ogale by a generous individual from elsewhere in Nigeria. She read in the newspapers that our water had been poisoned by years of oil spills. In fact, according to a survey by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2011, the level of Benzene in one of our wells exceeded the World Health Organization’s safe limits by 900 times. However, since then things have got worse. Our lawyers came with leading international experts in August last year and found the Benzene levels in our drinking water was now more than 3,800 times WHO safe limits.
We had no idea our water was so contaminated until the UN’s 2011 report. Some months later, Shell started trucking in what they said was safe water in tanks, two or three times a week. But the water they supplied was insufficient, it only lasted for two or three hours and wasn’t enough for everyone. The government then put up signs warning us not to drink water from our wells or go near our streams. Shell then paid for the government to connect us to a mains water system, but this works only sporadically, and even when it does, it is not enough to supply all 40,000 people in Ogale.
It is because of the poisoned water that members of my community and I decided to sue Shell in London. We want damages for the harm that spills from Shell’s wells in Ogale and pipelines that cross our land have caused to our fields, fishponds, and streams and a clean-up of the pollution that has yet to be properly carried out.
We brought the case together with another community, Bille, more than ten years ago. We have not yet had the chance to present our evidence in court
because Shell has fought us on technical and jurisdictional grounds ever since. But the moment of truth is getting closer. In 2021, the UK Supreme Court ruled in our favour, allowing the case to proceed against both Shell’s London-based parent company and its Nigerian subsidiary. Earlier this year, I was proud to sit in the Royal Courts of Justice in London and attend a trial on preliminary legal matters. I am looking forward to returning for the full trial.
But it frustrates me that Shell is paying its expensive legal team to fight us on every issue, when it should be using that money to do the right thing by the people of Ogale and other communities that have been forced to take Shell to court. I am also deeply concerned by the sale earlier this year of Shell’s onshore business in the Niger Delta to a consortium of mainly Nigerian-owned companies.
Nigerian civil society organisations and Amnesty International campaigned against this sale, warning that it could be a way for Shell to escape meeting its responsibilities in Nigeria. That must not be allowed. Shareholders can pressure the company to fulfil its obligations to compensate the communities that have been devastated and to clean up the pollution it caused rather than passing that burden to a third party less able or willing to take it on.
Communities across the Niger Delta have been blighted by Shell’s operations. Its oil spills and leaks — resulting from poorly maintained pipelines and wells, and inadequate clean-up efforts have devastated the health and livelihoods of many of the 30 million people living in the region. The pollution has contaminated their water sources, killed fish and crops, destroyed mangrove forests, and caused serious health issues, including respiratory illnesses, increased rates of miscarriage, and infant mortality. Despite making billions in profits, Shell has consistently failed to adequately clean up or compensate those whose lives and livelihoods it has blighted.
Okpabi is the paramount ruler of Ogale community in Rivers State
PETER ISHAKA
THE CRASH OF SUPER EAGLES
It’s time to rebuild our football
The FIFA World Cup is a huge global platform for the exhibition of national pride. Unfortunately, due to the mismanagement of our football, Nigeria will be missing in action at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For the second time in a row, the Super Eagles, the premium brand of all the 13 national football teams in the country, has failed to qualify for the quadrennial international men's football championship to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. But it came as no surprise to football followers. With debts to coaches and outstanding bonuses and allowances to players, some dating back several years, the national team arrived in Morocco as a house divided against itself.
When the draws were done more than two years ago, there was excitement in the Nigerian camp that it was going to be a smooth sailing for Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after missing the last edition in Qatar in 2022. The Group C pairings at the beginning of the qualifiers in November 2023 had Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda, Benin Republic, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. When the qualifiers began, the Super Eagles drew their first three matches and lost the fourth to earn a miserable three points from a possible 12! The results were: Nigeria 0-0 Lesotho; Zimbabwe 1-1 Nigeria; Nigeria 1-1 South Africa and Benin Republic 2-1 Nigeria. The Portuguese coach, Jose Peseiro who started the qualifiers, was sacked and ex international, Finidi George took over. The defeat of Super Eagles in Abidjan, the adopted home of the Benin Cheetahs, also forced the former Ajax winger to step down from the job.
co-Malien Eric Sekou Chelle arrived at the job. He momentarily brought smiles to the faces of Nigerians. The Super Eagles revived their campaigns with first victory in five matches in March this year, defeating Rwanda 2-0 away in Kigali. Hopes of consolidating against Zimbabwe in Uyo a week later fell through as the Warriors snatched a late 90th minute equalizer against Eagles. Inability to win home matches, including against teams that should pose no threat to Nigeria eventually became very costly.
This is not the same Super Eagles considered the second most entertaining team in the world back in 1994
T H I S D AY
EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU
DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN
THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
T H I S D AY N E W
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
A back-to-back absence of the Super Eagles at the World Cup is bound to set the country back over a decade. The Super Eagles, completed the 10-match African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finishing second behind South Africa. Despite the deduction of three points and three goals for fielding an ineligible player in their match against Lesotho, South Africa still rode to the ticket. Even when Nigeria qualified as one of the four best runners up nations in the nine groups, it still lost the chance to DR Congo in Morocco after winning their first match against Gabon. This is not the same Super Eagles considered the second most entertaining team in the world back in 1994. It was then rated fifth best team amongst football nations by FIFA.
With Super Eagles in fifth place at the time, the Nigerian football community was in turmoil. There were calls for something urgent to be done to restore the country’s dignity in the qualification series. That was how Fran-
DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com
If reports of what transpired in Morocco where the players refused to train two days before their first match were any guide, then the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has learnt no lessons from recent past. This problem has dogged almost all our previous participations in global sporting events, especially football. The NFF and the Sports Ministry should be held accountable for what they do with the money voted for these tournaments. But more importantly, authorities in the country must learn to swallow the bitter fact that this is the time to return our football to the basics and rebuild.
AI, CLEAN ENERGY AND AFRICA’S STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed the way modern societies operate, from healthcare delivery and engineering innovation to architectural design, military intelligence, creative writing, finance, communication, and countless other sectors. It is rapidly becoming the foundation of global competitiveness and national development.
However, the true backbone of AI lies in two strategic pillars: data centers and energy. Data centers provide the computational power needed for AI training, storage, and deployment, while stable and affordable energy sustains these massive systems. Without these two elements, AI cannot function at scale. They are the vital lubricants that keep the entire ecosystem running.
At the heart of these technologies are critical minerals. Without key minerals used to manufacture semicon-
ductors, microchips, batteries, smartphones, electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and display systems, modern technology simply cannot exist. These minerals, such as copper, cobalt, lithium, rare earth elements (REEs), tantalum, tin, nickel, graphite, gold, and platinum group metals, are indispensable in building everything from semiconductors,’chips to the batteries that power data centers and renewable energy systems.
Africa is one of the richest sources of these minerals globally, and Nigeria hosts many of them in commercially viable quantities. As the world races toward AI-driven economies, electric mobility, and renewable energy transitions, these minerals are becoming more valuable than oil.
Today, AI, EVs, and advanced batteries are among the world’s hottest and most sought-after technological com-
modities. But the global supply chain depends entirely on two things: Data centers and energy, without which AI cannot operate; critical minerals , without which data centers, energy systems, and AI hardware cannot be built.
This is where Nigeria and Africa hold a strategic advantage. The continent possesses what the world desperately needs for the next industrial revolution.
The challenge and opportunity, now lies with African leadership: to recognize, harness, and strategically leverage these critical minerals to drive economic transformation, negotiate better global partnerships, and position Africa as an indispensable player in the AI and clean-energy future.
Zayyad I. Muhammad, Abuja
Email
Della Ade: How Digital Technology is Redefining Human Resources in Africa
AsAfrica’sworkplacesundergorapiddigitaltransformation,HumanResources(HR)isemerging as one of the most radically redefined functions of the modern organisation. No longer confined to recruitment and payroll, today’s HR leaders are harnessing artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics to build agile, human-centred workplaces that anticipate employee needs and drive business growth. Speaking with Sunday Ehigiator, Human Resources (HR) expert and Future of Work advocate, Della Ade, relates how this fusion of technology and human insight is not just reshaping how organisations operate, but rewriting the very definition of leadership, empathy, and work itself across the continent
The digital revolution is transforming every corner of the business world, and Human Resources (HR) is at the heart of that transformation. Across Africa, HR professionals are shedding the old image of personnel managers to become data interpreters, digital innovators, and architects of the workplace of the future.
According to Ade, the shift is both inevitable and revolutionary. “Today’s HR leader must understand technology as deeply as they understand people,” Ade says. “We are no longer just managing employees; we are designing digital ecosystems that shape how people work, learn, and grow.”
From artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to cloud-based systems and predictive analytics, digital technology is redefining how organisations attract, engage, and retain talent.
From Paperwork to Predictive Analytics
Traditionally, HR was synonymous with recruitment, payroll, and compliance. But Ade believes that era is over.
“Technology has disrupted the boundaries of what HR can do,” she explains. “Now, we use AI-powered tools that identify top candidates in seconds, and digital performance systems that anticipate employee needs before they even voice them.”
Platforms like Workday, BambooHR, and SAP SuccessFactors are freeing HR teams from administrative overload, allowing them to focus on strategic priorities. These tools use data to drive decisions, streamline operations, and design more human-centric employee experiences.
The Rise of Data-Driven Human Resources
In the modern workplace, Ade argues, data is power. “The HR professional who can interpret workforce data, from turnover rates to engagement metrics — will define the future of work,” she
notes.
Across Africa, HR departments are increasingly relying on analytics to predict and prevent attrition, create inclusive learning programmes, and align people strategy with business growth. Ade says this marks a major shift in mindset.
“HR used to look backwards; at what happened,” she says. “Now, we look forward to what could happen. We’re using data to build workplaces that are adaptive, inclusive, and deeply human.”
AI and the Human Equation
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how companies recruit, evaluate, and support employees. Chatbots now assist new hires during onboarding, while AI algorithms help flag potential bias in hiring decisions. But Ade warns that this progress comes with
Energy Firm Empowers
Esther Oluku
Renewable energy solutions provider, Ignite Energy Access Nigeria, has successfully completed a pilot project to install solar systems in 34 schools across rural communities in Nigeria. The installation which took place over a twomonth period deployed solar powered energy solutions to schools with limited electricity supply from the grid to enhance learning, digital
ethical challenges.
“We must remember that AI is only as fair as the data it’s trained on,” she cautions. “If we’re not intentional, we could automate inequality or bias without even realising it.”
Balancing innovation with empathy, she adds, is the new frontier for HR. “The HR leader of tomorrow must learn to code empathy into algorithms. That’s how we ensure technology serves humanity, not the other way around.”
Africa’s Digital HR Revolution
With its youthful, tech-savvy population and rapidly expanding startup ecosystem, Africa is fertile ground for HR innovation. From Lagos to Nairobi, locally built HR tech solutions are emerging —platforms that understand Africa’s
cultural nuances and workforce realities better than imported software.
“African HR professionals are uniquely positioned,” Ade says. “We understand both the technological potential and the social context. By embracing digital tools, we’re not just transforming our workplaces; we’re exporting our ideas to the world.”
She highlights the growing influence of African HR experts in global discussions about hybrid work, workforce resilience, and emerging markets.
Preparing Africa’s Workforce for the Digital Age
The convergence of HR and technology, Ade insists, isn’t a trend; it’s a survival strategy. “The future belongs to HR professionals who can bridge the gap between human capital and digital capability,” she says.
For her, the skill set of the modern HR leader extends beyond policies and payroll. “We need digital literacy, data analytics, and design thinking,” Ade explains. “Tomorrow’s HR leaders will be those who can translate numbers into narratives, and metrics into meaning.” International programmes like the UK Global Talent Visa, she notes, are already recognising such professionals; those who blend human empathy with digital expertise.
Coding Empathy into the Future
As technology continues to redefine work, Ade believes HR’s mission remains constant: to keep humanity at the centre of progress.
“Digital transformation gives us a chance to make work more inclusive, fair, and fulfilling,” she says. “If we get it right, HR won’t just adapt to the future; we’ll help design it.”
In a continent bursting with creativity and potential, Ade’s message to African HR leaders is clear: “Embrace technology, but never lose touch with the human spirit. The future of work belongs to those who can balance both.”
34 Schools with Solar Systems in Rural Nigeria
education, and safe study environments for students of 34 selected schools across Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Abuja FCT, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, and Taraba. Managing Director,
Nigeria and Regional Director, West Africa of the firm, Mangiza Phiri, explained that the project is part of the company's commitment to using clean energy to bridge the educational gap in underserved areas. "Access to power should never be a
barrier to a child’s future,” he said.
Communicating his gratitude, Vice Principal General Duties, Community Secondary School, Umueze, Awkunano, Enugu state, Very Rev. Boniface Chimezie Ewo, said: "This support has brought real
excitement to our school.
“Both staff and students are truly grateful to be selected as one of the beneficiaries of the Rural Electrification Project. It has made a meaningful difference, and we appreciate the team for this impactful gesture."
Ade
ANRML and Its Sustainable Transformation for Gujeni Community
Precious u gwuzor
For the people of Gujeni in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, last Thursday was more than another date on the calendar. It marked a moment of transformation as the African Natural Resources and Mines Limited, ANRML, handed over a newly constructed block of three classrooms and a staff room to the Government Secondary School, Gujeni. What could have passed for a routine inauguration gradually unfolded into a story of partnership, hope, and a renewed commitment to education in a rural community.
The commissioning was performed by the Vice Chairman of Kagarko LGA, Hon Titus Musa, who described the project as a timely intervention in a school long in need of improved infrastructure. Standing before the freshly painted building, he emphasised that the new classrooms would significantly improve the learning environment for both students and teachers.
The atmosphere at the ceremony reflected a blend of gratitude and optimism. His Royal Highness Engineer Bitrus James captured the community’s
mood when he thanked ANRML for what he called a “wonderful support” to Gujeni.
“When there is a conducive environment our children will learn better,” he said. “ANRML has done well and we trust that as time goes on, they will do better to ensure we have a conducive environment.”
The Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Senior Secondary Education Board, Dr Suwaiba Ibrahim, spoke in the same vein. She noted that the state government was pleased with the project, describing it as evidence that the company shared the state’s vision for educational development.
“By building these classrooms, the company has shown that it is on board with the drive of educational development in the state,” she said. “It is not just the building but a commitment to the development of the children of Kaduna State. We are happy with what the company has done.”
Representing the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, the Director of Public Schools, Mr Mallam Muktar Maude, offered a vote of thanks while calling on the
community to take ownership of the facility. He commended ANRML for strengthening public private partnership at the grassroots and urged parents, teachers, and students to protect the furnished classrooms and staff room.
For the Village Head of Gujeni, Mr Dogara Wakili, the project signified progress long desired by the community. He praised ANRML for providing a well furnished block of classrooms equipped with desks and tables designed to give students a conducive learning atmosphere.
The Principal of the Government Secondary School, Mr Musa Danjuma Jasper, placed the significance of the project in context.
The school, he explained, was built in 2008, and several structures had since deteriorated. “The building of these classrooms and staff room by ANRML has given us a better infrastructure and will help transform the school,” he said. “We know it is part of their community development service but we appreciate them for this.”
The students themselves were not left out of the day’s sentiments. One of them, Vivian Matthew, expressed appreciation for the new facilities
and appealed for more teachers to support learning. The students later performed a short stage play to show their gratitude, while the ANRML Women Forum distributed notebooks and pens to the schoolchildren.
In a symbolic handover, the CEO of ANRML, Mr Narasimha Nayak, presented the keys of the classrooms to the school principal. He prayed that the facility would become a beacon of hope and opportunity for the future of the community and congratulated ANRML and the African Industries Group on the initiative.
ANRML, part of the African Industries Group, has in recent years intensified its corporate social responsibility projects across Nigeria. In Gujeni alone, the company has provided boreholes, overhead tanks, transformers, medicines, and community health checkup support. These efforts, channelled through the African Industries Group Foundation, aim to create long term social impact in health, education, empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
For Gujeni, the newly commissioned classrooms stand as the latest reminder that partnership between communities and private sector actors can leave a lasting legacy of development.
Mediacraft Associates Celebrates Amina Omoike as One of ‘The Industry’s Top 50 Women in 2025’
Mediacraft Associates, a leading integrated marketing communications and PR agency, has announced that Amina Omoike, Senior Manager and Group Head of Media Services, has been nominated for the prestigious 2025 Industry Changemakers Awards. She is being recognised as one of The Industry Top 50 Women in 2025. The grand unveiling is scheduled to take place on Friday, December 12, 2025, in Lagos.
Selected from various fields including business, entrepreneurship, IMC, sustainability, finance, tourism, culture and governance; Amina was recognized for her exceptional leadership, dedication, passion and impact in the PR / Media industry.
John Ehiguese, CEO Mediacraft Associates, said: “We are thrilled to see Amina receive this well-deserved recognition of her strategic brilliance, hard work, and the profound impact she has made in shaping media
a mina - Changemaker
services.
“Amina is a quintessential media professional and a true asset to our organisation. Her commitment to excellence and creativity continues to inspire
not only our team, but the wider communications community. She embodies the values of excellence we hold dear at Mediacraft. We are incredibly proud of her and inspired by her journey,” he added.
Commenting on the recognition, Amina said: “It is an honour to be included among such incredible women. This recognition is not just a personal milestone, but reflects the collective effort of the talented team at Mediacraft and our shared commitment to telling meaningful stories that make a difference.”
The distinguished Industry Changemakers Awards, powered by The Industry Women Conference (TinW), celebrates and amplifies the achievements of exceptional women who are driving progress and making a difference across the Public Relations field, among other Nigerian business landscapes.
According to the convener, Goddie
Ofose, the Top 50 list was compiled by the editorial team of the newspaper, as well as select brand marketing editors.
Amina’s nomination places her among an elite group of 49other reputable women leaders transforming fields including business, entrepreneurship, integrated marketing communications, sustainability, finance, culture, tourism, and governance.
Amina joined Mediacraft in 2018 and has since managed media relations for the agency’s high-profile clients including Stanbic IBTC, Interswitch, Verve, Quickteller, Olam Agri, Crown Flour Mills, RusselSmith, ICAEW, Truecaller, African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ALSM), US Soy Export Council(USSEC), Flourish, Pfizer, and Sanofi.
Before joining Mediacraft, Amina was renowned for her expertise in brand, marketing and lifestyle reporting. She also received multiple awards in journalism.
L- r : a sst. Director, Mines e nvironmental Compliance, Ministry of s olid Minerals Development, Mrs. Pani; His r oyal Highness, e ngr. Bitrus James; C e O, a frican Natural r esources and Mines Limited ( a N r ML), Mr. Narasimha Nayak and other dignitaries during the presentation of the key of a block of three classrooms to G ss Gujeni,(a C sr initiative of a N r ML) on t hursday in Gujeni, Kaduna state
t hird from left 2nd row: C e O, a frican Natural r esources and Mines Limited ( a N r ML) Mr. Narasimha Nayak; Group Mining Head, a N r ML Mr.Partha Ghosh; Principal of the Government s econdary school Gujeni, Mr Musa Danjuma; staff and students of the school during the inauguration
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
08033025611
Reflecting on Recent Wave of Terror Attacks
Iyobosa Uwugiaren writes that the broader surge in banditry and terror attacks in the past few days - all blend into a grim pattern that many Nigerians are now calling a “political script” of 2025.
The past few days have been vicious for Nigeria’s Chief Security Officer, President Bola Tinubu, and Nigeria - as a nation. ISWAP’s ambush that led to Brigadier-General M. Uba’s capture and execution, the harrowing kidnapping of 25 girls from a Kebbi State boarding school, the killings in Kwara State and the broader surge in banditry and terror attacks - all blend into a grim pattern that many Nigerians are now calling a “political script” of 2025.
Security insiders’ analysis of the unfolding sad events point to a conversant narrative—one that allegedly led to the 2015 downfall of former President Goodluck Jonathan—and suggest the same “evil men” are behind today’s bloodbath, aiming to sow fear and undermine President Tinubu.
‘’These acts of terror are being perpetrated by enemies of our country for political gains. Call it a conspiracy theory—I don’t care. The obvious signs are there.
‘’They used the same strategies against former President Goodluck Jonathan - prior to the 2015 general election’’, a senior intelligence officer told THISDAY in Abuja on Wednesday.
From the narrative, the whole idea is to create fear in the minds of Nigerians, giving the impression that the nation is not safe under President Tinubu, and weaponize it to instigate citizens against the President.
‘’Ahead of the 2027 general elections, these same evil men, who have fallen out with President Bola Tinubu, are once again weaponizing insecurity to create political uncertainty in the country. The singsong in the last few days is that Nigeria is not safe with Tinubu as leader of Nigeria – he must give way’’, the insider added.
Perhaps so. Looking back on how the insurgency narrative was forcefully used against former President Jonathan in 2015, Boko Haram insurgency heightened in the country around 2009, intensifying after 2011 - with attacks on civilians, churches, and security forces.
By 2013–2014, the group gained global unsavory reputation, kidnapping over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok - April 2014, drawing massive media attention.
In the narrative against Jonathan, he was perceived as very clueless and weak. Opponents and critics framed Jonathan as “soft” or “ineffective” in tackling Boko Haram. Phrases like “inaction” and “lack of leadership” dominated media headlines and spaces. International and local media celebrated Boko Haram’s brutality, often linking it to Jonathan’s
administration, suggesting negligence or complicity.
The then opposition leaders like late Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu, the loquacious spokesman for the then collation of oppositions, Lai Mohammed, and others, accused Jonathan’s government of failing/refusing to protect Nigerians and “mismanaging” military resources.
What more? Hashtags like #BringBackOurGirls trended globally, fueling public anger and pressure on Jonathan’s government. False or exaggerated claims like “Jonathan diverted military funds” spread, worsening public perception. Buhari, campaigning on anti-insurgency - “change”, won resolutely. While Boko Haram truly posed a threat to the survival of the country, the narrative intensified political polarization and was used instrumentally for electoral gains.
Political analysts say the insurgency narrative was a political weapon—mix of real terror, media hype, and opposition rhetoric—that shifted public perception and votes, and security became the decisive issue in 2015.
Tinubu, like some argued, may not have been an insider in the weaponization of insecurity against Jonathan, but his political party, APC, was the sole beneficiary of that ‘’unholy’’ and ‘’ungodly action.’’
Some people might say ‘’Kaman is stupid.’’ Perhaps, sadly so. Ten years later those who were said to have masterminded that plot, who have fell out with Tinubu, are said to be at it again. They are said to be weaponising insecurity again as political strategy
- deliberately exploiting and inflating fear, violence, or chaos to tilt political outcomes— ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Like in 2015, there are mass kidnappings, high-profile assassinations, and relentless insurgent attacks mirror the strategies used by Boko Haram and allied groups in the past.
To be sure, in the last few days, gunmen have attacked a church in Kwara State, killing and kidnapping the pastor, and some worshippers, according to police and witnesses - days after 25 girls were abducted from a boarding school.
The attack on Tuesday evening in the town of Eruku in Kwara State puts more pressure on the government that is under scrutiny from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened military action over persecution of Christians.
From the international community, Rapper Nicki Minaj has appealed for global action to defend religious freedom. Speaking at the U.S. embassy to the United Nations, the Trinidad-born artist, who lives in New York, claimed that in Nigeria “Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed”.
While Nigeria may be grappling with an Islamist insurgency in the Northeast, abductions and killings by armed gangs mainly in the Northwest and deadly clashes between mainly Muslim herdsmen and mostly Christian farmers in its North central zone, the government says the U.S. designation of Nigeria as “a country of particular concern” misrepresents its complex security challenges and does not take into account its efforts to safeguard freedom of religion for all.
There are reports that in the latest attack, police responded to gunfire at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday and discovered one person fatally shot inside the church and another in a nearby bush. But witnesses said they counted at least three dead church members.
In all these, political experts say what is at stake is the nation: No nation sacrifice the country on alter of dirty politics and remains the same. Weaponising insecurity is surely a risky gamble— gains may be momentary, but the fallout—social fracture, loss of lives, and institutional decay— often outlasts the perpetrators.
“They later rounded up some worshippers, including the pastor, and took them into the bush,” parishioner Joseph Bitrus told Reuters, without saying how many were taken.
A video posted by a local news outlet and verified by Reuters showed the Christ Apostolic Church service being interrupted by gunfire, forcing parishioners to scamper for cover. Armed men are seen entering and taking people’s belongings as gunshots continue.
The governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, asked for the immediate deployment of more security operatives following the church attack.
The terror fear is sadly spreading. The security agents have not yet located the girls abducted by armed men who recently stormed the predominantly Muslim Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi state. Vice President Kashim Shettima was expected to travel to the state to meet officials and parents on Wednesday. President Tinubu has postponed foreign trips and ordered intensified security measures.
Indeed, there is fear and tension across the nation. Statements from intelligence officials and opposition figures highlight a “conspiracy theory” framing, warning that the violence is being weaponised to paint the current administration as ineffective.
From media reports, there are multiple perspectives to the current insecurity. Federal government officials stress that the attacks are part of the ongoing insurgency and banditry, urging citizens to support security forces and avoid speculation.
But some security analysts caution that while the “same script” claim resonates emotionally, concrete evidence of a coordinated political plot remains thin; the surge could also stem from hardened insurgent groups exploiting current weaknesses.
The bottom line is that the convergence of high-profile terror acts and a charged political climate fuels a narrative that history is repeating—this time with the 2027 elections in sight. Whether rooted in orchestrated manipulation or simply a continuation of Nigeria’s long-standing security crisis, the impact is undeniably devastating. The priority now is swift rescue of the abducted girls, accountability for Brigadier-General Uba’s death, and a coordinated national response to curb the spreading insecurity.
Tinubu
Gen. Oluyede
Ribadu
Report: High Density Areas Constraint to Telecom’s Network Congestion at Peak Period
Emma Okonji
The Q3 2025 report on Network Capacity Reliability (NCR), released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has identified high density areas, such as urban centres as the major cause of congestion across telecoms operators’ network, especially at peak periods between 6am and 11.59pm.
According to the report,
Raheem Akingbolu
If players in Nigeria’s marketing communications industry up their game, respond to global trends and play by the rules, the value of the country’s advertising budget may hit the N1 trillion mark by 2029, the Chairman of Troyka Group, Dr. Biodun Shobanjo, has predicted.
In a related development, the PwC’s Africa Entertainment & Media Outlook 2025–2029, has projected that digital
the challenge of high density areas, is affecting upload and download speeds, causing network congestion, resulting in dropped video calls, buffering on streams, failed mobile payments, and slow download.
The report, which THISDAY obtained from the official website of NCC, further explained that most capacity restrictions were focused in urban areas, impacting operators with
dominant presence in those areas, adding that congestion during peak hours makes things feel slow and unreliable, even if coverage is good.
Having identified the major cause of network congestion at peak periods, NCC therefore advised that the most effective strategy to relieve capacity strain in cities is a multi-faceted approach focusing on two goals: aggressively deploying 5G technology
and optimising the capacity of the existing 4G (LTE) network to improve performance for all users.
“Download capacity constraints are primarily a localised problem. While the national proportion shows a minimal overall impact across the country, the issue is intensified in high-density urban areas. The localised congestion leads directly to peak-hour performance degradation, confirming that targeted infrastructure
investment in these urban zones is most critical to ensure consistent service quality,” the report said.
The report highlighted some of the human impacts of network congestion to include: Capacity issues in education; Delay in payment processing; and Buffering network that affects video call quality and reliability, among others.
The report explained that students in high-density areas may struggle with
e-learning applications due to poor quality of experience (QoE), when there is network congestion. It also explained that mobile payment processing could be delayed or fail during peak business hours, whenever there is network congestion, and that video call quality and reliability would suffer significantly when network capacity is strained.
advertising in Nigeria’s entertainment and media (E&M) market would account for 84 per cent of the country’s total ad spend by 2029. This share places Nigeria ahead of the global average, with South Africa and Kenya following at 74 per cent and 64 per cent, respectively.
The report highlights that retail display and paid search such as ads on e-commerce platforms like Jumia and paid search results on Google or Bing are among the fastest-
growing forms of digital advertising.
Speaking at the Fellowship Induction of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), in Lagos, Shobanjo stressed the need for stakeholders in the business to up their games, to enable them add value to the evolving sector.
“In another four years, this business will be worth N1 Trillion. It’s a serious business. You’ve gotten the fellowship now, but what does it mean? When
a lawyer is called a SAN there are benefits that go with them. The fact that you’ve been in practice for X number of years does not grant you automatic SANship. There is still a process that you have to go through. You will be interviewed. And they will look at your conduct, your character, and the number of cases you have done at the Supreme court, among others.
“I think we have evolved, and we are still evolving. We need to take a look at
the rules again. When I was inducted, there were only 10 of us, but the number that came out today was a lot. How many lawyers are there in Nigeria, how many of them get SANship every year? We need to ask ourselves this question,” he stated.
“Advertising is shifting rapidly to digital. Nigeria is expected to reach 84 per cent digital ad spend by 2029 surpassing global benchmarks. South Africa and Kenya are close behind at 74 per cent and 64 per
cent respectively. Retail display and paid search are among the fastest-growing segments,” the PwC report stated.
The report further projects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2 per cent for Nigeria’s E&M market through 2029, compared to 5.2 per cent for Kenya and 3.5 per cent for South Africa, signaling steady expansion across the continent despite economic headwinds.
NAICOM, Interior Minister Sign Agreement to Address Travel Insurance Problems
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM ), has signed a number of agreement with the minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to address the concerns of Nigerians on travel insurance and other related matters.
The duo signed the
agreement when the commissioner for Insurance, Mr Olusegun Ayo Omosehin paid a courtesy visit to the interior minister in his office in Abuja.
Among the issues addressed in the agreement was repatriation cost mitigation in which the two government agencies identified significant
Universal Insurance Announces 388% Growth in Profit
Ebere Nwoji
Universal Insurance Plc, has said it achieved a remarkable growth in profit within the first three quarter of this year which ended September 2025 growing its profit After Tax from N230.million in the first three quarter of 2024 to N1.13 billion mark in September 2025. This represents 388 per cent growth when compared to its profit in 2024.
Profit Before Tax of the company grew to N1.13 billion, compared to N232 million reported in the corresponding period of 2024.
The company’s gross Premium soared to N18.59 billion in 2025, from N12.29
billion in 2024, representing a 51 percent year-on-year growth.
Insurance revenue also increased by 49 percent to N14.68 billion from N9.85 billion last year.
According to the Managing Director of the company, Mr Japheth Duru, while insurance service results declined from N3.25 billion in 2024 to N1.13 billion in 2025, this was more than offset by a substantial improvement in investment performance.
Investment and fair-value income rebounded to a combined gain of N2.31 billion, compared to a loss of N753 million in 2024, reflecting stronger asset valuations and improved yields on financial instruments.
Linkage Assurance
Launches Mobile App
Linkage Assurance Plc, has launched a new mobile application, now available for download on both iOS and Android platforms.
The underwriting firm said the new mobile application was part of its strategic commitment to enhance customer
experience and expand digital access to insurance services,
Speaking on the innovation at the official launch in Lagos , the Managing Director/ CEO, Linkage Assurance Plc, Mr Daniel Braie described the launch as a major milestone in the company’s ongoing digital transformation journey.
taxpayer expenses related to repatriation, estimated at billions of naira annually, and proposed a strategic solution.
They agreed on the implementation of travel insurance to cover repatriation expenses,
particularly for individuals entering Nigeria on shortstay visas. This initiative is expected
to alleviate the financial burden on taxpayers and enhance the country’s economic stability.
Access Bank Launches SME Academy to Tackle Business Mortality Crisis
Nume Ekeghe
Access Bank has rolled out the SME Academy, a capacity-building programme designed to confront one of Nigeria’s most persistent economic problems: the steep mortality rate of small businesses.
The initiative, unveiled in Lagos signals a deeper shift in the bank’s SME strategy from transactional banking to long-term enterprise development— and arrives at a moment when entrepreneurs face rising costs, tighter margins,
and a harsher operating environment.
Speaking at the launch, Head of Retail Banking, Olumide Olatunji, noted that the academy’s introduction in Nigeria follows the successful rollout of a similar programme in Ghana, which led to measurable improvements in SME performance.
“Given the opportunities within Nigeria’s population and the central role SMEs play in sustaining the economy, it became necessary to bring this initiative home,” Olatunji said.
Cowrie 25 Awards Scholarship to Students, Establishes N100m Trust Fund
The Cowrie 25 Club has awarded scholarships to undergraduate students of the University of Benin and Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma reaffirming its commitment to supporting indigent and high-performing students from Edo South Senatorial District.
The award ceremony, held in the Rev. Dundon Hall, at the University of Benin, was graced by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Edoba
Omoregie (SAN) who was represented by Prof. David Izekor, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu and the Oliha of Benin Kingdom, Chief Edionwe Oliha & Chief Igbinenikao Edohen (both Uzama) among other dignitaries. Chairman of the Education Committee, Dr. Toni Ogunbor, said the initiative reflects Cowrie 25 long-standing mission to invest in the human capital of Edo South.
Leadway Assurance Announces Lamikanra First Female Board Chairperson
Ebere Nwoji
Insurance underwriting giant, Leadway Assurance, has announced appointment of Mrs. Adebisi Lamikanra as the new Chairperson of the Board.
Lamikanra, who features as the first female Chairperson
of Leadway replaces the erstwhile Chairman General (Rtd) Martin Luther Agwai, who retired recently due to expiration of his tenure. Gawai took up the mantle of leadership of Leadway board in November 2016.
Having completed his 10 year tenure he has
handed over chairmanship of the company’s board to Lamikanra.
A Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Lamikanra brings nearly four decades of exceptional leadership and advisory
experience to the role. Agwai, expressed his confidence in Lamikanra’s leadership, stating, “It has been a profound honour to serve Leadway Assurance, a company that continued to define trust and innovation in Nigeria’s financial services sector.
Tree Planting: Prudential Zenith Partners With Ibeju -Lekki Community
Ebere Nwoji
Prudential Zenith Life Insurance, said it was partnering with the CleanUp Badagry Initiative to plant 200 trees in Debojo Community, Ibeju-Lekki., Lagos.
The tree-planting exercise, held recently in Lagos brought together employees, residents, and environmental enthusiasts
to champion reforestation and climate action.
Acting Head of Sustainability at Prudential Zenith Life Insurance, Mr. Samuel Adehaka, said the initiative underscored Prudential Zenith Life Insurance’s dedication to fostering sustainable development and creating a positive environmental impact within local communities.
He said by integrating environmental stewardship into its broader sustainability agenda, the company had continued to demonstrate that protecting the planet was integral to safeguarding lives.
Adehaka, emphasised the long-term benefits of the exercise saying: “Tree planting goes beyond the beautification of our environment. It
is a strategic investment in cleaner air, enhanced climate resilience, and the overall well-being of our communities. Our partnership with the Clean-Up Badagry Initiative reflects Prudential Zenith Life’s belief that environmental sustainability is central to building a secure and prosperous future”, he stated.
Ebere Nwoji
Ebere Nwoji
L-R: Zonal Head, FCMB, Rafat Mohammed; CEO, Auldon Toys, Paul Orajiaka; Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group Plc, Ladi Balogun; Executive Director, Auldon Toys, Ify Orajiaka and Branch Manager FCMB, Oroyinyin branch, Glory Nwayen during the opening of Auldon Toys’ retail experience centre in Lagos… recently
L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Ibrahim Kana; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Bornu State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Former APC Chairman/Chairman, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Umar Ganduje; and Managing Director, FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, at FAAN National Aviation Conference in Lagos…recently.
ITU: Global Online Population Grew by
Stories by Emma Okonji
A recent report released by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), tagged: ‘Facts and Figures 2025’, showed that the world’s online population grew by more than 240 million people in 2025, which according to ITU, represents steady progress in global connectivity.
ITU, which is the United Nations agency that sets global ICT standards, however said the rise in global internet users did not reflect closed gaps in quality and affordability, as disparities still deepen key digital divides.
According to ITU, the estimates confirm continuing progress in expanding digital connectivity, while pointing to differences in quality that impact how users benefit from internet use.
“Globally, an estimated
6 billion people, about three-quarters of the world’s population are using the internet in 2025, up from a revised estimate of 5.8 billion in 2024. However, 2.2 billion people remain offline, down from a revised estimate of 2.3 billion in 2024,” the report said.
Overall, the report’s findings underline the importance of digital infrastructure, affordable services and skills training to ensure that everyone can truly benefit from advancing technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Giving further details about the internet connectivity report, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, said: “In a world where digital technologies are essential to so much of daily life, everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from
CLMI to Unlock $60trn Logistics, Transport Markets
The Courier and Logistics Management Institute (CLMI) will be discussing how to unlock the logistics, courier and transport global markets, valued at $60 trillion, including how Nigeria can achieve the planned $1 trillion economy by 2026, during its International Conference & Investiture 2025.
The conference, scheduled to hold in Lagos will shape discussions on the future of trade, logistics, commerce, and economic transformation across Africa.
Speaking during a press conference ahead of the international conference, Distinguished Professor/ Executive Chairman of CLMI, Simon Emeje, called on the federal government to partner with CLMI and the available logistics professionals in Nigeria to unlock Nigeria’s share of the $60 trillion
global market, which he valued at $16 trillion with an asset worth $14 trillion. He described the international conference and investiture as a premier world-class experience that would bring together industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and strategic thinkers from across sectors to examine the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping Africa’s fast-evolving logistics ecosystem
“The CLMI International Conference & Investiture 2025 provides a unique platform where strategies are formed, partnerships are nurtured, and actionable insights drive real economic impact. It aims to strengthen the logistics sector’s role in driving sustainable business growth, wealth creation, and national development,” Emeje said.
Over 240M in 2025
being online. The report highlights how today’s digital divides are being defined by speed, reliability, affordability, and skills, all of which we must prioritise as we work toward our mission of universal connectivity.”
Report: Africa Leads with Agentic AI Technology Adoption
New survey-based report from Boston Consulting Group and MIT Sloan Management has revealed how leaders can maximise Agentic AI’s duality with HR approaches and asset management techniques.
According to the report, 82 per cent of African respondents view AI agents as collaborative colleagues rather than tools, while 35
per cent of companies have begun using Agentic AI, with another 44 per cent of companies planning to deploy it soon, and 250 per cent more respondents expect AI to have greater decision-making authority within three years. However, few organisations have developed the management frameworks necessary for redesigning
their workflows, governance models, investment planning, and talent strategies to keep up with this unprecedented pace, the report said.
The report, themed: ‘The Emerging Agentic Enterprise: How Leaders Must Navigate a New Age of AI’, draws from a survey of 2,102 executives across 21 industries and 116 countries, as well as interviews
with senior leaders. Co-author of the report, Sam Ransbotham, an analytics professor at Boston College, said: “Historically, we had a nice, clean separation between technology and people, with management processes designed around that distinction. But Agentic AI is neither a tool
Digital Economy: FG to Adopt 1Gov Cloud Platform by 2026
The Federal Government of Nigeria has concluded plans for the adoption of 1Gov cloud enterprise content management system (ECMS) platform by 2026, which is a migration from the laser fish platform, in furtherance of its digitalisation drive.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation
(HoCSF), Mrs Esther Walson-Jack made this known at a recent press briefing in Abuja.
According to her, the digitalisation effort of the federal government has yielded remarkable results, having achieved 59,344 official government emails. She therefore urged
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to adopt the platform going forward.
“The MDAs that have not yet begun their ECM implementation should adopt this platform going forward. Those that are already running an enterprise content management system
on a different platform will continue until their migration which is planned for 2026. Our decision to migrate from laser fish to the 1Gov cloud ECMS is based on four strategic reasons that are both policy driven and operationally essential for the future of the Nigerian public service,” she said.
Cloud Energy Unveils Namu’s Solar Mini Grid in Plateau State
Cloud Energy Photoelectric Limited, in furtherance of the strategic partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has unveiled another 50 KWhz solar mini grid plant in Namu community in Plateau State.
The 50 kilowatt solar-minigrid restored light to Namu community in Qua’an Pan
LGA of the state, after 20 years without power. The immediate impact is the return of Namu to economic growth, as businesses returned to productivity to improve the local economies and jobs creation.
The Managing Director of Cloud Energy, Theophilus Nweke, in his address
explained that his company committed financial and human resources to make the 50 kilowatt solar minigrid a reality because of the urgent need to unlock the rich potentials of the rural Namu community.
He revealed that the Namu community had been a home to fifty rice mills, all to be
powered by the solar- minigrid plant. Nweke observed that there was an urgent need to scale up the Namu solar mini-grid to two megawatts in order to enable it play a more significant role in the industrial development of the Qua’an Pan rural communities and Plateau State at large.
ITH Holdings Harps on Strategic Growth Plans
ITH Holdings, the parent company of IT Horizons, Zojatech, Mance and Zojapay, has officially opened its newly redesigned corporate office in Lagos, while highlighting its new strategic growth plans.
The launch marks a major milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its operational capacity, enhance employee experience,
and position the group for accelerated growth across the technology and digital services landscape.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of ITH Holdings, Mr. Olusegun Dada, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions that power Africa’s digital transformation.
“As a Holdings company, we are entering a significant phase of growth. IT Horizons is deepening its role as a leading enterprise infrastructure and managed services provider, supported by strategic investments in cloud, cybersecurity, and digital transformation capabilities. Zojatech continues to strengthen its engineering capacity and
deliver enterprise- grade applications built for African markets, while Zojapay is scaling its digital payment solutions to enhance financial access for businesses and individuals. Across all our subsidiaries, we remain committed to talent development, innovation, and a customer-centric approach that drives long-term value,” Dada said.
PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI
COP30: Nigeria, Developing Countries Need Finance to Deliver their National Climate and Adaptation Plans, Says Stiell
Bennett Oghifo
Developed countries have been told that without finance, developing countries will not be able to deliver on their National Climate and Adaptation Plans.
The UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, who stated this at COP30 in Belem, Brazil, said, “Cimate finance is the lifeblood of climate action.
“It is what turns plans into progress, and ambition into implementation.
“And nowhere is its importance clearer than at this meeting, which is not a procedural formality. It is designed to build trust – by providing clarity and predictability about the resources that developing countries can count on to deliver their national climate and adaptation plans.
“That trust remains essential.
“Without it, implementation slows, ambition falters, and progress for all becomes much, much harder.
“Since Paris, we have come a long way.”
He said climate cooperation is working, adding that public and private flows of climate finance are growing.
New partnerships are being forged, he said,
“And we are seeing billions of dollars flowing into clean energy, resilience, and just transitions across the world.
“But the truth is, we are not far enough down that road – climate finance is not yet sufficient or reliable enough, and it is not shared widely or fairly enough.
“We know the scale of the challenge: climate impacts are growing – but the adaptation
finance gap remains far too wide.
“At the same time, debt burdens are rising; and far too many of the most vulnerable countries still struggle to access even the resources that have already been pledged.
“So, this is an important moment. Developed country Parties were urged to have at least doubled their collective adaptation finance from 2019
levels by this year.
“A good way to meet this target and those we agreed in Baku last year is to triple outflows from UNFCCC climate funds by 2030.
“The Adaptation Fund, Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Fund are key as they play an important role in scaling up finance for least developed countries and small island developing states.
ESVARBON Expects Highest Level of Compliance to Ethical Standards in Every Aspect of Practice, Says Registrar, Janet Shehu
Bennett Oghifo
The Estate Surveyor and Valuers Regulation Board of Nigeria, ESVARBON, has said it expects the highest level of compliance to ethical standards in every aspect of the profession.
Registrar, ESVARBON, ESV Janet Shehu stated this at the
Valuers’ Assembly, an annual programme of estate surveyors and valuers, designed to brainstorm and appraise themselves; to look at topical issues in the industry, and deliberate on matters that affect them in terms of ethics, standards, and other professional issues that make their profession to
thrive in the built industry.
She said, “This gathering has revisited issues on integrity, transparency, disclosure and confidentiality. So, I expect my colleagues to take advantage of the discourse to keep themselves abreast of rules and regulations of the Board, and the standards of practice that
is expected of them.
“The Board expects highest level of compliance to ethical standards in every aspect of the profession.
We are in a digital age.
“Therefore, our members must embrace technology, because globally we are talking about artificial intelligence and a lot
of technological factors that are affecting our practice.”
The acting Chairman of ESVARBON, ESV Professor Terzungwe Timothy Dugeri said, “There are a lot of challenges as the economy is evolving, different frontiers of practice have emerged. “This is part of the globalization we talk about. We just passed new resolutions that have been gazetted. So challenges are there. People have tried to influence Surveyors to do things that are not right. “Our role is to keep them in check and help them do the needful. So all eyes are on proper real estate.”
UPDC Plc Set for its 4th Annual Real Estate Summit
Fadekemi Ajakaiye
Exploring “New Towns and Their Impact on Economic Development” will be the focus of this year’s Real Estate Summit of UPDC Plc.
The Summit will also showcase leadership in sustainable real estate. UPDC Plc, Nigeria’s leading real estate development and investment company, will on November 26, 2025, host its 4th Annual Real Estate Summit.
The summit, hosted by Mr. Odunayo Ojo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UPDC Plc, is expected to bring together industry leaders, government policy makers, investors, developers and thought leaders across the real estate ecosystem.
The Special Guest of Honour will be Bldr. (Dr.) Olumide Abiodun Oluyinka, Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State. The Keynote Address
will be delivered by Prof. Franklin Nnaemeka Ngwu, Director, Public Sector Initiative and Professor of Strategic Management & Governance at Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan-Atlantic University.
Panelists will include; Engr. Oluwole Olumide Sotire (Permanent Secretary, Lagos State
Ministry of Physical Planning & Urban Development), Mrs. Erejuwa Gbadebo (MD/CEO, Eko Development Company FZE), Mr. Louis Ogbeifun (Chief Investment Officer, TotalEnergies Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Administrators), and the panel will be moderated by Mr. Priye Johnson (Chief Commercial Officer, UPDC Plc).
This year’s summit will highlight how emerging urban developments and new towns like Brompton City can drive sustainable growth, enhance infrastructure, and catalyze economic transformation in Nigeria.
NIQS Calls for Radical Transparency, Institutional Accountability, Unwavering Ethical Conduct in Project Lifecycle
Bennett Oghifo
The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has resolved to take a stand to stop inefficiency in public spending on infrastructural development in the country.
Quantity Surveyors are key professionals responsible for managing construction costs, ensuring value for money, and promoting economic efficiency in the built environment.
The Institute thus called for
a new governance imperative that must become a national agenda. “Nigeria as a nation must understand that the most brilliantly conceived infrastructure plan can fail without a strong governance backbone,” said the President of NIQS, QS Kene Christopher Nzekwe, ahead of their 31st biennial general meeting billed to hold in Abuja. The conference, themed: “Rebuilding Nigeria: Enhancing National Development
Through Fiscal Reforms, Infrastructure Planning and the New Governance Imperative,” is important at this time because it highlights the critical role Quantity Surveyors play in Nigeria’s national development, particularly in the areas of infrastructure planning and fiscal reforms, Nzekwe said. The ‘New Governance Imperative’, he said, is “a call for radical transparency, institutional accountability, and unwavering ethical conduct across the entire
project lifecycle.
“Inefficient infrastructure spending has long been a leakage point in our national treasury. Our profession’s expertise in strategic cost planning, value engineering, and rigorous procurement processes is the antidote. We must ensure every Naira allocated to roads, power, housing, and social infrastructure is optimised to provide maximum benefit to the Nigerian populace.”
The conference, he said,
would strengthen avenues for proper infrastructure service delivery, building adequate capacity for the government’s initiative which decentralised the approval process for public-private partnership (PPP) projects, allowing ministries to independently approve projects valued up to N20 billion.
The conference will feature specialised sessions focused on leveraging the principles of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) by
introducing contemporary cost management tools and robust project governance frameworks designed to mitigate risks and eliminate waste in public works. The Institute challenged all industry players, including regulatory bodies, contractors, and consultants, to adopt digital technologies and standardised practices that promote openness and foster a competitive, ethical business environment, which is essential to attract private sector investments.
House Mattaz: Nigeria’s First Interactive Real Estate Stage Play Captivates Lagos
Full Performance Premiered on YouTube November 7
Nigeria’s first-ever interactive real estate stage play, House Mattaz was created by ThinkMint Nigeria recently debut in Lagos at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island where real estate executives, PropTech innovators, creative industry leaders, and actors, were thrilled with unique fusion of theatre and industry insight.
The groundbreaking production, created by ThinkMint Nigeria, was a blend of storytelling, music, comedy, and drama, offering a fresh and deeply human perspective on Nigeria’s vibrant real estate industry.
The play explores
the dreams, deals, and dilemmas that define the property market, revealing the personal stories often hidden behind transactions, ambition, betrayal, family, community, hustle, and hope.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts, Culture, Damilola AyindeMarshall, Esq., who attended the event , lent her support to the production and reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to promoting innovative artistic expressions that reflect both cultural heritage and contemporary creativity.
The convener of the stage play, Mrs Imeida Usoro-
Olaoye, explained that House Mattaz was staged as part of ThinkMint Nigeria’s 5th Anniversary celebration, marking five impactful years of transforming real estate marketing, communications, and brand storytelling in Nigeria.
The production, according to her , reflects ThinkMint’s core belief that real estate is not just about property but about people, emotions, and the decisions that shape lives.
“Over the past five years, the company has redefined how property brands connect with audiences, turning transactions into emotional experiences and brands into relatable stories.” ,
she stated She informed those who missed the live performance, or wish to relive the unforgettable experience that the full House Mattaz play will premiere on YouTube on November 7, 2025, adding that digital release will allow viewers across the world to experience the show, connect with its message, and witness an innovative intersection of Nigerian theatre, real estate culture, and creative storytelling.
She encouraged fans and viewers to subscribe to the ThinkMint Nigeria YouTube channel and turn on notifications to be among the first to watch the premiere.
L-R: Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Damilola Ayinde-Marshal; and Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Thinkmint Nigeria/Europe, Mrs Imeida Usoro-Olaoye, during the preview of the movie, Nigeria’s First Interactive Real Estate Stage play, House Mattaz, held in Victoria Island, Lagos... recently
A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.
An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the
floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
GUIDE TO DATA:
Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 18 November 2025, unless otherwise stated.
Offer price:
Edun Kicks off Acceptance Testing of NSW Ahead 2026 Operation
Oriarehu Bonny
The federal government has commenced the National Single Window (NSW) User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with the first cohort of participating stakeholders to ensure the unified and technology-driven trade ecosystem becomes operational by March 2026.
The technology vendor CrimsonLogic, on Monday, walked each agency and stakeholder through NSW’s onboarding process, system navigation features and the operational framework designed to streamline the country’s trade processes.
The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, visited the UAT grounds to assess progress.
Representatives from key regulatory and trade bodies
that participated in the inaugural session included the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) as well as importers, exporters, clearing agents, freight forwarders.
The engagement allowed the organisations to test functionalities, validate workflows, and align on expectations ahead of the platform’s deployment.
The commencement of testing brings Nigeria closer to making the NSW operational with the aim of harmonising documentation, cutting trade costs and
eliminating duplication.
The visit demonstrated the strong commitment of the Federal Government to ensuring the successful implementation of the NSW initiative, which aims to transform Nigeria’s trade ecosystem through a unified digital platform.
During the tour, the minister and the FIRS Chairman visited each breakout room, engaging directly with participating agencies to better understand their experiences during the testing phase.
Edu and Adedeji expressed satisfaction with the progress of the UAT sessions and commended the collaborative effort among agencies.
They reaffirmed the government’s commitment to driving a modern, transparent, and technology-driven trade environment for Nigeria.
ISACA Lagos Annual GRC Conference Commences Today
The ISACA Lagos Chapter is set to hold its annual Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Conference today Thursday 20th and Friday 21st November in Lagos.
According to a statement, this year’s edition, themed, “AI Governance: Advancing Regulations, Ethics and Risk Resilience in Africa’s Digital Economy,” promises to be a high-profile gathering of professionals, thought leaders, regulators, and innovators shaping the future
of governance, risk, and compliance in the digital era.
According to the President of ISACA Lagos Chapter, Mr. Justus Osuji, the rapid evolution of digital technologies has placed Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) at the center of transformation across industries.
“As Africa accelerates its digital innovation journey, the convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and regulatory frameworks is creating a new frontier
for digital trust, business resilience, and institutional integrity,” Osuji stated.
He further noted that through the 2025 GRC Conference, ISACA Lagos Chapter aims to convene thought leaders, regulators, industry experts, and practitioners from across sectors to critically examine how Africa can design and implement sustainable governance structures for digital systems that promote ethical innovation and accountability.
CRC Credit Bureau Appoint Akhidenor Non-Executive Director
CRC Credit Bureau Limited, the leading Credit Bureau in Nigeria and Africa, has announced the appointment of Mr. Patrick Ehidiame Akhidenor as a Non-Executive Director on its Board of Directors, following the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Akhidenor joins the Board as the representative of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, succeeding Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu, who was recently appointed the Group Managing Director of First Bank.
He currently serves as the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) at First Bank of Nigeria Limited, a position he assumed in July 2024, where he has been instrumental in strengthening the bank’s credit and enterprise risk frameworks, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring operational excellence across multiple markets.
Speaking on this appointment, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Joel Owoade, commended the selection of Mr. Akhidenor as Non-Executive Director of CRC. He stated:
“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Patrick
Akhidenor brings to CRC over three decades of distinguished experience in the banking and financial services industry, with expertise spanning credit and risk management, corporate finance, operations, and strategic leadership.
Akhidenor to CRC’s Board. His wealth of experience in credit, risk management, and governance will further strengthen CRC’s strategic focus as we continue to promote responsible lending, financial inclusion, and data-driven credit infrastructure in Nigeria and beyond.”
Dr. ‘Tunde Popoola, MD/ CEO of CRC Credit Bureau, added that the decision to bring Akhidenor on board as a Non-Executive Director reflects CRC’s unwavering commitment to corporate governance and its ambition to remain the leading credit bureau in Nigeria and Africa.
LAPO Boss Wins CEO of the Year Award
Sunday Ehigiator
LAPO Microfinance Bank has reinforced its leadership in Nigeria’s financial inclusion sector as its Managing Director, Mrs Cynthia Ikponmwosa, was named Microfinance Bank CEO of the Year at the 2025 MSME Finance & CEO Awards held recently in Lagos. In her acceptance remarks,
Mrs Ikponmwosa dedicated the award to the entire LAPO team and the millions of clients the bank serves nationwide.
“This award is a recognition of the collective efforts of the LAPO family and the trust of our clients across Nigeria. At LAPO, our commitment remains to empower lives, foster entrepreneurship, and expand financial inclusion through responsible and
innovative microfinance solutions,” she said.
Commenting on the recognition, LAPO’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Mr Oluremi Akande, described the award as a validation of the bank’s consistent drive for excellence and social impact.
“We are delighted that the industry continues to acknowledge the remarkable work being done at LAPO.
Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi
(Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic
Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).
L-R: Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, and Director of National Single Window (NSW), Mr. Tola Fakolade during the ministers’ visit to kick off NSW acceptance testing in Lagos… recently
Kayode Tokede
Transactions by foreign and domestic investors on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) more than doubled in the 10 months of 2025, reaching N9.57 trillion, a 114.01 per cent increase from the N4.47 trillion recorded in the same period of 2024.
According to NGX’s latest Domestic & Foreign Portfolio Participation in Equity Trading, the surge marks a record high for total market activity, buoyed by stronger participation from Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and high-net-worth domestic investors.
The report disclosed that Foreign portfolio investors
(FPIs) accounted for N2.03 trillion of total trades, a 172.4 per cent year-on-year rise from N744 billion a year earlier.
In contrast, domestic investors contributed N7.54 trillion, up 102.4 per cent from N3.73 trillion in 2024.
According to the report by NGX, the foreign investors represented 21.18 per cent of
total market activity during the period, up from 16.65 per cent a year earlier. Domestic investors, while still dominant, saw their share ease slightly to 78.82 per cent from 83.35 per cent.
Within the domestic segment, institutional investors led activity with N4.6 trillion, compared withN1.8trillion in 10 months
of 2024, while domestic retail transacted about N2.9trillion in 10 months of 2025 from N1.9trillion in 10 months of 2024.
In terms of inflow, the report disclosed that foreign inflow stood at N1.12 trillion in 10 months of 2025 from N344 billion in 10 months of 2024, while outflow stood at N909.54billion in 10 months
Investors’ Activity on NGX Surges by N9.57trn in 10 Months PRICES
of 2025 from N400.04billion in 10 months of 2024.
The report further stated that, “Over an 18 year period, domestic transactions increased by 33.15per cent from N3.556 trillion in 2007 to N4.735 trillion in 2024; whilst foreign transactions also increased by 38.31% from N616 billion to N852 billion over the same period.
TRADED ASOFNOVEMBER/19/25
HealtH & lifestyle
Hope for a Healthier Nigeria as BHCPF 2.0 Ushers in New Era of Transparency, Accountability
In a bold move to overhaul Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, the Federal Government has launched the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) 2.0, a revolutionary framework designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and improved health outcomes nationwide. The initiative marks a decisive step toward a more efficient and effective healthcare system, where every naira spent translates into tangible health benefits for Nigerians. Writes
For years, Nigeria’s healthcare system has struggled with corruption, inefficiency, and lack of transparency. But with the launch of BHCPF 2.0, the tide is turning. The new framework introduces stricter monitoring mechanisms, including the deployment of financial officers in every local government, civil society oversight, and digital expenditure tracking. This means that funds will be tracked in real-time, and any discrepancies will be quickly identified and addressed.
According to Dr. Oritseweyimi Ogbe, Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health’s Oversight Committee, the BHCPF 2.0 is a game-changer for Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“The BHCPF is the foundation for delivering affordable, quality healthcare to Nigerians,” Ogbe asserts. “With BHCPF 2.0, we are determined to ensure that the system works better, the money is traceable, and the people truly benefit”, he said during the launch of the new framework at the South-West zonal meeting held in Lagos recently.
The BHCPF 2.0 framework operates through four gateways: the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), State Health Insurance Agencies under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Emergency Medical Treatment gateway, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) gateway. The fund supports primary healthcare, insurance for vulnerable groups, emergency response, and outbreak control, and is financed by not less than one percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund
One of the key features of BHCPF 2.0 is the emphasis on transparency and accountability. Disbursement details are now regularly published in national newspapers and on ministry websites, making it easier for citizens to track how funds are being utilised.
The government has also partnered with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to enhance oversight and prevent misuse of funds.
The impact of BHCPF 2.0 is already being felt. In Lagos State, for example, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has hailed the framework as a “transformative framework” that streamlines
Uzoma Mba
Colexa Biosensor Ltd, Nigeria’s pioneer manufacturer of blood glucose monitoring systems, announces the commencement of the Federal Government’s nationwide diabetes screening and capacity-building programme, following the procurement of essential medical supplies, including locally manufactured diabetes diagnostic kits.
The initiative officially kicked off this week in the North-Central geopolitical
governance, reduces bureaucratic delays, and accelerates facility upgrades.
Lagos currently oversees 245 accredited Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs), with ongoing efforts to expand access to more facilities and ensure quality healthcare for all residents.
“We have already seen significant improvements in our healthcare system since the launch of BHCPF 2.0,” Abayomi notes. “The framework has helped us to reduce bureaucratic delays, improve the quality of care, and increase access to healthcare services for our citizens. We are committed to ensuring that our healthcare system is responsive to the needs of our people.”
As Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, National Coordinator of SWAp, notes, “Every Nigerian who walks into a primary healthcare centre deserves care, dignity, and healing.”
With BHCPF 2.0, the government is committed to ensuring that citizens receive the healthcare they deserve.
The framework empowers citizens to monitor allocations and measure progress toward universal health coverage, signaling a new era of accountability in Nigeria’s health sector.
The launch of BHCPF 2.0 is a significant step towards achieving
zone, beginning with the training of government health officials across primary healthcare centres (PHCs). This will be followed by a nationwide screening campaign targeting 5 million Nigerians across the 774 Local Government Areas of the country.
As part of this effort, the Federal Government will distribute more than 77,000 units of the OnPoint Blood Glucose Monitoring System, produced by Colexa Biosensor in Lagos, to individuals
diagnosed with diabetes during the nationwide screening exercise. Each PHC will also receive diagnostic and monitoring devices to support ongoing community-level diabetes care.
This programme marks a major milestone in advancing local production, improving access to early diagnosis, and strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare value chain.
Speaking on the development, the National Desk officer, Diabetes of the Federal Ministry of Health,
universal health coverage in Nigeria. With its focus on transparency, accountability for community participation, the new framework has the potential to transform the country’s healthcare system and improve the health outcomes of Nigerians. As the government moves forward with the implementation of BHCPF 2.0, it is expected that the healthcare sector will become more efficient, effective, and responsive to the needs of citizens.
The BHCPF 2.0 framework has also been designed to ensure that healthcare funds are used for their intended purpose. The fund will support the upgrading of infrastructure, purchase of essential equipment, and training of health workers, ensuring that primary healthcare centres are equipped to provide quality healthcare services to citizens.
According to Ogbe, the government is committed to ensuring that the BHCPF 2.0 framework is implemented in a way that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of citizens. “We are determined to ensure that the healthcare system works better, and that the people truly benefit from the fund,” Ogbe emphasizes.
The government’s renewed focus on emergency preparedness and expanded insurance coverage also aligns with the 2022 NHIA Act, bolstering Nigeria’s healthcare resilience. The BHCPF 2.0 framework is expected to improve the country’s ability
Systems
Dr. Alayo Sopekan, described diabetes as one of the fastestgrowing health burdens in Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need for early detection and monitoring:
“We have many Nigerians living with diabetes, some are aware, many are not. This initiative is aimed at identifying early, those living with diabetes, improving access, reducing cost, and strengthening our local capacity in line with the administration’s commitment to unlocking the healthcare
to respond to health emergencies, such as outbreaks and natural disasters, and ensure that citizens have access to quality healthcare services.
As Nigeria moves forward with the implementation of BHCPF 2.0, the healthcare sector is expected to become more efficient, effective, and responsive to the needs of citizens. With its focus on transparency, accountability, and community participation, the new framework has the potential to transform the country’s healthcare system and improve the health outcomes of Nigerians.
The BHCPF 2.0 framework is a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria, and the government is committed to ensuring that the framework is implemented in a way that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of citizens.
As Dr. Ashiru Abubakar, Technical Assistant to the Coordinating Minister, aptly puts it, “The worst place for corruption to occur is in the health sector - because there, it kills and maims.” With BHCPF 2.0, Nigeria’s healthcare system is poised to become a beacon of hope for the continent, where every citizen has access to quality, affordable healthcare.
value chain.”
Colexa Biosensor expressed appreciation at being selected as a key local manufacturer for this national programme and reiterated its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s fight against non-communicable diseases.
According to Pharm. Kingsley Aguoru, Managing Director of Colexa Biosensor: “This partnership reflects the Federal Government’s confidence in Nigerian manufacturing capacity. At Colexa Biosensor, we remain
committed to delivering highquality, reliable diagnostic tools to improve early detection and long-term management of diabetes across the country.” The programme also aligns with the Federal Government’s broader medical relief agenda aimed at reducing the cost of essential health commodities, improving affordability, and strengthening diagnostic services nationwide.
Training and screening activities will continue across all six geo-political zones in the coming weeks.
At the launch of BHCPF framework in the South-West zonal meeting held in Lagos recently, to deliver affordable, quality healthcare to Nigerians
MARY NNAH
Tribute to Dan Agbese by Mohammed Haruna
I’ve just received news of the death of Dan Agbese whose deputy I was when he was Editor of the defunct NewNigerian in the early eighties. His death at 81 is a huge loss to the country’s journalism and punditry.
As my tribute to my former boss and long-time friend, I reproduce below a slightly edited version of the tribute I paid to him when he clocked 70, eleven years ago, plus a telling reaction to the tribute from a reader.
May Dan’s gentle soul rest with the Good Lord. And may He also give all of us the fortitude to bear his loss. Amen
An illustrious wordsmith at 70
Yesterday, one of Nigeria’s most accomplished journalists and wordsmiths, Daniel Ochima Agbese, clocked 70. He was born on May 20, 1944 into Agila royalty in Okpowu Local Government of Benue State. It speaks volumes of the man’s character that few of his acquaintances and the millions of readers he must have gathered in his long - but hardly materially rewarding - career as a columnist, journalist and author, ever knew he was a prince. All his life he’d always referred to himself as simply Mister, apparently because he did not suffer from the superiority complex of your typical Nigerian Big Man.
Yet Dan, as those on a first name basis with him call him, had sufficient virtues to make him feel proud and superior to most Nigerians. To begin with, God gave him a good head and a way with words. This was obvious from his academic career which begun in earnest when he returned to the classroom in 1970 after a three-year teaching career followed by another year as a library assistant and ending with a four-year stint as a staff writer with the NewNigerian during its heydays in the late sixties. Before all this he had attended Government Teachers Training College, Keffi, between 1960 and 1962.
It was as a staff writer under the tutelage of Malam Adamu Ciroma, the first indigenous editor of the NewNigerian and the creator and principal author of the famous humour columnist, the anonymous Candido, that Dan left to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the second university in the country after the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), to establish a degree course in the profession.
At UNILAG, Dan became a prize-winning student and, upon graduation in 1973, earned himself a second-class upper division. That, in combination with a three-year stint as the chief sub-editor of the Nigeria Standard, then published by the then Benue-Plateau State, must have earned him a place in 1976/77 to do a Master’s degree at probably the best Journalism school in the world and custodian of the most prestigious journalism awards world-wide (The Pulitzer) - the Graduate School of Journalism of Columbia University, New York City.
As with UNILAG so it was with Columbia; there he became the best of the 16 international students in the class and among the best of its entire 160 students.
Dan’s fascination with and love of the
written word probably dated back to his days as a library assistant at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria – possibly before. His move from there to the New Nigerian seemed then natural enough; after all, the written word is the principal commodity of both.
Once he returned to class to read journalism it seemed he had made up his mind to stick with it as his life-time career and forget about being a librarian. However, as the man himself said in an interview with the defunct Verbatim newsmagazine (October 21, 2013), he developed second thoughts about remaining a journalist while still a student at Columbia.
“Actually, as far back as 1977, when I was in graduate school in the US,” he said, “I didn’t think I was returning to journalism, I thought I was going into book publishing. This was because I had had a long association with book publishing from the period of my youth service in 1973/1974. I was a reader for Heinemann educational books in Ibadan, and so I picked up a lot of interest in writing books. And I had hoped that if I returned, I would set up a book publishing company, but it didn’t work out that way.”
As things turned out, Dan stuck to Journalism. However, even though he did not become a book publisher, he wrote several of them. Indeed, he wrote enough to make him the most prolific author among Nigerian journalists since time.
So far the man has six books to his credit, three of them (The Reporter’s Companion, The Columnist’s Companion and Style: A Guide to Good Writing), practical guides to Journalism that should be compulsory reading in all our Journalism schools, one (Nigeria, Their Nigeria), a satirical dig at Nigerians and their country after the fashion of that famous evergreen, How to be a Nigerian, by Peter Enahoro whose editorship of a national newspaper at 26 in the early sixties remains unbeaten, and
two (Fellow Nigerians: Turning Points in the Political History of Nigeria and IBRAHIM BABANGIDA: The Military, Politics and Power in Nigeria, to date, the most authoritative and most definitive biography of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
Dan has also edited three books, Newswatch Conversation with Babangida, The Energy Crisis in Nigeria and In the Service of My Country: Selected Speeches of Abdullahi Adamu, the two-term civilian governor of Nasarawa State.
All books are a reader’s delight for their readability, insight, humour and precision.
Among Dan’s virtues were not only his good head and a way with the written word. The man also possessed the courage of his convictions and a diligence for accuracy, balance and fairness in pursuing news stories. I saw these and other virtues first hand as his deputy when he edited New Nigerian between 1982 and 1984.
Before him I had acted as the editor for 11 eleven months. I was denied confirmation because the management and chieftains of the ruling National Party of Nigeria said I was too headstrong. Instead, Dan was brought in as editor at the time he was the Director of Information in Benue State, then also ruled by the NPN.
Clearly there was politics in his appointment but it was an appointment no one, certainly not I, could quarrel with; Dan was older and much more experienced as a journalist than me by the time he was appointed.
Four years after his appointment, if those in authority thought they had a lapdog for an editor it became obvious to them that they made a great misjudgement. Day in day out Dan published stories and ran editorials that they found uncomfortable. When he was not running such awkward stories, he was rejecting stories the authorities tried to foist on him that were clearly more
public relations than news.
For example, when the late Chief M. K. O. Abiola resigned his membership of the NPN after his humiliation following his bid for its chairmanship against the favoured late Chief Adisa Akinloye, Dan ran it as the lead story, much to the great annoyance of the party. On another occasion he rejected a story based on a document allegedly signed by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo which purported that he was training people in a forest in the Western Region for a coup against the Federal Government. While the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria in Kaduna made hay with the story, Dan demanded incontrovertible proof that the document was genuine before he would publish the story. He never got the proof and he never published it. In the end it turned out that the document was fake and its source, a big con artist.
Predictably, Dan’s editorship of the New Nigerian did not end on a happy note. Sensing the authorities had had enough of his unyielding insistence on professionalism and might push him out anytime, he decided to jump. Thus, his departure in 1984 to co-found Newswatch which eventually hit the streets in January 1985 as Nigeria’s first weekly newsmagazine to be owned principally by professional journalists themselves.
The rest, as they say, is History. Newswatch ran without missing a beat for 27 years, except for its ban by the authorities a couple of times, once for a period of six months, due to its hard-hitting stories and scoops.
Since its controversial take-over last year by Chief Jimoh Ibrahim, the controversial business mogul, Dan and his colleagues have established a book publishing company, May5Media, which has since published two books, one, Moving in Circles, a selection of their columns, and the other on the life and times of the rebel leader, the late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu. Shows you, doesn’t it, that old journalists and old writers, like old soldiers, never die. Here’s many more returns of yesterday to one of Nigeria’s best writers, humourists, satirists and, above all, most professional and most courageous journalists.
Re: Dan Agbese at 70.
Sir, I want to thank you for your beautiful piece on our Dan Agbese. I’ll always remember him for his article on the late Chief Awolowo prior to his last birthday in 1987. In that article Agbese eulogized the qualities and contributions of Chief Awolowo and wrote that he will be remembered as the best president Nigeria never had. The sage died a few weeks after the publication and the late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu made the same statement thereafter. While Nigerians were crediting the statement to Chief Ojukwu, Dan Agbese was the author and originator of the statement.
Adefemi Aribatise, Lagos. +2348028597775.
•Mohammed Haruna is a National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission.
LateDanAgbese
L-R: Managing Director of Bvndle Loyalty Limited, Ikechukwu Nwaguru; Senior Analyst at Nairametrics, Mr. Idika Aja; Group Head of Customer Experience, UBA, Michelle Nwoga; and General Manager, Products and Marketing, V Bank, Adatugo Oyebanji, at the media parley recently to announce the Bvndle Rewards Festival slated for December 8 and 9, 2025, in Lagos
L-R: Promotion and Publicity Manager, Amaland Festival, Makanaki King; Convener, Amaland Festival, Seun Adeniyi; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Oyo State, Wasiu Olatunbosun; and Director, Events and Programmes, Amaland, Olatunde Caxton-Martins. at a press conference in Ibadan, Oyo State, to announce the Amaland Festival participation in this year’s Vibing December in Ibadan... recently
L-R: Adekola Oluwaseun, Mrs. Taiwo Azezz, AbdulGafar Gbadamosi, Mr. Kehinde Gbadamosi, and Emmanuel Laleru, all attendees of the 40th convocation ceremony of the University of Ilorin, held at the main auditorium hall in Kwara State... recently
L-R: Chief Operating Officer, Arnergy, Godreigns Amedari; Senior Vice President, Legal, Compliance and Company Secretary of Arnergy, Adedoyin Kafidipe; Chief Executive Officer, Oaks and Pearl Engineering Partners Limited, Taiwo Okharedia; and Chief Executive Officer, Arnergy Solar Limited, Femi Adeyemo, at the product launch of Arnergy Solar Solution. held at the Arnergy Corporate headquarters, Industrial Street at Ilupeju, Lagos... recently
L-R: Permanent Representative of the Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity (CCDI) to the United Nations, Olufemi Aduwo; Ojomo of Erinje Kingdom, Ayeniyi Olayeye; Orungberuwa of Erinje Kingdom, HRM Oba Oladele Akinmoye; former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Akintunde Aduwo; and Olori Adenike Akinmoye at the Aluma festival in Erinje, Ondo State… recently
L-R: Board Member, Society for Quality in Healthcare in Nigeria (SQHN), Prof. Emmanuel Otolorin; Health Industry Strategist and former Chief Medical Officer, EY America, Dr. Yele Aluko; co-Founder and President Emeritus, IHI, Dr. Don Berwick; President of SQHN, Dr. Wole Abiodun-Wright; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; and President of HFN, Mrs. Njide Ndili, during the Professors Adeyemo and Oyinade Elebute Memorial Lecture and SQHN 2025 annual conference held in Lagos... recently
Gamin G Week
Edited by nseobonG okon-ekonG |
Ada Cuomo: The Quiet Architect Redefining Social Impact at Bet9ja Foundation
Ada Cuomo has emerged as one of the most influential voices in Nigeria’s modern CSR landscape, transforming the Bet9ja Foundation from a dormant idea into a national force for measurable social development. With more than 220 projects executed across 34 states in just two years, her disciplined, human-centred leadership is reshaping how corporate Nigeria thinks about impact, accountability, and compassion, write Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Iyke Ikenna Bede
In the evolving landscape of corporate social responsibility in Nigeria, few figures embody the fusion of discipline, passion, and strategic clarity as vividly as Ada Cuomo, the Executive Director of the Bet9ja Foundation. Her journey from the structured world of accounting and auditing to the fluid, emotionally demanding realm of social impact work symbolises an uncommon blend of analytical rigour and humanitarian instinct. Under her stewardship, the Bet9ja Foundation, once a seed of goodwill in the background of the Bet9ja corporate structure, has matured into one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing social development institutions, executing more than 220 projects across 34 states in just about two years of full operation.
This reflective exploration examines her philosophy, her work, and the organisational
footprint she is helping to shape: a footprint grounded in empathy, sharpened by structure, and fuelled by an unwavering belief that social impact is not a corporate obligation but a moral imperative.
A foundation reborn
Although the Bet9ja Foundation existed in conception for many years, its full emergence happened in July 2023, when the owners of Bet9ja decided it was time to amplify their long-standing but quiet culture of giving. For years, they had funded projects, sometimes exceeding N600 million annually, without fanfare or visibility. The acts were genuine, heartfelt, and often personal, but they remained largely unseen, as though generosity was a private duty rather than a public performance.
When Cuomo joined the company in
Enugu Gaming Commission Unveils Sweeping Reforms, Orders Full Digital Migration
Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission has introduced sweeping new reforms to overhaul, digitise, and enforce higher standards across the state’s gaming industry following its 2025 Stakeholders Forum in Enugu
The Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission (ESGC) has announced sweeping regulatory reforms aimed at sanitising and modernising the state’s gaming industry, following the 2025 Enugu State Gaming Stakeholders Forum held on November 6, 2025, at the Amadeo Event Centre, Enugu.
The forum, which brought together operators, agents, regulators, and industry experts, resolved to implement a series of directives designed to strengthen compliance, enhance transparency, and fully digitise gaming operations across the state.
Full digital migration ordered
A major outcome of the forum is the mandatory migration of all gaming
operators and agents to the Enugu State Gaming Regulatory Management Platform (GRMP), an automated digital portal for licensing, renewals, monitoring, and reporting. The platform, accessible via the Commission’s official website, will now serve as the exclusive interface for regulatory engagement.
Deadline for licence revalidation
The ESGC directed all existing operators to revalidate their licenses on or before December 31, 2025, warning that defaulting operators will face temporary suspension until compliance is achieved.
2023, she entered not as a trophy appointment but as the project driver—a strategist charged with transforming a philosophy of giving into an institution of lasting social relevance. With her background in finance, auditing, banking, and socially responsible investment analysis, she forged a path that married the corporate discipline of numbers with the humanist urgency of need.
Her task was not merely to build a foundation, but to build a system—one capable of handling Nigeria’s complex developmental challenges with structure, transparency, measurable outcomes, and continuous expansion.
The five pillars of impact
Today, the Bet9ja Foundation operates on five strategic pillars: healthcare, education, infrastructure development, sports, and youth empowerment.
These pillars reflect a deliberate choice: to focus deeply rather than widely.
Cuomo often notes that “when you try to do everything, you end up doing very little”. Her strategy is to deepen expertise and intensify impact within specific domains before expanding into new areas—such as the foundation’s emerging interest in climate change interventions.
This disciplined focus has enabled the foundation to transform a wellintentioned charity into structured development work.
The projects that define her work
While Cuomo insists she is proud of all the foundation’s projects, certain initiatives clearly resonate more profoundly with her—and for good reason. GEES: Unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s youths. Originally introduced as the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP), the Foundation’s flagship youth initiative has evolved into the Graduate Employability and Entrepreneurial Summit (GEES).
The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com
US Continues Strained Ties with Africa, Warns S’Africa against Issuing G-20 Statement
Ramaphosa presses ahead despite threat
Emmanuel Addeh
in Abuja
The US has formally warned South Africa against pushing for a joint statement at this weekend’s Group of 20 sum- mit in Johannesburg that the Donald Trump administration is boycotting, according to a document seen by Bloomberg.
The move adds to the fractious relations between the continent and the US under the Trump government, which recently vowed to intervene in Nigeria’s security challenges (ostensibly with or without Nigeria’s go-ahead) over
alleged Christian genocide in TheNigeria.diplomatic standoff is particularly awkward given that it’s the first time the continent is hosting a G-20 and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is passing the baton to US President Donald Trump at the end of this Tensionsyear.between the two men came to a head at an Oval Office meeting in May, when Ramaphosa had to endure a dressing down in front of the cameras. Trump escalated the spat further by
saying he wouldn’t attend the summit, and followed up with a complete boycott of the event, the Bloomberg report said.
The US openly opposes South Africa’s G-20 presidency and its core agenda of solidar- ity, equality and sustainability — part of Ramaphosa’s push for a more inclusive world order. That adds to Trump’s false accusations Pretoria is conducting a genocide against White Afrikaners and expropriating land.
“Washington’s absence negates its role over the G20’s
conclusions,” South African foreign ministry spokesman Chrispin Phiri said by phone on Wednesday. “We cannot allow coercion by absentia to become a viable tactic. It is a recipe for institutional paralysis and the breakdown of collective action,” Bloomberg quoted Phiri as saying.
In the diplomatic com- munication delivered on November 15, the US said it would neither participate in preparatory talks before the summit, nor the gathering of world leaders this weekend. It will block any outcome
fg Pl AC e S nATI on’ S Se CU r ITY on r e D Aler T
Deji Elumoye, Olawale Ajimotokan, Alex Enumah in Abuja, Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto and Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
The federal government has put the country’s security ap- paratus on the highest level of alert in response to worsening insecurity and recent attacks in some parts of the country. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the red alert yesterday while briefing the media.
Moore, the Nigerian delegation, THISDAY gathered, has also been scheduled to meet with some White House officials, security chiefs and several other lawmakers on the matter.
A statement by Moore, seen by THISDAY, listed other members of the entourage from Nigeria to include the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbe- tokun and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu.
Others were the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Undiendeye; Special Adviser, Office of the NSA, Ms. Idayat Hassan; Director of Foreign Relations, ONSA, Ambassador Ibrahim Babani; Acting CDA, Embassy of Nigeria, Ambassador Nuru Biu; and the Political and Economic Section, Embassy of Nigeria, Paul Alabi;
“Today, Congressman Riley M. Moore met with a delegation of senior members of the Nigerian government, led by Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser to the President of Nigeria, during the delegation’s visit to Washington, D.C.
“The meeting allowed for a frank, honest, and productive discussion about the ongoing persecution of Christians and ongoing terrorist threats in Nigeria and opportunities for strengthened cooperation and coordination between the United States and Nigeria to end the bloodshed.
Idris conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s sympathies to families and communities affected by the recent acts of terrorism and criminality, while also reaffirming the president’s unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians. The announcement came as Tinubu, yesterday, postponed his scheduled trips to Johan- nesburg and Luanda. He was billed to attend the 20th G20 Summit of leaders in South Africa and, thereafter, proceed to Angola to attend the 7th
“During the meeting, Nigerian officials shared their government’s challenges and concerns regarding counterterrorism, security assistance, protection of vulnerable communities, and ongoing issues involving violence across Nigeria.
“Congressman Moore clearly stated that the United States stands ready to coordinate and cooperate with Nigeria, and that, as President Trump made abundantly clear, the United States will not tolerate continued violence against Christians or other forms of religious persecution,” the statement noted.
Stressing that Trump does not make idle threats, the statement noted that Moore would continue monitoring new developments and pushing the Nigerian government to accept the open hand of cooperation to stop the ongoing ‘persecution’ and violence against Christians and combat the threat terrorist groups posed to the Nigerian population
Moore said: “Today, I had a frank, honest, and productive discussion with senior members of the Nigerian government regarding the horrific violence and persecution Christians face and the ongoing threat terrorism poses across Nigeria.
“I made it crystal clear that the United States must see tangible steps to ensure that Christians are not subject to violence, persecution, displacement, and death simply for believing in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“We stand ready to work
AU-EU Summit.
Tinubu awaited further security briefings on the kidnapped students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.
In response to the request by the governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Tinubu, according to a statement by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, ordered the deploy- ment of more security men to
cooperatively with the Nigerians to help their nation combat the terrorism perpetrated by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani militants against their population, specifically Christians in the Northeast and Middle Belt regions of Nigeria. The Nigerian government has the chance to strengthen and deepen its relationship with the United States.
“President Trump and Congress are united and serious in our resolve to end the violence against Christians and disrupt and destroy terrorist groups within Nigeria. I urge the Nigerians to work with us in cooperation and coordination
the government has already mobilised N700 billion funding to implement the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), aimed at tackling the sector’s longstanding metering gap.
Besides, the minister in his goodwill message at the event, stated that aside from the N700 billion, the World Bank’s Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) fund of $500 million is complementing financing, adding 3.45 million meters to the sector, while procurement has commenced.
“We believe that with the implementation of this Presidential Metering Initiative, the (metering) gap will soon be a thing of the past, and we will say goodbye to estimated billing. And we’re not stopping there. This initiative
Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area of the state. He also directed the police to go after the bandits, who attacked worshippers.
Conveying the president’s firm commitment to protect- ing life and property in the country, Idris stated, “Let it be known that President Tinubu has put our nation’s security apparatuses on the highest alert ever, and has deployed to actively pursue and eliminate terrorists, bandits, and criminal elements wherever they may be in Nigeria.
on this critical issue.”
Two nights ago, the Nigerian Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, had said only 177 Christians were killed, 102 churches attacked, 98 injured and seven abducted by terrorists in the last five years. Tuggar, who made these claims in an interview on ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’, addressed allega- tions of attacks on Christians and destruction of churches in Nigeria.
While downplaying claims of genocide, he said the violence was caused by criminals rather than targeted persecution. In the interview with Morgan, he referenced Sudan as an example
Continued on page 43
is also complemented by the World Bank Distribution Sector Recovery Programme Fund of $500 million, which is also adding 3.45 million meters to the sector.
“The procurement of these meters are well-documented. They’ve been delivered, and a lot of them have been installed. So within the next three to five years, we will say goodbye to no meter and estimated billing. This has a lot of impact on the liquidity and sustainability of the power sector.
“It will also attract investors, and they will be able to see a line-of-sight that when they bring money to the sector, they can easily recover the capital or principal and also make some reasonable returns. And I believe that reliability and the
framed as a consensus G-20 position because South Africa’s priorities “run counter to US policy views,” according to a copy of the document.
“The US opposes issuance of any G-20 summit outcome document under the premise of a consensus G-20 position, without US agreement,” it said. “If a deliverable is issued under your presidency, it will be framed solely as a chair’s statement to accurately reflect the absence of consensus,” it added.
The White House and State Department didn’t
“Our security forces have also been mandated to swiftly rescue the abducted Kebbi schoolgirls and reunite them with their families.”
He decried the killing of Brig- Gen Uba and the abduction of female students in Kebbi State, as well as the attack on a church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, as “painful reminders of the threats confronting the nation”.
Idris said such acts only strengthened the federal gov- ernment’s resolve to decisively defeat terrorism and banditry.
He disclosed that Tinubu had postponed his scheduled international engagements, including the G20 meeting in South Africa, to focus squarely on domestic security developments.
The minister added that the president had directed the military and the police to deploy additional personnel to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, to ensure strong security coverage and rapid response.
He explained that Vice Presi- dent Kashim Shettima was also in Birnin Kebbi, at the president’s instruction, to deliberate with Governor Mohammed Idris, security chiefs,
sustainability of power supply will be assured in Nigeria and across the border,” he assured.
The theme of the maiden event was: “Building a Resilient and Competitive Electricity Market – The Role of NISO”.
THISDAY recalls that the total number of metered customers in Nigeria rose to 6,579,818 in August this year, improving the metering rate nationwide to 55.01 per cent, according to data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
While total active customers in the power sector increased from 11,897,246 in July to 11,960,101 in August, it also reinforced the scale of the metering challenge, as just over 55 per cent of electricity consumers are currently metered, leaving
immediately respond to Bloomberg’s messages left for comment sent before normal US business hours.
Despite the US opposition, South Africa is pressing ahead with efforts to obtain a joint statement at the summit that ends on Sunday.
traditional rulers, and families of the abducted schoolgirls.
The information minister assured Nigerians that the rescue of the abducted Kebbi schoolgirls remained an urgent national priority.
He added, “President Tinubu has also directed all security agencies to actively pursue, neutralise, and dismantle terrorists and criminal networks across the country.”
The minister refuted any sectarian interpretation to the country’s security challenges, while stressing that Nigeria’s security threats, from terrorism to banditry, had affected citizens of all faiths and backgrounds.
“In this critical moment, national unity is our most powerful asset,” he said, stressing, “We must reject misinformation and division. Our common enemies are terrorists and criminals seeking to destabilise our country.”
He reinforced Nigeria’s status as a multi-faith country where freedom of worship was constitutionally guaranteed. Idris urged citizens to stand together in solidarity and sup- port the efforts of the security agencies working tirelessly to secure the country. He said the government remained confident
Continued on page 41
roughly 45 per cent still subject to estimated billing.
Separately, in a press briefing, Adelabu stated that the recent integration of Nigeria’s power grid with those of 15 West African countries now places Nigeria at the centre of a modern operating environment where electricity networks no longer function in isolation but as interdependent components of a shared regional framework.
Once permanent synchronisa- tion is achieved, the minister explained that Nigeria will operate under a stronger, more resilient system, benefiting from cross-border support that enhances grid stability, reduces the risk of system disturbances, and improves the
US Congre SS m A n Conf
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
Official launch Of afretrade...
L-R: Chief Technology Officer, Afretrade, Julius Popoola; Visionary Economist / Afretrade Launch Keynote Speaker, Prince Afolabi Andu; Founder/CEO, Afretrade, Lekan Salaami; Chief Operating Officer, Afretrade, Dr. Charly Lemassi; Chief Product Officer, Afretrade, Jubril Gbajabiamila; Afretrade, Cultural Ambassador, Eyinnda Nwigwe; and Strategic Partner Afretrade, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila during the
Atiku Condemns Singing of Tinubu’s Political Anthem at Judges’ Conference
NJI: We never observed
chuks Okocha and alex enumah in Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday said that it was unethical for members of the executive arm of government to sing President Bola Tinubu’s political slogan at a judges’ conference.
In a statement, he personally signed, Atiku said singing
‘on your mandate’
of such partisan songs at a conference of another arm of government where Tinubu sermonised about safeguarding integrity and upholding the sanctity of the judicial profession was deceitful.
But the National Judicial Institute (NJI), has described as misleading and inaccurate reports circulating on social media suggesting that judges attending the 2025 All Nigeria
song Says judiciary remains strictly non-partisan
Judges Conference sang a political chorus in allegiance to Tinubu at the event on Monday.
However, according to Atiku: ‘’On Monday I was sent a video clip from Channels TV’s coverage of the opening session of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference. What I saw was nothing short of an assault on our national dignity.
“On Your Mandate, President Tinubu’s personal political anthem, was brazenly played in place of the Na- tional Anthem at the end of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun’s speech.’
‘’My first instinct was to dismiss it as a deepfake. But once it was confirmed to be authentic—an actual reflection of what transpired on the
FG Pleads With Resident Doctors To Suspend Strike As ASUU Threatens Shutdown of Varsities Friday
Onyebuchi ezigbo in Abuja
The Federal Government has enjoined the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to suspend its ongoing industrial action as the Government has already addressed Nineteen out of Twenty demands listed by the Association.
The government’s plea came just as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) gave a fresh threat to commence nationwide indefinite strike in protest over federal government’s inability to meet it’s demands
The union’s threat was
conveyed via a terse statement on ASUU’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, ASUU’s message reads: “All universities will be closed nationwide on Friday, till further notice”
But Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Mohammad Maigari Dingyadi in a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Annah Daniel called on the striking doctors to respect the country’s laws and suspend it’s industrial action.
The Minister reminded NARD that “by Labour Laws and ILO conventions” When
issues are being conciliated, all parties are enjoined not to employ arm-twisting methods to intimidate or foist a state of helplessness on the other party; in this case your employers (the Federal Ministry of Health)”
He said with the high percentage of the Association’s demands already being ad- dressed in a series of negotiation meetings, NARD has no reason to continue the industrial strike.
The Minister stated that he was aware that payment of the 25%/35% upward review of CONMESS and the 2024 Accoutrements Allowances of the association has commenced
Eno to Political Aides: You Can’t Serve Two Masters
Okon Bassey in Uyo
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has advised all appointees of the state govern- ment to be faithful to their call, advising those ‘playing hide and seek politics’ to desist from it, as no one can serve two masters at the same time.
The Governor made the assertion at the inauguration of a new Head of Service,
Mrs Elsie Anietie Peters at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo.
“Faithfulness, which is also loyalty, is not optional but a requirement. God looks for faithfulness more than talents. God does not look for the most gifted, the most educated, the most charismatic, the most visible. He looks for the most faithful,” he cautioned.
The state’s chief executive
charged government appointees and workers to remain loyal, faithful, and productive in their service for the betterment of the state.
“Everybody may not agree with us, and that is understood and allowed. But what we will not tolerate is for people to believe that they can be in government and be working against the government.
up to December 2024, except for those with Bank issues or omission, IPPIS and NARD are working on it to reconcile the failed payments.
He further said that: all arrears as agreed with NMA in the MoU, were all accepted to be compiled and the list of arrears owned to the Resident doctors sent to Federal Ministry of Health for onward transmission to the budget office for action.
very day President Tinubu lectured the judiciary on integrity and the rule of law, I waited for an explanation from the Presidency or the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). (But it was) silence. Total, deafening silence.
‘’This incident is not isolated. The Tinubu-led APC government has consistently pursued a systematic capture of state institutions, crushing opposition voices, and steering Nigeria toward a de facto one-party state,” the former vice president stated.
‘Ironically, he noted that on the same day, Tinubu stood before Nigerian judges and sermonised about safeguarding integrity and upholding the sanctity of their profession, stressing that “confidence is the lifeblood of justice,” and that public perception must be fiercely protected to sustain our democracy.
‘’Yet, while preaching morality, his administration allowed (or engineered) the playing of his own partisan
campaign music before the entire Nigerian judiciary — a shocking desecration of protocol, ethics, and national pride.
‘’Let it be said clearly and without hesitation: Replacing the National Anthem with Tinubu’s ‘On Your Mandate’ in a hall full of judges is reckless, scandalous, disgraceful, and deeply irresponsible.
‘’It is the most blatant signal yet that this government is attempting to drag the judiciary into the partisan gutters of the APC, if not coerce a wholesale ‘defection’ of Nigerian judges into political alignment,” Atiku added.
He raised concerns over how confidence can be built when the executive arm openly inserts partisan propaganda into a solemn judicial gathering.
“ How can judges dispense justice fearlessly when Tinubu’s operatives are busy eroding the boundaries between state, party, and personal ambition?
ECOWAS @50: CORNWEST Director Calls for Solidarity
The Executive Director, Conflict Research Network West Africa (CORNWEST), Dr. Timipere Felix Allison, yesterday called on the Economic of West African States (ECOWAS) to mobilise countries in the region to collectively combat violent extremism and the deepening humanitarian pressures.
Allison, made the call while speaking with journalists in Ibadan, at the end of an international conference held in Abuja in partnership with
the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), with the theme, ‘ECOWAS at 50: Reimagining Regional Integration for a Resilient, Democratic and Secure West Africa’.
While noting that 50 years after the establishment of ECOWAS, the region stands at a crossroads, he said that though the region has experienced remarkable gains in trade, mobility, diplomacy and peacekeeping, it also faces democratic backsliding, a resurgence of coups, violent extremism, climate-induced displacement, deepening
humanitarian pressures, and widening socio-economic inequality.
“These layered challenges demand new thinking, evidencebased policymaking, and a renewed commitment to regional solidarity,” he said.
According to Allison, the conference participants agreed that, “there is a rapid decline of democratic governance in West Africa. This is shown in the rise in military takeovers and in the growing pattern of constitutional, judicial and civilian coups across several states.”
official Launch of Afretrade held at Muson Centre in Lagos….yesterday
PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN
Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
Leading Projects, insPiring ProfessionaLs, driving sustainabLe change...
L-R: Executive Director, Nigerian Diaspora Direct Investment Summit (NDDIS), Chief Bimbo Roberts Folayan; Convener, 2025 Project Management and Leadership Lagos
and Director RJ Emmanuel Limited, Dr Yetunde Juliet Adeshile; Executive Assistant to Governor of Lagos State and Head of Project Implementation & Monitoring (PIMU),
Sanwoolu; and Director, RJ Emmanuel Limited, Mr Peter Adeshile, at the 2025 Project
and
Civil Group Writes EFCC, Seeks Investigation, Prosecution of Alleged Diversion of Kogi LG Funds
alex enumah in Abuja
A group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately commence investigation into the alleged diversion of Kogi State’s funds meant for development at the grassroots.
The group, which included African Transparency Initiative (ATI), Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA), and Concerned Kogi State Citizens, in a petition to the EFCC chair- man, dated November 18, 2025, stated that the alleged fraud was being perpetrated through the “Lokoja Voucher Scheme”.
The petition was titled, “Urgent Investigation and Prosecution of the Systemic Diversion of Kogi State Local Governments’ Fund Through the Lokoja Voucher Scheme.”
It was also copied to the Attorney-General of the
Federation, Auditor-General of the Federation, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), House of Representatives Com- mittee on Public Account and Senate Committee on Anti-corruption.
According to the petitioners, monies are being paid for works allegedly not done through the use of “fabricated vouchers and contracts”.
Besides, the petitioners claimed that while shell companies owned or controlled by politically-exposed persons (PEPs) received the alleged diverted funds, officials of local government area councils were “forced to sign without Bills of Quantity, tender or site verification”.
In addition, the groups accused the Kogi State government of looting 95 per cent of the one per cent monthly allocation
of the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) through rigged, non-tendered contracts.
The petitioners stated, “We, the undersigned representatives of African Transparency Initiative (ATI), Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy
(CODWA), and Concerned Kogi State Citizens, bring this urgent petition to demand a full-scale inquiry into the Lokoja Voucher Scheme that has siphoned billions of naira meant for schools, clinics, roads and other basic services in Adavi, Bassa, Dekina, Idah and Yagba East
Local Government Areas.”
The petitioners listed the nature of the fraud as including: Fabricated vouchers and contracts for works never performed, Shell companies owned or controlled by politicallyexposed persons (PEPs) receive the funds, and
local government officials are forced to sign without Bills of Quantity, tender or site verification. They alleged that every month the same fraudulent vouchers were processed, draining the allocations before they reached the communities.
Senators Mourn as Enugu North Colleague, Ezea, Dies
Barau, Adaramodu, Kalu, Natasha mourn
sunday aborisade in Abuja
The senate was thrown into mourning on Wednesday following the sudden death of Senator Okey Ezea, the Labour Party (LP) lawmaker for Enugu North Senatorial District, who passed away in Lagos on Tuesday night after a brief illness.
Ezea, an influential voice in the 10th Senate and one of its most visible legislators, died about 11:07pm in a private hospital, according to a state-
Mbah: We’re Working Towards Rebuilding Enugu into Modern, Competitive, Crime-free State
Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has said the goal of his administration is to rebuild Enugu into a modern, competi- tive, and crime-free state that would yield utmost benefits for citizens and residents.
He said the set target would be achieved through sustainable security, productivity, transpar- ency, good governance, and strong partnership with the Church.
Mbah stated this in a keynote
address entitled “Promoting a Productive Economy in Enugu State”, which he delivered at the ongoing fourth Diocesan Synod of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu taking place at the Holy Ghost Cathedral.
“Two years down the line, the direction is clear. We pledged to build a productive economy, and we have stayed faithful to that covenant,” he said.
He declared that he came to the Synod not as a political leader but as “a son of the Catholic Church,” shaped by
its discipline, compassion, and deep moral foundations.
The Enugu governor spoke in the presence of an audience that included the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, the Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Abuja, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Owerri, Archbishop Anthony John Valentine Obinna, among others.
ment by his family.
His death triggered an outpouring of grief from colleagues, who described the 62-year-old senator as a principled parliamentarian, a bridge-builder, and a steadfast patriot.
The senate, through its spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, described the incident as a “tragic and painful loss.”
Adaramodu stated that Ezea’s passing had created a deep void in the red chamber.
The statement read, “The Senate shares the grief of this unfortunate demise with his constituents in Enugu North, Enugu State, and Nigerians,
most especially his immediate family. We pray that God grants him peaceful rest.”
Ezea, a lawyer and busi- nessman, was elected in 2023 on the LP platform. He quickly established himself as a respected legislator, serving initially as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
Until his passing, he was Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD, as well as Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Culture and Creative Economy.
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, described Ezea as a “pan-
Nigerian politician” whose contributions to national unity were unmistakable.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, Barau said the senator “would be remembered for his commitment to the Nigerian project through his various interventions within and outside the Senate”.
Barau, who expressed shock at the news, extended condolences to the senator’s wife, Chioma, and their children.
“Senator Okey Ezea was a patriotic Nigerian par excel- lence, who worked hard to enhance the standard of living of the people of Enugu North and beyond,” he said.
Police Affairs Minister Calls for Procurement of Drone Surveillance Systems
Linus aleke in Abuja
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has called on governments at all levels, in collaboration with the private sector, to procure high-resolution drone surveillance systems for police commands in the 36 states and the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT).
This, he said, would enable the Force to gather intelligence and stay ahead of criminals such as bandits, kidnappers, illegal miners, terrorists, and anarchists across the country.
The former governor of Yobe state stressed that the Force still requires additional investment in technology,
logistics, welfare, and equipment to improve policing nationwide.
The minister also revealed that the federal government cannot shoulder this responsibility alone, emphasising that it must be a collective effort by both the private and public sectors to achieve the level of policing Nigeria desperately needs.
Summit
Mr. Olusegun
Management
Leadership Lagos Summit held in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos ... yesterday
emmanuel ugwu-nwogo in Umuahia
COURTESY VISIT TO THE MINISTER OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT...
L-R: Director, Industrial Inspectorate Department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Engr. Eyitayo Osinowo; Director General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde; Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi; and Director General, Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, during the courtesy visit of the ITF-NECA Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP) Policy Board to the Minister in Abuja…recently
PDP BoT Condemns Invasion of Party Secretariat, Insists Ibadan Convention Stays
SMBLF warns Nigeria drifting towards one-party state Police seal party secretariat amid escalating factional crisis Prof Kila wants INEC to mandate political parties to hire psychiatrists Crisis normal
Chuks Okocha, Sunday Aborisade, Linus Aleke in Abuja, Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi and Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The Board of Trustees (BoT) the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the invasion of the party’s national secretariat by some of the expelled members, to unleash violence on party mem- bers in an attempt to forcefully take over the complex.
This was contained in a press release by Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
According to the release, “The BoT also condemns the action of the expelled elements who mobilised the thugs to attempt to prevent the elected members of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by the new National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN and accompanied by the Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of PDP Governors’
Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed, his Oyo State counterpart, Engr. Seyi Makinde and other party leaders from gaining access into the“Tearcomplex. gas was fired at the governors and party leaders while the thugs unbridled violence on the PDP National Secretariat.”
The BoT noted with dismay the involvement of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nyesom Wike, (also expelled from the party), who came to the scene with heavy security in apparent solidarity with the invaders.
The board, however, saluted the “courage and resilience of the governors, NWC and BoT members, other party leaders, teeming members and supporters for resisting the invaders.”
The release further stated that, “The BoT stands firmly with the new NWC in full endorsement of the outcome of the Elective National Convention held in
Ibadan, Oyo State on the 15th and 16th of November 2025.
“The Convention was convened in strict compliance with the Party’s Constitution, and Guidelines, the Electoral Act, all extant regulations, and it represents the collective will of delegates and stakeholders of the PDP across the country.”
The BoT, therefore, denounced the statements, actions and media pronouncements by individuals who were expelled from the party.“Their attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the Ibadan Convention and create confusion within the party structure are not only mischievous but also constitute a direct assault on the principle of internal democracy in our
“Thecountry. BoT calls on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the wave of attacks on the PDP National Secretariat and ensure that those responsible are held to account. Democracy
thrives only where institutions remain impartial, professional, and insulated from partisan manipulation.
“As the conscience of the party, the BoT remains committed to safeguarding the unity and democratic values of the PDP and ensuring that the mandate freely given by party members at the Ibadan Convention is respected.
“The Board therefore urges the new NWC not to be deterred but remain focused on rebuilding and repositioning our Party as we march to victory in the 2027 general elections, the release concluded.
PDP Crisis: SMBLF Warns Nigeria Drifting Towards One-Party State
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has issued a warning over what it described as the accelerating erosion of Nigeria’s democratic foundations, declaring that recent political developments suggested
FG Pl A ce S N ATI o N ’ S Secur ITY o N r e D Aler T that the ongoing security operations would lead to the swift rescue of the abducted schoolgirls and the restoration of peace in affected communities.
Tinubu was scheduled to leave Abuja yesterday to attend the 20th G20 Summit of leaders in South Africa and 7th African Union-European Union (AU-EU) Summit in Angola.
But disturbed by the security breaches in Kebbi State and Monday’s attack by bandits against worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, Tinubu decided to suspend his departure.
The president was said to be awaiting reports from the vice president, who was sent on a sympathy visit to Kebbi on his behalf, as well as reports from the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding the attack in Kwara.
Tinubu reiterated his directive to the security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the abducted schoolgirls and bring them back home safe.
Tinubu Deeply Troubled, Shares Your Tells Students’Anguish, Shettima Families
Vice President Kashim
Shettima told the families of the abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State, the late Brigadier- General Musa Uba, and Vice Principal of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, that Tinubu was deeply troubled by the tragic incidents.
Shettima vowed that the government would deploy all instruments of state to rescue the schoolchildren and ensure their abductors, and killers of the military officer, as well as the vice principal were made to face the full weight of justice.
Shettima, who spoke while in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi
State capital, on the directive of Tinubu, described the abduction of the schoolgirls from the boarding school in Maga as an assault on the collective conscience of all Nigerians.
The president had Tuesday evening asked his deputy to visit the state to sympathise with the state government and assure the parents and guardians of the kidnapped schoolgirls that the government would ensure their quick and safe return home.
Extending Tinubu’s sympathy to families of the abducted schoolgirls and the state government, Shettima said, “Kebbi’s pain is Nigeria’s pain.
in politics, Says Oluyede
an orchestrated drift toward a de-facto one-party state.
The forum said the unfolding situation, if not halted, threatened to push the country into a politi- cal crisis unprecedented since the return to civil rule in 1999.
Rising from a high-level meet- ing held yesterday at PANDEF’s liaison office in Abuja, the Forum said it was “gravely alarmed” by the behaviour of political elites, the conduct of security agencies, and what it termed the disturbing inertia of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under its new chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.
The meeting was chaired by the National Leader of Afenifere, HRM Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and attended by top officials of the Middle Belt Forum and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
They included their presidents, Dr. Pogu Bitrus (represented) and Ambassador Godknows Igali. Also present were former governors, former
When one child is taken, every home in this nation grieves. When girls in the safety of their classroom are seized by criminals, our collective conscience is assaulted.
“Mr. President is deeply troubled by this tragedy. He shares your anguish, and he has sent me to assure you that this is not a moment for politics. This grief transcends party lines, geography, and identity.
“This is a time for unity, for compassion, and for firm resolve in the face of evil. Our priority is singular and unflinching: our daughters must return home safely.”
On behalf of Tinubu, Shet-
senators, traditional rulers, and other regional leaders.
In the communique issued at the end of the session, SMBLF said it could no longer keep silent as the nation’s multi-party structure came under what it described as “direct, coordinated and dangerous assault.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the emerging tendency among the political class to railroad the country towards single-party control of key democratic structures at the federal and subnational levels.
“This tendency is carried out through mass defections, intimidation, opportunistic al- liances and political horse-trading devoid of any ideological basis.”
Speaking further, Oba Olaitan warned that the pattern of defections sweeping across the political landscape was not just business as usual but part of a deeper crisis.
tima assured the people that their tears, fears, and cries were a stain on Nigeria’s collective conscience, and the country “shall not turn away from this responsibility”.
He stated, “This government will not relent. We will use every instrument of the state to bring these girls home and to ensure that the perpetrators of this wickedness face the full weight of justice. Kebbi, you are not alone. Nigeria stands with you. And we shall not rest until your daughters return to your warm thatThe vice presidentembrace.”promised the federal government
World ToileT day celebraTion...
L-R: Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development, Tpl. Ibuola Folarin; representative of the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services and Director Education Unit, Office of Environmental Services, Mrs. Monsurat Banire; representative of the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources and Managing Director, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) Prince Fatiu Akiolu; General Manager, Lagos Wastewater Management Office, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi and the Marketing Manager Hygiene, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Asim Naz, during the 2025 World Toilet day celebration, held on the 19th of November, 2025 at the Multipurpose Hall, Radio Lagos/Eko FM premises, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Lagos State.
Marwa: Securing Nigeria from Illicit Drugs, Other Vices a Shared Responsibility
Michael olugbode in Abuja
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) has insisted that the task of securing Nigeria from the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking as well as other social vices must be seen and treated as a shared responsibility by all stakeholders.
Marwa, who stated this in his keynote address at the 7th Security and Emergency Management Awards and Conference
(SAEMA 2025) hosted at the NDLEA’s national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, assured that the agency will build on the successes of the last five years during his second tenure with aggressive interdictions and compassionate treatment, rehabilitation and prevention programmes.
He said: “The task before us—securing our nation—is a shared responsibility. The awards presented today are a reminder that all security agencies, emergency responders, and civil society partners are
working towards the same goal: a safe, stable, and prosperous Nigeria.
“The NDLEA remains committed to this cause, determined to build on the successes of the past few years. We will continue to adopt a balanced approach—placing equal emphasis on Supply Reduction through aggressive interdiction and Demand Reduction through compassionate treatment and prevention.
“This menace demands a multi-sectoral response involving law enforcement agencies,
traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, educa- tors, the media, and the entire community. This is why I can’t but commend IMPR and its partners for this initiative as well as choosing “Drug Control and National Security: Innovations for a Safer Tomorrow” as the theme for SAEMA 2025””
The anti-narcotics czar said as an agency with the mandate to curb illicit drug problems, the NDLEA under his leadership has responded to the challenge and pursued a two-pronged strategy.
According to him, “the first aspect of the strategy is Supply Reduction, which entails closing down the supply pipelines of illicit drugs. We do this through intelligence-led operations, interdictions, and international collaborations. By these means, we have intercepted tons of narcotics, dismantled cartels, and prosecuted offenders. From our borders to our airports and seaports, our officers remain resolute and execute their job without fear or favour.
“Gratifyingly, we are get- ting good results. In the first
AT NISO S TA ke HO l D er S ’ Mee TIN g, F g V O w S eSTIMAT e D B I ll IN g TO eND IN 3 Ye A r S overall reliability of electricity supply.
By becoming part of a larger synchronous area, he noted that Nigeria will be able to rely on regional support during periods of supply shortfall, while also strengthening neighbouring networks when required.
The impact of this achievement, he said, is already evident in several critical areas, as it strengthens confidence in Nigeria’s power system, stressing that despite several challenges, Nigeria has the technical competence, engineering capacity, and institutional discipline required to operate at global standards.
According to him, the synchronisation positions the country as a credible partner for cross-border energy exchange and a reliable participant in the West African Electricity Market under the West African Power Pool (WAPP).
At the NISO engagement, Adelabu listed major milestones under the Bola Tinubu administration as: The centralisation and liberalisation of the sector which has resulted in the activation of 15 state electricity markets;
development of a National Integrated Electricity Policy after 24 years and attraction of over $2 billion in fresh investments into the sector to further extend electricity access in the country.
Furthermore, he reiterated the commencement of the process to transition the industry to- wards full commercialisation which increased the sector’s revenue by 70 per cent in 2024 and reduced government liability in the sector by N700 billion.
The increase in the country’s installed capacity for energy generation from 13GW to 14GW and the attainment of an all-time generation peak of 5,801.44 MW and a maximum daily energy record of 128,370.75 MWh on March 4, 2025, Adelabu stressed, are also key achievements under the current administration.
On the WAPP system, the minister stated that it represents the first time in history that Nigeria has operated in a unified, stable, and fully harmonised configuration with the rest of the sub-region.
“While this is not yet a permanent synchronisation,
the successful test clearly demonstrates that regional technical alignment is feasible and marks a major step toward eventual full integration.
“The synchronisation exercise, conducted between 05:04 a.m. and 09:04 a.m., involved the Nigerian grid which includes Niger Republic and parts of Benin and Togo and the rest of West Africa’s interconnected systems covering Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, and Mali.
“For four uninterrupted hours, power flowed seamlessly across national borders, operating at a single stable frequency and proving that West Africa is now technically capable of functioning as a unified power bloc. This achievement ranks among the most significant milestones in the history of WAPP,” he stated.
The successful synchronisation test, he explained, shows that, despite these challenges, Nigeria has the technical competence, engineering capacity, and institutional discipline required to operate at global standards.
“The benefits of synchronisa- tion with other WAPP countries would extend directly to the Nigerian people. A more stable grid improves the performance of essential services such as hospitals, water supply, transport systems, digital infrastructure, and public institutions.
“As ongoing transmission expansion projects including the North-Core line, the Ajegunle 330 kV Substation, the Kaduna–Kano transmission upgrades, and the Gwagwalada–Gurara connection are completed, synchronisation will help deliver more reliable power to homes and industries nationwide. While expectations must remain realistic, this achievement provides the structural foundation for the improvements Nigerians have long awaited,” he stated.
In the same vein, Adelabu dismissed concerns that Nigeria’s generation companies would simply export all their supply since it’s more profitable to do so, stressing that the domestic market must be supplied first before remaining megawatts will be sold to regional markets.
In his intervention, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NISO, Bello Mohammed, stated that engagement was a significant milestone in NISO’s operational takeoff as an independent, neutral, and transparent system and market operator.
As defined under the NERC Order establishing the Independent System Operator, NISO, he said, carries the mandate to ensure open, non-discriminatory access to the transmission system; to coordinate generation and system operations in a trans- parent manner; to administer the electricity market; and to ensure fairness, neutrality and accountability in all market interactions.
“Put simply, NISO is the referee that ensures everyone plays by the rules and that the rules themselves support a competitive market where efficiencies matter, investments are protected, and consumer welfare is the ultimate goal.
“A truly competitive and investor-friendly electricity market rests on operational discipline, transparent gover-
10 months of this year alone, we have recorded over 16,304 arrests and have successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of about 3,000 drug offenders with hundreds of cases ongoing in court. In the same vein, we have seized 4.5 million kilogrammes of illicit substances. We go the extra mile deep into the forests to locate cannabis plantations and destroy them. In these operations, we have destroyed 612.2864 hectares of cannabis farms within the same 10-month period.
nance, and strict adherence to the Market Rules, Grid Code, Metering Code, and other regulatory instruments. These principles lie at the foundation of NISO’s mandate.
“As we gather here today, we operate in a power sector undergoing rapid transformation - driven by decentralisation, state electricity markets, technological shifts, and increasing expectations from investors and consumers alike. These developments demand that NISO steps forward as a credible, impartial, and competent operator that ensures fairness, reliability, and operational excellence in both the grid and the market,” he stated.
Others who spoke at the event were the Chairman, Board of Directors’ NISO, Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbde, who was represented; Vice Chairman of NERC, represented by a Deputy Director, Friday Sule; Director General, BPE, Mr. Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi, who was represented; the MD/ CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule A Abdulaziz; Executive, among others.
Awolowo VArsity MAnAgeMent Visits senAte...
L-R: Senator Shuaibu Salisu; Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Adebayo Bamire; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, when the OAU Management led by the VC, paid a courtesy visit to the Senate President in his office ... yesterday
N/Assembly May Drop Proposal on Early Voting, Right of Prisoners to Vote
onyebuchi ezigbo in Abuja
Barring any change in its decision, the National Assembly may likely not approve proposals on early voting and prison inmates right to cast vote during an election in Nigeria.
The indication came on Wednesday at the opening of a
One-Day Retreat of the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Review of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment Bill), 2025.
The retreat organised in partnership with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), was held at the Transcorp Hilton
Hotel,AmongAbuja.those that attended were Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, as well as senators and House Representatives members.
While giving an update on the outcome of the last retreat
by the committee in Lagos, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson, said there were salient issues in relation to early voting and voting by prisoners, which most members of the committee did agree on.
Regarding the proposal on early voting, Dickson said,
“Some of the salient issues that we discussed, like the proposal on early voting, Mr. Chairman, the workshop did not accept it.
“Mr. Chairman and Co-Chair can so rule; we can go back on it. But at the Lagos meeting, we were not convinced.
“There was also a proposal
on prison inmates having the right to vote. That proposal, too, we felt, was going to be too problematic and may complicate rather than solve problems.
“And as laudable as both proposals were—that is, early voting and prison inmates vot- ing—the meeting in Lagos was not persuaded.”
US Congre SS m A n Conf I rm S m ee TI ng fg ’ S Deleg ATI on over Allege D C H r ISTIA n g eno CID e of what can happen when faith based agitation leads to country division.
He said: “We have seen this sort of agitation by faith-based organisations that is a prelude to the breaking up of countries. We have seen it in Sudan and we know the playbook. There were agitations to create South Sudan which is predominantly a Christian country separate from North Sudan which is a Muslim country.“Now we have a situation where there is continuous fighting in South Sudan and another round is about to kick off the same thing in North Sudan. We don’t want to be the next Sudan.”
He rejected the accuracy of reported figures on Christian deaths and church attacks. “The reported figures on the number of Christians killed and churches burned in Nigeria are completely and totally inaccurate and false.
“Many in the media have examined them, fact checked them and they have been shown to be totally inaccurate,” Tuggar said.
Later in the interview, Tuggar provided updated figures: “The number of Christians killed in the last five years is 177 with 102 churches attacked, 98 injured and seven abducted. We are not hiding any Meanwhile,facts.”the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
has insisted on the position that there was Christian genocide in Nigeria, saying Christian communities across Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt had experienced repeated, coordinated, and in many cases, clearly targeted attacks.
The association appealed to the federal government and to the international community to act decisively and urgently to halt the senseless destruction of lives and displacement of indigenous people, particularly in Christian-dominated communities across Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt.
CAN welcomed the recent interest shown by the international community over the killings of Christians and other Nigerians in various parts of the country, hoping the move would spur decisive governmental action to end the carnage, protect lives and bring lasting peace to the communities.
Speaking at at the opening ceremony of the fourth Quarterly National Executive Council meeting of the association in Jos, CAN President, Daniel Okoh, said the body maintained its stand on the killings targeted at Christian population in some parts of the country, adding that it, “would be a grave injustice to deny the painful reality of what has transpired.
“We are here as ambassadors of solidarity, compassion, and moral support. We are here to
identify with our brothers and sisters across Plateau State and Northern Nigeria who have endured years of unspeakable tragedy—persecution, displacement, devastation, and unrelenting insecurity.
“It would be a grave injustice to deny the painful reality of what has transpired: lives brutally cut short, at communities uprooted from their ancestral lands, families torn apart, churches razed, and hopes shattered.
“CAN has spoken clearly and courageously on this matter, and we stand unwaveringly by our position that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria. As Scripture affirms: “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set youOkohfree.”said he had earlier led a CAN delegation to Bokkos to meet with displaced brethren, to listen to their stories, to pray with them, and to support them with relief.
“The scars we saw were deep; yet, the faith we encountered was stronger still. Today, as we gather once again on this sacred soil, we bring with us the prayers, the compassion, and the unwavering solidarity of the entire Nigerian Christian family.
“We declare with one united voice: You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. The Body of Christ stands firmly with you. CAN has remained a principled, courageous, and
consistent advocate for peace, justice, and national unity,” he added.
But the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume, has warned that the pervasive pronouncements by the US administration and other interest groups in the country labelling the security situation in Nigeria as a genocide against Christians was emboldening violent groups seeking to exploit narratives to attack soft targets.
Akume asserted this yesterday while briefing the press on the raging insurgency, banditry, illegal mining and the position of the US that the killings in the country amounted to Christian genocide.
The SGF also warned that the inaccurate interpretations were creating diplomatic friction and undermining the Nigerian government’s longstanding efforts to build constructive international partnerships.
He said across the country, Christians and Muslims had been victimised while no credible international organisation had ever classified killings as a genocide against Christians or anyAkumegroup.said Boko Haram and ISWAP attacked both churches and mosques, exterminating Mus- lims and Christians alike, while bandits were also targeting all communities without distinction.
“The Current misrepresentation
of the crisis as genocide against Christians fuels dangerous religious tensions, emboldens extremist and criminal factions seeking to exploit sectarian narratives, creates diplomatic frictions based on inaccurate interpretations and undermines Nigeria’s longstanding efforts to build constructive international security partnerships,” Akume said.
He warned that before the American statements, insurgency structures had been significantly degraded and reduced to isolated banditry. He said the resurgence underscored the vital need for collaboration- not public vilification- between Nigeria and the US.
He also insisted that Nigeria did not require foreign troops, stating that what the country needed was targeted support from partners, especially the United States in the area of intelligence cooperation, technology and military equipment support for advanced engagement against the insurgents.
Akume said: “Nigeria rejects any characterisation of the conflict as a genocide against Christians or any group. Verified evidence shows that insurgents and criminal networks attack both churches and mosques, killing Muslims and Christians alike.
“The government remains committed to protecting all citizens and strengthening cooperation with international
partners—especially the United States—to dismantle extremist and criminal networks.
“Nigeria is a secular state as guaranteed by various provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. No state religion is adopted as a national religion and no citizen of Nigeria is above the Nigerian constitution.
“The appointment made by the present administration reflects the diversities of our nation and both Christians and Muslims and members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) holding key positions in equal proportion including the Nigerian security council, the body that deals with all security challenges in Nigeria.”
The SGF noted that the gale of insecurity sweeping the country today was inseparable from the destabilisation that followed the 2011 Libya and Egypt uprisings, saying the collapse of the Libyan state allowed Al-Qaeda-aligned traffickers to loot and disperse heavy weapons across the Sahel. He stated that Egypt’s insta- bility further opened corridors for extremist ideologies and foreign fighters’ influence. He said weapons flowing through AQIM-controlled smuggling routes entered West Africa and Nigeria, strengthening Boko Haram, ISWAP and later banditry networks.
LCCI POWER SECTOR CONFERENCE...
L-R: CEO, Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Fouad Animashaun; Chairman, Power Group, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Olufemi Bakare; Chief Technical Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Ogunlade Hamed; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Gabriel Idahosa; Director General, LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona; Executive Director, Nigerian Independent Systems Operators, Mr. Babajide Ibironke, during the LCCI Power Sector Conference themed “Infrastructure Optimisation and Challenges in the Power Sector Amidst Current Decentralisation Efforts” held in Lagos, on Wednesday.
We Are Doing Our Best, Army Chief Tells Nigerians over Nation’s Growing Insecurity
FCT sitting on keg of gunpowder, lawmaker says, seeks urgent action to avert crisis Eruku youths protest over bandits’ attack
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff, Major- General Waidi Shaibu, has said the Army under his watch was doing its best towards tackling insecurity in the country.
The COAS stated this during an Operational Visit to One Division, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Kaduna, yesterday.
He further reassured both his troops and the public of his unwavering commitment to the country’s security mission.
According to him, One Division was a key formation under Operation Fansan Yamma.
“First and foremost is to appreciate the troops for their commitment and sacrifice and what they are doing to stem the tide of security across the country,” he said.
He described his tour as “a medium operational visit to various formations and units.”
Turning his attention to the Nigerian people, Shaibu acknowledged rising expectations.
“The armed forces, the army, we’re doing our very
best to ensure that we tackle the security challenges across our country,” he said.
He remained cautiously optimistic, adding that, “With time, of course, we’ll start having very good results.”
He urged the officers and soldiers to continue their work with professionalism.
“My charge to them (Soldiers) is that they should continue doing what they are doing professionally and remain committed towards the cause of the mission we are giving them and ensure mission success,”
he said.
He emphasised that their dedication was critical to achieving the mission’s goals.
The COAS had earlier met with the senior officers at the Division before commissioning a Solder Cafeteria.
FCT Sitting on Keg of Gunpowder, Says Obika, Seeks Urgent Action to Avert Crisis
The lawmaker representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Joshua
Chinedu Obika, has warned that Abuja was “sitting on a keg of gunpowder.”
He urged President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security establishment to act decisively before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) tips into a full-blown security disaster.
This was as youth in Eruku town in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, yesterday, embarked on a major peaceful protest following a late-night attack on the community by bandits.
However, Obika sounded the alarm at the inauguration of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) FCT Chapter’s Reputation Tree project in Abuja, where a symbolic Flame of the Forest tree was planted at the Wuye Interchange as part of the Institute’s 35th anniversary activities.
Speaking with unusual candour, the lawmaker declared that the security situation in and around Abuja had deteriorated to a level that should worry every citizen, noting that he
was speaking “not even as a representative, but as a deeply worried Nigerian.”
The lawmaker revealed that he had personally written to the president to draw attention to what he described as the dangerous pressure being placed on Abuja’s infrastructure and security framework as a result of mass migration from unsafe regions into the capital city.He said, “The FCT is overwhelmed. Health, education and particularly security agen-
cies are operating far beyond original capacity.
“This is because insecurity is pushing people into Abuja in unprecedented numbers, we are now dealing with a population the city was never designed to manage.”
Obika advocated that Abuja should serve as the pilot location for the long-debated state police model, saying the arrangement would not require constitutional amendment since the National Assembly serves as the legislative authority for the FCT.
NAF Airstrikes Destroy Operational Base, Logistics Network of Terrorists in Sambisa
The High Command of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has revealed that multiple airstrikes by the Air Compo- nent of the Joint Task Force, North East, Operation Hadin Kai, had destroyed terrorists’ operational headquarters and logistics network deep within
The precision strikes, the NAF said, delivered a major blow to the terrorists’ capacity to coordinate attacks and sustain their supply lines.
The Service stated that the carefully executed strikes, conducted after detailed intelligence gathering and surveillance, targeted key
More than 200 serving and former members of the Kano State House of Assembly, have endorsed the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, describing him as “the most marketable candidate” for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers, drawn from all dispensations of the assembly from 1999 to date, were led by a former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdulaziz
G. Gafasa (2007–2011), during a solidarity visit to Barau.
A statement by Barau’s Media Aide, Ismail Mudashir, explained that their endorsement came despite the fact that the Deputy Senate President, has not formally declared interest in the race.
Gafasa said the decision of the legislators to rally behind Barau was based on his performance, party commitment, and influence across the state’s political landscape.
“We are here to tell you
that we are solidly behind you for three reasons. One, you have positively impacted the lives of our people across the three senatorial districts of Kano State.
“Two, you have been a lifeline to our party, APC. Thirdly, you have positively touched our lives, even though some of us are not from the same senatorial district as you. This has made you the most marketable candidate in APC,” the statement stated.
Other members echoed the
same sentiment, insisting that the Senator’s decade-long performance at the National Assembly has endeared him to both party members and the electorate.
A serving member of the Assembly, Hon. Garba Yau Gwarmai of Ghari/ Tsanyawa Constituency, said the endorsement was rooted in Barau’s proven record.
He said, “Your track record of outstanding service over the years speaks for you. You have made a positive impact on the lives of our people.
structures used for planning, communication, and the storage of weapons and essential supplies.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said in a statement that, “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), under the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, has achieved another major breakthrough in the ongoing counterterrorism operations with a precision Air Interdiction (AI) mission conducted on 19 November 2025 at ARRA, a notorious terrorist hideout within the Sambisa general area.
“The Air Component of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai initiated the attack following a series of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions that tracked terrorist movements after the 17 October ambush on ground troops at KASHOMRI.
“Persistent ISR coverage
over KASHOMRI and Sambisa revealed suspicious activities and active terrorist structures at ARRA, prompting a deliberate, intelligence-driven strike. NAF air assets acquired and engaged designated objectives through coordinated, successive passes.”
The strike, he added, “achieved its intended effect with the complete destruction of all identified targets, significantly degrading the terrorists’ operational capabilities and disrupting their command and logistics networks.
“This successful mission underscores the NAF’s unwavering commitment to protecting the nation, supporting ground forces, and sustaining relentless pressure on terrorist elements across all theatres of operation.”
Ejodame stated that the Nigerian Air Force remained resolute in its mission to neutralise threats, defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity, and secure enduring peace for all citizens.
The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has called for improved militarycivilian relations to curb the menace of consistent brutality and mutual distrust being experienced between the uniformed men and society at large.
Oyebanji condemned
the attack that led to three persons being severely injured during a fracas that broke out between some military personnel and traders at the Fayose Market located at Ajilosun area of Ado Ekiti, the state capital, last Tuesday.
The governor stated these in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a visit to the Ekiti State University Teaching
Otu: Security, Welfare Remain Top on My Agenda
Bassey inyang in Calabar Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has said that his foremost agenda was the security of all the 18 local government areas, hence the decision of the state government to remain vigilant and proactive.
Otu stated this when he met with the chairmen of the 18 local government councils of the state in a strategic session aimed at strengthening security, enhancing citizens’ welfare, and assessing the progress of his People-First
administration as the year draws to an end.
Speaking during a recent meeting at the State Executive Council Chamber, Otu said: “The number one item on the agenda of this meeting is the security of our local government councils.
“Number two is the fact that we are coming to the end of the year, and there is a need for every one of our citizens to feel the impact and break out of the middle of the situation, not just the city centres, but also all the wards across the state.”
APC Women Pushes for Tinubu’s Second-Term
Blessing ibunge in
Women wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed their commitment in ensuring President Bola Tinubu is re-elected in 2027.
The women made the expression, during the State APC women summit held in Port Harcourt, with the theme “The Effectiveness of Women in Politics.”
The programme, it was observed attracted thousands
of members of the party from across the 23 local government areas of the state, including leaders of the women wing of APC at the national level.
In her remarks, the APC National Women leader, Dr Mary Idele, described APC as a party where women are not only welcomed but valued and elevated, and applauded the national leadership of the party for the deliberate policies that promotes women’s inclusion.
Hospital(EKSUTH), where three victims, who got injured during a brawl between some military men and traders at the Fayose Market, are receiving
‘Current
medical treatment.
During the uprising, which was said to have caused serious social disorder, three victims sustained severe gunshots
and serious bodily injuries before they were taken to EKSUTH for intensive medical care.
Speaking during the visit, Oyebanji, represented by the
Legislation
Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, frowned at the attack, promising that the culprits would be brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others.
for Protection of Old People, Not Enforceable’
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said that current policy and legal frameworks for the protection of old people are either fragmented or incomplete, and mostly cannot be enforced by the courts.
Abbas made this known yesterday in Abuja during the public hearing on a bill seeking to provide certain rights for older persons to ensure health and economic relief and protection for their social and civil rights and for related matters, organised
by the Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, chaired by Hon. Kafilat Ogbara.
The speaker stressed that while many of these social benefits were previously covered by traditional family support systems, he underscored the House
resolve to provide a formal legal structure that would protect the aged from abuse.
He noted that the bill not only hopes to address a wider range of issues, including social and economic challenges, but also to provide a legally binding framework for older people.
Wike Decries Delay in Completion of Court of Appeal, Judges’
Olawale ajimotokan in abuja
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has slammed the contractor handling the construction of the Court of Appeal complex and Judges quarter at Jabi and Daki Biyu districts of Abuja for the slow
pace of work.
Wike decried the pace when he inspected the sites yesterday, noting that though substantial work had been done, the finishing phase was dragging beyond acceptable timelines.
He also expressed reservation that the
contractor might not meet the revised December completion deadline.
“Initially, the contractors agreed to complete this project by September, but they wrote to request an extension to December due to some setbacks, however, from what I have seen here today, I do not believe this
project will be completed by December. It may even be difficult in January. That is not what we expected at all,” Wike said.
The minister said the overall pace remained below the standard required for a project of importance to Nigeria’s justice system.
Land Expert Hails Lagos Over New Tenancy Law and Recovery of Premises Bill
ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja
Lagos State government has been hailed for the positive effects of the Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 .
A land expert, Mr. Olumofe Oluwole, in a chat with journalists in Lokoja , stated that the landmark legislation is set to revolutionise the rental market in the state , providing tenants with much-needed protection and relief.
“One of the key highlights of the new law is the introduction of advance rent limits, which restrict landlords from demanding excessive amounts of rent upfront. Under the new law, landlords can only request up to 3 months’ rent for monthly tenancies and one year for yearly tenancies. This move is expected to alleviate the financial burden on tenants, allowing them to manage their resources more effectively.
Stakeholders Advocate Collaboration for Electric Vehicle Adoption
Stakeholders from the public and private sectors in the e-mobility industry have emphasised the importance of collaboration between government and private sector players, as well as consistent policies, to promote widespread
adoption of electric vehicles in Nigeria.
This was part of the submission made at the inaugural Electric Vehicle Nigeria exhibition and Conference held from November 13 to 14, 2025 in Lagos.
Speaking at the exhibition titled “Driving the Future,” the convener of EV.N EXPO and Conference, Abiola Adekoyejo, noted that the expo was organised to deepen conversations around co-creation and collaboration to drive growth in the EV mobility sector. Adekoyejo stated that the expo was happening at a critical time, when issues like the removal of fuel subsidy had triggered the need for a multi-modal approach to Nigeria’s transportation system.
adedayo akinwale in abuja
L-R: Commissioner for Works, Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Izeze Reuben;Chairman, Bomadi Local Government Council, Hon. Dangidi Andaye; Member representing Ughelli South in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Festus Utuama; Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme; Chairman, Ughelli South Council, Dr. Lucky Avweromre, and Senior Political Adviser, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, during the inauguration of the cluster of housing units and supporting infrastructure in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government, Delta State…recently
Port Harcourt
Nnadozie is Best Goalkeeper for the Third Year as Morocco’s Hakimi, Chebbak Claim Double
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie retained Africa’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third year on the night Morocco’s duo of Achraf Hakimi and Ghizlane Chebbak claimed CAF’s Men and Women’s Players of the Year Awards in Rabat on Wednesday.
Super Falcons also emerged Women’s National Team of the Year despite the failures of Victor Osimhen and Rasheedat Ajibade in the men and women’s top honours.
Paris Saint-Germain right- back Hakimi was named Men’s Player of the Year after a sensational 2025 in which he won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, French Ligue 1, Coupe de France and reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
He also helped Morocco qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and is the first defender to be named Africa’s best player since former TP Mazembe centre-back Bwanga Tshimen in 1973, and first Moroccan since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
Chebbak has been a model of consistency for club and country in 2025 and was the leading scorer at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July, where Morocco finished runners-up to Nigeria.
She moved from AS FAR to Saudi club Al-Hilal ahead of the 2025/26 season, where she is a teammate of six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala. It was almost a clean sweep for Morocco as Doha El Madani retained the CAF Women’s Young Player of the Year award while Morocco’s Under-20 team were named Men’s National Team of the Year after winning the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2025.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons were the Women’s National Team
CAF AWARDS
their TotalEnergies CAF
Players of the Year Achraf Hakimi
Super Eagles Up in FIFA Ranking Despite World Cup Crash
Despite crashing out of the qualifying series for the 2026 World Cup, the Super Eagles have climbed to 38th in the latest FIFA Ranking. They thus climbed three spots
up in the global ratings and are also fifth in Africa.
They are the only team in Africa’s Top 5 not heading to next year’s Mundial. In the month under review,
Super Eagles beat Gabon 4-1 after extra time, before they lost 4-3 on penalties to DR Congo in the Playoffs final.
In the African Top 5, Morocco leads the way with Senegal,
Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria. Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, DR Congo and Cameroon completing the Top 10 of African Football power in the November FIFA Ranking released on Wednesday.
Sanwo-Olu, Others Hail Oshodi’s Re-election as ITTF Vice President
The re-election of Wahid Enitan Oshodi as Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has drawn widespread commendation from prominent leaders, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports,
Anthony Adeboye. Oshodi was re-elected during the continuation of the ITTF Annual General Meeting (AGM) held online on Saturday, November 15, 2025.
His return to the Executive Board was celebrated as a recognition of his exceptional leadership, deep knowledge of
global sports administration, and unwavering commitment to advancing table tennis in Nigeria, Africa, and worldwide.
In a congratulatory statement issued by Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Sanwo-Olu described Oshodi’s re-election as a testament to his leadership
qualities and hard work during his first term.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said: “On behalf of my family, the government, and the people of Lagos State, I rejoice with a worthy citizen of our dear State, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, on his re-election as Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
Osimhen: MRI Scan Shows Muscle Strain, Out for Three Weeks
Victor Osimhen has assured Nigerians that the suspected hamstring injury he suffered during a 2026 World Cup Playoffs final against DR Congo is not serious.
“My condition is not serious,” the striker told A Sporon arrival in Turkey on Tuesday from Morocco.
The result of the MRI scan carried out on the Nigerian striker has revealed a moderate level of strain on his left posterior muscle.
According to the report of the MRI carried out at Galatasaray’s official hospital (Acibadem), “In the MRI examination performed today (Wednesday) at our sponsor hospital Acibadem, our
football player, Victor Osimhen, a moderate level of strain (strain and bleeding) was detected in his left posterior muscle and treatment has started.”
He’s expected to be out of action for between three and four weeks.
Osimhen did not come out for the second half of the Playoffs clash with DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday night mainly as a precaution when he felt some pain in his thigh.
In Osimhen’s absence, Super Eagles collapsed and managed to drag the game into shootouts in which the Central Africans won 4-3 and grabbed the lone ticket to the Intercontinental playoffs in Mexico next year.
Curacao Becomes Smallest Nation to Qualify for World Cup
The tiny Caribbean island of Curacao has become the smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup after drawing with Steve McClaren’s Jamaica.
The record was held by Iceland, who reached the 2018 finals, but their country is far bigger than Curacao, which has a population of just over 150,000 and a land area of 171 square miles.
Former England boss McClaren resigned as Jamaica boss after his side, who needed a win in Kingston to qualify for their first World Cup since 1998, were held to a goalless draw,
including having an injury-time penalty overruled by VAR. Curacao boss Dick Advocaat, who was not at the game for personal reasons, will become the oldest coach at a World Cup, aged 78, beating Otto Rehhagel’s record when he was in charge of Greece aged 71 in 2010. Curacao, 37 miles off the Venezuela coast, only became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010, following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. Ten years ago they were 150th in FIFA’s world rankings. Now they are 82nd.
Urhobo College, Others Target Double Honours at GCU Relays
The chase for honours and medals will begin on Saturday, November 22nd, at the seventh edition of the annual Government College Ughelli, GCU Relays.
Interestingly, regular podium finishers and perennial participants, Urhobo College, Effurun, will be going for a double honour in this season’s sporting competitions, having just emerged champions of the Zenith Bank/ Delta Principals’ CupStill,tournament. other schools in contention for the magical doubles’ honours include Novena University Demonstration School and Federal Government College, Warri.
Over 60 medals in all categories and trophies will
be at stake during the oneday Intercollegiate Athletics Competition.
For the first time in the annals of the GCU Relays, two notable brands from the stables of both FrieslandCampina WAMCO and Nigerian Breweries will not only contribute their products but also activate at the venue. So, for the youths across the country who will be part of the GCU Relays, it’s an opportunity to savour and take home Three Crowns milk and Maltina products. These corporate giants, through their value-in-kind partnership, have greatly added value to the GCU Relays, now running for eight consecutive years, save for the COVID-19 year.
The star-studded ceremony was attended by players, coaches and Legends from across the continent and beyond,
in a celebration of excellence in African football as the game continues to make major strides on the international stage. of the Year following
WAFCON
Morocco 2024 success, earning the honour for a second straight year.
Chiamaka Nnadozie...retains Best Women’s Goalkeeper title for the third consecutive year at the CAF Awards
2025 Africa’s Best Men and Women’s
(left) and Ghizlane Chebbak
M E rc HANTS of D EATH o N THE Pro W l
National defence preparedness, according to Clausewitz, presupposes “an army which is soundly trained for war, a military leadership which does not await enemy in perplexed and confused uncertainty, but with quiet determination…and finally a healthy nation which does not fear its enemy any more than it is feared by the enemy.”
In Nigeria today, enemies abound on numerous fronts. Yet, the connecting thread for the variants of violence we are witnessing across the country, as I have consistently argued, is the loss of what Max Weber described as “the legitimate use of physical force” to criminal cartels. That also explains why violence has moved from social deviance to a thriving enterprise in the hands of sundry syndicates with transactional kidnapping becoming an unofficial subsector of the economy. Even
NEWS
would support families of the late Uba, the late vice principal, and others who were killed by the terror groups, while doing everything possible to rescue the abducted schoolgirls.
Shettima said, “We also honour the ultimate sacrifice made by some of our brave officers. To the family of the late Brigadier-General Musa Uba, we say: his sacrifice will never be “Whenforgotten. a soldier gives his life in defence of this nation, a part of our collective soul is touched. We will honour him, his family, and all who pay the supreme price in service to Nigeria.”
Shettima applauded the governor of Kebbi State, community leaders, traditional rulers, local vigilante groups, civil society partners, and all stakeholders for rallying together in the moment of distress.
“Your cooperation, your vigilance, and your unity are indispensable to the search for our girls and to the safety of our communities,” he said.
Shettima also commended the gallant officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria Police, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and all paramilitary and intelligence agencies for their gallantry in the face of security challenges confronting theHecountry. told them, “Your courage, your tirelessness, and your sacrifices—often unseen and unsung—remain the backbone of our nation’s security. You stand on the frontlines so that the rest of us may sleep with hope. The nation appreciates you.”The Kebbi State governor thanked Tinubu for the show of support, concern and im- mense leadership.
He said since the incidents happened, the president had been in touch with the state government. He said with the commitment and efforts of the government, he was optimistic that the kidnapped schoolgirls would soon be rescued.
The governor particularly thanked the vice president for the show of concern. He affirmed the state’s commitment and loyalty to the Tinubu administration,
more frightening is the quantum of lethal weapons, including machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, in the hands of non state actors and contestants of state authority in different theatres across the country.Meanwhile, in almost two decades of the insurgency, the Nigerian defence establishment has hardly varied its approach and response which has mostly been to deploy conventional forces to face the terrorists, with periodic Air Force bombardment of their positions. But over time, the insurgents have mastered our approach and continued to improve their game. Worse still, there is evidence of intelligence leakages leading to many ambushes and abductions of our troops. More importantly, the Nigerian state has left much doubt as to its right of sovereign
vowing continued partner- ship and cooperation the federal governmentwith in ensuring the release of the girls. Idris stated, “We, in Kebbi, are most touched by the show of concern and deepened ac- tions being taking to rescue our girls. I am optimistic that they will be rescued. It is a painful experience but we also will ensure that we put all in place to avert any of such future occurrence.
“We thank Mr President, here ably represented by our very own vice president. We thank you for the concern, and the communications and actions behind the scene thus far. We deeply appreciate, Sir.”
Present at the meeting were
National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nantawe Yitwada; Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Umar Tafida; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu; his counterparts in Women Affairs, Hajiya Iman Suleiman Ibrahim; Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Bernard Fori; and Minister of State, Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Tanko Yusuf.
Others included members of the National Assembly; members of the state House of Assembly; former Governor of Kebbi State, Usman Dakingari; Senator Bala Ibn Na Allah; Director General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar; Secretary to Kebbi State Government, Yakubu Bala; members of the State Executive Council; senior government officials; as well as heads of military and para-military agencies.
Kebbi Govt Debunks Claims Attack Took Place in Christian Enclave
Kebbi State Government dismissed as “false and misleading” a claim by U.S. Representative, Ri- ley Moore, that the recent abduction of 25 schoolgirls occurred in a “Christian enclave.”
A statement, signed by Chief Press Secretary Ahmed Idris, stressed that Maga was a predominantly Muslim com- munity and all the abducted
control of the affected territories, leading to many ungoverned spaces that have become ready abodes for criminal gangs. What worries me most is that while we face this existential threat, it is still business as usual for our politicians who are either organizing decampment jamborees to the ruling party or fighting over control of the secretariat by a shrinking opposition party that is as useless in managing defeat as it was in managing victory while in power. Now, their new national chairman is beg- ging President Donald Trump to “come and save democracy in Nigeria”. For him, it is ‘democracy’ that is endangered not the people, including in the Northwest where he hails from. Behaving like the proverbial cabin crew who were busy arranging the deck chairs inside a sinking Titanic, these
politicians are oblivious to the danger we all face.
In their own enlightened interest, our politicians across board must understand that is the time to stand together to fight this common threat to our national survival. But the greater responsibility lies with President Bola Tinubu who must also understand that this is no time to be dancing to some ‘On your mandate we shall stand’ song while criminals kill our citizens in droves. The conversation our politicians should be having is about how to dig our country out of this existential hole that we have found ourselves. To retrieve Nigeria from the plunder of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and sundry criminals, we must collectively declare this war as a clear and present national security emergency.
students were Muslims.
The government’s rebut- tal came amid a flurry of international attention. U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, had seized on the incident to highlight what they described as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.Moore’s post on X echoed the narrative, prompting a swift response from Nigerian authorities, who argued that the bandits responsible for the attack do not target based on religionAccording to the state- ment, security forces have intensified the hunt for the missing girls to ensure their safe rescue.
Kebbi State Government also reminded the public that banditry in the North-west had disproportionately affected Muslim communities, citing recent attacks on mosques in neighbouring Katsina State.
“If these bandits were driven by religious motives, why then do they attack and kill Muslims while praying in mosques?” the statement said.
Kebbi State Government urged lawmakers and the media to verify facts before making public statements that could “distort facts or fuel misunderstanding”.
LG Chair Releases Students’ Names
Chairman of DankoWasagu Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Hussaini Aliyu, also refuted allegations made by US lawmaker Riley Moore that the abduction of 25 schoolgirls occurred in a Christian community.
Aliyu stated that all the girls were Muslims and urged Moore to avoid mak- ing unverified statements that could inflame religious tensions.
Subsequently, the of the schoolgirls andnames their classes were released to clear the air on their faith.
They were:
Senior Secondary School 2A
- Fatima Sani Zimri
- Hafsat Ibrahim
- Nana Firdausi Jibril
- Masauda Yakubu Romo
Senior Secondary School 2B
- Hauwa Saleh
- Hauwau Umar Imam
Senior Secondary School 3A & 3B
- Salima Garba Umar
- Salima Sani Zimri
- Amina G. Umar
- Rashida Muhammad Dingu
- Saliha Umar
- Aisha Usman
- Jamila Iliyasu
- Maryam Illiyasu
- Najaatu Abdullahi
- Zainab Kolo
Junior Secondary School 3A
- Surraya Tukur
- Hafsat Umar Yalmo
- Maryam Usman
- Amina Illiyasu
- Ikilima Suleman
Junior Secondary School 2
- Khadija Nazifi
- Hauwa’u Iliyasu
- Hauwa’u Lawali
- Ummu Kulsum Abdulkarim
Kwankwaso Demands Decisive Action
Former Minister of Defence and leader of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, condemned the worsening insecurity in Nigeria, citing the killing of Uba and abduction of students in Kebbi State.
Writing on X, Kwankwaso said, “The recent surge in inse- curity in Nigeria has reached a level that demanded urgent attention from all authorities, especially the federal govern- ment.”
He described the kidnap- ping of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State as deeply worrying, echoing a disturbing pattern from the recent past.
“The abduction and subsequent killing of Brigadier Gen. M. Uba by terrorists in Borno State is one of the darkest moments in our nation’s fight against terrorism,” he said.
Kwankwaso stated that the shocking intelligence and operational failure demanded an immediate and thorough “Furthermore,investigation. mass kidnap- pings have been reported in Zamfara State, which is truly heartbreaking. I urge the swift rescue of the victims,” he said.
The former governor of Kano State also lamented the
recent surge in bandit attacks across Shanono and Ghari local government areas in Kano State, demanding urgent concern and immediate action.
Kwankwaso stated, “The federal government must fulfil its primary responsibil- ity. These incidents are not isolated; they reveal serious setbacks in the battle against insecurity.”
He called on the authorities to take decisive action by reinvigorating the armed forces and empowering the Nigeria Police to effectively protect and defend the people from all acts of terror.
Bandits Kill Former Councillor, Abduct Others in Sokoto Community
Bandits, midnight Tuesday, stormed the village of Kabunga in Kware Local Government Area of Sokoto State, firing indiscriminately and moving house-to-house.
The assault left at least two people dead, among them a former councillor, Alhaji Yahaya Bawa Rumus, and resulted in several residents being abducted. Witnesses told reporters that the attackers arrived around midnight, creating panic as families woke to find loved ones
“Themissing. entire community is in shock. They killed our former councillor and one other person. Many people were taken. We don’t even know the number yet,” a resident said, describing the incident as “another night of horror” for a region long under siege
As of Wednesday morning, security agencies had not is- sued any official statement, and no reinforcement arrived while the attack was ongoing.
Residents expressed frustra- tion, stating that the govern- ment’s assurances of “being on top of the situation” has done little to stop the weekly killings and abductions.
Trial of Alleged Ansaru Terrorists Stalled
The trial of two leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, at the Federal High Court, Abuja,
was yesterday stalled, due to plea by the defendants’ lawyer for time to prepare the defence of his clients.
The defendants, who were captured by DSS between May and July were alleged to be masterminds of various acts of terrorism across the country.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had scheduled November 19 for commencement of trial. However, when the matter was called, Mr. B. I Bakum, who announced appearance for the two defendants, told the court that the charge and proof of evidence were still with the DSS where the defendants were being remanded on the orders of the court.
The lawyer prayed the court that the two defendants be moved to a correctional centre to enable easy access and ensure prompt and hitch-free trial.
Counsel to DSS, Mr. David Kaswe, an Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, opposed the request for transfer of the defendants to a correctional centre.
Kasawe urged the court to commence trial as scheduled, and added that prosecution’s witnesses were already in court.
While he stated that protocol in DSS required the defen- dants’ lawyer to write to the agency seeking permission to see his clients and also copy him, the prosecution lawyer informed the court that the defence lawyer was yet to do so.
Responding, Nwite, in a brief ruling, granted the request for time to enable the defence lawyer prepare for the case and adjourned till January Meanwhile,15. the court ordered the defendants’ lawyer to always write the DSS for permission to visit his clients and copy the prosecutor.
Usman and Abubakar Abba are being prosecuted for ter- rorism by the DSS. However, while Usman pleaded guilty to Count 10 in the 32-count charge, Abubakar Abba pleaded not guilty to the entire 32-count charge bordering on terrorism.
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Merchants of Death on the Prowl
In confirming the death of the Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in June 2021, the breakaway Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s branch in West Africa (ISWAP) said he “killed himself instantly by detonating an explosive” when offered to repent and join them (ISWAP).
“Shekau preferred to be humiliated in the afterlife than getting humiliated on earth.” But after getting rid of his rival—notorious for the kidnapping of 276 Chibok school girls in April 2014 before several other cases of kidnappings, killings, raping of women and suicide bombing—Abu Musab al-Barnawi (who has also since joined his ancestors) pledged loyalty to a more sophisticated foreign terror network. Despite an initial lull, it is now evident that ISWAP has reopened a new chapter in their campaign against the corporate existence of Nigeria with the execution of the 25 Brigade Commander in Damboa, Borno State last weekend.
I commiserate with the family of the late Brigadier General Musa Uba and the Nigerian army and enjoin authorities in the country to accept that we are witnessing a breakdown of
law and order on an unprecedented scale. In the last few months, there has been a dramatic upsurge in gruesome attacks on civilians as well as members of the armed forces in the Northeast. In the Northwest and Northcentral, gunmen are now everywhere, killing and kidnapping innocent people, especially in rural communities. On Monday, bandits attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, Danko Wasagu area of Kebbi State, killing the Vice-Principal and abducting no fewer than 26 students. And as I write this column, I just received the horrific video of how a church in Eruku, a community in Ekiti local government area of my state (Kwara), was attacked on Tuesday evening by assailants who killed two people and abducted several worshippers.
Across the country today, we are dealing with criminal gangs whose purpose is to kill, rape or maim innocent people without any
provocation or justification. To compound the challenge, we have overstretched the military with the task of internal security while police personnel are saddled with performing guard duties for our very-important-persons (VIPs). In his book, “Man and His Government: An Empirical Theory of Politics”, the late Harvard Professor and one of the greatest scholars in political science, Carl Joachim Friedrich argued that the defense of any community (state) is the primary responsibility of the political authority as wars are won and lost at that level. In war, according to Friedrich, “political and military considerations are intertwined in complex ways, but in the last analysis, the political must and will prevail, even in the military field”. Friedrich had relied on the thesis of his 19th century German compatriot and military strategist, Carl von Clausewitz, generally regarded as the foremost authority on war…
Continued on page 47
NAKED ABUSE: As Prof Ndifon Goes to Jail…
The former Dean of the Law Faculty at the University of Calabar and a central character in my 2020 book, ‘NAKED ABUSE: Sex for Grades in African Universities’, Prof Cyril Ndifon, was on Monday sentenced to five years imprisonment without an option of fine. “It was with dismay that I read through this case that a dean of law can turn himself into a sexual predator”, said Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court while convicting Ndifon on two of the charges which include soliciting nude photographs and videos from a 16-year-old student, as an inducement to consider her for admission to read Law. “The instances of undue advantage (against female students) are so many. The first defendant abused his office.”
I understand the social dysfunction that encourages this misconduct on university campuses. But there should be no place for sexual predation in an environment of learning. Details of the scandal on which justice has now been served to Ndifon are as lurid as the one captured in my book, which involved the Police, the State Security Service (SSS), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), a female student (who alleged that Ndifon sexually abused her), parents of the girl, a prominent NGO, the National
Industrial Court, the Federal High Court, and the local media. While the victim of that sordid episode couldn’t receive justice, I am sure she would feel some justification now that Ndifon is paying for what appears to be a habitual crime.
Unfortunately, the victim in the case on which Ndifon was convicted has now been put in trouble. In the judgement, her name was ‘concealed’ as TKJ (which incidentally are her real initials) but her mobile number was referenced several times. I understand from ICPC sources that the young lady, who is still a student at the University of Calabar, has been receiving abusive calls since the judgement was delivered. By alluding to her through initials and providing her phone number, the lady in question has been placed in harm’s way. I believe our courts can do better in cases like this. Judicial officers, and indeed all law enforcement officers, must bear in mind the harm that can befall witnesses and survivors of sexual harassment cases.
Investigating authorities, judges and the media must remain committed to protecting the privacy and dignity of anyone who reports or provides information about personal issues, especially on incidents relating to sexual harassment. As
it is done in other climes, the identities (which include names and contacts) of complainants and witnesses must be kept confidential throughout the reporting, investigation, and resolution processes. And they should never be disclosed to any person who does not have a legitimate and necessary role in handling the matter. This confidentiality requirement should also apply to all staff, management, consultants, investigators, and affiliated third parties, including judges, as in this instance.
At all times and in all circumstances, complainants and witnesses of cases like this must retain the full right to speak about their experiences, including the right to seek support, advice, advocacy, legal counsel, or any personal or professional assistance without fear of reprisal, whilst also preserving the integrity and fairness of the investigative and judicial process. And no individual should be required to suffer in silence from heinous abuse which disclosures of this nature could trigger. Meanwhile, for the benefit of readers who may want to know more about this Professor, below are excerpts from my book, with the hope that authorities on our campuses will begin to take this problem more seriously.
