Task Ojulari-led company to complete IPO, sustain production growth, boost investor confidence, others Hail Tinubu for selecting a ‘surgical team’ to transform company of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) by President Bola Tinubu and im-
mediately filling it with seasoned oil and gas professionals led by Ahmed Musa Kida and Bayo
Ojulari as Non-executive chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer, respectively, has gotten the endorsement of JP Morgan’s Africa Emerging Markets Research team and has thrown local industry Continued on page 33 stakeholders into an unprecedented
FG, Japan launch strategic venture capital initiative for youth Nigeria, UNIDO sign $175m pact for
jobs, economic transformation Senate: New Investment & Security Act to propel Tinubu’s $1trn economy Says legislation will end ponzi scheme
TINUBU LEAVES FOR PARIS...
L-R: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Senator
and National Security
Continued on page 33
Airport, Abuja, yesterday
Peter Uzoho and Dike Onwuamaeze Yesterday’s dissolution of the board
Abdul’aziz Yari;
Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, during the president’s working visit to France at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International
PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI
Makanjuola, during Senator Lokpobiri’s facility tour of the state-of-the-art Caverton Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Training Centre in Lagos, yesterday
Continued on
Alex Enumah in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has affirmed the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo
Ndubuisi Francis, James Emejo, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Fourth Annual General Meeting of GUARANTY TRUST HOLDING COMPANY PLC (“the Company”) will hold virtually via https://www.gtcoplc.com/gtco-4th-annual-general-meeting, on April 24, 2025, at 10.00 a.m. to transact the following business:
ORDINARY BUSINESS
1. To receive the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the Reports of the Directors, Auditors and Statutory Audit Committee thereon;
2. To declare a dividend;
3. To authorise Directors to fix the remuneration of the Auditors;
4. To disclose the Remuneration of Managers of the Company;
5. To elect Members of the Statutory Audit Committee.
6. “That in compliance with the Rule of the Nigerian Exchange Limited governing transactions with Related Parties or Interested Persons, the Company and its related entities (“The Group”) be and are hereby granted a General Mandate in respect of all recurrent transactions entered into with a related party or interested person provided such transactions are of a revenue or trading nature or are necessary for the Company’s day-to-day operations. This Mandate shall commence on the date on which this resolution is passed and shall continue to operate until the date on which the next Annual General Meeting of the Company is held.
NOTES
1. Dividend
If approved, dividend will be payable on April 24, 2025, at the rate of ₦7.03K per every 50 Kobo ordinary share, to Shareholders whose names appear in the Register of Members at the close of business on April 15, 2025 (bringing total Dividend paid for the 2024 financial year to ₦8.03K). Shareholders who have completed the e-Dividend Mandate Forms will receive a direct credit of the dividend into their bank accounts on the date of the Annual General Meeting. Note however, that holders of the Company’s Global Depository Receipts listed on the London Stock Exchange will receive their dividend payments subsequently.
2. E-Dividend Mandate
Shareholders are kindly requested to update their records and advise Datamax Registrars Limited of their updated records and relevant bank accounts for the payment of their dividends. Detachable forms in respect of mandate for e-dividend payment, unclaimed/stale dividend payment and shareholder data update are attached to the Annual Report for convenience. The aforementioned forms can also be downloaded from the Company’s website at www.gtcoplc.com or from Datamax Registrars Limited’s website at www.datamaxregistrars.com.
The duly completed forms should be returned to Datamax Registrars Limited, at No. 2c, Gbagada Express Road, Gbagada Phase 1, Lagos State, or to the nearest GTBank branch.
3. Voting by Interested Persons
In line with the provisions of Rule 20.8 (h), Rules governing Related Party transactions of the Nigerian Exchange Limited, Interested Persons have undertaken to ensure that their proxies, representative or associates shall abstain from voting on resolution 6 above.
4. Unclaimed Dividend
Shareholders are hereby informed that unclaimed dividends remain in the custody of the Registrars. An Unclaimed Dividend booklet containing the list of all unclaimed dividends will be circulated with the Annual Report and Financial Statements. All Shareholders with unclaimed dividends are advised to revalidate their unclaimed dividends through the e-dividend mandate process either by visiting or writing to the Registrar, Datamax Registrars Limited, No. 2c, Gbagada Express Road, Gbagada Phase 1, Lagos State, or via email to tsu@datamaxregistrars.com.
7. That Non-Executive Directors remuneration for the financial year ending December 31, 2025 and for succeeding years until reviewed by the Company in its Annual General Meeting, be and is hereby fixed at ₦58,000,000.00 (fifty-eight million Naira only) annually for each Director.
PROXY
A member entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote in his/her/its stead. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. For the appointment to be valid, a completed proxy form must be deposited at the office of the Registrar, Datamax Registrars Limited, No. 2c, Gbagada Express Road, Gbagada Phase 1, Lagos State, not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for the meeting. A blank proxy form is attached to the Annual Report. The Company will bear the cost of stamping of all duly completed and signed proxy forms submitted within the stipulated time.
ERHI OBEBEDUO Group General Counsel/ Company Secretary FRC/2017/NBA/00000016024 Plot 635, Akin Adesola Street Victoria Island, Lagos April 2, 2025
5. E-Annual Report
The electronic version of the Annual report is available at www.gtcoplc.com. Shareholders who have provided their email addresses to the Registrars will receive the electronic version of the Annual Report via email. Furthermore, Shareholders who are interested in receiving the electronic version of the Annual Report are kindly required to request via email to annualreports@datamaxregistrars.com.
6. Closure of Register
The Register of Members will be closed on April 16, 2025, to enable the Registrar to prepare for payment of dividend.
7. Statutory Audit Committee
In accordance with section 404(6) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, any shareholder may nominate a shareholder for appointment to the Statutory Audit Committee. Such nomination should be in writing and should reach the Company Secretary at least twenty-one (21) days before the Annual General Meeting.
Kindly note that by virtue of the provisions of the Code of Corporate Governance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, all members of the Statutory Audit Committee should be financially literate and at least one member must be a member of a professional accounting body in Nigeria established by an Act of the National Assembly and be knowledgeable in internal control processes.
In view of the foregoing, nominations to the Statutory Audit Committee should be supported by the Curricula Vitae of the nominees.
8. Shareholders’ Right to Ask Questions
Shareholders reserve the right to ask questions at the Annual General Meeting. Shareholders may also submit questions prior to the Meeting in writing to the Company. Such questions should be addressed to the Company Secretary and reach the Company at its Head Office or by electronic mail at holdcocommunication@gtcoplc.com not later than seven (7) days to the date of the Meeting.
L-R: Chief Financial Officer, IHS Nigeria, Seye Dosunmu; CEO/Executive Secretary, American Business Council, Margaret Olele; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Oluwagbemiga Ayoola Aina; Deputy Political and Economic Chief, US Consulate General, Lagos, Kenise Hill; Managing Director, Citibank, Nneka Enwereji; and Partner, Tax and Regulatory Services, PwC, Chijioke Uwaegbute, during the Economic Update meeting organised by the American Business Council in Lagos… recently
JP Morgan Plans Entry into Nigeria, to Acquire Merchant Bank Licence
Nume Ekeghe with agency reports
JP Morgan is set to expand its footprint in Nigeria by converting its Lagos representative office into a fully operational business branch.
This development was disclosed in a report by Africa Intelligence, which stated that the US banking giant, which had been present in Nigeria since the 1980s, plans to apply for a merchant banking licence from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the coming months.
The report noted: “Present in Lagos since the 1980s, US bank JP Morgan plans to transform its Nigerian representative office into a fully-fledged branch.
“The New York-based financial institution, managed in Nigeria by Dapo Olagunju, will apply to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for a merchant banking licence in the coming months.”
The report noted that JP Morgan declined to comment when contacted.
If successful, the newly structured entity would expand its services to include dollar-denominated loans for large corporations, complementing its existing advisory and asset management operations.
This move aligns with the
broader strategy of JP Morgan and its CEO, Jamie Dimon, to strengthen the bank’s presence across Africa.
In mid-October, Dimon visited Nigeria, where he met with CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso. His African tour also included visits to South Africa, where JP Morgan maintains a subsidiary, and Kenya.
Ahead of this trip, Dimon told Reuters of his ambition to expand the bank’s presence on the continent by “adding a country or two every couple of years.”
Furthermore, in January, JP Morgan executives met with Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, in Abuja.
The engagement, led by Olagunju, was part of a broader initiative to boost investor confidence and highlight Nigeria’s commitment to market-driven reforms.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga, then, the meeting was part of JP Morgan’s ongoing efforts to connect institutional investors with significant holdings in Nigeria’s Eurobonds and local securities.
“The delegation, which included
Tinubu Departs Abuja for Two-week Working Visit
to France
To use period for mid-term appraisal, assess key milestones of his govt
Deji Elumoye
President Bola Tinubu yesterday departed the nation’s capital, Abuja for Paris, France, on a two-week working visit.
During the visit, the President, according to a statement issued by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, would appraise his administration’s mid-term performance and assess key milestones.
He would also use the retreat to review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary.
It noted that “this period of
reflection would inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year.”
“Recent economic strides reinforce the President’s commitment to these efforts, as evidenced by the Central Bank of Nigeria reporting a significant increase in net foreign exchange reserves to $23.11 billion— a testament to the administration’s fiscal reforms since 2023 when net reserves were $3.99 billion.
“While away, President Tinubu will remain fully engaged with his team and continue to oversee governance activities. He will return to Nigeria in about a fortnight,” the statement added.
major investors with significant holdings in Nigeria’s Eurobonds and local securities, was part of an exploratory visit organised by JP Morgan for a diverse group of international institutional investors
seeking insights into the nation’s economic landscape,” the statement read.
It further noted that the meeting underscored Nigeria’s proactive approach to attracting foreign
investment and driving economic growth.
“The engagement with JP Morgan underscores Nigeria’s proactive approach to deepening investor confidence and strengthening
its economic fundamentals. As the country pushes ahead with structural reforms, it is positioning itself as a key investment destination in Africa’s evolving financial landscape,” it had stated.
Adelabu: Tinubu Has Raised Power Generation by 50% in about Two Years
Seeks collaboration with Nigerian engineers on sector’s challenges
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has said that President Bola Tinubu met power generation at 4,000mw, but has raised it to roughly 6,000mw, about 50 per cent increase by a THISDAY estimate.
Adelabu spoke in Abuja during the visit of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), led by its President, Margaret Oguntala, to discuss areas of collaboration between the organisation and the ministry.
The minister called for stronger relationship between the NSE and the Federal Ministry of Power, especially in addressing challenges in the power sector, hinting that as a country with so many engineers, this hasn’t seemed to reflect in resolving Nigeria’s power sector issues.
While reviewing the activities of the federal government since the present administration took over, according to a statement by his spokesman, Bolaji Tunji, noted that it took Nigeria nearly 40 years to increase power from 2000 megawatts in 1984 to 4000 megawatts in 2022.
In less than two years of the present administration, he stated that this has increased to 6003 megawatts, adding that although it is not where the country should be, it shows that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is focused on turning around the power sector.
“In 1984, the country generated 2000 mw of electricity and this was not increased to 4000 mw until about 40 years later, to around 2022 or so. We are about two years old now, but we have been able to increase it to 6,000 megawatts.
“This can be attributed to the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and the realisation of the importance of the sector as a major factor to galvanise the economy”, the minister said.
The discussion further centred on strategic partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and the crucial role
of NSE in providing technical advisory support to the ministry on power-related issues.
According to the minister, considering the number of engineers that the country has produced, Nigeria should have migrated from the engineering-related problems facing the nation, especially in the power sector.
“I want to challenge the body to let your activities impact on the efficiency of the critical infrastructure of the ministry. On this, you must be seen to have lived up to your responsibility. We have so many engineers in Nigeria, yet our power infrastructure is still like this.
“ NSE was established in 1958, that is about 67 years ago and yet we are still having grid collapse, so what are our engineers doing? Should it be like this? The answer is definitely, no,” Adelabu lamented.
He advised the NSE to focus on the challenges besetting infrastructural development, saying that such efforts to develop the country is the way to show patriotism and nationalism.
“It is a slight on us if we cannot address these challenges, so I’m calling on your society to let us work together in addressing Nigeria’s problems, using your expertise.
The ministry does not give jobs out without such a company being a member of your society.
“We are not like any other ministry or government agency, the power sector is unique. So on our part, we are fulfilling our obligations to you but you have not reciprocated this to us,” he told the visiting NSE team.
Adelabu also emphasised the importance of manpower development and training and enjoined the
NSE to take it seriously.
“I also want the NSE to take the issue of training very seriously. The profession needs constant training and retraining. We have a very vibrant training institute, the National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) that you can partner with in this aspect of training.
“ It is unfortunate that the issue of training has been relegated to the background. The last crop of our engineers that were trained were those from the old National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). We must go back to that era of rigorous training of our engineers,” he stressed. In her remarks, the NSE president promised that the body would take up the challenge by the minister and assured of NSE’s commitment to contributing technical expertise towards improving Nigeria’s power sector.
Tinubu, Buhari Mourn Galadiman of Kano, Abbas Sanusi
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari have mourned the senior Kano Emirate official and Galadiman Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi who died at the ripe age of 92.
The President, in a release issued on Wednesday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, expressed grief over the passing of Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, after a protracted illness.
President Tinubu described the deceased, who is survived by many children and grandchildren including the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano stare, Alhaji Abdullahi
Abbas, as a strong pillar of the traditional institution, its survival and development.
The President said the services of the late Sanusi, a titleholder since 1959, would be appreciated far beyond Kano Emirate and Kano State.
He condoled with the government and people of Kano State, the Kano Emirate Council and the family of the late chief for the irreparable loss.
President Tinubu prayed to Allah to admit the Galadima in Jannatul Firdaus and comfort the family.
On his part, former President Buhari said he received with sadness, the news of the death
of Alhaji Sanusi. Reacting to the news of the death, the ex- president said “Kano, indeed the nation has lost a stabilizer and a moderating voice in the rapidly transforming society that Kano is.
“The Galadima was the effective link between the past and the present; an embodiment of institutional memory and traditions who was key to the governance and the administration of the royal palace. Abbas Sanusi is irreplaceable. May his soul rest in peace.”
The former president condoled with the family of the deceased, the Kano Emirate Council and the government, and the people of the state.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
in Abuja
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Arise Honours oluremi Tinubu...
L-R: Wife of the Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Remi Hamzat; Senator Daisy Danjuma; Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, when Dr Sanwo-Olu received the award of Distinguished Politician/Advocate for Women Empowerment on behalf of the first Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu during the celebration of women of Impact at Arise Gala Night in Lagos...Monday,
Trump Blows Up Global Trade with Sweeping Tariffs Impacting 185 Countries
Slams 14% new taxes on Nigeria, 34% on China, 20% on EU President’s decision risks raising inflation, trade wars US Seeks to reduce $1.2 trillion trade imbalance with the world
President Donald Trump yesterday declared a 10 per cent baseline tax on imports from 185 countries and even higher tariff rates on dozens others, including Nigeria, on which he slammed a 14 per cent tariff regime.
In addition, Trump held up a chart while speaking at the White House, showing the United States would charge a 34 per cent tax on imports from China, a 20 per cent tax on imports from the European Union (EU), 25 per cent on South Korea, 24 per cent on Japan and 32 per cent on Taiwan.
Aside from Nigeria, some African countries that will bear the brunt of the new policy include: Algeria (30 per cent); Lesotho (50 per cent); Mauritius (40 per cent); Kenya (10 per cent); Namibia (21 per cent) and Ethiopia as well as Ghana 10 per cent apiece. South Africa was
handed down a reciprocal tariff of 30 per cent.
The president used aggressive rhetoric to describe a global trade system that the United States helped to build after World War II, saying “our country has been looted, pillaged, raped, plundered” by other nations.
Trump declared a national economic emergency to launch the tariffs, expected to produce hundreds of billions in annual revenues. He has promised that factory jobs will return to the United States as a result of the taxes.
THISDAY’s checks showed that in recent years, Nigeria’s exports to the United States have experienced fluctuations. In 2022, exports were valued at approximately $4.9 billion, marking an increase from around $3.6 billion in 2021.
However, in 2023, exports decreased to $4.86 billion. The
primary dominant exports from Nigeria to the U.S. include crude oil and natural gas. In smaller quantities, others include: Cocoa and cocoa products, Sesame seeds, Ginger and spices, Solid Minerals & Metals as well as manufactured & semi-processed goods.
Nigeria also benefits from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants duty-free access for certain exports into the U.S. market. However, crude oil remains the dominant export by far.
But Trump’s policies risk a sudden economic slowdown as consumers and businesses could face sharp price hikes on autos, clothes and other goods, the Associated Press report added.
“Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years,” Trump said in remarks at the White House. “But it is not going to happen anymore,” he added.
Trump was fulfilling a key campaign promise as he imposed what he called “reciprocal” tariffs on trade partners, acting without Congress through the 1977 International Emergency Powers Act in an extraordinary attempt to both break and ultimately reshape America’s trading relationship with the world.
The president’s higher rates would hit foreign entities that sell more goods to the United States than they buy, meaning the tariffs could stay in place for some time as the administration expects other nations to lower their tariffs and other barriers to trade that it says have led to a $1.2 trillion trade imbalance last year.
The tariffs follow similar recent announcements of 25 per cent taxes on auto imports; levies against China, Canada and Mexico; and expanded trade penalties on steel and aluminum. Trump has also imposed tariffs on countries that
Tompolo Congratulates New NNPCL Management
Chairman, Tantita Security Services Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo has commended President Bola Tinubu for the appointment of new management to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as he congratulated the new board members.
Tompolo also promised the unalloyed commitment of his organisation to the continued partnership for the betterment of the country.
The Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation made the call yesterday in a personally signed congratulatory press statement.
According to him, “I, High Chief (Dr.) Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation and Chairman, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL), on behalf of the management and staff of TANTITA, extend my heartfelt congratulations to the newly appointed board members and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), led by the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Chairman Ahmadu Musa Kida, and other members of the new management and board.
“Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) recognises your appointment as a pivotal moment
in the journey of the NNPCL and the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
“We express our profound gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his visionary leadership and commitment to excellence, as demonstrated by the careful selection of seasoned professionals to steer the affairs of the NNPCL at this critical time.
“Indeed, this decision by Mr. President underscores his administration’s dedication to ensuring that only competent hands are entrusted with optimising the vast benefits of our nation’s oil and gas sector.
“The challenges and opportunities before this new management and board are immense, but we are confident in their ability to drive the ongoing restructuring of the NNPCL to greater heights.
“Under their stewardship, we believe that the President’s mandate to ramp up local refining capacity and increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2mbpd in record time will be realised and surpassed.
“As our company has always done, TSSNL remains steadfast in its commitment to partnering with the NNPCL to secure and enhance Nigeria’s oil production capabilities.
“Our expertise in oil asset protection and our deep-rooted presence in the Niger Delta position us as a reliable ally in ensuring that the nation’s resources are safeguarded and utilised efficiently for the col-
lective benefit of all stakeholders.
“We also take this opportunity to assure the new leadership team of our unwavering support in executing their mandate. As a critical player in the security of Nigeria’s oil assets, we stand ready to collaborate and contribute to a more secure and prosperous energy sector that benefits the entire nation and aligns with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“As the newly constituted management and board embark on this critical journey, we urge them to remain focused, innovative, and diligent in delivering on their responsibilities.
“The expectations are high, but with their proven expertise, dedication and support of all critical stakeholders, we are confident that they will lead NNPCL towards a new era of growth and efficiency.
import oil from Venezuela and he plans separate import taxes on pharmaceutical drugs, lumber, copper and computer chips.
None of the warning signs about a falling stock market or consumer sentiment turning morose have caused the administration to publicly second-guess its strategy, despite the risk of political backlash as voters in last year’s election said they wanted Trump to combat inflation.
Tinubu to Nigerians: Stop Discriminating against People Living with Autism
Deji elumoye in Abuja
Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has charged Nigerians to stop discriminating against people living with autism.
In a message issued to mark 2025 World Autism Awareness Day on Wednesday, Mrs Tinubu expressed concern that a lot of people living with autism are still being discriminated about in their places of work and posited that such acts should stop forthwith.
The First Lady in the World Autism Awareness Day message stated, inter alia:
“On this World Autism Awareness Day 2025, I join millions around the world in recognizing and celebrating the incredible potential and skills of individuals living with the Autism Spectrum Disease (ASD). This year’s theme, “Advancing Neurodiversity and
the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” reminds us that being considerate of people living with autism is not just a moral responsibility but a vital pillar of sustainable development.
“Neurodiversity is a beautiful testament to human uniqueness. We all process information differently. Yet, many individuals with autism continue to face discrimination in accessing quality education, healthcare, employment, and social acceptance. As we strive to achieve the SDGs, especially SDG 4 & 8 that covers access to quality education and economic opportunities for all.
“On this special day, I encourage all Nigerians to embrace neurodiversity, advocate for inclusion, and work together to create a society where every individual has the opportunity to excel.
“Happy Autism Awareness Day!”
President Rejoices with Aluko, Adegbulugbe on Their 70th Birthdays
Deji elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has rejoiced with the pioneering Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Otuoke in Bayelsa State, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, on his 70th birthday.
Also, the President felicitated the Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State, Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe, as he marked his 70th birthday yesterday.
The President, in a statement issued yesterday, by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, joined family, friends, and well-wishers in celebrating the professor of chemical engineering and former Chair of the Chemical Engineering Department at Howard
University in Washington, D.C., United States, for his remarkable contributions to education, engineering, democracy, and community development.
Tinubu fondly recalled Aluko’s pivotal role, along with fellow Nigerian exiles in the United States, in the pro-democracy movement and his thoughtful insights on national issues.
Having lived in the United States of America for many years and attained significant professional and academic heights, Aluko returned to Nigeria to contribute to national development.
The President commended him for laying a solid foundation for the Federal University of Otuoke.
Following his vice-chancellorship, Aluko served in Ekiti State as Director-General of the Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD) from 2019 to 2022 and also briefly oversaw the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities. He is now the Infrastructure and Public Utilities Commissioner under Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
As Professor Aluko marked the significant milestone, Tinubu prayed that the Almighty will grant him continued strength, wisdom, and health so that he can continue his invaluable service to the nation and humanity.
Similarly, the President felicitated Adegbulugbe, as he marked his 70th birthday, on April 2.
Tinubu lauded Adegbulugbe for his exemplary achievements and significant contributions to academia, evangelism, business, and philanthropy. Reflecting on their shared experiences, President Tinubu recalled, “In October 2019, I had the privilege of sharing the podium with Professor Adegbulugbe as we received honorary doctorates alongside the Sultan of Sokoto, His Majesty Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. Standing beside such a distinguished intellectual, known for his outstanding dedication and humility, was truly an honour.”
sylvester idowu in Warri
emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
FOR A DIGITALLY-TRANSFORMED ABIA...
Lagos Tourism, NBC to Host Nigeria’s Biggest SMEs’Trade Fair
Targets N5bn sales
The 2025 Lagos Tourism NBC Trade Fair is set to become Nigeria’s largest trade and commerce gathering, with an anticipated N5 billion in sales, over 220 vendors, and an expected 75,000 attendees in three days.
According to a statement, the second edition of the partnership between Naija Brand Chick and Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture focuses on leveraging entertainment to further drive trade. The fair would take place from Friday, April 11, to Sunday, April 13, at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs in the state with different initiatives.
He said, “The essence of tourism lies in buying, selling, and landscape development while boosting the local economy and fostering cultural exchange. Our administration is particular about job creation, poverty reduction, SMEs growth, and bridging inequality, and we aim
to further achieve with initiatives like this.
“This edition is set to be bigger and better, as we have worked tirelessly to refine the experience and maximise impact. Beyond the physical marketplace, we are also introducing an Online Deals Spot to expand accessibility.”
Aregbe stated that the government was actively involved in ensuring that the trade fair arena would be a place where people from different parts of the world can shop right, shop smart, and save costs. He also hinted that potential buyers should expect discounted shopping opportunities.
The CEO of Naija Brand Chick, Nelly Agbogu, also shared her excitement for this year’s edition, highlighting Lagos’ commerce prowess and its role in the success of her trade exhibitions, making strategic marketing solutions easy.
“Lagos provides the perfect landscape for business growth, and this fair is proof that dreams can be actualised with the right support.
“We are excited to create another groundbreaking event that empowers SMEs and transforms
lives. Thanks to the Lagos State Government for its intentional commitment to the growth and development of small businesses.”
“New activities will be integrated into the programme, including business masterclasses, interactive workshops, and financial inclusion initiatives, providing vendors with access to grants and support.
“Beyond business, there will be
The statement noted that, “the Lagos Tourism NBC Trade Fair is raising the bar even higher, with a strong focus on increasing sales, fostering deeper connections between vendors and customers, and solidifying its reputation as a must-attend business event in Nigeria.
guest appearances by influencers and celebrities, cultural and band performances, dance showcases, exciting giveaways, and raffle draws. These are designed to drive sales and boost visibility for participating brands.”
The 2024 edition recorded immense success and countless testimonies from vendors who shared their experiences online and through correspondence. The innovation of the SanwoNaira was the major means of exchange, and the addition of Lagos Corner, which provided small businesses with limited resources the opportunity to participate for free, was a key highlight of the event.
Barau Visits Families of Victims in Uromi Killing, Donates N16m, Reassures of Justice
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, yesterday, visited Bunkure LGA of Kano State to sympathise with the families of the 16 travellers killed in Uromi, Esan North East LGA of Edo State.
Barau met the families of the victims, who hailed from Bunkure, Kibiya, Rano and Garko LGAs, at the At-Taqwa Mosque in the Sabon Fegi area of the Bunkure
Adeyeye Affirms NAFDAC’s Commitment to Fight Fake Products with Technology
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
The Director General of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has said the agency is committed to using technology to fight substandard and falsified products in Nigeria.
The Director General stated this in Awka, Anambra State, during a two-day sensitization and awareness workshop on Greenbook, Traceability Project, and Paediatric Policy, yesterday.
Adeyeye, represented by her Special Assistant, Mr. Gbenga Fajemirokun, said the workshop aims to provide information, sensitize stakeholders, and provide hands-on training to participants.
The workshop featured training on three major technologies launched by
the agency, which can help consumers detect fake products.
They include the NAFDAC Greenbook, Traceability Regulation 2024 and Paediatric Regulation 2024.
She said: “The Agency is poised to use technologies and modern means to mitigate the activities of these counterfeiters. Therefore, the need for sensitization of stakeholders on these technologies is apt.
“We will use this to ensure that the regulator and the regulated are on the same page in combating substandard and falsified medical products.”
During the workshop, participants were taken through the rigours of downloading the applications on their phones and its use to detect substandard and falsified products.
The DG further explained the applicability of the technologies. She
said: “The NAFDAC Greenbook is an online resource for identifying a product’s source, while NAFDAC traceability regulations 2024 provides a legal framework for drugs and related product trade items manufactured, imported, exported, advertised, sold, distributed or used in Nigeria to be identified with a unique identifier created by the brand owner to enable visibility and tracking of the product along the supply chain.
“On the other hand, the NAFDAC Paediatric Regulation 2024 is a special Regulation to address the special needs of our children.”
The event was attended by leaders and members of various professional bodies in the health sector, including the Nigeria Medical Association, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Medical Laboratory Scientists, among others.
LGA.
The senator was joined by the Minister of State of Housing and Urban Development, Hon Yusuf Abdullahi Ata; the Managing Director of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji, and other dignitaries.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, stated that the senator reassured the families of the deceased that the perpetrators would be brought to book.
In addition to the 14 suspects, he said security agents had nabbed two more persons in connection
with the killing of the travellers. He announced the donation of N1m to each of the families of the 16 killed, totalling N16m.
The Deputy President of the Senate said he would sponsor a motion on the matter when the Senate resumes later this month.
“I’m here to sympathise with you over the tragic incident that led to the death of 16 of our brothers last Thursday. May Allah grant them Jannatul Firdaus and quicken the recovery of those injured.
“The state governor, who visited my house in Abuja, has assured me that the state government will support you. We will not take it lightly. We will ensure that the culprits are brought to book and face the wrath of the law,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the families, the Chief Imam of the area, Sheikh Zainul Abidina Auwal, thanked Barau for his efforts in ensuring justice and described him as the leader needed for the country’s development.
“I was worried when the incident happened. I had to call the state governor, security agencies and all stakeholders involved. They swung into action, and so far apart from the 14 people who have been arrested, two more suspects have been nabbed.
Women Group Unveils Programme to Boost Security, Empower 48,000 Persons in Katsina
The Women Initiative for Northern Nigerian Development (WINNDEV) has unveiled a Neighborhood Committee Network (NCN) to boost security and empower 48,000 people across 16 local government areas in Katsina State.
The NCN, according to WINNDEV, is a grassroots movement that seeks to empower neighborhoods at various communities and villages as part of its efforts to enable communities to take ownership of their development, safety and well-being.
Unveiling the programme at a news conference in Katsina
Wednesday, the WINNDEV National Coordinator, Zainab Mohammed Sada, said it would enhance community development and social cohesion.
She said the programme would be implemented in the 16 local governments of Katsina, Jibia, Funtua, Daura, Dutsinma, Kaita, Bakori, Danmusa, Rimi, Safana, Batagarawa, Kurfi, Kankara, Musawa, Charanchi, Kankia and Batsari.
She explained that in each of the 16 local governments, 3,000 women, youths and the less privileged, totaling 48,000, would be trained and empowered with relevant security and entrepreneurial
skills to be self-sufficient.
Sada reiterated that the Neighborhood Committee Network would serve as a viable platform for citizens to come together, share ideals and work collectively towards common goals for peace and development to thrive.
“We shall establish a national secretariat as part of plans to develop a robust training programme, foster partnership with governmental agencies, NGOs and private sector organisations.
“Our goal is to build stronger and more resilient communities that are better equipped to withstand challenges and seize opportunities at any given time”, she added.
Francis Sardauna in Katsina
L-R: Olusola Teniola, Director, Strategic Business Initiatives, ipNX; Joy Eholor, Regional Sales Head, East, ipNX Business Division; Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, Executive Governor, Abia State; Ejovi Aror, Group Managing Director, ipNX; and Gerald Ilukwe, Chief Information Officer, Abia State government, at the kick-off event of the Abia State Internet, Wide Area Network & Managed Network Services Project… recently
Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
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Orutugu: Police Poised to Avert Any Crisis During Anambra’s Guber Poll
anambra state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, in this interview speaks about the new found peace in the state, but insists that under his watch, the command won’t tolerate any political crisis especially during the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state. David-Chyddy Eleke brings excerpts:
We noticed there have been relative peace in Anambra since you came on board over a month ago. Did you adopt any strategy?
There is no special strategy, there may be a pattern of action that is determined by the challenge at hand, but definitely not a strategy. If that is what you call a strategy, then fine, but I cannot say there is a strategy we have evolved to treat all cases. We just take each case with the challenge they come with. We came into Anambra State with the proper knowledge of the feeling of Anambra people, and we know that Anambra people have gone through a lot and do not want to continue with this kind of insecurity.
When I came here, I asked myself are Anambra people happy the way they are and I felt they are not. There is no way they will be happy. This is not the Anambra that is known all over the world, especially for their ingenuity in business and any field of life.
So I said to myself, why won’t they enjoy their game? Anambra people have a right to self fulfillment and Anambra people deserve to enjoy peace, and I know that the people are tired of the bloodletting in their state, and grace has paved way for me to operate here.
The peace we have today is not by my might, but the grace of God and support of sister agencies like the army, DSS , civil defence, Navy, etc. So if you talk about any form of strategy, then I will say there is no conceived strategy. I’m proud to say that since I arrived this state, not a bullet has been shot at the police and none has been shot at criminals. So I want to thank even the criminals for all the peace they have given us. Any how you want to look at it, we have to even thank the IPOB people because they have remained on their lane since I came here, so we must thank them. I don’t want to see them as criminals. As long as they remain on their lane, I have no problem with them. But I want to say that I will revenge any touch on any police officer in this command as far as I’m here. They should remain the way they are and let us remain as we are, so that we can all move on the part of development.
How will you have development when you harass and kidnap construction workers who are coming to bring development in your community? Look at the sit at home thing, Anambra which is the pride of Nigeria in business, through where the people have become so rich, even though it has no known mineral resources like other states, but they have continued to top the chart in wealth through internally generated revenue, but here people want to deny the Anambra man the opportunity to come out on Monday after resting over the weekend, then you must know that they are invoking poverty on themselves. Let Anambra people know that if they obey sit at home, they are invoking poverty on themselves. That is why government, in collaboration with the police are doing all that we can to ensure the safety of the people. Why can you tell the people to stay at home because of your political stand? There are better ways to go about agitations, not suffering your own people. If you kill 10 police officers here, majority of them are either from the South East or even from Anambra, so you are killing your own people. If they burn police station, I doubt if the federal government will wake up one morning and leave every project it has, to allocate money for the reconstruction of burnt police stations. So it is still money that the state would have put into other things that they now spend to do these things. They should think of more better ways and maybe one day, their demands may come to pass. But if you think you will make such demands through killing of security officers, then it may not work. That is why we are continually
pleading with the youths to continue to keep the peace, and if they don’t, then we will engage them.
You inherited problems when you came here, and I want you to speak about the children who were killed and stuffed in a freezer in Nnewi, and the lawmaker whose killers escaped. What have you done about that so far?
I said we will get them, but you must know that those crimes happened before I came here. I was not even aware of the killing of the lawmaker, because it happened before I came here and took over. It was when I heard of the escape of some suspects that I started asking questions to know the circumstances under which they escaped and was told they were people who were involved in the kidnap and eventual killing of the lawmaker, Hon
Justice Azuka. There are certain things I do not have the authority to comment on. I was not even told of the case and it was not handed to me. If you come into an office and you were not handed over all the assets and liabilities of that office, you can not claim what you don’t know of or was not given. I came in and heard of it and started making inquiries. At this point, I want to plead with the media, that whatever they are writing about security in Anambra State should be from February 10, 2025 when I took over this office. I cannot inherit the liability of other people. I can tell you that since I came here, the men and officers of the command have been gingered. I know that Anambra people support what we are doing, and we have been working to ensure that the state is secured. We will continue to work and ensure this and we are hopeful that we will keep the state safe like this for three months before we will come out and celebrate.
We will not tolerate crisis that will engulf Anambra state. I’m myself a product of crisis, I’m an ijaw man from Bayelsa state. With due respect, I want to say that there is no crisis going on here that Bayelsa has not tasted. In fact, there is no crisis going on here. nothing is new to me and nothing agitates me. so, I want to say that even if the election is coming up tomorrow, we are ready for it, and I can only say that those who will get trouble from us are those who want to give trouble to Anambra, but those who want peace will reap peace.
Anambra communities appear to have too many crisis, be it land or leadership tussle. What is the command doing in this regard?
It is in human nature to have crisis. There are crises in Anambra communities, even in my own community in Bayelsa where I come from, there are also crises. Even God knows that human nature is full of crisis and acknowledges so.
Most times, people attribute insecurity to happenings around political circles, especially as many politicians have loyalists.
It’s an election year in Anambra and very soon, politics will begin to heat up. What is your promise to the state as they get ready for the election?
I want to be frank. It took me two weeks after arriving in Anambra for me to know that this is an election year for the state. I came here without that knowledge. I only came here with one thing in mind, and that is to tackle the insecurity that the state has been witnessing. I’m a very pragmatic person and I tackle issues as they come. As for election, I want to tell you that election is for politicians, and police is for tackling insecurity. I will only say that we hope that politicians will conduct themselves well during the election, and we will not have any problem with them. We will not tolerate crisis that will engulf Anambra state. I’m myself a product of crisis, I’m an ijaw man from Bayelsa State. With due respect, I want to say that there is no crisis going on here that Bayelsa has not tasted. In fact, there is no crisis going on here. Nothing is new to me and nothing agitates me. So, I want to say that even if the election is coming up tomorrow, we are ready for it, and I can only say that those who will get trouble from us are those who want to give trouble to Anambra, but those who want peace will reap peace.
orutugu
THE SENATE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON INCESSANT CRUDE OIL THEFT
PUBLIC HEARING
(CALL FOR MEMORANDA)
The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Incessant Crude Oil Theft wishes to invite all stakeholders and the general public to a 2-day public hearing on:
INVESTIGATING THE INCESSANT AND NEFARIOUS ACTS OF CRUDE OIL THEF T IN THE NIGER DELTA AND THE ACTORS
The public hearing is scheduled to hold as follows:
Date: Monday, 28 – Tuesday, 29 April, 2025 th th
Venue: Senate Conference Room 022, Senate New Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Time: 10.00 a.m. on Monday & 2:00pm on Tuesday
Share your experiences and insights on:
i. Oil Theft and Bunkering;
ii. Pipeline Vandalism;
iii. Crude Oil and Natural Gas lifting;
iv. Crude Oil Metering;
v. Possible gaps in regulating and strengthening the Surveillance and monitoring Structures in the Petroleum Industry; and vi. Any other relevant information.
Thirty-ve (35) hard copies and a soft copy Room 2.2 (White each of the Memoranda should be submitted to the Committee Secretariat in st House, Senate) Monday, 21 April, 2025. on or before
The following stakeholders and institutions are hereby requested to take note:
1. Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources;
2. Federal Ministry of Finance;
3. Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment;
4. Ministry of Finance Incorporated;
5. Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL);
30. All Communities Hosting Oil and Gas Pipelines;
31. The General Public.
For further inquiries, please contact the Committee's Secretariat on 08033547156 or senateadhoccrudeoiltheft@gmail.com
NOTE: ANY INFORMATION ON ILLEGAL OIL BUNKERING ACTIVITIES FROM THE PUBLIC WILL BE APPRECIATED AND REWARDED. PLEASE CONTACT OUR HOTLINE OR EMAIL
ANNOUNCER: Senator Ned Munir Nwoko Chairman
Fighting Food Insecurity: Glo Foundation’s Lifeline to Lagos Communities
Food insecurity remains a pressing challenge in Nigeria, with millions of families struggling to afford basic necessities. In response to this crisis, Glo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of telecoms giant Globacom, has launched a nationwide Food Drive initiative to provide relief to vulnerable communities. In partnership with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, the foundation recently distributed food and essential household items to thousands of residents in Ilaje, Bariga, and Ikota communities in Lagos. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that this initiative, which aims to alleviate hunger and support struggling families, has been met with overwhelming appreciation, as beneficiaries shared stories of hardship and gratitude
The rising cost of living in Nigeria has left many families struggling to afford basic necessities. Inflation, economic downturns, and unemployment have compounded the situation, making food insecurity a critical issue. In recent years, corporate organisations have been stepping in to provide relief where possible.
Therefore, it was a heartwarming display of corporate social responsibility where thousands of vulnerable families across Lagos State recently benefited from the Food Drive initiative of Glo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of telecoms giant Globacom.
The initiative, which was aimed at alleviating food insecurity in Nigeria, commenced in Ilaje community, Bariga, before extending to Ikota, Ajah, bringing hope and relief to thousands of underprivileged residents.
A Lifeline to Ilaje Community
The first leg of the food distribution exercise took place at Love Lagos Jetty in Bariga, where thousands of residents, primarily women, gathered in anticipation. In partnership with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, Glo Foundation distributed food packages containing rice, garri, spaghetti, noodles, tomato paste, toothbrushes, sardines, salt, vegetable oil, and seasoning cubes.
The atmosphere was one of sheer joy, as beneficiaries sang and danced in appreciation. Many of them saw the intervention as an answer to their prayers in these difficult economic times.
Speaking at the event, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Globacom, Jumobi Mofe-Damijo, reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting disadvantaged communities. She noted that the Food Drive initiative was just the beginning of a series of interventions aimed at empowering the underprivileged across Nigeria.
“This food drive is part of our commitment to bringing joy to families and providing relief to those who need it the most,” she stated. “We will continue to expand this initiative to other parts of the country as part of our broader vision of empowerment and community development.”
She also praised Globacom employees who
volunteered their time to assist in the distribution, underscoring the importance of fostering a culture of giving.
Beneficiaries Speak: ‘This is a Divine Provision’
For many of the recipients, the food packages were more than just material support—they were a lifeline.
Abiola Oladunjoye, an unemployed woman, expressed deep gratitude for the unexpected help. “I really appreciate this. May the Almighty continue to protect the company and may it continue to grow. I pray for more success for you all and the company itself for remembering us here,” she said.
Amarachi Peter, a cook, also expressed her appreciation. “This is a great relief, especially now that the cost of living is so high. I can’t thank Glo Foundation enough for bringing this initiative to our community.”
Eunice Kehinde, a hairdresser struggling to make ends meet, was equally thankful. “It is not easy for my family to feed these days. With this food pack from Glo, we are sure of what to eat for some weeks,” she remarked.
Lagos Food Bank Applauds Globacom
The Executive Director of Lagos Food Bank Initiative, Michael Sunbola, commended Glo Foundation for its generous contribution and urged other corporate bodies to take similar steps.
“We are happy to collaborate with Globacom on this initiative,” he said. “This is the pilot phase, and we are excited that other parts of the country will also benefit. It is important that more organisations join in this fight against hunger and food insecurity.”
With the successful execution in Bariga, the Food Drive train moved to another community in Lagos—Ikota—where
thousands more families received much-needed assistance.
Extending Relief to Ikota Community
Two weeks after the intervention in Bariga, the Food Drive continued in Ikota, another underserved area of Lagos. The New Generation Baptist School, where the distribution took place, was filled with eager beneficiaries as early as 7 a.m., hopeful to receive their share of the relief packages.
Once again, Globacom and Lagos Food Bank Initiative joined forces to ensure the smooth execution of the project.
The sense of anticipation quickly gave way to celebration as the beneficiaries received their packages, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Glo Foundation for remembering them.
Welcoming the beneficiaries, Jumobi Mofe-Damijo reaffirmed the company’s commitment to alleviating food insecurity in Nigeria.
“Giving brings joy and smiles to the faces of the beneficiaries as we have seen here today,” she said. “It also makes us happy that we are able to do something to touch the lives of others in a highly interdependent world. The Foundation is working on other projects that will impact various segments across the country.”
Gratitude and Joy from Beneficiaries
As was the case in Bariga, the recipients in Ikota could not hide their excitement. The relief they felt was evident as they danced and cheered in appreciation of the gesture.
Christina Itoro, a POS operator originally from Akwa Ibom, was thrilled when she opened her food package.
“When I opened the carton and saw the content, I was so excited. May God bless the company and the staff,” she said.
For Godwin Mary, a kunu drink seller from Benue State, the intervention could not have come at a better time. “My business has been struggling lately, and
this food package is a huge relief. I sincerely thank Globacom for remembering us.” Sarah Oliseh, a housewife, echoed similar sentiments. “I am very happy and so excited getting this from Globacom. It will definitely go a long way to help me and my family,” she said.
A Call for More Collaborations
As the Food Drive initiative moves to other parts of Nigeria, it highlights the importance of sustained corporate involvement in social welfare. The partnership between Glo Foundation and Lagos Food Bank Initiative serves as a model for how businesses can collaborate with non-profits to effect meaningful change. Michael Sunbola, Executive Director of Lagos Food Bank Initiative, reinforced the need for more partnerships in the fight against food insecurity.
“This initiative demonstrates that corporations can play a significant role in social development,” he said. “We urge more organisations to step in and contribute towards tackling hunger and poverty in our communities.”
What’s Next for Glo Foundation?
With successful outings in Bariga and Ikota, Glo Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its reach. The Food Drive initiative is expected to extend to other states, ensuring that thousands more Nigerians benefit from the programme.
Jumobi Mofe-Damijo has assured that the initiative is only one aspect of the Foundation’s broader plans. “We are looking at other intervention projects across different sectors that will continue to impact lives positively. Our goal is to make a meaningful difference in communities across Nigeria,” she stated.
Essentially, Glo Foundation’s Food Drive initiative is more than just a corporate responsibility project—it is a life-changing intervention for many families facing the harsh realities of food insecurity. Through strategic partnerships and a commitment to giving back, the Foundation is setting a precedent for corporate-led humanitarian efforts in Nigeria.
The Glo Foundation sharing love and feeding lives
Beneficiaries from Ilaje, Bariga community
Beneficiaries from Iliya, Ajah community
HealtH & lifestyle
How Lagos State, Lafarge Africa Plc is Engendering Sustainable Solid Waste Management
Effective waste management is a critical challenge for rapidly growing cities like Lagos. To address this, Lafarge Africa Plc has partnered the Lagos State Government to enhance solid waste management through sustainable solutions. This collaboration aims to reduce landfill waste, promote waste-to-energy initiatives, and support Lagos’ vision of a cleaner, greener city. Esther Oluku reports
As urbanisation accelerates, waste management remains a pressing challenge for cities like Lagos.
In response, Lafarge Africa Plc has partnered the Lagos State Government to implement sustainable waste management solutions.
This collaboration aims to reduce landfill waste, promote waste-to-energy initiatives, and support Lagos’ vision of a cleaner, more environmentally friendly city. Through innovative approaches and strategic partnerships, the initiative reinforces Lafarge Africa’s commitment to sustainability and climate action.
Essentially, Lafarge Africa continues to take significant steps towards a cleaner, more sustainable future, collaborating with diverse stakeholders to achieve meaningful and lasting impact. The company has over the years leveraged the expertise, resources, and networks of various organisations, including government bodies, non-profit organisations, research institutions, local communities, and industry associations. A collective approach that allows for a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced and facilitates the development and implementation of innovative solutions.
Strategic Partnership with Lagos State Government
Recently, Lafarge Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding on solid waste management with the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources for the collection of non-recyclable combustible waste around the state and landfill sites.
A partnership the Managing Director of Lafarge Africa Plc, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, described as a unique opportunity that “will strengthen the firm’s leadership in sustainable construction and climate action and allow both parties to make meaningful contributions to sustainable waste management in Nigeria.”
Addressing Lagos’ Waste Management Challenges
According to a 2024 report by Punch Newspaper, Lagos produces approximately 13,000–15,000 metric tonnes of solid waste, equivalent to approximately 490 trailers per day, a task that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the agency saddled with the collection and disposal of municipal and industrial waste in the state, has managed effectively. Although informal settlements and poor waste disposal practices continue to exacerbate the issues.
This makes the intervention of Lafarge Africa timely and pivotal, a view buttressed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who highlighted the development as a landmark milestone that “will enable Lafarge Africa to support the state’s vision of a cleaner Lagos in line with the Lagos Waste Management Authority’s ambitious zero waste to landfill objective.”
Lafarge Africa’s Commitment to Sustainability
Lafarge Africa has been at the forefront of sustainability in its operations, a feat that has positioned the innovative cement company as a leader in sustainable solutions. It continues to seek out opportunities for collaboration across sectors, both public and private, in order to push innovation and diminish negative impacts resulting from its operations while shaping a greener future.
From launching Nigeria’s first green depot and electric truck fleet to launching innovative
products like the Eco Label cement brand, offering high-performance, sustainable, and circular construction materials for customers, thereby enabling them to contribute to the country’s carbon reduction goals, the company continues to demonstrate its commitment to reducing emissions and building a greener future.
Geocycle: Driving a Zero-Waste Future
The company has been able to thrive on its sustainability journey many thanks to its waste management arm, Geocycle, Nigeria’s first full-fledged professional waste management service provider. Geocycle handles waste from a variety of waste-generation sectors, including production, FMCG, and manufacturing, in a safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly manner.
Through this, Geocycle is working towards attaining A Zero-Waste Future and the global goal of Zero Waste to Landfill and Waste-to-Energy (WtE) as the company collects waste and converts it to the energy required to fire the kiln for cement production.
So, it was no surprise during the signing of the MOU that AladeAkinyemi, explaining that Lafarge intends to collect non-recyclable and combustible waste and divert it to the Ewekoro Plant as an alternative fuel for production, confidently said, “All of these will be powered by Geocycle, our waste management arm.”
This collaboration aims to reduce landfill waste, promote waste-to-energy initiatives, and support Lagos’ vision of a cleaner, more environmentally friendly city. Through innovative approaches and strategic partnerships, the initiative reinforces Lafarge Africa’s commitment to sustainability and climate action
Environmental and Economic Impact
The extension of the company’s sustainable expertise to Lagos affirms its successful deployment of waste-to-energy solutions globally, which is inherent in its operations and embedded in its DNA. As a leader in building solutions and a responsible corporate citizen, the company recognises that managing waste effectively is critical to environmental stewardship, community well-being, and long-term economic development.
The initiative poses a broader environmental impact beyond the immediate advantages to Lafarge Africa and Lagos State because the waste sourced through the partnership will be utilised as an alternative fuel in the company’s cement kilns, replacing fossil fuels and reducing carbon footprint, which results in a huge contribution to Nigeria’s decarbonisation journey.
Strengthening
Industry Collaborations
Through the years, Lafarge Africa has partnered with various organisations across different sectors, thereby strengthening its leadership in sustainable construction and climate action.
One of such is with Nestlé Nigeria Plc to reduce emissions by 2030 and ultimately attain net-zero by 2050. Another is in the oil and gas industry, a collaboration with Chevron Nigeria to address urban waste management challenges with the inauguration of a new Alternative Fuel and Raw Material (AFR) platform at its Mfamosing plant in Cross River State.
The successes recorded in these various partnerships have been remarkable, hence, the confidence that the new venture with Lagos State Government will bring about a positive turnaround as expressed by the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, “With this collaboration, we are setting a new precedence on how municipal solid waste is processed and repurposed.”
With the partnership, landfills like this will reduce
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E-FRAUD AND DIGITAL BANKING SECURITY
E-fraud is a growing challenge, but digital banking remains an invaluable tool for financial inclusion and economic growth, argues TOPE FASORANTI
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The Senate ought to have treated the proposal to immortalise the late national electoral commission chairman differently, argues MONDAY PHILIPS EKPE
WHY NOT HUMPHREY NWOSU, PLEASE!
The Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) which conducted the outstanding presidential election of June 12, 1993, the late Professor Humphrey Nwosu, was buried last week. It’s no longer news that hours before then, the Nigerian Senate threw out a motion that sought to perpetuate him. Sponsored by senators predominantly from the south-east region, it had three key entreaties namely, renaming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after him; bestowing a national honour on him; and officially paying condolences to his family members while also recognising their own sacrifices to support him. Humble requests by some accounts.
NIGERIA’S TUBERCULOSIS MORTALITY
BASHIR ALIYU writes that though TB remains a scourge, the mortality rate has dropped significantly
See page 21 See page 21
EDITORIAL ILLICIT TRADE IN PANGOLIN SCALES
The arguments surrounding the move weren’t unexpected, after all. Let’s replay some, four from each side of the table. Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe who led the proposition didn’t mince words: “His courageous defence of the democratic electoral process during the 1993 presidential elections led to the famous June 12, which ultimately confirmed Alhaji M.K.O Abiola as the winner of the election…. He stood his ground, ensuring that Nigeria’s electoral wishes and aspirations were realised, which culminated in June 12 being marked as the authentic Democracy Day due to his unwavering stand as an umpire…”.
Senator Victor Umeh: “When a man leaves this world, his departure should be marked. Professor Nwosu was not just an ordinary person in Nigeria, he was chairman of NEC under the military regime. He revived Nigeria and put in place a democratic structure successfully using his designed A4 voting system…. He was summoned by the military government and was asked to postpone the election or stop it. He said no. He conducted the exercise and started announcing the result. He was about to announce Taraba State when the military stopped him.” Surely, recollections of that election will not end anytime soon.
Senator Osita Ngwu: “Whether we’re in support or against, Professor Nwosu will be buried tomorrow. Ibrahim Babangida held an event recently and everybody attended. If Nwosu was alive today and held a colloquium, everybody would still go there…. There was no way he could have announced the result with gun on his head.”
Truly, downplaying the lethal atmosphere of that period especially for the leading players is, put mildly, disingenuous.
Senator Tony Nwoye: “Despite the threats by the military cabal, he went ahead to announce the election. It is very disappointing that some of us are distorting facts because Nwosu is an Igbo man.” Of course, that debate couldn’t have ended without the ethnic card. And Nwoye wasn’t alone. Millions of Nigerians do not think otherwise about his conclusion. I threw up that hypothesis in my master’s degree class last week and received the same response.
The lawmakers who carried the day didn’t lack enough arsenal either. Senator Adams Oshiomhole, one of the compelling orators on the floor, didn’t disappoint. As he put
it, “Nigerians were really in pain because nobody was able to quote where Professor Nwosu announced the result. I was an activist in that struggle. If Prof Nwosu had the courage to announce the result, he could have saved history. Professor Nwosu and Babangida fooled Nigerians who voted during the election. If he was afraid of the gun, there were Nigerians who were protesting under the gun…. He cannot be rewarded.” Such numbing verdict!
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim: “It is a vulnerability of democracy that is before us this morning because the professor didn’t have the courage to announce the election. (Professor Attahiru) Jega had the courage to face (President Goodluck) Jonathan that he didn’t win the election and declared (President Muhammadu) Buhari the winner. He didn’t die and nothing happened…. I wish Professor Humphrey Nwosu a journey of mercy but the Senate should run away from naming him.” Hey, putting two wildly dissimilar eras on the same pedestal and comparing despotic, redeyed soldiers with a forbearing Jonathan is most unfortunate, quite frankly.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi: “Conscience is an open wound and only the truth can heal it…. Nobody rewards effort. We thank everything that Humphrey Nwosu did but one thing that is lacking is the result. He only made efforts and as long as he did not announce the result, he cannot be called a hero.” Who would tell Fasuyi that a student doesn’t need to score 100 percent to be awarded an A? It's for the same reason that “excellent” rather than “perfect” is usually the apex remark in examination results. That opening quotation from Sheikh Utman Dan Fodio, therefore, has fallen flat here.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan: “As a result of the action of Professor Humphrey Nwosu, I lost my immediate younger brother. He died right in front of me because Nwosu failed to do his duty. He released the result but failed at the critical moment. If he’s too cowardly to withdraw at the critical moment, he does not
deserve to be immortalised. I’m not speaking along the line of ethnicity but I’m speaking as a Nigerian.” Sorry for your bereavement, sir, but the cause-effect phenomenon isn’t always easy to prove. Yes, Nigeria lost numerous things as citizens, homes, corporate organisations and a geo-political entity. It was indeed an unprecedented period many would wish forgotten. Yet, we must rise above personal pains to do what’s right.
But that hasn’t been easy. Chinua Achebe’s celebrated collection of short stories, Girls at War, contains a character described as habitually telling “fictitious stories of heroism”. Also, a Hollywood award-winning film, Crocodile Dundee, features a lead actor whose familiar pastime is to regale people with narrations of his adventures and exploits. An actress in the movie observes, however, that, over time, the tales “get better and better”. Some embellishment here and there bordering on hyperbole and outright falsehood. This is what I’ve noticed about that exceptional presidential poll when persons speak of their own roles in it. You would think that the masses who voted overwhelmingly oblivious of ethnic, regional and religious sentiments for Abiola never mattered in the scheme of things. That election has a confirmed place in Nigeria’s chequered history as its fairest and freest, thankfully. After over two decades of describing Chief Mohood Abiola as the “presumed” winner, President Muhammadu Buhari changed that status to a gazetted one, albeit belatedly and posthumously. And not to leave anyone in doubt about his seriousness, he moved Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12. The former president was then in the heat of his quest for second term and he desperately needed to secure the goodwill of a section of the country. Some people have questioned his real motive for the shift on that ground. I’ll look closer at June 12 soon.
On a final note, Abiola who fled the country in the midst of that tension with his popular adage that “nobody stands in front of a moving train” has since been awarded the nation’s highest honour, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, his running mate, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), and more honours. Even General Ibrahim Babangida, the self-styled military president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces who watched helplessly, by his own recent revelation, as Abacha led the annulment gang that did the damage is still a member of the Council of State. With due respect to Nigerians who have received government recognition in various forms, many others whose contributions can’t pass any meaningful test have also been equally honoured. So, what sort of cowardice did Nwosu exhibit, considering the circumstances at the time, that has denied him these modest requests? Perhaps, his own day is ahead. Perhaps.
Dr Ekpe is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board
E-fraud is a growing challenge, but digital banking remains an invaluable tool for financial inclusion and economic growth, argues TOPE FASORANTI
E-FRAUD AND DIGITAL BANKING SECURITY
Temilayo, a petty trader, has vowed never to use electronic banking channels for fear of being defrauded. Amaka, a secondary school teacher, would rather endure the inconvenience of visiting a bank branch than embrace the ease of digital banking. Her fears have only deepened over the past year, with alarming reports such as the N44 billion fraud and the hacking of over 1,000 accounts in two of the FUGAZ banks. There was also the N21.2 billion loss suffered by a Fintech due to a so-called ‘technical glitch.’
Electronic fraud (e-fraud) in Nigeria targets both institutions and individuals using increasingly sophisticated methods. With POS (point-ofsale) transactions reaching N18 trillion and total electronic transactions hitting an all-time high of N1.08 quadrillion in 2024, fraud attempts are only expected to rise.
Does this mean electronic banking is a curse? It may feel that way at times, but nothing good comes without risks. Water is essential for life, yet people have drowned from drinking too much. Airplanes offer convenience, yet crashes still occur. In the same vein, we cannot disregard the immense benefits of electronic banking simply because of fraud. Instead, we must continuously review, refine, and enhance our platforms, processes, and products to improve security.
This article explores electronic fraud and how we can use digital banking solutions safely, efficiently, and appropriately.
With solutions such as instant merchant settlements and near real-time transfers, Nigeria’s payment system ranks among the most advanced globally. According to ACI’s Prime Time for Real-Time report, Nigeria leads Africa in real-time payments and is among the top 10 worldwide.
The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) reported that the value of electronic transactions surged to N1.08 quadrillion in 2024, an 80% increase from N600 trillion in 2023. Nigeria boasts a wide range of digital banking solutions, including mobile, internet, USSD, and chat banking, as well as payment gateways with multiple options such as card payments, wallets, transfers, e-mandates, QR codes, USSD, phone numbers, and payby-link services. POS terminals and agency banking further expand access.
These diverse electronic channels offer convenience and flexibility, allowing users to choose solutions that fit their lifestyles. However, they have also created multiple entry points for fraudsters.
Total fraud losses recorded by Nigerian banks in 2024 stood at N52.26 billion from over 70,000 transactions, according to a Nairametrics report citing data from the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS). This represents a staggering 4.5fold increase from the N11.61 billion lost during the same period in 2023, with the majority of these fraud cases originating from electronic channels.
Fraud targeting financial institutions is often facilitated by insider collusion, while fraud against individuals primarily succeeds due to user negligence or lack of awareness. In most cases, fraudsters manipulate individuals into revealing their security credentials through social engineering tactics, including scam calls, deceptive messages, malware, and fake websites. Transaction authorisation in Nigeria typically relies on one or more authentication methods—such as PINs, passwords, passcodes, tokens, OTPs, fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans. However, nearly all successful fraud attempts occur when users unknowingly provide fraudsters with access to their accounts. According to the Check Point Software Technologies Global Threat Index, Nigeria remains a significant target for cybercriminals, ranking 11th globally for malware attacks in January 2025.
Institutional fraud, on the other hand, is primarily driven by deliberate actions of employees seeking to exploit internal vulnerabilities. In nearly every major institutional fraud case, at least one insider is involved, making internal fraud prevention
more challenging. The traditional maker-checker protocol is no longer sufficient to safeguard financial institutions, necessitating more advanced fraud detection and prevention measures.
Electronic banking offers convenience and flexibility, but staying safe is essential. Here are some key practices to protect yourself:
One, choose a reputable financial institution that operates with integrity and is well-regulated.
Two, use banking channels that align with your lifestyle and security needs.
Three, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for high-value transactions, unless you use biometric authentication.
Four, never disclose your security information— including PINs, passwords, and OTPs—to anyone, regardless of how much you trust them.
Five, memorise your security credentials rather than writing them down.
Six, be cautious of unsolicited requests for sensitive details. Your bank will never ask for your PIN or password. If in doubt, visit a branch or call the official customer service line.
Seven, report lost or stolen devices immediately and request a ‘no-debit’ status on your account while investigating the issue.
Eight, avoid using public Wi-Fi and charging ports when accessing financial applications.
Beyond individual responsibility, financial institutions, regulators, and other stakeholders in the digital finance ecosystem must continuously enhance security measures to combat e-fraud. Financial institutions should strengthen user authentication by leveraging biometric technology while integrating fraud detection tools that analyse transaction patterns, user behaviour, typing speed, IP addresses, and other risk indicators. They must also implement advanced AI-driven cybersecurity measures to improve fraud prevention, enhance internal controls beyond the traditional maker-checker system to mitigate insider fraud, and foster collaboration among themselves to ensure a rapid response to reported fraud cases and facilitate fund recovery.
Regulators, on the other hand, must strike a balance between enforcing stringent security measures and fostering industry growth. Strengthening collaboration with financial institutions and technology providers is essential to staying ahead of emerging fraud trends and ensuring the financial ecosystem remains both secure and innovative.
E-fraud is a growing challenge, but digital banking remains an invaluable tool for financial inclusion and economic growth. By adopting safer banking habits, strengthening institutional security frameworks, and fostering stronger collaboration among stakeholders, we can minimise risks while continuing to enjoy the benefits of a secure and efficient digital financial system.
Dr Fasoranti is an Economist, Banker, and Consultant on Digital Transformation
BASHIR ALIYU writes that though TB remains a scourge, the mortality rate has dropped significantly
NIGERIA’S TUBERCULOSIS MORTALITY
In Nigeria’s teeming urban centers and far-flung villages, tuberculosis (TB) persists as a quiet scourge, claiming lives with a stealth that belies its lethality. Often overshadowed by flashier health crises, TB remains one of the country’s deadliest foes, killing thousands annually. Yet, over the past decade, a remarkable shift has unfolded: TB mortality has dropped by approximately 8 percent, a testament to Nigeria’s evolving battle against this age-old disease. At the heart of this progress lies a potent mix of innovation, collaboration, and resolve—driven in no small part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, alongside Nigeria’s government and local health champions. As the nation marks International TB Day in 2025, this milestone offers not just hope, but a blueprint for a TBfree future.
Tuberculosis has long cast a shadow over Nigeria, a nation of 220 million where poverty, crowded living conditions, and uneven healthcare access amplify its toll. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranked Nigeria among the world’s highest TB-burden countries, estimating over 440,000 cases and a mortality rate of 110 deaths per 100,000 people. By 2020, that rate had fallen to 80 per 100,000—a significant decline, though the disease still claimed tens of thousands of lives yearly. A 2020 study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases pegged the mortality drop at 7.5 percent from 2010 to 2019, a figure rounded to 8 percent in national reports, reflecting steady gains through 2025.
This progress is hard-won. TB thrives in Nigeria’s margins—among the rural poor, the immunocompromised, and children—where stigma once silenced sufferers and delayed care. In pre-2011 Nigeria, undiagnosed cases and treatment lags fueled a vicious cycle, with nearly half the TB burden undetected. Today, while challenges persist, the country’s response has matured into a model of resilience and innovation.
The turning point came in 2011, when Nigeria, reeling from TB’s unchecked spread, forged a coalition with global partners, notably the Gates Foundation. This alliance birthed a three-pronged strategy: bolstering diagnostics, expanding treatment, and dismantling stigma through education. The results have been transformative.
Central to this effort is the GeneXpert machine, a molecular diagnostic marvel that detects TB in sputum samples in just two hours—down from weeks with older methods. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, it identifies TB bacteria and rifampicin resistance (a marker of multidrug-resistant TB, or MDR-TB), enabling rapid, precise treatment. The Gates Foundation has been a linchpin here, investing heavily to install hundreds of GeneXpert units across Nigeria since 2012. By 2020, their funding—part of a broader $1.6 billion global TB commitment—had equipped over 400 health facilities, slashing diagnostic delays and curbing transmission.
Treatment access has also surged. Nigeria’s network of specialized TB care centers, staffed by trained clinicians and stocked with modern tools, now spans urban hubs and rural outposts. Mobile clinics, funded in part by Gates Foundation grants, bring care to remote areas, while community health workers bridge gaps in trust and access. These efforts have cut treatment initiation times, saving countless lives.
Public awareness, the third prong, tackles TB’s social roots. Campaigns—amplified by radio, social media, and local leaders—have chipped away at stigma, encouraging early testing and care. The Gates Foundation’s support for these initiatives, often in partnership with Nigeria’s National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), has reframed TB as a treatable condition, not a death sentence.
Vaccination stands as a quiet hero in Nigeria’s TB fight. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, administered at birth, protects infants from severe TB forms like meningitis, though it wanes in adulthood and offers little defense against pulmonary TB. In Nigeria, scaling BCG coverage has been a priority— and a challenge. In 2010, only 50 percent of infants
received it, per WHO data; by 2020, that figure hit 65 percent, driven by NTBLCP-led campaigns and Gates Foundation-backed logistics, like coldchain support for vaccine delivery.
The payoff is clear: a 2022 Lancet study linked this rise to a 20 percent drop in TB meningitis cases among children under five. Yet, at 65 percent coverage, Nigeria lags the global 90 percent target, hampered by rural access gaps and vaccine hesitancy. The 2025 International TB Day theme—“Unite to End TB: Protect, Prevent, and Vaccinate”—underscores this urgency, with the Gates Foundation pledging further investment in community vaccination drives.
The NTBLCP anchors Nigeria’s TB strategy, weaving services into the primary healthcare fabric. Under its stewardship, TB care has shifted from standalone clinics to integrated health posts, reaching millions. Dr. Sani Aliyu, head of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (NACA), captures the ethos: “TB isn’t an island—it’s part of our health system now. That’s how we beat it.”
The Gates Foundation amplifies this work, channeling funds into NTBLCP priorities— diagnostics, training, and outreach. Their Nigeriaspecific investments, while not fully itemized, align with a $300 million annual global TB spend, per 2020 foundation reports. This synergy has fueled innovations like drone-delivered drugs in hard-to-reach zones, a pilot now scaling up with Gates support.
For all its gains, Nigeria’s TB fight faces steep climbs. Undiagnosed cases—40 percent of the total in 2020, per WHO—haunt the effort, as do 4,500 annual MDR-TB cases, of which only 1,200 were treated that year. MDR-TB’s complexity demands costly drugs and months of care, straining resources. Stigma, though fading, still delays diagnosis in pockets of the country.
Yet, the trajectory is upward. The Gates Foundation’s push for new tools—like nextgeneration diagnostics and a hoped-for adult TB vaccine—promises to accelerate progress. Nigeria’s own resolve, backed by a $500 million NTBLCP plan through 2025, aims for a 75 percent mortality cut from 2015 levels. If the past decade’s 8 percent drop is any guide, that goal is within reach.
Nigeria’s TB story is one of grit and gradual triumph. From GeneXpert’s rapid tests to BCG’s protective shield, strategic interventions—many fueled by the Gates Foundation—have turned a tide once thought unstoppable. As 2025 dawns, the nation stands at a crossroads: sustain the momentum, and a TB-free horizon beckons. Protect, prevent, vaccinate—these are more than slogans; they’re the pillars of a legacy Nigeria is building, one life at a time.
Aliyu is a public health and communications enthusiast
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
ILLICIT TRADE IN PANGOLIN SCALES
The authorities should do more to conserve the nation’s wildlife
The frequent seizure of Pangolin scales from smugglers by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) further reinforces Nigeria’s notoriety as a place where illicit wildlife trade thrives with minimal checks. Available reports indicate that the collaboration between the NCS and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) has led to the seizure of about 25,000 tonnes of pangolin scales in the last four years. Last Friday, the NSC Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, announced the arrest of a notorious trafficker in possession of 9,493 kg of pangolin scales believed to be about 7.2 tonnes.
While these operations mark a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to dismantle wildlife trafficking networks in Nigeria, relevant authorities should still be concerned about the ease with which some unscrupulous foreigners have made the country a target of this illicit trade. Despite being officially listed as endangered in Nigeria, Pangolins are still hunted in areas where deforestation has fragmented and reduced their habitat. Records from a recent study show that Nigeria-linked Pangolin seizures in the last decade alone amounted to almost a million. Many Pangolins are killed and trafficked every year for their scales, which are used in traditional Asian medicine.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix I, the highest level of international protection.
Regrettably, the number of these gentle creatures is fast depleting as more bags of Pangolin scales are traded even in open markets in Nigeria where they are sold as bushmeat. But the primary destinations for Pangolin scales and meat are China and to a less extent, Vietnam. These criminals also use Thailand as a transit point in the illegal Pangolin trade. Specifically, their scales are boiled off their bodies for use in traditional medicine; for their meat, which is a high-end delicacy in Vietnam and in China; and for their blood, which is seen as a healing tonic.
Pangolins save humanity huge amounts of money annually in pest destruction
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
Meanwhile, Pangolins have an extremely important ecological role of regulating insect populations, particularly ants and termites. One single Pangolin can consume around 70 million ants and termites per year. Pangolins therefore save humanity huge amounts of money annually in pest destruction. Scientists believe that if Pangolins go extinct, there would be a cascading impact on the environment.
Eight different Pangolin species are in the world with four species in Africa, including in Nigeria. Thailand is home to two Pangolin species, the Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica) and the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla). It is illegal to trade in these species of Pangolin that are listed in CITES (the
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
With global trends indicating an increasing number of seizures and only an estimated 50,000 Pangolins still in existence, protection of this species is even more important. This is also the reason for the crackdown, however feeble, by the Nigerian government agencies that has led to arrests and seizures recorded so far. But more needs to be done by the authorities to stop this illicit trade in the nation’s precious wildlife, and the use of Nigeria as a hub by world’s crime syndicates.
Nigerian conservationists recommend community education and empowerment of locals in the fight against illegal trade in wildlife. Communities involved in hunting wildlife need to understand why they should protect endangered wildlife species. It is also recommended that this problem could be addressed with the amendment of Nigeria's existing conservation laws and with better enforcement, to discourage hunting and poaching of Pangolins and other wildlife.
Meanwhile, the states are shirking their responsibilities. Many governors do not even know that it is their duty to enforce conservation laws. There are no functioning wildlife departments in most states. The laws are outdated or moribund. Recruitment into wildlife departments stopped a long time ago. All these must change.
Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.
NATASHA: THE SCENT OF A WOMAN
The forces, known and unknown, that are against the recently suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Kogi Central senatorial zone in Kogi State, are enormous. So far, she has been able to jump over both natural and artificial barricades erected on her way to "stardom", achieving everything and anything she set out to do or so it seems.
Her life as a legislator, more than her other female colleagues, has drawn more controversy than usual, especially in recent times. While many have rightfully or wrongfully attributed this to her sheer bravado and wits, others think her excessive knack for or ability to dramatise every unfavourable condition to her advantage, given her visibility, is the reason for her lambent dispositions all the time.
In the last election, she confronted former governor Yahaya Bello in a fight for supremacy with Bello deploying unconventional means to stop the blazing Amazon, by practically digging out the road that links voters to Senator Natasha's immediate constituency. Yet she won not only the election but the intellection of survival and the growing sympathy of many who felt she was unjustifiably fought against for being a woman.
In the melee that led to her being suspended from the hal-
lowed chambers of the Nigerian upper legislative arm, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had her legislative and personal conduct examined by every political watcher, analyst, colleague and fellow Nigerian vis-a-vis the sanctions dished out to her.
While the Senate insists on the fact that she is being punished for her bad conduct by going against the rules of the House, Natasha elects to tell the world that her male colleagues did that to quiet a growing but lone female voice in a legislative chamber dominated by male chauvinists who do not want to listen to her side of the story.
That ugly side of the story hasn't stopped being uglier by the day as Natasha kept adding to the story at every given opportunity, making the story against her detractor in-chief, dirtier and messier. She took to international fora and Terrestrial TV to tell her story of her alleged sexual harassment, victimization, oppression and marginalization.
It is dangerous to go into a fisticuff with a woman who doesn't look back. A bold woman, unabashed, daringly expeditious and unrelenting. Perhaps, this explains the dramatic appearance of Senator Natasha in her Constituency on Monday via the air with a Chopper, when the roads were barricaded and a gubernatori-
al "instruction" given that banned public gatherings and rallies until further notice.
Her defiant appearance in her constituency was as dramatic as the outcome of her recall. There's no doubt that she is being fought against both from within her state and outside her state. Why would someone who is faced with a recall bid by her "constituents" be prevented from meeting with the constituents for a fair hearing and explanation? To assume that the gubernatorial instruction wasn't targeted at the embattled senator is to play the Ostrich. The whole scenario is beginning to look melodramatic with all accusing fingers pointing to one oscillating point. Just like Martin Brest's 1992 American drama titled: "Scent Of a Woman", Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan's story is about seizing opportunities and not being afraid to "take chances" . It is a continuous story that takes you through a sad, humourous, powerful, politically intriguing, fearful but emotional journey to the unknown but imagined. It is the story of high and resolute political forces determined to offensively odorize the ubiquitous scent of a woman. We're waiting and watching. Austen Akhagbeme, Abuja
NCDIA, Cassava to
Emma Okonji
Casava Technologies has partnered NVDIA to build Africa’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) factory, giving African businesses, governments and researchers access to cuttingedge AI computing capacity, and helping them develop smarter AI products, streamline operations and stay competitive in a fast-changing world.
The factory will provide the supercomputers and software needed to train AI while keeping data within Africa’s borders.
The factory, which will be located in South Africa, is expected to begin
operations in June this year.
Cassava plans to deploy NVIDIA accelerated computing and AI software using NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP) reference architectures, at its data centers in South Africa by June 2025, with expansion planned at its other data center facilities in Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and Morocco.
Cassava’s AI-enabled data centres will help Africa develop domestic AI technologies, increase productivity, protect data and support businesses, making the continent economically competitive and future-ready.
Founder & Chairman of Cassava Technologies, Strive Masiyiwa, said: “Cassava’s AI Factory will leverage
the company’s pan-African highspeed, ultra-low-latency, fibre-optic network with sustainable data centres to deliver AI as a Service (AIaaS). Cassava’s world-class data centres are designed to be energy efficient, using less electricity to power AI computing workloads. NVIDIA GPU-based supercomputers will power the AI factory, enabling faster AI model training, fine-tuning and advanced inference capabilities. Cassava aims to be the first to introduce these accelerated computing platforms to Africa as an NCP, playing a crucial role in the continent’s AI ecosystem.
“The Cassava AI Factory will ensure businesses and researchers have access to the AI computing power required to scale, boost productivity and power innovation. By using the secure, highperformance AI Factory, African businesses and governments can develop local solutions to local challenges, enabling Africans to build, train, scale and deploy AI in a secure environment compliant with global and local regulations.
“Building digital infrastructure for the AI economy is a priority if Africa is to take full advantage of the fourth industrial revolution. Our AI Factory provides the
infrastructure for this innovation to scale, empowering African businesses, startups and researchers with access to cutting-edge AI infrastructure to turn their bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs — and now, they don’t have to look beyond Africa to get it.”
According to Masiyiwa, “Collaborating with NVIDIA gives us the advanced computing capabilities needed to drive Africa’s AI innovation while strengthening the continent’s digital independence.”
Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at NVIDIA, Jaap Zuiderveld, said:
“AI is helping innovators solve our greatest challenges in agriculture, healthcare, energy, financial services and many other industries creating opportunity in Africa. As an NVIDIA Cloud Partner, Cassava is providing essential infrastructure and software to help pioneering companies and organisations accelerate AI development to foster innovation across the continent.”
Cassava’s AI Factory marks the next step in the group’s long-standing leadership in providing world class digital solutions, reinforcing its broader commitment to responsible AI adoption, innovation and productivity growth in Africa.
Emma Okonji
Chairman of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) and Director General of Sierra Leone’s National Communications Authority (NatCA), Amara Brewah, has called on policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders across the region to prioritise green telecommunications and affordable spectrum pricing to drive sustainable digital growth in West Africa. Speaking at the recently concluded Mobile World Congress (MWC25) in Barcelona, Spain, he emphasised the need for sustainable telecoms practices that align with climate commitments while fostering economic and social transformation.
In his speech titled ‘Green
Telecommunications – Policies and Practices for More Sustainability’, Brewah highlighted the rapid growth of the telecoms sector in West Africa and the opportunities it presents for progress in commerce, education, healthcare, and governance. He however cautioned that the expansion would come with environmental consequences, including rising energy consumption and increased electronic waste.
Addressing the challenges through policy reforms and technological innovations, he argued that such move was crucial for ensuring that telecommunications contribute to a more sustainable future.
He called on regulators and industry leaders to adopt
energy-efficient infrastructure, integrate renewable energy into network operations, and develop comprehensive policies for managing electronic waste.
“The future of telecommunications must be both inclusive and sustainable. West Africa has the opportunity to lead in green telecommunications by promoting energy efficiency, supporting solar-powered infrastructure, and implementing robust e-waste management policies,” Brewah noted.
He proposed harmonised environmental standards across the region to create an investmentfriendly regulatory environment, including carbon reduction targets, sustainability incentives, and transparency in measuring telecom
operations’ environmental impact. He also encouraged public-private partnerships to drive innovation in clean energy solutions for the sector.
At the ministerial programme of MWC25, Brewah participated in two roundtables and delivered a country presentation on spectrum challenges, emphasising direct-todevice connectivity and affordable spectrum pricing as a key driver of digital equality. Representing Sierra Leone alongside regulators from 11 other countries, he highlighted the pressing issue of high spectrum costs as a major barrier to digital inclusion in developing regions.
During the session on spectrum pricing, Brewah explained that high spectrum costs remained a
major barrier to digital inclusion in developing regions. He called on governments to adopt policies that lower barriers to entry, promote investment, and facilitate the widespread adoption of emerging technologies such as 4G, 5G, and the future rollout of 6G. He highlighted key spectrum bands identified by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) that could significantly expand broadband connectivity and drive economic growth.
“Affordable spectrum pricing is essential to ensuring universal mobile access. By making spectrum more accessible, we empower communities, expand connectivity, and enable digital solutions that transform lives,” Brewah said.
He also underscored the transformative potential of Directto-Device (D2D) connectivity, particularly in bridging the digital divide in underserved and remote areas. He described D2D as a game changer that aligns with Sierra Leone’s broader vision for inclusive digital transformation and economic empowerment. Brewah’s advocacy at MWC25 reinforced WATRA’s commitment to shaping policies that expand connectivity while ensuring sustainable digital growth. His participation positioned West Africa as a proactive player in the global telecommunications landscape, while insisting that expanding access must not come at the expense of affordability or environmental responsibility.
Healthtracka Announces Banking on Women’s Health Conference 2025, Landmark Report Launch
Mary Nnah
Healthtracka, a leading healthcare company in Nigeria, has announced the highly anticipated Banking on Women’s Health Conference (BWHC) and the launch of the groundbreaking Banking on Women’s Health Innovation Award, both dedicated to transforming the landscape of women’s healthcare in Nigeria.
Scheduled for May 3rd, 2025, at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, the BWHC will convene leading healthcare professionals,
policymakers, innovators, and advocates to drive critical conversations and actionable solutions for women’s health. Under the theme “Improving Women’s Health One Conversation at a Time,” the conference aims to address the long-standing disparities in women’s health, where women spend 25% more time in poor health than men, due to under-research, underfunding, and underestimation.
“The Banking on Women’s Health Conference is more than just an event; it’s a movement”, said Ife
Dare Johnson, founder and CEO HealthTracka.
“We are committed to creating a platform for open, bold, and solutiondriven conversations that will drive investment, innovation, and policy changes, ensuring women’s health is prioritized”, Johnson said.
The conference will establish BWHC as Africa’s premier women’s health conference, drive critical conversations on women’s health issues, and launch the State of Women’s Health in Nigeria Report, providing data-driven insights.
Many health issues disproportionately affect women, or present differently in women than men. These include, but are not limited to, maternal health complications, reproductive health issues such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fibroids, various forms of cancer including breast and cervical cancer, menopause-related conditions, and menstrual health disorders.
In conjunction with the conference, Healthtracka is excited to announce the Banking on Women’s Health
Petroleum Minister, Lokpobiri Lauds Caverton as a Leader in Aviation Industry
Oluchi Chibuzor
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has described Caverton Helicopters Company as a pacesetter and leader in the Nigerian aviation sector worthy of emulation.
Lokpobiri stated this yesterday during a facility tour of the state of the art facility of the company’s aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) training centre located at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, lkeja, Lagos.
According to him, with the investmemt and facility on ground, which is at per with the developed world has not only distinguished Caverton, the management’s commitment has sent aanother message acknowledging the untiring effort of Caverton to make Nigeria proud as an indigenous aviation company majoring in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) as well
Luno, Africa’s leading crypto platform, has announced its plans to provide customers with secure access to crypto assets in the earlier stages of their development. The move responds to the growing maturity of the crypto industry and evolving consumer demand.
as training hub.
The minister, who said his visit was to see things for himself having heard a lot about the training hub which has become the go to of pilots beyond the shore of Nigeria, a testament that with vision and commitment the black race can also make things happen positively in the aviation sector.
“I have seen training centers abroad. I can attest to it that Caverton stands out. Caverton is a pacesetter. I am very happy to be here today. Let me formally congratulate you. I am also happy to hear that you have pilots who you trained and gave been employed abroad.
“I want to assure you that whatever is needed to be done will be done in order to to make our partnership a success. I also commend you for your records, so far, of zero casualty,” the minister, who only spoke in few words,” he said.
Vice President, Product at Luno, Aleks Andjelopolj, in a statement, said: “We believe it is important that investors get safe access to more novel crypto use cases through a leading regulated operator. While we rigorously assess all assets before listing them, we will empower
In welcoming address, Chairman, Caverton Offshore Support Group, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola thanked the Hon. Minister for the honour to visit the training hub to see for himself the great things that is happening in the Nigerian aviation sector through Caverton.
Speaking further, Makanjuola said. “Everything is processed from training to maintainable. We are proudly Nigerian compnay which exploits have continued to attract all and sundry. We are constantly evolving and expanding with cutting edge technology.
We look forward to engaging with you and discussing how we can collectively contribute to the growth and success of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.”
In his welcome address, Chief Executive Officer, Caverton Offshore Support Group, Mr. Olabode Makanjuola said he feels honoured to host the minister
customers to make informed decisions by listing assets sooner and providing educational resources to help them understand the risks and opportunities.”
Early-stage crypto assets will be marked with an ‘early stage’ label in the Luno app and links to detailed
and to showcase the company”s facilities, operations, and the vital role it play in Nigeria’s aviation and oil and gas sectors.
“As a subsidiary of the Caverton Offshore Support Group, Caverton Helicopters has established itself as a leading indigenous operator in Nigeria’s aviation industry. Our commitment to excellence, safety, and reliability has allowed us to record a historical market share exceeding 70%, making us a key player in providing logistics support for the oil and gas sector. We are proud to serve esteemed partners, including Shell, Chevron, Total, NAOC, and NNPC, and we look forward to continuing this legacy of collaboration.”
Speaking further, Makanjuola said the vision of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to elevate Nigeria’s oil production to 2 million barrels per day is an ambitious and commendable goal.
information to assist decision-making. The company acknowledges that while earlystage projects may offer greater potential for returns, they typically carry higher risks and may experience higher-than-usual price volatility.
Innovation Award, designed to recognise and empower innovators driving transformative solutions for women’s health in Nigeria.
“We believe that innovation, advocacy and research is key to bridging the gap in women’s healthcare. The Innovation Award will spotlight and support those with bold ideas that can significantly improve women’s health and well-being”, said the CEO/Founder HealthTracka.
The Innovation Award timeline is as follows: Submissions opened March 10, 2025; submissions closed March 31, 2025; top 10 innovators are announced April 10, 2025; the pitch competition takes place April 20, 2025; and winners are announced at BWHC May 3rd, 2025.
To be eligible, applicants must be Nigerian residents or Nigerian-founded entities, and their innovations must focus on women’s health. Solutions must be at least at the prototype stage. While the award is open to all genders, the
innovations must prioritize women’s health outcomes.
The award offers significant benefits, including a N5,000,000 grant for the winner, along with mentorship, investor access, and visibility. The first runner-up will receive N3,000,000 in funding, while the second runner-up will be awarded N2,000,000, both with similar access to mentorship and investment opportunities.
Healthtracka encourages innovators, healthcare professionals, and advocates to participate in the BWHC and apply for the Innovation Award. Together, we can drive meaningful change and ensure every woman in Nigeria has access to the healthcare she deserves.
Healthtracka is a leading healthcare company dedicated to improving access to quality healthcare in Nigeria. Through innovative solutions and strategic initiatives, Healthtracka is committed to empowering individuals to take control of their health.
Stories by Emma Okonji
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commended Africa’s e-commerce platform, Jumia Nigeria, for its giant strides and in the growth of the country’s e-commerce sector, as well as its unique contributions to its economic development.
According to the governor, Jumia has earned its place as a major brand, with its growth and trajectory in the country’s e-commerce ecosystem over the years which, he said, made it a household name. He urged the company to not only strive to maintain its excellent service standards, but to also work towards improving them.
innovation to drive economic growth, and we will continue to support businesses and create opportunities that will aid in their growth,” Sanwo-Olu said. Speaking also, the Chief Executive Officer of Jumia Nigeria, Sunil Natraj, thanked the governor for creating an enabling environment in the state for businesses like Jumia to grow. He stated Jumia’s commitment to contributing towards the growth and development of the state, and the country.
Customers of MoneyMaster PSB (MMPSB), are in for another season of great benefits as the bank has announced a 100 per cent airtime bonus offer for those using Glo lines. According to a statement from MMPSB, the customers will get a 100 per cent bonus anytime they recharge their Glo lines through the MoneyMaster PSB channels. The airtime bonus rewards existing customers and is also an attraction for others to open a MoneyMaster account and enjoy similar benefits.
“The introduction of the bonus offer further affirms MoneyMaster PSB’s dedication to empowering Nigerians to master their money via efficient offers that make every naira count. This new offer is sequel to the 100MB and 10 per
cent data bonus offers which were recently launched by the bank, The promotional offer is available only to customers who use their Glo lines to access the bank’s various banking channels, including the MoneyMaster PSB app, USSD banking code *995# and MoneyMaster PSB Web banking,” the bank said.
MoneyMaster PSB’s Acting CEO,
Williams Akalumhe, said: “The introduction of the 100% airtime offer underpins our decision to support our customers in getting best reward for their hard-earned money. We shall continue to work with strategic partners and build alliances that support our quest to consistently deliver a bouquet of lifestyle benefits to our growing customer base”.
The governor who spoke during a courtesy visit by the management of Jumia Nigeria to the State House in Marina recently, reaffirmed the strategic importance of the company in the economic development of Lagos State and Nigeria, especially in job creation. He restated his administration’s commitment in ensuring that Lagos State remains environmentally friendly for businesses to grow.
“Our administration has always prioritised creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. Through various initiatives, we have strengthened the ease of doing business, and fostered
Natraj said the company has made tremendous strides from its early days as a tech start-up in Lagos and has grown to become the number one e-commerce platform in Nigeria, with a presence in nine African countries. He said the company presently employs hundreds of Nigerians directly, and thousands more indirectly as independent sales agents and partners. He restated Jumia Nigeria’s commitment to providing excellent service, focusing on delivering exceptional value and fostering long-term relationships with its customers around the country. Among other things, he said the company is actively working to enhance customer experience, aiming to simplify the e-commerce process, making it easier for customers to navigate and shop online.
L-R: Head, Platform and Networks Ventures Platform Fund, Damilola Teidi; Special Advisor to the Governor of Lagos state, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi; Partner at Verod Capital, Malvika Kapoor-Vaswani Kemi Onabanjo and Associate Partner at McKinsey, Malvika Kapoor-Vaswani
Addressing SMEs’ Cash Flow Challenges with FinTech Solutions
FinTech players have continued to develop digital payment solutions that are reducing payment frictions between Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and their customers, writes Emma okonji
When Mrs. Veronica Agbaje started her school in Ibadan twelve years ago, she didn’t envision a tech-enabled future. Her dream was simple—provide affordable, quality education to children in her community. For the most part, she made it work. But as the school grew, a new challenge took root. It wasn’t infrastructure. It wasn’t teacher retention. It was something far more basic: getting paid.
PAy ME n T Ch A ll E ng ES
Each new term brings the same pattern. Parents promise to pay fees within a short period of time. Some follow through, nut many don’t. As the term wears out, Mrs. Agbaje finds herself juggling spreadsheets, reminder texts, and awkward conversations in car parks or at school gates. Meanwhile, teachers’ salaries must be paid, books restocked, diesel bought. More often than not, she dips into personal savings to keep things running.
Her story is common across Nigeria. Small businesses—whether they’re schools, salons, logistics firms, or cooperative groups—are constantly navigating the emotional and financial toll of delayed payments. And it’s not just a matter of inconvenience. A recent study by MacTay Consulting found that Nigerian SMEs wait between 60 to 120 days on average to receive payment for services or products already delivered. That kind of delay is more than a hiccup. It threatens livelihoods. It blocks growth. It’s a silent killer.
For Chuks Okafor, who runs a car hire service in Enugu, the issue is tied to his bigger corporate clients. They insist on “net 30” or “net 60” terms—industry-speak for “we’ll pay you in a month or two.” That might be manageable for a large fleet with strong cash reserves, but for someone like Okafor, every week matters. With fuel prices rising and maintenance bills stacking up, he’s often forced to park cars because he doesn’t have the cash to fix them—even when work is lined up.
What links these stories is the reality that small businesses operate in a system where money is constantly in motion but rarely on time. Customers often mean well, but their own financial instability creates a domino effect. And the existing tools to manage payments—handwritten ledgers, POS machines, WhatsApp reminders—were never designed for structure. They’re patched solutions to a systemic problem.
Even digital banking, for all its advancement in Nigeria, hasn’t solved this issue. Many SMEs still operate informally, managing finances through personal bank accounts or apps not tailored to business needs. The result is a messy web of followups, reconciliations, and emotional strain. Business owners become debt collectors, chasing down what they’ve already earned, time and time again.
What’s often missed in conversations about entrepreneurship is just how deeply this problem cuts. Payment delays mean rent can’t be paid on time. It means holding off on hiring a new staff member, or letting go of a part-time assistant. It means saying no to growth opportunities,
not because they’re not viable, but because the cash flow isn’t predictable enough to take the risk.
And when you zoom out, the implications are national. Small businesses make up over 90 per cent of enterprises in Nigeria. They contribute nearly half of the country’s GDP and employ a significant portion of the workforce. Yet, their greatest enemy isn’t market competition—it’s irregular income. This is a structural inefficiency that deserves far more attention than it gets.
FinT EC h Digi TA l
Solu T ion S
Slowly, however, change is beginning to show. A quiet revolution is underway—one where technology is stepping in not as a trend, but as a tool for financial stability. More SMEs are beginning to explore digital solutions that streamline payments and reduce friction between businesses and customers.
Among these solutions is PaywithAccount, a new tool launched by Nigerian fintech company OnePipe. Designed specifically for businesses with recurring payments—schools, cooperatives, service providers—it allows them to automate collections directly from customers’ bank accounts. With full consent and transparency, payments can be scheduled, reducing the need for repeated follow-ups or awkward reminders.
For Mrs. Agbaje, this has made a significant difference. Parents receive structured payment plans, reminders go out automatically, and debits happen based on prior agreement. She now spends less time tracking who has paid and more time planning curriculum upgrades and engaging with teachers.
The benefit isn’t just financial—it’s emotional. When business owners don’t have to chase payments, they gain time, clarity, and confidence. They can plan ahead, restock inventory, or finally invest in that expansion they’ve put off for years. And for customers, the experience feels more professional, more trustworthy. Everyone wins.
Technology won’t solve every problem for Nigerian SMEs. But smart, well-designed financial tools are starting to remove some of the biggest roadblocks—quietly and effectively. And that’s the point. The best systems aren’t flashy. They work in the background, reducing stress, restoring dignity, and enabling business owners to focus on what truly matters.
Founder of OnePipe, Ope Adeoye, said the issue is personal. According to him, “Every Nigerian knows someone who runs a business—a cousin, a friend, a neighbour. When they suffer from late payments, it affects whole families and communities. Fixing this isn’t just a business goal—it’s a social one.”
In a country as dynamic and entrepreneurial as Nigeria, the challenge is rarely about lack of ideas. It’s about systems that help those ideas survive. And one of the most overlooked systems is the way money flows—or fails to.
As more SMEs embrace tools that put payment on autopilot, a future of stability, rather than constant survival, starts to feel possible. For a nation powered by small businesses, that kind of shift could the challenges.
PUBLICATION OF AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FOR
PROJECTS FINANCED BY THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
INFORMATION NOTICE
nd Publication date: 2 April, 2025
Country:
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Executing Agency: National Coordination Office, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
Name of Project/Study: Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program
Loan/Grant Number:
2000200005159/5050200001351
Name of Request for Proposals (RFP): Consulting Services for Transaction Advisory Service for Ogun State - SAPZ
Selection Method: Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS)
Name of Selected Consultant: Murty Integrated Services Ltd Nationality: Canada
Address:
Contract Award Price:
7251 Chivers Place SW, Edmonton T6W 4L4 Alberta, Canada
USD750,492.00
th Contract Start date: 25 March, 2025
Contract Duration: 18 Months
Summary of Scope of Contract Awarded:
The scope of work is summarized into two phases
Phase 1: Involves preparation of site-Specific Business Case and attendant docum
Contractors, development of financial flow system and revenue model, identify and allocate project risk using the risk mitigation instruments available with AfDB, MIGA, establish a Special Purpose Vehicle or any emerging option for the zone, Build capacity for the PIU
Phase 11: Involves supporting the selection process of Project Concessionaire or other partner, support in the selection of private sector delivery partners, prepare and draft PPP agreement as well as participate in the PPP agreement Negotiations, compile and prepare closure report.
Total Number of Proposals Received: 4No
For each Consultant:
Name: Murty International Services Inc.
Nationality: Canada
Address: 7251 Chivers Place SW, Edmonton T6W 4L4 Alberta, Canada
Technical Points: 93
Evaluated Price: USD750,492.00
Final Points: 94.75 st Ranking: 1
Name: KPMG Advisory Services Nationality: Nigeria
Address: KPMG Tower, Bishop Aboyade Cole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos Technical Points: 89.8
Evaluated Price: USD787,659
Final Points: 91.15
nd Ranking: 2
Name: Africa PPP Advisory Services Ltd & FBN Quest Merchant Bank Nationality: Nigerian
Address: Fountains Court, 2 Victoria Square, St Albans, AL 1 3TF, United Kingdom
N.B.: Any consultant who wishes to ascertain the grounds on which its proposal was not selected, should request an explanation from the Executing Agency. In any event, the Bank reserves the right to review any complaint of a bidder at any time following the award.
Signed
Dr. Kabir Yusuf National Program Coordinator
PUBLICATION OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP DISCLOSURE FORM
Request for Proposal reference No.: NCO/SAPZ-1/AfDB/CONS/001/3
Name of the Assignment: Transaction Adviser Services for Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Ogun State
To: Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Program
th In response to your notification of award dated 18 March, 2025 to furnish additional information on beneficial ownership:
(i) we hereby provide the following beneficial ownership information.
Details of beneficial ownership
Identity of Beneficial Owner
Directly or indirectly holding 25% or more of the shares (Yes)
Directly or indirectly holding 25 % or more of the Voting Rights (Yes)
Directly or indirectly having the right to appoint a majority of the board of the directors or an equivalent governing body of the Consultant (Yes)
Full name: IBRAHIM OLADAPO
Nationality: NIGERIAN
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE: CANADA
Name of the Consultant: Murty Integrated Services Inc
Name of the person duly authorized to sign the Proposal on behalf of the Consultant: Ibrahim Oladapo
Title of the person signing the Proposal: Director
Signature of the person named above: th Date signed 18 day of March, 2025
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP DISCLOSURE FORM
Request for Proposal reference No.: NCO/SAPZ-1/AfDB/CONS/001/3
Name of the Assignment: Transaction Adviser Services for Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Ogun State
To: Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Program
th In response to your notification of award dated 18 March, 2025 to furnish additional information on beneficial ownership:
(i) we hereby provide the following beneficial ownership information.
Details of beneficial ownership
Identity of Beneficial Owner
Full name: ABDUL OLADAPO
Nationality: NIGERIAN
Directly or indirectly holding 25% or more of the shares (Yes)
Directly or indirectly holding 25 % or more of the Voting Rights (Yes)
Directly or indirectly having the right to appoint a majority of the board of the directors or an equivalent governing body of the Consultant (Yes)
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE: NIGERIA Yes Yes Yes
Name of the Consultant: Murty International Ltd
Name of the person duly authorized to sign the Proposal on behalf of the Consultant: Olufemi Osanyinro
Title of the person signing the Proposal: Associate Director
Signature of the person named above: th Date signed 18 day of March, 2025
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP DISCLOSURE FORM
Request for Proposal reference No.: NCO/SAPZ-1/AfDB/CONS/001/3
Name of the Assignment: Transaction Adviser Services for Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Ogun State
To: Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Program th In response to your notification of award dated 18 March, 2025 to furnish additional information on beneficial ownership:
(i) we declare that there is no Beneficial Owner meeting one or more of the following conditions:
a. Directly or indirectly holding 25% or more of the shares
b. Directly or indirectly holding 25 % or more of the Voting Rights
c. Directly or indirectly having the right to appoint a majority of the board of the directors or an equivalent governing body of the Consultant
Name of the Consultant: Ortus Africa Capital Limited
Name of the person duly authorized to sign the Proposal on behalf of the Consultant: Kenneth Legesi
Title of the person signing the Proposal: CEO/Managing Director
Signature of the person named above: th Date signed 18 day of March, 2025
PUBLICATION OF AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FOR PROJECTS FINANCED BY THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
nd Publication date: 2 April, 2025
Country: Federal Republic of Nigeria
Executing Agency: National Coordination Office, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
Name of Project/Study: Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program
Loan/Grant Number:
2000200005159/5050200001351
Name of Request for Proposals (RFP): Consulting Services for Transaction Advisory Service for Cross River State - SAPZ
Selection Method: Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS)
rd th Address: 3 /4 Floor, St. Peter's House, No. 3 Ajele Street, off Broad Street, Lagos
Contract Award Price: USD577,000 and NGN93,655,020.00
th Contract Start date: 24 February, 2025
Contract Duration: 18 Months
Summary of Scope of Contract Awarded:
The scope of work is summarized into two phases
Phase 1: Involves preparation of site-Specific Business Case and attendant
d o c u m
development of financial flow system and revenue model, identify and allocate project risk using the risk mitigation instruments available with AfDB, MIGA, establish a Special Purpose Vehicle or any emerging option for the zone, Build capacity for the PIU Phase 11: Involves supporting the selection process of Project Concessionaire or other partner, support in the selection of private sector delivery partners, prepare and draft PPP agreement as well as participate in the PPP agreement Negotiations, compile and prepare closure report.
Total Number of Proposals Received: 5No (Only 4 firms met the qualifying mark) For each Consultant:
Name: Planet Capital Limited
Nationality: Nigerian
rd th Address: 3 /4 Floor, St. Peter's House, No. 3 Ajele Street, off Broad Street, Lagos
N.B.: Any consultant who wishes to ascertain the grounds on which its proposal was not selected, should request an explanation from the Executing Agency In any event, the Bank reserves the right to review any complaint of a bidder at any time following the award.
PUBLICATION OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP DISCLOSURE FORM
Request for Proposal reference No.: NCO/SAPZ1/AfDB/CONS/001/1
Name of the Assignment: Transaction Advisory Services for Special AgroIndustrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Cross River State
To: Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Program
st
In response to your notification of award dated 21 February, 2025 to furnish additional information on beneficial ownership:
(i) we hereby provide the following beneficial ownership information.
Details of beneficial ownership
Identity of Beneficial Owner Directly or indirectly holding 25% or more of the shares (Yes) Directly or indirectly holding 25 % or more of the Voting Rights (Yes)
Directly or indirectly having the right to appoint a majority of the board of the directors or an equivalent governing body of the Consultant (Yes)
Dr. Kabir Yusuf
Full name: Dr.Anthony Anonyai
Nationality: NIGERIAN COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE: NIGERIA
Name of the Consultant: Planet Capital Limited
Name of the person duly authorized to sign the Proposal on behalf of the Consultant: Emeka Anonyai Title of the person signing the Proposal: Project Manager
Signature of the person named above: st Date signed 21 day of February, 2025
Sterling Bank Leads Protest for Removal of Bank Transfer Charges
Nume Ekeghe
In a landmark move that sets a new benchmark for customer-focused banking in Nigeria, Sterling Bank has championed the cancellation of bank transfer fees by major banks, announcing it will no longer take any money for itself for any local online transactions by its customers.
The announcement, made on April 1st, initially sparked widespread arguments, with many assuming it was a marketing prank tied to April Fools’ Day. However, Sterling has confirmed that this is no stunt: “the zerotransfer-fee policy is real, and effective immediately.”
With this move, Sterling becomes the first major Nigerian bank to take a definitive stand against the long-standing practice of charging customers for everyday digital transfers, an issue that has grown increasingly contentious
as digital banking adoption deepens.
“We believe access to your own money shouldn’t come with a penalty,” said Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive leading the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate. “This is more than a financial decision, it’s a values-based one. It reflects our commitment to making banking fair, inclusive, and truly customer focused.”
“We’re not yet the biggest bank in Nigeria, but we’ve been the boldest,” Ukachukwu added. “Sterling fearlessly believes in the future of Nigeria, and this is us backing Nigerians with more than words.”
He added, “Under the new policy, Sterling customers will enjoy free transfers for all local transactions conducted via the bank’s mobile app. This translates into significant savings, particularly for individuals and new small
business owners who make frequent daily transfers.
“This customer-first orientation is not new for Sterling. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank stood out by providing supplementary payments to healthcare workers in public hospitals—at a time when few others were willing or able to offer additional support. From that moment to now, Sterling has continued to redefine what it means to be a responsible and responsive institution. The bank’s latest move has been met with widespread public approval, sparking positive reactions across social media and placing pressure on industry peers to follow suit.”
We’re proud to lead this change,” Ukachukwu added. “We hope it inspires others to think differently about what customers truly need from their banks, not just in services, but in values.”
FG, Relevant Bodies Urged to Support Training of Actuarial Scientists
Ebere Nwoji
Actuarial Scientist, Chartered insurer and Chairman / CEO Achor Actuarial Services Limited, Dr Pius Apere, has called on the Federal and State Governments including TETFUND to collaborate with the National Insurance Commission(NAICOM in ensuring that adequate funding and sensitsation are made available for the training of Nigerian actuaries over a medium term plan.
Apere said they should support the candidates in utilising
the opportunity of the medium term plan provided by the University of Lagos (Unilag) in partnership with National Association of Actuarial Scientist. (NAS).
He said NAS, has achieved the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) UK accreditation for its Postgraduate M.Sc. degree programme in Actuarial Science, as a pathway to IFoA qualifications.
According to him, this will provide successful students with six exemptions from the IFoA qualifications.
He said, “This could be the fastest and cost-effective route for NAS to develop common qualifications and increase its qualified actuaries in the medium term, like the route the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) took in collaboration with CII London before conducting its own examinations in the early 1990s.”
Apere noted that Unilag was the second university currently being accredited in Africa by IFoA which is a rare privilege and opportunity for Nigeria.
SMEs Tasked with Creativity to Compete with Industry Giants
A number of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises(SMEs) have continued to fizzle out due to their failure to embrace innovation and creativity as major business enablers.
CEO/ Lead Innovator at Lalaa Consulting,Demola Aderibigbe stated also that most times, small businesses fail because of their ignorance regarding innovation, being misconstrued as a finacially tasking technological efforts, hence, ignore it.
A 2023 report by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that 80% of small businesses in the country do not survive beyond five years.
Aderibigbe, during a training session in Lagos for SMEs across sectors implemented under- Academy of Creativity, Innovation & Disruption (ACID) initiative, maintained that small businesses must deliberately up their game to carve out a market share and rival larger industry incumbent.
By innovation and creativity, the creative strategist meant that players must be able to think and imagine solutions to be strategically applied to businesses.
He disclosed that ACID was conceived to bridge an identified gap of innovation knowledge amongst SMEs, decrying that most small players ignore a
critical aspect of training and development,despite they need it to scale even more than the established players.
“We have always rendered our services to top giant, however, we saw a need to engage the beginners who we feel need us more. Unfortunately, the first thing an average SME thinks when he hears innovation is technology and then big budget. However, this do not necessarily mean technology or huge financial investments. The fundamental element of innovation is imagination, which every business owner already possesses. The challenge is applying this imagination strategically,” he clarified.
Leadway Pensure Highlights Benefits of Additional Voluntary Contributions
Ebere Nwoji
Leadway Pensure, has reiterated its commitment to securing the financial future of Nigerians by highlighting the benefits of Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC). This was emphasised during an interactive webinar hosted by the company.
The session titled “Beyond the Paycheck: Winning Strategies to Boost Your Retirement Savings, provided participants with practical insights, guidance, and real-time strategies for optimising retirement savings. The webinar featured two pension
experts: Peter Mould, Head of Business Development and Partnerships, and Gloria Daniels, Head of Customer Relationship Management, both of Leadway Pensure PFA. They demystified AVC and provided actionable steps to help Nigerians build a stronger retirement fund.Speaking on the importance of financial stability in retirement, Mould emphasised the advantages of AVC as an essential strategy for achieving long-term security. He stated: “Retirement planning goes beyond setting aside a portion of your paycheck. It involves creating a well-structured strategy that ensures financial
stability and peace of mind in your golden years. AVC allows individuals to contribute extra funds to their Retirement Savings Account (RSA), helping them build a stronger financial future.”
He further said that AVC is accessible to everyone, regardless of income level. “AVC is not just for high-income earners; it is for anyone who wants to take control of his financial future. Whether you’re a young professional just starting out or a business owner planning ahead, AVC can help you reach your retirement goals faster.” He concluded.
Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic
Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).
Managing Director, FundQuest, Mr. Abiodun Akinjayeju; Mrs. Kehinde Olomojobi of Union Bank; ED, FundQuest, Mr. Bisi Oni and Head, Brand Communication and Customer Experience at FundQuest, Joan Oghosa Ediagbonya- at the debut of FundHER by FundQuest in Lagos... recently.
Omolabake Fasogbon
Amid Delisting Plans, MRS Forecasts N2.9bn PAT in Q2
Kayode Tokede
MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, yesterday forecasted a profit after tax of N2.93 billion for the second quarter of (Q2 2025) amid its delisting plans from the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
The oil & gas company in its financial forecast filed on the Exchange indicated a turnover of N269.73 billion, with a cost of sales amounting to N259.69 billion, resulting in
a gross profit of N10.04 billion. The company forecasted an operating profit is estimated at N4.34 billion, while profit before tax stands at N4.37 billion after factoring in finance costs of N146.53 million. Earnings per share are expected to be N8.54.
Cash flow projections show a net cash decrease of N1.53 billion for the quarter, with operating activities generating N3.45 billion, while investing activities recorded an outflow of N4.5 billion. By the end of Q2
2025, MRS expects to hold a cash and cash equivalent balance of N4.69 billion, down from N6.22 billion at the start of the period. Despite these positive figures, concerns remain about the company’s ability to achieve its financial targets following its planned delisting from NGX and transition to the NASD Overthe-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange. Shareholders have raised questions about the impact on liquidity and investor confidence, given that the NASD
lacks the same level of trading activity and visibility as NGX.
National Coordinator of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mr. Boniface Okezie expressed skepticism on the company delisting from the Exchange.
“The NGX has better trading volumes. Visibility of companies and monitoring of stocks price movement for listed companies is easier on the NGX than other trading platforms. When you go
to other platforms, the equity movement may remain stagnant. Is that what they want? Such a move could potentially deter investors and affect their overall stock performance,” he said, cautioning that lower trading volumes on the NASD could impact MRS’s ability to meet its revenue and profit projections.
MRS’s transition to the NASD is expected to be completed within three months. In its delisting announcement, the company advised sharehold-
ers and the public to exercise caution when trading its shares until the process is finalized and officially communicated. This advisory may influence stock performance on the NGX in the period leading up to its eventual exit. While the company insists that delisting will lead to cost savings and operational flexibility, stakeholders argue that it could reduce market confidence and affect share liquidity, ultimately.
PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF APRIL/2/25
Gamin G Week
Edited by nseobonG okon-ekonG | gamingweek1117@gmail.com
| Tel: 08114495324
Nigeria’s Betting Industry Records Explosive Growth in Q1 2025
davidson abraham writes that Nigeria’s betting industry continues its upward trajectory, making it impossible to overlook its role in the country’s economy and digital landscape
The Nigerian betting industry has witnessed unprecedented growth in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting a dynamic shift in consumer engagement and technological adoption. With sports betting at the forefront, the sector continues to drive significant revenue and employment opportunities despite regulatory and economic challenges.
m arke T expansion and revenue surge
According to industry projections, Nigeria’s gambling market is set to reach an estimated $3.63 billion in revenue by the end of 2025. This growth is fueled by an increasing number of participants, favourable mobile penetration rates, and expanding internet connectivity. With over 60 million Nigerians placing bets daily, the industry remains a key contributor to the nation’s digital economy. Recent surveys indicate that approximately 51.73 per cent of the adult population engaged in sports betting over the last 12 months, underscoring its deep-rooted influence on society.
The mobile beTTing revoluTion As mobile technology continues to shape digital habits, Nigeria’s betting industry has seen a 92.8% adoption rate for online
and mobile app-based betting platforms. With over 90% of internet users accessing the web via mobile devices, this trend is expected to grow even further. Major platforms such as Bet9ja and Betking,
Gamr Lab Collaborates with French Embassy, UNILAG to Establish Nigeria’s First Video Games Training Hub
In a groundbreaking step toward transforming Nigeria into a gaming powerhouse, Gamr proudly announces the launch of Gamr Lab—Nigeria’s first full-spec video game development and esports.
With Africa’s gaming industry projected to surpass 186 million gamers by 2025 and Nigeria leading as a fast-growing market, Gamr Lab equips young African creatives with world-class skills for careers in video game development, design, content creation, and esports management.
As a cutting-edge learning and research hub, Gamr Lab combines instructional content, hands-on training, and interactive student engagement in video game design, esports broadcasting, and virtual production, preparing talent for the global gaming industry.
During the launch, Gamr Lab announced its first scholarship programme, sponsored by the French Embassy, offering 30 students the opportunity to enrol in the first training cohort starting in April 2025.
The Gamr Lab initiative is backed by leading institutions and organisations committed to empowering Africa’s next generation of video game development professionals, including Unreal Engine and HP, provide cutting-edge
software and hardware solutions to support video game development and esports training, the National Sports Commission (NSC), through its RHINSE initiative, supports Gamr Lab’s mission to integrate esports into Nigeria’s broader sports and digital economy, the University of Lagos, offers academic support, faculty mentorship, and industry-driven curriculum to ensure students gain real-world, hands-on experience.
In partnership with the French Embassy, Gamr Lab is located at the University of Lagos behind the Senate Building. This state-of-theart facility will serve as a hub for learning, innovation, and professional development. Gamr Lab provides a structured, hands-on training program focused on technical and business skills in the gaming industry.
Students will have access to high-performance gaming hardware and software to develop top-quality games, certificate programmes in video games design and development, content creation, and esports management, workshops, hackathons, and incubation programmes led by industry experts and internships, mentorship, and guest lectures from leading gaming and esports professionals.
In addition, Gamr Lab will host quarterly
game development cohorts throughout the year, kicking off in April 2025 with a focus on ‘Game Design and Development’. As part of the six-week curriculum, students will be challenged to design a real-life 2D or 3D game that creatively addresses realworld issues in Nigeria. The programme will also include soft skills training, game development workshops, and networking sessions with industry experts.
Beyond technical training, Gamr Lab aims to create a lasting impact on Africa’s digital economy. With additional webinars, foundational classes, and specialised training modules, the initiative aligns with Gamr’s broader commitment to empowering over one million young Africans with game development skills by 2030.
Gamr Lab is designed to serve as a launchpad for gaming professionals, offering weekly workshops on game design, storytelling, UI/UX, and soft skills training on branding, pitching, and career development. It also provides industry mentorship from leading game developers, esports professionals, and game incubation programmes to help students turn ideas into market-ready games.
the country’s most recognised sportsbooks, have capitalised on this shift by improving user experience through intuitive mobile applications, secure payment gateways, and artificial intelligence-driven analytics to enhance user engagement.
beTTing preferences and markeT Trends
Football remains the dominant force in Nigeria’s betting landscape, accounting for 75% to 85% of all wagers. The English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and domestic Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) continue to drive massive engagement from bettors across the country. Additionally, emerging trends such as eSports betting and virtual sports wagering are gaining traction, especially among younger demographics who are more inclined to have digital gaming experiences.
economic impacT and fuTure projecTions
The industry’s rapid expansion has sparked economic opportunities, with betting firms generating significant tax revenues for the government. Analysts predict that the market could surpass N800 billion in revenue by the end of the year, largely driven by increased technological innovations, mobile gaming enhancements, and evolving consumer preferences.
Despite its growth, the sector continues to face scrutiny over issues such as responsible gambling, addiction concerns, and the need for stricter regulatory frameworks. Industry stakeholders are calling for enhanced consumer protection policies and fair play measures to ensure sustainability and integrity.
• Abraham is a financial and sports industry analyst with expertise in betting markets and digital economies
Désiré Koussawo, Marianne Ournac, Eniola Edun, Christophe Pecot, Damilola Pedro
NNPC Welcomes New Board, NEITI Calls for Strengthening of Reforms
Transparency initiative seeks timely publication of financial statements
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Management and staff of NNPC yesterday welcomed the appointment of a new Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, and Board of Directors for the Company by President Bola Tinubu.
The company, in a statement in Abuja by its spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, appreciated the erstwhile board and wished them well in their future endeavours.
“We extend our profound appreciation to the outgoing Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, and the former board members for their selfless and dedicated service to the company and to the nation.
“Mr. Kyari’s leadership and tireless efforts have left an indelible
mark on NNPC Ltd., and we are sincerely grateful for his outstanding contributions. We wish him and all departing board members continued success and fulfilment in their future endeavours,” the statement added. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has congratulated Ojulari on his appointment as the GCEO of the NNPCL.
The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji stated that his appointment came at a critical time when the ongoing reforms in NNPC require renewed commitment, strategic leadership, and a firm dedication to transparency, accountability and corporate governance.
“NEITI recognises that NNPC, as Nigeria’s foremost national energy
TA rge TI ng eD u CATIO n, n u T r ITIO n, eCO
and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), yesterday signed a $175 million Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) agreement to aid industrial development, create jobs and drive economic transformation.
The Senate yesterday said the Repeal and Reenactment of the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 has set the stage for the $1 trillion economy proposed by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market, Senator Osita Izunaso, who also sponsored the bill for the enactment of the ISA, said this in an interview with journalists in Abuja.
For the ISA, Tinubu had said during his 2023 presidential campaign that he was aiming at a $1 trillion GDP
as the governor of Edo State.
The tribunal, in a unanimous judgement on Wednesday, held that the petitioners failed to prove their case of over-voting in 320 polling units across the 18 local government areas of the state where elections held, as well as the alleged non-compliance with the electoral laws.
But the petitioners, Asue Ighodalo and his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), vowed to challenge the judgement of the tribunal at the Court of Appeal.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
The electoral umpire said Okpebholo scored the majority of votes cast at the poll.
Dissatisfied with the declaration, PDP and its governorship candidate, Ighodalo, dragged the governor to the tribunal seeking to nullify the election on grounds of non-compliance with the electoral laws as well as over-voting.
However, delivering judgement yesterday in the petition, the three-member tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, held that the petitioners failed to prove their claim of non-compliance.
Kpochi, who delivered the lead judgement, observed that the claims of non-compliance was not proved because relevant witnesses were not called to give evidence of the alleged act of non-compliance.
In proving its claim of alleged over-voting, PDP and Ighodalo had called 19 witnesses, including collation agents and a research expert, and tendered polling units results, collation results, and other sensitive materials.
However, following a subpoena from the tribunal, INEC tendered the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine, which the petitioners claimed contained different results from the polling unit result sheets issued to party agents. But the unanimous decision faulted testimonies made by witnesses of the petitioners on the grounds that they were not competent witnesses since they were not the makers of any of the documents presented.
for the country by 2030.
The World Bank said the approved facility included $500 million in additional financing for the NIGERIA: Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Program; $80 million for Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN 2.0), and $500 million for Hope for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU).
It noted that the NG-CARES Program will support the Nigerian government in expanding access to livelihood support, food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and communities.
According to the Bretton Woods institution, financing for ANRIN aims to increase the utilisation of quality and cost-effective nutrition services
He tribunal faulted the, “Failure to call polling unit agents, ward agents or other registered voters that witnessed the alleged over-voting.”
According to the panel, “Out of the 19 witnesses called only five were polling unit agents, the remaining were ward and LGA collation agents. They are not direct eye witnesses of what transpired at the polling units.”
The court further faulted the petitioners for not speaking to the documents, “since documents does not speak for themselves.”
It added, “Where no evidence is made, it is not the duty of the tribunal to scrutinise the documents for the petitioners.”
The tribunal also held, “We are restrained from looking (open them and look at it).”
Explaining further, the tribunal held that to prove allegations of over-voting, a petitioner must tender three valid documents, namely, voter’s register, BVAS, and Form EC8A (polling unit result).
“How do you prove over-voting if you don’t know the number of the registered voters?” Kpochi asked.
Kpochi further observed that contrary to the position of the petitioners, evidence showed that there was pre-recording of sensitive materials used in the conduct of the election.
Concluding, the tribunal stated that all the pleading and evidence of the petitioners failed to substantiate their claims of non-compliance and over-voting, adding that the 19 witnesses called were far less than 25 per cent of the over 4,000 polling units where the election held.
He subsequently dismissed the claim of alleged non-compliance and over-voting made by the petitioners and went ahead to affirm the declaration of Okpebholo as the lawful winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
Earlier, the tribunal had also dismissed the petition filed by the Action Alliance (AA) challenging the victory of Okpebholo and APC.
The three-member panel dismissed the petition on the grounds that the case brought by AA was a pre-election matter and outside the jurisdiction of the panel.
Dissatisfied that Okpebholo was declared winner by INEC, the
company, plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the country’s oil and gas sector. As a member of the NEITI National Stakeholders’ Working Group (NSWG) and a key institution in Nigeria’s extractive industry, NNPC has a responsibility to ensure that the reforms initiated under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) are strengthened, broadened, and sustained in the public interest,” NEITI stated.
Orji added:“As a Supporting Company of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), NNPC must demonstrate unwavering commitment to openness, systematic disclosure of critical industry data, responsible resource management, and corporate governance best practices”.
for pregnant women and lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and children under five in select areas.
“The new financing for HOPE-EDU will focus on improving foundational learning, access to basic education, and strengthening education systems in the participating states,” the Bank said.
Initially designed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NG-CARES Program-for-Results (PforR) operation, which has reached over 15 million direct beneficiaries, has evolved into a shock-responsive platform providing multi-sectoral interventions for the poor and vulnerable.
Implemented at the subnational level across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the programme stimulates the local economy through social transfers, labour-intensive public works, livelihood grants, basic com-
petitioner, a factional chairman of AA, Adekunle Omoaja, citing alleged non-compliance and corrupt practices, had asked the tribunal to declare Okpebholo’s victory as illegal, unlawful, unconditional, null and void.
But, in a unanimous decision, the tribunal held that the case of the petitioner was without merit, incompetent, and frivolous. It added that Omoaje lacked the necessary legal power to approach the tribunal, having not participated in the governorship poll.
The tribunal also held that Omoaje’s grouse against the election was that he was not recognised as National Chairman of AA for the purpose of nominating a candidate for the poll. The panel held that his claims had no basis in the Electoral Act 2022.
While lawyers to Okpebholo hailed the judgement, describing it as upholding the voice of the people as expressed through the ballot, Ighodalo’s lawyers said they would approach the Court of Appeal
jubilation and excitement.
The new board as reported yesterday in THISDAY, included the GCEO, Bayo Bashir Ojulari, an ex- Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo)/Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited - the new owners of Shell’s onshore business in Nigeria. The leadership change that led to the exit of Mele Kyari and Chief Pius Akinyelure as GCEO and Chairman, respectively, brought in Musa Kida, an ex Deputy Managing Director of TotalEnergies as new Chairman of the national oil company.
Other members of the new board are Bello Rabiu - ex NNPC Group Executive Director (GED) for Upstream; Yusuf Usman, exNNPC GED for Gas & Power; Babs Omotowa - ex-Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG); David Ige, ex-NNPC GED for Gas & Power; Austin Avuru, Executive Chairman of AA Holdings Limited and founding Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy Plc; and Henry Obih, ex-NNPC GED for Downstream.
Expressing their thoughts on the
NEITI urged the new leadership to prioritise timely publication of NNPC’s financial statements, full disclosure of production data, operational costs, and revenue remittances to help rebuild public trust and enhance Nigeria’s global reputation.
It stressed: “Transparency in the management of oil and gas revenues remains critical to national development and ongoing poverty reduction efforts. The EITI process provides a tested framework for ensuring that revenues from natural resources are prudently managed, fully accounted for, and efficiently deployed to address Nigeria’s development needs.
“ We look forward to working closely with Mr. Ojulari and his
munity services, agriculture and food security interventions, and support to micro and small enterprises.
“The additional financing will strengthen the program’s extensive reach and positive impact, underscoring the need for continued support in the face of economic hardships, including those from the 2023 fuel subsidy reforms and foreign exchange rate unification.
“Aligned with Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021-2025), the Multisectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (2021-2025), and the Nutrition-774 initiative, ANRiN 2.0 offers an evidence-based, multisectoral approach to combatting malnutrition and food insecurity, focusing on maternal and child health, integrated nutrition services, and household food security.
for further redress.
However, basking in the euphoria of his victory, Okpebholo, who dedicated his victory to the people of Edo State, extended an olive branch to Ighodalo.
A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Fred Itua, said, “Governor Monday Okpebholo wishes to express his profound gratitude to the tribunal for its diligence and fairness.
“He also extends his sincere appreciation to the people of Edo State for their unwavering support and belief in his vision for a prosperous and united state.”
The statement quoted Okpebholo as saying, “This victory is not mine alone, but a victory for every citizen and resident of Edo State. It is a mandate to continue the work we have started, to build a state where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
“We remain committed to our promise of good governance, transparency, and inclusive development.”
development, JP Morgan’s analysts noted that the recent change in NNPCL management was a big step forward in the overall oil sector reform agenda.
“We have previously written about the visible benefits of privatising Nigeria’s downstream refined oil sector (see here). However, we believe a private sector-led NNPC would complement other oil reform efforts (e.g enacting the Petroleum Industry Act and removal of oil subsidies).
“While it may not result in a sharp increase in oil production in the near term, it should result in improved transparency and better flow of oil dollars to the government.
For now, the current account surplus remains large, US$17.5 billion last year, yet negative errors also remain large and limit the extent of FX reserve accumulation.
“The next catalyst is new NNPC FX financing arrangements, which should boost FX liquidity in the near term. Media reports suggest NNPC is in the final stages of agreeing another medium-term FX financing arrangement, collateralized with future oil output.
“If these arrangements are finalised
team in deepening the NEITI-EITI process in Nigeria and ensuring that NNPC continues to align with international best practices in corporate governance and financial transparency.”
NEITI also congratulated the newly reconstituted NNPC board and charged them to provide forward-looking strategic direction to fast-track the ongoing transformation of NNPC in line with the PIA.
The board’s role in ensuring that NNPC remains accountable to its shareholders—the Nigerian people, it said, is crucial to the long-term sustainability of the company and the industry at large.
Orji thanked the Mele Kyari team for their dedication and hardwork.
“On behalf of the NEITI National
“The program will increase utilisation of preventive and curative nutrition services, improve maternal and young child feeding practices and dietary diversity, increase access to micronutrient rich foods and provide essential nutritional support to vulnerable populations, mitigating the immediate risks of malnutrition and food insecurity.
“The initial ANRIN program reached over 13 million children under five with nutrition services between 2018 and 2024.
“HOPE-EDU is part of a series of three interrelated operations, alongside HOPE-Governance and HOPE-Primary Health Care.
“It aligns with the country’s Universal Basic Education program objectives and strategies. HOPE-EDU will support structured pedagogy approaches to foundational literacy and numeracy, create learning opportunities where school overcrowding impedes participation, and adopt decentralised allocation and management of Universal Basic Education Intervention Funds, school management, and system information.
The Program is expected to directly benefit 29 million children enrolled in public primary schools, 500,000 public primary teachers, and more than 65,000 public primary schools and their School-Based Management Committees.
“The Program will also receive co-financing in the amount of US$52.18 million from the Global Partnership for Education Fund,” the multilateral development institution stated.
Commenting on the approval, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Ndiamé Diop said: “Investing in human capital is critical for Nigeria as it offers the best opportunity to unlock the enormous potential of Nigeria. These new set of programs will help Nigeria to accelerate education quality and support to vulnerable citizens.
in the coming months, the NNPC could have up to US$9.5 billion in new financing, which could be used to clear arrears owed for petrol imports and potentially contribute to FX reserve rebuilding. However, while this financing arrangement had appeared imminent a few weeks ago, it is unclear what impact the change in management at the NNPC would have on its timing,” they added.
Also, some of the industry stakeholders, who spoke exclusively to THISDAY, including operators, contractors, oil service companies, explorationists and downstream players commended Tinubu for selecting and appointing some of the best constellation of seasoned professionals technocrats to lead NNPCL at this time.
They described the appointment as a new dawn and a game changer for the Nigerian oil and gas industry as well as a positive signal to international investors watching and waiting for the right time to come and invest in the country.
The stakeholders urged the Ojulariled NNPC management team and the board to expedite action towards completing the planned Initial Public
Stakeholders’ Working Group, we extend our appreciation to the outgoing GCEO, Mr. Mele Kyari, for his mutual respect, patience, and collaboration with NEITI over the past six years.
“His tenure was marked by significant engagements with NEITI in advancing corporate transparency, public disclosures, and aligning NNPC with the global EITI framework. We commend his service to the nation and wish him success in his future endeavours,” he added.
“The HOPE-EDU program will enable better education outcomes by implementing bold reforms and making the right investments to equip the fast-growing young population with foundational skills and knowledge necessary for rapid and inclusive economic growth.
.
“Nutrition interventions from ANRIN will enhance household access to micronutrient rich foods and nutrition services at primary healthcare level, improve dietary diversity, and provide essential nutritional support to vulnerable populations, mitigating the immediate risks of malnutrition and food insecurity.
“The NG-CARES additional financing will support the Nigerian government in transitioning from responding to and recovering from the COVID-19 crisis to building household and community resilience.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria and Japan have launched a strategic venture capital initiative that will channel naira-denominated investments into high-growth startups, shielding them from currency risks while unlocking access to long-term concessional financing.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, met with officials from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) yesterday, to finalise the framework of the fund, which has now received formal approval from the Japanese government.
The Ministry of Finance confirmed the development via a statement issued by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga.
The NSIA CEO, Aminu UmarSadiq confirmed that the initiative satisfies two key conditions set by Edun: mitigating foreign exchange volatility by investing in naira and
Offer (IPO) of the company. They also urged the new team to sustain the current tempo in oil and gas production growth, boost investor confidence in the company and the industry and enhance the transparency and competitiveness of NNPC.
They equally commended the president for appointing a competent surgical team to clean up the abnormalities in NNPC and make it to function properly as a fully commercial, profit-oriented and globally competitive oil company with best operating standards.
In its remarks on the new appointment, the Petroleum Contractors Trade Section (PCTS) in a note sent to THISDAY by its Chairman, Rosario Osobase, said the group “warmly welcomes the reconstitution of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the appointment of Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari as Group Chief Executive Officer.”
It said this well-curated leadership team, composed of seasoned industry
Tr
Bayo Ojulari, Group CEO,NNPC
VISIT OF THE DELEGATION FROM ST KITTS AND NEVIS TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT...
L-R:
Sultan Saad Abubakar to Governors: Emulate Sokoto Govt, Treat all Nigerians as Indigenes
As state parliament lauds Aliyu over many devt projects, zero borrowing
Innocent in
Sultan Muhammad Saad Abubakar has urged other state Governors across the federation to emulate Gov. Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State by removing the non-indigenes syndrome in the interest of the nation.
He made the call during his Sallah homage on Governor Ahmed Aliyu at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Lodge, Sokoto.
He said in Sokoto all Nigerians
are treated as indigenes, an act that gives Nigerians residing in the state a sense of belonging. In another development, the Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim Kware, has commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.
He gave the commendation when he led the members of the legislature on Sallah homage on
Governor Aliyu.
“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, in the Sultan’s words: “In Sokoto, we don’t have non-indigenes, but rather members of the resident communities, he added.
The monarch, therefore, called on other states to copy this pattern so as to further foster sustainable peace, harmony and good brotherhood
among all Nigerians.
Sultan Sa’ad also stressed the need for state governors to give much emphasis in protecting the lives and property of their subjects, describing security as the basis upon which all societies could progress.
“In Sokoto, we appreciate what the governor is doing and we’d like to assure him of the support of the traditional institution so that he can continue the good work he’s doing in transforming our state.
“The governor and our security
Amnesty International Warns FG Not to Harass, Intimidate Chidi Odinkalu
Wale Igbintade
Amnesty International has condemned the call by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that the Body of Benchers should prevail on the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to sanction the former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, for attacking the judiciary and it called “degrading the legal profession.”
In a statement published on its Facebook page sighted by THISDAY, the rights organisation warned against the harassment and intimidation of Odinkalu by any agent of the federal government for doing his human rights work and the peaceful exercise of his right
to freedom of expression.
One of the functions of the Body of Benchers is the discipline of erring lawyers in Nigeria, which is carried out through the LPDC.
The international watchdog said it was concerned about the abuse of the Body of Benchers as a tool to stifle peaceful dissent in the country.
It also warned that no lawyer should ever be sanctioned or punished simply for the peaceful exercise of their human rights and carrying out their professional duties.
The group further warned that all lawyers in Nigeria should be allowed to freely exercise their human rights and carry out their legitimate professional activities without fear of reprisals.
It advised the government to stop misusing the justice system to
shut down peaceful dissent, adding that it must at all times ensure the human rights of everyone and the independence of the legal profession in the country.
“The right to freedom of expression is guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.
“Chidi Odinkalu’s harassment undermines the independence of the legal profession and exemplifies the increasing repression of civic space and attacks against human rights defenders and activists in the country.
“Human rights defenders and activists continue to face intimidation and harassment and politically
Women of Destiny Conference 2025 Kicks Off in Lagos
Wale Igbintade
Daystar Christian Centre is set to host its highly anticipated Women of Destiny Conference (WoDC) 2025 on April 5th and 6th, 2025, at the church’s main auditorium, Plot A3C, Ikosi Road, Oregun, Lagos.
This year’s theme, “Beautified,” calls women to embrace transformation, restoration, and elevation in every area of their lives.
In a world where beauty is often defined by fleeting standards, WoDC 2025 redefines true beauty - rooted in identity, purpose, and inner radiance. The conference will feature an
inspiring lineup of speakers, including: Pastor Nike Adeyemi, convener of WoDC, a global voice of wisdom and transformation and Betty Irabor, renowned media entrepreneur and inspirational speaker, sharing insights on resilience and purpose.
Panelists Grace Ashama and Mrs. Sweeney Mbelu, will offer practical perspectives on navigating life’s challenges.
Music minister Adeyinka Alaseyori, will lead a worship experience designed to uplift and inspire.
Speaking on this year’s theme, Pastor Nike Adeyemi emphasised that true beauty is not just about
appearance but about deep, inner transformation.
“God’s beauty is not merely outward; it is a transformative work that empowers us to shine in every area of life. At WoDC 2025, women will be encouraged to rise above societal limitations and walk confidently in their divine purpose,” she said.
The conference promises lifechanging teachings, engaging panel discussions, soul-lifting worship, and opportunities for meaningful connections. Open to all women - single or married, young or old, professionals or homemakers - no registration is required.
motivated prosecution. The blatant disregard by the authorities of their constitutional and international human rights obligations must stop.
“Nigerian authorities should immediately stop the intimidation and harassment against Chidi Odinkalu and allow him to freely exercise his human rights and carry out his professional duties without interference or fear of reprisal.
“Authorities should stop misusing the justice system to shut down peaceful dissent. Authorities must uphold and ensure the human rights of everyone and the independence of the legal profession in the country.”
agencies are doing their best and this has made the state to record tremendous improvement in the fight against banditry,” the Sultan averred.
He also commended Governor Aliyu for the massive distribution of food items during the just-concluded Ramadan fast, which he said has never happened in Sokoto State.
He also called on Nigerians to always be law-abiding and desist from any act that may geopardise the long-lasting peace the country is enjoying.
The President General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, further frowned at the way and manner some unpatriotic citizens use social media to spread falsehood, misinformation and provocative statements that can destroy the peaceful atmosphere the country is enjoying.
He therefore called on the security agencies in the country to be watchful of the unpatriotic citizens trying to create chaos in the land.
Responding, Governor Ahmed Aliyu reassured his administration’s determination to do everything humanly possible to make the state safe and secured.
He blamed unemployment especially among the youths as responsible for the insecurity being recorded in many parts of the country.
According to Aliyu, many youths have joined informants’ groups to be
getting stipends to make ends meet.
“This administration has so far trained and graduated thousands of youths and women in different trades so as to make them productive members in the society.
“I want to assure you that we would soon embark on another massive skills acquisition programme to engage more unemployed youths in our modest attempt to reduce restiveness among our youths,” he vowed
Gov. Aliyu further reassured the people of the state that his administration would continue to prioritize Islamic affairs, adding that more Mosques and Islamiyya schools would continue to receive the desired attention from the state government.
He thanked the people of the state for their fervent prayers and support to his administration and called for its sustenance.
Meanwhile, according to the Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim Kware, Governor Aliyu’s prudent financial footing is worthy of commendation considering the myriad peopleoriented projects the governor is executing across the state.
Also commenting on behalf of the state’s Judiciary, the Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.
Michael Olugbode
Air Algerie is to commence direct flight from Algiers, the capital of Algeria to Abuja, to fly inaugural flight into Nigeria’s capital on Sunday 6th April.
A statement by the acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa on Wednesday read: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pleased to announce the commencement of Air Algerie inaugural direct flight service from Algiers to Abuja, scheduled for 6th April 2025.
“This historic development marks a significant milestone in the growing diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and Algeria. It is pertinent to state that it is the implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between both countries, which culminated in
this successful venture.”
The statement added: “The new route, operated by the Algeria’s national carrier, Algerie Air with a Boeing 737 Aircraft, will positively enhance connectivity, promote tourism, and facilitate trade and investment between the two nations.
“This landmark development equally underscores the shared commitment of both countries to deepening bilateral cooperation in aviation, commerce, and people-to-people exchanges.”
The ministry commended the significant role played by the Embassy of Nigeria in Algiers for not only facilitating this noble goal but also seeing to its fruition, the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Nigeria in Algiers, leadership of the Nigerian Community in Algeria and representative of the Algerian
Government are expected to be on board the scheduled inaugural flight.
The statement further read: “The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant aviation authorities, extends its warm congratulations to Air Algerie and assures all necessary support to ensure the success and sustainability of this new service.
“We believe this initiative will further strengthen the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and Algeria, while opening new opportunities for mutual growth.
“The affordable fare structure and the proximity of Algeria to Europe would also provide Nigerians with a convenient gateway to Europe, thereby enhancing Nigeria’s position as a regional hub for business, tourism, and transit.
Minister of Agriculture, Republic of St Kitts and Nevis, Sammal Duggins; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Drew; Deputy Senate Whip, Onyekachi Nwebonyi; and Chairman, Senate Committee on NDDC, Asuquo Ekpenyong, during the visit of the delegation from St Kitts and Nevis to the Senate President in Abuja
in Abuja
Onuminya
Sokoto
WELCOME BACK HOME...
L-R: Enugu East Zonal Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Nnamdi Nwafor; Deputy Chairman, PDP, Enugu State, Barr. Steve Oruruo; former gubernatorial candidate of the Labour
to the PDP at Government House, Enugu, yesterday
Welcome Home, Gov Mbah Receives Edeoga Back to PDP
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Wednesday, welcomed the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 governorship election, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, back into the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, fold, commending the ex-opposition flagbearer for demonstrating that politics is not a do-or-die affair.
Mbah said that Edeoga’s return to the PDP was in line with the party’s principle of reconciliation and making the people, not personal ambition, the focus of governance, urging him and his supporters to feel very much at home.
This was even as the former gubernatorial candidate endorsed Mbah as the popular choice of the
people of Enugu State, stressing that he had fully aligned with that choice.
Receiving Edoega in his office, in the company of party leaders led by the state party chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike, Mbah said, “Welcome back home. The symbolism of your action is a mark of the enduring bond that runs in our party. I am indeed very delighted to have you back to rejoin your family.
“What we are witnessing today is a result of fence-mending consistent with the philosophy of our party – the imperatives of reconciliation.
“It is also a demonstration on your part that politics is not a do-or-die affair; that what we are currently doing
S TA ke H ol D er S , JP Morg A n’ S An A lYSTS
professionals, underscores Tinubu’s commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s oil and gas sector for sustained growth and global competitiveness.
While extending their heartfelt congratulations to the newly appointed board members, PCTS noted that with such a brilliant lineup of expertise, the board stands on the precipice of history with the tremendous opportunity to tap into their wealth of industry knowledge available to transform NNPCL into a globally competitive entity, aligning with leading national oil companies globally.
The group added, “We also commend the outgoing board members for their invaluable contributions over the years. Their dedication and service have laid a strong foundation upon which the new board is poised to build, ensuring continuity and progress in the sector.
“Having professionally known the incoming GCEO, Engr. Ojulari during his tenure as Managing Director of SNEPCo, members of the PCTS remain confident in his strategic foresight and leadership capabilities. Under his guidance, NNPCL is well-positioned to optimise its assets and joint venture partnerships, ensuring alignment with the President’s vision to maximise value across the industry.
“For the continued success of NNPCL, the establishment of a strong, inclusive and transparent governance framework remains critical. A well-balanced board that embraces a diverse range of perspectives and expertise will provide the necessary foundation for the company’s long-term resilience and success in a dynamic global market.
“As a stakeholder in the sector,
PCTS remains committed to supporting the ongoing transformative efforts of His Excellency and looks forward to collaborating with NNPCL and other stakeholders to advance Nigeria’s energy sector.”
Reacting to the development, the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) expressed its profound appreciation to President Tinubu for the recent appointment of a new board and management team for the NNPCL.
In a statement signed by its President, Mr. Johnbosco Uche, NAPE commended the president for taking this bold step towards repositioning the oil and gas industry for greater efficiency, transparency, and profitability.
The statement read in part, “The appointment of Bayo Bashir Ojulari as the new Group CEO, alongside Ahmadu Musa Kida as NonExecutive Chairman, is a testament to the President’s commitment to excellence and his desire to drive growth in the sector.
“NAPE is delighted to observe that the newly appointed board comprises seasoned professionals, including Austin Avuru, a former President of NAPE who has held esteemed top management positions within the oil and gas industry.
“The new board’s mandate to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, and increase commercial viability aligns with NAPE’s goals and aspirations for the industry. We are confident that the new team will bring the necessary expertise and experience to drive the oil and gas sector forward.
“We also applaud the President’s efforts to ensure that the new board reflects the country’s geopolitical zones, promoting inclusivity and representation. This move demon-
in Enugu State appeals to you and you believe that it is working for the interest of the people and you have taken that decision to say, ‘Look, let us join hands together and serve our people.’
“I commend you greatly for making such a courageous bold step. The lesson for us is quite profound, as it shows that the common denominator even when we express our aspirations on different political platforms, is all about the people and making them the centerpiece of our ambitions.
“So, we will embrace you with our arms wide open. You are going to be treated as a member of PDP, which we know you are indeed. We look
strates the President’s commitment to fairness, equity, and national unity.
“Once again, NAPE commends President Tinubu for this laudable achievement and pledges its support for the new NNPC Board and Management Team. We look forward to collaborating with them to achieve the desired growth and development in the oil and gas sector.”
Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) and Managing Director of Geoplex, Mr. Wole Ogunsanya, commended the choice of the new NNPC board, describing the new GCEO, an an experienced exploration and production engineer, who rose to the level of the Managing Director of SNEPCo.
According to Ogunsanya, Ojulari is coming in to help and continue to drive the increase of production of oil and gas that Nigeria needs to not only meet the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota, but to also be able to have enough feedstock supply for the indigenous refineries.
He stated, “You recollect that our production was at 1.2 million barrels per day in 2023. We’ve managed to grow it to 1.8 million bpd. So, we have an experienced person in place now that can continue that growth path.
“And on the board, for the first time that we can recollect in NNPC history, we have a board of seasoned professionals. Virtually everybody on that board is an experienced oil and gas executive in their career -from ex-NNPC executives to private sector, high-level executives coming in.
“The chairman of the board is a former Managing Director of Total. We know the excellent job he did in TotalEnergies over the years before he retired. So, he’s bringing a wealth
forward to working with you in the service of our people.”
Edeoga, on his part, commended Governor Mbah for making his return possible, describing it as a paradigm shift from politics of animosity and winner takes all to politics of empathy and people-centred development.
“I thank Your Excellency for overseeing the process that has culminated in my return to the PDP and my visit to your office. It is easy to downplay what has happened.
“But something like this has not happened in the annals of politics in Enugu State. I commend your wisdom, I commend your empathy, I commend your mental sagacity.
of experience to help manage the board of NNPC.
“So, it’s a major step in the oil industry. The level of leadership that we have in place is going to give major investor confidence to all stakeholders, both within and outside the country. It speaks volumes that Nigeria oil and gas is ready for business with this combination of management and board that we have in NNPC.”
Also, a former Chairman of PETAN and Managing Director of CB Geophysical Limited, Mr. BankAnthony Okoroafor, told THISDAY that the new NNPC team was the best decision that any President of Nigeria has taken in the history of oil and gas in the country.
He said, “We are excited, we are happy. The oil and gas industry because this is the first time we are putting the right people in the right position. The GCEO and the entire board are seasoned industry technocrats who have worked for more than 35-40 years in upstream. It’s the best decision ever taken by a sitting president.
“The new GCEO excelled as the MD of SNEPCo before he retired. He basically structured everything for Renaissance, the company bought Shell’s onshore business. He understands how to grow production. He understands how to manage production. So, he’s seasoned.”
In his remarks in a chat with THISDAY, Managing Partner at ENR Advisory, a specialist law firm focused on the energy and natural resources sectors, Mr. Gbite Adeniji, stated, “Today (yesterday) is Nigeria’s birthday because all of us are celebrating. It’s a strong signal that we’re about to turn into the direction of correctness. The ship
“What has happened here today will effect a paradigm shift in the way politics is played in Enugu State. It will no longer be winner takes all or politics being seen as a hostile or brutal activity. It has restored politics as just a contest of ideas and visions.
These contesting visions were thrown open to the public and the people of Enugu State have made their choice, which I completely align myself with.
“Politics should be played without bitterness; it should be played without animosity and as much humanely as possible. Once the victor has emerged, the next thing is governance.
“The governance is ongoing and
is now about to turn for success.
“NNPC, as you know, is in the heart of Nigeria’s economy. So, you see the quality of that board? It’s the best board in any public corporation.
“Just look across it. It’s a constellation of stars, of professionals, who have achieved a lot, who have experience and knowledge of the industry.
“A whole mix of global experience of full understanding of NNPC and the system. And also proves that Nigeria has people in every corner. Nigeria has solid people in every corner.”
Also, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE) described the assemblage of an entirely new board for the NNPC limited as a signal of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration commitment to chart a new course for the corporation that has stagnated Nigeria’s economic progress.
Commenting on the leadership change at the NNPC, the Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, said the quality of the governance and management of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has been the bane of the country’s economic progress over the past few decades, adding that if Nigeria must change the narrative, it must get it right with the governance and management of the NNPC.
Yusuf said: “Recent changes in the NNPC signals the commitment of the present administration to chart a new course.
“The new management team is populated by professionals with proven record of performance in the private sector segment of oil and gas sector. They are, therefore, expected to change the face of the sector.
it is going very well. When it is time for politics, people are free to pursue their dreams. For now, it is time for governance.
“Anyone, who feels annoyed or deeply angered that Edeoga has taken this step of faith, I believe with time, they will align with the superior wisdom of those who are their leaders. Leadership comes with responsibilities and one of these responsibilities is to take a step of faith.
“Again, thank you for making my return to the PDP possible. I recommit myself to the ideals of PDP. As much as possible, I will work to ensure that PDP becomes victorious going forward,” he said.
“We would like to see an NNPC that is comparable to its peers like Saudi Aramco, China National Petroleum Corporation, PETRONAS etc.
“We expect to see a dramatic improvement in corporate governance, better optimisation of oil and gas assets, and PPP investment framework that would drive efficiency, productivity and profitability.
“We would also like to see an end to refineries that have become a huge burden rather than assets on the economy.”
He added that the imperative of fostering the highest standards of corporate governance should be the topmost priority for the incoming board of NNPC.
“The listing of the NNPC Limited on both national and international stock exchanges would reinforce the desired corporate governance standards.
“However, all of these would be difficult to achieve if the political environment does not complement the realisation of this vision.
“It is, therefore, very critical that the independence of the new NNPC is guaranteed with zero tolerance for interference from the political leadership, the National Assembly and the bureaucracy. These are critical success factors,” Yusuf said. He observed that the country has not been able to leverage its huge oil and gas resources to advance the economic development frontiers as many other oil producing countries have done.
“Our peers as oil producing countries have done much better – United Arab Emirate, Norway, Saudi Arabia, etc. We have largely succeeded in building a huge rent economy around our oil and gas sector,” he said.
Party (LP), Hon. Chijioke Edeoga; Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah; Chairman, PDP, Enugu State, Dr. Martins Chukwunweike; and State Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Chukwudi Nnadozie, when Governor Mbah received and welcomed his former rival back
INAUGURATION OF HEALTHCARE CLINIC...
L-R: Member, Gbemi Akinfenwa Foundation (GAF), Mrs. Morenike Fasanya; Member, GAF, Mrs. Ifeoluwa Adeoti; Secretary, GAF, Chief (Mrs.) Buky Omololu; Chairman of Gateway Sparklight Residents Association, Magboro, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Mr. Philip Olofinsawe; and Member, GAF, Pastor Wole Adeoti, during the inauguration of a healthcare clinic built by Gateway Sparklight Estate residents, Magboro, and fully equipped by the Gbemi Akinfenwa Foundation, held at Gateway Sparklight Estate, Magboro, Ogun State… recently
I’ll Never Compromise Peace and Security for Rallies in Bayelsa, Vows Gov Douye Diri
Says his administration not against rallies Ijaw
Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Emma Okonji and Agnes Ekebuike in Lagos
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has reiterated his commitment to peace and security, saying they cannot be compromised for political rallies.
Diri also said his administration would always abide by the constitution of the country in respecting the fundamental rights of individuals.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, said the governor made the comments yesterday at the 158th State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Yenagoa. The governor eaxplained that his administration would not stop any group from holding rallies in the state. But he emphasised that such rallies would be unwise and counterproductive at a time lasting peace was being sought and attempts were
being made to address the political crisis in neighbouring Rivers State.
He said Rivers and Bayelsa were sister states and whatever happened in Rivers had a ripple effect in Bayelsa.
Diri enjoined well-meaning Bayelsans to work with the government in maintaining law and order in the state.
He stated, “Let me make this clear. We are not a government that goes against the rule of law. We cherish and protect the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. And in so doing, we abide by every bit of the constitution.
leader warns, says safety not guaranteed they want to hold a mega rally and all that here.
“A state of emergency has been imposed in Rivers State. President Bola Tinubu has the power to do so. All we can do from our end is to see how we can bring lasting peace to Rivers State.
“Bayelsa and Rivers are sister states and whatever happens there has some degree of effect on our state and vice versa. And then some persons say
Kanyeyachukwu Receives Guinness World Record Certificate for Largest Artwork by Individual
Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, aged 15, a Nigerian artist, on Wednesday received the Guiness Works Record certificate for the largest artwork ever.
Kanyeyachukwu had on 24th November 2024 broken the Guiness World Record for the largest canvas painting, when he painted on 12,303.87-square metre canvas to dust the previous record of 9,632 square metres.
The project is meant to promote campaign in support of autism and mental health awareness.
Speaking at the unveiling of the largest ever artwork by an individual and presentation of certificate by Guinness World Record Organisation, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hanatu Musawa, said the feat is proof that with the right opportunity and guidance, young Nigerians can achieve the unimaginable.
She said: “It is with great joy
that I stand before you today, as we come together to celebrate an extraordinary achievement. Today, we are not only witnessing the breaking of a world record, but also the triumph of determination, perseverance, and the unrelenting spirit of the Nigerian youth.
“We are here to honor fifteen (15) year old Kanyeyachukwu TagboOkeke, a young Nigerian prodigy if I may say, who has shown the world what is possible when passion meets hard work. By breaking this world record, Kanyeyachukwu has not only set a new record but has also demonstrated to us all that age is no barrier to greatness.”
The Minister stressed her ministry “is committed to nurturing and supporting the talents of young people such as Kanye. His achievement today is proof that with the right opportunity and guidance, our young people can achieve the unimaginable.”
She noted that Kanyeyachukwu’s achievement is for the entire nation,
adding that “It is indeed a historic and inspiring milestone.”
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa in his remarks described the feat as further attestation of the renewed hope and resilience of the Nigerian people.
Musa noted that Kanye’s success is a pointer on the need for prioritising talents, discovering and making concerted efforts to support gifted individuals with appropriate platforms that will showcase and elevate them to limelight.
“This is particularly important as Nigeria faces contemporary security threats that require both kinetic and non-kinetic measures,” he added.
He added: “Today’s event offers us another dimension to tackling insecurity through non-kinetic means. By nurturing and showcasing talents, we can easily win the hearts and minds of people, encouraging them to embrace legitimate endeavours that project their image positively, rather than resulting to crime and
Debo Adesina Loses Mother, Deaconess Esther, at Age 90
Sunday Ehigiator
Mother of Ambassador Debo Adesina, the immediate past Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Togo and formerly Editor-in-Chief/Chief Operating Officer of The Guardian Newspapers, Deaconess Esther Taiwo Adesina, has passed away at the age of 90 on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
According to a statement from the family, Deaconess Adesina was
a woman of exceptional character, known for her unwavering faith, compassion, and selflessness.
As a long-time deaconess of the Baptist Church, she embodied the values of righteousness and hard work, leaving an indelible mark on her family and community.
“She is survived by her children (biological and adopted).” Further information shall be made known by the family in due course.
acts of terror as a means to make their voices heard.
“As we join other great Nigerians to celebrate the Guinness Book of World Records, let us be ever reminded that indeed, impossibility is only a myth.
“Kanye’s journey is a compelling narrative of determination, creativity, and perseverance. Despite the challenges associated with autism, he has defied limitations and redefined the artistic world.”
The Deputy Secretary General, United Nations, Amina Mohammed noted that the unveiling of the artwork did not only break records but also barriers.
“We are not yet in a political season. I am not stopping anybody from exercising his fundamental human rights but as the chief security officer of the state, and with information at my disposal, we must keep the peace of the state. Nobody should come and rock the peace and security of this state.”
The governor stated that the proper protocol for such rallies should be followed by first informing the state government just as wife of the president and First Lady did before her visit to the state on Thursday on the invitation of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He urged people of the state to turn out en masse to accord the first lady a rousing reception.
Similarly, President of Ijaw National Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba, warned that the planned rally in Bayelsa State could spark violence, saying there is no guarantee for safety of lives.
Speaking yesterday during an interview on the The Morning Show of ARISE News Channels, Okaba said while the right to assemble was constitutionally guaranteed, security concerns must be prioritised.
“Anybody has the right to convene a meeting. It is a constitutional right. But if there are security issues tied to it, we should pay attention to those issues,” Okaba stated.
The controversy stemmed from a
planned rally organised by supporters of former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, which was met with opposition from factions loyal to the Bayelsa State governor. The state government, citing security concerns, opposed the gathering, warning that it could lead to instability. Okaba supported this stance on the grounds that Diri was the chief security officer of the state.
The INC president said Wike’s political manoeuvres had long been perceived as a deliberate effort to disrupt governance in the Niger Delta. He stated, “Wike has insulted the sensitivity of the Ijaw people to the extent that we are even trying to examine the mental state and DNA of those who are still supporting him. Bayelsa is sacred to the Ijaw people. You cannot come here to desecrate our land.”
The professor further elaborated on Wike’s past statements, particularly his alleged threats to bring “fire” to any state that opposed him. He questioned why such an individual should be allowed to hold a political event in Bayelsa.
“Would any responsible leader allow such a person to come in and incite trouble?” he asked.
Okaba said, “This is not a threat. It is an assessment of possibilities. As a professor of sociology and conflict resolution, my duty is to provide early warning signals. There are people beyond our control who may react in ways that escalate the situation.”
Anambra, Edves Partner to Power 22 Pilot Smart Schools with AI Infrastructure
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has said his administration is setting a new benchmark in education transformation with the deployment of Edves, an Artificial Intelligence-powered digital infrastructure designed to revolutionise teaching, learning and administration across the 22 pilot Smart Schools in all 22 local government areas.
The governor in a statement said the landmark initiative was not just about digitising education, but about redefining pedagogy by integrating artificial intelligence, data-driven insights, and automation to enhance teaching effectiveness and student engagement.
Speaking recently at the launch
of the programme, Soludo said that unlike conventional EdTech solutions that primarily streamline administrative processes, Edves is teacher-centred and studentfocused, empowering educators to leverage AI for personalized instruction, adaptive learning, and deep inquiry-based education.
According to him, “Embedding Project-Based Learning (PBL) at the core of this transformation, Anambra State ensures that students are not just memorizing facts but actively solving real-world problems, collaborating, and developing essential 21st-century skills such as creativity, critical thinking, and innovation.
“With AI augmenting classroom experiences, teachers can curate dynamic lesson plans, track
learning progress with predictive analytics, and create immersive, interactive learning environments that cater to the diverse needs of students.
“With Edves we are setting a new benchmark in education transformation with the deployment of an Artificial Intelligence-powered digital infrastructure designed to revolutionise teaching, learning and administration across the 22 pilot Smart Schools in all 22 local government areas.
“This strategic partnership with Edves represents a forwardthinking approach to education reform, ensuring that Anambra’s Smart Schools become a model of excellence, where technology serves as an enabler of knowledge, inquiry, and student-driven discovery.
Oluchi Chibuzor
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
Debo Adesina
WINNER OF ART GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS...
Akpoti-Uduaghan: Akpabio, Bello Using
Fake Constituents to Initiate Recall Process
SDP
The senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has maintained that President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, initiated her recall process using fake constituents.
In a statement yesterday, AkpotiUduaghan said all available evidence and facts pointed directly to Bello as the mastermind behind the recall move.
She cited Bello’s past actions before and during the 2023 general election, when he was accused of orchestrating multiple attacks against her, then as a candidate.
The senator described the recall attempt as a continuation of Bello’s political vendetta against her, and challenged Bello to tell the world where he manufactured the names of those fake constituents calling for her recall.
Akpoti-Uduaghan said in the statement, “I will advise the former governor to rather focus on clearing his name over allegations of fraudulent diversion of N89.2 billion,
instead of attempting to destabilise the mandate given to me by the people of Kogi Central.
“The former governor’s hands are already full with corruption allegations, yet he is still bent on frustrating the will of the people.
“His actions before and during the last general election, where he sponsored numerous attacks against me, are well documented. This recall attempt is nothing but another ploy to undermine the people’s will.
“It is now very clear to the whole world how popular I am in my constituency. The powers that be did try to suppress the will of the people but my people emphatically said no. No to injustice, no to exploitation of women, no to fake recall, no to Yahaya Bello and his allies.
“They (my people) came out en masse to resist government intimidations. We thank them for the massive show of love. We also thank our oppressors because their actions have now made them more unpopular while we gained more support.
“As for me, I will do more for my people. I will not betray them. I will continue to give my best and
they should be rest assured of our best representation all the time.”
A chieftain of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Isaiah Ijele, accused the Kogi State government of fear and political intimidation following its last-minute ban on public gather-
ings ahead of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s homecoming rally. Speaking on ARISE NEWS, Ijele dismissed the government’s security concerns as a mere cover-up. He insisted that the reason behind the restrictions was the growing influence
of Akpoti-Uduaghan. Ijele stated, “They are jittery.
They are afraid of the charisma, the ambience, and everything that Senator Natasha carries. She is a young lady.
“I can tell you, among the people
on that floor of the senate, the person that has won elections, clean, clear, devoid of all those games that they played against us in 2023, is Senator Natasha. She has the grassroots. She has the people. And that is why they are afraid.”
APC: Revelation by Ex-Rivers HoS on Bombing of State Assembly Vindicates Us
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State said the recent revelation by former Head of Service of the state, Dr. George Nwaeke, about the bombing of the House of Assembly had vindicated the party.
Self-imposed factional Rivers State APC chairman, Tony Okocha, in a statement in Abuja, said Nwaeke’s revelations and testimonies on how the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his squad allegedly bombed the House of Assembly was an eyewitness account.
TA rge TI ng eD uc ATI on, n u T r ITI on, e conom
securing first-loss or grant capital to de-risk private investment.
Umar-Sadiq stated that, “with JICA’s support, this is not just a proposed solution—it’s a fully approved, ready-to-launch initiative.” Umar-Sadiq added.
JICA Director General, Takao Shimokawa announced that diplomatic agreements would be signed within weeks, with full implementation expected thereafter.
Edun welcomed the development, describing it as a timely response to Nigeria’s youthful demography.
“This fund provides critical financial backing across the capital structure—from equity to debt—and is aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for inclusive economic growth,” he stated.
The federal government and UNIDO, yesterday signed a $175 million PCP agreement to aid industrial development, create jobs and drive economic transformation.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning (BEP) Senator Abubakar Bagudu who signed on behalf of the federal government, said the four-year partnership, 2024-2028, marked a milestone in the government’s
and UNIDO’s efforts to strengthen industrial growth, create jobs and drive economic transformation.
He said the initiative aims to enhance Nigeria’s industrial capacity, drive technological innovation, and promote environmentally sustainable industrial practices.
The minister pointed out that the programme, would also provide economic opportunities that would impact Nigerians, particularly youths and marginalised groups. Bagudu explained that the PCP has a funding strategy of 85.7 percent or about $150 million from donor/partners mobilised by UNIDO. On the other hand, the federal government provides counterpart funding of 14.3 per cent or about $25 million.
The minister further disclosed that Nigeria has so far made a financial commitment of $1.28 million as payment to UNIDO.
He urged all stakeholders including development partners, private sector and civil society to work collaboratively to ensure a seamless implementation of the programme.
In a statement by the ministry’s Director Information and Public Relations, Osagie Jacobs, the minister commended UNIDO for its steadfast partnership and unwavering support for Nigeria’s industrial agenda. In his remarks, Minister of State for
Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, expressed hope that UNIDO would serve as a technical and strategic partner in driving the Industrial Revolution Work Group (IRWG).
Enoh also urged the stakeholders to, “Let us move together from potential to productivity, from agreement to execution, from policy to prosperity” as PCP is implemented.
The Director General of UNIDO Mr. Gerd Muller, stated that UNIDO has the mandate of ensuring industrial development of member states through the PCP, stressing the pursuit of Goal 9 as its core aspiration.
He said Nigeria has the potential to be the economic powerhouse in Africa.
The PCP focuses on a select number of priority areas essential to the government’s industrial development agenda, particularly job creation, availability of raw materials, export potential and ability to attract investments.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi, noted that the series of engagements between the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments (FMITI) and UNIDO, had solidified government’s commitment to laying a firm foundation for the take-off of PCP in the country.
President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Francis
Okocha stated, “The public revelation made by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service in Rivers State a few days ago, on how the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara initiated and authored the bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly has vindicated the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
“It is important to state here for purposes of emphasis, and for clarity, that Dr. George Nwaeke as the Head of Service in Rivers State at the time, was the number three man in the state, and as such, his account as stated by
Meshionye, who spoke on behalf of the private sector, hoped that manufacturers in the country will access funding from the programme.
He pledged MAN’s support in achieving key pillars of the country programme. He prayed for more impactful projects that will improve the manufacturing sector in the country.
Senate: New Investment & Security Act to Propel Tinubu’s $1trn Economy
Commenting further on the ISA 2025, Izunaso said the bill, which was assented to last week by Tinubu would end all forms of Ponzi schemes in Nigeria but grow the digital assets as well as cryptocurrency
He explained, “The Investment and Securities Act that has just been signed by Mr. President is a holistic enactment because we repealed the 2007 ISA and re-enacted it in 2025, with the aim of resetting the entire investment and securities law in Nigeria.
“With what we have done, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the digital assets as well as cryptocurrency has now been recognised as a form of security in Nigeria.
“This means that people can now trade with digital assets, people can now do cryptocurrency and it will be properly regulated by Security and Exchange Commission.
him cannot be hearsay.”
Okocha said as if that was not enough, Fubara went a step further in less than 48 hours after the bombing to personally supervise the pulling down of the Assembly complex, while his supporters cheered him on.
He stressed that tax payers’ money in Rivers State was wasted in a manner that could not be forgotten in a hurry amid scarce resources, and global economic crunch.
Okocha pointed out that Nweke, in a press release issued recently, stated categorically that the political crisis was “orchestrated by Fubara himself”.
“What it means is that the virtual asset services providers as well as the digital asset operators are today under the purview of SEC.”
Izunaso said Nigeria was about the second or the third globally in terms of cryptocurrency and that a lot of money had passed through the country without it being regulated.
He said, “Today, Mr. President is talking about $1 trillion economy. By signing this Act into law, it means that Nigeria is set for that $1 trillion economy.
“If we want to achieve the $1 trillion economy that Mr. President is envisaging, we must promote both the money market and the capital market. So, today, the capital market has been reset for that purpose.
“I would also like to make it clear that the days of Ponzi, insider trading and market manipulations are over in Nigeria.
“Today, if you are caught in a Ponzi market arrangement, you risk going to jail for 10 years and also pay a fine of between N20 million to N40 million and all the money that you took from people will also be recovered from you.
“Today, we have classified exchanges into two. You now have composite exchange and non-composite.
“Composite means that you can do multiple trading while non-composite is about single security trading. So the whole idea is to enhance proper
Okocha said, “What is most interesting to the APC in Rivers State as a responsible political party is that Dr. George Nwaeke’s revelations and testimonies of how suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his squad bombed the Rivers State House of Assembly is an eye witness account.
“Again, it has clearly vindicated the APC in Rivers State as the only visible and viable opposition political party in the state, and has cemented the love for the party in the heart of well-meaning Rivers people as the voice of the voiceless, and the hope for a better Rivers State.”
market regulation and also mitigate risk.
“So this new law is now promoting investors’ confidence, repositioning Nigeria because hitherto, the ISA of 2007, was not in compliance with the International Organisation for Securities Commissions.
“Today, the new law is now arranged in a manner that is now consistent with IOSCO standards and regulations.” He added: “So you can trade anywhere now in Nigeria internationally, taking it from records known, not the records that are not known as we were doing it before. So there are so many areas.
“Today, we are making it more transparent for you to operate in the capital market.”
The Senator also added that the with the new law, the sub-nationals can now approach the capital market for long-term loans to finance their projects.
He added, “With the new law, states and local governments can approach capital market for long-term funding.
“Instead of relying on federation accounts and commercial borrowing, states and the 774 LGAs can now go to capital market for long-term funding for the projects.” For now, he said only the Lagos Island Local Government Area has approach the capital market to secure loans to fund their projects
Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
L-R: The Osama of Asaba, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze; Mother of Art Guinness World Records winner, Dr. Silva Okeke; Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa; Art Guinness World Records winner, Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke; his father, Mr. Tagbo Okeke; and Former Chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke, during the presentation of the Art Guinness World Records certificate to Kanyeyachukwu in commemoration of World Autism Day in Abuja, yesterday
PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN
COUNTRy PaRTNERsHiP PaCT siGNiNG..…
L-R: Director-General, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation(UNIDO), Mr. Gerd Muller; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, and Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, during the signing of the Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) 2024-2028 in Abuja...yesterday
Insecurity: Braimoh Calls for Improved Attention on Bunu LGA, Condemns Ban on Rally in Kogi
sunday Ehigiator
The gubernatorial candidate for the Action Alliance (AA) in the 2023 Kogi State election, Otunba Olayinka Braimoh, has expressed disapproval of the Kogi State Government’s ban on rally in Kogi Central, emphasising that if a fraction of
the resources spent on such effort was redirected to addressing the urgent security issues in Bunu located in the Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, the situation there could have seen significant improvement.
In a statement signed by Braimoh, he said: “The level of insecurity in Bunu land in the
Journee De La Francophonie Celebrates Cultural Diversity, Unity in Lagos
yinka Olatunbosun
In an effort to build stronger cultural diversity and growth between France and Nigeria, this year’s International Day of Francophonie organised by Alliance Francaise de Lagos in partnership with the ConsulateGeneral of France Consulate General of Switzerland and Deputy High Commission of Canada in Nigeria has marked the auspicious day with movie screenings and an award ceremony.
Kabba-Bunu LGA has reached an alarming height comparable to the Northeast, forcing our people to flee their homes in search of safety.
“The rampant killings and
kidnappings for ransom have become a daily occurrence. Sadly, the state government seems more focused on stopping an elected Senator from connecting with her constituents than on tackling
the ongoing violence that our people in Bunu face every day.
“The resources the state government has deployed into blocking a single day event organised by the Senator
are staggering; this includes everything from publications and press releases to road blockades, collaboration with law enforcement, and even curfews in certain local government areas.
Experts Decry Rising Misinformation on Mental Health
Omolabake Fasogbon
A mental health advocate, Ruth Ebe-Emordi, has expressed concern over growing dissemination of false information about mental health, calling on stakeholders, including government, to intensify awareness on mental wellness.
The medical expert blamed inadequate awareness on mental health as fuelling widespread misinformation and misconceptions.
especially among women said to be disproportionately affected by mental health conditions.
The Consul-General of France in Lagos, Laurent Favier, who spoke on the theme of the event, described climate change as a general concern.
“The idea is to innovate and find better adaptive solutions to fight against it,” he declared.
Aside from fighting climate change, the mission of the International Organisation of Francophonie (OIF) is to promote the French language and cultural diversity.
The event was a day set aside to explore environmental and climate challenges and biodiversity in partnership with Nestle Nigeria.
Wike Approves Employment of 34 Resident Doctors for Training
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has approved the employment of 34 resident doctors for residency training for a fixed term of seven years. The 34 medical doctors, according to a statement yesterday by Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, were the first batch of the 60
medical residency trainees in eight faculties/specialities in the FCTA Hospitals approved for employment by the FCT Minister.
He said the employment of the doctors will further enhance health-care delivery in the FCT.
“This is the first time this is being done outside employees of the Health Management Board, thereby giving doctors more opportunity and bringing more competent hands into healthcare delivery in the FCT.
T200 Foundation Gives Succour to IDPs in Adamawa
daji sani in yola
The T200 Foundation has demonstrated the spirit of love and put smiles on many faces by providing both cooked and raw food, including slippers, for the Demare Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa State. This gesture was part of the foundation’s ‘Feed the Hungry’ programme aimed at ending hunger in all nationalities of Nigeria.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of T200 Foundation, Emmanuel Osadebe, there is no better time than now to bring succor to the people, explaining that the foundation had carefully selected the states to benefit from their gesture, and Adamawa is one of them.
Osadebe emphasized that the foundation’s mission goes beyond just providing food.
He said: “We do not feed only, but create a connection between us.”
While speaking at HERbernation 2025, with the theme: ‘Rise. Renew. Reignite’, she expressed concern about alarming statistics of cases,
Similarly, a UK-based women advocate group, Agenda Alliance, reports an increasing trend of mental health among women with one in five women experiencing common mental health disorder compared to one in eight men. The event put together by Plexus, being part of activities commemorating this year’s International Women’s Day(IWD) drew accomplished women from different walks of life who shared their inspiring stories of self-discovery and resilience in an interactive panel session.
Bauchi to Release CNF Matching Fund of N100m to Combat Malnutrition
segun awofadeji in Bauchi
Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board (BSPHCB), Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, has assured the people that the government will soon release the matching fund to enable it access the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) initiatives.
The CNF, which is in the custody of the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is aimed at assisting government procure the required nutrients and foods needed to prevent and fight malnutrition in children under five years(U-5).
Bauchi State, which is one of focal states in Bauchi Field Office of UNICEF has been delaying in the release of the matching fund for two years since the introduction of the fund thereby
increasing rate of Severe Acute Malnutrition malnutrition(SAM) in U-5 children across the state.
While reacting to the development in a telephone conversation, Mohammed stated: “It is not that we refused to do something about it, nor the Governor refused to approve the matching fund. We are in the process of preparing the memo, very soon, it will be presented to the governor for approval.” He also said that “UNICEF has sent a letter to that effect to us and we are working on it. They told us that if we give N100 million they will give N200 million, it will be joined together to procure the required food nutrients. We will give the N100 million and they will give N200 million, that is the contents of the letter, we still have it.”
Be Good Ambassadors of Oyo, Makinde Charges Nigeria Police Cadets
Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has charged cadets of Oyo State origin in the Regular Course 7 of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State, to be good ambassadors of the state and agents of change wherever they may find themselves.
He advised them to be alive and committed to their chosen career and to take up
responsibilities without any reservation. The governor stated this yesterday Ibadan, while receiving the 39 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) of the Course, who were in the state for one month mandatory internship.
He said that he had worked with great minds in the police who had demonstrated loyalty, commitment and
professionalism to his government.
Governor Makinde congratulated the officers, while also appreciating the Oyo State Police Command for its efforts in keeping the state safe and secure.
He said: “To the Oyo State Indigene Cadets in the Regular Course 7, I will like to encourage you and pray that you will
make a success of this career you have chosen.”
He added: “I wish you well and I want to urge you to be good ambassadors of the state. You should be a change agent wherever you find yourselves.”
“I won’t allow this kind of opportunity to go without saying thank you to the CP and other Senior Police Officers here.
BAN Boosts Safety, Human Dignity with Police Station Renovation, Female Cell Block Construction
sunday Okobi
In its efforts to promote justice, safety, and dignity for all Nigerians, a group, Brothers Across Nigeria (BAN) International, the Imo State Zone, has successfully completed a community development project
focused on renovating the new Owerri police station as well as the construction of a dedicated female cell block in the state.
The group stated that it was inspired by the need for proper facilities that respect the rights of women in detention, hence the
members of the Imo State zone of the organisation recognised the urgent need for improvement.
The organisation noted that it approached the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the station, CSP Abideem Salawu, with the idea, who welcomed the initiative and
acknowledged its potential to enhance the station’s operations and overall security. While flagging off the event, the organisation’s Global President, Dr. Anthony Mark, who was represented, reiterated the need for corporate bodies and organisations
Group Launches Campaign to Fix Nigeria’s Electoral System
In a bold move to reshape Nigeria’s electoral landscape, Founder of the advocacy group, Mandate4, Century Favour, has launched the #30DayFixINEC Challenge, a 30-day advocacy campaign aimed at mobilising five million citizen polling unit agents and securing five
million signatures in support of proposed amendments to Nigeria’s Constitution and Electoral Act. This initiative is an extension of Mandate4’s #FixINEC #FixNigeria project, a movement dedicated to reforming the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) and driving democratic accountability.
The campaign seeks to galvanise Nigerians from all walks of life to actively shape the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on the urgency of the advocacy, Century Favour stated, “Nigeria’s democracy is at a crossroads. If we do not take decisive action now, we will continue to suffer the consequences of electoral malpractice and governance failures.
Olawale ajimotokan in abuja
Niger Delta Sports Festival Opens with Glitz, Glamour in Uyo
Okon Bassey in Uyo
Despite the torrential downpour that lasted hours, the much anticipated inaugural edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival kicked off with and exhilarating exhibition of beauty, enchantment and the wealth of cultural diversity in the region at the Uyo
Township Stadium yesterday evening.
In the absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is away in France, the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) was declared open by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Malam Shehu Dikko amid a special feel of splendour and
Akwa
magnificence.
He charged the athletes to replicate the glitz of the festival opening ceremony in their performance during the actual competition.
In what was a gathering of personalities and participants from all walks of life, the much talked about Opening Ceremony lived up to its lofty billing - graced by the powers that be and embraced by a cheering stadium spectators and millions of
The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) has congratulated Engr Musa Kida, President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) on his appointment as the Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a congratulatory message signed by BFN President, Francis Orbih Esq, the badminton federation described the appointment of Kida “as testament to your exemplary leadership, dedication and vast experience in both the corporate and sports sectors.
Your commitment to excellence has been evident in your contributions to Nigerian basketball, and we have no doubt that you will bring the same level of passion, integrity, and vision to this critical national assignment.”
Orbih stressed that as Kida takes on this new responsibility, “the Badminton Federation of Nigeria wishes you great success in steering NNPCL towards greater achievements for the benefit of our nation. We look forward to continued collaboration in the advancement of sports and national development.”
TV audience across the globe. In the audience were the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, representative of the Delta State Governor, Senator Emmanuel Aguarivwodo, State Sports Commissioners from the nine states, members of the National Assembly and top officials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.
The showpiece was about the best way to kickstart what promises to be an intense sporting event which is expected to leave a lasting legacy, not only for the hosting state Akwa Ibom but the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a whole.
Led by the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, no fewer than 10,000 persons defied the downpour to throng into the re-born sporting facility at the heart of the emerging metropolis of Uyo which is gradually becoming the hub of sporting activities in Nigeria.
In one voice they sang and danced in the rain to usher in a competition poised to become the major talking point in the discovery of future Kings and Queens of Sports in the continent, especially since the Niger Delta region reserves the right as one that gave birth to some of the best sporting heroes the continent of Africa can ever boast of.
Pastor Eno’s commitment to this
cause was evident for all on the night, showing everyone why his administration gracefully accepted the hosting rights to stage the Festival, stressing that this was just one of his administration’s conscious effort at promoting Sports and giving youths a chance to make a name for themselves and the nation.
The festival torch was lit by Olympian Enefiok Udo-Obong and was supported by Festival Ambassadors including Victor Ikpeba, Seun Ogunkoya, Paralympian Patience Igbiti and Tamunosiki Atorubido.
Afrobeat star, Phyno, brought the night to an entertaining close with some of his hit songs which got the athletes cheering, chanting and dancing.
And so begins eight days of competitions amongst athletes from the nine mandate states of the NDDC that includes host state Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Imo and Abia states.
Osimhen Brace FenerbahceAgainst
Nigerian international striker, Victor Osimhen scored a brace against Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce last night as Galatasaray zoomed into the semifinals of the Turkish Cup.
The Super Eagles striker opened scoring after just 10 minutes, before he made it 2-0 by tucking away his penalty in the 27th minute.
Home team Fenerbahce, who paraded Osimhen’s fellow Super Eagles teammate, Bright Osayi-Samuel, however pulled a goal back in firsthalf stoppage time.
Osimhen was booked in the closing minutes of this cup clash as his team were reduced to 10 men in added time courtesy of a red card.
Enyimba Oust Champions El Kanemi, Rivers Utd, Lobi Knocked out by Minnows
The ongoing President’s Federation Cup lived up to billings yesterday as reigning champions, El Kanemi Warriors of Borno State were sent packing from the competition by Enyimba FC.
It was not only the champions that will miss the next stage of the Federation Cup, NPFL teams, Rivers United and Lobi Stars were also sent packing by two NNL sides Beyond Limits and Solution FC.
In Abuja, it was a slim victory for Enyimba as they won 1-0 to dump out 2024 Federations Cup winners El Kanemi Warriors.
It was a huge upset at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, as academy and NNL side, Beyond Limits sent NPFL top guns Rivers United out of cup competition.
Less than 20 minutes into the encounter, young prolific striker Marvel Akinocho scored the opener, after a beautiful ball into the box, and then grabbed his brace early in the second half.
Rivers United tried to mount a comeback after an own goal from Abass, but the young boys proved strong to hold on till the end.
In Aba, Lobi Stars woes continued, as they were dealt a 2-1 defeat in the hands of Solution FC by virtue of a late penalty conceded by Solomon Kwambe.
Vincent Temitope came back to haunt his former side Sunshine Stars in Kogi, as his lone goat helped Plateau United past the Owena
Whales.
Ikorodu City got the better of NNL side Crown FC, in Ijebu Ode through goals from captain Waliu Ojetoye, Salah Yusuf and Ayomide Cole.
At the Lafia City Stadium in Lafia,Nasarawa State, Bendel Insurance brushed aside Adamawa Utd 3-0.
Kayode Oke Solomon turned out to be the only potent instrument Insurance FC needed in their attack
as he scored a hat-trick to help the Benin Arsenals triumph over the Adamawa side.
The Benin Arsenals’ forward Kayode Oke opened scoring for the 2023 champions in the 25th minute and doubled the lead in the 38th minute to go into halftime with confidence.
The energetic forward remained hungry for more goals as his effort was crowned with a third goal in the 87th minute to seal victory for Insurance FC and also get his first hat trick for his new club.
In the league, Fenerbahce are six points behind their bitter Istanbul rivals with a game in hand.
The highlight of the night’s Istanbul Cup Derby was the brawl between Mourinho and Galatasaray Manager, Okan Buruk, who the Fenerbache
Enyimba FC (Abia) v Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi)
Nasarawa (Nasarawa) v Bayelsa Utd (Bayelsa)
Warri Wolves (Delta) v. Wikki Tourists (Bauchi)
Ikorodu City (Lagos) v. Beyond Limits (Ogun)
Akwa Utd (A’Ibom) v. Inter Lagos (Lagos)/ Jr. Danburan
Solution FC (Anambra) v. Kwara Utd (Kwara)
Plateau Utd (Plateau) v Osun Utd (Osun)
B’Insurance (Edo) v. Enugu Rangers (Enugu)
NSC Applauds Tinubu for Signing National Anti-doping Bill into Law
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ratifying the Anti-doping bill into law.
NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko said the move has reinforced President Tinubu’s intentional and deliberate resolve to ensure that the nation aligns with global anti-doping standards and overall sports development. In a statement yesterday signed by the Director (Information and PR), NSC, Mrs Kehinde Ajayi, Dikko expressed gratitude to the President
for mounting pressure for the bill to be concluded and brought to his table for assent.
“All our accomplishments within such a short time are down to the President’s support and encouragement. This is another clear manifestation of the presidential backing we are enjoying,” Dikko said.
He also thanked the Attorney- General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Clerk of the National Assembly and other administrative staff, and the WADA Africa CEO
for the collaboration and support to get the National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) Bill passed after close to two decades of back and forth before it was duly assented by the President.
The Act domesticates the International Convention Against Doping in Sport and establishes an independent body charged with the responsibility for the implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards subscribed to by Nigeria.
Dikko also expressed delight that the Act also establishes the Nigeria Anti-doping Centre.
Everything is now set for the annual Sportsville Recognition Awards for 2025 with top dignitaries already in Lagos for the event billed for today at the prestigious Eko Club, Surulere, Lagos.
The organisers only recently visited the Blessing Hall of the Club located at Bode Thomas in Surulere.
After the final inspection which also included various service providers, the CEO of Sportsville, Hon. Frank Ilaboya, expressed satisfaction with all aspects of the planning.
“Now, we can say that all is set. We
want our special guests, dignitaries and distinguished awardees to be very comfortable and feel at home at the venue.
“We promised last year to make this edition better and that is why we have been working very hard to do just that. I am certain, Thursday night will be a pleasant evening for us all,” Ilaboya said. The Chairman of the ceremony, AriseNews TV Anchor, Oseni Rufai, is expected to be at the event along with other top personalities who have confirmed to be in attendance.
Victor Osimhen scored the two goals that sent Galatasaray into the semi finals of the Turkish Cup last night
L-R: Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku; Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and
Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno in a-tête-à-tête during the opening ceremony of the Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo...last night
gaffer grabbed his nose following an altercation.
MISSILE
Akpoti-Uduaghan to Usman Ododo
“This is Nigeria, and we have the right to be free and express choices in gatherings and celebrations. There is no law in this country that prohibits me from coming home to celebrate Sallah with my people. This gathering is not on a street but in our home and we are breaking no law”—NatashaAkpoti-Uduaghanonthebanonpublicgatheringsby KogiGovernoraheadofherarrivalinthestateonTuesday
olusegun ADENIYI
T h E v ERDICT
olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com
A Nation That Disdains Knowledge
In 1979, the outgoing military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo established the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) to identify our country men and women (whether at home or in the Diaspora) who have made outstanding contributions to knowledge and creativity and grant them special recognition. The award is categorised under four fields of human endeavour: Science, Medicine, Engineering/Technology, and Humanities—including arts and culture. After a rigorous selection process, worthy candidates are awarded the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) with a certificate and cash prize by the President on the first Thursday in the month of December—although the cash prize has dwindled in value over the years.
From inception till date (46 years), the NNMA Governing Board has only conferred the prestigious NNOM award on a total of 79 Nigerians to demonstrate how exclusive it is. Past awardees include Professors Chinua Achebe, Idris Mohammed, Anya O. Anya, Akin Mabogunge, Umaru Balarabe, Niyi Osundare, Jacob Olupona, Barth Nnaji, Femi Osofisan, J.P. Clark, Ben Nwabueze, J.F. Ade-Ajayi as well as the late Mrs Ladi Kwali, Mr Bruce Onobrakpeya, and a few others who distinguished themselves in their chosen vocations outside the Ivory Towers. Interestingly, even though Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, delivered the first NNMA Winners’ lecture at the University of Lagos on 3 May 2012 and is recognised as an NNOM winner, there is no proper record of the year he was awarded.
Following the enactment of the NNMA Act in 1992 by the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, the cash prize was reviewed to N5 million for each recipient. With the exchange rate in 1992 standing at N9.91 to a dollar, that put the amount received by each awardee for that year at $500,000. But with a progressive decline in the value of the Naira, President Goodluck Jonathan
jerked up the prize money for each recipient to N10 million in 2011. Since the exchange rate at that period was N148 to a dollar, an awardee still received an equivalent of about $68,000. Meanwhile, funds for the cash prize and other activities, including calls for nomination/application advertisement, quarterly award winner lectures, payment for internal and external assessors, an annual forum of NNOM laureates, etc. are included in the NNMA annual budget.
At the investiture dinner in honour of two NNOM Laureates in December 2017, then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo spoke on how the fame and glory of nations largely rely on the hard work, creativity and service of their best talents. “Consequently, any society that favours exigencies of any kind over merit has chosen to function at its sub-optimal level and greatness must, by the force of principle, elude it,” said Osinbajo. “High attainment, whether it be for individuals or nations, is a function of the priority given to merit.”
Unfortunately, the government Osinbajo served displayed a befuddling but not surprising disdain for merit by starving the NNMA of funds. But the current administration seems to have carried this contempt to a new level. In the 2024 budget, the NNMA received an allocation of N16 million (capital). It is from this ridiculous amount that the NNMA is expected to organize all its programmes and pay the prize money of N10 million that is now worth less than $7,000. To compound the challenge, the federal government is planning to merge the NNMA with the National Honours
The Uromi Lynching of 16 Hunters
When the sacred duty of protecting lives and property is outsourced to unregulated and untrained security outfits comprised of personnel with questionable backgrounds, avoidable calamities are never far away. That explains the tragic fate that befell 16 hunters last Thursday at Uromi, Esan Northeast Local Government Area of Edo State. Travelling to their home state of Kano from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for the end of Ramadan festivities, the hunters were ambushed and gruesomely murdered by a local vigilante group. In a statement by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) spoke for many critical stakeholders in demanding justice for the slain hunters, arguing that their extrajudicial killing in “such a senseless and brutal manner...is a chilling reminder of the dangers of lawlessness.”
While I commiserate with the families of the deceased hunters, there must be a thorough investigation of not just the actors, but also those who could have averted the tragedy and dropped the ball. We should also not discount the incessant killings and kidnappings in Edo and other states that fuel these irregular security measures. The bigger tragedy, of course, is that the hunters were profiled as terrorists and kidnappers because of the language they spoke. In Nigeria, once you put a negative label on people, what follows is primordial hate mongering and its destructive grip.
However, we must commend the traditional institution in the North, particularly the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, for the interventions to prevent reprisal actions that could lead to further bloodshed of innocent people across the country. Authorities in both Edo and Kano States, led by Governors Monday
Okpebholo and Abba Yusuf respectively, have also demonstrated commendable leadership. Okpebholo visited Kano last weekend and met with families of the deceased hunters, promising to pay compensation. I am also impressed by the statement of Uromi community elders. In taking collective responsibility for what it described as an abomination without excuse, the Esan Descendants Assembly (EDA) pleaded through its chairman, Prof. G.R.A. Okogun and General Secretary, Mr Saint Moses Eromosele: “To the families of the slain, to the communities from which they came, to the states that raised them, and to the nation whose conscience has been wounded, we offer our deepest sorrow. We do not apologise from politeness, but from the pain of brotherhood. No man deserves to be judged by fire. No mother should receive her child in ashes.”
Meanwhile, the bigger challenge rests with the federal government. While the worsening
security situation in the country has led to the proliferation of vigilante groups, authorities must also understand that these outfits are susceptible to the kind of jungle justice visited on the 16 hunters. This should therefore be another teachable moment. In an April 2022 report titled, ‘Managing Vigilantism in Nigeria: A Near-term Necessity’, the International Crisis Group (ICG) warned that while “Vigilantes have become so important to protecting the Nigerian public that for now the country has little choice but to rely on them… the emergence of ethnically exclusive groups threatens to stir up communal tensions.” Over the long term, according to the global NGO committed to preventing, mitigating and resolving deadly conflict, “Nigerian authorities need to rebuild trust in their capacity to protect the public without vigilante assistance through comprehensive police reform.”
Beyond the challenge of insecurity, we must all be concerned about the collapse of the mores that bind us together as a society despite the right to life being a universal principle contained in section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). That collapse accounts for how the law of the jungle operates, as we saw when the vigilante group doused the hunters in petrol before setting them ablaze along with their truck while onlookers recorded and cheered.
In so many ways, as I have argued numerous times on this page, Nigerians reflect their government. If a society is not compassionate, it is futile to expect the government to be. If a society has degenerated to the level of every man for himself, then we delude ourselves to expect anything better from government. The net result is a collective descent into a Hobbesian jungle where life becomes nasty, brutish, and short.
Awards. A bill to that effect is already before the National Assembly.
In a piece I wrote in 2012 titled ‘National Honours as Chieftaincy Titles’, I recalled what happened in 1996 when then Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha, was said to have been handed a list of nominees for National Honours for that year, for the approval of the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) which he chaired. After going through the names, Abacha reportedly looked straight at the official who gave him the paper and remarked: “These are the Nigerians you think merit National Honours? More than half of the people on this list are crooks!” That year, no Nigerian was bestowed a national honour, and I really cannot recall if Abacha ever conferred any until he died two years later. Therefore, merging the NNMA with National Honours is to subvert the entire idea. The NNMA is premised on the notion that sustained recognition of, and reward for, excellence signals a nation’s appreciation for meritocracy, intellectual rigour and creativity. This is why the NNOM is the highest academic and intellectual award in the country, once likened to the Nobel Prize by President Jonathan. We know that the national honours award is secured by lobbying, cronyism and other unwholesome practices, while the NNOM comes with a rigorous selection process involving applications discreetly evaluated by eminent academic peers of integrity. How can the federal government put the two awards in the same pot?
I understand that the NNOM laureates (renowned professors who are mostly in their eighties and nineties) held a zoom meeting last week to lament how a noble idea to promote scholarship is being gradually bastardised in Nigeria. They have my sympathy. I just hope that President Bola Tinubu will not allow the NNOM to join the long list of Nigerian initiatives that have suffered egregious institutional degradation.
Aderemi DesperationAdeoye’s
am aware that the former Commissioner for Police in Anambra State, Mr Aderemi Adeoye, is facing multiple court actions from some of his former ‘business partners’. But Adeoye imagines he can use me to ‘catch cruise’ by instituting a frivolous court case against me to demand N50 billion (the man surely loves billions!). When I received the papers two months ago, I decided there was no point writing about it since we would meet in court where Adeoye has questions to answer. But on Monday, he decided to be his own judge by going on ARISE Television to talk about the case he has instituted against me. He has forgotten, as the Yoruba people would say, that even when a wicked man reserves the right to state his case, he would not be the judge of the matter!
Of all the fundamental issues I raised in the two columns I wrote on Adeoye’s ‘Facebook company,’ including a possible conflict of interest and gross violations of the constitutional provisions on code of conduct for public officials, the thing he continues to parrot is the headline that calls him a billionaire cop. But since he has already gone to court, I wish he would shun needless propaganda. To make billions of Naira, Adeoye should concentrate on those Nigerians who are taken in by social media posts. I am not one of them!
