IGP orders airport police command to probe alleged obstruction of airport safety by K1
NBA describes Ibom Air’s treatment of Passenger Emmanson as reckless, violation of dignity, promises to defend her freely in court Labour Party tells Tinubu what is good for K1 should be good for the dehumanised lady
Chuks Okocha, Sunday Aborisade, Alex Enumah and
Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Senate, yesterday, launched a full-scale investigation into a string of troubling incidents involving airlines and passengers, as public concern grew over safety standards, Continued on page 9 regulatory lapses, and passenger
www.thisdaylive.com
EFCC: We Target Corruption
Both Ruling and Opposition Parties
ADC: It’s a media trial of the opposition Atiku: It’s an attempt to decimate us Graft agency says politically exposed persons in anticipatory asset declaration Ribadu: Corruption eroding public trust, creating insecurity Chuks Okocha, Emmanuel Addeh, Alex Enumah in Abuja and Wale Igbintade in Lagos Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, yesterday, dismissed accusation by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the opposi-
APGA’s Soludo: No Apology Backing Tinubu’s 2nd Term Bid
SDP’s Wadada: No Space for Opposition in 2027
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State yesterday, attributed his support for the second term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 to the economic reforms his administration has initiated and implemented since May 29, 2023 in the country.
Soludo made this known while speaking with newsmen shortly after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the State House.
In the same vein, Senator Aliyu Wadada, representing
Nasarawa West Senatorial District, on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), yesterday, declared that there would be no space for the opposition political parties to contest the position of president in 2027.
But asked why he opted to endorse the President for a second term even though he belonged to the opposition Alliance Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Soludo, who canvassed the unity of all progressives in the country, said:
Continued on page 9
Dangote Refinery Slashes Ex-depot Petrol Price By N30, NLC Hails Company’s Impact... Page 6
TINUBU WELCOMES SOLUDO TO THE VILLA...
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (left) receives Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday
ECOBANK EMPOWERING YOUNG CREATORS AND INNOVATORS...
L-R: Head, Local Corporate, Commercial and Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Otega Odjegba; CEO, Afrimetrics/Winner, STEM category, Micah Erumaka; Executive Director, Commercial and Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Kola Adeleke; Founder, ISIO/Winner of Creative category, Adeoye Samuel Adeboye; Founding Partner, Vencapital/Judge, Henry Ogbuagu; and Head, Retail Commercial and Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Eya Rose, at the Grand Finale of Ecobank InnovateX Challenge, held at Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Lagos, yesterday
New Insurance Act Triggers Fresh Industry Recapitalisation as NAICOM Inaugurates Committee
James Emejo in Abuja
National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), yesterday, announced the constitution of the 2025 Recapitalisation Committee, barely a week after President Bola Tinubu assented to Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025.
A 2020 push by the commission to recapitalise the industry had hit a brick wall following legal actions instituted against the regulator by operators. But the commission has now scaled the wall.
Chaired by Director of Supervision, NAICOM, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Charles, the current committee’s primary responsibility is to oversee the implementation of the recapitalisation programme. Its mandate includes ensuring compliance with revised capital requirements and promoting transparency and integrity in sourcing and verifying capital inflows.
In a statement, Commissioner
for Insurance/Chief Executive, NAICOM, Mr. Olusegun Omosehin, emphasised the critical role of recapitalisation in stabilising the industry and contributing to the country’s proposed $1 trillion economy.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Omosehin urged the 11-member committee to approach their task with professionalism, diligence, and commitment to the common interest, assuring them of necessary support.
The committee’s terms of reference include to develop a recapitalisation roadmap, and create a detailed plan for the commission and the insurance industry.
It is also expected to develop guidelines and circulars on re- capitalisation., and recommend the composition of minimum capital requirements.
The committee will also identify incentives and concessions that may be obtained from other regulatory authorities.
The committee will submit
monthly progress reports to management and provide quarterly updates to the Governing Board and stakeholders.
The commission expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to successfully deliver on its mandate, shaping the future of the country’s insurance sector.
The committee’s success is particularly vital to the industry’s stability and growth, as NAICOM seeks to collaborate with all stakeholders to achieve thisWithobjective.NIIRA
2025, the commission aimed to position the
insurance industry for greater transparency, innovation, and global competitiveness, aligning with the federal government’s vision of achieving a $1 trillion economy.
In December 2020, NAICOM declared it will abide by the Federal High Court ruling, which ordered it to suspend an ongoing recapitalisation exercise in the insurance industry, pending the outcome of litigation brought before the court by some aggrieved operators.
The commission had directed insurance firms to recapitalise
on or before December 31,2020 and later extended it to Sep- tember 30, 2021.
But the exercise encountered some legal brick walls, as Justice C. J. Aneke of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, on December 21, barely 10 days to the deadline, restrained the commission from taking any further steps in implementing its deadline for insurance and reinsurance companies to recapitalise.
The judge delivered ruling in an ex-parte application brought before the court by
the Incorporated Trustees of the Pragmatic Shareholders’ Association of Nigeria. In the motion, marked FHC/L/CS/1797/2020 and filed on December 15, 2020, moved on behalf of the group by their lawyer, I.C. Ifedora, the applicant prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendant and its agents from taking further steps in the recapitalisation process in the insurance industry pending the hearing and determination of its motion on notice before the court.
Glo Slashes IDD Call Rates to Over 15 Countries
Globacom has announced major reductions in its International Direct Dialing (IDD) rates, with call going for as low as N30 per minute in some cases. This is making calling international destinations more affordable to existing and new Glo customers across Nigeria.
Tinubu Appoints Obih, Akinfeleye into Governing Councils of Two Varsities
Names principal officers for Federal University of Health Sciences, Tsafe
Deji
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Hon. Chisom Obih to the Governing Council of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, NdufuAlike, Ebonyi State, following the death of a member of the council.
Tinubu, in a release issued on Tuesday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also appointed Professor Ralph
Akinfeleye, a renowned communications specialist, to the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Akinfeleye is a former Head of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, and Chairman of Centre of Excellence in Multimedia and Cinematography/ Unilag Radio 103.1 FM and Television. Formerly a member of
the Governing Council of Yakubu Gowon University of Abuja, Akinfeleye replaced Mr. Wahab Owokoniran, who was appointed Pro- Chancellor and Chairman, Federal University of Transport, Daura, Katsina State.
Tinubu also named Professor Ibrahim Yakasai as Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences and Technology, Tsafe, Zamfara State.
The new rates take effect from August 10 and cover calls to more than 15 popular international destinations.
With the adjustment, calls to the United States will now cost N30 per minute, down from N35. The rate to the United Kingdom has also been slashed from N400 to N350, while India drops from N45 to N40. Other countries that recorded significant reductions
include China (N75), Saudi Arabia (N300), and Cameroon (N700).
Rates to neighbouring African countries have also been reviewed. Benin Republic now costs N650 per minute, Niger Republic N750, Ghana N500, and Togo N650. Calls to the United Arab Emirates have been reduced from N450 to N325. Germany is now N550, Côte d’Ivoire N700, Libya N700,
while Malawi has dropped from N1,200 to N1,100. The telecom operator noted that the revised rates are part of a broader strategy to provide more value for new and existing Glo customers and encourage them to make Glo their preferred network for their international calls due to the affordability and competitiveness of the reduced rates.
CBN Intensifies Public Sensitisation in Drive for Financial Inclusion
Nume Ekeghe
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has intensified efforts to connect directly with Nigerians through its inaugural “CBN Fair” in Lagos, using the platform to promote alternative payment channels as a catalyst for financial inclusion, economic growth, and sustainable development. The fair themed “Driving Alternative Payment Channels as Tools for Financial Inclusion,
Growth and Accelerated Economic Development,” was designed to deepen public understanding of the apex bank’s policies and reforms while engaging critical stakeholders across the financial ecosystem. Participants reflected the diversity of Nigeria’s economy manufacturers, commercial and microfinance banks, fintech firms, merchant banks, students, traders, artisans, NYSC members, and community
representatives all convened to hear how the CBN’s latest initiatives could enhance their livelihoods and expand economic opportunities.
Acting Director of the Corporate Communications Department, Hakama Sidi Ali, said the Cardoso-led management is championing technologies that empower individuals, boost productivity, and connect communities to economic opportunities.
Elumoye in Abuja
EDO DEPUTY GOVERNOR AT 45...
Dangote Refinery Slashes Ex-depot Petrol Price By N30, NLC Hails Company’s Impact
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the ex-depot (gantry) price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly referred to as petrol, by N30 from N850 to N820 per litre, effective from yesterday, August 12, 2025.
Dangote Group announced
the gantry price reduction in a statement signed by its Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Mr. Anthony Chiejina.
According to the statement, as part of our unwavering commitment to national development, Dangote Petroleum Refinery assured the public of a consistent and uninterrupted supply of petroleum products.
“In line with our dedication
to operational excellence and sustainable energy solutions, Dangote Petroleum Refinery will commence the phased deployment of 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for fuel distribution across Nigeria, effective August 15, 2025,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has
hailed the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a transformative national asset, calling it a vital step in bridging Nigeria’s fuel supply gap, boosting employment, and restoring public confidence in the country’s industrial Speaking during a tour to the refinery and Dangote Fertiliser Limited, the Chairman of NLC, Lagos State Chapter, Comrade
Court Strikes Out N20bn Fraud Case Against Former AMCON Boss, Ahmed Kuru
Wale Igbintade
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, has struck out a criminal case against former Managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, over alleged N20 billion fraud in the acquisition of Keystone Bank.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had alleged that AMCON funds amounting to N20 billion were diverted through Heritage Bank for the benefit of Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited, which allegedly used the money to acquire Keystone
Bank.
Kuru was arraigned on February 11 on a six-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, and transfer of property derived from an illegal act. He pleaded not guilty.
On the same day, Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited, initially a co-defendant, pleaded guilty and was convicted.
However, the trial never commenced before the Federal Ministry of Justice, through a notice of discontinuance dated July 24, 2025, applied to withdraw the case against Kuru.
At Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel V.J. Alma,
urged the court to discharge the defendant, a request sup- ported by his lead counsel, Olasupo Shasore (SAN), who also asked for the release of Kuru’s bail bond and sureties.
In his ruling, Oshodi held that under Nigerian criminal law, the prosecution had the discretion to withdraw charges at any stage before judgement.
He accordingly discharged Kuru under Section 73(1)(i) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2015, and Section 108(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The court also ordered the immediate release of Kuru’s travel documents and
Alternative Bank, AMWMF Partner to Deepen Grassroots Financial Inclusion
Nume Ekeghe
The Alternative Bank has launched a nationwide initiative to expand financial access and opportunitiesentrepreneurship for market traders and smallholder farmers, target- ing some of Nigeria’s most underserved communities. Through a partnership with the Association of Market Women/Men and Farmers of Nigeria (AMWMF), the
non-interest bank part of Sterling Financial Holdings Company plans to provide over 16 million members with zero-fee accounts, microloans, SME funding, and financial literacy training. The drive began in Oyo State and will extend to 15 other states this year. In a statement, Executive Director at The Alternative Bank, Korede Demola-Adeniyi, said: “To adequately bridge
the financial inclusion gap, financial institutions must continue to devote resources towards removing the barriers that have historically hindered large segments of our popula- tion. For the unbanked and underbanked, the challenges go beyond the lack of physical infrastructure and extend to deeper issues of trust, financial illiteracy, and systemic exclu- sion from mainstream financial services.
discharged his sureties from all obligations.
In his ruling, Oshodi affirmed the prosecution’s prerogative to withdraw charges at any stage of the criminal proceedings.
The judge stated, “It is well established in criminal jurisprudence that the prosecution possesses the prerogative to withdraw from the prosecution of any matter at any stage of the proceedings.
Funmi Sessi, was quoted in a statement to have praised the massive scale and strategic significance of the Dangote Group’s investments, stating that the projects were delivering tangible benefits to the Nigerian people.
“Today, we have seen the massive Dangote Refinery project, as well as the fertiliser plant. We have also observed some of Dangote’s other investments in this axis. It is truly enormous and highly impressive
“I believe what we have seen is a clear effort to bridge the gap in the availability of essential products in the country and to create job opportunities for Nigerians and others as well as industrialise the country,” Sessi stated.
The union acknowledged that following the federal government’s removal of petrol subsidy, Nigerians experienced an unprecedented surge in the cost of petrol.
They confirmed, however, that the entrance of Dangote Petroleum Refinery into the market helped to stabilise prices.
“It wasn’t until Dangote came into the picture that we started seeing some relief. His intervention significantly crashed the escalated prices of PMS and other refined products. That’s a clear demonstration of private sector leadership,” she stated. The NLC, however, made a direct appeal to the federal government to prioritise the sale of crude oil to Dangote Refinery in naira, arguing that forcing the company to import crude or purchase locally in dollars undermined the promise of lower fuel prices for ordinary Nigerians.
In his remarks, Vice President, Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Devakumar Edwin, said the planned deployment of 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks to support the distribution of refined petroleum products across Nigeria was aimed at ensuring that the benefits of domestic refining and the resulting reduction in fuel prices were fully passed on to Nigerian consumers.
Access Bank Deepens Africa–Caribbean Trade Links at
Nume Ekeghe
Access Bank Plc has reiterated its commitment to strengthening Africa– Caribbean economic ties through active engagement at the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) 2025, held recently in Grenada.
The forum drew influential leaders, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell; St. Kitts & Nevis Prime Minister, Terrence Drew; Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede;
incoming Afreximbank President, George Elombi; outgoing President, Prof. Benedict Oramah; and Executive Vice President, KanayoAccessAwani. Bank, in a statement, noted that its CEO for Caribbean Expansion, Sunmbo Olatunji, delivered a keynote address titled “AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment: From Vision to Reality”, emphasising the bank’s role in driving trade, investment, and financial integration between Africa and the Caribbean.
“Our vision is to be more than just a financial institu-
ACTIF 2025
tion; we aspire to serve as a bridge connecting the vast potential of Africa and the Caribbean,” Olatunji said, highlighting opportunities in tourism, agriculture, renew- able energy, and digital trade. Aig-Imoukhuede, partici- pated in high-level dialogues on advancing sustainable partnerships across emerging markets. The Bank’s pres- ence at ACTIF 2025 reflects its ongoing Caribbean expansion, underpinned by a strategic alliance with Afreximbank to boost trade finance, capacity building, and tailored financial solutions for regional markets.
Sunday Ehigiator and Peter Uzoho
L-R: Wife of the celebrant, Mrs. Osaretin Idahosa; Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo; and former Governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, at the thanksgiving service to commemorate the deputy governor’s 45th birthday, at Living Faith Church, Winners’ Chapel, G.R.A., Benin City, Edo State, yesterday
OTA INVESTMENT SUMMIT AND TRADE FAIR...
L-R: President, Otaparapo Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OPCCIMA), Dr. Kayode Bowale; Oniteku of Owode Ijako, Oba Wasiu Ogungbayi; Chairman, Sona Group of Companies, Chief Arjan K. Merchandani; Olota of Ota Kingdom, Oba Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege; and Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, representing the Vice President, Dr. Tope Fasua, at the official opening of a three-day Ota Investment Summit and Trade Fair, held at His Place Event Centre, along Idiroko Road, Ota, Ogun State, yesterday
Lagos Rolls Out Digital House Numbering System
It’ll revolutionise property identification, says Sanwo-Olu Minister, experts reiterate commitment to unlocking economic power of land in Nigeria
Lagos State Government on Tuesday unveiled the pilot phase of its innovative “Identifier” project, a comprehensive digital addressing system designed to streamline geographic house numbering and street naming across the state.
The project, which will kick off in Ikeja, the state capital, next week, was unveiled by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the side-lines of the Nigeria Land Titling, Registration and Documentation Programme (NLTRDP) organised by Lagos State Office of Electronic Geographic Information System (e-GIS) and Urban Develop- ment, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, at Victoria Island.
The digital house numbering system, a sophisticated approach designed to allocate a unique digital identity to
Edun
each building throughout Lagos State, will play a crucial role in facilitating seamless navigation for emergency responders, utility personnel, and local residents, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.
Speaking during the display of the house numbering plates, Sanwo-Olu said the project was aimed at providing a unique digital identity to every property, enhancing navigation, service delivery, and overall urban management.
He said, “Lagos digital house numbering system is a novel idea. It is about technology, and that is one of the things that we are trying to achieve: using technology as a strong enabler to be able to resolve all our land issues, where from the comfort of your house you can access and resolve land title issues.
“It is still a journey, and we are not there yet, but this digital house numbering system is really more about ensuring that if you can get the address of a property, all the information that is needed on that property can be accessed, and people will see it.”
On the Nigeria Land Titling, Registration and Documenta- tion Programme, Sanwo-Olu commended the federal government for the Renewed Hope Agenda initiative to unlock the economic power of land.
He said electronic land documentation was the only way forward to reduce physical interference and build a future where land rights were secured.
Equally speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on
e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, said Lagos State Government was committed to the project embedded with QR codes and local governmentspecific colour codes for easy identification.
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Nigeria was able to reach 2,848 pregnant and lactating women with vital nutrition assistance in 2024 with the contribution of over US$200,000 from the government of Japan. WFP, in a statement on Tuesday, lamented, “In North-east Nigeria, the
Canvasses Public-Private Sector Synergy to Mobilise Long-term Capital for National Devt
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has underscored the need for public-private sector collaboration in mobilising sustainable, long-term capital for national development. Edun stated this in Abuja when he received a delegation from Lotus Capital Limited, led by its Managing Director, Mrs. Hajara Adeola. He commended Lotus
Capital’s leadership for its effort in promoting non-interest finance in Nigeria, as the meeting explored ways of expanding Nigeria’s non-interest finance sector as a driver of inclusive economic growth.
A statement issued by Director, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, said, “Discus- sions further centred on how initiatives such as a Non-Interest Real Estate Investment Fund, and a regular sovereign Sukuk
issuance programme could attract ethical investment into critical infrastructure, boost market liquidity, and widen access to finance for under-served communities.”
The meeting underscored the ministry’s commitment to exploring innovative financing solutions for Nigeria’s economic growth and development, highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships in driving progress in the non-interest finance sector, the statement said.
impact of conflict continues to disproportionately affect women, leaving many in urgent need of humanitarian support.“Malnutrition remains a critical concern, especially among pregnant women who face increased vulnerability due to displacement, limited access to healthcare, and food insecurity.”
The statement added, “In this challenging context, targeted nutrition interventions are not just essential - they are lifesaving.”
It said, “Thanks to the generous contribution of over US$200,000 from the Government of Japan, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Nigeria was able to reach 2,848 pregnant and breastfeeding women with vital nutrition assistance in 2024.”
Appreciating the kind gesture, Head of Communications for WFP in Nigeria, Chi , stated, “This support enabled the delivery of fortified foods and community-based nutri- tion education to affected
populations at a time of record hunger in the region. The impact of this partnership represents a renewed sense of hope for women striving to survive amidst adversity.” Lael stated, “Presently, at least five million people in Nigeria’s North-east are facing extreme hunger, with women and girls being the most vulnerable. Despite deepening funding cuts and surging security challenges, WFP remains on ground, striving to deliver hope, save lives and change lives.”
Adelabu: I Built My Viral Mansion Before Appointment as Minister
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has refuted a recent report by an online news medium alleging that he constructed a luxury mansion within two years of his appointment as minister, against the backdrop of electricity tariff increases. In a viral video, the report had claimed that the
minister was flaunting an extravagant lifestyle funded through corrupt means, citing the construction of a new mansion allegedly completed during his tenure.
But in a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Femi Awogboro, Adelabu dismissed the report as “false, mischievous, and calculated to tarnish my reputation”.
He clarified that the building project commenced in November 2021 and was completed by August 2023, a month before his appointment as Minister of Power in September 2023. The minister backed his claims with dated photographs documenting the construction process, official building approvals, and other relevant correspondences.
Sawyerr: How NELFUND Will Recover Student Loans after Graduation
724,000 students apply, 449,000 benefit from scheme MD says debt to be repaid through employers
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, yesterday said that two years after beneficiaries of the Fund complete their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, they are expected to start paying back their debts.
However, Sawyer noted that for those without jobs within
persecution, saying it targeted corruption both in the ruling and opposition parties.
Instead, the EFCC accused the opposition party of at- tempting to politicise ongoing corruption investigations.
But the ADC has queried the EFCC’s urgent summons to former Senate President David Mark and former governor of Imo State,
“I don’t have any apologies about it.”
According to him: “President Tinubu is my friend. He has been my friend for 22 years now and counting. So, you don’t deny your friend. I began to be quivering about who he is. He is my friend.
“I support him, and I’m impressed by the bold steps he has taken, particularly in the areas of the economy, the structural reforms, and I have said so severally times, we’re taking the right steps and we need to stay the course.”
On what he has been doing to tame insecurity in his state, the Anambra governor said: “If I have to tell you all the details about what we have done, it involved a holistic approach to the issue of security.
“If you realise, in January this year, we passed our Homeland Security Law, which is trying to deal with insecurity from the foundations. All the deadly native doctors are on the run from the state, because these are the guys giving false hope and so on and deceiving our young ones and luring them into criminality and all of that.
“But very fundamentally, we’re approaching it very comprehensively, what they call the kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. The Kinetic is gone and the usual, but the non-kinetic, especially with what we are dealing with, the youths, the empowerment, the job creation.
“We have a unique pro- gramme for one year through skills that is like no other; where we trained and empowered about 5,000 of them, and another 8,700 will be receiving some billions this month or next month. And we’re creating several thousand youth mil-
that period, NELFUND will within its power, connect them through a portal to employment opportunities, explaining that 10 per cent will then be deducted by their employers to repay the debt.
“If a student or a loanee has graduated, two years after they complete their NYSC, there is some obligation for them to start paying the loan back if they have a job. It makes sense in the value chain that
Emeka Ihedioha, saying the agency was being used by the government to harass and intimidate opposition party leaders, using media trial as its tool.
The party, which wondered why the anti-graft agency did not extend invitation to officials of Imo State government to give details of the financial expenses of
lionaires right away within the first three years.
“This is cascading all over the state. The youths are very much involved. And we’re also dealing with the issue of hardship, beyond the massive infrastructural transformation, beyond fixing our schools, fixing our health and so on and so forth.
“We’re also very intentional about the economic and social empowerment of the youth. So, we’re doing quite a whole lot; the kinetic, the intelligence gathering and those who run foul of the law definitely, will be decisively dealt with”
Also, Senator Wadada representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, on the platform of the the SDP, declared himself a member
treatment across the nation’s aviation sector.
In the same breath, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, to commence without delay a probe into the alleged obstruction of aviation safety protocols by popular Fuji musician, Kwam 1 at the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on 5 August 2025.
This was as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has condemned the treatment meted out to an air passenger, Miss Comfort Emmanson by officials of the Ibom Air, describing it as reckless and a violation of human dignity. It has, however, promised to defend her freely in court.
Similarly, the Labour Party has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure equal treat- ment to K1 and Emmanson,
we should assist in that process of helping people get jobs.
“We don’t create jobs. What we can do is connect people with jobs. So one of the things that we intend to do is to set up a portal, attract vacancies and jobs into that portal, connect them with students who have loans so that they get jobs and they can pay the loan back.
“It’s in their interest and the interest of NELFUND to make this connection. And it’s
the seven months administration of Emeka Ihedioha as governor, however, warned it against media trial.
But former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has also intervened in the matter, alleging that the EFCC has been turned into a tool to intimidate opposition political parties by the government and ultimately decimate them.
of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) despite having not formally defected to the party.Wadada also said there would be no space for the opposition political parties to contest the position of president in 2027, emphasising that no candidate has what it takes to defeat President Bola Tinubu.
The Senator who disclosed this while speaking with report- ers after meeting behind closed doors with the president at the State House, described the PDP as one of the ingredients put in the pot to cook the APC, saying he has not seen any member of the coalition African Democratic Party (ADC) that might do better than Tinubu if voted into office in 2027.
According to him, the ADC
recently involved in the breach of airport safety protocols.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, who made this known in a press statement, stated that the committee was alarmed by the frequency and gravity of recent airline-passenger altercations that have gone viral and stirred widespread outrage.
“These developments demand immediate and coordinated action to protect the integrity of the sector and restore public confidence. We will not allow procedural gaps or lapses in enforcement to undermine safety, professionalism, or public trust in our aviation system,” he said.
He said, the committee, exercising its constitutional oversight authority, would summon key players in the aviation ecosystem.
Agencies and stakehold-
a very small investment for us to make, given the potential value that it brings back to the students,” Sawyerr, who spoke on Arise Television, said.
The MD also dismissed any practice of the ‘man know man’ syndrome, maintaining that no student needs any connection to benefit from the programme, bar the normal verification carried out in the process of application.
On the data so far, Sawyerr
This, nonetheless, the EFCC, has disclosed that politically exposed persons in the country were back to making anticipatory assets declaration on their forms with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as part of fraudulent ways of ripping off the nation.
However, responding to ADC’s allegations that the
coalition party was “membered by Nigerians that we respect, we have respect for. But look at them. Look at each and every one of them who stands to do anything better than what Asiwaju Bola Tinubu administration is doing. Tell me, I haven’t seen any.
“Ask any of them if you are given the chance to preside over Nigeria, that may come beyond 2027 maybe after 2031 because between now and 2031 anybody can say what he or she wishes to say, but the space is already taken, occupied by President Asiwaju, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Who amongst them will have the courage, the impetus to tell Nigerians and the world that if I am given the opportunity to preside over
ers listed to be summoned included regulatory bodies like the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), operators, security agencies, and public interest groups.
They would be quizzed on a series of investigative hearings aimed at uncovering root causes and recommending decisive corrective actions.
While the statement stopped short of naming specific airlines or incidents, the timing aligned with several high-profile controversies that have recently gripped the sector.
One such case occurred in July 2025, when passengers aboard a domestic flight from Lagos to Abuja were left inside an aircraft for hours without communication or air-conditioning, prompting heated exchanges and social media backlash.
In another incident, passengers were reportedly deboarded
noted that 724,000 students had applied for the loan as of yesterday morning, while 449,000 beneficiaries have so far been recorded.
“A beneficiary is somebody whose fees have been paid and in some cases have had their fees and the upkeep provided to them. So 449,000 people are in that category. Talking further around the numbers, the 449,000 beneficiaries are from 218 institutions. Sawyerr
EFCC’s recent summons to some opposition figures were “politically motivated” and based on “old cases,” Olukoyede described the claims as self-serving, diversionary, and an attempt to whitewash individuals with corruption questions to answer.
“There is no time limit in criminal investigations. Fraud is fraud. Corruption is corrup-
Nigeria, I will return subsidy?”
Clarifying his stance, he af- firmed his support for President Tinubu’s leadership, not out of sentiment to their shared APC roots or personal relations, but due to Tinubu’s transformative agenda, which has brought unprecedented changes despite resistance to change by some quarters.Wadada cited infrastructure projects such as the SokotoBadagry and Abuja-Kano roads and the transformation in the Federal Capital Territory as tangible evidence of the administration’s commitment to national development.
He thanked President Tinubu for honouring him with a national felicitation during his turbaning as the Maga Jindengi of Lafia early in August.
for expressing frustration over delayed take-off, raising fresh questions about passenger rights and the professionalism of airline staff.
These incidents were part of a broader pattern that has drawn criticisms from consumer protection bodies and aviation analysts.
According to recent data from consumer advocacy groups, over 4,000 complaints were lodged by Nigerian air travellers in 2024 alone, ranging from flight delays and cancellations to lost baggage, poor communication, and allegations of misconduct by flight crews.
Abdulfatai, widely regarded as a vocal advocate for industry transparency and consumer protection, stressed that the committee was determined to get to the bottom of the problems.
He said, “The Senate Aviation Committee will ensure
tion. There are no sacred cows or partisan considerations in our work. Nothing will make an innocent person answer any charge from the EFCC,” he said.
Olukoyede maintained that EFCC’s investigative net cut across party lines, pointing to ongoing probes involving serving governors, ministers, and senior figures in the ruling party. He stressed that he had faced no backlash when investigating those in govern- ment and should therefore not be condemned for probing opposition leaders. Court records, he noted, showed that politicians from across the political spectrum were facing trial for alleged economic and financial crimes.
“Many serving governors of various political colours are on the EFCC radar. We will not be blackmailed into making full disclosures of ongoing investigations, no matter the provocation,” he added.
The EFCC chairman acknowledged ADC’s state- ment that the anti-graft agency “belongs to the Nigerian people” and was “funded by taxpayers, not the ruling
accountability at all levels. We are not embarking on a public relations exercise. This is about structural reform and real consequences for failure.”
The decision by the Senate came amid growing calls for a legislative overhaul of the aviation regulatory framework, with experts arguing that current enforcement mechanisms were too weak to deter negligence or mistreatment.
Several consumer protection organisations had urged lawmakers to pass a comprehensive Passenger Bill of Rights, clearly defining airline obligations and penalties for non-compliance.
Speaking to THISDAY, an aviation consultant and policy expert, Dr. Ifeanyi Nwoke, welcomed the Senate’s intervention but stressed the need for follow-through. He said, “Nigerians are los-
Sen AT e Vow S Toug H S A nc TI on S AS AVIATI on
Lagos InternatIonaL FIre saFety ConFerenCe 2.0...
L-R: Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro and member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olawale Rauf during the Lagos International Fire Safety Conference 2.0, with the theme “Leveraging Technology and Community Engagement to Prevent Fires”, held in Lagos ... yesterday
Nigeria Targets WHO Maturity
Level-4 Regulatory Standards
NAFDAC, PCN blame thriving fake medicine market on policy inconsistency
onyebuchi ezigbo in Abuja
As part of efforts to promote and sustain global standards in the manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Pharmacy
Council of Nigeria (PCN) have resolved to ensure that the country attained Maturity Level-4 regulatory standards of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Against the background of growing concern over the menace of dealers on fake and substandard pharmaceuticals
in the country, NAFDAC and PCN said inconsistencies in government’s policy measures were responsible for the persistence of the illicit business.
After series of in-country capacity development and facility upgrade, Nigeria was able to attain WHO
certification for the Maturity Level-3 last year.
However, WHO Maturity Level 4, within the Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) framework, signifies a regulatory system operating at an advanced level of performance and continuous improvement.
Tinubu Names 22-man Board Members for NCC, USPF
Idris Olorunnimbe and communications minister, Bosun Tijani to chair NCC, USPF, respectively Aminu Waida remains CEO of NCC
Deji elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has constituted the boards of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), both agencies under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
In a release issued on Tuesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Idris Olorun-
nimbe was appointed Chairman of NCC, while Dr Aminu Waida, who was appointed to the position in October 2023, with Senate confirming his appointment in November 2023, remained its Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer.
Olorunnimbe previously served on the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) Board, where he chaired the Stakeholder and Governance
Committee and drove impactful youth employment and entrepreneurship programmes.
Other members of the 10-man board are Abraham Oshidami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services; Rimini Makama - Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management; Hajia Maryam Bayi, former Director, Human Capital and Administration; Col. Abdulwahab Lawal (rtd); Senator Lekan Mustafa; Chris
FCT-UBEB Explores Ways to End Poor School Enrollment
Kuni tyessi in Abuja
In exploring multiple dimensions towards ending the menace of out-of- school children and poor school enrolment within the Federal Capital Territory, the Universal Basic Education Board, UBEB is hosting 33 students to a twoweek reality house programme.
The students who have all been selected from 11 schools
in the six Area Councils within the FCT will go through a process of advocacy and debate on issues affecting out- of-school children and will proffer solutions to same.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the programme titled, “2025 head-to-head school debate”, mother of the reality house programme, Dr. Jummai Ahmadu, said the programme which has
recorded tremendous success in past editions will serve as prototype for state governments to emulate.
According to her, Nigeria should expect strong willed children that will come out to advocate for out-of-school children after the programme and this way, there will gradually be zero out-of-school children in Nigeria beginning from the FCT.
Okorie; Princess Oforitsenere Emiko; and Secretary of the Board.
The president also approved the Board of the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), with Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, as Chairman.
It is the highest level in WHO’s classification of regulatory authorities for medical products.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Abuja on Tuesday to mark the reaffirmation of Nigeria’s attainment of the WHO Maturity Level- -3 regulatory standards, first achieved in 2024, Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said both PCN and NAFDAC were working collaboratively to ensure that safe medicines and pharmaceutical products were provided for Nigerians. Adeyeye explained that with the attainment of Maturity Level-3 regulatory standards, Nigeria had now been placed in a respectable position globally as a country capable of manufacturing drugs and other pharmaceutical products of global standard.
She stated, “We are going for Maturity Level four. I mentioned that for level three we had about 267 sub
indicators. For level four. We have 57 Level - 4 indicators. We have already closed 27 of them.
“So, we have about 30 indicators left. We have already started working on them. Why? Because of Nigeria? Why because we can, why? Because it is important for the image of this country.
“To whom much is given. Much is demanded. God has given us so much, maybe too much. Just like I said, we don’t want to bury it. That is why PCN and NAFDAC are working day and night first, to ensure that the medicines that our people use will not kill them or constitute public health hazard.”
Adeyeye said the two agencies were looking beyond the maturity level four certi- fication to also have WHO Listed Authority (WLA) thereby enabling Nigeria to be categorised among countries with stringent regulatory authority.
NHRC Seeks Comprehensive Rightsbased Approach to Youth Empowerment
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 International Youth Day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has advocated a comprehensive rights-based approach to youth empowerment that tackles unemployment, facilitates access to quality health and education and prepares youth forTheleadership.Commission also emphasized the imperatives of strengthening protection efforts
for the younger population, boost their access to economic opportunities as well as ensuring that they participate actively at all levels of governance.
The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, who stated this in a statement to mark the 2025 International Youth Day urged the govern- ment and other stakeholders to support the young population towards realizing their aspiration in order for them to contribute their quota to peace building and national development.
According to him, young Nigerians are not just beneficiaries of development but deep thinkers, active innovators, mobilizers, and partners in shaping a future anchored on equity, dignity, and respect for human rights.
He said: “In advancing the Commission’s mandate and inclusivity, we are committed to empowering youth voices, ensuring their full participation in decision making processes, and protecting their rights in line with national and international human rights obligations.”
Michael olugbode in Abuja
//Hop e// is a sense of optimism
We are Hope A live Initia tive, a group tha t ’s committed to well being of the c itizenr y through ad vocac y for good governance & progressive ideals. #ForTheGrea terGoo
Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
08033025611 sms only
As ADC Challenges Aiyedatiwa’s Election as Ondo Gov at Supreme Court...
Fidelis David reports that despite the ruling of the appeal Court affirming the election of Lucky aiyedatiwa as Ondo state Governor, the african Democratic Congress candidate in the November 16, 2024 gubernatorial poll, adeyemi Nejo, says he’ll approach the Supreme Court to upturn the judgment.
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure recently affirmed the election of Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Olayide Adelami as the Governor and Deputy Governor of Ondo State respectively.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress the winner of the election, having polled a total of 366,781 votes to defeat candidates of other parties in the poll. Particularly, to members of the All Progressives Congress in the coastal state, the judgment has brought a sense of relief and renewed hope to the people of Ondo State, who overwhelmingly supported the governor which birthed 366,781 votes, leading to the defeat of candidates of other parties in the poll.
Party stalwarts also believe that Governor Aiyedatiwa’s victory at the Appeal Court will significantly boost President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027, particularly in the Southwest region.
Back to base, the judgment followed the dismissal of the appeals of some political parties against the judgment of the Ondo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal of June 4, 2025, which affirmed the election of the duo.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied People’s Movement (APM) and Social Development Party (SDP) had filed appeals against the judgment of the tribunal, asking for the invalidation of the November 16, 2024 governorship election.
However, the three Justices, Justice Nimpar Yargata, Justice K.I. Amadi and Justice I.M. Sani, unanimously struck out the appeals for not substantiating the claims of non compliance with the Electoral Act.
The Justices held that the appellants failed to prove their allegations against the election as they did not show how their claims affected the election in the various polling units, wards and local government areas where the election took place.
The appellate court also ruled that the parties abandoned their cases as there were no credible witnesses called at the tribunal to back up their claims of widespread irregularities in the various polling units.
The court therefore affirmed the judgments of
the tribunal on all the cases and declared Aiyedatiwa and Adelami as the elected Governor and Deputy Governor of Ondo State, awarding N1.5m costs against the appellants.
Reaffirmation of People’s Will Reacting to the judgment, Governor Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to God and the people of Ondo State, saying the judgment has reaffirmed the will of the people. He commended the Appeal Court justices for painstakingly going through the cases and delivering detailed, unanimous judgments.
“I give glory to Almighty God who orchestrated this journey from the beginning and used the good people of Ondo State. Over 366,000 residents gave us their mandate on November 16 last year to continue governing this state as the seventh democratically elected governor.
“That mandate was validated by the tribunal and has now been reaffirmed by the Appeal Court. While some political parties tried to overturn the people’s decision through the backdoor, the judiciary has fulfilled its role by upholding the choice made by the majority of voters
across the 18 local government areas of the state,” he said.
ADC’s Bold Move to Challenge Verdict
However, in a bold move, the candidate of the ADC in the election, Mr Adeyemi Nejo, has vowed to proceed to the Supreme Court to challenge the appellate court verdict.
“The dismissal of the ADC’s appeal by the Court of Appeal is not the end of the road for the ADC. The party will certainly explore its constitutional right of Appeal to the Supreme Court in line with Section 233 (2) (e) (iv) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
“Consequently, we repose high confidence in the Supreme Court to interrogate and do justice to the petition of the ADC, which resulted from the irregularities and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, which plagued the election and the subsequent declaration of Lucky Aiyedatiwa as governor,” he said.
On its part, the Peoples Democratic Party, through the Director of Media and Publicity, Mr Leye Igbabo, said, “We will need to study the content of the judgment before we decide on the next line of action.”
A Victory for Democracy, Rule of Law
The party will certainly explore its constitutional right of Appeal to the supreme Court in line with section 233 (2) (e) (iv) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of nigeria 1999 as amended. Consequently, we repose high confidence in the supreme Court to interrogate and do justice to the petition of the ADC, which resulted from the irregularities and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, which plagued the election and the subsequent declaration of lucky Aiyedatiwa as governor.
Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, described Aiyedatiwa’s latest triumph at the court as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, which has enriched the nation’s electoral jurisprudence.
“I congratulate my dear brother, Governor Aiyedatiwa for this victory that has further confirmed his election as free, fair and credible. I also congratulate the leadership of our great party - the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the good people of Ondo State for the victory.”, the Governor said.
Oyebanji urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to see his victory as a motivation to renew his commitment to working harder for the development of Ondo State and better welfare for its citizens. He also appealed to the opposition to join hands with Governor Aiyedatiwa in the task of taking Ondo State to greater heights.
Ekiti State Governor said the concurrence of both the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal is a proof that the Ondo governorship poll, which gave Governor Ayedatiwa the mandate was free, fair, credible and conducted in line with the nation’s electoral law.
He urged Governor Ayedatiwa to see his victory as a motivation to renew his commitment to working harder for the development of Ondo State and better welfare for its citizens.
Governor Oyebanji also appealed to the opposition to join hands with Governor Ayedatiwa in the task of taking Ondo State to greater heights.
Implication for 2027
Political pundits have asserted that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory at the Appeal Court will significantly boost President Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027, particularly in the Southwest region.
Aiyedatiwa had declared unwavering support for Tinubu’s re-election, emphasizing that Ondo State will play a crucial role in delivering an overwhelming victory for the President in 2027.
To him, this support is crucial, given the state’s significant influence in the Southwest region. Overall, as the people of Ondo State celebrate this victory, they look forward to a new chapter of progress and development under the leadership of Governor Aiyedatiwa and his deputy.
Aiyedatiwa
nejo
ProPerty & environment
Metro & Castle Plans to Build 500 Homes in 5 Years
Bennett Oghifo
A real estate development firm, Metro & Castle Homes, an arm of Abdul Metro Group, has said it plans to build 500 housing units in the next five years.
The Managing Director of Abdul Metro Group, Adekunle Abdul, stated this during a chat with the media in Lagos, recently.
Abdul said the company had a similar projection in 2019 to build 300 homes but was only able to build 240 units because they had a delay in 2020 that was caused by COVID.
“We said our first five years was 300 housing units. That has been the slogan for all these years. And as at that time, we delivered 240 units because we had a delay in 2020 because of COVID.”
He said that plan was from “2019 to 2024. Now, 2025 to 2030 our next five year projection, we are anticipating to deliver 500 housing units, which we have started already, and 10%
is being delivered. As I speak, we are rounding off now. So we have about 415 housing units to go.”
Abdul said his company is a community development brand.
“We build communities. And what I mean by community is we do everything that the community needs to function effectively, building from sporting outfits to retail outlets to residential construction to facility management. Whatever you can think of that a community needs to survive, we do it, and if we don’t do it directly, we will engage partners that we feel are up to the task and have a good reputation to come into the environment to do the session.”
He said, “We’ve expanded our scope out of this current community now to engage a few government bodies on giving us some kind of JV opportunity to work with them now that we have the proof of concept on ground, we are no more going there with our
mouths to say we can do it. “We’re going there to tell them to come and see what we’ve done. And many of them are appreciating our handwork, so we’re very close to executing with some government bodies already on giving us parcels of land to build more communities.
“The company also has retail developments, which are large supermarket outlets for the community to benefit from. The current community established three of those ones and one warehouse and a bakery, and we believe that is more than enough to serve the community that we are in now, which is the reason why we’re exploring other communities and moving out of this environment to start our new community and the sports center. We are about to start the sports center for the community next month. Actually, the land is just behind us. You will see about 8,000 square meters of land. We’re about to start the community. It’s going to have a football
pitch, a basketball pitch. It’s going to have a tennis court.
“Also, it’s going to have a small recreational hangout center there, and a car park. This is also to serve the community that we’re in. We had one before, but it became too small. It was just a football pitch. We pulled it down after two years because the community was getting too big for that pitch, and that’s why, from 1200 square meters, we’re now moving to an 8000 square meters capacity recreational center.”
He said they will start that project next month and that it’s a joint venture between them and another company.
He said, “We have a very great facility management team on ground. We’ve grown from a staff of eight to a staff of 148 last time I checked in five years, and our facility team is doing a great job in maintaining all the Metro estates within this community.”
He said another venture of his company is to train people
to become realtors, condemning the present situation where people just wake up and call themselves realtors.
He blamed these overnight realtors for the widespread fraud in the industry.
“Anybody can just wake up, call himself a realtor and start selling land, even agricultural land, as if it’s meant for housing.
“We’ve seen too many people fall victim to scams because the agents do not know zoning regulations or land use classifications.”
UNILAG Housing Centre, REDAN Train, Certify Developers
Bennett Oghifo
The Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos (CHSDUNILAG), has collaborated with the Real Estate Devel-
opers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) to train housing developers in the country on what they need to know in the industry. These developers, who received online classes, also
visited construction sites and at the end of the raining were given certificates of proficiency. Besides the visits to real estate project sites, they were at the offices of some regulatory agencies where they got a list
Director, University of Lagos Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development (UNILAG-CHSD), Prof. Timothy Nubi; Chairman, UNILAG-CHSD Advisory Board, Prof.
Certification Course in Lagos… recently
Samuel in yenagoa
Recent reports have indicated that Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest deforestation in the world, as the country loses approximately four million hectares of forest annually, due to agricultural expansion, unsustainable logging and rapid urbanisation.
This was disclosed by the Executive Director, Corporate Services, First Exploration & Pe-
troleum Development Company Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Etomi, at the flag-off ceremony for the Afforestation/Reforestation, Livelihood Enhancement, and Carbon Sequestration (ALEC) project, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday.
Represented by Anita EdoOsagie, the Deputy General Manager, First E&P, Etomi said the situation is particularly critical with available data highlighting the severe environmental chal-
lenges in the country.
He said Global Forest Watch estimates that 70%–80% of Nigeria’s original forest cover has already been lost, with mangrove forests under threat, warning that projections by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) warn that without immediate and decisive action, Nigeria could lose its remaining mangrove forests by 2050. Etomi, said the the urgency of project cannot be overstated
of what they are required to know in the housing sector.
Specifically, for five weeks, participants had intensive online sessions, and two days of site visits and to the Lagos State Bureau of Lands; Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, and to Eko Atlantic City.
The training was conducted by industry experts and government officials who gave them perspectives on policies, compliance, valuation, and project finance.
At the presentation of certificates to those who were trained, the Director, CHSD-UNILAG, Prof. Timothy Nubi said the training was necessary to reestablish the professionalism of the members, which was the reason the association was formed.
Professor Nubi said, “REDAN started from my office with Baba Lateef Jakande as the president, and I was vice
as climate change, deforestation, and land degradation are escalating global threats that demand immediate, concerted action, adding that globally, forests are vital carbon sinks, biodiversity hotspots, and sources of livelihood for millions.
He said, “This understanding informs our support of key restoration and conservation initiatives like ALEC. The ALEC project, stands to address these pressing issues comprehensively.
president southwest. We thank God for the size that REDAN has grown to. But you know, as you grow it’s possible to deviate, and actually, those that are joining, they might not really understand the mission and vision of the organisation. So we see all comers in the industry.
“For years, we’ve witnessed a lack of professionalism and a trust deficit in the real estate sector. This programme will help correct that by instilling knowledge and accountability.”
Nubi said there was a “need to restructure the organisation to ensure standard practice,” because of public outcry about substandard housing construction and other condemnableactivities.
He said, “People are now saying that the average REDAN member is a scammer, which is not good for the industry. Recently, there have been numerous demolitions of
“In the first phase, we will look to plant up to half a million trees across our 11 host communities in Bayelsa State.
“Beyond planting trees, it embodies an integrated approach with clear objectives and deliverables to achieve the following:Restore Biodiversity: Through large-scale afforestation and reforestation, we aim to revitalize lost tropical and mangrove forests in our littoral communities.Introduce Sustain-
properties across the country because many players do not follow the regulations.”
The President of REDAN, Akintoye Adeoye, said the certification programme is part of the association’s long-term agenda to “clean up the real estate industry, equip developers with the right tools, and position Nigeria’s housing sector on the path of global best practices.
“Real estate is not just about building. It’s about doing so legally, ethically, and sustainably.
“This scheme ensures that developers are not only trained but also closely monitored, as ignorance can be very costly. There has been a gap in the industry due to the absence of structured training for members. “We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the university, which enabled it to design a curriculum for the programme,” he said.
able Livelihood Options:
“We will implement capacitybuilding initiatives to provide sustainable and alternative livelihood opportunities for communities in the KEFESSO region. Incorporate Community Participation: We are committed to fostering community involvement in sustainable forest conservation through a Participatory Forest Management programme. Enhance Grassroots Awareness and Policy Reform.
NCF Trains Journalists on Climate Reporting, Calls for Biodiversity Protection
Oluchi Chibuzor
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), under the Climate Resilience for Critical Sites for Migratory Birds and People along the East Atlantic Flyway (CREAF) project, funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Government, has trained some selected Nigerian Journalists on issues surrounding climate change reporting.
This is as NCF charged the media houses on the need to project solution base reports on biodiversity and wetlands conservation across the country
The workshop themed, ‘Effective Journalism on Conservation and Climate Impacts on Biodiversity and People in Nigeria: Creating A Resilient East Atlantic Flyway (CREAF)’, equipped media professionals with the skills and knowledge to report environmental issues more effectively.
Speaking at the two-day capacity training programme, NCF Director General, Dr. Joseph Onoja maintained that journalists play a pivotal role in reshaping public opinion and influencing policy through accurate and timely reporting.
Onoja, noted that their contributions are more crucial than ever before in building a society that understands the importance of nature, warning that climate change has negatively affected food production in Nigeria.
“We look forward to seeing a new generation of dedicated journalists who will do justice to environmental and wildlife issues, amplifying conversations around their sustainable conservation in Nigeria,” Onoja said.
Olusegun
L-R:
Oluwole Familoni; one of the graduates, Princewill Ihedioha; and President, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Prince Akintoye Adeoye, during the Graduation Ceremony and Networking Event of the maiden edition of the REDAN
Abdul
Wednesday August 13, 2025
www.thisdaylive.com
A TALE OF TWO REFORMS
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SAMUEL
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Wasiu Ayinde’s conduct at the airport is shameful, writes TUNDE OLUSUNLE
AND THE KING FELL "YAKATA" ON THE RUNWAY OF INDISCRETION
Self-glorification by way of the conferment of verbose aliases and honorifics on themselves, has long been the vogue among Nigerian music artists. Those from the Yoruba country are most famous for this self-indulgence. First generation exemplars of the *juju* music genre, Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi and Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye for instance, started out with simple stage names like *Ebenezer Obey* and *Sunny Ade,* easily discernible as emanating from their names at birth. Obey would subsequently metamorphose into *Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey* to underscore his self-proclaimed leadership of that brand of music. Sunny Ade on his own part became simply *King Sunny Ade,* acronymed as *KSA.* Cyril Bamidele Abiola Alele desired to play in the the big league, so he named himself *Admiral Dele Abiodun.* The succeeding generation of *juju* entertainers includes Omoba Segun Adewale from a royal family in Osogbo, and Oluwasina Peters, who both formed *Sir Shina Adewale and the Superstars.* The battle for turfs amongst Yoruba musicians of that milieu extended to Ismaila Dele Bello who adopted the stage name *Ahuja Bello.* The "Ahuja" prefix was derived from the name of a Japanese amplifier popular among the instrumental pool of musicians those years.
Practitioners of *fuji* music another popular specie of Yoruba music, took off from where their older colleagues began. Sikiru Ololade Ayinde Balogun, largely acclaimed as the pioneer of *fuji* music oscillated between two simple stage names, *Ayinde Barrister* and *Barry Wonder* respectively. His contemporary who projected the same variant of music, Abdulrasaq Kolawole Ilori opted for the stage emblem of *General Ayinla Kollington* to underscore his perceived superiority to other performing artists in his prototype of music. Wasiu Omogbolahan Adewale Ayinde, who was mentored by *Ayinde Barrister* was convinced he was the greatest *fuji* phenomenon ever. He sandwiched the acronym, *WA* derived from his name, Wasiu Ayinde, in between two topmost honorifics in royalty and military valour respectively. He profiled himself both a king in his art, and a "Marshal," a superior title to that of "General" previously adopted by Kollington
Ayinla. He turned out therefore as *King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal 1, (KWAM-1),* the figure "1" implying his presumed unassailable position as the headliner of his music genre. Such are the backstage theatrics among Nigerian artists which infused colour and amusement to the cultural scene.
Wasiu Ayinde has been dominant on Nigeria's artistic, creative and musical scene within the last five decades. Just like every musical and performance prototype has spawned exemplars, fuji music has grown through generations and produced its fair share of professionals. Notable among them are Adewale Ayuba the *Bonsue fuji* exponent; Wasiu Alabi, *Pasuma Wonder;* Abass Akande, *Obesere;* *King/Dr* Saheed Osupa; *KS-1 Malaika;* Sakaniyu Ejire, Rahimi Ayinde, Fatai Adio, and Iyanda Sawaba. Wasiu Ayinde, however, has been able to carve a niche for himself at home and abroad, sought after for shows and events, especially cities with substantial populations of Yoruba people. He was guest of President Bola Tinubu in Aso Villa, within weeks of Tinubu's inauguration and has performed at the seat of government. Such has been the upward trajectory of Wasiu Ayinde over several years.
Fate thrust him from the facelessness of the dust, mud, *spyrogyra-ed* neighbourhoods of Mushin, Maroko, Makoko and similar ghettos to the fore of contemporary pop culture with all its appurtenances. Fame and fortune have come with his success. His children attend some of the best schools across the world, his landed addresses, sprawl at home and abroad. Not forgetting long columns of consorts flinging voluptuous busts and bursting buttocks at his face in every performance. KWAM-1 dines with kings, he wines with political
deities. When he lost his mother earlier this year, no less a personality than President Bola Tinubu placed a call to commiserate with him on his loss. Wasiu Ayinde made a public show of the call, placed the President on speaker phone, reported the dialogue and hoisted it on the internet.
Beyond flaunting himself an artistic royal and has festooned himself with the necklaces and beads, Wasiu Ayinde has indeed been decorated and decked by traditional titles nestling in the one dozen territory. Back in 1999, the former *Oba of Lagos,* Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, installed him the *Oluomo of Lagos,* prime son of the palace. Two decades later, the immediate past *Alaafin of Oyo,* Oba Lamidi Adeyemi adorned him with the title of *Maiyegun* of Yoruba land. The recently transited *Awujale of Ijebu land,* Oba Sikiru Adetona in 2023, made him *Olori Omo-Oba of Akile, Ijebu land,* primus inter pares amongst the princes of Ijebu land. A year before that, former President Muhammadu Buhari had conferred Wasiu Ayinde with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger, (MON). He is 68 and already knocking on the doors of the club of septuagenarian senior citizens. Literally speaking, Ayinde's neck bears the the lead weight of inevitable responsibility.
KWAM-1 overreached himself outside the perimeters of the palace where he is accustomed a pampering protocol, complete with the red carpet, Tuesday August 5, 2025. He chose a wrong place, the marketplace of the full view of the global eye, to throw the kind of tantrums which will haunt him into the twilight of his life and career. Running late for an early flight, out of Abuja, the federal capital, to Lagos, Wasiu Ayinde, bearing a gold flask containing some liquid, attempted to get on the airplane with his flask. Aviation officials explained to him that he would not be allowed to board the flight with a vessel which contained more than 100 millilitres of liquid. Ayinde, whose renditions are renowned for self-adulating panegyrics, sought to fling himself in the face of the aviation officials.
Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja
A TALE OF TWO REFORMS Nigeria is on the right path, reckons O’TEGA OGRA
Economic reform is never painless. Every nation that has had to correct profound distortions has faced the same choice: take the hard medicine early, or delay and pay much more later. In times of public frustration, it is tempting to reach for the “gentle” option (the idea of gradual change), being pushed by some opposition elements in Nigeria, begins to sound reasonable. Peter Obi says, “Keep subsidies for a while.” For Atiku Abubakar, it is “Guide the currency quietly from behind the curtain.” Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai want to “Push the tough structural work into another year.” On the surface, it feels safer. But history is clear on where that road leads.
When Bulgaria began its transition from communism in 1990, its leaders were afraid of the shock that rapid liberalisation might cause. They freed some prices but kept politically sensitive subsidies in place, just as Peter Obi proposes. The subsidies drained the treasury, fuelled inflation, and collapsed the currency. They maintained a soft peg for the lev without reserves to defend it, exactly as Atiku Abubakar suggests for the naira. The peg broke, reserves vanished, and hyperinflation soared above 2,000 percent. They warned against “too much at once,” echoing Rotimi Amaechi and Nasir El-Rufai, and delayed the restructuring of state enterprises. Six years later, pensions were worthless, shops were empty, and the reforms they feared were forced on them in far harsher form.
Nigeria today is on a very different trajectory. From his first day in office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took on the biggest distortions head-on. The petrol subsidy, which drained over four trillion naira a year, is gone. The naira now trades at a market-driven rate, closing the damaging gap between official and parallel exchange rates. The Central Bank has returned to orthodox monetary policy, raised interest rates to fight inflation, and cleared more than seven billion dollars in verified FX backlogs that had become a national credibility problem. That clearance restored credibility to our financial system and prompted the International Air Transport Association to remove Nigeria from its list of countries blocking airline funds. That reversal matters because it signals to every global balance sheet that Nigeria pays its obligations again.
These decisions have delivered measurable wins in record time. The World Bank estimates subsidy savings of around two trillion naira in 2023 alone, with cumulative savings expected to exceed eleven trillion nai-
ra by 2025. This money is already being channelled into infrastructure, healthcare, and targeted social programmes across the country. Portfolio inflows in the last quarter of 2024 hit 5.6 billion dollars, more than the total of the previous two years combined and a clear sign that rule clarity is drawing money back to local assets. Non-oil tax revenue has grown by more than 20 percent year-onyear.
Price pressure remains the public’s sharpest pain, but the first signs of relief are appearing. Official data show headline inflation eased in June 2025 from May, the first back to back moderation in many months. Disinflation never arrives in a straight line. What matters is direction and credibility of policy. Both are moving the right way.
Yet this is the stage when voices, mostly driven by parochial interest, will call for a pause. Some will say households need breathing space and subsidies should return in another form. Others will argue that the naira is too weak and should be fixed at a stronger rate. There will be calls to slow fiscal clean-up until “conditions improve.” The bandwagon Association of Displaced Politicians, and the economists they front, want us to go back to Bulgaria 1990.
Atiku Abubakar’s “acceptable rate” is the same illusion that emptied Bulgaria’s reserves and shattered its peg. Peter Obi’s “phased removal” is the same phased lie Bulgaria told itself until the economy collapsed. Nasir El-Rufai’s warning about “too much at once” is exactly what Bulgaria’s leaders said before the crash. Rauf Aregbesola’s “prioritise the people before the economy” mirrors Bulgaria’s fatal separation of the two, where the collapse of the economy destroyed the very livelihoods they claimed to protect – as if the economy is not the lifeline of the people. Rotimi Amaechi’s call to slow down is the same thinking that turned hardship into collapse.
Ogra is the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital Communications, Engagement, and Strategy.
SAMUEL AKPOBOME OROVWUJE argues for the strengthening of regional governance structures
RETHINKING STATE CREATION
The agitation for the creation of new states in Nigeria has resurfaced with renewed vigour as the 10th National Assembly considers fresh proposals to expand the current 36-state structure. This longstanding discourse is deeply rooted in Nigeria’s quest for equitable representation, resource allocation, and socio-political inclusion. However, while state creation is often touted as a panacea for marginalization, the critical issue of economic viability and administrative sustainability continues to be sidelined in the national conversation.
Since independence in 1960, Nigeria has witnessed a series of state creation exercises, evolving from three regions to the current 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These exercises, often driven by political expediency, ethnic balancing, and pressure from local elites, have yielded mixed outcomes. While some states have thrived, others have become overly dependent on federal allocations, lacking the internal economic capacity to sustain governance and development.
Curiously, the 10th National Assembly has received over 30 requests for new states. Some of the prominent proposals include: Anioma State (from Delta State), Ijebu State (from Ogun State), Oke-Ogun State (from Oyo State), Orlu State (from Imo State), Tiga State (from Kano State), Etiti State (from parts of Imo, Abia, and Anambra States), Zamfara North State (from Zamfara State), Oil Rivers State (from Rivers and Akwa Ibom States), Savannah State (from parts of Borno and Yobe States), and Gurara State (from Niger State) respectively.
These proposals reflect diverse aspirations from ethnic identity, administrative convenience, and local development. However, the primary argument from proponents revolves around addressing perceived marginalization and ensuring better governance closer to the people.
While political representation and the territorial dimension of the state is a legitimate demand, state creation must transcend emotional and ethnic sentiments. Economic viability remains a cardinal factor. Many existing states struggle with basic obligations like salary payments and infrastructure development due to limited internally generated revenue (IGR). Creating additional states without concrete plans for economic self-reliance would further stretch federal resources. For instance, states like Lagos, Rivers, and Ogun generate substantial IGR due to industrial presence, commerce, and strategic location. Conversely, several states in the NorthEast and North-West zones rely heavily on monthly federal allocations, with little or no economic base to support independent development.
It is, therefore, imperative that any proposal for state creation undergoes rigorous feasibility studies through evaluating resource endowments, human capital, infrastructural readiness, and economic sustainability plans. Without this, new states risk becoming administrative
burdens rather than catalysts for grassroots development.
In the midst of the state creation debate, a growing segment of Nigerians advocate for regional autonomy as a more pragmatic solution. This model proposes restructuring Nigeria into six geopolitical zones with devolved powers over resource control, internal security, and economic planning.
Regional autonomy aligns with the principles of true federalism, enabling regions to harness their unique comparative advantages while reducing the over-centralization of power at the federal level. It also promotes healthy competition among regions, fostering innovation, accountability, and efficient governance.
Proponents argue that instead of fragmenting into smaller economically unviable units, Nigeria should strengthen regional governance structures, encouraging cooperative development projects, regional infrastructure, and security arrangements tailored to local realities.
Another critical dimension to this discourse is the call for a People’s Constitution. Activists and policy thinkers argue that Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, a military-era document, lacks the legitimacy and inclusivity required to address contemporary governance challenges.
Furthermore, a People’s Constitution, derived through a broad-based national dialogue, would offer a platform to address structural imbalances, redefine the federal character principle, and establish a framework for equitable resource distribution and administrative autonomy. Such a constitution would not only address the underlying causes of state creation agitations but also lay the foundation for a more cohesive, efficient, and sustainable governance model. While state creation remains a powerful tool for addressing local grievances, Nigeria must pivot towards a more holistic approach that emphasizes economic viability, regional autonomy, and constitutional reform.
Orovwuje is an international development policy consultant and human rights advocate based in Lagos, Nigeria
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
SAFETY BREACH AT ABUJA AIRPORT
Airlines should adhere to regulatory processes in flight operations
the nose of the aircraft.
Last week incident involving the crew of ValueJet Airline’s (Flight VK 201) and renowned Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja was a clear case of safety breach. Video footages of the incident showed the aircraft taxiing from the ramp despite the people standing very close to it. In the process, the right wing of the aircraft nearly hit the musician who had to quickly duck to escape what would have resulted in a tragic accident. What transpired was a reckless negligence of aviation regulations which guide passenger-airline interface.
Ordinarily, it is the responsibility of the pilot-in-command (PIC) to take the final decision whether to allow a passenger to board the aircraft or not, based on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulation. They are specifically empowered to override any other regulation in an emergency, and to take the safest course of action at his/her sole discretion. But in this case, it could not be said that the flight was under any safety threat; it was just that one of the passengers refused to obey the pilot’s instruction not to board the flight carrying a liquid, which is against the rules as contained in the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR) 2023.
The
incident calls for proper investigation to prevent such from happening in future
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
It is yet to be confirmed whether the dispatcher signalled that the pilot should initiate taxiing off the ramp despite the commotion going on at the nose of the aircraft. It is also yet to be ascertained whether her action was in line with the Ramp Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the airline. But video footages and the reaction of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, indicated that the pilot in command might have lost her temper by initiating the taxiing while Kwam 1 was standing close to
T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI
SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com
From the voices in the videos, Kwam 1 may have attempted to stop the aircraft after it was cleared by Air Traffic Control, which was both reckless and dangerous, as he could have lost his life in the process. The incident therefore calls for proper investigation to prevent such from happening in future. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) regulation stipulates that if a passenger is carrying any liquid he will not be allowed to board a commercial flight. This is in accordance with international aviation security standards. Nigeria’s National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP) and ICAO stipulate that liquids exceeding 100ml are not permitted through security screening unless medically necessary and properly declared. And according to FAAN, the passenger was informed of this regulation but reportedly declined to comply.
That the cockpit crew and the passenger defied the rules may have justified the suspension of the pilots and the flight ban of Kwam 1. But that incident has shown a deterioration of flight procedures and carelessness by the cockpit crew. If Kwam 1 did not duck, the right wing of the aircraft could have killed him. We call on the NCAA to ensure that airlines strictly adhere to the regulatory conditions and processes in their flight operations and will recommend that the regulatory authority deploy safety officers to the ramp from time to time to monitor proceedings at the major airports in the country. Meanwhile, it is also important for aviation authorities in the country to investigate the growing cases of wilful acts of indiscipline by unruly passengers, especially on the domestic routes. From barricading terminal entrance to blocking the aisles inside aircraft or refusal to comply with crew instructions to switch off mobile phones, these incidents are becoming excessive. Authorities in the sector must deal with them.
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.
HUNGER CRISIS AND MALNUTRITION IN BAUCHI
In the heart of Nigeria’s North-East, Bauchi State is quietly battling a public health crisis that is as devastating as it is underreported: malnutrition. It does not erupt suddenly like an epidemic nor generate the political drama of governance disputes, yet its impact is far-reaching and long-lasting. Malnutrition weakens children before they even learn to walk, burdens mothers with worry and grief, and erodes the strength of entire communities. The crisis is not only a matter of insufficient food; it is a complex issue of nutrition, poverty, healthcare, and social neglect that demands urgent attention from policymakers, humanitarian organizations, and the communities themselves.
Recent reports from humanitarian agencies paint a grim picture. Over 54,000 children under the age of five in Bauchi are currently suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while thousands more are moderately malnourished. Médecins
Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) recorded a staggering 120% increase in admissions for malnutrition treatment in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. These are not just faceless statistics; behind each number is a child whose chances of survival and future productivity are being severely compromised. The damage caused in these early years is often irreversible, leading to stunted physical growth and diminished cognitive abilities.
The roots of malnutrition in Bauchi are deep and tangled. Poverty remains the most obvious driver, with many families unable to afford a balanced diet. A large portion of the population relies on subsistence farming, but erratic rainfall patterns, increasing desertification, and the rising cost of farming inputs have combined to reduce food production. Even when food is available in the markets, inflation has pushed prices beyond the reach of poor households, leaving them
with no choice but to opt for cheaper, less nutritious meals that fill the stomach but starve the body of essential vitamins and minerals.
For many families, meals are monotonous and heavily dependent on starchy staples such as maize, millet, and rice. These foods provide calories but lack the proteins, fats, and micronutrients necessary for healthy development. Animal proteins such as meat, fish, and eggs are considered luxuries, while vegetables and fruits are consumed in small quantities or not at all. Over time, this dietary imbalance leads to undernutrition, a condition that weakens the immune system and makes children more susceptible to infections such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, and measles — illnesses that can be fatal when combined with malnutrition.
Ibrahim Ismail, Dept of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri
Kayode Tokede
As against the trend of positive corporate earnings in other sector of the Nigerian economy, the insurance sector has again taken the back seat as 12 leading quoted insurance companies on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) declared 43.8 per cent drop in profit.
Their unaudited results for half year ended June 30, 2025, showed that profit before tax declined to N68.7billion from N122.22 billion reported in half year ended June 30, 2024.
However, it was not all gloom as Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, NEM Insurance Plc and Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc posted impressive growth in profit before tax.
For instance, Mutual Benefits Assurance in H1 2025 declared N12.29 billion profit, about 287.8 per cent increase over N3.2 billion declared in H1 2024, while NEM Insurance announced N17. profit before tax, about 46.8 per cent increase over N12.22 billion posted in H1 2024. In the period under review, Sovereign Trust Insurance announced
N1.5 billion profit before tax, representing an increase of 36 per cent from N1.11billion in H1 2024.
LASACO Assurance Plc emerged the worst performing company in the period under review with N518.12 million loss in H1 2025 from N3.47 billion profit before tax reported in H1 2024. The company said rising cost pressure, particularly from insurance service expenses and reinsurance costs impacted its profit generation in H1 2025.
The major players in the insurance sector, AIICO Insurance Plc, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc,
Consolidated Hallmark Holdings, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, and Coronation Insurance Plc declared decline in profit.
AIICO saw its profit before tax at N12.48 billion in H1 2025, about 13 per cent decline from N14.38 billion in H1 2024, while AXA Mansard Insurance announced N7.73 billion profit before tax in H1 2025, about 72 per cent drop from N28.57 billion posted in H1 2024.
Consolidated Hallmark Holdings reported N1.76 billion profit before tax in H1 2025, a 83.6 per cent decline from N10.78
billion in H1 2024, while Cornerstone Insurance declared N6.7 billion profit before tax in H1 2025, a drop of 76 per cent from N27.87 billion in H1 2024.
In addition, Coronation Insurance announced N1.53 billion profit before tax in H1 2025, a significant drop of 80 per cent from N7.66 billion declared in H1 2024.
Despite challenges posed by the macroeconomic environment, THISDAY can report that, the 12 insurance companies generated N429.56 billion revenue in H1 2025, representing
an increase of 42 per cent from N302.74 billion reported in H1 2024. AXA Mansard Insurance, followed by NEM Insurance declared the highest insurance revenue in H1 2025. As AXA Mansard Insurance declared N81.15 billion revenue in H1 2025, about 24 per cent growth from N65.62 billion in H1 2024, NEM Insurance saw it insurance revenue at N75.41 billion in H1 2025, representing an increase of 66 per cent from N45.5 billion in H1 2024.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho has tasked his team to renew commitment towards continuous improvement on
Port efficiency that provided the backbone for the positive export performance Nigeria has recorded thus far in the successive quarters of year 2025.
Speaking during the recently concluded NPA Management
Retreat in Onne Rivers State, Dantsoho said “we are proud of the excellent work being undertaken by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council as evident in the increased export numbers passing
through our platforms, but we cannot rest on our laurels, we must commit to a continuous improvement paradigm of Port operations and service delivery that places high premium on issues of sustainability”.
Elucidating further Dantsoho stressed that, “Minimising environmental impact through eco-friendliness, promotion of social responsibility, and ensuring long-term economic viability
are the drivers of global progress, and we cannot afford to be left behind. We owe posterity a duty to infuse sustainability paradigms into the way we do things.”
Eromosele Abiodun
REPOSITIONING NPA FOR IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY…
L-R: Executive Director Marine & Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Olalekan Badmus; Executive Directors Finance & Administration Vivian RichardEdet; Director Planning Research & Statistics, Federal Ministry of Marine & Marine & Blue Economy, Kalthum Ibrahim; Managing Director of NPA, Dr.
Dantsoho and Executive Director Engineering & Technical Services, Ibrahim Abba Umar during NPA Management Retreat held in Onne, Rivers State… recently
Nigeria’s FX Reserves Up 9.4% to $40.29bn, Highest Since January
Nume Ekeghe
Nigeria’s foreign exchange (FX) reserves climbed to their highest level in more than seven months, reaching $40.29 billion as of August 8, 2025, according to the latest Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data.
This represents a gain of $3.45 billion, or 9.4 per cent, from $36.84 billion on August 8, 2024, and marks the strongest level since January 17, 2025, when reserves stood at $40.29 billion.
The sustained build-up reflects stronger foreign exchange inflows, supported by elevated crude oil prices, steady remittance growth, and renewed interest from foreign portfolio investors (FPIs). Analysts say this momentum is likely to continue, underpinned by ongoing reforms to stabilise the naira and restore macroeconomic confidence.
Head of Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co., Ayokunle Olubunmi, said the current oil market
conditions and investor sentiment provide a strong foundation for reserves to remain healthy.
“Crude oil prices have stayed above $70. The positive sentiment about Nigeria, coupled with relatively high asset yields, will continue to drive FPIs. Remittances will also maintain an upward trajectory as Nigerians in the diaspora continue to acquire assets in the domestic economy,” he told THISDAY.
Cordros Research, in its latest market commentary, noted that currency stability would be anchored by, “improving FX liquidity from both domestic and foreign sources, alongside subdued demand pressures.” However, it cautioned that “there is a possibility of gradual depreciation should global pressures re-emerge, particularly if oil prices retreat or geopolitical risks heighten.”
Afrinvest Asset Management observed that Nigeria’s external buffers had been on a steady upward path in recent months.
“Looking ahead, we expect the naira to remain rangebound in the near term, supported by relatively stable FX liquidity conditions. This is underpinned by consistent inflows from oil sales, remittances, and
portfolio investments, as well as reduced speculative demand in the FX market,” the firm stated.
In its H2 2025 outlook, Comercio Partners projected a significant improvement in Nigeria’s Balance of Payments (BoP), supported by the naira’s more competitive level and lower petroleum import dependence.
“By the end of 2025,
we expect the BoP to grow strongly, aided by currency competitiveness that encourages exports and discourages imports.
Savings from reduced oil importation are also contributing to this improvement,” the firm said.
It added that Nigeria’s reserve levels provide ample room to meet external obligations.
“Looking at Nigeria’s external debt
obligations, the total coupon payments for H2 2025, combined with the $1.118 billion Eurobond maturing in November, amount to $1.813 billion. Given current reserve levels, this debt service burden is covered approximately 20 times over. We project external reserves to reach approximately $43 billion by year-end,” Comercio stated.
British Council’s Film Lab Africa Spotlights Nigerian Filmmakers at ASIS
Nume Ekeghe
The British Council’s Film Lab Africa, in collaboration with the Sterling One Foundation, showcased the work of emerging Nigerian filmmakers at an exclusive screening during the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2025, underscoring the strategic role of the
creative industry in driving economic transformation and amplifying Africa’s voice on the global stage.
The event convened stakeholders from across the public, private, and development sectors to examine how film and television can be leveraged as economic drivers, cultural preservation tools, and
NIIRA: Insurance Firms Must Comply with Minimum Capital Or Risk license Cancellation
Ebere Nwoji
It has emerged that the Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA), which was recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, specified new minimum capital base for insurance and reinsurance underwriting firms.
platforms for global competitiveness.
Opening the evening, Head of Arts and Culture at the British Council Nigeria, Harry Kesiena, underscored the creative industry’s vital role in Africa’s development agenda.
Delivering the keynote address, the Country Director of the British Council Nigeria and West Africa Cluster Lead, Donna McGowan stressed the importance of building sustainable structures to support talent.
Director of
Programmes at the British Council Nigeria, Chikodi Onyemerela, highlighted the impact of long-term, skillsbased development initiatives.
CEO of Sterling One Foundation and coconvener of the Africa Social Impact Summit, Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, commended the British Council’s commitment to nurturing African storytellers. She further called for the deeper integration of the creative economy into Africa’s broader development strategies.
The new Act required insurance firms underwriting general business to raise their minimum capital from the current N3 billion
The law, it was learnt, gave operators 12 months from the date of commencement of the bill to raise the minimum capital or risk cancellation of their registration as licensed operators.
to 25 billion.
Life underwriters were required to raise their capital from the current N2 billion to N15 billion while reinsurance firms were asked to raise their capital from N10 billion to N45 billion.
According to the new Act, the operators have just 12 months effect from the date of signing
of the Act to comply.
Also, the sector’s regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has been authorised by the new Act to publish the names of insurance and reinsurance firms that were able to meet the capital requirement after 30 days of expiration of the deadline.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Abubakar
A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.
An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the
floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
GUIDE TO DATA:
Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 07 August-2025, unless otherwise stated.
and ETFS
TUC Slams Nigerian Leadership, Calls for Agriculture-driven GDP Growth
Sunday Ehigiator
The President General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, has accused Nigeria’s political leaders of “laziness” and overdependence on crude oil, urging a shift to agriculture-led growth, stronger productivity, and structural reforms.
This is just as the Lagos state government pledged continued support for workers’ welfare and called on Nigerian embassies abroad to actively drive economic growth and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into
the country. They made this call yesterday at the TUC’s South-West Labour Summit 2025 in Lagos, themed “Collaborate to Transform: Building Capacity for Regional Excellence and Workers’ Welfare.”
According to Osifo, “Nigeria as a country is very poor, but we have a huge potential to be wealthy. Nigeria has a budget of slightly above N50 trillion. We should never allow the trillions of Naira to keep confusing us. Because across the world, there is a common denominator with which we carry
out our comparisons. And that is the U.S. Dollar.
“Just go online, check what the value of our budget has been in the U.S. dollar terms in the last 10 years. Just check. The value of our budget in the U.S. dollar terms in the last 10 years, we are going to realise that it is somewhere about $13-35 billion.
“Nigeria as a country, we have huge potential. We stated over and over again that sometime in 2013, a study was done, that to construct the entire federal road in Nigeria is going to take us $120 billion.
Ekiti Partners CESEL to Deploy Solar Irrigation Infrastructure
As part of ongoing efforts to revolutionise the agricultural sector and empower young farmers across Ekiti State, the State Government and Community Energy Social Enterprise Limited (CESEL), have partnered to start the deployment of Solar Irrigation facilities to youth farmers in the state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade who made this known in Ado-Ekiti said the project has been approved
by the State Governor Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji stressing that the governor’s approval stemmed from the fact that the state is desirous to change the narrative on food production, to boost agricultural production and tackle food security crisis in the country According to him, under the programme, both parties have agreed to a deal to start a pilot of the intervention in a few selected farming centres in the state as a proof of the concept. He also disclosed that the state government
has approved the sum of N200,000,000.00 for the construction of Modular Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems under the programme at selected farm hubs.
In his remarks, the CEO of CESEL, Dr Patrick Tolani, emphasised that Ekiti became the first destination for the deployment of his company’s solar irrigation campaign in the southern part of Nigeria because of what he saw in Ekiti State during a comprehensive assessment visit to the state.
Dun & Bradstreet Wins Databricks Growth Data Partner Award
Dun & Bradstreet has been named the 2025 Databricks Growth Data Partner of the Year, earning top honors at the annual Data + AI Summit.
The award recognizes the company’s critical contributions to helping enterprises operationalize trusted data and fast-track their artificial intelligence (AI) transformation journeys.
A global leader in commercial data and analytics,
Dun & Bradstreet was lauded for its strategic alignment with the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, according to a statement.
The company’s integration of comprehensive global B2B data has enabled organizations to address a wide range of complex use cases, including credit decisioning, regulatory compliance, supply chain optimization, and environmental, social,
and governance (ESG) reporting.
Central to the recognition is Dun & Bradstreet’s use of Delta Sharing, Databricks’ open and secure data sharing protocol. By delivering near realtime commercial data through this platform, Dun & Bradstreet helps clients eliminate data silos, streamline operations, and make faster, insight-driven decisions across geographies and functions.
Black+ Decker Partners NhA to Grow Market Share of home Appliances on Nigeria
Stanley Black & Decker has officially unveiled its partnership with Naija Home Automation (NHA), in a drive seen at deepening the company’s market share of Nigeria’s equipment and home appliances. Speaking at the conference, the director, commercial, marketing and strategy, Middle
East and Africa for
Stanley Black & Decker Inc., Umair Shahzad said, “As a part of our international expansion strategy, we are looking at Africa as the gateway of opportunities for us. We are setting some good foundations in East Africa and we are getting now into West
Africa as well.”
According to him, the company identified NHA as the right distributor to bring its product offerings closer to the Nigerian market and consumers. He disclosed that Stanley Black & Decker also wants to be vocal and present across the African market by leveraging local partnerships.
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).
Kayode Tokede
Stock Market Extends Positive Momentum, Gains N111bn on Demand for Lafarge, Others
KayodeTokede
The stock market section of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday extended its winning momentum by N111 billion, driven by positive sentiment seen in Lafarge Africa Plc and 49 others.
On investors demand for Lafarge Africa that
gained 6.1 per cent, the NGX All-Share Index rose by 175.12 basis points or 0.12 per cent, to close at 146,055.89 basis points to advance the Monthto-Date and Year-to-Date returns to +4.4per cent and +41.9per cent, respectively.
Similarly, the market capitalisation value gained N111 billion to close at N
92.405 trillion.
On sectors, performance was mixed as the NGX Insurance Index (+9.1per cent), and NGX Industrial Goods (+0.9per cent) closed higher, while the NGX Consumer Goods Index (-0.5per cent), NGX Banking index (-0.2per cent) and NGX Oil & Gas index (-0.2per cent)
declined.
Investor sentiment remained upbeat, with market breadth closing positive as 50 stocks advanced against 29 decliners. Associated Bus Company, Champion Breweries, Ellah Lakes, Sunu Assurance, AXA Mansard Insurance, Prestige Assurance, Wapic
Insurance and The Initiates Plc (TIP) recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent each to close at N4.95, N17.38, N16.06, N6.05, N17.71, N2.20, N4.07 and N14.52 respectively, per share.
Julius Berger followed with a gain of 9.99 per cent to close at N147.60, while Mutual Benefits Assurance
rose by 9.97 per cent to close at N3.53, per share. On the other hand, Juli led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N9.00, per share. Unilever Nigeria followed with a decline of 9.97 per cent to close at N71.30, while Custodian Investment dipped by 9.55 per cent to close at N37.90, per share.
perspective
ADC: Between Political and Moral Opposition
Vincent Obia explores the ADC challenge and how much of
a political opposition it constitutes
African Democratic Congress (ADC) has emerged as a significant force in Nigerian politics, placing itself as a viable alternative to the two political parties that have dominated governance since the Fourth Republic, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At the forefront of the new coalition party is former Senate President David Mark, who was recently chosen as its pro tem National Chairman.
Mark, a retired army general, will be leading to the 2027 general election an opposition set that includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was presidential candidate of PDP in 2023; presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in 2023, Peter Obi; former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; former transport minister, Chibuike Amaechi; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal; former APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, and many other prominent politicians. In the background, also, are believed to be key figures, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former military president Ibrahim Babangida, and former National Security Adviser (NSA) Aliyu Gusau.
ADC is riding the wave of growing discontent with the APC administration among Nigerians. It is fuelled by moral opposition to the APC government, which many believe has brought a lot of hardship to the citizens.
Led by a powerful and vocal section of the elite, and anchored on a strong grassroots mobilisation strategy, the coalition seeks to replace APC’s President Bola Tinubu at the presidency in 2027. The leaders emphasise the significance of moral opposition, saying Nigerians deserve better than the APC administration.
In response to acerbic attacks on El-Rufai by APC, recently, ADC accused the ruling party of applying personal attacks as a weapon of distraction from its failures in “Butgovernance. we must remind them that while words can be manipulated, the facts on ground cannot,” said ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.
El-Rufai had led a delegation of opposition leaders to Sokoto State, where ADC launched a grassroots mobilisation campaign intended to rally support against the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general election.
“The APC government is incompetent and clannish, and it’s clear that they have failed to address the many challenges facing our country,” El-Rufai said. “We cannot allow them to continue in power. It’s time for a change,” he added.
Like many of the coalition’s leaders, El-Rufai believed the APC government was pushing Nigeria over a political and economic precipice, and ADC was on a mission to salvage the country.
He said, “We are not fighting for personal gain or power. We are fighting for the future of our country.”
El-Rufai declared, “We believe that Nigeria deserves better than the APC,
and we are committed to making that happen.”
ADC would be trying to take advantage of the harsh economic conditions under the APC administration to sway voters. Though, APC has not been without some achievements, the successes have clearly not worked to lift most citizens out of Sincepoverty.
the APC government of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria has witnessed a trend of economic diversification, away from the economic mono-culture based on crude oil, to nonoil revenue sources. From 58 per cent of federal government revenues in the first quarter of 2015, revenue from oil has reduced consistently, to 38 per cent in the first quarter of 2022, 31 per cent in the first quarter of 2023, and 29 per cent in the same period of 2024.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and a major oil producer. Yet, in 2025, it ranks among the world’s poorest nations.
The 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index reveal that 63 per cent of Nigerians experience multidimensional poverty, as they face deprivations across various facets of life.
Mounting debt burden has continued to be a major aggravator of poverty in
Nigeria, stifling efforts to improve the citizens’ standard of living. In the first quarter of 2022, 84 per cent of the federal government’s revenue went into debt servicing; it rose of 89 per cent in the same period of 2023, and a staggering 167 per cent in the first quarter of 2024.
Experts say it is only a productive economy that can lift majority of citizens out of poverty.
“We have tried the oil revenue model; we did not get out of poverty. We are now in the non-oil revenue model; poverty is still with us,” said data analyst and commentator, Babajide Ogunsanwo.
“So clearly, the bridge to cross from poverty to prosperity, that bridge is really about productivity,” Ogunsanwo said.
Productivity is an oft-iterated theme in the opposition coalition’s political and economic discussions and criticism of the APC government. It was the central message of Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign.
Newly elected National Chairman of APC, Professor Nentawe Yiwaltda, says he is reviewing and analysing the opposition’s criticisms with a view to adapting and incorporating them in the ruling party’s strategy to improve its performance.
Yiwaltda told Channels TV recently,
“In contrast to the APC experience, ADC is largely a coalition of individuals, not parties. And ADC does not seem to have individuals with the kind of vote-yielding political clout APC boasted in 2013.”
“Some of them will help me to improve on the performance of the party. Some of their criticisms are helping us to improve on our performance and also map our strategies better.”
How quickly the APC government can amend its identified weaknesses and change the mounting discontent with its performance remain to be seen.
But APC’s failures would continue to be a key campaign tool for the ADC coalition ahead of 2027.
ADC officially transformed into a coalition party on July 2, with Mark as interim National Chairman. Also last month, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of ADC held its final meeting, where the Ralph Nwosu-led executive stepped down, and the party’s leadership was formally handed over to Mark.
Former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, was named National Secretary of the party, and Abdullahi was announced as National Publicity Secretary. Deputy national chairmen were also announced for the six geopolitical zones at the meeting monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). ADC is sounding a note of difference from the ruling APC and the other parties. It says its strategy is based on the principles of accountability, inclusivity, and transparency.
In a speech after taking over control of ADC, Mark pledged to serve the party “with integrity, transparency, courage, and vision”.
He said, “Under my leadership, we shall be committed to full democratic practices and principles that abhor imposition and special privileges. Internal democracy, transparency and accountability will be our mantra.”
He added, “We shall revamp our grassroots leadership structures to reflect modern realities. From the polling units, wards up to the national level, every organ will be re-energised.
“We will open the gates for the next generation. Our policies, nominations, and leadership roles will reflect meaningful inclusion of youths and women and not justThetokenism.”
former senate president announced that the party had reserved 35 per cent of its leadership positions for women. Even though ADC is still working on a formal manifesto to guide its 2027 campaign, the soundbites from the party already look exciting, especially at a time when majority of citizens are seeking ways out of what they believe to be government-imposed hardship. But can those sentiments translate to political support and votes in 2027? Can ADC build a broad coalition of supporters capable of ousting APC at the next general election?
ADC is trying to replicate APC’s 2015 feat, when it brought together a group of opposition politicians in a coalition that beat an incumbent president for the first time in Nigeria’s history. But 2015 is not 2027, and ADC is not APC, though many of the former’s promoters were equally strong factors in the making of the latter.
Peter Obi
Chibuike Amaechi
Atiku Abubakar
Nasir El-Rufai
Oloruntoba: Why It’s Important to Equip Youth for Climate-smart Innovation
Bankole Oloruntoba is the Chief Executive of the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre. In this interview with Funmi Ogundare , he explained why his organisation partnered Oando Foundation, researchers, and academia on the Green Youth Upskilling Programme, to build technical capacity for young people, and the need for youths to think of innovative solutions that will bring about climate change opportunities and improve their livelihood and the economy. Excerpts:
How has NCIC evolved under your leadership in terms of driving climate-smart entrepreneurs in Nigeria?
The NCIC started with just a piece of paper, and when I took up the role, all the NCIC had was a piece of paper and an empty office. So, we started with me and a youth corps member, Tosin Ajide, who is currently our head of partnership. At that time, we set the vision and mission of the NCIC, designed the structures and programmes that the NCIC was supposed to run. But most importantly, we wanted to create a centre that gives opportunities for everybody, from academics to businesses, government, innovation, and research. When we set up that system, we realised that it was also important to create a governance system. So, we decided to put up our board structure and all those different things. Practically, what we did with the NCIC was to take a concept note and then turn it into a full-fledged organisation. Under my leadership as the founding CEO, I focused on establishing the right partnerships that would enable us to secure our first project. We began by building an ecosystem. I have a background in ecosystem development. I established the first innovation hub in Abuja and managed it for approximately five years. I literally just built the whole Abuja tech innovation ecosystem. I adopted the same mindset at the Climate Innovation Centre in Lagos, and I also helped establish the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre by building an ecosystem around the kinds of people who needed support. I sought to understand what the government wanted, and I grasped their role in building this. I understood the role of the private sector for finance and also for manufacturing opportunities. I understood the role of academia in terms of research support and development sectors, as they often have access to substantial funding. I also understood that there’s a fifth stakeholder, which is the innovation ecosystem. These are the places where young people are. We conducted multiple programs to help these groups of people understand what the NCIC is about. This now led us to our first incubation program, about two of them. We got funding from All-On, a Shell Impact Investment company.
They were our friends. In fact, one of them sits on our board. They were our first funders ever. They were the first people who ever gave us money for anything. All-On, then, was being headed by a Dutch-Nigerian. He grew up in Jos, and as a result, he has a deep understanding of Nigeria and speaks Hausa. So, we had a very good conversation. He loved our programs, and then they committed to funding us for three years to build renewable energy ventures that they could invest in. We also received another kick-off funding from the federal government, through the Vice President’s office, to build our structure and expand our capacity. That now helped us to create a program where we were able to train over 100 ventures.
Then, we were able to award about $24,000 to about 24 of them. I believe the total project we undertook with that fund provided us with access to nearly 100 innovators. And then part of those, innovators, about 24 of them, were being funded. So, we funded 8 in each set for
$10,000. All this funding came from All-On. This project alone was instrumental in helping us establish the green economy ecosystem in Nigeria. With what we did, we received a significant number of entries from all parts of the country, including Sokoto, Plateau State, Kaduna, Borno, and even the South-South and South-East regions. So, our program at that point was what opened the green economy innovation programs for Nigeria. And that’s why, in Nigeria now, you can see a whole lot of innovators, startups, and businesses that are going green.
When we started seven years ago, nobody was really focused on green initiatives; the closest we had been renewable energy installers and installations. However, when we came on board and started creating webinars, programs, knowledge activity sessions, and other initiatives, it helped a whole lot of innovators, young people, researchers, academics, and coaches understand that there’s actually an opportunity here. And these same programmes were what helped the financial sector in Lagos to understand that there’s an emerging economy within the climate space, before they didn’t. I mean, most people in Lagos never understood anything about climate, but when our programme started and we began to shed light on how climate innovation can work in Nigeria, how entrepreneurs can make a strong case out of climate challenges and turn them into quality products and businesses that are ready.
Would you say this was what motivated your partnership with Oando Foundation on the Green Youth Upskilling programme?
Our relationship with the Oando Foundation dates back about two years, when I met Tonia Uduimoh, the head of the foundation in Abuja. We then began discussing possibilities related to the foundation and the green economy. At first, people never thought that because it was green and the climate, you didn’t have to work with oil companies. However, for us, it was entirely different. Everybody is a partner. Everyone has an equal opportunity to partner with green economic provinces. As a result of multiple conversations spanning almost 24 months, we took action with Oando. There was a bit of back and forth. We had to follow their programmes to see what they were
doing, and they also had to follow ours for a while to see what we were doing.
Then we kept talking because we needed to create a program that is not like every other program you find around the country. Oando Foundation was very specific. They said they wanted to create a program that would have a direct impact in the long run, a program that would truly benefit Nigerian youth in a profoundly positive way. So, we kept thinking that because we had done startup / SME innovation programs, we had also done women in business programmes, and we had even conducted an academic research program, but that wasn’t what Oando was looking for.
What spurred our relationship was that we started making a list of almost 10 project ideas, and then we submitted and began to work them out, mixing and matching, until we came up with this project. This project came at the right time, as Oando’s development focus is on youth skills engagement and development. So, with what Oando has done with the ‘Change our World’ project in secondary and primary schools to build capacity, interest, and change their world through sustainable models, they found out that building technical capacity for young people as well can further improve their livelihood and improve their opportunities in life.
We wanted to ensure that it was something that has a direct impact on Nigeria’s economy and environment, and also something that is scalable, allowing us to implement it from one state. and also end up doing in 36 states, including the FCT. Our relationship with Oando began based on a shared mindset and interest in creating climate-related impact. Under the leadership of Tonia, who was resilient and also understood what she wanted the foundation to achieve between us, we were able to come to a common ground. However, I will attribute this more to the Oando team, as they were very strategic and knew exactly what they wanted. They provided us with all the support in building the strategy, program, and even designing the budget, all the way down to the programme’s launch.
NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com
Winners of 2025 Mike Okonkwo Essay Emerge, to Receive Prizes Sept 4
A student of Bloombreeds School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Davina Phillips, 15; Aniki Emmanuella Onizi of Babcock High School, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, 16; and Maryam Opeyemi llyas, of Isawo Comprehensive High School, Ikorodu, Lagos, 15, have emerged winners of the 2025 Mike Okonkwo Annual Essay Competition for Secondary School Students in Nigeria.
The Chief Examiner, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, said that Phillips moved from fourth position in the first round, to the first in the second round. She scored 70 per cent in the first round and 80 per cent in the second to secure the tally of 75 per cent.
The first runner-up, Onizi, with final tally of 68 per cent, scored 75 per cent in the first round, while Ilyas, from came third with 66 per cent in the final tally, but scored 71 per cent in the first round.
Ezeigbo revealed that after going through the submissions, the best five essays were selected and a second physical round stage was organised on a different topic to see the extent that the students would confirm their abilities in a more regulated examination environment.
The Ezeigbo observed that the 2025 competition was good in the sense that the students
demonstrated a clear understanding of the adult-themed issues at hand, consequently responded in writing. “As usual, a substantial number
revealed evidence of collaboration with peers and copying from internet, textbooks and other sources,” said Ezeigbo. “It was easy to reach this conclusion because the imprints of sources
were uncreatively left behind in the bodies of the essays submitted.”
Ezeigbo further emphasized that, “similarly, we noticed the use of artificial intelligence in the generation of much of the content examined. This shows that our students are doing well by consulting sources that have become inevitable in knowledge generation and transmission.
“However, teachers must let them know how to use materials creatively and intelligently for the purposes of verification and validation.”
For their achievements, Philips will receive a cheque for N1 million and a laptop for herself, while her school will be awarded a set of computers. Aniki will get a cheque for N500,000 and a laptop for herself, with her school also receiving a set of computers. Ilyas will receive a cheque for N400,000 and a laptop for herself, and a computer set for her school. The remaining finalists will each receive a consolation prize of N50,000.
The prizes will be presented to the winners at the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture Series at the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, on September 4, 2025.
NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com
Oloruntoba
Examiners: Prof. Patrick Oloko and Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, with the winners of the 20th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition
LAunch Of PAPSS At fidELity BAnk...
Oduwole: With 53% Service-based Economy, FG to Leverage Nigeria’s Comparative Advantage
Says Nigeria more focused on integration, not protectionism
Addeh in Abuja
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olajumoke Oduwole, yesterday stressed that at 53 per cent Nigeria has a comparative in the service industry, explaining that the Bola Tinubu administration will continue to encourage the players with the right policies.
Speaking on Arise Television yesterday, Oduwole noted that in Nigeria, the service sector has a broad spectrum and does not need a large capital outlay to take off.
“All the way, it’s services. That is the first place. So our economy, the world’s economy, has skewed towards services in terms of growth. The African economy has skewed and the Nigerian economy is no different. I will say about 53 per cent is currently in services.
“Now services have a broad spectrum. Services from tourism to hospitality to financial services and what that does, especially when you layer technology, is that we’re on the cutting edge of competitiveness as Nigerians.
“Nigerians are gifted in that space and have pivoted to that space because it also requires less of an infrastructure outlay. So while this administration works on the infrastructure deficit, our entrepreneurial spirit has led us to finding profitable pathways and that has put Nigeria at the forefront of services delivery across Africa,” she argued.
With the needed data now available, and growing ease of doing business, as well as regulatory and legislative reforms and trade facilitation, the world has started to look in the direction of Nigeria.
According to her this has been further enhanced with
the ongoing digitisation of public infrastructure and adoption of ‘whole of gov- ernment approach’ to trade facilitation, explaining that results are being delivered. In terms of energy availability, Oduwole noted that
although still not enough, the amount of power is increasing gradually in the country, as a result of creative solutions being deployed, the willing buyer, willing seller regime the little pockets of Independent Power Projects (IPPs).
NAPTIP, Shippers’
“ So people are finding creative ways to get themselves power, including solar projects across the country. And so gradually, we are having more power. So it’s work in progress,” she pointed out. She explained that Nigeria needs to continue to support and encourage its businesses to thrive, reason President Bola Tinubu has a domestic investors focus, and that means ‘Nigeria First’.
Council Collaborate to Arrest Human Trafficking on Waterways
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) are to commence a collaborative move aimed at combating human trafficking through Nigeria’s waterways and coastal areas
The management of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) on Tuesday promised robust cooperation, effective
Sixteen Inmates Escape Keffi Custodial Centre
Sixteen inmates of New Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State have escaped the facility after a security breach.
A statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Umar Abubakar, a Deputy Controller of Corrections read:
“The Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to inform the general public of an incident that occurred in the early hours of today 12th
August, 2025 at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi (New), Nasarawa State.
“Some inmates breached the security of the facility, and attacked personnel on duty to compromise the situation enabling sixteen (16) inmates to escape custody.
“In the course of containing the situation, five (5) person- nel of the Custodial Centre sustained varying degrees of injury, with two currently serious and receiving urgent medical attention at a govern- ment health facility. Seven
(7) of the fleeing inmates have been recaptured and are now in custody.”
The statement added that:
“The Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, MFR, mni, has visited the facility and has ordered a thorough inves- tigation into the escape. He said no staff will be spared if found “Furthermore,culpable.he has directed an immediate search to recapture the fleeing inmates in collaboration with sister security agencies.
collaboration, and sustained synergy with NAPTIP.
The promise was made during a courtesy visit of the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, to the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Ukeyima, at the Council’s office in Abuja.
The visit was part of the strategic engagement of the Director General of NAPTIP with critical agencies of government and partners across the country aimed at enhancing inter-agency collaboration in the fight against human
trafficking in Nigeria.
Speaking during the visit, the NAPTIP boss, who described the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as a critical partner, disclosed that due to the intense opera- tion heat on traffickers on the land borders by operatives of NAPTIP, some of the traffickers have now resorted to using the waterways to traffic their victims.
She said, “As a maritime regulatory body, the NSC oversees critical gateways to the nation’s trade and transportation systems, gateways that are unfortunately also exploited by traffickers to move victims
clandestinely via vessels and other maritime routes.
“The shipping, ports, and logistics sectors can play a pivotal role in early detection, prevention, and reporting of trafficking activities, making collaboration between NAPTIP and NSC not only strategic but essential.
“NAPTIP is proposing to deepen engagement with the maritime sector in the fight against human trafficking, especially in sensitisation for identification of potential trafficking cases along the waterways and timely reporting to relevant authorities.
Army Probes Troops’ Alleged Brutality Against Civilian in Nsukka, Vows Disciplinary Action
Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Nigerian Army yesterday launched a thorough investigation to uncover the facts surrounding the alleged dehumanisation and brutality inflicted on unarmed civilians by its personnel deployed in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State. The army also vowed to take appropriate disciplinary
action against the personnel involved in brutalising civilians, in accordance with military regulations, if found guilty.
Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, in a statement, assured that the outcome of the probe would be made public.
The Nigerian Army also
commended the public’s vigilance and the media’s role in bringing the issue to its attention.
He said, “The 82 Division, Nigerian Army, has taken note of a recent social media video of an encounter between its personnel deployed in Igbo- Eze South Local Government Area and civilians along the Nsukka–Igbo-Eze South Road in Enugu State.
Emmanuel
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
L-R: Divisional Head of Operations, Fidelity Bank Plc, Henry Asiegbu; Executive Director, Lagos & South West, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Ken Opara; Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Kevin Ugwuoke; Head of International Operations, Fidelity Bank Plc, Katherine Oba; and Chief Executive Officer, Pan-African Payment & Settlement System (PAPSS), Mike Ogbalu III, during the launch of PAPSS at Fidelity Bank head office in Lagos… Friday
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
SECURITY ROUNDTABLE BY HALOGEN...
L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Halogen Group, Wale Olaoye; Brig. Gen. Matthew Oyekola, 9 Brigade Commander, Nigerian Army, Ikeja Cantonment; and Director-General, NARC, Maj. Gen. Garba Ayodeji Wahab (rtd.), during a Security Roundtable organised by Halogen Group, a Chatham House-informed knowledge-sharing session on key developments and emerging trends in security risk management, held in Lagos… recently
NAF Says Its Airstrikes Eliminated 592 Terrorist Fighters in Eight Months
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday revealed that eight months of coordinated air interdictions by the Air Component of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, led to the killing of no fewer than 592 terrorist fighters. The Service also disclosed the coordinated airstrikes obliterated over 372 enemy assets during the period under review.
Unveiling these figures during a courtesy visit to the Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, in
Maiduguri on Tuesday, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, stated that the troops’ achievements over eight months far outnumbered their impressive records for the whole of 2024.
He said, “Backed by an upgraded fleet and precision night-strike capabilities, NAF
aircraft executed 798 combat sorties, clocking over 1,500 operational flight hours in the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai.”
The operations, he said, had crippled terrorist mobility and logistics by destroying 206 technical vehicles and 166 key logistics hubs deep in hostile
General Laka: NACTEST Stresses Prevention, Embeds Resilience, Inclusivity, Community Engagement
The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTCONSA), Major General Adamu Laka, has stated that the draft National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) 2025 which emphasises prevention alongside response, strengthens inter-agency coordination, and embeds resilience, inclusivity and community engagement at the core of Nigeria’s security architecture.
General Laka made this remark while welcoming participants to the final validation exercise of the draft
National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) 2025 in Abuja on Tuesday.
The National Coordinator stressed that the several months of rigorous review reflect the seriousness with which critical stakeholders in the nation’s defence and security architecture approach the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.General Laka encouraged international partners to share insights that will ensure the document aligns with global best practices, including critical but often under-stressed elements such as counter-narratives and strategic communications.
This validation exercise, he said, is not simply about reviewing a document; it is about endorsing a shared vision that will guide Africa’s most populous nation’s coun- terterrorism efforts until the next review cycle.
Noting that this is the stage where the strategy must be confirmed as reflecting national priorities while meeting the highest inter- national standards, General Laka stated that the review of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy represents a reaffirmation of the Centre’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to counterterrorism.
He said: “This is why the process was deliberately inclusive, passing through multiple stages of review and consultation with a wide spectrum of stakeholders, so that we can all take ownership of the final product and commit fully to its implementation.
“Accordingly, I implore all participants to engage actively, offer constructive observations, highlight any gaps, and suggest refinements that will enrich the document before it proceeds for editing and publication.”
territory.
“This year, our air war is faster, sharper, and more surgical. We are taking out high-value targets, crippling their logistics, and hunting down every cell that threatens the peace of the North-East.
From Gonori to Rann, Dikwa to Damboa, Azir to Mallam Fatori, NAF air power has pounded terrorist strongholds with coordinated day-and-night operations, delivering devastating strikes in some of the most difficult terrain,” Air Marshal Abubakar.
A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, noted the operational visit underscores the NAF’s unwavering commitment to national defence—leveraging air power, intelligence, and collaborative partnerships to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians.
The CAS further disclosed the offensive had been boosted by the deployment of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, capable of precision and night missions;
Mi-171 helicopters for medical evacuation and logistics; and enhanced intelligence, surveil- lance, and reconnaissance platforms for round-the-clock target tracking.
He added that a new Mi35 gunship was expected to further intensify close air support for ground troops in the theatre.
Air Marshal Abubakar also applauded several initiatives of the Borno State Government while particularly praising the “Borno Model” — a community-driven, non-kinetic engagement approach combined with hard-hitting military action.
He said the model had proved to be a winning formula in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign.
“We are winning this war in the air, on the ground, and in the hearts of the people,” he said.
The CAS also inspected facilities at the NAF Base in Maiduguri, where he engaged with aircrew and ground crew, urging them to maintain their relentless efforts.
Gov Okpebholo Approves Construction of 500-room Hostel for Ambrose Alli University IGP Egbetokun Elevates Legal Department to Directorate Status, Names AIG Ehiede as Director
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has announced plans for the construction of a 500-bed hostel facility for the medical school of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma in Edo State.
The governor made the pledge during his campaign tour of Esan West Local
Government Area ahead of the August 16 Edo Central Senatorial By-election.
According to him, construction work on the project will commence in the coming weeks.
The governor said: “Edo State Government will build a 500-room hostel space ac- commodation for the medical school in AAU, Ekpoma. In
the coming weeks, we will mobilize work to start.
“Remember that the first thing I announced when I became the governor of Edo State was that we were going to increase the subvention of this school to N500 million. Have we not done it? Have we not constituted the governing council for the school?”
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the elevation of the Legal Section of the Force to the Directorate of Legal Services.
In a statement yesterday, the Police explained the elevation is in line with ongoing strategic reforms aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing operational efficiency across all departments of the Nigeria Police Force.
The statement, signed by Force Spokesperson Olu-
muyiwa Adejobi, stated the Directorate will serve as the apex legal arm of the Nigeria Police Force, responsible for the coordination and delivery of legal services. He stated this includes legal training, comprehensive policy review, and structured engagement with prosecutorial bodies, the judiciary, and other relevant stakeholders in the justice sector.
The move, he said, is designed to create a clear institutional identity for the Force’s legal operations,
strengthen cohesion, and secure recognition across both domestic and international jurisdictions.
To this end, the InspectorGeneral announced the appointment of AIG Ohiozoba Ehiede as the pioneer Director of the Directorate of Legal Services.
The spokesperson noted that AIG Ehiede brings with him a wealth of experience, proven leadership, and a distinguished record of service, which are expected to drive the Director- ate’s mandate with excellence.
Linus Aleke in Abuja
Linus Aleke in Abuja
Linus Aleke in Abuja
SIGNING OF FREE ROAMING AGREEMENT...
L-R: Director-General, National Communications Authority (NCA), Sierra Leone, Amara Brewah; Executive Secretary, West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), Aliyu Aboki; and Managing Director, Liberia Telecommunications Corporation, Hon. Richardson N. Dorbor, at the free roaming go-live event between Liberia and Sierra Leone, held in Monrovia, Liberia… recently
FG, De-S AD el Con S or TI um
ing confidence in the aviation sector, and for good reason. You have operational inefficiencies, customer service failures, and a lack of consequences. This Senate action is a welcome start, but it must lead to clear reform and enforcement,” he said.
Stakeholders also pointed to the broader challenges facing Nigerian airlines, including rising operational costs, foreign exchange volatility, and ageing infrastructure.
While these economic pressures were real, industry watchers argued they could not justify subpar service or breaches of safety and passenger rights.
The aviation sector plays a critical role in Nigeria’s economic and social connectivity, especially given the country’s vast geography and sometimes limited road infrastructure.
With Nigeria aiming to establish itself as a West African aviation hub through infrastructure upgrades and expansion of domestic carriers, ensuring a safe, reliable, and accountable industry is seen as vital to the country’s development goals.
The senator, therefore, assured the public that the Senate Committee would maintain “active oversight” and press for actionable outcomes—not just recommendations.
He added that operators found to be repeatedly in breach of regulations or standards would be held accountable, including through legislative interventions where necessary.
“The Nigerian people deserve an aviation sector that upholds global standards of safety, professionalism, and customer respect. We will not rest until those standards are met and maintained,” he said.
As hearings are scheduled to begin in the coming weeks, eyes would be on the Senate to see if it could push through the bold changes needed to reset an industry that millions of Nigerians rely on, but increasingly question.
IGP Orders Airport Police to Probe Alleged Obstruction of Safety Protocols by K1
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, hasdirected the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, to probe alleged obstruction of aviation safety protocols by popular Fuji musician K1 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on 5 August 2025.
The probe directive, conveyed through a statement signed by Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stressed that the investigation became necessary following a petition to the IGP by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
According to the statement, “The Nigeria Police Force has received an official petition from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over an alleged incident involving Mr Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (popularly known as KWAM 1).
“He is accused of engaging in unruly conduct that allegedly obstructed the safe operation of an aircraft, in violation of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, 2023, following a reported incident on 5 August 2025 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
“In response, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has directed the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the matter, to unravel the circumstances which led to the incident and ensure justice is served accordingly.”
The statement also assured the public of the Force’s commitment to upholding safety and security within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The Force further guaranteed stakeholders in the sector of improved collaboration towards aviation security and strict compliance with aviation laws.
NBA: Ibom Air’s Treatment of Emmanson is Reckless and Violation of Human Dignity
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has condemned the treatment meted out to an air passenger, Miss Comfort Emmanson by officials of the Ibom Air, describing it as both reckless and a violation of human dignity.
Emmanson was on Monday remanded in the Kirikiri Maximum Prison by a Lagos High Court, pending her arraignment on October 6, 2025.
Her remand was sequel to a five-count criminal charge bordering on alleged assault of an hostess of Ibom Airlines and wilfully damaged of property.
A viral video of an incident aboard the Ibom Air flight on August 10, 2025, had flooded the social media showing an altercation between the female passenger and the Purser of the aircraft, which flew Emmanson from Uyo, the Capital of Akwa-Ibom State to Lagos and how she was bundled out of the aircraft by officials over alleged unruly behaviour.
Reacting, the umbrella body for legal practitioners in the country condemned the way and manner the airline handled the issue as well as the subsequent lifetime flight ban imposed on Emmanson by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
According to the NBA, “These actions are heavyhanded, unlawful, and a grave affront to the rule of law and human dignity.”
The body, in a statement by its National President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and General Secretary, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, stated as “deeply disturbing” the fact that Emmanson was forcibly removed from the aircraft, stripped of her clothing in public, and subjected to humiliation that was filmed
and circulated online.
“Such conduct is degrading, violates her right to dignity and privacy, and falls far short of the standards of civility and professionalism expected in the aviation sector. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be treated in such a dehumanising manner,” NBA stressed.
It observed that while Ibom Air has issued its own account of events, other video footage has emerged showing an Ibom Air hostess preventing Ms. Emmanson from alighting from the aircraft, describing the act as “a conduct that could constitute false imprisonment and a possible provocation that escalated the situation.”
They argued that the situation made it all the more critical that the matter be subjected to an independent, impartial investigation by the appropriate authorities before any disciplinary action was taken against her.
“The decision to impose a lifetime ban without affording Ms. Emmanson a fair oppor- tunity to be heard is equally troubling. Ibom Air has so far only presented its own version of events without giving her the chance to respond.
“This one-sided process, culminating in a ban supported by AON, breaches the fundamental principle of fair hearing and renders the decision legally and morally indefensible.
“The power to suspend or restrict a passenger’s right to fly rests with the appropriate statutory regulator, not private associations or airline operators acting unilaterally,” they said.
NBA further pointed out that the dissemination,photographing, and online circulation of indecent images of Emmanson is an egregious invasion of privacy and a criminal act, adding that even if the incident was to be reported, the footage
should have been blurred or edited in such a way that it did not expose her nudity to the public.
NBA subsequently called for the identification and prosecution of all those responsible for capturing and distributing the unedited footage, arguing that such acts erode public trust and undermine the rights of all citizens to be treated with dignity and respect.
“The NBA demands that Ibom Air immediately withdraw the lifetime ban, issue a public apology to Ms. Emmanson, and cooperate fully with an impartial investigation into this incident.
“We also call on the Minister for Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough inquiry, sanction all those found culpable, and enforce strict compliance with established standards for the humane treatment of air passengers.
“The NBA stands ready to provide Ms. Emmanson with pro bono legal support to ensure her rights are protected and that she obtains redress for the violations suffered.
“We will not remain silent while the fundamental rights of any Nigerian are trampled upon, whether by public authorities, private corporations, or individuals. Respect for human dignity and the rule of law must never be compromised, and in this matter, justice must prevail,” the statement added.
What’s Good for K1 is Good for Emmanson, Labour Party Tells Tinubu in Airport Saga
Labour Party has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure equal treatment to K1 and Emmanson, recently involved in the breach of airport safety protocols.
The party, in a statement by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the interim national chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, said, “The president must ensure that his friend, Kwam 1, faces the same accountability meted out to Ms. Emmanson. After all, what is good for the goose must also be good for the gander.”Labour condemned K1’s behaviour, describing it as “flagrant violation of established aviation safety regulations was conveniently glossed over by the relevant authorities, apparently because of the musician’s proximity to the President.”
The statement also lambasted the government’s speedy prosecution of Emmanson, as it frowned at what it referred to as the “swift and shocking sequence of events.”
According to it, “Ms. Emmanson was stripped naked by aviation security, arraigned, imprisoned at Kirikiri Cor- rectional Centre, banned for life from flying Ibom Air, and placed on the Airlines Operators of Nigeria’s ‘NoFly’list – all within 24 hours of the incident. Who knew Nigerian justice could move with such lightning speed?
“Even more troubling is the timing. This incident comes just days after the shameful Value Jet episode involving Kwam1, where several aviation stakeholders scrambled to defend the musician rather than condemn his recklessness.
“The message from these two episodes could not be clearer: if you are connected to those in power, you can flout the law with impunity. If you are not, the system will come down on you with crushing force. This selective application of justice is not justice at all – it is the most insidious form of pretended justice,” Asogwa lamented.
CONDOLENCE VISIT TO THE FAMILY OF DOYIN ABIOLA...
L-R: Mrs. Iyabo Ogunshola; Mr. Bamise Tobun; daughter of the deceased, Mrs. Doyin Abiola-Tobun; and Emeritus Chairman of Punch Newspapers, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, during a condolence visit to the family of the late media icon, Dr. Doyin Abiola, at their residence in Lagos, last Sunday
EFCC: W E TA rg ET Corrup TI on I n Bo TH r ul I ng A n D o ppo SITI on pA r TIES party,” but argued that this was why the commission must remain impartial and unyielding.
ADC: It’s Media Trial of Opposition
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it has become crystal clear that the EFCC was out on a hatchet job — a choreographed media trial targeted at bringing coalition leaders to disrepute.
The ADC ‘’questioned why the EFCC had suddenly found “urgent” reason to investigate David Mark 10 years after leaving the Senate Presidency, Ihedioha more than 5 years after his brief tenure as governor, and Tambuwal 2 years after leaving office as Sokoto governor.’’
The party said the pattern of ignoring APC stalwarts with fresher and well-documented cases, while targeting op- position figures with stale allegations, was proof of selective justice and an assault on political ‘’Followingfreedom. our earlier release on Monday, in which we alerted Nigerians about the plan to deploy the Eco- nomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a political weapon by the rul- ing All Progressives Congress (APC), we wish to bring to the public’s attention fresh details that expose the extent of this coordinated assault on the‘’Theopposition.detention of one of our leaders, former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, has marked the start of the crackdown intended to intimidate key leaders of the opposition and discredit them through media trials.
‘’As shown in an EFCC correspondence currently circulating online, the Com- mission has now embarked on the investigation of another coalition chieftain, former Imo Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, with an “urgent” request to the
officials to provide information related specifically to his brief seven months in office.
‘’Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representa- tives, served as Governor of Imo State for just 7 months, from May 29, 2019, until the Supreme Court removed him on January 14, 2020 — a full 5 years and 7 months ago. We therefore wonder what makes investigating him suddenly ‘urgent’
‘’Mostnow.notably, the EFCC has now surreptitiously started excavating all the files from the ADC Chairman, Senator David Mark’s tenure as President of the Nigerian Senate.
“Let us remind Nigerians that our Party Chairman, Senator Mark, served as the Senate President for 8 years, from June 6, 2007, to June 6, 2015 — making him the longest-serving Senate President in our history.
“He left office 10 years and 2 months ago. Three Senate Presidents after, the EFCC suddenly remembered that he was a Senate President,’’ the ADC image maker said.
According the Abdullahi, ‘’While the ADC, as a party, stands for adherence to the rule of law and due process, like all Nigerians, we question the curious timing, selective targets, and political motiva- tions that now seem to define the EFCC’s actions.
“A fight against corrup- tion that begins and ends with the opposition is not justice — it is persecution. We have no doubts that this is witch-hunting; it is the APC government weaponising anti- corruption to do its political battle.
‘’Having failed to stop the coalition, the jittery ruling party’s next move is to discredit its leaders by getting the EFCC to accuse them of looting the entire treasuries.
“These are calculated media trials, which start and end with the accusation, the scandal, and the consequent lowering of public estimation. It matters
little whether there is a basis for these accusations — the game is the circus show,” he said.
Atiku: Why Tambuwal was Detained
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has raised the alarm over how the EFCC has been turned into a tool to intimidate opposition political parties by theAtikugovernment. stated that a former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, was arrested because he was a member of the opposition party.
He explained that the current intimidation style of using the EFCC was not the reason, he and former President Olusegun Obasanjo strived hard to establish the agency.
In a statement he personally signed, Atiku said, ‘’The only reason the EFCC has detained Tambuwal was because he was a member of the opposition Coalition, stressing it was a continuation of the Tinubu-led administration’s agenda to harass, intimidate, and decimate the opposition.
‘’The reality unfolding before us today is that the Tinubu administration, as with other aspects, has objectified the fight against corruption as a political tool to coerce opposition leaders into the ruling party.
‘’We are living witnesses to a growing trend where the state and its operators have assumed the roles of a bully by making corruption and the fight against it a political agenda. Certainly, that is not the objective for which I worked hard during our administration to create the EFCC.
‘’It is as though today, anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations and, it is as though, as soon as they are coerced into the political agenda of President Tinubu, their ‘sins’ are forgiven.
‘’That, definitely, is not how to build institutions. That, certainly, is not how to fight the monster of corruption. Indeed, such tendencies provide the stimulant for corruption to thrive.
‘’We have seen how the EFCC has been used to empty opposition state governors into the ruling party, and the tea party is not about to end anytime‘’Whilesoon. the genuine fight against corruption is a matter that requires the total support of all Nigerians, the objectifica- tion of it as a political agenda should be roundly condemned by all in civil society spaces and friends of Nigeria in the international community.
‘’We have in recent times witnessed the use of anticorruption agencies in coercing political leaders into the ruling party. Our assurance to Nigerians is that we would never succumb to this antidemocratic machinations of railroading our people into a one-party dictatorship,’’ Atiku stated.
HURIWA: EFCC is Tinubu’s Attack Dog
Human Rights Writers As- sociation of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused the EFCC of abandoning its statutory mandate and transforming into the official attack dog of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, using selective arrests and investigations to crush the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement, yesterday, HURIWA said the EFCC interrogation and detention of Tambuwal over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to ₦189 billion, was nothing more than a smokescreenpolitically-orchestrated designed to intimidate and fracture the opposition coalition movement determined to unseat Tinubu in 2027.
National Coordinator of the association, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA condemned what
it described as “a calculated pattern of harassment” against prominent figures in the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition, which recently announced its readiness to challenge Tinubu’s re-election bid.
HURIWA said far from being an impartial anti-corruption agency, the EFCC has become “an indispensable cog in the machinery of Tinubu’s desper- ate and crooked quest for a second term in office.
“Every discerning Nigerian can see the handwriting on the wall. The EFCC is no longer the fearless watchdog envisioned by law; it has been reduced to an obedient lapdog, deployed to do the dirty political work of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“What we are witnessing is not the fight against corrup- tion, but the weaponisation of anti-graft powers to intimidate, blackmail, and dismember the opposition,” HURIWA stated.
EFCC: Politically Exposed Persons in Anticipatory Asset Declaration
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has disclosed that politically exposed persons in the country were back to making antici- patory assets declaration on their forms with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as part of fraudulent ways of ripping off the nation.
Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, who revealed this in Abuja, explained that public servants did this with the hope of illegally acquiring such properties while in office and covering up such illegitimate sources of wealth.
He spoke at the launch of the Virtual Tool on the Code of Conduct for Public Officers organised by the Technical Unit on Governance and Anticorruption Reforms (TUGAR) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
Olukoyede, therefore, urged the CCB to incorporate new ways into its 14 codes for
public servants to end this fraudulent scheme being deployed by unscrupulous politically exposed individuals in the Althoughcountry.Nigeria recorded modest progress in its anti- corruption drive last year, moving from a global ranking from 145th to 140th out of 180 countries in 2024, the global anti-corruption perception index still shows that the country remains among the 40 most corrupt countries in the world despite recent gains. Beyond prosecutions, the government has rolled out digital governance tools in taxation and procurement, aimed at improving transparency and reducing opportunities for bribery as well as strengthening the legal framework for fighting corruption.
Still, Nigeria’s anti- corruption landscape has faced persistent obstacles as some individuals and corporate organisations devise new means of outsmarting the existing laws and Nigeria’s many anti-corruption bodies.
But, in his remarks at the event, Olukoyede noted that the phenomenon had become disturbing, mentioning a case where a politician claimed to have acquired a N3 billion property before winning an election, only to discover that the house never existed before his election and that the asset declaration was anticipatory.
Olukoyede said: “Having recognised the importance of CCB, there is something that I feel, if it has not been put in the (CCB) code, I think it should be there by virtue of the work we do. And I will give you an example.
“There was an investiga- tion we carried out, and we discovered something not too strange, but proves the ingenuity and the criminally smart way that some of our politically exposed persons car- ried out some of the nefarious activities we investigated them for. There was a matter we car-
Symbolic preSentation of tabletS to School teacherS...
Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr Bayo Lawal (right); Special Adviser on Education Intervention to Oyo State Governor, Hon Suraj Abiodun Tiamy (second right); one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Barakat Adelakun (left) and others, during the symbolic presentation of Tablets to the Primary and Junior Secondary School Teachers across the State, held at Emmanuel College, Agbowo, UI, Ibadan.
ried out and we investigated.
“I told my guys, just get the CCB form and look at it. There’s something I’m not comfortable with in this report. So they got the CCB form. We looked at it.
“We discovered that one of the very big properties, valued well over N3 billion that the person declared in the CCB form, we saw that the address that was in the CCB form was different from the one that the person put down, from the particular address where that particular property was located. So I felt something was amiss.
“So we decided to dig further, carried out more interrogation, and we discovered that actually the person declared the property when the property was not in existence. After the person won an election, I won’t mention name, but you should be able to decipher.
“Before he was sworn in, he got the asset declaration form and put a particular number, number 39, so so Street, a big mansion owned by him, bequeathed to him by whatever, whatsoever that we couldn’t mention.
“And by the time we investigated and discovered where the asset was, we discovered the asset on number 44. He declared number 39, but the asset is actually the building on number 44.
“So, while we were asking questions, eventually we discovered what we call anticipatory declaration of assets. And that is the smart way that some of these leaders have resorted to now.
“Now, they declare what they intend to acquire by the time they are in the office before they are sworn into the office. It is terrible. We saw that and we felt, no, this is prettyBesides,bad.”Olukoyede main- tained that the said politician was already anticipating the funds he was going to steal even before getting into
government, urging the CCB to build capacity and up its investigations in that respect.
“And unfortunately for him, he was so devilishly smart that he had already registered the property that he did own at the time. He declared it in the land registry. He designed the mansion that he wanted to build there. So in other words, before he was sworn in, he had started thinking about the money to steal and what to do with the money.
“So he designed the man- sion that he actually wants to acquire by the time he gets to the office. So we felt this was a bit odd and we should begin to look into this. So, I would like to draw your attention to that.
“You will be seeing more of that. So your investigating capacity by the time you examine some of these forms, it will help us to ensure that we drive home our mandate,” he advised the CCB.
Congratulating the Chairman of the CCB, Dr. Abdullahi Bello, TUGAR and other development partners, Olukoyede described the organisation as one of the most effective, potent, effective organisations that can support the fight against corruption in InNigeria. his remarks, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, noted that the event was a statement and a bold reaffirmation that Nigeria was dedicated to instilling integrity, transparency and the highest form of accountability in the public service in the country.
“The Code of Conduct for Public Officers are not just rules but the moral and ethical bedrock of the public service that sets standards by which we are to conduct ourselves. We must adhere to them not only as public officers but as guardians of public trust and public integrity. It emphasises service over self and commitment to duty over privilege.
“For decades, these codes
have served as the backbone of good governance, however, its expected far-reaching impacts have been hindered by lack of awareness and inaccessibility for all. Today marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to enthrone accountability in public service,” he stated.
The digitisation and virtual accessibility of the Code of Conduct, he said, represented not just a technological ad- vancement, but a bold reiteration of national commitment to good governance and ethical leadership.
“Public office, as we know, is a public trust. The responsibilities placed upon those who serve in public institutions demand the highest standards of ethical conduct. This innovation will not only enhance awareness but will also promote preventive com- pliance, facilitate training, and serve as a resource for citizens, civil society, and oversight institutions,” he added.
According to him, laws and tools were only as effective as our willingness to uphold them, explaining that the responsibility to adhere to the principles of transparency, integrity, and accountability lies with everyone.
Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Didi Walson-Jack, said the event and the innovation it repre- sented were proof that Nigeria was not merely speaking about reforms, but actively building systems that could make them a reality.
She noted that the virtual tool highlighted the global importance of codes of conduct in resolving ethical dilemmas, sanctioning professional mis- conduct, preventing corruption, and ensuring accountability.
According to her, ethical governance was not optional because the world was moving fast, technology was changing the way people worked, while citizens were more informed, more connected, and more vocal.
“And let us be honest, it is hard to be incorruptible if we do not have a clear understanding of what the rules are and how to apply them in our daily work.
“This is why only a few weeks ago, my office issued a circular on strict adherence to public service rules and due process in establishment matters. The circular was not written for the fun of it.
“It was a response to real problems. Improper handling of discipline, promotions, secondments, leave and retirement notices, amongst others.
“These lapses, whether caused by ignorance, indif- ference, bias, or inducement, have not only embarrassed the federal government, but in some cases, cost the nation dearly financially and in court judgments,” she said.
Walson-Jack emphasised that an incorruptible service could not exist where due process was treated as optional, noting that the virtual tool, together with the public service rules, guidelines on appointments and discipline, the civil service handbook, and other guiding documents would empower every officer to do the right thing and to know exactly what the right thing to do is.
In his intervention, the Chairman of CCB, Bello, stressed that the virtual tool was mainly a learning tool and helped public officers to understand the codes of conduct enshrined in the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.
“It is easy to use, with clear examples and explanations for each code. For example, it shows how to avoid combining personal interests with official duties. It explains why declaring assets keeps things open and honest. This tool helps officers learn and follow these codes in their daily work, building trust in our public service,” he added.
The CCB, he added, was an organisation established to ensure that public servants adhered to the highest stan- dards of ethics by making sure they adhere to the code of conduct.
Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr Ogbonnaya Orji, stated that the portal would strengthen the foundation on which transparency in extractive industries rested.
“It complements the reforms we’re pursuing under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), contract transparency, beneficial ownership disclo- sures, and efforts to combat illicit financial products,” he added.
He aligned with the EFCC position, noting that in the oil sector, there have been mind-boggling revelations which have been shared with the anti-corruption agencies.
“The story told by the EFCC Chairman is every- where. And they are caught in different dimensions. We don’t speculate, but in our oil and gas industry, what we have seen is mind-boggling.
“We expose this data, share it with agencies like this, and a lot of recoveries have been made. Our heart bleeds when we all complain, and we also complicate all efforts to solve the problem. This digital tool is a wake-up call,” he noted.
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Bakari, called for collective work towards a culture of excellence across all agencies and seek out new ways of working and new partnerships with civil society and with the private sector.
Head of TUGAR, Jane Onwumere, noted that the innovative interactive virtual learning tool represented a key milestone in the col- lective efforts to promote ethics, accountability, and exemplary governance in
Nigeria’s public service.
“This innovation will not only enhance awareness but will also promote preven- tive compliance, and serve as a resource for oversight institutions, citizens and the civil society. The tool aligns with recommendations of the 2019 UNCAC Review of Nigeria and broader government reforms such as the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS).
“It also underscores TUGAR’s pivotal role as a central hub for anti-corruption data, diagnostics and policy coordination. We therefore encourage its institutional- ization across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), “ she said.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, who was represented by Asishana Okauru, in his speech, argued that national security was directly linked to good governance, noting that corruption and unethical conduct undermine public institutions, erode public trust and create Accordinginsecurity. to him, strength- ening the anti-corruption framework through the CCB initiative aligned with the national security agenda, explaining that this involved harnessing technology and improving service delivery and providing public officials with ready ethical standards and a practical guide to daily decision making.
While maintaining that modern challenges require modern solutions, Ribadu noted that success would be measured by practical impact, pledging his support for the anti-corruption agencies to ensure a more accountable Nigeria.
Senate Committee Chairman on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, Neda Imasuen, in his remarks, pledged the senate’s readiness to partner the anti-corruption agencies to ensure a more transparent public service.
EFCC:
Home-based Eagles “Chelled” Out of CHAN 2025
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Home-based Eagles’ campaign at the 2025 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) effectively ended yesterday following the 4-0 demolition of Nigeria by Sudan. Even with a game to go, the Home-based Eagles stand no chance of a comeback to relevance in Group D where Eric Chelle and his wards are at the bottom of the log with no point. They didn’t score any goal after conceding five from the two games.
as no great tactician. His side created half-chances and lacked precision in crossing and composure in front of goal.
Even when the press was bypassed, they were repeat- edly exposed down the flanks.
Chelle’s flaws were exposed
Spurs Want to Lure Eze Out of Palace
Tottenham are exploring a deal for Crystal Palace and England forward Eberechi Eze.
Thomas Frank is looking to bolster his options in the final third after attacking midfielder James Maddison was ruled out for the majority of the seasonwith an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
South Korea forward Son Heung-min left the clubafter 10 years earlier this month having scored 173 goals in 454 appearances, while midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is still out after knee surgery.
Eze scored 14 goals across all competitions for Palace last season, including in their 1-0 win against Manchester Cityin the FA Cup final.
Asked directly about Eze
in a news conference before Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup against Paris St-Germain, Frank said: “I think there are a lot of good players out there.
“There are also a few from the PSG team but I don’t think we can buy them right now.
“In general, players in or players out, I always speaking about something that is done or not done. In general, I will speak about my own players.”
Eze, 27, made his England debut in 2023 and has won 11 caps for the Three Lions, including three appearances at Euro 2024.
Tottenham are also in talks with Manchester City over a move for Savinhobut multiple sources have indicated Eze is now emerging as a player of serious interest for Spurs.
NPFL Youth League: Pillars Coach Shrugs off Winless Run
Kano Pillars are without a win fter two games at the Kano Centre of the 2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Youth League, but Coach Mohammed Nasir is still not writing off his wards chances of picking of the tickets from the group.
Pillars lost their opening game 1-2 to Katsina United and drew goalless with Plateau United on Matchday 2, a result that has left them adrift the top three slots on the log.
“After the defeat to Katsina United, you can see that the boys played better but were unlucky not to have defeated Plateau.
“Against El-Kanemi, we will improve our performance to win and fight for the ticket from the group”, Nasir said after the game.
In the Umuahia Centre, Enyimba were over powered by Lobi Stars 3-2 while Rivers United outclassed Rangers 2-1.
NSSF Partners Wamufat Youth Foundation in 7-day Sports Clinic
Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF) in collaboration with Wamufat Youth Community Development Foundation (WYCDF) on Monday kicked off a seven-day Youth Sports Clinic in Ogun State.
The inaugural sports camp which runs from August 10 to 16, 2025, at the Agroterra Sports
Complex in Joga-Orile, near Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Over 600 students and Game Masters from the Southwest states of Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, and Ondo will be taking part in the camp, which combines sports training, education with mentorship and personal development.
The Sudanese who are on same four points with defending champions Senegal, now top the Group D with better goals difference. Congo on two points are third on the log.
Abdel Raouf Yagoub struck
twice after the break to add to a 2-0 early Leonard Ngenge own goal and Walieldin Khdir’s penalty, capping a ruthless, disciplined display that left Nigeria in quandary. Sadly, Ngenge was also partly culpable for Senegal’s lone goal winner against Nigeria a week earlier.
Surprisingly, it was the Home-based Eagles dominated by NPFL champions Remo Stars that gave the earlier impression of a team with a
mission. It however turned “Mission Impossible.”
Sudan, coached by Ghanaian Kwesi Appiah, absorbed the punches and then struck with the evening’s first big twist.
On 22 minutes, Anthony Ijoma thought he had put Nigeria ahead after stealing in behind, only for VAR to rule the effort out for offside.
Three minutes later, Sudan punished the reprieve with a freakish opener: Yagoub’s
shot cannoned off the post and ricocheted in off the unfortunate Leonard Ngenge in the 25Th minute.
A blow became a bodyshot just before the break when Ngenge’s miserable few minutes continued — a handball in the box in the 43rd minute allowed captain Walieldin Khdir to crash home the resulting penalty into the top-right corner a minute later.
Nigeria still had a sniff before half-time when Sikiru Alimi went close twice, glanc- ing wide from a cross and prodding past the post in stoppage time.
Chelle however rolled the dice at the interval with a triple change — Steven Manyo, Jabbar Malik and Vincent Temitope on — in search of a response. Instead, Sudan tightened their grip. Tochukwu’s free-kick flew over in the 52nd minutes and, almost immediately, the Falcons of Jediane pounced again.
Mathematically, the Home-based Eagles are already eliminated from the tournament as even a final day victory over Congo will only guarantee the team three points. It remains doubtful if a win is possible for misfiring Chelle’s men.
Sudan are to take on cup holders Senegal in a top-of-the- table decider where a draw could be enough depending on Congo’s result against Nigeria.
Ofili Storms to Photo finish in Istvan Gyulai Meeting in Budapest
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Nigerian sprinter, Favour Ofili, was at her best last night at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Meeting in Budapest, as she stormed to a photo finish with Jamaican Ashanti Moore in the women’s 200m event.
A one thousandth of a second separated Ashanti and Ofili as the victory was awarded to the Jamaican. Ofili who raced under the Nigerian flag is subject of nationality switch. Ofili proved once again that irrespective of whatever the decision of the intention to dump Nigeria for Turkey is, she will remain relevant on the track.
Nigerian, shot putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi,
got to the podium, winning bronze in the event.
Enekwechi heaved 21.15m to finish third. Joe Kovacs of
USA won with 22.33m while New Zealander, Tom Walsh, was second with 21.52m.
The third Nigerian at the
Meeting, Samuel Ogazi however finished seventh in the Men’s 400m. He ran 45.85secs in the race won by Zambian Muzala Samukonga (44.11) with Trinidad and Tobago’s Jeremy Richard (44.14) settling for the silver. USA’s Khaleb Mcrae (44.16) won the bronze.
Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson took the men’s 100m in 9.95, while Abdul-Rasheed Saminu and Akani Simbine tied for second place in 10.01. In the women’s 100m, Marie-Josee Ta Lou Smith held off Jamaica’s leading trio by winning in 10.97. Tina Clayton was second in 10.99 ahead of world 200m champion Shericka Jackson (11.00) and multiple world and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (11.07).
Nigeria’s Home-based Eagles (green jersey) were beaten 4-0 by Sudan yesterday to crash out of the ongoing CHAN in East Africa
Favour Ofili...in photo finish at Istvan Gyulai Meeting in Budapest
CiBn GEnERATion nEXT FoRUm 3.0...
L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Alpha Morgan Bank, Mr. Ade Buraimo, FCIB; Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Christiana Salmwang; Managing Director and Head, West Africa, J. P Morgan Nigeria, Mr. Dapo Olagunju, HCIB; 2nd Vice President, CIBN, Mrs. Mojisola Asieru-Sweet, FCIB; President/ Chairman of Council, CIBN, Prof. Pius Deji Olanrewaju, Ph. D, FCIB; Ag. Managing Director/CEO, Nova Bank Limited, Mrs. Chinwe Iloghalu, HCIB; Past President, CIBN, Dr. Uche Olowo, FCIB; and Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, CIBN, Akin Morakinyo ACIB, HCIB at the CIBN Generation Next Forum3.0 held in lagos ….yesterday
AGWUUkIWEOkAli
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Bakassi Anniversary Essay: Of Blunders, Lies and Opportunism
Tomorrow, the 14th of August, is not a date that rings a bell to most Nigerians as being significant to our country’s nationhood history – not like October 1st or June 12th, etc. One is not even sure if, and how, it is taught in schools. It should ring a bell, though, but, alas, a sad one! It was the day in 2008 that we lost a sizeable chunk of our national territory, The Bakassi Peninsula, to Cameroon following a World Court adjudication. This, mark you, is an area with vast proven mineral (oil, in particular) and fisheries reserves, inhabited by a clearly Nigerian ethnic group that has now been split up and displaced, with many “de-nationalized” from being Nigerian citizens to not being Nigerian citizens anymore!
Examination of two issues here will throw light on both the performance and the motiva- tion of the people who handled this matter for Nigeria: first, how and why Nigeria lost the case, and, secondly, the post-judgement attitude of our Government.
Now, the Statute of the ICJ, recognizing the doctrine of sovereign equality among States, makes submission to its jurisdiction by States voluntary (Article 36, para.2), meaning that a dispute between two States can only be taken up by the Court if both States agree. At the same time, the Statute allows States to declare beforehand their acceptance of the Court’s jurisdiction in disputes in which they are involved. This is done by lodging such declaration with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who, in turn, circulates this information to other States. Such a declaration creates reciprocity between a declaring State and other declaring States such that any dispute between them can be taken directly to the Court, as jurisdiction already exits. Usually, States that choose to make this declaration will enter some reservations excluding matters of vital interest such as a territorial dispute.
A few States, however, (3 at the commencement of the Bakassi hearing) made their declarations without any reservations, and, incredibly enough, Nigeria was one of them, lodging its declaration in 1965. As an American would ask, “What was the Tafawa Balewa government thinking?!” Perhaps, it was “conned” or coerced into it by the British, who knows?! On the other hand, as we all know, there really are some things that happen in and to Nigeria that defy understanding, let alone explanation!
Whatever be the case, Cameroon, realizing that Nigeria had made such a declaration accepting the Court’s jurisdiction, and without reservation, saw a critical loophole that it could exploit. It accordingly entered a declaration under Article 36(2) on 3 March, 1994, thereby gaining, as explained earlier, jurisdictional locus in relation to Nigeria; and about 3 weeks later, on 29 March, 1994, filed its suit against Nigeria over Bakassi. Nigeria thereafter made an attempt to enter a reservation to its declaration that would have excluded Bakassi-type matters, but, as the Court rightly held, this was too late to affect the Cameroon suit already instituted. Nigeria having been outmanoeuvred by Cameroon on this critical issue, the way was now open for the Court to look into the substance of both parties’ claim to ownership of the Peninsula.
Sadly for us, Cameroon’s World Court gambit paid off handsomely, coming out of the proceedings considerably stronger and richer than before – and at the expense of Nigeria. While, of course, the Court’s judgement was based on an examination of various facts and historical documents, including especially an Anglo-German treaty of 1913, the real victory lay in Cameroon’s being able to bring the suit at all and compel Nigeria to submit to the Court’s compulsory jurisdiction, thereby depriving it of its principal legal protection and tactic advantage even before the trial itself started.
The serious setback suffered by Nigeria in the Bakassi case was essentially, therefore, self-inflicted: a blunder that began under Tafawa Balewa’s Administration and compounded
over the years under successive Governments and officials: Attorney-General’s and Ministry of External Affairs Offices, in particular. The problem could be described (kindly) as culpable negligence and ignorance of one’s own legal situation owing to Nigerians’ chronic inat- tentiveness to details: how else to explain overlooking the vulnerability resulting from an ICJ declaration without reservations over all these years?
The Obasanjo Administration, on whose watch things came to a head, together with the bevy of expensive legal advisers retained by it, certainly could and should have done better, with all due respect. As soon as a battle starts brewing, the first thing anyone would think of surely is his defences. Does he have any vulnerabilities that can be exploited by the enemy? They presumably either did not search thoroughly or did not pick up anything of concern. So, it turned out in reality, that Cameroon knew our legal situation better than we did ourselves! Just think about that! Most galling and perplexing, though, is that they actually alleged in court that they had been in regular discussions with the Nigerian authorities, who knew everything they were doing even up to the time of their filing of the suit. Wow, so how come Nigeria waited until Cameroon had filed its case and only then tried, figuratively speaking, to close the barn doors after the horses had bolted? To quote the Americans again, “Who does that?!” Something certainly does not add up here and someone should explain this!
So, we have gotten our explanation of the “blunders” part of the title of this Essay; what about the “lies” part? The “lies” here lie in the way in which this matter has been handled and the narrative put out by our leaders over it as a simple case of going to court with Cameroon on the matter and, unfortunately, losing the case. While this may be a narrative that suits President Obasanjo (then in charge) and his supporters, the reality is that our leaders have failed, then and still today, to tell Nigerians the real truth, meaning the whole truth on how and why the nation suffered this sad and sorry Bakassi debacle – and to genuinely apologize for it! They lie by leaving out of their narrative the horrible Article 36(2)-related blunders that effectively took the matter from our hands and sealed our fate!
Having gotten the “blunders” and the “lies”, what about the other aspects of our
Government’s handling of this matter – the post-judgement phase? At this juncture, the issue effectively becomes to navigate the intersections between national interest, international obligations and international politics, meaning, in practical terms, a decision by the political leader whether, and, if so, to what extent to comply with the World Court’s judgement. The dilemma, of course, is that a leader of a country that counts itself a worthy and committed member of the international community feels the need to respect a World Court judgement, even one unfavourable to his country. At the same time, however, that same leader is expected by his own people to regard preservation of the country’s territorial integrity, along with protection of its citizenry, to be his first and foremost duty - something indeed that many-a-leader in history has considered a sacred patriotic duty worthy of the ultimate sacrifice.
Given this dilemma, one would understand, even expect, that such a leader would exhibit the utmost reluctance in accepting the consequences of the judgement and explore every possible legitimate means to avoid or at least delay its implementation. That would be the normal expectation, but those having such expectations may have forgotten that this is Nigeria, where the “normal” is often stood on its head and the exact opposite obtains! How else does one explain the truly remarkable and, one must add, unseemly, haste with which President Obasanjo pursued the aim of handing over the Bakassi Peninsula, along with its erstwhile Nigerian population, to Cameroon?! One recalls the tense and bullying atmosphere in the country at the time, it being clearly understood that the Government (i.e. President Obasanjo) would brook no questioning about, let alone opposition to, the Bakassi handover! Hence, there was very little public discussion, not to talk of public debate, about such an important matter of national interest. In fact, one barely recalls any really serious and sustained effort to explain to the people what was going on or to engage the affected Bakassi indigenes in discussions about their welfare and future, despite protest by some of their political representatives. It was like speaking to the bulldozer demolishing your house!
