L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose; Managing Director, Commercium Africa, Thessa Bagu; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu; Head of Foreign Trade Office in Nigeria, Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Justyna Sitarska; Deputy Director, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Emmanuel Longza; Director of Research and Advocacy, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Sunnie Omeiza-Michael; and Ambassador-designate, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nigeria, H.E. Michał Cygan at the Polish-Nigerian Economic Forum in Lagos…recently
Dogara: Tinubu Inherited Economic ‘Debris’ from Buhari
Says new tax act represents structural shift towards modernised, consolidated system Nigeria risks economic stagnation without $100bn yearly investment, Bagudu Warns
Adedayo Akinwale and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has said President Bola Tinubu inherited nothing short of economic “debris” when he assumed office in May 2023. Dogara, who is the Chairman of the National Constitutional Governance Council (NCGC), also said the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 represents a structural shift toward a modernised, consolidated tax system aligned with international standards.
This comes as the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu warned that Nigeria must attract at least $100 billion in combined public and private invest- ments every year to stand a chance of achieving the
ambitious goals set out in its Agenda 2050 development framework.
Bagudu, who gave the warning yesterday at a one-day policy dialogue in Abuja, cautioned that without bold reforms and stronger synergy between the legislature and the executive, the country could slip further behind its peers in global economic
competitiveness.
Dogara spoke yesterday, in Abuja, while presenting a paper titled: “Navigating Tax Reform in Nigeria: Insights on President Tinubu’s Policies,” at the maiden distinguished parliamentar- ian lecture.
He explained that by the time President Bola Tinubu took office, the economic debris of the nation had
become too conspicuous to be Dogaraignored.recalled that N22.7 trillion had been printed and injected into the economy in the name of ways and means, thereby destroying the value of the Naira in “our pockets.”
He noted that the dual exchange rate meant that some “anointed people” were making hundreds
of millions of Naira off forex allocations from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) without producing any goods or offering any services whatsoever, and tying crude sales to foreign loans in the name of forward sales of crude was fast becoming the order of the Dogaraday.pointed out that some of the foreign loans
had been procured to help strengthen the Naira, a measure that could only be sustained by “voodoo economics.”
He said from day one, it was very clear that something urgent, nay revolutionary, must be done to prevent the economy from imploding.According to him, “So,
Continued on page 9
MAN, AON Commend FG’s Suspension of 4.0% FOB Charge
Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has commended the federal government and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy over the recent suspension of the reintroduced 4.0 per
cent Free-on-Board (FOB) charge on imports, which came into effect on August 4, 2025.
Similarly, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) yesterday commended Presi- dent Bola Tinubu and Edun, for the timely suspension of the FOB levy.
The Director General of
Airlines Incur Damages, Loss of Funds Due to Non-insurance of Nigerian Airports
Non-insurance of Nigeria’s airports forced airlines to lose an estimated N15 billion annually expended on repairs of aircraft damaged at the airports, including bird strikes and other mishaps.
The Managing Director of Overland Airways, Captain Edward Boyo, explained that if the airports were insured, such expenses would be defrayed by insurance claims.
He therefore called on the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to activate the new Insurance Act that empowers it to make insurance cover compulsory for state assets and facilities, including the airports.Speaking at the 5th CHINET Aviacargo Confer- ence at the 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos, Boyo observed that there was a need for proper insurance coverage for airports, citing issues such as
inadequate wildlife control and runway deterioration, which have caused damage to aircraft.
Operators insisted that in other parts of the world, airports that undertake commercial flight operations are usually Respondinginsured. to that request, the Commissioner for Insurance and CEO of NAICOM, Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, assured that the commission was willing to engage with the authorities to address the issue.
MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said yesterday that the suspension has brought instant succour and encouragement to the manufacturing community in Nigeria and is great news to the business community.
Ajayi-Kadir said: “The minister just saved our country from a self-inflicted price escalation that could have unsettled the widely acknowledged stability and repurposing this administra- tion has achieved.”
He said the suspension also came “as a relief to our members and the broader manufacturing sector, which has been anxiously concerned about the imposition of the charge.”
Ajayi-Kadir also said MAN was confident that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in keeping with its ongoing commendable reforms, “will swiftly communicate the directive to all relevant commands, so that the charge
will go off its portal, while we earnestly await the full restoration of the B’Odogwu platform.”
He said the reintroduction of the charge was quite concerning for members of MAN who were genuinely apprehensive that it would lead to a significant escalation in the cost of raw materials, machinery and spare parts that are not available locally and therefore have to be imported.
CBN Governor to Kano Business Community: We Are Delivering on Our Core Mandates
Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has said that his two-year stewardship has yielded results in the apex bank’s core mandate, particularly in stimulating productivity, promoting financial inclusiveness and price stability. Cardoso made this disclosure during his remarks at the
opening ceremony of a fair organised by the bank, held in Kano yesterday, with the theme, ‘Driving Alternative Payment Channels as Tools for Financial Inclusion Growth and Accelerated Economic Development.’
He said his efforts have already started yielding positive results, including increased inflows of foreign investments, positive trade balances, and
remarkable progress in financial inclusion, among others.
The Governor, represented by the Acting Director of the Corporate Communications Department, Hakama Sidi, explained that the core objective of the engagement was to sensitise Nigerians on how the apex bank’s policies enhance their livelihoods and contribute to economic growth and development.
Chinedu Eze
ACCESS BANK MEDIA ROUNDTABLE SESSION...
L-R: Group Head, Woman Banking, Access Bank Plc. Nene Kunle-Ogunlusi; Group Head, Product and Segment, Access Bank Plc. Chizoba Iheme; and Project Manager, Womenpreneuer, Access Bank Plc. Ifeoluwa Oyeyipo at a media roundtable with the head of women banking for the official unveiling of womenpreneur launch Putcha-Ton Season 7 held in Lagos…yesterday
Dangote Refinery: Vitol, Sunoco Take First Petrol Cargo to US, Glencore-Shell Take Second
Glencore sells second Dangote cargo to Shell, arrives Sept. 19 World must spend $540bn on oil exploration annually to sustain output, IEA says Ojulari calls for stronger African collaboration to achieve energy security
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Top global oil trader Vitol and North American fuel distributor Sunoco took delivery of the first US import of petrol from Nigeria’s new Dangote refinery on Monday, according to vessel-tracking data.
The delivery, on the tanker Gemini Pearl, marked a major milestone for the 650,000 barrelper-day Dangote refinery, as energy market participants had been waiting to see when its production would start meeting strict US motor fuels standards,
a Reuters report said.
Vitol purchased the Gemini Pearl’s cargo of around 320,000 barrels of petrol from Geneva, Switzerland-based Mocoh Oil, and sold most of it to Sunoco, according to one source and ship-tracking data. It was not
immediately clear what volume Vitol sold to Sunoco and how much it will keep.
The vessel was discharged at Sunoco’s Linden facility in the New York Harbor area, vesseltracking data showed.
The sources requested ano-
Nigeria Ranked 105th in Global Innovation Index, First in Unicorn Valuation
Nigeria has been ranked 105th in the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, with Sub-Saharan Africa leading in the number of economies over-performing.
WIPO is the United Nations agency that serves the world’s innovators and creators, ensuring that their ideas travel safely to the market and improve lives.
Although Nigeria was not ranked among the first 100 of
the nearly 140 world economies evaluated on their innovative performance in GII 2025, at 105th, it was adjudged one of the fastest climbers this year, and ranked number one globally in unicorn valuation, showing increasing depth in high-tech imports and venture capital funding.
A unicorn is a start-up com- pany valued at over $1 billion, which is privately-owned, but not listed on the stock market.
According to the report, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to make steady progress in
2025, with 10 economies improving their rankings.
Mauritius (53rd) remains the region’s top performer, with South Africa (61st), Seychelles (75th), Botswana (87th) and SenegalMauritius(89th).excels in venture capital activity, particularly in VC investors. South Africa advances and maintains a strong position in ICT services imports and global brand value.
Namibia (91st) made the region’s biggest leap, climbing 11 ranks and leading the world
FG Seeks to Revitalise Silos Concession to Minimise Storage Waste, Achieve Food Sovereignty
James Emejo in Abuja
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, yesterday, said the federal government planned to revitalise the silos concession programme to improve the food storage ecosystem, achieve food sovereignty, and ensure resilient, efficient, and ef-
fective storage system that would reduce agricultural losses.
Kyari declared an urgent need to revitalise silo storage facilities, and called for strategies to reduce the country’s massive post-harvest losses, which he currently estimated at $10 billion annually.
Kyari spoke at a highlevel meeting in Abuja
with a delegation from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), led by its Direc- tor General, Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh.
The minister said, “Storage facilities are essential to our food security drive, as they directly address wastage and ensure year-round availability of staple crops.”
in education spending.
It also performs well in public–private research collaboration and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, signalling a growing innovation ecosystem.
Senegal rose three places, showing strength in unicorn valuation and microfinance access. Nigeria, at 105th position, is trailing Rwanda (104th), the region’s longest-standing innovation over-performer.
nymity to discuss confidential details. Vitol and Sunoco did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Mocoh Oil, which earlier this year confirmed a partnership with Dangote to export products from the refinery, did not immediately comment outside of business hours in Switzerland.
After a string of startup delays, the Dangote refinery, one of the world’s biggest, has reshaped global energy flows by ramping up output sharply since last year. It is expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s fuel imports, while exporting its surplus mainly to Europe.
A second cargo of products from Dangote to the US was sold by Glencore to Shell on the vessel MH Daisen, which is set to arrive in the New York Harbor area around September 19, one of the sources said and ship-tracking data showed.
Glencore declined to comment, and Shell did not immediately re-
spond. Vitol also purchased from Mocoh a third cargo of petrol made by the Dangote refinery, with the vessel Seaexplorer set to deliver that in the New York Harbor area around September 22, the sources said.
The sources said the destination of the undelivered cargoes could change based on market conditions.
While the cargoes back expecta- tions that the Dangote refinery is set to sharply alter global energy trade, they are likely to be the only ones for a while. The refinery’s petrol-producing unit could be shut for two to three months for repairs, industry monitor IIR Energy said earlier this month. Dangote did not respond to Reuters’ earlier requests for comment on the outage.
Also, the International Energy Agency (IEA), has maintained that the world needs to spend some $540 billion a year looking for oil and gas to maintain current output by 2050.
UBA Foundation Flags Off 2025 National Essay Competition, Raises Prize Grants to Over N18bn
Nume Ekeghe
UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the commencement of the 2025 edition of its annual National Essay Competition (NEC), with grants and prizes worth over N18 million on offer for outstanding students across the country.
Now in its 15th consecutive year, the competition invites senior secondary school students to write on the topic, “Nigeria is characterised by
diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions. How can young Nigerians deploy diversity to build a united nation?”
Interested participants are expected to research, write, and submit scanned copies of their handwritten essays through the designated digital portal on or before Friday, October 17, 2025.
In a statement, UBA Foundation explained that the theme was carefully selected to encourage critical thinking among Nigerian youths, while underscoring how diversity could be harnessed
as a unifying tool for national development. It added that the competition also serves as a platform to rekindle the reading culture and nurture the intellectual capacity of young Nigerians.
To also deepen its longstanding commitment to education and youth development, the foundation announced a significant increase in its educational grants, with the first-place winner receiving a university grant of N10 million to study at any African university of their choice.
PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja
Kyari: concessionaires failed to optimise facilities, operating conditions, despite agreements
UNVEILING AND HANDOVER OF TEN NEWLY PROCURED MOTORCYCLE RESPONSE UNIT AMBULANCES...
L-R: Director of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH), Dr. Ismail Abdus-Salam; Director, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Mrs. Beatrice Makinde; Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi; Permanent Secretary LSMOH, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye; and the Director, Medical Administration, Training and Programs, LSMOH, Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho, at the unveiling and handover of ten newly procured Motorcycle Response Unit (MRU) Ambulances by the State Government for the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) held in Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday
NEITI Gets Interim Report on Impact of Energy Transition on Nigeria’s Economy
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) yesterday received the interim report it commissioned to explore the likely impact of the global energy transition on Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking at a ‘’Civil Society Organisations and Media Roundtable on Building a Framework for Engagement on Energy Transition Costs and Impact for Non-state Actors’’, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Ogbonnaya Orji, explained that the global shift from fossil fuels to renewables is reshaping economies and societies everywhere.
For Nigeria, he stated that the transition is not optional as it will challenge fiscal planning and revenue base, impact jobs, infrastructure, and host communities as well as
Orji says Africa contributes least to emissions, should not bear heaviest costs UBA Clarifies Broad Street
Addeh
A trio of respected voices from business, academia, and communications has endorsed “Leading in a Storm,” the new book by Dr. Dakuku Peterside, calling it a practical and timely guide for leaders navigating disruption across sectors.
The book’s practicality ensures its immediate applicability to leaders’ roles, making it a valuable resource in today’s uncertain world, a statement said yesterday.
deepen energy poverty if not properly managed.
Orji added that, yet, the transition also provides an opening for innovation, diver- sification, and a repositioned economy, describing it as an urgent national necessity.
“We must confront the transition with evidence, foresight, and strategy. That is why, under the leadership of the National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) and with support from the Ford Foundation, we commissioned this research.
“This study is not taking place in isolation. It is firmly anchored in NEITI’s Policy on climate change, energy transition and environmental accountability, which we developed together with our civil society partners,” he stated.
According to him, the policy commits NEITI to integrate
climate and energy transition disclosures into EITI reporting; track emissions, stranded assets, and energy access gaps and hold government and companies accountable for environmental justice and just transition commitments.
For the study to have real impact, each stakeholder,
including the media and the civil ociety, Orji said, must play their part.
As members of the NSWG, the policy anchors, he stated that NEITI’s climate and transition agenda remains integrated with EITI reporting. For non-state actors; innovators and bridge builders, he stated
that the academia should enrich the study with fresh data and analysis, while industry players should innovate in balancing profitability with sustainability.
“Nigeria, like many resource dependent nations, is both vulnerable and disadvantaged in this transition. We must join forces with other countries to
demand equal access to global climate finance to fund transition investments; technology transfer and capacity support to enable renewable adoption. Climate and environmental justice, recognising that Africa, which contributed the least to emissions, should not bear the heaviest costs,” he added.
Tinubu Felicitates Farouk Gumel, Tobi Amusan on Remarkable Feats
Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Sunday Ehigiator
President Bola Tinubu has felicitated two distinguished Nigerians, Farouk Gumel and Tobi Amusan, on their recent outstanding achievements.
Gumel was appointed Chair-
Book
Senator Daisy Danjuma, Executive Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum, described the book as “a clear, practical guide for navigating crisis and disruption,” noting its relevance to both public and private sector leaders.
“Dakuku Peterside emphasises key tools such as understanding context, maintaining composure, making sense of complexity, proactive decision-making, effective communication, adaptability, teamwork, and continuous learning,” she said.
“These insights—which I find useful and practical— make ‘Leading in a Storm’ essential reading for leaders at every level. Any leader serious about thriving in today’s uncertain world will find this work indispensable,” she said.
Prof. Lilian Salami, immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin and former Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, underscored the book’s urgency amid global volatility.
man of Botswana Sovereign Wealth Fund Limited, while Amusan won a silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Tinubu, in a press statement issued on Tuesday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Gumel’s appointment as a testament to his expertise, dedication, and the high regard Nigerian professionals were held internationally.
Chairman of Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, also congratulated Gumel on his appointment.
Abiru, who represents Lagos East Senatorial District, in a statement yesterday, described Gumel’s appointment as “a landmark achievement,” citing his “distinguished record in financial leadership, governance, and transparency.”
In the press statement on Tuesday, Tinubu said, “As Vice Chairman for Africa at the Tropical General Investment (TGI) Group, among other accomplishments, Gumel has remained a consistent player in Nigeria’s determined efforts in food sufficiency.
“His leadership in this significant role brings immense pride to our nation, and I am confident he will excel and further cement Nigeria’s reputation for excellence in global finance.”
Fire Incident, Confirms Staff and Customers Safe
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has confirmed a fire outbreak at a building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, which also houses one of its branches. The bank, however, clarified that its head office on Marina widely known as UBA House, was not affected by the incident, contrary to some reports circulating online. In a statement, the bank assured that all staff, customers,
and visitors present at the branch were safely evacuated. “We are aware of the fire incident at a building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, which incidentally houses one of our many branches in Lagos Island. As against reports on online and social media, the affected building is not UBA House, Marina, the Bank’s head office. We have ensured the safety and well-being of our
branch staff, customers, and other visitors in the building,” the statement said.
While there were no injuries to UBA staff or customers, unverified accounts from passersby suggested that some casualties may have occurred within the building. Emergency services were on the ground late into the evening to contain the blaze and assess the full extent of damage.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Emmanuel
in Abuja
Senator Abiru also lauds Gumel on appointment as Chairman, Botswana Sovereign Wealth Fund
NUPRC: Refo R m S IN oI l, G AS Se CT o R H Ave Del I ve R e D $18b N f DP S IN 2025
591,000 barrels of oil per day and 2.1 billion SCFD of gas and boosting the country’s aspiration to deliver over 3 million bpd in oil output.
Komolafe spoke yesterday at the ongoing Africa Oil Week (AOW) in Accra, Ghana, even as he attributed these feats to President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope vision, a statement by the NUPRC’s Head, Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, stated.
The commission’s chief executive, whose presentation was titled: ‘Nigeria’s Competitive Reform Agenda for Unlocking Potentials in Upstream Oil & Gas,’ reiterated the importance of energy security as the cornerstone of economic growth, national resilience, and shared prosperity in Africa.
He said Nigeria’s new energy regime under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, ushered in a new era of governance, fiscal reform, and institutional realignment.
Komolafe said the NUPRC,
which is birthed under the new regime, has shown itself as a dedicated and forwardthinking regulator, explaining that in nearly four years, the commission has rolled out 24 transformative regulations, 19 of which are now gazetted to operationalise key provisions of the PIA.
According to him, the NUPRC has unveiled a comprehensive Regulatory Action Plan (RAP), aligned with the PIA, to tackle regulatory bottlenecks, vacate entry barriers, and ensure timely and transparent licensing rounds.
He said the initiatives of the commission have delivered results, including raising rig counts from eight in 2021 to 43 as of September 2025.
He said: “In 2025 alone, the commission has approved 28 new field development plans, unlocking 1.4 billion barrels of oil and 5.4 TCF of gas, adding an expected 591,000 barrels of oil per day and 2.1 BSCFD of gas. These FDPs, with $18.2 billion in CAPEX commit-
ments, underscore Nigeria’s transformation into one of the most dynamic and attractive upstream investment frontiers in the world.”
“Other results include the $5 billion FID for the Bonga North deep offshore development and the $500 million Ubeta Gas Project signal renewed long-term commitments, with additional FIDs expected in projects like HI NAG Development, Ima Gas, Owowo Deep Offshore, and Preowei Fields.”
The CCE said, since taking office, Tinubu has also approved five major acquisition deals worth over $5 billion, unlocking opportunities for ambitious indigenous players.
He noted that recent bid rounds and concession awards, including the 57 Petroleum Prospecting License (PPL) awards in 2022, the 2022 mini-bid round, and the 2024 licensing round, were executed with unprecedented transparency and competitiveness, drawing exceptional investor participation.
He explained how optimising signature bonus requirements and removing barriers to entry ensured wider accessibility, resulting in 27 out of 31 blocks offered in 2024 being successfully taken up. According to him, these developments are laying a strong foundation for fresh investments and accelerated sectoral growth.
“With the PIA as our foundation, reinforced by bold Presidential Executive Orders and transformative regulatory initiatives, we are not just opening our doors to investment; we are building a world-class upstream oil and gas environment that rewards ambition, innovation, and responsibility,” Komolafe stated.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minis- ter of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has reaffirmed the country’s leadership role in advancing Africa’s energy security, calling for deeper regional integration.
Speaking at the ongoing Africa Oil Week (AOW) 2025
Do GARA : T INU b U I NH e RIT e D eC o N om IC ‘Deb RIS ’ f R om bUHARI
the President’s job as an economic reformer began on day one. Every reformer knows that progress is not promised; it is always fought for.
“All that a reformer is bothered with is to do the right things, not to have all things under control. As a matter of fact, if everything seems under control, it is not only an indication that you are not going fast enough, you are most probably not a reformer.”
Dogara stressed that Tinubu knew that for the country’s democracy to be worth its name, it must offer more than political and individual freedoms; it must offer economic choices which would lead to economic justice, most especially for the vulnerable who are least likely to recover from economic shocks.
He said while the tax law promises greater clarity and potentially higher revenue mobilisation, its success depends on implementation,predictable detailed regulations, and meaningful investments in administrative capacity and taxpayer readiness.
The former lawmaker was of the opinion that tax reform was not a punishment but a pact, said citizens must accept that the reform was more than a policy change, but a national conversation.
He emphasised that in order to reform the obsolete tax laws, the President set up the Presidential Com- mittee on Fiscal Policy & Tax Reform, chaired by Prof. TaiwoDogaraOyedele.noted that the committee came up with revolutionary reform pro- posals that will ultimately restructure laws, norms, and institutions to create a more just and equitable society.
He said reform efforts often face significant op- position from those who benefit from the status quo, requiring strategic plan- ning, persistent advocacy, and coalition-building to overcome these obstacles, saying this was no exception.
Dogara explained further that the opposition to the reform was fierce and furious, almost foisting negative solidarity, which could lead to a race to the bottom and collective decline where everyone is forced to endure worsening conditions because no one feels capable of improving them.
He said it was against this background that they raised issues that, even if true, were trivial, but as they related to the core goals of the reform, the issues were both trivial and untrue.
He stressed that it was clear that the opposition was primarily motivated by something sinister other than a collective benefit or shared ideal.
The former Speaker said for decades, the country’s tax system had been a complex, sometimes contradictory, web of ordinances and Acts.
He said it was a system where too few shouldered the burden of too many, where enforcement was inconsistent, and where informality was the norm, not the Dogaraexception.added, “Tax reform is not a punishment. It is a pact. On our part, as citizens, we must accept that this reform is more than a policy change; it is a national conversation. It is we telling ourselves that we are ready to build the Nigeria we “Therefore,deserve. from the market stalls of Kano, Onitsha to the corporate hubs of Lagos, let every legitimate
enterprise become a thread in the strong fabric of our national revenue.
“The government must also understand that true tax reform is not about raising rates, but about raising trust. It is the covenant between a government’s promise and a people’s prosperity. This is because transparency is the engine of compliance.
“When citizens can see where their Naira goes, they are proud to give it. For it was not in vain that Lester B. Pearson, former Prime Minister of Canada reminded us that, “the best way to teach people to pay their taxes is to let them see what they get for it.
“Let this reform be a pact between the government and the private sector—a promise that if we contribute diligently, the government will deploy those resources responsibly to build the roads we drive on, power the industries we run, build world class hospitals for us and educate the talent we hire.
“The waters ahead may be uncharted, but the destination is clear: a self-reliant, economically vibrant, and globally competitive Nigeria
“The Nigeria Tax Act 2025 represents a structural shift toward a modernised, consolidated tax system aligned with international standards.”
Baring his mind on the five per cent fuel surcharge in the new tax laws, he said surcharge was not a new tax introduced by the current administration, adding that the provision already exists under the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency Act, 2007 as amended.
He added: “Government has said that it is restated in the new Tax Act just for harmonisation and
Ministerial and CEO Leadership Forum in Ghana, Lokpobiri stressed that integration remains the most effective strategy to end Africa’s energy poverty. He noted that shared infrastructure, harmonised standards, and technical expertise will enable the continent to secure its energy future, a statement in Abuja by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor, said.
Lokpobiri highlighted Africa’s heavy reliance on imports, revealing that the continent spends over $120 billion annually on hydrocarbon imports. “This is capital flight. These funds should remain within Africa to fuel our own development priorities,” the minister stated.
The minister emphasised that the real challenge is not access to capital but the lack of aligned regulatory frameworks and fiscal regimes. “Investors make long-term decisions based on stability and predictability. Africa must harmonise its
transparency rather than for immediate implementation.
“It is also important to underpin the fact that the surcharge will not apply to all fuel products. Several energy products used by households are exempt. These include household kerosene, cooking gas (LPG), and compressed natural gas (CNG). Clean and renewable energy products are also excluded to align with Nigeria’s energy transition agenda.
Agenda 2050: Nigeria Risks Economic Stagnation Without $100bn Yearly
Investment, Bagudu Warns
Nigeria must attract at least $100 billion in combined public and private investments every year to stand a chance of achieving the ambitious goals set out in its Agenda 2050 develop- ment framework, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has warned.
Bagudu, who gave the warning yesterday at a one-day policy dialogue in Abuja, cautioned that without bold reforms and stronger synergy between the legislature and the executive, the country could slip further behind its peers in global economic competitiveness.
The dialogue, themed “Deepening Legislative- Executive Synergy for Effec- tive Economic Governance in Nigeria,” was organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), in Abuja.
According to the minister, “Agenda 2050 is not an idealistic dream but a realistic pathway to prosperity.”
The framework, he said, envisions Nigeria becoming a middle-income country by 2050, with a per capital GDP of $33,000 and an economy
policies to attract and retain investment,” he said.
As part of Nigeria’s leadership drive, Lokpobiri announced the creation of a West African Reference Market (WARM)—an initiative to leverage Nigeria’s growing refining capacity to supply petroleum products across West Africa and beyond.
On the global energy transi- tion, he clarified that the Paris Agreement does not require abandoning fossil fuels, but rather a reduction in emissions. “Africa contributes only 3 per cent of global CO2. We cannot lead an energy transition when we don’t even have energy. Our priority must be to responsibly harness our abundant resources to power growth,” he added. Besides, Lokpobiri urged African nations to unite around a shared purpose: “Africa has the market, the population, and the resources. What we need now is to keep value within our continent and finance our own energy future,” he maintained.
powered by sustained productivity and heavy investments.
He said, “To achieve this, Nigeria requires at least $100 billion investment annually from both the private and public“Agendasectors.2050 is struc- tured into six medium-term plans, beginning with 2021–2025 and moving in five-year phases until 2050,” he added.
The minister painted a stark picture of Nigeria’s fiscal capacity, noting that as of June 2023, the country’s revenue-to-GDP ratio was only nine percent, among the lowest globally, compared with the European Union average of 31 percent.
“Thanks to recent reforms, that figure has risen to 16 percent, but we are still punching below our weight,” he said.
To illustrate Nigeria’s limited fiscal muscle, Bagudu compared the federal budget to those of other nations.
He said Brazil, another federal system, spends about $700 billion annually, while Japan, with roughly half of Nigeria’s population, oper- ates a budget exceeding $20 trillion.
The Minister said, “Nigeria’s federal budget, by contrast, stands at only $36 billion.
“These disparities explain why outcomes are inevitably different.”
Bagudu insisted that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was designed to reverse years of weak fiscal management and systemic distortions.
He highlighted the removal of fuel subsidies, liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, and sweeping tax reforms as evidence of the administration’s commitment to
macroeconomic stability. Bagudu said, “President Tinubu has taken risks rarely attempted in developing countries all at once, and results are beginning to show.
“Our task now is to mobilise the legislature, private sector, and the Nigerian people to sustain these reforms.”
He stressed that Nigeria’s federal structure requires unity of purpose, pointing out that Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution compels all arms of government to pursue the nation’s economic objectives.
He said, “Chapter Two of our constitution may be non-justiciable, but it is morally binding. Every oath of office compels leaders to uphold these objectives.”
Beyond macroeconomic policy, Bagudu unveiled a new ward-based develop- ment programme designed to map economic opportunities across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards.
The scheme, he explained, was not another palliative handout but a deliberate plan to formalise small enterprises, empower farmers and artisans, and create grassroots jobs.
He said, “We must ensure that millions of hardworking Nigerians, who wake up as early as 4 a.m. daily, get commensurate reward for their efforts.
“Distortions in trade, poor access to credit, and outdated skills must be corrected if we are to lift people out of poverty.”
Earlier in his remarks, NILDS Director-General, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, said the policy dialogue was convened to strengthen alignment between legisla- tive oversight and executive economic priorities.
COURTESY VISIT...
L-R: Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme; Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; and the Principal, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Dr. Samuel Onoji, during a courtesy visit by the management of PTI to the governor in Asaba, yesterday
Tinubu Says 126m Nigerians Now Captured in National Identity Database
30 arrested for operating fake registration centres
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu announced that over 126 million Nigerians had been enrolled in the National Identity Database with their National Identity Numbers (NIN).
Tinubu made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja at the 7th National Day of Identity, organised by National Iden-
tity Management Commission (NIMC).
The president, who was represented by Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said the government was interested in a Nigeria where every citizen’s identity was recognised, verifiable, and protected, and where no one was left behind in the journey towards development.
While lauding the commission for clearing over 2.5 million backlog of records within the past two years, the president said it was commendable that NIMC succeeded in arresting over 30 fraudulent individuals for setting up fake registration centres.
He stressed that the National Day of Identity was a reminder that in the 21st century, identity
was more than just a record, stating that it is the foundation of citizenship, the gateway to opportunity, and the anchor for national security.
He said this year’s theme, “Public Key Infrastructure: Backbone to Digital Public Infrastructure,” spoke to a future that was already unfolding.
According to the president, Public Key Infrastructure, or PKI,
NELFUND Seeks N’Assembly Support for 25% Allocation to Transform Education
Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has sought stronger support and collaboration with the National Assembly to ensure that its 25 per cent allocation is fully realised and effectively Implementationdeployed. of the new development levy will be effective from January 1, 2026. The recently approved National Taxation Act introduced a four per cent development levy on the assessable profits of taxable companies, excluding small
and non-resident companies as well as profits from hydrocarbon tax.
Under this framework, NELFUND is allocated 25 per cent of the levy’s proceeds, representing a significant opportunity to scale education financing and support millions of Nigerian students in pursuing their academic aspirations.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, emphasised that timely appropriation, efficient releases, and broad-based
sensitisation were critical to unlocking the transformative potential of the funding in expanding access to afford- able education loans for Nigerian
Outliningstudents. its forward- looking plans, Sawyerr said NELFUND was committed to expanding nationwide sensitisation campaigns to raise awareness among students, families, and institutions on how to access education loans under the new framework; and investing in digital platforms and infrastructure to ensure transparent, efficient, and
2025 World Ozone Day: Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Ozone Protection
The federal government has restated its commitment to protecting the environment and safeguarding the ozone layer in line with global obligations under the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol.
The pledge was made during the commemoration of the
40th Anniversary of the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the 2025 World Ozone Day, held on Tuesday in Abuja.
This year’s event, themed: “From Science to Global Action,” brought together policymakers, development partners, traditional rulers, environmental experts, and international organisations,
underscoring the role of science and collective responsibility in addressing environmental challenges.
Delivering his keynote address, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, noted the Vienna Convention of 1985 and the subsequent Montreal Protocol remain landmark achievements in global environmental governance.
user-friendly loan appli- cation and disbursement processes.
Others were strengthening partnerships with tertiary institutions to streamline loan administration and repayment frameworks; and deepening inclusivity and outreach, particularly target- ing underserved regions and vulnerable groups to guarantee that no eligible student was left behind.
is not a distant aspiration, it is the backbone that supports digital transformation, ensuring that the identity of every Nigerian is secure, trusted, and usable across all platforms.
He added that PKI was central to the integrity of the country’s Digital Public Infrastructure.
Tinubu stated, “It provides the secure digital trust upon which all services, including financial transactions, healthcare, education, agriculture, security, and governance, are built. Without PKI, digital interactions remain vulnerable.
“Without PKI, citizens cannot fully trust that their data and transactions are secure. But with PKI, Nigeria can build an ecosystem where trust is guaranteed, fraud is reduced, services are streamlined, and every citizen can engage with government and private institu- tions with confidence.”
Tinubu expressed delight that the mobile and web self-service applications had processed more than half a million record updates, and deployed over 800 mobile
enrolment devices nationwide alongside new territorial offices for better oversight.
The president assured Nigerians that his administration remained committed to strengthening digital infrastructure and identity management as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said, “Behind this number are workers who can now claim their pensions without fear of fraud. There are students who can now access loans and scholarships with ease. There are farmers who receive targeted incentives that boost productivity and strengthen food security.
“There are displaced persons and vulnerable groups who now have proof of identity that enables them to benefit from humanitarian support. This is the true power of identity, and this is the progress we celebrate.
“Importantly, this expansion has reached beyond our borders.
More than 200 diaspora centres now serve Nigerians abroad, while dedicated enrolment exercises have registered refugees, internally displaced persons, and inmates of correctional facilities.
Oando Foundation Renovates, Equips School in Katsina
The Oando Foundation has renovated the nursery and primary sections of the Katsina State Government-owned Family Support Programme School.
The foundation also equipped the renovated sections of the school with state-of-the-art facilities to enhance Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD). Governor Dikko Umaru Radda who inaugurated the renovated sections of the school Tuesday, said it would enhance
enrollment and boost the quality of education in the state.
He said: “The Oando Foundation’s corporate social responsibility initiative goes beyond increasing enrollment numbers and instead focuses on improving the quality of education at every level.”
Radda reiterated his administration’s readiness to equip pupils and students in the state with critical innovative skills and a strong moral foundation necessary to thrive in any environment.
He pledged his government
plans to leverage digital tools to enhance learning outcomes and prepare both pupils and students for the future. He called on other nongovernmental organisations to emulate the Oando foundation initiative by investing in educa- tion “as it is the most sustainable path to development.”
Earlier, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Foundation, Tonia Uduimoh, said access to quality education should not be limited to the children of the privileged, hence the renovation of the school.
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
Francis Sardauna in Katsina
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
RIVERS STATE ELDERS COUNCIL
PRESS STATEMENT
END OF EMERGENCY RULE: LET'S UNITE FOR THE PEACE AND PROGRESS OF OUR DEAR STATE
As the end of the emergency rule in our dear State beckons, and restoration of full
d e m o c r a t i c g o v e r n a n c e u s h e r s i n
G o v e r n o r S i m i n i l a y i F u b a r a , G S S R S ; h i s deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, DSSRS and the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon Martins Amaewhule, DSSRS, to resume their constitutional duties, this affords us an opportunity to reflect on a number of issues: Where we are coming from, what to do to avoid the reoccurrence o f t h e u n f o r t u n a t e c i r c u m s t a n c e s w e f o u n d ourselves and significantly, how to sustain peace, unity and development in our beloved Rivers State. For us as leaders and members of the Rivers State Elders Council, we wish to state and appeal as follows:
1. We urge all stakeholders, without exception, to embrace the peace and reconciliation that has now returned to our dear state.
2. We also quickly wish to admonish the few individuals and groups who are still fanning the embers of discord to come to terms with the fact
t h a t t h e c r i s i s i s o v e r a n d s t o p m a k i n g inflammatory statements, inciting rhetoric in the media and whipping up sentiments for their selfish interests. They should prioritize the interest of the state and allow Governor Fubara and the House of Assembly to work together without further distractions.
3. We equally commend the Governor and the Leadership of the House of Assembly for making peace possible. At this point, we can only remind them that they did not only agree on peace in Abuja but also, on their own, went to the Villa and a ffi r m e d t h e i r r e c o n c i l i a t i o n b e f o r e H i s Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. That vow before Mr President remains sacrosanct
T h e r e f o r e , g o i n g f o r w a r d ,
harmoniously in the interest of the state. The people of Rivers State expect nothing less from them.
4. We use this opportunity to salute the good people of Rivers State for their patience and understanding throughout the period of the emergency rule. It is an attestation of faith in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose proactive action averted the disaster that was about to descend on the state.
5. The indefatigable political leader of Rivers S t a t e , t h e f o r m e r G o v
Minister of the FCT, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, deserves a special mention for his role in mid-wifing the entire reconciliation process. Again, he demonstrated that he was a man with a large heart. He did not only bring the parties together but also ensured that the parties went to Mr. President to brief him first hand on the details of their understanding.
6. And to our dear President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we say a very big thank you for bringing Rivers State back from the brink and taking actions to ensure the peace that we now enjoy in the State.
We thank you
r
p o
cherished leader as a member of your cabinet. Your astute resolution of the Rivers crisis is yet another manifestation of your goodwill towards the state.
Mr President, we appreciate you and assure you that you have already captured the hearts of the people of Rivers State and as your administration continues to pursue the Renewed Hope Agenda, you can count on the support of Rivers people at all times.
SIGNED: Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, OON, DSSRS Chairman
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
THE 10TH HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON THE REVIEW OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION
INVITATION TO NATIONAL PUBLIC HEARING
In exercise of the powers conferred on the Legislature by Sections 4, 8, and 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and pursuant to Order 20, Rule 30 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives (Eleventh Edition), Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the Constitution, hereby informs the general public that the Committee will be embarking on a National Public Hearing.
This hearing is designed to provide an open platform for Citizens, civil society organizations, professional bodies, political parties, traditional institutions, and other interest groups, to communicate their views and contribute meaningfully to the Constitution review process
The Public hearing is scheduled to hold as follows:
Date: Monday, 22nd September 2025
Venue: Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja
Time: 10:00AM Prompt
The following stakeholders are specifically invited to submit and present their Position Papers to the Committee:
• State Governments – by their respective State Governors
• State Houses of Assembly – by their respective Speakers
• Organised Labour Unions – e.g., NLC, TUC, NULGE, etc.
• Organisations Seeking State Creation
• Traditional Rulers – through the National Council of Traditional Rulers (NCTR)
• Political Parties
• Women Groups
• Organised Youth Groups – NYCN, Nigerian Youth Coalition, NANS, Nigerian Youth Parliament, etc.
• Organisations Seeking Local Government Creation
• Civil Society Organisations (CSOs, NGOs, INGOs)
• Socio-Cultural Groups
• Professional Bodies – NBA, NMA, NSE, NUJ, etc.
• Business Groups, including:
• Manufacturers Association of Nigeria
• All Farmers Association of Nigeria
• Association of Market Men and Women
• Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture
• Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria
• Park Management Associations (e.g., NURTW, NARTO)
• Banks and other Financial Institutions
• Oil and Gas Companies
A summarized compendium of the bills currently under consideration by the Committee is available for download at www.hccr.gov.ng and the PLAC website site: www.placng.org for your information and contributions.
For further information, please contact the Committee Clerk on 08069232381
SIGNED
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CFR Deputy Speaker and Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review
With Support From
Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
08033025611 sms only
Mixed Feelings as Rivers’ Six-month Emergency Rule Ends Thursday
Rivers State people are expectant, ready to welcome back the suspended democratic government, after the expiration of the six-month emergency rule imposed on the state on September 18, 2025. Blessing Ibunge writes
President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025 declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State, following what he described as instability in the functioning of the State government as a result of conflict between the state Executive and Legislative arms. Announcing the emergency rule in a nationwide broadcast, President Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the state deputy governor, Prof Ngozi Odu and State House of Assembly members led by the Speaker, Hon Martins Amaewhule.
The six-month emergency rule will expire on Thursday, while Rivers people and Nigerians are anxiously awaiting how the elected democratic government would continue to pilot the affairs of the State, after the change in administration, including the recently conducted local government council elections supervised by the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
For about six months in administrative government, Rivers State may have been calm politically, but the fact remains that things will no longer be as usual once the President revokes the emergency rule.
Expectations of Governor Fubara’s loyalists during the state saga, and emergency rule were not met, some of the supporters may have expressed disappointment after the supposed sacrifice backing the governor during the period of misunderstanding with his godfather, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Though the governor initially put up a fight for freedom of leadership, the Minister with the current development has proven to be in charge of the State, irrespective of President Tinubu’s involvement in settling the feud between the two groups.
What is expected of Fubara upon return to office
At the conclusion of the recent LGA elections in the state, where the All Progressives Congress won 20 out of the 23 chairmanship seats in a Peoples Democratic Party controlled State, the FCT Minister and a PDP member, Mr. Nyesom Wike, hinted that with the recent successful conduct of the elections in the state, the coast was clear for the return of Fubara
and the state lawmakers to power upon the expiration of the state of emergency.
Shortly after, the State Administrator, Ibas, also said he has successfully restored the democratic governance of Rivers State at the grassroots level. According to him, the peaceful conduct of the polls and the subsequent swearing-in of democratically elected Chairmen and Councillors across all 23 LGAs marked the direct fulfillment of the presidential directive issued to him on March 18, 2025.
His words: “Mr. President’s mandate to me was clear: to stabilize the state, create an enabling environment for the re-establishment of its institutions, and return Rivers State back to full democratic governance. With the successful conduct and swearing-in of local government chairmen and their councils, I believe we have decisively achieved the mandate that we were given”.
The local government election was not really competitive, as the candidates to fill the positions were alleged to have been selected, even before the election was conducted.
Again, during a thanksgiving service last Sunday, ahead of his exit from office, the Administrator appealed to Rivers people, especially
the politicians to sheath their sword, rise above bitterness, rivalry and self -interest to pursue the greater good of the state. He noted that it was part of official events marking the state’s transition back to democratic governance.
“By God’s grace, and with the support of Mr. President and all of you, we have walked through those difficult days together. The survival and relative stability we enjoy today is a testimony of God’s faithfulness.
“The seeds of reconciliation have been planted. These seeds need your deliberate nurture to take roots. Our collective sacrifices and commitment to peace is what we must all strive to guide at this time. Truly it was God who kept Rivers State. This service is a solemn testimony of God’s faithfulness to Rivers State. We have survived storms political, social, economic, and through it all, God has been faithful”, the Administrator stated.
Not knowing how the governor would run his remaining less than two years in office, Rivers State people, including politicians, civil society groups, are however demanding accountability in how the resources of the State were spent in the last six months. While some that spoke with THISDAY wanted the governor to continue with the peace already established, some alleged that the purpose of the suspension of democratic rule was targeted at the state resources.
Chairman of the Rivers State Civil Society Organisation, Enefaa Georgewill, who insisted that the emergency rule was illegal, said it
not knowing how the governor would run his remaining less than two years in office, Rivers state people, including politicians, civil society groups, are however demanding accountability in how the resources of the state were spent in the last six months. While some that spoke with THIsDAy wanted the governor to continue with the peace already established, some alleged that the purpose of the suspension of democratic rule was targeted at the state resources.
is expected that the governor once back to office should investigate the financial record of the state.
“It is our position that the elected governor will be returned on September 18. We will be expecting him to immediately investigate the financial record of Rivers State within these six months.
“A high-level powered committee should be set up to give us a run through of the resources of Rivers State because we had elected the governor, and unfortunately a quasi-military succession was appointed. We expected that the person we had elected will make sure that he uses an independent panel to investigate how our resources have gone down within this period.
“We noticed that almost all the projects that were going on in the State simultaneously; the major roads, ring road which is the flash ship project of this administration, and several other projects like the Civil Servants quarters for low-income earners and so many other projects all stopped. Meanwhile, the resources for both internally generated and from internal sources like the federal government kept on coming. We suspect that there will be financial misappropriation, even if the so-called House of Assembly has not been completed.
“We equally want the governor to stand firm and represent Rivers people. For us to think that he is neither here nor there wouldn’t help the situation. As a governor, he should make sure that he carries everybody along”, he stated.
On his part, a prominent chieftain of the APC in the state, Chief Eze Chukwuemka, who noted that going by the president’s declaration, the emergency will be ended on September 18, said “Let us just pray that the characters involved knowing how untrustworthy they are will honour this set date by lifting the atrocious State of emergency”.
He alleged that the reasons for the declaration was to “plunder and loot the treasure of Rivers State; to humiliate the State and her people by taking over illegally the political structure(s) of the State.”
NOTE:
Ibas Fubara
Wike
FEDERAL
APPOINTMENT OF 14 JUDGES TO THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT BENCH
CALL FOR COMMENTS
To enhance transparency and accountability in the appointment process of Judicial Officers to Superior Courts of Record, it has been resolved that the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the States Judicial Service Commission and Judicial Service Committee of the FCT shall always publish the names of all shortlisted candidates for appointment as Judicial Officers in National Newspapers.
The primary objective of this initiative is to solicit comments from the general public regarding the integrity, reputation and suitability of these candidates for Judicial appointments.
The following candidates have been recommended to the Federal Judicial Service Commission by the Federal High Court for appointment as Judges after going through the computer-based test conducted by the Court. The candidates, on a state by state, are as follows:
State: Abia
SN NAME OFFICE ADDRESS
1 Esowe-Osunwa Nneka Marilyn Federal High Court, Abuja
2 Igboko, Chinelo Conchita Federal Ministry of Works (Legal Adviser’s Office), Lagos
3 Enyidiya Uma-Onwunta High Court of Justice, Abia State
4 Uguru Eme Uguru High Court of Justice, Abia State
State: Akwa Ibom
SN NAME OFFICE ADDRESS
1 Kuyik Uduak Usoro Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja
2 Ekaete Mercy Efobi Federal High Court, Lagos Division
3 Kufre Ekpenyong Uduak EFCC, Sokoto Zonal Office
4 Mary Ukeje Emenike High Court of Justice, Abia State
State: Cross River
SN NAME OFFICE ADDRESS
1 Mercy Toney Ene Cross River State Judiciary, Calabar
2 Ekeng Bassey Kooffreh Private Practice, Calabar
3 Joy Bassey Ikpeme Ministry of Justice, Calabar, Cross River State
4 Nkechi Yvonne Usani Cross River State Customary Court of Appeal, Calabar
State: Enugu
SN NAME OFFICE ADDRESS
1 Ifeoma Chinyere Uzoefuna National Judicial Institute, Abuja
2 Chika Vivienne Nnamani National Counter Terrorism Centre, Abuja
3 Nnesochi Nweze- Iloekwe Enugu State Judiciary, Enugu
4 Nasiru Ahmad Federal Inland Revenue Service, Regional Office, Kaduna State
State: FCT
SN NAME OFFICE ADDRESS
1 Yahaya Saidu FCT Customary Court of Appeal, Abuja
2 Aisha Salihu Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja
3 Aisha Mohammed FCT Customary Court of Appeal, Abuja
4 Suleiman Onozasi Munirat FCT Customary Court of Appeal, Abuja
KEY GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
1. The Federal Judicial Service Commission invites Members of the public to submit comments on the shortlisted candidates based on their integrity, reputation and suitability for Judicial Appointment.
2. All complaints or comments must be submitted in writing to the office of the Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission or via email within Fourteen (14) days from the date of this publication to: The Secretary, Federal Judicial Service Commission, Supreme Court Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.
3. Each complaint/comment must be accompanied by a verifying affidavit deposed to by the author before a Superior Court of Record in Nigeria or before any Notary Public.The public is advised to guard against false and unsubstantial complaint/ comment as there will be consequences.
4. Each complaint/ comment must be precise and supported with sufficient particulars to enable the Federal Judicial Service Commission to determine accordingly
5. For further information, please contact the Federal Judicial Service Commission Secretariat, Federal Judicial Service Commission, Supreme Court Complex, Abuja.
Edited by Oke Epia | E-mail
Trends & Threads SOStainabilityWeekly
CSRD: What the European regulation means for multinationals in Nigeria
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has become a pivotal framework in the European Union’s (EU) efforts to promote sustainable business practices. Enacted on January 5, 2023, the CSRD is a legislative framework that requires EU businesses, including qualifying EU subsidiaries of non-EU companies and EU multinationals operating abroad, to provide comprehensive reports on their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts. Consequently, companies headquartered in Europe and operating in Nigeria are required to report audit-verified data covering their Nigerian operations. By implication, there is an obligation on local partners and suppliers aligned with these companies. This provides a legal basis to demand accountability from multinationals in sectors such as oil and gas, energy, transportation, logistics, and power, regarding their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices for the benefit of stakeholders. By implication, oil multinationals operating in Nigeria are accountable to the highest standards of carbon emissions reporting, social responsibility and sound governance ethics. This also means that Nigerian service companies will start receiving CSRD-driven questionnaires and contract clauses across the ESG domains, including emissions reductions, labour relations, anti-bribery and anti-corruption.
environment. It mandates the disclosure of comprehensive information, including both forward-looking and retrospective data, and extends reporting across the entire value chain, both domestically and internationally. The framework includes 12 standards
detailing disclosures and metrics related to sustainability issues, including mandatory reporting on climate change, pollution, water and marine resources, biodiversity, ecosystems, resource use, and circular economy practices; social reporting involving the organisation’s
The CSRD extends its scope beyond financial reporting by emphasising three additional areas: the impact of activities on the climate, climate risks affecting the company, and how organisations manage these issues. The directive aims to align with the ambitions of the European Green Deal, targeting carbon neutrality by 2050. As of 1 January 2025, the framework has come into effect, with a phased implementation to accommodate businesses of various sizes and scopes. The CSRD significantly influences sustainability requirements, compliance, and reporting. It introduces the concept of double materiality, requiring companies to assess both their effects on people and the
workforce within the value chain, affected communities, consumers, and end-users; and the maintenance of high governance standards, including anti-corruption measures.
The CSRD mandates a phased third-party auditing process to verify the accuracy and authenticity of information and data in reports. To enforce compliance, the framework requires EU member states to establish investigative and enforcement bodies capable of imposing “effective, proportionate, and dissuasive” penalties. Essentially, non-compliance with the CSRD can lead to sanctions, including fines that are proportional to the profits gained from the infringement and the financial capacity of the company.
The CSRD creates many opportunities for stakeholders, including civil society and the media, to engage with multinationals in Nigeria. It offers potential solutions to challenges posed by legislation, regulation, and litigation in Nigeria. It also encourages collaboration to improve sustainability. For example, regulations enacted by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), such as the Gas Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions Regulations (2023), which require daily logs and MRV for produced, consumed, flared, vented gas, and fugitive emissions, serve as valuable primary data sources for reporting in Europe.
•Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, boss of the NUPRC •Elohor Aiboni, MD, Shell Nigeria
Bouyer, MD, Total Energies Nigeria
SOStainabilityWeekly
Edited by Oke Epia | E-mail: sostainability01@gmail.com
Washing and Hushing
ESG Reporting: Navigating the Borderlines of Greenwashing and Social Washing
As Corporate Sustainability and ESG reporting gain increasing prominence, businesses are tempted to cross the fine line between transparency and inaccurate disclosure, often resulting in greenwashing or social washing, or both. For shy or extremely cautious companies, the fear of committing these corporate offences may lead them to hide their true credentials and stewardship. Both extremes
present concerning challenges in the rapidly evolving field of sustainability. In today’s business ethics landscape, the concepts of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSR) have gained significant attention. These two are interconnected and vital for understanding how companies contribute to sustainable practices and societal welfare. These dual frameworks are frequently used to assess and promote sustainability within organisations. ESG involves assessing a company’s
sustainability through metrics related to its environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance practices. This assessment aims to determine the company’s sustainability and resilience, thereby holding it accountable for its commitments, practices, and claims. It significantly influences the decisions made by financiers regarding capital allocation and shapes the perspectives of investors and stakeholders on financial health. Businesses that genuinely focus on ESG can access new markets, reduce costs,
Easy on the CNG Hype, Please
Experts and advocates have argued that the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy should be phased to prevent sudden disruptions to the economy and society. In this regard, Nigeria has adopted
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative to premium motor spirit (PMS). This is one of several policy responses following the Bola Tinubu administration’s abrupt removal of fuel subsidy in 2023. Understandably, the
scheme has been met with significant hurdles, including structural gaps like insufficient refuelling stations (the few CNG stations exist in Lagos, Abuja,
enhance employee efficiency and retention, and optimise asset distribution. While complying with ESG requirements, companies have a responsibility to their shareholders to make a profit while also contributing to the economic development of the community and country. In simple terms, it is a company’s dual commitment to financial prosperity and community development. Beyond generating profits, companies play a vital role in economic growth by creating jobs, investing in local businesses, and contributing to the economic ecosystem. By adhering to fair labour practices, providing competitive wages, and fostering innovation, companies enhance their contribution to the broader economy while ensuring the well-being of their employees and the communities they serve. This is a delicate balance to be navigated with tact, sincerity, and professionalism. Due to ESG obligations, some companies tend to make false or exaggerated claims about their environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and governance practices. These claims often overstate their actual impacts in these areas, making them guilty of greenwashing and/or social washing, as appropriate. This page is dedicated to scrutinising the sustainability reports of companies in order to identify these unethical practices and promote accountability.
and a handful of pilot projects); vehicle conversion cost (which is unaffordable for many vehicle owners without government subsidies); pipeline and storage infrastructure; and, of course, health and safety concerns. Stakeholders have also identified challenges related to policy and regulatory uncertainty, which is exemplified by weak enforcement of gas utilisation policies, the absence of clear incentives, overlapping regulators, market and economic barriers, and supply reliability issues. Despite these formidable challenges, some government functionaries have recently been on overdrive, trumpeting scant gains of CNG to apparently justify humongous sums of money spent so far. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging progress, but it is wrong to elevate it to propaganda levels. Doing so only obscures the real issues, discourages innovation, disincentivises collaborations, and politicises an otherwise worthy initiative. Already, the National Assembly has instituted a probe into the implementation of the scheme. This page will keep an eye on that exercise and the CNG initiative generally.
•Rabiu Olowo, boss of the FRC
• Tunji Bello, boss of the FCCPC
• Mr. Ismael Ahmed, Executive Chairman, Presidential Initiative on CNG
L-R: Provincial Pastor-in-charge, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 36, Tunde Dania; his wife, Pastor Ebunoluwa Dania; and President, Glorious Women Fellowship, RCCG, Jesus House Parish, Lagos Province 36, Mrs. Upama Efemena, during the annual Southwest Thanksgiving Service with the theme: ‘Ojude lle Jesu’, held in Lagos… recently
L-R: Managing Director, Disc Media and Telecoms (DMT), Mr. Harold Monu; Head of Department, Enterprise Business Group Globacom, Mr. Lawrence Odediran; Chairman, DMT Board, Andrew Odum (SAN); and Enterprise National Head Oil and Gas Segment, Globacom, Mr. Boniface Ogbonnaya, during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Globacom and DMT in Lagos... recently
The President of Dangote Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (left), and the Group Managing Director, Arco Group, Mr. Alfred Okoigun, during the 2025 Gastech Conference held in Milan, Italy… recently
L -R: Chief Executive Officer, Hilltrust Top Foundation and Implementing Partner, LEARNOVATE-Flip, Dr. Adeyemi Adeyemo; representative of the African Institute for Social Development (AISD), Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Dr. Salisu Muhammad; Head of Oando Foundation, Tonia Uduimoh; Trustee, Oando Foundation, Dr. Otivie Igbuzor; Trustee, Oando Foundation, Dr. Feese Nguyan; Social Development Specialist, ASR Africa, Edidiong Idang; and Founder, Quality Education Development Associates (QEDA) and Implementing Partner, LEARNOVATE-Flip, Dr. Nurudeen Lawal, at the launch of Oando Foundation’s LEARNOVATE-Flip reports, held recently in Abuja to highlight the impact of the Early Grade Reading (EGR) and Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) in improving literacy and numeracy outcomes in public primary schools.
L-R: General Overseer, Dominion Outreach Centre, Pastor Olayinka Fasasi; Co-Managing Director, Logistics, Dakoss Nigerian Limited, Kolawole Dawodu; Co-MD, Admin and Operations, Dakoss Nigeria, Folashade Dawodu; Shepherd-in-Charge of CCC Divine, Glory Parish, Evangelist Samuel Agbolade; and Sales Manager, Dakoss Nigerian. Limited, Damilare Ajala, during the grand opening of Dakoss Nigeria Limited’s new office in Atan, Ogun State… recently
FEaturEs
How Katsina, Oyo are Tackling Learning Poverty
Two states have adopted EIDU’s platform to tackle learning poverty in public primary schools, and the result is commendable, writes Uzoma Mba
When public primary schools in Oyo and Katsina open their doors for the next academic session this September, pupils will encounter a new approach to teaching and learning.
Both states have embraced EIDU’s technology driven platform, which combines data-informed decision making, AI, play-based learning, and high quality lesson plans to support teachers.
In the last academic session, both states conducted pilot tests of the approach in selected schools and the outcome convinced policymakers that a wider implementation of the approach can significantly solve a major challenge facing children across Nigeria: learning poverty. In Nigeria, learning poverty is not a new challenge and there have been attempts at solving it..
Learning poverty, a concern
The Federal Government of Nigeria enacted the Universal Basic Education Act in 2004 to provide free, compulsory, and uninterrupted access to nine years of formal education (Primary and Junior Secondary) for every child of school-going age. The aim was to reduce dropout rates, improve the quality and relevance of basic education, and equip children with essential literacy and numeracy skills for lifelong learning.
Twenty-one years later, the promise of universal literacy and numeracy remains a mirage. Both national and international stakeholders continue to confirm that though enrolment in schools continues to increase, literacy and numeracy skills remain low.
UNICEF reports that three out of four children in school cannot read with comprehension or solve basic math problems. Recently at a State-Level Workshop on Foundational Learning and Out-of-School Children in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Aisha Garba, admitted that “the quality of education in our schools must be improved to ensure that every child can access the learning they deserve,” urging stronger collaboration with states and partners.
The World Bank has also repeatedly warned that “learning poverty among children in school poses one of the biggest threats to Nigeria’s human capital,” stressing the need for systemic reforms and sustained funding. Moved to address the learning poverty challenge, the governments of Katsina and Oyo partnered EIDU, a global leader with a track record of eliminating the challenge through technology. EIDU’s soon-to-be open-source platform holds the promise of drastically improving learning outcomes for children in record time, irrespective of whether the children are in urban or rural areas.
What makes EIDU different
EIDU’s approach is built around a single but comprehensive platform designed to meet the different needs of the four key stakeholders in the public primary school system: learners (children), teachers, education officers, and government
agencies.
Specifically, it provides interactive tasks that adapt to each child’s pace and ability, helping them build strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. These tasks are available to each child through Android smartphones that have been customised specifically for the purpose of learning and deployed to classrooms.
On their part, teachers receive structured lesson plans aligned to the local curriculum, teaching tools, real-time insights into the performance of each child, and continuous digital training, enabling them to deliver better lessons without increasing their workload.
Education officers (referred to as quality assurance officers in some states) are given structured tools and dashboards to support monitoring, evaluation, and teacher professional development, while government agencies like the State Universal Basic Education Board gain access to comprehensive data that guides system-wide planning and decisionmaking.
Considered holistically, EIDU’s platform is guided by four principles: it is comprehensive, reliable, cost-effective, and future-proof. Together, these make EIDU a scalable and sustainable solution for strengthening public education systems and addressing learning poverty.
What beneficiaries say
Speaking about the impact of EIDU on his school one year after the pilot in Oyo State, Mr. Abiodun Salau, the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, noted that “my teachers and I were impressed that EIDU was complementary to our work. It improved several aspects of school life.
The attendance of the children and teachers as well as the learning outcomes of our children have been impacted by the programme. We are happy that the children in our care are more enthusiastic about their studies because of EIDU.”
Similarly, Alhaji Kabir Magaji, the Katsina State Universal Basic Education Executive Chairman, notes that “because of the programme, teachers
No longer do they have to spend long hours every day preparing lesson notes. Now they simply preview the lesson guides in their tablets properly, make relevant additions and jottings that they would like to add, and go ahead to deliver their lessons in class. Teachers using smartphones are very enthusiastic, and the schools where EIDU is intervening are recording significant benefits. For the children it’s even a more interesting story. They are more engaged and interested in learning because of the smartphones provided by EIDU
have become more committed as they use their smartphones to teach. The programme has helped them free up much-needed time to devote to teaching.
“No longer do they have to spend long hours every day preparing lesson notes. Now they simply preview the lesson guides in their tablets properly, make relevant additions and jottings that they would like to add and go ahead to deliver their lessons in class.
Teachers using smartphones are very enthusiastic, and the schools where EIDU is intervening are recording significant benefits.
“For the children it’s even a more interesting story. They are more engaged and interested in learning because of the smartphones provided by EIDU. Unlike before, when teachers did most of the work, children are now actively involved in the learning process.”
For teachers, the testimony is even more compelling. “In Katsina the English and Math teachers are distinct subject teachers, which means they move from class to class during the school day,” says Sa’adiya Tukur, an English teacher at Dabaibajawa Primary School.
“What we notice is that after the introduction of the EIDU approach to our school, the children would like to follow the English or Math teacher to their next class even though their class was over.”
In Oyo, children now come to school as early as 7.30 a.m. just to be the first to access the EIDU smartphones for the purpose of learning.
Of results and expansion
The true test of any educational intervention lies in measurable impact. In 2024, EdTech Hub, a global education research institution, conducted a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) in partnership with researchers from the University of Manchester and Women Educational Researchers of Kenya, which gave EIDU a comprehensive view of how its solution is transforming foundational education through its digital personalised learning and structured pedagogy. The research outcome confirmed that EIDU significantly boosts learning equitably and at scale. The study found that EIDU learners achieved 1.50 times the expected learning progress—placing EIDU among the top 10% of global interventions in basic education systems, delivering exceptional improvements in literacy and numeracy among children, especially in low-income countries. Most importantly, the intervention delivered remarkable learning gains across all learner groups. The lowest-performing students, particularly the bottom 25% struggling with numeracy, recorded the strongest relative improvements.
Overall, EIDU achieved a 0.534 standard deviation increase in outcomes, ranking it among the most effective education interventions globally.
In the same year, EIDU scaled its reach to over 700,000 learners, expanded into more than 50% of Kenyan counties, and laid the groundwork for adoption in more countries.
Teaching with a customised android phone
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EL-RUFAI, TINUBU, ET AL
Attacks on the President by the former Kaduna State governor are reckonsunfortunate,ABIODUN OLUWADARE
See page 21
NIGERIA AND SCOURGE OF INSECURITY
Recent coordinated efforts are producing measurable results in the fight against crime,argues SENATOR IROEGBU
Elumelu embodies the conscience of business, that entrepreneurship can be an altar of empowerment, argues PAT ONUKWULI See
THE SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME
TONY ELUMELU: CAPITAL WITH CONSCIENCE
When the Appeal of Conscience Foundation gathers at the Waldorf Astoria in New York towards the end of this September, two men from different callings will share the spotlight: Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and Tony Elumelu, Nigeria’s titan of business and philanthropy. One represents the pulpit, the other the boardroom. Yet their joint recognition with the Appeal of Conscience Award underscores a truth Africa urgently needs to embrace: whether in faith or finance, leadership without conscience is empty.
The Award, founded on Rabbi Arthur Schneier’s conviction that “a crime committed in the name of religion is the greatest crime against religion,” has historically honoured statesmen, clerics, and advocates of peace. By recognising Elumelu, the Foundation expands its message: conscience must also govern commerce. In a continent where economic discussions are often reduced to aid packages or extractive deals, this is a surge of fresh air. Business, it insists, should not be just about profit; it should also be about purpose.
Philosophers such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau once described the social contract, a covenant that binds citizens and rulers. Elumelu’s philosophy of Africapitalism is its African resonance: a pact between entrepreneurs and society. The private sector must not be an island of privilege but a catalyst of dignity, opportunity, and progress.
Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he has committed $100 million to funding and mentoring more than 24,000 entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries. This is not charity in the old paternalistic sense. It is an investment in agency, a refusal to let young Africans remain mere statistics of unemployment or poverty.
Where Hobbes warned that life without order would be “nasty, brutish, and short,” Africapitalism suggests a structure where markets are tools of renewal, not despair. For Nigeria, where joblessness and insecurity feed cycles of violence, this is not theory; it is survival.
Elumelu’s personal journey makes the philosophy compelling. Born in Jos in 1963, raised in modest circumstances, he did not inherit privilege. He studied Economics at Ambrose Alli University, struggled for recognition during his NYSC, and even sold photocopiers. He often described himself at the time as “young, hungry, and hardworking.”
From those unlikely beginnings, he rose to build Standard Trust Bank. He later orchestrated the audacious takeover
of United Bank for Africa (UBA), transforming it into a pan-African giant spanning 20 African countries and beyond.
His story mirrors Greek myth, but with a twist. Icarus flew too close to the sun, his wax wings melting in reckless ambition. Elumelu, by contrast, built wings of steel through grit, humility, and vision. He soared not by defying reality but by transforming it. His life is a reminder that in our realm, where talent too often dies in the waiting room of opportunity, grit can rewrite destiny.
Sadly, wealth is often flaunted in large convoys, mansions, and champagne rituals. However, true wealth is not the number of digits on a balance sheet. It is the number of lives touched. When a mansion becomes a school, when dividends turn into jobs, when profit becomes possibility, that is wealth with conscience.
Elumelu’s investments exemplify this.
His BeGreen Africa initiative equips young innovators to tackle climate change with green jobs. His foundation provides seed capital for small businesses from Lagos to Lusaka. In a country where the average young person hustles like a roadside hawker dodging danfos, these interventions transform hustle into a structured enterprise.
Africapitalism is thus not a slogan. It is philosophy translated into action, a rebuke to leaders who see wealth as a private ornament rather than a public instrument. The symbolism of honouring Cardinal Dolan and Tony Elumelu together is profound. Dolan embodies the conscience of faith, urging people to love their neighbours and resist division. Elumelu embodies the conscience of business, showing that entrepreneurship can be an altar of empowerment.
In Greek myth, Pandora’s Box unleashed evil upon the world but left hope at the bottom. Africapitalism is that hope for
Africa: amid unemployment, insecurity, and climate shocks, it insists that Africans can build progress for Africans. This pairing of pulpit and profit is a message to the world: integrity must undergird all forms of leadership. Whether you wear the collar or the suit, you must serve.
For Nigeria, Elumelu’s global recognition is both a pride and a rebuke. Why should it take a foundation in New York to celebrate one of our finest? Why must prophets be validated abroad before being honoured at home? In a nation where politics is often reduced to the sharing of spoils, Elumelu’s journey is a sharp contrast: merit, not mediocrity; conscience, not convenience.
Across Africa, his example dismantles dependency. For decades, the continent has been treated as a patient hooked to foreign aid drips. Africapitalism tears out the intravenous line. It says I beg to differ and declares that we can heal ourselves if we invest in ourselves. From Sokoto to Soweto, from Lagos to Lusaka, young Africans demand not handouts but an enabling environment to soar. If African governments provide stability and business leaders embrace conscience, then the continent can shift from tales of failure to songs of renewal.
Awards are symbolic, but symbols matter. The Appeal of Conscience Award is not just a plaque for Elumelu or Dolan. It is a mirror held up to our leaders. It asks: will you, like Sisyphus, keep rolling the boulder of failed policies up the hill only to watch it fall again? Or will you, like Elumelu, build a philosophy that outlives personal ambition?
As Aristotle wrote, “The good of man must be the end of politics.” To this we might add: “The good of society must be the end of business.” Tony Elumelu’s story, from Jos boy to global capitalist with conscience, is not just his. It belongs to every Nigerian graduate hawking dreams on the streets; every African youth yearning for dignity; every citizen who believes leadership should be service.
This award, then, is not just recognition. It is a call. A call for leaders in government, faith, and business to remember that conscience is not an ornament of leadership. It is its foundation. Therefore, if Elumelu’s Africapitalism teaches anything, it is this: Africa will not rise on handouts or hollow politics, but on leaders with the courage to put conscience before convenience.
Dr. Onukwuli, a legal scholar and public affairs analyst, writes from Bolton, UK. Email: patonukwuli2003@yahoo.co.uk
Recent coordinated efforts are producing measurable results in the fight against crime,argues SENATOR IROEGBU
NIGERIA AND SCOURGE OF INSECURITY
Kidnapping and banditry remain among Nigeria’s most pressing security challenges. From Zamfara to Kaduna and down to the Southeast, this scourge has disrupted lives, displaced communities, and drained the economy through ransom payments. Despite the grim headlines, recent coordinated security efforts are producing measurable results, offering cautious optimism for citizens, policymakers, and the international community alike.
In a democracy that thrives on dissent and scrutiny, pushbacks from groups like SBM Intelligence and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) should be expected. Their critiques of recent incidents highlight the persistence of the problem and the human costs that statistics alone cannot capture. Still, challenges do not erase progress: security is rarely perfect; successes are incremental and often fragile. What matters is whether Nigeria is moving forward in terms of security. In many respects, it is.
In late August, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) announced the rescue of 128 hostages in Zamfara State—an achievement echoed elsewhere. According to the Defence Headquarters, security forces in 2024 killed over 3,100 terrorists, arrested 2,500 suspects, and freed more than 1,600 kidnapped victims. Likewise, the Nigeria Police Force reported rescuing 1,581 hostages and arresting over 30,000 suspects for various offences.
Between May 2023 and early 2025, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu disclosed that more than 13,500 terrorists and armed criminals were neutralised, while over 124,000 insurgents and their families surrendered. Additionally, more than 11,000 individuals were rescued from captivity, and nearly 3,843 illegal refineries—key to the funding of insurgent and criminal activities— were dismantled nationwide. Collectively, these numbers underscore a shift from defensive responses to proactive operations, with a new focus on dismantling networks of violence.
One of the most innovative tools in this effort is the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAAKFC), established under ONSA and its National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in partnership with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). The cell pools intelligence, coordinates rescue missions, and tracks financial flows sustaining kidnapping syndicates. Since its launch in late 2024, officials report an 80% success rate in anti-kidnapping operations.
This initiative reflects an understanding that kidnapping in Nigeria has morphed into a sophisticated criminal economy, sometimes linked to terrorist financing. MAAKFC integrates military, police, intelligence, and judicial actors into a single platform. Beyond rescuing victims, its mandate is to dismantle the economic and operational infrastructure
of kidnapping.
Concrete results are evident in communities that once epitomised Nigeria’s insecurity. Southern Kaduna, long plagued by cycles of killings and abductions, is experiencing relative calm. Zamfara, under siege by bandit warlords, has begun stabilising. In the Southeast, where “unknown gunmen” once paralysed daily life through violence and sit-at-home orders, a fragile normalcy is returning. However, the North West remains the hardest hit. Banditry has killed more than 12,000 people and displaced entire farming communities. Still, gains are also visible here. The arrest of the Ansaru terrorist kingpins: Mahmud Muhammad Usman, the self-styled "Emir of Ansaru," and his deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri (Malam Mahmuda)—and the elimination of notorious warlords such as Ali Kachalla, Halilu Sububu, and Boderi, alongside the surrender of others under non-kinetic initiatives like the “Kaduna Model,” has reduced mass abductions. While isolated attacks continue, the frequency and scale of kidnappings have declined.
Yet, optimism must be tempered with realism. According to SBM Intelligence, Nigerians paid at least ₦2.57 billion in ransoms between July 2024 and June 2025, while abductors demanded as much as ₦48 billion.
During this period, nearly 5,000 people were kidnapped, and over 760 were killed in related violence. These figures underscore the ongoing challenges and the need for continued vigilance and action.
The NEF recently drew attention to deadly incidents. These include the massacre of 27 worshippers in a Kaduna mosque, the execution of 35 abductees in Zamfara despite ransom payments, and raids in Kauru and Kudan LGAs. Their call for a state of emergency in Northern Nigeria underscores the severity of the crisis and the urgent need for action.
Critics are right to argue that one spectacular failure can erase the confidence built by 19 successful operations, and security gains remain uneven and vulnerable to reversal. Furthermore, the emergence of new groups, such as Lakurawa, demonstrates the fluidity and adaptability of criminal enterprises.
Iroegbu,
a journalist, security and public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja
Attacks on the President by the former Kaduna State governor are unfortunate, reckons ABIODUN OLUWADARE
EL-RUFAI, TINUBU, ET AL
Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has never been a stranger to controversy. His career in Nigerian public life has been defined not by quiet achievements, but by loud proclamations, divisive policies, and an almost theatrical embrace of confrontation. To some, he once represented the archetype of a reformer, armed with tough talk and a reputation for efficiency. But to many others, particularly those who lived through his reign in Abuja as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and in Kaduna as governor, he is remembered as a man who wielded power and left trails of discontent.
Today, as El-Rufai reinvents himself as a bitter critic of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Kaduna government, it is important to revisit his own legacy. Those who live in glass houses should be careful about how they throw stones.
El-Rufai’s rise to national prominence began under President Olusegun Obasanjo in the early 2000s, when he was appointed Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The BPE was at the heart of Nigeria’s privatisation drive, intended to free up public assets for private investment. El-Rufai was positioned as a bold technocrat. In reality, his tenure was riddled with all kinds of allegations, including undervaluations. Critics accused him of presiding over sales of prized national assets, NITEL, ALSCON, and others, that went for far less than their true worth.
As Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007, El-Rufai earned a reputation that still divides opinion. On one hand, he boasted of restoring Abuja’s “masterplan” by demolishing illegal structures. On the other hand, he left thousands of families homeless in a wave of demolitions that critics described as heartless and selective. Entire communities, especially the urban poor, were displaced, often without adequate compensation. Small businesses were flattened overnight. Residents spoke of the fear that El-Rufai’s bulldozers could show up without warning. While elites in plush districts remained largely untouched, ordinary Abuja residents paid the price for his vision of order.
To this day, many Nigerians recall the El-Rufai years in Abuja not as a time of reform, but as a reign of fear.
In 2015, El-Rufai rode into power as governor of Kaduna State under the banner of change. He promised to rebuild the state, attract investment, and restore peace to a region long plagued by ethnic and religious tension. He spoke with confidence, branding himself as a no-nonsense leader ready to make tough decisions.
The reality turned out very different. Kaduna under El-Rufai became synonymous with insecurity. Southern Kaduna, in particular, descended into cycles of communal killings, displacement, and despair. Entire
communities were attacked by armed groups with little or no protection from the state.
By 2021, Kaduna had become one of Nigeria’s kidnapping capitals. The chilling abductions of Greenfield University students shocked the nation, as parents were forced to pay millions in ransom while the state stood helpless. In 2022, the Abuja–Kaduna train attack further exposed the vulnerability of the state: 10 passengers were killed, hundreds abducted, and security forces were overwhelmed.
Through it all, El-Rufai was quick with words but slow with solutions. He often made fiery statements, at one point saying he would “bring down bandits with firepower”, but the violence persisted. In fact, his rhetoric sometimes worsened tensions, especially in fragile communities that saw his government as indifferent to their suffering.
If insecurity was one half of El-Rufai’s Kaduna legacy, debt was the other. His administration borrowed heavily from the World Bank and other lenders, pushing Kaduna into one of Nigeria’s most indebted states. While he claimed the loans were for infrastructure and development, many projects remain incomplete, and the people saw little direct impact.
El-Rufai’s defenders still point to his attempts at school reforms, digital governance initiatives, and a few urban renewal projects in Kaduna city. But these are overshadowed by the bloodshed, displacement, and disillusionment that marked his years in power.
For the rural poor, he will be remembered as the governor who failed to protect them. For Abuja residents, he will be remembered as the minister who bulldozed their homes.
When the history of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic is finally written, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai will stand out as a paradox: a man who built his career on the image of a reformer, only to become defined by bitterness when power slipped through his fingers.
Prof Oluwadare writes from Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
THE SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME
Regular health screening may be helpful
From a famous female artiste to directors in the federal civil service slumping and dying at public functions to others sleeping without waking up, many Nigerians are increasingly becoming victims of sudden, unexpected deaths. But what is in public domain are only the reported cases involving prominent people. While there are no reliable statistics, there is no denying the fact that there is a dramatic rise in deaths from incidents of heart-related diseases and stroke. Experts have long concluded that there is no mystery involved in many of these rapid and unexpected deaths among otherwise healthy people.
According to medical experts, the problems arise in some patients when there are abnormal heart rhythms, and the heart is unable to pump blood. Within minutes, this could cause death unless emergency treatment is begun immediately. In the case of heart attack, “there is a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries, preventing the heart from receiving enough oxygen-rich blood,” said Dr.Olayiwola Ajileye, chief executive officer of Valor Health Options Ltd., United Kingdom. ”If the Oxygen in the blood cannot reach the heart muscle, the heart becomes damaged.” Sudden death could also occur because of wrong diagnosis which is now prevalent in our health sector.
the main causes identified as undiagnosed and poorly managed hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.
Incidentally, many of these ailments come without warning signs. In the case of sudden cardiac arrest, for instance, over half of the victims die without symptoms. When there are signs, they come in the form of “racing heartbeat or they may feel dizzy, alerting them that a potentially dangerous heart problem has started.” Other symptoms listed include headache, chest discomfort, breathing problems, blurring vision and convulsion. A number of predisposing illnesses such as high blood pressure, stress, high blood level of cholesterol and high blood sugar may precipitate a sudden death syndrome.
Sudden death is said to account for about 14 per cent of fatalities in Nigeria with the main causes identified as undiagnosed and poorly managed hypertension, heart disease, and stroke
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
Indeed, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that heart disease is the most common cause of an unexpected sudden death in all age groups. It is more prevalent in adults in their 30’s and 40’s and affects men twice as it does women. Some of the diseases are discovered and treated while the person is alive while many others may go unnoticed until tragedy occurs. The prevalence of such tragedies in the country is what worries. Sudden death is said to account for about 14 per cent of fatalities in Nigeria with
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
In a country where many of the citizens resort to self-medication in order to bypass the cost of seeing a medical doctor or a pharmacist, abuse of medications can result in dangerous drug interactions with lethal consequences, particularly among those who have pre-existing medical problems. Many people who are obese or suffering from ill- managed diabetes can easily fall victim of heart diseases and unexpected death. But the frequency of these deaths arising from cardiovascular or related diseases can be brought down considerably if people take time in keeping regular follow-up appointments with their doctors, taking medications as prescribed and making certain lifestyle changes. “I urge Nigerians to attend regular health screening, at least once a year,” said Dr. Ajileye. “If they can afford it, it should be as regular as they service their cars and generators. This gives them opportunity to be updated on their health situation.”
With the dramatic rise in heart-related diseases, there is need for regular health screening by Nigerians. In addition, quitting such habits like smoking, and exercising regularly can help in containing incidents of sudden death.
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.
NEEDLESS DELAYS IN NIGERIA’S JUSTICE DELIVERY
The Nigerian justice system, once regarded as the last hope of the common man, has sadly become synonymous with unnecessary delays, technicalities, and prolonged litigations. This development is both worrisome and unfortunate, especially in a country where the rule of law ought to serve as the bedrock of democracy.
Across various courts, cases linger for years, sometimes decades suffering from prolonged adjournments, deliberate delay tactics by lawyers, and in some instances, laxity on the part of prosecutors and security agencies. These practices erode public confidence and frustrate genuine seekers of justice.
Despite the much-celebrated judicial independence, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Interference from other arms of government has left the judiciary struggling to live up to its constitutional mandate. Matters requiring urgent determination still gather dust in the courts. Some have yet to be assigned to judges, while others
crawl at a snail’s pace.
A striking example is the suit filed by the PDP Governors’ Forum challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. It has remained unattended to at the Supreme Court. Equally disturbing is the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, a case that ought to have been concluded long ago but continues to drag on. Cases involving past governors and public officials accused of corruption also remain unresolved for years, raising questions about the seriousness of our justice delivery system. The contrast with other jurisdictions is glaring. The recent trial and conviction of Simon Ekpa in Finland, which lasted just a few weeks, is an eye-opener. It underscores how efficiency and modern practices can make justice swift and credible.
If Nigeria must reposition its judiciary, urgent reforms are imperative. The system should embrace Artificial Intelligence and modern technology to fast-track proceed-
ings. Virtual hearings should be mainstreamed, and no case should exceed 60–90 days in any court. The Supreme Court should be decentralised, with at least six divisions established across the country’s geopolitical zones to ease congestion. Furthermore, many matters that now reach the apex court should reasonably end at the Court of Appeal. The National Judicial Council (NJC) also requires restructuring. It should be expanded to include more retired justices and be headed by a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria, rather than the serving CJN, to guarantee neutrality and focused oversight. Justice delayed is justice denied. For Nigeria to regain confidence in its justice system, deliberate steps must be taken to eliminate needless delays, strengthen institutional independence, and restore public trust. Anything less will continue to undermine democracy and deny citizens their fundamental right to timely justice. Tochukwu Jimo Obi, jimobi83@gmail.com
Medical Expert Advocates More Education on Hormonal Imbalance
Uchechukwu Nnaike
As the economic pressure continues to weigh heavily on households, a health educator and influencer, Dr. Adefunke Arowolo, said that the conversation about women’s hormonal health has become more urgent than ever.
She argued that women are under immense pressure, and it is affecting their health in ways they don’t even realise. “If we can help them understand their bodies better and give them tools to improve their wellbeing, then we’ve made a real difference,” she said.
Speaking in Lagos, during the signing of a partnership with Ralphones Pharmaceutical, Arowolo said that “a lot of women are going through so much, they suffer from stress, poor diet, carrying the burdens of both male and female in their homes, and many don’t even know they have hormonal imbalance until it begins to affect them badly. This is a conversation that needs to be had.”
The new partnership will see Arowolo lead an awareness campaign for Empill Woman, a supplement developed by Ralphones to help women manage hormonal issues.
The medical doctor said that she has made it her mission
to break the silence around hormonal imbalance, a condition she believes is far more common among Nigerian women than many realise.
Arowolo, who has thousands of followers across her social media handles, said she gets direct messages from women on a daily basis concerning various health issues resulting from hormonal imbalance.
The CEO and founder of Ralphones Pharmaceutical, Gregory Onuwabhagbe, said that the collaboration is aimed at tackling “the foundation of many women’s health problems in Nigeria.
“We want to partner with a strong voice in healthcare to encourage women to speak up about hormonal imbalances,” he said.
Onuwabhagbe stated that before the product was launched, it was tested on a group of women. “Many told us their menstrual cycles improved within 30 days. In the two years since, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
He explained that the supplement contains five active components, including maximum-strength evening primrose oil, gamma-linolenic acid, vitamin E, omega-6, and soya isoflavones, which is backed by clinical trials for its role in reducing breast cancer risk.
Otti Donates Educational Materials to Schoolchildren in Abia
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
Abia First Lady, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has prepared Abia school children for the 2025/2026 academic session by supplying them with school bags, books, writing materials, and other essentials.
The essential supplies were provided for the target beneficiaries under the back-to-school outreach programme of her pet project, the Safe Tent Care Initiative.
At the launch of the programme for Abia Central Zone in Umuahia, Otti said, “It warms my heart to see indigent pupils return to school well prepared with essential school materials.”
According to her, the beneficiaries not only received the physical materials but, above all, were imbued with the hope that education would open up a window of opportunities for them to dream big and reach greater heights.
She stated that the ultimate goal is to reach 1,000 primary school pupils across the state with school materials, beginning with 300 pupils in Abia Central who have received theirs.
“What we are doing may seem like a single drop in the ocean; yet, as we all know, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, and today is one of those steps,” she said.
Otti stated that the outreach programme would be expanded
NELFUND Seeks National Assembly’s Backing to Secure 25% Allocation from New Development Levy
Funmi Ogundare
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has called on the National Assembly to ensure timely appropriation and efficient release of its 25 per cent allocation from the newly approved development levy, set to take effect on January 1, 2026.
The call comes as the country prepares to implement the four per cent levy introduced under the National Taxation Act (NTA 2025), which will be charged on assessable profits of taxable companies, excluding small firms, non-resident entities,
and hydrocarbon tax profits.
Under the framework, NELFUND is entitled to a quarter of the proceeds, representing a significant boost to its mandate of expanding access to affordable education loans for Nigerian students.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, described the allocation as a pivotal step for education financing in Nigeria.
He stressed that its impact depends on strong collaboration between the legislature, the Ministry of Finance, and the
Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
He also highlighted the need for nationwide sensitisation to ensure that students, families and institutions fully understand the new opportunities.
“The 25 per cent allocation from the development levy gives us the capacity to reach more students, strengthen our systems, and deliver on our mandate more effectively. However, for this opportunity to translate into real impact, we need strong collaboration with the National Assembly in the appropriation process, alongside
efficient releases and robust sensitisation,” Sawyerr said.
The managing director outlined plans to expand awareness campaigns, invest in digital platforms for transparent loan processes, strengthen ties with tertiary institutions, and extend outreach to underserved communities to ensure inclusivity. He also reaffirmed its commitment to accountability and transparency, assuring stakeholders that the allocation will be fully directed towards widening access to education and advancing Nigeria’s human capital development.
School Leaders, Stakeholders Strategise Ahead of Guinness Record Teachers’ Conference
Funmi Ogundare
School leaders and education stakeholders are finalising plans for a Guinness World Record attempt that will bring together 60,000 teachers at the ‘Let There Be Teachers’ conference, scheduled for September 20, at Tafawa Balewa Square.
The unprecedented gathering aims to spotlight teachers’ issues, celebrate their contributions, and strengthen advocacy for education reform.
Ahead of the event, members of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), the Nigeria Union of Teachers, and other educa-
in the coming years to reach more pupils across the state, thereby making the free and compulsory basic education policy of the Abia government more impactful.
“Our target is to extend this support to government primary school children in at least one school in each of the 184 wards of Abia State.
“Through this, we will ensure that indigent children, wherever they are, have access to the essential tools of learning, and that free and compulsory education is not just a policy, but a lived reality,” she stated.
The governor’s wife stressed that investing in education remains a worthwhile venture as it “raises living standards. It strengthens communities. It gives children confidence and dignity.
“This outreach supports that policy. It complements the government’s broader development plan, to ensure no child is left behind because of a lack of materials, or because their parents cannot afford basic supplies,” she said.
She urged pupils to aim high and achieve their life ambitions irrespective of their backgrounds.
While highlighting the transformative power of education, she cited her husband, Governor Alex Otti, who defied his humble beginning and rose to the top, thereby serving as “a living testimony of what education can do”.
tion leaders converged at The Providence Hotel, Lagos, to strategise on school growth and sustainability, while mobilising teachers for the historic conference.
“This is a precursor to the event coming up next Saturday,” said Coach Luyi Armstrong, General Secretary of NAPPS.
“We are excited that for the first time, teachers will gather on such a scale to discuss their challenges and celebrate their contributions. All teachers are encouraged to attend.”
Conference convener and education advocate, Oluwaseyi Anifowose, stressed the importance of empowering
schools and teachers, saying, “The growth of our schools is directly tied to the growth of our teachers. When we empower schools, we empower educators, and ultimately, we secure the future of education in Nigeria.”
Co-founder of 1 Million Teachers (1MT), Dr. Hakeem Subair, underscored the role of educators in nation-building.
“It is time for society to pay more attention to teachers’ issues. Teachers play a remarkable role in shaping society and building harmony,” he said.
Subair added that the upcoming conference is positioned as a major platform for rethinking Nigeria’s education challenges.
“By uniting school leaders, policymakers, and partners, it seeks to advance solutions to learning poverty, promote technology-driven teaching, strengthen teacher training, and shape reforms that will improve outcomes for millions of children.”
The strategy session also featured contributions from notable education figures, including entrepreneur Ronke Posh Adeniyi, 1MT co-founder Rizma Butt, Rotimi Eyitayo, innovation expert Rhoda Odigboh, and Global Education Consultant, Prof. Akin Akinpelu. Discussions centered on innovation, leadership, and sustainable school growth.
Foursquare Church to Host 12th Annual Public Lecture on Poverty Alleviation, Economic Devt
Mary Nnah
The Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria will today host its 12th annual public lecture at The Marquee, Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The lecture will focus on ‘Poverty Alleviation, Economic Development and Stability of the Nigerian Economy’, a topic that resonates with the current economic challenges facing the nation.
The General Overseer, Rev. (Dr.) Sam Aboyeji, said the
lecture is part of the activities marking the church’s 70th anniversary.
“Historically, Christianity has played a significant role in shaping societies and continues to impact nation-building efforts by fostering unity and moral integrity,” he said.
“We believe that as responsible citizens of this great nation, Nigeria, we have a duty and an obligation to partner with the government at all levels, as well as other patriotic stakeholders, in building our dear nation,
Nigeria,” Aboyeji added.
The lecture will be chaired by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who has implemented various poverty alleviation and economic development initiatives in his state.
The guest lecturer, Dr. Doyin Salami, a senior fellow and Associate Professor at Lagos Business School, will be supported by a team of expert discussants, including Pastor Ben Akabueze, Mrs. Ini Abimbola, and Dr. Otive Igbuzor.
The 70th anniversary celebration will also feature other activities, including the Holy Spirit Refreshing Dew, a special October edition of the church’s quarterly evangelistic outreach programme, scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island.
“This event promises to be an awesome jubilee praise extravaganza with both internal and external guest artists joining me in declaring God’s praise,” Aboyeji added.
The Vice Chancellor, African School of Economics (ACE), Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, flanked by other participants at a two-day capacity building programme at the institution in Abuja ... recently
ProPerty & environment
Borno, AfDB, ICRC Partner to Support Inclusive, Resilient Water Services in Maiduguri
Bennett Oghifo
The Government of Borno State, in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), have convened a partnership roundtable to accelerate access to safe, sustainable, and inclusive water services in Maiduguri.
A statement on AfDB’s website said the event held on Tuesday 10 September, coinciding with the first anniversary of devastating floods in Borno that was aggravated by the collapse of the Alau Dam, which severely impacted Maiduguri and Jere local government areas.
According to the statement, “Borno State, located in Nigeria’s Lake Chad region, has faced over a decade of conflict, displacement, and rapid urban growth. Between 2006 and 2021, Maiduguri’s population more than doubled and is projected to exceed 2.5 million by 2030, placing immense pressure on water infrastructure. Public
water systems currently meet only part of the demand, forcing many households to rely on unsafe and costly sources, with women and children most affected.”
The roundtable brought together senior representatives from the Borno State Government, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, AfDB, ICRC, World Bank, Agence Française de Développement, development partners, UN agencies, diplomats, and technical experts.
Mallam Bukar Tijani, Secretary to the State Government of Borno, emphasised the State’s commitment: “Ensuring that every citizen, regardless of location or socio-economic status, has access to safe and affordable water is a top priority for Borno State. We are committed to working with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the African Development Bank, ICRC, and other partners to
bridge the gap between need and provision through technology, expertise, and sustainable financing.”
Dr. Abdul Kamara, the Bank’s Director General for Nigeria, in his remarks stated: “Water, resilience, and peace are deeply interconnected. Investing in water is central to the African Development Bank’s Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa. “Through initiatives like the Inclusive Basic Services Delivery Program and strong partnerships with the Nigerian government and institutions like the ICRC, we are helping northern Nigeria move from recurring crises to a future of stability, resilience, and sustainable development.”
Doris El Doueihy, head of the ICRC Delegation in Nigeria, added: “The humanitarian–development link is not just a concept; it is a lifeline. We must meet urgent needs while investing in long-term resilience to prevent future crises and
setbacks to development.”
Joseph Terlumun, Babarinde Segun Mukaila, Director of Water Supply and Support Services representing the Water and Sanitation minister, highlighted
the Federal Government’s role: “The Federal Government has developed a National Action Plan to revitalize water supply, sanitation, and hygiene services across the country. As one of
the sectors most vulnerable to climate impacts, we must harness innovation and technology to manage our water resources sustainably and ensure access for all Nigerians.”
SHEF Introduces WASH Project in Okerube Community in Lagos
Fadekemi Ajakaiye
A Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) project has been introduced in the Okerube community in Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State.
The community-based project was launched last week by a non-governmental
and non-profit organisation, Shantytown Empowerment Foundation SHEF, under the auspices of the African Cities Research Consortium that champions the transformation of slums and informal settlements in Nigeria.
The project, which is a pilot scheme, is about the issues of lack of water and good
Collapse of 4-storey
sanitation in Okerube.
The Executive Director of SHEF, Mr Rasheed Shittu, said the gathering was for the community stakeholders to take ownership of the project, adding that they would appeal to all tiers of government to accept the project, and provide all necessary logistics to ensure its success, adding that it would
be completed in phases. Shittu said the project is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), in collaboration with the University of Manchester, and Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, which is the lead agency in Lagos.
He said they Chose Okerube community because it is one of SDI Nigeria federation communities, and that they have an existing structure, such as women-led water committee with which they have been able to open water trust fund account managed by the committee. Also, they have different stakeholders in the community. They have the CDA, different entrepreneurs, small scale business owners in the community. He said, “We have other organised communities too but since it is a pilot scheme, we cannot just start to pick other communities. That is why we picked Okerube as a pilot scheme.
Building in Yaba Negates Efforts to Shield Area from Building Collapse Menace in Lagos, Says BCPG
Bennett Oghifo
The collapse of a four-storey building under construction at 335, Borno Way, Yaba, Lagos State at about 7 pm on Friday, 12th September, 2025, negated efforts to protect the Yaba area from the ravaging building collapse menace in the state, the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has said. They noted that the rescue operations that stretched for four days, precisely from Friday night to Monday, helped save 10 lives. Sadly four dead bodies were recovered.
The last two of the dead construction workers were recovered on Sunday, dashing the hope of saving the lives of those who were making frantic phone calls from underneath the rubbles to their family members.
“This was a terrible and painful way of ending one’s mission in the world,” the Guild said. They, consequently, urged the government to procure more sophisticated equipment to speed-up search and rescue operations.
“However, the need to introduce sophisticated plant and equipment for rescue operations in collapsed buildings cannot be overemphasised.
“With improved technology, a rescue process should be able to bring out swiftly those trapped in the collapsed building with less damage to physical evidence required for investigations.
“It was enervating as we monitored the prolonged rescue process using the excavator, cutting machine, diggers, and shovels,” they said.
Younger Professionals Should See Safety and Environmental Responsibility as The Heart of True Leadership, Says Agbakhamen
dr. Cletus Onyemhese agbakhamen, a distinguished engineer and renowned Climatologist, was honoured alongside Bill Gates, Un secretary General antonio Gutteres, Professor Gerald Okeke ndubuisi, the first african Professor of Climate Change and sustainability, and 96 others at the Global Impact Personalities summit and awards organised by african Intercontinental network in collaboration with the Foreign affairs Ministry in abuja recently. In this interview with journalists, he speaks on the need for younger professionals to see safety and environmental responsibility as the heart of true leadership, his journey to the top, his blue print for success and sundry issues. Fadekemi Ajakaiye was there
Congratulations on receiving this global award. Can you tell us what it means to you?
This award is a humbling recognition of years of dedication to engineering, occupational health and safety, and climate change advocacy. For me, it is not just a personal honour but a call to continue creating impact— protecting lives, advancing innovation, and inspiring sustainable practices across industries. It affirms that the work we do in engineering, safety, and sustainability resonates globally.
What was going through your mind when you received the nomination for the award?
Honestly, it came as a surprise. I felt a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility. Gratitude to God, my family, my mentors, and my colleagues who have supported me through my journey; and responsi -
bility to continue being a voice for engineering innovation, safety, and environmental stewardship.
What inspired you to pursue this profession, and what challenges did you face along the way?
My inspiration came from a passion for solving problems and protecting people through engineering and safety - I chose engineering because it blends creativity with problem-solving. The oil and gas industry, where I have spent many years, is high-risk, and my drive has always been to ensure no life is seriously injured or lost in pursuit of progress. The challenges have been many — bridging theory with practice, being innovative in finding and adapting to better alternative solutions, and balancing resource constraints, cost, and schedule with
safety and environmental responsibility.
Can you walk us through your journey and highlight any pivotal moments that contributed to your success?
My journey has been shaped by years of diverse engineering practice. It began at the University of Benin, where I studied Electrical/Electronic Engineering, and was further shaped by my time at Michelin and Chevron where I had diverse and progressive engineering roles in automation and control, process engineering, project and construction engineering leadership roles. Another turning point was pursuing my PhD in Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability, which expanded my focus to global environmental solutions.
NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com
Front Row: L-R: Senior Policy Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Jean Francois Yao; Director of Water Supply and Support Services, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Babarinde Segun Mukaila; Director General, African Development Bank Nigeria Country Department, Dr. Abdul Kamara; Secretary to the Borno State Government, Mallam Bukar Tijani; and Head of Delegation, ICRC Nigeria, Doris EI Doueihy
Nume Ekeghe
Nigeria’s external reserves climbed to $41.66 billion as of September 11, 2025, marking it the highest level in nearly four years. The last time reserves were in this range was on November 5, 2021, when they stood at $41.70 billion, according to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data.
The latest figure underscores a remarkable run of uninterrupted daily accretion spanning six weeks. From August
Eromosele Abiodun
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has commended the federal government on the side of the 4 per cent Free on Board (FOB) Customs charge.
Speaking in Lagos, the Director General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde stated that, “We commend the Minister of Finance and Coordinating
1 through September 11, 2025, Nigeria’s reserves recorded steady increases for 28 consecutive trading days, reflecting one of the longest upward streaks in recent times.
On a year-on-year basis, the reserves expanded by 13 per cent, compared with $36.81 billion recorded on September 11, 2024. The accretion provides the apex bank with a stronger buffer to manage external shocks, enhance market confidence, and sustain stability in the foreign exchange market.
Minister of the Economy for the demonstration of government’s commitment to grow the economy through the development of the organized private sector.
“This action, including the withdrawal of the proposed 5 percent telecom tax further affirmed the current administration’s determination not only to promote enterprise sustainability and
The steady build-up has been evident throughout 2025. This trajectory points to a consolidation of gains from improved oil receipts, enhanced foreign investment inflows, and tighter monetary policy that has reduced speculative activities in the foreign exchange market.
In his personal statement at the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, member Bala Moh’d Bello highlighted that the naira exchange rate had remained relatively stable, supported
competitiveness, but also determination to enable job creation at scale. While we commend the Government on this timely action, we urge the immediate implementation of the directive by the Nigeria Customs Service.”
Free on Board (FOB) indicates when the ownership of goods transfers from buyer to seller and who is liable for goods damaged or
by increased investor confidence and recent adjustments to the FX management framework. He added that speculative demand had declined, paving the way for greater transparency and marketdriven price discovery.
The upward movement in reserves also comes at a critical time for Nigeria, providing greater resilience in the face of external vulnerabilities.
Bello stated: “In the external sector, the naira exchange rate has remained
destroyed during shipping. FOB Origin means the buyer assumes all risk once the seller ships the product.
Speaking further, the NECA boss added, “It is instructive and important that other Agencies and Departments of the Federal and State Governments align their actions with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration by reversing unnecessary and
relatively stable, reflecting the benefits of tighter liquidity conditions, increased investor confidence, and the effective implementation of recent adjustments to the foreign exchange (FX) management framework.
“Speculative activities in the FX market have declined significantly, fostering greater transparency and promoting market-based price discovery. This stability is expected to persist over the medium term, supported by rising external reserves
which stood at US$40.11 billion as of July 18, 2025, equivalent to approximately 9.5 months of import cover.”
According to analysts at Cowry Assets Management: “The incremental build-up in the reserves, provides a critical buffer against external vulnerabilities such as volatile oil prices and currency pressures. It also enhances the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) capacity to intervene in the foreign exchange market when necessary, thereby helping to stabilise the naira.”
cumbersome charges and levies that do nothing but add to the burden of Organized businesses, thus sabotaging the current administration’s effort at growing the economy.
“Notwithstanding the Presidential directives on the suspension of the FRC Levies, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria continues to disobey the
unambiguous directive of the President. This is not only worrisome but also unacceptable”. Adewale averred that, organized businessesses will continue to play definitive roles in the rapid development of the Nigerian economy by promoting investments, trade, job creation and making sound economic recommendations to the Government at all levels.
Ojo: Fibre Optic Deployment Will Boost Connectivity, Digital Inclusion
In this interview, Vice President, Global Independent Connect Limited, Mr. Olabode Ojo speaks about IHS’ deployment of over 15,000km of fibre across Nigeria, its rural telephony initiative and value-added services. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts:
GICL plays a specialised role within the IHS Nigeria ecosystem. Can you elaborate on its strategic contribution and the role you play in driving this?
GICL is a subsidiary of IHS Nigeria, which is part of the IHS Towers group. It specialises in the delivery of active network infrastructure and services, and serves as the fiber infrastructure and rural connectivity arm of IHS Nigeria, complementing IHS Towers’ leadership in communications infrastructure.
GICL’s strategic mandate focuses on deepening digital access through the expansion of fiber infrastructure across both urban and rural areas. We have deployed over 15,000 route kilometers of fiber and established more than 500 rural telephony sites, directly supporting Nigeria’s digital inclusion agenda and helping to further bridge the digital divide.
In my role, I lead the strategic execution of GICL’s fiber rollout and oversee the alignment of its rural connectivity projects with national and organizational objectives. Beyond infrastructure, I’m committed to building a purpose-driven team culture where every project contributes to connecting communities, expanding digital opportunity, and supporting millions of Nigerians who have historically been left behind in the country’s digital journey.
You mentioned that IHS Nigeria, through GICL, has successfully completed the deployment of over 15,000 route kilometers of fiber across Nigeria. That’s quite a remarkable feat. Can you shed more light on this achievement, your role in it and its significance for the Nigerian telecommunications landscape?
The successful deployment of over 15,000 route kilometers of fiber across Nigeria has been one of the defining achievements of our organisation.
As Vice President of GICL, my role is both strategic and operational. It involves ensuring alignment with Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan, leading stakeholder engagements, and overseeing the execution and quality of the rollout across multiple regions. This achievement would, however, not have been possible without the unwavering commitment of the entire GICL team. From our meticulous planning team, and project managers to the Right of Way (RoW) team, and our quality assurance personnel—their resilience, expertise, and teamwork made the difference.
Together, we’ve helped lay the foundations for 5G, expanded digital inclusion, and enabled broader con-
nectivity that will impact businesses, communities, and the nation’s economic growth for years to come. It’s incredibly fulfilling to be part of something with the potential to help reshape Nigeria’s digital future.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has announced plans by the federal government to deploy an additional 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables across the country to improve internet connectivity and make the service affordable. What role is GICL playing in supporting the federal government to achieve this?
GICL is seeking to play a pivotal role in supporting the federal government’s plan. Building on our successful completion of over 15,000 route kilometers of fiber across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, we believe we are well-equipped to contribute to this national initiative. We offer expertise in network planning, execution, and maintenance.
Furthermore, the government’s vision aligns with our mission of expanding affordable connectivity nationwide. By combining our private sector agility with the government’s regulatory support and funding mechanisms, we are helping to accelerate implementation timelines while also ensuring the resulting infrastructure delivers on the affordability goals expressed by the minister.
What are the key benefits and services that the fiber
optic network will deliver, and how will it benefit businesses, individuals, and the Nigerian economy?
The fiber optic network we’re deploying across Nigeria offers what we believe to be transformative benefits for businesses, individuals, and the economy.
First, for businesses, especially internet service providers (ISPs), mobile network operators (MNOs), data centers, enterprise network operators and government premises, it provides scalable, secure, and cost-effective infrastructure to support their own services. It enables higher capacity, better control, and future proofing for bandwidth demands—without the limitations of shared or lit fiber services.
For individuals, the impact is indirect, but we believe powerful. With more providers able to lease dark fiber on an open-access model, competition will increase, which can lead to better internet speeds, wider coverage, and more affordable pricing.
At the national level, this network supports 5G, smart infrastructure, and local content hosting. It drives innovation, enables digital sovereignty, and helps accelerate Nigeria’s goal of becoming a leading digital economy in Africa.
What challenges did GICL face during the deployment of such a vast fiber optic network, and how did you overcome them?
Deploying a fiber optic network at this scale across Nigeria came with its own challenges. The most significant was navigating
the complex and varied right of way (RoW) approval processes across different states. We overcame this by building collaborative relationships to streamline negotiations and approvals with government bodies, local communities, and utility partners.
Logistics was another challenge— managing operations across diverse terrain, from dense urban areas to remote rural regions, required careful planning and flexible execution. We relied on local expertise, adaptive deployment methods, and tight coordination to stay on track.
Maintaining high standards of quality and network reliability throughout the project demanded constant oversight and strict adherence to technical benchmarks. It was our combination of strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and on-the-ground agility that enabled GICL to successfully deliver this infrastructure.
What impact does GICL leave in the communities where this fiber infrastructure is deployed?
We believe that GICL’s presence in communities sparks real transformation. Our fiber connectivity helps open doors to opportunity, from children accessing education online, to patients receiving remote healthcare, to small businesses thriving through digital platforms. Our projects create direct and indirect jobs for local people, empowering youths and stimulating local economies.
In every region, our experienced teams seek to deliver technical excellence and also build trust with host communities, to ensure lasting impact. Our fiber infrastructure can help governments deliver services online and enable communities to actively participate in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
For GICL, it’s more than infrastructure—it’s about empowering lives and laying the foundations for inclusive, sustainable development.
GICL seems to be taking a longterm approach to fiber deployment. Can you tell us more about the strategy behind your infrastructure development and how it supports the broader telecom ecosystem in Nigeria?
At GICL, we are not just deploying fiber—we are striving to build the foundations for the future of Nigeria’s digital economy. Our strategy is intentional and forward-looking. Just like our parent company, IHS Towers, we are focused on enabling and expanding communications infrastructure across the country, but with a particular emphasis on fiber connectivity as the backbone of next- generation services.
Ojo
UBA to Host Leaders at UNGA, Launches Whitepaper on Unlocking Africa’s Potential
Kayode Tokede
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc said all is set to make a bold statement on the global stage as it will be gathering world leaders, policymakers, and investors and other private sector players at the forthcoming 2025 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
UBA Group said it has mapped out series of engaging activities to spotlight Africa’s opportunities and foster high-level dialogue with global leaders towards boosting the continent’s potential.
A key part of the event, will be the UBA’s unveiling of a ground-breaking whitepaper that presents actionable strategies for unlocking Africa’s vast economic potential, as part of the bank’s mission to drive sustainable growth across the continent.
The whitepaper, a first-of-its-kind initiative by a leading African financial institution at UNGA, titled, ‘Banking on Africa’s Future: Unlocking Capital and Partnerships for Sustainable Growth’, will highlight
opportunities in trade, infrastructure, digital innovation, climate finance, and inclusive growth.
UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, emphasised the strategic importance
of these dialogues, explained that over the past few years, UBA has become an active leader in conversations and activities that will drive tangible investments to the continent.
“These conversations are fundamentally different from previous discussions because they will be followed by feasible and actionable decisions. UBA will actively work to implement these outcomes for the benefit of the continent, as committed partners in Africa’s development and sustainability,” Elumelu noted.
CAP Announces NABTEB Accreditation to Strengthen Painter Certification in Nigeria
Oluchi Chibuzor
Chemical and Allied Products Plc, has announced a strategic partnership with the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
Taiwan Seeks Inclusion in UN General Assembly, ICAO Meetings
As the United Nations celebrates its 80th anniversary—and with only five years remaining to realise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)— the world body has been urged to fulfill its vision of “leaving no one behind” and becoming “better together” by including Taiwan.
Taiwan has also called on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to include in its forthcoming conference.
Taiwan Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, in a statement yesterday, argued that the country is a key player and an indispensable partner in the Indo-Pacific region, working toward
global peace, stability, and prosperity.
According to Lin, Taiwan stands on the front line of the Indo-Pacific’s first island chain, defending democracy and freedom from authoritarian expansionism.
The minister noted that the world today faces mounting uncertainties and challenges—from prolonged conflicts and democratic backsliding to economic coercion and disinformation campaigns.
“In this fragile global environment, peace cannot be taken for granted. Democracies must unite to bolster resilience and safeguard our cherished values and way of life.
Taiwan is a key player and an indispensable partner in the IndoPacific region, working toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. It stands on the front line of the Indo-Pacific’s first island chain, defending democracy and freedom from authoritarian expansionism. Taiwan also contributes significantly to stability and prosperity through its robust economy and semiconductor ecosystem.
“As the 21st-largest economy, Taiwan leads in artificial intelligence and semiconductors— producing over 60 percent of the world’s chips and 90 percent of its most advanced ones.
FOB Suspension: Air to Create 1,000 Jobs for Fresh Graduates
Chinedu Eze
Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, has announced the creation of 1,000 fresh graduate jobs through its 2025/2026 Graduate Trainee Programme, in reciprocation of the federal government’s suspension of the 4% Free on Board (FOB) levy on imports.
The Chairman of Air Peace, Dr. Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, in a statement commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Finance and
Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, for listening to the concerns of industry stakeholders and taking bold steps that safeguard millions of jobs nationwide.
Onyema emphasized that this suspension is a lifeline for the aviation industry, which operates under unique global cost structures, and prevents economic pressures that could have crippled airlines and triggered job losses.
According to him, Air Peace is responding to this government gesture
by investing directly in young Nigerians. “Just as the government has acted to protect jobs and support businesses, Air Peace is reciprocating this kind gesture by creating 1,000 fresh graduate jobs. If further supportive measures like this come from the federal government, I can assure you that thousands more jobs will be created in the aviation sector. This is how partnerships between government and the private sector can transform a nation,” Onyema said.
As part of the partnership, NABTEB will accredit the CAP Painters Academy and provide standardized national certification for painters who undergo training, giving them stronger professional recognition and credibility in the labour market. Speaking at the 5th anniversary of its Painters Academy with a two-day event held in Lagos, Chief Operating Officer, CAP Plc, Jethro Iruobe, highlighted the Academy as a flagship
initiative in CAP Plc’s vision to build human capital and strengthen painters’ professional capabilities.
He reaffirmed CAP’s commitment to empowering painters and advancing vocational excellence.
Looking ahead, Iruobe said the CAP Academy would continue to scale its programmes nationwide and deepen industry collaborations to ensure Nigerian painters are recognized as globally competitive
professionals and successful entrepreneurs.
According to him, “Marking five years of the CAP Painters Academy is both a celebration of impact and a reminder of the bold vision we set out with. What began as an idea has grown into a nationwide movement that has trained thousands of painters, raised professional standards, and created new opportunities for young Nigerians.
Adeniyi Warns Against Sabotage of Nigeria Customs’ e-Clearance Platform
Oluchi Chibuzor
The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Wale Adeniyi, has warned detractors against trying to Sabotaging the service’s overtime cargo and clearance system that is developed to facilitate trade and removed corruption in the system.
He stated this at the sensitisation exercise with stakeholders on the e-clearance system held at the Apapa Area Command , Zone A.
Adeniyi noted that the platform have the objective of injecting transparency, of reducing corruption, of making the system more efficient, while warning against those who think they can look for loopholes in the system.
According to him, “As we do that, we are very wary of two groups of people.
The first, the self-styled experts who have been in the business for quite some time, and who will come and pick holes in
whatever innovation that we try to put in place. Our answer to them will just be for us to ensure that the system works. Once the system works, we will have given them an effective answer.
“The second group of people, we know them, are criminals, who will want to exploit this system to their advantage. We will also look out for them. The system has been configured in such a way to shut out those who do not have legitimate claims to the consignment. But all the same, we will be on the lookout.
“We will get our intelligence units to take a close look at this. And because we want progress from this, we will not allow those criminal elements to hijack the process and create an obstacle to the progress that we all sincerely desire.”
He further explained that as a service the NCS is not entirely about revenue making, but about facilitating trade and creating more
spaces for stakeholders at the port.
“In 2024, our revenue profile rose to N6.3 trillion less than 1 per cent of that came from overtime cargo and so our objective is not about making revenue. Our objectives for deploying these systems include to facilitate trade, to get imported goods to their owners. More important, we want to manage space so that other imports that are coming can have space in our ports and then they can be cleared in a very swift manner. So this system will be deployed and we will appreciate the feedback that we are going to be getting from our stakeholders,’ he said.
Giving a general overview on automation of the overtime cargo and clearance system, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Headquarters, Aliyu Abdukadir, said the e-clearance overtime system allows time records for all processes within the system.
Benimana, Lawanson to Headline Ecobank Design, Build 2025
Nume Ekeghe
Ecobank Nigeria has unveiled plans for the 2025 edition of its flagship Design and Build Exhibition, with two of Africa’s most influential voices in architecture and urban planning, Christian Benimana and Prof. Taibat Lawanson set to headline the event.
The exhibition, which will be held in Lagos will bring together thought leaders, practitioners, and innovators to explore new ideas shaping Africa’s built environment.
Benimana, co-founder of the African Design Centre and a principal at MASS Design Group,
has earned international recognition for advancing socially responsive and sustainable architecture across the continent. He will deliver a keynote lecture themed “Designing the Future” on the third day of the event.
Lawanson, Leverhulme Professor of Planning and Heritage at the University of Liverpool, will anchor discussions on “Designing Better Cities and Homes in Nigeria” on Day 2, drawing from her extensive research on urban informality, housing, and spatial justice.
Commenting on the initiative, Head of SMEs at Ecobank Nigeria,Omoboye Odu said: “These sessions will
deliver practical insights and fresh perspectives that can shape the future of design, construction, and architecture across Africa.”
The Ecobank Design and Build Exhibition 2025 forms part of the bank’s wider strategy to empower entrepreneurs, strengthen SMEs, and connect local businesses to global opportunities. Previous initiatives under this drive include the Adire Lagos Experience, +234 Art Fair, Ecobank National Schools Team Chess Championship, and Oja Oge 2025.
These platforms are complemented by training and empowerment programmes aimed at building more resilient businesses nationwide.
Opay Awards N1Million to Grand Prize Winners
Mary Nnah
OPay, Nigeria’s leading mobile financial services platform, marked a significant milestone in its mission to promote digital safety with the first Grand Prize Giveaway event of the “My OPay Security Vote Challenge,” held recently at its Lagos office headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos. The event brought together influential creators, media representatives, and OPay executives to celebrate the winners of the challenge, who
took home N1 million each for creating the most viral content on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook.
Speaking at the event, Sunmola Oluwaseun Imade, the Enterprise Marketing Manager of OPay, said: “OPay’s mission has always been to make financial services more inclusive through technology, and key to our values has always been to put users first. It is why the 7 security features were built, and also why we decided to bring it full circle by asking users to vote for which feature is their
favourite and win cool prizes along the way. We are not just rewarding participation, we are also shaping a safer digital environment for millions of Nigerians.”
Launched in August 2025, the #MyOPaySecurityVoteChallenge is an interactive campaign designed to raise awareness about OPay’s Seven in-app Security Features: Scam Alert, Night Guard, Large Transaction Shield, Online Subscription Control, USSD Lock, Large Transaction Double Check, and Emergency Lock.
Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo),
(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).
Profit-taking in 23 Stocks Down Major Market Index by 0.08%
Kayode Tokede
The Nigerian stock market yesterday closed in the negative territory by 0.08 per cent, predominantly driven by sell pressures in 23 others.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited All Share Index
(NGX ASI) declined by 112.20 basis points or 0.08 per cent to close at 141,546.80 basis points. Sequentially, the NGX ASI Month-to-Date and Year-to-Date returns settled at +0.9per cent and +37.5per cent, respectively.
Also, market capitalisation declined by N71 billion to close at N 89.556 trillion.
On sectors, the NGX
Insurance index (-0.6per cent), NGX Consumer Goods index (-0.4per cent) and NGX Banking index (-0.3per cent) declined, while the NGX Oil & Gas index (+0.1per cent) index advanced. The NGX Industrial Goods index remained unchanged.
However, investor sentiment, as measured
by market breadth was negative as 23 stocks advanced, while 27 declined.
Custodian Investment recorded the highest price gain of 9.94 per cent to close at N44.80, while Multiverse Mining & Exploration followed with a gain of 9.68 per cent to close at N13.60, per share.
Eunisell Interlinked and
eTranzact International up by 9.45 per cent each to close at N27.80 and N17.95 respectively, while Union Dicon Salt rose by 8.42 per cent to close at N10.30, per share.
On the other hand, Austin Laz & Company led the losers’ chart by 6.27 per cent to close at N2.69, per share.
Deap Capital Management
& Trust followed with a decline of 5.56 per cent to close at N1.70, while FTN Cocoa processors declined by 4.84 per cent to close at N5.90, per share.
Regency Alliance Insurance depreciated by 4.40 per cent to close at N1.74, while Champion Breweries declined by 4.26 per cent to close at N15.30, per share.
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 15 September 2025, unless otherwise stated.
Leading from the Front: How CP Aboki Danjuma is Reshaping Policing and Restoring Trust in Imo
When CP Aboki Danjuma took over as the 41st Commissioner of Police in Imo State on November 14, 2023, expectations were high. Less than a year into his tenure, his leadership has reshaped policing in the state, delivering sweeping arrests, major recoveries of arms and explosives, and the rescue of dozens of kidnap victims. From dismantling IPOB/ESN camps to cracking down on police misconduct, Amby Uneze writes that Danjuma has made his mark as a Commissioner determined to restore public trust and make Imo safer
Since assuming duty on November 14, 2023, as the 41st Commissioner of Police in Imo State, CP Aboki Danjuma has had no dull moment. Taking over from CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc(+), he has earned accolades for his uncompromising fight against crime and insecurity across the state.
Winning Public Confidence
In recent times, CP Danjuma has ranked among a handful of Commissioners who won the confidence of the people through effective crime-fighting strategies. He is now mentioned alongside names like Mohammed Katsina and Taiwo Lakanu, both of whom retired as Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and are still remembered for their professionalism.
Like these gallant officers, CP Danjuma is known to lead his men to the battlefield, often returning victorious. This has become the hallmark of his leadership.
Major Breakthroughs in Crime-Fighting
Under his watch, the Command has intensified operations against violent crimes and criminal syndicates, recording unprecedented successes.
In the past six months alone, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, working with other divisions and formations, arrested 2,785 suspects for offences including kidnapping, terrorism, murder, armed robbery, cultism, and child trafficking. These operations also rescued 58 kidnapped victims and 42 stolen children, many of whom have since been reunited with their families.
Investigations led to the recovery of a large cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives: 2 GPMG, 14 AK-47 rifles, 20 pump-action guns, 4 fabricated rocket launchers, 7 gas-cylinder explosives, locally made hand grenades, assorted live ammunition, cartridges, Biafran flags, and criminal charms.
Cracking IPOB/ESN Networks
According to a press release by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer,
DSP Okoye Henry, notable arrests include Amechi Onyebuchi (38), Ozioma Ihedoro (39), Cyprian Ikpegbunam (50), and Uchenna Opara (30), notorious members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN. These suspects were responsible for multiple attacks on security formations and public infrastructure in Njaba LGA. Acting on intelligence, operatives stormed an IPOB/ESN camp, arrested the suspects, and recovered high-grade weapons and explosives. They confessed to the kidnap and murder of Emmanuel Oguzie, allegedly on the orders of a wanted ESN commander known as Asari.
In another case, two kidnappers, Uche Nwachukwu (24) and Chinonso Ozirim (32), abducted Anayo Iwuoha at his compound in Akabo on June 20, 2025. The syndicate held the victim at Ozirim’s residence and collected a ₦2.2 million
ransom before a joint police-vigilante operation rescued him and arrested the suspects. A manhunt is ongoing for their accomplices. Similarly, Wisdom Chinazaekpere Ogbonna (36), a notorious member of the Vikings Confraternity, was arrested after two years on the run. He had participated in the brutal murder of a young man, Pikin, who was mistakenly identified as a rival cultist. Arrested for burglary in Orlu, further profiling revealed his involvement in the killing.
Zero Tolerance for Misconduct
Beyond fighting armed criminals, CP Danjuma has also taken firm steps to entrench discipline within the police force. He banned all tactical teams from using unmarked vehicles, including minibuses and tricycles for patrols. The order followed complaints of harassment
and extortion by officers operating in such vehicles. He warned that any team violating the directive would face sanctions, with their commanders held accountable.
Crackdown on Extortion
In line with a directive from the Zone 9 Police Command, Umuahia, CP Danjuma ordered investigations into allegations of extortion amounting to ₦1.5 million by operatives of the Zonal Special Intelligence Arms Recovery Unit. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Kanayo Uzuegbu, psc+, also reaffirmed that the Force would not condone corruption and urged complainants to assist with credible evidence. CP Danjuma further embarked on an operational tour of major highways, including Owerri–Onitsha, Owerri–Port Harcourt, and Owerri–Umuahia roads, where seven police officers were arrested for infractions.
During the inspection, he reiterated the values of discipline, integrity, and respect for human rights. He sternly warned officers against extortion, intimidation, or forcing passengers to surrender their phones for unauthorised searches.
Engaging the Public and Restoring Trust in Policing
To build public confidence, CP Danjuma engaged directly with motorists and commuters, encouraging them not to pay bribes or tolerate misconduct. He distributed emergency contacts for the X-Squad and Complaint Response Unit (CRU), assuring that complaints would be handled confidentially and professionally.
Reaffirming his commitment, CP Danjuma said the Command under his leadership will remain focused on professionalism, accountability, and service to the people.
Also appreciating the public’s support and credible information, which have aided operations through the reporting of suspicious activities via 08134783532 or 08158024755, his mantra has remained that “Together, we will continue to make Imo State safer and more secure for all.”
Some of the recovered arms and ammunition
Danjuma
THANKSGIVING SERVICE MARKING THE ESAMA OF BENIN’S 91ST BIRTHDAY...
his wife, Eki Igbinedion, during the Thanksgiving service marking Chief Igbinedion’s 91st birthday at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Benin, Edo State… on Sunday
Sanwo-Olu: The Youth, Nigeria’s Most Valuable Asset for Global Economic Influence
Governor delivers first NIIA Distinguished Lecture, endows Foreign Policy School at institute Says Nigeria’s economic competitiveness lies in Lagos
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu delivered the inaugural Distinguished Lecture Series of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, examining how the country can attain global influence by harnessing its most endowed asset, the youth.
The lecture had the theme, “Lagos and Nigeria 2030: Projections of a World Power.”
Sanwo-Olu said the country’s young population remained one of the largest in the world, with an estimate of 100 million people under the age of 20.
The governor said that was an extraordinary asset that could catapult Nigeria to the global stage of economic influence, if properly harnessed.
The audience, comprising academics, policy researchers, professionals in public sector, captains of industry, veteran journalists, and traditional rulers, was held spell-bound in the institute’s main auditorium as the governor engaged the lecture’s topic.
Sanwo-Olu dissected Nigeria’s growth journey from the era of oil-controlled global economic leadership of the 20th century, through the contemporary period driven largely by technological revolution, cyber warfare and transition fuel.
He stated that the term “world power” was not a static concept, but a constantly evolving notion in the realm of global politics.
In contemporary times, he said global power was a multidimensional idea, combining a range of influence in economic power, geopolitical clout, technological capacity, cultural and soft power, military and defence strength, demog- raphy and resource abundance.
The Lagos helmsman said the end of 20th century saw Nigeria usher in democracy to close a dark era in which the country grappled with politi- cal turmoil and international disconnection.
He said Nigeria entered the
21st century with tensions of democracy, constitutionalism and federalism, while setting forward development visions that would propel its growth away from the misadventure of the military era.
Sanwo-Olu said the unbroken period of civilian government had entrenched the country’s freedom to excel in different areas of creative
ability, while attracting global attention in contemporary fields ranging from academic, literature, to film, sports, music and fashion.
As democracy evolved, he said Nigeria must now focus on unlocking its potential to conquer new ground in areas driving modern economic system.
He said, “We must now
focus wholly on maximising our talents and potential to unlock our power to the fullest, especially in those fields and arenas in which we are still lagging behind.
“We must do this while also consolidating and conquering new ground in the spheres in which we have already demonstrated strength. Our most important assets, above
our oil and gas and above our marine and forest wealth, are theThepeople.”governor added, “Today, Nigeria has one of the largest populations of young people in the world, estimated to be 100 million people under the age of 20. This makes it impossible to envision the workforce of the 21st century without fully accounting for Nigeria.
Trump Sues New York Times for Defamation, Libel, Demands $15bn
Emmanuel
President Donald Trump has sued the New York Times, four of its reporters, and publisher Penguin Random House for at least $15 billion, claiming defamation and libel, and citing reputational damage, a Florida court filing showed.
Trump’s suit cited a series
Niger Food, Dangote, AfricaRice Partner to Create 500,000 Jobs in Nigeria,
Yinka Kolawole
The Chairman of Niger Food, Engr. Sammy Adigun, has hinted that the company’s newly finalised partnership with the Dangote Group and AfricaRice will create no fewer than 500,000 jobs for Nigerians through massive rice production.
Adigun disclosed this to THISDAY while speaking on the outcome of Niger Food’s meeting with Dangote Group, adding
the collaboration is aimed at meeting Nigeria’s rice demand with high-quality local products, superior to imported varieties currently dominating the market.
According to him, “With the structures we are putting in place, rice production under this partnership will be massive. Our discussions with Alhaji Aliko Dangote on producing quality rice for Nigerians were very successful.”
He posited that Niger Food alone is projected to
Says Adigun
produce over 10 million tonnes of rice annually, cultivated across 500,000 hectares of land, stressing this would directly create more than 500,000 jobs.
“Rice is more than just a crop; it is a lifeline for millions of Nigerians. Any new policy must therefore balance the needs of farmers, consumers, and the state. Our detailed strategy is already being worked out to ensure healthy and abundant rice production for Nigerians,” he said.
of New York Times articles, an editorial prior to the 2024 presidential election, which said he was unfit for office, and a 2024 book published by Penguin titled “Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success”.
“Defendants maliciously published the Book and the Articles knowing that these publications were filled with repugnant distortions and fabrications about President
Trump,” according to the filing lodged on Monday in the U.S. District Court, Middle District Florida.
The New York Times and Penguin did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours, Reuters reported.
The publications have harmed Trump’s business and personal reputation, thereby causing massive economic damage to his brand value and significant damage to his future financial prospects, Trump’s lawyers said in the filing.
“The harm to the value of TMTG (Trump Media and Technology Group) stock is one example of how the Defendants’ defamation has injured President Trump,” said his lawyers, citing “a precipitous decline in the stockTMTGprice.”stock has been under pressure in recent months fueled by worries about the end of a so-called lock-up period related to its stock market debut in March.
FG Shortlists 53 Candidates for Permanent Secretary Position
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Office of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has disclosed that 53 of the 70 candidates who participated in the Permanent Secretary written examination successfully scaled through to the next stage of the selection process.
The Director Information
and Public Relations, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Eno Olotu, said in a statement yesterday that the strong performance highlighted the depth of tal- ent within the Service and reinforced government’s resolve to promote only the most competent, qualified, and visionary individuals into leadership positions in
the Federal Civil Service. The next stage of the process is the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) proficiency test, scheduled for today and is designed to evaluate candidates’ digital competencies—an indispensable requirement for effective leadership in today’s technology-driven governance environment.
Addeh in Abuja
L-R: Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade; and former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion;
in Osogbo
DSS Drags Sowore, Facebook, X to Court for Denigrating President Tinubu
Alex Enumah in Abuja Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday initiated legal action against activist and online publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal. Also included as defendants in the suit were social media social
networking service, Facebook, as well as social media and microblogging service, X.
The suit filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja followed the refusal of the defendants to pull down the alleged false and misleading message, as requested by DSS. Recall that the security agency had some days ago threatened legal action against
X, formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook, for providing their platforms to Sowore, who in a post called the Nigerian president a criminal.
In the separate letters to the social media platforms, DSS had requested that the statement against the president be pulled down or it would attract legal action.
Defendants in the suit
marked: FHC/ABJ/ CR/484/2025, included Sowore, Meta (Facebook) Incorp, and X Incorp.
In the five-count charge, DSS alleged that Sowore, the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in 2019 and 2023, and convener of the #RevolutionNow protest against the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari,
UNICEF: 60% of Nigerian Pregnant Women Lack Access to Micronutrient Supplements
FG: 58% of Nigerian children malnourished
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said about 60 per cent of pregnant women in Nigeria presently do not have access to multiple micronutrient supplements to safeguard their lives and that of their unborn babies. Similarly, in an overview of progress of campaign on nutrition among pregnant women, the Federal Ministry Health and Social Welfare said 58 per cent of women of reproductive age in Nigeria were anaemic (a state of malnourishment).
Nigeria currently ranks number one in the prevalence of malnutrition in Africa and second in the world.
UNICEF Nutrition Officer, Prosper Dakurah, said the report of a recent food consumption and micronutrient survey conducted in the country showed that it was not only an issue of iron deficiency, but also issues with other micronutrients.
Dakurah spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at a Media Round- table on “Anaemia Prevention, Reduction and other Nutrition Related National Issues in
Nigeria,” organised by Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUN).
In order to address the challenges, Dakurah said government had worked collaboratively with partners to provide the necessary training materials to build the capacity of the health workforce to be able to deliver multiple micronutrient supplements to pregnant women.
Dakurah stated, “Beyond that, Nigeria is the first country globally to distribute MMS at scale. Last year, we were able to distribute about 3 million
Okpebholo Unveiling Transformative Education in Edo, Says Commissioner
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has unveiled a comprehensive and transformative roadmap for education, reflecting the administration’s commitment to providing every child with access to quality, future-ready learning opportunities.
Governor Okpebholo’s
education reforms are being spearheaded by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu in a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Fred Itua.
Iyamu said the reform agenda is a deliberate and holistic strategy designed to reposition education as the foundation of Edo’s longterm development.
According to him, the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo is addressing decades of decay across the education sector with unprecedented reforms, adding that dilapidated schools are being rebuilt into modern learning centres equipped with STEM labora- tories, functional classrooms, sanitation facilities, and teaching aids.
bottles across all 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
“This year, we are in the process of distributing another 3 million bottles of mms across all the 36 states plus FCT. That is good news. Unfortunately, when you go into the math- ematics of it, whilst we are very happy for being the first country to do so at that scale, the numbers need to be ramped up drastically.
contravened the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Following the filing of the charge, Sowore is expected to be arraigned any moment from now.
The five-count read, “That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male on or about the 25th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your official X handle page, @Yele Sowore, to send out a message/tweet as:
‘THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!’ which you know the said message to be false but posted it for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals, who hold divergent views on the personality of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR)
and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
“That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult male on or about the 26th day of August, 2025 did use your official Facebook page, Omoyele Sowore, to send out a message/post as: ‘THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!,’ which you know the said message/post to be false, but posted it for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals who hold divergent views on the personality of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
NHRC: 365,224 Human Rights Abuses Recorded in August
Olugbode
Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu, has disclosed that 365,224 human rights abuse cases were received by the commission in August alone.
Ojukwu made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja, at the presentation of the National Human Rights Dashboard, and the “Protection of Human Rights of Forcibly Displaced Persons through Information/ Data Collection and Documen-
tation in Nigeria” initiative.
The event spotlighted the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees, refugees and asylum seekers tracked from May to July 2025.
Ojukwu said, “In August, the National Human Rights Commission stood as a beacon of hope for three hundred and sixty-five thousand, two hundred and twenty-four (365,224) voices who entrusted us with their stories of struggle for enjoyment of human rights.
“These complaints, received across our 38 collection points
in Nigeria reveal a nation at a crossroad.”
Ojukwu further said, “The data speaks loudly, spotlighting three critical areas: Freedom from Discrimination, Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ESCR), and Law Enforcement and Human Dignity. These are not mere statistics; they are the pulse of a people yearning for fairness, justice, and respect.
“Our observatory’s findings amplify this urgency, documenting incidents of human rights violations across all geo-political zones.
Michael
in Abuja
L-R: CEO of Eni, Claudio Descalzi; Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Arowolo Verheijen; and Chief Operating Officer, Global Natural Resources, Guido Brusco, at the Gastech 2025 Exhibition and Conference, held in Milan, Italy, recently
Shettima Unveils FG’s New Incentives to Boost Agric Investment Nationwide
Pledges enhanced credit access, irrigation expansion, full-time rural jobs
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
The federal government on Tuesday announced fresh incentives to boost agricultural investment under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. This was part of ongoing reforms to unlock Nigeria’s vast food production potential through new policies that served as a game-changer for agriculture and infrastructure investments in the country.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, made that public in Abuja during the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) National and Sub-regional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum.
Shettima stressed that while hunger posed a global security issue, Nigeria must mobilise its strengths to secure a future of abundance.
According to him, “Nothing unifies humanity as much as hunger. It is the great equaliser that reveals our vulnerabilities and the shared fragility of our existence. Food is not merely a matter of survival; it is a matter
of global Shettimasecurity.”
stated that the current administration was introducing single-window platforms for land registration, strengthening agricultural credit systems, expanding irrigation infrastructure, and scaling mechanisation.
He said, “We must facilitate access to land and resources for serious investors. We must drive mechanisation to reduce drudgery and enhance produc- tivity. We must strengthen the agricultural credit system to ensure capital flows to where it is needed most.”
The vice president observed that irrigation was a gamechanger, stating that Nigeria has river basins and aquifers capable of irrigating over three million hectares, but currently uses less than 10 per cent of them.
“Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks,” he added.
Shettima also assured inves-
tors that Nigeria’s policies were being re-engineered to attract capital through regulatory reforms, public-private partnerships, and agri-tech innovation.
He said, “Nigeria is open for business, and we are ready to partner with you. Let us work hand-in-hand to build a Nigeria and a subregion where
no one goes to bed hungry, where rural communities are hubs of wealth creation, and where agriculture is the true foundation of our prosperity.”
The vice president assured that Nigeria was open for business and ready to partner with relevant stakeholders and investors in implementing its national blueprint targeted at
creating 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities, while securing national food and nutrition sufficiency.
He stated, “The vehicle to this future is the quality of policies we have chosen to prioritise. At the top of these interventions stands our National Develop- ment Plan (2021–2025), which
has set forth ambitious but achievable targets.
“This blueprint seeks to lift 35 million Nigerians out of poverty, create 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrar- ian communities, and secure national food and nutrition sufficiency through deliberate and strategic investments in agriculture.”
Rivers, Now National Model of Good Governance, Ibas Declares
Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) has stated that having stabilised Rivers State, his administration has provided a critical foundation for the State to become a leading model of good governance in Nigeria.
Katsina Governor Approves N372m Bursary Allowances for 24,452 Students
Francis Sardauna in Katsina
The Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved the sum of N372,051,176.00 as bursary allowances for 24,452 continuing students across the 34 local government areas of the state.
The Executive Secretary of the State’s Scholarship Board, Dr. Aminu Salisu Tsauri, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said the gesture underscored the governor’s unwavering commitment to education and human capital
development.
He said since the inception of Governor Radda’s administration, the government has disbursed N637,924,516.00 to 47,935 students (2020/2021 fresh and 2021/2022 continuing) and N544,207,748.00 to 37,802 students (2021/2022 fresh and 2022/2023 continuing).
He added that the Radda-led government has also distributed N744,102,352.00 as bursary allowances to 50,438 students (2022/2023 fresh and 2023/2024 continuing) in order to boost education and drive sustainable
development.
He reiterated that the state government has perfected plans to grant approvals for the 2024/2025 local scholarships for 12,609 fresh students and special scholarships for students with special needs.
Tsauri, in the statement, stated: “With these interventions, the total number of beneficiaries now stands at an unprecedented 174,461 students - a phenomenal achievement that cements Katsina State’s status as a trailblazer in educational empowerment across Nigeria.
Ibas made this remarks just as ahead of Thursday’s expected resumption of duties by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the reinstated Rivers APC spokesman, Darlington Nwauju, has extended an open invitation to the suspended governor to join theIbasparty.made the assertion yesterday, during a Public Lecture themed “Democracy and Good Governance”, held in Port Harcourt. Ibas recounted that his
administration’s core mandate, upon assumption of office on March 18, 2025, was to restore peace and stability in the face of severe insecurity, political impasse, and a breakdown of public trust.
He noted that with the cooperation of key stakeholders, his administration had successfully conducted peaceful local government elections, reinstating democratic governance at the grassroots level.
Ibas stated, “Emergency rule was never a choice. It was a
necessity. Yet, in hindsight, it offered us enduring blessings that peace is priceless, that without security no other aspiration is possible, and that the indomitable spirit of Rivers people cannot be broken.”
He described the recent transition activities as “a covenant renewal with the people of Rivers State, an affirmation that democracy must deliver and that governance must always be rooted in service.”
Police: Cultists Behind IBB
University Lapai Unrest
Laleye Dipo in Minna
The police have finally revealed that last June disturbance at the IBB university Lapai in Niger state was orchestrated by members of some cult groups.
The police also named the cult groups which the suspects belonged to as: Neo Black Movement of Africa NBM, Vikings, which operated at tertiary institutions across
the state.
Initially it was said the crisis which started from the off-campus hostel of the students before spreading to the main campus and later the town was caused by an attack by armed robbers on the students.
A police statement released on Tuesday morning said 19 suspects were first arrested in connection with the crisis which claimed the life of a
200 level Education/Chemistry student Abdulwahab Jafar but after screening the suspects were reduced to 7. According to the statement “in a follow up investigative effort of the Command, jointly carried out by TST and FID STS, a total of 19 persons were arrested in Lapai and other locations in the State based on intelligence and other information at the disposal of the Police Command.
L-R: Former APC Chairman, Apapa Local Government Area, Alh. Fatai Sanni; APC Stalwarts, Alhaja Bola Yakub,
Chairman, Apapa Local
Apapa Local Government, Hon. Kehinde Muse; and Chief Executive Officer, Excellerate Business School, Dr. Mike Egbayelo, at the Apapa Youth Summit held at the Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos… recently
Rivers APC woos Fubara
GRAND OPENING OF DAKOSS NIGERIA LIMITED...
L-R: General Overseer, Dominion Outreach Center, Pastor Olayinka Fasasi; Co-MD, Admin & Operations, Dakoss Nigeria Ltd, Folashade Dawodu; Shepherd in Charge, CCC Living Grace Tabernacle Parish, Onibunku, Pro. Kingsley Aitafo; and Co-MD, Logistics, Dakoss Nig Ltd, Kolawole Dawodu; during the grand opening of Dakoss Nigeria Limited’s new office in Atan, Ogun State… recently
Journalist Azuka Ogujiuba Decries Police Harassment Over Court Judgement Report
Urges IGP to end intimidation of the media
Wale Igbintade
Award-winning journalist and founder of Media Room Hub, Azuka Ogujiuba, has recounted her traumatic arrest and harassment by police officers following her publication of a Lagos High Court ruling.
At a world press conference held yesterday in Lagos, Ogu- jiuba said her only “offence” was performing her duty as a journalist by publishing a duly signed court ruling, a report that had also been published by several mainstream outlets. She stated, “This is bigger
than me. Today it is Azuka; tomorrow it could be another journalist. If court judgements and rulings can no longer be safely reported, then we are heading into dangerous territory for democracy.”
Ogujiuba disclosed that she received a formal invitation
from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Special Investiga- tion Unit (SIU) in Abuja, sum- moning her for questioning.
The letter, issued under Section 53(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2025, stated that her name featured prominently in the
Ahead of November Polls, Soludo Says No Project will be Awarded to Curry Support
Pledges not to owe contractors
Ahead of the November governorship election in Anambra State, the Prof Chukwuma Soludo-led government has assured that contracts will not be awarded to curry favour from electorates in the state.
The Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) which convened its 19th meeting of the year on September 15, 2025, at the Light House, Awka, said award of contracts during election season to curry support of incumbents have always been the norm.
First
The council said even though award of contracts will continue, it will be on the basis of priority and not just to appease people.
A press release put out by the Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, said it used to be the norm in the past, to seek support by award of contracts, but this will not happen under the watch of this administration.
He said: “ANSEC restated that new projects will continue to be awarded based on their strategic and economic signifi- cance, and on the areas with the highest needs, and that no new project should be initiated for
the sake of the election season, as was the custom in the past.
“ANSEC reaffirmed its pledge not to owe state con- tractors, which has also been the prevailing principle ever since Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR took office.”
He further revealed that key infrastructure projects aimed at improving the lives of its citizens were awarded during the meeting.
“Among the notable projects is the dualisation of the Ekwulobia-Ufuma Road, a significant infrastructure development that will enhance
Lady Rejoices With Hilda Baci For Setting Another Guinness World Record
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has rejoiced with Nigerian female chef, Hilda Baci, for setting another Guinness World Record for largest serving of cooked Nigerian jollof rice.
Mrs Tinubu, in a release issued by her on Tuesday stated, inter alia: “I congratulate you on setting another
Guinness World Record for the largest serving of Nigerian style Jollof rice cooking.
“Your passion, resilience, and creativity in showcasing your craft as a celebrity Chef of one of Nigeria’s most loved dishes on the global stage, is inspiring.
“Your art of culinary techniques has not only brought pride to our dear nation, but
has gained National and Global recognition.
Through this feat, you have shown what young Nigerian women can accomplish with hard work, determination, and power of innovation.
“I pray for greater accomplishments for you and other Nigerian youth who dare to dream.
Congratulations, Hilda Baci.”
connectivity and facilitate economic growth in the state.”
He listed some of the projects awarded saying: “Council approved the award of the contract for the construction and dualisation of Ekwulobia to Ufuma Road with a bridge in the sum of thirty-seven billion, nine hundred and fifty-three million, two hundred and sixty- six thousand, three hundred and twenty-three naira, five kobo only.
case and urged her to appear on July 22, 2025, at 11am at the IGP-SIU office, opposite Force Headquarters, Abuja. She expressed concern that the police were being drawn into what she described as a purely civil matter, calling it an abuse of law enforcement powers and a tactic that often intimidates ordinary Nigerians — despite IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s earlier warnings against misuse of policeOgujiubaauthority.linked her ordeal to a court order in which Justice E.O. Ashade had restrained certain parties and their agents from trespassing, selling, or dealing with a disputed four-hectare parcel of land at Hampton Estate, Osapa, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The order also allowed publication in the media to warn buyers, pending the hearing of the substantive suit.
She stated that the court had since vacated that interim order but insisted that her publication
was accurate and based on the valid order as of the date it was Callingpublished. on Egbetokun to intervene, she expressed confidence in his integrity and leadership, stating that the police boss has repeat- edly cautioned police officers against being used to settle private disputes.
She sai, “I have no problem honouring a police invitation, but what worries me is that this is clearly a civil dispute that has already been decided by a “IGPcourt.Egbetokun must ensure that the police are not dragged into personal battles.” Ogujiuba narrated how her ordeal began a month after the publication, when she received a WhatsApp message from the IGP’s office, summoning her over allegations of “cyberbully- ing”, an accusation she called “absurd and malicious.” She honoured the first invitation but was warned by colleagues not to attend a second.
Troops Eliminate 11 Terrorists, Recover 14 Motorcycles, Weapons in North-East
The Nigerian Army yesterday announced that its troops deployed to the Joint Task Force North-East Operation, Hadin Kai (OPHK), killed no fewer than eleven terrorists in separate encounters in the Kukawa and Umbo general areas of Borno and Adamawa States.
A statement by the Media Information Officer of the
Joint Task Force NorthEast Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, stated that in the first encounter, at about 8:00 a.m. on Monday, troops of Sector 3, on a scanning and picketing patrol along the Baga–Cross Kauwa Main Supply Route in Kukawa Local Government Area, were ambushed by terrorists who detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and opened fire on the patrol team.
Meanwhile, about six suspected bandits terrorising the people of Eruku Town in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State have been arrested by members of local vigilantes deployed to maintain law and order in the area.
THISDAY checks revealed the suspected bandits were arrested on Monday morning in the town after they have killed two members of the local vigilantes in the town.
Linus Aleke in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
TINUBU RETURNS TO ABUJA...
L-R: Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; and
his return to Abuja from France, yesterday
APC to Atiku: Instigating Anarchy Degrading to Your Status as Ex-VP
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday maintained that instigating anarchy was degrading to the status of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, in a statement, noted that the statement credited to Atiku was a new low, in a recent streak of what he described as incendiary commentaries.
He said the former vice president sounded a false alarm about “hunger and insecurity”, while dismissing the transformative reforms of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, and likened Nigeria’s situation to circum- stances that justified historic violent revolutions and uprising in France, Russia and the ArabMorkaSpring.noted: “While garbed as a critique of the economic policies of President Tinubu’s administration, Atiku’s statement is nothing short of a tacit instigation
of a revolution in Nigeria. His statement is reckless, irresponsible, unbefitting and degrading to his status as former Vice President.
“As a two-term Vice President, Atiku and his PDP, at the time, had the opportunity, backed by humongous oil revenues, to eradicate hunger, poverty and insecurity. Atiku and his PDP failed to do so. In fact, they made absolutely no impression against hunger, poverty and insecurity in Nigeria. They governed for 16 years, did not and could not eradicate hunger, poverty and insecurity in Nigeria.
“Instead, Atiku and his PDP democratised hunger and poverty in our country. They plundered and looted our treasury, and enthroned corruption and profligacy as state policy. Atiku and his PDP cemented the sordid foundations of hunger, poverty and insecurity that President Tinubu is battling courageously and relentlessly to defeat, with growing success.
“As Vice President, Atiku
was clueless about solving Nigeria’s economic challenges. As a forever-presidential aspirant, he remains eminently clueless about what it takes to tackle our country’s economic challenges.’’
Morka said now out of power, Atiku thinks himself as possessing knowledge and capacity he lacked when he had the opportunity to govern as Vice President, saying that is utterly delusional.
Morka added: “Nigerians
know this and it is the reason they have serially rebuffed his attempts to be president. Nigerians are on standby to deal Atiku, hopefully, a full and final rejection in 2027.
“Blinded by desperation, tormented by President Tinubu’s impressive and inimitable strides, distraught by an unrealised presidential ambition, disoriented by anxieties of a far faded political future, Atiku has become incapable of objective, reasoned
and rational assessment of the state of our rebounded and stable economy, now set to secure growth and deliver prosperity for our nation.
“That Atiku’s disturbing statement was made on a day when all news platforms had headline reports of consistent lowering of inflation numbers, at a period when all vital economic indicators are looking up and pointing in a positive direction, shows clearly that he is out of touch with the reality
of the benefits now flowing from the administration’s transformative Renewed Hope economic reforms.
“Atiku must know that instigating anarchy is not legitimate or justifiable opposition politics. It is wrong, irresponsible, unpatriotic and unacceptable. While critique of the administration’s economic policies is within the opposi- tion’s democratic freedom, instigating violent uprising is not a protected freedom.
PDP Legal Adviser: Party’s Zoning Decision Doesn’t Bar Anybody from Contesting in 2027
Says PDP will avoid mistakes of 2023
The National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) has pointed out that the fact that the party has zoned the presidency to the south doesn’t preclude persons from other parts of the country from
Ogbuku: Why NDDC is on Project Inauguration Spree
Sunday Okobi
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has stated that the Commission is on an inauguration spree of projects in the States in the region because peace has since returned in the area.
Ogbuku, disclosed this in Port Harcourt at the opening of a three-day capacity building programme for Niger Delta Stakeholders on Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Inclusive Peace and Sustainable Development with the theme: ‘Fostering Lasting Peace Through ADR: Lessons from the Past, Building Future Opportunities to Advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda’, which was organised by the Department of Dispute and Conflict Resolution (DCR) of the NDDC.
Ogbuku, who was repre- sented by his Chief of Staff, Julius Oworibo, said the event gave the opportunity to sustain the peace that had been achieved in the region in order to ensure
sustainable development. He emphasised that with peace, development would spread across the communities of the region, urging the people of the region to seek dialogue in place of violence.
According to him, “Without peace, development will not come our way. Recently, NDDC has been inaugurating projects in different states of the religion. “And that could be possible because of the peace that is being observed by the different people, different youth groups, women, elders in their communities.
contesting the 2027 presidential primaries.
Ajibade, while speaking on Arise Television, noted that the PDP cannot go against the constitution of the country, explaining that the recent zoning was just part of the party’s internal democratic processes.
However, he assured that the party will not repeat the mistakes that cost it the 2023 elections, stressing that reconciliation and discipline are already being enforced while defectors from rival parties will eventually return.
“I want to take on one particular aspect of this question, which you talk about the zoning of our presidential candidate to the south. The zoning has to do with our own internal democracy, and that has to do with our constitution requiring us to do zoning, to do balancing. But that would not preclude any other persons to run if they feel to come up to run.
“Because we cannot do things that would run against the constitution of Nigeria itself, which is the grundnorm. So
even if we zone our presidential candidate to the south, it does not preclude, it will not stop anybody showing interest from any party. We will not stop that.
“We cannot stop that because the constitution of Nigeria itself gives everyone the right to come up to run for office, despite our (PDP) constitution saying we can do zoning,“ the national legal adviser stated.
On the issue of defections and the influence of former members who left the PDP, Ajibade dismissed claims that the party had been weakened, insisting that they would eventu- ally“Thosereturn.that left, I can assure you, some of them have even returned back. And while we are going forward, I can tell you, even from APC, even from ADC, you are talking about, they will return back to this party, I can assure you that,” heOnemphasised. concerns about the role of former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and others who openly worked against the PDP during the elections, Ajibade
stressed that discipline remains central but must be balanced with reconciliation.
“The most dangerous member of the political party is a member that will be PDP in the daytime and will be somewhere else at night. So, for Wike, we’ve known the position of Wike and Wike has come out to state his position as clearly as possible. So, as an aspect of discipline, the party is taking a step and we’re working on that,” he added. According to him, the PDP is stronger now than in the immediate aftermath of the elections. “You can’t compare where we were four months ago with where we are today. At the end of the day, we resolved that issue and the party has moved forward,” he maintained. Ajibade warned that political ambition should never overshadow the survival of the party.
“My call most of the time is that certainly a politician, once you are a politician you must have ambition. But don’t let that ambition be above the party itself. That is the future of the party.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on
PHOTO: GODWIN OMOIGUI
TRaiNiNG PaRTNERsHiP…
Nigeria Records 871 Confirmed Cases of Lassa Fever, 162 Deaths
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in abuja
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said Nigeria has so far recorded a total of 871 confirmed cases of Lassa Fever with 162 deaths.
In its latest situation report Lassa Fever published for Week 35 (25th – 31st August 2025), the Centre said 91 per cent of confirmed cases are from Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, and Ebonyi State. The report also showed that Case Fatality Ratio is
Bauchi Recommits to Free Healthcare for Pregnant Women, Children
segun awofadeji in bauchi
Apparently committed to promoting family health, reducing infant morbidity, and maternal mortality rates, the Bauchi State Government has expressed an unwavering commitment to the continuous provision of free antenatal care, drugs for pregnant women, and children under 5 years across the state.
The state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Usman Shehu Usman, made the
declaration while leading a team of journalists on a media tour of ongoing and completed projects of the present administration of Governor Bala Mohammed.
The commissioner, while leading the team to see the Primary Healthcare Centre in Konkyel, Darazo Local Government Area, and Model Primary Healthcare Centre, Dagauda, in Dambam LGA, stated that the government has made drugs, delivery kits, and other commodities available for the success of the free medical services.
Students Tasked on Sustainable Devt Actions
Students of higher institutions in the country have been urged to equip themselves towards addressing real issues in the society in order to make their education relevant to local challenges and global sustainability.
The Rector, Ed-John Institute of Management and Technology, Imota, Rev. Emmanuel Kayode, gave the admonition at the first matriculation of Higher National Diploma students of the institution. He said sustainable
development is nothing but meeting the needs of today without destroying the chances of tomorrow, stating that it rests on three pillars which include economic progress –creating wealth and innovation; social equity – ensuring fairness, justice, and inclusiveness and environmental protection – safeguarding our natural resources.
According to him, the world today is facing challenges from climate change and unemployment to poverty, insecurity, and misuse of technology.
18.6 per cent higher than 17.1 per cent same period in 2024.
Key highlights of the report signed by the
Direction-General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, indicated that there were 10 new confirmed cases reported in Edo, Ondo
and Bauchi and Taraba States (an Increase from 3 confirmed cases in Week 34).
According to NCDC, the
predominant age group affected is 21- 30 years. It said that no new healthcare worker was affected this week.
Lagos Deputy Speaker Restates Commitment to Sustainable Economic Growth
sunday Okobi
The Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and representative of Apapa Constituency 1, Hon Meranda Mojisola Lasbat, has restated her office’s dedication towards the sustainable economic growth and development
of her constituency by the introduction of enhanced initiatives and policies that tackle economic issues across various economic sectors.
The deputy Speaker disclosed this during the 10th Legislative Assembly Annual Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting with the theme: ‘Governance in Action:
The Gains of the Renewed Hope’, taking place in all the 40 constituencies across the state.
According to her, in regard to employment and empowerment, Lagos State Government has facilitated opportunities for youths and residents through placements in TESCOM, LASTMA, the
Neighbourhood Watch, the Lagos State Rail Mass Transit (Blue Line), and the Local Government Service Commission.
“This is governance in action - creating pathways for our youths to be productive, self-reliant, and contributors to society,” she stated.
Amnesty Programme Plans Furniture Training for Beneficiaries
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has visited the Julius Berger Nigeria Plc Associated Furniture Producers (AFP) Showroom and its industrial factory in Abuja as part of efforts to deepen implementation of the programme’s objectives.
He also visited
PrimeTech, an international firm with a primary focus on sustainable design and construction of buildings, industries, civil structures, roads and infrastructure.
Otuaro was conducted round the facilities by the General Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc AFP, Oliver Cohnen, and Julius Berger’s Head of Corporate
Security and Compliance, Poul Nielsen, during the visit.
According to him, the move was aimed at exploring avenues for the PAP to carry out high-quality training of ex-agitators and beneficiaries in furniture and woodwork, and sustainable architectural design and engineering solutions with
global standards and taste. The PAP helmsman stressed that his goal was to ensure that beneficiaries of such huge industrialscale training would use the vocational skills and knowledge they would gain to add real value to the socioeconomic development of the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria.
Taiwan Renews Push for Inclusion in UN, ICAO Meetings
sunday Ehigiator
As the United Nations (UN) marks its 80th anniversary and the world races against time to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Taiwan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lin Chia-lung, has renewed calls for the country’s
inclusion in the UN system, urging the international body to fulfill its pledge of “leaving no one behind.”
Minister Lin, in a statement yesterday, stressed that Taiwan is a “key player and indispensable partner in the Indo-Pacific region,” actively contributing to
global peace, stability, and prosperity. He argued that Taiwan’s exclusion is based on a misinterpretation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, which he said “neither mentions Taiwan nor grants the People’s Republic of China the right to represent Taiwan in the UN system.” Highlighting Taiwan’s economic and technological significance, Minister Lin noted that the island is the world’s 21st-largest economy and produces over 60 percent of the world’s semiconductors, including 90 per cent of its most advanced chips.
Akwaaba: Ekiti Emerges Most Active Tourism State, Oyebanji Best Tourism Gov
Gbenga sodeinde
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has received double award at the ongoing 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market 2025 edition.
The governor clinched
two of the most coveted honours as the Best Tourism Governor of the Year 2024/2025 award and Most Active Tourism State in Nigeria, which was awarded to Ekiti State also.
Akwaaba African Travel Market is known and
recognised as the largest and most influential tourism gathering.
The decision was arrived after Tourism stakeholders across Africa tour operators, investors, hoteliers, cultural promoters, and journalists cast their votes at the grandeur of the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.
These were the products of a rigorous poll conducted by African Traveller Quarterly magazine in partnership with Akwaaba, which result was emphatic.
L-R: Head of Corporate Security and Compliance, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Poul Nielsen; Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, and General Manager, Associated Furniture Producers (AFP), Oliver Cohnen, during Otuaro’s visit to the firm’s showroom and furniture factory in Abuja… recently
Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
SANWO-OLU DELIVERS INAUGURAL LECTURE AT 2025 NIIA...
of a World Power,” held at the NIIA Main Auditorium, Victoria Island, ... yesterday
How L A go S C A n Pu SH nI ger IA’ S rIS e T o gL ob AL Power a people and a polity in the last three decades. There is now no doubt that democracy is here to stay in Nigeria; and that, however imperfect it may be, it is preferable to military rule. As Winston Churchill said, “No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Influence Across the Decades.
5. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, join me on a quick trip down memory lane, examining Nigeria’s influence and power since we attained self-governing status. Nigeria’s aspirations to be a world power have their roots in our Independence from the British—an independence that we fought and clamored for, albeit in a non-violent manner. It is said that the world’s population of independent black people doubled at that moment, midnight separating September 30 and October 1, 1960, when the Union Jack was lowered for the last time and the green-white-green replaced it. Seventeen African countries attained Independence in 1960, but none with the kind of scale and promise that Nigeria embodied. The December 5, 1960 edition of TIME Magazine has Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa on the cover, heralding a story in the magazine titled “NIGERIA: The Black Rock.” The magazine proclaimed, and I quote: “In the long run, the most important and enduring face of Africa might well prove to be that presented by Nigeria […] the Federation of Nigeria stands a giant among Lilliputians; last October, when Nigeria’s 40 million people got their independence, the free population of Black Africa jumped 50%. Backed by such numbers, Nigeria’s sober voice urging the steady, cautious way to prosperity and national.
6. Greatness seems destined to exert ever-rising influence in emergent Africa.” Powerful words in every sense. We asserted bravery by breaking diplomatic ties with France in 1961 to protest the country’s nuclear testing in Algeria, and then went on to join the Non- Aligned Movement in 1964. One of the highlights of this our first decade of Independence was the triumphant State Visit of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa to the United States in 1961, during which he was hosted to dinner at the White House by President Kennedy, and addressed the United States Congress—a milestone that we have yet to reprise in the more than 60 years since then. We were at that point in history the world’s pre-eminent black power, with seemingly boundless potential. Things did not go as envisaged, with political upheaval, military coups and a civil war. But we never lost that sense of ourselves as a continental giant, with the power to shape the course of global affairs. From the role we played in the long fight against apartheid, to our support for liberation movements in Zimbabwe and Angola. It is not out of place to look at these interventions and regard the 1970s and 1980s as a high point of diplomatic audacity for Nigeria.
7. On January 11, 1976, at an Extraordinary Summit of the Organization of African Unity
(OAU), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Nigeria’s Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed delivered his “Africa has Come of Age” speech, a speech that, fifty years later, still rings as powerfully as ever. The speech in which he said, and I quote: “Mr. Chairman, Africa has come of age. It is no longer under the orbit of any extra continental power. It should no longer take orders from any country, however powerful. The fortunes of Africa are in our hands to make or mar. For too long have we been kicked around; for too long have we been treated like adolescents who cannot discern their interests and act accordingly […] The time has come when we should make it clear that we can decide for ourselves; that we know our own interests and how to protect those interest…” We stood up boldly to Western powers on apartheid, penalised foreign companies that did business in apartheid South Africa, raised more money than any other country to support the efforts of our brothers and sisters in South Africa, hosted the largest festival of black arts the world had ever seen, and provided very generous take-off grants to the newly independent country of Zimbabwe.
8. In the late 1980s, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi, Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) between 1975 and 1983, conceived of a “Concert of Medium Powers”, to build on what the Non Aligned Movement had started. That period also gave us the Technical Aid Corps (TAC)—which to this day remains a cornerstone of Nigerian soft power across Africa and the Caribbean—and then ECOMOG, which helped restore peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Sports took center-stage in the 1990s, which became an era of footballing success and clout: winning the 1994 African Cup of Nations, qualifying for our first ever World Cup, and winning the Olympic Gold in football in 1996. All of these happened even as we found ourselves increasingly cut off from the global community, following the shocking execution of Ken Saro Wiwa in 1995. 1999 ushered in democracy, to close a decade that saw much political turmoil and international disconnection. The 21st century has seen us grappling with the demands and tensions of democracy, constitutionalism and federalism, and it does seem, in my view, that much of our focus has turned inwards, away from the adventurous foreign policy of the military era. Nigeria in 2025: Strengths and Weaknesses.
9. Let me now return to the concept of World or Global Power, and how it relates to Nigeria. Earlier I outlined the multidimensionality of world power, existing along a spectrum that takes in the economic, diplomacy, technology, culture, defence, demography, and resource endowments. So, how are we faring as a nation in this regard? I will start with our areas of biggest contemporary strength: demography and culture. United Nation’s projections put us at 400 million people by the year 2050, making us the third mosrt populous country in the world after India and China. Our people are, without a doubt, our most important assets, above our oil and gas, above our marine and forest wealth. Today, we already
have one of the largest populations of young people in the world—an estimated one hundred million people under the age of 20—making it impossible to envision the workforce of the 21st century without fully accounting for Nigeria. This is an extraordinary asset, but only if properly harnessed. Culturally, we are already a global cultural force, our flag held aloft in global spaces in fields ranging from literature to film to music and fashion. In diplomacy and defence, we are a voice to be reckoned with on the continent and beyond. In the African Union, we hold the coveted seat heading the Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) department.
10. The equally coveted headquarters of the new African Energy Bank and the proposed African Central Bank will both sit in the Federal Capital Territory. Our peacekeepers are active and respected across the continent, on ECOWAS and United Nations missions, and our Navy has been designated to provide strategic Sea Lift services in support of AU peacekeeping, humanitarian and emergency response operations. Our Armed Forces have acquired tremendous experience in fighting insurgency, and the relative peace being experienced in the Northeast of the country is testament to the sacrifice and dedication of our heroic troops. The Number Two official at the United Nations is a Nigerian, as are the Head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), President-Elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Vice Chair of the Council of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the Vice President for Africa of the International Association for Ports and Harbours (IAPH), among others. In recent years Nigerians have led the World Medical Association (WMA) and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO). Projecting Global Power by Optimizing Latent Potential.
11. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, we must now, given the range and depth of our talent, our endowments, and our potential, focus wholly on maximising these to unlock our power to the fullest, especially in those fields and arenas in which we are still lagging behind. We must do this while also consolidating and conquering new ground in the spheres in which we have already demonstrated strength. In the area of technology, in particular cutting-edge technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence, we must make ourselves felt not just as consumers but producers also. For too long Africa has primarily been a consumer of foreign technology, lacking the confidence and the wherewithal of our Asian counterparts, who have showed the world how to achieve unprecedented technological revolution within a mere generation or two. In the area of the economy, as I said earlier, President Tinubu has a vision to make Nigeria a one trillion dollar economy by 2030. It is a worthy and achievable vision that will be powered by both oil and non- oil economic growth. We are all aware of the very bold reform steps that have already been taken in the last two years in the direction of
this ambition: the removal of petrol subsidies, unification of multiple foreign exchange rates, unprecedented reforms in fiscal, tax, insurance, and energy; and the implementation of a program of social investment and legacy infrastructure projects across the country.
12. Lagos: Nigeria’s Laboratory for Growth, Innovation and Reform Let me now turn to focus on where Lagos stands and what Lagos means in this projection of Nigeria as a World Power. There is no contesting the fact that Lagos is the beating heart of Nigeria— the reason why Nigeria is the regional and continental leader that it is. Nigeria’s capacity to convert every remaining ounce of raw potential that we possess, into the hard currency of world power and global influence will depend, to a large extent, on Lagos. Let me put it in a simple and direct way: The future of Nigeria’s economic competitiveness lies in Lagos. The Lekki Deep Sea Port, now operational, is the most modern on the continent, serving as a gateway for trade and for the actualisation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area—the largest free trade agreement in the world in terms of the number of participating countries. The Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Plant, Eko Atlantic City, the Coastal Road, Badagry-Sokoto Expressway, Lagos- Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail, and the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge, Lekki International Airport, and Lagos International Financial Center, are not just projects—they are harbingers of Lagos as a hub of global commerce and finance.
13. This means that we must do even more work to align the energies of Lagos and of Nigeria. Within this alignment lies a transformative synergy that will fast-track our collective journeys to enduring greatness. This is part of the driving force behind our advocacy for the conferment of a special status on Lagos—it is not because the rest of Nigeria doesn’t matter, no. Instead what we are saying is that Nigeria can scale up its growth and development by approaching and treating Lagos as a pivotal leverage that can help unleash collective national potential. Among the many fascinating concepts that Lagos embodies, within the context of Nigeria, is that of a national policy and innovation laboratory, where national experiments have been and will continue to be piloted and fine-tuned for rollout to the entire country, not just in other States but even also at the Federal level. In this regard we have seen such initiatives as the pioneering of a subnational security trust fund, as well as subnational leadership in tax reform, traffic management emergency response, and others, which have been replicated in various other States across the country.
Continues online
•Lecture by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the first Distinguished Lecture for 2025 of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday 16th September 2025.
Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu flanked by Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Eghosa Osaghae (left) and chairman, Access Bank Plc, Dr. Ajoritsedere Awosika (right), during the Inaugural 2025 NIIA Distinguished Lecture Series, themed “Lagos and Nigeria 2030: Projections
Okowa Affirms Amusan to Get HiRacer’s N30m for the Silver Medal
Nathaniel Ezekiel to compete in the 400m hurdles semifinal today
Duro Ikhazuagbe
The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, has reconfirmed the commitment of kits supplier, HiRacer, to redeem the cash reward of
$20,000 (about N30million) to Tobi Amusan for winning a silver medal at the ongoing 2025 World Athletics Champi- onships in Tokyo, Japan.
HiRacer sportswear in the
Juve Slam Door on Lookman in January Transfer Window
out
With Juventus signing of the duo of Edon Zhegrova and Lois Openda on the final day of the summer transfer window, the door appears to have been slammed on Ademola Lookman from joining the Old Lady.
Juventus blew a 4-2 lead with just four minutes to end the opening Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund to draw the game 4-4 last night.
Lookman who has been frozen out of Ivan Juric’s Atalanta squad to play PSG in their UEFA Champions League opener in Paris tonight, will not be on Juventus radar even in the January winter transfer window.
A report on Tuttojuvehas claimed that the arrivals of Zhegrova and Openda has ended Juventus’ interest in Lookman.
Juve was reportedly among
the clubs considering a move for Ademola Lookman during the summer transfer window and the Nigerian forward had expressed a desire to leave Atalanta. He even went on strike after being denied a transfer.
Despite the closure of the transfer window, Lookman continued to seek a move and is reportedly considering leaving during the January transfer window.
Several clubs remain interested in securing his services, demonstrating that his talent is still highly valued.
Juventus had seen him as an ideal player to strengthen the club’s attack as they pursue trophies in the current campaign. It was generally believed that January could offer another opportunity for them to secure his signature.
First Bank Survives Early Scare to Beat Bayelsa Whales
Record winner of the Zenith Bank/NBBF Women’s Basketball League, First Bank, yesterday overcame early scare from Bayelsa Blue Whales, in their first game of this season final 8 currently ongoing at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Bayelsa started by taking up points off their illustrious opponent in the early minute of the 1st quarter before the bankers showed their superior-
ity as they finished the quarter 11-10, and went ahead to extend their lead in the 2nd quarter to four points as the first half ended 24-20 points. It was all First Bank from that moment after winning the 3rd and 4th quarter with 17-7 and 12-9 points respectively to end the game with 53-36 points. In the first game of the evening, it was a big heartbreak for Air Warriors as they lost with just two points against Royal Aces.
Kipyegon Wins Historic Fourth World Championship 1500m Gold
Faith Kipyegon stormed to a historic fourth world 1500m title as the Kenyan great extended her streak of dominance with a fifth consecutive global gold in the event.
The 31-year-old matched retired men’s world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj as the only other athlete in
history to amass four 1500m titles at the championships.
After securing her third consecutive Olympic triumph last year, this was also a third straight world gold for Kipy- egon, who controlled the final from the start before bursting clear of her rivals on the final lap.
contract entered with the AFN made a pledge of $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000 for any Team Nigerian athlete that wins gold, silver and bronze medals respectively while donning its apparel at Tokyo 2025.
Amusan who criticizes the initial few competition kits handed out to the Nigerian athletes at the Worlds on social medial, was generally speculated may be denied the largesse from the sportswear
company.However, Okowa, clarified yesterday from Tokyo that HiRacer is prepared to redeem the cash reward of $20,000 to Amusan for her silver medal and that discussions with the company have reached an advanced stage for a more rewarding kits sponsorship deal.
At a meeting in Tokyo on Monday night with Amusan and the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Chief Bukola Olopade, Okowa
was categorical that he had no personal problem with the 100m hurdles world record holder who has been a great asset to the Nigeria.
He explained the purported kits drama was purely a mo- ment of misunderstanding, adding that all grey areas had been resolved, as the AFN will continue to give priority to the welfare of athletes.
“There is no problem between Tobi (Amusan) and the Federation. I have worked with her for more than four
years. It was just a moment of misunderstanding,” stressed the AFN chief.
Okowa further pledged the commitment of his board to athletes’ welfare.
“This new AFN board is responsive to our athlete’s needs. We will do things differently.”
He congratulated Amusan for winning Nigeria’s first and only medal so far at the Championship.
“At the meeting, I again congratulated Tobi Expressfor her great spirit to grab the silver in the 100 metres hurdles final. It was a moment of pride for Team Nigeria,” Okowa gushed withThepride.
AFN President extended his appreciation to the NSC DG Olopade and the Chairman of the NSC, Malam Shehu Dikko, for the settlement of allowances and bonuses due the athletes at Tokyo 2025.
Meanwhile, NCAA 400m Hurdles Champion, Nigeria’s Nathaniel Ezekiel, will compete in the semi final of the event this afternoon in Tokyo.
Running in Heat 5 yesterday, Ezekiel clocked 48.37secs to win the event. He was followed by USA’s Caleb Dean in 48.67 while Brazil’s Francisco Dos Reis Viana was third in 48.69.
The 22- year -old Ezekiel ranked 5th in the world this year, had his race under control and finished with the 10th fastest time from the five heats in the event.
Super Subs, Martinelli, Trossard Fire Arsenal to Glorious Start
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to score as Arsenal beat Spanish side Athletic Club 2-0 to get their Champions League campaign off to a winning start.
Martinelli scored just 36 seconds after being introduced, with Belgium forward Trossard putting him through on goal in the 71st minute.
The Brazil winger then returned the favour, beating his man and giving the ball to Trossard to squeeze in the second in the 86th minute.
It was a tough match for Arsenal at times and Bilbaobased Athletic Club, back in the Champions League for the first time since the 2014-15 season, were backed by a vociferous home crowd and started the game extremely fast.
The home side had Arsenal pinned back for the opening
period of the game, with Alejandro Berenguer causing particular problems for the Arsenal backline.
Arsenal struggled to get hold of the game in the first half but
Gabriel Martinelli (Number 11) scored Arsenal’s opening goal in the 2-0 defeat of Athletic Bilbao in the
did have the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when Viktor Gyokeres put a diving header wide from close range. Gyokeres ended the match with a bandage around his head after a heavy clash of heads with team-mate Gabriel, when the pair attempted to head the same ball goalwards.
Tobi Amusan to get N30million from sportswear company HiRacer for winning a silver medal at the ongoing 2025 World Athletics Championship in Tokyo, Japan
opening game of the UEFA Champions League group phase
ZENITH BANK LEAGUE
Left
of Atalanta’s UCL squad to play PSG tonight in Paris
(hih) inVESTmEnT FoRUm...
L-R Dede Ekoue: IFAD Country Director, Hon. Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu: Minister of Humanitarian, Her Excellency Patricia Obila, Deputy Governor Ebonyi State, Dr. Demba Sabally: Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security Republic of Gambia, Gautier Mignot, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS FAO Country Head, Vice-President Kashim Shettima , Sen Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Hussein Gadain FAO Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Professor Prof. Abba Gambo: Reps Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefulire SSA to the President on SDGs and Hon Farouk Adamu Aliyu during the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations National and Sub-regional Hand-in-Hand (HiH) Investment Forum in Abuja on Tuesday
BABAjiDESANWO-OLU
gu EST COL um NIST
How Lagos Can Push Nigeria’s Rise to Global Power
It is a great and humbling honour to have been asked to deliver the first NIIA Distinguished Lecture for 2025, on the theme, Lagos and Nigeria 2030: Projections of a World Power. Let me start by thanking the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), under the leadership of Professor Eghosa Osaghae, a distinguished political scientist, for extending this prestigious invitation to me. As Nigeria’s foremost think tank on global affairs, the NIIA is the proud embodiment of a robust legacy of intellectual leadership, consistently articulating Nigeria’s place in a world that never stops changing.
The NIIA also happens to be a historic site, in its own right. Not only is it the place where the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was born 50 years ago, it is also, from an architectural perspective, an iconic Lagos landmark, designed and built around the period of Nigeria’s Independence, and adorned with artwork from Ben Enwonwu and Erhabor Emokpae, two of Nigeria’s most famous and revered artists.
1. I very much welcome this opportunity to add my thoughts to the ongoing dialogue on Nigeria’s place on the international stage. I have been asked to speak on the theme, “Lagos and Nigeria 2030: Projections of a World Power.” I find the theme especially inspiring, given how it readily acknowledges the very strong interconnection between Lagos and Nigeria, and the fact that there is no future version of Nigeria that will not be deeply shaped and impacted by Lagos. Malcolm X once said, “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” The theme of this lecture invites us to dream, to proceed on
a bold exploration of what the future holds for the world’s most populous black nation. Even more, it asks us to, in our envisioning, settle on a Nigeria that is a global power in all ramifications. Global Power in the 21st century What does world power mean in the 21st century? What does it mean for Nigeria to be a global power? I would define global power as being essentially multidimensional, combining economic power, diplomatic and geopolitical clout, technological capacity, cultural and soft power, military and defence strength, demography, and resource abundance.
2. We must also acknowledge that the assessment of world power is not a static concept, it is one that constantly evolves. There was a time when
global power was measured largely by how many colonies a country occupied, and the size of its naval fleet—that asset being the primary way in which strength was projected and control maintained over a vast range of colonies accessible only by sea. Today, while a well-resourced Navy is still a vital projector of national strength, the landscape—or seascape—has changed dramatically. Wars are now primarily fought, not at sea, but instead in the air and the cyber-domain. The point I am making is about the fluidity of the indicators of global power, as technology advances and geopolitical realities change. A History of National Visions The concept of “Nigeria 2030” brings to mind a series of national and international visions. On the domestic scene, Vision 2010 comes to mind, followed by Vision 20:2020, and then Nigeria Agenda 2050, launched by the Buhari administration in 2023, and which seek to place Nigeria among the world’s leading middle-income economies by 2050. Upon assumption of office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a goal of making Nigeria a 1 Trillion Dollar economy by 2030. Nigeria’s commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement.
3. Envisage that we will end gas flaring by 2030 while also generating a third of our electricity from renewable sources. On the subnational level, we have Lagos State Development Plan 2052; our 30-year development plan that we launched in 2022, eloquently articulating our ambition to become Africa’s Model Mega City and a Global, Economic and Financial Hub that is safe, secure, functional and productive. The Lagos State 30 Year Plan is anchored on four pillars: Thriving Economy, Modern Infrastructure, Human-Centric
City, and Effective Governance. 2030 also brings to mind the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), being the target year set in 2025 when the SDGs emerged—seventeen pivotal goals meant to transition humanity into a truly just, equitable and prosperous world—to replace the Millennial Development Goals.
4. As 2030 bears down on us with determination and urgency, fears are mounting already that those global targets will be missed, given, on the one hand, the scale of funding required and the limits of committed resources, and on the other hand, disruptions such as Covid-19 and various geopolitical conflicts and natural disasters around the world. Let me quickly add a bit more context to Vision 2010, developed as the guiding document that would take Nigeria into the long- 4 anticipated 21st century. It is significant in being the last Nigerian national vision or plan overseen by a military government. The then Head of State, General Sani Abacha inaugurated the Vision 2010 Committee on Sept 27, 1996—29 years ago this month; the Committee worked over the next 12 months and submitted the final report on September 30, 1997; one day ahead of Nigeria’s 37th Independence anniversary. That 37-year-old country, tightly held in the grip of military rule, has since then come a long way. Today it is a grey-haired 64 year old, on the cusp of 65, still standing strong despite many challenges, old and new, still as desirous as ever of attaining its full potential. Military rule has since given way to 26 years of unbroken democracy—the longest stretch of democracy in our history, and a strong affirmation of how much we have matured as
