New terrorist group, Mahmuda, resumes attacks, kills three in Kwara community Bandits suffer heavy casualties in Niger In Imo, suspected Fulani Herdsmen murder US-based Nigerian, abduct wife
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Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara (left), and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his visit to the president at his residence in Lagos, yesterday
He vanquished monster of oil subsidy, forex racket, began massive road infrastructure, an unprecedented students’ loans scheme and the CreditCorp
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, yesterday, boasted that no preceding administration in Nigeria’s democratic history has achieved what the President Bola Tinubu’s administration has achieved in two years.
He made this assertion in Abuja, at the inaugural National Dialogue on Citizen Engagement and National Security, with theme: “One Voice, One Vision: Uniting Perspectives for a Stronger Nigeria.”
He lauded the Tinubu’s administration for recording such sweeping reforms and achievements within two years, reiterating that no past regime has ever come close.
“No preceding government has ever achieved what the Tinubu administration has achieved in two years: first, the courage to vanquish the monster of oil subsidy and the forex racket, and then massive road infrastructure, an unprecedented students’ loans scheme, and the CreditCorp, indeed, policies that are re-stimulating confidence in our young population,” Idris said.
He said the achievements of the administration in just two years were indicative of irrefutable evidence of visionary and courageous leadership.
He also stressed that the forum, initiated by the Voice of Nigeria (VON), came at a time when Nigeria was, “at the confluence of purpose and possibility.”
The minister insisted the event was not merely a policy talk shop, but a deliberate platform to harmonise policy perspectives with the lived experiences of ordinary Nigerians.
“Just last week, we commemorated the second anniversary of the Tinubu administration with ample proof of its monumental positive impact,” he buttressed.
He also noted that the Tinubu administration’s policies were beginning to yield tangible outcomes.
“After a stormy start, food prices are falling, even as we are stemming the tide of insecurity, while the impact of governance, for the first time in decades, is making a new headway through the local government autonomy, the creation of ministries for regional
development, and the biggest boost in agriculture – the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.”
He underscored the essence of national dialogue, noting that national unity and citizen trust were the foundations of national security.
“There can be no national security without national unity. And there can be no unity without trust. In times of uncertainty and insecurity, our greatest weapon is not force. It is trust between the governed and those who govern,” he stated.
He pointed out that the Renewed
Hope Agenda is grounded in citizen participation and engagement, where every Nigerian must feel, be seen, heard, and valued.
The minister also conceded that the forum reflected the clamour for genuine synergy among all national stakeholders, by, “bringing together government, media, civil society,
and the security community, not in silos, but in synergy. Not to talk at each other, but to listen to each other.” He stressed that Nigerians did not require uniformity to achieve unity; rather, they can embrace their diverse identities while remaining united in purpose.
Addeh
The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, yesterday inaugurated the firstever Liquefied to Compressed Natural Gas (LCNG) hub in the North-east of Nigeria, describing it as a testament to the potential of public-private collaboration in advancing the federal government’s ‘Decade of Gas’ agenda.
In his speech at the event, which took place in Yola, Adamawa state,
the minister mentioned that through the project by Greenville LNG, the country was setting a new benchmark for energy accessibility and sustainability.
“The strategic location of this facility in the North-east also carries deep significance. For far too long, this region has faced infrastructural challenges that have limited its full economic potential.
“This facility in Yola marks a significant turning point. It is a beacon of hope and opportunity,
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara on Tuesday visited President Bola Tinubu at his Ikoyi private residence in Lagos. In the course of the visit, the President held a closed-door meeting with Fubara, marking the first publicly known meeting between the two since Fubara’s suspension in March, 2025.
Sources said the ‘crucial’ meeting may not be uncon-
nected with resolving the political crisis in Rivers state ahead of the expiration of the six-month emergency rule in September, 2025. Photographs released by the State House Media Unit showed the President and Fubara smiling for the cameras although details of their discussion were yet to be disclosed. President Tinubu had on March 18, 2025 declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State suspending Fubara, the deputy governor, Ngozi
Odu, and all elected members of the state assembly.
The move followed escalating political and economic tensions in the oil-rich state.
The suspension was met with stiff opposition and criticism from Fubara’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party and civil society groups, who argue that the President’s unilateral action undermines democratic governance.
Also on Tuesday, President Tinubu received in audience at his Lagos private residence
billionaire founder of Bill Gates Foundation and Co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates.
During the visit, President Tinubu conferred the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on Gates who was accompanied by Africa’s richest man and Nigeria’s billionaire business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
The President thereafter decorated Gates with the national award as well as presenting him with the award certificate.
not only for Adamawa state but for the entire region. It demonstrates that the benefits of Nigeria’s vast natural gas resources can and must reach every corner of our country,” he added.
A statement by his spokesman, Louis Ibah, quoted Ekpo as saying that President Bola Tinubu has made it a national priority to harness Nigeria’s gas resources for economic transformation, industrialisation, and social development. He said the LCNG model was a perfect example of such innovation.
According to him, it creates an integrated solution for powering vehicles and industrial equipment with both LNG and CNG, offering cleaner, cheaper alternatives to diesel and petrol.
Ekpo said: “This transformative project highlights the federal government’s unrelenting efforts to drive economic growth through gas adoption, building on the immense promise of natural gas as a cornerstone for national energy security.
“By leveraging advanced technology and innovative models like this LCNG facility, we are setting a new benchmark for energy accessibility and sustainability. This LCNG facility is not only delivering energy but also delivering hope, creating jobs, enabling businesses, and fostering peace through inclusive development.”
He also called on other investors
and gas developers to invest in the LCNG project, noting that there is still so much ground to cover and so many communities that remain underserved. He also thanked the Government and people of Adamawa State for their support for the project through the provision of land and a conducive environment for construction by contractors, saying CNG is cheaper and cleaner than petrol, and that Tinubu means well for Adamawa. Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, represented by his Deputy, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, commended the federal government for facilitating the investment, saying it aligns with the vision of the state government for cleaner and affordable energy sources.
The governor noted that the state has witnessed the impact of climate change and that it is real and is behind every policy and project geared at saving the environment and ensuring that citizens live and breathe healthy air.
“We will need more of the federal government’s intervention, and we will do our best to ensure that the project succeeds,” he stated. Chairman of Greenville, Mr. Eddy Van Ben Broeke, said the company was committing over $1 billion as investments in the country and that similar projects will be replicated in other states, calling on the government for support to bring them to fruition.
L–R: Former NNPC Legal Adviser, Chief Sena Anthony; Chairman, Lasaco Assurance, Chief Teju Phillips; APC Lagos Women Leader, Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; and Dr. Basirat Giwa, alongside other members of the Cosmopolitan group, at the 40th birthday celebration of Derin Phillips, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on LSDPC Matters, held in Lagos… recently
The Ad-hoc Committee constituted by the Nigerian House of Representatives to investigate the non-remittance of the statutory 5 per cent user charge on petroleum products to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), has begun sitting in Abuja.
At a public hearing on the implementation of the charge, the Chairman of the Committee, Francis
Waive, stated that the hearing would ensure that the circumstances surrounding the non-implementation of the law is unraveled.
He stated that the petroleum ministry, ministry of finance, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) among others, are expected to appear
before the lawmakers in the course of the hearing.
According to him, the volume of funds collected, if any, as well as the manner it was utilised will be investigated, stating that the implementation of the user charge would go down in history as one of the achievements of the 10th House of Representatives.
He said that the committee with the help of stakeholders would establish
the true status of the user charge and ensure accountability, compliance with the statutory obligations and ultimately that Nigeria and Nigeria roads would benefit from the funding mechanism clearly provided for in the law.
The chairman directed the NMDPRA to provide an estimate of the 5 per cent user charge on petrol and diesel since its enactment in 2007 and ensure that the law is no longer
The House of Representatives has announced plans to host a major national conference aimed at transforming the country’s public financial accountability framework as a critical national initiative.
Set to take place from July 6 to July 10, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, the National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance (NCPAFG) is being organized by the House’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Speaking at a press briefing at the National Assembly Press Center in Abuja yesterday, the Public Accounts Committee Chairman, Hon. Bamidele Salam, outlined the ambitious scope of the event describing it as a flagship initiative within the 10th Assembly’s Legislative Agenda which emphasizes democratic consolidation through enhanced
transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility.
Themed - “Fiscal Governance in Nigeria: Charting a New Course for Transparency and Sustainable Development” - the conference will gather top-tier participants including federal and state financial administrators, lawmakers, oversight agencies, anti-graft bodies, international partners, civil society actors, and representatives from all levels of government.
Salam noted the conference would also serve as a precursor to Nigeria’s hosting of the 2025 West African Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAPAC) Conference, a hosting right recently secured by the country.
Citing figures from the 2020/2021 Auditor-General’s reports, Salam stressed the urgency of public finance reforms. He disclosed that over N300
billion in public spending has not been accounted for, with frequent unauthorized fund reallocations and numerous audit irregularities.
He added that over 60% of federal MDAs continue to breach financial rules, severely undermining public trust.
The primary objective of the conference, Salam said, is to address these systemic failures by fostering inclusive and candid discussions among key players in fiscal governance.
His words: “It also aims to build capacity through training sessions and workshops for PAC members, auditors, finance officers, and regulators.
“These training sessions will focus on modern audit methods, oversight enhancement, and knowledge exchange on public sector reforms, especially digital innovations in managing public
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the revised National Urban Development Policy (NUDP), which provides for a framework to guide urban planning, development, and governance across Nigeria over the next decade.
The revised policy, developed by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with UN-Habitat and other key stakeholders, replaces the previous 2012 edition.
In addition, it reflects the pressing
realities of Nigeria’s urban challenges and the country’s global development commitments, a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Badamasi Haiba, stated.
With over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, the need for a new, integrated urban development framework has become urgent as the new policy responds to this challenge by introducing a “business unusual” approach that departs from fragmented, reactive planning, and embraces proactive,
inclusive, and long-term strategies.
Speaking on the significance of the policy approval, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, stated: “The NUDP is a critical milestone in Nigeria’s urban journey.
“It provides us with a clear roadmap to plan and build cities that are productive, liveable, inclusive, and climate-resilient. With this policy, we are better positioned to harness the full potential of our urban spaces to drive national development and uplift the quality of life for all Nigerians.”
finances.
“Furthermore, the conference will examine the structural and technical challenges that have stalled the enforcement of audit recommendations. High-level sessions will explore the harmonization of laws, regulations, and oversight processes between federal and state levels to improve the efficiency and coherence of Nigeria’s fiscal oversight systems.”
Salam underscored the need for unified action among stakeholders to establish accountability and transparency as national cornerstones.
“The event will also spotlight the importance of post-legislative review, particularly at the sub-national level, where ineffective oversight often hampers service delivery.
observed in the breach.
The FERMA Act 2007 provides for the user charge on the pump price of petrol and diesel, out of which 40 per cent will accrue to FERMA and 60 per cent will be utilised by the established state roads maintenance agencies.
The ad-hoc committee which had earlier invited FERMA, NMDPRA and other stakeholders to the hearing, stated that the bad state of Nigerian roads had become a matter of deep concern to the country.
Also speaking at the hearing, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, highlighted the inadequacy of the agency’s annual budget, stating that the situation had continued to reflect on the state of roads nationwide.
Goroyo pointed out that FERMA requires an estimated N880 billion annually to maintain optimal road conditions in the country.
According to him, budgetary allocations have consistently fallen short, with N76.3 billion in 2023, N103.3 billion in 2024 and N168.9 billion budgeted for 2025 out of the N880 billion.
However, he stated that under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, the ministry of works remains steadfast in delivering world-class infrastructure that fosters economic growth, strengthens connectivity and enhances the daily lives of citizens.
He said the ministry of works would ensure the 5 per cent user’s charge as enshrined in the FERMA
Act, serve its intended purpose of building and maintaining roads that will empower the Nigerian people and drive economic prosperity.
The Chief Executive Officer of NMPDRA, Farouk Ahmed, who was represented, in his submission confirmed the non-implementation of the 5 per cent user’s charge due to the unavailability of the modalities for the collection of the allocated fund. He stated that the commission was ready to implement the enacted law once the modalities are put in place.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of FERMA, Dr. Emeka Agbasi, argued for the justification for the remittance of the charge to the agency, stating that the agency has been underfunded, with only the annual budgetary allocations which provides 20 per cent of FERMA’s financial requirement.
He added that the charge is a common and effective mechanism globally for funding of road infrastructure maintenance.
To fully realise the funds, Agbasi urged the committee to include clear and mandatory provisions for the collection, administration, and auditing of the charge, create a FERMA Road Fund Account, and ensure full enforcement of the existing FERMA amendment act.
He said: ‘’5 per cent user charge on petrol and diesel as outlined in the FERMA Act, 2007, remains a critical, yet underutilised policy tool for addressing Nigeria’s road infrastructure crises.’’
The Lagos State Government yesterday read the riot act to residents who brazenly defy and disobey environmental laws that they will henceforth face the full wrath of the law should they breach the law.
Speaking to newsmen in Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said a stiff penalty of N250,000 or up to three months imprisonment awaits anyone caught dumping refuse illegally or littering the environment as provided under the Lagos Sanitation Environmental Law Provisions, adding that serial offenders will face even stiffer punishments.
The commissioner warned those in the habit of dumping refuse or solid waste in drains, medians or road setbacks to desist, emphasizing that such unwholesome acts contribute to flash flooding, endangers public health and deface the city.
Wahab also warned squatters on the pedestrian bridges across the state to vacate as they are in the habit of engaging in open defecation and engaging in criminal activities on the bridges thus dissuading pedestrians from using the bridges and in turn endangering their lives saying defaulters risk prosecution.
“The government has arrested and prosecuted over 3,000 environmental offenders. However, we won’t drop the ball, we would
continue to ramp up our enforcement and sensitization; I want us to all know that we cannot achieve the results of behavioural change over-night but it has to be over time” he said.
He also warned developers and builders dumping building materials on the drains or on the roads during the construction process saying that all of such contravening structures will be sealed up and the owners prosecuted. He maintained that there is a total ban on open defecation and urination and over 1710 public toilets have been provided by government and private bodies with additional toilet facilities available in eateries and gas stations in the state for those who are pressed to make use of them.
Dr. Haruna Nma Yahaya, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), has emerged the institute’s 61st President.
Yahaya would succeed the 60th President of ICAN, Mr. Davidson Alabribe, whose tenure of office expired yesterday.
In his acceptance speech as the 61st president of ICAN, which he delivered yesterday, at institute’s council chamber in Lagos, during his investiture ceremony, Yahaya said, “given the historic significance of this solemn ceremony and the towering stature of the office I am privileged to assume, I stand before this distinguished audience—and indeed the entire membership of our noble institute—with utmost humility and an abiding sense of duty, to formally accept my election as the 61st President of the ICAN.
“I do so with a heart full of gratitude and a spirit resolute in purpose. By the infinite Grace and Mercy of Almighty Allah, I pledge that I shall not fail, falter, or betray the profound trust reposed in me, regardless of the challenges that may lie ahead.
“I am fully committed to upholding the dignity of this office and to advancing the enduring legacy of our great Institute.”
He noted that his presidential year would mark not just a transition in leadership, but a remarkable milestone in the life of our great institute.
“It coincides with the celebration
of ICAN’s Diamond Jubilee—sixty extraordinary years of institutional excellence, ethical steadfastness, and national relevance.
“Over these six decades, our Institute has stood tall as a beacon of professionalism, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth and development,” he said.
Yahaya also unveiled the theme of the 2025/2026 presidential year, which is “ICAN @ 60 — Powering a New Era of Integrity and Innovation.”
He said: “Our theme for the year is far more than a collection of words—it is a bold declaration of intent, a guiding philosophy that must echo not only in our convictions but in the tangible results we achieve.
“It is a standard against which our progress will be measured and a compass by which the governing council’s actions must be steered.”
Yahaya added that the strategic priorities outlined for this presidential year are not mere initiatives as “they represent our legacy in motion—deliberate, visionary steps designed to ignite meaningful change, inspire renewed confidence, and safeguard the future of our profession.”
These strategic priorities include digital transformation of the ICAN examination process by embarking on a bold and forward-looking journey to fully digitise the ICAN examination process.
“We cannot, and must not, continue to assess future-ready professionals with tools rooted in the past. The time to act is now, and the future begins with this step.”
He also said his presidential year would prioritise the revitalising the ICAN brand as not merely a gatekeeper of professional standards, but as a symbol of excellence, relevance, and global distinction.
“In an era defined by visibility, narrative, and perception, a legacy that is not seen, heard, or celebrated
risks being forgotten.
“This year, we are embarking on a bold brand revitalisation journey - one that will amplify ICAN’s voice across digital platforms, within academic corridors, in corporate boardrooms, and on the international stage.
“Our goal is simple but profound: to ensure that ICAN is not only
respected, but also recognised, remembered, and revered.”
Yahaya also said that ICAN would no longer whisper from the corners of policy debates but “will speak with clarity, courage, and conviction.
“For in a nation seeking answers, the accounting profession must be a voice of wisdom, not a silent witness.
“This year, ICAN will assert its place as a strong and trusted voice in national and international economic policy conversations.
“We will enhance our capacity to shape dialogue and influence decisions that affect not only the profession, but the economy, the nation, and future generations.”
Funmi Ogundare
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, has dismissed widespread social media claims that the 2025 English Language paper of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has been cancelled.
In a related development, the Federal Ministry of Education strongly condemned an incident which occurred at Complete Child Development College, Aule, Akure, Ondo State, where suspected thugs, allegedly hired by the parents of a student, assaulted the Vice Principal, Mr. Rotifa, for performing his lawful duty of upholding the integrity of the
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has stated that the National Value Charter, a major initiative of the agency, will address concerns about national cohesion and identity.
Issa-Onilu, in an exclusive interview, said the initiative that will rolled out after its launch by President Bola Tinubu, is a transformative policy designed to give Nigerians a shared sense of self, purpose, and civic responsibility.
He described it as one that will be a foundational legacy of the Tinubu administration, as the Charter addresses a critical gap in the country’s national development: the absence of a clearly defined Nigerian identity.
“You cannot have a society
where you cannot define the shared identity of its people,” Issa-Onilu said. “We all identify as Nigerians, but beyond the name, what does it truly mean? What values, behaviours, and responsibilities come with that identity?”
He argued that unlike ethnic groups such as the Igbo, Yoruba, or even subsets like the Ijebu or Ekiti, whose values and characteristics can be clearly articulated, Nigeria as a whole, lacks a unifying identity that binds its people.
The Charter, he explained, distills the country’s most positive characteristics into a structured national identity. It is intended to serve as a moral and civic guide for citizens in the way it offers direction and clarity.
“The same way religious texts shape the values of believers, this
Charter will define what it means to be Nigerian; what we stand for, what is expected of us, and what we owe one another and the nation,” he noted. “It is our own national holy book.”
To ensure widespread adoption, the Charter will be implemented through seven institutions of nurturing, which were approved by the Federal Executive Council in October 2024. These institutions will embed national values at every stage of life, from childhood to adulthood, across schools, religious spaces, families, the media, and civic structures.
“No matter your background or where you grow up, one of these institutions will reach you and help nurture you into the kind of Nigerian we all aspire to be,”
Issa-Onilu explained.
ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Moyosola Adesina, Acting Head of Public Affairs of the council, in a statement issued yesterday refuted a fake press release dated May 30, 2025, which alleged that the English Language exam conducted on Wednesday, May 28, had been nullified and would be rescheduled.
She described the cancellation claim as false and malicious, emphasising that the exam remains valid and has not been cancelled.
The council said the source of the false information is unknown but believes it to be the work of ‘mischief-makers’ aiming to tarnish its reputation and create panic among candidates.
“All official communication from WAEC is disseminated through our verified social media handles and accredited media platforms,” Adesina
stated.
It also clarified that official press statements are issued solely by its Public Affairs Department and signed on behalf of the Head of National Office.
Reaffirming its commitment to integrity and service delivery, she thanked stakeholders for their continued trust over its 73-year history and assured the public of its dedication to innovation and excellence in the administration of examinations.
Meanwhile, a press statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, by Director, Press and Public Relations of the ministry, obtained by THISDAY yesterday commended the quick response of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State with regards to the Akure incident.
The statement read in part: “We commend the swift response of
Executive Governor of Ondo State His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and the State Police Command in arresting the suspects, including Mrs. Dorcas Asije and four accomplices. We urge that thorough investigations be concluded and all culprits duly prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.
“The Ministry, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, reiterates its zero tolerance for examination malpractice, intimidation of school staff, and any form of unethical conduct from students, parents, or guardians.
“Any student found engaging in examination malpractice will face sanctions in line with national examination guidelines. Furthermore, any parent or guardian who enables, supports, or participates in such criminal behaviour will be prosecuted under the law.
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The federal government says it would henceforth impose tough sanctions on any federal university that establishes a satellite campus without prior approval from the Federal Ministry of Education. It would be recalled that several of such satellite campuses have been established in the country, thereby infringing on previous regulations and violating the approved guidelines for creation of such as set out by the National Universities Commission, NUC.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in a memo to the NUC, dated
May 30, 2025, warned that satellite campuses established without prior approval through the Commission will face sanctions.
“This to inform all Federal Universities that no satellite campus be established without prior approval of the Honourable Minister of Education through the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC. Failure to comply will attract sanction.”
The memo also noted that there has been, “A noticeable and concerning trend of Federal Universities establishing satellite campuses across the country. Many of these campuses are created
without clear strategic, academic or infrastructural justifications.
“It is also pertinent to note that instead of investing in and expanding the capacity of existing main campuses, some Vice Chancellors are opting for the creation of new one which in most cases are often inadequately resourced. This practice undermines the integrity, quality and sustainability of tertiary education in Nigeria,” the minister noted Before now, the NUC had also in the past set up a committee that advised on the closure of such illegal universities and campuses as NUC mandated the Committee to identify, locate and prosecute such illegalities.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has made a passionate appeal to development partners, private sector players, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions to commit their resources, expertise, and innovation to the national campaign to eliminate cervical cancer.
Speaking yesterday at the official unveiling of the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCiN) at the State House in Abuja, the First Lady stressed that the time had come for collective action against a disease that remains both preventable and deadly.
Her words: “At this juncture, I call on all development partners, the private sector, NGOs, and academic institutions to commit their resources, expertise, and innovation to this campaign. We count on you all to ensure that this collaboration succeeds”.
Describing the launch of PECCiN as beginning of a “transformational journey in the health and dignity of Nigerian women and girls,” Mrs. Tinubu stressed that cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria—despite being one of the most preventable.
According to her: “Cervical cancer is a silent killer, and one that strikes hardest at the most vulnerable women. Yet, this is a
cancer that is preventable”.
She hailed the alignment of PECCiN with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on health, which seeks to prioritize the wellbeing of all Nigerians, especially women.
This initiative, she explained, underscores the administration’s determination to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2030.
“Nigeria has shown that it is possible,” she noted, referencing the country’s successful nationwide rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2023.
“In just nine months, we protected over 12 million girls. That is a landmark achievement”, the First Lady said.
Mrs Tinubu recognised the pivotal roles played by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and global health partners including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, and UNICEF in achieving this milestone.
“But we cannot stop there. We must build on this momentum— expand HPV screening, scale up treatment through innovative, cost-effective technologies, and establish these services where they matter most: in our primary and secondary health care facilities”, she stressed.
The First Lady also urged state
and local governments, healthcare professionals, and schools to become active champions of women’s health and immunization.
She called on religious and traditional leaders to “advocate for truth and science,” noting their unique ability to shape public perception and influence community behavior.
“Funding and a lot of resources are needed,” Mrs Tinubu added, revealing that the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), her pet project, has already committed ₦1 billion to support the national campaign.
“I call on our State Governors, business leaders, and development partners to join in supporting this laudable initiative. Together, we must invest in a future where no woman dies from a disease that
is preventable”, she said.
Commending key actors driving the initiative, the First Lady applauded the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammad Ali Pate, and the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, for their “commitment in driving health sector reforms.”
She also recognized the Chairman of the National Task Force for Cervical Cancer Elimination, Prof. Isaac Adewole, for his “instrumental effort in making this initiative possible.”
Addressing healthcare providers directly, the Mrs Tinubu called them “the face of hope for millions of Nigerian women,” urging them to serve with “professionalism and compassion.”
“If we all join hands to make this Partnership work, in the next five years alone, we can prevent at least 60,000 deaths from cervical cancer in Nigeria,” she said.
“The launch event marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s intensified fight against cervical cancer and signals a high-level political will to marshal resources and partnerships to protect women and girls nationwide.
“Let us rise to this occasion and write a new chapter, one where every Nigerian girl and woman can live free from cervical cancer”, the First Lady further stated.
On it’s part, Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) also endorsed the national initiative to combat cervical cancer, affirming the collective commitment of state governments to tackle this pressing health challenge.
Speaking on behalf of all the 36 state governors, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, expressed strong support for the partnership, which is championed by the First Lady and aims to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer across the country.
Uzodinma highlighted the governors’ readiness to adopt necessary policies at the state level and ensure the allocation of domestic funding for cervical cancer prevention and treatment programs.
He stressed the importance of strengthening primary healthcare
systems to deliver equitable services, especially to women in rural and underserved communities.
Earlier, Chairman of the NTFCCE and former Minister of Health, Professor Ajewole, highlighted the urgency of the initiative saying:
“Approximately 60 million Nigerian women are at risk of developing cervical cancer, and sadly, about 22 women die daily from this preventable and treatable disease.”
He stressed that PECCIN will drive coordinated, sub-national government-led expansion of cervical cancer elimination activities and foster multisectoral collaboration across public and private sectors. Also speaking, Vice chairman of the committee, Zainab Shinkafi-Bagadu, highlighted the significance of the launch of PECCiN, emphasising a renewed commitment to combating cervical cancer in the country.
She reflected on the progress Nigeria has made in recent years, noting that despite previous challenges, there has been a remarkable increase in investment in the health sector, including the establishment of six new health facilities over the past two years.
She disclosed that approximately 13 million Nigerian girls have been vaccinated against HPV during this period, a milestone that aligns Nigeria with other leading African countries like Rwanda in the fight against cervical cancer.
Arm Y C HI ef, Olu Y e D e, r elOCAT e S TO Benue TO l e AD Offen SI ve A g AI n ST mA r A u DI ng InvAD er S Government Area, Kwara State, raising fears about a new security threat.
This was as operatives of the Joint Security Task Force have neutralised about 30 bandits in an operation, which took place in Kuchi community of Munya Local Government of the Niger State on Monday.
In another development, insecurity is fast spreading to some parts of Owerri, Imo State capital, as suspected Fulani herdsmen on Sunday killed a USA-based Nigerian (identity withheld) around Irete-Umuguma Road, near Golden Estate/Abba Father Avenue in Umuguma.
Oluyede had just returned from the North-east operational theatres, where he had temporarily relocated following a minor setback in the Operation Hadin Kai area of responsibility.
Before departing Maiduguri, the Army Chief ordered commanding officers and troops of Operation Hadin Kai to be ruthless towards terrorists to wind down the ongoing fight against insurgency, terrorism, and other emerging security threats in the country.
Oluyede, who gave the order while declaring closed the COAS
biannual conference in Maiduguri, further charged the troops not to show mercy to the sworn enemies of the state in their resolve to stamp them out of Nigeria’s territory.
This order followed resurgence attacks on troop locations and vulnerable communities by Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terrorist fighters in Northeast.
The COAS biannual conference assembled top generals to brainstorm on the way forward to safeguard national peace and security.
A recent escalation in killings by marauding invaders and bandits, however, compelled the Army Chief and his Principal Staff Officers to relocate to Benue to strengthen the operational strategy of Operation Safe Haven.
Information revealed that Oluyede and his entourage departed Abuja on Tuesday morning for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation on the ground in Benue State.
Further findings revealed that the Army Chief also ordered the deployment of more troops to the state to give the militia and other armed groups terrorising the people of the state the battle of their lives.
A military source said while
in Benue, the COAS would hold strategic meetings with all operational and unit commanders to brainstorm on the way forward as well as review the ongoing operations with a view to ending the killings.
He will also visit troops’ locations and operational bases in the state to interact with them and boost their morale and fighting spirit.
Oluyede is also expected to visit villages that have been attacked to reassure residents of their safety and the resolve of the Nigerian Army to protect the lives and property of law-abiding citizens.
The Army Chief, the source added, would personally lead troops in the operation on the battlefront, as he is expected to spend some days in the state before returning to Abuja.
There was also unconfirmed speculation that his visit to Benue would lead to the redeployment of field commanders to improve operational efficiency within the state.
Members of a new terrorists group, Mahmuda, yesterday, reportedly killed three villagers in Duruma village, Baruten Local
Government Area of Kwara State,
The fresh attack by the terrorists group according to THISDAY checks, might not be unconnected with the loopholes created by the absence of local hunters, who were currently in Ilorin on training for National Forests Guard, recently approved by the presidency to provide security for communities.
THISDAY Investigations revealed that, the three villagers who were killed by members of the terrorists group, had been immediately buried by the community.
It was further gathered that the terrorists group carried out the heinous act despite the presence of soldiers who were currently in the flashpoint areas of the affected communities
Operatives of the Joint Security Task Force have neutralised about 30 bandits in an operation which took place in Kuchi community of Munya Local Government Area of the Niger State on Monday.
The task force also recovered many motorcycles and cattle from the bandits.
Chinedu Eze
After months of threats, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has finally grounded more than 60 private jets flying in the country over alleged failure to pay import duty, THISDAY learntMostyesterday. of the affected aircraft are foreign registered, which are flying in the country in line with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
Informed sources told THISDAY that the grounding of the aircraft started at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja and other airports on Monday and continued till yesterday.
It was gathered that customs also sealed off some of the foreign private jets at ExecuJet located at a free trade zone facility at the Lagos airport, operated by Quits Aviation.
A source close to some of the private jet owners, said that the impounded aircraft belonged to private individuals in Nigeria, which are under the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) licence. The permit is granted to individuals who want to own and operate aircraft for personal use and not for reward or hire.
At the Lagos airport, a seal of the NCS from the MMIA Command, showed that the service grounded some of the private jets in its facilities. The official seal of the NCS stated
that: “In accordance with section 221 of the NCS Act 2023, unauthorised removal or breakage of this seal attracts a fine of N100 million or 10 years imprisonment or both.”
Informed industry sources expressed worries over the grounding of aircraft in ExecuJet services, which is an international organisation, which located its office in Nigeria to service private jets in West and Central Africa.
According to the source, as a duty-free zone area, the Customs had no right to seal aircraft in the premises of the company. The source said: ‘ExecuJet is a duty-free zone. What are the customs doing in a duty-free zone?”
Since last year, the NCS had been threatening to ground private jets
owned by very important persons in Nigeria over alleged unpaid import duty running into billions of naira.
Also, a few years ago, the NCS under Mr. Ahmed Alli as the Comptroller-General, wrote a letter to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), demanding the then director general of the agency to ground some of the foreign registered aircraft over import duty claim, a request the NCAA rejected.
It was learnt the NCAA then insisted the private jets did not break any known regulations of Nigeria. Specifically, in October last year, the NCS had threatened to ground over 60 private jets owned by very important persons in the country over unpaid import duty.
It was gathered that the bandits had planned to attack the community but were not aware that the operatives had laid ambush for them.
In an operation said to have lasted about three hours, men of the task force gained upper hand causing a lot of damage to the bandits and making some of them to run into the bushes with injuries.
It was learnt that some of the remains of the neutralised bandits have been deposited at the morgue of a government health facility.
However, the source said “between two and three members of the task force paid the supreme price in their defence of their community.”
When contacted the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Major-General Bello Abdullahi, confirmed the story but said he had not been provided with details of the number of bandits neutralised.
Abdullahi said the incident was a follow-up to last week’s attack on the community, adding that the bandits were not aware that, “this time, the security operatives were ready for them.”
the head at close range.
The assailants subsequently fled into the forest with the woman, leaving behind other several injured victims including the land agents.
Secretary of Owerri West Local Government Area, Dr. Fidel Onyeneke, while expressing sorrow over the killing, called for immediate security interventions across Umuguma and surrounding communities.
“I want to say without mincing words that I’m worried about the state of insecurity in different parts of Imo State and in the situation where people come back to their country home and they are no longer secure. It is highly regrettable,” he said. Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO of Imo State Police Command, Mr Henry Okoye, who confirmed the incident, said the Command has launched an ongoing investigation. He explained that the Commissioner of Police had directed the deployment of tactical teams, with the Area Commander for Owerri Urban to lead a manhunt through the forests of Owerri West LGA.
Herdsmen Kill US-based Nigerian, Abduct
Imo
Suspected Fulani herdsmen, Sunday, murdered a USA-based Nigerian (identity withheld) around Irete-Umuguma Road, near Golden Estate/Abba Father Avenue in Umuguma, Owerri, Imo State.
Also, the Imo Police Command has arrested three men alleged to be unknown gunmen and their five accomplices following a raid in criminal hideouts in Ahiazu Mbaise and Njaba Local Government Areas of the State
Eye witnesses told newsmen that the murdered US returnee from Ihiala in Anambra State visited the community with his wife in company of two local land agents for a scheduled site inspection to finalise a land purchase deal.
The group, who were in a Toyota Highlander SUV, were ambushed by armed men believed to be herdsmen, who grabbed the man’s wife and attempted to escape with her. However, the deceased who attempted to rescue his abducted wife was overpowered and shot in
“The Command is fully aware of this unfortunate incident and has commenced a vigorous operation to apprehend the culprits and ensure justice is served,” Okoye said. Okoye, who further gave update on the state of insecurity stated in a release, explained that the State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on credible intelligence, successfully conducted a targeted operation at Eke Eziama in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA leading to the arrest of John Bosco Onuocha, aged 34 who was linked to multiple violent attacks that had claimed the lives of security personnel and traditional leaders in the Mbaise axis. Items recovered at the scene included one GPMG gun, two chain magazines loaded with two hundred rounds of live ammunition, one AK-47 rifle without a breach number, fifty-six rounds of live ammunition, and four magazines. The suspect confessed to playing a prominent role in numerous terrorist attacks across the State. Onuocha is currently held at a medical facility in Owerri for treatment following injuries sustained during a shoot out during the operation.
L–R: Registrar/Chief Executive, ICAN, Lanre Olasunkanmi; Vice President, Queensley
President, Felix Osuji, during the investiture
Although subsidization of petroleum products ended with the coming of the President Bola Tinubu administration in 2023, its impact especially, as a tool of shortchanging and diverting
huge sums of revenue would take a very long time to go away.
Among the latest to expose how some corrupt government officials connived with some private importers of fuel to dupe the nation is a former chairman of the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa.
The former boss of the anti-graft agency in a groundbreaking new book titled ‘The Shadow of Loot & Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud’, revealed
some of the strategies used by fraudsters to fraudulently obtain trillions of Naira from the federal government.
The book, published by CableBooks, an imprint of Cable Media & Publishing Ltd, provided the
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Nigeria has renewed its strategic partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to train and empower 20 million young Nigerians with digital skills by 2030.
This is just as Vice President Kashim Shettima has accepted to chair the board of Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), a public-private-youth partnership platform constituted to help young Nigerians between the ages of 10 and 24 transition from learning to earning through digital connectivity.
Speaking during a meeting with the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, UNICEF Deputy Representative, Dr. Rownak Khan,
and Chief of the UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, at the State House, Abuja, Shettima warned that Nigeria’s rapidly growing population, currently estimated at over 230 million with an average age of 17, presents both a challenge and an opportunity.
“It is an honour for me to serve as the Chairman of Generation Unlimited (GenU 9JA). This platform provides a vista of opportunities for our young people. Beyond rhetoric, if we want to survive and thrive, we must empower our youth through digital means. That’s the only way forward,” the Vice President said.
The GenU 9JA initiative aligns with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive development, digital innovation, and youth
empowerment as tools for national transformation.
Shettima stressed that Nigeria is not seeking handouts but sustainable, equitable partnerships.
According to him: “We are not looking for charity. We want a mutually beneficial relationship - one based on respect and shared interests. This is why I’m very passionate about the digital initiative. Beyond leadership in our enlightened self-interest, if we want to live in this part of the world, we have to involve them, we have to empower them”.
The vice president described the initiative as a beautiful programme that would enable the Nigerian youths trade their skills in the global market, saying “from earning to learning is a beautiful initiative and more than any other platform,
After two days of grounding activities across federal courts in the country, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has called-off its indefinite strike to press for the payment of the N70,000 new national minimum wage, and the 25/35 percent salary increase for workers under the consolidated public service salary structure.
The decision, it was learnt, was to enable the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun intervene and ensure speedy resolution of the issues.
According to a communique, the decision to end the industrial action was reached at a meeting by JUSUN leadership and representatives of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and other relevant stakeholders on Tuesday.
Part of the communique read:
“After long deliberations upon issues that led to the declaration of industrial action by JUSUN on June 2, 2025, the following agreement was reached:
“That the JUSUN oblige the noble intervention of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, NLC and other stakeholders.
“To give the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the relevant stakeholders time to ensure the Federal Government of Nigeria releases funds to the Judiciary within the period of one month.”
Members also agreed for the immediate implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage and its arrears, 25 / 35% salary increase and 5 months wage award and the arrears, upon the release of the funds to the Judiciary, and in line with
JUSUN’s demand.
“Consequent upon the commitment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, JUSUN and its organs after due consideration agreed to suspend the ongoing industrial strike action.
“With this development, members of staff are hereby directed to resume work tomorrow Wednesday 4 June 2025”, the communique added.
Those who signed the communique included; JUSUN’s National Vice President, National Assistant Financial Secretary, Chairman Federal Judicial Service Commission, Chairman, Court of Appeal, Chairman, Federal High Court, Chairman, National Industrial Court, Chairman, National Judicial Institute, Chairman, FCT High Court, Chairman, FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, Chairman, Customary Court of Appeal and Chairman FCT Judicial Service Commission.
the digital space gives us the easiest window to get the youth engaged effortlessly.
“They can trade their skills in the global market. I know of a lot of young Nigerians who are working for global firms from the comfort of their homes,” he added.
Earlier, UN Resident Coordinator, Fall, praised Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Tinubu, noting the GenU platform is central to addressing youth unemployment, educational inequality, and digital exclusion.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, youth-focused initiativesskills, digital access, and employment - are critical. And GenU is helping to drive those priorities,” Fall said.
most authoritative account yet of Nigeria’s multi-trillion-naira fuel subsidy scandal, unraveling the inner workings of one of the country’s most pervasive financial crimes.
According to a statement released by the publishers, Bawa drew from his firsthand experience as a key investigator on the EFCC’s special team that probed the 2012 subsidy fraud.
“Bawa reveals the staggering scale, complexity, and audacity of the schemes used to siphon public funds under the guise of fuel subsidy payments.
“His insider narrative chronicles how billions of naira were recovered and several culprits brought to justice, while also shedding light on how entrenched corruption allowed the fraud to flourish for years”, the statement released to journalists on Tuesday, read in part.
The statement signed by Vic Akinrogunde, disclosed that some of the strategies used by the perpetrators of the fuel subsidy scam included but not limited to:
“Ghost importing and overinvoicing: Companies submitted claims for fuel that was never imported or inflated shipment volumes to receive excessive subsidy payouts.
“Manipulation of bills of lading: By altering shipping documents, fraudsters exploited international price fluctuations to claim higher subsidies.
“Round-tripping and double claims: Single shipments were often used to obtain multiple subsidy payments.
“Diversion and smuggling: Subsidised fuel was frequently diverted to black markets or smuggled out of Nigeria for profit”. The former EFCC boss further disclosed that the above fraudulent practices, were enabled by forged documents, weak regulatory oversight, and systemic collusion between corrupt government officials and private sector actors, adding that the book is not just a chronicle of fraud, but, “a call to action - a demand for transparency, accountability, and reform in Nigeria’s public finance management, especially in the oil sector.”
Akinrogunde stated that having served as EFCC chairman from 2021 to 2023, Bawa brings rare credibility and insight into the institutional challenges and political dynamics that have shaped the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria.
“His book is both a revelation and a reckoning - offering evidence-based analysis and personal reflections on one of the most controversial chapters in Nigeria’s recent history.
“The Shadow of Loot & Losses” is essential reading for policymakers, civil society advocates, journalists, and citizens interested in understanding how systemic fraud undermines development and how it can be confronted”, the statement added.
As tensions escalate between the Osun State Government and the federal government over withheld local government (LG) allocations, senior legal practitioner Robert Clarke (SAN) has called for the creation of an independent, transparent body to handle the disbursement of federal allocations to local councils.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday regarding the ongoing legal battle in Osun State currently before the Supreme Court, Clarke acknowledged the apex court’s constitutional authority to intervene in such matters but stressed the need for a lasting structural solution.
According to Clarke, “For progress in Nigeria and for sanctity,
I believe this is the correct position. Create a body that, when the money leaves the federal treasury, goes directly to a particular body that is ascertainable to everybody and will not be maneuvered by any governor for any particular purpose.”
The senior lawyer spoke as the Osun State Government, led by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), accuses the federal government of seizing local government allocations for February, March, and April 2025.
The state has approached the Supreme Court, seeking an order for the release of the funds and an injunction against future withholdings.
Clarke’s proposal adds a new dimension to the conversationshifting the focus from political wrangling to institutional reform.
According to Clarke, an ideal framework would involve designating a specific, credible organisation within each state to manage disbursements. “Let the federal government first identify the particular person or body within that state that will receive and distribute the funds. If that is done, we can then go into all the nitty-gritty,” he noted. He emphasised that such a structure would ensure that funds meant for local governance are used for their intended purpose, rather than being trapped in political power plays. With the case now before the Supreme Court, Clarke expressed hope that the judiciary’s intervention would bring clarity. “I’m happy the Supreme Court is being asked to look into this matter.”
Taste The Flavour, Celebrate the Culture Lagos, at EbonyLife Place Victoria Island Lagos... recently
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has declared that the co-founder of Microsoft and chairman of the Bill Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, inspires leaders worldwide by consistently lifting the poor and underprivileged.
The President, who spoke in Lagos on Tuesday while conferring the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) on Gates, noted the renowned philanthropist’s interventions in maternal health, agriculture and infectious disease research.
President Tinubu, according to a release issued by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, thanked Gates for providing global leadership that prioritises ameliorating the lives and safety of the poor and underprivileged.
His words: “Today, I would like to share my happiness and respect and acknowledge one of the greatest human beings in the world.
“All I need to say is thank you,
Bill Gates, for your indivisible commitment to humanity. It is highly remarkable. It is an inspiration to leaders across the world, including the one standing before you.
“I thank you very much. It is a great thing to honour you as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Earlier in his remarks, Minister of Health and Social Development, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said Mr Gates’s recognition was well deserved, considering his long-term involvement in Nigeria’s national development.
He said: “Bill Gates’ friend, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has been working with him to transform lives across the country. From that time until now, the Gates Foundation and through other channels have invested more than $2 billion of its capital in various arenas that directly affect our people, whether in health care, agriculture, or the digital economy.
“Importantly, when he came into Northern Nigeria, there were challenges with immunisation, people
refusing because of ignorance, and with Mr Gates and Alhaji Aliko, they mobilised the entire traditional ruler’s committee”.
Pate said the strong support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation eradicated polio.
On his part, Bill Gates said he was honoured by the conferment of the CFR by the President.
“I am very happy to receive the honour for myself and the incredible team at the Foundation. From the beginning, the Foundation’s goal was to support improving Nigeria’s
health sector.
“Nigeria had some ambitious goals for improving health, and three people here today are great champions of that cause.
Of course, the President is making health a priority. Pate, we’ve worked together to handle great challenges, including the incredible progress on polio.
“Then, Dangote, I got to know, and we have done great work together. So, in the 25 years in Nigeria, we have achieved a lot. As was mentioned, the child death rate
has gone down, and that’s because new vaccines were received to boost our efforts.
“Much work was done to increase the coverage and get vaccines to every child,” he added.
Gates said the effort to eradicate polio was one of the Foundation’s toughest. A lot was learnt, and partnerships were built with traditional institutions.
According to him, the Foundation had already rolled out HPB vaccines to reduce the 7,000 annual deaths of women from cervical cancer.
The Edo State Government has revoked the appointment of Umoru Inusa Umoru as the Aidenogie of South Ibie in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
Umoru has been replaced by Alhaji Kelvin Danesi as the Aidenogie.
Also revoked was the appointment of Lukman Akemokue as the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella in Etsako East LGA for failure to comply with the declaration of Customary Law regulating succession to the throne as enshrined in the Bendel State Legal Notice 132 of 1979.
In a statement endorsed by Edo State Secretary to State Government (SSG) and made available to journalists in Benin City, Umar Musa Ikhilor, said following the revocation, modalities have been set in motion to begin the process of selecting a new Okuokpellagbe
of Okpella in line with the state extant law.
Igbintade A coalition of pro-democracy advocates and policy experts
led by Professor Pat Utomi, The Big Tent Shadow Cabinet, has called for urgent constitutional and electoral reforms to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy amid deepening governance challenges.
At its recent meeting, Utomi stressed the need for sweeping changes to address systemic failures and restore faith in public institutions.
of Wano Kingdom
Similarly, the statement disclosed the immediate removal of Dr. George Oshiapi Egabor as the Okumagbe of Uwano as the Okumagbe of Uwano Kingdom in Etsako East LGA of the state for failure to comply with declaration of the Customary Law regulating succession to the throne as enshrined in the Bendel State Legal Notice 132 of 1979. Following this revocation, the statement noted that modalities have been set in motion to begin the process of selecting a new Okumagbe of Uwano in line with the extant laws, adding that Egabor was earlier suspended over recent cases of incessant Kidnappings and killing in his domain.
The statement read in part: “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that the Edo State Executive Council at its meeting of 30th April, approved the
“The time to act is now,” he said, warning that weakening institutions and rising public
disillusionment could push the country toward further instability.
In a statement issued by its Media and Communications Directorate, the coalition announced its formal push for constitutional amendments and reforms to the Electoral Act.
According to the group, Nigeria’s over-centralised governance structure has stifled development and fostered widespread feelings of marginalisation.
It argued that true federalism
He said a single dose of the vaccine taken by girls ages 9-14 could give them lifetime protection.
“Nigeria achieved a better result than any other country in getting out the vaccine to young girls,” he noted.
Gates told President Tinubu that he was dedicated to cutting malnutrition and spreading vaccines that could end malaria in Nigeria.
“Some of our goals will seem ambitious; for example, in the next 20 years, we hope to eradicate malaria,” he added.
could not be achieved without devolving more power to states and local governments.
“The unresolved question of local government autonomy remains a major obstacle to effective governance,” the statement said. On electoral reform, the group emphasised the need to amend the 2022 Electoral Act to guarantee credible, transparent elections and restore public confidence in the democratic process.
Confers CFR national honour on him Awardee pledges his commitment to eradicate malaria in next 20 years Anambra to Confiscate Buildings Used as Holding Centres for Child-beggars, Re-names New Govt House
revocation of appointment of Umoru Inusa Umoru as the Aidenogie of South Ibie in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state and the immediate reinstatement of Alhaji Aliyu Kelvin Danesi as the Aidenogie of South Ibie.
“The decision is premised on the fact the stool was not at any time vacant prior the appointment of Umoru Inusa Umoru.
“In the same vein, the state Executive Council approved the revocation of Lukman Akemokue as the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella in Etsako East LGA of the state for failure to comply with the declaration of Customary Law regulating succession to the throne, as enshrined in the Bendel State Legal Notice 132 of 1979.
“Following the revocation, modalities have been set in motion to begin the process of selecting a new Okuokpellagbe of Okpella in line with the Extant law.
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
The Anambra State Government has said that it will confiscate any building used as a holding centre for child beggars.
The state government’s operatives had last week raided major parts of Awka where child beggars stay to beg for alms.
It also said the children who were rescued would be sent to school, but warned that it would no longer tolerate child beggars in the state capital. The state government also during its 10th Anambra State Executive Council meeting, and the 3rd to be held in the new government house renamed it to - Light House Awka.
A press release by the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, in a press release to convey the information said the choice of name for the new government was derived from the state’s slogan; Light of the Nation.
He said: “Facilities used as holding places for child beggars are to be confiscated and sealed in compliance with extant law.
“The council decided that, in accordance with the Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025, premises used as holding places for child beggars will be henceforth sealed and confiscated going forward.
“Light House Awka is now the name of the new Anambra Government House Mini City.
After deliberating over a suitable moniker, ANSEC christened and proclaimed the new Anambra Government House Mini City as Light House Awka. This is in keeping with Anambra State’s slogan, ‘Light of the Nation’.” Mefor said during the meeting, ANSEC awarded some projects. They included; construction of factory warehouse for processing of pharmaceutical grade kaolin at Kaolin Plant, Ukpor.
“Extension of Nnewi Industrial Line & Supply and Installation of a 750 KVA Transformer at Anambra State Kaolin Plant, Ukpor and procurement and supply of official uniforms and operational gears to OCHA Brigade, Anambra State.
Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
08033025611 sms only
Fred Itua writes that Governor Monday Okpebholo is leaving no stone unturned in the onerous task of turning Edo state around for the better as evidenced in his replicating President Bola Tinubu’s transformative leadership in the state.
In the evolving trajectory of Nigeria’s democratic experiment, President Bola Tinubu has emerged as a paradigmatic figure—an architect of reforms, whose stewardship signals a recalibration of statecraft rooted in realism, resilience, and results. His ascension to the presidency came at a critical juncture when the nation was teetering on the brink of economic collapse and institutional inertia, beset by decades of policy inconsistencies, fiscal over-reach, and leadership anaemia.
Rather than capitulate to the comfort of populist appeasement, President Tinubu confronted Nigeria’s structural dysfunctions with a set of bold, if initially unpopular, reforms. His removal of the petrol subsidy—a longstanding fiscal sinkhole—alongside the liberalization of the foreign exchange regime, marked a definitive departure from cosmetic governance toward deep institutional recalibration. These decisions, though painful in the short term, underscore a commitment to long-range national interest over transient political expediency.
At the core of Tinubu’s leadership is an ethos of transformational pragmatism—a governance style that privileges strategic intervention over rhetorical flourishes.
By focusing on critical infrastructure, regulatory reforms, and social investment programs, his administration has redefined governance as a vehicle for measurable impact rather than mere ceremonial incumbency. The early green shoots of these policies are visible in increased investor confidence, infrastructural rejuvenation, and fiscal discipline. A case in point is the renewed attention to the energy sector, where subsidy removal has spurred conversations around market efficiency, deregulated pricing, and long-term investment in domestic refining capacity.
Tinubu’s presidency is also advancing the principles of fiscal federalism, allowing states greater room to maneuver in defining their
developmental priorities. This ideological shift away from overcentralized resource control is repositioning Nigeria’s subnational units as engines of innovation and experimentation—hubs where reform can be localized, tested, and scaled. It is within this larger canvas of governance renaissance that Senator Monday Okpebholo’s emergence as Governor of Edo State must be situated. His administration appears to be a deliberate echo—indeed, a subnational adaptation—of Tinubu’s reformist blueprint. Okpebholo, though early in his tenure, is rapidly distinguishing himself by
institutionalizing a results-driven governance culture anchored on infrastructural modernization, security architecture overhaul, and rural economic revitalization.
The hallmark of his administration thus far— the commencement of the state’s first flyover project, aggressive road rehabilitation efforts, and coordinated security interventions—signify not just infrastructural symbolism but a philosophical shift toward governance as developmental engineering.
Where the previous administration often conflated optics with outcomes, Okpebholo has adopted a utilitarian posture, placing performance metrics at the core of executive accountability.
Beyond infrastructure, the governor has initiated renewed investment in agriculture and youth enterprise—two sectors pivotal to Edo’s socio-economic regeneration.
By facilitating access to arable land, supporting agri-tech startups, and promoting rural agroclusters, his administration is empowering a new generation of value-chain actors, thus aligning with President Tinubu’s vision of inclusive economic growth.
In a state with rich ecological diversity and youthful demographics, this focus on productive engagement rather than political patronage is already redefining the social contract between the government and the citizens
The replication of Tinubu’s governance architecture in Edo State is not a mere political homage—it is the manifestation of a governance doctrine of replicability. The concept posits that innovation in leadership, when grounded in coherent policy design and political will, is not limited by geography. What Tinubu has begun at the national level is being internalized and contextualized at the subnational level by forward-looking leaders like Okpebholo.
This emerging governance symmetry has far-reaching implications. As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 presidential elections, the Tinubu-Okpebholo axis represents more than a political alliance; it epitomizes a renewal of trust in performance-based leadership. Where previous electoral cycles were often dominated by ethno-religious fault lines and elite consensus, the coming political cycle may well be shaped by the currency of competence—measured by track records, not tribal affiliations.
-Itua, Chief Press Secretary to Edo Governor, writes from Benin-city.
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Fidelis David writes that the 100 days in office being celebrated by Governor Lucky aiyedatiwa of Ondo state is synonymous with rising wave of insecurity and lack of visible or landmark project being executed by government in the sunshine state.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa Ondo State clocks 100 days in office, residents are busy assessing his performance in a little over three months as number one citizen of the Sunshine State.
On February 24, 2025, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa was sworn-in for the second term, marking the start of his first full four-year term as Governor of Ondo State, after winning the November 16, 2024 governorship election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His first swearing-in (as Governor) was on December 27, 2023, after the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, when he became the substantive governor.
Speaking after his second term inauguration as the seventh executive governor of the state, Aiyedatiwa vowed that he will continue to prioritize the welfare of the people of the coastal state, foster economic growth and ensure that the state remains a beacon of hope and prosperity for generations to come.
His words: “We are in a hurry to justify this fresh mandate entrusted to us. In the next four years, we will work with interested investors and our development partners in ensuring that our Port Ondo becomes a reality. We will also facilitate investors to explore our large deposits of bitumen for local use and export purposes, thereby generating huge revenue to the State.
This has been the vision and goals of our founding fathers. There is no doubt that this would not be an easy task but we are prepared to frontally confront these challenges and
Tech Advancement and Industrialization.
Besides, it is not out of point to say that the above promises have been mere rhetoric as the coastal State is still facing a number of economic burdens, ranging from high unemployment, over dependence on federal allocation, poor macro-economic management, poor standard of living occasioned by a number of factors.
In the last 100 days, one could say that Aiyedatiwa did not embark on any visible significant project other than constituting committees and reviewing past errors committed by his late principal, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN). Just last Friday, Aiyedatiwa Inaugurated the “patching” of Gbangbalogun/Odiolowo road in Akure, the state capital- a rehabilitation work which was done by previous administration without demanding for glory.
It is also painful that Aiyedatiwa described the event as a significant milestone in his administration’s first 100 days in office, underlining the government’s focus on delivering impactful governance through the “OUR EASE” agenda— a policy blueprint centered on infrastructure, social development, and economic efficiency.
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Promises Versus Reality
Aiyedatiwa’s administration New Development Agenda, ‘O’ Datiwa, O’ Dirorun’ (OUR EASE), focuses on seven key pillars namely Order, Security, and Rule of Law; Urban/ Rural Development via Agriculture and Blue Economy; Revolutionary
Others are Efficient Healthcare and SocioEconomic Welfare; Adequate Power and Affordable Energy; Sustainable Infrastructure Development and Tourism, as well as Education, Human Capital Development, and Entrepreneurship.
Inversely, despite these manifestos and promises, Aiyedatiwa’s administration has so far failed residents of the state.
For governor to say the “patching” marks a pivotal step in his administration’s infrastructural renewal agenda aimed at driving urban transformation and enhancing the quality of life for residents shows that hope may not be in sight fir the people of the state.
In a bold move to scale up the fight against maritime crimes and bolster the security of Nigeria’s territorial waters, particularly the Gulf of Guinea corridor, which remains vital to regional and global trade, the Nigerian Navy last week commissioned and inducted three state-of-the-art warships — NNS SHERE, NNS FARO, and NNS IKOGOSI, alongside three AW109 Trekker helicopters into its fleet. As the third-largest naval force in Africa, Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that it’s a clear demonstration that the Nigerian Navy’s fleet recapitalisation programme is firmly on track, reinforcing its growing capability to combat maritime illegalities and safeguard national interests at sea
Although 70 per cent of Nigeria's economic growth lies on the waterways, the maritime domain is fraught with diverse threats such as terrorism, transnational organised crimes, trafficking and illicit economic activities, sea piracy and robbery, smuggling illegal fishing and even crude oil theft, all of which are enhanced by the interconnectedness of the maritime domain.
To tackle this, the Nigerian Navy has had to patrol the endless miles of waterways to protect the nation’s territorial integrity, as well as contribute its quota at the regional level, by patrolling the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, which is a vast expanse of water stretching almost 6,000km from Senegal to Angola.
Recapitalisation Drive
Today, some of these challenges are gradually becoming a thing of the past especially when it comes to fleet acquisition, surveillance and ship building capacity.
Thus, when Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, assumed office as Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) on June 23, 2023, his recapitalisation agenda was guided by the Nigerian Navy’s Strategic Directive and aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to bolster national security, maritime safety, and economic development.
With focus on enhancing fleet readiness, maritime domain awareness, and operational effectiveness, the Nigerian Navy has accelerated its platform acquisition efforts to replace aging assets and improve blue-water and littoral capabilities.
From Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to completion and delivery of NNS Oji and NNS Kada, as well as Fast Attack Craft and Interceptors, procurement of FPB 110 patrol boats and other fast patrol craft for riverine and coastal operations, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and its integration for maritime surveillance, this has expanded the Navy’s maritime domain awareness and gone a long way to eliminate sea blindness.
Of importance is his emphasis on local shipbuilding at the Naval Dockyard Limited with increased investment also for the Naval Shipyard Limited too to enhance self-reliance in ship repair and maintenance. This is inclusive of human capital and training enhancement with emphasis on technology integration and cyber capability training.
Essentially, Vice Admiral Ogalla’s recapitalisation efforts has been aimed to increase the Nigerian Navy’s presence in both coastal and deep-sea operations; deter maritime crimes and protect Nigeria’s economic interests, particularly oil and gas infrastructure, as well as promote regional maritime security leadership within ECOWAS and the Gulf of Guinea.
The Acquisition
In line with these, the NN recently acquired three fast patrol warships with high enduranceNigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SHERE, NNS FARO, and NNS IKOGOSI, as well as three AW109 Trekker helicopters, into the NN fleet.
Three Nigerian Navy AW 109 S TREKKER Helicopters, with visual call-signs- NN501,
NN502 & NN503, are light utility helicopter manufactured by Leonardo Helicopters in Italy, designed to carry a crew of two pilots and up to six passengers with endurance of two hours 30 minutes in the air. They are expected to be used for Over the Horizon Patrols, Maritime Surveillance and Targeting.
NNS IKOGOSI, on the other hand is a high speed patrol boat with name derived from a Town in Ekiti. Classified as a River Town Class Vessel, her motto is "Search For Victory.
Meanwhile, NNS FARO and NNS SHERE are 38m Fast Patrol Boat, which are suitable for surveillance, reconnaissance, and maritime security missions and boasts of rapid response capabilities, and versatility in conducting diverse missions!
Rites of Passage
So it was an elated Navy that last week welcomed President Bola Tinubu as Special Guest of Honour (SGOH) to commission the three vessels and three AW109 Trekker helicopters, into the NN fleet at NNS BEECROFT, Apapa Lagos, with the inauguration of a 207-unit Base flat for naval personnel on the sidelines.
The commissioning started with a Guard March on Parade and had the special guest of honour inspect the Guard of Honour, leading to the CNS speech and that of the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria.
What followed was the Reading/Issuance of Commissioning Warrant to COs of Ships afterwhich they marched to meet their Ship’s Company at the jetty. This was followed immediately by the Declaration of Commissioning of Ships and Induction of Helicopters by SGOH, as well as the Breaking of Mast Head and Hoisting of Commissioning Pennant.
After the Hoisting of Jack and Ensigns, prayers were made before the SGOH’s read his speech and proceeded to cutting the tape for Induction of the Helicopters/Inspection of the Ships, which led to the Signing of Visitors’ Book by SGOH and presentation of plaque.
The Commissioning
Held as part of the 69th anniversary of the NN, President Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of state for Defence, Bello Matawalle, said it reflected his administration’s determination to empower institutions and protect national resources.
While commending that the NN for its fight against maritime criminality, he said the newly commissioned ships and helicopters were force multipliers that would enhance the its capabilities to safeguard the nation’s maritime interests, especially in our Gulf of Guinea corridor.
“This moment is not merely a ceremony, it is a declaration of the resolve, a testament to progress, and a bold stride towards securing our nation’s future. The sea, has remained a pillar of our nation’s economic prosperity and for the past 69 years, the Nigerian Navy has stood as the guardian of this blue territory. With the addition of these formidable assets, we affirm our commitment to securing Nigeria’s maritime domain,” he said.
While commending Vice Admiral Ogalla’s leadership in driving fleet modernisation and strategic foresight of the entire team, he also applauded the National Assembly and maritime partners that contributed to turning the vision into reality. This was just as he urged the NN to envision a future where Nigeria’s waters would be secure, free from criminality, and conducive for economic activities.
He said: “As we commission these ships and helicopters, let us envision the future they herald: a future where our waters are impervious to criminality; where fishermen cast their nets in peace; where global trade flows unhindered through our ports. This is not a distant dream but a mission within our reach. As the Nigerian Navy remains the guardian of our blue economy, sail forth with courage and know that a grateful nation stands behind you.”
Also speaking, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Vice Admiral Kim Pankyu (rtd), said one of the ships, NNS IKOGOSI, which was
gifted to the NN by his government, symbolised the strong diplomatic relationship between Korea and Nigeria, which began in 1980.
Harping on the the importance of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, he said threats such as piracy, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, reinforced the need for them to work together to respond to these threats, given that the maritime security in the region was critical not only to Nigeria and its neighbours, but also to Korea and the international community.
While reiterating the NN’s commitment to fleet recapitalisation and modernisation to enhance its operational efficiency, the CNS, Vice Admiral Ogalla, in his speech, said the new acquisitions mark a significant milestone in the Navy’s efforts to dominate Nigeria’s maritime space and deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He said the newly commissioned ships and helicopters possessed advanced surveillance and rapid-response capabilities, which would bolster the Navy’s maritime domain awareness and response capabilities, as well enhance maritime security and facilitate increased economic activities in the maritime environment.
He said: “This commissioning ceremony being part of our 69th Anniversary Celebration, indicates the gradual measures to equip the Nigerian Navy over the years. The Nigerian Navy is still expecting several platforms to join her fleet this year. Some of these platforms include 2 x 76m High Endurance Offshore Patrol Vessels from Turkey, 3 x 46m Fast Patrol Boats from China, Tug Boats, amongst others.
“These platforms will enhance our operational readiness to carryout our statutory roles. We are also enhancing human capacity development through adequate technical trainings to ensure proper usage and maintenance of these platforms. This is in addition to other welfare packages to improve the morale and operational efficiency of our personnel being the most important resource of the Navy.
“Today’s induction, is a testament of the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure the security of our waters for the prosperity of our dear nation. Let me therefore warn all maritime criminals who threaten our waters that our maritime space will no longer be a safe haven for crimes as the Nigerian Navy is better equipped to curb all forms of criminalities for increased economic activities and national security.”
At the induction were many dignitaries including the Chairman Senate Committee for Defence, Senator Gbenga Daniel; Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Honourable Yusuf Gagdi; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar and former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Samuel Afolayan (rtd) amongst others, including senior officers. Even with budgetary constraints, bureaucratic procurement delays and need for sustained local shipbuilding capacity and manpower training, the commissioning and induction of the three vessels and helicopters, has spotlighted Vice Admiral Ogalla’s deliberate push to modernise and expand the Nigerian Navy’s operational capabilities through a comprehensive recapitalisation drive.
With a Bachelors degree in Agriculture from the University of Illorin; a Masters degree in Business Analysis and Management from Loughborough University, UK, and an MBA in Business Development, and Professional Sales from the University of New Brunswick, Canada, the founder of healthy beverages company, Lo'meedarfresh, Amidat Adigun, shares business lessons in her entrepreneurial journey. While affirming that Nigerian businesses have what it takes to succeed on the global stage, she takes Esther Oluku through her expansion into the Canadian market, as well as the secrets of building a formidable brand, amongst other things
As a small business owner with exposure to local and international market, how was it like starting out your healthy food business in the Nigerian market?
The journey to founding Lo’meedarfresh was deeply personal. Growing up, I was surrounded by a home where healthy eating was not just a habit, it was a lifestyle. That early exposure taught me the importance of food as a form of care and wellness which naturally evolved into a passion for creating a brand that champions health in a way that’s both practical and enjoyable.
While the Nigerian market is full of potentials, we had to navigate infrastructural issues such as inconsistent power supply, fluctuating prices of ingredients, and logistical hurdles. We had to be especially strategic and resourceful as a self-funded business, often doing more with less. Also, the entrepreneurial energy in Nigeria is unmatched. People are open to new ideas and the growing awareness around wellness gave us a solid footing. So with resilience and local grounding laid the foundation for what has now grown into an internationally recognized brand with a presence in both Nigeria and Canada.
With many small businesses looking to build for the long term, raising capital presents a major challenge. How were you able to cross that hurdle?
As a self-funded business, raising capital has been one of our biggest hurdles. We have relied on personal savings, reinvested profits, and operated very lean all through. Grant and loan opportunities have been difficult to access. What we lacked in funding, we made up for in strategy, consistency, and community support. We have learned to be resourceful, maximizing every opportunity to grow the business without compromising on quality.
Having grown your business and expanded into the Canadian market, what would you say are the secrets of building a formidable brand?
A formidable brand is built on clarity, consistency, and connection. Our mission has always been clear- making wellness delicious and accessible. We have been consistent in our quality, packaging, and customer service and that has earned us trust. Most importantly, we connect deeply with our audience by telling our story, sharing our journey, and involving our community in our growth. These values have helped us remain authentic and relatable, even as we expand internationally.
While your business grows, what does
expansion into the international market mean for your company as a Nigerian brand?
Expanding internationally is a proud and transformative milestone for us. It signifies that a homegrown Nigerian brand can thrive locally and also globally. Our entry into the Canadian market has been incredibly affirming. The warmth, invaluable learning in feedbacks and acceptance we received during showcases reinforced the universal appeal of our products and our message of health and wellness. More importantly, it allows us to proudly represent Nigerian innovation on a global stage while maintaining our standards of quality, authenticity, and creativity.
How do you maintain brand consistency across continents?
Before launching in the Canada market,
we conducted local research to understand consumer preferences and validate taste expectations. This informed subtle tweaks to our recipes to better suit the Canadian palate, without losing the originality and authenticity of our offerings.
We have invested in documented recipes, strict quality control measures, and clear branding guidelines to ensure consistency in taste, appearance, and customer experience whether in Lagos or Saint John. To support us, our teams are trained extensively on our brand values, product standards, and service culture, while open communication across both locations keeps everyone aligned.
Fortunately, our meals and beverages are universally appealing and not limited to a specific cultural clime, which positions us to seamlessly cut across
diverse markets while remaining true to the heart of the business.
As a producer of healthy beverages, what would you say is the market size for healthy beverages across the markets where you operate?
The healthy beverage market is growing steadily, both in Nigeria and globally. In Nigeria, more people are becoming health-conscious and are actively seeking alternatives to sugary drinks. The market is young but promising. In Canada, there is already a strong demand for clean-label, nutrient-rich drinks. We are confident that as awareness grows, the appetite for functional, fresh beverages like ours will only increase.
Are you exploring partnerships with local farmers to cut down on wastages which result from unsold produce?
Yes, sustainability is very important to us, and as someone with a background in Agriculture, this is a cause close to my heart. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, so I truly understand the value of minimizing post-harvest losses and supporting local ecosystems.
Currently, we source fresh produce from local markets in Nigeria and are intentional about how and where we source to ensure quality and reduce waste. While we are not yet in formal partnerships with local farmers, it is part of our long-term vision. As we continue to grow and scale, we hope to establish structured collaborations with small holder farmers. This will not only help reduce post-harvest waste but also contribute to sustainable food systems and support local agricultural communities.
Do you think there is opportunity for Nigerians to favourably compete with their counterparts in the healthy beverages space around the world?
Definitely. Nigerian entrepreneurs are bold, innovative, and incredibly resilient. With the right support especially in access to funding, infrastructure, and exposure, there’s no reason we cannot stand shoulder-to-shoulder with international brands. Our unique flavors, use of local ingredients, and cultural creativity offer a competitive edge that the global market is increasingly open to.
Having begun operations in the Canadian market, are there plans to expand your product offerings to other parts of the world?
Yes, we have ambitious plans. Canada is just the beginning. We are exploring expansion to other cities across North America and in the future, Europe and the UAE. We believe our offerings have global appeal, and we are building a brand that can travel across borders while staying true to its Nigerian roots.
Ayodeji Ake
In a determined effort to curb the rising tide of economic and financial crimes, the Edo State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) recently hosted a high-powered delegation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Benin Directorate Office.
The courtesy visit, which took place at the National Orientation Agency State Office in Benin City, marked a renewed commitment to collaboration between two critical government institutions in the fight against corruption and unethical practices in Nigeria.
The National Orientation Agency was represented by its State Director, Barrister Woghiren Osahon, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission team was led by the Acting Zonal
Director, Assistant Commander of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (ACE I) Effa Imoh Okim.
The meeting focused on strategies to foster greater cooperation through public education, community mobilization, and value reorientation — essential tools for tackling the root causes of corruption and economic crimes in the society.
"The fight against corruption cannot be left to one agency alone. It demands the collective responsibility of all stakeholders, especially the citizens," Barrister Woghiren Osahon emphasized during the meeting.
A significant portion of the discussion zeroed in on the growing menace of the get-richquick syndrome among Nigerian youths — a phenomenon increasingly linked to the rise
in internet fraud, cybercrime, and other financial malpractices.
Assistant Commander Effa Imoh Okim highlighted the urgency of addressing this societal issue through aggressive sensitization programmes aimed at young people across schools, communities, and social gatherings.
"When youths believe that wealth must come quickly and by any means, they become easy prey for criminal activities. Our mission must be to redirect their energy toward productive and legitimate paths," Okim stated.
Both institutions agreed to intensify awareness campaigns targeted at secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and youth associations across Edo State.
The campaigns will stress the importance of honest living, diligence, and patience as pillars of success, while showcasing
the dangers and long-term consequences of involvement in financial crimes.
Recognizing that corruption cuts across all sectors of the society, the National Orientation Agency and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission also agreed to extend their enlightenment efforts to other influential groups, including: Market traders, Community leaders, Traditional rulers and Religious organizations among others. By engaging traditional and religious institutions, the agencies hope to leverage the respect and influence these leaders command to foster a culture of transparency and accountability at the grassroots level.
According to Barrister Woghiren Osahon, involving traditional and religious leaders is crucial because they serve
as custodians of societal values and norms.
"Integrity must be reinstated as a core community value, and it begins with those who shape opinions at the grassroots," he noted.
The collaboration will involve town hall meetings, market sensitization programmes, anti-corruption rallies, and radio talk shows conducted in local languages to ensure effective message penetration across all demographics.
The National Orientation Agency’s mandate is primarily focused on public enlightenment, civic education, and the promotion of national values, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is the lead agency responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and preventing economic and financial crimes.
The meeting reaffirmed that combining the enforcement strength of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with the mobilization prowess of the National Orientation Agency creates a potent force against the scourge of corruption.
Assistant Commander Effa Imoh Okim pointed out that enforcement alone cannot win the battle against corruption unless the people themselves reject and resist it.
"An enlightened citizenry that understands the dangers of corruption is the best ally we can have. Prevention is more effective and cheaper than prosecution," he remarked. Through their partnership, the two agencies aim to move beyond punitive actions to building a resilient moral culture, where citizens instinctively uphold integrity and shun corrupt practices.
Kayode Tokede
The overall market capitalisation of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX)-debt, equities and Exchange Traded Fund) crossed the N120 trillion mark to N121.35 trillion in May 2025, amid a hike in foreign investors inflow.
This is about 11.05 per cent or N12.08 trillion Year-till-Date growth when compared to N109.27 trillion overall market capitalisation year end December 2024.
For the debt market, it is made up of corporate Bonds/Debentures, FGN Bonds and State and Local Bonds.
Currently, there are 15 listed bonds on NGX issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Government of Nigeria; four States bonds and 21 corporate Bonds/Debentures. As of May 2025, a total of 150 companies are listed on the NGX.
Equities market contributed about 58.07 per cent or N70.470 trillion of the N121.35 trillion total market capitalisation and continues to dominate transactions on NGX. NGX transactions has been greatly impacted by foreign investors taking advantage of the foreign exchange reforms by the CBN.
The Debt market came second, contributing about 41.91 per cent or N50.851 trillion as of May 2025, while ETF ranked third with 0.02 per cent or N25.5billion contribution to the overall N121.35 trillion in the period under review.
For the equities market, it has appreciated by N7.7 trillion in the first five months of 2025 to close at N70.470 trillion from N62.774 trillion it closed 2024, while the debt market moved from N46.446 trillion in December 2024 to N50.851 trillion as of May 2025.
The equities market growth of N7.7 trillion in the first five months
of 2025 can be attributed to strong earnings by listed companies, and foreign investors’ demand for fundamental stocks.
A breakdown of equities market capitalisation revealed that, in January 2025, it appreciated by N1.95 trillion, and in February 2025, it appreciated by N2.48 trillion to close at N67.193 trillion.
In March 2025, the equities market was down by N936 billion as investors shifted attention to money market instruments. In addition, it gained N239.03 billion in April 2025 from N66.257 trillion it opened for trading to close at N66.496 trillion.
However, the equities market gained N3.97 trillion buoyed by investors’ demand for Airtel Africa Plc that added N810.3billion by market capitalization.
Out of the N70.470 trillion market capitalisation of listed equities as of May 2025, Airtel
Africa contributed N8.92 trillion or 12.65 per cent, to maintain its position as most capitalised listed company on NGX.
Airtel Africa was followed by BUA Foods Plc and Dangote Cement and with a market capitalisation of N7.92 trillion and N7.42 trillion, respectively.
In the five months under review, Nigeria’s inflation showed signs of easing, currently at 23.71per cent amid the rebasing exercise by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
So far this year, the CBN has continued its monetary policy tightening to stabilise the naira and inflation.
Listed corporate earnings on NGX also played a pivotal role with major fundamental companies declaring impressive earnings in the first quarter (Q1) ended March 2025 and others migrated to profit generation.
Capital market analysts noted that the corporate earnings reports of Q1
2025, coupled with strong dividend declarations from the 2024 FY results, especially from the banking sector, cement manufacturing companies, encouraged investors seeking returns in a volatile macro environment.
Although domestic investors were a major force behind the rally, foreign investors are closing gap by increasing their statke on NGX.
The latest Domestic and Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) report released by the NGX last month indicated that as of April 30, foreign investors contributed 32.32 per cent out of N2.71 trillion total transaction as against 13.77 per cent of the N1.89 trillion reported April 2024.
In the first five months under review, several equities listed on the NGX have recorded strong month to date appreciation, reflecting heightened foreign investor confidence driven by improved macro-economic indicators and robust corporate earnings.
Capital market analysts noted that sustaining this momentum in the rest of 2025 will depend on the continuation of stable and credible economic policies.
The Vice President, Highcap Securities, David Adonri noted that the equities market so far in 2025 has witnessed massive interest in the recovering major stocks such as Airtel Africa, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Nigeran Breweries Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, and others which propelled the May rally.
“Having reacted, the market is expected to cool down until perhaps the third week in June when half year corporate expectations will start impacting the market positively or negatively, depending on the kind of price sensitive information that inundates the market,” he said.
Nume Ekeghe
After months of elevated borrowing, credit to the federal government fell to N23.55 trillion in April 2025, the lowest level seen in a year, according to new data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The figure represents a sharp 8.9 per cent drop from N25.86 trillion in March and may signal a deliberate shift by the
government to scale back on domestic borrowing.
The drop is noteworthy given the borrowing patterns observed over the past year. In April 2024, government credit stood at N19.98 trillion. From there, it rose steadily hitting N28.38 trillion in May and maintaining an upward trajectory through to November, when it peaked at N39.62 trillion. This period coincided with fiscal pressures, sluggish revenue
inflows, and heightened deficit financing needs.
June 2024 saw a dip to N23.93 trillion, followed by a drop to N19.83 trillion in July. But the respite was short-lived. Borrowing surged again in August to N31.15 trillion, and hovered near record levels for three consecutive months: N39.47 trillion in September, N39.39 trillion in October, and then the November peak. Credit to government eased
slightly in December to N27.14 trillion, and again to N25.03 trillion in January 2025. It rose to N27.11 trillion in February before beginning a sustained decline in March and April.
Meanwhile, credit to the private sector climbed to a new high of N77.91 trillion in April, an encouraging signal for the real economy. The figure represents a 2.2 per cent increase from N76.27 trillion recorded in
March, and a year-on-year rise of almost 7 per cent compared to N72.92 trillion in April 2024.
The credit expansion is backed by steady bank lending activity across industries, particularly in manufacturing, trade, agriculture, and telecommunications. The private sector has remained a bright spot in monetary data, despite the Central Bank’s tighter policy stance aimed at curbing inflation and defending the naira.
Private credit volumes had hovered between N73 trillion and N75 trillion for most of mid2024, before accelerating toward year-end. By December, credit had reached N78.02 trillion the highest point before a brief slowdown in January and February. The April rebound suggests growing confidence among lenders and borrowers, likely supported by improved balance sheets and a more stable policy environment.
Bolanle Ati-John
Nigeria at the Crossroads – A Nation Poised Between Extraction and Enablement
Nigeria is not poor. It is poorly managed. This assertion, once whispered in policy circles, has now become an undeniable truth staring us in the face. With vast natural resources, a youthful and energetic population, a thriving informal economy, and a deep well of entrepreneurial instinct, Nigeria possesses the raw ingredients not only for national transformation but for global leadership. Yet, despite this abundance, the country remains trapped in cycles of economic underperformance, mass poverty, and civic frustration. Why? Because Nigeria is yet to make the most important transition any post-colonial state must undergo: the shift from a gatekeeping, extractive state to a productive, enabling one. Our government institutions; federal, state, and local, have for too long behaved like rent collectors, not facilitators of prosperity. Rather than creating conditions that nurture enterprise and expand opportunity, the state often places itself as an obstacle by imposing excessive taxation, duplicative regulations, and arbitrary enforcement on citizens and businesses alike. The message is clear: succeed despite the system, not because of it. But this model is unsustainable. It breeds informality, corrodes public trust, and perpetuates a vicious cycle where wealth creators are punished while rent seekers are rewarded. It is a model that has exhausted its legitimacy and usefulness. And if Nigeria is to have any hope of meeting the 21st-century development challenge, let alone fulfilling the kind of projections envisioned in Goldman Sachs’ recent forecast, it must undergo a structural and philosophical overhaul.
In its widely discussed long-term outlook, Goldman Sachs projected that Nigeria could become the fifth-largest economy in the world by 2075, surpassing economic powerhouses like Germany and Japan. This isn’t just a feel-good statistic. It’s a call to ambition. It signals what Nigeria could become if it abandons the self-inflicted wounds of bad policy, elite impunity, and extractive governance—and embraces a national strategy of productive empowerment. But the road from where we are to where we could be is not paved with good intentions. It must be charted through clear choices, courageous reforms, and a new social contract. This piece sets out to frame that journey not as an abstract wish list, but as a concrete paradigm shift: from extraction to enablement. I argue that if Nigeria wants to build a prosperous, inclusive, and competitive economy, it must reimagine the role of the state not as a controller, but as a collaborator. Not as a collector of unearned taxes, but as a builder of shared value. The enabling state is one that clears the path, builds the road, and lets its people drive. It is a state that understands that the true source of national wealth is not oil, not foreign aid, and not central planning but the creativity, sweat, and enterprise of ordinary Nigerians.
The challenge before us is immense. But it is not insurmountable. Other countries have made this transition. South Korea, the UAE, Singapore, and even parts of Latin America have shown that with visionary leadership and a clear national development model, poor countries can become prosperous within a generation. Nigeria has no excuse. This is our moment to choose: to continue down the road of underachievement, or to rise with resolve and purpose. And if we do, if we build an enabling state worthy of the people it serves, then the future described in Goldman Sachs’ forecast will not be an anomaly; it will be our reality.
Historical Background
To understand Nigeria’s present fiscal and developmental challenges, one must begin by tracing the legacy of its colonial economic architecture. The roots of the extractive governance model lie not in a uniquely Nigerian failing, but in the deliberate design of colonial administration. The British colonial government in Nigeria, like elsewhere in its empire, did not exist to enable indigenous enterprise or uplift local populations. Its core purpose was to extract value, raw materials, taxes, labour, and control, to serve the imperial economy. This extractive orientation manifested in the early forms of taxation imposed by colonial authorities, including the infamous hut tax, poll tax, and later, the income tax ordinance. These taxes were not tied to productivity or service delivery but enforced through coercion. The purpose was not to stimulate the domestic economy, but to finance colonial administration and infrastructure geared toward export commodities. In effect, taxation became a tool of domination, not development; a legacy that endures subtly to this day.
When Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the new republic inherited not just political authority but institutional frameworks, legal systems, and a fiscal structure modelled on colonial priorities. The state remained centralized, bureaucratic, and extractive. Rather than being reimagined to serve citizens in a democratic context, the machinery of government simply changed hands, from foreign to indigenous elites. The discovery and commercialisation of crude oil in the 1970s further entrenched this trajectory. With oil revenues flooding federal coffers, the Nigerian state grew increasingly insulated from its citizens. The social contract became distorted: rather than tax its people
and earn their accountability, the state became dependent on oil rents and saw less need to cultivate a productive, tax-paying citizenry. Governance became more about rent distribution than nation building. This disconnect weakened the imperative to build enabling institutions, nurture productivity, or foster broad-based prosperity. Oil wealth also distorted the fiscal federalism that had once characterized Nigeria’s early post-independence years. In the 1950s and 60s, regions competed economically and retained significant control over their resources and revenues. This competition drove innovation and relative efficiency in places like the Western Region under Obafemi Awolowo and the Eastern Region under Michael Okpara. But the oil boom and subsequent centralization of revenue collection eroded that model. Today, over 50% of Nigeria’s consolidated revenue is federally collected and disbursed, creating a dependency syndrome at subnational levels and blunting incentives for internally generated revenue reforms. In this context, taxation continues to carry the stigma of injustice. Citizens often perceive taxes not as a contribution to shared development, but as a shakedown by an unaccountable state. Compliance is low not because Nigerians lack patriotism, but because the experience of governance is often extractive, inefficient, and corrupt. The moral legitimacy of taxation has been eroded by decades of poor service delivery, bureaucratic hurdles, and a perception that taxes disappear into a black hole of mismanagement. Moreover, attempts at expanding the tax base have often been executed in ways that reinforce this mistrust. Multiple taxes, levies, and informal fees proliferate, especially at the local government level. For the average Nigerian entrepreneur or informal trader, dealing with government agents is often an experience laced with extortion, arbitrariness, and harassment. Therefore, the issue is not whether Nigeria collects “too little tax” as is often claimed. It is that the value for money equation is broken. People do not resist taxation simply because they are unwilling; they resist because they have seen too little in return. The colonial mindset, of the state as an overlord and the citizen as a subject, still haunts the Nigerian fiscal imagination. Changing this legacy requires more than reforming tax codes. It requires a psychological and institutional reinvention of the relationship between the state and its citizens. It demands a new ethos where government earns the right to tax by first enabling productivity, delivering visible value, and operating transparently. In essence, Nigeria must complete the unfinished business of decolonizing its governance not merely politically, but economically and structurally.
Regulatory and Tax Burdens – A Barrier to Nigeria’s Productive Renaissance
While tax collection is essential to the function of any state, it must be nested within a coherent policy framework that encourages wealth creation.
In Nigeria, however, the prevailing experience for many businesses, especially Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), is not one of an enabling ecosystem, but of a suffocating labyrinth. Over the decades, a toxic combination of regulatory overreach, arbitrary enforcement, and fragmented taxation has turned the process of doing business into an endurance test rather than an invitation to grow. The problem begins with the multiplicity of taxes and levies, many of which are duplicative, ill defined, or outright unconstitutional. Nigeria’s tax ecosystem includes federal, state, and local authorities, each with the power to impose various forms of taxation. In theory, this reflects a federal structure. In practice, it has created overlapping jurisdictions and confusion. A single business may be liable for corporate income tax, value-added tax (VAT), education tax, development levy, signage fees, waste disposal charges, and other “informal” fees collected by state or local agents. Many of these are enforced without clear legal basis or supporting services. The result is a system in which compliance costs are exorbitantly high, not just in financial terms, but in time, energy, and bureaucratic frustration. For micro entrepreneurs and traders operating on thin margins, the burden is often unsustainable. Rather than register their businesses and face a gauntlet of levies, many retreat into informality, thereby shrinking the taxable base and perpetuating the very fiscal shortfall the government seeks to correct. This creates a perverse cycle: the government, desperate for revenue, imposes more taxes on a narrow formal sector; that sector, feeling overburdened, contracts further or finds creative ways to avoid tax altogether. In the absence of strategic reform, the tax net does not expand, it collapses inward. Worse still, regulatory agencies often act not as partners in enterprise, but as predators. Businesses report being harassed by multiple regulatory bodies; each demanding fees, penalties, or unofficial payments. Rather than providing guidance, many regulators operate with a punitive mindset, wielding shutdowns and fines as their primary tools. Environmental inspectors, fire safety officials, local government agents, and even sanitation officers are known
to swoop down on small businesses without warning or due process.
This behaviour is not merely anecdotal. The World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business” index, which formerly ranked Nigeria poorly, highlighted issues such as the complexity of starting a business, dealing with construction permits, and paying taxes. Although Nigeria made improvements on paper through reforms like the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), the lived experience for most entrepreneurs remains arduous, especially outside Lagos and Abuja. Particularly troubling is the state of local government revenue generation. Constitutionally empowered to promote grassroots development, many local governments have instead become centres of rent seeking. In place of providing public goods, such as clean markets, basic healthcare, and local security, they focus on extracting fees from the informal sector with little accountability. Petty traders, okada riders, and artisans are routinely extorted by task forces acting under dubious authority. This is not taxation; it is predation disguised in uniform. What is lost in this environment is the very foundation of economic growth: trust, productivity, and longterm investment. Entrepreneurs are less likely to reinvest their profits or expand operations when they fear arbitrary penalties or regulatory hostility.
Foreign investors, too, are wary of opaque systems where enforcement is unpredictable and political interference common. Even local capital stays on the sidelines, opting for short-term, speculative ventures rather than long-term industry-building. Contrast this with what happens in productive, enabling states. In countries like Estonia, Rwanda, or Singapore, regulation is digitized, simplified, and transparent. Taxation is predictable, fairly administered, and tied to visible services. Most importantly, government agencies operate as service providers, not extortionists. Entrepreneurs are seen as partners in national development not adversaries to be squeezed. The irony is that Nigeria has no shortage of talent or enterprise. From tech innovators in Yaba to textile traders in Aba, from farmers in Benue to logistics firms in Port Harcourt, the country teems with people ready to work, build, and create. What is missing is the policy environment that unleashes rather than hinders them. Indeed, the true cost of Nigeria’s regulatory and tax burden is not merely fiscal, it is existential. It erodes the social contract, breeds cynicism, and perpetuates a low trust society. Citizens begin to see government not as an institution that delivers, but as one that obstructs. Over time, this undermines national cohesion, discourages patriotism, and fuels the very tax evasion the state seeks to combat. To break this cycle, Nigeria must shift its paradigm from coercive extraction to strategic enablement. Taxation should follow productivity and not precede it. Regulation must be service driven, not punitive. And government must earn the right to tax by visibly delivering value. Only then can Nigeria build a broad based, inclusive, and thriving economy.
The Enabling State Paradigm – From Gatekeeper to Growth Partner
In the annals of national development, few ideas are as powerful or as misunderstood as the concept of the enabling state. It is not a weak state, nor is it a minimalist one. It is a state that knows when to lead and when to get out of the way. It is a government that sets the stage for prosperity by investing in public goods, streamlining regulation, and earning the trust of its citizens. Crucially, the enabling state does not treat enterprise as a threat, it sees it as an engine. And it taxes productivity only after it has made productivity possible. For decades, Nigeria’s governance model has followed the opposite script. Rather than creating the conditions for wealth, it often acts as a gatekeeper, imposing high entry costs, regulatory hurdles, and burdensome taxation before value is even created. The consequence has been a stifled economy, widespread informality, and a brittle tax base. By contrast, countries that have embraced the enabling state paradigm have experienced remarkable economic transformations, often within a generation.
Consider Singapore: in the 1960s, it was a struggling port city with no natural resources. But through visionary leadership, lean bureaucracy, smart investment in human capital, and a relentless focus on ease of doing business, it reinvented itself into one of the world’s most competitive economies. Singapore’s government didn’t wait to be rich before building infrastructure, it invested first and taxed later. The results speak for themselves. Or Rwanda: a landlocked, post-conflict country that many had written off. Today, it is a poster child for public sector reform in Africa, with one of the continent’s most efficient bureaucracies. Government services are digitalized, corruption is systematically tackled, and businesses are supported rather than hunted. Rwanda’s transformation was not born of natural wealth, it came from state intentionality and a deliberate move from control
to enablement.
Even South Korea, now a member of the OECD, offers lessons. Once one of the poorest countries in the world, it achieved rapid industrialization through a close, though disciplined, partnership between government and the private sector. The state identified priority sectors, supported infrastructure, invested in education, and fostered a competitive environment. Importantly, it also taxed in a way that reflected rising incomes, not suppressed them. These countries, diverse in context and geography, share one insight: development happens when the state acts as a platform, not a predator. When it builds roads and ports before taxing commerce; when it registers businesses in days, not months; when it provides reliable power and broadband instead of issuing fines for non-compliance with conditions it itself makes impossible.
Nigeria has glimpses of this model in places. The reforms introduced in Lagos State over the past two decades; on traffic management, environmental services, tax administration, and infrastructure, hint at what is possible. The rise of the tech sector, largely driven by private innovation but supported in part by investment in broadband and payment infrastructure, shows how an ecosystem can grow when not suffocated by bad policy. But these examples are exceptions, not the rule. What Nigeria needs now is not isolated reforms, but a new governing philosophy. The enabling state must become the central idea of governance at all levels – federal, state, and local.
This shift demands specific commitments:
• Policy stability and regulatory clarity that give investors the confidence to plan long-term.
• Digitization of government services to eliminate rent-seeking and reduce bureaucratic friction.
• Strategic infrastructure investment, especially in power, transport, and logistics, to lower the cost of doing business.
• Educational reform that aligns skills with industry needs, empowering youth to contribute meaningfully to the economy.
• Tax reform that widens the net by simplifying compliance and linking taxation to visible service delivery.
At its heart, the enabling state trusts its people. It sees them not as potential violators to be monitored, but as partners in building a great nation. This trust is not naïve, it is reciprocal. Citizens, when treated with dignity and fairness, respond with cooperation, creativity, and contribution. And yet, enablement is not about abdication. An enabling state must still regulate, enforce and redistribute. But it does so intelligently, efficiently, and transparently. It prioritizes outcomes over optics. It listens more than it lectures. It innovates alongside its people. Nigeria is not too late to embrace this paradigm. Indeed, the country stands to gain more than most. With a youthful population, growing urban centers, and a latent entrepreneurial class, the potential for a productivity boom is real. But it will not happen by default. It must be designed and that design must be led by a state that sees its role not in extraction, but in elevation. The enabling state is not a luxury. It is the foundation of modern development. It is the platform on which dreams are built, jobs are created, and nations are transformed. The time to build it is now.
Strategic Recommendations: Laying the Foundations for an Enabling State in Nigeria
Transforming Nigeria from a gatekeeping to an enabling state will not be achieved through rhetoric or fragmented reform. It requires a deliberate, whole of government reorientation anchored in a long-term national vision. To build a society where wealth is not only created but fairly taxed and reinvested, Nigeria must commit to a new strategy: one that removes obstacles to productivity, restores public trust, and aligns the state’s fiscal interest with the economic empowerment of its people. Below are seven strategic priorities that should anchor this new vision:
and
Nigeria’s tax architecture is complex, duplicative, and disjointed across the federal, state, and local levels. This multiplicity not only discourages compliance but creates incentives for evasion, informality, and corruption. The first step toward enabling productivity is to streamline and harmonize the tax system. A unified national tax framework, backed by digital infrastructure, should be developed to consolidate federal, state, and local taxes into a simplified, transparent system. States can retain their fiscal autonomy, but within a harmonized framework that reduces double taxation, arbitrary levies, and regulatory duplication. A reliable digital tax ID system must be integrated with banking, business registration, and digital payment networks to simplify filing, reduce leakages, and improve traceability. Crucially, compliance must be rewarded. Taxpayers who fulfill their obligations, especially first-time formal businesses, should receive tangible incentives such as access to microcredit, procurement preferences, or utility discounts. Compliance should not just be a duty; it must be seen as a pathway to growth.
• Rear Admiral Bolanle Ati-John (Rtd) is a strategic policy advocate
The Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr. Emomotimi Agama in this interview on the sideline at the just concluded African Development Bank annual meeting in Abidjan, underscored the urgency of harnessing local capital to drive the continent’s development agenda. He spoke on the importance of retaining African wealth within the continent, ongoing efforts to mobilise diaspora remittances, and deepening regional capital market integration. Agama also highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to sustainability and the investment opportunities it presents for long-term growth. Nume Ekeghe presents excerpts.
A recurring theme at this gathering is the call for African capital to serve African priorities, ensuring that local funds are retained and efficiently deployed within the continent, even as efforts to attract external investment continue. How do you assess the quality of the conversations so far, and what concrete strategies are emerging to make this vision a reality?
It’s about the most important item on the agenda, making sure that we hold capital right in such a way that it remains in Africa. There couldn’t be a better opportunity and time to speak about this, especially when funding into Africa is beginning to waver.
And so, it is critical that, as Africans, we begin to look inward. In all sincerity, there’s actually capital in Africa. What has not happened is harnessing that capital and making good use of it—specifically, for infrastructure. Because for every development, if the pillars of development are not in existence, development cannot happen. And that pillar of development is infrastructure.
And what drives infrastructure development other than capital? That is exactly what we’re saying. We are saying we should look inwards. We should make sure that the capital within Africa is used for Africa, in order to re-energize Africa—to bring out the best out of Africa.
Earlier in one of the panel sessions, there was considerable discussion around remittances— particularly the volume expected from countries like the United States, which hosts a significant Nigerian diaspora; is the SEC implementing any specific instruments or strategies to harness these inflows and channel them into productive investments within Nigeria?”
Of course, there are instruments, there are a plethora of instruments already developed and in existence. As a point of reference, just recently, the Sukuk that was issued was 700 per cent oversubscribed. That tells you something, it tells you that the funding is there and available.
Even Nigerians abroad should now know that you can make more money investing in Nigeria and putting your money back into instruments in Nigeria than putting it elsewhere. Beyond the Sukuk, most recently the SEC supported the Ministry of Finance Incorporated in issuing the MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF), which is the housing bond. And there are several other opportunities that exist for Africans to invest in Africa and get the best out of what they are investing in.
Imagine knowing that you’re investing in your
own country to make more money for yourself, what more could be a source of national pride other than doing that.
In my conversation with the Deputy Governor of PAPSS, he mentioned ongoing efforts to establish an investment corridor that facilitates cross-border investments within Africa. Are there any current discussions between Nigeria and other African exchanges aimed at enabling seamless capital flows and intra-African investment opportunities?
That has been a discussion for a while, and fortunately, I was one of those who initiated it. It comes from WACMIC, which is the West African Capital Market Integration Committee. Currently, I represent Nigeria as the Chair of the West African Securities Regulators Association. The essence of WACMIC, WASRA, and other initiatives is to ensure that particularly in West Africa we are able to passport ourselves in terms of investment. Meaning that if you’re in any West African country, you’re able to invest in another without any inhibition. That is the project we are working on, and we will certainly get through with it very soon.
How much do you foresee in investments coming into Nigeria from overseas?
If I give a figure, then I’d be betraying myself. However, I can clearly tell you that the interest has increased tremendously. So, we will not limit ourselves. Our goal is to create a $1 trillion economy, and that is actually going to be facilitated significantly by Nigerians living abroad.
Clearly, it is our desire that we will get there. So just consider that we are expectant, we are hopeful, and we know that it will happen.
What topical issues at these meetings are you looking forward too?
I’ll be speaking on sustainability which is key to Africa and key to Nigeria. As I always say, in the four quadrants of Nigeria, sustainability issues must be dealt with. In the North, we talk about desertification. In the West, we talk about pollution. In the South-South, it’s oil pollution and environmental degradation. In the East, there are also critical environmental concerns.
Even though our emissions are among the lowest globally, the future around sustainability and our environment cannot be overemphasised. We will be speaking about that and encouraging more investment in that area within Africa and specifically Nigeria in order for us to deal with those challenges; that is being futuristic, ensuring the future is safe, both for ourselves and for generations to come.
Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), an organisation which supports informed decisionmaking on nations’ resources and the energy transition, has urged Nigeria to adopt the right technologies and reforms to cut methane emissions in the oil sector.
This was disclosed in Abuja at a policy dialogue themed: “Strengthening Public Accountability and Compliance
in Methane Emissions Management in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector”, which brought together key stakeholders from government, civil society, and the private sector, including the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
Speaking at the event, Senior Officer and Team Lead, NRGI Nigeria, Tengi George-Ikoli, said the dialogue was aimed at identifying gaps and pushing for harmonised methane emissions regulation across upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.
She warned that Nigeria’s access to European energy markets could be compromised under the European Union’s impending methane emissions standards if reforms are not urgently pursued.
“Nigeria trades about 47 per cent of its oil and gas resources with the EU. If we do not put the right technologies and laws in place, we risk losing access to these markets,” she cautioned.
According to her, if Nigeria is to pursue gas as a transition fuel, it must make
the case convincingly—by strengthening its methane governance framework so that this pathway remains realistic, competitive, and aligned with global standards and climate imperatives.
“Methane, as we may know, is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term, and a significant amount of Nigeria’s methane emissions come from the oil and gas sector. Without deliberate and sustained action to reduce these emissions, we risk undermining
our own national climate goals—and compromising the health and wellbeing of frontline communities across the Niger Delta and beyond,” she argued.
According to her, methane emissions have environmental, economic and social consequences that have enormous impact for those who live in the societies and communities as well as Nigeria’s ability to access global markets to sell its oil and gas resources.
Although Nigeria had set
targets to eliminate gas flaring by 2020, she noted that the country has continued to shift the goalpost, explaining that the NGRI is now advocating the National Council on Climate Change to continue to track progress on the agreed targets.
“It puts our potential credibility at risk on the global stage if we don’t meet them and also puts the health of our citizens at risk who suffer from cardiovascular or respiratory issues if methane emissions are not reduced,” she argued.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of Chemstar Paints Industries Nigeria Limited (Paints & Chemicals), Mr Adedayo Paseda, has stated that the management spends over N20 million on staff welfare every year.
He disclosed this while declaring open the company’s Health & Safety Week 2025.
He said a lot of financial resources are invested in the staff’s health and safety needs, and in providing safety kits such
as boots, helmets, and nose masks, among others,
“The management spends over N20 million yearly on the staff HMO Health Insurance, aside from other health and hospital issues of members of staff that need to be attended to urgently without waiting for HMO.
“We are concerned about promoting our staff’s health and mental health. Through the yearly health and safety exercise every staff member knows his or her
health status, which will guide us in how we live and conduct our health affairs,” Paseda stated.
Chemstar Paints Industries Nigeria Limited is the manufacturer of Finecoat and Shield Paints, the premium brand, and other allied paints products.
The three-day event took place at the Casso, Agbado, Lagos Head Office and Factory of the paints firm.
With the theme: “Health Is
Wealth,” Paseda said the Week, a yearly event, reaffirmed the need to prioritize the health and safety of the workers through knowledge of their health status and how to live a healthy lifestyle.
He, however, described the Week as “very rewarding and result-oriented,” saying a large number of the staff underwent the medical check-ups that enabled them to know the state of their health, while those who needed to make some adjustments to their
diet, lifestyle, and those that need to go on medication were rightly advised by the medical personnel.
The GMD, however, noted that the fire lecture and drills are an important component of the Health and Safety Week, to avail the staff the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and skills of firefighting, as well as to avoid anything that could lead to fire outbreak or accident.
He said: “As a company, we are concerned about the welfare,
well-being, and safety of our staff, particularly the state of their health, just as we have the theme for this year – Health Is Wealth.
“Health is not only wealth, but peace of mind, strength, and joy. And, we must do our best, as a management, to keep our health, and that is the lesson of the safety week. It is not all about what we are providing, but also to lay a culture and consciousness of good health in the minds of our staff that health is paramount.”
Receiving the Committee on behalf of the Commission Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe,, the Executive Commissioner for Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning Department, Mr. Babajide Fasina, reaffirmed NUPRC’s commitment to supporting the OSS initiative.
The Technical Committee of the One-Stop Shop (OSS) for sale of crude and refined products in naira initiative has paid a working visit to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The upstream regulator, in a statement, described the collaboration as a milestone in the ongoing efforts to deepen inter-agency collaboration and streamline petroleum product transactions in Nigeria.
He said the OSS was a transformative platform for optimising the petroleum value chain and promoting transactions in local currency.
Leading the committee’s delegation, Coordinator of the OSS Technical Committee, Mrs. Maureen Ogbonna, highlighted the vision of President Bola Tinubu, stating
that the Nigerian leader has expressed his vision for Nigeria as emphasised during the inauguration of the committee.
She said the vision of the president is to see a nation that achieves complete domestic sufficiency in petroleum products, so much so that Nigeria begins to export and ultimately become the
largest exporter of petroleum products.
Launched in 2024, the OSS initiative is designed to eliminate regulatory, operational and logistics bottlenecks that hinder the free flow of supply of domestic crude oil and refined products sales in naira.
The objectives of the initiative, the NUPRC said, aligns with the broader economic agenda of Tinubu, who prioritises local content development.
The OSS, hosted by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), brings together key stakeholders including the NUPRC, customs, navy, and other strategic agencies and serves as a centralised platform for regulatory, operational, and security coordination of the initiative in the petroleum sector.
Nume Ekeghe
Union Bank of Nigeria has partnered with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) network, a Financial Market Infrastructure that provides hassle-free and convenient crossborder money transfers to some selected African countries.
This payment solution for implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is designed to transform how payments are made across Africa. The bank in a statement noted that with PAPSS, customers can send money instantly to Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Djibouti, Nigeria and
more African countries in the future.
It states: “Using PAPPS offers numerous benefits to customers, including, but not limited to, instant payments or transfers, cheaper foreign transaction costs, no need to source FX, enhanced security, and intra-African trade opportunities.
Commenting on this partnership that goes across borders, Head of Transaction Banking at Union Bank of Nigeria, Peter Amadi, said: “ At Union Bank of Nigeria, we are committed to driving innovation and excellence in banking. Our focus is on providing seamless and efficient banking through simpler, smarter solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. We believe in
fostering strong relationships and delivering exceptional value to our customers, ensuring their success in today’s dynamic financial landscape.”
Chief Executive Officer of PAPSS, Mike Ogbalu commenting on this partnership, said: “I am very excited and proud to see Union Bank of Nigeria, a bank with over a century of banking legacy, joining the PAPSS network. This shows how PAPSS will be a game changer for the continent by enabling infrastructure to spur the growth of intra-African trade and commerce, with the active participation of regional economic communities, private sectors, and other stakeholders.”
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Oil prices rebounded more than $1 a barrel yesterday after the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided to increase output in July by the same amount as it did in each of the prior two months.
Coming as a relief to those who expected a bigger increase,
Brent crude futures climbed $1.46, or 2.33 per cent, to $64.24 a barrel after settling 0.9 per cent lower on Friday. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at $62.45 a barrel, up $1.66, or 2.73 per cent, following a 0.3 per cent decline in the previous session. OPEC and its allies decided at the weekend to raise output by 411,000 barrels per day in
July, the third month the group known as OPEC+ increased by the same amount, as it looks to wrestle back market share and punish over-producers. The group had been expected to discuss a bigger production hike.
Looking ahead, Goldman Sachs analysts anticipate OPEC+ will implement a final 410,000 bpd production increase in August, a Reuters report said.
The Association of Nigerian Refineries Petroleum Marketers (ANRPM) has lauded President Bola Tinubu, on his second anniversary in office, especially the renewed focus on the regional integration and oil sector reforms.
ANRPM, in a statement, signed by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Usman Ali, said that Tinubu’s efforts will help
enhance investors’ confidence in the oil and gas industry.
ANRPM commended the removal of fuel subsidies and restructuring of foreign exchange windows, which have been pivotal in shaping Nigeria’s economic trajectory.
“These reforms align with the government’s goal to foster transparency, reduce corruption, and promote sustainable growth
in Nigeria’s petroleum sector,” it stated.
It also acknowledged the breaking of 16 years long-standing deadlock for the takeoff of the Regional Maritime Development Bank and Tinubu’s reaffirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to regional integration, maritime development and economic cooperation.
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 02 June-2025, unless otherwise stated.
Arthur Eriye
The Director-General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama has called for urgent mobilisation of capital markets to bridge Africa’s growing climate adaptation financing gap, which he says could reach $100 billion annually by 2030.
While speaking at the just concluded African Development Bank’s annual meeting, he stressed the need of mobilising both public and private investment through capital markets to confront the continent’s worsening climate challenges. Despite
contributing less than 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa suffers over 25 per cent of climate-related losses, according to Agama. In his presentation titled, “The Role of Capital Markets in Closing Financing Gaps for Climate Adaptation,” he cited the 2022 African Economic Outlook report, which estimated Africa needs around $500 billion by 2030 for climate finance. Implementing Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement would require over $3 trillion in investments across mitigation and adaptation.
Agama noted that the figures are not just statistics but indica-
tors of deep vulnerability across the continent, “already evident in lost livelihoods in the Sahel, collapsing fish stocks in the Gulf of Guinea, and worsening floods in Lagos and Nairobi. He also referenced the 2023 UN Environment Programme Adaptation Gap Report, which estimated that developing countries will need between $212 billion and $387 billion annually for adaptation by 2030, with Africa’s shortfall up to 50 times greater than current funding levels.”
Agama urged African project developers and private sector actors to build strong, bankable, and environmentally sound projects ready for financing.
In Nigeria’s dynamic sportstech and betting industry, few leaders stand out for their depth of vision and human-centered impact.
One of such leaders is Gossy Ukanwoke, Managing Director of KingMakers and CEO of BetKing.
In a powerful demonstration of corporate responsibility and inclusive leadership, Ukanwoke has led a landmark initiative to support para-sports at the 2025 National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
Through BetKing, one of Nigeria’s top sports betting platforms, Ukanwoke spearheaded the full sponsorship of all para-sport events at the festival—covering transportation, medical classification, training kits, accommodation, and welfare packages for more than 400 differently abled athletes from across the country.
Speaking at the festival, Ukanwoke explained the motivation behind the move.
“Our sponsorship of para-sports reflects a deeper responsibility to support the overlooked,” he said. “Every athlete, regardless of physical ability, deserves a platform to compete, grow, and inspire. This is not charity—it’s about equity.”
The gesture, widely applauded by athletes, coaches, and sports administrators, highlights BetKing’s growing commitment to inclusive development in Nigeria’s sports ecosystem. But it is not a one-off effort.
Back in 2022, BetKing adopted three national para-athletes—Nwachukwu Goodness, Temitope Hassan, and Promise Emeka—providing them with monthly stipends, housing, equipment, and
regular training. Since then, the trio has gone on to win medals and break world records on the international stage.
Beyond competitions, BetKing also organises the Annual BetKing Wheelchair Basketball Championship, adaptive sports clinics, and mentorship programs, helping to groom the next generation of para-athletes. Ukanwoke’s approach, observers say, goes beyond sponsorship—it is a model of deliberate investment in human potential.
This model of deliberate investment and nurturing—not just sponsorship—has become a hallmark of Ukanwoke’s leadership. Through initiatives like the Annual BetKing Wheelchair Basketball Championship, adaptive sports clinics, infrastructure support, and athlete mentorship, he’s leading a quiet revolution—placing people at the center of performance.
As a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria has expanded its scholarship scheme, providing education opportunities to an additional 49 deserving students from its host communities, Onne and Ogu in Rivers State, including the children of two employees of the company.
Drawn from various universities and polytechnics across Nigeria, this latest batch brings the total number of scholarship beneficiaries to 146.
Speaking at the scholarship award and presentation ceremony, the CEO of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, congratulated the scholars for being selected amongst many candidates for the scholarship scheme, stating that the engagement within the communities has been restrategized under three pillars of transparency, visibility and inclusion to ensure
that the communities within the company’s area of operation succeed alongside the company.
“This scholarship scheme is an example of our commitment to improve and promote education in both the Onne and Ogu communities,” Klinke said.
He said that having worked many years in Nigeria, he has observed how funding limitations have changed the direction of many youths, and that is the reason for the scholarship program.
The Managing Director, WACTAPM Terminals Nigeria, Jeethu Jose, described the scholarship scheme as an investment in the future of students, which aims to empower and ensure they shine as leaders and contributors to their families, the communities, Rivers State, and Nigeria at large.
He said an integral part of the WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria scholarship scheme is the
internship opportunities where the company’s offices are opened to some of the WACT scholars to gain practical experience.
One of the scholarship beneficiaries, Divine Nei Osaroei, commended WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria for its generosity and commitment to education and its transparent selection process.
The Port Manager of Onne Port Complex, Abdulrahman Hussaini, encouraged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity given to them and make Nigeria, not just their immediate communities, proud.
The representative of the Ogu King, Dr. Thompson, commended WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria for the annual scholarship program, which has brought joy to families in the community. He further urged the students to make their parents and the communities proud.
Sunday Ehigiator
PettySave MFB, over the weekend commemorated this year’s Children’s Day with a colourful event that brought together over a hundred pupils from a few schools across Alimosho, Lagos, in a school-based celebration focused on fun, financial education, and community impact.
The event, themed, “Save Smart, Start Early,” featured a mix of exciting activities
including a short educational video on money and savings, a mini excursion to the bank’s main banking hall, games and quizzes.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director of PettySave MFB, Victor Adebowale, emphasised the importance of instilling a savings culture in children. He treated misconceptions about banking and investments, reassuring the children about the security of their savings, including coverage by insurance against
theft.
“Every account, even yours as young savers, is protected. Through NDIC insurance, your savings are secured against theft or loss, so you can save with confidence and peace of mind.”
Guest speaker and financial literacy advocate, Bosede Olusola-Obasa, who addressed the pupils with energy and warmth, encouraged them to start saving early, regardless of the amount, as she used a piggy bank as a practical tool during her session.
Kayode Tokede
The Nigerian stock market yesterday halted prior day profit-taking, as investors demand for Dangote Cement Plc and 34 others pushed the market capitalisation up by N260 billion.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX ASI) gained 411.52 bass points of 0.37 per cent to close at 112,427.48 bass
points. Also, market capitalisation rose by N260 billion to close at N70.895 trillion. Market breadth was positive, with 35 gainers outpacing 32 losers, reflecting broad-based bullish sentiment across sectors. Honeywell Flour Mills and SCOA Nigeria emerged the highest price gainer of 10 per cent each to close at N22.00 and N5.39
respectively, while Industrial & Medical Gases Nigeria followed with a gain of 9.96 per cent to close at N37.00, per share.
International Energy Insurance advanced by 9.82 per cent to close at N1.79, while May & Baker Nigeria rose by 9.75 per cent to close at N12.95, per share.
On the other side, Conoil led others on the losers’ chart with 10 per cent to
close at N268.30, per share. Learn Africa followed with a decline of 9.98 per cent to close at N3.88, while Transcorp Hotels declined by 9.97 per cent to close at N132.80, per share.
Julius Berger went down by 9.94 per cent to close at N120.50, while Chellaram depreciated by 9.92 per cent to close at N9.53, per share.
The total volume traded
rose by 21.84 per cent to 622.635 million units, valued at N16.124 billion, and exchanged in 17,044 deals. Transactions in the shares of Fidelity Bank led the activity with 108.172 million shares worth N2.055 billion. Legend Internet followed with account of 60.953 million shares valued at N344.360 million, while United Bank for Africa (UBA) traded 55.738 million shares
valued at N1.926 billion. Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) traded 41.225 million shares worth N2.804 billion, while Access Holdings traded 34.515 million shares worth N754.432 million.
On market outlook, Afrinvest Limited said, “we expect a sustained bullish performance on the bourse, buoyed by renewed investor appetite.”
Bennett Oghifo
As part of activities to mark the 2025 Children’s Day celebration, the World Trade Center, (WTC) Abuja played host to students of Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC), Abuja, in a special event that combined recreation, education, and a glimpse into global commerce, giving the children a big treat that made the 2025 Children’s Day an unforgettable and unique event.
Located in the Central Business District of Nigeria’s capital, the World Trade Center Abuja is uniquely poised as the gateway to the world for businesses in Nigeria. The WTC Abuja is affiliated with the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), linking it to over 330 centers across more than 150 countries worldwide. The development comprises a Grade A Office Tower and High-end Residential Apartments, catering for both global businesses and discerning residents.
The celebration, which took place on May 27th, was held within the yet-to-be-commissioned WTC Abuja Entertainment Hub — also known as the Clubhouse — a premium lifestyle facility reserved exclusively for residents and occupiers of the iconic
development.
The facility was temporarily opened for the day’s celebration, granting the children exclusive access and insight into its impressive amenities and offerings.
Activities for the students, aged between 8 and 12, included swimming, VR games, face painting, bounce houses, table tennis, lawn tennis, and more — all thoughtfully curated to balance fun with purpose.
Speaking during the event, Vice President of WTC Abuja, Mr. Karim Ahmed, noted that the initiative was part of the organisation’s commitment to nurturing future leaders by exposing them early to the possibilities within the global economy.
“This year’s Children’s Day event was more than a celebration; it was an invitation for the next generation to see themselves as global citizens,” Mr. Karim said. “WTC Abuja is proud to open its doors and share a vision of what is possible when Nigerian talent meets global opportunity.”
He added, “the children were allowed to intermingle in an environment that has become the hub for global business in the Federal Capital Abuja, by high-profile corporate organisations, which have made WTC Abuja their
preferred office address. The experience is intended to motivate the students to strive for higher selfactualisation in their career choices in the future.”
The WTC Abuja Clubhouse and Entertainment Hub features world-class amenities such as a swimming pool, a fully equipped TechnoGym, a Spa, a Children’s play area, two Lawn Tennis Courts, two Squash Courts, Meeting Rooms, a Lounge, and a patio for relaxation.
Designed to foster wellness, productivity, and leisure, the facility is positioned to enhance the lifestyle of the WTC Abuja community members who work and live within the WTC Abuja Complex. It remains strictly private and not accessible to the general public.
Beyond the activities, the children’s day engagement also reinforced WTC Abuja’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, focusing on empowerment through education and experiential learning. The NTIC students were given a tour of the facility and introduced to WTC Abuja’s role as a hub for global trade and innovation.
For many of the young participants, it was their first time inside a facility of such global standard. For organisers, the event underscored the power of
early exposure and the need to start grooming the next generation for the international stage.
With this prelaunch, WTC Abuja once again reaffirmed its commitment to bridging Nigeria with global opportunities — one child, one experience at a time.
Speaking at the event, Dr. David Opeyemi Oke, Head of Trade Services at WTC Abuja, described the
initiative as part of the Centre’s broader commitment to modelling possibilities and inspiring the next generation of global leaders and entrepreneurs.
“Exposing children early to international commerce is crucial if we are to raise future leaders who will drive Nigeria’s global trade ambitions. This Open Day is about helping them dream beyond borders,” Dr. Oke said.
He also revealed that the Trade Services Department has launched a mentorship programme targeting undergraduates and young adults, designed to groom future leaders in trade and investment.
“Though still new, this programme is a key part of our vision to develop the next generation of global trade professionals. We’re excited about its potential,” he added.
Fadekemi Ajakaiye
Repton Group, a Nigeriabased conglomerate has clinched both the award of 2024 National Largest Distributor of Dangote Cement in Nigeria and City People Award of Excellence in the Building Material Sector.
The Group, with
subsidiaries such as Kazab Heritage Limited, Defrost Ventures Limited, Continental Vision, Kazab Homes and Properties, Ibile Farm and Kazab Oil and Gas, won both awards through its cement distribution subsidiary, Kazab Heritage Limited, at the Dangote Cement Customers Awards and
Gala Night on Tuesday, May 27 and City People Awards on Sunday, May 25, respectively in Lagos. In his acceptance speech at the Dangote Cement Customers Awards and Gala Night, Otunba Odeyeyiwa Kazeem Olayemi, MD/CEO of Repton Group expressed gratitude to Alhaji Aliko Dangote,
President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group; the entire Board of Dangote Group and particularly the Management Team of Dangote Cement Plc for the remarkable corporate recognition and for making their business relationship very mutually-beneficial and exciting since inception.
In Otunba Odeyeyiwa’s words, “It would be recalled that on Friday, 26th January, 2024, we won this special award for the first time after having come second for three consecutive years. As a visionary organisation, after clinching the 2023 edition, we decided not to rest on our laurels as we perceived the Award as a great positive challenge and motivation for better performance.” He added that this corporate mindset has continued to stimulate Repton Group to persistently multiply its collective efforts and remodel its corporate strategy for superlative performance. “We are therefore glad about the eventual accomplishment of our corporate target of retaining this reputable award,” the MD/CEO said.
Otunba Odeyeyiwa also expressed special appreciation to all co-distributors for their spirit of business camaraderie and for spurring his business Group to greater performance through healthy competition. “We are all joint-winners of this coveted Award,” the MD/ CEO said.
In her own remarks, Yeye Otunba Odeyeyiwa Adesola Mutiat, wife of Otunba Odeyeyiwa and Director of Repton Group, said the Group has been able to make it double by clinching the two awards in two days as a result of sustenance of operational efficiency, effective teamwork and persistent determination. She added that the ability of Repton Group to retain the Dangote Cement award has further re-affirmed its towering leadership and competitive edge in Nigeria and the sub-Saharan Africa as a notable Distributor of different brands of cement.
Mr Goke Ilesanmi, CEO, Gokmar Communication Consulting, while congratulating the Group on the double feats, attributed the latest achievements to exceptional leadership
acumen of Otunba and Yeye Otunba Odeyeyiwa. In his words, “Everything rises and falls on leadership. So, Repton Group’s ability to clinch both the 2024 National Largest Distributor of Dangote Cement in Nigeria Award and City People Award of Excellence in the Building Material Sector is as a result of corporate leadership effectiveness of both Otunba and Yeye Otunba Odeyeyiwa as well as vibrancy of teamwork, clarity of corporate vision and potency of operational strategy.
“Otunba Oyeyeyiwa, for instance, is very encyclopedic when it comes to management, so also is his wife, the Director. Otunba is not resting on his laurels as he is currently undergoing a Doctorate of Business Administration Programme at the California Intercontinental University, USA, despite holding an MBA Degree from the Business School of the Netherlands and another MBA degree in General Management from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, among many other management qualifications.”
In a bold step towards driving institutional reform, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, convened a fourday retreat in Ede, Osun State, bringing together its management and governing council. The retreat offered an open, participatory platform to tackle some of the most pressing issues confronting the university and laid the groundwork for new strategies in governance, digital security, and academic innovation aimed at repositioning OAU as a leading institution in the 21st century. Funmi Ogundare reports
For four days, the management and council of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) recently converged on the Western Sun International Hotel, Ede, for a retreat themed, ‘Towards a Better Working Relationship Between Council and Management’.
The retreat broke away from traditional boardroom sessions. Instead, the university council adopted a more inclusive and participatory format.
It aimed to ensure personal growth and development, while fostering collaboration, problem-solving skills, and communication among participants.
It featured round-table sessions and saw speaker after speaker making presentations on topics such as ‘Exemplary Practices of a Good Governing Council and Vice-Chancellor, ‘Innovative Strategies for Effective Campus Security in the Digital Age’, ‘Critical Issues in University Governance’, Enhancing Accountability and Due Process in Public Procurement Process in Nigerian Universities’, ‘Exploring Big Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence for Institutional Growth’, ‘Role of the Registrars in Managing a 21st Century University’, ‘Leveraging Data and Technology to Generate More Value for the University Ecosystem’, among others, towards moving the institution forward.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, restated the need for effective and efficient operations to advance the university’s mission. He underscored the
importance of leadership committed to achieving the institution’s core objectives.
“This retreat is a strategic effort. There is a need for an institutional mindset to help us reach our goals. Effective use of resources, research, technology, community service, and a robust database are essential for planning. Critical thinking is also vital to developing a 21st-century university,” he stated.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, reaffirmed the council’s dedication to educational reforms and ensuring that the university fulfils its mission and vision. He described the retreat as a platform to position participants as strategic change agents, aiming to transform the university into a globally
competitive, digitally advanced, and socially responsive institution that meets national and international needs.
Expressing concern over the university’s global standing, he noted that no Nigerian university appeared among the top 1,000 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (2024), QS World University Rankings (2025), or Webometric Ranking (June 2024). He stressed the urgency for Nigerian universities to improve and meet international ranking standards. Key strategies he identified include enhancing the quality of research and publishing in high-impact journals, fostering community engagement, and boosting activity on the university’s website by encouraging staff and students to interact with up-to-date content. Oyeweso also outlined the governing council’s role in promoting accountability, transparency, and global best practices. “The council has a fiduciary responsibility over the university’s funds and assets, which it manages through its Finance and General Purpose Committee and oversight of the Tenders Board. It is responsible for appropriating funds in alignment with the Strategic Plan and ensuring that income and expenditures are regularly audited,” he explained.
He added that the university would look to adopt best practices from institutions both locally and internationally.
NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com
In a world where parenting has become increasingly complex, a new movement is emerging to transform how families approach child upbringing. Legacy Conscious Parenting, a global initiative, is dedicated to equipping parents with the wisdom, systems, and soul-aligned strategies needed to raise emotionally intelligent, spiritually anchored and purpose-driven children. Writes Mary Nnah
In today’s complex world, parenting has become a daunting task. Many parents struggle to raise emotionally intelligent, spiritually anchored, and purpose-driven children.
Loretta Itamah, founder of Legacy Conscious Parenting, recognised this need and launched a global movement to empower families with the wisdom and strategies necessary to build intentional homes.
Legacy Conscious Parenting is more than just a brand; it’s a transformational movement committed to equipping parents with the tools they need to raise resilient children. By blending emotional intelligence principles with practical parenting strategies, the brand has earned recognition as a leading voice in contemporary parenting education.
Through frameworks, coaching programmes, certification pathways, and digital resources, Legacy Conscious Parenting offers
parents and practitioners the tools to lead their homes with peace, power and purpose.
Itamah stated, “We teach parenting techniques that fundamentally reshape how families understand and navigate the profound responsibility of raising emotionally resilient children; thereby creating lasting family legacies.”
The Excellent Parent Tribe, a virtual community hosted on WhatsApp, provides a safe space for parents to discuss challenges and share experiences. The community is growing, with nearly a hundred parents participating in weekly family meetings every Saturday night.
Legacy Conscious Parenting’s innovative methodology has earned a loyal following through its YouTube channel and digital platforms. Itamah’s expertise in stress management and productivity optimization has made her a trusted advisor to thousands of families seeking harmonious home environments.
Through her multifaceted platform,
Itamah continues to shape the discourse on modern parenting, encouraging a new generation of parents to embrace their roles with renewed confidence and purpose. With Legacy Conscious Parenting, families can build intentional homes where values are lived, wholeness is nurtured, and legacy is architected.
By providing parents with the wisdom, systems, and soul-aligned strategies they need, Legacy Conscious Parenting is revolutionising the way families approach child upbringing.
“As the world evolves, so too must our approach to parenting. By embracing a more conscious and intentional approach, parents can empower their children to not only thrive but also make a lasting impact on future generations,” she explained. “This shift in parenting paradigm has the potential to foster a brighter future for all, and it’s an idea worth exploring further.”
In a demonstration of community service and a commitment to quality education, the Rotary Club of Lagos Island has set up a fully equipped biology laboratory at Girls Senior Academy Simpson School, Lagos. The project marks another milestone in the club’s efforts to support youth development and strengthen the education system in underserved communities.
The recently held inauguration ceremony was attended by the District Governor, Femi Adenekan, Assistant Governor, Osaro Ekomwereren, President of the club, Deeksha
Hiranandani, Rotarians Sapna Khurana, Ravinder Sharma and Jeetu Hira, school administrators, students, parent forum and community members.
The new laboratory features modern equipment and learning tools aimed at enhancing science education and sparking greater interest in biology among students.
Speaking at the event, Adenekan, said that the initiative directly aligned with Rotary International’s area of focus on basic education and
Literacy, which emphasizes improving access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
“The President of the Rotary Club of Lagos Island, Rotarian Deeksha Hiranandani, has been instrumental in driving this project.
Her leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to service have been key in making this impactful donation a reality.
Special recognition also goes to all members of the club, whose collective dedication and generosity embody the Rotary motto: ‘’Service Above Self’,” he said.
He added that by investing in the Biology lab, the club is not just providing infrastructure, it is inspiring dreams, nurturing young minds, and empowering the next generation of scientists, leaders, and changemakers.
The representative of the school management, Mr. Ileyemi Lateef, assured the club members that the school will ensure judicious use of the facility.
“Thanks to Rotary, the students of Girls Senior Academy now have a window into the wonders of science, and a brighter future ahead,” he said.
Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther
and Managing Director, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Mr.
on the full implementation of Employees’ Compensation Scheme for all public sector workers in Abuja…recently
Faleye, during a visit by Faleye to
James Sowole in Abeokuta
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said the establishment of Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI), was one of his earnest responses to the challenge of leadership in Africa.
The former president said he conceived the idea as a platform to raise and strengthen leaders, who were not only equipped for today’s realities but also prepared to navigate the complexities of tomorrow.
Obasanjo, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, spoke during the formal inauguration of the board of the institute at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
He said OOLI was not only an institute, but a movement aimed to reclaim Africa’s leadership narrative. Obasanjo admonished board members to be guided by the conviction that Africa’s greatest asset was its people – and that with the right leadership, there was no limit
to what they could achieve for Africa and the world in collaboration with other regions.
He said the establishment was borne out of his over seven decades of understudying leadership development.
“Today marks not just the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI), but the formal launch of the operational phase of a vision – a vision that has been shaped by my experiences
and convictions spanning over seven decades.
“For more than 70 years, I have observed and engaged with the complex tapestry of Africa’s developmental journey. While our continent is rich in human and natural endowments, we have persistently fallen short in translating this potential into sustainable development, peace, and prosperity—largely because of deficits in leadership at various levels.
“Through the triumphs and the
Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
In a bid to save agriculture, their main occupation, youths from Ogbe-Akwu Community in Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State, on Monday, embarked on a peaceful protest to the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Obi (Dr.) Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo II, and the secretariat of Aniocha South Local Government Council.
The youths sought to express their anger and frustration over persistent harassment and encroachment on their land allegedly perpetuated by persons from the neighbouring community of Ibusa in Oshimili North area.
They were joined in the peaceful demonstration by youths from OgbeAhu/Ogbe-Ani and Ogbe-Ofu axis of the Ogwashi-Uku, carrying placards
and chorusing protest songs.
The placards bore different inscriptions depicting their unhappiness with the situation: “LGA, help our farmers and hunters from molestation and intimidation on our farmlands”; “We say, No to Ibusa land grabbers!”; “Help us restore dignity”.
They lamented the unabating spate of land-grabbing activities by certain individuals from neighboring Ibusa community, claiming the intruders had repeatedly trespassed on Ogwashi-Uku farmlands, viciously chasing away even elderly men and women, thereby denying them access to their ancestral land for subsistence farming.
Led by the President-General of Ogwashi-Uku Youth Development Association, Comrade Stanley Chiedu, they decried what they
termed “persistent provocation” that had begun to push Ogwashi-Uku people to the limits of patience.
The protesters also alleged the trespassers were operating under the guise of possession of certain survey plans, which they however dismissed as “fake and discredited” and merely a desperate attempt to hoodwink government officials and the general public into conceding to their unlawful territorial claims.
Addressing the protesters at the palace, on behalf of His Royal Majesty, the Palace Secretary, Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, commended the youths for their peaceful posture and for not resorting to violence in the face of persistent provocation.
He acknowledged the pains and distress being caused by the illegal activities of the land invaders and
Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa
Advancing community capacity to mitigate climate change impacts and develop green and blue economy in the Niger Delta was the talking point at a two-day policy dialogue and exhibition on Green and Blue Economy held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Tuesday. The two-day event was sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark in Nigeria and implemented by the Academic Associates PeaceWorks (AAPW).
With the theme “Policy Dialogue and Exhibition on Blue and Green Economy in Niger Delta, the event saw participants dialogue on issues and policies concerning climate change, the blue and green economy and ways to mitigate actions, especially for farmers and fisherfolks in the region.
The Senior Program Manager, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark in Nigeria, Nosakhare Hilda Ayejimiwo, said the world is living in a time where climate change is undeniably one of the greatest global concerns of this era.
She said, yet, while its effects are felt worldwide, it is communities at the frontline like in the Niger Delta that bear the brunt of its impacts most acutely as they face unique challenges that demand urgent, thoughtful, and locally relevant responses.
The project, according to her, is one of Denmark’s strategic priorities for engagement with Africa in their increased efforts for climate adaptation, with a particular focus on water, forests, and biodiversity, and support a just, green transition in the continent.
assured the protesters that the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku was actively pursuing justice over the matter through appropriate and lawful means.
Nevertheless, Prince Emordi told the protesters that there was already a Supreme Court judgment which declared the survey plan paraded by the land grabbers as invalid and of no legal consequence, adding that two separate lawsuits were ongoing at the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Delta State High Court in Asaba to address on the whole matter.
trials, one fault line has remained stubbornly persistent: the deficit in effective, ethical, transformational, inspirational and visionary leadership.
This leadership gap has often been the difference between progress and stagnation, between peace and conflict, between prosperity and poverty.
“Today, I am pleased to formally announce that the Institute, which has received the blessing of the National Universities Commission as an affiliate of Bells University of Technology, is now ready for the full take-off of its programmes.
“This is not just an institutional milestone—it is a personal dream fulfilled. Our mission is clear: to equip leaders at all levels with the skills, capability, understanding, technology, values, orientation and vision necessary to transform our nations individually and our continent collectively.
“The OOLI will be a hybrid, though initially headed by a former Military General, it will not be a military organisation but borrow what is good from the military. It is blessed by NUC as an affiliate of Bellstech, but not an entirely academic university.
“It will copy the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in some ways but not entirely like NIPSS. It will be unique in every way. This is a significant milestone, and I am confident that OOLI will become
a beacon of excellence in leadership education, preparation and practice.
“We will collaborate and network with organisations and institutions with similar aims and objectives for beneficial interactions and mutual exchanges,” Obasanjo said. Obasanjo particularly commended the President of Ghana, John Mahama for coming to commission the Institute last year and gave his view on his governance few months after inauguration in Ghana.
“I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency, President John Mahama, for graciously and the headquarters of OOLI on March 5, 2024. Your unwavering support and commitment to the cause of leadership development in Africa are both inspiring and invaluable.
“Even within a few months of your Presidency of Ghana, your imprint on development of that great country is clear for all to see. On many development indicators, Ghana is surging forward. Your presence with us today formally inaugurate this Board, is a testament to your belief in the power of leadership to change destinies and create giants out of Lilliputians.”
The former president also commended President of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe and former President of Senegal, Macky Sall for their roles in leadership developments in Africa.
Wale Igbintade
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court yesterday granted bail in the sum of N50 million to Friday Audu, who is facing trial alongside Genting International Ltd for alleged forgery and related offences.
The court also directed Audu to deposit his international passport and ordered the EFCC to notify the Nigerian Immigration Service within 48 hours.
Audu and the company were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended eight-count charge, dated May 17, 2025 (Charge No. ID/25617C/25).
The charges include forgery, impersonation, and possession of
fraudulent documents.
Charges initially filed for conspiracy and retention of stolen property were dropped in the amended charge, which focuses on allegations of forged documents and false representation.
According to the EFCC, Audu allegedly forged an “Ultimate Beneficial Ownership Declaration Form,” purportedly signed by one Baffale Yakubu.
He is also accused of possessing documents in which he falsely represented himself as Yakubu and another individual, Nasiru Mohammed Barau.
In granting bail, Justice Oshodi ordered Audu to provide two sureties in like sum.
The sureties must be individuals of means, depose to affidavits of means, show evidence of gainful employment,
and maintain a bank account with a minimum balance of N50 million Besides, the sureties must provide proof of tax payments for the past three years, as issued by the Lagos State Government. The court also directed Audu to deposit his international passport and ordered the EFCC to notify the Nigerian Immigration Service within 48 hours. Justice Oshodi added: “The Chief Registrar shall verify compliance with all bail conditions. The prosecution must strictly comply with the fifth condition and notify the Nigerian Immigration Service.” Following the bail ruling, EFCC counsel, Mrs. Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, called the fourth prosecution witness, Mr. Baffale Yakubu, a bureau de change operator.
L-R: Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji; Honourable Commissioner for The Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab; Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu and Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, during the
Punctures group’s position on govt’s economic reforms, cost of governance, corruption, others
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
The Presidency, yesterday, reacted to the mid-term assessment of President Bola Tinubu by a faction of Afenifere, which scored the administration low.
A former minister, who now speaks for the president, Mr. Sunday Dare, in a statement, faulted the assessment of the group, describing it as deceitful, jaundiced and bereft of facts and logic.
The presidency submitted that the statement raised serious concerns about a penchant and deliberate attempt to find faults and trade in deceit instead of objectivity, adding that the group has found it challenging to accept that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s comeback story was firmly underway.
It further punctured Afenifere’s claims that the Tinubu administration’s performance over the past two years has witnessed a regression in human development, economic mismanagement, and democratic backsliding, saying it was a jaundiced view, echoing the position of opposition politicians, one of whom the group supported in the 2023 election.
“A balanced assessment based on available data reveals a more objective and progressive picture, with significant achievements amid the challenges expected from a country like Nigeria with decades-old problems.
“Beyond its confounding conclusions based on prejudice, the statement
raises the following issues. With the ensuing point-by-point clarification, it will become clear that the group’s position is neither grounded in facts nor“Thelogic.factional Afenifere’s claim that Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, have led to ‘unmitigated sufferings’ and ‘economic deforms’ seeks to draw attention to some of the challenges but overlooks the macroeconomic gains.
“The removal of the fuel subsidy, announced on May 29, 2023, saved the government over $10 billion in 2023 alone, reducing fiscal strain and redirecting funds to other sectors.
“Unifying the foreign exchange market and the naira’s floatation aimed to address distortions in the currency market, boosted foreign reserves to $38.1 billion by 2024 and achieved a trade surplus of N18.86 trillion for the country.
“Under the Tinubu administration, Nigeria’s annual inflation rate fell to 23.71% in April 2025 from 24.23% in the prior month. Food inflation, the most significant component of the inflation basket, remained elevated but moderated to 21.26% from 21.79%
“While these figures indicate stabilisation, the immediate impact on ordinary Nigerians is not lost.
The government’s cash transfer programme, which provides funds to the poorest households and benefits over 5.7 million households, is a credible outreach.
“However, dismissing the twin policies as ‘unforced errors’ ignores the unsustainable nature of the previous subsidy regime and multiple exchange rate systems, which were draining public finances.
“A more balanced critique would acknowledge the necessity of reform while emphasising the need for better-targeted social safety nets.”
Addressing cost of governance and the Oronsaye Report, the presidency said, “The assertion that the Tinubu administration has failed to implement the Oronsaye Report and instead increased governance
costs is inaccurate.
“The Oronsaye Report, which recommends the merger or scrapping of government agencies to reduce expenditure, has not been fully implemented and has drawn criticisms; it must be noted, however, that the administration has made some efforts to improve fiscal discipline.
“The fiscal deficit was reduced from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024, and the debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped from nearly 100% in 2022 to under 40% by 2024. The government also recorded over N6 trillion in revenue in Q1 2025, partly
due to removing Ways & Means financing and fuel subsidies.
“These steps demonstrate fiscal prudence and will eventually translate into immediate, tangible relief for citizens. The administration is working earnestly to address these optics and prioritise cost-cutting measures, including implementing the Oronsaye Report, to restore public trust.
On the allegations of prebendalism and corruption, it said, “Afenifere’s claim that the administration favours ‘the privileged and connected’ through corrupt palliative distribution and mega-project allocations is question-
able.
“Reports of palliatives being mismanaged or distributed through unverified channels have no doubt surfaced, raising concerns about transparency.
“The administration has taken steps against corruption, such as suspending Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu in January 2024 over alleged fund diversion, signalling some commitment to accountability.
“Critics may argue that more systemic action is needed, but dismissing all the efforts as propaganda overlooks these initial steps.
Five more bodies recovered, NSEMA death toll at 160 HOMEF sympathises with victims, calls for govt’s proactiveness
Laleye Dipo in Minna, Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has linked the recent flooding in Mokwa, Niger State, to poor
Chuks okocha in Abuja
A former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has taken a swipe at former governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi over their recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu, stating that the accusations were due to missed political appointments.
Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, lashed out at the duo for blaming Tinubu’s policies for rising hunger and poverty in the country.
He stressed that the duo of El-Rufai and Amaechi, lacked moral ground to criticise the current administration, as they failed to address the same challenges while in power.
“El-Rufai and Amaechi should bow their heads in shame,” Sani said during a press briefing at his
Kaduna residence.
“They are the architects of the banditry, poverty, and hunger they now pretend to lament. During their tenure, they did nothing to solve these issues, and now they cry foul simply because they have been left out of the current government,” he added.
Sani’s remarks followed El-Rufai’s statement at a recent public lecture in honour of Amaechi’s 60th birthday, where he claimed that “urban bandits” had taken over governance in Nigeria.
Sani, however, dismissed such comments as self-serving and insincere.
“There’s nothing wrong with criticising a government. But when such criticism stems from personal disappointment over missed ap-
pointments rather than genuine concern for the people, it becomes dangerous,” he said.
He further accused former officials from the Muhammadu Buhari administration of attempting to undermine Tinubu’s government after failing to secure positions in his cabinet.
His words: “These individuals controlled the affairs of the country for eight years. They had the power, the resources, and the influence to transform the North into a socioeconomic model for the rest of the country. Instead, they left it in a worse condition.”
He, however, called on Nigerians to recognise the progress, though limited, that has been made under the current government, especially in terms of security.
drainage systems and unregulated construction.
He insisted that the incident had nothing to do with water releases from either the Kainji or Jebba dams.
Utsev made the clarification during a press briefing held yesterday in Abuja, following the devastating flood that struck Mokwa on May 29, leaving scores of residents displaced and several properties destroyed.
“Both Kainji and Jebba dams are intact and have not released any water. What happened in Mokwa was largely due to heavy rainfall linked to climate change and drainage systems that could not handle the volume of water,” he said.
He explained that an ephemeral tributary of the River Dingi typically dry for most of the year was blocked by unregulated buildings and road construction, cutting off natural water flow. The result, he said, was a buildup that flooded parts of the town.
The minister commiserated with the people and government of Niger State, describing the flood as “deeply unfortunate,” and acknowledged that lives and livelihoods had been lost.
He also commended first responders and state authorities for their swift response.
“We have technical teams on ground from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, and National Water Resources Institute.
“They are assessing the cause and extent of the flooding so we can provide a full report and take appropriate actions,” he added.
The Minister recalled that the ministry had already predicted such incidents through the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) issued in April.
The report had identified 1,249 communities in 176 local government areas—including Mokwa—as high flood risk zones. Another 2,187 communities across 31 states and the FCT were listed under moderate risk.
Niger State, according to the forecast, has 19 LGAs at risk of severe flooding this year.
“We didn’t just raise the alarm. We issued specific recommendations — strengthen drainage, relocate people living in flood-prone areas, enforce building codes, and increase public awareness,” he said.
The minister warned that climate change continues to intensify weather patterns, leading to more frequent and extreme events. He urged states to take proactive steps to mitigate disaster risk.
“Flooding is not just a natural event—it reflects how well or poorly we plan our communities, we must rise to the challenge,” he noted.
He, however, called for stronger collaboration between government agencies, local authorities, and the private sector to develop long-term solutions.
Utsev added that details of the flood outlook and community-specific risks were available on the NIHSA dashboard, encouraging local governments to consult the platform for planning and adaptation strategies. Meanwhile, five more bodies have been recovered from the scene of last week’s flash flood in Mokwa, bringing the number of the dead to 158.
The state government in a statement said four corpses were recovered on Monday while one was picked up yesterday
The statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Abubakar Usman and made available to newsmen in Minna, urged the general public “to remain calm and prayerful in this moment of collective grief.
“We urge everyone to avoid spreading unverified or misleading information that may further deepen sorrow, incite panic, or cause unnecessary confusion within our communities” Abubakar Usman said. Also, in a separate statement by the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), two more dead bodies were recovered this afternoon down Mokwa/Raba axis.
“They are of 2 children buried under tree debris” the statement said adding that, “We, NSEMA, have to employ services of locals to dig out the corpses. The total is now 160 as of 3:45pm 3rd June 2025,” NSEMA said.
L–R: Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Dr. Olasupo Olusi, with Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, during a courtesy visit by the BOI MD to the Government House in Lokoja… recently
Slams INEC chair, Yakubu, compares him to Maurice Iwu Says current government doesn’t respect the law Urges Tinubu to account for savings from subsidy removal point. Because the ground rules were clear. The current chairman of INEC can only be compared to Iwu.
Ex-Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday took a swipe at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, implying that they are not on the same level and that he won’t exchange words with ‘children’.
Despite holding back consistently from talking politics or mentioning Wike, under pressure during an interview on Arise Television, Amaechi stated that as someone who hired Wike as chief of staff, he could not trade insults with him in public.
Earlier, launching a scathing attack on his long-time rival and predecessor, Wike had dismissed Amaechi’s widely circulated remark, “We’re all hungry”, made during his 60th birthday celebra-
tion last week, claiming the former Rivers governor is not hungry for food, but for political relevance.
But Amaechi also disputed Wike’s imputation that he was instrumental to him (Amaechi) becoming governor, stressing that God, former Governor Peter Odili, the judiciary and the Rivers state people were responsible for his election.
He urged journalists to press Wike on how he contributed to him becoming governor, even though he refused to mention the FCT minister’s name throughout the conversation. “I was once his boss. Whether he likes it or not. I hired him. I could have said no,” he added.
Amaechi also stated that he made Wike his chief of staff so as to be able to supervise him closely, despite pres-
sure to make him a commissioner of finance, noting that it’s Wike that never acknowledged that anyone ever helped him.
“I wanted him as chief of staff so I could supervise him. I didn’t offer him commissioner for finance. You see, I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children. You know, he made himself chief of staff. He made himself governor. He made himself minister. He made himself local government chairman’, he said mockingly.
While pointing to the lack of ‘maturity’ in Wike’s conversations, he noted that politicians no longer care about their family names, reason they behave without thinking about the implications.
He argued that he (Amaechi) built
several flyovers as governor without making any noise, expressing surprise about the media attention on the flyovers built by Wike in Rivers.
The former minister also expressed disgust over the abandonment and destruction of the projects he completed, stressing that it distresses him each time he sees the projects he built being vandalised.
Amaechi also threw jabs at the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, comparing him to the discredited one-time INEC head, Prof. Maurice Iwu.
“The current chairman of INEC, if he was the chairman of INEC in 2015, we would not have won. That’s an important point. May God bless (Attahiru) Jega. It’s a very interesting
The Conference of PDP Professionals, has disowned the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, saying the Peoples Democratic Party did not recognise him as a member of the party.
In a statement by the chairman and signed by Obinna Nwachukeu, the group said it’s attention had been drawn to the recent outburst by Wike in his latest media parley wherein he boasted that no one
had the guts to tell him that he was not a member of the PDP.
‘’The Conference of Professionals in the PDP (CP-PDP) is unequivocal in its stand that the FCT Minister is no longer recognised as a member of the PDP, having lost the membership of our great party by his open cessation of subscription, loyalty and adherence to the mandatory Code of Conduct of members as enshrined under Section 10 (6) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017),’’ it said.
The PDP professionals further said, ‘’For emphasis Section 10 (6) of the PDP Constitution unambiguously dictates that “No member of the party shall align with other parties or groups to undermine the party or any of its elected government.
‘’It is instructive to state that the legal claim, validity or legitimacy of membership of any political party or any organisation for that matter, is explicitly embedded in the uncompromised subscription and
absolute loyalty by an individual to the enshrined Code of Conduct of the organisation.
‘’The self-executory import of Section 10 (6) is that by publicly aligning with the APC and declaring to work for the victory of the APC in the 2026 FCT Council Election and the 2027 Presidential election, the FCT minister, has by such alignment and declaration renounced, relinquished and terminated his membership of the PDP,’’ the PDP Professionals said.
Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has ordered District Heads to bring their horses to Kano City for the Durbar procession, defying a recent police ban.
The directive was contained in a statement by the Dan Makwayo of Kano and a senior councillor in the palace, Alhaji Abba Yusuf.
“All District Heads are expected to converge on Kano City on Wednesday, accompanied by their horse riders, to participate in the Sallah Durbar celebrations scheduled from June 6th to 9th,
2025,” he said.
The letter also invited all District Heads to a special meeting at the Emir’s Palace, Kofar Kudu, tomorrow, Thursday, June 5th, 2025, at 11:00 am to discuss the logistics of the Sallah Durbar.
However, responding, the police spokesman in the Kano, Haruna Kiyawa, issued a statement imposing a ban on the Durbar festivities, just after the Emir’s declaration.
“The Command, therefore, reiterates that the ban on all forms of Durbar in the state is still in force and will be strictly
enforced during this 2025 Eid-ElKabir celebrations, as the threats which have been put to serious checks are still potent.
“In an effort to ensure peaceful celebrations throughout the state, worshippers are enjoined to be law-abiding and conduct themselves peacefully, as adequate pre-emptive measures have been taken to guarantee the peace and public safety across the state.
“This decision is made after consultations with relevant security stakeholders following intelligence reports indicating plans by recruited miscreants and
their sponsors to use Durbar to undermine security and public order in the state, as recorded during Eid-El-Fitr Sallah.
“The police advised all worshippers to desist from riding horses throughout the period, car-racing or reckless as well as dangerous driving within the city,” the police stated.
Since his return to the throne, Sanusi has been unable to successfully lead the traditional Sallah Durbar procession due to the lingering emirate tussle with his ousted predecessor, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.
“When we were to register APC, Jega opened the door and we complied with the registration requirements. He got APC registered. The current man, if you comply with all these, he would not register you. Already INEC is biased.
“So, the only thing I can tell you now is that looking at the way Nigeria has run the election, even the option A4 led us forward. At least a lot of transparency. You were sure of what was going on. Then we came back to meet people like Iwu and others and the current one and things got worse.
“So, you don’t know whether to say we are progressing or we are regressing…There’s a state capture using the electoral institution as a machine,” he added.
Describing Jega as a man of conscience, he argued that the current INEC chairman has already said that he’s not registering new parties.
“Already he (Yakubu) is stopping parties from being registered. Already, INEC has taken sides. INEC is no longer the umpire,” he added.
Amaechi also accused the Bola Tinubu administration of not obeying the rule of law, and that the judiciary was losing its respect.
“One funny thing about the current government is that they don’t even obey laws. They don’t obey the constitution. They’re not allowing the opposition to register political parties. I was 34 when I became Speaker. The process was a bit more transparent than you have now,” he emphasised. Amaechi also reiterated his opposition to the suspension of the elected Governor of Rivers state, Siminalayi Fubara, arguing that the constitution does not give the president the power to suspend any governor. Besides, the former Rivers governor called for accountability in the spending of the savings from fuel and electricity subsidies.
“The president removed the subsidy. Where is the money? The president removed the subsidy on electricity. It got to a point where oil subsidies got to N8 trillion. If we deploy N8 trillion into this economy now, it will feel the impact.
“Let me also tell you, do we need the coastal road in the manner that it was awarded? Yes, the south-south needs the road. But fix the east-west road. I don’t know how many trillions. If we deploy that money to the economy, it will change our lives. Who is collecting that money? The president needs to tell us,” he maintained.
Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, yesterday, paid a condolence visit to the families of the 22 Kano athletes, who died in a fatal auto crash on Saturday.
The tragic incident occurred in Dakatsalle town, a few kilometres from the Kano State metropolis, while the athletes were returning from the just-concluded National Sports Festival (NSF) in Ogun State.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, the Deputy President of the Senate, described the incident as tragic and announced the donation of N1m to each of the families of the 22 late athletes.
He said the loss was felt not only by the immediate families of the deceased and the sports community but also by the entire Kano State
and the country at large.
“We are here to register our condolences to you over this tragic and devastating incident that led to the loss of our brothers. We, therefore, renew our faith and accept it as the will of Allah. May Allah SWT grant them Aljannatul Firdausi and give you all the strength to bear these irreparable losses,” he said The Chief Imam of the Gwagwarwa Juma’at Mosque, Sheikh Adda’u Aliyu, the ward heads of Gwagwarwa and Gama, Usman Aliyu and Rabe Isyaku, and other members of the community received the Deputy President of the Senate.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the Chief Imam appreciated Barau’s condolence visit and donation, adding that the donation would go a long way in supporting the families of the deceased.
L-R: Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Itana, Luqman Edu; Founder & Group CEO, Rendeavour, Stephen Jennings; Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; National Coordinator, National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), Teju Abisoye; Co-Founder, Itana, Iyin Aboyeji; and CEO, Alaro City & Chairman West Africa, Rendeavour, Yomi Ademola, at the memorandum of understanding signing and official re-launch of NATEP in Lagos…recently
Gbenga Sodeinde in ado Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has charged the church to take the leading role in the fight against corruption, illicit wealth acquisition, money rituals, and other get-rich quick syndrome undermining the moral and ethical values in the country.
The governor also urged the church leadership to use the pulpit to champion the promotion of godly character and enduring values, stressing that the nation must be united to fight the demon of materialism that has held the people down for long.
Nigerian Baptist Convention, held at Ikogosi Ekiti, with the theme, leading with skills and integrity. He emphasised the need for hard work and integrity in the collective pursuit of peace
Governor Oyebanji stated these yesterday while declaring open the 2025 annual Conference of Presidents’ Retreat of the
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
Osun State traditional ruler, Olojudo of Ido-Osun, Oba Olayinka Oyetunde Ishola Jokotola II, has charged Nigerian youths to embrace heritage and lead with responsibility.
The monarch also reaffirmed Ooni of Ile- Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, as the only supreme head of the Yoruba traditional institution.
He posited that: “The supreme traditional authority of the Ooni of Ife clearly pointed out that the Oonirisa remains the natural and undisputed head of the Yoruba traditional institution,
embodying the spiritual and ancestral unity of the race.”
The Oba, who stated this when he was honoured as the Grand Patron and Osun Youth Ambassador by the Osun State Ministry of Youth Affairs, also advised youths in Osun State and Nigeria to always shun violence and not make themselves available as tools for political unrest.
The recognition, which was bestowed on the monarch by the ministry, celebrates his unwavering dedication to youth development, cultural preservation, and the promotion of traditional values.
The newly elected Chairperson of the Association of Women Town Planners in Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, Yemisi Olayinka Alaka, has promised to tirelessly work to promote the interests of women in town planning and advance the goals of the association. Alaka made the commitment in her acceptance speech during her investiture as the third chairperson of the association and other executive members.
She said: “With the collaboration of all of us, I promise, as the chairperson to: promote professional
development and capacity building for our members; advocate policies and programmes that support women’s participation in town planning;foster partnerships and collaborations with government agencies, private sector, the Academias, organisations, and civil society groups to advance our goals.I will also ensure transparency, accountability, and good governance in our association. In addition, I will emphasise professionalism and inclusiveness” as our watch word (slogan).”
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has approved the appointment of 11 senior civil servants for permanent secretaries positions in the state. In a statement signed by the state acting Head of Service, Dr Inyingi Brown, the sole administrator announced the appointment yesterday evening.
The approved permanent secretaries include: Imaonyani
Roseline Ephraim-George, Dr Mina T. Ikuru, Dabite Sokari George, Soibitein Duke Harry, Lauretta Davies Dimkpa and Uche R. Ideozu.
Others are: Chimenum Mpi, Jeremiah Egwu, Nicholas Iminabo Wokoma, Vera Sam Dike and Aleruchi Akani.
The statement, however, disclosed that the newly appointed permanent secretaries will be sworn in by the State administrator on a date to be announced later.
and prosperity.
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to ethical governance, Governor Oyebanji expressed optimism that with the church’s support, the fight
against societal vices would gain momentum, thereby leading to a more prosperous and morally upright society.
The governor expressed concerns over the prevalence
of illicit wealth acquisition and fraudulent practices in the country, stressing that while wealth creation through hard work remains a virtue for the spread of prosperity in the society.
Olusegun Samuel inyenagoa
Scores of students of the Federal University Otuoke (FUO) in Bayelsa State were sent back home by officials of the institution over indecent and improper dressing to the school campus.
The officials of the SERVICOM under the office of the vice chancellor of the institution, at about 7a.m. last Monday, mounted vigilance at the entrance of the institution, picking out students found breaching the dressing code. Most of the students found allegedly breaching the
dressing code were those found with tinted hair, colour hair, female students with leggings and tight jeans and boys with saggy jeans.
A lecturer and top members of the Academic Staff Union (ASUU), Socrates Ebo, had on the officials social media handle of the institution
reminded students to follow the university’s dress rules. He said only suits, trousers, shirts, skirts, blouses, gowns, and native wear are allowed on campus. For shoes, only sandals, covered shoes, canvas, and sneakers are permitted on campus.
Linus Aleke in abuja
A former Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Uche Nwole, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, over an alleged criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of his
Porsche Cayenne Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) by a mechanic in the Apo area of the FCT.
The petition, which was dated March 28, 2025, and submitted to the IG by Ciena Consulting Legal and Regulatory Consultants on behalf of the former lawmaker, demands among other things,
the urgent intervention of the IG to take over the investigation of the matter from the FCT Police Command.
According to the petition, “Our client, as a law-abiding citizen, is calling on your good office to investigate this matter with a view to taking over the investigation of the case and ensuring that justice is done to recover the SUV and also ensure that the suspect and his accomplices are prosecuted.” Hon. Nwole also gave a synopsis of the case while addressing a press conference in Abuja.
Olawale Ajimotokan inabuja
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has approved an increased compensation for the residents of Kpaduma and Guzape, who had been asked to evacuate their ancestral lands to pave way for ongoing road construction in the Abuja communities. He made the concession at a meeting with the traditional chiefs and representatives of the two communities to address the growing tension surrounding the continued presence of residents in areas designated for the infrastructure intended to ease traffic and boost
connectivity within the FCT.
The minister assured the chiefs, led by the Sapeyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Nga Kupi of fairness, saying every affected individual would be duly compensated and that Right of Occupancy (R of Os) for new resettlement areas would be provided without delay, as was the case with the Gishiri community in Katampe district. “We are not here to displace anyone unjustly. This is about building a better Abuja for all. We will ensure your people are properly compensated and given legal documents for their new homes, “ Wike said.
The Paramount Ruler of Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State, Professor Effiong Bassey Archianga, has described the planned defection of Governor Umo Eno from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a wise decision. Professor Archianga also stated that the administration
In what could best be described as a landmark milestone for Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas industry, PE Energy Limited, a leading energy services company, has completed and officially submitted the engineering audit report on upstream measurement equipment
of President Ahmed Tinubu is doing well, but should control the prices of commodities in the country, expressing optimism that the president will construct the Ibom Deep Seaport. The monarch, who stated this in his palace last weekend, said strong opposition in the state was necessary for the spread of democracy dividends against one party dominating the system. He said the defection is for the overall interest of the state “to benefit from the administration of President Ahmed Tinubu who is working in synergy with Akwa Ibom’s son who is the Senate President.”
He said that Akwa Ibom under the administration of
Godswill Akpabio as governor was very transparent, devoid of ethnic sentiments and sectional remapping, and frowned against the remapping of Obolo Nation, “an attempt by the immediate-past state Governor, Udom Emmanuel, which comprises Eastern Obolo, Ibeno and Mbo Local Government Areas, describing it as illegal.
and facilities in the Nigerian oil and gas sector to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The engineering audit report was presented by the Chairman, PANA Holdings/Group Chief Executive Officer, PE Energy
Limited, Dr. Daere Akobo, to the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe.
According to Akobo, the historic audit was commissioned following the approval of the
Federal Executive Council (FED), under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in alignment with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to enhance economic governance, revenue assurance, and sectoral transparency.
The Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI) has expresses its appreciation to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for appointing the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CRMI, Professor Ezekiel Oseni,
as the Executive Director, Risk Management, at the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC). The appointment came at a time he was exiting as the President of the institute. Professor Oseni, who now
transitions from his role as President of the Institute, has provided visionary leadership, notably steering CRMI to spearhead the formation of the Forum of African Risk Management Associations (FARMA), in collaboration with peer institutions across countries such as South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and others—aimed at delivering localized risk management solutions across the continent.
Osimhen’s club future uncertain, it was necessary for him to be excused from Friday’s friendly.
“Victor is, for me, the best striker
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has found itself embroiled in a legal tussle as the Chairman of Gombe State Athletics Association, Alhaji Ahmed Shu’aibu Gara Gombe has moved to block all electoral processes into the executive board of the federation.
His lawsuit, filed against the National Sports Commission (NSC), the AFN, as well as outgoing President, Tonobok Okowa and Secretary General, Israel Inwang, challenges the legitimacy of recent congresses and demands compliance with the AFN constitution before any elections can proceed.
At the heart of Gara Gombe’s claims is the alleged disregard for Article 10 of the AFN’s constitution, which governs how congresses should be conducted.
He argues that the congresses held on April 10, 2025, and December
14, 2024, in Bayelsa and Delta states respectively, were not properly constituted, rendering all decisions made during and after them illegal.
One of the decisions was the setting up of the Electoral Committee to kickstart the electoral process.
The Extraordinary Congresses held on both dates were not convened pursuant to article 10.1.5 of the AFN 2023 Constitution which states that “all the documents related to the Congress (reports, programmes proposal etc.) shall be sent to the Secretariat of each State member association at least thirty (30) days prior to the Congress.”
Gara Gombe argues further that without adherence to legal protocols, any decisions made—including those affecting elections—are null and void.
Further fueling his legal battle is his removal from the AFN’s
WhatsApp platform, a move he insists obstructs his rights as chairman representing the Gombe State chapter.
Article 5 (5.5) states that the AFN should ‘strive to ensure that no gender, race, religion, political or other kind of unfair discrimination exists or is allowed to develop in Athletics in any form, and that all may participate in Athletics regardless of their gender, race, religion or political views or any other relevant factor.’
Despite the Constitution stating how a member of either the board or congress of the Federation should be removed, Okowa allegedly unilaterally ordered that Gara Gombe should be evicted from the platform for demanding transparency and accountability in the running of the Federation.
He also criticizes financial mis-
management within the federation, particularly the collection of affiliation fees in a private account, which he describes as lacking transparency.
In his writ of summons, Gara Gombe calls for a complete suspension of all election-related activities until the AFN leadership rectifies these alleged violations.
His demands include reinstating him into AFN’s WhatsApp group, releasing financial records from the past five years, and publishing a full list of board members across all affiliated states.
With these pressing allegations, Gara Gombe’s legal challenge poses a significant hurdle for AFN’s ongoing elections.
It also raises serious questions about governance within Nigerian athletics and could have far-reaching consequences for the AFN’s leadership.
in the world,” began Chelle to the international sporting media.
The former Mali gaffer stressed that the top Nigerian striker had a very tough, challenging season with Galatasaray in Turkiye and needed timeout to sort out his transfer matter.
“For him (Osimhen) it is difficult to come for this game because he played a season with a lot of pressure. The reality is there is a transfer window. During this time, a player like him is not focused at 100%,” observed the coach.
Chelle however insisted that it was his decision to protect Osimhen. “I need to protect him physically and mentally, because maybe he will go (and get a transfer move). Maybe a club like Manchester United. Or maybe Chelsea, Barcelona or Real Madrid. So he needs to be focused on that ( Transfer).”
After the 26-year-old Nigerian star helped Galatasaray to claim the Turkish title, Osimhen is set to return to parent club Napoli.
He scored 37 goals in 41 games during his season-long loan spell in Istanbul.
Osimhen has one year left on
his contract in Italy but is expected to leave Naples as he is not part of coach Antonio Conte’s plans. The Super Eagles overcame fierce local rivals Ghana 2-1 last Wednesday then beat Jamaica 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the final. Russia remain banned from competitive internationalsfollowing the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Chelle still expects a challenging encounter as he builds towards the next round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers in September. Those games, at home against Rwanda and away in South Africa, will be crucial as Nigeria look to bridge the six-point gap to Group C leaders Bafana Bafana.
“Russia is a great nation of football,” Chelle said.
“They need to play some international games because (with) the war it is difficult for them. They have lots of great players in their league.
“I think a lot of people will come to watch the game.
“The reality is we work for September, for the next window for the World Cup qualifiers. This is our goal.”
Super Falcons yesterday defeated Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses 2-0 in an international friendly to serve a reminder to the rest of Africa that the Nigerian ladies are back to claim their position at the top of African women’s football.
The 2-0 against Cameroon may have been billed as a mere warm-up, but it was anything but cold. Instead, it felt like the first few sparks of something bigger, brighter — a prelude to
a potentially thrilling WAFCON campaign. Nigeria’s confident display against the Indomitable Lionesses further showed that the Falcons are potentially the team to watch out for when the women’s AFCON kicks off shortly.
Rasheedat Ajibade led from the front, quite literally. Her first goal came from the penalty spot — cool, precise, clinical. But it was her second that really underlined her class.
Defending French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz produced a dominant display to beat 12th seed Tommy Paul and reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros.
The second seed needed only 53 minutes to establish a two-set lead, losing only one game in the process.
American Paul offered plenty of resistance during a more competitive third set, but Alcaraz, 22, broke again for a 5-4 lead and quickly wrapped up a 6-0 6-1 6-4 victory.
The Spaniard will face 23-yearold Lorenzo Musetti for a place in Sunday’s final. The Italian eighth seed defeated
Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-2 earlier on Tuesday and is into a Grand Slam semi-final for the second time in his career, having reached the Wimbledon last four in 2024.
Tiafoe, the first American to feature in a French Open quarterfinal for 22 years, fought back to take the second set after Musetti dominated the opener. But the 15th seed fell away after losing a gruelling third set and could not keep up with Musetti’s graceful but punishing style.
As Paris Saint-Germain continue to savor their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy with a stunning 5–0 victory over Inter Milan at Munich’s Allianz Arena, the celebration wasn’t limited to Europe. In Nigeria, Heineken delivered a five-star football experience that brought the magic of the final to life for thousands of fans across the nation.
From the Lagos Continental Hotel in Victoria Island to lively viewing parties in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin City, and beyond, Heineken stayed true to its campaign promise: “One Night,
One Game, One Epic Experience.”
At the Lagos flagship venue, the atmosphere was electric. Fans arrived early, welcomed by cold Heineken beer, delicious meals, interactive games, and the chance to win exciting prizes.
The energy hit a new level once Achraf Hakimi scored PSG’s opening goal. The venue erupted into thunderous cheers that echoed Munich’s own.
“This is the best way to watch football,” said one of the ecstatic fans enjoying his Heineken beer.
“We might be in Lagos, but tonight, it feels like we’re in the front row in Germany.”
PSG was writing football history in Munich. In a breathtaking display of dominance, the French champions tore apart Inter Milan with a performance that will be etched into Champions League folklore.
Teenage prodigy Désiré Doué was the undoubted star of the night. He not only provided the assist for the opening goal but went on to score twice himself, becoming the youngest player ever to both score and assist in a Champions League final.
PSG added three more goals in the second half through Doué again, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia,
and Senny Mayulu, completing a statement 5–0 win and crowning a treble-winning season under manager Luis Enrique.
As each goal hit the back of the net, roars erupted across Heineken viewing centres nationwide—from Transcorp Hilton in Abuja to Piano Lounge in Port Harcourt, 130 Degrees in Benin City, and Ghosts & Spirit Lounge in Abule Egba. Indeed, it was an evening where football merged with lifestyle. Nigerian music stars Fido and Wande Coal brought their A-game, performing crowd favourites that had fans singing along and dancing well into the night.
Two subjects- Democracy and Poverty- offer a freedom that I feel free to delve into for this occasion. We live in an assumed democracy in which poverty has become the most common feature of social being and economic existence. Whether you are rich or poor, the consequences of both democracy and growing poverty govern your daily life. If you are rich, your ability to keep your fortune depends on whom democracy delivers to regulate and protect your business. Similarly, your ability to enjoy a peaceful sleep at night is now a function of the insomnia among the many poor people.
The relationship between Democracy and Poverty is now a universal concern. It happens that these two words dominate and unite today’s world. The rhetoric of order among nations and within nations is now ruled by the problems of democracy and those of inequality. While democracy defines the disposition of power and the ways in which the powerful organize societies to determine who rules and who is ruled, equality defines the relative access of the people to scarce resources. The poor are those who are farthest away from the sources of resources and the distribution points of national resources.
Democracy is first about who decides and who decides who decides. It is in addition about how societies decide who decides for them. On the other hand, poverty and inequality describe the plight of the majority of humanity who are farther away from where decisions about power and resource allocation are made.
Democracy describes the degree of freedom to choose and be chosen in a society. The first condition of democracy is therefore freedom from the things that threaten our right as humans to make free choices about how we are ruled and who rules over us. We are talking about freedom from hunger, want, material deprivation, insecurity and other constraints that keep men and women chained to the state of nature.
This is why the achievement of material contentment and reduction of poverty always precedes the flowering of democratic freedom. If we go back to the emergence of democracy in Western Europe, we see this clearly. It was the Industrial Revolution that increased the prosperity that enabled people to overthrow kings and monarchs and demanded the right to vote directly for those who would rule over them. Monarchies were toppled, kings were beheaded, decapitated bodies of queens were paraded on streets populated by commoners. Parliaments of elected deputies replaced kingly courts. Elected leaders emerged to either displace of share power with the dethroned kings.
In Asia, it was the creation of new prosperity by military autocrats that suppressed labour unions and freed those with new wealth to demand civil and political rights. The majority were empowered by new prosperity to demand democratic rights. Democracy came riding on the back of prosperity and the deathbed of autocracy.
In Africa, democracy has remained stunted because post colonial parliaments were decreed into existence on the backs of poor people. The form of political organization preceded the content of the lives of the people. An unproductive political elite foisted formal democracy on the people who were mostly poor. This is the major reason why democracy has remained stunted in most of Africa.
Though increasingly popular, democracy has become a very divergent concept among nations of the world. It is easily the most abused word or concept in the world. It is used freely to describe a wide variety of modes of power
acquisition, allocation, succession or abuse in different countries. The wide variety of forms of governance in the 27 countries that make up the European Union are democracies. The United States has long been touted as the bastion of global democracy in which the power of the people enthroned and empowered a government of the people by the people for the people.
China claims it is merely a one party democracy. It is the people as members of the Communist Party who decide who rules and decides for its over 1.4 billion people. . To that extent, China is a one party democracy. Russia, Hungary, the Philippines and Turkey have enthroned a different format of democracy. This is a hybrid between authoritarianism and populist democracy. This is what is now called illiberal democracy. You are represented but not necessarily free to choose who represents you. Argentina, Brazil and a good number of Latin American countries have borrowed elements from here and there to constitute their peculiar forms of democracy. What unites all these iterations of democracy is that periodically, people are made to vote for new leaders and the outcome of the voting ritual determines who rules.
On the scale of relatively free democratic traditions, of the 54 countries in Africa, less than 20 can be described as democratic in significant ways. There is now something called African democracy with its peculiar features. It is a democracy united by the preponderance of majority poor populations. To a great extent, it is this factor of predominant poverty that distinguishes different versions of African democracy.
Nigerian democracy therefore derives its specific character from the new identity of Nigeria as the world’s leading capital of poverty.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stirred an unnecessary storm when it joined the rest of the enlightened world to recalibrate poverty in national life. It revised the definition of poverty by shifting from the now proverbial living on $2 a day to something called “multidimensional poverty”. This has unsettled our politicians. While the politicians are used to saying that we have an internal poverty republic of about 100 million people, the new NBS categorization now puts
Nigeria’s poverty population at a disarming 133 million. This represents 65% of the fictional total population of about 220 million. In simple language, this means that those who are NOT poor have now been overwhelmed by the poor. The poor are now omni present, literally all over us in fulfiment of the Biblical saying that “the poor you will always have with you”.
AS at the time of this writing, the World Bank has revised and updated the poverty statistics as they relate to Nigeria. As at 6th May, the World Bank reported that the poverty rate among rural Nigerians is now at 75%. Similarly, 41.3% of the urban Nigerian population now lives below the poverty line. This clearly indicates that unlike previously when poverty was mostly a rural affliction, it is now a national emergency. This is a deterioration from the situation that obtained in 2018/2019 when only 30.9 % of the population lived below the international extreme poverty line. This indicates that the figures have doubled instead of improving.
Under the Multidimensional Poverty categorization, poverty is merely broken down into its familiar indices: homelessness, lack of access to food, healthcare, education, affordable energy, fair opportunity etc. These lacks are now recognized as the defining indicators of poverty. Nothing in this postulation sounds like ground breaking rocket science. Telling us what everyone already knows and using that obvious measure to arrive at a new poverty demographics is merely shifting the furniture in an old familiar home.
While the more academic disputation about categories and indices rages, no one has dared dispute the golden basic economic rule of poverty: if your country is mostly unproductive with a GDP growth rate that is slower than the rate of your population growth rate, your road to universal poverty is guaranteed.
Poverty does not need too much academic disputation. Nor does it require too many clashing intellectual definitions. The indices and markers of poverty are all too familiar. A lifelong embrace with poverty leaves permanent unmistakable scars. If you have no roof over your head, you know who you are. If there is perennial uncertainty about where the next meal will come from, you can guess where you belong. If you are tormented by avoidable and curable diseases and you dare not find a hospital, health center or pharmacy shop because you have no money, you can draw your conclusions. Worse still, if junior cannot continue in the neighborhood school because there is no way of paying his fees, his fate is nailed. Lack of access to everything that distinguishes humans from beasts in the state of nature is the commonest definition of poverty. The poor know themselves and their condition. We also know them but sometimes prefer to live in criminal denial. Poverty does not joke with its victims. It afflicts, scars, invades, ravages, dominates and pervades whole segments of the populace. It rapidly conquers territory as we notice shanty towns and slums spring up right before our eyes to surround our fancy new estates and palatial neighborhoods. An adversary that has conquered 63% of a national population and living space is not a laughing matter. Surrounded by such a rapacious and aggressive enemy, we all are doomed. By its rate of increase and the dislocations it breeds, poverty has become a national security issue of urgent concern. The Nigerian state is today threatened by factions of its own citizens mostly united by the universal lack of access to the indices of poverty as identified by the statisticians. The criminality, violence and insensitivity of those entrapped in the internal poverty republic has
made life unsafe for the rest of us. Insecurity defines our national space. Fear rules our lives. Everybody is afraid of everybody. To keep us safe, the state has to buy bigger guns than the criminals with the money meant for medicines, school books, basic housing and clean water. A society that should be at peace is spending fortunes on the instruments of war.
Worse still, poverty has grown somewhat resilient and incremental. Upward mobility and the pursuit of the dream of a better life by succeeding generations is fast disappearing from our psychology as a people. Downward mobility is now the norm.
It used to be part of the ‘Nigerian dream’, the ethos that with education and dedicated hard work, one could overcome poverty in one lifetime or generation. It used to be a favorite saying among us that the poverty in our beginnings will not accompany us to the grave nor escort our children through life. Not anymore.
These days, the most pervasive and assured legacy that people pass on to succeeding generations is a near universal assurance of poverty. Poor parents survived by even poorer offspring in a land devoid of opportunities. Poverty as an inheritance and a legacy defines a new pervasive lack of upward social and economic mobility that now pervades the Nigerian nation space. The demographic rate of increase of our poor population is the highest in the world. Every hour, an average of 50 Nigerians are entering the poverty republic with no hope of returning or exiting. As people migrate into poverty, there is hardly any opportunity or measure to reduce the population of the poor. It is a one- way ticket. As the new graduate leaves the village in hopelessness with no hope of returning better than he is leaving it, the elders pour libation and wish him well: “Go in peace and never return the way you leave us…”
Not any more. Parents now impoverish themselves to educate their children only to discover that those children can not find work nor do they have a chance to replenish the assets sold to pay for their education. In this atmosphere, the plight of democracy is foreseeable. Those who keep lamenting the plight of Nigerian democracy have failed to locate the bulk of the crisis in the ever expanding frontiers of poverty in our country. Over time, Nigeria has ended up redefining democracy in our own image as: “Government of the poor by the rich for the rich…”
3. It all takes us back to the Mathew effect from Biblical literature.
“Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken away from them” (Mathew 13:12). In the ever shrinking landscape of opportunities in our economic space, politics has emerged as the most dominant sector of our national economy. It is a sector in which the investment climate is relatively unrestricted and minimally unregulated. The entry requirements are faily liberal. You probably need a basic school certificate obtained through schooling or some affidavit or purchased at Oluwole. You need start up capital which would be a lot of cash carted around at night in “Ghana Must Go” bags or in the trunks of cars. The investment may be considerable initially but the return on investment is more attractive than in virtually any other industry. Of course the chances of failure are there as in any other business. But success guarantees a great escape from the Poverty Republic.