Lokpobiri to IOCs: Nigeria has created right conditions, it’s time to invest Insists on withdrawal of licences from unproductive oilfield owners
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Tinubu Sacks Kyari, Akinyelure, Appoints Bayo Ojulari as New GCEO of NNPCL
Reconstitutes 11-man board with Ahmadu Kida as non-executive chairman
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved a sweeping reconstitution of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Company (NNPC) Limited board, removing the Chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure and the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari.
According to a release issued in the early hours of this morning by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the President also removed all other board members
appointed with Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023. The new 11-man board has Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa
Continued
Cardoso Jubilant as Net FX Reserves Hit 3-year High, Swells to $23.1bn
Reveals position enough to withstand external shocks $500m W’Bank Loan: LCCI advises FG to focus on addressing poor power supply, high energy cost Says loan will provide short-term stimulus with unsavory long-term macroeconomic implications
HONOURING WOMEN OF IMPACT...
L-R: Founder, Doyin Group of Companies, Prince Samuel Adedoyin; Industrialist and Chairman, Eleganza Group of Companies, Chief Rasaki Okoya; and Honouree/Managing Director, Eleganza Industrial City Limited, Mrs. Shade Okoya, who named one of the women of impact, at the ARISE Gala: Honouring Women of Impact, held at Eko Hotel, Lagos on Monday
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos
Bayo Ojulari, new Group CEO Story
EID-UL-FITR CELEBRATION WITH LAGOS FIRST FAMILY...
China Delays $23bn Sale of Panama Canal Ports to US-backed BlackRock Consortium
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
China has held up the $23 billion sale of dozens of ports, including two key ports in the Panama Canal, to a group led by US investing giant, BlackRock, after President Donald Trump expressed concern about Beijing’s sway over the strategic shipping lanes.
March 4, CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate controlled by 96-year-old billionaire Li Ka-shing, announced plans to sell 43 port facilities globally — including critical ports at both ends of the Panama Canal and near the Suez Canal — for approximately $22.8 billion.
But China’s State Administration for Market Regulation has unexpectedly initiated an investigation into potential violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws, effectively stalling the deal.
The deal would have shifted control of two ports in Panama to the US-led investor group, but it is now likely to be delayed for at least a short period beyond the initial April 2 deadline, people familiar with the matter said. The deal had drawn praise from Trump and criticism from China’s state-backed media.
China President Xi Jinping is reportedly “angry” over CK Hutchison’s plans to sell its Panama Canal port operations — particularly because the company did not consult Beijing beforehand, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The deal — spearheaded by BlackRock Chief Executive, Larry Fink, a longtime Trump confidante — called for an agreement to be signed by April 2 (today), though it now is likely that the Wednesday deadline will be missed.
Also, Adebayo Ogunlesi, Founding Partner, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a subsidiary of BlackRock, will lead the move to acquire the key port operations near the Panama Canal in the deal.
As part of the agreement, GIP will manage the newly acquired assets in partnership with Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) and other strategic partners.
Under Ogunlesi’s leadership, GIP has grown into the world’s largest independent infrastructure manager, overseeing more than $100 billion in assets. The firm’s infrastructure equity funds alone account for $60
billion of its portfolio, reinforcing its position as a global leader in infrastructure investment
“We are confident that Panama will require the sale of these assets within its sovereign territory,” a White House official told The New York Post.
Insiders say Chinese leadership had hoped to leverage the port issue in its talks with the Trump administration, only to be caught off guard by the deal’s sudden progress.
Trump hailed the development as a strategic win over China — casting Panama as a key battleground in the broader US-China struggle for global influence.
In response, an op-ed published in the pro-Beijing newspaper Ta Kung Pao condemned the sale as a “betrayal of all Chinese people.”
The timing of the deal’s announcement, coming just before the start of the “two sessions,” China’s most significant annual political and economic gathering, only deepened the offense for Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.
The Panama Canal — used extensively by both the US and China — has reemerged as a
flashpoint in global politics after Trump renewed his pledge to assert American dominance over the waterway.
Beijing’s move to influence the affairs of CK Hutchison reinforced concerns among global observers about China’s diminishing distinction between private and public sectors as well as its aggressive encroachment into Hong Kong’s affairs. President Trump has vowed to reassert American dominance over the Panama Canal.
The dispute over the canal’s ports arises at a sensitive moment as China faces ongoing tensions from a US trade war. This week, Trump is expected to announce a
new round of so-called “reciprocal tariffs.”
CK Hutchison, one of the largest conglomerates in Hong Kong, earlier this month announced plans to sell its stake in two ports on the Panama Canal to a group of US investors led by BlackRock. The plan, part of a $22.8 billion megadeal that would grant the consortium control over more than 40 ports in 23 countries, followed complaints by United States President Donald Trump that the key shipping route was under Chinese control.
CK Hutchison shares soared following news of the deal on March 4, but plunged less than two weeks
later when Ta Kung Pao, a Chinese state-run newspaper in Hong Kong, accused the company in two op-eds of “spineless grovelling” and cutting a deal “that betrayed and sold out all Chinese people”.
While it is still uncertain whether CK Hutchison and BlackRock will go ahead with the deal, a delay would not necessarily stop it in its tracks.
The deal reportedly includes a 145-day exclusivity clause for negotiations, after which CK Hutchison would be free to sell its assets to another party, according to the Post. The Post said neither party had revealed “the start or end” of the exclusivity period.
FG Revokes Provisional Allocation of Houses Under NHP
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The federal government yesterday announced the revocation of the offer of provisional allocation of houses under the National Housing Programme (NHP) for all recipients who failed to make full and outright payment within the stipulated period of 90 days.
to beneficiaries, reinforcing the ministry’s commitment to ensuring transparency, compliance, and efficient management of the national housing programme.
The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) has described the removal of fuel subsidy as “timely” and is asking Nigerians to endure the immediate hardship brought by the new measure.
President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy during his inauguration took Nigerians by surprise and immediately led to a spike in the cost of the essential commodity.
The singular act triggered a backlash from millions of Nigerians who accused the federal government of insensitivity and not putting measures in place to cushion the biting effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
The Director General of the NIPPS, Ayo Omotayo, said the removal of subsidy was necessary and will favour the country in the long run.
According to the Director General of NIPPS, “Well, most of the benefits will be in the medium and long term. In the short term, the government has tried to put out palliatives so that those who are suffering – the poor man on the street – from the effect of fuel subsidy would be able
to make some adjustments. We all need to make some adjustments to our spending,” Omotayo said on a television programme monitored by Thisday on Tuesday in Abuja
“The gains at this time are very little, but then in the long run, we will make up for whatever sacrifices we have made today as Nigerians,” he argued.
He added: “The country is oil-rich but has a meagre refining capacity. For years, it has swapped crude for gasoline that it then subsidises for its domestic market, causing a huge drain on revenue, foreign exchange and contributing to ballooning debt.
“Tinubu had vowed on the campaign trail to remove the costly help, and during his inauguration, he declared that the “fuel subsidy is gone”. The uncertainty and sudden change caused panic among many in the country, leading to a spike in the cost of the product.
“So, for us at the National Institute, it was a very timely step that Mr. President took, and it has come a long way in saving Nigeria.
“We were on the verge of collapse with subsidies. The subsidies we were paying were just totally
unimaginable, and of course, we were subsidizing fuel as far as Burkina Faso, as far as Sierra Leone in some instances. So, a government that wants to succeed must take very tough decisions.
‘’For us at the National Institute, we commend the President for the removal of fuel subsidy, even though the Nigerian politic may feel it is harsh, that we needed some more time.”
While the end to the subsidy regime led to an increase in the cost of living, Tinubu proposed a temporary minimum wage hike for lower-paid workers, cheap gas-powered public transport, and more social security for the poor to help offset the impact of his economic reforms.
“Reform may be painful, but it is what greatness and the future require.”
“There is no joy in seeing the people of this nation shoulder burdens that should have been shed years ago.
“I wish today’s difficulties did not exist. But we must endure if we are to reach the good side of our future.”, he stressed.
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Salisu Haiba, said the applicants also flouted the additional eightweeks grace granted them by the government.
According to the federal government, the decision aligns with the terms and conditions outlined in paragraph 2 of the provisional offer of allocation letter issued
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, emphasised that the revocation strictly applies to those who did not fulfill the payment requirements within the designated time frame. He further clarified that all beneficiaries who successfully completed their payments on or before February 28, 2025, remain unaffected by the action, advising that they should come to the ministry to collect their Letters of Allocation and proceed to take possession of the houses immediately.
“For ease of reference and public accountability, the full list of individuals whose Provisional
Offer of Allocation has been revoked is now available on the ministry’s official website https://fmhud.gov. ng and will also be published in the newspapers, in the first week of April, 2025.
“The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development remains dedicated to providing accessible and affordable housing to Nigerians, and this measure is part of ongoing efforts to streamline the housing allocation process for greater efficiency and fairness.
“Affected individuals and members of the public are advised to visit the website of the ministry, check the list in the selected newspapers or contact the Director, Public Buildings and Housing Development of the Ministry, Room A221 at the Ministry’s Headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja,” the statement added.
NECA Commends FG’s Appointment of NHIA’s Chairman
Dike Onwuamaeze
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has commended the federal government for the appointment of a Chairman for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Speaking in Lagos, the Director General NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, stated that “the success of any scheme or project depends on a good governance structure.
“The appointment of a substan-
tive Chairman for the NHIA will not only strengthen the Institution but also reposition it to achieve its objectives.”
Oyerinde also urged the government to appointment and constitution of the boards of many other agencies.
He said: “We urge the government to expeditiously appoint chairmen for other critical institutions like National Pension Commission (PENCOM), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), etc. in line
with these agencies’ enabling Acts.
“The managements of these agencies cannot substitute for governing bodies and as such, the enabling Acts detailed the independent and complementary roles of their boards and managements.”
He added that beyond the inauguration of the boards, there should also be strategic mechanisms to ensure that the board would function as envisaged by the Acts, rather than becoming a rubberstamp for the management.
L-R: Special Adviser to the Governor on Religion (Muslim), Alhaji Abdullah Jebe; Chief Imam of Ikorodu, Imam Seifudeen Ademoritan Olowo-Oribi; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaimon Oluwatoyin Abu-Nolla; Chief Imam of Epe, Imam Abdur Rahman Sadullahi; Chief Imam of Badagry, Alhaji Abdul Hakeem Uthman; and Chief Imam of Ikeja, Sheikh Kamorudeen Adeola Illo, during the 2025 Eid-ul-Fitr celebration with the First Family at the Lagos House, Marina, yesterday
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Ijeoma Nwogwugwu ReceIvINg heR awaRd...
L-R: Chairman of Caverton, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola presenting the award of Pioneering Media Leadership to Ijeoma Nwogwugwu. Other awardees behind them are Ruth Osime (L), a Renowned Fashion Editor and TV Host, for her contribution to Fashion and ARISE NEWS Anchor, Ojy Okpe, for her contribution to broadcasting, during the celebration of Women of Impact at the ARISE Gala Night in Lagos on Monday
LASG, LIFC Council Seek Investors’ Support for Lagos International Financial Centre
Call for media partnership in repositioning Nigeria
oluchi chibuzor
The Lagos State government, in partnership with EnterpriseNGR under the platform of the Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC), have called on foreign and local investors to support and partner for the establishment of an International Financial Centre in Lagos to drive
economic and financial growth.
Speaking during the EnterpriseNGR first Quarterly Members’ Night, held in Lagos, the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Co-Chairman of LIFC Council, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, were quoted in a statement to have said the establishment of LIFC would attract private international
capital flow to finance growth and development in Lagos and Nigeria.
The event attended by Lagos State Government top officials, which included Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi; his Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment counterpart, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, as well as the Commissioner of
Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Mosopefolu George; captains of industry, foreign partners, and media stakeholders, in a high-level engagement, showcased the Lagos International Financial Centre vision, focusing on advancing Nigeria’s transformation into a globally competitive financial hub.
Speaking at the event, Sanwo-
US Embassies Tell Suppliers to Comply with Trump’s Ban on Diversity Policies
The Donald Trump administration has warned suppliers to U.S. embassies and consulates as well as recipients of U.S. grants worldwide that they must comply with its ban on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programmes or risk losing payments.
Suppliers for U.S. diplomatic missions have been told to confirm compliance with the DEI crackdown in a questionnaire entitled “Certification Regarding Compliance With Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Law”, according to a copy reviewed by Reuters.
Separately, a letter sent to those firms warned that failing to submit the required information and confirm compliance will result in a payments freeze, a Spanish official said.
The warning reflects U.S. President Donald Trump’s goal to extend outside the U.S. his January executive order directing U.S. government chiefs to dismantle DEI policies for their agencies and contractors and for the private sector to do the same.
This has created a legal standoff in the U.S. after years in which American firms have embraced DEI policies that track race and ethnicity data and set diversity targets in hiring and other corporate practices.
A February 11 cable sent to all U.S. missions worldwide reviewed by Reuters instructed them to obtain
from vendors with current contracts or proposals under review the certification that they are adhering to Trump’s DEI ban.
They also must certify that they will not spend U.S. funds “for any initiatives or programmes that do not comply” with Trump’s order, according to the cable.
Asked about the issue, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters on Monday that the notifications were “an effort to comply with the executive order from the president, and it is (an) essentially self-certifying statement to local consulates and embassies.”
Reuters said it has been unable to establish how many companies have received letters or how much their combined contracts are worth.
But the anti-DEI pressure from Washington has highlighted the extraterritorial reach of U.S. policies and their potential impact on European corporate practices.
Other “America First” policies pursued by Trump have stoked economic and political tensions between the U.S. and Europe since his January 20 inauguration, at a time when his actions on tariffs and security ties have upended transatlantic relations.
The instructions have been sent to a wide range of firms, the Spanish official said, including those sup-
plying the homes of U.S. embassy staff with water, gas and electricity, to newspapers to which embassies subscribe, and catering suppliers.
The Spanish Labour Ministry said the American directive was a “flagrant violation” of Spain’s strict anti-discrimination and diversity laws, and companies seeking to comply would face investigation by the Labour Inspectorate.
American Space Barcelona, based at the Spanish city’s Sant Andreu municipal library, is one Spanish organisation to have received the letter as it includes a project that gets U.S. Embassy funds.
The project provides Englishlanguage resources, cultural programmes and educational guidance and information about the United States.
Olu, who was represented by Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, said the establishment of the Lagos International Financial Centre would aid the financing of the infrastructural gap in the State.
He, therefore, called on the private sector to partner with the Lagos State Government and LIFC Council to drive economic and financial growth in Lagos, noting that “the partnership between the public and the private sector is the solution, and that is what we have been looking for.”
He said: “We believe the establishment of the Lagos International Financial Centre will aid the financing of the infrastructural gap. It is a hub that promotes the development of both economic and financial systems in Nigeria.
“If we are able to establish the Lagos International Financial Centre, it will, in a geometric way, leapfrog the development of Lagos State for Lagos to be able to compete with global cities.
“The Lagos State Government, particularly Mr. Governor, is very supportive, and he is driving the
initiative. So, whatsoever is needed for us to make sure that the Lagos International Financial Centre is established and developed, we will do it.
“The Lagos International Financial Centre will tremendously transform the economy of Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole. It will become a magnet that attracts and magnetises the capital that we have been looking for.
“It magnetises the flow of investments, Foreign Direct Investment. It will make Lagos to become destination of choice.”
The Co-Chairman of the LIFC Council and Chairman of EnterpriseNGR, Aig-Imoukhuede, described the LIFC as a, “national strategic imperative” and a transformative platform to attract international capital, deepen markets, and elevate Nigeria’s competitiveness.”
He said: “The LIFC is our collective response to the reality that global capital now gravitates to jurisdictions that are familiar, predictable, profitable, and open. Lagos is poised to become West Africa’s first and Africa’s largest international financial centre.
Save Contributory Pensioners from Poverty, APC Chieftain Appeals to Tinubu
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to look into the plights of contributory pensioners in the country.
Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo yesterday.
The APC Chieftain noted that delayed or non-payment of pensions, inadequate funding, and corruption within the pension scheme have led to hardship and financial stress for
pensioners.
Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker said since 2004, when the federal government enacted the Pensions Reform Act (PRA 2004), which introduced the contributory pension scheme, pensioners had not been treated fairly by, especially many previous administrations in the country.
Lamenting that many pensioners are still unable to access their gratuity, Oyintiloye also said many senior citizens are often paid between 25 and 50 percent of the lump sum after retirement.
He expressed concerns that many civil servants who had served the
government in their prime would end up being subjected to untold hardship and poverty after retirement due to delay or non-payment of retirement benefits by government.
Oyintiloye, who commended Tinubu for approving N758 billion bond in February to clear 16 years pension liabilities, said more still needed to be done to save pensioners from poverty ravaging them after retirement, leading to sickness and untimely death.
He also urged the President to work with the National Assembly in reviewing the 2004 Pensions Reform Act to enable pensioners to
withdraw all their retirement savings immediately after exiting service and also have access to free health care once they reach 65 years. Oyintiloye said doing that would enable these retirees to take care of their needs, venture into any business of their wish, rather than live on monthly pension that may be insufficient.
He said the kind of hardship many ex-workers experience after retirement due to poor or delayed payment of retirement benefits may impact negatively on the morale of those still in service, making them to indulge in graft.
PHOTO AbIOduN AjALA
ENTERPRISENGR’S QUARTERLY MEMBERS’ NIGHT Q1 2025...
L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem; Co-Chairman, Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC) and Chairman, EnterpriseNGR, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi; CEO, EnterpriseNGR, Ms. Obi Ibekwe; and Director, Policy and Public Affairs, EnterpriseNGR, Mr. Lami Adekola, at EnterpriseNGR’s Quarterly Members’ Night Q1 2025 in Lagos
CPPE: Banning Importation of Solar Panels May Worsen Nigeria’s Energy Crisis
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has advised the federal government that a ban on the importation of solar panels in the face of glaringly inadequate domestic production capacity could worsen the country’s energy crisis.
The CPPE’s advice followed a statement by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Uche Nnaji, which revealed that the government was planning to ban the importation of solar panels as a measure to promote domestic production of the panels.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, advised strongly against this policy proposition, stating that the view of the CPPE was that Nigeria was not yet ripe for a ban on importation of solar panels given the acute energy deficit in the economy and the glaring domestic capacity limitations for the production of solar panels.
Yusuf stated: “Currently, Nigeria has one of the worst energy accesses with a per capita electricity consumption of about 160kWh, far below the Sub-Sahara Africa average of 350Kwh.
“The adoption of solar energy solution is one of the most impactful government initiatives to tackle this problem and it has gained remarkable traction.
“A ban on the importation of solar panels in the face of glaringly inadequate domestic production
capacity would worsen the country’s energy crisis.”
He argued that the contemplated ban was a complete negation of the government’s policy to deepen and promote the adoption of renewable energy solutions by households, small businesses, rural communities and government institutions and other corporate organisations, which has gained an impressive momentum in the last two years, especially in the light of the soaring energy cost in the economy.
Yusuf said: “It would worsen the problem of energy access as it would make the cost of solar energy solutions prohibitive, putting it beyond the average Nigerian.”
He added that that the welfare cost of a ban on the importation of solar panels would be incredibly high as a result of the escalation in the cost of acquiring solar solutions.
According to him, what was desirable at this time was to seek ways to drive affordability, rather than escalate costs.
He noted that the CPPE shared the minister’s vision of encouraging domestic production of solar panels but warned that the transition process should be very painstaking, diligent and gradual.
Otherwise, recourse to a hasty decision of banning importation of solar panels would be very disruptive and counter-productive.
Yusuf also argued that the contemplation of an import ban is a major trade policy decision that would require rigorous, robust
and painstaking empirical studies to determine the domestic demand for solar solutions, the domestic capacity to meet those demands, and the implications for the wider economy.
He added that the empirical study should also be undertaken to determine the availability and adequacy of the critical inputs for the production of solar panels.
He averred that the minister’s announcement of a planned importation ban is already generating concerns and anxiety among the renewable energy investing community, the business community, households as well as multilateral organisations.
“It has significantly elevated the policy and political risk of investing in renewable energy solutions in Nigeria.
“This should be avoided because of the adverse impact on investors’ confidence. Urgent clarification of the government’s position is needed to restore that confidence.
“Banning the importation of solar panels is a fundamental trade policy matter which is not within the remit of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
“The conception, formulation and implementation framework for such policy should normally be driven by the coordinating minister
of the economy in collaboration with the industry, trade and investment minister and the minister of national planning and budget.
“There should also be a robust stakeholder consultation for an inclusive policy process. This would allow for a comprehensive analysis of the wider economic and social implications of such a fundamental policy change.
“The CPPE recommends that government should rather support investors in the solar panel production with robust fiscal and monetary incentives – tax incentives, tariff concession on intermediate products and concessionary long-
term financing at a single-digit interest rate,” Yusuf said.
The CPPE also urged the government to cut the import duty on batteries, inverters and wind turbines to 5.0 per cent to improve energy access, energy security and productivity in the economy. He also clarified that Executive Order 5, which the minister alluded to, is not a trade policy but a procurement policy which directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to give preference to Nigerian service providers in their procurement process for goods and services.
FG Tasks Stakeholders on Prevention of Workplace Risks, Hazards
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The federal government has urged employers of labour to help develop a comprehensive National Workplace Intervention Action Guide that would serve as a framework for mitigating the effects of occupational safety and health issues in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Salihu Usman, gave the charge at a Stakeholders’ Retreat on Workplace Intervention to Emerging Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
Economic Hardship: Foundation Empowers 1,000 Pensioners
Worried by the economic hardship in the country, a foundation based in Ilorin, Oluwafemi Oparinde Foundation has empowered over 1,000 pensioners with financial support and health care outreach in the state.
Speaking at the event in Ilorin on Tuesday, the founder of the Foundation, Mr. Oluwafemi Adesola Oparinde, said the foundation that started since 2020 in the state was aimed to uplift the people and boost the socio-economic growth of the less privileged people in the society.
According to him, “Retirement is not the end of a journey; rather, it is a stage of life that deserves dignity, respect and support”.
He said: “Our retirees have spent decades in service - shaping our communities, building our institutions, and laying the foundation for the progress we enjoy today.
“They (retirees) have given their time, energy, and wisdom to this nation, and now it is our turn to give back.
“Through the Oluwafemi Oparinde Foundation, our mission has always been to empower communities and uplift lives”.
Oparinde added, “When we started this journey in 2020, our goal was to cushion the harsh effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly here in Ilorin.
“Over the years, we have expanded our reach - supporting education, empowering
in Kwara
entrepreneurs, and assisting the less privileged.
“Today’s event is a continuation of that vision: to ensure that our senior citizens are not forgotten but cherished, celebrated, and supported.
“This programme is a testament to the power of collective responsibility. We are here to provide financial assistance to 1,000 retirees, offer free medical outreach, and create an atmosphere of joy and appreciation.
“This is not just charity; it is a moral obligation—a duty to those who have paved the way for us.
“To our senior citizens present today, I say this: You are valued, you are appreciated, and your contributions will never be forgotten.
Issues in Nigeria, organised by the Ministry, in Abuja.
A statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Patience Onuobia, quoted Usman as saying that a swift intervention was required to safeguard and promote the safety, health and well-being of workers in their various workplaces.
Usman, who was represented by the Director, Human Resources Management, Mrs. Catherine Lami Bulus, identified emerging occupational safety issues as incidents arising from changes in the world of work due to technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence (AI), demographic shifts, economic instability, rising insecurity, climate
change and globalisation.
According to him, there was a need to create better working conditions in line with emerging workplace trends.
He noted that those emerging issues could often transform into disasters that required coordinated workplace intervention by multiple stakeholders.
Usman stressed the need for the identification, evaluation and control of emerging conditions in the work environment that could adversely affect the health, safety, and well-being of workers, noting that these emerging issues could often transform into disasters that require workplace intervention by
multiple stakeholders.
He listed the objectives of the retreat to include identifying, analysing, and evaluating the workplace interventions to identifiable emerging occupational safety and health issues in the workplace; as well as formulating a Workplace Intervention Guide to these emerging occupational safety and health issues.
While welcoming the participants earlier, the Director, OSH Department, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Lauretta Adogu, said the retreat was aimed at identifying mitigation strategies, and analysing the proposed Workplace Intervention Guide to identifiable emerging occupational safety and health issues.
Nigeria Immigration Service Arrests 51 Irregular Migrants from Mali
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has arrested 51 irregular Malian immigrants in the suburb of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The undocumented migrants were arrested at the New Nyanya, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, which shares border with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Mali is one of the three Sahelian states that recently exited the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the window
of travel without visa for specified period of time for the citizens of the regional bloc are no longer applicable to Malians in Nigeria and other 11 member states of the economic bloc.
The other two countries which exited ECOWAS are Niger Republic and Burkina Faso.
The irregular Malian migrants are aged between 17 and 25 and were arrested at their hideouts, following a credible intelligence, according to NIS source.
Speaking on the arrest, the Nigeria Immigration Service Public Relations
Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, said 11 of the irregular migrants are females, while 40 others were males. He noted that preliminary investigation conducted by the NIS showed that the migrants may have been victims of Trafficking in Person (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM), adding that none of them presented any valid travel document or residence permit during interrogation.
Akinlabi said they have been taken into the custody of the Service and are undergoing further profiling and investigation.
Dike Onwuamaeze
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
Nigeria Cuts March OPEC Quota by 50,000bpd in Blow to 2025 Budget
Oil steadies near $75 as market weighs Trump’s tariffs, sanctions
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reduced crude oil production last month, with curbs in Nigeria amounting to about 50,000 barrels per day, a major blow to the country’s aspirational 2.06 million bpd in the 2025 budget.
A Bloomberg survey showed that Nigeria cut production the most last month, reducing it by 50,000 bpd to an average of 1.5 million per day, in line with its quota. Loadings of the country’s Bonny Light crude grade also faced delays, following a fire
James Emejo in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), yesterday reported a marked improvement in its net foreign exchange reserve (NFER), which stood at $23.11 billion in 2024.
This was revealed same day the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) advised the federal government to focus on addressing Nigeria’s perennial problem of poor power supply and high cost of energy.
According to a statement from the central bank that revealed the NFER, the figure was the highest level of FX accretion in three years, compared to $3.99 billion in 2023, $8.19 billion in 2022, and $14.59 billion in 2021.
The accretion reflected a remarkable improvement in the country’s external liquidity, reduced short-term obligations, and renewed investor confidence.
Gross external reserves also increased to $40.19 billion, compared to $33.22 billion in 2023.
Commenting on the results, CBN
officer last November, has been appointed to the new board by President Tinubu.
Six board members, non-executive directors, represent the country’s geopolitical zones. They are Bello Rabiu, North West, Yusuf Usman, North East, and Babs Omotowa, a former managing director of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas( NLNG), who represents North Central.
President Tinubu appointed Austin Avuru as a non-executive director from the South-South, David Ige as a Non-executive director from the South West, and Henry Obih as a non-executive director from the South East.
Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry on the new board, while Aminu Said Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
All the appointments are effective today, April 2.
President Tinubu, while invoking the powers granted under Section 59, subsection 2 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, emphasised that the board’s restructuring is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, restoring investor confidence, boosting local content, driving economic growth, and advancing gas com- mercialisation and diversification.
President Tinubu also handed out an immediate action plan to the new board: to conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture Assets to ensure alignment with value maximisation objectives.
Since 2023, the Tinubu administration has implemented oil sector reforms to attract investment. Last year, NNPC reported $17 billion in new investments within the sector. The administration now envisions increasing the investment to $30 billion by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030.
The Tinubu administration targets raising oil production to two million barrels daily by 2027 and three million daily by 2030. Concurrently, the government wants gas production jacked to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion cubic feet
at the Trans-Niger Pipeline.
In general, OPEC lowered output by 110,000 barrels a day to 27.43 million per day, according to the Bloomberg survey. The cartel’s leaders have urged members to remain committed to existing production quotas, which several countries continue to flout. However, the OPEC data excludes condensate, which usually amounts to about 250,000 per day for Nigeria.
On March 17, a section of the Trans-Niger Pipeline, one of Nigeria’s biggest pipelines, exploded, after it was attacked by militants who had threatened to destroy Nigeria’s export
Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, declared that the improvement in net reserves was not accidental but, “outcome of deliberate policy choices aimed at rebuilding confidence, reducing vulnerabilities, and laying the foundation for long-term stability.”
He said, “We remain focused on sustaining this progress through transparency, discipline, and market- driven reforms.”
NFER, which adjusts gross reserves to account for near-term liabilities such as FX swaps and forward contracts, is widely regarded as a more accurate indicator of the foreign exchange buffers available to meet immediate external obligations.
The increase in reserves reflects a combination of strategic measures undertaken by the CBN, including a deliberate and substantial reduction in short-term foreign exchange liabilities – notably swaps and forward obligations, the apex bank stated.
The strengthening was also spurred by policy actions to rebuild confidence in the FX market and increase reserve buffers, along with recent improved foreign exchange inflows – particularly
by 2030.
Furthermore, President Tinubu expects the new board to elevate NNPC’s share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels by 2027 and reach 500,000 by 2030.
The new board chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is from Borno State. He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he received a degree in civil engineering in 1984. He also obtained a postgraduate diploma in petroleum engineering from the Institut Francaise du Petrol (IFP) in Paris.
He started his career in the oil industry at Elf Petroleum Nigeria and later joined Total Exploration and Production as a trainee engineer in 1985. Musa became Total Nigeria’s Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services in 2015. Last year, he became an Independent Non-Executive Director at Pan Ocean-Newcross Group.
Secretary General of APPO, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, announced this progress during the just-concluded Congo Energy & Investment Forum, according to a statement by the African Energy Chamber (AEC).
The AEB, with initial capitalisation of $5 billion, aims to finance oil and gas projects across the continent, addressing funding challenges posed by traditional Western financial institutions’ reluctance to support fossil fuel initiatives due to environmental concerns.
APPO had requested each of its 18 member states to contribute $83 million, targeting a total initial capitalisation of $5 billion.
Beyond Nigeria, Angola and Ghana, five additional member states – Algeria, Benin, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast – had pledged to make their payments, aligning with the bank’s goal to commence operations in the first half of 2025, the Chamber stated.
Nigeria remains sub-Saharan Africa’s largest oil producer, offering
as a result of a political problem in the oil-rich Rivers state.
The pipeline is crucial for oil transportation in the Niger Delta, one of the country’s biggest sources of oil. It carries over 450,000 barrels’ worth of oil per day, mostly to the Bonny Terminal in the federal state of Rivers.
The Renaissance Consortiumoperated pipeline has frequently been the target of attacks by militants and saboteurs, which has resulted in significant revenue losses, prompting the government to take recent measures to halt the leakages.
from non-oil sources.
The outcome further reflected a stronger and more transparent reserve position that better equips the country to withstand external shocks.
The expansion occurred even as the CBN continues to reduce short-term liabilities, thereby improving the overall quality of the reserve position.
However, reserves have continued to strengthen in 2025.
While the first quarter figures reflected some seasonal and transitional adjustments, including significant interest payments on foreign-denominated debt, underlying fundamentals remained intact.
The central bank added that reserves are expected to continue improving over the second quarter of the year.
The bank further anticipated a steady uptick in reserves, underpinned by improved oil production levels, and a more supporting export growth environment expected to boost non-oil FX earnings and diversify external inflows.
The CBN also reaffirmed its commitment to prudent reserve
Apart from his oil industry career, Ahmadu Musa Kida is a former basketballer and the president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation(NBBF) board.
Ojulari, the new NNPC Limited Group CEO, hails from Kwara State. Until his new appointment, He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. His Renaissance recently led a consortium of indigenous energy firms in the landmark acquisition of the entire equity holding in the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), worth $2.4 billion.
Like Kida, Ojulari is also an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Elf Aquitaine as the first Nigerian process engineer to begin a stellar career in the oil sector. From Elf, he joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd in 1991 as
significant opportunities in the oil and gas sector, including a 2025 bid round, the chamber noted.
It said the implementation of the PIA has introduced regulatory reforms to enhance transparency and attract investment, driving major projects forward.
It recalled that recent Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) in Nigeria included the TotalEnergies’ $550 million Ubeta Gas Field Development and Shell’s $5 billion Bonga North Project, adding that yet, additional financing is crucial to advancing Nigeria’s gas agenda and unlocking its full potential in the energy transition.
The chamber mentioned that Angola, meanwhile, was actively diversifying its energy portfolio while advancing major deepwater developments, including TotalEnergies’ $6 billion Kaminho Deepwater Project, Eni’s Agogo Integrated West Hub and a limited public tender, with a long-term goal of increasing production to 2 million barrels per day.
“The country plans to make an
In February, Nigeria self-reported a drop in crude oil production in February to the tune of 74,000 barrels per day, according to OPEC, raising grave concerns over the capacity of the country to fund its almost N55 trillion budget for 2025.
OPEC, in its Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) indicated that the country’s crude oil production declined from 1.54 million bpd in January to 1.47 million bpd in February, about 4.81 per cent decline.
But according to Bloomberg, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, the OPEC+ alliance this month plans to
management, transparent reporting, and macroeconomic policies that support a stable exchange rate, attract investment, and build long-term resilience.
Meanwhile, the LCCI has advised the federal government to focus on addressing Nigeria’s perennial problem of poor power supply and high cost of energy.
This, the Chamber noted, would help create an enabling business environment where small businesses could thrive rather than majoring on providing short-term cash disbursement to small enterprises and vulnerable population.
The LCCI expressed these views yesterday in a statement titled, “Balancing Relief and Responsibility: The $500 million World Bank Loan and Nigeria’s Economic Future,” in which it raised concern that the recently approved $500 million World Bank’s loan for Nigeria might exasperate the country’s rising debt burden and expose Nigeria to fiscal vulnerabilities, weaker investors’ confidence and limited government’s ability to execute long-term economic reforms.
an associate production technologist. Apart from working in Nigeria, he worked in Europe and the Middle East in different capacities as a petroleum process and production engineer, strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager. In 2015, he became the managing director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company(SNEPCO).
During his career, he was chair- man and member of the board of trustees of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. President Tinubu thanked the old board members for their dedicated service to NNPC Limited, particularly their efforts in rehabilitating the old Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which enabled them to resume petroleum product production after prolonged shutdowns. He wished them well in their future endeavours.
FID on its first green hydrogen project by 2025 – a 600 MW development led by Sonangol in collaboration with international partners.
“Additionally, Angola is spearheading its first non-associated gas project, the New Gas Consortium, and undertaking a $12 billion expansion of the Angola LNG plant to enhance its gas monetisation efforts.
“Ghana is strengthening its position as a leading oil and gas player with new commitments from Eni and Tullow Oil. In March, Eni and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation signed an agreement to enhance offshore exploration, optimize existing assets and advance untapped reserves.
“This follows recent regulatory reforms aimed at improving fiscal terms, transparency and investment incentives.
“Tullow Oil also remains integral to Ghana’s energy sector, with production from the Jubilee and TEN fields supporting economic growth and plans to launch a drilling program in May 2025 to bring new production online.
start gradually restoring production that was idled for several years in a bid to shore up oil prices. The shift came after President Donald Trump called on OPEC to “cut the price of oil” and, some delegates said, as the group’s leaders had grown impatient with members such as Kazakhstan persistently over-producing.
Iraq made the next-biggest cutback, curbing by 40,000 barrels a day to 4.15 million per day and moving slightly closer to its own agreed ceiling during the month under consideration. Still, Baghdad remains over its limit of 4
The chamber noted that although this intervention was aimed at supporting poor and vulnerable households and firms, it was imperative to state that its broader implications on businesses and the economy posed a concern to the business community.
The Director General of LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, stated that:
“The LCCI stands on the point that a more impactful stimulus for economic growth is that the government solves the perennial problem of poor power supply and high cost of energy and creates an enabling business environment where small businesses can thrive, creating jobs and generating revenues for the government.
“While the World Bank loan offers immediate relief, long-term economic resilience can only be achieved through a comprehensive strategy that fosters economic diversification, enhances productivity, and strengthens institutional frameworks for effective governance.”
Almona argued that from a business perspective, while targeted stimulus programs could offer temporary relief, structural economic challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, multiple taxations, and foreign exchange volatility still remained unaddressed.
She added that, “businesses require a stable operating environment, and while social welfare programs are essential, they must be complemented by policies that foster productivity, investment, and job creation.
“There is also concern about the efficiency of fund allocation and utilisation; given that only 16 per cent of previously approved World Bank’s loans under the current administration have been disbursed.
“This raises questions about the absorptive capacity of relevant institutions and the risk of funds being underutilised or mismanaged.”
The LCCI noted that the loan’s direct impact on small businesses and vulnerable populations, through grants and livelihood support, presents a potential short-term stimulus that could enhance food security and community resilience, mitigating the effects of economic hardship
“Beyond hydrocarbons, Ghana is modernising infrastructure, expanding energy access and diversifying into renewables to strengthen long-term energy security,” the statement added.
Amid these developments, the chamber stated that the establishment of the AEB was a strategic response to Africa’s need for dedicated financial institutions that understand the continent’s unique energy landscape. By providing tailored financing solutions, it maintained that the bank was poised to accelerate energy project development, enhance energy security and drive economic growth.
The chamber added that as more countries contribute their capital shares, the bank was expected to play a pivotal role in unlocking investment, bridging financing gaps and ensuring sustainable energy expansion across Africa.
Meanwhile, the federal government has called on International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria to ramp up investments in the country’s oil and gas sector, emphasising that the administra-
Minister of state Petroleum Resources (oil), Heineken Lokpobiri
million barrels, and has made only limited progress with the additional cuts it pledged as compensation for over-producing.
The United Arab Emirates increased by 30,000 barrels per day to 3.33 million a day, further widening the excess over its agreed limit, according to the survey.
at the grassroots level. It, however, warned the government to consider carefully the broader macroeconomic effects of seeking external borrowing to provide short-tern economic stimulus in the face of Nigeria’s rising debt burden, particularly given the slow pace of disbursement and implementation of previously approved loans.
“With the World Bank’s share of Nigeria’s external debt reaching $17.32 billion, the question of debt sustainability becomes increasingly pressing.
“If not efficiently managed, additional borrowing could exacerbate fiscal vulnerabilities, weaken investor confidence, and limit the government’s ability to execute long-term economic reforms,” the chamber said.
Nevertheless, the LCCI recommended the following strategic approaches to the government to maximise the benefits of this loan while mitigating its associated risks. It stated: “There must be a transparent and efficient disbursement mechanism that ensures funds reach the intended beneficiaries, particularly small businesses and vulnerable communities.
“A robust monitoring and evaluation framework should be established to track the impact of these funds and prevent misallocation.
“The government should adopt a prudent debt management strategy that prioritises concessional financing and ensures that borrowed funds are tied to projects with clear economic returns.”
It also recommended the strengthening of domestic revenue generation through tax reforms and expanding the productive base of the economy in order to reduce reliance on external borrowing.
“Beyond short-term palliatives, the government must implement structural reforms that create a conducive business environment. Policies should focus on improving infrastructure, ensuring policy consistency, and addressing foreign exchange challenges to support private sector growth and attract investment,” LCCI added
tion of President Bola Tinubu has provided every necessary incentive to ensure seamless and profitable operations.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, made this statement at the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held in Florence, Italy, organised by IOCs operating in Nigeria The meeting, a statement in Abuja signed by the Special Adviser, Media and Communication to the minister, Nneamaka Okafor, focused on challenges, expectations, and strategies to enhance the sector’s contributions to domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Speaking at the event, Lokpobiri noted that while the IOCs have pointed to Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, EPCs will only commit when they see strong investment decisions from industry players. He said: “The government has done its part by providing the
MBAH CELEBRATES EID-EL-FITR...
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah (right), interacts with the Muslim community at the Central Mosque, Enugu, during the Eid-el-Fitr celebration. Next to him is Sarkin Hausawa of Enugu
Obi: There’s No Democracy in Nigeria, FG Still Hounding Me
Urges Tinubu to account for fuel subsidy savings
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Former Anambra state Governor and Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, yesterday disputed that Nigeria is practicing democracy, noting that despite the much touted atmosphere of free speech in the country, he is still being hounded by the Bola Tinubu administration.
Speaking on Arise Television, Obi noted that although he has always been wary of assessing the current government, Tinubu has kept his promise to continue where former President Muhammadu Buhari stopped.
“I always don’t want to be involved in assessing this present government because I’ve always remained consistent that he is doing
well because what he promised the people is exactly what he’s doing; That he will start and continue from where the previous government stopped. And on that, he’s doing well,” Obi added.
Stressing that inflation and unemployment have been on the upward swing since the Tinubu administration, Obi explained that if there was an improvement, the
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has revealed that efforts are in place to ensure the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport runs 24-hour operation in a bid to make the route competitive.
The governor also expressed delight that the economy of the state has recorded significant improvement in the past two-and-a-half years, promising to do more in order to ensure a more sustainable development of the state and better living standard for the people.
Governor Oyebanji who stated these on Monday night during the March edition of his monthly media chat, “Meet Your Governor”, said his government intends to make the Ekiti Airport a major hub, as well as a major driver of the economy, attracting more investors to the state and boosting the economic capacities of the citizens.
He explained that his administration has entered into discussions with three major airlines in the country to commence commercial flights at the airport, facilitate air travel, tourism development, more investment and transportation of cargoes and export of farm produce
to local and international destinations.
While expressing optimism that at least two of the airlines would operate flights to and from the airport, Oyebanji said his administration also hopes to make the route competitive by working hard to install Instrument Landing System (ILS) that will enable the operation of 24-hour flights in the airport.
The governor said: “The issue is to make the route profitable and competitive for airlines and if the route is profitable, they will bring their planes. Part of what we are doing is to make it an airport of choice and by next year, they will be able to run Hajj and (Christian) pilgrimage.
“To make it an airport of choice, we must put a structure that guarantees 24-hour landing.
There is what we call Instrument Landing System (ILS) which enables night operations and also enables planes to land in extreme weather.
ILS as at today will cost close to N4.6 billion but we are determined to get it done.
“We are determined that before the end of this year, we will install ILS at the Ado Airport. If we are able to do that, it will be the second airport in Southwest after Lagos
Airport that has such a facility so that aircraft can land at night.
“We are also talking to a vendor that will provide a hangar for airport services, so it’s a whole gamut of transaction that is going on.”
The governor also disclosed that a cargo shed is being constructed at the airport to serve as storage facility for farm produce and cash crops.
He commended the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, for facilitating its inclusion in the budget.
The Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport was given approval for non-scheduled flight operation for six months last December.
Governor Oyebanji expressed optimism that the airport would be one of the most competitive by the time it commences commercial operations.
Speaking further, Governor Oyebanji identified some indices of economic growth witnessed under his administration to include springing up of more businesses in the state made possible by an enabling environment for them to flourish, improved internally generated revenue and receipts from the Federation Account, as well as adequate protection of lives and property.
people of Nigeria will feel it.
“When you talk about improvements, they’re not things you say. They’re things people feel, they’re things people see. I’ve listened to people say, jobs are being created. Where are the jobs? If you talk about job creation anywhere in the world, you’ll see the signs. If you talk about improvement in education, you’ll see it,” Obi argued.
Obi stated that as a politician, he has made it a point to travel the entire country, stressing that the Tinubu government is not being felt by Nigerians and that Nigerians are yet to see a clear roadmap by the Tinubu administration.
“Let’s include fuel subsidy. When they say there’s huge savings, where is the savings,” he asked.
However THISDAY checks show that the enhanced revenue from the removal of fuel Subsidy has been deployed in the budgets for 2024 and 2025 for the federal, States and local governments.
According to Obi, in Abuja, there are over 40,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with no primary health care and primary schools
“So, where are you investing the money? he queried . He added: “There’s no democracy in Nigeria today. Nigeria today is not a democratic country. Let’s stop telling ourselves lies. If you look at all the tenets, look at all the measures of democracy, they don’t exist here.
“Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people. Today, the government we have is not of the people. It’s not by the people because the people didn’t vote. It wasn’t their vote. I’m not just talking about the presidency.
“I ve just told you that I went to an IDP camp where there were thousands of people, no primary healthcare. They were begging me to have one nurse, which I said I must make sure of. They don’t even have a primary school, which again I told them I will make sure it happens.
“So what are you doing in a country that just spent N21 billion to renovate a house for the vice president, which is not as important. He’s not living there. And you cannot even have a primary school for kids who are going to be leaders of Nigeria tomorrow. So it is not a democratic
country. It’s not for the people. You cannot have a democracy without a functional and effective legislature, which you know we currently don’t have today.
“You cannot have a democracy without an independent judiciary that fights for the common person. I can go on and on. In a democracy, it is clear. There are guidelines, when you are for people vying for election, like in the Nigerian case, you have to talk about people who must be qualified. They must have primary school, secondary school, university, and must attain a certain age.
“That is not happening today. People are with unverified and forged certificates all over the place, criminal records and everything, and they’re in charge. So you cannot say that we’re striving to be a democratic country, but the way we are today is not.
“I can tell you that even me is being harassed every day. There’s no freedom of speech. And I can tell you that there are so many people who have been detained in one place or the other, because they’ve made one statement.”
Makinde Visits Alesinloye Market, Vows to Avert Recurrence of Fire Incident
Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that his administration will restructure the Alesinloye Market, Ibadan, to avert a recurrence of the fire incident that destroyed goods worth millions of Naira in March.
The governor also said the state government has provided some sort of palliatives to serve as an immediate cushion for the victims of the fire incident.
The governor stated this on Tuesday when he carried out an on-the-site inspection of the market, noting it was sad that though there was a fire station in the market, it
could not stop the fire. He maintained that the government would work on the market with a view to putting in place a proper architecture that could avert future fire incidences.
Governor Makinde equally ordered the suspension of the planned demolition of a section of the market until a proper alternative has been provided for traders.
He added that the state government, the Ibadan South-West Local Government Area and the Ibadan South LCDA would work on cushioning the effect of the fire incidents on
traders in the next few days.
The governor said: “There are two things out there. One is to organise the market itself, because right where the fire broke out, there is a fire station, but they could not stop the fire.
“So, we have to ensure that we do whatever is necessary to make sure the fire station is functional.
“Two, there is a place that the local government is going to demolish and I have told the chairman that the place should not be demolished until an alternative is provided for the people.
State, Abubakar Yusuf Sambo
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
BUSINESS BREAKFAST MEETING...
L-R: Chairman/Founder, Phillips Consulting Limited, Mr. Foluso Phillips; Partner,
Natasha: Police Now APC’s Lapdog, Says HURIWA
Chuks Okocha in Abuja Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has condemned the Nigeria Police and the Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo, for their “reckless abuse of power” by attempting to frustrate the senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from going to her family house and receiving her constituents.
HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the conspiratorial plot between the Kogi State police command and the governor, a first cousin of Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor and a political rival of Akpoti-Uduaghan, to undermine her planned peaceful assembly in her own home was unjustifiable and unacceptable.
The statement said, “HURIWA is miffed that the Nigeria Police Force, which is a creation of the Nigerian Constitution, that ought to work to advance the common good, has unfortunately become the official ‘attack dog’ and has further deteriorated to become the official ‘LAPDOG’ of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force, as a matter of fact and as a matter of national importance and urgency, should and must take steps to shake off their parasitic attachment to the party that produced the current president of Nigeria and operate in compliance with the constitutional provisions and the Police Act of
2020, which necessarily mandates the Nigeria Police Force to become a professional, politically unaffiliated and patriotic organisation that serves the interest of all Nigerians and not that of the All Progressives Congress in such a way that they are deployed to embark on a political witch-hunt gambit and practically made to behave like the official vigilantes of All Progressives Congress.
“Why should the Kogi State police command follow sheepishly the political directive of the APC governor by abusing the Police Act of 2020 and using illegal means through totally politically motivated and contrived reasons to attempt to stop Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from exercising her constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights to freedom of movement, freedom of peaceful Assembly and freedom of information?
“This is a total deterioration of policing standards that must be confronted and the Commissioner of Police made to face investigation to provide evidence of security threats that he cited for attempting to carry out the partisan instructions of the All Progressives Congress to muzzle a citizen of Nigeria of her human rights?
“HURIWA believed that the so-called security concerns are the contrived and dangerously partisan plot of the All Progressives Congress to frustrate the PDP senator from going ahead with her pre-planned rally. This is undemocratic.”
The civil rights group recalled that within 48 hours to the planned homecoming event organised by Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Kogi State government, apparently doing the bidding of former Governor Yahaya Bello, a rabid political opponent of Akpoti-Uduaghan, illegally banned rallies and public gatherings in the state over “security reports”.
Meanwhile, Akpoti-Uduaghan, yesterday, arrived her hometown in Ihima, Okene, in Kogi State, despite the controversial restriction of movement imposed by the police. She was received by a massive crowd of supporters, who cheered, drummed,
and marched with her.
The senator flew a helicopter into her country home in Kogi Central and hosted a rally in her expansive premises.
In a video circulating online, she was seen walking along a major road, surrounded by supporters chanting and celebrating her presence.
The energy in the town was high, with many residents defying earlier restriction measures imposed by local authorities.
Addressing the crowd, AkpotiUduaghan declared, “Nobody and nothing can stop me from coming home. I’m an Ebira woman; this is
my land. I’m the daughter of the late Jimoh Abdul Akpoti. I know my roots; I’m not a bastard, and I’m not afraid of anybody.”
Her words were met with loud cheers as the crowd continued to march alongside her, expressing their unwavering support.
The homecoming came after authorities had placed certain restrictions ahead of her visit. However, the turnout of residents showed strong backing for the senator, as people freely expressed their loyalty and excitement.
In a Facebook post, yesterday, she reaffirmed her commitment to
a peaceful gathering while warning that any disruption or violence should be blamed on the trio of Òdodo, Bello, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
“My dear people of Kogi Central, I look forward to our PEACEFUL Sallah celebrations today. However, should we be met with or infiltrated by violence, Nigerians should hold Gov Òdodo, Yahaya Bello & SP Godswill Akpabio wholly responsible,” she wrote.
Her post flew amid growing tension surrounding her visit, which the Kogi State government and the police authorities had attempted to halt.
Businessman: Soludo’s Road Projects Aiding Anambra Real Estate Sector’s Growth
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Majescity Real Estate and Investment, Mr Okwuchukwu Okonkwo, has said Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s road projects in rural communities are aiding the growth of real estate business in the State.
Okonkwo said this during a conference on sustainable real estate, hosted yesterday in Awka, with the theme: “Building for Tomorrow: The Role of Real Estate in Sustainable Human Development.”
The businessman said access roads were part of the things that drive development in any community, noting that because of road projects in various communities by Soludo, prices of properties in such places have gone up, thereby causing boom in business for people in real estate.
He added: “This conference is mainly about how to sustain mother earth. We do real estate, we do agriculture and we needed to start the campaign to sensitize people to understand the need for us to save our planet earth.
“Real estate in Anambra is untapped, investors are still coming in. The good road network done by the governor have made people pick interest. Many more companies are coming and the real estate business
is booming because many places are being opened up with roads by the governor.”
Earlier, Keynote speaker at the conference, Mr Kelechi Deca, called for concerted efforts for development in the South East.
He said: “We must keep hosting conferences like this in the South East for the development of the region. You cannot take such conferences to other regions where people pay flight, book hotels to attend, and you expect that your society will grow.
“People say the South East has less land mass, but for me, the challenge we have is inability to plan. South East is many times the metropolitan New York City, but there are far more people and buildings there. So we need to plan.
“A society starts dying when their best brains start leaving. We must prioritise this zone and go back to the old time when our leaders created a system that attracted talents. We must create an opportunity where talent would be able to unleash itself.”
The conference was attended by several real estate practitioners, including the Commissioners for Agriculture in Anambra and Enugu States, Mrs Foster Ihejiofor and Patrick Nwabueze Uburu, who was represented by his Special Adviser, Mr Charles Maduka. The conference featured award of scholarships to 10 students, free landed properties to two lucky winners and awards best selling real estate agents within the Majescity Real Estate and Investment company.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Rainstorm: 5, 000 Residents Rendered Homeless in Kwara Community Arewa Group Says Those Seeking Probe of Defence Minister Envious
A Northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT) yesterday said that a ‘faceless group’ seeking the probe of the Minister of Defence and former governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru, are envious of his achievements in office.
It referenced a petition submitted by the group to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged abuse of office.
A statement yesterday by the Convener of ATT, Muhammad Yakubu, said Nigerians should not introduce ethnicity into the ‘good works’ that Badaru is doing in the defence ministry because if he is not
doing well, President Bola Tinubu would have removed him long ago.
“But the president has confidence in him and his performance. So those hiding under this petition through this faceless group to pull down the minister are doing it out of sheer envy. They are envious of the ministerial position of Badaru. And we make bold to tell such unpatriotic persons that there is no vacancy in the ministry of defence. They should beam their poor searchlight somewhere else.
“We also want to say that the petition that Mohammed Badaru Abubakar maintains directorship in private companies, in violation of federal law prohibiting public officers from engaging in private business activities, is nothing but deliberate lies cooked up from the pit of hell,” ATT stated.
The petitioners had alleged that the minister continues to file annual returns for the companies, with records as recent as last year.
“Most egregiously, he operates a licensed Bureau de Change (BDC) while holding a federal ministerial position, flagrantly disregarding the laws designed to prevent conflict of interest and corruption,” it stated.
But the Arewa Think Tank said it finds the accusation not only as a figment of their imagination, but a calculated attempt to incite relevant stakeholders against the ‘performing’ minister of defence.
“We demand for a thorough inquiry by EFCC and ICPC to establish the genuineness of this faceless group in order to ascertain their real intention to write against the minister’s asset declarations.
Hammed
Shittu in Ilorin
No fewer than 5,000 residents of Ogele Community in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State have been rendered homeless due to a rainstorm that ravaged the community. Already about 50 houses have been affected by the rainstorm as many residents have been sleeping in
town are still counting the effects of the rainstorm.
Among the places visited by our correspondent includes, Ansarul Islam Primary School, Community Secondary School, Health Center, Mosques, and Quranic schools as the rainstorm damaged the affected property.
One of the residents of the town, Mr. Nurudeen Fehintola, said the
house of the 139-year-old Mufti of Ogele and its environs were affected by the storm, including Alhaji Abdulsalam Ibrahim’s house. “As Muslims celebrate Eid-l-fitr after the completion of the Ramadan fast, our community was thrown into a solemn mood by the rainstorm disaster,” he lamented. The rainstorm that greeted the community on Sunday evening left many residents homeless, helpless and devastated owing to the destruction of public infrastructures and properties owned by residents and the indigenes.
Statement to the Nigerian Exchange Group and Shareholders On The Extract Of Audited IFRS Results For The Year Ended 31 December, 2024
The directors present the summary financial information of WEMA Bank Plc and its special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the year ended 31 December 2024 These summary financial information were derived from the full financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 and are not the full financial statements of the Bank and its subsidiary The full financial statements from which these summary financial information were derived, will be delivered to the Corporate Affairs Commission within the required deadline The Bank’s Auditors issued an unmodified audit opinion on the full financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 from which these summary financial information were derived
year were promptly attended to as shown in the table below꞉
The consolidated and separate financial statements were approved by the board of directors on 10th March 2025
Dr (Mrs) Oluwayemisi Olorunshola (Chairman) FRC/2023/PRO/DIR/003/492710 Moruf Osen (Managing D rector/CEO) FRC/2013/NIM/00000002114
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT To the Shareholders of Wema Bank Plc Report on the Summary Financial Information Opinion The summary financial information,which comprise꞉ the consolidated and separate statements of financial position as at 31 December 2024; the consolidated and separate statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income; are derived from the audited consolidated and separate financial statements of Wema Bank Plc ("the Bank") and its subsidiary (together "the Group") for the year ended December 31 2024
In our opinion, the accompanying summary financial information are consistent, in all material respects with the audited consolidated and separate financial statements in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act,2020 Summary Financial Information The summary financial information do not contain all the disclosures required by the IFRS Accounting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (Amendment) Act, 2023 and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and other relevant Central Bank of Nigeria guidelines and circulars Reading the summary financial information and the auditor’s report thereon, therefore is not a substitute for reading the audited financial statements and the auditor’s report thereon. The Audited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements and Our Report Thereon We expressed an unmodified audit opinion on the audited consolidated and separate financial statements in our report dated 28th March 2025. That report also includes the communication of key audit matters. Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the consolidated and separate financial statements of the current period
Directors’ Responsibility for the Summary Financial Information The Directors are responsible for the preparation of the summary financial information in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act,2020
Auditor’s Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on whether the summary financial information are consistent, in all material respects with the audited consolidated and separate financial statements based on our procedures which were conducted in accordance with International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 810 (Revised) Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements Compliance with the requirements of Schedule 5 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020
i) We have obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purpose of our audit.
ii) In our opinion, proper books of account have been kept by the Bank, so far as appears from our examination of those books and proper returns adequate for the purposes of our audit have been received from branches not visited by us
iii) The Bank’s statement of financial position and statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income are in agreement with the books of account and returns Compliance with Section 26 (3) of the Banks and the other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and Central Bank of Nigeria circular BSD/1/2004
I) The Bank paid a penalty of N2 million in respect of contravention of CBN net open position limit during the year ended 31 December 2024 as disclosed in Note 31 to the audited consolidated and separate financial statements ii) Related party transactions and balances are disclosed in Note 30 to the audited consolidated and separate financial statements in compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria circular BSD/1/2004 Compliance with FRC Guidance on Assurance Engagement Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting In accordance with the requirements of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, we performed a limited assurance engagement and reported on management’s assessment of the Group's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 The work performed was done in accordance with ISAE 3000 (Revised) Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information and the FRC Guidance on Assurance Engagement Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. We have issued an unmodified conclusion in our report dated 28 March 2025 That report is included in the annual report.
Oluwafemi O. Awotoye, FCA FRC/2013/ICAN/00000001182 For꞉ KPMG Professional Services Chartered Accountants 28 March 2025. Lagos, Nigeria.
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
08033025611 sms only
House Deputy Speaker Scores Tinubu High in Education Sector
Udora o rizu writes that the Deputy s peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu at University of Calabar’s recent 37th Convocation and 50th a nniversary hailed President Bola Tinubu’s on-going revolution in the education sector.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, an education enthusiast was at it again penultimate Thursday when he scored President Bola Tinubu high for the ongoing revolution in the educational sector.
Kalu returned to his alma mater, the University of Calabar, Cross River State, not as a student but a lecturer at the institution’s 37th Convocation Ceremony and 50th Anniversary with the title:”Our Gown in Town and in Cyberspace: Sustainable and Human-Centred Education, The Mandate of Our Universities, 2025-2075.”
In what dovetailed into a Blueprint Lecture, the proud alumnus of the University of Calabar went beyond mere rhetorics to making concrete recommendations that when implemented, the universities would become the beacons of light and not just ivory towers.
The two-term lawmaker’s ecomium on the President were not politically motivated but based on facts on ground as the funding of education has moved from over N1 trillion in 2023 budget of the last administration led by former President Muhammadu Buhari to N2.52 trillion in the present dispensation.
By this improvement in funding, the country is positioned for the delivery of high quality education more than ever in terms of infrastructure and personel welfare across the various tiers of education.
One of the obvious benefits of the revolution in the education sector under the Tinubu administration is industrial stability as the incessant strike by various unions which was the bane of universities and tertiary institutions is becoming something of the past.
Beyond infrastructure and personnel matters, the students too are not left out in the scheme of things as far as funding is concerned as evident in the enactment of the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act.
As Kalu explained, this Act provides interest-free loans repayable only after employment, with special provisions for the disadvantaged, ensuring that every capable student has a fair chance to succeed.
He also highlighted the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a success story, having disbursed N23 billion in loans to 94,000 students in 2023.
The Deputy Speaker noted that the federal budget has allocated N1.54 trillion to education in 2024, surpassing the N1.08 trillion allocated in 2023.
He added that the recently passed 2025 federal budget allocated N2.52 trillion to education, representing a 133.33% increase in educational investments.
In Kalu’s words: “Consider the remarkable progress made by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which disbursed N23 billion in loans to 94,000 students in 2023. This milestone has not only improved access to education but also reaffirmed our commitment to empowering our youth.
“As new development commissions prepare their budgets, prioritizing education must be at the forefront. We must finance short, impactful programs in carpentry, plumbing, electrical engineering, and other trades to address the glaring gap in local expertise. By doing so, we create a workforce capable of transforming our towns and propelling Nigeria toward global competitiveness.
“Here are the facts: In 2024, the federal budget allocated N1.54 trillion to education. This amount is higher than the N1.08 trillion the education ministry received in the 2023 budget. For the recently passed and signed 2025 federal budget, N2.52 trillion is allocated to education, a 133.33% increase in educational investments before his presidency.”
That said, the Deputy Speaker emphasised
the need for sustainable educational financing, particularly in light of the removal of external funding sources like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which had previously supported education initiatives in Nigeria.
“The withdrawal of USAID funding underscores the importance of domestic investment in education.
As Nigeria advances with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, education remains a cornerstone of sustainable development. By prioritizing education and investing in our youth, we can propel Nigeria towards global competitiveness and achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda’s vision of a brighter future.
“As we set our sights on Agenda 2075, it is time to rethink our approach to quotas in higher education. For the past five decades, admissions in Nigerian Universities have largely been determined by geography, a system
that, while addressing regional disparities, has done little to harness the untapped potential of our female students.
“Instead of geographic quotas, we must prioritize gender parity to increase women’s participation in governance and leadership. Our quota system should serve as a tool for empowerment, ensuring that women—already the backbone of our homes as chief executive officers—step confidently into boardrooms and decision-making centers”, he said.
Kalu then took on the universities on why and how they should justify these fundings so that the country gets return on investments in education for the purpose of increased human capital development and opening new frontiers in the ever changing world.
He reminded the universities that they were established as engines of progress but today, however, the country face problems highlighting a disconnect between academia and everyday life.
These problems, Kalu said, arose not from a lack of intellect but from a misalignment with society’s needs, as teaching and learning
By this improvement in funding, the country is positioned for the delivery of high quality education more than ever in terms of infrastructure and personel welfare across the various tiers of education. o ne of the obvious benefits of the revolution in the education sector under the Tinubu administration is industrial stability as the incessant strike by various unions which was the bane of universities and tertiary institutions is becoming something of the past.
have long been measured solely by academic metrics—the length of dissertations, the complexity of theories, and the splendor of research—rather than their real-world impact.
According to him, the challenge before Nigeria is clear and its universities must move beyond theory to practical impact, bringing the “gown” into the “town”—and now, into cyberspace—where knowledge is applied and ideas ignite change.
“Historically, education has been the bedrock of human civilization, evolving alongside societal needs. From the oral traditions of ancient Africa, where griots preserved history through storytelling, to the grand libraries of Alexandria, knowledge has always been the currency of progress.
“The evolution of education has always mirrored societal needs. In ancient times, learning was an elite privilege, with Socrates, Plato, and Confucius imparting wisdom to select disciples. The Industrial Revolution (17601840) introduced mass education, designed to produce factory workers for a structured economy. The 20th century brought standardized testing and mass schooling, a model that still dominates universities today. But in an era of Al and rapid digital transformation, can this outdated system truly prepare students for the future, or are we training them for a world that no longer exists?
“The evolution of work is evidence of how education must constantly adapt. Many jobs that once defined entire industries have vanished. Telephone switchboard operators of the 1950s and 60s were replaced by automated systems, just as video store clerks disappeared with Netflix and digital streaming. Typists became obsolete with word processors, and newspaper typesetters lost relevance to digital publishing. Kodak, a giant in the photography industry, exemplifies this shift; it employed 145,000 people in 1988 but filed for bankruptcy in 2012 after failing to adapt to the digital revolution.
“The true measure of education is its impact on the town. How many university projects directly tackle local challenges like power, healthcare, water access, food security, or transportation? If universities do not first serve their own communities, their achievements risk remaining confined to ivory towers. Our research must offer tangible solutions, while graduates must be equipped to address real issues, from policy refinement to sustainable transportation. If the town does not feel the impact of our “gown,” our education is incomplete.
“Our universities are more than centers of learning; they are the backbone of our communities and nation. Their value lies not in certificates but in real-world impact. Institutions must go beyond academic debates, producing research that shapes policies proactively rather than reacting to crises. They should serve as policy hubs, not just locally but globally, proving that when education meets innovation, solutions follow.
“When we bridge the gap between academia and society, universities can drive national progress while contributing meaningfully to global knowledge. The question before us is simple: Will our universities shape the future or merely react to it? The answer lies in our collective commitment to innovation, sustainability, and purpose-driven education. But to shape the future, we must first understand how education itself has evolved,” he asserted.
-Udora, SA Press Affairs to House Deputy Speaker, writes from Abuja
NOTE:
Kalu
Anambra Guber: Works Minister’s Commendation of Soludo Unsettles APC
David-Chyddy Eleke reports that recent remarks by the Minister of Works, Senator dave Umahi, to shower praises on Governor Chukwuma Soludo of anambra State over his infrastructural strides in the state have unsettled the all Progressives Congress and put the all Progressives Grand alliance at advantage.
Last week, former governor of Ebonyi State and Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi was on a working visit to Anambra State. His mission was to flag off the construction of a federal road connecting towns in Anambra State, from Ogbunike, through to the second Niger bridge, to join the Asaba end in Delta State which had earlier been flagged off.
However, 2025 is an election year for Anambra, and the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo who rated his own performance as excellent and proudly showed it off, does not spare any opportunity to take visitors to the state around his projects. Though Umahi’s visit was a working one, but the governor also made arrangements to ensure that the Minister felt at home, including organizing a luncheon in his welcome. Soludo also personally took Umahi on a visit to his projects, where he showed him some of what he has been able to achieve in three years as governor.
Umahi visited several road projects, the Solution Fun City in Awka, the new state of the art Government House and Governor’s Lodge and several others.
During a press interview afterwards, a highly elated and impressed Umahi could not hold back his praises for the governor. He bluntly declared that: “I’m elated by what I have seen. The quality of your roads; and you know I was a governor for eight years and registered significant achievements in roads construction, but I’m impressed by the quality of your roads.”
Umahi praised the governor for his humility and the way he carries himself without any air of importance, which makes him accessible to all. Speaking about the governorship election which comes up in November this years, Umahi declared that Soludo had no opposition for the election. He said: “I don’t see anyobe that can challenge you in the election. No one. Who is that, I don’t see any”.
This comment by Umahi, a high ranking member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party which has remained in opposition in Anambra since its formation in 2014 and never had the opportunity of
calling the shots, despite having been in power at the federal level infuriated members of the party. They saw it as sabotage, insisting that such comments were capable of derailing the efforts of the party to take over Anambra State.
But while the party members are lampooning Umahi for such utterances, a higher number of Anambra people are praising Soludo for the courage to speak the truth. These commendations and condemnation dominated discussions in the Anambra political space for a whole week.
In reaction to this, the South East APC Young Progressives Forum has demanded that Umahi clarify his comments. The group said he must explicitly state whether he stands with APC’s vision in Anambra or has chosen to align with APGA. “If he fails to provide a satisfactory explanation, party members will find it difficult to see him as a genuine APC leader in the region.
“Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu must be wary of APGA’s sudden praise for his administration. History has shown that once elections are over, APGA quickly reverts to its old tactics of attacking the APC and its leadership. If Governor Soludo
and his party align with Tinubu’s vision, they should formally collapse into APC rather than engage in opportunistic flattery.
“Despite Umahi’s misstep, the APC in Anambra remains strong and focused on the upcoming November 8, 2025 governorship poll. The ongoing process to select a credible candidate will further consolidate the party’s momentum. Umahi’s ill-advised comments cannot derail the determination of party members who are committed to ensuring that Anambra finally aligns with the APC-led federal government. APC members in Anambra must ignore distractions and remain steadfast. The ultimate goal remains clear - dislodging APGA and installing an APC-led government to bring actual development to the state. The era of political betrayals and external interference is over.
Anambra APC is ready to take its rightful place at the forefront of governance. Dave Umahi’s remarks were reckless, insensitive, and harmful to APC’s mission in Anambra State. As a high-ranking party leader, he should be fortifying the party’s chances, not demoralising its members. His statement must not go unchallenged. The APC leadership must call him to order and ensure that such political sabotage does not repeat itself. Anambra APC remains on course for victory, and no amount of internal or external distractions will change that,” the group said.
This comment by Umahi, a high ranking member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party which has remained in opposition in Anambra since its formation in 2014 and never had the opportunity of calling the shots, despite having been in power at the federal level infuriated members of the party. They saw it as sabotage, insisting that such comments were capable of derailing the efforts of the party to take over Anambra State.
The party has also frowned at Umahi’s comments. The Anambra State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned Umahi, for openly praising the governor of Anambra State, Professor Soludo, for his strides in infrastructural development in the state, even though he is aware this is an election year that his party, APC was in the race for the position.
The party, at a press conference addressed by the state publicity secretary, Dr. Valentine Oliobi, said the words used by the minister undermined the efforts of the party he was serving, which was also fielding a candidate for the governorship contest coming in November. He described Umahi’s comments as mere flattery meant to placate the governor, insisting that in the real sense of governance, Soludo has failed the people of Anambra State.
He said, “Ndi Anambra are not carried away by Minister Umahi’s sugar coated words for Soludo. In-between the lines of those so-called praises are nothing but a diplomatic way of expressing disappointment, especially as the governor’s newly constructed roads are already washing away. What he saw in Anambra is not impressive but underwhelming. His remarks were not a validation of success, but subtle reminder that Anambra is not where it should be. It is amusing that Soludo and his cohorts are yet to get to read the handwriting on the wall.”
The party added that such words by Umahi, even though not meant to be true, reeked of lack of discretion by the Minister, who knew that he worked for an APC government, and that his party was in a governorship election with the same man he was praising. Oliobi stated, “Minister Umahi’s unguided utterances were in support of his business ally, Prof. Soludo. Umahi and Soludo have a joint interest on most of the federal road construction in Anambra. But unfortunately for Soludo, the days of empty promises are over, as Anambra cannot reinforce failure by renewing unfulfilled contracts through another tenure in office.”
Soludo
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NDDC Using Sports Festival To Unite Oil-Rich Niger Delta
Harry iwuala
Established by an act of Parliament in the year 2000, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been known more, for interventions in infrastructure development in the areas of roads, electricity, schools, health care, and skills acquisition.
Its establishment was another federal government’s response to the outcry of the people who point to the deprivation suffered by the area that provides the economic mainstay of the entire nation. This explains why successive leadership of the intervention agency were focused more on uplifting the physical wellbeing of the area through road, education, health care and electricity projects which are the yardstick for measuring development in third world nations.
In a change of trajectory, the NDDC has added sports to its portfolio of improving life in the region it was created to enhance the conditions of the people.
Thus, from April 1-8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the first ever regional sports festival will take place, bringing together athletes, coaches and technical officials from the nine mandate states that make up the NDDC.
Ahead the games, the NDDC has renovated the Olympics sized swimming pool at the Uyo Township Stadium, the tartan tracks at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, basketball and volleyball courts as well as hostels at the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, Itam West Secondary school and Cornelia Colly Girls school. This will ensure that the state is bequeathed sports facilities. Hotels are also enjoying patronage
The event, sponsored by the NDDC, aims to discover and nurture talents from the region to global stardom.
A collateral benefit of the festival is the upgrading of facilities in Uyo, the host city.
This will ensure that the state is bequeathed sports facilities train those discovered.
Some have referred to the region as “the land flowing with milk and honey.” Others say it’s the economic livewire of the nation.
Truly, the oil-rich Niger Delta, located in the southern part of Nigeria and home to a significant portion of Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves, contributes significantly to the country’s economy and foreign exchange earnings.
Known as the heart of Nigeria’s oil industry, the Niger Delta contributes over 90 per cent of the country’s oil revenues.
Sitting directly on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean, the Niger-Delta is located within nine coastal southern states, which include: all six states (Edo, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom) from the South South geopolitical zone, one state (Ondo) from the South West and two states (Abia and Imo) from the South East.
Historically, the densely populated Niger Delta has been a region of rich cultural diversity, with many ethnic groups, including the Edo, Ijaw, Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ibibio, and Efik, among others. These groups have often had distinct traditions, languages, and ways of life, but the shared challenges stemming from the oil industry created a unifying force in their quest for better living conditions and social justice.
And while it continues to produce millions of barrels of oil on a daily basis, accounting for a large percentage of the country’s export earnings, and significantly contributing to the country’s gross domestic product and government revenue, it also used to, in time past, churn out some of the world’s most accomplished sportsmen and women.
Some of them include former boxing world champions Dick Tiger, Hogan Bassey and Samuel Peter, Olympic gold medallists Chioma Ajunwa, Enefiok Udo-Obong, Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, Taribo West, as well as Blessing Okagbare, Ese Brume, Endurance Ojokolo, Deji Aliu, amongst others.
The region ruled the domestic sports scene, with its states, particularly Delta, dominating the biennial National Sports Festival, while also exporting top-class talents to the world.
However, its sporting fortunes took a nosedive in recent years, prompting the Niger Delta Development Commission, which expressed concern over the sports dwindling fortunes, to wade in and try to restore its glory days.
The NDDC, established during the administration
of former President Olusegun Obasanjo with the sole mandate of developing the oil-rich region which had suffered environmental challenges and social conflicts due to oil exploration and extraction.
Ironically, oil extraction in the area has had a double-edged impact: while it has generated immense wealth, it has also led to environmental degradation, conflict, and socio-economic disparities among the local population.
The NDDC’s mandate to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region includes using a variety of initiatives, including sports, to promote unity and peace.
Close observers of development strides of the NDDC can easily attest that its intervention projects have focused exclusively on road, electricity, education and health care infrastructure.
This time, the Commission is for the first time, delving into sports through the sports festival, an initiative of Dunamis Icon, the project consultants led by Itiako Ikpokpo KSM.
The event is designed to bring together athletes from across the region, encouraging healthy competition and creating opportunities for local talent to be discovered by scouts from national and international sporting organisations.
During an inspection tour of hostel facilities and competition venues, Chairman of the festival’s Main Organising Committee, Alabo Boma Iyaye, saw the level of preparations ahead of the Niger Delta Sports Festival and was impressed.
He was quoted to have said, “We know that the Niger Delta Development Commission mandate states produce about 70 to 80 per cent of Nigeria’s best athletes, but we have also observed the decline in our nation’s sporting fortunes, and as an intervention agency which has been delivering on various infrastructural needs across the region, we find it necessary to intervene in sports, to provide opportunities for our youths to excel and to show the world that the Niger Delta is not only about oil. This is why the theme of the festival is ‘Beyond Oil: Harnessing Talents.’
“But the festival is not only about talent discovery. It also leads us into intervention in sporting facilities, like we are doing now in Akwa Ibom.”
Last month, at the unveiling of the event, the Games consultant, Ikpokpo also highlighted the essence of breeding a new generation of sporting talents for the region..
In his words, “Niger Delta used to produce most of Nigeria’s top athletes but today there’s a dearth of talents. The NDDC, after their huge strides in infrastructural development, agreed that it was time to give sports the focus it desired in the region to produce the desired talents in that area of our national life.
“Just like the NDDC is famed for their development of infrastructure in the region, we also want the world to know that the NDDC is ready to produce sports talents for the country.”
The festival is open to only athletes aged between 16 and 25 and of Niger Delta heritage.
The intent is to achieve the purpose of starting the Games which is the reason an age limit has been fixed with modalities to check age cheats as those caught will be disqualified and their states fined. Those who do well at the event should be able to attend competitions in Nigeria, Africa and globally. Chairman of the Scouting and Mentorship Sub-Committee of the festival, Godwin Enakhena, reiterated the committee’s resolve to harness the best of talents discovered during the Festival. No room has been left for compromise of standards in getting the next generation of athletes during the NDSF and It’s not all about football, but all sports with the potential to put Nigeria at the top by winning medals.
There is a commitment to regain the pride of place in sports which the Niger Delta Sports Festival has been designed to be the perfect platform to achieve this goal. At the end, Nigeria will be the greatest beneficiary.
The festival organisers have assembled a team of renowned coaches and scouts to oversee the scouting and mentorship process during the event. Olympian Gabriel Okon, a highly experienced athletics coach, will be in charge of the athletics team. Okon, who has coached the national team to several international competitions, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Joining him is Anthony Konyegwachie, another Olympian and national team coach who will lead the boxing team. Rakiya Mohammed, a national women’s volleyball coach, alongside Anthony Oghuma and Imoudu Francis, will spot talents in the volleyball event. Owhe John leads the scouting team for basketball, while Emmanuel Emefuna, the national team coach, will oversee the swimming events. Odey Anthony will be in charge of tennis, and Paul Omonoma, an international football scout, leads the football team. Qualifiers emerged after Local Government Area and state trials in the nine states ahead of the trip to Uyo.
The festival is indeed primed to be a celebration of the region’s talent and cultural diversity.
Nigeria Football Federation executive board member, Aisha Falode, the media consultant for the Nigeria Delta Sports Festival, spoke of the region’s long-standing reputation as a powerhouse of Nigeria’s sports talents.
“The majority of Nigeria’s top athletes come from the Niger Delta. Perhaps, in the past, we didn’t fully acknowledge sports as a tool for integration and unity.
“The Niger Delta is one, and this is the perfect time for this competition,” she stated.
For the Niger Delta, this festival represents more than just winning medals—it serves as a platform for unity, dialogue, and progress, Falode noted.
•Iwuala is Chairman, Media Sub-committee of the Niger Delta Sports Festival
Mohammed Binji: Law Anchors Society, Good Governance
Sokoto State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Nasiru Mohammed Binji, who credits Governor Ahmed Aliyu with firm belief in law and constitutionalism, speaks with Louis Achi on the role of law in good governance, amendment of Section 76 of the LGA law that ‘triggered’ tension with the Sultanate Council and the challenges of his ministry
What’s your conception of law, vis-à-vis society and good governance?
Idon’t think there can be good governance if there is no law, because law is the foundation of any civilized society. No society, no law. So, law is the foundation. If we are talking about good governance, we must have the necessary law to guide us. So, they both go hand in hand. And I must also stress that adherence to the rule of law is important for good governance. The importance of the rule of law is to keep government in check, within their legal boundaries. Good governance is essentially about what is in the best interest of the people. According to some philosophers, wherever there is law, there must be sanctions, because if there are no sanctions people have the tendency to commit offenses. Laws are the foundation of civilized existence.
Justice Solebo who recently retired from the Lagos State Judiciary once said that ‘weak enforcement and not laws, is Nigeria’s challenge.’
Do you agree with this?
I wholeheartedly agree with her. There is absolutely no doubt that Nigeria has very good
laws and her laws can compete favorably with laws in other countries or other jurisdictions, particularly in the Commonwealth. The problem is the lack of enforcement. It’s a significant problem due to several factors - impunity, delay in court proceedings and all these contribute to the challenges of law
enforcement.
Why did you cite the Commonwealth - and not the United States for instance?
Our legal system is fashioned after the English Common Law. So, we are part of the Commonwealth. And, as she said, we are not lacking in laws that can help in good governance. We have good and adequate laws to guide the conduct of our leaders and we the led.
If enforcement is the issue, what is the way forward?
Allow me to shock you - Nigerians are not that lawless. Yes, we are not lawless, there might be instances of lawlessness, like the banditry in the North-West, the insurgency in the North-East and other forms of crises in the South-South and elsewhere in Nigeria. But these instances are not overwhelming, because Nigerians are governed by laws. We are not lawless, as some people would think. To the contrary we are very law-abiding citizens.
Can you confirm with statistics that Nigerians
are not lawless, using records on convictions or number of cases to back up this assertion?
I can’t give you the statistics for the whole country. But based on statistics from my own jurisdiction, Sokoto State, a state of over 7 million people, I can confidently insist that we are not a lawless people. In Sokoto State, maybe we have about 400 criminal cases in our high courts and other courts. So, for a state of about 7 million people with just about 400 cases, you will certainly agree with me that using Sokoto State as an example that we are not lawless. It would then appear that Judges in Sokoto State are not being overworked, inferring from your assertion?
I want to agree with you that they are not overworked, not just because our people are law abiding, but because we have 24 judges in Sokoto State High Court. The number has helped ensure that the judges are not overwhelmed with cases. There are five divisions. We also have about 40 magistrates and many Judges of the Sharia Courts. So, our judiciary is vibrant.
Dr.SamuelOgbuku,MD,NDDC
Binji
ProPerty & environment
Minister of State for Works Explores Innovation at World of Asphalt
Bennett Oghifo
The Minister of State for Works, Muhammad Bello, recently led a distinguished delegation to the World of Asphalt trade show in St. Louis, U.S.A, where they explored the latest advancements in asphalt technology and roadbuilding equipment.
The visit underscored Nigeria’s commitment to improving infrastructure through innovation and strategic partnerships.
Innovation Driving Nigeria’s Road Construction
Asphalt technology and roadbuilding equipment were key highlights of the delegation’s tour. Minister Bello noted that several innovations caught his attention, particularly advancements in sustainable paving materials, intelligent compaction systems, and next-generation asphalt plants.
“These technologies have the potential to significantly improve road durability, efficiency, and sustainability in Nigeria,” said Bello. “We are particularly interested in solutions that can help us construct roads that withstand heavy rainfall
and high traffic volumes while reducing maintenance costs.”
Among the standout equipment, the delegation explored:
• Automated Pavers and Milling Machines – Designed to enhance precision and efficiency in asphalt placement and resurfacing.
•Warm Mix Asphalt Technology – A more sustainable and cost-effective alternative that reduces emissions and improves pavement performance.
•Recycling and Reclamation Equipment – Machinery that allows for the reuse of existing materials, reducing waste and project costs.
Enhancing Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness in Road Projects
With infrastructure development being a top priority, the Nigerian government seeks solutions that optimize cost while maintaining quality. World of Asphalt provided a platform to examine state-of-the-art equipment and techniques that could be beneficial for Nigeria’s road network.
“Efficiency and costeffectiveness are critical in our road construction projects,” said Bello. “We’ve seen innovative equipment here that reduces material waste and speeds up construction timelines. Technologies like warm mix asphalt and automated grading systems could greatly enhance our ability to deliver high-quality roads at lower costs.”
Brittany Schmidtke, Show Director of World of Asphalt, emphasized the importance of hosting international delegations and fostering knowledge exchange.
“We are thrilled to have Minister Bello and his delegation here at World of Asphalt,” said Schmidtke. “Our goal is to provide an environment where global leaders can discover the latest equipment, learn best practices, and connect with industry experts to drive progress in road construction and infrastructure.”
Aligning Road and Infrastructure Development
While the primary focus of the delegation was road construction, Minister Bello highlighted how
infrastructure development aligns with the broader goals of the Federal Ministry of Works. Over the next five years, the ministry aims to improve road network which aligns with the renewed hope agenda of the current administration of President Ahmed Tinubu.
“Events like World of Asphalt contribute to our objectives by in-
troducing us to groundbreaking equipment and methodologies,” said Bello. “Well-built roads play a vital role in facilitating water project deployments, ensuring rural and urban communities have reliable access to clean water and sanitation.”
Megan Tanel, President and CEO of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers
(AEM) welcomed the Nigerian delegation which included Engr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, the Managing Director of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, key Directors of the Agency, Private construction contractors and Marcella Iyitor, CEO of Niche PR, and emphasized the value of global collaboration at trade shows like World of Asphalt.
BCPG Warns Against Direct Labour in High-Rise Building Projects
Bennett Oghifo
The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Ikoyi-Obalende Cell, has warned developers and construction stakeholders in Lagos State about the risks associated with direct labour construction arrangements for high-rise buildings.
While acknowledging that such arrangements may save clients the contractor’s overheads on materials, the Guild described these practices
as inappropriate for high-rise construction. It emphasised the importance of quality assurance, quality control, and adherence to standard building practices to ensure structural safety and environmental sustainability of multi-storey construction endeavours.
This warning was delivered during a sensitisation lecture organised by BCPG IkoyiObalende Cell, commemorating the collapse of the 20-storey building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Speaking on the topic “Ikoyi in Transition: From High-Brow Residential Scheme to Mixed Development – Keeping an Eye on Standards,” Tpl. Ayo Adediran, Chairman of the Lagos State Physical Planning and Building Control Appeals Committee, reflected on Ikoyi’s history as a colonial enclave known for its planned neighbourhoods and green spaces.
Tpl. Adediran noted Ikoyi’s transformation into a mixed-use urban district, highlighting the urgent need for stricter govern-
ment oversight to maintain quality standards, enforce building codes, and prevent property abandonment and structural failures. He also emphasised collaboration between the government and professionals to safeguard Ikoyi’s appeal, preserve pedestrian walkways, and bolster public confidence in high-rise investments.
Former Chairperson, Women Association of Quantity Surveyors in Nigeria (WAQSN) and the immediate past Secretary
Marketing and Corporate Affairs of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Mrs. Aderonke Oyelami prescribed the Bills of Quantities (BOQ) as an important tool or instrument for guiding construction costs, enabling prices to be effectively reviewed in line with inflation in order to avert quality compromise.
Expressing her deep concern over incessant building collapse in Nigeria, QS. Oyelami cited a document presented by the leadership of the Quantity
Erosion and Flood Control: A Surveyor’s Perspective
Lagos is dominated by its system of islands, sandbars, and lagoons. The islands are connected by bridges, and the land is low-lying. According to LagosGeoinfo, Lagos lies on a coastal plain with an average elevation of less than 15m above sea level. The land slopes gently from the interior to the sea. Water bodies and wetlands cover over 40% of the total land area of the state with lagoons and creeks consisting of 22 % of its area.
An additional 12% is subject to seasonal flooding.
Perennial flooding in Lagos has left many homeless and destroyed lives and property in millions of dollars, which is a dent to the ultra-modern city concept of Lagos. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) data, more than 2 million people were directly affected by flooding nationwide in 2020.
Beyond Lagos’ vulnerability to climate change, poor drainage systems and clogged street gutters in large swathes of the city are believed to have escalated
its flooding challenges.
It was due to this that a webinar was organized and held online by 6 pm on Saturday, the 26th of October, 2024, tagged “Erosion and Flooding Control: A Surveyors Perspective.
The organisers were the Building Collapse Prevention Guild Amuwo Odofin Cell led by Bldr. Chubike Okafor. The speaker for the day was Surv. Ogonna Roberts Agwu. A vastly experienced registered surveyor and a host of a radio show “The Bench Mark” on Traffic radio
96.1fm where he advocates and enlightens the public on how environmental challenges can be resolved through professional Surveying practice.
We had scores of professionals of the Built Environment in ⁷ it was filled with intense professional interaction, opinions, and solutions on how the menace of Erosion and Flooding could be curbed.
Key take-home points were:
1. Regular bathymetric survey is the study of the depths and
Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN) to a Federal Government agency recently, which made reference to Section 14.2.b of the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, which states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government..” Hence, the government could be held accountable for the loss of lives in collapsed buildings, especially in a situation where building regulations were poorly implemented.
shapes of underwater terrain, such as the ocean floor. Hydrographic surveys are deployed for this. Hydrographic survey is the science of measurement and description of features that affect maritime navigation, marine construction, dredging, and offshore operations. This gives us the predictive advantage through data to determine and accommodate any potential disaster that might occur through flooding by ensuring our rivers and lagoons can handle such volumes generated through floods.
2. The need for flood alert systems for monitoring sea level and giving early warninga in the event of an excessive rise in the sea level.
3. Systematic Dredging of lagoons, lakes, and rivers as a system of flood control by creating more volumes in the existing lagoons and water bodies.
4. Construction of Dykes on flood plains to serve as flood brakes and water collection points.
Bukasin Unique Estate Unveils Odogwu Villa, Offers Prime Housing Deals
Fadekemi Ajakaiye
A real estate developer, Bukasin Unique Estate, a subsidiary of Bukasin Unique Services and Investment Limited, is set to roll out enticing housing deals with the launch of Odogwu Villa in Ibusa, Asaba.
The estate, strategically located opposite Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic, is just a few minutes’ drive from Asaba International Airport, the Army Barracks, and other key landmarks, making it a prime investment opportunity
for homebuyers and investors alike.
Odogwu Villa boasts a premium location that offers unparalleled convenience. With its proximity to Admiralty University, the Admiralty Drive Linkage Road connecting Ibusa Town to Isele-Azagba, and the Chinese Construction Company, the estate provides residents with easy access to essential infrastructure, educational institutions, and business hubs.
This strategic positioning enhances its appeal as both
a residential and investment destination.
Speaking on the launch of Odogwu Villa, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bukasin Unique Estate, Mr. Ebuka Ewuzie, reiterated the company’s dedication to providing quality and affordable housing solutions for Nigerians.
He assured potential investors of a minimum 100% return on investment (ROI) by the end of the year, emphasizing that this is an opportunity that no smart investor should overlook.
“Our goal is to make homeownership accessible to as many people as possible while ensuring that investors get maximum returns on their real estate investments. Odogwu Villa presents a golden opportunity for buyers looking for value, security, and appreciation potential,” Ewuzie stated.
Highlighting the company’s strong reputation, Ewuzie reassured interested individuals and groups of Bukasin Unique Estate’s unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity
in all transactions.
He noted that the company prioritizes trust and customer satisfaction, ensuring that every investment made is secure and beneficial.
Beyond the launch of Odogwu Villa, Ewuzie revealed that Bukasin Unique Estate has plans for more real estate projects in Delta, Anambra, Lagos, Enugu, and other states across Nigeria in the coming months.
This expansion is part of the company’s
address Nigeria’s housing deficit and provide top-tier real estate solutions across multiple regions. With its strategic location, affordability, and guaranteed high returns, Odogwu Villa is set to become one of the most sought-after real estate investments in Asaba. Industry analysts believe that the increasing demand for housing in urban centers like Asaba, coupled with Bukasin Unique Estate’s track record of excellence, will further drive the value of properties in the estate.
broader mission to
L-R: World of Asphalt Show Director, Brittany Schmidtke; Snr. Vice President, Exhibitions and Marketing, Nicole Hallada; Director FERMA, Usman Gulloma; COO, Fort Hermon, Seyi Adediji; Senior Vice President Exhibitions & Marketing at Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), John Somers; Vice President, Construction & Utilities at AEM, Megan Tanel; President & CEO at AEM, Megan Taney; Minister of State for Works, Mohammad Bello; MD/CEO, FERMA, Chukwuemeka Agbasi; CEO, Niche PR, Marcella Iyitor, SA Technical, FERMA, Chukwuemeka Maduagwu, at the World of Asphalt Show 2025 in St Louis Missouri, U.S.A… recently
In Loving
M E M O R Y
M r s .
G be m i s ol a Ol u tay o Ol o w ol a f e ( 1 9 6 1 - 2 0 2 5 )
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
SERVICE OF SONGS & NIGHT OF TRIBUTES
DATE:
WED. APRIL 9TH, 2025
FUNERAL SERVICE
THUR . APRIL 10TH, 2025
DATE: A PRIVATE INTERNMENT FOLLOWS
GRANDCHILDREN:
DR. TUNJI OLOWOL AFE (HUSBAND); AFOL ABI & OL ANIKE ANANI; OLUFUNBI OLOWOL AFE; AFOL ABI OLOWOL AFE
IRE WOLE ANANI & AYOFOLUWA ANANI
the
HR
Learning and Performance,
Chairman, Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya (left), with the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, during the presentation of Airtel’s N1 billion support to the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme of the federal government in Abuja… recently
The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, presenting a souvenir to the Director-General/CEO of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, when Nafiu paid a familiarisation visit to the NHIA office in Abuja…recently
L-R: Director, Wholeshield Pharmacy Limited, Fatima Shuaibu Kurfi; CEO/Founder, Wholeshield Pharmacy Limited, Dr. Chigbo Joshua Agogbuo; Founder/Managing Director, Plexuspharmaco, GmbH (Germany), Dr. Avinash J. Aher; and CEO Tocura İlaç Sanayi ve Tic. A.Ş (Turkey), Mr. Samir Mustafayev, at the signing of a tripartite strategic manufacturing MoU between Wholeshield Pharmacy Limited Nigeria, Plexuspharmaco GmbH (Germany) and Tocura İlaç Sanayi ve Tic. A.Ş (Turkey) in Lagos… recently
Former Chairman of Police Service Commission, Chief Simeon N. Okeke (left), and American-based entrepreneur, Dr. Emmanuel Irono (right), an in-law to the late National Electoral Commission (NEC) Chairman, Prof Humphrey Nwosu, during the National Day of Tributes held for late Nwosu at the Shehu Musa YarAdua Centre in Abuja... recently
L-R: Head of Maintenance, Egbin Power, Felix Ebiware; Head of Human Resources, Sahara Power Group (SPG), Henry Ajibola; Head of HR, Gabriel Nkanga; Chief Executive Officer, Mokhtar Bounour;
Advisor,
Adediwura Adebiyi; Head of Talent Management, Ololade Shin-Aba; and Head of Operation, Feyiropo Oladoyin (all of Egbin Power) at
commencement of Egbin Learning Academy 2025 academic session in Ikorodu, Lagos... recently
L-R: LG Electronics, B2B Manager (HVAC), Anita Aigbe; State Manager (MSME Division) Bank of Industry, Lagos State, Sandra Yoroh; Chief Executive Officer, Nikky Taurus, Adenike Ibirogba; Founder/CEO, Intreensic, Nkebet Mesele; and Founder Bland2Glam Seyi Banigbe, at the LG Insider Business Master class held in Lagos… recently
www.thisdaylive.com
ON THE HOME FRONT
NAFIU ABU-AKBAR reckons that Abubakar
Atiku Bagudu left an enviable track record in Kebbi State
opinion@thisdaylive.com
Humphrey Nwosu deserves a national honour, argues PAT ONUKWULI
NWOSU AND THE SENATE’S AMNESIA
Memory is a stubborn witness; it holds on to the truth even when power tries to bury it. When the Nigerian Senate dismissed a motion to posthumously honour Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the man who midwifed the June 12, 1993 election, it did more than forget a hero; it passed a quiet but damning judgement.
In questioning the worth of his sacrifice, the Senate didn't just ignore history; it tried to rewrite it, serving as a bitter adumbration of its gavel; that honour, like justice, is too often filtered through the lens of region, bias, and convenience.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TUNDE
JOSHUA OCHEJA pays tribute to Tunde Olusunle, journalist, author and scholar at 60
page 21 See page 21
Professor Nwosu is a name that cannot be whispered around the corridors of Nigerian history without evoking the date of Nigeria’s most credible, free, and fair election. He was the brave umpire who dared to conduct an election under the looming shadow of a brutal military regime. While soldiers patrolled the streets and the drums of dictatorship thundered, Nwosu stood firm, announced the results against direct orders, and etched his name in the ledger of integrity.
And yet, when the question came to honour him, not with gold or land, but with a simple posthumous acknowledgement, many senators shrugged. Some claimed he merely did his job. Others argued his efforts were not “good enough.” But not one of them could point to a singular wrong he had done. Then one wonders from where the senators are coming. Did their decision come from moral principles or perhaps from distorted or prejudiced convictions?
The refusal to honour Nwosu is akin to watching a firefighter run into a burning house to save a child, only to tell him afterward, “Well, that was your job.” Such reasoning strips courage of its meaning. Nwosu didn’t just clock in for duty; he stood firm in the face of a powerful military regime, risking his safety to uphold the integrity of an election that symbolised hope for millions.
To reduce his bravery to mere obligation is to ignore the extraordinary in favour of the convenient. Nwosu was not merely a technocrat doing his job. He was a man who dared to tell the truth in the belly of dictatorship.
Maya Angelou observed that “prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.”
The Senate’s decision quietly echoes this burden.
In questioning the merit of a man who presided over the nation’s most credible election, the Senate may have allowed regional and political sentiments to obscure a moment that belongs to the shared history of all Nigerians. This act doesn’t just obscure the legacy of June 12; it complicates our collective understanding of justice and recognition. When national memory becomes selective, it risks leaving future generations uncertain about what truly matters.
June 12 stands as a defining milestone
in Nigeria’s democratic journey, a day when citizens, regardless of ethnicity or religion, stood shoulder to shoulder under the scorching sun, casting their votes in the hope of a new dawn. It was a rare moment when the Nigerian people chose unity over division, marking the country’s most explicit expression of democratic will. To now celebrate June 12 annually while sidelining the very man who made it possible is a contradiction too stark to ignore. It is akin to clapping for a harvest while pretending the farmer never tilled the soil.
This selective remembrance raises uncomfortable but necessary questions. Would the Senate have so quickly dismissed the motion to honour Nwosu if he had come from another geographical zone? Would his name have been more palatable to celebrate if his roots traced back to a more politically favoured part of the country?
These questions matter because they expose the fault lines in how we construct national memory. If we genuinely believe in a united Nigeria, then our honours must reflect national values, not regional allegiances. Otherwise, we risk building a nation that praises the fruit of democracy while quietly erasing the hands that planted its seeds.
Senator Abaribe’s motion to honour Nwosu was more than a call for national recognition; it was a plea to correct a glaring historical omission. Supported by Senators Victor Umeh and Osita Izunaso, as well as a handful of voices from other regions, the motion sought to affirm that courage, patriotism, and service to the nation are values worth upholding, regardless of who embodies them.
Yet the resistance the motion faced starkly mirrored Nigeria’s persistent regional fault lines. The visible leadership of Southeastern senators in championing Nwosu’s honour, in contrast to the muted or indifferent
response from other zones, gave the debate an unfortunate regional undertone.
Senator Izunaso’s pointed outrage that Nwosu’s omission signals that some sacrifices go unrewarded purely because of one’s origins cannot be easily dismissed. It speaks to a more profound discomfort: that merit in Nigeria is too often judged not by deed, but by geography.
Immanuel Kant espoused that perception is often coloured by emotion. In Nigeria, that emotion too frequently wears the mask of prejudice. Rejection to honour Professor Nwosu wasn’t just an oversight; it was a symptom of a deeper sickness, a ghost from 1966 still haunting our national conscience. Back then, a coup was wrongly labelled as “Igbo,” and from that single incident, suspicion took root and bled into war.
Today, that same suspicion quietly guides decisions, casting a shadow of merit over ethnic differences. When a person's legacy is judged by their background rather than their accomplishments, truth becomes a casualty of bias.
Even more troubling is the narrative now gaining traction in some circles, particularly on social media, that if Nigeria will not honour Nwosu, then the South-east should step up and do so on its own. While borne out of frustration, this line of thinking dangerously shrinks a national hero into a regional symbol.
Nwosu did not stand against military intimidation for the sake of Anambra, Abia, or, indeed, the South-east; he stood for the integrity of the entire Nigerian democratic process.
To “localise” his legacy is to dilute its meaning. It is both intellectually dishonest and morally lazy to hand over the responsibility of national remembrance solely to his region.
Reducing Nwosu to a South-east hero undermines the very principles he risked everything for: unity, justice, and national conscience. If Nigeria is to move forward as a truly united nation, then it must learn to honour its heroes as Nigerians first, not as representatives of their tribe or tongue.
Thankfully, hope still flickers. In the wake of the Senate’s silence, voices beyond the Red Chamber rose in dissent. Among them, President Bola Tinubu, himself a product of the June 12 struggle, promising that Professor Humphrey Nwosu would receive the honour he deserves.
Despite this, the damage has been done. The Senate’s refusal sent a troubling signal: that in Nigeria, even courage can be ignored. But history does not wait for political approval. While the Senate chooses to cling to amnesia, time remembers and will never forget.
Onukwuli PhD , writes from Bolton, UK patonukwuli2003@ yahoo.co.uk
NAFIU ABU-AKBAR reckons that Abubakar
Atiku Bagudu left an enviable track record in Kebbi State
ON THE HOME FRONT
When Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu was sworn in as the Governor of Kebbi State in 2015, though a man of an enviable track record, little did many think he was going to build a better, prosperous, and self-reliant state that would be a model not only in the North but throughout Nigeria. He was so people-oriented in his first term that the idea of him continuing for another tenure was served on a gold platter- and as a faithful servant leader, he didn't disappoint.
Before he emerged as Governor, Kebbi State, known as the 'Land of Equity', had been underdeveloped since its creation in 1991, largely due to the meagre resources at the disposal of the various governments. However, like a substitute player who had waited for his time, Bagudu came and energetically transformed the state's fortunes—achieving reasonable development, especially in the state capital, Birnin Kebbi.
A master strategist, Bagudu understood that to attract investments to the state, he needed to bolster public-private partnerships, and this he did by creating an enabling business environment. He started by positioning the state for success with a special focus on developing the state. With limited resources available, he began to unlock the doors of productivity and growth through the provision of infrastructure to boost the economic activities of small-scale and medium-scale businesses in the state. Within a three-year period, the fortunes of a once-underdeveloped state began to change for the better. Slowly and steadily, people saw the reality of their dreams, beliefs, and confidence in Kebbi as the 'Land of Equity' being restored, and the scales began to balance.
The catalyst that set the change in motion was sparked by massive road construction projects in all 21 local government areas of the state. He matched road accessibility with the provision of power, ensuring that the people enjoyed more than 22 hours of uninterrupted electricity supply. This feat was possible because of the purchase and installation of two 7.5KVA transformers at two strategic locations in the city and more than 35 2.5KVA transformers to boost supplies from the two transformers. This improved the security, entrepreneurship and well-being of the people because major streets within the state capital were always lit, many thanks to the installation of street lights.
With various projects inaugurated in all the 225 wards across the state, from road construction and water supply to construction/rehabilitation of schools and health centres, Bagudu had already set the tone for an enabling business environment, a verifiable invitation that birthed an investment drive and private sector entry into the state.
The benefits of the infrastructural development had started trickling in with the flourishing of large and medium-scale businesses across the state, contributing to job creation, thus reducing poverty restiveness and bolstering food security. GBFoods, makers of Gino tomato paste and Mayonnaise, Bama and Jago varieties, have their presence in the state, as shown by establishing a tomato paste factory in Gafara Village of Ngaski LGA. The factory is the second largest in Nigeria, with the largest single tomato farm and the only fully backward integrated plant in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Other private investors are the Dangote Group of Companies, which has sugar and rice production factories worth $700 million, providing over 75,000 direct and indirect jobs for people of the state and beyond.
The agricultural revolution grew stronger with other prominent investors like Labana Rice Mill Limited and WACOT Rice Limited with rice mills in Birnin Kebbi and Argungu, respectively, along with others scattered across the state. This led to an improved standard of living with the massive employment of youths and women in the agricultural sector. The list included the Kebbi/NNPC Ethanol Project in Zuru Emirate, the signing of many workable and plausible Memoranda of Understanding
(MOUs) with renowned international organisations, including the World Bank, CBN, UNICEF, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). A partnership between the Kebbi State Government and the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) and the Kebbi State Government strategic partnership for $10 million in enterprise investment cooperation.
True to his promise of welcoming investment that would create wealth and generate employment for the people, especially the youth, Atiku Bagudu always supported entrepreneurs during his time at the helm in Kebbi. At the commissioning/ opening ceremony of a hospitality business, Nugget Continental Hotel and Tours, Birnin Kebbi, the former governor, declared, ' It is consistent with our view that the private sector should lead the development and the role of government is to help private sector make a profit.'
This mindset oiled his wheels of progress as a pacesetter and trailblazer in policy and development works. The flag-off of the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) in Kebbi, as one of the pioneer states in 2020, underscored Bagudu's economic transformation thrust and investment drive. His government partnered with the miners to promote legitimate and safe mining practices, including financial support and technical assistance. An unprecedented success was recorded in the solid minerals sector when President Muhammadu Buhari was presented with the first artisan ally mined gold bar sourced from PAGMI artisanal miners in the state. The initiative, which is the brainchild of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, continues to provide job opportunities for the teeming youths with adequate security and protection for the miners and the environment.
Agriculture, one of the major occupations of the people in the rural areas of Kebbi, witnessed tremendous growth under Atiku Bagudu with the influx of foreign and local investors. The sky-high rice pyramids instantly ignite memories of the groundnut pyramids of Northern Nigeria of the '60s; this symbol of agricultural wealth sparks the hope that a prosperous Nigeria is possible with people like him at the helm. Beyond the influx of private investors, a landmark achievement in the rice value chain was the CBN Anchor Borrowers Program launched by former President Muhammad Buhari in 2015 in Kebbi.
Atiku Bagudu, putting on his hat of accountability, supported the programme wholeheartedly by providing logistics support to the Anchor Borrowers Program committee as they went about the 21 LGAs capturing the bio-data of all genuine benefiting farmers in order to certify that only genuine smallholder farmers got the loan. The program thrived in Kebbi so much that it revolutionised rice production not only in the state but all over Nigeria. It was a success that earned Bagudu the title "Ambassador of rural economic transformation" from the former president.
JOSHUA OCHEJA pays tribute to Tunde Olusunle, journalist, author and scholar at 60
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TUNDE
Time flies swiftly. Reaching the milestone of 60 years is a golden achievement that signifies wisdom, maturity, and a life well-lived, especially in our challenging environment. The number 60 marks a transition into a realm of statesmanship, where life experiences, personal growth, career achievements, and maximized opportunities offer invaluable lessons to discerning minds. This is the remarkable story of Chief Tunde Olusunle, a distinguished scholar, seasoned strategic communication expert, and the esteemed *Otunba Baba Eto* of Ekinrin-Adde in Kogi State.
Our paths crossed in 2013 when I had the privilege of working as a research assistant to Prof Eyitayo Lambo, a former Minister of Health. As part of my research duties, I was tasked with interviewing personalities from Prof Lambo's Isanlu community, the headquarters of the Yagba-East Local Government Area of Kogi State. Notably, Prof Lambo was particularly emphatic about Chief Tunde Olusunle, whom he repeatedly mentioned as someone I had to meet. Given the emphasis by Prof Lambo, I had assumed Chief Olusunle was the traditional ruler of Isanlu! However, I was taken aback when he invited me to his residence in Abuja, and not a palace in Isanlu, as I had anticipated. Even more surprising was his attire when we met - a simple yet stylish combination of a jean, t-shirt, and matching face cap, which was a far cry from the traditional regalia I had also imagined. And the rest is history.
Over the years, Chief Olusunle and I have maintained a strong and meaningful bond. One moment that stands out in my memory was during the church dedication of my infant daughter in 2017. Despite the significant age gap between us, he took the time to attend the ceremony, worship with us, and even join us at our home afterwards. This heartfelt gesture spoke volumes about his exceptional character and ability to transcend boundaries. His selfless act not only left a lasting impression on my family but also deepened our mentor-mentee relationship, which has now flourished for over a decade.
My association with him marked a pivotal moment in my educational pursuit, culminating in a doctorate. His encouragement and support, both intellectually and financially, were profound. His unwavering belief in my potential was a constant source of inspiration. I kept him abreast of my intentions academically and he was always in support, giving me insights on how such moves would equip me intellectually. I vividly recall a memorable conversation with him, where I sought his guidance on the appropriate mode of address: "Sir, Prof, or Chief?" His response, accompanied by a hearty laugh, was characteristically humble: "Whatever works for you is fine by me." To this day, I respectfully address him as "Sir," while remaining deeply mindful of his impressive intellectual portfolio as an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing, and extensive experience as a seasoned strategic communication expert with an illustrious 35-year career spanning both the public and private sectors. His unique blend of artistic flair and technical expertise has enabled him to effortlessly navigate two ostensibly opposing structures, showcasing his remarkable skill, adaptability, and distinguished professionalism.
A glance at his impressive CV would reveal a plethora of accomplishments that would justify an air of intellectual arrogance, yet he remains refreshingly unassuming. Under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he served in multiple capacities from May 1999 to May 29, 2007, showcasing his versatility and dedication. During these eight years, he held various roles as a Special Assistant on National Orientation, where he promoted national unity and awareness, Public Affairs, managing the administration's public image and relations, Press Liaison, coordinating with the press to disseminate information, Special Services, handling specific tasks and projects, and Special Duties, undertaking various assignments as required by the President. These diverse experiences proved invaluable, providing him with a unique understanding of the intricacies of governance, strategic communication, and leadership.
I must confess that I've also been fortunate enough to benefit from his invaluable guidance and
constructive feedback on my writing. Developing a habit of sending him my articles for review before publication has been a game-changer, as he's always been generous with his time and insightful suggestions. While he's never hesitated to offer valuable critiques, I recall instances where he's constructively challenged me when my work fell short of expectations. Instead of rewriting my pieces, he'd expertly identify the missing elements and encourage me to revisit and improve them. His mentorship approach, which I'd describe as a thoughtful balance of constructive criticism and encouragement, has been instrumental in my growth as a writer.
Today, he celebrates a remarkable milestone, attaining the age of 60, a testament to a life of purpose, passion, and dexterity. His impressive academic background, as revealed in his extensive 10-page CV, boasts a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English, a Master of Arts (Credit) in English, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Media Arts, showcasing his intellectual prowess. Furthermore, his literary expertise is evident in his numerous books and academic articles published in reputable journals, with one of his notable works being *Orisirisi: Vistas on Contemporary Politics in Nigeria,* which exemplified his versatility and range, earning praise from Segun Ayobolu, who described him as "a many-sided diamond dazzlingly in diverse colours to dissect the assortment of subjects on which he beams his searchlight."
It is only fitting to celebrate Chief Tunde Olusunle's 60th birthday with great fanfare, as he has made an indelible mark on the intellectual landscape with his profound knowledge and unwavering commitment to addressing pressing sociocultural issues through his writings and insightful postulations. His remarkable journey challenges the notion that age is merely a number, instead illustrating that the true measure of one's years is the impact they have had, and in this regard, Chief Olusunle's trajectory is a shining testament to a life of purpose, passion, and meaningful contribution.
As the festivities surrounding the birthday reach a crescendo, I would like to extend my warmest felicitations to my esteemed mentor, whose guidance, wisdom, and remarkable contributions have left an indelible mark on my scholarly journey. It is my heartfelt desire that he continues to enjoy good health, a sound mind, and many happy returns, as he celebrates this significant milestone. Indeed, the world is truly his oyster, and his life's work is a testament to the boundless opportunities that await those who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of knowledge and excellence. Here's to many more years of celebrating his life, achievements, and contributions!
Ocheja,
a scholar, specializes in the intricate military histories of Nigeria and Africa
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
ON UROMI 16 AND JUNGLE JUSTICE
Government should define the role of vigilante groups in our community policing system
Last Thursday’s bestial killing in Uromi, Edo State, of 19 hunters has continued to generate national uproar. The victims were reportedly travelling from Port Harcourt to Kano for the end of Ramadan festivities when they were intercepted and burnt to death by local vigilantes after being suspected as kidnappers. Authorities in the country should be concerned by the rate at which mobs dispense this kind of ‘instant and brutal justice’ on suspected kidnappers, robbers, cultists, etc., without restraints. Available reports indicate that more than 500 individuals have fallen victim to such mob justice across the country in the past decade.
We condemn the unmindful killing of these innocent men and urge the police to expedite investigations so as to bring the culprits to justice. We also commiserate with their families. We endorse the actions taken by the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, who has visited Kano to reassure the people and douse tension. But the federal government must address the root cause. While we believe that the primary responsibility of a state is the protection of lives and property - a responsibility that is discharged by institutions like the police, the military, paramilitary services and the intelligence community, it becomes worrisome when this sacred duty is outsourced to unregulated and uncoordinated groups as is the case today in many communities across the country.
There is a clear connection between the worsening security situation and the emergence and proliferation of vigilante groups
T H I S D AY
EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU
DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN
THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
T H I S D AY N E W
Indeed, it is obvious that there is a clear connection between the worsening security situation and the emergence and proliferation of vigilante groups. Many communities have resorted to setting up vigilante groups to assist law enforcement agencies who are grossly understaffed and underfunded. And with farming becoming increasingly hazardous in many of our rural communities at a time the nation needs to embrace agriculture not only for food security but also to take many of our
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
young people away from the streets, all relevant authorities must begin to fashion long-term solutions to the security problem that has made our people resort to self-help with dire implications. No doubt vigilante groups play important roles in protecting communities against violent hoodlums and night marauders. However, some of them carry all manner of arms for which they are not trained. In fact, in most cases, there is nothing to distinguish some of them from armed robbers, and, or kidnappers. This could be a prelude to anarchy if not properly addressed. Their activities must be regulated and their members properly documented. Also, their right to bear arms, even if such arms are locally made, must be critically reviewed with clear guidelines issued by the appropriate authorities. A situation where touts and drug addicts bear arms at night as members of vigilante groups should not be acceptable in any decent society. Not only is it a threat to law abiding citizens, but it is also a serious danger to public peace.
In checking this ugly trend, we could also borrow a leaf from other climes where the existence of neighbourhood watch is basically to serve as the third eye which gives information to the police. In those societies, there is a close synergy between the neighbourhood watch and the security agencies, with the former helping to gather intelligence in areas where the latter lack the required manpower and resources. And on occasions when they assist in nabbing suspected criminals, such suspects are promptly handed over to the police for proper investigation and possible prosecution.
We therefore call on the government to properly define the role of vigilante groups in our community policing system. That should include keeping proper documentation and conducting background checks on their members. We believe that these are some ways the spate of tragic killings by members of vigilante groups could be checked.
Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.
A SACRILEGIOUS ATTACK ON HUMAN LIVES
Instead of milk and honey, Nigeria is rather a country flowing with blood with numerous avoidable and unavoidable deaths, easily making Africa’s largest democracy one of the most dangerous countries on earth.
Within the slaughter slab that the Nigerian space has become, every Nigeria has been spattered by blood to some degree in a country where everyday interactions have been turned to bloodbaths.
On March 27, 2025, 16 hunters of Northern extraction travelling from Port Harcourt to Kano for Sallah ran into killers stationed at Uromi, Edo State. All it took was a false alarm branding the travellers bandits for the killers to mobilize their bloodlust, bayonets, and butchery skills and fires. All 16 hunters were killed and fed to the fire. The killings have since provoked a national outcry.
There is a sense in which smoldering anger in many Nigerians has congealed into murderous rage. Many Nigerians driven to despair by the insecurity ravaging the country, disillusioned with the system which fails to stem the tide and desperate for some action are too easily carried away by the promise of jungle justice. All they often need to ignite their killer rage are killer
cries. All over Nigeria, there is a mounting sense of frustration that the criminal justice system always crumbles under pressure, with criminals often getting what amounts to no more than a slap on the wrist.
Even worse is the fact that many Nigerians believe rather justifiably that the Nigerian criminal justice system is selective, favouring the powerful and punishing the poor.
So, for many Nigerians, whenever the opportunity arises to execute swift justice, they take it with both hands. To fix this murderous mentality of mob justice, which typically catches innocent people cold, Nigeria must reform its justice system to preclude jungle justice.
With Nigeria’s criminal justice system struggling so badly, many criminals are on the loose seeking the next spot for their criminal adventures. In Uromi, they laid low under the guise of vigilantes until unsuspecting hunters walked into their trap.
In a country that has become criminally and critically unsafe, who are bandits? If the hunters were truly bandits, would they not have been more careful to conceal their identity and weapons?
If not that buffoonery blended perfectly with bloodlust on that
eternally dark day in Uromi, wouldn’t some of the killers have cautioned themselves that bandits don’t usually move around during the day or bare the tools of their trade, if they are not licensed?
A nationwide condemnation has followed the killing, but the difference that must be made this time around is that condemnation must yield concrete action, which is the prosecution and incarceration of the perpetrators.
All those who partook in the gruesome killings of the innocent hunters are heartless criminals who have no place in any sane society. They must be transparently tried and punished in accordance with the law.
Unfortunately, some Nigerians have invoked memories of lynching in other parts of the country to play ethnic and religious cards, but a killing is a killing and no human life is inferior to the other. Nigerians must refuse to become that country where the gruesome killing of citizens is not only left unpunished but justified under any guise.
Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com
Kayode Tokede
A total of 10 banks generated an estimated N14.4 trillion from interest on loans and advances to customers, among others in 2024, about 126.5 per cent increase over N6.34 trillion generated in 2023 financial year, analysis of the banks’ financial reports has revealed.
The significant increase in these 10 banks interest income in 2024 is on the backdrop of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s hike in its Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 27.5 per cent from 18.75 per cent.
The 10 banks include: Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), FBN Holdco Plc and Ecobank.
Others are: Fidelity bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc
and Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc.
These 110 banks also reported a sum of N5.33 trillion interest expenses on customers deposits, others in 2024, a growth of 126.3 per cent from N2.36 trillion in 2023. In the period under review, Ecobank, followed by Zenith Bank and generated the highest interest income on loans to customers.
For instance, Ecobank generated N2.76 trillion interest income in 2024, up by 128.3 per cent from N1.21 trillion in 2023, while Zenith Bank posted N2.72 trillion interest income in 2024, about 138 per cent growth when compared to NN1.14 trillion declared in 2023.
In addition, First Holdco announced N2.4 trillion interest in 2024, representing an increase of 158 per cent from N936.68 billion in 2023.
As the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members of the CBN voted to hike interest rate to 27.50 per cent in 2024, average maximum lending rate rose to 29.71per cent in December 2024 from 26.62 per cent December 2023, reflecting the impact of tighter monetary policies aimed at controlling inflation and stabilizing the naira.
Also, the average prime lending rate to bank customers in Nigeria closed 2024 at 18.56 per cent, the highest point since 2010 as MPR last year gained momentum.
CBN revealed that the average prime lending rate that opened 2024 at 13.82 per cent, gained 474basis points to close 2024 at 18.56 per cent amid increase in MPR from 18.75 per cent to 27.50 per cent.
The rate highest peak was 18.74 per cent February 2010 when MPR was at six per cent.
As gathered by THHISDAY, the Nigeria’s average prime lending rate reached an all-time high of 19.66 per cent in November 2009 and a record low of 11.13per cent in March 2021.
The steady increase in MPR reflected in the average prime lending rate last year as the CBN intensifies its effort to tackle inflation rate and stable the local currency at the foreign exchange market.
The first hike in MPR was rate from 18.75per cent to 22.75per cent, the second to 24.75per cent, the third to 26.25per cent, the fourth to 26.75 per cent and recently 27.25per cent in the September 2024 MPC meeting.
MPR, thus, moved to 27.50 per cent November 2024 with the average prime lending rate jumping to 18.39per cent in November 2024 to eventually closing last year at 18.56per cent.
These increases, totalling 875
basis points in MPR since Mr. Olayemi Cardoso’s appointment, have been driven by efforts to tackle the country’s persistent inflation challenges, which include high core and food inflation.
An investigation by THISDAY showed that the increase in MPR impacted on banks average prime lending to their customers in 2024.
However, the steep increase in the policy rate has sparked concerns regarding the potential impact on the cost of credit for businesses already facing economic hardships.
Speaking with THISDAY, Chief Research Officer, InvestData Consulting Limited, Mr. Omordion Ambrose said, “Businesses need a lot of credit facilities to survive, but in an environment where the lending rate is astronomical, many enterprises, especially small and medium-scale, might find it extremely difficult
to survive as their products will remain uncompetitive and the cost of production and the sale prices to consumers will remain high.”
Also, the Investment Banker & Stockbroker, Mr. Tajudeen Olayinka said the growth in interest income generated by banks on loans to customers is a reflection of a hike in MPR by CBN.
He expressed that banks review their lending rates on a regular basis, subject to their respective cost of funds and the direction of MPR, not necessarily using MPR as a distinct value.
According to him, the MPR signals to them the direction of interest rate in the market and the price they will pay if they have to borrow from or lend to CBN.
A report by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has revealed that the nation’s banking sector maintained its resilience in the fourth quarter of 2024, as key financial soundness indicators showed significant improvements.
The CBN’s Q4 2024 Economic Report revealed that the banking system’s capital adequacy ratio (CAR) rose by 2.68 percentage points to 15.20 per cent, up from 12.52 per cent in the previous quarter.
This improvement, according to
the CBN, was due to an increase in total qualifying capital and a reduction in risk-weighted assets. The ratio, it added, remained above the regulatory thresholds of 10.00 per cent for banks with national and regional licenses and 15.00 per cent for those with international authorisations, reinforcing the sector’s financial stability.
The CBN also highlighted improvements in banks’ asset quality, as the ratio of non-performing loans (NPLs) declined by 0.08 per cent points to 4.50 per cent in December 2024 from 4.58 per cent in September
2024. This level remains below the prudential benchmark of 5.00 per cent, indicating a healthier loan portfolio and better loan recoveries across the industry.
On the financial soundness indicators, it stated, “The banking sector remained resilient and stable during the review period, evidenced by the robust performance of key financial soundness indicators. The banking system capital adequacy ratio (CAR) improved by 2.68 pp to 15.20 per cent, relative to the 12.52 per cent in the preceding period.
“The development reflected
the improvement of banks’ total qualifying capital and the decrease of risk-weighted assets. The ratio remained above the 10.00 and 15.00 per cent benchmarks for banks with national/regional and international authorisations, respectively. Banks’ asset quality improved as the ratio of non-performing loans (NPL) declined by 0.08 pp to 4.50 per cent from 4.58 per cent in September 2024. The ratio was below the prudential benchmark of 5.00 per cent, implying an improvement in loan recoveries due to compliance with the extant regulations.
“Furthermore, it states that the industry liquidity ratio (LR) grew by 5.47 pp to 49.06 per cent, relative to 43.59 per cent in the preceding quarter. The LR remained above the minimum regulatory benchmark of 30.00 per cent, illustrating the liquidity sufficiency of the banking system and the ability of banks to meet emerging obligations.”
The report added, “The financial sector remained resilient amid monetary expansion and fluctuating liquidity conditions. Broad money supply (M3) grew by 42.76 per cent to N113.14 trillion, driven by
a rise in net foreign assets (NFA) and net domestic assets (NDA). However, liquidity conditions in the banking system led to a slight uptick in short-term interest rates. Robustness analysis indicated that the banking industry remained strong, as financial soundness indicators were within thresholds, reinforcing confidence in the sector. This stability and favourable market conditions bolstered investor sentiment and fuelled a strong performance across various capital market segments during the review period.”
Nume Ekeghe
Enugu Farm Estate: Blueprint for Agricultural Transformation
For centuries, agriculture has been the silent engine of economic growth, sustaining civilisations and shaping the prosperity of nations. Today, Enugu State is embarking on a bold journey to revolutionise its agricultural landscape with the Enugu Farm Estates Programme—a visionary initiative poised to turn rural communities into thriving economic hubs. This is not just about farming; it is about transforming lives, unlocking prosperity, and placing Enugu on the global agricultural map. Imagine a future where every farmer has access to modern technology, every hectare of land yields its full potential, and agriculture is no longer seen as a struggle but a thriving industry. The potential impact of this programme on the local economy is significant, with the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs and a substantial increase in agricultural output. With a strategic blueprint inspired by the success stories of Israel, Brazil, China, and Vietnam, Enugu State is determined to harness its rich agricultural resources to create employment, ensure food security, and drive economic growth. This ambitious strategy aims to increase agricultural output by 2000 per cent within the next decade, positioning Enugu as a model for sustainable agricultural development. Similar models in Israel have increased farm yields by 1,500 per cent through precision agriculture, while Brazil has turned formerly unproductive land into thriving agricultural hubs, contributing over $84 billion annually to its economy. This potential for economic growth is a reason for optimism about the future of Enugu State. Enugu State embraces a holistic approach to agricultural transformation. The programme is not just about farming but about creating a structured and sustainable ecosystem where agriculture drives economic prosperity. The Enugu Farm Estates Programme is poised to impact the state’s socio-economic landscape by targeting food security, job creation, and rural economic development. Governor Dr. Peter Mbah stated, “We envision an Enugu where agriculture is not just a subsistence activity but a wealth-generating industry, contributing significantly to our $30 billion gross domestic products GDP target.”
The policy for the development of agriculture is a two-pronged approach. The first is supporting large-scale farming through land banks. Investors are allocated land to commence large-scale agriculture. The second is the farm estates. The Farm Estates is for smallholder farmers. While increasing the productivity of smallholder farmers, the government aims to aggregate them and
make them produce in a manner that surpasses the productivity of large-scale farmers. This dual strategy—supporting smallholder farmers while creating opportunities for large-scale agribusiness—ensures Enugu’s comprehensive and sustainable agricultural transformation. In Nigeria, states embracing large-scale agribusiness have reported a noticeable increase in agricultural GDP within five years.
Enugu State has positioned itself as a destination for large-scale commercial agriculture. The Enugu State Land Bank, with over 130,000 hectares of land, is available for investors looking to establish large-scale agricultural enterprises. This policy framework attracts agribusiness investments, fosters public-private agricultural partnerships, promotes modern and technology-driven farming practices, and develops value chains for export and food processing.
The Farm Estate Model is built on three key pillars: sustainable agricultural practices that promote environmentally friendly farming techniques and ensure long-term productivity; economic empowerment that creates direct and indirect employment opportunities while increasing farmers’ incomes; and rural security and development that transforms uninhabited and underutilised lands into thriving agricultural hubs contributing to community stability. With these guiding principles, the programme is designed to harness Enugu’s vast agricultural potential and create an inclusive economy where smallholder farmers and large-scale investors can thrive.
The Farm Estates are designed to operate as cluster farms, with each estate covering 200 hectares per ward. Enugu State has 260 wards, resulting in 52,000 hectares of farmland, providing over 104,000 direct jobs and more than 156,000 indirect jobs.
This unprecedented scale of development marks a bold step toward repositioning agriculture as a cornerstone of the state’s economy. A similar initiative in Vietnam helped lift over 20 million people out of poverty by transforming its rural agricultural sector through farm clusters and structured support systems.
Each Farm Estate is envisioned not just as a collection of farmlands but a well-planned agricultural community equipped with modern infrastructure, including central warehouses for produce aggregation and processing, tractor sheds to support mechanised farming, resting
“With a strategic blueprint inspired by the success stories of Israel, Brazil, China, and Vietnam, Enugu State is determined to harness its rich agricultural resources to create employment, ensure food security, and drive economic growth. This ambitious strategy aims to increase agricultural output by 2000 per cent within the next decade, positioning Enugu as a model for sustainable agricultural development. Similar models in Israel have increased farm yields by 1,500 per cent through precision agriculture, while Brazil has turned formerly unproductive land into thriving agricultural hubs, contributing over $84 billion annually to its economy.This potential for economic growth is a reason for optimism about the future of Enugu State.”
“The success of the Enugu Farm Estates hinges on empowering the local farmers who will drive agricultural productivity. Each estate will accommodate 200 farmers from local communities, each allocated 1 hectare of land. To ensure maximum productivity, farmers will receive training and extension services to enhance their knowledge of modern agronomy practices, access to quality inputs such as improved seeds and fertilisers, mechanised support including tractors and other farming equipment, and guaranteed market access through structured offtake arrangements.”
sheds to enhance farmers’ productivity and comfort, perimeter fencing for security and protection against encroachment, irrigation systems to support year-round farming, and well-constructed access roads to facilitate easy transportation of goods. These features ensure that farming is not just a subsistence activity but a highly organised, profitable, and sustainable venture. Studies show that in regions where mechanised and structured farming is implemented, agricultural productivity increases by up to 300%.
The success of the Enugu Farm Estates hinges on empowering the local farmers who will drive agricultural productivity. Each estate will accommodate 200 farmers from local communities, each allocated 1 hectare of land.
To ensure maximum productivity, farmers will receive training and extension services to enhance their knowledge of modern agronomy practices, access to quality inputs such as improved seeds and fertilisers, mechanised support including tractors and other farming equipment, and guaranteed market access through structured offtake arrangements. By eliminating significant challenges such as lack of technical knowledge, poor market access, and inadequate resources, the programme ensures that farmers can focus solely on what they do best—farming. According to agricultural expert Dr Chidi Okafor, “Providing smallholder farmers with structured support and access to mechanised farming can triple their yields and significantly boost local economies.”
One of the significant barriers to agricultural success is the difficulty smallholder farmers face in accessing markets. The Enugu State Marketing Company will play a pivotal role in coordinating the offtake and sale of agro commodities. This structured marketing approach will prevent price fluctuations and market exploitation, provide farmers with a stable and reliable source of income, and encourage increased production by ensuring that produce is bought at fair prices. By removing the uncertainty often accompanying selling agricultural produce, the programme allows farmers to concentrate on improving their output. In Kenya, a similar structured market approach led to a 40% increase in farmers’ earnings within three years. The role of the Enugu State Marketing Company is to reassure farmers and investors about the stability of the market, ensuring fair prices and income stability for farmers.
The Enugu Farm Estate Programme is a
collaborative initiative between the state and local governments, demonstrating how strategic publicsector partnerships can drive rural development. The funding structure ensures effective resource mobilisation, with a 60% contribution from the Enugu State Government and a 40% contribution from Local Governments. This joint approach secures funding and ensures accountability and shared responsibility in executing the programme. Similar models in China have shown that government-private partnerships in agriculture can lead to GDP growth of over 8% annually. This collaborative nature of the initiative makes all stakeholders feel included in the process. Security is a significant concern in many rural areas, hindering economic activities. The Farm Estate Programme tackles insecurity by creating employment opportunities that reduce crime rates among the youth, transforming uninhabited lands into thriving farming communities, and strengthening local economies to make rural areas more attractive for investment and habitation. By addressing the root causes of insecurity—poverty and unemployment—this initiative provides a long-term solution to rural safety and stability. “Where there is economic activity, there is security,” says Chief Security Advisor Nnamdi Eze. “The best way to fight insecurity is to create jobs and ensure communities are economically viable.”
The Enugu Farm Estates Programme is more than just an agricultural initiative; it is a blueprint for economic transformation. The projected outcomes include a significant increase in Enugu’s GDP, with agriculture contributing over 40%, a reduction in ruralurban migration by creating thriving rural economies, achievement of a low poverty rate through job creation and financial inclusion, and a significant leap towards food self-sufficiency and reduced dependency on food imports. Governor Dr Peter Mbah has set a vision for Enugu’s economy to reach a GDP of $30 billion. Agriculture will play a pivotal role in achieving this goal, and the Farm Estates Programme is a critical part of this journey.
The Enugu Farm Estates Programme represents a transformational shift in state practices and perceives agriculture. With the proper support from government agencies, local communities, investors, and development partners, Enugu has the potential to become an agricultural powerhouse, setting a precedent for other states to follow. This initiative is not just about farming but about building a future where prosperity, security, and opportunity thrive in every rural community. The time for action is now, and Enugu State is leading the way.
• Dr Jeff Ukachukwu is a public affairs analyst. You can reach him at jeffuka@gmail.com
Jeff Ukachukwu
Insurance Reform Bill: Waiting for Presidential Assent
With the recent passing of the Insurance Sector Reform Bill by the House of Representatives, ebere nwoji reports that all eyes are on presidency for assent to the bill expected to kickstart insurance sector reforms
One of the greatest shocks which struck insurance sector operators at the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years regime, which lasted from May 29th 2015 to May 29th 2023, was the administration’s failure to sign into law the Consolidated Insurance bill.
To insurance sector operators, the bill which has been lying on the table of lawmakers since the year 2010 holds the future of insurance sector as most of the laws in the prevailing 2003 insurance Act have been overtaken by events.
This being the case, the sector needed presidential assent to the bill more than any other thing during Buhari’s regime but this did not happen as the insurance bill suffered total neglect by the Buhari Administration.
O P e RAtOR s’ Feel I ngs
Indeed, with the former president’s endorsement of eight bills into law few days before the expiration of his tenure excluding the much expected Consolidated Insurance bill which was already passed by the two chambers of the 9th National Assembly, the insurers concluded that the regime of Buhari had no regard for the insurance sector having met the bill unattended to and left it unattended to.
Against this back drop, the insurers decided to take their fate by their hands by returning to the drawing board to repackage and present another bill tagged, “Insurance Sector Reform Bill,” to the present 10th National Assembly.
With the passing of the bill by the law makers, all eyes are now on president Ahmed Bola Tinubu for the final endorsement for a new Act.
Insu R e R s’ eFFOR ts
From the onset of their resolution to present a fresh bill to the 10th National Assembly, the insurers were advised not to leave any stone unturned in their push for early passage of the bill especially during President Ahmed Tinubu’s first tenure.
The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) shortly after the operators’ disappointment with Buhari’s administration for non-assent to the bill, said it would collaborate with NAICOM to finalise issues surrounding the signing into law of the bill.
THISDAY recalls that before his appointment as the present Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, as the then NIA Chairman led the NIA leadership to meet the Chairman House Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters of the House of Representative, Hon. Ahmed Jaha to seek support for the bill. He craved his support to ensuring that the bill received the needed attention that would lead to its passage into Act.
Little wonder why barely one year into his assumption of office as the present commissioner for insurance and Federal Government’s adviser on insurance matters, the Insurance Sector Reform Bill has been passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly.
nA t IO n A l Assem B ly
It will be recalled that on December 16, 2024, the senate passed the Insurance Reform Bill with the highlight being the approval of M25 billion minimum capital for non-life insurance firms, N15 billion for life and N35 billion for reinsurance firms. This was hailed by NAICOM and just a week ago, the House of representative passed the insurance bill with NAICOM describing it as Landmark achievement and a significant milestone towards transforminag Nigeria’s insurance sector.
Commenting on the latest passage of the bill by the law makers, Omosehin said: “The commission is enthusiastic about the prospect of the bill receiving assent from Mr President which will pave the way for the implementation of its provision.”
Now that the bill has been passed early enough by the law makers the earnest expectation is to ensure its assented by the president.
Rec O mmendAt IO ns
Industry observers made some recommendations on how the sector could realise this dream of having the bill secure presidential assent.
They said with the passage of the bill by the two chambers of the National Assembly within the first tenure of the president, the bill this time has far much chances and opportunity of receiving presidential assent before his exit.
This, they said, is quite unlike the insurance Sector Consolidated bill which was passed by the both chambers during Buhari’s last tenure.
But the industry analysts said the insurers should not allow a repeat of the ugly situation during Buhari’s time by relaxing waiting for the president to assent to it.
Rather, they said the industry should unite to push for president’s recognition making use of relevant connections that are capable of presenting their case directly before the president.
“Both the operators and the regulator should instead of relaxing intensify push using various means to ensure the bill secures a place in the next set of bills to be assented to by the president” they advised.
Speaking, former Chairman NIA and Principal Consultant Carefirst Consult, Mr Gus Wiggle, said though one may not know much about what goes into a bill after it has been passed by both Houses before receiving the President’s assent, his advice would be that whatever all parties have done to push the bill to where it is today, they should not relent but continue to push on until it receives the President’s signature and it becomes a law.
“I have taken this cautious position because of the last experience with the Buhari’s government. Having said that, it is my view that facilitating presidential assent for the Insurance Bill requires strategic efforts from both insurers and the government. Considering the bill’s history, and how long it has been in the works. Overall, the passage of the bill will be a significant step forward, and all stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the President’s assent to bring the new regulations and standards into effect,” he stated
On his part, National Coordinator, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Boniface Okezie, said as good as the passage of the bill is the problem with the Nigeria Insurance Industry is not just about passing the bill but implementing it to the later.
He asked, Now, that the bill has been passed and everybody is praying for president to assent to it when signed into law who will implement it Naicom? I doubt it.
He said the passage of the bill was very good and NAICOM has the right to be jubilant, “but when signed into law by government which would definitely happen, the same government that signed the law will be the first to break it through its failure to patronise the sector by insuring its assets as required by the law. But the problem facing insurance sector cannot just be solved by the president assenting to the bill and enthroning the regime of new law in the industry. Government must lead others in patronising the insurance sector by insuring all its assets with indigenous insurance underwriting firms not with foreign firms. We like foreign things but let them show example by making the laws work through insurance of their own assets. NAICOM itself should regulate to keep the souls of the companies alive,“ he stated.
cOnclusIOn
Industry analysts said with passage of the Insurance Reform bill by the law makers, insurance operators, regulator and other stakeholders in the sector should see it that it is now that the main work has started.
According to them the insurers in their different trade groups should join force together using high level lobby group to ensure their case gets directly to the president. The analysts are of the opinion that if the insurers fail to get the much-needed new law in place during this Tinubu’s regime, it would be very difficult for them to get it again.
‘Ponzi Promoters, Operators Risk 10 Years Jail Term, N20m Fine’
Kayode Tokede
The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama has warned that promoters and operators of any entity engaged in a prohibited scheme will be liable on conviction to a penalty of not less than N20 million or imprisonment to a term of 10 years or both.
This, he stated, is one of the provisions of the newly signed Investments and Securities Act 2025.
Agama, who stated this during an interview in Abuja, said the goal of the new legislation is to strengthen the legal framework governing Nigeria’s capital market, better protect investors, and introduce reforms that will promote market integrity, transparency, and sustainable growth.
Agama stated that, previously, the SEC lacked the legal power to prosecute Ponzi scheme operators, which made it difficult to bring offenders to justice.
However, under the new law, those convicted of operating Ponzi schemes face a jail term of 10
years or more.
“With the new law, they now face a 10-year jail term and beyond,” he said.
He further explained that the Act stipulates a minimum fine of N20 million for anyone operating a Ponzi scheme in Nigeria
“So, N20 million is not the entire penalty or the entire money that will be charged or sanctioned to any suspecting or any accused capital market or non-capital market operator. It is just part of the penalties and or the sanctions that will be meted against such persons,” Agama explained.
The SEC Director-General also said that sanctions will include “disgorgement,” meaning that any profits or gains obtained from defrauding Nigerians will be recovered adding “It is not about the quantum of the fraud, it is about sanctions that would deter people from even getting into it”.
Also, Agama said the new ISA has also provided the SEC with the power to be able to obtain and request telephone conversations and all other conversations that are required to Prosecute Ponzi
operators.
“We recognize that a lot of Nigerians have fallen prey to these sponsor schemes and the reason why that is the case is because there were no sanctions. You know enough to deter them from doing this so what this Act has done is to introduce measures for Ponzi scheme operators and intending Ponzi scheme operators not to be able to do this again against the wish and will of Nigerians.
“Protecting the investors in Nigeria is a cardinal responsibility of the SEC and this law has provided the SEC with stronger powers to be able to do that. This law has also been able to provide the SEC the powers to be able to search phones and get phone records for people who are interested in dealing with Nigerians or interested in duping Nigerians. We are able to get these records and quickly
provide enforcement actions for the people that are involved so for us it is limitless”, he added.
The landmark legislation strengthens the legal framework of the Nigerian capital market, enhances investor protection, and introduces critical reforms to promote market integrity, transparency, and sustainable growth.
The enactment of the ISA 2025 reaffirms the authority of the SEC
as the apex regulatory authority of the Nigerian Capital Market as well as to regulate the market to ensure capital formation, the protection of investors, and maintenance of a fair, efficient and transparent market and reduction of systemic risks. The Act also introduces transformative provisions to further align Nigeria’s market operations with international best practice.
Adeyemi: Profit of Purpose Book to Empower Social Entrepreneurs
Kayode Tokede
In a transformative stride towards financial sustainability within the social impact sector, the highly anticipated book, The Profit of Purpose: Mastering Financial Accounting and Reporting for Social Entrepreneurs, has been officially launched.
This highly anticipated publication aims to equip change makers with the crucial financial acumen necessary to thrive. The launch event, recently
CSR: Pepsodent’s Dental Health Campaign Targets 20 States
Raheem Akingbolu
To commemorate 2025 World Oral Health Day, Pepsodent, a leading global toothpaste brand, in collaboration with the Nigeria Dental Association has launched its dental health campaign themed “Talk to A Dentist”. The campaign aims to reach 3m Nigerians this year, surpassing the 2024 reach of 2.4m.
Speaking during a press conference to herald the commemoration of the 2025 World Oral Health Day, Brand Manager, Pepsodent, Mary Akindola, stressed the need to instill good oral hygiene habits among children by ensuring they brush day and night for at least 2 minutes.
She further disclosed that part of the brand’s mission was to drive behavioural change among Nigerians by ensuring that brushing twice daily becomes a universal habit.
Akindola described good oral health as a fundamental human right for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status or location.
“According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about half of the world’s population suffers from oral health conditions, ranging from mild to severe cases. Yet, many do not take action until their condition becomes critical. One of the most prevalent oral health issues is tooth decay, with an estimated two billion adults silently battling cavities. If left unaddressed, these cases have long-term consequences.
Speaking further on the plans, she revealed that Pepsodent and Nigerian Dental Association have scheduled dental camp activations across 20 states in Nigeria and the FCT. She explained that the activations, which would afford people from various communities to participate
in oral hygiene education, dental screenings and dental treatment, will take place in 5 locations in South-West, 8 locations in the East and 7 locations in the North.
In his remarks, Personal Care, Research & Development Head of Africa, Unilever, Uchenna Nwakanma, stated that Unilever, through Pepsodent, remains absolutely committed to boosting oral health awareness and increasing access to dental care globally, as demonstrated by the various programs and partnership embarked upon by the company adding that the goal is to eradicate oral disease for everyone.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Elias Emedom, commended Unilever Nigeria Plc for its continuous
partnership in promoting oral hygiene in the country.
Emedom further highlighted that the connection between oral health and mental wellbeing, stressing that limited access to oral healthcare and poor awareness are contributing factors to the rising burden of oral diseases in Nigeria. He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to collaborating with government agencies and healthcare providers to promote oral health and improve overall well-being.
Also speaking, the Director/ Head of the Dentistry Division at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Gloria Uzoigwe, acknowledged the government’s efforts to improving oral health policy, emphasizing ongoing initiatives to integrate oral health into primary healthcare.
in Lagos, brought together an impressive assembly of thought leaders, finance experts, and social entrepreneurs, sparking an engaging dialogue on the future of financial management in mission-driven organizations.
Delivering the keynote speech, Executive Director of FATE Foundation, Adenike Adeyemi emphasized the critical role of sound financial management in ensuring the long-term success of mission-driven organizations. “Nonprofit sustainability is paramount,” she stated, highlighting the importance of financial literacy in achieving lasting impact.
The official unveiling and launch of the book was led by Adebola Williams, CEO of AW Network and
Dr Orode Doherty, CEO Ingress Health Partners, who commended the authors for providing practical insights tailored to the unique financial challenges faced by social enterprises. Reflecting on the book’s purpose, The Author, Bukonla Adebakin stated, “Financial literacy is the backbone of any sustainable impact. For too long, social entrepreneurs have struggled with the complexity of financial management, often at the cost of their mission. This book is my contribution to demystifying those challenges, providing a practical roadmap that enables change makers to focus on what truly matters—driving meaningful and lasting change.”
Addressing some of the most pressing concerns for non-profits and mission-driven enterprises, The Profit of Purpose – Mastering Financial Accounting and Reporting for Social Entrepreneurs, equips social entrepreneurs with financial literacy skills to sustain and scale their impact.
Responding to media question on taxation, she explained, “One of the key issues addressed in the book is taxation, particularly in regions like Nigeria and Asia, where many businesses remain unregistered. The book stresses that formal registration is vital for sustainability, allowing organisations to access donor funding and operate legally.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
This is to inform the general public that all the piece or parcel of land measuring approximately Five (5) hectares known as Ideno Owode - Onirin, Mile 13 lying and being at Mile 13, Ikorodu Road, Owode – Onirin, Lagos State by virtue of the warrant of possession issued vide the Judgment of Coram A. O. Holloway J of the High Court of Lagos State delivered on 2nd June, 1994 in Suit Number:- ID/1757/94 between Mr. Femi Festus Olowu & Ors. v. Shomolu Local Government & Anor. covered by Survey Plan No:- MAL/121/77 drawn by Mr. Olaoye, a Licensed Surveyor and the Order of Coram M. A. Savage J. delivered on the 20th June, 2024, the Olowu family have been put in absolute and peaceful possession of their property and Form “O” duly issued by the Court on the 7th day of March, 2025 with the aid of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Nigeria Police Force, Task Force on Land Grabbing authorized by the office of the Attorney General of Lagos State and Sheriffs of the High Court of Lagos State.
The Olowu family appreciate the Lagos State Government led by Babajide SanwoOlu, the Executive Governor of Lagos State and the State Judiciary for upholding the Rule of Law within Lagos State by ensuring the smooth enforcement of the decisions of the court.
WHEREFORE, if any person has any complaint/inquiry to same, you are hereby advised to contact the persons below for further information: -
1. THE FAMILY’S AGENTS
ENGR. AKEEM ABIODUN ARIORI
PROSPEROUS ARIORI GOLDEN VENTURES LTD. 07031104277
2. THE FAMILY’S SOLICITORS
O. O. OLABODE ESQ., FCIS
D. A. AWOSIKA SAN & PARTNERS 07062320721
SIGNED BY ENGR. AKEEM ABIODUN ARIORI FOR:- OLOWU FAMILY
Advancing Capital Markets via ISA 2024
k ayode tokede posits that the introduction of transformative provisions in the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2024, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, will further align Nigeria’s market operations with international best practice
The Nigerian capital market closed first quarter of 2025 with a milestone news that President Tinubu has finally assented to the Investments and Securities Bill (ISB) 2025, which repeals the Investments and Securities Act No. 29 of 2007 and enacts the Investments and Securities Act 2025.
The ISA, No. 29 of 2007 (ISA) was signed into law by late President Umar Musa Yar’adua in June 2007 and it was before the global financial crisis of 2008/2009.
During the eight years of President Muhmmadu Buhari when Mr. Yuguda Lamido was DirectorGeneral of the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), the ISA bill was passed into law by both Senate and House of Representatives but was not approved as it required some modifications.
Assent to it March 2025 by President Tinubu, means the bill is expected to advance, aid the functioning of the capital market and facilitate the ongoing economic diversification in the country.
The enactment of the ISA 2024 reaffirms the authority of the SEC as the apex regulatory authority of the Nigerian Capital Market. The new Act also introduces transformative provisions to further align Nigeria’s market operations with international best practice.
HIgHlIgHtS of tHe ISA
The Act enhances the regulatory powers of the SEC in a manner comparable with benchmark global securities regulators. These enhanced powers and functions ensure full conformity with the requirements of IOSCO’s Enhanced Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (EMMoU), enabling the SEC to retain its “Signatory A” status and enhancing the overall attractiveness of the Nigerian capital market.
Classification of Exchanges and inclusion of provisions on Financial Market Infrastructures- The Act classifies Securities Exchanges into Composite and Non-composite Exchanges. A Composite Exchange is one in which all categories of securities and products can be listed and traded, while a Non-composite Exchange focuses on a singular type of security or product. There are also new provisions on Financial Market Infrastructures such as Central Counter Parties, Clearing Houses and
Trade Depositories.
Expansion of the definition and Understanding of Securities – The Act explicitly recognises virtual/digital assets and investment contracts as securities and brings Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), Digital Asset Operators (DAOPs) and Digital Asset Exchanges under the SEC’s regulatory purview.
Comprehensive Insolvency Provisions for Financial Market Infrastructures – The Act introduces provisions that exempt transactions facilitated through or otherwise involving Financial Market Infrastructures from the application of general insolvency laws.
Management of Systemic Risk – The Act introduces provisions for the monitoring, management and mitigation of systemic risk in the Nigerian capital market.
Expansion of the Category of Issuers to the Public- The Act expands the categories of issuers, as a key step towards the introduction of a wide range of innovative products and offerings as well as the facilitation of “commercial and investment business activities”, subject to the approval of the Commission and other controls stipulated in the Act.
Legal Framework for Commodities Exchanges – The Act contains a new Part which provides for the regulation of Commodities Exchanges and Warehouse Receipts. These provisions are essential to allow for the development of the entire gamut of the Commodities ecosystem.
Issuance of Securities by Sub-Nationals and their Agencies- Salient provisions of the Act address existing restrictions in respect of raising of funds from the capital market by Sub-Nationals to allow for greater flexibility in this regard.
Transparency in Securities Transactions – The Act introduces the mandatory use of Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) by participants in capital market transactions. This stipulation is designed to improve transparency in the conduct of securities transactions.
Enforcement Against Illegal Investment Schemes – The Act expressly prohibits Ponzi Schemes and other unlawful investment schemes,
while prescribing stringent jail terms and other sanctions for the promoters of such schemes.
Strengthening the Investments and Securities Tribunal- The Act amends some key provisions in the repealed ISA 2007 pertaining to the Composition of the Tribunal, constitution of the Tribunal, qualification and appointment of the Chief Registrar as well as the jurisdiction of the Tribunal to enhance the ability of the Tribunal to optimally discharge its mandate.
StAkeHolderS ApplAud
tInubu
Major capital market stakeholders have commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2024, stressing that the Act will advance the Nigerian capital market and secure its future as a catalyst for economic development.
The Director-General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, commended the President’s assent as a transformative step for the capital market and stated: “The ISA 2024 reflects our commitment to building a dynamic, inclusive, and resilient capital market.
He said, “By addressing regulatory gaps and introducing forward-looking provisions, the new Act empowers the SEC to foster innovation, protect investors more efficiently and reposition Nigeria as a competitive destination for local and foreign investments.
“We commend all stakeholders within and outside the capital market community for their unwavering solidarity towards the achievement of this historic milestone and solicit their continued collaboration in respect of the effective implementation of the ISA 2024 for the benefit of our economy.”
The13th President and Chairman of Council Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Oluropo Dada, said, “This Act is a testament to our collective dedication to advancing the capital market and securing its future as a catalyst for economic development.”
He expressed that the enactment of the ISA 2024 underscores the government’s commitment to fostering transparency, efficiency, and stability in our financial markets. It introduces
Credit direct pivots to digital
f inance, e xpands o fferings
Nume Ekeghe
Credit Direct, has announced that it has repositioned itself as a fully digital finance powerhouse, unveiling a suite of fintech solutions aimed at redefining access to credit, payments, and wealth creation.
Having operated primarily as a consumer lender for 18 years, the firm is now leveraging technology to provide a seamless financial ecosystem for individuals, businesses, and merchants.
Managing Director and CEO of Credit Direct, Chukwuma Nwanze, said: “Today isn’t just about launching products. It’s
about telling a bigger story of transformation, intent, and market leadership. We are a digital-first, capital-efficient, and purpose-driven finance company. We’ve built one of the most efficient financial platforms in the country, delivering over N90 billion in cumulative profits, achieving a return on equity above 80 per cent, and maintaining one of the lowest NPL ratios in the industry. All this without a primary capital raise in over fifteen years.”
“We didn’t just build tech; we rewired the way we operate. We digitized our operations, embedded finance into ecosystems, payrolls, supply chains, and merchant
platforms, deployed AI in our contact center, built internal engines for fraud detection, credit decision making, and automated collections. While others pursued growth at any cost, we built with intention. While inflation soared, we raised the bar on efficiency. While others struggled to sustain profitability, we’ve posted profits for 17 years straight.”
The company’s digital transformation has reduced loan processing time from an average of 8 hours to under 5 minutes, while staff productivity has doubled and employee net promoter scores have increased from 32 to 75.
On his part, the Chief Product Officer at Credit Direct, Nifemi Oluboyede, said, “Credit Direct Mobile App is not just another app. It was built with everyone’s real financial lifestyle in mind. Just by keeping money in it, you earn daily interest, no minimums, no lock-ins, no extra steps.
“That means even when you are not investing yet, your money is already working for you quietly, consistently, in the background. We’re building a platform you’ll want to open every time there’s a money decision to be made, whether it’s sending, investing, or getting credit.”
Informa Markets, a global leader in event organisation, recently announced a significant transformation in its healthcare exhibitions portfolio, becoming WHX (World Health Exhibitions). This exciting new era for its healthcare events worldwide impacts Nigeria, with the rebranding of Medic West Africa & Medlab West Africa to WHX Lagos and WHX Labs Lagos, respectively. This strategic shift reinforces WHX as a global platform for innovation, collaboration, and progress in the healthcare and laboratory sectors.
The inaugural WHX Lagos and WHX Labs Lagos will occur in Lagos, Nigeria, setting a new benchmark for industry
engagement. The event has received support from Nigeria’s Ministry of Health, led by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, and other leading healthcare and laboratory associations, further strengthening its role as a pivotal event in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.
This rebranding to WHX marks a new frontier for Informa Markets’ healthcare events globally and for the Lagos editions, reflecting a bold approach to enhancing industry connections, driving knowledge exchange, and showcasing groundbreaking medical and laboratory technologies.
“The rebranding of Medic West Africa and Medlab West Africa,
after 11 successful years in Lagos, to WHX Lagos and WHX Labs Lagos marks a transformative step in bolstering the healthcare and laboratory sectors in Nigeria and the broader West African region,” said Tom Coleman, Director of WHX Lagos and WHX Lab Lagos. “Building on Medic West Africa’s strong legacy, this new identity reflects our commitment to providing an unparalleled platform where healthcare professionals and industry leaders can connect, innovate, and collectively shape the future of healthcare.”
Cynthia Makarutse, Conference Director of WHX Lagos and WHX Lab Lagos, added: “WHX Lagos and WHX Labs Lagos will not
only showcase world-class medical and laboratory technologies but, crucially, will foster vital connections and collaborations that will drive healthcare innovation across West Africa. We’re significantly enhancing our conference program, creating a robust platform for critical discourse on the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Attendees can expect deeper dives into key topics, more interactive sessions, and a wider range of expert speakers, all designed to stimulate thought-provoking discussions and generate actionable solutions that will shape the future of healthcare in the West African region.”
comprehensive reforms aimed at modernizing the regulatory framework, enhancing investor protection, and creating a more robust platform for economic growth and development.
He added, “As capital market professionals, we are confident that this Act will deepen market integrity, boost investor confidence, and expand the range of investment opportunities available to Nigerians and global investors alike.”
The Chairman of the Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Sam Onukwue, described the ISA 2024 as a game-changer for the Nigerian capital market.
He noted that the ISA 2025 introduces crucial reforms aimed at reinforcing regulatory oversight and investor protection.
Onukwue expressed optimism that the law would restore the confidence of market stakeholders and drive significant growth.
He further highlighted the diversification opportunities it offers, as it expands the market beyond traditional equities and fixed income instruments.
On his part, the Managing Director of NASD, Mr. Eguarekhide Longe, welcomed the enactment of the ISA 2025, stating that it aligns with the evolving needs of the capital market.
He emphasised that investor protection has always been a priority and that the new law provides a framework to address emerging concerns, such as fraud detection and the recognition of virtual assets as securities.
Longe, however, believes that the strengthened regulatory structure will support the integration of digital investment products, making the market more accessible to younger generations.
In addition, the Managing Director of the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE), Mr. Akin Akeredolu-Ale, also lauded the passage of the new law, noting that it reinforces the understanding that the capital market serves as a key barometer of the economy.
He stressed that a strong legal framework is essential for the market’s sustained growth and overall economic development.
He acknowledged the efforts of regulatory authorities and expressed confidence in their ability to implement the law effectively.
To commemorate 2025 World Oral Health Day, Pepsodent, a leading global toothpaste brand, in collaboration with the Nigeria Dental Association has launched its dental health campaign themed “Talk to A Dentist”. The campaign aims to reach 3m Nigerians this year, surpassing the 2024 reach of 2.4m.
Speaking during a press conference to herald the commemoration of the 2025 World Oral Health Day, Brand Manager, Pepsodent, Mary Akindola, stressed the need to instill good oral hygiene habits among children by ensuring they brush day and night for at least 2 minutes.
She further disclosed that part of the brand’s mission was to drive behavioural change among Nigerians by ensuring that brushing twice daily becomes a universal habit.
Akindola described good oral health as a fundamental human right for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status or location.
Speaking further on the plans, she revealed that Pepsodent and Nigerian Dental Association have scheduled dental camp activations across 20 states in Nigeria and the FCT. She explained that the activations, which would afford people from various communities to participate in oral hygiene education, dental screenings and dental treatment, will take place in 5 locations in South-West, 8 locations in the East and 7 locations in the North. The list of identified states for the
activations include Lagos, Ogun, (Oyo)Ibadan, Osun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Enugu, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Borno, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger and FCT Abuja. “In addition to the dental camps, Pepsodent will reach 30,000 pupils with oral health education and oral screening, across 50 schools in Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Abuja, in celebration of the World Oral Health Day,” she said. In his remarks, Personal Care, Research & Development Head of Africa, Unilever, Uchenna Nwakanma, stated that Unilever, through Pepsodent, remains absolutely committed to boosting oral health awareness and increasing access to dental care globally, as demonstrated by the various programs and partnership embarked upon by the company adding that the goal is to eradicate oral disease for everyone. According to Nwakanma, the series of activities undertaken by the brand to commemorate World Oral Health Day have reached 640,433 Nigerians in 5 years.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Dental Association, Dr. Elias Emedom, commended Unilever Nigeria Plc for its continuous partnership in promoting oral hygiene in the country.
Emedom further highlighted that the connection between oral health and mental well-being, stressing that limited access to oral healthcare and poor awareness are contributing factors to the rising burden of oral diseases in Nigeria.
Raheem Akingbolu
Karl Hala: Our Investments in Continental Hotels are Yielding Results
After a familiarisation tour of the new facilities in the Abuja Continental, Karl Hala, Group General Manager, Continental Hotel Group, accompanied by the General Manager, Kevin Brett, spoke about the ongoing transformation taking place in the former Sheraton Hotel. Charles Ajunwa brings excerpts
Can you throw more light on the transformation at Abuja Continental?
Truly, this is a place where we perform transformation. What you see is an acquisition where one can notice we're here for the long term. We're here to better the hospitality industry. And we are here to show this by example.
Of course, we want to bring back the legacy of the former hotel. It's now the Abuja Continental. But to steer it in a direction of being a landmark beyond Abuja, beyond Nigeria, that Abuja itself can say it does have an Abuja Continental. It does have a landmark place which is comparable beyond. And it is, from its own powerhouse status, being the capital, being the government, being the body which is there to look after this wonderful country. It has the right hotel. You can come in, you can convene, have your gatherings and we are here to deliver. So, for the major part, you have 14 hectares of land. You have three towers, Atrium Towers, where it takes 200 rooms each. You have almost 2,500 square meters of convention in Ladi Kwali, where we are building because we believe we will turn this into a conference centre.
Abuja is the place to meet. It doesn't matter from which direction. We want to be there for that. We have added three extra convention rooms already. We converted the two casinos into meeting rooms. And there was an elephant's bar before, which also had been converted.
We're going further, in Tower 2, where there was a gallery of shops in the Papillon Restaurant. The Papillon restaurant has been converted into a breakfast place, meaning all the terraces outside and everything will be available for full food and beverage delight. And all the shops opposite will be turned into conference rooms as well.
So, that's just from here. We're coming back to the conversion of the towers into the newly redesigned guest rooms. I think what you have to show afterwards is the design of the new guest rooms, which we are playing conveniently in the lobby. And the pool bar as well, which we also redesigned. This is beyond a Dubai look. Really trendy, it's cool. Basically, you want to create something, you don't have to meet in Oslo or anywhere else. Go for a weekend in Dubai, Abuja is the spot, that's where you go. That's trendy, that's cool. That's where the real people are. So, with the transformation of the new guest rooms in Tower 3, which we also then will convert into Abuja Continental Hotel suites, I believe so. But that might change, but it will be uplifted. And you've seen the second entrance we're building there. Monumental. You've seen, besides this design, we started that everybody can see we are promising. And we're actually delivering the new facade tiles outside. Orange. We just would like to stand out. As you can see, the entire hotel will be tiled in this colour. So, you have 12,000 tiles and 800 new windows.
All the windows are double glazed, roofed and all that. So, it's trendy. All the open atriums will be domed in, fully ventilated. So, from Tower 1, 2, 3, you can walk, you can sit. We will delight everybody with areas where you can meet, sip a coffee, meet a friend, chill yourself, welcome your guests. We're going to the lobby redesign, which is happening as well. We are going to have the sports designs, which you have seen already. We have a new gym. I don't know whether you had the chance to see that. As top of the art. Actually, you just have to stand on the treadmill, and it will do it for you. It's so modern.
And you still lose weight and get fit. We'll build extra courts, paddle courts and pickleball courts. Paddle is the fastest growing sport in Africa and Europe. Pickleball to follow. We already have four tennis courts, two squash courts and table tennis. We're just planning from April onwards. You know the new format for the Champions League?
So, we're going to apply the same thing for our sports here. So, we have the Continental League for tennis, paddle, squash and table tennis. It's quite interesting. It's fun to bring the community together. And sports is refreshing. Keeps your mind clear and brings people together. You have seen all over the landscaping. Lots of effort has gone into this. It's actually a real walk in the park now. From all the floral
arrangements, the designs and all that. It's a brilliant picture. Wherever you go through, the transformation doesn't stop anywhere. So, it's all the guest rooms, it's all the outlets, it's all the convention centres, the recreation areas, the spires which will be added to as well, the entrances and the park.
What you're going to see, going back a couple of years and going forward another couple of years, is constant improvement in all areas of the hotel. Constant changes and there will be activity throughout. About the three buildings being enclosed, that's going to be very significant because for the last 41 years, we haven't been able to use these rooms for half a year during the rainy season. So, we're going to have more areas for our customers to meet and greet their friends and colleagues and business associates. It's going to be good. So, we're going to have three active lobbies in the hotel.
All three buildings will be enclosed. Tower 2, where the papier was, is redesigned, but has gotten open, will be domed in. We'll have a new, very well-designed food and beverage area for your breakfast and a lot of square events. Kevin's idea is also to add beddings to it, to have different receptions of all levels. It doesn't matter. Getting together, and you know, social gatherings are very popular in Nigeria. So, we give another space.
It's just not that we have the huge Ladi Kwali. So, you've seen it's the Taj Mahal of convention centres. The lobby's shining. All the convention areas have new carpets, new lighting, everything brought in. From the air conditioning to the walls, new toilets, name it. And so, yes, it will set a new standard.
Is there any time frame to all this renewal that you are doing around the facilities, but you just said that it's a constant?
It is constant, and you will see, because even when we are finished, we are not finished. It never stops. It's evolving. Like any industry, the hospitality industry is undergoing day-to-day changes. Trends in food and beverage, in new linen, IT, recreation, wellness, all of that. So, yeah, it will be. Time frames? So, if you look into Tower 2, where we will be going with the first 200 rooms, we anticipate somewhere around 18 rooms. But we take them, and then we'll take the next and the next. What will go faster is the lobby bar. So this we
do anticipate to have within the fourth quarter of this year. So this is a direct target because that's what we want. It's obvious. This is somewhere where people feel happy. You want to gather around. It is automatically an attraction for people to meet, to enjoy, to relax, or have time. You've seen the new decking of the pool? So, the pool, it's always an area. But there you will see improvements further and further.
What are the chances of making it to the Olympic standards? It's not the Olympic standard.
Really?
The Olympic standard would be 50 metres.
How many metres do you have?
I think 30 something metres. There are two. You have the children's pool, and the adults'. You know, I think everybody should focus on what you're good at. So, the Olympic standard, we keep to the sports specialists. And our relaxation and chillaxing, you have to ask for hospitality.
There is a signpost by the swimming pool that says 'no diving'. What informed your decision because most customers would like to dive?
No, they don't. I can categorically say no. I've been doing this for 50 years. By the way, I'm 68 here. No, they don't. People barely go into the swimming pool from their hotel guests. It's the people from outside. And when you swim, most people, you might also sit in there, walk too. The most disturbing factor is somebody diving in next to you. Splish-splash. You know how we men are, we don't like that. I like diving as well.
People who don't smoke would like to sit by the pool bar. How do you manage to give each customer the best outing without one customer disturbing the other?
It's an open space. So, you have people not smoking. There you go. You have some issues on tables and all.
I must admit, we stopped smoking here quite a while ago. Two years ago. I was the first one in Nairobi at the time. And about 15, 16 years ago, we stopped smoking everywhere, except the outside. People automatically placed themselves. And you try to have smokers somewhere around. No disturbances. It's really not an issue. I'll be honest with you. I do understand the question as well. But, of course, if any of
the people are sitting on the same table, then it's their direct issue.
But we had an experience where some guys behind us smoked heavily. Don't you think there should be a no smoking zone? You have a point. Actually, we'll take it up. Because with the new pool bar, we'll have three separate areas. Two air-conditioned and one in front. Maybe something we need to do. You're the first person to raise a concern about smoking. Because the majority of people are non-smokers. I'm sorry for your bad luck being put next to a table. But we'll take your point. I always believe there is smoke. Literally. There's fire. With the new design, and you've seen it on the clip, you do have the inside areas. And, of course, inside there's no smoking. By default, it will happen.
When we arrived, getting into the rooms, we saw different designs and different motifs different from what you used to have in the Sheraton. From the bath, there's a transparent glass, colourful ambiance. What is the concept of the rooms?
It's modernity within an atmosphere where you feel you have arrived. You have a touch of home. You can touch it with a bit of work or just relax. And it's not tightening in. It has an open aura. So, you feel at ease. And when you see the designs in the old days, it was dark, dark, dark. So, now it's bright. It opens up. Basically, when you arrive in the room, you say, that's cool. Good. You can do whatever you're there for. The bathroom design simply creates more space. It has an openness. Of course, you can close it if you wish. It is an open feeling. When you come home, you feel home, right? So, we basically want your second home, whichever one you get.
Abuja is majorly a MICE centre. What are you doing to be able to accommodate more MICE events?
That's what we've just done. We refurbished almost 3,000 square metres. Major investment. We put it to a standard so I don't have to go to unnamed countries. To Cape Town, to Barcelona, wherever they are. You can come here. You have the space. We cater for that. The best of audiovisual, of the spacing, of large gatherings, of breakouts, of boards. You fit, not just what's required here. And there's a lot required because of governmental conditions for their meeting spaces. You have a lot of high-level meetings, conventions, gatherings, whichever way. It goes together internationally. That's why we added extra space, giving it the idea of the way to convert the shops in Tower 2 into convention areas. There will be another, either one or three, with two partitionings. The ones we just converted within the area here. Both of them are 150 seaters...So that's the next thing. Is it stopping? No. We're looking at the other areas. We have a huge land. We're looking into auditoriums, amphitheaters. We will have to address this. But there's happenings in the market as well. Markets are sleeping in Abuja. So you have the renovations of a couple of the convention centres going on. And I think one of our competitors just built another one. But I believe what we have and what we know here is the top. If I have a meeting, if I am now, if it's presidential, if there are huge corporate events, if it's a schooling, an exhibition, a launch, we have to decide for that. It's very strategically targeted that we can fit the top levels within the MICE business.
You talked about modernity in terms of the facilities here. Are you also thinking about enhancing the performance of your staff going by recent trends in technology? Absolutely. So our people are our biggest asset. It's not a building or anything. It's all our people. And that's why our key focus is there. And development is a big thing. By the way, it's evolving. It never stops. So we have our internal training which is between both hotels. We have direct training for each hotel. We have programmes online, very sophisticated.
NOTE:
Karl Hala
McEva Temofe: Transforming Africa's Economy through Innovation, Empowerment
Imagine an Africa where economic growth and development are driven by Africans themselves, where innovation and empowerment are the catalysts for transformation. This is the vision of McEva Temofe, a Nigerian entrepreneur and business leader who is championing a new era of economic transformation on the continent. As the founder and convener of the African Economic Global Convergence (AEGC), Temofe brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other stakeholders to advance innovative ideas, explore new solutions, and transform Africa's security, economic, and investment ecosystems. With the AEGC Global Summit just around the corner, all eyes are on McEva Temofe and the AEGC team as they lead the charge for Africa's economic transformation. Writes MARY NNAH
Temofe
In a bold move to reposition Africa as a major player in the global economy, Nigerian entrepreneur and business leader, McEva Temofe, is championing a new era of economic transformation on the continent.
As the founder and convener of the African Economic Global Convergence (AEGC), Temofe brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other stakeholders to advance innovative ideas, explore new solutions, and transform Africa's security, economic, and investment ecosystems.
"The time has come for Africa to take its rightful place in the global economy. We have the resources, the talent, and the determination to succeed. What we need now is a collective effort to drive economic growth and development on the continent”, Temofe said.
The AEGC Global Summit, scheduled to be held on September 22-23, 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters and World Trade Centre in New York, is expected to attract global investors, development and trade partners, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from 54 African countries.
"Africa's economic renaissance is not just a possibility, it's a necessity. We must create our values, principles, and standards that will drive our economic growth and development. We must believe in ourselves and our abilities, and we must work together to achieve our goals”, Temofe emphasised.
Temofe's vision for Africa's economic transformation is built on the principles of good governance, effective management of the economy, social life, legal structures, and institutions. He believes that Africans must take the lead and champion the course of the continent's development, rather than relying on external aid.
"We need to change the narrative about Africa. We need to tell our own story, and we need to take ownership of our development. We can't rely on others to do it for us. We must take the lead, and we must drive our own growth and development," Temofe said.
The AEGC Global Summit is expected to be a major catalyst for Africa's economic transformation. The summit will provide a platform for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to discuss Africa's economic future, explore new opportunities for investment and growth, and develop strategies for overcoming the continent's economic challenges.
"We're not just talking about economic growth, we're talking about sustainable development. We're talking about creating opportunities for all Africans, regardless of their background or circumstances. We're talking about building a better future for ourselves and for generations to come," Temofe said.
Abudget is a crucial tool for national development. It plays a vital role in driving economic growth, improving infrastructure, and ensuring the efficient allocation of resources. The 2025 national budget, titled “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,” highlights this reality.
With a population of over 220 million and over 28 million housing deficit, Nigeria’s housing deficit remains a major concern for stakeholders in the real estate sector. It is no surprise that experts continue to advocate for increase funding from government and players in the sector.
the Nigerian real estate assets more attractive to foreign investors while also lowering the cost of imported building materials and equipment, thereby reducing development costs. These combined effects of a reduced inflation and an improved exchange rates create more stable and predictable market environment, which is crucial for attracting long-term real estate investments.
The Future of Nigeria’s Real Estate and Facility Management in Nigeria
The AEGC is committed to driving meaningful change through various initiatives that promote economic growth, empowerment, and development. By recognizing and honoring successful entrepreneurs and individuals who have made significant contributions to African communities, the AEGC aims to inspire a new generation of leaders. Additionally, the organization seeks to boost economic growth by connecting established business leaders with emerging talent, fostering innovative partnerships, and supporting initiatives in critical areas such as agriculture, education, technology, infrastructure, security, and business development.
Temofe's leadership and vision for Africa's economic transformation have been widely recognised and acclaimed. He has been invited to speak at the United Nations Headquarters, Mastercard Foundation, UNESCO, and other global platforms.
As a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur, Temofe has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Africa. He has worked extensively in the private sector and has a proven track record of driving growth and innovation.
"I'm passionate about Africa's economic transformation because I believe in the potential of our continent. I believe that we have the talent, the resources, and the determination to succeed. What we need now is a collective effort to drive economic growth and development on the continent’, he said.
The AEGC Global Summit is a major step forward in this journey, and it promises to be a catalyst for Africa's economic renaissance. As Temofe noted, "This summit is not just about talking, it's about taking action. It's about making a commitment to drive economic growth and development on the continent.”
With the AEGC Global Summit just around the corner, all eyes are on McEva Temofe and the AEGC team as they lead the charge for Africa's economic transformation. Will this summit be the catalyst for Africa's economic renaissance? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain - McEva Temofe and the AEGC are leading the way.
Temofe's commitment to Africa's economic transformation is not limited to the AEGC Global Summit. He has also been working tirelessly to promote economic growth and development across the continent.
As the AEGC Global Summit approaches, McEva Temofe remains optimistic about Africa's economic future. With his leadership and vision, he is inspiring a new generation of Africans to take charge of their economic destiny. The future of Africa's economy looks bright, and McEva Temofe is leading the way.
The 2025 budget hints at a government that has listened to this concern. It is sparking a wave of optimism among stakeholders. N23.84billion is budgeted for residential buildings and N10.27billion for the rehabilitation and maintenance of government-owned infrastructures across the country. The ₦10.37 billion allocated for rehabilitation and maintenance is a critical step toward addressing the decay of existing housing stock, especially in urban areas where ageing infrastructure is a pressing concern.
From all indications, the 2025 Nigerian National Budget presents a transformative opportunity to lay the groundwork for smart cities, positioning Nigeria as a hub of innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. Experts argue that with a strong focus on infrastructure development, the budget can catalyse the creation of urban landscapes powered by cutting-edge technology.
Reliable power supply is equally critical, as consistent electricity is the backbone of smart systems like automated streetlights and home automation. The budget’s emphasis on improving power infrastructure is a vital step toward achieving this. Additionally, investments in smart transportation—such as intelligent traffic management and intracity rail systems, as seen in Lagos—can revolutionise mobility, reducing congestion and promoting sustainability.
The budget emphasises affordable housing through initiatives like the ₦250 billion Ministry of Finance Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF). This presents a significant opportunity for private sector players, such as Alpha Mead Group, to collaborate with the government in addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit. Through public-private partnerships, private sector players can engage in joint ventures, concession agreements, or buildoperate-transfer (BOT) models to develop and manage affordable housing projects.
The 2025 national budget projects a decline in inflation to 15 per cent and an improved exchange rate. These macroeconomic improvements could significantly boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s real estate market. A decline in inflation will increase the purchasing power of the naira, making real estate investments more attractive while lower inflation will also lead to reduced interest rates, making borrowing for real estate investments more affordable. Also, an improved exchange rate is expected to make
Addressing the existing land reform and urban planning challenges is equally pertinent, as implementing a digitalised and transparent land titling and registration system will help reduce land disputes and facilitate land acquisition.
Similarly, government must prioritise infrastructure investment by allocating sufficient funds to infrastructure development in areas such as transportation, water, power etc as well as promote renewable energy and smart infrastructure solutions to improve its efficiency, reduce cost and enhance the quality of life in the urban areas.
In the area of regulatory framework and environment, government must strengthen existing building codes and regulations to ensure safety, quality and sustainability in real estate development.
With the increasing clamour for affordable housing and social inclusion, government must develop and implement policies that promotes the development of affordable housing including the provision of subsidies, tax incentives to real estate investors and efficient land allocation.
The 2025 Nigerian Budget may well represent a significant step forward in addressing the country’s housing deficit and infrastructure challenges. With targeted allocations for residential buildings, rehabilitation, and affordable housing, the budget provides a framework for sustainable growth in the real estate and facility management sectors. Its success will however depend on effective implementation, private sector collaboration, and policy reforms.
Alpha Mead Group as a market leader is at the forefront of this transformation. It is actively leveraging its expertise in real estate development, facility management, and technology to help bridge Nigeria’s housing deficit and enhance urban infrastructure. By aligning with the government’s vision and addressing key challenges, Alpha Mead Group is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Nigeria’s real estate and facility management sectors.
Wole Olufore, Group Executive Director (GED), Alpha Mead, is a seasoned business leader, Facility Management technocrat, and industry strategist with more than 30 years cognate experience handling various contracts and dynamic leadership roles in oil and gas companies like Shell Nigeria and Centrica Resources before venturing into the Real Estate space driving operational excellence in facilities management in Nigeria and Africa.
•Wole holds an MBA from Nottingham Trent University in the UK and is a member of African Centre for Supply Chain, Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply, London, and the American Management Association
Almajiri and Out-of-School Children: Should Nigerians Wish for Another Lockdown?
Kuni Tyessi writes that in the heat of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, northern governors placed a ban on the almajiri system in order to curb the spread of the virus. Beyond the primary aim of the ban were positive results which did not only stall the spread but made it easier for UNICEF and other partners to reach out to the minors with life-saving and long-term mechanisms
It Is no longer news that the federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as basic education parastatals, have been inundated with cases of the almajiri system and out-ofschool children.
They have been neck-deep in searching for the best way to get the minors in their millions off the streets, or better still, equipped with knowledge and tools to make them self-reliant- a reason to stay away from drugs, all forms of criminalities and the place of early marriage in the lives of the adolescent out-of-school girls as the case may be. The vulnerability they are exposed to is another reason they have also been referred to as “children outside family care.”
Without condemning the almajiri system or casting aspersion at it in any way, it is important to note that this style of education can be traced as far back as 1100. For the records, the grandfather of the richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote, was also an almajiri who built a business empire which inspired his grandson- an employer of several thousands of workers.
However, the system has today been abused and politicised, with the children not been given their commensurate rights as enshrined in the child rights charter and also in the constitution. This example is proof that responsibility, accountability and the ability to contribute one’s quota to nation-building must not find roots within the walls of a classroom but in deliberate commitment towards doing that which is right- and in this case, the deliberate role of the government and stakeholders in the adoption of a political will.
With the lockdown and the spirit of inclusivity with the global rights of education for every child as a guide, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), with support from the ELEVA Foundation, supported five states to give the children a new lease of life.
The states, which include Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Sokoto, recorded unprecedented successes with the intervention, as the about 13,000 children, ranging from four to 18 years, not only get reunited with their families but received cash transfer initiatives for psychosocial support, birth registration services, and access to formal education,
among others. This was after it had carried out through investigation to ascertain why the case of almajiri and out-of-school children had continued unabated, and taking the stance of a hydra-monster despite huge investments for several years. This means that the method of operation needs to change or pass through modification for effective results.
To its dismay and in answer to its inquisition, UNICEF discovered that the almajiri system and out-of-school children were all not Nigerians but had additions from four neighbouring countries: Niger- with 418, Cameroon with 154, Chad with 52, while Nigeria had 304,477.
With the intervention, which left the beneficiaries with diverse evidence of change and growth, one begins to wonder if another pandemic or epidemic in the case of Nigeria should not be sought after if results like the ones recorded in the five benefiting pilot states will be achieved again, and even more.
In the presentation titled ‘Transformative actions to address the situation of almajiri children outside of family care, and out-of-school adolescents in northwest Nigeria’, UNICEF child protection specialist Godwin Odo revealed that so far in 2025, the children of the lockdown as far as the almajiri system and out-of-school children is concerned, beneficiaries of care services life skills sessions and psychosocial support including referrals total 69,821 of which 41,473 are boys and 28,248 are girls. Kaduna has the highest number, with 32,099 beneficiaries, of which 19,507 are boys and 12,592 are girls. On the other hand, Kano is the lowest in terms of beneficiaries, and yet, the number is pegged at 6,277, out of which 3,155 are boys and 3,122 are girls.
With the successes recorded, it is expected that the government at all levels and relevant stakeholders will take a cue from the children’s international body and learn its ways of imbibing and adopting ingredients that have helped in the achievement of its success stories.
Despite being on the concurrent list and with each state government having the power to determine the destiny of its children within school age, it is not out of place to call on
the government to develop and implement a workable multi-sectoral and gender-responsive plan with the aim of giving the challenge the needed attention.
With this in motion, Odo, who spoke in Sokoto during a two-day interactive session with the media towards closing the gap that lack of formal education or skills acquisition could cause in the lives of out-of-school children, with emphasis on adolescent girls, said with a Memorandum of Understanding to serve as a guide towards the success of the multi-sectoral approach, more wins will be recorded. This will strengthen existing policies and encourage more structural changes through institutional partnerships.
Acknowledging that it is a gradual process with huge dividends for the country, he stated that despite existing directives in terms of regulations and standards on the establishment of Quranic schools, the journey ahead might suffer an eclipse without the inclusion of oversight functions by the Arabic and Islamic Education Board. Although gazetted, the effects of the board are yet to be felt, and the sooner its contributions are seen and felt, the better it will be for the nation and the northern region in particular.
With the under-listed in motion, the government is to develop an implementable standard for providing alternative care for children, particularly those out of the reach of family care and adolescent out-of-school girls. Therefore, gender transformative actions addressing the core situations of the girls must be developed. This will scale up the girls’ skills agency and empowerment and improve an enabling environment, family and community mobilisation. Also, gender norms, stereotypes and inequalities will be addressed.
This is not forgetting the aspect of enlarging the he-for-she approach by engaging men and boys and taking them along in the journey of empowering adolescent out-of-school girls. With this, there is the need to scale up data and improve systems and services.
Until the aforementioned has been looked into and addressed with strict supervision, the journey to stemming the tide of the almajiri system and out-of-school children will remain as wishful thoughts that will encourage the secret prayers of another national lockdown.
French Embassy Commends YABATECH’s Innovative PLASTOGAS Research Initiative
Funmi Ogundare
The French Embassy in Nigeria has commended Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) for its impressive research advancements in the Plastogas Hub project, an innovative waste-to-energy initiative that converts plastic waste to gas.
The recognition came recently during an inspection of the project’s progress by the Embassy’s Science and Higher Education Attaché, Mr. Sébastien Bede, and the Project Coordinator, Mrs. Adjua Kamara, at the college.
Impressed by the college’s dedication and creativity, Bede commended YABATECH for
embracing the vision of the Plastogas project and executing it with excellence.
He acknowledged that the college’s researchers have set a benchmark for how higher institutions can take a leadership role in promoting environmental sustainability through research and innovation.
The Plastogas project, funded by the French Embassy Fund (FEF), represents a significant step toward addressing plastic pollution while offering clean energy solutions and economic opportunities in Nigeria. Bede highlighted the relevance of the project in a world increasingly concerned
with climate change and environmental pollution.
He said the project “aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and encourages students to become active stewards of the environment.”
The higher education attaché stated that beyond financial support, the French government is committed to fostering academic collaboration and research-driven innovation between Nigeria and France. The Plastogas project, he noted, exemplifies the strong partnership between the two countries in advancing science and technology.
Recognising the hard work of the research team, he commended them for their resilience and commitment, saying, “The project proves
Nigerian institutions are capable of delivering world-class innovations.”
Bede expressed confidence in YABATECH’s role as a hub for technological advancement and environmental sustainability and encouraged its staff and students to explore further opportunities for research collaboration and higher studies with French universities.
Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, the Rector of YABATECH, represented by the Deputy Rector Academics, Dr. Ismail Badmus, appreciated the French Government’s support and recognition. He said the college was fully committed to the success of the Plastogas project and its long-term benefits.
Yellow Cowries Partners Lagos, Others to Promote Financial Education in Secondary School
Dike Onwuamaeze
Yellow Cowries has partnered the Lagos government and other financial institutions to mark its Global Money Week (GMW) 2025, aimed at promoting financial literacy among secondary school students.
The celebration, which was held recently in Ikeja, Lagos, showcased the Yellow Cowries’ innovative Plan-Save-Invest (PSI) Card Games tournament approach to financial literacy through a dynamic programme that engaged students from four education districts in Lagos.
This is in furtherance of Yellow Cowries’ com-
mitment to advancing financial literacy in Nigeria by reaching over 20,000 students across 140 secondary schools.
Speaking during the event, a member of the Board of Directors of Yellow Cowries, Mrs. Shade Odunaiya, expressed pride in the students’ accomplishments.
Odunaiya said, “Today’s demonstrations validate our innovative approach to financial literacy. These students are becoming confident financial decision-makers who will influence their peers and communities.
“The skills we are fostering today will empower our youth to manage their
finances better, ensuring they are well-prepared for the future.”
According to the Director of the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Shitta-Bey Aramide, the collaboration between Yellow Cowries and Lagos’ education ministry has significantly enhanced our students’ financial acumen.
“The enthusiasm and knowledge displayed today prove we’re on the right path,” said Aramide.
The Chief Executive Officer of Cowrywise, Mr. Razaq Ahmed, harped on the importance of engaging in gameplay to foster youth financial literacy.
Ahmed said, “It is important for young people to understand the benefit of sound financial advice. Developing a savings and investment culture early helps them protect their financial freedom and avoid the mistakes many of us made growing up.
“Today’s event validates our commitment to instilling these vital financial skills in our youth. Collaborations between financial professionals and schools are essential to ensure that students receive comprehensive financial education.”
The celebration included the 6th edition of the Yellow Cowries Financial Literacy Brainee Competition, which highlighted the effectiveness of Yellow Cowries’ educational methodology.
Adolescent out-of-school girls, and beneficiaries of the UNICEF/ELEVA Foundation project in Sokoto State
African Brands Review recently honoured some top-performing secondary schools in Nigeria to foster a culture of learning excellence and prepare students to become innovators and problem-solvers in the global workforce.
Some of the outstanding schools are Lumen Christi International High School, Uromi, Edo State; Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha, Anambra State; Christ the King College, Gwagwalada, Abuja; Atlantic Hall School, Poka-Epe, Lagos, Federal Government College, Ijanikin; Federal Government Boys College Apo, Abuja; Federal Government Girls College Akure, Ondo State; Federal Government Girls College Ipetumodu, Osun State, among others.
Speaking at the 10th anniversary of the awards in Lagos, themed ‘Private versus Public Schools: Is it Worth the Money?’, the CEO of African Brands Review, Joseph Ayodele, explained that the annual ranking of the ‘Top 1,000 Secondary Schools’ in Nigeria is based on comprehensive criteria, including academic performance, facilities, curriculum, and overall school practices.
Each year, the organisation partners with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to identify the best-performing schools in the region. According to Ayodele, the selection process also includes rigorous on-ground visits to assess schools’ facilities, teaching
methods, and commitment to academic excellence.
“We focus on schools that prioritise learning, not just as social centres, but as environments that nurture students into solution providers for the future,” he stated.
He stated that prominent schools such as Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, have consistently ranked among the top performers, with a strong tradition of academic success, adding that institutions with solid leadership, led by visionary principals, are also key to their success.
The CEO added that the programme’s objective is to foster a culture of learning excellence that goes beyond the traditional pursuit of certificates, aiming to prepare students to become innovators.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, commended the teachers for their commitment towards building the country’s future leaders.
“We will always be there for you when it comes to your welfare and promotion. It is not just about winning but showing the picture of where we are to overcome the challenges in the state,” he said.
The Lagos State Teaching Commission (TESCOM) chairwoman, Mrs. Victoria Peregrino, congratulated the award winners, saying that education is the only legacy anyone can leave for the students.
“The best teachers do not only teach from books but from the heart.”
Dansol School Inaugurates New PTA Executives
Funmi Ogundare
Dansol Nursery and Primary School, Ogba, recently inaugurated its new Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) executives to usher in a new era of leadership and collaboration.
The handover event, held at the school premises, was a moment of celebration and optimism for the school community.
Speaking with THISDAY, James Sonde, the newly appointed chairman of the PTA, expressed his commitment to the school’s growth and development.
With years of experience in the PTA, Sonde said he viewed his role as a responsibility and a ministry, adding that it’s all about improving the school environment and benefiting the children.
He reiterated his vision of sustainability and collaboration for the school by partnering educational institutions and organisations that can help elevate its standards to improve Nigeria’s educational system.
With a two-year tenure, the PTA chairman said he planned to focus on long-term growth and impactful changes.
Shola Oladosu, the Head of School, thanked the outgone
University Don Identifies Accounting, Taxation as Tool for Economic Development
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
A professor of Accounting and Taxation at Rivers State University, John Ohaka, has identified accounting and taxation as tools for economic and national development when used effectively.
He stated this while delivering the 110th inaugural lecture of the university in Port Harcourt.
Ohaka, the first professor
of taxation at the university, urged the government to plug and play into the accounting opportunities for the government to grow economically.
“In today’s society where changing circumstances are pushing individuals and organisations to move beyond their needs,” he said.
Ohaka, the dean of the Faculty of Administration and Management, also advocated for corporate governance and internal control system,
accountability and transparency, and professionalism in administration to eliminate corruption.
“For individuals, taxation presents avenues for weather management and personal development,” he said, adding that lack of awareness, combined with the government’s inadequate adherence to the social contract, can equally lead individuals to avoid tax.
The don stated that with social accounting, the government
will improve people’s lives. Ohaka recommended that the government promote transparency in public spending, as envisaged in good governance. The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi, asserted that the institution’s vision under his leadership will be driven by technology. He commended the deans of faculties, professors, and the institution’s management for supporting his new administration.
100 FCET Umunze Students Get Scholarships
One hundred Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze students in Anambra have been awarded scholarships to study for a degree and Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes.
PTA executives, acknowledging their hard work and dedication in strengthening the relationship between the school and parents.
“The Dansol PTA is a very strong body that collaborates well with the school, and we really appreciate the fantastic work the outgoing Excos have done,” Oladosu said. “They’ve left a strong foundation, and the incoming team has big shoes to fill.”
She encouraged the new PTA leadership to hit the ground running.
“We know they’ve been elected because they have what it takes to elevate the PTA to the next level,” she stated. “We want them to see this as an opportunity to serve, to volunteer, and to give it their best shot.”
Oladosu encouraged the new executives to develop programmes involving all school community members: parents, teachers, and students.
The erstwhile PTA chairwoman, Mrs. Blossom Asika, said, “We worked hand in hand with the school leadership, teachers, and parents, ensuring that every decision and action was for the betterment of our children and the school.”
While 34 students won the Federal Government Education Bursary Awards worth N300,000 per student for each session, 55 others were sponsored for a three-year NCE programme by the Chairman of Orumba South Local Government Area, Hon Shadrack Azubuike, through the Nwabugo Empowerment Foundation.
Also, seven students of the college benefitted from the scholarship scheme of the Chief Executive Officer of Seahorse Lubricants, Chief Chukwuebuka Onunkwo, who awarded scholarships totalling N10 million to
50 indigent students in Anambra State, with each student receiving N200,000.
Another student of the college, Miss Blessing Nnabuife, a 300-level NCE student of English/Social Studies, won a presidential prize of N200,000 in recognition of her outstanding academic performance. A certificate of academic excellence signed by Hon Asefon Sunday, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Students’ Engagement, was presented to Nnabuife to celebrate her impressive academic record as part of the last International Students Day Celebration.
Also, the ex-head of the Department of Accounting Education, Dr. Chioma Ikeanyionu, awarded a scholarship to Nzubechukwu Paschaline Udoye, an NCE II student
of Accounting Education. A similar gesture was made by the teaching and non-teaching staff of the School of Agriculture and Home Economics Education under the leadership of the former Dean, Dr Chijioke Uneze, when they awarded scholarships to 28 students to study the NCE programme in the college.
The Provost, Prof Theresa Okoli, said the college, under her leadership, keyed into the policy framework of the present administration to improve access to tertiary education for all Nigerians. She stated that the management set up an Endowment Committee with the Deputy Provost, Dr ThankGod Nzeribe, as chairman to appeal to philanthropists, non-governmental organisations, corporate bodies and
kind-hearted individuals to institute scholarships for indigent students willing to study in the college. The committee had the College Registrar, Dr B.C Nkah and the Librarian, Dr Agada Samson Arome, as members. The provost thanked the federal government for the bursary awards, describing it as a lifeline for students and their parents. She promised that the college management would always provide a favourable academic environment for excellence to thrive. She also commended Hon. Azubuike for sponsoring 55 students to study in the NCE programme in the college. According to her, NCE graduates play fundamental roles at the post-primary school level, rendering their services in public and private schools.
FCE Umunze Provost Bags Anambra Education Icon Award
The Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State, Prof. Theresa Okoli, recently received the highest accolade from her home state, Anambra.
The Anambra Man of the Year Group, honoured her with the Education Icon Award, in recognition of her remarkable contribution to learning as an erudite scholar; the development of education in the state through her leadership as provost; and relentless advocacy for gender inclusiveness in the larger society.
The group also honoured the former Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Charles Esimone with the Public Servant of the Year, while the Lifetime Achievement Award went to the former Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba. On the honour list was a Cambridge University postdoctoral fellow, senior visiting fellow, Harvard University, Prof. P.N Okeke, who was named ‘the Scientist of the Decade. Also, Prof. Joseph Chukwurah Ezigbo emerged as the Man of the Year, while the Board Chairman of Keystone Bank, Lady Ada Chukwudozie received the Woman of the Year award.
The chairman of the occasion, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, vouched for the integrity of the awards, saying that awardees were selected strictly on merit.
The curtain raiser at the event was the keynote by a seasoned scholar from the Department of Linguistics, Nnamdi Azikiwe
University Awka, Prof Cecilia Eme, who spoke for over 40 minutes in flawless Igbo Language. Her presentation held the audience spellbound, as she appealed to parents to save Igbo Language from extinction by communicating with their children in native language.
A veteran diplomat with over 30 years management -level experience in the Nigerian Foreign Service, Ambassador Ajulu Okeke was celebrated with a Lifetime Achievement Award. She was the first female Ambassador Consul General in Nigeria.
In addition to these A-list actors drawn from both the education, political, entertainment and economic sectors, institutions were also recognised for their outstanding contribution to the state.
Christ the King College, Onitsha won the Best Secondary School of the Year, while Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba emerged the Best Private School of the Year.
Various musical renditions spiced up the event, which held at STANEL Dome, Awka. In her remarks, Okoli described the award as a motivation for more work, and dedicated it to staff and students of the college. She promised to work with relevant stakeholders to improve access to quality education in the state. She thanked the organisers for the recognition, saying that such honour would further encourage teachers in their selfless service to the nation.
The Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State, Prof. Theresa Okoli, and other principal officers celebrate Miss Blessing Nnabuife for winning a presidential prize of N200,000 in recognition of her outstanding academic performance
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT BEYOND WORDS...
L-R: GTM Specialist, MoMo PSB, Lynda Okekeze; Head of Human Resources, MoMo PSB, Rabi Adetoro; Chief Treasury Officer, MoMo PSB, Adeola Alese; Founder of Fintribe, Jennifer Awirigwe (aka Financial Jennifer); Consultant, Commercial Operations at MoMo PSB, Rosemary Aimankhu; and Head of Business Development, MoMo PSB, Chioma Nwahiri, at the Fintribe IWD ‘Asset for Every Woman’ event, in partnership with MoMo PSB, Octa, and Afrinvest, to close out #WomensHistoryMonth, held in Lagos…recently
Yusuf: We Need Transparent Legal Process, Public Parade of Suspects in Uromi Killings
Michael Olugbode,
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has emphasised the need for a transparent legal process, including a public parade of the suspects arrested in the recent killing of some 16 people in Uromi, Edo State.
Yusuf said that would assure Nigerians that justice was being served.
He commended President Bola Tinubu and Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, for their swift response to the killing of the alleged 16 travellers.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also condemned the gruesome killing of the 16 “travelling travellers”.
Relatedly, residents of Otukpo Local Government Area in Benue State, yesterday, took to the streets to protest against growing cases of kidnapping and killings in the area.
A statement by Kano State Com-
missioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, said Yusuf thanked the visiting delegations for their commitment to securing justice for the families of the deceased and the injured.
The statement said, “The Kano State Government, on behalf of the good people of the state, especially the grieving families of the Uromi attack, who hailed from Torankawa, extends profound appreciation to President Bola Tinubu.
“Also to Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for the visit of the federal government delegation and that of the governor of Edo State in a show of solidarity and concern over the tragic killings of 16 Kano indigenes in Uromi, Edo State.
“Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who expressed deep sorrow over the heinous act, reiterated his call for justice and thanked the visiting delegations for their commitment to support efforts at securing justice for the families of the deceased and the
injured.
“Governor Yusuf emphasised the need for a transparent legal process, including the public parade of the arrested suspects, to assure Nigerians that justice is not only being done but is being served.”
“The people of Kano, and indeed all Nigerians, deserve to see those responsible for this massacre being brought to justice publicly,” the statement added.
Yusuf commended Okpebholo for his engagement with the Hausa community in Edo State to prevent further escalation of tensions and for his commitment to compensating the bereaved families.
“The compensation, which the delegation promised, is a commendable step, but it must be executed without delay to support the grieving families, who have lost their breadwinners,” he stated.
Yusuf also highlighted Tinubu’s prompt directive to security agencies to apprehend and prosecute the
perpetrators of the said atrocity.
The swift intervention by the federal government, he said, underscored its commitment to the security and protection of all Nigerians, regardless of their state of origin.
The statement added, “The governors of Kano and that of Edo, have both committed towards ensuring a thorough and transparent justice process to ensure that such an unfortunate incident never occurs again in any part of the country.
“The Kano state government remains steadfast in its demand for justice and would continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that the families of the victims receive the compensation and the treatment they deserve.”
Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, expressed deep concern over the horrific incident, which highlighted the dangers of mob justice and the urgent need for effective law enforcement and respect for human rights.
Varsity Don Urges FG to Stop Making Nigeria Dumping Ground for Computer Products
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
Professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Natural Science, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Prof. Samson Afolabi Arekete, has canvassed government funding of research and innovation in all tertiary institutions and the stoppage of making Nigeria a dumping ground for every computer product.
Prof. Arekete who stated this at the Inaugural Lecture Series 17 of the university themed - “HumanComputer Partnership: A Cure or Curse?” also noted that Nigeria government needs to stop importing everything computing.
He however made it clear that electric power is one of the debilitating factors against research and innovation in the country, but government can work out a solution to the country’s energy problems.
The don stressed that the nation Nigeria should explore a good mix of power sources, both renewable and non-renewables (solar, wind, tidal, hydro, nuclear and fossil fueled energy) and have a balanced mix of these energy supply equations.
Prof. Arekete who recommended the Redeemer’s University, without further delay, commence the faculty of computing stressed that “this is because there is already employment market for computer graduates and
they are well - paid. He also mentioned that the university should initiate a scheme to attract best brains among the graduating students and staff to experiment with.
The don who equally stressed the nation has a teeming youth population who graduate year - after - year
and join the labour market, but need enabling environment for them to excel with technology.
The Professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence also called for entire educational systems in Nigeria to be overhauled and well - funded and stop paying university academic and non- teaching staff peanut.
He however urged the federal government and state governments to revamp education at all levels, while all primary and secondary schools owned by government should be completely refurbished and revamp for educational development in the country.
Ojukwu said, “We commend Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for his swift and decisive action in suspending the Commander of the Edo State Security Corps, CP Friday Ibadin (Rtd.), and banning all illegal vigilante groups operating in the state, but more need to be done.”
Ojukwu said the commission wished to use the opportunity to remind the government and the people of Nigeria that every individual had the right to life, as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
He said the commission emphasised that the freedom of movement, as guaranteed by the constitution and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, had been grossly violated in the Uromi incident.
Ojukwu stated, “We at the commission demand that all the perpetrators be fished out and brought to justice. We call on the government to take concrete steps to prevent such incidents in the future, there is no justification for jungle justice anywhere in the world.”
He emphasised that every Nigerian had the right to life, dignity, and freedom from violence, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or occupation, assuring that the commission will continue to advocate the protection of human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria.
Otukpo
Residents Cry Out over Killings
Residents of Otukpo in Benue State took to the streets yesterday to protest against the increasing cases of kidnapping and killings in the area. The angry protesters blocked major roads, disrupting movement into the town from other parts of the state.
Although the demonstration was peaceful, the protesters insisted on urgent government intervention and called on security agencies to restore safety to their communities.
A youth leader among the protesters, who desired anonymity, lamented the worsening security situation, and accusing the authorities of failing in their duty to protect life and property.
He stated, “Otukpo is no longer safe. We cannot sleep with our two eyes closed. Our communities are under constant attack by armed men, yet no arrests are made. People are fleeing their homes out of fear.
“Just yesterday, a man known as Akatu Onche (Okakpo ka Achumedo) was shot, and he died this morning. How long will this continue?” Residents of Olena in Asa also, reportedly, fled their homes following a series of attacks by suspected herdsmen.
It was gathered that the community had been under siege for the past four days, with several people killed and many others abducted.
A resident confirmed that villagers were forced to flee on Monday night when it became clear that help was not coming.
He lamented that the attackers had been terrorising the community unchallenged for days.
Sanwo-Olu: We’ll Continue to Touch Lives of Lagos Residents Positively
Advises Muslims with health challenges against 2025 Hajj
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, reassured the people that his administration would continue to touch the lives of Lagos residents positively.
Sanwo-Olu, who spoke at the Eid-el-Fitr celebration organised by the First Family of Lagos State and the Ministry of Home Affairs themed ‘My Lord, Indeed I Am, for Whatever Good You Would Send Me in Need’ at Lagos House Marina, however, advised Muslims with health challenges against the 2025 hajj.
The governor said his government would continue to deliver purposeful governance to better the lives of Lagosians. He said, “I am happy you all
came out today to celebrate with us. We thank all our Muslim brothers and sisters. We are thankful to all of you for your belief in our government. I pray that God Almighty will continue to keep us in peace and unity.
“We thank all our religious leaders for supporting us, and we promise you that we will continue to deliver a purposeful governance that will touch your lives and our faith will continue to be renewed year in, year out. We will continue to witness many Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. We will join you for another Ramadan next year.”
He, however, urged those intending to travel for the 2025 Hajj to ensure that they were
healthy before embarking on the journey.
“By May those travelling to Mecca will begin to travel. We pray they go and return in peace. I want to appeal to those who don’t have good health to go for Hajj, to refrain from traveling for 2025 Hajj,” he said.
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, in his address, urged residents to continue to give thanks to Almighty Allah for rebirth, growth and Lagos State’s collective development after Ramadan.
Hamzat tasked Lagos residents, particularly Muslim faithful to be good to their neighbours. “Show empathy, show compassion, be good to your neighbours and
continue to have faith in Almighty Allah’s goodness,” he advised.
Earlier, the First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, tasked residents to look out for the less privileged in their community and show compassion.
She said: “As we partake in the celebration, let us remember the less privileged amongst us, extend a helping hand to those in need and ensure that the spirit of giving and sharing remains at the core of our daily lives.
“True worship goes beyond ritual. It reflects in how we treat one another and how we contribute to the betterment of our state and nation beyond today’s gathering. I encourage us to renew our faith in Nigeria and remain
steadfast in our prayers.”
The Guest Speaker from Lagos State University of Education, Oto/Ijanikin, Dr. Munirudeen Ar-Riyardy, delivered the lecture ‘My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good you would send me in need – Q28:24.’ He said, “Today’s lecture is about trials of life and how to maintain our faith in God. No matter the challenges, we shouldn’t curse our leaders, we should avoid sins that will take us away from almighty Allah’s grace.” In his vote of thanks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon. Ibrahim Layode, urged Muslims to continue to live according to the tenets of Islam.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and George Okoh in Makurdi
CONFERMENT OF HONORARY DOCTORATE ON BAMIDELE...
R-L: Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi
Okpebholo vs Ighodalo: Tribunal Rules Today in Edo Guber Poll
The three-man panel of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal will today deliver judgement in the litigation between All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state.
The three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had on March 3 reserved judgement in the petition filed by PDP and its candidate, Asuerieme Ighodalo, against the election of Monday Okpebholo of APC as governor of the state.
The panel announced that judgement was reserved to a later date, shortly after lawyers representing parties adopted and argued their final written addresses.
It communicated the judgement date to lawyers representing parties in the early hours of Tuesday.
The petitions in which the tribunal would deliver judgement are EPT/ED/GOV/01/2024; EPT/ ED/GOV/02/2024 and EPT/ED/ GOV/03/2024.
The main petition is the second one filed by PDP and Ighodalo challenging the election of Okpebholo.
PDP and Ighodalo had dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the tribunal for declaring Okpebholo of APC winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
Among others, the petitioners asked the court to nullify Okpebholo’s victory on the grounds of irregularities and non-compliance with the electoral laws.
The petitioners anchored their claim on alleged over-voting and wrong computation of results during collation.
At the last proceedings, while all the respondents urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for being incompetent and lacking in
$5bn Afr I
requisite and investment-friendly fiscal policies, including the president’s Executive Order incentivising deepwater investments. Now, the ball is in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector.”
In addition, Lokpobiri emphasised the need for IOCs to support local refining efforts, noting that more refineries are coming on stream and will require a steady supply of crude oil.
To make this easy and possible, he stressed that ramping up production will enable Nigeria to meet both local
merit, the petitioners submitted that they had tendered uncontroverted evidence to prove claim of alleged over-voting and wrong computation.
In defence of the election, INEC, through its lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, said the petitioners did not prove allegation of non-compliance and over-voting.
Agabi added that the number of polling unit agents called as witnesses represented an insignificant or even negligible per cent of the number of polling units in Edo State.
Agabi pointed out that all the polling unit agents called as witnesses signed the result sheet and they could not distinguish between what they heard and what they saw.
He stated, “This is a clear indication that the election was conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022. The results were duly collated at all levels of collation.
“The petitioners have not pleaded any alternative results on the basis of which they can be declared as winners. The case of the petitioners is based on analysis undertaken by hired consultants.”
Agabi further held that the documents upon which the petitioners relied were all dumped on the tribunal and could not be used in their favour.
He, therefore, prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition in its entirety because it had no merit.
The governor, through his lawyer, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, argued in a similar vein, urging the tribunal to dismiss the petition.
Speaking on the contentious Form EC25bB, where the petitioners claimed that the serial numbers of sensitive materials must be given, Ikpeazu argued that all that was required for the form was quantity of electoral materials received and quantity returned.
He added that a pronouncement of the Supreme Court said one could not prove over-voting without the
and international obligations.
In line with the federal government’s drive to boost production, Lokpobiri reiterated that the federal government will begin implementing the “drill or drop” provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) where necessary.
“We cannot continue to have assets sitting idle for 20 to 30 years without development. If you are not utilising an asset and it remains underdeveloped for decades, it neither adds value to your books nor to us as a country.
“We encourage industry players to explore collaborative measures such as shared resources for contiguous
Bimodal Verification Authentication System (BVAs) machines but that none of the machines was opened to allow the tribunal look at the content.
According to him, by not tendering the right documents, the petitioners failed to prove over-voting on the whole.
APC’s counsel, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala, on his part, argued that it was clear that the case of the petitioners was based virtually and entirely on non-compliance.
Ukala said, “By the nature of the case they pleaded, the Supreme Court has over the years laid down that they need to prove this by polling unit to polling unit, ward to ward and local government by local government.”
He held that rather than prove this, the petitioners dumped documents on the court, and added that without polling unit agents testifying to those documents, they were useless and the case remained unproved.
Ukala also argued that with over 4,000 polling units in Edo State, the petitioners called only five polling
unit agents and no single presiding officer.
He said since the petitioners failed to demonstrate how the BVAs worked, it was clear that the case of the petitioners was not proved and it should be dismissed.
But the petitioners countered that PDP had successfully demonstrated electoral malpractices in 765 polling units out of 4,519 across the state.
Mr. Ken Mozia, SAN, who argued the case of the petitioners, emphasised that the petition should be determined by the impact of irregularities, not just the percentage of affected polling units.
Mozia also highlighted discrepancies at various collation levels, where figures on Form EC8A (polling unit results) were allegedly reduced at the ward and local government collation stages (EC8B).
He further argued that the petition must be considered as a whole and not in parts.
“So, the submission of isolating grounds and labelling them alone as academic is not well founded,” he said.
On the issue of not presenting the tribunal with an alternative result, the senior lawyer submitted that it was on record that all the results before the tribunal were tendered by his client.
The senior lawyer stated that INEC had certified all documents tendered by the petitioners, yet failed to present any counter-evidence.
“The issue is not about producing an alternative result, but about questioning the validity of the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal uploads,” he added.
On why the petitioners called only five polling unit agents, he said the grouse of his client was with what happened at the collation centres and not at the polling units so they didn’t need more than five agents to testify.
“We concede that elections took place at the polling units but how 25 votes metamorphosed to 525 votes at the collation centre is what we are quarrelling with,” he said.
Reacting to alleged dumping of documents on the tribunal, Mozia submitted that all the documents
tendered were duly certified by INEC and were tendered without objection from the commission, the makers of the document. Mozia, therefore, urged the tribunal to nullify the election. After taking arguments from all parties in the petition, the tribunal announced that its judgement had been reserved to a date that would be communicated to parties in the petition.
INEC had declared Okpebholo of APC winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State. INEC said Okpebholo polled a total of 291, 667 votes to defeat his closet rival, Ighodalo of PDP, who polled 247, 655 votes. Dissatisfied by the outcome of the poll, PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal, praying it to nullify INEC’s declaration of APC and Okpebholo as winners of the contest.
The petitioners, among other things, contended that the governorship election was invalid by reason of alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
PDP Faction: Why We Want to Celebrate President Tinubu, Nyesom Wike in Bayelsa
Bayelsa Government: It’s ill-timed, there is tension
Factional Zonal Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Southsouth and Convener of Bayelsa Mega Rally for Tinubu and Wike, George Turnah, has explained why Bayelsa State was the ideal place to celebrate President Bola Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. But the Bayelsa State government,
assets, farm-outs, and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production. Otherwise, like any responsible government, we will take back these assets and allocate them to those willing to go to work,” he said.
The minister also urged operators to consider farm-out agreements where assets are close to existing infrastructure, rather than incurring high costs on new Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units.
According to him, the federal government remains committed to ensuring a thriving oil and gas industry and expects operators to match its commitment by making
through the Commissioner for Information and Youth Development, Alfred Kemepado, said the planned rally was ill-timed because of the likely spill over of the effects and tensions being generated by the recent state of emergency declared in neighbouring Rivers State. Turnah, however, said the planned rally by the New Associate group was not an endorsement of Tinubu’s second term, although it was report-
tangible investment decisions that will drive growth, sustainability, and national energy security.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Mr. Osagie Okunbor, commended the minister for his direct engagement with industry players and for the federal government’s continued efforts in advancing the sector.
“We appreciate the government’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for investment. The minister’s engagement has provided critical insights and has also challenged us as industry players to step up efforts to increase production,” Okunbor stated.
edly a PDP faction loyal to Wike.
Both Turnah and Kemepado spoke on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show” yesterday.
Turnah said in addition to the rally, the group planned to thank and celebrate Wike and Tinubu for appointing some notable sons and daughters of Bayelsa State into his administration.
He stated, “Why are we doing the rally in Bayelsa? The New Associate is a grassroots organisation. We want to inaugurate the Bayelsa State chapter and in doing so, we also want to do a rally to thank Mr President for his choices of appointment of some notable sons and daughters of Bayelsa State, which in our estimation are performing and doing very well.”
Kemepado, however, said the recent interview by Wike which denigrated the Ijaw ethnic groups did not help matters, as it was capable of inflaming tensions during the rally.
According to him, “Bayelsa is a peaceful state but the recent interview where the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, was seen denigrating the Ijaw nation is a reckless statement and there is the fear that if the rally is allowed to hold that tensions may
roll over to crisis.
“The position of the Bayelsa State government is that the planned rally is ill-timed and, therefore, should be shifted at least for now.”
Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri had recently warned against the group’s plan to organise a rally or host Wike in his state.
The governor said the planned rally was a plot by a “PDP renegade” to disrupt the peace in his state. Diri warned, “As you are aware, we have threats from our sister state. The political crisis there is threatening us and we will not allow what is happening there to come into Bayelsa State.
“Any attempt to import the Rivers State political crisis into Bayelsa will be resisted. I urge security commanders in the state to be on the alert.
“Parents and traditional rulers should discourage their wards and children from being used by unscrupulous elements to cause trouble in the state.”
In spite of the governor’s warning, Turnah said the rally would take place in the state but not on any Bayelsa State Government property. The rally is billed to hold April 12.
Chuks Okocha and Alex Enumah in Abuja
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Bamidele; President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jubrin; and Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, during the conferment of an honorary doctorate on Bamidele at the 29th convocation of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, last Saturday
CONDOLENCE VISIT…
Executive President, Lagos Central Baptist Conference, Revd(Dr.) Victor Bamidele Akerele (left) and Chairman, All Progressives Congress(APC), Lagos State Chapter, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, during a condolence visit by Akerele to Ojelabi over death of his wife, Mrs. Ebunoluwa Ojelabi in Lagos…recently
Sylvester Idowu inWarri Operatives of Delta State Police Command have arrested four suspected kidnappers and recovered three AK-47 rifles in Rivers and Kogi States during separate operations.
The suspects were trailed to their hideouts in the two states following preliminary investigations into their activities in parts of Delta State.
According to the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer,
Edafe Bright, a Superintendent of Police (SP), the Commissioner of Police Special Assignment team led by Julius Robinson, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), carried out the operations which led to the arrest of the suspects.
Edafe in a statement issued yesterday said the special team extended their investigation to Rivers State where one Chedeye Mohammed was apprehended last Wednesday at about 6.20 p.m.
“On March 26, 2025, operatives of CP Special Assignment team
Katsina PDP Leaders to Join Atiku’s Coalition against APC
Francis Sardauna in Katsina
Some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina state have vowed to join the newly formed coalition of opposition political parties to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
The state’s stalwarts of the PDP led by Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, announced plans to join the coalition of the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Katsina yesterday.
Inuwa, a former Secretary to the Katsina State Government, while addressing the stakeholders, said discussions had reached an advanced stage to form a coalition
to oust the APC at state and national levels.
Although Inuwa did not mention that they will join the Atiku’s coalition, credible sources within the party told THISDAY that they had concluded arrangements to join their political godfather in his new camp.
He said: “We have commenced discussions with members of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and even prominent APC members to form a coalition for the 2027 election.
“It may shock you to know that some of the APC members who are supporting this movement are holding key positions in the APC government at state and federal governments.”
Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Marks 100 Years of Spiritual Excellence
The Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District Headquarters, marked a major milestone recently with a grand ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the church’s founding and the 10th memorial lecture of Prophet Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye.
The event, themed “Centenary of The Cherubim And Seraphim Church Establishing a Legacy of Continuity From Saint Moses Orimolade Tunolase To Prophet Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye And Beyond”, brought together dignitaries, clergy, and members of the church to honour its remarkable journey and pay tribute to its iconic leaders.
Special Apostle, Pastor (Dr.) Steve Olusegun Ogidan, delivered a keynote lecture that highlighted the church’s history,
emphasising the pivotal roles of Saint Moses Orimolade Tunolase, the church’s founder, and Prophet Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye, in shaping the church’s identity and growth.
As Nigeria grapples with the challenges of nation-building, the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church’s 100th anniversary celebration served as a poignant reminder of the critical role faith plays in shaping the country’s identity. The church’s centenary celebration provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the intersection of faith and nation-building. Dr. Ogidan emphasised the need for religious leaders to work together in promoting national cohesion and development.
The Sultan of Sokoto stressed the importance of interfaith dialogue and collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s socioeconomic challenges.
led by the commander ASP Julius Robinson were on the trail of some suspected kidnappers. They extended their investigation
to Rivers State and at about 1820 hours of the same date, a fleeing suspected kidnapper name Chedeye Mohammed
was trailed and arrested.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect led operatives to a bush after a trailer park in River State where
they hid their weapons,” he said, adding that one AK-47 rifle loaded with 13 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition was recovered.
Security Agencies Urged to Investigate Rivers Ex-HoS over Outburst against Fubara
Blessing Ibunge inportHarcourt Security agencies have been urged to investigate the former Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke over his recent outburst against the suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara.
The people, who alleged that the HoS spoke under financial inducement, said lying is not in their culture.
Leaders of the community where Nwaeke hailed from described him as alleged “liar, betrayer and notoriously untrustworthy”, noting that as a result of his character,
The call was made yesterday in Port Harcourt, by the people of Etche Ethnic Nationality in state, hometown of the former Head of Service(HoS).
the former HoS “is usually not invited to meetings of Etche ethnic nationality where crucial issues affecting Etche Ethnic Nationality are discussed due to his unstable character.”
The leaders of Etche disassociated themselves from the “externally influenced” confessions of financial mismanagement and planned militancy attacks on oil facilities he (Nwaeke) levelled against the suspended governor and others. Nwaeke had in an exclusive interview with Channels TV in Abuja last week accused suspended Governor Fubara of deliberately demolishing the House of Assembly edifice to avoid impeachment, linking the suspended Chief of staff, Dr. Edison Ehie in the crime.
Korea Cooperation Agency to Begin Second Phase of Intervention at the Ekiti
Gbenga Sodeinde in ado Ekiti
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is set to begin the second phase of its educational intervention at the Ekiti Smart School in Ijan-Ekiti.
The Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Femi Akinwumi, made this known
while receiving a delegation from the South Korean agency as the team embarked on an in-depth survey of the Smart School project at Ijan Ekiti.
Prof. Akinwumi, while addressing the delegation led by the KOICA Deputy Country Director, Mr. Baik Kihyun, expressed joy that the state Smart School would soon
Smart School
receive more support from the South Korean Government through the second phase of intervention from KOICA.
The SUBEB boss, while lauding the decision to begin the second phase of the programme, also stated that it would go a long way in improving the capacity of the school as well as facilitate its reach to rural areas and other parts of the state. Akinwumi, while reiterating the commitment of the Governor Oyebanji-led administration to implementing education policies intending to boost the basic education sector in the state, also noted that leveraging on smart technology would further enhance critical thinking and creativity among pupils.
Imo State Governorship: It’s Turn of Owerri Zone, Iheanacho Insists
Segun James
As the race for the governorship of Imo State begins, former Minister of Interior, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, has stated that for the sake of equity, fairness and good neighbourliness, the next governor of the state must come from the Owerri zone.
Iheanacho said this is made
pertinent because along with Yewa zone in Ogun State and Idoma zone in Benue State, Owerri zone remain the only senatorial zone that have never produced governors in the country.
Speaking at the Imo Harmony Project, a pressure group set up to actualise the realisation of the Owerri Governorship Project, he stressed that since “the transition
to civil democracy in 1999 and in that time, we have had several people who have governed Imo State, but none has come from Owerri zone. That’s 26 years after the transition-after from the seven months of Emeka Ihediora.”
Faced with this reality, he, therefore, called for shift for an Owerri son or daughter to be allowed to vie for the 2027
governorship race. He added: “We believe that the opportunity to govern the state is something that really should go round. Everybody should have an opportunity. “There’s only a few states-about three states-that have not had contingency arrangements to ensure that there is inclusiveness in terms of the personality who governs the state.”
Bloombreed Schools Make History with Groundbreaking TEDx Event
Sunday Okobi
Bloombreed Schools have made history as the first school in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to host a TEDx event, a landmark occasion to celebrate innovation, leadership, and student empowerment. The organiser said the TEDx events provide a platform for individuals to share ideas and experiences through live talks and performances, “and
this event was no exception.”
With the theme: ‘Leading Within’, the event underscored the importance of self-discovery and personal growth, reinforcing the idea that leadership starts from within before it can influence others.
The school leadership stated that the event was filled with thoughtprovoking discussions, as primary and secondary school students took centre stage to share their insights
and perspectives. In a statement, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, expressed delight at the initiative, emphasising the value of instilling leadership qualities at a young age.
“Everything rises or falls with leadership, so nurturing these qualities in our children should be a priority for all of us,” he remarked.
The event also highlighted
Bloombreed Schools’ reputation for innovation, adding to its distinction as Nigeria’s first Google-Reference School. A major highlight was a virtual address by Google’s Head of Education for Sub-Saharan Africa, Benson Kinoti, who commended the schools’ commitment to cutting-edge technology and student thought leadership, encouraging students to continuously explore their identities and aspirations.
Baptist Family Consoles Lagos APC Chairman, Ojelabi, over Wife’s Demise
The Baptist family in Lagos has expressed its condolences to the Chairman of All Progressives Congress(APC), Lagos State Lagos State, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, over the demise of his wife Mrs. Ebunoluwa Ojelabi.
In a letter signed by the Executive President, Lagos Central Baptist Conference, Revd (Dr.) Victor Bamidele Akerele, the Baptist family noted that the loss is an
immeasurable one and prayed to God to grant Ojelabi and members of his family the fortitude to over this season of grief.
Akerele said: “On behalf of the Baptist family in Lagos State, and particularly the Lagos Central Baptist Conference, I extend our deepest condolences to you on the passing of your beloved wife. We were deeply saddened to hear of your loss, and our hearts go out to you and your
family during this difficult time.”
“The departure of a loved one, especially a spouse, is an immeasurable loss, and we cannot fully comprehend the pain you must be experiencing.”
“However, we take solace in the comforting words of our Lord in Psalm 34:18, which says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” May the Lord’s abiding
presence strengthen you and uphold you in this season of grief.”
“We recognise the invaluable role your wife played in your life, family, ministry and political career, and we pray that God grants you and your family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
“May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).”
Mary Nnah
PUBLICATION OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP DISCLOSURE FORM INFORMATION NOTICE
nd
Publication date: 2 April, 2025
Country: Federal Republic of Nigeria
Executing Agency: National Coordination Office, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
Name of Project/Study: Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program
Loan/Grant Number: 2000200005159/5050200001351
Name of Request for Proposals (RFP): Consulting Services for Transaction Advisory Service for Kaduna State - SAPZ
Selection Method: Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) nd
Date of approval by the Bank of th the draft negotiated Contract: 18 February, 2025
Name of Selected Consultant: Logic Triangle Consulting Services Ltd Nationality: Nigerian
Address: No. 5 Muhammed Sanusi Street, Dakwa, Abuja
Contract Award Price: USD387,600 and NGN165,600,000
th Contract Start date: 24 February, 2025
Contract Duration: 18 Months
Summary of Scope of Contract Awarded:
The scope of work is summarized into two phases
attendant
documentation, support in the procurement of Design, Build and Operate Contractors, development of financial flow system and revenue model, identify and allocate project risk using the risk mitigation instruments available with AfDB, MIGA, establish a Special Purpose Vehicle or any emerging option for the zone, Build capacity for the PIU
P h a s e 11
Concessionaire or other partner, support in the selection of private sector delivery partners, prepare and draft PPP agreement as well as participate in the PPP agreement Negotiations, compile and prepare closure report.
Total Number of Proposals Received: 2No
For each Consultant:
Name: Logic Triangle Consulting Limited
Nationality: Nigerian
Address: No. 5 Muhammed Sanusi Street, Dakwa, Abuja
Technical Points: 94
Evaluated Price: USD498,000
Final Points: 95.6 st Ranking: 1
Name: Sirgun Africa ltd and Wellington & White Partnership Nationality: Nigerian
N.B.: Any consultant who wishes to ascertain the grounds on which its proposal was not selected, should request an explanation from the Executing Agency. In any event, the Bank reserves the right to review any complaint of a bidder at any time following the award.
st Date signed 21 day of February, 2025 PUBLICATION OF AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FOR PROJECTS FINANCED BY THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Signed Dr. Kabir Yusuf National Program Coordinator
Request for Proposal reference No.: NCO/SAPZ-1/AfDB/CONS/001/1
Name of the Assignment: Transaction Advisory Services for Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) in Kaduna State
To: Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Program
st In response to your notification of award dated 21 February, 2025 to furnish additional information on beneficial ownership:
(I) we hereby provide the following beneficial ownership information.
Details of beneficial ownership
Identity of Beneficial Owner
Directly or indirectly holding 25% or more of the shares (Yes) Directly or indirectly holding 25 % or more of the Voting Rights (Yes) Directly or indirectly having the right to appoint a majority of the board of the directors or an equivalent governing body of the Consultant (Yes)
Full name: ABBAGANA HAROUN
Nationality: NIGERIAN COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE: NIGERIA
Name of the Consultant: Logic Triangle Consulting Services Limited
Name of the person duly authorized to sign the Proposal on behalf of the Consultant: Opeyemi Olawumi
Title of the person signing the Proposal: Finance and Economic Expert
Signature of the person named above:
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI)
CONDUCT OF A BASELINE SURVEY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIAL AGRO-INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING ZONES (SAPZ) PROGRAM IN OGUN AND KANO STATES (CONSULTING FIRM)
COUNTRY: Federal Republic of Nigeria
NAME OF PROJECT: SPECIAL AGRO-INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING ZONES PROGRAM
Ref No: NCO/SAPZ-1/IFAD/B/25/002/1
1. The Federal Republic of Nigeria has received financing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (“the Fund” or “IFAD”) towards the cost of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Project (SAPZ), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the recruitment of consulting services, for which this REOI is issued.
The use of any IFAD financing shall be subject to IFAD's approval, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the financing agreement, as well as IFAD's rules, policies and procedures. IFAD and its officials, agents and employees shall be held harmless from and against all suits, proceedings, claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature brought by any party in connection with Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones program
2. This request for expressions of interest (REOI) follows the general procurement notice that appeared in th th Thisday and Daily Trust newspapers on 17 April 2023, on the IFAD website and on UNDB on 17 April 2023.
3. The client now invites expressions of interest (EOIs) from legally constituted consulting firms (not individual consultants) (“consultants”) to conduct a baseline survey for the implementation of Special AgroIndustrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program in Ogun and Kano State. More details on these consulting services are provided in the preliminary terms of reference (PTOR) which can be obtained from the address below between 10am – 4pm on working days or obtained from the website: sapz.gov.ng as Annex 1 The consultant may sub-contract selected activities provided that said services do will not exceed 20% of the total consultancy work.
4. Before preparing its EOIs, the consultant is advised to review the preliminary terms of reference attached as Annex 1, which describe the assignment and Annex 2 that details the evaluation of the technical qualifications. The two annexes as well as the EOI submission forms can be obtained at www.sapz.gov.ng
5. The consultant shall not have any actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest. A consultant with an actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest shall be disqualified unless otherwise explicitly approved by the Fund. A consultant including their respective personnel and affiliates are considered to have a conflict of interest if they a) have a relationship that provides them with undue or undisclosed information about or influence over the selection process and the execution of the contract, b) participate in more than one EOI under this procurement action, c) have a business or family relationship with a member of the client's board of directors or its personnel, the Fund or its personnel, or any other individual that was, has been or might reasonably be directly or indirectly involved in any part of (i) the preparation of this expression of interest, (ii) the selection process for this procurement, or (iii) execution of the contract. The consultant has an ongoing obligation to disclose any situation of actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest during preparation of the EOI, the selection process or the contract execution. Failure to properly disclose any of said situations may lead to appropriate actions, including the disqualification of the consultant, the termination of the contract and any other as appropriate under the IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption in its Projects and Operations.
6. All consultants are required to comply with the Revised IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption in its Activities and Operations (hereinafter, “IFAD's Anticorruption Policy”) in competing for, or in executing, the contract.
a. If determined that a consultant or any of its personnel or agents, or its sub-consultants, sub-contractors, service providers, suppliers, sub-suppliers and/or any of their personnel or agents, has, directly or indirectly, engaged in any of the prohibited practices defined in IFAD's Anticorruption Policy or integrity violations such as sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse as established in IFAD's Policy to Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in competing for, or in executing, the contract, the EOI may be rejected or the contract may be terminated by the client.
b. In accordance with IFAD's Anticorruption Policy the Fund has the right to sanction firms and individuals, including by declaring them ineligible, either indefinitely or for a stated period of time, to participate in any IFAD-financed and/or IFAD-managed activity or operation. The Fund also has the right to recognize debarments issued by other international financial institutions in accordance with its Anticorruption Policy
c. Consultants and any of their personnel and agents, and their sub-consultants, sub-contractors, service providers, suppliers, sub-suppliers and any of their personnel and agents are required to fully cooperate with any investigation conducted by the Fund, including by making personnel available for interviews and by providing full access to any and all accounts, premises, documents and records (including electronic records) relating to this selection process or the execution of the contract and to have such accounts, premises, records and documents audited and/or inspected by auditors and/or investigators appointed by the Fund.
d. Consultants have the ongoing obligation to disclose in their EOI and later in writing as may become relevant: (i) any administrative sanctions, criminal convictions or temporary suspensions of themselves or any of their key personnel or agents for fraud and corruption, and (ii) any commissions or fees paid or to be paid to agents or other parties in connection with this selection process or the execution of the contract. As a minimum, consultants must disclose the name and contact details of the agent or other party and the reason, amount and currency of the commission or fee paid or to be paid. Failure to comply with these disclosure obligations may lead to rejection of the EOI or termination of the contract.
e. Consultants are required to keep all records and documents, including electronic records, relating to this selection process available for a minimum of three (3) years after notification of completion of the process or, in case the consultant is awarded the contract, execution of the contract.
7. The Fund requires that all beneficiaries of IFAD funding or funds administered by IFAD, including the client, any consultants, implementing partners, service providers and suppliers, observe the highest standards of integrity during the procurement and execution of such contracts, and commit to combat money laundering and terrorism financing consistent with IFAD's Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Policy
8. Procedure: the selection process will be conducted using Least Cost Selection (LCS) Method as laid o u t i
www.ifad.org/project-procurement The client will evaluate the EOIs using the criteria provided in Annex 2 The shortlisted consultant(s) will be provided with the detailed TORs and asked to submit a detailed technical and financial offer The evaluation will include a review and verification of qualifications and past performance, including a reference check, prior to the contract award.
9. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.
10. Any request for clarification on this EOI including the PTOR should be sent via e-mail to the address th below no later than 8 April, 2025 at 12 noon local time. The client will provide responses to all th clarification requests by 11 April, 2025.
11. Submission Procedure: please submit your expression of interest using the EOI submission forms provided for this purpose, which can be downloaded from the website referred to above. Your EOI should comprise one (1) original copy of each EOI form annexed to this document. EOIs shall be th submitted to the address below no later than 18 April, 2025 at 12 noon local time. LATE SUBMISSION SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED
Signed Dr. Kabir Yusuf National Program Coordinator, SAPZ National Co-ordination Office (NCO) Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security #3 Aguleri Street, off Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Abuja, admin@sapz.gov.ng gunoh@sapz.gov ; .ng; +2348168088308; +2348035949354
SUPPLY, INSTALLATION, CONFIGURATION, AND COMMISSIONING OF INTEGRATED MONITORING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM. (CONSULTING FIRM)
COUNTRY: Federal Republic of Nigeria
NAME OF PROJECT: SPECIAL AGRO-INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING ZONES PROGRAM
Ref No: NCO/SAPZ-1/IFAD/B/25/003/1
1. The Federal Republic of Nigeria has received financing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (“the Fund” or “IFAD”) towards the cost of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Project (SAPZ), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the recruitment of consulting services, for which this REOI is issued.
The use of any IFAD financing shall be subject to IFAD's approval, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the financing agreement, as well as IFAD's rules, policies and procedures. IFAD and its officials, agents and employees shall be held harmless from and against all suits, proceedings, claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature brought by any party in connection with Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones program
2. This request for expressions of interest (REOI) follows the general procurement notice that appeared in th th Thisday and Daily Trust newspapers on 17 April 2023, on the IFAD website and on UNDB on 17 April 2023
3. The client now invites expressions of interest (EOIs) from legally constituted consulting firms (not individual consultants) (“consultants”) to Development of a user-friendly integrated M&E System; development of monitoring and visualization dashboard; user metrix and feedback; capacity building and transfer of knowledge; reports and schedule of deliverables. More details on these consulting services are provided in the preliminary terms of reference (PTOR) attached as Annex 1. The consultant may sub-contract selected activities provided that said services do will not exceed 20% of the total consultancy work.
4 Before preparing its EOIs, the consultant is advised to review the preliminary terms of reference attached as Annex 1 which describe the assignment and Annex 2 that details the evaluation of the technical qualifications. The two annexes as well as the EOI submission forms can be obtained at www.sapz.gov.ng
5. The consultant shall not have any actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest. A consultant with an actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest shall be disqualified unless otherwise explicitly approved by the Fund. A consultant including their respective personnel and affiliates are considered to have a conflict of interest if they a) have a relationship that provides them with undue or undisclosed information about or influence over the selection process and the execution of the contract, b) participate in more than one EOI under this procurement action, c) have a business or family relationship with a member of the client’s board of directors or its personnel, the Fund or its personnel, or any other individual that was, has been or might reasonably be directly or indirectly involved in any part of (i) the preparation of this expression of interest, (ii) the selection process for this procurement, or (iii) execution of the contract. The consultant has an ongoing obligation to disclose any situation of actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest during preparation of the EOI, the selection process or the contract execution. Failure to properly disclose any of said situations may lead to appropriate actions, including the disqualification of the consultant, the termination of the contract and any other as appropriate under the IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption in its Projects and Operations
6. All consultants are required to comply with the Revised IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption in its Activities and Operations (hereinafter “IFAD’s Anticorruption Policy”) in competing for or in executing, the contract.
a. If determined that a consultant or any of its personnel or agents, or its sub-consultants, subcontractors, service providers, suppliers, sub-suppliers and/or any of their personnel or agents, has, directly or indirectly, engaged in any of the prohibited practices defined in IFAD’s Anticorruption Policy or integrity violations such as sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse as established in IFAD’s Policy to Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in competing for, or in executing, the contract, the EOI may be rejected or the contract may be terminated by the client.
b. In accordance with IFAD’s Anticorruption Policy, the Fund has the right to sanction firms and individuals, including by declaring them ineligible, either indefinitely or for a stated period of time, to participate in any IFAD-financed and/or IFAD-managed activity or operation. The Fund also has the right to recognize debarments issued by other international financial institutions in accordance with its Anticorruption Policy
c. Consultants and any of their personnel and agents, and their sub-consultants, sub-contractors, service providers, suppliers, sub-suppliers and any of their personnel and agents are required to fully cooperate with any investigation conducted by the Fund, including by making personnel available for interviews and by providing full access to any and all accounts, premises, documents and records (including electronic records) relating to this selection process or the execution of the contract and to have such accounts, premises, records and documents audited and/or inspected by auditors and/or investigators appointed by the Fund.
d. Consultants have the ongoing obligation to disclose in their EOI and later in writing as may become relevant: (i) any administrative sanctions, criminal convictions or temporary suspensions of themselves or any of their key personnel or agents for fraud and corruption,
and (ii) any commissions or fees paid or to be paid to agents or other parties in connection with this selection process or the execution of the contract. As a minimum, consultants must disclose the name and contact details of the agent or other party and the reason, amount and currency of the commission or fee paid or to be paid. Failure to comply with these disclosure obligations may lead to rejection of the EOI or termination of the contract.
e. Consultants are required to keep all records and documents, including electronic records, relating to this selection process available for a minimum of three (3) years after notification of completion of the process or in case the consultant is awarded the contract, execution of the contract.
7. The Fund requires that all beneficiaries of IFAD funding or funds administered by IFAD, including the client, any consultants, implementing partners, service providers and suppliers, observe the highest standards of integrity during the procurement and execution of such contracts, and commit to combat money laundering and terrorism financing consistent with IFAD’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Policy
8. Procedure: the selection process will be conducted using Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) Method as laid out in the IFAD Procurement Handbook that can be accessed via the IFAD website at www.ifad.org/project-procurement. The client will evaluate the EOIs using the criteria provided in Annex 2. The shortlisted consultant(s) will be provided with the detailed TORs and asked to submit a detailed technical and financial offer The evaluation will include a review and verification of qualifications and past performance, including a reference check, prior to the contract award.
9. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.
10. Any request for clarification on this EOI including the PTOR should be sent via e-mail to the address below no later than 7th April, 2025 at 12 noon local time. The client will provide responses to all clarification requests by 11th April, 2025.
11. Submission Procedure: please submit your expression of interest using the forms provided for this purpose. Your EOI should comprise one (1) original copy of each EOI form annexed to this document. EOIs shall be submitted to the address below no later than 18th April, 2025 at 12 noon local time. LATE SUBMISSION SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED
Signed Dr. Kabir Yusuf National Program Coordinator, SAPZ National Co-ordination Office (NCO) Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security #3 Aguleri Street, off Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Abuja, admin@sapz.gov.ng; +2348168088308; +2348035949354
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES - FIRM)
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Consultancy Services for the Preparation of enabling Policy, Legislation and Regulatory Framework for Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program in Nigeria
Sector: Agriculture
Loan No: 2000200005159/5050200001351
Project ID No: P-NG-AAA-002
1. The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has received financing from the African Development Bank towards the cost of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program Phase I in partnership with the State Governments and Private Investors in the five (5) participating States of Kaduna, Oyo, Cross River, Imo and Ogun and intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this loan to payments under the contract for which the REOI is issued
2. The scope of services to be provided are:
i. Undertake a desk review of relevant legislations and policies in all the states of the federation and the FCT for guidance; and to assess the institutionalization of SAPZ in Nigeria
ii. Conduct relevant stakeholder consultation to verify findings from the desk review, recommend necessary actions and prepare a stakeholder consultation report, stakeholder workshop.
iii. Based on the outcome of desk review and consultations, propose an institutional arrangement for the regulation of SAPZs development and operation in Nigeria.
iv Develop relevant guiding documents to support the implementation, enforcement and monitoring of compliance with the regulations and policy of SAPZs in Nigeria.
v Subject to the outcome of the assessment of the mandate of existing Nigerian agencies (to ascertain whether there is a need to establish a new agency for SAPZ) produce the required bill and (or amendments to the existing legislation) for submission to the National Assembly for p u r p o s e o f p a s
institutionalization of SAPZ.
vi. Provide strong justification for the bill and or amendments proposed in 5.5 and work in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry and Investment Trade (FMITI), N
Authority (NEPZA), National Investment Promotion Council, Customs and Excise (Excise and Trade Facilitation), the Industrial Development Department with FMITI, and the SAPZ National Coordination Office who through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture will liaise with the National Assembly focal person(s) for critical advocacy to elicit the buyin of the National Assembly into the proposed bill and or amendment to existing legislation.
vii. Conduct a stakeholders' workshop/ sessions for endorsement and adoption of the draft of the legislative Bill.
viii. Facilitate the documentation for approval of the proposed Bill into an Act, including the needed advocacy
3. The National Coordinating Office (NCO) of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program representing the Participating State Implementation Units (PSIUs) of Kaduna, Oyo, Cross River, Imo and Ogun States now invites eligible consultancy firm to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar transaction advisory assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may constitute joint ventures to enhance their chances of qualification.
4. The estimated duration of the assignment is four months (4) months, and the th estimated starting date is 30 May, 2025.
5. Eligibility criteria, establishment of the shortlist and selection procedure shall be in accordance with the Procurement Policy for the Bank Group Funded operation (October 2015), which is available on the Banks website at h p:// .afdb.org.en/projectsandopera ons/proc rements/ne -proed re-polic
6. Interested consultancy firms may obtain further information at the address below during the office hours of 08:00am and 04:00pm (Local time; Mondays–Fridays)
7. Expression of Interest must be delivered to the address below in person not later th than 18 April, 2025 at 12:00 noon local time and mention “Consultancy Services for the preparation of enabling Policy, Legislation and Regulatory Framework for SAPZ development in Nigeria”. Late submissions will NOT be accepted. Only shortlisted candidate will be contacted
APC Urged to Maximise Influx of Defectors to Become Ruling Party in Abia
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been urged to harness the political gains it has been making from the influx of defectors from rival parties and strategise to takeover Abia in 2027.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Chris Nkwonta, made the call at the maiden expanded stakeholders meeting of the Abia South senatorial zone, comprising six Local Governments.
He said that APC should appreciate the gains it has made from receiving elected office holders that defected to the party with the mandate they won on the platform of rival parties. It has indeed been good news for Abia APC as it continues to receive into its fold
elected and non-elected political office holders, mostly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who have found it expedient to start waving brooms.
Nkwonta, who represents Ukwa East/Ukwa West federal constituency defected from PDP to APC last October and has become a rallying point for his new party in the constituency.
He stressed the need for Abia State to be strategic in casting their ballots in 2027 to avoid playing the second fiddle, noting that the state got a junior ministerial appointment after voting massively for PDP and LP in 2023.
According to him, “politics should be strategic and voting should also be strategic hence Abia voters should know that giving their votes to APC in 2027 would yield huge political dividends.
The first time member of the
National Assembly pleaded with members of Abia APC to give their total loyalty to the party instead of pandering to the clashing interests of political leaders to the detriment of the party.
“We must close ranks and make APC a very strong party in Abia,” he said, adding that it would not be enough to claim that APC is dominant in Abia without translating its strength into winning elections.
While acknowledging the enormous responsibility bestowed on him as the leader of Abia South APC, Nkwonta told party stakeholders.
He stated that Ukwa East and Ukwa West would “fall for APC (in 2027) because I’m doing what I’m expected to be doing” and urged other party stakeholders to play their own parts to ensure a clean sweep of Abia.
Police Apprehend Syndicate for Trafficking Girls to Mauritania
Operatives at the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have detained a syndicate for allegedly trafficking girls from Nigeria to Mauritania for prostitution and sexual exploitation.
The Zonal Public Relations Officer (ZPRO), CSP Umma Ayuba, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos. She said the syndicate was apprehended on March 22 at the Command in the Meiran area of the state.
“Operatives of the Zonal Intelligence Response Squad (ZIRS), led by SP Francis Kpoughul, stormed their base where two suspects were apprehended,” Ayuba said.
The ZPRO stated that the
suspects confessed to the crime.
“The first suspect said she was introduced to a woman based in Mauritania by another woman, who has been prosecuted for the same offence and is currently serving a jail term.
“She said the woman in Mauritania contracted her to recruit young girls below the age of 22 to be used as sex workers there.
“She added that she received N50,000 as commission for each girl sent to Mauritania.
“She confessed that, among the girls she recruited, was her 19-year-old daughter. She also admitted to receiving over
N500,000 from the woman in Mauritania,” Ayuba said.
The ZPRO stated that her accomplice, the second suspect, admitted being contracted by the first suspect to recruit girls as domestic staff in Mauritania.
“She said that, upon further questioning, she discovered the girls were to be used as sex workers and decided to withdraw from the business.
“She added that the only girl she sent to the first suspect was rejected due to her age and body size. That was when she realised something was wrong,” Ayuba said.
According to the ZPRO, the investigation is ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon completion.
Sule Urges Govt. Officials to Shun Get Rich Quick
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, has called on government officials to join him in building the State and to shun the get rich quick syndrome.
Sule made the call yesterday when he hosted the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, who led a delegation of government officials to him on a Sallah homage in Gudi, Akwanga Local Government Area.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reported that the delegation was made up of Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, as well as heads of Agencies, Departments and Parastatals.
” What I have noticed over and over is that people look for this quick money to come and they take the money and
Syndrome
it doesn’t benefit them in any way whatsoever.
”The sad thing is for somebody to accumulate illegal wealth and then die. People don’t even know where the money is hidden,” he said
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to institutionalising policies and projects that would outlive his tenure.
Sule emphasised that he is taking every measure to ensure that investors coming into the state are protected even after he leaves office in 2027.
“We are doing everything to ensure that we protect some of the investors that are coming by putting some legal instruments that would protect investments.
”It is one of the reasons why the investors are showing interest
to invest in the state,” he said Sule said that establishing enabling legal framework to protect investors would deter anyone coming after him to think of policy summersault.
”Thereby ensuring that investments attracted by his administration are sustained to the benefits of the state and the people.
“Most of the instruments and protections we are putting in place are to ensure that these investments stay here longer.
“They stay here longer for the benefit of people beyond us,” he said.
Sule underscored the spiritual essence of Ramadan, urging citizens and officials to internalise its virtues of sacrifice, empathy, and communal harmony beyond the holy month.
‘Lagos Generates 13,000 Tonnes of Waste Daily’
Lagos State generates an average of 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, the state waste management agency has said.
Managing Director of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, gave the figure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Gbadegesin said that the authority had been effectively evacuating the large volume of waste in partnership with Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators.
According to him, LAWMA and the PSP operators daily
deploy 102 compactor trucks for waste evacuation.
He said that LAWMA’s marine waste evacuation team had also continued to evacuate waste from coastlines, lagoons and drainage channels.
He added that LAWMA had continued to expand its advanced medical waste management to accommodate operations of hairdressers and beauticians who generated human tissue waste.
He emphasised that every Lagos resident had a role to play in maintaining a cleaner and healthier environment.
“From disposing waste properly through accredited PSP operators and cleaning of gutters in front of our houses, to sorting waste at source, we all have roles to play,” Gbadegesin said. He highlighted LAWMA’s ongoing innovations in waste management, including expansion of the waste-towealth initiatives aimed reducing dependence on landfills.
“Now, we have a glass recycling plant in Lagos, and people are beginning to see the economic potential in materials such as PET bottles,” he said.
Spotlight on SERAP’s Unyielding Battle in Exposing Corruption, Demanding Public Accountability
Like a relentless bulldog, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has undoubtedly been at the forefront of Nigeria’s fight for transparency and accountability, challenging government officials to account for trillions of naira in public funds. Through legal action and Freedom of Information, FOI, requests, the organisation is demanding answers on the spending of FAAC allocations, local government funds, and oil revenues. It is also pushing for investigations into alleged corruption cases, including missing refinery rehabilitation funds and mismanaged ecological funds, amongst others. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that SERAP’s relentless pursuit of justice underscores its commitment to exposing corruption and ensuring public funds are used judiciously for the benefit of Nigerians
For over two decades, state governors have received trillions of naira from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), yet the impact of these funds remains questionable. What have they done with the money? How much of the allocations intended for local governments actually reached them?
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has made it its mission to uncover the truth, relentlessly demanding transparency in the management of public funds.
With a strong legal framework backing its work, the organisation continues to hold those in power to account as shown by the recent breakdown of SERAP’s latest calls for accountability, issued through letters and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
Trillions in FAAC Allocations: An Unanswered Question
In its latest move, SERAP has urged all 36 state governors and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to provide and publicly disclose records detailing how they have spent FAAC allocations since 1999.
The organisation has also asked them to invite anti-corruption agencies—the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)—to audit the use of these funds.
This demand follows reports that in March 2024 alone, FAAC disbursed N1.123 trillion to federal, state, and local governments, with states receiving N398.689 billion.
In its 20 April 2024 FOI request, SERAP emphasised:“Nigerians ought to know in what manner public funds, including FAAC allocations, are spent.”
Local Government Funds: The Missing Link Beyond state-level spending, SERAP is also pressing for transparency on funds allocated to local governments. It has demanded that governors disclose details of federal allocations meant for local councils and explain how much of the money was actually disbursed since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
The organisation is calling for an investigation, citing former President Muhammadu Buhari’s claim in December 2022: “If the money from the Federation Account to the State is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the chairman, but he will sign that he received N100 million. The chairman will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with.” SERAP maintains that the public has a right to know the truth about how local government funds have been handled.
N825 Billion and $2.5 Billion for Refinery Repairs: Where Did It Go?
SERAP has also turned its attention to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), urging its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kolo Kyari, to account for an alleged missing N825 billion and $2.5 billion reportedly allocated for refinery rehabilitation and other oil revenues. These concerns stem from the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2021 report, which was published on 27 November 2024.
The organisation has called on Kyari to identify those responsible for the missing funds and hand them over to the relevant anti-corruption agencies. Additionally, it has urged him to invite former President Olusegun Obasanjo to inspect Nigeria’s refineries, with the EFCC and ICPC monitoring the process to ensure accountability.
In a letter dated 4 January 2025, SERAP stated: “The grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution,
national anti-corruption laws, and the country’s international obligations.” It warned that if NNPCL fails to respond, the organisation will consider taking legal action in the public interest.
N26 Billion Missing from the Petroleum Ministry and PTDF
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also been called upon to act. SERAP has requested that he direct the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that over N26 billion in public funds was misappropriated from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in 2021.
This follows the publication of the Auditor-General’s 2021 audited report on 13 November 2024. In a letter dated 1 February
2025, SERAP stated:“Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
It further urged Tinubu to channel any recovered funds towards closing the deficit in the 2025 budget and addressing Nigeria’s mounting debt crisis.
N585.2 Million Diverted to a Private Account?
SERAP has also demanded an investigation into the alleged transfer of N585.2 million by former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu. The funds, meant for vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun states, were reportedly transferred to a private account belonging to an official in her ministry.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has made it its mission to uncover the truth, relentlessly demanding transparency in the management of public funds. With a strong legal framework backing its work,the organisation continues to hold those in power to account as shown by the recent breakdown of SERAP’s latest calls for accountability, issued through letters and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests
In its letter to President Tinubu, the organisation urged the government to determine whether the funds were indeed transferred and to publicly disclose the names of any individuals who may have benefited from the transaction.
SERAP also insisted that Edu be compelled to release full details of spending within the National Social Investment Programme (NSIPA), including a breakdown of payments made since 29 May 2023.
Appeal to the United States for Stolen Funds
Beyond Nigerian authorities, SERAP has also written to the United States government, urging it to track and recover assets linked to corruption by Nigerian public officials. In a letter addressed to US President Donald Trump, the organisation requested that the US Department of Justice initiate civil asset forfeiture proceedings to recover illicit funds.
This appeal follows the return of $52.88 million allegedly linked to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke. SERAP noted that this sum is “a tiny fraction of the over $500 billion that has been reportedly stolen from Nigeria and located in the US or otherwise subject to US jurisdiction.”
The Borno Ecological Fund Scandal
Another pressing issue SERAP has raised concerns the handling of ecological funds in Borno State. The organisation has urged President Tinubu to direct anti-corruption agencies to investigate how the billions of naira allocated for ecological projects since 2001 were spent—including N816 million collected between January and June 2024. The group argued that mismanagement of these funds has contributed to devastating environmental challenges such as flooding. It called for the prosecution of any officials found guilty of corruption, as well as the recovery of stolen funds.
In a letter dated 21 September 2024, SERAP emphasised:“Your government has a legal obligation to address the prevalence of flooding across the country and its effect on people, and to ensure that the money meant to stop the floods is not lost to corruption.”
Challenge to Fuel Price Hike
SERAP has also demanded that President Tinubu instruct the NNPCL to reverse the second increase in petrol prices within a month, pending the outcome of an ongoing court case challenging the company’s authority to do so.
It has already filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that the price increase—rising from N897 to N1,030 per litre—undermines the rule of law and exacerbates economic hardship.
“One of the fundamental principles of the rule of law is that it applies to everyone, including presidents and CEOs of public institutions,” SERAP stated in its open letter dated 12 October 2024.
SERAP’s Influence and Recognition
Since its founding in 2004, SERAP has been a driving force in Nigeria’s fight for human rights, press freedom, and government accountability. As a member of the UNCAC Coalition, a global anti-corruption network spanning over 100 countries, it has played a key role in exposing corruption.
Among its accolades, the organisation received the 2014 Anti-Corruption Defender Award at the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting. It has also been nominated for the UN Civil Society Award and the Ford Foundation’s Jubilee Transparency Award. With its growing influence, SERAP remains a formidable force, ensuring that public officials—no matter how powerful—are held to account.
SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare
Osimhen Top Transfer Targets for European Giants in Summer
Juventus have Ademola Lookman on their radar also
Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report
Nigerian international striker, Victor Osimhen, is the top transfer targets for many major clubs across Europe including Italian Serie A club Juventus, who also have fellow Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman in their sights.
According to Tuttosport, Juventus Sports Director, Guintoli, who signed Osimhen for Napoli from Lille in
TRANSFER NEWS
2020, has the 26-year-old striker as his No 1 target this summer.
But Juventus will have to pay premium for Osimhen as the 75 Million Euros release clause does not apply for Italian clubs, who will have to negotiate with Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis.
It was further reported that Ademola Lookman is also being
considered by Juve, who have resolved the issues that almost marred the transfer from Atalanta last summer.
However, it is not yet certain how Napoli President De Laurentiis will handle the involvement of Juve in the search for Osimhen’s signature.
He was last week quoted by SkySports Switzerland to be aiming to get the best from whichever club that will sign the Nigerian top striker in Summer.
De Laurentiis is staking a bidding war for Napoli to get as much money as they could from the Osimhen transfer.
The release clause for the 26-year-old 2023 African Player of the Year is 75 Million Euros and he still has a year left on his contract with Napoli.
Osimhen himself has insisted he is focused on winning a third straight Turkish Super Lig title on loan at Galatasaray and will not
be drawn into any transfer talks when reporters sought his opinion on the matter.
Besides Juventus in Serie A, there are also interests in Osimhen from PSG as well as English Premier League clubs, a situation which could spark bid war.
Saudi Arabia Pro League sides, A Hilal and Al Nassr have also not given up on the player who missed moving to the Middle East last summer.
President Tinubu to Lead Dignitaries to Opening Ceremony of Niger Delta Sports Festival
Phyno, Eben to perform for the 3,500 athletes and officials in Uyo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to officially flag off the much- anticipated inaugural edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) today in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The festival will be concluded on April 8 with about 3,000 athletes and over 500 officials competing in 17 sports.
In the last one week, the festival torch went on a tour of the nine mandate states of the NDDC that includes host Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo, Abia and Imo states. The torch tour which kicked off in Bayelsa State is expected to be lit in a cauldron at the Uyo Township Stadium at the opening ceremony today.
The usually dour and rustic Uyo Township has undergone a makeover that turned the city centre sports ground to a kaleidoscope of bright colours, patterns and sports
symbols. As would be said in local parlance ‘Niger Delta Development Commission hand has touched it.’
While security presence has become more pronounced, locals still found their ways into the ‘construction’ site with hawkers parading their goods while some traders set up stands displaying sporting apparel and footwear.
“This is looking like a carnival, and we are lucky to have the event in our state.
“Our stadium is now looking like those places abroad that we see on television,” Etuk James, a budding football player shared in a hearty chat with a friend who dragged him for a photograph against the backdrop of a boarded tunnel with the images of former internationals, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba, Nwankwo Kanu and Seun Ogunkoya.
According to the Main Organising Committee (MOC), the opening ceremony will feature 40 music and
African Warriors Fighting Championship Partners DAZN to Make Dambe Global
The African Warriors Fighting Championship (AWFC), the premier, traditional Nigerian boxing, has announced a groundbreaking broadcast partnership with DAZN, the world’s leading sports entertainment platform.
Under this exclusive agreement, DAZN will serve as AWFC’s global streaming partner and will broadcast the highly anticipated Dambe World Series —a tournament consisting of five events where Nigeria’s top athletes will face off against international challengers in the ancient sport of Dambe.
Originating in Nigeria, Dambe is a unique form of kickboxing that draws inspiration from traditional spear and shield combat.
Fighters use one hand, wrapped in rope, to strike, while the other is reserved for defence. Kicks, often with fierce intensity, are also a key part of the combat style.
AWFC has led the charge in increasing the Dambe’s global
visibility, with viral videos of sport garnering millions of views on social media.
This partnership with DAZN is a monumental step towards the AWFC’s goals of increasing the commercial viability of traditional Nigerian boxing and bringing Dambe to a global audience.
Leveraging DAZN’s ubiquity within fight sports and its unparalleled reach, AWFC will introduce the raw intensity, skill, and excitement of the sport to DAZN’s ever-growing combat audience.
The Dambe World Series will build upon the success of AWFC’s King of Dambe event in 2024, which featured the first-ever European competitor, Luke Leyland, facing off against AWFC veteran Shagon Yellow. The electrifying bout ended with a second-round stoppage for Yellow and attracted a live audience of 10,000, with millions more tuning in online.
comedy talents from the Niger Delta region and supported by cultural dancers from the NDDC states.
Foremost entertainment impresario, Edi Lawani who is also
the Chairman of the Culture and Entertainment Sub-committee said “We are bringing high energy sound systems with a full complement of exotic show lighting display and
large format screen projection”.
Itiako Ikpokpo, Lead Consultant at Dunamis Icon, organisers of the festival, said the event promises to provide a classy evening of music,
dance and culture. “We have lined up international afrobeat star, Phyno to lead the night that will also have Eben on stage,” concludes the cochairman.
US-based
Victor Okorie Pledges Not to Disappoint Gov Mba
Former Nigeria 400m hurdler, United States-based, Victor Okorie, has promised not to disappoint Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mba for his inclusion in the 12-man Local Organising Committee (LOC) for next year’s 23rd National Sports Festival, tagged Enugu 2026.
Okorie, a Performance Director on the current board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) assured the Governor of his total commitment for Enugu 2026 Games, just as he promised that he and other members of the LOC will deliver a hugely successful Festival.
Okorie is one of notable track and field stars included in the 12-man LOC released on Tuesday. Others include former African Queen of the Track, Mary Onyali and another AFN board member (representative of the Athletes Commission), Dr Henry Okorie.
Enugu 2026 will be the second time the National Sports Festival will hold in the Southeast region in history of the Games after Imo State hosted the 1998 edition.
Victor Okorie came into limelight at Imo ’98, where he won gold medal in the 400m hurdles.
Two years later at Bauchi 2000, he created a record by winning the title, thus emerging as one of the few athletes to have won the 400m gold back-to-back in the history of the Games.
Okorie later grabbed a silver medal in the 400m hurdles for Nigeria at COJA 2003 All Africa Games in Abuja, and also represented Nigeria at Paris 2003 World Athletics Championships.
Okorie led Nigeria’s delegation to the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA, where the duo of Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume won gold and silver medal respectively.
Speaking from his base in the United States yesterday, Okorie said: “First, I must appreciate Governor Mba for considering me among those
to serve in the LOC. I am really grateful. I also thank the Commissioner for Sports for believing in me. I have said it before that the choice of Enugu for the 2026 edition was perfect.
“I was born and brought up in Enugu and I started my athletics career in the city. I know more about the sports culture of the people. The city has been starved of a major sporting event for so long, and I am happy the National Sports Commission (NSC) picked Enugu for the 23rd edition. I am optimistic that the government and people of Enugu will deliver one of the best ever National Sports Festival in 2026,” Okorie concluded.
Organisers Promise Top-notch Event as SV Awards Holds Tomorrow
The Organising Committee of this year’s Sportsville Special Recognition Award ceremony is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a successful hosting of the much-anticipated event. Members of the committee led by the ebullient Chairman, Adekunle Salami, held the last pre-event meeting where details of preparation were discussed and concerns addressed thereafter.
“I can say with all confidence that
we are set for another first class award ceremony come April 3rd,” Salami who spoke immediately after the meeting assured all. He added; “it’s important we take this year’s ceremony to a higher dimension from what we had last year and that is why we needed this meeting to fine-tune preparations.
“Having heard from my members and the Chief Executive Officer of Sportsville Communication Services
Ltd, Hon Frank Ilaboya, I want to assure our Awardees and guests of another thrilling experience on April 3rd. “All the necessary plans for a top class hosting have been put in place and we pray to God to crown our efforts with success,” he added. One of the nominees for the ceremony, Dr Terry Eguaoje, also yesterday assured the organisers of his presence, same with Rotimi Pedro and Kingsley Awodi.
The Uyo Township Stadium waiting to receive the 3,500 athletes and officials as the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival kicks off today in the Akwa Ibom State capital
Victor Osimhen ....on radar of top clubs in Europe
Victor Okorie....excited with inclusion in the LOC for the 2026 National Sports Festival to hold in Enugu
MISSILE
HURIWA to Federal Govt
“We make this public supplication and appeal because any alteration to this deal (crude-for-Naira policy) would mean excruciating hardships and the massive affliction of poverty on millions of the already suffering, struggling and multidimensionally poor households. Political leadership is not about theatrics or empty rhetorics but leadership ought to be embedded in the virtues of compassion, care for humanity...” --HURIWANational Coordinator,EmmanuelOnwubiko,callsforthecontinuationoftheNaira-for-crudepolicy.
JamesUme
Alex Otti: When Empathy Governs
According to Pope Francis, the first Jesuit head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State, “The capacity for empathy leads to a genuine encounter - we have to progress toward this culture of encounter - in which heart speaks to heart.” This timeless insight by the venerable shepherd of Christ speaks to what is right - and often missing about humanity.
The second leg of this intervention dwells on “Gratitude” which as Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman statesman, scholar, philosopher, orator and writer asserted, “Is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”
These two enduring human and fundamentally spiritual attributes provide a fitting context for my rather emotional essay. Emotional, because as I shared a deeply felt message of gratitude from an important personality from the Abia State academia with Dr. Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, I was confronted with a most unexpected emotional outburst I had ever seen from a friend. It was an experience that completely changed my perception of leadership and leaders.
I must make it clear that I didn’t seek the permission of my friend, Alex, to recall this very personal incident. But I feel compelled by my conscience to bring it to the public.
The hardworking Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Dr. Christopher Kalu Okoro had sent me a message asking me to communicate the gratitude of the staff of his institution to Governor Alex Otti. Obviously, Alex had given the institution some unexpected and sudden funding lifeline.
The message read: “Chief please kindly help me thank Dr. Alex Otti for putting smiles once again on the faces of staff of our school. The healing process that will reverse the injustices meted on some members of the polytechnic community has just been birthed. This will definitely fast-track the transformation of our school. Chief, thank him specially on our behalf.”
At about 00:02am. last Monday, I forwarded the message to Alex, and he called me about 20 minutes later. We spoke for about 50 minutes. He was so surprised at the message and observed that people were so appreciative of some of the little things done by his administration.
But I reminded him that since he is an economist, and that in elementary economics, they teach about the tangible and the intangible indices of development. I told him this was one of those intangible development indices many underrate but which are really the things that count with the people. I’m sure he was in the bathroom or just exited it at the time because I could hear rushing water. While responding, he told me he just returned from a visit to the campuses of Abia State University in Umuahia and the main campus at Uturu for onsite assessment of facilities there. He said he was sad at the dilapidated conditions of infrastructure in the campuses, particularly the hostels. He gave a graphic description of the rot he saw. And while he was describing the state of the school, he burst into tears and started crying on the phone!
You read right. The state chief executive of Abia State, Governor Alex Otti, wept on
the phone because he saw students living in an uninhabitable environment! He said the hostels did not qualify for habitation even for animals! He was asking me, “James, how can we subject our children to these conditions?”
I was genuinely shocked and momentarily confused on how to respond. Here was a state governor crying because he found some students living in squalid conditions.
After I tried to calm him down, he revealed he promised the institution a brand-new hostel, a 5000-bed hostel for both male and female students. He also said the Faculty of Law at the Umuahia campuses of the university will be moved back to the main campus in Uturu. He said a structural engineer had told him that one of the faculty buildings had failed integrity test. So, he told them to knock down the building immediately and gave the VC three months to ensure there is “enormous progress” on the rebuilding works.
Apart from the extensive work he’s doing in the state, which shows preparedness and focus for leadership, Alex’s humility and empathy have improved my perception of character in leadership. The governor’s reaction to squalor and poverty also brought me close to tears.
Such a level of sensitivity to the welfare of the people was clearly uncommon. It was unprecedented. It is the type that drives philanthropy. I was also so moved that I felt a conscientious urgency to communicate this side of him to the public.
Alex’s decision to visit the campuses of the state university and the emotion he expressed at the living condition of students immediately brought home to me the reason leadership is said to be a trust. It reminded me about the words of Simon Sinek, a New York Times bestselling author of Leaders Eat Last, who said “Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge.”
Alex had taken charge of the needs and
expectations of the people who elected him into office. He is one of the few state chief executives I know who lead with compassion and empathy. He is connecting with the people and immersing himself in their struggles and worries. Alex has been able to inspire everyone and every sector of the state to believe that good governance is possible.
This is why he’s able to galvanise everyone to key into his vision in every sector. For instance, Abia State has established free and compulsory education from primary to secondary school to ensure children of the poor also have access to education. He set up a task force to enforce the policy. But the government later found out that there was no need for the task force. There was no need to chase anyone into the classroom; the people had embraced the policy declaration wholeheartedly.
The last time Alex visited my house in February this year, he told me the task force had no work to do because everybody had gone back to school! School enrolment had increased over a hundred percent since his declaration of free education! It was proof that lack of money was actually the reason kids were not going to school. When it became free, everyone automatically started going to school.
He also created a monthly stipend for all primary schools to ensure smooth administration of schools. Apart from salary and running costs, head teachers of the primary schools also get a stipend of one hundred thousand Naira monthly. They had never had it so good, and the future of education in the state had never been so bright.
These are little gestures from the government that can go a long way in motivating young people and changing the course of their lives for good. They are the intangible indices that are often overlooked but that directly benefit the people. I have no doubt that these are the soft touches of governance that will bring forth a new generation of Abia citizens.
By some coincidence, Alex’s passion for the educational emancipation of Abia folks is driven by a similar philosophical underpinning that guides my own humble intervention in the education arena and other sectors. Through the Unubiko Foundation, a philanthropic interventionist body I birthed over a decade ago, we have measurably impacted Abia State in the critical education sector as well as other key, diverse humanitarian sectors. The Unubiko Foundation Scholarship Program has benefitted hundreds of primary/secondary/ tertiary students in Abia and beyond.
The Foundation has granted funds exceeding one billion Naira to benefit more than 50 communities throughout Abia State and beyond. In line with SDG4-Education, the Unubiko Foundation targeted rebuilding and funding of educational projects across Nigeria.
I am hugely inspired by Nelson Mandela, Africa’s preeminent sage’s insight that, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” underscoring its transformative potential for individuals and society. Mandela rightly believed that education was crucial for personal
development and societal progress, enabling people to overcome adversity and achieve their full potential. What Alex is doing today in Abia State has simply fired me up further. But I digress.
As noted by Dr. Tracy Brower, a Ph.D. sociologist and author of The Secrets to Happiness at Work and Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work, empathy is the most important skill needed for successful leadership. Great leadership, she stated in a recent Forbes article, requires a fine mix of all kinds of skills to create the conditions for engagement and performance, but empathy tops the list of what leaders must get right. It is empathy that pushes a leader to understand the daily struggles of the people and find ways to lessen their challenges, as Dr. Alex Otti has been doing since he became governor of Abia State. All the policies and programs of his administration are evidence of an uncommon empath. All his infrastructure projects have directly touched the daily lives of the people, whether they be roads, bridges, or drainages. Alex is not just a man of the People, he is a man for the people. I had thought of myself as a humanist who believes in prioritizing the welfare of people. But Alex has taught me the true meaning of compassion and why it is critical for everyone to contribute to the pursuit of a meaningful life for the people and promote a compassionate society. It is not enough for us to live well as individuals or leaders. We must become socially responsible to impact society.
While governance may be some abstract concept in some states of the federation, Alex is making it a visible phenomenon in Abia State. The people see tangible proofs of a government that is working for them. The governor feels the pain of the people and works to take away the pains. That is leadership by empathy. It is how every leader should be.
Successful leaders, according to several studies, are those who consider the feelings, fears, and expectations of others in their decision-making. They are those who take their time to find out about the people directly, like Alex is doing in Abia. This increases cooperation from the people and fosters more empathy in society.
People will trust leaders who engage with them and show commitment to their cause. The people may not remember what you say, but they will remember how you made them feel. It was the way he made me feel after the midnight phone call that drove me to pen this tribute to a truly great leader, my friend and my brother.
According to renowned Austrian-American management sage Peter Drucker, “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence - it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” Alex has evidently envisioned a new order for Abia State and jettisoned yesterday’s development logic.
I dare say that Abia State is lucky to have such a man at the helm of affairs. It is as if God has finally answered the prayers of the people after decades of bad leadership. •Chief James Ume (Ike Abam) is the founder of Unubiko Foundation
