WEDNESDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2025

Senate Applauds EFCC’s Recoveries, Convictions Under Tinubu’s Watch

Moves to upgrade Balewa Tech varsity to conventional institution

The Senate yesterday com- mended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for what it described as an unprecedented performance in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing more

success to what they called a

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Profit declines by N323bn m-o-m Production constraints persist despite fiscal gains emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) remitted N10.073 trillion to the Federation Account between January and August 2025, according to the company’s September 2025 monthly performance report released yesterday. The cumulative figure represents statutory payments from oil and gas operations over the first eight months of the year,

Sanwo-Olu, Fashola, Ambode, Other APC Stakeholders Endorse Tinubu for Reelection

Ministers, federal lawmakers, Lagos supporters roll out achievements of govt Party stakes N20m prize money for LG with the highest registered voters ieA report: $150bn investment Needed

LAgOS APC StAkehOLderS’ FOrum eNdOrSeS tiNubu FOr 2027...

L-R: Chairman, APC Lagos, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi; Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi; Secretary of the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, Alhaji Mutiu Are; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; GAC Leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; his wife, Oluremi; Ex-Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN; Senator Tokunbo Abiru; member of the Federal House of representatives, Hon. James Faleke and a party chieftain during the 2025 Lagos State All Progressives Congress, APC Stakeholders’ Forum, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, ... yesterday

EmPloyAbility And CArEEr FAir orgAniSEd by nECA...

L-R:Learning and Development Manager, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Florence Adetola-Alao; Chairman, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management(CIPM), Oyo State Branch, Omolara Onipede; General Manager, Business Transformation, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Lara Yeku; Deputy Head Operations, Stanbic IBTC, Olufunke Amobi; Director-General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association(NECA), Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, and Chairperson, NECA Ibadan Geographical Group, Adenike Agiri during the Employability and Career Fair organized by NECA in Ibadan, Oyo State, ….yesterday

House in Heated Debate Over Motion to Shield Dangote Refinery, Others from Industrial Unrest

Probes over $1.8bn grants, $2.8bn received by Nigeria from global fund, USAID

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The House of Representatives was involved in a heated debate yesterday over a motion seeking to protect the Dangote Refinery and other strategic private investments from “adversarial” labour union activities.

Also yesterday, the House of Representatives resolved to investigate over $1.8 billion grant and $2.8 billion received by Nigeria from Global Fund and USAID from 2021 to 2025, for fighting HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and for supporting resilient and sustainable systems for health.

The motion seeking to protect the Dangote Refinery and others from adversarial labour union activities was in response to the recent industrial face-off between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, which temporarily disrupted operations at the facility and

also led to scarcity of fuel and Gas across the country.

The motion was jointly sponsored by Alhassan Doguwa (APC, Kano) and Abdulssamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto) at the resumed plenary yesterday.

Moving the motion, Doguwa said the strike action at the $20 billion Dangote Refinery in the Lekki Free Trade Zone disrupted production and resulted in a daily loss of about 200,000 barrels of crude oil for three days.

He expressed worry that continued union disruptions could discourage investors and undermine confidence in the NigerianDoguwaeconomy.described the refinery as a strategic national asset whose stability was critical to Nigeria’s energy security and economic growth.

The lawmaker was of the opinion that since the refinery operates within a Free Trade Zone, it falls under the regula- tory framework of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones

Authority (NEPZA), citing Section 5 of the NEPZA Act, which exempts employment in such zones from regular labour enactments.

Furthermore, Dogunwa pointed out that employment in the Free Zone was governed by rules and regulations made by the Authority and not subject

to the provision of enactments relating to employment matters.

He argued that the actions by labour unions that disregard the legal protections conferred on Free Zone, under NEPZA Act, not only constitute a breach of law but also created a hostile investment environment that may deter future local and

foreign investors. The lawmaker warned that if private investment of strategic national importance was continually subjected to unlawful disruptions by adversarial unionism, Nigeria risks not only the failure of key economic assets but also the erosion of investor confidence necessary for national growth and development. In his submission, the cosponsor of the motion, Dasuki, reinforced the argument, citing Section 18(5) of the NEPZA Act, which prohibits strikes or lockouts for 10 years from the commencement of operations within a Free Zone.

Local, Foreign Power Firms to Showcase Services, Opportunities at Lagos Energy Summit

8,500 industry thought-leaders to brainstorm on Nigeria’s electricity future

Peter Uzoho

More than 200 highly-rated power equipment manufac- turers and service providers from around the world have been lined up to showcase their products and services and explore opportunities within the Nigerian energy market as the they participate at the 12th edition of the

Nigeria Energy Exhibition and Conference, next week.

Themed “Powering Nigeria through Investment, Innova- tion and Partnership”, the event scheduled to be held in Lagos from October 28 to 30, 2025, would also bring together over 8,500 industry thought-leaders, including energy professionals, decision- makers, and innovators to tackle Nigeria’s most pressing energy challenges and explore investment-driven solutions across the value chain.

into Six New Regions

Osuntokun Proposes Collapse of Nigeria’s 36 States

Calls for true federalism, end to ‘unitary masquerade’ Advocates parliamentary system, merit-based appointments, youth military service

Sunday Ehigiator

Emeritus Professor of History and International Relations, University of Lagos, Prof. Akinjide Osuntokun, has proposed the restructuring of Nigeria’s political system, calling for the collapse of the existing 36 states into six large, culturally aligned regions to restore true federalism and national unity in the country. He gave the proposal while

delivering the keynote lecture on Nigeria’s political trajectory at the inaugural Hon. Joseph Oduola Osuntokun Lecture Series, held yesterday in Lagos. Speaking on Nigeria’s latent power and its diminishing influ- ence in West Africa, Osuntokun said the nation’s size and population confer significant regional influence, which he argued, had been undermined by internal insecurity and poor

governance.

“Our big size and population as a country confer us influ- ence, if not power. We are the only country in the ECOWAS region that can deploy combined military operations, the army, navy, and air force, for regional peace

“Yetmissions. our potential remains latent, and our admirers are tired of waiting for it to be made manifest,” he said.

According to Informat

Markets, the organisers of the annual event, the over 200 foreign and local exhibitors would showcase their products and services as well as the opportunities across six key sectors of energy consumption and management, smart metering and smart solutions, backup generators and critical power, transmission and distribution, battery and e-mobility, as well as renewables and cleanUnveilingenergy.this year’s edi- tion at a press conference

held yesterday in Lagos, Informa Market said discussions would be focused on unlocking the capital, policy reforms, and technologies needed to build a more reliable and sustainable power“Oversector. 8,500 energy profes- sionals, including energy commissioners, develop- ers, regulators, financiers, and technology providers, are expected to participate across three days of high-level summits, technical sessions, and interactive exhibitions.

Kano, Jigawa, Katsina Sign N50bn Energy Investment Deal

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

The Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has led the signing of a N50 billion tri-State Energy Investment Agreement with the governments of Katsina and Jigawa AccordingStates. to a statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the landmark

deal marked a major step toward strengthening energy security and accelerating economic transformation in Northern Nigeria.

The agreement, finalised dur- ing the high-level Electrification Summit held in Marrakech, Morocco, recently, would see the three states jointly establish a regional electricity market and acquire equity stakes in Future Energies Africa

(FEA), the core investor in the Kano Electricity Distribution CompanyGovernor(KEDCO). Yusuf, who initiated the collaborative framework, said the partner- ship was a strategic effort to achieve energy sufficiency, promote economic inclusion, and create a environmentbusiness-friendly that supports sustainable industrial growth in Kano and the entire region.

UNILAG ALUMNI’S 55TH ANNIVERSARY AWARDS...

L-R: Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, SAN; Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, UNILAG Vice Chancellor; Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education; Lady Princess Omolara Olanipekun; Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman, UNILAG; Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, President Worldwide, UNILAG Alumni Association; and Dr. Oladapo Olanipekun, SAN, at the UNILAG Alumni 55th Anniversary Awards and Dinner at Eko Hotel and Suites, on Friday

FG to Connect ALSCON to National Power Grid, Complete 330KVA Substation

Aluminium firm promises employment for 15,000 Nigerians at full capacity

Emmanuel

The federal government is set to revive the Aluminium Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, managed by Rusal, by ensuring its connection to the national electricity grid.

When fully operational, the government said the plant will in turn add 540 megawatts of electricity to the grid, while

providing direct and indirect employment opportunities for about 15,000 Nigerian professionals and the youth population.

Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, made this commitment when he paid a working visit to the company in Ikot Abasi, where he lamented that 37 years after its establishment, lack of alternative electricity supply has hindered the country

from benefiting from the huge investment.

While addressing the management, Adelabu promised a temporary solution that would see the company being connected to the grid, while work on a long-term solution continues.

On the long abandoned Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC)-owned 330KVA substation in the community, which

was about 90 per cent completed at the time it was abandoned, Adelabu said efforts would be made to ensure its completion within the shortest possible time.

The Minister noted that ALSCON was conceived in 1989, but not completed until 1998, adding that with the privatisation programme of the federal government in 2006, the company was taken over by

Nigeria’s Reform Momentum Lifts Market Confidence, NGX Crosses 151,000 Basis Points

Nigeria’s stock market climbed to a new high this week, extending its rally on the back of broad economic reforms and improving investor sentiment.

The Nigerian Exchange Lim- ited All-Share Index (NGX ASI) advanced 1.01 per cent yesterday to close at 151,456.91 basis points, pushing market capitalisation to N96.13 trillion.

The index has now gained 6.1 per cent this month and 47.2 per cent year-to-date, underscoring the strength of demand in blue- chip stocks across key sectors.

The market’s advance underscores renewed investor confidence and the resilience

of Nigeria’s capital markets amid a shifting macroeconomic environment. Analysts noted that the rally reflects sustained demand for blue-chip stocks in the banking, industrial, oil and gas, and consumer goods sectors, a trend buoyed by reform-led optimism, improving foreign exchange liquidity, and a more stable economic outlook.

The rebound coincides with a broader policy reset that has redefined Nigeria’s economic outlook. Measures such as the liberalisation of the naira, the removal of fuel subsidies, and closer coordination between fiscal and monetary authorities have begun to restore a degree of macroeconomic stability, even

as inflation remains elevated.

These themes dominated discussions at the Financial Times Africa Summit 2025 in London, where Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, joined a panel titled “Nigeria’s Economic Journey: Crisis, Recovery, and Risk.”

Popoola noted that much of the market’s resilience can be traced to a “wave of coordinated reforms” that have rebuilt confidence in the country’s financial architecture. “The strength we’ve seen in the market has been driven largely by reforms, from the President’s economic agenda to decisive actions by the Central Bank of Nigeria

FG Flags Off Personnel Audit, Skill Gap Analysis Project in MDAs

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The federal government has officially launched the Personnel Audit and Skill Gap Analysis Project (PASGA), tagged Project Phoenix across federal government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The project is a strategic initiative aimed at optimising human resource management.

In his keynote address, the Secretary to the Govern- ment of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, stressed that PASGA would foster a more competent and responsive civil service.

The SGF was represented

by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma. He stated: ‘‘In today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment, it is essential to ensure our workforce is equipped with the right skills, knowledge, competence, and drive to success.

(CBN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), PENCOM, and other regulators,” he said. “These efforts have created the right foundation for investor confidence and renewed market activity.”Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Emomotimi Agama, echoed similar sentiment, pointing to the Investments and Securities Act 2025 as a turning point for governance and regulatory transparency in the market.

Aluminium Smelting Company of Russia.

“These huge investments by the country have suffered from lack of power supply in the last 27 years, as they have not been connected to the grid, and we are very much aware of the huge potential of an institution like this in the upstream, midstream and downstream conversion of aluminium.

“They can create a lot of employment for our teeming youths, serve as a supplier of raw materials to every downstream aluminium company and save us huge foreign exchange for imports of these raw materials,” he stated.

He said the federal government was taking crucial steps to make provision of electricity to the majority of Nigerians by 2030, in line with vision 2030 at the Tanzania declaration.

“I have come to visit the company to discuss with the owners of the company, and all the other stakeholders, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC),

and all the contractors involved, to devise an immediate solution to solve the power problem this company has been facing.

“I am happy that we made very good progress with this meeting. We have determined what the short-term solution is to connect this company, this institution to the national grid, and we have also agreed on what the medium-term solution should be.

“But the most important part of this meeting is the fact that the company also has the potential of supplying 540 MW of power onto the national grid when fully completed,” Adelabu stated.

According to him, the company has an installed capacity of 540 MW, comprising six turbines of 90 MW each, which are still in very good condition. “Once all the infrastructure are put in place, the 330/132KV substation, which is being constructed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, together with the 330kv DC lines from Ikot- Ekpene to Ikot-Abasi, we will be able to evacuate the entire of this 540 MW to the national grid”, he said.

The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has rejoiced with former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), on the occasion of his 91st birthday.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya, on behalf of his colleagues in the NSGF, described General Gowon as an iconic statesman, nation builder and symbol of unity,

whose visionary leadership helped shape the course of Nigeria’s history.

According to a press release issued by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General (Press Affairs), Government House, Gombe, which was made available to journalists yesterday, the governor lauded the former head of state’s enduring contributions to peacebuilding and national cohesion, noting that his life remains a shining example of patriotism, humility and selfless service.

“General Gowon’s steadfast commitment to promoting peace and harmony, particularly through his Nigeria Prays initiative and other noble causes, continues to strengthen the bonds of unity and patriotism among Nigerians,” the NSGF Chair- man said. He also applauded the former head of state’s devotion to the moral and spiritual well-being of the nation, which he described as deeply inspiring and worthy of emulation.

TECHNOLOGY TIMES THOUGHT LEADERSHIP SERIES DINNER...

during the Technology Times Thought Leadership Series Dinner held in Lagos, on Monday

Kukah: Why Nigeria Should Not Be Designated ‘Country of Concern’ by US

Says floods of blood in Nigeria have no boundaries Blames weak Nigerian state for descent into anarchy Declares Nigerians vulnerable irrespective of faith, ethnicity, social classes Insists Buhari’s administration gave oxygen to jihadists Maintains designating Nigeria country of concern will make dialogue harder

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria, Matthew Kukah, has argued against designating Nigeria as a ‘Country of Concern’ by the United States government, stressing that it will inevitably make the situation worse and make dialogue even more difficult.

In his comments at the launch of the Church in Need (ACIN) 2025 World Report on Religious Freedom in the World, Kukah stated that although there are obvious killings of Christians in Nigeria, the blood being shed in the country has no boundaries.

He blamed a weak Nigerian state, made worse under the erstwhile government of Muhammadu Buhari, who intentionally sidelined Christians, arguing that while the terrorists deployed their guns under his administration, the ex-President used his pen to achieve the same aim.

For over 15 years now, he argued that these murderous

gangs of Islamicists and jihadist groups found their way into the country, wreaking havoc, destroying lives and properties, ravaging farmlands and leaving huge parts of the country empty of human existence.

Along with this, Kukah stated that there is a culture of uncontrolled banditry, thousands of communities have been destroyed, with thousands of lives lost, as the country has witnessed an unacceptable surge in internal displacement in most parts of the north especially around the middle belt states.

Tracing the origin of the violence, he stated that while Christians were the sole targets initially, the terrorists are now going after Muslims who do not believe in their brand of Islam.

“Today, the floods of blood in Nigeria have no boundaries. This is why the debate over what is happening to us has become so confusing within and outside Nigeria. Although we cannot find the right words, the simple truth is that Nigerians are dying

for a “Theliving.confusion over the appropriate language is understandable. The greatest area of concern is how much this tragic turn of events has disrupted years of Nigeria being a colourful tapestry of wonderful human relationships marked by great friendships among our people, across faiths and ethnicities.

“For example, I live in Sokoto, right in the womb of Islam. If we were dealing with outright perse- cution of Christians on grounds of identity, both myself and my

small flock would not exist. For example, on September 8th, 2011, the ceremony of my ordination and installation as the Bishop of Sokoto was marked by this exemplary show of collaboration between the Diocese, the state government and the Sultan who personally enthusiastically provided accommodation for my guests during the occasion.

“ I received the gift of a new Prado Jeep from a Muslim friend of mine who said to me, Bishop; This is my gift to you for your pastoral work in your vast Diocese! On the 30th of

September this year, the Sultan himself was physically in the premises of our Secretariat where we commissioned an ICT facility with almost 300 computers for youth and children. This is not to say that there are no problems, but our daily lives should be defined by a better narrative.

“We are therefore not dealing with cases of people who are going around wielding machetes and looking for me to kill because I am a Christian. I travel in my official regalia as Bishop in and out of Sokoto. We carry out our religious services

with no molestations. However, what is important is not to create the impression that we have no“Weproblems. do have serious prob- lems but these have escalated because the federal and state governments have, over the years, allowed these problems to fester. The inability of the federal government and its security agencies to end these killings has created the condition for the genocide that has taken over many communities today,” Kukah stated.

Continues online

Defilement of Minors: Senate Passes Bill Proposing Life Imprisonment

Raises penalty for rape to minimum of 10 years

Senate on Tuesday proposed life imprisonment without an option of fine for anyone convicted

FG Empowers 39,000 MSMEs with N2.5bn Each in Katsina

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

No fewer than 39,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Katsina State have received N2.5 billion grants from the federal government to resuscitate and enhance their businesses.

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, who disclosed this at the Ninth Expanded Na- tional MSME Clinics in Katsina, Tuesday, said the 39,000 MSMEs

received different interventions from the government.

He said the federal government has introduced numerous sup- port programmes, including the N75 billion MSME intervention fund administered by the Bank of Industry, which provides N5 million loans to 75,000 MSMEs nationwide at an interest rate of nine per cent per annum. He added that the Tinubuled federal government has also rolled out a 50 billion

Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme to support one million nano-businesses across the 774 local government areas of the country with N50,000 each.

Shettima said: “Likewise, under the 75 billion Naira Manufacturers Fund, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is providing critical financial support to health businesses in the manufacturing sector, pushing the high costs of production, marketing, and distribution.

of defiling a minor, as part of sweeping amendments to the Criminal Code Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The upper chamber said the stiffer penalty was necessary to deter offenders and protect children from sexual abuse, which it described as “a grievous crime capable of destroying a child’s life forever.”

The bill, which originated from the House of Representatives and was sent to the senate for concurrence, seeks to overhaul several provisions of the coun- try’s criminal code to address contemporary realities.

During plenary, lawmakers unanimously voted to approve the life sentence clause for the offence of defilement, which currently carries a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the

session, said, “Defilement is even more serious than rape. It is a very serious issue and should carry the most severe punishment.

Any defilement of a minor in Nigeria henceforth attracts life imprisonment. Let everyone be aware.”

The senate also increased the penalty for rape and other forms of forced sexual intercourse, whether involving male or female victims, to a minimum of 10 years in prison.

While former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Adamu Aliero, had proposed life imprisonment for rape, the chamber resolved to fix 10 years as the minimum sentence upon conviction.

Clause 2(1) of the new bill states, “Any person who detains a man or boy, a girl or a woman against his or her will in any premises to have unlawful carnal knowledge of him or her, commits

a felony and shall be liable to imprisonment for not less than 10 years.”

Former Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, drew attention to the need to recognise that rape victims could be male or female.

Oshiomhole argued that the law should reflect the reality, stating, “The rapist could be a male raping a male, a male raping a female, a female raping a female or female raping a male.”

The senate accordingly amended the clause to cover all genders.

However, consideration of other sections of the bill, particularly those relating to pregnancy termination and abortion, was suspended and referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further scrutiny.

Nigeria, Denmark Sign MoU on Digitalisation, Innovation

Partnership to drive AI development, digital infrastructure, and connectivity across Nigeria FG hails Denmark’s €12m support for tech talent programme, pledges deeper cooperation

Sunday Ehigiator

Nigeria and Denmark have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in digi- talisation, innovation, artificial intelligence, and connectivity, a move described by both countries as the beginning of a new era of technology-driven partnership.

The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Com- munications, Innovation and

Segun James

The re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu got a major boost yesterday, as high profile stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) endorsed the president for another term of four years at a forum in Lagos.

Although the endorsement did not come as a surprise given Tinubu’s tight hold on the politics of the state since

in August alone.

The remitted funds include proceeds from crude and condensate sales, gas sales, royalties, taxes, and other payments due to the Federation. The remittance in August was an increase of about N1.21 trillion compared to July.

This is against the company’s cumulative remittance of N8.86 trillion to the Federation Account between January and July 2025, underscoring its growing role as the country’s fiscal anchor despite persistent industry challenges.

While the company also declared a profit after tax of N539 billion for the previous month in August, backed by steady crude oil and gas output, stronger product availability, and improved operational efficiency across its facilities, however this declined in September to N216 billion. This constituted about N323 billion reduction in profit.

But the September profit was an increase compared to the N185 billion declared in July; but a slump from the N905 billion declared for its June operations and a further drop from the N1.054 trillion recorded in the previous month of May.

Besides, Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production averaged 1.61 million bpd in September as against 1.65 mil- lion barrels per day in August, which further represented a 2.9 per cent dip from July’s 1.70 million bpd production.

Crude oil and condensate

Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and Danish State Secretary for Trade and Investment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lina Gandløse Hansen, at the fourth edition of the NORDIC Nigeria Connect held yesterday in Lagos.

The forum had the theme, “Forging Partnerships for Sustainable Impact.”

The MoU followed Tijani’s visit to Copenhagen in August. It aims to strengthen coopera- tion between both nations in

1999, it was significant for a man who lost the state in the last presidential election. This time, all the stakeholders seemed to have come together in unison to give him the nod. And they are leaving no stone unturned in that regard.

The decision was reached by thousands of the party’s chieftains and members during the APC Stakeholders’ Forum 2025 held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island.

production averaged around 1.56 to 1.69 million barrels per day during the period, including condensates. Although below the nation’s technical capacity, the level was sufficient to support a reasonable inflow into government accounts.

The report attributed temporary output moderation to planned maintenance activities at key facilities, including the Nigeria LNG plant, and delays in the recommencement of operations at certain oil mining leases.

On gas, average daily produc- tion stood at about 6.28 billion standard cubic feet per day in September, while a significant portion of this was commercialised through domestic and export channels, contributing to the overall revenue performance.

Despite the fiscal operations outcome, operational challenges persisted across parts of the production and supply chain.

Maintenance shutdowns at producing terminals and pipeline constraints continued to limit crude evacuation.

But the report noted gradual recovery of previously shut-in volumes and ongoing work on critical infrastructure such as the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline. Once completed, the OB3 line is expected to enhance gas transportation and support industrial supply growth. It reported that OB3 is now at 96 per cent completion.

In the same vein, the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK)

building digital public infrastructure, expanding internet connectivity, and supporting Nigeria’s technology talent ecosystem.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hansen said Denmark’s collaboration with Nigeria was driven by mutual respect and shared ambition for innovation-led growth.

Hansen said, “This signing is a direct result of the Honourable Minister’s recent visit to Copenhagen, which

Some of the stakeholders included Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; two of his predecessors, Mr Babatunde Fashola and Mr Akinwunmi Ambode; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; his wife, Oluremi; and Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

Also endorsing the president were members of APC National Working Committee (NWC)

gas pipeline is now at 88 per cent completion, while upstream pipeline availability was 96 per cent during the month under consideration. NNPC Retail maintained a significant level of fuel supply across the country during the review month, with most of its filling stations having products at 77 per cent.

Beyond its operational metrics, the report also highlighted several public-impact activities executed through the NNPC Foundation. These included training programmes for more than 7,000 smallholder farmers in the northern region, free

“quiet revolution” in the agency’s operations, following what they hailed as the President’s appoint- ment of competent professionals to lead key anti-graft institutions.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while leading the commendation, said the EFCC’s achievements were evidence of strong leadership and institutional focus.

He said: “When you appoint the right people into the right offices, you get the right results. What we are seeing in the EFCC today is the product of effective leadership and focused oversight.”

Akpabio urged the Commis- sion to publish data on frivolous or politically motivated petitions, stressing that many Nigerians often mistake petitions for convictions.

“Publishing the number of petitions found to be baseless will

sparked a great deal of mutual interest and dialogue. And true to the Danish spirit, when Nigeria calls for collaboration, Denmark responds.”

She described the MoU as “the first tangible step forward” following the minister’s inauguration of the Nordic-African Summit at the Tech Barbecue innovation festival in Copenhagen earlier this year, assuring that Denmark will “do its part to ensure this cooperation grows

and State Working Committee (SWC), serving and former federal and state lawmakers, appointees, council chairmen, as well as traditional, religious, political, women, youth, student leaders and members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC).

Equally present were members of the State Executive Council, market leaders, and community development associations.

cardiac interventions for indigent patients, and participation in creative-industry development initiatives. Although not directly linked to core operations, these interventions formed part of the company’s social-investment commitments.

The report further indicated that all production, sales, and financial figures are provisional, pending reconciliation with rel- evant stakeholders. Nonetheless, the trend suggests that NNPC could exceed its 2024 remittance record if current conditions persist through the final quarter of the year.

help correct public misconcep- tions and enhance transparency,” he said.

The commendations followed the Senate’s consideration of a motion sponsored by Senator Udende Emmanuel (APC, Benue North East), titled “Urgent Need to Commend the EFCC for Its Significant Gains in Recent Times, Particularly in 2024.”

Leading the debate, Senator Emmanuel detailed the agency’s impressive asset and cash recov- eries across multiple currencies during the year.

These include N364.6 billion; $215 million; £54,315.64; €31,275; CAD$2,990; AUD$740; CFA7.8 million; UAE Dirham 170; Saudi Riyal 5,115; 73,000 Korean won; 105 Japanese yen; 225 Ghanaian cedis; and 50 South African rand.

According to him, the EFCC also secured forfeitures of 173 vehicles, 378 electronics, 14

into concrete initiatives”.

Tijani hailed Denmark’s swift commitment to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, describing the MoU as “the beginning of many great things between both countries.”

He stated, “Just under two months ago, we agreed that we would sign this MoU, and here we are today. This is not just a symbolic signing; it is a testament to Denmark’s genuine interest in Nigeria’s growth. Even

While ministers, federal lawmakers, and other Lagos supporters rolled out some of the major achievements of the government, the party leadership staked N20 million prize money for any local government with the highest registered voters.

The motion endorsing Tinubu for another term in 2027 was moved by the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, and seconded by Obasa. They said the president had done a lot in the last two years to qualify for the presidency in the next general election.

Sanwo-Olu said Tinubu deserved to be supported for another term because he had fulfilled many of his campaign promises to Nigerians.

He stated, “Our president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was once the 12th governor of Lagos State. We have listened to all of our stakeholders here today. And all of the representa- tives of the stakeholders in the Lagos APC have come to the conclusion that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should return as our president in 2027.

“I believe that this message

landed properties, one hotel, two gold Cuban chains, 784 estates, and large volumes of petroleum products.

Other forfeited assets, he added, included N9.477 billion; $2.6 million; £1,600; 13.37 Bitcoin worth about $573,000; 5.978 Ethereum valued at $13.35 million; and 298.47 Green Satoshi Tokens valued at $6.1 million.

Several senators took turns to commend the EFCC’s courage and professionalism, noting that its operations had restored both domestic and international confidence in Nigeria’s anti- corruption framework.

Akpabio noted that for every conviction secured by the EFCC, “at least ten potential crimes are deterred,” underscoring the preventive role of the agency in safeguarding national finances. He also drew attention to the EFCC’s growing effectiveness in

before the MoU, Denmark had already committed about €12 million to support our 3 million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, and this partnership will deepen that cooperation.”

will get to Aso Rock, it will get to the Villa and will get to all the nooks and crannies of this greatWhilecountry.”moving the motion, Shotobi said, “We endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to go for the second time. So I move.”

Obasa, seconding the motion, said, “In view of the submissions made by all the stakeholders and the motion just being moved by our Royal Majesty of Ikorodu, I do hereby second the motion of my colleagues from Lagos State and of our Assembly and the people of Lagos State. I so second.”

Speaking on why Tinubu should be considered for another term, Hamzat said, “As we look toward the future, we must recognise the importance of “Thecontinuity.leadership at the federal level, under the visionary guid- ance of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has continued to demonstrate courage, vision, and commit- ment to national transformation.

“The reforms being expe-

Continued on page 36

tackling cybercrime and cross- border financial fraud, calling for greater synergy between the Commission and the Office of the National Security Adviser to curb emerging threats from international syndicates.

During the debate, Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara South) emphasised the impor- tance of transparency in how the EFCC manages a small percentage of recovered assets legally retained by the agency.

“While commending the EFCC, we must also ensure that any retained funds are properly accounted for. Commendation must go hand-in-hand with oversight,” he said.

In response, Emmanuel clarified that such expenditures require presidential approval and National Assembly oversight, reaffirming that the EFCC

Continued on page 37

FEaturEs

IMF: Acknowledging CBN’s Reforms Impact on Economic Growth, Exchange Rate Stability

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has acknowledged the positive impact of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-led economic reforms in Nigeria. The declining inflation rate, naira stability, rising foreign reserves, economic buffers and other supportive domestic factors are listed as significant benefits from the exchange rate reforms and foreign investor-friendly policies. These, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso said, ensured that higher tariffs impact on the economy remained subdued and supported IMF’s two-year upward growth revision for the Nigeria economy. Precious Ugwuzor reports

The verdict from the IMF that Nigeria’s economy remained strong in the face of global headwinds from trade tariffs, oil prices decline, prolonged financial markets uncertainty and corrections did not surprise many stakeholders.

For the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, there were strategic efforts taken by both monetary and fiscal authorities that provided strong buffers for the economy and triggered IMF growth revisions for the country.

Speaking during the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four (G-24) press briefing at the 2025 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, US, the CBN said that Nigeria’s economy has been fully restructured and resilient, with huge buffers against global risks.

Cardoso, who is the leader of the Nigeria delegation at the meetings, said the naira, has equally emerged as a competitive currency, with the economy witnessing positive trade balances and large businesses moving from imports to export of locally produced goods and commodities.

On the impact of the trade tariffs on the domestic economy, he said the tariffs are less of problems for the country.

“And I think we were very fortunate, because a lot of the things that were needed to have been done, we did them much earlier, and as a result of that, we're able to create resilience and buffers against potential shocks,” he stated.

“And for us again, oil is basically the only commodity that was so exposed to the tariffs, and the impact of that was relatively modest. We now have a more competitive currency with the results that, for once, we have a situation where we have a positive balance of trade surplus, and we expect it to be six per cent in GDP for some time,” he said.

“So basically, what is happening is a complete restructuring of the economy, where we are encouraging people to go into domestic production, and, of course, discouraging imports,” he added.

Cardoso explained that oil was the oil commodity that was exposed to the trade tariffs, but the impact was equally modest.

“So, and of course, in terms of anchoring expectations, we found that those who followed the Nigerian economy were fairly comfortable. And for us, again, oil is basically the only commodity that was so exposed, and the impact of that was relatively modest,” he said.

In his remarks, G-24 Chairman, Pablo Quirno noted that recent adverse shocks in global economy have left growth below pre-pandemic levels, with rising policy uncertainties creating substantial medium-term headwinds.

“Emerging market and developing economies have faced deteriorating terms of trade, reduced export volumes, and declining foreign currency earnings. Many of these countries have implemented domestic policies to mitigate uncertainty, but constrained policy space underscores the urgent need for collective solutions supported by multilateral institutions,” he said.

Nigeria’s revised growth for 2025, 2026

The IMF also gave a positive growth forecast of 3.9 per cent to Nigeria in 2025, and 4.1 per cent in 2026.

In its World Economic Outlook (WEO) report for October 2025 , the

September.

IMF Economic Counsellor Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, said the Fund based its outlook for Nigeria on several improving macroeconomic indicators and supportive domestic factors.

He said factor responsible for the higher growth revision include improved oil production, rising investor confidence, a supportive fiscal stance, and given its limited exposure to higher US tariffs.

According to him, the Fund also listed the stability in the exchange rate, rising foreign reserves and rebasing of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as significant factors expected to propel the Nigeria economy forward in 2026.

Aside Nigeria, many other economies see significant downward revisions because of the changing international trade and official aid landscape.

“Whereas growth in Nigeria is revised upward on account of supportive domestic factors, including higher oil production, improved investor confidence, a supportive fiscal stance in 2026, and given its limited exposure to higher US tariffs, many other economies see significant downward revisions because of the changing international trade and official aid landscape,” he said.

He said that the 10 to 12 per cent weakening of the dollar has helped financial conditions in many emerging market economies, especially countries that have dollar denominated debt. He added that local currency recovery and dip in inflation figures have also been supported by weakening dollar.

“The depreciation of the dollar also helps a number of these countries on inflation front, because a lot of goods are invoiced in those dollars, and so the pricing dollar remains constant, but the dollar itself is weaker. This helps to reduce input prices, and lead to drop in inflation,” he said.

IMF Deputy Director in the Research Department, Petya Koeva Brooks, said that many low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa benefited from preferential access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which expired in

She explained that in sub-Saharan Africa, growth is expected to remain subdued, unchanged in 2025 from 4.1 percent in 2024, before picking up to 4.4 percent in 2026.

“This is an upward revision relative to the April 2025 WEO forecast by a cumulative 0.5 percentage point, but a downward revision of 0.1 percentage point compared with the October 2024 WEO,” she said.

According to the WEO report, the global economy is adjusting to a landscape reshaped by new policy measures.

It projected global economy growth to slow from 3.3 per cent in 2024 to 3.2 percent in 2025 and 3.1 percent in 2026, with advanced economies growing around 1.5 percent and emerging market and developing economies just above 4 percent.

It said that some extremes of higher tariffs were tempered, due to subsequent deals and resets.

“But the overall environment remains volatile, and temporary factors that supported activity in the first half of 2025—such as front-loading—are fading.

As a result, global growth projections in the latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) are revised upward relative to the April 2025 WEO but continue to mark a downward revision relative to the pre-policy-shift forecasts,” the report said.

Likewise, inflation is projected to continue to decline globally, though with variation across countries: above target in the United States—with risks tilted to the upside—and subdued elsewhere.

“Trade diplomacy should be paired with macroeconomic adjustment. Fiscal buffers should be rebuilt. Central bank independence should be preserved. Efforts on structural reforms should be redoubled.”

“The tactics that keep activity seemingly resilient in the short term, such as trade diversion and rerouting, are costly. Suboptimal reallocation of productive resources, technological decoupling, and limitations on knowledge diffusion are bound to restrain growth over the longer term,” it said.

The Fund said the global economy has

shown resilience to the trade policy shocks, including because these shocks materialized on a smaller scale than expected at their onset, but the drag from shifting policies is becoming visible in more recent data. There have been several common drivers of growth patterns across countries but also some important idiosyncratic factors.

How it started

Speaking at the Lagos Business School leadership programme in Lagos, Cardoso, explained that when he assumed office as Governor in 2023, Nigeria’s economy faced formidable headwinds.

“Inflation was spiraling, external reserves were strained, investor confidence was shaken, and nearly every macroeconomic indicator was under pressure. It was a moment that demanded not just technical skill, but leadership rooted in courage, credibility, and accountability. We had to act decisively,” he said.

To rein in inflation, the apex bank tightened policy aggressively, raising rates by more than 800 basis points and strengthening liquidity management.

“We restored orthodoxy by halting central bank financing of government beyond statutory limits and re-anchoring monetary policy on its core mandate,” he said.

“On foreign exchange, we introduced a willing-buyer, willing-seller framework, unified exchange rate windows, and cleared the backlog of verifiable FX commitments, restoring market confidence. We strengthened reserves, now standing above US$42 billion, and created new channels for diaspora remittances and investments, including the Non-Resident BVN platform, which allows Nigerians abroad to open accounts seamlessly from anywhere in the world,” he stated.

For Nigeria, Real GDP expanded by 4.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, signaling the re-emergence of growth momentum.

“Capital flows are rebounding, sovereign credit ratings have improved, as seen in the Credit Default Swap curve, and the naira is beginning to stabilise. Together, these shifts suggest more than a cyclical adjustment: they mark the outlines of a developmental inflection point, where investor confidence is gradually restored and Nigeria positions itself, two years on, at the threshold of structural renewal and long- term transformation,” Cardoso said.

“But this is only the beginning. The real task is to ensure that these hard-won gains translate into durable prosperity, especially for the next generation. And this is where leadership becomes critical,” he added.

Over the past two years, the CBN has undertaken critical reforms to unify Nigeria’s exchange rate, eliminating distortions and restoring transparency.

This unification has enabled us to clear the outstanding foreign exchange obligations, giving businesses—ranging from manufacturers to airlines—the confidence to plan and invest in the future. To further enhance the functionality of the foreign exchange market, we are introducing an electronic FX matching system, which has proven effective in other markets.

Raising the Bar: How Lagos DSVA is Redefining the Fight Against Gender-based Violence

September every year is the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month. The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), which is saddled with this responsibility, has consistently raised the bar in driving advocacy and strengthening institutional response to gender-based violence. Each year, it launches new initiatives to sustain public enlightenment, such as the Guidelines for Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, a framework designed to ensure uniform and coordinated responses to sexual harassment across both private and public sectors in the state. While commemorating this year’s awareness month, Esther Oluku reports that the event also served as a fitting avenue to reward the commitment of the Agency’s strategic partners

Many have described the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), formerly known as the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), as “a stitch in time” in social service, strengthening the state’s response to these twin menaces.

From its humble beginnings with a few staff and volunteers in 2014, the agency has evolved into a multidisciplinary team of over 100 experts spreading awareness, handling cases, and providing efficient and timely responses to incidents of sexual and gender-based violence across the state.

Between August 2024 and July 2025 alone, the Agency attended to a total of 8,692 cases, comprising 3,685 cases of domestic violence, 243 cases of defilement, 244 cases of child abuse and physical assault, 99 cases of rape, 48 cases of sexual harassment, and 25 cases of sexual assault by penetration.

Other cases included 41 cases of cyber harassment, 32 threats to life, and 726 familyrelated disputes such as custody, neglect, abduction, and child labour. In addition, 3,090 children were identified as having suffered emotional abuse due to exposure to domestic violence at home.

Operating under the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the Agency has created legal pathways for survivors to access justice, prosecute offenders, and manage the state’s Sexual Offenders Registry.

Notable achievements include the creation of safe spaces and the provision of grants to help survivors rebuild their lives after abuse; supervision, procurement and disbursement of sexual assault evidence collection kits; and prioritisation of child protection through the development of a pioneering resource tool titled “Overcoming Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Lagos State’s Drafted Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme.”

The DSVA Executive Secretary, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, noted that while significant progress had been made, more remained to be done.

Launching the Guidelines for Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

The Agency commenced this year’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month with the Turn Lagos Purple campaign, followed by an advocacy walk against SGBV, market and couple sensitisation programmes, survivor day, symposiums and engagements with both public and private sectors, a safeguarding and child protection week, and finally, the Governor’s Commendation and Awards Night.

This year’s highlight was the official launch of the Guidelines for Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. The document was unveiled during a private sector symposium held at the Civic Centre, Lagos, on September 24, 2025, themed “Impact of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence on Labour and Organisational Productivity.”

According to Vivour-Adeniyi, the launch marked “a step forward in strategic private

sector engagement towards curbing the menace of sexual harassment and gender-based violence in workplaces while fostering uniform private and public sector adoption.”

She said: “We are launching the Guidelines for Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace deliberately with the Trade Union Congress Women’s Council because we believe it is a way of ensuring uniformity, acceptance and implementation of the project across the various sectors here represented.

“In furtherance to this launch, we intend to engage with Human Resource personnel in the private sector on trainings to ensure full implementation and enforcement. Sexual harassment is a crime punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment. Ignorance of the law

is not an excuse.

“As a government, we believe enlightenment should come before enforcement. Government has that responsibility to assist the private sector in ensuring that they are able to do what they need to do, and when survivors break the culture of silence and report, we will ensure that justice is served.”

Chairperson of the Lagos State TUC Women’s Council, Comrade Ololade Gbajumo, urged stakeholders and employers of labour within the state to support the project, enjoining all to ensure that the standard is not only launched but “lived, enforced and sustained.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Iyadunni Atinuke Gbadebo, Director of Sales and Marketing, Eko Hotels and Suites, emphasised the need for a national reorientation that starts from the family.

She said: “As a people, I think

we require a national reorientation. This reorientation has to start from the family. Families must raise children to understand that they are special in themselves. When we start to raise children this way, they have the confidence to say no to sexual harassment.”

Governor’s Commendation and Award Night

The month-long event culminated in the 10th Governor’s Commendation and Awards Ceremony, a gathering of collaborators and partners of the Lagos State DSVA, designed to reward the dedication of organisations and institutions that have supported the state’s vision of an abuse-free environment for all.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), described the event as more than a celebration, but “a reaffirmation of the state’s commitment to eradicating sexual and gender-based violence.”

He said: “This year’s theme, ‘SGBV – It Concerns Us All’, is a clarion call underscoring a simple truth — government alone cannot fight this battle. It requires families, communities, institutions, and every member of society.”

Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba, represented by Mrs. Joy Omoiki, lauded the Agency’s efforts in restoring moral sanity in the state and commended the Governor for his commitment to building strong family values.

He stated: “I stand here in recognition of the pivotal role, yet not enviable task, of this Agency in bringing some level of sanity to the moral decay of certain ethical values, principles and acceptable behaviours in society.

“I know as a fact that the predominance of evidence falls on women and children as major victims in domestic and sexual violence, and there have been increasing incidents of domestic violence and sexual abuse against men and boys today.

“I thank the Governor for his support and relentless pursuit of healthy families to lead the affairs of our state. A healthy family is a healthy society and nation. It is in recognition of the important role of this Agency that we are having this event.”

Celebrating Partners

Among the recipients of the Governor’s Commendation were: Owutu Family Support Unit (Best Family Support Unit), Sangotedo PHC (Best Primary Health Centre), Ikorodu General Hospital (Best General Hospital), Eti-Osa LGA (Best Family Social Services Department), Education District V (Most Responsive Education District), and Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) (Outstanding NGO Service Provider Award).

Each category winner received a cheque of N1 million. Beyond the gifts, Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi said the recognition of outstanding partners serves as a call to greater commitment. She said: “Indeed, all of us have a role to play. From the police to the health care worker to the social worker, even to the workers at the correctional facilities — all of us have a role to play. We all have a duty to see ourselves as reporters. If you see something, say something so that we can do something.”

www.thisdaylive.com

SECURING DELTA STATE

Oborevwori relaunches the state security trust fund to procure modern surveillance equipment and operational vehicles, writes FIDELIS EDUVIE

THE BATTLE FOR TRUTH

SENATOR IROEGBU argues that the Kano initiative offers a blueprint for building collective immunity against falsehood

opinion@thisdaylive.com

Nigeria's current food insecurity is a crisis of logistics, postharvest management, and border security, argues

ADE ADEFEKO

A PARTNERSHIP FOR NIGERIAN FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

As the world marked World Food Day on October 16, 2025, under the theme "hand in hand for better foods and a better future," the industry acknowledged the necessity for a fundamental shift in the national agricultural strategy. The consensus among major stakeholders is that the country must move beyond the defensive goal of "food security" and commit to achieving food sovereignty. Food sovereignty, in this context, is defined not merely as ensuring enough caloric intake, but as controlling the entire food system—from production and processing to distribution—to ensure national resilience and selfreliance. Industry analysts argue that this objective is directly synonymous with comprehensive national development and is a non-negotiable component of national security. To construct a durable future, the prevailing view is that policy must be anchored in data rather than political rhetoric. This requires a frank confrontation with the numerical reality of Nigeria's agricultural paradox.

The Nigerian Paradox: Confronting the Data Nigeria faces a severe paradox: a nation blessed with extensive agricultural land and human resources yet grappling with profound food insecurity. This disparity, experts note, is a statistical reality demanding immediate and focused attention. Data released by the United Nations indicates a deeply troubling trend for 2024. Over 30 million Nigerians are food insecure, representing a staggering increase of five million people from 2023 figures. This crisis is further underscored by the latest Global Hunger Index, which ranks Nigeria 115th out of 123 countries assessed, signalling a serious and pervasive level of hunger nationwide. Compounding this structural vulnerability are the lingering effects of environmental disasters, notably last year’s devastating floods, which impacted 9.2 million people and destroyed over 1.6 million hectares of vital farmland. While these statistics define the magnitude of the national problem, they also risk obscuring the immense and proactive efforts the domestic private sector is already making to close the gap. The Engine of Progress: Domestic Direct Investment in Action Discussions about national economic growth often prioritize Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). However, major Nigerian agribusinesses champion the foundational necessity of Domestic Direct Investment (DDI). These are the investments made by Nigerian companies and those with a deep, long-

term commitment to the nation, often operating in challenging environments for decades. The logic is straightforward: FDI will inevitably gauge its security based on how well domestic investors are protected and incentivised. Industry leaders assert that DDI is the foundational bedrock of the agricultural ecosystem, having proven its resilience against currency volatility, infrastructural deficits, and natural disasters.

Integrating the Value Chain: From Seed to Shelf. Companies like Olam Agri, for instance, operate on a philosophy of "farm to fork" and "seed to shelf," demonstrating a radical integration into Nigeria's agricultural landscape. The company’s actions, including swiftly pivoting and rebuilding after being directly impacted by last year's floods, underline the longterm nature of DDI. This commitment manifests in several critical areas: • Integrated Operations and Outgrower Empowerment: Companies are not merely running large-scale farms; they are building resilient agricultural ecosystems. Operations typically include nucleus farms that work in partnership with extensive networks of smallholder farmers. Olam Agri, for example, collaborates with over 35,000 outgrowers, empowering them with better seeds, financing, and modern agronomic techniques to ensure sustainable and inclusive production scaling. Significant Production Capacity: Nigeria has demonstrable capacity to produce staple foods. Key players report holding high stocks of locally produced goods. The fact that the country’s largest rice producer is able to maintain consistent supply, including popular, high-quality local brands, proves that the fundamental capacity to produce is not the central issue.

Diversified Value Chain Investments: Investments extend robustly beyond the farm gate and into industrial processing. Alongside processing essential grains, these investors are establishing new facilities,

such as a $45 million soya crushing facility currently slated for commissioning by one firm, Olam Agri, which will add significant value to domestic agricultural output by processing oilseeds locally.

Economic Contribution and Foreign Exchange Strength: The positive impact of DDI extends to the national economy. Related entities are contributing substantial figures—in one case, an Olam group company, OFI (Olam food ingredients), exports between $300 to $350 million in annual non-oil exports, directly strengthening Nigeria's foreign exchange reserves and demonstrating the global competitiveness of its integrated agricultural sector. Despite this proven production power and investment depth, critical external roadblocks are actively preventing the translation of bumper harvests and significant capital deployment into genuine food sovereignty. The Real Bottlenecks: Smuggling, Storage, and Logistics. Analysis from the private sector is unequivocally clear: Nigeria's current food insecurity crisis is not a problem of production or investment. It is, fundamentally, a crisis of logistics, postharvest management, and border security. Systemic failures in these areas are actively undermining domestic producers, eroding the value of DDI, and creating artificial scarcity in a land of potential plenty.

The Scourge of Unchecked Smuggling. The most corrosive threat to food sovereignty today is the unchecked smuggling of agricultural products, particularly rice, the country's most significant staple. Smuggled goods enter Nigeria without paying duties, levies, or adhering to local quality standards. This creates a fundamentally distorted and uneven playing field where domestic producers, who diligently pay taxes and invest billions locally, are rendered uncompetitive in their own market. While legal importation remains necessary to bridge a national consumption gap (estimated at 2 million tons for rice), it must be strategically managed by competent companies with proven, longterm investments, rather than being left to an unregulated free-for-all. The enforcement of border security is a core and non-negotiable responsibility of the government, and they should own up to it. The Catastrophic Post-Harvest Crisis.

Adefeko is Director Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Olam Agri, ex-Officio NACCIMA, and Honorary Consul of Botswana in Lagos

Oborevwori relaunches the state security trust fund to procure modern surveillance equipment and operational vehicles, writes FIDELIS EDUVIE

SECURING DELTA STATE

The decision by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to relaunches the Delta State Security Trust Fund in partnership with the private sector is nothing short of visionary. In an era when security is often assumed to be the sole preserve of the government, his administration’s persuasion that security is everyone’s business is instructive.

According to Oborevwori, the fund was established in 2013 is to mobilise private-sector resources to complement the government’s investment in security. At the event which was held recently, he disclosed that the fund would be used to procure modern surveillance equipment, operational vehicles, and communication tools, as well as supporting the training and retraining of security personnel and community vigilante groups across the state’s 25 local government areas.

“Security is not the sole responsibility of government," Oborevwori said, while announcing that 0.5 per cent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had been earmarked monthly for Fund.

"It is everyone’s business. Without adequate security, development cannot thrive, businesses cannot operate freely, and investors will be reluctant to commit their resources. This Trust Fund represents our shared commitment to peace, public safety, and sustainable growth."

The logic is glaring. One cannot thrive in an insecure environment. It is the absence of security that causes large swathes of land to lie fallow with farmers dreading their farms. It is the absence of security that forces people to leave their ancestral lands to become refugees in other lands. It is the absence of security that has transformed communities into ghost towns. It is the absence of security that allows insecurity to thrive, snuffing lives, dimming the peace and driving prosperity away.

It is especially encouraging that the Oborevwori administration has set aside a steady 0.5% monthly commitment from the state’s IGR. By this move, the administration is demonstrating that this initiative is not a lip-service proposition but a structural reform. That kind of financial allocation speaks to seriousness, to a recognition that long-term security infrastructure demands consistent funding, not one-off handouts.

When one examines the context of the Niger Delta region, where criminal networks, illegal oil bunkering, youth restiveness, and environmental pressures have often combined to undermine progress, the approach taken by Governor Oborevwori stands out as pragmatic. Rather than simply deploying more security agents or weaponry, the emphasis on modern surveillance, operational vehicles, communication tools, and the training of community vigilante groups reflects a holistic strategy. It recognises that sustainable security cannot be imposed from the top down alone. It must be built from within society, with the involvement of every stakeholder.

What is also highly commendable is the governor’s acknowledgement that security links intimately with economic development. In his speech he stated openly that without safety, development cannot thrive, businesses will be hesitant to commit resources, and citizens will be denied the quality of life they deserve. This is not rhetoric but a fundamental truth. When a state projects that it is not safe to invest, entrepreneurs hold back, employment stagnates, and the cycle of poverty and insecurity becomes self-reinforcing. And the people that are made worse-off, are the residents. In an ideal setting, security management should be a public-private partnership.

“Peace and security are better sustained when citizens, especially women and youths, have opportunities to participate in economic growth,” Oborevwori said.

“Your contributions today are not just donations; they are investments in peace, stability, and economic prosperity.”

The chief launcher, Chairman of Tantita Security Services Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, kicked off the funding with a N10bn donation. Other big donations that followed came from the Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, who chaired the occasion, and announced a N100 million personal donation on behalf of himself and his wife. And Zenith Bank founder and chairman, Jim Ovia, who was Special Guest of Honour, reaffirmed Zenith Bank's partnership.

It is refreshing to see the voluntariness of the appeal. When communities, companies and individuals view their contributions as investments in their own future, then the Fund gains not only money but legitimacy and endurance. It is that ownership which will ultimately determine whether this initiative thrives beyond the short term. Of course, the path ahead will include challenges but the foundation laid by this initiative is a strong one. It demonstrates leadership, vision, and the kind of multi-sector collaboration needed in today’s Nigeria. Moreover, this initiative sends a strong signal to investors, both local and foreign. By visibly committing to safe, secure governance, Delta State enhances its attractiveness as a location to do business. Companies analyse risk, and risk includes the safety of their operations, personnel and assets.

Eduvie writes from Asaba, Delta State

SENATOR IROEGBU argues that the Kano initiative offers a blueprint for building collective immunity against falsehood

THE BATTLE FOR TRUTH

In an era where falsehoods outpace truth, Nigeria and its Sahel neighbours find themselves on a perilous digital battleground. Disinformation threatens democracy, national security, and social harmony across West Africa. False narratives, amplified by social media and coordinated networks with ties to external powers, undermine elections, stoke ethnic tensions, and corrode public trust in democracy and institutions.

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, this menace has assumed sharper geopolitical contours. External powers and their allies in the Sahel have weaponised information to justify coups, weaken democracies, and polarise opinion. Yet the most potent antidote to this weaponised falsehood may not lie in new laws or sophisticated algorithms—it may reside in the pulpit, the minaret, and the palace.

Last month in Kano, a historic moment unfolded. Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, Chairman of the Kano State Council of Ulama, declared that spreading fake news is a sin in Islam, equating it with fabricating lies—an act forbidden by the Qur'an. "Islam forbids the fabrication of lies. Therefore, creating and spreading fake news is prohibited," he said. He made this declaration at a two-day fact-checking workshop organised by Alkalanci, a Hausa-language platform dedicated to countering misinformation. The event, attended by Islamic scholars, imams, and representatives of His Highness, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, was more than a media literacy session—it was a moral awakening.

Representing the Emir, Alhaji Abbas Dalhatu reminded participants that even Prophet Suleiman verified reports before acting, as recorded in the Qur'an. The message was unmistakable: truth verification is not a Western construct but a divine injunction. This gathering reframes the battle for truth as a moral, civic, and spiritual duty, placing religious and traditional leaders at the heart of national resilience.

Religious and traditional leaders— imams, pastors, and traditional rulers— wield immense influence across Nigeria and West Africa. When they speak, millions listen. Their voices reach deeper into citizens' hearts than any government circular or press release could. Harnessing this moral authority to promote truth, critical thinking, and responsible information sharing could be transformative. Imagine Friday sermons and Sunday homilies urging congregants to verify stories before forwarding them. Picture traditional rulers collaborating with fact-checking organisations to dispel rumours before they ignite conflict. This approach fuses cultural authenticity with digital resilience—a uniquely African response to a global problem. By rooting fact-checking in faith and tradition, truth becomes not just a civic virtue but a sacred obligation.

Across the Sahel, disinformation has

evolved into a weapon of war. In Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, false narratives spread through encrypted platforms and foreign-funded networks have justified coups, vilified democratic institutions, and fostered hostility toward neighbouring states like Nigeria and ECOWAS. These campaigns, often orchestrated by external actors seeking geopolitical leverage, prey on citizens by exploiting anti-Western sentiments, poverty, and religious/ethnic mistrust. Left unchecked, they could destabilise Nigeria's fragile unity and sow doubt ahead of the 2027 elections. This is not just Nigeria's problem—it's regional. A coordinated response based on the Kano Model could combat this epidemic of falsehood and ensure stability across the Sahel.

Nigeria's most effective response must mobilise faith-based and traditional networks. The Kano initiative offers a blueprint for building collective immunity against falsehood. To protect democracy and stability, Nigeria must replicate the model nationwide by conducting factchecking and media literacy workshops for clerics, traditional and youth leaders, ensuring that religious and cultural figures become trusted guardians of truth. Media literacy should be institutionalised by integrating digital ethics and information verification into religious education, civic studies, and community training so truth-telling becomes as routine as prayer or civic duty. Collaboration with fact-checking platforms must deepen to debunk falsehoods in local languages, ensuring truth reaches the grassroots. Promoting responsible digital citizenship is equally vital—citizens must learn to pause, verify, and reflect before sharing information online, understanding that misinformation is not only harmful but sinful and unpatriotic.

Our fight against disinformation cannot be a one-time effort, and we must be prepared to adapt our strategies as the threat evolves. We must continuously educate Nigerians on the geopolitical dimensions of disinformation and strengthen independent media. By doing so, we can ensure that our citizens are informed, vigilant, and far harder to manipulate.

Iroegbu is a security, geopolitics and development analyst. Senator.iroegbu@ yahoo.co.uk

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

ON THE MILITARY COUP RUMOUR

In response to online reports of a foiled military coup attempt, the Defence Headquarters last week clarified its earlier statement about the 16 officers facing disciplinary actions. While describing the reports as “entirely false, malicious and intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace,” the military high command has also dismissed insinuation that the cancellation of the 65th Independence anniversary parade had anything to do with security breaches. While we commend the swift and reassuring response by the Defence Headquarters on this matter, the wording of the statement is a tacit admission that something went fatally wrong. Finding reasons for the arrest of that large number of officers has only deepened public suspicion. The recent order restricting the movement of civil operatives in and around the Villa is yet another red flag. The recent wave of unrest and coups in some African countries enlarges the red flag even further. Two weeks ago, an elite unit of the Madagascar armed forces overthrew the government of President Andry Rajoelina, following weeks of civil protest that started in September. Earlier, there had been military takeover of government in some African countries notably Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Guinea.

tion to political problems, the ultimate lesson is for leaders to be more accountable to the people. And for the military, information concerning the coup story must be carefully managed in a manner that does not encourage fear of insecurity or portray the state as unstable.

It is important to remind ambitious officers that such adventure is an aberration, and that democracy has come to stay as a global form of governance

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

What is at stake most crucially is the plight and future of democracy in parts of the world other than the democratic West and autocratic counter cultures. In Africa, economic stagnation, jihadist insurgency, bad politics and disastrous governance have quickened the pressure towards undemocratic forms of political change. Meanwhile, Nigeria has a long nasty memory of undemocratic rule which ought to make the word ‘coup’ singularly ugly in our political discourse. The administration of President Bola Tinubu needs to increase the security of the state by refocusing attention on the welfare of citizens. Even when military coups offer no solu-

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE

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SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI

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While the report of the investigation by the Nigerian military is being awaited, it is important to remind ambitious officers that such adventure is an aberration, and that democracy has come to stay as a global form of governance. The military must not distract from its current focus which is to defeat the Boko Harama/ ISWAP insurgencies and win the war against banditry, militancy and other criminalities that are confronting the nation today and impeding our development. Rather than venturing into governance, the military should focus on supporting democratic institutions and processes as they have done since 1999. As things stand in Nigeria today, a military intervention would not only undermine the gains of the past 26 years but could also jeopardise the country's future as was witnessed in the past.

The military high command must impress on its officers the need to be wary of civilians and politicians who may come to induce or encourage them into any unconstitutional acts. The officers must be warned of the consequences of their actions and advised to place the country before any personal interest. We also call on the federal government to sustain the funding of the military to enhance its professionalism by the acquisition of modern platforms and equipment required for their operations and continuous training. This is the only way to keep our military busy to discharge their constitutional roles.

Having confirmed that the ongoing investigation involving the 16 officers is a routine internal process to ensure discipline and professionalism, we hope that they will be given fair hearing and that the public would indeed be availed the outcome as promised in the interest of transparency.

AFRICA AND THE CRISIS OF DEMOCRACY

Democracy in West Africa, once a beacon of hope for the African continent, is gradually losing its shine. Over the past five years, a troubling wave of military coups, electoral crises, and constitutional manipulations has swept through the region, leaving citizens questioning whether democracy still serves their aspirations. The same nations that once celebrated transitions from dictatorship to civilian rule are now battling disillusionment, distrust, and political fatigue.

The return of military juntas in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger marks one of the darkest chapters in the region’s modern political history. Each coup has followed a familiar script — public anger over corruption, insecurity, and poor governance, exploited by soldiers who promise “national salvation.” Yet, years later, the promises of reform and stability remain unfulfilled. These regimes, though initially welcomed by frustrated citizens, often slide into

the same cycle of authoritarianism and repression that they claimed to replace.

Nigeria, regarded as the region’s democratic anchor, has not been immune to its own crises. Although the country has sustained civilian rule since 1999, recurring issues such as electoral malpractice, voter intimidation, and judicial manipulation continue to plague its political system. The 2023 general elections, marred by allegations of irregularities and voter suppression, deepened public skepticism about whether democracy in Nigeria truly reflects the will of the people. For many, democracy now feels like a game played by the powerful at the expense of the powerless. Across the subregion, political ambition has increasingly overshadowed democratic principles. In Guinea, former President Alpha Condé amended the constitution to seek a controversial third term in 2020, a move that ignited violent protests and ultimately led to his ouster. In Senegal,

the long-serving President Macky Sall faced mass demonstrations amid speculation about his plans for a third term before he eventually ruled himself out of the 2024 race. These examples reflect a broader pattern of leaders who treat constitutional limits as mere suggestions rather than binding rules.

The consequences of these political tensions have been devastating. Economies have suffered as investors flee unstable environments. Civil liberties have been eroded under the guise of national security, and the media in many countries face harassment and censorship. Citizens who once placed their hopes in democracy now express nostalgia for the “stability” of military rule — a dangerous sentiment that reflects how deeply governance has failed to meet public expectations.

Mercy Johnson, Dept of Mass Communication University of Maiduguri

Kayode Tokede

Despite prevailing macroeconomic challenges, 10 Nigerian banks posted of N10.77 trillion gross earnings in half year (H1) ended June 30, 2025, a 16.4 per cent increase over N9.3 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

The banks are: Zenith Bank Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), First HoldCo Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), FCMB Group

Ebere Nwoji

Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, has commended recent reforms by the National Pension Commission (PenCom), which aimed at enhancing flexibility, inclusion, and global access within Nigeria’s pension system.

PenCom, recently introduced two new regulatory guidelines as distinct pension options, the Personal Pension Plan (PPP) and Foreign Currency (FCY)

Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Sterling Financial Holdings Company, Jaiz Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc.

Thus, they achieved profit before tax of N3.08 trillion in H1 2025 from N3.26 trillion in H1 2024, largely driven by high interest expenses, operating expenses and impairment on loan losses.

THISDAY analysis of the banks financial results showed that Zenith Bank emerged top with gross earnings of N2.52 trillion, reflecting a solid 20 per

Pension Contributions, both designed to empower individuals to save for retirement in ways that reflect their evolving work patterns and income sources.

The Personal Pension Plan (PPP), formerly known as the Micro Pension Plan, allows selfemployed individuals, and informal sector workers to build retirement savings at their own pace. It also enables 9-5 employees in the formal sector to make

cent increase from N2.1 trillion recorded in H1 2024.

Zenith Bank said the growth in gross earnings was driven by a strong YoY growth of 60 per cent in interest income from N1.1 trillion in H1 2024 to N1.8 trillion in H1 2025. The growth in interest income, it said, was propelled by a high yield environment and an increase in it’s risk asset portfolio.

The Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, added that the financial

additional voluntary contributions beyond the mandatory scheme.

PenCom said through the PPP, participants could contribute as they earn, make partial withdrawals up to 50 percent of their savings after three months of initial deposit when needed, and enjoy flexible investment options suited to their financial goals.

It said contributions were tax-free after five years, and participants could choose between conservative and

institution’s H1 2025 performance reaffirms the strength and resilience of the Zenith brand.

“In the face of elevated provisioning due to the industry wide wind down of the CBN forbearance regime, our total asset quality has recorded a marked improvement while our balance sheet remains strong, liquid and well positioned to capture emerging opportunities across our core markets,” the statement by Umeoji added.

ETI followed closely, posting a N2.31 trillion

growth investment funds for better control of their savings.

The commission Complemented this with its newly introduced Foreign Currency (FCY) Pension Contributions framework, which enables Nigerians earning in foreign currency, both those living abroad and those residing in Nigeria, to make pension contributions in United States Dollars (USD).

According to the commission, the structure

gross earnings in H1 2025, representing an increase of 23.7 per cent from N1.86trillion reported in H1 2024.

While First Holdco posted N1.66 trillion gross earnings in H1 2025, up by 18 per cent from N1.4 trillion declared in H1 2024, UBA closed H1 2025 at N1.16 trillion earnings, an increase of 17.3 per cent from N1.37 trillion declared in H1 2024.

UBA in a presentation to investors & analysts said, “The upward trend in gross earnings underscores a robust revenue base,

allows contributors to safeguard their savings against currency depreciation and access a wider range of global investment opportunities such as Eurobonds, Global Depository Notes, and Exchange Traded Funds.

It said withdrawals could be made after six months from the contingent portion of the account, while long-term balances were preserved for retirement.

It further said benefits

largely buoyed by a N330 Billion increase year-on-year in interest income, and growth in fee and commission, as the bank continues to expand market share across geographies.”

GTCO posted N1.07 trillion gross earnings in H1 2025, about 23 per cent decline over N1.39 trillion declared in H1 2024. Its profit before tax stood at N600.9 billion in H1 2025, about 40 per cent drop from N1 trillion declared in H1 2024.

were payable in USD or converted to Naira at the contributor’s request. Commenting on the developments, the Chief Executive Officer Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Olumide Oyetan commended the initiative saying it represented PenCom’s forward-thinking approach to broadening participation and accessibility in the pension industry.

& North Central, Alex Alozie; Group Deputy Managing Director, Muyiwa Akinyemi; Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Tony Elumelu, Group Deputy Managing Director, Chukwuma Nweke; Head, Human Capital Management, Modupe Akindele and Company Secretary, Bili Odum, flanked by graduands of the 2025 Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP) class of UBA at the graduation ceremony held in Lagos… recently

‘China Commodities Expo to Deepen Bilateral Collaboration’

The Trade Development Bureau of China’s Ministry of Commerce and the organisers of China Commodities Expo in Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to deepen both countries’ bilateral collaborations.

Speaking ahead of the expo, expected to hold next month in Lagos, the Chief Representative Officer, Brightway International Exhibition, Muheez Ojulari, described the Expo as a vital platform for promoting economic cooperation across diverse

sectors.

Ojulari explained that since its inception in 2007, the Expo has grown into one of Nigeria’s largest trade events, adding that this year’s edition will give Nigerian firms direct visibility to Chinese manufacturers who control global supply chains.

He noted that the event is a chance for Nigerians to negotiate better terms, secure financing, and diversify our exports.

According to him, “As China’s investment footprint in Nigeria continues to expand with over $1.5 billion committed

Great Nigeria Insurance Grows from N736m Loss to N2bn PAT

Great Nigeria Insurance

Plc has said that it has risen from its hitherto loss ratio of N736 million in 2022 to a Profit After Tax of N2 billion for the year ended December 31,2023.

With this performance, the company said it has remained committed to a rigorous pursuit of excellence in its operations as an insurance company, having determined to maintain a rare display courage and resilience thus far and would ontinue to give it all it takes to ensure that it kept thriving in all its business expression.

The company’s Chairman Bade Aluko, disclosed this at the 53rd Annual General Meeting of the company held in Lagos. Aluko, said gni reported a significant financial turnaround for the year 2023, driven largely by

exceptional investment income and sector-wide resilience despite severe national economic conditions.

According to him, the underwriting firm in 2023 transitioned to the International Financial Reporting Standard 17.

“The 2022 transiting figure for Insurance Revenue stood at N2.6bn, but it dropped in 2023 by 3.8 per cent to N2.5billion The Insurance Service Expense for 2023 stood at N2billion, rising from N1.5billion in the previous year.

“In the current reporting year, the company’s Net Investment Income stood at N4.6bn, higher than N1.3bn, indicating a 254 per cent surge in Investment Income. Profit After Tax jumped to N2bn from a loss of N736m in 2022”, he highlighted.

to zones like the Lekki Free Trade Zone and Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone, the China Commodities Expo plays a significant role in promoting and enhancing China-Africa relations, particularly in the context of economic and

trade collaborations.

“The expo, organised by the Trade Development Bureau of China’s Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with Brightway International Exhibition, the event is supported by Provinces

in China, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria as well as the State and Federal Government of Nigeria and is expected to host over 250 Chinese manufacturers and more than 5,000 business representatives,” he said. He also noted that to ensure a seamless experience for participants, CCE offers free entry to the exhibition, allowing visitors to access an abundance of business opportunities.

NB Plc Reaffirms Commitment to Excellence, Customer Satisfaction

Nigerian Breweries Plc, Nigeria’s foremost brewing company, has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to enhancing customer satisfaction and deepening stakeholder relationships.

This reaffirmation came during a special customer tour of the Lagos Brewery, held as part of activities to mark the 2025 Customer Service Week.

Speaking during the tour, Corporate Affairs Director at Nigerian Breweries Plc, Uzodinma Odenigbo, expressed appreciation to the customers for their steadfast loyalty and partnership over the years. He emphasized the importance of continued collaboration in achieving shared business goals.

“At Nigerian Breweries,

our focus goes beyond producing quality beverages. It’s about creating shared value for our customers, communities, and partners. We believe long-term business success is built on strong relationships, mutual trust, and a collective commitment to excellence. We remain resolute in our mission

to refresh our consumers, empower our partners, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth,” Odenigbo stated. Also speaking, Brewery Manager, Nduka Nnabuihe, represented by Félix Ofolue, highlighted NB Plc’s customercentric philosophy and ongoing drive for service excellence.

Capital Express Life Assurance Grows Fund by 53%

The Chairman Capital Express Life Assurance Limited, Otumba Ademola Adenuga, has said that the company made an impressive financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024, noting that the underwriting firm achieved a significant year-on-year growth having grown its shareholders’ fund by 53 percent from N9.22 billion in 2024 to N14.1

billion in 2024. It’s Gross Premium and Profit After Tax equally maintained positive trend of growth.

This, according to the company’s Chairman, is despite persistent economic headwinds in Nigeria and at the global arena during the period under review.

Speaking at the 24th Annual General Meeting

of the company held in Lagos, Adenuga said buoyed by capital injection and improved investment income,the company achieved a 32 percent rise in Insurance Revenue, from N5.45 billion in 2023 to N7.2 billion in 2024.

He said Gross Premium Production reached N9.35 billion, while Profit After Tax stood at N303 million,

underscoring the company’s operational efficiency and strong risk management framework. Total assets rose by 34 percent to N24.38 billion from N18.18 billion in the prior year.

He said the company’s claims payout increased by 44 percent, rising from N2.76 billion in 2023 to N3.97 billion in 2024.

Heirs Insurance Group Announces Winners of its Essay Competition

Heirs Insurance Group, has announced winners of the 4th edition of the Heirs Insurance Essay Championship, a nationwide competition promoting financial literacy and academic excellence among secondary school students and educators.

The grand finale, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, brought

together students, parents, and academic leaders for a celebration of knowledge and creativity. This year’s edition, which attracted over 5,000 entries from junior secondary school students nationwide, was anchored on the topic “The Role of Insurance in Keeping Families Safe and Secure”. Speaking on the competition, Sector Head,

Heirs Insurance Group, Niyi Onifade, announcing the result said after a rigorous evaluation process by a distinguished panel of academic professionals, independently verified by Deloitte & Touche, 13-yearold Rhema-Love Abraham of Precepts Learning Field, Lagos, emerged the overall winner, earning a N5 million

scholarship and a N1 million grant for her school.

Bernice Michael of S-TEE High School, Lagos, claimed the second-place position, winning a N2 million scholarship, while Afopefoluwa Tofio-Jacobs of D-IVY College, Ogun State, took third place, receiving a N1 million scholarship.

Parthian Pension Assures of Meeting PenCom’s Recapitalisation Deadline

Ebere Nwoji

Newly licensed Pension Fund Administrator, Parthian Pensions, has said it would definitely meet the fresh minimum recapitalisation requirement instituted in the pension sector by the National Pension Commission(PenCom).

The company disclosed this at a media parley in its office in Lagos.

PenCom last month (September) increased the minimum capital requirements of Pension Fund Administrators and Pension Fund Custodians to N20bn and N25bn, respectively, with a deadline of December 31, 2026, to meet the new capital requirements.

Speaking on the fate of his company in this regard, Group Managing Director of Parthian Partners, parent company of Parthian Pensions, Oluseye Olusoga said the company would

meet the capitalisation due date.

“We are fully committed to this industry, and if there are opportunities for mergers and acquisitions, we will consider all of them. But by and large, we’re very confident that we’ve made the capitalisation, and we would actually capitalise well beyond or well before the date by the regulator”, he assured.

Speaking further on the company’s readiness to meet the deadline Olusoga said .

“We’re committed to doing it way before the December 2026 deadline, and we’ll do that as a show of confidence to make sure that the market sees that we are 100 per cent committed to that, and that will probably come from internally, within the group.”

He added that the organisation’s commitment to the development of Nigeria motivated the establishment

of Parthian Pensions.

He said the organisation believes that it was going to play a vital role in developing Nigeria and in developing Africa as a whole.

According to him, part of this includes what he call capital formation or capital aggregation, adding that one can’t talk about capital formation and capital aggregation without considering whether it’s a pension industry or the asset management industry.

The Managing Director, Femi Odukoya, speaking on the recapitalisation process, said that the directive of PenCom was expected, given the ongoing recapitalisation in other segments of the financial services market.

“We are aware of how the banking sector is undergoing it. Naturally, everybody in financial services automatically knows that it’s coming to touch you very soon,” he said.

Standard Chartered Unveils Global Brand Campaign

Kayode Tokede

Standard Chartered has unveiled its latest global brand platform, ‘Now is your time’, a call to act with confidence in pivotal moments, backed by a global bank that empowers customers to move first and move boldly. The platform builds on Standard Chartered’s rich heritage and expertise in investment, trade and wealth corridors that connect capital and commerce to opportunities across the world’s most dynamic markets. Featuring TikTok sensation and child prodigy violinist Yeonah Kim, the campaign brings this message to life through moments of ambition

and achievement. The launch campaign, created in partnership with Leo Singapore, reflects these pivotal moments — a decision, a leap, a shift — where Standard Chartered enables clients to translate bold ambition into real- world opportunity and move forward with confidence.

The centrepiece film, ‘Ode to Now’, dramatises these moments through four unique characters and their path to success: Li Wen – an affluent, ambitious businesswoman who invests in what matters most – her daughter, a young violin prodigy seizing her moment on the global stage.

“Standard Chartered has

deep roots in the world’s fastest-growing economies which enables us to connect our clients’ ambitions to real opportunities. ‘Now is your time’ celebrates that we’re here for those who choose to make things happen. Yeonah Kim, our incredible young violinist, has captured our hearts, and we are proud to see her take centre stage in the campaign,” said Sarah Hagan, Global Co-Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing at Standard Chartered.

“Financial services advertising is crowded with glossy images of success, fixated on the end result,” said Asheen Naidu, Group Executive Creative Director, Leo Singapore.

Refugio Reaffirms Expansion Plan Across Africa

Oluchi Chibuzor

Rifugio Communications Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading electronics retail and enterprise solution providers, has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding across Africa as the company celebrates ten years of growth, innovation, and resilience in the technology sector. Speaking at the company’s 10th anniversary celebration in Lagos, the founder, Rifugio Communications,

Dr. Kayode Thomas, described the milestone as a day of reflection, celebration, while highlighting their remarkable growth trajectory since its establishment in 2015.

Reflecting on the company’s journey, Thomas acknowledged the challenges faced over the past decade, including the impact of naira devaluation and the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted consumer purchasing power.

“The naira devaluation hit retailers hard, making devices expensive and slowing sales. During the pandemic, people couldn’t buy as much, but later realised the need for better devices for virtual meetings — and business picked up again,” he said.

According to him, the company’s confidence to keep expanding despite economic challenges comes from the continent’s large youth population and growing appetite for technology.

Snake Island Port Hosts NPA, Reaffirms Commitment to Economic Growth

Oluchi Chibuzor

Snake Island Port has reaffirmed its commitment to port infrastructure development and economic advances during a familiarisation tour of port terminals in Lagos Habour by the governing board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Speaking during the tour, Executive Chairman of Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ), Maher Jarmakani said, “This visit indicates the critical partnership between private entities

and government agencies in driving regulatory compliance and operational excellence. We appreciate the Authority’s continued support for Snake Island Port, as we develop worldclass infrastructure which strengthens economic growth in the region and further connects Africa with global trade.

The Chairman of the NPA governing board, Sen. Dayo Adeyeye remarked: “We commend the management of Nigerdock and SIIFZ for their rigorous efforts in developing the terminals through

strategic partnerships with global industry players and investment in key infrastructure. This development is crucial for economic advancement, and we are delighted to provide the required support.”

In November 2024, Nigerdock and the NPA completed an agreement for the development of Snake Island Port, a green port comprising three terminals. The port is sponsored by Nigerdock and SIIFZ as a Public Private Partnership with the federal government.

Stakeholders Set to Tackle Supply Chain Issues in Lagos

Stakeholders are set to meet in Lagos to tackle issues revolving round supply chain in the country.

At the Nigeria Supply Chain Leadership Summit (NSCLS) being organised by Pentland Energy Limited, an expert, Dr. Alban Igwe, would speak on the summit’s theme, “Africa Supply Chain Renaissance: Nigeria’s Path Forward,” and explore how Nigeria can leverage policy reforms,

digital transformation, and strategic partnerships to modernise its supply chain ecosystem.

Also, Chief Procurement Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr Adeola Oduntan, would tackle one of the most urgent questions in the industry: “Nigeria at the Crossroads— Protectionism or Pan-African Trade Integration?” while the Executive Vice President, Afreximbank, Ms Kanayo Awani, would discuss

the institutional and financial dimensions of glocalisation.

Another speaker, who is the Chief Procurement Officer, Renaissance Energy, Greg Akhibi, would examine glocalisation through the lens of energy and infrastructure, the summit’s convener, Emeka Eboagwu, said in a statement, adding that the event would hold on November 14 in Victoria Island.

APEL Capital Emerge Fastest Growing Trustee Company

Apel Capital and Trust Limited, has been honoured with the award of the Fastest-Growing Trustee Company of the Year at the Business Day Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards 2025.

Speaking on the recognition, Managing Director, Mrs. Omolola Iyinolakan, expressed gratitude to Clients, the Board, Management, Staff and the Regulators for their continued support and confidence in the brand.

Iyinolakan was also personally recognised with the Trustee CEO of the Year award, a testament to her visionary leadership, which

has steered the company’s transformation and growth trajectory in recent years.

“While these awards further affirm our reputation as a trusted member in the financial services sector, they are also a reminder that even with our fast-paced growth, we are inspired to continue to grow right — with trust, integrity, and passion at the heart of it all. Apel Capital and Trust Limited is duly incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission and is licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission as a Corporate Trust Service Provider.

“Being a member of

an integrated investment banking group consisting of Apel Asset Limited with Brokerage and Corporate Finance licenses, Apel Capital Registrars Limited with a Registrar license and Apel Wealth Management Limited with a Fund/Portfolio Management license, Apel leverages the strengths and competencies within the group to deliver bespoke, cutting-edge services to its diverse range of clients, including government institutions, corporate organizations and individuals, through its platform of unrivalled distribution capabilities.”

Sidel to Drive Sustainable Packaging, Regional Growth in W’Africa

Sunday Ehigiator

Global packaging solutions leader, Sidel, has officially opened a new office in Phoenix, Ikeja, Lagos, expanding its footprint in Africa and reaffirming its commitment to sustainability, customer support, and regional growth in West Africa.

The Lagos office becomes Sidel’s third African base, following its operations in South Africa and Nairobi, Kenya.

According to a statement from the company, the new space will serve as a strategic hub to strengthen

customer partnerships and provide enhanced technical support for packaging in PET, can, and glass formats across Nigeria and neighboring markets.

According to the Executive Vice President, Clive Smith, “West Africa is a growth engine for Africa’s beverage and packaging industries. Our new base in Lagos allows us to be closer to customers, helping them innovate and grow with efficient, sustainable solutions.”

Reinforcing the company’s confidence in Nigeria’s industrial potential, Sidel CEO,

L-R: Executive Director, Corporate Finance, Sustainability & Investments, Bank of Industry (BoI), Rotimi Akinde and Managing Director, Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Nigeria, Dr Olawale Anifowose, during a courtesy visit by the 2025 National Entrepreneurship World Cup, Nigeria team to the Management of Bank of Industry, held in Lagos, yesterday

Pietro Cassani, noted:

“With Nigeria’s size, talent, and manufacturing momentum, Lagos is a natural choice. This investment reflects our confidence in the region’s potential and our commitment to develop local capabilities in packaging innovation.”

Sidel has been a trusted partner to leading West African beverage producers, including StrongPack (Nigeria) and Twellium (Ghana), delivering advanced packaging lines and labelling systems that boost efficiency and sustainability.

“Discussions focused on implementing sustainable packaging technologies, optimizing line efficiency, and adapting systems to meet the unique distribution challenges of West Africa.

“With over 40,000 machines installed in 170 countries and more than 5,000 employees worldwide, Sidel continues to leverage over 175 years of expertise to deliver innovative, eco-friendly packaging solutions for the beverage, food, home, and personal care industries,” the statement read.

Buy Interest in BUA Foods, 27 Others Lift Market Cap by N962.3bn

Kayode Tokede

The stock market section of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday’s trading session closed on a positive note as investors buying interest in BUA Foods Plc and 27 others added N962.3 billion to market capitalisation.

Specifically,market capitalisation of all listed companies appreciated by N962.3 billion to close at N96.134 trillion from N95.172 billion when the stock market opened for trading.

Also, the NGX All-Share Index gained 1,516.10 basis points,or 1.01 per cent to close at 151,456.91 basis

points from 149,940.81 basis points. As the Month-toDate (MtD) and Year-toDate (YtD) returns settled higher at +6.1per cent and +47.2per cent, respectively.

THISDAY learnt that BUA Foods gained 6.54per cent or N42.50 per share to close at N692.50 per share on the bourse. This brings BUA Foods market capitalization

to N12.5 trillion, to become the first listed company to cross the N12trillion mark.

Sectoral performance was positive as the NGX Consumer Goods Index (+3.5per cent), NGX Oil & Gas Index (+2.0per cent),NGX Insurance Index (+0.4per cent), NGX Banking (+0.2per cent) and NGX Industrial Goods

index (+0.2per cent) posted gains.

However, investor sentiment, as measured by market breadth, closed negative as 28 stocks advanced, while 30 declined.

SCOA Nigeria emerged the highest price gainer of 7.74 per cent to close at N7.10, per share. Omatek Ventures followed with

a gain of 7.48 per cent to close at N1.58, while Consolidated Hallmark Insurance advanced by 6.70 per cent to close at N4.78, per share.

BUA Foods rose by 6.54 per cent to close at N692.50, while Vitafoam Nigeria appreciated by 5.92 per cent to close at N94.00, per share.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOF OCTOBER /21/25

Governor Mutfwang’s Vision for a Secure and Violence-free Plateau

Gyang Bere

At the heart of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang’s administration lies an unwavering commitment to the security of lives and property in Plateau State. Since his inauguration in May 2023, the Governor has consistently emphasized that peace and security are not just constitutional obligations but also the foundation upon which social and economic recovery must be built. He recognizes that without security, there can be no meaningful industrialization, innovation, or job creation that guarantees wealth and prosperity for the people.

In his inaugural address, Governor Mutfwang vowed that security under his leadership would not be reduced to rhetoric. He pledged to be “firm, fair, and just to all, regardless of political, ethnic, or religious inclination.”

RESTORING HOPE AMID CRISIS

Barely weeks after his declaration as Governor-Elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in April 2023, the state was thrown into turmoil. His hometown, Mangu, and Riyom Local Government Area, home of his Deputy Governor, Ngo Josephine Piyo came under devastating attacks aimed at making the state ungovernable.

Rather than engage in blame games, Governor Mutfwang took decisive action. He visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos, some of whom had lived in camps for nearly two decades. His presence and assurances brought renewed hope to traumatized families, who for the first time felt that government genuinely cared about their plight.

Governor Mutfwang also reframed the narrative of Plateau’s insecurity. Instead of the often-repeated rhetoric of “herder-farmer clashes,” he courageously defined the killings as genocide against defenseless rural communities. Security experts and public commentators have since upheld this perspective, noting the systematic and coordinated nature of the attacks that left behind deaths, destruction, and displacement.

ENGAGING NATIONAL SECURITY STAKEHOLDERS

Understanding the magnitude of the crisis, Governor Mutfwang personally embarked on a strategic tour of security institutions in Abuja. He engaged the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Inspector-General of Police, DSS, Immigration, Customs, Civil Defence, Correctional Service, NEMA, and ultimately, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

His mission was clear: to present the true narrative of Plateau’s decades-long violence and to extract firm commitments from national security leaders. The outcome was remarkable. For the first time in years, top security chiefs visited

Plateau and deployed access to threatened communities, averting imminent disaster. This engagement led to the establishment of new Police Mobile Force squadrons in Gashish (Barkin-Ladi) and Bassa LGAs, alongside MOPOL 81 in Kwall now regarded as one of the most equipped mobile squadrons in Nigeria. These units are currently active in Bassa, Riyom, and Jos South, safeguarding communities and deterring crime.

SECURITY INTERVENTIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL

Governor Mutfwang also revived Operation Rainbow, a state-owned security outfit established under former Governor Jonah Jang but left dormant for years. Initially, 600 trusted youths and community leaders were recruited, trained, and equipped from vulnerable communities in Mangu, BarkinLadi, Riyom, Bokkos, and Jos South. Their intelligence-

gathering efforts have already foiled several planned attacks. Plans are underway to recruit an additional 1,450 youths to strengthen grassroots security in the Operation Rainbow across the 17 local government areas.

To enhance mobility and response capacity, the administration repaired dozens of abandoned operational vehicles, procured new Hilux vans, and supplied motorcycles, raincoats, and boots to security personnel. Through collaboration with local governments, 17 brand-new Hilux vehicles were also acquired for Operation Rainbow.

A State Security and Information Centre was launched with a toll-free line to enable citizens to report threats or suspicious activities, ensuring swift and coordinated responses. The government also established a Plateau Special Activities Centre, equipped with modern surveillance technology, to monitor movements across all 17 LGAs.

RESETTLEMENT AND RECONCILIATION EFFORTS

Beyond immediate security, Governor Mutfwang is focused on restoring

Governor Mutfwang’s vision is clear: Plateau will not be defined by insecurity. His administration is steadily rebuilding trust among communities, reconnecting displaced populations with their homes, and restoring the sense of security that underpins all development

dignity to displaced persons. In 2024, he set up a Resettlement Committee to plan the safe return of IDPs to their ancestral homes. Its recommendations emphasized the need for enduring security before resettlement begins in full.

In May 2025, he inaugurated a Fact-Finding Committee tasked with identifying affected communities, ASSESSING level of destruction, tracing attack routes, unmasking perpetrators, and recommending comprehensive interventions.

Furthermore, recognizing the role of dialogue in sustaining peace, the Governor established a State Inter-Religious Advisory Committee, which has been actively engaging different faith and ethnic groups to resolve tensions and prevent conflicts.

BUILDING A NEW PLATEAU

Governor Mutfwang’s vision is clear: Plateau will not be defined by insecurity. His administration is steadily rebuilding trust among communities, reconnecting displaced populations with their homes, and restoring the sense of security that underpins all development.

By prioritizing security, strengthening collaboration with national institutions, empowering local communities, and fostering dialogue across divides, Governor Mutfwang is laying a solid foundation for a secure, united, and prosperous Plateau State.

•Gyang Bere is the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Executive Governor of Plateau State

Development Experts Push for Degrees with Direction, Real-world Learning Experience

Oluchi Chibuzor

Education development experts have stressed the need for students to seek higher education where they can be better equipped as learners for relevance, innovation, and impact in today’s rapidly changing world.

Speaking at the second edition of the Global Education Conference, Country Director of StudyIn Nigeria, Mary Agbu, explained that the event was designed to create synergy among educational stakeholders and ensure that Nigerian students’ aspirations align with global academic and industry standards.

Agbu said that the conference, with the theme ‘Degrees with Direction: Building Career Pathways at Home and Abroad’, was meant to create a kind of cohesion that benefits students, institutions, and practitioners.

“We are pushing for deeper engagement and intentionality in how students approach their studies and career paths. So the conference will, in conclusion, bring students’ study aspirations at different study levels to industry standards.

“Because when you finish, the whole idea is that you are going to be ready for industry, and we’re not going to have industry saying the kind of

graduates that are churned out these days don’t quite meet the expectations and aspirations of the growing industry, tech, HR, and growing areas in different fields, science and tech, all of that,” Agbu said.

In a keynote address, Olayinka David-West, represented by Henry Ogundolire, challenged students to bridge the gap between learning and doing, while underscoring that education must go beyond memorisation and performance to mastery, application, and real-world problem-solving.

“So, if you’re going to have a degree with direction, you don’t have to learn for exams. Learn to understand, connect, and create. Curiosity is your most powerful level of skill, and so be curious about confidence and mastery as opposed to performance,” said David-West. “So, performance can give you access to a place, but mastery and competence will do the job and ultimately add value to the system.”

She further encouraged learners to turn knowledge into service and transform study into impact, insisting that a degree is a door, not a destination. David-West urged students to apply their education to real-world problems, highlighting transferable skills such as creativity, adaptability, and collaboration.

FCET Umunze Student Shines in COEASU National CompetitionScholarship

Uchechukwu Nnaike

The management of Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, has honoured Miss Chinyere Fidelis, a second-year student of Fine and Applied Arts, for her exceptional performance at the recently concluded national scholarship competition, organised by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).

Fidelis emerged as the first runner-up in the keenly contested national level with 46 points, narrowly missing the top spot by a single mark. Her performance earned her recognition and a cash reward from the college management during a reception held in her honour at the provost’s office.

Earlier in the competition, Fidelis had clinched the title of Best NCE Student in the South-East zone, a feat that came with a ₦500,000 cash prize from COEASU and qualification for the national grand finale held at the NCCE Headquarters, Abuja. She defeated contestants from other colleges of education in the South East zone.

In her remarks, the Provost, Prof Theresa Okoli, applauded the student’s remarkable accomplishment, describing it as a testament to the college’s unwavering commitment to

PALFA Advocates Innovative Methodology to Achieve Africa Agenda 2063

Oluchi Chibuzor

The Pan-African Literacy for All (PALFA) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing literacy and education in Africa through innovative learning methodologies, aligning with the continent’s long-term development blueprint - the Africa Agenda 2063.

Speaking at the 14th PALFA conference, held recently at the University of Lagos, the incoming Chair of the International Development Committee Africa, Prof. Gabriel Egbe, stated that literacy remains the gateway to development and that Africa’s educational systems must evolve to meet the challenges of the future.

“When we talk about literacy, we’re not just referring to the ability to read and write, but the capacity to use printed and spo-

ken words for the advancement of humanity. Africa’s aspirations under Agenda 2063 cannot be realised without transforming the way literacy is taught and learned,” he said, stressing that artificial intelligence, digital tools, and innovative teaching techniques must now be integrated into classrooms to ensure that African learners are globally competitive.

Egbe noted that having been in the forefront of literacy empowerment in Africa since 1999, PALFA is positioned to support the new agenda through literacy dialogues.

“This will ensure that Africa contributes significantly to the building of a ‘literate, creative and adaptive citizenry equipped with 21st century skills for a competitive global environment’. This lofty vision will, however,

remain a mirage if the depressing education and literacy statistics at the continental, regional, and national levels are not addressed as a matter of urgency and priority.

“The African continent, as a youthful population with low literacy rates, is characterised by a high percentage of outof-school children (ages five to nine), while seven out of 10 children are unable to read and comprehend a passage at age 10. The future is already here with us. We can’t continue teaching the same way. We must train children to become relevant in the global space by embracing technology and forward-looking methods of learning,” Egbe said.

The conference, with the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Africa through Innovative Literacy Approaches’, show-

cased emerging models in mother-tongue literacy, digital content creation, and AI-driven educational resources.

One of the highlights was a demonstration of how teachers can produce learning materials using technology at little or no cost - a move to ease the burden on educators while promoting inclusive learning.

“We are developing materials in local languages using AI. Teachers no longer need to struggle; technology can make teaching and learning more seamless and pleasurable,” Egbe explained.

The conversation also addressed growing concerns about Africa’s heavy dependence on ICT in education. Responding to such concerns, Egbe maintained that technological transformation is inevitable.

Some guests and members of the King’s College Old Boys’ Association, at the 2025 King’s Week and 116th Annual Founder’s Day Lecture/Fundraising Dinner

excellence in teaching and learning.

Okoli added that her success at the national level reflects the college’s sustained efforts in nurturing intellectual curiosity, creativity, and discipline among students. She encouraged other students to emulate Fidelis and reaffirmed the management’s commitment to recognising and celebrating outstanding academic performances that bring prestige to the institution.

The COEASU Chairman, FCET Umunze Chapter, Dr. Sunny Okeke, expressed delight at the student’s impressive showing on the national stage. He explained that the competition was rigorously supervised and keenly contested, adding that Fidelis’ performance further elevated the academic reputation of the college.

Accompanied by the Chapter Secretary, Mr. Ndubuisi Onyemechara, the chairman commended the student and the institution for their exemplary representation.

The College Librarian, Dr. Agada Samson Arome, in an earlier statement, applauded COEASU for instituting the scholarship initiative, describing it as a commendable platform that promotes academic excellence and intellectual competitiveness across colleges of education in Nigeria.

King’s College Celebrates Legacy, Urges Focus on Progress

Mary Nnah

In a thought-provoking address, Prof. Hakeem Belo-Osagie, a renowned businessman and investor, urged Nigerians to redirect their focus from a nostalgic golden age to the country’s tangible progress. Highlighting the importance of acknowledging achievements, he said, “Let’s abandon the idea that there was one time in the world in which this country has always had problems. It will always have problems. Art helps solve problems.”

By doing so, Belo-Osagie encouraged Nigerians to adopt a forward-thinking approach, building on past successes to create a better future.

He spoke at the 2025 King’s Week and 116th Annual Founder’s Day Lecture/ Fundraising Dinner, organised by the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) with the theme ‘The King’s College Legacy: Honouring the Past, Empowering the Future’.

Belo-Osagie pointed out the significance of honouring the past while empowering the future.

He shared personal anecdotes from his time at King’s College, highlighting the importance of legacy, resilience, and innovation.

He discussed two pointsthe national situation and his personal life.

The professor questioned the notion of a golden age, citing his own experiences growing up in Nigeria. He recalled challenges such as water pumps, air raids, and limited flights to Kaduna, saying, “I do not remember this golden age, perhaps, maybe I missed it.

“Nigeria has made significant

progress. We have more educated people, schools, and hospitals than before. While we can improve, acknowledging our achievements is crucial. Let’s abandon the idea that there was a perfect time in Nigeria’s past and focus on solving problems. Art can be a powerful tool in addressing these challenges,” he said.

He explained that Nigeria, as an artificial entity created by colonial powers, has its unique challenges, “but with the right approach, we can drive progress and innovation”.

Ademosu Advocates Inclusive Society Anchored on Education, as Taide Foundation Turns 10

Funmi Ogundare

A social entrepreneur and convener of the 10th-year remembrance of Taibat Ademosu (Taide Foundation), Dr. Akinwande Ademosu, has called for a more compassionate and inclusive society anchored on education, moral values, and community support, stressing that true wealth lies in love and service to humanity, rather than material possessions.

Speaking at the anniversary

event, lecture, and debate held recently in honour of his late mother, Mrs. Taide Ademosu, in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, he explained that the foundation was established to sustain her legacy of kindness, selflessness, and commitment to improving lives through education, healthcare, and social welfare.

He said that his mother, though from a modest background, was known for her generosity and concern for others.

“She believed that even

though she was not wealthy, she was rich in love and good deeds,” he stated. “She taught us to be kind to humanity, to do what is right, and to always look out for the interests of others, especially those who lack what we have.”

Ademosu added that the foundation, in the past decade, has impacted numerous lives through scholarship awards, medical outreaches, and the provision of food and welfare support for vulnerable families.

“If our mother could touch 10 lives, our goal is to reach 100,000, and we pray that our children will reach millions,” he added.

One of the foundation’s major interventions, he noted, was the total rebuilding of Omo Edumare Primary School, his alma mater, which was in a state of disrepair. The school has since been transformed into a model institution in Ogun State, ranking among the best public schools in the country.

SOStainability Week ly

Washing and hushing

Sustainability Reporting : Why oil and gas companies must go beyond optics

The oil and gas sector carries a large share of global emissions and an outsized community impact. In Nigeria, expectations are rising since the commencement of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021, the introduction of the NGX sustainability guidance, and the country’s gradual move toward globally-aligned climate disclosures like the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

Having examined sustainability reporting in the banking sector in our previous article, we now turn attention to oil and gas—an industry central to Nigeria’s economy but controversial for its stupendously negative social and environmental footprints. Our team assessed ten operators, including multinationals and indigenous firms, using two key quick scan metrics: whether a sustainability or CSR policy is clearly accessible on their websites, and the recency of their ESG or sustainability reports (where published).

Variable scores on visibility and cadence

The visibility scan reveals that the big players, like the oil majors and their high-heeled indigenous counterparts, are showing up in the publication of policies and reports. Companies such as TotalEnergies, ENI, ExxonMobil, Seplat, and Oando maintain consistent reporting rhythms, publishing sustainability or ESG reports annually with the most recent editions dated between 2024 and 2025. Chevron and Shell also sustain this pattern, with their latest full reports published in 2023.

In contrast, indigenous firms such as the state-owned Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Ardova, and Aiteo (recently rebranded as Nembe E and P) lag. NNPC’s sustainability statement is visible on its website, yet no dedicated or up-to-date report is available online, while Ardova and Aiteo each feature CSR or sustainability pages without measurable or consolidated reports.

This uneven pattern highlights a fundamental finding: while the bigger firms, especially multinationals, appear to have steadied on sustainability reporting as part of their governance culture, others, mostly indigenous operators, still approach the subject matter as a voluntary exercise. The result is a sector where some visibility exists, but transparency remains partial and inconsistent, raising questions about the maturity of sustainability governance within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Raising the right questions

However, visibility of sustainability alone does not tell the full story, especially with the uneven pattern observed. This then begs the question why: Could the stronger showing by multinational oil companies be due to stricter country and continental-level regulations, such as the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)? Or the fact of using strict compliance frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and ISSB standards that require timely, verifiable reporting? Or does it reflect differences in enforcement appetite and capacity between foreign jurisdictions and Nigeria?

If multinationals are bound by their group-level ESG requirements, what then explains the relative indifference of some operators? Is it a matter of weak enforcement, limited capacity, or lack of pressure from investors and host communities? Or all of these and more?

To what extent are Nigeria’s regulatory bodies, such as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), actively monitoring sustainability disclosure requirements under extant legislations and regulations? And how enforceable are these if they have been fully developed and are being

applied?

Is sustainability disclosure in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector more of a function of external accountability than of domestic enforcement?

Why visibility and recency matter

Visibility and recency are valid foundational tests of credible sustainability reporting in Nigeria’s oil and gas space. Stakeholders, from regulators and financiers to host communities, respond not to promises but to proof. Confidence grows when companies publish verifiable data on emissions, flaring, spills, decommissioning, and site restoration, and community trust outcomes.

But on the foundational matter, accessibility matters as much as content. A sustainability hub linked from a company’s homepage communicates openness; burying reports under investor sections tends to send the opposite signal, as a host of other stakeholders tend to be left uninformed.

Our review shows that companies like TotalEnergies, ENI, ExxonMobil, Seplat, and Oando are setting a good example, providing current, easily accessible reports. On the other hand, the absence of a visible report from NNPC, Ardova, or Aiteo (Nembe) suggests a transparency gap that risks further erosion of the low public confidence in the oil and gas sector.

The business case for compliance

When it comes to sustainability compliance, many companies fail to see that it is more than a regulatory duty; it is a business strategy. Compliance creates pathways to competitiveness by attracting investors, lowering operational risks, and improving corporate reputation.

Firms that align with frameworks like ISSB and GRI often find themselves better positioned for partnerships and access to sustainable finance, as global capital increasingly favours transparent and responsible operators. For oil and gas

companies in Nigeria, where scrutiny on environmental and governance performance is a constant element, given the often opaque nature of the sector, compliance can distinguish leaders from laggards. It signals discipline, governance maturity, and readiness to operate in a global market that rewards accountability.

Far from being a burden, compliance builds trust with regulators, communities, and investors, turning sustainability reporting into an asset rather than an obligation. As the energy transition accelerates, the companies that internalise compliance as part of their core business practice, rather than a checkbox exercise, will not only meet standards but shape them, gaining both credibility and competitive edge.

What is the path forward?

The path forward must go beyond visibility to verifiability. It is best practice for operators to maintain a single, public sustainability hub consolidating policies, latest reports, key performance indicators, and any assurance statements. For multinational companies relying on group-level reports, a Nigeria-specific annex should outline the local context, targets, actions, and outcomes relevant to operations within the country. In this way, in-country stakeholders like host communities, the media, and civil society can scrutinise and ask the right questions without struggling to access required information.

Sustainability in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry must evolve from statements to substance, from policy to proof. The big players may lead today, but genuine progress requires that all players, especially indigenous firms, rise to the same standard—making sustainability not just visible, but measurable, current, and enforceable. Visibility begins the conversation; verifiability keeps it honest. This page will continue to report on sector-level sustainability reporting on one hand, and a dig into individual company reports on the other hand.

SOStainability Week ly

Trends and Threads

Sustainability and global supply chains

Behind every product we consume is a vast, complex supply chain stretching across countries and continents. From sourcing raw materials to final delivery, these networks are critical to business success—but they also carry significant environmental and social consequences. Today, they are under growing pressure to evolve.

A sustainable supply chain integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into every stage of its lifecycle—from raw material extraction to production, transportation, use, and end-of-life disposal. It seeks to minimize negative environmental impact, promote fair labor practices, ensure resource efficiency, and maintain economic viability across all tiers of the network.

Global supply chains and their impact

Global supply chains are networks of entities—suppliers, manufacturers, logistics providers, retailers—that bring products from origin

to consumer. Each stage consumes resources and creates waste, emissions, and social risks. Most environmental impacts originate far beyond a company’s own operations.

Historically, supply chains focused on cost reduction and speed. But recent events—from the pandemic to geopolitical tensions—have revealed how fragile and opaque these systems can be. A port delay in Asia can now stall production lines in Europe or

Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) redefines the model. It embeds

profitability with ecological responsibility and requires collaboration across all tiers of the chain. Modern supply chains must now deliver both performance and accountability. Transparency, adaptability, and ethical sourcing are becoming non-negotiable.

Why sustainability in supply chains matters

According to an EY Supply Chain Sustainability Report, supply chains account for up to 90 percent of an organization’s carbon emissions and over 50 percent of operational costs. From water use and energy consumption to labor practices and biodiversity loss, the supply chain is where the greatest sustainability risks—and opportunities—exist1. The stakes are high. ESG performance now directly affects stock prices, investor interest, and brand reputation. According to CDP, companies rated poorly on supply chain transparency risk being dropped from procurement lists worth

Spotlight

Clean up the mess : A call on TotalEnergies, Shell, others

There is some renewed heat on oil multinationals, especially those that are hurriedly divesting from onshore operations in the Niger Delta region. Last week, a coalition of 100 civil society organisations (CSOs) issued a statement demanding that these companies take responsibility

Renaissance Africa Energy Company

Joint Venture to Chappal Energies. Raising credible concerns about the capacity of local operators to clean up the contaminated environment in the Delta, the groups warned against using taxpayers’ money for the cleanup. They insist that the oil companies divesting must take responsibility for the cleaning.

The CSOs, including prominent national and international groups like HEDA Resource Centre, CISLAC, Oxfam, and

Global Rights, have reiterated their call for environmental justice and accountability, central issues in the Niger Delta struggle for many years. Their stance is a strong plea to the divesting oil majors that they must atone for past wrongdoings and cannot escape consequences. “With the collapse of the Total-Chappal deal, the Shell-Renaissance transaction must be reviewed. If NUPRC’s concerns were well-founded, there is a huge risk that the Nigerian people will end up paying for SPDC’s environmental mess,” the organizations stated. They also urged an independent review of the Shell-Renaissance divestment deal and the immediate release of the Environmental Evaluation Studies (EES) for each of these sales. “We call on civil society groups and parliamentarians to ensure that the pollution legacy caused by international oil companies is swiftly cleaned up to meet international standards and that the companies, not Nigerians, bear the cost,” they concluded.

trillions of dollars. It’s also a consumer issue. Millennials and Gen Z—who dominate global spending—prioritize sustainability when choosing brands. Businesses that fail to meet expectations risk becoming irrelevant in the eyes of their market. Sustainability is not a marketing slogan. It’s a resilience strategy, an innovation driver, and increasingly, a legal requirement.

Key challenges in sustainable supply chains

Most companies cannot track their supply chain beyond direct suppliers. Yet indirect suppliers, especially in raw materials and subcontracted labor, often present the greatest ESG risks—such as child labor, deforestation, and illegal mining. In addition, second-tier vendors typically go unaudited. To solve this, digital traceability tools like blockchain and smart tagging systems are being adopted. They offer real-time tracking of emissions, sourcing, and compliance. Supply chain functions—procurement, logistics, compliance—often operate in silos. This fragmentation limits accountability and slows sustainability integration. In a study on the Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainable Supply Chains, author Barbosa-Póvoa emphasizes that sustainable supply chains require new modeling and life-cycle analysis tools that cut across departments and decision-making layers. Unified platforms, cloud systems, and ESG-focused dashboards can centralize data and facilitate collaboration across regions and teams. Many companies claim to prioritize sustainability but lack measurable targets. This results in inconsistent execution, poor reporting, and missed market opportunities. Sustainability requires both the right tools and the right people. Yet many firms still rely on manual processes or lack staff trained in cross-disciplinary supply chain management. Natural disasters, pandemics, trade wars—all expose how vulnerable supply chains can be. Delays, shortages, and cost spikes are now the norm. Companies must build flexible networks. That means diversifying suppliers, decentralizing sourcing, and implementing climate risk assessments. Resilience, not just efficiency, is the new supply chain standard. Suppliers are often treated as external entities, managed by audits and contracts. But sustainable transformation requires collaboration, education, and shared values.

Opportunities for sustainable supply chains

Despite the challenges, the rewards of sustainability are immense. Companies that invest now gain a competitive edge across several fronts. Green logistics, packaging reduction, and energy-efficient warehousing lower long-term costs. Supply chain decarbonization opens access to climate finance and government incentives. Sustainability also improves brand loyalty. Ethical sourcing and transparency appeal to value-driven consumers. In saturated markets, these factors differentiate leaders from laggards. Digital solutions amplify impact. AI-powered platforms optimize routes and inventory. Blockchain enables trust in material origins. IoT sensors monitor emissions and ensure quality. Circular supply chains—where products are reused, remanufactured, or recycled— are becoming not only sustainable but profitable. And with global frameworks tightening, regulatory compliance becomes a strategic advantage.

VIP PREVIEW OF DESIGN WEEK LAGOS 2025...

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Adebopo Oyekan Ismaila; Founder, Design Week Lagos, Titi Ogufere; Nigerian Singer/Songwriter, TY Bello; and Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board,Mrs Agbaminoja, during the VIP Preview of Design Week Lagos 2025, held in Victoria Island, Lagos... recently

Renaissance Capital: $29.3bn Needed to Support Nigeria’s Gas Transition Programme

Forecasts more IOCs divestments Predicts Nigeria to exceed 2m bpd production target by end of 2026

Addeh

Renaissance Capital Africa, a financial-services firm focused on investment banking and markets activities in Africa, has said that Nigeria would require between $17 billion and $29.3 billion to support its gas transition programme. In a new report, the company

stated that to support the progressive policy developments under implementation, infrastructure has been identified as a potential gap in the system, especially for the gas transition.

“We estimated a capital expenditure of $17.3 to $29.3 billion, excluding Dangote Refinery & Petrochemicals which has been completed, to

support gas transition. Crude oil evacuation infrastructure for export and local refining is better placed for near term returns in our view,” it stated.

However, the report said that infrastructure developments are more complex because scattered reserves in the country require more infrastructure, increasing the upfront cost for evacuation.

Besides, it stated that domestic manufacturing demand is currently low, stressing that without the demand side initiatives, gas will be channeled for export.

As for incentives for IOCs and local E&P companies to unlock value in gas production, it said that cost efficiency, shorter cash conversion circle, among others, remain key positives for

Odinkalu: Tinubu’s Pardons Violate Constitution, Undermine Justice System

Says pardons mix heroes with criminals, mock justice

Wale Igbintade

Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Com- mission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, has taken a swipe at the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), accusing him of presiding over what he described as an illegal, seedy, and constitutionally flawed process in the administration of presidential pardons.

In a strongly worded article titled “Herbert Macaulay,

Presidential Pardon, et al,” the renowned human rights activist and lawyer said the Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, headed by Fagbemi, had “done irreparable damage” to the integrity of the presidential pardonAccordingprocess. to him, the com- mittee’s work was riddled with illegality, procedural lapses, and possible“Thereinducement. is no way to dimin- ish the damage that Lateef Fagbemi’s Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy has done to the presidential pardon.

“There are clear elements of illegality in what it has done and in what it proposes to do. It is seedy and stinks,” Odinkalu wrote.

He argued that the commit- tee’s recommendations, which led to President Bola Tinubu’s October 12, 2025 announcement of pardons for 175 persons, violated the Constitution and basic moral standards.

Citing Section 175(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Odinkalu explained that the president could only grant pardons to persons “concerned

5th ASWAN: Zulum Canvasses Multifaceted Approach to Address Sahelian Crisis

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has called for a comprehensive and multifaceted strategy, hinged on broader regional coopera- tion, to tackle the escalating security and humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region.

Zulum made the appeal while delivering a keynote address at the roundtable

discussion of the 5th Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development held in Aswan, Egypt.

The governor whose state has been at the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin argued that a purely military solution has proven insufficient, stressing that lasting peace can only be achieved by simultaneously addressing the root causes of

the conflict.

He said: “The crises of instability, terrorism and displacement that plague the Sahel cannot be solved by kinetic means alone,” stating, “We must look beyond the battlefield. There is an urgent need for a multifaceted ap- proach that combines security, development, and humanitar- ian assistance in a synchronised manner.”

with or convicted of offences created by an Act of the National Assembly.”

He questioned how the committee could have lawfully recommended posthumous clemency for Herbert Macaulay, the nationalist and surveyor convicted in 1913, decades before Nigeria became a federation or had a National Assembly.

the“Withcountry.economies of scale in existing fields, existing infrastructure can be repurposed for gas at a lower cost versus procuring new equipment for additional crude exploration, making it cheaper for existing E&Ps to process and sell CNG/ LNG.

“Also, there’s a shorter cash conversion cycle from investing in gas processing on existing fields versus exploration. Funding interest is more inclined towards gas projects (and) increased government focus leading to policy changes and the expansion of use cases for domestic gas utilisation including power generation and manufacturing,” it added.

On the recent divestments in the oil sector, Renaissance Capital said the potential outcome of the acquisition by the indigenous players includes bankable projects for investors and local commercial banks, community development, and increasing capex for asset growth.

It stated that for additional context on asset growth where NNPC is the majority JV partner, its E&P partners are now up to date on its cash calls, in part due to the removal of subsidies and improved governance at NNPC.

“Looking ahead, we anticipate further divestments by IOCs and NNPC JVs, where we see a significant opportunity for local E&P players to acquire 10 oil wells holding 2,008 mmboe,” Rencap stated.

The outlook for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, it said, remains broadly positive, supported by a combination of structural reforms, renewed investment momentum, and the gradual rebalancing of asset ownership.

“ The ongoing divestment of onshore and shallow-water assets by international oil com- panies (IOCs) to indigenous players is reshaping the upstream landscape, transferring productive capacity to operators with a stronger local presence and operational agility.

Rivers: Tinubu, Govs Know Fate as S’ Court Reserves Judgment in Suit against Emergency Rule

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, reserved judgment in the suit challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

A seven-man panel of the apex court fixed the date for its judgment, shortly after taking arguments from lawyers representing parties in the suit brought by 11 governors against President Bola Tinubu.

The suit was filed on behalf of the governors by their respective Attorneys-General

and Commissioners for Justice.

Among the plaintiffs are Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa.

Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, personally appeared in court to lead the government’s defence, in a move that underscored the seriousness with which the federal government views the case and its resolve to defend the President’s constitutional powers of proclamation.

He was accompanied by a formidable team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including former AGF and Minister of Justice, Chief Akinlolu Olujimi, SAN, Prof. Kanyinsola Ajayi, SAN, Abiodun Ononikoko, SAN, and Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN. The plaintiffs’ team was led by Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, alongside J. A. Mumuni and Musbau Adetumbi, while the National Assembly, listed as the 2nd defendant, was represented by Charles Yohila, who also prayed the court to dismiss the suit.

FLAG OFF OF NIGERIA JUBILEE FELLOW PROGRAMME...

flag-off of Nigeria Jubilee Fellow Programme 2.0 (NJFP) Policy Dialogue at the Presidential

Shettima: Tinubu Remains Committed to Girl-Child Education

Teenager, Joy Ogah, takes over as one-day vice president, makes strong case for girl-child

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured stakeholders and development partners of the commitment of President Bola Tinubu towards promoting girl-child education across Nigeria.

He said among other government interventions in girl-child education, the school feeding programme remains essential.

Speaking during a meeting with a PLAN International delegation led by its Director of Programme, Quality, and Innovation, Helen Mfonobong Idiong at the State House, Abuja, Shettima invited a teenager, Joy Ogah, to take over the seat of the Vice President for a day and address the nation.

He noted that studies have shown that well-nourished children are well-formed.

“We will continue the engagement with PLAN International and see where the force and strength of

government can be brought to bear on your solid advice on girl-child education,” the Vice President told the PLAN delegation.

He further told the delegation that “in President Bola Tinubu, you have an ally you can believe in and invest your trust in,” adding that the administration is passionate and deeply committed to advancing girl-child education.

Shettima also described wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a symbol of how a properly empowered and supported girl-child can blossom into a great leader.

He recalled that when Mrs. Tinubu served in the Nigerian Senate, she contributed actively to debates, especially those relating to girl-child education.

“I want to assure you, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, that this govern- ment is gender-friendly. We believe in inclusivity. We cannot disenfranchise half of

our population and expect to grow as a nation,” he stated.

The Vice President assured PLAN International that the administration’s doors are open for continuous engagement, adding that “the ladies on my team are the best people to engage.”

After his remarks, Shettima invited Joy Ogah to take over his seat for a day, an opportunity she gladly accepted.

Speaking from the Vice President’s seat, Ogah expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent millions of Nigerian girls.

She noted that across Nigeria, 10.5 million children are out of school, with over 60 percent of them being girls.

Ogah emphasized that Nigerian girls can become leaders if the necessary interventions are implemented by relevant authorities and stakeholders. She called on the government, policymakers, development partners, and citizens to act strategically in advancing girl-child education.

“We must invest in education that is safe and inclusive for every child in Nigeria,” she said.

Niger: 35 Confirmed Killed, 40 Injured Scooping Petrol from Overturned Petrol Tanker

Laleye Dipo in

At least 35 persons have been burnt to death while scooping for fuel from an overturned petrol Tanker at Essan village near Badeggi town in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, while 40 others were reportedly injured in the accident which occurred on Tuesday Eyewitnessesmorning.said that

UN Women Strengthen Partnerships for Inclusive Development in Warri Kingdom

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

In a significant step toward advancing gender equality and inclusive development, UN Women Nigeria Representative, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, was hosted by the Royal Iwere Foundation under the leadership of Their Majesties, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, and Olori Atuwatse III.

The high-level engage- ment, held in Warri, focused on strengthening

partnerships between UN Women and the Warri Kingdom to promote women’s empowerment, economic inclusion, and community development.

According to a statement on Tuesday, discussions with the traditional leaders explored ongoing initiatives within the kingdom that empower women and girls, particularly in the areas of education, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

Both parties expressed a shared commitment to

deepening collaboration and scaling up interven- tions that create sustainable opportunities for women and young “Traditionalpeople.institutions are powerful drivers of social transformation,” said Ms. Eyong. “UN Women is committed to working closely with Their Majesties and the Royal Iwere Foundation to amplify the remarkable efforts already underway in Warri Kingdom and ensure that no woman or girl is left behind.”

considerable property in the area were also burnt.

According to the eyewitnesses the petrol tanker was conveying the commodity from Lagos to a northern city when it ran into a bad portion of the road at Essan.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed sadness at the tanker explosion in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State where media reports say 38 persons were feared killed.

In a statement yesterday signed by the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum,

NGF, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is also the state chief executive of Kwara State, the Forum sent its condolences to the people and government of Niger State.

His words: “The Forum sends its heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Niger State, especially the families of the victims and His Excellency Governor Moham- med Umar Bago.

“Our sympathies are with every family that is affected in this unfortunate incident. We commend all the emergency responders for their humanitar-

ian assistance to the victims,” according to a statement by the NGF Chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“This disaster again calls attention to safety issues in every aspect of our life. This is particularly important in how combustible items are stored and transported at every stage.” According to reports, initially it was gathered that nothing “serious” happened until the villagers started scooping the fuel resulting in an explosion which burnt the 35 victims to death and made the 40 others to sustain serious injuries

FG to Review Upwards Retirement Age of Air Traffic Controllers

Chinedu Eze

The federal government has said that it will review the retirement age of Air Traffic Controllers in the country as part of efforts to bridge the manpower gaps in the sector. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who made this known, said the retire-

ment age will be reviewed upwards in order to ensure experienced hands and personnel are maximized and allowed to pass their experience to the younger generation.

Speaking while declaring open the 54th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) in Abuja yesterday,

the Minister said the ministry would work with the relevant authorities to ensure a successful review.

Keyamo described NATCA as the ‘Apple of the eye of Aviation’ and assured to give the controllers the necessary support needed to make them function more effectively because of the critical role they play in keep the airspace safe.

FIRST AFRICA SCHOOL GAMES...

L-R: Co-founders of the Africa School Games, Mrs. Aderoju Ope-Ajayi and Dr. Seun Akinbihun; Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Lekan Fatodu; and Dr. Busola Tejumola, at the 1st Africa School Games held in Lagos… recently

PDP to Know Fate on Legality of Convention October 31

Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, adjourned till October 31, for judgment in the suit seeking to stop the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention slated for November 15 and 16, 2015.

Omotosho fixed the judgment day, shortly after all parties argued for and against the holding of the convention, which is meant to usher in a

new executives of the party.

The suit either way it goes will determine who owns and runs the structure of the PDP as political activities gathers momentum for the 2027, general elections.

The plaintiffs who are against the conduct of the convention are alleged to be working with some persons outside the PDP to sabotage the interest of the PDP in the 2027 presidential election.

They are believed to be

working for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who though a member of the PDP, is working in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and is rooting for the return of President Bola Tinubu, come 2027.

Arguing the case of the PDP, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told the court that the case of the plaintiffs is an internal affairs of the PDP, which is outside the jurisdiction of the court.

According to him, the plain-

tiffs alongside the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, are working allegedly working against the interest of the party hence, the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) to drop Ajibade as a representative of the PDP in this matter.

“NWC held a meeting on September 30, NWC took a position that they cannot count on his impartiality on this mat- ter”, Uche said, adding without the knowledge of the NWC,

Ajibade rushed to court to file a counter to the suit.

He added that unlike the other defendants in the suit, especially the 3rd and 4th, Ajibade “failed, refused to ask the court to dismiss the case of theCitingplaintiffs”. Article 42 of the PDP’s Constitution, Uche also faulted Ajibade and plaintiffs claim that it is only the National Legal Adviser that can represent the PDP, “when NWC takes a decision it does not lie on

Wike: Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda Has Restored Public Confidence in Governance

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has hailed President Bola Tinubu for using the Renewed Hope Agenda to restore public confidence in governance.

Wike spoke yesterday in Abuja at the inauguration of the Wuye Engineering Infrastructure Project, which marked the 20th day of FCT’s continuous flag-off and commissioning programme.

The minister described the ongoing infrastructure flag-offs and project commissioning across the FCT as unprecedented in the history of Abuja.

He challenged critics to name any previous administration that

had matched the current pace of transformation under Tinubu’s leadership.

Wike stated that the Tinubu administration took bold steps to revive many of the projects in the FCT that were abandoned since 2009 due to non-payment of contractors.

He said such decisive step led to massive infrastructure develop- ment in Gwagwalada District, in addition to new road network, sectoral arterials, tunnels, and utilityWikeservices. said, “If there’s any administration since the creation of the Federal Capital Territory that has done more than what we are doing, let them speak up now. Their silence says it all. This

is leadership that is committed, leadership that is changing lives.

“When this administration came in, the president took immediate steps to revive what had been neglected. Within one year in office, major projects were completed, including the interchange that once caused traffic chaos in the area.”

He announced that after 20 unbroken days of commissioning and inauguration of projects, the FCT administration would take a short break before embarking on another 20-day phase focused on education development, where he promised to unveil the govern- ment’s achievements in schools and learning facilities across the capital city.

Wike reiterated his commitment to supporting all political leaders, who aligned with the president’s vision, adding that a “political tsunami” of performance-driven governance is sweeping through theHeterritory.

stated, “Those in real estate used to complain: no roads, no infrastructure, our businesses are collapsing. Can you still say that today? Every day you see progress because infrastructure has been provided. That’s what development looks like.

Tinubu Nominates Bernard Doro as Minister, Forwards Name to Senate for Confirmation FG

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a letter to the Senate seeking confirmation of Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro from Plateau State as a Minister.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Dr. Doro’s nomination follows Prof. Nentawe Goshwe

Yilwatda’s election as the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in July, 2025.

Yilwatda previously served as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

Born on January 23, 1969, in Kwall, Bassa LGA of Plateau State, Dr. Doro has over 20 years of multidisciplinary experience in clinical practice, pharmaceutical management, strategic leadership, and com-

munity engagement in the UK and Nigeria.

He has degrees in Pharmacy and law, an MBA focusing on IT-driven business strategy, and a Master’s in Advanced Clinical Practice.

Dr. Doro is an Independent Prescriber and Advanced Clinical Practitioner with NHS frontline experience across urgent care, walk-in centres, GP practices, and hospital settings.

“My dear people, look around you. If you live here, if you have property here, your conscience will tell you the truth, that leadership has returned to this country. The Renewed Hope Agenda is real. Forget my face; what matters is the work being done.”

Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the Wuye Engineering Infrastructure Project as a testament to the administration’s resolve to deliver infrastructure that uplifts communities and restores hope.

one person to come out and debate the issue”.

Besides, Uche argued that Ajibade being a member of the PDP NWC and NEC and a defendant in the suit, Ajibade was not qualified to represent the PDP in the instant case.

“The party has come out to say that if they proceed with him, they are not sure that their interest would be protected “, the senior lawyer submitted. He therefore, urged the court to decline jurisdiction in the is- sue because it was an internal affairs of the PDP and that the plaintiffs lacked the necessary locus to file the suit having not exhausted the party’s mechanism for dispute Meanwhile,resolution. Ajibade who was represented by R. A. Dada, SAN cited the court’s judgment as well as a public notice of the PDP, showing it is the National Legal Adviser that is the proper party to represent the PDP in the suit.

Other defendants however aligned with the submissions of Uche to urge the court to dismiss the suit as an internal affairs of the party.

State

23 farmers to lose farmlands for the project

The federal government has approved the first mining site for Lapai Local Government Area in Niger State with not less than 23 farmers losing their farmlands and crops to the Eachproject. of the affected farmer in Takalifiya community in the local government has however been paid compensations of between N200,000 and N1million for the farmlands and crops to

be destroyed for the takeoff of the mining activities.

The mining activities which will takeoff soon under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the leaders of the community and the mining company also provides that at least 50% of jobs spaces should go to members of the community.

The agreement also in- cludes sinking of boreholes for the community, intervention in the renovation of schools

and hospitals as well as construction of roads from the mining site to the community. Presenting cheques to the beneficiary farmers, the Chief Operating Officer, of Elin Group Limited, Alhaji Hassan Isah, revealed the company allowed the farmers to harvest most of their matured crops adding that “we even paid for them despite the harvest”. He said the only crop left on the farmlands acquired is guinea corn insisting that “we have paid for this too”

IMPROVED RISK MANAGEMENT ON THEIR

Quarterly Risk Roundtable in Abuja… recently

MINDS...

Court Sends Kanu’s Brother, Lawyer, 10 Others to

Kuje

Prison over Solidarity Protest

PCRC applauds police professionalism, respect for human rights

Chuks Okocha and Linus Aleke in Abuja

AA magistrate court sitting in Kuje, Abuja, has remanded the brother of Nnamdi Kanu, Emmanuel Kanu, and his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, in KujeTheprison.remand followed their participation in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest on Monday in Abuja.

Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, Kanuta Kanu, disclosed that in a post on X, shortly after the court session yesterday.

Kanuta Kanu posted on X, “The magistrate sitting in Kuje remanded Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, the lead counsel in Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case, and Prince Emmanuel Kanu, his youngest brother. This is a conspiracy from the executive, legislature and judiciary to frustrate Kanu’s trial on Thursday.”

The Nigeria Police arraigned Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Ejimakor; his brother, Emmanuel; and 10 others following the protest in Abuja onTheMonday. court document to that effect was shared by former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, via X on Tuesday. The police charged them with inciting disturbance and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order.

According to the document sighted by THISDAY, the suspects were accused of denying other citizens the freedom of movement, disrupting free flow of traffic while chanting war songs and requesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

It was reported on Monday that Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin

had, while fielding questions on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, said Ejimakor and Kanu’s brother, along with others would be charged on Tuesday.

Hundeyin further stated that those arrested during the protest would be charged to court after investigation.

The national leadership of Police Community Relations

Committee (PCRC) applauded the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the police management, and operatives of the FCT Command for the profes- sionalism exhibited in the handling of the Omoyele Sowore-led “Free Nnamdi Kanu” protest in Abuja on Monday.National Chairman of

PCRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, in a statement, said the swift and measured response of the police in ensuring law and order during the protest reflected the renewed professionalism, restraint, and respect for human rights under the Egbetokun-led police management team.

The committee commended the prompt prosecution of

those arrested within 24 hours, in accordance with constitutional provisions, describing it as a clear demonstration of the force’s commitment to due process and the rule of law.

It urged the police to diligently prosecute the suspects to serve as a deter- rent to others hell-bent on destabilising the country.

Anambra Guber: Soludo, Ukachukwu, Other Candidates to Sign Peace Deal

David-Chyddy Eleke in

Ahead of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, the National Peace Committee (NPC), Secretariat of The Kukah Centre, has stated that the commission would commit candidates of the 16 political

PSC to Establish Case Management System to Promote Ethical Policing in Nigeria

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has announced plans to establish an AI-enabled digital complaint response and case management system for the protection of employers’ rights and the promotion of ethical policing in Nigeria.

A statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, also revealed that the Commission is collaborating with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) to implement the project.

The Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd.), made this known while receiving the leadership of NECA, led by its Director General, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, who visited the Commission’s headquarters to explore a workable joint implementation of the initiative. While hosting the visitors, Argungu welcomed NECA’s desire to assist the Commission in producing high-quality police officers who are properly equipped to shape the future of Nigeria’s security architecture. He assured his guests that the

Commission would cooperate and work closely with NECA to achieve significant results in the development of a digital complaint response and case management system to support ethical policing in Nigeria.

“Your ideas will help us promote positive policing, and we are happy you are here to assist us,” he said.

The Director General of NECA, Mr. Oyerinde, stated that they were at the Commission to forge a strategic partnership that would help the Commission achieve its goals in advancing ethical policing in Nigeria.

parties participating in the election to a peace deal.

Executive Director of The Kukah Centre and Head of the Secretariat of NPC, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, stated this in Awka yesterday, during a pre-election engagement with stakeholders.

Barkindo, in his welcome remarks said, “We at Kukah centre have come to work with you people who are on ground, and know the social and cultural make up of this state. We are coming to see what we can do to

consolidate on the peace you already have here.

“We will be here next week for the signing of the peace accord, and members of the National Peace Committee, and the chairman, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, would be here.

“We have notified the gov- ernor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, and the candidates. We do this so that if after the election there is a problem, we will be able to sit with those who are involved to make peace. With that

accord, the peace committee will have the moral right to step in and resolve issues.” Barkindo added, “Most stories about killings that we hear are rumours, misinformation and outright lies. The impression they give us is that there is insecurity everywhere and this is why the National Peace Committee, headed by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, came to work with you people to ensure that the forthcoming election is peaceful.

Industrial Court Hears N100m Wrongful Dismissal Suit Against Guinness Nigeria

Fidelis David in Akure

A former Territory Manager with Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Ntima Chika Anya, has dragged the multinational beverage company before the National Industrial Court sitting in Akure, seeking N100m million in damages over what he described as the wrongful,

unlawful, and inhumane termination of his appointment.

The defendants in the suit are: Guinness Nigeria Plc, and Moshood Adejoro, who was his former Line Manager (an employee with the firm till date).

The matter, which came up for hearing on Tuesday, saw the claimant open his

case through his counsel, Samuel Chukwudi Nmesi, who tendered 36 documentary exhibits in evidence before Justice K.D. Damulak. The court admitted all documents and adjourned further hearing to November 27, 2025, for cross-examination by the defence counsel, Ade Abioye.

Committee’s oversight funCtion at Lasaa...

L-R: The Chairman, Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode; Chairman, Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources, LAHA, Hon. Sobur Akanbi Oluwa; MD/CEO, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Prince Fatiu Akiolu; Chairman, Committee on the Environment (Parastatals), LAHA, Hon. (Engr.) Shabi Adebola; Chairman, Committee on Procurement, LAHA, Hon. Apata Samuel; and the Committee Clerk, LAHA, Mr. Olaosebikan Ebenezer during the Committee’s oversight function at LASAA in Lagos on Monday

Senate to Debate Motion on Urgent Pay Rise for Soldiers and Security Personnel Today

Ndume seeks wage increase for armed forces amid rising hardship

sunday aborisade in Abuja

The senate may consider a motion seeking an urgent and substantial upward review of the minimum wage and general conditions of service for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies today.

The motion, titled, “Urgent Need to Increase the Minimum Wage and Improve Conditions of Service for Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies,” was sponsored by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South), a former Chief Whip of the 10th Senate.

Ndume’s motion high-

rienced under the leadership of our revered leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, are being driven by renewed hope, productive governance, and economic recovery.

“It is, therefore, in our collective interest and in the spirit of progress that we, as loyal members of the APC family in Lagos State, endorse and support the leadership at the federal level for a second term.

“We owe it to our party, to our state, and to our nation to continue to build upon the achievements we have made. Let us go back to our wards, our local governments, and our constituencies as ambassadors of the APC, spreading the message of good governance, unity, and progress.

“Let us mobilise, sensitise, and encourage others to stand firmly behind our leaders, confident that the continuity of progressive leadership will bring even greater prosperity to our people.”

lighted what he described as the “grossly inadequate” wages currently earned by soldiers and other security operatives who risked their lives daily in defence of the country, despite worsening economic conditions and inflationary pressures.

Citing Section 217(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the lawmaker stated that the armed forces were constitutionally mandated to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty, maintain territorial integrity, and assist civil authorities in restoring order when called upon.

He argued that the current pay structure had failed to reflect the magnitude of the sacrifices made by security

personnel deployed in high-risk and volatile regions.

According to the motion, the average minimum monthly wage for junior personnel in the armed forces currently stands between N50,000 and N60,000, an amount Ndume described as “grossly inadequate” given the soaring cost of living, trans- portation, accommodation, and education.

He warned that low pay, delayed allowances, and poor welfare had contributed to declining morale, high at- trition rates, and potential vulnerabilities to corruption within the security services.

Ndume said, “Our troops are stretched thin across multiple

fronts, from counterterrorism operations in the North-east to anti-banditry and oil theft missions in other regions, yet their welfare has not kept pace with their sacrifices.”

The motion drew a stark

comparison with remuneration in other African countries.

Ndume said in Ghana, a pri- vate soldier earned the equiva- lent of about N180,000 monthly; in South Africa, N250,000; in Egypt, N230,000–N280,000; and

in Kenya, N200,000, excluding operational allowances. In contrast, Ndume explained, Nigerian privates earned barely a quarter of those figures, de- spite higher deployment rates and greater operational hazards.

Ododo to Oyebanji: You Came Prepared

gbenga sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, yesterday, said his counterpart in Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, has demonstrated capacity, which indicated that he was well-prepared for the task of governing the state.

This, he said, has continued to reflect in Oyebanji’s performance across all sectors in the last three years.Ododo posited that there were verifiable and convincing evidence across the critical sectors of the economy, that pointed to the fact Oyebanji has fulfilled the social contract he signed with the people of the Ekiti State.

According to him, “Over the past six years, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and guided by the THEMES+ Agenda, an acronym for Traffic Management and Transporta- tion; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy; Entertainment and Tourism; and Security and Governance, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation across all sectors.

“I say with boldness that THEMES+ Agenda was not just a slogan; it was a blueprint for progress; a plan anchored on deliberate, inclusive, and sustainable development, from infrastructure renewal to human capacity building. Lagos has continued to move forward with incredible energy and purpose.

On the performance of the incumbent government in Lagos State, Hamzat said residents in the last six years had witnessed a remarkable transformation across all sectors under the Sanwo-Olu administration.

The deputy governor said, “Today, Lagos stands tall as a model of excellence and a beacon of good governance. Other states across Nigeria continue to visit Lagos to understudy our systems, from taxation and revenue administration to traffic management, healthcare delivery, and urban planning. This is not by chance; it is the product of consistency, planning, and execution.”

In a lecture, titled, “Voter Apathy and the Sanctity of Election in Nigeria’s Budding Democracy,” Fashola said people should be mobilised, and the youth engaged to vote during elections.

He said, “The Lagos APC Stakeholders Forum is coming up at a time when some of those who stood in emergence as opposition are now seeing how difficult it is to form a merger like APC did. The opposition are now seeing the long rope we walked back then to get to where we are.

“Political party participation is based on enthusiasm. If

people are enthusiastic, they will turn out to vote. But hope is not lost because we are in a season of renewed hope, and therefore we will turn it into a renewed hope for our party andOtherprogrammes.” speakers at the event, which included members of the federal cabinet and the National Assembly, also highlighted some of the achievements of Tinubu in different sectors since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.

The state chapter of the party announced a N20 million prize money for the local government that recorded highest number of newly registered voters in the ongoing continuous voters’ registration exercise. Chairman of APC in the state, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, disclosed this during the stakeholders’ forum.

Ojelabi stated that the party had put everything in place for smooth registration, and called on all members of the party to go out and mobilise people to register.

He spoke in Ilawe Ekiti, while commissioning the 21kilometre Ikere-Ilawe road, and the renovated General Hospital projects by the Oyebanji administration. Addressing the large crowd of residents that thronged the venue of the ceremony, Ododo,

who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, applauded Oyebanji for hiring the services of local contractors to execute some of the road projects. The Kogi governor stated that such display of leadership spoke volumes about Oyebanji’s belief in the development of human resources available to the country. He saluted the Ekiti governor for making the state pass through the trajectory of impactful governance in the areas of infrastructure, human capital development, tourism, agriculture, and youth development, which audibly speak to the government’s inclusion policy.

Benue House Member Quits PDP for APC

george okoh in Makurdi

The lawmaker representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ojema Ojotu, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ojotu, Chairman of the House Committee on Inland Waterways, however, joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The development was made known yesterday by the Deputy Speaker of the green chamber, Benjamin

Kalu, who presided over plenary.

According to the letter read by Kalu, Ojotu cited the unending crisis in PDP as reason for his decision.

“After consultation with my constituents, family members and political associates, I have decided to dump the PDP for the APC,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ojotu’s resignation has been alleged to be a plot designed for him to become the running mate to Governor Hycinth Alia of the state in his 2027 re-election bid.

SENATE LEADERSHIP SYMPATHISES WITH ABBA MORO OVER SON, GRANDSON’S DEATH...

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, with Principal Officers of the Senate and members of the National Assembly, during a condolence visit to the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, over the death of his son and grandson, yesterday

IEA Report: $150bn Investment Needed to Deliver Electricity Across Africa in Ten Years

Current financing heavily skewed in favour of urban

An investment of $150 billion is needed to deliver electricity access to all Africans within the next decade, translating to about $15 billion per annum, a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), has said.

The report, themed, “Financ- ing Electricity Access in Africa,” acknowledged an increased investment in power on the continent, but well below the levels needed to close the access gap.According to the IEA report, insufficient capital remains a key obstacle to expanding electricity access for the roughly 600 mil- lion people on the continent who currently live without power, outlining essential tools to unlock greater investment and eliminate the access gap.

The new IEA tracking

revealed that less than $2.5 billion was committed to new electricity access connections in sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, the most recent year for which full data was available.

“While that is a quarter more than was committed in 2019, it still lags far behind what would be required to provide universal access by 2035,” the report

Morestated. than 70 per cent of the investment committed in 2023 came from international public finance, while the private sector contributed less than 30 per cent.

Although 80 per cent of the population without access lives in rural areas, the report pointed out that financing remains skewed towards urban areas.

It is also geographically concentrated, with half of finance flows channelled to only six countries, including Angola,

Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa.

To tackle these discrepancies, it is recommended that the continued development of new and innovative financing mechanisms be pursued that can help direct investment towards decentralised energy solutions, such as mini-grids and solar home systems.

It also prescribed targeted financing approaches for com- munities living in informal settlements, fragile states, and vulnerable humanitarian contexts, which account for a significant share of the popula- tion without access today.

The report equally empha- sised that beyond connecting households to electricity, ad- ditional finance of at least $2 billion per year was necessary to ensure that basic levels of energy service are affordable.

IEA analysis showed that roughly 220 million people in Africa (or about 40 per cent of those without access) are unlikely to be able to afford a “basic bundle” of services, based on today’s income and subsidy levels, while 400 million people would not be able to afford an “essential bundle”.

To tackle this, the agency stated that concessional capital can be deployed to reduce financing costs and open the door for more private sector financing, while governments could consider deploying time- bound subsidies to consumers or developers.

Targeted financing approaches are also needed for communities living in informal settlements, fragile states and vulnerable humanitarian contexts, which account for a significant share of the population without access

Suspected Arsonists Set Ekiti ADC Office Ablaze, PartyCondemns Act as Attack

Okocha

and

Suspected thugs, yesterday, set ablaze the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, overnight, reducing the building and thousands of plastic chairs to ashes.

This act was ahead of ADC state executives inauguration scheduled. Property worth millions of naira were destroyed as a result.

The ADC, which condemned the attack also described it as a desperate attempt to derail its growing influence in the region.

The party said the at- tackers who were armed with various dangerous weapons destroyed any

thing on sight, including chairs, tables, canopies, musical instruments, and motorbike, among others.

According to the party, they came back in their numbers the second time to destroy another set of chairs when the party was about to commence the inauguration for the executives and disrupted the exercise.

Affirmation was later held for the state executives of the ADC in Ekiti State by Dr. Bamidele Ajayi, while the state chairman of the party, Mr. Ilesanmi Omolayo, also inaugurated other Executives in the state at the event.

The chairman of ADC, in the state, Mr. Ilesanmi Omolayo, who called on party members to stand firm as the party of the moment,

urged them not to be wary of what happened on the day of the inauguration, but to stand with the party towards winning all the election in the state.

Other party faithful present included former deputy Governor in Ekiti, Prof. Olu Sola Eleka; Hon. Gboyega Aribisogun, and former commissioner, Segun Akinwunmi.

In his reaction, the National Secretary of the ADC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who condemned the act, described this as undemocratic and shameful display of intolerance, adding that it’s a dangerous threat to democracy.

Aregbesola said it was regrettable that individuals, who emerged through democratic process could

resort to violence and intimidation to suppress opposition voices.

“It is difficult to adequately express the disappointment, don’t forget in 2009, the incumbent administration in Ekiti then did undemocratic actions and we felt that victims of such irresponsible and anti-democratic actions would now be in office to replicate such wickedness in the state

“The security agencies must protect lives and property and when they fail to do so , they are violating the constitution. Interestingly, the security acts make it compulsory to do so and failure to do that exposes all of them as being compromised”. He added

today, it added. A highlight of the new report is that for the first time, the IEA

used new tracking to gauge electricity access financing commitments.

Tinubu Mourns Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro’s Son, Grandson

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has sent heartfelt condolences to the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, and his family over the death of his son, Victor Moro, and grandson, Abba Moro Jr.

The President, in a release issued on Tuesday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga,

commiserated with the family, friends and associates of the Senator, who represents Benue South Senatorial District in the National Assembly. President Tinubu urged the family to find solace in the impactful lives of the children, whose time on earth, though short, is truly a blessing to the many lives they touched and those who came in contact with them.

S WATCH cannot spend retained funds unilaterally.

At the end of the deliberations, the Senate unanimously adopted the motion, commending the EFCC for its professionalism, integrity, and visible achieve- ments in the fight against financial crimes.

It also mandated relevant committees to provide stronger legislative and oversight support for the agency and other anticorruption institutions.

Akpabio said: “The Commis- sion’s recoveries, prosecutions, and deterrence record deserve national recognition. We must continue to strengthen it through effective laws, adequate funding, and public Meanwhile,confidence.”

the Senate on Tuesday also passed for second reading a Bill seeking to amend the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Act, to remove the restrictive term “Technology” from its name and convert it from a specialised university to a conventional one.

The bill, sponsored by Senator

Shehu Umar (Bauchi South), aims to enable ATBU to expand its academic offerings beyond technology and engineering to include programmes in the humanities, law, medicine, and social sciences.

Umar said the amendment would align the institution’s legal status with its current operations, enhance equity with other federal universities, and broaden access to higher education in the North-East.

He said: “Similar transformations have occurred in other federal universities such as Modibbo Adama University, Yola, and Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. This amendment is not radical, it simply recognises the evolution of the institution and honours the legacy of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.”

The bill was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for public hearing and further legislative action within four weeks.

TELLiNG NiGERia’s ECONOMiC sTORy…

at the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington DC…recently

Again, Enugu State Govt Pulls Down Property Used for Kidnapping

The Enugu State Government, yesterday demolished yet another building used for kidnapping in the state, an action it said is in line with the laws of the state.

Security agencies had, during the week, rescued a kidnap victim at the demolished property, a bungalow at Umueze Awkunanaw in Nkanu West LGA of the state, used by the prime suspect, Igwenagu Ogbodo, and his gang for holding victims captive.

degrees of gunshot wounds when security agencies stormed the property.

Speaking to newsmen during the demolition, the Council Chairman of Nkanu West LGA, Hon.

Ogbodo and some of his gang members, however, escaped with various

Army Inaugurates Python Project, CBQ in Rivers

Blessing ibunge in Port Harcourt

The 6 Division Nigerian Army has inaugurated two important projects in its Port Harcourt barracks, the python roundabout and corporal below quarters (CBQ).

The projects, renovated by the commanding officer, 29 Battalion, Joseph Otogo, a Lieutenant Colonel, were inaugurated by the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander,

Joint Task Force, Southsouth, Operation Delta Safe, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, yesterday, inside the Port Harcourt barracks.

In his opening remark, Lt Col Otogo, described the python roundabout as a milestone, noting that its solar energy light facility would enhance the safety, aesthetics and sustainability of the environment.

“It symbolises discipline, innovation and professionalism within the cantonment,” he added.

CVA 2025: Over 50 Brands Set for Honour

Preparations are in top gear for the 2025 edition of the Consumers Value Awards (CVA), as More than 50 brands gearing up to wear the badge of honour the 2025 edition of the Consumers Value Awards (CVA), slated for November 26, 2025.

Speaking with the media, Chief Executive Officer of BrandXchange and Convener of the CVA, Akonte Ekine, confirmed that official notification letters have been delivered to all winning brands across both private and public sectors.

“Just as we invested

significant effort in public awareness during the voting process, we have also ensured that every winner is formally informed. The response so far has been fantastic, and preparations are in top gear for another exciting and successful edition of the CVA,” Ekine stated.

According to him, this year’s event will hold at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, Lagos, and promises to be an engaging celebration of brands that truly deliver value to Nigerian consumers.

John Ogbodo, commended Governor Mbah for consistently demonstrating political will in the war against insecurity.

“The prime suspect and his gang kidnapped the

person and brought him here. He was rescued and his vehicle recovered. Some arms and ammunition were equally recovered.

“I thank His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, for his political

will and demonstration of capacity in line with what he told Ndi Enugu that any house that harbours criminals or is used to aid criminality will be demolished.”

‘Cult Groups, Not Soldiers, Killed Civilian Near Ojo Military Cantonment’

Linus aleke in abuja

The Nigerian Army has said that the shooting that led to the death of a civilian, identified as Rilwan Adekunle, was the result of violent cult-related activities within the 81 Division Nigerian Army’s area of responsibility.

The Army further clarified that contrary to reports, the incident did not occur within the Ojo Military Cantonment.

A statement by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, reads:

“The 81 Division Nigerian Army has taken note of a

disturbing incident circulating on social media, claiming that gunmen shot and killed a civilian, identified as Rilwan Adekunle, inside a market within the Ojo Military Cantonment. We wish to provide clarification to set the record straight.

“Contrary to the reports, the incident did not occur within

the Ojo Military Cantonment. It is imperative to state that on 18 October 2025, we received a distress call about a shooting incident at a junction near the Mammy Market abattoir gate. Investigations revealed that the incident was a result of suspected cult-related activities, which tragically led to the loss of life.”

Don’t Let Your Hatred for Mutfwang Ruin Tinubu’s Chances, Group Warns APC Chairman

ayodeji ake

A pro-Tinubu support group within the All Progressives Congress, Renewed Hope Advocates of Nigeria (RHAN), has warned the National Chairman of the party, Professor Yilwatda Nentawe, not to

allow his personal hatred for Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State to endanger President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election prospects.

The group gave the warning in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Prince Miaphen, expressing

“deep concern” that while the President and the APC national leadership are busy reaching out to opposition governors across Nigeria, Professor Nentawe has instead been working to frustrate Governor Mutfwang’s planned defection to the APC.

Miaphen recalled that at a stakeholders’ meeting in Jos last Friday, chaired by Professor Nentawe himself, a motion was allegedly forced through to bar Governor Mutfwang from joining the APC, a move RHAN described as “reckless, self-serving, and politically suicidal.”

Court Decides Legality of PDP’s Convention October 31

alex Enumah in abuja

Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, adjourned till October 31, for judgment in the suit seeking to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention slated for November 15 and 16, 2015.

Omotosho fixed the judgment day, shortly after all parties argued for and against the holding of the convention, which is meant to usher in a new executives of the party.

The suit, either way it goes, will determine who owns and runs the structure of the PDP as

political activities gathers momentum for the 2027, general elections.

The plaintiffs, who are against the conduct of the convention, are alleged to be working with some persons outside the PDP to sabotage the interest of the PDP in the 2027 presidential election.

They are believed to be working for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who though a member of the PDP, is working in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and is rooting for the return of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Foundation’s Initiative Empowers 300 Pupils in Lagos Schools

Folalumi alaran in abuja

In a bid to support education and ease the financial burden on struggling families, the Abosede Tomori Foundation (ATF) has distributed school bags and essential learning materials to over 300 indigent pupils across public primary schools in Ejigbo and Isolo Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

intervention by the foundation since its launch in July 2025.

This outreach marks the second major community

Beneficiary schools of the initiative include the Oladele Alake Primary School Ejigbo; Low Cost Housing Estate Primary Schools 1 & 2 Ejigbo; Answar Ud Deen (AUD) Nursery & Primary School Isolo and Ajao Estate Primary School, Isolo. Recipients received back packs, branded exercise books, writing materials, water bottles amongst others.

Ajibade, Others, Expected as Injury Knocks out Echegini from Clash with Benin

Head Coach Justine Madugu remains upbeat about Nigeria’s chances against Bénin Republic in their 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifying fixture, despite midfielder Jennifer Echegini

being knocked out of the two games after suffering a hamstring injury in her club, Paris Saint Germain of France’s game on Monday night.

Echegini, who scored Nigeria’s winning goal in this year’s Women AFCON Final match against hosts Morocco in Rabat,

will now miss Friday’s first leg of the final qualifying fixture at the Stade de Kégué in the Togolese capital, as well as the return at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex on Tuesday.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade,

Barcelona Crush Olympiacos in Champions League League Phase

Fermin Lopez scored a hat-trick and Marcus Rashford took his personal tally to four goals from three Champions League games as Barcelona thrashed Olympiacos 6-1.

Two smart first-half finishes from Lopez put Barcelona in control, before his third, a Lamine Yamal penalty and a Rashford double halted a short-lived Olympiacos fightback.

After playing Yamal through on goal in the seventh minute, Lopez was on hand to finish past the defenders on the goal-line when goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis made a block but could not keep hold of the ball.

The Spanish midfielder doubled Barcelona’s lead half an hour later when he ran on to Dro Fernandez’s ball into space, cut inside and curled a left-footed strike into the left corner.

The second half began in bizarre circumstances. Ayoub

El Kaabi thought he had halved the deficit with a header, but after checking on the pitchside monitor, referee Urs Schnyder chalked off the goal for offside and instead awarded the visitors a penalty for a handball by Eric Garcia, which El Kaabi converted via the post.

Three minutes later Olympia- cos midfielder Santiago Hezze was shown a second yellow card and ordered off for catching Lopez with a flailing arm.

This was a night when Yamal became the youngest player to reach 25 Champions League appearances – at 18 years and 100 days – and the teenager tucked away a penalty after Rashford was brought down while attempting to round Tzolakis.

Zuma Golf Resort to Hosts 70 Players for Nigeria’s Independence Kitty

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The serene environment of Zuma Golf Resort, Niger State will on Saturday, October 25, host elite golfers from across the country for Nigeria @65 Independence Kitty.

The tournament is the inaugural event to commemorate the country’s nationhood and is organised by the FCT Golf Association, Abuja.

It is being jointly-sponsored by Galaxy Backbone and Shola Mese Foundation.

The Chairman FCT Association, Akabom Enebong, said

golfers will relish playing the course located off the AbujaKaduna road with the iconic Zuma Rock as a backdrop.

Enebong stated that although the association projected for a field of 50 golfers, almost 70 golfers had so far indicated interest to be part of the festivity.

He added that available souvenirs would only be limited to the first 30 golfers that registered for the tournament.

The overall winner shall be the player with the best net score over 18 holes.

Organisers Confirm Nov 6 for Zenith Bank/Delta Principals’ Cup Final

The organisers of the annual Zenith Bank/Delta State Principals’ Cup have announced November 6 as the new date for the third place and final match.

The initial date of October 16 was changed after a protest was initiated against one of the final- ists, Otokutu Grammar School, Ughelli South, after it was alleged that the team fielded an ineligible player in their semifinal victory

against Urhobo College, Uvwie. After investigation, Otokutu was sanctioned and will now play the third place game against Justice Peace & Success Academy, Aniocha South while the final will be between Ogbe-ijoh Grammar School Warri South West and Urhobo College, Uvwie on November 6 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State.

who also plays for PSG in France, was scheduled to arrive in Lomé last night, alongside the Mexico-based duo of defender Osinachi Ohale and forward Chinwendu Ihezuo, USA-based duo of

defender Michelle Alozie and midfielder Deborah Abiodun, Canada-based forward Esther Okoronkwo and Italy-based defender Shukurat Oladipo. The camp swelled from nine players to 11 on Monday night with the arrivals of Portugal-based midfielder Christy Ucheibe and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie. Saudi Arabia-based defender Ashley Plumptre jetted into Lomé on Tuesday afternoon.

Gymnastics Stakeholders Call for Level Playing Field as Olalere Challenges Erhunmwunse

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Ahead of Saturday’s Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria (GFN) election in Abuja, stakeholders in the sports have rejected calls for contestants to step down, insisting that all aspirants should be allowed to go and exercise their rights at the polls.

Incumbent President of the federation, Kelvin Erhunmwunse has been challenged by a member of the immediate past board, Hajia Kafilat Omowunmi Olalere.

There have been speculations that the National Sports Commission (NSC) has waded into the matter by asking Hajia Olalere to step down and be compensated with the position of Vice-president.

But speaking in Lagos yesterday, Hajia Olalere insisted that the South-West zone that she’s representing on the Gymnastics board have insisted that there is no going back on the presidency.

“When the NSC told me to step down for the incumbent President (Erhunmwunse), I went back to my constituencies and the various interest groups to

brief them of the development and they were emphatic that the federation needs a new direction.

“It is not about me because I could have easily accepted the position, but what happens to those seeking to become zonal representatives through the elec- tions?” observed the influential gymnastics member.

She described the election that Erhunmwunse arranged before this new Saturday date as sham that disenfranchised most people intending to come on the new board.

“The elections they purportedly held disenfranchised many people, but thankfully, we have a listening leadership in the National Sports Commission that issued a press statement

cancelling it and then stating that the real elections would hold on October 18. But due to some other reasons, it was now moved to October 25.”

Hajia Olalere was emphatic that stakeholders from the South West, South South, South East and North Central have been looking at ways to reform the sport, which involves children and their parents.

She is pained that several gymnastics have been forced to move into other things for survival because the sport no longer meets their expectations.

Another stakeholder, Ben Alonge, who is a former techni- cal director of the federation corroborated Hajia Olalere on the level of stagnation that has

enveloped the sport under Erhunmwunse’s leadership

“Our president was chosen to lead us by the Solomon Dalung administration without proper election. We protested, but nobody listened to us. Dalung’s successor as Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, also did not conduct a proper election and so the president retained his position. Now, we want a change.”

Alonge therefore called on the NSC to give a level playing ground for all stakeholders interested in vying for positions in gymnastics federation election.

“If the sports most grow, we need the best hands to develop gymnastics as an international sport,” he concluded.

Nigeria to Host International Invitational Football Tourney in Dec

3D Sports has announced its plan to host a landmark international invitational football tournament in December 2025. Amongst those to participate are teams from countries of African descent across the globe. The initiative, titled “The Motherland Heritage Cup”, is designed to commemorate African

heritage, promote global unity, and celebrate the collective “return to the motherland.”

This project is fully supported by the Presidency and has received the gracious endorsement of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who will serve as the initiative’s official Patron.

The Senate President recognized the initiative as a major foreign diplomacy tool, cultural and economic driver, perfectly aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda through its focus on cultural diplomacy, youth engagement, and economic revitalization.

pAyinG homAGE To ThE GoVERnoR...

L-R: The wife of the Minister of Budget and National Planning;Dr Zainab Bagudu, wife of the Governor of Imo State; Mrs Chioma Uzodimma,Ogun State Governor; Prince Dapo Abiodun,wife of the Ogun State Governor; Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, Commissioner for Health; Dr. Tomi Coker and the General Manager, Roche Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Company; Dr. Ladipo Hameed during a courtesy visit to the Governor in his office on Tuesday.

E R i C Te NIOLA

gu EST COL um NIST

The Ever-Lingering Benue-Plateau Crisis

Isaw Mr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang (60), the governor of Plateau, a lawyer-banker and former Chairman of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state, lamenting on the television on the invasion of herdsmen to his state. The governor was almost in tears.

The same with Mr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia (59) the governor of Benue state, from Mbangur, Mbadede, Vandeikya local government area of Benue State. Mr. Alia, the Nigerian Catholic Cleric and politician, who is an ex-student at St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos. Incidentally, the concern of the two governors has been lingering even before they were born.

In 2018, I wrote on the crisis. I like to quote what I wrote then. “The Tiv/Fulani crisis in Benue/ Plateau State has been on for too long. The older generation passed this crisis to the present one in an unresolved form, and it is getting worse with the years. The present generation must not pass the crisis down too, thereby saddling and punishing the incoming generation with an inherited mayhem. Much blood has been spilled, and particularly those of innocent folks. While many families have been displaced, many homes have equally been destroyed. And many still face a bleak future because of this crisis. It should and must end.”

In 1977, I had special relationship with two gentlemen involved in the crisis. They were Chief Solomon Daushep Lar (4 April 1933 – 9 October 2013) and Chief Joseph Sarwuan Tarka (10 July 1932 – 30 March 1980), both of whom I got to know when I covered the Constituent Assembly in 1977.

Chief Solomon Lar was elected as a councilor to the Langtang Natives Authority in January 1959. On 12 December 1959 he was elected to the Federal Parliament on the platform of United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC). He was reelected in 1964, and from then until 15 January 1966, when General Yakubu Gowon GCFR took power in a coup, Lar was parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. He was also a Junior Minister in the Federal Ministry of establishments. He became chairman of the board of directors of African Continental Bank, member of the Nigeria Council of Legal Education and a member of the Constituent Assembly (1977–1978). He was a member of the panel chaired by Justice Ayo Irikefe that recommended expanding from 12 to 19 states during the regime of General Murtala Mohammed. I used to call Chief Solomon Lar in 1977, CHAIRMAN, because he was the chairman of African Continental Bank- one of the dead glories of the present SOUTH EAST region, just like National Bank is to the present SOUTH WEST. His house at Obafemi Awolowo Road Ikoyi was

part of my rendezvous. That was at the earlier formation of the Nigeria’s People’s Party (NPP). He was one of the sponsors of Club 19 that eventually gave birth to the NPP at that time.

I asked him at that time, why he did not join the Makama Bida/Shehu Shagari’s group that eventually formed the NPN, he said it would be a taboo if he should do so. He narrated to me the circumstances that led to his father’s death.

In the transition to the Nigerian Fourth Republic Chief Solomon Lar became the first National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998, holding this position until 2002 when he handed over to Chief Barnabas Gemade. In February 2004 he resigned as chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, handing over to Chief Tony Anenih at a caucus in Notwithstanding,Abuja.he was a true middle belter.

In November 1979, Governor Solomon Lar then of Plateau state told me in Jos, that the day the middle belt crisis is resolved, that day, the Nigeria crisis would be resolved. He explained that unless you are a middle belter, one can never understand what “we go through in the hands of the Fulani man.”

I was in Obudu, Cross Rivers state recently, for the burial of Elizabeth Agbo Adede (1956-2025), the immediate junior sister of my friend, Senator Musa Adede. I was at the burial along with Colonel Lawan Gwadabe(rtd.), Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Major Bashir Galma (rtd.), Bishop Jato, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, John Owan and others. From Obudu, enroute Makurdi, I drove to Abuja, to take a flight back to Lagos. When I got to Makurdi that day, I had memories of my earlier life in that city. I visited Makurdi for the first time in 1977, courtesy of Chief Joseph Sarwuan Tarka.

On March 30, this year, it was 45 years that Chief Joseph Sarwuan Tarka (July 10, 1932-March 30, 1980) answered the final call. Unfortunately, the issue that he fought against in the last 24 years of his life – the conquest agenda of the Fulanis – still lingers. During his era, the problem was not about herdsmen but the imperialist policies of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), dictated by Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, who was then the premier of Northern Nigeria.

He was a teacher like his father, Tarka Nanchi. His mother, Sera Ikpu Anyam Tarka, a nurse, died in December 2005 at the age of 95. At an early age, he attended the London Constitutional Conference in 1958. Others like him, who were young and from minority parties, who attended the conference included Mr. H. Biriye, Dr. Okoi Arikpo of the United National Independence Party; Mr. P. Dokotri, also of the United Middle Belt Congress; Dr. Udo Udoma of the United National Independence Party; Mallam Aminu Kano, Mallam Ibrahim Imam, and Dr. S.E. Imoke from Itigidi in Cros River State, who later became a minister and married a pretty princess from Sabongida-Ora in the present Edo State. Dr. Imoke was the father of Senator Liyel Imoke, the former governor of Cross River State.

Chief Tarka got elected into the House of Representatives, representing Jemgbar Constituency, by 34,243 votes. He defeated J.I. Ukume of the NPC who scored 1,191 votes and S.C. Sarma of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), who scored 703 in the 1958 election. He then formed his party, the United Middle Belt Congress, along with Patrick Dokotri, David Obadiah Vreng Lot, Ahmadu Angara, Isaac Shaahu, Edward Kundu Swen and others. He entered into an alliance with the Action Group, led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He later entered into another alliance with the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), made up of Mallam Aminu Kano, Yerima Bello,Abubakar Zukogi, Ahmed Tireda, Gambo Sawaba, Ibrahim Heeban, Saliu Tate, Yahaya Abdullahi, Saliu Nakande, Shehu Sataima, Ali Dakat, Ango Soba, Adamu Gaya, Mallam Lawal Dan Bazua, Abubakar Tambuwal, Babadije Jimeta, Alhaji Tanko Yankassai (spokesman) and others.

The primary aim of Chief Tarka was to fight for the independence of the Tivs from the hands of the Northern Peoples’ Congress. That fight led to the emancipation of the people we now refer to as the Middle Belt. It had snowballed into the major crisis which we now refer to as the Tiv Riots of 1960 to 1964. This was at the time that Alhaji Aliyu Muhammed, the Wazirin Jamaa, who later became secretary to the government of the federation,

was sent by Sir Ahmadu Bello as administrator of Tiv land. The Nigerian Army was forced to quell those riots. Senior Military officers, including Major Adewale Ademoyega, Major Christain Anuforo, Lt. Col. Yakubu Pam, Major Timothy Onwuatuegwu, took part in quelling the upheavals. These officers, who were of the 3rd battalion of the Nigerian Army had just returned from Tanzania after cracking down on an internal problem in that country. They later became victims or key players in January 15, 1966 coup. Eventually one of them from the Middle Belt, General Yakubu Gowon, came into power in July 1966 and a few months later in 1967 split the country into 12 states.

General Gowon invited Chief Tarka into his cabinet as minister for communication, only to be succeeded by Brigadier General Rufai Murtala Ramat Mohammad (1938-76), but was later forced out of the cabinet as a result of allegations of corruption made by one of his kinsmen, Chief Godwin Daboh Adzuana (1942-2012).

The Tiv Riots and the independence of the Middle Belt played a key role later in the creation of more states in 1967. The calculation then was that the creation of states would free the Middle Belt from the conquest agenda of the Fulanis. That calculation has proved wrong.

My friendship with Chief Joseph Sarwuan Tarka was a friendship that I valued and still cherish till date. He was a charismatic and true leader of the Tiv people. I was introduced to him by Alhaji Uba Ahmed sometimes in 1977, after which our friendship grew and lasted till, he died in a London hospital on March 30, 1980. Friendship between Journalists and Politicians is inevitable.

I was at the hospital with Senator Uba Ahmed when he died and we accompanied his corpse back to Nigeria in a Nigerian Air Force Hercules plane, courtesy of President Shehu Shagari. I was also at his funeral service in his hometown. Between 1977 till his death, his general complaint was about the plight of his Tiv people. He kept referring to the Tiv Riots and how his people were massacred during the military campaigns that followed it.

Chief Tarka was a persuasive talker not used to exaggeration. At his Ikoyi residence, near the present Ikoyi marriage registry, his house was always full of people. To ensure privacy, he would take me upstairs, where he would narrate tragic stories of the Tiv Riots. He explained to me then that the Tivs were not the aggressors; “How can we be on our land”, he pointed out several times. At the age of twenty-four, he had become a leader, and he died at the age of 48.