• Ruto, Museveni, Abiy, Wadagni, Savi de Tové, Obasanjo witness event  

•Aliko fixes 40 months to complete 700,000 bpd facility  

•Taps Honeywell to take part in building mega-refinery in $300m deal

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

Several African leaders yesterday joined Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and Kenyan President, William Ruto, to break ground on the $16 billion, 700,000-barrel per day refinery in Lamu County, Kenya, in a major push to deepen the continent’s capacity to process its natural resources and reduce reliance on imported refined petroleum products.

The facility, when completed, will be the largest refinery in East Africa and one of the continent’s biggest industrial projects, with the construction phase expected to create about 60,000 jobs.

The project, being developed by Dangote Group, is also designed as an integrated industrial complex incorporating a 1,000-megawatt power plant, plastics manufacturing, fertiliser and chemical production facilities.

Those who personally attended the event included: Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed; Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni; Togolese President, Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové; Beninese President Romuald Wadagni and former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

At the event which was also attended by the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as well as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, many African leaders, especially from East Africa also sent their representatives.  They included those from Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and Tanzania.

Addressing the ceremony, Dangote said the project represented a new phase in Africa’s industrial development and demonstrated that the continent could increasingly process its own resources and create value locally.

Stressing that the project is scheduled to be completed in the next 40 months, the billionaire businessman said a vessel with about 400 pieces of construction equipment is expected to dock at the Lamu Port in the next 60 days, in addition to 110 pieces of equipment delivered last week.

“This is Africa coming together to build Africa. Today we are not simply breaking ground for a refinery, we’re breaking ground for a new chapter in Africa’s industrial journey to a brighter future. Lekki has proved that it can be done, Lamu must prove that it can be repeated,” Dangote stated.

According to him, the project is part of a wider effort to end Africa’s dependence on exporting raw materials and importing finished products.

“For too long, our continent has actually been rich in resources but poor in value creation and addition. We have exported crude oil and imported refined products. Such practice only leads to us exporting our jobs and opportunities that should remain on the continent and lead us into importing poverty into our nations,” he argued.

To ensure there’s maximum employment of Kenyans during the construction and subsequent oil production, Dangote said his company plans to set up a training school for engineers in Lamu, assuring that every qualified person will be employed in the course of the project.

“We want to make sure that we can get expertise locally without having to employ people from China or India,” he said.

He also recalled the relationship between him and ex-President Obasanjo, describing him as “the father of Africa” and praised him for playing a critical role in ensuring that one of his major investments in Nigeria was completed despite widespread doubts that the project could succeed.

According to him, the former president earned a unique place in the history of his business empire when he believed that local production of cement was achievable despite facing significant scepticism.

“Nobody had ever built that kind of factory in Africa, but Obasanjo made sure that we built it and commissioned it just a few days before he left office,” he said.

Dangote has said the deep-water Lamu port was an important factor in selecting the location, particularly because it can accommodate large vessels transporting crude oil.

The Dangote Group had offered regional governments in East Africa a combined 30 per cent equity stake in the project, in a move aimed at giving participating countries a direct interest in the refinery.

In his remarks, an excited Ruto urged Dangote to ensure the project is completed within the 40-month period he announced, describing the refinery as a landmark investment that would transform Kenya’s energy and industrial landscape and strengthen the country’s economic integration with the region.

Ruto said the project was expected to boost Kenya’s economy by 12 per cent, generate 60,000 direct jobs and attract $4 billion in foreign direct investment annually during its four-year construction phase.

He said the project would also anchor the development of the Lamu Port South Sudan and Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor.

“For too long, Africa has exported raw materials and imported finished products, exporting wealth and jobs. The establishment of this refinery is a turning point, demonstrating our resolve to reimagine Africa’s industrial future, turn our ambitions into action and tap the continent’s massive potential,” he added.

Also speaking, Uganda’s Museveni, said countries in the region consume more petroleum products than the proposed refinery would produce, maintaining that although he was happy to attend the programme, Uganda was keeping its own refining plans alive.

Museveni said Uganda planned to build its own smaller refinery and that the Lamu project would not undermine the country’s plans or its cooperation with Tanzania on the Tanga corridor.

“Uganda’s refinery will be built, and our cooperation with Tanzania on Tanga stands. There is no harm in having more refineries in the region. What Africa needs is value addition, industrialisation and bigger integrated markets,” Museveni said.

Museveni also used the occasion to call for deeper African integration, saying the continent needed to move away from exporting raw materials.

“I am happy to see Africa waking up and moving away from the 70-year betrayal of exporting raw materials. Mr Dangote, who started as an importer and has become a national and continental asset, (and) is a good example of the transformation we need,” he said, adding that “East African political integration must ultimately be treated as a matter of strategic survival.”

For his part, former Nigerian Head of State, Obasanjo, recalled how French company, Lafarge did everything to stop Dangote cement from coming to fruition. Obasanjo said the company’s investment in Africa was not done in good faith.

He said: “The people who really didn’t want Aliko to succeed in the cement business were people called Lafarge, and they put every obstacle in Aliko’s way, just as they are still doing to us today. The experience of Senegal was the one that was traumatic.”

He added: “For two years he could not do anything. Lafarge instigated some locals. They went to court, Aliko won, and Aliko had to pay $12 million to be able to operate his cement factory, two years after it had been completed. Lafarge wanted Aliko not to produce cement in Africa. They wanted to monopolise. Lafarge is now out of Africa.”

Although the refinery was initially proposed for Tanzania’s coastal town of Tanga, it was subsequently moved to Lamu, with Dangote citing the Kenyan site’s deeper waters, stronger ground conditions capable of supporting heavy equipment and deep-sea access.

Meanwhile, Dangote has selected Honeywell Technologies to provide engineering services, licensing and equipment for the planned new 700,000 bpd plant, according to a statement from the company.

“Through our long-standing relationship with Dangote, we have developed proven large-train engineering designs that can be applied to the Kenya refinery to significantly reduce time-to-market,” Honeywell Technologies President, Rajesh Gattupalli, said in the statement.

The company stated that Dangote’s ability to draw upon its established designs will help reduce the development schedule for the new facility by nearly two years, nearly 30 per cent sooner than typical newly constructed facilities.

“The Kenya facility will leverage Honeywell Technologies’ refining and petrochemical processing solutions to produce gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and polypropylene. The refinery will have the flexibility to process a wide variety of crude oils, from light to heavy grades, enabling the use of feedstocks sourced from multiple regions and reducing reliance on any single supply source,” the statement said.

Similar to the refinery in Lekki, Nigeria, it stated that the Honeywell Technologies project scope for the Kenya refinery is expected to be approximately $300 million.

• Taxes, royalties, other remittances jump 39% to N22.3trn 

•Oil company reiterates $60bn investment target by 2030 

•Total revenue dips to N34.5trn  

•Over 30 Chinese partners assess Warri, Port Harcourt refineries 

•National oil firm says no date fixed for IPO

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Tuesday announced that it posted a 33 per cent increase in Profit After Tax (PAT) to N7.2 trillion in the financial year ended 2025, rising from N5.4 trillion in 2024.

According to the national oil company, this was despite a 24 per cent decline in its total revenue to N34.5 trillion. NNPC also declared a N5.8 trillion dividend and reported its strongest crude and condensate production in five years, averaging 1.77 million barrels per day.

The results, presented at the company’s headquarters in Abuja by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, further showed a significant improvement in other key financial indicators, with Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) rising 22 per cent to N18 trillion, while earnings per share increased 32 per cent to N35.9.

Besides, Operating cash flow grew 16 per cent to N12.8 trillion, while return on equity improved by 200 basis points to 16 per cent. The company’s board declared a dividend of N5.8 trillion, representing a 35 per cent increase over the previous year.

Speaking at the briefing, Ojulari attributed the stronger profit performance to improved operational efficiency and financial discipline, despite the pressures that affected revenue during the year. He said taxes, royalties and other remittances to the federal government rose 39 per cent to N22.3 trillion.

Ojulari said crude oil and condensate production averaged 1.77 million barrels per day, representing the company’s highest level in five years, while natural gas supply reached a three-year high of 7.2 billion standard cubic feet per day.

The improvement in production was also reflected in the company’s annual volumes, with oil and condensate production totalling 565.8 million barrels, up 5 per cent, while NNPC’s equity share increased 11 per cent to 223.7 million barrels.

In the same vein, natural gas production rose 9 per cent to 2,606.2 billion cubic feet, with NNPC’s equity share increasing 11 per cent to 1,154.9 billion cubic feet.

According to Ojulari, progress across the portfolio included completion of the AKK River Niger crossing and full completion of the 40-inch by 623-kilometre Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano mainline.

He explained that the NNPC also commissioned the ANOH-OB3 Custody Transfer Metering Station and advanced the 300MMscfd ANOH Gas Processing Plant to start-up readiness. It also acquired 500 CNG-powered trucks, and adopted a Technical Equity Partnership Model for its refinery reform.

Ojulari said the performance was the result of sustained attention to the company’s assets, infrastructure and execution, stressing that the stronger earnings would give NNPC greater capacity to invest and contribute to public revenue.

“Our 2025 performance shows what disciplined execution and a capable workforce can deliver. We are strengthening earnings, growing production and investing in the people and assets that will sustain value for our shareholders, communities and the Nigerian people,” he said.

He said NNPC was also strengthening its workforce through its Talent-to-Value programme, noting that more than 1,000 newly recruited professionals had completed a rigorous one-year internship and training programme and had been deployed across the company.

The company said it employed 1,023 full-time employees in 2025, while women now occupy 23 per cent of leadership positions, compared with a global industry average of 17 per cent.

Beyond its financial performance, NNPC announced that it recorded progress on several major infrastructure and operational projects during the year.

On the refineries, Ojulari said NNPC had made significant progress with prospective partners under its Technical Equity Partnership model.

He said the prospective partners had carried out a three-month intrusive, on-site due diligence exercise involving more than 30 senior technical personnel, with the objective of establishing a commercially viable and sustainable pathway for the refineries.

According to him, the new approach would require prospective partners to take equity stakes and share responsibility for the performance of the refineries, rather than simply executing rehabilitation contracts and leaving NNPC with the operational risks.

He said the company had learnt from previous refinery rehabilitation efforts and was determined to ensure that any new arrangement resulted in commercially sustainable operations.

“We want going forward to have a refinery that is self-sustaining, that is profitable and is sustainable, and that’s what we’re looking for,” Ojulari said.

He added that NNPC was also considering the integration of petrochemicals into the refinery strategy to improve margins and extend the value chain.

On the potential Initial Public Offering (IPO) of NNPC, Ojulari said the company had commenced work on its listing-readiness and was making progress in identifying and closing gaps required for a potential listing.

He, however, stressed that management could only prepare the company for listing, while the ultimate decision on an IPO remained with the shareholders.

“We don’t have a date, but we are working hard to make sure we are ready as soon as we can,” he said.

On crude-backed financing, Ojulari said Project Gazelle remained in place, explaining that the arrangement was linked to production-sharing contracts (PSCs) and did not directly affect NNPC’s equity crude production.

He also explained that while NNPC continued to supply crude under the government-approved naira-for-crude arrangement, other available crude was sold in dollars because the company’s major operational commitments, including payments to drilling contractors and operators, were dollar-denominated.

The GCEO also disclosed that the company had intensified efforts to recover outstanding receivables from customers that had taken its crude and gas but had not paid for them.

He said the commercialisation of NNPC under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) had changed the company’s approach to debt recovery because it could no longer depend on government budgetary allocations to cover its obligations.

“We have to make sure that we’re paid. Otherwise, there’s no one that’s going to save us,” he said.

On security of crude production, Ojulari said the company had recorded significant improvement in the reliability of major pipelines through a combination of community-based surveillance, security intervention and technology.

He said the reconciliation factor between crude produced and volumes accounted for at terminals was now in the 90 per cent range, compared with the much lower levels recorded during periods of severe pipeline disruption.

However, he acknowledged that smaller internal pipelines and wellheads remained vulnerable and said NNPC was deploying technologies, including fibre optics and intrusion-detection systems, to improve surveillance and response.

The company also said it acquired 500 compressed natural gas-powered trucks during the year as part of its efforts to strengthen its downstream operations.

Looking ahead, NNPC reiterated that it is targeting crude oil production of 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million barrels per day by 2030.

In the same vein Ojulari stressed that the NNPC was eyeing natural gas production of 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030, while seeking to mobilise $60 billion in investment across the upstream, midstream and downstream segments.

Ojulari said the targets were ambitious but achievable, provided the company could attract the capital, technology, partnerships and execution capacity required to deliver them.

The company said it would also continue work on major gas infrastructure, including AKK, the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System and OB3, while pursuing additional investment and portfolio partnerships to accelerate growth.

NNPC’s 2025 performance also included 6,028 cataract surgeries, the planting of 80,000 trees and the development of its Net Zero 2050 strategy, alongside continued reporting under international sustainability frameworks.

The company said the results demonstrated a stronger financial and operational foundation from which it would pursue its longer-term objective of becoming a commercially focused and globally competitive energy company.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Adedapo Segun, who provided further details on the financial performance, said the improvement in profitability was largely driven by efficiency gains and tighter cost management.

He explained that while cost of sales remained broadly at the same proportion of revenue as in 2024, NNPC reduced its General and Administrative (G&A) expenses by about a quarter during the year.

According to him, G&A expenses, which represented about 8 per cent of revenue in 2024, fell to about 7 per cent in 2025 despite the lower revenue base. He also identified the recovery of long-standing receivables as another major contributor to the bottom-line performance.

Segun said the recovery enabled NNPC to reverse some provisions previously made against the receivables, thereby providing an additional boost to the company’s profit.

“Those are the areas where you begin to see the step changes that define what we’re talking about,” he said.

He added that the company would continue to drive down costs, noting that unit operating costs in the upstream business had also fallen year-on-year.

“Going forward, our expectation is that we continue to improve on operational excellence. We continue to drive costs lower. Our unit operating costs for our upstream was lower year on year,” he said.

Peter Uzoho

Seplat Energy Plc has called for increased investment across Nigeria’s gas value chain to unlock the country’s vast natural gas resources, strengthen energy security, drive industrialisation, and position Nigeria as Africa’s leading gas powerhouse.

Speaking at the Gas Investment Forum (GIF) 2026 in Lagos, yesterday, Seplat Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Effiong Okon, said while Nigeria possesses more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, the true value of those resources can only be realised through sustained investments in production, processing, transportation and utilisation infrastructure.

Represented by the Director of Gas & New Energy at Seplat, Mr. Okechukwu Mba, Okon, who addressed the conference themed, “Positioning Nigeria as Africa’s Global Gas Powerhouse,” noted that energy poverty remains a major challenge across Africa, with an estimated 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa still lacking access to electricity.

“Gas reserves in the ground do not power homes or factories. Gas creates value only when it is produced and reliably delivered to consumers.

“The task before us is to convert Nigeria’s vast gas endowment into tangible economic growth, industrial development and energy access for millions of people,” he said.

The Seplat Energy CEO commended the federal government’s ongoing efforts to improve investment conditions in the gas sector, particularly initiatives aimed at addressing legacy debts in the gas-to-power value chain, which are helping to improve the bankability of gas projects.

He also welcomed recent Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) on major energy projects and described the commencement of operations on the Obiafu-Oben-Obtikom (OB3) gas pipeline as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s gas industry.

Okon highlighted the role of policy reforms, especially the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), in creating a more transparent and investor-friendly environment for gas investments.

He noted that institutions such as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) were helping to strengthen regulatory certainty and close infrastructure gaps across the sector.

Speaking on Nigeria’s global competitiveness, he said the country’s strategic location in the Gulf of Guinea gives it a unique advantage in serving both regional and international gas markets, including Europe, while also supporting growing energy demand across Africa.

Okon also outlined Seplat Energy’s significant investments in gas infrastructure over the past decade, including the 375 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) Oben Gas Plant, the 90 MMscfd Sapele Gas Plant, and the flagship 300 MMscfd ANOH Gas Plant, which together reinforce the company’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading domestic gas suppliers.

According to him, Seplat currently supplies gas directly to six power stations and supports numerous industrial customers through gas distribution networks.

Through the ANOH Gas Plant, the company also supplies gas to fertilizer manufacturers, contributing to Nigeria’s food security objectives.

He further noted that Seplat’s acquisition of ExxonMobil’s onshore and offshore assets has significantly increased domestic supplies of butane and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), while ongoing investments in compressed natural gas (CNG) infrastructure are expanding access to cleaner, more affordable energy for consumers not connected to pipeline networks.

“Together, these investments demonstrate Seplat Energy’s commitment to supporting government efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s energy security and accelerate gas-led economic growth,” he said.

Okon also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, noting that Seplat successfully ended routine flaring across its onshore operations at the end of 2025, resulting in a significant reduction in operational emissions intensity.

Concluding his address, he called on stakeholders across government, industry and the financial sector to work together to unlock projects capable of converting “gas molecules into electrons” that will power Nigeria’s industrial future.

“Nigerians cannot wait any longer. We must move from discussions to implementation and create the partnerships and investments necessary to fully realise the promise of our gas resources,” he said.

Nume Ekeghe

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has approved a $100 million facility for Nigeria’s Kano-Maradi Standard Gauge Railway Project, providing fresh financing for the acquisition of rolling stock and operational equipment for the second phase of the project.

The approval was part of four operations valued at $390 million approved by the bank’s Board of Directors at its 101st Ordinary Meeting held in Lomé, Togo, on September 28, 2026.

In a statement from the bank, the Kano-Maradi project is expected to strengthen rail connectivity between northern Nigeria and the wider West African region, while supporting the movement of people and goods and facilitating cross-border trade. The rail financing is particularly significant as improved transport infrastructure remains central to reducing the cost and difficulty of moving goods across the region.

The $100 million commitment places the transport project among the major investments approved by EBID as the regional development bank steps up financing for infrastructure and productive sectors under its new Growth, Resilience and Optimisation (GRO) Strategy for 2026-2030.

Beyond Nigeria, Ghana accounted for the largest share of the latest approvals, with EBID committing $50 million to MOSL Limited to support the supply of petroleum products and another $230 million to Azumah Resources Ghana Limited for the development of the Black Volta Gold Project.

The bank also approved $10 million for the pilot phase of the West Africa Initiative for Climate-Smart Agriculture (WAICSA), covering Ghana, Senegal and Togo.

Commenting on the approvals, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EBID, Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, stated that the investments reflect EBID’s focus on financing projects with tangible economic and developmental impact.

He noted that the approved operations would support productive activity, strengthen regional value chains, facilitate trade and create opportunities for private-sector participation and employment.

“These approvals reinforce EBID’s commitment to implementing its Growth, Resilience and Optimisation Strategy 2026-2030 and advancing key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1, No Poverty, SDG 2, Zero Hunger, SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG 13 Climate Action.

“Through strategic investments in agriculture, energy, transport infrastructure, mining and climate-smart development, EBID continues to deliver sustainable solutions that strengthen regional integration and improve living conditions for West African communities.”

• Ekpo: Infrastructure gaps, financing costs threat to private investment 

•Shehu Aliyu: PTDF journal to serve as platform for research findings 

•Filani: Over 15,000 scholars sponsored by PTDF so far

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, yesterday disclosed that the number of active oil drilling rigs in Nigeria have risen from about 14 to more than 60 under the President Bola Tinubu administration, resulting in over 1.7 million barrels per day output.

Lokpobiri, who spoke at the inaugural Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Journal Summit in Abuja, attributed the development to the ongoing reforms in the petroleum industry, which he said were restoring investor confidence, improving regulatory certainty and creating conditions for increased private sector investment.

Represented by the Technical Adviser, Downstream, Emmanuel Sinime, the minister said Nigeria had also recorded more than $10 billion in foreign direct investment in recent years, while indigenous operators now account for more than 50 per cent of the country’s crude oil production.

The summit themed: “Private Sector Participation in Nigeria’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Sector: Prospects, Challenges and the Way Forward”, brought together government officials, regulators, industry operators, academics, researchers and other stakeholders.

Lokpobiri said the increase in crude oil production and drilling activity had to be matched by adequate infrastructure, efficient transportation and storage systems, expanded refining capacity and a competitive market capable of delivering value to consumers and investors.

He cited the emergence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the increasing operations of modular refineries, including Waltersmith and Aradel, as evidence of what private sector investment could achieve in the downstream industry.

The minister, however, said infrastructure deficits, regulatory uncertainty, logistics challenges, market volatility, exchange-rate movements and high transportation costs remained significant constraints to investment.

He stressed the need to strike a balance between regulation and the ability of businesses to operate, attract investment and create jobs.

On his part, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the federal government could not develop Nigeria’s gas sector alone, stressing that private capital, technical expertise and innovation were critical to unlocking the country’s natural gas resources.

Ekpo said infrastructure gaps and high financing costs, alongside project development risks, regulatory bottlenecks and inadequate access to reliable energy infrastructure, remained major challenges confronting private investors.

He said the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) had provided an important framework for improving regulatory certainty, strengthening institutional governance and encouraging investment in the midstream and downstream sectors.

According to him, the Decade of Gas initiative is aimed at transforming Nigeria into a gas-powered industrial economy, with natural gas serving as a catalyst for industrialisation, job creation, energy security and economic diversification.

He said achieving the objective would require sustained investment in gas processing, transportation and distribution infrastructure, as well as liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, petrochemical and gas-based industries.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Prof. Shehu Aliyu, said the growing participation of private investors in refining, gas processing, logistics, storage and petroleum products distribution presented opportunities for economic growth, job creation, technology development and local capacity building.

Aliyu said the PTDF Journal would serve as an important platform for disseminating research findings, technical innovations, industry experiences and professional knowledge across the petroleum value chain.

He said the Fund was particularly interested in ensuring that research outputs moved beyond publication to application, intellectual property development and commercialisation.

“The journal provides a platform for disseminating research findings, technical innovations, industry experiences, and professional knowledge across the petroleum value chain. As a peer-reviewed, open-access publication, it connects researchers, academic world, industry professionals, and policymakers with new paradigms that translate knowledge into innovation, industry practice, and evidence-based policy.

“Thus, the PTDJ complements PTDF’s research and innovation programmes by offering a credible means to document and disseminate knowledge. The summit extends this role further by transforming ideas beyond the pages of the journal into dialogue, collaboration, and practical solutions for the industry,” he stated.

Keynote speaker and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, Oladapo Filani, said PTDF has sponsored more than 15,639 scholars across various programmes and higher institutions and supported more than 50,000 research projects.

Filani, however, said the evolution of Nigeria’s petroleum industry required focus beyond producing skilled Nigerians to creating an ecosystem where expertise could be retained and converted into technology, businesses and economic value.

“The challenge is no longer simply to produce skilled Nigerians, it is to retain that expertise, create opportunities to apply it and to convert knowledge into technology, businesses and economic value,” he said.

He identified infrastructure deficits and reliability constraints, human capital and technical capability gaps, financing, commercial viability and investment uncertainty as interconnected challenges requiring urgent attention.

Filani said Nigeria continued to face constraints in gas gathering and processing, pipelines, storage and terminals, distribution infrastructure, refining support infrastructure and product logistics.

He called for a deeper partnership between PTDF and the private sector, arguing that while the Fund could address human capital and technical capability constraints, private investment could provide the infrastructure and commercialisation needed to transform Nigeria’s energy resources into economic value.

Nume Ekeghe and James Emejo in Abuja

The Saturday Editor of ������Ƶ, Dr. Obinna Chima, has called for a shift in financial journalism from simply reporting financial figures and institutional statements to providing deeper interpretation of the forces shaping Nigeria’s rapidly changing financial system.

Chima made the call yesterday while presenting a paper titled, “The Role of the Media in Building a Future-Ready Financial System” at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) organised 38th Seminar for Finance Correspondents and ������Ƶ Editors in Abuja yesterday.

He said developments including banking recapitalisation, tax reform and the fintech revolution had fundamentally changed the financial system compared with what financial journalists covered a decade ago, raising the question of whether financial journalism was evolving at the same pace.

He argued that the changing financial landscape required journalists to do more than reproduce numbers or statements from financial institutions.

“Reporting must move beyond figures to interpretation,” Chima said, stressing that journalists must “uncover what drives financial performance.”

He added: “The focus must shift from what institutions say to what the numbers reveal.”

Chima said the financial journalist of the future must therefore combine the roles of an interpreter, investigator, educator and watchdog, particularly as digital banking, fintech and mobile payments continue to blur traditional boundaries within the financial services industry.

He also stressed the relationship between credible financial reporting and trust, noting that the quality of information available to the public, investors, depositors, businesses and policymakers directly affects confidence in the financial system.

According to him, “Nigeria cannot build a genuinely future-ready financial system without a future-ready financial media.”

He described journalists as a bridge between highly technical financial institutions and the wider public, which often does not understand the language of banking, monetary policy and financial markets.

Chima further cautioned financial journalists against sacrificing accuracy for speed, declaring that “credibility is more valuable than being first.”

 He also identified financial literacy as an important responsibility of the media, particularly in explaining financial reforms, connecting policy to citizens and promoting financial education.

He maintained that technology alone would not determine the future of Nigeria’s financial system, arguing that a credible media would remain essential to building trust, promoting accountability and helping citizens understand the rapidly changing financial landscape.

“The future of Nigeria’s financial system depends not only on technological innovation, but on a credible media that builds trust, promotes accountability and helps citizens understand a rapidly changing financial landscape,” he added.

Sunday Okobi

The Board of Executive Directors (BED) of Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), led by IsDB President, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, has approved a new package of US$938 million in development financing for Nigeria and five other member countries.

The package agreed at the board’s 368th meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was to support transformative projects in energy, agriculture, health, transport, water supply, resilience, sanitation, and connectivity in the benefitting countries.

The approvals, according to a statement made available to ������Ƶ yesterday by its Communication Director, Ahmed Abu Ghazeleh, highlighted IsDB’s ongoing commitment to turning development goals into tangible impact.

The statement identified priority areas to include lighting homes with cleaner energy, helping farmers cultivate more productive and resilient livelihoods, safeguarding children from preventable diseases, improving road connectivity, and expanding access to safe water, and sanitation in rural areas.

The statement said, for Nigeria, the board approved US$60.67 million for the Katsina State Integrated Agricultural Development Hubs Project.

“This initiative aims to boost incomes and resilience among farmers in Katsina State by enhancing agricultural productivity and strengthening farmers’ capacity to withstand climate and market shocks,” it stated.

In the Republic of Uzbekistan, the board approved US$115 million for the Kungrad Wind Power and Battery Storage Project, a landmark clean-energy investment to increase private wind power capacity and support the country’s rising energy needs.

The board also approved US$202.150 million for Uzbekistan’s Agriculture Mechanisation Development Project, “which aims to expand access to modern, efficient, and climate-smart agricultural mechanization solutions.”

Ghazeleh added that the board approved US$100 million for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the Polio Eradication Phase V Project.

The statement said, “The funding will back Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate wild poliovirus and all circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses, while strengthening the country’s pathway towards achieving post-polio certification by the end of 2029.”

For Tunisia, the board approved EUR335.49 million for the Highway Network Extension Project to the El Kef and Jendouba regions.

The statement added that the project would promote economic integration and regional development through improved accessibility and connectivity, strengthen social cohesion by enhancing mobility, and improve road safety and overall transport infrastructure quality.

Additionally, the board approved a US$2.92 million grant to support the road transport sector in the Syrian Arab Republic.

“This grant will bolster institutional credibility, build public confidence, support wider stabilisation efforts, and contribute to economic recovery by improving a vital sector for mobility, services, and reconstruction,” Ghazeleh said in the statement.

In the Kyrgyz Republic, the statement explained that the IsDB board approved US$70.70 million for Phase 2 of the Improvement of Water Supply and Sanitation in Jalalabad Region Project.

The initiative, it added, was aimed at increasing equitable access to safe, reliable, and climate-resilient drinking water and sanitation services in rural Jalalabad.

Commenting on the approvals, IsDB boss, Dr. Al Jasser, reaffirmed the bank’s steadfast commitment to supporting development that reaches people where it matters most.

Al Jasser added, “The newly approved projects exemplify the bank’s development approach, combining strategic financing, strong partnerships, and country-led priorities to deliver measurable impact.”

As a flashback, the bank leaders at this year’s IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan, expressed a strong commitment to supporting transformative projects that would enhance connectivity, energy security, food systems, climate resilience, and multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Member Countries, including Nigeria.

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has approved the National Strategy on Public Service Reforms being anchored by the Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR) to drive  reforms in public service delivery.

The BPSR  Director General, Dasuki Arabi disclosed this at the Child Online Safety Protection and Reporting of Abuse (COSPRA) 2026 summit with the theme, “Protecting Every Child in the AI Era: Building a Safe and Trusted Digital Future.”

The summit was organised in Abuja, Wednesday by the Ndukwe Kalu Foundation (NKF) and  the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), among others.

In his goodwill message, Ariba disclosed  that President Bola Tinubu had approved the national strategy on public service reforms which is a pillar around the reforms that the bureau has been driving.

“The National Strategy on Public Service Reforms, which is the pillar around the reforms we’ve been driving, has been approved for renewal by the President.

I will look forward to capturing whatever will come out of this into the new version of the National Strategy on Public Service Reforms.

“Every three years, we revise the public service reform strategy because things are happening, things are changing. Now, what are the things that are changing? One, in the space of technology, within this last one year, we have new policies of government on use of artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and the public service, which were not captured in the old strategy.

“The diversity represented in this room is a reminder that the safety of children in the digital environment cannot be secured by a single institution or sector or parents. For today’s child, the digital world is no longer a separate space that can simply be entered or exited. It is part of everyday life.

“It challenges us to think differently about regulation, public service delivery, institutional coordination, data governance, accountability, and citizens protection.

“A trusted digital environment is therefore not created simply by having more technology or more innovation. It is created when citizens know that their institutions are capable of protecting them, responding when harm occurs, and adapting when circumstances change,” he said

In his address, the President, NiRA and Chairperson, NiRA Board of Trustees, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya said, “We do this summit to bring together stakeholders in the Internet to discuss how we can keep our children safe online. Our children, from the 13 months  start touching devices, they use our devices, and AI today is so rampant and children can go to any length, but who protects them?

“So that’s why we call the lawmakers, the policymakers, the business people that benefit from our use of the Internet, and also the civil society so that we can take responsibility on how our children can be protected online.”

In her welcome address, the Executive Secretary, Ndukwe Kalu Foundation (NKF), Ms. Erica Okibe said: “They’re always online. They’re making friends and they’re chatting there. So we need, as adults and parents, to look out for the younger ones.

“That is why at the COSPRA Summit, we ensure that we invite key stakeholder groups, key stakeholders who can have these discussions and educate us more, as much as what we are doing, and try to push for policies that can work in Nigeria regarding our children’s safety.”

A student of Government Secondary School, Karu, Oladele Daniella Omolara who was at the summit said, “The summit is a very good one, and I really appreciate the COSPRA for organising this to help young students, and as we normally call it, ‘GenZ’, on how to properly use the internet and not be misled.”

She called on the government to increase the awareness campaign on the safe use of the internet saying,

• As NIMASA says Nigeria recorded four piracy-free years

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, has said the creation of a dedicated ministry for the sector by the President Bola Tinubu government is helping to unlock Nigeria’s marine resources for job creation, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Oyetola stated this yesterday at his 72nd birthday celebration held at his country home in Iragbiji, Osun State.

He thanked Almighty Allah for preserving his life and expressed appreciation to his family, friends, and associates for celebrating with him.

In a another development, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Wednesday revealed that Nigeria had recorded four consecutive years without a single piracy incident.

The agency attributed the milestone to sustained efforts to strengthen maritime safety and security, including the enactment and implementation of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act.

Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, made the disclosure while speaking at the 21th Abuja International Trade Fair.

For his part, Oyetola said Nigeria was blessed with abundant marine resources, including 853 kilometres of coastline and about 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways, stressing that the creation of the ministry is aimed at unlocking the economic potential of the resources.

He stated, “First of all, we need to thank Mr. President for creating a dedicated ministry in the economy. Nigeria is blessed with a lot of resources, particularly in marine resources.

“The essence of creating the ministry is to unlock the potentials and resources that we have, to create jobs, economic growth and environmental stability.

“We’ve done so well by every standard within the three years that the ministry has been created.”

The minister said the ministry had developed a policy framework to guide investment opportunities in the marine and blue economy, while also making progress in maritime security and safety, including Nigeria’s admission into Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) after about 15 years.

Oyetola said efforts were also ongoing to increase local fish production. He said output had risen from about 1.3 million to 1.5 million, while measures, such as advocacy, distribution of life jackets, and replacement of rickety boats were being implemented to reduce boat mishaps on inland waterways.

In the area of ports, the former Osun State governor said, “We are modernising the port, the existing port we have six of them in Nigeria, we are modernising the port because, we are losing so much in terms of revenue to the neighbouring countries, because of the level of draft that we have, the draft level for now is about  13 meters, whereas to attract big vessels we need 16 to 18 meters, so we are trying to increase the draft level  to about 16 meters, that’s ongoing, it’s not limited to Apapa Tincan alone, we are doing Warri, Calabar, Port Harcourt, all the existing ports are being modernized.”

Equally speaking at the event, All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, thanked Oyetola for his mentorship and support, praying Almighty Allah to grant him longevity, good health, grace, and blessings.

Oyebamiji said, “I’m happy to be here this morning to honour my boss, my leader, my mentor on his birthday. My prayer is for the almighty Allah to grant him longevity of life with an abundance of grace and blessings.

“And I want to appreciate the honourable minister for spreading his wealth, for distribution of his income to people both the indigent and even at least a lot of party members here today so I wish him long life.

“I pray again that the almighty Allah bestow him with good health.”

Mobereola, represented by Mrs. Nneka Obiano, said the progress made in maritime safety and security had significantly improved confidence in Nigeria’s maritime domain.

He recalled that Nigeria was previously regarded as one of the major piracy hotspots in the Gulf of Guinea, a situation that negatively affected vessel traffic, foreign investment, and the movement of goods and services.

According to him, “The absence of a dedicated legal framework for prosecuting piracy had been a major challenge until the SPOMO Act was enacted in 2019.

“The first successful prosecution of pirates under the Act between 2021 and 2022 demonstrated Nigeria’s resolve to confront maritime crimes through legal and institutional measures.

“Some of us may be aware of the time in the past when the Gulf of Guinea was regarded as the piracy hotspot of the world.”

Mobereola explained that the insecurity had serious economic consequences, as vessels were diverted to neighbouring countries, while investment and trade were disrupted.

“The introduction of the SPOMO Act changed the situation by providing a legal framework for prosecuting piracy and other maritime offences,” he added.

Mobereola stated that Nigeria’s success had attracted the attention of other countries in the Gulf of Guinea, with Cameroon and Ghana taking steps to strengthen their own legal frameworks against piracy.

Earlier, Head of the NIMASA Abuja Zonal Office, Buba Umar, said the agency’s participation in the trade fair was aimed at raising public awareness of its regulatory mandate and the vast opportunities in the maritime sector.

Umar stated that Nigeria was a maritime nation with significant potential for trade, investment, job creation, and economic diversification.

He assured that NIMASA will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to promote maritime safety, security, environmental responsibility, and sustainable development of the sector.

Umar urged visitors to engage with NIMASA officials at the agency’s exhibition stand for information on opportunities and activities within the maritime industry.

He added that the agency’s presence at the fair was part of efforts to deepen engagement with the business community, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and the public.

Bennett Oghifo

Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Muktar Maiha, has assured stakeholders in the sector that the ministry would liaise with the Federal Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) towards ensuring a single-digit interest rate and long tenure loans in the sector. Maiha stated this during a facility visit to ABIS Ultra-Modern Livestock Processing Factory in Lekki, Lagos, on Tuesday.

The minister emphasised that the ministry would work on achieving a single-digit, pension capital, loan moratorium, and loan payment plan that would drive the livestock sector on the path of growth.

He stated, “We do know that there are challenges. We are now going to work with the Minister of Finance, to make sure that capital loans in the agricultural sector are effective. There is no way you can establish an abattoir and have 25 per cent interest rate.

“There is no way you can go ranching or feedlotting and pay 16 to 20 per cent interest rate and get three to four years’ repayment. We need pension capital. We need single digits. We need long-term repayment. At least minimum 10 years. That is when that farm will mature.”

At the tour of the facilities, including the abattoir that processes 250 cows per day in a certified hygienic environment, Maiha commended ABIS group for bringing modernity into the livestock processing business and creating employment opportunities for women. He said the ministry will work to ensure that certified abattoirs were created nationwide.

Maiha stated, “You can see how neat the facility is, whether you are talking about poultry, whether you are talking about fish, or goats, or beef. That is the way to go. That is our discussion with the executive members of the Lagos State government.

“We are talking about having laboratories everywhere so that we stop bringing lorries, and trailers. You bring process, and culture. You pick up your phone and you order meat. You order processed meat. You can see here all the by-products.

“The blood, the faeces, the horns, the hooves, the skin, everything is processed. It is also raw materials for other industries.”

He pledged the ministry will not relent until it achieved a separate mandate of transforming the agricultural sector into a modern, profitable, sustainable, and globally inclusive industry for national food security, job and work creation, and for the stability of the rural area.

In his remarks, Chairman and founder, ABIS Group, Ambassador Emmanuel Usman Nelson, stated that government’s support for the livestock production sector with loans at single digit will fuel change in the sector.

Nelson said the government also needed to fix dilapidated roads for ease of transporting livestock and ensure access to land towards expanding the business. He advised herders in the country to embrace modernised way of rearing livestock instead of roaming through the forest.

Usman lauded the livestock development minister and Lagos State Government for supporting operators in terms of granting of approvals to operate and urged them to do more in modernising the sector, as well as creating more jobs through livestock development.

He disclosed that ABIS Group, a hub for livestock processing in Lagos, had created jobs for hundreds of youths and less privileged women, who had been trading within the hub since the past five years.

Bennett Oghifo

Wema Bank has reinforced its commitment to empowering Nigerian businesses for global competitiveness with the successful completion of a two-day Export Trade Academy.

The training held in Lagos equipped over 500 business owners with the knowledge, skills, and resources required to participate more effectively in international trade.

It was the second edition of the Wema Export Trade Academy (WETA).

The programme brought together exporters, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), commodity aggregators, trade associations, regulators, and professionals in intensive practical sessions focused on helping Nigerian business owners understand and navigate the realities of the export market, from identifying viable opportunities and meeting international buyer expectations to documentation, compliance, financing, logistics, and risk management.

During the two-day programme, participants were taken through critical areas of the export journey by experienced international trade professionals, including Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), as well as businesses and professionals actively involved in international trade.

Speaking on the significance of the programme, Deputy Managing Director, Wema Bank Plc, Oluwole Ajimisinmi, said Nigeria had enormous entrepreneurial potential and businesses with products that could compete successfully in markets beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Ajimisinmi said what was often lacking was the right combination of knowledge, access, financing, and partnerships.

According to him, “At Wema Bank, we recognise that the potential of Nigerian businesses in global trade can only be fully realised when they have access to the right knowledge, the right connections, and the right financial support.

“WETA brings these critical elements together and our ambition is to create a platform that helps businesses understand the export ecosystem, connect with the right stakeholders, and build the capacity required to participate sustainably in international trade.”

Speaking on the impact of the academy, Deputy Director at NAFDAC, Oluseyi Sanyaolu, emphasised the importance of understanding the processes and regulatory requirements involved in taking Nigerian products to international markets.

Sanyaolu stated, “For businesses looking to take their products to international markets, understanding the processes, regulatory requirements, and institutions involved is critical to ensuring that their products meet the required standards. This is why initiatives like the Wema Export Academy are important, because they equip businesses with the knowledge and guidance needed to navigate the export journey and compete more confidently in global markets.”

For participants, the programme also provided an opportunity to reassess their businesses through the lens of international trade and better understand what would be required to take locally developed products and services into new markets.

One of the participants, Dele Badejo, an importer exploring opportunities within the export market, described the programme as an important step in understanding the opportunities available to Nigerian businesses seeking to diversify into export.

Divisional Executive, Wema Bank, Tajudeen Bakare, spoke on the continuity of the engagement.

Bakare stated, “Our intention is not to end this engagement with the participating businesses at the completion of the academy. We are not training and leaving them to navigate the journey alone.

“The goal is to continue to work with them, understand what they require at different stages, and provide the relevant financial and non-financial support that can help them grow. For us, this is the beginning of a partnership.”

For Wema Bank, the Export Trade Academy represents a broader approach to SME development that goes beyond providing financial products, to building the capacity businesses require to grow.

The successful completion of the second edition of WETA builds on the bank’s wider international trade agenda to nurture businesses and aspiring exporters through the different stages of international trade.

Through initiatives, such as WETA, Wema Bank continues to position itself as a partner to Nigerian businesses across different stages of growth, supporting SMEs to strengthen their operations locally, while building the knowledge, capacity, and connections required to compete globally.

• Declares appointment invalid

Wale Igbintade

The Federal High Court in a landmark ruling yesterday, set aside the purported appointment of the Receiver over Neconde and its interest in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 42 by First Bank.

Delivering judgment in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/2545/2025 (Glencore Energy UK Ltd & Ors v. Abubakar Sulu-Gambari, SAN & Ors), Honourable Justice Osiagor held that Nestoil’s lenders, acting through FBN Trustees, cannot enforce their facility by appointing a Receiver over Neconde or its interest in OML 42 because the Deed of Charge has not yet crystallized.

The Court declared the Receiver’s appointment invalid and ordered it set aside completely. The Court further granted an injunction restraining the lenders from taking any enforcement steps against Neconde or appointing a Receiver over the company or its interest in OML 42 until the Deed of Charge crystallizes.

This decisive ruling provides critical legal clarity and safeguards Neconde’s operations and assets at a time when the company continues to play a vital role in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector.

A spokesperson for the Nestoil Group said:

“We welcome the clear and well-reasoned judgment of the Federal High Court. We remain committed to engaging constructively with all stakeholders and to the continued responsible development of OML 42 for the benefit of Nigeria.”

The judgment reinforces the principle that security interests must crystallize before enforcement rights can be exercised, providing important certainty for Nigerian corporate borrowers and the wider energy sector.

Nestoil Group and Neconde remain focused on operational excellence, value creation, and contributing to Nigeria’s energy security.

About Nestoil Group

Nestoil is a leading indigenous Nigerian energy and infrastructure company with interests spanning oil and gas exploration and production, engineering, construction, and marine services. Through its Neconde Energy Limited, the Group holds significant interests in OML 42 and remains committed to sustainable development of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources.

• Idris: Reforms have laid the groundwork for correcting entrenched structural weaknesses

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has vowed the country would never return to the ruinous petroleum subsidy regime that was sustained by successive administrations until its removal in 2023 by President Bola Tinubu.

Akume maintained this stance yesterday in Abuja at a lecture to mark the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary under the theme “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”.

He explained that removal of the petrol subsidy, unification of the foreign-exchange market, tax and other fiscal reforms were some of the difficult, but necessary decisions made by the administration to rebuild stability and save the nation from imminent collapse when it assumed office three years ago.

“These were difficult decisions, but necessary to rebuild stability and we have started enjoying the results.   According to the World Bank, Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, up from 3.9 per cent a year earlier, as business activity expanded.

“The task before us now is to ensure that growth translates into jobs and higher incomes for all Nigerians,” Akume, who referenced the World Bank data, said.

He maintained that instead of restoring fuel subsidy, the government will harness Nigeria’s abundant natural gas by accelerating the cleaner, cheaper alternatives of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) that have led to drastic cutting of fuel costs for motorists and commuters.

According to Akume, with over 120,000 vehicles being converted to CNG and with more than 400 conversion centres and 90 fueling stations nationwide, more Nigerians now feel the savings in their daily lives as CNG buses now carry millions of passengers at fares far below those of petrol buses.

The SGF also stressed that provision of reliable electricity and affordable transport were critical in the daily lives of Nigerians, adding the administration had also tackled the power sector’s problems by clearing legacy debts, increasing investment, and improving transmission and billing.

“Across the country government is also advancing other major highways as Abuja to Kano, and the East–West Road designed to connect our cities and rural communities.

“We are expanding and repairing roads so that farmers can reach markets, businesses can move goods efficiently, and citizens can travel safely. Rail and Ports are also experiencing modernization aimed at moving people and goods more efficiently.

“Real estate is also receiving a boost. Government is expanding mortgage finance so hardworking Nigerians can buy homes, creating both houses and jobs,” Akume said.

In addition, he reiterated that country had over the past three and a half years witnessed massive investment in infrastructure, and to improvement in connectivity, sign-posted by legacy projects such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway that will link Lagos through the coastal states to Calabar, dramatically improving trade routes.

On agriculture and food security, he reaffirmed government’s determination boost production by supporting mechanisation, irrigation, quality seeds, fertilizer, silos and local processing.

Addressing youth empowerment, the SGF said over 60 per cent of Nigerians, described as the country’s greatest asset were under 25 and were being catered for through expansion of the Education Loan Fund so that millions of students can afford university and vocational studies.

Speaking on health and social protection, Akume said the government was equipping thousands of primary healthcare centres under the IMPACT initiative and expanding safety nets including NG-CARES Additional Financing, SOLID and HOPE programmes backed by World Bank and federal funds, to provide cash transfers and essential services to vulnerable families.

On security, he saluted the armed forces and said government is improving equipment, intelligence and coordination, with a new National Threat Assessment and five-year Strategic Defence Plan.

“Security and welfare of the people is the responsibility of government. Nothing matters more than the safety of our people. When communities have opportunities and trust in justice, crime and violence decline. In that sense, development and security go hand in hand,” he stated.

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who described Nigeria as continuing project, said although the reforms of the past three years by the administration were not easy, they had also set in motion the difficult process of correcting longstanding structural weaknesses and laying stronger foundations for the future.

Stating that President Tinubu is tasked with the responsibility of steering Nigeria through necessary reforms towards stability, growth and shared prosperity, the minister added that the president wanted to ensure that the benefits of reform reached ordinary citizens.

“Indeed, there are encouraging signs. Our economy recorded 4.43 per cent growth in the second quarter of 2026. Domestic refining capacity is expanding, investment is returning to critical sectors, and major infrastructure projects are progressing across the country.

“Our goal is clear: to turn reform into stability, stability into growth, and growth into a new era of shared prosperity in which every Nigerian can aspire, work and prosper,” Idris said.

He reminded the private sector, media, civil society, traditional and religious institutions, academia and citizens that they all have important roles to play in the transformation as government cannot accomplish this alone.

Idris added: “The media, particularly as we approach another electoral cycle, carries a special responsibility to promote informed public discourse anchored on facts, verification and national cohesion. Political differences are legitimate in a democracy; they must never diminish our common identity as Nigerians.

“At 66, Nigeria remains a continuing project. Every generation receives the baton, runs its course and passes it forward.

“Our responsibility today is to move Nigeria further along the road to prosperity, security and national unity. Let us therefore renew our faith in our country and our commitment to building the Nigeria we all desire”.

• Nigeria needs $410bn additional investment to achieve net-zero pathway, says presidency

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for urgent policy reforms, stronger public-private partnerships, and innovative risk-sharing mechanisms to attract domestic and foreign investment into Nigeria’s green infrastructure.

Shettima said the country required about $410 billion in additional investment by 2060 to achieve its net-zero pathway.

He made the call on Tuesday at the second edition of the Decarbonising Infrastructure in Nigeria (DIN) Summit in Abuja.

The forum brought together policymakers, development finance institutions, private investors, members of the diplomatic corps, and climate experts to examine ways of closing the huge financing gap confronting Nigeria’s green transition.

Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, the vice president said the scale of funding required presented not only a challenge but also a significant investment opportunity for domestic and international investors.

He stated, “Our Energy Transition Plan estimates that Nigeria will require about $410 billion in additional investment above business-as-usual through 2060 to achieve its net-zero pathway.

“That is a significant financing requirement. But it also tells us something else: there is a very large investment opportunity ahead of us.”

Shettima stressed that while government would remain an important player in financing the transition, it could not provide all the capital required to achieve Nigeria’s long-term energy and infrastructure objectives.

He said, “We need the private sector. We need development finance institutions. We need domestic financial institutions and institutional investors. And, perhaps most importantly, we need projects that are properly prepared and capable of attracting that capital.”

The summit, held at United Nations House in Abuja, was organised by the Office of the Vice President with support from the National Council on Climate Change and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

It was themed, “De-risking Green Infrastructure Investment in Nigeria: Enabling Policy, Project Readiness and Risk-Sharing Solutions.”

Shettima said the central issue was no longer simply the availability of ideas, policies, or climate ambitions, but the ability to convert them into projects that investors could assess, finance and implement.

He identified the questions investors would ordinarily ask before committing capital, including whether the policy environment was clear, whether the revenue model was credible, whether technical issues had been adequately addressed, and how risks would be allocated among the parties involved.

“These are practical questions. And I believe that is where DIN Summit 2.0 can make a useful contribution,” he said.

The vice president acknowledged that investment in green infrastructure in Nigeria faced policy, financial, technical and institutional challenges, but said the obstacles could be addressed through collaboration among stakeholders.

He said Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 had recognised the need to develop a stronger pipeline of projects with viable financing propositions, increase private-sector participation and improve access to climate finance.

The presidency also pointed to developments across Africa aimed at using early-stage project preparation, blended finance, and risk-sharing mechanisms to attract private capital into green infrastructure.

It cited the African Development Bank’s Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa, which is seeking to mobilise $500 million in early-stage blended finance to help develop a project pipeline capable of catalysing substantially larger investments.

Personal Assistant to the President on Subnational Infrastructure, Mr. Musaddiq Adamu, who welcomed participants on behalf of DIN Summit Steering Committee, said the summit was designed to answer a practical question: what would it take to move green infrastructure projects from ideas to investment?

Adamu said the DIN initiative had evolved considerably since its first edition, with pre-summit workshops conducted across energy, transport, urban development and agriculture.

He recalled that last year’s summit attracted more than 400 stakeholders and led to the launch of the first DIN State Summit Report, while engagements generated between project developers and potential investors had already produced tangible outcomes.

One such outcome, he said, followed a presentation by APM Terminals on the electrification of port operations at last year’s summit.

According to him, the engagement subsequently contributed to a $60 million agreement with the Nigerian Ports Authority to advance port electrification, with Onne Port positioned to become Nigeria’s first green port.

Adamu said, “For me, that is an important lesson. The objective is not simply to have a good conversation. The goal is to create real investment opportunity,”

He stated that Nigeria had “no shortage of ambition”, with policies, plans and ideas already in place, but stressed that the greater challenge was transforming those ideas into projects that investors could understand, finance, and deliver.

Adamu said the ultimate value of the summit would be determined by what happened after the event, urging participants to focus on tangible outcomes rather than discussions alone.

The financing challenge was further highlighted by UNIDO Sub-Regional Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Philbert Abaka Johnson.

Johnson said Nigeria’s physical infrastructure investment needs were estimated at approximately $3 trillion by 2050.

In his opening remarks, Johnson said tracked climate finance flows into Nigeria averaged only $2.5 billion annually in 2021 and 2022, compared with estimated annual requirements of $29.7 billion.

He said that left an estimated annual financing gap of about $27.2 billion.

He identified policy and regulatory uncertainty, fragmented approval processes, unclear institutional mandates and undefined revenue or offtake arrangements among the factors preventing otherwise credible projects from attracting financing.

“These projects sit at very different stages of maturity, from concepts which require feasibility work to projects ready to seek finance,” Johnson said.

He said the task before stakeholders was to address the constraints sequentially and ensure that projects were developed to a stage where investors could properly assess their risks and financing prospects.

Johnson said UNIDO remained committed to working with the federal and state governments and other stakeholders beyond the summit to advance identified project pipelines.

He disclosed that the organisation would deploy its Computer Model for Feasibility Analysis and Reporting (COMFAR) software and Digital Investment Promotion Platform to support project development.

According to him, the tools are already being used by more than 11,000 practitioners across 160 countries.

The UNIDO official said the agency’s support for Nigeria’s industrial transformation was anchored on its Programme for Country Partnership (PCP), 2024-2028, signed in Abuja in April 2025 and valued at approximately $175 million.

He said the programme covered industrial policy and strategic governance, start-ups and enterprise development, special economic zones and industrial parks, agricultural and mineral value chains, sustainable energy and environmental management, as well as trade capacity building under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Johnson said the DIN Summit aligned with the sustainable energy, environmental management, special economic zones and industrial parks components of the programme, stressing that Nigeria’s industrial development and infrastructure decarbonisation agenda are closely connected.

He recalled that the inaugural summit brought together more than 400 stakeholders and produced green investment pipelines and a policy communiqué that strengthened coordination among institutions responsible for Nigeria’s infrastructure and climate priorities.

Johnson specifically called for the operationalisation of the Climate Change Act and sanctity of power purchase agreements as part of efforts to unlock carbon finance in Nigeria and across Africa.

The stakeholders stated that improving project preparation would be critical to attracting private capital, particularly for projects that currently remained at the concept or feasibility stage.

The summit sought to establish a more coordinated approach to identifying, preparing, and financing green infrastructure projects, while creating mechanisms for sharing risks between government, development finance institutions and private investors.

Director-General of National Council on Climate Change, Mrs. Tenioye Majekodunmi, who participated virtually, said green infrastructure had the capacity to create more than 300,000 jobs.

The summit also featured calls for standardised public-private partnership agreement templates and dedicated early-stage project development funding to create a pipeline of bankable projects in mini-grids, clean transportation and green buildings.

Participants stressed that investors needed greater certainty around power purchase agreements, revenue structures, regulatory processes and contractual obligations before committing long-term capital to green infrastructure.

With Nigeria’s green transition requiring hundreds of billions of dollars in additional investment, the summit placed project readiness, policy certainty, and risk-sharing at the centre of efforts to mobilise private capital and turn the country’s climate ambitions into investable infrastructure.

Tony Icheku in Owerri

Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, has flagged-off the sixth edition of its flagship industry engagement series, TechConnect 6.0, in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Stakeholders across government, financial services, technology, and business gathered at the event to explore how adaptive financial infrastructure could support a rapidly changing market.

The event, held at Protea Hotel, Owerri, was themed, “Built for What’s Next: Designing Adaptive Financial Infrastructure for a Dynamic Market.”

Discussions focused on the need for financial and digital infrastructure that could evolve with changing customer expectations, emerging technologies, business models, and the wider demands of a digital economy.

The Owerri edition marked the first stop of the TechConnect 6.0 nationwide tour, with subsequent editions scheduled for Abuja on October 13, Ibadan on October 22, and Lagos on October 27.

The series will continue to bring together stakeholders across financial services, technology, government, and business to examine the infrastructure, innovation, and collaboration required to support a changing digital economy.

Delivering a keynote address, Mr. Justice R. Okoye, FCA, ACTI, Executive Chairman, Imo State Internal Revenue Service, examined the role of connected and adaptive infrastructure in strengthening institutions, improving service delivery, and expanding economic participation.

Speaking on the theme, Vice President, ������Ƶ Innovation and Growth, Interswitch, Tyoyila Aga, said, “As financial infrastructure evolves, we have an opportunity to design that change deliberately, with the resilience to withstand disruption, the flexibility to adapt, the security to earn trust and the inclusiveness to ensure that more people can participate in the economy.”

Aga stated that as financial services, businesses, and government processes became increasingly digital, infrastructure must evolve from standalone systems into connected ecosystems capable of supporting new services, channels, and customer expectations.

He also highlighted interoperability, cybersecurity, data governance, and inclusion as important considerations in building infrastructure that could remain relevant as the market changes.

The panel discussion, themed, “Building a Digital Economy: The Role of Government, Industry and Talent in Shaping the Future,” explored the interconnected roles of government, industry and human capital in shaping the pace and sustainability of digital transformation.

Speakers examined the importance of supportive policy, private-sector innovation and the development of digital capabilities in building an ecosystem that can respond to emerging opportunities.

The fireside chat, “Driving Digital Transformation Through Public-Private Partnerships,” examined how government, financial institutions, technology providers and businesses could work together to build more connected and sustainable digital solutions.

The discussion also considered the role of collaboration in improving access, strengthening service delivery, and supporting economic activity beyond major commercial centres.

Speakers also highlighted that sustainable digital transformation required more than technology investment, pointing to the importance of supportive institutional frameworks, collaboration across the ecosystem, skilled people, reliable systems and a clear focus on the needs of businesses and citizens.

The event also featured product showcases highlighting Interswitch’s portfolio of enterprise payment and digital commerce solutions.

Through live demonstrations, attendees explored how technology and infrastructure could support transaction processing, streamline operations, and create more seamless payment experiences across physical and digital channels.

Through TechConnect, Interswitch continues to provide a platform for industry dialogue, knowledge-sharing and collaboration, bringing stakeholders together to explore the infrastructure, capabilities, and partnerships required to support sustainable digital growth.

• May introduce alcohol, tobacco taxes

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has moved to accelerate health tax reform in Nigeria, describing it as critical to sustainable health financing and efforts to curb rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

At a National Stakeholder Co-creation Workshop on Realising Health Taxes for Sustainable Health Financing and Curbing NCDs, held in Abuja on Tuesday, NHIA Director-General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, said health tax reform could not be achieved by the health sector alone but through collaboration with other sectors.

Ohiri stated, “Health-tax reform is not the mandate of any single sector or ministry

“It has to involve the leadership of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning, the private sector, civil society, the media and all stakeholders.”

He said while Nigeria continued to grapple with infectious diseases and maternal mortality, it was also confronting the growing burden of NCDs associated with consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), tobacco, and alcohol, alongside an urgent need for predictable domestic financing.

“Health taxes offer a promising strategy for addressing both challenges,” he said, stating that they are both a powerful public-health intervention that saves lives by changing behaviour and a legitimate domestic resource mobilisation tool.

Ohiri said Nigeria was not starting from blank page, building on World Health Assembly resolutions and the federal government’s commitment to domestic resource mobilisation.

He disclosed that Senate had already passed the SSB Tax Bill, sponsored by Senate Committee on Health, and it was awaiting concurrence by House of Representatives.

Ohiri said the house committee chairman on health had committed to attend to the bill.

“The proposed reforms seek to strengthen the existing SSB tax framework and allocate a portion of resources directly to health promotion, disease prevention and primary healthcare,” he said.

He said the central question for stakeholders was what it will take to move viable reforms through policy, legal, fiscal and administrative systems into effective implementation.

He said it included identifying needed political leadership, institutional capacities, and public financial management mechanisms to ensure transparency, and improve revenue and health outcomes.

Citing Philippines, which used health taxes to expand health insurance coverage, Ohiri said Nigeria could target new revenues to reduce the burden and expand coverage, while learning from other countries.

“Healthcare should be accessible, but it is not cheap. We need to build a workable roadmap so that this does not remain theoretical,” he said.

In a goodwill message, Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, said health taxes should not be seen as solely for revenue, but for reducing consumption of harmful products.

World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, said evidence alone would not be sufficient to deliver health tax reforms.

Ursu said evidence had to be translated into policy through an understanding of Nigeria’s political economy, institutions, and the stakeholders capable of influencing implementation.

He said health tax reforms required the involvement of the Ministries of Health and Finance, lawmakers, civil society, media, non-governmental organisations, and other influential stakeholders.

According to him, research should be demand-driven and designed to inform policy dialogue while responding to local realities.

Executive Director, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, Dr. Kumanan Rasanathan, said the alliance supported work in 16 countries and hoped the workshop will help change culture beyond strategies.

Chief Moji Makanjuola, Chief Executive Officer, International Society for Media in Public Health and Chair, Nigeria Universal Health Coverage (UHC), stressed the importance of communicating the purpose of health taxes to citizens.

Makanjuola said Nigerians needed clear answers to questions about why the taxes were being introduced, what health problems they were intended to address, how the revenue would be used, and how implementation would work.

The workshop, implemented with DGI Consult, Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation, WHO, and other partners, aims to move from assessment to co-creation and action with short and long-term responsibilities assigned.

• First Lady, Akpabio, Barau, Mark, Yilwatda, Sanwo-Olu, Mohammed, Oborevwori, others urge unity, peace, renewed faith in nation
• Workers will resist attempt to rig elections, intimidate voters, NLC declares, demands fuel price reduction

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode, Adedayo Akinwale, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja, Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo, Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Nigerian leaders across faiths, interests, and political leanings have expressed mixed feelings as the country marks her 66th Independence Anniversary today.

Despite their reservations, a collective optimism for the future resonated among those who expressed their thoughts yesterday ahead of today’s Independence Day.

While some sought citizens’ renewed faith in the country, others were confident of the fact that the country was headed in the right direction.

First Lady Seeks Nation’s Diversity Nurtured Via Tolerance, Unity and Others

First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, stressed the need for Nigeria’s diversity to be nurtured through peace, tolerance, dialogue, unity, and love.
In a message issued to commemorate the 66th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence, the first lady declared, “Our diversity remains one of our greatest assets; we must continue to nurture it through peace, tolerance, dialogue, unity, and love for country.”
She enjoined Nigerians to continue to choose love over division, peace over conflict, and hope over despair, “as we work together towards attaining the Nigeria of our dreams.”

Mrs Tinubu, in the five -paragraph release, stated, “As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, we celebrate the remarkable journey of a resilient nation and honour the sacrifices of those who laid the foundation for our freedom.
“Since gaining independence in 1960, we have overcome various challenges, embraced change, and continued to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.”

She stated, “Our diversity remains one of our greatest assets; we must continue to nurture it through peace, tolerance, dialogue, unity, and love for country. As Martin Luther King Jr. once reminded us, ‘Love is the most durable power in the world’.

“May we continue to choose love over division, peace over conflict, and hope over despair, as we work together towards attaining the Nigeria of our dreams. I pray that Almighty God bless Nigeria, protect our people, strengthen our unity, guide our leaders, and grant our nation enduring peace, prosperity, and progress. Happy 66th Independence Anniversary, Nigeria!”

Akpabio Urges Unity, Love, Faith in Nation’s Future

President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio, urged Nigerians to renew their commitment to national unity, love, and collective responsibility as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

Akpabio, in a goodwill message issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians at home and abroad, describing Nigeria as “our destiny, our duty, our future”.

The senate president said the anniversary offered Nigerians an opportunity to celebrate the country’s journey since independence, honour the sacrifices of its founding fathers, and reaffirm faith in the nation’s future.

He said, “On behalf of the Senate, the 10th National Assembly and my family, I extend warm felicitations to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and Nigerians everywhere on our 66th Independence Anniversary.

“Today, we celebrate the gift of nationhood and the enduring promise of our beloved country.”

According to him, 66 years after the national flag was raised to signify Nigeria’s independence, the aspirations of freedom, self-government, and national development that inspired the country’s founding remain relevant.

Akpabio said, “Sixty-six years ago, our national flag rose to proclaim the birth of an independent Nigeria. With it rose the hopes of millions: the hope of freedom, the dignity of self-government and the conviction that we could shape our own destiny.
“That flag still flies, and that promise still calls us forward.”

Barau Urges Renewed Faith in Nation

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, urged Nigerians to renew their faith in the country and remain committed to building a stronger, more prosperous, and secure country.

Barau, in a goodwill message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, called on Nigerians to reflect on the sacrifices of the nation’s founding fathers and uphold the ideals of unity, peace, justice, tolerance, and collective development.

He acknowledged that Nigeria had recorded significant progress since independence, but said the country had continued to face challenges requiring unity of purpose, resilience, and a shared commitment to national development.

Barau said, “After 66 years of independence, our country has made significant progress, even as we continue to confront challenges. With unity of purpose, resilience and faith in our collective capacity, Nigeria will overcome its present difficulties and emerge stronger.”

Barau urged Nigerians to support the Tinubu administration in implementing the policies and programmes of the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying cooperation between citizens and government is essential to achieving national development.

He stated, “With the cooperation of Nigerians, we will build a stronger, more prosperous and more secure nation. This is a time to remain hopeful and committed to the task of nation-building.

“We must all play our part in building the Nigeria we desire.”

Yilwatda: We’re on Path to Stronger, More Prosperous Nation

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, said Nigeria was on the path to a stronger and more prosperous nation.

Yilwatda stated that the Tinubu administration inherited a difficult economic situation and took the politically difficult decision to undertake fundamental reforms designed to correct longstanding structural distortions and place the economy on a more sustainable footing.
Yilwatda, in a message by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, commemorating Nigeria’s 66 Independence Day celebration, commended citizens for their sacrifices, patience and determination in navigating the difficult challenges confronting the country.

The chairman stressed that Nigeria’s journey since independence had not been without difficulties, but the country had consistently demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to overcome adversity, reinvent itself, and move forward.

He stated that the removal of the petrol subsidy, reforms to the foreign-exchange market, efforts to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation, monetary and fiscal reforms, were measures aimed at attracting investment and strengthening productive sectors of the economy.

Mark Seeks Renewed Devotion to Unity

Former Senate President and National Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, appealed to citizens and leaders to renew their commitment to the unity, peace, stability, and development of the country.

Mark, in a goodwill message to Nigerians, described the attainment of independence from British colonial rule as a defining milestone in the country’s history and a testament to the resilience, courage, and enduring aspirations of the Nigerian people.

He said 66 years after independence, the occasion should not merely be a celebration of the past but an opportunity for sober reflection on the journey so far and a renewed determination to build a Nigeria where justice, equity, security, and prosperity were accessible to all.
Mark said Nigeria possessed enormous human and material resources capable of transforming the country into a prosperous and globally respected nation. He stressed that the challenge was to harness the resources responsibly for the common good.

He stated, “At 66, our nation has every reason to celebrate, but we must also reflect deeply on our journey as a people. Independence was not simply the termination of colonial rule; it was the beginning of our collective responsibility to build a nation founded on justice, unity, peace and shared prosperity.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us. Our diversity should remain a source of strength, not division. We must continue to promote national unity, mutual respect and inclusion, while ensuring that every citizen, regardless of ethnic, religious, political or geographical background, has a sense of belonging.”

Uphold Patriotism, Founding Values, Sanwo-Olu Tasks Nigerians

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged Nigerians, particularly Lagos residents, to uphold the country’s founding values of patriotism, resilience, and determination, stressing that the progress of Nigeria depends on the collective efforts of its people.
Sanwo-Olu advised Nigerians to respond to the country’s challenges with renewed faith, responsible citizenship, and collective action. He said Nigeria’s capacity to survive periods of adversity remained a reason to hope for a better future.

In his independence anniversary message, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, the governor said the Independence Day celebration was not only a reminder of the nation’s hard-earned freedom but also a call to renewed dedication to building a stronger and more prosperous country.

He praised the founding fathers and patriots of Nigeria, as well as current and former public office holders who had laboured since 1960 to ensure that Nigeria remained indivisible irrespective of religious, tribal, and ethnic differences.

Sanwo-Olu specially congratulated President Bola Tinubu on the 66 anniversary of Nigeria, saying the country is already witnessing growth and development under his leadership.

The governor implored citizens to demonstrate patriotism not merely through celebrations of national milestones but in their everyday actions that strengthen social cohesion, respect the rights of others, and contribute to national development.

Stay on Course, Oborevwori Urges Nigerians

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, appealed to Nigerians to remain steadfast and united, saying sustained commitment to the current reform efforts is essential to achieving lasting development and prosperity.

Oborevwori, in his Independence Day message by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, said, “There is hope on the horizon and brighter days ahead.”

He urged Deltans to continue to support Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and the state government’s MORE Agenda, saying continuity and stability in governance are critical to delivering sustainable development.

The governor said his administration was complementing federal efforts through massive infrastructure projects, investment in renewable energy, job creation, and measures designed to attract foreign direct investment to Delta.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” Oborevwori said, asking the citizens to remain patient, resilient and committed to the Nigerian project.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and pledged to continue to implement policies and programmes that would improve the living standards of the people and expand opportunities across the state.

Nigerians Must Reject Third-Class Country Status, Says Gbenga Hashim

Presidential candidate of Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, challenged Nigerians to reject the idea that the country must remain a third-class nation.

Olawepo-Hashim urged citizens to take greater ownership of Nigeria’s future ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In an Independence Day message released in Abuja, yesterday, Olawepo-Hashim explained that Nigeria’s prolonged underdevelopment was not the result of a lack of resources, but the failure to deploy the country’s enormous human, natural, and institutional capacity for transformation.
He identified poverty, human trafficking, insecurity, institutional capture, the weakening of the civil service, and the breakdown of security infrastructure among the factors holding the country back despite its enormous potential.

Olawepo-Hashim maintained that Nigeria’s young population should be transformed from a development challenge into the country’s greatest economic advantage through skills, education, employment, and productive opportunities.

“Nigeria is not a poor country. We have behaved like a poor country because we have consistently underutilised the enormous capacity available to us.”

NLC: Workers Will Resist Attempt to Rig 2027 General Poll, Intimidate Voters

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned that workers would resist any attempt to rig the 2027 general election or intimidate voters, insisting that the choice of the people must be respected and prevail.
In an Independence Day message by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the congress said 66 years ago, the country’s founding fathers wrested the nation from colonial rule, believing independence would bring economic freedom, but today governance decisions had been captured by neoliberalism.

Ajaero stated, “Sixty-six years after independence, Nigeria has become a nation whose governance decisions have been captured by neoliberalism; an ideology that does not serve workers, does not serve the masses, does not serve the nation, but is designed to serve Western capital.”

He said from policy formulation to subsidy removal, wage suppression to price escalation, the beneficiaries were a tiny elite and international capital, while costs were borne by workers whose labour built the country.

NLC saluted workers, artisans, youths, women, retirees, and informal economy operators struggling for survival.

The congress said Nigeria was in full-scale survival crisis with real value of wages devoured by inflation. It said petrol now sold at N1,430 per litre or higher in major cities and more in remote areas, driving up food, school fees, rent, and transportation.

It described May 2023 petrol price hike as systematic assault on the working class, stating that three years after subsidy removal, promised infrastructure and social services remain mirage.

Ajaero said, “Where exactly did the subsidy savings go? Nigerians deserve an answer, and they deserve it now.”

He lamented that Africa’s largest oil producer depended on imported refined petroleum while four publicly owned refineries remained comatose, a policy choice favouring importers and Western refining capital.

NLC listed five immediate demands: immediate reduction in petrol price to cut inflation transmission; nationwide wage award for all federal, state and local government workers; implementation of tax relief agreed in October 2023 MoU with labour; expedited new national minimum wage negotiation to replace N70,000 already destroyed by inflation; and reduction in cost of governance.

It also demanded massive investment in roads, hospitals, and schools, and creation of opportunities for youths, in order to discourage perilous migration across the Sahara and Mediterranean.

On insecurity, NLC said nearly 2,000 Nigerians died from violence in the first quarter of 2026, stating that farmers cannot farm and poverty and inequality remain fertile soil for crime.

It stated, “As campaigns rage on for the 2027 general election, we warn all political forces that the choice of the people must be respected.
“Any attempt to manipulate elections, intimidate voters, or exploit divisive rhetoric to incite ethnic and religious antagonism will be unacceptable.”

Ajaero said NLC will at the appropriate time use Workers’ Charter to indicate which policies and candidates deserved working class support. But he said the congress will never accept workers being treated as dispensable electoral tools.

LP: Despite Missed Opportunities, Failed Hopes, There’s Much to Celebrate

Labour Party (LP) acknowledged the many missed opportunities and unfulfilled expectations over the decades, but stated that there was still much to celebrate.

In a statement by LP National Publicity Secretary, Ken Enuma Asogwa, the party said, ‘’Our continued existence as one indivisible nation, despite the numerous challenges we have confronted over the past 66 years, speaks to our collective resolve and our understanding that our strength lies in our unity and diversity.

‘’Granted, Nigerians are today burdened by myriad economic and security challenges, some of which are the consequences of successive years of ineffective leadership and governance.

‘’Yet, as we continue to strive and hope for a better future, the Labour Party urges our beleaguered citizens not to despair.”
LP said, ‘’There will surely be joy in the morning. It would be a double tragedy for a people who have endured years of misrule to now surrender hope for their country.

“We must remember that meaningful change will only come when we, as citizens, rise to hold our leaders accountable, an obligation that cannot be fulfilled through resignation or despair.’’

Yoruba Group Demands Talks on Nigeria’s Constitutional Future

A coalition advocating Yoruba self-determination called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to urgently facilitate dialogue among Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities on the country’s constitutional future, including the possibility of an independent Oduduwa/Yoruba Nation.
Committee for the Actualisation of Yoruba Self Determination (CAYSD), in a statement commemorating Nigeria’s independence anniversary, said it was commencing an “organised, legal, peaceful, and democratic examination” of self-determination and the possible creation of a Yoruba Nation.

The statement was signed on behalf of the group by Professor Ademola Araoye and endorsed by prominent members, including Professor Banji Akintoye, Senator Femi Okurounmu, and Dr. Akin Fapohunda.

The statement said self-determination marked a new phase in the group’s campaign for the political future of the Yoruba people.
CAYSD said the current position represented a shift from its longstanding advocacy for the restructuring of Nigeria into a genuine federation. It said repeated attempts to achieve substantial autonomy for the country’s constituent regions had failed.

CAYSD said it, therefore, wanted peaceful self-determination, including the possibility of an Oduduwa Nation, brought into public discourse and subjected to constitutional engagement and democratic consideration.

It also stressed that its campaign would not involve violence, ethnic intimidation, armed mobilisation, attacks on public institutions, or coercion of communities.

Gwarzo Seeks Unity, Good Governance

The Kano State governorship candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, congratulated Nigerians, especially Kano residents, on the occasion of the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

Gwarzo called for renewed commitment to unity, democratic values, good governance, and economic development.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, Gwarzo said Nigeria’s independence should not merely be celebrated with ceremonies and speeches, but should serve as a reminder of the responsibility of leaders and citizens to build a nation where every Nigerian can live with dignity, security, and hope.

The NDC candidate said the country’s 66 years of independence had demonstrated the resilience and determination of Nigerians, despite challenges confronting the country.

He urged political leaders at all levels to place the interests of the people above personal and partisan considerations, stressing that leadership should be measured by its impact on the lives of citizens.

Oyintiloye: Tinubu’s Reforms Yielding Gains

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Osun State, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, said the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu since May 2023 had reshaped Nigeria’s economic direction, with gains recorded in some key areas.

However, Oyintiloye acknowledged continuing pressure on household welfare, purchasing power, and the cost of living.
He expressed his thoughts during a media briefing in Osogbo.

Oyintiloye said as Nigeria marked its 66th Independence Anniversary, a fair assessment of the economy required comparing the situation inherited in 2023 with developments under the Tinubu administration’s reform programme.

He said the administration inherited an economy facing foreign exchange shortages, weak crude oil production, the financial burden of petrol subsidy, low government revenue, heavy debt-service obligations, infrastructure deficits, and widespread poverty.

According to him, the removal of petrol subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market represented major policy shifts, complemented by efforts to strengthen revenue mobilisation, investment and production.

Oyintiloye said the reforms had been credited with improving the country’s trade balance, unifying the exchange-rate system, rebuilding foreign exchange reserves, raising tax revenue, reducing debt-service pressure, containing fiscal deficits, and curbing excessive Ways and Means financing.

NSCDC Deploys Men Nationwide, Vows to Protect Critical Assets During Independence

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) ordered a nationwide security deployment to protect critical national assets and infrastructure as Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

Commandant General of NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Audi, said the corps had deployed adequate personnel and operational resources across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure a peaceful celebration.

Audi, in a statement by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, said the deployment would give special attention to strategic installations, public facilities, and other vulnerable locations considered susceptible to vandalism, sabotage, and other criminal activities.

He said the corps was fully prepared to discharge its statutory responsibilities and contribute to the maintenance of peace and national security before, during, and after the independence celebrations.

“The NSCDC remains fully prepared to discharge its statutory responsibilities and contribute effectively to the maintenance of peace and national security,” Audi said.

The CG added that the corps would sustain close collaboration with sister security agencies, relevant stakeholders, and communities to strengthen intelligence gathering and improve its capacity for rapid response to security threats.

Audi urged Nigerians to complement the efforts of security agencies by remaining vigilant and law-abiding throughout the celebrations.
He called on citizens to promptly report suspicious persons, activities or movements to the appropriate security authorities, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to effective security.

Bala Mohammed Urges Collective Responsibility

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has called on Nigerians, particularly the people of Bauchi State, to remain united, peaceful and committed to building a prosperous and inclusive nation.

He made the call in his goodwill message commemorating Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, in which he congratulated Nigerians at home and abroad and acknowledged the resilience and enduring spirit of the people.

Mohammed said the anniversary provides an opportunity for Nigerians to celebrate the country’s free-dom, reflect on its journey since independence, appreciate the sacrifices of past generations and renew their commitment to building a united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
He acknowledged the economic and social pressures confronting families and communities, particularly the rising cost of living, noting that the difficult circumstances should not diminish the people’s hope or confidence in the future.

The governor urged citizens to respond to present challenges with greater solidarity, patience and col-lective effort, stressing that unity, peace and the common good must remain above individual and sec-tional differences.

Mohammed emphasised that peace and security remainedd essential prerequisites for sustainable de-velopment and therefore called on citizens to uphold peaceful coexistence, tolerance, mutual respect and understanding across ethnic, religious, political and social divides.
“Public office is a sacred trust. It is temporary, and no individual holds it forever. What endures are the institutions we strengthen, the opportunities we create, the lives we touch and the foundations we lay for those who come after us,” the governor said.

Rights Activist: Our 66th Independence Anniversary Calls for Sober Reflection

A Kogi-based human rights activist and Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflicts Resolution (CHRCR), Idris Abdul, said the celebration of 66 years of Nigeria’s independence called for sober reflection.

In a press statement, Abdul explained that although the country might not have been where it ought to be, 66 years was a long journey in nation building.

He said Nigeria had remained one indivisible nation, despite the tribulations, and challenges.
Abdul stated that Nigeria had cause to celebrate at 66.

He pointed out that the challenges ranged from insecurity, corruption, and poverty, to economic deprivation, unemployment, inflation, and lack of youth participation in leadership and governance.

• Plaintiff seeks disqualification over alleged invalid defection from PDP

Wale Igbintade

The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has adjourned till November 4, 2026, hearing on a suit seeking to disqualify the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, over alleged invalid defection from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Muhammed Turaki granted the adjournment after the plaintiff, Samuel Amatonjie, who represented himself, sought time to respond to preliminary objections filed by counsel to some of the respondents.

Chinda, who currently serves as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives under PDP, recently emerged as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State after other aspirants, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Tonye Cole, and Alabo George-Kelly, withdrew from the party’s governorship primary election.

In the suit instituted by way of originating summons, Amatonjie is asking the court to determine whether Chinda validly defected from PDP to APC within the contemplation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The plaintiff wants the court to determine, upon a combined interpretation of Sections 177(c) and 68 of the Constitution, whether Chinda could be regarded as having validly defected to APC as of May 9, 2026, when he was screened, contested the APC governorship primary, and was declared the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.

Amatonjie is also seeking a declaration that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is constitutionally bound to comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution in determining the eligibility of persons seeking to contest the office of governor.

Among other reliefs, he is asking the court to declare that INEC cannot validly recognise, accept or publish Chinda’s name as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 Rivers State governorship election if the court finds that he did not validly defect from PDP to APC.

He is further seeking an order declaring null and void any legal recognition allegedly accorded Chinda by INEC as the APC governorship candidate.

The suit names Chinda, INEC, PDP, APC, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Clerk to the National Assembly as respondents.

The suit has consequently placed Chinda’s eligibility to contest the Rivers State governorship election at the heart of a constitutional dispute, with the plaintiff questioning the validity of his defection from PDP to APC and the legal basis for his candidacy.

• Warns Nigerians against unlicensed fund managers, unrealistic returns

James Emejo and Aminat Hassan in Abuja

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Thompson Oludare Sunday, yesterday disclosed the corporation had intensified efforts to identify vulnerabilities in financial institutions early and strengthen safeguards against problems that could escalate into wider financial crises.

He spoke at the NDIC Special Day at the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry (ACCI).

Sunday said the corporation was increasingly positioning itself not merely as a payer of claims after bank failures but as a “risk minimizer” within financial safety-net architecture.

Represented by NDIC Head, Communication and Public Affairs,  Hawa Gambo, he explained that the corporation’s supervisory activities involved examining banks’ books, assessing the quality of their loan portfolios and determining whether assets pledged as collateral could be realised when required.

He said the approach was designed to identify weaknesses early and strengthen safeguards before institutional problems developed into broader crises.

According to him, the NDIC had continued to strengthen its institutional framework through the deployment of Risk-Based Supervision, an enhanced Differential Premium Assessment System, the Single Customer View Framework, a distress resolution suite and the Bank Liquidation Management System.

He added that these measures were being complemented by stronger collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other institutions within the financial safety-net architecture.

Sunday said the NDIC’s mandate of deposit guarantee, bank supervision in collaboration with the CBN, failure resolution and bank liquidation remained critical to maintaining confidence in the banking system.

He noted that the corporation had in 2024 raised the maximum insured deposit limit to N5 million per depositor per Deposit Money Bank and Mobile Money Operator, while the limit for Microfinance Banks, Primary Mortgage Banks and Payment Service Banks was increased to N2 million.

The enhanced coverage, he said, provided full protection for more than 98 per cent of depositors across insured institutions, helping to shield households, small businesses and other vulnerable depositors from the immediate effects of bank failures.

For depositors with balances above the insured limits, he said the NDIC continued to pay liquidation dividends from recoveries arising from debts owed to failed institutions and the disposal of their physical assets.

Sunday also disclosed that the corporation had transformed its reimbursement process through the use of technology, including the Bank Verification Number (BVN), Single Customer View and NIBSS infrastructure.

He said verified depositors of failed banks could now receive their insured deposits within days of bank closure, compared with the cumbersome manual processes previously associated with reimbursement.

The NDIC boss hiwever, urged Nigerians to keep their money in licensed and regulated financial institutions, warning against entrusting savings to unlicensed fund managers and schemes promising extraordinary returns.

He said some Nigerians still kept substantial funds outside the formal banking system or placed their savings with unlicensed operators because of promises of unusually high returns.

He said, “The proliferation and collapse of Ponzi schemes have demonstrated, time and again, the enormous financial and emotional cost of placing hard-earned resources in unregulated schemes.”

He urged prospective investors to verify investment opportunities and the regulatory status of operators before committing their funds, particularly where returns appeared unrealistic.

He also called for greater financial literacy among households and businesses, arguing that informed depositors remained an important line of defence against financial losses.

The NDIC chief further disclosed that the corporation had launched an upgraded website on September 19, designed as a digital gateway for depositors and other stakeholders.

He said the platform provided access to information on deposit insurance coverage, claims processing and institutions insured by the NDIC, alongside services for filing claims, checking banks, reporting failed banks and accessing frequently asked questions.

According to him, the platform also incorporates an artificial-intelligence-powered virtual assistant to facilitate access to information and improve interaction with the corporation.

Sunday, among other things, urged depositors to ensure that their account information was accurate and properly linked to their BVNs to facilitate faster reimbursement when necessary.

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, yesterday said every federal government agency and parastatals must contribute to the realisation of President Bola Tinubu’s $1 trillion economic vision.

He added that the objective was not the responsibility of the government alone, saying it requires the participation of the private sector, public institutions, political stakeholders and ordinary Nigerians.

To this end, he charged political appointees and heads of federal agencies to see themselves as critical contributors to Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.

Yilwatda gave the charge in Abuja, while receiving members of a Forum of Chief Executive Officers of Federal Agencies at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.

He noted that members of the Forum should not be seen merely as technocrats but as political appointees who earned the confidence of the President through competence, experience and commitment.

The chairman stressed that for every public office holder today, there are countless other qualified Nigerians who could occupy the same positions, adding that the opportunity must be justified through service, performance and loyalty.

He said Forums such as the CEOs’ Forum are important in bridging the information gap between government and the people, since they implement programmes that directly impact citizens.

The chairman stated: “Your appointments are not accidental. They are both professional and political responsibilities.

“When you accepted these positions, you accepted the duty not only to serve the nation but also to contribute to the success of the administration that entrusted you with those responsibilities.”

Yilwatda decried that many achievements of the Tinubu administration were not adequately communicated to the public.

“Significant work is being done across sectors, but many Nigerians do not hear about it. Achievements do not speak for themselves. They must be communicated clearly, consistently and credibly,” he said.

The chairman told the forum that the realisation of the $1 trillion economy was a collective effort.

The chairman, therefore, called on every agency to examine its mandate, programmes, budget and align them with the national objective of economic growth, job creation and national development, while also ensuring effective public communication.

His words: “That objective is not the responsibility of the government alone. It requires the participation of the private sector, public institutions, political stakeholders and ordinary Nigerians.”

“Every agency should be able to answer a simple question: What contribution is it making towards achieving a one-trillion-dollar economy?” he queried.

“Indifference is not an option, and appointees must actively work to ensure the success and continuity of the administration’s programmes,” he said.

The chairman stressed that the Renewed Hope Agenda was fundamentally about creating conditions for sustained economic growth, productivity, investment and prosperity.

Yilwatda said the administration has prioritised deep seaports, transportation networks, energy infrastructure and logistics corridors to transform Nigeria into a major economic hub for West and Central Africa.

He listed the coastal highway project, rail expansion, ports and logistics infrastructure, and reforms in the energy sector as components of a broader strategy to improve movement of goods, reduce costs, stimulate activity, create jobs and attract investment.

“These initiatives are not isolated projects. They are components of a broader strategy aimed at creating jobs, attracting investment, increasing productivity and strengthening Nigeria’s economic competitiveness,” he said.

• Demands justice for late Joy Amos
  •Establishment of Environmental Restoration Authority for Niger Delta

Sunday Ehigiator

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, has urged presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general election to make environmental recovery in the Niger Delta a central part of their campaign agendas.

Agbakoba, who chairs Niger Delta Environmental Justice Lawyers’ Forum, also called for the establishment of a statutory Niger Delta Environmental Restoration and Compensation Authority to coordinate the implementation of recommendations from decades of reports and inquiries on environmental degradation in the region.

He made the demand on behalf of the forum in a position paper, titled, “From Oloibiri to Renewal: An Agenda for an Environmental Recovery Compact for Nigeria’s 2027 Presidential Candidates,” issued yesterday in Lagos.

The forum said it was non-partisan and did not endorse any political party or candidate, but was seeking to bring the environmental crisis in the oil-producing region into the national political conversation ahead of the 2027 election.

Agbakoba stated, “The Niger Delta sits at the heart of the national economy and has endured decades of environmental harm, yet it rarely features in presidential campaigns, and no candidate has placed it at the centre of theirs.

“The forum has resolved to bring the Niger Delta into the national conversation, and this is our contribution to that effort. We are asking each candidate one question: what is your agenda for environmental recovery in the Niger Delta?”

According to the lawyers, oil was first discovered at Oloibiri in 1956, after which the Niger Delta bore what they described as the environmental cost of Nigeria’s oil economy.

They said the Ogoni struggle, the work of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), investigations by Amnesty International, successive inquiries, reports, and court decisions had documented pollution, weak prevention and enforcement, delayed or inadequate remediation, disputed spill investigations, as well as harm to health and livelihoods.

The forum identified fragmentation as a major challenge, stating that issues, such as clean-up, compensation, public health, security, divestment and energy transition were being handled separately without a single institution accountable for overall outcomes.
The lawyers said the need for urgent action had been highlighted by the gas explosion in Bille Kingdom, Rivers State, which severely injured Joy Amos on September 3, 2026.

Amos, a resident of Bille Community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, subsequently died at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt on or about September 21, 2026, after receiving treatment for severe burn injuries.

According to a petition filed before the Magistrate Court of Rivers State by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, Amos allegedly sustained the injuries in a fire/explosion incident connected with gas leakage in the community.

The petition is seeking a formal Coroner’s Inquest into her death to establish, among other matters, the medical cause of death, the nature and extent of her injuries, the circumstances surrounding the alleged gas leakage and explosion, and whether the leakage caused or contributed to the incident.

The petition also asks the court, where it considers it necessary, to order the exhumation of Amos’s remains for forensic and post-mortem examination by a qualified forensic pathologist.

PILEX said there were reasonable grounds for concern that the circumstances surrounding Amos’s death had not been fully investigated or independently established.

It asked the court to direct the production of her medical records from the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, including admission and treatment records, diagnosis, clinical notes, laboratory and imaging results, and any medical report relating to her injuries and death.
The petitioner also sought the production before the Coroner of relevant reports, photographs, videos, eyewitness accounts, emergency records and other evidence concerning the incident.

The petition stated that the passage of time could affect the availability of physical and forensic evidence necessary to determine the cause and circumstances of Amos’s death.

The application was filed through the law firm of Olisa Agbakoba Legal, with Agbakoba listed as counsel.
The forum said residents had lived with gas allegedly seeping through their soil, water and homes for more than a year and had raised repeated warnings before the explosion.

Independent reports and civil society organisations had also documented concerns over reported gas bubbling and seepage in Bille, while calling for investigation and urgent government intervention.

The forum called for an independent inquiry into Amos’ death, the sealing of the source of the gas, emergency relief for residents, and compensation for her family and other affected persons.

“Her death shows that the Niger Delta cannot wait for another report or another delegation,” the forum said.

“What the region needs now is a clear agenda for action, and the Forum sets out that agenda below,” it added.

The call for an investigation was reinforced by the separate Coroner’s Inquest application, which asked the court to investigate not only the circumstances of the alleged gas leakage and explosion but also whether any person, company, operator, agency or other entity bore responsibility for circumstances contributing to the incident.

On its proposed authority, the forum said it should be established by law and empowered to review and implement recommendations contained in major reports and decisions dating back decades.

These include the Willink Commission of 1958, the African Commission’s decision in SERAC (2001), the Report of the Technical Committee on the Niger Delta (2008), the United Nations Environment Programme’s Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland (2011), and the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission’s report (2023).

The forum proposed that the president set clear timelines for implementation, with the authority responsible for emergency protection of communities at risk, polluter-pays financing through a transparent fund, credible clean-up standards, spill prevention, access to justice, responsible divestment, livelihood renewal and public accountability.

It said the proposed authority should also be accountable to the National Assembly and the people of the Niger Delta.

It stated, “We propose that a Niger Delta Environmental Restoration and Compensation Authority be established by statute to review and implement these reports, with the President setting clear timelines for action.

“That action should cover emergency protection for communities at risk, polluter-pays financing through a transparent fund, credible cleanup standards, spill prevention, access to justice, responsible divestment, livelihood renewal, and public accountability to the National Assembly and the people of the Niger Delta.”

The forum urged every presidential candidate to commit to establishing the authority if elected, or, at a minimum, publicly state their position on the proposed environmental recovery agenda.

“At a minimum, we ask each of them to state publicly where they stand on this agenda,” it said.

Agbakoba said his involvement in environmental justice dated back decades, stating that he served as deputy lead defence counsel to late environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and founded Environmental Rights Action (ERA) in 1989.

He also said he was involved in several landmark environmental justice cases, including Opara v Shell before the Supreme Court and the appeal in Shell v Gbemre.

According to him, he also provided expert evidence on Nigerian constitutional law and the African Charter before the High Court of England and Wales in claims brought by the Bille and Ogale communities over oil spill damage in Rivers State.

“In all of this work, I have sought to establish that oil pollution is a matter of constitutional right, not merely a private grievance,” Agbakoba said.
The forum said its intervention was aimed at moving the Niger Delta environmental debate beyond repeated reports and assessments towards coordinated implementation, accountability and long-term restoration.

Esther Oluku

The Coalition of Civil Society in Nigeria has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate alleged irregularities in Nigeria’s 2026 federal budget, including the circumstances surrounding disputed allocations and projects allegedly linked to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

The Coalition also called for Adeola, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations, to relinquish the position pending the outcome of an independent investigation into the allegations.

The petition, signed by the Coalition’s Convener, Comrade Buna Olaitan, and General Secretary, Comrade Wyseman Ajayi, was presented yesterday to journalists at a press conference in Lagos.

In the petition addressed to the ICPC Chairman, the group urged the anti-corruption agency to investigate what it described as questionable provisions in the 2026 Appropriation Act, including allocations to an allegedly non-existent government agency, projects reportedly outside the statutory mandates of some federal institutions and projects allegedly relocated to Ogun State.

A major focus of the petition is the allocation of about N1.3 billion to the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the 2026 budget.

The coalition questioned how an entity whose legal existence has subsequently been disputed by the federal government could have secured a budgetary allocation and passed through the various stages of the appropriation process.

The controversy surrounding PFIPC has already prompted investigations by Nigerian authorities.

The ICPC had earlier said its investigation established that PFIPC was not created by any law, executive order or other valid government instrument, while its alleged promoter, Adeniyi Adeyemi, was never appointed by the federal government.

The commission recommended Adeyemi’s prosecution for alleged forgery, impersonation and related offences, as well as sanctions against public officers whose actions or omissions allegedly facilitated the scheme.

The Budget Office of the Federation, however, said that although N1.302 billion was appropriated to PFIPC, no funds were released to the purported agency because the statutory conditions required for expenditure had not been met.

The coalition said the development raised a broader question about how an entity allegedly lacking legal existence was able to secure a place in the national budget.

“There is a need for ICPC to establish the chain of responsibility, including those who proposed, processed, reviewed, approved and defended the disputed allocation Almajiri Commission Allocation,” they stated.

The coalition also drew the ICPC’s attention to about N8.4 billion allocated for road projects under the 2026 budget of the National Commission for Almajiri and out-of-school children education.

The allocation had previously attracted scrutiny because road construction does not fall within the commission’s core statutory mandate.

The commission subsequently explained that the projects were constituency projects inserted by members of the National Assembly and were not conceived by the commission.

The coalition urged the ICPC to establish who originated the projects, who facilitated their inclusion in the budget, why they were assigned to the commission and whether any public official or other person obtained an improper advantage from the arrangement.

It also asked the agency to verify the locations and beneficiaries of the projects and determine whether any were subsequently relocated to Ogun State.

The petition further alleged that some federal projects originally associated with institutions or agencies in other parts of the country were relocated to Ogun State and subsequently presented as constituency or politically associated projects.

The Coalition specifically called for verification of projects allegedly associated with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Enugu State, among others.

“ICPC should examine original appropriation documents, project codes, agency submissions, committee records, procurement documents, payment records and the physical locations of the projects.”

The group also wants the agency to establish whether any projects were diverted, substituted, relocated or misrepresented.

The allegations come amid scrutiny of projects associated with Adeola, who represents Ogun West and chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

A recent report by FIJ examined a road project in Ogun State funded through the National Horticultural Research Institute and reported that Adeola publicly described himself as the facilitator of the project, although the institute is located in Ibadan.

Separately, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta recently announced that an ongoing two-storey hospital complex at the university was donated by Adeola.

The latest petition follows an earlier petition by another civil society organisation, the Pan-African Society for Social & Economic Change (PASSEC), which asked the ICPC to investigate alleged budgetary irregularities involving projects allegedly linked to Adeola between 2023 and 2026.

PASSEC alleged that projects linked to the senator amounted to more than N1.8 trillion during the period.

The figure and allegations, however, remain claims by the organisation and have not been established by a court or anti-corruption agency.

The latest Coalition petition similarly called for an investigation into Adeola and other public officers, legislative officials, committee personnel, contractors, consultants, intermediaries and other individuals whose conduct may have contributed to any wrongdoing.

It asked the ICPC to conduct a comprehensive investigation, invite Adeola to answer questions and provide relevant documents, and examine the original 2026 appropriation records.

The group also urged the commission to establish how the PFIPC allocation entered the Appropriation Act, conduct a forensic review of the disputed projects, including procurement, payments, contractors and beneficiaries, and verify the legal existence and statutory mandates of the agencies involved.

It further called for investigation into alleged diversion or relocation of federal projects, determination of whether public resources were used for political or personal advantage, recovery of public funds where unlawful diversion or financial loss is established, and prosecution where sufficient evidence of criminal liability is found.

The Coalition also demanded that Adeola step down as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, or be removed from direct oversight of the disputed matters, pending the outcome of an impartial investigation.

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has commenced the full implementation of its Electronic Memo (e-Memo) Portal as part of efforts to digitise its operations, improve efficiency and eliminate delays associated with manual processes.

The Information, Technology and Innovation (IT&I) Department formally onboarded the Managing Director of the Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, onto the platform at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Speaking during the exercise, Ogbuku described the digitalisation initiative as a transition from “transaction to transformation”, saying it would help eliminate human errors, missing files, unnecessary bottlenecks and delays in the processing of official documents.

He said the onboarding marked another significant milestone in the Commission’s digital transformation drive, aimed at automating internal processes and strengthening the delivery of its mandate across the Niger Delta region.

According to him, the adoption of digital processes would enable the NDDC to work more efficiently and ensure that critical documents and processes move through the system in record time.

Ogbuku also stressed the need for strict compliance with the new digital workflow, noting that directors had already undergone training while other staff members would subsequently be onboarded.

He urged directors and relevant officers to fully embrace the system as the Commission moves towards a more automated operating environment.

The Director of Information Technology and Innovation, Mr. Emeka Ani, said the digital transformation initiative had been expanded across the Commission’s directorates and departments following a comprehensive assessment of existing processes.

Ani explained that the NDDC reviewed its processes, aligned them with approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and subsequently automated them to enhance efficiency and accountability.

He disclosed that the e-Memo platform officially went live on September 22, 2026, adding that directors were being onboarded as part of the implementation process.

“The E-Memo Portal is expected to provide a more streamlined and efficient mechanism for processing, reviewing, and approving official memoranda within the Commission, while reducing reliance on physical documentation and improving the speed and traceability of administrative processes,” Ani said.

He added that the initiative “reinforces the NDDC’s commitment to leveraging technology to modernise its operations, enhance institutional efficiency and deliver on its mandate more effectively.”

Meanwhile, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) has presented an Award of Excellence to Ogbuku.

Presenting the award on behalf of the union’s leadership, Chairman of the NDDC Staff Union, John Achoreturi, said it recognised Ogbuku’s contributions to infrastructural development in the Niger Delta and his commitment to staff welfare.

The AUPCTRE leadership also commended the NDDC managing director for what it described as “his exceptional leadership and performance in the development of the Niger Delta region.”

• Presidential media team inspects phase II of Abuja barracks project

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday confirmed that personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have started receiving their September salaries, with the approved salary increase now reflected in their payments.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, confirmed this during a telephone chat with  ������Ƶ in Abuja.

The development comes as the presidential media team inspected the ongoing Phase II of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks project in Abuja, as the federal government intensifies its investment in military infrastructure and personnel welfare.

“The development represents the fulfilment of a promise by President Bola Tinubu to improve the welfare of military personnel. The efforts of the Minister of Defence and the Service Chiefs in consistently advocating improved welfare and better conditions of service for troops are also noteworthy,” a source said.

Meanwhile, the inspection team, led by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Chief Sunday Dare, included the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media, Mr Otega Ogra.

The project, approved and funded by the President, comprises 30 blocks of family quarters, six blocks of senior officers’ accommodation, an Army club, a MAMI market, bridges, drainage systems and other essential infrastructure.

When completed, the development is expected to provide accommodation for more than 1,000 soldiers and their families, while the wider residential community is projected to serve more than 6,000 people.

Speaking during the inspection, Dare described the project as one of the tangible outcomes of the administration’s decision to redirect public resources towards infrastructure and other areas of national development following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

He said the significance of the project went beyond the buildings under construction, as it demonstrated how public resources could be transformed into lasting assets while improving the welfare of personnel responsible for defending the country.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital and New Media,  Ogra, highlighted the project’s economic impact, noting that its construction had created opportunities for engineers, artisans, labourers, suppliers and other service providers.

The project is part of broader efforts to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s infrastructure and welfare systems under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu.

Similar infrastructure developments are ongoing in other parts of the country, including Ekiti, Ebonyi and Osun states, reflecting the Army’s wider effort to improve accommodation, logistics and institutional capacity.

• Says councils are active partners in Enugu development 

•Tasks new council chiefs on accessibility, accountability

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, has charged the newly sworn-in chairmen of the 17 local government areas in the state to immediately commence work, saying that the local government system remains an active partner in the development agenda of the state government.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Enugu, the governor reminded the chairmen that the promises they made during the electioneering period had now become obligations to the electorate, describing the relationship between elected officials and the people as a social contract.

The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) had on Sunday declared candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winners of the 17 chairmanship and 260 councillorship seats in the council election conducted across the state on Saturday.

The chairmen and their council areas are John Ogbodo, Nkanu West; Mike Ogbuekwe, Nkanu East; Ugochukwu Nwanjoku, Aninri; Jude Chinedu Asogwa, Nsukka; Caleb Ani, Enugu South; Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze, Igboeze South; Brendan Emeka Ani, Isi-Uzo; Ibenaku Onoh, Enugu North; Martin Amadieze, Igbo-Etiti; and Innocent Ezeoha, Udenu.

Others are: Chris Onyekachi Simon, Igboeze North; Chijioke Ezeugwu, Uzo Uwani; Hyginus Agu, Udi; Uche Okolo, Awgu; Beloved Dan Anike, Enugu East; Greg Anyaegbudike, Oji River; and Vitals Ndu, Ezeagu.

Mbah said: “In the last few weeks, you went around the communities, meeting our people, soliciting their votes. They have done you that honour of giving you their mandates to serve them and it is now your turn to discharge those commitments.

“So, what you have just done here today is beyond symbolism. It is quite significant because it means that you have just sealed the social contract you have with the people.

“I would, therefore, imagine that you are going to hit the ground running because there is really no honeymoon when we have quite a whole number of tasks ahead of us at this point.”

The governor stressed the strategic importance of the local government system, describing it as the tier of government closest to the people and a critical partner in the state’s development agenda.

He said the government’s objective to eradicate poverty could not be achieved without addressing poverty in rural communities where there is prevalence of poverty.

He, therefore, urged them to align their programmes and priorities with the broader development agenda of his administration, particularly in education, healthcare, sanitation, agriculture and poverty reduction.

Mbah further charged them to make themselves accessible and accountable to the people.

“You must be accessible to the people that elected you. You must be accountable to them. And you must spend their resources responsibly,” Mbah stressed.

On education, the governor urged the chairmen to go beyond physical infrastructure and focus on measurable outcomes, including literacy, numeracy and school enrolment.

“It should equally interest you to have the statistics of those kids that are of school age that are not in school in your local government and to be actively working to ensure that you have zero — and I mean zero — not even one child who is of school age should be out of school,” he said.

He urged the chairmen to make the welfare of poor and vulnerable residents a priority, saying poverty eradication would require deliberate measurement of progress rather than mere political declarations.

Responding on behalf of the chairmen, the re-elected Chairman of Igboeze South Local Government Area and Deputy Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Enugu State, Ukwueze, expressed appreciation to the people of the state and Mbah for giving them the privilege to serve.

He said some of them, who had previously served under Mbah, had acquired valuable experience during the period and pledged the commitment of the chairmen to good governance and expressed confidence that, at the end of their tenure, they would be proud of their contributions to the development of Enugu State.

“For those of us that were privileged to serve under your leadership in the past two years, I can tell you that the knowledge gained, experience acquired cannot be measured in words.

“We want to sincerely commit and recommit ourselves to the course of your good governance so that at the end of our tenure, we will be proud that Enugu State gave you the opportunity to groom us to what we are actually becoming,” he said.