MONDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2025

A total cash prize of ₦140 million has been awarded to ten (10) African innovators to scale their transformative solutions after a keenly

contested hackathon and pitch session at the Fifth Edition of the Zenith Tech Fair, themed "Future Forward 5.0: Tech for Success – Innovate, Adapt,

Accelerate", which held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The 2025 edition of the Zenith Tech Fair featured an expanded, dual-competition structure that included a high-stakes Hackathon for

product development and a Startup Pitch Competition for early-stage ventures, and drew participation from thousands of developers, founders, and

entrepreneurs across the continent. The prize money was

AGPC Inaugurates Two 100,000-barrel Condensate Buffer Tanks

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

ANOH Gas Processing Company Limited (AGPC) has successfully commissioned two 100,000-barrel condensate buffer tanks at its state-of-theart gas processing facility in Assa North, Ohaji South Local Government Area of Imo State.

The milestone marked another major achievement in the company’s ongoing commitment to building

resilient infrastructure that supports Nigeria’s energy transition agenda, a statement from the companies stated.

The project, executed by Adano Engineering Limited, a wholly Nigerian-owned engineering and construction company, was awarded in August 2024 and reached completion in September 2025, well within schedule and in line with AGPC’s exacting standards for safety, quality,

and performance.

The scope of work covered the fabrication and construction of two 100,000-barrel condensate buffer tanks, along with associated piping, structural, mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation installations, as well as roof plate procurement.

These tanks play a pivotal role in the safe handling and efficient storage of condensate from the ANOH Gas Plant’s

processing operations, thereby enhancing the plant’s overall reliability and throughput capacity.

Throughout the execution phase, Adano Engineering said it demonstrated exceptional professionalism and technical competence, maintaining a strong focus on health, safety, environment (HSE), and quality assurance.

Among the project’s notable achievements, it said, were:

Zero Lost Time Injury (LTI), wherein the project recorded no safety incidents, reflecting a robust Health Safety and Environmental (HSE) culture and disciplined work execution.

It also highlighted the exceptional quality, explaining that all welds passed inspection without any rework, underscoring precision and adherence to global quality standards.

38 ERUKU WORSHIPPERS FREED, 51 STUDENTS RESCUED, 13 NIGER TEACHERS STILL IN CAPTIVITY

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Sunday Aborisade, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Linus Aleke in Abuja, Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi, Hammed

in Ilorin, Laleye Dipo in Minna, Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto and Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

There were mixed feelings, yesterday, in parts of the country after 38 worshippers, who were abducted last week in Eruku, Kwara State, were freed and 50 of the St Mary's Private Primary and Secondary school students, kidnapped in Papiri town, Niger State, were also rescued by the combined forces of the nation’s security.

Unfortunately, while celebrations were going on in parts of Kwara and Niger States in the aftermath of the news, the 13 teachers reportedly kidnapped alongside their students in Papiri, were still in the captivity of their abductors.

The 38 worshippers and 50 students were kidnapped recently during attacks by suspected bandits.

Personally announcing the development, President Bola Tinubu, writing on his official

shared among ten finalists who emerged from the over 2,000 contestants that took part in the Zecathon. In the hotly contested final, two major winners emerged, each receiving the top prize of ₦30 million. The winner of the Hackathon, Trust Loop, clinched first place for its innovative solution that delivers seamless digital KYC and liveness verification. Simultaneously, the winner of the Startup Pitch Competition, Cubbes Technologies Limited, secured the top spot for its revolutionary AI-powered EdTech platform that enhances learning and career readiness.

The remaining eight (8) finalists across both categories were equally recognised, each receiving ₦10 million in nondilutive funding. They include Venille Ltd, Sowota, FLOW,

The warnings were contained in a series of Form 48 Notices of Consequences of Disobedience to Court Order, issued in relation to an interim directive made on November 6, 2025, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2369/2025.

The suit concerns a highstakes dispute involving onshore oil asset and the FSO Ugo Ocha, linked to interests in the OML 42 Joint Venture, in which the Federal Government owns a

X handle @OfficialABAT, assured the Nigerian people that he would not relent in securing the nation and declared that: “We will secure this nation and protect our people."

Tinubu said every Nigerian, in any part of the country, had the right to safety.

Posting on X, the president said he was closely monitoring the security situation and receiving updates from across the country.

"Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety — and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people,” he stated.

Tinubu, while saluting the efforts of the security forces in the rescue operations, wrote, "My fellow Nigerians, you will recall that I cancelled my trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to enable me coordinate the security efforts at home.

"Thanks to the efforts of our security forces over the last few days, all the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State, have been rescued.

"I am equally happy that 51 out of the missing students of

InvoPay, Zenith Intelliscore, The Very Hacked Men, Konfam and Zerax. All ten finalists will also be entitled to a six-week mentorship and incubation programme designed to help them grow and scale effectively, and this will run from December 2025 to February 2026. The Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr Adaora Umeoji, OON, in her welcome address, thanked the Founder & Chairman, Dr Jim Ovia, CFR, for the visionary foresight that led to the creation of the Zenith Tech Fair. Commenting on the Zecathon, she said, "Our theme this year, 'Tech for Success: Innovate, Adapt, Accelerate', is very timely. To appreciate its urgency, it helps to reflect on the speed of human

55% share.

Form 48 notices dated November 13, 2025, were served on the Managing Director of First Bank at both the bank’s Marina Head Office in Lagos and its Abuja main branch on Muhammadu Buhari Way.

In the notices, the court reminded the banks that it had issued a clear directive requiring all parties to maintain the status quo, warning that

the Catholic School in Niger State, have been recovered. I am closely monitoring the security situation nationwide and receiving continuous updates from the frontline.”

The president later met with top brass of both the military and other security agencies at State House, Abuja.

He declared, also on X, that decisive steps were being taken to stabilise areas affected by the recent surge in security breaches.

The president assured Nigerians that those threatening the territorial integrity of the country will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

He stated that he was meeting with the heads of the military, police, and intelligence services at State House, Abuja, on the security situation.

Tinubu stated, "We are reviewing the latest reports and taking decisive actions to stabilise the affected areas and protect our citizens. I am receiving continuous briefings and have directed our security services to move with speed, precision, and absolute resolve.

"As president, I am fully committed to the security of all

progress. According to the Harvard Business Review, it took humanity millions of years to master fire, yet only 66 years to move from the first powered flight to landing on the moon. The lesson is simple – the next technological breakthrough will not take a lifetime. It will emerge sooner than we expect and could come from any one of you in this room today. We are confident that this Tech Fair will produce innovators who will change the world, and we stand ready to support you to turn your ideas into reality."

In his Goodwill Message, the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, said, "This fifth edition reflects our unwavering commitment to create value through technology, innovation, and talent development.

any deviation could amount to contempt of court.

The warning stated “Unless you stop further disobedience and comply with the direction contained in the order… you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

A copy of the original order was attached to reinforce the seriousness of the directive.

The order reads “The ex-parte

Nigerians. Those who threaten the peace and security of our nation will face the full weight of the law. Nigeria will prevail."

Meanwhile, the president ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently providing security to Very Important Persons (VIPs) in the country.

According to a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the police authorities will henceforth deploy the officers to concentrate on their core police duties.

The directive was issued at the security meeting between the president and the police, defence chiefs, and Director-General of DSS in Abuja.

According to the directive, VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus, making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult.

In view of the current security challenges facing the country, Tinubu said he was desirous of boosting police presence in

My vision is to continue to empower the youth through technology, with the hope that one day we will produce the likes of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos."

Whilst delivering his goodwill message, the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, called for increased technological empowerment initiatives to provide youths with adequate opportunities needed to thrive in the digital future. He said, "What I see happening here every year are things that we in leadership need to connect with. This is an activation that can bring life and real conversation to the young, dynamic, innovative, and creative young people that we have in this country. By 2050, half of the youth population

application for Interim Injunction is hereby refused.

"The Court hereby directs all parties to maintain the status quo as at today, the 6th day of November 2025.

"Parties are ordered not to deal with the subject matter of the litigation pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.

"The Motion on Notice shall

all communities.

To that end, he approved the recruitment of additional 30,000 police officers, just as the federal government was also collaborating with the states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.

50 Students Escape from Kidnappers, 13 Teachers Still in Captivity as Parent Pleads

At least 50 students of St. Mary's Private Primary and Secondary School in Papiri town, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, kidnapped last week, reportedly, escaped from their abductors THISDAY learnt that 10 of the escaped students were girls, going by the names given on the manifest released by the school on Sunday.

Earlier, 11 students had escaped from the kidnappers, bringing the number of those that regained their freedom to 66. But there was no report on any of the kidnapped teachers yet. It was gathered that in the primary section of the school,

in the world will be in Africa, and even in Africa, they will be in Nigeria, and if they are in Nigeria, they will be somewhere in Lagos, and we need to be able to fish them out. We need to give them an opportunity and a space to fly. We want to make Lagos the human capital centre of the world, where Microsoft and Google will think of raising a million tech experts. That's the kind of vision and opportunity we want to leave behind."

Hailed as a resounding success by participants, the Fair showcased cutting-edge demonstrations on the role of Generative AI, Agentic AI, and Cloud Computing in driving economic growth with Keynote addresses delivered by Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, Managing Director, M-PESA Africa; Jonas

be served on the Defendants/ Respondents before the next adjourned date.”

The suit was instituted by Neconde Energy Limited, White Dove Shipping Company Limited, and others against First Bank, Access Bank, and five other defendants.

The issuance of Form 48 marks the first stage of contempt proceedings. The notices, served between

now closed, out of the 430 pupils, 377 were boarders, while the remaining 53 were non-boarders.

Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, Most Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is also Proprietor of the school as well as Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, gave the update in a statement made available to newsmen by his media aide, Daniel Atori, in Minna on Sunday.

Yohanna also said 141 students of the schools, initially feared to have been abducted, were not kidnapped. He added that the 61 students and the 141 had reunited with their parents. It was initially said in a statement by Yohanna that 315 students were abducted by the terrorists, who raided the school last weekend.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago visited the emirate headquarters of the area, where the incident took place, on Saturday and blamed the incident on "informants".

Speaking at the palace of Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Musa

Continued on page 36

Kjellberg, Co-Creator, Skype and Dr. Shivagami Gugan, Chief Technologist for Middle East, Turkey and Africa, AWS. The event also featured goodwill messages by the National Commissioner, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, and the Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, ably represented by the Head of Service, Niger State, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq Idris. Another key feature from the tech fair this year was the robust exclusive masterclasses delivered by global technology and consulting powerhouses: McKinsey & Company, Huawei, Check Point, and Microsoft. These sessions covered critical

Continued on page 37

November 7 and 13, 2025, warned that any actions taken contrary to the court’s instruction to preserve the status quo would constitute contempt.

The court has fixed the hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction for December 4, 2025, and has cautioned that any breach of its directive before that date will attract serious legal consequences.

SECURITY

ON THEIR MINDS...

Pope Leo Appeals for Release of Kidnapped School Children in Nigeria

Groups urge UN, ICC to probe Christian genocide claim

Emmanuel Addeh and Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Pope Leo XIV yesterday asked for the immediate release of children and staff abducted last week from a Catholic school in Nigeria, one of the worst mass kidnappings ever recorded in the West African nation.

Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped students and teachers from St. Mary's school in the northwest of the

country on Friday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said, the latest in a spate of school attacks this week that has forced the government to shut 47 colleges.

CAN said on Saturday it had raised its estimate of those taken from the school to 315 from an earlier estimate of 227, following a "verification exercise". On Sunday, the organisation stated that 50 students had escaped from captivity.

At Sunday prayers, Leo XIV called for the immediate release of students and priests kidnapped in recent days in Nigeria and Cameroon. Also, six Catholic priests were kidnapped from the Archdiocese of Bamenda in Cameroon, and a Baptist pastor was abducted in the same region.

Speaking in St Peter’s Square, the Pope said he had “learned with immense sadness the news of the kidnappings of priests,

faithful, and students”.

"I feel deep sorrow, especially for the many abducted boys and girls and their anguished families,” the pontiff said.

He appealed for their immediate release, calling on the “the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to secure their liberation”. Finally, the Pope invited everyone to pray that churches and schools might never be the target of violence.

Shettima Departs Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday

To represent Tinubu today at AU-EU summit in Angola

Following the conclusion of his engagements at the 20th summit of G20 Leaders in South Africa, Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Sunday, departed Johannesburg, South Africa, for Luanda to represent President Bola Tinubu at the AU-EU

Summit in the Angolan capital.

Shettima, according to a release by his media assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, will join other Heads of State and Government from African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) for the seventh meeting of the two bodies, scheduled to

take place from November 24 to 25, in the Angolan capital, Luanda.

The AU-EU meeting will bring together young leaders, innovators and civil society organisations to brainstorm on some of the shared challenges of the two unions.

It will also provide

recommendations on how to address issues related to climate change, inclusivity in development, infrastructure, the digital economy, the creative industry, manufacturing, and agribusiness.

The vice president will return to Nigeria at the end of the AU-EU summit.

Pipeline Surveillance: PINL to Partner NDLEA’s Anti-drug Campaign in Niger Delta

Olusegun Samuel in

In line with its strategic engagement policy with relevant stakeholders in the fight against vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has disclosed plans to partner the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on the sensitisation of youths in the region against drug abuse.

The company said the sensitisation would help curb the growing menace of drug abuse and addiction amongst youths in the region which has led many into actions that threaten peace and productivity in the Eastern Corridor.

General Manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations, PINL, Dr. Akpos Mezeh stated this at its November stakeholders meeting with host

communities of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Bayelsa state.

He said the decision by the company followed requests by stakeholders at its previous meeting, stressing that the sensitisation will be carried out in conjunction with the NDLEA.

He said the training would help to strengthen discipline and patriotism amongst young persons in the region.

"We heard the appeal from

our royal fathers regarding drug abuse and youth moral reorientation", he said adding that PINL had initiated discussions internally on the launching of a joint awareness campaign with NDLEA to sensitise youths on drug abuse, security ethics, and productive behavior.

"This initiative will help strengthen discipline, patriotism, and responsible conduct among our young people, " he stated.

“Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours, that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope."

Friday’s abduction was the latest in a wave of attacks by armed groups targeting vulnerable civilian populations.

The abductions came as US President Donald Trump threatened military action over what he claims is the persecution of Christians by radical Islamists in Nigeria.

"I was deeply saddened to learn of the kidnappings of priests, faithful, and students

in Nigeria and Cameroon. I feel great pain, especially for the many young men and women who have been abducted and for their anguished families," Pope Leo said at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square.

"I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages and urge the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their release. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours and that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope," the Pope stressed.

Renaissance Takes Energy Security Advocacy to Ibadan Varsity

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has taken its energy security and industrialisation advocacy to the University of Ibadan with a commitment to education, youth empowerment, and community development.

Speaking at the university’s alumni homecoming event, at the weekend, Managing Director of Renaissance, Tony Attah, hinged the economic emancipation and growth of Nigeria on the eradication of energy poverty and the embrace of sustainability, leveraging the country’s vast oil and gas resources.

Attah, who delivered the university’s Distinguished Alumni Lecture titled: "Energy, Security and Economic Sustainability: The Role of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector in National Development," described energy and economic

growth as inseparable.

He noted that with energy security comes economic opportunities with the potential to transform the lives of millions of Nigerians.

According to Attah, Renaissance as a company was a child of necessity that has come to the Nigerian energy space to lead the path that would put the country at the centre of African development and industrialisation.

“With Renaissance, it’s a new beginning in Nigeria and we are focused on just what we need to do to rally the necessary support from private and government stakeholders to frontally address energy poverty that has plagued us for decades,” Attah said. Attah who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance earlier received at the Faculty of Technology by the Dean, Professor Isaac Bamgboye, and other principal officers of the faculty.

INAUGURATION OF UPGRADED INDEPENDENCE MEMORIAL OBELISK AT TBS...

Daily Mail Owner Strikes $650 Million Deal to Buy The Telegraph

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Daily Mail owner DMGT said at the weekend it had struck a £500 million pound or $650 million deal to buy rival newspaper, The Telegraph, in a tie-up that would create one of the most powerful right-leaning media groups in Britain. The deal comes a week after U.S.-based private investment firm RedBird Capital Partners withdrew its bid for The Telegraph, one of Britain's biggest newspapers, a Reuters report said.

A RedBird-IMI joint venture had acquired the Telegraph Media

Group and The Spectator magazine in 2023, only for the then government to intervene and ban foreign state investment in UK newspapers. RedBird then sought approval from the government to proceed with the acquisition under a revised structure, with Abu Dhabi-backed IMI participating as a minority investor capped at 15 per cent, the report said. A source close to RedBird told Reuters that the regulatory clearance process had been slower than expected, contributing to doubts about the timeline and feasibility of the acquisition. Sustained internal opposition from

Mediation Institute Offers to Assist ICMC with Registration to Curb Fake Institutes

The Mediation Training Institute (MTI-Nigeria) has offered to assist and support the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) to operate legally.

MTI Nigeria, Segun Ogunyannwo, said the assistance would be through accreditation by the Centre for Management Development (CMD) and for them to get their Bill Passed into Law so that they can be properly "Chartered."

Ogunyannwo, in a statement yesterday, explained the Nigerian Council for Management Development (NCMD) Act 2022 requires that all organizations and institutions involved in training and consultancy services be accredited along with three

(3) principal officers (possibly the President, Registrar and Director of Training) with the CMD.

According to him, any organisation or institution that is not accredited by CMD, operates illegally and is therefore not qualified to train, certify and induct professionals.

His words: "My personal investigation reveals that only Mediation Training Institute (MTI-Nigeria) of ALL the ADR organizations in Nigeria has fully complied with the legal requirement to get the organization as well as three (3) principal officers accredited by CMD.

"I was the "Face" of ICMC for two (2) decades and I am pleased to extend a hand of fellowship to the leadership of ICMC to ensure compliance with NCMD Act 2022!!!

senior figures within the Telegraph newsroom had prompted it to walk away.

The Financial Times, which first reported the DMGT deal, said the price had been set at about 500 million pounds to repay the money spent by the RedBird-fronted consortium.

The parties have entered a period of exclusivity to finalise the terms of the

transaction and to prepare the necessary regulatory submissions, which they expect to happen quickly, DMGT said in a statement. The transaction would comply with the UK’s Foreign State Influence regime as there will be no foreign state investment or capital in the funding structure, the statement added.

DMGT had registered

Fougerolle Losses

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A construction firm, Fougerolle V Fougerolle, has lost an arbitration seeking a total sum of N4 billion, and €185,733,496 award against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This followed the dismissal of the case of the firm by a tribunal constituted under the auspices of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre of the Federal High Court.

Nigeria's victory at the tribunal was announced by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi

(SAN).

A statement by his media aide, Kamarudeen Ogundele, disclosed that the favourable final arbitral award was issued on November 11, 2025.

The Claimant (Fougerolle V Fougerolle) had initiated the arbitration vide a Notice of Arbitration dated 12th December, 2022, about 18 years after the contract was terminated by the Claimant on January 30, 2004.

The case relates to a contract dated March 31, 1981, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a Joint Venture of Fougerolle Nigeria Ltd and Fougourolle

an interest in potentially bidding for The Telegraph Media Group in 2023. Sky News reported in May this year that DMGT was in talks to buy a 9.9 per cent stake in the Telegraph titles.

DMGT’s stable of media brands also includes The Mail on Sunday, Metro, The i Paper, and New Scientist. The Daily Telegraph would remain

SA (a French company), for construction of civil works in the Iron and Steel Complex at Ajaokuta in Kwara [now Kogi] State.

"Contrary to contract terms and Fougerolle’s undertaking, Fougerolle moved the Tribunal to compel additional payment of unverified and uncertified sums of N3,846,098,403.00 (Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Forty-Six Million and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Three Naira) and €185,733,496.00 (One Hundred and Eighty-Five Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-Six

editorially independent from other titles in the group.

A spokesperson for RedBird IMI said: “DMGT and RedBird IMI have worked swiftly to reach the agreement announced today, which will shortly be submitted to the Secretary of State.” The Telegraph did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Euros)", the statement read in part.

The statement also disclosed that the federal government had previously engaged Messrs Price WaterCooperhouse to verify any indebtedness due to Fougerolle after terminating the contract, adding that this led to payment of N3,894,600,000.00 to Fougerolle vide FGN Bonds on September 11, 2006. Fougerolle signed an indemnity on September 8, 2006, accepting the above sum as full and final settlement. However, over 16 years after, Fougerolle brought the instant claim.

NHRC Announces Programmes for 16 Days of Activism on GBV

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has announced its plans for the 2025 International 16 Days of Activism Against GenderBased Violence (GBV).

The activities, which will commence on Monday, showed a sweeping nationwide plan and a renewed call for stronger protections for women and girls, as the commission also

marked its 30th anniversary.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Abuja, Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, said the anniversary provided an important moment to reflect on three decades of work advancing justice, dignity, and equality in Nigeria.

Ojukwu acknowledged that GBV remained one of the gravest human rights violations confronting the

country.

He said, “For 30 years, the commission has remained a steadfast voice for accountability and human rights. This year’s campaign gives us the opportunity not only to reflect on our journey but to intensify the fight against all forms of violence, especially against women and girls.”

The 16 Days of Activism, observed annually from

November 25 to December 10, is part of a global movement launched in 1991 by Centre for Women’s Global Leadership. It links the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women with Human Rights Day, symbolising that violence against women is a direct violation of human rights.

Ojukwu stated that Nigeria was committed to the global call.

AT A RECEPTION CEREMONY...

Despite Disinflation, Analysts Expect Cautious Monetary Easing

Nume Ekeghe

As the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) begins its 303rd meeting today, analysts have predicted another round of cautious easing of interest rate.

At the two-day meeting which holds in Abuja, analysts specifically predicted a modest easing of the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), the benchmark interest rate of between 50 and 100 basis points as disinflation gains momentum and macroeconomic conditions stabilise.

Their projections reflect a convergence of improving macroeconomic indicators,

slowing inflation, firmer exchange-rate conditions, and strong demand for government securities.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and commodities, further eased to 16.05 per cent in October, compared to 18.02 per cent the preceding month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had stated.

The 1.96 per cent decline in headline inflation was attributed to a slower rate of increase in general prices.

Year-on-year, inflation stood at 17.82 per cent, compared to 33.88 per cent in October 2024.

According to the CPI Report for October, “decreased in

October 2025 compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., October 2024), though with a different base year, November 2009 = 100.”

Owing to this, Development Economist and Lead Consultant to the ECOWAS Commission, Prof. Ken Ife, told THISDAY that the time has come for a measured, but confidenceboosting adjustment.

He said: “Most macroeconomic parameters are

positive and convergent, and it has become clear that while inflation is coming down in leaps, the spread between MPR is widening even in a positive real interest rate, and unemployment and poverty are worsening.

“It is important to send an encouraging positive signal by marginally dropping the MPR rate by 50 to 100 basis points.

“This will not risk foreign portfolio inflow and will

also lower lending rates and Treasury bills. With 400 per cent oversubscription on our bonds, a marginal drop might help both ways.”

His view aligned with the cautious optimism across segments of the financial markets, even as questions remain regarding the integrity of Nigeria’s new inflation series.

Speaking to THISDAY, Chief Executive Officer of CFG Advisory, Tilewa Adebajo,

said: “While I would prefer a 150–200 basis points cut, the MPC might lean towards around 100 basis points.”

He, however, noted that weak clarity around the NBS’ revised methodology continues to complicate economic interpretation.

Adebajo explained that applying the former inflation methodology would still place headline inflation around 26 to 27 per cent.

Former Minister Olusegun Aganga Sounds Alarm on Nigeria's Stagnation

As Dr. Olu Fasan launches book, calls to action for Nigeria's transformation

Mary Nnah

N1.76bn Court Judgment

ShopRite Faces Legal Action Over

Wale Igbintade

Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited (RSNL), popularly known as ShopRite, is facing legal action over a N1.76 billion judgment debt following its failure to comply with a court-approved settlement in favor of African Retail Tabloid Limited (ARTL) and UEL Global Resources Limited (UEL).

A demand letter dated November 7, 2025, and addressed to RSNL’s Managing Director, was issued by the companies’ legal representatives.

The letter follows a Consent Judgment delivered by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, in favor of ARTL and UEL.

The dispute arose from two separate financial claims: ARTL’s petition seeking the winding-up of RSNL over an

alleged debt of N440 million, and UEL’s summary judgment claim of N1.33 billion.

The parties initially sought an amicable settlement before the court.

Under the consent judgment, RSNL is required to pay a total of N1,765,991,433.23 in thirteen installments.

The repayment schedule began with N400 million due on July 17, 2025, and is set to conclude with a final installment of approximately N66 million on January 18, 2026.

All payments are to be made directly into the creditors’ designated Zenith Bank accounts.

The judgment stipulates that in the event of default, the entire outstanding balance becomes immediately due and will accrue interest at 20 percent per quarter until fully repaid.

Former Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has sounded the alarm on Nigeria's stagnating progress, attributing the country's woes to poor leadership and a flawed governance structure.

Speaking as the keynote speaker at the launch of Dr. Olu Fasan's book, "In The National Interest: The Road

to Nigeria’s Political, Economic and Social Transformation", yesterday in Lagos, Aganga lamented that Nigeria's potential remains untapped due to incompetent leadership and a system that prioritizes personal gain over national interest.

Dr. Olu Fasan, a renowned economist, lawyer, and writer, launched his highly anticipated book, "In The National Interest: The Road

to Nigeria’s Political, Economic and Social Transformation", yesterday in Lagos.

The book launch was a momentous occasion, bringing together prominent Nigerians and stakeholders to discuss the country's challenges and potential solutions.

Aganga pointed out that Nigeria's problem is not a shortage of competent leaders, but rather a lack of quality political leadership.

"We have outstanding leaders in abundance at home and in the diaspora, some leading international organizations, others holding senior leadership positions in the private sector or the public sphere in foreign countries," he noted.

However, the political system fails to attract and retain top talent, with many competent individuals being schemed out of positions that could drive national development.

IPCR: Livestock Sector Sits at the Heart of Nigeria’s Conflict Ecosystem

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has said the livestock sector now sits “at the heart of Nigeria’s conflict ecosystem,” influencing local economies, intergroup relations, and national security.

While Nigeria has produced multiple livestock policies

over the years, speakers at the Policy Review Meeting of the Network of Policy Makers for the Support of Peace, Security and Reconciliation in Nigeria organized by IPCR in partnership with King Abdullah Bin Abdullaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), agreed that the

country’s biggest challenge is not policy creation but policy implementation.

The Executive Secretary of IPCR, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu said: “Policies exist, but they often die before they leave the shelf,” echoing past criticisms that Nigeria has become a “graveyard of unimplemented policies.”

He warned the farmer–herder conflict has evolved into a complex risk system shaped by climate pressures, land scarcity, population growth, trans-border migration, and weak governance structures. Without coordinated action, these pressures threaten to overwhelm already stretched local and national institutions.

Act Now to Ensure Nigerians’ Safety, APC Chieftain Tells Security Chiefs

Yinka Kolawole in osogbo

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on the Service Chiefs

to act swiftly to protect Nigerians amid rising security challenges ravaging the country.

Oyintiloye said that the recent killings and abductions of innocent Nigerians by terrorists in Kwara, Kebbi, Niger

HID Awolowo Foundation

Dialogue Adopts Hybrid Format

The HID Awolowo Foundation has announced an adjustment to the format of its forthcoming National Dialogue on Women in Politics: Thirty Years After Beijing, scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, 25 November 2025. The event will now hold same day, in a hybrid format, accommodating both in-person and virtual participation.

According to a statement from the foundation, the adjustment became necessary following the tragic passing of Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, grandson of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo.

The foundation noted that the loss has cast a pall of grief over the Awolowo family and the larger community

that holds the legacy of the patriarch and matriarch in deep reverence.

It explained that participants who are able to attend physically are invited to the Efunyela Hall in Ikenne, while others are encouraged to join the proceedings online, ensuring broad and inclusive engagement despite recent developments.

The board of the foundation, in acknowledging this moment of mourning, also resolved that a special segment of the dialogue will be devoted to honouring the memory of the departed, celebrating his contributions and affirming the enduring values of service, integrity, and public-spirited leadership that define the Awolowo heritage.

States, and other parts of the country are becoming unbearable.

The APC chieftain said this while speaking with journalists yesterday on the recent wave of

insecurity in the country in Osogbo.

Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said that the recent killings and abductions of worshippers and

students had thrown many families into distress and made the country appear largely unsafe.

“I want to passionately appeal to the Service Chiefs to do everything within their power to rescue the abducted children and also stop the senseless killings by the terrorists across the country.”

Team New Nigeria Seeks Registration as a Political Party

A political interest group, Team New Nigeria (TNN) said it has set in motion arrangements to metamorphose into a political party, including opening its doors to new members as well as organising a befitting national convention.

In a statement signed by the Secretary, National Communication Bureau of

TNN, Prof. Morgan Sarki Gambo, the group said it is also considering going into coalition with one of the registered political parties if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delays the registration of TNN as political party.

“As a result, TNN leaders will be engaging in broad coalition talks with already registered political parties.

“We have set up

a National Political Management Committee (PMC) to develop a comprehensive communication and engagement strategy for forming alliances and establishing a genuinely democratic government in Nigeria,” the statement said.

TNN describes itself as a political and social force born out of an extensive national consultation

process aimed at charting a new course for Nigeria. Its foundation, it said, is built on the collective will of Nigerians who continue to face deep socioeconomic disparities decades after the 1999 democratic transition.

The statement said TNN is committed to forming a government rooted in federalism, devolution of powers, and the pursuit of a truly functional federation.

Nigerian Scholar, Prof. Idemyor, to Address Global Health Experts in Las Vegas

Sunday Okobi

A distinguished Nigerian scholar, Professor Vincent Idemyor of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been invited to deliver a major lecture at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting, scheduled to take place on December 8, 2025,

in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America.

The ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting is one of the world’s largest gatherings of healthcare professionals, attracting more than 20,000 pharmacists, clinicians, and researchers from around the globe to exchange ideas and advance the science and practice of pharmacy.

Professor Idemyor’s, lecture titled, ‘Triple Helix Synergy: Implementing Pharmacy’s Response to Climate Health Challenges,’ explore how collaboration among universities, industry, and government — the “Triple Helix” model — can help strengthen healthcare systems to better withstand the growing impacts of climate change.

He is expected to highlight the significant carbon footprint of the global healthcare sector, noting that the US healthcare system alone emits about 217 million tons of carbon annually, with hospitals responsible for over 80 million tons, accounting for more than three percent of total national emissions.

10 Banks Declare N1.99trn Loan Impairment Charges on Elevated Provisioning

Kayode tokede

On the back of their effort to reduce the negative impact of macro-economic challenges on their risk assets, 10 leading deposit money banks declared N1.99 trillion loan impairment charges in 9 months of 2025. This about 44.5 per cent increase over the N1.37 trillion declared in the corresponding period of 2024.

The banks are: Access Holdings Plc, Guaranty Trust Holdings Plc (GTCO), First Holdings Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc(UBA).

Others are: Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Wema Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc,Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, and Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc. One of the major challenges the banks faced during the period under review was elevated provisioning due to the industry wide wind down of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) forbearance regime. Loan impairment charges, often referred to as loan losses or credit losses, reflect provisions set aside by banks to cover potential defaults and deterioration in the value of their financial assets.

The figure represents the cost of risky lending and exposure to a volatile macro-economic environment, including inflationary pressure, naira depreciation, and constrained consumer and business liquidity.

Analysis of the banks unaudited financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, showed that they declared N5.5 trillion profit before tax representing about 3.2 per cent increase over N5.3 trillion in nine months of 2024.

Zenith Bank, followed by Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and Access

Holdco significantly increased their loan impairment charges in the period under review.

While Zenith Bank recorded N781.5 billion loans impairment charges in nine months of 2025 an increase of 64 per cent increase from N477.77 billion in nine months of 2024, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated posted N393.68 billion loan impairment charges in nine months of 2025, about 47.4 per cent increase when compared to N267.13billion declared in nine months of 2024.

Access Holdings in the period under review declared N349.99 billion

loan impairment charges, up by 141.5 per cent from N144.95billion declared in the corresponding period of 2024.

The Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, in a statement noted that, “In the face of elevated provisioning due to the industry wide wind down of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) forbearance regime, our total asset quality has recorded a marked improvement while our balance sheet remains strong, liquid and well positioned to capture emerging opportunities across our core markets.”

She added that the

group made a substantial loan provisioning required for a one off write off of forbearance loans.

The actual provisioned loans of Zenith Bank topped N830 billion but was reduced by loan recoveries.

The 47.4 per cent increase in Ecobank Transnational Incorporated ‘s loans impairment charges was driven by challenging conditions in its key markets, particularly Ghana and Nigeria, where inflation and foreign exchange volatility impacted loan quality.

Experts in the financial service sector have predicted that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) may deliver another round of easing at its upcoming meeting, with expectations ranging between a modest 50 and 100 basis-point cut as disinflation gains momentum and macroeconomic conditions stabilise.

Their projections reflect a

convergence of improving macro-economic indicators slowing inflation, firmer exchange-rate conditions, and strong demand for government securities

While some experts argue that the economy now needs a bolder stimulus of 150–200 basis points, consensus suggests the MPC may opt for a more conservative adjustment to maintain stability.

Development Economist and Lead Consultant to the ECOWAS Commission,

Prof. Ken Ife, told THISDAY that the time had come for a measured but confidenceboosting adjustment.

He said: “Most macroeconomic parameters are positive and convergent and it has become clear that while inflation is coming down in leaps, the spread between MPR is widening even in positive real interest rate, and unemployment and poverty are worsening, it is important to send an encouraging positive signal by marginally dropping

MPR rate by 50 to 100 basis points. This will not risk Foreign Portfolio Inflow and will also lower lending rates and Treasury bills. With 400 per cent oversubscription on our bonds, a marginal drop might help both ways.”

His view aligns with the cautious optimism across segments of the financial markets, even as questions remain regarding the integrity of Nigeria’s new inflation series.

Speaking to THISDAY,

Chief Executive Officer of CFG Advisory, Tilewa Adebajo, said; “While I would prefer a 150–200 basis points cut, the MPC might lean towards around 100 basis points.”

He however noted that weak clarity around the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) revised methodology continues to complicate economic interpretation. Adebajo explained that applying the former inflation methodology would still

place headline inflation around 26 to 27 per cent. He said, “The main issue is that if you apply the old inflation methodology, Nigeria’s inflation today should be around 26 to 27 per cent. I cannot give an exact figure because the NBS has not disclosed the basis for the new series. But when I extrapolate, given the recent slowdown, the old inflation rate would still be around 26 per cent.”

L-R: Executive Director, Operations, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Fatai Adeyemi; Financial Secretary/ Treasurer, Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Mr. Babalola Adefarati; NIMASA Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola; President, Shipowners Association of Nigeria, Mr Sonny Eja; Chairperson, Technical Committee, SOAN, Ms. Iroghama Ogbeifun; Executive Director Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, NIMASA, Mr. Jibril Abb and Chairman Finance & Membership Committee, SOAN, Mr. Emmanuel Okene during a courtesy visit by the SOAN Exco to NIMASA headquarters in Lagos… recently

Capital Market Stakeholders Elated as T+2 Settlement Timeline Commences

Nigeria’s capital market stakeholders are excited about the adopt a new settlement timeline, T+2 (two days), effective November 28, 2025.

The timeline, according to them, will reduce the time for securities transactions to be completed from three days (T+3) to two business days after trade execution.

T+2 is the new settlement timeline that ensures securities transactions, including payment and share transfer, are completed two business days after trade execution. This new cycle enhances efficiency, reduces risk and brings Nigeria closer to global best practice.

Analysts at Investment One noted that the T+2 represents an upgrade from the current

T+3 settlement cycle.

They said the adjustment aligns the Nigerian capital market with global best practices and is expected to: reduce settlement and counterparty risk, improve liquidity, enhance post-trade efficiency and overall market performance

Also, analysts at Afrinvest Limited stated that, “the SEC has reviewed and approved for Nigeria’s capital market to transition from the current T+3 (Trade Date plus three days) settlement cycle to a T+2 (Trade Date plus two days) settlement cycle, effective November 28th, 2025.

“This means that securities and funds from trades will be settled within two business days after a transaction is executed, rather than the current three business

Nigeria Poised to Boost Green Economy, Tackle Climate Change

The Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mrs. Tenioye Majekodunmi, has stated that Nigeria will enhance its efforts to promote a green economy

aimed at mitigating climate change.

Majekodunmi made this known during an interview on the sidelines of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties held in Belém, Brazil.

She emphasised that the focus on comprehensive environmental sustainability, which includes renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management, will be upheld across the nation.

days. By reducing the time between trade execution and settlement, Nigeria’s market becomes more competitive, liquid, and resilient..”

Also, speaking at a stakeholder webinar themed: ‘Trade Associations: Ensuring Stakeholders’ Readiness for T+2 Settlement System’,

the managing director/ CEO, CSCS, Haruna JaloWaziri, noted that CSCS was established to address settlement risks and that

adopting a T+2 cycle aligns Nigeria with international standards by reducing delays, minimizing risk, and improving liquidity.

ISACA, Cybersecurity Experts, Calls for Caution in AI Alignment

Oluchi Chibuzor

As Nigeria gathers pace in adopting AI in different fields, Information Systems Audit and Control Association (SACA), and cybersecurity experts in the country have advised on the need to be cautious in aligning without localising the data to reflect the nation’s culture and environment peculiarities.

Also, the urged companies

not to restrict their employees from using the tools, but must enforce compliance, quality and ethical usage.

They stated this at the 2025 ISACA Lagos Chapter, GRC conference themed, “AI Governance:Advancing Regulations, Ethics, and Risk Resilience in Africa’s Digital Economy.”

Speaking at the event, President, ISACA Lagos Chapter, Justus Osuji, reminded participants that

the strength of nation’s digital economy lies not just in its code, but in its conscience.

He warned that the need to ensure the data used in importing AI into the country must reflect the nation’s culture and environment.

According to him, “Because if you are importing data from other environments that are not applicable to your environment, then the decisions you are going to

make will go contrary to what is applicable to your environment.

“So it is very necessary that whatever you are going to implement, the data you are going to train with will also be relevant to the environment that you are going to apply the data. So the decision you are going to make will be relevant to that environment in which you are going to localise the implementation of the decision.”

Nigerians Urged to Diversify Income Source, Invest in Real Estate

An investment expert, Mr Andrew Enofe has urged Nigerian investors and businessmen to diversify their funds by taking advantage of the lucrative Canadian real estate sector.

Enofe, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Golden

Gate Investment made the call while speaking with journalists shortly after a meeting with potential investors and businessmen in Port Harcourt.

He said the stable Canadian economy and low inflation rate gives it an investment destination edge for most people seeking to diversify their funds.

He held that investing ones funds in one country’s economy could be risky as an economic policy could wipe it off and render the investor handicap, hence the need to diversify and look into other economies.

Enofe called on participants at the meeting to consider investing in an economy where their capital would be

secured abroad while plowing back same into the Nigerian system.

He explained that through the company’s facilities, Nigerian investors who wished to take advantage of the Canadian real estate sector can do that using their private funds, private mortgage funds, or real estate funds amongst others.

Group Business Editor

Eromosele Abiodun

Deputy Business Editor

Chinedu Eze

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Asst. Editor, Energy

Emmanuel Addeh

Asst. Editor, Money Market

Nume Ekeghe

Correspondents

KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets)

James Emejo (Finance)

Ebere Nwoji (Insurance)

Reporter Peter Uzoho (Energy)

According to her, Nigeria has embraced this responsibility wholeheartedly. Our commitment is not merely an aspiration; it represents a serious national mandate to achieve a 32 percent reduction in emissions by 2035.

She said, “We have already submitted our detailed Third Nationally Determined Contribution, becoming the first in West Africa to do so, approved the National Carbon Market Framework, and operationalized our Climate Change Fund.”

Emma Okonji

Lagos State Government and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, have stressed the need for secondary school students to use the internet responsibly, safely, and confidently, while surfing the internet for educational research.

They gave the advice in Lagos during the Child

Online Safety Protection and Reporting of Abuse (COSPRA Summit), organised recently by the Ndukwe Kalu Foundation (NKF).

Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, JamiuTolani AlliBalogun, who was represented at the summit by the Assistant Chief Education Officer, Basic Education Services at the Lagos State Ministry of Basic

and Secondary Education, Mr. Solahudeen Qasim Oyekunle, said as technology continued to evolve, students should ignore the negative vices of the evolving technology and embrace the positive aspect of the internet while surfing the internet for academic research.

The Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Tolulope Ogunsola,

who was represented at the summit by the Dean, Faculty of Education of the university, Prof. Adebayo Ladipo, advised students from different secondary schools in Lagos that attended the summit, to be vigilant while browsing the internet, and avoid visiting negative sites and also avoid discussing with people online that could mislead them.

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA:

Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 20 November 2025, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price:

Eleganza Expands Access to Product Lines, Invites Growth-focused Partners Nationwide

Oluchi Chibuzor

Long recognised across the country and beyond as an iconic and enduring indigenous manufacturing giant, Eleganza Industries Limited is unveiling a renewed strategy designed to give Nigerians greater access to its products while creating structured opportunities for serious distributors, retailers, and contract manufacturing partners across the country.

The Lagos-born conglomerate, known nationally as a provider of numerous household products and trusted Nigerian craftsmanship, is committed to elevating the lives of every Nigerian with exemplary quality, variety and elegance. This new phase is not a reinvention of the brand, but a deliberate effort to strengthen visibility,

optimize distribution, and activate the full scale of Eleganza’s industrial capacity — much of which has quietly expanded over the years.

In a statement, the Managing Director, Mrs. Folashade Okoya, stated, “The reason Eleganza has always been a household name, is because its primary focus historically has been on production excellence rather than market presence. Our Chairman has a natural flair for design and prioritises production, product development and refinement. Our quality is constantly improving and customers always get value for their money. With all the items we have being manufactured locally and at such a standard and scale, Eleganza is the only company doing this in Nigeria.”

According to Okoya, the

unmistakable mark of quality for which the Eleganza brand has always been known through the decades remains evident along the long line of product offerings.

“The products are affordable, and we don’t compromise on quality. Eleganza has invested heavily in technology, machinery, product development and personnel. Now we are ensuring that the full breadth of what we produce is accessible to more customers and retailers nationwide.”

According to her, the objective is clear: “Make Eleganza’s modern portfolio easier to find, easier to stock, and easier to build businesses around. From personal care to household goods, the company has introduced over 21 new product lines, all manufactured locally at world-class standards.

Interswitch Strengthens Connection, Mentorship among Tech Developers

Emma Okonji

Interswitch, one Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, through its Interswitch Developer Community, recently hosted the Coded Meetup at the Interswitch Innovation Hub, Lagos, where it strengthened connection and mentorship among technology developers.

The social and learning experience brought together developers, engineers, and tech enthusiasts from across Africa to connect, collaborate, and learn within the continent’s thriving tech ecosystem.

Designed to bridge

the gap between coding and community, the Coded Meetup created an environment where professionals and aspiring tech talents could move beyond their screens to share experiences, exchange insights, and build lasting relationships.

Commenting on the significance of the Coded Meetup, Managing Director, Commercial Inclusion (Interswitch Inclusio), Muyiwa Asagba, said the initiative was a reflection of Interswitch’s ongoing commitment to empowering Africa’s tech ecosystem through mentorship and knowledge-sharing.

“At Interswitch, we’ve always believed that Africans should solve Africa’s problems, because no one understands the nuances, challenges, and opportunities of our continent better than we do. But solving these problems requires more than just talent; it takes the right motivation, mentorship, and community. That is why we created the Interswitch Developer Community, to empower developers with the right skills, knowledge, and connections they need to build solutions that truly make a difference. When we invest in people, we invest in Africa’s future,” Asagba said.

Johnnie Walker Set for Historical Launch in Nigeria

Oriarehu Bonny

When Johnnie Walker’s Master Blender, Dr. Emma Walker, set out to create a whisky that was a pure celebration of time, she meticulously crafted a blend from six of the rarest ghost distilleries in The Johnnie Walker Vault. The result is an extraordinary liquid so rare that only 10 bottles exist on the entire continent. The introduction of this blend to Nigeria on the occasion of its 65th Independence Anniversary is a profound tribute to the nation’s own journey through time, solidifying Nigeria’s position at the forefront of the global luxury market. This isn’t simply

another bottle of whisky; it’s a tangible link to a pivotal moment in time. The liquid itself is a symphony of flavors drawn from six elusive ghost distilleries that were part of the Johnnie Walker inventory of operations around 1960. “Our ghost distilleries are timeless storytellers, like a time capsule, When you taste this blend, you are tasting a piece of the past that can never be replicated.”

The blend draws inspiration from both Scotland’s diverse flavors and the progressive spirit of Nigeria. Encapsulating the dynamism and resilience that define the nation, this exceptional liquid embodies a

celebration of heritage and forward-looking ambition.

“The whisky has a richness and depth that is truly exceptional,” notes Dr. Emma Walker. “By unlocking whiskies from The Vault that can never be replicated, we are not just offering a rare liquid but a historical artifact. On the nose, there are aromas of salt and toasted spices countered by hints of raisins and apricots. On the palate, it is richly sweet with notes of moist raisins and Madeira sugar syrup with a gentle whiff of highland smoke on the finish. This exceptional liquid embodies the progressive spirit shared by both our brand and Nigeria.”

Stock Market Drops by N2.09trn WoW on Selloff in Dangote Cement

Kayode Tokede

The stock market section of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) dropped by N2.09 trillion week-on-week (WoW) amid investors profittaking in Dangote Cement Plc (10 per cent decline)

As gathered by THISDAY, market capitalisation closed last week’s trading activities

at N91.415 trillion, about 2.23per cent or N2.09 trillion decline from N93.501 trillion it opened for trading.

The benchmark, NGX All-Share Index declined by 2.24 per cent week-on- week to close at 143,722.62 basis points from 143,722.62 basis points the stock market oened for trading.

Consequently, Monthtill-Date (MtD) and

Year-till-Date (YtD) return moderated to -6.8per cent and +39.6per cent, respectively.

The local bourse extended its bearish momentum into the fourth consecutive week, slipping below the 145,000 basis pints threshold.

The softer inflation print – typically supportive of additional MPC easing – offered no relief, as

sentiment remained decisively bearish Market sentiment remained broadly negative, as reflected in the market breadth where 19 gainers were heavily overshadowed by 60 decliners.

NCR Nigeria led the gainers table by 60.55 per cent to close at N41.10, per share. University Press followed with a gain of

17.65 per cent to close at N6.00, while Tantalizers went up by 17.29 per cent to close to N2.51, per share.

On the other side, International Energy Insurance led the decliners table by 22.06 per cent to close at N2.12, per share.

McNichols followed with a loss of 14.90 per cent to close at N2.57, while Veritas Kapital Assurance declined

by 14.89 per cent to close at N1.60, per share.

Overall, a total turnover of 2.668 billion shares worth N106.264 billion in 107,998 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 7.325 billion shares valued at N156.425 billion that exchanged hands previous week in 134,383 deals.

PRICES FOR SECURITIES TRADED ASOFNOVEMBER/20/25

Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com

As Senate Frontally Confronts Nigeria’s Security Failures...

The Senate erupted in rare unanimity last Tuesday, launching its toughest security action yet after terrorists abducted 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State, Sunday Aborisade reports.

The Red Chamber last week finally reached its breaking point. What began as another sombre review of a tragic attack on a Nigerian school quickly spiralled into one of the chamber’s strongest security interventions in years.

Shock, anger and deep institutional frustration converged as lawmakers confronted the reality that, despite nearly a decade of funding, donor support, special programmes and emergency interventions, Nigeria is still unable to guarantee the safety of children in their classrooms.

The trigger was last Monday’s horrifying attack at Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. Armed terrorists stormed the school around 4 a.m., killed the vice principal, wounded the principal, and abducted 25 girls. The incident occurred despite the presence of some police personnel. For senators already weary of incessant school kidnappings, it was the final straw.

By midday, the chamber, presided over by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had adopted one of its most far-reaching security resolutions yet: an immediate, comprehensive investigation into the more than $30 million raised for Nigeria’s Safe-School Programme between 2014 and 2021.

They also demanded that President Bola Tinubu authorise the recruitment of at least 100,000 additional military personnel to respond to what lawmakers now openly describe as an existential crisis for the country’s education system.

A minute’s silence was observed for the slain vice principal. Prayers were said for the safe return of the abducted girls. But the chamber’s mood darkened quickly.

“We are losing an entire generation,” a visibly distraught former Senate President Ahmad Lawan warned. “If the schools are not safe, nothing else matters,” he added.

The Kebbi attack reopened deep wounds and long-standing questions about the Safe Schools Initiative (SSI), launched in 2014 in the global outcry that followed Boko Haram’s abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.

At the time, the Nigerian government, working with international partners and private-sector donors, raised $30 million for the programme.

Then-UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, coordinated the global

fundraising effort. Nigeria contributed $10 million; the balance came from donor countries, NGOs and corporate partners.

The programme was further expanded in 2022 with the launch of a new National Plan on Financing Safe Schools (2023–2026), cost at N144.8 billion, with the federal government budgeting N15 billion in 2023 alone and committing to secure at least 50 percent of the country’s most vulnerable public schools.

But despite the ambition, the coordination centre, and years of heavy investment, schools across large swathes of Northern Nigeria remain defenceless. From Chibok to Dapchi, Jangebe to Birnin Yauri, and now Maga, terrorists continue to strike with devastating ease.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) captured the Senate’s outrage:

“People have turned security into business. We cannot monetise the deaths of our citizens. If these funds were properly used, we should not still be witnessing terrorists walking into schools to kidnap children with ease.”

His voice, firm, accusatory and uncompromising, set the tone for what became a blistering critique of Nigeria’s entire school-security architecture.

The motion that ignited the debate was moved by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North), whose constituency has now suffered two major school abductions within three years.

His voice shook as he narrated the ordeal of parents in Maga and described the attack as “a slap in the face of our nation.”

He said, “Mr. President, a country that cannot secure its children cannot fulfil its obligations to its citizens.

Abdullahi recalled that it took four years to rescue girls abducted in a similar incident in Kebbi in 2022. “This terrorisation must stop immediately,” he said, urging security agencies to act with urgency and precision.

Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North) reinforced this point, tying the crisis to the social contract between citizens and the state.

“The people surrendered part of their sovereignty for government to ensure peace and security. If schools are no longer safe, the contract is broken.”

Lawmakers across party lines echoed this sentiment. The message was unmistakable: the Safe-School Programme has failed, and unless the country confronts that failure honestly, more children will be abducted.

If the probe into the $30 million Safe-School fund dominated the session, the second urgent concern was the dire shortage of military personnel.

Senator Mohamed Sani Musa (APC, Niger) delivered a stark assessment: “With a population of over 230 million and only 177,000 personnel, Nigeria cannot cover its vast territory. The armed forces are overstretched, overwhelmed, and incapable of defending every community.”

He called for a radical shift, one that not only expands the military but mobilises traditional rulers, community leaders and citizens into a structured intelligence-gathering network.

Oshiomhole took the argument further:

“We don’t have enough men and women in

The chamber’s final message was clear: unless accountability is enforced, unless the armed forces are expanded, and unless modern technology is deployed, school abductions will continue. For now, the nation waits, again, for the rescue of its daughters. But this time, the Senate insists, there must also be a rescue of Nigeria’s broken security system itself.

uniform to cover this country. A recruitment drive of at least 100,000 is necessary, not just for defence, but to provide employment for our youth.”

The chamber agreed. The demand for new military recruitment was adopted unanimously. Senators also highlighted the systemic flaws within Nigeria’s security response. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu advocated stronger collaboration between states and the federal security apparatus.

Senator Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra) demanded immediate deployment of advanced tracking technology to fast-track the rescue of the abducted students.

“We have the capacity to deploy modern surveillance tools. There is no excuse for allowing terrorists to disappear with children,” he said.

Senator Francis Fadahunsi (APC, Osun East) criticised what he called the “silo mentality” of security agencies:

“The army, air force and police are not working together. Kidnappings are becoming normalised because we lack coordinated action and measurable targets,” he said.

Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River) added an important caveat saying:

“We must set clear deadlines for security agencies. Enough of open-ended directives that produce no results.”

Senator Solomon Lalong (APC, Plateau) invoked the spectre of Chibok: “Nigeria must avoid another Chibok. The World Bank–supported Safe Schools Initiative has not delivered what it promised,” he said.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who spoke in firm tones throughout the session, said the Senate would uncover the truth about every naira and dollar that went into the Safe-School Programme.

According to him: “These criminals are going after soft targets. We must find out why the Safe-School Programme has failed to protect them.”

He also cautioned against ethnic or religious interpretations of the Kebbi attack.

Akpabio said, “Crime is crime. It does not matter under which administration it occurs or the identity of the victims. We must rescue our girls.”

Exploring Facts and Myths about Claims of ‘Christian Genocide’ in Nigeria

When U.S. Senator Ted Cruz described the killings of Christians in Nigeria as a “Christian genocide,” his words reignited an old and painful debate; one that cuts to the heart of Nigeria’s security crisis and its fragile religious balance. Over the past five years, thousands of Christians have been killed in attacks across the Middle Belt and northern states, fueling claims of systematic persecution. Yet, government officials and some analysts argue that the violence is not faithdriven but rooted in terrorism, banditry, and competition over land and resources. Hence, Sunday Ehigiator in this report examines the facts and myths surrounding the allegation of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, probing the data, the incidents, the narratives, and the politics shaping both local and global perceptions of a nation where faith and fear often collide

Nigeria is a country where headlines about mass killings, church attacks and communal reprisals arrive with unnerving regularity. In 2024–2025, the debate over whether what’s happening to Christian communities in parts of Nigeria amounts to “genocide” exploded beyond the country’s borders, carried by social media, foreign politicians and faith-based advocacy groups.

That debate is not just semantic: whether to call something genocide shapes foreign policy, humanitarian response, and the possibility of international investigation or intervention. It also changes how Nigerians, Christian and Muslim alike, make sense of violence that has many faces and many causes.

However, it is instructive to note that Nigeria’s security crisis has long worn many faces: insurgency, banditry, farmer–herder clashes, communal reprisals, kidnappings-for-ransom, and intercommunal violence.

Over the past five years, part of the public debate has turned sharply political and religious: claims that Christians in Nigeria are being subjected to genocide. That claim has reached international platforms, stirred diplomatic responses, and been fiercely contested in domestic politics. The question is not merely academic: whether the violence amounts to genocide matters for accountability, protection, policy and public trust.

Extended background

On October 20, 2025, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, Barrister Daniel Bwala, visited the Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN) Secretariat at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

According to CAN, he aimed to clarify the government’s response to remarks by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who had referred to pervasive attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria as ‘Christian genocide’. Bwala reportedly emphasised that both Christians and Muslims suffer from insecurity, and presented the government’s position that the current administration inherited systemic challenges it is working to remedy.

CAN’s leadership, led by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, stated publicly that its position has long been firm: Christian communities in northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt have endured repeated, organised and brutal attacks, yielding thousands of deaths, widespread displacement, and destruction of villages.

CAN asserted that these are not isolated acts of violence but part of a pattern of persecution that has been allowed to fester without justice.

CAN also denied media reports that during the meeting, Okoh had dismissed the genocide claim, saying the meeting was recorded and no such language, calling the attacks “so-called genocide,” was ever used.

At the meeting, CAN’s Director of Planning, Research and Strategy, Bishop Mike Akpami, presented data purportedly drawn from orfa. Africa (a data aggregator), showing sustained targeting of Christian communities across Nigeria and beyond.

The meeting included CAN’s national leadership team, though two individuals named in some media summaries, Rev. Dr Uzoaku Williams and Dr Celestine Aharanwa, were reportedly not present.

With its statement, CAN pressed the Federal Government and security agencies to act with “urgency, fairness and transparency” to halt killings and bring perpetrators to justice. The statement also warned media professionals and officials that careless rhetoric can deepen wounds and undermine peace.

This engagement is symptomatic of how the narrative of ‘Christian genocide’ has become deeply woven into political contestation, and why rigorous scrutiny of such claims is urgent. But first, what is genocide? What is genocide?

According to the United Nations (UN), “the word ‘genocide’ was first coined by Polish lawyer Raphäel Lemkin in 1944 in his book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. It consists of the Greek prefix genos, meaning race or tribe, and the Latin suffix cide, meaning killing.

“Lemkin developed the term partly in response to the Nazi

policies of systematic murder of Jewish people during the Holocaust, but also in response to previous instances in history of targeted actions aimed at the destruction of particular groups of people. Later on, Raphäel Lemkin led the campaign to have genocide recognised and codified as an international crime.

“Genocide was first recognised as a crime under international law in 1946 by the United Nations General Assembly (A/RES/96-I). It was codified as an independent crime in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the Genocide Convention). The Convention has been ratified by 153 States (as of April 2022).

“In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: Killing members of the group; Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”

The hard facts on the ground

There has been a very high toll of deaths, displacement and destruction in multiple states. Credible human-rights organisations and investigative groups have documented large numbers of killings and widespread displacement across Nigeria’s Middle Belt, parts of the South-East, the North-West and North-Central regions, as well as attacks by extremist groups in the North-East. Amnesty International, for instance, has published extensive reports on thousands killed and hundreds forcibly disappeared in the south-east and other regions in recent years.

Victims have included Christians and Muslims, often in the same communities. Although many of the most publicised incidents involved Christian victims (particularly in states where indigenous farming communities are predominantly Christian), reputable trackers show that violence has affected multiple groups. Patterns include attacks on farming communities by armed pastoralist militias, raids by jihadist groups (like ISWAP/Boko Haram in the northeast), organised criminal kidnappings-forransom, and violent reprisals between communities.

Chappal: Civil Matters Shouldn’t Be Prosecuted Through Law Enforcement FOCUS

In this interview with Emmanuel Addeh, Oluseun Awonuga (SAN), Head of the Litigation Practice Area at Babalakin & Co, the firm representing Chappal Energies, responds to questions in the wake of the recent public declaration by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), regarding Mr. Ufoma Immanuel, Chief Executive Officer of the energy firm. The senior lawyer provides legal, procedural and contextual insight into the matter, including what the injunction actually covers, why the notice raises serious rule of law concerns, and what investors should understand about the underlying dispute.

The EFCC’s notice has generated intense public interest. From a legal and factual standpoint, what exactly is the issue here?

The notice is deeply problematic because it was issued in direct conflict with an active order of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. The court, having been apprised of a civil dispute between shareholders, issued an injunction on 11 September 2025 restraining the EFCC from inviting, interrogating, arresting or detaining Mr. Immanuel or Chappal Energies while that matter is ongoing.

That injunction is still valid. It has neither been appealed nor set aside. Under Nigerian law, an agency cannot take enforcement steps that the court has prohibited. So the real issue here is not the dispute itself. It is the disregard for a court order.

From a factual perspective, all allegations raised in the petitions are false and have already been addressed through documented submissions made during prior engagements with the EFCC.

The anti-graft agency implied that the Chappal CEO, Immanuel, was unavailable. Is there any truth to that?

None. Both Mr. Immanuel and Chappal Energies are fully reachable through official email addresses, phone lines and physical offices. These are the same channels used for earlier correspondence with the EFCC, including two previous attendances in 2025 when he responded to formal invitations and provided full documentation.

There was no invitation before this notice. No new petition was presented. No charge was filed. No warrant exists. No statutory step was taken. Any informed observer can see that this sequence raises serious questions about motive, not compliance.

From the documents now in the public domain, the dispute seems to originate from a shareholder disagreement. Why do you think what you said is a civil matter escalated this far?

That is the crux of the problem. Civil disagreements belong in court or arbitration. They should not be prosecuted through law enforcement. Court filings and CAC records already identify the opposing shareholder as

Mr. Adebisi Adebutu, acting through R28 Limited. Multiple petitions arose from that dispute. However, civil litigation is already ongoing. The court is already adjudicating it, and the injunction exists precisely to prevent attempts to exert pressure through enforcement agencies.

When a civil disagreement is converted into an enforcement action despite an injunction, it raises concerns beyond the immediate dispute. It raises questions about the ability of private parties to mobilise state tools in ways that undermine judicial authority. That is a dangerous precedent.

Some Nigerians argue that enforcement agencies must be empowered. How do you balance that with your criticism here?

Enforcement agencies must absolutely be empowered. What they cannot be is unrestrained. The point is not to weaken the EFCC. It is to remind all institutions that the courts set the guardrails. These guardrails protect everyone, including the agencies themselves. If an agency can ignore a court

order today because it is convenient, then tomorrow another agency can ignore another order for political or personal reasons. Once that happens, the rule of law collapses. Nigeria needs strong institutions, but strength must be lawful.

What steps are being taken to address the situation moving forward?

Three immediate steps are underway. First, we have escalated the matter formally to the Attorney General of the Federation who has acknowledged receipt. His office has oversight responsibility for the EFCC and has the statutory authority to intervene when due process concerns arise.

Second, the ongoing inquiry by the Department of State Services is examining the conduct surrounding earlier engagements with the EFCC. That process predates the public notice and is already active.

Third, we are returning to court to ensure strict compliance with the injunction. If an agency violates a court order, it is the responsibility of counsel to ensure

that the court’s authority is reaffirmed. Chappal is committed to full legal recourse, not public theatrics.

You referenced investor concerns. What signal does this incident send to the business community?

It signals that commercial actors, including families and private individuals, may be able to deploy enforcement agencies in civil disputes. That is not acceptable in any jurisdiction that seeks long-term investment. Nigeria is pushing for capital inflows. Investors assess not only the market but also the legal environment. They need to know that court orders are respected and that agencies operate within the boundaries of law. Any erosion of that confidence has a direct cost on investment appetite, risk premiums and capital flow.

Some have said Chappal should simply settle the matter quietly. How do you respond to that?

The law does not permit shortcuts when a court is already apprised of a matter. The appropriate path is lawful resolution, not coercive pressure. Chappal will defend its rights and reputation through the courts and through proper regulatory channels. This is the conduct of a responsible company.

Nigeria needs corporate citizens who insist on due process, not those who normalise circumvention.

Finally, what would you like the Nigerian public and industry observers to understand most clearly from this incident?

Three things. First, the allegations are false. They have already been addressed through documented submissions, and the civil dispute is under judicial management. Second, the EFCC notice contradicts an active court order. That is a matter of legal procedure, not public opinion. Third, Chappal Energies will continue to operate transparently, comply with all legal obligations and pursue lawful remedies. The rule of law protects everyone. Once it is compromised, the entire investment ecosystem becomes vulnerable.

Nigeria must decide whether it wants to be a jurisdiction governed by courts or by tactics. The choice has consequences.

AKE ARTS AND BOOK FESTIVAL...

NAFDAC Lists Measures Against Antimicrobial Resistance Scourge

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has highlighted some of the strategies being used to address the challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance in the country.

Adeyeye said the Agency’s strategy to combat AMR is rooted in the One Health approach and implemented through a comprehensive, multi-sectoral framework.

A statement signed by NAFDAC's Resident Media Consultant Sayo Akintola said Adeyeye's speech was presented by her Special Assistant, Dr. Gbenga Fajemirokun, at the 2025 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW), in Lagos

According to the NAFDAC's boss, while antimicrobials remain indispensable tools for treating infections, their misuse and overuse have accelerated the rise of resistance, thereby compromising our ability to treat even common diseases.

She said the Agency is intensifying oversight of both human and veterinary antimicrobials, adding that this includes curbing the circulation of substandard and falsified veterinary drugs, enforcing

She highlighted the four key priorities that guide the NAFDAC’s effort in combatting AMR to include; strengthening regulation and surveillance, antibiotic stewardship in the community and hospitals, promoting rational use in animal care, engaging the agricultural value chain and public and professional enlightenment.

compliance with quality standards, and strengthening pharmacovigilance and postmarketing surveillance systems.

She further said that NAFDAC is committed to ensuring that antimicrobials for animals are used strictly under veterinary supervision, only for treatment - not for growth promotion or as a substitute for good farm practices.

“We are working closely with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the veterinary community to promote safer alternatives and ensure best practices.’

Adeyeye also said that NAFDAC is actively partnering farmers, feed producers, veterinarians, and industry stakeholders to raise awareness and promote alternatives, such as vaccines, biosecurity measures, and improved farm management practices, noting

that “we are also regulating the use of antimicrobials in medicated feeds to prevent non-therapeutic use.

“Through nationwide campaigns, she said the agency is educating the public, farmers, and professionals alike.

“Our message is simple: Responsible antimicrobial use is everyone’s responsibility. Protecting animals means protecting people - and preserving the power of antimicrobials for the future.’

Adeyeye urged healthcare professionals and veterinarians whom she described as the frontline defenders of public health to use antimicrobials judiciously and always under evidence-based guidance.

In addition, Adeyeye urged farmers and livestock producers to adopt good animal husbandry, hygiene, and vaccination practices to

NPAN Elects Guardian Publisher, Maiden Alex-Ibru, as New President

Seeks immediate action on national security

in Abuja

The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has elected The Guardian Publisher, Maiden AlexIbru, as its new President, replacing Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, Chairman of Media Trust, who has completed his second term as leader of the organisation. Aside from Alex-Ibru, others elected alongside were: Mr. Frank Aigbogun, Publisher of BusinessDay, as Deputy President, while the former Treasurer and Publisher of Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, was elected Vice President.

Besides, Ahmed Shekarau, Group Chief Executive Officer of Trust Media, was elected Treasurer, even as the Chairman of Punch, Mrs. Angela Emuwa, retained her post as General Secretary.

Similarly, the Editor-in-Chief of Leadership, formerly Assistant Secretary, Azu Ishiekwene, was redesignated Organising Secretary, while Dr. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, Group Managing Director of Champion Newspapers, retained her post as Publicity Secretary.

In the same vein, Mr. Ayodele Aminu, Managing Director of The Telegraph newspaper, and

Prince Dennis Sami, publisher of Pilot, retained their positions as ex-officio members; while the Chairman of Leadership, Mrs. Zainab Nda-Isaiah, was elected as an ex-officio member.

A statement signed by the new President, Alex-Ibru, as well as General Secretary, Emuwa, stated that Malam Yusuf, chairman of Media Trust, who completed his second term as President was commended for his exemplary leadership and service, and is now a member of the NPAN Board of Trustees.

NPAN, a leading media organisation representing newspaper publishers in

Nigeria, has as its mission the promotion of press freedom, journalistic excellence, and national development.

At the end of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2025, which it said was marked by crucial discussions on the state of the nation, media responsibility, and the election of a new executive council, the association stated that there was a solemn moment of silence in memory of the late Dan Agbese, a veteran journalist, a co-founder of Newswatch Magazine and a committed member of the association.

reduce the need for antibiotics. She also admonished pharmacists to dispense antimicrobials only with valid prescriptions and educate consumers on responsible use.

She advised every Nigerian to avoid self-medication, seek professional care, and demand responsibly produced food as she also urged media to continue to amplify awareness.

Her words: “The story of AMR is one that must be told - clearly, urgently, and repeatedly.’ Prof. Adeyeye envisions a Nigeria where infections in humans and animals remain treatable,

Gov

our food chain is safe, and modern medicine continues to save lives—is one we must build together.

“That future is not assured; it must be earned through coordinated action and sustained vigilance. The NAFDAC boss reiterated that the fight against AMR will be won or lost based on our collective and coordinated efforts across the human–animal–environment interface, adding that NAFDAC remains fully committed to playing its regulatory and leadership role with integrity, diligence, and innovation.

Eno Lauds A'Ibom PDP Chairman for Exhibiting Constructive Opposition

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has praised the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Akpan for demonstrating what the Governor described as true constructive opposition.

The governor made the remark while responding to an appeal by the PDP State Chairman, during the commissioning of a newly constructed General Hospital and 2.2km access road in Ikot Akpan Nkuk, the Ukanafun Local Government Area headquarters.

His words: “Thank you, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Akpan, for showing others how to be an opposition. Opposition is not about insulting leaders; it is about acknowledging what government has done and constructively drawing attention to areas that need action."

"My role is to complete

projects that benefit the people, I am not in the politics of hatred and fighting, I am a pastor by calling, and God has called me to the ministry of reconciliation and peace.”

He cautioned citizens against provoking political conflicts or insulting leaders in the state.

“When they go low, we go high. Abusing a senior person will never make anyone a senior; follow peace with all men.”

At the commissioning, Governor Eno approved the completion of the 18.96-kilometre Ikot Ibritam–Mbiaso–Inen Ekefe -Ikot Akpan Afaha road, a project initiated by his immediate predecessor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

“Because of the overwhelming joy and appreciation shown by the people of Ukanafun today, I hereby approve the completion of the Inen Ekefe road.”

FACTS BEHIND THE FIGURES PRESENTATION AT THE NGX...

L – R shows Group Finance Director, UACN Plc, Funke Ijaiya-Oladipo; GMD/CEO,

Meth, Cocaine Consignments in Machine Cylinders, Auto Parts Intercepted at Lagos Airport

As NDLEA launches heavy crackdown on DTOs nationwide Arrests 9 kingpins, recovers tons of illicit drugs in flight boarding pass

In a blistering crackdown on drug trafficking organisations across the country, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled no fewer than six syndicates, leading to the seizure of tons of assorted illicit drugs and the arrest of nine kingpins in series of intelligence-led interdiction operations.

In one of such operations, NDLEA officers on November 18 arrested two members of a drug trafficking organisation in Onitsha, Anambra State, when they showed up to take delivery of 5.40 kilogrammes of methamphetamine; 10.70 kilogrammes of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis; 16 grams of cocaine; 200 grams

of phenacetin; 200 grams of methcathinone; and 100 grams of caffeine concealed in pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa.

The first to show up at a logistics company in Onitsha for the collection of the consignments was 30-year-old electrical appliances dealer Ebulue Lotanwa Uzochukwu, who was promptly arrested,

while shortly after, another member of the syndicate, 51-year-old South Africa returnee Christopher Michael Ndibuisi, showed up and was equally arrested.

The consignments had arrived the import shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos, with airway bill number 118-12882973, from

Jafi AI Services Launches Alice, Afrocentric AI Assistant

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Jafi AI Services Limited, a Nigerian firm has launched Alice, an Afrocentric platform to enhance business operations, lifestyles, among others, with over 26,000 businesses already listed in over 50 countries in Africa.

Promoters of the platform, in a briefing at the weekend in Abuja, stated that it serves as a review platform for the different businesses listed, stressing that there are several categories, ranging from banking, flights, hospitals, restaurants and many more.

“Jafi.ai was also built with an AI assistant called Alice.

Alice is not just a chatbot, she's built specifically for African minds, context and cultures. She's embedded with diverse African languages in the whole 54 countries. She's a personal AI that was built to understand the minds and culture and food of Africa.

“She's built with seven different features… linked to Africa as I said earlier. She's built with another feature for code development for our young minds. Jaff.ai is set to be able to build a website within 72 hours, giving you the blueprints for the said website,” a representative of the organisation, Mmesoma Onyebuchi, said.

Middlemen

Besides, she highlighted the fitness feature, the medical feature, where visitors can imput data like blood group, allergies, genotype and get answers to whatever prompts they give relating to their medical profile.

“Our mission and vision is to make Jafi.ai a household name in Africa. We want to make it available for young minds, entrepreneurs, researchers, and make it available to them for whatever industry they fit into. So Jafi.ai is currently Africa's leading AI. We are making it for Africa”, she stressed.

Describing Jafi.ai's vision as revolutionary, she stated that the AI assistant speaks multiple

languages, including English, French, Kiswahili, Arabic, with ambitions of understanding all African dialects, African business realities and recognise African visual culture.

“Alice is the most personal Al ever built for Africa. Through her Long Term Memory system-what we call ‘Alice Forms’, she remembers user's identities, business contexts, preferences, and past conversations. She greets people by name with personalised messages based on their history, making every interaction feel like continuing a conversation with someone who truly knows them.

No Longer Involved in Getting Certificate of Occupancy in Abia

Boniface Okoro in Umuahia

The Abia State Government has attributed elimination of middlemen in the process of getting Certificates of Occupancy in the state to the successes recorded through land administration reforms.

The Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, who briefed newsmen on the activities of

his ministry at the weekend, also said the ongoing mapping of the state, expected to end in May 2026, would further ease land administration as it would facilitate production of a master plan of the state thereby making structural planning easier.

Mr. Chukwumerije said the middlemen who usually fleece applicants have been eliminated from the process as

a result of reforms introduced by the Ministry to clean up the untidy land administration the current government inherited, stressing that getting a C of O in Abia now is swift and seamless.

The Commissioner noted that government’s introduction of the policy of issuance of Certificate of Occupancy within 30 days of receipt of application since it came on board, has

resulted in massive issuance of the land document.

“Since Governor Alex Otti assumed office in May 2023, a total of 3,256 Certificates of Occupancy have been issued, with 1,778 issued in 2025 alone, the highest ever in one year, from 1999; and this surpassed the total issued in the seven years preceding the coming of the current administration,” Chukwumerije said.

South Africa on a Tag-Angola flight on November 13, 2025 and was immediately seized based on credible intelligence.

A follow up sting operation was thereafter organised in Onitsha, where the recipients, Uzochukwu and Ndubuisi, were arrested.

In another operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives on November 20 intercepted a brake servo automobile part used to conceal 48 pellets and a block of cocaine with a gross weight of 2.30 kilogrammes, packed among other auto parts going to Gabon.

Following the arrest of a freight agent, Ameh Solomon, who presented the consignment for export,

a follow up at ASMPDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, led to the arrest of an auto parts dealer, Nwafor Tochukwu Boniface.

In Kogi State, NDLEA operatives on November 17 intercepted a trailer conveying 4,700 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, at Kabba. Three suspects – Solomon Dauda, Friday Garba and Daniel Danladi – accompanying the consignment were arrested while a follow up operation in Jos, Plateau State, on November 21 led to the arrest of the kingpin who owned the trailer and the illicit drug consignment, Marcus Danladi Dan Mangu.

Christian Women Emphasise Mentoring Next Generation

Mary Nnah

Christian women leaders have emphasised the urgent need to revive intentional, Scripturebased mentoring among women, describing it as a legacy practice deeply rooted in the Bible and essential for shaping future generations.

The call was made at the Global Virtual Women’s Conference organised by the Christian Women Mentoring Network, themed “The Mentoring Advantage: Influencing Titus 2, Women for Global Impact.”

Warning that the future of faith hangs in the balance, Pastor Ada Babajide, a keynote speaker, lamented that women have gradually abandoned this God-ordained system, picking up other strategies and losing the full benefits of woman-to-woman mentoring.

“Mentoring has an

advantage, it’s not new, it has been there all along, but we picked up other strategies and began to ignore it, losing the full benefits, especially woman-to-woman,” she stated.

The conference highlighted the biblical model of mentoring, where God’s presence encompasses both mentor and mentee, and communication flows between all three points of the Trinity.

Babajide outlined practical mentoring steps, including building trust, engaging personally, sharing resources, and modeling Christlike conduct.

“Legacy is not accidental, legacy is intentional. If we want our faith to be sustained, we must be deliberate about who we are passing it on to and what we are passing on to them,” she emphasized.

INAUGURATION OF NEWLY BUILT 34 BLOCKS OF 233 UNITS...

Katung: I Joined APC Because Tinubu Has Done What No President Has for My People

Shiklam

The senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Sunday Katung, said his recent defection from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was informed by "unprecedented federal attention to Southern Kaduna".

Sunday Ehigiator

A posthumous lecture and book review held today in honour of renowned human resources pioneer, the late Mazi Christopher Onyeji Enuke, brought together top corporate leaders, academics, and members of the Enuke family to celebrate his legacy and unveil his newly published manuscript, “The Practice of Human Resources Management with Examples from Nigeria.”

The event, themed ‘Examining the Role of Technology in Human Resources Management’, featured a commemorative lecture delivered by the

According to him, no president has done so much for Southern Kaduna people like Tinubu.

Katung said, “Even if I stayed in PDP, I would have still worked 100 per

Speaking with journalists at the weekend, Katung said even if he had remained in PDP, he would still have worked for President Bola Tinubu.

cent for President Tinubu. No president, living or dead, has done for my people what he has done."

According to him, Tinubu’s interventions, including the establishment of a Federal University and a Federal

Posthumous Lecture, Book Review: Access Holdings CEO, Innocent Ike, Family, Honour Late HR Pioneer, Mazi Enuke

Chief Communications Officer, Access Holdings Plc, Mr. Amaechi Okobi, who represented the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Chief Innocent Ike.

Speaking on behalf of the Access Holdings CEO, Okobi described the late Enuke as “a visionary whose understanding of human resource management continues to resonate far beyond his lifetime.”

He commended the Enuke family for publishing the manuscript years after it was written, noting the book encapsulates timeless insights on people, culture, leadership, and organisational

excellence.

According to him, the late Enuke articulated principles that modern organisations are only now embracing - among them the strategic importance of HR at the executive level, value-driven recruitment, performance culture, and ethical leadership.

“He believed strongly that technology must enhance, not replace, the human element,” Okobi said. “People remain the engine of innovation, the drivers of performance, and the custodians of culture.”

Okobi also stressed the late Enuke’s work aligns closely with Access Holdings’ leadership philosophy, which prioritises people,

performance, and sustainable organisational culture.

He added that Enuke mentored several professionals who today occupy key positions across corporate Nigeria.

Delivering a heartfelt tribute, the late Enuke’s daughter, Mrs. Winifred Enuke, spoke about her father’s values, discipline, and passion for developing people.

She recalled that he was among the early graduates of the University College Ibadan, then affiliated with the University of London, and was once sent to Washington, DC, for advanced training, a testament to his excellence and influence.

National Healing: Every Region, Community Owe Nigeria Apology, Says PeacePro

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) championing the peace crusade across the African Continent at the weekend called for a series of symbolic yet powerful apologies across regions, communities, institutions, ethnic blocs, and religious groups over the insecurity, economic hardship and bad misgovernance that had already ignited

intense national debate in the country.

The group stated this in a statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara State capital on the sidelines of the unveiling of groundbreaking and controversial blueprint for national healing, one that demands a rare, honest confrontation with the country’s painful past.

The statement which

was signed by the group's executive director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, however warned that Nigeria cannot continue to “patch over deep scars” while expecting unity to magically emerge.

According to him, “True reconciliation begins with truth, acknowledgment, and the courage to say, we are sorry.”

He said, "The proposal

outlines a sweeping set of restorative gestures and in view of this the South East should apologize to the Niger Delta for political maneuvers that heightened tensions leading to the iconic 12-Day Revolution.

"The South East should also apologize for the 1966 first military coup, an event that reshaped Nigeria’s political trajectory".

Medical Centre, convinced him that full alignment with the president was the right step. He described the projects as investments that would “outlive everyone".

He added that consultations with stakeholders at home showed overwhelming support for his defection.

“Remaining in PDP while working for Tinubu would have amounted to antipathy. My people said when someone does this much for you, you do not stand aside,” he said.

Katung also highlighted his renewed push for the sickle cell bill, which he described as a lifelong personal mission.

He recalled meeting a child during a sickle cell crisis in 1991, who pleaded with his parents to “allow him to die so they could rest”, a memory he said had continued to drive his advocacy.

Katung said his first attempt to sponsor the bill in 2016 stalled, but insisted it must now be concluded because “too many people have died needlessly”.

LASTMA Warns Against Blocking Access Roads Ahead of Festive Season

Sunday Ehigiator

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has issued a firm warning to residents, community leaders, religious organisations, event planners and social groups against obstructing access roads during the forthcoming festive season.

In a statement yesterday, signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the agency expressed concern over what it described as a recurring and troubling practice by celebrants, worship centres, event organisers and street revellers who convert public road corridors into spaces for private events, resulting in avoidable gridlock, safety risks and undue hardship for motorists.

It emphasised that all roads; major or inner streets; remain public assets that must not be taken over for social, religious

or recreational activities under any circumstances.

The agency also directed owners of event centres, lounges and clubs, particularly those operating in densely populated areas such as Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Shongotedo and other adjoining communities, to ensure proper and sufficient parking arrangements for their patrons.

It warned that establishments whose guests regularly spill onto major roads with indiscriminate parking will face strict enforcement actions, heavy penalties and possible closure as provided under existing traffic laws.

According to the statement, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, gave the warning over the weekend during an inspection tour of major trafficprone corridors in Lagos. “He was accompanied by the agency’s top management officials.

PASTOR GBENGA OSO BURIAL...

Children of the

Gabriel

Elijah

widow, Mrs Dorcas

FIRS Debunks Atiku’s Claims, Cautions Against Politicising Tax Administration

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has dismissed recent claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding the appointment of Xpress Payments as one of the channels used in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) revenue collection system. FIRS described the claims as “incorrect, misleading, and capable of unnecessarily politicising a purely administrative and technical process”.

In a statement, weekend, by

Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the Executive Chairman, FIRS, Arabinrin Atoyebi, the service clarified that it did not operate any exclusive or single-gateway revenue collection arrangement and had not granted monopoly rights to any private company

over government revenues. FIRS stated that the agency was currently operating a multi-channel, multi-Payment Solution Service Provider (PSSP) framework that included several established platforms, such as Quickteller, Remita, Etranzact, Flutterwave, and XpressPay.

“These PSSPs are part of an expanded, transparent, and competitive ecosystem designed to make tax payment easier and more efficient for Nigerians across the country,” the statement read.

The service further explained that PSSPs were not collection agents and did not earn processing fees or percentages of government revenues. It stressed that all payments made through the channels went directly into the Federation Account without diversion, intermediaries, or private custody.

38 ERUKU WORSHIPPERS FREED, 51 STUDENTS RESCUED, 13 NIGER TEACHERS STILL IN CAPTIVITY

Kigera, Bago said informants remained "a major enabler of terrorist operations "and therefore suggested that applying tougher sanctions against them will significantly curb the wave of attacks".

He assured the people that security agencies, in collaboration with the state government, were working to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted schoolchildren.

The monarch lamented the growing presence of bandits in the Borgu forest and appealed to both the state and federal authorities to reclaim the area and restore its economic value.

UMCA’s Reverend Yohanna Yakubu, whose 23-year-old daughter, Mercy Yohanna, was among those kidnapped, in a telephone interview with THISDAY, pleaded with Bago "to help rescue my daughter".

Yakubu stated that since the incident occurred, the girl’s mother, who was teaching in the primary school wing, had not been herself.

He said Mercy was residing in the staff quarters of the school in Papiri and they were expecting her to come home for the Christmas holiday before her kidnap.

The clergyman said the community never had any inkling that the incident would happen.

38 Eruku Worshippers

Regain Freedom, Abdulrazaq Hails

Tinubu for Quick Action

All the 38 worshippers

at Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in Eruku town, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, who were recently abducted in an attack by suspected bandits, reportedly, regained their freedom.

The victims were said to have regained their freedom after many days of hard work by security forces.

A statement in Ilorin, yesterday, by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, said, "The governor is excited to announce the freedom of 38 persons, who were recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Eruku, Ekiti LGA, Kwara Kwara."

The governor said this was wholly due to the hands-on approach of Tinubu, who had personally led the efforts to free the abductees.

The statement said, "The abductees were freed today, November 23, and the governor is immensely grateful to President Bola Tinubu, for his direct initiative that made this happen.

"The president had called off his scheduled trip for the G20 meeting in South Africa to attend to the breaches in Kwara and Kebbi states.

"He had also directed heightened security deployments to Kwara, in what underlined his firm commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our people and Nigerians as a whole."

The governor expressed appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Nigeria

Intelligence Agency, and, Nigeria Police, which had deployed four new tactical teams to Kwara State on the directive of the president.

Meanwhile, worshippers yesterday converged at the church to hold its first service after the attack on the church last week.

The service, conducted inside the blood-stained auditorium where the attack occurred last Tuesday, was dominated by prayers for the release of the kidnapped worshippers and the repose of the soul of the deceased.

Presiding Pastor, Mr. Bamidele Lawrence, in his sermon, described the incident as a test of faith and revealed that he received divine assurances regarding the safety of the kidnapped.

Lawrence told the congregation that God had promised that the abducted worshippers would return alive, likening their situation to the biblical trials of the Israelites.

One worshipper, James Ige, whose wife and son were among those kidnapped, appealed to security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, saying his family’s fate rests on the government’s ability to act swiftly.

The church secretary, Mr. Michael Agbabiaka, confirmed that 38 persons were abducted, contrary to earlier figures circulating on social media.

According to Agbabiaka, the church initially compiled 35 names, but a later verification exercise identified three additional non-members who were also kidnapped during

the siege.

He said, “Rumours that over 60 people were abducted are not true. We have 38 people still in the bush. Three people died, and one is in the hospital receiving treatment. I have their names and phone numbers. We don’t want misinformation.”

Kebbi Orders Closure of All Schools

Kebbi State Government announced the immediate shutdown of all public and private secondary schools as well as all tertiary institutions across the state, with the exception of College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery in the capital, Birnin Kebbi.

The directive, signed by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ahmed Idris, was conveyed by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Issa Abubakar-Tunga, and Hon. Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Halima Bande.

The commissioners explained that the closure was prompted by a recent surge in attacks in parts of the state, which made it necessary to suspend academic activities for the safety of students and staff.

“Following the recent cases of attacks in part of the state, the closure of both public, private and state-owned institutions has become necessary,” the commissioners said, in the statement.

They listed the affected tertiary institutions as Kebbi State Polytechnic, Dakingari,

Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology (Aliero), College of Health Sciences and Technology (Jega), Adamu Augie College of Education (Argungu), and School of Remedial Studies (Yauri).

All public and private secondary schools will also remain closed until further notice, the statement said.

It added, “The only institution not affected is the College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery located in the state capital, Birnin Kebbi.”

The commissioners urged school administrators to comply with the directive and remain calm, assuring that a new resumption date would be communicated as soon as situations improve.

“We advise all institutions’ management to remain calm as a new resumption date will be communicated in due course,” they said.

The state government emphasised that the decision was temporary and aimed at safeguarding the education community while security measures were reinforced.

The closure marked the latest in a series of security-driven measures taken by the state, which had been grappling with rising incidents of violence in several local government areas.

The government did not disclose a timeline for reopening of the schools, but it pledged to restore normalcy as quickly as possible.

Bandits Kill JIBWIS Officer, Abduct Nursing

Wife in Bauchi

Suspected kidnappers, in the late hours of Saturday, November 22, stormed Zalau, a village in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, where they attacked and killed one Alhaji Muhammad Bakoshi, an Islamic cleric.

The armed bandits, whose number could not be ascertained, were reported to have attacked the home of the late Islamic cleric, who was Discipline Officer of Jama'atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Zalau.

THISDAY checks revealed that he was killed, while his wife, who gave birth just two weeks ago, was abducted.

A resident of the village, who pleaded anonymity, stated that the development had thrown the community into fear and grief, as they had been exposed to insecurity and bandits attack. The residents said the community was praying for the abducted woman’s safe return and strength for the family in the difficult time.

"Bandits and kidnappers in Nigeria do not target only Christians. These criminals go after anyone they see as vulnerable, regardless of religion. Let’s focus on safety and unity, not divide ourselves by faith,” they stated.

DHQ Reviews Troops Deployment

ALL HAIL THE EWI OF ADO-EKITI AT 80...

L-R: The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III; his wife, Olori Eyesore Magaret Abosede Adejugbe and a former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun at the 80th

and 35th

ZENITH BANK CELEBRATES TECH EXCELLENCE, REWARDS HACKATHON WINNERS

Anniversary of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti... weekend topics from cybersecurity to advanced cloud solutions and disruptive technologies, equipping participants with world-class insights.

Aside from the thrilling musical performance by Nigerian musician Spyro, the fair also featured dualpanel sessions that were very insightful and highly interactive. The panel sessions both had Zain Asher, CNN Anchor, as host, and featured high-level discussants including Adaora Nwodo, Founder & Executive Director, NexaScale; Aisha Tofa, Board Chair, Startup Kano Centre for Innovation Dev.; David Kpakima, Co Founder, Rasab Group, Sierra Leone;

(DHQ), yesterday, said it was aware of the claim by Kebbi State Governor, Mohammed Idris, that terrorists struck only 30 minutes after troops were withdrawn from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of the state.

It said a thorough review was underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding troop deployment and movements at the time of the incident.

DHQ, however, expressed deep concern over the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from the school, and also the abductions from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

Describing the attacks as “heinous”, DHQ extended its thoughts to the students, their families, and the affected communities.

In a statement, Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria are fully engaged in ongoing operations to ensure the safe rescue of the girls and the apprehension of the perpetrators.

“All operational decisions are based on intelligence assessments and the broader security architecture of the

Dr Stanley Jacob, President, FINTECHNGR; Iyinoluwa S. Aboyeji, CEO Future Africa; Gary Fowler, CEO & Founder GSD Venture Studios; Bradwin Roper, Chief Payments & Partnerships Officer at JUMO, and Mrs. Omoyemen A. Jide Samuel, Director, Information Technology, CBN. Zenith Bank remains committed to fostering an ecosystem where innovation thrives, ensuring that the next generation of African tech leaders have the capital, mentorship, and resources required to achieve global scalability and impact.

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region. Nevertheless, if the ongoing review identifies any lapse or gap, the Armed Forces will take immediate corrective action to prevent a recurrence."

The military further reiterated its commitment to working closely with state authorities, community leaders, and other security agencies to strengthen protection around schools and vulnerable communities.

It assured Nigerians that the rescue of the abducted students was a top priority, with troops actively pursuing all actionable intelligence to ensure their safe return.

Acknowledging public concerns over the rising insecurity in parts of the north, DHQ stressed that the armed forces remained fully committed to restoring peace and stability across all affected areas.

JTF Commander: No Safe Place for Bandits

Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North West (JTF NW), Operation Fansān Yamma (OPFY), Major-General Warrah Idris, directed troops to maintain unyielding pressure on the criminals responsible for the recent abduction at St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government

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Area of Niger State.

“The bandits are clearly feeling the heat of our operations and will find no safe haven,” Idris said.

The commander issued the directive during a visit to the scene of the abduction on November 22.

The development was confirmed in a statement by Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Captain David Adewusi.

During the visit, Idris carried out an on-the-spot assessment to get first-hand operational insight into the circumstances surrounding the attack.

He was received and briefed by General Officer Commanding 2 Division, and Commander, Sector 3 OPFY, Major-General C. R. Nnebiefe, on ongoing coordinated efforts with other security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students.

Reaffirming the theatre’s determination to bring the perpetrators to justice, Idris underscored the importance of relentless pursuit.

“Remain vigilant and unrelenting in pursuing them, without granting any respite, until every one of the captured students is safely recovered and reunited with their families,” he

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ordered.

The theatre commander further expressed confidence in the troops’ capability and commitment, assuring them that all necessary resources, support, and operational enablers would be provided to ensure the success of the mission.

Barau Urges Arewa to Leverage Presidential Backing, Increased Revenue

Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, called on northern political, traditional and civic leaders to take full advantage of Tinubu’s support for the region and the significant rise in subnational revenues to confront the escalating security challenges facing the region.

Barau spoke at the 25th Anniversary of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna.

He said the north currently occupied “a position of unique political advantage” owing to what he described as Tinubu’s unwavering receptiveness to northern concerns and requests.

According to him, the president has repeatedly demonstrated commitment to the region through interventions

2020 to 2023 by the Ethical Boardroom.

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STILL IN CAPTIVITY

in security, agriculture, education, and rapid responses to emergencies across the north.

Barau said, “We have never taken any request tied to the north to him without receiving support. Whatever we take to him in terms of our needs, he will definitely deliver.”

The deputy senate president, who also serves as First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, urged northern governors, federal lawmakers, and regional stakeholders to harness the goodwill to design and implement coordinated security strategies.

He said the region could not afford fragmented responses when the political atmosphere and fiscal inflows were favourable.

Barau drew attention to the rising revenues now flowing to state governments, stating that enhanced fiscal capacity must translate into deliberate investment in security architecture, intelligence networks, and local policing efforts.

“The National Assembly is ready to support and co-fund initiatives that will strengthen security and drive development across the region,” he said.

Ex-PSC Chair, Okeke, Says State Police’ll End Escalating Security Threats in Nigeria

Former Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Chief Simon Okeke, reiterated his call for state police, insisting it remains the most effective solution to Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.

Okeke stated that Nigeria was the only federal state operating a centralised policing system, a structure he said undermined the ability of governors — constitutionally regarded as chief security officers — to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions.

According to him, empowering states with their own police organisations would enhance accountability, improve community-based intelligence, and allow for faster crime prevention.

Citing the South-west as an example, Barau said the establishment of the Amotekun Corps had contributed significantly to stabilising the zone and making it one of the safest parts of the country. He said the north could replicate such success if its leaders committed to unified action.

NIGERIA AT THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION...

Nnamdi Kanu: Ex-Governor Orji Kalu Puts Number of Persons Murdered in South-east at 30,000

A former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Kalu, yesterday put the total number of those killed in the wake of the insecurity in Igbo land at 30,000, describing most of the reactions to the sentencing of Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal

High Court as emotional. Kalu, who spoke on a national television programme, explained that it was unfortunate that nobody was talking about the number of businesses closed down as a result of the insecurity in the region, as well as persons who lost their jobs.

Highlighting the role he played in the release of Nnamdi Kanu in 2017, the former Abia governor narrated how in 2016, he gave the late President Muhammadu Buhari a condition that Nnamdi Kanu must be released before he (Kalu) could join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, he expressed the belief that although there should be a political resolution to the matter, the government must not be seen as encouraging bad behaviour.

“Let me tell you, when we focus solely on Nnamdi Kanu, we have to solve this problem holistically because

Northern Media Forum Mourns Late Veteran Journalist, Dan Agbese

Kicks against Biafra agitator’s disrespect for presiding judge Says recent spike in insecurity politically motivated locally and internationally

The Northern Media Forum (NMF) yesterday described the death of one of Nigeria's foremost journalists, Dan Agbese, as shocking, stating that for years Agbese stood tall as an unflinching writer, editor and columnist and one of the founding members of the most prestigious and authoritative voice of his time, Newswatch.

In a statement signed by the organisation’s Assistant Secretary, Zainab Suleiman Okino, NMF noted that Agbese, who chaired the media forum until his final days, left a void that will be felt not only in the media landscape,

but also in the hearts of countless journalists he mentored.

In his passing, the statement pointed out that the North has lost a passionate advocate, while the Nigerian media has lost an icon of style and substance, explaining that all who knew him have lost a gentle soul who taught the world the power of words spoken and written with depth, humility and conviction.

“The news of Dan Agbese’s passing shocked and reverberated across the newsrooms. With his passing, a voice of courage, style and satire and elegance for decades has gone silent. A veteran journalist, prolific author, and consummate

man of letters, Dan Agbese was more than just a trailblazer in the media, he was a guardian of its soul.

“From the moment he first set foot in a newsroom, crisscrossing the Nigeria Standard, New Nigerian, Newswatch, Dan Agbese understood that journalism was not merely a profession but a calling, a moral covenant to inform, educate, and empower.

“His pen bled ink that illuminated the corners of society too often shrouded in darkness, and his words carried the weight of integrity at a time when the craft needed it most.

“For years, he stood tall as

an unflinching writer, editor and columnist and one of the founding members of the most prestigious and authoritative voice of his time, Newswatch; shaping opinions and inspiring generations of journalists with his fearless pursuit of truth and excellence,” the statement added.

Beyond his legendary career at Newswatch and other publications, Agbese’s most profound legacy, the NMF stressed, may lie in his stewardship of the group which he chaired until his final days.

Under his leadership, it explained that the Forum became a beacon for courage in a diverse northern landscape.

Hacey, Access Battle Malaria, Distribute Health Kits, Mosquito Nets to Pregnant Women in Rivers

A non-governmental organisation, Hacey Health Initiative, has boosted the fight against malaria fever by conducting free malaria tests, chemical prophylaxis for pregnant women and sharing free treated mosquito nets to Rivers people.

The program, held in conjunction with Access

Holding PLC, in Rumueme, Obio/Akpor, Rivers State, is part of Hacey Health Initiative's 2025 'End Malaria Program" campaign, a community-centered health outreach.

The outreach aimed at reducing malaria incidence and improving access to prevention, testing, and treatment services for women, pregnant mothers, and children under five in

high-burden communities.

According to Bamidele Oyewumi, Hacey Health Initiative's Program Manager, this year's outreach, with the theme "Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite", is focusing on Delta and Rivers States while targeting 2000 beneficiaries.

He said the vision behind the outreach was to reduce malaria, a menace he lamented had made many women

unproductive, to a zero level in all the impacted communities.

"Malaria is one of the things that affect most women and children in our communities. Today, we're implementing the end-malaria project where we want to see zero malaria in our community.

"This is because children under 5 miss school, women are not having active productive engagement because of preventable malaria.

there were over 30,000 Igbos that were killed. People that had their shops now have no shops. People lost their businesses.

“I used to sell my manufactured products in Aba. I know what the numbers were. And people are just talking about soldiers killed and all the rest of them. There are many people that lost their jobs. There are many people that lost their shops. There are over 30,000 Igbos that were killed in this process, and nobody talks about them. The problem of Nnamdi is what we need to solve. (It's) a political process,” he stressed.

Besides, ex-Governor Kalu backed Justice Omotoso in his judgement, explaining that his decision remains a judgement of the court, which

must be respected. He recalled how he was handed down a 12-year sentence and he never insulted the judge, even when she came to the National Assembly for confirmation as Nigeria's Chief Justice.

“I have been working with the federal government of Nigeria on how to solve this issue. And nobody should question the decision of Justice Omotosho. Because Justice Omotosho's decision is a judgment of the court. Nnamdi Kanu’ people are going to the appellate court.

“And we are using the political side to solve the problem. Because this is the area I know. I will contact the Attorney General to advise the President, to advise people who are concerned on how we can solve this problem,” he stated.

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria (MOUN) and the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) have accused the Nigeria Police Force of intimidation, harassment, and unlawful obstruction in the collection of their statutory check-off dues in Delta State.

The two unions made the allegation, over the weekend at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Warri.

Speaking on behalf of the unions, the Deputy National President of MOUN, Comrade Julius Bobi, and the State Deputy Chairman of TOAN, Famous Ogbe Foghola, lamented that police operatives have continued to arrest, harass and prevent their members from carrying out their lawful duties in the state.

They emphasized that both MOUN and TOAN are legally registered and recognized trade

unions, with MOUN affiliated to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and TOAN affiliated to the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

They insisted that as legitimate unions backed by law, they are entitled to collect check-off dues from their members without interference. According to them, many of their members have been unlawfully arrested and prosecuted by the police while simply carrying out these legitimate duties.

Speaking further, TOAN Deputy Chairman Foghola alleged that the Chairman of Ndokwa West Local Government Area, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOADS), Chief Goddy Obi Nzete, has been using his influence to manipulate local government chairmen across the state.

MONDAYSPORTS

Hat trick Hero Eberechi Eze Truly King of North London Derby!

As Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur to go six points clear at the top

Eze scored a sensational hat-trick as Arsenal moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 4-1 thrashing of north London rivals Spurs at the Emirates Stadium.

Eze, who came close to joining Spurs before his move to Arsenal in August, showed them what they missed out on as he produced three outstanding finishes after Leandro Trossard’s opener in a masterful performance in his first north London derby.

Eze has become the first Arsenal player since 1978 to score a hat-trick against Spurs.

Spurs briefly threatened an unlikely comeback when

Duro Ikhazuagbe

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to declare The Big Sports Dialogue 1.0open today in Lagos.

According to the organisers of the sports summit, The Big Sports Dialogue 1.0is designed to address pressing issues plaguing Nigerian sports and to reshape the country’s sports ecosystem.

It also aims to bring together key stakeholders and policymakers to chart a path for a more vibrant and sustainable sporting sector.

Leading voices at the event include: Malam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC); and the NSC’s Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade.

Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, Director-General of the National Institute for Sports; Mike Itemuagbor, a renowned sports marketing expert; Igoche Mark, prominent basketball promoter; Arabirin Aderonke Atoyebi, seasoned journalist; Rufai Oseni, Arise News morning show host and Amaju Pinnick, former president of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) are amongst leading speakers at the event scheduled to hold in Lagos.

Additional speakers include: Barr. Chris Green, Commissioner for Sports, Rivers State; Aisha Falode, ace sportscaster and NFF board member; Steve Oshio, Abubakar Lawal, Bashire Are, and Ruben Abati, a well respected journalist.

Osaze Ebueku, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, described the event as a “call to action for all Nigerians to come together and shape the future of sports in the country.”

PREMIER LEAGUE

Richarlison beat David Raya with an audacious lob from 35 yards out, but Arsenal were already three up at that point and Eze’s hat-trick goal, curled brilliantly beyond Guglielmo Vicario, killed the game.

Richarlison’s goal was one of only three shots by Spurs, who switched to a back five but could not resist Arsenal’s dominance, with Eze guiding his first goal into the bottom corner following smart footwork after Mikel Merino had picked out Trossard for the opener.

Thomas Frank reverted to a back four at half-time,

Organisers further stressed that the dialogue will feature high-level discussions, policy recommendations, and partnerships aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s sports infrastructure, governance, funding, talent development, and international competitiveness.

throwing on Xavi Simons for Kevin Danso, but Eze struck his second just 35 seconds after the restart, again picking out the corner in sublime style.

His hat-trick goal, following Richarlison’s extraordinary strike for Spurs, was the pick of the three, making him only the fourth Arsenal player in history to score a treble against Spurs and making it four consecutive wins in the fixture for the Gunners.

With Manchester City and Liverpool having suffered defeats to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Mikel Arteta’s side open up a six-point gap on second-placed Chelsea, who they face at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.

The result emphatically ends Spurs’ unbeaten start in Premier League away games under Frank, leaving them ninth as the head coach faces more questions about their lack of attacking threat.

Nasarawa Beat El Kanemi to Regain Top Spot of NPFL

Nasarawa United defeated El-kanemi Warriors 3-0 in Lafia on Sunday to regain the top spot of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

The victory moved the Solid Miners to 27 points from 14 games, three points ahead of second placed Ikorodu City.

Last season’s top scorer, Anas Yusuf, scored a brace for Nasarawa, with Garba Mohammed adding the other goal.

Elsewhere, defending champions Remo Stars returned to winning ways after not to comfortable performances since slipping out of the CAF Champions League. The Ikenne side defeated Barau FC 2-0 at the Moshood Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta.

Centre-back Ahmed Akinyele gave the Sky Blue Stars the lead in the 15th minute, while Victor Mbaoma netted the second two minutes after the half

CIO

Sponsor of the annual CIO Golf Classic in Port Harcourt, Chief Ikenna Okafor, has promised to raise the tournament’s prize purse to N100million (about $70,000) at the next edition scheduled for November 2026.

Chief Okafor who is the Chairman of Keeves Global Leasing, revealed at the weekend that part of his vision is to make the CIO Golf Classic the premier golf tournament in Nigeria and part of the Safari Tour in Kenya, leveraging international currency pegging to maintain global interest.

The tournament which has held at the Python Golf Club in Port Harcourt for six editions paid out N75 million (about $50,000 USD) prize purse at this year’s

edition that attracted professional golfers from over 14 countries across Africa and beyond.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was amongst eminent guests that attended the closing ceremony of the sixth

edition penultimate weekend in Port Harcourt.

Chief Okafor insisted that his long term dream is to see the CIO Golf Classic pay out prize purse to the value of $1 million USD within the next 10 years.

hour mark.

In Enugu, Enugu Rangers’ Kenechukwu Agu scored the decisive goal 20 minutes from time as the Flying Antelopes defeated Niger Tornadoes 1-0.

Hosts Wikki Tourists came back from a goal down to earn a share of the spoils against Bayelsa United at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.

Ifeanyi Ogba gave Bayelsa United the lead after eight minutes, while Nasir Jibrin levelled for the hosts three

“The truth is that I have a big dream for the CIO Golf Classic,” Okafor said at a media parley in Lagos at the weekend.

“We are happy that we had a successful tournament this year in Port Harcourt where the professional golfers competed for N75 million purse but we are going to make it bigger next year with a purse of N100m or $70,000 USD,” pledged the sports loving businessman who has played golf in virtually all the best courses around the world.

Part of his dream is to make the CIO Golf Classic the go to, first choice tournament for top golfers under the Safari Tour of Kenya.

“With our $1million prize purse within the next ten years, we are truly on course with our vision and mission to make the

minutes from time.

The encounter between Warri Wolves and Kun Khalifat FC also ended in a 1-1 draw. Adebambo Ademola put Wolves in front in the seventh minute, while Kun Khalifat got the equaliser through Lekan Gabriel seven minutes before the break. At the Umuahia Township Stadium, Abia Warriors were held to a 0-0 draw by Bendel Insurance. Kwara United and Shooting Stars also battled to a 0-0 in Ilorin

CIO Golf Classic the first choice for top golfers especially under the Safari Tour of Kenya,”stressed the passionate golfer who is also the sponsor of the swimming and amateur football leagues in Rivers State.

He expressed his mind on the challenges affecting the development of golf in Nigeria, stressing that underinvestment, poor infrastructure, and limited government support have stunted the lofty heights that the sport should have attained in the country.

Chief Okafor called for a more robust environment nationwide to help golf thrive. He highlighted the economic benefits the sport can bring to the country to include increase in earnings from tourism and other ancillary benefits.

GRAND FINALE OF THE MALTINA TEACHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITON...

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Thibaut

Yusuf; Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment

Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian

Minister of State for Education, Professor

Lagos State, Folashade

MAHMUDJEGA

VIEW FROM THE GALLERY

Human Resources

Better Late Than Be The Late

The panic closure at the weekend of public boarding secondary schools by, at the last count, six Northern state governments, hot on the heels of the closure of forty-one Federal Unity Colleges by the Federal Ministry of Education, reminded me of a huge billboard that Nigeria Police used to erect on highways in the 1970s. It was warning motorists against over speeding. The police billboard pictured blood spilling from a crash site, and with it was the boldly stated message, “Better be late than be the late.”

Even before the nation-wide shock from the killing by Boko Haram insurgents of Army Brigadier General Musa Uba wore off, bandits last week stormed two boarding schools and a church in rapid succession and carted hundreds of children and worshippers into the bush, there to hold them for ransom. Almost nothing shocks and alarms Nigerians like a mass kidnap of school pupils. Since Chibok in 2014, there have been many others in Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kaduna states over the years, but there have not been any for some time now, so we [erroneously] thought the school kidnap nightmare is over.

Until bandits stormed the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School at Maga, in the Zuru area of Kebbi State on Sunday last week and carted away 26 girls and the school principal. While bandits had attacked boys’ boarding schools before at Tegina, Niger State and Kankara in Katsina State, they know that there is greater panic and distress when the kidnapped victims are girls, as in Jangebe, Zamfara State and Federal Government Girls College, Birnin Yauri. Extremely vulnerable junior secondary school girls aside, bandits also carted away 137 primary school pupils from Kuriga, Kaduna State. Also very distressing was the kidnap of 120 students of Bethel Baptist Academy, Chikun; 39 students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka and 22 students and two staffers of Greenfield University, all of them in Kaduna State.

The storming last week of Christ Apostolic church at Eruku in Kwara State, during morning service, was very distressing. Two people were killed and 35 were abducted. This was a local church in a rural community; installed cameras captured a bandit collecting the handbags of worshippers who either fled or were taken hostage. It was reported at the weekend that the kidnappers are demanding N100 million as

ransom for each kidnapped person. A hundred million naira, for people who were obviously struggling to make ends meet.

Hot on the heels of the Kwara church attack came the mother of them all, the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri in Agwarra local government area of Niger State. Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN’s] Niger State chapter said 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped. The latter two episodes, just when a large Federal Government delegation led by the National Security Adviser is in the United States to dispel President Trump’s allegation of a genocide against Christians in Nigeria, could not have been more ill-timed. Right-wing American Congressman Riley Moore, rushing to buttress Mr. Trump’s genocide allegation, quickly said “the attack occurred in a Christian enclave in Northern Nigeria." While Zuru Emirate of Kebbi State has a large native Christian population, the local government chairman published the names of the kidnapped girls, and they all happen to be Muslim. It punctured the American talking point, but did not ameliorate the national angst in Nigeria.

On Friday afternoon, another story swept through the social media, alleging that bandits raided St. Peter’s Academy, Rukubi in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and kidnapped two school girls. Nasarawa State Police Command later denied the story; it said school girls sighted local hunters carrying

dane guns; they mistook them for kidnappers and fled into the bush. Two girls were at first thought to be missing, but they later reappeared. The Presidency is distressed; who wouldn’t be? Nothing tarnishes an Administration’s and a nation’s image or throws all socio-economic plans into disarray like insecurity. New Army Chief Lt General Waidi Shaibu rushed to Kebbi State; President Tinubu sent Vice President Kashim Shettima to Kebbi to commiserate with victims’ families and assure them of their daughters’ safe return; the President at first suspended, then cancelled his trip to the G-20 Summit in Johannesburg “in order to receive security briefings”; he sent the Vice President to the Summit instead; he then sent Minister of State for Defence Bello Mutawalle to Kebbi State to coordinate rescue efforts; and government postponed the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) billed to start in Enugu today, November 22.

Meanwhile, boarding schools are closing all over the North. This makes sense, since all the school kidnap cases over the years took place either in the dead of night or at dawn. Day schools are not yet affected by the order, and majority of secondary schools in the North have been Day since 1980, when state governments realized they could not accommodate all the UPE intakes about to emerge from primary schools in boarding secondary schools. The way things are going, state governments may seize upon this situation to do away with many, if not all, boarding schools on security grounds. Someone has suggested that students of the closed boarding schools should be going to the school in the day time, but that is unfeasible because most of them probably came from different towns. That is certainly the case with Federal Unity Schools, whose students are from across states.

School closures all over the region are a big setback for education, and our kids will fall behind the school calendar, when they will have to sit for the same WAEC, NECO and JAMB exams with their mates in other parts of the country. But then, it is what Nigeria Police said, better to be late than to be the late. In any case, schools have a way of recovering from calendar setbacks, like they did after the Covid-19 pandemic and the long ASUU strikes. I once heard Igbo community leader Chief Ogbunugafor saying on NTA Sokoto that he dropped out of school when all the schools in Sokoto Province were closed for

one year in 1936 due to a CSM outbreak. So, it is not today that we have been closing schools.

Educationists believe that boarding schools offer a more intensive learning environment than day schools, but how can we collect children in boarding schools if we can’t secure them? The bandits, who are most familiar with the bush and with rural communities, also have thousands of informants in most communities. They have instant information on vulnerabilities. Policemen cannot guard all the schools; they are too ill-equipped to do so. Soldiers are better trained and better armed, but they, too, lack the numbers to guard all the schools. If the entire Nigerian military is posted to guard secondary schools, it might at best come to one soldier per school. Bandits swoop on a targeted school in dozens or even in hundreds. Since the Maga school kidnap, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has been saying that there was advanced information that the school would be attacked but that the soldiers posted to guard it left just before the kidnappers arrived. What could be the explanation? Defence Headquarters must be investigating the allegation, but even as a person with zero military experience, I can hazard a guess. If, say, there were ten soldiers posted there and they heard that a hundred bandits were coming, they will reach a certain conclusion. Soldiers do not fight to die; they prefer to approach a situation with superior numbers and superior force. The government must be strategizing now on how to vastly increase troop numbers and greatly improve their armaments, but Rome was not built in a day. If we start now, it will still take years or even a decade to achieve. It was alleged recently that Western nations offered help during the Chibok girls kidnap saga of 2014 but that the Jonathan Administration rejected it. I don’t know if that was true, but maybe this is the time to turn Donald Trump’s “particular concern” on its head and seek intelligence, logistical and greater firepower support from the American 101st Airborne Division, Britain’s Special Air Service, France’s Groupe d’intervention de la Gendamerie, Germany’s GSG 9 commandos of Mogadishu fame and Russia’s Spetsnaz GRU. With our government’s full knowledge, permission and cooperation, they should shoot up the bandit camps and bring our kids and worshippers safely back home.