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NUPRC at 5: I’ll Use Nigeria’s Oil Resources to Build Modern Economy, Says President Eyesan: 5-year bid rounds led to $103bn investment spending, projection Says PIA enabled investment growth in oil sector from 4% to 38% Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja President Bola Tinubu yesterday

declared that Nigeria would deploy its vast oil and gas resources to build a modern, diversified economy, chal-

lenging operators to reciprocate the incentives and regulatory reforms introduced by his administration with

higher investment, increased production, local content development and compliance with work programmes.

Speaking at the 5th anniversary of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in

Abuja, Tinubu emphasised that the Continued on page 8

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2 2 T + , S D AY

THISDAY • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

APC WOMEN STAKEHOLDERS MOBILISATION AND EMPOWERMENT CAMPAIGN ROLL OUT...

L-R: (Standing on the front row)- Wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hajia Fatima Tajudeen Abbas; Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima; First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio; and Wife of the Deputy Senate President, Hajia Laila Barau; Back row from left- Executive of the PCC Women Campaign Council, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire; Hajia Zainab Ibrahim; Women Aﬀairs Minister, Imaan Sulaiman -Ibrahim; APC National Women Leader and PCC Women Campaign Director, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele; Chairman, NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and Former Minister of Humanitarian Aﬀairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, with members of other members of 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council Women Mobilisation Directorate at the APC Women Stakeholders Mobilisation and Empowerment Campaign Roll Out held in Abuja on Monday

Tinubu Unveils Pact with Manufacturers on Energy, Capital, Security, Accountability Says Nigeria will be Africa’s workshop, not warehouse for storing imported products Dike Onwuamaeze President Bola Tinubu has unveiled a broad pact with Nigerian manufacturers to guarantee reliable power for industries and industrial clusters, expand access to affordable long-term financing for productive enterprises, and deepen implementation of Nigeria First Policy to ensure government procurement prioritises locally made goods. Other aspects of the pact include addressing insecurity and an accountable implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Policy (NIP). Tinubu disclosed the pact yesterday in Lagos in his keynote address at “The 6th Adeola Odutola Lecture,” organised by Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) as part of its 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM). The theme of the AGM was, “Leveraging National Industrial Policy to Position Nigeria as Africa’s Industrial Hub.” Tinubu was represented by Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Senator John Owan Enoh. The president said, “So let me state our national ambition in a single sentence. Nigeria will not be Africa’s warehouse that is storing

what others make. “Nigeria will be Africa’s workshop, making what Africa needs and sending it with pride across the continent and beyond. “No nation has ever industrialised by government alone, and none has done it without government. “So today, I offer the manufacturers of Nigeria a compact. First, energy. No factory can compete in the dark. Therefore, we will continue to prioritise gas for industry and reliable power for industrial clusters because the cost of energy is the cost of everything you make.” Tinubu added, “Second is capital. We will work with the Bank of Industry and the banking system to channel patient, affordable, long-term finance to productive enterprise so that easing monetary conditions will reach the factory floor and not only the trading floor. “Third, markets. Through the Nigerian First policy, public procurement will favour Nigerian goods made to standard. And through trade facilitation, including the National Single Window, we will cut the time and the cost of moving goods across our ports and borders. “Fourth, security. Our industrial corridors, highways, and supply routes will be protected because a

supply chain is only as strong as its safest road.” The president stressed, “Fifth, accountability. Implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Policy (NIP) will be measured, will be reported, and will be published. “For clearance, I have directed the FMITI through the Industrial Revolution Work Group to hold a standing quarterly delivery dialogue with MAN so that you can hold us

to account, which is what Nigeria asks of you.” Tinubu said when the history of this decade would be written, “Let it record that in October 2026, in this hall in Lagos, the government and the manufacturers of Nigeria stopped asking whether this nation could make things for Africa and started making them. “Let it record that we chose production over dependence, value

Nigeria’s growing population of older persons is confronting a social protection system that remains ill-equipped to guarantee their dignity, security, and independence, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has warned. The commission said yesterday that poverty, inadequate income, weak social protection, limited access to healthcare, delayed pensions, social isolation, age discrimination, abandonment, abuse, and property dispossession were leaving many older Nigerians vulnerable. Executive Secretary of NHRC,

Dr Tony Ojukwu, who raised the concerns in Abuja at the commission’s commemoration of the 2026 International Day of Older Persons, said Nigeria must fundamentally rethink its policies, institutions, and social protection systems to respond to longer lives. The commemoration, held under the theme, “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,” brought together government institutions, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to examine the rights and welfare of older persons. Ojukwu said the increasing length

tion. We got the entrepreneurial energy. We got the natural resources. And now, we got a policy in place.” He tasked manufacturers to invest in capacity so that their plants could run at the scale the market now demanded. The president also challenged manufacturers to look outwards by treating “the African market not as an afterthought but as your home market”.

Faye: ECOWAS Integration Must Move Beyond Govts to Citizens Michael Olugbode in Abuja Chairman of Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, has called for a stronger role for the ECOWAS Parliament in efforts to reconnect the regional integration project with citizens across West Africa. Faye said the parliament must remain at the centre of efforts to deepen regional dialogue, citizen participation, and institutional cooperation. He

stressed that integration could not be sustained by governments and regional institutions alone. The Senegalese president spoke on Tuesday in Abuja when he paid an official visit to the ECOWAS Parliament. Faye was received at the regional parliament by Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mémounatou Ibrahima, and other principal officers of the legislature. Describing the parliament as the “hub of regional dialogue”, Faye said its representative function was critical to ensuring that citizens were not left

NHRC: Nigeria Must Overhaul Systems, as Ageing Population Faces Poverty, Abuse Michael Olugbode in Abuja

over volume, and the long road of building over the short comfort of importing. And let it record that when Africa looked for its workshop, it found Nigeria ready.” He said Nigeria had every claim to be the country that made what market bought as one of the five African countries whose manufacturing value added exceeded $610 billion. He declared, “We got the popula-

of human life should be regarded as an achievement rather than a burden. But he warned that longevity would have little meaning if additional years were characterised by poverty, ill-health, insecurity, neglect, and exclusion. He said the critical question for Nigeria was no longer simply how long its citizens lived, but whether they could live their later years in good health, dignity, security, equality, and the ability to participate meaningfully in society. “Older persons are right holders and active members of our society, and their voices must be reflected in

decisions and policies that affect their lives,” he said. The NHRC boss rejected the perception of older persons as merely dependent recipients of assistance, stressing that they remain parents, grandparents, professionals, entrepreneurs, farmers, community leaders, caregivers, mentors, and custodians of culture and institutional memory. He said their contribution to national development should be recognised and protected through policies that allowed them to remain active and independent for as long as possible.

on the margins of decisions shaping the future of the West African bloc. He reaffirmed his support for the parliament and pledged to work with it to advance the objectives of the community. Faye said regional integration must also be supported by conflict prevention, mediation, public enlightenment, and efforts to promote stability. He urged staff of the legislature to remain dedicated to serving the community. The visit assumed significance against the backdrop of continuing political, security, and economic pressures across West Africa, which had tested the cohesion of regional institutions and the ability of ECOWAS to maintain a common regional agenda. Welcoming Faye, Ibrahima said the president’s presence in the parliamentary chamber represented an important moment for the institution and reflected the importance of dialogue and political participation to the ECOWAS integration project. She drew a connection between Senegal’s tradition of public debate and the parliament’s responsibility to provide a platform through which the voices and aspirations of West Africans could find expression. The speaker warned against an integration process that remained primarily an undertaking of governments, insisting that citizens must become active participants and

beneficiaries of the project. “Regional integration should not remain merely a project of States, but should become a work of citizens and for citizens,” Ibrahima said. She reaffirmed the parliament’s commitment to representative democracy, human rights, peace, and security, but said its ability to contribute effectively to those objectives required stronger legislative and oversight functions. Ibrahima called for the development of a stronger, more representative, and more impactful community parliament capable of playing a greater role in shaping the regional agenda and strengthening the connection between ECOWAS institutions and the people. First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, said Faye’s visit demonstrated the importance of closer engagement between the regional legislature and Authority of Heads of State and Government. Giving the vote of thanks, Barau said regular interaction between the two institutions would help translate the aspirations of citizens into concrete regional action. He assured Faye of the parliament’s cooperation throughout his tenure as ECOWAS chairman, saying the visit has reinforced the need for greater dialogue within the community.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 • THISDAY

NEWS

LESOTHO’S DIAMOND INDEPENDENCE JUBILEE CELEBRATION...

L-R: King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Makhosetive Dlamini; Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri; and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, The Right Honourable Ntsokoane Matekane, during Lesotho’s Diamond Independence Jubilee celebration at the National Stadium in Maseru on Sunday

FG, Lagos Begin Push for 24-hour Power in Nigeria’s Commercial Corridor Tegbe secures Discos’ commitment to supply more power to Lagos Sanwo-Olu: State committed to finding solutions to electricity supply deficit Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government and the Lagos state government have commenced moves to deliver 24/7 electricity to the Lagos corridor under a pilot initiative approved by President Bola Tinubu, with the two sides agreeing to work together to address the technical, financial and

regulatory bottlenecks confronting the power sector. The initiative, tagged the 24/7 Energy Zones pilot, is expected to begin in Lagos before being extended to the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridors as part of efforts to establish more reliable electricity supply in Nigeria’s major commercial and industrial centres.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed the development after a high-level technical meeting with Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other senior officials at Lagos House, Marina, the ministry said in a statement. Tegbe said the ministry had engaged the electricity distribution companies operating in the state

and secured commitments from them to offtake more electricity and provide steady and reliable supply to customers along the Lagos corridor. He said the federal government was prepared to work with Lagos state across four priority areas approved by the president, including: grid stabilisation, market liquidity,

Oborevwori Orders Medical Intervention, Cleanup of Trans-Forcados Oil Spill Affected communities rise from 86 to 216 Sylvester Idowu in Warri Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has ordered immediate medical intervention and urgent measures to tackle the devastating impact of the oil spill on communities along the Trans-Forcados pipeline. He said the state government would not allow affected communities to suffer unnecessarily. Oborevwori, spoke yesterday, during an inspection visit to the oil spill impacted Odidi community in Warri South-West Local Government Area. He directed the State Commissioner for Health to immediately deploy medical teams to affected communities to assess residents and determine the health implications of the pollution. The governor was accompanied by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale; Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Asaba, Brig.Gen. Ibrahim Buhari; Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Warri, Commodore Shehu Tasiu; Commander, 3144 Operating Base, Nigerian Air Force, Warri, Group Capt. Charles Abara; State Director

of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dr. Peter Afunanya; and other senior government officials. He said the situation had become too serious to be treated casually adding, “we have to take this matter seriously. Once you see what is happening, you realise that it is a very big issue. We don’t want our people dying at this time. We cannot afford to lose our focus or waste time. We have to act quickly and decisively.” Oborevwori said the intervention would go beyond the distribution of relief materials, stressing that residents must be medically examined because of the possible health consequences of prolonged exposure to pollution. While also directing Heritage to also deploy medical team, provide relief materials, he said the medical teams would visit the affected communities, assess the environmental and health impact and determine appropriate intervention. He also noted that the exercise would cover other areas affected by the incident. The governor also demanded genuine dialogue between the oil operator and host communities, stressing that meaningful engagement was necessary to resolve the crisis and prevent further tension. He assured the communities that

his administration would continue to engage relevant stakeholders until their concerns were addressed, while commending the security agencies for maintaining peace during the intervention. Speaking to the affected residents, Oborevwori disclosed that while an initial assessment showed that about 86 communities were affected, the number had now risen to 216. He said the operating company had assured the government that the technical process would be

concluded and that cleanup would finish before the end of October, after which the affected communities would be engaged on compensation and other measures. The governor warned that commitments made by the company must be honoured, saying the government would take necessary steps to ensure compliance. He, however, appealed to the communities to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that the government would pursue the matter through dialogue and due process.

grid expansion, and governance and regulatory harmonisation. The minister said the initiative was designed to move beyond policy declarations and establish practical mechanisms for improving electricity supply to households, businesses and industries. To drive the implementation, Tegbe announced the constitution of a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) to identify and resolve outstanding technical and institutional challenges and recommend immediate next steps. The committee will be chaired by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), with the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Energy serving as co-chair. Its membership will include representatives of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LSERC), Lagos Independent System Operator (LISO), Lagos State Electricity Agency (LSEA) and the office of the Minister of Power. The committee will report to a Steering Committee to be chaired by Sanwo-Olu and co-chaired by Tegbe.

The Steering Committee will also include the Special Adviser to the President on Power, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power and the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy. Dor his part, Sanwo-Olu commended the federal government for what he described as its seriousness in addressing the persistent challenges in the electricity sector. The governor said Tegbe had, since assuming office as Minister of Power, demonstrated a willingness and capacity to tackle some of the longstanding problems affecting the sector. He stated that Lagos State was equally committed to finding pragmatic solutions that would improve electricity supply and create a bankable, collaborative and competitive electricity market in the state. Sanwo-Olu described the discussions as ‘open and productive’, offering a chance for participants to confront real sector issues and propose viable solutions, adding that the main goal was to ensure that the benefits from the partnership reach electricity consumers and residents. He also emphasised the importance of turning the retreat’s resolutions into real results.

Tinubu Mourns Secretary-General of Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, Malam Naﬁu Baba-Ahmed As Northern govs hail his legacy of wisdom, justice Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Gombe President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the passing of the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), Malam Nafiu Baba-Ahmed. Meanwhile, in a related reaction, the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NNGF) expressed deep

sorrow over the death of Malam Nafiu Baba-Ahmed, who passed away earlier today. Reacting to the sad news, the Chairman of the NNGF and Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya described the deceased as a voice of wisdom, justice and moral responsibility, whose contributions to national discourse earned him respect across the north

and the country at large. Baba-Ahmed, a respected administrator and religious leader, died in the early hours of Tuesday after a meritorious career of service to Islam and to the nation. President Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the late Baba-Ahmed as an impactful leader who steered the

affairs of the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria with wisdom, foresight, and a deep commitment to unity, justice, and peaceful coexistence. Tinubu recalled his long-term association with the late Baba-Ahmed, especially in the build-up to the 2011 election and in subsequent years, particularly the deceased’s counsel and support during his 2023 presidential campaign.

THISDAY • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

NEWS

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF NAMBLAG...

L-R: President, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Dele Alabi; Outgoing Chairman, National Association of Microﬁnance Banks, Lagos (NAMBLAG), Dr. Adegoke Adegbami; and Registrar/CEO, CIBN, Mr. Akin Morakinyo, during the Annual General Meeting of NAMBLAG held in Lagos ... recently

37 Minna Miners’ Deaths: Panel Flags Institutional Breakdown, Overzealousness in NSCDC Operation As NBA seeks prevention of avoidable deaths, abuses in detention facilities FG committee seeks two-week extension, awaits forensic, pathology reports Michael Olugbode and Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government’s investigative committee probing the death of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna has suggested institutional breakdown, overzealousness, and inadequate training of personnel as possible cause of the incident. The committee, however, said it would not rush to a final conclusion. The committee announced that it had sought a two-week extension to complete its investigation and submit a “thorough and credible” report. In a related development, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) called for measures that would tackle “avoidable deaths” in detention facilities across the country. Recalling the recent death of 37 miners in NSCDC’s custody in Minna, the umbrella body of lawyers in the country emphasised the need to ensure that detention facilities operated in accordance with Nigerian law and internationally recognised human rights standards. Chair, NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), Dr. Uju Agomoh,

made the call on Tuesday, while chatting with journalists on the forthcoming annual conference of the NBA-SPIDEL, with themed, “In Public Interest: Advancing Justice, Democracy and Development.” For his part, the chairman of the Federal Government’s Independent Investigative Committee, Jonathan Kure, disclosed the institutional shortcomings on Tuesday during a press briefing in Abuja. Kure said the committee was yet to conclude its assignment because of the volume of evidence gathered and the need to obtain forensic and pathology reports. The committee was originally expected to submit its report on October 7, but had requested an extension until October 21, 2026. Kure said the committee had made appreciable progress since its inauguration, including inspection of the custody facility, conduct of autopsies, interviews with survivors and bereaved families, and the taking of statements from NSCDC personnel and other witnesses. He said the panel had also visited the mining site and the Niger State Command headquarters of NSCDC, where members examined the scene connected with the incident. According to him, the committee has interacted with officers and

men of the Civil Defence Corps who were involved either directly or indirectly, but was still engaging some of them as part of the investigation. “Because of the peculiar nature of this investigation, it involves a large volume of testimonies and evidence which require our meticulous review and collation,” Kure said. He added that the committee was still awaiting forensic and pathology reports considered critical

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Dr. James Enimi Omietimi, has raised concerns over the non-release of the centre’s 2025 capital allocation, saying the development has negatively impacted the progress of ongoing projects and the overall operations of the medical facility. Omietimi, who made this known when he received the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC)

Governors Lawal, Namadi, others make trip Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday departed the nation’s capital, Abuja, for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to lead a historic government-to-government peer exchange focused on accelerating nutrition delivery. He is being accompanied by the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, and his Jigawa State counterpart, Umar Namadi. Also on the trip are the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar

Atiku Bagudu; his Agriculture and Food Security counterpart, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Zubaida Umar Abubakar. The Vice President, in a release issued by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, is attending the forum on the invitation of the deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Temesgen Tiruneh, who is championing the country’s multi sectoral approach to boost nutrition in the country.

Kure said the investigation had begun to point to broader institutional issues that would require attention. He said, “There are elements of institutional breakdown. There are elements of overzealousness. Some elements that will require more training for personnel.” The disclosure potentially broadens the scope of the investigation from establishing how the 37 persons died to examining whether weaknesses within the security and

civil defence system contributed to the incident. The deaths had triggered public concern and prompted the federal government to constitute the independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Kure said the committee had visited the affected communities, met the families of all the deceased, and interacted with survivors in an effort to reconstruct what happened.

FMC Yenagoa Seeks FG’s Intervention, Bemoans Non-release of Funds for Capital Projects

Shettima Leads 6-man FG Team to Attend High-stakes Nutrition Forum in Addis Ababa Deji Elumoye in Abuja

to determining the causes of death. The chairman stressed that the panel was determined to ensure that its eventual findings would withstand scrutiny and command public confidence. He said persons implicated in the incident, including officers who had already been suspended, must be given an opportunity to respond before the committee reaches its final conclusions. Beyond the immediate circumstances surrounding the deaths,

As the head of Nigeria’s delegation, Shettima will participate in the inaugural Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange Visit, a forum aimed at enabling key stakeholders to share experiences of building a federal, state and local compact on nutrition. During the visit, the Nigerian team will exchange experiences with Ethiopia on how a government-led plan can improve nutrition delivery, as well as tour key establishments dedicated to boosting nutrition delivery across the country.

team conducting physical verification of select federal government projects in the South-South region, particularly called for the timely release of capital allocations, to enable the institution complete its ongoing projects and provide effective healthcare services. The FRC verification team, led by the Head of the Strategic Communication Directorate of the Commission, Mr. Bede Ogueri Anyanwu, visited the FMC, Yenagoa, as part of the Commission’s ongoing exercise to ascertain the level of implementation of some capital projects funded by the federal government. According to a statement from the FRC, Omietimi said the delay in the

release of the 2025 capital funds had made it difficult for the centre to sustain the momentum of work on its ongoing projects. The situation, he said, has also exposed the institution to operational challenges, making it increasingly difficult to provide the expected level of healthcare services to residents of Bayelsa State and neighbouring communities. The statement quoted him as saying, “We should not pretend because things have not been too good lately,” adding that the realities confronting healthcare institutions on the ground were sometimes different from what was being portrayed in the media.

He explained that the day-to-day realities of running a tertiary healthcare institution were demanding, noting that the Centre had been struggling to keep the system functioning effectively amid the prevailing financial constraints. Omietimi also expressed concern over the changing attitude of some residents towards orthodox medicine, noting that some patients now resort to traditional medicine practitioners before seeking professional medical attention. He said many patients only return to FMC Yenagoa when their health conditions have deteriorated and require advanced medical intervention.

Oke Pledges New Era in Nigeria-France Relations Michael Olugbode in Abuja Nigeria’s newly appointed Ambassador to France, Ayodele Oke, has pledged to usher in a new era of diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Paris, with stronger cooperation in security, trade and investment at the centre of his mission. Oke, who became Nigeria’s 17th ambassador to the French Republic, made the commitment on Monday after presenting his Letters of Credence to French President Emmanuel Macron at

the Élysée Palace in Paris. The ambassador said his assignment would focus on elevating and recalibrating the relationship between both countries while ensuring that Nigeria’s interests, citizens and international reputation receive stronger representation in France. According to a statement issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Paris, Oke said the presentation of his credentials marked the formal beginning of his diplomatic duties and offered an opportunity to deepen the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and France.

He said: “I am pleased to inform you that on 5 October 2026, I presented my Letters of Credence to President Emmanuel Macron and formally assumed my duties as the 17th Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the French Republic.” Oke said the ceremony at the historic Élysée Palace underscored the need for a fresh approach to the bilateral partnership, particularly at a time when Nigeria seeks to strengthen international cooperation around its economic and security priorities.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 • THISDAY

EIGHT

CBN Attributes Stronger Reserves to Remittances, Investment Inﬂows Restates commitment to price stability Obegolu demands monetary policy that makes credit work for small businesses

James Emejo in Abuja Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), yesterday, linked the country’s expanding external buffer to a deeper shift into the formal financial system, stronger remittance flows, and rising investment. CBN Director, Stakeholder Engagement and Institutional Relations Department, Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali, who gave the account, also underscored the accumulation of foreign reserves, which stood at $55.25 billion as of September 18, 2026, the highest level in 18 years. Sidi-Ali spoke on the “CBN Special Day” at the ongoing 21st Abuja International Trade Fair. The central bank director linked the

stronger external reserves position to measures designed to improve foreign exchange inflows and move more transactions into formal channels. She said the development reflected the impact of reforms that encouraged remittances, investments, and wider participation in the formal financial system. CBN had in recent months highlighted the recovery in formal remittances as an important component for rebuilding external buffers. The improvement in reserves had also coincided with receding FX pressures and stronger external-sector fundamentals. Sidi-Ali said the unification of the FX market had also strengthened

stability, improved investor confidence, and reduced distortions. That was alongside other reforms, including the banking sector recapitalisation and the Payments System Vision 2028 aimed at deepening digital and cross-border payments, she said. She stated that the stronger external position formed part of the foundation for a more resilient economy. According to her, “Resilient trade thrives in an environment of macroeconomic stability.” Sidi-Ali stressed that businesses were more willing to plan and invest when inflation was moderating, exchange rates were relatively stable, and the financial system remained sound.

The CBN director said the objective was not simply to accumulate reserves but to create the macroeconomic conditions in which businesses could expand production, attract investment, and compete. The apex bank cut the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 26.5 per cent to 23 per cent and adjusted the Standing Facilities Corridor to +50/-300 basis points around the MPR. Sidi-Ali said the move was intended to support productive activities while retaining the focus on bringing inflation, currently at 15.39 per cent, down towards single digits. The CBN director reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to price stability,

banking-sector resilience, and strengthening the wider financial system, while urging businesses to innovate, improve governance, and seek new markets. Nonetheless, for businesses, particularly smaller enterprises, the critical question remained whether improved macroeconomic indicators will translate into cheaper and easily accessible credit.

Obegolu Seeks Monetary Policy That Works for Small Businesses The monetary transmission challenge was underscored by President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali (ACCI), Chief Emeka Obegolu, who called for policies that reduced the financing and operating burden on enterprises.

Citing Improving Macroeconomic Stability, Strengthening Investor Conﬁdence, World Bank Upgrades Nigeria’s Growth Forecast to 4.3% Says unreliable power, costly connectivity, skills, financing could blunt AI-led productivity gains Declares growth faces jobs challenge in AI era Projects inflation to ease to 12.2% in 2028 Ndubuisi Francis and James Emejo in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos Citing improving macroeconomic stability, strengthening investor confidence and a gradual recovery in private investment, the World Bank has upgraded Nigeria’s growth projection to 4.3 per cent in 2026 from its earlier forecast of 4.0 per cent, and a 4.4 per cent outlook for 2027 and 2028. In its October 2026 Africa Economic Update released yesterday, the Bretton Woods institution listed Nigeria alongside Zambia, Ethiopia and Angola where growth forecasts were upgraded, attributing the growth to reforms and improved economic management.

The Bank said, “Economic activity in Nigeria is projected to strengthen from 4.0 percent in 2025 to 4.3 percent in 2026, before edging up to 4.4 percent annually in 2027–28, supported by improving macroeconomic stability, strengthening investor confidence, and a gradual recovery in private investment.” Commenting on the report, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, Andrew Dabalen, said Sub-Saharan Africa continued to demonstrate resilience, with growth forecasts upgraded for nearly three-quarters of countries in the region, adding that stronger regional performance had helped lift its 2026 growth forecast for Africa to 4.3 per cent from 4.1 per cent in

its April projection.

Nigeria’s growth momentum World Bank warned that stronger economic growth was yet to translate sufficiently into poverty reduction, as per-capita income growth continues to lag overall economic expansion across the region. The World Bank noted that for Nigeria, growth remains insufficient to generate enough productive jobs and materially reduce poverty. “However, the pace of poverty reduction is likely to remain constrained by elevated fuel prices associated with the conflict in the Middle East, which continue to weigh disproportionately on low-income households,” it said, prescribing

sustained reforms, greater private investment, improved infrastructure, human capital development and stronger productivity would be needed to translate macroeconomic stability into better living standards. World Bank’s revised outlook comes after Nigeria recently posted a stronger gross domestic product (GDP) performance. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 4.43 per cent year-on-year in Q2 2026, compared with 4.23 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2025. The 4.43 per cent growth represented an improvement from the 4.23 per cent growth recorded in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025. The latest performance provides

a recent domestic indicator of the economic expansion reflected in the World Bank’s revised outlook. In general, the bank pointed out that regional economic expansion had been supported by improved macroeconomic resilience, stronger domestic demand and investment in digital technologies as well as global energy transition.

Growth must translate to jobs The Bretton Woods institution noted that the region faces a more difficult test than simply sustaining growth. It said converting rising output into sufficient productive jobs for a rapidly expanding workforce remained a challenge amid economic recovery

which is gathering pace. Dabalen said the growth forecasts had been upgraded for nearly three-quarters of countries, including Nigeria, Angola, Ethiopia and Zambia, reflecting reforms and improvements in economic management. He said the next challenge was turning growth into more jobs and better opportunities, adding that investment in the foundations of an AI-ready economy could raise productivity, stimulate innovation and accelerate structural transformation. Dabalen said, “Despite a challenging global environment, economic activity in Sub-Saharan Africa continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience, with growth Continued on page 35

NUPRC AT 5: I’LL USE NIGERIA’S OIL RESOURCES TO BUILD MODERN ECONOMY, SAYS PRESIDENT government had been listening to investors’ complaints about high operating costs, lengthy contracting processes and uncertainty surrounding fiscal terms, leading to a series of measures designed to make Nigeria more competitive for long-term capital. The event, which marked five years of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the establishment of NUPRC, brought together government officials, regulators, operators, unions, host communities and industry groups under the theme, “From Uncertainty to Stability: Unlocking the Next Phase of Investment.” Tinubu specifically cited the 2024 tax incentives and directives on local content and petroleum contracting costs and timelines, the 2025 upstream petroleum operations cost-efficiency incentive order, Executive Order 9 on oil and gas revenue remittances and the Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentive Tax Remission Order 2026. According to Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the latest deep offshore incentive framework was designed to unlock up to $50 billion in new investment, beginning with the Bonga Southwest project, while providing published criteria for qualifying projects. “Five years ago, the PIA brought to an end two decades of waiting. It gave this industry clear routes, gave investors a predictable framework, and gave our host communities, for the

first time, a legal stake in the resources beneath their land. NUPRC was created to give life to that law. “We are here today to recognise how well it has done so and to look honestly at the work that remains. There is much to recognise. Only a few years ago, our oil and gas fields were losing a large share of their output to theft and vandalism. Today, through the joint effort of our security agencies, operators, host communities and the Commission, protection is steadier and stronger. “Investors who once looked elsewhere are returning, and for two years running, Nigeria has been ranked Africa’s leading destination for upstream investment. Acreage is now awarded through open and competitive processes. More than 170 host communities are funding schools, health centres and other projects chosen by the communities themselves. “Of all these achievements, that last one gives me the greatest satisfaction, because peace in our oil-producing communities is being built on fairness, and that is the most lasting kind of peace,” he stated. The Nigerian leader pointed out that the administration’s objective was not to perpetuate Nigeria’s dependence on petroleum, but to use the sector to provide the energy, foreign exchange and investment required to build other areas of the economy. “These gains matter well beyond the oil and gas industry. Under the

Renewed Hope Agenda, we are building a diversified economy in which agriculture, manufacturing, the digital and creative industries all play their parts. We have already reduced our dependence on oil revenue and we intend to go further. “A diversified economy still needs energy, foreign exchange and investment, and that is why this sector serves the nation. Our gas can power homes and factories. Petroleum mining supports a stable environment and helps fund the federation. A well-run upstream industry creates hope for Nigerian engineers and service companies. “Our aim is to use our petroleum resources to build this wider economy rather than to depend on them. The PIA is a strong foundation, but the foundation is only the beginning,” the president stressed. The president, however, warned that government incentives must translate into actual investment and production, charging operators that benefit from the new policy environment to deliver on their commitments. He explained.“Laws set the rules. Investors decide on commercial terms. This is a listening government. And investors told us clearly that good rules were not enough while costs remained high. Contracting took too long and fiscal terms for complex projects were uncertain. We listened and we acted. “Our message to the world is simple: Nigeria is open for long-term

investment, and the terms are clear. Policy, however sound, achieves little until it is implemented, and that responsibility weighs in large part with the Commission. NUPRC is a bridge between government policy and investment on the ground.” He charged the Commission to maintain clear processes and reliable timelines while working with sister agencies to eliminate overlapping requirements, stressing that the government would uphold the rule of law and sanctity of contracts. Tinubu also called on operators enjoying incentives to fulfil their work programmes, local content, environmental and host-community obligations, while requiring the regulator itself to account publicly for its performance. “Operators who enjoy incentives must deliver on their commitments to work programmes, local content, the environment and host communities. And the Commission must also account publicly for its own performance. We will uphold the rule of law and the sanctity of contracts so that disputes, where they arise, are resolved quickly and clearly,” he said.

Eyesan: $103bn Spending, Projections Realised in bid rounds In her intervention, the NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said Nigeria had moved from an era

in which uncertainty drove capital away from the country to one in which investment was increasingly returning, with the PIA providing the regulatory foundation for the change. Eyesan said the delay in reform had contributed to Nigeria losing investment to Guyana, Namibia, Brazil and the United States Gulf of Mexico, while major discoveries such as Bonga Southwest, Zabazaba-Etan, Owowo, Preowei and Nsiko remained undeveloped. “The PIA changed the terms of that conversation. The task of the Commission was to turn its provisions into working rules, and the rules into results. In consultation with industry, the Commission has developed and gazetted 19 regulations to operationalise the PIA. These regulations cover licensing, royalty, measurement, gas flaring, decommissioning, host communities and fees, among others. “Discretion has given way to published rules. An investor can now read what is required before committing a single dollar. Since the PIA, the Commission has conducted the 2020 Marginal Field Bid Round, the 2022/2023 Mini-Bid Round, the 2024 Licensing Round and the 2025 Licensing Round. Together, these rounds account for about $103 billion in investment spent and projected. “In the 2024 and 2025 rounds, entry costs were deliberately lowered to bring more bidders to the table. The objective is not licensing for its own

sake. The objective is to put capital to work, develop resources and create value,” she stated. Eyesan said capital was now returning, citing the $5 billion Bonga North project, which reached final investment decision in December 2024 and is expected to produce about 110,000 barrels per day at peak, as well as the Ubeta, HI and Ima gas developments. She said: “Since 2024, the Commission has approved 120 field development plans, carrying about $47.6 billion in capital and the potential to add about 1.74 million barrels of oil per day and 13.9 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. Among them is the $10.3 billion Zabazaba-Etan development in OPL 245, a field held back by dispute for more than 20 years. “In 2025, Nigeria accounted for 38 per cent of all upstream investment sanctioned in Africa, against an average of four per cent between 2015 and 2023. For the second year in a row, Nigeria ranked first in Africa for upstream investment. And this investment is cost-conscious: the average unit technical cost of field development plans approved this year is about $13.55 per barrel of oil equivalent.” She said the improvement was also reflected in production, which had risen from 1.44 million barrels per day in 2022 to an average of 1.75 million barrels per day in the first seven months of 2026, reaching 1.84 Continued on page 36

THISDAY • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

NEWS

SANWO-OLU HOSTS MINISTERIAL IMPLEMENTATION RETREAT WITH FG...

L-R: Minister of Power, Mr. Joseph Tegbe; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Special Adviser to the President on Power, Mr. Rilwan Lanre Babalola; and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Dr. Mahmuda Mamman, during the ministerial implementation retreat with Federal Authorities on the Clean Lagos Electricity Market (CLEM), at the Lagos House, Marina, on Monday

New York Times: Infantino’s FIFA Sided With DR Congo Against Nigeria in World Cup Playoffs The New York Times has reported that world football governing body, FIFA’s own legal officials, deter-mined DR Congo goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi, was ineligible to compete against Nigeria during the last Afri-can World Cup playoffs because his change of international association from France had not been com-pleted. The match, which was held in November 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, was the final of the CAF play-offs for a spot in the intercontinental tournament. DR Congo won 4-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1. According to the report published on Tuesday, FIFA’s own legal officials

had privately determined that Congo had breached player eligibility rules after goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi failed to complete the re-quired documentation to switch his international affiliation from France, where he had represented youth teams. Despite the finding, FIFA allowed Mpasi to continue playing, and Congo went on to defeat Jamaica in March to secure its first World Cup appearance in 52 years. The development has raised fresh questions over FIFA’s handling of Nigeria’s complaint against Congo, which came after the Central African side defeated the Super Eagles on

penalties in the African play-off final in November 2025. The defeat condemned Nigeria to a second consecutive World Cup miss, after also missing out on the 2022 edition in Qatar. This report has justified Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) appeal to FIFA to disqualify the Congolese from the intercontinental playoffs but was ignored by FIFA. The New York Times report which reviewed internal FIFA documents, reported that FIFA lawyers dis-covered the problem in March, before DR Congo’s intercontinental playoff against Jamaica, but no disci-plinary action

was taken. DR Congo went on to qualify for the World Cup. But with the report by the leading American publication indicting FIFA of not taking a decision on the Nigerian appeal, senior officials of Nigeria’s apex National Sports Commission (NSC) are mulling filing for compensation from FIFA. “We are seriously considering seeking compensation from FIFA for all of the economic loses this has cost Nigeria,” the NSC official told ESPN this week. “The revenue that the Super Eagles and the NFF would have received from participating at the World Cup,

Ogun Employs 7,000 Teachers, Commits N24bn to Education Infrastructure James Sowole in Abeokuta The Ogun State Government said it has employed over 7,000 teachers since the inception of the Prince Dapo Abiodun administration, as part of its sustained investment in strengthening teaching and learning across the state. The government has also earmarked N24 billion through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for the provision and rehabilitation of critical education infrastructure, while over N51 million was presented in cash prizes to outstanding teachers, schools and administrators at the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abeokuta. Speaking at the celebration, held at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Abiodun, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, said his administration recognised teachers as the foundation upon which every other profession and society was built. “Before a doctor learns to treat patients or an engineer designs a bridge, a teacher has awakened their minds and laid the foundation they are building upon,” the governor said. Abiodun added that behind the achievements celebrated by society were teachers whose names might never make the headlines, but whose influence remained written in the lives they had touched.

He said his administration would continue to invest in teachers, schools and the future of every child in Ogun State, noting that the Ogun State Education Revitalisation Agenda (OGSERA) would continue to drive improvements in curriculum delivery, school management, technology, infrastructure, funding, and the welfare of teachers and learners. The governor disclosed that the OgunTEACh programme had become a model being emulated beyond Ogun State, following the recruitment of thousands of teachers through the initiative. He further announced the absorption of over 1,500 OgunTEACh interns into the mainstream civil service, with the beneficiaries receiving their letters of appointment at the ceremony. Abiodun commended teachers and education administrators in Ogun State for distinguishing themselves nationally and internationally, noting that some of the state’s teachers and education administrators were in Abuja receiving national recognition as Best Teacher, Best Administrator and Best School. He said the recognition further demonstrated the quality and commitment of teachers in the state and reaffirmed his administration’s determination to create an environment in which educators could thrive. The governor also presented cash

awards to outstanding teachers, administrators and schools in both public and private school categories. The first-prize winners in the Best Teacher categories received N2.5 million each, while the second and third-place winners received N1.5 million, and N1 million, respectively. In the public primary school category, Mr. Rasaq Babatunde, emerged first, Mrs. Ayedun Oluwakemi second, and Mrs. Ajayi Fatimo Bisola third. In the junior public school category, Mr. Soleye Olugbemi, Mrs. Akande Abosede and Mrs. Kuye Funmilayo emerged first, second and third respectively, while Mr. Adebayo Oluwaseun, Mrs. Akomolafe Beatrice and Àjaae Aderibigbe took the first, second and third positions respectively in the senior public school category. In the private teachers’ category, Mrs. Akanni Àyakà of Breakthrough Academy, Akute, and Mr. Kehinde Olusegun of Anglican High School, Quarry, emerged first and second, respectively. For the Best Administrators’ public category, Mr. Sodipo Raymond of Muslim Primary School, Ago-Oko, Abeokuta, won first prize; Mrs. Bankole Oluranti of African Church Primary School 1, Ayetoro, came second; while Mrs. Olakitan Silifat of Abeokuta South Local Government Nursery/ Primary School, Ijemo, Abeokuta, emerged third. Community Nursery and Primary

School, Mike II, and Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Iperu, received N10 million each as Best School in the primary and junior secondary school categories respectively, among other award recipients. The event also featured the presentation of the Award of Distinguished Leadership in Technology-Driven Education and Innovation to Governor Abiodun in recognition of his administration’s efforts in advancing technologydriven education in the state.

the exposure that players would have got, transfers, the sponsorship fees, even the boost to the Nigerian economy. “We are exploring all our options as a country and nothing is off the table,” observed the official without letting out of the bag how Nigeria will actualize getting the compensation. ESPN insisted in its report that there is a precedent for FIFA compensating a federation following a dis-puted World Cup elimination, although under substantially different circumstances. FIFA paid the Football Association of Ireland €5 million after Ireland threatened legal action following its elimination by France in qualification for the 2010 World Cup. Thierry Henry handled the ball before setting up William Gallas for the goal that sent France through. The payment was initially structured as an interest-free loan and later written off. FIFA subsequently described the arrangement as a one-off. Nigeria’s potential case would be different because its argument centres on FIFA’s administration and enforcement of its own eligibility regulations. The NFF first raised eligibility concerns after DR Congo eliminated the Super Eagles from the African World Cup playoffs in November. The teams drew 1-1 after extra time before DR Congo won 4-3 on penalties. The original complaint was wider than the issue subsequently discovered

with Mpasi, with the NFF al-leging that several DR Congo players were improperly cleared by FIFA because of questions over their nationality status under Congolese law. Then-NFF president Ibrahim Gusau said at the time that FIFA had been misled when approving the players. “The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual nationality,” Gusau said. “FIFA regulations say once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible. As far as we are concerned, they are eligible, that is why they are cleared by FIFA. But our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them.” The NSC official said the Mpasi revelations supported Nigeria’s argument that FIFA should have investi-gated the eligibility questions regardless of the procedural status of Nigeria’s correspondence. “Nigeria has been vindicated,” the official said. “When we said we had written a petition to FIFA, people accused us of all sorts of things. I think this has proven that we were correct that DRC fielded ineligible players. “We did not need to file a protest. So the issue of filing late did not arise,” the official said. “We only sent in a petition to remind them to apply the rules, the same way they did when South Africa fielded an in-eligible player, and when we (Nigeria) fielded an ineligible player against Algeria during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Gov Yusuf Approves Promotion of over 18,000 SUBEB Staff, Releases N235.1m for Implementation Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has approved the implementation of promotions for 18,984 teaching and non-teaching staff of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for January and July 2026. The approval follows a request submitted by the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Yusuf Kabir, seeking the release of N235,116,339.09 for the implementation of the promotions across the 44 Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs). In the letter dated 2nd September 2026, SUBEB said the affected staff comprised eligible teaching and

non-teaching personnel whose promotions for the January and July 2026 cycles had been processed, including the corresponding salary adjustment calculations. The Board said timely implementation of promotions was essential to staff motivation, career development, capacity strengthening and improved service delivery within the basic education sector. It noted that SUBEB, one of the largest public institutions in the state, has approximately 60,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel serving across the 44 LGEAs. According to the Board, the administration inherited outstanding promotion backlogs, including

arrears spanning seven years and another backlog of one-and-a-half years. It said Governor Yusuf had previously approved and ensured the implementation of the outstanding promotions. SUBEB said the intervention had significantly boosted staff morale, restored confidence in the service and demonstrated the administration’s commitment to the welfare of public servants. The Board explained that it had completed all necessary arrangements and processes for the January and July 2026 promotions, including staff eligibility verification and salary adjustment computations.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 • THISDAY

NEWS

MEDIA LAUNCH OF ANCHOR THIRD PARTY MOTOR POLICY...

L-R: General Manager, Business Development, Anchor Insurance Company Limited, Mr. Valentine Afegbai; Director, Technical, Anchor Insurance Company Limited, Mr. Adebisi Ikuomola; Managing Director/Chief Executive Oﬃcer, Anchor Insurance Company Limited, Dr. Ebosa Augustine; Director, Anchor Insurance Company Limited, Mr. Akin Taiwo; and Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser, Anchor Insurance Company Limited, Mr. Ime Umoh, during the media launch of enhanced Third Party Motor Policy, Anchor App in Lagos on Monday

Akpabio in Tanzania, Says Democracy Must Deliver Trust, Opportunity to Nigerians Insists elections, economic statistics mean little if citizens cannot feel governance impact Sunday Aborisade in Abuja President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has challenged parliaments and governments across the world to rebuild public trust in democracy by ensuring that citizens enjoy genuine inclusion, opportunity and tangible improvements in their lives. Akpabio, according to a statement from his Media Office, made the call on Tuesday while addressing the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania, where he declared that democracy must be judged not merely by the conduct of elections or impressive economic statistics, but by the quality of life of ordinary citizens. Speaking on the theme, “Inclusion, Trust and Opportunity,” the Senate President said the three principles remained the foundations of a democratic system that gives every citizen a voice, every community a sense of belonging and every generation a reason to hope. “For Nigeria, democracy means more than elections, and development more than impressive statistics,” Akpabio told the gathering of parliamentarians. “Their true measure is the child who can attend school, the young person who can find work, and the family that can face tomorrow with confidence. If progress is not seen in our people, our work is not

finished,” he said. Akpabio, who is also Chairman of Nigeria’s National Assembly and leader of the Nigerian delegation to the IPU assembly, said public trust remained indispensable to the survival and effectiveness of democratic institutions. According to him, governments cannot compel citizens to trust them, stressing that confidence in public institutions must be earned through fairness, transparency and accountability. He said, “Trust is the invisible currency of democracy. We cannot command it, demand it or legislate it into existence. We earn it through fairness, transparency and accountability. “Every promise kept strengthens trust; every citizen heard brings government closer to the people.” The Senate President said the National Assembly was conscious of its responsibility to translate the concerns and aspirations of Nigerians into laws, policies and government action through legislation, representation, appropriation and oversight. He described parliament as a bridge between ordinary citizens and government, saying its responsibility extended to giving voice to Nigerians who might never have the opportunity to enter legislative chambers. Akpabio said, “The Nigerian National Assembly embraces this

responsibility through legislation, representation, appropriation and oversight. Our chambers hear the voices of those who may never enter them. “Parliament is a bridge over which the hopes of ordinary people travel into the decisions of government.” He also stressed the need for governments to treat diversity as an asset rather than a source of division, arguing that Nigeria’s ethnic, linguistic, cultural and

religious plurality made inclusion both a national obligation and a democratic necessity. “Our many peoples, languages, cultures and faiths are sources of strength. No citizen should be a stranger in his own country, and no community should stand at the margins of our common future,” he said. Akpabio told the international parliamentary community that Nigeria, under President Bola Ahmed

Tinubu and in collaboration with the 10th National Assembly, was implementing reforms designed to expand participation, create opportunities and bring development closer to citizens. He cited the expansion of regional development institutions as part of efforts to ensure that development interventions responded more directly to the needs of communities. The Senate President also highlighted ongoing tax reforms,

saying they were intended to make the tax system fairer, reduce pressure on low-income earners and small businesses, and create a more conducive environment for enterprise. He further pointed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides eligible students with interest-free financing for higher education, as an intervention aimed at breaking the link between poverty and limited educational opportunities.

Coalition Urges FG to Investigate TikTok Disruption in Northern Nigeria Emma Okonji The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations has called on the federal government to carry out a prompt, transparent and independent investigation on the recent disruption to TikTok access in some parts of Northern Nigeria. The coalition urged government and regulators to prioritise transparency, accountability, technical verification and respect for freedom of expression and access to information, while ensuring that any legitimate concerns relating to security, public order or unlawful online activity are addressed through targeted, lawful and proportionate measures rather

than unexplained disruption of access to an entire communications platform. The coalition which comprises Accountability Lab (AL) Nigeria; Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID); Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab (DigiAfricaLab); DigiCivic Initiative; Gatefield; Hope Behind Bars Africa; Media Rights Agenda (MRA); Paradigm Initiative (PIN); RACE Africa; Spaces for Change | S4C; TechHerNG; and TechSocietal, made the call in a joint statement it issued after its emergency meeting. The meeting was called to address the unresolved disruptions affecting access to TikTok in parts of northern Nigeria, notably Kaduna, Kebbi, Kano and Sokoto.

What began as intermittent access difficulties around September 14, 2026 has grown into a multi-week digital blackout, a development that is affecting millions of Nigerian citizens whose livelihood depend on the social media platforms. The situation has created difficult experiences for people loading TikTok, viewing videos and uploading content through mobile-data connections. The coalition therefore urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), as well as the relevant departments and agencies of the affected state governments, to

urgently investigate the TikTok disruption and publish a comprehensive report to the public. They should also state what happened, where and when it happened, which networks were affected, the technical cause, whether any government agency was involved, whether any legal directive was issued, what remedial action was taken, and what measures will prevent future recurrence. The coalition recommended that telecommunications operators and other service providers should be required to clearly inform affected consumers about the nature and extent of any major network disruption and the expected restoration period.

Gov Eno Approves N50,000 Wardrobe Allowance For 20,000 Teachers in Akwa Ibóm Okon Bassey in Uyo Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has approved a fresh package of incentives and reforms for teachers, in the state. The incentives include approval of N50,000 wardrobe allowance for each of the 20,000 teachers, in the state, recruitment of an additional 2,000 teachers and the completion of teachers’ House along IBB Way within six months. Governor Eno also directed the constitution of an emergency education committee to undertake

holistic reforms in the sector, ordering the retraining of teachers. He mandated the Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government to work out measures aimed at raising the standard of education across the state. He further directed an interministerial committee to take over the construction of teachers’ House along IBB Avenue and ensure their completion within six months, while announcing a N500,000 intervention for each of the 1,776 registered private schools in the state to enable them to extend the gesture to their teachers.

The governor announced this on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration organised by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Akwa Ibom State Wing. The theme of the celebration was “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping Our Futures.” Governor Eno said the measures were part of his administration’s commitment to rewarding teach-

ers, improving their welfare and strengthening the education system, stressing that his administration believes that “teachers’ rewards begin here on earth.” He said education remained a major pillar of his administration’s governance blueprint, represented by the letter “E” in the ARISE Agenda, adding that since May 29, 2023, his government had renewed attention to basic and post-basic pre-tertiary education. According to him, his administration had constructed and furnished 38 model primary schools, at least

one in each local government area, with facilities including solar power, ICT centres, sick bays, libraries, assembly halls and teachers’ residences. The governor said the state had consistently met its counterpart funding obligations to the State Universal Basic Education Broad, SUBEB, noting that his administration had now committed N15 billion as counterpart funding, with SUBEB interventions reaching more than 100 schools in the state. He added the government had sustained the free and compulsory education policy and consistently

paid WAEC and NECO examination fees for Akwa Ibom indigenes, noting that 172,000 candidates had been registered for examinations. Governor Eno also announced that the recently passed law transforming the Akwa Ibom State College of Education into the Akwa Ibom State University of Education would soon become operational, with Professor Philip Afaha appointed Vice-Chancellor to commence the accreditation processes, while other members of the governing board would be announced before the end of the week.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2 2 T + , S D AY

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2026 20 TR

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WHY DO MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASH SO OFTEN? Military aircraft should be properly maintained, writes ETIM ETIM

See page 21

INFRASTRUCTURE AND TELECOMS INVESTMENTS SONNY ARAGBAAKPORE argues for more investment in infrastructure

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EDITORIAL

A NEW DAWN IN HEALTHCARE

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Wednesday October 7, 2026 Vol 27. No 11496

TUNDE OLUSUNLE argues against the optimistic projection by The Economist in the 2027 elections

WHAT IF ATIKU TURNS THE TABLE IN JANUARY 2027? With just over three months to go until Nigerians vote in the 2027 general elections, the script that the All Progressives Congress, (APC), has circulated — that Nigerians may grumble about President Bola Tinubu but will re-elect him anyway — is beginning to fray. The Economist of Thursday, October 1, 2026, made that proposition in "Nigerians Dislike Their President, But May Re-elect Him Anyway." It rests on three tired assumptions: incumbency is invincibility, a divided opposition is a defeated opposition, and cynicism will keep turnout so low that money and PDFKLQHU\ FDQ ¿QLVK WKH MRE %RUQR WHOOV D GL൵HUHQW VWRU\ $QG /DJRV RQ 7XHVGD\ September 29, 2026, told another. Tinubu returned that afternoon from Paris after a month-long sojourn billed as a working holiday. What awaited KLP RQ WKH VWUHHWV RI /DJRV ZDV QRW the choreographed welcome of old, but booing — raw, irreverent chants from \RXQJ 1LJHULDQV /DJRV GRHV QRW ERR its son lightly. When it does, it is saying something has snapped. To understand why that rupture may become a national tide, you must travel North. Borno, APC-governed, remains in the grip of an insurgency that has become an economy of its own — extortion, abductions for ransom, looted grain stores, farmers taxed until farms are abandoned. A 27-year-old grain trader in Maiduguri told me he now takes grain to Chad to sell because NLQVPHQ FDQQRW D൵RUG WR EX\ <RXQJ men pack and leave for Chad, Cameroon or Ghana, "because if you sit down here, there is no food." This is the context in which Tinubu's pitch — subsidy gone, QDLUD ÀRDWHG UHYHQXH XS LQÀDWLRQ easing to about 15% in August, growth projected at 4.1%, collapses. Food LQÀDWLRQ VWLOO KRYHUV QHDU 2QH OLWUH of petrol averages N1,500; diesel, which powers generators, is over N2,000 per litre; kerosene, when available sells for N1,950. In a country where minimum wage is N70,000. The World Food Programme, (WFP), says malnutrition is at its worst in ten years. Dr Nura Tukur, who runs a Save the Children clinic, reports a sharp spike in severely malnourished babies and anaemic mothers in three years, July being the worst since 2016. Aisha Umara arrived months ago with two of her triplets — one died on the road — each weighing 2.5kg at six months. She can now breastfeed, but to what home? A

village policed by gunmen, a hut without food. What does a mother say to a child who survived starvation only to return to nothing? The weight of that was captured not by opposition but by one of Tinubu's oldest allies. Senator Babafemi Ojudu — comrade from the anti-military struggle, wrote in an open Independence Day letter WKDW KDUGVKLS KDG EHFRPH WKH GH¿QLQJ experience of too many Nigerians," and progress must mean "food on the table, a child in school, treatment for the sick," not projections. When a friend must publicly beg a President to "widen the circle" and commission independent SROOV EHFDXVH R൶FLDO EULH¿QJV QR longer capture reality, the fortress has cracked. His line, "No farmer should KDYH WR FKRRVH EHWZHHQ WHQGLQJ D ¿HOG and staying alive," nationalises what the Maiduguri trader said. All this has cratered Tinubu's standing in the North, where his party, not necessarily he himself, once had goodwill from the Buhari years. In 2023, he reportedly polled 54% in Borno. Recent SBM Intelligence polling now places him behind Atiku and Obi in that state. That is not a blip; it is a mood swing — articulate, historic bile against APC. The party that came in 2015 promising change is seen by many northerners as having institutionalised pain: markets of lies, politics as palliative rice, governance as press release. "Renewed Hope" has not provided succour even in its fourth year. In Maiduguri today, people don't say they have given up on voting; they VD\ WKH\ ZLOO ¿JKW EDFN ZLWK WKH EDOORW 7KLV LV ZKHUH $WLNX V ¿QDO VKRW DFTXLUHV potency. If Tinubu has no organic base in the North-East, Atiku is its native son — former Vice President, businessman with pan-Nigerian rolodex, who knows every emirate by name. He is not parachuting in. He is returning at a time northern

Nigeria feels orphaned. Atiku's challenge rests on four pillars. First, memory and economic nostalgia. Northern traders, farmers, civil servants remember Obasanjo-Atiku years between 1999-2007 not as utopia but as relative predictability — debt relief, telecoms revolution, security, budgetary discipline, a sense government tried to make life cheaper, not dearer. That nostalgia is powerful when a mother must say thank you for paracetamol. Second, political arithmetic. Obi is popular with the urban youth and in the South-East, but the constitutional path to Aso Rock still runs through the NorthWest and North-East — Kano, Kaduna, 6RNRWR 0DLGXJXUL <ROD %DXFKL Atiku does not need a formal coalition with Obi to consolidate anti-APC vote, resentment itself is coalition. As Joachim MacEbong of Control Risks put it, antiAPC vote may not be coalesced on paper, but on the ground is driven by hunger and humiliation needing no MoU. Third is the symbolism of presence versus absence. Tinubu's long absence and manner of return have become campaign issues. )URP KLV ¿UVW LQWHUYLHZ XSRQ ODQGLQJ on Tuesday, to his Independence Day engagements on October 1, to the premiere of the documentary on Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993, public commentary focused on energy, demeanour and delivery. At that premiere, widely circulated images VKRZHG KLP ÀDQNHG FORVHO\ E\ KLV ZLIH Senator Remi Tinubu, and aides. Whether fair or not, perception of a presidency being "managed" between foreign trips has become a political fact. Ojudu, with tenderness, opened his letter with "I hope your time away has brought you some UHVW 3ROLWHQHVV IURP D IULHQG FRQ¿UPLQJ the month-long sojourn is now a political IDFW )RXUWK $WLNX V ¿QDOLW\ 7KLV LV KLV last shot, and Nigerians know it. There LV PRUDO FODULW\ LQ D ¿QDO EDWWOH +H LV QRW building dynasty, he is closing circle, R൵HULQJ ZKDW 7LQXEX FDQ SUREDEO\ QR ORQJHU FUHGLEO\ R൵HU WR PDQ\ D EULGJH to the North that does not insult the North, market-friendly economics that GRHV QRW SXQLVK WKH SRRU ¿UVW DQG D FDOP temperament that feels less combustible in a fraying nation. Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (FNGE)

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WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2026

SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE argues for more investment in infrastructure

Military aircraft should be properly maintained, writes ETIM ETIM

INFRASTRUCTURE AND TELECOMS INVESTMENTS

WHY DO MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASH SO OFTEN?

To achieve a robust telecommunications connectivity and take service to unserved and underserved areas of Nigeria, between 70,000 and 80,000 telecoms towers are required. Only about 40,000 telecoms towers currently exist leaving a short fall of between 30,000 and 40,000 thus creating an opportunity for investors. The existing towers host 145,141 base equipment units across the country. Indeed, infrastructure deficit remains a primary hurdle to meeting national broadband targets thus creating new avenues for investors. There are only three infrastructure service providers in the country currently. They are IHS Towers, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure limited and Globacom Limited. This leaves a yawning gap to be filled by existing and potential investors. In 2025 alone, data consumption rose from 1.13 terabyte to 1.66 terabyte, accounting for about 47% thus putting enormous pressure on existing infrastructure, a situation that has made the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to beckon on investors to intervene and reduce the pressure on the networks by boosting services. When it hosted the Digital infrastructure Investment forum in Abuja recently Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Dr. Aminu Maida said the forum was designed to provide a strategic platform for fostering dialogue between regulators, investors, infrastructure providers, and development partners to examine the investment requirements needed to expand connectivity, identify barriers to infrastructure deployment, and explore partnerships capable of accelerating digital transformation and economic development with the overarching objective of mobilising investments that will improve connectivity. Cumulative Value of Investments in the sector so far are over $76 billion across infrastructure and operations since liberalization in 2001. In 2025, capital expenditure stood at N2.13 trillion (approx. $1 billion+) but 2026 projections by operators is N1.8 trillion to N1.86 trillion for network expansion alone. But Capital importation and foreign investments dropped significantly by about 91% ($7.24 million) in Q1 2026 compared to prior periods), showing a heavy reliance on domestic reinvestment by major players like MTN and Airtel. Maida told his audience, ”The investment challenge before us is not merely one of expanding coverage. It is also about ensuring that those already connected enjoy better service quality, improved user experiences, and infrastructure capable of supporting future technologies". Among the measures already implemented, he cited the telecommunications tariff adjustment approved in 2025 to support operators' capacity for network investment and

service improvement, ongoing engagements with state governments on Right of Way issues, and the designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These initiatives, he said, are aimed at reducing barriers to network deployment and enhancing investor confidence in the sector. He said that “the investment we advance today must ultimately translate into better opportunities for Nigerians, improved access to services, and a stronger digital economy that supports sustainable national development,”. Maida commended Swed fund and Ookla for their strategic partnership and contributions toward the successful hosting of the forum, noting that both organizations have played critical roles in supporting the Commission's efforts to deepen data-driven decision-making and improve understanding of connectivity realities across Nigeria. According to him, the collaboration with Swed fund and Ookla provides independent insights into the actual connectivity experience of consumers and supports the Commission's efforts to identify service gaps, monitor network performance and assess areas requiring additional investment. The Forum brought together organizations that could help answer questions on the way forward. These included government and regulators, investors, development finance institutions, operators, infrastructure providers, technology companies and development partners. Although Nigeria has made significant progress in expanding digital infrastructure, but infrastructure need does not automatically translate into an investable project. Investors and infrastructure providers need a clearer picture of where infrastructure is most needed; where demand is growing; what infrastructure already exists; and where coverage, capacity and performance gaps remain. What is constraining deployment and what would make projects commercially viable or financeable are part of the questions asked for informed investments, especially to determine where public and private resources can work together. Aragba-Akpore is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

The frequency of air crashes involving Nigeria’s military aircraft and helicopters in the last few decades should compel our military authorities to look critically into the causes of these accidents and put an end to them or reduce drastically. It is so embarrassing for the military and the nation as a whole to lose so many welltrained officers and resources to these crashes. What could be the problem? Is it poor maintenance, age of the aircraft or human factor? While the NCAA and other regulatory agencies in civilian aviation have worked hard to achieve zero accident involving commercial jetliner in the country in the last 14 years, the military continues to suffer catastrophic accidents almost on a yearly basis. It’s so bad that a Chief of Army Staff was killed in one of those crashes in 2021. We cannot continue to lose senior military personnel to these senseless air accidents. This has to stop. The latest in the series of these military crashes occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026, and it involved a Nigerian military surveillance and maritime operations aircraft (tail number NGR 931) carrying 25 passengers and crew en route from Benin to Lagos. It crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje, Ondo State, triggering a search and rescue operation by the Nigerian Air force. There are no survivors. My thoughts and prayers are with victims’ families. But one question continues to bother me. Why has Nigeria experienced so many tragic military plane and helicopter crashes in the last few decades resulting in loss of key military leadership, service personnel, and aircraft? And why has no solution been found for this problem? On May 21, 2021, a Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft King Air 350i crashed near the Kaduna International Airport during bad weather. The crash claimed the lives of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, along with 10 other military officers and crew members. That same month, a Nigerian Air Force Beechcraft King Air 350i surveillance aircraft crashed near Abuja airport due to reported engine failure, killing all seven military personnel on board. On September 17, 2006 a Nigerian Air Force Dornier 228-212 military transport aircraft carrying 18 people—including senior military officers traveling for a retreat in Obudu—crashed in Vandeikya, Benue State. The tragedy resulted in 15 fatalities, including high-ranking generals, with only three survivors.

On September 12, 1997, a Nigerian Air Force Dornier 228-212 crashed with 10 people on board. Between 2015 and 2023, data shows that the Nigerian Air Force suffered approximately 14 separate military air incidents and crashes, destroying around 15 aircraft and causing over 35 fatalities. Aviation safety experts have frequently attributed these frequent incidents to aging fleets, inadequate maintenance infrastructure, and challenges with spare parts supply chains. Of all these military air accidents, the 1992 Nigerian Air Force C-130H Hercules crash on September 26, 1992, was the deadliest in history, resulting in 159 to 165 fatalities with no survivors. The plane took off Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and was heading to Kaduna. But three minutes after take-off, it crashed into Ejigbo/Oke-Afa canal, burying those on board in the swamp. The victims were predominantly middle-ranking military officers and students from Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, who were returning from Lagos after a study tour. Students from other African countries like Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe were on board. Reports said the cause of the crash was excessive take-off weight, combined with multiple engine failures. Coming just two years after Col. Gideon Orkar’s coup and a year to the end of IBB’s eightyear tumultuous régime, the accident triggered all sorts of rumours across the country. The civilian aviation has been relatively safe. The last civilian commercial air accident recorded in Nigeria was Dana Air Flight 0992 which crashed near Lagos , killing all 153 people on board, and about 10 people on ground. The flight originated from Abuja and was headed to Lagos. According to the final investigation report by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), the aircraft suffered a progressive loss of power in both engines during its final approach to the Lagos airport. Investigators also attributed the cause of the accident to improper maintenance of the aircraft and the lack of situational awareness by the flight crew. The crew ‘’omitted critical checklists, failed to recognize the severity of power loss and delayed declaring emergency’’, according to the AIB report. Every air accident is a moment to learn lessons and improve on safety standards. Etim is a Journalist

22 4

T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2026

EDITORIAL

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

A NEW DAWN IN HEALTHCARE

Redeemer's Health Village medical feat is commendable

n a remarkable medical feat, a cancerous kidney tumor was recently removed from a patient’s body in Abuja while the doctor worked remotely 500 kilometres away at Mowe, in Ogun State. Spearheaded by Redeemer's Health Village (of the Pastor EA Adeboye-led RCCG ‘Redemption City’) the doctor, Professor Obi Davies-Ekwenna, controlled a surgical robot to carry out the operation in Abuja. Known as tele-robotic surgery, it came through Redeemer’s HosSLWDO FROODERUDWLYH H൵RUW ZLWK 5RER0HG *OREDO DQG 1LVD 3UHPLHU +RVSLWDO WKH ¿UVW RI LWV NLQG LQ :HVW $IULFD 7KH &KLHI ([HFXWLYH 2൶FHU RI 5HGHHPHU¶V +HDOWK Village, Dr Adedamola Dada, stated that the operation included safeguards, with a medical team physically present with the patient in Abuja and prepared to interYHQH LQ FDVH RI FRPSOLFDWLRQ ³:H ZHUH DEOH WR RSHUDWH on a patient with a cancer tumour,” said the robotic surgeon Dr. Ekwenna. “Telesurgery can be done from any part of the world with precision, with excellent results.” Alexander ,GDFKDPD WKH ¿UVW SDWLHQW to undergo robotic-assisted surgery at RHV for a radical prostatectomy, expressed delight at the outcome of the RSHUDWLRQ ZLWK VLJQL¿FDQWO\ OHVV SDLQ :H FRQJUDWXODWH 5HGHHPHU¶V +HDOWK 9LOODJH +RVSLWDO RQ WKLV VLJQL¿FDQW PLOHVWRQH ,Q D FRXQWU\ RIWHQ overwhelmed by healthcare challenges, Redeemer’s sophisticated landmark is an inspiration. It is yet another proof that we have what it takes to stand and compete with the best in any part of the world when provided with the right incentives. Indeed, over the years, the country has recorded many historical medical achievements. As far back as IRU LQVWDQFH WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 1LJHULD 1VXNND 811 WKURXJK LWV FOLQLFDO DUP WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 1LJHULD 7HDFKLQJ +RVSLWDO 817+ SHUIRUPHG $IULFD V ¿UVW open-heart surgery. Since then, it has carried out hundreds of other routine heart surgeries through local leadership and collaborative missions. Besides, many other LQVWLWXWLRQV LQFOXGLQJ SULYDWHO\ UXQ RXW¿WV KDYH DOVR performed other complex medical feats ranging from

neurosurgery to separation of conjoined twins. Unfortunately, these could not be sustained due to LQDGHTXDWH DWWHQWLRQ 0DQ\ RI RXU KRVSLWDOV VX൵HU IURP infrastructure decay, erratic power supply, and poor working conditions. Many of the government teaching hospitals operate with shoe-string budgets. Successive budgets for health in the country have consistently fallen short of the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration target agreed upon by African nations. Only recently, the Health Ministry disclosed that the total money released to it for FDSLWDO SURMHFWV LQ ZDV D PHUH 1 PLOOLRQ PRQH\ SHUKDSV LQVX൶FLHQW IRU D GHSDUWPHQW V ORJLVWLFV The breakdown of vital tools, in addition to low wages, has led to mass migration of health workers abroad in a phenomenon called the 'Japa' syndrome. At WKH ODVW FRXQW PRUH WKDQ 1LJHULDQ WUDLQHG GRFtors, many of them specialists, practice abroad. Expectedly, the medical brain drain, exacerbated by poor equipment, has triggered medical tourism LQYROYLQJ 1LJHULDQV VHHNLQJ treatment abroad for cancer, kidney failure, heart diseases and related ailments. According to the Coordinating MiQLVWHU RI +HDOWK DQG 6RFLDO :HOIDUH 0XKDPPDG 3DWH the country spends about $2 billion on medical tourism DQQXDOO\ D KHDY\ ¿QDQFLDO GUDLQ RQ WKH HFRQRP\ ,URQLFDOO\ PDQ\ RI VSHFLDOLVWV WKH\ PHHW DEURDG DUH 1LJHrians who left because of the poor working conditions at home. This is why we are heartened by the increasing investment in the domestic health ecosystems. Dr Adedamola Dada said the health facility in Ogun has acquired multiple robotic systems and is launching a Robotic $FDGHP\ WR WUDLQ 1LJHULDQ PHGLFDO SURIHVVLRQDOV 7KH purpose is to slash the cost of medical tourism by ofIHULQJ TXDOLW\ VHUYLFHV ORFDOO\ ³:H MXVW GRQ¶W ZDQW LW WR KDSSHQ RQO\ RQFH ´ KH VDLG ³:H ZDQW LW WR EHFRPH a routine.” In the last few years, private initiatives and state-level projects across the country are also striving to provide the best health facilities locally, many of which are already attracting patients from the diaspora EHFDXVH RI D൵RUGDELOLW\

In the last few years, private initiatives and statelevel projects across the country are also striving to provide the best health facilities locally T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: ﬁrst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to speciﬁc publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS

A TIME FOR NIGERIAN WOMEN

:LWK HDFK GD\ WKDW EULJKWHQV DQG GDUNHQV WKH FUXFLDO JHQHUDO HOHFWLRQV GUDZ QHDU EULQJLQJ 1LJHULD FORVer to a critical conference with fate. )RU 1LJHULDQV ZKDW LV SHUKDSV WKH PRVW XQIRUWXQDWH ¿[WXUH RI WKHLU QDWLRQDO OLIH LV WKH IDFW WKDW SROLWLFV GH¿QHV HYHU\WKLQJ HOVH VHUYLQJ DV D SULQFLSDO GHWHUPLQDQW of the direction of life in the country. These days, everything depends on politics. The economy, security, name it. This would have been no problem were the country’s politics above board or played E\ SHRSOH RI YDOXH 1LJHULDQV ZRXOG KDYH KDG QR LVVXHV with politics conducting every other aspect of their naWLRQDO OLIH OLNH DQ RUFKHVWUD ZHUH 1LJHULDQ SROLWLFLDQV QRW among the worst the world over. So, as the 2027 general elections gradually take shape on the horizon, shaping everything else around it, many 1LJHULDQV DUH ZDLWLQJ ZLWK EDWHG EUHDWKV )RU 1LJHULDQ women, very little, if anything, is predicted to change UHJDUGLQJ WKHLU SODFH LQ 1LJHULDQ SROLWLFV DQG SXEOLF OLIH :KLOH WKHUH LV VRPH XQDQLPLW\ WKDW 1LJHULDQ ZRPHQ

have been scandalously shortchanged in politics, there has never been any real commitment to improving poOLWLFDO SDUWLFLSDWLRQ DQG UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ IRU ZRPHQ LQ 1Lgerian politics. (YHU\ HOHFWLRQ F\FOH VX൵XVLYH OLS VHUYLFH LV SDLG WR including women in politics and public life. Suddenly, WKH FULWLFDO UROHV ZRPHQ SOD\ LQ VXVWDLQLQJ 1LJHULD¶V GHmocracy are hailed to no end, and promises of allowDQFHV DQG DFFRPPRGDWLRQV EHLQJ PDGH IRU WKHP ÀRZ anew. Pathetically, all these last only for as long as campaigns and elections are on the horizon, which is often not very long. Many countries around the world have shown up the horrid hypocrisy of the argument that women cannot power governments and countries. In countries like Sweden and Rwanda, women have shown that they can heal systems and countries largely ripped apart by men. ,Q IDFW LI DQ\WKLQJ LW LV WLPH LQ 1LJHULD IRU ZRPHQ WR EH given a chance to show what they can do, for as things stand, they are the last demographic that has not been

WHVWHG E\ WKH WUHDFKHURXV ZDWHUV RI 1LJHULD¶V SROLWLFV 1RZ WKLV LV QR JXHVV 6LQFH 1LJHULD¶V SROLWLFDO FODVV has largely proven itself to be an ageing clan of kleptomaniacs with a few young people who have shown GLVWXUELQJO\ VWLFN\ ¿QJHUV ZRPHQ PD\ KROG WKH VHFUHW WR VROYLQJ 1LJHULD¶V OHDGHUVKLS FRQXQGUXP 7KH\ PD\ KDYH VRPHWKLQJ XS WKHLU VOHHYHV WKDW FDQ ¿QDOO\ VHQG 1Lgeria on the long road of recovery as a country. They should be given the chance. Their nature and SULRULWLHV FDQ VKLQH D EULJKW OLJKW RQ WKRVH 1LJHULD KDV long left for dead. :KHUH PHQ DQG \RXQJ SHRSOH KDYH IDLOHG ZRPHQ may just hold the unique formula for succeeding there. There is no level playing ground for women and as such this must be intentional. The odds are heavily stacked against them. To make this work, some of the biases that have kept them in the dark all these years must be carefully stripped away. Ike Willie-Nwobu is a social thinker and policy practitioner

˾ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

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Oil & Gas Index Leads Stock Market with 133.94% YtD Return

Kayode Tokede The Oil & Gas Index maintained its position as the best performing indicator on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), gaining 133.94 per cent Year-till-Date (YtD) to outperform the bourse’s major index as of September 30, 2026. The NGX Oil & Gas index nearly doubled the overall NGX All Share Index, which closed the period under review at 61.43per cent YtD. The performance of the NGX Oil & Gas Index, which tracks listed upstream, downstream, and integrated

energy companies on the Exchange is driven by a mix of stock-specific rallies, oil market fundamentals, policy reforms, and macro/ foreign exchange dynamics. On the external factor, the ongoing US–Israel military campaign against Iran, which began February 2026, and resulted in disruption to maritime flows through the Strait of Hormuz, triggered a sharp rise in global energy prices, strengthened safe-haven demand for the US dollar, and tightened global financial conditions. These developments are already transmitting

to emerging and frontier markets, including key African economies, through higher energy costs, currency pressures, and shifting investor sentiment. According to analysts at Cordros Research, “Looking ahead, we believe the magnitude of the economic impact will largely depend on the duration and scale of the conflict. Our baseline scenario assumes a contained military campaign, with coalition forces maintaining air superiority and focusing on degrading Iran’s military infrastructure while avoiding a large-scale ground invasion.

“While recent operations aimed at securing maritime routes, including naval surveillance, mine-clearing activities, and targeted strikes on Iranian naval assets, may gradually reduce risks to shipping, tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is likely to remain subject to elevated security conditions and higher insurance costs in the near term.” The analysts added, ““As a result, energy markets are expected to remain tight in the short run, keeping oil prices elevated around $90.00/barrel in the near term before moderating

toward $70.00–75.00/barrel in the second half of 2026 as security conditions improve and global supply begins to outpace demand.” So far in 2026, the five out of the seven stocks on NGX Oil & Gas have seen upward momentum that has influenced the index growth. For instance, the stock price of Seplat Energy Plc that opened this year for trading at N5,809.00 per share, gained 175.44 per cent YtD to close September 30, 2026 at N16,000.10 per share.The latest rally has pushed the energy company’s shares to a highest level recorded on the

NGX, as investors continue to drive demand for the stock. Seplat’s latest price surge extends a rally that has significantly lifted the stock’s value since the beginning of 2026. On September 17, it was reported that Seplat’s shares had climbed to a new record level on the NGX, rising by 10 per cent in 10 days from N13,552.60 to N14,907.80. The latest gain of N1,092.20 lifted the stock by 7.33per cent during the September 24 trading session. The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

FMDA: Nigeria’s Current Account Surplus will Hit $8.69bn in Q3 Nume Ekeghe The Financial Markets Dealers Association (FMDA) has predicted that Nigeria’s current account surplus will widen to $8.69 billion in the third quarter of 2026, from $7.54 billion recorded in the second quarter. This, it said, will be possible because of lower import demand and persistently elevated crude oil prices. The association disclosed this in its September 2026 Monthly Market

Report, noting that the Q2 current account surplus had surpassed its earlier projection of $6.12 billion. “Nigeria’s current account surplus strengthened further in Q2 2026 to $7.54 billion, surpassing our earlier projection of $6.12 billion,” the report stated. It added: “By the time Q3 2026 data is released, we expect the surplus to widen further to $8.69 billion, buoyed by lower import demand, and persistently elevated crude oil prices.”

The projection comes as Nigeria’s trade position continues to strengthen, with the trade balance rising from $1.18 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025 to $5.45 billion in Q1 2026 and further to $9.22 billion in Q2. Similarly, the current account balance rose from $1.40 billion in Q4 2025 to $4.98 billion in Q1 2026 before reaching $7.54 billion in Q2. The improvement, FMDA said, has been supported by stronger oil prices, with average Brent crude rising by

14.43 per cent in September to $99.95 per barrel amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. FMDA said the higher oil prices were providing further support for Nigeria’s external position, with gross foreign reserves rising to $54.92 billion in September from $53.81 billion in August. “Elevated prices continue to support Nigeria’s external position, with reserves rising to $54.92bn and the Q2 current account surplus widening to $7.54bn,” the

report stated. It added that the stronger external position has also coincided with an appreciation of the naira. The currency, it said, strengthened by 1.93 per cent in September, “which FMDA attributed primarily to improved foreign exchange fundamentals.” “The appreciation of the naira in September was primarily driven by improved FX fundamentals, including stronger inflows from oil receipt and sustained

market confidence,” the report stated. FMDA, however, said the impact of the Dangote IPO on FX liquidity remained limited for now. “While the Dangote IPO may have contributed marginally through increased investor interest and pre-positioning flows, its direct impact on FX liquidity remains limited for now, as significant foreign currency conversion is expected only after allotment,” it stated.

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T U E S D AY, O C T O B E R 6 , 2 0 2 6 BONDS DESCRIPTION Price Yield Change Updated Time (%) ^13.98 2395.14 17.58 0.00 October FEB-2028 6, 2026 ^21.00 20104.63 17.60 0.00 October MAR-2028 6, 2026 ^19.30 17October 102.96 17.84 0.00 APR-2029 6, 2026 ^14.55 26October 92.93 17.87 0.00 APR-2029 6, 2026 ^18.50 21-0.20 October 102.15 17.78 6, 2026 FEB-2031

BILLS MATURITY NTB 6-Aug26 NTB 3-Sep26 NTB 8-Oct26 NTB 5-Nov26 NTB 3-Dec26

Discount Yield 16.22

16.34

15.39

15.68

15.80

16.36

16.45

17.28

16.45

17.66

CPS

Change (%) Updated Time

MATURITY

0,00 October 6, 2026 -0.33 October 6, 2026 -0.01 October 6, 2026 -0.01 October 6, 2026 -0.01 October 6, 2026

HAAI CP X 7-SEP-26 PCLL CP V 25-SEP-26 AGRO CP IV 7-DEC-26 DAIL CP II 26-NOV-26 JVIL CP XXIV 29-DEC-26

Discount Yield 22.10

22.76

21.75

22.63

20.93

22.74

19.44

20.86

20.53

22.56

CLEARED NAIRA-SETTLED NDFS Change (%)

Updated Time

0.05 October 6, 2026 0.10 October 6, 2026 0.11 October 6, 2026 0.13 October 6, 2026 0.08 October 6, 2026

CONTRACT TENOR Contract (MONTH)

Current Rate ($/₦)

Updated Time

–

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

FINANCE

ProvidusUnity Takes Merger Story to Customers, Deepens Engagement Nume Ekeghe writes on ProvidusUnity Bank’s post-merger drive to deepen customer engagement and deliver greater value

merger can create a bigger bank overnight. Building a stronger relationship with customers, however, takes considerably longer. That appears to be the thinking behind ProvidusUnity Bank’s decision to take its post-merger story directly to customers, beginning with a series of engagements across Northern Nigeria that have brought together more than 1,000 customers and prospective customers in Kano, Sokoto and Abuja. For the bank, the exercise is about more than introducing customers to a new name. It is an opportunity to sit across the table from the businesses and individuals it serves, listen to their needs and understand what they expect from a larger institution with broader capabilities. The engagements form part of a nationwide stakeholder programme following the successful merger and integration that created ProvidusUnity Bank. With the integration process substantially completed, the bank is now turning its attention to the next important phase: ensuring that customers can feel the benefits of the enlarged institution in the quality of services and solutions available to them. Turning Scale into Customer Value The temptation after a merger is to focus on the numbers, bigger operations, broader capabilities and greater reach. For customers, however, the test is much simpler: Does the bank understand my business? Can I access the financing I need? Are payments easier? Is the digital experience better? Can I get the right support when I need it? ProvidusUnity Bank’s customer engagement initiative is built around these practical questions. At the forums in Kano, Sokoto and Abuja, customers had direct access to the bank’s leadership and business teams, with discussions

covering credit, customer experience, digital banking, payments, trade services and export financing. The engagements also allowed businesses to explore how the bank’s solutions could help them improve their operations, access finance and pursue new opportunities. It was a two-way conversation, customers gaining a better understanding of what the new institution can offer, while the bank listened directly to the market. Next Phase of Growth In his message to customers and investors, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ProvidusUnity Bank, Walter Akpani, said the bank recognised that the scale created

by the merger would only be meaningful if it translated into better experiences for customers. According to him, “The merger has created a stronger institution with greater capacity to support our customers’ ambitions. However, size and scale only create value when they translate into better experiences and more relevant solutions for the people we serve. That is why we are engaging directly with our customers across the country, listening to their feedback, understanding their priorities, and identifying new ways to support their growth. “Our vision is to be a trusted partner in the success of our customers. Whether through access to finance, digital banking solutions, trade support, payments, or advisory services, we remain committed to helping businesses grow, creating opportunities for individuals, and contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic development. These engagements are an important part of that journey because they ensure that our decisions continue to be shaped by the voices of our customers.” The message is clear: ProvidusUnity Bank is not treating the merger as the destination, but as the foundation for the next stage of its relationship with customers. That distinction is important because the real test of any integration begins when the merger itself is no longer the headline and customers begin to judge the institution by the experience they receive.

But the discussions at the ProvidusUnity Bank forums went beyond lending. Customers engaged with the bank on payments, digital banking, trade services and export financing, reflecting the increasingly varied needs of businesses. A growing company may require financing to expand, but it may also need efficient payment infrastructure, support for international transactions, trade solutions and financial guidance as it enters new markets. This is where the wider capabilities created by the merger could become particularly important. ProvidusUnity Bank is seeking to bring these capabilities together so that customers can access a broader range of financial solutions as their businesses evolve. For customers, the value lies not simply in having another product available, but in having a financial partner that understands the direction of their business and can support them through different stages of growth.

Taking Conversation Nationwide The Northern Nigeria engagements are expected to be followed by similar forums in other parts of the country as the bank continues its nationwide stakeholder engagement programme. The broader initiative will give ProvidusUnity Bank further opportunities to interact with customers, understand their expectations and strengthen relationships across its markets. It also reflects the bank’s effort to balance the advantages of being a larger institution with the closeness and responsiveness customers expect from their financial partner. There is a difference between becoming a bigger bank Beyond Traditional Banking and becoming a better banking partner. The Relationship Credit remains a major part of the former can come from a transaction. conversation between businesses and The story continues online on their banks, particularly as enterprises seek www.thisdaylive.com working capital and funding for expansion.

Nigeria at 66: Insurance Industry Focuses on Developing Institutional Strength As Nigeria clocks 66, the insurance industry is focusing on strengthening its operations to support the national economic growth writes Ebere Nwoji

he series of reforms going on in the insurance sector point to the fact that the sector is no doubt committed to ensuring that it develops the necessary institutional strength required to support the economy. Indeed, the insurance sector at 66 years of Nigeria’s nationhood, has remained committed to contributing significantly to the development of the national economy. This, the sector has been doing through various reforms targeted at reforming and reshaping the industry. In the recent times,the following reforms have been made in the insurance sector To reform the industry, the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Acct NIIRA 2025 described as Landmark Legislation was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on July 31, 2025. The Act repealed and consolidated several outdated insurance laws into a single, modern legal framework and replaced the Insurance Act of 2003. NIIRA 2025 instituted fresh capital for insurance operators from N2 billion minimum capital for life insurance underwriters, to N10 billion, from N3 billion capital for general business underwriters to N15 billion. The Act further increased minimum capital of composite firms from N5 billion to N25 billion and reinsurers from N10 billion to N35 billion. Recently, the insurance sector regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), announced the successful completion of the 12-month recapitalisation exercise (August 2025 – July 2026) revealing that a total of 50 insurance and reinsurance companies met the new capital requirements, while six insurance

NIIRA 2025 Digitisation: The Act includes provisions for the digitisation of the insurance market to improve access and efficiency. Compulsory Insurance Enforcement: Insurance sector witnessed renewed drive to enforce compulsory insurance policies, such as third-party motor insurance, to enhance consumer protection.

firms went under waiting for liquidation. Policyholder Protection Prior to the conclusion of the recapitalisation exercise, the commission established the Insurance Policyholders’ Protection Fund (IPPF) by setting up a dedicated IPPF Committee to provide a financial safety net for policyholders in the event of an insurer’s insolvency or distress. The fund was established pursuant to Section 212 of NIIRA 2025. It advocates zero tolerance for claim payment delays. Innovation & Market Development was another reform introduced by the regulator. This saw to Insurtech Licensing, as NAICOM issued its first Insurtech licence, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and market integrity.

Regulatory & Supervisory Changes Risk-Based Capital (RBC) Framework: Following recapitalisation, NAICOM announced its next major initiative, which is the implementing a Risk-Based Capital (RBC) framework. The initiative will be launched tomorrow (Thursday Oct 8 ) at the insurers’ committee meeting to be chaired by the commissioner for insurance Mr Olusegun Ayo Omosehin with all insurance Chief Executive Officers expected to be in attendance.This will align insurers’ capital levels with the specific risks inherent in their business portfolios. Regulatory Intervention: NAICOM developed the regulatory tactics of intervening in weak insurance firms to save policyholders. It started with intervention in African Alliance Insurance Plc in October 2024 due to liquidity challenges. After an 18-month turnaround, operational control was handed over to a new board in June 2026 and has today stood as one of the stable insurance firms. Institutional Renaming: There have been legislative moves to rename NAICOM as the Insurance Regulatory Commission. Regional Integration This is one of the reforms in the insurance sector. This brought in the regime of ECOWAS

Brown Card System. The reform includes expanded participation in regional insurance schemes, including the ECOWAS Brown Card System. Commenting on the reforms at the BusinessDay insurance conference, Omosehin stated, “The reforms we have pursued in recent years, particularly under the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025, were inspired by vision. They were designed not merely to increase capital but to strengthen capacity, not to only create bigger balance sheets but to create stronger institutions, not merely to satisfy regulatory requirements but to enhance the industry’s ability to serve Nigerians more effectively.” Indeed, though the industry is older than Nigerian as an independent country having been in operation for over a century, its stage of development compared with its sister sector is still not satisfactory. However, it has in recent years begun to record some notable achievements that is gradually lifting its status among other sub sectors of finance services sector. Before these most recent reforms, the sector under the supervision of past commissioners for insurance have effected some notable changes that will enhance its operations and put more money in underwriters’ pockets to be able to pay claims. Notable among such positive changes recorded by the industry was the enforcement of no” premium no cover” law which non implementation over the years plunged operators into huge debt that nearly kill the industry, the review of motor insurance premiums

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2026

EDUCATION WTD: 60 Years after ILO/UNESCO Recommendation, Nigerian Teachers Still Seek Improved Welfare This year’s World Teachers’ Day marks the 60th anniversary of the 1966 International Labour OrganiSation/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to observe the day on October 5, Uchechukwu Nnaike reports that improved welfare still tops the demands of teachers in the country

orld Teachers’ Day is observed annually on October 5, to celebrate the teaching profession while renewing a collective commitment to the rights, status, professional autonomy, working conditions, and wellbeing of teachers worldwide. The day commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions. With the theme: ‘Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures’, UNESCO said that the 2026 edition will centre on reviewing the current challenges related to teacher status and the strategies to address them, calling on society and policy-makers to protect, promote and elevate that status. In a joint message, UNESCO DirectorGeneral Khaled El-Enany; International Labour Organisation Director-General Gilbert Houngbo; UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell; and Education International General Secretary David Edwards stressed that “the value we place on teachers reflects the value we place on future generations”. According to them, 60 years on, the Recommendation’s core purpose remains as relevant as ever. “Standing with teachers begins by ensuring that they have the conditions necessary to carry out their work effectively. This includes highquality initial teacher education, opportunities for continuous professional learning and safe, supportive working environments,” they stated. “It also means trusting teachers’ professional judgement and ensuring that their experience helps inform education policy through meaningful social dialogue.”

Tinubu

They said the priorities have become increasingly urgent, as the world is projected to need 50 million additional teachers by 2030, including 44 million to achieve universal primary and secondary education and 6 million for pre-primary education. “Recruiting new teachers is as necessary as retaining experienced ones and ensuring that teaching offers motivating, rewarding and sustainable career pathways, including opportunities for female teachers to take up leadership positions. Advancing gender equality in and through teaching is essential to addressing persistent gender norms, barriers, and inequalities,” they explained. They added that protecting and promoting the status of teachers de-

mand concrete action to enhance the esteem accorded to teachers and the support provided for their work, noting that this is reflected in the resources invested in schools and teachers, the quality of their working conditions, and the confidence placed in teachers’ professional judgement and that “governments bear a central responsibility in this regard, working alongside employers, teacher organisations, teacher education institutions, communities and international partners”. The message noted that today teachers educate learners in a world shaped by rapid technological change, including artificial intelligence, as well as climate change, conflict, displacement, persistent inequalities and increasingly diverse learning environments. “In this context, teachers are expected not only to impart knowledge and skills, but also to foster critical thinking, inclusion, resilience, lifelong learning and responsible citizenship. As expectations continue to grow, the teaching profession must evolve alongside the transformation of education, with teachers empowered not only to adapt to change, but also to help shape the futures of education.” “As we work with member states to revise the 1966 Recommendation and ensure that it reflects the realities of teaching in the twentyfirst century, its fundamental purpose remains unchanged. It continues to provide a strong foundation for strengthening the teaching profession and expanding access to quality education for every learner,” the officials pointed out. UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF and Education International therefore called on governments and partners to stand with teachers by advancing the status of the profession and ensuring that every teacher, everywhere, is empowered to help build more inclusive, peaceful and sustainable societies. Sixty years after the ILO/UNESCO Recommendation, the welfare of Nigerian teachers

remains in a critical state, marked by poor remuneration, minimum wage delays, teacher shortages, decaying school infrastructure, insecurity, and more. While congratulating Nigerian teachers, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi described them as critical to shaping the country’s human capital and future. In a post on his X account, he commended teachers for their resilience and sacrifices, particularly amid difficult socio-economic conditions, while calling for improved welfare and working conditions. He also called for the restoration of the profession’s dignity, saying more investment in education is necessary to tackle some of the country’s major challenges, such as outof-school children, unemployment, poverty, and underdevelopment. Speaking at the commemoration of the day in Abuja, National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Titus Amba, appealed to the federal government to implement the special salary scale approved for teachers without further delay, saying the four-year wait has adversely affected their morale and welfare. Amba, represented by Deputy National President Kizito Kalu, said the special salary structure for teachers in basic and secondary schools, approved in 2022 by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari alongside other welfare packages, has yet to be implemented four years after its approval. He decried the poor working conditions in schools, overcrowded classrooms, inadequate furniture, insufficient instructional materials and dilapidated infrastructure. He called for increased investment in school infrastructure and the provision of a safe and conducive environment for teaching and learning. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

YABATECH Accountancy 1986 Alumni Invest N100m in Legacy Project Funmi Ogundare

The Accountancy Alumni Association (1986) of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has invested about N100 million in rehabilitating and upgrading facilities at the institution, 40 years after graduating from the college. The legacy project, which focused on the former School of Management and Business Studies, now known as the School of Financial Studies, was recently inaugurated as part of activities marking the association’s 40th anniversary. The rehabilitation covered accountancy classrooms and a resource centre, as well as windows and doors, plumbing, toilet facilities, drainage, gutters and water infrastructure. The alumni also provided computers, a printer and internet access to support teaching, learning and research. Speaking at the unveiling, the Chairman of the Governing Council of YABATECH, Prof. Funso Afolabi, said that the project represented “history, friendship, gratitude, reunion and enduring

institutional loyalty”. He commended the Class of 1986 for returning four decades after graduation to contribute to the institution’s development and leave a legacy for succeeding generations. “Forty years is a remarkable milestone. It represents four decades of memories, accomplishments, personal growth and professional contributions by the members of the Class of 1986,” he stated. He noted that the project demonstrated the alumni’s appreciation for the institution that provided them with the knowledge, skills, discipline, and foundation on which many members built their careers. The chairman noted that the decision to mark the anniversary with a legacy project went beyond celebration, describing it as a conscious commitment to giving back to the institution. According to him, institutions were strengthened not only through government and management efforts but also through alumni contributions and

continued commitment to their development. “This legacy project will therefore serve as a lasting reminder to present and future students that they are part of a long and proud tradition. It will also inspire them to remember, when their own time comes, that one of the most meaningful ways to honour an institution is to contribute to its progress,” Afolabi said. He reaffirmed the governing council’s commitment to strengthening the relationship between YABATECH and its alumni, urging the class to sustain its engagement through mentorship and continued support. In his remarks, the Rector of the college, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, described the project as an investment in the institution’s future and generations yet unborn. He said the alumni had returned not merely as former students but as builders who had turned their gratitude into a practical contribution to their alma mater’s development. “Forty years after walking through these gates as young men and women determined to master

the discipline of accountancy, the class of 1986 has returned as builders. Through this project, you have chosen to invest in the future of your alma mater and in generations yet unborn,” he said. Abdul said the alumni had transformed their memories and affection for YABATECH into a lasting physical legacy, adding that the project was more than bricks and mortar. He explained that the former School of Management and Business Studies had been restructured as the School of Financial Studies to provide a clearer academic identity and specialised training in finance and related disciplines, while the School of Management and Business Studies would focus on management education, marketing and business leadership. He called on other alumni sets, corporate organisations and friends of the institution to emulate the Class of 1986 by supporting the development of YABATECH. He also urged staff and students to protect the renovated facilities and ensure that the investment translated into improved academic outcomes.

CMS Grammar School 1976/81 Set Celebrates 50 Years of Admission The Old Grammarians Society, 1976/81 set of CMS Grammar School, Lagos, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its members’ admission into the prestigious school, founded in 1859. The celebrations will begin in the evening of October 8 with a meet and greet reception, and a visit to the school at noon on October 9. On Saturday 10 October, members will enjoy a sightseeing and relaxation trip to the historic city of Abeokuta.

The celebrations will culminate on Sunday, October 11, with a thanksgiving service at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, followed by a celebratory luncheon and fundraiser. The luncheon will be chaired by retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Bode Rhodes-Vivour. Briefing journalists, the Chairman of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations

Planning Committee, Mr. Kayode Olu-Martins, explained that the anniversary offers an opportunity to celebrate enduring friendship and give back to the school. “This milestone is an opportunity to celebrate the school that nurtured us and helped shape the men we have become. Beyond the reunion, we want to leave a lasting legacy that will benefit generations of students,” he said. As its anniversary legacy project, the set

is raising funds to sponsor one classroom in the Tola Adebonojo ICT Building, an initiative of OGS Americas. The building honours Professor Tola Adebonojo, grand patron of the Old Grammarians Society in the Americas and UK/Europe. Through this contribution, the 1976/81 set seeks to support ICT education at CMS Grammar School and strengthen the school’s tradition of preparing students for the future.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Fitch Reaffirms Stanbic IBTC’s AAA(nga) Rating, Unbroken for a Decade Nume Ekeghe

Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed Stanbic IBTC Bank’s ‘AAA(nga)’ National Long-Term Rating, extending the bank’s uninterrupted run at the highest level of Nigeria’s national rating scale to more than a decade. That span of decade included a naira devaluation, a sharp rise in interest rates and a central bank-mandated recapitalisation exercise for Nigerian banks, each a genuine test of any institution’s balance sheet and risk controls. Stanbic IBTC’s rating has not moved through any of it. Fitch’s stable Outlook assessment pointed to Stanbic IBTC’s comfortable liquidity

coverage in both local and foreign currency, a loans-to-deposits ratio that fell to 63 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 from 100 per cent in 2023 as deposit growth continued to outpace lending, and operating profit that reached a record 12.8 per cent of risk-weighted assets in the same quarter. Its capital position also strengthened, with the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio rising to 18.7 per cent following a N147 billion rights issue completed in 2025. Fitch also cited the strategic backing of parent company Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets, which holds a 68.46 per cent stake in Stanbic IBTC. The effect, however,

differs by audience, as clients get independent confirmation that their deposits sit with a wellmanaged institution. Investors get a data point that can support pricing on Stanbic IBTC’s debt and equity issuances. Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Chuma Nwokocha, said: “A rating reflects whether an institution does what it says it will do, year after year. Holding the highest national rating from Fitch for over a decade tells us our approach to risk, governance, and how we run Stanbic IBTC has remained sound through very different economic cycles. It gives our clients and partners a clear, independent reference point as they choose who to bank with.”

Firm Backs Cash Flow Lending as Formal Credit Access Rises Nume Ekeghe

Moniepoint has backed cash flow-based lending as a pathway to widening access to formal credit, following findings by Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA) that formal credit penetration in Nigeria has nearly doubled since 2023. The company said the findings of EFInA’s Access to Financial Services in Nigeria (A2F) 2026 Survey align with its lending model, which assesses borrowers based on how their businesses earn and move money rather than relying primarily on collateral. The survey showed that formal credit access has risen to 10 per cent nationally, nearly twice the 2023 level. It also recorded

notable inclusion gains among women business owners and farmers, with formal inclusion among women business owners rising from 67.5 per cent to 76.3 per cent, while that of women farmers increased from 42.7 per cent to 53.6 per cent. According to the survey, formal financial inclusion now stands at 73 per cent, representing an estimated 87.2 million adults. The 2026 A2F Survey, conducted with the National Bureau of Statistics across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, was based on more than 18,600 interviews conducted between April and June 2026. Moniepoint’s CoFounder and Group Chief Executive Officer,

Tosin Eniolorunda, said the finding reflected the company’s experience. “EFInA’s institutional work has since 2008 shown, survey after survey, that access to financial services means little without trust. Undergirding this trust is the firm belief that the system was built with ordinary Nigerians in mind, and as we have seen, trust, once broken, is not easily restored. Building that trust has been central to how we operate at Moniepoint, and the results bear this out: 83 per cent of our users report an improved quality of life, and 85 per cent report greater confidence in achieving their financial goals,” he said.

Financial Services Professionals Walk for Ethical, Sustainable Market Financial market professionals across Nigeria have called for greater commitment to ethical conduct, sustainable business practices and physical wellbeing as critical pillars for building a resilient financial market that delivers value to all participants. The call was made at the Financial Markets Integrity Group’s annual walk, which took place simultaneously in Lagos and Abuja, attracting about 500 registered participants from the seven professional bodies that make up the Group, with the total number of participants and invited guests across the two centres estimated at close to 600. The event brought together senior professionals, regulators and stakeholders in the financial services industry,

with the walk providing a platform to promote both professional integrity and healthy lifestyles. In Abuja, the DirectorGeneral of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, participated in the walk, underscoring the importance of physical fitness and wellness in sustaining the demanding responsibilities of financialmarket professionals. Agama said physical exercise was foundational to maintaining the high levels of focus, resilience and mental acuity required in demanding professional environments. According to him, regular physical activity not only supports longterm cardiovascular and metabolic health but also

provides a vital cognitive reset that can enhance problem-solving and help professionals manage the pressures associated with regulatory and corporate leadership. Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Executive Director, CFA Society Nigeria, Adeyemi Ajagun, said the annual walk was designed to promote sustainable business practices among operating firms and stakeholder institutions, while strengthening a culture of ethical excellence among financial-market professionals. He said the broader objective was to ensure that the financial market remained responsive to the interests of all participants, including consumers.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MILLION NAIRA) October 2025

Month

Money Supply (M3)

119,037,577.07

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

9,291.49

Money Supply (M2)

119,028,285.58

Quasi Money

79,681,419.97

-- Narrow Money (M1)

39,346,865.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

4,646,794.28

---- Demand Deposits

34,700,071.33

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

34,804,442.84

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

84,233,134.23

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

99,199,655.08

---- Credit to Government (Net)

24,787,980.96

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

74,411,674.12

--Other Assets Net

2,603,854.03

Reserve Money (Base Money)

36,641,142.21

--Currency in Circulation

5,057,881.01

--Banks Reserves

31,583,261.21

--Special Intervention Reserves

284,361.95

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

October 2025

Inter-Bank Call Rate

October 2025

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

27.00

Treasury Bill Rate

15.07

Savings Deposit Rate

7.43

1 Month Deposit Rate

11.37

3 Months Deposit Rate

11.32

6 Months Deposit Rate

11.12

12 Months Deposit Rate

11.78

Prime Lending rate

18.89

Maximum Lending Rate

29.56

NSE MARKET INDEX CAP

0.75%(52%YoY)

Index

0.9% (29%Y/D) ˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ Ͱ͵ϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 24TH NOVEMBER , 2025

The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $63.14 a barrel on Monday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zaﬁro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

MARKET NEWS

Stock Market Extends Downturn, Plummets by N256.05bn Kayode Tokede The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) dropped by N256.05 billion to extend its losing streak for the fifth consecutive session as sustained risk-off sentiment dragged the market lower. The Nigerian Exchange Limited All-Share Index (NGX

ASI) declined by 394.36 basis points or 0.16 per cent, to close at 250,273.50 basis points. Similarly, the overall market capitalisation value shed N256.05 billion to close at N162.496 trillion. Sectoral performance was mixed as the Banking (-1.3per cent) index declined, while the Insurance (+0.5per cent) index advanced. Furthermore, the Consumer Goods, Industrial

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Goods and Oil & Gas indices closed flat. The market negative performance was driven by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks which are; First Holdco, Unilever Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) and Stanbic IBTC Holdings. Investor sentiment was

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

negative as 34 losers outpaced 26 gainers. Tripple Gee & Company recorded the highest price gain of 9.77 per cent to close at N2.81, per share. Livestock Feeds followed with a gain of 9.74 per cent to close at N10.70, while NPF Microfinance Bank up by 9.52 per cent to close at N4.60, per share. Sovereign Trust Insurance appreciated by 8.23 per cent

T R A D E D

VALUE TRADED ( N )

MAIN BOARD

A S

O F

to close at N2.50, while Wapic Insurance rose by 7.69 per cent to close at N2.38, per share. On the other hand, Critical Minerals Financing Corporation (CMFC) led the losers’ chart by 9.88 per cent to close at N3.65, per share. ABC Transport followed with a decline of 9.70 per cent to close at N6.05, while CWG dipped by 7.23 per cent to close at N19.25, per

share. Zichis Agro Allied Industries down by 6.58 per cent to close at N17.05, while Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals declined by 6.17 per cent to close at N7.60, per share. The total volume traded declined by 33.8 per cent to 579.25 million units, valued at N36.07 billion, and exchanged in 41,072 deals.

O CTO B E R 0 6 / 2 6 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 • THISDAY

SOStainabilityWeekly

with

Oke Epia

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Nigeria’s 2027 Transition: A Subsidy Debate and the Green Agenda of Electoral Candidates

olitical pundits have described the raging debate on petrol subsidy shaping the 2027 presidential campaign in Nigeria as a welcome development. Voters are now presented with diametrical policy options on a singular issue that directly connects with existential realities of life and living on a daily basis. The debate has not only presented ample opportunity to interrogate the advantages and disadvantages of subsidy removal by incumbent President Bola Tinubu since 2023 when he came into office, but also illuminated the dialetic of subsidy support as a balm for battering times such as has been foisted on much of the world by the Middle East conflict. The excruciating cost of living and the consequential escalated pauperisation of the masses have raised hard questions that cannot be addressed with yesterday’s answers or mere sloganeering that pander to the whims of neo-liberal capitalism. These are the core conceptual Economic, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues that shape conversations about whether or not fuel subsidy should be returned as canvassed boldly by Atiku Abubakar, a leading contender for Tinubu’s job. This page will, however, intervene from the prism of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles of sustainability, majoring on the first as far as the fuel subsidy matter is at issue. In another series, we have been dwelling on the economic benefits of subsidy removal, calling attention to what impact state governors have made on the power sector since its deregulation in 2023 and amidst the exponential increase in federal allocations. We want to focus on the environmental and climate ramifications of petrol subsidy; using it as a hook to call public attention to the green agenda and policies of the individuals seeking office at the presidential, gubernatorial levels of government. For starters, it is important to acknowledge that the intervention of the presidential candidates on the petrol

•Bola Tinubu…doubles down on petrol subsidy removal

•Atiku Abubakar…pledges to return subsidy

•Seyi Makinde…supports subsidy removal

•Peter Obi…prevaricates on subsidy removal but vows to tackle corruption

•Adebayo Adewole...opposes return of subsidy

•Donald Duke…says subsidy is a scam

subsidy matter has mostly focused on the economic, social and governance considerations. Very little to nothing has been said about the environmental implications of petrol subsidies. This is the perspective this page seeks to highlight, as one of the (subtle) arguments for the removal of fuel subsidy is to advance the transition away from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. Climate activists argue on the basis of science that greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels are key drivers of global warming and the resultant recurrence and ubiquity of extreme weather events which are known to have immediate and long-term impacts on the planet, people, community, and livelihoods. The argument is that removal of petrol subsidy can incentivize or accelerate the transition since the resources for funding the consumption of fossil-based energy can be channeled into exploring and scaling cleaner energy like solar, hydro, wind, hydrogen, and geothermal power, etc. While this climate consideration appears not to underpin the current fuel subsidy debate, it presents the opportunity to highlight and interrogate the green policies of those seeking electoral mandate in 2027. For this purpose, SOStainability will work with partners to explore the climate policies and green agenda of presidential, governorship, and legislative candidates seeking election in 2027. This is because the climate crisis and sustainability challenges, including supply chain volatilities, that beset the world cannot be regarded as after-thought or appendages of policy: they are, in fact, key fundamentals of statecraft. Economic growth and development can no longer be detached from the sustainability of the planet, preservation and regeneration of biodiversity and ecosystems, healthy and thriving populations, and resilient communities. Therefore, this non-partisan series will be asking questions of the climate commitment of candidates, their agenda for net zero, plans for the SDGs, and development models anchored on the energy transition.

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THISDAY • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

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29 Petrol costs roughly the same in Nigeria as it does in Texas and Georgia. Yet Texas regards its diesel prices as disastrous enough for a statewide disaster proclamation. Georgia regards its fuel prices as sufficiently intolerable to declare a state of emergency and surrender tax revenue. Nigeria regards almost the same nominal fuel price as “economic reform” that will yield an illusory El Dorado in an undefined future.

–Farooq Kperogi on fuel subsidy

Trends and Threads

Subsidy Savings: Governors and

Nigeria’s Power Problems (6)

his is the conclusion of the series on governors and subsidy savings. Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Plateau, katsina, and Lagos States share the spotlight with a mixture of satisfactory and unsatisfactory performances. This was the verdict last week when Enugu, Rivers, Adamawa, Nassarawa, Sokoto, and Ondo states were spotlighted. Enugu and Lagos, for instance, stand out as pioneers and leaders. Others in this category include Nassarawa, Abia, Ekiti and Oyo. There are unsatisfactory

performances from states like Rivers, Gombe, Borno, and Yobe. As stated in previous editions, this page acknowledges that there are several other areas of governance and service delivery that savings from the removal of petrol subsidies can be deployed, the focus on the power sector is part of ongoing efforts to assess the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 at the subnational level. Access to and affordability of electricity has remained a perennial challenge in Nigeria and the deregulation

of the power sector via a constitutional amendment in 2023 levels the ground for government at the national and state levels to generate, transmit and distribute electricity to citizens. We strongly believe that the Judicious use of public resources can help solve Nigeria’s power problems and unlock productivity for industries, small and medium-scale businesses, households, and individuals who require regular, affordable, and cleaner supply of electricity to power production.

This series used key metrics including legal framework, regulatory readiness, and evidence of project pipelines to measure performance in the power sector. The graphical illustrations provide summary answers to the same questions for the six states under review this week as has been the case with the five previous editions. •This light-touch assessment precedes a more detailed reporting and documentation of power access, affordability, and clean energy in the states by SOStainability’s SDG7 industry report and success stories.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com,

How Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Purposeful UNGA81 Outing Positioned Lagos for Global Partnerships, Investment and Growth For Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the just-concluded 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York was more than a series of high-level engagements; it was a purposeful outing to position Lagos for stronger global partnerships, fresh investment and sustainable growth. Across meetings and platforms, the governor promoted Lagos’ investment potential, sought climate and renewable energy financing, advanced partnerships on infrastructure and climate action, highlighted support for small businesses and made the case for development-driven peace. In taking Lagos’ priorities to the global stage, Sanwo-Olu sought to turn international interest and conversations into partnerships, investments and opportunities that can deliver tangible benefits for Lagosians. Chiemelie Ezeobi, who trailed the governor, reports

Clockwise: Governor Sanwo-Olu at the ABS Live UNGA Session; at the Aliko Dangote Foundation Discussion; at the Global Africa Business Initiative; and at Global Renewables Summit, all at the sidelines of the just concluded 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York

Clockwise: Governor Sanwo-Olu at Nigeria’s Mission House Engagement for signing of new framework to deepen Nigerian mineral resources; at the UN High-Level Meeting on Climate Action and the Just Transition; at the 8th ECAM Council High-Level Session; and at the UN Global Compact Networks and Partners, all at the sidelines of the just concluded 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York

or Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York was more than a week of high-level meetings. It was an opportunity to present Lagos’ development priorities to global investors, governments, businesses and development partners, while seeking partnerships around climate action, energy, infrastructure, enterprise, security and economic growth. Sanwo-Olu used a series of engagements to make the case that Lagos, Africa’s largest urban economy, needs global partnerships that can translate into practical investments and opportunities for its growing population.

the continent’s peculiar challenges and opportunities.

Setting the Tone for Lagos at UNGA The governor set the tone for Lagos’ participation on September 21 when he welcomed Vice President Kashim Shettima to New York for UNGA81, where the Vice President represented Nigeria and participated in engagements around the global development agenda. Lagos also took the lead as Partner Government at the UN Global Compact Africa-Caribbean High-Level Session, using the platform to draw attention to climate risks facing cities and the need for stronger action across regions. For Sanwo-Olu, Federal Government support was important to strengthening Lagos’ position as the state engaged international investors and development partners.

Africa's Industrial Capacity with Aliko Dangote Foundation That message was reinforced during discussions hosted by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, where conversations focused on Africa’s industrial capacity, artificial intelligence and the continent’s young population.Sanwo-Olu linked these issues to Lagos’ own development agenda, arguing that the state must continue creating conditions for its people and ideas to compete globally.

Global Renewable Summit The governor also joined discussions at the Global Renewables Summit on delivering the Electrify Now agenda, stressing the urgency of reliable and clean energy for a city of more than 20 million people. He disclosed that he had approved 15 renewable energy distribution projects in Lagos but identified access to funding as a major obstacle. His argument was straightforward: Africa has the resources for the renewable energy transition, but investors must be willing to take the first risk while financing systems must recognise

Global Africa Business Initiative At the Global Africa Business Initiative, Sanwo-Olu spoke about Lagos’ ambition to turn its growing global profile into practical opportunities for residents. He pointed to transportation, healthcare and support for young entrepreneurs as areas where the state was seeking to create an environment in which Lagosians could thrive. For the governor, international attention would only matter if it eventually translated into infrastructure, investment and opportunities at home.

Climate Action and the Challenge of Financing Climate change became one of the strongest themes of the governor’s UNGA engagements. On September 23, he hosted a roundtable involving the Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals, UN Global Compact Networks and partners from Africa and the Caribbean. The discussion focused on protecting coastlines and infrastructure while putting financing mechanisms in place before the next major climate event. As a coastal city, Lagos is already dealing with flooding and the pressure climate change places on roads, homes and businesses. Sanwo-Olu stressed that

government could not address the challenge alone and called for stronger private-sector partnerships. At the UN Headquarters, he later shared the stage with California Governor Gavin Newsom at a UN high-level meeting on Climate Action and the Just Transition, shortly after Lagos and California formalised their sister-state partnership. Sanwo-Olu used the opportunity to highlight Lagos’ plans around cleaner transportation, renewable energy and waste management. With more than 5.2 million vehicles on its roads and thousands of tonnes of waste processed daily, he argued that climate action could also drive economic development, recycling, clean energy and jobs. But the governor repeatedly returned to one issue: financing. His message was that states and regions have a major role to play in global climate action, but they require affordable, long-term financing to turn plans into projects. ABS Live UNGA Session At the ABS Live UNGA session, SanwoOlu shifted attention to one of the immediate drivers of Lagos’ economy: small businesses. He spoke about the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and its financing opportunities for micro, small and mediumsized enterprises. The governor noted that the programme had also provided targeted support for women-owned businesses, who account for about 66 per cent of its loan beneficiaries. The emphasis was on how access to capital can enable entrepreneurs to expand, strengthen livelihoods and create opportunities across communities. It was also a reminder that the governor’s UNGA agenda was not limited to attracting large-scale international investments. It included finding ways to strengthen the smaller businesses that already form a significant part of Lagos’ economic life.

Beyond Investments for Lagos The governor’s engagements extended beyond formal UN sessions. He was hosted at UBA America’s office at 575 Fifth Avenue in New York by UBA Group Managing Director and CEO, Oliver Alawuba, alongside the Emir of Kano; Muhammadu Sanusi II; Governors Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina; and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara. On September 24, Sanwo-Olu was also at Nigeria’s Mission House when Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau signed a framework aimed at deepening investment in Nigeria’s estimated $700 billion mineral resources. The focus on processing, exploration, infrastructure and technical capacity reflected a broader argument Sanwo-Olu had consistently made at UNGA: Nigeria must move beyond exporting raw materials and build stronger local value chains. 8th ECAM Council High-level Session At the 8th ECAM Council High-Level Session on September 25, Sanwo-Olu connected development to peace and security. He argued that peace was not only about treaties and security but also about jobs, healthcare, reliable public services and people having confidence in their future. He pointed to projects under his administration’s THEMES agenda, including the Blue and Red Lines, Lekki Deep Sea Port and healthcare reforms, as investments intended to outlive the current administration. He also called for partnerships that build with Africa, not simply for Africa, insisting that African professionals and institutions must have a leading role in determining the continent’s future. As he prepares to hand over the reins of Lagos next year, Sanwo-Olu’s UNGA81 outing therefore carried an underlying message: the global partnerships being pursued must eventually produce tangible results for Lagosians. With the UNGA now concluded, the real test is whether the conversations in New York can be converted into funding, investment and sustainable growth. For Sanwo-Olu, it will.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2026

POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com 08033025611 SMS ONLY

2027: Hamzat’s Growing Institutional Backing and Date with History

From stepping aside for current Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2019 to receiving his principal’s backing seven years later, the All Progressives Congress’ candidate in the February, 2027 governorship poll in the Centre of Excellence, Dr Obafemi Hamzat’s political journey has come full circle. Raheem Akingbolu reports.

here is a point in every political succession when ambition begins to give way to acceptance. In Lagos, that point has increasingly come into view around Obafemi Hamzat. What began as a governorship aspiration has, over several months, developed into a succession story marked by endorsements from the Governor he serves, the APC’s senior leadership structures, President Bola Tinubu and a widening circle of political stakeholders. The sequence matters. In April 2026, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu publicly endorsed his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, for the 2027 governorship. A day later, the Governance Advisory Council, the influential leadership body within the Lagos APC, adopted Hamzat as its consensus aspirant. On April 29, Tinubu endorsed him, while former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode subsequently declared his support. The process did not end with endorsements. Hamzat submitted his nomination forms, passed the party’s screening and emerged as the APC’s governorship candidate at its May 21 primary. According to the result announced by the party, he polled 657,917 votes out of 657,974 accredited voters, while his rival, Lanre Jim-Kamal, recorded one vote. Samuel Ajose had withdrawn from the contest before the primary. Taken together, the developments show how rapidly the succession conversation moved from consultation to formal party nomination. They do not, however, amount to evidence that every Lagosian has accepted Hamzat’s candidacy. Rather, they provide a documented picture of growing institutional and political support within the governing party, alongside continuing efforts to engage wider constituencies. That distinction matters because Hamzat’s political journey is now being viewed against a very specific historical backdrop. Since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, no Lagos Deputy Governor has directly succeeded the Governor under whom he or she served. The office has been occupied by Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Olufemi Pedro, Abiodun Ogunleye, Sarah Sosan, Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire and Oluranti Adebule, but none moved directly from the deputy governorship to the governorship. Hamzat has nevertheless already broken one important pattern. His re-election alongside Sanwo-Olu in 2023 made him the first Lagos Deputy Governor of the Fourth Republic to secure two full terms in office. If he completes the current tenure in 2027, he will have served eight consecutive years as deputy governor, a distinction no previous Lagos deputy governor has achieved since 1999. That longevity gives the present succession debate an unusual dimension. Hamzat is not approaching the governorship from outside the administration or after a brief spell as deputy. He is attempting to move directly from the second-highest office in the state into the first, after serving across three administrations and spending years within the machinery of Lagos governance. His political relationship with Sanwo-Olu adds another layer. In September 2018, when both men were seeking the APC governorship ticket, Hamzat stepped down and endorsed Sanwo-Olu. He said at the time that he could vouch for Sanwo-Olu’s integrity and intelligence. He subsequently accepted the role of running mate, and their joint ticket won the 2019 election. Seven years later, the positions have effectively reversed. Sanwo-Olu is now the sitting Governor and Hamzat is the candidate seeking to succeed him. More significantly, the

Hamzat

Governor has publicly campaigned for his deputy, describing him as fit and ready for the responsibility and pointing to his experience and knowledge of Lagos. In an environment where succession contests can create tension between a sitting Governor and an ambitious deputy, the Sanwo-OluHamzat partnership has presented a markedly different public picture. The two have maintained a visibly cooperative relationship and are now appearing together in support of Hamzat’s candidacy. For Hamzat, that relationship also represents a reversal of political history at a personal level. He once surrendered his own governorship ambition to strengthen Sanwo-Olu’s candidacy. Today, Sanwo-Olu is using his political authority to support Hamzat’s attempt to take the next step. Beyond the Governor, the GAC endorsement was another significant development. The council announced that its members had agreed to support Hamzat under a consensus arrangement, while its leadership disclosed that members had contributed towards the purchase of his nomination form. Tinubu’s endorsement followed almost immediately. The President’s backing placed Hamzat’s candidacy within the broader political architecture

of the Lagos APC, while the subsequent support expressed by Ambode further widened the circle of prominent figures publicly associated with his bid. There were also signs of support beyond the formal endorsement structure. Hamzat embarked on consultations with senior party figures and stakeholders ahead of the party’s governorship selection, reflecting an effort to consolidate beyond the initial endorsements. The withdrawal of Samuel Ajose provided another indication of how the internal contest was evolving. Ajose, one of the APC aspirants, withdrew before the primary and backed Hamzat, contributing to the consolidation that preceded the formal nomination. Hamzat’s credentials have also been central to the narrative. He obtained a BSc in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Ibadan in 1986, an MSc in Crop Processing Engineering in 1988 and a PhD in System Process Engineering from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom in 1992. Before becoming deputy governor, he built experience in both the private sector and public service. His public-service record has stretched across different phases of Lagos politics. He served as Commissioner for Science and Technology from 2005 and was retained under the administration of Babatunde Fashola. In 2011, he became Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, a position he held until 2015. He later served as Special Adviser on technical matters to Fashola when the latter became Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

The old barrier remains. What has changed is that, for the ﬁrst time since 1999, a Lagos Deputy Governor approaches it with documented backing from his principal, the governing party’s senior structures and a widening network of stakeholders.

That institutional experience has become an important part of the argument advanced by his supporters. Hamzat has spent years within the policy and administrative structures of Lagos, moving from commissioner to deputy governor and eventually becoming the governing party’s candidate for the state’s highest elective office. That profile should not be confused with universal public acceptance. Lagos remains politically complex, with different interests, communities and opposition parties capable of presenting competing interpretations of the state’s record and its future. Opposition politicians have also raised questions about aspects of Hamzat’s candidacy. Such claims remain part of the political contest and should be distinguished from established facts about his eligibility. What can be established is that the governing party’s internal process has produced a clear outcome. Hamzat is no longer merely an aspirant seeking recognition. He is the APC’s nominated candidate for the 2027 Lagos governorship election, following a process that moved from consultation and endorsement to screening and a formal primary. The symbolism of that progression is difficult to separate from the events of 2019. Seven years ago, Hamzat stood aside for Sanwo-Olu after withdrawing from the governorship contest. In 2026, Sanwo-Olu stood beside Hamzat as his principal, publicly endorsed his ambition and supported his emergence as the APC candidate. It is this unusual political symmetry that gives the present succession debate much of its historical weight. Hamzat has already achieved something no previous Lagos Deputy Governor of the Fourth Republic has done by securing two full terms. He is now seeking to cross a second barrier that has remained intact since 1999. The broader significance lies in what his candidacy represents for the Lagos succession system. For more than two decades, the deputy governorship has been an important position, but it has not served as a direct route to the governorship. Hamzat’s emergence has reopened the question of whether that pattern is permanent or whether it can be altered. His growing acceptance, therefore, is best understood not simply as a collection of endorsements but as a convergence of relationships built over many years. His service under different administrations, his partnership with Sanwo-Olu, his standing within the APC leadership structure and his engagement with stakeholders have all become part of the narrative surrounding his candidacy. Yet the historical significance should not obscure the democratic process ahead. Endorsements, consensus arrangements and party primaries determine the candidate who carries a party’s banner. The governorship itself is ultimately decided at the election by voters. For now, however, the facts mark an unusual moment in Lagos political history. A Deputy Governor who once stepped aside to support the man who became his principal is now the governing party’s candidate seeking to succeed him. He is also the first Lagos Deputy Governor of the Fourth Republic to secure two full terms and the first serving deputy since 1999 to emerge as the governing party’s candidate seeking direct succession to his principal. The old barrier remains. What has changed is that, for the first time since 1999, a Lagos Deputy Governor approaches it with documented backing from his principal, the governing party’s senior structures and a widening network of stakeholders. Whether that political opening becomes a historical transition is a question the electorate will answer come February, 2027.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 • THISDAY

NEWS

AYO ORITSEJAFOR’S CONDOLENCE VISIT TO THE PINNICKS...

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (right) paying a condolence visit to Mr. & Mrs. A.M. Pinnick at their Parkview Estate Ikoyi, Lagos on the passing of Mrs. Pinnick’s mother, Mrs. Gladys Wokocha... recently

President to Review National Defence Framework, Evaluates Ongoing Operations Musa calls for adaptive regional response to tackle evolving security threats Linus Aleke in Abuja President Bola Tinubu has unveiled plans by his administration to review the national defence framework, evaluate the progress of ongoing counter-insurgency and anti-banditry operations, and align inter-agency security strategies to sustain peace

and security across the nation. Tinubu made this disclosure during a high-level strategic meeting with the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), at the Presidential Residence in Lagos. Speaking during the visit, Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the steady progress recorded in securing vulner-

able communities across Nigeria and reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to providing full support to the Ministry of Defence. According to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Defence, Leah KatungBabatunde, the Minister provided a comprehensive briefing on current

defence initiatives, frontline operational logistics and proposed reforms aimed at boosting troop morale, modernising military hardware capabilities and strengthening military infrastructure across all regions. Musa expressed gratitude to the president for his continuous guidance and support for the nation’s security

Donald Duke: Poverty, Insecurity Worsening, Nigeria Needs Competent Leadership Sunday Ehigiator The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate and former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, has warned that worsening poverty and insecurity have left Nigeria in dire need of competent leadership, saying the country can no longer afford to experiment with those seeking the presidency. Duke, who spoke on the state of the nation, said presidential aspirants must be subjected to rigorous scrutiny on their experience, capacity, track record and plans for the country before being entrusted with leadership. “I don’t think we should be testing. We’re in such dire states right now. We should actually grill whoever wants to take any

responsible position in the public space today.” The former governor, who governed Cross River State between 1999 and 2007, described Nigeria’s situation as a disaster but said the country could still recover if there was a change in direction. “We’re already in a disaster. This is a disaster. But it’s repairable,” he said. Duke said the worsening economic situation, rising poverty and insecurity across the country had made competent and purposeful leadership more urgent. “If we continue this way, where year after year poverty increases, statistically, not our statistics, international statistics, year after year we’re getting poorer, year after year our security is impaired. I mean, look at what’s going on

in the North. And it is creeping southwards.” He said the uneven deterioration in living conditions across the country required deliberate intervention by government. “There are sections of the country that are getting poorer faster than other sections of the country. You’ve got to mitigate that. And he’s not taking us in that direction.” While assessing the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Duke acknowledged the President’s political experience and described him as a formidable politician, but said his concern was with governance. “He’s a formidable politician. My issue with him is governance, not politics. He’s been a senator; he’s been a two-time governor. Give it to him. He’s a formidable politician. My issue with him is governance,

not politics.” Duke rejected the suggestion that his criticism of Tinubu was based on a claim that he was personally better than the president. “No. I didn’t say I’m better. I didn’t say I’m better. I’ll put in place a better governance structure than Bola Tinubu. That’s my conviction.” According to Duke, the primary responsibility of government should be to create an environment where citizens can become productive, while ensuring that the country remains safe and orderly. “The main essence, the main function of government is the optimal productivity of our citizens within a safe and orderly environment.

Alumni of Loyola College, Ibadan, have launched a N750 million endowment fund to secure the school’s long-term future through infrastructure renewal, human capital development and sustainable institutional funding. The initiative, announced by the Loyola College Old Boys Association (LOCOBA), seeks to mobilise support from alumni, friends of the school and other stakeholders to strengthen one of Nigeria’s longstanding secondary schools and preserve its tradition of academic excellence, character formation and leadership development.

Association leaders said the fund responds to growing infrastructure, maintenance and capacity development challenges facing the college, amid increasing pressure on public funding for education. Unlike traditional interventionbased fundraising efforts, the endowment fund is designed as a long-term institutional support vehicle. A portion of the funds would be deployed to priority projects, while another portion will be professionally managed to generate recurring income for maintenance and future needs. Priority areas include the reno-

vation and equipping of science laboratories, rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, teacher development programmes, student leadership initiatives, sports development and projects focused on improving educational outcomes. A statement explained that fundraising efforts were already underway, with a number of alumni committing early support as anchor donors. “Loyola College has played an important role in shaping generations of leaders and professionals,” the President, LOCOBA, Mr Gbenga Biobaku said.

Sunday Ehigiator

apparatus, assuring the public that the Ministry of Defence remained resolute in executing its mandate with determination and integrity. The meeting formed part of Tinubu’s ongoing security briefings and policy alignment sessions with key government leaders, aimed at ensuring swift and decisive action against security and economic challenges nationwide. Meanwhile, Musa, in another development, has called for the repositioning of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), to effectively confront evolving security threats in the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel. He made the call at the High-Level International Forum on the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), convened by Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja on Tuesday. Musa, who was the Special Guest of Honour, observed that, 11 years after its establishment, the MNJTF continued to play a critical role in countering terrorism, transnational crime and other forms of insecurity across the Lake Chad Basin. He noted that the regional security environment had changed significantly, requiring stakeholders to critically reassess the Task Force’s structure, capabilities, intelligence, command and control, logistics and financing. According to a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major

General Samaila Uba, Musa urged participants to move beyond routine assessments and develop practical and sustainable measures to strengthen the MNJTF, particularly in view of evolving threats in the Sahel and changing patterns of international support. He commended the sacrifices of troops and the contributions of regional and international partners to the fight against insecurity. He expressed optimism that the participation of the African Union, European Union, Lake Chad Basin Commission, troop-contributing countries, current and former Force Commanders, and other strategic stakeholders would generate actionable recommendations for strengthening the Task Force. He assured them that the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria would give due attention to the outcomes of the Forum, stressing that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu considers the MNJTF an important instrument of regional security and collective African action. In his welcome remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, said the Forum provided a timely platform for military practitioners, policymakers, academics and strategic partners to reflect on the experience, continuing relevance and future employment of the MNJTF.

South-East Traditional Rulers Certify Loyola College Alumni Launch N750m Over 20 Igbo Ambassadors Nationwide He said the initiative was designed end the practice of individuals Endowment Fund to Secure School’s Future Bans self-assigned traditional titles toassuming traditional titles without The South-East Council of Traditional Rulers has certified over 20 Igbo ambassadors, known as ‘Onye Ndu’, to coordinate the affairs of Igbo people across various parts of the country. The official inauguration and presentation ceremony, held recently in Lagos, was described by the organisers as part of efforts to standardise traditional title referencing and leadership among Igbo people living outside the South-East. The event was attended by several Igbo traditional rulers, including the

Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Highness, Nnaemeka Achebe, among others. The newly certified Onye Ndu, also known in Igbo local parlance as Ndindu Ndigbo Nauzoije, are expected to uphold Igbo norms, customs and traditions in their respective communities while working with host communities and respecting extant laws. Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Chairman of the Inaugurating Committee, Ndindu Worldwide, Charles Odunukwe, said the formal presentation followed the official certification of the representatives in Owerri.

going through the recognised certification process. “The message is very simple. The era of people answering Eze or His Royal Highness or any related title of such is gone. It’s been banned by the South East Council leadership. It’s been banned by leadership of Ohaneze. It’s been banned by the South East Governors,” Odunukwe said. He explained the new designation, Onye Ndu, meaning leader, would be reserved for individuals selected and certified through the established process.

THISDAY • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

NEWS

AFRICA BREAKFAST CONVOS 4.0 HELD AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE...

L-R: Chief Executive Oﬃcer, BHM Holding, Mr. Ayeni Adekunle; Director of Global Marketing, Communication and External Aﬀairs, The Kings Trust International, Yasamin Attahir; Managing Director, Africa Allison World- Wide, Claudine Moore; Director Africa Public Sector Banking Citi, Hackim Abdul; and Chairman Blackcod Group/ Group Director, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Otunba (Dr.) Bimbo Ashiru, during the Africa Breakfast Convos 4.0 held at the World Trade Centre on the sidelines of UNGA 81 in New York, USA...recently

Acquittal: EFCC Challenges Diezani’s Presentation of UK Court Judgment Alex Enumah in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has challenged the move by former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to present court documents of a Southwark Crown Court judgment in London, United Kingdom, which recently discharged and acquitted her from corruption charges. The anti-graft agency in a further counter-affidavit to Diezani’s request to present the UK favourable judgment is arguing that the purported acquittal of Diezani by a foreign criminal court was not material or relevant to the specific issues for determination before the instant court. Recall that Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had few months ago granted permission to Diezani present evidence of the London court judgment. Recall also that the UK court had, on June 17, discharged and acquitted the ex-minister in respect of criminal allegations of bribery brought against her by the UK authorities. Based on her acquittal, Diezani, in a suit filed before Justice Ekwo, sought to reclaim her assets forfeited to the Nigerian federal government following an order of court. In the amended originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/21/2023, she sued the EFCC as sole respondent.

At the last adjourned date, Godwin Iyinbor had moved a motion seeking the court’s permission to file a further/supplementary affidavit for the purpose of bringing fresh and material development with respect to Diezani’s acquittal by the UK court. After Mofesomo Oyetibo, SAN, did not raise objection to filing the application, the judge granted Iyinbor’s prayer. Upon filing the further/ supplementary affidavit, the EFCC then responded with a further counter-affidavit deposed to by Oyakhilome Ekienabor, a litigation officer in Oyetibo’s law firm, the EFCC opposed Diezani’s request to present the evidence. When the case was called on Tuesday, Mrs. Queen-Ubokutom Uwe, who appeared for Diezani, informed the court that the matter was slated for the hearing of the EFCC’s preliminary objection and their originating motion. She, however, told the court that the commission had just served them with a motion prior to the commencement of hearing. Uwe said the motion was the respondent’s further counter-affidavit to their further/supplementary affidavit. She equally reminded the court of their motion to regularise their processes. Responding, the court adjourned till November 11 for hearing of

the motions. The EFCC in its further counter-affidavit, dated and filed October 5, stated that some of the depositions in Diezani’s application were misleading, immaterial and irrelevant to the substantive issues for determination in her present suit. “The proceedings before the Southwark Crown Court, London, United Kingdom, and the purported acquittal of the applicant therein, are in respect of a proceeding that is not being prosecuted before any Nigerian court and have nothing to

do with the substantive suit before this honourable court.” According to the litigation officer, there is nothing in the public sale notice indicating that any of the properties listed therein belong to the applicant (Diezani). Ekienabor submitted that “the order for forfeiture relates exclusively to items of jewelry and does not extend to any other category of assets or properties.” He argued that parties are not permitted to expand the scope of a matter before a court. “The applicant’s further/

The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Rivers State for the 2027 election, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has unveiled an ambitious plan to grow the state’s economy from its current estimated $20 billion to $200 billion within 15 years. He explained why he chose not to pursue what he described as a prolonged legal battle over his 2023 electoral mandate. Speaking yesterday, during a

media chat in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area, LuluBriggs said his proposed “Reset Rivers State,” agenda would focus on transforming the state from an economy heavily dependent on oil and federal allocations into a diversified production and investment hub. He said his administration would lay the foundations for a $200 billion economy through improved power supply, logistics, serviced industrial land, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, the blue economy, creative

affecting her proprietary rights. “A major plank of the applicant’s case before this honourable court is that the respondent had sought to visit the applicant with grave proprietary consequences without conviction, without fair hearing, and without strict compliance with the relevant statutory provisions regulating forfeiture, management and disposal of properties.” The lawyer said Diezani had filed her amended originating motion on February 19, 2025, pursuant to the leave of the court granted on February 17, 2025.

Yayi Challenges Critics Over Ogun Origin, Declares: ‘I’m Candidate to Beat’ Defends Ogun roots, denies Guardian sack and name-change claims Wale Igbintade The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, yesterday challenged those questioning his origin to investigate his family history, insisting that he is from Ogun State and declaring himself “the candidate to beat” in the election. Adeola, who spoke at a media parley in Lagos, also dismissed al-

legations that he was sacked by The Guardian newspaper, insisting that he resigned from the organisation. He equally rejected claims that he improperly changed his name, saying the change was duly advertised and communicated to the newspaper. The senator challenged journalists to investigate the allegations surrounding his background rather than rely on claims allegedly being circulated by his political opponents. “As we speak, somebody was

2027: NDC Guber Candidate, Lulu-Briggs Targets $200 Billion Rivers Economy Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

supplementary affidavit introduces irrelevant facts into this suit, thereby diverting attention from the core issues before this honourable court,” he said. He, therefore, prayed the court to discountenance Diezani’s further/ supplementary affidavit seeking to present evidence of her acquittal in the UK court. Diezani had in the 10-ground motion filed by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, challenged among other things, the public notice issued by the EFCC for the public auction/sale of properties and/or personal effects

industries, skills development and stronger environmental governance. “Our vision is long term but remains honest about what our administration can do. We will lay the foundation for moving Rivers State from the current approximation of a $20 billion economy to one that will become a $200 billion economy in fifteen years,” he said. According to him, achieving the target would require sustained annual growth, private-sector investment and fundamental reforms

in the political and governance environment. “It will probably require about 16.7 percent year-on-year growth. That’s a big number,” he said, stressing that the state possessed the human and natural resources required to pursue such an ambitious transformation. Lulu-Briggs also addressed questions over his decision not to pursue the 2023 governorship dispute to its ultimate legal conclusion, despite running what he described as a strong campaign.

saying, ‘I have his father’s burial programme.’ Where my father was buried is 30 minutes away from here. It’s not too far. It’s in Alimosho area, number 3 Ogunbiyi Close, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos. His house, that’s where he was buried,” he said. Adeola said his mother was buried at the Victoria Garden City Cemetery, while his maternal grandmother was buried in Ikeja. He urged journalists to establish the facts about his background and “report to Nigerians where Yayi is from.” The APC candidate also dismissed the allegation that he was sacked by The Guardian, insisting that he voluntarily resigned from the newspaper. “They say, ‘Ah, he never resigned from The Guardian, he was sacked.’ So how can I be running for an exalted office like that, and have such a big skeleton in my cupboard, and I’ll be comfortable?” he asked. On the allegation that he changed his name, Adeola said: “I didn’t change my name, and I did it in The Guardian newspaper. I advertised it in The Guardian, I notified The Guardian newspaper.” He accused his political opponents of resorting to personal attacks because, according to him, they lacked substantive issues with

which to challenge his candidacy. “They don’t understand, because they have nothing to fight with. So they have to say something to discredit me, and I’m the candidate to beat,” he said. “I’m the candidate to beat. They can’t match me. I have addressed you here today, let them come and address you and tell you what they have for the state. They have nothing.” Adeola said the controversy over his origin was part of an attempt to undermine his political ambition. “I do not want to join issues with them. They have nothing to offer,” he said. He added that the reaction of some of his supporters in Ogun State to the controversy was: “Let him come from Afghanistan! We will vote for him.” On Ogun State’s finances, Adeola said he would renegotiate the state’s debt repayment obligations with lenders if elected, arguing that the government needed sufficient fiscal space to function effectively. Referring to a debt figure of about N538 billion, he attributed part of the increase to exchange-rate fluctuations, noting that some loans had been contracted when the naira traded at about N300, N400 or N600 to the dollar.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 • THISDAY

NEWS

LIFTING 5 MILLION NIGERIANS OUT OF POVERTY THROUGH SKILLS ACQUISITION...

L-R: Empowered and Ready for Business Beneﬁciaries of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) training programme, AI and Graphics Workstream- Enwongo Samuel and Adepoju Emmanuel Omoniyi; Fashion workstream, Peter Blessing; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, Dr. Biola Arogundade; Oluwatobiloba Aroniyo (Fashion); Bolanle Temitayo and Jacob Henry of the Make up class, all showcase their start-up kits in the company of Dr. Arogundade, at the Kesington Adebutu Hall, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Ibadan, Oyo State ... recently

Tinubu: Monday’s Loss of Brave NAF Men and Women, a Painful Moment for Nigeria Shettima, Atiku, northern govs, conference of speakers, Makinde-Daura Campaign, NEMA, NGF, ADC, CAN mourn Senate suspends national security summit to honour deceased Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan, Sunday Aborisade, Folalumi Alaran, Kuni Tyessi in Abuja, Segun Awofadeji in Gombe, Fidelis David in Akure, Sylvester Idowu in Warri, Yemi Kosoko in Jos and Ayodeji Ake in Lagos President Bola Tinubu has described Monday’s loss of Nigerian Air Force men and women to a plane crash as a painful moment for both the armed forces and the nation. Tinubu, in a post on X, @officialABAT, declared that the country honoured the services and remembered the sacrifices of the slain air personnel. Thirty-two persons died in the military aircraft that crashed near a naval base around Igbokoda in Ondo State. Tinubu, in the eight-paragraph message, stated, among others, “Yesterday, Nigeria lost brave men and women of our Air Force in the service of our country. “This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. “Behind every uniform is a family. A spouse, a child, a parent, a brother or sister who expected their loved one home. Nigeria grieves with them. “I have declared three days of national mourning and directed that our flags be flown at half-mast throughout the country in honour of those we have lost. “The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences. “I also commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate search and rescue operation following the accident. We honour their service. We remember their sacrifice. May the souls of our departed heroes rest in peace.”

Shettima: Their Sacriﬁces Won’t Be Forgotten Vice President Kashim Shettima also paid tribute to the officers and those who lost their lives in Monday’s Air Force aircraft crash, saying their supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation would never be forgotten. Shettima assured the bereaved families that the federal government’s responsibility to them would not end with words of condolence. He said a nation that asked its citizens to serve must also remember those who paid

the ultimate price in that service. In a statement, the vice president conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased, as well as officers, airmen, and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, describing the tragedy as a painful national loss. He stated, “Thirty-two of our compatriots left on a routine mission in the service of their country. They were colleagues, friends and comrades. But beyond the uniforms they wore and the ranks they held, they were husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. “Somewhere today, there is an empty chair. Somewhere, a family is still trying to comprehend the sudden silence left by someone who was expected to return home. These are the human faces of the supreme sacrifice we speak about as a nation.” Reaffirming Tinubu’s message following the tragedy, Shettima stated that the president had declared three days of national mourning and directed that flags be flown at half-mast in honour of the deceased. He also acknowledged the president’s directive for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, saying the country mourns with the families as they await answers. According to him, the ultimate sacrifice made by the deceased imposed an enduring obligation on the country to remember both their service and the loved ones they left behind. Shettima stated, “We cannot ask the bereaved to be strong today. Grief does not obey instructions. We can only assure them that Nigeria remembers, Nigeria mourns with them, and Nigeria will stand beside them beyond these days of mourning. “To the men and women of the Nigerian Air Force, we know that this loss is yours in a particularly personal way. Your fallen colleagues have paid the supreme price. A grateful nation honours their courage, their service and the families who shared them with Nigeria.”

Ondo Deploys Special Equipment to Retrieve Sunken Aircraft Ondo State Government deployed two specialised swamp buggies to the crash site of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area, as recovery teams battled to retrieve the wreckage, which sank deep into the swamp. Commissioner for Health, Professor Banji Ajaka, disclosed this

Crew and Passengers on board the ill-fated NAF 931 aircraft CREW 1. Squadron Leader MI Aburime (Flight Captain)

2. Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje (Co-pilot)

3. Flight Lieutenant IS Bako (Co-pilot) 4. Warrant Oﬃcer Abubakar A (Aircraft Technician)

5. Corporal Uguru HC (Aircraft Technician) PASSENGERS 6. Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus 7. Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye 8. Flying Officer IM Adeshina 9. Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F 10. Master Warrant Officer Matini BA 11. Warrant Officer Nuhu FS 12 Flight Sergeant James RB 13. Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI 14. Sergeant Ani AE 15. Sergeant Izibenikien SI 16. Sergeant Alafuka C 17. Sergeant Mbadugha AN 18. Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC 19. Lance Corporal Eledan GE 20. Mrs Ezeh Nneka 21. Godstmine Tarabina 22. Joy Micheal 23. Sunday Micheal 24. Ukeme David 25. Gideon Omotola yesterday while speaking with journalists at the crash site. Ajaka said conventional vehicles and boats could not access the location where the aircraft went down. He stated that the aircraft, an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931, crashed about 500 metres east of the Nigerian Naval Forward Operation Base in Igbokoda after the pilots apparently diverted it away from the densely populated community. According to him, the diversion by the pilots prevented what could have been a far greater tragedy in the coastal town. Ajaka stated, “Let’s start with a real story. It’s not news for the whole country that aircraft was carrying about 32 persons — 25 passengers and seven crew members, making 32. That’s a serious situation. “The aircraft crash-landed and dived into the forest close to the Naval base,

about 500 metres east of the base. From the eyewitness account, it could have caused a terrible accident in the whole of Igbokoda community. But for the bravery of the pilots, they diverted the aircraft away from the community.” The commissioner said the state government, security agencies, local authorities, and emergency responders had been involved in the search and recovery operation since Monday, shortly after the crash. He said, “Since yesterday, the search and rescue operation has been going on. We joined the Commanding Officer of the Forward Operation Base in Igbokoda and we’ve been on rescue operations.” Ajaka added that the Ministry of Health, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), environmental and safety officials, and local government personnel had all been mobilised. He explained that the difficult swampy terrain had significantly slowed the operation, necessitating the deployment of specialised equipment capable of moving through waterlogged ground. He stated, “The latest is that the swamp buggy has been deployed. Two of them are here now because that’s what is needed. It’s not an easy thing. It’s not something that you can just take a vehicle or a speedboat to.” According to him, the specialised machines would be used to reach the depth where the aircraft had sunk and facilitate the recovery of the wreckage and other materials. The commissioner said, “You can see that this one comes with a low bed. I brought it. This one has to float and swim down to the other side so that they can get to the depth where the body of the aircraft is.” Ajaka attributed the difficulty in recovering the aircraft to the force of the impact and the weight of the aircraft, saying it had gone deep into the swamp. He said, “It has gone down. You know the force, the weight and the force with which it went down. So, that is what we’re doing now. There is no delay. We are deploying as fast as possible.” The commissioner also disclosed that senior military officers, including naval and air force commanders, as well as the state Commissioner for Environment, were at the scene coordinating the recovery efforts. Ajaka said, “We see rescue. The divers are doing their work. We are bringing wrecks out. For the body, the real body, this has to go down. We have to excavate deep down for the aircraft

to be brought out.” He explained that the authorities had yet to recover a major section of the aircraft, saying the operation would determine the full extent of the casualties. “We have not seen a major body. By the time we bring the body out, we will be able to see the corpses,” Ajaka said.

NOA Mobilises Nigerians for Half-Mast Flag Observance National Orientation Agency (NOA) commenced mobilisation for proper observance of the national flag at half-mast during the three-day national mourning declared for personnel of the Nigerian Air Force killed in the Igbokoda aircraft crash. Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed this in a condolence message to the Nigerian Air Force and families of the deceased personnel. Issa-Onilu stressed that the agency would intensify efforts to promote compliance with the presidential directive during the mourning period. He described the deaths as a painful loss to the country, saying the fallen personnel demonstrated courage, discipline, patriotism, and commitment to national service. He said the national flag remained a symbol of Nigeria’s sovereignty, unity, and shared identity, urging Nigerians to observe the mourning period with the dignity and respect befitting the sacrifice of the personnel. The NOA boss also commiserated with the Chief of the Air Staff, officers and personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, as well as the families of the deceased. He called on Nigerians to use the period to reflect on the sacrifices of members of the Armed Forces and their responsibility to uphold patriotism and national unity.

Atiku: Circumstances of Their Death Heart-breaking Presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, expressed grief over the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State, saying the circumstances of their death makes it particularly heart-rending. In a statement by his media office, Atiku described the tragedy as a painful national loss. He said, in the statement, “The loss of our servicemen and women is deeply painful. But the knowledge that their family members, including young children

returning to school, were also among those whose lives were cut short makes this tragedy even more devastating. “These were men and women serving our country, alongside loved ones whose hopes, dreams and futures have been extinguished in one tragic moment.” Atiku said, “My thoughts and prayers are with every family that has lost a loved one. I extend my deepest condolences to the Nigerian Air Force, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the government and people of Ondo State, and indeed the entire nation. “I pray that Almighty God grants eternal rest to the departed, comforts their grieving families and gives our nation the strength to bear this painful loss.” The former vice president also expressed the hope that the investigation into the crash would establish its cause and help strengthen aviation safety within the armed forces to prevent a recurrence.

Their Death Reminds Us of Sacriﬁces Routinely Made by Our military, Say Northern Govs Chairman of Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NNGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, expressed sorrow over the crash, saying the deaths is a reminder of the sacrifices routinely made by the Nigerian military. Yahaya, in a condolence message on behalf of his colleagues in NNGF, sympathised with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Tinubu, Nigerian Air Force, the armed forces, and the bereaved families over the painful loss. According to the message contained in a press release by Director-General, Press Affairs, Ismaila Uba Misilli, NNGF said the deceased paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, stressing that their courage and service to the country would not be forgotten. He commended the federal government for the prompt measures taken in response to the tragedy, particularly the directive for a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash, as well as the immediate activation of search-and-rescue operations. The NNGF chairman also applauded Tinubu for declaring three days of national mourning and directing that the national flag be flown at half-mast in honour of the fallen personnel, describing the gesture as a fitting tribute to their service and sacrifice. Continued on page 39

THISDAY • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

NEWS

ROTARY CLUB OF IJOKO FELLOWSHIP...

L-R: Administrator Rotary Club of Ijoko, Rotarian Gbadebo Olayemi; President, Interact Club of Crescent International High School Ijoko, Interactor Oke Semilore; Secretary, Interactor Owolabi Happiness; and President Rotary Club of Ijoko, Rotarian Adesola Ibukun Adeyemi, during their fellowship held at the School Hall... recently

INEC Demands Prompt Release of Remaining Budget for Seamless 2027 Polls Vows elections will be global benchmark for transparency, integrity Says Accord, APGA, Youth Party nominated no presidential candidates EU pledges support, says it has no preferred candidate, party Police to review all security preparations IPAC warns INEC against supporting any party, candidate Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on the federal government to promptly release its remaining budget to ensure a seamless execution of the rest of the electoral activities. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the plea yesterday in Abuja at a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting marking 100 days to the 2027 general election. Amupitan, however, assured that the 2027 general election would be a global benchmark for transparency, integrity, and peace. He stressed that the 100-day milestone was not just a countdown, but a call to action and a final phase to deliver an election that would be a “global benchmark for transparency, integrity, and peace”. According to him, “This 100-day milestone is not just a countdown; it is a call to action. It marks the beginning

of the final phase of our preparations to ensure that the 2027 General Election is not only successful but serves as a global benchmark for transparency, integrity, and peace.” The INEC chairman said since assuming office on October 23, 2025, his leadership had conducted major off-cycle polls — Anambra, Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, FCT Area Council polls and federal and state by-elections — all of which passed integrity tests by local and international observers. He recalled that the commission issued a revised timetable on February 26, 2026 with 14 critical statutory milestones, of which nine had been executed. The chairman stated that the operational plan was synchronised across 23 departments, 36 state offices, FCT, and 774 local government area offices. Amupitan revealed that the federal government had released statutory allocations, enabling the commission to meet vendor obligations and upgrade

technology and infrastructure, but called for prompt release of the balance. He stated, “Executing a national election of this magnitude requires robust financial backing and fiscal discipline. “The federal government has maintained its commitment to democratic governance through the timely release of statutory budgetary allocations to the Commission. “Operating under a framework of transparent fiscal management, these funds have enabled us to meet international vendor obligations, finance the production of critical election technology, upgrade physical infrastructure, and sustain multi-stakeholder operational deployments nationwide. “However, we expect the prompt release of the remaining budget to ensure seamless execution of the remaining activities.” On nominations, Amupitan said 18 of 22 registered parties submitted presidential candidates. He said Accord party, All Progressives

Grand Alliance (APGA) and Youth Party nominated none, while the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) withdrew during the substitution window. For National Assembly, Amupitan revealed that 21 parties sponsored 1,313 senatorial and 3,547 House of Representatives candidates. He explained that for governorship and state Assemblies, 21 parties nominated 936 governorship/deputy and 9,692 Assembly candidates. The chairman stressed that 112 complaints on unlawful withdrawal, substitution, and typographical errors were investigated and resolved, except those in court. He said the commission was also reviewing a Supreme Court judgement delivered September 24, 2026 in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party affirming Section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, adding that the Certified True Copy (CTC) was received Tuesday morning. Amupitan pointed out that the commission restored 27 state constituencies in Benue, Delta, Jigawa and Kogi states

between June-August 2026, and created two new constituencies in Delta — Warri South West II and Warri North II — to implement the Supreme Court decision in Hon. George U. Timinimi & Ors v. INEC. The chairman said in line with Section 10 of the Electoral Act, Phase I of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) ran from August 25 to December 10, 2025 and registered 2,611,266 voters. He said Phase II ran from January 5 to April 17, 2026 and registered 4,121,835. Phase III ran from May 11 to July 26, 2026 and registered 3,867,997. Amupitan revealed that the total registration was 10,772,421, following the conclusion of Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) verification. The National Register of Voters now stands at 103 million, he said. Following the completion of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise conducted in three phases, Lagos led with 7,488,633 voters; Kano - 6,570,276; Kaduna - 4,662,640; Katsina - 3,876,05; Rivers - 3,736,434; Oyo - 3,588,111;

Delta - 3,525,988; Benue - 3,057,225; Ogun - 3,037,981; and Bauchi - 3,012,547. Amupitan explained that states with lowest figures were Ekiti – 1,055,708; Bayelsa – 1,200,691; FCT – 1,732,043; Yobe – 1,733,671; and Gombe – 1,768,566. He stressed that by gender, male voters constituted 53,528,218 (51.75 per cent) and female voters accounted for 49,900,497 (48.25 per cent). By age, he said voters aged 35-49 dominated with 43.2 million (41.83 per cent), followed by 18-34 with 29.7 million (28.79 per cent), 50-69 with 22.9 million (22.22 per cent), and 70+ with 7.4 million (7.16 per cent). While Persons with Disabilities were 232,658 (0.23 per cent), with the largest category being “Others” - 101,183, whereas Albinism accounted for 44,023 and physical impediment 27,141. Amupitan stated that those registered under blindness were 19,939 (8.57 per cent), while deafness accounted for 14,326 (6.16 per cent). Continued on page 39

CITING IMPROVING MACROECONOMIC STABILITY, STRENGTHENING INVESTOR CONFIDENCE, WORLD BANK UPGRADES NIGERIA’S GROWTH FORECAST TO 4.3% forecasts upgraded for nearly threequarters of countries in the region, including Angola, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Zambia. These gains reflect years of reforms and improved economic management.” He said, “The next challenge is turning growth into more jobs and better opportunities. By investing in the foundations of an AI-ready economy, African countries can unlock productivity gains, spur innovation, and accelerate the structural transformation needed to raise living standards and reduce poverty.”

AI opportunity hinges on basic infrastructure The global development institution urged governments in Sub-Saharan Africa to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to raise productivity and create jobs, saying the continent needs to take advantage of new technologies while addressing infrastructure and skills gaps. The update identified Artificial Intelligence (AI) as one potential lever, but stressed that Africa’s AI opportunity will depend less on developing frontier technologies than on fixing the basic economic infrastructure required to deploy af-

fordable, locally relevant applications. Most African countries remain at an early stage of AI adoption, with activity concentrated in a handful of economies, notably Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Rather than attempting to compete immediately in frontier AI systems, the report said the bigger opportunity lies in small, affordable applications adapted to local conditions and capable of operating with limited bandwidth. It pointed out that such applications could improve productivity across agriculture, education, healthcare, financial services, logistics and public administration. For African economies, however, the technology opportunity could remain limited without improvements in reliable electricity, affordable internet access, digital skills, quality data and computing infrastructure. The report particularly examined how AI can raise productivity, improve services, and create jobs as most countries are still at an early stage of AI adoption, with activity concentrated in a small number of economies, notably Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. The region’s greatest opportunity lies in affordable, locally adapted

small AI applications, meaning low bandwidth tools for education, agriculture, health, finance, logistics, and public administration, rather than frontier AI systems. It stated that realising these benefits will require investments in reliable electricity, affordable connectivity, digital skills, quality data, compute infrastructure, and effective governance.

Financing pressures could slow AI ambitions The report also comes against a difficult financing backdrop. The median inflation rate in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to increase from 3.7 per cent in 2025 to 5.5 per cent in 2026, reflecting renewed pressure from global fuel, fertiliser and food prices. Public debt has broadly stabilised at about 57 per cent of GDP, but elevated debt-service costs continue to squeeze public spending on health, education and infrastructure. With development assistance declining, the World Bank said African countries would increasingly have to mobilise domestic revenue, deepen local capital markets and secure more sustainable sources of financing. The combination creates a potential

constraint on the region’s technology ambitions: the investments required to build an AI-ready economy are competing with immediate demands for infrastructure, social services and debt servicing. The World Bank warned that the outlook also remained exposed to geopolitical tensions, tighter global financial conditions, climate-related shocks, disease outbreaks and insecurity. A renewed rise in commodity prices could intensify inflation and weaken external and fiscal balances, while climate shocks, including the possible effects of an El Niño event, could disrupt agricultural production and worsen food insecurity. The report added that risks remained tilted to the downside, stressing that further geopolitical tensions could trigger additional increases in commodity prices, intensify inflation, and weaken external and fiscal balances. Also, climate-related shocks, including the effects of a potential El Niño event, could disrupt agricultural production and worsen food insecurity, while tighter financing conditions would further constrain fiscal space, the World Bank added. Against this backdrop, the report

stated that AI should be viewed less as a technology-sector opportunity and more as a tool for improving productivity across the wider economy. It said strong institutions, technical capacity and effective implementation would be necessary to translate AI adoption into broad-based economic gains. Regional cooperation could also become important, particularly through the African Union’s Continental AI Strategy and the African Continental Free Trade Area, which could help countries scale locally developed solutions beyond individual national markets. According to the report, “Inflation is projected to decline from 23 per cent in 2025 to 15.7 per cent in 2026 and ease further to 12.2 per cent by 2028.” The update attributed the expected moderation to the effects of monetary tightening, exchange-rate stabilisation and improving supply conditions. “Lower inflation is expected to support household purchasing power and contribute to a gradual reduction in poverty,” the World Bank stated. However, the bank cautioned that the pace of poverty reduction could remain constrained by elevated fuel

prices associated with the conflict in the Middle East, which it said continued to weigh disproportionately on low-income households. The outlook for Nigeria’s external position also remains positive in the near term. The current account surplus is projected to widen from 4.8 per cent of GDP in 2025 to 6.0 per cent in 2026, before gradually narrowing to 3.4 per cent by 2028 as oil prices normalise and import demand strengthens. The institution said growth across Sub-Saharan Africa had held up despite heightened geopolitical tensions, weaker development financing, mounting debt-service burdens and other domestic pressures. It noted that 35 of the region’s 47 countries had seen upward revisions to their 2026 growth forecasts. The improvement, according to the report, reflects a combination of cyclical and structural factors. Oil exporters such as Nigeria have benefited from stronger commodity prices and increased extractive-sector activity, while other economies have been supported by agricultural recoveries, stronger domestic demand and structural reforms aimed at improving the business environment and attracting investment.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 • THISDAY

NEWS

AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE PRESENTS LETTERS OF CREDENCE...

The 17th Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the French Republic, Ambassador Ayodele Oke (left), presenting his Letters of Credence to President Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace in Paris, on Monday

NUPRC AT 5: I’LL USE NIGERIA’S OIL RESOURCES TO BUILD MODERN ECONOMY, SAYS PRESIDENT million barrels per day in April, while gas production increased from 6.83 billion standard cubic feet per day to about 7.97 billion standard cubic feet per day. Eyesan said the Commission had also reduced approval time for reactivating shut-in wells from between two and six weeks to between two and four hours and approved 37 new crude evacuation routes. On the next phase of the regulatory regime, she said NUPRC would move into what she described as the “age of compliance”, under which every licensee and lessee would be scored and the results published. “For this reason, the Commission will begin to score the compliance of every licensee and lessee, and to publish the results. The scores will cover the obligations that matter: work programme delivery; payment of royalties, rents and fees; domestic crude and gas supply obligations; measurement and data reporting; gas flaring; health, safety and environment; decommissioning provisions; and host community trust contributions. “The criteria will be clear, results will be verified, and operators will have the opportunity to correct factual errors before publication. Investors, financiers, host communities and the public will then be able to see who is keeping faith with the PIA,” she added. She said NUPRC itself would be subject to the same culture of accountability, with the Commission finalising service-level agreements with industry that would establish timelines for approvals and enable operators to assess the regulator’s speed, consistency and complaint-resolution record. Eyesan said the immediate priority was to restore more than 788,000 bpd of shut-in production across 63 operators, take offshore projects valued at between $30 billion and $50 billion to FID and raise domestic gas delivery from about two-thirds of the obligation to full delivery.

Ojulari: Oil Sector Stars More Aligned Now Than Ever Also speaking, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Bayo Ojulari, said the NNPC was increasingly being approached with investment opportunities, adding that the company was focused on growing reserves, increasing production, accelerating gas development and creating long-term value for Nigeria. Ojulari said the evolution of NUPRC had shown that effective regulation went beyond oversight to enabling businesses, facilitating investment and creating sustainable value. “Five years in the life of an institution appears relatively short. However, NUPRC’s journey has demonstrated what can be achieved when vision,

professionalism and commitment align with national aspirations. You can see what can be achieved even in one year as you listen to our CCE. A lot can be achieved when the stars are aligned. “And I can tell you confidently that the stars in our industry have never been more aligned than what we have today. As a strategic industry partner, NNPC Limited has harnessed the evolution that NUPRC has been through firsthand. The Commission has increasingly demonstrated that effective regulation goes beyond oversight. It is also about enabling businesses, facilitating investment and being a catalyst for sustainable value creation,” he said. According to him, constructive engagement, regulatory clarity, improved approval processes and collaborative problem-solving had helped create an environment where operators could concentrate on delivering value while maintaining safety, compliance and operational excellence. He said the next phase required policy consistency, regulatory predictability, operational discipline and continued collaboration between regulators and operators. “Most of the great countries that we admire, whether it’s Aramco, whether it’s Brazil, whether it’s Petronas, what drives them is co-creation between the regulators and the operators to differentiate the country and put the country in the leadership position. “That is what we have today, and that is what we want to consolidate. NNPC Limited therefore looks forward to further deepening its partnership with NUPRC. We remain committed to constructive engagement with the Commission and our industry partners as we work together towards an efficient, competitive, investable industry that delivers enduring economic value to the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Lokpobiri Says Nigeria Now Top Investment Destination Also, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, said the Commission’s performance should ultimately be judged by the businesses and production it enabled rather than simply by the number of regulations it issued. He cited Nigeria’s rising oil production as a plus for the economy, describing the increase as a major improvement, while pointing to a sharp increase in drilling activity as an important indicator of future production. “One thing that you didn’t say in your own achievements is the level of drilling campaign we have. The level of drilling campaigns going on in the industry is unprecedented. When we came, we had less than 10 active rigs. Today we have over 70 active

rigs, and still counting. “And so, the drilling campaign of today is what will produce the barrels of tomorrow. Our ambition to do 3 million barrels will be a mirage unless we have a sustainable and increasing campaign in this industry. “Having said that, it is important for me to say that NUPRC has done well in five years. Continue on this trajectory of rendering excellent services that will guarantee sustainable growth in this industry. Do the best you are doing to ensure that we are not sent back to Egypt. Let us continue on this road to Israel,” he advised. Lokpobiri said Nigeria’s large reserves would only become economically meaningful if regulatory processes enabled technically and financially capable businesses to develop them. “Nigeria all of a sudden seems to be one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world...What we need to assure them is the predictability of our environment. What we need to assure them is that our fiscal and regulatory frameworks are globally competitive and even better than any other jurisdiction in the world. “Once we are able to do that, I believe that all those people who are coming with their dollars are bound to come to Nigeria because we are located in such a strategic location,” he argued. He urged NUPRC to make swift and transparent decisions in the next five years, warning that delays could divert capital to competing jurisdictions. Chairman of the NUPRC Governing Board, Senator Magnus Abe, said the Commission’s progress had been supported by Tinubu’s executive orders, policy direction and non-interference in its regulatory processes. Abe said NUPRC had made significant strides in implementing the PIA, strengthening regulatory processes and creating a more transparent and investment-friendly upstream environment, while urging the Commission to continue evolving into a modern, professional, technology-driven and globally respected regulator. In his remarks, NMDPRA’s Chief Executive, Rabiu Umar, said the creation of NUPRC and NMDPRA under the PIA represented complementary reforms rather than separate purposes, stressing that upstream production could not thrive without functioning midstream and downstream markets. He said investors required clear rules, credible institutions, predictable approvals, respected contracts, working infrastructure and trusted data, adding that policy continuity was critical for investors operating on 20- to 30-year horizons. Sarkin Adar, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), represented by Jane Onwumere, said NUPRC had replaced regulatory ambiguity with predictability.

He explained that transparency, accountability, data openness and the rule of law remained essential to attracting long-term capital. In his goodwill message, President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro, noted that regulatory clarity had contributed to increased industry activity but urged NUPRC to pay greater attention to workers, particularly contract staff in the upstream sector. He said the disparity in compensation between permanent and contract workers remained a major concern and called for greater clarity and fairness in the treatment of contract staff by international and indigenous operators. For its part, the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) said its contribution to national production had risen from about 3 per cent when the organisation was established more than a decade ago to 52 per cent last year, attributing the growth to an enabling regulatory environment. Its President, Adegbite Falade, lauded the NUPRC for creating the right environment for the indigenous oil companies to thrive. Representative of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and Managing Director of ExxonMobil, Jagir Baxi, said a strong, fair and predictable regulatory framework was good for both business and Nigeria, noting that consultation between operators and NUPRC had produced more practical and globally aligned regulations. He said dialogue, transparency and efficiency in approvals had improved, adding that the industry still needed to tackle production constraints, gas development, costs and security to attract long-term investment.

FG Opens 2026 Oil Bid Round, Offers 40 Blocks Meanwhile, the federal government yesterday opened the 2026 Nigerian oil licensing round, offering 40 oil blocks across land, shallow water and deepwater terrains as it intensified efforts to attract fresh capital into the upstream sector. The NUPRC, which announced the round on the sideline of the commission’s 5th anniversary celebration, said the new process would introduce stronger transparency measures, including mandatory disclosure of the beneficial owners of all bidders, fuller publication of evaluation methodology and results, and strict adherence to a published bidding timetable. Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the exercise had received the approval of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, adding that the blocks would be open to investors with the technical competence, financial capacity and

commitment required to develop Nigeria’s petroleum resources. “Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over. It is with great joy that I announce that pursuant to the approval of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian 2026 Licensing Round is hereby announced. “This round offers 40 blocks across land, shallow water and deepwater terrains…They are open to investors with the technical competence, financial capability and, above all, the commitment to develop Nigeria’s petroleum resources. “We will not rest on our oars. Competition for upstream capital is fierce, and it grows fiercer by the day. Investors have choices. They go where the rules are clear, where the process is predictable and where data can be trusted,” she stated. Eyesan’s announcement followed the completion of the 2025 Nigerian Licensing Round, which attracted substantial interest from both domestic and international investors. Eyesan disclosed that 143 companies submitted 200 bids in the 2025 exercise, with 31 companies emerging as winners of 37 blocks. The exercise also generated interest in frontier basins outside the traditional Niger Delta producing areas, including the Anambra Basin, Benue Trough, Chad Basin and Benin Basin. Since the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) came into force in 2021, the NUPRC said it had conducted three licensing exercises, the 2022 Deep Offshore Mini Bid Round, the 2024 Nigerian Licensing Round and the 2025 Nigerian Licensing Round, resulting in the award of 57 Petroleum Prospecting Licences. Eyesan said the 2026 exercise would build on lessons from previous rounds and recommendations by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), stressing that petroleum acreage would no longer be awarded at the discretion of officials. “Five years ago, the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 gave birth to the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission and placed in our hands a sacred trust to administer Nigeria’s petroleum resources for the benefit of all Nigerians. “Of all the reforms the PIA brought, none speaks more to who we are than this: in Nigeria, petroleum acreage is won, not given. It is no longer discretionary. The PIA made transparent and competitive bidding the rules for the award of Petroleum Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Mining Leases. Clear rules have taken the place of discretion. We have honoured that reform,” she added. She said the commission had accepted recommendations from NEITI’s

review of the 2022 to 2024 licensing rounds, which found the exercises generally professional, transparent and inclusive, but identified areas requiring improvement. According to her, the recommendations focused on evaluation methodology, disclosure of results, public access to bidding information and beneficial ownership disclosure. “The guidelines will also set out our evaluation methodology in full, provide for fuller publication of results and require disclosure of beneficial owners of every bidder, in keeping with NEITI’s counsel,” she said. Eyesan also promised that the timetable for the 2026 round would be published at the outset and adhered to, arguing that certainty over the process was critical to investors seeking board approvals, mobilising funds and preparing bids. “In 2025, when we published, there was a lot of scepticism about whether we would meet the timeline. And we proved all our skeptics wrong. We were right on time, not one day late. Investors must plan. Boards must approve. Funds must be mobilised. Every one of these decisions depends on dates that hold. We will certainly hold,” she stated. The regulator also stated that it plans to improve engagement with prospective bidders through its licensing website and portal, virtual data room, webinars and a dedicated help desk. Eyesan said all material clarifications made during the process would be communicated to every participant to prevent any bidder from gaining an information advantage. “And every material clarification will be shared with all participants. No bidder will know what others do not,” she said. The commission said the new licensing round was part of efforts to raise Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production, increase reserves and expand gas development, disclosing that assets offered in the previous licensing exercises, subject to successful development, could add about 500 million barrels of reserves and at least 300,000 barrels per day of crude oil and condensate production within five years. She said the expected additions would support Nigeria’s ambition of raising production to 3 million barrels per day by 2030. The assets, she added, were also expected to contribute about 20 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves and 50 million standard cubic feet of gas per day of production, in support of the federal government’s ‘Decade of Gas’ initiative. However, Eyesan warned prospective winners that securing acreage would not be an end in itself, insisting that successful bidders would be expected to move quickly into exploration and development.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7, 2026 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

MEDICAL OUTREACH FOR THE PEOPLE…

L-R: Chairman, Health Outreach, Mrs Ify Izagbo; Vice President, Association of Ibusa Professional Women (AIPROW), Mrs Vera Nwanze; President, AIPROW, Mrs Elizabeth Idigbe; National President, Ibusa Association, USA, Mrs Anthonia Dibeashi; Dr Prisca Okeleke, and Secretary, AIPROW, Uche Amatokwu, during the annual medical outreach organised by the association in collaboration with Ibusa Association, USA, for residents of Ibusa and adjoining communities in Delta State…recently

Korka-Waadah to Tinubu: Stop Attacking Amaechi, Address Nigeria’s Economic Hardship ADC senatorial candidate chides govt for neglecting masses

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt and George Okoh in Makurdi Political management consultant and Executive Director of Compassionate Heart Foundation of Canada, Joe Korka-Waadah, has challenged critics of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to stop dwelling

on his reference to his late Bola Tinubu. mother and instead address “Leave Rotimi Amaechi the economic hardship and alone. He is the messenger, policy failures in the country and listen to the message of the hour that he has delivered,” he (Amaechi) raised. Korka-Waadah said Amaechi’s intervention should be viewed as a courageous attempt to draw attention to Deborah Ndinorouba the difficulties confronting millions of Nigerians under Banking communication the administration of President professionals have been urged to make credibility, clarity, innovation and ethical conduct central to their work as Nigeria’s financial services industry undergoes rapid the mandatory retirement age digital transformation. The call was made at the of 70. In addition to immortalising her name, the governor presented Justice Omoleye with a mini bus and disclosed that David-Chyddy Eleke in she would return to officially Awka inaugurate the court complex There was mild drama at the upon its completion. The ceremony, held at the Anambra State High Court in Court of Appeal, Ado-Ekiti, Awka yesterday as persons drew serving and retired judicial suspected to be supporters officers, Senior Advocates of and church members Nigeria (SANs), government of the General Overseer officials, family members and of Dayspring Assembly, members of the legal profession Awada-Obosi, Pastor Harrison in celebration of a woman Anazodo, attacked journalists widely acknowledged for her contributions to Nigeria’s justice system. Ayodeji Ake

After nearly 48 years of distinguished service in the legal profession and judiciary, the career of Hon. Justice Oyebisi Omoleye reached a fitting climax on Tuesday as the Ekiti State Government announced that the new High Court Complex under construction in the state would be named after the retiring Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ekiti Division. The announcement by Governor Biodun Oyebanji came at a valedictory court session organised in honour of the jurist, who bowed out of active judicial service on attaining

A medical expert, Dr. Ademola Tosin Ojo, has urged Nigerians to embrace healthy and balanced eating habits, stressing that proper nutrition is essential to preventing diseases and maintaining overall wellbeing. Ojo, while speaking on ‘Healthy Eating and NutritionFood as Medicine’, explained that a healthy diet should include vegetables, fruits, beans, fish, eggs, whole grains and other nutritious foods, while excessive salt, added sugars and unhealthy fats should be limited.

would speak or relate to them based on what they intend to hear. Truth and honesty are being frowned upon,” Korka-Waadah said.

the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) in Lagos, where regulators and industry leaders stressed that maintaining public confidence would be critical as banking increasingly moves to digital and mobile platforms.

brought together senior officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), United Bank for Africa (UBA), Optimus Bank and communication and marketing executives from banks across

Speaking at the event, President of ACAMB, Jide Sipe, said the association had, over the past three decades, evolved from a body focused largely on corporate communication to a strategic partner in helping banks manage their relationships with customers and the wider public.

Supporters of Pastor Standing Trial for Marrying 75 Wives Attack Journalists and cameramen. The men were allegedly trying to smuggle the pastor into the court during the trial and shield him from being captured by journalists, but when the reporters positioned themselves to ensure good shots, they were attacked, and their gadgets were destroyed. Anazodo was arrested by officials of the Anambra

State Government and is facing trial on a sevencount charge bordering on allegedly propagating the accumulation of wealth through supernatural means, which was proscribed by the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025. He is also said to have allegedly encouraged the separation of some women

from their husbands and also taken them as concubines. During today’s court sitting, eyewitnesses said supporters of Anazodo, who covered the cleric with umbrellas and their hands to shield him from cameras, pushed journalists with the vehicle that conveyed him as it reversed to the entrance door of the court.

PBAT Door-to-Door Movement Mourns Victims of NAF Plane Crash

national leadership and Expert Tasks Nigerians The entire members of the PBAT Movement has on Healthy Eating Habits Door-to-Door expressed shock and deep Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

than those prepared to speak uncomfortable truths. “It is absolutely unfortunate that most Nigerians would prefer to have a leader who

Banking Communicators Urged to Ensure Trust, Ethics as Sector Transforms The anniversary gala the country. 30th anniversary celebration of

Ekiti Names High Court Complex after Justice Oyebisi Omoyele Gbenga SodeindeinAdo-Ekiti

he said. He described as unfortunate the tendency of Nigerians to prefer leaders who tell them what they want to hear, rather

According to him, good nutrition supports energy, growth, immunity and normal body functions, while also helping to reduce the risk of conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. He advised Nigerians not to completely eliminate carbohydrates from their diets, but to choose nutritious, high-fibre sources and maintain appropriate portions. The medical expert also encouraged people to make water their main beverage and reduce their consumption of sugary drinks and highly processed foods.

sorrow on the news of the tragic crash involving a Nigerian military aircraft which claimed the lives of gallant officers of the Nigerian Air Force and other personnel on board.

National Coordinator, Comrade Sunday Asuku, quoted the Grand Patron of the Movement, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, as describing the tragic crash as a painful and monumental loss to our Armed Forces and to the nation at large. “These officers paid the ultimate price in the line of duty,

serving our country with courage, patriotism and unwavering commitment,” Tompolo stated. Following the mournful mood, the Grand Patron has directed the suspension of all campaign activities for the 2027 presidential election for one-week and extended his and the movement’s heartfelt condolences to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the entire Nigerian Armed Forces, the

Government and people of Ondo State, and most importantly, the families, friends and colleagues of the fallen heroes. He said: “We join Mr. President, who has already mourned this incident, in stating that the sacrifice of our Air Force and Naval personnel who put their lives on the line daily to secure Nigeria will never be forgotten.

1,500 Delta Residents Benefit from Medical Outreach by AIPROW More than 1,500 residents of Ibusa (Ibuzo) in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State have benefited from a three-day programme organised by the Association of Ibusa Professional Women (AIPROW) in collaboration with the Ibusa Association,

United States of America. According to a statement, the programme featured a career talk on the girl-child mandate and the distribution of wheelchairs to people living with disabilities on the first day; a mental health seminar on the second day; and a free medical outreach

on the third day. The medical outreach provided beneficiaries with free medical consultations, vital signs checks, blood sugar tests, eye screening and cancer screening, drawing residents from Ibusa and neighbouring communities. The turnout underscored

the demand for accessible healthcare services in the community and stretched the capacity of the organisers and medical personnel. The exercise also provided free medications and eyeglasses to beneficiaries identified as requiring them after medical examinations.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026 • THISDAY

WEDNESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Depleted Super Eagles Hold Russia in Six-goal Thriller Chelle says purpose for the friendly achieved with new revelations Duro Ikhazuagbe A Super Eagles squad that paraded nine new players forced hosts Russia to a thrilling 3-3 draw in an international friendly match in Nizhny Novgorod on Tuesday evening. In the absence of key players

I N T E R N AT I O N A L F R I E N D LY like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, WIlfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina and a host of others, Head Coach, Eric Chelle was forced to hand debut to rookie players who distinguished

themselves in the friendly. Only six players in the starting XI, viz Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho, Benjamin Fredricks, Emmanuel Fernandez, Abdullahi Bewene, and Aderemi Adeoye had

previously featured for the three-time African champions. Returnee forward, ‘Senior Man’ Iheanacho, underlined his top form in Turkey when he opened scoring for Super Eagles after just 10 minutes. His strike from outside the box sneaked in through the

near post for the opener. The former Leicester City frontman, received a precise pass on the edge of the penalty area from Abdullahi Bewene, before uncharacteristically unleashed a thunderous left-footed drive into the top corner, notching his 15th international goal in Nigerian colours. However, despite controlling early possession, defensive lapses by the new Super Eagles defenders allowed Russia back into the match. The hosts levelled after breaking down the Nigerian rear-guard to beat debutant goalkeeper Samuel James, before taking a 2-1 lead into the interval. The Russians benefitted from a defensive let-off on the stroke of halftime. The Eastern Europeans however extended their advantage to 3-1 nine minutes into the second period, prompting Coach Chelle to introduce fresh legs from the bench. The substitutions injected immediate urgency into Nigeria’s attack. Substitute Umar Abdullahi came close to pulling one back in the 73rd minute after intercepting high up the pitch following strong work from Isaac James. Five minutes later, 19-year-old Benfica youngster Peter Edokpolor made an instant impact on his debut off the bench. The youngster drove aggressively through the Russian defence before firing an unstoppable strike past the goalkeeper in the 78th minute to make it 3-2. With momentum firmly behind the Super Eagles,

Chelle introduced Vince Osuji for Chibuzo Nwoko in the 83rd minute to maintain central balance as Nigeria pushed forward. The relentless pressure paid off in the fourth minute of added time. Emmanuel Fernandez initiated a swift counterattack with a header from the back, finding Abdullahi, who squared intelligently for fellow substitute Akor Adams to turn home a 94th-minute equaliser. In all, nine players made their Super Eagles debut on Tuesday night in Russia. Speaking at the post match last night, Chelle described the experience in Russia as good for how wards. He said that he was able to achieve the objective of the friendly to look at some of the players for possible infusion into his Super Eagles for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers and the the LA 2028 Under-23 team. “We have two objectives for coming here (Russia). The vision is to look at the players for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers and the Olympic Games. “So, like I said in press conference before the match, we had a lot of problems because some of the (European) clubs refused to release their players to us for this friendly. That was why we brought so many players that played their first games for Nigeria today. For me, I was happy because Russia is not a small football country. We are happy with how the match turned out for us to see new players, some good enough for the senior national team.”

Ronaldo Not Retiring, Set for Punishment for Leaving Camp Akor Adams...scored the goal that tied the friendly with Russia 3-3 on Tuesday night

Ajibade, Six More Players Arrive Falcons’ Camp for Comoros A total of 21 players have arrived in the camp of the senior women national team, Super Falcons, ahead of Friday’s 2028 Olympics qualifying match against Comoros. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, defender Michelle Alozie, midfielders Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne and Jennifer Echegini, and forwards Folashade Ijamilusi and Janet Akekoromowei took the number of players in the camp to 21, with five more expected by Tuesday evening.

LA 2028 OLYMPIC RACE Friday’s match, which is actually the first leg that should have been played in Comoros, will kick off at 6pm at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo. CAF has selected Rwandese official Henriette Byukusenge as the referee, with her compatriots Sandrine Murangwa, Regine Mukayiranga and Aline Umutoni as first assistant, second assistant and fourth official respectively.

Fransiska Katjaimo from Namibia will serve as referee assessor while Oumou Sy from Burkina Faso will be in the role of commissioner. Meanwhile, the Comoros senior women national team, who arrived in Ijebu-Ode on Monday night, were scheduled to have their first training session in Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday evening. PLAYERS IN CAMP: Goalkeeper: Christiana Uzoma. Defenders: Farida Abdulwahab; Sandra John; Tumininu Adeshina;

Valentina Uroko; Glory Edet; Shukurat Oladipo; Glory Ogbonna. Midfielders: Christy Ucheibe; Toni Payne; Favour Omenazu; Joy Igbokwe; Jennifer Echegini; Fatimoh Solaty, Suliat Abideen. Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade; Shakirat Moshood; Blessing Nkor; Sandra John, Folashade Ijamilusi; Janet Akekoromowei EXPECTED: Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie; Comfort Erhabor. Forwards: Gift Monday; Joy Omewa; Uchenna Kanu.

Cristiano Ronaldo has said that he is not retiring from international football but deserves to be punished for walking out on Portugal after head coach Jorge Jesus twice “broke his word”. The 41-year-old captain left his country’s Nations League camp last week after being an unused substitute against Norway and then finding out he would not start against Denmark. Al-Nassr forward Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 Portugal appearances - both world records - helping them win Euro 2016 and the Nations League twice. In a lengthy statement, which ran to nearly 2,000 words, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player said he should be held accountable for his actions. But he accused Jesus of an

“absolute breach of trust” for firstly not playing him against Norway after saying he would, before going back on a decision to present an agreed version of events to the media. “The Portuguese Football Federation must assess the consequences of my actions and punish me for them. I believe the punishment should not be reduced,” Ronaldo said. “I have already apologised, but I know that actions have consequences.” Ronaldo’s statement comes after Portugal head coach Jesus said there was no rift with the captain, following claims the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had refused to train. Jesus said on Sunday that the door was still openfor Ronaldo to play for the country’s national team.

T H I S D AY • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2026

BACK PAGE CONTINUATION SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BENIN AND OPOBO emerged the victor. After the civil war in Bonny, Jaja led his house to the Opobo river where he founded the Kingdom of Opobo. Here his business acumen and capacity found full scope; he soon established plantations and built a port and strategically placed trading settlements on the creeks which not only enabled him to control the supply of palm oil to the European merchants along the coast but also made Opobo one of the richest Delta states. With the wealth came political influence and military power. Such was the strength of Jaja’s army that during the Ashanti war he committed a contingent of his soldiers to the British effort, for which he was awarded a sword of honour by Queen Victoria in 1875. In 1870, having consolidated his new settlement, he proclaimed Opobo an independent state consisting of 14 of the 18 houses of Bonny. Three years later the new state was recognized by Britain which in 1884 entered into a “treaty” with Opobo, placing the latter under the protection of the British Crown. However, the proclamation of a British Protectorate over the Oil Rivers in 1885 not

only heralded the demise of the independence of the coast city-states but also precipitated a quarrel between Jaja and the British. Jaja was the only ruler in the Delta area who questioned the new political order by seeking a definition of the word “protectorate” from the British, who replied vaguely that Her Majesty’s Government would only extend to his kingdom her “gracious favour and protection”. He accepted the explanation, believing that Opobo’s new relationship with Britain would not affect its independence. Accordingly, he continued to monopolise the oil trade, forbidding anyone to deal directly with European merchants on the coast while continuing his direct exports to Britain. As a result, Jaja saw the British insistence on “free” trade as interference and a violation of the 1884 treaty. The British Consul in Oil Rivers, Harry Johnston, was opposed to Jaja’s continued independence. In 1887, Jonston abrogated his power to impose customs duties on oil exports from the state. Jaja sent a delegation to London to protest to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Meanwhile Consul Johnston had written to

the British Government requesting permission to expel Jaja who had requested successive threats to compel him to meet British demands. The King was “invited” on board a British gunboat, HMS Goshwk, to meet Consul Johnston. Jaja was reassured by Johnston on the eve of their meeting that “I hereby assure you that whatever you accept or reject my proposals tomorrow no restraint whatever will be put on you---you will be free to go as soon as you have heard the message of the government”. But once on board, Jaja was asked to choose between being tried for violating the treaty and seeing Opobo bombed by the British Navy. The King opted for trial, which was then held in Accra, Ghana. He was found guilty and banished in 1887 to the West Indies on a pension of 800pounds per annum. This paved the way for the establishment of an effective colonial authority over the region which in the first year provided nearly 90,000 from import duties alone. King Jaja’s deportation caused much discontent in the Oil Rivers states. After repeated appeals to British

Government, the Colonial Secretary set up a commission to investigate and make recommendations for the administration of the new policy. In 1891, the commission, headed by Major Claude MacDonad, recommended that, in response to popular demand in Opobo, King Jaja should be returned and reinstated. In the same year, King Jaja was allowed to return, but on the way back died on July 7, 1891. His body was subsequently transported to Opobo where it was buried. There are some countries that fought wars before achieving their independence. I have in mind the Mahdist war fought in Sudan between the British and Egypt. The Xhosa wars between Xhosa kingdom and the British Empire. The Algerian war between France and Algeria, the Dahomey war between Dahomey kingdom and France. The Battle of Mbwila between Congo and Portugal. The Mau Mau rebellion (1952–1960), also known as the Kenya Emergency, was a brutal guerrilla war fought between the Kenya Land and Freedom Army and British colonial forces. The Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA) was led by Dedan Kimathi.

TINUBU: MONDAY’S LOSS OF BRAVE NAF MEN AND WOMEN, A PAINFUL MOMENT FOR NIGERIA He urged Nigerians to continue to uphold the armed forces in prayer as they confronted the risks associated with their duty to protect the country.

of mourning declared by the president. He added that a fresh date for the summit would be announced in due course, urging stakeholders who had prepared to participate in the event to bear with the senate.

Senate Suspends National Security Summit to Honour Akpabio: It’s Profoundly the Deceased Painful Moment

Senate postponed indefinitely its planned two-day National Security Summit following the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft in Ondo State. The National Security Summit, originally scheduled for October 12 and October 13, was convened by the upper chamber to examine Nigeria’s worsening security challenges and develop practical measures to strengthen the protection of life and property across the country. Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, announced the postponement in a statement he personally signed in Abuja. Bamidele said the decision followed the declaration of three days of national mourning by President Bola Tinubu in honour of the military personnel, who died in the crash. Explaining Senate’s decision, Bamidele said the summit had been fully planned after the completion of the zonal public hearings, but the tragedy involving the NAF aircraft made it necessary for the senate to suspend the event. Bamidele said, “The Senate has resolved to defer the National Security Summit till further notice in honour of the victims of the tragic crash involving a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State.” The senate leader said the postponement was in recognition of the gravity of the national tragedy and the period

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, mourned the 32 military personnel killed in the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR 42 aircraft. Akpabio, in a condolence message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, described the crash as a “profoundly painful moment” for the nation and the Nigerian Air Force. The senate president said the tragedy, which claimed the lives of 25 passengers and seven crew members, had robbed the country of personnel, who died while serving the nation. He expressed condolences to President Bola Tinubu, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of the Air Staff, other service chiefs, officers and men of the armed forces, as well as the families and loved ones of the victims. Akpabio said, “I received with grief the tragic incident of the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR 42 aircraft near Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, resulting in the loss of 32 lives — 25 passengers and seven crew members. “On behalf of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I extend my deepest condolences to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of the Air Staff, the Service Chiefs, officers and men of our Armed Forces, and, most importantly, the families and loved ones of all those who perished in this tragic

incident.” Akpabio said the country must preserve the memory of the military personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty, stressing that their sacrifice should not be forgotten. “A nation may mourn its fallen heroes, but it must never forget the courage with which they gave their lives in service to the Republic,” he said, describing the crash as a particularly painful setback for the Nigerian Air Force. He prayed for divine comfort for the bereaved families. He added, “This is a profoundly painful moment for our nation and, particularly, for the Nigerian Air Force. May their souls rest in peace and may Almighty God comfort the bereaved families and our nation. Amen.”

Conference of Speakers: It’s National Tragedy and Painful Blow to the Military Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, expressed shock and sadness over the crash, describing it as a national tragedy and a painful blow to the military. Guwor, who is Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nkem Nwaeke, in Asaba, stated, “On behalf of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, I join all well-meaning Nigerians to mourn the tragic crash of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Ondo State. “This is a very sad and heart-breaking incident. Our hearts go out to the officers, crew members and other persons on board, their families, the Nigerian Air Force, and the Federal Government of Nigeria in this moment of grief. “We condole with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Chief of

Air Staff, the entire Nigerian Armed Forces, the government and people of Ondo State where the crash occurred, and the families who are now facing unimaginable pain and loss.” Guwor said, “We commend President Tinubu for his swift directive ordering a full and thorough investigation into the crash. This decisive action underscores the premium the Commander-in-Chief places on the lives of our military personnel and on aviation safety. “We urge relevant authorities, including the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), to carry out a transparent, comprehensive and technically sound investigation to establish the cause of the crash and to prevent a recurrence.” He added, “Incidents like this remind us of the enormous sacrifices our gallant military personnel make daily to keep Nigeria safe and united. We must, as a nation, continue to prioritize the safety, welfare and operational readiness of our Armed Forces. “As legislators across the 36 States, we will continue to support through legislative interventions, all efforts aimed at strengthening safety standards.”

NEMA, NGF Mourn Victims Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zabaida Umar, deployed a technical team to the scene of the crash to reinforce the search and recovery operation. Umar confirmed this in a statement in Abuja. She extended her heartfelt condolences to Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, the entire Nigerian Air Force family; and the families of those affected by the unfortunate incident. She described the incident as deeply painful, highlighting the invaluable sacrifices of personnel of the Nigerian

Air Force in the service and defence of the nation. In further support of the ongoing operations, the director-general mandated Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Bature Usman, to lead a NEMA technical team to the crash location to reinforce the search and recovery operations. She said the deployment was in addition to NEMA personnel who had been at the site working alongside other responders. Umar commended the prompt activation of search and rescue operations following the crash and reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to providing the necessary coordination and operational support. In the same vein, Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, expressed sadness over the tragic crash, which resulted in the loss of military personnel and other passengers on board. AbdulRazaq expressed the grief in a statement by NGF’s Director, Media and Strategic Communications, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi. He stated, “On behalf of the 36 state governors and the citizens of Nigeria, the NGF extends its deepest condolences to the families, colleagues and loved ones of the fallen officers and personnel. “The forum also conveys its heartfelt sympathies to the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force and the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria during this period of national mourning.” NGF commended the ultimate sacrifice of the military personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty, stating that their bravery and dedication to national security will always be remembered. “The forum prays for comfort and fortitude for the bereaved families and

INEC DEMANDS PROMPT RELEASE OF REMAINING BUDGET FOR SEAMLESS 2027 POLLS He said the register also contained 8,832 voters with autism (3.80 per cent), 7,723 with cognitive or learning disabilities (3.32 per cent), and 5,755 with little stature (2.47 per cent). The chairman further said the smallest categories were Down syndrome, with 2,080 voters (0.89 per cent), and spinal cord injury, with 1,656 voters (0.71 per cent) Amupitan said the voter register would be displayed for claims and objections from 9th to 15th October 2026, in line with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, while collection of Phase 1 PVCs begins Friday, 9th October 2026 at LGA centres. He stated that claims and objections arising from the nationwide display at Registration Areas would be addressed thereafter. “It is important to note that in the third phase of the CVR, we introduced, for the first time in Nigeria, the Online Registration Portal technology for registrants to eliminate barriers of distance and time. “Furthermore, we introduced Printable PVC technology in line with Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 to ensure that waiting months for a card becomes a relic of the past. “The Register of Voters for the 2027 general election is expected to be presented to political parties on 15th December 2026,” he said.

Amupitan added that procurement has moved to execution: 57,000 new BVAS devices, ballot boxes, cubicles, operational vehicles, solar power for offices, BVAS storage facilities and LGA office construction. For logistics to 176,846 polling units across 8,838 Registration Areas, INEC has renewed MoUs with NURTW, RTEAN and MWUN for over 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats. The chairman said special provisions included speedboats for Niger Delta and Lake Chad, 4x4 vehicles for highlands, life jackets and waterproof containers. Amupitan revealed that sensitive materials were being pre-batched to LGAs, while sensitive materials would move from CBN vaults to LGAs 72 hours to polls and to RACs by 4pm on eve of elections. Polls would open at 7:30am. He said BVAS has undergone software hardening and battery optimisation, with 57,000 new units acquired. The eEC8A system, he contended, would ensure polling unit results were cryptographically authenticated and uploaded to IReV. A Downloadable PVC was tested in Osun. “Other tech milestones include nationwide BVAS audit, configuration on SureMDM, six-day stress test 23-28 October, training of RATECHs in November, LGA readiness audits

13-14 January 2027, and a nationwide mock accreditation in November 2026. Digital lessons will supplement ad-hoc staff training,” he said. Amupitan revealed that for the 2027 general election, the Commission would require 707,384 ad hoc personnel for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on 16th January, and the same number for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on 6th February. He said it was a total of 1,414,768 engagements across 176,846 polling units, compared with about 1.2 million in 2023. The chairman said the bulk of this workforce would be drawn from the National Youth Service Corps, saying in 2023, more than 70 per cent of the ad hoc staff, nearly 850,000 people, were corps members and student volunteers. The European Union, while speaking, reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s democracy and pledged full support to INEC. The EU Representative, Amb. Gautier Mingot, described the upcoming elections as a key moment to reaffirm the strength of Nigeria’s democracy and provide elected leaders with the legitimacy needed to govern over the next four years. He commended INEC’s efforts in recent off-cycle elections, citing the Osun State governorship election as

an example of improved public trust in the electoral process, which he said reduced post-election tensions. Mingot stressed that credible elections required the collective responsibility of all stakeholders — the three arms of government at federal and state levels, political parties and candidates, security agencies, the media, civil society and citizens. He noted that the EU support to Nigerian democracy, through its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (SDGN) programme, has been constant and significant, and that the support has extended beyond INEC to other stakeholders in the electoral value chain. According to him, EU’s partnership was based on respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty, stating that the bloc did not support any candidate or political party. “Ours is a friendly partnership, respectful of Nigeria’s sovereignty. We respond to the invitation of the competent authorities. We don’t impose any view or orientation, and needless to say, we don’t support specific candidates or parties,” Mingot said. He noted that it would again deploy an expert electoral mission following INEC’s invitation, to monitor the run-up to the election, the conduct of the ballot and its immediate aftermath. The EU envoy called on all stakeholders to prevent electoral violence and

pledged the EU’s continued collaboration with the National Peace Committee. “Freedom and acceptance of peaceful expression is the right alternative and antidote to political violence, and free, honest and correct information — debunking fake news — is another key factor. The media has an essential role to play in that,” Mingot added. He further called for inclusivity in the process, particularly for women and persons with disabilities, whether as candidates, party members, INEC officials or voters. “In these elections, INEC, the other stakeholders, and most importantly, the Nigerian people can again count on the European Union as a reliable partner to do whatever it can to help democracy flourish and grow in this great country,” he said. Speaking on behalf of the police, AIG Police Mobile Force, Francis Idu, assured Nigerians that the January general election would be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, with security agencies working to stabilise crisis-prone areas across the country. He added that the police have reviewed previous elections and have aligned their operational conduct with the Electoral Act to ensure that citizens’ opportunity to elect their leaders did not degenerate into violence and dislocation of social harmony.

the nation as they navigate this painful loss,” he said.

Mutfwang: It’s Monumental National Loss Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic crash, describing the incident as a painful tragedy and a monumental loss to the nation. In a statement on behalf of the government and people of Plateau State, Mutfwang said the loss was particularly heart-breaking at a time when members of the Nigerian Armed Forces continued to make significant sacrifices in safeguarding the nation’s peace, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He stated that the death of the personnel and other victims represented a grievous national loss, especially as the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies remained actively engaged in confronting security challenges across the country. The governor paid tribute to the fallen personnel, commending their courage, patriotism and unwavering commitment to duty. He said their sacrifices embodied the highest ideals of service to both country and humanity and will not be forgotten. Mutfwang extended his heartfelt condolences to the families, colleagues and loved ones of the victims, praying for divine comfort and strength to help them cope with the irreparable loss. He also conveyed his sympathies to Tinubu, the Nigerian Air Force, Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the entire Nigerian populace over the tragic incident.

ADC Questions Maintenance Spending African Democratic Congress (ADC) expressed sadness over the crash of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, raising questions about the non-implementation of defence budgets needed for the regular maintenance of military aircraft. In a statement in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC commiserated with the families of the victims of the crash. Describing the incident as “tragic and unfortunate”, the party stated that it highlighted the poor funding of defence budgets in the country. Abdullahi stated, “While we do not intend to prejudice ongoing investigations into the cause of this tragic crash, we believe that this sad moment also provides an opportunity to raise, yet again, questions about the non-implementation of the defence budget and the perennial neglect of military equipment.” Citing official figures, the opposition party stated that, by December 2025, the federal government had released a paltry N4.5 billion, representing only about 13.98 per cent of the N34.71 billion budgeted for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft. ADC said that stood in sharp contrast to the N20.74 billion allocated for the maintenance of the Presidential Air Fleet, of which N20.27 billion had been released over the same period, representing 97.76 per cent.

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FCCPC, NAFDAC, SON STRATEGISE AGAINST FAKE/UNWHOLESOME PRODUCTS...

L: Mrs. Anyanwu Felicitas, Deputy Director Applied Nutrition Directorate, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); Mr. Ibrahim Malami, Assistant Director, Food Registration and Regulatory Aﬀairs Directorate, NAFDAC; Mrs. Uche Rose, head of Food Inspection Division NAFDAC; Mr. Louis Odion, Executive Commissioner (Operations) of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC); Dr. Nkechi Mba; Director, Quality Assurance and Development Department of FCCPC; and Mrs. Aisha Sanusi Gumbi, head of Quality Assurance and International Liaison Division of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) after a strategic engagement over the upsurge in fake/unwholesome products in Nigerian markets hosted by FCCPC at its Corporate Headquarters at Asokoro, Abuja... yesterday

ERICTENIOLA Similarities Between Benin And Opobo GUEST COLUMNIST

pobo Kingdom in Rivers State now has a new King. He is King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, Jeki VI. The king was crowned as the sixth Amanyanabo of Opobo and the coronation which was held at Jaja Square, Opobo Town, marked the climax of activities that began on September 17, 2026, to celebrate the emergence of the new monarch and the rich cultural heritage of the historic Opobo Kingdom. The colourful ceremony was attended by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (68) GCFR and his wife, representatives of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara; the Obi of Onitsha, Nnayelugo Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe; representatives of the Bayelsa State Government; the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom; representatives of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers; the Olu of Warri; the Dean of Agbor; the Obong of Calabar; members of the Ijaw National Congress and other dignitaries. King Charles was born in 1959 into the royal family of Opobo. He was crowned by Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese. The coronation comes more than 150 years after the establishment of Opobo Kingdom, one of the historic Ibani kingdoms of the Niger Delta. The kingdom emerged from a political conflict in Grand Bonny in 1869, when Chief Jack Jaja Annie Pepple, known in Ibani tradition as Juwojuwo, and members of the Opubo Annie Pepple group departed Bonny and established a new settlement near the Imo River estuary. December 25, 1870, is traditionally recognised as the date of the establishment of Opobo Kingdom, with Jaja becoming its first Amanyanabo. Under King Jaja, Opobo developed into a major political and commercial power in the Oil Rivers region, particularly through the palm produce trade. I expected a more huge crowd at the coronation because of the importance of Opobo, especially in the South South region. The Opobo/ Nkoro LGA of Rivers State is made up of two Ijaw Clans known as Opobo and Nkoro Clans with different communities under them. The Opobo Clan is of the Ibani- Ijaw subgroup of the Ijaw tribe. Nkoro Clan is of the Okrika -Ijaw subgroup of

Former President Goodluck Jonathan the Ijaw tribe. Bonny Clan have 75 villages and settlements. Opobo Clan have 20 villages and settlements. Both are of the Ibani subgroup of the Ijaw tribe. Ijaw have 86 Clans and the single largest Ijaw Clan.is Egbema Clan with over 350 villages and settlements under it. Opobo has the highest literacy rate in Niger delta. Opobo has the highest concentration of professors in Niger Delta. The first set of graduates from university of Ibadan had many Opobo people. Over 60 % of the families in Opobo send their kids overseas for studies and this behavior started far back as 18th century when the children of nobles were sent to England to acquire western education through Opobo seaport. Their men are well mannered because in Opobo culture, mannerism is imbibed. Secondly, they are mostly educated and polished. They behave like the British because of their long relationship with the British centuries ago and thirdly, they excel in life on the average, Opobo people have quality human resources. Prominent Opobo indigenes include Governor Amaopusenibo Siminalayi Fubara, the current governor

of Rivers state, General (rtd) Kenneth Minimah (67), former Chief of Army Staff, Chief Atedo Peterside (71), founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Adawari Pepple, businessman and former Senator, Professor Millar Jaja, the first Orthopaedic Surgeon in West Africa, Professor Sylvanus Cookey, retired Vice Chancellor of the University of Port-Harcourt, Chief Dagogo Jaja, former Managing Director of Daily Times, Captain Horace Millar Jaja, an Airline Captain and many more. The history of Opobo is similar to that of Benin Empire. They had rulers who resisted the British Empire many years ago. Ovonramwen, Oba of Benin was the independent ruler of the Edo Kingdom of Benin. Ovonramwen is renowned for his brave stand against the colonization of his Kingdom by the British, for which he is generally regarded as the last great king of Southern Nigeria in nineteenth century who attempted to stem the tide of British occupation and conquest. During the nine years (1888-1897) he reigned, he sought to preserve the sovereignty of the Edo empire as well as its economic interests which, in the end, led to the British armed invasion of Benin in 1897. The Oba lost the battle and was dethroned and banished into exile for life, while his Kingdom was merged into a wider political unit under the British administration. By 1912 that unit, the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, has been fused with the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria to become the entity of Nigeria. “Ovonramwen fell for the same reasons as other great African rulers of the late nineteenth century who represented an age that was fast fading away under the determined thrust of the white man resolved to take over the political and economic control of the African coast and the interior—Pepple of Bonny in 1854, Jaja of Opobo in 1887, Nana the Itsekiri in 1894, King Prempeh of Ashanti in January 1896” writes the Professor of History, Philip A. Igbafe in his book “BENIN UNDER BRITISH ADMINISTRATION”. Indeed, by the late 1880s during Ovonramwen’s father Adolo’s reign, Britain had already mapped out Benin state as its area of influence. That was reflected in the visit of Captain H.L. Gallway, the British Commissioner and Vice-Consul of the Benin District of the Oil Rivers

Protectorate, to Benin in 1892, four years after Ovonramwen succeeded his father as Oba. During that visit the British officer signed a treaty with Ovonramwen, for commercial relations between Benin and Britain. Among other clauses the 1892 treaty requested the Oba to co-operate with Britain in the interest of “order, good government and the general progress of civilization”. The implications of these, as later events were to show, were not fully explained to the Oba of Benin. Because for several years after the treaty Oba Ovonramwen continued to rule his state in the tradition of his ancestors, refusing to “compromise his independence in order to pander too the needs of British officials and traders”, says Igbafe, adding that “relationship between Benin and the traders on the coast as well as with the British officials during those last two decades of the nineteenth century was particularly productive of friction from the British standpoint. This stage was thus being set for the overthrow of Benin”. It was against that background that Vice-Consul James R. Philips, going against warnings about the provocation such a visit would cause in Benin, embarked on a mission to assess the strength of the Benin Army, and visited Oba Ovonramwen on 18 January, 1897. Phillips and a large number of his men were ambushed outside the city, to which the British responded with the punitive expedition of February 1897. Benin fell in that battle and its Oba was dethroned and deported to Calabar where he died seventeen years later, 1914. Oba Ovonramwen reigned at a precarious time in the history of Benin. He succeeded to an empire that was on its decline, “probably because of attacks by other indigenous powers on the peripheral peoples of his Empire, which led invariably to a shrinkage of his dominions and possibly too of his throne”. As Idugbowa, Oba Ovonramwen had to fight off opposition to his accession to the throne of his father in 1888; even after that he could only consolidate his rule through purges and executions. Yet Oba Ovonramwen was determined from the beginning to make his reign as purposeful as possible Continued on page 39

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