The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Lagos begins measles-rubella routine immunisation tomorrow

    Lagos begins measles-rubella routine immunisation tomorrow

    Lagos State First Lady, Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu will kick-off the Measles-Rubella (MR), and Routine Immunisation (RI) campaign tomorrow.

    The week-long campaign will run till February 5 across the local government areas and local council development areas of the state.

    According to the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB), Adetayo Akitoye Asagba, in a statement, the integrated campaign which aligns with national and global immunisation goals is designed to protect children and adolescents from vaccine-preventable diseases.

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    He said measles remains one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable childhood illness, while rubella infection during pregnancy can result in congenital rubella syndrome, leading to serious outcomes such as congenital heart defects, cataracts, hearing impairment, and developmental delays in infants.

    He quoted the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim Akin wunmi, Mustafa, as saying routine immunisation is a proven intervention for preventing vaccine preventable diseases like polio, tuberculosis, whooping cough, diphtheria, cervical cancer, among others.

    “This integrated immunisation campaign is a critical public health intervention aimed at preventing measles, rubella, and other vaccine-preventable diseases,”Mustafa stated.

    “Lagos State is determined to ensure that every eligible child and adolescent is reached, irrespective of location or socioeconomic status.

  • Two suspect-kidnappers arrested in Adamawa

    Two suspect-kidnappers arrested in Adamawa

    Two suspected kidnappers have been arrested by the Adamawa State Police Command in Song Local Government Area.

    The Command said its officers and hunters, acting on credible intelligence, raided a notorious criminal hideout in a remote area of Balma Village of the local government.

    “The operation led to the arrest of two male suspects identified as Shaibu Mohammadu, 30, and Ja’o Bawa, 31 of different addresses,” the command said in a statement released on Sunday by the command Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Suleiman Nguroje.

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    The police spokesman listed items recovered from the suspects to include one local revolver, assault rifle, two mobile handsets, charms, and other incriminating materials, all of which have been secured as exhibits.

    “The suspects confessed to their involvement in the criminal activities, while efforts have been intensified to track down and apprehend other members of the kidnapping syndicate who are currently on the run,” Nguroje stated.

    He stated that the state Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris, appreciated the collaboration between the police and the community.

  • Chemical materials trigger fire at Lagos industrial facility

    Chemical materials trigger fire at Lagos industrial facility

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has said chemical materials stored at an industrial facility were responsible for the large-scale fire that gutted Parco Enterprises Nigeria Limited at Alaba Suru, Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

    The fire broke out about 7:25 p.m., on Saturday, at a warehouse used for chemical blending and storage in a larger industrial cluster.

    LASEMA said the inferno spread rapidly, engulfing an estimated 15,000 square metres of the facility.

    In a statement, the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA said the intensity of the fire was heightened by the nature of the materials stored at the site.

    “The affected facility is a warehouse and chemical blending and storage site. The fire rapidly spread across an estimated 15,000sqm, involving stored chemical materials. The intensity of the incident led to intermittent explosions for several hours,” the statement said.

    The explosions, according to the agency, caused widespread panic and posed a significant threat to nearby facilities and residents in the surrounding community.

    LASEMA said the fire was contained through a coordinated emergency response involving its Response Unit, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service, and private fire assets provided by Veepee.

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    Damping-down operations have since started, with emergency responders maintaining a presence at the scene to prevent re-ignition and protect adjoining facilities.

    The agency explained that firefighting was carried out from multiple access points. While the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service led suppression efforts from the main entrance, LASEMA Fire teams provided support from the rear of the facility.

    LASEMA also acknowledged the assistance of beverage company La casera, which supplied water to sustain firefighting.

    Preliminary assessments by emergency responders identified several risk factors that may have contributed to the scale and severity of the fire.

    “These include a high volume of volatile chemical storage within a confined space, inadequate ventilation within the warehouse facility, and insufficient emergency preparedness measures to manage a fire of this magnitude,” LASEMA said.

    The agency noted that investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the fire outbreak.

  • Police thwart robbery attack, arrest mob for assaulting suspect in Calabar

    Police thwart robbery attack, arrest mob for assaulting suspect in Calabar

    • Victim confirmed dead, pistol, ammunition recovered as police take custody of hospitalised suspect.

    The Cross River State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit has prevented a mob action against a suspected armed robber who was allegedly attempting to rob a lady in Calabar.

    The incident happened in the early hours of yesterday.

    Police sources said the operation led to the recovery of a Beretta pistol with three 9mm rounds of ammunition and arrest of individuals involved in the attack.

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    The suspect, prior to the arrival of the Police, was beaten unconscious by the mob at Abangasang, Mbora Street, Calabar, and rushed to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for medical attention.

    The victim, whose identity was unknown, was pronounced dead at the hospital in the early hours of yesterday.

    Three suspects are in police custody and are assisting with their investigation.The victim’s body has been evacuated and deposited at the UCTH mortuary for preservation and autopsy, while an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident continued.

     Commissioner of Police Rashid Afegbua, described the operation as, “a clear demonstration of the Command’s commitment to crime prevention, protection of lives, and strict adherence to the rule of law”.

    The Police boss reiterated the command’s zero tolerance for violent crime. He condemned action and emphasised that suspects  must be handed over to the police for prosecution..

    He appealed to the public to cooperate with the police by providing timely and useful information, and to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

    The Command’s spokesman, Assistant Superintendent of Police Sunday Eitokpah, reassured the good people of the command’s resolve to ensure safety and security.

  • DSS nabs suspected sea pirates, foils hijack of crude oil vessel

    DSS nabs suspected sea pirates, foils hijack of crude oil vessel

    Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) last Saturday arrested two suspected members of a band of sea pirates in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, as they were fine-tuning plans to hijack a crude oil-laden vessel in the Gulf of Guinea, The Nation gathered.

    The men, identified as Geoffrey Atizara, 38, from Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state, and Divine Kelechi Unueze, 42, from Nekede in Owerri, Imo State, were nabbed at a hotel on Tenacious Street in Edepie, Yenagoa, according to sources.

    According to a source, preliminary intelligence, corroborated by the suspects’ confessional statements, said the men, along with other band members, were plotting to seize a vessel, abduct its crew, and steal its cargo.

    According to the source, Unueze was the financier of the operation, while Atizara was tasked with recruiting additional pirates.

    “The duo have admitted to being part of a high-profile criminal network operating in the Southeast and Southsouth parts of Nigeria, mainly profiting from sea piracy and kidnapping,” the source offered.

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    “Given the sophistication and the resources at the disposal of this pirate band, this arrest has disrupted what could have been a major threat to maritime security in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea region,” one of the sources declared.

    Another source  said the DSS, in concert with the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies, has intensified intelligence-driven operations to curb maritime security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.

    “Recent successes include the interception of several pirate speedboats and the rescue of crew members from hijacked vessels off the coasts of Bayelsa and Delta states,’’ he added.

    The arrest of the two suspects marks additional successes by security agencies in the region, he added.

    Recall that barely a week ago, the DSS in separate joint operations with sister security agencies and forest guards rescued some abducted pastors and other individuals in Kaduna and Borno states.

  • New financing facility to boost access to renewable energy

    New financing facility to boost access to renewable energy

    Lotus Bank and Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have reached agreement to collaborate on deepening financing for energy access across Nigeria.

    The agreement followed a high-level meeting between the bank and REA where the institutions decided to scale up financing from project-based support to a large-scale, dedicated financial framework.

    The engagement focused on the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme.

    While Lotus Bank has already been active in supporting individual projects under this initiative, the new phase of the partnership will see the bank establish its own dedicated DARES financing facility.

    Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Dr Abba Aliyu challenged the bank’s leadership to adopt a bold approach by setting a clear global funding target for the facility.

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    He emphasised the need for strong internal standards and a design that prioritizes the ability of developers to scale their operations quickly.

    He said: “That level of intentionality is exactly what the sector needs if we’re serious about moving from pilots to impact at scale”.

    He said REA remains optimistic that this collaboration will serve as a model for other commercial banks, building the necessary momentum to bridge Nigeria’s energy deficit through sustainable, private-sector-led investment.

    The shift reflected a growing trend among forward-thinking Nigerian financial institutions that are increasingly viewing renewable energy as a bankable and commercially viable sector rather than strictly a social good.

    Both organizations are now working toward the signing of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to institutionalize the partnership.

    This agreement is expected to provide the structured capital necessary to accelerate the deployment of clean energy solutions to underserved and unserved communities nationwide.

  • Tax committee moves to ensure inclusive, coordinated implementation

    Tax committee moves to ensure inclusive, coordinated implementation

    The National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC) has commenced structured stakeholder engagements to ensure a humane, inclusive, and well-coordinated implementation of the new Tax Acts, as the country undertakes significant fiscal reforms.

    The Committee, chaired by Mr. Joseph Tegbe, aims to bridge the gap between policy intent and execution by promoting clarity, managing expectations, and ensuring that implementation reflects the realities of businesses, citizens, and all levels of government.

    The Committee does this by working closely with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Presidential Fiscal Policy Reform Committee (PFPRC).

    As part of its initial consultations, the Committee leadership team met with the PFPRC, led by Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, to ensure alignment between reform objectives and practical implementation realities.

    Oyedele highlighted challenges arising from misinformation about certain provisions of the law, noting that some provisions had been misinterpreted in public discussions.

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    He added that targeted and accessible communication initiatives are being developed to address these gaps, with stakeholder feedback playing a key role in shaping the reform process.

    In a separate engagement with the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, NTPIC focused on harmonising implementation priorities and strengthening institutional coordination. The NTPIC outlined its ongoing activities and implementation roadmap.

    Dr. Adedeji commended NTPIC’s proactive approach, describing the new tax laws as a significant development in Nigeria’s fiscal framework.

    He noted that while new policies may take time to gain full public acceptance, a transparent, well-sequenced, and education-driven implementation process will gradually build confidence and trust.

    The NTPIC emphasised that effective tax reform depends not only on legal and technical design but also on effective communication and stakeholder engagement.

    Tegbe stressed that structured stakeholder engagement and consistent communication are central to the success of the reforms.

    He assured that consultations will continue with the National Economic Council, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, local government leaders, as well as traditional, religious, and community leaders.

    He reiterated that the new tax Acts are designed to create a simpler, fairer, and more predictable tax system that fosters voluntary compliance, strengthens investor confidence, and supports sustainable economic growth.

    The NTPIC team also included the Chairmen of the Stakeholders Engagement Subcommittee and the Technical Subcommittee, Barrister Ismael Ahmed and Mr. Ajibola Olomola, respectively.

  • Sterling HoldCo recognised for responsible workplace

    Sterling HoldCo recognised for responsible workplace

    Sterling Financial Holdings Company PLC (Sterling HoldCo) has been recognised by the Institute for Work and Family Integration (IWFI) in collaboration with Lagos Business School (LBS), as one of the standout organisations demonstrating leadership in responsible workplace practices at the Corporate Family Responsibility Index Awards.

    This recognition places Sterling among a select group of companies demonstrating strong institutional commitment to workplace policies that enable employees to effectively balance professional responsibilities with family and personal obligations.

    Sterling’s approach to family responsibility is anchored on their strategic mandate of enriching lives, through the provision of structured, life-stage-responsive support systems, with a particular focus on parenthood and caregiving. This support has led to interventions such as paid maternity and paternity leave, a purpose-built maternity hub, an onsite crèche, flexible work arrangements, comprehensive health insurance coverage, and routine integrated wellness programmes that focus on providing extensive and continuous mental, and emotional wellbeing support for employees.

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    Group Executive, Human Capital and Corporate Services, Sterling Financial Holdings Company, Temi Dalley, said the award reflected the organisation’s long-standing belief that sustainable performance is driven by supportive work environments.

    “People thrive when work is designed around real human needs, and at Sterling Financial Holdings Company, this strong sense of family responsibility is embedded in how we structure work, support our people, and build a culture anchored on empathy, flexibility, and wellbeing.

    “One of the Group’s differentiating initiatives is ‘Bloom After Birth’, its postnatal and postpartum support community. Through the initiative, Sterling Financial Holdings Company provides employees with access to expert medical and emotional guidance, while also providing compassionate support to families who have experienced pregnancy loss,” Dalley said.

    The Corporate Family Responsibility Index serves as a national benchmarking framework for assessing how organisations embed family-responsible practices into workplace design, culture, and leadership priorities. The awards promote practices that strengthen workforce sustainability, inclusion, and long-term organizational effectiveness.

    This recognition followed several Great Place To Work awards that Sterling Financial Holdings Company and its subsidiaries have received in recent years, further reinforcing the Group’s position as a forward-looking employer committed to providing an environment where employees can thrive both professionally and personally.

  • Unified identity data to end predatory lending, says eTranzact

    Unified identity data to end predatory lending, says eTranzact

    Chief Executive Officer, eTranzact Plc, Niyi Toluwalope, has called for a unified and tokenized national identity system to expand access to affordable credit and eliminate the exploitation of Nigerians by loan sharks.

    He made the call during a stakeholders’ engagement themed “Shaping the Future of Payments: Balancing Regulation and Innovation,” where he highlighted the structural gaps in Nigeria’s credit and identity ecosystem.

    According to him, predatory lending continues to flourish because many Nigerians urgently need funds during emergencies and are forced to accept loans at exorbitant and unsustainable interest rates.

    “The people making money are lending to those who desperately need it now. They take loans at impossible rates because they are desperate, and then they can’t meet up,” he said.

    Toluwalope stressed that Nigeria must deliberately build a system that allows people with regular and identifiable income, such as security guards, drivers, and other salary earners to access legitimate credit.

    “Let’s create a system where anybody with regular, identifiable income can access credit, so that the emergency loan shark model naturally disintegrates,” Toluwalope said.

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    The eTranzact CEO described the Bank Verification Number (BVN) as Nigeria’s most reliable financial database, noting that it has matured over time and remains secure because it is closely tied to financial transactions.

    “The BVN is a fantastic database. It’s matured, it’s secured, and because it’s tied to money, people pay attention to it,” he said.

    However, he argued that Nigeria must go beyond BVN by strengthening and expanding the National Identification Number (NIN) framework to create a unified national identity system that links individuals to income and location.

    Drawing a comparison with developed economies such as the United States, Toluwalope noted that credit systems thrive where financial footprints are fully traceable.

    “In the US, your social security number, credit score, title, and everything you do are tracked across the 50 states. You can’t run anywhere; it will come up,” he explained.

    Toluwalope also advocated for the tokenization of identity to eliminate repetitive Know Your Customer (KYC) processes across banks and financial institutions.

    “Why do I have to submit the same KYC every time I open an account? Let’s tokenize identity and secure it with OTP,” he said.

    He added that a system where identity data is updated automatically whenever changes occur would support credit cards, utilities, and other financial services, while strengthening trust, accountability, and financial inclusion in Nigeria.

  • NGX Group, others expand social impact project

    NGX Group, others expand social impact project

    Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), in partnership with the Lagos State Government and the Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), has extended its social impact project to Alimosho Local Government Area, continuing efforts to address child malnutrition in underserved communities across Lagos State.

    The latest outreach was the third under the initiave, known as Bringing Life to Our Overlooked Minors or Project BLOOM. The outreach was held in Alimosho within Lagos State Health District I and reached over 120 malnourished children, providing nutritional support, medical screening, and caregiver education.

    This followed earlier interventions in Yaba and Ajegunle, which have collectively supported over 320 children and 300 caregivers, with monitoring data showing that more than 50 per cent of beneficiaries in the first two phases entered recovery.

    NGX Group staff volunteers worked alongside Lagos State health workers and HEI facilitators during the outreach, assisting with screenings and data recording. Structured follow-up visits are scheduled after four weeks to monitor recovery and provide extended care where necessary.

    Group Managing Director, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) Plc, Temi Popoola, said the initiative has broad implications for national economic resilience.

    He said: “Sustainable capital markets are built on strong social foundations. The recovery rates we see with Project BLOOM prove that targeted, collaborative action between the public sector, civil society, and the private sector can deliver tangible impact”.

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    Executive Director of HEI, Achunine Pascal, said child malnutrition remains a major contributor to under-five mortality in Nigeria, adding that Project BLOOM is designed to go beyond immediate food support through structured follow-up and continued care.

    Chairman, Alimosho Local Government Area, Honourable Akinpelu Ibrahim Johnson, said the initiative supports the council’s long-term strategy for improving child nutrition through early detection, prevention, and effective management of malnutrition. Representing the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health District I, Dr. Solomon Adeyanju commended NGX Group for its commitment to child health, describing Project BLOOM as a valuable complement to the state’s primary healthcare efforts.

    With additional outreaches planned, the partners reaffirmed their commitment to reducing preventable child mortality while strengthening the social foundations required for sustainable economic growth.