• NCS boss leads wrestling federation’s delegation to Yenagoa
The First Lady,Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara have condoled with Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, and the family of his late deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, spoke yesterday during a condolence visit to the Government House in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The First Lady expressed sadness over the demise of the deputy governor, describing it as tragic.
Accompanied by the wife of the Deputy Senate President, Hajiya Laila Barau; the wife of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mrs. Salamatu Gbajabiamila, and the wife of the Minister of Works, Rachael Umahi, Mrs. Tinubu noted that death is an inevitable experience for all humanity.
She said: “I am short of words. I never knew I was going to Bayelsa State on a sad note. I wish we were here for another purpose.
“We are all with you, particularly the bereaved Ewhrudjakpo family, at these trying times. We pray God Almighty to comfort His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, the widow, Mrs. Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo, the children and the entire people of Bayelsa State. And may God grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.”
Also, the Controller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, led another delegation from the service and the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) on a condolence visit to the Bayelsa Government House in Yenagoa.
Adeniyi, who was recently elected president of the wrestling federation, said the news of Ewhrudjakpo’s passing was hard to accept.
The NCS boss said the service and the wrestling federation shared in the grief of the state, as the departed deputy governor was not only a friend but also a trusted ally of the governor, who supervised the Ministry of Sports, with which their paths had crossed.
“As a board of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, we intended to come and introduce ourselves to you and share our programmes. Importantly, we were to kick-start our National Wrestling Classic organised in Your Excellency’s honour. But as a mark of respect for the departed, the board has decided to postpone this event indefinitely until the funeral is concluded.”
Responding, Governor Diri expressed appreciation to Nigeria’s First Lady, whom he said had earlier called to sympathise with him.
He stated that the government and people of the state as well as the Ewhrudjakpo family were honoured to have a delegation from the presidency to identify with them in their moment of grief.
The Bayelsa governor eulogised his late deputy, saying Ewhrudjakpo was a very active participant in running the government.
“My deputy was part of the active four wheels of the machinery of government in this state. That was why I sent him to represent me whenever I am indisposed. He represented me severally at the National Economic Council meetings.
“Ewhrudjakpo was a consummate public servant. Bayelsa has lost a son; one of the strong pillars of our government is gone.”
Thanking Adeniyi for the visit, Diri acknowledged and appreciated his role in facilitating the clearing of the state’s gas turbines at the seaport, following a presidential duty waiver.
The governor announced that six of the eight turbine units had been installed, while the remaining two units were being expected at the Lagos port in a few days.
He added that the state would again require the CG’s support.
Diri explained that the delayed arrival of the machines had slowed the completion of the state independent power project by the end of December.
The First Lady’s delegation and that of the CG visited the wife of the deputy governor, Mrs. Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo, at their official residence.
Also yesterday, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara extended his condolences to his Bayelsa State counterpart, Douye Diri, on the death of Ewhrujakpo.
In a statement he personally signed yesterday, Fubara said the sad news resonated across Rivers’ boundaries and moved them to mourning.
The governor described Ewhrudjakpo as a man of exceptional calibre, saying his life was a masterclass in public service.
He said: “Throughout his distinguished career, he navigated the complexities of governance with a rare blend of intellectual depth and profound humility. He was not merely a political figure; he was a steadfast anchor for your administration and a beacon of hope for his constituents.
“His transition represents a monumental loss that echoes far beyond the walls of the Government House. To his family, he was a devoted pillar; to the state, he was a tireless advocate for progress.
“The vacuum left by his departure is a testament to the magnitude of the space he occupied in the hearts of those who knew him and the lives he touched through his dedication to duty.
“May you, my brother governor, find the inner resolve to lead your people through this dark hour. Our prayers remain with the bereaved family and the entire people of Bayelsa State.”
The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), has debunked the claims that the ONSA supplied arms to a socio-cultural organisation to fight banditry.
The NCTC was reacting to reports on some online platforms that a member of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, who was arrested in Kwara State, was allegedly found in possession of a rifle reportedly issued by the ONSA for security operations in the state.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its Head of Strategic Communications, Abu Michael, the centre said the Federal Government and its agencies do not conduct kinetic operations with any socio-cultural groups, contrary to claims circulating in online reports.
The statement noted that pursuant to Part III, sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, the NCTC coordinate and support law enforcement, security, and intelligence agencies in countering all forms of terrorism in Nigeria.
The stateent explained that, in line with the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST), Nigeria’s kinetic approach includes the deployment of hybrid forces. This involves the coordinated use of regular security forces and trained irregular auxiliaries—such as hunters and vigilante groups—to operate in difficult terrains, including forest areas.
According to the statement, this approach previously guided the engagement of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the North East. The CJTF comprised trained civilian volunteers who worked alongside the Armed Forces in operations against Boko Haram.
“The same strategy currently informs hybrid deployments in parts of the North West and North Central. These operations are aimed at degrading the capabilities of bandit, criminal, and terrorist groups. This approach has yielded several successful outcomes,” the statement said.
It explained that all hybrid personnel are recruited directly by authorised security and intelligence agencies following due diligence, and that all operations are conducted in accordance with the law and established standard operating procedures.
“The situation in Kwara State is not different. However, media reports on the matter are inaccurate. The limited public information is due to the sensitive nature of these operations. Details are restricted to prevent operational compromise and to protect the safety of personnel and auxiliary forces,” the statement said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government and its agencies are not conducting kinetic operations with any socio-cultural groups.
“Claims that the Office of the National Security Adviser has provided arms to any socio-cultural organisation are false and should be disregarded.”
The NCTC urged Nigerians to disregard unverified reports that misrepresent the conduct of these operations.
It also cautioned the media to exercise responsibility, protect sensitive security information, and seek clarification through designated official spokespersons.
“The National Counter Terrorism Centre remains committed to an open-door policy to deepen stakeholder understanding of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts,” the statement added.
The senator representing Kaduna South, Sunday Katung, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Katung’s defection letter was read yesterday at plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Katung cited the prolonged leadership crisis in the PDP for his defection, stating that the platform could no longer guarantee his political destiny.
The lawmaker said he took the decision after wide consultations with his constituents, adding that it is only the APC that can offer him the platform to continue serving his people.
The PDP, he said, has become “fractured” and can no longer meet the aspirations of the voters in his constituency.
Katung stressed that “evolving political realities” in Nigeria showed that there is hope for a secure future for himself and his constituents in the APC.
With the latest defection, the APC now has 74 senators; the PDP, 27; Labour Party (LP), four; the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), two; the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), one; and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), one.
In his defection letter, Katung said his decision to leave the PDP was the outcome of deep reflection and extensive consultations with stakeholders, supporters and constituents in Kaduna South.
“I wish to formally convey my decision to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from the 31st day of October 2025,” the senator said, stressing that the move was not taken lightly.
Katung said while he had remained committed to the ideals of democracy, good governance and service to the people, evolving political realities at both the national and constituency levels compelled him to re-evaluate his political platform.
“Over the years, I have remained steadfast in my commitment to the ideals which the PDP once stood for.
“However, the prevailing realities within our nation and my constituency have made it necessary to seek a platform better suited to advance my aspiration of caring for my people and promoting their welfare,” he said.
The Kaduna South lawmaker said his decision to align with the APC was driven by his belief that the ruling party currently offers a more viable platform for inclusiveness, stability and sustainable development.
He added: “After wide consultations, I have resolved to align myself with a party that is progressive and offers renewed hope for the common man.
“A platform whose current leadership and direction provide inclusiveness, stability and sustainable development.”
Katung emphasised that his defection was guided solely by his desire to serve his constituents and the country more effectively, insisting that no politician willingly truncates his political ambition or destiny.
The senator also reflected on his time in the PDP, expressing gratitude to the party for the opportunities it afforded him and acknowledging the relationships he built over the years.
“I hold in high regard the friendships, collaborations and experiences I shared with colleagues and leaders of the PDP. I remain profoundly grateful for the opportunities the party, when it was intact, gave me,” he said.
The senator described the opposition party as fractured, saying: “I wish the fractured PDP success in its future endeavours.”
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday searched the houses and offices of former Attorney-General of the Federation/ Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN).
The search was part of the ongoing investigation of the former AGF, who was still being detained by the agency. The one-time AGF has been battling to perfect his bail bond.
According to a top source, the EFCC sent its operatives only to the suspect’s houses and offices for some documents.
The source said: “It was a routine search in some of the houses and offices in Abuja and Kebbi State based on credible intelligence.
“We obtained lawful search warrant to enter the affected houses and offices because there are some items we are looking for.
“The EFCC was not particular about the occupants of the houses. No individual was targeted. It is not true that the residence of the daughter of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari was targeted.
“The operatives didn’t go to all the houses of Malami. Only few ones because of specific documents which will aid investigation.
Responding to a question, the source added: “The operatives were in those houses and offices for a few hours. They did not seal up those places.”
“He has not perfected his bail bond,” the source said.
The House of Representatives yesterday began consideration of the new Electoral Act, which will be the basic law for the conduct of the 2027 general election.
The House lapsed into a rowdy session while considering the legislation.
Members moved to speak almost at the same time and with constant shout of “point of order, point of order”.
At the commencement of the exercise, members spent a long time debating what to consider in the Bill and what to leave out, before agreeing on considering areas recommended by the Committee on Electoral Matters.
The House approved the recommendation that pre-election matters should only be handled by the Federal High Court in the state where such issues arise.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters explained that the spirit behind the amendment was to remove instances where pre-election matters are taken from the states to the Federal Capital or other states without inherent jurisdiction.
The recommendation to disqualify any candidate found to have provided false information on constitutional eligibility to contest any election as well as his political party elicited serious debate and disagreement from members.
Many of the lawmakers insisted that rather than disqualify the candidate and his party, and declare the candidate with the next highest votes cast after the election the winner, INEC should be asked to conduct a fresh election, excluding the candidate and his party.
Others insisted that the recommendation was apt as it makes it mandatory for the political parties to do due diligence before presenting any candidate for an election.
The House also approved a jail term of five years for any returning officer who declares false results at an election and a 10-year jail term for failing to record election results in a prescribed form, but announces such a result.
The Green Chamber prescribed a two-year jail term for a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) who fails to release Certified True Copies (CTC) of election results.
But it postponed the consideration of the report till today for continuation.
As millions of students vie for limited university placements each year, Nigeria’s examination system is under siege. Technology-driven cheating—from digital identity manipulation to AI-assisted fraud—is eroding the fairness and credibility of exams, leaving honest candidates at a disadvantage. Beyond academic integrity, the surge in malpractice threatens public trust, devalues qualifications and exposes systemic weaknesses, underscoring the urgent need for reforms to safeguard the nation’s education and future workforce, reports FRANK IKPEFAN.
Ibegbulem Alexander did not earn the moniker “chairman” by presiding over the affairs of any of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. He rose to that title through a darker kind of influence—one forged in the murky underworld of examination fraud, where his notoriety for gaming the system carried the weight of real authority.
In that world, “Chairman” was known for turning data manipulation into a craft. For him, helping candidates cheat in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations was more than a scheme; it was a routine operation. Official records later revealed that he altered his personal details 18 different times, registering multiple individuals for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) under various aliases. He had, in effect, built a reputation as a “professional examination taker.”
His activities thrived within a system under immense pressure. Every year, more than 1.5 million candidates register for the UTME, all hoping to gain admission into one of the nation’s tertiary institutions. Yet fewer than one million eventually secure a place. The intense competition—particularly for highly sought-after seats in public universities—has driven some candidates to seek illegal shortcuts, creating room for fraud syndicates to flourish.
And where there is a “chairman,” there is often a deputy. In this case, it was Ozoemena Chibuike, who earned his own notoriety by registering with multiple identities 14 times to sit the UTME on behalf of desperate candidates. Investigations by our reporter uncovered that such acts of data manipulation were not confined to men alone. Women were active participants as well. One such figure was Annie Jennifer, who, during the 2019 UTME registration, acquired the nickname “Super Falcon” for her alleged exploits in data tampering. She never played for Nigeria’s women’s national football team. Yet those who knew her swore she had the same sharp instincts and agility—except her skill was not in dribbling past defenders, but in outsmarting digital safeguards meant to secure the examination system. By the end of that year’s exercise, eight individuals had altogether contributed a staggering 382 different fingerprints to fraudulently assist candidates writing the UTME.
The pattern resurfaced in the 2025 UTME, where the board’s system came under heavy assault once more, mirroring the breaches witnessed in 2019. According to JAMB, 2,765 candidates were detected engaging in finger blending—an advanced method of identity manipulation. Another 178 candidates were flagged for image morphing and blending.
This surge in technology-enabled cheating has raised serious concerns about the credibility of public examinations in Nigeria. What once served as the country’s most reliable gateway to higher education is increasingly being tainted by sophisticated fraud. And with every new breach, public confidence in the integrity of the system risks further erosion.
Fraudsters facing prosecution, says JAMB
The Public Communication Advisor of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr. Fabian Benjamin, told our correspondent that most individuals implicated in attempts to compromise the board’s systems are currently facing prosecution. According to him, several suspects are being tried by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) for offences bordering on cybercrime. Dr. Benjamin said: “For the 2025 UTME, those identified are being prosecuted by the security agencies. Some of them are in detention with the Nigeria Police Cyber Security. Some of the people who attempted to breach our system in 2019 have also been prosecuted. Some were sentenced with an option of fine, and we used a few of the culprits as prosecuting witnesses.”
JAMB should deploy enhanced technological security, says cyber-security expert
Field Support Engineer at TeraQuest Integrated Services Limited, Victor Osinachi, urged JAMB to adopt more advanced technologies to reduce digital fraud and impersonation. He advised the Board to consider AI-powered proctoring systems that combine CCTV, webcams and machine-learning algorithms to detect suspicious behaviour, unauthorised items, or sudden posture changes during examinations. “This is a crucial step to detect new tactics such as the use of hidden earpieces or remote desktop sharing. Deployment should be cautious, addressing concerns about flagging innocent behaviour,” Osinachi noted.
He further recommended that JAMB transition from basic fingerprint scans to dual or multi-factor biometric verification incorporating advanced facial recognition and anomaly detection capable of identifying finger blending or AI-assisted image morphing. “This should be integrated at registration and continuously verified during the examination,” he added. Osinachi also emphasised the need for a highly secure browser lockdown system that restricts all external websites, files, applications, and keyboard shortcuts during UTME sessions. He urged enhanced encryption for question delivery and data storage to deter cyber-attacks.
“Digital examination security is only as strong as the infrastructure behind it,” he said, calling on JAMB to establish a centralised centre for real-time monitoring and threat analysis across all Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres. According to him, such a command centre would enable swift intervention whenever security threats arise.
JAMB panel recommends three-year ban for exam cheats, cancellation of 6,319 UTME results
Alarmed by the scale of fraud detected in the 2025 UTME, JAMB constituted a Special Committee to investigate examination infractions. The committee—comprising experts drawn from academia, technology, security, civil society, and the legal sector—received six terms of reference, including analysing methods of malpractice, reviewing the cases of 6,458 suspected candidates, and proposing sanctions and preventive mechanisms. Chaired by the Founder of The Albino Foundation, Dr. Jake Epelle, the committee documented 4,251 cases of finger blending, 190 cases of AI-assisted image morphing, and 1,878 false declarations of albinism. Epelle identified other forms of cheating such as credential forgery, multiple National Identity Number (NIN) registrations, and organised solicitation schemes. He noted that the fraud extended beyond candidates, implicating some CBT centres, schools, parents, tutorial operators, and technical accomplices.
At the end of its assignment, the panel recommended the cancellation of UTME results belonging to about 6,319 candidates involved in technology-driven malpractice. It also advised imposing bans of one to three years and prosecuting both candidates and their collaborators. The report was presented to the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on September 8, at the board’s headquarters in Bwari, Abuja.
Reading the report, Epelle said that the cheating techniques discovered were sophisticated and heavily technology-driven. He argued that Nigeria’s legal framework for addressing biometric and digital fraud is weak, further eroding confidence in public examinations. To strengthen integrity, Epelle outlined a multi-layered framework anchored on detection, deterrence, and prevention. The proposed system includes AI-powered biometric anomaly detection, dual verification processes, real-time monitoring, and the establishment of a National Examination Security Operations Centre.
The committee also recommended digitising correction workflows, enhancing disability verification, strengthening mobile-first self-service platforms, and prohibiting bulk school-led registrations. It called for amendments to the JAMB Act and the Examination Malpractice Act to formally recognise biometric and digital fraud. Beyond enforcement, the committee proposed a nationwide “Integrity First” campaign to instill ethics and values in students. For candidates below 18, it recommended rehabilitative measures under the Child Rights Act, including counselling and supervised re-registration.
Epelle concluded: “Registrar Sir, our conclusion is unambiguous: If left unchecked, examination malpractice will continue to erode merit, undermine public trust, and destroy the very foundation of Nigeria’s education and human capital development. But if we act with courage—through bold reforms, technological innovation, cultural reorientation, and uncompromising enforcement—we can turn this tide. Today, as we hand over this report, we affirm our collective commitment to defend the integrity of the Nigerian education system. This report is not just about exposing fraud; it is about charting a new course for transparency, fairness, and meritocracy in admissions.
“On behalf of the committee, I thank you, Registrar, for the opportunity to serve our nation. May the recommendations contained herein contribute to strengthening JAMB, safeguarding our future, and building a Nigeria where merit, not malpractice, determines destiny.”
Technology-driven infractions remain a growing threat, says Oloyede
Receiving the committee’s report, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, confirmed that traditional forms of malpractice had declined significantly, with only 140 such cases recorded this year. However, he warned that new, technology-driven infractions pose a far more serious and rapidly escalating threat. According to him, JAMB is adopting a three-pronged approach consisting of strict sanctions, sustained investment in technology to safeguard examination integrity, and moral education to reduce the appetite for malpractice.
He assured that the board would prioritise the implementation of the committee’s recommendations—particularly those within its mandate—while also consulting the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on issues requiring policy support. Oloyede reiterated that examination malpractice has profound consequences for the country’s development.
He said: “Examination malpractice is not a victimless crime. It devalues education, cheats hardworking candidates, and produces incompetent professionals—engineers who cannot build, doctors who endanger lives and graduates unfit to contribute to society.”
The registrar further noted that nearly 80 per cent of malpractice cases originate from parents, warning that such complicity fosters dishonesty in children and entrenches the societal underdevelopment that the country continues to battle.
Educationists: examination integrity in danger
A Lagos-based educationist, Mrs. Dideolu Adekogbe, has warned that technology-driven cheating is rapidly compromising the fairness and credibility of public examinations, making it increasingly difficult to assess students’ true abilities. Adekogbe, who is the Lead Consultant at Florish-Gate Global Consult and Convener of the Bring Back Primary 6 Movement, said: “These activities of technology-driven cheating can compromise the integrity and validity of examinations, leading to unfair advantages and undermining the value of academic qualifications.”
She explained that the growing pattern of digital malpractice threatens to erode public confidence in Nigeria’s examination system. If not urgently addressed, she warned, it could trigger several long-term consequences. Examinations and qualifications may increasingly be viewed as unreliable, damaging the reputation of institutions and the education system as a whole. She noted that some organisations have already blacklisted certificates from certain institutions on credibility grounds. Adekogbe added that such erosion of credibility would naturally lead to decreased trust, with parents, employers, and other stakeholders beginning to question the value of academic achievements, thereby weakening the standing of graduates. She further cautioned that Nigeria’s education system could become less competitive globally, limiting opportunities for students seeking further studies or employment abroad.
Beyond these immediate impacts, she stressed that the broader economic repercussions could be profound, as a compromised education system threatens long-term national development, potentially deterring investment and undermining the country’s human capital base. “It is crucial to address technology-driven cheating effectively to restore and maintain public trust in our exams and education system,” she added.
National Mobilisation Officer of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Adaramoye Lenin, echoed these concerns. He urged JAMB to strengthen its systems, upgrade its technological infrastructure, and seal all existing loopholes enabling examination fraud. Lenin stated: “The entire UTME infrastructure requires a comprehensive overhaul aimed at modernising JAMB’s technical and technological capacity to combat malpractice and ensure credibility. Anything short of this will only further erode public trust in our national examinations and weaken the foundation of our education system.”
As climate change, urban expansion and population growth stretch Nigeria’s food systems, a quiet agricultural revolution is underway. Across Lagos, Abuja, and other rapidly growing cities, innovators are embracing hydroponics—growing crops without soil using nutrient-rich water—to tackle shrinking farmland, water scarcity, and soaring demand for fresh produce. Led by forward-thinking entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers, soilless farming is turning underutilised urban spaces into high-efficiency food hubs, reshaping how Nigeria grows food and builds wealth, reports DANIËL ESSIET.
Every morning, on the outskirts of Lagos, Aisha Musa moves along rows of plastic pipes, watching nutrient-rich water flow to her plants. There is no soil underfoot, no hoe in hand, no muddy boots tracking through the garden— just the steady flow of water from a small pump keeping her vegetables alive. Aisha once depended on a small plot inherited from her parents, but years of flooding, degraded soil, and unpredictable rains had turned her harvests—and her income—to dust. Determined for a new path, she joined a short hydroponic farming programme.
Next door, 28-year-old Jide Imole has found a similar refuge. A former civil servant, he traded spreadsheets and office walls for stacked trays of lettuce, spinach and basil thriving under carefully controlled nutrient solutions, using barely half the water traditional farming demands. He saw in soilless farming not just a crop, but a chance to reclaim agency in a city where land is scarce. Today, Aisha and Jide supply restaurants and households across Lagos, turning overlooked urban corners into lush, productive gardens. “I used to lose everything when the rains failed or the land flooded,” Aisha reflects. “Now I can meet my plants’ needs every single day.” Jide adds, “Hydroponics isn’t just about growing vegetables—it’s about security, independence, and opportunity.”
For them, hydroponics is more than a method—it’s a lifeline. It offers steady income, shields against climate shocks, and transforms urban agriculture in Nigeria. In a country grappling with shrinking farmland and rising food demand, their small urban farms are quietly reshaping how cities eat—and how a new generation of Nigerians thrives.
Why hydroponics works where traditional farming fails
As Nigeria faces shrinking farmland, rising food prices and climate uncertainty, systems like hers are quietly reshaping agriculture. In backyards, rooftops and small urban spaces, hydroponics is offering farmers a resilient, profitable way to grow food—without depending on soil or the seasons. Hydroponics is rapidly gaining traction as a transformative farming method in Nigeria, offering an innovative pathway to food production in an era defined by land pressure, climate uncertainty, and population growth. Unlike conventional agriculture, hydroponics does not depend on soil. Instead, crops are cultivated with their roots immersed in carefully balanced, nutrient-rich water or supported by inert growing media such as coconut fibre. This direct and uninterrupted access to nutrients accelerates plant growth, improves crop quality, and significantly increases yields when compared with traditional farming methods.
Beyond efficiency, hydroponics addresses some of Nigeria’s most pressing agricultural challenges, including food insecurity, water scarcity, and soil degradation. By removing dependence on rainfall patterns and degraded farmlands, the system reduces exposure to drought and erosion while allowing precise control over water and nutrient use. Analysts argue that these advantages position hydroponics as a viable pathway toward a more resilient and profitable agricultural future for Nigerian farmers, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas where land is scarce.
Young entrepreneurs are turning innovation into industry
As Nigeria’s population continues to surge, the urgency of securing reliable food and water supplies has become paramount. In response, a new generation of young agro-entrepreneurs is stepping forward to redefine the country’s food security landscape through technology-driven solutions. One of the most prominent among them is Samson Ogbole, Lead Farmer at Soilless Farm Lab in Awowo, Ogun State. An agricultural entrepreneur with a strong commitment to innovation, Ogbole has replaced soil with a water-based nutrient solution and coco peat—an environmentally friendly growing medium produced from crushed coconut husks—to cultivate vegetables.
According to Ogbole, coco peat is particularly valuable in hydroponic systems because it is sustainable, lightweight, and capable of retaining moisture while allowing adequate aeration for plant roots. He explains that water used in hydroponic farming can be conserved and reused multiple times, making the system far more efficient than conventional irrigation. The most striking difference between hydroponics and traditional farming, he notes, lies in yield and fruit quality. Plants grow faster, mature uniformly, and produce cleaner, healthier harvests.
Ogbole’s success has earned him both local and international recognition, reinforcing the growing belief that hydroponics can play a critical role in Nigeria’s agricultural transformation. It is largely for this reason that soilless farming is gaining momentum across the country, driven initially by private-sector innovators and increasingly embraced by public institutions. In hydroponic systems, plants receive essential nutrients without exposure to toxic heavy metals such as arsenic and cadmium, which are sometimes present in contaminated soils. As a result, the produce is often healthier than crops grown in open fields.
He emphasises that Soilless Farm Lab is deeply committed to strengthening local food production as a means of empowering communities and reducing agriculture’s climate footprint. In theory and practice, he argues, hydroponics offers higher yields and better profit margins than conventional farming, which remains vulnerable to erratic weather, water shortages, and pollution from unregulated pesticide use. There is also a growing consumer base for vegetables produced without chemical pesticides, further expanding market opportunities. The farm’s impact has attracted high-level attention. Several top government officials, including Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, have visited the Soilless Farm Lab in Awowo, Ewekoro Local Government Area. During one such visit, Ogbole advocated the replication of hydroponics initiatives nationwide to ensure food sufficiency. The governor reportedly expressed admiration for the innovative application of technology at the farm, noting that it demonstrates the government’s potential to support advanced agricultural practices capable of revolutionising food production.
In 2023, Soilless Farm Lab partnered with the Mastercard Foundation to launch a youth-focused initiative aimed at scaling technology-enabled agriculture. The Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture (EYIA) project was designed to train 12,000 young people eager to acquire skills, improve livelihoods, and access income-generating opportunities within the agricultural value chain. The programme has since recorded remarkable success. It has directly trained 12,000 participants drawn from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as several other African countries. According to the project’s manager, Ms. Peace Bassey, the initiative’s ripple effect has been equally significant. More than 18,000 secondary beneficiaries have received training from EYIA graduates. The project has facilitated the construction of 960 greenhouses, provided critical infrastructure for sustainable farming, and supported the establishment of 240 new agribusinesses.
Expanding markets and economic impact
Another leading figure in Nigeria’s hydroponics space is Adebowale Onafowora, an Ashoka Fellow and Chief Executive of BIC Farms Concepts. A trailblazer in the field, Onafowora operates large-scale hydroponics farms across Nigeria and Canada, using only a fraction of the water and land required by conventional agriculture. His operations produce an impressive range of crops, including celery, ugu, tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, strawberries, melons, and various aromatic and medicinal plants, underscoring the vast potential of hydroponics to redefine modern farming in Nigeria.
According to Onafowora, hydroponics offers one of the most practical ways to maximise agricultural production in limited spaces while meeting rising demand for nutritious food and creating jobs. Long before the current surge of interest, he was already leading large-scale hydroponics training programmes in Lagos and Abuja by 2016, equipping participants with hands-on experience in soilless farming. Having successfully built and scaled his own operations, he now provides consultancy services on greenhouse technology for individuals and organisations seeking to establish similar ventures.
Onafowora consistently stresses that long-term food security and national self-sufficiency are inseparable from economic growth. For Nigeria, he argues, this reality is becoming more urgent as arable land continues to shrink globally and climate change intensifies pressure on traditional farming systems. Against this backdrop, innovative methods such as hydroponics are emerging not as experiments, but as practical responses to deepening food security challenges.
Market data support this shift. Analysts note that demand for leafy greens, strawberries, herbs and other fresh produce continues to outpace supply, a trend that has been evident since late last year. According to Global Market Insights Inc’s Fresh Vegetables Market Global Forecast (2025–2034), the global fresh vegetables market was valued at $949.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.6 trillion by 2034, growing at a compound annual rate of 4.7 per cent. This expansion is being driven by rising health consciousness, sustainability concerns and advances in agricultural technology. The report highlights a surge in consumer interest in freshly harvested vegetables, vegetarian diets, whole foods, local sourcing and sustainable production. It notes that innovations such as vertical farming, hydroponics and precision agriculture are enabling producers to meet growing demand without compromising quality or environmental integrity. These technologies are reshaping how vegetables are produced and distributed globally.
Within this context, Ogbole points out that Nigerian crops such as scent leaf, bitter leaf, ugu, okra, ginger, turmeric and dried pepper enjoy strong international demand, particularly among African diaspora communities in Europe, North America and Asia. He believes that positioning these products for premium export markets could significantly increase farmers’ incomes while strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chain. Yet, experts warn that weak urban food systems governance across Africa continues to fuel dependence on food imports and expose cities to supply shocks. At a recent AfriFOODlinks webinar on urban food systems transformation, researchers and policymakers observed that fragmented institutions, limited funding and inconsistent political commitment have hindered effective implementation of food system policies. These weaknesses, they argued, leave cities highly vulnerable to global market volatility.
Nigeria’s experience illustrates the scale of the challenge. The Federal Government estimates that the country spends over $10 billion annually importing food items such as wheat, rice, sugar, fish and tomato paste, despite its vast agricultural potential. Speaking at the First Bank of Nigeria 2025 Agric and Export Expo, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the situation as unsustainable. He noted that while agriculture contributes about 35 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP and employs a similar share of the workforce, the sector generates less than $400 million in export earnings.
Recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics further underline the urgency. Nigeria’s food import bill rose by 33 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 to N1.18 trillion, highlighting continued pressure on foreign exchange and domestic food systems. Against this backdrop, investors are increasingly turning to hydroponics as climate risks, urbanisation and import dependence expose the limitations of conventional farming. Soilless agriculture allows crops to be grown year-round in controlled environments, reducing exposure to erratic weather and degraded soils. For investors, the appeal lies in scalability, faster growth cycles and more predictable returns.
Onafowora argues that once operational, hydroponic farms can command premium prices due to consistent quality and year-round supply. He challenges the prevailing instinct to channel surplus capital into real estate, describing it as “capital imprisonment” when compared to the faster payback and compounding returns of controlled-environment agriculture. Using greenhouse-based hydroponics near urban markets, he maintains, investors can generate steady income while directly contributing to urban food security. Ultimately, he cautions that technology alone is not enough. Success depends on sound management, quality inputs, appropriate crop selection and reliable market access. Hydroponics, he insists, is not a shortcut to wealth, but a disciplined agribusiness model capable of transforming Nigeria’s food economy when executed with the right expertise and support.
Ogbole explains that his decision to prioritise high-value, fast-growing crops such as leafy greens, herbs and select fruits over staples like yam is driven largely by economics and technical feasibility. In a soil-free, controlled environment, cultivating a large, starchy tuber presents significant challenges, from space requirements to longer growth cycles and uncertain returns. By contrast, crops such as lettuce, basil and strawberries are well suited to hydroponic systems and align more closely with market realities. According to Ogbole, these crops command premium prices in niche and urban markets, where consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for fresh, locally grown and pesticide-free produce. Yams, while culturally important and widely consumed, are typically low-margin, high-volume commodities. In the specific context of hydroponics, he argues, they do not offer the kind of profitability required to justify the high upfront investment associated with controlled environment agriculture.
“High-value crops such as vegetables have significantly shorter growth cycles, allowing for more harvests per year,” Ogbole said. “This quicker turnaround helps us recover the high initial investment associated with hydroponic systems much faster than a crop like yam, which has a longer growth period.” He added that leafy greens and herbs enjoy consistent, year-round demand, a market dynamic that hydroponics can reliably service regardless of seasonal weather fluctuations.
Challenges and strategic considerations
Despite its promise of year-round production and efficient use of water and space, the adoption and scalability of advanced Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems such as hydroponics face substantial hurdles in Nigeria. Stakeholders point to steep operational costs, particularly electricity, alongside a shortage of specialised technical skills and limited access to long-term financing. These constraints, they warn, are slowing uptake and restricting the technology to a relatively small group of well-capitalised operators.
Onafowora notes that the capital-intensive nature of hydroponics makes it difficult for many individuals and small and medium-sized agribusinesses to transition from traditional farming systems. Without broader access to affordable financing and technical support, he argues, hydroponics will struggle to achieve the scale required to make a meaningful dent in national food security challenges. Industry leaders are therefore calling for more targeted investment in enabling infrastructure, alongside sustained research and development aimed at designing locally adapted, lower-cost CEA systems. They also emphasise the need for robust capacity-building programmes to close the knowledge gap, ensuring that operators possess the managerial and technical competence required to run these systems efficiently.
Onafowora is careful to stress that hydroponics is not a one-size-fits-all solution. He argues that the technology makes economic sense primarily for low-light, rapid-cycle crops or those with very high market value. “There are cases where hydroponics farms don’t make a tonne of sense,” he said, cautioning against the assumption that any crop can be profitably grown using the system. According to him, attempting to cultivate crops that cannot command prices high enough to offset setup and operating costs often leads to disappointing outcomes. He advises prospective investors and farmers to focus on vegetables and plants that are well aligned with specific market demands. If a crop does not generate sufficient revenue to justify the costs of a hydroponic setup, he argues, it is better suited to conventional open-field farming. The success of hydroponics, he maintains, lies not in technological novelty but in disciplined crop selection and sound market analysis.
Policy support and the path forward
On the policy front, government and development partners are beginning to integrate hydroponics into broader agricultural empowerment strategies. About three million young women farmers are expected to benefit from a Federal Government-led hydroponics and agro-kenaf farming initiative designed to boost productivity, livelihoods and food security. Speaking at a recent media conference in Abuja, President of the Police Officers Wives Association, Elizabeth Egbetokun, said the programme forms part of a larger plan to train 12 million people over five years, targeting vulnerable women, grassroots entrepreneurs and civil servants nearing retirement.
Implemented in partnership with UNESCO and the Read and Earn Federation Strategic Intervention Programme, the initiative will deploy hydroponics and agro-kenaf models across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. Beneficiaries are expected to receive start-up grants, access to low-interest loans and structured market linkages. Organisers say the goal is to build resilient value chains capable of injecting billions of naira into local economies while expanding women and youth participation in agriculture.
International development agencies are also engaging. Last year, the Food and Agriculture Organisation strengthened livestock production in parts of the North-East through a Training of Trainers programme on alternative fodder production, funded by the Norwegian government. Held in Maiduguri, the workshop trained participants in pasture development, hydroponic fodder production, hay and silage making, and value addition to crop residues. FAO’s National Livestock Specialist, Abdulrahman Mohammed, said improved feed availability remains central to addressing persistent livestock challenges.
At the sub-national level, Lagos State has reiterated its commitment to creating an enabling environment for hydroponics operators. Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said the state is prioritising self-sufficiency by promoting new technologies capable of transforming food production. As Nigeria’s cities continue to expand, experts argue that the future of urban food systems will depend increasingly on innovative, space-efficient solutions such as hydroponics, supported by sound policy, skilled operators and viable markets.
A recent report by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has called for a more holistic approach to transforming Africa’s food systems in order to achieve sustainable and resilient growth. The 150-page report, titled Drivers of Change and Innovation in Africa’s Food Systems, offers a roadmap for reimagining the continent’s agricultural landscape in the decades ahead. While Africa has recorded notable gains over the past 30 years—including an average annual agricultural growth rate of 4.3 per cent since 2000 and expanded intra-African trade—the report notes that the continent’s food systems remain vulnerable to shocks linked to climate change, market instability and weak infrastructure.
Within this context, Ogbole argues that the time has come to inspire school students to view agriculture and allied sectors as viable, forward-looking career paths. He believes early exposure to modern, technology-driven farming can help reposition agriculture as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s development rather than a sector of last resort. Echoing this perspective, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, described hydroponics as a significant step toward modernising the agricultural sector, strengthening food security and boosting national income through sustainable, high-efficiency production systems. She said the state’s smart agriculture initiative reflects the ministry’s commitment to deploying advanced technologies that support year-round production, improve output quality and reduce pressure on natural resources.
According to Olusanya, wider adoption of hydroponics is expected to increase overall production, raise crop quality standards and expand sustainable agricultural models capable of supporting long-term food security. These efforts, she noted, align with national objectives to consolidate agriculture as a key driver of economic diversification and inclusive growth.
Quietly, 2025 JULY slipped by without many Nigerian women knowing it was one of the months of the year the global community dedicated to them. It was the month for spreading awareness about uterine fibroids and the latest medical methods for conquering it. I, too, would have missed it, but for a call of nature. I rise at about 3.30am to void water and, done with that, return to my writing desk and radio. On July 28, I listened as usual to Koffi Bartel on one of his repeat programmes on NIGERIA INFO 97.3 FM radio station in Lagos, after I was done with Joy on the same station. Koffi was interviewing Dr Ajayi, a fertility specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology. He wore the membership caps of several international organisations in his profession, Koffi told us. What interested me most in the interview was that Dr Ajayi advised women challenged with uterine fibroids to take advantage of a non- invasive treatment of uterine fibroids which required no more than two hours of their time on a special bed during which the nauseating growths would be gone for good. I will return to this presently.
Dr Ajayi spoke, understandably, from a pure perspective of Orthodox medicine. Without prejudice to his enlightenment efforts, I would like to add some Alternative Medicine perspectives on uterine fibroids once again to this yearly JULY awareness campaign. Previously, I did this every January, review global regional and national conferences on the subject for the latest thoughts and activities. This year, nothing seemed to have advanced much the frontiers of knowledge.
Alternative medicine
I am more conversant with herbalism and energy medicine therapies and cure approaches, which I will discuss in summaries against the background of explosions in uterine fibroids business as some troubled women run from pillar to post for any cure.
From literature reviews over more than two decades posted on my FACEBOOK PAGE(at JOHN OLUFEMI KUSA), there must be about 20 possible causes of uterine fibroids or more by now. These include, but are not limited to the following…
POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY IN THE CELLS…Dr Max Gerson, an orthodox doctor who cured some terrible cancers using fruit and vegetable juices and organic coffee enemas, theorised that tumours occured when potassium, an important electrolyte present in cells, became deficient there and sodium, its antagonist electrolyte resident in the interstitial fluid outside the cells, invaded the cells. Space is not available to discuss the biochemistry which Dr Gerson says would develop from this. His findings concluded that fruit and vegetable juices were rich sources of potassium. Many doctors worry that proprietary potassium formulas may injure weak kidneys and , so, do not recommend it. However, like Dr Ajayi, they are not adverse to dietary fruits and vegetables. I encourage plums, Avocado pear, banana and the peel, unripe plantain and the peel ( these peels are richer sources of potassium and other nutrients than their fruits), pawpaw, watermelon, the local Nigerian ube etc.
DEOXYGENATION… Many environmental and dietary factors cause de-oxygenation. Dr Gerson said that potassium, for example, extracts oxygen from the plasma into the cell. When potassium levels are depleted and oxygen supply is depleted, the cell changes from an oxidative (oxygen using) existence to fermentative (non-oxygen using ) in an existential adaptive mode. This is the tumour, which may be cancerous or benign in any affected organ. Alternative Medicine addresses de-oxygenation with therapies in the HYPERBARIC OXYGEN CHAMBER, oxygen tablets, chlorophyll-2 (which has hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen atoms as well as magnesium as the central atom).
Poor blood circulation
Naturally, the amount of blood which enters an organ should leave it after concluding its job of nutrient and oxygen supply among others. In some cases, however, there is a congestion which may cause oxygen starvation, oral thrush and fungal/ microbial colonisation of the colon which the greyish tongue mirrors as a tell tale. All of these are treated with blood movers such as ginkgo biloba and cayenne and anti-microbials such as golden seal root, Kyolic Aged Garlic, Grape seed extract, olive leaf extract (if candida albicans and mold are present in fibroid samples). Food grade Diatomaceous earth (DIATOM) may also be helpful in crashing uterine fibroid size or that of any tumour or cancer.
Hormonal imbalance
Dr Ajayi said many doctors confuse their patients with this concept. For him, it is like a person died and the doctor is saying DEATH killed him. For there are many hormones in the body and some of them are often out of their boundaries. For him, early and late exposure to estrogen, the prominent female hormone, through early menstruation from about the age of 10 years to late menstruation at, say, 40 may cause this mishap. Alternative Medicine focuses more on estrogen and, thus, attention is paid to the three variants… estradiol, estrione and estriol. Estradiol is the harshest, followed by estrone. Estriol is the gentlest. Estradiol and estrone, being terribly harsher than estriol, menace the life of any woman who has an abundance of them, and may cause pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), breast cancer and infertility as well. Alternative Medicine, through regulating herbs, seeks to de-emphasise estradiol and estrone in favour of estriol. Women who are troubled by painful menstrual cramps, scanty menstruation, absence of menstruation, excessive bleeding and uterine growths, including such problems as endometriosis, have profited immensely from combinations of herbs in proprietary formulas such as PHYTOESTROGEN, the rave of about 20 years ago, FEMALE FORMULA and GYNO CARE, and in the combination of these proprietary blends themselves. A young woman who is under my watch was always a mess whenever her period approached and in the duration. She was never at peace until she had vomited a GREEN stuff, that is BILE, from the LIVER, evidence of incongruencies in her elimination, the vibrations of which should be towards the earth, but which , was rising and disturbing other organs. Unfortunately for her, she never read EVERY WOMAN in school or when she was growing up and never learned to keep her menstrual diary. The pains were her only alert. Now that they are gone on these remedies and raw leaves in the diet, I tease her never to wear a white dress outdoor to not embarass herself whenever her “visitor” came without a knock on the door. Like me, she eats about nine types of raw leaves at meal times…lettuce, nettle, chanka piedra, papaya (pawpaw), oregano, bitter leaf, shiny bush (renren in Yoruba), scent leaf(efinrin) and miracle plant leaf (Ambamoda in Yoruba) among others.
ACIDOSIS… The bodies of many women are acidic because they are sweet tooth persons. They do not like anything bitter and are too quick on naked sugar. Alternative Medicine believes that sugar upsets the reproductive system. Disappearing cycles in young girls are often restored when they stop the consumption of sodas, that is “soft drinks”. Milk, egg and poultry chicken are also contra-indicated in uterine fibroids and fertility questions. So is a preponderance of cooked foods. About 4 to 6 parts of the human body are believed to be made up of minerals. Everyday, these minerals are used up and are meant to be replaced through the diet. However, minerals in cooked food are damaged by heat and the body hardly gets the replacement it requires through cooked food. Dietary supplements and raw leaf diet are, therefore, important dietary sources of these minerals. Anyone who is in doubt should Google the subject PROFESOR POTTENGER’S CATS: The conclusion of his 10-year experiment with 900 cats hold important lessons for human health through nutrition. I turned 75 on 23 August and, with gratitude to the Almighty Creator and his creative WILL, I can say that, except for my vision, I have seen no doctor or been to any hospital for 30 years running now since I knew of professor POTTENGER’S experiment and, gradually, began to abide by the findings.
ACIDOSIS… Our organs are said to function in peak performance when the body is slightly alkaline. ACIDITY is measured on a 0-14 pH SCALE in which values below SEVEN are acidic and those above it are alkaline. The best pH for the body is about 7.34. Cooked foods, sodas and red meat, cause acidosis. Fruits and slightly cooked vegetables promote alkalinity. The World Health Organisation (WHO) , responding to the increasing rate of degenerative diseases, has suggested 80 per cent raw food and 20 per cent cooked food at meal times as food remedy! This has led to the emergence of a variety of green-dense powder food supplements, some of which parade as many as 45 plant powders under one roof. An example was ALKALIVE GREENS, which is now out of the Nigerian market. Currently in the market is daily build, among others. Today, there is a flourish of single herb alkalising green powders such as wheat grass, spirulina, alfalfa, barley grass etc.
Free radicals
These are defective molecules which try to balance themselves by stealing electrons from cells, thereby damaging them. That is the fate of any organ that cannot produce enough ANTI-OXIDANTS to annihilate them, or that is not helped by the body. The body produces three basic ANTI-OXIDANTS for the defence of all organs. These are glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase(SOD). Often, these are not enough due to excessive use and demand. The diet is then called upon to provide the building blocks. However, our nutrition is grossly inadequate in them in these days of convenience foods. SPIRULINA powder food supplements can help out because it offers all the 20 amino acids, including the nine essential ones, some of which are required to produce these ANTI-OXIDANTS.
Immune boosting…
Many women take their immunity for granted. The mineral zinc is one of the boosters of human immunity. In deficient persons, the THYMUS GLAND, located in the chest region and which helps T4 cells to mature, shrinks to a quarter of its size but enlarges to a normal size upon zinc infusion into the body. Imagine conditions for a uterine fibroid building up with compromised immunity to deal with them. The situation would be like that of a national army not well fed, poorly paid and armed with inferior weapons but, nevertheless, sent against a more powerful and more motivated force! Modern research has authenticated several folklore herbal medicines specific for uterine health. Many of them are in women’s proprietary formulas mentioned earlier.
The second chakra…
Every tribe of humanity has its philosophy of Medicine. The Asians premise their philosophy on the belief that man is not his body, “but the BREATH OF LIFE” which christians say animates the earth body and falls apart to become DUST when the in-dwelling humanspirit or “the breath of life” discards it in what we call DEATH. Do we call this independent consistency SOUL? It connects with the dust body at SEVEN POINTS. The soul is ENERGY. The body, like a refrigerator or television set, is lifeless until it has been connected through a plug into a SOCKET which brings it energy from the inner being, the soul. The soul is not man but his clothing in ethereal matter. Man is spirit. He actually animates the soul which, in turn, animates the dust body at the seven stations. The connections of soul and body are known in Asia as THE SEVEN CHAKRAS. Each chakra is a vortex of energy which nourishes a set of organs in its location. It is like the electricity transformer in your neighbourhood. When it is faulty or blows , you are cut off from municipal electricity supply and experience electricity failure.The SECOND CHAKRA supplies etheric energy to organs in the PELVIC REGION, that is from the navel to the base of the spine. The uterus is one of them. Many suggestions have been offered regarding why this chakra may not be supplying energy well enough to the pelvic organs, such as the uterus, causing them to wither and become diseased. One of such suggestions which may be examined on Google is that such women are obsessed with intent to control other persons and develop emotional pain when they are unable to accomplish their goal. What applies to women in their pelvic region also applies to men in theirs under the same conditions. Alternative Medicine here can do nothing other than educate affected persons that “YOUR HEALTH IS IN YOUR HANDS” and encourage them to LET GO, emphasising that, due to the gift of FREEWILL to everyone, NO PERSON CAN OWN ANOTHER. Rooted in SPIRITUAL OR PSYCHIC EXPERIENCE, depending on the level of the observer’s INNER LIGHT or INNER LIFE, fibroids may be self attracted or imposed. The hypothesis is that women who obsessively wish for a child but are not married or who are and experience fertility questions through the second chakra may register pain in their subconscious mind which is compensated for by the body growing something in the womb, even if it is not a foetus. When Mrs Elizabeth Kafaru’s Alternative Medicine column of the Guardian newspaper in her lifetime first suggested so, not many persons believed her. I gave the hypothesis a thought when I read of it in WOMEN’S BODY WOMEN’S WISDOM by Dr (Mrs) Catherine Northrup, a gynaecologist of 35 years work experience in the United States then. Everyone has a psychic space, and everyone is a human Spirit. The spirit WILLS, as a spark from out of the Radiations of the Almighty Creator. What we will varies in content and vigour, depending on whether it is INTUITIVE, deep and hewn right in the core of the spirit or if it is transient or fleeting, coming from the INTELLECT, crown of the brain and body. These thoughts manifest physically once their ethereal prototype have been constructed by nature beings, unless we stop nourishing them with our volition. In this case, the ethereal threads with which they attach to us as their authors dry up, shrivel and fall away, freeing us from them!
Thus, it can be seen from the foregoing few examples that there are many possible causes of uterine fibroids and only a comprehensive therapy or one nearly so can bring permanent cure.
Fibroids and the internet
In the internet age, many things are paraded as cures for all ailments, even if they are not. Accordingly, I limit myself to only therapies that have been CLINICALLY TESTED and PROVEN TO WORK, mindful too, that what works for one person may not work for another. The baseline, as usual, is a double blind placebo controlled trial which involves many persons with diverse status and returns a healthy pass mark. Even in this, we cannot ignore the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice that we do not ignore testimonials from illiterate persons in these matters. Thus, we may not limit ourselves to publications on PUB MED.
Thus, I have heard of sayings that LUFAH, from which Yorubas make local sponge, can work, if it is washed like bitter leaf and the water extract is ingested. Some suggest that green pawpaw leaf boiled and water be added to water extract of boiled lemon grass. I know from publications that lemon grass is good for malaria and that one of its constituents, CITRAL, inhibits the growth of cancer cells. A case has been made as well for the combination of the following herbs…
Nettle, Radix paeonie, Yanhusuo, Portia cocos, Muli, Cortex mountain, Peach kernel, Szechwan china berry, Sea weed, Kelp,Graviola, Vitex, Cinnamonia Ramulus, Red peony, Danshen, Reishi, Donquai, T C M, Barberry, Motherwort, Alfalfa, Burdock, Red clover, Blue cohosh, Milk thistle, Black cohosh, Dandelion.
Dr Ajayi: two hours without surgery on a bed
Dr Ajayi said in his interview with KOFFI Bartels of NIGERIA INFO ( a Lagos FM radio station) that Orthodox medicine now offers a non-invasive, that is surgery free cure therapy which involves only two hours on a therapy bed. I did not get the details and would like to rely on KOFFI Bartels(tel 02012770993) to link readers of this column with Dr Ajayi for more education.
Dr Ajayi said solutions to fibroid problems were easier if they were reported early to specialist doctors. The problem why there seemed to have been slow progress with innovations was largely due to lack of adequate funding, he said. This was not surprising because uterine fibroids was more of a problem of women of African descent, he added. However, I thought this should not be a problem. Didn’t Euro-Americans invest in air conditioners which was a solution to tropical African hot weather, or to malaria?
Some listeners who called by telephone into the programme expressed fears, if not doubts, about surgical therapies. One of such misgivings was death-during surgery or after. One woman said surgery could make a woman irresponsive to sexual entreaties. Another spoke of complications. She had hysterectomy about 12 or 17 years ago, developed a FISTULA problem and has not been able to conceive. Dr Ajayi promised to review her case free of cost but could not guarantee free treatment of her condition. He advised that we all always seek A SECOND MEDICAL EXPERT OPINION Whenever we are set to take a serious medical step.
• Lawmakers okay presentation of 2026 Appropriation Bill tomorrow
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday asked the National Assembly to consider and pass a new N43.56 trillion Appropriation (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill for the 2024-2025 fiscal period.
The move is aimed at ending the practice of running multiple budgets concurrently and strengthening accountability in public finance management.
In a letter transmitted to both chambers of the legislature, the President explained that the proposed legislation would reset the federal budgeting framework by harmonising appropriations for the two fiscal years and consolidating emergency expenditures undertaken in the national interest.
According to him, the harmonisation would also ensure the delivery of what he described as “unprecedentedly high” capital performance across the 2024 and 2025 budget cycles.
The request comes on the eve of the President’s scheduled presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly.
A breakdown of the harmonised 2024-2025 proposal underscores the administration’s focus on infrastructure development and growth-enhancing investments.
The Bill seeks authorisation to draw N43.561 trillion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
This comprises N1.74 trillion for statutory transfers, N8.27 trillion for debt service, N11.27 trillion for recurrent non-debt expenditure, and N22.28 trillion for capital expenditure and development fund contributions.
President Tinubu said the reworked budget framework would ensure an orderly and constitutionally grounded consolidation of critical, time-sensitive expenditures already undertaken in response to emergency exigencies, including those related to national security and citizens’ welfare.
He noted that the approach balances responsiveness with fiscal discipline, while closing loopholes that have historically undermined effective budget implementation.
The President also highlighted far-reaching safeguards embedded in the Bill to tighten spending controls.
These include strict application of released funds to purposes specified in the budget schedules, limits on virement without prior approval of the National Assembly, and clearly defined conditions for corrigenda where genuine errors threaten implementation.
In addition, the Bill mandates the separate recording of excess revenue and restricts its expenditure strictly to acts or approvals of the National Assembly.
It also reinforces due-process compliance and requires periodic reporting on fund releases, agency revenues and external assistance.
President Tinubu said the measures were designed to deepen transparency, enhance legislative oversight and restore confidence in the federal budget process.
The Senate considered and passed the Bill for second reading after the President’s request was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The Bill was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriation for further legislative work, with a directive to report back to plenary as soon as practicable.
Indications also emerged that the President would present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint sitting of the National Assembly today.
A formal communication from the Presidency is expected to be read during plenary.
A separate notice to the National Assembly community, dated December 17, 2025, and signed by the Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development, Essien Eyo Essien, on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, confirmed that the President is expected to arrive at 2:00 p.m.
The letter, copied to the Clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives, their deputies and heads of departments, outlined security and access arrangements for the day.
It directed all accredited persons to be at their duty posts by 11:00 a.m., noting that access to the National Assembly complex would be restricted thereafter, while non-accredited persons were advised to stay away.
Staff members, except the Clerk, Deputy Clerk, clerks of both chambers and their deputies, were also instructed to park their vehicles at designated areas at the Annexe or the new car park by the National Assembly Service (NASS) Gate.
The annual budget presentation marks the formal transmission of the Federal Government’s fiscal proposals to the legislature for consideration and approval.
Ahead of the presentation, the House of Representatives is expected to pass the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) today.
The document was passed by the Senate on Tuesday following the consideration of a report by its Committees on Finance, presented by the committee chairman, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa.
The 2026–2028 MTEF-FSP approved by the Senate projects a total federal budget size of N54.46 trillion for 2026, comprising retained revenue of N34.33 trillion and new borrowings of N17.88 trillion from domestic and external sources.
Other projections include debt service of N15.52 trillion; pensions, gratuities and retirees’ benefits of N1.376 trillion; a fiscal deficit of N20.13 trillion; capital expenditure of N20.131 trillion; statutory transfers of N3.152 trillion; a sinking fund of N388.54 billion; and recurrent non-debt expenditure of N15.265 trillion.
The Senate approved an oil benchmark of $60 per barrel for the 2026 budget, down from an earlier projection of $64.85 per barrel, while endorsing benchmarks of $65 and $70 per barrel for 2027 and 2028, respectively.
The committee explained that the conservative adjustment for 2026 was necessitated by heightened geopolitical tensions in Europe and the Middle East, as well as persistent volatility in the global oil market.
Crude oil production was projected at 1.84 million barrels per day (mbpd) for 2026, rising to 1.88mbpd in 2027 and 1.92mbpd in 2028.
The exchange rate was anchored at N1,512 to the dollar for 2026, with projections of N1,432.15 and N1,383.18 for 2027 and 2028.
Inflation was projected at 16.5 per cent in 2026, 13 per cent in 2027 and nine per cent in 2028, while real GDP growth was estimated at 4.68 per cent, 5.96 per cent and 7.9 per cent over the three years.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Olawale Edun, said the government’s focus under the MTEF was on strengthening revenue generation rather than increasing borrowing.
“The emphasis is squarely on revenue generation,” Edun said.
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, said the MTEF-FSP was developed through extensive consultations with government agencies, the private sector, civil society and development partners.
He urged revenue-generating agencies to improve performance.
Despite revenue shortfall in the 2025 fiscal year, the Nigeria economy has not only turned the corner, but recorded significant growth across macroeconomic indicators. High inflation which stuck in double digits for most of the last 35 years and rose to 34.6 per cent as of November 2024 has dropped to 14.45 per cent in November 2025. At $46 billion, foreign reserves can cover over 10-months imports, while the naira has remained stable across markets. FX inflows reached $20.98 billion in the first 10 months of 2025, a 70 per cent increase over total inflows for 2024, reflecting a clear resurgence in investor confidence.
Nigeria’s economic managers have in recent years, been laying the groundwork for a sustainable recovery and growth of the economy.
For many pundits, the success seen across key macroeconomic indicators like inflation rate drop, exchange rate stability and sustainable foreign reserves accretion have dwarfed whatever shortfall in revenue recorded during the 2025 fiscal year.
In the spirit of transparency, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, when appeared before Federal lawmakers early in the week, said that the Federal Government recorded a significant revenue shortfall in the 2025 fiscal year.
Edun explained that of the projected N40.8 trillion revenue for this year, the Federal Government achieved N10.7 trillion, creating N30 trillion revenue shortfall.
Also, of the N54.46 trillion projected aggregate expenditure for 2026, the Senate pegged capital expenditure at N20.131trillion, recurrent expenditure at N15.265 trillion, statutory transfers at N3.152trillion, and Sinking Fund at N388.54billion.
Also, the Senate approved the $60 per barrel as oil benchmark (down from N64.85 proposed by the executive), projected aggregate revenue of N34.33trillion, fiscal deficit of N20.13 trillion, borrowings at N17.88trillion, debt service of N15.52trillion, pensions, gratuities, retirees’ benefits of N1.376trillion, 1.84 mbpd as crude oil production, inflation rate of 16.5 per cent, exchange rate of N1,512 per $1 and GDP growth rate at 4.68 per cent.
A Lagos-based financial analyst, Michael Nwadike, said the revenue target though ambitious, but played key role in ensuring that the recorded revenue still remained remarkable.
He said the Federal Government was able to control its spending, since the economic managers realized early enough that there will be revenue shortfall.
“I think the economic managers have made the best use of the revenue for the year by controlling spending, and working hard to achieve the revenue milestone for the year.”
“That balancing act helped to keep the economy in good shape, and strengthened the economic fundamentals as seen in inflation rate drop, more accretion to the foreign reserves and stability in exchange rate,” he said.
The Director-General, the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) Dr. Baba Musa, called on government to ensure that 3.9 per cent growth for Nigeria in 2025 translate to decent jobs, rising incomes, improved productivity, and broader social welfare.
In his report presented at the recently concluded 2025 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, titled: “Nigeria’s Economic Outlook at a Turning Point”, he said as Nigeria moves further into 2025, Nigeria’s economic story is one of resilience, renewal, and strategic recalibration.
Musa, who is also the President, Nigerian Economic Society, said Nigeria’s economic trajectory is increasingly encouraging with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 3.9 per cent in 2025, up from 3.5 per cent in 2024, with further acceleration to 4.2 per cent in 2026.
Musa said Nigeria in 2025 is at a critical inflection point, cautiously optimistic yet structurally fragile. “Gains in growth, inflation moderation, and investment confidence mark important progress, but the work is far from complete. To sustain the recovery, Nigeria must maintain macroeconomic stability, deepen structural reforms, and ensure that growth translates into tangible improvements for citizens. Achieving this requires collaboration among government, private sector, civil society, and development partners,” he said.
According to him, by committing to policy consistency, human capital investment, and inclusive growth, Nigeria can consolidate its recovery and emerge as a more competitive, resilient, and equitable economy in the years ahead.
“Globally, economies are grappling with slowing growth, projected at 2.7 per cent in 2025 by the IMF for advanced economies, and heightened geopolitical risks that affect trade and investment. Against this backdrop, Nigeria has demonstrated remarkable determination. Domestically, inflationary pressures, infrastructure deficits, and unemployment persist, yet they now represent policy frontiers rather than defining constraints,” he said.
The journey so far
Speaking during the 2025 Bankers’ Dinner held in Lagos, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said the story of Nigeria’s economic recovery cannot be appreciated without first recalling where we started, because the reforms of today are borne out of a determination to change the conditions we met.
“When this leadership team assumed office, our economy faced severe macroeconomic distortions. Inflation was surging. FX liquidity had evaporated. External reserves were non-existent. Trust in economic management had weakened. Unorthodox monetary practices had eroded confidence. Businesses could not plan or price. Investors could not commit,” he said.
Cradoso explained that the foreign exchange market was in paralysis. “A backlog of over US$7 billion in unmet FX obligations undermined market integrity. The spread between official and parallel market rates had blown out to more than 60 per cent, creating distortions and rent seeking opportunities.
High inflation had become normalised, stuck in double digits for most of the last 35 years and risen to 34.6 per cent as of November 2024. Food prices were crippling households. Liquidity conditions were unstable. Many businesses faced an existential threat,” he said.
He said that the banking sector, though fundamentally sound, was at risk of being dragged into distress by a deteriorating macro environment and inconsistent policy signals.
“This was the Nigeria we inherited, not one standing at the edge of a macroeconomic precipice, but one that had already gone over the cliff. It is important to recall this not for drama, but for context: the progress we cautiously acknowledge today is meaningful only when measured against the depth of the challenges that came before it,” he said.
Sustaining economic turnaround
Over the past twelve months, Nigeria’s economy has transitioned from crisis management to laying the groundwork for a sustainable recovery. After nearly a decade in which real GDP growth averaged about two per cent, reforms have restored momentum and confidence in our broad macroeconomic environment.
“Our economy grew by 4.23 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, the strongest pace in four years, driven by improvements in telecommunications, financial services, and oil production.
“More importantly in terms of long-term stability, inflation, while still high, has moderated consistently. From a peak of 34.6 per cent in November 2024, it has more than halved to 16.05 per cent in October 2025. This marks seven consecutive months of disinflation. Food inflation, the largest single component of the basket, fell to 13.12 per cent in October, down from 16.87 per cent in September and 21.87 per cent in August”.
He said that the significant, steady decline in inflation is restoring real purchasing power for households and businesses. It also demonstrates disciplined execution and Nigeria’s return to orthodox monetary policy.
“We continue with determination to bring inflation down further. The current double-digit rate cannot be acceptable. Price stability is the foundation of sustainable growth. Our transition to an inflation targeting framework is gaining traction. We have improved data analytics, strengthened communication, and ended monetary financing of fiscal deficits. These actions have strengthened monetary policy transmission and anchored expectations,” he said.
“Our models project continued disinflation in 2026, helped by stronger domestic production, improved FX liquidity, and more disciplined liquidity management. As inflation moderates and becomes firmly anchored, we will calibrate the policy rate in line with evolving data”.
“Domestic and international observers alike have noted Nigeria’s “huge turnaround” in macroeconomic management. Our commitment remains clear: monetary policy will stay evidence-based, data-driven, and unwavering in its pursuit of price stability.”
Foreign exchange market reforms
Perhaps the most visible sign of renewed confidence in our economy is the transformation of the foreign exchange market. Over the past year, we have sustained the unification of the multiple exchange rate windows.
Today, the once crippling multi-billion dollar FX backlog has been fully cleared, restoring credibility and giving businesses the confidence to plan.
The introduction of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Code has established clear rules for transparency, ethics, governance, and fair dealing among authorised dealers while the deployment of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Management System (EFEMS) system, powered by Bloomberg BMatch, has transformed FX trading through mandatory order submission, real time regulatory visibility, and enhanced price discovery.
Together, these reforms have reduced opacity and manipulation, and restored discipline to the market. The naira now trades within a narrow, stable range. The once substantial gap between the official and parallel markets has shrunk to under two per cent, down from over 60 per cent.
Foreign capital inflows reached US$20.98 billion in the first ten months of 2025, a 70 per cent increase over total inflows for 2024 and a 428 per cent surge compared to the US$3.9 billion recorded in 2023, reflecting a clear resurgence in investor confidence.
State of the naira
The naira has achieved a notable milestone, strengthening by 3.5 per cent against the U.S. dollar over the past ten months, reaching N1,450/$ at the parallel market. This recovery, though modest, signals a crucial shift, driven by coordinated adjustments to fiscal and monetary policies by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The start of the year saw the Naira trading at around N1,555/$. However, a brief period of instability saw the rate slip to a high of N1,597/$ by the end of April. The subsequent six months were marked by intense policy intervention. The naira briefly firmed up at N1,475/$ in October 2025 at the official market before settling at N1,500/$ at the parallel market yesterday, marking a 3.5 per cent gain from the January starting point.
Cardoso has also highlighted the positive impact of monetary policy decisions including making naira more competitive at the international markets, and improving investment climate for global investors.
External sector progress
Nigeria’s external sector strengthened decisively in 2025, with the current account balance rising over 85 per cent to US$5.28 billion in Q2, up from US$2.85 billion in Q1.
Bolstering our external buffers, foreign reserves reached US$46.7 billion by mid-November, the highest in nearly seven years, providing over 10 months of forward import cover and significantly enhancing the economy’s resilience.
What is most important here is that our FX reserves are being rebuilt organically, not by borrowing, but through improved market functioning, stronger non oil exports, and robust capital inflows.
While oil production improved modestly to an average of 1.45–1.52 million barrels per day in 2025, the truly encouraging development is the strong performance of non-oil exports. Supported by ongoing reforms and greater exchange-rate flexibility, non-oil exports have grown by more than 18% year-on-year, reflecting rising competitiveness under a truly market-driven FX framework.
For many stakeholders, the ongoing alignment of fiscal and monetary policies is indispensable at a time when technological innovation and digital finance are rapidly transforming the financial landscape.
