The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Senate northwest security summit chair reaffirms FG’s commitment to peace, stability

    Senate northwest security summit chair reaffirms FG’s commitment to peace, stability

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Northwest Development Commission, Senator Babangida Hussaini, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthening security in the North-West and across the country.

    Senator Hussaini stated this while delivering his remarks at the ongoing Public Hearing on Security, taking place at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Murtala Muhammad Square, Kaduna. 

    He said the initiative underscores the resolve of the North West Security Summit to deepen collaboration among federal and state institutions, enhance community participation, and promote sustainable strategies that tackle insecurity at its roots.

    Presiding over the hearing, the lawmaker representing Jigawa North-West Senatorial District said the event marks a crucial phase in collective efforts to confront the region’s lingering security challenges.

    He stressed that protecting the lives and livelihoods of citizens remains a paramount responsibility, urging all stakeholders to sustain joint efforts aimed at achieving durable peace.

    According to him, “The public hearing provides an open platform for participants to share insights, experiences, and recommendations on enhancing intelligence gathering, improving inter-agency cooperation, addressing the root causes of insecurity, and promoting socioeconomic development to curb criminal activities.”

    Senator Hussaini commended President Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency on security, approving massive recruitment into security agencies, and demonstrating unwavering commitment to restoring peace nationwide.

    He also expressed appreciation to dignitaries and stakeholders for their support and active participation, noting that their contributions reflect a united determination to secure the region and build a safer future.

    The event convened key policymakers, security experts, and community leaders to review the current security landscape and propose actionable solutions toward lasting stability in the North-West.

    Among those in attendance were the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; members of the National Assembly; traditional and religious leaders; top security commanders; and civil society organisations.

    The North West Security Summit is expected to continue its engagements in the coming days, culminating in the drafting of a comprehensive security framework to be submitted for legislative and executive consideration.

  • UNESCO REF partners UAPP-UK to empower two million youth

    UNESCO REF partners UAPP-UK to empower two million youth

    The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Read and Earn Federation (UNESCO REF) has announced collaboration with the United Kingdom-based University Application Portal (UAPP) to expand their strategic partnership to empower two million Nigerian youths by 2030 to participate in the digital economy. 

    In a joint statement on Friday in Abuja, the organisations revealed that the initiative is firmly anchored in the principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, advancing Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all and SDG 8 which focuses on promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. 

    Chief Executive Officer of UAPP, Mr Md Shamim, said the partnership with UNESCO REF is a milestone in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    According to him, by 2030, the organisation would have empowered over two million Nigerian youths with skills, tools, and confidence to participate fully in the digital economy.

    “As a global student recruitment and education access platform, UAPP is committed to opening doors for young people around the world. Together with UNESCO REF, we are delighted to be building inclusive routes to education and decent work, ensuring that no young person is left behind,” Shamim said. 

    While explaining further that the programme would advance the 2030 Agenda, Shamim said Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations globally, with over 70% under the age of 30, saying this demographic represents both a challenge and an unprecedented opportunity. 

    UAPP is a global education technology provider working with over 200 universities worldwide and has supported more than 9,000 successful student placements and continues to expand opportunities for learners across continents. 

    The partnership seeks to harness this potential by expanding inclusive and equitable access to quality education through digital platforms and promoting lifelong learning opportunities and entrepreneurial pathways for young people.  

    The collaboration also aims to support decent work and sustainable livelihoods through skills development and career access while ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition to a digital and knowledge-based economy.  

    According to the statement, the programme components include digital inclusion by providing free access to UAPP’s advanced CRM and learning systems, enabling participants to engage in education and career counselling at scale.  

    The UNESCO REF President, Prince Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, highlighted the importance of the collaboration with UAPP, saying this demonstrates the transformative power of multi‑stakeholder partnerships in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

    He added that the partnership is not only transformative for Nigerian youth but also contributes to continental and national aspirations for inclusive prosperity and resilience.

    “By combining global technology with local impact, we are creating a scalable model for inclusive education, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment. This initiative will contribute directly to SDG 4 and SDG 8, while reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership in advancing the 2030 Agenda,” he stated.

    In line with the framework for the partnership, there would be capacity-building for entrepreneurship as training modules and mentorship would establish education-focused enterprises and digital businesses as well as global knowledge exchange, fostering cross-border learning and innovation.

    “Furthermore, the strengthening of this partnership will be anchored under the UNESCO REF New Partnership Development for Education and Youths (NEPAD_EY) framework, which provides the institutional architecture for coherence and sustainability,” he added.

  • Minister’s relative debunks claim of plan to scrap Yoruba studies

    Minister’s relative debunks claim of plan to scrap Yoruba studies

    A relative of the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, Mrs. Motunrayo Ajeigbe-Akinlosotu, has dismissed fresh social media allegations that the Minister intends to scrap Yoruba studies in schools, describing the claims as politically motivated and misleading.

    Ajeigbe-Akinlosotu, who is the MD/CEO of Okay Group, faulted reports circulating online suggesting that the Minister is working to abolish the teaching of Yoruba in schools.

    In a statement, she described the allegations, initially triggered by a social media post, as baseless, divisive, and deliberately aimed at damaging the Minister’s public image.

    The allegation stemmed from a post in which a user accused Alausa of betraying Yoruba interests while questioning his cultural identity and even the names of his children. 

    The post quickly went viral, drawing comments that painted the Minister as disconnected from his roots.

    Responding, Ajeigbe-Akinlosotu stressed that Alausa’s background solidly affirms his Yoruba heritage.

    She said, “Dr. Alausa is my uncle. He is from Lagos State on both sides of the family. His mother has roots in both Lagos and Ilesa. He is a true Yoruba son, a true Lekombi Omo Eko.”

    She argued that those spreading misinformation were driven by frustration and political rivalry rather than genuine concerns about Yoruba education.

    “I don’t know why people are cursing him over a policy he knows nothing about. These attacks are not about education, they are political,” she said, adding that detractors were likely unsettled by the minister’s rising profile.

    Ajeigbe-Akinlosotu praised Alausa’s reform efforts in the education sector, describing him as a quiet achiever committed to improving policy and helping people without fanfare.

    “This is a man who supports people privately. Many look up to him in Lagos. He doesn’t announce his good deeds.”

    She also dismissed insinuations that his religious background played any role in the controversy, explaining that the family is deeply rooted in both Islam and Christianity.

    Calling for calm, she urged Nigerians to verify information rather than rely on divisive online narratives aimed at stirring ethnic sentiments.

    “People should be very careful. I am not speaking politics; this is about who Dr. Tunji Alausa truly is.”

  • NSE inaugurates Lekki Peninsula branch, its 93rd nationwide

    NSE inaugurates Lekki Peninsula branch, its 93rd nationwide

    The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has expanded its footprint in Lagos with the inauguration of its Lekki Peninsula Branch, the 93rd branch of the professional body.

    The ceremony drew senior engineers, industry players and corporate representatives.

    Representing NSE President, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, Engineer Olutosin Ogumola described the inauguration as a milestone that reinforces the Society’s commitment to deepening professional development among engineers. 

    “The objective of the NSE is to advocate for the professional growth of Nigerian engineers,” he said, noting that the new branch would strengthen participation among practitioners within the fast-growing axis.

    The event featured a Technical Lecture on “Domestic Gas Infrastructure Development in Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges,” led by Engr. Nathaniel Oyatogun, Managing Director/CEO of ASPEN Energy, and gas development expert, Nathan Unugbua.

    They highlighted the economic value of domestic gas infrastructure and the persistent constraints slowing sector growth.

    Newly inaugurated Chairman of the Lekki Peninsula Branch, Engr. Abiodun Adelokun, said the branch was borne out of the high population of engineers residing and working around Lekki. 

    He said the chapter would prioritise professional development and community impact. Other executives include Engr. Toyin Akomolede (Vice Chairman), Engr. Patrick Omoniyi (General Secretary), Engr. Omosuyi Edomwonyi (Technical Secretary), Engr. Obumneme Ikechebelu (Financial Secretary), Engr. Chinelo Okafor (Publicity Secretary), Engr. Victor Rhuada (Welfare Secretary), Engr. Emeka Okoye (Treasurer), and Engr. Nelson Ijeboimen (Internal Auditor).

    Adelokun assured that the branch will “focus on exciting, insightful and enlightening opportunities” for engineers across the peninsula.

    With the inauguration, the NSE Lekki Peninsula Branch is expected to become a hub for collaboration, innovation, and professional excellence in Nigeria’s engineering sector.

  • Ganduje slams Kano govt’s call for his arrest as baseless, reckless

    Ganduje slams Kano govt’s call for his arrest as baseless, reckless

    Former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has dismissed as baseless and reckless the recent call by the Kano state government for his arrest over alleged comments linked to the formation of a militia group.

    In a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, in Abuja, Ganduje described the move as a reflection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s desperation and incompetence.

    The immediate past governor of Kano State said the allegation amounted to an abdication of responsibility by an administration that has repeatedly failed to secure the lives and property of residents.

    “It is deeply unfortunate that rather than addressing the escalating insecurity ravaging the state, Governor Yusuf has chosen to chase shadows while searching for scapegoats to conceal his glaring failures,” he said.

    Ganduje lamented that communities such as Bagwai, Shanono, Tsanyawa and others were living in fear, yet the governor had neither visited the affected areas nor shown empathy to victims.

    “His continued absence in moments that require leadership speaks volumes of his disconnect from the people he claims to serve,” he added.

    The Chairman of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) stressed that he had never been associated with violence or any act capable of undermining peace in Kano. 

    He recalled that during his eight-year tenure as governor, Kano remained secure, earning national commendation for maintaining peace and protecting lives and property—an achievement he said stands in sharp contrast to the current administration’s “ineptitude and lack of direction.”

    The statement urged Governor Yusuf to focus on his constitutional duty of safeguarding residents instead of engaging in political theatrics and unfounded allegations.

    Ganduje added that true leadership is demonstrated through purposeful action, responsibility and compassion—not through press conferences and frivolous statements aimed at diverting public attention from government failures.

  • Six injured as farmers, herders clash in Jigawa community

    Six injured as farmers, herders clash in Jigawa community

    No fewer than six people sustained injuries during a violent clash between farmers and herders in Kangire village, Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

    The incident was confirmed in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Birnin Kudu Local Government Chairman, Ishak Ibrahim Fanini, who noted that farm produce of significant value was also destroyed.

    According to the statement, the crisis erupted after herders allegedly encroached on farmlands and destroyed crops, triggering a confrontation. Fanini quoted the council chairman, Hon. Bldr. Dr. Muhammad Uba, as saying that a peace meeting he convened on Monday successfully restored calm to the community.

    Dr. Uba warned that the council would not tolerate any acts capable of threatening peace and security, recalling previous encounters with criminal elements in the area. 

    He said the council had stepped up security measures to safeguard lives and property.

    He urged residents to remain law-abiding and support ongoing efforts to maintain peaceful coexistence.

    Fanini added that the chairman assumed full responsibility for the treatment and welfare of the injured victims, providing immediate financial assistance and relief items, including cash, nine bags each of rice, millet and guinea corn, as well as mats, wrappers, carpets, blankets and other essentials.

    Residents of Kangire expressed appreciation for the chairman’s swift intervention and prayed for Allah’s continued guidance and blessings upon his leadership.

    Fanini reaffirmed the council’s commitment to sustaining peace and preventing further breakdown of law and order in Birnin Kudu.

  • Firm moves to revolutionalise real estate In Nigeria

    Firm moves to revolutionalise real estate In Nigeria

    Damon BlaQ Consulting Ltd has unveiled plans to transform Nigeria’s real estate investment environment through UK-level standards of transparency, feasibility analysis, and disciplined governance.

    Speaking to journalists in Abuja at the office commissioning, the Managing Director of the advisory firm, Mr Ehinome Mandi-Aguele said the firm is positioned to attract global and diaspora capital into the sector, while also addressing the structural gaps that will encourage investors to cater for strong demand for residential and commercial development nationwide.

    He noted that many investors, especially those abroad struggle to navigate Nigeria’s fragmented information landscape and poorly coordinated regulatory environment.

    “Investors face fragmented information, inconsistent due-diligence standards, and poor visibility into regulatory processes. Damon BlaQ was created to bridge that gap,” he explained.

    “We offer investor-grade analysis, disciplined governance, and UK-level transparency applied to Nigerian opportunities.”

    Assessing the state of the real estate market in the country, he said the current “boom” is not uniform across the country. While demand is strong and driven by population growth and urbanisation, he warned that poorly structured projects, speculative developments and weak feasibility continue to pose risks.

    “Some markets are overheated, others underdeveloped, and many projects lack the feasibility and governance needed for long-term success. What the sector needs now is precision grounded research, transparent feasibility, and better-structured capital. That is the space Damon BlaQ is stepping into.”

    Speaking on housing deficit, Mandi-Aguele speaking described the situation as a multi-layered challenge, fuelled by rapid population expansion, high development costs, weak access to long-term financing and slow regulatory processes.

    He stressed that it is not simply a matter of increasing the number of developers or projects, but of ensuring that developments are aligned with the real needs of the market.

    “There is also a mismatch between what developers are building and what most Nigerians can afford,” he said.

    “Our role is to improve the quality of decisions in the value chain. We focus on feasibility, capital structuring and ESG-aligned planning to ensure projects are viable and bankable.”

    Responding to concerns of rising housing costs, he clarified that Damon BlaQ is not a mass-housing developer, but an advisory firm focused on efficiency and investor protection.

    “When projects are efficiently structured and financed, costs come down and affordability increases. Our long-term vision is to collaborate with credible partners on models that make housing both sustainable and accessible.”

    He called on government at all levels to prioritise systemic reforms, arguing that the real pathway to affordable housing lies in reducing structural barriers.

    He recommended faster and transparent land administration, access to long-term financing, improved infrastructure in growth corridors and clear governance frameworks for public-private partnerships.

    “Affordable housing becomes feasible when market friction is reduced. If the government focuses on lowering structural barriers, the private sector with the right incentives will step in with scale.”

    Introducing the company, he said Damon BlaQ Consulting Ltd is a boutique real estate advisory and investment support firm operating along the Nigeria–UK corridor.

    Its services include feasibility studies, financial modelling, development advisory, capital raising, market entry strategy, ESG integration, joint-venture structuring and transaction support.

    He revealed that the firm is already advising on a pipeline of opportunities including mid-market residential concepts, land-assembly strategies, mixed-use feasibility assessments and investment structures designed to mobilise diaspora capital.

    “Our focus is on de-risking early and ensuring every project we support is viable, bankable, and aligned with long-term value creation,” he concluded.

  • Mortgage reform, land subsidy key to affordable housing — BigHomes MD

    Mortgage reform, land subsidy key to affordable housing — BigHomes MD

    The Managing Director of BigHomes, Topsy Essien, has called on the Federal Government to adopt a structured housing subsidy framework to address growing challenge of affordability in Nigeria. 

    Speaking at the commissioning of Ivy’s Court, a new mini-estate of six four-bedroom terrace homes in Abuja, Essien argued that millions of citizens are battling with homeownership due to poorly designed mortgage systems, opaque land allocation practices, and the absence of direct fiscal support for developers and buyers. 

    Essien stated that meaningful housing reform must begin with mortgage restructuring, transparent land allocation, and direct subsidies that lower the burden on developers and homebuyers. According to him, while the government regularly subsidises fuel and agriculture, it has failed to extend similar support to housing, despite being a fundamental human need.

    “Government should make the average mortgage amount meaningful enough to buy a home,” he said. “You don’t give citizens mortgage packages that cannot even buy a decent house. If we can subsidise other sectors, why not housing?”

    He pointed out that land cost alone accounts for more than 60 per cent of construction expenses in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), insisting that subsidising land would radically reduce development costs and make homes more accessible.

    “If government takes away the cost of land, developers like us can deliver these homes for ₦50 million, even ₦35 million in some designs,” he explained. “Land is the biggest burden. Remove it, and housing becomes genuinely affordable.”

    Essien decried the ongoing land racketeering in Abuja, where large tracts are allegedly allocated to individuals who resell them at exorbitant rates. Instead of allocating hundreds of hectares to private holders, he urged the FCT administration to assign recovered lands to certified developers already delivering affordable projects.

    “So much land is being taken and hoarded. Instead of allocating 100 hectares to individuals who flip it for billions, let government give such land to credible developers already building affordable homes. Just let us build,” he said.

    He also recommended reforms at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), saying current mortgage caps remain too low to be useful in Lagos, Abuja, and other urban markets. Private mortgage institutions, he added, currently offer more flexible packages that meet the real needs of buyers.

    Essien further noted that BigHomes has been able to deliver relatively lower-priced projects because of its partnership-driven model—reducing costs in land acquisition, building materials, advertising, and sales.

  • National Museum, L’Extinction artists mark world conjoined twins day

    National Museum, L’Extinction artists mark world conjoined twins day

    The National Museum, Lagos, and artists from L’Extinction Art have marked World Conjoined Twins Day with an exhibition featuring conjoined plantains, fused carrots, and joined thorn carvings, unveiled as part of a global call for greater support for children with disabilities.

    Titled Conjoined Rarities, the exhibition was created by twin artists and founders of No to Extinction Art and L’Extinction Art, Kehinde and Taiwo Olapeju, known as the Olapeju Twins.

    The centrepiece features the twin sisters merging their heads in a conceptual installation that symbolises the physical and emotional realities of conjoined twins.

    Kehinde, who declared the exhibition open and serves as the Ondo State Goodwill Ambassador for Environment, said the United Nations General Assembly officially set aside 24 November each year as World Conjoined Twins Day, following a Saudi led initiative to promote global action for children with disabilities.

    She explained that conjoined twins “are rare twins who are born with their bodies physically connected,” noting that the level of fusion can range from minor tissue links to complex connections involving shared organs.

    She said the 2025 commemoration marks only the second observance of World Conjoined Twins Day and that Conjoined Rarities aims to create a platform for medical treatment for twins and children with disabilities.

    “We created the art installation of conjoined plantains, fused carrots, and joined thorn carvings to illustrate conjoined twins and to identify physically with twins born with disabilities, in order to create increased healthcare awareness for them.

    “We are exploring the theme of World Conjoined Twins Day artistically by exhibiting courage and compassion while calling for stronger global support for children with disabilities as we stage this exhibition across the globe,” she said.

    The curator, Alabi Abiodun, praised the National Museum, Lagos, for hosting the exhibition despite ongoing renovation work.

    She said the exhibition would be displayed in galleries across Nigeria and internationally, allowing collectors to acquire the conjoined plantains, fused carrots, and joined thorn carvings.

    She stressed that the twins’ merged head installation is not for sale.

    “The original conceptual artwork, which comprises the merged twin sisters, is priceless, but art collectors will be able to collect the exclusive print versions as well as the conjoined plantains, carrots, and thorn carvings for humanity,” she said.

  • DisCos collected N196.26b in September, says NERC

    DisCos collected N196.26b in September, says NERC

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday said the 12 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) collected N192.26 billion in September 2025 out of the N241.54 billion total energy bills issued in the period under review.

    It was an indication that the DisCos could not collect N49.28 billion of the bills.

    This was contained in the Commercial Performance of Nigeria’s Distribution Companies in September 2025 factsheet.

    The performance factsheet which was in the commission’s X handle, noted that in the month under review, N279.45 billion total energy was received by the Discos.

    NERC said while 86.43 per cent billing efficiency was recorded in September, it was up by 2.58 per cent from the previous month.

     According to him, “Energy Billed & Billing Efficiency ₦279.45bn total energy received ₦241.54bn total energy billed Billing efficiency: 86.43% (2.58% from August) Revenue Collection & Collection Efficiency ₦241.54bn total billings ₦196.26bn revenue collected (2.69%) Collection efficiency: 81.25% (1.18%).”

    On Revenue Recovery Performance, NERC said ₦116.34/kWh was the allowed average tariff while ₦97.09/kWh was the actual average collection.

    The factsheet added that there was 83.45 per cent recovery efficiency, with (3.67 per cent) rise over the August record.

    NERC said DisCo Eko, Abuja, and Ikeja remained strong performers across billing, collections, and recovery efficiency. 

    Aba, according to the factsheet, achieved a 102.85 per cent billing efficiency, reflecting improved energy optimisation and legacy recovery. Benin, Port Harcourt, and Kano posted moderate efficiency levels, while Jos, Kaduna, and Yola continued to trail and show room for improvement. 

    NERC explained that the “figures give a clear picture of how effectively DisCos are billing, collecting, and recovering revenue, key indicators for strengthening liquidity and improving service delivery across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).”