The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Eyes on Miami as Jake  Paul faces Anthony Joshua tonight

    Eyes on Miami as Jake  Paul faces Anthony Joshua tonight

    Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua will bring another year of seismic shifts in boxing to an end in Miami tonight in a mismatch that illustrates how much the sport has changed, with online fame now almost as important as punching power.

    YouTuber-turned-pugilist Paul, who is stepping up from cruiserweight, takes on the former heavyweight champ seeking to burnish his reputation against the 36-year-old Briton, who was knocked down four times as he lost his most recent fight, an IBF heavyweight title bout with Daniel Dubois in September 2024.

    “You know, it’s boxing, boxing skill, boxing on the outside. He’s obviously going to come forward, bring the pressure, be the bigger man. And it’s just being slick, float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” Paul said, channelling former boxing great Muhammad Ali.

    While Ali took on a few odd-but-lucrative engagements in his time, such as a mixed-rules fight with professional wrestler Antonio Inoki in 1976, he would hardly recognise boxing’s new world, even if money is still the main motivator.

    Joshua, whose career began an alarming slide after he lost his four heavyweight belts to Andy Ruiz in a shocking upset in 2019, has been promised a reputed $50 million plus bonuses for the fight, which will be shown on streaming platform Netflix.

    The Netflix audience brings together die-hard boxing fans who will be eager to see what Joshua has left in the tank, and youthful admirers of Paul, with the former hoping Joshua wins convincingly.

    “I heard people say like, ‘oh, I’m not really into boxing, but I’m watching this fight’,” Joshua told a press conference on Wednesday. “But no one’s really coming up to me saying anything about Jake, or they want me to knock him out. Just positive vibes.”

    Read Also: Tinubu unveils new security, economic blueprint to harness Nigeria’s marine wealth

    Leveraging his fame, Paul’s path in boxing has taken him through former basketball player Nate Robinson and retired MMA fighters Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva, as well as a bizarre fight with a 57-year-old Mike Tyson.

    However, Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin, who retired on his stool when he fought Joshua in Riyadh two years ago, told Reuters that Joshua possesses the kind of power that could see Paul get seriously hurt in the fight.

    “When you’re in that ring, it’s a dangerous place to be, and anything can happen,” Joshua said ominously. “You hope your opponent leaves the ring safely, but if they don’t, you know, you still have to go to bed and knowing that you’ve just done your job.”

    Despite all the evidence to the contrary, Paul still believes that he belongs in the ring with a boxer light-years ahead of him in terms of reputation and skill.

    “I believe he (Joshua) is locked in and knows that this could potentially be the biggest loss, and will be the big loss of his career, and he has so much to lose in this fight,” Paul said.

  • AFCON 2025: Hosts Morocco face heavy burden of expectation

    AFCON 2025: Hosts Morocco face heavy burden of expectation

    Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco are putting up their best foot forward with sparkling stadiums and much-improved facilities for the 24 competing teams but the pressure on their own footballers to deliver the title is potentially stifling.

    Africa’s top-ranked team were semi-finalists at the last World Cup, have won a record 18 games in a row and boast a star-studded squad of players based at leading European clubs, making them hot favourites for the title.

    But despite their prominent position in the African game Morocco have won the tournament only once, and that was almost a half century ago. They have been heavily fancied at the last four editions but failed to make it beyond the quarter-finals.

    Home advantage should improve their chances but sell-out stadiums and a fanatical home crowd could also prove intimidating, combined with the responsibility of living up to all the organisational effort that has gone into the tournament.

    “We have to win the Cup of Nations,” said coach Walid Regragui at a last press conference last month.

    “At home, we’ll be tough to play against, we’ve proven that. We’ve progressed and rejuvenated the team,” he said of the disappointment of the last-16 defeat by South Africa at the last finals two years ago.

    Read Also: Tinubu unveils new security, economic blueprint to harness Nigeria’s marine wealth

     “We’ve integrated young players while maintaining our core strengths. We are coming into this tournament with confidence, but nothing is guaranteed.”

    Morocco will be co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain and the Cup of Nations benefits from nine stadiums in six cities, a first for the African championship.

    Morocco’s first three games are at the newly refurbished Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, with a capacity of 68,700, where the opening game and final will be played.

    There is a rebuilt 75,000-seater stadium in Tangier that will also be used up to the semi-finals, plus venues in Agadir, Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech.

    Morocco will face a stiff examination from a formidable field — half of the 24 teams have won the Cup of Nations previously, and seven of them qualified for next year’s World Cup.

    Defending champions Cote d’Ivoire , Nigeria and Senegal lead the West African challenge, while from the north of the continent Algeria and Egypt are also legitimate contenders.

    Egypt have won the event a record seven times, but the last was in 2010, and this tournament is likely to be the last chance for Mohamed Salah to finally add honours at national-team level to his impressive club resume.

    His controversial outburst at Liverpool earlier this month will add to the scrutiny he faces in Morocco.

    There are no newcomers in the field, though both Botswana and Comoros will play at only their second tournament.

    Comoros proved giant killers at the 2021 finals in Cameroon when they eliminated Ghana and this time go straight into the fray in the opening game against Morocco on Sunday.

  • FCMB Pensions eyes N1.2tr assets growth

    FCMB Pensions eyes N1.2tr assets growth

    The FCMB Pension, a subsidiary of FCMB Group Plc, is targeting N1.2trillion assets growth by end of December 2025, with FCMB current statues having over N1.1 trillion in Assets under Management (AUM), with over N200 billion paid to retirees and other beneficiaries, showing resilience and making impact in the country.

    Its Managing Director, Christopher Bajowa disclosed this at the 20th anniversary celebration of FCMB Pension in Abuja, noting that the company is planning to be a major player in the industry, with focus on Personal Pension Plan (PPP) as next frontier of pension growth.

    He said: “The major challenge has been that of inclusion, as efforts to grow the number of contributors has been a challenge and regulators are focused on these areas (PPP) because of its great potential to grow inclusion, second challenge is naira instability.

    “How do you encourage customers to save when the value of their savings is diminishing? There’s a lot of work in this area and even the Federal Government is working on boosting the value of the naira and also creating opportunities for us to access foreign currencies in order to hedge against devaluation if it continues to happen.”

    Read Also: FCMB Pensions disburses over N200b retirees

    Chronicling the growth of the industry, a Pioneer Managing Director of the FCMB Pensions, Bello Maccido, said the company started as a humble institution that was basically owned by retail individuals that came together to take advantage of the passage of the Pension Reform Act, 2004, with 13 Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) being licensed under the new defined contributory pension scheme.

    “Within three years of operation, we were able to break even, and within five years, we were able to post two consecutive years of profitability. By the time I spent five years at Legacy Pension now FCMB Pensions, we were able to sign on 187,000 Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) and an asset base of N72 billion. We had clients such as Division 1 of the Nigerian Army, CBN, Nipost, and other individual RSM holders from across the length and breadth of this country.

    “So, today, 20 years after, I must say that I am very proud of the accomplishment of the successive management of Christopher Bajowa who has taken this company from where it was at inception and taken it to a N1trillion by assets under management. By any imagination, this is a feat that must be acknowledged. We are here to celebrate 20 years of competent management and 20 years of successes,” he said.

  • Fed Govt, Arthur Eze partner to drive innovation

    Fed Govt, Arthur Eze partner to drive innovation

    The Federal Government has intensified efforts to position science, technology and innovation  at the heart of Nigeria’s economic transformation, as the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, hosted prominent industrialist and global business figure, Prince Arthur Eze, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

    Dr. Udeh stressed that collaboration with respected business and political leaders remains critical to shaping forward-looking policies and mobilising national support for impactful innovation initiatives.

    He also reiterated the Ministry’s readiness to partner with Chief Technology Officers across sectors to strengthen interlinkages within Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.

    Prince Eze,  who is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, commended the Minister’s  dedication to duty and reform-oriented vision, describing the Ministry’s approach as aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Read Also: FCMB Pensions disburses over N200b retirees

    He reaffirmed his commitment to economic empowerment and pledged continued support for initiatives that promote technological advancement, youth empowerment and national cohesion through innovation and industrial growth.

    The Ministry, under Dr. Udeh’s leadership, said it will sustain engagement with visionary business and political leaders whose experience, influence and investment capacity can help translate research and innovation into tangible socio-economic outcomes.

    Discussions at the meeting focused on leveraging innovation, indigenous capacity and emerging technologies to fast-track industrialisation, expand job creation and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy.

  • MTN Nigeria deepens disability Inclusion

    MTN Nigeria deepens disability Inclusion

    MTN Nigeria has reported a measurable uptick in the representation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) within its workforce, climbing from 0.9 per cent in 2021 to 2.13 per cent in 2025. The disclosure was made at the company’s headquarters during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD).

    The event, with “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,” served as a platform for the telecommunications giant to outline the operational realities of its diversity mandate.

    Chief Human Resources Officer at MTN Nigeria, Esther Akinnukawe, situated the growth within a broader framework of structural reform rather than distinct charitable acts.

    Describing the company’s diversity agenda as one of “investment and accountability,” Akinnukawe noted that the workforce gains are supported by a structured ‘reasonable accommodation’ framework.

    “Our brand must speak to everyone,” Akinnukawe who was represented by GM OE&P,  Inyang Osazuwa stated, detailing capital investments in facility upgrades, including ramps, modified workspaces, and hearing loops in customer-facing centres, alongside the integration of a dedicated disability segment in the company’s customer lifecycle system.

    She further highlighted the continuity of the IT Bridge Academy internship, now in its second year, designed to bridge the digital skills gap for PWDs in the wider labour market.

     Chief Broadband Officer, Egerton Idehen, who represented CEO Karl Toriola framed the company’s Beyond Barriers plan as a sustainability imperative necessary to serve a market segment often overlooked by corporate Nigeria. Egerton referenced the estimated 35 million Nigerians living with visible or invisible disabilities, arguing that their exclusion represents a significant economic loss.

    “Inclusion is essential for innovation, growth, and national development,” Egerton noted.

    The forum moved beyond metrics to address the nuances of corporate culture. Dolapo Agbede, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) expert, delivered a keynote dissecting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Agbede challenged the private sector to transition from viewing inclusion as a “nice-to-do” CSR activity to a “right-to-do” governance standard.

    Read Also: FCMB Pensions disburses over N200b retirees

    The dialogue was further deepened by Lagos State Chairman of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, Tolani Ojuri, who led a session on the myths and workplace stigmas surrounding albinism, calling for specific policy reforms to protect employees with the condition. This narrative was actively driven by host David Ubon, who substantiated the call for inclusion with personal claims, asserting that reasonable accommodations, such as the visual aids that allowed him to become the “best in the class” during primary school—are often the only difference between exclusion and having “no competition” in performance.”

    Validating the company’s internal culture claims, David Orinya, an MTN staff member, offered a perspective on the operational environment. “My difference is not a barrier here, it is a unique perspective,” Orinya told the audience.

    MTN’s leadership concluded the session by reaffirming its commitment to the Beyond Barriers roadmap, signaling that the push for accessibility, in both digital infrastructure and physical workspaces, will remain a core pillar of its 2025 corporate strategy.

  • Chappal Energies completes $340m, $90m lending

    Chappal Energies completes $340m, $90m lending

    Chappal Energies, through its subsidiary, Chappal Investments Limited, has successfully completed a $340 million Senior Secured Reserve Based Lending (RBL) facility provided by a syndicate of leading international and African financial institutions.

    The completion of the $340 million RBL facility is alongside a $90 million Junior Secured RBL facility provided by a leading global commodities company. The transactions mark a significant milestone in the Company’s financial and strategic development.

    The successful close, according to the company, follows a rigorous technical, legal, and commercial due diligence process and reflects lender confidence in the quality of Chappal’s asset base, governance framework, and disciplined operating model.

    The Management of Chappal, in a statement on Thursday, said, “Achieving this outcome in a challenging global financing environment underscores the resilience of the Company’s business and its credibility with international capital providers.”

    The statement, which was made available to The Nation, said proceeds from the facilities will be used primarily to refinance acquisition bridge financing incurred in connection with the Equinor Nigeria transaction.

    It added that the facilities will also provide ongoing funding to support field development, production optimisation, and broader operational requirements across Chappal’s asset portfolio.

    Read Also: MCB provides $120M financing for Chappal Energies’ $360M acquisition of ENEC assets

    “The facilities establish a stable, long term financing structure aligned with the Company’s reserve base and cash flow profile,” it stated, noting that they strengthen the Company’s financial platform and growth outlook.

    Chappal Energies said it remains focused on executing its strategy to become a pan African energy company operating to international standards.

    “The company continues to engage constructively with regulators, partners, and stakeholders, and remains committed to responsible operations, strong governance, and sustainable value creation as we look to our next acquisition opportunity

    “This transaction represents a strong endorsement of Chappal Energies’ strategy, assets, and management team, and positions the Company well for its next phase of growth,” it stated.

  • Tinubu clears N758billion pension liabilities, records 180% recoveries

    Tinubu clears N758billion pension liabilities, records 180% recoveries

    Nigeria’s pension system entered a new phase of stability and accountability in 2025 as President Bola Tinubu approved the disbursement of N758 billion to clear outstanding pension liabilities. Also the National Pension Commission (PenCom) recorded a 180 per cent surge in recoveries from defaulting employers within one year.

    Presenting a 365-day scorecard at the Pension Revolution Journalist Summit in Lagos, PenCom Director-General, Omolola Oloworaran, said the administration’s intervention marked a historic turning point in restoring confidence among pensioners and contributors, many of whom had waited years for entitlements dating back to 2007.

    According to the Commission, long-standing pension increase arrears for Federal Government treasury-funded retirees have now been fully settled, while zero waiting time for payment of accrued pension rights was restored with effect from July 2025, ensuring retirees receive benefits as and when due.

    As part of measures to improve benefit adequacy, PenCom introduced Pension Boost 1.0, which has added about N2.68 billion to monthly pension payments under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), easing pressure on retirees amid rising living costs.

    The Director-General said the reforms were anchored on Pension Revolution 2.0, the most comprehensive overhaul of the pension industry since 2004, combining stronger regulation, tighter supervision, governance reforms and full digital automation of key pension processes, including pension clearance certificates, benefit processing and contribution remittances.

    A major outcome of the reforms was a sharp rise in compliance by employers. PenCom disclosed that between January and November 2025, pension recoveries climbed to N4.04 billion, compared with N1.44 billion recorded in the entire 2024 financial year.

    Read Also: Tinubu to governors: obey verdict on Council autonomy

    The Commission said N2.06 billion of the recoveries was recorded in the third quarter of 2025 alone, following a compliance circular that linked Pension Clearance Certificates to participation across the pension industry value chain.

    Similarly, the value of Pension Clearance Certificates issued jumped significantly. While issuances averaged about ₦150 billion per quarter previously, the third quarter of 2025 recorded issuances of approximately ₦233 billion, signalling a shift in compliance behaviour.

    Beyond compliance, PenCom also launched the PenCare Initiative, an industry-wide healthcare programme aimed at providing free and accessible medical care for low-income retirees, as well as the Pension Industry Leadership Council to deepen collaboration, accountability and innovation across the sector.

    In a bid to expand pension coverage among informal sector workers, the Commission restructured and rebranded the Micro Pension Plan into the Personal Pension Plan, targeting artisans, traders, gig workers and creatives.  The plan introduces simplified onboarding, digital enrolment and the deployment of Accredited Pension Agents, expected to create thousands of new jobs for young Nigerians.

    On governance, PenCom raised capital requirements for pension operators and tightened rules to eliminate shadow directorships, insisting that institutions managing Nigerians’ life savings must be transparent, well-capitalised and professionally run.

    The Director-General said the reforms signalled that the pension revolution was no longer a promise but an irreversible process, stressing that retirement security is a right that must be protected.

    “With these reforms, Nigeria is building a pension system that is inclusive, resilient, transparent and trusted,” she said.

    Analysts say the reforms, backed by strong presidential support, have repositioned the pension industry as a stabilising force in the economy while restoring dignity and certainty to retirement for millions of Nigerians.

  • Dangote Refinery’s PMS supply will reduce petrol price, says IPMAN

    Dangote Refinery’s PMS supply will reduce petrol price, says IPMAN

    • Free delivery begins next month

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has called on all its members nationwide to patronise the Dangote Refinery in their purchase of premium motor spirit (PMS) or petrol, noting that the refinery already offers the best affordable price for all marketers, even as free delivery commences in January 2026.

    In a statement signed by the IPMAN National President Abubakar Maigandi, the Association also expressed delight over a recent agreement by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to begin the supply of petrol directly to registered IPMAN members.

    At a press conference held in Abuja yesterday on recent happenings in the oil & gas sector, IPMAN also applauded the support of the Chairman of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Aliko Dangote towards the Federal Government, which it noted has become evident in the regular reduction of the petroleum pump price.

    According to Maigandi, “the association has the highest percentage of the supply chain of the PMS downstream sector, controlling over 80 per cent of the PMS retail market. We therefore declare that there will be no gap or scarcity in PMS supply to Nigerians.

    Read Also: IPMAN Eastern Zone reaffirms unity

    “We are also excited at the recent agreement by the Dangote Refinery to begin the supply of PMS products directly to registered IPMAN members and its free delivery to our filling stations anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria which will commence in January 2026.

    “This will again, certainly lead to further decrease in the pump price of the products at our filing stations. Therefore, I am calling on all IPMAN members nationwide to prioritise patronising the Dangote Refinery in their purchase of PMS products, as they already offer the best affordable price for all marketers today,” the statement added.

    The IPMAN boss noted that “At IPMAN we have no doubt as to the viability of the oil and gas policies being initiated by the Federal Government, and we have ceaselessly called and sought for enhanced cooperation across all levels of governance in the oil and gas sector. Hence our repeated persuasion to always partner the Dangote refinery, to ensure the steady availability of PMS products.

    “The focus of the Dangote & IPMAN partnership has always been geared towards making life better for Nigerians. And of course, this blooming partnership would never have been possible without the pragmatic leadership of President Bola Tinubu, and his sound judgment in readjusting the leadership of the NMDPRA and the NUPRC.

    Our position has always been to deepen domestic refining in order to eradicate imports of petroleum products. Continuous import is not an acceptable parallel business model, because issuing import licenses recklessly distorts market dynamics, drains foreign exchange, enthrones poverty, destroys jobs, and scares potential investors away,” Shettima added.

    The association congratulated the new heads of the oil and gas regulatory bodies, and reminded them of the long outstanding bridging claims owed its members totalling over N190 billion. “We specifically call on the NMPDRA new leadership to immediately make this debt a cause for serious concern as he assumes his new position,” the statement added.

  • Stakeholders seek legal framework for national single window

    Stakeholders seek legal framework for national single window

    Stakeholders in the Marine and Blue Economy sector have called for the enactment of a legal instrument that would support the rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) project, posture of the current administration which is expected to commence by the first quarter of next year.

    Speaking at the 10th Annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists and Launch of the Centre for Maritime Media and Capacity Development in Lagos, the former Acting President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Dr Kayode Farinto observed that the  implementation of the  National Single Window would bring various government agencies at the port together to facilitate international trade, reduce time and cost and boost government revenue.

    The event was organised by First Mediacon Network Limited (FMNL) with “A Decade of Collaboration for Impact: Strengthening Maritime Journalism for the Future” as theme.

    Farinto and other stakeholders at the forum stressed the need for a legal framework in the implementation of the project, adding that there must be punishment for Chief Executive Officers of agencies who deliberately circumvent, delay cargoes and make officers extort traders or freight forwarders unnecessarily.

    “Our position is that we need a legal framework to legitimise the various Acts that would be submerged under one project for it to be fully implemented.

    “For example, the various government agencies like Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria Customs Service now have the 2023 Act which they have just started its implementation.

    “For us to have these government agencies working together, there must be a legal framework so that it would be sacrosanct.

    “In this legal framework, there must be punishment for Chief Executive Officers who deliberately circumvent, delay cargoes and make officers extort traders or freight forwarders unnecessarily,” Farinto said

    He added that the new tax laws recently signed by President Bola Tinubu has a provision for Tax Ombudsman, which according to him will further help the implementation of the NSW.

    In his address, the National Vice President of ANLCA, Prince Segun Oduntan expressed hope that the planned rollout of the National Single Window would adhere strictly to global best practices, delivering a truly unified platform capable of reducing delays, cutting costs and resolving long-standing inter-agency conflicts at the nation’s ports.

    The National Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Abdullahi Maiwada said the Service has deployed digital knowledge and relevant technology to increase its revenue by enhancing operational efficiency, improving compliance, and detecting fraud in all its operations.

    Read Also: MARCON backs FG’s National Single Window project, hails move to boost trade efficiency

    He assured that the Service would key into the National Single Window project of the Federal Government when it becomes operational next year

    Digital knowledge, he said, provides secure and transparent records of transactions and cargo movements, ensuring immutability and reducing opportunities for corruption and fraud.

    The Chief Executive Officer, FMNL, Sesan Onileimo, said maritime journalists are confronted with the need to upscale their knowledge, especially in this era of Artificial Intelligence, digitalisation and social media in general.

    Onileimo said all of these have combined to put journalists under intense pressure to push out factual details at all times, and also compete and be relevant, which is why the Maritime Journalists Capacity Development Centre was established.

  • Oyetola presents certificate to Governor Otu on Bakassi Deep Sea Port

    Oyetola presents certificate to Governor Otu on Bakassi Deep Sea Port

    The Bakassi Deep Seaport has crossed a major regulatory milestone as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, presented the project’s Certificate of Compliance to Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, following recent approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The presentation, which took place in Abuja, signals fresh momentum for the deep seaport project and reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding the country’s maritime infrastructure under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Presenting the certificate, Oyetola described the Bakassi Deep Seaport as a strategic national asset capable of repositioning Nigeria as a competitive maritime and logistics hub. He assured that the federal government would continue to support Cross River State to ensure the successful delivery of the project.

    “This project has the capacity to significantly boost livelihoods, create jobs and expand economic opportunities not only for Cross River State but for Nigeria as a whole,” Oyetola said.

    Read Also: Oyetola, Walson-Jack launch digital platform to drive transparency, reform

    He also commended Otu for what he described as the commitment and pace at which the state government is driving the project, adding that sustained collaboration between the federal government, the state and private sector partners would be critical to bringing the port to fruition.

    The minister linked the project directly to the administration’s broader economic and infrastructure reform agenda, noting that deep seaports remain central to Nigeria’s ambition to become a leading maritime and logistics hub in Africa.

    While receiving the certificate, Otu described the moment as historic, calling it a major milestone in Nigeria’s effort to unlock the full potential of the marine and blue economy.

    “Receiving this certificate is a significant boost that brings balance and momentum to our pursuit. I am confident that with the professionalism, diligence and commitment of the ministry and private sector players, we are firmly on track with the deep seaport project,” he said.

    The governor said Cross River State is strategically positioned to play a leading role in Nigeria’s maritime development, drawing comparisons with Brazil and other coastal nations that have successfully leveraged maritime assets to drive economic growth.

    He also commended the president for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and for appointing Oyetola as minister, describing both decisions as timely and critical to the growth of the sector.

    Also speaking, the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Jobson Ewalefoh, described the Bakassi Deep Seaport as a game-changer for Nigeria’s maritime and logistics ecosystem.

    According to him, the project would open a new maritime gateway for the country’s North-Central and North-East regions, while strengthening Nigeria’s position as a major logistics hub for West and Central Africa.

    The Bakassi Deep Seaport is expected to complement existing port infrastructure, decongest major gateways and support the Federal Government’s drive to expand trade, boost revenue and deepen participation in the blue economy.