The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Uba Sani: Redefining governance through innovation

    Uba Sani: Redefining governance through innovation

    Sir: Kaduna State has steadily emerged from a period characterised by insecurity, socio-political dislocation, and weakened economic confidence. Once widely perceived as unstable, marginalised, and commercially constrained, the state is now reasserting itself as a symbol of order, credible governance, and renewed investment appeal. This transformation is neither accidental nor superficial. It is the outcome of deliberate leadership, disciplined administration, and a clearly articulated development pathway under the stewardship of Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State.

    His strategic direction is redefining Kaduna’s fortunes and strengthening its relevance within Nigeria’s subnational economy and the wider international investment space.

    In just over two and a half years, Governor Sani has presided over a calm yet deeply transformative renewal. Rejecting populist theatrics, his administration has consistently prioritised reconciliation over spectacle, institutional coherence over improvised responses, and measurable outcomes over fleeting applause. This governance philosophy has restored public confidence, revived investor interest, and reactivated economic and social life across communities previously immobilised by fear. Kaduna’s recovery exemplifies leadership grounded in substance and guided by long-term vision rather than short-term political advantage.

    International validation of this progress became evident on September 10, when the United Kingdom government upgraded Kaduna from Red Level Four to Amber Level Three on its travel advisory scale. Announced alongside a Mutual Accountability Framework, this reclassification signalled that the state had crossed a decisive threshold in stability and governance credibility. For investors and development partners alike, the implication was unmistakable. Kaduna is increasingly secure, predictable, and open for business.

    With stability largely consolidated, the administration has shifted focus towards converting peace into broad-based prosperity. Agribusiness, particularly poultry production, has been identified as a strategic driver of inclusive growth, employment creation, and food security. This ambition was reinforced when Governor Uba Sani led a delegation to Beijing for high-level engagements with the China Communications Construction Company, CCCC. Kaduna became the first Nigerian subnational government to be formally received at the company’s headquarters, reflecting rising international confidence in the state’s development agenda.

    Visits to large-scale poultry and halal meat processing complexes, some producing several million units daily, provided valuable insights into integrated value chains encompassing production, processing, packaging, and distribution. These lessons now inform Kaduna’s flagship $200 million poultry initiative, scheduled for implementation in early 2026.

    Designed as a fully integrated value chain project, it is projected to empower more than 350,000 youths and women, expand domestic protein supply, and generate sustainable employment. The initiative represents a decisive shift from subsistence farming to commercially competitive, export-ready agribusiness aligned with global standards.

    Through the Roads Development Initiative, more than 1,300 kilometres of roads are currently under construction, reconnecting rural communities to urban markets and strengthening intra-state and regional integration. Urban transport reforms, including the Kaduna Bus Rapid Transit system and modern transport terminals, reflect a coherent mobility strategy designed to support inclusive and sustainable economic expansion.

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    Beyond transport, the administration has revitalised the rural economy. Over 500,000 hectares of previously abandoned farmland have been restored, displaced farmers resettled, and agricultural investment significantly expanded. Flagship initiatives such as the $510 million Special Agro Industrial Processing Zone position Kaduna as a leading agro-industrial hub in northern Nigeria. Parallel investments in human capital, spanning education, teacher training, reduced tertiary fees, upgraded health facilities, and vocational programmes, have empowered tens of thousands of young people and reinforced a people-centred development model.

    On 16 December 16, the governor hosted the leadership of the National Board for Technology Incubation, NBTI, alongside Malam Al Amin Muhammed Idris, winner of the NextGen Innovation Challenge 2025. The engagement highlighted the administration’s embrace of technology and data-driven solutions in governance and service delivery.

    Underlying these achievements is a governance culture anchored in transparency, accountability, and evidence-based policymaking. Compliance with Open Government Partnership standards, prudent debt management, and participatory budgeting, including the allocation of N100 million to each ward for community-selected projects, has strengthened democratic ownership and institutional legitimacy. Collectively, these measures articulate a coherent development philosophy, with peace as the foundation, people as the focus, and progress driven by strategic partnerships.

    Under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, Kaduna State is not merely evolving. It is being fundamentally redefined. Its experience demonstrates how principled leadership, fiscal responsibility, and strategic investment in agribusiness and innovation can reposition a subnational economy as stable, competitive, and exemplary within Nigeria’s federal landscape.

    •Abdulrashid Sani Gimi, PhD, Kaduna.

  • Nigeria’s health insurance needs an overhaul

    Nigeria’s health insurance needs an overhaul

    Sir: Nigeria’s National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) was established with a clear mandate to drive the country toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. With a stated vision of becoming a leading agency committed to achieving financial access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians, the scheme was designed to remove cost barriers and protect citizens from catastrophic health spending. Yet, nearly two decades after its conception in different forms, that vision appears increasingly distant from reality.

    For many Nigerians enrolled under the NHIA, the reality of care is marked by frustration, neglect, and systemic inefficiency. Across the country, patients’ experiences suggest a scheme that exists more on paper than in practice. While access to healthcare is meant to be guaranteed, the lived experiences of insured patients tell a different story—one that raises serious questions about the credibility and effectiveness of the system.

    The situation is particularly troubling in many private hospitals, where NHIA patients are often treated as second-class citizens. Reports abound of healthcare providers paying little or no attention to patients simply because they are enrolled under the insurance scheme. Instead of benefiting from the protections promised by the NHIA, patients are frequently subjected to long delays, limited services, and outright neglect.

    A striking example can be found in a popular hospital located in Garki, Abuja, where a separate pharmacy exists solely for NHIA patients. This pharmacy hardly boasts of any essential drugs or medicines. Patients are routinely asked to source their prescribed medications from outside the hospital, defeating the very purpose of insured care and placing additional financial and emotional burdens on already vulnerable individuals.

    Even more distressing is the harrowing process of status confirmation by Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs). NHIA patients are often made to wait for hours, and in some cases days, before approval codes are issued. During this time, treatment is delayed, regardless of the severity of the patient’s condition. In a healthcare system where time can mean the difference between life and death, such delays are indefensible.

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    Tragically, there have been cases where patients with emergency conditions either died or suffered worsening health outcomes while awaiting HMO approvals. Rather than providing urgent care and resolving administrative issues afterward, many facilities choose to delay treatment entirely. This approach reflects a dangerous prioritisation of bureaucracy over human life.

    In addition, several hospitals routinely refer patients elsewhere solely because they are under the NHIA scheme. These referrals are not based on lack of capacity or expertise but on an unwillingness to engage with NHIA processes. As a result, many patients have lost faith in the system and now choose to present themselves as direct, self-paying patients in order to receive prompt and comprehensive care.

    These poor practices, entrenched over the years, have significantly undermined NHIA services in both public and private hospitals. This is despite the huge sums of money paid by government as healthcare subsidies under the scheme. The persistent gaps between funding, service delivery, and patient outcomes have left the NHIA struggling with a serious credibility crisis.

    The federal and state governments must act decisively. There is an urgent need for strict monitoring and regulation of all healthcare providers participating in the NHIA scheme to ensure compliance and accountability. HMOs must also be made more accessible, with seamless systems that eliminate prolonged waiting times for status confirmations. Universal Health Coverage cannot be achieved through promises alone. The time to act is now.

    •Tochukwu Jimo Obi, Obosi Anambra State.

  • On the Dangote/ NMDPRA kerfuffle

    On the Dangote/ NMDPRA kerfuffle

     Sir: The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 does not prohibit the importation of petroleum products into Nigeria. There is no outright ban; rather, the Act supports a deregulated market with regulatory oversight governing imports.

    Aliko Dangote’s grievance with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) under its former helmsman, Farouk Ahmed centres on the continued issuance of import licences to petroleum marketers. And then the failure to impose heavy levies and taxes on imported petroleum products. 

    According to the NMDPRA, Nigeria’s petrol imports increased to an average of 52.1 million litres per day in November. The NMDPRA further disclosed that the NNPC imported the bulk of Nigeria’s petrol requirements in November 2025, with total imports by all marketers amounting to 1.563 billion litres during the month.

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    In the first round of this battle, Dangote appears to have “won,” as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has replaced Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). They have been succeeded by Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC and Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, subject to senate’s approval.

    My take is that this battle will continue. The new chief executives cannot ban the importation of petroleum products by the NNPC or other marketers outright because there is no law to back them. However, they are likely to engage Dangote cautiously to avoid the fate that befell Farouk Ahmed and Gbenga Komolafe. In my view, this is not a good thing for a regulatory of an industry.

    If Dangote truly seeks full market patronage, pricing is key. His products must match or beat the cost of imported petroleum products. Marketers operate on a simple philosophy: buy good, sell good. If Dangote Refinery’s prices and processes are competitive or superior to imported products, no marketer would endure the challenges of sourcing foreign exchange, freight costs, and time delays when a cheaper and readily available alternative exists at their doorstep.

    •Zayyad I. Muhammad,Abuja.

  • Rigid refusal

    Rigid refusal

    •Faith collides with medicine in a matter of life and death

    The decision of a cancer patient, Mensah Omolola, popularly known on X as Auntie Esther, to reject medically advised blood transfusion, even after Nigerians had raised N30 million for her treatment, has resulted in a clash of emotion and law.

    While many Nigerians are aghast at her decision, with some calling for the diversion of the money raised on her behalf by some social media influencers, the patient, a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and her supporters, are adamant that she will not trade her religious beliefs for popular medical practice.

    Omolola, whose ailment gained public sympathy after she displayed her “before and after” photos of weight loss on social media, had sought donations from the public by appointing prominent X users, Dr Olusina Ajidahun, Wisdom Obi-Dickson and Idansss as her point persons. Strangely, after a whopping sum of N30 million was raised to aid her treatment, she refused the medically advised blood transfusion. She said her faith, as a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, does not allow her to accept blood transfusion.

    Considering that Omolola is an adult, and in complete control of her faculties, her consent is required to administer any form of treatment to her, and she has bluntly refused blood transfusion, as part of her treatment.

    Many Nigerians wonder if the state does not have overriding powers to protect the lives of her citizens from what they consider unreasonable religious practices? Such people argue that the state should have the power to enforce the medical treatment for a patient, as may be determined by medical doctors.

    While there are instances when the state may intervene to force a treatment on a patient, this is not one of such. Were Omolola a child, the state could approach the court and seek an order authorising its officials to give needed blood transfusion to the patient. Another remote instance could be if the patient was suffering from a communicable disease; in such a case, the law authorises the state to take custody of the patient and treat her in an isolated place, in the interest of public safety.

    Clearly, Omolola’s case is of public interest because of the huge money raised, out of sympathy for her deteriorating health condition. The donors, who are not members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, must be wondering what type of faith would make a person choose to sacrifice medical advice for what looks like a ridiculous religious belief.

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    However, regardless of how the public may feel, the constitution guarantees Omolola the right to her religious belief, and the right to hold and practise such belief, even when the majority may consider it unreasonable.

    For the doctors who have sworn an oath to protect lives, they can only do that with the cooperation of the patient who has the fundamental right to the dignity of the human person, which includes the right to decide what type of treatment to accept.

    Religion, Karl Marx had argued, “is the opium of the people,” and the decision to avoid blood transfusion, coming from an indoctrinated mind, lends credence to such argument. Such belief can only be changed through the re-education of the mind, and we hope the leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses will re-evaluate that belief.

    What can be contested is what to do with the money raised from the public, for the purpose of helping Omolola. The report indicates divergent opinions on what to do with the money. Many have asked that the money should be diverted to another public cause.

     Since there is no way to determine each donor’s reaction following Omolola’s refusal to accept blood transfusion, this question of what should be done with the money remains a difficult one. 

  • Yakasai at 100

    Yakasai at 100

    •A centenarian worthy of celebration

    In a tribute marking Alhaji Tanko Yakasai’s centenary on December 5, President Bola Tinubu underscored the elder statesman’s biological and political longevity. He called him “the last man standing” among “the noble men and women who stood firm for our liberty and freedom from repressive colonial subjugation.”

    His path to political prominence was unusual. “I didn’t go to a normal school initially. I attended Quranic schools,” he said in an interview. He also attended evening classes, and trained as a tailor in the course of his studies. He later earned a diploma in Political Science in Germany.

    Born in Kano, he entered politics in 1946 after attending a political rally in Kano organised by the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). He was inspired by speeches of prominent independence activists at the rally, saying it marked “the beginning of my interest in politics.” 

    As a politically conscious young man, he was among the founders of the Kano Youths Association in 1947. In 1950, he joined other political activists to found a new political party with a radical orientation, the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU). This was the first political party in Northern Nigeria; its enduring manifesto called on the ‘Talakawa’ or populace to launch a ‘class struggle against the ruling class.’

    He unsuccessfully contested the 1959 federal elections to represent Karaye in the Federal House of Representatives. His strong Marxist-Leninist advocacy led to his expulsion from the party in 1960, when he was NEPU’s publicity secretary. He rejoined the party in 1963.

     The collapse of the First Republic in 1966 did not halt his political evolution. He was appointed state commissioner for education in 1967 under the military in the newly created Kano State. He also served as commissioner for forestry, community development, and cooperatives; and was later appointed commissioner for finance.

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    In the Second Republic (1979 – 1983), he was publicity secretary of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). His role in the conservative party stood in stark contrast to his former image as a radical politician. He served as special assistant to President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly Liaison. Yakasai was among several politicians arrested and detained following the military coup that ended the Second Republic.

    Under another military administration, he maintained a “close relationship” with the dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha (1993 – 1998), which was viewed as a political paradox, given his history of radical activism. 

    He was a founding member and member of Board of Trustees of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), an influential northern socio-political group. This role projected him as a custodian of Northern interests.

     Describing himself as one of the most persecuted politicians in the North, he said in an interview: “I was from prison to prison. During the First Republic, I was convicted or detained four times, from 1960 to 1966. When Muhammadu Buhari took over power, I was also detained alongside many politicians. That was my ninth arrest and detention.

    “When General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) took over from Buhari, I was also arrested and detained for attacking the military. I was not convicted but detained for one month. We took the government to court and when they realised they were going to lose the case, they set me free. That brought my detention and arrest to 10 times, as a result of my political activities. I don’t think any Nigerian was arrested 10 times in that period, either imprisoned or detained, as much as I was detained.”

    According to President Tinubu’s portrait of Yakasai, “He is a consensus builder who consistently weighs in on the side of national cohesion, peaceful coexistence, and democratic consolidation.”

     He is a centenarian whose life is as much a lesson as it is a celebration.

  • Scholar cautions against stereotyping Muslims

    Scholar cautions against stereotyping Muslims

    A renowned international scholar, Sheikh Mohammed Mahmoud, has strongly cautioned against the stereotyping of Muslims in Nigeria and other parts of the world by the media as terrorists or bandits.

    He described it as criminal acts, urging that perpetrators of crimes should be treated with the full weight of the law without being given religious or ethnic coloration.

    Sheikh Mohammed Mahmoud made this clarification during an interactive session with the media in Ikeja, ahead of his 13-day Peace Tour to the country.

    The tour also seeks to provide Nigerians with a roadmap for integrating faith, self-development, and ethical leadership in an increasingly challenging global environment.

    The nationwide tour, scheduled from December 16 to 29, is organised by the Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness (MICA) in partnership with the Global Peace Movement (UK) and Tahara Collectives.

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    Fielding questions from reporters, the respected scholar said it was long overdue to end the age-long media narrative that portrays Muslims as terrorists.

    He also urged the Federal Government to accord top priority to the security and welfare of every Nigerian, not just those perceived as vulnerable within any sect or religion.

    According to him, the government must continually reassure citizens that it cares for them, while ensuring that vulnerable groups are adequately protected.

    The recipient of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) noted that humanity, as designed by God, goes through periods of turmoil and peace, but justice must always remain the guiding principle.

    Sheikh Mahmoud further explained that the spread of Islam across the world is driven by conviction, adding that the Prophet Muhammad exemplified good character and service to humanity, which endeared people to the religion during his lifetime.

    The scholar stated that even those who publicly opposed the Prophet during his time still entrusted their belongings to him privately, owing to his integrity, trustworthiness, and exemplary character.

  • Foundation offers free healthcare to 200 inmates

    Foundation offers free healthcare to 200 inmates

    No fewer than 200 inmates of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state have benefitted from a medical outreach organised by a non-profit organisation, Sadaqotun Jaariyah Foundation.

    The exercise which was conducted by a team of multidisciplinary medical expert led by Dr Abdul-Waheed Babalola of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, involved treatment and administration of drugs for the beneficiaries after a free medical diagnosis.

    Speakng at the event, the Founder and Director of the Sadaqotun Jaariyah Foundation, Mr Musa Abdul-Hammed, said over 200 inmates benefitted from the free medical treatment, describing the outreach as a voluntary humanitarian intervention funded through donations.

    Abdul-Hammed said that the initiative was aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of inmates, irrespective of their religious affiliations, as part of the foundation’s commitment to supporting the less privileged in society.

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    He added that the medical outreach was in line with the foundation’s broader humanitarian efforts to make life more bearable for the downtrodden.

    Ekiti State Coordinator of the foundation, Jeleel Hammed, expressed appreciation for the choice of Ekiti State for the free medical outreach.

    Hammed noted that the organisation had previously executed projects at the correctional centre, including the sinking of a borehole to improve water supply in the facility.

    Giving an overview of the medical findings, Dr Babalola said most of the inmates presented with skin-related ailments, including rashes and itching, which he attributed to poor accommodation conditions within the facility.

    He added that checks conducted showed that the inmates’ blood pressure and blood sugar levels were generally within normal range, noting that no critical case was recorded during the exercise.

    Dr Babalola said the drugs administered were largely antibiotics and anti-malarial medications, while a few inmates were given anti-hypertensive drugs to help manage their blood pressure.

  • EFCC: Nigeria’s own Sphinx

    EFCC: Nigeria’s own Sphinx

    Preamble

    Sophocles, a Greek playwright and dramatist of renown who lived between 496 and 406 B.C produced a tragic play entitled Oedipus Rex in 411 B.C. The play has drawn tremendous ovation from literary men and women through the centuries not only for its wonderful setting but also for the allusive purpose it has served since then.

    In the play, we learn of a curse that fell on the land of Thebes (a capital city in ancient Greece). On the land not only were people sick and dying in quick succession with the cattle being afflicted by an epidemic of rinderpest but even the crops were blighted. At that time, Oedipus was the King.

    Our concern here is not how Oedipus became the King or what later became of him. The allusion we want to draw here is that when Oedipus was young he saved Thebes from a similar curse: the depredation of the monstrous sphinx (a winged monster with a woman’s head and a lion’s body).

    When Oedipus was young a sphinx took her permanent seat on a rock by the main road that divided the city into two. This sphinx had a riddle which she put across to every passer-by and she promptly devoured anyone who could not solve the riddle. For a very long time, the city of Thebes remained under the plague of this sphinx who was feeding fat on the flesh and blood of living things in the city. As a result, many people took to hunger strike while many more embarked on a permanent seclusion. That was the situation in Thebes until the young Oedipus suddenly emerged as a hero of his time by solving the riddle of the sphinx. The sphinx thereby, in despair, leaped from her rock seat and dashed out her life.

    Thus, the veil of curse was lifted on the city of Thebes while Oedipus was immortalized as the saviour of the Thebesians.

    Today, Nigeria is masquerading in the cloak of a similar spell. The only difference is that while the Thebesians of yore were consciously aware of their plight and were desperately making efforts to find a solution to it the Nigerians of the 21st century remain largely unbothered.

    For almost the whole length of her life as a country, Nigeria has advertently lived with a self imposed sphinx without any serious attempt to eliminate it.

    Corruption is Nigeria’s own sphinx today. This sphinx has grown into such a monster that it is almost becoming impossible to conquer. For more than a decade since 1999, two statutory bodies have been set up to curb the scourge of corruption in Nigeria. One is Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission (ICPC). The other is Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Both bodies were established for the same purpose through different modalities.

    Subsequent to that of the ICPC, the establishment of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2003 was rather in response to the pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering which named Nigeria as one of the 23 non-cooperative countries in the international community’s efforts to fight money laundering than the government’s self-consciousness and determination to fight corruption.

    Although some individuals and groups believed that fighting corruption was a potent means of developing the country, the behaviour of the governments at the federal and state levels did not suggest an all out support for Commission. This is understandable because most of the people suspected to be massively involved in corruption were government officials including some State Governors.

    By September 2006, the EFCC had had 31 of Nigeria ‘s 36 state governors under investigation for corruption. Most of these Governors appeared indifferent despite the negative publicity about them in the media. In December 2007, the Nigerian Federal Government, after extensive investigations by EFCC and other organizations, cleared the Vaswani brothers who had been deported from Nigeria for suspected corruption of any wrongdoing and invited them back into the country.

    Leading Nigerian daily newspapers reported the facts of their clearance quoting text from Federal Government’s issued directives. In April 2008, the EFCC began investigations into the activities of the daughter of the former Nigerian President, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello over an alleged corrupt utilization of N10 million ($100,000) from previous year’s unspent funds of the Ministry of Health. Also charged was the then Health Minister Professor Adenike Grange and her deputy over an alleged stealing over N30 million from the ministry’s unspent funds of the previous year. Investigations were carried out but nobody was convicted. Some of the affected persons remain as government functionaries either in the executive or legislative wing of the government. There were many other cases of the like.

    This development threw a new dimension into the whole idea of establishing supposed independent bodies to check corruption in the country and raised a big question on the intention behind it. Thus, people became suspicious of the government’s intention to fight corruption even as they considered the exercise as a political witch-hunt strategically used by the ruling party against opponents. And for this reason, the international community did not see any seriousness on the part of Nigerian government in fighting corruption. The government’s hand in glove about funding EFCC and its counterparts further strengthened the suspicion.

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    It was in this melee that a change of guards occurred at the topmost echelon of the EFCC and a woman, Chief (Mrs) Farida Mzamber Waziri, emerged as the new Chairperson of the Commission and was sworn into office on June 6, 2008. On assumption of office, Mrs. Waziri said emphatically that she would step on toes. But she prayed God to guide her against stepping on innocent toes. And ever since, the Commission’s website has continued to contain a long list of the country’s most wanted criminals while the Chairperson has since proved her mettle as a woman of substance.

    Going by her published profile, Mrs. Waziri has all it takes constitutionally and educationally as well as experience to revolutionize the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria. And she is generally considered the ideal choice for the post of the Chairman.

    Although the Commission, under her Chairmanship has performed wonderfully well in tracking down and prosecuting many corrupt elements in the country and in recovering some of the loots, the citizenry believe that the woman would have performed better if she had full cooperation of the government. This is not just because the Commission seems to be handicapped by government’s inaction to bring those caught to book but also in campaigning seriously against corruption in all spheres of life especially through the mass media.

    Corruption is not about embezzlement of public funds alone. And fighting it should not be restricted only to government officials and agencies.

    So far, the Commission is a success story but that much is not known to most Nigerian and the international community because there is no media back up that can showcase that success. Professor Doris Akunyili succeeded so tremendously as the Director General of NAFDAC because she had the benefit of media publicity provided for in her Agency’s budget. This has not been applicable in the case of EFCC. The impression here is that giving that Agency the full power to operate is like providing the nose with which to hang those in government.

    If the Thebesian authorities did not cooperate with Oedipus, how could he have saved that city from the scourge of the sphinx? Nigerians should ask the government the same question in respect of EFCC. Without the government’s cooperation, is there any possibility of getting an Oedipus to defeat Nigeria ’s sphinx? This is a food for thought.

  • NOG Energy Week celebrates excellence

    NOG Energy Week celebrates excellence

    NOG Energy Week, the preeminent meeting place for the global oil, gas, LNG, and energy sector in Nigeria, will celebrate its milestone 25th edition from July 5 – 9, 2026 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    As a regional powerhouse in energy production, Nigeria continues to shape the future of the global energy landscape.

    The 2026 NOG Energy Week will host its sixth Technical Seminar, which will feature multiple sessions across 14 categories over two days, offering speakers a platform to share their expertise, insights, and innovative solutions with industry leaders, technical experts, and policymakers driving energy transformation.

    The Call for Papers for the CPD-accredited Technical Seminar is now open and welcomes industry professionals to submit entries.

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), in partnership with the TotalEnergies–Sapetro Consortium, executed a landmark Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs) 2000 and 2001.

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    Designed to engage both academics and industry practitioners, the Seminar creates space for robust dialogue tailored to the Nigerian operating environment. Through a rigorous peer-review selection process, only the most impactful entries are chosen for presentation at NOG Energy Week, contributing meaningfully to the collective pursuit of innovation and both crude oil and natural gas exploration for the first time. This milestone reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to energy security, economic growth, and transparent investment.

    The agreement strongly aligns with key themes of the NOG Energy Week Technical Seminar, particularly in geoscience, and gas and LNG projects, technologies and developments, reflecting the Seminar’s dedication to advancing energy innovation and progress across sustainable solutions in the energy sector.

    The seminar spans the fullstream value chain and features 14 categories including geoscience, resource and field development, drilling, midstream infrastructure development and facilities management, gas and LNG projects, technologies and developments, downstream fuels and infrastructure development, utilities, power generation and end use, new energies, decarbonisation and sustainability, operational excellence, HSSE and project management, people development, digital transformation, manufacturing and industrialisation, shipping and marine, as well as energy markets and finance.

    The NOG Energy Week Technical Seminar is designed to cater for job functions that include  senior, mid-level and junior roles across technical, engineering and scientific disciplines to deliver sessions on advanced technologies, breakthrough research, and industry best practices. Delegates will enhance their expertise, expand practical capabilities, and build intellectual capital through knowledge exchange and practical learning, positioning themselves at the forefront of energy innovation and project development across the value chain.

  • NBGN reaffirms leadership in Africa’s economic transformation

    NBGN reaffirms leadership in Africa’s economic transformation

    The NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN) has reaffirmed its role as a leading catalyst for Africa’s economic transformation following the successful hosting of its 2025 High-Level Business Forum in Lagos.

    The Forum, held in Lagos, brought together top business leaders, policymakers, investors and development partners under the theme: “Mobilising Africa’s private sector for AfCFTA towards Africa’s eonomic development amid global uncertainty.”

    Discussions centred on accelerating practical strategies for harnessing the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), valued at an estimated $3.4 trillion. Participants agreed that Africa’s economic renaissance will depend not on policy declarations alone, but on decisive execution led by a vibrant and competitive private sector.

    NBGN Chairman, Bashorun J. K. Randle, stressed the urgency of repositioning African enterprises to fully leverage AfCFTA. This message was echoed in keynote remarks delivered by representatives of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria and the Lagos State Government.

    Goodwill messages from major business associations, including the African Business Roundtable (ABR) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

    The Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), alongside leading institutions such as Zenith Bank Plc and the Bank of Industry (BOI), reinforced a shared commitment to strengthening Africa’s private sector for global competitiveness.

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    Key discussions highlighted critical priorities such as improved access to long-term financing for MSMEs, stronger institutions and harmonised standards, expanded public-private partnerships for infrastructure development, digital transformation of trade processes, and governance reforms to boost competitiveness.

    Plenary sessions and sector-focused dialogues addressed issues ranging from SME access to finance and export readiness to converting trade frameworks into bankable opportunities, bridging Africa’s infrastructure gap through PPP models, and developing standardised and ethical production systems for global markets. A special roundtable also underscored patriotism, ethical leadership, trustworthiness and institutional integrity as essential pillars for sustainable national development.

    The Forum’s communiqué outlined strategic recommendations, including the streamlining and digitalisation of regulatory processes, adoption of blended finance and partial-risk guarantees, SME standardisation in collaboration with SON and ARSO, private-sector-led cross-border supply chain integration, and stronger, evidence-based advocacy by business membership organisations.

    Moving forward, NBGN said it will focus on translating the Forum’s outcomes into concrete action. Key priorities include deepening partnerships with government and private-sector stakeholders, supporting SMEs to achieve certification and access intra-African markets, intensifying advocacy for trade-enabling reforms, and establishing follow-up mechanisms to ensure measurable results.

    The 2025 High-Level Business Forum, NBGN noted, underscores its commitment to driving AfCFTA implementation and promoting private-sector-led growth, as Nigeria and Africa work to move from ambition to action in building a competitive and prosperous continent.