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  • FirstBank, investors tackle housing deficit with single-digit mortgage scheme

    FirstBank, investors tackle housing deficit with single-digit mortgage scheme

    The FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) and ARM Investment Managers, has unveiled a single-digit mortgage scheme aimed at tackling Nigeria’s massive housing deficit while stimulating economic growth and job creation.

    The initiative, driven by FirstBank, MOFI and ARM Investment Managers, is positioned as a major step towards affordable housing, economic empowerment and long-term wealth creation for Nigerians.

    Speaking at the rollout of the initiative in Abuja yesterday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Olusegun Alebiosu, described the scheme as both an economic and social revolution that would reshape Nigeria’s housing and construction sector.

    According to Alebiosu, the social impact lies in enabling more Nigerians to own homes, thereby addressing deep-rooted housing challenges, while the economic benefits stem from offering low-interest mortgages in a high-interest-rate environment.

    He explained that the difference between borrowing at 20 per cent and at a single-digit rate over a 20-year period is enormous, effectively giving beneficiaries far greater financial leverage and long-term value. Beyond home ownership, he noted that the scheme would unlock widespread employment opportunities across the construction value chain.

    READ ALSO: SL Akintola: Time is a healer

    “If we are able to originate 10,000 houses across Nigeria, the construction sector will be alive. Carpenters, bricklayers, painters and artisans of all kinds will be engaged. We can turn Nigeria into a construction site, injecting liquidity into a sector that has long suffered from limited funding,” Alebiosu said.

    He added that as mortgage holders repay monthly, the funds would be recycled to finance additional homes, creating a sustainable system capable of generating jobs and economic activity over many years.

    “With single-digit interest rates in a double-digit inflation environment, we are empowering generations. Even children who inherit these homes in the future are inheriting wealth.”

    Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF), Sani Yakubu, said the intervention differs significantly from previous government housing initiatives by being private sector-driven, transparent and structured for long-term sustainability.

    Yakubu disclosed that MREIF was recently launched on the Nigerian Exchange, with the first tranche of N250 billion jointly funded by public and private sector investors.

    The fund, he said, is supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission, rated by independent agencies and structured as an A-grade, tradable investment.

    “The mortgages have a 20-year tenure and the fund is refinanced by the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company. These features clearly show that this is a long-term and sustainable programme, protected from policy reversals,” he said.

    Speaking on the expected outcomes, Yakubu noted that FirstBank’s nationwide reach and vast customer base would enable millions of Nigerians to access affordable mortgages, while boosting employment, construction activity and economic inclusion.

    He added that since commencement, MREIF has already supported over 1,100 mortgage applicants, with more transactions in the pipeline, and expressed confidence that FirstBank’s involvement would significantly scale the impact.

    He described the fund as a carefully designed vehicle created to address both demand and supply challenges in Nigeria’s housing sector.

    “With an estimated housing deficit of between 20 and 28 million units, the initiative seeks to provide affordable mortgages at about 9.75 per cent interest, with only a 10 per cent deposit and a 20-year repayment period.

    “The fund also offers off-take guarantees to developers, assuring financiers that completed houses will be matched with willing and qualified buyers. Backed by a N1 trillion programme registered with the SEC, beginning with a N250 billion tranche, the vehicle is managed transparently and designed to continuously attract private capital.”

    Explaining the choice of FirstBank as a key partner, Yakubu cited the bank’s size, reputation and extensive branch network, which he said is capable of delivering mortgage access to Nigerians across the country.

    On her part, the Managing Director of ARM Investment Managers Limited, Kai Orga, said ARM had already supported financial inclusion and home ownership through mortgage access.

    According to her, the partnership with FirstBank would accelerate scale, improve accessibility and simplify the mortgage process, with approvals now possible within four to six weeks.

  • VP Shettima, bankers urge shift from aid to investment

    VP Shettima, bankers urge shift from aid to investment

    • Push blended finance for Africa’s development

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for a decisive shift from aid-dependent development models to impact-driven investments, saying Africa’s long-term growth will be powered by patient capital, blended finance and private enterprise rather than continued reliance on foreign assistance.

    The Vice President made the call yesterday at the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) High-Level Policy Engagement held at the State House, Abuja. He was represented by Hauwa Liman, Technical Adviser on Women, Youth Engagement and Impact.

    Shettima said development thinking must move beyond public spending to long-term investments in human capital, productive systems, climate resilience, digital infrastructure and inclusive markets.

    “The future of this continent will not be financed by aid alone. It will be driven by patient capital, catalytic capital, blended finance and private enterprise deployed with discipline and guided by impact”, he said.

    He described impact investing not as philanthropy in disguise, but as “strategic capitalism” that recognises the link between sustainable returns and stable societies, educated workforces, healthy populations and resilient ecosystems.

    According to him, Nigeria is already aligning its policies with this approach by strengthening delivery systems across education, health, social protection, agriculture, climate action, digital public infrastructure and financial inclusion, while reforming institutions and incentives to better serve citizens.

    The Vice President noted that under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government has embarked on far-reaching reforms to reverse Nigeria’s economic and social challenges, but stressed that no government can deliver Africa’s development agenda alone.

    “That is why platforms such as the Africa Social Impact Summit are vital,” he said, describing the forum as a space for co-investment, co-design and co-delivery involving policymakers, development partners, private sector leaders and civil society organisations.

    READ ALSO: SL Akintola: Time is a healer

    Shettima reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to expanding opportunities for young people and women, warning that fragmentation among stakeholders could undermine progress.

    “The stakes are too high for disunity. Development is not done to people; it is built with them. Progress demands coalition”, he said.

    He urged African leaders and partners to close the gap between promise and performance, noting that history would judge leadership not by speeches delivered, but by systems built, institutions strengthened and futures secured.

    Echoing the Vice President’s position, the Executive Director (South) of Alternative Bank, Korede Demola-Adeniyi, called for stronger public-private collaboration and consistent government policies to unlock blended finance and accelerate inclusive growth across the continent.

    Speaking at the engagement hosted by the Office of the Vice President in partnership with Sterling One Foundation and United Nations Nigeria, under the theme “Scaling Action: Driving Inclusive Growth Through Policy and Innovation,” Demola-Adeniyi said cooperation between government, banks, Development Finance Institutions and other stakeholders was critical to mobilising capital for impactful projects.

    “From the Alternative Bank perspective, there has to be collaboration between both the public and private sectors. For the private sector, we need a combination of DFIs, banks and other stakeholders willing to key into projects of this nature”, she said.

    She noted that blended finance initiatives are not only socially impactful but commercially viable, often outperforming conventional financing models.

    “Records show that an average blended finance project records about 80 per cent repayment, compared to about 72 per cent for purely commercial projects,” she said.

    Citing a partnership project in Kano that supported women with access to electric vehicles, Demola-Adeniyi said the bank’s experience demonstrates that inclusive and sustainable financing models can deliver both social impact and financial returns.

    She identified policy inconsistency as a major obstacle to unlocking blended finance, warning that abrupt changes in policy frameworks often derail projects and discourage investors.

    Calling for collective responsibility, she stressed that stable and predictable policies are essential to achieving Nigeria’s development ambitions, including the administration’s one-trillion-dollar economy target.

  • Court overturns PENGASSAN suspension of NMDPRA workers

    Court overturns PENGASSAN suspension of NMDPRA workers

    • Caretaker committee dissolved

    The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja has overturned the suspension of some staff members of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

    The court also ordered the dissolution of the caretaker committee constituted by the Central Working Committee (CWC) of PENGASSAN following the expiration of the tenure of the Branch Executive Committee (BECOM) of the NMDPRA branch on May 27, 2025.

    Justice O.Y. Anuwe gave the orders while ruling in suit NICN/ABJ/307/2025, filed by 15 NMDPRA staff members who were suspended by PENGASSAN in 2025.

    The claimants had challenged the installation of the caretaker committee by the national secretariat of PENGASSAN, describing it as unconstitutional, undemocratic, and a breach of the union’s constitution.

    On August 18, 2025, PENGASSAN suspended the affected members for 10 years over what it described as “allegations of misconduct, constitutional violations and actions prejudicial to the interest of the union.”

    Dissatisfied with their suspension, the 15 members approached the NICN, contending that their suspension, the continued operation of the caretaker committee, and the failure to conduct elections into the NMDPRA branch executive constituted violations of the PENGASSAN Constitution.

    The defendants in the suit were PENGASSAN; its National President, Comrade Festus Osifo; the General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa; and members of the caretaker committee: Comrades Tony Izogba, Gbolahan Akinyo, Okechukwu Nwanko, Abba Safana and Polycarp Ihejirika.

    In the originating summons brought pursuant to Section 254(C) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and Order 3 Rule 3 of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2017, the claimants raised 16 issues for determination and sought 18 reliefs.

    READ ALSO: SL Akintola: Time is a healer

    Among the reliefs sought were declarations that, under the PENGASSAN Constitution 2022, the affairs of a branch of the association cannot be administered by a caretaker committee for more than three months, within which a branch election must be conducted; and that running any branch of the union with a caretaker committee beyond that period is unconstitutional, illegal, and unknown to the union’s constitution.

    In its judgment delivered on Tuesday, the court ordered the CWC of PENGASSAN to, within seven days of the judgment, commence the electoral process for the election of the Branch Executive Committee of the NMDPRA branch in accordance with the electoral guidelines and constitutional requirements of the union.

    Out of the 18 reliefs sought by the claimants, the court granted reliefs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 14, while reliefs 6, 10, 15, 16, 17 and 18 were refused.

    On the suspension of the claimants, the court held that there was no evidence showing that the action was ratified by the National Executive Council (NEC) of PENGASSAN, declaring the suspension “null and void.”

    The court also found that the composition of the Ethical, Grievance and Disciplinary Committee (EGDC), which recommended the suspension of the claimants, was not properly constituted in line with the union’s constitution.

    Justice Anuwe held: “From the facts contained in the counter-affidavit of the defendants, the defendants did not adduce any evidence to show that the suspension of the claimants by the CWC, as a disciplinary action, was ratified by the NEC before or after the suspension was effected.

    “The argument of learned counsel for the defendants is a further confirmation that the suspension of the claimants was not with NEC ratification.

    “The fact that the EGDC has been found in this judgment to be unlawful and void implies that there was no competent EGDC composed as provided in Rule 32.7 of the 1st defendant’s constitution, which heard the case against the claimants before they were suspended.

    “The claimants were therefore not given a fair hearing by a competent EGDC before they were suspended.

    “The further implication is that the disciplinary procedure prescribed by the 1st defendant’s constitution was not followed.

    “Consequently, the suspension of the claimants is unlawful, null and void.”

  • MAN: Renewed ban on sachet alcoholic beverages will hurt economy

    MAN: Renewed ban on sachet alcoholic beverages will hurt economy

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), yesterday, called for restraint on the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC’s) renewed ban on sachet alcoholic beverages.

    MAN said NAFDAC’s activities in this regard are disrupting the businesses of its members in the wines and spirits sector and that the renewed ban is inimical to the profitable operation of the companies concerned.

    The Director General, MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, in a statement made available to The Nation, said the agency’s renewed ban on sachet alcoholic beverages, against the Federal Government’s directive “will certainly hurt the Nigerian economy.”

    Ajayi-Kadir warned that the action is detrimental to the survival of the concerned indigenous industrial operators as it comes at the expense of the jobs and livelihoods of workers and all those involved in the value chain.

    “It (the ban) is counterproductive as it will open up the market for illicit, sub-standard, and unregulated products. It will lead to an influx of imported alternatives, mostly smuggled.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt set to reclaim ungoverned spaces with re-engagement of military retirees

    “It will deny the government of revenues collectable from the companies. It will deny adult consumers with low budgets access to the products. The overall effect is that the economy and livelihoods will be negatively impacted,” he cautioned.

    According to him, the recent action of NAFDAC is also in direct contradiction of the earlier resolution of the House of Representatives on the matter (vide NAS /10/HR/CT.33/77c of 14th March 2024); wherein the House of Representatives, after an all-inclusive consultation with stakeholders through a Public Hearing, restrained NAFDAC from taking the needless punitive action of banning the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles.

    He said rather than abiding by the generally agreed resolution, “NAFDAC bided its time and chose to rely on a resolution of the Senate that was devoid of the usual stakeholders’ engagement.”

    Ajayi-Kadir, however, said: “We have since approached the Senate, and we trust that the distinguished members will reconsider after further consultations. This is particularly concerning as operators are now confused as to which directive to follow in the face of multiple directives.”

    He pointed out that it was important to reemphasize at this juncture that the advent of the sale of alcohol in sachets and PET bottles was not intended to have a negative impact on Nigerians. Rather, it was an innovation to serve the segment of the adult population with low budgets who desire the product and should have a right of choice.

    “The ban would, therefore, deny them the opportunity to exercise that right. In addition, and on the positive side, availability in small portions could also discourage abuse associated with bigger portions,” Ajayi-Kadir stated, in the statement, which was made available to The Nation.

    He farther said it was equally important to note that alcohol served in sachets by local producers is produced under hygienic conditions and certified by the nation’s regulatory agencies, which include NAFDAC.

    “To ban such products would open the floodgates of illicit and unwholesome substances that are not subject to regulation, are dangerous to health, and are beyond the control of the relevant regulatory agencies,” he pointed out.

    The MAN DG said the Association would like to further place on record that “the untested assertion of abuse by minors as the basis for the ban has been controverted by credible and empirical research that was independently conducted.”

    He added that the industry, on its own, has even gone further, notwithstanding the report of the survey, to initiate a series of campaigns in respect of responsible alcohol consumption to discourage underage abuse.

    “This has so far cost the operators over N1 billion in advertisements at all levels of media outreach across the federation,” Ajayi-Kadir said, noting, however, that “this has been very impactful in discouraging abuse by underage persons and has deepened the access restriction landscape.”

    He also said MAN has always supported measures that remove unsafe products from the market. “We have only maintained that such decisions should be supported by empirical facts and not emotional persuasions or appeals to public sentiments.

    “To succumb to these scenarios is a costly mistake, as it compromises jobs and livelihoods and activates other unintended consequences,” he pointed out.

    Ajayi-Kadir said MAN, therefore, recommits to working closely with its members engaged in the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles, as well as NAFDAC and other agencies of government, to adhere to all regulations and abide by all standards.

    MAN appealed to the Federal Government to prevail on NAFDAC to stop the disruption of its members’ activities and abide by the directive to suspend the implementation of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles.

  • NUPRC prioritises technical, financial capacity in Licensing Round Guidelines

    NUPRC prioritises technical, financial capacity in Licensing Round Guidelines

    • Slash signature bonus

    The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the transparent process for the 50 blocks in 2025 Oil Bid Round.  The commission also provided further clarification for the ongoing licensing round, especially for bidders interested in the 50 oil and gas blocks on offer.

    According to the Commission’s Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, only applicants with strong technical and financial credentials will proceed to the critical stage of the bidding process. Eyesan said this at the 2025 licensing round pre-bid webinar held yesterday.

    She said: “The process follows five steps: registration and pre-qualification, data acquisition, technical bid submission, evaluation, and a commercial bid conference. Only candidates with strong technical and financial credentials, professionalism and credible plans move forward. Winners are chosen through a transparent, merit-based procedure.”

    The NUPRC boss noted that with the approval of President Bola Tinubu, signature bonuses for the 2025 licensing round are now set within a value range that reduces entry barriers and places greater weight on what truly matters- technical capability, credible work programs, financial strength and the ability to deliver production within the shortest possible time.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt set to reclaim ungoverned spaces with re-engagement of military retirees

    “This has been done to increase competitiveness and in response to capital mobility,” the CCE stated.

    Eyesan described the licensing round as an open call for committed partners; those ready to invest capital, bring technical excellence, and accelerate Nigeria’s assets from license award to exploration, appraisal, and ultimately, full production.

    The NUPRC boss restated the Commission’s commitment to a transparent licensing round, insisting that Nigeria is “ready to be the beautiful bride to capital and playroom for advanced technological deployment for hydrocarbon recovery.”

    She added, “In this licensing round, 50 oil and gas blocks across Nigeria are available, allowing investors to access the country’s key basins and create long-term value.”

    Eyesan further assured the public that the bid process will comply with the Petroleum Industry Act, promote the use of digital tools for smooth data access and remain open to public and institutional scrutiny through the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and other oversight agencies.

    “Let me emphasise that the Nigeria 2025 Licensing Round is not merely a bidding exercise. It is a clear signal of a re-imagined upstream sector, anchored in the rule of law, driven by data, aligned with global investment realities, and focused on long-term value creation,” the NUPRC boss said.

    Eyesan said that since December 1, 2025, all licensing materials have been posted on the Commission’s portal, dedicated support channels created to enable prompt response to enquiries from applicants, noting that the pre-bid conference has provided an opportunity to clarify the requirements to promote a transparent, well informed participation process.

  • Town Planners faults Land Use Committee

    Town Planners faults Land Use Committee

    The Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON) has raised concerns over a notice from the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF) announcing the inauguration of a “Land Use and Allocation Committee for Land Projects.”

    In a statement signed by ATOPCON President, Hakeem Olatunji Badejo, the association said that while it supports the modernisation of land administration through geospatial data, the attempt by the OSGOF to assume responsibility for physical planning, land-use zoning, land allocation and development enforcement is unprofessional, unethical and a clear case of legal and administrative overreach.

    Badejo said the composition of the proposed five-member committee is “indefensibly biased,” comprising four land surveyors and one quantity surveyor, while excluding estate surveyors and a legal practitioner, as expressly provided for under the Land Use Act.

    He noted that the power to constitute the Land Use and Allocation Committee (LUAC) is vested solely in the governor of a state and not in the Surveyor-General of the Federation.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt set to reclaim ungoverned spaces with re-engagement of military retirees

    He added that the OSGOF had ignored other core professionals recognised under the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law, saying it was contradictory to seek orderly development while excluding the very professionals empowered by law to guide it.

    Badejo stressed that the action of the OSGOF disregards Nigeria’s constitutional and administrative hierarchy, noting that the Supreme Court has long affirmed that urban and regional planning is a residual matter. He said that, except for the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal Government lacks the legislative competence to impose physical planning regulations on states.

    According to him, the Land Use Act clearly vests all land within a state in the governor and does not confer land management or allocation powers on the Surveyor-General of the Federation. He further stated that the Act mandates that physical development plans must be prepared and executed by duly constituted town planning authorities, adding that the laws establishing the Office of the Surveyor-General do not grant such powers.

    He described the committee constituted by the OSGOF as a direct affront to the existing legal framework governing land-use administration in Nigeria.

    On technical competence, Badejo explained that the core responsibility of land surveyors is the precise measurement and mapping of land, while land-use planning involves the strategic determination of how land is utilised for housing, commerce, industry and infrastructure. He said this requires the specialised training and expertise of town planners, not land surveyors.

    He described the OSGOF’s claim that it would “ensure compliance with land-use regulations” as fundamentally flawed, stating that while surveyors provide the spatial framework, town planners develop the legal, technical and visionary blueprint for land use. He warned that allowing one profession to encroach on the statutory functions of another could lead to professional disorder.

    Badejo also emphasised that professional ethics demand respect for statutory boundaries, noting that it is unethical for any profession to operate in a field where it is not trained, certified or licensed. He pointed out that the Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC) Act grants the council sole authority to regulate and certify professionals for land-use planning, adding that the actions of the OSGOF violate this law and undermine professional harmony within the built environment.

    He warned that if the situation is allowed to persist, it could result in conflicting approvals from parallel land-use committees, widespread confusion in land administration, and enforcement actions vulnerable to judicial review. According to him, this could lead to a flood of costly lawsuits against the Federal Government.

    Badejo further warned that investors require legal certainty and that development permits issued by unauthorised bodies are void under Section 26 of the Land Use Act, potentially placing billions of naira in real estate investments at risk and setting a dangerous precedent for the erosion of Nigeria’s professional regulatory framework.

    He therefore called for urgent intervention by relevant authorities to avert what he described as an institutional crisis, stressing that Nigeria’s path to “Renewed Hope” must be built on respect for the rule of law, professional ethics and specialised expertise.

  • Nigeria has what it takes to be greatest country on earth, says Shettima

    Nigeria has what it takes to be greatest country on earth, says Shettima

    • VP: Plateau political realignment pathway to peace, development

    Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria has the potential to be one of the greatest countries on earth, if its citizens learn to tolerate and live in peace with one another.

    He said the country’s diversity should serve as a source of strength rather than division.

    Shettima said this yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, when he paid homage to the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman of the Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, Da Jacob Gyang-Buba, in his palace.

    The Vice President said all Nigerians are one people tied to a common heritage, adding that what binds them together as a people supersedes whatever threatens to separate them.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, VP Shettima said: “We are all connected one way or the other. We must, therefore, continue to live together. What binds us together supersedes what separates us.”

    The Vice President, who was in Plateau State to receive Governor Caleb Mutfwang into the All Progressives Congress (APC), noted that traditional rulers are a special group of respected leaders because they hold the society together.

    “They are not just the custodians of our cultural heritage. They help in upholding the society by preaching peace among their subjects,” he noted.

    Shettima applauded the cordial relationship between the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and the governor.

    READ ALSO: SL Akintola: Time is a healer

    The Vice President noted that the realignment was a good omen for Plateau State.

    “The APC National Chairman, who is an indigene of the state, made a very generous statement at the reception venue by pledging his full support to the governor.

    “With their coming together, the state will enjoy more dividends of democracy. That is good for the people of the state,” he said.

    Shettima expressed confidence in the political realignment, saying it would also boost the image of the state.

    The Vice President added that the realignment would ensure the sustenance of peace and tranquility across the state and across the nation.

    “The national chairman was the opponent of the governor at the last election, but today, they have agreed to work together.

    “There can be no development without peace. Therefore, with their coming together, the state will enjoy more peace,” he stated.

    Shettima thanked the government and people of the state for the show of hospitality to him and his entourage on their visit to the state.

    Mutfwang applauded the cordial working relationship between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.

    The governor noted that it would continue to abound for the benefit of the country.

    Da Gyang-Buba called for more efforts to ensure tight security in order to address the challenges confronting the state and some parts of the country.

    “On behalf of the traditional council here, I appreciate what our security agencies are doing to ensure we enjoy peace. But I want to appeal for more security and true reconciliation in all parts of the country.

    “Nigerians must respect one another and live in peace. Islam and Christianity are not in support of acts of insurgency or trouble-making.

    “We all believe in God Almighty who is the Supreme Being. Why should we foment trouble or kill one another?” the monarch queried.

    The royal father thanked Shettima, Yilwatda, and Mutfwang for the realignment, saying it was a good development for both the state and the nation.

    The Vice President’s entourage included Prof. Yilwatda; Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule; former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Idris Wase; members of the Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs; and other prominent indigenes of the state.

  • Tinubu condoles with  grieving  Ndidi on father’s death

    Tinubu condoles with  grieving  Ndidi on father’s death

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent a message of condolence to Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi, over the death of his father, Sunday Ndidi.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing it as tragic and painful for the family and all who knew the deceased.

    Sunday Ndidi reportedly died in a road accident in Umunede, near Agbor, in Delta State, on Tuesday.

    His son, Wilfred Ndidi, is a Nigerian international footballer who currently plays for Turkish Super Lig side Beşiktaş and serves as captain of the Super Eagles.

    President Tinubu, in his condolence message, said he was deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Sunday Ndidi, noting the close bond he shared with his son.

    Read Also: Nigeria, Egypt friendly in doubt as NFF shift camp to Morocco

     “I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of Sunday Ndidi. I share in the grief of his family, friends and associates, particularly Wilfred Ndidi, who shared a strong bond with his father as a mentor and guide in his remarkable career as an exceptional footballer,” the President said.

    He added that the late Ndidi’s values and personal conduct left a lasting impression on those around him.

     “There is no doubt that Sunday’s modest beginning and honesty greatly impacted those who looked up to him for inspiration,” the President noted.

    President Tinubu also prayed for divine comfort for the bereaved family and for the repose of the soul of the departed.

    He asked God Almighty to grant the Ndidi family the strength to bear the loss and to grant eternal rest to Sunday Ndidi.

  • Amuneke faces tough Pinnick conditions for  Super Eagles’ job

    Amuneke faces tough Pinnick conditions for  Super Eagles’ job

    Immediate  past President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, believes  former Nigeria international, Emmanuel Amuneke , is still a strong candidate to coach the Super  Eagles in the future.

    But  Pinnick  asserted  that the former  Barcelona winger  must deliver silverware at club level before he can  took the reins  of the  national men’s football team.

    Speaking on the Sunday Oliseh Global Football Insights Podcast, Pinnick said matter-of-factly, adding the Super Eagles job isn’t something you earn on past glory alone—even if you’re a Barcelona legend who won the U-17 World Cup.

    “I like him. We have a good relationship,” Pinnick claimed. “But the Super Eagles is not just for anybody to handle. Let’s see your results with Heartland FC.”

    As a player, Amuneke was box office as the he silky winger won titles across three continents with Julius Berger, Zamalek, Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona.

    He retired to coaching  in 2008 and cut his teeth with Julius Berger and Ocean Boys before landing his breakthrough moment in 2015: guiding  the Golden Eaglets to  FIFA U-17 World Cup glory in Chile with a team  that included Victor Osimhen,  Samuel Chukwueze and among others.

    Read Also: 16th Round: NFF agree to pay Super Eagles $30,000 each

    His next stop was Tanzania, where he masterminded their qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. By 2022, he was named Super Eagles assistant coach for the crucial World Cup playoff against Ghana.

    With credentials like that, many assumed Amuneke was a shoo-in for the top job in 2024. Instead, the NFF went with Finidi George, who’d just won the Nigerian league with Rivers United.

    But to land the Super Eagles’ job, Pinnick has  now given Amuneke some stringent  conditions  , adding  the former  Africa Footballer of the Year should  take Heartland, currently struggling in Nigeria’s lower leagues, back to the top flight. Then win the NPFL title. And then? Take a crack at the CAF Champions League—a trophy no Nigerian club has lifted in over two decades.

    “He’s at Heartland, a big club that has been there for over 40 years,” Pinnick explained. “Let him help the club win the Champions League. He’s still very young. Once that is done, it’s going to be automatic going to the Super Eagles.”

  • Tinubu’s ambition to build $1tr digital economy not rhetoric, says minister

    Tinubu’s ambition to build $1tr digital economy not rhetoric, says minister

    The Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration towards building a $1 trillion digital economy.

    He said the government’s commitment was not mere rhetoric but a determination.

    Tijani said the Tinubu administration has remained clear, consistent, and deliberate about its vision of achieving shared prosperity for Nigerians, including the ambition to build a $1 trillion economy.

    He said the government has, within a short period, built strong institutions with regulatory powers to support the commitment.

    The minister stressed that the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) was one of such institutions with the requisite capacity for data protection and building digital trust as key pillars for Nigeria’s digital transformation and economic growth.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt set to reclaim ungoverned spaces with re-engagement of military retirees

    Tijani said this while addressing reporters at this year’s edition of the Global Privacy Day at AATC Hotel in Abuja.

    The minister hailed the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) for its leadership in driving conversations around data privacy and protection.

    He noted that although the commission has existed for less than three years, it has emerged as a strong institution within government and society.

    Tijani stressed that technology remains central to achieving the goal of $1 trillion economy as it enables economic growth, infrastructure development, job creation, and improved public services.

    “Our responsibility at the ministry is to ensure that digital technology serves as an enabler of shared prosperity, not just prosperity for a few, but for every Nigerian,” he said.

    Tijani highlighted several flagship projects under the ministry, including the Bridge Project, which aims to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure nationwide, and MilCAP, an agro-connectivity initiative targeting the deployment of about 4,000 telecommunications towers in rural areas.

    The minister also announced the government’s plans to procure two additional communication satellites for the country through NigComSat.

    He stressed that Nigeria is currently the only country in West Africa with a functional communication satellite.

    Commenting on human capital development, Tijani said Nigeria runs the largest technology talent accelerator in Africa, designed to build a workforce capable of competing and creating value in the global digital economy.

    The minister stressed that increased connectivity comes with increased responsibility, especially in protecting citizens’ data.

    “Data protection and privacy are the foundation of trust. Without trust, our digital economy cannot succeed,” he said.

    The National Commissioner/CEO of NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, outlined the achievements of the commission within the past three years, saying over N5.2 billion has been generated through the commission into government coffers.

    According to him, no fewer than 23,000 jobs have been created within the data privacy ecosystem, as the value of data protection ecosystem has peaked at about N16.2 billion.

    He said the commission had carried out and concluded investigations on 246 data protection and privacy breaches by various institutions, while appropriate sanctions had been meted out to the affected institutions.

    The NDPC boss stated that about 8,155 compliance audit returns have been filed by the Commission, while training programmes have been organised for various categories of Compliance Officers across the country.

    Olatunji also said the NDPC launched the Youth Data Protection Awareness & Training Programme in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to empower 5,000 Nigerian youths with digital literacy and data privacy skills.

    He added that more collaborations were still ongoing with the governments of Bauchi, Benue, Ondo, and Ekiti states for awareness creation and training programmes on data protection and privacy.