Eko Hotels & Suites raised the bar for festive celebrations with the unveiling of its largest-ever Christmas cake at the 2025 edition of the Tropical Christmas Wonderland.
The spectacular cake, measuring an astonishing 10 meters long and four meters wide, officially broke last year’s record for the longest Christmas cake, reaffirming the hotel’s reputation for grandeur and innovation.
The record-breaking cake was part of the annual Christmas spectacle, drawing admiration from guests, families, industry stakeholders, and the media. What began as a bold festive idea has now evolved into a yearly ritual, eagerly anticipated as part of Eko Hotels’ end-of-year celebrations.
The ambitious project was led by Chef Nawras, who coordinated a dedicated team of pastry chefs and culinary professionals to bring the monumental creation to life.
“This cake represents teamwork, creativity, and the spirit of Christmas,” Chef Nawras said. “Breaking our own record shows that we are constantly challenging ourselves to do better each year. I’m incredibly proud of the team for their dedication and precision in delivering something truly extraordinary.”
Dr. Iyadunni Gbadebo, Director of Sales and Marketing at Eko Hotels & Suites, highlighted the significance of the tradition beyond the record itself.
“The Tropical Christmas Wonderland is about creating unforgettable experiences,” Dr. Gbadebo noted. “This annual cake has become a symbol of joy, hospitality, and excellence. Breaking last year’s record is not just a win for Eko Hotels, but for Lagos as a destination that celebrates creativity, culture, and festive magic at a global standard.”
“Like play…”, as they say, Dangote emerges the Man of the Year 2025! A consumerist perspective, you may say.
But who could have imagined that the 2024 Gen Zs’ “no greefor anybody” slogan would get a lease of life from the least likely quarter? Dangote volunteered. He tore through the muscles of powerful oil sectors’ big men. Only one was in sight but big ones fell! And even a third. Dangote no gree for anybody. He has come to reaffirm his conquest of the sector. May the conquest signal better future for citizens.
Yeah, unlike POTUS Trump, Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote, ran an unusual race and breasted the tape. By all means, Trump, strangely, sought the Nobel Peace Prize this year, 2025 but it all ended in praise. For the judges, as you know, who reaffirmed their consistency by giving it to the deserving, a Venezuelan, Maria Corina Machado. May Venezuela survive the raging oil-induced envy.
Aliko Dangote, serial winner on all choice business fronts, renowned for his relentlessly expansionist business drive was about being stopped from clinching my nomination by some feeble appointee like that, Farouk Ahmed. Comparatively feeble, yes. Engineer Ahmed, long sworn against the welfare of the multitude was up to some vicious machination he planned to inflict on Nigerians again, this Yuletide season. But God had a better plan for Nigerians. Far, from Ahmed’s. Indeed, superior. Until recently, he was the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.
To the extreme delight of many Nigerians, Dangote announced a slashed price for fuel by as much as almost #200. Ahmed and company wanted a different, constraining deal for Nigerians and even started cooking some sentiments. There was no stopping daring Dangote. He had tolerated Ahmed and company enough.
In the heat of the moment, Dangote alerted Nigerians to the fact that Engineer Ahmed as the head of NMDPRA preferred the regime of continued imporation of fuel which impliedly wouldmean prolonged era of high price of fuel at possibly #1000 per litre very soon. Meanwhile, Dangote is here with the offer of #739 pump-head price deriving from #699 gantry price from which #300 accrues to the government on every litre.
Without mincing words, Dangote said the otherwise unprintable, alleging Engineer Ahmed’s overindulgence in messy corruption but Dangote would not play ball to sustain and would rather spill all beans. After what looked like the initial threats by Dangote,and Ahmed did not seem to be ruffled, Dangote got his lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, to file a formal complaint against the stubborn perpetrator of the anti-people officialdom. It finally became public knowledge that this character had been living beyond his means at the expense of what he could hardly defend. The onus is now on the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission, ICPC, to do all verification for the world to know the villain further
Few months back, Ahmed and company had played a fast one on the entire nation claiming the Port Harcourt refinery long abandoned and declared a ne’er do well by the legendary Obasanjo, was back in good shape. Nah!
They conjured it all and made it look real, televising all the falsehoods for the world to lap up. Only for them to recoil after giving so much life to sheer deceit. But who knows how much would have been gulped by the show of shame mounted by Engineer Ahmed and fellow swindlers of taxpayers’ sweats?
Even now that Ahmed has been compelled to hand in his resignation letter, his taciturnity has continued. But a certain Engineer Kailani that Dangote never mentioned plunged into the dark alley of Ahmed’s fight. According to him, on Trust TV, he knew how Dangote made his money from Port Harcourt but that some of them just chose to keep quiet.
Really? Again, Dangote no gree for anybody! He slammed anultimatum of seven days on the self appointed advocate of Ahmed to do full throttle disclosure of all he knew about how Dangote made his money in Port Harcourt failing which he ran the risk of a #100 billion suit. But guy was a mere mouth-maker. He hurried back to Trust TV to swallow his words. He went on to apologise and in his characteristic sweeping sobbing muttered that his north had ways with Allah knows what.
The good thing for now however is that Dangote has crashed the pump-head price of fuel from over #900 or so to #739 in Lagos,at least at MRS stations.This writer bought from Palmgrovestation Monday December 22, 2025. The price crasher went further to enjoin members of the public to report stations declining to dispense at the stated price.
This Dangote’s new found love for activism came on the heel of the recent inspiring action of an activist, or better still, a renewed hope compliant government commission, in Lagos. Thesaid commission, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, defying possible blackmail, in the spirit of nogreefor anybody descended on the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IKEDC, on account of protracted infractions including deprivation of certain subscribers of services for as long as one year and some months. After serial warnings which IKEDC deliberately ignored, it took a powerful team of FCCPC led by its Surveillance team to seal up the premises of the erring Ikeja zonal office of IKEDC.
IKEDC has the notoriety of being insensitive to customers’complaints but interestingly has always been stopped by FCCPC whose slogan of Demand and Insist is echoed by “no gree for anybody”. Early this year, your’s sincerely had the existing electricity meter for my apartment within government quarters in Ikeja GRA disconnected by operatives of IKEDC, even when they were not ready to replace immediately.
The simplistic argument from IKEDC operatives was that it was an old meter even as it was also a prepaid meter which FCCPC had argued was upgradeable by merely installing some software on that particular version. The Federal Government’s directive was that if they chose to remove any such meter, they must replace for subscribers in Band A at no cost. But IKEDC had always stated that free meter would take eternity and therefore advising subscribers to pay for meters so they could have a replacement.
Almost everyone in my vicinity had been successfully cajoled and made to pay for their meters, but heeding the slogan of FCCPC, I demanded for my entitlement and insisted too by notifying FCCPC. Promptly, FCCPC intervened and advised IKEDC to ensure they supply my meter without delay. FCCPC added further that in the event that it would take a while to getme a meter, they must not slap any outrageous bill on me,insisting specifically, that subsequent bills for me must be relative to my billing history. My meter was installed within one month! Within the said month, my bill was based on the average cost of my consumption over time. Just imagine life without FCCPC
Today’s Nigeria with prevalent multidimensional reforms, at the centre, clearly inspires citizens’ activist posturing as demonstrated by Dangote, no matter what the trajectory of the “no gree for anybody” campaign is.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is even in the forefront of all these, afterall. He leaves no one in doubt about his deep conviction for the good governance need for the fiscal autonomy of local governments in line with the verdict of the Supreme Court. The height of it all was his recent public declaration of the likelihood of executing the statutory provision for the executive order to compel compliance for State Governments. This was actually in addition to repeated calls earlier by the President to citizens to call out the governors and other relevant elected officials to work with the substantially increased revenue.
Follow who know road like Dangote. Demand for your rights and Insist, shikena.
Professor Tunde Akanni, Pioneer Fellow of the Responsible Governance Prrogramme of the Michigan State University and LASU based Development Communications Expert, is currently on sabbatical tenure at the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC.
A new shift is taking place in how safety is managed in high-riskworkplaces across Nigeria. Instead of waiting for incidents to happen and reacting afterwards, many organisations are beginning to adopt a predictive approach that focuses on detecting early warning signs. At the centre of this quiet change is safety professional, Vera Oghenefejiro Idiareh, whose work now cuts across both industrial plants and community spaces.
Idiareh has spent years working in food and beverage factories, flour mills and pharmaceutical environments where a single error can lead to injury, product loss or shutdown. Her Predictive Safety Intelligence Framework has been described by colleagues as one of the practical tools transforming daily operations. The method encourages workers to identify small faults, unsafe patterns or recurring behaviours that can lead to bigger incidents if not addressed.
Her results became more visible during her time at ChivitaHollandia where she oversaw the safety of more than 1,000 workers across 45 production lines. Within one financial year, the company recorded zero lost time injuries and a 75 percent reduction in total recordable injury rates. These outcomes were achieved through a shift in mindset that emphasised early detection of faults, near misses and risky behaviours that could escalate if ignored.
Beyond formal workplaces, Idiareh has taken her safety model into informal communities where accidents are common but hardly ever documented. One of her recent community interventions focused on Adatan Market in Abeokuta, where traders regularly deal with open flames, storage challenges and electrical connections without structured training. Working through a formal understanding with market leadership, she coordinated a training programme that simplified industrial safety concepts into practical steps that ordinary traders could apply. Post training assessments showed a 55 percent improvement in safety knowledge among participants.
Idiareh’s approach is supported by a strong technical foundation. She is eligible for the United States BCSP Certified Safety Professional certification, is a candidate for the NEBOSH Level 6 Diploma, holds ISO 45001 Lead Auditor status and has a degree in Technical Education. These qualifications, combined with her field experience, enable her to interpret global safety standards in a way that aligns with local realities.
She also brings financial discipline to her work. At KarbakVentures, she managed an environmental health and safety budget of 280 million naira and achieved 22 percent cost savings through strategic risk prioritisation and improved resource allocation. This, she says, is proof that strong safety performance and cost efficiency can support each other rather than exist in conflict.
Speaking about her approach, Idiareh said the goal is to help people understand that safety is not restricted to factories or industrial plants. “Predictive safety works anywhere people work or trade,” she said. “The same method that prevents equipment failure or falls in a factory can help prevent fires in markets or accidents in homes. It is about cultivating the habit of noticing danger early.”
As Nigeria continues to deal with rising operational risks in both formal and informal economies, her model offers a workable path toward reducing preventable injuries and economic losses. Through her work with organisations and communities, Vera Idiareh is helping establish a culture that values foresight over reaction, showing that many of the accidents regarded as unavoidable can in fact be prevented long before they occur.
As we draw the curtains for 2025, Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, in this report, attempts a post mortem of the outgoing year showing highlights of the people and the events that shaped the last 12 months, especially across the major commanding heights of the economy.
The last 365 days have been very eventful, no doubt. Across the nation’s socioeconomic landscape, there are telltale signs and visible fixtures that speak to the fact that it has been a rollercoaster ride of some sort judging by the rapidity of the assault of events that took place in the course of the year.
From business deals that shot someone’s fortunes skywards to others that went awry to policy initiatives that miscarried and other decisions that positively impacted the economic fundamentals, this year, with the benefit of hindsight, has seen a lot of economic players recording major milestones, building their business empires and ultimately pushing the nation’s economic wheel to lofty heights.
Enter the movers and shakers
Aliko Dangote
Amongst the highfliers this past year is business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. Expectedly, the richest man in Africa has continued to prove bookmakers right that he has his own winning ways as far as building economic fortunes in the continent of Africa.
Amongst the highfliers who made much of an impact is business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. Expectedly, the richest man in Africa has continued to prove bookmakers right that he has his own winning ways as far as building economic fortunes across the continent of Africa.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Dangote’s wealth rose by $2.25 billion to $30.3 billion as of October 24, 2025, placing him 75th among the world’s 100 richest people and the only African on the list.
The latest boost in his fortune comes two weeks after Dangote Cement, a key subsidiary of the Dangote Group, officially launched operations at its new 3-million-tonne-per-year cement plant in Attingué, Côte d’Ivoire. Covering 50 hectares, the plant is one of the conglomerate’s largest facilities outside Nigeria.
Back home, Dangote has maintained a strong presence in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, following the successful launch of his $20 billion, 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery in the Ibeju-Lekki Free Zone, Lagos.
The refinery, inaugurated in May 2023, began producing diesel in January 2024, while petrol production started in September 2024 after delays caused by crude oil supply challenges.
Dangote recently announced plans to list the refinery on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), selling between 5 and 10 percent of its shares within the next year — a move similar to what he did with Dangote Cement and Dangote Sugar Refinery.
He also disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, which currently holds a 7.2 per cent stake, may increase its equity once the refinery’s next expansion phase begins.
In a bold move, the billionaire revealed that the refinery aims to raise output to 1.4 million barrels per day, surpassing the world’s largest refinery in Jamnagar, India, which has a capacity of 1.36 million bpd.
Meanwhile, Dangote’s aggressive expansion into fuel distribution has stirred reactions in the downstream sector. In June, the refinery unveiled plans for a nationwide fuel distribution scheme, supported by the acquisition of 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered tankers.
However, the plan has drawn criticism from industry stakeholders. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) warned that the refinery’s forward integration could create a monopoly and lead to massive job losses within the sector.
Of course one investment dear to Dangote, Dangote Refinery which dominated the news amidst price war with traditional oil marketers, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
The conflict began when Dangote Refinery slashed the price of petrol, offering it at N739 per litre, significantly lower than the N828 per litre offered by other marketers, and currently selling at N699, a move seen as a threat to the business interests of traditional marketers, who have long dominated the industry.
The battle has also taken a legal turn, with Dangote Refinery suing the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over the issuance of import licenses to marketers, which also led to the unceremonial exit of the boss at the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, following accusations by Dangote that the former spent about $5 million on the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland, an expenditure way above his earnings as a public servant.
Abdul Samad Rabiu
Another major player within the nation’s economic landscape is Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Chairman of the BUA Group, who started 2025 with an estimated net worth of $5.1 billion, and of December 2025 increased to approximately $8.5 billion, meaning his fortune has grown by approximately $3.4 billion over the year, thus placing him as the fourth-richest person in Africa and around the 390th globally, driven by strong performance in his listed companies, BUA Cement Plc and BUA Foods Plc.
The year also saw Rabiu approving $20.7m in cash rewards for 1,768 long-serving employees, reinforcing a strong employee-first culture, thus reinforcing his reputation as one of Africa’s most employee-focused business leaders.
The rewards were announced on December 13, 2025, during the BUA Night of Excellence Long Service Awards held at Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. The annual event recognises commitment and performance across the group’s cement, food and manufacturing businesses.
Under the structure approved by Rabiu, five employees received $691,000 each, while another five were awarded $345,000. Dozens more received sums ranging from $3,450 to $13,810, depending on years of service and role within the company.
Mike Adenuga
Dr. Mike Adenuja Jrn, the chairman of the Pan-African telecommunications company, Globacom, who featured prominently on the Forbes ranked as the fifth richest Africa as 2025, had $6.8 billion in his portfolio during the period under review.
Ranked #592 billionaire in the world today, Adenuga, arguably Nigeria’s second richest person, built his fortune in telecommunications and oil production, made good this year as Conoil, where he owns 74%, demonstrated its strength and strategic clarity in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry, announcing a proposed dividend payout of ₦2.428 billion for the 2024 financial year.
The proposed dividend, amounting to 350 kobo per 50 kobo ordinary share, was unveiled at the Company’s 55th Annual General Meeting held on Friday, 19 December 2025, drawing commendation from shareholders amid a persistently challenging economic environment.
The Company recorded a remarkable 60.5 percent growth in revenue, rising from ₦201.4 billion in the previous year to ₦323.1 billion in 2024. Total assets also expanded significantly by 18 percent, increasing from ₦97.5 billion to ₦114.9 billion.
According to the Adenuga, these results were driven by timely strategic decisions, disciplined cost management, and a steadfast focus on operational efficiency. He underscored the importance of the Company’s workforce, noting that Conoil’s progress continues to be powered by the competence, commitment, and innovative capacity of its people. The Company remains deliberate in investing in its human capital, fostering an inclusive workplace that promotes growth, fairness, and professional fulfilment.
Femi Otedola
Just like the past year, billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola played in the top hemisphere in the business ecosystem in the year as he made lots of moves to further grow his economic fortunes. One of such moves described in some quarters as the stuff of mafia was when the oil magnate pulled out a trump card after acquiring shares worth N14.8 in First HoldCo Plc a company where he owns a majority share already.
The acquisition further strengthens his position in one of Nigeria’s largest lenders, giving him a combined 17.56% controlling stake of the group.
The latest transaction builds on Mr. Otedola’s steady accumulation of First HoldCo shares over the last two years. Based on the group’s most recent financial statements, he holds 3,491,125,586 shares indirectly, representing 8.34% of the company.
He also owns 3,251,346,245 shares directly, or 7.76%, making him one of the bank’s substantial shareholders above the 5% threshold.
Following the Calvados acquisition, Mr. Otedola’s indirect holdings are expected to rise to 3,861,111,708 shares, or 9.22%.
This takes his combined official ownership to approximately 17.56% of First HoldCo, placing him among the most influential investors in the institution and giving him significant leverage in shaping long-term outcomes.
Tony Elumelu
Billionaire businessman, Tony Elumelu, made a lot of good this year as fortunes smiled on him. A report published by Moneycentral pegged Mr Elumelu’s net worth at $2.15 billion as of mid-2025 following calculation of stakes in companies primarily controlled by him namely: UBA Group, Heirs Holdings, Transcorp Group, Heirs Energies, etc.
Take Transcorp Group for instance, one of the major conglomerates which showed lots of promises earlier in the year recorded a strong growth in 2025, driven by power generation and hospitality, with significant revenue jumps such as 39% YoY in Q3 and increased profits, fueled by investments in power plants and the new Transcorp Centre in Abuja, while Transcorp Hotels also won awards and saw revenue surges, though the group faces ongoing management of costs and opportunities within the Nigerian economy.
Revenue growth saw impressive increases, with Q3 2025 revenue up 39% to ₦413.4 billion (vs. Q3 2024, while Profit Before Tax (PBT) grew, with Q3 2025 PBT up 18% to ₦124.5 billion, just as revenue surge saw 49% revenue increase for Transcorp Hotels, reaching ₦72.31 billion, with a 36% rise in PBT to ₦22.4 billion.
In a related development, Elumelu’s Heirs Energies, just last week secured $750 million of credit from the African Export-Import Bank to fund production. According to the company, the financing was signed with the Cairo-based lender strengthens Heirs Energies’ balance sheet, enhances liquidity, and provides the flexibility required to accelerate field development and optimise production.
Elumelu, a strong ally of President Bola Tinubu, in the course of the year also partook in what has been described largely as diplomatic shuttles overseas as a goodwill ambassador for the country, a development which has seen some commitments from foreign partners ready to invest in the country. Earlier in the week, he hosted a bipartisan United States Congressional delegation led by Bill Huizenga and Sarah Jacobs, in Abuja.
The move, according to people privy to the discussion, will further deepen bilateral ties and advance shared economic priorities at a critical juncture in the global political and economic landscape.
Yemi Cardoso
The nation’s monetary policy environment also experienced a significant shift this year with positive milestones.
For instance, Nigeria’s external reserves smash six-year record, surge past $45bn threshold for the first time in six years, marking one of the country’s strongest foreign exchange positions since July 2019, according to fresh data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The latest figures show the nation’s external buffers now stand at $45.04 billion as of December 4, 2025 — a major leap from $42.03 billion recorded on September 19.
The increase reflects an impressive build-up of nearly $5 billion within a relatively short period, signalling improved liquidity and stronger balance-of-payments performance.
The reserves have been on a steady upward trend for months. Data shows that November opened with the buffers at $43.26 billion, maintaining stability above the $43 billion mark for several days. By November 18, they climbed to $44.05 billion, before closing the month at $44.67 billion, one of the highest month-end positions in recent years.
The upward trajectory continued into December, culminating in the crossing of the historic $45 billion line — a milestone that analysts say reflects not just temporary inflows but sustained foreign exchange improvements.
An elated CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, who announced this development during an address at the 20th Anniversary of the Monetary Policy Department, where he revealed that the reserves had even reached $46.7 billion as of November 14.
He described the reserve build-up as a product of renewed investor confidence, stronger oil revenue, and robust portfolio inflows, noting that the current levels provide 10.3 months of import cover — the strongest buffer Nigeria has had since 2018.
“This accretion reflects investor confidence in our policies, leading to improved oil receipts, stronger balance of payments, and renewed foreign portfolio inflows,” Cardoso said.
He further explained that the stronger reserve position has been instrumental in stabilising the naira, adding that the gap between official and Bureau De Change (BDC) market rates has narrowed to below 2 percent — the closest alignment seen in years.
With reserves approaching the $47 billion mark, Nigeria appears poised to reinforce the stability of its currency and deepen its ability to absorb external shocks — a significant boost as the nation navigates global economic uncertainties.
Besides, Nigeria returned to the international market with a dual-tranche issuance of 10-year and 20-year notes, seeking to raise over $2 billion. The outcome was far more surprising. The Eurobond attracted $9.1 billion in orders, which was over four times the intended size. This occurred at a time when the market was still digesting tense political statements from the United States, including an implied threat of military action related to religious killings in Nigeria. The remark triggered notable sell-offs in the secondary market. Yet, when the primary market opened, investors surged in.
Bashir Ojulari
Though Bashir Ojulari, the boss at the nation’s oil behemoth narrowly escaped sinking in the murky waters in mid-2025 following accusations of money laundering, like a cat with nine lives he bounced back.
Under his stewardship in the outgoing year, the NNPC Limited achieved a record production level of 355,000 barrels of oil per day, its highest daily output since 1989. The increased production was achieved on December 1st 2025, rising from 203,000 barrels per day in 2023.
Commenting on the development, Bashir Ojulari, the Group CEO of NNPC Limited pointed out that the milestone is proof that Nigeria’s energy revival is not a dream; it is already happening.
He noted that the achievement reinforces confidence nationally and across the global energy landscape, assuring partners and investors that Nigeria is committed to reaffirming its role as a dependable energy supplier.
“This is a story shaped by leadership that charts a clear course; by partnerships built on alignment and accountability; and by a workforce whose hard work is turning goals into measurable progress. Our people, our processes, and principles are the real engines behind this success. We are building for tomorrow, not just celebrating today.”
M&A activity signals corporate repositioning
The year also saw mergers and acquisitions gained momentum across corporate Nigeria as firms responded to tighter financial conditions and recapitalisation demands. High-profile deals, including the acquisition of Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited) by UAC, the Union Bank of Nigeria merger with Titan Trust Bank Limited, and the FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited acquisition by EverQuest.
GTB listing on the London Exchange
GTBank became the first Nigerian bank to be listed on the London Stock Exchange on July 9, marking a significant step in Nigerian banks’ international expansion.
The move underscored the growing need for access to deeper pools of foreign capital and positioned the bank, and by extension the sector, more firmly within global financial markets despite ongoing domestic economic adjustments.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in collaboration with one of its leading consultant, Lufredha Maritime Academy, has concluded a three-day training workshop for boat operators at various designated centres across the geo-political zones.
The intensive training workshop sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy at NIWA Warri premises from Monday, December 22 to Thursday, December 24 attracted participants drawn from Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.
While the first and second day of the training was channeled on theoretical training, the last day witnessed practical and fitness activities which included firefighting drills, Marine operations, sea trials, Ropes tying, practical application of rules of the road among others.
The training workshop was climaxed with the issuance of certificates to the participants who passed all the stages of the rigorous exercise and met all the specified requirements needed as prerequisite for certification as a tested and trusted boat drivers and skippers.
Managing Director of Lufredha Maritime Academy, Engr. Rosemary Tonlagha, emphasised the importance of training and re-training of boat operators as panacea to minimising the rates of boat mishaps on the nation’s waterways to guarantee the safety of lives and property e within the maritime space.
She applauded the management of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and that of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), for the approval and sponsorship of this year’s workshop, noting that its only through such a sustainable training program can the issue of increasing boat accidents be reduced.
According to her: “The training that is ongoing is actually on safety of boat operators and how boat operators are supposed to be trained and licensed, basically to ensure that the level of mishap that has been in water should be brought to minimal or to zero level that’s the major one we are trying to achieve.
“They say faith comes by hearing and hearing the word. So the more you hear the more it gets to you, so that’s the reason why the ministry of Blue Economy Transport and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), collaborated together to see how this can be achieved.
“The essence is to ensure that boat operators are actually being trained not just here in Warri as a major central place, we equally have people from Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom and Calabar are all centered here for the training to ensure that all the boat operators are trained and equipped for this engagement.
“The truth is that we all look at the safety of the roads and pay less attention to the operators on the water, so that’s the reason why this training is coming up to see how enforcement can be achieved, how people can be monitored properly to ensure that mishaps reduce, lives are saved because both on the land and in the waters there are people that ply these means of transportation.
“So we are trying to see that after these people are well trained, license will be given to them and they will be knowledgeable enough. They will be equipped with enough knowledge that will help them to carry out their job functions and as such reducing the risk commonly associated with avoidable mishaps on the nation’s waterways.
“Majorly, we want to appreciate the Minister of Blue Economy and Transportation for this initiative to sponsor these people, because It is actually a big one. It is something that many of them have been striving to get themselves trained.
“So we would like to really say a big thank you to him for this great job that he has done and also the Managing Director of the National inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for his efforts and support that have been impactful.
“We also want to appreciate the General Manager, Marine Department of NIWA. It has been great work with him and we want to really appreciate him for his commitment to this training.
The Area Manager, NIWA Warri office, Engr. Rufus Oladimeji, also commended Minister of Blue Economy and Transportation and the Managing Director of NIWA, for their commitment in ensuring that this year’s training workshop was a huge success across the country.
He was particularly grateful that the training of boat operators in the country which had become an annual event was a huge success this year and expressed optimism that subsequent years would be better and they hope to consolidate on the progress and impacts so far made.
Participants at the workshop including High Chief Steady Olomi from Bayelsa, Bronson Enos from Akwa-Ibom and Captain Eweye Kingsley, a Marine Instructor, expressed satisfaction with the training program and hope to advantage of what they have learnt to practice whenever they are behind the wheel on any boat journey.
Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf has said the country must prioritise production growth, investment facilitation and improved security through close collaboration with industry stakeholders in order to achieve its target of increased crude oil production output of two million barrels per day.
In a statement on the appointment of the new Chief Executive Officers for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Yusuf also called for expanded investment in gas production, as well as compliance with domestic crude supply obligations to domestic refineries.
According to him, on the upstream sub sector of the industry, Nigeria must urgently ramp up crude oil and gas production by implementing policies that attract fresh investments across onshore and offshore assets. This, he note, is particularly critical as the global energy transition accelerates; hence, the country must maximise the value of its hydrocarbon endowments while the opportunity still exists.
He outlined that these strategic imperatives must define the direction of Nigeria’s new petroleum regulatory leadership if the sector is to drive sustainable growth, industrialisation and long-term economic resilience effectively.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for the recent reset of the country’s petroleum regulatory architecture through the appointments.
He noted that the appointments presented a strategic opportunity to reposition the oil and gas regulatory environment in line with the administration’s commitment to energy sovereignty, energy security, self-reliance and accelerated production growth.
He charged the new helmsmen at both regulatory agencies to urgently refocus the sector’s priorities on reducing import dependence, expanding domestic capacity and catalysing investment across the entire oil and gas value chain.
He urged that in the downstream segment, strong and deliberate support for domestic refining must be an immediate and non-negotiable priority.
He argued that government policy should clearly favour locally refined petroleum products through targeted fiscal, regulatory and infrastructural support for both public and private refineries, while actively encouraging new investments in refining capacity.
He said: “Nigeria must end the current distortion whereby imported petroleum products are made to compete with locally refined products under unequal regulatory and fiscal conditions. This does not constitute fair competition. Genuine competition only exists when all operators function within the same policy, tax and regulatory environment.
“The NMDPRA must therefore place domestic refining at the centre of its policy framework, in line with the President’s Nigeria-First policy direction and industrialisation agenda. This is not merely to protect investors, but to safeguard Nigeria’s long-term economic interests. A strong domestic refining base is fundamental to building a resilient, energy-secure and sovereign economy. It is also critical for job creation, foreign exchange conservation, macroeconomic stability and the development of export-oriented refining capacity.
“More importantly, domestic refining is a major pathway to backward integration and resource-based industrialisation. Supporting refineries strengthens Nigeria’s petrochemical, fertiliser and allied industries, thereby creating broader industrial value chains that drive inclusive growth”.
As 2025 draws to a close, a new wave of confidence is sweeping through the global boardroom, signaling a definitive shift from the cautious outlook that defined much of the year.
According to the latest McKinsey Global Survey on economic conditions, surveyed executives are finishing the year with renewed faith in both the macroeconomic environment and their own companies’ performance.
The McKinsey report revealed that while trade policy changes were previously viewed as the primary risk to growth, attention has now turned toward geopolitical instability and conflicts.
Despite these concerns, the report noted that there was a tangible sense of momentum as leaders prioritize customer engagement and technology investments over broader macroeconomic worries.
This optimism, the report maintained is reflected in profit expectations; although the share of respondents expecting increased demand is at its lowest point since 2020, they remain more than twice as likely to expect improving demand rather than a decrease.
In Africa, the narrative is one of “resilience forged by hard-won gains,” according to African Development Bank Group.
While the continent’s growth outlook for 2025 was slightly downgraded to 3.9 percent due to seismic shifts in global trade and aid cuts, the bank projected 21 African countries would to grow by more than 5 percent this year. The report emphasised a necessary paradigm shift: “If Africa invests in itself, leverages its strengths, and governs its resources wisely, boundless possibilities lie ahead to decouple from external dependence”.
Its African Economic Outlook 2025 highlighted a staggering potential for domestic resource mobilisation, suggesting that deep reforms could unlock an additional $1.43 trillion annually from fiscal, natural, and human capital. The figure exceeded the $1.3 trillion annual financing gap required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The report asserted that making Africa’s capital work better is a “governance and leadership imperative”.
Simultaneously, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 underscored a period of intense labor market transformation.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, it noted that 64 per cent of businesses identify an increased focus on labor and social issues as a key trend through 2030, followed closely by the rising cost of living and broadening digital access. However, the report indicated significant barriers remain, with many regional companies citing widespread skills gaps and a shortage of investment capital as primary hurdles to transformation.
The report noted that specialised roles in AI, big data, and cybersecurity are among the fastest-growing skills needed globally, yet the African Development Bank warned that skill mismatches persist due to education systems that have not kept pace with market needs.
In response, organisations, such as AVANA, a Center of Excellence at Africa Business School, are working to bridge these gaps.
During its pivotal 2024-2025 period, AVANA implemented projects focused on value-driven management and digital transformation in agrifood systems, aiming to translate research into “actionable frameworks that support system transformation.”
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is edging closer to ending physical cargo examination at Apapa Port as preparations intensify for the full deployment of the FS6000 cargo scanner at APM Terminals, Lagos.
The move is move expected to significantly reshape cargo clearance at the country’s busiest maritime gateway.
The scanner, with a throughput capacity of about 200 containers per hour, has completed final test runs and simulation exercises, signalling readiness for operational rollout and a transition to non-intrusive, technology-driven inspections.
The development followed a working visit to the scanning site by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Oluyomi Adebakin, to assess pre-operational readiness and alignment with Customs’ trade modernisation agenda.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, in a statement, said the initiative was part of a broader strategy to migrate to a paperless clearance environment in line with international best practices and improved trade facilitation.
According to him, the FS6000 scanner has successfully undergone all required simulations, marking a major milestone in Customs’ push to reduce manual intervention in cargo processing at Apapa Port.
Speaking during the inspection, Adebakin said the visit was aimed at ensuring a smooth transition to scanner-based examination.
She described the deployment as “a critical step in modernising customs operations and improving efficiency at the nation’s busiest port.”
She disclosed that operational preparedness had reached about 80 per cent, noting that outstanding components required for full take-off were being addressed. Adebakin stressed that scanner deployment was a collective responsibility involving the Nigeria Customs Service, APM Terminals, and the Trade Modernisation Project.
Assuring port users of tangible business benefits, she said the scanner would deliver faster cargo clearance, reduced demurrage, improved compliance and enhanced ease of doing business across the port ecosystem.
“The FS6000 scanner has a throughput capacity of about 200 containers per hour,” Adebakin said, highlighting its suitability for high-volume port operations. She added that non-intrusive inspection would eliminate delays and cargo damage associated with physical examinations while also strengthening revenue protection.
On his part, the Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ICT-driven reforms and sustained stakeholder collaboration. He said the deployment underscored Customs’ resolve to modernise port operations, strengthen trade facilitation and improve transparency at Apapa Port.
For maritime operators, the imminent deployment signals a structural shift in cargo handling—one expected to decongest terminals, cut transaction costs and reposition Apapa Port for more competitive regional trade flows.
Legend Internet Plc has concluded the year with significant strategic and operational achievements that underscore its resilience, innovation drive, and long-term commitment to advancing digital connectivity in Nigeria.
Chief Marketing Officer, Legend Internet Plc, Shakirah Alaga, said the company recorded many milestones this year, which demonstrated the company’s clear focus on restoring trust and providing tangible value to customers.
“Our 2025 journey has been about restoring confidence through action, from redefining home connectivity with Legend Omni FTTR to deploying AI-powered platforms like NINA that put speed, transparency, and convenience at the centre of the customer experience.
“As we move forward, our priority remains deepening customer relationships, strengthening our brand promise, and ensuring that innovation directly translates into better everyday experiences for Nigerians,” Alaga said.
She highlighted that in a major boost to its technology strategy, Legend had signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei.
She noted that the partnership was expected to unlock advanced network capabilities and reinforce Legend’s role as a key contributor to next-generation broadband infrastructure across the country.
She added that the company also recorded an industry-first with the launch of Legend Omni – FTTR (Fiber-To-The-Room), becoming the first network provider in Nigeria to deliver room-to-room fibre-powered internet.
She said: “The innovation sets a new benchmark for premium residential broadband and elevates home connectivity standards nationwide.
“On the financial front, Legend successfully closed its Commercial Paper issuance with over 100 percent subscription, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company’s strategy and long-term growth outlook.
“To further enhance the customer experience, Legend Internet introduced Nina, the Legend AI Assistant, designed to provide faster, simpler, and more convenient support. Nina allows customers to access instant assistance and manage their services directly through WhatsApp and the MyLegend App, giving them greater control and flexibility. Internally, the company also implemented AI-driven automation across key operational processes, boosting efficiency, strengthening accountability, and improving overall team productivity.
“Expanding its market footprint, Legend secured a strategic connectivity partnership with Trojan Estates, becoming the preferred broadband provider for one of Nigeria’s most prestigious residential developments and strengthening its presence in Lagos.
“Despite prevailing market challenges, 2025 marked a transformational period for the company. It successfully listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), a move that enhanced its market credibility, strengthened investor confidence, and positioned the company for sustainable growth and capital expansion.
“With strengthened partnerships, enhanced financial standing, and customer-focused innovation, Legend Internet remains focused on rebuilding customer trust, accelerating network expansion, deepening market penetration, and driving Nigeria’s digital future”.
The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has expressed concerns over reports indicating different versions of the Tax Act as gazetted and passed by the National Assembly.
In a statement yesterday, President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Innocent Ohagwa, said that if such discrepancies are established, whether arising from procedural lapses, administrative errors, or unauthorized alterations, they could erode public and investor confidence.
He said: “We express serious concern over allegations that the final gazetted versions of certain tax Acts may not accurately reflect the Bills as debated and passed by the National Assembly.
“If established, such discrepancies, whether arising from procedural lapses, administrative errors, or unauthorized alterations could undermine the supremacy of the legislature, create legal ambiguity and compliance risks, erode public and investor confidence, expose taxpayers and professionals to unintended liabilities and weaken trust in governance institutions.
“In the interest of institutional credibility and public trust, we respectfully call for immediate verification of the contested tax Acts by comparing the versions passed by the National Assembly, the enrolled and gazetted Acts, clear public clarification where discrepancies are identified and prompt corrective action in line with constitutional and legislative procedures”.
Ohagwa said CITN’s concern as the pre- eminent tax institution in Nigeria, is in ensuring that due legislative process is observed and not breached, especially in respect of an important subject matter as taxation, which thrives on exactitude of tax legislation.
