First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has felicitated with Lagos Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, on his 60th birthday.
In a goodwill message personally signed on Wednesday, Senator Tinubu hailed Governor Sanwo-Olu’s dedication to public service, describing him as an exemplary leader whose commitment continues to inspire.
“I join your family, associates and well-wishers to celebrate you on your attainment of 60 years of a glorious life,” the First Lady said.
She lauded Sanwo-Olu’s record of leadership and selfless service to the people of Lagos State, noting that his devotion to governance has distinguished him in the nation’s political landscape.
“Your dedication to service has set you apart as an exemplary leader,” she stated.
As the Governor marks the milestone age, Senator Tinubu prayed for divine health, renewed strength, and wisdom to enable him fulfill his purpose and achieve greater success.
“May you be blessed with more wisdom, strength, and divine health to fulfill your God-ordained purpose, and I wish you many more years of success on earth,” she added.
Price and exchange rate stability are key roles of the Central Bank across the world. The drop in Nigeria’s inflation rate in May has been attributed to changes in macroeconomic dynamics as well as monetary-fiscal policies alliance. Analysts view the moderation in May’s headline inflation at 22.97 per cent as a positive outcome of improved FX stability, easing energy prices, and a slowdown in money supply growth, writes Assistant Editor COLLINS NWEZE
The drop in Nigeria’s inflation rate for May 2025 was not accidental—it was the result of deliberate and sustained monetary policy reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Key among these were stabilising the foreign exchange market, strengthening the naira, and tightening liquidity to curb excess money supply. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the inflation rate eased to 22.97 per cent in May, down from 23.71 per cent in April, marking a clear signal of policy impact.
Broad money (M2) growth also moderated significantly, averaging 1.3 per cent month-on-month and 20.3 per cent year-on-year in 2025, compared to 5.6 per cent and 75.5 per cent respectively in 2024. The CBN’s latest quarterly economic report for Q4 2024 shows strong FX inflows—$61.2 billion net, up 99 per cent year-on-year—with gross inflows up 21 per cent quarter-on-quarter to $27.8 billion. FX outflows also rose by 31 per cent to $10.4 billion.
Like other central banks globally, the CBN has remained laser-focused on inflation. Its adoption of an inflation-targeting framework and the tightening of the Monetary Policy Rate to 27.5 per cent are strategic tools to restore macroeconomic stability and reinforce investor confidence.
Naira appreciates and how inflation works
Specifically, the naira appreciated by 0.7 per cent month-on-month, closing at N1,586.15/$1.00. Additionally, prices in the energy sector declined by 0.4 per cent month-on-month in May. The monthly energy deflation was likely supported by reductions in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) prices by Dangote Petroleum Refinery (and select independent marketers) which brought ex-depot prices down to a range of N875.00 to N905.00/litre across states and regions.
In emailed report to investors, Managing Director, Afrinvest Nigeria Limited, Ike Chioke, stated that
while the positive strides in consumer price dynamics (especially core inflation) could set the stage for a potential rate cut by the MPC in second half of this year, persistent risks in the food sector – stemming from agrarian and structural factors – are potent headwinds ahead. According to the report, sustained currency appreciation and the lagged impact of PMS price cuts in late May are likely to counteract the impact of holiday-induced price hikes in some core items and keep the sub-component inflation modest.
Inflation remains one of the most discussed yet misunderstood economic concepts. Economists generally agree that inflation refers to a sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services over time. It is typically measured using indicators such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the implicit price deflator for Gross National Product (GNP). A commonly used expression for inflation is “too much money chasing too few goods,” highlighting how increased money supply can outpace output, thereby weakening a currency’s purchasing power. When inflation occurs, money buys fewer goods. For example, if N10.00 buys 10 shirts today, but prices double, that same amount will only buy five shirts—demonstrating a clear decline in real value.
Recent macroeconomic signals offer cautious optimism. A slowdown in food prices and a 7% dip in petrol costs are notable, alongside positive feedback from the GDP rebasing exercise. These developments hint at an improving inflation trajectory. According to Bismarck Rewane, CEO of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, a stronger oil sector could drive more stable fuel prices and higher government revenues, enhancing economic stability.
The Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) forecasts a 4% rebound in retail sales in 2025, with consumer spending expected to rise to $127 billion. Input from monetary authorities has also contributed to cooling inflation. Charlie Bird, Director of Trading at Verto, noted that rising crude oil prices, FX stability in NAFEM, narrow parallel market spreads, and growing reserves all point to positive inflation outcomes—signaling stronger prospects for economic recovery and price stability.
Speaking during Cordros Asset Management seminar titled: “The Naira Playbook”, he said positive impact of CBN’s reforms has continued affect the market and economic indicators positively. Also, inflation targeting framework, which replaces the exchange rate targeting framework, aligns with the apex bank’s determination to bring inflation upsurge under control in line with its price stability mandate.
Analysts said the various oil price shocks, Covid-19 pandemic, and most recently, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Iran have resulted in various shocks to the global economy, requiring changing responses to subdue the monetary and fiscal authorities in the advanced and emerging market economies.
How low inflation supports economy
The Comercio Partners, in its 2025 macroeconomic outlook, highlighted that the rebasing of Nigeria’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) to 2024 would also create statistical effects that could lower inflation figures. From the stabilisation of exchange rates, the normalisation of energy prices following the subsidy removal to improved liquidity in the forex market, the economy has what it takes to achieve price stability within the year.
The Comercio Partners reports emphasised the importance of local refining capacity expansion, particularly with the launch of the Dangote Refinery. This development is expected to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on energy prices. By relying more on domestically refined petroleum, Nigeria is likely to see a reduction in energy price volatility.
This, combined with a more stable exchange rate, is expected to lower production and transportation costs, creating a positive ripple effect throughout the broader economy. According to Ifeanyi Ubah, head of investment research and global macro strategist, “We expect headline inflation to decrease to around 15 percent in the first half of 2025, indicating a gradual return to economic stability.”
The report also emphasised the importance of local refining capacity expansion, particularly with the launch of the Dangote Refinery. This development is expected to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on energy prices. By relying more on domestically refined petroleum, Nigeria is likely to see a reduction in energy price volatility. This, combined with a more stable exchange rate, is expected to lower production and transportation costs, creating a positive ripple effect throughout the broader economy.
In its efforts to tame inflation, the CBN recently hosted the Monetary Policy Forum 2025, featuring fiscal authorities, legislative, private sector, development partners, subject-matter experts, and scholars with the theme: “Managing the Disinflation Process.” The forum is a major push to improve monetary policy communication, foster dialogue, and collaborate on critical issues shaping monetary policy.
During the event, CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, explained that the apex bank’s focus is to sustain price stability, the planned transition to an inflation-targeting framework, and strategies to restore purchasing power and ease economic hardship. He said the apex bank is continuing its disciplined approach to monetary policy, aimed at curbing inflation and stabilising the economy.
“These actions have yielded measurable progress: relative stability in the FX market, narrowing exchange rate disparities, and a rise in external reserves to over $40 billion as of December 2024.”
Cardoso reiterated that the goal of the CBN is to ensure that monetary policy remains forward-looking, adaptive, and resilient. In addressing our economic challenges, collaboration is key: “Managing disinflation amidst persistent shocks requires not only robust policies but also coordination between fiscal and monetary authorities to anchor expectations and maintain investor confidence,” Cardoso said.
“Our focus must remain on price stability, the planned transition to an inflation-targeting framework, and strategies to restore purchasing power and ease economic hardship,” he added.
The CBN also focused on strengthening the banking sector, introducing new minimum capital requirements for banks (effective March 2026) to ensure resilience and position Nigeria’s banking industry for a $1 trillion economy. These reforms and developments reflect the Bank’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for inclusive economic development. However, achieving macroeconomic stability requires sustained vigilance and a proactive monetary policy stance.
“As we shift from unorthodox to orthodox monetary policy, the CBN remains committed to restoring confidence, strengthening policy credibility, and staying focused on its core mandate of price stability,” Cardoso stated. He said moving from the exchange rate targeting framework to the inflation targeting framework aligned with the apex bank’s determination to bring inflation upsurge under control in line with its price stability mandate.
Inflation uptick has remained a major concern to the CBN and is the time to use monetary policy tools to control it. Already, the data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Inflation Rate i n Nigeria increased to 34.80 per cent in December from 34.60 percent in November of 2024. Inflation Rate in Nigeria is expected to be 32.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts’ expectations.
Market data showed that the various oil price shocks, Covid-19 pandemic, and most recently, the war between Russia and Ukraine, have resulted in various shocks to the global economy, requiring changing responses to subdue the monetary and fiscal authorities in the advanced and emerging market economies. To address these shocks, the CBN plans to migrate from an exchange rate targeting framework to phased migration and now inflation targeting framework. The CBN has been controlling the growth of money supply to achieve price stability, but is seeking a change of strategy to achieve better results.
World Bank growth projection
The World Bank recently gave a positive verdict on Nigeria’s economic growth trajectory, highlighting three-year unbroken growth for the country. In the bank’s Global Economic Prospects for June, the bank posited that Nigeria will have three-year unbroken growth records- growing at 3.6 per cent in 2025, 3.7 per cent in 2026 and 3.8 per cent in 2027. The World Bank, however, slashed its global growth forecast for 2025 by 0.4 percentage point to 2.3 per cent, saying that higher tariffs and heightened uncertainty posed a “significant headwind” for nearly all economies.
In its twice-yearly Global Economic Prospects report, the bank lowered its forecasts for nearly 70 per cent of all economies – including the United States, China and Europe, as well as six emerging market regions – from the levels it projected just six months ago before U.S. President Donald Trump took office. The bank stopped short of forecasting a recession but said global economic growth this year would be its weakest outside of a recession since 2008. By 2027, global gross domestic product growth was expected to average just 2.5 per cent, the slowest pace of any decade since the 1960s. The bank said global inflation was expected to reach 2.9 per cent in 2025, remaining above pre-COVID levels, given tariff increases and tight labour markets.
• Risk health crisis holding urine, poop for long hours
• Say we eat, drink less to avoid going to toilet
• Epileptic power, high petrol price hamper water supply, good sanitation
• Expert decries poor allocations to water provision
Many female pupils in public and private schools are constantly dealing with infections contracted from unkempt toilets. The challenge stems from many schools’ inability to provide regular water supply which the pupils need all day, because there is poor power supply and the price of petrol is high. To avoid contracting infections, some pupils are forced to hold urine and faeces until water supply is restored or when they get home. Experts fear that these developments could pose serious dangers to the health of pupils, particularly young girls, INNOCENT DURU reports.
Ose, a junior secondary boarding school pupil, looked sick upon returning home recently. She woke up every morning complaining of headache, chest and general body pain.
Her condition showed no sign of abating even after the parents gave her orthodox and herbal medicines at various times, suspecting she was suffering from malaria and typhoid.
“For a short time, I would feel okay. But after a while, I would begin to feel unwell again. Waking up every morning comes with a banging headache and chest/body pain accompanied by the urge to vomit.”
When this persisted, Ose said, “my dad insisted I should go tgothe hospital and have some tests carried out on me.
“I was diagnosed with infection when I visited the hospital, and I was placed on strong antibiotics.
“That was not the first time I would return home and would be diagnosed with an infection. The difference is that the challenge was more severe this second time.”
Ose suspected that the horrible state of her school’s toilet occasioned by irregular water supply could be responsible for her constant battle with infections.
She said: “We have six tanks, one for each class. When a class exhausts their water, they will go and fetch water from other classes’ tanks.
“When water finishes in all the tanks, fresh one may not be pumped immediately. When this happens, the toilets become messy. We would be forced to use toilets even when others would have used it without flushing.
“At that point, you would have no choice but to pooh on other people’s faeces.”
While doing this, Ose noted, water from the toilet could splash on your body. “At times, it is the faeces in the water closet, especially the watery one, that would splash on your body.
“After I was diagnosed with infection the second time, I developed a phobia for using the school toilet or any other public toilet.”
She hinted that the challenge gets worse “when some of us are on our menstrual period. We may not clean up until water is pumped.
“I feel irritated and uncomfortable anytime this happens.”
She said ollowing the dirty state of the toilets at various times, “some colleagues hold their urine or faeces until water is available while others who cannot use the dirty toilets defy warnings and ease themselves in different corners of the school. They secretly do this because they know the magnitude of punishment that awaits them if they are caught by the authorities.”
Like Ose, Asanna, a 13-year-old, has also contracted infection from her school’s toilet.
“I was using my school’s toilet frequently until I started having pain when urinating,” she said.
“When I was taken to the hospital by my mother, they discovered that I was having an infection.
“I was given medications, and that ended the problem but not the fear of contracting another infection subsequently.
“Before petrol price was increased, we were not having challenges with water supply in my school,” Asanna added as she relived how irregular water supply turned the previously clean school toilets into breeding ground for bacteria. “The school would even switch on the generator whenever there was no power supply to prevent us from sweating abnormally when the weather was hot.
“It was always an opportunity to pump water each time the generator was switched on.
“But all that has stopped since fuel price went up. We often rely on regular power supply to have water.
“Unfortunately, the power supply in my community is nothing to write home about. When the voltage is not low, we may stay for a whole week without power supply.”
When there is no water, Asanna said, the toilets will become no-go areas for the pupils. “But because there is a limit to which you can hold the urge to defecate or urinate, you will have no option but to use the dirty toilet like that.
“The thought of contracting infection would not come to your mind at that point. What will simply matter is how to get rid of the waste and have your freedom and also avoid messing up your body and becoming the object of ridicule among your peers.”
Also reliving her ordeal, Yoyo, a senior secondary school pupil, said: “I was withdrawn from my former school by my father after I contracted a toilet disease.
“The school’s toilet was never clean. It stinks from resumption in the morning till closing time.
“The cleaner only cleans the toilet in the morning and after school hours.
“The toilet is left messed up in between the time she is not there to clean it.
“This exposes many of us to infections.”
Continuing, Yoyo said: “Immediately I was diagnosed with infection, my father said I would not go back there, to avoid contracting another infection.
“The problem is largely due to lack of regular water supply in the school and proper monitoring of pupils using the toilets.”
Speaking in the same vein, a pupil who gave her name simply as Esther said: “My school pumps water whenever there is power supply. They also pump water using a generator when there is no power supply.
“But once the water pumped with the generator finishes, they will not pump another water.
“It is at that point that the toilets get messed up. Pupils will just go and ‘donate’ their excreta and walk away, causing flies to perch all over the place.”
She added: “We that are prone to contracting infections are always badly hit.
“Some students don’t contract any infection because they are probably used to defecating in unclean toilets or it could also be that they have a strong immune system.
“But for me, any small exposure to infection affects me.
“I am beginning to train my body so that I don’t use the toilet in school.
“I eat and drink less while in school to avoid using the toilet, because I don’t want a repeat of the previous experience.”
Pupils shun school toilets, hold urine, excreta for long hours
To avoid contracting infections from their schools’ toilets, some pupils told our correspondent that they often hold back urine and excreta throughout the school hours. In fact, some of them said they don’t know what their schools’ toilets look like, let alone using them.
One of the respondents who gave her name as Anjola said: “I have never visited my school toilet since I was admitted there at the beginning of this session.
“Pupils in my school are very rough, and I can imagine what the toilet will look like.
“To be sincere, I don’t know if it is a pit toilet or a modern one.”
Asked how she passes out waste during school hours, Anjola responded: “I always hold urine when I am pressed in school. No matter what, I will not urinate or defecate in school, because I am scared of infections.
“I have heard of people having one infection or the other, and one of the ways to avoid it, as far as I am concerned, is by refusing to use public toilets, especially the ones used by extremely rough students in my school.”
The feeling is the same for Peculiar who said the idea of not using public toilets had been inculcated in her from childhood.
She said: “My mother told me never to use public toilets. This has been part of me from childhood. Once I am not in my house, I will not use the toilet anywhere.
“My body has been programmed to work this way. This is why I don’t use the toilet in my school, and I am happy about it.”
Explaining why she does not use her school’s toilet, Sola, a public school pupil, said: “The toilet in my school is always dirty. My colleagues will always tell me how they defecated on other pupils’ pooh when they are pressed, but I can’t imagine myself doing that.
“The most I have done is to urinate on the ground in the toilet when I saw that the whole place was in total mess. I can’t imagine myself sitting on the toilet seat to defecate.”
Effects of using unhygienic toilets by school girls
A public health physician, Dr Rotimi Adesanya, in an interview with our correspondent, said using dirty toilets poses great danger to both male and female students. He, however, noted that there are some challenges that are peculiar to females.
“For females, the challenges are mainly urinary tract and vaginal infection, because such toilets will harbour a lot of bacteria and other microorganisms and protozoa.
“Using dirty toilets could also cause e-coli infection. It affects them greatly.
“Staphylococcus infection also comes from using dirty toilets. This affects their genital area.
“Young female chchildren have protective covering in their vavaginal, which is the hymen.
“When there is exposure to all these organisms too much, it will make them to have infections.”
The physician, however, noted that challenges like dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and Hepatitis E affect both males and females, adding, “the ones that are specific to the females are the ones that affect their genital tracts, and those are urinary tract infection, ecoli infection, and the one that will also make them to have things like candidiasis.”
Dangers of holding back urine, excreta
For pupils who are in the habit of constantly holding urine and poop for fear of contracting infections from using school toilets, Dr Adesanya said “they could have a form of temporary incontinence. They may also have urinary tract infection, because when they keep the urine in the bladder for so long, all the micro organisms in the urine tend to thrive.
“It is advisable that they don’t hold their urine or poop at any time.”
Kauvery Hospital (Sri Kauvery Medical Care India Limited) a leading multi-speciality hospital, said on its website that holding back urine could cause “kidney stones to form when waste products in our body calcify and develop into crystals.
“This can be a very painful condition and you may need to have surgery to remove stones if they become too large.
“It can cause infection and blood in the urine.
“Drinking too little water and holding urine in are the common causes of this problem.”
It added that holding urine in for long periods of time can cause the bladder to stretch and become weak. “Usually when urine fills up the bladder, it stretches it and when you void, it bounces back to its original shape.
“Continuously stretching the bladder by holding in urine may eventually stop the bladder from bouncing back.
“In severe cases, a person may need a catheter to pass urine.
“The risk of a urinary tract infection is increased when you hold in your urine for a long time.
“Bacteria are present naturally in the urinary tract and are excreted with the urine.
“When the urine is held in the bladder, bacteria may build up and this can cause infection in any part of the urinary tract.
“UTIs are painful and once triggered can keep recurring.”
The hospital noted that “the urge to pee is a familiar sensation. But when you hold in the urine for too long, it can cause pain too because the muscles have to work overtime and clench to keep in an ever increasing amount of urine.”
Also decrying the habit of holding poop for a long time, MedicalNewsToday in a post said holding in poop on occasion is not harmful, but doing this often can lead to “constipation, impaction, inflammation, and more severe complications.
“People who hold in their poop too often may start to lose the urge to poo, which may result in fecal incontinence. Other people may experience constipation.
“Constipation can be very uncomfortable, and it may lead to more severe problems.”
Expert decries Nigeria’s budgetary allocations to water supply
Programme officer on Water at corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) Sefa Ikpa described as unfortunate the burden on schools to provide regular water for pupils and blamed the challenge of water in schools on poor budgetary allocations by federal and state governments.
“There are also certain public services that should particularly take precedence over others. When we’re growing up, even if you couldn’t find water in your house, you could find water running in the hospital and the school.
“But that is not the case now. Somehow, we have completely absorbed the government’s responsibility of providing water.
“Now, individuals are responsible for providing water for themselves.”
Decrying the poor allocations to water, Sefa said: “Last year, for example, states who got loans from either the World Bank, AFDB, the EU or all that, they had gotten external funds as loans, not as grants. As loans, they allocated very, very little to their water sector.
“There were other states that did fairly better than others. I think states like Katsina allocated up to 20% of their fiscal budget, that’s 2024, to water.
“But for many states, their allocation to water is less than 5%. It’s not adequate at all.
“And I like to point us back to when we talk of the issue of water, a lot of people tell you that state-run water boards are not working.
“Of course, they are not working because funds are not being directed there.
“State governments will tell you that there are competing interests, like they have to fund schools, they have to fund roads, you know. But the truth is, things like water should be basic.
“It’s not that those other needs are not as important, but things like water, there’s no state of existence that can do without water.
“Your dignity as a person, your productivity as a person, your entire existence as a human being is dependent on how much water you have and the quality of water you have.
“So it’s quite a sorry state for us to be as a nation.”
Sefa added that even the federal government in 2025 budget allocated “say less than 5% of the 2025 fiscal budget is allocated to water.
“How do we expect to reach a place of water resilience and water security if we’re allocating so little to water?
“This is 2025, we are still talking of diseases such as typhoid and cholera, and other forms of water-borne diseases in schools.
“And unfortunately, when you talk of water, it looks like it’s only for the children, but even for the teachers, it’s the same thing everywhere.
“The productivity is reduced, health outcomes are affected. What kind of country do we want to be if our governments cannot safeguard the future of children by ensuring they have in school something as simple and as basic as water?
“The global benchmark for the future of water is over 15% of the fiscal budget, and there are not up to five states in Nigeria presently that meet that benchmark.
“It’s 2025. We shouldn’t as a country still be talking of the threats to the future of our children just because we are not allocating enough money to something as basic as water.”
The World Health Organisation in one of its reports said children’s ability to learn may be affected by inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in several ways. “These include helminth infections (which affect hundreds of millions of school-age children), long-term exposure to chemical contaminants in water (e.g. lead and arsenic), diarrhoea diseases and malaria infections, all of which force many schoolchildren to be absent from school.
“Poor environmental conditions in the classroom can also make both teaching and learning very difficult.”
The report noted that girls and boys are likely to be affected in different ways by inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene conditions in schools, and this may contribute to unequal learning opportunities, adding that “sometimes, girls and female teachers are more affected than boys because the lack of sanitary facilities means that they cannot attend school during menstruation.”
The report stated that provision of adequate water supply, sanitation, hygiene and waste management in schools has a number of positive effects like “the disease burden among children, staff and their families is reduced; healthy children in healthy environments learn more effectively; there can be greater gender equity in access to education and meeting hygiene-related needs; educational opportunities are created to promote safe environments at home and in the community; and schoolchildren can learn and practice life-long positive hygiene behaviours.
How to save girl-child from contracting infections from school toilets
To prevent pupils, the girl-child in particular, from contracting infections from unhygienic school toilets, Dr Adesanya advocated that there must be health education for them.
“The females should clean or wipe from front to the back and not the reverse. They should maintain good hygiene in the toilet. The authorities should provide soap and water facilities for hand washing and encourage them not to hold their urine back.
“They should use toilet facilities once they are pressed.”
Complementing Dr Adesanya’s recommendation, Harry Wood in a report advocated for integrated approach to hygiene, using a combination of air, surface and hand hygiene measures to break the chain of infection.
Over 400 million children globally lack decent toilets at school
Over 400 million children globally lack decent toilets at school according to brand new data from the World Health Organisation and UNICEF ’s Joint Monitoring Programme – this means either toilets don’t work, girls and boys are forced to share facilities – even when girls are on their periods – or there’s no toilet at all. Meanwhile just over half of this number, 220 million, don’t have a toilet at school at all.
In Sub Saharan Africa alone, 50% of schools have inadequate toilets. This is having a huge and negative impact on girls says the international charity WaterAid. Evidence shows that a lack of decent toilets and running water leads to some girls missing school during their period.
These new figures, published today for Period Day, underscore a shocking lack of support to help girls effectively manage their periods during their education, says WaterAid.
This issue is a key priority for the charity WaterAid which works to bring clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene to communities and schools in 22 countries across the world. This includes providing menstrual health products and building female-friendly toilets with clean running water in schools.
But today’s new figures unveil the harsh reality that much more still needs to be done to ensure girls can manage their periods in a hygienic way, with privacy, safety and dignity.
Katherine Nightingale, Director of International Affairs at WaterAid, said: “No one should have to miss school because of their period, and it’s unacceptable that 400 million children globally lack decent toilets at school and 200 million of these don’t have toilets at all, leaving girls without a way to manage their period. Clean water and decent toilets in schools must be non-negotiable to ensure women and girls can manage their menstruation safely, hygienically, and with dignity.
“WaterAid is calling on governments to prioritize these needs by ensuring access to female-friendly, private, and hygienic toilets in schools, as well as clean water and period products. These are fundamental human rights that will help girls to complete their education, creating a ripple effect of positive change across communities and societies.”
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) took a bold step onto the global investment stage as top government officials, business leaders, and diaspora investors gathered in London for the inaugural Abuja Investment Summit. Representing the FCT Minister, Barrister. Nyesom Wike, the GMD/CEO of Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL), Ambassador Maureen Tamuno, extended a strong call to action: “Abuja is open for business, and now is the time to engage.”
With the theme “Investment Opportunities in Africa’s Gateway—Nigeria,” the summit spotlighted Abuja as more than just the seat of government—it’s an emerging economic powerhouse. Ambassador Tamuno applauded the minister for his unwavering support and commitment to making Abuja a world-class city, adding that he has 17 projects set for commissioning under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including the newly renovated world class Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre (AICC), a great sight to behold
The event surprised many attendees, as several guests expressed amazement at AICL’s bold and well-structured investment agenda.
Julian Swan of Future Solar Tech remarked, “How do we get involved in the Abuja Tech Village Free Zone?” — drawn by incentives such as tax waivers and duty-free import schemes.
Another guest, who stumbled upon the event by chance, admitted it transformed his view of investing back home. He commended the well organised event.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Abiodun Akanbi, Chief Investment Officer of AICL, reaffirmed the city’s readiness for investment across technology, real estate, entertainment, agribusiness, tourism, and infrastructure.
“Abuja is where capital meets purpose,” he declared.
David Smith, Chairman of the British African Business Alliance Ltd who has been working on African Investment for the past 17 years expressed enthusiasm. “I am looking forward to meet many of the delegates here, we have about 15 projects that all together value about 31/2 billion dollars investment we will inject into Abuja,” he said.
In their separate goodwill messages, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), who was highly enthusiastic, noted she only recently learned about Abuja Investments. She further urged Nigerians abroad to take pride in investing back home, highlighting their critical role in national development.
While Ambassador Mohamed Maidugu, the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, represented by Ambassador Mercy Haruna Adeoye, highlighted Nigeria’s vast economic potential and welcomed global investors to explore opportunities across key sectors. She emphasised the country’s readiness for partnerships that drive sustainable growth and innovation.
Ciaran McSharry, CEO of a digital bank called Jamboo App shared his excitement about Abuja’s potential. He highlighted his excitement by the opportunities of investments in Africa particularly in Nigeria.
A series of panel discussions followed, focusing on critical topics including infrastructure development, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and the entertainment and creative sector economy as effective means for enhancing infrastructure and harnessing the full potential of these sectors through investment.
As Takwana Tyanini, co-founder of Jamboo App put it, “This is the first time he has seen an event like this in the UK.
“The best time to come to Nigeria and invest is now, because the President Tinubu travelled down to UK and noted they are ready to remove all the roadblocks for you to make money” said Peter Alettor, Executive Vice Chairman of Apel.
Many investors were wooed by the summit and confidently declared their interest in partnering with AICL—they had only recently heard of AICL. The company’s investment-ready structure, clear governance, and strategic direction left a lasting impression, prompting several participants to request immediate follow-up discussions.
In all, participants lauded the FCT Minister and the current administration for this kind of insight on what is happening in Nigeria- Abuja today.
Among other attendees are Yemisi Suswan (MD, All Purpose Shelter), Toyin Sanni (GMD, Emerging Africa), Mofe Duncan (Nigerian actor), Bruce Oshak (UK-Nigerian actor/artist), Abdulrahman Aliyu(CEO Zavati)Tayo Bilewu, Ambassador Alistair Soyode (CEO, Ben TV), and Prof. Imafidon (Chair, Excellence in Education Programme), among others.
Adeyemo Olufunke, a dedicated educator, trainer, counselor, and advocate for an HIV-free generation, is making a profound impact on communities across Nigeria. With a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Ibadan (2008) and a B.Ed in Guidance and Counseling/Communication and Language Arts from the same institution, Adeyemo Olufunke has dedicated her career to uplifting vulnerable populations and fostering sustainable development.
One of her flagship initiatives, with collaboration with Life Builders she mobilized 500 youth and women in rural communities to cultivate Moringa Oleifera, dark green vegetables, and Ugwu. This project not only improved local nutrition but also generated income for participants, with some reinvesting their profits to expand their farms and others establishing small businesses selling their produce at local markets.
Addressing the critical issue of food security, Adeyemo in collaboration with Life Builders Ibadan, worked on a project in Ijeda/Iloko, Oriade L.G.A., Osun State. Funded by the Osun State Employment Trust Fund, this program trained 100 out-of-school rural youth in food preservation and processing techniques. The training equipped participants with valuable skills, enabling them to launch small businesses and contribute to their communities. Several graduates of the program have formed cooperatives, pooling their resources and expertise to establish thriving food processing businesses.
Recognizing the importance of empowering young women, Adeyemo implemented a project in the “Northern part of Nigeria in partnership with the NYSC / UNICEF. This initiative provided moral value and life skills training to over 500 girls from grassroots communities in Pampe and Gingrii in Northern Nigeria. The program equipped these young women with the tools to navigate challenging environments, make informed decisions, and become leaders in their communities.
Adeyemo’s expertise in public health is evident in her extensive work training over 7,000 youth corps members on health, HIV, and safer sex practices, this program has played a crucial role in raising awareness and promoting healthy behaviors among young Nigerians.
Adeyemo in collaboration with Life Builders, also tackles the complex issue of small business management in Nigeria. Through workshops and mentorship programs supported by the Bank of Industry, she has guided aspiring entrepreneurs on developing sustainable business models, accessing finance, and navigating the challenges of the Nigerian market. Her practical approach has helped numerous small businesses flourish, creating jobs and stimulating local economies.
Adeyemo worked in collaboration with Life Builders in a project “Farm to Market” initiative, funded by the African Development Bank, introducing new agricultural practices and facilitating market linkages for farmers in rural communities. By connecting farmers directly with consumers and providing training in modern farming techniques, this project has significantly increased agricultural productivity and improved farmers’ incomes.
Adeyemo Olufunke’s unwavering commitment to social development and her innovative approaches are making a tangible difference in the lives of countless Nigerians. She stands as a true inspiration, demonstrating the power of dedication, education, and empowerment to create positive change.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sustained strategic interventions aimed at bolstering foreign reserves, stabilising the naira, and maintaining robust dollar liquidity in the market. As global oil prices surge—fuelled in part by heightened tensions between Israel and Iran—Nigeria finds itself navigating a mix of economic risks and potential windfalls. Brent crude futures for July delivery have spiked by over nine per cent, reaching $75.15 per barrel—the highest level since early February. Analysts note that the apex bank is already capitalising on the oil price rally to deepen recent gains in foreign reserves and strengthen the naira’s stability, writes Assistant Editor COLLINS NWEZE.
Oil prices spiked over the weekend following a major pre-emptive strike by Israel on Iran, raising fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East and potential disruptions to key oil supply routes. Brent crude futures for July delivery jumped more than nine per cent, hitting $75.15 per barrel—the highest since early February. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also surged, climbing to $74 per barrel at its peak, reflecting a 10 per cent gain.
While markets are closely watching the fallout on Iranian oil production, analysts warn that escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz—the world’s most critical oil chokepoint—could spark a sharp and sustained rally in global oil prices. The development carries significant implications for Nigeria, which relies heavily on oil exports for revenue. A sustained rise in crude prices could boost the country’s dollar earnings, improve its foreign exchange reserves, and support greater exchange rate stability.
Already, the outlook for the naira has improved, with oil prices crossing the Federal Government’s 2024 budget benchmark of $75 per barrel for the first time this year. In addition to favourable oil prices, recent structural reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have helped correct long-standing imbalances in the economy. Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.4 per cent in 2024, with Q4 performance reaching 4.6 per cent—the strongest quarterly growth recorded in more than a decade.
Nigeria’s economy is showing signs of steady recovery, with inflation gradually easing and the prices of essential food items like rice and beans beginning to stabilize. Alongside this welcome development, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has recorded a fivefold increase in net foreign reserves, while the Naira exchange rate continues to gain ground after months of volatility. These macroeconomic improvements are the result of deliberate policy actions taken by the apex bank under the leadership of Governor Olayemi Cardoso. Beyond the anticipated boost in oil revenue—especially amid global tensions threatening oil supply—Cardoso is driving a broader strategy aimed at diversifying dollar inflows into the economy.
Informed by China’s export-led growth model, the CBN has advocated for a competitive exchange rate policy that encourages export-driven development. Cardoso has urged Nigerian businesses to adopt export-oriented strategies by tapping into high-potential sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and the creative industries. The emphasis is on adding value—moving from raw material exports to finished goods—thereby boosting foreign exchange earnings and industrial capacity.
To reduce dependence on imports and build local capacity, the CBN is also pushing backward integration across key sectors. Cardoso recently advised telecom companies to begin producing vital components like SIM cards, cables and towers locally. During a meeting in Abuja with Airtel Africa’s Group CEO Sunil Taldar, he explained that such efforts would reduce pressure on foreign exchange, create jobs, and stimulate the real sector. Taldar, in turn, lauded the CBN’s ongoing reforms and reaffirmed Airtel’s commitment to local production and expanding financial inclusion through digital technology. The telecom sector, long reliant on imported equipment, is now seen as ripe for transformation through domestic innovation and manufacturing.
The creative economy is also under the spotlight. Cardoso highlighted its capacity to attract up to $25 billion annually through exports of music, film, crafts, and digital content. He encouraged creatives to leverage digital platforms, global tours, and international collaborations to deepen Nigeria’s export footprint. Market confidence is also rebounding, as foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) return to Nigeria’s FX market, buoyed by improved transparency, stronger fundamentals, and effective CBN interventions. Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), noted that despite global uncertainties, Nigeria is beginning to look like a more attractive destination for capital flight from riskier markets.
However, in Nigeria, there is historically a positive correlation between crude oil prices, GDP growth and stock market performance. “The outlook for the Nigerian stock market is therefore likely to be positive in the current context,” Yusuf said.
He said the surge in crude oil price would impact on Nigeria’s forex earnings, oil being the biggest forex earner for the country. “This development would also positively impact the country’s foreign reserves, ensure better forex liquidity and ultimately the stability of the naira exchange rate.
“The oil sector currently accounts for significant amount of government revenue. An improvement in crude oil price would therefore have a significant impact on government revenue. An improvement in revenue would positively impact fiscal consolidation and hopefully moderate the growth of the fiscal deficit.
“Investments in the oil and gas sector would post better returns if the conflict persists. High oil price is good news for upstream oil and gas investors,” Yusuf said.
Oil revenue target
Also, the possibility of Federal Government achieving N19.5 trillion oil revenue target for the year rose with the soaring prices of crude oil over Middle East crisis. Analysts at Afrinvest West Africa, said that Federal Government’s projected oil revenue of N19.5 trillion will be on track. They highlighted that, based on previous macro commentary, the Federal Government needs to deploy a more prudent framework that prioritises sustainable budget growth.
There is also a high possibility that budget deficits for the year could reduce below N17 trillion, reducing total debt stock. To turn sustain revenue surge, the analysts recommended some measures the FG can take to sustain the improved macroeconomic environment. Firstly, with the increase in revenues and substantial reduction in PMS, Electricity and FX subsidies the FG should be deploying more resources towards critical infrastructure development while also tackling insecurity headlong to support improved productivity in the agrarian communities.
Secondly, the FG needs to prioritise optimising revenue potentials by strategically using the instrumentality of the state to end crude oil theft and boost aggregate output to the target 2.06mbpd level. Also, as recommended by the World Bank reducing the cost A of governance would be pivotal to Nigeria’s revitalisation drives, given the current disturbing level of debt profile.
Understanding telecoms Sector
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the total active telephony subscribers increased by 3.2 per cent month/month to 164.93 million in December 2024. The increase reflects the gradual recovery in the subscriber base following the conclusion of the NIN-SIM linkage program by mobile service providers in September. Analysing the market share by operators, MTN Nigeria led by 51.4 per cent with 84.61 million subscribers, Airtel Nigeria followed with 34.4 per cent (56.62 million subscribers), Globacom with 12.2 per cent (20.14 million subscribers) and 9mobile with 2.0 per cent (3.28 million subscribers). At the same time, the total number of internet subscribers rose by two per cent month/month to 139.28 million in December.
Looking ahead, analysts at Cordros Securities said they expect subscriber base recovery through SIM reactivation initiatives, especially from market leaders – MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) third quarter 2024 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report, the information and communication sector, is made up of telecommunications and information services; publishing; motion picture, sound recording and music production; and broadcasting.
Views from stakeholders
The Executive Secretary of the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbolahan Awonuga, said that aside telecom operators, other key business owners and entrepreneurs can also invest in the local manufacturing of key components in telecoms operations. He said: “We have to look inwards and get Nigerian companies to produce these key components in telecom operations locally. Government also has a role to play, by ensuring that key infrastructure especially power is available. We do not want a situation where locally produced inputs, will become more expensive than imported versions.”
Awonuga said that telecom sector plays key roles in banking services, including enabling digital payments and ensuring security of transactions. He said banking and telecom sectors have more to gain if backward integration thrives in the country adding that government has significant role to play to make the move a success.
Research Head, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Charles Abuede, said the CBN governor’s call was to discourage the importation of foreign services into Nigeria, especially when efforts can be made to develop such services locally. “The high demand for foreign exchange by telecom operators has further pressured the naira due to increased demand for the dollar. However, with adequate infrastructure development and a conducive operating environment facilitated by regulators, these challenges can be mitigated,” he said.
According to Abuede, “given Nigeria’s FX policies, illiquidity in the foreign exchange market, and infrastructure deficits, I think increased investment in the telecom sector would enable operators to embrace backward integration. This would allow them to manufacture key components, such as SIM cards, locally. As a result, production costs could decline—provided the operating environment remains stable. This will improve profit margins and enhance both top-line and bottom-line growth in the long run”.
The CBN under Cardoso has carried out several efforts to improve the functioning of the FX market. This has led to good results with average daily turnover in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market increased by 226 per cent in the first half of last year when compared to the same period in 2023. Foreign portfolio inflows have increased by over 72% during this period, while foreign exchange reserves have risen from $32bn in May 2023 to over $40bn.
This represents the equivalent of eight months’ import cover and marks the highest reserve level in nearly three years. The market has also supported over $9bn in capital outflows over the past year as investors were able to freely repatriate capital and dividends without the need to wait for several months as experienced in the past. These results, Cardoso said, reflect improved confidence in the reforms he embarked on.
“In addition, we witnessed a $6 billion current account surplus in the first half of 2024 as a result of the impact of these reforms. Reduction in petroleum product imports supported by improved domestic refining capacity, a growing focus on non-oil exports and higher remittance inflows helped to support the positive current account balance,” he said.
When the Federal Government unveiled plans for the 700-kilometre Lagos–Calabar coastal highway — stretching across Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states — many Nigerians greeted it with scepticism. The sheer scale of the project made it one of the most ambitious infrastructure undertakings in recent history. In this report, YINKA ADERIBIGBE and NTAKOBONG OTONGARAN assess the progress made so far and the road still ahead.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Nigeria’s recent history, is gradually taking shape along the country’s southern shoreline.
Spanning nine coastal states that include Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, the 700-kilometre highway is being developed under an EPC+F (Engineering, Procurement, Construction plus Financing) model.
Hitech Construction Limited is the principal contractor, with approximately 30 per cent of funding provided by the Federal Government and the rest sourced from private and international financiers.
Its completion, the Federal Government says, will herald a new era of economic opportunity by opening up trade, tourism and logistics across the Atlantic corridor.
The project was officially inaugurated on May 26, 2024, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos. The first 30‑kilometre stretch from Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island to Eleko Village on the Lekki Peninsula was inaugurated between May 26 and 31, 2025. It marked a significant milestone in the administration’s infrastructure push under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In the early morning hush of Victoria Island, President Tinubu stepped forward with purpose, inaugurating what he described as “Nigeria’s most ambitious infrastructure project in decades.” The flag off, attended by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, state governors and senior government officials, was a showcase of optimism. Tinubu hailed the highway as more than a road: “a symbol of hope, unity and prosperity for our people.” He compared its potential impact to international coastal corridors, predicting that it could generate billions in future trade, logistics and tourism.
The same day, President Tinubu also inaugurated complementary expressways linking interior states to the coastal belt. These included the Sokoto–Badagry route and other major corridors designed to support cross-border trade and regional integration.
Hitech’s Project Director, George Clinton highlighted the use of innovative rigid concrete pavement, which offers longer lifespan and reduced maintenance. The road is being built using 11-inch thick concrete slabs, reinforced with 20mm rebar, and laid over a stabilised sub-base to withstand the weight of heavy trucks and high traffic volume, especially crucial for coastal weather conditions and saline environments.
Umahi emphasised that all materials, including cement and steel, would be sourced locally, providing a boost to local industry and employment. Special engineering measures, such as geotextile stabilisation, deep trench sand-filling and pile-supported bridges, were being adopted to navigate swampy terrain and waterlogged soils typical along the Atlantic corridor.
At the inaugural ceremony, the minister projected that the highway would give over 30 million Nigerians better access to economic opportunities, reduce travel time and strengthen national unity by bridging the gap between Southwest and Southsouth communities.
However, the inauguration was not without controversy. Hundreds of buildings were marked for demolition along the path of the road’s right of way. Early estimates suggested more than 750 homes and business premises had already been affected in the Lagos corridor alone. In response, the government pledged a fair compensation programme and encouraged affected parties to see the project’s long-term national value.
By May 31, 2025, the first section of the highway had reached completion and was officially inaugurated. Though only 30 kilometres long, it symbolised the administration’s commitment to pushing forward with the Renewed Hope Agenda, a cornerstone of the Tinubu presidency.
On June 12, 2025, we set out to experience the new highway firsthand, driving from Kilometre Zero with the goal of reaching Kilometre 30. What we encountered was an impressive, yet incomplete corridor, part of it stunning in design and finish, others still mired in construction, waiting to catch up with the vision.
The drive began on a high note. From the Victoria Island entry point, the highway unfolds in clean, wide lanes, a three-lane dual carriageway, expanding to four lanes in some segments. Made of concrete, the road was firm under the tires and smooth to navigate. Streetlights stood neatly spaced. Drainage channels were in place. The Atlantic Ocean sparkled to our right, lending the entire route an almost cinematic charm.
For those first several kilometres, it didn’t just feel like new infrastructure. It felt like the beginning of something transformative. You could imagine one day cruising from Lagos to Calabar without a single pothole or traffic choke point, just the sea breeze and open road.
But progress has its interruptions. Around Jakande, the carriageway bound for Victoria Island was incomplete, stretching as an unpaved strip of dry ground for hundreds of metres. Traffic was diverted to the completed outbound side, with barriers guiding the way.
A bridge, its skeletal frame of rebar and formwork rising across the coastal landscape, stood as a promise of future connectivity but was, for now, impassable. Construction workers in reflective vests moved around the site, guiding machinery and hauling materials as the structure gradually took shape.
In the absence of a completed bridge or full pavement, vehicles, commercial buses, private cars and even trucks were diverted onto a temporary access path carved through the sands. This detour, engineered with layers of compacted laterite and stabilised with periodic grading, had been shaped to allow continued access through the corridor.
Road signs and concrete barriers guided traffic in both directions, but the dust churned by passing tyres lingered in the air like a reminder of how much remained to be done.
At Kilometre 15, the character of the road changed completely. The concrete surface gave way to loose sand. Though activity was limited due to the public holiday, the signs of ongoing work were all around – sand piles, demarcated pathways and sections of reclaimed land waiting for further treatment. The terrain looked tamed but not yet conquered.
Here, a site engineer who identified himself simply as Okey, was supervising the extension of the pavement base, a crucial phase in the construction of the highway’s substructure.
“This area looks calmer, but there’s still a lot of coordination involved. The goal is to meet the target date set by the government. We’re confident we’ll meet it, provided weather conditions remain favourable,” he said.
At this section, construction teams were completing the sub-base and base course layers of the roadway, two essential strata that ensure the longevity and structural integrity of the pavement.
According to Engineer Okey, granular sub-base (GSB) material had been compacted to design thickness, followed by the placement of a cement-stabilised base (CSB), a layer mixed with a calculated percentage of cement to enhance load-bearing capacity and prevent sub-grade failure.
“We’re also installing geotextile layers in select portions to improve soil reinforcement and prevent moisture infiltration from the swampy sub-soil beneath,” he added.
He noted that precision is critical at this stage. “Once the base course is completed and cured, we begin the pavement slab casting using dowel bars and expansion joints in line with standard concrete pavement design. This is what gives the highway its durability under heavy axle loads,” he further explained.
Further along, near the Ogombo area, the road came to an abrupt stop. The surface ended at a swampy expanse a soggy terrain that swallowed all traces of pavement. Here, according to a member of staff, was Kilometre 22, work was still at the earliest phase, according to one of the project engineers involved in the soil excavation efforts.
Dressed in a reflective vest, he explained that sand-filling and soil testing were underway to stabilise the swamp so construction could link up with crews working inward from kilometre 30. It was a demanding stretch, and clearly one of the most challenging parts of the project.
“This terrain is tricky,” said the Engineer (who didn’t want his name in print because he is not authorised to speak on the project), who has been stationed at the Ogombo segment since April.
“But our geotechnical assessments have given us a path forward. We’re laying the groundwork to ensure it meets structural safety standards. We’re on schedule, and the machinery is ready to scale up.”
While the engineers move sand and concrete in pursuit of a national dream, others are trying to rebuild their lives from the dust left behind.
Getting to Jakande area, there is Mrs Helen Alade, who once operated a successful car wash business just off the main road. Her property, like many others, was marked for demolition to make way for the highway. “I lost my shop in March of 2024. It was painful. But I’ve managed to rent a small space further down the street. Business is slow, but we manage,” she said.
Mrs Alade expressed cautious optimism about the project. “It affected me financially. But if this road brings the kind of development they’re talking about, then maybe it was worth the sacrifice.”
Michael Emeka, a trader whose electrical materials shop was dismantled at the start of the project lamented over the loss of his source of livelihood.
“It was my only source of income. I have since moved into a container shop nearby. Business is yet to bounce back, but I believe it will. This road will bring more people and, hopefully, more customers,” he said.
Another displaced business owner, Mama Ngozi, who now sells food out of a makeshift kiosk, told The Nation:
“Before the demolition, I had a proper place. Now I sell by the roadside. It’s tough, but I see that this project is bigger than just us. If it connects Nigeria better, then we just have to endure,” she said.
Their stories echo across the highway’s 30-kilometre stretch. These are stories of loss, adaptation and quiet resilience. Each voice, though scarred by disruption, carried a note of hope. These business owners see not just the bulldozers that took their shops, but the possibilities of a better tomorrow.
At that point, the road ended for now, having reached the edge of what was accessible. The drive home offered time to reflect.
The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is both a feat of engineering and a work in progress. From kilometre 0 to kilometre 15, it inspires confidence; a stretch of road that proves Nigeria can build big and build well. But from Jakande to Ogombo, the reality of ongoing construction and environmental challenge sets in.
Yet, despite the dust and delays, the vision is visible. The road may be incomplete, but it is no longer a dream. Each kilometre paved, each swamp reclaimed, each lane striped is a step toward connecting the country’s coastal spine.
In Jos — the Tin City — hope now rides on four wheels. With the inauguration of 15 brand-new metro buses, Governor Caleb Mutfwang is not just reviving Plateau’s transport system but restoring trust in public service. Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF reports that it’s a bold move signalling renewed momentum and inclusive development
In the ancient city of Jos—cradled by rolling hills and tempered by a climate often likened to the Mediterranean—change is taking shape not just in rhetoric but in real, tangible movement. On Thursday, June 12, 2025, amid warm applause and renewed civic pride, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State inaugurated 15 gleaming new metro buses—an unmistakable symbol of a government in motion and a people rediscovering momentum. With this second rollout, the state’s public transit system now boasts 30 modern vehicles—a milestone many in the “Tin City” consider nothing short of a renaissance for mobility and economic resilience.
For the thousands of residents who traverse the bustling arteries of Jos daily—from Terminus Market to Rayfield, from Bukuru to Angwan Rukuba—this development signals not just an improvement in convenience, but a recalibration of trust. Public transport, long fraught with broken-down buses and unreliable service, is being reimagined as a dignified, affordable and efficient system under the revived Plateau Express Service. It’s a revival that has found its muse in a governor whose philosophy of governance is grounded in access, equity, and infrastructural renewal.
“Plateau Express Service began many years ago and has gone through numerous challenges. But I am proud to say that the last time Plateau Express truly served the people of Plateau was under the last PDP administration. And today, again under a PDP-led government, we are proud to align with the initiatives of Mr. President.
“When Mr. President came into office, he charged governors across the country to do everything possible to alleviate the suffering of the people. We believed one of the key sectors to address the challenges brought by the removal of fuel subsidy was transport. And so, we decided that the best way to bring subsidy directly back to the people was through the transport sector. I’m glad to say that today, we now have a functional transport service within the metropolis, benefiting our people immensely,” he said.
That statement reverberated through the crowd not just as political sentiment, but as a solemn reminder of lost time and wasted opportunity. The Plateau Express Service was once a crown jewel in the state’s public infrastructure ecosystem. But over the years, what began as a noble institution—tasked with making intra-city and intercity travel safer and more affordable—gradually became another relic of neglect. Rust replaced reliability. Now, it is roaring back to life. Mutfwang’s decision to breathe life into the transport system is not isolated. It sits squarely within a broader vision to reposition Plateau State as a model of developmental governance—one where mobility is not a privilege but a public right; where transport is not just about buses, but about access to opportunity.
The governor’s move gains even more gravitas against the backdrop of Nigeria’s recent economic shifts—particularly the fuel subsidy removal that sparked widespread hardship. While debates rage over its long-term merits, there is a consensus that the immediate blow has been deeply felt by ordinary Nigerians. Transport fares surged. Mobility shrank. Families adjusted their routines. In response to President Bola Tinubu’s directive urging state governors to cushion the blow for citizens, Governor Mutfwang’s government chose a strategic, people-first response—reinvest in mass transit.
“We believed one of the key sectors to address the challenges brought by the removal of fuel subsidy was transport,” Mutfwang said. “And so, we decided that the best way to bring subsidy directly back to the people was through the transport sector.” By opting to make transportation more accessible rather than offering mere cash handouts or sporadic relief items, the governor has demonstrated a commitment to sustainable empowerment over temporary appeasement. Each of the 30 buses now navigating Jos roads is a promise kept—and more than that, a visible testimony to a shift in governmental priorities. These aren’t refurbished or second-hand “Tokunbo” vehicles hurriedly imported to meet a deadline. They are brand-new investments, fully funded from the state’s constitutional allocations. Not a single naira came from federal grants or donor agencies.
In a political era where ribbon-cutting ceremonies are often followed by silence or broken systems, the Plateau State government is charting a different path—one where accountability meets ambition. And ambition there is. Governor Mutfwang has already hinted at “Plateau Express 3.0”, a future iteration of the transport vision that will further expand fleet size, routes, and digital ticketing systems. “Institutions don’t just succeed by themselves,” the governor added. “They thrive under clear and patriotic leadership.”
The metro buses may have captured headlines, but they are only one piece of a sprawling developmental puzzle taking shape under Mutfwang’s watch. On the same day the buses were unveiled, the governor also commissioned a new laboratory and paediatric ward at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, an administrative block and a refurbished Joshua Dariye Hall at the Plateau State Polytechnic in Barkin Ladi, and critical roads and bridges in Utonkon and Abattoir areas of Jos. These investments signal a multi-sectoral commitment to rebuilding Plateau’s public service architecture.
Moreover, the administration is undertaking bold steps to revive other state-owned enterprises that once defined Plateau’s economic landscape—Jos International Breweries, Payam Fish Farm, Hill Station Hotel, Plateau Hotel, and ASTC. These are not vanity projects. They are strategic revival points aimed at job creation, skills transfer, and industrial regeneration. One of the most memorable moments during the bus launch came not from a speech or a statistic, but from a seat behind the steering wheel. For the first time in Plateau State history, a female driver officially joined the Plateau Express Service—a subtle yet powerful symbol of inclusivity and empowerment.
Governor Mutfwang beamed with pride as he recalled how, during his tenure as a local government chairman, he ensured three girls joined nine boys for automotive training. Today, that investment has borne fruit—challenging stereotypes and breaking gender barriers in a sector traditionally dominated by men. This is no token gesture. It is part of a broader gender empowerment policy that the governor is implementing through the Plateau Gender Policy and Youth Empowerment Scheme.
Jos is not just any city. Once the glittering capital of Nigeria’s tourism and mining hub, it has endured decades of social unrest, infrastructural decay, and political apathy. Yet, beneath its turbulent history lies a resilient spirit, waiting for the right leadership to awaken it. Governor Mutfwang’s efforts are reviving that spirit. As more buses hit the streets, they carry more than passengers. They carry school children to class, traders to markets, civil servants to offices, and patients to hospitals. They carry mothers with hopes and youth with dreams. In doing so, they carry trust—one trip at a time. It is that restored trust—between government and governed, between institutions and citizens—that may prove to be the greatest achievement of all.
While Plateau State is historically known for its mineral wealth, especially tin, the Mutfwang administration is signalling a shift—from extractive economics to inclusive development. And the transport sector is emerging as the metaphor for that shift: modern, purposeful, and grounded in public good. Already, plans are underway to transform the Jos Airport into an international cargo hub, further integrating the city into global value chains. Conversations with the federal government on reviving and modernising railway infrastructure are also gaining traction. These initiatives, taken together, paint a compelling picture: a government moving from reaction to strategy, from patchwork to progress.
The Plateau State Government has also recently reached a strategic agreement with the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) to establish a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centre and a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Mega Station in Jos—marking a significant step toward modernising the state’s transport infrastructure and promoting cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions. Disclosing this during the presentation of his ministry’s scorecard, the State Commissioner for Transport, Jatau Gyang Davou, revealed that a suitable location has already been identified for a temporary operational site, pending a refurbishment of the facility to meet required standards. According to him, the project represents a major leap in the state’s ambition to align with global trends in energy transition and environmentally friendly transportation.
As part of the broader collaboration, the Ministry of Transport has also concluded discussions with NITT to establish a full-fledged Training and Learning Centre in Jos, with commencement planned for September 2025. The Commissioner emphasized that this initiative stems from the urgent need to build a pool of skilled professionals—including drivers, technicians, and transport managers—who will effectively manage and sustain the state’s growing investments in the transport sector. “The institute will offer a range of professional and academic programs, including short- and long-term certificate courses, National Diplomas (ND), Advanced National Diplomas (AND), Postgraduate Diplomas (PGD), and Master’s degrees in transportation and logistics,” Hon. Davou stated.
Further reinforcing the state’s commitment to energy-efficient transportation, the Commissioner announced that the Ministry has secured approval from Greenville LNG Limited to establish a CNG conversion centre in Jos. This facility is expected to serve not only Plateau State but also neighbouring states across Nigeria’s north-eastern region, positioning Jos as a key player in the country’s transition to alternative fuels. To support this development, the government has approved a five-hectare parcel of land for the commencement of this foreign direct investment. The Commissioner noted that while the Certificate of Occupancy is currently being processed by the Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Town Planning, full project execution is expected to begin within six months.
On the policy front, Davou revealed that Governor Mutfwang has granted official approval for the development of a comprehensive, multimodal transport policy and master plan for Plateau State. The policy document, to be prepared by NITT, will serve as a data-driven, pragmatic framework to guide transport infrastructure planning and development across the state. “When completed, this transport policy and master plan will provide Plateau with a strategic blueprint for inclusive and sustainable mobility,” the Commissioner explained. “It will integrate road, rail, air, and non-motorised transport options, thereby strengthening Plateau State’s status as a regional hub for logistics, trade, and economic growth.”
The initiatives, he added, reflect the administration’s vision to transform Plateau into a modern, efficient, and environmentally responsible transportation landscape—one that empowers local professionals, attracts private investment, and contributes to Nigeria’s broader national development goals.
For a state long battered by infrastructure neglect, the arrival of 30 new buses is more than logistical progress. It is a statement. It is a reintroduction of governance that listens, acts, and delivers. The buses might be painted in colours and logos, but their real hues are those of hope, access, and progress. Governor Mutfwang ended his address with a call for collective responsibility: “We must protect these investments—not for me, not for my administration, but for the benefit of current and future generations.” It is a call worth heeding. Because in the story of a Tin City reclaiming its shine, every citizen has a role. Every street holds potential. And every ride on the Plateau Express is a journey towards the Plateau ideal—rising, thriving, and moving forward.
The Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Olumuyiwa Omotola Odusanya, a Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine and former Provost of the Lagos State University College of Medicine speaks to Kunle Akinrinade on sundry issues including his mid-term achievements, the harmonious industrial atmosphere in the university and the recent dismissal of three academic staff members over sexual harassment of female students. Excerpts:
What was the thought that came to your mind immediately you were appointed as the VC of LASUSTECH?
The first question on my mind was, why me? I asked myself that question because there were many other capable hands. But like Shakespeare said, the world is a mere stage, men and women are just players and they have their entrances and exits.
There were opportunities that had passed me. When the government considers you for an appointment, it is a rare privilege because it was not something that I was expecting. So, it is a call to duty.
Fortunately, it was at a time we were having our induction into the Nigeria Academy of Medicine. So, I spoke with one of my good friends who was the immediate past VC of University of Medical Sciences in Ondo and he gave me a few ideas.
My appointment was an unusual assignment because the polytechnic was just transiting to a university, and that means I had to run two systems at the same time, which was a diarchy. So, I accepted the appointment.
I met people here and I met systems; they were not evil because the polytechnic had been existing for over 40 years and many of the staff members have been working here for over 30 years. But they were used to a culture.
What makes a university is the culture of academic excellence and research that is embedded into the teaching. There is a bit of community service, international ranking and pedigree, and that is what makes a university works. University is about the culture of thinking.
Was there a particular strategy you deployed to administer the new university?
Well, I wrote out a blueprint called IMPACT, and the goal was to make LASUSTECH highly competitive and much sought after world class university. IMPACT comes from six distinct work area, but they are all related. I stands for infrastructure, which is ambiance, the structures, comfort and aesthetics must define the environment as a university and not a glorified secondary school. This university is a huge construction site at the moment. Some of the projects started before I came on board and many others started when I became the VC.
M is for manpower, because the infrastructure alone would not make a good university. In polytechnic, the minimum is a masters degree and you can go on to become a Chief Lecturer without having to earn PhD while for the university, a PhD degree is mandatory for teaching and without it you cannot become a senior lecturer. We don’t have enough manpower to drive the over 270 universities, so it is important that we get it right in our university.
The P stands for productivity and prosperity. If we are productive, we can prosper. For example, we have been able to attract research grant from TETFUND and this not only means work for the beneficiaries but some additional benefits even if it is only water a beneficiary is able to take from the grant. So when there is research and productivity, it would lead to prosperity.
The A stands for academic excellence wherein we begin to peer-review ourselves to be able to compete very well among our peers.
The C stands for catalysts to the Lagos State government agenda. We want the Lagos State to see us as their solution provider, and we have been talking to them in various ways. The agenda espoused by Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State is THEMES+ and education and science are key things in the agenda.
The T stands for Town and Gown relationship in the context of entrepreneurship, and that is what is driving all that we are doing and that is the way we have tried to move the university in the last two years to go in the direction we want.
Gratefully, we are done with both the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes including the part time programmes, and what we are looking at is the remnants in terms of students with carryovers, and by the end of the year we should have been able to dispense with that.
What were the challenges you encountered and how have you been able to resolve them?
Well, there wasn’t enough time to understudy the environment, because the job was well cut out even before the letter came and before I stepped into office. It was like a stranger in a new place. So, how do you decide your vision? But as we started, a few things were clear, and the greatest asset in the system are human beings and the theory of change came into place.
In the mind of the people, you only have to pull down a signboard (of a polytechnic) and raise a new one (university), but it was more than that. There was a culture of resistance and then there was issue of gross understaffing which for a long time was supplemented by adjunct and adhoc staff. There were issues of underfunding which the polytechnic also managed by the reason of its large intake of students, particularly in the external programmes, and the issue of small scale structure like laboratories, office staff and equipment that was non-functional. But what we needed to do is to galvanise the people in the new direction.
The best solution is not the one that you prescribed but one that you get by working with the people. So, we have given ourselves a lot of orientation through workshops and getting positive buy-ins and we can say that this is our own university; this is the university we want and this is how universities are run. So, it is not a question of the Vice Chancellor working alone or acting like a tax master. The VC is not alone. He is only first among equals and he is there to serve the people.
We are gradually building the university. Everybody may not join in the task, but everybody is seeing the benefits now. Some have been Chief Lecturer (in the defunct polytechnic) and they were reduced to Lecturer II. By nature, we are ordinarily title-conscious and except we did what we did, this university would have been dead. Now, our epithet is ”University of Excellence” and that is what we truly want to live up to and everyone right from gatemen and cleaners is an ambassador, and that is what we have been able to do.
What have been your achievements in the last two years?
I keep saying it that we have been blessed with the people I met here. I will not speak evil of them because they are our strength. Some re-orientation and I have consistently presented the state of the university report to the Governing Council. We have been able to establish credible leadership system. We have the Senate with various committees and College Board and we are running a system that is not personal or solely about the VC.
When we talk about a building, it is not only the iron and pillar but also the concrete that may look ordinary that would make it to stand. So these are the things that have helped us to do the things we have done.
In terms of staff welfare, in the last 32 months, we have not owed salaries. I do not think that there is any government agency that pays salary earlier than we do. In addition, the state government in the last three years has asked us to pay some portion of the 13th month salary and I have consistently paid even when I did not collect a kobo from government. Also, we are able to give financial support to people to deal with emerging health issues, and we have register them in the Ilera Eko health insurance scheme for prepaid medical care, and they don’t need to have money in their pocket to access treatment.
Also, we have in place a staff loan system whereby people can take loan for car, furniture and housing, and we have streamlined it to eliminate disorderliness. We have been able to get support for our staff from TETFUND for conference attendance which was stalled for about five years; about 28 of them last year and many more.
We have also been able to get money from government for our academic staff; some of them are outside the country studying, while others are in Nigeria pursuing their PhD. These were opportunities that we had lost but we have brought them back. Beyond that our university examination have gone on smoothly without any disruption of academic session for about six semesters now.
We are also able to approve results on a timely basis and I thank members of Senate and heads of departments because they have worked extraordinarily to achieve this. I praise them for their cooperation and support, because without them, there will be little that I would have been able to do.
Also, our students have been fantastic. Of recent, they won a hackathon contest at Yabatech and won a sum of N2 million grant for themselves. Other students have won laurels for our school and they are well behaved and dedicated students. We expect that by next year, July latest, our pioneer students will graduate, and by February 2027, we will have our maiden convocation.
Beyond that, we have had several workshops to train our staff for efficiency, and we are committing funds to send staff members for training and workshops, among others. We have promoted staff and we have about 28 associate professors at the moment and we are hoping that in another two years we will have full professors in this university.
We have collaboration with two universities in Kumasi, Ghana and one other won a fellowship to the prestigious Massacheauts Institute of Technology MIT, in the United States of America. Right now, one of us has qualified to present a proposal and has gone to Abuja to defend a multimillion proposal. If he wins, it will be a plus for our university.
We have also been able to initiate access to European funding portal and we have been engaging the Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Education and Transportation and how to look for solution for them in carrying out their services and we are succeeding in that. We have also been nurturing students through our career service centre on how to prepare their CV and appear for job interviews.
The icing on the cake is that in two years, we have been able to present our university to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for proper accreditation of courses. We have also grown from 37 programmes to 41. The result of our accreditation is just coming out now. Other professional bodies like Estate Surveyors and Evaluation Board, Insurance, CIBN, COREN, Architecture have come to give our programmes accreditation so that our students can become professionals on graduation.
We are also building a lot of infrastructure; one hostel being built by TETFUND, Student Union Building, 750 auditoriums being built by the state government and three other projects being built by the state government, among others.
We are indeed grateful to God and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for what the state government has done for our university, LASUSTECH.
What are the prospects you figure out?
The same prospects that I see is the same as what the people who started University of Ibadan in 1958 saw; the same prospects that the people who started the Obafemi Awolowo University in 1961 and Ahmadu Bello University in 1962 and University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1960 saw. A university is like a small seed such that when you plant it becomes a giant. It’s a place that we are laying a foundation and when it is strong it is almost forever. Foundational work is usually difficult but it is what determines the DNA and culture of a place.
I am hopeful that LASUSTECH will become a university that we will be having inventors, entrepreneurs and topnotch researchers and people that will become renowned in their various fields. So the potential of LASUSTECH is huge. I see growth in numbers, in productivity, in research, creating new products and new services; a happy holistic and integrated university of international repute; that is the direction LASUSTECH is going.
What have you done to encourage industrial harmony in LASUSTECH?
Well, let me start with the students. They are young people and we have driven our admission more by merit. We have involved our departments in selection process. What I did the first time was to involve the departments by telling them this is your list, pick the first 30 per cent on merit, pick them on merit. So, it wasn’t one Head of Department (HOD) that sat down to admit students.
Secondly, being a young university and considering their young age, we have consistently set before them goals and it will take some time for them to be developed into full blown student union politics, because we are not yet at that point. Hence, we have been able to isolate them from the polytechnic students in some measures. At the moment is the Students Representative Council comprising Class Captains of Heads of Class (HOC) and there are guidelines for their activities.
The other thing is that change is difficult to manage. But the Lagos State Government has been magnanimous to us such that even when staff members were re-designated, their salary remained the same and that has helped. Also, we have tried to restore staff members to their positions either by way of restoration or re-designation or promotion. For example, all the Deputy Registrars were re-designated as Principal Assistant Registrars, and within one year, we restored them back as Deputy Registrars without writing promotion examinations.
No human system is perfect, but as you solve problems people will let go of their grievances. However, if you run a system that is transparent and credible, most people will flow with it. So all the things that we have done in terms of welfare has helped us to maintain academic and industrial harmony at LASUSTECH.
Recently, some lecturers and academic staff in your school were dismissed for sexual harassment of students. Can you share with us what led to their dismissal and how you have been handling the backlash?
In a university, nothing is personal. In fact, if you write me a letter and put my name first before my office (VC) I may not treat the letter because my personality is distinct from the office of the Vice Chancellor. Already, we have a sexual harassment policy not knowing that the day we would need it would come. Sexual harassment is a misconduct that is enshrined in the condition of service.
Now, one day, I got a phone call that female students were planning a protest over sexual harassment by some members of staff. So, I called all the Deans and Heads of Departments to a meeting to step up their game. Due process was followed in handling this matter. The rules are clear that until proven guilty, they remain allegations and the processes were complied with.
First, the victims wrote us letters complaining. So it wasn’t just hearsay. The next stage is to allow those accused to respond to the allegations, and the Registrar would then issue them a query detailing the allegations against them. There are procedures on how to deal with it, and based on their response, if it is something that is minor it could attract a warning or admonition. But if it is something grievous, it would be subjected to what is called Staff Investigative Panel. The Vice Chancellor will appoint three representatives into the panel and each of the four workers union in the university will have one representative each in the panel.
So, the university community is well represented in the panel and the only thing remaining is for those accused to convince their group (unions) in the panel that they are innocent or not guilty of the allegations. The role of the VC is to serve as the gatekeeper and he doesn’t interfere with the panel’s proceedings.
The next stage is for the Staff Disciplinary Council which the law of the university covered and in this case the accused staff members were given the opportunity to present their cases or defend themselves. In turn, the Staff Disciplinary Council will present the report of its findings to the Governing Council, and it is the Governing Council, not the Vice Chancellor, that will decide whether the accused staff members have a case to answer or not and to apply appropriate disciplinary actions as contained in the condition of service which every member of staff has.
Of the three staff members, some were said to be involved in chronic sexual harassment while the third person was new. At the end, the Governing Council applied the maximum punishment of dismissal on the three staff members.
It is not a thing of pride to us, but we have a name and students to protect. How will a mother or a father be afraid to send their children to the university in this kind of situation? So, the university had no option but to say that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour.
Now, there have been all sorts of reactions and the backlash has been the insinuation that the affected staff members were being victimised. But the accusation or allegation is not a random thing. But you know we don’t have culture of easy admittance in Nigeria. However, our rules allow for appeal and the affected staff members have since appealed to the Governing Council and an Appeals Committee has been set up to look into the matter and whatever the committee would do has nothing to do with my office.
So, we are managing the backlash very well. No one is being victimised but the facts of the matter speak for themselves.
Tobacco companies flood shopping malls, online with products, deceive youths with sweet flavours
Nigeria silent as 110 countries take action
Nigeria stands at risk of massive health crisis as her youths are fast adopting vaping as a status symbol. Vaping is the act of inhaling an aerosol created by an electronic cigarette or vape. It is usually advertised by manufacturers as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. Experts are of the view that vaping could damage the lung and the heart, among other other serious health challenges. With the revenue generated in the e-cigarettes market projected to reach US$181.4m in Nigeria this year, according to Statista, the revenue could get bigger in years to come. But the bigger it gets, the bigger the health crisis the country may have to grapple with, INNOCENT DURU reports.
Michael, a 17-year-old boy, takes pleasure in vaping; a habit he started indulging in after gaining admission into a higher institution of learning.
“I learnt vaping from my friends,” he said.
“They told me it is not the same thing as smoking whose offensive smell gives you out easily and make people to stigmatise you.
“Peer pressure and conviction made me to buy into vaping and I feel good with it.”
Like Michael, Emeka also started vaping through peer influence.
He said: “I knew about it through my friends. You can’t roll with them if you don’t vape. I tried and found it is not bad after all.
“It is not what the regular street boys indulge in, and that is why I like it. It is classy as far as I am concerned.”
For Seun, the influence of social media was what led him into vaping.
He said: “I saw people vaping online and I decided to experiment with it.
“When I did, I liked the feeling I got and there has been no going back on it since then.
“Many guys who see it always crave to have a taste of it.
“Some have made it a habit while some others, especially those who don’t have money to buy, wait till they get free vaping from me or others.”
The story is the same with Mike, who said: “I like vaping because you can do it without your parents knowing about it, and, in fact, it is not the same thing as cigarette.
“Vaping is not smoking. You can read it up online. The good thing is that it is not illegal, at least here in Nigeria.
“The flavour in vaping will make you crave for more.
Above named respondents and other young people, according to findings, have unfettered access to e-cigarettes because they are sold offline and online without restrictions.
The products are recklessly displayed and advertised online. All a buyer needs to do on some online sales platforms is to click yes on a box where it is asked whether the prospective buyer is above 18 years.
Statista, a German online platform that specialises in data gathering and visualization, said the e-cigarette market in Nigeria is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing popularity of vaping among the younger population.
The organisation noted that the per person revenue in the e-cigarette market this year is estimated at US$1.08. considering the country’s total population figures.
A World Health Organisation report had observed that the promotion of e-cigarettes has led to marked increase in the use of e-cigarettes by children and adolescents, with rates exceeding adult use in many countries.
“Further, to date, the commercialization (sale, importation, distribution or manufacture) of e-cigarettes as consumer products has not been proven to have had a net benefit for public health. Instead, alarming evidence on their adverse population health effects is mounting.”
Prices of e-cigarettes in Nigeria
Checks showed that e-cigarette prices in Nigeria vary greatly, ranging from around ₦15,000 to ₦30,000 or more, depending on the type, features and brand. Disposable vapes can cost anywhere from ₦9,968.97 to ₦16,626.05, while rechargeable starter kits with multiple pods can range from ₦16,000 to ₦30,000.
E-cigarettes come in various shapes and sizes. Some look like other commercial tobacco products like cigarettes and cigars. Some of the rechargeable e-cigarettes that are most popular with youth look like USB drives, pens and other everyday objects. Mods and tanks are often bulkier than the other types and are more customizable.
“These devices are creating a new generation of smokers with serious health problems. E-cigarettes are not safe for youth or adults,” Quittobacco SD said in a post.
Many lies about vaping
Exposing many lies used to lure people, especially the young ones into vaping, Dr Egemba Chinonso Fidelis, popularly known as Aproko Doctor said in a video: “I know you’ve heard stuff like ‘vaping is a safer alternative to smoking conventional cigarettes; it’s just flavouring, without all the cancer, etc, etc’.
“But the truth is that vaping exposes you to long-damaging chemicals and can lead to severe health problems like lung irritation, lung scarry, high BP and addiction.”
The first lie, he said, is the claim that vaping is just water.
“It’s not just water; it is aerosol. Aerosol has a lot of negative implications.
“You won’t likely see me advertise for vape cigarette. When you puff vape cigarette, there’s a heat that heats up a liquid and produces an aerosol that is ingested.
“This liquid is often derived from tobacco and contains nicotine, which is a highly addictive chemical.
“Look, even vape cigarettes that claim to be nicotine-free have been found to contain at least small amounts of nicotine.
“And since nicotine is highly addictive, it poses a serious threat to adults and teenagers with developing bodies and brains.”
Another lie that unsuspecting users will probably hear, according to Aproko Doctor, “is that vaping is safer than cigarette. The people trying to sell vaping to you will tell you that vaping cigarette is a healthier alternative to tobacco.
“While vaping does not necessarily contain the mixture of 7,000 chemicals found in a regular cigarette, it contains more than half of these harmful chemicals, which is far from safe.
“Chemicals like ultrafine particles or nanoscale-sized particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs.
“Number two, diacetyl, which is a flavoring chemical linked to lung disease.
“Number three, chemicals of heavy metals such as nicotine and lead, which can cause cancer.
“Number four, propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin, which is considered non-toxic only when eaten. But when you inhale it, it can cause severe lung damage, asthma and cancer.”
Continuing, he said: “A very popular lie about vaping is that it has no health risks. Come off it.
“Vape cigarettes have their own unique potential health risks because there are organs in the body that might be immune to the effects of cigarette smoke but can potentially be harmed by the vape cigarette aerosol.
“For example, the aerosols in vape contain propylene glycol, which is now metabolised, broken down by the liver into propionaldehyde, which is actually related to formaldehyde.
“This colourless, strong-smelling chemical can cause irritation of the skin, your eyes, your nose and your throat.
“When propionaldehyde accumulates in the body, it increases the potential for liver damage.
“This chemical also accumulates in the retina. Yes, your eye, at the back of it.
“So there’s potential for retinal damage because many vape cigarette products are not as natural and healthy as they claim to be.”
Concluding, he said: “The last lie but definitely not the least is that vaping won’t make you smoke.
“Look, the people who vape are more likely to start regular smoking cigarettes, and they are more likely to develop other addictions in the future because research is showing that 30% of vape cigarette users began smoking within six months.
“And what is even more troubling is the fact that the numbers are increasing. You know what I mean?
“So instead of being a method for people to quit smoking, it seems to be a gateway to actually start smoking.
“So, don’t be deceived by these lies that lead you to vaping; it’s extremely dangerous.
“I highly will not recommend it. Don’t join them.
“And for you giving it a thought, I mean the most effective way to stop vaping is to never start vaping.”
How vaping works
Cleveland Clinic, in a post on its website, said “vaping works by heating liquid in a small device so you can breathe it into your lungs.
“The e-cigarette, vape pen or other vaping devices heats the liquid in the device to create an aerosol.
“This isn’t water vapour. Mist from e-cigarettes contains particles of nicotine, flavoring and other substances suspended in air.
“You breathe these particles into your mouth from the mouthpiece, where they go down your throat and into your lungs.”
Cleveland Clinic went on to explain that an “electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is a device that heats up the liquid nicotine and flavoring for you to breathe in.
“There are many varieties of e-cigarettes that go by different names, including vapes, vape pens or sticks, e-hookahs, hookah sticks, mods and personal vaporizers (Pvs).
“They can also be collectively called electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).”
Dangers of vaping
The dangers of vaping, according to Cleveland Clinic, include lung and other organ damage, breathing problems, addiction and more.
“People tend to think of vaping as “safer” than smoking, but it’s not safe,” it said.
Enumerating the problems vaping causes, Cleveland Clinic said “vaping can make you more likely to get asthma and other lung conditions. It can make your existing asthma worse.
“Diacetyl, a chemical used in some flavorings, can cause bronchiolitis obliterans (“popcorn lung”). Bronchiolitis obliterans causes permanent scarring in your lungs.
“In addition to your lungs, nicotine and other substances in e-liquid can hurt your heart and brain. We know nicotine can hurt brain development, raise your blood pressure and narrow your arteries.”
Continuing, it said: “EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury). is a serious lung condition that vaping causes. It causes widespread damage to your lungs and gives you symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain. EVALI can be fatal.
“ Nicotine is highly addictive. It causes changes in your brain so you want more and more nicotine. You might not be able to stop vaping if you want to or if it starts causing health problems. Even e-liquids that say they’re nicotine free have small amounts of nicotine.”
Like Aproko Doctor, Cleveland Clinic noted that many people start out vaping and end up smoking cigarettes, which contain higher amounts of harmful chemicals.
“Vaping doesn’t make smoke, but people around you are exposed to nicotine and other chemicals when you vape. There have been incidents of batteries in vaping devices exploding and causing serious injuries and burns.Some ingredients in e-liquids are known to cause cancer.”
Nigeria looks on as 37 countries ban e-cigarettes
Following the health risks posed by e-cigarettes, many countries across the globe have banned the sale and distribution in the land. Incidentally, Nigeria is one of the countries that have allowed the promotion and use of e-cigarettes with impunity.
Analysis on sale of e-cigarettes in Nigeria by Tobacco Control Laws (US) showed the sale of e-cigarettes is not regulated “therefore, the sale of e-cigarettes is allowed. There is no law addressing the use of e-cigarettes in indoor public places, workplaces, and public transport; therefore, the use of e-cigarettes is allowed.”
Regrettably, it noted that: “There is no law addressing nicotine concentration levels in e-cigarettes; therefore, there is no prescribed maximum nicotine concentration.”
Findings showed that the best that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had done was to alert Nigerians on the dangers of e-cigarettes.
About six years ago, NAFDAC’s Director- General, Moji Adeyeye, in a statement said that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that there were risks involved with the use of e-cigarettes.
She advised Nigerians who used it to desist, adding that users of the product stood the risk of having convulsion.
“NAFDAC has been informed by U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the risks involved with the use of e-cigarette,” she said.
“Most users of e-cigarettes have experienced seizures, with most reports involving youth or young adult users.
“Seizures or convulsions are known potential side effects of nicotine toxicity and have been reported in the scientific literature in relation to intentional or accidental swallowing of e-liquid.’’
She also advised healthcare providers to investigate the use of e-cigarette by their patients, especially those with seizure.
“Ask patients about e-cigarette use (e.g. vaping), particularly when providing care following a seizure, ask for the particulars of the brand, duration and nature of the use,” said the NAFDAC DG.
“Consider testing cotinine levels, a nicotine metabolite, in addition to the typical urine toxicology screening tests.
“Healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the nearest NAFDAC office.’
Beyong raising the alarm over the menace of vaping and e-cigarettes, about 37 countries, according WHO’s report, have banned e-cigarettes.
The report said: “The sale/distribution of e-cigarettes is banned in the following thirty-seven (37) countries: Antigua and Barbuda*, Argentina, Australia, Bhutan*, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, India, Iran, Japan**, N. Korea*, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Qatar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syria, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela, Palestine.”
Apart from outright ban, the report showed that 73 countries have placed strong restrictions on the sale.
“In seventy-three (73) countries that permit the sale of e-cigarettes, there are regulations around sale such as cross-border sale restrictions/regulations, restrictions in venues where they can be sold, access restrictions, or other restrictions.
“Of the seventy-three (73) countries allowing the sale of e-cigarettes, at least thirty-six (36) are known to regulate the amount (concentration/volume) of nicotine in e-liquids. In the EU, the threshold concentration is 20mg/ml “AND” do not permit the use of ingredients (other than nicotine) that pose a risk to human health in heated or unheated form in nicotine-containing e-liquid.”
How e-cigarettes idea was conceived
Narrating how the idea of e-cigarettes was conceived during a webinar on ‘World No Tobacco Day 2025’ attended by our correspondent, Prof. Catherine Egbe of the School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa, expressed concerns that the tobacco industry has continued to reinvent the addiction that they put young people through. “Philip Morris started making attempts to find out how to make an electronic cigarette. This was done in the 1990s.But the current e-cigarette is accredited to a pharmacist called Hon Lik, who is a Chinese. His father died of lung cancer. And he said, okay, he’s trying to look for something safer so that he, too, will not die because he’s a smoker.”
Unfortunately, the Prof said Hon Link is now a dual smoker. “As at the time of this report, he was using both the invention he had he made, as well as cigarettes. And we all know, dual use is more dangerous than using either product.”
Explaining the difference between e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes, she said: the e-cigarette, which contains over 7,000 chemicals.70 of them are known to be carcinogenic. That is, they are cancer-causing, documented cancer-causing substances. 250 of them are known to be harmful.It’s usually heated between 600 to 900 degrees celsius. I am emphasizing the heat because in the process of the heating, more substances are produced because, of course, chemical reactions take place. Now, we get to hookah, which has now become popular.It used to be more common in the Arab nation, but now has become a global trend. It’s also heated between 650 to 750 degrees Celsius. It contains nicotine, tar, tobacco as well, and some of these chemicals that we have mentioned for cigarettes.
“Then we have the newer products, the heated tobacco product and the e-cigarette. And you hear the industry say, no, this is not heated, it’s heat not burn. We don’t use the word heat not burn because we know that that is to evade regulations. Remember, the application of heat will also lead to the formation of new substances.
“And so even though it’s 350 degrees Celsius, there are certain chemicals that will still be formed. It also contains nicotine, also contains tar. The e-cigarette, it is not a tobacco product per se, but sometimes they use nicotine derived from tobacco.”
She emphasise that tobacco companies sometimes use nicotine derived from the labs, but “it’s also a nicotine product. And sometimes they have products that they say do not contain nicotine. I use what they say because studies have shown that some of the products that they say do not contain nicotine, when they were taken to the lab, they contained nicotine.
“This is kind of the many phases of addiction that is happening. Right from the old traditional ones, even to the new ones, it’s the same story. The common denominator is nicotine, which is an addictive drug that some people have placed at the same level as cocaine.”
She noted that when the e-cigarettes were being brought to South Africa, “the department of health seized the consignment because the law does not define what e-cigarettes are. But the industry went to court and they said that they do not intend to market these products as cessation products, that they are just products for use as luxury, like you have with cigarettes.
“But now, what is happening? The government has decided to put together a bill, which is going through the legislative process to become law, and the industry is fighting it. And on their website, the e-cigarette industry is collecting information to say that, oh, tell us if you have used it to quit. And we have asked them, if you know that this is a quit-smoking thing, take it to the authorities. Why don’t you take it to the authorities and get clearance, so that it can be regarded as a drug for quitting? But no, they don’t want to do that. And by the way, we have done studies in South Africa that have shown that e-cigarettes do not help people to quit for good.It may help them, maybe in the short term. After a while, they return back to cigarettes, or they start smoking both. These are also some of the new products that are in the market, nicotine pouches, nicotine gumies.
If you look at that consignment there, you see different products. And sometimes you may think they are toys. They are not toys.
They are all the different phases of addiction that is currently put out to entice young people to smoke.”
