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  • Demolition threats spark disputes, legal battles in Ogun

    Demolition threats spark disputes, legal battles in Ogun

    In late 2024 and early 2025, the Ogun State Government launched an ambitious urban renewal drive to transform major towns into modern, smart cities through infrastructure upgrades and housing projects in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, Sagamu GRA, and Ijebu-Ode GRA. However, what was intended to beautify and modernise the state has sparked tensions, as legal disputes and accusations of political targeting now threaten to overshadow the government’s developmental intentions, reports ERNEST NWOKOLO.

    In its drive to transform Ogun State into a modern, sustainable and smart region, the Dapo Abiodun-led administration has embarked on significant urban renewal efforts. These initiatives are being delivered through widespread infrastructure upgrades, new housing projects and improved connectivity. Between late 2024 and early 2025, the government launched a major push to modernise key towns across the state. This transformation effort includes upgrading infrastructure, developing new residential estates, and revitalising existing ones—particularly in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta; Sagamu GRA; and Ijebu-Ode GRA.

    Historically, the Ibara GRA estate has been a strategic residential hub in Abeokuta, providing accommodation for civil servants since Ogun State’s creation in 1976. However, over the years, the area became underutilised and lost much of its value—prompting its inclusion in the government’s urban regeneration scheme. The renewal efforts are also set to extend to Ilaro and Ota, located in the Ogun West Senatorial District, as part of a broader agenda to create urban environments that foster sustainable development, attract investments, generate jobs, boost economic activity, and enhance the visual appeal of major towns and cities.

    A key part of the initiative involves auditing existing developments to verify permit compliance across all types of properties, including homes, schools, hospitals, and commercial buildings. Recognising that meaningful progress cannot be achieved without reforming land and property administration, the government enacted a new law in 2022 and introduced technology to streamline operations in that sector. This includes the digitalisation of land records and civil service functions. One of the major innovations supporting this transformation is the Ogun Land Administration and Management System (OLARMS). Initially deployed to process 2,000 cases under the Property Registration Programme (PRP), OLARMS has enabled the issuance of over 15,000 Certificates of Occupancy. This digital system has significantly improved decision-making, planning, and service delivery—laying the foundation for a comprehensive and impactful urban renewal across Ogun State.

    According to the Special Adviser to Governor Abiodun on Lands, Princess Oyindamola Oyelese, the Ogun State Government remains committed to fully digitising land title documentation. The aim, she explained, is to enhance transparency and efficiency in land administration—ultimately improving the quality of life for residents. However, the initiative has not been without controversy. In some parts of the state, it has sparked opposition and, at times, brought the government into direct conflict with citizens.

    One notable flashpoint emerged in Egba, where some indigenes opposed the demolition of parts of the Ibara GRA housing estate and the subsequent sale of the land as part of the urban regeneration scheme. In March 2025, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and its leadership—including Chairman Otunba Olufemi Soluade, State Secretary Comrade Samson Okunsanya, and Alhaji Moshood Adesina—filed a motion ex parte at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta. The suit (marked FHC/AB/CS/43/2025) named several high-ranking officials as defendants: the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Abiodun; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; the Commissioners for Housing, Works, and Finance. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) were also listed as defendants.

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    The motion, dated March 21, 2025, was filed by Prof. Yemi Oke (SAN) of MJS Partners, a firm of legal practitioners and consultants. The plaintiffs sought nine reliefs, chiefly concerning the disclosure of the identities and details of allottees in various Ogun State land and housing schemes across its three senatorial districts. Specifically, they asked the court to issue a Mandamus Order compelling the governor and the other listed officials to provide names, payment details, and other documentation related to allocations under the GRA Regeneration Scheme in Abeokuta, the Idi-Aba Housing Scheme, and the Igbeba Housing Scheme in Ijebu-Ode, among others. The plaintiffs argued that they required the particulars of the allottees and evidence of payment for the contested properties in order to transmit them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for verification. This, they stated, was in line with Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.

    While the legal proceedings remain unresolved, tensions have continued to rise—particularly in Egba land—where some local chiefs recently voiced strong objections over the proposed use of a portion of land they claim was originally donated by their forebears to the technical college in Idi-Aba. According to these chiefs, the state government plans to annex part of that land for its Idi-Aba Housing Scheme under the broader urban renewal initiative. They have since appealed to Governor Abiodun to intervene and halt the move immediately.

    However, what has stirred even greater public concern is the manner in which the Abiodun-led administration is implementing the urban renewal programme, especially following two high-profile cases that have drawn significant attention. First, a “Notice of Default” was recently served on the Ode Remo property of Oladipupo Adebutu, a former federal lawmaker and the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State. The notice demanded the payment of over N72 million in amenities charges—an amount many have described as excessive, especially for a property located in the relatively rural Ode Remo, far removed from high-value real estate areas like Lekki in Lagos or central Abuja.

    The notice, marked Notice Number: 17000062, reads: “Please, be informed that this property is in default of payment of Land Use Amenities Charge which is valued at N72,867,004.15. Failure to make payment within the next seven (7) days will make the property liable to enforcement. N.B. – Removal of this notice is an offence against the state, which attracts stiff sanctions. Signed: Ogun State Ministry of Finance.”

    In a second case, the state government issued a demolition notice targeting the Aseludero Court—the private residence of former Governor Gbenga Daniel, along with his Conference Hotels and its annex, all situated within the Sagamu GRA. These actions have added fuel to the debate over whether the urban renewal scheme is being executed in good faith—or being selectively enforced for political reasons. Together, these controversies have raised questions about transparency, fairness, and public interest in the urban renewal efforts, suggesting that the government may need to adopt a more inclusive and consultative approach going forward.

    Adebutu rejects amenities charge, alleges harassment and contempt of court

    But Adebutu has strongly rejected the recent N72 million amenities charge imposed on his property in Ode Remo, describing it as a ploy to harass and silence him politically. He argued that the notice undermines ongoing court proceedings and violates judicial due process. Through Afolabi Orekoya, Director of Media and Publicity for the Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation, he revealed that the matter has been in court since 2018 and is currently the subject of two separate suits before the Ogun State High Court sitting in Sagamu. The cases—HCS/275/2018 and HCS/409/2024—are against the Ogun State Ministry of Finance and the Land Use and Amenities Charge Committee, with the next hearing scheduled for October 8, 2025.

    Adebutu contended that it amounts to contempt of court for the Abiodun-led administration to attempt enforcement while the issue remains sub judice. He further argued that the Ministry of Finance lacks the legal authority to impose such charges without a proper assessment in accordance with Ogun State’s Land Use and Amenities Charge Law. The notice, he insisted, was issued without due process, hence the ongoing legal challenge. He stated: “The attention of the Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation has been drawn to a Notice of Default posted on one of Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s properties, which is located at Ode Remo in Remo North Local Government Area by Ogun State Ministry of Finance under the watch of Governor Dapo Abiodun, undermining the court process on the same matter.

    ”We state categorically that this action is nothing but a ploy by the government to silence and harass the opposition in Ogun State. This latest move is a clear misuse of state power to intimidate the opposition, particularly Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, and a distraction from the administration’s failure to deliver good governance to the people.

    “For the record, the matter of land use and amenity charge on the said property has been before the High Court of Justice, Sagamu since 2018 and currently the subject of two separate suits quoted below: N1.HCS/275/2018–Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu vs. Land Use and Amenities Charge Committee, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Abeokuta, coming up on October 8, 2025;  N2.HCS/409/2024–Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu vs. Land Use and Amenities Charge Committee, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Abeokuta, is still pending without a date fixed.

    ”It is, therefore, laughable and contemptuous of the judiciary for the government and its agents to attempt to enforce charges that are already being contested in competent courts of law. We must remind the public that, by law, the Ministry of Finance cannot unilaterally impose land use charges without proper assessment of the property in line with the Land Use and Amenities Charge laws of Ogun State. In this particular case, the so-called notice was merely posted on the property without due process, hence the ongoing litigation.

    ”The Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation condemns this reckless abuse of power and calls on Governor Abiodun’s government to stop weaponising government agencies against perceived political opponents. Ogun State would be better served if the same energy was channeled into providing quality governance, infrastructure and real service to the people.”

    Daniel alleges political targeting over demolition threats in Sagamu

    Earlier, on August 9, a similar controversy had erupted in Sagamu as former Governor Daniel accused the Ogun State Government of targeting him with demolition threats. Daniel claimed that notices were issued on his private residence and Conference Hotel, sparking a row between him and Governor Dapo Abiodun. He argued that the administration lacked the moral authority to issue such notices while exempting Abiodun’s own private residence in Iperu, which, he alleged, also violates planning laws by lacking a setback along the Iperu-Ode Remo federal road.

    The state government, however, defended its actions, stating that enforcement of physical planning laws applies to all developments, regardless of when they were constructed, and that the aim is to uphold public interest—not victimise individuals. Daniel questioned the timing, pointing out that Aseludero Court Hall, now allegedly in violation, was the venue where he publicly endorsed Abiodun in 2019. He asked why it only became a concern six years later. According to official notices, the Sagamu properties lacked building permits and proper setbacks.

    Daniel, through his spokesperson Steve Oliyide, warned that the governor’s actions—if perceived as politically motivated—could spark unrest, urging caution to prevent chaos in the state. “Does his house in Iperu that faces Iperu-Ode-Isara Road has approved setback? That house should be demolished. If the administration had not pasted any notice of contravention on his property, it does not have the moral right to demolish any property in the state,” he said. And consolidating his position further, through a statement, noted that the action was not an isolated incident, said the act followed a similar pattern of illegal demolitions allegedly carried out by Abiodun’s administration, citing demolition of DATKEM Plaza Ijebu Ode, a property belonging to his wife, Yeye Olufunke Daniel in the midnight of September, 2023 by thugs believed to be working on the orders of the governor.

     He stated: “We strongly condemn this latest act of political persecution by Governor Dapo Abiodun, as evidenced by the recent issuance of these Notices which were dated August 8, 2025, as a clear demonstration of the governor’s malicious and vindictive abuse of power, hiding behind a newly-enacted law retroactively to target a political opponent. The documents concerning these properties cite ‘suspected’ offences related to construction without adequate permits (which is laughable). This is a ludicrous and flimsy excuse, as the properties in question have been in existence for many years.

    “For instance, the Asoludero Court was built in 2004, while the Conference Hotel Sagamu was built in 2013, and the Annexe since 2015. The governor’s administration is now attempting to use the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022 to demolish buildings that were legally constructed long before the law was even in existence. This action is not only politically motivated but also a blatant disregard for due process and the rule of law. The Notices in themselves are clear breaches of procedures which allow adequate time intervals between Notifications on contraventions, Quits and the penalties. If indeed there was any, is not a demolition or a threat of it.

    “Governor Abiodun’s administration has completely bypassed this procedure, issuing a “Notice of Contravention” and a “Notice to Quit” simultaneously, with an immediate threat of demolition. This is not a legal process; it is a thuggish tactic designed to intimidate and inflict damage.

    ”It is worth noting that this is not an isolated incident. This latest act of persecution follows a similar pattern of illegal demolitions carried out by Governor Abiodun’s administration. We recall with disgust the illegal demolition of DATKEM Plaza Ijebu Ode, a property belonging to the wife of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Yeye Olufunke Daniel in the midnight of September, 2023 by thugs believed to be working on the orders of the governor, as no government agent will be sent on such assignment at ungodly hours of the night, even on a weekend on equally flimsy excuses. The matter is currently in court, and the state has already lost several applications at the Ogun State High Court and another at the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, a clear indication that their actions lack legal merit.

    ”Governor Dapo Abiodun is taking political vindictiveness to a shameful and dangerous level, without any regard for extant laws or common decency. We call on all well-meaning citizens, human rights organisations and legal bodies to stand with us in condemning this egregious abuse of power. We will not be silent in the face of this injustice and will use all legal means at our disposal to ensure that Governor Abiodun is held accountable for his lawless actions.”

    Ogun State Government defends its actions

    Responding through the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPL Tunji Odunlami, the government stated that the goal of physical planning laws and regulations is to aid urban development and control land use in the public interest. Clarifying this before newsmen recently, Odunlami noted that the goal of the ongoing exercise in Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode local government areas is not to victimise any law-abiding citizens but to ensure that development laws are obeyed.

    He justified it by saying the step is aimed at verifying the permit status of all types of developments, including houses, schools, hospitals and other commercial buildings. Odunlami said that Daniel and other property owners who were served due notices to approach the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority, an agency of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, to present relevant documents in conformity with existing building laws and regulations. “It is pertinent to note that this is a daily routine and ongoing activity of this agency and is devoid of witch-hunting and, therefore, not designed to harm the interests of any individual. It is a simple and transparent approach that is known and adopted worldwide, including in most states in Nigeria. What we are currently doing is no exception.

    “This exercise has been done in Abeokuta and is now extended to Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode, where there is no fuss except this one. It is also going to be carried out in Ota and Ilaro, where we also have GRAs,” he said.

    He harped on the need for the owner of any building served with the notice to approach the office that issued it and present their permit and other documents for verification. “As we speak, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has yet to do so or make any representation to that effect. That is why whenever OGSG issues enforcement notices, genuine developers respond through the proper channels by justifying their developments or seeking plan adjustments and ratifications,” he said.

    TPL Odunlami affirmed that the state government has a standing mandate to enforce its physical planning laws and does so every day across the state, considering only the law and public good. The identity of developers, the commissioner maintained, does not feature in its considerations, adding that the current enforcement notices issued are not different, as they form only a small part of several enforcement notices issued this month. “While OGSG does not concede the stated ages or stages of these developments, the law is clear – the State Physical Planning Law and all regulations under it are enforceable at any time and for all time on all developments in the state, including developments that preceded the law,” he said.

    Highlighting the content of the law, the commissioner said: “Section 73 of the State’s Physical Planning Law provides that an enforcement notice may be issued under sub-section (I) of this Section, notwithstanding that the unauthorised development, renovation, alteration, repair, addition or violation took place before the commencement of this Law.”

    Court halts planned demolition of Gbenga Daniel’s property

    The legal battle over property demolitions in Ogun State has intensified, with the Ogun State High Court in Sagamu granting interim ex parte orders restraining the state government from tampering with the properties of Senator Daniel and his wife, Yeye Olufunke Daniel. In suit HCS/371/2025, Justice O.S. Oloyede granted the order following quit notices and demolition threats pasted on their Aseludero Court residence in Sagamu GRA on August 8. The respondents include Governor Abiodun, the Attorney-General, the Planning and Development Permit Authority, and the Commissioner for Physical Planning.

    A Certified True Copy (CTC) dated August 12, 2025, and signed by Principal Registrar W.T. Ogundele, restrains the state and its agents from demolishing, trespassing, or disturbing the Daniels’ possession of the property, which is backed by valid Certificates of Occupancy dated 2005 and 2010. Similarly, in suit HCS/372/2025, two corporate entities—Conference Hotel Limited and Blue Chapel Limited, in which Daniel has interests—secured a similar ex parte order against the same respondents. The court barred any interference with the hotel property, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suits, which are currently ongoing. 

  • Will Rivers remain in peace with Fubara, lawmakers return?

    Will Rivers remain in peace with Fubara, lawmakers return?

    The emergency rule that quarantined Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, out of   office has officially expired.   And there will be no extension.

    The six-month emergency administration of Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas has ceased and he has vacated office without any delay. The crisis melted away like ice. The reconciliation between Fubara and his benefactor, Chief Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, facilitated it.

    Those, especially the crisis merchants, who never wanted the reconciliation to happen prayed fervently against it but it occurred and signposted the beginning of restoration of the aborted constitutional democracy in the state. Fubara returned fully to his original political family and the entire Rivers governance process will return to its factory setting .

    There were speculations that Ibas was lobbying for an extension but the body language of the Sole Administrator betrayed the insinuations. Ibas was not caught taking any action to stoke the crisis. He pursued the completion of the demolished House of Assembly complex; appointed members of critical boards and ensured the conduct of the local government elections that activated democratic governance at the grassroots.

    The Senior Special Adviser, Media, Rivers Government, Hector Igbikiowubo, denied the insinuations. Though Fubara has returned there is a high probability that most people, who occupied various positions in his government during the crisis will not come back with him. Indeed, it is constitutionally impossible and against the judgement of the Supreme Court for most of his sacked commissioners to return to their positions.

    The former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Iboroma Dagogo (SAN), leads the list of Fubara’s former aides that will not benefit from the reconciliation. He was among the 19 commissioners that were screened and confirmed by the illegal three-man House of Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.

    Other commissioners of Fubara that had lost out of the reconciliation are Charles O. Beke, Collins Onunwo, Solomon Eke, Peter Medee, Elloka Tasie-Amadi, Basoene Joshua Benibo, Tambari Sydney Gbara and Ovy Orluideye Chinendum Chukwuma.

    Also, Illamu Arugu, Rowland Obed Whyte, Samuel Anya, Samuel Eyiba, Austin Emeka Nnadozie, Israel Ngbuelu, Evans Bipi, Otamiri Ngubo, Benibo Alabraba and Emmanuel Frank-Fubara, will suffer the same fate.

    The reconciliation and subsequent conduct of the local government elections also swept away former Fubara’s loyalists, who were sacked by the Supreme Court as local government chairmen and councillors. The new system also buried the All Peoples Party (APP), which provided an alternative platform for Fubara’s loyalists to emerge the winners of the invalidated council poll. The APP, which capitalized on the crisis to become relevant in the state had gone back to its oblivious state.

    None of Fubara’s loyalists including those, who were sacked as council officials, participated in the last local government election. Wike’s political family, which Fubara has reintegrated himself into, produced all the winners of the just-concluded local government elections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The worst hit by the reconciliation is Amb. Chijoke Ihunwo, who was sacked by the Supreme Court as the Chairman of Obio-Akpor, Wike’s Local Government Area. Ihunwo, out of what many people described as youthful exuberance, took his anti-Wike’s campaigns too far. He supervised the destruction of Wike’s statue in the council’s secretariat and removed Wike’s name from the administrative block.

    The Rivers State House of Assembly led Speaker Martins Amaewhule  is returning fully to resume its legislative duties. Ibas was said to have acquired over 30 Sports Utility Vehicles, the latest Range Rover Sports, for the lawmakers to facilitate their legislative duties.

    All those that stood firm in the Wike’s political family enduring hardship throughout the period of the crisis are some of the greatest beneficiaries of Fubara’s return. They are said to be eagerly waiting for Fubara and preparing a grand reception for the governor.

    But observers believe that the greatest beneficiaries of the emergency rule are Rivers as a state and its people. For about two years, the political crisis threatened the entire sectors of the state. It got to the crescendo and was tipping into a violent stage. In fact, some persons lost their lives and properties worth billions of naira were destroyed at some stages of the upheavals. Apart from attacks on oil installations, most analysts saw the crisis entering into  a free-for-all and uncontrolled widespread bloodletting.

    Indeed, if President Bola Tinubu had not intervened on time, many prominent persons in the state would have been assassinated and the state would have burnt to ashes. Perhaps persons criticising the emergency rule would have been everywhere accusing the President of refusing to save Rivers.

    But the President who foresaw the implosion, wielded the big stick that calmed all the frayed nerves. Though the emergency aborted democratic governance in the state for a period of six months, people believe that no democracy is worth the blood of the governed especially the masses.

    There is no gainsaying that the political actors had learnt their lessons. Ibas told them recently some the lessons the emergency rule should teach them.

    He said one of the lessons is that “peace is priceless”.

    The administrator said the emergency rule had thought everybody that “without security, no other aspiration is possible”.

    Remarking that emergency was not a choice but a necessity, Ibas said the people had also learnt that “when governance is weakened, opportunism fills the vacuum endangering lives and livelihoods.

    Ibas further said that the period was a testament that the “indomitable spirit of Rivers people cannot be broken”, adding that “they endured; they persevered and have remained steadfast”.

    He said: “Emergency rule was never a choice, it was a necessity brought upon us by insecurity, political impasse and breakdown of trust.

    “Yet in hindsight it offered us enduring lessons that peace is priceless; without security, no other aspiration is possible; that when governance is weakened, opportunism fills the vacuum, endangering lives and livelihoods and that the indomitable spirit of Rivers people cannot be broken. They endured. They persevered and have remained steadfast.

    “The stability we have restored is the foundation upon which democracy is now rebuilt. Our guest speaker has done justice to the theme of the lecture, ‘Good Governance and Democratic Dividends”.

    A former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, said the Rivers emergency was also a testament that political crisis should not always be given the colours of religion and ethnicity. He recalled that when the disturbance began in Rivers, many Ijaw leaders were whipping up ethnic sentiment instead of reconciling Fubara and his political godfather, Wike.

    “Those of us, who warned them against such narratives, were constantly attacked and disparaged. But immediately the emergency happened and Fubara as well as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were stripped of their positions, those playing ethnic cards list their voices”.

    Eradiri, a former Labour Party (LP) Governorship Candidate in Bayelsa State, said the emergency had also taught politicians the importance of amicably settling their crisis instead of allowing it to loom large adding that Rivers is a typical case of the aphorism, “when two brothers fight, strangers inherit their property”.

    He said the crisis had made Fubara wiser and made him realize the need to evaluate personalities of individuals hanging around him. “He must going forward sieve all persons to differentiate the chaffs from the seeds. He should be able to identify crisis merchants, divisive elements and crusaders of violence”.

    Eradiri said: “Only persons, who lack knowledge of what President Tinubu prevented in Rivers will criticise the method he adopted to restore normalcy in Rivers. But now that the state is back to a democratic path and all stakeholders have learnt their lessons, I expect Fubara to eschew acrimonies, roll his sleeves and hit the ground running again. He should avoid distractions and focus on catching up lost opportunities. I also appeal to members of the state House of Assembly to close ranks with the governor and work in harmony with him in the interest of development, prosperity and progress of Rivers.

    The National Chairman of the Ikwerre Peoples Congress (IPC), Livingstone Wechie, said Fubara’s return heralded.a new era in the governance history of the state.

    Wechie, who is also the President, Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Rivers State chapter, said it has reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to democratic values insisting that the President was forced to make timeous intervention in the state.

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    He said: “The President made a timeous intervention which generated so much controversy in the political space but the state will now have an opportunity from September 18, 2025 to take a new route drawing lessons from the emergency rule and the issues that brought it on stream.

    “You cannot rule out the intention of the President in his actions six months ago. It is immaterial any opinion to the contrary about the actions of the President.

    “A key factor is that the governor now knows better and has become wiser while his benefactor Chief Nyesom Wike has also regained some lost traction in the state”.

    Wechie said the Rivers temperature was charged and ready to embrace the suspended Governor Fubara adding that Ibas had done his bit.

    He said: “The temperature of Rivers politics has now charged up to return to a democracy system with Governor Siminalayi Fubara back on the saddle. The Sole Administrator Mr. Ibas has done his bit and conclusively so.

    “It will be cheering to see a functional Rivers State House of Assembly and other arms of the state government in full operations as the emergency rule ends.

    “It is important that the political actors should strongly close ranks with a view to putting Rivers State first to enable the state redeem and reach its development potential”.

    Rivers elders also said that the return of Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, Speaker Martins Amaewhule and members of the State House of Assembly afforded the state the opportunity to reflect on a number of issues such as “where we are coming from, what to do to avoid the reoccurrence of the unfortunate circumstances we found ourselves and significantly,  how to sustain peace, unity and development in our beloved Rivers State.

    The elders in a statement signed by their Chairman, Chief Ferdinand Alabrara urged all stakeholders, without exception, to embrace the peace and reconciliation that had now returned to the dear state.

    They admonished some individuals and groups, who were still fanning the embers of discord  to come to terms with the fact that the crisis was over and stop making inflammatory statements, inciting rhetoric in the media and whipping up sentiments for their selfish interests. They asked such disgruntled elements to  prioritise the interest of the state and allow Governor Fubara and the House of Assembly to work together without further distractions.

    They said: “We equally commend the governor and the leadership of the House of Assembly for making peace. At this point, we can only remind them that they did not only agree on peace in Abuja but also, on their own, went to the Villa and affirmed their reconciliation before His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. That vow before Mr. President remains sacrosanct. Therefore, going forward, they must work harmoniously in the interest of the state. The people of Rivers State expect nothing less from them.

    “We use this opportunity to salute the good people of Rivers State for their patience and understanding throughout the period of the emergency rule. It is an attestation of faith in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose proactive action averted the disaster that was about to descend on the state.

    The indefatigable political leader of Rivers State, the former Governor of the State and Minister of the FCT, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, deserves a special mention for his role in midwifing the entire reconciliation process. Again, he demonstrated that he was a man with a large heart. He did not only bring the parties together but also ensured that the parties went to Mr. President to brief him first hand on the details of their understanding”.

    The elders commending President Tinubu for bringing Rivers back from the brinks and taking actions to ensure the return of peace in the state. Addressing the President,.they said: “We thank you once again for the confidence reposed in our son, brother, associate, and cherished leader as a member of your cabinet. Your astute resolution of the Rivers crisis is yet another manifestation of your goodwill towards the state.

    “Mr President, we appreciate you and assure you that you have already captured the hearts of the people of Rivers State and as your administration continues to pursue the Renewed Hope Agenda, you can count on the support of Rivers people at all times.

    In fact, with Fubara back to office; Speaker Amaewhule and the lawmakers resuming their legislative duties and the local government elections done and dusted, Rivers has bounced back and all stakeholders are expected to embrace the return of democracy after it’s six months of abortion.

  • Reforms spur naira recovery, FX reserves hit $41.69bn

    Reforms spur naira recovery, FX reserves hit $41.69bn

    The naira extended its rally this week, closing at N1,497/$1 on Monday at the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market—one of its strongest levels in recent months. The rebound is being driven by a mix of factors, including stronger demand for the naira, reduced speculative activity, and a rise in the country’s foreign reserves, which reached $41.69 billion as of September 12. Analysts say the foreign exchange reforms implemented under the leadership of Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso are helping to stabilise the exchange rate and improve broader economic fundamentals, writes Assistant Business Editor COLLINS NWEZE.

    The naira strengthened significantly on Monday, closing below N1,497/$ at the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market—its strongest level in recent months. This rally has been attributed to key reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), alongside growing transparency, accountability and improved dollar liquidity in the FX market.

    CBN data shows the naira traded between N1,498/$ and N1,507/$ in last week’s sessions, extending a positive trend that began in early September when it opened at N1,526.09/$. The parallel market reflected a similar trajectory, with the naira appreciating to between N1,515/$ and N1,517/$ during the week.

    Analysts at Commercio Partners linked the gains to a mix of increased demand for the naira, declining speculative activity, and stronger foreign reserves. Ifeanyi Ubah, Head of Research at Commercio Partners, expressed optimism that the upward momentum could be sustained in the short term, supported by rising external buffers and continued policy discipline.   “Nigeria’s external reserves stood at $41.69 billion on September 12, 2025, and have consistently grown in recent weeks, reflecting a healthier external position for the country. With reserves strengthening, speculative activity subsiding, and oil earnings supporting inflows, many market watchers believe the naira’s current rally has a stronger foundation compared to previous cycles of volatility,” he said.

    However, other experts caution that sustaining this momentum will depend on the government’s ability to maintain macroeconomic discipline, boost crude oil production, and diversify export earnings.

    How stronger naira impacts trade

    As the naira strengthens, the cost of imports in Nigeria is expected to decline, offering potential relief to businesses and consumers. Importation costs typically include import duties, VAT, and other levies—calculated based on the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value of goods. The CIF price reflects the total cost of goods delivered to Nigeria’s border, excluding import duties and internal charges.

    Since these duties and levies are pegged to the prevailing exchange rate, any appreciation in the naira directly lowers the naira-denominated cost of imports. In 2024, Nigeria’s total imports were valued at $40.97 billion, according to the UN COMTRADE database. The country’s leading import partners included China, Belgium, and India.

    Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows Nigeria imported food and beverages worth N1.67 trillion ($1 billion) in Q1 2025, marking a 5% rise from N1.59 trillion in Q1 2024—underscoring ongoing demand despite exchange rate fluctuations.

    Rebased GDP to benefit from naira rally

    Afrinvest West Africa Limited says Nigeria’s rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) needs 21.9 per cent growth at N1,500/$ exchange rate to achieve $1 trillion economy target by 2031. In its 20th Nigeria Banking Sector Report 2025 titled: “ACT-BOLD: Beyond a Trillion-Dollar Economy” released in Lagos, Group Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Ike Chioke, explained that at rebased GDP nominal size of N372.8 trillion, Nigeria requires a minimum annual growth rate of 21.9 per cent to attain $1 trillion economy valuation by 2031.

    It was further predicted an exchange rate of N1,500.00/$1 or a much stronger exchange rate at a slower growth rate is required to attain the GDP size milestone. The report indicated that despite the current administration’s confidence that the banking industry will support $1 trillion economy target realisation, there was need to address longstanding impediments that constrain broad-based growth potential.

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    Without such intermediation, banks would only deliver, at best, uneven and subpar growth across a few services-based sectors, while the overall economy continues to grow at a slow pace. Nigeria’s statistician-general, Adeyemi Adeniran, revealed that incorporated new and emerging sectors, consumption baskets update, and data collection refining methods helped produce a more complete picture of national output.

    Adeniran had explained how the economy fared in the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report. He said: “In nominal terms, the rebased GDP for 2019 stood at N205.09 trillion N213.63 trillion in 2020, N243.30 trillion in 2021, N274.23 trillion in 2022, N314.02 trillion in 2023, and N372.82 trillion in 2024.” The NBS noted that in 2019, the rebased nominal GDP at basic prices represented an increase of 41.7 per cent over the nominal GDP of 2019 of the old base year (2010), 39 per cent in 2020, 38.7 per cent in 2021, 36.1 per cent in 2022, 34.6 per cent in 2023 and 35.4 per cent in 2024.

    “The results show that the structure of the Nigerian economy has changed significantly with a rise in the share of agriculture and services sectors and a fall in the share of the industries sector in nominal terms, indicating a shift in the structure of the Nigerian economy than earlier reported,” the NBS said. Adeniran further explained that the rebasing allows the country to better reflect the realities of the economy. “It’s not just about a bigger number but about accurate, timely data that supports smarter policy and economic planning,” he said.

    Aliyu Ilias, developmental economist, noted that several sectors have previously remained uncaptured in official data, particularly entertainment. “By rebasing our GDP now, included those areas properly. This new visibility will make Nigeria appear much stronger to foreign investors, which will naturally help us attract more capital,” he said.

    He explained that the exercise will also reveal untapped economic potential and guide government resource allocation. “It will show where we are strongest structurally, such as in mining or other emerging sectors. That insight will help the government focus its efforts more strategically.” “Finally,” he added, “it will support economic policy formulation, helping us align our strategy with the reality on the ground. We will know exactly where to put more effort.”

    Ilias explained that while this statistical adjustment does not instantly generate new revenue, it creates a more reliable framework for fiscal planning, investment strategies, and development interventions. It is also recognised that Nigeria’s hope of achieving $1 trillion economy by 2030 will gain significant support from the banking sector.

    Improved FX access amid rising reserves

    Before now, one of the biggest challenges facing the Nigeria economy was limited access to forex. That challenge meant that businesses and travelers had to turn to the parallel FX market to surge for funds and in the process creating arbitrage that opened the doorway for FX speculation to thrive.

    In response, the CBN embarked on a series of bold reforms to attract more foreign capital to the economy, achieve price and exchange rate stability. In 2023 the new administration and the CBN-led by its Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, liberalised the foreign exchange market, stopped central bank financing of the fiscal deficit, and reformed fuel subsidies. The government also strengthened revenue collection and took strategic steps to reduce surging inflation rate.

    Since these reforms were implemented, international reserves have increased, and anyone can now access foreign exchange in the official market. Nigeria successfully returned to international capital markets last December and was recently upgraded by rating agencies. A new domestic, private refinery is positioning Nigeria up the value chain in a fully deregulated market.

    Cardoso-led CBN recently announced quantum leap in the net FX reserve position at $23.11 billion at the end of last year before hitting current milestone at $41.66 billion. Cardoso had upon assuming office in October 2023, prioritised reforms to rebuild Nigeria’s economic buffers and strengthen resilience. In the foreign exchange market, the apex bank faced a backlog of over $7 billion in unfulfilled commitments and a fragmented FX regime characterised by multiple forex rates, which had encouraged arbitrage opportunities.

    “Over the past year, we have undertaken critical reforms to unify Nigeria’s exchange rate, eliminating distortions and restoring transparency. This unification has enabled us to clear the outstanding foreign exchange obligations, giving businesses—ranging from manufacturers to airlines—the confidence to plan and invest in the future. To further enhance the functionality of the foreign exchange market, we are introducing an electronic FX matching system, which has proven effective in other markets,” Cardoso said.

    More FX sources bolster inflows

    Foreign capital inflows to the domestic economy remains crucial elements in the drive to achieve monetary and fiscal policy stability. The apex bank is cultivating more sources of FX to increase dollar inflows, boost access to manufacturers and retail end users. From moves to boost diaspora remittances through new product development, the granting licenses to new International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs), implementing a willing buyer-willing seller FX model, and enabling timely access to naira liquidity for IMTOs, the CBN has simplified dollar-inflow channels for FX dealers to boost business and economic growth.

    President, Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Aminu Gwadabe, said the policy shifts showed the level of creativity, policy and hard work the Cardoso puts in ensuring that more forex flows into the economy and remain accessible to businesses. He said diaspora remittances to Nigeria, estimated at $23 billion annually remain a reliable source of forex to the domestic economy. There are also other sources and policies that are being explored by the apex bank to keep dollar inflows coming.

    According to the apex bank data, Net FX Reserve (NFER) stood at $23.11 billion, the highest level in over three years, a marked increase from $3.99 billion at year-end 2023, $8.19 billion in 2022, and $14.59 billion in 2021. The NFER, which adjusts gross reserves to account for near-term liabilities such as FX swaps and forward contracts, is widely regarded as a more accurate indicator of the foreign exchange buffers available to meet immediate external obligations.

    The increase in reserves reflects a combination of strategic measures undertaken by the CBN, including a deliberate and substantial reduction in short-term foreign exchange liabilities – notably swaps and forward obligations. The strengthening was also spurred by policy actions to rebuild confidence in the FX market and increase reserve buffers, along with recent improved foreign exchange inflows – particularly from non-oil sources.

    The result is a stronger and more transparent reserves position that better equips Nigeria to withstand external shocks. The expansion occurred even as the CBN continues to reduce short-term liabilities, thereby improving the overall quality of the reserve position. “This improvement in our net reserves is not accidental; it is the outcome of deliberate policy choices aimed at rebuilding confidence, reducing vulnerabilities, and laying the foundation for long-term stability,” Cardoso commented.

  • Lagos rising to the global sporting stage

    Lagos rising to the global sporting stage

    Lagos is no stranger to spectacle — but what’s coming is unprecedented. The ocean has long whispered stories to the city — of trade, resilience and ambition. But now, the waters speak louder, charged with a new hum: the sound of innovation in motion. As Lagos prepares to host Africa’s first-ever E1 Electric Powerboat Series, it isn’t just staging a race — it’s launching a bold new narrative, one that declares the city’s readiness to lead in sport, sustainability and global innovation, writes Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF

    Lagos and the E1 Series: A new wave of possibilities

    As the morning mist lifts off the Atlantic, it reveals the bold silhouette of Lagos’s ever-evolving skyline. Along the waterfront of Victoria Island, anticipation hums in the air. Crowds begin to gather. Camera crews adjust their lenses. Hospitality tents brim with invited guests. Then, slicing through the calm waters of the marina, the sharp, futuristic whirr of electric motors signals something extraordinary: the arrival of the RaceBirds — sleek, hydrofoil powerboats powered entirely by clean energy.

    This is not just another day in Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital. It marks a historic turning point. Next month, Lagos will host Africa’s first-ever E1 Electric Powerboat Series, securing its place among the world’s elite and sustainable sporting destinations. Known for its economic dynamism and cultural richness, Lagos is now poised to redefine itself once again — this time as a globally relevant, future-forward host city. The E1 Series is no ordinary race. It is a fusion of speed, sustainability, and spectacle, designed for a new era of sport. Founded by Alejandro Agag and Rodi Basso, the E1 Series is the world’s first all-electric powerboat championship. After high-profile events in Monaco and Venice, its Lagos debut is more than a milestone for the sport — it’s a landmark for Africa, Nigeria, and the city of Lagos as they embrace the forefront of clean energy, marine innovation, and global attention.

    So, why Lagos — and why now? That question, says Samuel Egube, Deputy Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the Lagos E1 Grand Prix, “is best answered not only through strategy and statistics, but through the pulse and rhythm of Lagos itself.” With over 25 million residents, Lagos is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world — a place of constant motion, creativity, and reinvention. “It’s where innovation meets urgency,” Egube explains, “where culture isn’t just consumed but created — and where water, from the creeks of Makoko to the marinas of Lekki, represents both a challenge and an opportunity.”

    For the Lagos State Government, bringing the E1 Series to the city is the result of years of planning and strategic vision, championed by Governor Sanwo-Olu. Under his administration, Lagos has advanced an ambitious transformation agenda known as THEMES+ — which emphasizes tourism, transportation, the environment, and infrastructure. “Hosting the E1 race is about more than sport,” says Egube. “It’s about reshaping how Lagos — and Africa — are seen on the world stage. This isn’t just about boats cutting through the water. It’s about Lagos cutting through outdated perceptions: that African cities are too chaotic, too complicated, or too far removed to host global events. This race proves otherwise.”

    The E1 Lagos Grand Prix brings together nine international teams, each backed by global icons including Rafael Nadal, Didier Drogba, Tom Brady, Will Smith, and Virat Kohli — world-renowned figures whose involvement elevates the global spotlight on Lagos. More than 250 sports and technology stakeholders from around the world will attend, alongside thousands of spectators, media outlets, and investors. The event is expected to inject significant momentum into the local economy — especially for Lagos’s vibrant hospitality sector, from hotels and restaurants to transport services and tourist attractions.

    But for Egube, the true power of the E1 Series lies in the legacy it will leave behind. “This isn’t just a one-off event,” he says. “It’s a platform to show the world that African cities can lead on sustainability, innovation, and international collaboration. The race may last a few days, but the signal it sends — that Lagos is not waiting for permission to participate, but boldly claiming its place — will resonate far beyond the finish line.”

    Indeed, the most lasting impact of the E1 Grand Prix may not be in the broadcast statistics or viral clips, but in the quiet, radical shift it inspires — particularly for local youth. By showcasing clean technology, engineering excellence, and international standards, the event opens doors to new aspirations in fields like environmental science, marine engineering, and green innovation. “This is Lagos building its own table,” Egube concludes. “Not waiting to be invited — but shaping the global conversation on its own terms.”

    What makes the E1 Series historic?

    According to Toke Benson-Awoyinka, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, the E1 Series marks a truly historic moment — not just for Lagos, but for the entire African continent. “When Lagos was announced as the first African city to host an electric powerboat race, it wasn’t just a win for Lagos — it was a statement to the world,” she said. “We’ve joined the ranks of Monaco, Venice, and Jeddah — but with something entirely unique: Lagos’s unmatched energy, cultural depth, and spirit of innovation.”

    Scheduled to take place from October 3 to 5, the Lagos E1 Grand Prix is more than just a race — it’s Africa’s debut on the global stage of electric marine motorsport. As Benson-Awoyinka emphasized, “This isn’t just about fast boats on water. It’s a celebration of what happens when sustainability, cutting-edge technology, and vibrant culture come together in one place.” The E1 Series is the world’s first all-electric powerboat championship, featuring RaceBird boats powered entirely by zero-emission electric propulsion. As global attention turns toward clean energy and sustainable practices, the Lagos leg of the competition serves as a bold demonstration of Africa’s commitment to climate action and marine innovation.

    But beyond the technology and sustainability, the E1 Series in Lagos carries enormous symbolic and cultural weight — thanks in large part to the high-profile team owners involved. Global superstars like Rafael Nadal, Tom Brady, Will Smith, Virat Kohli, and Didier Drogba are not only bringing international prestige to the event but are helping to spotlight Lagos on a global stage. Chris Oshiafi, Group CEO of PanAfrican Capital Holdings and Chairman of the Sponsorship Committee for the Lagos E1 Grand Prix, sees the involvement of someone like Drogba as deeply significant. “Drogba isn’t just a football legend — he’s a pan-African icon whose work in youth empowerment and sustainability reflects the core values of the E1 Series,” Oshiafi said. “Team Drogba is expected to draw massive support — not just because of Didier’s legacy in football, but because of what he stands for: an Africa that is bold, visionary, and ready to lead.”

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    Drogba himself echoed that message at a recent press conference. “Africa deserves to be at the forefront of innovation and sport,” he said. “E1 is a chance to show that we’re not waiting for the future to come to us — we’re already building it.” With its high-octane action on water, commitment to clean energy, and deep cultural resonance, the Lagos E1 Grand Prix represents more than an international sporting event. It’s a transformative moment — one that positions Lagos and Africa at the cutting edge of sport, sustainability, and global relevance. As Commissioner Benson-Awoyinka put it, “This is more than tourism — it’s transformation.”

    Why Lagos, why now?

     The decision to bring the E1 Series to Lagos wasn’t a coincidence — it was the result of intentional, long-term planning and vision. According to Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, the city has consistently proven its ability to host large-scale international events, from marathons and tech expos to art fairs and music festivals. But with the E1 Grand Prix, Lagos is entering uncharted waters. “E1 marks a new chapter for Lagos,” Osiyemi explained. “We’re not just hosting another global event — we’re positioning Lagos as Africa’s entry point into electric marine sports, and as a city fully committed to sustainable transportation and technological innovation.”

    Set to attract over 250 global stakeholders, athletes, and professionals — and reach millions of viewers worldwide — the Lagos E1 Grand Prix is poised to be one of the most significant sporting events in Nigeria’s recent history. Osiyemi noted that this aligns directly with the administration’s THEMES+ agenda, a strategic framework that prioritizes transportation, health, environment, and economic growth through innovation. “Governor Sanwo-Olu has made it clear: Lagos isn’t content with just participating in the global economy,” Osiyemi said. “We’re here to lead — in sustainability, in sport, and in the future of mobility.” Governor Sanwo-Olu has been a driving force behind the event’s success, personally championing Lagos as a host city. For him, E1 is more than a sporting spectacle; it’s a declaration of intent. “We’re not just hosting a race,” he said. “We’re sending a message: Lagos is open — for business, for innovation, and for the future.”

    For the leadership behind the E1 Series — including Alejandro Agag, founder of Formula E and Extreme E, and Rodi Basso, E1 CEO — Lagos is the ideal launchpad for Africa’s entry into electric marine sports. “Bringing E1 to Africa starts with Lagos because Lagos reflects what this championship is all about: speed, ambition, innovation, and resilience,” said Basso. To them, Lagos isn’t just a location — it’s a symbolic gateway. The hope is that this event will spark similar races and clean-energy innovations in cities like Cape Town, Dakar, and Dar es Salaam, using sport as a catalyst for climate action, marine innovation, and economic transformation.

    But the impact of E1 in Lagos isn’t expected to stop when the boats leave the water. Promoters and partners are focused on legacy — on what this race leaves behind. Success won’t be measured only by high attendance or media buzz, but by the lasting opportunities created for local talent and industries. That includes: elevating Nigeria’s global image as a hub for sport and sustainability; boosting local marine tech and clean-energy startups; inspiring youth to explore careers in engineering, environmental science, and innovation; and creating new partnerships in tourism, infrastructure, and mobility. In the words of E1’s leadership, “The confidence we’ve placed in Lagos is already paying off — and it’s only the beginning.”

  • Strengthening financial sector through bold regulatory reforms

    Strengthening financial sector through bold regulatory reforms

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the financial services sector through sweeping structural reforms. Its latest policies expand supervisory frameworks, clarify institutional responsibilities, and extend oversight beyond core prudential issues to cover non-prudential concerns such as governance, consumer protection, and market conduct, as well as emerging risks like cyber threats and fintech disruptions. With new compliance directives to banks, Payment Service Banks, and Other Financial Institutions, the apex bank aims to entrench stronger regulatory discipline and broaden industry-wide accountability, reports Assistant Editor COLLINS NWEZE

    The Nigerian financial sector has, for years, needed stability and robust regulatory oversight to thrive. Central to this mission is the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), whose statutory role includes ensuring sound banking practices and safeguarding financial stability through effective surveillance.

    Empowered by the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFIA) Act of 2020, the CBN also bears responsibility for promoting an efficient payments system anchored on a resilient financial architecture. To achieve this, the apex bank routinely issues policies and regulations that entrench strong oversight, uphold prudential standards, and foster confidence in the system. Beyond its core supervisory functions, the CBN has consistently played a developmental role, extending its influence across critical sectors of the economy—including finance, agriculture and industry. These broad mandates are executed through its specialised departments, ensuring that the bank’s objectives are pursued with precision and impact.

    Under the leadership of Governor Olayemi Cardoso, the Bank has sharpened its focus on economic reforms and targeted policies designed to restore macroeconomic stability. Through transparent market operations, improved coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities and deliberate measures to rebuild public trust, the CBN is working to stabilise the exchange rate, curb inflation, strengthen banks’ capital buffers, and create an enabling environment for both businesses and individuals to succeed.

    Equally important is the promotion of ethics and professionalism within the financial system. Recognising that the integrity of bankers and treasurers is fundamental to market stability, the CBN has introduced the FX Global Code to guide authorised dealers and market participants. This initiative underscores the Bank’s commitment not only to prudent regulation but also to embedding international best practices in Nigeria’s financial markets. “At the Central Bank, we have intensified surveillance of market activities to ensure compliance and eliminate bad actors who attempt to undermine the system. Together, we must build a market based on strong governance and transparency. As regulators, we will maintain a zero-tolerance approach to compliance violations,” he said.Last week, the apex bank expanded the mandate of its newly created Compliance Department. In a circular to banks, Payment Service Banks, and Other Financial Institutions, the apex bank announced that the department, established in the first quarter of this year, will now oversee four key areas. These include Financial Crime Supervision (AML/CFT/CPF and sanctions compliance), Market Conduct Supervision (disclosure practices, complaints frameworks, advertising standards), Enterprise Security Supervision (cybersecurity, data protection, third-party risk management), and Corporate Governance and ESG Supervision (board effectiveness, ESG oversight). Director Olubunmi Ayodele-Oni said the move aims to enhance surveillance and global best practices.

    “When operations commenced in Q2 2025, responsibility for the oversight of non-prudential risk areas was formally reassigned to the Department. This structural reform forms part of the Bank’s broader efforts to consolidate and embed regulatory effectiveness within existing supervisory frameworks, clarify institutional responsibilities, and maintain focused oversight of non-prudential and emerging risks,” it said.

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    The apex bank explained that, henceforth, all regulatory reports, correspondence and related enquiries concerning these matters should be directed to the Director, Compliance Department through the established communication channels. “Financial institutions will receive direct communication from the Department regarding specific points of contact and submission procedures. The CBN looks forward to continued cooperation from all institutions in ensuring a smooth transition and in upholding the highest standards of compliance with applicable regulatory requirements,” it stated.

    What the apex bank is doing

    According to Cardoso, the banking sector remains robust with key indicators reflecting a resilient system.  “The non-performing loan ratio remains within the prudential benchmark of five per cent, showcasing strong credit risk management. The banking sector liquidity ratio comfortably exceeds the regulatory floor of 30 per cent, a level which ensures banks are maintaining adequate cash flow to meet the needs of customers and their operations. The recent stress test conducted also reaffirmed the continued strength of our banking system,” he said.

    Also, to ensure that the banking system can effectively support the growth of the nation’s economy, efforts to strengthen banks’ capital buffers were announced in 2023 with a two-year implementation window. According to him, the banking sector remains in a strong position to support Nigeria’s economic recovery by enabling access to credit for MSMEs and supporting investment in critical sectors of our economy. In the same vein, he said Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) hold significant potential to drive productivity and economic growth by expanding access to credit and financial services for underserved individuals and businesses.

    “To unlock this untapped potential, we aim to strengthen key institutions—particularly Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) and Microfinance Banks (MFBs)—to enhance their efficiency and impact. Our strategy includes implementing model mortgage foreclosure laws to stimulate lending and reduce delinquency, integrating PMBs and MFBs into the GSI platform to minimise non-performing loans, and leveraging Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) more effectively to provide increased on lending facilities to well-managed OFIs,” he added.

    Entrenching efficiency, best practices

    At the unveiling of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) 2024–2028 Strategic Plan at the Bank’s headquarters, Governor Cardoso outlined the vision of the institution: to be a trusted and respected central bank that promotes confidence in the economy. He explained that this would be driven by five strategic themes carefully designed to address the nation’s most critical economic and financial challenges.

    The first theme, Price Stability and Monetary Policy Effectiveness, will anchor the Bank’s resolve to leverage established monetary policy instruments, supported by rigorous data analysis, to maintain price stability. The second, Robust and Resilient Financial System, focuses on strengthening the financial sector while embedding financial inclusion objectives into policy design to broaden access to affordable products that support sustainable growth. Cardoso added that the third theme, Governance, Compliance and Advisory Partner to the Federal Government, reflects the CBN’s commitment to act as a transparent, reliable, and trusted advisor in shaping economic policies. Recognising the critical role of people, processes, and technology, the fourth and fifth themes—Excellence in Central Banking Operations and An Impact-Focused High-Performance Organisation—will ensure operational efficiency and strengthen the Bank’s institutional capacity.

    The Governor further highlighted core values such as integrity, meritocracy, professionalism, accountability, courage, and tenacity as guiding principles for delivering professionalism, transparency, and accountability to Nigerians. Commending the Strategy Management Department for developing the plan in-house without external consultants, he urged all CBN staff to uphold ethics, good governance, and transparency in executing the strategy. He also stressed that the plan was not for the CBN alone but for all Nigerians, calling on stakeholders to collaborate in building a more prosperous nation and repositioning the Bank as a credible institution at the forefront of economic transformation.

    Staff members described the plan—CBN’s fourth strategic cycle after those of 2012–2015, 2015–2019, and 2021–2024—as a bold repositioning of the Bank to its core mandate. They expressed appreciation to management and the Strategy Department for delivering the first entirely in-house strategy within record time. The launch climaxed with the unveiling of the theme “Repositioning for Impact,” which stakeholders said resonates with the CBN’s mission, vision, and values. They lauded the Bank’s leadership and workforce for their unity of purpose and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the effective execution of the strategy.

    What the law says

    The 2007 CBN Act mandates the apex bank to promote financial system stability as one of its core objectives. To achieve this, the apex bank has, over the years, implemented reforms aimed at strengthening the banking sector, improving access to finance, building institutional capacity, and entrenching sound corporate governance practices. These measures are designed to safeguard the system, protect depositors, and sustain confidence in the economy.

    Highlighting the importance of stability, the President of the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), Dr. Uju Ogubunka, explained that the collapse of financial institutions, especially banks, carries grave risks. Such failures, he noted, can erode public confidence, trigger a sudden contraction in money supply, reduce savings and investments, and even collapse payment systems—all with devastating effects on the real economy.

    Under the leadership of Governor Cardoso, the CBN has also embarked on deliberate efforts to improve the functioning and transparency of the foreign exchange (FX) market. These reforms have yielded remarkable results. For instance, the average daily turnover in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market grew by 226 per cent in the first half of last year compared to the same period in 2023. Similarly, foreign portfolio inflows rose by more than 72 per cent, reflecting improved investor confidence in the Nigerian economy. At the same time, the country’s foreign exchange reserves increased significantly—from $32 billion in May 2023 to over $41.5 billion. This figure represents the equivalent of 10 months of import cover, the highest level in almost three years, and a buffer that strengthens the economy against external shocks.

    The market has also proven more efficient in facilitating capital mobility. Over the past year, it supported more than $9 billion in capital outflows, enabling investors to repatriate capital and dividends freely. This marks a sharp departure from past experiences when such repatriations were delayed for months, undermining confidence in Nigeria’s financial markets. Cardoso has emphasised that these gains are being consolidated through enhanced surveillance of market activities. The CBN has intensified its monitoring to ensure strict compliance with rules and to weed out bad actors seeking to manipulate or destabilize the system. Taken together, these reforms demonstrate the apex bank’s determination to stabilise Nigeria’s financial sector, protect investors, and foster a resilient economy capable of supporting long-term growth.

    “Together, we must build a market based on strong governance and transparency. As regulators, we will maintain a zero-tolerance approach to compliance violations. Within the banking sector, I am pleased to note that the sector remains robust with key indicators reflecting a resilient system. The non-performing loan ratio remains within the prudential benchmark of five per cent, showcasing strong credit risk management,” he said.

    Cardoso added: “The banking sector liquidity ratio comfortably exceeds the regulatory floor of 30 percent, a level which ensures banks are maintaining adequate cash flow to meet the needs of customers and their operations. The recent stress test conducted also reaffirmed the continued strength of our banking system.”

  • How agri-tech is rewriting Nigeria’s farming future

    How agri-tech is rewriting Nigeria’s farming future

    A disruptive transformation is reshaping Nigeria’s agriculture—and it’s powered by innovation. From vertical farms and hydroponics to AI-driven mechanisation and clean energy, groundbreaking technologies are transforming how food is grown, distributed and consumed. At the forefront are bold entrepreneurs and forward-thinking institutions, arming young Nigerians with the tools to drive sustainable change. As food security concerns grow, Nigeria is fast-tracking a bold new vision for farming, reports DANIEL ESSIET.

    A quiet revolution is transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, driven by groundbreaking technologies and innovative approaches. These advancements are not only boosting farm efficiency and productivity but also offering renewed hope for food security and economic growth across the nation. From soilless cultivation to digital mechanisation platforms, the future of agriculture looks promising — and stakeholders are taking notice.

    Leading this transformation is Samson Ogbole, a social impact entrepreneur and Team Lead at Eupepsia Place Limited (Soilless Farm) in Ogun State. Ogbole is passionate about equipping young Nigerians with the skills to drive agricultural innovation. His Soilless Farm Lab in Kurere Village, Awowo, showcases the power of vertical and climate-smart farming. Through the Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture (EYiA) — a Mastercard Foundation-funded project — Ogbole’s team is training 12,000 youths (70% women) over three years. The focus: soilless farming (hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics), protected cultivation, and cutting-edge irrigation systems.

    “EYiA, funded by the Mastercard Foundation, is empowering young individuals to take the reins in the burgeoning horticulture sector. Our programme goes beyond traditional farming practices, incorporating cutting-edge technologies and sustainable approaches to ensure long-term success,” Ogbole explained. 

    So far, over 9,000 young Nigerians have been trained in modern agricultural practices through the Soilless Farm Lab’s Enterprise for Youth in Agriculture (EYiA) initiative. These participants are equipped with skills in farm management, setup, and produce sales, preparing them for diverse roles in the evolving agribusiness space. At the helm is Samson Ogbole, a passionate social entrepreneur and mentor with i-FAIR — an innovation programme by the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria. Inspired by Israel’s food-water-energy model, Ogbole promotes year-round vegetable cultivation using minimal water resources.

    The impact of EYiA is already evident in inspiring stories like that of Odey Eucharia, a young entrepreneur from northern Nigeria. Initially drawn by the agricultural training, she discovered invaluable business management skills that transformed her cosmetics venture, Euckays Industries Enterprises. In November last year, Eucharia secured N1 million through Soilless Farm Lab’s Deal Room initiative, revitalising her brand, now flourishing with a growing line of haircare products. Her journey highlights the holistic impact of EYiA — blending agricultural innovation with entrepreneurial development to empower youth across sectors.

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    Recently, Soilless Farm Lab deepened its commitment to innovation by partnering with the University of Lagos (UNILAG). The collaboration aims to revolutionise urban agriculture using vertical farming technologies. During a strategic meeting, Ogbole pledged full support, including curriculum input, hands-on training, and expedited implementation of a proposed urban agriculture centre. A ₦5 million donation by Soilless Farm Lab kickstarted the partnership. Professor Bola Oboh, UNILAG’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), reaffirmed the university’s commitment, revealing plans to establish a Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, and the UNILAG Centre for City Agriculture. She underscored the urgency of the project, aiming for a functional demonstration centre within 12–18 months.

    Meanwhile, innovators like Adebowale Onafowora, CEO of Bic Soilless Technology Farms in Abeokuta, are leveraging hydroponics to produce maize fodder for livestock — showcasing how agricultural technology is addressing food system challenges from crop to cattle. In the face of rising climate challenges and water scarcity, innovative agricultural practices are becoming increasingly vital. According to Onafowora, hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil, is emerging as a leading solution, offering superior resource efficiency and high-quality yields. He explains that hydroponics ensures efficient use of water and resources while delivering consistently high-quality yields, making it especially suitable for water-stressed regions. “While traditional methods may offer short-term gains, hydroponics provides long-term sustainability,” Onafowora notes. He adds that crops like lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, and strawberries thrive under hydroponic systems, meeting both local and international market demands for freshness and quality.

    In 2017, BIC Farms partnered with Landmark University (LMU), Omu-Aran, Kwara State, to drive a soilless farming revolution. Onafowora underscores the urgency of adapting to urbanisation and dwindling arable land, pointing out that hydroponics makes agriculture more appealing to the younger generation — a crucial factor as Nigeria’s farming population ages. Dr. Samson Odedina, former Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and past Rector of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, echoes this urgency. He advocates for integrating technology into farming, stating: “The sector faces challenges that demand fast-paced, scalable innovation to transform agri-food systems.”

    One such innovation is Tractrac, a cloud-based platform founded by Godson Ohuruogu. The platform crowd-sources and crowd-funds access to agricultural machinery, providing affordable mechanisation services to over 135,000 smallholder farmers across Nigeria. “Mechanisation isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity for agricultural progress,” Ohuruogu says. His platform, TracTrac-Plus, allows real-time booking of farm equipment, helping farmers improve productivity and reduce manual labour. Together, these innovators reflect a new wave of solution-driven agriculture, harnessing technology to drive sustainability, youth engagement, and food security in Nigeria’s evolving agricultural landscape. “The company is also actively working to address gender and youth gaps in mechanisation by supporting women and young entrepreneurs in setting up sustainable mechanisation businesses.

    The Chief Executive of SMEFUNDS, Femi Oye is championing the urgent need for communities to be “powered up” through decentralised renewable energy projects. His conviction is that these initiatives are not merely about electricity, but are a vital weapon in the fight against hunger, particularly in the country’s most remote rural areas. Oye highlighted the potential of harnessing renewable energy to revolutionise food security.

    With rising temperatures threatening food production, he emphasised the importance of clean energy sources such as solar and biomass. His Green Energy United project, which produces bio-ethanol gel from water hyacinth and sawdust for clean cooking, exemplifies innovative solutions that bridge energy and food security.

    Oye is a strong proponent of kick-starting rural development and promoting food security by deploying solar-powered pumps and irrigation systems. He emphasised that these technologies can reach extremely remote villages, unlocking agricultural potential that has long been hampered by a lack of reliable power. He believes that renewable energy can power various aspects of the agricultural value chain, from processing and storage facilities to providing lighting for extended working hours, all contributing to a more robust and resilient food system.

    Lagos has unveiled plans to enhance the adoption of next-generation agritechnologies through pilot training programmes designed to deepen workforce specialisation levels. Indeed, the state is emerging as a vibrant hub for AgTech, driven by a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem and supportive governmental initiatives. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food System, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, underscored the positive policy environment for the agritech sector, recognising its strategic significance in addressing food security and driving economic growth.

    “We established the Lagos Innovation Club as a platform for young business owners in the agri space,” Olusanya noted, emphasising the government’s role in facilitating private sector-led initiatives and fostering collaborations.

    Across Africa, countries are looking towards Israel as a model for developing smart technology to improve food security. The Chief Executive Officer of the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr Olufemi Oladunni, urged the Federal Government to cooperate with Israel, particularly in leveraging their expertise in advanced agricultural technologies such as drip irrigation. “Israel is a desert place where everything is green. Their experience in transforming the desert into green land is legendary,” Oladunni observed, highlighting the potential for Nigeria to combat desert encroachment and enhance food production with Israeli knowledge.

    The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, in a recent event, expressed his country’s pride in partnering with Nigeria to develop its economic and business landscape, emphasising Israel’s readiness for business collaborations. Israeli startups are utilising technology across the entire food supply chain, from agricultural production to the development of nutritious and sustainable food. With over 750 companies driving innovation in the agrifood tech sector, Israel’s advancements in data analysis, Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics and biological sciences offer invaluable lessons for Nigeria.

    The Head of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Bruno Gerard, believes Africa’s agricultural landscape stands at a critical juncture, brimming with potential yet facing significant challenges. However, according to him, universities hold the key to unlocking this potential and forging a better future for the Continent’s farmers. Gerard emphasised that these institutions are not just centres of academic learning, but vital engines for innovation, research and capacity building–all essential ingredients for transforming African agriculture.

    According to him, UM6P is ready to partner with Nigerian universities to shape a better Africa for farmers. He sees the university providing incubators for the next generation of agricultural leaders, researchers and extension workers who will drive sustainable practices and food security across the Continent. He highlighted several critical ways the university contributes to this vision. These include developing climate-resilient crops and sustainable farming techniques tailored to Africa’s diverse agro-ecological zones. The research, according to him, is crucial for increasing yields, reducing post-harvest losses and adapting to the impacts of climate change. His insights underscore a compelling vision where academic excellence translates directly into tangible benefits for the millions of farmers who are the backbone of Africa’s economy.

    Early this year, the European Union (EU) reiterated its dedication to revolutionising agriculture in Nigeria and other Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) nations through digitalisation. The commitment was highlighted during a field mission for the EU’s DIGISOL project in Owerri. The Head of Cooperation for the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Massimo De Luca, emphasised the EU’s resolve, stressing that the DIGISOL project aims at equipping rural farmers with essential digital tools and training.

    The initiative is set to significantly improve agricultural practices across the country. Luca extended his gratitude to the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Umuagwo, Imo State, for its effective collaboration in training farmers throughout the state. He also acknowledged the support of the Imo State Government, stating that the DIGISOL project will enhance food security and improve livelihood. “The EU DIGISOL project is about digital solutions and the transformation of lives through food sustainability. It’s about ensuring that Nigerian farmers have the tools that they need to thrive in an era of climate change,” Luca stated.

    The project’s Team Lead, Mr Chris Addy-Nayo, explained that the initiative focuses on supporting digital production, processing and the sharing of trade knowledge. He reported that the project has already engaged 100 farmers in Imo, 200 in Kwara and 300 in Ogun states. Addy-Nayo assured farmers of the EU’s continued commitment to optimising agricultural productivity through digital processes. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES) Umuagwo, Prof Christopher Eze, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action through technical education, agriculture, human capital development and food security.

  • Inside LUTH’s infrastructure renaissance

    Inside LUTH’s infrastructure renaissance

    Once synonymous with failing infrastructure and interrupted care, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, is now undergoing a striking rebirth. Backed by unprecedented federal funding, sweeping renovations and new medical equipment, the institution is repositioning itself as a true centre of healthcare excellence. But even as members of staff and patients embrace this new dawn, persistent challenges—especially erratic power supply and the exodus of health professionals—remain pressing concerns, reports Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF.

    A gentle hum of monitors and clinical beeps once filled the wards at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)—steady, reassuring sounds that signalled life and routine care. But all too often, that calm was shattered by the deep, mechanical cough of a failing generator. The lights would flicker. Machines paused. And for a few heart-stopping seconds, nurses and doctors held their breath, waiting for backup power to kick in.

    Before the hospital’s ongoing infrastructure renaissance, this scene was painfully familiar—especially in intensive care units and operating theatres, where even a moment’s delay could be critical.

    Like many public health institutions across Nigeria, LUTH—once a flagship of Nigerian healthcare — battled unreliable electricity supply for decades. Wards were lit by torchlight. Surgeries sometimes proceeded under the glow of mobile phones. Generators ran around the clock, guzzling diesel that drained budgets and blackened the air. The cost—both financial and human—was steep. “Sometimes, we lost more than power,” one nurse recalled softly. “We lost time, we lost patience, and in rare, heart-breaking moments—we lost lives.”

    A new dawn sweeping across LUTH

    These days, that dark chapter is giving way to a brighter, more reliable era. In the last few years, LUTH has undergone a transformation that speaks to the larger story of renewal unfolding across Nigeria’s healthcare system. The hum of monitors is steadier now. The flickers are fewer. And the once-ominous silence that followed a power cut has been replaced by confidence in more sustainable and dependable energy sources.

    At the heart of this transformation is a wave of unprecedented federal investment in teaching hospitals — a surge in infrastructure funding that has risen by over 900 per cent under the current administration. This injection of resources has become the lifeline powering LUTH’s renaissance, reshaping it into a model of resilience and modern healthcare delivery.

    According to the LUTH Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo, Nigeria is witnessing an infrastructural revolution in its teaching hospitals unlike anything seen in living memory. “Teaching hospitals’ infrastructure funding has increased by over 900 per cent,” he told The Nation in an exclusive interview; his voice carrying both conviction and optimism following a guided tour across LUTH’s sprawling premises and newly upgraded facilities.

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    “The government is allocating lots of money to upgrade infrastructure here. We have never witnessed anything close to this in over 40 years. Aside from the physical transformation, we’re also getting new medical equipment. If the Federal Government sustains this trend in the next five years, all our teaching hospitals will become world-class,” he said.

    Those words are not just a boast—they echo through the very walls of LUTH currently. Where once peeling paint, leaky ceilings and crumbling wards defined the patient experience, new scaffolding, fresh tiles and humming machinery now tell a different story.

    At the centre of this renewal is the comprehensive renovation of LUTH’s largest and busiest wards—E3, E5 and E7. Collectively, these three wings stretch across three floors and accommodate a total of 240 beds, serving as the hospital’s workhorses for decades. Together, they house 90 individual wards and receive some of the highest patient inflows in the entire facility.

    “These are the busiest wards in the hospital, and their upgrade will significantly boost our capacity to serve patients,” Prof. Adeyemo, a maxillofacial surgeon and professor at University of Lagos, further explained. What makes the renovation remarkable is not just its scale, but its source. “It is fully funded by the Federal Government,” he stressed. “That shows a clear policy shift. The government is no longer patching holes; it is making long-term, transformational investments.”

    As the CMD said during the tour, the work is painstaking. Walls are being reinforced. Worn-out plumbing and electrical systems are being replaced with modern fittings. Each ward is being redesigned to reflect international standards of patient comfort and infection control. The result will be a more dignified, efficient and safe environment for patients and caregivers alike.

    Beyond the general wards, LUTH is also breaking new ground by investing in a dedicated three-storey geriatric centre—a first of its kind in Lagos, and among the few in Nigeria. For Prof. Adeyemo, who graciously acknowledged the solid infrastructural strides of his predecessor, Prof. Chris Bode, the symbolism could not be more powerful. “Elderly people don’t always need treatment; what they need is a place where they can live with dignity among their peers,” he explained.

    “Facilities of this kind are scarce in Lagos, so this will make a huge difference,” he also said. The geriatric centre is designed not only as a medical hub but as a sanctuary for ageing Nigerians, reflecting an emerging recognition that health planning must keep pace with the country’s changing demographics. With Nigeria’s elderly population growing, he said LUTH’s investment is both timely and visionary.

    The transformation does not stop with the main wards. Other critical points of care—often the first or last line of defence in life-and-death situations—are also receiving a facelift. Renovations are underway in additional medical and surgical wards, including E6, while major upgrades are progressing in the labour ward, neonatal intensive care units and the Accident and Emergency (A and E) complex.

    “These upgrades will have a direct impact on patient outcomes. From maternal health to accident response, LUTH will be better equipped than ever,” he said.

    In practical terms, this means mothers in labour will no longer deliver under flickering lights or amid faulty equipment. Accident victims rushed into the A and E will receive care in a modernised environment designed to save precious seconds. And fragile new-borns will have a better fighting chance, shielded by reliable power and state-of-the-art incubators.

    While the government funding has been the catalyst, private philanthropy is quietly expanding the margins of LUTH’s transformation. One striking example is the recent upgrade of the Physiotherapy Department, financed by a philanthropic family determined to make a lasting impact. Through the remarkable benevolence of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and his family, what was once a modest bungalow in LUTH has been magnificently transformed into a striking three-storey complex equipped with world-class facilities. Recently inaugurated, the new Wole Olanipekun Physiotherapy Centre is being hailed as a landmark addition to the nation’s health infrastructure—one that blends architectural brilliance with a deep sense of service to humanity. Solar-powered and future-ready, the centre embodies a seamless mix of elegance and functionality. Within its walls are a hydrotherapy pool designed to aid recovery and rehabilitation, gyms specially created for both adults and children, spacious seminar halls for training and knowledge exchange, and a fully equipped radiology centre to support advanced diagnostics. Spread across three expansive floors, the complex also boasts eight treatment cubicles, making it capable of serving a large number of patients at once while providing specialised physiotherapy services that meet international standards.

    The facility, estimated to have cost well over N1.5 billion, is already being touted as by far the most advanced physiotherapy centre in Nigeria—and indeed West Africa, capable of delivering comprehensive rehabilitation services to patients recovering from stroke, injury, or chronic illness.

    According the CMD, the centre was donated by Mr. Bode Olanipekun (SAN) and his wife, in honour of the Olanipekun family’s enduring legacy of giving back to society. More than just bricks and mortar, the facility represents a philosophy of compassion and commitment to community renewal.

    The outpatient building as a game-changer

    At the heart of LUTH’s ongoing renaissance is one of its boldest undertakings yet—the transformation of its outpatient services. For decades, the hospital’s old outpatient building struggled under the weight of sheer demand. Long queues, crowded waiting areas and inadequate consulting spaces often defined the patient experience.

    But now, a revolutionary redesign is changing that story. One of the flagship projects in the pipeline is the renovation of the old outpatient building and its integration with a state-of-the-art outpatient complex situated just across the road. Linking the two facilities is a sleek, glass-panelled skywalk—an architectural solution that does more than bridge two buildings.

    The CMD enthused that it symbolises LUTH’s determination to reimagine patient care and workflow for the 21st Century.

    The new outpatient centre, a massive five-storey edifice, is set to be inaugurated by President Tinubu—a move underscoring its national importance as a model of federal investment in healthcare. LUTH’s Chief Medical Director described the project as “a bold redesign of hospital architecture to improve patient flow.”

    In his words, it is not just about new bricks and mortar, but about creating an environment where efficiency, dignity and accessibility are at the core of service delivery. The facility will feature 254 consulting rooms—an unprecedented leap in capacity that promises to drastically cut down waiting times.

    Each room is being purpose-built to enhance the consultation process, ensuring doctors and patients have adequate space and privacy. The building also incorporates wide ramps, modern lifts and other accessibility features, making it user-friendly for elderly patients and those with disabilities.

    For a teaching hospital that sees thousands of outpatients daily, this project is a potential game-changer. It represents not only an infrastructural upgrade but a philosophical shift: patient care must be efficient, dignified, and uncompromised by the failings of the past.

    Parallel to the outpatient expansion, LUTH is constructing a three-storey Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) Centre dedicated to tuberculosis and other infectious diseases. For a country that still carries one of the highest TB burdens in the world, the significance of this cannot be overstated.

    Equipped with modern laboratories, isolation wards and consultation rooms, the DOT Centre will serve as a referral hub not only for Lagos but for the wider West African sub-region. It reflects the reality that world-class healthcare is not just about treating heart attacks and cancers, but also about controlling communicable diseases that continue to claim thousands of lives each year.

    For Prof. Adeyemo, the challenge now is sustainability. “If the government sustains this pace for another five years, our teaching hospitals will stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world,” he said.

    How it all began: FG’s renewed focus on the health sector

     For decades, Nigeria’s health sector has wrestled with deep-seated challenges: a rise in non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and hypertension; limited access to healthcare and essential medicines; and hospitals weighed down by inadequate infrastructure and outdated equipment. These shortcomings have often translated into unnecessary deaths, medical tourism, and a growing lack of confidence in the nation’s capacity to deliver world-class care. Successive administrations promised reform, but progress was often piecemeal—leaving patients, health workers and policymakers yearning for decisive, coordinated action.

    That tide began to turn in February 2024, when the Federal Government signalled a bold new chapter for the sector. In a move described as one of the most ambitious health investments in the country’s history, the Federal Executive Council approved $1.07 billion for health sector reforms under the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) programme. This sweeping initiative was conceived not merely as an intervention, but as a systemic overhaul designed to tackle both immediate needs and long-term structural weaknesses.

    The reforms were wide-ranging. Alongside the HOPE programme, the government also approved a N4.8 billion allocation specifically targeted at HIV treatment, prevention and care. The combined effort reflects an understanding that Nigeria’s health burden is twofold: communicable diseases such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis remain stubbornly prevalent, even as the country battles the rising wave of non-communicable conditions that now account for an increasing share of hospital admissions and mortality.

    To finance the HOPE programme, Nigeria secured two concessional loans of $500 million each from the International Development Association (IDA), complemented by $70 million in grant funding from international partners. Speaking on the package, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, explained that the facility was structured to ease repayment pressure while unlocking critical resources needed to reverse decades of underfunding in the health sector.For Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the HOPE programme goes to the heart of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. More than just injecting funds into infrastructure, he stressed, the initiative is about investing in people. Already, as Prof. Adeyemo put it, institutions such as LUTH are beginning to feel the ripple effects of this renewed focus. The reforms are translating into both structural and physical transformations, gradually reshaping Nigeria’s apex healthcare centres into true centres of excellence—marked by upgraded infrastructure, modern equipment, and environments increasingly aligned with global standards.

    Recall that the President had, in February 2024, directed that the infrastructure and equipment of 16 selected institutions be comprehensively upgraded across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones, marking a decisive step in his administration’s commitment to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system.

    Among them are the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba and the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria. Six of these teaching hospitals have been earmarked for the establishment of oncology and nuclear medicine centres, with each facility expected to be delivered within 12 to 18 months.

    According to a statement from the Presidency titled ‘President Tinubu Approves Immediate Upgrade of Key Health Infrastructure Across Nigeria’s Six Geo-Political Zones,’ the modernisation drive is “in line with his administration’s vision of overhauling the health and social welfare sector… to ensure that world-class cancer diagnosis and care is accessible to all Nigerians.”

    In addition to LUTH and ABUTH, other beneficiaries of the oncology and nuclear medicine expansion are the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Edo State, the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu State, the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina and the University of Jos Teaching Hospital in Plateau State.

    Beyond oncology, President Tinubu also approved the expansion of critical healthcare services—including radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology, as well as cardiac catheterisation—in 10 hospitals nationwide. These are: Reference Hospital, Kaduna (Northwest), which will benefit from new facilities in radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology; Medical Diagnostic Centre Complex, Enugu (Southeast), slated for similar upgrades; and Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto (Northwest), which will receive diagnostic and interventional radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterisation services.

    Others are University College Hospital, Ibadan (Southwest), which will see expansions in diagnostic and interventional radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterisation; University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (Southsouth), marked for improvements in radiology and clinical pathology; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi (Northeast), also set for radiology and clinical pathology upgrades; and Federal Medical Centre, Asaba (Southsouth), which will undergo similar expansions.

    The list continues with Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre Complex, Ilorin (Northcentral), earmarked for radiology and clinical pathology; Jos University Teaching Hospital (Northcentral), also scheduled for upgrades in the same areas; and Federal Medical Centre, Nguru (Northeast), which will equally benefit from new radiology and clinical pathology facilities. The Presidency explained that the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, working in collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), will implement the upgrades. These include comprehensive improvements in cancer-treatment infrastructure, alongside the renovation and expansion of existing facilities, with the aim of broadening access to quality healthcare nationwide.

    Poor remuneration and power supply crisis persist

    Now, the palpable mood inside LUTH reflects a new sense of optimism. For decades, staff and patients had grown accustomed to leaky roofs, peeling walls, overcrowded wards, and frequent equipment breakdowns. For the CMD whose colleagues describe as tireless, the transformation is nothing short of inspiring. “The pace of infrastructure renewal here is refreshing,” he told The Nation. “Members of staff morale is high and patients are already beginning to notice improvements. For the first time in many years, there is genuine hope that LUTH is reclaiming its pride of place.”

    The CMD appealed for the Federal Government’s support to replicate in Lagos what was done in Maiduguri, where the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital now enjoys a 12-megawatt solar hybrid power supply from the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

    “A similar intervention here at LUTH would transform our capacity. It would guarantee uninterrupted power for our theatres, ICUs, laboratories and diagnostic centres—ultimately improving patient outcomes and enabling us to deliver world-class care,” he explained.

    While electricity remains the most pressing infrastructural headache, another equally urgent challenge threatens the future of LUTH and the wider Nigerian health system: the unrelenting wave of medical brain drain, popularly known as japa.

    Nigeria has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the world, and the exodus of skilled professionals to Europe, North America and the Middle East has only worsened the crisis. For teaching hospitals like LUTH, where training the next generation of healthcare workers is central to its mandate, the human resource gap is particularly devastating. “The federal government has made efforts to increase the number of doctors and other medical professionals trained annually,” Prof. Adeyemo acknowledged. “But the main issue is not just the numbers—it is retention. If you train 1,000 and most of them leave within a year, what have you gained?”

    The CMD argued that the root of the exodus lies in poor remuneration and working conditions, a reality that has become more glaring in recent years.

    Prof. Adeyemo insists that the solution is clear: competitive pay and better welfare packages. “If the government can address the issue of poor remuneration, many healthcare workers will stay. They are not just leaving for better facilities abroad; they are leaving because they want to be valued here. Until we fix this, infrastructure upgrades will not achieve their full impact.” For him, the picture is one of both progress and caution. The wave of federal investment in LUTH and other teaching hospitals is laying the foundation for centres of healthcare excellence that can rival peers across Africa. But without sustainable power and a committed workforce, the dream could falter. “The reforms are not merely cosmetic,” the CMD stressed. “They are foundational. If we sustain them, LUTH will not only serve Nigeria—it will serve the world.”

  • Repositioning Nigeria as industrial hub for local paper production

    Repositioning Nigeria as industrial hub for local paper production

    Tucked away in the heart of Nigeria’s industrial sector, lies an often-overlooked opportunity — the local paper manufacturing industry. It’s not as glamorous as oil or as headline-grabbing as fintech, but it holds the potential to transform the Nigerian economy, ALAO ABIODUN and DAVID BOLARINWA write.

    The paper sector, once considered a robust component of Nigeria’s industrial base, is now characterised by low capacity utilisation, rising production costs, and limited support from the government.

    However, stakeholders believe the paper industry especially the moribund paper mill sector can work, it can thrive, and it can rescue Nigeria from both unemployment and a high-spending import system — if only the government and the people would believe in it.

    Over the years, Nigeria, one of the largest consumers of paper in Africa, has continued to pour billions of dollars into importing nearly 90–95 percent of its demand for white-grade paper, while local producers struggle to keep afloat.

    Meanwhile, stakeholders in the manufacturing industry believe the paper industry could find hope in the Nigeria First Policy of President Bola Tinubu’s recent initiative to prioritise locally made goods in public procurement.

    The Nigeria First Policy, signed by President Tinubu and designed to prioritise locally made goods and services in public procurement, has been hailed as a bold step towards reducing import dependence and promoting job creation.

    The Policy mandates that all ministries, departments, and agencies prioritise locally made goods, with any procurement of foreign products requiring a formal waiver certifying the non-availability of local alternatives. But industry leaders argue this requirement is not being applied in the printing and publishing sectors.

    These stakeholders urged the Federal Government to implement bold policies that will reposition the nation as West Africa’s industrial hub for paper production, warning that the dominance of cheap imported paper continues to destabilize local pricing, distort competition, and weaken Nigeria’s paper value chain.

    A Local Industry with Global Cost

     According to a report from Nairametrics, In 2021, Nigeria imported over $600 million worth of paper and paper-related products. That’s $600 million in foreign exchange leaving the country annually for a product that Nigeria can mostly produce locally.

    Similarly, paper prices in Nigeria in the last five years have surged by over 300 per cent, driven by foreign exchange crisis, transport bottlenecks and rising production costs. As a result, many local printers, despite having invested in high-capacity equipment, are battling low patronage.

    Some key stakeholders argued that Nigeria’s local mills are already producing international-grade 50gsm and 60gsm paper, suitable for exercise books, publishing, and commercial printing.

    However, unless the government increases import tariffs on finished paper and supports local procurement, the sector’s growth will be stifled.

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    A stakeholder in the paper production industry, Williams Sun who spoke with The Nation said: “We are building something great in Nigeria, but we are also facing an uneven playing field. The influx of underpriced and often inferior foreign paper is sabotaging local industry confidence.

    “We’re not asking for a blanket ban, but for fair policy that encourages Nigerian content. If we import everything, we export jobs and import poverty.

    Sun praised recent investments that have stabilized paper pricing and expanded job creation, particularly in the education sector.

    According to him, the consistent local supply of writing paper has already led to more affordable exercise books and improved access for low-income students.

    Looking at the broader socio-economic value of the industry, the local paper production is reviving communities, promoting technical skill development, and contributing to Nigeria’s climate goals through wastepaper recycling and sustainable forestry practices.

    From Cassava to Printing Press

     One might not expect to find cassava farmers and timber contractors playing a vital role in paper production, but in Nigeria, they do. “Cassava starch, when processed, becomes a type of gum we use in making paper,” Sun explained. “It’s one of our most important materials. The value chain involves thousands — farmers, transporters, machine operators, wood contractors — everyone benefits.”

     In many rural areas, people are now beginning to understand the economic value of trees beyond furniture or firewood. “Now they know their tree roots can produce paper,” Sun added. “Even in rainy seasons, they keep working because they earn, that’s the impact.”

     This transformation of local raw materials into industrial input is what industrialization looks like at the grassroots. It’s not just about factories and machines; it’s about people, families, and communities woven into a fabric of productivity.

    Nigeria can shift away from import dependency and focus toward localized, inclusive industrial growth driven by investment, policy, and innovation.

    The revitalization of the local paper manufacturing is crucial for economic diversification, job creation and the preservation of foreign exchange so as to foster a self-reliant and robust domestic industry.

     The Bureaucracy of progress

     Despite the human capital and natural resources at play, stakeholders lamented about the frustrating system, highlighting the issue of slow policy processes, difficult engagements with customs, and loopholes that benefit importers at the expense of local manufacturers.

     Also, there are the essential inputs — materials like long-fiber pulp, peroxide, and caustic soda that are not produced locally due to climatic or industrial limitations. 

    The environmental benefits of investing in the paper industry are equally compelling. For years, Lagos streets were littered with plastic and paper waste, contributing to pollution and clogged drainages. But in recent times, there’s been a visible reduction in this trend — thanks to the rise in recycling efforts.

    Yet, the problem isn’t just about paper — it’s about mindset, policy, and a system that inadvertently punishes local efforts while rewarding foreign imports.

    Another stakeholder, Rajeev Kumar, warned that the unchecked dominance of imports would strangle local investment. He said many entrepreneurs who invested heavily in local production are unable to recover their investments.

    Way forward

    To recalibrate the progress in local paper industry, the government can consider tax incentives for local manufacturers, access to forex for equipment upgrades, access to BOI (Bank of Industry) loans at a cheaper interest rate and the classification of paper manufacturing as a priority sector within Nigeria’s industrial policy.

    Most importantly, the establishment of a Paper Industry Council to serve as a liaison between government, industry, and investors, enabling real-time policy feedback and technical collaboration on sustainability and innovation can help reposition the country’s status.

    The sector currently supports more than 7,000 direct and indirect jobs across three regions and could double that figure by 2026 with the right policy framework.

    A Call to Action

     Beyond the bureaucratic challenges and unfair competition from cheap imports, the local paper mill sector needs validation — from government and the Nigerian public. Publishers, educational institutions, and printers have been called upon to use Nigerian-made paper.

     This repositioning vision isn’t far-fetched. In a country where paper is still essential — from education and publishing to packaging and branding — building a thriving paper industry isn’t just industrial policy; it’s economic survival.

  • Bauchi, Gombe mothers strike home-grown solutions to child malnutrition

    Bauchi, Gombe mothers strike home-grown solutions to child malnutrition

    • Millet, sorghum, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes to the rescue

    When funding for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) began to dry up in Bauchi and Gombe, leaving malnourished children stranded, mothers turned to their farmlands for answers. In Kaltungo (Gombe) and Toro (Bauchi) local government areas where nearly every household now cultivates orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, women are planting hope alongside food—deploying homegrown solutions to prevent stunting and wasting among their children, DAVID ADENUGA reports.

    Malnutrition is still a major crisis in Nigeria’s North-East, with Bauchi and Gombe states among the worst affected. Thousands of children under five continue to suffer from stunting, wasting and being underweight, leaving health experts alarmed.

    According to the 2021 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Bauchi ranked as one of the states with the highest stunting rate, with over 50 per cent of children under five affected.

    Gombe also has similar figures, with more than half of its children chronically malnourished, according to NDHS and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS).

    Also, Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) centres are still struggling with frequent stockouts of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) that have  left many children untreated.

    Under CMAM, children aged six months to five years with acute malnutrition are placed on RUTF for about two months until recovery.

    The programme was introduced in Nigeria in 2009 by the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) in 12 northern states, with governments expected to provide counterpart funding. But despite allocations in state governments’ budget, only little money is released, leaving centres unable to buy the needed supplies.

    A visit to five centres in Bauchi  — Baima PHC (Warji), Miri PHC (Bauchi), Bununu (Tafawa Balewa), Madara PHC (Katagum), and Gamawa Township Maternity — confirmed that RUTF has been out of stock for weeks.

    At Miri Health Centre, a worker revealed that supplies had not arrived for almost a month. “We contacted the state nutrition officer who said a memo was written for UNICEF to send more, but nothing has come. We now teach mothers how to prepare local substitutes like *tamowa*, made from groundnut and other foods,” he explained.

    According to a report by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), 23,000 cases of severe malnutrition were recorded in Bauchi between January and June 2024 — a 120 per cent increase from the same period in 2023.

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    It also noted that malnutrition across Nigeria rose by 40 per cent. “Poverty is a factor, but not the only reason numbers are rising,” MSF’s medical coordinator, Thierry Boyom, said.

    MSF, which has supported Bauchi since 2022, admitted its centres are overstretched.

    Additionally, UNICEF data shows Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, with malnutrition linked to nearly half of deaths of children under five.

    In Gombe, UNICEF raised the alarm over worsening state of malnourished children.

    At a recent advocacy workshop in Jos in April 2025,  its Bauchi Field Office Chief, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, said more than 50 per cent of children in the state are stunted, while many also suffer wasting and micronutrient deficiencies such as iron and vitamin A. Exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low, further compounding the crisis.

    Dr. Rafique urged stronger commitments at the local government level. She highlighted the importance of investing in exclusive breastfeeding, improved feeding practices, and use of diverse, locally available foods. She also commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for contributing to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), which matches state funding with donor support.

    Yet, despite this progress, UNICEF said a ₦4 billion funding gap remains in Gombe, leaving over 54,000 malnourished children at risk without treatment.

    Community women in Bauchi and Gombe step up to fight malnutrition

    Local women’s  groups and health volunteers in both states are now stepping up with simple, community-driven solutions to tackle the crisis.

    They rely on local foods and basic nutrition education to help mothers improve their children’s health.

    The effort is led by local women’s groups with support from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) like Action Against Hunger and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

    They work with state health agencies and traditional leaders. Female volunteers go door to door, helping mothers spot signs of malnutrition and teaching them how to prepare healthy meals from local foods.

    Mothers are also trained to use a simple tool, the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), which are available through UNICEF Supply Division.

    MUAC tapes are used to measure the upper arm circumference of children and also that of pregnant women, helping identify malnutrition.

    Mothers are turning to local foods such as millet, sorghum and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes to fight child malnutrition, with support from UNICEF.

    Residents say the intervention has improved children’s health, boosted energy levels and even reduced cases of cataracts.

    A visit to Kalorgu Primary Health Care centre in Kaltungo Local Government Area showed that more women are adopting preventive practices, planting potatoes in household farms and sharing knowledge with neighbours.

    In the Kaltungo community,  the fight against child malnutrition is yielding results — thanks to a blend of local food solutions, exclusive breastfeeding campaigns, and the use of simple diagnostic tools like MUAC tapes.

    According to Talatu Fadafeso, officer in charge of the Kalorgu health facility, over 600 children were admitted for malnutrition in July alone. “Out of the 627 children, the number has drastically reduced to 300,” she said.

    She explained that this is due to regular weight checks and MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) measurements and introduction of local nutrition methods.

    Talatu said the introduction of local nutrition methods, such as food demonstrations using corn, millet, groundnut and soya beans, has made a visible impact.

    “We tell mothers not to depend only on government support but to prepare their own packs at home. The results have been very encouraging,” she added.

    Talatu is among the Health volunteers trained by UNICEF who go from door-to-door and even testing children during community gatherings.

    “Our main work is outreach. They meet households, administer MUAC tests, and guide mothers on feeding practices. They also hold weekly meetings with women,” Talatu said.

    Before UNICEF’s intervention, Aisha Muhammed Aiyu, in an interview with our reporter, had said she mainly relied on corn for her children’s meals. “I used to pre-grind the corn before cooking, but UNICEF taught us that it should only be freshly ground.

    “They also introduced us to orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. We use the leaves for soup, dry them, and mix them with corn to make swallows for the children. Since then, I’ve seen real improvements,” she explained.

    According to her, the change in her children’s health has been remarkable. “Their energy levels are better, their brains are sharper, and even eye problems like cataracts have reduced after adding the potatoes to their meals.”

    Though some neighbours initially doubted the method, Aisha said she used her own children as proof.

    “At first, people said it would not work. But when they saw the difference in my family, they accepted it. Now, I even share potato seeds with them so they can grow their own.”

    Her motivation, she noted, comes from wanting to help other women. “Many mothers don’t know about these foods that can improve their children’s health. That is why I joined the fight against malnutrition — to show them where to get support, how to feed their children better, and even take them to the hospital when needed.”

    Aisha also uses the MUAC tape to detect malnutrition. “If a child is weak, has yellowish hair and no energy, we check with the tape. If the reading is 6 or 7, it is red and shows danger. A healthy child should measure 12 or 13.”

    At home, she prepares meals with millet, sorghum, corn, rice, and potatoes. “I harvest the potatoes, peel, wash, dry, and grind them. I use them for swallow and pap,” she said.

    For Aisha, the knowledge she gained from UNICEF is not just for her family but for the entire community. “They taught me how to improve our food and identify malnourished children. I feel very happy sharing this knowledge with other women, and when they learn, they also teach others.

    “This way, we can all grow our food and feed our families without depending on the market.”

    However, she said, despite progress, mothers still face the challenge of water supply, climate change and inadequate support from government.

    For Hannatu Dodo, a mother from Kaltungo, the solution lies in combining traditional meals with new nutrition practices. “Before, we relied on Tom Brown made from soya beans or millet, but now we add orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. The difference is clear — the children are healthier, more active, and playful,” she said.

    Motivated by her love for children, Hannatu teaches other mothers how to prepare Tom Brown and incorporate potato flour. “Sometimes, I even make it for them and show them how to cook it. The husbands are supportive; some even send their wives to buy millet or corn,” she explained.

    She added that cases of malnutrition in her area have dropped significantly. “The rate is going down, and we are happy with the progress,” she said.

    Hannatu said they had received little or no support from the government, adding that poor water supply and climate change are making farming harder for families.

    She said sometimes heavy downpours even wash away farmlands, but orange-fleshed sweet potato has become an important option because it grows well even in harsh conditions.

    “It needs less water than many other crops, matures quickly, and provides essential nutrients like vitamin A.

    “For many households, planting sweet potatoes has become a practical way to cope with changing weather while fighting child malnutrition,” she said.

    The model has also brought economic benefits. Hannatu  noted that many mothers have turned homestead farming into small businesses.

    “We sell vines, make drinks, process the powder, and even bake cakes by mixing sweet potatoes with soybeans,” she said.

    What started in three LGAs has now spread to six — Balanga, Billiri, and Shongom among them. Men are also joining, planting sweet potatoes to boost food security in their homes.

    In Toro Local Government Area, women are also  stepping forward to lead the battle against malnutrition, relying on local foods and simple tools to protect children’s health.

    Halimatu Abdullahi, chairperson of the Toro women volunteers, said she organises meetings every two weeks to educate mothers on nutrition and health.

    “We cannot wait for our husbands, the government, or other organisations ttodo everything for us. We farm, raise livestock, and must support our families ourselves,” she explained.

    For Halimatu, her motivation comes from personal experience. “I once had an eye problem that made it difficult to read without glasses. But when I started using sweet potato in my meals, my sight improved. Now I can read without glasses,” she said, adding that the crop is now part of nearly every meal in her home.

    Armed with MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) tapes, Halimatu and her team move from house to house, checking children for signs of malnutrition. “At first, many children tested yellow, showing danger signs. But now, after mothers adjusted their diets, we hardly see that anymore,” she said.

    She explained that families are also adapting their traditional meals such as danwake (made from millet, beans, and cassava flour) by adding potato starch and vegetables like baobab leaves and spinach.

    “This way, mothers don’t need expensive food to keep their families healthy,” she added.

    Fathers in Toro, Kaltingo LGs embrace sweet potato to tackle malnutrition

    Findings made by our reporter revealed that the fight against child malnutrition in Toro Local Government Area of BBauchi State and Kaltungo LGA in Gombe is no longer driven by mothers alone. Fathers are stepping up, learning new feeding practices and embracing the cultivation of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes to protect their children’s health.

    For Umar Isah, the shift began with new knowledge. “Before, we thought malnutrition was just fever or diarrhea. But we later learned it comes from food and our environment,” he admitted.

    Today, his family meals are fortified with sweet potatoes and traditional vegetables like rama. He explained that potato flour is now added to local dishes such as gwate and pap made from kamu, making them richer and healthier for children.

    He acknowledged that while farming sweet potatoes was initially a challenge, the community has embraced it fully. “At first, we didn’t know how to grow it. But once it was explained to us, we took it seriously. Now we evensensitise women on its benefits,” he said.

    Another father, Yau Muhammad Mukhtar, said his motivation to grow sweet potatoes is both personal and communal.

    “I saw how it makes children healthier and smarter, so I’m not playing with the seeds. In two or three months, I will harvest and share with others,” he explained.

    Yau said he can easily identify malnutrition by observing children’s behaviour. “You see it in their voices, their faces, and their eyes,” he said.

    His advice to mothers is simple: “Always give children nutritious food. This potato has helped us a lot. It even improves breast milk for mothers and makes children stronger. Women should eat food that builds the body.”

    Malam Muhammadu, a traditional ruler in Toro Local Government Area, said he regularly advises women to practice what they have been taught by health workers and volunteers.

    “If you are taught something and you do not continue to practise it, you can forget it. That is why I remind mothers daily to hold on to the lessons they’ve received,” he said.

    He stressed that while communities are cooperating, more government support is needed. “What we want is for the government to help us with a hospital and a facility that will provide nutritious food,” he said, pledging to continue sensitising his people on the dangers of malnutrition.

    Another community member, Nuhu Zaki, said his contribution has been through farming sweet potatoes, one of the crops introduced by UNICEF and health partners to improve household nutrition.

    “We harrow the land, cut the seed into pieces, and after three months, we harvest.

    “My children said they had never seen this type of potato before. When my wife fried it, it was very delicious, soft, and sweet,” he recalled.

    He added that he has continued to cultivate and even purchase sweet potatoes from the market when his supply runs out, with support from neighbours who also produce the crop.

    How UNICEF Introduced sweet potato model to tackle malnutrition in Bauchi, Gombe

    UNICEF is stepping up action to fight malnutrition in Bauchi and Gombe states, using a community-based approach that relies on local foods like orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. The programme is helping mothers improve their children’s diets and prevent stunting, wasting, and underweight among children under five.

    Philomena Irene, UNICEF’s nutrition specialist of the Bauchi Chief Field Office, which also covers Gombe State, said the move followed worrying data from the two states.

    Philomena  revealed that a total of 16,862 caregivers were reached with Maternal, Infant and Young Child Feeding (MIYCF) counselling across four Local Government Areas (LGAs) — three in Gombe State and one in Bauchi State.

    She further noted that 9,580 children were admitted for the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) within the intervention period.

    Providing state-specific indicators, she explained that orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, which are rich in vitamin A and other nutrients, have been widely accepted by mothers. Women are learning to grow them in their backyards, cook them in different recipes, and even use the leaves for soups and porridge.

    “The women have noticed great improvements in their children’s health, especially their skin and eyes. Sweet potato is already a common food here, so it was easily accepted,” Irene said.

    The state governments, she added, have supported the project by contributing over ₦175 million to the Child Nutrition Fund and providing agricultural extension workers to train women and monitor backyard farms. These workers also teach households how to improve the cultivation of vegetables such as tomatoes, okra and pepper.

    Irene stressed that prevention is cheaper and more effective than treatment.

    “We have twice as many children moderately malnourished compared to those severely malnourished.

    “Preventing malnutrition is nine times cheaper than treating it. It costs ₦21,000 to prevent malnutrition in a child, but ₦190,000 to treat one child with severe malnutrition,” she explained.

    She added that prevention allows UNICEF and partners to reach more children and stop them from becoming severely malnourished.

    “It is cost-effective, locally available, and sustainable. With simple local foods, families can protect their children before the problem gets worse,” she said.

    The UNICEF official believes the sweet potato model is a lasting solution, not only to fight food poverty but also to empower households.

    The combination of prevention, backyard farming, and small-scale businesses is also helping families to feed their children better and secure healthier futures.

    RUTF is unsustainable

    The Chairman, BSPHDA, Dr. Rilwan Mohammed, said the procurement of RUTF was not sustainable.

    Speaking in an interview with our reporter, he said the government was looking at preventive measures in tackling acute malnutrition rather than being reactive since it has not been able to meet up with its counterpart financial obligation to UNICEF.

    One of the measures, he said, is providing mothers with weaning foods which they can give their children to augment breastfeeding.

    ”We only have 21 C-MAN centres in just 9 out of 20 local government areas. We are only managing because RUTF is too expensive.

    “To get the money to buy it is another problem. It’s actually supplied by UNICEF but it has not been forthcoming because we have not been able to meet up with counterpart funding,” Mohammed said

    This story was supported by Nigeria Health Watch and the Solutions Journalism Network.

  • Expanding e-payment efficiency with PoS policy for cardholders, merchants

    Expanding e-payment efficiency with PoS policy for cardholders, merchants

    Merchants and cardholders stand to benefit immensely from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) new Point of Sale (PoS) policy unveiled last week. Beyond boosting convenience and security in transactions, the policy strengthens confidence in the e-payment space and underscores regulatory commitment to deepening financial inclusion. It also enhances access to credit, improves transaction monitoring, and reinforces consumer protection, writes Assistant Editor COLLINS NWEZE

    The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cashless policy, reinforced by the rapid adoption of mobile banking, created the fertile ground for Point of Sale (PoS) services to thrive. Today, PoS terminals dot both urban centres and remote villages, offering the banked, unbanked, and underbanked unprecedented access to financial services. Millions of agents now serve as critical bridges, enabling cash withdrawals, deposits, fund transfers, and bill payments daily.

    This grassroots penetration reflects CBN’s broader vision of reducing reliance on cash while deepening digital payments that bring financial services closer to the people. To strengthen this ecosystem, the apex bank recently unveiled new e-payment guidelines: “Migration to ISO 20022 Standard for Payment Messaging and Mandatory Geo-Tagging of Payment Terminals.”

    The reform, Governor Olayemi Cardoso explained, not only enhances transparency, compliance and security but also reinforces Nigeria’s leadership in digital payments—a system often ahead of many advanced economies, though under-recognised. “Many innovations that other countries are only now experiencing have been part of our system for years. We must celebrate these successes, as they contribute to building our global reputation. Nigeria’s dynamic fintech ecosystem has driven financial inclusion and positioned the country as a hub of innovation in Africa,” he said.

    Cardoso explained that despite a challenging external environment, Nigerian fintechs continue to shine, attracting significant foreign investment and several have achieved global unicorn status this year. Their innovations, alongside other financial service providers, have fuelled growth in transactions and made financial services more affordable and accessible for many more Nigerians. “We must continue to leverage this channel to enhance access to finance and credit, particularly for under-served populations. However, I urge fintech companies and banks to ensure their platforms are not exploited for fraudulent activities. Strengthening the KYC onboarding process is essential to prevent malicious actors from exploiting our financial system.

    “Additionally, these institutions must prioritise improving transaction monitoring and bolstering consumer protection measures to ensure that digital channels remain safe, especially for the most vulnerable segments of our population,” Cardoso said.

    The CBN boss added that while the apex bank continues to lay the foundation for price stability and foster a conducive policy environment, the role of banks in this journey remains crucial. “At the Central Bank, we have intensified surveillance of market activities to ensure compliance. Together, we must build a market based on strong governance and transparency. As regulators, we will maintain a zero-tolerance approach to compliance violations,” he said.

    X-ray of e-payment rules for PoS operators

    The new circular-“Migration to ISO 20022 Standard for Payment Messaging and Mandatory Geo-Tagging of Payment Terminals,” signed by CBN Director of the Payments System Supervision Department, Rakiya Yusuf, directed banks, fintech companies and other licensed payment operators to install Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking on all Point of Sale (PoS) terminals.

    The move aligns with the apex bank’s bid to tighten oversight of electronic payment transactions in the country. By this policy, all PoS devices must have “native geo-location services enabled, with Double-Frequency GPS receivers for reliable geo-location service.” The operators are also required to register each terminal with a payment terminal service aggregator and provide accurate coordinates of the merchant or agent’s business location.

    It further requires that every PoS machine must capture and transmit its location data at the start of a transaction. Activity outside a 10-metre radius of the registered business or service point will be flagged, while terminals that are not geo-tagged will be barred from processing payments.

    The regulator said existing machines must be tagged within 60 days, and new devices must be tagged before certification and activation. “Geo-location data must be captured at transaction initiation and included in the message payload as a mandatory reporting field: Terminals not directly routed to a PTSA are not permitted to transact.

    “All existing terminals and newly registered terminals must ensure strict adherence always to approved MSC code per sector: All existing terminals must be geo-tagged within 60 days of this circular; new terminals going forward must be geo-tagged before certification and activation,” it said.

    The measures come amid a surge in the use of PoS machines across Nigeria. Once considered an alternative, PoS agents have become a central part of the country’s cash economy, handling millions of payments daily as banks cut branch networks and ATMs often run dry. But rise in PoS usage also raised the risks associated with the business, including rising fraud complaints involving PoS agents. The CBN also directed payment companies to adopt a new global standard for transaction messages, known as ISO 20022, by 31 October.

    The ISO 20022 was designed to create a single global language for transactions, and aligns Nigeria with SWIFT’s migration timeline. However, the biggest move from the regulator is geotagging, which means that every PoS device will now be tied to exact GPS coordinates. The standard, developed by SWIFT, is expected to improve the quality of transaction data and make both domestic and cross-border payments more secure and efficient.

    All PoS devices must run on Android version 10 or higher to integrate with the National Central Switch, which will host the software kit for geolocation monitoring and geo-fencing. “All payment transaction messages exchanged domestically or internationally must be formatted in ISO 20022 in line with CBN and SWIFT specifications. All Institutions shall ensure complete and accurate population of mandatory data elements, including payer/payee identifiers, merchant/agent identifiers, and transaction metadata. All in-scope institutions must complete migration activities and be fully compliant not later than October 31, 2025,” it said.

    Speaking during CBN Fair in Lagos, CBN Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, explained that as a means of protecting banks’ customers and ensuring that they are not short-changed, the CBN launched the Unified Complaints Tracking System (UCTS), aimed at streamlining and improving the management of consumer complaints against financial institutions. The system, alongside a USSD code (*959#) for verifying licensed institutions, enhances transparency and consumer protection in the Nigerian financial sector. “The core objective of this engagement, therefore, is to sensitize members of the public on how the bank’s policies and innovations can enhance their lives and livelihood and contribute to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy,” she said.

    Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria, Lagos, Sunday Daibo, said the apex bank is taking steps to ensure more people are brought into the digital payment network. He said: “In a world where technology is reshaping economies and redefining how people interact with financial services, alternate financial services have emerged not as an option, but as a necessity. They are the bridges connecting the underserved populations to the formal financial system,” he said.

    Industry statistics

    According to Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) data, since their 2013 introduction, PoS terminals have become the go-to for cash for many Nigerians, with about 1,600 PoS operators per square kilometre. There were 8.36 million registered PoS terminals, with 5.90 million active/deployed as of March 2025. Transactions hit N10.51 trillion in Q1 2025, a 301.67 per cent increase from Q1 2024. In 2024, that the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) had been mandated to develop a geo-fencing plan to prevent terminals from being used outside their deployment addresses. Under this latest directive, NIBSS will disable a terminal that has been moved beyond its certified location.

    To ensure compliance, the CBN has ordered all payment terminals to be registered with a Payment Terminal Service Aggregator (PTSA) —NIBSS or Unified Payment Services Limited — with accurate latitude/longitude coordinates indicating the merchant/agent place of business/service and status. Terminals not directly routed to a PTSA are not permitted to transact, and all operators must ensure that their PoS terminals and applications are certified by the National Central Switch (NCS).

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    Understanding PoS operations

    Presently, the PoS terminal operators and kiosks managers are taking over the market, stepping in to make cash available to customers at premium prices. Daily earnings from a PoS business vary depending on the location, the number of customers, and the services provided. Potential earnings range from N5, 000 to N50, 000 or more, depending on one’s business strategy and execution. With a well-planned and executed business model, the PoS operator can achieve significant daily earnings.

    Tinuke Adebola, a PoS Aggregator based in Lagos, said: “PoS terminals are taking over the financial landscape. Banks are not ready to absorb rising costs of maintaining ATM terminals that require power, security, cash movement; cash handling charges and so on. Banking is profit-driven and ATM terminals are no longer meeting the profit needs of banks.”

    Another PoS Aggregator, based in Central Lagos, Oloye Adigun, said that network quality, availability of PoS machines and cost of the machines are crucial in the business. He disclosed that: “Outright PoS machine (smart version) purchase costs N110,000 while the button version costs N65,000; lease costs N45,000 for smart version, while the button brand costs N25,000.” He said bills payment, bank to bank transfer, cash receipts and payment to third parties, among others are key transactions carried out with PoS machines.

    President, Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, Uju Ogubunka, said banking is fast becoming what one does and not where one goes to “Brick/mortar banking, is giving way to digital banking where transactions are completed in seconds, saving costs and providing convenience to bank customers. Consumers are looking for simple technology-driven solutions customised to meet their everyday needs,” he said.

    Regulatory position

    For the CBN, digital innovations ranging from self-service technologies like cell phones, online and mobile banking, Artificial Intelligence, big data, blockchain technology, distributed ledgers, among others, have greatly challenged orthodox systems and helped improve the operational efficiency of financial institutions as they respond to customer demands for more innovative services.

    Recognising the growing importance of consumer protection in an increasingly digital financial landscape, Cardoso embarked on a comprehensive review of consumer protection regulations. This review sought to upgrade the regulatory framework to address emerging risks posed by the rapid growth of Fintech and digital banking solutions. The goal was to enhance customer service standards and increasing engagement with formal financial institutions, ensuring that consumers have access to reliable, efficient, and secure financial services.

    Cardoso further explained that financial inclusion offers equity and opportunity for all Nigerians.  “Our goal is to ensure that 80 per cent of adults are financially included by 2026. Through partnerships with banks, fintechs, agent banking, and targeted support for women and rural communities, we will create a financial ecosystem that leaves no one behind.

    “Our journey ahead demands trust, and trust is built on transparency and accountability. As regulators, we will continue to engage openly with stakeholders, providing regular updates on policy outcomes and adjusting our strategies based on empirical evidence.”