Govt should strengthen digital infrastructure for businesses to operate well -Olaigbe, founder of Gidira

I began my education in Nigeria, where I studied in an environment that taught resilience, creativity, and adaptability. Over the years, I expanded my learning through international programmes and overseas professional development courses, which exposed me to structured digital ecosystems, modern business frameworks, and scalable operational models.

What would you say about education in Nigeria compared to other climes?

Education in Nigeria is rich in intelligence, resilience, and raw talent, but suffers from structural limitations – inconsistent funding, outdated infrastructure, and limited access to modern learning tools. Nigerian students often succeed despite the system, not because of it. In contrast, education in more developed environments is built on structure, predictability, and access. Students benefit from stable infrastructure, digital tools, research facilities, and systems that make learning easier and more practical.

The difference is not in the capability of the Nigerian mind. It is in the environment that supports learning.

Is the motivation the same, or does society play a role? What are the marked differences?

Motivation exists everywhere, but the environment shapes how far motivation can go. In Nigeria, motivation is often driven by survival, ambition, and the desire to break limitations. However, societal challenges, such as unstable infrastructure, limited opportunities, and economic pressure, can slow down even the most driven individuals. In other climes, motivation is supported by systems which include predictable infrastructure; access to funding, clear career pathways, supportive policies, and digital tools that reduce friction. So while Nigerians are highly motivated, the societal support structure is the major difference.

What is your area of interest? What project are you currently working on, educational or business development?

My core interest is business development, digital infrastructure, and systems that help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) grow. I am passionate about building platforms that give structure to entrepreneurship, especially in environments where informal business practices dominate.

Currently, I am working on Gidira, a digital marketplace designed to help Nigerian vendors gain visibility, credibility, and access to customers. It is both a business development project and an educational one because it teaches vendors how to present themselves professionally, manage operations, and build trust.

What is the motivation behind this digital platform?

Gidira was inspired by a personal frustration. When my mum was turning 60, I was in the United Kingdom and wanted to organise a surprise for her back home. I searched online for reliable vendors in her city. Nothing structured came up. No verified listings, no reviews, no way to compare options. I eventually settled for one Instagram vendor simply because she was the only one visible on Google. That experience made something clear: Nigeria does not lack good vendors; it lacks a system that helps people find and trust them.

Gidira was created to solve that problem – a marketplace where vendors are verified, customers have options, and distance is no longer a barrier to planning something meaningful. The platform is innovative and could revolutionise commerce, and it is intentionally designed not to be elitist. The goal is to make digital commerce accessible to small vendors, home businesses, artisans, emerging entrepreneurs, established SMEs, and so on.

The platform is built with low-barrier onboarding, simple tools, and a structure that helps even the smallest business present itself professionally. It is not a luxury marketplace. It is a visibility engine for everyday Nigerian vendors. If anything, Gidira is a democratiser – it gives people who normally would not have access to digital visibility a chance to compete.

So far, what has been the reception of the platform?

Gidira was introduced to the market on the 1st of July, and the reception has been encouraging and validating. Vendors appreciate the verification process, the structured vendor profiles, the no-cash policy that improves trust and the clarity it brings to their business identity. As for feedback, this has highlighted two things: Nigerians are ready for structured digital commerce, and vendors want platforms that help them look professional without complexity.

It has been one of gratitude and determination. The early response confirms that the vision is correct. The next phase is to scale responsibly.

Is Nigeria ripe for platforms like Gidira?

Nigeria is absolutely ripe for platforms like Gidira. The country has a young, tech-curious population, high mobile penetration, a growing digital economy, an increasing trust in online transactions, and a strong entrepreneurial culture.

However, Gidira’s initial target audience is vendors who already understand the value of digital visibility – SMEs, structured small businesses, and vendors who want to scale beyond Instagram or WhatsApp. As adoption grows, the platform will expand to include more informal businesses and rural entrepreneurs.

Nigeria has infrastructural challenges – electricity, network access, network security, and so on. What solutions would you recommend based on your experience with Gidira?

These challenges are real, and they affect every digital business. From Gidira’s experience, three solutions stand out. First is redundancy in operations. Platforms must be built to function even with unstable power or network. Lightweight digital tools: apps and websites should load quickly, even on low bandwidth. Government-private sector collaboration: improving broadband access and cybersecurity requires national-level investment. Nigeria’s digital future depends on infrastructure that supports innovation, and platforms like Gidira show that once the infrastructure improves, Nigerian businesses will thrive even faster.

Where do you think the government can come in to address the limitations you have identified?

Government intervention is most needed in infrastructure, policy, and digital access. Specifically, it is needed in strengthening digital infrastructure so that businesses can operate reliably. Government intervention is also needed in the area of investing in education technology to modernise learning. Also, in creating SME-friendly policies that reduce friction for small businesses, supporting digital marketplaces that help entrepreneurs gain visibility, and improving power and broadband access, which are foundational to digital growth. With these interventions, the private sector can innovate faster, and platforms like Gidira can scale more effectively.

Are you satisfied with the state of digital infrastructure in Nigeria?

Nigeria has made progress, but digital infrastructure is not yet where it needs to be. Access to ICT is improving, but it is still inconsistent, unevenly distributed, limited by power challenges, and slowed by high data costs. However, the potential is enormous. With targeted investment, Nigeria can build a digital ecosystem that supports innovation, commerce, education, and national development.

If you find yourself in government, what would your priorities be, considering security, road infrastructure, and educational advancement?

If I find myself in government, my priorities would be systems, not slogans. In security, I will invest in intelligence-driven policing, community security networks, and technology-enabled surveillance. In road infrastructure, I will build durable roads using long-term engineering standards, not short-term political cycles. In education, I will modernise the curriculum, integrate digital learning tools, and strengthen teacher training.

Then there will also be digital infrastructure, where I will expand broadband access, support tech hubs, and incentivise digital entrepreneurship. For SME development, I will create policies that reduce friction for small businesses and encourage formalisation. Nigeria’s growth depends on structure, and that would be my governing philosophy.

How do you unwind, and what are your hobbies?

Outside work, my hobbies are simple but grounding. I enjoy reading about business systems, exploring digital innovation, travelling, and spending time studying how societies build functional structures that support economic growth.

NAICOM petitions IGP over fake Niger Insurance management

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over what it described as the unlawful activities of some individuals claiming to be the management of Niger Insurance Plc.

Aside from the petition, NAICOM is also insisting that the company’s licence remains cancelled and that only the legally appointed Receiver/Liquidator has the authority to manage its affairs.

The commission said it took the action after the group allegedly attempted to interfere with the company’s assets, which are meant to be used to pay verified insurance claims and other outstanding obligations owed to policyholders and creditors.

In a statement issued by its management, NAICOM advised members of the public, former policyholders and other stakeholders not to have any dealings with anyone claiming to represent Niger Insurance Plc apart from the Receiver/Liquidator, Otunba Sanya Ogunkuade.

According to the commission, the company remains in receivership and is prohibited from selling or underwriting any new insurance business.

It explained that the Receiver/Liquidator was appointed after the company’s insurance licence was cancelled in 2022 because of its inability to meet its financial obligations, particularly the payment of verified insurance claims.

NAICOM said the Receiver has continued to carry out his legal responsibilities by selling the company’s assets where necessary and using the proceeds to settle verified claims and other liabilities while the winding-up process continues.

The commission disclosed that it had formally reported the activities of the self-acclaimed management to the Inspector-General of Police because they were allegedly trying to take control of or dispose of company assets outside the legal process.

It warned that such actions could affect the recovery of funds meant to settle genuine claims and other obligations owed by the company.

‘NAICOM has formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police regarding the unlawful activities of individuals who continue to parade themselves as the management of Niger Insurance Plc,’ the statement said.

It added that, ‘The Receiver/Liquidator has continued, and will continue, to discharge his statutory responsibilities through the payment of verified claims and settlement of the company’s obligations.’

The Commission also dismissed publications circulated by the group in some national newspapers on July 15, 2026, describing them as false and capable of misleading the public.

NAICOM explained that as the statutory regulator of Nigeria’s insurance industry, it alone has the legal authority to issue, regulate or cancel the licence of any insurance company operating in the country.

Giving details of the legal dispute surrounding the company, the Commission recalled that after Niger Insurance’s licence was cancelled in 2022, some former directors went to the Federal High Court to challenge both the cancellation and the appointment of the Receiver/Liquidator.

According to NAICOM, the court struck out the case in January 2023 after ruling that the former directors no longer had the legal authority to sue on behalf of the company because a Receiver had already been appointed and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

The Commission said the Court of Appeal later dismissed an appeal filed by the former directors in February 2025, while a further appeal before the Supreme Court is still pending.

NAICOM also said the same group later filed another suit before a different judge of the Federal High Court, leading to a judgment delivered in June 2026, which they have relied upon in their recent publications.

However, the Commission said both it and the Receiver/Liquidator have already appealed that judgment and filed applications seeking to stop its enforcement pending the outcome of the appeal.

It maintained that the June 2026 judgment could not override the earlier Court of Appeal decision that upheld the cancellation of Niger Insurance’s operating licence.

The Commission further disclosed that some former directors whose names appeared as plaintiffs in the latest case had written to it, claiming they neither authorised nor knew about the lawsuit.

NAICOM stressed that the former Board of Directors and management of Niger Insurance no longer exist in law, following the cancellation of the company’s licence and the appointment of the Receiver.

It therefore urged stakeholders to deal only with the Receiver/Liquidator on all matters relating to the company’s assets, claims and outstanding liabilities.

‘The licence of Niger Insurance Plc remains cancelled, and the appointment of the Receiver/Liquidator subsists,’ the Commission said.

It added: ‘Stakeholders and members of the general public are strongly advised to distance themselves from any person or group purporting to act for or on behalf of the Company, other than the lawfully appointed Receiver/Liquidator.’

Your salary is not your problem, your lifestyle is

It’s one of the most common statements I hear from women. And while earning more is certainly a good goal, I’ve discovered something interesting after working with hundreds of professionals and business owners over the years.

Many people don’t have an income problem. They have a lifestyle problem.

Before you disagree with me, hear me out.

I’ve met women earning ?250,000 a month who are steadily building wealth. I’ve also met women earning over ?3 million monthly who live from paycheck to paycheck.

The difference isn’t always how much they earn. It’s how they choose to live.

Lifestyle inflation is one of the greatest enemies of wealth creation. As income increases, expenses quietly expand to match-or even exceed-it.

The bigger apartment.

The newer phone.

The luxury vacation.

The designer handbag.

The expensive brunch every weekend.

None of these things is wrong on its own. The problem begins when your standard of living grows faster than your investments.

Too many people celebrate salary increases by upgrading their expenses instead of upgrading their assets.

Imagine receiving a ?200,000 monthly salary increase. Instead of investing ?100,000 and enjoying the remaining ?100,000, many people immediately commit the entire increase to a new car loan or a more expensive lifestyle.

A few years later, they’re earning more than ever before, yet they still feel financially trapped.

Here’s a simple question I encourage every woman to ask herself:

If I lost my job today, how many months could my current lifestyle survive?

The answer reveals whether you’re building wealth or merely funding appearances.

Real wealth is often invisible.

It looks like the woman who quietly owns dividend-paying stocks while driving the same reliable car.

It looks like the woman who has an emergency fund instead of an expensive wardrobe she rarely wears.

It looks like the woman who invests consistently in bonds, mutual funds, real estate, or businesses before upgrading her lifestyle.

Financial freedom isn’t about impressing strangers.

It’s about giving yourself options.

The option to leave a toxic workplace.

The option to care for ageing parents.

The option to support your children’s education without panic.

The option to retire with dignity.

Every naira you earn has a job. The question is: Are you assigning your money to build your future or simply to maintain an image?

The wealthiest people are not always those with the highest salaries. They are often those whose money continues working long after they stop working.

So the next time you’re tempted to say, ‘If only I earned more,’ pause for a moment.

Instead, ask yourself:

‘What if I simply managed what I already earn better?’

That single shift in thinking could become the beginning of your wealth journey.

Because in the end, wealth is not created by income alone.

It is created by intentional choices, consistent investing, disciplined spending, and a legacy mindset.

And that is a lifestyle worth living.

No cause for alarm over U.S. aid, says Jimoh Ibrahim

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, has dismissed fears that Nigeria will be adversely affected by the US House of Representatives decision to cut foreign assistance to the country over alleged targeted violence against Christians and other vulnerable communities.

He said the country has nothing to worry about as America had earlier shifted focus from aid to developing countries to private-sector partnership and free market policies.

Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, who disclosed this in a chat with The Nation yesterday, said Nigeria had keyed into the initiative and wondered the relevance of the US Congress’ decision.

According to him, ‘the new initiative is to drive economic growth and self -reliance in developing nations.’

The U.S. ‘Trade Over Aid’ initiative is a global development strategy launched by the State Department in April 2026.

The program shifts U.S. policy away from traditional government-to-government charity, focusing instead on private-sector partnerships, free-market policies, and international trade to drive economic growth and self-reliance in developing nations.

Led by U.S. Representative to the UN Ambassador Michael Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the initiative involves lobbying UN member states to sign a declaration of principles aimed at restructuring the post-World War II international development and aid system.

The United States Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Ambassador Dan Negrea, was elated when Nigeria keyed into the initiative.

His words: ‘I was very, very happy that Nigeria joined. You are correct; we don’t have as many African countries as we would like. It’s one of my priorities now that we’ve launched to have more meetings with the African Union to invite more countries.’

The US House of Representatives last week passed a fiscal year spending bill with provisions to cut foreign assistance to Nigeria over alleged targeted violence against Christians and other vulnerable communities.

The National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act for the 2027 fiscal year was passed by the House on Wednesday in a 217-209 vote.

This bill contains a provision to withhold all foreign assistance to Nigeria until the US can certify that the Nigerian government is taking effective steps to protect Christians from violence.

The bill demands ‘holding foreign governments and bad actors accountable for persecuting people of faith.’

’Why AKK project is being delayed’

In this interview, Dr Bala Zakka, a petroleum engineer, energy consultant, chartered accountant, tax expert and public affairs analyst spoke on how Nigeria is losing revenue from the delay in completing the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline.

Six years after flag-off, the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline is yet to function. What do you make of it?

I think that generally, as far as people like me are concerned, there is an expectation that whenever you have visionary leaders, they are supposed to plant the seed of growth and development, which is expected to be nurtured and fertilised so that people will see the benefits.

In the context of Nigeria, I think leaders do more of talking. Leaders are always rushing to make statements that do not carry intentions. But if you go to other climes, before leaders talk, they think and plan generationally. In Nigeria, a lot of the leaders are just talking about political gains.

Let us talk about the legislature and the executive. In the executive, we have people that have powers who should be able to sit down, think about what should be done to move the country forward through developmental activity. And those developmental strides can come in different ways.

They can come in form of projects; some are minor while some are major. When the dream of AKK was conceived, honestly, I applauded it, but sometimes, when I sit down and I look at the way leaders think and do things negatively in Africa, most importantly in Nigeria, I feel sad.

I can back up what I am saying. I remember years back when that West African Gas Pipeline project was conceived, the plan was that there would be sufficiency as far as gas was concerned. Everybody knows the value of gas. From natural gas alone you can boost food security because from it you can get ammonia, from ammonia you can get urea, and from urea you can get fertiliser. Everybody also knows that you use natural gas to drive gas turbines and generate electricity.

Right from when I was an undergraduate, I heard about the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project. If that project had crystallised, the plan was from Nigeria, we were going to pump pipe gas to North Africa, to the Mediterranean Sea into Europe. You can imagine what would have happened if we had successfully executed that. It means that Nigeria would have been feeding Europe and some parts of Africa.

Apart from that, looking at the crisis between Ukraine and Russia, and now, the United States and Iran, Nigeria would have raked in billions of naira from gas and the byproducts of natural gas.

So, it is very unfortunate for us. It has been happening from one political dispensation to another because Nigeria has been in a democracy now for probably upwards of 25 years. To me, it is a clear docility from our leaders because leaders are supposed to be visionary, think and plan generationally.

It is either our leaders are not visionary or they don’t surround themselves with good lieutenants that would help them to achieve national objectives and goals.

What do you think is the financial implication of the delay?

Generally, there is what we call the time value of money. When you live in a country like Nigeria where the currency is continuously depreciating and where you have policies that are not well coordinated, the implications are out there for anybody who cares to see.

In Nigeria, you have situations where a project that probably was going to cost you N100 million would increase by another 20 per cent, 30 per cent or 40 per cent if you delayed it for a year or two. And knowing that Nigeria is a country where we have so many things that are not there, in terms of infrastructure to keep the economy moving, it is very clear that every time the project is being revisited, it has to be reassessed and re-evaluated in terms of cost.

And if for any reason there are areas where funding is coming in the form of loans, there is what we call cost of capital. That means the interest will be going up and the equipment you are supposed to get when the exchange rate was probably N200 to a dollar but now N1,300 will increase. You can see the implications. Let us also remember that some of the tools or equipment you require must be imported. Imagine that this project had been completed when the exchange rate was probably N400 to a dollar.

It is clear that the delay is in the negative interest for Nigeria. Apart from the equipment, what about the experts? There will be one or two experts from different parts of the world and you will still pay their charges.

And now that the country is facing insecurity challenges, the cost will be factored by those who will even come in the form of personnel. So, when you look at it, the delay is not in any way going to favour Nigeria. It will add so much to the already existing budget that was there.

And there will be a need for re-evaluation of the project. As I said, looking at the depreciating values of our currency and insecurity, I won’t be surprised if the project would now cost twice the amount it would have cost if it had been executed four or five years ago.

Can the project work without the gas stations and other ancillary infrastructures in place?

No. As far as I am concerned, as somebody who studied petroleum engineering and has a very good knowledge of gas engineering, the project is supposed to start from the beginning to the end.

After that, you talk about commissioning so that people can see the practical deliverability. For us, when we talk about drilling, whether you are drilling for crude oil or gas, the moment you start, until you bring the crude oil or gas to the surface, you have not finished. You must bring it to what we technically call the wellhead.

If you talk about deliverability or delivery of a project, you must start from the beginning and get to the end. It must be completed. Even if it is 99.999 per cent done, provided it is not 100 per cent, then delivery of products will not take place.

It is not like road construction that when you are probably planning to construct, you excavate, put gravel, then at some point you pour bitumen on some parts and say, okay, people can manage the remaining parts until you have money. No. When you do projects like AKK you want to deliver products like crude oil or gas; you must put all the equipment in place or all the materials and start from the beginning to the end. If you don’t have it completed, you can’t put products. It is just like a pipeline project; if you don’t complete it to the last valve and compressor, you cannot pump in gas.

Gas is not something you put without having all the materials in place; in fact, having what we call a dry run. A dry run means a test to check that all the valves, seals, manifolds, compressors and controls are in place. Even if it is 99 per cent done, that one per cent that is not done can lead to a catastrophic safety accident and a very huge economic loss to the country or the investor.

The government has said the project will be delivered this July, is it feasible?

No. It will be a lie if anybody says the AKK project will be ready for commissioning in July 2026. Let us be very careful. These days we are talking about the global community. We are talking about the whole world seeing if something is happening. It can be beamed to the whole world within minutes or seconds.

Let us also understand that when you talk about the oil and gas industry and even gas, you are talking about an international commodity. So you can’t lie. If it is not working in this timeframe, it will also dent the image of Nigeria.

Our leaders should be very careful when it comes to the way and manner the functional image will be dented, especially on projects that are associated with global products like crude oil, gas, gold, uranium, zinc, platinum, coal and the rest.

What is happening with this gas project is not happening like that in Libya. It is not happening in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Norway, Iraq, Iran or Venezuela. I am mentioning countries that are endowed with crude oil and gas. It is not even happening in Angola. What is happening in Nigeria changes the spirit. It doesn’t make experts like us feel proud because we go to other countries. We give lectures to guide other countries, nations or citizens of other nations on how to utilise their crude oil and gas, so when we see that there is political docility in Nigeria, we don’t feel happy.

Most importantly, as somebody from the northern flank of Nigeria, I feel very disappointed because I know the extent to which the project would have transformed so many things about the economic base of the North. I know the effect it is going to have as far as job provision is concerned. I know the effect it is going to have when it comes to power generation, and the effect it is going to have on boosting the general aggregate economy of northern Nigeria, and by extension, the entire Nigeria. I feel highly disappointed.

Top US diplomat Rubio to visit Philippines for ASEAN meetings, Marcos talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Manila next week for a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led meetings, where he is expected to meet President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as Washington seeks to deepen its partnership with the Philippines amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott announced Friday, July 17, that Rubio will travel to the Philippines from July 19 to 23 to attend the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Rubio will also meet with senior government officials from Indo-Pacific countries during the visit.

The Secretary’s visit advances a clear U.S. priority: a free and open Indo-Pacific that delivers safety, security, and prosperity for the region and for the American people,” Pigott said in a statement.

He added that Rubio’s trip will demonstrate the “tangible results” of the US-ASEAN partnership and further deepen the United States’ comprehensive partnership with the Philippines.

The Philippines, which holds the ASEAN chairmanship this year, is hosting the ministerial meetings in Manila.

The West Philippine Sea is expected to be among the key issues during the meetings as tensions between Manila and Beijing persist despite the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea, which Beijing continues to reject.

The meetings come just days after Manila and Beijing exchanged fresh criticisms following the 10th anniversary of the arbitral ruling. On July 12, the Philippines and 13 partner countries, including the United States and Japan, issued a joint statement affirming the award as legally binding. China rejected the statement, calling it a “distortion of the facts” intended to vilify Beijing.

The meetings also come as the renewed conflict involving Iran raises concerns over global energy security, with Asian economies closely monitoring possible disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil exports.

According to the International Energy Agency, about 80% of the hydrocarbons transported through the strategic waterway are bound for Asian countries.

During the ASEAN Summit in Cebu in May, Marcos said ASEAN leaders discussed establishing a regional fuel reserve to help cushion member states from possible supply disruptions caused by global conflicts.

Ateneo launches scholarship in memory of cagers who drowned

Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) is launching a scholarship program in honor of varsity athletes Divine Adili and Rene ‘Bobet’ Baterbonia, two members of its college basketball team who drowned during a team building activity on June 8.

In a statement issued Friday, ADMU said the establishment of the Blue Eagle Athletic Scholarship Fund serves as tribute to the two players, whose death led to a criminal investigation of the team’s coaching staff and placed the top-ranking, Jesuit-run school under intense public scrutiny over its handling of the tragedy.

‘We hope these scholarships will ensure that their names, their spirit, and the values they embodied continue to inspire and support future generations of Ateneo student-athletes,’ it said.

Financial assistance under the program will be extended to aspiring student-athletes residing outside Metro Manila, and will be administered under ADMU’s Office of Admission and Aid.

On Friday, ADMU president Fr. Robert ‘Bobby’ Yap presided over a Mass marking the 40th day since Baterbonia and Adili’s death.

‘Even after 40 days we are not moving on. We continue to offer care for the grieving families of Rene and Divine, for our players and their families, and for the coaching staff,’ Yap said. –

Eala, Venus Williams to team up anew in Mubadala DC Open doubles

Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala is once again partnering with American icon Venus Williams, this time in the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, DC.

Eala and Williams will be part of a star-studded doubles lineup in the tournament, which will feature 18 Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles champions across both the ATP and the WTA tours.

Eala and Williams first teamed up last month in the Bad Homburg Open. They won against Alexandra Osborne and Catherine Harrison in the first round before getting bounced in the quarterfinal by Olivia Nicholls and Tereza Mihalikova.

Williams has won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her young sister, Serena. In last year’s tournament, she also reached the quarterfinals as she paired up with Hailey Baptiste.

The Mubadala DC Open is scheduled from July 25 to August 2.

For her part, Eala returned to the country last week, after a fruitful performance at Wimbledon.

She reached the Round of 16 in the Grand Slam tournament before falling against Jasmine Paolini.

In the doubles’ tournament, Eala and partner Nikola Bartunkova bowed out in the first round against Jelena Ostapenko and Sofia Kenin.

NBI to subpoena former Phisgoc officials

The National Bureau of Investigation will subpoena former officials of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) over alleged irregularities that were committed when the country hosted the the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

In a video sent to reporters via Viber on Friday, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said among those who will be subpoenaed are: Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara (Phisgoc chair, 2019); Dexter Estacio (Phisgoc chief financial officer, 2019); and John Lester Buenconsejo, (Phisgoc corporate secretary, 2019).

Matibag said the subpoenas requiring them to appear before the bureau on Friday, July 24, will be issued on Monday.

The subpoenas, the NBI chief said, direct the former officials to provide oral testimonies and bring necessary documents.

The bureau has created a task force that will look into allegations of unliquidated funds amounting to about P10 billion, the lack of competitive bidding for some projects, and the construction of the controversial P50-million cauldron, among others.

Matibag earlier said the bureau will likewise investigate claims that Phiscog did not undergo proper auditing and liquidation.

Files reopened

The Office of the Ombudsman has also reopened its files pertaining to the case, said its chief Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday.

‘Just this morning, I asked my staff to get the whole file from 2021 to see and to look at violations of law,’ Remulla said at a press conference. ‘We’re opening it up again.’

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who headed the SEA Games organizing body at the time, earlier accused Matibag of trying to intimidate him as a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Asked if the Ombudsman would interview Cayetano, Remulla replied: ‘There’s a time for everything.’

‘We will study what the Office [of the Ombudsman] did in 2021 because there was no double jeopardy there since it was not filed [in the courts],’ he added.

In December 2021, state prosecutors junked the graft complaint against Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon filed in the antigraft body in relation to this issue.

Dizon, who chaired the Bases Conversion and Development Authority at the time, oversaw much of the infrastructure for the 2019 SEA Games Complex in New Clark City (NCC).

Cayetano’s role

Matibag said the bureau would ask the former Phisgoc officials about the role of Cayetano in the foundation.

‘It’s strange that when we mentioned that we would investigate this, why did Senator Cayetano react when his name wasn’t even there,’ Matibag said.

‘If there is ever an issue of corruption or any anomaly that comes up here, maybe he shouldn’t worry because he’s not [involved]. But there is a big question as to why he’s floating around in public as if he’s its chairman. So this is probably what needs to be answered,’ he added.

Phisgoc was a privately formed foundation established in 2018 to serve as the main organizing body to manage the logistics, marketing, and operations for the 2019 SEA Games.

Controversies

It faced controversies on whether it was the rightful body to handle the country’s hosting of the Games.

In 2019, Suzara defended the foundation, saying it was incorporated in compliance with the rules of the International Olympic Committee.

He also cited Memorandum Circular No. 56, issued by then President Rodrigo Duterte and which directed all government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations to extend their full support to the body.

In November 2020, Cayetano said Phisgoc ‘[was] open to investigation but we’re against witch hunts.’

He issued the statement after Sen. Risa Hontiveros called for a ‘full-blown’ investigation into allegedly irregular deals, particularly the P9.5 billion used to construct the main sports venue inside NCC in Tarlac province.

In December 2020, more than 13 months after the Games were held, the Commission on Audit said Phisgoc and the Philippine Olympic Committee had yet to liquidate P2.2 billion and P535 million, respectively, they received for the regional event.

Exporters urge risk-based enforcement of forced labour import rules

The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (EASL) has called on the Government to adopt a transparent, risk-based approach in enforcing new regulations banning imports linked to forced labour, warning that unclear implementation procedures could disrupt legitimate trade and increase compliance costs.

While welcoming the Government’s move to align Sri Lanka with internationally accepted labour standards and global efforts to eliminate forced labour from supply chains, the association noted that although the regulations have been gazetted, the operational guidelines have yet to be finalised.

‘Without a clearly defined and internationally aligned implementation framework, there is a risk of uncertainty, increased compliance costs, shipment delays, administrative burdens and disruption to legitimate trade,’ the EASL said.

The association urged the Government to adopt a risk-based enforcement model in line with international best practice by targeting high-risk goods, supply chains and jurisdictions, rather than imposing blanket documentation requirements on all import transactions.

It also called for structured consultations with exporters, importers, chambers of commerce, logistics service providers and other stakeholders before operational procedures are introduced.

The EASL further urged Sri Lanka Customs to publish comprehensive implementation guidelines, including acceptable documentary requirements, verification procedures and reasonable transition arrangements before the regulations come into force.

The chamber said that Sri Lanka’s exporters fully support ethical trade and the elimination of forced labour from global supply chains. However, any new compliance regime must be supported by clear implementation guidelines and meaningful stakeholder consultation to ensure that legitimate trade is not adversely affected. A transparent, practical and risk-based approach will help achieve the objectives of the regulation while preserving Sri Lanka’s competitiveness as a trading nation.

The association said maintaining confidence in Sri Lanka’s trading environment and complying with international obligations were critical for an export-oriented economy.

‘It is vital that we protect our supply chains whilst also ensuring that we have expeditious clearing of cargo at the Port of Colombo,’ it said.

The EASL said it looked forward to continued engagement with the authorities on the implementation of the new regulations.