Author: user user

Teacher Retraining Will Tackle Social Media Jargon – Adutwum

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has called for the continuous retraining of teachers to enable them to deal with the growing influence of social media language on students’ academic work.

He said the use of informal expressions and social media jargon in the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) should prompt schools to strengthen classroom supervision, teacher development and academic counselling.

In an interview with JoyNews yesterday, Dr. Adutwum said teachers had a critical role to play in helping students understand the difference between informal communication and the language required in academic settings.

He said the situation did not constitute a crisis but presented an opportunity for the education system to improve the professional development of teachers.

‘I don’t think the sky is falling. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s an opportunity for teacher retraining, professional development,’ he said.

Dr. Adutwum explained that teachers should be able to identify instances where students use inappropriate social media expressions in their schoolwork and correct them before they become established habits.

He advocated continuous professional development programmes and professional learning communities through which teachers could share experiences and discuss emerging challenges affecting students.

‘These issues can be discussed there, for teachers to then go back to their classrooms and be able to spot these things and advise students,’ he said.

According to him, the problem should be addressed long before students entered the examination hall, arguing that classroom exercises and internal examinations provided opportunities for teachers to detect weaknesses in students’ use of formal language.

He said students who repeatedly used social media expressions in their academic work needed to be guided on the consequences of carrying such habits into external examinations.

Dr. Adutwum also emphasised the importance of strengthening guidance and counselling in schools to help students develop a clear understanding of when informal language was appropriate and when formal language was required.

He said a coordinated approach involving teacher retraining, regular assessment and academic counselling would help schools respond effectively to the influence of social media on students’ writing.

The former minister said strengthening these areas would enable teachers to intervene early and help prevent the use of social media jargon from affecting students’ performance in future examinations.

City orders checks on 47 data centres

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has ordered inspections of 47 data centres to assess their energy use, safety systems and potential environmental impact on nearby residents.

Mr Chadchart said on Wednesday that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had instructed district offices to inspect the facilities, focusing on electricity consumption, backup fuel storage, emergency power systems, noise, heat and other potential nuisances.

The facilities are located inside commercial buildings and did not apply for licences specifically identifying them as data centres, he said. The inspections would help the BMA better understand their operations and determine how the industry should be regulated.

Mr Chadchart said six standalone data centres had applied to the BMA for operating permits. Three applications had been approved and the facilities were operating, while the remaining three had been put on hold pending clearer guidelines.

Most data centres in Bangkok are not hyperscale facilities and consume about 20 megawatts of electricity, he said. They are regulated by energy authorities and required to store 500,000 litres of backup fuel.

Mr Chadchart said any revisions to the requirements should take into account evolving technologies and operating practices.

Meanwhile, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) has investigated a complaint about the illegal dumping of industrial waste linked to the construction of a data centre in Rayong’s Ban Chang district.

Inspectors found an estimated 20 tonnes of construction waste, including bricks, stones, concrete, plastic and fibreglass, dumped across one to two rai of land. Officials said they found no evidence of the 100,000 tonnes of waste previously reported.

Ban Chang Municipality has ordered the company responsible to remove the waste and have it disposed of by a licensed operator. The removal is expected to begin today and be completed within seven days.

Children speak out as Uganda marks International Literacy Day

While Uganda’s literacy levels have improved significantly in recent years, children have identified school fees, inadequate scholastic materials and negative peer influence as some of the barriers affecting their education and literacy development.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos), the literacy rate among people aged 10 years and above rose from 73.6 per cent in 2021/2022 to 85.3 per cent in 2024/2025.

However, children attending schools in Kiboga District say persistent challenges continue to affect their ability to learn and could undermine their prospects as they grow into responsible citizens.

The children spoke out on September 8 during activities to mark the 2026 International Literacy Day at the Azira Michael Youth Foundation Community Library in Bukomero Sub-county, Kiboga District.

Jimmy Musoke, a Primary Seven pupil at Bwanda Primary School, said being sent home over unpaid school fees can expose children to negative peer influence and increase the risk of dropping out.

‘When they chase you from school for school fees, you are forced to choose options of either dropping out of school or waiting for your parents to look for the money. At times the bad groups (peers) may tell you to drop out of school,’ he said.

Damalie Nansulo, a Senior Three student at Kitenda Baptist College, said girls face additional challenges as they travel to and from school, including negative influence from out-of-school youth and some boda boda riders.

‘A school girl who is always chased from school because of school fees may easily get diverted into bad behaviour by non-school-going groups. When the girls walk to school and back home, they meet different groups, especially the men that try to divert their minds. Several have dropped out of school as a result of this,’ she said.

Jennipher Nansikombi, a Primary Six pupil at Kaarsons Primary School in Kalokola, Bukomero Sub-county, said some pupils deliberately interfere with their classmates’ studies.

‘We have children that steal books among other properties with the intention of undermining the progress of others in their respective classes. You will find your notebook missing while some children will destroy other scholastic materials such as pens and pencils because they want you to fail in class. This can affect your performance,’ she said.

Beyond reading and writing

Ms Catherine Amia, the coordinator of the Community Libraries Association of Uganda (COLAU), said taking International Literacy Day celebrations to communities was part of efforts to raise awareness about literacy and promote reading among people of all ages.

She said literacy should not be understood as simply the ability to read and write, but should also include the ability to apply knowledge and skills in everyday life.

‘Literacy is not only about reading as commonly translated. It goes beyond the reading culture to practical skills application, including many of the survival skills,’ Ms Amia said.

She said recent reports indicate that many primary school learners continue to experience difficulties with comprehension, retention and applying functional literacy skills in their daily lives.

Through COLAU, about 53 community libraries have been mapped for literacy-related programmes targeting both children and adults.

Ms Amia said the Azira Michael Youth Foundation Community Library in Bukomero is among the 53 libraries linked to the ongoing literacy awareness campaigns.

Community libraries

Ms Brenda Nakato, a projects coordinator at the Azira Michael Youth Foundation Mansueto Community Library in Bukomero Sub-county, said the library aims to improve literacy levels in the community by providing access to reading and learning materials.

She said books and other reading materials are available at no cost to children and other community members.

‘The objective of the library is to boost the literacy levels of the community in Kiboga District through availing learning materials such as books for both children and adults to enhance their literacy levels,’ she said.

The 2026 International Literacy Day was marked on September 8 under global efforts to promote literacy as a fundamental skill and strengthen access to learning opportunities.

Uganda’s reported improvement in literacy levels notwithstanding, the experiences shared by children in Kiboga highlight the need to address the social, economic and educational barriers that can prevent learners from fully benefiting from schooling.

FG disburses N235bn basic healthcare provision fund in three years

The Federal Government has disbursed a cumulative N339 billion through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) since its establishment, with N235 billion, representing about 70 per cent of the total, released in the last three years.

Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria, disclosed this at a World Health Forum event, where he said the increased disbursement reflected the government’s renewed commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery and making basic health services more accessible to Nigerians.

The BHCPF was established under the National Health Act 2014 as a catalytic federal government financing mechanism to support primary healthcare and other essential health interventions.

Pate, who was represented by Uzoma Nwankwo, a director at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the fund was particularly important because primary healthcare delivery largely falls within the responsibilities of state and local governments, while the Federal Government has continued to provide financing to sustain access to basic healthcare.

‘For a family seeking care, choice comes from experience. Whether a health worker is available, whether the prescribed medicine is in stock, whether the cost is explained, and whether a referral leads to treatment, those are the questions against which our financing reforms must judge,’ he said.

He also said the Federal Government’s health sector reforms were anchored on the objective of saving lives, reducing the physical and financial burden of ill health and improving access to quality healthcare.

According to him, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023, is bringing together reforms around governance, equitable and quality healthcare, the health value chain and health security.

He said the sector-wide approach was also aligning federal and state institutions and development partners around a common plan, budget, reporting framework and implementation strategy.

Pate identified the BHCPF as a central financing instrument for achieving these objectives, stressing that the increased funding also placed greater responsibility on implementing agencies to demonstrate measurable results.

He explained that the fund operates through four major gateways, each with distinct responsibilities.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) supports primary healthcare facilities, essential supplies and frontline service readiness, while the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) finances access to a basic package of care for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness and response, while the emergency medical treatment gateway supports emergency care and transportation.

‘These functions must work together. A patient needs an accessible facility, an affordable service, and a referral that can be completed,’ he said.

Pate said direct facility financing had reached 3,109 primary healthcare centres, with revised arrangements providing quarterly payments of between N600,000 and N800,000 to facilities, depending on their categorisation by the NPHCDA.

He added that about 3,150 incomplete primary healthcare revitalisation projects had been recorded across the wider sector programme as of around June, while approximately 78,000 frontline health workers had received training.

He attributed the progress to contributions from the federal government, state-level implementation and support from development partners.

However, he stressed that sustaining the gains would require regular staffing, functional equipment and reliable availability of essential medicines and supplies at healthcare facilities.

Pate also said there was evidence of increased utilisation of maternal healthcare services, particularly in local government areas identified as having high maternal mortality burdens.

He said increased attendance at maternal care facilities was beginning to coincide with a reduction in mortality figures in some of the targeted areas.

‘These results concern the targeted areas, and we must continue to improve the quality of our records and checking programme. Families deserve progress that is sustained and can be verified,’ he said.

On health insurance, he disclosed that national health insurance enrolment had exceeded 22 million as of July, while BHCPF funding was providing financial coverage for more than two million poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

He, however, said enrolment must translate into actual access to healthcare, noting that beneficiaries must be able to obtain covered services, understand their entitlements and have complaints resolved.

This, he said, required timely payment to healthcare providers, reliable medicine supplies and measures to address unjustified charges.

‘Financial protection must advance alongside service availability,’ he said, adding that the government must continue expanding coverage to Nigerians who remained uninsured.

Pate also highlighted emergency medical services, saying the National Emergency Medical Treatment and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) had recorded more than 830,000 emergency medical transports.

The minister said the federal government deployed 13 ambulances to states on September 4 as part of efforts to expand emergency response capacity.

According to him, the effectiveness of the emergency care system depended on connecting dispatch, transportation and receiving facilities, with each responder having access to a destination capable of providing the required level of care.

He acknowledged that some healthcare facilities still lacked adequate personnel, equipment, electricity and medical supplies required for emergency treatment.

‘We must assess them against certain standards, address the deficiencies, and verify the improvements,’ the Minister said.

He also called for greater attention to the quality of interaction between healthcare workers and patients, saying health workers must provide respectful care, explain treatment options and recognise when patients require referrals.

‘People should not have to accept poor treatment because they are receiving publicly financed services,’ he said.

Pate stressed that federal financing could not replace the responsibilities of state and local governments in healthcare delivery.

He said the National Health Act requires qualifying states and local governments participating in relevant programmes to make counterpart contributions, alongside meeting staffing, supervision and reporting requirements.

He added that the Federal Government was strengthening controls around health investments to ensure that funds released for healthcare reached their intended beneficiaries.

According to the Minister, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), inaugurated a joint task team on August 17 to identify weaknesses and prevent misuse of health resources.

The government, he said, had also deployed 774 performance and financial management officers across local government areas to strengthen monitoring, while verified National Identification Numbers were being used to improve beneficiary records.

Under the government’s PECEF 2.0 framework, she said, authorities were working to improve traceability of health funds from allocation to utilisation.

He said where funds were misappropriated, recovery and appropriate sanctions should follow through the relevant anti-corruption authorities.

Pate also urged communities, civil society organisations and the media to play a stronger role in monitoring healthcare spending and service delivery.

He called on Ward Development Committees and civil society groups to examine facility receipts, medicine availability and documentation, while urging the media to go beyond reporting government announcements.

‘I ask BusinessDay and other media organisations to follow the commitments beyond their announcements. Report good delivery and failure and check whether corrective actions follow,’ he said.

He said government agencies should make such scrutiny possible by providing accessible information on fund releases, expenditure and outcomes, while protecting patients’ personal information.

Pate said the government would continue publishing information on BHCPF disbursements through the NPHCDA.

On the long-term sustainability of the fund, the minister called for diversification of healthcare financing and backed legislative efforts to increase statutory allocation to the fund from one percent to two percent of the relevant consolidated revenue base.

He also expressed support for stronger fiscal measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, with a defined share of the revenue channelled towards disease prevention through appropriate legislative and budgetary processes.

He said strengthening local manufacturing and domestic food production would also help improve the affordability and reliability of healthcare-related commodities.

For development partners and the private sector, he identified medicines, diagnostics, reliable electricity, equipment maintenance and interoperable information systems as areas requiring sustained investment.

He said such investments should be aligned with nationally agreed healthcare priorities.

‘The mother who enters a primary health centre does not distinguish between our funding gateways. She needs competent care, a clear explanation, and help when she cannot afford treatment.

‘That is our responsibility under the President’s Health Reform Programme’, Pate said.

He urged participants at the conference to translate discussions into specific commitments on timely financing, functional healthcare facilities and public accountability, and to return to those commitments to determine whether they had produced measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

STEP-BY-STEP: How to verify your academic certificates online

The Federal Ministry of Education has announced that Nigerians can now apply online to authenticate Nigerian academic qualifications and evaluate foreign qualifications through its ESSVerify portal, eliminating the need for physical visits to the ministry.

The ministry said the digital platform also enables users to verify documents previously issued through its Education Sector Support and Services (ESS), as well as apply for eligibility or proficiency letters and letters of no objection.

According to the ministry, the Education Sector Support Services were fully digitised in April 2026 with the launch of the ESSVerify portal, which replaced the previous physical verification process. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed on Wednesday that the digitisation process had been completed.

The ministry advised applicants to first identify the service they require, noting that the portal provides separate application options for different academic credential needs.

It explained that holders of Nigerian academic qualifications who intend to use their certificates abroad can apply for authentication, which verifies credentials for purposes such as further studies, employment and migration.

For individuals who obtained qualifications outside Nigeria and intend to use them in the country, the ministry said the evaluation service assesses foreign academic credentials for employment, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilisation and other official purposes.

The portal also allows applicants to request eligibility or proficiency letters to confirm their suitability for admission into foreign institutions or for employment requirements. In addition, institutions and organisations seeking the ministry’s approval for programmes or partnerships can apply for letters of no objection through the platform.

Here is how to verify an already-issued ESS document

This option is different from applying to authenticate or evaluate a certificate. It is intended for employers, schools, organisations or individuals who want to check the authenticity of a document issued by the Ministry through ESS.

To verify an existing document:

Visit the ESSVerify portal at https://essverify.education.gov.ng/

Click on ‘Verify a document’ or the corresponding document-verification option on the portal.

Enter the document number displayed on the ESS-issued certificate or letter.

Submit the request by clicking ‘Verify’.

The system will indicate whether the document is genuine.

How to authenticate or evaluate your academic certificate

Applicants who want to obtain authentication for a Nigerian qualification or evaluation of a foreign qualification will need to make a full application through the portal.

To begin:

Visit the ESSVerify portal and click ‘Start an application’.

Create an account using a valid email address, verify the email and complete your profile.

Log in and select the service required – Authentication, Evaluation, Eligibility/English Proficiency Letter or Letter of No Objection.

Provide the required personal and qualification details.

Select the documents to be processed and indicate the number of pages as required by the application.

Generate the Remita Retrieval Reference and make the required payment. Payments are non-refundable.

Upload clear and legible scanned copies of the required documents.

Where an official transcript is required, contact the registry of the awarding institution and request that the transcript be sent directly from the institution to the designated email address.

Vodacom Corporate Masters gives golf development a boost

The real winner at this year’s Vodacom Corporate Masters may not have been the golfer who lifted the trophy, but the child who picked up a golf club for the first time and discovered that the game could belong to them too.

While Khalid Shemndolwa and Yvonne Ondari emerged as the overall men’s and women’s champions after each carding 42 points at TPDF Lugalo Golf Club, the tournament’s bigger story unfolded away from the leaderboard.

A golf clinic, led by professional golfers Pro Daudi Helela and Pro Iddi Mzaki, brought together children, young people and adults eager to learn the basics of a sport that has traditionally been seen as difficult to access. That deliberate shift from simply staging a competition to creating new golfers could prove to be one of the most important developments around the Vodacom Corporate Masters.

For the organisers, the tournament is increasingly being viewed not only as an annual contest for corporate golfers, but also as a platform through which the sport can attract new participants and build a stronger future.

Tournament organiser Kelly Simon said the thinking behind the initiative was simple: golf cannot grow if development is measured only by the number of tournaments played or trophies won.

‘Beyond producing winners, we have to ask ourselves what we are leaving behind for the next generation. A tournament lasts for a day, but a player we introduce to golf can remain in the sport for decades, ‘said Simon.

He said the decision to include people of different ages in the clinic was deliberate, given the unusual nature of golf compared with many other sports.

‘Golf gives us an advantage that many sports do not have. A young player can compete with an older player and win, while an older player can continue competing long after athletes in other sports have retired. So age should not be a barrier to participation,’ he said.

That philosophy was visible at Lugalo, where the clinic became an informal meeting point for aspiring golfers. Under the guidance of Helela and Mzaki, participants were introduced to basic techniques while getting a closer understanding of the discipline, patience and precision required to play the game.

For organisers, such activities are important because the future of golf depends on expanding the player base rather than simply improving the quality of those already involved.

The challenge is not unique to Tanzania. Golf development programs around the world have increasingly focused on making the game more accessible to children and beginners, recognising that a broader participation base creates a larger pool from which elite players can eventually emerge.

In Tanzania, the same logic has increasingly shaped efforts by the Tanzania Golf Union and other stakeholders to introduce young people to the sport through training programmes, junior competitions and access to equipment.

Against that background, the Vodacom Corporate Masters clinic takes on a significance beyond the tournament itself.

‘The question is not only who won today. We should also be asking how many people were inspired to start playing today,’ Simon said. ‘If we can introduce 10, 20 or 50 new people to golf, that is also a victory for the sport.’

That broader definition of success ran alongside a fiercely contested competition involving about 150 golfers from Tanzania and neighbouring countries, including business leaders, company directors, executives and golf enthusiasts. Shemndolwa finished at the top of the overall standings with 42 points to claim the men’s title, while Ondari posted an identical score to take the women’s overall crown.

Godfrey Abel won Division A with 42 points, finishing one point ahead of Likuli Juma. Sigfrid Urassa claimed Division B with 40 points, edging Godfrey Kilenga on countback after the two players finished on the same score. Boniface Japhet took Division C with 39 points, while Abdallah Singano was second on 37.

In the women’s competition, Neema Job also finished on 42 points to claim her category, with Leticia Kapalia second on 40.

The corporate contest added another layer to the tournament, with KQ emerging as the winning team after competing against nine other corporate sides. Michael Norbert won the men’s Longest Drive award, while Kapalia took the women’s prize. Harshid Barmeda claimed the men’s Nearest to the Pin award, with Vaileth James winning the corresponding women’s prize.

Yet the scores and prizes tell only part of the story

For Vodacom, the tournament has become an opportunity to bring together sport and business in a setting where relationships can be developed away from conventional boardrooms.

Vodacom Tanzania Director of Vodacom Business, Nguvu Kamando, said that was increasingly becoming one of the tournament’s defining characteristics. ‘Business relationships are not built only around conference tables. Sometimes they begin with a conversation on a golf course, over a cup of coffee or while watching a young player learn the game,’ Kamando said.

He said the tournament was designed to create an environment where companies could interact while also supporting a sport with wider social and developmental value.

‘We want this to be more than a corporate event. We want it to create connections, but also create opportunities.

If a business relationship is formed, that is good. If, at the same time, a young person discovers golf, that is equally valuable,’ he said.

For Vodacom Business, the event also provided an opportunity to showcase digital and connectivity solutions aimed at corporate customers. But the company’s involvement has increasingly placed the tournament within a broader conversation about the role of private-sector investment in sport.

That is a conversation Tanzania’s sporting sector needs

Chairman of the Corporate Masters Committee, Ken Kariuki, said the partnership with Vodacom demonstrated how business and sport could create value for each other while supporting wider development.

‘We have seen strong competition on the course, but what happens outside the course is just as important. Companies are meeting, relationships are being built and the sport is gaining visibility,’ Kariuki said.

He added: ‘If we can use a tournament to connect businesses while also introducing a new generation to golf, then we are creating something that has a life beyond the final score.’

That is perhaps the most compelling argument for the tournament’s continued growth. Golf needs competitions that challenge established players, but it also needs pathways for beginners. It needs professionals such as Helela and Mzaki who are willing to pass on their knowledge. It needs junior programmes, accessible facilities and parents who see the sport as an opportunity rather than an activity reserved for a particular social class.

The presence of children at the clinic offered a glimpse of what that future could look like

A child learning how to grip a club today may not look like a future national champion. But elite athletes rarely emerge fully formed. Their journeys usually begin with someone giving them an opportunity, a coach teaching them the basics and a competition providing a reason to keep going. That is why the development element of Corporate Masters could ultimately prove more important than its trophies.

‘We want more people playing golf. We want children to start early, adults to feel welcome and experienced players to help those coming behind them.

That is how you build a sport,’ Simon said. He believes the sport should also challenge the perception that golf is exclusively for older or wealthy people. ‘If someone says golf is only for a certain group, then we have a responsibility to change that perception. The more people we introduce to the game, the more naturally that barrier disappears,’ he said.

The third consecutive edition of the Vodacom Corporate Masters therefore ended with more than champions being crowned. Shemndolwa had his 42 points. Ondari had hers.

Abel, Urassa, Japhet and the other divisional winners had their moments of celebration. KQ had the satisfaction of emerging as the best corporate team.

But beyond the trophies, Lugalo hosted something potentially more significant: an attempt to widen the doorway into golf.

That is the real test for the tournament in the years ahead

Its success should not be judged only by the quality of competition or the number of corporate players it attracts, but by whether it can help create more golfers, particularly young players who can carry the sport into the future. Because taking Tanzanian golf to the

next level will require more than producing champions. It will require creating a bigger pool of players, investing in coaching, making the sport more accessible and ensuring that every tournament leaves something behind.

Nigeria’s New Deep Offshore Incentive Framework: What the 2026 Tax Remission Order means for stakeholders

Nigeria’s deep offshore petroleum sector is entering a potentially significant new phase of investment. The development of the Bonga Southwest project, estimated at approximately US$20 billion, illustrates both the scale of capital required to develop Nigeria’s deep offshore resources and the importance of a competitive and predictable fiscal framework in securing Final Investment Decisions (‘FID’).

In March 2026, NNPC Limited announced that Presidential approval had been secured for a targeted fiscal incentive intended to unlock the Bonga Southwest project.

Against this backdrop, the Federal Government has now introduced the Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives (Tax Remission) Order, 2026 (the ‘Order’). Made on 6 August 2026 under the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 (‘PIA’) and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, the Order establishes a new incentive framework for qualifying deep offshore oil and non-associated gas developments, adopting the incentive structure established under the Notice of Tax Incentives on Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Production, 2024 (the ‘Notice’) issued by the Minister of Finance in February 2024.

For holders of existing or future deep offshore Petroleum Mining Licences, Greenfield Project Developers, and PSC Contractors, the significance of the Order goes beyond the headline tax credits. It introduces production tax credits, supplementary incentives and a potential reset of the profit oil sharing scale, while imposing important conditions relating to FID timing, project classification, Nigerian content, project economics, technical costs and tax-credit utilisation.

Key Highlights of the Order

Establishment of Standard PTC and Supplementary PTC

The Order creates two principal categories of production tax credit:

a. Standard Production Tax Credit (‘Standard PTC’), which applies automatically to qualifying project developments subject to the conditions of the Order; and

b. Supplementary Production Tax Credit (‘Supplementary PTC’), which may be granted on a case-by-case basis to qualifying projects.

The Order is directed at project developments, rather than an entire lease or contract area, as the Standard PTC is to be determined separately for each approved project development.

This is particularly important for investors considering acquisitions, or developments within existing deep offshore leases. The fact that a lease qualifies as a deep offshore lease does not, by itself, mean that every activity undertaken within it will qualify for the incentives.

a. Standard PTC

For qualifying deep offshore oil developments, the Order provides a Standard PTC calculated from the commencement of production. Although, the Notice does not contain the term ‘Standard PTC’, the Oil and Gas Production Tax Incentives align with the benefits provided under the Standard PTC, but only to the extent of the period within which a Final Investment Decision (‘FID’) should be taken. While the Notice requires the FID to be taken between the Effective Date and 1 January 2029, the Order extends this to 31 December 2029.

The Order limits computation of Standard PTC to crude oil produced and sold solely from the project development, reflected only in the Contractor’s profit oil entitlement.

Its significance for Stakeholders lies in the direct improvement of the production economics.

The Order also creates a separate Standard PTC for marketable non-associated gas sold from qualifying projects identical to the position under the Notice.

b. Supplementary PTC

The Order empowers the Nigeria Revenue Service (‘NRS’) to grant a Supplementary PTC on a case-by-case basis, having regard to the economic profile of the relevant project. This is an innovation with no equivalent under the Notice.

For oil developments, the combined Standard PTC and Supplementary PTC cannot exceed US$11.50 per barrel, while the aggregate credit for non-associated gas developments is capped at US$8.00 per barrel of oil equivalent.

The Supplementary PTC introduces fiscal flexibility for projects whose economics may not be supported under the Standard PTC alone.

For qualifying greenfield projects seeking the Supplementary PTC or Profit Oil Reset, FID must be taken on or before 31 December 2029, subject to limited extensions for force majeure. Investors approaching the deadline should ensure that their corporate approvals, financing arrangements, EPC or construction commitments and other relevant documentation are sufficiently developed to demonstrate that a valid FID has occurred.

The Order also requires notification of FID to the Commission within 30 days where the lessee wishes to benefit from an incentive, which is a practical compliance point for project closing checklists.

2. The Profit Oil Reset

This relief, unavailable under the Notice, addresses a structural issue under PSCs.

A contractor’s share of profit oil generally reduces as production milestones are reached under the applicable sliding scale. Meaning a new development within an existing contract area may face a less favourable profit oil allocation because production from other fields has already caused the sliding scale to graduate.

The Order addresses this issue by permitting an eligible project development to restart the profit oil sliding scale at 70:30 in favour of the contractor, notwithstanding that existing production elsewhere in the contract area has already moved the PSC to a higher step.

This could materially improve the economics of a new deep offshore development and is particularly relevant to a new greenfield development within a mature PSC area where the historical production performance of other assets could adversely affect project economies.

However, the Profit Oil Reset is not available to every project. The applicable sliding scale must already have progressed beyond the 70:30 contractor-government split, and the project must be ring-fenced for cost recovery and tax purposes, and satisfy the other eligibility requirements for the incentive as stated in paragraph 8 and 9 of the Order.

The relevant PSC, development structure, field development plan and contractual allocation mechanisms should be carefully reviewed before an investor assumes that the Profit Oil Reset will be available.

3. Technical cost of development

The Order recognises the potential for abuse of the reliefs by qualifying development projects. Where a development project’s unit technical cost of exceeds the benchmarked cost levels as determined by the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (‘NUPRC’), in a provision carried over from the Notice, the applicable tax credit may be reduced by 10%.

Contrary to the assumption that higher project costs attract higher relief, a project exceeding its cost benchmark will instead suffer a reduced tax relief. The cost elements considered will be specific to the relevant project development. The implication is that cost control of all elements must be a constant priority.

This provision functions as an encouragement for cost-efficiency. While the NUPRC recognises that certain expenses will be incurred in the structuring and operationalisation of a development project, those expenses must remain proportional and reasonable.

4. Claw-Back and Recovery of Incentive

The Order includes an anti-abuse safeguard applicable to the Supplementary PTC. Where the NRS determines that an applicant obtained, utilised or benefitted from this tax credit through false statements, misrepresentation, incorrect data, or any other means which breaches an approval condition, it may withdraw the approval and recompute the tax payable to recover the amount wrongly benefitted.

Penalties may extend beyond repayment of the improperly received credit to penalties and interest prescribed under the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025 and other applicable legislation. The Applicant or any person deemed responsible may also be the subject of separate criminal, civil, administrative or regulatory actions.

There is a continuing compliance obligation which must always be fulfilled by all parties involved. The NRS retains the right to ascertain fulfilment of eligibility requirements at any time, so investors and applicants must be thorough in confirming the accuracy of their Supplementary PTC applications.

5. Tax Credit Surplus

Tax Credit Surplus may occur where the tax liability falls below the tax reliefs which have been granted in respect of a development project. Any surplus may be carried forward, but only for a maximum period of four years, after which any unutilised tax credit shall be rendered ineffective. Formerly, the Notice allowed the excess to be carried forward for a maximum of three years.

This surplus cannot be transferred or assigned, neither can it be set-off against the tax, liability, arising from a person or project outside of the qualifying project development which has been approved.

The Order provides some flexibility to developers, and comfort to investors knowing that this no-transferrable relief need not be fully utlised immediately.

A further restriction applies across the Order. Tax credits under the Order cannot be combined with the production allowance incentives provided under the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025 or the Associated Gas Framework Agreement (AGFA). This restriction, mirrored in the Notice, ensures that no development project enjoys multiple tax credits simultaneously and requires the Developer to choose the incentive best believed to suit the project development.

Conclusion

The Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives (Tax Remission) Order, 2026 represents a significant attempt to address one of the central challenges facing Nigeria’s deep offshore petroleum sector: the economics of developing capital-intensive projects under increasingly competitive global investment conditions.

The combination of Standard PTCs, potentially substantial Supplementary PTCs and the Profit Oil Reset provides investors with multiple mechanisms through which the economics of qualifying projects may be improved.

The Order is also notable because it seeks to link fiscal support to actual investment and production. The incentives are directed at qualifying project developments, particularly greenfield projects, and are conditioned on FID, Nigerian content, cost discipline, economic disclosure and continuing compliance.

For investors, this creates a more attractive proposition, but it also requires a more sophisticated approach to due diligence and project structuring.

The immediate opportunity is clear. Nigeria has substantial deep offshore resources, and projects such as Bonga Southwest demonstrate the scale of investment that can be unlocked when fiscal and commercial constraints are addressed. If the implementation guidelines provide the clarity contemplated by the Order, and if the incentive approval process operates predictably and transparently, the framework could materially improve Nigeria’s competitiveness for deep offshore capital.

The Order should be viewed not merely as a tax incentive, but as a new project-development and investment framework. Investors considering entry into Nigeria’s deep offshore sector should assess the incentives from the outset of project structuring, rather than as an afterthought once the project has already been designed.

Ozioma Agu is a Partner at Stren and Blan Partners and supervises the Firm’s Energy, Finance and Infrastructure Sector. Anjoreoluwa Boluwajoko and Olaore Akinyemi are Associates in the Firm’s Energy, Finance and Infrastructure Sector.

Stren and Blan Partners is a full-service commercial Law Firm that provides legal services to diverse local and international Clientele. The Business Counsel is a weekly column by Stren and Blan Partners that provides thought leadership insight on business and legal matters.

EDOTCO Sri Lanka inks $ 10 m BOI agreement to expand digital infrastructure

EDOTCO Services Lanka Ltd., has signed a $ 10 million investment agreement with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) to accelerate the expansion of the country’s shared digital infrastructure.

Coinciding with its 10th anniversary in the country, the company said the investment reflects EDOTCO’s continued confidence in Sri Lanka’s long-term growth and digital future.

Over the next 30 months, EDOTCO will deploy 130 macro towers, 300 multi-purpose smart lamp poles, and 650 energy sites, significantly expanding Sri Lanka’s shared digital infrastructure. The rollout will accelerate network deployment, improve nationwide coverage, promote greater infrastructure sharing among mobile network operators (MNOs), and facilitate the growing demand for reliable, high-quality digital services.

Building on its position as Sri Lanka’s first licensed Infrastructure Provider, EDOTCO is expanding beyond smart lamp poles and energy solutions into a broader portfolio of shared digital infrastructure.

The licence enables the company to develop and operate macro towers, antenna structures, fibre and submarine cable infrastructure, in-building solutions, data centres, and active network solutions, strengthening its ability to support the country’s evolving digital needs.

Together, the new BOI investment and EDOTCO’s expanded infrastructure capabilities position the company to play a greater role in delivering Sri Lanka’s Digital Economy Blueprint by accelerating infrastructure sharing, advancing next-generation connectivity, and enabling emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and future digital services.

Since commencing operations in July 2016, EDOTCO Sri Lanka has invested approximately $ 30 million in developing shared telecommunications infrastructure across the country.

Over the past decade, the company has successfully deployed more than 950 smart lamp poles and nearly 800 energy sites, supporting improved network performance, operational resilience, and digital connectivity nationwide. Through long-term partnerships with all MNOs, Municipal Councils, and Government stakeholders, EDOTCO has helped expand shared infrastructure while creating employment opportunities and enabling local business throughout its value chain.

EDOTCO Sri Lanka Country Managing Director Gayan Koralage said: Over the past 10 years, EDOTCO has earned the trust of our customers and partners by delivering reliable, shared infrastructure that supports Sri Lanka’s connectivity ambitions. Our next decade is about building digital infrastructure platforms that will enable future technologies, stronger economic growth, and greater digital inclusion. We appreciate the confidence placed in us by the BOI and look forward to working closely with Government, regulators, and industry partners to build the digital infrastructure that will underpin Sri Lanka’s next phase of economic and technological growth.’

BOI Chairman Duminda Hulangamuwa said: ‘This $ 10 million investment by EDOTCO Sri Lanka is an indication of the confidence in our nation’s digital economy. As EDOTCO marks a decade of operations in Sri Lanka, this agreement reflects the kind of long-term, forward-looking partnership we seek to attract, one that strengthens national connectivity, supports the goals of the Digital Economy Blueprint, and creates space for emerging technologies to take root. We look forward to working closely with EDOTCO as they deploy this new infrastructure and continue to invest in Sri Lanka’s future.’

BELIZE-COURT-Central Bank ordered to compensate former employee over unfair dismissal

A former senior clerk at the Central Bank of Belize has been awarded BZ$26,998.50 (BZ$1=US$0.50) after the Essential Services Arbitration Tribunal found that her termination was unfair and unjustified.

Dapheen Bowen, who worked at the bank for nearly 19 years, was dismissed in June 2025 following disciplinary proceedings related to a personal WhatsApp post.

The Tribunal found that the bank failed to follow certain disciplinary procedures required under its Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), including providing Bowen with written notice of the complaint and adequate time to respond.

It also found that reinstatement was impractical because the employment relationship had broken down and a significant period had passed since her termination.

The Tribunal therefore awarded Bowen the compensation, subject to applicable statutory deductions.

Bowen was represented by the Christian Workers Union (CWU). CWU President Leonora Flowers said the union had maintained that Bowen was wrongfully terminated and pursued the matter through the tribunal after efforts to resolve it failed.

Flowers said the case took about 14 months and that the tribunal ruled in the union’s favour on August 28.

‘Once we rely on the law and understand what the law is, we can take our time and get there,’ she said.

In a statement, the Central Bank said it accepts the Tribunal’s findings concerning the disciplinary procedures but maintains its position on the dismissal.

The bank said the case centred on a WhatsApp post that it interpreted as referring to the use of a firearm in the context of workplace frustrations.

‘The Central Bank has always maintained that references suggesting the use of a firearm against others, particularly in the context of workplace frustrations, to be a serious matter,’ it said.

The bank also said institutions cannot ignore conduct that may create fear, undermine trust or raise security concerns, and that employers must be able to respond appropriately to such matters.

’They came into Dominica, and they’ve all left and returned to Colombia.’

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says the five Colombians received in Dominica under its third-country national arrangement with the United States have all returned to Colombia.

Skerrit made the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday, saying Dominica had concluded all arrangements with the United States concerning third-country nationals.

He said the United States initially submitted a list of people for Dominica to consider, but the government did not accept those names.

A second list was later provided with additional information, from which Dominica selected five people, all of them Colombians.

‘They came into Dominica, and they’ve all left and returned to Colombia,’ Skerrit said.