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Dangote Refinery IPO: A world-class asset at a demanding price

At N525 a share, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s proposed initial public offering is asking investors to pay a premium for one of Nigeria’s most consequential industrial assets. The offer values the refinery at about N65.22 trillion, or $47.8 billion, based on 124.23 billion shares. With net debt of about $1.4 billion, enterprise value rises to roughly $49.2 billion. The central investment question is therefore not whether the refinery is strategically important, but whether its future earnings can justify the price investors are being asked to pay today.

At N525, enterprise value is 9.5 times annualised H1 2026 EBITDA of $5.2 billion. Annualised profit after tax of roughly $5 billion implies earnings per share of N40.32 and a P/E ratio of about 13 times. The numbers become more demanding beside international peers. Marathon Petroleum trades at about 8.21 times EV/EBITDA and Valero Energy at 8.50 times, against a cited industry median of 7.52 times. Global comparisons are imperfect, but the premium matters. H1 2026 may also be unusually strong.

Three factors could put pressure on future profitability. First is the refining environment. The Strait of Hormuz crisis pushed Brent above $118 a barrel and helped generate exceptional refining spreads. Such conditions can inflate earnings but are unlikely to last. The US Energy Information Administration forecasts Brent at $87 a barrel in 2026 and $69 in 2027, suggesting margins could moderate as markets normalise. Valuing the refinery on such conditions risks overstating sustainable earnings.

Second is the recent capacity ramp-up. The refinery only reached its re-rated 700,000-barrels-per-day capacity in June. Gross margin rose from 1.9 percent in 2025 to 17.9 percent in H1 2026. Improved efficiency clearly matters, but higher utilisation also spreads fixed costs across greater output. That effect cannot be repeated indefinitely. Investors need evidence that margins will remain robust after the ramp-up effect fades.

Third is taxation. The H1 effective tax rate was 13.6 percent, but the prospectus indicates that domestic-market profits may become fully taxable from January 2028, while full free-zone exemption requires domestic revenue below 25 percent. If the business moves towards a 25 percent blended tax rate, annualised profit could decline by about 13 percent and the effective P/E approach 15 times. That would make the valuation more demanding.

Replacement cost offers another perspective. The existing 700,000-barrels-per-day refinery cost about $19 billion to build, equivalent to roughly $27,143 per barrel of daily capacity. At N525, the implied valuation is about $70,308 per barrel per day, or 2.6 times construction cost. Construction cost is not market value, but the difference shows how much future profitability is embedded in the IPO price.

The planned expansion to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2029 is central to the case. Doubling capacity would reduce enterprise value per barrel per day to about $35,154 but requires another $12.8 billion and introduces execution, financing, and market risks. Investors are therefore paying now for future capacity and earnings.

A mid-cycle valuation highlights the challenge. Using refining margins of $15-$18 a barrel, a six-to-seven-times exit multiple and a 12-15 percent discount rate produces a fair-value range of N176-N324 per share. That is well below N525 and indicates reliance on optimistic assumptions about margins, utilisation, taxation and expansion. The valuation can be justified only if earnings remain materially above a normalised industry cycle.

The recent private placement also deserves attention. A $2.5 billion placement for a six percent stake, completed in June and July, implied an equity value of about $41.7 billion and roughly N473 per share at the prevailing exchange rate. The IPO therefore represents an 11 percent premium to that institutional transaction. The difference provides a useful recent benchmark.

Scarcity could nevertheless support the share price. Only 3.3 percent of post-offer shares will constitute the free float. With NGX market capitalisation at about N160 trillion, the FTSE Russell Frontier Market reclassification and N31.48 trillion in pension assets could generate institutional demand. The refinery could represent about 29 percent of the enlarged NGX market capitalisation, potentially forcing benchmark funds to seek exposure.

But scarcity is not the same as value. Technical demand may lift the stock without proving N525 offers attractive long-term returns. Investors should look beyond opening-day performance and monitor utilisation, margins, free cash flow, taxation, expansion, borrowing and capital expenditure.

Nigeria needs industrial companies of this scale and a deeper capital market capable of financing them. Of course, importance should not exempt an asset from valuation discipline. At N525, Dangote Refinery is priced for future success. That price can be justified if utilisation proves sustainable, margins remain resilient, tax changes are absorbed, and the 1.4-million-barrels-per-day expansion is delivered without excessive leverage. The refinery has shown that Nigeria can build at world scale. Its IPO must now show that the capital market can distinguish between a great company and the price investors must pay.

Oyo 2027: Adelabu’s supporters reaffirm loyalty to APC

Supporters of the immediate past Minister of Power and APC governorship aspirant, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, in Ibadan South East Local Government Area of Oyo State have reaffirmed their commitment to the party and the success of its candidates in the 2027 general elections.

The supporters visited the APC state secretariat at Oke-Ado, Ibadan, on Friday to reaffirm their loyalty to the party.

They urged the public to disregard reports circulating on social media that members of the Adelabu Political Group had concluded plans to defect to Governor Seyi Makinde’s Allied People’s Movement (APM).

The group noted that Adelabu had already stated that he remained a member of the APC.

The leader of the delegation, Yusuf Bankole, described reports of the group’s planned defection to the APM as false and urged the public to disregard them.

He said the rumour was ‘offensive, ill-motivated and condemnable’.

‘We, the supporters of Chief Bayo Adelabu in Ibadan South East Local Government Area, remain rock solid in our great party, the APC. We have no cause to defect to APM or any other political party for that matter.

‘We got the blessing of most of our leaders, such as Chief Wasiu Ajimobi and Hon. Kayode Fagunwa, to visit the State Secretariat today with a view to meeting the leadership of the party and stating our position since some unscrupulous elements have been spreading unfounded rumours regarding our status in the APC,’ Bankole said.

‘As a matter of fact, we are not considering any move away from our great Party (APC). We shall work assiduously with other party members to ensure victory for all the candidates of our Party in the next year polls.’

In his remarks, the APC chairman in the state, Chief Moses Adeyemo, expressed delight at the decision of the members to visit the State Secretariat at the appropriate time.

He said, ‘You did the right by coming out to tell the whole world that you are real progressives and patriots. The primaries have come and gone while our attention has shifted to reconciliation, recalibration and renewal of zeal.

‘To this end, we are appealing to all APC faithful to give room for peace, love and unity among ourselves. Campaigns have started and we will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda messages reach everyone with a view to winning their trust and confidence.

‘APC is the party to beat and this explains why those who matter in the opposition parties are joining us every day. Our goals remain intact; we have to win all the elective posts in 2027 and doing so would guarantee success for all our candidates.’

Notable party leaders who led the team during the visit include Chief Lukman Ayantola, Alhaji Rasheed Agarawu, Catechist John Taiwo Ige, Alhaji Mojeed Agbaje, Mr Sunmbo Oladiti, Mrs Adeniyi Taiwo, Alhaji Ayodele Oseni and Alfa Meta while Oyo APC Executive Committee members who received them included; Hon. Fatai Adesina, Barrister Sunday Aborisade, Hon. Tunde Elegbede and Hon. Olawale Sadare.

4,000 Nigerians voluntarily departed India under amnesty programme, says High Commissioner

No fewer than 4,000 Nigerians voluntarily departed India following amnesty granted to illegal residents by the Narendra Mordi-led government.

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to India, Saidu Muhammad, who revealed this during an interactive session with reporters at the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi, also said 198 Nigerians are behind bars in the country.

Muhammadu, who hailed the Indian authorities for the non-sanction policy, said those who left did so before he assumed duty in New Delhi on July 23 this year.

The High Commissioner revealed that Nigeria requested a three- to six-month extension of the amnesty to enable other Nigerians keen on regularising their stay to do so.

He explained that those who exited, those who are yet to have a visa, and other issues like overstaying and inability to foot their medical bills.

The envoy said: ‘Before my arrival, they (Indian government) had given six months’ amnesty for all Nigerians who are here(India) illegally to leave or to regularise their stay without any penalty.

‘The amnesty was extended by another three months. So, a period of nine months. And now we are further requesting at least another three to six months additional waiver.

”During that period, over 4,000 Nigerians exited and those still there illegally are decided whenever they want to come back if they fail to regularise their stay. But those that exited but want to come back can do so amicably and in a better way.’

Muhammad urged all Nigerians resident in India to obey Indian laws, uphold Nigeria’s image and pursue legitimate activities.

He highlighted progress made by Nigeria within his first month in office to include engagement with the Nigerian diaspora, discussions with Indian authorities on immigration issues, and deepening economic relations between both countries.

Muhammad added that during his recent visits to correctional facilities in India, he interacted with 198 Nigerians in detention who alleged maltreatment, racial discrimination, limited access to legal representation, delays in court proceedings and inadequate medical attention.

He said: ‘We realised that prison officials were generally cooperative, but many detainees are awaiting trial and the judicial process takes time.

‘Universal principles require that all human beings be treated fairly. Their fundamental rights must not be abused, distorted or violated in any way, and their welfare must be taken care of.’

He explained that the visits were a part of efforts to strengthen what he described as Nigeria’s citizen-centred diplomacy.

The envoy added that the mission has already submitted a detailed report to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlining the concerns raised by the detainees and how to resolve them.

Muhammad said the initiative reflects Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring that its citizens abroad remain connected to their country, even when facing legal challenges.

‘Nigeria remembers them. That is why we are going there. We have told them that this mission is open to them. They can come here with their concerns and activities.

”We used those opportunities to advise them, caution them where necessary and address legitimate complaints,’ he said.

Mohammad also said the mission lacks the resources to establish consular offices in some parts of India but remains committed to reaching Nigerians wherever they reside.

‘We should have the capacity to go out and reach our people, so they know that we are here for them,’ he said.

How farmers can overcome climate shocks

Ugandans have been hit by unexpected extreme weather events characterised by prolonged dry spells, which caused sudden harm, property damage and losses to communities, notably with crops withering in gardens.

In parts of Karamoja and Acholi sub-regions, deaths were reported due to acute hunger caused by crop damage.

There is a starkly different picture, as previously consistent rainfall ensured that many parts of the country were covered in lush vegetation, while rivers, wells and valley dams provided water for communities and livestock.

The prolonged dry conditions have left water sources depleted, crops wilting and livestock struggling for food and water.

Weather expert Mr George William Omony, the Ministry of Water and Environment’s Principal Meteorologist, says the extreme temperatures could persist until the end of September, when heavier rains may begin.

But to overcome such climatic shock and maintain constant production and supply of food, experts have weighed in, advising farmers to shift to indigenous seeds, which they say are resistant to harsh climate, especially sunshine.

Gulu University’s Dean of Agriculture and Environment, Associate Professor Collins Okello, has called for a shift in farming practices, technology and the type of crops grown.

”Because of all these challenges, the traditional methods of farming alone, which were based on subsistence cultivation when we had a lot of land, can no longer be sustainable. We now need to adopt modern technologies, and this requires us as a university to actively participate in ensuring that the farmers get the best out of their efforts.”

Explaining that: ”We should not forget our traditional crops, which are climate-resilient. I want to give examples: millet is quite climate-resilient; this kind of climate will not affect it so much. We even have cocoyam; we have green gram; all these crops are being neglected.”

Mr Okello, who is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Biosystem Engineering at Gulu University, notes that problems relating to climate shock is a world problem and have greatly disrupted the food supply chain.

”As I speak today, the world is facing a lot of challenges; the global food supply system has been interrupted. We also have the challenge of climate change, which is affecting us. Productivity is low because of climate change; our yields are declining because of climate change, and this is a big problem for our farmers.

Mr Okello explains that the initial farming practices, including the use of rudimentary tools and planting of improved seeds, are no longer sustainable.

”As we speak now, there are many parts of the country where there is even hunger. This requires that the business or the type of farming we have been doing before, the traditional method of farming, we have to transition, taking into account the growing population.” He urges.

He adds, ” Can we develop organic chemicals so that our agriculture can be sustainable with less impact on the environment.”

Mr Okello says the University has partnered with several entities to increase agricultural productivity and profitability.

In Amuru District, smallholder farmers have been grouped into the Yele Keni Farmer Field School, under which they undertake agroecological practices and local value chains and are being supported by ESAFF Uganda.

Mr Francis Ocaya, the facilitator for Yele Keni Farmer Field School, says they are implementing value chains under the Rooted in Diversity program and have opened up 23 acres of land for planting, from which they expect 23 tons of Erudu White and Serenut 14R groundnut varieties

Mr Ocaya says, ” Since the weather is now unpredictable, we are looking for climate-resilient seed that can adapt to the weather conditions, so we are going for the variety which can tolerate climatic change to ensure that at the end of the season every family at least have something.”

Ms Margaret Akello, a farmer and member of Yele Keni Farmer Field School, explains that feasible practices such as lining crops made them realise at least one ton of groundnuts.

Another farmer, ”Mr Samuel Okwonga, described climate change as a chronic issue among farmers. We tried to come up with some mechanisms to deal with it, including adapting seeds which are very resilient to the climatic change.”

Mr Okwonga noted the need for irrigation facilities, saying, ”and if possible, we also request the government to supply us with some water resources.

Ms Josephine Hilda Nansubuga, the Business Development Officer at Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF) Uganda, said they are supporting farmers in Amuru District not only on food security but also looking at value chain development so that they can improve their livelihoods and improve the work they do.

”In Amuru District, we are working with seven farmer groups; we have built their capacities in enterprise management, supported them to look for markets and value addition.”

”And for food security, we have trained the different farmers on growing and conserving local food plants, these food plants that are resilient to climate change and managed to construct community seed banks in Guru-Guru Sub-county to help conserve seeds for the farmers.” She added.

As stakeholders strive to enhance food security and productivity, Gulu University has entered into a five-year partnership with Epiflex Agrovet Solutions Limited to increase production and profitability.

”We look at various technologies, including mechanisation technologies and climate-smart agriculture; we even want to go further and incorporate artificial intelligence in Agriculture. We want to work with Epiflex to ensure that farmers get the best out of their agricultural operations.” Mr Okello noted.

”We have set out on this journey to help our farmers. Right now we are talking about climate-smart agriculture; that is the big topic right now, and rightfully so, because who knew in August we could be having temperatures at 30 degrees Celsius. So things are changing, the environment is changing, our climate is changing. So Epiflex wants to bridge that gap.” Said Mr Alex Sekandi of Epiflex Agrovet Solutions Limited.

Immigration extends passport intervention exercise in UK, processes 1,477 applications

The Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has extended the Passports intervention exercise in the United Kingdom, (UK) from 19th September to 3rd of October.

The Service said the extension was necessitated by the huge turn out of Nigerians who applied for the documents in London and Manchester cities.

In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, Akinsola Akinlabi, the Service acknowledged that the intervention exercise ordered by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo was being carried out smoothly, ‘ despite the initial challenges experienced on the first day of the commencement.’

‘In line with NIS commitment to an orderly and transparent process, eligible applicants are required to book appointments for the special intervention exercise via the website of the High Commission of Nigeria, United Kingdom,’ Akinlabi said.

He said applicants are also expected to present

completed application form and payment receipt, ?appointment slip for the intervention exercise, applicant current Passport (where applicable) and, ??a self-addressed return envelope.

He reiterated that the passport application and payment processes are fully automated and strictly cashless.

‘The applicable fees remain $162 for a five-year validity passport booklet and $242 for a ten-year validity booklet. No additional charges are required to participate in the intervention exercise.

‘ Within the first four days of the exercise, a total number of 1477 Nigerians have been successfully processed and enrolled. Over half of those enrolled have already had their passports produced and dispatched to their respective addresses,’ Akinlabi said.

He announced that the extension was in response to the high turnout and interest shown by Nigerians to the intervention exercise that the Minister approved the extension of the exercise in London and Manchester from 19th September to 3rd October, 2026.

‘The extension is intended to provide additional capacity to accommodate the increasing demand and ensure that as many eligible applicants are attended to.

‘Further information regarding the extended dates, participating locations and appointment procedures will be communicated through the official channels of both Nigeria Immigration Service and High Commission of Nigeria, in the United Kingdom,’ he said.

He expressed the appreciation of the Service for the patience and cooperation of Nigerians in the United Kingdom, noting that and the NIS remains committed to delivering efficient, transparent and responsive passport services to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.

Customs To Cut Port Cargo Checks, Shift To Post-Clearance Audits

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to reduce physical examination of cargoes at the ports and rely more on Post-Clearance Audits (PCA) to speed up cargo clearance, improve trade facilitation and strengthen revenue assurance.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Thursday in Lagos at a PCA sensitisation programme for stakeholders, saying the Service could not continue to depend on extensive physical inspection while striving to facilitate trade and meet rising revenue targets.

Daily Trust reports that Customs collected N7.281 trillion in 2025 against a target of N6.584 trillion, exceeding the target by N697 billion.

The figure was also 19 per cent higher than the N6.1 trillion collected in 2024.

Adeniyi said the Service’s 2026 revenue target had risen to N11.074 trillion, with N4.30 trillion collected as of June.

He said meeting the target required smarter revenue-assurance mechanisms rather than opening more containers.

‘Numbers of that order cannot be delivered by opening more containers. They can only be delivered by knowing which of those containers that we must open,’ he said.

The Customs chief said a time-release study at Tin Can Island Port involving 601 import declarations showed that containers spent about five days in the port before exiting, although physical examination took only a few hours.

He said 98.7 per cent of the consignments studied spent an average of almost four days between being booked for examination and physically exiting the port.

Adeniyi attributed the delays to manual processes, fragmented coordination among agencies and waiting time within the clearance system.

‘The delay is in the architecture. It’s not in the inspection itself,’ he said.

According to him, PCA would enable Customs to verify traders’ records after cargoes had been released, reducing unnecessary physical interventions and allowing officers to concentrate on high-risk and non-compliant businesses.

‘The answer is to reduce the number of consignments that need to be stopped at all by verifying afterwards those that do not require stopping now. That is post-clearance audits,’ he said.

Adeniyi said PCA was an internationally recognised customs-control mechanism under the Revised Kyoto Convention and the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.

He also linked the strategy to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, saying credible audits would help identify compliant businesses eligible for greater trade facilitation.

He disclosed that 247 companies had been admitted into the AEO programme, with 15 making voluntary disclosures involving more than N1 billion in revenue.

The average clearance time for AEO companies, he said, had dropped from about 156 hours to 43 hours, while Huawei had recorded an average clearance time of about eight hours across the ports.

The 247 AEO companies collectively generated more than N3 trillion in Customs revenue in 2025, accounting for about 43 per cent of the Service’s total revenue.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of PCA, Babatunde Olomu, said PCA operations recovered N27.2 billion between August 2025 and August 2026, up from N21.3 billion in the corresponding period.

He said the recovery represented a 27.7 per cent year-on-year increase, driven by improved risk-based targeting, stronger auditing processes and better stakeholder compliance.

Adeniyi said Customs would continue to review its procedures while encouraging businesses to make voluntary disclosures and correct errors.

He said the success of PCA would be measured not only by revenue recovered, but also by increased voluntary compliance, fewer unnecessary interventions and greater confidence in the Customs system.

Awimero: Knowledge gap threatens Nigeria’s maritime future

The President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Awimero, has warned that Nigeria’s maritime future is at risk unless the country urgently addresses its knowledge and skills gap through sustained investment in training.

Awimero said Nigeria could not build a competitive and future-ready maritime industry without fundamentally overhauling its training system and making continuous capacity development a priority.

He spoke as Chairman of the Occasion at the 2026 Maritime Training Summit and Awards organised by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in Lagos.

The summit was themed: ‘The Power of Innovation in a Future-Ready Maritime Training Agenda.’

Awimero attributed some of Nigeria’s persistent development challenges to the failure to adequately train and equip its people, stressing that knowledge and human capacity were essential to national development.

According to him, training should not be limited to the acquisition of technical skills but must provide people with the capacity, information and knowledge required to drive meaningful development.

‘Nigeria don’t train,’ he said, calling for a fundamental rethink of the country’s approach to human capital development.

He urged Nigeria to ‘redesign our steps, redirect our focus and drive to have knowledge,’ noting that countries that had achieved significant economic and technological progress did so through deliberate investments in knowledge and human capacity.

Awimero called on stakeholders to move away from outdated training approaches and adopt a knowledge-driven system capable of preparing young Nigerians for the demands of a rapidly changing global economy.

He said Nigeria must change its concept of development by making training and knowledge acquisition central to its national development strategy.

‘Our children must not live the kind of life that we are living, except Nigeria will collapse,’ he warned.

The NCMDLCA president also commended AMJON for placing maritime training and innovation at the centre of industry discourse, describing the initiative as a bold step towards addressing the sector’s human capacity challenges.

He said continuous training was critical to the development of the maritime industry because of the constant changes in technology, regulations and global operating standards.

Awimero’s warning comes amid growing concerns over the maritime skills gap and the need to equip professionals and young entrants into the sector with the knowledge and competencies required to compete in an increasingly technology-driven global maritime industry.

He maintained that without deliberate investment in continuous learning and capacity building, Nigeria risked falling further behind countries that had made knowledge and innovation the foundation of their development.

The AMJON summit brought together maritime stakeholders, policymakers, regulators, industry professionals and journalists to examine how innovation and modern training approaches could strengthen Nigeria’s maritime workforce and position the sector for sustainable growth.

Hajj: Don’t Register Pilgrims With Acute Illnesses, NAHCON Warns States

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has warned state governments against registering intending pilgrims with acute health conditions for the 2027 Hajj, following the introduction of stricter medical requirements by Saudi Arabia.

The commission said only pilgrims who meet the prescribed medical standards would be allowed to participate in next year’s pilgrimage.

The Commissioner representing the North-East in NAHCON, Alhaji Abba Jatau, disclosed this when he led a delegation of the commission to the Yobe State Government House in Damaturu.

Jatau urged the Yobe State Government and its pilgrims commission to ensure that intending pilgrims undergo the required medical checks before registration.

He said the new health requirements were part of measures by the Saudi authorities to safeguard pilgrims and protect Nigeria’s image in the Kingdom.

The commissioner also disclosed that states were expected to provide 1.5 doctors and 1.7 nurses for every 1,000 pilgrims, urging Yobe to comply with the requirement and make adequate medical preparations.

Jatau further warned that September 26, 2026, had been fixed as the deadline for uploading pilgrims’ information and passports for the 2027 Hajj.

He urged the state government to prioritise early registration, documentation and payment to ensure that its pilgrims were not left out.

He said visa issuance for the 2027 Hajj would commence on January 28, 2027.

On wider reforms to Hajj operations, Jatau said NAHCON had secured a three-year transition period for Nigeria to move from the traditional government-to-government arrangement to a business-to-business model.

He said the transition would begin with the 2027 Hajj following negotiations between Nigerian authorities and the Saudi Arabian government, which had initially proposed an immediate migration to the new system.

According to him, Saudi Arabia had introduced ‘radical reforms’ aimed at transferring several aspects of Hajj management from government institutions to business operators.

He said the Saudi authorities were seeking about 98 per cent migration from government-to-government to business-to-business operations.

Jatau said NAHCON resisted the immediate implementation of the new arrangement because of the peculiar challenges facing Nigerian pilgrims and engaged the Saudi authorities to secure enough time for Nigeria to adjust.

He said Yobe had been proposed as a pilot state for the new arrangement, expressing confidence that the state could successfully demonstrate the model before its wider adoption.

The commissioner appealed to the state government to direct the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission to give priority to registration, documentation and payment ahead of the September deadline.

Responding, Deputy Governor Idi Barde Gubana said Yobe was the first state in the Maiduguri Hajj zone to complete the airlift of its pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj.

Gubana attributed the achievement to the commitment of the state government, the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission, religious leaders, officials and other stakeholders to the welfare and orderly conduct of pilgrims.

He assured the NAHCON delegation of the state government’s continued support for the commission and its commitment to strengthening the operations and institutional capacity of the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission.

Global disaster coalition offers Uganda technical aid, grants to build resilient infrastructure

Uganda could unlock vital technical assistance, capacity-building grants, and expert support to mitigate recurring natural and man-made disasters if it joins the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

Speaking in an interview on the sideline of a presentation to a delegation of international journalists at the CDRI headquarters in New Delhi on September 11, 2026, Amit Prothi, the Director General of CDRI, extended an invitation to Uganda to become a member state of the global initiative. The briefing took place during a familiarisation tour of India organized for journalists ahead of the upcoming BRICS summit.

Mr. Prothi explained that the coalition examines the intersection between national infrastructure and extreme events, offering member nations specialized insights into structural failures and risk mitigation.

“In Uganda, for example, if you have challenges of flooding or urban flooding, we can try to help understand why that flooding happens in your cities. Is it because the infrastructure that has been built is not enough? Or is it that where you are building is maybe not in the right location? Or are the people building the infrastructure in need of more training?” Mr. Prothi asked.

He noted that CDRI currently brings together 70 members, including 58 countries, functioning as a global platform where nations share strategies on disaster preparedness. However, because the coalition primarily engages with member states, Uganda must formally join to access its specialized knowledge base and financial mechanisms.

“When Uganda becomes a member of the coalition, it will have access to expertise to say, if we have these landslides, why are they happening? Are they happening because we have to work on our codes and standards? Or is it because we are not able to do some scientific understanding of what is going on, or are we building in places where we need to not build, or how we are building needs to change?” Mr. Prothi added.

He outlined three key pathways of support available to members: direct technical assistance grants, global capacity-building programs, and international advocacy. Membership would allow Ugandan universities to collaborate on resilient infrastructure curricula, grant re-searchers access to global workshops, and provide senior leaders a platform to speak on climate resilience at major global events like the United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP).

Reacting to the call, Mr Paul Waniala, a Multimedia Producer with Vision Group Uganda, emphasized the urgency of such international partnerships given the country’s vulnerability to extreme events.

“Uganda has over the years faced disasters, both natural and man-made, ranging from accidental fires, floods, and landslides, among others,” Mr. Waniala who was part of the visiting journalists group, said. “Therefore, joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure would bring immense benefits ranging from technical assistance and expertise that would be rendered by the coalition, to capacity building of the Ugandan team through training that would empower the country to mitigate disasters.”

As climate impacts intensify across East Africa, joining the global alliance could provide Ugandan urban planners, engineers, and policymakers with the tools needed to safeguard public infrastructure against future crises.

NDC Resolves Logo Dispute

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has resolved its logo dispute with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following a favorable ruling by the Federal High Court.

Justice J. O. Abdulmalik ordered the commission to upload and officially adopt the modified digital logo specified in the party’s constitution.

NDC leader Seriake Dickson announced the resolution in a statement, commending the judiciary’s intervention.

Our correspondent reports that dispute arose after INEC initially uploaded the updated logo-approved during the NDC’s first National Executive Council meeting-before removing it and reverting to the original registration design.

The party turned to the courts after INEC failed to correct the discrepancy when an association seeking registration as a political party, Peace Movement Party (PMP), had laid claim to the ownership of the logo adopted by the NDC.

The court had earlier ruled against the NDC, claiming that PMP was not joined in the original suit, despite being a critical party to the dispute.

Dickson in the statement, explained that while both versions feature the two-finger victory sign, the modified digital version is the official, constitutionally recognized logo.

He urged candidates and party members to immediately use the approved digital logo across all campaign materials, banners, and posters, directing that candidates who already printed materials with the former logo to transition to the authorized design as soon as possible.

The statement further said the party will launch a formal publicity campaign to guide members and sensitize voters on the correct logo.

Dickson reassured members that the leadership successfully navigated these administrative challenges, confirming that all official activities must now feature the approved digital logo.

aOur correspondent reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) immediately uploaded the new logo of the NDC on its official website following the judgment.

It also updated the party’s leadership on its website recognisisng Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe as the national chairman of the NDC, while Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu is national secretary.