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Leadership and public policy expert Dr Dakuku Peterside has blamed Nigeria’s inability to translate its vast natural and human resources into broad-based prosperity on weak institutions, poor management, and inconsistent policy implementation.

Peterside said Nigeria’s fundamental development challenge was not a lack of resources but the quality of the institutions and systems that manage them.

He spoke on Monday at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, while delivering the keynote address at the 65th Annual National Management Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

The former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said Nigeria must urgently move ‘from resource wealth to institutional wealth’ if it hopes to achieve sustainable economic transformation.

In a statement he made available to journalists in Abuja, Peterside said revenues from the country’s natural resources, particularly oil, should be deliberately converted into productive assets, including education, infrastructure, technology, research, manufacturing, agricultural value chains, logistics, and human capital.

‘Development occurs when natural wealth is converted into institutional wealth,’ Peterside said.

He described institutional wealth as the combination of capable people, credible systems, reliable laws, efficient agencies, transparent processes and productive enterprises necessary to drive sustainable development.

Peterside said the contrasting experiences of Nigeria, Botswana and South Korea showed that abundant natural resources were not, by themselves, a guarantee of national prosperity.

He noted that Botswana had successfully leveraged its diamond wealth through strong institutions, political stability, secure property rights and prudent public financial management.

South Korea, on the other hand, he said, achieved remarkable economic transformation through capable institutions, industrial coordination, infrastructure development, export-oriented policies and sustained investment in education.

Peterside also drew attention to historical per-capita income comparisons involving Nigeria, China and Malaysia, noting that although Nigeria was once ahead on the cited measure, the two Asian countries subsequently overtook it through faster and more consistent growth.

‘Potential is not destiny. History does not reward potential; it rewards organised potential’, he said.

The public policy expert warned that Nigeria’s excessive dependence on oil could continue to encourage rent-seeking, fiscal instability and distorted economic incentives unless revenues from the resource were deployed to finance long-term development.

He said the critical question before the country was whether oil wealth would be used to finance national transformation or merely sustain consumption.

Peterside also challenged Nigerian managers and policymakers to place greater emphasis on merit, accountability, measurable performance, institutional memory and professional public management.

‘Institutions become strong not because they occupy impressive buildings, but because they deliver predictable outcomes,’ he said.

He stressed that Nigeria’s transformation would ultimately depend on ‘capable institutions led by competent people’ with the discipline and commitment to translate policies into measurable results.

Also speaking at the conference, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Oba Dr Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, said Nigeria’s development shortcomings were fundamentally linked to its failure to build strong institutions.

The monarch said the country must deliberately cultivate competent leaders with integrity, stressing that sustained leadership development was indispensable to achieving national transformation

In his remarks, the President and Chairman of Council of NIM, Commodore Abimbola Ayuba, said Nigeria could not make meaningful progress without breaking away from practices that had held the country back.

‘The operating environment must be conducive and peaceful for the nation to excel,’ Ayuba said.

He urged professional managers to become leading lights and agents of change in their respective fields, charging them to contribute actively towards strengthening the country’s institutions, systems and management practices.

Fresh concerns have emerged over whether the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) can conduct its elective congress as scheduled, with the October 16 deadline fast approaching for a new board to assume control of Nigerian basketball administration.

Stakeholders say the electoral timeline is under severe pressure, pointing out that several constitutionally mandated pre-election steps remain unfulfilled with barely a month left.

Under the NBBF constitution, the transition process requires the current board to first convene an official meeting to determine the date and venue for an Extraordinary Congress, review audited financial statements, and propose members for the Electoral and Appeals Committees.

Following that meeting, administrative instructions and formal notice of the Extraordinary Congress must be circulated to state associations and key stakeholders at least 21 days in advance.

The Extraordinary Congress-attended by delegates as well as observers from the National Sports Commission (NSC), Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), and international governing body FIBA-must then formally approve the election date, venue, and electoral committees. Only after this step can the Electoral Committee issue guidelines, open nominations, screen candidates, and publish delegate lists.

The elective congress itself is scheduled to conclude with zonal elections, followed by polls for the vice presidency and presidency, before the newly elected board is sworn in to deliver its inaugural address.

However, basketball observers and administrative stakeholders question whether these procedural steps can be compressed into the remaining timeframe before the October 16 handover.

The delay has drawn criticism toward the National Sports Commission, with critics pointing to a lack of decisive coordination in expediting the process.

Following years of governance disputes, FIBA mandated in March that elections must take place between the end of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and October 15, with the new board taking over on October 16. Stakeholders warn that missing this deadline risks plunging Nigerian basketball back into administrative uncertainty and potential international sanctions.

Stakeholders are now calling on the NBBF board and sports authorities to immediately issue a clear electoral timetable that complies with the federation’s statutory requirements.

The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) is moving to make energy efficiency a core requirement of architectural practice, with plans to introduce new competency standards and certification for energy-efficient building design.

The initiative is part of a partnership between ARCON and the German development agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), to strengthen the capacity of architects and other built-environment professionals across the country.

Under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja, the partners will review and update Energy Efficient Building Design (EEBD) competency standards and training materials, establish a national training network, and develop a certification framework for professionals.

The move could eventually affect architectural education, professional examinations and continuing professional development, given ARCON’s statutory responsibility for regulating architectural education, registration, training and practice in Nigeria.

The agreement brings together three GIZ-supported programmes – the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) and Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) – under the Just Transition and Inclusion (JTI) Cluster.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, ARCON President, Arc. (Sir) Oladipupo Ajayi, said the building sector had a major impact on energy consumption, environmental sustainability, urban resilience and quality of life.

He said architects must therefore lead in promoting energy-efficient buildings, climate-responsive designs and sustainable construction.

‘Architects must therefore promote energy-efficient buildings, climate-responsive design, sustainable construction and inclusive development,’ Ajayi said.

He described the agreement as a platform for knowledge sharing, capacity development, innovation and practical action, stressing the need to ensure the benefits of sustainability extend to all sections of society.

Ajayi said ARCON was committed to working with its partners to integrate energy efficiency and sustainability into professional development, architectural education and building delivery.

The Registrar of ARCON, Arc. Mohammed Itopa Sule, said the agreement marked an important step towards advancing energy efficiency, sustainable buildings, climate-responsive design, inclusion and a just transition in the built environment.

In his vote of thanks, Sule pledged that ARCON would translate the MoU into practical programmes, improved building practices and measurable impact.

He commended GIZ Nigeria, ECOWAS, NESP, CoM SSA, and PEEB for their support and confidence in ARCON.

The ceremony was opened by GIZ Nigeria and the ECOWAS Country Director, Dr. Markus Wagner, with opening remarks delivered by Dr. Karin Jansen, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Abuja.

Sharon Kaburuk, Head of Component, Capacity Development at NESP, presented an overview of the agreement, and Jochen Rudolph, Cluster Coordinator, Just Transition and Inclusion Cluster, also participated in the ceremony.

The partnership matters because decisions made during design and specification can determine a building’s energy performance throughout its lifespan.

ARCON operates under the Architects (Registration, Etc.) Act and is responsible for accrediting architectural programmes in Nigerian universities and polytechnics, registering architects, and regulating professional training, conduct and practice.

The competency standards developed under the partnership could therefore be incorporated into curriculum expectations, professional examinations, and mandatory continuing professional development.

NESP supports Nigeria’s sustainable energy transition through skills, institutional and systems development in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

PEEB Cool focuses on energy efficiency and climate resilience in the building sector, while CoM SSA works with cities and municipalities on sustainable energy and climate planning and developing projects that can attract financing.

The partners said the signing marked the beginning of the initiative.

The immediate phase will focus on technically revising competency standards, developing training materials, and designing the certification framework before rolling out training through the proposed national network.

The constitutional rights of citizens to move freely and reside in any part of the country are increasingly being put to test by certain actions and utterances from politicians. If serious measures are not taken to stem the dangerous tide, the situation could get even worse with the 2027 electioneering campaigns around the corner. In the last two months or so, the polity has witnessed a spate of threats and incendiary statements from politicians seeking to further one political objective or the other.

These weighty and potentially explosive utterances do not only run at variance with the rules of democratic engagement but are capable of eroding its very foundation. In all these attempts to abridge the rights of citizens, the law enforcement agencies have curiously remained tepid.

When responsible public functionaries make statements that threaten public peace or organise mobs to obstruct the movement of citizens, there should be arrests, investigation and prosecution to deter prospective offenders.

But for a few instances, that has not been the case with the rising culture of threats, obstruction of private movements and incendiary statements from politicians. The increase in the phenomenon has a direct link with the inability of law enforcement agencies to apprehend and punish such offenders.

That was what exactly played out recently when the Kuje Area Council chairman of the Federal Capital Territory, Samuel Shekwolo reportedly asked residents of the council area who do not support his party to leave ahead of the 2027 elections. He was forced by mounting criticisms to claim that he was quoted out of context. That claim did not impress anyone given that his initial threat as captured in a trending video was, ‘I have said in my area council that it’s either you are for the APC or you leave the area council’. The threat is unambiguous, its context very clear.

Yet, it is not public knowledge that he was either arrested or questioned by the law enforcement agencies. Shekwolo definitely went beyond his powers and cannot deny any citizen either the right to reside in any place of his choice or the political party of his choice. That is how bad the culture of political intolerance has become.

Threats of this nature carry serious weight and deep meaning. They reinforce the culture of intolerance and adversarial politics that has reduced elections in this clime to the verity of a warfare where even the most ignoble and reprehensive practices thrive. Democracy will find it herculean to grow and endure in the face of this cultural dissonance.

There was also the threat from the Ebony State Governor, Francis Nwifuru to sack council chairmen who fail to win their councils in the coming general elections. Ordinarily, there is nothing wrong with any political party seeking to win elections. But a threat of this nature encourages desperation and struggles to win elections by all means.

It is a do-or-die political culture that will do our democracy no good. Good governance and robust campaigns based on issues that touch the lives of the electorate are more valuable in determining the swing of electoral victory. Threats signpost weakness and morbid fear! A government that has the confidence of its people has no need for such threats.

Perhaps, last week’s altercation between the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi and the Benue State government illustrates how degenerating this culture of obstruction and invasion of citizen’s fundamental rights has become. Obi was reported to have travelled to Benue State to visit surviving victims of the Yelwata attacks of 2025. More than 200 defenceless citizens reportedly died in that senseless attack.

Before he set out for the private visit, he wrote the state police commissioner intimating him of his intended visit with a request for security cover. This was promptly provided and his entourage set out for the visit.

But his convoy was blocked by an unruly mob along the Gboko-Makurdi federal highway chanting, ‘Peter Obi must go back’. To avoid any untoward incident, the convoy turned back with Obi unable to accomplish his mission. Curiously, all this happened despite the presence of police officers assigned to escort Obi to Yelwata.

Obi accused the state government of hiring political thugs to obstruct his private movement. Benue State government claimed it had no knowledge of, or involvement, in the incident. But they maintained that Obi and his team failed to follow proper protocol or notify the governor and state authorities of the visit.

Apparently to explain the presence of the youths on the highway that early morning, the state government further claimed that youth mobilisation activities were going on in all the local governments that day. That may well be. But how did those chanting ‘Obi must go back’ come to the knowledge that the presidential candidate of the NDC was in that convoy? Is it not also strange that federal highways have now become the centre-stage for youth mobilisation?

The curious manner the mob fizzled out immediately after Obi’s convoy turned back lends their presence on that road suspect. There is also no record of the purported mobilisation activities across the state apart from the unruly mob at the Gboko-Makurdi highway.

It is difficult to exculpate the Benue State government from that show of shame. Not with the claim of the presence of an aide to the governor who was said to have organised the mob.

The state government gave itself away when it claimed that Obi neither followed protocols nor informed them of his intended visit. This is not entirely correct.

The state police commissioner clarified that he was informed of the visit and he duly provided the needed security cover. It is inconceivable that the chief security officer of the state will not be privy to this information through the appropriate channels of communication. The state government is challenged to tell the public that the commissioner of police did not avail them of that information.

But Benue State and Obi have passed through this troubling route before. When in 2025 he wanted to visit IDP camps in the same state, the state governor refused him access on the grounds that he failed to adhere to protocols by not formally notifying him or other relevant officials.

They also alluded to security risks, a directive banning unauthorised high-profile visits while accusing Obi of seeking to make political capital of the visit.

This time around, the police was duly informed and they provided security cover. The veil on presidential campaigns has also been lifted by the electoral umpire. That empowers presidential candidates to embark on any visit they may so decide including ones that will give them political advantage. There is absolutely nothing in the aborted visit that should warrant the obstruction by the unruly mob.

There is no law requiring politically exposed persons to obtain permission from a sitting governor prior to their visit. Protocol yes! But that is where there is mutual trust and respect between the parties.

The state police command has made arrests of suspected culprits. They should be promptly profiled and made to face the raw teeth of the law. Enough of that rascality!

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Monday called for stronger collaboration among governments, traditional and religious institutions, development partners and philanthropists to tackle Nigeria’s maternal and newborn mortality burden.

First Lady Tinubu’s call came even as the Federal Government rolled out 215,000 MAMA kits, 40,000 maternal food-support packs and 40,000 sets of newborn clothing for vulnerable women and families nationwide.

Mrs Tinubu said the scale of the challenge required collective action to ensure that the interventions reached pregnant women, particularly those in poor, underserved and hard-to-reach communities.

Speaking at the flag-off of the distribution at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the First Lady said pregnancy and childbirth should be occasions of hope rather than a threat to the lives of Nigerian women.

‘This occasion represents a further step towards ensuring that every Nigerian child has a healthy start in life and that no woman loses her life while giving birth’, she said.

The intervention is being implemented under the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and is designed to encourage greater use of antenatal, delivery and postnatal services.

Mrs Tinubu said the programme aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Health, which places healthcare at the centre of national development.

She described MAMII as a bold national intervention bringing together critical stakeholders to tackle preventable maternal and newborn deaths through greater awareness, emergency care and more effective referral systems.

‘As a mother, I believe pregnancy and childbirth should be moments of hope and joy, with every woman having access to quality care. However, social, economic, cultural, and logistical barriers still exist. This is what makes today’s flag-off particularly significant’, the First Lady said.

According to her, the 215,000 MAMA kits and bags constitute the second batch of the intervention, following the distribution of 110,000 kits in 2025.

She said the government was complementing the kits with 40,000 maternal food-support packs and 40,000 sets of essential newborn clothing, and would later expand the intervention to additional local government areas where uptake of MAMII services remained low.

Mrs Tinubu explained that the incentives were intended to encourage economically disadvantaged pregnant women to attend antenatal clinics, prepare adequately for childbirth and remain connected to healthcare services after delivery.

‘The newborn clothing represents the administration’s commitment to welcoming every Nigerian child with dignity, warmth, and care.

‘The maternal food support equally recognises that the health and nutrition of a mother are essential to a healthy pregnancy, safe delivery, and a healthy newborn’, she said.

She urged state and local governments, as well as traditional and religious leaders, development partners, and philanthropists, to work with the Federal Government to ensure the materials reached women who needed them most.

The First Lady also highlighted interventions she had supported in maternal and child healthcare, including the provision of professional kits to midwives, retraining of frontline health workers and advocacy against mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis.

She commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and officials of the ministry for their commitment to reducing preventable deaths among women and newborns.

In his message, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Pate, said the intervention was part of a wider Federal Government strategy to expand access to essential healthcare and reverse the country’s high burden of preventable maternal and neonatal deaths.

According to him, the government’s sector-wide approach targets a 30 per cent reduction in maternal mortality and a 20 per cent reduction in newborn mortality by 2028, with approximately 2.9 million pregnant women and families expected to benefit.

He said MAMII was already being implemented in several states, focusing on emergency obstetric and newborn care, transportation, referral systems and stronger primary healthcare delivery.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, described Nigeria’s maternal mortality burden as ‘one of the most sobering realities of our nation’.

Nigeria, according to figures presented at the event, accounts for nearly 39 per cent of global maternal deaths.

Salako said the government was intensifying efforts to expand antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, emergency medical services and timely referrals, especially for women constrained by poverty, distance and other barriers to healthcare.

He said the administration’s message to Nigerian women was that ‘help continues to come and help is very, very close, and it is coming faster.’

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, commended the Federal Government for placing maternal and newborn survival high on its health agenda but stressed that sustained legislative and institutional support would be necessary to achieve lasting results.

She called for stronger funding for the health sector, improved primary healthcare facilities, and wider access to emergency services, saying reducing maternal deaths required close collaboration between the executive and legislature.

World Health Organisation Country Representative, Dr Pavel Ursu, said the success of the intervention would ultimately be measured by whether it improved women’s access to quality healthcare and saved lives.

‘Primary health care is so important. It brings life-saving care closer to families, builds trust, and connects communities to wider health systems’, Ursu said.

He urged authorities to deploy data more effectively to identify gaps and channel resources to communities with the greatest needs.

‘Data should show us who is being reached, where gaps remain and where action is most important’, he said, adding that ‘implementation will therefore matter as much as the ambition’.

Ursu also advocated greater ownership and domestic financing by states, stressing that although development partners could assist the country, Nigerian institutions would have to drive sustainable progress.

‘Lasting progress must be rooted in Nigerian institutions, budgets, and accountability’, he said.

The WHO representative also paid tribute to healthcare workers, whose efforts, he said, remained central to translating government policies and investments into lives saved.

‘Every day, often in difficult environments, they stand behind women and families at the most vulnerable moments. Their skills, dedication and compassion turn policies into lifesaving,’ Ursu said.

Other development partners, including the World Bank, stressed the need for sustained financing, accountability, and stronger health systems, noting that distributing material incentives must be matched by functional facilities, skilled personnel, effective referral systems, and quality healthcare.

The Federal Government said about 642,000 pregnant women had so far been moved to healthcare facilities within their communities, while more than 85,000 women had been transported for emergency care.

It added that more than 93,000 women had benefited from free life-saving surgical procedures nationwide, with the interventions contributing to a reported 22 per cent reduction in maternal mortality in facilities equipped to provide the services.

More than 250 health facilities across Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina states are also implementing MAMII, with over 42,000 women and 1,700 newborns said to have benefited directly from emergency obstetric and newborn care.

Nearly 79,000 beneficiaries have also been transported to health facilities, while antenatal attendance and facility deliveries reportedly increased by about 20 per cent in areas covered by the programme within one quarter.

Senior government officials, lawmakers, health-sector agencies, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, healthcare workers, and beneficiaries attended the event.

Among those present were the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr Mariya Mahmoud; Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye; Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri; and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Prof. Muyi Aina.

Representatives of the Sultan of Sokoto, Christian Association of Nigeria, UNICEF and other development partners also attended the flag-off.

A chieftain of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State and Chairman of Zone C, Alimosho, Alhaji Azeez Abiola Istijabah, has urged residents and transport operators to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, in next year’s general elections.

Istijabah made the call at the weekend during an empowerment programme for tricycle operators in Alimosho, where he distributed brake oil, tyres, pointers and other essential maintenance items to operators in the zone.

He said the Tinubu administration had taken steps to address challenges in the sector, particularly through the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative to petrol.

Istijabah said the initiative had provided relief to operators struggling with petrol costs, noting that a tricycle operator could spend between N15,000 and N17,000 daily on petrol, compared with about N4,000 they spend on CNG.

He commended Tinubu for promoting CNG and other policies aimed at reducing transportation costs, adding that the deployment of CNG-powered buses and tricycles would help ease the financial burden on operators.

Istijabah also urged the beneficiaries to mobilise their family members, friends and associates to vote for Tinubu and Hamzat in 2027, saying the APC had performed creditably at both the federal and state levels.

Beyond the CNG initiative, he said the union had commenced a quarterly safety monitoring programme across Lagos to inspect commercial buses, tricycles and motorcycles and identify vehicles requiring repairs or maintenance.

He said: ‘ The union would provide essential maintenance items, including tyres, mirrors, wipers and engine oil, to operators whose vehicles required them, as part of efforts to reduce avoidable road accidents and protect passengers.’

He explained that the monitoring exercise would be conducted every three months, with union representatives visiting motor parks across Lagos to assess commercial vehicles and follow up on identified safety concerns.

He urged transport operators to comply with Lagos State traffic regulations and cooperate with relevant government agencies, stressing that maintaining the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles was a shared responsibility.

The NURTW chieftain also commended developments in Lagos’ transportation sector, particularly the Blue, Green and Red Line rail projects, saying continued investment in the sector would benefit both residents and operators.

Chief Executive Officer, Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema has said that Nigerian Airlines won’t succeed until there is a review of the 54 aviation charges that have become a significant barrier to the profitability and competitiveness of the carriers, both domestically and internationally.

He spoke at the 30th annual conference of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos, with theme: ‘Towards a Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing government revenue demands with sector growth which held in Lagos at the weekend.

Onyema, who is also the Vice president of Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), said the charges are among the highest in the world, adding , ‘One thing I want to mention is that there are many charges. If I were to list them, there are about 54 that airlines pay.

Even for international flights, it’s the same. I remember when ECOWAS came together.

‘Even our president signed a treaty on behalf of ECOWAS calling for a 25% reduction in taxes across West Africa. That has not been implemented anywhere yet.

‘One thing I must say is that I’m certain any day President Bola Tinubu sees us, if they allow us to see him, because I know he wants to meet with us, that will be the day there will be a revolution in the airline industry in this country. Because that man supports indigenous businesses. He does.

‘I remember a few occasions when I visited him regarding the 4% FOB customs duty. He acted within 24 hours. I happened to be at the villa that day, not to see him, and I ran into the controller general of customs, a fantastic man. These are people who think about the country, not just revenue. He said to me, ‘It’s going to hurt airlines.’ I said, ‘We are already bleeding. This 4% will hurt us.’ He said, ‘Okay, let’s go see the president.’ This man helped me. Within 24 hours, the 4% was removed. That is the power of listening.

‘The problem is that the president has not seen us. He has too many things to grapple with. When he does see us, aviation will flourish in this country. It will benefit the agencies, the government, and the flying public.’

Also speaking at the event, the spokesperson of the AON and chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, disclosed how bird strikes are inflicting severe damage on airline operations and profitability.

He expressed frustration with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) for not adequately mitigating the problem and noted the financial burden of such incidents on operators who have taken bank loans to acquire aircraft.

He said: ‘Today, I have an aircraft, E-190. This is the 13th day of AOG (aircraft on ground) due to bird strike. We bought new blades and fixed them. . Imagine having borrowed 30% of funds from the bank to acquire these beautiful aircraft, only to wake up and face a bird strike. It happens continuously within one month. It is very painful.’

Okonkwo also spoke on unruly passengers narrating an incident where passengers refused to disembark from a United Nigeria flight that was forced to return to Lagos due to heavy rain affecting Kano’s runway. He said passengers refused to leave the aircraft and spent the night on the ramp because they did not want the plane to go anywhere except back to Kano.

‘If we cannot protect airline workers, who are somebody’s wives, children, sisters, and brothers, then when there is any flight disruption, what happens? Staff disappear because nobody wants to be harmed,’ he said.

Another concern raised by Okonkwo is the speed in which Airline Operating Certificates (AOCs) are issued, warning that the airport infrastructure is insufficient to handle the growing number of operators.

Okonkwo noted that while it took him two to three years to obtain his AOC, some operators are now receiving theirs within six months.

He expressed concern about airport congestion, citing a recent incident where a United Nigeria flight sat on the tarmac for 30 minutes because passengers could not disembark due to ramp congestion. ‘More AOCs are being issued, and perhaps five more will be issued by year’s end. More competition is fine, no problem. But where is the infrastructure to accommodate these additional aircraft? If these new operators acquire aircraft quickly, the ground infrastructure is already full. I wonder if we have enough airspace,’ he said.

Okonkwo then criticized government officials for making statements that undermine the aviation industry’s reputation and investor confidence. He said that the reputation of this industry is very important and that certain words and actions used by some government officials are not good for the industry.

He called for government appointees, particularly those in communications roles, to receive training in aviation sector dynamics. ‘I appeal to those appointed to speak for government, especially those with political appointments and limited industry knowledge, to undergo training that will equip them to conduct themselves properly. This sensitivity is crucial,’ Okonkwo said.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said on Monday that 13 have been arrested for acts of cable vandalism, armed robbery, car theft, and human trafficking.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, said the suspects were arrested at various locations while committing the crimes.

He said while parading the suspects at the Service Headquarters of the Corps that the arrests were made by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS).

The operations leading to the arrests were carried out in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue, Niger, and Kaduna States.

He disclosed that one suspect, Isaac Zegbe, a former employee of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), alongside his accomplices, vandalized over 15 kilometers of aluminum conductors running from Yangoji to Abaji, valued at over ?350 million. He said the suspect was arrested alongside Chijioke Christian who confessed that he purchased the equipments.

‘Intelligence-driven operations also dismantled a four-man car theft syndicate specializing in Toyota vehicles across the FCT and neighboring states. The suspects were identified as Adamu Yusuf, Hassan Bukar, Adamu Musa (aka ‘Yellow’), and Abdulsalam Isa (aka ‘Kada’),’ Babawale said.

He said the team also apprehended an armed robbery gang comprising Nuhu Ndam, Ponbin Lamkur, Yilcwat Sohdan, and Ganpyal Dul while operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, 16 rounds of 7.62x39mm live ammunition, and ?70,000 in cash were recovered from them.

Babawale disclosed that in the case of human trafficking, investigators intercepted and picked up Micaiah Nana, the last of 16 children trafficked by Archibong Anderson on January 15, 2026.

He added that the individuals who purchased the child have been arrested and detained and are assisting investigators. He listed the names of other suspects arrested by the team, saying that they would be charged to court as soon as possible.

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving air cargo operations and strengthening collaboration with licensed customs agents as part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s air cargo sector.

FAAN is also reworking the operational and regulatory framework for players in the ecosystem to be extract its contribution to the Federal Government’s of $1 trillion economy by 2030.

To drive this initiative, the Federal Government is fine-tuning strategies involving biometric capture of registered players at airports, building a database of opportunities in the sector as well as upgrading the required infrastructure to grow the business.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the FAAN Directorate of Cargo Development and Services in Lagos, Regional General Manager, South West Airports, FAAN, Mr Tokunbo Arewa, said the authority would continue to engage stakeholders to obtain feedback and improve service delivery.

Arewa said the meeting was designed to provide an opportunity for customs agents to raise concerns about the charges they pay and the services provided by the authority.

He said FAAN was interested in knowing whether its operations were meeting stakeholders’ expectations, stressing that the authority did not want to collect charges without demonstrating value for the services provided.

According to him, the engagement would allow stakeholders to understand FAAN’s plans and compare its operations with practices in other parts of the world.

He urged participants to take advantage of the interactive session by asking questions and highlighting areas requiring improvement.

The Terminal Manager, Hajj and Cargo, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Comrade Adedayo Alale, called for stronger interaction between the authority and stakeholders to improve service delivery.

Alale said the engagement was an opportunity for licensed customs agents to provide feedback on the services they receive, particularly as they contribute financially to operations at the airport.

According to him, the objective was to address the concerns raised and strengthen cooperation between the authority and the stakeholders.

Also speaking, the Director, Cargo Development Services, FAAN, Mr Lekan Thomas, said the creation of a dedicated cargo directorate demonstrated the Federal Government’s increased focus on air cargo as a driver of economic growth.

Mr. Thomas explained that cargo services were previously handled as a small unit under the Business and Commercial Directorate before the establishment of the dedicated directorate.

He linked the development to the Federal Government’s broader ambition of growing the Nigerian economy, noting that the aviation cargo sector would play an important role in expanding trade and exports.

Mr. Thomas said the directorate had, over the past three years, identified operational and infrastructural challenges affecting cargo operations and had begun addressing some of the gaps.

He disclosed that efforts to plug operational and revenue leakages had already resulted in significant improvements in FAAN’s revenue, with better operational processes contributing to increases of up to 40 and 80 per cent in some areas.

The Cargo Director said FAAN was also working with relevant government agencies on Memoranda of Understanding to clearly define responsibilities and improve coordination within cargo facilities.

Mr. Thomas said the authority was working to provide appropriate spaces for activities carried out by government agencies within public warehouses, while efforts were also underway to prevent indiscriminate parking around cargo facilities and keep access routes available for cargo operations.

He further disclosed that FAAN was preparing to introduce an access control system, expected to take effect by the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2027.

According to him, the initiative is aimed at ensuring that only authorised personnel have access to cargo terminals.

He said the documentation process would involve verification with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and other agencies responsible for regulating freight forwarding activities.

Mr. Thomas added that FAAN was working towards digitising the process to make it easier to onboard new employees of licensed companies without repeating the entire documentation process.

He also disclosed that the authority was working on a truck call-up system and seeking additional holding areas for trucks to reduce congestion and improve cargo movement.

The director said FAAN was also engaging ground handling companies on warehouse capacity and other operational challenges, noting that existing facilities were increasingly coming under pressure as cargo volumes grew.

He urged licensed customs agents to improve their knowledge of packaging standards and other requirements necessary for expanding Nigeria’s export market.

FAAN was prepared to support stakeholders he said, with relevant training, stressing that the various initiatives were intended to improve efficiency, facilitate business growth and enable operators to make more profit.

The General Manager, FAAN Cargo Directorate, Mrs Rekia Alao, said the engagement was also aimed at encouraging licensed customs agents to embrace the authority’s digital initiatives and strengthen collaboration across the cargo value chain.

Alao said improved collaboration would contribute to cargo development and reduce cargo dwell time.

She stressed that the engagement would not be a one-off event, adding that FAAN plans to hold similar meetings at least twice a year, or more frequently where necessary.

According to her, regular engagements would enable the authority to understand the challenges confronting customs agents and jointly develop solutions.

She said FAAN was committed to maintaining an open channel of communication with licensed customs agents as part of efforts to position Nigeria as a major hub for air cargo business.

The Head, Cargo Department, FAAN, John Ogbe, also highlighted ongoing infrastructure improvements at the cargo terminal, including road rehabilitation, street lighting, deployment of CCTV cameras and construction of additional toilet facilities.

He said the authority was also working on biometric access systems as part of measures to improve security and operational efficiency within the cargo environment.

The stakeholders’ meeting provided a platform for licensed customs agents to raise operational concerns and make recommendations on measures that could improve cargo processing, security, infrastructure and business efficiency at Nigeria’s airports.

The Ondo State Police Command and the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) have beefed up security operations across the state as schools reopen for the a new academic session.

The two security agencies said they deployed personnel to schools and other strategic locations to prevent criminal activities and ensure a safe environment for students and their teachers.

The police explained that it had already deployed its tactical personnel to provide adequate security as schools resume for academic session across the state.

The Command’s spokesperson, Jimoh Abayomi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), revealed this in a statement issued to journalists in Akure.

Abayomi said that the command had intensified patrols, visibility policing and intelligence-led operations around schools to prevent attacks and ensure prompt response to emerging security threats.

He hinted that the school protection squad had been ‘adequately deployed across the state’ to provide security coverage around schools.

‘Parents and guardians are encouraged to remain security-conscious and educate their children and wards on basic safety measures.

‘School owners and administrators are equally advised to promptly report any suspicious persons, activities or security concerns around their schools to the police,’ Abayomi said.

The police spokesperson urged students to avoid isolated routes, refrain from accepting lifts or following strangers and promptly report suspicious activities to their teachers, school authorities, parents or security agencies.

Mr Abayomi assured parents, guardians, teachers and school administrators that the command would remain vigilant and responsive throughout the academic session.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, wished students a safe and successful academic session and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

The command appealed to members of the public to provide timely and credible information that could assist security agencies in preventing and tackling crime.

Similarly, the Amotekun Corps said it had concluded security arrangements to protect students and other members of the school community across Ondo State.

The state commander of the corps, Adetunji Adeleye, said the deployment would particularly cover border communities, isolated locations and other areas considered vulnerable to criminal activities.

Adeleye said the corps was aware of prevailing security challenges in some parts of the country but had adopted proactive measures to prevent criminals from targeting schoolchildren in the state.

According to him, the state government had directed the deployment of adequate security personnel to schools, particularly those located in border communities and other vulnerable areas.

He advised all school principals and administrators to familiarise themselves with the corps’ emergency distress line, 0807 999 99 89, to facilitate rapid response whenever security incidents occur.

Adeleye said buses conveying students in vulnerable locations would receive security protection as part of measures to ensure their safe transportation.

He urged parents, school authorities and residents to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and other activities capable of threatening the safety of students and staff.