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Niger State Pension Board has disclosed that it has spent ?5 billion out of the ?9.1 billion budgeted for pension payments between January and August 2025.

The Permanent Secretary of the Board, Malam Habib Abdulkadir, made this known during the presentation of the Board’s proposed 2026 budget to the Niger State Planning Commission at the Women Multipurpose Hall, Old Secretariat, Minna.

Abdulkadir stated that pension payments were up to date, except for retirees who were still undergoing biometric capture.

He added that the number of retirees continues to grow monthly, requiring constant review and estimates.

He also noted that deaths among pensioners were minimal, attributing this to the ongoing ‘I Am Alive’ verification exercise, which helps identify deceased beneficiaries.

Following the presentation, the screening committee of the Planning Commission raised several observations, including inconsistencies in the staff lists from state and local governments, as well as the non-submission of monthly expenditure records from January to August.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Planning Commission, Hajiya Aishatu Tani Usman, explained that the exercise was part of the annual budget preparation process for ministries, departments, and agencies. She said all requirements must be met before the final budget presentation.

Usman commended the Pension Board for its presentation and directed it to submit its record of achievements for the outgoing year, 2025.

The session was attended by officials from the Bureau of Statistics, the Office of the Head of Service, and the State Planning Commission.

The Nigerian naira is staging its strongest comeback in years, fueled by surging foreign reserves, declining speculative activities in the foreign exchange market, and sweeping reforms introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The currency, which had been battered by years of volatility and sharp depreciation, is now regaining investor confidence and market credibility, writes JOSEPH INOKOTONG.

BEGINNING from when the naira struggled to maintain relevance against the United States dollar, trading at historic lows across both official and parallel markets, Nigeria’s local currency has begun to recover lost ground. As of late September 2025, the naira traded at N1,475/$ at the official window and about N1,460/$ in the parallel market, marking its strongest position this year. The gap between both markets, once wide enough to encourage arbitrage and speculative hoarding of foreign exchange, has now narrowed to an almost negligible margin.

At the heart of this recovery is a steady rise in Nigeria’s external reserves, now standing at $43.05 billion, up from $40.51 billion in July. With an import cover of over eight months and a current account surplus that more than doubled in the second quarter of 2025, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been able to reassure investors and businesses of the economy’s resilience.

But beyond the numbers, the naira’s rally tells a larger story of institutional reforms, market confidence, and a determined policy shift aimed at reining in speculation and restoring stability.

A Currency’s Reputation Restored

For Nigeria, the naira is more than a medium of exchange. It is a symbol of national identity and economic sovereignty. Years of depreciation had not only weakened its purchasing power but also eroded confidence in the financial system. Businesses struggled with multiple exchange rates, importers could not access forex on time, and ordinary Nigerians bore the brunt of skyrocketing inflation.

Today, optimism is returning. Market analysts, policy experts, and even small-scale currency dealers acknowledge that speculative trading, a major factor behind the naira’s volatility, has declined sharply. With liquidity injections, improved reserves management, and tighter compliance with forex rules, the CBN has successfully reduced distortions that once plagued the market.

A Bureaux De Change (BDC) operator in Lagos, Garuba Sarki, admitted that many dealers recently incurred losses as they were forced to sell below purchasing rates due to the narrowing exchange gap. ‘This is expected to continue in the weeks ahead,’ he said, noting that fresh dollar inflows are likely to strengthen the naira further.

Investors’ Renewed Confidence

The CBN’s reforms under Governor Olayemi Cardoso have not gone unnoticed. International oil companies, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), and domestic institutions are all responding to what they perceive as a more transparent and accountable foreign exchange regime.

Head of Research at Commercio Partners, Ifeanyi Ubah, explained that Nigeria’s rising reserves are a sign of stronger external buffers. ‘With reserves strengthening, speculative activity subsiding, and oil earnings supporting inflows, many market watchers believe the naira’s current rally has a stronger foundation compared to previous cycles of volatility,’ he said.

Indeed, the combination of foreign portfolio inflows, repatriated earnings from oil companies, and diaspora remittances has significantly bolstered supply. The CBN’s interventions to authorised dealers have further stabilised the market, while a more efficient foreign exchange framework has helped sustain investor interest.

Policy Anchors: FX Code and EFEMS

A major pillar of the ongoing reforms is the Foreign Exchange Code (FX Code), introduced by the CBN to enforce standards of ethics, transparency, and accountability in the market. The FX Code compels institutions to submit detailed compliance plans, signed off at board level, outlining how they intend to uphold best practices in trading and reporting.

According to the President of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Aminu Gwadabe, the FX Code has been a game changer in curbing speculation. ‘By entrenching transparency and accountability in FX market operations, the code has effectively kept speculators in check and strengthened naira stability,’ he said.

Governor Cardoso has stressed that the code is aligned with international standards and tailored to Nigeria’s unique market challenges. ‘The era of opaque practices is over. Violations will be met with penalties and administrative actions under the CBN Act 2007 and BOFIA Act 2020,’ he declared at the launch.

Complementing the FX Code is the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS), designed to provide real-time information on currency rates, volumes, and market activity. The system curtails distortions and eliminates the opaque pricing that once allowed speculation to thrive.

Additionally, the CBN lifted the controversial restriction on 41 import items, a policy reversal aimed at improving access to FX for businesses and promoting trade and investment.

Reforms Rooted in Crisis Management

When Cardoso assumed office in October 2023, Nigeria’s FX market was in disarray. A backlog of over $7 billion in unfulfilled obligations, multiple exchange rates, and collapsing investor confidence created a daunting landscape. His immediate priority was unifying the exchange rate to eliminate arbitrage and restore transparency.

‘Over the past year, we have undertaken critical reforms to unify Nigeria’s exchange rate, eliminating distortions and restoring transparency. This unification has enabled us to clear outstanding foreign exchange obligations, giving businesses the confidence to plan and invest,’ Cardoso said during the last Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

From manufacturers to airlines, market participants now report improved planning and smoother access to FX. While challenges remain, the progress has laid a foundation for longer-term stability.

The Diaspora Connection

Beyond oil exports and foreign portfolio investments, Diaspora remittances have become a critical source of FX inflows. Recognising this, the CBN introduced two new products targeted at Nigerians abroad: the Non-Resident Nigerian Ordinary Account (NRNOA) and the Non-Resident Nigerian Investment Account (NRNIA). These accounts allow Nigerians abroad to remit foreign earnings, manage funds in multiple currencies, and invest in domestic financial markets, from bonds and equities to mortgage products. By formalising remittance channels and offering flexibility, the CBN hopes to double receipts within a year.

Western Union’s Regional Vice President for Africa, Mohamed Touhami el Ouazzani, recently noted that Africa received $90 billion in remittances in 2023, underlining their importance for household welfare and financial stability. He described remittances as ‘seeds of change,’ with the potential to transform economies if properly harnessed.

Market Watchers Urge Caution

While optimism is high, experts caution that sustaining the naira’s rally will require more than monetary policy. Analysts stress the importance of maintaining fiscal discipline, boosting crude oil production, and diversifying exports to reduce dependence on oil revenues.

For now, the CBN’s interventions have restored short-term stability. But without structural reforms in energy, manufacturing, and agriculture, Nigeria risks repeating past cycles where temporary rallies gave way to sharp downturns.

A New Era for the Naira?

The naira’s rally represents more than just numbers on a trading screen. It signals a shift in Nigeria’s economic narrative, from a currency battered by speculation and policy inconsistencies to one benefiting from transparency, investor confidence, and strategic reforms.

For businesses, the implications are far-reaching: better planning, reduced hedging costs, and stronger investor appetite. For households, a stable naira means relief from the relentless inflation that has eroded purchasing power. And for policymakers, it represents a chance to consolidate reforms that can finally align Nigeria’s economy with its potential.

Still, the task ahead remains formidable. Exchange rate stability must be complemented by robust productivity growth, non-oil exports, and a disciplined fiscal regime. If these are achieved, the naira could indeed sustain its current momentum and reclaim its place as a true instrument of national pride.

Leading voices will reimagine African and Afro-diasporic archives as dynamic, contested, and future-shaping spaces at the Re:assemblages symposium in November.

THE Re:assemblages Symposium, a landmark gathering of artists, archivists, curators, publishers, and cultural practitioners, will take place on November 4 and 5 at Alliance Française, Ikoyi, during Lagos Art Week 2025.

Organised by the Guest Artists Space (G.A.S.) Foundation and the Yinka Shonibare Foundation (Y.S.F.), the symposium will bring together leading voices to collectively reimagine African and Afro-diasporic archives as dynamic, contested, and future-shaping spaces.

The event also marks the launch of the second phase of Re:assemblages (2025-26), a two-year programme aiming to reimagine the role of archives in shaping African and global art histories.

The organisers have designed the symposium to be an interactive experience, with opportunities for dialogue and exchange. They explained in a statement that it was developed in response to the Picton Archive-a collection of rare African-published journals, magazines, and manuscripts held at G.A.S.-the programme reframes archives not as static repositories, but as dynamic infrastructures for research, cultural production, and exchange.

They said that a second symposium, scheduled for autumn 2026, ‘will extend these conversations by developing a toolkit of adaptive archival practices.’

The seminar will unfold across four conceptual strands: Ecotones, The Short Century, Annotations, and The Living Archive, each offering unique insights and perspectives.

‘Ecotones trace transitional zones where ecologies, communities, and knowledge systems intersect. The symposium explores these intersections through presentations and workshops that envision Afro-ecotones across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

‘The Short Century revisits 1945-1994 as a catalytic era of African independence and cultural production, revisiting the seminal exhibition on The Short Century: Independence and Liberation Movements in Africa, 1945-1994 curated by OkwuiEwenzor.

‘Annotations probe margins, silences, and archival absences through experimental literary and Performative strategies, bringing to light hidden narratives and alternative epistemologies.

‘The Living Archive reimagines archives and libraries as active, artist-led, community-centred sites of care, restitution, and creative transformation. Through performances, readings, panels, and workshops, the symposium asks how archives can be regenerated as socially and politically vital spaces.’

The symposium will also serve as the inaugural public gathering of the African Arts Libraries Lab (AAL Lab), a new network convened by G.A.S. and Y.S.F. that unites a dynamic group of African arts libraries and publishers across cities, including Lagos, Dakar, Marrakesh, Cairo, Nairobi, Cape Town, and Limbe.

Through its Affiliate Network, the Lab engages with global institutions that hold significant African and Afro-Diasporic collections. Each AAL Lab public convening will culminate in a micro-publication documenting its outcomes and contributing to the Archive Futures Repository. This dynamic digital resource advances new, African-led models of archival stewardship and activation.

Commenting, Yinka Shonibare, founder of G.A.S. and Y.S.F., said: ‘The inaugural Re: assemblages Symposium in Lagos is a vital step toward building African-led frameworks for the future of archives. These collections are not relics of the past but living spaces that continue to shape our shared histories and futures.’

Symposium curator Naima Hassan added: ‘The symposium acknowledges the urgency of engaging African and Afro-diasporic art archives spanning text, image, oral tradition, and performance and asks: what encounters arise within these spaces, and how might they transform our understanding of the archive itself?’

Samantha Russell coordinates the symposium with thematic contributions from Maryam Kazeem, Ann Marie Peña, and Jonn Gale.

The Terra Foundation for American Art, Afreximbank’s Art Program, The Osahon Okunbo Foundation (TOOF), Bank of America, and Bookcraft Africa are supporters of the Re: assemblages Symposium, which opens with a roundtable on ‘How will we share this earth?’ on November 4.

MisslaLibsekal, Janine Francois, Ala Praxis, and Eve Oishi will explore Afro-Ecotones across oceans, beginning with a site-specific reading of Lagos’ lagoon as an ecotonal site of ecological care, memory, and resistance at the session.

The first panel discussion, ‘Destabilising the Archive’ featuring Ore Disu of the Museum of West African Arts, Benin, Samba Yonga of Women’s History Museum of Zambia and Amanda Maples of the New Orleans Museum of Art, will rethink restitution as a process, positioning archives as porous, unstable, and alive.

The second panel, ‘The Living Archive: Propositions for Collections into the Future’, will see Ann Marie Peña chairing a conversation with Michelle Jacques, Azu Nwagbogu and Jago Cooper on how artists and institutions activate archives as participatory, socially responsive spaces.

The day’s final panel, ‘Rematriating the Archive’, will feature Cheryl Finley leading a discussion with Sylvia Arthur, Aisha Augie, and Jareh Das on women-led strategies for regenerating archives through oral traditions, FESTAC ’77, and the legacy of Ladi Kwali.

A screening of Olukemi Lijadu’s ‘Sister, Sister’, a moving portrait of the Lijadu Sisters, reimagining music, memory, and devotion as a living archive, will wrap up activities on the first day.

The second day promises to be just as enjoyable as the first. Highlights include ‘Annotations in Four Acts’, which features Naima Hassan, Maryam Kazeem, Robyn Simpson, and Ufuoma Ogbemudje reading from a new publication on FESTAC ’77 and pan-African festivals, tracing archival fragments and their afterlives.

There will also be a discussion on ‘Curatorial History and African Archives’ where Serubiri Moses, Tumelo Mosaka, and Kemi Ilesanmi highlight the transformative role of African curators, tracing strategies of mobility, mentorship, and institution building across global art networks.

As the Nigerian government announced a 50 per cent hike in telecommunication tariffs, it sparked concern among millions of citizens who rely on affordable mobile services for communication, business, and everyday life.

Ranging from calls, data subscription, to Short Message Service (SMS), the cost of staying connected has increased, and it takes its toll on the average Nigerian. Also, students and workers are not left alone; they ‘rely on mobile data to access essential resources, including research materials, online learning platforms, assignments and communication tools,’ according to University World News..

Meanwhile, despite the tariff hike, many internet users continue to subscribe and post various types of content. For a WhatsApp user, you may spot a hilarious meme or jaw-dropping video clips on your friend’s WhatsApp status and wish to have it. And when you request it, you’ll likely receive a response of ‘I don’t have data.’

With Xender, the same app you’ve probably been using for quick file transfers, has a built-in feature that lets you download WhatsApp statuses straight to your phone, without using your mobile data. Most people don’t realize this, hence, they leverage a third-party ‘status saver’ app.

In this article, Tribune Online proffers a step-by-step guide on how to save WhatsApp status using Xender in just a few taps.

How Xender Makes It Easy

Unlike other apps that flood you with ads or ask for shady permissions, Xender already does the heavy lifting. Beyond file sharing, it has a ‘Social’ tab that pulls WhatsApp statuses directly into the app. No digging into hidden folders. No wasting of data, whether you are using Android or IOS (iPhone), just open, click, and save.

Step 1: Open the Xender App

First, launch the Xender app on your phone if you don’t have it. Ensure you’re running the updated version, because older versions may not have the ‘Social’ feature.

Step 2: Tap on the Social Icon

At the bottom of the home screen, you’ll see several icons. Look for the one labeled ‘Social.’ That’s your gateway to all the WhatsApp statuses from your contacts.

Step 3: Select WhatsApp Statuses

Once inside the ‘Social’ tab, tap Statuses. Here, Xender automatically displays every WhatsApp status you’ve viewed: photos, videos, quotes, everything. With no extra setup needed.

Step 4: Choose and Download

Scroll through the statuses until you find the one you want to save. Just hit the Download button, and boom, the status gets stored directly in your phone’s gallery (storage). No internet data used, no third-party apps.

Step 5: Enjoy and Share

Once downloaded, you can keep it forever, share it with friends through Xender or WhatsApp, or simply enjoy it offline. Remember, WhatsApp automatically deletes statuses after 24 hours, but with Xender, you’re in control.

Utilizing these steps by just open Xender, tap ‘Social,’ select the status, and download it. Next time, when a friend posts something you can’t stop laughing at, you’ll know exactly how to keep it for yourself.

The Nigerian delegation, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, recently concluded its mission at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 2025), successfully pitching the nation as Africa’s next major investment hub while aggressively pursuing a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The gathering saw key diplomatic wins, including new commitments towards the country’s $200 billion energy transition plan and major ‘Skills-to-Jobs’ initiatives designed to tackle youth unemployment.

However, analysts warn that the true success of the trip-and its massive potential socio-economic gains-now depends entirely on the Federal Government’s ability to convert this diplomatic awareness and goodwill into tangible, locally impactful benefits for Nigerians grappling with high inflation and power instability.

History and Nigeria’s Role

Established in 1945 under the UN Charter, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the UN’s main debating body. All 193 member states-including Nigeria-have an equal say. UNGA meets every September in New York for its General Debate, where leaders set out their national priorities and discuss global issues: peace, development, and human rights.

Nigeria joined the UN after its independence in 1960. Since then, it has always used UNGA to push African interests, particularly for decolonisation in the 1960s-70s and against apartheid in South Africa. Nigeria has contributed heavily to peacekeeping (Liberia, Sierra Leone) and most recently, campaigns for an African permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Notable past moments include President Obasanjo’s 2000 speech on debt relief and President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2017 call for nuclear disarmament.

The UNGA 2025 session marks the UN’s 80th anniversary. Nigeria’s delegation, led by Vice President Shettima, continues this work, focusing on economic reform, climate action, and global equity. The goal is to align global support with the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda to drive development for the over 220 million Nigerian population.

Nigeria’s Key Objectives

Tribune Online learnt that the Nigerian delegation had several clear aims at UNGA 2025. They include:

*UN Security Council Reform: Pushing to secure a permanent African seat. The UNSC currently consists of five permanent members which China, Russia, UK, US and France; and 10 non-permanent members who are elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. However, Nigeria believes Africa as a continent often affected by security decisions by this Council deserves a permanent seat and this was emphasised in the speech delivered by VP Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.

*Global Financial Reform: Advocating for a UN Global Convention on Taxation to stop illicit financial flows.

*Climate Action: Strengthening Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.

*Security and Peacekeeping: Highlighting Nigeria’s anti-terrorism work and peacekeeping contributions.

*Economic Growth: Promoting reforms in energy, agriculture, tech, and housing to draw in foreign investment.

*Global Influence: Championing an Africa-led democracy model, offering support for Palestine, and engaging the Nigerian diaspora.

These priorities all serve the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda for long-term development and security.

Possible Impact on Nigerians

The results of UNGA can filter into daily life, especially given Nigeria’s existing challenges, such as 40% inflation, 20 million out-of-school children, and ongoing insecurity.

1. Women’s Economic Empowerment

At a side event, Women Affairs Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim launched a programme to empower 10 million women through the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP). This initiative supports the national goal of a $1tn economy by providing skills, loans, and digital access. A new Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) partnership links Nigeria’s Digital Harmony Project with DCO’s Spark Initiative, connecting women entrepreneurs to tech and investors. For Nigerian women (50% of the population, many in informal work), this means improved market access, which helps reduce poverty and increase household incomes.

2. Jobs and Skill

A September 25 event at Nigeria House focused on ‘Skills-to-Jobs’ efforts. Organised by the Labour Ministry, Tech4Dev, and SemiColon Africa, and backed by the World Bank and Mastercard Foundation, the goal is to close the skills gap for Nigeria’s youth (60% of the population). If explored, this could generate an estimated 1-2 million tech jobs by 2026, helping tackle youth unemployment (currently over 40%).

3. Investment and Infrastructure

VP Shettima’s meetings, including with US business leaders via BCIU, promoted Nigeria as Africa’s ‘production floor’. A major point was the $200bn energy transition plan (gas and renewables). Blended public-private funding is sought for infrastructure projects like metro lines and ports. If successful, this could cut energy costs for the 80 million people currently lacking reliable power and create construction works. The agreement between Nigeria and Namibia to strengthen ties also opened up trade possibilities in minerals and technology.

4. Health and Food Security

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, attended ‘Ghana Reset’ – an initiative seeking to chart new course for African health financing forum, signalling regional health cooperation. Nigeria is using $1.75bn World Bank loans for health, agriculture, and MSMEs to boost farm output and combat malnutrition. There are plans to expand the school feeding programme to 50 million pupils by 2026.

Expert Reactions

With the 80th UNGA now a part of history, analysts commended Nigeria’s efforts to pursue self-reliant development and boost Africa’s global presence through side events on health and innovation.

Mohammed Shaibu Onakpa, an Associate Professor at Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), highlighted the Vice President’s success in clarifying the Federal Government’s stance on global issues and, critically, advancing Nigeria’s goal for a permanent UN Security Council seat.

‘I think it goes beyond political rhetorics. While the duration was short, the socio-economic impact can be massive. Politically, the VP clearly stated the Federal Government’s position on issues-from the Palestinian vs Israeli debacle to regional security and climate. The push for permanent membership of the UN Security Council is key. State Governors on the team successfully promoted Nigeria’s huge potential to investors. The overall gains can be large,’ he said.

Onakpa concludes that the overall gains rest solely on the Tinubu administration’s ability to follow up on the awareness achieved and convert this international sensitisation into tangible, local impact.

‘It’s now up to the Tinubu-led Federal Government to build on the awareness created by the Nigerian delegation. That is the only way the impact will be felt over time,’ he added.

Atef Fawaz, Executive Director of eHealth Africa, stressed that Africa must keep showing resilience, sovereignty, and creativity across all sectors to ensure a sustainable future.

He called the mission ‘an urgent call to action-a challenge to stakeholders to take bold steps to deepen collaboration, pool resources, and adopt adaptive strategies to sustain impact.’

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called for a bold new vision to transform Africa from a mere supplier of raw minerals into a global hub for mineral processing, innovation, and green industrialisation.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Segun Tomori, quoted the Alake saying ‘Africa’s minerals have powered industrialisation elsewhere while our own economies remain under-industrialised. This paradox must end. Our vision must be clear: to move from extractive dependence to transformative industrialisation.

‘With these words, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) Dr Dele Alake made a case for a bold new vision to transform Africa from a raw minerals supplier to a global hub for mineral processing, innovation, and green industrialisation.

‘Delivering the keynote address at the African Mining Week in Cape Town, South Africa themed, ‘Vision and Strategy – Setting the stage for Minerals Industrialization, Dr. Alake underscored the continent’s strategic role in powering the 21st-century economy through its vast mineral wealth.’

He noted that Africa is home to some of the richest mineral deposits in the world, stressing that these resources are critical to clean energy, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, and global security.

‘Our youth should no longer seek jobs abroad while opportunities lie buried beneath their feet. The time to industrialise is now. Let us set the stage for an Africa that is not just a participant in the global minerals economy, but a driver of its future,’ the Minister asserted.

Throwing light on ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector, the minister, represented by Permanent Secretary, Farouk Yabo stated that the nation is incentivising local beneficiation from gold refining to Lithium processing; Revoking dormant licenses to promote serious investment; Strengthening governance and transparency to attract credible global partners, and building a national critical minerals strategy.

In a related development, the minister addressed the ministerial roundtable of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) on the sidelines of the mining week, highlighting Nigeria’s efforts to create a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

His words, ‘We are investing in digitising mining processes from data accessibility to mineral traceability. We are also focusing on bequeathing strong institutions and the right policies to drive reforms, hence the ongoing efforts to amend the 2007 Minerals and Mining Act to provide a more robust legislative framework that will propel investments in the mining sector’.

He emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to ensure traceability from mining to monetization, affirming that the nation’s minerals are set to come from two sources: licensed holders or a seller and supplier buying from Artisanal and Small-scale Miners (ASM) who are registered and formalized.

Echoing the sentiments expressed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Alake stressed that African countries must prioritize mapping their mineral resources to better understand the location and scale of deposits.

‘After national mapping, it is the duty of countries to ensure only licensed operators are mining. We must also build adequate capacity for effective supervision,’ he said.

Nigeria was also ably represented at the country spotlight session where the Permanent Secretary gave a presentation on Investment opportunities in the solid minerals sector, highlighting key reforms, incentives for investments, and a synopsis of the nation’s mineral endowments.

The African Mining Week was attended by Mining and Minerals Ministers from DRC, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone. Nigeria, Gambia, and Ghana sent representatives whilst major private sector players on the continent also graced the conference.

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Barrister Akeem Agbaje, says the call for power shift in 2027 can only succeed if there is an agreed rotational arrangement among all zones in the state.

Agbaje stated this while speaking on the Political Circuit programme on Fresh FM 105.9, Ibadan.

He said that while the demand for power shift to other zones was legitimate, it would require planning and broad consultations to achieve.

‘We need to be realistic about this agitation and I have always looked at it from two perspectives. The first one is that everybody, every zone, is entitled to contest to be governor. And I am not aware of any provision of the Constitution that prevents anybody from any zone of the state from aspiring or to contest.

‘The second perspective is that people think that because Ibadan has the number, that is why we take advantage to perpetuate ourselves in the governorship position and lord it over every other zone.

‘I think historically, that is not correct. Ibadan had been one of the largest populated cities since the thirties. Ibadan had been the regional capital since the thirties. And Ibadan did not get a meaning post until 1979, and that post was the Chief Judge. Every other post, despite the population of Ibadan, was occupied by people from other zones.

‘The governor was from Osun; deputy was from Osun. SSG, Head of Service were from Osun. Opposition Leader was from Ogbomoso. Ibadan only got Chief Judge, and being Chief Judge was based on seniority. So, the conception that Ibadan dominates because of its population is not historically correct. Ibadan had always had the population.

‘But in 1983, the consciousness came with ‘Omo wa ni e je o se’. But Ibadan did not just say ‘Omo wa ni e je o se’; they worked diligently, assiduously towards it until it was achieved. So, my take is that everybody; every zone is entitled to be governor of Oyo state.

‘There must be a defined approach to it. You can’t say, oh, we are entitled, we are entitled. You have to develop a process. The zone with the clearest agitation is Oke Ogun. And I tell them, though they don’t like it, that you have 10 local governments; Ogbomoso has 3 local governments. But Ogbomoso has presented senator for you consecutively. So, there has to be a conscious, deliberate effort by Oke Ogun zone to achieve this beautiful goal of presenting somebody that can win to become governor of Oyo state. They all have to work together. Ibadan alone has not presented a candidate. Ibadan works with other zones. So, we all have to work together.

‘But the easiest solution for me, is to let us have a rotational policy which will give everybody sense of belonging. But I think it is too early, not because I am an aspirant. It involves a lot of work. Ibadan worked very hard to become governor in 1983. Osun was dominating us, but we worked at it and to the glory of God, we got it,’ he said.

Agbaje also spoke on why the APC lost the 2023 governorship election and the recent House of Representatives by-election in Ibadan North, blaming the outcome on decisions made at the party’s national level.

He said, ‘Oyo APC lost the recent House of Representatives by-election to the PDP because, the leadership at Abuja imposed a candidate who was not a choice of the party in the state, on the party. For me, Abuja is our problem. Whatever data, whatever parameter they used, they feel they could impose candidate on us and win the election. I have told all that care that it can never happen in Oyo state. I can’t think of any other state that people will vote today in favour of a party, and two weeks later, violently vote against that same party. And Abuja still refuses to realize that we are different and we will always be different.

‘They came and imposed a candidate, and they thought they would win that election. Oyo state people have seen that message in 2019. They have seen the same message in 2023. So, Abuja has to learn that they should leave us alone to pick our own candidate. If we pick a candidate by ourselves, we know how we will make the candidate win the election.’

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has told the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, to take solace in the fact that his late mother, Mama Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, chose the right time to die.

Akpabio stated this on Saturday at the burial service of Mama Lydia in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Mama Lydia, mother of the APC national chairman, died in August at the age of 83.

Her burial was attended by top government officials, political leaders, and dignitaries from across the country.

In his condolence message, Akpabio said the family should find comfort in the legacy Mama Lydia left behind and the impact she made in the lives of others.

He said, ‘To our dear Mama, goodbye from all of us. Goodbye from Nigeria. To our National Chairman, be consoled in the knowledge that your mother chose the right time to depart, a time when her legacy continues to speak through you and through all the lives she touched.’

The Senate President also used the occasion to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for unifying and bringing together people from different faiths, regions and political divides.

Akpabio stated, ‘All former Governors of Plateau State are here today, irrespective of political party. The Governor of Plateau State, working closely with our National Chairman, has received you warmly, and the people of Plateau have shown tremendous affection and excitement at your visit.

‘As a politician, I observed the turnout from the airport to this venue; thousands of Plateau citizens lined the streets, waving and cheering. That alone speaks louder than any words: Mr President, you have touched the hearts of the people of the Plateau.

‘This service today is a powerful reflection of unity, faith, and leadership, and it shows that God has truly registered your presence.’