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Nigeria has stepped up fight against insecurity – Defense Minister

Minister of Defense Major General Christopher Musa (rtd) has said that solving Nigeria’s insecurity requires informed policies credible institutions technological innovation and a comprehensive understanding of the human dimensions of conflict.

General Musa spoke yesterday at the TETFUND Center for Excellence in Security Management while commissioning CG Musa Security Management Hub donated to the center at the University of Ibadan.

The Defence Minister who disclosed that ‘the academia occupies a strategic place in our national security management architecture’ added that ‘the battlefield may reveal the immediate manifestations of insecurity but the university provides the intellectual environment to interrogate its causes evaluate responses and develop sustainable solutions.’

He hinted that insecurity is getting prolonged because it is becoming difficult to get the needed security weapons and ammunitions adding that Nigeria needs to begin to produce what she needs to end insecurity.

‘Our intention is to expose our local producers to foreign and international manufacturers so that we can continue to produce what we need or what we rely on. Why insecurity continues to be prolonged is that we do not produce all we need.

‘Most times when we go to buy even with cash at hand you can’t get them off the shelves. And now with the wars going on in the Ukraine Russia and the Strait of Hormuz it became extremely difficult buying as little as ammunition to use talkless of APCs. Since our local manufacturers are doing their best we need to escalate to an international level.

‘The security challenges confronting our nation have become increasingly complex interconnected and multidimensional. The threats we face continue to test our national resilience.

‘Equally concerning are the underlying conditions that sustain insecurity including extremism weak governance systems political manifestations and social exclusion among others. These realities remind us that security cannot be achieved through military operations alone. It requires informed policies credible institutions technological innovation and a comprehensive understanding of the human dimensions of conflict’

He furthered that ‘we will continue to encourage collaboration between defence institutions and centers of learning to ensure that our security policies and operational approaches benefit from research innovation and evidence-based analysis.

‘We have stepped up our game in the field and gradually improving the security situation. It is also important that everybody plays a part because it is a whole-of-nation approach if you see something say something.’

In his remarks the Vice Chancellor Professor Kayode Adebowale thanked the donor for providing a facility that the current and future generations will learn from adding that the university will ensure that the facility is made the epicenter of security research in Africa.

‘We hope and believe that this hub serves as the nexus for multidisciplinary research and serve as a convening ground for policy makers and academics. The facility must not become a museum of security artifacts but (must) be used to generate data that will guide the ministry of defense and our security agents’

The lead Researcher and Technical Officer at the center Professor Isaac Albert while thanking the minister for fulfilling his promise to the center tasked him to ensure that more funds are made available to the TETFUND Center of Excellence in Security Management to execute research and projects that will inform the right security policies.

According to Professor Albert it is also important for the security agencies to patronize the center and engage with its resource persons towards formulating and implementing the right security policies.

Earlier in his welcome address the Director TETFUND Center of Excellence in Security Management Professor Benjamin Aluko who thanked the minister for donating the building to the center urging Nigerians to purchase forms into the MSC and PhD Security Management at the University of Ibadan and begin to enjoy the best brains in the field.

Horror in Bauchi as four men, teenager tace rape allegations

The command’s spokesperson, Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, saying four suspects were arrested over the alleged rape of the 12-year-old girl in Sakwa District, Zaki LGA.

According to Habib, the victim’s 50-year-old father reported the incident on October 29, a day after four men allegedly abducted his daughter and sexually assaulted her in one of their rooms.

The suspects were identified as Badamasi Mohammed, 18; Bello Mohammed, 18; Mustapha Bappah, 18; and Bashiru Sha’tubu, 22.

The police said the victim was taken to General Hospital, Zaki, for medical examination, while the suspects were transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

In a separate case, a 15-year-old boy was arrested over the alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl in Buskuri Village, Azare, Katagum LGA.

Habib said the victim’s father reported the incident on October 29, alleging that the suspect lured the girl to a farm on October 15 and sexually assaulted her.

The victim was taken to General Hospital, Azare, for medical examination, while the suspect was also transferred to the SCID.

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the incidents and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling sexual violence and child abuse.

He assured that the suspects would face prosecution if found culpable and urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and report suspected abuse to the police.

Govt expenditure plan draws mixed reactions

Economists are widely describing it as a classic case of taking one step in front and two behind. Barely weeks after the National Treasury indicated in its second quarter releases for financial year (FY) 2026/2027 that nearly Shs3 trillion will be saved after directing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to halve expenditure on fuel, travel, workshops and consumables, the government has contrived to shoot itself in the foot. This came to light after a circular from the National Treasury indicated an upward revision of duty-facilitating allowance rates for selected government workers.

In a letter dated September 21, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) directed implementers of the Public Investment and Asset Management for Growth and Resilience Operation (PIM Plus), the Resource Enhancement and Accountability Programme (REAP), the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Programme (UgIFT) and Funds Coordination for Global Fund Grants to adopt allowance rates provided for under Circular Standing Instruction No. 6 of 2018.

The letter, signed by Patrick Ocailap on behalf of the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), also directs the implementing agencies to rationalise their planned activities to fit within the available resources for the FY2026/2027 and incorporate the revised rates into their budgets from the FY2027/2028 onwards.

‘I am worried that this is not the right time to increase salaries and government expenditure. I do not know whether the money has already been provided for in the budget, but if the increases lead to higher public expenditure, they could fuel inflation and put additional pressure on the economy,’ Prof Ezra Suruma, an economist and former Finance minister, said.

‘This is a difficult time. Increased expenditure would stimulate demand at a time when supply is constrained by weather-related challenges and the effects of war, potentially driving prices even higher. This is a time for everyone to exercise restraint in spending,’ he added.

Mr Ocailap this week clarified that ‘besides being in the budget, they [the revised allowances] are equally subjected to the available cash limits, which are issued every quarter.’

Broadening the lens

Mr Julius Mukunda, the executive director of the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), said there are two key issues to understand about the circular on allowances. First, he said the Ministry of Finance is reminding government agencies to adhere to the existing approved allowance rates, which were reviewed in 2018. The review covered public servants and politically elected leaders. He explained that some government projects have been operating under separate allowance schedules, prompting the ministry to push for uniform rates across government.

Mr Mukunda, however, questioned whether the government was practising the same financial restraint it was demanding from others. He said the circular presented an opportunity for the government to review the allowance rates established in 2018 in light of the prevailing economic conditions. ‘[The government] is telling us to tighten our belts, but it is not tightening its own belt. This would be a good time to review the allowance schedules that have been in place since 2018, when the situation normalises, the rates can return to the usual levels.’

Mr Mukunda added that business was continuing as usual, with no major changes to the prevailing circumstances, and urged the government to lead by example in controlling expenditure. He is not alone.

Dr Enock Nyorekwa Twinoburyo, a lecturer of economics at Makerere University and researcher, says the issue of superfluous expenditure should not be paid lip service or viewed through a narrow lens.

‘Debt-related allocations account for more than a third of the Shs72.4 trillion FY2025/2026 budget, while interest payments alone amount to about Shs11.3 trillion. The International Monetary Fund projects the fiscal deficit to widen to 7.1 percent of GDP in FY2025/2026 and notes that interest payments consume about a third of domestic revenue (IMF, 2026),’ the academic said.

Against this backdrop, the key question is not only how much the government spends on allowances, workshops, travel and administration, but also whether the expenditure delivers value for money and how much could be saved by eliminating wasteful spending.

‘An indicative estimate suggests that the government could save between Shs600 billion and Shs1.5 trillion annually, equivalent to roughly 0.2-0.6 percent of GDP. The estimate draws on two sources that measure different aspects of public expenditure and should not simply be added together,’ Dr Twinoburyo further observed.

Blanket cuts dangerous?

It was the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) that put a number to what wasteful budget allocations translate to. ISER identified Shs2.27 trillion in such allocations in the FY2024/2025 budget, representing about 3.1 percent of the Shs72.1 trillion national budget. The allocations include Shs300b for special meals and drinks, Shs137b for welfare and entertainment, Shs134b for beddings, clothing and footwear, Shs114b for foreign travel and Shs36b for official ceremonies. The government recently underscored its commitment to bring in austerity measures that, for one, target official ceremonies by staging a modest ceremony at State House, Entebbe, during Uganda’s 64th Independence Day celebrations.

Dr Paddy Mugambe, a senior consultant in finance at the Uganda Management Institute (UMI), cautioned that expenditure cuts should be carefully targeted to protect the wage bill, frontline service delivery, outreach programmes and maintenance of existing public assets.

‘If these savings were redirected to priority sectors, how significantly could they reduce funding gaps in healthcare, education, roads and water? What measures would ensure the savings are actually realised and translated into improved service delivery,’ he said.

‘It is also important to recognise that not all consumptive expenditure is wasteful. Field allowances for health outreach, agricultural extension, school inspection and revenue enforcement support essential public services. By contrast, hotel-based workshops, overseas benchmarking trips and duplicated consultancies may offer greater scope for savings. A blanket 50 percent cut, as outlined in the Treasury circular, risks affecting both essential and non-essential activities alike,’ he added.

Dr Mugambe further noted that the reported Shs3 trillion quarterly reduction illustrates the scale of the potential trade-offs if such funds could be redirected to priority public services.

‘Depending on prevailing unit costs and implementation requirements, an amount of this magnitude could potentially finance nearly 920 kilometres of tarmac roads, more than 800 fully staffed Health Centre IVs, over 1,500 fully equipped model primary schools, maintenance of more than 60,000 kilometres of local government roads for a year, or facilitation for more than 150,000 university students for an entire year,’ he said.

The academic also observed that these comparisons illustrate the opportunity cost of government expenditure, although the actual outcomes would depend on project specifications, recurrent costs, procurement requirements and the capacity to implement the proposed investments.

More than meets the eye?

Yet for luminaries like Prof Suruma, austerity measures are more likely to gain public confidence if the government leads by example. He adds that raising allowance rates while asking households and other economic actors to tighten their belts sends mixed signals. Dr Twinoburyo said it is important to know that potential savings from reducing consumptive expenditure and addressing audit-identified losses could be substantial, although the figures are estimates rather than confirmed recoverable amounts.

‘The Auditor General’s FY2023/2024 report, as compiled by the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), points to losses associated with expired medicines worth Shs316.65b, unreconciled pension and gratuity supplementaries amounting to Shs382b, commitment fees on undisbursed loans estimated at Shs283b, idle equipment and non-functional projects, irregular procurement worth Shs101.8b, and overpayments,’ he said.

The potential savings from reducing consumptive expenditure and addressing audit-identified losses could be substantial, although the figures are estimates rather than confirmed recoverable amounts. Dr Twinoburyo said a 20 to 30 percent reduction in the Shs721b allocated to the five largest consumptive items identified by the ISER would yield an estimated annual savings of Shs144b to Shs216b.

‘Reducing the wider Shs2.27 trillion in potentially wasteful consumptive allocations identified by ISER by 20 to 40 per cent could save between Shs450b and Shs900b annually,’ Dr Twinoburyo said, adding that preventing or addressing 50 to 75 percent of approximately Shs1.29 trillion in audit-identified losses could yield savings of Shs650b to Shs970b.

The audit figure is based on a compilation of itemised losses reported by the CSBAG, including an adjustment for the Emyooga-Parish Development Model (PDM) double benefit. Since the categories overlap, the indicative combined annual savings range is approximately Shs600b to Shs1.5 trillion.

What to do

According to the 2024 Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment, central government spent Shs21.516 trillion in the financial year 2020/2021, excluding debt amortisation and interest. Of this, Shs4.905 trillion, or 22.8 percent, went to goods and services, including consumptive items, medicines and other operational inputs. Employee costs accounted for Shs4.410 trillion (20.5 percent), while non-financial assets, covering development and capital spending, took Shs8.346 trillion (38.8 percent). Grants amounted to Shs3.336 trillion (15.5 percent), mainly transfers to local governments and agencies, while other expenditure, including social benefits, other expenses and tax refunds, accounted for Shs519 billion (2.4 percent).

Mr Marlon Agaba, the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU), said allowances are necessary to facilitate public servants in executing their duties, particularly during night assignments, field visits, and supervision, coordination and official engagements. He, however, expressed concern about the scale of the proposed increases, saying some allowances had doubled or nearly doubled. In his assessment, given Uganda’s debt burden and competing expenditure priorities, the increases raise serious questions at a time when austerity measures should suffice.

Dr Twinoburyo opined that high volumes of workshops, seminars and retreats create significant venue, meals and allowance costs. Some activities could be conducted virtually or held in government facilities at lower cost. He said that unplanned purchases, inflated costs and payments exceeding the value of work completed can increase public expenditure without delivering corresponding benefits. Illustrative evidence includes Shs101.8b in irregular procurement and pension overpayments.

It is estimated that annual savings of Shs0.6 trillion to Shs1.5 trillion could significantly boost funding for key sectors like health, education, and infrastructure.

Angry youths confront policemen, ‘retrieve bribe’ collected at Checkpoint

ýSome aggrieved youths have ýretrieved bribe allegedly collected by policemen at a checkpoint along Auchi-Aviele road in Edo State.

The policemen were at the checkpoint when the youths stormed there, accusing them of extorting motorists and cyclists.

In a video trending online, the civilians led by a man on short and armless shirt, confronted and searched the officers, including those bearing arms.

‘Search this one,’ the youth leader charged, while an armed policeman replied, ‘Nothing dey my body,’ forcing a smile on his face.

‘Hold on! Let them search youth,’ a voice at the background said.

The policeman was seen raising up both hands as someone frisked him before giving a sign that nothing was found on the officer.

A policeman suspected to be leader of the team tried handing over his phone to the youth leader to speak with an unidentified person apparently to calm down the situation, but the youth leader objected, shouting, ‘I no wan talk!’

The officer made another attempt to hand over the phone to the youth leader, who got aggressive and hit his hand.

He later asked the policemen and officials of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) to leave the scene before he moved to a location where he addressed the public.

‘Good evening my people! We were on Auchi-Aviele road and found vigilantes and policemen mounting roadblock here. We got information that they were extorting people so we decided to chase them from here. We found out that they had already collected N4,200 from bike men and others. I’m taking this money to the Area Commander.’

‘To the Commissioner of Police, I want you to call the DPO of Agbede Police Station because his men who extorted passengers said they got order from the DPO. While the Vigilantes said their boss from Aviele sent them. They did not spend up to 30 minutes there before collecting N4,200 from road users. That means they could have raised like 80k or 100k if they spent more hours. Imagine collecting this amount from Nigerians who are suffering,’ he said.

Daily Trust subjected several key frames of the video to verification using various open source intelligence tools and found no evidence of digital manipulation.

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ýThe incident has generated reactions from social media users, many of whom have called for an end to police extortion and the alleged collection of money from motorists at checkpoints.ý

Osun: Accord’s Olajengbesi donates 300KVA transformer to Ilo-Ijesa

The candidate of the Accord Party for Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has donated a brand new 300KVA transformer to Ilo-Ijesa community in Oriade Local Government, ending 14 years of unstable electricity in the area.

Olajengbesi, who served as Spokesperson for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election campaign, fulfilled a pledge he made in August during his campaign tour ahead of recently concluded guber poll across the constituency.

He had promised to deliver the transformer in October, before the 2027 general elections.

According to a statement signed by the spokesperson of Pelumi Olajengbesi Campaign Organization (POCO), Sodiq Lawal Chocomilo, the transformer was received with wild jubilation by the community chairman, Mr. Dapo Ajakaye, leaders and residents, who disclosed that the community had been experiencing unstable electricity and low current since 2012.

Olajengbesi, while donating the transformer, said his intervention was driven by a burden for community development and economic well-being.

‘Our people invest so much in this country, they pay taxes, they vote, but what public officials offer does not correspond with the people’s investment,’ he said.

The legal practitioner lamented that while some politicians get richer and build private schools that ordinary people cannot afford, boasting that their children attend the best schools, communities under their representation live in total darkness.

‘That is not representation, that is wickedness,’ he declared.

He further decried the uncontrollable appetite for money among a class of people in positions of power.

‘Nigeria has a class of people in positions of power with an uncontrollable appetite for money – those who can kill and die for money. There are provisions for basic social amenities like transformers, solar lights and boreholes, but they are diverted to private firms owned by some politicians.’

‘We waste resources on things that do not matter, like oath-taking, and other dangerous rituals to hold on to power, instead of reviving and restoring our communities,’ he added.

Olajengbesi commended the community chairman, Mr. Ajakaye, describing him as a selfless leader.

‘I want to thank the chairman for his selflessness. At a time when many leaders collect money and abandon their people, he refused. He kept knocking on every door until help came. We need more leaders like him,’ he said.

‘I am not yet in office, but I made a promise in August and I have fulfilled it in October. That is the assurance I am giving. I don’t want my people to curse me tomorrow. When I promise, I will do it. This transformer is not a campaign, it is an assurance that a new era of responsible representation is possible,’ Olajengbesi added.

In his response, Ajakaye, speaking on behalf of the residents, thanked Olajengbesi for the historic intervention.

‘For 14 years, we have been having unstable electricity. When you told us that the transformer would be provided, I thought it was a bluff to earn our votes during the guber election. But you came in August, saw our suffering, and today you have ended our darkness. We have adopted you as our son and our light,’ he said.

The commissioning ceremony was witnessed by youth groups, women leaders and artisans who said the transformer would boost small businesses and bring economic revival to the community.

Tinubu has fortified Kano with new battalion, artillery regiment – Kwankwaso

A member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Musa Kwankwaso, on Saturday commended President Bola Tinubu for strengthening Kano State’s security architecture with the establishment of a new Army battalion and an artillery regiment.

Kwankwaso, in a statement made available on Saturday in Abuja, also commended some stalwarts of Tinubu’s administration.

He praised the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State, the Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for their roles in making Kano safe for Nigerians.

The frontline APC official described the deployment of the 24 Battalion in Tudun Wada and the 311 Artillery Regiment in Dambatta as a decisive and proactive response to emerging security threats.

Kwankwaso explained that the move had renewed confidence among Kano residents in Tinubu’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

The party stalwart stated that the strategic positioning of the formations would significantly enhance the military’s capacity to respond to banditry, terrorism and other forms of violent criminality.

He said the Tinubu administration had demonstrated an uncommon sense of urgency in addressing the security needs of Kano.

He also stressed that the deployment would provide an additional layer of protection for residents and strengthen ongoing efforts by security agencies to contain criminal activities.

‘President Tinubu has demonstrated that he cares deeply about the security of Kano and its people.

‘The establishment of these new military formations is a clear demonstration that the Federal Government is prepared to take decisive action to protect lives and property,’ Kwankwaso said.

He noted that Kano, as one of Nigeria’s most populous and economically important states, required a robust security architecture capable of responding swiftly to emerging threats.

He added that the new formations would complement existing military structures across the state.

Kwankwaso said the intervention had further strengthened public confidence in the president’s leadership.

He said effective governance is measured by concrete actions capable of producing tangible improvements in the lives and security of citizens.

He added that Kano residents would not take the president’s interventions for granted, expressing appreciation for what he described as a significant investment in the security and stability of the state.

‘For all that President Tinubu is doing for Kano, the people of the state will continue to appreciate him.

‘We will reciprocate these gestures through our continued support for his administration and its programmes,’ he said.

The APC chieftain urged residents of Tudun Wada, Dambatta and other communities to cooperate with the military and provide useful intelligence to security agencies.

He stressed that the success of the new formations would depend not only on military capacity but also on strong collaboration between troops and host communities.

FUOYE threatens legal action over alleged smear campaign against VC

The management of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has threatened legal action over reports linking its Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joshua Ogunwole and other principal officers to alleged cybercrime.

The university said its legal team was already examining the publications warning that it would pursue all available legal remedies including civil proceedings and criminal processes where the facts disclosed an offence.

In a statement signed by its Registrar Mufutau Ibrahim the management described the allegations as unproven insisting that no court of competent jurisdiction had found Ogunwole guilty of cybercrime.

The university also denied claims that the Vice-Chancellor hacked tapped intercepted manipulated or gained unauthorised access to any telephone computer system data or private communication.

It explained that the controversy stemmed from an audio recording that was already in public circulation before the university began an internal administrative process.

According to the statement management did not originate the recording arrange its creation or unlawfully intercept any private communication.

It said the recording came to its attention after it circulated publicly adding that it subsequently sought explanations from individuals connected with it as part of the university’s administrative process.

It further explained that it provided a copy of the recording when access was requested to enable the affected parties to respond to the issues raised.

It said the Vice-Chancellor’s involvement in the matter was strictly in his official and administrative capacity as the head of the institution.

‘There is no factual basis from the records available to Management for portraying him as the person who created the recording intercepted any communication hacked any device or altered any data’ it said.

The university expressed concern over what it described as a sustained effort by some quarters to damage the university’s and its leadership’s reputation by repeatedly presenting disputed allegations as established facts.

It urged individuals involved in the reports to preserve and assemble all documents records communications source materials and other evidence relied upon in making the allegations.

Management warned that if satisfactory clarification or credible factual justification was not provided it would pursue all lawful remedies available to the institution and the affected officers.

The management added that the university’s legal advisers would formally communicate with the individuals concerned.

It however assured that the institution remained stable and committed to its statutory responsibilities adding that it would cooperate with every lawful judicial process while defending its reputation and the integrity of its leadership.

Reps move to impose stiffer penalties for vandalism of power infrastructure

The House of Representatives has begun moves to introduce stiffer penalties for vandalism of electricity infrastructure and illegal encroachment on transmission corridors as part of efforts to protect public assets and accelerate power projects across the country.

The House Committee on Public Assets disclosed the proposed measures during an inspection of the 132KV New Haven-Ninth Mile-Nsukka double-circuit transmission line in Enugu State and the Egbu 330/132/33KV substation in Owerri, Imo State.

The committee expressed concern over the increasing incidents of vandalism targeting power infrastructure, warning that the activities were undermining investments in the electricity sector and threatening efforts to improve power supply.

The lawmakers also identified the proliferation of buildings along designated transmission routes as a major obstacle to the timely completion of electricity projects.

They noted that such developments violated established rights of way and created delays in the execution of critical transmission infrastructure.

The committee called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments to safeguard public assets, prevent encroachment on transmission corridors and ensure the timely delivery of power projects.

At the Egbu substation in Owerri, the lawmakers were informed that the project was approximately 85 per cent complete.

Upon completion, the substation is expected to add 250 megawatts of electricity supply in Imo State, strengthening the state’s power infrastructure.

The committee’s proposed tougher penalties are aimed at discouraging vandalism and protecting critical electricity assets considered essential to improving the country’s power sector.

East African filmmakers scoop multiple awards at Durban FilmMart in South Africa

A Tanzania-Kenya co-production The Ones with the Tempered Flowers, and Heirs of No Regret from Kenya are among the films that scooped accolades at the Durban FilmMart (DFM) Awards ceremony in South Africa.

The 17th edition of DFM took place from October 9 to 12, in Durban, under the theme Shifting Worlds: Turning Towards Ourselves successfully bringing together 1131 film professionals and filmmakers from 56 countries across the world. The awards presentation at the premier film industry event in Africa was held on October 12.

The Ones with the Tempered Flowers is about a filmmaker who stages her fears in raw, theatrical reenactments with her family, confronting the expectations placed on her as a woman. It is directed by Neema Ngelime and produced by Ivy Kiru.

It is Ngelime’s feature documentary debut, currently in late development as a Tanzania-Kenya co-production. The participatory, performative documentary explores themes of womanhood and motherhood through Ngelime’s personal journey after being told that having children might be difficult. The film will combine constructed archives, observational family material, cinema verité performances, stop-motion, and visual effects to interrogate women’s bodies and the expectations placed upon them in contemporary Tanzania.

Heirs of No Regret is about the Wajukuu Arts Collective, led by Shabu Mwangi, who is emerging from the slums of Nairobi, and how he harnesses the power of art as a form of activism to confront and challenge Kenya’s societal issues, including injustice, corruption, and neo-colonialism. It is produced by Mumo Liku, and directed by Saitabao Kaiyare.

‘We are delighted to have hosted such a dynamic array of filmmakers and industry leaders in Durban. Delegates entrusted us with their projects and ideas, and had honest, uncompromising conversations about alternative funding pathways, equitable co-production and authentic partnerships,’ says Magdalene Reddy, director of the Durban FilmMart Institute (DFMI).

‘The talent showcased in this year’s programme and film projects exemplifies the strength of African cinema; networks expanded, and partnerships forged will extend DFM’s legacy and impact. We extend our gratitude to our partners for their support in celebrating and elevating African storytellers, producers and content creators.’

‘The quality of the projects presented in this year was exceptional, with filmmakers bringing bold, original and well-developed work to the table,’ adds Reddy. ‘That calibre was matched by the generosity of the organisations, funders and festivals who came to Durban to recognise it. Every prize, whether it is a cash grant, a place in a lab or market, or a mentorship, opens a door for these filmmakers, and we are deeply grateful to our partners for their continued belief in African storytelling.’

The event ended on a high with the presentation of 39 awards from 30 partners, valuing more than R2 million (over $120 938,00).

The full list of awards

The JustFilms Documentary Award (Ford Foundation) – Award of $10,000

THE THREAD AND THE WALL – LE FIL ET LE MUR (Algeria)

Producer/Director: Mouni Bouallam

Al Jazeera Co-production Award of $10,000

ON THE SEA ROAD (Palestine)

Director: Fitnat Waked with participation of Nour Obaid

Climate Story Labs Award of $10,000

The award is on behalf of Climate Story Labs Africa and Doc Society, in collaboration with UMI Fund.

THE BIRTH OF DERNA (Libya)

Director: Hussein Eddeb

National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa (NFVF)

Best Fiction – Grant of R100,000

THE BOY WHO SPOKE STATIC (Nigeria)

Agbajowo Collective: Temitope Ogungbamila, Samuel Okechukwu, Mat Cerf (Lead Producer) and Bisola Akinmuyiwa

Best Non-fiction – Grant of R100,000

THE ONES WITH THE TEMPERED FLOWERS (Kenya)

Producer: Ivy Kiru

Director: Neema Ngelime

Best Animation – Grant of R100,000

SUNDAY MORNING (Ethiopia)

Producer: Nahom Abiy

Director: Minasie Terefe

Inkaba Award (Stained Glass TV) – Award of R30,000

DADDIES (South Africa)

Producer: Catharina Weinek

Director: Sean Mongie

NEWF Natural World Storytelling Grant of $5,000

A TOUCH OF PARADISE (Tunisia)

Producer: Sarra Ben Hassen

Director: Houcem Slouli

Red Sea Film Fund Award – Fiction of $5,000

HEIRS OF NO REGRET (Kenya)

Producer: Mumo Liku

Director: Saitabao Kaiyare

THE BOY WHO SPOKE STATIC (Nigeria)

Agbajowo Collective: Temitope Ogungbamila, Samuel Okechukwu, Mat Cerf (Lead Producer) and Bisola Akinmuyiwa

Docubox Award of $5,000

WHERE DO I BELONG? (Sudan)

Producer: Talal AfifI

Director: Ibrahim ‘Snoopy’ Ahmad

TRT Award of $5,000

ON THE SEA ROAD (Palestine)

Director: Fitnat Waked with participation of Nour Obaid

RRImpact Pitch Prize (DocA) of $5,000

MY DJOMÉLÉ NIGHT (Burkina Faso)

Producer: Cinema Salama

Director: Barkima Nafissatou Laguempedo

Sundance Institute Documentary Fund New Voices Award of $5,000 grant

WHERE DO I BELONG? (Sudan)

Producer: Talal Afifi

Director: Ibrahim ‘Snoopy’ Ahmad

The Whickers Bursary Award of 3,000 GB POUNDS

GREEN ISLAND GIRLS (Egypt)

Producer: Amrosh Badr

Director: Rogena Tarek

Sunshine Cinema UCT Impact Development Award

The award comprises a bursary to the University of Cape Town Sunshine Cinema Film Impact Online Course of 2027 to the value of R18000 and a R7500 grant towards a first impact screening of the film.

Includes optional inclusion in the Sunshine Cinema distribution catalogue.

PÜLÖ: BLOODSTREAM OF THE KIRIKE (Nigeria)

Producer/Director: Christina Ifubaraboye

ON THE SEA ROAD (Palestine)

Director: Fitnat Waked with participation of Nour Obaid

Category – Market/Event Participation Awards

DFMI Talents Durban Award

Flights, accommodation and accreditation to participate in the DFM Pitch and Finance Forum 2027

THE BASEMENT (DR Congo)

Director: Mélanie K. Zawadi

The Wrapped App Award: Wrapped premium subscription of 3 months worth R31500

SECOND BLOOM (Zimbabwe)

Director: Tendaiishe Chitima

Sørfond Award

Flights, accommodation and accreditation to participate in the Sørfond Pitching Forum and a pitch course

THE BOY WHO SPOKE STATIC (Nigeria)

Agbajowo Collective: Temitope Ogungbamila, Samuel Okechukwu, Mat Cerf (Lead Producer) and Bisola Akinmuyiwa

WHERE DO I BELONG? (Sudan)

Producer: Talal Afifi

Director: Ibrahim “Snoopy” Ahmad

Rotterdam Lab Award

5 nights’ accommodation and accreditation to participate in the Rotterdam Lab

FOUR MONTHS AND TEN DAYS (Sudan)

Producer: Samo Hussein

Co-producer: Anna Stylinska

Director: Alyaa Musa

The DOK Leipzig Award

3 nights’ accommodation and 2 accreditations to participate in DOK Leipzig 2027 as the selected project in the DOK Co-Pro Market

THE ONES WITH THE TEMPERED FLOWERS (Kenya)

Producer: Ivy Kiru

Director: Neema Ngelime

The FIDADOC Award

Flights, accommodation and accreditation to participate in the FIDADOC Pan African Writing Residency 2027

THE BIRTH OF DERNA (Libya)

Director: Hussein Eddeb

FITAMPOHA, THE RETURN OF THE KING OF MENABE (Madagascar)

Director: Ramaroson Anatole

Movies that Matter Award

Accommodation and accreditation to attend Movies That Matter 2027

THE ONES WITH THE TEMPERED FLOWERS (Kenya)

Producer: Ivy Kiru

Director: Neema Ngelime

Animation Production Days (APD) Award

3 nights’ Accommodation and Industry badge (producer accreditation) to participate in Animation Production Days 2027

SUNDAY MORNING (Ethiopia)

Producer: Nahom Abiy

Director: Minasie Terefe

DOK.fest Mnchen Award

4 nights’ accommodation and 2 accreditations for the project team and to attend DOK.fest Mnchen 2027 and participate in the DOK.forum marketplace

WHERE DO I BELONG? (Sudan)

Producer: Talal AfifI

Director: Ibrahim “Snoopy” Ahmad

Sheffield Doc Fest Award

4 nights’ accommodation to attend the Sheffield DocFest 2027 with an Industry pass and a full waiver to submit to the MeetMarket

THE ONES WITH THE TEMPERED FLOWERS (Kenya)

Producer: Ivy Kiru

Director: Neema Ngelime

NEWF Post-Production Residency Award

A post-production residency at eKhaya, NEWF’s Storytelling, Research and Dive Centre (maximum 3 team members)

THE BIRTH OF DERNA (Libya)

Director: Hussein Eddeb

NEWF Summit Attendance Award

NEWF Summit attendance, including flights and accommodation (maximum 2 team members)

SECOND BLOOM (Zimbabwe)

Director: Tendaiishe Chitima

El Gouna Emerge Award

7 nights’ shared accommodation, ground transport and accreditation for El Gouna Film Festival 2026

THE BIRTH OF DERNA (Libya)

Director: Hussein Eddeb

CAUSE, EFFECT and MAYBE CONSEQUENCES (Nigeria)

Director: Cheyi Okoaye

Talents Press Award presented by CIFF and FIPRESCI

Flights, 5 nights’ accommodation and accreditation for Cairo International Film Festival 2026 for the selected Talents Press participant

NEYA Harouna (Burkina Faso)

TFL x IEFTF Next Award (TorinoFilmLab)

A place in the TorinoFilmLab programme, with the stage of development to be determined with the Lab

FOUR MONTHS AND TEN DAYS (Sudan)

Producer: Samo Hussein

Director: Alyaa Musa

Visions du Reel Award

Accommodation and accreditation and to participate in the Visions du Reel Market 2027 THE ONES WITH THE TEMPERED FLOWERS (Kenya)

Producer: Ivy Kiru

Director: Neema Ngelime

Category – Mentorship, Distribution and Membership

Women Make Movies Award

Best Pitch by a Woman Filmmaker. Acceptance into the Production Assistance Program, which includes fiscal sponsorship allowing filmmakers to raise grants in the U.S.; individualised fundraising, distribution and ongoing project consultations, including feedback on rough cuts; a project page on WMM’s website to facilitate online donations; access to WMM’s catalogue of more than 700 films; social media support for crowdfunding campaigns, screenings and events; promotion of the completed film; one year of free WMM webinars on the business side of the business and case studies; and scheduled use of WMM’s NYC office, including the conference room for meetings or rough-cut screenings.

ON THE SEA ROAD (Palestine)

Director: Fitnat Waked with participation of Nour Obaid

Impronta Films Consultancy Award

Distribution consultancy

WAITING FOR EVOLUTION (South Africa)

Producer/Director: Karin Slater

DESIGNING DIVIDE (South Africa)

Producer/ Director: Jessie Ayles

Osun: Tompolo donates 30 vehicles for Tinubu’s re-election campaign

President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign received a major boost in Osun State on Saturday as Governor Ademola Adeleke, the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, joined other political stakeholders to inaugurate 10,000 grassroots canvassers. Niger Delta businessman, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, also donated 30 vehicles to support the mobilisation.

The initiative, organised under the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, was inaugurated at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, with political leaders and supporters from different political affiliations participating in the exercise.

The movement is targeting massive electoral support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with its promoters expressing confidence that Osun could deliver at least 90 per cent of the votes cast in the state for the President.

Governor Adeleke, who was represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, urged members of the Accord Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his supporters to set aside political differences and work towards Tinubu’s re-election.

Adewusi’s appeal underscored the cross-party nature of the mobilisation exercise, which brought together political actors from different camps in support of the President’s second-term ambition.

Also speaking, the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, listed the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), infrastructure development, increased allocations to state and local governments, and efforts to improve the economy among the achievements of the Tinubu administration.

Basiru urged Osun residents to support the President’s second-term ambition, expressing optimism that the door-to-door mobilisation strategy would strengthen his electoral prospects in the state.

Meanwhile, Oyetola, who was represented by the 2026 APC governorship candidate in Osun, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, described the inauguration as evidence of growing political commitment and organisational strength behind Tinubu’s re-election project.

The former Osun governor commended Tompolo for supporting the nationwide mobilisation initiative, saying the increasing visibility of the President’s re-election campaign across the South-West required political leaders in the region to intensify efforts to secure overwhelming support for him.

Oyetola expressed confidence that Osun could deliver 1.5 million votes for Tinubu in 2027, provided party members and supporters remained united and committed to the mobilisation exercise.

He, however, cautioned the canvassers against hypocrisy, political pretence and complacency, urging them to demonstrate sincerity and dedication in carrying out their responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi, called on eligible Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), stressing that increased voter registration and participation would be critical to achieving the movement’s target of two million votes from Osun.

Representing Tompolo, the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Dr Kestin Pondi, announced the donation of 30 vehicles fitted with public address systems, generators and amplifiers to facilitate grassroots mobilisation across the state.

Pondi explained that the vehicles were intended to strengthen the movement’s operations and enable its members to reach more communities in their campaign for Tinubu’s re-election.

He said the movement supported the President because of its confidence in his reform agenda, arguing that the administration’s economic policies were beginning to attract investments into the country.

The Tantita chief executive challenged political leaders and supporters in Osun to work towards delivering at least 90 per cent of the votes cast in the state for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

In his remarks, the Osun State Coordinator of the movement, Rtr. Amb. Adeolu Olanrewaju, assured the national leadership that the state chapter would take the campaign to households and communities across the state to persuade eligible voters to support the President.