Author: user user

Sanwo-Olu to opposition: present ideas that can rival APC

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has challenged opposition parties to present credible alternatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), rather than seeking change for the sake of it.

Sanwo-Olu spoke while delivering a lecture as part of the centenary anniversary of the Yoruba Tennis Club in Onikan, Lagos.

Some weeks ago, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umoh Eno delivered another lecture in the series.

Sanwo-Olu’s lecture was titled: ‘Democracy, governance and the Lagos spirit: A century of excellence.’

The governor, who is the Southwest Zonal Coordinator of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said Lagos had benefited from continuity in governance, arguing that any attempt to disrupt the trajectory without a credible alternative would be counterproductive.

He said: ‘We must keep insisting that it cannot be changed merely for the sake of change. We must never think we need to tear things up just to prove that we are in control.

‘This is the message that I am taking into the political campaign, as my party strives to build on our legacy of transformation in Lagos State.

‘Our challenge to the opposition remains the same – to put forward credible ideas that can compete with ours, instead of seeking change for the sake of change.

‘Untested novelty is no longer an option for a Lagos State that has tasted and felt the superiority of continuity.’

Sanwo-Olu said the ‘Lagos Spirit’ of courage, self-reliance, openness and continuous improvement had shaped the state’s democratic tradition and development over the years.

He recalled Lagos’ role in the June 12 pro-democracy struggle, its history of civic activism and the development of indigenous political institutions.

According to him, the state’s development since the return of democracy in 1999 had been driven by continuity, with successive administrations building on the blueprint initiated by former Governor Bola Tinubu, now President.

‘The Lagos Spirit is the spirit of a city that does not wait to be given. In 1926, it was shut out of the colonial clubs, so it built its own, and a better one.

‘In 1993, a free and fair presidential vote was stolen, so Lagos chose to lead the march to the streets and into the pro-democracy trenches.

‘In 2004, its constitutionally allotted allocation was illegally withheld by the then Federal Government, so it decided to make its own money.

‘Every time a gate has been closed to Lagos, Lagos has built a house across the road and thrown a better party,’ he said.

The governor identified four principles underpinning what he described as the ‘Lagos Playbook’ for governance – vision, self-reliance, partnership and measuring governance by its impact on ordinary citizens.

He said the development blueprint produced in 1999 had remained the foundation for successive administrations, noting that major projects such as the Blue and Red rail lines were products of continuity.

Sanwo-Olu also cited the state’s internally generated revenue reforms as an example of self-reliance, saying Lagos had become less dependent on federation account allocations.

On partnership, he said the founders of the Yoruba Tennis Club demonstrated the principle by raising funds themselves to establish the club after being excluded from colonial clubs.

The governor said governance must ultimately be measured by its impact on residents.

‘The true measure of our work in Lagos is whether a doctor or nurse in Alimosho or Ibeju-Lekki can get to work on time, whether a child in Ajegunle has a desk and school books, whether a trader in Mile 12 can get her tomatoes or fish to market before they rot,’ he said.

Speaking on his administration’s seven-year performance, Sanwo-Olu said the government’s THEMES Plus agenda had produced interventions across transportation, health, education, technology, the economy, tourism, security and governance.

He listed the establishment of two public universities, the Imota Rice Mill, investments in submarine cable landings and data centres, the construction of a children’s hospital and the Lagos Central Food Security System and Logistics Hub in Ketu-Ereyun among the projects undertaken by his administration.

The governor said the food hub was designed to support the state’s food market by improving aggregation, storage, processing and distribution.

On the centenary of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Sanwo-Olu described its establishment as a response by indigenous Lagosians to racial segregation during the colonial era.

He urged the club to preserve its founding values while adapting to changing times.

He also called for greater involvement of young people, better documentation of the club’s history and strict standards in admitting new members.

The chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Chief Olawunmi Gasper, reaffirmed the club’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage, promoting fellowship and contributing to the social, economic and civic development of Lagos.

Anutin files defamation lawsuit against iLaw chief

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has filed a defamation lawsuit against iLaw director Yingcheep Atchanont over remarks linking him to alleged collusion in the 2024 Senate election, insisting the legal action is not intended to silence his critics.

Mr Anutin, who is also leader of the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), assigned BJT legal chief Suphachai Jaismut, a list MP, to instruct lawyer Sitthichok Singhaseni to file the complaint at the Criminal Court on Tuesday. The lawsuit was filed a day after the Election Commission referred 77 suspects in the alleged Senate election collusion case to the Supreme Court’s Election Cases Division for criminal proceedings, including 26 sitting senators.

Mr Sitthichok said on Tuesday the lawsuit stemmed from an interview Mr Yingcheep gave at parliament on July 21, in which he allegedly said Mr Anutin was involved in the Senate election collusion case.

The case was filed in Mr Anutin’s name rather than on behalf of the BJT and alleges defamation by publication. The court has scheduled a hearing on Dec 14 to determine whether the case has grounds.

Mr Sitthichok said Mr Anutin disputed Mr Yingcheep’s claims and had therefore exercised his legal right to ask the court to determine whether the statements were true or false and whether they were made in good faith.

He also rejected suggestions that the lawsuit was linked to the EC’s decision on the Senate case.

Lagos ports handled 84.6% of Nigeria’s trade in Q2

Lagos ports handled an estimated N35.07 trillion, representing 84.6 per cent of Nigeria’s total merchandise trade of N41.44 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, underscoring the dominance of the nation’s commercial capital as its principal trade gateway.

The latest Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigeria recorded N27.02 trillion in exports and N14.42 trillion in imports during the quarter.

Apapa Port, Lekki Deep Sea Port and Tin Can Island accounted for the bulk of the trade, with their combined export and import flows estimated at N34.90 trillion.

Apapa Port alone handled N25.53 trillion in aggregate exports and imports, comprising N19.07 trillion in exports and N6.46 trillion in imports.

Lekki Deep Sea Port recorded N6.64 trillion in trade, made up of N5.03 trillion in exports and N1.61 trillion in imports.

Tin Can Island accounted for N2.90 trillion, comprising N726.92 billion in exports and N2.17 trillion in imports.

The concentration was more pronounced on the export side, with Apapa and Lekki Deep Sea Port jointly accounting for 89.19 per cent of exports recorded among the leading customs ports and posts.

Apapa remained the country’s dominant export gateway, handling N19.07 trillion, representing 70.57 per cent of total exports.

Lekki Deep Sea Port followed with N5.03 trillion, accounting for 18.62 per cent of exports.

On the import side, Apapa also retained the lead with N6.46 trillion, equivalent to 44.76 per cent of total imports.

Tin Can Island followed with N2.17 trillion, representing 15.07 per cent, while Lekki Deep Sea Port accounted for N1.61 trillion, or 11.15 per cent of total imports.

The figures highlight the heavy concentration of Nigeria’s external trade around Lagos, where the three major ports continue to handle the overwhelming share of the country’s merchandise trade.

Cabinet clears 2027 Appropriation Bill for gazetting and Parliamentary approval

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved a proposal to publish the Appropriation Bill for the financial year 2027 in the Government Gazette and thereafter submit it to Parliament for approval.

The move follows a decision taken at the Cabinet meeting held on 30 June 2026, approving the preparation of the Appropriation Bill for 2027.

‘The Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman has received clearance from the Attorney General,’ Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

With Cabinet approval now secured, he said the Bill will proceed to gazetting before being tabled in Parliament for approval, marking a key step in the process of finalising the country’s Budget for the 2027 financial year.

‘The full timeline related to the Budget will be notified in the near future,’ he added. The proposal to this effect was submitted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Minister.

1 dead, 6 injured in Baguio City highway mishap

A bus conductor died while six other individuals were injured after a passenger bus crashed into a parked six-wheeler truck along Marcos Highway in Baguio City before dawn on Tuesday.

Police said the fatality, a resident of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, was declared dead on arrival at a hospital after being pinned inside the bus.

An initial investigation by the Baguio City Police Office showed that the accident occurred at around 2 a.m. at Kilometer 6.

Authorities said the bus was heading to Baguio City when it rammed the six-wheeler truck which was parked roadside due to a malfunctioning injection pump.

The impact caused extensive damage to both vehicles, although authorities have yet to determine the total cost of the damage.

A passenger of the truck and five occupants of the bus, including the driver, were injured and brought to hospital.

Responders from the Bureau of Fire Protection in Tuba, the city’s 911 emergency service, and the Baguio City Police Office Station 10 assisted in the rescue operation.

The incident remains under investigation. The case has been referred to the Baguio Traffic Enforcement Unit for proper disposition.

Navy hails Uyo court, demands faster trials for oil thieves

The Nigerian Navy has commended the Federal High Court, Uyo, for convicting and sentencing nine people for crude oil theft.

It also called for accelerated adjudication of all pending oil theft cases nationwide to strengthen deterrence against economic sabotage.

Director of Naval Information (DINFO), Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, praised the judgment in a statement on Wednesday, saying successful naval interdictions at sea only achieve their full strategic value when matched with timely convictions that reinforce the rule of law.

He commended the judiciary for the judgment and appreciated the Department of State Services (DSS) for its professionalism in prosecuting the case to a successful conclusion.

The nine convicts were sentenced on Monday to five years’ imprisonment on the first count and 10 years on the second, both without an option of a fine. They were arrested on February 7 during an intelligence-led Navy operation while allegedly siphoning crude from an oil wellhead identified as ASABO-D in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Folorunsho said the conviction reinforced the impact of Operation DELTA SENTINEL, the Navy’s anti-crude oil theft operation launched in January, which has dismantled over 241 illegal refining sites, recovered more than 6.44 million litres of stolen crude and refined products, and led to the arrest of over 230 suspects across the Niger Delta.

He warned individuals, groups and criminal syndicates engaged in oil theft to desist, stressing that the remoteness of oil-producing communities, waterways or installations would no longer shield perpetrators from justice.

He urged host communities to continue providing credible information on criminal activities threatening oil and gas infrastructure.

The Navy credited the renewed operational momentum to the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, whose emphasis on intelligence-led operations, inter-agency collaboration and maritime domain awareness has strengthened the service’s capacity to combat maritime crime.

It linked the effort to President Bola Tinubu’s policy target of raising Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.

Folorunsho said the Navy would sustain operational pressure on economic saboteurs while deepening collaboration with the judiciary, sister security agencies and other stakeholders in support of national efforts to grow oil production and the blue economy.

Electricity: ‘Nigerians ask me to slow down, freezers are freezing’ – Power Minister

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, on Wednesday, said some Nigerians had asked him to ‘slow down’ efforts to improve electricity supply because their freezers were now working continuously.

Tegbe made the remark while speaking at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.

The Minister said areas that previously experienced prolonged power outages were now receiving significantly longer hours of electricity supply.

‘Places that didn’t have light at all for three months are now having 18 hours of light. Some areas called me to say, look, I should slow down, that everything in their freezer is freezing.

‘That is what a freezer is meant to do. Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen,’ he said.

Tegbe said he had promised during his Senate screening that Nigerians would begin to see noticeable improvements in electricity supply within three to six months.

The Minister, however, acknowledged the challenges confronting the power sector, noting that some of the country’s electricity infrastructure is more than 40 years old.

‘Some of the infrastructure we have in the electricity and power sector are more than 40 years old. We’re systematically replacing them, phasing them out and bringing new ones,’ he said.

Over 700 fishermen in Pangasinan receive cash aid from gov’t

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region I has begun distributing cash assistance to fisherfolk in this coastal town in western Pangasinan under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk program.

BFAR Region I Director Remely Lachica said 773 fisherfolk from Agno are among the beneficiaries of the assistance program. Each qualified beneficiary will receive P2,325.

Eligible recipients are those registered under the FishR (Fisherfolk Registration System), BoatR (Fishing Boat Registration System), and the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

Lachica said Agno is the first locality in Region I where the distribution of assistance is being conducted.

She added that a total of 17,700 fisherfolk across Region I are expected to receive financial assistance, including fishpond operators, boat owners, fishing workers, fish processors, vendors, and others engaged in the fisheries sector.

FG declares elimination of child labour national priority

The Federal Government has declared the elimination of child labour a national development priority, linking it to education, social protection, economic growth and human capital development.

Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said this on Wednesday in Abuja at a National Dialogue on implementing Nigeria’s National Child Labour Policy and National Action Plan.

Akume said government would strengthen labour administration, improve inspection systems and enhance child protection mechanisms while addressing poverty, unemployment and inadequate access to quality education.

‘Every child belongs in school, not in hazardous workplaces. Every child deserves protection, not exploitation,’ he said.

He urged state governments to support implementation of the National Action Plan and called on employers to ensure their supply chains remained free from child labour.

Akume also urged parents and guardians to keep children in school, while calling on workers’ organisations, communities and other stakeholders to promote decent work and social justice.

He said the policy and action plan provided a roadmap for translating Nigeria’s international commitments, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 8.7, into measurable national action.

Akume formally unveiled the 2024 National Child Labour Survey Report, National Policy on Child Labour and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour 2026-2030.

Also, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, said child labour remained a major obstacle to human dignity, social justice and sustainable development, depriving children of education and opportunities.

Dingyadi said findings from the National Child Labour Survey showed that millions of children remained engaged in labour, with many exposed to hazardous work in several sectors.

He listed agriculture, mining, domestic service, street trading and construction among areas where children were exposed to hazardous labour and exploitation across the country.

He said the Federal Government remained committed to enforcing the Labour Act, Child Rights Act and relevant international labour standards, particularly ILO Conventions 138 and 182.

Dingyadi said the reviewed National Policy on Child Labour and National Action Plan 2026-2030 provided a comprehensive framework for prevention, protection, enforcement, rehabilitation and accountability.

Counterfeit designer scents push Kenyans to pricier niche perfumes

Walk through any mall in Nairobi, and you will catch it before you see it: a wave of familiar designer scents trailing behind shoppers who paid a fraction of the real price.

The counterfeit perfume trade has grown so sophisticated that even seasoned buyers struggle to tell a fake Tommy Hilfiger or Gucci bottle from the original.

As the counterfeit luxury market grows, a shift toward niche fragrances is becoming increasingly visible, with distributors and sellers reporting a growing appetite for little-known brands.

Kenyan consumers are willing to spend twice what they would normally budget for perfume, even when the name on the bottle is unfamiliar.

“Three or four years ago, the uptake of niche fragrance by Kenyans was quite slow because of the price point, but also because these aren’t brands known by many. Right now, there is this sudden acceptability and recognition of niche house fragrance among Kenyans,” says David Oremo, General Manager at Maven Luxury, a distributor of luxury fragrances in East Africa.

According to the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), footwear, apparel and fragrances, particularly luxury brands, remain among the most heavily counterfeited products in the Kenyan market.

Sh87 million counterfeits

In a crackdown by the agency in April this year, counterfeit shoes, clothing and fragrances were seized, with the fake items valued at Sh87 million out of a Sh201 million haul of counterfeit goods. Most of the seized products bore the marks of mass market brands such as Nike, Puma, Adidas, Gucci and Tommy Hilfiger.

“What we are seeing is a market driven by aspiration. People want to belong to a certain social class. When they cannot afford an international luxury brand, counterfeit steps in to fill the gap,” ACA Executive General Robi Kinga told the BDLife.

But in fragrance, the equation is changing. Mr Oremo attributes the shift partly to increased travel, social media and exposure to global fragrance trends.

“Fragrance is very personal. It has to smell right to you. Kenyans are becoming sophisticated by the day and are no longer interested in how big a brand name is, but in the quality, performance and distinctiveness of the fragrance.”

He also agrees the rise of counterfeits is another reason the niche business is booming.

“With the dupes flooding the market, especially of popular mass market luxury labels, we are seeing a surge in the uptake of niche house fragrances because very few of them are being counterfeited.”

Because niche fragrances are not popular, counterfeiters are hesitant to invest in creating dupes, since there is no ready market for them. Even then, creating a fake niche fragrance would be costly compared to a mass market one because of the complexity that goes into making them,” he adds.

Unlike apparel and footwear, Mr Oremo notes that consumers are less concerned about displaying a recognisable label and more interested in a scent that feels uniquely theirs.

“Many Kenyans don’t want to smell the same, even if they would not mind wearing clothes from the same brand for social status,” he says.

“Popular designer brands have easily become a target for counterfeiters because they are mass-produced alongside other products. You can see a Hugo Boss shirt and a Hugo Boss fragrance. Niche does not work like that. Brands that do niche specialise only in fragrance, which makes the engineering far more detailed. That is why they have an edge when it comes to offering distinct scents that leave a lasting impression and deliver longer performance.”

Niche houses also tend not to rely on mass marketing. Instead, many build their brands around communities of loyal consumers and word of mouth, an approach giving them an unexpected advantage in Kenya.

“With the fakes in the market being generally low quality, we are seeing more Kenyans willing to spend twice what they used to on a niche fragrance they like”

The best-sellers

Mr Oremo notes that a bottle of niche fragrance starting from Sh28,000, the entry price point for most niche brands, can typically deliver seven hours or more of longevity.

“You wear it while leaving the house, and you don’t need to carry it around and rush to the bathroom to reapply by midday,” he says.

According to Peter Gitau, Brand Lead at Cierra Perfumes luxury stores, Parfums de Marly (French), Montale Mancera (French), Xerjoff (Italian), Nishane (Turkish), Roja (English) and Initio (French) are the best-selling niche house fragrances among Kenyans.

“These are the top-of-mind niche fragrances that many Kenyan shoppers keep asking about,” he notes.

Mr Gitau agrees the Kenyan market is now more open to trying something different but says theire is a knock-off effect.

“While counterfeits have had an impact, the bigger driver I see is the sharp rise in the prices of designer fragrances. When a designer perfume starts costing almost as much as a niche one, consumers begin to question the value they are getting. At that point, someone may choose to pivot to niche because it offers more artistic expression.”

And Mr Oremo says this shift is already catching the attention of foreign niche houses keen to enter the Kenyan market. “What does that tell you? It tells you the market is there. People are willing to spend money for good scents,” he says.

Niche brands enter market

Last week, Australian niche fragrance brand Goldfield and Banks launched in Kenya. According to Nicolas Picard, the challenge was never simply finding consumers willing to pay a premium, but finding a retail environment capable of delivering the quality and brand experience expected of a luxury fragrance house.

“We need a certain level of quality and execution for the brand to actually represent that luxury segment we’re in. Therefore, we had to find the right partners,” he told the BDLife.

The brand has been in Kenya for five months, spent studying the market. “We took notice of Kenya’s growing fragrance culture. Kenya has a strong and increasingly youthful niche fragrance following, supported by consumers who are well travelled, active on social media and exposed to international trends. The clientele we’re getting is becoming younger and younger.”

Mr Picard adds that Kenyan consumers tend to like a strong scent, something that fits Goldfield and Banks’ identity. “Kenya has a very bold population. They like strong, loud fragrances that make them stand apart. They also don’t like smelling like the next person.”

The brand is launching with 10 fragrances, including its worldwide bestseller Ingenious Ginger, along with Silky Woods, Sunset Hour and Pacific Rock Moss. 100ml bottles retail at $220 (Sh29,000), while selected 50ml bottles cost between $150 (Sh19,000) and $160 (Sh21,000). Picard says the company is targeting a turnover of Sh90 million from Kenya within its first three years.