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Experts in the aviation industry have offered prescriptions on how to fix lingering challenges militating against the growth of the value chain.

President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Nwuba, Managing Director of Aero Contractors Airlines , Captain Ado Sanusi and former rector of Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Captain Samuel Caulcrick said intentional policies and intervention will rescue the industry from collapse.

Speaking in an interview , Nwuba urged the Federal Government to establish a 500 aircraft national leasing company to reduce the high finance cost burden on domestic airlines and make the industry more competitive.

Nwuba said that aviation in Nigeria remains profitable but is weighed down by excessive finance cost that prevents sustainable growth.

According to him, while the global aviation profit margin ranges between three and seven per cent, Nigerian airlines face a borrowing interest of 28 to 34 per cent. ‘That finance cost automatically kills competitiveness,’ he said. ‘The government can intervene by creating a leasing company that owns 500 aircraft and makes them available to operators at four per cent interest. That is how you make them globally competitive.’

He explained that the government could negotiate low-interest credit abroad and acquire aircraft under a favourable funding structure. ‘You can borrow in Japan or the United States at 0.2 to three per cent, buy airplanes, and lease them locally at a reasonable rate. When one airline fails, the aircraft can be reassigned to another. That keeps capacity in the system,’ Nwuba said.

He emphasised that aviation was not unprofitable but burdened by a finance cost that stifles growth. ‘We must change the narrative. The industry is profitable, but the cost structures imposed by bad policies make it appear otherwise. About 47 per cent of every airline’s revenue goes to fuel alone. How do they survive year after year?’ he asked.

Nwuba urged the government to create policies that provide cheaper access to capital and remove cost barriers preventing airlines from thriving. ‘We need to borrow at one or two per cent. We need aircraft that are affordable. That is the only way to reduce fares, boost capacity, and cut finance cost for operators,’ he added.

Another major player, Sanusi said local airlines also suffer from policy inconsistencies and high operational charges, which have worsened their cost structure and increased their finance cost, eroding profitability.

Captain Sanusi, said the inconsistency of government policies was a major factor driving the high finance cost and rising airfares. ‘Some airlines need urgent capital inflow to stay operational, but the cost of doing business keeps rising because of policy instability,’ he said.

He also called for a review of airport infrastructure nationwide, noting that most local airports lag behind in passenger experience. ‘We’ve seen improvements at the international airports, but local airports need serious attention. The time it takes passengers to process flights must reduce, and facilities should improve. Both government and private operators must close the gaps through dialogue,’ Sanusi said.

Also speaking, Caulcrik said limited capital restricts growth for airlines, as it hampers their scape of operations.

He said :’ The rest of Africa must understand that the major challenge facing African airlines, including Nigerian carriers, is that the lack of access to affordable capital will continue to impede their ability. Limited capital restricts growth, making it harder to compete with larger, often government-backed airlines.

He further added:’ Nigerian carriers need to invest in modern fleet . Older, less efficient aircraft drive up costs and decrease competitiveness. Limited capital hampers route expansion and market reach.

‘Restricted access to capital raises operating expenses, reducing profits. The industry needs to consider consolidation with stronger carriers acquiring or partnering with weaker ones. Exploring other financing options, such as Islamic finance or infrastructure bonds or establishing an aviation development bank to facilitate affordable capital to local airlines within their economies using sovereign backing.

‘Governments would offer targeted support, like guarantees or subsidies to route development, to help industry growth.

‘ Promoting regional collaboration and partnerships to share resources and expertise.

‘The lack of access to competitive lower capital costs in emerging markets, like Nigeria, sticks out like a sore thumb in the global air transport business.’

Sir: When the United States recently classified Nigeria once again as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over alleged religious persecution, many Nigerians reacted with a mixture of surprise, frustration and weary familiarity. It was not the first time Washington has made such a designation, but the tone and timing especially coming alongside firm public statements from President Donald Trump sparked anxiety about Nigeria’s international standing and the wider implications for diplomatic and economic relations.

The label, tied to claims that Christian communities face targeted suppression and insecurity, did not emerge in isolation. Evangelical groups and rights advocates in the U.S. have sustained pressure for years, insisting that Nigeria is witnessing a systematic campaign against Christians. That narrative has gained traction in certain policy circles abroad, even as it remains contested by many Nigerian stakeholders, security experts, and interfaith leaders.

Yet the picture inside Nigeria is more complex than one storyline suggests. There is no denying that Christian communities have suffered devastating attacks in parts of the country, particularly in the Middle Belt and Northeast. Churches have been razed, worshippers killed, and entire communities displaced. But Muslims too, especially across Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto have been victims of terrorism, banditry and targeted killings. Mosques have been attacked; religious scholars abducted and murdered. Entire villages, predominantly Muslim, have been wiped out by armed groups.

Nigeria’s reality is not a war between two faiths. What the country faces is a combination of terrorism, rural banditry, communal conflicts, climate-induced migration pressures, cattle-route disputes, land use clashes, and the legacy of weak local governance structures. To reduce this layered crisis to a single religious persecution narrative is not only inaccurate, but risks deepening suspicion among communities already struggling with fear and mistrust.

Still, criticism should not be dismissed simply because its framing is imperfect. Nigeria has a duty to protect every citizen, regardless of religion or location. For too long, families across this country whether in Southern Kaduna or Zamfara forests, in Plateau villages or Borno communities have buried loved ones without justice. That national pain must be acknowledged honestly. Security failures, uneven responses, and slow justice mechanisms have fed frustration. Diplomatic contests should not make us blind to domestic responsibilities.

The federal government’s response so far has been measured, rejecting the U.S. designation as misguided, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and interfaith harmony. It is a wise approach. Anger may be emotionally satisfying, but diplomacy requires restraint. Nigeria cannot afford avoidable strategic friction with a global partner whose support remains vital in counterterrorism, trade, and military cooperation.

At the same time, Nigeria must not appear defensive or passive. The moment calls for quiet confidence backed by visible action: stronger prosecution of violent actors, transparent reporting on communal incidents, improved early-warning systems, interfaith dialogue at community level, and a firmer hand against inflammatory rhetoric from religious or political figures. Policy must meet principle.

The United States, for its part, must resist being guided by lobby groups alone. Nigeria’s story cannot be reduced to campaign talking points or foreign ideological battles. A balanced reading of our challenges recognises that both mosques and churches have fallen under attack and that extremists exploit sectarian fear precisely to divide Nigerians.

There are consequences if this misunderstanding continues. Visa restrictions, partnership strain, and reputational damage are not theoretical risks. They can affect students, investors, families and businesses. Neither Abuja nor Washington stands to gain from an avoidable spiral. Both countries require each other – for regional stability, counterterror operations, trade, and democratic governance.

Nigeria should not shy away from accountability, but neither should it accept a mischaracterisation of its troubles. Our armed forces – made up of Muslims and Christians – have fought and died together in the same trenches. Our communities, despite tensions, continue to intermingle, marry, trade and coexist daily. That reality deserves recognition.

The task now is to protect citizens while protecting the truth. Nigeria must demonstrate seriousness, not insecurity. Quiet reform, steady diplomacy, and firm national messaging will serve the country better than loud confrontation.

In moments like this, maturity matters. The world is watching to see not whether Nigeria has challenges – every nation does – but how Nigeria responds. A confident country fixes its weaknesses without surrendering its dignity. That is the path that protects lives, preserves unity and strengthens the nation’s voice on the global stage.

In the end, what Nigeria needs is not applause abroad but peace at home. And that peace will come not from foreign declarations but from strong institutions, fair justice, and leaders and citizens committed to refusing the dangerous politics of faith and fear.

The chairman of Senate Committee on Aviation, Fatai Buhari, yesterday said pilots accused of taking indian hemp and alcohol would be thoroughly investigated as part of efforts to restore sanity in the industry and enhance the safety passengers.

He said the committee holds it a duty to insist on professional conduct critical to the safety of passengers at all times.

Buhari, who represents Oyo North in the Senate, said the probe is open, adding that the outcome would also be laid bare before Nigerians.

He told reporters in Lagos that the aviation sector would be sanitised and repositioned through legislative backing.

Buhari said:’There are allegations in the aviation industry. One of them is the price hike. It is as if you are travelling out of the country when you are travelling within the country.

‘The second is the delay. You cannot plan your journey. You always missed your appointments. The airline complain about technical problems. The third is the loss of valuables’

Buhari said it is worrisome that pilots are being accused of taking indian hemp and achocol, adding that the Senate has referred the matter to his committee for investigation.

He disclosed that during the committe’s deliberations, a colleague who is also an airline operator made the same allegation, warranting the invitation of the airline officials for questioning.

Buhari clarified that it is not the intention of the Senate to victimise anybody, adding that the goal is to enhance the enforcement of guidelines and compliance with rules.

Noting that prevention is better than cure, he said: ‘There is need for random checking. Citizens’ lives should not be jeopardised and they thereafter call for the black box.’

Buhari said international best practices should be upheld in national interest as it is being done in other countries.

He stressed:’ A girl passed her exam in London. Her mother promised to take her out. They bought tickets.

The flight was cancelled. The woman went to court. She claimed damages. The airline was fined. They had to carry the mother and child later free of charge. In Nigeria, if it happens, people just move on.’

Buhari said airlines attend to customers who charter their planes before coming back to attend to other passengers.

Africa’s private sector must take the driver’s seat in actualising the $3.4 trillion African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stakeholders have said.

Leaders across government, development institutions, and industry made the call in Lagos for stronger collaboration to unlock trade, drive industrialisation, and foster sustainable growth across the continent.

Speaking at the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN) High-Level Business Forum, with the theme: ‘Mobilising Africa’s Private Sector for AfCFTA towards Africa’s Economic Development Amid Global Uncertainty,’ key speakers including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN), Bashorun J.K. Randle, AUDA-NEPAD National Coordinator Jabiru Abdullahi, and African Business Roundtable (ABR) President Samuel Dossou-Aworet, stressed that the future of the AfCFTA hinges on private-sector-led action, innovation, and policy alignment.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment (CCIT), Folashade Ambrose, said the success of the AfCFTA ‘depends not only on signed agreements but on private-sector belief and action,’ urging African businesses to embrace the treaty as a strategic tool to reduce trade barriers, expand markets, and strengthen value chains.

He said: ‘Governments can negotiate tariffs and treaties, but businesses must produce, export, invest, and believe in cross-border possibilities. That belief must persist even in the face of global uncertainty – volatile currency, supply chain shocks, and regional instability.’

Highlighting the state’s economic transformation, Sanwo-Olu said, ‘Here in Lagos, we understand the power of private enterprise. From our thriving tech ecosystem in Yaba to the Lekki Deep Sea Port and our industrial zones, we are building an economy that encourages innovation, trade, and investment.’

He explained that Lagos’ investments in infrastructure, logistics, and digital connectivity are deliberate steps to align the state with AfCFTA’s vision of ‘an Africa that trades more with itself, competes globally, and prospers collectively.’

The governor also called for empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs), describing them as ‘the heartbeat of Africa’s private sector.’ He said Lagos has been championing SME empowerment through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and urged other African governments to scale such initiatives continent-wide.

‘Digital trade, e-commerce, and fintech are changing how business is done. Africa must embrace technology to simplify cross-border transactions and improve efficiency. Lagos is already leading in this space as Nigeria’s tech capital – a model that can inspire other regions,’ he added.

Delivering a special address, National Coordinator/CEO of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, Jabiru Salisu Abdullahi, said the AfCFTA represents Africa’s most ambitious economic undertaking, creating a market of over 1.4 billion people with a GDP of more than $3 trillion.

‘The AfCFTA is not just a trade agreement, it’s a blueprint for African strength, self-reliance, and shared prosperity. It gives us a platform to scale our businesses, innovate, and compete globally,’ Abdullahi said.

He noted that for the treaty to succeed, Africa must provide the right conditions – ‘better infrastructure, harmonised policies, access to finance, and a level playing field for all.’

‘At AUDA-NEPAD, we bridge ideas and action. Our programmes, from smallholder farming to food systems transformation and youth empowerment, show that when we work together, we can make growth inclusive,’ Abdullahi continued.

He also underscored the need for Nigeria to not just participate in AfCFTA but to lead.

‘That means industrial diversification, improved logistics, and trade-friendly policies for entrepreneurs. Government cannot do it alone. The private sector must be at the centre of it all,’ he said.

In his goodwill message, the President of the African Business Roundtable (ABR), Samuel Dossou-Aworet,

noted that Africa’s growth trajectory remains robust despite global headwinds.

‘With a growth rate of 3.2 per cent in 2024, projected to rise to 4.1 per cent in 2025 and 4.4 per cent in 2026, Africa is the world’s second-fastest-growing regional economy after Asia,’ he said, citing the African Development Bank’s 2025 Outlook Report.

He also referenced an IMF report which observed that 12 of the world’s top 20 fastest-growing economies are from Africa, including South Sudan (17%), Niger (11.2%), Senegal (8.2%), Libya (7.9%), Rwanda (7.2%), Cote D’Ivoire (6.8%), Ethiopia (6.7%), Benin (6.4%), Djibouti (6.2%), Tanzania (6.1%), Togo (6%), and Uganda (6%); describing them as ‘beacons of hope for the continent.’

However, Dossou-Aworet cautioned that high growth has yet to significantly reduce poverty. ‘The challenge now is to ensure that our fast-growing economies pursue inclusive, sustainable growth and use the dividends of expansion to reduce poverty,’ he said.

He emphasised that Africa must ‘produce before it can trade,’ calling for large-scale industrialisation, better access to capital, innovative financing, and scaled-up infrastructure to make the continent competitive.

‘Africa needs to scale up its infrastructure to facilitate production. Access to capital is key; financial inclusion and innovative financing mechanisms must complement traditional banking. We must also carry our women along – Africa cannot rise without women’s enterprise,’ he said.

In his message, the President of the **Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Dr. Abdulrashid Ibrahim Usman Yerima,

said the AfCFTA is ‘one of the most ambitious instruments of collective empowerment ever conceived on our continent.’

Yerima urged Africa’s private sector to move ‘from aspiration to achievement, from potential to performance,’ stressing that SMEs must be central to AfCFTA’s success.

He called for stronger SME associations, cooperatives, and clusters under AfCFTA governance structures to enhance collective strength. ‘No SME can scale alone in a continental market of 1.4 billion people,’ Yerima said.

He also advocated integrating Africa’s SME ecosystem into global frameworks like the OECD Digital for SMEs Global Initiative (D4SME) to enhance digitalisation, competitiveness, and access to partnerships.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group Nigeria (NBGN), Bashorun J.K. Randle, said the forum was designed to ‘promote dialogue, foster partnerships, and align public policy with business innovation to drive intra-African trade, industrialisation, and investment.’

He noted that AfCFTA’s success ‘depends not only on agreements but on private-sector-led transformation,’ describing the private sector as ‘the engine of Africa’s growth and integration.’

‘As we commence today’s deliberations, let us engage constructively, exchange ideas, and forge practical pathways for collaboration. Together, we can accelerate the realisation of an integrated, prosperous, and self-reliant Africa,’ Randle urged.

The Lagos forum, attended by business leaders, policymakers, and development partners, reflected a shared consensus: that AfCFTA’s $3.4 trillion promise will only be realised through private sector mobilisation, infrastructure investment, and inclusive policies.

As Abdullahi summed up, ‘When businesses thrive, economies grow, and nations prosper.’

Organisers of Pearl Awards, devoted to players within the capital and money market ecosystem have set machinery in motion to make this year’s edition a memorable one indeed.

Addressing journalists in Lagos, at the weekend, the Board of Governors of PEARL Awards Nigeria, led by the Chairman, Dr. Faruk Umar, the President, Mr. Tayo Orekoya, and other members of the board including Chief (Mrs) Eniola Fadayomi, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Alhaji Tijani Borodo, formally announced the nominees for the 2025 PEARL Awards Nite, with the theme, ‘Celebrating a Legacy of Corporate Excellence,’ will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, with a hybrid presentation format – both physical and virtual.

In his opening remarks, Umar said this is going to be the 30th anniversary edition and as such was going to be a showstopper of sorts, even as he commented on the members of the board for its resilience over the years.

Also speaking at the pre-press conference event, Orekoya reaffirmed the Awards’ continued commitment to fairness, transparency, and objectivity, describing it as ‘the only capital market performance-based award in Nigeria founded on empirical data.’

According to him, the 2025 awards will recognise corporate excellence under three major categories including: the Main Competitive Awards Category, which encompasses the Sectoral Leadership Awards, Market Excellence Awards, and the Overall Highest Award – The PEARL of the Nigerian Stock Market.

The other categories are Honorary Awards, PEARL CEO of the Year, and the Special Recognition Awards Category for Corporate Governance Award. Additionally, to commemorate the 30th anniversary, the Board of Governors has introduced two new distinctions – the PEARL Excellence in Public Governance Award and the PEARL Excellence in Public Service Award.

Amongst the nominees that would be competing for the honours include but not limited to Livestock Feeds Plc, Okomu Oil Palm Plc, Presco Plc, Custodian Investment Plc, Transnational Corporation Plc, John Holt Plc, Champion Breweries Plc, International Breweries Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, BUA Foods Plc, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc, P.Z. Cussons Nigeria Plc.

Others include Guaranty Trust Holding Co. Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, NEM Insurance Plc, Nigerian Exchange Group, FBN Holdings Plc, United Capital Plc, Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc, Aso Savings and Loans Plc, Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Plc, Academy Press Plc, Learn Africa Plc, University Press Plc, May and Baker Plc, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, NCR Plc, Omatek Ventures Plc, CWG Plc.

Besides, other contenders for the foremost prestigious awards includes: Seplat Energy Plc, TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, Conoil Plc, CAP Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc, SFS Real Estate Investment Trust, UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust, UH Real Estate Investment Trust.

Orekoya also hinted that the Board of Governors has also approved the presentation of the second PEARL Lifetime Achievement Award, following the first-ever conferral on Alhaji Aliko Dangote during the 25th Anniversary edition in 2020.

He described the forthcoming Awards Nite as ‘a grand celebration of resilience and distinction,’ which will bring together captains of industry, top government functionaries, capital market operators, and media partners to honour companies that have demonstrated exceptional operational performance despite market headwinds.

He expressed deep appreciation to the media for their consistent partnership over the past 30 years, urging for continued support in projecting the Awards’ role in strengthening corporate governance, investor confidence, and national economic growth.

Managing Director, Primero Transport Services Mr. Fola Tinubu, has called for greater innovation and sustainability in the nation’s transport sector to meet the needs of a modern economy.

Speaking in an interview in Lagos, Tinubu said that Nigeria’s transport infrastructure must evolve beyond traditional systems and embrace technology-driven solutions for long-term growth.

‘Transportation is not just about moving people or goods; it is about connecting lives, driving trade, and fueling development,’ he said.

He stressed that sustainable transport innovation in Nigeria requires a mix of smart technology and environmental responsibility.

‘Electric buses, smart ticketing, intelligent traffic management, and cleaner energy solutions are changing transport systems globally,’ he said. ‘We have the talent and creativity to do the same in Nigeria what we need is collaboration.’

Tinubu urged government and private players to form partnerships that foster innovation while addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges such as poor roads, underdeveloped rail systems, and underutilised waterways.

‘No single company or government agency can do it alone. It takes partnership, policy support, and a shared vision to build a truly integrated transport system,’ he noted.

Also speaking , Chairman, Lagos State Government Professorial Chair Endowment on Transport Studies, Professor Bamidele Badejo called for urgent integration of all transport modes in Nigeria to unlock the nation’s economic and social potential.

Badejo said that multimodal transport integration is Nigeria’s most viable route to inclusive development, job creation, and sustainable urban growth.

According to him, transportation remains the ‘lifeline of any nation’ and its dysfunction has a ripple effect on productivity, trade, and safety. He noted that when transport systems collapse, every aspect of life grinds to a halt, from essential services to economic activity.

‘Transportation is life, nurtures life, and keeps life going. Without it, everything becomes stunted and deficient in reaching its full potential,’ Badejo said.

The don described Nigeria’s transport reality as a paradox, a nation of vast opportunity trapped by poor planning and weak infrastructure. Despite its population and resources, Nigeria still relies overwhelmingly on road transport, which carries over 90 percent of passengers and freight.

This dominance, he argued, has come at a high cost: crumbling roads, constant congestion, environmental degradation, and soaring logistics prices that hinder industrial growth.

Badejo urged the Federal and State governments to move from road-centric planning to multimodal transport integration, linking rail, road, air, and waterways into a single efficient network. He emphasized that this approach not only boosts connectivity but also reduces travel time, cost, and emissions.

‘Developing an integrated multimodal transportation system is crucial for Nigeria’s sustainable national development. It will improve efficiency, reduce costs, and promote environmental sustainability,’ he said.

He further noted that transportation should be viewed as a derived demand one that responds directly to population, trade, and industrial activity. Hence, planning must be data-driven and responsive to evolving urban and rural mobility patterns.

Nigeria’s transport development, he explained, is held back by multiple structural weaknesses, including policy inconsistency, fragmented regulation, poor maintenance culture, and chronic underfunding. He criticized the proliferation of transport agencies with overlapping roles, describing it as a major cause of inefficiency.

Badejo also identified energy instability, indiscipline, and lack of human capacity as systemic bottlenecks. ‘Our industry is still dominated by those qualified by experience rather than by knowledge,’ he warned.

Despite these challenges, Prof. Badejo outlined several opportunities that can reposition the transport sector as a growth engine. These include clean energy mobility, data-driven logistics, and port modernization.

He said Nigeria can replicate its mobile technology leap by leapfrogging older transport technologies, adopting smart mobility systems, and embracing private sector participation.

He also called for stronger institutional collaboration, green transport investment, and a maintenance culture that prioritizes sustainability over political expediency.

‘The future will not just happen; we must build it deliberately,’ Badejo concluded, urging policymakers to commit to a national multimodal transport framework that ensures connectivity, innovation, and resilience.

Anambra State has emerged as Nigeria’s most fiscally sustainable state, according to BudgIT’s 2025 State of States report, marking a significant leap from second place in 2024 and underscoring the growing dividends of reform-driven governance under Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo.

The report, which assesses all 36 states across five fiscal performance indices, placed Lagos, Kwara, Abia, and Edo in second to fifth positions respectively.

BudgIT described the ranking as a product of a decade-long assessment framework that measures states’ internal revenue strength, debt sustainability, capital investment priorities, and overall financial independence.

Governor Soludo’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, hailed the ranking as a validation of Anambra’s economic discipline and policy innovation. He noted that the state’s top performance was ‘neither coincidental nor cosmetic’ but the outcome of systematic reforms designed to boost internally generated revenue (IGR), eliminate inefficiencies, and strengthen fiscal transparency.

BudgIT’s evaluation hinged on five indices – ranging from the ability to cover recurrent expenditure through IGR to debt management and capital investment ratios – revealing Anambra’s dominance across key parameters of fiscal sustainability.

‘Governor Soludo’s administration has demonstrated that effective governance is not about rhetoric but results. Anambra’s fiscal prudence now fuels real development in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation,’ Aburime said.

A former Central Bank Governor and economist, Soludo has leveraged data analytics and evidence-based policies to reposition the state’s finances, building on a legacy of accountability while enhancing efficiency in resource management.

The 2025 State of States report positions Anambra as a model of subnational fiscal governance, showing that sustainable growth is achievable when leadership prioritizes discipline, innovation, and long-term value creation over short-term populism.

As the state heads into another electoral cycle, analysts say the latest BudgIT ranking reinforces Governor Soludo’s credibility as a reformer whose policies continue to deliver measurable impact.

‘This milestone is not an endpoint but a call to sustain momentum,’ Aburime added. ‘Anambra’s success proves that with fiscal wisdom and visionary leadership, Nigerian states can thrive on their own terms.’

Sir: Eight years in a row, Finland, a European country, was chosen by a UN survey as the happiest country in the world. Some years back, the UN survey described Nigerians as the happiest people on earth.

Ironically, Nigerians were not dubbed on the basis of their wellness and welfare, but rather on the basis of their inactions and complacency in the face of extreme hardship and lack of wellbeing. This was the period of the dictatorial rule of the Nigerian maximum ruler, late General Sani Abacha. The happiest people and the happiest country, you can decide to be happy in an unhappy country, but you can’t afford to be sad in a happy country, especially one which possesses all the ingredients of happiness and wellness.

Finland’s Minister of External Affairs, Elina Valtonen spoke recently in an interview about her country’s model of governance that helped Finland to attain the status of the happiest country in the world. According to Valtonen, about 100 years ago, Finland was one of the poorest countries in Europe, but her recipe was basically not just about happiness but about progress. Finland believes in investing in human capital by developing persons and individuals.

Everything in Finland is based on strong values and are human centred. People rely on institutions and have trust in government and not the individual politician. In other words, Finland develops strong institutions that act as a bulwark for every successive governments that come and go. Years ago, this was basically the advice of the former American President, Barack Obama, urging African governments to develop strong institutions as opposed to strong personalities.

Persons die, but institutions continue to subsist as fulcrum to support a viable and strong governance. The Finnish have trust in tax collection and trust in institutions that are important to the society. Tax evasion in Finland is a criminal offence because taxes create revenue for the government. In Finland, the same rules apply to everybody. The government trusts and empowers every individual man or woman, independent of religion. Independent of your background, the government creates an enabling environment where everybody can contribute to his or her wellbeing, life and overall society.

Education in Finland is free until you want to get a PhD. Finland was the first country in the world to introduce women’s right to vote. Finland does everything possible to harness the benefits of its women population with equal rights with the men folks.

There is a common narrative in Africa that we don’t have a debt problem, but we have a cost of debt problem. But according to Valtonen, as a borrower, you can basically choose where to get your debt from. She questions African countries who obtain their debts from authoritarian countries that are basically misusing their dependency of African countries for their own benefit, adding that African countries should advocate a transparent market economy which nurtures and guarantees equal rule for every lender, whether it be sovereign, individual or company. Finally, in her view, African government need a market economy and market regulation, which is not too bureaucratic, but one that helps to bring confidence to private investors.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State has described Governor Chukwuma Soludo as a dreamer for believing that President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is supporting him.

The Anambra APC Chairman, Sir Basil Ejidike, told The Nation yesterday that the speech delivered by the party’s national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, during the weekend rally in Onitsha, was simply a warning signal to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) government.

He said members of THE APGA had been falsely celebrating that President Tinubu ignored the APC and its governorship candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, as well as Senator Uche Ekwunife. He described the claim as ‘a big lie’.

Ejidike explained that President Tinubu was represented at the rally by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who publicly declared that the President had no ‘adopted son’ in Anambra or anywhere else.

Quoting Akpabio, he said: ‘An adopted son is not the same as a biological son. We have a son in Anambra – Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu. We have come to present him to you as the next governor of Anambra State.’

Akpabio further stated that the Igbo had been ‘walking alone’ since the end of the civil war in 1970, but that it was now time for the region to be fully integrated into the mainstream of Nigerian politics.

‘Henceforth, the Igbo shall walk to the centre of Nigerian government so that the letters of the three Rs proclaimed after the civil war – Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation – will finally be fulfilled,’ Akpabio said.

‘It is our collective desire that the Southeast will no longer complain of bad roads and lack of federal presence. Things have to change, and I have come to tell you, as a prophet, that you shall no longer walk alone. If Anambra is ready to go to the centre, then Igboland will be complete.’

He noted that under the APC-led administration, with Akpabio as Chairman of the National Assembly, the South East Development Commission had been established as part of the effort to rebuild Igboland.

‘We are coming from the centre to add value to what you are doing. I have nothing more to say than to say – welcome to the centre,’ Akpabio added.

Ejidike, quoting further from Yilwatda’s message, said the national chairman gave the APGA-led government ‘196 hours’ to prepare for its exit from the Government House, Awka.

‘We have only 196 hours for THE APGA to end its reign. In eight days, there will be no governor in Nigeria bearing the tag of APGA again,’ he declared.

Ejidike lamented the state of insecurity and poor infrastructure in Anambra, blaming the APGA government for the economic decline.

‘Anambra is known for its industrious people, but businesses are dying because of insecurity, and the youths are not getting any help. We need security fixed, schools improved, and the people given hope,’ he said.

He added that Anambra was too important in Igboland and Nigeria to be left in the hands of the opposition, expressing confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the November 8 governorship election.

‘We now have 25 governors, and by Saturday, November 8, Anambra will make it 26. Roll up your sleeves and stand by your votes. We are ready to defend you,’ he urged party supporters.

Ejidike dismissed claims that anyone other than Ukachukwu is President Tinubu’s preferred candidate.

‘If anybody claims to be an adopted son of APC, he is lying. We have only one son – Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu. If you are not APC, you are not. There is no counterfeit. Use the APC broom to sweep away the ghost of the APGA,’ he said.

He concluded that the APC would not only win the governorship election but also deliver 80 per cent of the votes to President Tinubu in 2027.

‘Those claiming that the President is supporting them are the same people who will betray the party in 2027 for their boss, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, if he secures a ticket in any political party,’ Ejidike added.

Nigeria’s leading foam manufacturing group, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, finally shrugged off the leftovers of the foreign exchange (forex) headwinds with a 1,407 per cent growth in net profit in the immediate past year.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of Vitafoam Nigeria for the year ended September 30, 2025 showed that profit before tax rose sharply by 1,751 per cent to N21.2 billion in 2025 as against N1.1 billion in comparable period of 2024. Profit after tax grew by 1,407 per cent from N952 million to N14.3 billion. With this, earnings per share leapt from 29 kobo to N10.67 .

Group Managing Director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, said the remarkable performance demonstrated the group’s unwavering commitment to operational excellence, cost efficiency, and sustainable value creation for shareholders.

He said: ‘We are delighted with our strong performance this year, particularly the significant growth in operating profit and the marked improvement in cost efficiency. These results reaffirm the success of our strategic initiatives centered on financial discipline, brand strength, and long-term value creation.

‘Our continued investments in operational efficiency, product innovation, and sustainable energy solutions position Vitafoam for sustained growth in the coming year’.

Vitafoam had paid N1.31 billion as cash dividends for the 2024 business, representing a dividend per share of N1.05.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts for the year ended September 30, 2024 had shown that Vitafoam Nigeria’s turnover rose by 56 per cent from N52.9 billion in 2023 to N82.6 billion in 2024. But the impact of the top-line growth was moderated by foreign exchange loss.