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Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has said Abuja’s ‘Smart City Vision’ is being driven by strategic investments across five key areas.

He named the areas as Urban Mobility, Sustainability, Public Safety, Digital Governance and Economic Empowerment.

Wike, who spoke at this year’s edition of Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), also announced that Abuja was actively collaborating with international agencies and private sector actors.

The minister named the projects in which international agencies and private sector actors are partnering, including JICA on smart water metering, Chinese support for intelligent traffic lights, and ongoing ventures such as the Abuja City Walk and the Abuja Industrial Park.

These, he stressed, reflected Abuja’s commitment to leveraging public-private partnerships and city-to-city exchanges to accelerate innovation.

Wike had met with the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, who also oversees the Political Affairs Office of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

A statement yesterday in Dubai by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said Wike joined global mayors and city leaders at the event to highlight ‘Abuja’s bold steps toward becoming a world-class smart city’.

Apart from the FCT Minister, other speakers at the forum, which was moderated by the Lead of the Sustainable Urban Development Portfolio, UNESCWA, Dr. Sukaina Al Nasrawi, were: the Director of Data and Statistics Planning and Governance, Digital Dubai Authority, Sara Al Zarooni; the Executive Director of Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Dubai Future Foundation, Saeed Al Falasi; the Deputy CEO and Head of Investments, Crescent Enterprises, UAE, Tushar Singh Singhvi, and Chief Sales Officer, Asia, Middle East and Africa of Wilo Group, Lyman Tu.

Wike was accompanied to the event by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Legal and Multilateral Cooperation, Benedict Daudu; the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Richard Yunana Dauda; the Director, Department of Development and Control, Mukhtar Galadima; the Director of Engineering Services, Chuks Udeh, and the Director of Protocol, Sani Musa Daura.

The minister underscored Abuja’s unique status as ‘a purpose-built and ever-evolving capital with a clear master plan, vision, and mission anchored on service delivery to citizens’.

He said under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Abuja’s ‘Smart City Vision’ was being driven by strategic investments in five key areas.

Expatiating the key areas, Wike said: ‘Urban mobility is about the expansion of transportation networks, intelligent traffic systems, and public transport solutions to reduce congestion and enhance accessibility.

‘Sustainability is about smart waste management, renewable energy adoption, and waste-to-wealth initiatives aimed at a cleaner, greener environment.

‘Public Safety entails deployment of smart solar streetlights, CCTV surveillance, and rapid emergency response systems to improve security.

‘Digital Governance involves the creation of platforms like the FCT Call Centre and digitised land registry to promote citizen engagement, transparency, and efficiency in service delivery.

‘Economic Empowerment revolves on creating jobs and attracting tech companies by expanding Abuja’s digital environment.’

The minister stressed the essence of data in shaping opportunities for Abuja’s youths.

He alluded to Nigeria’s upcoming National Employment Database in partnership with global development partners.

‘This system will match skills with job opportunities, guide targeted training, and support entrepreneurship programs led by the Abuja Enterprise Agency,’ he said.

The minister stressed that ‘Abuja’s transformation into a smart and sustainable city was not only about technology, but about placing citizens at the center of development – building a safer, more inclusive, and prosperous environment for all’.

British Council, in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, and support from Investment Climate Reform (ICR) facility, has launched Impact Advisory Group (IAG) to strengthen access to finance for MSMEs and bridge the N3 trillion funding gap hindering their growth in Nigeria.

This was unveiled at the National Roundtable on MSME Financing: ‘Sustaining Impact: Achieving N3 Trillion Inclusive Financing Options for MSMEs in Nigeria,’ in Lagos.

It brought together government representatives, development partners, financial institutions, and private sector leaders to chart coordinated strategies for inclusive MSME financing and policy reforms.

Country Director of British Council, Donna McGowan, said the partnership reflects the council’s commitment to deepening Nigeria’s reform ecosystem and promoting inclusive economic growth.

‘As ICR programme winds down, sustaining outcomes are a priority,’ McGowan said. ‘IAG is a platform to sustain business environment reforms, promote access to finance for women-owned businesses, and establish mechanisms for accountability and coordination among stakeholders.’

Convener of IAG and Chief Executive of Octovio Development, Nelson Okwonna, said the group was set up to harmonise efforts of government, private sector, and donor actors in the MSME ecosystem.

‘We realised interventions for MSMEs operate in silos.’The IAG seeks to connect those efforts, close the funding gap, and ensure impact is scaled beyond donor cycles.’

Representing SMEDAN’s chief, a director, Dabureje Onesi-Lawani, stressed the agency’s resolve to improving MSME competitiveness through data-driven policy and public-private collaboration.

He said: ‘SMEDAN has benefited from ICR facility in initiatives as National MSME Policy (2021-2025) and studies on women’s access to finance, but sustaining the impact requires a platform like IAG.

‘The collective effort that begins today is aimed at closing the N3 trillion funding gap, and every stakeholder must be part of that process.’

National Escrow Member of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Chief Kola Akosile, emphasized the private sector’s role in formalizing and supporting MSMEs.

‘MSMEs make up the backbone of our economy but remain grossly underfunded,’ he said. ‘At NACCIMA, we are collaborating with SMEDAN and the CAC to onboard one million MSMEs into the formal sector within a year, offering free chamber memberships to support growth and accountability.’

Similarly, Mr. Iliya Anthony, Managing Director of the Kaduna State Enterprise Development Agency, shared insights from the Kaduna model, where the government has disbursed over ?3 billion to small businesses.

‘Kaduna is leading by example,’ Anthony said. ‘We believe access to finance, markets, and training must go hand in hand. Another ?1 billion will be rolled out next month to support more SMEs and promote financial inclusion for women in rural areas.’

A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SMEDAN and IAG’s implementing partners, EFInA, FATE Foundation, Sterling One Foundation, Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), Impact Investors Foundation (IIF), and Octovio Development Company, to sustain and scale inclusive financing reforms nationwide.

During the roundtable, Okwonna delivered a lead presentation titled ‘Achieving ?3 Trillion Inclusive Financing for MSMEs in Nigeria,’ describing what he called the ‘MSME financing paradox.’

‘Private sector loans have grown to ?77 trillion, yet less than two percent reaches MSMEs,’ he said. ‘Only about 25.9 percent of women entrepreneurs have accessed formal financing despite MSMEs contributing 46 percent to GDP and 87.9 percent to employment.’

Participants later engaged in breakout sessions on Asset Financing, Trade Finance, Agricultural Finance, and Start-up Equity Financing. Recommendations included creating state-level matching funds and de-risking instruments for MSMEs, promoting blended finance, expanding equity and impact investment, and strengthening digital trade finance infrastructure.

In his closing remarks, Director of Programmes at the British Council, Mr. Chikodi Onyemerela, praised the collaboration between government and private partners.

‘This launch represents more than an event it is a movement toward sustainable MSME growth, we must continue this collective effort beyond donor cycles to ensure financing reforms reach every level of Nigeria’s economy’, Onyemerela said.

Ordinarily, the phrase ‘red letter’ is used to describe something, such as a day or an event, of special significance. For example, October 1 every year is a red letter day in Nigeria, because the country attained independence on that date in 1960. That was a joyous and memorable event. However, not all red letter days are joyous moments. The day misfortune fell on New York City by way of a terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, was a red letter day too.

If you wish to understand how The Red Letter issued on October 22, 2025, by the Coordinating Minister, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammed Ali Pate, has elements of both types of red letter and more, please follow me through the following semiotic analysis of the letter.

It was Roland Barthes (1915-1980), the French philosopher, literary theorist, and semiotician, who popularised an interesting rubric for analysing sign systems from a variety of perspectives. He found semiotics, the study of signs, a useful way of exposing contradictions and revealing hidden meanings. For example, Barthes showed how a simple advertisement, that of Panzani, a brand of pasta (spaghetti), could be analysed from multiple levels to reveal iconic and symbolic signs as well as surface (denotative) and hidden (connotative) meanings at the same time (see Rhetoric of the Image in his book, Image Music Text, London, Fontana, 1977, pages 32-51). In the following analysis, I juxtapose the various levels of meaning as I go along.

At the iconic level, Pate’s letter is set against a red background in its digital representation. Although the print of the digital copy is white, the red background captures attention much more than the white print. It literally makes the letter red. However, we begin to get the meat of the letter once we begin to decipher the white print.

But what does the white print say? Many things, some direct, others indirect. First, the words confirm the disbursement of N32.9 billion to the commercial bank accounts of ‘primary care facilities in every ward across the country.’ Wait! There are 8,809 wards across the country. That means that there are 8,809 primary care facilities across the country. And how much does each ward get from this pot of money? You do the math. But remember to multiply your answer by three, since the minister says this is ‘the third round this year.’

Second, the letter is presented as an invitation from the federal government to the various communities to help safeguard the spending of the fund by ensuring that it is monitored. There is a much deeper meaning here. Here is a government promoting participatory democracy, by appealing to the people not to ‘stand aside,’ at a time when some cheeky politicians are screaming the death of democracy.

Nevertheless, there is a sense in which the people’s lethargy makes room for the perceived death of democracy: They are not participating as they should, and the letter is very explicit about the problem: ‘Our community members and institutions do not ask how the money is used, or if it reaches the people it was meant for’.

Hence the government’s direct appeal in The Red Letter:

‘Stand up and take ownership

Go to your health facility

Join the committee

Review the plan

Demand openness

Celebrate progress

And above all, make sure the fund truly protects the health of your people.’

Third, there is an indirect appeal to the elite and those who are literate enough to be able to read The Red Letter to disseminate the information: ‘Let this Red Letter reach every community, every ward, and every home. Let it remind us that the health of Nigeria lives in the hands of Nigerians.’ I am doing my own bit here by reproducing The Red Letter and analysing it. You should do your own bit too, by sharing this article with as many people as possible. Make it a point of duty to tell at least ten people to find the primary health care facility in their ward and follow the money by taking part in ward activities and making enquiries about funding.

It must be emphasised, however, that this Red Letter carries far-reaching implications for accountability and citizen engagement beyond wards. Since the return to democracy in 1999, state governments have not been sufficiently accountable to those they were elected to serve. Local government councils and their wards have been shut out of their funds by their respective state governors. It has been reported numerous times since the inception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration that states have been receiving increased allocations from the Federal Account Allocation Committee, compared to previous years due to the economic reforms by the administration.

Indeed, in the last few months, states have been receiving more funds than the federal government. For example, in September 2025, FAAC’s disbursements were as follows: federal government N711.314 billion; state governments N727.170 billion; and local government councils N529.954 billion. On top of their allocations, oil producing states also received a total of N134.956 billion as 13 percent derivation. These past few months would be the first time in over two decades that states would receive a larger share of FAAC allocation than the federal government. Yet, there is little to show for the increased allocations in many states of the federation. This led me to raise the alarm in September (see Your governor has your money, ask him for it, The Nation, September 3, 2025).

This situation also led the present administration to approach the Supreme Court to seek the loophole in the constitution in granting financial autonomy to local councils. Even then not much development has happened in the councils. It is alleged that some governors had their local council chairmen swear to an oath of secrecy or sign a fund sharing agreement on their council’s funds!

The Red Letter now shows that the ministry of health has even bypassed the councils by going directly to wards and calling on citizens to seize the opportunity by participating in the oversight of their health care facilities. But this is not the first time the federal government would target wards directly. Early in August, President Tinubu approved a ward-level development strategy designed to drive grassroots economic growth and address poverty across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards. It is the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP), which is integral to the Renewed Hope Agenda that targets a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

Just as Minister Pate appealed to citizens to participate in the affairs of primary health care facilities in their wards, so did President Tinubu appeal to state governors to prioritise the welfare of their citizens at the local level: ‘I want to appeal to you; let us change the story of our people in the rural areas. The economy is working. We are on the path of recovery, but we need to stimulate growth in the rural areas.’

At the end of the day, The Red Letter and the President’s appeal to governors are coded messages: governors should perform and citizens should hold them to account through participation and oversight.

The Presidency through the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, has expressed happiness on the smooth screening and confirmation of appointments of the Service Chiefs by the Senate .

Senator Lado in a statement said: ‘As the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, I facilitated this crucial interface to ensure a smooth and coordinated engagement between the Executive and the Legislature, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to effective governance and national security.

‘The appointment of Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Major Gen. Waidi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), AVM Sunday K. Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, represents a strategic step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and fostering synergy among the Armed Forces for the protection of our nation’s sovereignty and citizens.

‘I extend my profound appreciation to the President of the Senate, the Senate Leadership, and Distinguished Senators for the prompt and thorough consideration that led to the confirmation of the new Service Chiefs.

‘Their commitment underscores the strong collaboration between the Executive and the Legislature in advancing the national interest and ensuring the security and stability of our dear nation’

A 23-year-old woman has been arrested over alleged involvement in abduction and robbery of a businessman of ?24 million and his Toyota Highlander SUV in Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Umuoji in Idemili North local government area of Anambra state.

Police Spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga who disclosed this on Wednesday, said Okonkwo Onyinye, was arrested by Police operatives in collaboration with members of Agunechemba Security outfit.

He said the victim was forced into the boot of his vehicle after his abduction and driven to a bush and dumped after being dispossessed of the ?24 million.

Ikenga however revealed that the stolen vehicle with registration number RBC 649 CN was recovered while the suspect was assisting assisting with credible information to arrest her accomplices.

He said: ‘Anambra State Police Command operatives attached to the 3-3 Police Station, in collaboration with Agunechemba Security, Nkwelle-Ezunaka Unit, in the early hours of October 27, 2025, arrested one Okonkwo Onyinye, aged 23 years, a female accomplice in a reported case of armed robbery and kidnap incident.

‘The team also recovered a snatched Toyota Highlander SUV of the victim in Ogidi.

‘Preliminary information revealed that the victim was double-crossed by five armed men operating in a Toyota Corolla car at Nkwelle GRA Gate.

‘The suspects forcefully placed the victim in the boot of his vehicle and drove off to a bush in Umuoji Town, where they dispossessed him of his phone and transferred the sum of ?24,000,000 from his account before abandoning him and escaping with the vehicle.

‘Following the report, the Joint Security Team, acting on technologically driven intelligence, traced the movement of the suspects to Nawfia and subsequently to Ogidi, where the armed hoodlums engaged the operatives in sporadic gunfire before fleeing the scene.

‘Meanwhile, the Toyota Highlander, white in colour with registration number RBC 649 CN, was recovered and the female accomplice, Okonkwo Onyinye, was later arrested at the scene.

‘She is currently assisting Police detectives with credible information that will aid in the arrest of other fleeing gang members.

‘Furthermore, the Police have intensified patrols within the State, ahead of the Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled for November 8, 2025. Further developments will be communicated accordingly.’

History was made at the Choice De Immaculate Demonstration School (CIDS), Obosi in Idemili North LGA, Anambra State where Miss Saka Aliyat emerged the overall best graduating student of the school.

Aliyat, an indigene of Osun State, bagged awards in multiple subjects, including Igbo language, English, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Economics and Marketing.

The Yoruba girl, who smiled home with several gifts, received additional awards of Best Student in Neatest/Complete Uniform, Affinity to Students, Most Hardworking Student, Most Disciplined and Most Punctual.

Speaking during the 15th Valedictory/Sendforth Ceremony and Prize Giving Day of the school, Aliyat advised fellow students to focus on their studies with more interest, enthusiasm, dedication, diligence and hard work.

She urged them to follow the instructions of the school teachers and that of the Director who, she described as her mentor if they plan to come out in flying colours.

Director of the school, Engr. Solomy Ochokwu, advised the graduating students to be courageous, resilient and embrace integrity and work ethics as they join the larger society.

He urged them to always reflect on the times they spent in the school where they were taught to become the best students in the world.

The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) has identified the South-South region as the emerging strategic hub for export diversification.

It said the South-South has access to infrastructure like ports and proximity to export corridors.

Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Abba Bello, stated this in Benin City at the opening session of a one-day NEXIM SME Export Finance Sensitization Forum.

Bello noted that the South-South offered offers immense potential for trade following successful agro-processing clusters in oil palm, cassava, cocoa, rubber, solid minerals projects and in the petro-chemical industries in Rivers State.

He said industrial hubs in the region were home to MSMEs along value chains that produced high-quality food products, chemicals, building materials and servicing oil companies.

The NEXIM bank boss said the industrial hubs provided products and services that would shape Nigeria’s non-oil export future.

Represented by Mr. Flaring Tianiyu, Bello noted that improved access to finance, robust infrastructure, and effective trade facilitation would help the South South region continue to be a strong contributor to Nigeria’s non-oil export growth.

He said the NEXIM Bank was working with partners such as GIZ, to address challenges faced by the over 41 million MSMEs in the country.

Bello explained that the EXCEL Programme was designed to identify, strengthen, and finance export-ready MSMEs across the country, by leveraging digital tools, providing targeted-training, and enhancing financial-inclusion strategies.

His words, ‘The EXCEL Programme enables small businesses to scale up their operations, improve quality standards, and trade seamlessly within regional and international markets.

‘This initiative falls within the NEXIM Bank’s mandate of promoting diversified, non-oil exports, through inclusive financing models that empower women, youth, and small businesses to participate effectively in trade.

‘In addition, through the Nigeria Export Academy (NEXA), a digital platform, the Bank is expanding export capacity, providing export advisory and enabling MSMEs to operate with greater transparency and efficiency. We are also onboarding SME clients onto the African Trade Gateway (ATG), a digital ecosystem powered by Afreximbank, which integrates risk management tools (MANSA) payment systems (PAPSS), trade documentation, and logistics support to facilitate seamless cross-border trade for SMEs within Africa’, Bello further explained.

GIZ Trade Advisor, Raymond Dangana, said major objective of the event was to sensitize participants on export financing.

Nigeria is seeking partnership with Denmark’s richest man and Chief Executive Officer of Bestseller Group, Mr. Anders Holch Povlsen.

Yesterday, the President met with Povlsen, accompanied by Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens Bach Hansen, at the Presidential Villa.

Other senior officials of the global fashion and philanthropy group were also on the delegation.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, writing on his X handle @aonanuga1956, the meeting was attended by top government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.

The Bestseller Foundation, a private philanthropic arm funded by Denmark’s Bestseller A/S, focuses on driving social and environmental impact-particularly across West Africa-and supports entrepreneurs and ventures that combine social progress with sustainable financial outcomes.

Before the meeting with President Tinubu, Mr. Povlsen and his delegation were received by Gbajabiamila and Dr. Tijani at the State House.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned night club operators and fun seekers that organising, hosting and attending drug parties is illegal under Nigerian law.

The agency’s warning comes on the heels of a raid carried out by its operatives at a drug party, which held last Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday at Proxy Night Club on 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Over 100 attendees were arrested along with the owner of the facility, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu alias Pretty Mike and his manager Joachin Millary.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said: ‘Any gathering organised for the purpose of consuming, distributing, or abusing illicit substances is an act of criminality. These ‘drug parties’ contravene the explicit provisions of the NDLEA Act and will be treated as serious narcotic offences. In the case of the drug party at Proxy night club, organisers went above board and had the audacity to produce and circulate flyers inviting fun seekers to come together to commit crime, an act that not only constitutes an incitement to commit crime but equally an affront to the law enforcement capabilities of the country if condoned.

‘Nigeria is currently grappling with a very high prevalence rate of drug abuse, particularly among our youths. These illicit drug parties do not only fuel the drug scourge but equally serve as hubs for new recruitment into drug addiction and actively undermine our current national efforts to safeguard public health and security.

‘In the recent case, the NDLEA was meticulous and professional throughout the processes leading to the raid and during the operation. Following intelligence on the party, our undercover agents conducted surveillance on the facility, made pre-purchases of illicit drugs from within the club and for four hours between 11pm on Saturday and 3am on Sunday during the party, our operatives observed and recorded drug transactions and abuse going on before we eventually disrupted the brazen public display of illegality and made arrests.

‘All attendees initially arrested were later profiled, addressed, counselled and released within hours in custody, in line with best global practices while the two principal suspects: Pretty Mike and his manager, Joachin Millary remain in custody following the seizure of 384.882 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis and other substances from the club’s store.

‘While the agency will intensify surveillance and apply the full force of the law against perpetrators, owners of properties, hotels, and event centres found to be knowingly hosting such illegal activities risk the confiscation and forfeiture of their assets to the Federal Government. Those held in custody in the ongoing case will face prosecution while we will file for forfeiture of the property, Proxy Night Club, in which the drugs were found.’

It urged all patriotic Nigerians, parents, religious and community leaders, as well as concerned citizens to be vigilant, report such activities, and partner with the NDLEA in combating this threat to national well-being.

Club World Cup champions Chelsea have entered the race to sign highly rated Nigerian winger Sani Suleiman, joining a host of European clubs monitoring the AS Trencin sensation, as reported by Tribalfootball.

Suleiman, 19, has been in outstanding form since returning to his Slovak club after representing Nigeria at the U20 World Cup. His recent assist against Skalica earned Trencin a valuable draw and saw him named in the Nike Liga Team of the Week.

Chelsea’s scouting team have reportedly requested updated information on the young winger, who is attracting growing attention across Europe. Suleiman’s contract runs until June 2026, with Trencin holding a two-year extension option, effectively securing his services until 2028 – a clause that strengthens the club’s hand in any transfer talks.

The Nigerian’s impressive displays have also drawn interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, and Bayer Leverkusen, alongside several Italian clubs making preliminary enquiries.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, Suleiman was recently rated the most complete U21 winger in the world, based on seven key performance metrics, and ranked among the top 200 U20 outfield players globally.

With his meteoric rise and increasing demand, this season could mark Suleiman’s final campaign at Trencin, as Europe’s elite continue to circle one of Africa’s brightest young talents.