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FG arraigns fake agency DG Adeyemi in Court

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Thursday, arraigned the self-acclaimed Director-General of the ‘fake’ Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Matthew Adeniyi Adeyemi, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Adeyemi was arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on a 22-count charge bordering on forgery, false personation as a public servant, and obtaining over N27 billion to start the fake agency and N3.8 billion for personnel costs.

The prosecuting agency, ICPC, alleged in the charge that Adeyemi obtained the N30.8 billion from government coffers by forging a document addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

The prosecution alleged that, on March 8, 2024, in Abuja, the defendant forged a document, to

a letter Reference: SH/COS/209/A/3456 dated 8th March 8, 2024, purportedly signed/ issued by the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, appointing Adeyemi as the Director-General of the ‘fake’ PFIPC, with the intention of causing it to be believed as genuine and occupying government office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex Phase III.

ICPC claimed that the forged document was presented by the defendant as portraying himself as Director-General of the PIFPC in order to obtain government recognition and legitimacy for the purpose of carrying out his fraudulent activities.

Adeyemi was further alleged to have forged a document, captioned, ‘Re: Request for approval of self-accounting status’, addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation for the non-existent agency to operate within the government financial reporting structure.

He was also alleged to have forged documents to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to get a domain name for the agency.

The prosecution accused Adeyemi of gifting N210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an Assistant Chief Technical Officer in the Office of the Secretary General of the Federation (OSFG), ‘to facilitate the allocation of office space,’ without official authorisation.

He was further alleged to have gifted the sum of N300,000 to an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Ogaba Harry, to facilitate the release and handover of two official vehicles, a Prado Jeep and Land Cruiser Jeep, to him (Adeyemi).

ICPC also alleged that on July 29, 2025, the defendant collected he sum of N20 million from the Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, Oyekunle Gbenga, under the false pretence of a ‘project facilitation loan’, in respect of a purported contract valued at N2.8 billion awarded by the ‘fake’ agency for the procurement of furniture, electronics and refurbishment of his (Adeyemi’s) official residence.

According to ICPC, all the alleged offences were carried out between 2024 and 2026.

It added that the offences contravened Sections 364, 366, and 132 of the Penal Code Cap. 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990; Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act and Section 9(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 9(b) of the same Act.

Adeyemi, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him in the open court.

Following his not-guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Fatima Bardi, asked the court for a date for the commencement of trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case against the defendant.

Counsel for the defendant, Ibrahim Angulu SAN, on his part, applied orally to the court to grant the defendant bail, citing Adeyemi’s prolonged detention and health challenge.

According to him, Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and had obtained a health report from the police clinic, where he had been receiving treatment, to show his deteriorating health condition.

Justice Halilu, however, directed the defence counsel to file a written bail application.

He subsequently adjourned the case to November 9 for commencement of trial and possible hearing of the defendant’s bail application.

Kwara: Appointment of Ayedun’s traditional ruler followed due process – Palace

The palace of Ayedun kingdom in Ayedun town, Oke Ero local government area of Kwara state has said that’ll appointment of the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Jide Abiodun Towoju, followed a customary selection process that preceded approval of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

In a statement by the acting Palace secretary of the area, Catechist Wale Abegunde on Thursday, the people said that validity of the appointment process and any subsequent challenge must be evaluated against the applicable law, customary requirements and complete documentary evidence.

The statement also said that the original customary selection process preceded the governor’s approval and appointment, adding that position of the Oba Towoju dynasties is that the governor acted on the process and evidence presented to his administration.

The palace, which cautioned that Ayedun kingdom’s customs must not be rewritten by sensational publications, added that a duly announced appointment must not be condemned without a fair examination of the evidence.

‘Let facts prevail over speculation, evidence over allegations, due process over personal interests, and peace over needless controversy’, the statement said.

The palace, which advised sons and daughters of the area to maintain and sustain existing peace, unity, progress and development of the community, said that sensational reports on the appointment of Oba Towoju as the Obajisun of Ayedun Kingdom, had not presented historical, customary and procedural facts underlying the appointment.

In its presentation of historical facts and customary zoning, the statement said that, ‘Ebiohun held the stool for 18 years from 2008 until his death in 2026; Ile Ala Oke held it for nine years from 1999 until the occupant’s death in 2008; while Ile Ala Odo’s last recorded tenure was 93 years ago, ending with the occupant’s death 60 years ago. These historical circumstances informed the customary zoning arrangement.

‘Following a general meeting of the Ile Ala compound, the stool was zoned to the Ile Ala Odo Royal Branch. Between 10 and 15 July 2026, the two relevant royal dynasties affirmed the selection process, culminating in the unanimous affirmation of all six recognised kingmakers (6/6). This process produced Prince Jide Abiodun Towoju from among the contenders considered eligible under the applicable customary arrangement.

‘The contenders from Ile Ala Oke participated in the relevant meetings. The Palace maintains that eligibility was determined by Ayedun’s established customs and traditions, not individual ambition or subsequent claims by any individual.

‘The issue is not whether individuals may express disagreement, but whether subsequent actions can lawfully and customarily overturn a properly concluded selection process.

‘The Palace’s position is that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq discharged his responsibilities dutifully and objectively, acting on the process and evidence presented to his administration and in accordance with the applicable law and Ayedun’s customs and traditions.

‘The Palace maintains that the governor did not impose a ruler on Ayedun Kingdom. Rather, the government acted upon the selection process submitted for its consideration.

‘Accordingly, the appointment of HRM Oba Jide Abiodun Towoju, Awoseyin Ademorin Orifemiloye I, as the Obajisun of Ayedun Kingdom, deserves respect.

‘Any petitioner retains the right to pursue a lawful challenge before the competent authority or court. Equally, any challenge must be assessed against the full chronology, relevant customary requirements and admissible evidence, rather than sensational commentary or incomplete accounts.

‘We, therefore, call on all sons and daughters of Ayedun, traditional leaders, political stakeholders and members of the public to exercise restraint, respect lawful institutions and protect the peace and dignity of our kingdom.’

FEC okays N45.08b biosecurity system for five airports

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) moved yesterday to detect and contain infectious diseases from entering the Nigeria through the airports.

It approved a N45 080800000 national biosecurity and response system at five international airports to strengthen capacity.

The project approved under a 20-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with Biohealth Consortium are billed for Lagos Abuja Kano Port Harcourt and Enugu international airports.

Coordinating Minister of Health/Social Welfare Prof Muhammad Ali Pate dropped the hint yesterday while briefing State House reporters after the FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Pate said the approval came amid heightened concern over cross-border disease threats and efforts to prevent community transmission following the detection of an Ebola case in Nigeria.

According to him the patient recovered after receiving treatment in the country and had returned to her home country while identified contacts remained under quarantine and monitoring.

The minister said the airport biosecurity project which had been in the pipeline for two years would strengthen early warning detection and response through technology and improved coordination among relevant agencies.

He said more than 18 million passengers pass through Nigeria’s airports annually underscoring the importance of stronger surveillance at entry points.

The system will include aircraft wastewater surveillance air and surface sampling units and cargo and baggage bio-surveillance technologies to detect pathogens that might otherwise enter unnoticed.

‘This is not Ebola. It is all pathogens of huge public health threats’ Pate said.

The project will also establish a national surveillance operations centre to serve as a central command and control facility for real-time surveillance data integration incident monitoring and response coordination.

Laboratory facilities for field diagnostics will be deployed at entry points alongside infrastructure to facilitate information sharing and cooperation among agencies.

Pate listed participating agencies to include: the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Port Health Services Nigeria Customs Service Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

He said the five airports were selected for the initial deployment based on passenger traffic exposure to biosecurity risks and geographical spread.

Explaining the concession structure the minister said the private partner would design finance build deploy operate and maintain the system throughout the concession period.

The Federal Government he added would provide policy institutional and regulatory support as well as oversight to ensure that national objectives were met.

At the expiration of the concession the system and its assets will revert to federal ownership under the terms of the agreement reviewed and endorsed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

Pate said the initiative would improve decision-making inter-agency coordination and compliance with international health regulations while expanding the technologies available to agencies operating at entry points.

Stressing that preventing outbreaks was essential to both public health and economic stability the minister said: ‘Improving biosecurity at the points of entry particularly at the airports is so critical to our health security not only for public health but also the economic security because when pathogens come and disrupt economic activities also suffer.’ he said.

Responding to a question on financial support for people quarantined following contact with the Ebola patient Pate said the measure was intended to encourage compliance and prevent community transmission.

He explained that contacts who depended on daily earnings could face pressure to leave quarantine to provide for their families potentially exposing others if they developed the infection.

‘They have a livelihood and you ask them to stay in quarantine. They have a family’ he said.

The minister described the support as a targeted containment measure stressing that it would not automatically apply in the event of widespread community transmission.

‘Our goal is to contain it. We don’t want to be in a situation whereby we have community transmission’ he said.

Pate said contacts were identified and placed under quarantine within hours of confirmation of the case. Some initially stayed in home isolation before being transferred to designated facilities for closer monitoring.

He said the contacts would remain under observation for 21 days to establish whether they had contracted the virus.

‘We are not taking any chances. We may succeed or there may be an unfortunate one or two cases that may be affected. But if that is the case we’ll rapidly get on top of it’ he said.

According to the minister there was no positive Ebola case within Nigeria’s territory at the time of the briefing following the recovery and departure of the patient.

He however said continued vigilance was necessary to prevent fresh cases from entering the country and ensure a swift response to any infection detected among those under observation.

‘We are a large country and we don’t want to have Ebola circulating or other pathogens that may have threat to our population’ Pate said.

St. George’s University seeks better breast cancer screening in Africa

St. George’s University has called for a risk-informed equitable approach to breast cancer screening in Africa.

In a statement it says across Africa breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s GLOBACAN 2024 estimates published in 2026 Africa recorded 225643 new breast cancer cases and an estimated 100070 deaths in 2024. These figures underscore the importance of raising awareness recognising symptoms early and improving access to timely diagnosis and treatment.

The median age of diagnosis among African women with breast cancer varies across countries and populations. A 2025 study of women diagnosed with breast cancer across five sub-Saharan African countries found that 21.9 per cent of participants were diagnosed before age 40.

These findings underscore the importance of breast awareness timely symptom evaluation clinical examination and individual risk assessment.

The World Health Organisation(WHO) recommends early diagnosis and timely evaluation of women with breast cancer symptoms while screening recommendations should consider individual risk and available resources. ‘Breast cancer risk does not suddenly begin at a particular birthday and two women of the same age may have very different risk profiles’ said Dr. Tonia Frame the Assistant Professor and Director Global Health Unit Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at St. George’s University Grenada West Indies.

‘Women should be encouraged to become familiar with the usual appearance and feel of their breasts and to seek prompt clinical evaluation for unexplained breast changes. In Africa where breast cancer often presents at a comparatively younger age and access to high-quality imaging is uneven discussions about early detection should extend beyond age alone. Family history inherited susceptibility previous breast findings and other recognized risk factors can help determine whether a woman may benefit from earlier assessment specialist referral or additional imaging.’

Why individual risk matters is that a risk-informed approach should consider several factors such as family history genetic factors breast density and previous breats findings.

Access to breast assessment imaging and specialist interpretation remains highly unequal across sub-Saharan Africa. A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis found that only 13% of women had ever undergone a clinical breast examination with uptake varying according to education household wealth health insurance coverage and contact with healthcare services. The region also faces significant gaps in diagnostic capacity.

According to the WHO Regional Office for Africa limited diagnostic infrastructure and shortages of specialized healthcare personnel contribute to late diagnosis and poor outcomes. These challenges reinforce the need to expand access to breast assessment diagnostic imaging pathology services and trained specialists particularly in underserved communities.

Addressing these inequalities requires more than awareness campaigns. Priorities include strengthening clinical breast examination and referral pathways training frontline health workers expanding access to diagnostic imaging and pathology ensuring timely follow-up after abnormal findings and monitoring outcomes across socioeconomic and geographic groups.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being evaluated as a potential support for breast cancer detection in settings where imaging capacity and specialist availability are limited. Depending on the technology and clinical context AI may assist with triage image interpretation workflow prioritization or risk estimation. Its clinical value depends on appropriate validation reliable referral pathways diagnostic confirmation quality assurance and ongoing monitoring for unequal performance across population groups.

‘Integrating community health workers portable AI technology and digital referral pathways within primary health care could potentially help reach women who face geographic financial or health-system barriers’ said Dr. Tonia Frame. ‘The most important feature is not the algorithm alone but the complete pathway linking awareness initial assessment referral diagnostic confirmation and treatment. AI output is not a diagnosis. It must be interpreted alongside the patient’s clinical history risk factors examination findings and appropriate diagnostic imaging.’

For women a more personalized approach does not mean performing more tests in every case. It means identifying those who may benefit from earlier more frequent or different forms of assessment while avoiding unnecessary imaging and procedures among women unlikely to benefit.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to advocate for equitable care pathways from risk assessment and early detection to diagnosis and timely treatment. Across Africa a key challenge is ensuring every woman with a concerning symptom or abnormal finding receives appropriate assessment diagnostic confirmation and treatment without avoidable delays.

Preparing future physicians for evolving healthcare needs is central to medical and public health education at St. George’s University School of Medicine. Through a diverse international learning environment and clinical exposure students develop the medical knowledge clinical skills and professional competencies needed to care for diverse patient populations.

Blood test errors: 4 warning signs Nigerians should not ignore

Many Nigerians visit private diagnostic centres daily hoping to understand what is wrong with their health. A routine check-up, malaria screen, lipid profile, or hormonal panel should provide peace of mind and guide your doctor’s prescription.

However, medical testing is not immune to human or mechanical failure. A faulty reading can lead to buying costly medications you do not need, or worse, leaving a life-threatening illness untreated.

In this article, Tribune Online examines the critical red flags that point toward an erroneous blood test result, the underlying reasons these mistakes happen, and the exact steps you should take to protect your health.

The numbers directly contradict how you physically feel

A blood test does not exist in isolation; it must correspond with your clinical presentation. When a report indicates that your blood parameters are at life-threatening levels, yet you walked into the laboratory feeling completely energetic, there is an immediate reason to pause.

Clinical research published by the World Health Organization emphasizes that laboratory findings must always correlate with clinical symptoms before radical treatment commences. A massive discrepancy often points to pre-analytical errors, such as sample contamination or delayed processing that artificially altered the cellular markers.

When you notice a wild difference between your bodily strength and an alarming lab sheet, do not panic. Call your consulting doctor immediately to review your actual physical symptoms before swallowing any heavy emergency drugs.

Patient’s basic details and demographic information are wrong

Quality control starts right at the reception desk and phlebotomy chair. If your printed result sheet misspells your name, lists the wrong age, or interchanges your biological sex, your specimen may have been swapped with someone else’s.

A study published in the Journal of Medical Laboratory Science notes that sample mix-ups remain a leading cause of pre-analytical laboratory errors across diagnostic facilities. Reference ranges for parameters like haemoglobin, uric acid, and hormones vary significantly depending on age and sex, meaning an administrative mix-up instantly invalidates the interpretation.

The moment you spot an incorrect date of birth or a typo in your identity information, flag it with the lab supervisor. Insist on checking the barcode or label on the primary collection tube to ensure you were not handed another patient’s medical file.

Results drastically shift without any lifestyle or medical explanation

The human body changes gradually, and established baseline values do not swing wildly overnight without an acute medical event. If a previous test done two weeks prior showed normal kidney function or steady blood sugar, and a repeat test shows end-stage failure without any sudden illness, suspicion is warranted.

According to technical bulletins from the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), diagnostic centres must maintain strict calibration of their analyzers to avoid drift and baseline distortion. Uncalibrated photometers or depleted test reagents can easily produce erratic values that look catastrophic on paper.

Whenever you notice an unexplainable, radical spike or drop in chronic monitoring tests like lipid profiles, PSA, or thyroid hormones, do not jump to worst-case conclusions. Treat the result as an outlier and request a fresh draw before making any drastic changes to your regimen.

The laboratory failed to provide or follow fasting instructions

Certain blood investigations require strict preparation, such as an overnight fast of 8 to 12 hours for fasting blood glucose and lipid panels. If the phlebotomist collected your blood immediately after you ate without noting your non-fasting status, the resulting figures will be clinically misleading.

Reports from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry confirm that postprandial lipemia and transient glucose elevation skew tests, often mimicking chronic diabetes or severe dyslipidemia. A reliable diagnostic centre will always cross-check your last mealtime before drawing blood for sensitive metabolic panels.

If a laboratory technician dismisses your recent meal as irrelevant for a test that standard medical science requires you to fast for, consider the output compromised. Always disclose your exact nutritional intake to your physician so they can interpret the numbers within proper context.

What you should do step-by-step if you suspect an error

Do not alter your prescription: Never stop taking your regular medication or start aggressive new therapies purely on the strength of a suspicious report.

Consult your physician: Present the result directly to your doctor, highlighting why the values seem improbable based on your symptoms and preparation.

Request a repeat test: Have the test redone at an accredited, independent tertiary hospital or an internationally certified diagnostic center to verify the baseline.

Demand an internal audit: Return to the original private laboratory, report the discrepancy politely to the quality assurance manager, and ask them to verify their control logs for that testing batch.

LIST: Road closures near Manila North Cemetery Friday, Oct. 30

Several roads near or leading to Manila North Cemetery in Santa Cruz, Manila will be closed starting Friday, Oct. 30, ahead of the observance of All Souls’ Day and Saints’ Day.

In an advisory, the Manila Public Information Office (MPIO) said the closures would take effect at midnight on Oct. 30 and remain in place until 11:59 a.m. on Nov. 1.

‘Pinapayuhan ang mga motorista na planuhin ang kanilang biyahe at dumaan sa mga alternatibong ruta upang maiwasan ang abala,’ the MPIO said.

(Motorists are advised to plan their trips and take alternative routes to avoid inconvenience.)

The following roads will be closed during the specified period:

Road closures:

Blumentritt Street, from A. Bonifacio Avenue to Aurora Boulevard

Dimasalang Street to Retiro Street, from Retiro Street to Calavite Street

Maceda Street, from Makiling Street to Dimasalang Street

Northbound lane of Dimasalang Bridge

Aurora Boulevard corner Leonor Rivera Street

Blumentritt Road corner Leonor Rivera Street

Alternative routes:

From Dimasalang Road, vehicles heading toward Blumentritt Road shall turn right onto Simoun Street.

From Quezon City, via A. Bonifacio Avenue, vehicles shall turn left onto Labo Street.

From Maceda Street, vehicles heading toward Dimasalang Street or Retiro Street shall turn right onto Simoun Street.

From Aurora Boulevard, vehicles heading toward Dimasalang Street shall turn right onto Leonor Rivera Street.

From Blumentritt Road, vehicles heading toward Aurora Boulevard shall turn right onto Leonor Rivera Street.

Parking areas

P. Guevarra Street, from Blumentritt Road to Aurora Boulevard

Felix Huertas Street, from Blumentritt Road to Aurora Boulevard

Oroquieta Street, from Blumentritt Road to Aurora Boulevard

Kano task force arrests suspected gang leader in Rivers

Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has arrested a suspected gang leader, Ishaq Lawan Ibrahim, popularly known as ‘Malam Keya’, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over alleged involvement in violent gang clashes in Kano.

Ibrahim, 27, is from Yelwa in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State and is accused of financing criminal gangs linked to attacks that have claimed lives and heightened fear among residents of Dala and neighbouring communities.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the task force said the suspect allegedly fled Kano following intensified security operations targeting criminal gangs in several communities affected by the violence.

The affected areas include Jakara, Madigawa, Yalwa, Sanka, Kul Kul, Dogon Nama, Kuka Bulukiya, Dala, Shatsari and Dandalin Turawa.

According to the statement, operatives tracked Ibrahim to Port Harcourt following intelligence reports and arrested him in an operation led by the task force’s Head of Operations, CSP Bashir Gwadabe.

The suspect has been returned to Kano and is being held for further investigation.

Confirming the arrest, the task force chairman, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, said the operation demonstrated the government’s resolve to pursue individuals suspected of financing criminal activities, irrespective of their location.

‘Let me assure you that those who bankroll violence should know that no distance, and no hiding place, will protect them. This arrest is only the beginning. We will not rest until peace is fully restored,’ he said.

The task force said Ibrahim would be prosecuted after investigations are concluded, adding that the case would be handled in accordance with the law and due process.

It also reiterated its commitment to dismantling criminal gangs, identifying their alleged sponsors and disrupting drug supply networks believed to contribute to insecurity in the state.

The agency urged residents, community and religious leaders, parents and young people to support efforts to curb drug abuse and gang violence by reporting suspicious activities to the nearest security outpost.

It further called on parents to monitor their children and encouraged residents to remain vigilant against attempts by criminal groups to recruit young people into violent activities.

The task force acknowledged the support of the Kano and Rivers state police commands and other law enforcement agencies in securing the arrest.

DA eyes tighter pork import rules after corn quota hike

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is moving to tighten pork import rules after the government raised the country’s corn import quota, as it seeks to bring down livestock production costs and protect local hog raisers from declining farm-gate prices.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the department was pursuing higher tariffs on imported pork and a temporary suspension of import clearances for selected pork cuts to further ease the pressure on the livestock industry.

Both the planned pork import controls and higher corn import quota are part of the DA’s efforts to address problems hounding the livestock industry, particularly high input costs and weak farmgate prices, Tiu Laurel said.

Corn is a major ingredient in livestock and poultry feeds, so any increase in its prices could eventually translate to higher meat prices.

‘Ensuring a sufficient supply of low-priced corn is essential to supporting animal feed production, keeping production costs of meat affordable and protecting the country’s food security,’ he said in a statement.

‘We need to make sure our livestock and poultry industries have access to the feed ingredients they need without placing additional pressure on consumers,’ he added.

On Oct. 26, President Marcos signed Executive Order No. 129 increasing the minimum access volume (MAV) for corn by 280,000 metric tons (MT), from 220,000 MT to 500,000 MT.

Projected deficit

The higher quota is intended to address a projected yellow corn deficit of 1.42 million MT from March through December this year, amid rising agricultural input costs and production constraints.

Alongside the corn quota adjustment, the DA is proposing to restore pork import tariffs to 30 percent for shipments within the MAV and 40 percent for those outside the quota.

These would replace the reduced rates of 15 percent and 25 percent, respectively, which were extended through 2028 under EO 62.

Tiu Laurel also plans to suspend the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances for selected pork cuts once legally permitted, potentially from mid-November through January 2027.

Mindanao on track to build more clean energy sources

Mindanao is on track to achieve a balance between renewable energy (RE) and ‘dirty’ and expensive fossil fuels – mostly coal – by 2030, with the Department of Energy (DOE) announcing the potential delivery of at least 1,000 megawatts (MW) of clean energy within the next three years.

Speaking during the 4th Mindanao Clean Energy Forum here last week, Energy Assistant Secretary Sabine Marie Romero acknowledged Mindanao’s ‘strong renewable energy foundation,’ citing the large combined capacity of state-owned hydroelectric power plants along the Agus and Pulangi rivers, which generate about 1,000 MW.

‘Mindanao is where RE can thrive,’ Romero said, noting that the region can lead the way for a clean energy future for the country.

Under the country’s nationally determined contribution to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, Mindanao had set a target of making RE constitute half of the region’s energy mix by 2030, at par with fossil fuels, mainly coal.

The Mindanao target is more ambitious than the national goal of getting RE at 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

According to a study by the multistakeholder Mindanao Renewable Energy Acceleration and Coordination Hub, the region requires 1,400 MW of additional installed RE capacity to achieve the 50:50 goal by 2030.

Romero noted that as of July this year, the DOE had recorded 25 committed RE projects that have a total potential capacity of 1,026 MW, expected to be delivered between 2026 and 2029. Of these, the bulk-or some 675.96 MW-are solar capacities.

She said the DOE forecast RE to reach 56 percent of Mindanao’s energy mix by 2030 ‘if all committed and green energy auction projects come online as scheduled.’

Attracting investments

Based on DOE data, RE share in Mindanao’s total installed energy capacity is 32.5 percent in 2025, while 35 percent in gross power generation, 20 percent coming from hydro.

According to Romero, the agency had put in place policies and programs to further attract RE investments in the country, such as easing foreign ownership limit, preferential dispatch of all RE resources in the wholesale electricity spot market, and coming up with a framework for the development of offshore wind resources.

Throughout the country, the DOE set a 10-year green energy auction plan that will offer a cumulative total of 25 gigawatts (GW) of RE capacity that will deliver power from 2027 to 2035.

For Mindanao, Romero cited the 20 GW integrated renewable energy and energy storage system, 20 MW roof-mounted solar, and 175 MW run-of-river hydro, which will be offered in upcoming green energy auctions.

She emphasized that there is a need to ensure that the energy is ‘reliable, affordable and sustainable’ so that it can power Mindanao’s industrialization, agribusiness expansion, urbanization and the rise of micro, small and medium enterprises.

‘Every megawatt we build must answer’ the needs of the people, she said, adding the need for transmission and distribution assets in the region to be ready to handle the increased generation capacity.

Cheap option

Ben Cyrus Ellorin, project director of Consumers for Renewable Energy Action in Mindanao, welcomed the ‘DOE buy-in’ of the push to accelerate the building of RE capacities in Mindanao and throughout the country.

Ellorin noted that Mindanao became dependent on coal-fed capacities in 2016, when the aging Agus and Pulangi plants could no longer cater to the region’s expanding needs, prompting distribution utilities to forge long-term supply contracts with coal-fired plants that sidelined RE capacities.

The shift to RE acquired a backdrop of urgency as fossil fuel prices had steadily climbed, especially due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, raising electricity rates in the region, he added.

‘Renewable energy is the cheapest option today,’ said energy planner Alberto Dalusung III, energy transition adviser of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.

Dalusung said that moving forward, energy planning in the region must be sensitive to the needs of industries that support massive job creation, citing, for one, the planned expansion of a steel-making plant in Davao.

Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, Mindanao Development Authority deputy executive director, emphasized the need for reliable and affordable energy to further drive Mindanao’s ‘phenomenal growth,’ inviting RE investors to locate on the island to help sustain its development

Dalusung noted that several path-breaking efforts for RE were started in Mindanao, such as the first solar power farm and a hydropower plant designed to run in tandem with a solar capacity, all in Misamis Oriental, and a biomass power facility in Maguindanao del Norte.

Tinubu to present 2027 budget before year end

President Bola Tinubu is expected to present the 2027 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly before the end of 2026.

The Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this on Wednesday when she briefed State House correspondents on some of the outcomes of the Federal Executive Council meeting.

Uzoka-Anite said the administration is already assembling the proposal, which President Tinubu is expected to present to lawmakers before December 31.

She also said that the FEC had officially endorsed the National Development Plan 2026-2030 alongside new legal frameworks designed to tackle child stunting and boost national food security.

Why FG is borrowing $21.7bn loan

Earlier, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, clarified that the $21.7 billion borrowing proposal transmitted to the National Assembly by President Tinubu is an investment in assets and not for spending.

Oyedele explained that the proposed $21.7 billion plan represented a multi-year investment plan spanning roughly five years rather than an immediate drawdown.

He disclosed that $10.6 billion of the money was slated for critical transport links, including the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and the Kano-Kaduna Metro Rail.

Oyedele said that over $7.9 billion of the loan would be sourced from multilateral and bilateral development partners (led by $5 billion from the World Bank) at an average interest rate of just 2.1 per cent.

The minister said the government was prioritising favourable financing terms to reduce borrowing costs and ensure that the projects delivered lasting economic benefits.

Cash transfer: 10m households receive over N600bn

The minister also disclosed that more than 10 million households had received over N600 billion in cash transfers, while the Nigerian Education Loan Fund had disbursed N372.6 billion to more than 1.5 million students.

He added that more than 800,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises had benefited from subsidised loans at single-digit interest rates.