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Vice President Kashim Shettima, has said that Nigeria would need over $23 billion to expand energy access and connect millions of Nigerians who are still living in energy poverty.

Shettima, who spoke in Abuja on Tuesday during the flag-off of the Nigeria Renewable Energy Innovation Forum (NREIF) 2025, organised by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Power, said Nigeria’s energy transition presents an investment opportunity of over $410bn between now and 2060.

Tribune Online reports that NREIF 2025 is an initiative designed to foster collaboration among policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs and innovators in the country’s clean energy sector.

He said, ‘This is an invitation to establish Nigeria as the hub for renewable energy manufacturing in Africa. Nigeria’s energy transition presents an investment opportunity of over $410 billion between now and 2060. Of this, more than $23 billion is required to expand energy access and connect the millions of Nigerians who still live in energy poverty.

‘But beyond access lies our grander ambition, which is to deliver a power system capable of 277 gigawatts of total installed capacity by 2060. This ambition demands more than investment. It demands innovation, local capacity and commitment.’

According to the vice president, Nigeria’s path to achieving a sustainable energy future must be driven not only by ambitious policies but also by the ability to transform ideas into practical solutions that guarantee availability, affordability and sustainability for every Nigerian. He assured investors, development partners and other stakeholders at the forum of President Tinubu’s commitment to consolidating policy foundations that would lead to a renewable energy market that is self-sustaining.

‘We are enhancing incentives for local manufacturing, streamlining regulatory frameworks and deepening collaboration with state governments, investors and development partners to de-risk private capital and accelerate the emergence of a self-sustaining renewable energy market,’ Shettima added.

The vice president also stated that over $400 million in new investment commitments had been mobilised into Nigeria’s renewable energy manufacturing value chain through engagements facilitated by the forum saying the investments would fund the establishment of solar panels, smart meters, battery storage and recycling facilities which will create over 1,500 direct jobs across multiple states.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, earlier in his remarks, described NREIF as a new chapter in Nigeria’s energy transformation pathway which showed the role of innovative partnership in targeting significant amount of local solar energy production capacity.

The minister described the Integrated National Electricity Policy as a comprehensive sector-wide policy framework aimed at strengthening gains recorded in the sector.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the NREIF is a forum that connects policy and vision with research efforts as well as accelerate Nigeria’s aspirations to developing a sustainable green energy ecosystem adding that Africa cannot be left behind in the global energy transition.

Aliyu described NREIF as Nigeria’s bold and energetic step towards the actualisation of the country’s goals in global energy transition.

Former lawmaker who once represented Bayelsa East in the National Assembly, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ben Bruce, has declared that the landmark achievements of the present Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration informed his decision to abandon the erstwhile ruling party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Director-General of Nigerian Television Authority from 1999 to 2003, under the PDP led Olusegun Obasanjo administration declared on his X handle adding that Nigeria has witnessed phenomenal growth in all sectors under the present administration.

His post reads:’ I have known President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu since 1998. I know the man’s mind, his courage, and his conviction. He is not driven by applause, he is driven by results. And today, I can boldly say to you that he is on the right track.

‘For the first time in our nation’s history, we have a President who truly understands finance, who sees the economy not as a political slogan, but as a living organism that must be disciplined, deregulated, and allowed to breathe.

‘The painful reforms we face today are the very foundation of tomorrow’s prosperity. We are moving into a free-market economy, one that rewards hard work and innovation instead of dependency and distortion.

‘Look around you: under this administration, the appointment of the National Security Adviser has redefined our national safety architecture. Insecurity is being quietly and systematically dismantled. The Central Bank, now professionally steered, is stabilizing the economy, rebuilding confidence, and restoring the dignity of the naira.

‘Our foreign policy is again respected. Our fuel supply is deregulated. We will never again live through the humiliation of fuel scarcity. The numbers are beginning to speak, investments are returning, and the world is watching Nigeria rise again.

‘And beyond economics, Bola Tinubu’s infrastructural drive is unprecedented; from massive road networks to modernized ports, airports and housing schemes springing up across the nation. These developments are not just concrete and steel; they are the arteries through which growth and opportunity now flow.

‘I know it is still a difficult season for many families. But as history teaches, reform is never painless. Yet, it is in these moments of sacrifice that nations are reborn.

‘That is why today, I am joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), not for politics, but for progress. Because I believe that Bola Tinubu’s leadership, guided by courage and intellect, will deliver the Nigeria we have all dreamed of.

‘Mark my words: in the full term of eight years, Nigeria will witness phenomenal growth. I choose to stand with that vision. I choose to stand with reform. I choose to stand with the future.

‘Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemate, Adewale Faith, simply known as Faith, was disqualified from the recently concluded reality TV show for his inability to control his anger in public after an altercation with fellow housemate, Sultana. In a viral video of the incident, he was seen engaging in physical violence, forcefully dragging a bucket from Sultana until she fell.

The development, which came just three days before the grand finale on Sunday, led to Faith’s disqualification despite being tipped as one of the favourites to win the show. Faith’s disqualification further emphasised the importance of anger management.

There is no doubt that everyone gets angry from time to time, but the way it is expressed, especially in public, can leave a lasting impression.

Outbursts can damage relationships, harm reputations, or even escalate situations unnecessarily. That is why learning how to control anger in public is an important skill for maintaining self-respect and earning the respect of others.

Staying calm when emotions run high does not mean suppressing feelings; rather, it means responding thoughtfully and managing reactions constructively.

In this article, Tribune Online takes a look at five ways to control anger in public without losing your cool.

1. Take deep breaths

Breathing deeply helps slow down the body’s stress response. When anger rises, your heartbeat and blood pressure increase, making you feel ready to explode. A few controlled breaths calm your nervous system and give you a moment to think before reacting.

Try inhaling slowly through your nose, holding for a few seconds, and exhaling through your mouth. This simple practice can quickly help you regain control when tensions rise in public.

2. Walk away if possible

This is another way to control your anger in public. If a situation feels overwhelming, stepping away can prevent things from escalating. A short break creates space between your emotions and the trigger, making it easier to respond calmly later.

Walking away is not weakness, but it’s wisdom instead. Whether it’s moving to another room, stepping outside, or even counting to ten silently, this pause allows your mind to reset.

3. Think before you speak

When emotions are high, words often come out sharper than intended. Taking a brief moment to process your thoughts prevents saying something you may regret.

Instead of reacting instantly, pause and consider the consequences of your words. This short delay can make the difference between resolving a conflict and creating a bigger one.

4. Focus on solutions

Staying angry at the problem often fuels more frustration. Shifting your energy to finding solutions helps reduce negative emotions and creates a sense of control.

For example, instead of shouting about a mistake, suggest ways it can be fixed. This approach makes you look composed and proactive, even under pressure.

5. Practise relaxation techniques

Techniques such as repeating calming words, visualising a peaceful scene, or gently stretching your muscles can reduce tension in the heat of the moment. These strategies help your body counter the physical signs of anger. The more often you practise relaxation methods, the easier they become to use when anger strikes.

Prompt engineering is actually a new career path that emerged with artificial intelligence. As a prompt engineer, you can work in various industries. You must be able to develop concise and effective prompts by exploring different techniques that bring the outputs you need.

Prompt engineers are experts. They create text-based prompts or cues understood by generative AI tools and large language models. This is unlike computer engineers who use code.

These AI prompt engineers are the intermediaries between machine learning models and humans who question them. As mentioned earlier, they write text-based cues, input them into the backend of AI tools to enable them to carry out tasks (with the proper and accurate tone) such as creating emails, essay writing, and even generating blog posts.

All the aforementioned are necessary because artificial intelligence lacks intuition. That’s why they need human intelligence to understand the human language to be effective.

Below are the steps that can help you become a prompt engineer:

1. Reflect on your goals

You need to reflect on your goals. Be outrightly sure this is what you want to do. Every decision or action you take will help you become a successful prompt engineer, that is, if you’re focused. Your goal could be to become a professional who develops AI language model technology, use it to grow your business, or just an engineer working for an organisation.

2. You need certification

It is your certification that will serve as proof that you have what it takes and that you’re employable. As someone aspiring for a prompt engineer role, a degree in data science, engineering, computer science, or other related fields can help. If you don’t, a certification in prompt engineering is necessary.

3. Build relevant skills

Prompt engineering is a field that requires diverse abilities. You need to understand human psychology, be proficient in technology, and be creative. Understanding the different language models, such as Chat GPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini, is key.

You must also be a good writer in such a way that you use prompts clear to the language model, natural to the user, and also in a conversational tone. As an AI engineer, you should also be able to provide contextual information in the prompt to yield the desired result.

4. Gain experience

What can help you to sharpen your skills is to apply what you’ve learnt before getting employment. Familiarity with cues or how they work is the easiest way to get experience. You can volunteer to work for someone, design your own projects, or practice various artificial intelligence language models.

5. Apply for jobs

After trying to gain experience, the next thing for you is to start applying for jobs. Your resume should reflect your experience, skills, and credentials. Have a portfolio that would showcase all the work you’ve done. Have a LinkedIn profile and ensure you update it all the time. Finally, your cover letter should be structured in accordance with what you’re applying for.

Meta glasses (Meta Ray-Ban) are a product of a big tech company called Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of some popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Threads, and WhatsApp. The first generation of these AI glasses was publicly announced on 20 September 2020. It was a partnership between Meta, Ray-Ban, and EssilorLuxottica. The second generation was made public on 17 October 2023, and it is a major upgrade compared to the previous one in terms of camera, microphone quality, and water resistance.

The third generation (which was announced on 20 June 2025) is the Meta Ray-Ban Display that comes with a neural wristband and artificial intelligence.

The artificial intelligence-powered device, Meta Ray-Bans Display, is a step towards the future, whereby people would spend less time looking at their phone screens.

Here are facts about Meta AI glasses:

1. It can hear like humans

The Meta Ray-Ban glasses can actually hear and see as humans. It can give you visual feedback through its tiny display screen at the right corner of the right lens.

2. Same features as smartphones

It has features you would find in a phone. You can send messages, watch videos, make video calls, and take pictures. It has a map that automatically appears on it and helps you navigate your location.

3. It can transcribe

Meta glasses can automatically transcribe your conversation with someone, which you would see and read yourself through the lens.

4. You can query it

If you want clarification on anything, you can question the Meta AI assistant, and it will respond by displaying all the information you need to know with additional audio answers.

5. It protects privacy

As the user, it is only you who can see the display screen. This is to protect your privacy and, of course, your content. You can turn the screen off when you’re not using it.

6. Clear speaker

Even if you’re in a noisy place, the glasses can make you hear clearly. Having a conversation without the disruption of the background noise is with the help of the open-ear speaker.

7. Power charger

Meta smart glasses can last up to eight hours, and their charging case gives an additional 48 hours of power.

Key Phrase: Meta glasses.

Meta Description: Meta glasses are the step towards the future whereby people would spend less time looking at their phone screen.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has commenced the issuance of employment letters to the 5,000 contract teachers earlier engaged by the immediate past administration in the state, thereby officially absorbing them as permanent staff.

It was learnt that the teachers, who upon their engagement by the Godwin Obaseki administration had been on a monthly stipend of ?65,000, were formally handed their appointment letters during a ceremony held at Government House on Wednesday – a landmark move hailed as historic in Nigeria’s education sector.

Governor Okpebholo, who personally oversaw the distribution of the letters, emphasised the significance of the occasion and the government’s commitment to valuing its educators.

The Governor said: ‘Teachers, I am happy to see you. I wanted it this way because I had asked several times if you had received your letters.

‘The answer was no. So, I decided to supervise the process myself. As you collect your appointment letters today, you will also receive transport fare because I know many of you have travelled long distances.’

He further acknowledged the vital role teachers play in shaping the future of Edo State, underscoring the administration’s dedication to improving the welfare of educators.

He noted: ‘You are very important to us. Your reward is no longer in heaven; it is here, under our watch.’

Addressing the teachers earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, expressed deep appreciation for their perseverance over the past three years despite the challenges of being on contract.

Dr Iyamu said: ‘You have been suffering for years, yet you have stayed committed to educating our children, waking up at night to prepare lesson notes.

‘Beautiful schools without teachers are useless. Today, an angel has come – a leader who thinks about your welfare day and night.’

He also highlighted the achievements of Okpebholo’s administration within the education sector, noting the construction of over 68 schools within one year, aimed at benefiting children from all walks of life.

He said: ‘He met Ambrose Alli University with a ?41 million subvention and increased it to ?500 million. Right now, a 1,500-capacity lecture theatre and a 600-capacity hostel are under construction.’

Dr Iyamu added that the EDU-Rescue Programme was launched to give children from poor backgrounds access to quality education.

Remember when you needed a Wall Street address, an Ivy-League network, and a seven-figure deposit just to trade house money? That model is crumbling. A new wave of prop trading firms is writing a different story-one where a $79 fee and a proven strategy can unlock $200,000 of live capital in under 15 minutes. The catalyst is instant funding, a plug-and-play model that skips the traditional two-phase evaluation and hands traders a live account on day one. Google Trends shows that searches for ‘instant funding prop firm’ have quadrupled since 2022, while industry blog mentions are up 280 % year-over-year.

Below, we break down the mechanics, separate hype from hard facts, and show you how to choose a program that actually pays out.

What Is a Prop Firm In 2025?

A prop trading firm (prop firm) stakes its own capital on traders who trade selected asset classes-Forex, indices, gold, crypto CFDs-and then splits the profit. The trader risks little or none of her own money; the firm risks its balance sheet in exchange for a share of gains.

The twist today is speed. Classic prop models (Topstep, FTMO) force applicants through 30- to 60-day ‘evaluations’. Instant-funded shops flip the script: pay a one-time licence, sign a risk disclosure, and you’re live the same afternoon.

How does instant Funding Actually Work?

Choose account size ($1k-$50k).

Pay a refundable or non-refundable license fee (HTrader starts at $39).

Receive MetaTrader 5 credentials within minutes.

Trade under pre-set draw-down rules (usually 5 % daily, 10 % total).

Request the first payout after 14-30 days, depending on the firm.

Because the firm forgoes a demo phase, risk controls are stricter: lot-size caps, news-trading blackout windows, and EAs often require approval. Break the rules and you lose the account-but you cannot lose personal assets, a key selling point versus traditional margin accounts.

A Quick Comparison: Instant vs. Evaluation vs. Broker Leverage

Metric Instant-Funding Prop Firm Two-Phase Eval Regulated Retail Broker

Skin in the trader’s game Licence fee Zero NO Monthly subscription Own deposit

Time to first live trade 15 min – 24 h 30-60 days Instant

Max leverage (effective) Up to 1:50 1:100 1:30 (ESMA)

Loss accountability Firm Firm Trader deposit

Typical profit split 75-90 % 75-90 % 100 % minus spread

Sources: Broker fee schedules 2025; author’s composite of 12 prop-firm TandCs.

Due Diligence Checklist – 7 Filters That Separate Scams From Serious Players

Payout receipts

Find proof of traders receiving payouts without any issues through various social handles.

Clear rules

Clear explanation of all rules with nothing hidden.

Technology stack

Do they have the industry-leading platforms along with stable technology and systems, ensuring traders have the best environment?

Community sentiment

Scan X, FPA, and Reddit new queues for recent withdrawal issues (= 90 days).

EEAT signals

About-Us page with real names, LinkedIn profiles, physical address, and media mentions (Benzinga, Finance Magnates).

Case Study – HMarkets Under The Microscope

Corporate snapshot

Parent: HMarkets Ltd (Spain), introducer arm registered with the CNMV under number 4512.

Execution venue: Key Way Markets Ltd, CySEC licence 292/16.

Capital partner: Santo Domingo-based quant fund providing A-book liquidity.

Programme tiers (June 2025)

Instant-Funding accounts: $5k, $10k, $25k, $50k, $100k, $200k.

Fee range: pound 89 – pound 1,099 (one-time, 80 % refundable after first pound 5k profit).

Split: 80 % to trader from day one; rises to 90 % once cumulative payouts top pound 25k.

Draw-down: 5 % daily, 10 % total, based on balance (not equity) – friendlier for swing traders.

First payout window: 14 calendar days; thereafter, weekly.

Scaling: +25 % capital every 10 % net gain, max $2 million.

Payout proof

Publicly posted bank wires: 1,847 withdrawals in Q1-2024, average pound 1,180, longest delay 48 h.

Educational ecosystem

Daily Spanish/English webinars, downloadable MT5 templates, and a free ‘H-Analytics’ indicator that plots real-time draw-down to keep traders inside the guard-rails.

Interview – ‘I Quit My 9-To-5 After 91 Days’

Name: Sofia R. (Madrid)

Account: $50k instant funding, HMarkets

‘I had five blown retail brokers behind me. The psychology changed when I realised I wasn’t gambling my rent money. I target 1 % a day, risk 0.25 %, and withdraw every Friday. My biggest loser so far is -2.1 %, but my average winner is +3.4 %. After 91 days, I matched my teaching salary-so I resigned.’

Sofia’s dashboard (shared via screen-recording) shows:

Gross return: 27.4 %

Max draw-down: 4.9 %

Payouts received: $10,960 (80 % split)

Risk Disclosure – The Dark Side No Instagram Mentor Mentions

Rule breach = instant liquidation; fees are not refunded if you violate lot size or hold through macro news.

Over-leverage is baked into human nature: 62 % of instant-funded accounts at major firms blow within 45 days (internal data leak, 2023).

Regulatory gap: most prop brands are marketing agents, not broker-dealers. If the execution broker fails, your profit share is an unsecured creditor claim.

Tax treatment varies: the IRS (US) classifies profit split as ordinary income; HMRC (UK) may treat it as trading income or capital gains, depending on frequency.

Step-By-Step: How To Get Your First Instant-Funded Account Today

Getting started with an instant-funded account is easier than ever in 2025. With HTrader’s Instant Funding Program, you can skip lengthy challenges and gain immediate access to a virtually funded trading account, allowing you to start earning from day one. No minimum trading days, up to 90% profit splits, and clear risk rules make it a fast and transparent way to begin your funded trading journey.

Self-audit

Print your last 100 retail trades; compute the Sharpe ratio and max draw-down. If DD 0.5, you’re ready.

Capital-size maths

Target monthly income ÷ 0.06 (6 % realistic net) ÷ 0.80 (split) = required account size.

Example: want $1,000/month ? $1,000 / 0.06 / 0.8 ˜ $20k account ? choose $25k tier.

Apply via the https://htrader.hmarkets.com/programs/instant-funding/

Complete KYC (passport + proof-of-address).

Pay licence fee with debit card or crypto; fees are locked for 48 h-enough time to change your mind.

Download MT5

Server: HMarkets-Real.

Load the free H-Analytics indicator to monitor drawdown in real time.

Trade, journal, review

Export daily statement ? upload to Edgewonk or Myfxbook ? tag setups ? prune losers.

First withdrawal ritual

Request via dashboard ? receive Wise or bank wire in EUR/USD within 24-48 h.

Celebrate, but recycle 20 % back into risk reserve-Sofia’s top tip.

Scaling Route: From $25K To $2 Million

Milestone Net Gain New Capital Cumulative

Phase 1 +10 % +25 % $31,250

Phase 2 +10 % +25 % $39,063

Phase 3 +10 % +25 % $2,048,000

At 90 % split, a single 10 % step on the final tier equals $184,320 profit share-more than the annual payroll of a hedge-fund analyst.

FAQ – The Questions Google keeps Asking

Q1. Is instant funding legit or just another MLM?

A: The model is legal and economically sound, provided trades are routed to a regulated broker and profits come from the market, not recruitment fees. Verify the execution broker’s licence on the regulator’s entity search page (e.g., CySEC, FCA).

Q2. Why do firms charge an up-front fee if they are confident in my talent?

A: The fee covers data, support, platform, and-crucially-filters out hobbyists. Data from three leading brands show accounts with refundable fees have 40 % lower blow-up rates, indicating skin-in-the-game works both ways.

Q3. Can I use robots (EAs) or copy-trade?

A: Most instant funding programs allow EAs if you submit the strategy logic for duplicate-trade detection. Signal copying from third-party providers is usually banned because it creates clustered risk for the firm.

Key Takeaways – Print And Pin These To Your Wall

Instant funding removes the capital barrier, not the skill barrier-discipline is still 80 % of success.

Treat the account exactly like a job: log hours, journal, file taxes.

Perform due diligence on both the prop firm and the executing broker; regulation beats marketing gloss every time.

Withdraw early and often-profit in your bank is safer than equity on a server.

Scale systematically; 25 % capital bumps compound faster than you think.

In this article Tribune online examines seven scientifically supported benefits:

1. Rich plant-based protein

Peanuts provide a significant amount of plant protein.

According to USDA figures, 100 g of raw peanuts yield about 25.8 g protein, making them one of the highest protein nuts/legumes per weight. This helps in muscle repair, satiety, and supporting metabolic functions.

2. Heart health and lowering cholesterol

The healthy fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) in peanuts, along with phytosterols, help reduce LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol absorption.

Epidemiological studies have linked regular nut and peanut intake with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

3. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects

Peanuts contain bioactive compounds such as resveratrol, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and CoQ10, which help neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.

By lowering inflammation, they may help protect against chronic diseases.

4. Better blood sugar regulation

Because peanuts are high in healthy fat, protein and fiber but relatively low in digestible carbs, they lead to a gentler blood sugar response.

Some trials and reviews suggest peanuts and tree nuts improve insulin sensitivity and reduce post-meal glucose spikes.

5. Assists with weight management

Although calorie-dense, moderate consumption of peanuts does not necessarily lead to weight gain.

In fact, their combination of protein, fiber, and healthy fats can promote satiety (feeling full) and reduce overall calorie intake.

Some observational studies show that peanut eaters tend to have lower body mass index when controlled for other factors.

6. Micronutrients and essential vitamins

Peanuts are a good source of several vitamins and minerals: vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus, niacin (vitamin B3), folate, copper, manganese, and zinc.

These support many body systems (e.g., immune, nerve, enzyme reactions).

7. Longevity and reduced mortality risk

Large cohorts and meta-analyses suggest regular consumption of nuts (including peanuts) is associated with lower all-cause mortality, particularly from cardiovascular causes.

While causation isn’t proven, these associations reinforce peanuts’ role in a healthful diet.

Peanuts (and peanut products) may be contaminated by aflatoxins, a toxin from mold, especially in hot, humid storage conditions. It’s safer to source peanuts from reputable suppliers and store them properly.

LAST week, following the conclusion of the ten-year tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the National Council of State approved the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In compliance with the constitution, President Bola Tinubu has to forward Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening. Instructively, the nomination of the Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, comes amid intense advocacy for a restructuring of Nigeria’s electoral process to guarantee a fairer deal for Nigerians.

Among the challenges facing the electoral process are the open disdain for the Electoral Act and impunity by the political elite, disregard for internal democracy in candidate selection, political violence and vote buying, all aimed at subverting the electoral process. Other problems relate to opaqueness in party funding and expenditure, the failure of parties to submit audited reports to INEC and the National Assembly, as well as endless litigations and election disputes. The fact is well known that the Electoral Act provides specific limitations on campaign expenses, namely ?5 billion for presidential candidates, ?1 billion for governorship candidates, ?100 million and ?70 million, respectively, for senatorial and House of Representatives candidates, in addition to pegging donations by individuals to ?50 million. However, these provisions are violated with impunity, causing politicians to ride roughshod on the populace. Again, the huge number of court cases arising from party primaries and elections has been a major challenge for the electoral commission, whose capacity to handle litigation arising from electoral cases has often been questioned.

As we have said time and again, guaranteeing free and fair polls is not down to the electoral commission alone. The political class, security agencies, voters and election monitors all have key roles to play in the process. Although INEC under its immediate past chairman, Yakubu, faced intense scrutiny on a number of issues, including inconclusive elections, it is a fact that it undertook serious electoral reforms that are germane to the health of Nigeria’s democracy. As INEC chairman, Yakubu prioritised the development of technology as a means of guaranteeing electoral transparency and accountability. Among other landmarks, his leadership saw the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation (BVAS) System and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV), designed to enable biometric verification and real-time result transparency; and the digital transformation of electoral processes, including automated candidate nomination, observer accreditation, collation templates, and logistical data management, shifting INEC to a data-centric agency. Among other developments, there were the expansion of the national voter register through nationwide registration drives, institutionalised year-round registration and updates that improved accessibility and register accuracy, voter education and inclusion; campaigns targeting youths, women, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons, coupled with the stronger coordination with security agencies, and the creation of additional polling units for easier access. INEC under Yakubu also introduced a data analytics hub that tracks over 1,000 indicators in real time, aiding rapid problem resolution; built robust partnerships with political parties, civil society, and international observers; promoted dialogue and public confidence,  and established the first Election Museum, professionalised staff training in data management and cybersecurity, and regularised the electoral calendar. This is highly commendable.

However, as Yakubu himself recognises, digital reforms alone cannot guarantee free and fair elections. The capacity of elections to advance the democracy and development narrative will continue to be hampered for as long as politicians turn election to theatres of war and engage in vote buying. And when, with impunity, security agencies turn a blind eye to attacks on law-abiding voters by agents of politicians and political parties, they are undermining the same process whose integrity they are meant to safeguard. Going forward, therefore, the country must consolidate on the electoral reforms so far undertaken by the commission. In particular, the electronic transmission of results must be made compulsory by integrating IReV into the Electoral Act. It is a positive development that the National Assembly is now open to the idea of concluding all election disputes before swearing in and allowing voting through other means of national identification. The recommendations were unveiled on Monday at the public hearing on ‘A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Electoral Act No 13, 2022 and Enact the Electoral Act 2025′ organised by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters’ in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. As we said in previous editorials, there is much to be gained from conducting elections earlier than the current 150 days enshrined in the constitution; concluding all pre-election matters before the election; reducing the timeline for handling election petitions to 90 days from the date of filing the suit; terminating all pre-election matters at the Court of Appeal, and introducing diaspora and out-of-country voting.

Going forward, the new INEC leadership has to consolidate on the electoral reforms undertaken under Yakubu. The reforms are a plus for the country and should be given appropriate legal backing. It must deploy technology to curb electoral fraud and restore the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral process. It must undertake more vigorous voter education, learn from the drawbacks of previous elections, and be open to criticism and the observations of patriotic Nigerians.

Oyo State Government has issued a two-week ultimatum to roadside traders and container shop owners operating along Airport Road, Old Ife Road, and Onipepeye areas of Ibadan to vacate the locations and relocate their businesses to approved markets.

According to the government, the directive takes immediate effect, with the deadline for compliance set for Monday, October 27, 2025.

The government explained that the decision followed the provision of modern markets and enclosed trading spaces across different parts of the city, adding that it would no longer condone trading on road verges or the placement of container shops on drainage channels.

It warned that roadside trading exposes traders and commuters to serious safety risks and environmental hazards. As a responsible government, it said, it has a duty to protect lives and ensure a safe, clean environment for all residents.

The statement further noted that trading on walkways damages public infrastructure, blocks drainage systems, and heightens the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.

Additionally, the government emphasized that the unsightly nature of roadside markets undermines its efforts to promote tourism and beautify the state capital, warning that such practices detract from Ibadan’s growing appeal as a modern city.

While urging all affected traders to comply with the directive, the government cautioned that failure to do so would attract enforcement actions in line with existing state laws. This, it said, could include the confiscation of goods and possible prosecution of offenders.

The government appealed for the cooperation of all residents to ensure environmental order and support the state’s drive for sustainable urban development.