Author: user user

Nigeria ratifies African Medicines Agency treaty as 34th AU member state

Nigeria has deposited its instrument of ratification of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) Treaty becoming the 34th African Union member state to ratify the agreement to strengthen medicines regulation and public health across the continent.

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye announced the development during the inaugural African Medicines Agency Week in Kigali Rwanda.

The conference held from October 25 to 30 brought together medicines regulatory agencies regional economic communities the World Health Organisation (WHO) the European Union and other international health partners.

Adeyeye said Nigeria’s participation would strengthen efforts to harmonise medicines regulation across Africa improve public health protection and combat substandard and falsified medical products.

She added that the ratification would also create opportunities for deeper cooperation between NAFDAC the AMA and other national and regional regulatory institutions.

According to her Nigeria’s position as Africa’s most populous country and one of its largest pharmaceutical markets makes its participation significant to the continent’s efforts to build a more coordinated and effective regulatory system.

Adeyeye said the development reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to promoting pharmaceutical innovation strengthening local drug manufacturing and improving health security.

She however stressed the need to translate the ratification into practical results through sustained institutional collaboration regulatory capacity development information sharing and scientific cooperation.

The NAFDAC chief said the AMA’s success would ultimately depend on its ability to ensure that Africans have access to safe effective quality-assured and affordable medicines.

She noted that the maturity and capacity of national medicines regulatory agencies would be critical to achieving the agency’s objectives.

Adeyeye described Nigeria’s ratification as more than a diplomatic or legal achievement saying it was an investment in Africa’s health security pharmaceutical sovereignty and sustainable development.

The agency’s Director-General Dr Delese Mimi Darko led the inaugural AMA Week alongside members of its Governing Board representatives of the Conference of State Parties and the African Union Special Envoy.

Adeyeye attended the meeting with the Director of NAFDAC’s Central Drug Control Laboratory and the Director-General’s Special Assistant.

FG spends N1trn on cancer control in one year – Bagudu

The Federal Government has invested over N1 trillion in cancer control in the past year Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said.

Bagudu disclosed this at the 12th edition of the Walk Away Cancer campaign held on Saturday in Abuja where survivors health professionals policymakers advocates and residents called for greater awareness early detection and stronger support for people living with cancer.

The 5.4-kilometre awareness walk organised by the Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF) was held under the theme ‘One Walk One Fight – Walk Away Cancer’ as part of activities marking the conclusion of Breast Cancer Awareness Month also known as Pink October.

The minister said the Federal Government had committed N350 billion to establishing cancer centres across the country while over N300 billion had been invested in cancer detection equipment alongside additional allocations to the health sector.

He added that further resources had been made available to state and local governments to strengthen cancer prevention early detection and treatment.

Bagudu however urged Nigerians to hold state and local governments accountable to ensure that funds allocated for cancer control were judiciously utilised.

‘I want to commend the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) under the leadership of Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu for its relentless and long-standing cancer awareness campaign.

‘Cancer control remains one of the priority areas of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector’ he said.

Also speaking the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory Dr. Maria Mahmoud stressed the importance of early screening particularly among women and young girls to improve the chances of successful treatment.

She commended the organisers for sustaining the awareness campaign expressing optimism that increased public sensitisation would help reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer.

‘We appreciate this sensitisation initiative for Nigerians. With this kind of massive awareness campaign the high prevalence of cervical cancer will go down’ she said.

Similarly the Minister of State for Education Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed said cancer does not discriminate based on age social status or influence noting that patients need collective support throughout their treatment journey.

‘No one fights cancer alone. To all cancer patients and survivors we see your fight and honour your courage. We shall continue to stand with you in solidarity’ she said.

In her remarks the President of the Union for International Cancer Control Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu said the organisation alongside other stakeholders had sustained the fight against cancer for more than 12 years.

She called for increased government funding and stronger partnerships to improve cancer prevention diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria.

‘We want to see a lot more financial appropriation for the fight against cancer. A lot has been done this year and we want to thank President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for investing heavily in the health sector’ she said.

The President of the Cancer Society of Nigeria Prof. Abidemi Omonisi also urged the Federal Government civil society organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support cancer patients and survivors describing such assistance as essential to national development.

He commended Bagudu for her advocacy and financial contributions to support patients noting that the high cost of cancer treatment remained a major challenge for many Nigerians.

A cancer survivor Mr Farooq Oreagba who said he had lived with a cancer diagnosis for more than 12 years attributed his survival to early screening and detection.

He urged Nigerians not to regard a cancer diagnosis as an automatic death sentence emphasising the importance of regular medical checks.

‘Being diagnosed with cancer is not a death sentence. All I ask of everyone here is to get regular screenings because early detection saves lives. My cancer was detected even when I was not ill. I still have a few more years to go and I am not ready to quit’ he said.

The awareness walk began with an aerobics session at Monoliza Park Area 11 Garki before participants proceeded along designated routes within the Federal Capital Territory.

A major attraction was the Health Village where participants accessed free medical services including clinical breast examinations blood pressure and blood sugar checks hepatitis testing and eye screenings.

Participants also received coupons for discounted digital mammograms at Medicaid facilities while young girls were offered Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations to protect against the virus responsible for most cervical cancer cases.

The event also featured survivor testimonies goodwill messages celebrity performances and an after-walk concert.

The 12th edition was preceded by activities on Friday October 30 including a solidarity visit to cancer patients at the National Hospital Abuja as well as the Pink October Pop-up sales event and fashion show at Monoliza Park.

The fashion show featured brands including PriscyLuxe owned by actress Priscilla Ojo; Ciar; Roza; Amida; Shanty’s; and Ksei Legacy Wear. The organisers said 20 per cent of sales profits would go towards supporting cancer patients.

Proceeds from the sale of branded Walk Away Cancer kits will also support the foundation’s patient assistance programmes including financial assistance and treatment navigation for people living with cancer.

The organisers noted that late diagnosis and the high cost of treatment remained major barriers to cancer survival in Nigeria underscoring the need for sustained awareness accessible screening services and increased investment in cancer care.

JNPSNC defends N70000 transport allowance says TUC was excluded from talks

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has defended the N70000 monthly transport allowance agreed with the Federal Government.

The union insisted that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) was not part of the negotiations that produced the agreement.

In a circular signed by its National Secretary Gbenga Olowoyo the council said the six-month allowance effective from this month was intended to cushion the impact of rising transport costs on public servants.

The agreement was reached on October 27 after more than six hours of negotiations chaired by the Minister of Labour and Employment Mohammed Dingyadi with the participation of the Nigeria Labour Congress JNPSNC and the Joint Health Sector Unions.

The council also said the agreement provided for a 40 per cent peculiar allowance reflecting the N70000 minimum wage to be implemented across federal state and local government levels from November 2026. Arrears dating from May 1 2026 are to be paid in three instalments.

It added that the government had agreed to establish a tripartite negotiation committee involving the government organised labour and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association.

On the TUC’s rejection of the transport allowance the council said the congress was not involved in the negotiations but remained free to pursue a higher allowance through its own engagements with the government.

The agreement also directed the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission to complete work on adjusting the Consolidated Health Salary Structure within three weeks and submit its recommendations to the Presidential Committee on Salaries.

The council said it would pay outstanding health workers’ allowances covering 19 months in three instalments beginning in December 2026. It added that the commission had also been directed to issue a circular on hazard allowance for agricultural professional officers within three weeks.

On tax relief the JNPSNC said it would forward the proposal to the National Economic Council for consideration because it involved both federal and state governments.

It said the parties would reconvene within one month to review the implementation of the agreement urging governments at all levels to honour their commitments.

The council maintained that the TUC’s opposition to the transport allowance would not affect the implementation of the agreement.

Firm commits to strengthening consumers’ engagement, market penetration

Bola Arotiowa, chief commercial officer, C.H.I. Limited (CHI), has reiterated that the beverage company will continue to strengthen its engagement with consumers just as it pushes to sustain its market penetration.

‘This award inspires us to keep raising the bar in delivering the quality, taste and refreshing experiences our consumers expect from us,’ Arotiowa said recently, following Chivita emergence as the most outstanding juice brand at Brandcom awards 2026.

According to Arotiowa, the recognition underscores the firm’s sustained relevance in the juice category and its connection with consumers across generations. He stated that the award also reinforced the brand’s reputation as the gold standard of juice, built on a commitment to quality, excellence and taste while keeping pace with evolving consumer preferences.

‘We see this recognition as a celebration not only of our brand, but also of the people who continue to make Chivita part of their everyday moments,’ Arotiowa stated, expressing appreciation to consumers for their continued trust and patronage, noting that their support has been instrumental in strengthening the brand’s position as the gold standard of juice in Nigeria.

According to him, the recognition further reinforces the brand’s ‘Your Chivita Your Way’ platform, which celebrates consumers’ individuality and the different ways they connect with the brand.

He reiterated that the brand will continue to build meaningful connections that extend beyond its products to the occasions and experiences they create, by placing consumer preferences at the heart of its approach.

‘We are delighted to receive this recognition, and we are especially grateful to our consumers for their continued trust and patronage. Their loyalty and the different ways they continue to enjoy Chivita have been an important part of our journey,’ Arotiowa stated.

He added that the firm’s recent recognition at Brandcom 2026 marks another milestone in its continued engagement with Nigerian consumers, reinforcing its commitment to delivering refreshing moments and building on the trust it has earned over the years.

‘For CHI, the award highlights the importance of consistency, innovation and consumer understanding in building enduring brands in Nigeria’s competitive beverage sector. As tastes and expectations continue to evolve, the company remains focused on strengthening its brands through quality products and relevant consumer experiences.’

Middle Belt, South to jointly decide on 2027 presidential candidate – Pogu

ISAAC SHOBAYO, North-Central Bureau Chief, speaks with Dr Bitrus Pogu, National President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) readiness for the next general elections, the nation’s economic hardship, insecurity, federal allocation to states, and other national issues. Excerpts:

What is your assessment of INEC’s preparedness for the upcoming elections?

At the moment, INEC has its hands full but is still not fully prepared for the elections because, given that there are still issues to be addressed with regard to the voters’ register, etc., it means INEC still has some work to do. We just pray that before the elections hold, INEC will be fully prepared to attend to and address all issues to ensure that there is a credible, transparent and good election that Nigerians will have confidence in.So, for now, I think, with regard to INEC, that’s what I can say.

But with the back-and-forth concerning the candidates, where some are said to be eligible to run while others are not, what implications does this have for the forthcoming elections?

We believe INEC should be able to address these issues before the elections. That shouldn’t be a big issue. We’ve had issues like this in the past, and they have been addressed. We believe that this time around, INEC will do the same. If games are being played, we believe Nigerians are smart enough, and they will make objective assessments of the candidates and vote for those they believe deserve to be voted into office. So, I believe those issues will be addressed very soon.

The chairman of the electoral commission is from the Middle Belt, and the task of conducting elections is enormous. What advice do you have for him at this critical stage of this national assignment?

The advice would be for him to be steadfast, firm and, I mean, exercise due diligence in everything that he does so that he will have a clean, commendable scorecard when he leaves, because nobody stays permanently in such an office. So, Middle Belters are known to be credible in the things they do, and we expect him to show credibility and execute the big job that is before him so that he can be counted and judged fairly by generations to come.

The Middle Belt Forum took a firm stance in the most recent election, held in 2023. This time, everyone is looking up to the Middle Belt, expecting it to say something. So, what is the Middle Belt’s stance on the 2027 elections?

We are going to have a stakeholders’ meeting where such a decision will be taken, and, of course, we are going to work alongside our friends down south. I mean Afenifere, Ohanaeze and PANDEF. However, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) will meet at the appropriate time and come up with a joint position on the upcoming election. One thing that is certain is that, while our support will not be for a northern candidate, it will be for a southern candidate because, at least, we have decided, and properly so, that the presidency should remain in the South for now. It can only change in 2031, so, for the sake of fairness and justice, power must remain in the South for the next four years. So, when we have our stakeholders’ meeting, the person we are going to support will be known. But for now, it is certainly going to be a southern candidate.

Looking at Mr President’s performance over the last three years, there is widespread public concern about the country’s hardships. How would you evaluate Mr President’s performance over the last three years, especially since he is running for re-election?

There are lots of areas where we can say he is lacking in his performance. There are some areas, too, where we can say, yes, he performed credibly. For example, some of his ministers, irrespective of all the accusations, I can give a thumbs-up to Wike because the transformation in the FCT has never been this good. The Minister of Works is doing a very good job across the country, and some others. The majority of the others are below average or so.However, we know that the governors are getting more in terms of federal allocations, irrespective of the devaluation, commensurate with what was available in the past, especially during Buhari’s regime. They are getting much more. But the majority of the governors are not showing anything that we can rate as adding value to what is happening at the centre. So, I think the judgment of the Federal Government will not be complete without considering what the states are getting, given that the resources are being shared accordingly. The President has not failed in that regard. That is, giving them their money as and when due.

In terms of security, we still have lots of problems, and we can equally say that detractors are partly responsible, given that we have a system where people don’t care what they do to get into power. So, with all that, we can say that Nigerians, having known what is happening immediately around them, the pressures, especially those caused by the high price of fuel, that is, energy, and all that, would make rational judgments, considering all those parameters, including comparing him with those who are trying to come in to see whether those people would perform better. That’s what I can say on this issue.

Based on the scenarios you’ve painted, people all over the country are crying that he’s not doing enough to address the country’s hardships. The palliative rollouts are insufficient to address the issue. What are your thoughts about this?

I don’t believe in palliatives in the first place. What I believe in is creating an economic environment that will allow people to have a better life. You know, for example, the devaluation has hurt the economy so much. Unfortunately, there are external powers that affect that.Otherwise, we thank God. God has given us lots of rain, and we have been able to produce food. The only thing is that farmers are paying for it because, you know, foreign food has flooded the market, and the value of their produce has dropped. Given the fact that inputs like fertiliser, among others, remain very high, in that regard, the policy has to change for things to be better.

One of the problems that is still bothering Nigeria, particularly in the Middle Belt, is insecurity. Given that people are dying every day, do you believe Mr President has done enough to address this situation? What is the solution, in your opinion as a Middle Belter?

Those concerned have to be bold enough to address the issue from its roots. If some big shot is known to be sponsoring something, that big shot should be kicked out without consideration of whatever position he occupies. So, now we should also look at it critically: who are those responsible? The security agencies and government have to be bold enough to get to the root of the matter and pick up those responsible without any bias or sentiment. For example, about three or four days ago, one cleric who preaches peace in Katsina, by the name of Masusuka, was killed for preaching peace. So, people behind such atrocities should be dealt with without reservation as to whether they have religious or status connections. That’s what we would advise Mr President to do. Certainly, the government alone cannot do the job. But what the government can do is to be decisive against any person or culprit who is found to be sponsoring these things. These boys in the bushes don’t have the capacity to survive if their source of sponsorship is cut off.

There is glaring evidence that some leaders in the North are not up and doing towards addressing insecurity…

(Cuts in) That is true. Some of this insecurity is associated with a lot of issues that can be addressed. We know Boko Haram came in as a religious group, and as a religious group, they feel that their, you know, form of religion has to be adhered to; otherwise, any other person should be dealt with. Then we have lots of facets. Some economic opportunists also came in to take advantage, and then we have others who want to, you know, dispossess others of their territorial lands, etc. All these things are combined, but it started with a religious ideology, and it has expanded to all these other facets without reservation. Unless this thing is addressed at that level, it will not disappear. So, irrespective of whether it is this government or any other government, the leader has to have the courage to be able to deal with whoever it is, irrespective of whether he is a former president, a leader of a religious group or whoever. That is the way this thing can be addressed, not by just fighting those boys in the villages and the bushes.

Mining is currently linked to terrorism, banditry and other crimes, particularly in the North of the country. The majority of the locations are gradually becoming terrorist hotspots. What is the way out of this?

There must be a policy, either to say that all mines should be government-owned or supervised by the government, or, if people are licensed, let there be some regulatory measures to ensure that proper procedures are followed. Illegal mining should be abolished and stopped, and that way we can address issues with regard to, let’s say, violence associated with mineral resources. I told you earlier that a religious group started Boko Haram, and they believe that they have the right to impose their ideology on everybody. That is one. Two, all these things, including the Boko Haram insurgency, started because our constitution allowed for Sharia to be practised. That is the 1999 Constitution. Previous constitutions did not do that.

Whether they amend the constitution or not, it remains what it is. So, we have to go to the roots. So, when we have addressed that one, then we can address all the other things, including the economic terrorism associated with mining. We need a constitution which addresses all the issues of Nigerians rather than one that has a sectional bias. Because there is already a war between Sharia and constitutional democracy, that has to be addressed.So, there are lots of issues that have to be addressed before we come to such sundry issues like mining, associated terrorism, et cetera.

If you look at it, petroleum is also a mineral resource and is being regulated. Why is it difficult for mining to be regulated by the Federal Government, at least to minimise this act of terrorism?

There is no reason why it should not be addressed. I believe it is because the government in office has not, across the board, that is, even before now, paid real attention to addressing it. Otherwise, it is possible to address any issue if the government is really determined to do so. So, we are calling on Mr President to now look seriously at mining, as that is a cause of economic terrorism, to ensure that it’s well regulated so that that facet can be taken off the consideration when we are trying to address terrorism.

With the increase in federal funding for states, people are beginning to complain that not enough is being done at the state level. The State Assemblies, which are supposed to function as checks and balances, do not. How do we ensure development at the state level?

They should be exposed. All the resources that are being given to state governors are known, and people should be told clearly to take decisions based on performance. A report by the European Union on the performance of governors depicted that many of them perform dismally. It is now left for the press to do their job. Let every state have the freedom to vote in or out those people whom they feel have not performed.I think that is the only way forward. And when governors know that they can be voted out easily if they don’t perform, people will sit up.

Elections in Nigeria frequently cause disunity and division on all fronts. What is your advice in this regard?

It’s true. People are divided. It’s true also that some factors, especially insecurity, have created a lot of division: division in the North between the Hausa and the Fulani; the Middle Belt thinking of not being properly secured and, of course, there are some people who feel even Nigeria is not addressing their issues.But I believe I have not lost hope in Nigeria, and I believe that, yes, the President, at least for one thing, I can say that this is one of the most decisive persons I have seen. He can take a decision, and it will be implemented with that kind of authority which he has and his type of behaviour. If he should have a second opportunity, I would want him to be assertive to ensure that what Nigerians expect of him is given to them, and to ensure that he can stand by the Constitution and enforce whatever is there to be enforced to make Nigeria work. Because, really, we have not yet become a nation, and there is a need for a strong president to come in, be able to show us the way and forge a nation out of us.

ADC accuses Sokoto govt of frustrating presidential campaign flag-off

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Sokoto State Government of allegedly using intimidation, threats and security agencies to frustrate its planned presidential campaign flag-off in the state.

The party also alleged that the government pressured hotel operators to cancel reservations made for its delegates and supporters ahead of the event.

The Director-General of the ADC governorship campaign in Sokoto State, Bello Aliyu Goronyo, made the allegations while addressing journalists at the party’s secretariat in Sokoto on Sunday.

Goronyo said the party had formally notified the state government of its intention to host the presidential campaign flag-off, initially scheduled for October 31, 2026, but alleged that the government responded by expressing opposition to the event.

He described the response as an attempt to undermine political pluralism and deny opposition parties the freedom to conduct lawful political activities.

‘The Government replied by stating its disagreement with the flag-off. That reply raises serious concern about the Government’s commitment to political pluralism, freedom of association and the right of opposition parties to hold lawful political activities,’ he said.

The ADC chieftain further alleged that the government mounted pressure on hotel operators to cancel bookings made by the party for delegates and supporters expected to attend the campaign.

He claimed that some government-owned hotels declined to accommodate guests, citing full bookings, while private hotel operators were allegedly threatened with demolition if they failed to cancel the party’s reservations.

‘We have received reports that hotel operators were threatened with consequences, including the demolition of their properties, if they refused to comply,’ Goronyo alleged.

He described the development as part of what he called a sustained campaign of intimidation against the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party also alleged that its women supporters were attacked during a solidarity march on October 28, with some sustaining injuries, while their mobile phones were reportedly stolen, clothes torn and vehicles vandalised.

Goronyo said the ADC state campaign office was also attacked on the same day, resulting in damage to its windows, doors and other property, while three motorcycles were destroyed.

The party further accused personnel of the Sokoto Marshals and Sokoto Community Guards of involvement in an alleged attack on its governorship candidate, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport on October 30.

According to Goronyo, the candidate’s vehicles were smashed, gunshots were reportedly fired during the incident, and two Department of State Services personnel attached to his security detail were detained.

He called on the police and the DSS to investigate the incident and identify those responsible.

‘The authorities must establish who authorised the operation, what instructions were issued to the personnel involved, who discharged firearms and under what authority, and why DSS officers assigned to protect a political candidate were detained by state security personnel,’ he said.

The ADC also expressed concern over alleged instructions to personnel of the state-owned security outfits to prevent its supporters from entering Sokoto ahead of the campaign flag-off.

‘No governor, political party or security commander has the authority to restrict citizens from entering a state because of their political affiliation,’ the party said.

Despite the alleged intimidation and other challenges, Goronyo insisted that the presidential campaign flag-off would now hold on November 4, 2026.

‘No threat, intimidation or unlawful obstruction will deprive the party of its constitutional right to organise political activities and campaign for its candidates,’ the ADC stated.

The party urged the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS and other relevant authorities to conduct an independent investigation into the alleged attacks, threats against hotel operators and involvement of state security personnel.

It also called for adequate protection for its candidates, leaders and supporters, urging members to remain peaceful and law-abiding.

However, the Sokoto State Government had earlier denied allegations that it directed hotels to reject ADC delegates. The state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also maintained that hotel reservations were made to accommodate dignitaries expected to attend a traditional title ceremony.

Abejide launches N600m empowerment scheme for women, widows in Kano

The Leke Abejide Foundation has launched a N600 million empowerment programme for women and widows in Kano State, aimed at supporting small-scale businesses, improving livelihoods and promoting economic self-reliance.

The initiative, tagged ‘Yoruba Community Political Mobilisation and Empowerment,’ is themed ‘To Mobilise One Million Votes for the Re-election of President Bola Tinubu in Kano in 2027.’

The foundation belongs to Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives representing Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State.

Speaking at the launch, Abejide described Kano as his second home and the foundation of his success, explaining that the intervention was part of his commitment to giving back to the state.

He said the programme was designed to improve the economic conditions of beneficiaries, strengthen cooperation among ethnic associations and provide access to capital for small-scale businesses.

According to him, the foundation has earmarked N500 million as interest-free loans for women, particularly widows and businesswomen, while N100 million has been set aside specifically for widows.

Abejide explained that beneficiaries had been organised into cooperative societies based on their respective business interests to facilitate proper monitoring, accountability and loan repayment.

The programme covers Yoruba women from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara states, as well as members of the Ebira, Igala and Bassa communities from Kogi State residing in Kano.

At the event, beneficiaries also received bags of rice, clothing materials, cash and other relief items.

The lawmaker disclosed that the foundation had also provided food items, clothing and financial assistance to widows, assuring that the support would continue beyond the 2027 election period.

He added that a separate empowerment programme for youths and men in business would commence soon, with particular attention to unemployed youths seeking opportunities to become self-reliant.

On the political aspect of the initiative, Abejide said the foundation was working towards mobilising support for President Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 general elections.

He disclosed that coordinators would be selected from among the women and widows benefiting from the programme to serve at polling units across Kano State.

‘We are picking coordinators for each polling unit among the widows and women who are benefiting today to guard our votes across Kano State,’ he said.

Abejide urged beneficiaries to utilise the funds responsibly, noting that monitoring mechanisms had been established to ensure accountability and minimise loan defaults.

He further disclosed that the foundation had implemented similar empowerment initiatives in parts of Kogi State for more than eight years, including free West African Examinations Council (WAEC) registration for over 50,000 students and support for approximately 10,000 widows.

The lawmaker reaffirmed his commitment to mobilising support for APC candidates contesting senatorial, House of Representatives and state assembly seats in the 2027 elections.

In his remarks, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, commended Abejide for the initiative and urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the financial support and other materials provided.

The governor encouraged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by participating in the forthcoming elections and supporting President Tinubu and other APC candidates.

Kabir-Yusuf described Kano as a home for all Nigerians, urging residents to continue their legitimate businesses and maintain peaceful coexistence irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.

He also announced a donation of N100 million in support of the empowerment project.

Similarly, the Oba Yoruba of Kano, Murtala Alimi-Otisese, commended the lawmaker for the intervention, saying it would contribute to improving the livelihoods of beneficiaries.

He also urged the women to support President Tinubu and Governor Kabir-Yusuf in the forthcoming elections.

The event was attended by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, other political leaders and representatives of various ethnic groups in Kano State.

INEC reconfirms voter register manipulation, vows sanctions against officials

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reconfirmed suspected manipulation of its voter registration system by some officials, following the discovery of more than 1.5 million questionable registration records, warning that those found culpable will face severe sanctions.

The Commission’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye, where he revealed that some registration officials allegedly exploited their access to the Commission’s registration platform to introduce irregularities into the national voter database.

Bayode, who described the discoveries as disturbing and embarrassing to the Commission, said the alleged manipulation was not limited to isolated locations but had been identified across several states.

He explained that the Commission deployed its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which uses fingerprint and facial recognition technology, to examine the 11,088,238 registrations recorded during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

According to him, the system flagged 1,545,052 records for various irregularities, including suspected multiple registrations and other discrepancies requiring further investigation.

He said that although a substantial number of the flagged records had already been removed, 268,000 remained for human verification before the Commission could determine their authenticity.

Explaining why the Commission did not automatically exclude all the flagged records, Bayode said the system was designed to identify suspicious entries, while human adjudication was necessary to establish whether they were genuinely fraudulent.

He said: ‘Any suspect has to be adjudicated to a human come and confirm what the ABIS has reported.’

The ICT director disclosed that some of the questionable registrations were allegedly facilitated by officials who exploited a special registration provision designed for persons with disabilities who had incomplete fingers or no fingers.

He explained that the provision allowed eligible individuals without complete fingerprints to register through an alternative process, but some officials allegedly abused the facility to create fictitious voter profiles.

According to him, the officials allegedly used their access credentials to create such profiles, exploiting the system’s provision for special registration to introduce questionable records into the database.

Bayode also disclosed that the Commission discovered instances of identical photographs appearing against different voter profiles, as well as photographs allegedly sourced from calendars and picture frames and used to deceive its web-based registration platform.

He, however, distinguished between legitimate photographs enhanced with artificial intelligence applications and suspicious images used to create fictitious identities.

He explained that some genuine registrants might have used AI applications on their mobile phones to improve the quality of their photographs, insisting that such cases should not automatically be treated as fraudulent registrations.

The director said: ‘Some of the profiles have similar photo for different profiles with one photo. And you cannot find seven, eight people who are from the same family.’

Describing the alleged manipulation as extensive, he said some officials had identified loopholes in the registration system but, rather than report them for correction, allegedly exploited them.

Bayode, who expressed disappointment over the development, said: ‘They saw the loophole and they leveraged on the system.’

He further disclosed that the Commission had withdrawn access from the officials under investigation, adding that digital records and one-time password (OTP) authentication could help establish those responsible for the questionable registrations.

According to him, the registration system sends an OTP to an official’s registered email address or telephone number before access is granted, making it difficult for officials to claim that their credentials were used without their knowledge.

‘If anybody is using your login details to do anything, it means that you are conniving with that person,’ he said.

Bayode, however, said he was taking time to establish sufficient evidence before submitting his investigative report to the Commission, stressing that he did not want innocent officials implicated without conclusive proof.

He assured that the Commission would review the evidence and follow due process, expressing confidence that officials found culpable would face severe consequences.

He said: ‘This is an embarrassment. … Maybe the punishment now will be so huge than what they experienced in 2020.’

On the implications of the questionable registrations for the 2027 general election, the ICT director warned that fictitious voter profiles could potentially be exploited to manipulate elections if the irregularities were not identified and removed before the final register was certified.

Using a hypothetical polling unit with 800 registered voters, including 400 fictitious profiles, he explained that the production of Permanent Voter Cards for such entries could create an opportunity for electoral manipulation.

He, however, maintained that the Commission’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) had biometric safeguards capable of preventing individuals whose fingerprints were not captured from successfully participating in the voting process.

On concerns about the credibility of the preliminary register, Bayode explained that its release was necessary to allow Nigerians to participate in identifying questionable entries through the claims and objections process.

He said the Commission had to balance the time required to complete biometric screening with the statutory timelines for publishing the preliminary register, adding that the document released was not the final register for the 2027 elections.

He maintained that the Commission was working to complete the verification and cleaning exercise before 15 December, when the final register is expected to be certified.

The ICT director also expressed openness to independent scrutiny of the voter database, saying the Commission could engage a third party to examine the records if it considered such an exercise necessary.

He added that interested parties could request Certified True Copies of relevant records to examine the Commission’s findings and corrective measures.

On public confidence in the electoral umpire, particularly following controversies surrounding the 2023 general election, Bayode acknowledged that the latest revelations had further complicated INEC’s efforts to rebuild public trust.

He said: ‘We are trying to build the trust, whether you like it or not, the trust is on the ground zero.’

He expressed regret that the alleged actions of some officials could undermine the Commission’s efforts to restore confidence in the electoral process, insisting that INEC had learnt lessons from previous elections and continued to improve its technological systems, including BVAS and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Bayode assured Nigerians that the Commission remained committed to conducting a credible 2027 general election, stressing that the integrity of the voter register was fundamental to the credibility of the entire electoral process.

Aba business hub can compete globally if supported – Export Institute

The Aba business hub can compete favourably in the global business space if given adequate attention. Export experts who made this declaration also said the business centres of all of Abia State and other hubs in Nigeria can also compete.

This is as the Institute of Export Operations and Management (IEOM), in collaboration with TAGDev 2.0 Program University of Port Harcourt, has trained about 350 Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) on packaging, branding and compliance for consumer goods.

Ofon Udofia, executive secretary of the Institute, said in Umuahia in the week that with the right knowledge, support, and market access, businesses from Aba and all of Abia State and across Nigeria can compete more effectively in both the local and international markets.

The two-day training was supported by RUFORUM in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. It was held at Kolpping Society of Nigeria, World Bank Housing Estate, Umuahia, Abia State capital.

In his opening remarks, Udofia described the South East as a region with enormous entrepreneurial potential and a hub with strong tradition of commerce, manufacturing, and enterprise. He said all that is needed is an articulated agenda to gradually grow the industry with training, exposure, facilities, and good business environment so that goods could be produced at globally competitive costs.

Udofia disclosed that one of the major challenges facing many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria is not necessarily the quality of their products, but how those products are packaged, presented, labeled and prepared to meet applicable regulatory requirements.

He informed that a good product may struggle in the marketplace if its packaging is unattractive, its branding is unclear, or it fails to meet the standards required by consumers and regulators. ‘This is why this training is both timely and important’.

Furthermore, ‘Our goal is to equip participants with knowledge they can apply directly to their businesses, help: them build consumer confidence, improve competitiveness and explore new market opportunities, including export markets ‘.

Udofia was particularly impressed that the training included the ‘differently able persons’, as their participation reflected the importance of inclusive enterprise development and a belief that business opportunities, knowledge, and capacity-building should be accessible to all.

He commended the Abia State Government, partners, facilitators and all stakeholders whose contributions made the training possible.

He advised the participants to see the training as an opportunity to identify gaps in their businesses, acquire practical solutions, and take deliberate steps to prove the quality, presentation, as well as market readiness of their products.

He declared thus: ‘A product must not only be good; it must also be properly presented, appropriately labeled, and complaint with the requirements of its target market’.

Henry Dienye of TAGDev 2.0 Uniport, Entreprneur and Business Development Officer, in an interview, however, said that the training programme was on packaging, labeling, and compliance; and that the reason this was happening was because, most of the entrepreneurs had good products but were unable to scale up through ideation to come up with the products.

‘And their products are just being sold within their confines and environment but have not been able to go beyond where they are produced.

‘So, the essence of the programme is to bring them into the limelight of how their products can be well packaged because packaging is very important’, he stated.

He went on: ‘Appearance is what somebody sees first, no matter whatever product you have inside’.

Dienye said the training would help them the beneficiaries to identify the required packaging for a particular product, and realise that not all packaging is suitable for every product. ‘So, every product has its unique way of packaging.’

According to him, training would help to open their eyes on the kind of packaging they should adopt and the one they should use for a particular product.

‘Outside that, it helps them to create branding, because 10 persons can be doing the same thing but one will stand out. Many may ask why, but they would not know that it is because there is a kind of unique branding that makes it different from what others are doing.’

This programme, he further stated, would also help them be able to brand and label their products. ‘Outside that, for the purpose of export, especially, for consumables, there are compliance that should be adopted; compliance that they need to incorporate in what they are doing.

‘For example Zobo drink and others, there are standards for National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for them to meet before the products are exported.

‘This is an eye opener for them. All these things put together including the registration of your business make your products exportable with unique branding, unique labeling, and quality packaging that will stand the test of time’, Dienye said.

Some of the more than 350 participants glittering with excitement spoke of their hopes. Gladys Samuel, spoke about the programme thus: ‘The programme is very, very beneficial to us. Initially, I didn’t know that this is how it should be. So I have learnt a lot from it in the sense that I have known how to repackage my products.

‘I am a fashion designer, and I have learnt how to repackage and brand my products to make them go far, beyond Abia State. I have also known how to make them look attractive. I thank the organisers of this programme’.

Ogbonnaya Chukwu, on his own, said: ‘The thing I have learnt today will help me grow my business by rebranding my products, and repackaging them to make them attractive to people.

‘I am also very glad with the Institute of Export Operations and Management who brought this programme to us. They should keep it up, and take it to other areas that they have not reached, so that what we have learnt today, others will learn it to grow their own businesses, too. I benefited a lot’.

Solidarity for SMEs

Udofia, the Executive Secretary (and CEO) of the Institute of Export Operations and Management with headquarters in Port Harcourt has rallied groups for SMEs and to help reduce poor product showing especially for export.

He is working with the belief that packaging and complying with various regulations affecting product screening are the major focus which attracted over 250 SMEs in PH and 350 in Umuahia between August and October, 2026.

Udofia says the main target is to reduce or totally eliminate rejection of Nigerian products at the borders and entry points of countries. The Institute worked with in collaboration with TAGDev 2.0 Programme of the University of Port Harcourt, with support from RUFORUM, and in partnership with Mastercard Foundation to mount the two-day trainings for SMEs including printers and designers on packaging, branding and compliance for consumer goods. The focus is on everything from farm to the market.

Udofia believes that Nigeria has entrepreneurs producing quality products, ‘Yet some struggle to compete effectively because their products are inadequately packaged, poorly branded or do not meet the requirements of the market and regulatory authorities.’

He said IEOM believes that a good product must not only be produced well; it must also be properly presented, branded, and compliant. ‘Packaging protects and presents the product, branding communicates its identity and value, while compliance builds consumer confidence and opens the door to formal and international markets.’

He gave a simple charge: ‘Do not just attend this training, use it to improve your business. Look at your packaging differently, strengthen your brand, understand your compliance obligations and begin to position your products for wider markets.

‘So, we have sat down as an Institute with our partners to say, let’s see how we can make our products to compete favorably, especially in the advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Nobody wants to buy rubbish. Nigeria is known for abundance of agricultural products and services. So, the essence of this program is to make sure that by the time we are done in the next few months, our products will actually be rebranded.’

Some printers need help, he stated, they copy and paste.

‘We have a place in our Institute, both for processing, product development, packaging, branding, until we get to export. The entire value chain is covered.’ He targets all of Nigeria but said charity must start at home.

TAGDev 2.0 and agric support

One of the pillars of the scheme, Ibisime Etela, a professor and TAGDev 2.0 Programme Coordinator in the University of Port Harcourt, said at the PH event that the scheme is about transforming African agricultural universities to meaningfully contribute to Africa’s growth and development.

‘It’s a Pan-African programme being implemented by 12 universities across Africa that are members of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), with headquarters in Kampala, Uganda. So, they are supporting the TAGDev 2.0 Program in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.’

He talked about three components: one that has to do with academic empowerment with 60 fully paid undergraduate scholarship programmes. The next is the community engagement, and the third component is promoting climate-smart agriculture through the programme. ‘We have a component for tree planting where about 500,000 trees shall be planted over a period of time. So, all these are components that have been designed to promote food security.’

He said to date, they have reached about 1,200 farmers, smallholder farmers.

FRSC begins operation targeting fake number plates nationwide

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has commenced the second phase of its special intervention patrol, codenamed ‘Operation Gaduma’.

This is part of renewed efforts to eliminate the growing menace of fake, covered, defaced and obsolete vehicle number plates on Nigerian roads.

A statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), MrOsonduOhaeri on Saturday in Abuja stated that the five-day operation was scheduled from tomorrow, November 2 to Friday, November 6.

Ohaeri said that it represented an escalation of the corps’ commitment to strengthening road safety enforcement while addressing emerging security concerns associated with the unlawful use of vehicle registration plates.

He said that the intervention, approved by the Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, would be conducted across selected states, with specially designated senior officers deployed to coordinate and supervise the exercise.

‘Operation Guduma Phase Two builds on the achievements of the first phase conducted in May 2026, which recorded 1,691 arrests across 11 states.

‘Of this figure, 1,003 motorists were apprehended for various number plate-related offences, 683 for overloading and mixed-loading, while five persons were arrested for using fake diplomatic number plates.

‘The statistics provide a compelling indication of the scale of the challenge and the need for sustained enforcement,’ he said.

Ohaeri said that the renewed intervention followed growing concerns expressed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) over the increasing use of fake vehicle registration plates.

These, he said, included covered, defaced, obsolete and counterfeit diplomatic plates.

He added that the security implications of the trend were considerable, particularly given the strategic importance of road transportation in the movement of persons and goods across the country.