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Experts urge Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry to look beyond domestic market

The need for Nigeria to strengthen local pharmaceutical production, expand access to essential medicines and improve preparedness for epidemics and pandemics took a centre stage at a side event during the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly in Midtown Manhattan, New York.

The programme was hosted by 10Generation, in partnership with the Institute of Scientology as well as Word Mission Foundation in New York.

The event brought attention to the relationship between pharmaceutical manufacturing, public health education and Africa’s capacity to prevent and manage future health emergencies.

Moderated by international broadcast and multimedia Journalist, Lydia Enyidiya Eke, the discussion examined the opportunities for Nigeria to strengthen its pharmaceutical industry, serve its domestic market more effectively and position locally manufactured medicines for eligible regional and international markets.

A central issue was the need to look beyond Nigeria’s domestic pharmaceutical market and explore the country’s potential to become a stronger participant in the global pharmaceutical industry.

With Africa’s population approaching 1.5 billion, the continent represents a substantial market for medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and other essential healthcare products.

However, converting this demand into improved health outcomes requires investment in manufacturing capacity, research, quality assurance, infrastructure and effective regulation.

The discussion however, highlighted the importance of building local capacity to meet healthcare needs while ensuring that pharmaceutical products intended for international markets satisfy the relevant safety, quality and regulatory requirements.

Beyond manufacturing, the programme addressed the importance of preparing Nigeria and other African countries to prevent, detect and manage epidemics and pandemics.

The panelists who spoke included President and Founder, World Mission Foundation who is the main Representative to the UN ECOSOC, Ambassador Anthony.

Others were Fadja Robert-Carr, of 10 Generation and Nicole Berth, Community Affairs, Institute of Scientology.

The speakers noted that health emergencies could expose weaknesses in medicine supply chains, healthcare infrastructure, disease surveillance and public communication.

Strengthening these systems before an outbreak occurs is therefore an important part of building national and regional health security.

Expanding reliable local pharmaceutical production could contribute to this effort by diversifying sources of essential medicines and reducing exposure to international supply disruptions.

Nevertheless, effective preparedness also requires trained health personnel, laboratory capacity, emergency response systems and coordinated public health policies.

The conversation underscored the importance of treating preparedness as a continuous responsibility rather than an activity undertaken only when an outbreak emerges.

Public Health Communication as a Prevention Tool was also a part of the panel discussion.

Public service announcements and sustained health enlightenment campaigns equally featured among the issues highlighted during the programme.

Radio, television, digital media and community communication channels can help people understand disease risks, recognise the importance of prevention and obtain reliable information about appropriate health practices.

Effective communication is particularly important during epidemics and pandemics, when misinformation and delayed access to credible information can complicate public health responses.

The discussion pointed to the need for accurate, accessible and actionable public health messages that reach people across different communities.

For Nigeria, this means strengthening collaboration among health authorities, medical professionals, pharmaceutical manufacturers, researchers and the media.

Public health communication must also be supported by accessible healthcare services so that people can act on the information they receive.

Another important dimension of the discussion was the need to place disease prevention at the centre of healthcare planning.

Prevention includes immunisation, sanitation, health education, screening, early diagnosis and access to appropriate medical interventions. These measures can reduce avoidable illness and help ease pressure on healthcare facilities.

The right to health is recognised within international human rights frameworks, although the specific legal obligations and mechanisms for implementation differ across countries.

This makes the responsibility to provide reliable health information, strengthen preventive services and improve access to essential healthcare an important issue for policymakers and public health institutions.

Moderating the discussion, Eke brought her experience in broadcast journalism, editorial leadership and public-interest communication to a conversation connecting pharmaceutical development with health security and public enlightenment.

Her participation reflects the role of professional moderators and journalists in facilitating conversations on issues with implications for public policy, economic development and the well-being of communities.

The issues raised at the Manhattan programme point to the importance of a coordinated approach to Africa’s health future.

Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry requires an enabling environment for responsible investment, innovation, quality manufacturing and regulatory compliance. At the same time, health systems need sustained investment in preparedness, prevention and public communication.

Governments, manufacturers, research institutions, healthcare professionals and media organisations all have roles to play in advancing these priorities.

For Nigeria and the wider African continent, the challenge is to translate market potential into stronger production capacity, and public health knowledge into practical preventive action.

The broader message is that health security cannot depend exclusively on responding to emergencies.

It must be built through sustained investment in local capacity, effective healthcare systems and informed communities.

Prime Minister pledges to defend citizenship programme amid US, EU pressure

Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda will continue to engage the United States and European Union in efforts to resolve concerns surrounding its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI), warning that mounting international pressures threaten the country’s economic interests and the mobility of its citizens.

In his address to the nation on Sunday, marking Antigua and Barbuda’s 45th anniversary of political independence, Browne acknowledged that the country faces significant external challenges, including the partial suspension of US visa issuance to its nationals and a request from the European Union to phase out the CBI programme by June 2028.

He warned that the EU’s position could jeopardise visa-free access to the Schengen Area, while the US restrictions have implications for citizens seeking educational, commercial and personal opportunities abroad.

‘We have offered our full cooperation and remain prepared to work constructively to address the security concerns they have raised, while safeguarding the legitimate interests, rights and opportunities of our people.’

He said the government would continue negotiations with both international partners, adopting what he described as a respectful but firm approach.

The Prime Minister defended the importance of the CBI programme, noting that it provides critical revenue for public services, infrastructure development and government financing.

‘Our Citizenship by Investment Programme has become an important source of public revenue and development financing. It helps to support public services, finance critical infrastructure and provide fiscal space that reduces the burden on taxpayers,’ he said.

Browne acknowledged, however, that the government must remain innovative in determining the programme’s future.

‘We cannot afford complacency, nor can we allow these challenges to diminish our national ambition,’ he declared.

Turning to the country’s economic performance, the Prime Minister said Antigua and Barbuda had achieved a significant milestone by attaining the World Bank’s high-income classification.

However, he cautioned that the designation did not necessarily reflect the circumstances of every household, acknowledging that some families continued to struggle financially.

He identified the rising cost of living, global supply chain disruptions and increasing energy prices among the challenges confronting the twin-island nation.

The Prime Minister said his administration remained committed to cushioning the impact on vulnerable households while pursuing greater economic diversification, renewable energy development and employment opportunities for young people.

‘Our independence must mean more than political sovereignty. It must also mean the economic capacity to determine our future, withstand external pressures and provide a better quality of life for our citizens.’

Browne also used the anniversary address to renew calls for reparatory justice, saying the consequences of slavery and colonial exploitation continued to affect Caribbean societies.

He disclosed that his government was advancing the issue in bilateral discussions with the United Kingdom and within the Commonwealth, including at a meeting scheduled to begin on Monday.

‘Our pursuit of reparatory justice therefore deserves seriousness, sensitivity and sustained international engagement,’ he said.

The Prime Minister said historical injustices must be acknowledged while maintaining constructive relationships with international partners.

The anniversary celebrations are also being marked by a visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Browne welcomed the royal couple, noting the historical significance of the visit, 45 years after Princess Margaret represented Queen Elizabeth II at the country’s independence celebrations in 1981.

He also addressed the future of the country’s constitutional arrangements, noting that Antigua and Barbuda had remained a constitutional monarchy since independence.

‘The future of our constitutional arrangements, however, belongs ultimately to the people of Antigua and Barbuda and must be determined by them through our constitutional processes,’ he said.

Reflecting on the country’s development, then Prime Minister highlighted investments in education, healthcare, airport and seaport infrastructure, including the establishment of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus.

He also recalled the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017, particularly in Barbuda, and praised residents for their resilience and rebuilding efforts.

Browne said the country must now focus on strengthening economic self-reliance, creating sustainable opportunities and ensuring that future generations benefit from the sacrifices made since independence.

‘We have won our political independence. Now, let us deepen our economic independence,’ he said.

‘We have demonstrated our capacity to survive. Now, let us build the capacity to thrive.’

We must enable people, build institutions that convert capacity into sustainable performance – Salami

Abiola Salami, Performance Strategist and founder, CHAMP Global Leadership Consulting, a leadership development and performance advisory firm, speaks to institutional investment in technology, people, infrastructure and innovation; and argues that innovation and adoption are not sufficient measures of institutional success. In this interview, Salami discusses why Nigeria needs a stronger approach to measuring institutional performance leadership ahead of the 2026 Peak Performer Africa awards scheduled for November 20. Excerpts by JOHN SALAU:

As a performance strategist, what role would you say governance and accountability play in institutional performance?

They are central. Strategy without accountability can become aspiration without delivery.

Governance without decision quality can become procedural compliance without effective oversight. Good governance should help an institution make sound decisions, identify risks, allocate resources responsibly and ensure that authority is matched by accountability.

Accountability also has to extend beyond assigning blame when something goes wrong. It requires clarity about who owns an outcome, the resources and authority available to that person, the standards against which performance is assessed, and the mechanisms for learning and correction. When these elements work together, accountability becomes a performance discipline rather than a disciplinary event.

What is the implication of having an institution heavily dependent on the chief executive when it comes to performance?

It may perform impressively during that leader’s tenure, but the more important question is whether the institution has built the capability to continue performing when that individual leaves. Enduring performance requires leadership depth, succession planning, institutional memory, effective processes and a culture that supports sound decisions beyond the personality of the chief executive. A leader’s legacy should not be measured only by the results achieved while in office. It should also be measured by the institution’s readiness to continue delivering afterwards. This is why leadership continuity and succession are among the dimensions examined by the Performance Leadership Index.

What is the Performance Leadership Index?

The Performance Leadership Index 2026 is an evidence-led assessment developed by The Peak Performer Africa to examine institutional capability for sustainable performance. It is not designed to reward size, popularity or visibility.

It examines the evidence of how institutions establish direction, execute priorities, take ownership of performance, govern decisions, develop leadership capability and sustain results. The assessment uses ten dimensions i.e. Strategic Coherence; Execution Discipline; Performance Ownership and Accountability; Leadership Capability and Readiness; Leadership Continuity and Succession; Governance, Decision Quality and Behavioural Integrity; People, Culture and Organisational Alignment; Innovation and Organisational Adaptability; Stakeholder Confidence and Market Signals; and Enduring Performance.

Together, these dimensions encourage a more integrated view of institutional effectiveness.

How does the Index differentiate genuine performance from good corporate storytelling?

Our methodology uses the 5D Standard (i.e. Direction, Discipline, Depth, Dynamism and Durability) through evidence and disciplined assessment. It also applies the Four Proof Rule, which examines evidence of the system, the outcome, the time dimension and independent corroboration. The assessment considers the strength and consistency of the available evidence, rather than relying solely on what an institution says about itself. Evidence confidence and integrity checks are also part of the process.

A distinction must be made between a claim and proof of that claim. Having a policy does not automatically demonstrate that it is implemented effectively. Reporting an achievement does not, by itself, establish that the achievement is sustainable. The assessment is designed to reward substantiated institutional capability – not merely compelling narratives.

What does the Index mean for institutions that are recognised?

Recognition should mean something more than visibility. It should reflect evidence that an institution meets a defined standard. The Performance Leadership Index 2026 assesses institutions against a common methodology, with sector context considered in interpreting institutional performance. It is not intended to produce a simplistic league table of the largest or most popular organisations. The 2026 assessment covers 100 institutions, with 25 qualifying as PLI 25 Leading Institutions under the established assessment criteria. The assessment uses a threshold of 80 percent, alongside minimum requirements across the five dimensions, evidence confidence and integrity criteria. Recognition is therefore tied to the applicable evidence and qualification standard.

It should be understood in that context.

Do you think there is a need to measure performance leadership differently in Nigeria?

We have become accustomed to measuring institutional success through familiar indicators like revenue, profitability, market share, growth, asset size and visibility. These are important, but they do not tell the complete story. We must also ask how consistently an institution translates its strategic direction into results, how well it executes, whether accountability is embedded in its operating culture, how sound its governance, and whether it can sustain performance beyond the tenure of a particular leader. An institution can be profitable without being sufficiently resilient. It can be innovative without delivering a better customer experience. It can have an impressive strategy that never becomes an organisational reality. Performance Leadership challenges us to examine the connection between direction, capability, execution and outcomes. The question is not simply whether an institution is successful today. It is whether it has the leadership systems, organisational discipline and institutional foundations to sustain that success.

On Friday, November 20, 2026, at MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, The Peak Performer Africa will convene two connected experiences under the theme Unlocking Capacity. Redefining Performance. The evening programme, TPP Awards 2026, featuring the Performance Leadership Honours, begins at 6:00 p.m. It will include my keynote on The State of Performance Leadership in Nigeria and the unveiling of the Performance Leadership Index 2026, alongside institutional and individual recognitions under the applicable criteria. The morning experience, No More Shrinking; The Full Capacity Experience, begins at 8:00 a.m. and examines the utilisation of female capacity in Nigeria. The two conversations are connected by a national imperative: we must enable people to contribute fully and build institutions that convert capacity into sustainable performance.

Are you saying financial performance indicators are no longer relevant?

Not at all. Financial performance remains essential. My argument is that we should distinguish between measuring results and understanding the institutional capabilities that produce and sustain those results. Profitability tells us something important about an institution. But it does not, by itself, tell us how effectively the organisation manages risk, develops future leaders, maintains governance standards, aligns its people, adapts to disruption or prepares for leadership succession. The objective is not to replace financial indicators. It is to complement them with a more complete understanding of institutional performance. A stronger measurement approach helps boards and executives understand not only what happened, but also the systems and leadership disciplines that made it possible and whether those systems can continue to deliver.

How should businesses do outside investing in innovation to boost institutional performance?

They should begin by defining the outcomes that matter before celebrating the activity. If an institution invests in digital banking, for example, it should examine not only transaction volumes and adoption but also reliability, security, complaints resolution, inclusion and customer trust. If it invests in employee development, it should examine whether leadership capability improves, execution becomes stronger and business outcomes change. If it introduces a new strategy, it should track whether priorities are understood, resources are aligned, responsibilities are clear and intended outcomes are achieved. In my latest Guardian column, I make a related argument about digital banking that the deployment of technology is not the same as the achievement of better performance. The same principle applies across sectors. The discipline is simple; connect investment to capability, capability to execution, and execution to evidence of results.

What do you consider a call to action after a possible engagement with this approach?

I would encourage boards and chief executives to ask five questions. First, is our strategic direction clear enough to guide choices and resource allocation? Second, do we have the discipline to execute our priorities consistently? Third, is accountability connected to outcomes rather than activity alone? Fourth, do our governance, leadership and people systems support the performance we expect? Finally, are we building an institution that can sustain its results over time? These questions can expose gaps that conventional reporting may not make sufficiently visible. The value of measurement is not the score itself. It is the quality of the decisions that follow.

Finally, what is your advice to Nigerian business leaders on deepening institutional performance?

Do not confuse activity with achievement, visibility with capability, or short-term success with enduring performance. The institutions that will matter most in the years ahead are those that can demonstrate a clear direction, execute with discipline, take ownership of outcomes, govern responsibly and sustain results. Nigeria does not lack ambition. We must become more deliberate about building the institutional capability to turn ambition into performance.

Nothing will make us postpone 2027 polls, INEC chair vows

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out any plan to postpone the 2027 general elections, insisting that the polls will be held as scheduled.

The Chairman of the commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, said the timetable for the elections had been fixed and would not be altered for any reason, assuring that preparations were already in top gear.

Amupitan stated this on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, during an interactive meeting with INEC staff members, including Resident Electoral Commissioners from the six states of the South-South geopolitical zone, to assess their preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

His assurance comes amid claims by some political parties that the commission was planning to postpone the general elections.

Addressing the staff, the INEC chairman said the commission was committed to conducting credible elections in accordance with the provisions of the law.

‘Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must hold as scheduled,’ he declared.

Amupitan disclosed that Rivers State would receive special attention in the commission’s preparations for the forthcoming elections because of its strategic position and having the highest number of registered voters in the South-South region.

He gave the number of registered voters in Rivers as 3,736,434, followed by Delta with 3,525,988; Edo, 2,865,263; Akwa Ibom, 2,566,198; Cross River, 1,928,978; and Bayelsa, 1,200,691.

He said the six states had a combined total of 15,823,550 registered voters, adding that the commission would pay closer attention to Rivers because of its electoral significance in the region.

‘With the 3,736,434 registered voters for Rivers State, the state leads the South-South. By this, the commission will put more attention to what happens in Rivers State. It is your duty to ensure that no voter is disenfranchised because of operational failures,’ he said.

The INEC chairman further disclosed that the commission had received more than 5,000 claims seeking corrections to the voters’ register, including errors in names and dates of birth, as well as over 600 objections.

He said the commission was addressing the complaints to ensure a credible voters’ register ahead of the elections, adding that the final register would be released on 15 December.

Amupitan explained that although the commission had initially considered revalidating the voters’ register after he assumed office, the idea was dropped following concerns that the exercise would be too close to the general elections.

On the commission’s preparedness, he expressed confidence in its capacity to conduct peaceful, transparent and credible elections, citing lessons learnt from recent off-cycle governorship elections, particularly the Osun State election.

He said the Osun election recorded the highest voter turnout in the history of off-cycle elections in the country and was adjudged credible locally and internationally despite earlier security concerns.

‘Osun State elections gave us the confidence that we can achieve this despite the noise. It is good that we had a series of those elections before the general elections because we learn lessons from every election,’ he stated.

He added that INEC would apply the experience gained from the off-cycle elections to improve its preparations for the 2027 polls, expressing optimism that the general elections would be better.

‘We will conduct elections that will move the nation forward and not an election that will bring it down,’ he said.

On security, Amupitan said the commission was working with relevant security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, to guarantee the safety of voters, electoral personnel, ad hoc staff and election materials during the polls.

He said INEC would not encourage Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards only to fail to guarantee their safety when they turn out to exercise their franchise.

‘We want every part of Nigeria to be calm during the elections so that people can come out to vote. We will not tell them to take their PVCs and then not guarantee their safety,’ he said.

The INEC chairman also dismissed concerns that Artificial Intelligence and algorithms could determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections, insisting that Nigerians, through their votes, would decide the results.

‘It is the people of Nigeria that will decide the outcome of the elections and not AI or any algorithms,’ he said.

He, however, acknowledged the growing cybersecurity threats associated with Artificial Intelligence, noting that the commission would explore ways of deploying technology to protect its systems against possible attacks.

Amupitan said INEC was also working to strengthen the security of its digital infrastructure, assuring that the commission would not allow anyone to undermine its operations.

He urged electoral officials across the South-South to remain committed to their responsibilities, stressing that the credibility of the elections would largely depend on their conduct at polling units and other field locations.

He warned that any commission staff member or ad hoc official, including members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), found compromising the electoral process would be punished in accordance with the law.

The INEC chairman also warned that anyone who threatened or harmed electoral officials, including corps members deployed for election duties, would face the full weight of the law.

He cautioned electoral officers against partisanship, negligence, absenteeism and financial misconduct, warning that such conduct would attract disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, Amupitan has assured Nigerians that the delays that marred the delivery of election materials in previous elections will not be repeated in 2027.

He gave the assurance on Friday, 30 October 2026, during a courtesy visit to the palace of the King and Paramount Ruler of Port Harcourt, His Royal Majesty, Barr. Uchechukwu Isaiah Elikwu, Eze Epara Rebisi XII, in Rivers State.

‘The era of the past, when elections were supposed to start by 8:30 am but materials sometimes arrived very late, must come to an end,’ he said.

He disclosed that the voter threshold for deploying additional BVAS machines had been reduced from 1,250 to 850 voters per polling unit.

‘We realise that the true dynamics of democracy are shaped in the field, within our local communities, across riverine channels, at Registration Area Centres and at polling units where citizens exercise their sovereign right,’ he said.

He said the commission had prioritised direct engagement with traditional rulers, describing the royal fathers as anchors of grassroots peace, civic engagement and community stability.

He listed the monarchs visited so far to include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun; the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli; the Ogadagidi I of Edem-An Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom, Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu; and the Emir of Gombe, Dr Abubakar Shehu III.

Amupitan appealed to the royal fathers to help mobilise residents to collect Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and turn out to vote in 2027, and to educate citizens on the dangers of misinformation, disinformation and artificial intelligence.

In response, Eze Epara Rebisi XII assured the commission of the support of traditional rulers and urged it to remain steadfast, fair and impartial.

‘Do the right thing, and we assure you of our support. We will mobilise our people to collect their PVCs and come out to vote. We assure you of our unflinching support,’ he said.

Falana requests prosecution of Sowore’s attackers in Ado-Ekiti

A Lagos-based human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, on Sunday charged the Ekiti State Police Command to immediately arrest and prosecute the suspected thugs who attacked the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, in Ado-Ekiti.

The SAN equally urged the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice to take over the prosecution of two suspects, Joseph Rotimi Olabiowonu, popularly known as Metilo, and Opeyemi Adedoyin, who are accused of abducting and assaulting Sunday Ogunsakin, leading to his death.

Falana made the request in a statement on Sunday while expressing sadness over what he described as the growing incidence of political violence, thuggery and unlawful killings in Ekiti State.

While recalling past incidents of political violence in the state, the human rights crusader referenced the alleged killings of Dr Ayo Daramola, Tunde Omojola and Engr Kehinde Fasuba by a notorious killer squad allegedly operating because of political differences.

Falana maintained that the criminal gang also threatened the lives of other prominent indigenes of the state, just as he noted that although suspects were arrested and charged with the murders before the Ekiti State High Court, the cases were allegedly compromised by powerful political interests.

The senior lawyer stated that the failure to ensure justice in those cases had contributed to the persistence of political thuggery and unlawful killings in the state.

Falana equally recounted the circumstances surrounding the death of Sunday Ogunsakin following an alleged attack on 14 September 2026.

The SAN alleged that Olabiowonu, a former chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and Adedoyin invaded Ogunsakin’s residence in Afao-Ekiti over a land dispute.

According to the human rights lawyer, the victim was abducted and severely assaulted before the suspects allegedly pushed him out of a moving vehicle, causing serious head injuries.

‘Ogunsakin was subsequently rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), where he was pronounced dead.

‘The two suspects were arrested and investigated by the Ekiti State Police Command under Commissioner of Police Michael Falade before being arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Ado-Ekiti,’ he said.

Falana commended the magistrate for ordering their remand in a correctional facility pending legal advice from the state Attorney-General, despite alleged pressure from powerful interests.

Falana further urged the state Ministry of Justice to take over the case involving Olabiowonu and Adedoyin and ensure that they are charged before the High Court for alleged abduction, torture and murder.

The question about factories that kept returning at Brussels Business Forum

Conversations with Nigerian delegates attending the annual Nigeria-Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum revealed strong support for retaining more value at home. But they also reinforced a practical truth: Nigeria cannot legislate value addition without building the industrial system that makes it possible.

Over breakfast, the conversation began with cocoa. At lunch, it moved to minerals, machinery and industrial power. By dinner, we were discussing finance, European buyers and the uncomfortable possibility that a well-intentioned export restriction could harm the very Nigerian producers it was designed to support.

I am writing from Brussels, where I have been engaging with business leaders and institutional representatives attending the ongoing Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum. Many have travelled from Nigeria to explore partnerships in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, maritime logistics, finance, technology and other sectors.

Amid the formal panels and scheduled business meetings, one subject has repeatedly found its way into our informal conversations: Nigeria’s proposed requirement that raw materials receive at least 30 per cent domestic value addition before export. I was amazed by how engaged the delegates were. They did not dispute the diagnosis behind the proposal. On the contrary, there was broad frustration with an economic structure in which Nigeria exports cocoa beans but imports branded chocolate; ships minerals abroad but purchases the machinery and industrial components produced from them; and supplies raw materials while employment, technology and processing margins accumulate elsewhere.

The desire to retain more value in Nigeria is real. It is not an abstract policy slogan. It is shared by entrepreneurs who want to manufacture, exporters who want to move up the value chain and professionals who understand the opportunities Nigeria loses when productive conversion happens elsewhere.

Yet the more we discussed the proposed legislation, the clearer the central question became:

Can Nigeria require value addition before it has built the factory, supplied the electricity, financed the machinery and secured the buyer?

The principle deserves support. The instrument requires careful design.

Breakfast and the cocoa question

Our breakfast conversation was particularly relevant in Belgium. Belgium occupies an important place in the international cocoa and chocolate economy. Nigerian cocoa enters European supply chains through ports, warehouses, traders and processors. Yet much of the highest commercial value is created after the commodity has left the producing country. Nobody around the table argued that this pattern should continue indefinitely.

But cocoa also illustrates why a universal percentage can create more questions than answers. What constitutes 30 per cent value addition? Is it measured by weight, production cost, market value or processing stage? Does fermenting, drying and grading cocoa qualify? Must beans be converted into liquor, butter or powder? Would finished chocolate be required? At which point has the statutory threshold been crossed?

The same difficulty appears across other commodities. Cutting and polishing a mineral is not equivalent to refining it into an industrial input. Processing sesame, cashew, timber or lithium requires different technologies, energy requirements, capital commitments and markets. A single percentage may offer political simplicity while producing commercial confusion.

My view, shared by several delegates, is that Nigeria needs commodity-specific value-chain assessments before imposing restrictions. For each product, the government should establish existing processing capacity, energy requirements, technology gaps, access to finance, viable markets and the time businesses will need to adjust. Thirty per cent may be achievable for one commodity, insufficiently ambitious for another and temporarily impractical for a third. Industrial policy must be bold enough to change behaviour but sophisticated enough to recognise different economic realities.

At lunch, electricity entered the conversation

By lunchtime, our conversation had moved from the legal requirement to the physical conditions of production. Factories do not run on legislation. Processing is energy-intensive. A Nigerian manufacturer operating with unreliable grid electricity and expensive self-generation may be legally required to add value but remain commercially unable to compete with a foreign processor enjoying dependable and cheaper power. This is not a theoretical concern.

Across Africa, governments are using export restrictions, tax incentives and access to mineral deposits to encourage local processing. Investors broadly understand the ambition. But they repeatedly identify affordable and dependable electricity as a decisive constraint. South Africa possesses enormous mineral reserves yet has lost much of its ferrochrome-processing capacity as electricity costs and reliability undermined competitiveness. Guinea has become a leading bauxite producer but will need several times its present electricity generation to realise its aluminium-processing ambitions.

The lesson for Nigeria is straightforward. For every commodity made subject to a processing obligation, the government should publish an accompanying industrial-capacity plan. It should address electricity, water, industrial land, transport, storage, waste management and access to the relevant technology. Otherwise, the policy would not create value addition. It would simply transfer Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit to producers and exporters. Power must precede prohibition.

The machinery still needs finance

Finance became the next subject. Domestic processing requires machinery, construction finance and working capital. Exporters must hold inventory through longer production cycles. Small farmers and artisanal producers need aggregation systems capable of delivering consistent volumes and quality. Yet the structure of Nigerian finance remains poorly suited to long-term industrial development.

A processor cannot sensibly finance machinery with short-term, high-cost credit. An international investor cannot price a twenty-year project if electricity tariffs, export rules or foreign-exchange arrangements may change after construction begins. The Federal Government has said that private capital should finance Nigeria’s next phase of growth rather than additional sovereign borrowing. That is a reasonable objective. But private investors will not finance industrial transformation merely because the government prefers private capital. They will require investable projects, appropriate finance, capable counterparties, predictable rules and credible routes to market.

Nigeria must therefore connect the value-addition proposal to credit guarantees, equipment leasing, development-finance facilities, export credit and blended-finance structures. The purpose should not be to subsidise factories indefinitely. It should be to bridge the difficult period between industrial ambition and commercially sustainable production. This is also where Belgian and Luxembourg institutions can contribute. Belgium brings industrial technology, logistics, commodity-market knowledge, and access to European buyers. Luxembourg brings expertise in investment funds, cross-border finance and structured capital. But those capabilities must be organised around real projects, not general expressions of interest.

Dinner and the danger facing primary producers

Our dinner discussion turned to the people most likely to be overlooked: farmers, miners and other primary producers. An export restriction introduced before domestic processors can absorb available production may reduce competition for raw materials. Farm-gate or mine-gate prices could fall. Large processors might gain access to captive supply while smaller producers lose the option of selling to foreign buyers. That would transform a policy presented as economic sovereignty into a transfer of income from primary producers to protected processors. Nigeria must not allow that to happen.

Before applying restrictions, the government should conduct transparent domestic-capacity tests. If local processors cannot purchase available production at commercially reasonable prices, producers should retain access to export markets. Independent monitoring should publish domestic processing capacity, utilisation rates, purchasing volumes, producer prices, and export demand. The purpose of value addition is to enlarge national income. It is not to redistribute existing income towards a small group of industrial beneficiaries.

My conversations with European counterparts

The responsibility does not rest with Nigeria alone. In my conversations with European counterparts during the forum, I have made the point that Europe cannot praise African industrialisation while preserving commercial arrangements that favour the importation of unprocessed African commodities. European buyers can support processing in Nigeria through long-term purchase agreements. Equipment manufacturers can provide training, maintenance and local assembly. Financial institutions can offer patient capital and risk-sharing. Importers and standards bodies can help Nigerian companies meet European safety, traceability and environmental requirements before new factories begin production.

Belgium is particularly relevant. Its ports, cocoa industry, commodity-trading networks, industrial engineering, and logistics capabilities connect directly to Nigerian value chains. However, a fair industrial partnership must go beyond selling European machinery into Nigeria. It should develop Nigerian suppliers, train engineers, transfer knowledge and guarantee meaningful market access for the processed products those factories eventually produce. Fair trade is not achieved merely when Africa processes more. It is achieved when African processed goods can enter valuable markets and compete on reasonable terms.

Not every factory must be national

Another point arising from our discussions concerned regional scale. Not every African country can efficiently process every commodity. Some industrial facilities require volumes, power and markets larger than one national economy can provide. AfCFTA should therefore form part of the value-addition architecture.

Nigeria could host facilities supplied partly by neighbouring producers. Another African country may develop specialist processing capacity serving Nigerian enterprises. Regional power pools, transport corridors, and harmonised standards can make investments viable where isolated national projects cannot. The objective should be African value addition. It should not be 54 countries attempting to reproduce every stage of every value chain. Economic sovereignty is strengthened through strategic interdependence, not industrial isolation.

The conversation after the forum

The engagement of our delegates has convinced me that Nigeria’s business community is ready for a serious value-addition conversation. These entrepreneurs are not asking to preserve an extractive economic model. Many want to manufacture, process and export higher-value goods. They understand that Nigeria cannot achieve prosperity by remaining principally a supplier of raw materials. But they also know from experience that ambition without infrastructure becomes another cost imposed on enterprise.

Nigeria’s proposed legislation begins with the correct diagnosis. Exporting unprocessed resources indefinitely will not create the jobs, technology, and productive capabilities the country needs. But diagnosis is not execution. A functioning value-addition strategy requires a complete conversion chain: Raw-material endowment, reliable power, processing technology, appropriate finance, skilled operators, competitive logistics, verified standards, committed buyers and measurable national value.

Break any link and the percentage mandate may become an obstacle rather than an industrial policy. Nigeria should therefore implement the proposed requirement gradually and commodity by commodity. It should publish capacity assessments, protect primary producers, provide realistic transition periods and connect export restrictions to measurable infrastructure and financing milestones.

As we break into two groups for company visits, one heading for Antwerp to take a tour around cocoa handling, warehousing, and logistics, and the other heading for Kortrijk to visit technology, innovation, and industrial hubs, I hope the Couch Conversation will be consistent. Success should not be measured by the volume of raw exports prevented. It should be measured by factories operating, workers trained, domestic suppliers developed, processed products exported, and national income increased. As our breakfast, lunch, and dinner conversations repeatedly reminded me, 30 per cent can be written into legislation. The factory, the electricity, the finance, and the market must still be built.

. Nweke is an International Trade Consultant and author of Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora. A former Belgian politician of Nigerian origin, born in Igbuzo, Delta State, Nigeria, he was a 2014 candidate for Member of the European Parliament. A third-term Municipal Legislator at Ostend City Council, Belgium, since 2006, his portfolio included the Economy, Social Policy, Equality Affairs and International Development. Collins features regularly on TV Continental Lagos as Global Affairs Analyst, on Channels TV as Foreign Policy Commentator, on TRT World Istanbul as African Affairs Analyst, among other Afrocentric media houses, including BusinessDay Nigeria

What Nigerians, Africa must learn from ‘Why Good Things Fall Apart’ – Fortune Ileleji

Artist and author Fortune Ileleji has examined why talented individuals, promising organisations and relationships often fail despite having the ingredients for success in his new book, The Law of Cohesion.

The book explores how the relationships between different elements can determine whether they work together towards a common goal or undermine one another.

Drawing on observations from human relationships, business, creative pursuits and everyday life, Ileleji argues that having the right people, ideas or resources does not automatically guarantee success if the different parts fail to work in harmony.

His argument raises questions relevant to Nigeria and Africa, where individual talent, ambition and resources do not always translate into collective progress.

According to Ileleji, the idea behind the book emerged from questions about why talented people struggle to build successful organisations, why relationships between people who love one another become dysfunctional, and why intelligent, ambitious and hardworking individuals sometimes fail to achieve their goals.

These questions led him to examine the connections between different parts of a system and how their interactions shape the outcome.

‘I became interested in the relationships between the parts. We tend to examine things individually, but a good part does not automatically produce a good whole,’ he said.

In The Law of Cohesion, Ileleji explores what enables different elements to complement one another rather than work at cross-purposes, arguing that the strength of a whole depends not only on the quality of its individual components but also on how they relate to one another.

The book reflects his broader interest in making complex realities easier to understand by identifying connections that are not always immediately apparent.

Rather than examining individual elements in isolation, he focuses on how they interact, what they reinforce or contradict, and the wider consequences of those relationships.

He said the same approach informs his work across painting, writing and his observations of business and everyday situations.

‘Sometimes the problem is not hidden at all. Every piece of information is already there. What is missing is the relationship between the pieces. Once that relationship becomes visible, something that seemed complicated can suddenly become obvious,’ he said.

Beyond organisations and human relationships, Ileleji extends the idea of cohesion to personal decisions, ambitions and long-term goals.

He argues that people can make seemingly sensible choices in different areas of their lives without recognising that those decisions may collectively lead them in a direction they never intended.

‘You can make sensible decisions about your career, relationships, ambitions, money, health and time, yet discover that together they are constructing a life you never consciously chose,’ he said.

He hopes the book will encourage readers to examine whether their decisions, priorities and pursuits complement one another or pull them in conflicting directions.

‘The Law of Cohesion gives you a way to see those relationships and ask whether the different parts of your life are actually strengthening the whole,’ he added.

Ileleji’s interest in creative expression began in childhood, when he watched his father sketch with a pen. He recalls being fascinated by how an image could emerge from a blank surface, turning an idea into something tangible.

Although he does not consider the experience the sole explanation for his artistic development, he regards it as an early introduction to the possibility of giving physical form to something internal.

The Law of Cohesion is available worldwide in print and digital editions through major book retailers.

Airline operator calls for collaboration, reform of Igbo business model

The Executive Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has said that the Igbo entrepreneurial model must be reformed, not discarded, if it is to remain competitive in today’s global economy.

Prof. Okonkwo, who was the facilitator at the 2026 Annual General Meeting of De Imperial Philanthropic Family in Lagos at the weekend, delivered a talk titled ‘Recalibrating the Igbo Entrepreneurial Model for the Emerging Global Economy.’

He maintained that although the strengths of the model, which include individual initiative, self-reliance and a long record of commercial success, remain valuable, the challenge is not to abandon the traditional model but to recalibrate it.

Prof. Okonkwo’s first proposal was to reformulate the Igbo apprenticeship system to ensure that apprentices acquire skills in digital commerce, financial technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence, international marketing, business management, intellectual property and export procedures. He advised that these competencies should be incorporated into the system while retaining its practical, mentor-based character.

He criticised universities that conduct research without considering how it could be commercialised, arguing that academic institutions need closer ties with industry. He also urged businesses to create opportunities for young people to contribute ideas and encouraged continuous learning and experimentation to keep indigenous firms dynamic. He further proposed closer exchanges between universities and markets to enable academic knowledge to complement skills from the informal sector.

On recalibrating the Igbo model, Okonkwo said businesses must collaborate more rather than engage in unhealthy competition and rivalry. He said although individual initiative remains a strength of the tradition, the complexity of modern production makes collaboration essential. He pointed to shared production facilities as a way of reducing the costs that small and medium-sized enterprises would otherwise bear individually.

He said: ‘A typical example of collaboration is my relationship with my dear friend and brother, Allen Onyema of Air Peace. This provides a practical illustration of an alternative approach. Many expected us to engage in bitter rivalry but we rejected that and have developed a mutually beneficial and worthy partnership whose significance has resonated within the aviation sector. Collaboration can create opportunities for partnerships and shared growth. Very soon, you would be able to buy Air Peace tickets and fly United Nigeria Airlines with it. These are the kinds of things collaboration among us can bring because there is more to gain than to lose.’

Okonkwo also spent several minutes discussing the export readiness of Nigerian businesses. He said that while studying in Russia, he could import goods from many countries but not from Nigeria because Nigerian products did not meet the required export standards.

He said Nigeria could export some agricultural products, but entering certain markets required meeting specific standards in certification, packaging, quality assurance, export documentation and intellectual property protection.

He cited the Aba Export Group lab, established under Abia State Governor Alex Otti and commissioned in 2025, as an example of institutional support. The lab is designed to help firms standardise, package and brand products for export, with initial focus areas including agro-products and fashion apparel.

He said: ‘Imagine a global economy in which enterprises can meet international standards, deliver consistent quality, and compete on reliability, price, and innovation. Even entrepreneurs can benefit from a more deliberate orientation toward export development and international market integration.

‘As I understand it, some of you here run production businesses. If you can take advantage of this, you can produce globally competitive, high-quality products for export. This requires improving product certification, packaging quality assurance, export logistics documentation, intellectual property protection, and compliance with the regulatory requirements of destination markets.’

4 ways truck drivers divert diesel from company fleet trucks

?Running a haulage or logistics business is no small task. With rising operational expenses, high maintenance costs, and fluctuating fuel prices, every drop of diesel counts. Fuel usually accounts for the single largest operating expense for heavy-duty commercial trucks.

?Many transport owners suffer huge losses not because business is slow, but because fuel is leaking out of their system through dishonest means. Fleet managers and logistics companies often record missing liters that cannot be accounted for at the end of long journeys.

?According to reports from Cartrack Fleet Management Solutions, fuel siphoning and fleet fuel diversion remain major operational challenges for haulage operators globally, draining millions in revenue when left unchecked.

?Here are four common ways dishonest drivers divert diesel from company fleet trucks:

?Direct hose siphoning from the fuel tank

?The most straightforward and widely used method is direct physical siphoning. Drivers or their accomplices wait until the truck is parked overnight at unmonitored locations, layover parks, or secluded highway stops.

?They insert a flexible rubber hose directly into the neck of the fuel tank and draw out diesel into jerry cans or storage drums. A driver can remove 20 to 50 liters in just a few minutes without leaving obvious physical damage on the truck.

?Because the driver controls the vehicle during long-distance trips, they can easily blame the heavy fuel loss on bad roads, heavy traffic jams, or poor engine performance.

?Fuel card misuse and dual pumping scheme

?Another common trick does not involve siphoning from the truck at all, but happens right at the filling station pump. When fleet companies give drivers company fuel cards or cash for refueling, some drivers collude with dishonest petrol station attendants.

?The driver authorises a full tank purchase on the company account-say 300 liters-but only pumps 250 liters into the truck. The remaining 50 liters are pumped into a third-party vehicle, a private car, or jerry cans brought by illegal fuel vendors.

?The station attendant gives the driver a genuine receipt for the full 300 liters, and both parties split the cash proceeds from the diverted portion. To the manager reviewing receipts back at the office, the transaction appears completely clean and legitimate.

?Tampering with fuel return lines and sensors

?As fleet owners invest in technology like GPS tracking and digital fuel level sensors, dishonest drivers have also adopted more subtle techniques. Drivers sometimes modify or loosen the fuel return line that carries excess diesel from the engine back to the tank.

?By attaching a small side valve or T-connector to the return line, fuel slowly bleeds out into a hidden container while the truck is actively running on the road. Because the diesel is diverted while the engine is running, telematics software often mistakes the loss for normal engine consumption.

?In other instances, drivers disable or short-circuit capacitive fuel sensors inside the tank or block GPS signals using jammers to create blackouts in data reporting. Once the sensor loses power or signal, the driver siphons the fuel undetected before restoring the device.

?Fake mileage claims and route manipulation

?Drivers also cover up diesel diversion by intentionally manipulating their travel distance or engine idle time. A driver might take unauthorized detours to offload diverted diesel to local black-market buyers.

?To justify why the fuel level is low, the driver claims they encountered major road diversions, long traffic standstills, or engine idling during overnight stops. Some drivers even tamper with the odometer to show higher mileage than the vehicle actually covered.

?By inflating the distance traveled or exaggerating idle hours, the driver creates a convincing excuse for why the truck consumed far more diesel than expected on a standard route.

?How fleet owners can protect their fuel

?Stopping fuel diversion requires a combination of physical hardware and digital monitoring. Installing heavy-duty anti-siphon neck inserts prevents hoses from entering the tank. Adding locking fuel caps further secures the tank entry points.

?On the technology side, pairing GPS tracking with real-time digital fuel level sensors allows fleet managers to receive instant alerts whenever tank levels drop suddenly. Restricting fuel card usage with PIN verification, location limits, and strict daily volume caps also prevents pump collusion.

?By regularly comparing mileage against actual fuel consumption, logistics companies can eliminate hidden losses and protect their bottom line.

Lema: Alute and Tundu Lissu court battle never broke their brotherhood

Arusha. Chadema Central Committee member Godbless Lema said one of his most enduring memories of Advocate Alute Mughwai Lissu is how he once faced his younger brother, Tundu Lissu, in court during a 2012 case challenging the revocation of Mr Lema’s parliamentary seat, without allowing their political and professional differences to affect their brotherhood.

Mr Lema said that although he knew several members of the Lissu family, he came to know Mr Alute more closely during the legal battle over the revocation of his parliamentary seat in 2012.

He made the remarks on Sunday, November 1, 2026, while speaking to journalists after visiting Alute’s family and relatives at their home in Arusha to offer his condolences.

‘At the time, Mr Alute, together with Mr Akida, represented the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Mr Alute was a CCM member and conducted his legal work professionally,’ he said.

He said that during the case, which was heard by the Court of Appeal in Dar es Salaam, Mr Alute represented CCM, while Mr Tundu represented him (Lema), bringing the two brothers face to face in court.

‘After the High Court here in Arusha revoked my parliamentary seat, we appealed to the Court of Appeal in Dar es Salaam. Mr Tundu was on my side, while Mr Alute was on the CCM side,’ he said.

‘Therefore, the two brothers met in court to oppose each other in the same case. Mr Tundu was defending me, while his brother Mr Alute represented the other side. Many people were surprised to see the brothers competing in court. Someone even asked me to tell Mr Tundu to ask his brother to go easy on us, but I told him that was impossible because each had his own position,’ he said.

Furthermore, Mr Lema said the incident demonstrated the value of democracy, showing that people could hold different political views, take opposing positions and compete professionally while maintaining family bonds and mutual respect.

‘I never quarrelled with Alute. Even after I won the case at the Court of Appeal, Mr Alute and Mr Akida, the other lawyer, congratulated me warmly. Therefore, what will always make me remember Mr Alute is that unique occasion when he and his younger brother faced each other in court over my case, each defending his respective side,’ he said.

He said they later became close friends, adding that his last visit to Mr Alute was after the latter returned from Morogoro.

‘I found him in hospital, and he was seriously ill. We spoke briefly, but we could not talk for long because his condition was poor. I promised to visit him at home after he was discharged, but I never got that opportunity,’ recounts Mr Lema.

‘When I received news of his death this morning, I was called and informed that the honourable gentleman had died. I was shocked. I decided to pass by his home to offer my condolences before attending my meeting with journalists. Since I live in Arusha, this funeral is also ours. I will work closely with the family and relatives on various funeral arrangements and stand with them until the end,’ he said.

Mr Lema said he was deeply shocked and saddened by Mr Alute’s death, noting that his recent appearances on social media, during which he spoke confidently and demonstrated sharp thinking, had given little indication that his condition had deteriorated so severely.

‘Honestly, I was shocked and deeply saddened. Even those who recently saw him speaking on social media may be surprised because he spoke confidently and demonstrated great intellectual ability. I never expected his condition to deteriorate to this extent,’ he said.