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2027: Pantami makes INEC updated list, Adebutu, Gwarzo missing

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has been included as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Gombe State in the updated list of candidates for the 2027 general elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

His running mate, Haruna Ahmadu Hasan, was also listed.

However, the names of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, and the PDP candidate in Ogun State, Adebutu, were missing from the updated list.

The NDC column for Kano State was left blank, with INEC indicating ‘court Order’ in the comments section. The commission said Gwarzo’s final clearance would depend on the outcome of the pending court case.

INEC also listed former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, as the NDC senatorial candidate for Delta Central and Iyabo Obasanjo as the PDP candidate for Ogun Central.

The electoral commission published the updated list of candidates for the national elections, covering the presidential and National Assembly seats, as well as state elections for governorship and Houses of Assembly, on Saturday.

The inclusion of Omo-Agege and Obasanjo had attracted attention because both were aspirants in their respective parties before joining the NDC and PDP. Their eligibility had been questioned in connection with the Supreme Court judgment on the validity of Section 77 of the Electoral Act.

INEC also left the Accord Party’s presidential candidate column blank, despite a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja directing the commission to recognise Olawepo Hashim as the party’s candidate.

The party has appealed the judgment, arguing that Hashim failed to meet the deadline for the expression of interest and purchase of nomination forms.

In Kaduna State, where the NDC candidate was omitted from the final list published on October 10, INEC listed Mohammed Sani Abbas instead of Danjuma La’ah, whose name appeared during the claims and objections period.

The updated list contains 20 new governorship candidates. One additional candidate was listed in each of Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Niger, Oyo, Taraba and Zamfara states.

Two new candidates were added in each of Kaduna, Cross River and Nasarawa states, while Gombe and Kano had three additional entries each, including the blank NDC slot in Kano.

The number of parties contesting the governorship election in Abia State was also reduced from 15 to 14.

According to the list, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) have candidates in 28 of the 28 states where governorship elections will hold, while the PDP and NDC have candidates in 26 states each.

The PDP has no governorship candidates in Kebbi and Ogun states, while the NDC has none in Abia and Ogun. The NDC candidate in Abia, Ndubuisi Ogah, whose name appeared on the earlier final list, was omitted from the updated version.

New NDC governorship candidates included John Odey Upan in Cross River, Shammah Danladi Dodo in Nasarawa and Muktar Farouk Alhaji in Kebbi.

INEC also listed former Minority Whip, Ali Isa JC, as the APC candidate for Balanga/Biliri Federal Constituency in Gombe State, despite a Federal High Court judgment in the state nullifying his nomination and barring him from participating in another primary election.

The commission stated that none of the candidates published before the Supreme Court judgment had been affected by the latest changes.

Confirming the update, the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said some petitions submitted by political parties had succeeded while others were rejected.

He disclosed that INEC received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning governorship elections. Of the petitions, 41 were successful, while 28 failed.

For State Houses of Assembly elections, Haruna said the commission received 61 petitions from 11 parties across 11 states, with 25 succeeding and 36 failing.

FG expresses support for SMEs in communication sector

The Federal government has expressed commitment to the continuous support of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly in the communication sector of the country.

Speaking at the Weekend in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Tope Fasua, reaffirmed that the Tinubu administration has continued its economic rescue by empowering SMEs, especially those in the communication sector.

‘The last time I was travelling out of the country, I bought a very expensive eSIM at Abuja Airport, and I was going to Bangkok. The eSIM worked in London, but it didn’t work in Bangkok. I didn’t get much value for it, but I’m hoping that Esdiac is better. I think it’s much cheaper than what I got’.

He commended the indigenous firm for building a system that reduces the cost of making calls around the globe, assuring Esdiac of government support.

Also speaking, the Founder of Esdiac, Mr. Austin Ugbebor, and the Lead Infrastructure and Security Engineer, Daramola Olugbenga, said the Esdiac Media Parley and Stakeholders Engagement is proof that world-class telecom products can be built and sustained in Nigeria.

Olugbenga explained that Esdiac was designed from the ground up as a statement of local capability, leveraging existing global technologies but building a proprietary, highly scalable backbone.

‘From Esdiac, we have done it and we are still doing it with Nigerians. This is a big statement that we can do it,’.

He stated that the system was initially dimensioned for one million concurrent calls, with architecture that prevents mid-call drops despite network fluctuations.

‘We built in a very scalable manner. So even if there is a network fluctuation, the call will not drop mid-conversation. Once a call starts, it will run to the end’.

At the heart of the local-content pitch is data sovereignty. Both speakers stressed that Esdiac complies with the Nigeria Data Protection Act and NCC regulations, storing and processing all Nigerian user data in Nigeria.

On his part, Ugbebor said, ‘We authenticate your access into the platform using the SIM and we ride on our own backbone, which is mainly here in Nigeria and also in the US. We are very careful that data here are not transmitted outside the country.’

He noted that as a paid product licensed by both the NCC in Nigeria and the FCC in the United States, Esdiac cannot share user information with third parties without user approval or a court order, and users have the right to request data held about them.

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.

That Adimula may succeed!

There is a Yoruba proverb that plays around the surname of leading human rights advocate Mr Femi Falana. It surmises that one should first face his face before peeping into others’. I see the Falana gbo tire (Falana, mind your business) wisecrack as a derivative of the admonition of Jesus in Matthew 7, particularly the portion that charges us to remove the log in our eyes before attempting to remove the speck in our brothers’.

Today, I’m returning to Ijesaland on this page as a selfless obligor to her development. That doesn’t mean I do not expect gain from this intervention. But it’s not the type man gives. My reward expectation is rooted in Psalm 133:6, with Ulesa simply exchanging for Jerusalem.

My birthplace, where I also began life and am still connected to till today, has a long association with hard work and prosperity. Àjàpá (itinerant trading) and oso’malo (traditional debt recovery of literally sitting on the debtor’s neck until the debt is defrayed) are two phenomena among other commerce concepts exclusive to my people that define the age-long perception of us being industrious and always creating wealth anywhere we are found.

Alongside innate stubbornness, which I think ranks behind Ondo and Ekiti’s, the Ijesa of old were also war-minded, and the legend of Ogedengbe Agbogungboro needs no retelling. But at a point, it would seem something grievous happened to the psyche of Ijesaland and the kingdom, especially Ilesa, the most prominent of the towns making it up and its headquarters, was almost becoming a haven for fraudsters, led by the supervillain tactically identified by juju maestro King Sunny Ade in a song as the fellow who swindled him. What is Olorunlugo sef!

Then revival began to pick up in the land, with prominent Christian leaders springing from its bowels. The land began to look like what we used to know, from the farmland on Imo hills, to the rusty Ukoromoja, to our dusty streets and neighbourhoods of old, when birthday rice was usually served in a big tray and invited children would be asked to sit round it and wack (slang for eating), with the droplets from someone’s mouthful draping back for the next person to paw with his own handful. Then the song over the food; hin koro hin koro, lule yesi, lule Banjo (Ijesa’s variation for hip hip hooray).

How happy we were, doing it without discriminating that the next person to you had ìbé, yòrò, akokoro or segede (all symptoms or aftermaths of mouth infection or ailment).

At this point, I should convict myself of a certain kind of hypocrisy. Why would those of us who lived communally this way without discrimination now get up North and start sniffing at the young boys who are into alms-begging known as almajiri, pooling their ‘resources’ of leftover food together to eat together!

Well, maybe the only difference is that our rice trays used to be clean, handled by adults, and the birthday food would not be a leftover or a mix of culinary odds and ends. It was usually piping hot white rice and stew! Protein, whether meat or fish, would be served after the tray was drained of the rice. Children weren’t meant to eat protein before or in the course of the meal, even any meal for that matter. Anyone found not being compliant would be excoriated as a potential thief! How odd.

Now, children are pleaded with to start with the protein in their meal for some nutritional reasons, even in the same Ilesa! Changing times?

Somehow, I have always kept tabs on happenings in the land; its politics, commerce, socials et al., even when I hadn’t been home in years. There had been certain shifts that make a lot now unrecognisably different. The last time I was home, even the way to our place was barely recognisable to me, with my children teasing if I had lost my way, which I had, actually, and they couldn’t help because it was the first time for nearly all of them!

Some local women bailed me out, smiling while countenancing the Lagos State registration plate number on my car. In their minds, ara eko ti sonu (Lagosian or Ujesa abroad had missed his way). Guess I have former governor Rauf Aregbesola and incumbent Demola Adeleke to thank for the miss.

I’m certainly not a fan of Aregbesola’s divisive politics of politicising religion, and it was also at the heart of my fervent wish that APC’s candidate in the last Osun guber, Bola Oyebamiji, would not win, despite several reliable quarters and contacts confirming him a good man.

Religious fanaticism or extremism of any kind that would throw the state back to the Aregbesola era of students coming to school in masquerade costumes should never be tolerated again, and any candidate suspected of such an inclination should be stopped at all costs. They say the governor has no religion; I say leave our FaChrisLam governor for us like that; at least he’s not ashamed to praise his Maker openly, dancing like the biblical King David, with the peace of heaven upon the state while developmental projects aren’t that sparse either. What else can one ask for?

As much as I detest the politics of the one I call Buoda Raufu, which is bitter like the biblical Marah waters, Ijesaland, particularly Ilesa’s inner and connecting roads, are what they are today because of the efforts of his administration. Then the dancing governor took apart the main Ilesa township road, from the roundabout/Owa palace straight down to Omi Asoro where the brewery is located, expanded it and made it almost unrecognisable to a once-in-a-while Ijesa Lagos visitor like me. The road was under construction when I was home. That was when the guber election was months away, and if I had a vote (I’m Lagos-registered) to cast in the state, my thumb would have gone for the Thumb party. After all, all politics is local. May God grant the governor the grace to complete the dual carriageway.

You say what about Buoda Raufu and his ADC and the ona-baba-ona (the best in road construction) sobriquet when he was in power? Well, the Yoruba will say nobody clears the road for yesterday’s horse rider. His party’s candidate lost scandalously in the two local governments making up Ilesa (East and West) and didn’t win in any of the remaining four making up Ijesaland! Why would our people quickly forget Aregbe and his infrastructural dividends? Maybe because he also engaged in too much iregbe (needless distraction, especially with religion) and possibly because of the afusa (pejorative coinage from the half-salary his administration paid civil servants that sank the dignity of many who had to beg for their families to eat) crisis.

Well, Baba Kabiru has done his best, though I worry how fast he’s disappearing into political oblivion since he lost the backing of his mentor, who was significantly responsible for his meteoric rise in politics. Someone says he doubts Aregbe is genuine Ijesa because, according to him, you hardly see an ungrateful one. When you did good yesterday, it would be ‘hin seun ana’ (thank you for yesterday). Another day would be ‘hin seun ijeta’. Days after, it would be ‘hin seun ijosi’ (thank you for the other day), to the point you will start wondering if the appreciation over a thing will never end.

While recent Osun politics would seem to have favoured Ijesaland in a way, something would also seem to have broken in its milieu. Her younger demographic would appear headed in the wrong direction. It is so sickening that if you ask after about 10 young boys you used to know whom you haven’t seen in about 10 years, at least seven of them would be identified as now solidly into yahoo, and most of them, their parents, particularly their mothers, are still alive! This couldn’t have been our Ilesa!

Then if you travelled even abroad and returned with a car the neighbours’ timing mathematics suggested you couldn’t have acquired legitimately, your family would be in the trouble of a pregnant side-eye and laborious gossiping! Such returnees usually disappeared within a day or two of the homecoming, and they dare not leave such a car behind! And they usually bolted before dawn!

But now, beyond okada riding, which has taken almost all artisans away from their trades and crafts, yahoo would seem the next best thing for the young people. The police are reportedly feasting on them to cash out through phoney arrests, from which they would be freed once settlement is procured.

The Owa Obokun Adimula is the paramount ruler of Ijesaland, and the authority and relevance of the occupant per time is mostly measured by the social texture of the young people, and to a large extent, the cooperation of the elite and feedback on commerce from the women’s wing.

When the last Owa was on the throne, Aregbe, an Ijesa, was also in office, a situation that should have strengthened the hold of the Kabiyesi on the land and the restless youth. But it would seem that as he aged before his eventual passing, his grip continually slackened, and because the Ijesa elite reportedly had scant regard for Buoda Raufu (I learnt he’s considered by most of them as not lettered enough to represent them at that level of governance), the gap was almost yawning until the new Kabiyesi mounted the throne about 17 months ago.

I have heard plenty gist about the developmental programmes of the industrialist-billionaire Adimula to return his kingdom to its place of ancient prominence in commerce locally, nationally, and even internationally. I have also heard plenty gist about the tension among the Ijesa elite for control, ascendancy, and influence. A couple of such persons, some of them with deep pockets like the Kabiyesi, I heard, are even trying to impede the progress of the palace agenda!

They should heed a timely warning. Yes, they are being venerated now, but the moment Ijesa pinpoint them as enemies of progress, their unborn generations will carry the vilification. Anytime Ijesa contort their mouths and noses simultaneously and clear their throats of phlegm before muttering ‘i omo lagbaja ye’ (isn’t this the offspring of XYZ?), a terrible story of his father or mother, especially if late, is about to be told.

Multiple socio-cultural organisations, especially those peopled by moneybags, should be a blessing to any community desirous of development and restoration of old glory. Is it not why educated and rich princes are now the favourite pick of opele (divining cowries)?

But trying to overreach should be a no-no. Adimula is a deity. Goodness of heart should not be taken for granted.

Let competing socio-cultural and development associations fight with projects; if the one led by a certain billionaire is siting four, let the group of a once-upon-a-time managing director go for broke with seven. Not impeding the vision of the one they should all be supporting.

I’m keeping names out now, not out of trepidation. If the shenanigans against the developmental vision continue, Series 2 will name names and who is doing what, so the Ijesa will know their new enemies and, in turn, become their nemesis.

I’m particularly disappointed in one egbon and his alleged antics. I used to rate him highly.

In less than two years, Adimula has kept an unbelievable pace on Ijesa restoration. He should be supported by all, all the way. May his reign be peaceful.

Housing minister, UPDC chief headline dignitaries to attend PEWAN forum

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UPDC Plc, Muttaqha Darma and Odunayo Ojo, respectively, headline the dignitaries who will be attending the Property and Environment Writers’ Association of Nigeria (PEWAN)’ s 2026 annual forum.

The minister will attend as a Special Guest of Honour, while Ojo has been invited to chair the occasion. Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of HBM Nigeria, will also be in attendance. He will be speaking on ‘Innovative Building Materials: Place of the Private Sector.’

Other expected participants include built environment professionals, lecturers in environmental sciences, government officials, real estate operators, non-governmental organisations, recyclers, students and other stakeholders in the housing and construction industries.

The theme of this year’s forum, already slated for Wednesday, November 4, at NECA House Conference Hall, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, is ‘Re-imagining Housing: Sustainability, Facility Management and Innovative Building Materials.’

PEWAN’s expectation is that the lecture will examine emerging approaches to addressing Nigeria’s housing challenges, particularly the need for sustainable construction practices, effective management of housing assets, and adoption of innovative building materials.

A major highlight of the event will be Alade-Akinyemi’s presentation, which is expected to examine how businesses and private investors can promote modern building solutions, improve construction standards, and contribute to sustainable housing delivery.

Florence Gbaye, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), will be delivering a goodwill message and receiving a Special Recognition and Award

PEWAN, in a statement at the weekend, explained that Gbaye’s nomination for recognition stems from her contributions and work recorded at the agency since she assumed leadership. Her participation is expected to provide insights into LASBCA’s efforts to strengthen building control and promote safer construction practices in Lagos.

HBM Nigeria Plc and its chief executive, Alade-Akinyemi, have equally been nominated for recognition for their contributions to innovation in the building materials sub-sector.

The awards will further recognise public and private sector operators, as well as individuals whose contributions have made notable impacts in their respective fields, with emphasis on quality, innovation and sustainable development.

Okwy Chikezie, PEWAN’s chairman, explained that the annual lecture was designed to provide a platform for informed discussions on developments, challenges and opportunities in the built environment, while encouraging stronger collaboration between government and private-sector players.

PEWAN, an umbrella body for journalists reporting on property and environment across print, electronic and online media platforms, hopes that the participation of industry leaders and professionals would generate ideas and proffer solutions for improving housing delivery in Nigeria.

Gunmen hunted over school director’s murder

Police are hunting two gunmen suspected of killing a school director in Mae Fa Luang district on Friday.

The victim, identified as Sirasit (surname withheld), was shot with a 9mm handgun at a school in Moo 27 village of Mae Salong Nai subdistrict. He was pronounced dead at Mae Fa Luang Hospital.

A construction foreman at the school said two men were seen loitering near the premises about 10am, roughly an hour before the shooting.

The men remained there for 20-30 minutes, but workers paid little attention because they assumed the pair were looking for construction work.

Around 11am, workers heard two gunshots in quick succession and rushed towards the school’s meeting room, where they found Sirasit lying in a pool of blood outside.

The witness said the suspects, whose faces were concealed by hats, fled through the rear of the school.

A yellow-and-blue taxi was seen near the front gate shortly before the shooting, with a man standing nearby and talking on his mobile phone.

Police and forensic officers inspected the scene and collected evidence. Investigators have yet to establish a motive.

Residents said Sirasit had served about 20 years in prison for a drug offence before his release in 2019. He subsequently became the school’s director.

Some speculated the killing might be linked to a personal dispute.

Former commissioner dumps PDP for APC in Gombe

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, on Saturday, received former Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Mohammed Adamu Damji, into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Damji, who is a former Executive Chairman of the Gombe State Board of Internal Revenue and former Managing Director of the Gombe State Investment and Property Development Company, defected from the Nyesom Wike-backed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC.

He visited the governor at his office in Government House, Gombe, accompanied by former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sen. Usman Bayero Nafada.

Welcoming Damji into the APC, Governor Yahaya, who is the party’s leader in the state, assured him of an inclusive platform to deploy his experience, networks and political goodwill towards strengthening the party and advancing the development of Gombe State.

The governor expressed confidence that Damji’s entry would further strengthen the APC, while reiterating his commitment to unity, progressive leadership and the collective pursuit of the state’s development agenda.

In his remarks, Damji assured Governor Yahaya that he would mobilise his political networks and grassroots support for the APC and its candidates in the 2027 general elections.

He specifically pledged support for the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Jamil Isyaku Gwamna, and other candidates across all levels.

Damji also commended Yahaya’s leadership and developmental efforts, describing his administration’s performance as a reflection of purposeful leadership and commitment to the progress of Gombe State.

He expressed confidence in the APC’s prospects in the forthcoming elections and pledged his full support towards ensuring the party’s success.

East African Community ministers approve AI strategy, university technology module

Arusha. East African Community (EAC) ministers responsible for education, science, technology, culture and sports have adopted regional artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation strategies, approving a special AI module for undergraduate students across the region.

The decisions were made at the 21st Sectoral Council meeting held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the new headquarters of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) in Kampala, Uganda.

An EAC statement released on Saturday, October 31, 2026, said the meeting, chaired by Uganda’s Minister of State for Education and Sports, Phyllis Chemutai, sought to establish common technological frameworks for education, health, agriculture and social services.

The AI module will be taught across disciplines to equip students with skills for the appropriate and responsible use of emerging technologies.

IUCEA, in collaboration with the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO), has been tasked with overseeing the regional AI university network.

Ministers also agreed to establish criteria for recognising AI systems in Kiswahili, in line with efforts by the East African Kiswahili Commission (EAKC) to make the language an official working language of the Community.

The statement said the Council was dissatisfied with some public and private universities that continued to charge students from EAC partner states higher tuition fees than local students, contrary to directives requiring equal treatment and payment in the host country’s currency.

‘IUCEA has been directed to conduct a regional audit of these violations, which should not continue because all partner states, through their universities, are aware that university students from EAC member states should be charged the same fees as students from the host country,’ reads part of the statement.

As preparations gather pace for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), to be co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, the three countries were urged to accelerate plans for a ‘Pamoja Visa’ to facilitate the movement of fans across borders.

The Secretariat will convene technical experts by November 2026 to review a proposal on the EAC’s cultural and commercial participation in the tournament.

Ministers also called for faster progress on mutual recognition agreements for professional qualifications among partner states.

The agreements would cover engineers, architects, accountants and veterinary doctors, allowing them to work across borders without unnecessary restrictions.

They also adopted the Regional Qualifications Framework for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, which seeks to harmonise technical certificates across the region.

LASCOPA warns businesses against violating consumer protection laws

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) warns all manufacturers, retailers and service providers across the State to comply fully with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Law 2025 (as amended) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.

he General Manager, Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Afolabi Solebo, issued the warning during an interview with select journalists in Lagos.

He said: ‘LASCOPA will now sanction businesses that deliberately fail to honour scheduled mediation sessions on legitimate consumer complaints. Where authorised by law, affected premises may be sealed. All businesses are required to treat consumer complaints and redress processes with utmost seriousness.

‘Practices that will attract regulatory intervention include unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, deceptive pricing, hidden charges, poor service delivery, and the manufacture or sale of substandard, counterfeit or unsafe products’.

Solebo warned that offenders could face applicable penalties under the law, including fines, enforcement orders, suspension of operations, prosecution, or sealing of premises.

He appealed to consumers with unresolved complaints to remain patient, noting that delays often occur when businesses ignore mediation invitations. He urged all consumers to retain receipts, invoices, warranties and relevant records when filing complaints.

He reaffirmed Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to protecting consumers and building a fair business environment in Lagos. Consumer protection is a shared responsibility – businesses and consumers together build a transparent, accountable and truly consumer-friendly marketplace.

Rainwater Treatment Facility at SM City Masinag reinforces water sustainability for SM

SM’s second Rainwater Treatment Facility in Luzon to reduce reliance on local water tables

Almost forty years since SM Supermalls pledged to uphold water stewardship in its properties across the Philippines, the mall operator continues to innovate its sustainability approach to reduce its reliance on freshwater resources.

The installation of its latest Rainwater Treatment Facility (RTF) in SM City Masinag comes as the country prepares for El Niño, which is expected to bring drought and dry spells until 2027.

(L-R: Engr. Alford Ronduen, Operations Head of SM Engineering Design and Development Corp. (SM EDD) walks VIP guests through a tour of the facility; A facility operator shows one of the treatment tanks

‘As a historically rainfall rich area, SM City Masinag was strategically chosen for SM’s second RTF,’ said Engr. Liza B. Silerio, Vice President for Corporate Compliance, SM Supermalls. ‘This facility transforms water runoff into more valuable use, innovating our approach in supporting the community and national water conservation efforts not just during El Niño, but for the future.’

The new RTF at SM City Masinag is the second of its kind in Luzon, converting rainwater into safe and potable water for SM Supermalls’ operations and tenant use. This reduces overall demand on municipal water systems, giving nearby communities more access to freshwater for daily needs and essential community services.

With an impressive capacity to treat up to 200 cubic meters or 200,000 liters of rainwater per day, the facility can provide one-third of the mall’s annual water consumption, equivalent to 23,000 cubic meters, or an estimated 9 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

It uses a multi-stage water treatment process that integrates disinfection, filtration, and reverse osmosis. The process includes stringent monitoring and testing to ensure the water is safe and meets required standards.

Beyond these benefits, the facility advances SM Prime’s 2040 net-zero ambition by lowering indirect emissions from water extraction, pumping, treatment, and distribution, supporting the company’s broader decarbonization strategy.

Proven Technology

The RTF at SM City Masinag builds on the success of the SM City Baguio facility in Benguet, a province that is also rainfall-rich yet water-scarce. The facility has processed more than 65,000 cubic meters of rainwater, equivalent to the water consumption of 6,500 households, since it began operations in 2022. It has reduced pressure on local water systems and provided the community with a reliable, sustainable water supply.

‘From the 1990s up until today and toward the future, SM Supermalls’ commitment to water conservation has remained firm. Access to water is a fundamental human right. We believe that protecting this resource is a shared responsibility. As such, we must continually champion responsible water stewardship to ensure it remains accessible to all,’ said Silerio.