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Wema Bank Plc has called for stronger governance, cybersecurity and internal audit controls to protect the banking industry from emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation.

Managing Director, Wema Bank, Mr Moruf Oseni, made the call while hosting the 65th Quarterly General Meeting (QGM) of the Association of Chief Audit Executives of Banks in Nigeria (ACAEBIN) in Lagos.

He spoke at the meeting, themed: ‘Auditing the Future: Governing AI, Cyber Risks and Digital Trust in an Era of Intelligent Banking.’

Oseni, who was represented by the Executive Director, Digital Bank, Tunde Mabawonku, said AI-enabled fraud, cyberattacks and data breaches were becoming tangible threats as financial institutions deepened their reliance on technology.

According to him, as customers increasingly interacted with financial institutions through digital channels, preserving digital trust had become an enterprise-wide priority.

‘Technology may change the way we bank, but trust remains the currency upon which banking is built,’ he said.

Oseni said addressing emerging risks required responsible innovation, resilient technology infrastructure, robust cybersecurity, sound data governance and effective internal controls.

He added that internal audit functions must evolve from predominantly retrospective assurance to a more forward-looking, technology-enabled and insight-driven function.

According to him, the bank recognised that ‘innovation and governance must advance together,’ assuring that Wema Bank remained committed to leveraging technology responsibly, strengthening resilience and maintaining the confidence of its customers and stakeholders.

Representing the ACAEBIN Chairperson, Aina Amah, the association’s First Vice President, Mogbitse Atsagbede, said the meeting was particularly relevant as AI, digitalisation, automation and interconnected platforms continued to reshape the banking industry.

She said ACAEBIN had expanded the capacity-building programmes of its Training Academy to cover artificial intelligence, blockchain and smart contracts, fraud risk assessment and forensic auditing, data analytics, as well as the auditing of financial institutions and fintech companies.

Amah said the association was also examining the development of an Audit Management Framework for Nigeria and strengthening mentorship programmes for chief audit executives.

She added that ACAEBIN had recently engaged the top management of the Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre on cybercrime, fraud trends and intelligence sharing.

She stressed that addressing emerging risks required collective action and coordinated institutional responses.

The meeting featured presentations by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and Deloitte Nigeria on digital fraud, AI governance, cyber resilience and the evolving role of internal audit.

Presenting on behalf of the NPF, Winner Martins said the NPF Vigilant application, launched by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on September 1, had been developed by the Force’s ICT Department to strengthen collaboration among banks, customers and the police in combating digital and financial fraud.

He said the platform comprised a mobile application for members of the public and an administrative platform for banks and the police.

According to him, customers could report suspected fraud, upload supporting evidence and track complaints, while bank fraud desks could communicate directly with police officers when enforcement action was required.

Martins urged banks to onboard their fraud desks and use the platform in real time, saying its integration with the judicial system would facilitate the processing of digital court orders and reduce turnaround time in fraud-related cases.

Also speaking, Senior Partner, IT and Assurance Services, Deloitte Nigeria, Amalachukwu Udo, who was represented by the firm’s Senior Manager, IT and Control Assurance, Chisom Odobeatu, said internal audit functions must evolve alongside banks’ transition from traditional banking to digital services and AI.

Udo urged banks to maintain inventories of AI systems, establish clear accountability for their deployment and ensure that the models were scalable, explainable and based on reliable data, with continuous human oversight.

On cyber resilience, she said banks should move beyond preventing attacks to ensuring that they could withstand, respond to and recover from incidents involving core banking systems, ransomware, cloud services, system downtime and compromised privileged accounts.

Udo further warned that growing reliance on cloud providers, fintech companies and other third-party technology partners meant that banks could not limit their assurance activities to their internal environments.

She recommended stronger contractual requirements, independent certifications, audit rights and joint testing to provide greater assurance over third-party controls.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu said the Force arrested 1,643 suspects and rescued 1,066 kidnap victims since his assumption of office in February.

Disu disclosed this on Monday at the opening of the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO) in Owerri, Imo State, where he presented a breakdown of the police’s operational scorecard for the past eight months.

According to him, officers arrested 251 terrorists and suspected bandits, 343 murder suspects, 566 armed robbery suspects and 483 suspected cultists during that period.

He said the Force also recovered 947 firearms and more than 22,000 rounds of ammunition from criminal elements across the country.

Disu, however, acknowledged that the figures offered little comfort to Nigerians still living under the threat of kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence.

‘Numbers do not console a grieving family. We will not slow down on these threats because an election is coming. We will fight them and secure the elections at the same time,’ he said.

The IG paid tribute to officers who died in the line of duty and pledged improved welfare for their families and serving personnel.

Speaking on the retreat’s theme, ‘developing a Nigeria Police roadmap for effective management of election security’, Disu unveiled a six-point agenda to guide police deployment for Nigeria’s 2027 general election.

He said the pillars would cover early intelligence gathering, rigorous training, joint command with sister agencies, fast communication, partnership with the public and strict political neutrality.

The IGP directed that flashpoints and criminal networks be mapped immediately and that credible intelligence should reach commands in time for action, warning that ‘a polling unit where these citizens feel unsafe is a polling unit where the election has already failed,’ referring to women, the elderly and persons with disabilities.

Disu said officers would be trained in crowd management, the protection of electoral materials and personnel, and human-rights-compliant policing, while joint exercises with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other agencies would establish clear lines of command before incidents occur.

He also raised concerns over election disinformation, directing that fake results, forged police statements and inflammatory videos be monitored and countered swiftly, with those who incite violence online facing prosecution.

Citing lessons from the recent Osun State governorship election, which he described as largely peaceful despite isolated cases of voter intimidation and inducement, Disu ordered a review of the Force’s intelligence, response time and training gaps.

He warned that any officer who takes sides, harasses voters or colludes with political actors during the elections would be investigated and punished, and directed all Commissioners of Police to publish official contact numbers for public access.

Disu tasked the retreat with producing a practical framework for training, deployment and command structure, insisting it must not become ‘another document on a shelf,’ setting a deadline of October 12, for a finished roadmap and election-security taskforce.

The opening ceremony held at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre, Owerri, also had in attendance the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) representing President Bola Tinubu; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma; a representative of the Senate President; military and security chiefs; as well as captains of industry.

Organised annually by Lender’s Consult in collaboration with the Force Headquarters and other sponsors, CARSPO usually serves as a platform for the police management and security stakeholders to chart a way forward on effective and accountable policing.

Disu, in his remarks, also thanked Uzodinma for hosting the sixth edition of the retreat, and commended Lenders Consult Nigeria Limited for its support, saying the President’s representative had delivered a charge for free, fair, credible and peaceful elections, adding that ‘the Nigeria Police Force will deliver on it.’

He thanked Tinubu for his leadership and for backing the Force with improved welfare, equipment, recruitment and funding.

The event opened with a tribute to officers who died in the line of duty, with Disu pledging continued attention to the welfare of their families and of serving personnel.

He noted that the retreat coincided with the International Day of Peace, marked globally under the theme ‘Invest in Peace -For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,’ and said the theme reflected the Force’s focus on professionalism, public trust and early action ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Disu closed his address with a call-and-response charge to officers, urging them to be ‘Neutral. Prepared. Present. Accountable’ as they return to their commands.

A sociocultural group in Remoland, the Pan Remo Movement (PRM), has cautioned political leaders and aspirants from the zone against derailing the zoning arrangement ahead of the 2027 governorship election, saying such a move could undermine the goodwill and trust built among the zones of Ogun State.

The group, which spoke against the backdrop of the debate over the aspiration of a governorship hopeful from Remo, said the people of the zone should be mindful of the support they received from other parts of the state when Governor Dapo Abiodun contested and won the governorship in 2019 and 2023.

In a statement, its President, Otunba ‘Poju Akintayo-Ayodele and General Secretary, Oloye Tunde Adekoya, argued that Remo had occupied the governorship for 16 of the 28 years since the return to democratic rule in 1999, having produced former Governor Gbenga Daniel and the incumbent, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

The group said the time had come for the zone to reciprocate the support it had enjoyed by allowing power to shift to another parts of the state, particularly Ogun West, in the interest of equity and fairness.

‘We are not ingrates. Remo has had its fair share of the governorship. Governor Gbenga Daniel and Governor Dapo Abiodun have represented our zone and the state.

‘We must, therefore, appreciate the support extended to us by other zones and be willing to support the legitimate aspiration of other parts of the state to also produce the governor.

‘Yewa deserves a sense of belonging. It is only fair that power should move to another zone,’ the group said.

It cautioned politicians and stakeholders in Remo against putting personal ambition above the broader interests of the zone and the state, warning that any deliberate attempt to upset the existing understanding on power rotation could have far-reaching consequences.

The group also appealed to the people of Remo not to support what it described as a selfish political agenda capable of eroding the confidence other zones have in the zone.

According to it, political arrangements are sustained by trust, reciprocity and mutual respect, stressing that the support Remo receives today could be affected if the zone is perceived as unwilling to reciprocate such gestures.

‘Those who deliberately work against this understanding may be sowing seeds of conflict and destruction for generations yet unborn. We must think beyond one election, one candidate or one political ambition.

‘The question should be what is fair and equitable for Ogun State and how we preserve the trust among the different zones,’ it added.

The group, which also announced plans to host the 2026 edition of its annual Pan Remo Forum soon, said this year’s edition will focus on the need to preserve the goodwill and peaceful coexistence among the various zones of Ogun State before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

PRM maintained that the political leadership of Ogun should continue to promote an arrangement that gives every zone a sense of inclusion and belonging.

It therefore urged Remo political leaders, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders to consider the long-term political stability of the state and resist actions that could create unnecessary division among its various zones.

The group further appealed to all stakeholders to respect the principle of equity and allow Ogun West, which it said had yet to produce a governor since the creation of the state, an opportunity to occupy the governorship.

It stressed that the issue should not be reduced to the ambition of any individual, but viewed from the broader perspective of fairness, political accommodation and the need to preserve harmonious relationships among Ogun’s major political blocs.

S and P Global Ratings has assigned ‘B’ long-term and ‘B’ short-term issuer credit ratings, with a stable outlook, to LECON Finance Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Bank of Industry (BOI).

In its September 15, 2026 rating action, SandP Global Ratings identified LECON Finance as a core subsidiary of BOI, noting that its ratings are aligned with those of its parent. SandP expects LECON Finance’s ratings to move in tandem with those of BOI.

Managing Director, LECON Finance, Mrs. Ebehiriere Ehi-Omoike, said the rating was a recognition of the company’s strategic importance within the BOI Group.

She said the recognition reinforced the strength of the company’s business direction and the confidence in its growth prospects.

‘With the support of our parent, our recapitalisation programme and the continued expansion of our finance leasing business, we remain focused on deepening access to productive assets for Nigerian businesses while building a stronger and more sustainable leasing business,’ Ehi-Omoike said.

LECON Finance provides operating lease solutions to BOI and finance leasing solutions to Nigerian clients.

‘For us at LECON, this rating is particularly meaningful because it comes at a time when we are scaling our capacity to provide flexible, asset-backed financing to businesses across Nigeria. We will continue to leverage our partnership with BOI and other stakeholders to expand access to productive assets, particularly for MSMEs, while maintaining strong asset quality, disciplined risk management and sustainable growth,’ Ehi-Omoike said.

SandP noted that operating leases accounted for 57 per cent of LECON Finance’s total leases at year-end 2025, while the company has expanded its finance lease portfolio to Nigerian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to acquire productive assets.

SandP also highlighted LECON Finance’s close alignment with BOI’s development mandate. Although the company represented approximately 0.5 per cent of the group’s total assets at year-end 2025, the rating agency expects its business to continue expanding.

The rating agency further noted that BOI deposited N20 billion with LECON Finance in 2025, with plans to convert the funds into equity subject to regulatory approval. This forms part of a broader N50 billion recapitalisation programme aimed at strengthening LECON Finance’s capacity to expand its business. SandP also noted BOI’s plans to leverage relationships with other development finance institutions to help LECON Finance mobilise cheaper funding.

SandP expected continued growth in LECON Finance’s finance lease portfolio to further strengthen profitability, with finance leases projected to grow faster than operating leases. The agency also expects asset quality indicators to remain in check and projects continued improvement in profitability.

The Stable Outlook reflects SandP’s expectation that LECON Finance will remain a core subsidiary of BOI and receive support when needed.

Nigeria Premier Football League 2026-27 Matchday Four delivered impressive away victories yesterday, with Rangers International, Abia Warriors and Kano Pillars producing the standout performances, while Enyimba’s nightmarish start to the season continued in Aba.

In the Oriental derby at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, defending champions Rangers International underlined their title credentials with an emphatic 4-2 victory over Kun Khalifat.

Temitope Folarin and Waheed Adebayo put Rangers in control before Chimobi Igwilo struck twice, while Preye Seikorowei and Ayuba Umar replied for Kun Khalifat.

The victory lifted Rangers to fifth with seven points from three games, while Kun Khalifat remain 19th with two points from four matches.

Perhaps the biggest statement came at the Sani Abacha Stadium, where Kano Pillars demolished previously perfect Doma United 4-1. Abdullahi Musa and veteran captain Rabiu Ali put Pillars two goals up before Sadiq Rilwan reduced the deficit. Ahmed Musa and Nasiru Salihu then completed the rout. It was Doma’s first defeat after opening the campaign with three successive victories without conceding.

Despite the setback, Doma remain top with nine points from four games, while Pillars surged to third with seven points from three matches.

Plateau United also produced a stirring comeback in Jos, beating Shooting Stars 3-1. Taheer Abubakar gave 3SC a 15th-minute lead, but Jibrin Ibrahim equalised five minutes after the restart before Seiyefa Jackson and Gideon Monday completed the turnaround. Plateau climbed to sixth with seven points, while Shooting Stars are 15th with three points from two matches.

Abia Warriors left it late to stun Sporting Lagos 2-0 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena. Ikoi Etta struck in the 88th minute before Emeka Obioma sealed the victory in the 90th. The result pushed Abia Warriors to 10th with five points, while Sporting Lagos sit joint-15th on three points.

Enyimba’s troubled start, meanwhile, took another damaging turn as newcomers Inter Lagos claimed a famous 1-0 win in Aba. Ezekiel Moses’ 18th-minute header secured Inter’s first points of their maiden NPFL campaign and moved them to 18th with three points. Enyimba are rooted to 20th without a point from three matches, making them the league’s only pointless side.

Warri Wolves earned their first victory of the season with a 1-0 win over Kwara United, Ejike Ezekiel striking after only eight minutes. Wolves are 17th with three points, while Kwara United occupy 11th with four.

In Lafia, Rivers United remained unbeaten after a 1-1 draw with Nasarawa United. Harrison Ebah’s 66th -minute own goal handed Rivers the lead before Musa Yakubu converted an 84th-minute penalty for the hosts. Rivers sit fourth with seven points from three games, while Nasarawa are 13th with four points.

Saturday’s three fixtures had earlier seen Barau FC maintain their unbeaten start with a goalless draw against Ikorodu City in Lagos. Barau remain second with eight points, while Ikorodu City are ninth with five.

Ranchers Bees defeated Bendel Insurance 2-1, with Chiedozie Jude Okorie opening the scoring before Lekan Gabriel equalised and Mohammed Rabiu Zulkifilu struck the winner. Zulkifilu’s prolific start has now produced five goals in three appearances. Ranchers Bees are seventh with six points, one place above eighth-placed Bendel Insurance, also on six.

Katsina United also edged Niger Tornadoes 1-0 through Abdulrahman Garba’s 21st -minute goal. Katsina are 14th with four points from three games, while Tornadoes are 12th with four from four.

NPFL MATCHDAY FOUR RESULTS:

Ikorodu City 0-0 Barau FC

Ranchers Bees 2-1 Insurance

Katsina United 1-0 Niger Tornadoes

Kun Khalifat 2-4 Rangers

Kano Pillars 4-1 Doma United

Plateau United 3-1 Shooting Stars

Sporting Lagos 0-2 Abia Warriors

Enyimba 0-1 Inter Lagos

Warri Wolves 1-0 Kwara United

Nasarawa United 1-1 Rivers United

The Kano State Social Protection Agency has commenced a two-day knowledge-sharing visit to the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget to understudy the state’s development planning and social protection framework.

The delegation, led by the Director-General of the agency, Hajia Fatima Abubakar-Abdullahi, held an interactive session with the Lagos State Social Protection team, led by its Director, Mr Semiu Yusuf, at the ministry’s headquarters, Alausa, Ikeja.

The visit focused on Lagos’ experience in development planning, social protection coordination, data management, community engagement and citizens’ participation in the budget process.

Speaking during the engagement, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Olayinka Ojo, said the state remained committed to sharing knowledge and experience with other sub-nationals to promote sustainable development.

Ojo said Lagos had established structures to strengthen social protection coordination and improve development planning across the state.

She said the government created a dedicated Social Protection Coordinating Department after identifying the need for a coordinated approach to social protection interventions.

According to her, the department has developed into a functional structure with dedicated personnel and administrative processes covering accounting, procurement, media and social work.

The Permanent Secretary also highlighted Lagos’ approach to disaggregating data to enable government better understand the needs of communities and plan interventions accordingly.

‘It helps us to plan for the state in a disintegrated manner, that we leave no one behind,’ she said.

Ojo said the Lagos Development Plan provides a long-term framework for development across sectors, with milestones designed to guide government’s immediate, medium and long-term interventions.

‘We are very audacious about our plan,’ she said, adding that the framework was designed to guide government interventions and ensure sustainable development.

She identified economic growth, modern infrastructure and human capital development as key priorities of the state’s planning process.

The Permanent Secretary also stressed the need to build the capacity of civil servants, private-sector stakeholders, civil society organisations and community-based groups to participate effectively in the development process.

On citizens’ participation in budgeting, Ojo said Lagos had concluded consultations across its community structures to obtain residents’ priorities for the 2027 budget.

She explained that the requests gathered would be presented to accounting officers and heads of agencies ahead of bilateral budget discussions.

‘We want you to take cognisance of these things and make sure that a certain percentage of your budget takes care of these things,’ she said.

Ojo stated the role of Community Development Committees (CDCs) in reaching residents, obtaining feedback and supporting social protection activities, including updating social protection registers and fresh registration.

Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Abubakar-Abdullahi said the agency was seeking practical knowledge from Lagos as it develops its institutional structures and operational systems.

She said the Kano agency, established in the previous year, was relatively new and needed to learn from states with established social protection systems.

‘We came to Lagos to learn, to understand how you put your things in place, because Lagos is Nigeria,’ she said.

The DG commended the Lagos team for sharing its experience, describing the engagement as valuable to Kano’s efforts to build an effective social protection institution.

‘I’m really happy to be here, because your words, your experiences… you are full of knowledge,’ she said.

She said the lessons from the visit would assist Kano in strengthening its institutional structures, planning processes, community engagement and social protection coordination.

The two-day engagement is expected to further strengthen inter-state knowledge-sharing and provide the Kano agency with practical insights from Lagos’ experience in development planning and social protection.

No fewer than 500 editors, government officials, academics, civil society representatives and other stakeholders are expected in Enugu for the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC).

The conference starts on Wednesday.

According to a statement by President of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) Eze Anaba and Secretary Onuoha Ukeh, the conference will provide a platform for editors and other stakeholders to examine practical pathways for strengthening democratic governance, promoting national development and advancing nation-building through responsible and responsive journalism.

The NGE said the gathering would also enable media leaders to interrogate the challenges confronting democracy and examine the role of the media in safeguarding credible elections, rebuilding public trust and strengthening democratic values.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima is expected to declare it open.

The two-day conference, which is the flagship annual gathering of the Guild, will hold at The Dome, International Conference Centre, Opara Square Road, Enugu, beginning at 2 pm on Thursday and continuing on Friday.

The conference theme is: ‘The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive’, as well as the sub-theme, ‘When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Election.’

The Vice-President is also expected to speak on other issues relating to democracy, elections, press freedom and national development.

The statement said Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, would also address the conference.

The Guild said His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, would chair the conference, while former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, would deliver the keynote address.

Other speakers lined up for the conference include Professor Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano, who will speak on ‘Public Trust, Electoral Justice and Democratic Stability.’

Former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, will address the editors on ‘Election Petitions in the Digital Age: Independence, Evidence, BVAS and the Courts.’

Ex-Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, Mr. Martins Oloja and newspaper columnist Owei Lakemfa, will speak on ‘Reporting Terrorism Without Becoming a Tool for Terrorists.’

Deputy Vice Chancellor of Paul University, Awka, Professor Chinyere Okunna, will address the conference on ‘Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance,’ while the Founder and Chief Medical Director of Save A Life Hospital, Port Harcourt, Dr Richard Okoye, will speak on ‘The Human Side of Journalism: Managing Stress, Deadlines and Personal Well-being.’

Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at Kennesaw State University, Georgia, United States, Farooq A. Kperogi, will examine the conference sub-theme on artificial intelligence and disinformation, focusing on the detection and debunking of false information before, during and after elections.

The statement said the Guild ANEC is supported by Enugu State Government, UNESCO, Craneburg, NNPC, Zenith Bank, NCC and others.

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), thanked President Bola Tinubu, senior military officers, traditional rulers, diplomats, and other dignitaries who attended the launch of a book documenting his tenure as Army Chief.

The book, Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era, was presented on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites, Asokoro, Abuja.

Buratai, who also served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Benin, said the gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on the country’s military history and the importance of preserving institutional memory.

In a statement issued after the event, Buratai thanked Tinubu for serving as the Special Guest of Honour and acknowledged the President’s message, delivered by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mrs Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens.

He also commended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, for facilitating the Federal Government’s participation in the event.

The former Army Chief thanked the Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab, and the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), who presented the book at the ceremony.

Musa, a former commander who served during Buratai’s tenure, was also acknowledged for his testimony on the leadership legacy examined in the publication.

Mangal gets special mention

Buratai also singled out the Chief Launcher of the book, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, who was represented at the event by Alhaji Inuwa Baba.

Mangal, the founder of Max Air, has business interests spanning aviation and oil and gas.

Buratai described his support for the book launch as significant, saying, ‘His CON honour and quiet philanthropy across Nigeria reveal the depth of his character.’

He added, ‘We are deeply grateful, Chief Launcher, for your presence and your support.’

The former Army Chief also thanked the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, and the Service Chiefs for sending representatives to the ceremony.

They included the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.

According to Buratai, the participation of the military leadership reinforced the relationship between the Armed Forces and efforts to preserve institutional history.

Sanusi, diplomats, and others attend.

Other personalities acknowledged by Buratai included the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; former Commander of the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps, Lt. Gen. Domenico Giani (retd.); and Senator Ali Ndume.

He also thanked Professor Phillip Dahida, Amina Akano-Bello, Maj. Gen. Victor Ezugwu (retd.), Maj. Gen. JGK Myam (retd.), the Director-General of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, and Rear Admiral Adamu Biu (retd.) for their contributions as panellists.

The former Army Chief also acknowledged the presence of the Olowu of Owu-Kuta Kingdom, Oba Hameed Oyelude Makama, and other traditional rulers from Osun State.

Among the diplomats mentioned were the Italian Ambassador, Roberto Mengoni; the President of the African Peoples Movement, Sheikh Mustapha Kouyatè; the former ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Gen. Francis Behanzin; and the Honorary Consul of Colombia to Nigeria, Maricel Romero.

Buratai also commended the author of the book, Dr M.S. He acknowledged the Institute of Security Nigeria for its endorsement and thanked academics and security researchers who contributed to a festschrift examining defence, intelligence, and statecraft.

Buratai credits the committee and publishers

Buratai credits the committee and publishers

‘The success of the event was not the achievement of any one individual or institution. It was the result of collective effort, shared purpose, and the generosity of all who believe in the importance of preserving Nigeria’s institutional memory and learning from its history,’ he said.

Buratai also praised the Buratai Legacy Presentation Committee for its work and thanked the promoters, organisers, and other contributors to the event.

He acknowledged Sprezzatura Publishing Limited and Clarivox Creative Limited for their roles in organising the presentation and producing the book.

The former Army Chief also thanked journalists, publishers, and editors who covered the event, saying their reports helped bring the discussions to a wider audience.

He concluded by thanking those who attended or supported the event, expressing the hope that the lessons contained in the book would contribute to discussions on Nigeria’s security and military leadership.

Former Kaduna Central Senator and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Shehu Sani, has mocked the performance of opposition parties in Saturday’s bye-elections, saying the outcome has exposed the difference between politics conducted on cyberspace and what obtains in the real political arena.

Sani, who is the APC’s 2027 Senatorial Candidate for Kaduna Central and represented the zone in the 8th National Assembly, made the remark in a post on X while reacting to the performance of the ruling party in the elections conducted across four states of the federation.

According to him, the APC’s victories in the bye-elections should serve as a lesson to opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, rather than something to be dismissed or explained away.

‘The ruling party swept the bye elections conducted this weekend in the four states of the federation. That is one difference between cyber space politics and real politics. The opposition can either dismiss it or learn some lessons from it,’ Sani wrote.

He further used a football analogy to describe the situation facing the opposition, saying, ‘They want to play with Spain in January, they have started losing to Lesotho.’

The former lawmaker’s comments came after the APC recorded victories in four of the five legislative bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states on Saturday.

Nigeria external reserves are set to hit $55 billion market in renewed rally linked to increased earnings from crude oil export.

The external reserves have crossed $54.69 billion on September 17, representing $31 million gap to hit $55 billion market. The external reserves position is currently providing the economy with stronger footings against global shocks.

The ongoing external reserves rebound followed sustained capital inflows from stronger crude oil earnings which accelerate accretion into the coffers.

Nigeria is also presently witnessing positive investment climate from domestic and foreign investors.

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) website showed the current reserves position is far higher that CBN’s projected $51.04 billion year-end target, and will cover over 13 months import for the economy.

Nigeria’s external reserves, which provide the CBN with the capacity to support the local currency and meet external obligations, have continued to rise steadily. Further analysis showed that the liquid portion of the external reserves stood at $54.08 billion.

Brent crude on Friday traded around $103.9 per barrel-above Nigeria’s 2026 federal budget benchmark of $64.85-the price rebound would largely bolster the country’s fiscal revenues.

As an oil exporter, Nigeria continues to earn more petrodollars and to support naira stability ans bolster external reserves.

In its economic projections for 2026, the CBN targeted stronger oil earnings, foreign exchange market reforms and improved external capital inflows to achieve year-end reserves target.

Analysts said the current reserves position reinforces the steady growth in Nigeria’s external buffers.

The founder/Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Public Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, earlier hinted at a positive outlook for Nigeria’s external reserves as he does not see anything derailing the forex and fiscal reforms that have brought about stability and improvement in external reserves.

Yusuf said, ”Well, the outlook for me is positive because I don’t see anything derailing these forex reforms, fuel subsidy etc. It is these reforms that have brought about stability’.

CBN data sfurther showed that Nigeria’s external reserves maintained a steady upward surge in recent months.

The reserves started June at $49.80 billion and crossed the $50 billion mark by June 5, reaching $50.12 billion.

On June 15, reserves had increased further to $50.81 billion before rising to current position. The reserves stood at $51.9 billion on July 31, and contrinued.

The sustained increase reflects stronger foreign exchange inflows and improved liquidity conditions in the country’s external sector.

The CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, said: ‘This strong buffer continues to reinforce investor confidence in the Nigerian economy and support exchange rate stability.’

The CBN’s decision to clear over $7 billion unsettled FX backlogs raised investors’ confidence in the economy, supporting dollar inflows and foreign reserves accretion, Cardoso said.

The CBN boss had explained that although he had no idea where the fund for the backlog clearance would come from, when he assumed office, but he believed it was the right thing to do, and gave investors his word.

He said: ‘Credibility is at the heart of any central bank. If you don’t have credibility, people do not trust you and they do not invest in your economy. When I took office, I made a promise we would pay the backlog, the verifiable backlog of monies that were owed by Nigeria to third parties.’

‘And it was, at the time, estimated at over $7 billion US dollars. And to be honest with you, I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I just felt it was not something to be negotiated’.

Cardoso explained that Nigeria needed to ensure that its integrity is maintained. Analysts believe the higher reserve level could enhance the CBN’s capacity to support exchange rate stability and meet external obligations.