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NFF leadership clears the air on N17bn controversy

The immediate past leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has responded to National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko’s financial comparisons, stressing that context is needed when looking at government funding.

Dikko recently stated on Arise TV that the Federal Government allocated roughly N15bn to the NFF during Amaju Pinnick’s eight-year tenure, whereas the Ibrahim Gusau-led board received a single N17bn intervention cheque. He used the difference to push for stricter financial accountability.

While not disputing the figures, the former board explained that a massive portion of the N17bn went directly toward settling unpaid liabilities left behind by Pinnick’s administration.

Accordingly, key expenses included clearing a backlog in unpaid salaries for former coach José Peseiro, as well as settling long-overdue match bonuses and allowances for Super Eagles players dating back to the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

‘Of course, N17bn is a fairly tidy sum but don’t forget that the Gusau-led board inherited lots of debts from the previous board and one of those huge debts was the 23-month backlog of coach Jose Peseiro’s $70,000 USD a month salary. Peseiro’s unpaid salary alone gulped over a million dollars,’ a close confidant of the immediate past NFF President explained. ‘Unfortunately, this was the same salary that the previous board claimed had been bankrolled by Aiteo; but that was not the case, it was the Gusau board that cleared the mess.’

According to him, the humongous debts inherited from the Pinnick board also included outstanding match allowances and bonuses due to Super Eagles players dating back to the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Stakeholders close to Gusau noted that Dikko served as Second Vice President under Pinnick, making it unfair to distance himself from previous financial decisions.

They maintained that receiving more funding isn’t proof of misconduct when the money was used to fix inherited problems.

‘Some of these clarifications are necessary because receiving more funding than a previous administration isn’t, by itself, evidence of anything improper,’ he said.

‘Rather, the question that matters is how it was applied and without any contradiction, the Gusau-led board used major part of that N17bn fund to clear the debts left by the Pinnick board.’

Former officials also highlighted the drastic drop in the Naira’s value. The N15bn received under Pinnick came when the dollar traded between N200 and N600, giving it far greater spending power. By the time the N17bn was released under Gusau, the rate had soared to N1,500 per dollar, severely reducing its actual value.

Despite the dispute over past debts, sports stakeholders praised President Bola Tinubu for stepping up funding to support national teams and stabilize sports administration.

Northwest governors move to shut down illegal private health training schools

The seven North-Western states have resolved to shut down private health training institutions that fail to meet the required legal and regulatory standards.

The decision, according to the Chairman of the North-Western States Commissioners of Health Forum and Jigawa State Commissioner of Health, Dr Abdullahi Kainuwa, aims to sanitise health personnel training and ensure the production of qualified medical workers across the region.

Kainuwa made this known while inaugurating the screening committee for private medical and health training institutions at the conference hall of the Jigawa State Ministry of Health in Dutse.

He said the initiative followed growing concerns over substandard facilities, inadequate academic staff and poor training standards in some private health institutions across the region.

According to him, the governments of Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa and Zamfara States have agreed to work together to strengthen standards in private health training institutions.

He said the states could no longer allow institutions without the required facilities and qualified personnel to continue producing health workers.

‘We can no longer allow substandard schools to produce health workers. The law is clear. If you don’t have the requirements, we will shut you down,’ he said.

Kainuwa explained that the exercise was designed to protect public health and prevent the production of poorly trained health workers who could endanger lives.

‘This exercise is about safeguarding public health and ensuring that only qualified personnel are trained to care for our people,’ he stated.

The commissioner urged proprietors of private health training institutions in Jigawa to comply immediately with all legal and regulatory requirements.

He stressed that the government was not opposed to private investment in the health sector but would not tolerate shortcuts that could compromise healthcare quality.

‘Government is not against private investment. We are against shortcuts that endanger lives,’ Kainuwa said.

He further disclosed that the North-West health commissioners’ forum was united in its resolve to enforce standards, warning that no state would provide a safe haven for illegal health training institutions.

‘No state will serve as a hiding place for illegal health schools. We will act together,’ he declared.

Speaking to journalists after the engagement, Kainuwa said a joint monitoring team would be deployed across the seven states to inspect private health training institutions.

He said the team would verify laboratories, clinics, tutors, admission procedures, curricula and other accreditation requirements.

‘We will verify labs, clinics, tutors, admission processes and all prerequisites. Anything short of standard will not be tolerated,’ he said.

The commissioner said the decision was also informed by public complaints about graduates of some private institutions who lacked basic clinical skills despite holding certificates.

‘The people have been calling for this. They deserve health workers who are properly trained and certified,’ he added.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Taskforce on Private Health Training Institutions under the Jigawa State Ministry of Health and Technical Adviser to Governor Umar Namadi, Isa Surajo, said the taskforce would operate strictly within its mandate.

‘Our job is to inspect, verify and recommend. There will be no sentiment and no cover-up,’ Surajo said.

He explained that the exercise was aimed at restoring public confidence in health personnel training in Jigawa State and the North-West.

‘We want our graduates to be accepted anywhere in Nigeria because they met the best standards,’ he stated.

Surajo disclosed that the taskforce would assess facilities, review curricula and verify the qualifications of instructors in the affected institutions.

He warned that institutions without functional laboratories and qualified tutors would not be allowed to pass the re-accreditation exercise.

According to him, the monitoring process will be continuous rather than a one-off exercise, stressing that the objective was to establish a sustainable system for quality health personnel training.

Meanwhile, proprietors of private health training institutions were issued guidelines and timelines for the re-accreditation exercise and directed to submit the required documents to the ministry’s taskforce to avoid sanctions.

Efforts by our correspondent to obtain comments from some of the proprietors after the meeting were unsuccessful, as those approached declined to speak on the matter.

One of the proprietors, however, said they preferred to comment after completing the re-accreditation process and putting their documents in order.

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance earns A+(NG) rating with positive outlook on underwriting turnaround

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Limited (CHI) has secured an upgraded A+(NG) financial strength rating from GCR Ratings, with a positive outlook, as a sharp turnaround in underwriting performance and stronger capitalisation bolster the insurer’s financial resilience.

The upgrade from A(NG), announced on August 31, 2026, is GCR’s first improvement in its rating of CHI since it began coverage of the insurer in August 2023.

GCR attributed the upgrade to stronger risk-adjusted capitalisation, adequate liquidity, an improving earnings profile and a significant improvement in underwriting performance.

The insurer’s combined ratio, a key measure of underwriting profitability, fell sharply from 113.5 percent in 2023 to 83.9 percent in 2024 and 78.2 percent in 2025. This compares with an industry average of 95 percent, highlighting CHI’s stronger underwriting discipline.

GCR linked the improvement to lower high-value claims, optimised reinsurance arrangements, scale efficiencies and tighter cost management.

For an industry where underwriting losses have historically eroded insurers’ earnings, the turnaround means CHI is increasingly generating stronger returns from its core insurance business rather than relying heavily on investment income.

‘The A+(NG) rating is a strong affirmation of the discipline and resilience behind our transformation,’ Mary Adeyanju, managing director/ CEO of CHI, said.

‘We have deliberately strengthened underwriting quality, risk management and reinsurance while ensuring that our growth remains supported by adequate capital and liquidity.’

The rating upgrade comes as the insurer continues to expand its business. CHI’s insurance revenue grew at a compound annual growth rate of 33.7 percent over five years to reach N41.7 billion in 2025, supported by its distribution network and intermediary relationships across eight business lines.

Related NewsIts capital position also strengthened during the period. GCR’s capital adequacy ratio rose to 2.5 times from 1.9 times, while the statutory solvency margin reached 11.9 times, significantly above the regulatory minimum of 1.0 times.

Liquidity remained robust at 2.2 times, with cash and short-term placements accounting for 54.8 percent of investments.

Adeyanju said the Positive Outlook would push the company to maintain its focus on profitable expansion rather than pursuing growth at the expense of underwriting quality.

‘Our objective is not growth for its own sake. We are focused on profitable, sustainable and responsible growth,’ she said.

GCR said any further rating improvement would depend on CHI sustaining its underwriting and competitive gains while keeping capital adequacy and liquidity above 2.2 times and 1.8 times respectively.

The rating agency projects CHI’s capital adequacy ratio to remain between 2.2 and 2.4 times over the next 12 to 18 months, while liquidity coverage is expected to stay above 2.0 times.

The outlook also takes into account the contribution expected from CHI Life Assurance Limited, the group’s relatively new, wholly owned life insurance subsidiary, as well as other diversification initiatives.

For CHI, the improved rating provides a stronger financial signal to policyholders, brokers, reinsurers and other business partners, while giving the insurer a stronger platform to compete for larger risks and pursue sustainable expansion.

Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Limited is one of the leading General Business and Special Risk Insurance underwriters in Nigeria. Over the years, the company has played a leadership role in the underwriting of key transactions in Aviation, Oil and Gas, Marine Cargo and Hull Business as well as in Motor insurance business.

Nebbi leaders seek to turn Nduru Hill into tourism site

Leaders in Nebbi Municipality have proposed the development of Nduru Hill, commonly referred to as Got Nebbi, into a tourist site.

The Deputy Mayor of Nebbi Municipal Council, Mr Howard Musa, said on Monday that the council had resolved to include Nduru Hill in its key infrastructure priority plan submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for consideration.

‘Nduru Hill is our identity. Developing it will attract tourists, create jobs for our youth and protect our cultural heritage,’ Musa said.

He added that Nebbi Municipality wants to open access roads to the hill, install solar lights, construct perimeter fences, build public toilets and set up a cultural centre with a craft market for local artisans in the area.

The proposal was revealed during a meeting between Nebbi Municipal Council leaders and members of Nduru Hill Resource Development Association at Nduru Hill in Abindu Division, Nebbi Municipal Council.

The proposal comes as the municipality prepares to implement a bus and taxi park project under the five-year World Bank funded Uganda Cities and Municipalities Infrastructure Development (UCMID) project where Nebbi is among the 15 new municipalities added to the programme.

Nebbi has already secured Shs16.5b for a modern bus and taxi park.

Resolution

The Board Chairman of Nduru Hill Resource Development Association, Mr Ibrahim Harunah, said: ‘The site currently lacks amenities while some community members are also encroaching on the site’s land.’

He urged the Nebbi Municipal Council to speedily resolve the encumbrances to clear way for the tourism project.

The Tourism Officer of Nebbi Municipality, Mr Denis Okello, said historically, Nduru Hill derives its name from a king named Nduru, an ancestor to three clans namely Paminya, Pagei and Upanu from Nebbi Municipal Council.

‘As such, the three clans should be involved in the development plan,’ he said.

He added: ‘If Nduru Hill Rocks is well developed into a cultural site, it will be used as a cultural training centre that will house a conference hall, restaurant, accommodation facilities, festival ground, arts and craft shop and a museum.’

One of the community members living near Nduru Hill, Mr Albert Olum, welcomed the idea of fencing the four-acre Nduru Hill and turning it into a tourism site.

‘It will be a milestone to the community around the hill. That way, all the bad acts like evil rituals, rape and theft would greatly reduce, guaranteeing security of the place,’ Mr Olum said.

ABOUT NDURU HILL

From the peak, one can view the beautiful landscape of Nebbi Municipality. The hill has chair shaped stones that were used by the traditional chiefs.

It was used for both as an administrative hub and a screening point for Alur, who had been enslaved in the DR Congo by colonial masters and transported from Fort Emin Pasha in Wadelai, which is now in Pakwach District.

In 2023, wrangle erupted between religious leaders and cultural leaders over Nduru Hill on the outskirts of Nebbi Town.

The tension was due to religious leaders from Nebbi Catholic Diocese erecting a cross atop the hill, which angered a section of the elders, youth and cultural leaders.

They argued that the presence of the cross impedes their ability to carry out rituals and engage in leisure activities on the hills.

For instance, every Sunday, several youth climb the hill, set their music system and engage in dances until 7pm.

Securing The Rails: How Lagos, NRC Partnership Is Boosting Safety

As Nigeria continues to expand and modernise its railway system, the challenge of protecting railway infrastructure from vandalism, theft and other forms of criminal activity has become increasingly important.

In Lagos, that challenge is gradually receiving greater attention through a growing partnership between the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and the Lagos State Government.

That partnership was again demonstrated at the Mobolaji Johnson Train Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos, where the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) presented two operational vehicles to the NRC to strengthen security operations along railway corridors.

The vehicles are expected to support the Nigeria Police Railway Command and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in surveillance, patrol and rapid response duties within railway stations, corridors and surrounding communities.

For the NRC, the intervention goes beyond the provision of two vehicles. It represents another layer of support in the continuing effort to protect critical national assets and provide a safer environment for passengers, workers and railway communities.

Presenting the vehicles, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, explained that the donation was part of the Lagos State Government’s continued commitment to supporting security agencies and institutions operating within the state.

He noted that railway infrastructure had become increasingly important to the movement of people and goods and therefore required adequate security support.

According to him, the vehicles would improve the capacity of security personnel to respond to vandalism, theft and other criminal activities that could disrupt railway operations.

Ogunsan also stressed the importance of accountability in the use of donated security assets.

The LSSTF, he said, has established monitoring mechanisms to ensure that vehicles and other equipment provided for security operations are used strictly for their intended purposes.

His message was clear: effective utilisation of the vehicles would strengthen confidence in the partnership and encourage further support.

For the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, the intervention was another demonstration of the commitment of the Lagos State Government, under Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, to the safety and development of the railway system.

Opeifa described the support as timely, noting that the vehicles would improve the mobility and response capacity of the security agencies responsible for protecting railway assets.

But the NRC Managing Director went beyond expressing appreciation.

In a symbolic demonstration of personal commitment to the security initiative, Opeifa announced a donation of N500,000 from his September salary to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.

The gesture added a different dimension to the event.

Rather than viewing security solely as the responsibility of government, Opeifa used the occasion to encourage individuals, corporate organisations and residents of Lagos State to see security as a collective responsibility.

He urged Nigerians, particularly those living and doing business in Lagos, to voluntarily support the LSSTF so that the Fund could continue providing equipment and other resources required by security agencies.

The appeal reflects the philosophy behind the Trust Fund itself – a public-private partnership designed to complement government funding for security.

For railway operations, such collaboration is particularly significant.

Railway infrastructure stretches across long corridors, passing through communities, industrial areas and sometimes difficult-to-monitor locations. Protecting tracks, signalling equipment, stations and other facilities therefore requires mobility, surveillance and quick intervention.

Acts of vandalism do not only result in financial losses. They can also threaten passenger safety, disrupt train services and affect the wider transportation system.

This makes the deployment of dedicated operational vehicles an important addition to railway security.

Opeifa also extended the conversation beyond Lagos.

He called on other state governments, particularly those across the 26 states where the NRC has operational presence, to support the protection of railway infrastructure within their jurisdictions.

Such collaboration, he argued, would help security agencies respond more quickly to incidents and strengthen the nationwide campaign against vandalism of railway assets.

The partnership between Lagos State and the NRC has also extended beyond security.

Opeifa disclosed that the state government had indicated readiness to rehabilitate some roads within the railway compound and provide solar-powered streetlights after the completion of ongoing works.

A major storm-water drainage project is also being undertaken to channel water from the railway environment towards the Mile 2 lagoon.

According to the NRC Managing Director, the drainage intervention has already significantly improved the environment and reduced the perennial flooding previously experienced around the railway compound during heavy rainfall.

Together, these interventions illustrate an evolving relationship between the Federal Government-owned railway corporation and the Lagos State Government.

They also demonstrate how cooperation between different levels of government can address practical challenges affecting public infrastructure.

Speaking on behalf of the security agencies, DCP Yahaya Usman, representative of the Commissioner of Police, Nigeria Police Railway Command, assured that the vehicles would be deployed strictly for railway security operations.

He said they would strengthen surveillance, patrol and response capabilities along railway corridors.

For passengers, the immediate impact of such interventions may not always be visible.

Yet behind every safe train journey is a network of security personnel, infrastructure maintenance teams and operational systems working to keep the railway functional.

The two operational vehicles donated by the LSSTF may therefore appear modest when viewed in isolation, but their significance lies in the wider partnership they represent.

It is a partnership built around shared responsibility, protection of public assets and the recognition that railway security cannot be left to one institution alone.

Opeifa’s personal contribution of N500,000 further reinforces that message.

As the railway network continues to play an increasingly important role in Nigeria’s transportation system, sustained cooperation among the NRC, state governments, security agencies, communities and the private sector may prove just as important as the trains and tracks themselves.

For Lagos, the latest intervention is another reminder that securing the railway is ultimately part of securing the city.

Princes reject father’s position in Tooro succession dispute

The two children of Omujwera Musuuga Charles Kamurasi, who are also princes of the royal family, have openly rejected their father’s position in the escalating dispute over who should succeed the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, deepening divisions within the Babiito clan and royal family.

Speaking at a press conference in Fort Portal, Prince Patrick Mpuuga and Prince Solomon Nyaika said they disagreed with their father’s position on the succession and maintained that Oyo’s Will should prevail.

The two, who described the late king as their elder brother and friend, said the Will was clear on how the Tooro throne should be inherited and accused some members of the Babiito clan of attempting to overturn the late king’s wishes.

“We disagree with our own father. His position, it is very surprising that he has taken that stand. We disagree, with all honesty, because the truth prevails,” Prince Mpuuga said.

He argued that Oyo’s Will should take precedence over an earlier Will made by their grandfather, which some Babiito clan members have invoked.

“It is very clear that the Will of the king now supersedes any Will that existed in the past,” he said.

The remarks came a day after the Babiito royal clan announced Prince Edward David Rukidi Kiijanangoma as the next Omukama, a decision rejected by members of Oyo’s immediate family.

The disagreement has created an unusual split, with some members supporting the Babiito-led customary succession process while others insist the late king had already provided for continuity through his Will.

Prince Mpuuga said Oyo had personally discussed with him the possibility of taking on the position of Omujwera Musuuga, though it had not formally taken effect.

“In my conversation also with His Majesty, he had tasked me to take on that mantle of Musuuga. It may not have seen the light of day officially,” he said.

He said the move was intended to ensure continuity of Tooro culture and transfer of cultural knowledge between generations.

The princes said they were particularly concerned by their father and other elders supporting the Babiito succession process, arguing that the late king’s Will is a legal document that should be respected.

“We are going to follow the king’s Will first. The king has left the Will, his son, and the succession system,” Nyaika said.

He accused some members involved in the succession process of having been absent from the royal family and from Oyo’s life for many years.

He also questioned the authority of some individuals in the process and alleged that the Omujwera Musuuga had been influenced by people he described as outsiders. The allegations could not immediately be independently verified.

Nyaika said succession to the Tooro throne had historically followed a clear line of inheritance, citing previous kings.

He said Omukama Chwa II Kabalega Kasagama had initially faced a succession question before his cousin Rukidi became heir, and that subsequent succession passed through the royal family until Oyo inherited the throne from his father, Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III.

He argued that Oyo’s son should therefore be considered under the same principle of continuity.

“Oyo has a son and has a Will. All these people were using the Will, the Will, the Will. So it is not right these so-called Babiito who are saying that a king is not voted for,” Nyaika said.

He disputed the argument that the Babiito should constitute a committee to select the next king, saying the process being followed was inconsistent with Tooro’s succession history.

Despite the sharp disagreement, the royal family members appealed for calm.

Prince Mpuuga said the dispute should be resolved within the Constitution, the law and Tooro’s customs.

“We speak peace. We speak justice because, at the end of the day, the country is governed by the Constitution and the laws therein. May we observe those laws and, of course, the guiding customs and traditions,” he said.

’Nobody offered me Atiku’s VP slot’ – Obi

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, has rubbished claims that he snubbed a joint 2027 ticket with Atiku Abubakar, revealing that no running-mate offer was ever placed on the table

Obi said he was never in a position where such an offer was made to him, insisting that he had not turned down any vice-presidential arrangement with Atiku.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Obi was asked to clarify reports that he refused to run as Atiku’s vice-presidential candidate.

Responding, he said:

‘Who said so? Where? I wasn’t even in any party where that offer was on the table. I wasn’t even in a position where it was being offered and I refused.’

The NDC candidate explained that the political situation had moved beyond individual negotiations, saying any possible alliance ahead of the 2027 election would involve political parties rather than personal decisions.

According to Obi, both he and Atiku are currently presidential candidates of different parties, making any discussion about collaboration a broader political issue.

‘Where we are now is that I’m a candidate, my leader Atiku is a candidate of another party, so you are talking about two parties coming together.’

He compared possible political negotiations to a corporate merger, arguing that it was no longer a matter of two individuals simply deciding to work together.

‘It’s like a situation where you have two corporations coming together. It’s no longer two CEOs going for a drink and saying, ‘We are going to work together.”

Obi had previously clarified that he never stated he would accept a vice-presidential role to anyone ahead of the 2027 election, while maintaining that he was open to working with people committed to rebuilding Nigeria.

The 2027 presidential race has continued to generate speculation over possible opposition alliances, with political actors discussing potential collaborations ahead of the election.

FG warns institutions against accreditation fraud, threatens sanctions

Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, has warned heads of tertiary institutions against compromising the integrity of accreditation exercises, saying officials who manipulate the process risk losing their jobs while private institutions could have their licences revoked.

Alausa issued the warning on Wednesday in Abuja at the inauguration of the Ministerial Committee on Strengthening the Accreditation and Quality Assurance System for Tertiary Institutions.

He said the government would no longer tolerate institutions that present inflated or misleading records of their academic capacity during accreditation exercises, stressing that the quality of graduates produced by Nigerian tertiary institutions must reflect the standards approved by regulatory agencies.

According to him, the consequences of weak accreditation are already evident in the difficulty employers face in finding qualified graduates.

‘People say they want to hire engineers. They will have 500 candidates, but they won’t be able to get two, three, four or five qualified applicants. That’s the damage we’re doing to this university.

‘But guess what? This Ministry of Education is not going to let this continue. Other presidents, other governments may have allowed this to continue, but we are not going to let this continue.

The minister also announced that the Federal Government would end the practice whereby institutions temporarily borrow academic staff, equipment and facilities from other institutions to meet accreditation requirements.

‘And at the end of this, there will be consequences. You will go and represent the others, and your institution will lose its standing.

‘The world will put the consequences in place. You will lose your job if you don’t act on time. Private institutions will lose their licences,’ he said.

His position comes amid controversy surrounding the accreditation of the Law programme at Atiba University, Oyo State.

In August, the Council of Legal Education imposed a 10-year moratorium on the university’s Law programme, citing inadequate facilities as well as the admission and graduation of students without the requisite approval.

The development has left affected students and their parents seeking government intervention, including possible transfers to accredited Law faculties to prevent years of study and financial investments from being lost.

Alausa said accreditation must provide an accurate picture of an institution’s actual and sustainable capacity rather than a temporary representation assembled solely for an accreditation visit.

‘An institution should not be able to prepare a temporary picture of itself simply for the purpose of an accreditation visit.

‘Sadly, this is what persists in the majority of instances,’ he said.

He said the government would tackle the practice of temporarily moving academic and non-academic personnel between institutions or presenting them for accreditation before they are returned to their original institutions.

The same measures, he said, would apply to the temporary movement, borrowing or presentation of laboratory equipment, workshop resources, library materials and other facilities solely for accreditation purposes.

According to the minister, whatever an accreditation team sees and verifies must represent the institution’s genuine and sustainable capacity.

Alausa said the reform was designed to strengthen the credibility, integrity, transparency, efficiency and sustainability of accreditation exercises across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

He said the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) had critical responsibilities in protecting the quality of tertiary education.

‘An institution should not meet prescribed standards only when the NUC, NBTE or NCCE accreditation team is expected to visit. Those standards should be met every day of the year.

‘With a robust digital accreditation platform, much of the institutional information required for accreditation can be continuously maintained and periodically verified.

‘Before an accreditation team arrives, the accrediting agency should already have reliable information on institutional staffing, facilities, laboratories, workshops and other equipment.

‘The physical visit will remain important, but it should increasingly serve to validate verified data rather than begin the verification process from scratch,’ he said.

The minister said the committee’s mandate was not to weaken the existing accreditation system but to modernise and strengthen it through transparent, efficient, evidence-based and difficult-to-manipulate processes.

He directed the committee to develop mechanisms for verifying the authenticity and continuous availability of academic and non-academic staff presented for accreditation.

It is also expected to establish mechanisms for verifying the ownership, functionality, adequacy, accessibility and sustained availability of facilities and equipment presented by institutions.

Alausa said technology would be deployed to transform accreditation from a predominantly manual and periodic exercise into a digital, data-driven and continuously verifiable system.

He called for the use of geospatial mapping, geotagging and appropriate digital identification technologies for physical infrastructure, laboratories, workshops and major equipment.

‘Critical equipment presented for accreditation should be capable of being digitally identified and linked to a specific institution and physical location,’ he said.

The minister also advocated a comprehensive digital identity management and staff verification framework to establish the presence and institutional affiliation of personnel presented for accreditation.

He said the system should, subject to applicable laws and data protection requirements, leverage national identity infrastructure and interoperable government databases.

Alausa said collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) should be explored to utilise the National Identification Number (NIN), alongside the appropriate use of Bank Verification Number (BVN) infrastructure and other secure technologies.

He said the framework would help establish the principle of ‘one individual, one verifiable identity and an accurately declared institutional affiliation’, while detecting cases where an individual is improperly presented as full-time personnel in multiple institutions.

The minister also expressed concern over illegal admissions into tertiary institutions, saying such admissions had run into hundreds of thousands.

He blamed the situation partly on the tolerance of irregularities under previous administrations but assured Nigerians that the President Bola Tinubu administration would no longer allow such practices to continue.

Responding, Is-haq Oloyede, Chairman of the Ministerial Committee and former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), pledged the committee’s commitment to addressing abuses in the accreditation process.

Oloyede said accreditation should not be treated as an exercise for which institutions temporarily prepare, stressing that continuous monitoring was critical to ensuring that standards were maintained beyond accreditation visits.

He said the committee would also examine how regulatory and professional bodies could better integrate their accreditation processes and agree on relevant criteria to prevent situations where students complete programmes but are unable to proceed to professional training or registration.

Côte d’Ivoire Assembly president visits Abuja ahead of GS-26 summit

The President of the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire, Rt. Hon. Patrick Achi, has visited the Secretariat of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) in Abuja ahead of his keynote address at the Gender and Inclusion Summit 2026 (GS-26).

Achi, who was received by the CoSPAL Secretary-General, Amb. ‘Dapo Oyewole, and senior officials of the organisation, discussed ways of deepening cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire’s National Assembly and CoSPAL.

The Ivorian legislative leader, who was accompanied by the Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) and convener of GS-26, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, was briefed on CoSPAL’s strategic priorities, including strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and building partnerships to support Africa’s governance and development agenda.

Oyewole also updated Achi on the outcomes of CoSPAL’s 3rd General Assembly, held in Rabat, Morocco, in December 2025, as well as preparations for the organisation’s 4th General Assembly, scheduled to take place in Monrovia, Liberia, in December 2026.

He described Achi’s visit to the CoSPAL Secretariat as ‘a distinct privilege,’ noting that ‘Côte d’Ivoire has long been a valued and active member within the CoSPAL family and we had a rich and productive exchange on the priorities ahead.’

The discussions also focused on increasing Côte d’Ivoire’s participation in CoSPAL’s capacity-building programmes and peer-learning platforms for African legislators.

A key issue at the meeting was the Gender Legislative Agenda, a joint initiative of CoSPAL and PIC, which is expected to be pre-launched at GS-26.

Dirisu briefed the meeting on the objectives of the initiative and the commitment of both organisations to promoting gender-responsive legislation across African parliaments.

Dirisu said Achi’s presence in Abuja demonstrated the growing importance of gender-responsive governance to Africa’s legislative agenda.

‘We are delighted to welcome Rt. Hon. Patrick Achi to Abuja ahead of his keynote at GS-26. His presence and today’s engagement with CoSPAL underscore the growing recognition that gender-responsive governance is central to Africa’s legislative agenda,’ Dirisu said.

Achi, who assumed leadership of Côte d’Ivoire’s National Assembly in January 2026 at the beginning of the 2026-2030 legislature, commended CoSPAL for its role in promoting legislative cooperation across the continent.

‘CoSPAL occupies a vital place in the architecture of African legislative cooperation. I am pleased to reaffirm, on behalf of the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire, our full commitment to this important continental mission,’ he said.

Following the visit to the CoSPAL Secretariat, Oyewole led the delegation to the National Assembly, where they were received by the Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. (Prof.) Julius Ihonvbere.

The delegation also toured the National Assembly Library Trust Fund as part of efforts to deepen its understanding of Nigeria’s legislative institutions and explore further areas of parliamentary cooperation between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.

The engagement is part of CoSPAL’s continued outreach to Speakers and Presidents of member parliaments ahead of its 4th General Assembly in Monrovia, where Achi and other African legislative leaders are expected to participate.

Pioneer NRC Customer Service Head, Onyiagha, Bows Out

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is bidding farewell to one of its pioneering officers, Mrs. Rita Onyiagha, Assistant Director and pioneer Head of the Customer Service Unit, as she bows out of the Corporation in pursuit of greener pastures.

Mrs. Onyiagha delivered her valedictory remarks during her final attendance at the NRC Management Meeting held at the Corporation’s headquarters, where she expressed profound appreciation to the Management for the opportunity to serve and contribute to the development of customer service operations within the Corporation.

Reflecting on her experience, she noted that although she had previously worked in customer service elsewhere, her time at the NRC provided a unique platform that further shaped her professional journey and strengthened her passion for improved service delivery.

She recalled the establishment and growth of the Customer Service Unit, noting that its activities have contributed significantly to increasing staff consciousness and responsiveness to the needs and concerns of passengers and other stakeholders.

According to her, the introduction of a structured customer feedback and escalation process has helped to promote greater accountability among staff, as complaints and service-related issues can now be promptly brought to the attention of relevant departments and management for necessary action.

Mrs. Onyiagha also highlighted some of the operational challenges encountered by the Unit, including the need for adequate working tools such as laptops and the importance of stronger inter-departmental collaboration to ensure timely resolution of customer concerns.

As Mrs. Rita Onyiagha takes her leave from the Corporation, the NRC Management and staff acknowledged her pioneering role and contributions to strengthening the Corporation’s customer service culture.

The Corporation wished her continued success and fulfilment as she embarks on the next phase of her professional journey.