Category: Business Day

Nigeria’s U20 side, the Flying Eagles, will take on Saudi Arabia in their second match of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Talca on Thursday night.

After a 1-0 defeat to Norway in their Group F opener, the seven-time African champions are eager to bounce back and keep their hopes of advancing alive.

Despite dominating possession and creating several chances in the match against Norway,

Nigeria was unfortunate not to find the equalizer in the second half. The Flying Eagles were denied two penalty appeals by the referee, leaving them frustrated in what was otherwise a promising performance. A win against Saudi Arabia will boost Nigeria’s chances of progressing to the Round of 16, especially with a tough match against Colombia coming up on Sunday.

Head coach, Aliyu Zubair, remains confident that his team has recovered from the disappointment of the Norway defeat.

His focus now is on ensuring the squad delivers the right result against Saudi Arabia. With all key players available,

Zubair is expected to stick with his preferred 4-3-3 formation, emphasizing attacking play and ball possession.

Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL), in a bid to advance the Nigerian energy landscape, has signed an agreement with Granville Energy (PTY) Limited to design, build, finance, and operate a 100 megawatt (MW) floating solar power plant at the Kainji hydro power plant.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, Sani Bello, Chairman, Board of Directors, Mainstream Energy Solutions, said that the project is a significant step forward in the company’s mission to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape.

He explained that when fully operational, the project will provide thousands of Nigerian homes and businesses with clean, reliable energy, supporting economic development while minimising environmental impact.

‘We are proud to partner with Granville Energy (PTY) Limited to design, build, finance, and operate a 100MW floating solar power plant at the Kainji hydro power plant. This pioneer project embodies our unwavering commitment to increasing power generation in Nigeria while promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.

‘As an organisation. We have consistently demonstrated our commitment to renewable energy, aligning this with our mission statement and the focus areas of our Corporate Social Responsibility interventions. This MOU signing is a testament to our resolve to drive positive change and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.

‘This aligns perfectly with our core objective: powering Nigeria’s economic growth in an environmentally responsible manner,’ he said.

In his remarks, Abba Aliyu, Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA) noted that Nigeria currently have the highest number of people without electricity, with most of these people located in the rural and urban areas of the country.

For him, the most economically viable means of providing them with electricity is through distributed renewable energy, through the deployment of renewable sources.

‘For us to have an opportunity where 100 megawatts of renewable energy can be injected into the grid, for us, this is a huge and significant increase in the renewable mix of the country. I will say that apart from the Azura, which was 450 megawatts that was added as a Greenfield, and Zungeru, which mainstream is very much active in managing that, there is no significant renewable capacity that has been added to the grid.

‘Initially, the Rural Electrification Agency is currently working on injecting about 188.4 megawatts through interconnected mini-grids, one of which we intend to be the first to will do the floating solar in the University of Lagos, where we will put the panels by the side of the lagoon to power the University of Lagos.

‘But definitely, the commitment of the mainstream and the partners, Granville Energy, is something that the federal government will always have pleasure in and will always key into it.

He said that Nigeria needs to increase the generation capacity, hence the need to deploy more renewable resources and an innovative model like this that harnesses the space around the hydro and creates a floating solar.

He also advised the companies that the project should come with its own distribution network, SCADA system, and full meters to enhance the commercial viability of the project, adding that without these, the commercial viability of the renewable project can never be sustained.

‘This is an ingenious, complex framework that must be encouraged, and for the Rural Electrification Agency, we would like to be part of this initiative, key into it, support it, and in any way also learn from how we will do that, how we will deploy it at this level of capacity,’ he added.

Also speaking, Tabi T. Tabi, Chief Executive Officer, Granville Energy, said that the MOU commits both parties to the development of the Kainji Floating Solar Plant, which is intended to reach a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts (1 Gigawatt).

He explained that the immediate focus is the rapid deployment of phase one, which will add 100 MW of hybrid renewable power to the grid. ‘This multi-gigawatt vision is a testament to what is possible when two African giants-Nigeria and South Africa-collaborate,’ he said.

Tabi noted that by deploying high-efficiency solar panels directly onto the surface of the Kainji reservoir, the project will deliver a powerful hybrid system. This synergy, he said, ensures that when the sun shines brightest, it generates solar power; and when it sets, or when water flow fluctuates, the stabilised output of the hydro plant and the power from the battery energy storage systems step in, providing consistent, reliable power to the national grid.

‘Floating solar is a win for water management. By covering a section of the reservoir, we drastically reduce water evaporation-a critical benefit for a nation balancing energy production with agricultural and domestic water needs.

‘This first 100 MW phase is the down payment on a larger vision that will, upon completion, provide 1,000 MW of new, clean capacity, dramatically cutting carbon emissions and cementing Nigeria’s commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement and its long-term climate targets,’ he said

Peter Obi, Labour Party (LP) candidate in the 2023 general election, has urged governments at all levels to act with compassion, fairness, and a deep sense of justice when dealing with issues affecting the people, especially at this difficult time.

Obi stated this on Wednesday after visiting the Lagos International Trade Fair site that was recently affected by demolition in Lagos

Obi, writing on his X handle, noted that many of the affected traders invested heavily – often through loans – in the hope of securing their livelihoods and contributing to the wider economy.

‘To destroy such legitimate investments without due process is not only unjust but also economically destructive.

‘Today, alongside Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Victor Umeh, Col. Austin Akobundu, Tony Nwoye, Honourable Members of the House of Representatives, Segun Sowonmi, George Adegeye, Labour Party Lagos State Gubernatorial candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and coordinator of the Obidient Movement Tanko Yunusa, we visited the site of the demolished ASPAMDA Market at the Trade Fair in Lagos, where plazas were pulled down despite traders having obtained the requisite approvals.’ He commended the traders for their remarkable restraint and calm in the face of such painful loss.

This is as he equally commended the senators and the House of Representatives members who pledged to investigate this matter thoroughly and bring to light the circumstances that led to the development, and most importantly, ensure that the situation does not occur in the future.

Obi noted that ‘a society that seeks to make progress must protect enterprise, encourage productivity, and defend the dignity of its citizens.’

According to him, ‘Incidents like this should have no place in a nation that aspires to fairness, stability, and shared prosperity.’

ýAs a way of encouraging start-ups floated by youths in the State, the Administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has distributed the sum of N800 million to distributed to business owned by youths.

The special intervention programme flagged off on Tuesday, in Kano, is said to be designed at supporting young entrepreneurs to start and expand their businesses.

Governor Abba said that the disbursement of the money is with immediate effect, across the 44 Local Government Areas of the State.

Governor Abba gave the directive, while launching the programme that a total of 5,384 young men and women selected as beneficiaries of the programme are to received ?150,000, each.

He noted that the programme was initiated as part of the administration’s commitment to improving the lives of young people in the State.

ýGovernor Yusuf noted that the initiative was designed to help youths become active members of the business community and contribute to societal progress.

ýHe urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the funds to grow their ventures and secure a better future.

ýHe also appealed to those who are still on the waiting list to remain patient, assuring them that the second tranche of the programme will be released soon.

ýThe governor reaffirmed that his administration would continue to prioritise policies and programmes that empower young people and create sustainable livelihoods across Kano State.

Sources told BusinessDay that the bulk of the beneficiaries of the programme were picked from among the hundred of youths that were rehabilited from being political Tmthugs across the State.

Kano, Nigeria ‘s most populated State has been experiencing escalation in youths restifuness in the recent times, due to what experts attributed to mounting unemployment among the youths in the state.

The disbursement of the money to the beneficiaries, who are mostly street boys, is expected to reduce the escalation in urban crimes, largely been driven by the unemployed youths

Shabana Mahmood, the United Kingdom’s (UK) Home Secretary, has confirmed that the path to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will soon be doubled to a ten-year qualifying period and subject to new ‘contribution-based’ requirements.

In her inaugural conference speech as home secretary, the Labour MP confirmed the significant policy shift, arguing that the public’s loss of faith in the immigration system was creating an environment where Britain could no longer afford to be ‘open, tolerant and generous’. End of automatic settlement

Mahmood further outlined plans to introduce a series of new, stringent ‘good citizen’ tests which migrants must pass to earn permanent residency.

‘We will soon increase the time in which someone must have lived in this country to earn indefinite leave to remain from five years to ten,’ she said.

‘And as part of that consultation, I will be proposing a series of new tests.’

These new conditions will reportedly include:

Being at work and making National Insurance contributions.

Not claiming a penny in benefits.

Attaining a high standard of English.

Having no criminal record. Demonstrating that they have truly given back to their community, such as through volunteering. Mahmood stated that those who fail to meet these new conditions should not be automatically granted ILR. The new system will allow high contributors to qualify for settlement in less than ten years, but others could face a longer wait or be barred from ILR entirely.

‘Time spent in this country alone is not enough,’ she asserted. ‘Just like my parents, you must earn the right to live in this country for good.’

The announcement was immediately followed by confusion over whether the stricter rules would apply to migrants who have recently arrived in the UK.

While sources initially indicate that the policy would not apply retrospectively to those already in the country, reports later suggested the government is wrestling with how to prevent a large cohort of recent arrivals from securing automatic ILR under current rules.

Mahmod is considering an emergency retrospective law, changes that could affect around one million migrants, including Nigerians who entered the UK after 2021 under the post-Brexit immigration system.

Insiders suggested the government was prepared to defend the expected legal challenges

However, it has been confirmed that the new ‘good citizen’ tests themselves would be too complex to impose on those already here.

Instead, ministers will seek a separate, faster mechanism to prevent migrants who arrived after 2021 from securing settlement after five years, though this mechanism is expected to be less demanding than the planned new ILR system.

‘Across this country, people feel like things are spinning out of control,’ she said, pointing to the arrivals of small boats and widespread illegal working as key drivers of this distrust.

The proposed changes are subject to a public consultation, following which the government is expected to make its final legislative decisions.

Heliconia Park has officially opened the doors of its newest and third destination, the Heliconia Park Port Harcourt Hotel and Golf Resort. The launch is said to mark a significant milestone for the brand, bringing a new standard of hospitality, lifestyle, and leisure to Port Harcourt.

According to the owners, guided by a vision that blends refined elegance with tailored experiences, the resort is said to reaffirm Heliconia Park’s mission to deliver secure, stylish, and welcoming spaces for both business and leisure guests.

Set within the quiet Intels Camp, Aba Road Estate, the resort says it is designed to be more than a place to stay.

With a golf course, and stylish suites the hotel combines Italian sophistication with African warmth, fine dining restaurants that are said to celebrate global and local cuisines, swing pool, tennis court, squash amidst sumptuous green areas, the Port Harcourt resort is seen as a destination where comfort meets timeless elegance, and every detail has been created to welcome guests with warmth and a sense of belonging, according to the promoters.

Speaking at the launch, Pasquale Fiore, the CEO of Heliconia Park, said: ‘This is not just another hotel. This is a destination and a home for excellence. Port Harcourt has long been a hub of energy, commerce, and culture, and by investing here we reaffirm our commitment to this city, its people, and its future. Heliconia Park was founded on the belief that true luxury is welcoming, personal, and tailored, and this resort embodies that very spirit.’

He went on: ‘We started Heliconia Park in 2022 with the opening of its first hotel in Port Harcourt, followed by the Lagos Luxury Apartments and Suites in 2024, officially inaugurated in February 2025. The launch marks a significant milestone in the brand’s growth journey in Nigeria, each chapter reflecting a vision of fine hospitality rooted in excellence, inspired by culture, and crafted with timeless standards of service.’

Also speaking at the event, Mike Epelle, Director at Heliconia Park, remarked: ‘The arrival of Heliconia Park Hotel and Golf Resort is a welcome addition to Port Harcourt. It reflects the city’s growing appeal as both a business and leisure hub, and we are proud to see such an investment that will not only elevate hospitality standards but also contribute to local tourism and economic growth.’

The launch of the Port Harcourt Hotel and Golf Resort underscores Heliconia Park’s philosophy of ‘Approachable Luxury,’ where prestige meets comfort and every guest feels both valued and at home. It is also a powerful reaffirmation of the brand’s growth journey, from its beginnings in Port Harcourt, to Lagos, and now back to the Garden City with a bold new resort, positioning Heliconia Park as one of Nigeria’s most dynamic luxury hospitality brands.

Heliconia Park is indicated as a home-grown Nigerian luxury hospitality brand redefining the guest experience with secure, stylish destinations, guided by its philosophy of ‘Approachable Luxury.’ Founded in 2022 with the launch of Heliconia Park Hotel and Suites in Port Harcourt, the brand says it has has since expanded with the Lagos Luxury Apartments and Suites in 2025 and now celebrates its third branch, the Heliconia Park Port Harcourt Hotel and Golf Resort.

It is located within the prestigious INTELS Aba Road Estate, the resort is both a retreat and a lifestyle destination. With event facilities, fine dining, pools, tennis courts, and a golf course, it reflects Heliconia Park’s mission to create elevated spaces and warm service where every guest feels at home.

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has announced new opportunities in school feeding, healthcare, and foreign investments for the state following Kano’s participation at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) High-Level Week in New York.

The governor, who was represented at the event by the Emir of Kano, His Highness Khalifah Muhammad Sanusi II, and the Director-General of the Kano State Investment Promotion Agency (Kan-Invest), Muhammad Naziru Halliru, said the engagements created fresh avenues that will boost human development and economic growth across Kano.

One of the major outcomes was the discussion on school feeding programmes. Emir Sanusi met with Kenyan entrepreneur and founder of Food4Education, Wawira Njiru, to explore collaboration aimed at expanding school feeding in Kano. The talks also involved the possibility of accessing African Development Bank funds already earmarked for African school feeding initiatives. Governor Yusuf explained that such a move was vital in tackling malnutrition among pupils, keeping children in school, and raising academic performance. He stressed that investing in children’s nutrition was an investment in Kano’s future, since well-fed children are more likely to stay focused in class and become productive citizens.

The delegation also highlighted Kano’s healthcare needs and reforms during engagements with global stakeholders. At the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers Event, the team presented Kano’s challenges in maternal health, immunisation, and access to primary healthcare. Governor Yusuf emphasised that forging global partnerships in the health sector was crucial to addressing service delivery gaps, especially in rural communities. He explained that the administration was already working to expand health facilities, ensure steady drug supply, and recruit more healthcare professionals to meet the growing needs of the people.

On the economic front, Kano showcased its vast investment opportunities at the Global Compact: Unstoppable Africa and the Cavista Holdings/Corporate Council on Africa Summit. The state presented itself as a potential hub for global investors by stressing its market size, agricultural resources, and skilled workforce. Yusuf revealed that the state government would soon unveil a five-year multi-sectoral investment strategic plan that would serve as a roadmap for attracting foreign direct investment, expanding job opportunities, and increasing internally generated revenue. He declared that Kano, being Nigeria’s most populous state, was positioning itself as the leading investment hub not just in Northern Nigeria but in the entire country. The governor commended Emir Sanusi for representing Kano with distinction at UNGA80. He said the emir’s international recognition, experience in economic matters, and global contacts gave the state an advantage during its engagements. Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and a respected voice on financial inclusion, was well received at the various side events, where he reinforced Kano’s commitment to reforms and global cooperation. Yusuf described the emir as a strong ambassador for the state whose presence elevated the quality of the conversations held with international partners.

According to the governor, Kano’s participation in UNGA80 is in line with his administration’s broader vision of linking the state to global networks of development, investment, and innovation. He maintained that Kano could not rely solely on internal resources to meet its pressing challenges in education, healthcare, and the economy. Instead, it must embrace global partnerships that can provide funding, technical expertise, and new ideas. He noted that the results of these efforts were already showing in the interest expressed by international partners and organisations that engaged with the Kano delegation.

Observers believe Kano’s involvement at UNGA80 could prove to be a turning point if the discussions lead to concrete outcomes. The possible partnership with Food4Education, for example, could have a major impact on thousands of children in public schools by improving access to meals and encouraging attendance. Similarly, the state’s pitch at international investment summits may attract new industries that would create jobs, stimulate commerce, and reduce poverty.

Yusuf assured the people of Kano that his administration would not allow the outcomes of UNGA80 to end as mere conference appearances. He pledged that all commitments made in New York would be followed up and converted into tangible results for the benefit of the state. He added that his government was not interested in attending global meetings for photo opportunities but was determined to bring back solutions, partnerships, and investments that would directly improve lives.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) partnered with the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), Port Harcourt and District to train 180 female entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta.

The training took almost all of one-week last week and ended with a colourful graduation ceremony at the impressive Horlinks Event Centre in the Marine Base area of the Garden City.

Amaka Ekaba, a fellow of ICAN, who is the Rapporteur-General of SWAN, produced a report that was read and adopted at the closing ceremony with huge applause. The report recognized Chiedu Ebie, Chairman, NDDC Governing Board; Samuel Ogbuju, Managing Director/CEO, NDDC; Boma Iyaye, Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the NDDC; Victor Antai, NDDC Executive Director, Projects; Ifedayo Agbegunde, Executive Director, Corporate Services, the entire NDDC management team; captains of industry; ICAN Chairmen; members of SWAN; and the distinguished lady entrepreneurs. Ekaba’s report said the workshop, held at the NDDC Event Centre, Port Harcourt from 22nd-25th September 2025, was attended by 180 Niger Delta Women Entrepreneurs, 20 SWAN members (including facilitators and organizers), NDDC Directors and 11 CID staff daily for quality assurance. ‘It was declared open by Ogbuku, (MD, NDDC), represented by Antai (ED Projects).

‘In their opening addresses, Ogbuku, Ehiorobo Friday (Director, CID), and Isioma Onwo (Chairperson, SWAN) emphasized the importance of financial literacy and capacity building for women entrepreneurs, affirming that empowering women translates to empowering families and the wider nation. Participants were urged to take the training seriously for business growth and sustainability.’

On the technical papers, Ekaba reported thus: ‘Seven technical sessions were held during the training. Paper one was: Introduction to Bank and Social Media Account Opening by Franca Ikhinwmin. Bank and social media accounts are vital for SME growth, providing credibility and market access. Participants were introduced to Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X, and guided on leveraging these platforms to promote their businesses.

‘Paper two was on Introduction to Bookkeeping by the 29th Chairman of ICAN Port Harcourt and District, Helen Irobuisi. Bookkeeping involves systematic daily recording of financial transactions, including tracking income, expenses, and filing source documents. Participants were advised to open key books of accounts (Cash Book, Sales Book, Purchase Book, Stock Register, etc), pay themselves salaries, and separate personal finances from business finances.

‘Paper three was on Tax Awareness. Anchored by the Pioneer Chairman of ICAN Obio Akpor and District, Chioma Ojukwu.

Nigeria’s tax system and the 2025 Tax Act reforms were explained, highlighting new exemptions, levies, VAT changes, and mandatory e-invoicing. Participants were urged to record all business expenses for tax deductions, seek professional tax advice, and consider upgrading from enterprise to limited liability company.’

The report went on to state how Paper four reviewed Record Keeping and Filing by Eme Akpa. ‘Effective record keeping requires tools such as cloud storage, scanning apps, backups, and organized physical files. Participants were cautioned against poor practices such as reliance on memory, scattered files, and lack of proper backups.

‘Paper 5 – Introducing Accounting Applications: Excel and Quick Books by Victoria Adele. Participants were introduced to Excel and QuickBooks for bookkeeping, financial reporting, and preparation of statements. Both tools were emphasized as critical for improving speed, accuracy, and automation, while reducing manual errors.’

On Paper six, ‘Internal Controls was by Peace Wills. Internal controls, including segregation of duties, reconciliations, and safeguarding assets, are crucial for protecting resources, preventing fraud, and building trust. Participants were urged to adopt tools such as vouchers, approval limits, and receipts, and to avoid mixing personal and business finances, with the reminder: What you don’t control will control you.”

Her report said Paper seven dealt with Financial Literacy by Olabisi Bamisile. ‘Financial planning emphasized budgeting, saving, building emergency funds, avoiding debt traps, and teaching financial values. Participants were introduced to a few investment platforms, cooperative savings, and insurance for wealth creation and long-term resilience.

‘Finally, Fidelity Bank Plc also encouraged the women entrepreneurs to take advantage of various packages geared towards supporting their businesses such as the ‘FUNDHER’ package.’

Giving insight into the essence of the training, Onwo, the SWAN chairperson, said: ‘Through our research, we found out that a lot of small and medium sized businesses fail just because of lack of proper record keeping. SWAN PH thought it wise that women entrepreneurs be trained so they can do business more professionally and profitably. For instance, a lot of the participants told us they did not even know they were supposed to keep their personal finances separate from their business finances.’

Nigeria is a sinking ship whose occupants are swimming to safety on the pieces of lifebuoy thrown to them. Are Nigerians not leaving in droves for foreign countries? And are they not serving as food to the famished sharks and whales in foreign seas?

The fact is that Nigeria, a well-endowed country, has become an unlivable geographical space from which her citizens are fleeing. Daily, in Nigeria, hundreds of people are needlessly killed by bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and the killer herdsmen. The nightmarish security challenges in our country seem to be unending. And millions of Nigerians, who have been reduced to subhumans through our political leaders’ mismanagement of our economy, are living below the breadline now.

Nigeria’s sad and bad condition is attributable to the leadership crisis, which has affected the country over the years. Since our country’s attainment of political sovereignty in 1960, good political leadership has continued to elude her.

Until 1999, dictatorial military regimes, which alternated with corrupt political leaderships, stunted our economic development, stymied our technological advancement, worsened our infrastructural rot and deficit, and caused the deepening of our religious and ethnic fissures.

In 1960, six years after we had achieved political emancipation, the Nigeria-Biafra civil war raged with its calamitous and disastrous effects. The fratricidal civil war caused the depredation of our economy, the destruction of our national infrastructure, and the decimation of our population. Thereafter, we experienced a military interregnum, which culminated in the birth of the second republic in 1979.

The second republic was truncated by the coup d’état executed by Muhammadu Buhari. It took place on December 31, 1983. Before the execution of the coup by the beret boys, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, a political dark horse, had piloted the affairs of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983. His government was toppled because it was alleged to be corrupt.

And between 1983 and 1998, save the brief period when Chief Ernest Shonekan held the reins of power, military officers took turns to rule Nigeria. While Muhammadu Buhari, who was known for his Spartan lifestyle, enacted draconian and retroactive decrees to rule Nigeria, Ibrahim Babangida institutionalised corruption in the country. And he took Nigeria on a transition to civilian rule rigmarole that landed us in a political cul-de-sac. But in the midst of the political quagmire into which Nigeria was thrown owing to the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, the vampiric Sani Abacha shoved aside the interim government of Ernest Shonekan to take the saddle of power. Sani Abacha was a blend of thieving tendencies and sanguinary proclivities.

Not only did he steal Nigeria blind, but he also liquidated some democracy activists, who were agitating for the revalidation of the late MKO Abiola’s stolen political mandate.

Happily, Nigeria transitioned to democratic rule upon Sani Abacha’s demise in 1998. And since 1999 and until now, we have enjoyed twenty-six years of unbroken democratic governance with one political leader handing over political power to another political leader without the country descending into an anarchic situation. That in itself is a milestone achievement considering Nigeria’s deep-seated disunity, which is caused by the existence of ethnic animosity and religious intolerance among Nigerians. However, the fact is that the elections that produced our past successive national leaders in the Fourth Republic were marred and marked by election malpractices. For example, in 1999, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was helped to become the president of Nigeria to placate the indignant Yoruba people regarding the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua, who succeeded Chief Obasanjo as the president of Nigeria, confessed that the election that brought him to office was deeply flawed.

And the declaration of Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the president-elect in 2023 was hotly contested in the court then.

It is a known fact that when the electoral processes that bring a politician to power are flawed, the political will and choices of the people will be subverted. And that situation negates the political axiom, which says that political sovereignty belongs to the people. And a national leader who enters the saddle of power via electoral malpractice will not be accountable to the people.

So, not surprisingly, corrupt political leadership has become endemic and pervasive in our country. Now, our political leaders who hold sway at different governmental strata perceive their occupation of exalted political offices as opportunities for them to acquire money by dipping their fingers into our exchequer.

Consequently, our country’s economy oscillates between slipping into recession and exiting from it. So millions of young Nigerian graduates pound the streets daily in search of the non-existent white- and blue-collar jobs. And innumerable Nigerian workers, who are not paid living wages, live below the breadline. They scrounge for food, which they will eat, sacrificing their dignity in the process.

Again, Nigeria suffers from an infrastructural deficit and rot. Long stretches of some federal roads have fallen into a state of disrepair. And the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria is comatose. Consequently, rich Nigerians, who are ailing, embark on health tourism in foreign countries for the treatment of their various health conditions. And the dysfunctionality of our educational system, which is caused by decades of governmental neglect, is at the root of our universities’ production of unemployable graduates, who are found wanting in character and learning.

Worse still, Nigeria is ravaged by grave security challenges, which have returned her to the Hobbesian state of nature where life is short, brutish, and nasty. Is the north not still in the firm grip of Boko Haram insurgency, terrorism, banditry, and the killer-herdsmen menace? And in the southern part of Nigeria, kidnapping rich people for ransom has become a lucrative business venture for kidnappers.

Nigeria, as she is now, is a rudderless ship cut adrift on the tempestuous sea of political, technological, economic, and educational uncertainties. As it is on autopilot, it is being tossed about on the choppy water by the pitiless currents.

But the solution to our many hydra-headed problems lies in our electing patriotic leaders who possess probity and leadership qualities. It is only they who can fix our national problems and entrench unity among us. And it is only they who can give Nigeria a people’s constitution, which will transform Nigeria into a true federal state.

In Nigeria’s fast-paced world where vehicles are not just a convenience but the lifeblood of movement, trade, and connection, engines are the unsung heroes. From taxis weaving through Lagos traffic to long-haul trucks powering interstate commerce, the performance of an engine can mean the difference between efficiency and frustration. And at the heart of every great engine lies one essential element: quality lubrication.

This is where Ardova PLC, one of Nigeria’s foremost energy companies, and Shell Lubricants, a global pioneer in advanced motor oils, converge in a partnership that has redefined engine care in the country with the creation and distribution of Shell Helix motor oil. Ardova is the sole distributor of Shell Lubricants in Nigeria.

A Meeting of Expertise and Innovation

As part of our efforts to increase visibility and drive relevance for Shell Lubricants in Nigeria, we have organized two editions of the Power Conference to engage with industry players in the power sector, and position Shell Lubricants as a leader in that space.

We have also launched the ‘Keep It Running’ campaign, alongside other marketing efforts, to further strengthen this commitment.

The Science Inside Every Bottle

What sets Shell Helix apart isn’t just the brand name, it’s the technology within. Formulated with active cleansing agents, Shell Helix motor oils are designed to go beyond basic lubrication. They:

– Actively clean and prevent sludge build-up.

– Reduce friction for smoother performance.

– Protect against wear and corrosion, even under Nigeria’s demanding driving conditions.

Think of it as giving your engine a spa treatment ,cleansing, protecting, and rejuvenating it with every drive.

Why This Matters for Nigerian Drivers

Nigeria’s driving environment can be unforgiving. Heavy traffic, fluctuating weather, rough roads, and long-distance journeys all put engines to the test. Cheap or substandard oils often fail under these conditions, leading to breakdowns, higher fuel consumption, and costly repairs.

With Shell Helix, the Ardova-Shell Lubricants partnership provides a lubricant engineered to withstand these pressures, ensuring engines run smoother, last longer, and give drivers peace of mind.

More Than Oil: A Promise of Reliability

When motorists pick up a bottle of Shell Helix from an Ardova or Enyo filling station, they’re not just buying motor oil. They’re investing in a promise: the promise of a cleaner engine, improved performance, and the backing of two trusted names in the energy sector.

It’s a promise that every journey whether it’s the daily school run or a cross-country delivery will be powered by excellence.

Shell Lubricant Solutions

Shell offers a wide range of Lubricants across all industries, from automotive, fleet, general manufacturing, construction, mining and quarrying, agriculture, marine to power. Following decades of collaboration with the businesses that help shape our global industrial sectors, located across every corner of the world, we’ve come to help unleash untapped sources of power: potential.

At Shell Lubricant Solutions, we help unleash this potential:

– The potential for equipment to perform better and last longer

– The potential for people to face new challenges and stay safe

– The potential for businesses to adapt to change and for industries to be both profitable and responsible.

We believe in the potential for positive change, by empowering businesses, reducing negative impact, and improving lives.

Because potential is only a promise until you add action, we’re committed to helping you transform your own business, so we can all make a real difference to the world.

Our mission is to put potential in motion and that drives everything we do.

The Road Ahead

The Ardova-Shell partnership reflects a shared vision to elevate the standard of machine/ equipment care in Nigeria. By marrying innovation with accessibility, they’ve turned Shell into more than just a lubricant, it’s a movement toward smarter, more sustainable operations.

For Nigerians, this means every turn of the key isn’t just the start of an engine, but the continuation of a journey powered by trust, science, and collaboration.

Shell Lubricants are formulated for passenger cars, heavy duty engines, gas engines, hydraulic systems, industrial gears, turbines, compressors, transformer oil and marine applications.

Available nationwide in Ardova and Enyo filling stations as well as through authorized reseller stores.