Category: Business Day

If there is one promise Nigerians have heard too often, it is that the promise of a free, fair and credible elections. Now, with less than two years before the 2027 vote, the House of Representatives says it is serious about change.

The Green Chamber have drawn a December deadline to deliver a package of electoral and constitutional reforms that, if passed, could reshape the way Nigerians choose their leaders.

Over a dozen bills are on the table, tackling everything from the timing of elections to who gets to run for office, and even how political parties are allowed to operate. Taken together, the reforms could mark the most ambitious attempt in years to address long-standing complaints about the credibility of Nigeria’s polls. First, lawmakers want to hold all elections in one day. In practice, this would mean that presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly contests are all decided in a single outing. Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives believes this could slash election costs by up to 40 percent and boost voter turnout, as citizens tend to show up more for the high-stakes presidential vote than for state-level polls.

Second, the proposals would open the door for independent candidates. This has long been a demand of civil society groups who argue that Nigeria’s political parties are gatekeepers that shut out credible contenders. Allowing independents could give voters more choice – though it may also splinter the ballot.

Another proposed shift would be transferring the power to appoint the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) away from the President and into the hands of the National Judicial Council. The thinking is simple: fewer political fingerprints on the appointment process could strengthen the perception of INEC’s neutrality.

Lawmakers are also pushing for stricter rules on party politics. For instance, party executives would be barred from holding elective offices at the same time, reducing conflicts of interest.

Other ideas on the table include establishing an Electoral Offences Commission, ensuring that all pre-election matters are resolved before officeholders are sworn in, creating a Local Government Elections Commission, and even reserving parliamentary seats for women and persons with disabilities.

The politics of timing

The big question, of course, is whether all this can be done in time. Electoral reforms are notorious for dragging on in Nigeria, often getting caught in partisan crossfire or slowed by the cumbersome process of amending the constitution, which requires approval from two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly. But the Speaker, meeting with a visiting European Union delegation in Abuja last week, promised that things would be different this time. He revealed that both Senate and House leaders had agreed to isolate electoral amendments from other constitutional issues and push them through by December.

‘We agreed that because of some of the amendments that we want to bring forth , some are by way of Act of Parliament, some are by constitutional amendment – we will fast track and isolate the electoral issues and take them as one, single entity; and push them forward for the National Assembly to deliberate and take a position; and then send them to the sub-nationals (state Houses of Assembly) to also consider them within a short timeframe, between now and December,’ he said.

‘We will not be late,’ he stressed with confidence, stressing that the reforms would give INEC enough time to implement changes well before the 2027 polls. His assurance was a direct response to EU concerns.

The delegation, led by Barry Andrews, a Member of the European Parliament, welcomed the reform push but warned that INEC requires at least a year to adapt to any new laws. ‘Time is of the essence’, Andrews said.

Why this matters

The 2023 elections were a mixed bag. While some praised the introduction of technology such as the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System), many voters and observers complained of late arrivals, logistical failures, violence, and a lack of transparency in result collation. For a country with Africa’s largest democracy, the credibility of elections is not just a domestic issue; it shapes Nigeria’s international standing and the legitimacy of its leaders. Ultimately, the reforms will test not just the National Assembly’s legislative agility, but also its political courage. Many of the proposals, from curbing decamping to reserving seats for women strike at entrenched habits and power structures.

Passing them will require lawmakers to put national interest above partisan calculation, something Nigerian politics does not always deliver.

Still, the fact that a December deadline has been set is significant.

It creates a sense of urgency and gives Nigerians something concrete to hold their lawmakers accountable to.

If the reforms succeed, 2027 could be a turning point for Nigerian democracy: cheaper, fairer, and more inclusive elections, with less room for manipulation.

If they fail, Nigerians may once again head to the polls with old frustrations intact, and the familiar promise that things will surely be better ‘next time.’

Charles Soludo, governor of Anambra state, has approved the 100 percent implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for state health workers, with immediate effect.

In a statement titled ‘100 Percent Implementation of Consolidated Health Workers Salary Structure (CONHESS)’, issued by Theodora Igwebe, head of service, all relevant bodies were directed to commence implementation without delay.

The statement revealed that the governor has graciously approved the full implementation of CONHESS 2024 for the following categories of health professionals: nurses, nurse anesthetists, psychiatric nurses, community health workers and technicians, medical health technicians, medical laboratory scientists, radiographers, and physiotherapists. According to the statement, the approval applies to all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including the Local Government Service Commission.

The statement also directed the accountant general of the state and the accountant general for local government to ensure the immediate execution of the directive.

Lastly, it called on all concerned parties to disseminate the contents of the statement and ensure strict compliance.

From Lagos to Somerset: Why Nikki May’s This Motherless Land Should Top the NLNG list

Some books entertain you. Some books move you. And then there are the ones that take you by the hand, drag you across the pages, and leave you feeling rearranged. Nikki May’s This Motherless Land belongs firmly in that last category.

This Motherless Land is not just a novel; it’s an entire journey. It’s Lagos traffic and Somerset rain; it’s cousins who become each other’s lifeline; it’s grief, jealousy, inheritance, identity, and that complicated kind of love that isn’t romantic but still feels world-shaking. May gave us Wahala, and now she’s back – bigger, bolder, and, dare I say, even better.

At the centre of the story are two cousins: Funke, a Lagos girl whose world shatters when a car crash kills her mother and brother. Liv, her English cousin, grows up in The Ring, their family’s ancestral estate in Somerset, England, with a mother who is more formidable than affectionate. On paper, these girls could not be more different. Funke is shaped by loss, rejection, and superstition; Liv is deprived of love and yearns for connection.

When they finally find each other, what unfolds isn’t polite cousinly bonding. It’s messy, magnetic, and life-changing; the kind of bond that both saves and ruins you.

May writes with bite and with heart. The dialogue sparkles, the tensions simmer, and the pages almost turn by themselves. She can roast class hypocrisy in one sharp sentence, then turn around and break your heart with a single image: a girl clutching a Guinness bottle top salvaged from the wreck that killed her family.

What makes This Motherless Land stand out is how it refuses to simplify the complexity of real life, even though it’s fiction. Families love you and hurt you, cultures steady you as well as cage you, and identity is a fight you never quite finish. Funke and Liv’s paths wind through betrayals and reconciliations, but through decades of highs, lows, and everything in between, the one truth that doesn’t shift is this: it’s a love story. Not boy-meets-girl love, but the stubborn, bone-deep affection of family who love each other even when they hate each other.

I have to pause here and gush about the cover. The riot of colours, that bold splash of red and orange against the green, and of course, the African Grey Parrot perched front and centre. It’s stunning. But it’s not just a pretty design for design’s sake. The bird is a nod to Billy, the parrot in the novel who spends his days calling out ‘Hello, Lizzie!’ long after Lizzie (Funke’s mom) is gone. It’s a small but haunting detail in the book; an echo of grief that lingers.

I love a cover that doubles as a clue and rewards you with a secret symbol you recognise only after you’ve stepped inside the story. And I’ll be honest: I’m not usually the biggest fan of Nigerian literature. Too often, it leans heavily into tragedy; beautifully written tragedy, sure, but still heavy and draining. I’m a sucker for sappy escapism; the kind of book that lets me float away on a fluffy cloud of make-believe and suspend my disbelief, because life is already heavy enough. But This Motherless Land was a refreshing change of pace. Yes, there’s plenty of pain here – death, betrayal, estrangement, indignation – but it doesn’t drown you in despair. Instead, it touches on something healing and quietly satisfying.

And that’s why it resonates. There are truths every Nigerian will recognise regardless of class: the weight of family expectations, inheritance dramas, the scars of loss, and the way parents’ choices ripple down to their children. Funke’s search for belonging, feeling never fully Nigerian and never fully British, reflects the reality of many of us living between identities in one way or another. Liv’s complicated love-hate relationship with her mother is painfully familiar in a culture where tenderness is often sacrificed at the altar of respectability and discipline. Even the superstitions, like the whispered ‘child of a witch,’ will hit close to home if you’ve ever grown up with the harsh, unfiltered gossip that older family members sometimes throw around like fact.

So sure, the stage is set with heirlooms and mansions, but the emotions are the great equaliser. They’re raw, they’re real, and they’re ours. That’s why the novel doesn’t just speak to Nigerians who share its settings; it speaks to Nigerians who share its truths.

Big Questions the Book Asks: What does it mean to belong when you straddle two cultures? Can love between family members survive betrayal? How do women navigate patriarchal and racial issues?

If you’re the kind of reader who likes books that can both slap and hug you in equal measure, this one is it. I closed the last page and thought, ‘This deserves a prize.’ And while it’s not written for prizes (and I can usually spot those), it feels destined for one. Because what Nikki May has given us is precisely what Nigerian literature needs more of: stories that cross borders but stay rooted, stories that honour our messy, complicated families, stories that shout ‘we are global’ while still saying ‘we are Nigerian.’

The NLNG Prize for Literature has, over the years, established itself as more than just the most valuable literary award on this continent. It now serves as a beacon for excellent Nigerian writing, highlighting works that combine technical skill with authentic lived experiences. Its past winners range from the intimate to the grand, from the experimental to the traditional. But the common thread binding them is resonance; stories that don’t merely conclude when the book ends, but linger in your heart. In this light, Nikki May’s second novel is an ideal contender: a story grounded in Lagos and Somerset, yet resonant anywhere families face loss, legacy, and love.

This Motherless Land is a stunning, moving, funny, and unforgettable work.

Buy it. Please read it. Lend it out. Snatch it back before your friend ‘forgets.’ And if it does go on to claim the NLNG Prize, you’ll be able to say you knew before the judges did.

She was bright and beautiful. Courage and conviction defined her. At 29, Somotochukwu Christelle Maduagwu was an attorney, rising broadcaster, and advocate for women, children, and her nation. She could have remained in Britain, where she held citizenship, but she chose to return to Nigeria to help make it work.

But Nigeria failed her.

All her passion could not shield her from bullets-in her own home in the Federal Capital Territory. Reports say the police were alerted during the robbery, yet there was no response. She gave her heart to a nation that could not protect her in return.

Tributes have poured in from the high and mighty. The FCT Commissioner of Police offered condolences. But Nigerians must ask: Are the police a commiseration body, or a constitutional institution to protect life and property? Nigerians do not need sympathy; they need safety.

Nigeria failed her again. When rushed to a hospital, she was reportedly denied treatment for lack of identification; precious time was lost. Do we blame the hospital? Partly. But hospitals here have been punished for acting without paperwork. Like the robbery and the police inaction, this reflects a broken state that normalises death.

Her story joins a tragic chorus: Deborah Samuel lynched in Sokoto, Ammaye beaten to death in Niger, Ojo Peter, the journalist, slain by robbers, and Barnabas, the guard, who died resisting Christelle’s attackers. These are not accidents; they are symptoms of a failing state. Condolences without consequence

Every tragedy is met with promises: ‘We will investigate,’ ‘We will bring perpetrators to justice.’ Yet justice rarely comes. Deborah’s killers posed for selfies and remained free till date. Eunice Olawale’s killers were never prosecuted. Will Christelle’s case be any different?

The message is chilling: if a mob or a gunman kills you in Nigeria, your death may trend for a day, but justice will not follow. When life can be taken without consequence, law itself becomes optional.

Learning from our African sisters

Nigeria is not the only country facing violence or weak systems. But others on the continent show us what leadership can do:

?Rwanda invested in community policing and professionalised its police service through merit-based recruitment and accountability. Crime reduction and citizen trust followed.

?Kenya has developed national emergency medical care policies, devolving health responses to counties. Ambulance networks and hospital readiness are being strengthened-even if unevenly.

? Ghana built its National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), expanding access to care and reducing cost barriers, especially for the poor. These reforms are not perfect, but they prove something vital: African nations can, with will and vision, place value on human life. Why can’t Nigeria?

Way forward: From eulogies to reform

Nigeria’s security crisis is not inevitable; it is a product of choices. To change course, we need:

1. Police reform-better pay, merit-based recruitment, community trust-building. The police are themselves victims of a broken system.

2. Emergency care reform-laws that protect hospitals and staff when treating patients in emergencies, without fear of bureaucratic punishment.

3. Legislation that enforces accountability-swift prosecution of killers, whether mob or gunmen.

4. Grassroots organising-citizens cannot wait for the elite insulated by convoys. Organise, push, and support efforts like those of Randy Peters, who continues to fight for electoral and systemic reforms.

5. A shift in national priorities-like Rwanda, Kenya, and Ghana, Nigeria must decide that human life is sacred, not expendable.

A trumpet, not a whisper

Somtochukwu’s life was a light. Her death is a wound. Let it also be a trumpet-calling us not just to mourn, but to demand, move, organise and act.

No Nigerian deserves to die the way she did. Not the lawyer in Abuja. Not the farmer in Zamfara. Not the student in Sokoto. None.

We must not settle for a country where ‘Nigeria happened’ is the shorthand for tragedy. We must build one where ‘Nigeria happened’ means resilience, justice, and life preserved.

History will not forgive endless condolences. It will only remember whether we turned grief into governance.

Ukoh, an alumnus of the American University of Nigeria, Yola, and PhD student at Columbia University, writes from New York.

The Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) has officially granted power distribution licences to Excel Distribution Company Limited and IE Energy Lagos Limited, marking a major milestone in the state’s journey toward an independent and competitive electricity market.

With this development, Eko Electricity Distribution Plc and Ikeja Electric Plc have ceased to exist as licensed distributors within the Lagos Electricity Market.

The newly licensed firms, Excel Distribution Company Limited and IE Energy Lagos Limited, now hold the legal authority to manage power distribution operations in the state.

At the event, Folake Soetan signed on behalf of IE Energy Lagos Limited, while Sheri Adegbenro signed on behalf of Excel Distribution Company Limited.

Speaking at the ceremony, Abimbola Odubiyi, LASERC chairman, described the move as ‘a defining moment in Lagos’ journey towards a reliable and sustainable electricity market.’

‘The Commission will continue to uphold the principles of independence, transparency, and service to the people of Lagos,’ Odubiyi said. Fouad Animashaun, LASERC’s chief executive officer, highlighted that the issuance of the licences reaffirms the state’s commitment to private sector participation and competitive electricity delivery.

‘By expanding competition, we are ensuring that Lagosians can look forward to better access, improved reliability, and affordable electricity supply,’ Animashaun said.

In their remarks, representatives of the new licensees pledged to deliver improved service quality and operational efficiency.

Kola Adeshina, representing IE Energy Lagos Limited, said: ‘We are honoured to be part of this transformative journey. Our focus will be on deploying innovative solutions that deliver value to customers across Lagos.’

Sheri Adegbenro, speaking for Excel Distribution Company Limited, added, ‘This licence is both a privilege and a responsibility. We are committed to strengthening power distribution and ensuring that customers experience real improvements in service.’

LASERC noted that this transition aligns with the Lagos State Electricity Policy, which seeks to ensure reliable, affordable, and equitable access to power for all residents through transparent regulation and increased private sector participation.

On September 29, 2025, Africa Magic stepped up its efforts at offering original content for its growing viewership across Nigeria, the continent and the globe.

That day, at an exclusive movie premiere at Filmhouse Cinemas, Landmark MX4D, Oniru, Lagos, Africa Magic unveiled its new content slate premiering next quarter.

The slate includes four new original drama series: The Low Priest (130 episodes); Mother of the Bride (39 episodes); Etiti (26 episodes) and Rise Again, which were unveiled to a select audience including; movie lovers, cast and crew members of the new movies and the media.

Starting with The Low Priest and Mother of the Bride, which both premiered on September 29, 2025 on Africa Magic Showcase, the new original drama series feature diverse storytelling across drama, fantasy, and music-inspired narratives, while reinforcing Africa Magic’s commitment to delivering fresh and engaging African content.

The remaining two; Etiti and Rise Again will premiere on October 2 and 19, 2025, respectively also on Africa Magic Showcase.

The event, which is aptly an exclusive evening with Africa Magic, also was a sort of celebration of the directors of the movies and their creative ingenuity.

From Femi Ogunsanwo, Basketmouth and Unlimited LA, the directors and producers truly lived up to the expectation of Africa Magic that commissioned the movies and the viewers, who have been anticipating their release.

World Breastfeeding Week was commemorated at Ajeromi General Hospital in partnership with the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, bringing together mothers, nutrition experts, and health professionals for a sensitisation programme.

Themed ‘Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems’, the event featured discussions on breastfeeding practices, maternal nutrition, and the importance of workplace support for nursing mothers.

Glory Chinaecherem Uzoigwe, Nutrition and Health Coach, Feeding Specialist and Breastfeeding Consultant, emphasised the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and highlighted the need for sustainable systems to support working mothers. She also referenced the World Health Organisation’s code on infant formula, explaining why breast milk remains the best source of nutrition for babies.

Uzoigwe noted that many working-class mothers are often forced to rely on infant formulas due to the short duration of maternity leave and the lack of workplace facilities such as lactation rooms and child-friendly spaces. ‘These challenges force mothers to drop off their babies at day care or with relatives and then supplement with formula. Breastmilk requires constant stimulation to sustain supply, and with the stress of commuting and work, many women get home too exhausted to express milk for the next day,’ she said.

She further called for policies to normalise breastfeeding in public spaces, extend paid maternity leave, and provide designated breastfeeding areas in offices. ‘Offices that can afford it should also consider child-friendly spaces as part of employee welfare and negotiations,’ she added.

Chioma Nwachukwu, another speaker, demonstrated correct latching techniques through practical and illustrative sessions with dummy babies.

Following the sensitisation, the organisers met with the hospital’s Medical Director to discuss the challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers in the local community

I am a true believer that when women thrive, the rest of society benefits. If one financially empowered woman can multiply the outcomes in her community, then several financially empowered women can transform the economy. However, in Nigeria, the numbers show that women remain systematically excluded from the very levers that drive prosperity: finance, innovation, and decision-making. This is why I am convinced that Nigeria’s ambition to become a $1 trillion economy by 2030 cannot be achieved if half of its population, which happens to be women, remains locked out of opportunity.

According to the 2025 McKinsey Women in the Workplace report, women hold only one in three formal sector entry-level roles, yet they make up more than half of Nigeria’s working-age population. That imbalance at the base creates a ripple effect all the way up. In financial services, the problem is even sharper.

In Nigeria, women make up 47 percent of entry-level staff but only 28 percent of senior leadership. It means: fewer women managers, fewer women in decision-making, and ultimately, fewer women influencing the economic and financial systems that determine how resources are allocated. The pipeline narrows so quickly that the very rooms where lending rules, credit systems, and inclusion strategies are designed often exclude women’s voices. At the heart of this exclusion is a contradiction: women are disproportionately excluded from financial services, yet when they do gain access, they outperform. Our 2023 Access to Financial Services in Nigeria (A2F) survey data at EFInA (Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Advancement) shows that women’s financial inclusion lags significantly behind men’s, with 30% of Nigerian women financially excluded compared to 21% of men. This represents millions of women locked out of the financial system, unable to access the credit, savings, and capital needed to start and grow businesses.

The Gates Foundation’s What Women Want survey confirms what many of us already know: the number one systemic barrier women face in achieving economic success is lack of start-up capital. Women want to build, to innovate, to scale, but the system refuses to open the door. When women are finally given the chance, they do not just walk through; they transform the room. According to the World Bank’s Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), women-led businesses have repayment rates exceeding 98%. That – is NOT a risk profile.

So, why does the gap persist? The answer lies not only in bank policies or regulatory frameworks but in who is at the table making decisions. Nigeria’s financial sector, like much of its private sector counterparts, remains dominated by men. This imbalance matters. Who designs products? Who sets risk thresholds? Who defines what a ‘creditworthy’ entrepreneur looks like? Without women in the room, the system continues to default to designs that exclude women.

Read also: Nigeria @65: Restructuring still the best way forward

Hiring more women into leadership is a strategy for economic growth. When women are in decision-making roles, they bring perspectives shaped by lived experiences. They recognise that women running informal trading stalls, farming cooperatives, or tech start-ups are not invisible or peripheral but central to Nigeria’s economic future. They design credit products that reflect reality rather than myth, investment strategies that see opportunity rather than risk.

A 2022 McKinsey report showed that companies with more women in leadership were 21% more likely to outperform on profitability. In financial services, this translates into smarter lending, more innovative product design, and stronger portfolio performance. This is not about quotas. It is about mandates. In 2013, Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi required banks to reserve at least 30% of board seats and 40% of senior management positions for women. The policy helped the Nigerian banking sector grow, making it a leader in female representation. By 2023, women held 29.4% of board seats-up from 24.8% in 2020-though still below the global average of 38.1%. The lesson is clear: progress follows mandates, not goodwill. If banks, investors, and regulators extend this logic to leadership and product design teams, the ripple effects will be transformative.

Imagine a Nigeria where loan approval committees include women who understand the financial realities of market women, smallholder farmers, or female tech founders. Imagine product design teams led by women who know that asking a woman for her husband’s guarantor before approving her loan is not just outdated but discriminatory.

Imagine investment boards where women vote to back ideas that solve problems women actually face, from childcare financing to women-led health innovations.

We do not have to imagine for long. The evidence is already here. When women have led interventions, results have followed. The EFInA A2F data shows that women who are financially included are more likely to save, invest in their children’s education, and reinvest in their communities. The World Bank has found that closing gender gaps in access to finance could raise GDP by as much as 12% in low-and middle-income countries.

For Nigeria, the stakes are even higher. If women remain locked out, our growth projections will remain a mirage. But if we let women in, we unlock not just their potential but the nation’s.

The path forward is clear. Nigerian companies, especially in finance and investment, must adopt gender mandates that guarantee women a seat at the table where products, policies, and portfolios are designed. Regulators must enforce disclosure of gender workforce data so we can measure progress, not just intentions. And society must hold leaders accountable for outcomes.

When women lead, they do not just open doors for themselves; they redesign the entire building so that more people can walk in. If Nigeria is serious about financial inclusion, then the most important policy we can adopt is simple: Let women in.

Collins-Ogbuo is the Advocacy Lead at EFInA, where she also heads the Inclusion for All Initiative – a multifaceted pro-poor advocacy platform that seeks to remove the barriers that keep the most marginalised populations excluded.

As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary, Anayo Onwuegbu, member representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has called on Nigerians to consolidate on the sacrifices of the nation’s founding fathers in the collective task of nation building.

In a goodwill message to his constituents and Nigerians at large, Onwuegbu emphasized the importance of unity, peace, and shared responsibility in building a prosperous Nigeria.

‘This milestone reminds us of the sacrifices of our heroes past and strengthens our commitment to building a united, prosperous Nigeria,’ he said.

He further urged citizens to remain steadfast and hopeful despite the nation’s challenges, noting that resilience and cooperation are key to achieving national progress. ‘Let us continue working together to uplift our community and nation through dedication and resilience. I urge everyone to remain hopeful as we strive for a brighter future,’ he added.

Reaffirming his dedication to service, the federal lawmaker restated that the development of his constituency and the advancement of the country remain his top priorities.

Onwuegbu also prayed for continued peace, unity, and strength for the nation, expressing optimism that Nigeria’s best days lie ahead.

Craig Halkett scored a stoppage-time winner as Hearts edged city rivals Hibernian 1-0 at Tynecastle to move five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

It was the third time in seven league matches this season that Hearts had scored a stoppage-time winner after beating Edinburgh rivals Hibernian on Saturday.

The first Edinburgh derby of the season had been heavily hyped in the build-up, but an attritional affair in the swirling wind looked like ending goalless after Hibs captain Martin Boyle missed two big chances in the second half.

After Halkett forced in a cross from substitute Sabah Kerjota to secure a first victory over Hibernian in five attempts, the euphoric scenes among the home support went quite.

The Jambos – who have not lost in the Premiership since Neil Critchley’s last game in charge in late April, now boast their biggest lead at the top of the table since they were six points clear in October 2018. However, champions Celtic have the chance to reduce the deficit when they host Motherwell on Sunday. McInnes sent out the same Hearts XI that started the previous two victories against Rangers and Falkirk.

There were two changes to the Hibs side that started their 0-0 draw at Celtic Park as Chris Cadden and Josh Campbell replaced midfielders Miguel Chaiwa and Jamie McGrath.

At the other end, Claudio Braga’s low shot from the edge of the box was saved by Sallinger after Hibs got caught playing out, before Obita made a vital saving challenge to deny Lawrence Shankland from close range.

Boyle saw an effort ruled out for offside in the 68th minute and the Hibernian forward was left frustrated again five minutes later when he went clean through and took a heavy touch, allowing Schwolow to make a big save.

It proved pivotal as defender Halkett popped up two minutes into stoppage time to guide home Kerjota’s cross from six yards, sparking delirious scenes around Tynecastle.