Category: Business Day

The election season is only a few months away. Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will commence in a matter of days. The country will enter a cycle that will significantly affect commercial retail property more than most other asset classes.

Evidence over the years has revealed a recurring pattern: retail operators have encountered it three times before this century. Understanding this pattern accurately is crucial, rather than dismissing or exaggerating it.

Nigeria’s election cycles often influence investment patterns. Examining the 2011, 2015, and 2019 elections shows that real estate activity tends to decrease before voting and then gradually bounces back afterward. The 2023 cycle was more complicated: some sectors experienced increased liquidity ahead of the election, but it’s uncertain whether this was due to real demand or mere speculation. A major factor was the naira redesign policy. The Central Bank’s cash-swap scheme, introduced weeks before the presidential election to prevent vote-buying, led to liquidity shortages affecting retailers. For instance, Nigerian Breweries reported its lowest February sales in fifteen years, a period usually marked by high cash flow. This indicates that electoral impacts on retail are often more influenced by liquidity policies related to voting than by the election itself, sometimes causing disruptions during campaigns. Typically, the slowdown results from retail activity patterns that aren’t reflected in standard ‘election risk’ assessments.

During elections, demand for naira cash rises due to vote-buying and political costs, which reduces liquidity during a crucial consumer spending period. Additionally, decision-makers tend to postpone projects like leases, renovations, or expansions until stability returns. Early indicators for retail property include changes in foot traffic and tenant sales before vacancy rates or transaction volumes shift. For instance, a shopping center might not lose tenants in October before an election, but could experience a 10-20% drop in Saturday foot traffic if rallies block access or households withhold cash on weekends.

Two wildcards to watch: Neither changes the forecast

Although examining two aspects of the current environment can be helpful, I recommend not relying on either as a dependable predictor of outcomes that differ greatly from the historical baseline.

Nigeria’s opposition seems divided as the campaign season begins. In early 2026, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso moved from the African Democratic Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress. This shift has sparked talks of a fragmented opposition, but caution is necessary. With around five months until the January 2027 election, opposition parties still have time to unify or adjust, as Nigerian coalition politics often evolve under similar conditions. For retail landlords, key concerns are seasonal slowdown factors like cash shortages, logistical issues at rallies, and household caution, problems that remain regardless of whether the race is tight or not.

The next major development is the capital markets activity: Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s planned listing on the NGX. The refinery has formally submitted its IPO application to Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission, with the goal of listing by September 2026. The offer size estimates range from around $1 billion for an initial tranche to as much as $5 billion, depending on the scope. However, there is currently no SEC-approved prospectus, confirmed price range, or definite listing date, so this should be viewed as an evolving event rather than a finalised plan. Even if the listing proceeds as expected, it aims to raise capital through equity sales rather than directly influence household or institutional leasing decisions, which primarily concern retail landlords.

The primary factor that genuinely impacts the result

Security remains the most significant factor that can disrupt this cycle more than politics. NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, cautioned that the discipline needed to uphold Nigeria’s fiscal and monetary reforms might weaken as the 2027 cycle approaches. He highlighted that political transitions often lead to policy uncertainty and reversals, even as rising fuel and food prices already strain households. Additionally, a 2026 survey on business security risks identified major threats like subnational insecurity, especially in the north; socioeconomic instability caused by inflation and unemployment; and regulatory uncertainties linked to the pre-election cycle. This issue should be viewed as a separate economic concern, not just political: during high-risk periods, businesses tend to increase security and logistics spending, urban foot traffic drops as people stay home, and retail tenants reliant on daily customers face immediate challenges.

Regional exposure encompasses more than simple directional claims. Abuja’s economy heavily depends on political events and government employment, increasing investor caution ahead of the 2027 elections. A mid-2025 Northcourt real estate report, cited by SBM Intelligence, indicated vacancy rates of 17%, 15%, and 21% at various Grade A malls in Abuja, including Wuse Novare, Apo 2, and Silverbird, following the departure of major tenants like Shoprite. These vacancies continued into 2026, though recent data is unavailable. The market seems less resilient to slowdowns linked to election cycles. In contrast, Lagos, the main commercial hub, is less affected by politics and faces risks from currency fluctuations and consumer spending but generally remains unaffected by political cycles. Despite inflation and rising building costs, Lagos continues to attract consistent investment across residential, commercial, and mixed-use sectors. Understanding these regional differences is essential for assessing portfolio exposure over the next five months.

What this means for the next five months

Retail landlords and tenants don’t need to take a defensive stance over the next few months. Transaction activity will slow during the voting period and gradually pick up.

Monitor foot traffic and tenant sales trends carefully, as they provide early insights into financial stability. Rent collections and vacancy rates often lag behind these indicators. Focus especially on cash-heavy, high-turnover tenants such as supermarkets, grocery stores, household goods retailers, pharmacies, and quick-service restaurants. Their daily transaction volumes are the first to indicate liquidity issues, exemplified by the Naira liquidity shortage faced by Nigerian Breweries in 2023, which was immediately evident at the point of sale.

This isn’t a warning of an unprecedented event. Nigeria’s retail sector has gone through several election cycles and has slowly transitioned from informal markets to organized, branded retail outlets. The main difference between this cycle and those of 2011, 2015, and 2019 isn’t the election outcomes but the persistent and attentive monitoring of key metrics by landlords and tenants, despite campaign distractions.

The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is set to introduce a public revenue allocation dashboard and deepen its engagement with the media as part of a four-year institutional reform aimed at improving transparency in Nigeria’s fiscal governance.

Mohammed Bello Shehu, chairman of the commission, said the initiative would move RMAFC from what he described as ‘quiet constitutional oversight’ to more visible institutional leadership, with the commission providing Nigerians with clearer information on how revenues accruing to the Federation are monitored and distributed.

Speaking at a breakfast session with members of the Guild of Editors in Lagos on Saturday, during the launch of the commission’s Strategic Communications and Institutional Reform Initiative, Shehu said RMAFC would modernise its digital platforms and introduce accessible revenue allocation dashboards to enable Nigerians better understand how resources are distributed among the Federal, state and local governments.

He said the reform was necessary at a time of revenue volatility, growing public demand for accountability and increasing pressure from states for fairness and predictability in revenue allocation.

‘Transparency must not only be practiced, it must also be communicated clearly,’ he said.

The chairman said the initiative, which forms part of the commission’s Strategic Communications Blueprint 2026-2030, would also institutionalise quarterly media briefings, policy explainers and proactive engagement with journalists.

According to him, RMAFC’s role is often misunderstood because of the technical nature of its constitutional responsibilities, despite the direct impact of its work on the finances of all three tiers of government.

The commission is constitutionally responsible for monitoring revenue accruals into the Federation Account, advising on revenue allocation formulas and overseeing remuneration for public office holders.

‘Every month, as revenues are shared among the Federal, State, and Local Governments, the work of this Commission directly influences national stability, development equity, and intergovernmental harmony,’ Shehu said.

Under the reform, RMAFC will focus on five areas: institutional clarity, transparency through technology, structured media engagement, thought leadership in fiscal federalism, and internal alignment and professional excellence.

The chairman said the commission would seek to position itself more prominently in national discussions on revenue diversification, revenue allocation reform and remuneration governance.

He, however, stressed that the increased visibility would not compromise the commission’s constitutional neutrality.

He said communications from the commission would remain anchored on the Constitution and its statutory mandate, adding that RMAFC’s loyalty was to the federation rather than partisan interests.

The chairman said the long-term objective was to create a fiscal governance system in which every tier of government and the wider public could understand not only what it receives from the Federation Account, but also why it receives it.

‘We move from quiet constitutional oversight to visible institutional leadership, from technical obscurity to transparent clarity, from reactive communication to strategic engagement,’ he said.

He added that the reform was not about improving the commission’s image but about strengthening its responsibility to ensure that revenues due to the Federation were properly monitored, fairly allocated and transparently accounted for.

Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, has visited Governor Ademola Adeleke, to congratulate him on his victory in the August 15 governorship election.

Obasanjo was received by Adeleke at the governor’s residence, where the two exchanged pleasantries and embraced.

Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, secured 511,067 votes to defeat Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 444,815 votes.

The result gave Adeleke a margin of 66,252 votes over his closest challenger.

The visit by Obasanjo followed the governor’s successful bid for a second term in office after the conclusion of the off-cycle governorship election.

With the 2027 election campaigns set to officially open on August 19, Nigerians are mounting pressure on presidential and National Assembly candidates to move beyond personality attacks, ethnic and religious mobilisation and incendiary rhetoric, demanding instead that politicians tell voters how they intend to fix the country’s worsening economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and declining living standards.

The demands came as the political class enters the most consequential phase of the 2027 electoral cycle, with the presidential and National Assembly campaigns scheduled to begin on August 19 ahead of the January 16, 2027 polls, while campaigns for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly will commence on September 9 ahead of the February 6, 2027 elections.

With memories of violence, hate speech and bitter personality-driven campaigns from previous elections still fresh, Nigerians who spoke to BusinessDay warned that the 2027 contest must not become another battle of insults, ethnic calculations and character assassination.

Instead, they want candidates to place the economy, security, jobs, poverty, education, healthcare, infrastructure and the welfare of ordinary citizens at the heart of their campaigns.

Nigerians have also challenged political parties to go beyond slogans and make specific, measurable commitments, explaining not only what they intend to do if elected but how they plan to achieve it.

For many voters, the August 19 commencement therefore represents more than the formal opening of political campaigns; it is the beginning of a test of whether the country’s political class can shift electoral competition from personalities and identity politics to competence, ideas and solutions.

Nigerians who spoke to BusinessDay said politicians must recognise that the electorate is increasingly interested in solutions to worsening economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, poverty and deteriorating public services.

Pharmacist Ahmed Adamu Babawuro, a lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, said the 2027 campaign should be vigorous, robust and firmly anchored on issues affecting Nigerians.

He urged political parties and their candidates to go beyond personality attacks and present practical solutions to the country’s pressing challenges, particularly the development of the pharmaceutical industry.

Babawuro said the campaign should provide candidates with an opportunity to explain how they intend to strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing, improve access to quality and affordable medicines and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported drugs.

He said political competition should ultimately be about ideas, competence and service to Nigerians.

Similarly, Unom Samuel Shiaondo, a retired civil servant, warned political actors and their supporters against campaign violence and hate speeches, saying Nigerians should be allowed to choose their leaders without fear or intimidation.

Speaking in a telephone interview with BusinessDay, Unom said Nigeria’s democracy could no longer be described as nascent, stressing that the destruction of lives and property during political campaigns and contests should have no place in the country’s democratic development.

‘There should be no violence. We expect to see a peaceful campaign from the political actors and gladiators. They should caution their supporters against violence. Violence does no one any good,’ he said.

Unom added that political parties, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission must conduct themselves in a manner that would protect the integrity of the electoral process.

‘Democracy is a game of interest, so all parties and security agencies should conduct themselves in order and allow Nigerians to make their choices. INEC must also be neutral in all these, to allow for a free, fair and credible electoral process,’ he said.

His position came against the background of concerns that the 2027 contest could reproduce some of the most damaging features of previous elections, when inflammatory speeches, personality attacks, ethnic mobilisation and religious sentiments contributed to heightened tensions, violence and deep divisions among citizens.

Jackson Lekan Ojo, a political analyst, said the central challenge before the political class was to move the 2027 campaign away from personalities and identity politics and towards practical solutions to Nigeria’s problems.

Ojo said the economic and security crises confronting Nigerians had provided sufficient lessons for politicians and voters alike, arguing that candidates should no longer assume that the electorate would be satisfied with empty political rhetoric.

‘I believe our electorate are more sophisticated now. The economic hardship and worsening security situation have taught Nigerians important lessons, and they are better positioned to demand accountability and credible solutions from those seeking their votes,’ Ojo told BusinessDay.

‘What Nigeria needs now is issue-based kind of electionary evangelism. What you are going to do for the people, look at the situation of Nigeria, look at what we are going to do to improve the situation, to make us live, to come back and live in El Dorado,’ he said.

Ojo warned that candidates who resort to personal attacks, religious sentiments and ethnic mobilisation would be doing the country a serious disservice. He also rejected the argument that the 2027 election should be determined primarily by considerations of whether it was the ‘turn’ of a particular region.

‘If you go to any hospital, do you ask if that doctor that is going to treat you is a Muslim or from the North or from the West or from the South? No. The best doctor is the one that we need now,’ he said.

Ojo said the same principle should guide the choice of political leaders, arguing that Nigerians needed candidates capable of rebuilding the economy, reducing poverty and improving living conditions.

‘Anybody that can engineer our economic system now, anybody that can treat the poverty now, that is the kind of person we want. The person should be ready to tell Nigerians what he is going to do and how he is going to do it,’ he said.

Gabriel Mvendaga, a transporter from Taraba State, said politicians should use the campaign period to explain how their policies would affect ordinary Nigerians rather than spend valuable time attacking one another. He said the cost of living, fuel prices, transportation costs and insecurity were among the issues that would matter most to ordinary voters.

Also, Major Charles, from Edo State, an automobile mechanic operating on the outskirts of Abuja, urged candidates to focus on policies that could improve the livelihoods of artisans, mechanics, traders and other informal-sector workers.

He said political campaigns should provide concrete answers on employment, infrastructure, electricity and access to affordable credit rather than become platforms for exchanging insults.

Wongcit Nanyi Mamdat, from Plateau State and working in Abuja, said politicians should be restrained in their choice of words, particularly because inflammatory statements could deepen existing ethnic and religious tensions.

She urged political parties to tell Nigerians how they intended to address insecurity and create an environment in which citizens could live and conduct their businesses safely.

Blessing, a student at the Bingham University in Nasarawa State, told BusinessDay that young Nigerians should be central to the 2027 campaign conversation.

She said political parties should present clear plans on education, employment, digital opportunities and entrepreneurship instead of treating young people merely as campaign crowds and social-media promoters.

Blessing said politicians must understand that young Nigerians were tired of promises that were not matched by actions, and urged candidates to present measurable programmes and explain how they intended to implement them.

Analysts say the 2027 campaign therefore presents political parties with an opportunity to change the character of electoral competition by making policy debates, accountability and competence central to the contest. It also places responsibilities on the candidates, their supporters, security agencies, the media and INEC to ensure that political competition does not become a trigger for violence.

Professor Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has also stressed the need for peaceful conduct throughout the electoral process, saying the success of the 2027 elections is a collective responsibility that requires the commitment of political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations and the electorate.

As the August 19 campaign commencement draws closer, the 2027 contest presents politicians with a test that goes beyond their ability to mobilise crowds or win votes. They are expected to demonstrate that they have workable solutions to Nigeria’s economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, poverty and deteriorating public services, and clearly explain what they intend to do, how they will do it and how Nigerians can hold them accountable.

Solar power is expanding rapidly as countries seek to increase renewable energy generation and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. However, behind the growth in solar installations is an emerging waste challenge: millions of photovoltaic panels will eventually reach the end of their useful lives.

What is now considered a waste problem could become a sizeable economic market.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that the value of materials recovered from retired solar panels could exceed $20 billion annually by 2050. The opportunity will come from recovering materials such as aluminium, silver, silicon, copper and glass for reuse in manufacturing.

Why solar waste is becoming a concern

Solar panels are designed to operate for decades, typically around 25 to 30 years. As early installations begin reaching the end of their operating lives, the volume of panels requiring disposal, reuse or recycling will increase.

IRENA estimated global solar PV waste could rise from about 0.2 million tonnes in 2021 to four million tonnes by 2030, almost 50 million tonnes by 2040 and more than 200 million tonnes by 2050.

The increase reflects the scale of solar deployment globally. Solar PV capacity has expanded from a niche technology into one of the world’s largest sources of new power generation.

The more panels installed today, the larger the future waste stream.

Where is the $20 billion opportunity?

Solar panels contain materials that retain economic value after the panels stop generating electricity.

These include aluminium frames, glass, silicon, copper and small quantities of silver. Some photovoltaic technologies can also contain substances such as lead and cadmium that require controlled handling.

IRENA estimated that the materials recovered from end-of-life panels could be worth about $810m annually by 2030 and $6 billion by 2040, before rising above $20 billion a year by 2050. The value is not evenly distributed across the materials.

Aluminium is expected to account for a significant share of the recovered value, while silver could become particularly important because of its use in photovoltaic cells.

Recovering these materials also reduces the need to extract new minerals.

Recycling is not the only option

-of-life solar panels do not necessarily have to go directly to recycling.Some panels removed from large solar projects may still have sufficient performance for secondary applications. Testing, repair and refurbishment can extend their useful life and create a market for used panels. This creates three potential stages of value recovery:

Reuse: Panels that still meet performance requirements can be deployed in less demanding applications.

Refurbishment: Damaged or degraded panels can be repaired and returned to service where technically and economically viable.

Recycling: Panels that can no longer be reused can be dismantled and processed to recover materials.

The distinction matters because recycling generally destroys the original product, while reuse preserves more of the value embedded in the equipment.

The challenge of collecting panels

One of the biggest obstacles, according to IRENA, is logistics. Solar installations are spread across large geographical areas. A recycling facility needs sufficient volumes of panels to make collection, transportation and processing commercially viable.

The panels are also designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions. Separating the different materials can therefore require specialised equipment and processes.

This means a recycling industry cannot depend only on the existence of waste. It needs an organised collection and processing system.

What does this mean for Africa?

Africa’s growing solar market gives the continent an opportunity to develop solar-waste infrastructure alongside new installations.

Nigeria is particularly relevant because solar deployment is increasing across households, businesses, mini-grids and other distributed-energy applications.

But the country’s solar expansion also raises questions about what happens to equipment installed today when it reaches the end of its operating life.

Nigeria’s solar waste is projected to increase significantly as installations expand. Without collection and recycling systems, obsolete panels could add to the country’s broader electronic-waste challenge.

The economic opportunity is therefore not limited to recycling plants.

A solar-waste industry could create activity across collection, transportation, testing, repair, refurbishment, dismantling, material recovery and manufacturing.

Why policy matters

The market is unlikely to develop at scale without clear rules. Governments can establish requirements for the collection and treatment of end-of-life panels, define responsibilities for manufacturers and importers, and create standards for refurbished equipment.

Extended producer responsibility is one approach. Under such systems, producers or importers bear some responsibility for products after they reach the end of their useful lives.

Such rules can also give investors greater certainty when considering recycling facilities and collection networks.

The bigger picture

Solar power is often described as a clean-energy technology. But the environmental benefits of solar do not eliminate the need to manage the materials used to manufacture and deploy it.

The challenge is to build a circular system in which solar equipment is not simply discarded when it stops generating electricity.

If panels are collected, reused, refurbished or recycled, the materials contained in them can return to the industrial economy.

That could reduce waste, support mineral security, create jobs and establish a new segment of the renewable-energy value chain.

The projected $20 billion annual value of recovered solar-panel materials by 2050 shows the scale of the opportunity.

For countries such as Nigeria that are still expanding their solar markets, the lesson is straightforward, planning for the end of a solar panel’s life needs to happen at the same time as planning for its installation.

The next phase of the solar industry may therefore not be only about generating more electricity from the sun. It could also be about recovering more value from the equipment that makes that generation possible.

Algeria beat host Morocco 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time to lift the bronze medal and secure a first-ever TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations podium finish in Rabat on Saturday night.

This was the second meeting between the two North African sides after Morocco’s narrow victory in the group stages of the competition.

The hosts started brightly and came close to opening the scoring in the 17th minute when Ibtissam Jraidi’s first-time effort struck the crossbar.

Morocco eventually found the breakthrough nine minutes later. Kautar Azraf showed impressive technique to eliminate her marker before using her left foot to find the far corner and put the hosts ahead.

Azraf almost doubled Morocco’s advantage soon afterwards with a volley, but the effort bounced awkwardly and lost direction before being cleared to safety.

Jraidi had another opportunity in the 63rd minute when she was sent through on goal, but failed to make a clean connection with her effort.

Algeria returned from the break better organized, probing the Moroccan defence and creating a series of opportunities.

In the 77th minute, a perfectly weighted ball found captain Marine Dafeur in a promising position, but she was unable to direct her effort towards goal.

Three minutes later, Lina Boussaha came close with a well-struck volley that sailed narrowly over the crossbar.

The pressure finally paid off in the 83rd minute after Melissa Bethi produced a brilliant through ball for Boussaha, who showed composure to tuck the ball past the goalkeeper and level the contest at 1-1.

Neither side could find a winner before the final whistle, sending the match to a penalty shootout.

Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, has instituted a fresh N10 billion fundamental rights action against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged denial of access to his wife and son while in custody.

El-Rufai, in the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleged that the anti-corruption commission repeatedly prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and his son, Abba El-Rufai, from visiting him at the ICPC detention facility.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1852/2026, was filed on August 13, 2026, through his counsel, Ubong Akpan.

The ICPC Chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation were joined as the second and third defendants respectively.

In the suit, the former governor is seeking nine reliefs, including declarations that his fundamental rights guaranteed under Part IV of the 1999 Constitution remain enforceable despite his detention by the commission.

El-Rufai is also asking the court to declare that the alleged repeated denial of access to his family members, particularly where such access was required to enable them provide him with food, medication and other necessities, amounted to a violation of his constitutional rights.

He specifically relied on Sections 34 and 37 of the Constitution, dealing with the right to dignity of the human person and privacy and family life, respectively, as well as Articles 5 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The former governor further alleged that officers of the ICPC physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son during an incident on July 7.

He described the alleged action as an arbitrary interference with his spousal and filial relationships, arguing that the commission had no lawful basis for restricting his access to members of his immediate family.

El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that the respondents’ continued denial of family access without lawful authority was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

He is also seeking an order compelling the respondents to grant him ‘unhindered and reasonable access’ to his family members and legal representatives throughout the period of his detention, in line with an earlier order of the Federal High Court.

According to the former governor, the restriction had gone beyond a mere limitation on visitation, as it allegedly prevented his wife and son from supplying him with essential items, including food, medication and other personal necessities.

He alleged that the situation had subjected him to humiliation, emotional trauma, anxiety and psychological distress.

‘The respondents acted arbitrarily, unlawfully and in a manner inconsistent with Sections 34, 37 and 46 of the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,’ the former governor alleged.

He further contended that the alleged conduct of the ICPC constituted ‘an unjustifiable interference with the applicant’s dignity and family life’ and was therefore unconstitutional.

In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Mohammed Shaba, El-Rufai’s Principal Secretary, said the former governor was being detained at the ICPC office in Abuja.

Shaba said the facts contained in the affidavit were supplied to him by El-Rufai’s wife, Asabe, on July 12.

He stated that Asabe had personally taken responsibility for providing her husband with food, clothing, medication and other personal necessities required for his comfort, health and general well-being while in custody.

According to the affidavit, Asabe had regularly visited El-Rufai before July 7 and had been able to deliver meals and other essential items to him without obstruction.

Shaba alleged that the situation changed after the July 7 incident, when access by the former governor’s family members was allegedly restricted.

He argued that the restriction was particularly significant because El-Rufai remained in custody while facing criminal proceedings and was entitled to retain the constitutional protections available to detainees and accused persons.

The affidavit also referred to an existing criminal case against El-Rufai, identified as FHC/KD/73C/2025, pending before the Federal High Court in Kaduna, in which the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the complainant.

Shaba recalled that Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Kaduna Division had, on April 1, ordered the ICPC to allow the defendants access to their counsel and personal physicians whenever they required their services.

He argued that the order underscored the principle that persons in detention should not be held incommunicado and that the conditions of their detention remained subject to judicial oversight.

‘Clearly, this order reflects the settled principle of law that detainees are not to be held incommunicado and that the ICPC is subject to judicial oversight regarding the conditions of detention,’ Shaba stated in the affidavit.

He further maintained that El-Rufai continued to enjoy his fundamental rights under the Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, including the right to humane treatment and reasonable access to members of his family.

The latest action therefore seeks not only monetary compensation but also specific judicial orders compelling the ICPC to restore family and legal access to the former governor while his detention continues.

The N10 billion action is the latest in a series of lawsuits filed by El-Rufai against the ICPC since the commission commenced investigations involving the former governor.

In February 2026, El-Rufai instituted a separate N1 billion fundamental rights suit against the anti-corruption agency over an alleged unlawful search of his Abuja residence.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, challenged the validity of a search warrant issued by a Chief Magistrate of the Federal Capital Territory Magistrates’ Court.

El-Rufai had alleged that the warrant was used by the authorities to raid his residence, arguing that the search violated his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy.

Those rights are protected under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the 1999 Constitution.

The N1 billion suit was subsequently amended, with the former governor removing the magistrate who issued the warrant from the list of defendants.

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased further in July, strengthening expectations that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) could resume monetary policy easing as early as September.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), showed that headline inflation declined to 15.4 percent in July 2026, from 15.9 percent in June.

The July reading was slightly lower than the 15.51 percent forecast by BusinessDay, pointing to a faster-than-expected moderation in price pressures.

On a month-on-month basis, headline inflation stood at 1.57 percent in July, indicating that prices continued to rise but at a relatively moderate pace.

Food prices, however, remained a key source of pressure. The food inflation rate rose by 5.56 percent month-on-month in July, underscoring the continued vulnerability of household purchasing power to food-price movements.

The latest moderation in headline inflation could provide the CBN with greater room to reconsider its tight monetary policy stance, particularly if the downward trend persists in August.

The central bank’s next policy decision will be closely watched by investors, businesses and consumers, as a sustained decline in inflation could strengthen the case for a reduction in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR).

Manchester City have stepped up negotiations with Lille over a potential transfer for highly rated Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as Enzo Maresca looks to strengthen his midfield following Rodri’s imminent departure.

The Premier League side are keen to conclude a deal for the 18-year-old this week, having identified him as a potential replacement for Rodri, who is set to join Barcelona in a transfer worth around £65 million.

Lille are understood to value Bouaddi at around pound 100 million (£85.6 million), although reports suggest City could ultimately pay as much as pound 129 million for the promising midfielder.

The deal is expected to progress further once Rodri completes his move to Barcelona.

Bouaddi emerges as Rodri’s replacement

Bouaddi has emerged as one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders after making his Lille debut in October 2023, just three days after his 16th birthday.

He has since established himself as an important member of the French club’s first team, making more than 90 appearances across all competitions.

Last season, Bouaddi featured 42 times for Lille and helped the club finish third in Ligue 1.

The midfielder also made a strong impression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, starting five of Morocco’s six matches as they reached the quarter-finals.

His performances at the tournament further enhanced his reputation following his breakthrough display in Lille’s Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024.

City step up pursuit

Manchester City are attracted to Bouaddi’s composure under pressure, tactical intelligence and ball-carrying ability.

The teenager primarily operates as a deep-lying midfielder and could complement summer signing Elliot Anderson, who is capable of playing both as a box-to-box midfielder and in the deeper No. 6 position.

Bouaddi remains under contract with Lille until 2029, while Transfermarkt values the Morocco international at around pound 80 million.

City have also been linked with Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, but the London club’s valuation would make a deal for the Argentina international significantly more expensive.

For now, Bouaddi has emerged as City’s preferred midfield target as the club prepares for life without Rodri.

Three innovators have emerged as winners of the HelpMum CareCode Hackathon 2.0, taking home a combined N10 million as healthcare and technology leaders gathered in Lagos to examine how artificial intelligence can transform Africa’s healthcare system.

The winners were announced at MedVerge 2.0, a health technology event convened by Abiodun Adereni, founder and CEO of HelpMum, Dobic Health and SmartMRS, and held at the Radisson Blu, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Lavender Care won the first prize of N5 million, while Chop Beta and Bumply placed second and third, receiving N3 million and N2 million respectively.

The three winners emerged from five finalists selected from hundreds of applications. Other finalists were HerPride and MamaConnects.

According to Adereni, the hackathon was designed to give young innovators an opportunity to develop and present technology-driven solutions to healthcare challenges.

‘These people are basically students coming to pitch an idea. It has to be healthcare-related and also involve technology,’ he said.

The event also provided a platform for HelpMum, Dobic Health and SmartMRS to showcase their innovations and launch a government working document aimed at strengthening collaboration around healthcare technology.

Adereni said MedVerge was conceived as a platform where innovators could share their work, inspire young people and attract investment into healthcare-focused solutions.

The gathering featured healthcare professionals, technology experts, students, innovators and policymakers, with discussions focused largely on the future of AI in healthcare.

Lily Aimas Love, AI Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Associate at HelpMum Africa, said the organisation is leveraging artificial intelligence, research, advocacy and policy advisory to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

She noted that preventable deaths among children remain a major concern, particularly where misinformation and poor access to health information affect vaccination decisions.

Love also argued that AI should be viewed as a productivity tool rather than a replacement for healthcare workers.

‘AI is not really going to take your job. It depends on how you can leverage AI to actually make your workflow better,’ she said, stressing that professionals who learn to use emerging technologies effectively would become more productive.

HelpMum’s team also highlighted its efforts to reach underserved women in rural communities with pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and child vaccination information.

According to the organisation, its initiatives have reached more than one million mothers across its programmes.

Beyond technology, HelpMum is expanding its focus to nutrition. Abionu Oluwatise, the company’s consultant dietitian, said the organisation is running the Nutrition Champions Initiative, which trains community healthcare workers on maternal, infant and young-child nutrition.

It also operates the Nova Hub programme, which provides antenatal nutrition education to pregnant women at primary healthcare centres.

Oluwatise said assessments conducted before and after the interventions have shown strong knowledge retention among participants, highlighting the importance of targeted nutrition education.

MedVerge ultimately positioned healthcare innovation as a collective responsibility, bringing together doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technologists, students and other professionals to develop solutions capable of improving Nigeria’s healthcare outcomes.