Category: Business Day

Nigeria’s health sector needs more investment, but for the thousands of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and diagnostic centres that deliver care every day, the challenge is not simply whether capital exists, but whether viable providers can access financing that is affordable, appropriately structured and aligned with the realities of healthcare businesses.

As new healthcare financing initiatives emerge, the test is now whether capital moves beyond the largest and most established providers to reach viable small businesses, strengthen their capacity and, ultimately, translate capital into better healthcare outcomes for Nigerians.

That question is becoming more urgent as new pools of capital begin to emerge. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and FCMB have announced a ?20 billion financing initiative for the health sector. The Bank of Industry’s Guaranteed Loans for Women (GLOW) programme offers another opportunity, with an initial ?10 billion funding pool and financing at 7% all-inclusive annual interest, alongside a credit-guarantee mechanism through the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC).

These developments suggest that the conversation is beginning to move beyond the familiar question of whether healthcare deserves more financing to the more difficult question of how that financing should reach the businesses that deliver care. Because in healthcare, the size of the cheque does not necessarily tell much about the scale of the impact.

Nigeria’s private health sector is largely made up of small and medium-sized enterprises, including hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, diagnostic centres and laboratories, which together provide a significant share of the healthcare Nigerians access every day. The Nigeria Private Health Sector Market Outlook 2026, launched by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), highlights why financing these businesses cannot be treated as a peripheral SME issue.

The economics of conventional lending help explain the gap. For a financial institution, lending ?1 billion to one established healthcare business can be simpler and less costly to manage than lending ?20 million each to 50 smaller providers, because every borrower requires separate assessment, documentation and monitoring. Larger businesses may also be easier to finance because they tend to have stronger financial records, longer operating histories and more substantial collateral.

But what is efficient for a lender is not necessarily what is most important for the health system. The neighbourhood hospital seeking an ultrasound machine, the diagnostic centre replacing ageing equipment or the community pharmacy requiring working capital may not constitute headline investments, but collectively they form much of the infrastructure through which Nigerians encounter healthcare.

This is why the success of healthcare financing should not be judged by the amount of money committed alone. It should be judged by whether that capital reaches viable providers, enables them to expand capacity and improve quality, and ultimately increases the availability of reliable care. Even then, reaching the provider is only half the equation. The structure and terms on which that capital arrives can determine whether it strengthens a business or simply adds another financial burden.

Healthcare is capital intensive, and investments in equipment, facilities and service expansion can take years to generate adequate returns. High commercial rates and short repayment schedules can leave providers servicing debt long before an investment has generated sufficient revenue.

Nigeria therefore needs financing that reflects the economics of healthcare. A dedicated Health Sector Intervention Fund with a specific window for healthcare SMEs could provide single-digit, longer-tenor financing, supported by government and development finance resources and deployed through qualified financial institutions.

From viable to investable

Credit guarantees, interest support and technical-assistance facilities could help absorb some of the initial risks that commercial lenders are unwilling to take. But the objective should not be permanent subsidised lending; public and development finance should help demonstrate that healthcare SMEs can be financed successfully and create the conditions for commercial capital to follow.

That is important because a healthcare enterprise can receive capital and still remain structurally fragile. A hospital may have strong patient volumes but weak financial records; a diagnostic centre may purchase equipment without sufficient utilisation to justify the investment; a pharmacy may expand its inventory while tying up working capital in slow-moving products.

For financiers, this means looking beyond turnover to understand cash collection, asset utilisation, payer concentration and debt-service capacity. It also means distinguishing genuine business risk, such as regulatory, foreign-exchange or reimbursement risk, from information gaps caused by weak accounting, reporting or management systems.

This is where experience from initiatives such as the Medical Credit Fund (MCF) is instructive. Financing works better when it is accompanied by support that strengthens financial management, governance, business planning, quality improvement and operational performance, helping providers become more investable and better able to use capital effectively.

‘Nigeria also needs a clearer financing pathway as businesses grow. Early-stage enterprises may need catalytic funding to validate a model, growing providers may require equipment finance or working capital, while established businesses may become suitable for commercial debt, equity or growth investment.’

Building a healthcare investment ecosystem

It also requires a broader understanding of what healthcare growth looks like. Scale is not always another building or more beds; diagnostic networks, shared laboratory infrastructure, digital clinical services, procurement platforms and technology-enabled models can expand access without reproducing the same capital-intensive facility model.

The financing ecosystem must also extend beyond providers to the businesses that keep healthcare functioning. Medical distributors, equipment-maintenance companies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, cold-chain operators and health-technology businesses face their own working-capital constraints, and weaknesses in these businesses can ultimately disrupt the services of healthcare facilities.

This makes healthcare financing an ecosystem challenge, not simply a question of lending to hospitals and pharmacies. Industry associations such as HFN can help make that market more legible by connecting providers to financing opportunities and requirements while helping financial institutions better understand healthcare business models, risks and opportunities.

Predictable revenue is another critical part of that equation. A provider that can rely on predictable payments is in a stronger position to borrow, invest and plan than one dependent largely on irregular out-of-pocket payments, making health insurance and strategic purchasing relevant not only to Universal Health Coverage but also to the bankability of healthcare businesses.

Nigeria also needs a clearer financing pathway as businesses grow. Early-stage enterprises may need catalytic funding to validate a model, growing providers may require equipment finance or working capital, while established businesses may become suitable for commercial debt, equity or growth investment.

Without such a progression, businesses can outgrow one source of capital before becoming sufficiently structured to access the next. The goal should be a financing ecosystem in which public and development capital helps reduce early risks, better data and governance improve investability, and commercial capital increasingly follows as the market becomes easier to understand and finance.

From financing programmes to market-making

Ultimately, the question is not simply how much money Nigeria can commit to healthcare. It is whether the country can create the conditions under which healthcare becomes increasingly investable.

That requires better sector data, stronger provider governance, predictable payment systems, appropriate financing products and credible risk-sharing mechanisms. It also requires recognising the private health sector as an interconnected economic system involving providers, entrepreneurs, financiers, insurers, suppliers, technology companies and patients.

The immediate challenge is to move from announcing financing to making it usable. What does a small hospital need to qualify? What will a lender expect from a community pharmacy or diagnostic centre? How does a clinically viable business become investment-ready? These are among the practical questions the HFN Women’s Forum Webinar (scheduled for August 20th) on access to finance for healthcare businesses will address.

The goal is not simply to finance more healthcare businesses. It is to build a healthcare market in which more viable businesses can become investable, more capital can follow and investment can compound into stronger healthcare delivery.

This article is a partnership between the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and BusinessDay to highlight policies and initiatives that can strengthen Nigeria’s health sector. As a private sector-led coalition, HFN advocates for policies and partnerships that improve healthcare delivery and create a stronger environment for private sector participation. This partnership aims to contribute to informed public discourse and advance practical solutions for Nigeria’s health sector.

Blessing Agbebaku, has resigned as the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly at the plenary sitting.

Agbebaku resigned on Monday August 17, 2026.

The immediate past speaker was reportedly suspended indefinitely.

It was gathered that Yekini Idaiye, representing Akoko-Edo 1, was, however, elected as the new speaker.

It was, however, gathered that the speaker resigned at a brief plenary sitting which lasted less than 30 minutes

Also removed was Jonathan Ibhamawu, the Majority Leader, representing Esan West Constituency and replaced with Ojiezele Osezua Sunday, representing Esan South -East Constituency.

Addeh Emankhu Isibor, the former deputy majority leader, representing Esan North-East 1 was also removed and replaced by Inegbeboh Ojie Eugene, from Igueben constituency as the new deputy majority leader.

Natasha Osawaru Irobosa, representing Egor constituency of the National Democratic Congress, (NDC) now the minority leader replacing, Charity Iguodala,representing Ovia North-East 1.

Frank Omosigho, Oredo West Constituency of NDC was elected as the minority whip.

Blessing Agbebaku who is representing Owan West Constituency was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in January 2025.

Nasir Idris, Kebbi State Governor, has replaced his deputy, Umar Tafida, with Ibrahim Augie, former Commissioner for Finance, as his new running mate for the 2027 poll.

The development was announced on Sunday in a statement by Suleiman Argungu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Organising Secretary and former deputy governor of the state, who attributed the change to professional legal advice concerning Tafida’s eligibility to contest alongside the governor in 2027.

The change came as political parties and their candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the choice of running mates expected to play a significant role in strengthening political alliances and meeting legal and electoral requirements.

The announcement also puts an end, for now, to speculation over the political future of Tafida within the Idris administration, with the APC leadership insisting that his removal from the ticket was based on legal considerations rather than a political dispute.

Argungu said the decision was not a result of any disagreement between Idris and his deputy, stressing that Tafida understood and consented to the change.

‘The present deputy governor was dropped as the running mate to Governor Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu for the 2027 general election based on professional legal advice,’ Argungu said.

He subsequently announced Augie as the new running mate to Idris for the 2027 governorship election.

Argungu appealed to politicians, APC members and supporters across Kebbi State to accept the development and work together to ensure the party’s success at the 2027 election.

The governor also dismissed suggestions of a rift between him and Tafida, urging APC members and supporters to remain united and continue supporting his administration.

Idris appealed for continued cooperation as his administration pursued its development agenda across the state.

Augie, the newly selected running mate, previously served as Commissioner for Finance during the administration of Atiku Bagudu, former Kebbi State governor.

He hails from Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has intensified its routine inspection operations across supermarkets, grocery stores, markets, shopping malls, and other retail outlets in Lagos State as part of a renewed campaign to eliminate counterfeit, expired, hazardous, and substandard products from the marketplace.

The intensified enforcement exercise, led by the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, is aimed at protecting consumers by identifying retailers and distributors stocking products that pose serious health and safety risks to the public.

As part of the exercise, LASCOPA officials conduct unannounced inspections, verify product certifications, examine production and expiry dates, assess storage conditions, and confiscate products that fail to meet the required safety and quality standards.

Speaking on the initiative, the General Manager/CEO, Afolabi Solebo, reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering commitment to consumer protection.

‘Consumer safety is non-negotiable. We are sending a clear message to every operator in the retail value chain: if you trade in fake, expired, hazardous, or substandard products and you’re caught, you will face the full wrath of the law. This is a battle we are determined to win for every Lagosian’, he said.

Solebo noted that the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency was established under the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law, 2025 (as amended) to protect consumers’ rights and promote fair trade practices.

He explained that the Law provides consumers with the right to return defective goods and urged store owners and operators of supermarkets, grocery stores, markets, shopping malls, and other retail outlets to return expired, unsafe, defective, or substandard products to their suppliers or distributors instead of displaying or selling them to unsuspecting consumers.

According to him, LASCOPA’s Monitoring and Enforcement Department inspected 663 stores and supermarkets between January and June 2026 while 238 grocery stores, supermarkets, markets, shopping malls, and other retail outlets were found to violate the Consumer Protection Law.

He added that the inspection exercise covered supermarkets, grocery stores, markets, and other retail outlets across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State.

The General Manager warned that businesses found selling counterfeit, expired, hazardous, or substandard products risk immediate closure, seizure and prosecution and other sanctions as provided under the relevant consumer protection laws.

He also urged consumers to remain vigilant by carefully checking product information before making purchases.

He also encouraged members of the public to promptly report suspicious, counterfeit, expired, hazardous, or unsafe products through LASCOPA’s official complaint channels.

Solebo reiterated that LASCOPA remains the statutory agency responsible for protecting the rights and interests of consumers in Lagos State, promoting fair trade practices, and ensuring that only safe, genuine, and quality products are available in the marketplace.

There are companies that participate in history, and there are companies that alter its trajectory. At 23, Globacom belongs unmistakably to the latter category. Founded in August 2003 through the vision of Dr Mike Adenuga Jr., GCON, Globacom was never merely the entry of another telecommunications operator. It represented something more consequential: the emergence of an indigenous proposition that a Nigerian enterprise could think at global scale, build to international standards, and remain deeply aligned with the aspirations, sensibilities, and realities of its people.

Over time, that proposition has acquired an almost philosophical resonance. Globacom’s journey has been one of enterprise, infrastructure, technology, and cultural imagination. Beneath these visible dimensions lies a more enduring idea: that Nigeria need not remain a passive observer of technological progress. It could be a participant, a builder, and, in certain instances, an architect of the future it seeks to inhabit. In an industry shaped by successive waves of innovation, investment, and competition, Globacom has established a durable institutional presence whose significance extends beyond the mechanics of telecommunications.

Some enterprises are built around market opportunity; others evolve into expressions of deeper conviction. Globacom’s story belongs to the latter tradition. Its defining question has never been merely how to provide connectivity, but what connectivity could enable for Nigeria. That distinction has shaped its technological decisions, consumer philosophy, and its nuanced understanding of the cultural environment in which a telecommunications brand must operate.

That conviction was evident from the outset. Globacom’s introduction of per-second billing reshaped both the economics and psychology of mobile communication in Nigeria, challenging long-standing assumptions about consumer pricing. In a market where the cost of communication had previously constrained access, the innovation made mobile telephony more transparent, accessible, and consumer-centric. The company subsequently advanced through successive technological generations-from 2.5G at launch to 3G Plus and 4G LTE-reflecting an institutional disposition unwilling to treat technological limitation as destiny. The underlying message was clear: Nigeria need not wait for the future to be imported.

Then came Glo-1. In 2010, Globacom deployed a 9,800-kilometre fibre-optic submarine cable beneath the Atlantic, linking Nigeria and West Africa to Europe. Its significance extended beyond engineering achievement. It was symbolism expressed in fibre and steel-a tangible articulation of a national possibility. Nigeria would not only consume global digital infrastructure; a Nigerian enterprise could actively participate in building it. Executed without foreign equity or consortium partners, the project remains one of the most compelling demonstrations of indigenous technological ambition in the country’s corporate history. Beneath the ocean, fibre transmitted data; above it, the project transmitted belief in national capability.

Yet Globacom’s indigenous imagination has never been confined to technology alone. From an early stage, it recognised that telecommunications brands do not exist solely in balance sheets, network architecture, or infrastructure assets. They also exist in culture. Musicians, actors, sports figures, and other national icons became more than brand ambassadors; they became channels through which the brand entered the emotional and cultural consciousness of Nigerians. In doing so, Globacom demonstrated a critical understanding of its market: technology is not merely consumed; it is interpreted through culture, memory, aspiration, and identity.

Its engagement with African football, the Super Eagles, the Nigeria Football Federation, domestic leagues, and the Glo Soccer Academy extended this philosophy into sport. Its support for cultural institutions and festivals-including Ojude Oba, Ofala, and Lisabi-further reflected a broader understanding of connectivity. To connect a people is not only to enable communication between devices; it is to connect generations to memory, communities to identity, creativity to opportunity, and tradition to the future.

The widely celebrated $1 million reward to the victorious Super Eagles following their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations triumph belonged to the same continuum. It was corporate patronage, but also an expression of emotional citizenship: an acknowledgment that there are moments when national spirit converges around shared achievement, and that responsible enterprise can participate meaningfully in such moments.

This helps explain why describing Globacom simply as ‘the Nigerian network’ is both accurate and incomplete. It is accurate because the company emerged from an indigenous conception of the telecommunications opportunity and has consistently interpreted the Nigerian market from within. It is incomplete because its ambition has never been limited to national identity alone. Rather, it has sought to demonstrate that Nigerian origin can coexist with technological sophistication, international scale, continental relevance, and cultural confidence.

Twenty-three years on, that proposition remains instructive. Globacom’s significance cannot be fully captured through subscriber figures, financial performance, infrastructure inventories, or corporate milestones. These are valid indicators of enterprise, but they do not exhaust its historical meaning. Its deeper contribution lies in expanding the psychological boundaries of Nigerian enterprise: challenging the assumption that innovation must arrive with a foreign accent, and demonstrating that indigenous capability can operate within domains once reserved for multinational capital and imported expertise.

The story is also inseparable from the stature of its founder, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr., GCON, whose role in Nigeria’s contemporary economic history has been recognised with distinction. In Nigeria, he holds the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), one of the nation’s highest honours. Internationally, he has been conferred the Commander of the Legion of Honour by France, and the Companion of the Star of Ghana by Ghana. These recognitions stand in contrast to his notably private and understated public persona: while the honours are public, the individual remains reserved, yet the institutional footprint of his enterprise philosophy is widely evident.

Ultimately, Globacom’s most enduring innovation may not be per-second billing, fibre infrastructure, bandwidth capacity, spectrum allocation, or mobile technology itself. It may be the idea embodied in its trajectory: that excellence does not require external validation; that indigenous enterprise need not be constrained by limited ambition; that technological sophistication can coexist with cultural authenticity; and that technology can carry culture as effectively as it carries data.

There is, perhaps, a deeper metaphor at work. The telecommunications network was designed to connect voices, but Globacom’s broader historical significance has been to connect possibility with confidence. It entered a Nigeria still defining the contours of its digital future and helped expand those contours-carefully, deliberately, and irreversibly. Through infrastructure as well as imagination, it demonstrated that the future is not always a distant destination. It can be conceived, engineered, connected, and deliberately brought into being.

Twenty-three years after its inception, Globacom stands as more than a participant in Nigeria’s digital transformation. It is one of the institutions through which that transformation acquired an indigenous vocabulary, a cultural depth, and a renewed sense of self-belief. Its enduring legacy may ultimately be this: the reminder that Nigeria is not merely a consumer of the future. With imagination, discipline, and institutional resolve, it can help build it-and give it a distinctly Nigerian voice.

ýThe Oyo State Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, hasý called on the people of Oyo State to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election, citing what he described as the administration’s achievements since assuming office.

ýAlli stated this while speaking with members of the JDS/PBAT Support Group on efforts to unite various support groups in Oyo State in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

ýHe urged members of the JDS/PBAT Support Group and other political support groups to work together towards mobilising support for the President ahead of the 2027 general election.

ýWhile expressing confidence that the roads leading to Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort will receive Federal government attention, the APC governorship candidate said the Federal Government would construct and rehabilitate the roads leading to the world-class Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort.

He expressed the optimism that the intervention could be carried out before the end of the Tinubu administration.

ýý’All roads leading to Ilaji will receive Federal Government attention. Before the end of this administration, we expect the Federal Government to construct and fix the roads leading to Ilaji,’ Alli said.

ýýHe added that once the APC emerges victorious in the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State, the construction and rehabilitation of roads leading to Ilaji would be among the projects that would receive priority attention.

ýý’Once we emerge victorious in 2027, this will be one of the first projects we will give attention to because we cannot continue to neglect an investment of this magnitude,’ he added.

ýýAlli also commended Jubril Dotun Sanusi for his contributions to the socio-economic and political development of Oyo State and Nigeria, particularly his investment in Ilaji and his continued support for President Tinubu’s political project.

ýThe governorship hopeful specifically acknowledged what he described as the huge moral and financial support Sanusi has given to President Tinubu’s project since 2023.

ýHe questioned the neglect of the roads leading to an investment of such magnitude, noting that Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort had the potential to contribute significantly to the state’s economy, tourism development and employment generation.

ýAlli said improved road infrastructure around the resort would enhance accessibility, attract more visitors and investors, and create opportunities for businesses operating within its surrounding communities.ý

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 14 suspected members of different kidnapping syndicates allegedly linked to several abduction cases and a murder in the state.

Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists at the State Police Headquarters, GRA, Enugu.

Giwa said the arrests followed a series of intelligence-led operations conducted by operatives of the Command in collaboration with other security agencies.

According to him, the suspects were members of organised criminal networks operating across state lines, with some of them allegedly converging in Enugu to plan and execute kidnapping operations before returning to their respective locations.

He said the operations also led to the rescue of kidnapped victims and the recovery of firearms, ammunition and other incriminating exhibits.

The Commissioner recalled that security operatives recently rescued kidnapped victims at Ogbozara Community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State and Owukpa Community in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Giwa also said that following the August 2 rescue of one of the victims abducted from a church at Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi Local Government Area, subsequent joint operations resulted in the rescue of the remaining two victims, the arrest of three suspects and the neutralisation of another suspect.

He added that ransom money, firearms and ammunition were also recovered during the operation.

The Commissioner said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects later regrouped with their cohorts in Port Harcourt and abducted another victim, who was subsequently released after a ransom of N5 million was paid.

He disclosed that 12 other suspects had earlier been arrested through human and technical intelligence-led operations carried out in Abuja, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba states.

According to Giwa, investigations showed that the suspects belonged to an organised criminal network in which members played different roles.

He said an Enugu-based tricycle operator allegedly provided transportation for gang members, firearms and other criminal implements, while another suspect allegedly supplied intelligence that enabled the gang to evade security surveillance and identify potential targets.

The Commissioner said the suspects had confessed to involvement in several recent and past kidnapping incidents along the Enugu-Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road; Obioma-9th Mile-Umulumgbe-Okpatu Road; Eke-Affa-Egede-Ezinze axis; and various locations in Ezeagu Local Government Area.

Among the incidents allegedly linked to the suspects was the May 25, 2026 abduction of a male victim at Mgbabuowa/Aguobuowa in Ezeagu LGA, during which N5.5 million was reportedly obtained as ransom.

Giwa also said the suspects were linked to the May 9 abduction of two male victims and the shooting and killing of a female victim at Obioma, Udi LGA. He said $28,700 was allegedly obtained as ransom in that incident.

Other cases, according to him, included the April 10 abduction of two male victims along the Eke-Ezinze Road in Udi LGA, for which $70,000 was reportedly paid as ransom, as well as the April 12 kidnapping of seven victims at Obinaofia, Ezeagu LGA, during which N25 million was allegedly obtained.

The Commissioner further disclosed that investigations showed that the suspects allegedly concealed and laundered proceeds of their criminal activities through investments in livestock and properties, lavish spending, conspicuous consumption and overseas trips, including visits to Cameroon.

Items recovered from the suspects include five AK-47 rifles, two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated firearm, 310 rounds of live 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, eight live cartridges and seven empty AK-47 magazines.

Giwa said investigations were ongoing to establish the suspects’ involvement in other kidnapping and violent-crime cases within and outside Enugu State, identify and arrest other members of the syndicate, and recover additional firearms, ammunition and criminal proceeds.

He said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Commissioner attributed the arrests and recoveries to sustained intelligence gathering, ICT-enabled investigations, inter-agency collaboration, inter-state cooperation and coordinated operational policing.

He assured residents that the Command remained committed to combating kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, rape, cultism and other violent crimes.

Giwa urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements and activities to the police.

The victory of Ademola Adeleke in Saturday’s Osun State governorship election has sent a fresh political signal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly as the party had openly described the poll as a test of its electoral strength.

Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the early hours of Sunday.

The governor polled 511,067 votes across the state to defeat Bola Oyebamiji, candidate of the APC, who scored 444,815 votes.

Professor Joshua Ogunwole, INEC’s State Returning Officer, declared Adeleke winner after he secured victory in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11. Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 17,180 votes.

Analysts say the result is significant not only because Adeleke successfully defended his mandate, but also because he did so outside the PDP, the platform on which he won the 2022 election.

His victory came after a prolonged crisis within the PDP culminated in the party conducting its governorship primary without him, forcing the incumbent to seek the Accord ticket.

The outcome has consequently raised fresh questions about the strength of party structures, the influence of incumbency and the ability of opposition politicians to retain electoral support outside the platforms on which they initially won office.

For the APC, however, the result could prove more consequential.

Nentawe Yilwatda, APC National Chairman, had described the Osun election as a litmus test for the party ahead of 2027, while insisting that the APC would reclaim the state.

Hope Uzodimma, Imo State governor and Chairman of the APC National Campaign Council for the election, also expressed confidence that the party would win. Ajibola Bashiru, APC National Secretary and an indigene of Osun State, similarly maintained that the party would reclaim the state ahead of the 2027 elections.

The party therefore entered the race with expectations that victory would strengthen its position ahead of the next general elections. However, Adeleke’s victory has provided opposition politicians and analysts with fresh ammunition to argue that the APC remains vulnerable despite its control of the federal government.

The 2027 debate

Beyond the immediate political implications in Osun, the election has already become part of the wider 2027 debate.

Jackson Lekan Ojo, a political analyst, told BusinessDay that the outcome was a warning to the APC, particularly if opposition parties succeed in putting aside their differences and presenting a united front in 2027.

‘Are the signs not clear to you? This is a clear picture and a signal that the ruling APC will be shown the exit route in 2027. They will be sent packing,’ Ojo said.

He attributed the outcome largely to economic hardship and the rising cost of living under the APC led federal government, arguing that growing public frustration could translate into electoral consequences for the ruling party.

‘Nigerians are angry because a hungry man is an angry man. Look at the high cost of living, inflation and economic hardship. Some households can’t afford three square meals a day in this country,’ he said.

Ojo said the APC’s own description of Osun as a litmus test had made the defeat more significant. According to him, the lesson for the opposition ahead of 2027 is that electoral victory could become possible if opposition parties overcome their differences and consolidate their support.

‘What sort of government is this that doesn’t listen to its citizens? Let me tell you, if the opposition unites, the APC government will be ousted in 2027,’ he said.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, has congratulated Adeleke, saying the result demonstrated the power of citizens to determine who leads them, stressing that it’s a lesson ahead of the 2027 poll.

Obi said the people of Osun had ‘spoken with courage and clarity’, while commending youths in the state for what he described as the peaceful defence of their democratic mandate.

‘The lesson from Osun is clear. Democracy is strongest when citizens are alert, conscious of their civic responsibility, and determined to ensure that their votes count,’ he said.

He urged Nigerians to draw lessons from the election as political parties and their candidates prepare for the 2027 general elections. Obi urged Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 elections and called on political actors to prioritise the interests of the people and embrace peace and the rule of law.

‘Elections should never be battles of violence, but contests of ideas, competence, character, and service,’ he said.

Intrigues before the poll

The campaign for the Osun governorship election was also marked by an unusual political twist, with Governor Adeleke dismissing the significance of APC governors who campaigned for his opponent, Bola Oyebamiji.

Adeleke had said some of the governors campaigning against him were his friends, insisting their presence would not determine the outcome of the election because they were not registered voters in Osun.

‘Those governors are my friends. I am a civilised administrator. They won’t vote; they can only come and dance, and after the election, we will meet,’ Adeleke had said during the campaign.

His comment highlighted the complex political relationships surrounding the election, as several APC governors, including Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, joined the party’s campaign for Oyebamiji.

The campaign also exposed the limits of personality-based attacks in an election. Governor Okpebholo, had mocked Adeleke’s dancing during the campaign, portraying the incumbent as a governor whose penchant for dancing had overshadowed governance.

‘Before somebody signs paper, he will dance. Are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing. Before he takes breakfast, before he drinks tea, he will dance,’ Okpebholo told APC supporters at a campaign rally.

He also likened Adeleke to Godwin Obaseki, former Edo governor, urging Osun voters to reject the incumbent just as, according to him, Edo voters rejected Obaseki.

‘That man is Obaseki’s friend. You know we kicked Obaseki out of Edo. So, we have to kick his friend out of this place too,’ he said.

Adeleke, however, dismissed the criticism, insisting that dancing was merely his hobby and had no bearing on his performance in office. He also expressed confidence that he would secure a second term.

Despite the high-profile backing for the APC candidate, Adeleke went on to defeat Oyebamiji, adding another layer to the political intrigues surrounding the outcome and its implications for the 2027 elections.

More reactions trail APC’s Osun defeat

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 poll said Adeleke’s victory reflected the clear choice of Osun residents at the poll.

‘I congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election as Governor of Osun State. His victory demonstrates the choice of the people of Osun as expressed at the ballot box,’ Atiku said in a post on his X handle on Sunday.

‘I commend the people for their passion and peaceful participation. I wish Governor Adeleke continued success as he continues to serve them,’ he added.

Similarly, Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, congratulated Adeleke, describing the result as a clear endorsement by Osun voters.

Saraki, in a post on his official X page on Sunday, said, ‘The people of Osun have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. They have had four years to judge the record of his stewardship, to weigh the promises against the performance, and they have asked him to continue.’

Saraki, former Kwara State governor, said the election also reinforced the importance of credible polls to Nigeria’s democracy.

Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor and NDC vice presidential candidate for the 2027 election, also congratulated Adeleke, whom he described as his friend.

In a statement posted on his verified X account on Sunday, Kwankwaso commended Osun voters for exercising their democratic rights and reaffirming the power of the electorate.

‘As a leader of the opposition and a committed democrat, I commend the people of Osun State for exercising their democratic rights and reaffirming the power of the people’s mandate,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Adeleke has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had called to congratulate him.

‘I want to seize this opportunity to thank Mr. President. Mr. President has called me and he has congratulated me. And I thank you, Mr. President, for making sure democracy lives on, because you fought for it, Mr. President,’ he said.

Pundits say the coming weeks will show whether the APC treats the defeat as an isolated setback or as an early warning requiring a major political and electoral recalibration ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

As cynicism mounts in Rivers State, Governor Sim Fubara has come out to take his place in the public space.

The governor who has been under pressure from segments of the Rivers State public for announcing return to the Rainbow Coalition and the silence that has followed, has come out strongly to show numerous projects under construction.

The governor is said to be set to begin commissioning a fresh tranche of ‘people-oriented’ projects that are meant to transform the living standards of citizens and position the oil-rich state for economic growth.

Despite a six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and an intractable political crisis between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the governor has been able to rack up people-impacting projects in the state.

Dagogo Wokoma, Secretary to the State Government, said on Friday at the Government House that Fubara will be commissioning projects across the state throughout the remaining days of August.

Wokoma said the commissioning, which would see the governor traverse senatorial districts in the state, will run from Monday, August 17, 2026, to Monday, August 31, 2026.

He said: ‘These projects scheduled for commissioning are tangible evidence of His Excellency’s unwavering dedication to transform our communities and address the developmental needs of our people. They underscore the administration’s determination to ensure that governance translates into meaningful and measurable benefits for every citizen across the 23 local government areas of the state.’

The listed projects include: Neuro-psychiatric Hospital and New General Hospital, Rumuigbo in Obio/Akpor LGA, which are to be commissioned on Friday, August 28, 2026.

Others are: Buguma-Degema-Abonnema Road, Asari/Toru/ Akuku-Toru LGAs (Monday, August 17); Egwi-Afara-Mba Road, Etche LGA (Tuesday, August 18); Omademe internal roads, Omademe, Ikwerre LGA (Thursday, August 20); and new Air Force Base runway, Port Harcourt LGA (Friday, August 21).

Projects scheduled for the following week include: Elele-Egbeda-Omoku dual carriageway, Ikwerre/Emohua/Onelga LGAs (Monday, August 24); Capt. Elechi Polytechnic Entrepreneurship Centre/Engineering Faculty Building, Rumuola, Obio/Akpor LGA (Tuesday, August 25); Agba Ndele Road and bridge, Ndele, Emohua LGA (Wednesday, August 26); New Zonal Hospital, Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA (Thursday, August 27); Neuro-psychiatric Hospital and New General Hospital, Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor LGA (Friday, August 28); and Bonny National Grammar School, Bonny LGA (Monday, August 31).

Wokoma added, ‘As we prepare for these historic events, we acknowledge the dedication and contributions of government officials, contractors, host communities, and other stakeholders whose collective efforts have made these achievements possible.

‘We invite all Rivers people to join in celebrating these milestones and to continue supporting the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as it advances peace, development, progress, and prosperity. Together, we will continue to build a Rivers State where development reaches every community and every citizen has the opportunity to thrive,’ he said.

Gov Fubara seemed to fight back during the political crisis with avalanche of projects. He seemed to reply attacks with more projects, and the people seemed to love it.

The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mohammed Bello Shehu, has disclosed that the Commission has completed a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s Revenue Allocation Formula and concluded work on the review of remuneration for political, public and judicial office holders, with both processes now at advanced stages of consideration by the appropriate authorities.

Shehu made the disclosure during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Lagos, where he presented an overview of the Commission’s achievements and institutional progress from 2023 to date.

He said the period under review had been marked by significant fiscal reforms, with the Commission strengthening its constitutional mandate of revenue monitoring, derivation verification, fiscal coordination, and advisory functions on remuneration and revenue allocation.

According to him, RMAFC has focused on improving data integrity, enhancing inter-agency collaboration, and ensuring equitable distribution of national revenue across the three tiers of government.

Shehu explained that the Commission had intensified monitoring of oil and gas production data to ensure accurate application of the 13 percent derivation principle. He noted that through verification exercises, geospatial mapping and inter-agency collaboration, the Commission resolved several long-standing oil well attribution issues, including the reallocation of 17 oil wells from Imo State to Rivers State in line with a Supreme Court judgment.

He added that similar interventions had been undertaken in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo and Anambra States, while improved gas production reporting had enabled Enugu and Kogi States to benefit from derivation revenues.

The Chairman further said that RMAFC had strengthened collaboration with key institutions including NUPRC, NNPCL, NMDPRA, the National Boundary Commission, and the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation to improve revenue monitoring and compliance.

He also disclosed ongoing engagement with the Ministry of Defence to address crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and production losses, describing them as major threats to national revenue.

Beyond the petroleum sector, Shehu said the Commission was exploring new revenue opportunities through partnerships with FAAN and NASRDA, including the use of satellite and geospatial technologies to identify additional revenue sources.

Hed confirmed that the Commission had completed the review of remuneration for judicial office holders, culminating in the enactment of the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 2025.

He added that the review of remuneration for executive and legislative office holders was also at an advanced stage, with an executive bill on the Political and Public Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 2026 expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly.

He stressed that remuneration reforms must be matched with accountability and performance, noting that improved pay should translate into improved service delivery.

On the subject of the review of the Revenue Allocation Formula, Shehu described it as one of the Commission’s most significant assignments, noting that it was undertaken through extensive consultations with all tiers of government, technical stakeholders, and nationwide engagements.

He said the exercise involved analysis of fiscal responsibilities, revenue trends, and comparative federal systems, resulting in a harmonised report and legislative proposals now ready for transmission to the appropriate authorities.

According to him, the objective is to establish a more equitable and sustainable revenue-sharing framework that reflects current economic and governance realities.

He also highlighted improvements in the Commission’s infrastructure, including rehabilitation of critical facilities, enhanced security systems, and ongoing renovation of its headquarters.

He said staff welfare had been prioritised through improved healthcare services, training programmes, and capacity development initiatives aimed at strengthening technical expertise within the Commission.

The Chairman said the engagement with the Nigerian Guild of Editors was part of efforts to deepen transparency and improve public understanding of RMAFC’s mandate.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to proactive communication, data-driven reforms, and stronger collaboration with the media in promoting accountability in public finance.

In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Public Affairs and Communication Committee (PACC) and Federal Commissioner representing Kwara State in the Commission, Ismail Muhammed Agaka commended the media for its role in strengthening democratic accountability and reaffirmed RMAFC’s commitment to sustained engagement with stakeholders.

Other members of the PACC present at the occasion were: Peter Opara, Federal Commissioner representing Imo State, Ekene Enefe, Federal Commissioner representing Anambra State, Hon. Hadizatu Uwani Mustapha, Federal Commissioner representing Borno State; Ahmed Waziri Hassan, Federal Commissioner representing Adamawa State, Bob-Helen Inafa, Federal Commissioner representing Bayelsa State, Oti Nkechi Linda Federal Commissioner representing Abia State. Professor Olusegun Adekunle Wright, Federal Commissioner representing Lagos State and Victor Eboigbe Federal Commissioner representing Edo State.