Category: Business Day

The IEA said more than 120 new clean-cooking policies have also been introduced across Africa since the 2024 summit.

Fatih Birol, IEA executive director, said the lack of access to clean cooking remains one of the most important global energy and development challenges, affecting close to two billion people worldwide.

‘The IEA has worked for more than two decades to advance access to clean cooking and elevate it on the global agenda,’ Birol said.

He said the agency was working with partners to mobilise further commitments ahead of the second Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa, scheduled to take place in Nairobi on January 27-28, 2027.

Despite the funding and policy momentum, the IEA said the rate at which people are gaining access to clean cooking in Africa is only now 30 percent higher than the average pace recorded over the previous five years.

The continuing access gap has major health and economic consequences. Traditional cooking practices contribute to household air pollution that is associated with an estimated 2.5 million premature deaths annually.

Women and girls bear a disproportionate burden because they often spend hours collecting cooking fuel and tending traditional stoves, limiting the time available for education, employment and other economic activities.

The environmental cost is also substantial. Emissions and deforestation associated with traditional cooking practices account for about 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, according to the IEA.

William Ruto, Kenya’s president, said the continent had the solutions and political will to achieve universal access to clean cooking but needed investment and implementation at scale.

‘What we need now is investment and delivery at the scale of our ambition,’ Ruto said.

He said Kenya would work with African governments and international partners to convert commitments into investment and implementation.

The next summit in Nairobi will be co-chaired by Kenya, Norway, the United States and the IEA, with support from the African Union and the African Development Bank Group.

Governments and institutions have been invited to make additional financial commitments and outline concrete measures for expanding access.

The IEA said clean cooking has increasingly become part of the international climate and energy agenda, featuring prominently under the last three COP and G20 presidencies and appearing in countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions and Energy Compacts under Mission 300.

David Umahi, Minister of Works and former Governor of Ebonyi State, has ruled out the existence of the ‘Rainbow Coalition’ in Ebonyi State, insisting that the State remains aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Umahi made the declaration on Friday while inspecting Section Two of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway at Ado in Benue State, amid growing political disagreements over the cross-party coalition associated with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Responding to questions about his relationship with Wike and reports that the Coalition was taking root in Ebonyi, Umahi said he was not aware of any Wike-backed candidates in the State.

‘If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship. There is no Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi State,’ he said.

The Rainbow Coalition has been presented by Wike as a multi-party platform for mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, while allowing politicians to retain their party affiliations and make independent choices in governorship and legislative contests. The arrangement has, however, drawn opposition from some APC governors who have expressed concern about its implications for the party and its candidates.

Umahi, who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in 2020, also revisited the circumstances surrounding his defection, accusing the PDP of failing to adequately recognise the political interests of the South-East.

‘We supported PDP. We voted for presidents in PDP. And when it was our time for them to honour us, they did not honour us. They maltreated us,’ he said.

He said politicians were free to campaign in Ebonyi but warned against hate speech and activities capable of creating tension in the State.

‘Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speeches and you want to take those speeches, and you want that we should lay a red carpet for you. We will not do that,’ Umahi said, adding, ‘Nobody can foment crisis in Ebonyi State.’

The minister also defended his support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, linking his position to the administration’s infrastructure programme and reforms.

‘What gave rise to this is because I believe in President Bola Tinubu. I believe that he’s the one called by God. I believe in his vision. I believe in his reforms. I believe he’s the best person that I have worked with and for, and I’m very proud of working for him and working with him,’ he said.

Umahi also rejected claims that his position as Works Minister had led to the concentration of federal projects in the South-East, saying the projects were part of the Federal Government’s wider national infrastructure programme.

‘I’m not on my own. The President is my boss. So where will he be when I corner all projects to Southeast?’ he asked, adding that although the South-East might not rank first, second or third in the distribution of federal projects, ‘definitely they will not be the last.’

On the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway, Umahi directed contractors handling Section Two to accelerate construction and open additional work fronts while engineers resolve challenges around the Ado Bridge.

He also ordered that no buildings along the existing alignment should be demolished pending the Federal Government’s review of the route.

‘My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it. So you just have to continue your work and go around those buildings until we come to look at it,’ he said.

Umahi said engineering challenges could be resolved and urged the contractors to sustain work on the project.

‘I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible,’ he said.

The growth of social media platforms is creating new opportunities for young Africans to participate in the digital economy, with content creation becoming an emerging pathway for entrepreneurship, skills development and commercial engagement.

Platforms such as TikTok are increasingly moving beyond entertainment, allowing young users to build audiences, develop digital skills and connect with businesses through creator-led opportunities.

The experience of Ivorian digital creator Awa Fanny, popularly known online as Fanny Roki Awa, reflects the changing relationship between social media and entrepreneurship. Fanny joined TikTok in 2021 mainly for entertainment but began approaching content creation more professionally after seeing stronger audience engagement between 2022 and 2023.

‘I started by sharing content because I enjoyed the platform and the creativity it allowed me to express,’ Fanny said, explaining her early experience with social media. ‘Over time, I realised that content creation could become more than entertainment; it could create opportunities and connect me with people and businesses.’

Fanny began her professional content-creation journey in 2022 and has since participated in collaborations with businesses, showing how digital audiences are becoming valuable assets in modern marketing and communication.

‘The most important thing is consistency,’ she said. ‘Building an audience takes time. You have to continue learning, improving your content and understanding the people who follow you.’

Her journey also highlights how social media is opening alternative career pathways for young people who may not follow traditional professional routes. Fanny received a Franco-Arabic education up to Grade 5 (CM2) and is now considering further education while developing her career as a creator and entrepreneur.

‘I believe learning never stops,’ Fanny said. ‘Education and digital skills can work together to help young people build something sustainable.’

The creator economy is also creating demand for skills beyond content production, including photography, videography, video editing, digital marketing, public relations, graphic design and online commerce.

Across Africa, young creators are increasingly using digital platforms to build communities, promote products and test business ideas. This is contributing to a wider digital-services ecosystem connecting creators, brands, technology companies and consumers.

However, industry observers say the long-term growth of the creator economy will depend on stronger investment in digital literacy, professional training and education systems that help young people convert online visibility into sustainable businesses.

For Fanny, social media represents more than a platform for sharing content.

‘Social media gives young people the chance to create, learn and show what they can do,’ she said. ‘The opportunity is there, but young creators need to treat it seriously and continue developing their skills.’

As Africa’s youthful population continues to embrace digital platforms, the creator economy is expected to play a growing role in youth entrepreneurship, employment creation and participation in the continent’s expanding digital economy.

EVA Professionals has appointed Olumide Akinpelumi as its managing partner, placing a tax and global trade specialist with more than a decade of experience across professional advisory, regulatory compliance and public-sector policy work at the helm of the firm. Akinpelumi’s career has taken him across areas that are becoming increasingly important to businesses operating in Nigeria, from indirect taxation and customs to trade policy and regulatory compliance.

Before joining EVA Professionals, he served as a director in the Indirect Tax and Global Trade sub-service line of a Big Four accounting firm in Nigeria. His work covered indirect tax compliance and advisory, global trade advisory, tax structuring and planning, and issues relating to customs and tariff management. His experience also extends into public-sector policy. Akinpelumi has supported the Federal Government on tax implementation initiatives, including work connected with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

That combination of private-sector advisory and public-sector experience has given him exposure to both sides of the regulatory relationship: businesses seeking to manage their tax and trade obligations and government institutions implementing policy. For companies, the distinction is increasingly important as changes in tax, customs and trade rules can affect costs, investment decisions, supply chains and market access.

Akinpelumi has also spent more than a decade as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee, giving him a long-running connection to discussions around Nigeria’s tax and fiscal framework. His professional work has covered several industries, including real estate, construction and property development, alongside engagements with public- and private-sector organisations on complex tax and regulatory matters.

His career has also included a strong education component. He has lectured for more than a decade through professional institutions, including ICAN and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), contributing to the training and development of accounting and tax professionals. Akinpelumi holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting and is a Fellow of ICAN. He also has interests in entrepreneurship across several sectors.

At EVA Professionals, his immediate role will involve providing strategic leadership as the firm develops its advisory business and responds to the changing requirements facing companies navigating Nigeria’s tax, regulatory and trade environment. The appointment therefore brings together three strands of his career, professional advisory, public policy and professional education, as EVA Professionals seeks to strengthen its capacity in areas where regulatory changes increasingly have direct commercial consequences for businesses.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won all 17 Chairmanship and 260 Councillorship positions in Saturday’s Local Government Elections in Enugu State.

The Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), Prof Christian Ngwu, announced the outcome of the polls at the commission’s headquarters in Enugu on Sunday.

Ngwu declared the election as ‘free and fair’, having been conducted according to rules guiding the commission.

According to him, the commission will go ahead to issue the winners with certificates of return.

Speaking after collecting his certificate of return, the Chairman-elect, Enugu South LGA, Chief Caleb Ani, attributed the party’s landslide in the election to Gov. Peter Mbah’s massive developmental work in the state.

Ani urged the residents of the state to vote for Mbah en masse in 2027 to enable him to continue his good work.

Also, the APC state Chairman, Martin Chukwunweike, said the party’s resounding victory indicated the dominance of the national ruling party in the state.

‘We will not rest as we push the developmental efforts of President Bola Tinubu and our amiable governor for the world to see.

‘Tinubu, Mbah and all the APC candidates will be re-elected in 2027 because they have performed exceptionally well in the past three years,’ Chukwunweike said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that details of the results of the election show that APC chairmanship and councillorship candidates defeated their opponents with wide margins.

In Igbo-Eze South, the Chairman-elect, Chief Ugochukwu Ukwueze, secured all 51,033 votes cast, and his counterpart in Igbo-Eze North, Chris Onyebuchi, also clinched all the 137,751 votes cast.

Also in Aninri LGA, Ugochukwu Nwanjoku secured 17,016 votes against his BOOT opponent, Emeka Amasie, who polled 2,006.

The incumbent Chairman and Chairman-elect for Enugu South LGA, Chief Caleb Ani, polled 71,335 votes to defeat his closest rival and NDC candidate, A.A. Ugwu, who scored 1,311 votes. (NAN)

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s broadcasting industry into a vital driver for economic growth, job creation, and democratic stability.

The Minister spoke at the 3rd Annual National Conference of the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB), held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre in Bauchi State. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Responsible Broadcasting in An Election Year: Countering Misinformation, Promoting Peace and Strengthening Democracy.’

Represented by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba Ndace, the Minister outlined landmark infrastructure upgrades under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He also highlighted new initiatives aimed at combating artificial intelligence-driven misinformation ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.

Minister Idris revealed that modern television studios have been completed at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) headquarters in Abuja. In addition, collaborative technical revamps are underway across the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Other key federal interventions include of the establishment of a Ministerial Category II International Media and Information Literacy Institution in Abuja, the centre will train media practitioners and citizens in digital content analysis, media literacy, and managing the opportunities and risks of AI-generated content.

Restoring VON’s 250-kilowatt shortwave transmitters at the historic Muda transmitter station in Jos. This facility houses the only surviving digital-compatible antenna of its kind in Africa. Building on previous digital switchover milestones, the government is expanding terrestrial, satellite, and application-based delivery systems to stimulate growth across the advertising, creative, and broadcasting value chains.

Minister Idris emphasised that while the media must robustly question government institutions, political parties, and candidates to protect its independence, practitioners must resist broadcasting unverified social media claims.

‘Broadcasters, as channels of democracy, must not become sources of incitement, hate speech, or religious provocation,’ Idris warned. ‘Accuracy, fairness, professional integrity, and respect for the public interest must remain at the center of broadcasting. Do your job thoroughly without drama, animosity, or condemnation.’

The Minister commended the organisers and regulatory bodies, including the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), for driving capacity building and ensuring the Nigerian public remains well-informed and actively engaged in the nation’s democratic process.

Also speaking at the event, Governor Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir of Bauchi State expressed his appreciation to the SNB for hosting the conference in the state.

Represented by his Deputy, Mohammed Auwal Jatau, Governor Mohammed noted that broadcasting occupies a unique and powerful position in society by connecting communities, preserving culture, and promoting the public good.

He urged practitioners to maintain a clear distinction between facts, analysis, commentary, and opinion.

‘As a government, we recognise the media as an indispensable pillar of democracy and a critical instrument for national development,’ the Governor stated.

‘A free, responsible, and professional media is essential to informing citizens, promoting accountability, strengthening social cohesion, and facilitating constructive dialogue.’

Governor Mohammed further revealed that his administration has committed over ?3 billion to a comprehensive overhaul and modernisation of state-owned radio and television stations, installing state-of-the-art digital broadcasting facilities.

The Governor noted that the conference would feature the election of a new Executive Council for the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters.

He urged members to approach the election in the true spirit of professionalism, fairness, transparency, and unity.

Africa must strengthen its capacity to deliver the payment systems, efficient borders and infrastructure that businesses need to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, told project professionals at Project Management Institute’s Global Summit Series in Cape Town.

In a fireside conversation with George Asamani, PMI’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mene, according to a statement, outlined the work needed to turn continental trade commitments into easier access to markets. Priorities include aligning national policies, modernising customs and enabling cross-border payments in local currencies.

Speaking under the summit theme: Africa Delivers M.O.R.E. Together, he urged professionals across infrastructure, construction, agriculture, services and customs to consider how their expertise could help connect African economies.

‘We all have a contribution to creating a single integrated market,’ Mene said.

He illustrated the cost of fragmented markets through a transaction between businesses in Ghana and Kenya. Despite trading within Africa, the businesses may need to purchase a third currency, typically the US dollar, to complete payment. He estimated the associated currency conversion costs across the continent at approximately US$5 billion annually.

Mene pointed to the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), developed by Afreximbank in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat, as a practical response. The system enables cross-border payments in local currencies, reducing reliance on third currencies. The payments example showed why the mechanics of integration matter to businesses. The ability to trade across borders depends on the systems supporting each transaction, as well as the agreement itself. Reducing friction in those systems can help make access to a continental market commercially useful, he said

Making trade easier also requires customs authorities to apply agreed rules and governments to align domestic policies with continental commitments. Asamani connected those requirements to the skills needed to deliver programmes involving multiple institutions and countries.

‘A continental agreement becomes meaningful when a business can use it,’ said Asamani. ‘That depends on people who can coordinate institutions, manage risk, deliver reliable systems and keep the intended benefit in view. Project management provides the discipline to carry a policy commitment through to a service that businesses can use.’

Mene also addressed concerns about the impact of liberalisation on domestic industries. He explained that the agreement includes safeguards and that adjustment support can help sectors facing disruption as markets open. ‘We have rules that protect infant industries in a country,’ he said.

He emphasised the need to assess potential losses and support affected businesses, with domestic reform and continental cooperation working together to help firms compete in larger markets. Infrastructure remains central to that effort. Mene called for greater attention to project preparation and trade infrastructure, alongside digital investment. He highlighted the role of the Digital Trade Protocol in creating conditions for investment in emerging technologies and data centres.

That makes project preparation an important part of the integration agenda. Planning must account for how infrastructure will connect with customs processes, digital services and the institutions responsible for operating them. The value of each investment depends partly on whether these connections function effectively. For project professionals, the challenge extends beyond completing individual assets – payment platforms, transport connections and customs systems must work across institutional and national boundaries.

‘Africa needs more project professionals equipped to deliver across these boundaries,’ Asamani added. ‘Investing in their capabilities strengthens our ability to build infrastructure, implement digital systems and make public institutions more effective. It also gives African talent a greater role in delivering the projects that will shape the continent’s future.’

The discussion linked Africa’s talent development agenda to the practical demands of integration, with professionals helping institutions translate shared objectives into coordinated delivery across sectors and participating African countries.

For Mene, the ultimate test of AfCFTA is whether businesses can enter new markets at lower cost and with less administrative burden. Delivering those benefits will determine how effectively continental integration translates into commercial opportunity.

It is 4 p.m. You have been in back-to-back meetings since morning, your phone has barely stopped ringing, and you are already thinking about that plate of jollof rice in the fridge. You had lunch only two hours ago, but somehow you feel like you need something to eat.

Then comes the familiar Nigerian solution to a stressful day: ‘Let me just buy something small.’

Perhaps it is a meat pie and soft drink from the office canteen, a doughnut and sweetened coffee, a handful of chin chin, or a plate of fried rice and chicken ordered through a delivery app.

But are you actually hungry?

The answer is not always yes.

Stress can significantly influence appetite, food cravings and eating behaviour. For some people, acute stress temporarily suppresses appetite.

For others, particularly during prolonged or repeated stress, it can increase the desire for highly palatable foods-those rich in sugar, fat and salt.

This is where stress eating can become confused with physical hunger.

When hunger is coming from the body-and when it is coming from stress

Physical hunger is a biological response to the body’s need for energy and nutrients. It generally develops gradually. You may notice stomach rumbling, reduced energy, difficulty concentrating or a general desire for food. After eating an adequate meal, the sensation usually settles.

Stress-driven eating can be different. The urge may appear suddenly and may be directed towards a specific food-perhaps a cold bottle of soft drink, a sweet pastry, fried snacks or a favourite comfort meal.

You may also notice that the urge appears after an argument, difficult workday, financial pressure, family concerns, traffic congestion or an emotionally exhausting experience.

This does not mean that the hunger is imaginary. The appetite and craving are real. The important question is what is driving them.

The Nigerian stress-eating environment

For many Nigerians, food is deeply connected to comfort, hospitality, celebration and social interaction. Food is also readily available in many workplaces, homes and social settings.

A stressful workday can end with ‘Let’s get shawarma.’ A difficult journey through Lagos traffic can be followed by a sugary drink. Long working hours may mean relying on pastries, instant noodles or fast food because they are convenient.

There is nothing inherently wrong with enjoying these foods. The concern arises when food becomes our primary coping mechanism for stress.

Repeated stress eating can contribute to excessive energy intake and may make weight management more difficult, particularly when combined with inadequate sleep, prolonged sitting and low physical activity.

Try the PAUSE approach

Instead of immediately responding to a food craving, create a short pause.

P – Pause.

Stop for 30 seconds to one minute. Take a few slow breaths before deciding what to eat.

A – Assess your hunger.

Ask yourself: When did I last eat? Am I experiencing physical signs of hunger? Would I be satisfied with a balanced meal, or am I specifically craving one food? A simple hunger scale from 1 to 10 can help. If you have not eaten for several hours and your hunger is strong, your body may genuinely need food. Eat.

U – Understand the trigger.

If you recently ate but suddenly want a particular snack, consider what happened immediately beforehand.

Was it a stressful email? A difficult conversation? Boredom? Fatigue? Anxiety? Frustration?

Recognising the trigger is an important part of changing the behaviour.

S – Substitute another response when appropriate.

If you identify stress rather than physical hunger as the trigger, address the underlying need.

Take a short walk around the office. Step outside for fresh air. Practise slow breathing. Drink water. Call someone you trust. Stretch. Listen to music. Take a brief screen break.

If you are exhausted, the answer may be rest rather than another snack.

E – Eat mindfully if you are hungry.

This step is important because managing stress eating does not mean suppressing legitimate hunger.

If you are hungry, eat. Choose a balanced meal containing sources of protein, fibre-rich carbohydrates, vegetables or fruit and healthy fats according to your individual nutritional needs.

For a Nigerian meal, this might mean combining beans with vegetables and a moderate portion of whole or minimally processed carbohydrate; rice with vegetables and fish or chicken; or a balanced traditional meal rather than relying predominantly on refined snacks.

Do not turn healthy eating into another source of stress

One of the biggest mistakes people make is responding to stress eating with extreme dietary restriction.

Skipping breakfast after overeating the previous night, starving throughout the day or completely banning favourite foods can create a cycle of restriction, intense cravings and overeating.

Nutrition is not about achieving perfection at every meal.

It is about establishing sustainable patterns.

Regular balanced meals, adequate hydration, sufficient sleep, physical activity and effective stress-management strategies can all support healthier eating behaviour.

And if emotional eating is frequent, feels uncontrollable, causes significant distress or is associated with binge-eating behaviours, professional support may be appropriate. A clinical nutritionist, dietitian, psychologist or other qualified healthcare professional can help identify the underlying factors and develop an appropriate management plan.

The next time you find yourself standing in front of the refrigerator after a particularly stressful day, do not immediately ask, ‘What can I eat?’

First ask:

‘What is my body asking for-and what is my mind asking for?’

You may discover that you need food.

But you may also need sleep, movement, connection, reassurance, a conversation, or simply five quiet minutes away from the demands of the day.

That pause can make the difference between eating automatically and eating intentionally.

The goal is not to fear food. It is to understand your hunger well enough to know when your body needs fuel-and when your mind needs care.

Adaeze Onuabuchi is a Clinical Nutritionist and Corporate Wellness Consultant passionate about helping organizations improve employee health, energy, and productivity through practical nutrition solutions. She is the founder of Noureesh Nutrition, a wellness company delivering tailored corporate meal plans, workplace nutrition audits, and employee health programs across Nigeria. Learn more at www.noureesh.com or follow @noureesh on Instagram.

Authority (NMDPRA) for its workers has been commended by the federal government. The houses were developed under the government’s Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme.

Muttaqha Darma, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, gave the commendation at the formal presentation of allocation letters to eligible NMDPRA staff in Abuja recently.

The minister noted that the initiative was significant in the face of Nigeria’s huge housing deficit, which he put conservatively at more than 16 million units needed to accommodate over 100 million unhoused Nigerians.

He said the development demonstrated the importance of collaboration among government institutions in addressing the country’s housing challenge.

‘Providing housing to Nigerians remains a major responsibility. Providing houses to 110 million unhoused Nigerians is a task, a very big one.

‘I consider the NMDPRA initiative beyond the number of houses being allocated. Forget about the mention of 450 housing units. No, I am not looking at it from that angle. I am looking at it from the delivery of housing to Nigerians,’ he stated.

Darma explained that every opportunity to deliver housing to Nigerians is important, drawing attention to the rising cost of home construction and saying that home ownership had become increasingly difficult for ordinary Nigerians, which is why the NMDPRA initiative was significant.

Umar described the development as a practical demonstration of how government policies could translate into tangible benefits for citizens, adding that the authority considered staff welfare an important component of institutional performance.

He said workers who had peace of mind and confidence in their personal future would be better positioned to contribute their skills and expertise to the authority’s national mandate.

Umar commended the Authority’s Staff Cooperative Society, the Renewed Hope Access to Housing Committee and other institutional partners for facilitating the housing initiative.

Shehu Osidi, the Chief Executive of FMBN, said the NMDPRA staff had subscribed to 430 housing units in Karsana, Abuja, and Janguza, Kano.

Osidi said 197 National Housing Fund (NHF) mortgage applications valued at about N8.3 billion were being packaged for submission to FMBN by City Code Mortgage Bank Limited.

He disclosed that FMBN had provided a N100 billion off-take guarantee for the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme, commencing with the Karsana project, in addition to N19.9 billion in direct funding.

Osidi said the interventions were designed to give developers greater certainty, facilitate construction financing and enable eligible workers to access completed houses through sustainable mortgage financing.

He also disclosed that FMBN would soon roll out a Rent-to-Own product for eligible civil servants, while the bank had already launched a Diaspora Mortgage Loan.

He added that FMBN had signed a memorandum of understanding for a N10 billion housing loan scheme for Federal Civil Servants.

Meanwhile, Abdullahi Auta, the President of the Authority Staff Cooperative Society, disclosed that more than 1,000 NMDPRA staff had applied for the housing initiative, but about 430 had so far been accommodated.

Auta appealed for continued support to enable more staff awaiting allocation to benefit from the scheme.

Dare Makinde, Chief Commercial Officer, Renewed Hope SPV Limited, said in the first phase, Abuja accounted for 365 units, comprising two-bedroom flats, three-bedroom flats and three-bedroom terrace duplexes with boys’ quarters.

According to Makinde, Kano has 14 units comprising three-bedroom and four-bedroom bungalows, fully detached houses and three-bedroom terrace duplexes with boys’ quarters.

He said Lagos had 56 units comprising two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments with boys’ quarters, pointing out that a second phase of the project would be delivered next year to accommodate some applicants who could not benefit from the first phase.

He said additional housing projects were also planned for Asaba, Enugu and Ibadan, and urged other public and private organisations to support housing schemes for their workers, saying rising rents made institutional support important in helping workers achieve home ownership.

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has called for the resignation of Monday Okpebholo, the Edo State Governor, over his reported justification of the rising pump price of petrol, accusing him of being insensitive to the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.

The party, in a statement issued on Sunday by Abubakar Yusuf, its National Publicity Secretary, rejected the current petrol price of over N1,500 per litre and described Okpebholo’s comparison of Nigeria’s fuel price with the cost of petrol in the United Kingdom as inappropriate.

The APM argued that comparing petrol prices in Nigeria with those in the UK without considering differences in wages, purchasing power and public infrastructure was misleading.

It said, ‘It is therefore reckless and irresponsible of Governor Okpebholo to state that Nigerians should not complain about the N1,500 per litre cost of fuel in the country because it is cheaper than an average N3,000 per litre cost in the United Kingdom, without taking into consideration the per capita income and purchasing power of an average Nigerian in comparison to that of a British citizen.’

The party said the governor’s position was particularly insensitive given the disparity between the earnings of Nigerian workers and their counterparts in Britain.

According to the APM, ‘It is to say the least callous for a state governor to attempt to benchmark petrol price in Nigeria with that of the UK where the purchasing power of an average wage earner is over £2,636 (N4.6 million) monthly compared to the paltry N70,000 monthly minimum wage earned by their peers in Nigeria.’

It further contrasted the earnings of teachers in both countries, saying while an average Nigerian teacher earns about N70,000 or less monthly, a starting salary for a teacher in the UK could be about £2,839, which it put at approximately N4.9 million.

The party also cited differences in public transportation systems, arguing that the impact of fuel prices could not be assessed solely by comparing pump prices across countries.

‘While an average Nigerian wage earner is subjected to an informal, chaotic, heavily and expensive public transportation, the public transport system in the United Kingdom is structured, highly regulated, and heavily subsidized by the British government for the benefit of citizens,’ the statement said.

The APM said Okpebholo also failed to account for fuel prices in other oil-producing countries, citing Libya and Iran as examples.

‘What Governor Okpebholo failed to tell Nigerians is the fact that in other oil producing countries such as Libya and even Iran, which is presently at war, petrol is sold at an average of equivalent of N41 to N52 per liter,’ it said.

The party described the governor’s comparison with the UK as ‘completely irrational and highly provocative,’ warning that such comments could deepen public anger over the rising cost of living.

‘It is therefore completely irrational and highly provocative for APC Governor Okpebholo to attempt to compare the situation in the UK to that of Nigeria,’ the statement said.

The APM further expressed concern that the governor’s comment could be interpreted as an indication of further increases in petrol prices.

‘This is especially coming against the backdrop of public apprehension that the comment by the Edo State governor could be a test ground of the APC administration to justify a further increase in the pump price of petrol as part of the APC’s plot to inflict more hardship on Nigerians,’ the party alleged.

It also warned that continued increases in the price of petrol could worsen economic pressure on households and businesses.

The party said, ‘The APM strongly condemns the punishing increase in the pump price of fuel to over N1,500 per liter at a time Nigerians are eagerly expecting a reduction, describing it as a brutal assault on the citizens by Tinubu administration.’

It added that the increase was coming at a time when Nigerians were already struggling with the effects of high living costs.

‘The increase at this time is a huge recipe for crisis as Nigerians are already overburdened and cannot bear its suffocating effect on their lives,’ the statement said.

The APM consequently demanded Okpebholo’s resignation, saying his comments did not reflect the economic realities confronting ordinary Nigerians.

The party, however, urged Nigerians not to lose hope, linking the hardship to the 2027 presidential election.

It said the election would provide an opportunity for Nigerians to choose what it described as ‘a humane, transparent, people-based and efficient leadership,’ embodied in its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde.

‘Under a Makinde/Daura Presidency and our Reset Agenda, the interest and wellbeing of all Nigerians will be the top priority of government,’ the party said.

The APM added, ‘Nigerians do not deserve this level of intolerable suffering that the APC-led administration has subjected them to given the enormous resources at the disposal of the government.’

It urged Nigerians to remain committed to what it described as a new political beginning under the APM ahead of the 2027 elections.