Category: Daily Trust

Gunmen on Sunday night killed a former councillor, Daniel Danjuma Chong, during an attack on Rim village in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Sources said the deceased was a former councillor representing Rim Ward in the local government area.

The spokesperson of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers invaded the village at about 10:45pm.

Narrating the incident, Tengwong said: ‘The Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), under the leadership of its National President, Barr. Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, is saddened by another round of last night’s terror attack that claimed the life of a former legislator in Riyom Local Government Area, and we condemn it in its entirety.

‘According to local sources in Torok, Rim community, Riyom Local Government Area, Hon. Daniel Danjuma Chong, popularly known as Hon. Star, a former councillor representing Rim Ward, was shot dead by suspected armed bandits and their collaborators who invaded the village at about 10:45pm on August 2, 2026.’

The group further alleged that the attackers, who reportedly came from Kess, popularly known as Bangai-Fulani, invaded the community and opened fire indiscriminately before fleeing.

While condoling with the family of the deceased and the people of Torok community, the group called on security agencies and the Plateau State Government to ensure the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice.

It described the continued killing of innocent citizens as unacceptable, insisting that those responsible must be held accountable.

The spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alabo Alfred, had yet to respond to enquiries from our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.

Standard Chartered has reported a record financial performance for the first half of 2026, driven by strong growth in its Wealth Solutions and Global Banking businesses, while raising its income outlook for the full year.

The international banking group recorded operating income of $11.6 billion, its highest ever for the first half, while profit before tax increased 9% to $4.8 billion. Earnings per share also rose 17%, reflecting sustained business momentum across its international markets.

Group Chief Executive, Bill Winters, attributed the performance to the bank’s diversified international network and consistent execution of its strategy.

‘We delivered a record first-half performance in 2026, with double-digit growth in Wealth Solutions and Global Banking. Our performance demonstrates the strength of our differentiated international network and the disciplined execution of our strategy. Clients continue to turn to us to facilitate trade, investment and wealth flows across the world’s most dynamic markets,’ he said.

Winters added that the bank’s improved earnings outlook and a new $1 billion share buyback programme demonstrate confidence in its growth prospects.

Group Chief Financial Officer, Manus Costello, said the bank remains focused on delivering sustainable long-term growth through continued investment in its operations.

‘We are continuing to invest in building a simpler, faster and more connected bank while remaining disciplined on costs and capital. These strengths give us confidence in our ability to deliver exceptional growth and sustainably higher returns,’ he said.

Standard Chartered maintained a strong capital position during the period, reporting a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 14.2%.

The Board also approved an interim dividend of 20.4 cents per share, representing a 66% increase compared with the same period last year.

Following the strong first-half results, the bank upgraded its guidance for 2026 and now expects operating income growth to be around the middle of its 5-7% target range at constant currency.

The lender said the improved outlook reflects continued momentum across its businesses and confidence in delivering sustainable earnings growth over the remainder of the year.

The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has announced plans to develop a National Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Framework aimed at strengthening project delivery, improving accountability and creating employment opportunities for Nigerians.

The Registrar of the institute’s Membership Arm, Hajiya Hajira Yusuf, disclosed this on Monday at the National Health, Safety and Environment Conference 2026 organised by the institute in collaboration with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).

She said the initiative would provide a coordinated approach to implementing HSE standards across sectors while addressing Nigeria’s peculiar challenges in project execution and infrastructure management.

According to Yusuf, the conference marks the beginning of a broader stakeholder engagement that will culminate in the development of a framework capable of improving safety practices and professional accountability nationwide.

‘We are using this conference as a starting point. We are bringing stakeholders together because health, safety and environment have become indispensable to sustainable development. Our goal is to develop a national framework that reflects Nigeria’s realities and helps close existing gaps,’ she said.

She explained that the institute’s membership arm was established following the Federal Government’s restructuring of CIPMN in 2022, which separated its regulatory and membership responsibilities. The membership arm commenced operations in January 2026 with a mandate to promote members’ welfare, continuous professional development and capacity building.

Yusuf said one of the biggest obstacles to effective project delivery in Nigeria is the absence of clearly defined responsibility after projects are completed.

She noted that although architects, engineers and quantity surveyors perform their individual responsibilities during project execution, there is often no designated professional responsible for ensuring the long-term sustainability and safety of completed projects.

According to her, the same accountability gap exists in workplace safety, where organisations frequently neglect the role of qualified safety officers despite existing legal provisions.

‘I may be bold enough to say that Nigeria’s problem is not necessarily corruption alone. The major issue is the gap in our systems and processes. We have laws, but implementation remains weak because responsibility is not clearly assigned.

She observed that while many graduates continue searching for government jobs, opportunities exist in health, safety and environmental management across construction, manufacturing, aviation, oil and gas, transportation and other sectors.

‘The jobs are there. What we need are trained and certified professionals who can fill those gaps. Through conferences like this, we want to educate Nigerians and encourage them to embrace safety as a viable professional career,’ she said.

She added that CIPMN would continue to organise training programmes and certification courses to prepare professionals for the growing demand for project and safety managers.

Earlier in her welcome address, Yusuf described the conference as a national call to action, saying no development project should be regarded as successful if it compromises human lives or damages the environment.

She said health, safety and environmental considerations should be incorporated into every phase of project delivery, from conception and design to procurement, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

In his goodwill message, the Director-General and Chief Executive of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Dr. Danjuma Ismaila Adamu, represented at the event, said aviation remains one of the world’s safest industries because of its uncompromising adherence to safety regulations.

He said integrating HSE principles into project management has become increasingly important as Nigeria expands investments in aviation infrastructure and other critical sectors.

Adamu said NCAT has continued to receive international recognition, including maintaining the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Training Centre of Excellence Platinum Status for six consecutive years and emerging as the leading trainer of aviation professionals in West and Central Africa.

Delivering the keynote lecture, United Kingdom-based safety consultant and former police officer, Dr Paschal Oribhabor, challenged participants to move beyond theoretical discussions and embrace practical safety implementation.

He maintained that effective safety management requires committed leadership, regular inspections, risk assessments, audits and strict enforcement of standards.

According to him, ‘good safety is good business,’ adding that organisations that invest in safety reduce accidents, save costs and improve productivity.

Gunmen on Tuesday reportedly ambushed a joint security patrol along the Ganawuri -Sabon Gida road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing two security operatives and carting away their rifles.

Security sources told our correspondent that the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, when four operatives drawn from two security locations mounted a roadblock along the route.

The sources said the team was returning to their respective duty posts after the operation, when two of the personnel failed to return, prompting an immediate search by their colleagues.

According to the sources, the bodies of the two operatives were later recovered at the scene of the attack, while their service rifles were missing.

The motorcycle used by the operatives was, however, recovered.

Following the incident, security personnel launched cordon-and-search operations in the surrounding communities as part of efforts to track down the attackers and recover the stolen weapons.

As of the time of filing this report, the identities of the slain operatives had not been officially confirmed

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alfred Alabo, and the Media Information Officer of Operation Enduring Peace, Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, were unsuccessful as inquiries from our correspondent were not responded as of press time.

The Bayelsa State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has asked the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to review procurement practices in the oil and gas industry to ensure continued opportunities for indigenous businesses and host communities.

In a petition dated August 3, 2026, the council urged the board to examine recent procurement arrangements and assess their implications for Nigerian Content participation, employment and investments by local companies.

The NYCN said its intervention was aimed at ensuring that procurement practices remained consistent with the objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act.

‘We therefore urge the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to exercise its statutory oversight powers by urgently investigating these concerns and taking appropriate corrective action where necessary,’ the petition said.

The council particularly sought a review of the increasing use of the Free Carrier (FCA) procurement arrangement, expressing concern about its possible impact on indigenous companies operating within the oil and gas supply chain.

According to the group, Nigerian businesses have invested significantly in pipe coating facilities, warehousing, logistics, fabrication and other services following opportunities created by the Nigerian Content framework.

‘Over the years, indigenous investors have committed substantial capital towards establishing pipe coating facilities, warehousing infrastructure, logistics operations, fabrication yards, and other value-adding services encouraged by the Local Content framework,’ it said.

The NYCN asked the NCDMB to assess whether changes in procurement arrangements could reduce opportunities for Nigerian suppliers, logistics operators, clearing and forwarding companies and other local service providers.

It also urged the board to examine the practice of handling some procurement functions outside the country and determine its implications for local employment and capacity development.

‘Nigeria possesses a large pool of experienced procurement professionals with the competence to perform these functions locally,’ the council said.

The group further called for continued regulatory oversight of procurement orders, contract awards and the participation of qualified host-community and Nigerian Content companies.

It said indigenous businesses that had invested in infrastructure and capacity should continue to have opportunities to participate meaningfully in the industry.

The council therefore urged the NCDMB to review relevant procurement models and ensure that industry practices support indigenous manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, employment and other value-adding activities.

It also called for greater engagement among regulators, operators, indigenous businesses and host communities in addressing concerns arising from procurement policies.

‘The National Youth Council of Nigeria, Bayelsa State Chapter, remains committed to constructive engagement and peaceful dialogue,’ the petition said.

The council expressed confidence that the NCDMB would consider the issues raised and take steps it considered appropriate to protect Nigerian Content objectives and encourage sustainable participation by indigenous businesses.

Nigeria’s whistleblower policy requires a stronger legislative framework to become an effective tool in the fight against corruption, analysts have said, noting that the current policy lacks legal backing despite being in operation since 2016.

The whistleblower policy, introduced by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, remains an administrative measure as Nigeria is yet to enact a comprehensive whistleblower protection law. Although several bills have been introduced over the years, none has been signed into law.

The latest legislative effort gained momentum in July 2026 when the Senate passed the second reading of a bill to repeal and re-enact the Public Complaints Commission Act. Sponsored by Senator Neda Imasuen, the bill proposes a Public Interest Disclosure and Whistleblower Protection Framework covering both the public and private sectors. However, it is yet to be enacted.

Lead Advisor at AMETHYST and ASHLAR Advisory, Adegboyega Adebajo, said Nigeria should enact a dedicated Whistleblower Protection Act with explicit anti-retaliation provisions, guaranteed anonymity and enforceable remedies, including reinstatement, compensation and damages for victims of retaliation.

He also recommended establishing an independent whistleblower office or granting the Public Complaints Commission statutory independence to receive reports, coordinate protection, provide legal support and monitor cases. According to him, the government should improve transparency by publishing anonymised data on reports received, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and cases of retaliation.

Economist Aliyu Audu said the whistleblower policy has fallen short of expectations because many whistleblowers have suffered victimisation after exposing wrongdoing.

‘The policy was designed to encourage people to report corruption, but people are discouraged when whistleblowers become victims of the information they disclose,’ he said.

Audu called for stronger legal protections, effective prosecution of offenders and incentives for whistleblowers, arguing that a law-backed framework would improve accountability across sectors such as oil, power and healthcare.

He noted that countries such as Singapore and China have strengthened governance through strict enforcement of anti-corruption laws and urged Nigeria to adopt a similar approach.

Civil society advocate Ageneboye Victor said corruption remains widespread in both the public and private sectors, suggesting that the whistleblower policy has not significantly reduced the problem.

Policy analyst Hamman Bello Barkindo, however, argued that legislation alone would not solve the problem.

According to him, the real challenge is implementation and leadership.

‘We already know what is right and wrong. The problem is not the absence of policies but the failure to implement them. Leaders must provide effective governance and ensure the government truly serves the people,’ he said.

As the clouds of campaign thicken on the electoral horizon ahead of 2027, there has erupted, once again, a volley of verbal pyrotechnics between the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential flag-bearer of the African Democratic Congress (APC).

The last time this ugly scenario was witnessed was in the build-up to the 2023 general elections, where these self-same political actors regaled Nigerians with the spectacle of washing their dirty linens in public glare. Now, like then, they have thrown caution and statesmanlike conduct to the wind and trained their guns on each other’s jugular for a fight to the finish.

The contending issue at stake between these political gladiators is the cross-allegations that either has a criminal case to answer in the United States of America, and that, so long as that case has not been answered, such a person is a fugitive of justice and has been permanently on the run, afraid of setting foot in America.

In specific terms, Atiku has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has criminal cases in the US involving forgery and an asset forfeiture case to the tune of $460,000 linked to a narcotics investigation. In response, Tinubu has also alleged that Atiku and his former wife, Jennifer Douglas, were involved in the William Jefferson bribery scandal, which was the subject of a legislative investigation by the US Senate.

To undo and bolster each other’s electoral chances in the 2027 elections, both parties have taken their campaigns to the international political arena, especially to America, aggressively demarketing each other’s electoral value and political credentials in equal measure, and further calling for American intervention. By every conceivable parameter and measure, this political behaviour is not only awful, but also below the dignity, honour and integrity of these political actors, and leaves much to be desired. To whom much is given, much is expected.

Beyond the smear to their personalities, these brickbats have corrosive implications for Nigeria’s external image. Nigeria’s external image has been battered by a plethora of issues that have left negative scars on its psyche and corporate identity. Holders of the green passport are globally held in suspicion and derision. A period of presidential campaigns is an auspicious occasion for contestants to come up with blueprints on how to salvage Nigeria’s image crisis and lay out foreign policy strategies to restore her continental leadership in Africa and enhance her global respectability. Anything short of this is a distraction and should be discarded.

Besides, the internationalisation of our domestic issues and outright calls for external intervention and assistance, such a conduct gestures to a loss of sovereign agency and a hunger for imperial mentorship. It is a shorthand expression and of telling the world that Nigerians are incapable of governing themselves. For a country which is globally renowned for its historical contributions to anti-colonialism, anti-imperialism, pan-Africanism, and whose people are celebrated for their sheer brilliance, intellectual capital and innovation, such an expression is damning in multiple proportions, to say the least.

We call on these presidential standard-bearers to be presidential in conduct and character as they mobilise Nigerians ahead of the 2027 elections. They should draw a rigid boundary between personal interests and national interests and always be guided that the latter supersedes the former in all material importance and gravity. They should know how to fight their political wars without destroying the fabric of Nigeria.

Nigeria is currently experiencing the pangs of a development crisis. It is bedraggled in her march to greatness by issues such as economic backwardness, agricultural decay, industrial stagnation, technological underdevelopment, corruption, poverty, social disorder, rural banditry and terrorism. These issues are weighty enough to preoccupy the intellectual exertion of any presidential candidate with the view of developing radically sustainable approaches and policy measures to address them. These development issues are worthwhile grist in the ideological and campaign mills of candidates and, as such, should be given profound, sober reflection and introspection rather than chasing after frivolities.

Elections period in any democracy are almost always the best of times for the citizens. They revalidate civic agency by giving citizens ample opportunities to sift and sieve through public policy frameworks and measures that, and on the basis of this, make informed choices that, if implemented, would enhance the organic health of the social contract. The forthcoming elections in Nigeria should be framed in this theoretical and philosophical trajectory. Citizens should be presented with manifestos on issues that touch on their objective material conditions and well-being. Anything short of promoting these ideals and values as we journey to 2027 is tantamount to shortchanging the citizenry, and should be outrightly rejected.

We at Daily Trust call on these key political actors in the 2027 elections to sheathe their swords. To set aside their personality differences and squabbles, allow national interests to take preeminence in their orientation and conduct, and above all else, concentrate their creative energies and resources towards the creation of an electoral ecology that is conducive for all citizens to actively participate in the democratic process without let or hindrance. This is the surest way to have a peaceful election in 2027, consolidate our democracy, and promote sustainable national development.

The Lagos State Police Command has intercepted a truckload of suspected counterfeit pharmaceutical products and arrested two suspects in a major operation targeting the illegal drug trade.

Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai said operatives acted on credible intelligence to intercept the truck at No. 7 Cosway Street in the Otto area of Lagos.

Fatai disclosed that preliminary investigations indicate the consignment was bound for several northern states, with part of it allegedly intended for distribution to neighbouring countries.

The Lagos State Police boss said the seizure prevented the suspected fake medicines from entering the market, warning that counterfeit drugs pose a serious threat to public health.

He added that investigations were ongoing to identify those behind the shipment.

‘The suspects and the recovered products have been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which has statutory responsibility for investigating counterfeit drug offences’ he said.

NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr Martins Iluyomade, described the seizure as a significant breakthrough, saying similar products previously analysed by the agency contained little or no active pharmaceutical ingredients.

He warned that counterfeit medicines contribute to treatment failures and preventable deaths, describing those behind the trade as a grave threat to public health.

Dr Iluyomade said the agency would conduct laboratory tests on the seized products while expanding investigations to identify and prosecute everyone involved in the supply chain.

The police urged the public to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and report suspected counterfeit drugs to the appropriate authorities.

The Senate Public Accounts Committee’s investigation into the 2021-2023 oil and gas audit reports conducted by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) stalled on Monday following the non-appearance of key government agencies.

Top revenue and regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), failed to attend the opening of the three-week public hearing.

Notably, even representatives from NEITI, the author of the audit reports, were absent.

The public hearing, chaired by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe), was convened to scrutinize findings from NEITI’s recent reports alongside executive management teams from affected agencies.

Faced with an empty gallery, the committee issued a firm summons directing the management of the three defaulted agencies to appear without fail on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

Dankwambo warned that failure to honour the rescheduled appearance would trigger severe legal sanctions as empowered by the 1999 Constitution and Senate Standing Orders.

Our correspondent reports that despite the setback, the committee is proceeding with its scheduled hearing today, where officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) are expected to appear.

Electricity Generation Companies have reported a loss of N110.56bn in the first half of 2026 to stranded electricity, Daily Trust can report.

Our correspondent reports that stranded electricity is generated electricity or power capacity that cannot be delivered, sold, or used due to a lack of transmission lines, remote geographic locations, or low local demand.

In a document, the GenCos said the grid lost an average of 3,124.50 megawatt of electricity that could not be utilised due to the inefficiency of the national grid.

A breakdown showed that 2,985MW was stranded in the month of January leading to a loss of N18.10bn while 3,274MW was stranded in February, resulting in N17.93bn loss.

In March 3,650MW of electricity could not be evacuated and it cost the GenCos N22.13bn in revenue while 3,193MW was stranded in April leading to N18.74bn loss.

For May, the electricity not utilized was 2,710MW with a cost of N16.43bn which increased to 2,935MW in June and cost N17.22bn.

…TCN defends self

Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has denied claims that it is responsible for the loss of electricity supply, insisting that data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) showed generation shortfalls, not grid limitations, remain the biggest obstacle to improved power supply.

In a statement, TCN challenged recent claims by the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), that more than 2,500 megawatts of electricity are stranded daily because the national grid can only wheel about 4,500MW despite an installed generation capacity exceeding 15,500MW.

Describing the narrative as inconsistent with NERC’s audited First Quarter 2026 report, TCN argued that the regulator’s own data shows Generation Companies (GenCos) declared an average available generation capacity of only 4,457.96MW during the period, virtually the same figure APGC described as the grid’s transmission limit.

According to TCN, the NERC report also puts the combined installed capacity of the 28 grid-connected power plants at 13,625MW, well below the over 15,500MW cited by APGC.

The company maintained that its verified transmission wheeling capacity currently stands at 8,700MW following extensive investments in transmission infrastructure, including transformers, substations and transmission lines.

It said the network had already demonstrated its capability by successfully transmitting a historic peak generation of 5,801.84MW on March 4, 2025, alongside a record daily energy delivery of 128,370.75MWh.

TCN further pointed to NERC’s Plant Availability Factor, which stood at just 32.72 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, indicating that more than two-thirds of installed generation capacity was unavailable for dispatch because of gas shortages, maintenance outages and mechanical faults at power stations.

…Why stranded electricity will remain – Expert

Speaking with Daily Trust, the President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo said the issue of stranded capacity has been an issue since the privatisation era in 2013.

He said there is no clarity on who pays for it between the GenCos or the consumers.

He said stranded generation will continue if the grid is not strengthened to meet capacity of generation and DisCos stopped from rejecting load.

‘The situation will persist with grid constraints when generation is readily available and the other parties are not ready to pick,’ he said.