Category: Daily Trust

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved salary increment of between 30 and 80 per cent for personnel of Nigerian armed forces.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

According to him, about 250,000 personnel are set to benefit from the new deal.

The President said under the new arrangement, which takes effect from September 1, officers above the rank of colonel will enjoy a 30 per cent salary increase.

‘This applies to Brigadier-Generals, Major-Generals, Lieutenant Generals and Generals.

‘Personnel from colonel down to warrant officer will have a 50 per cent increase, while Private to Staff Sergeant will have an 80 per cent increase.’

The statement said the pay package will increase from the yearly wage bill of N660 billion to N924 billion.

Onanuga said President Tinubu had always praised the courage and sacrifices of members of the armed forces as they confront the scourge of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism in some parts of the country.

‘The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated in the course of their duties to our nation.

‘Our administration will continue to prioritise troop welfare and modernise the armed forces by providing the weapons and technological tools needed to discharge their duties.

‘Our administration believes that no nation can achieve greatness without security. We therefore remain resolute in mobilising all military and law enforcement assets to eliminate security threats and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians

‘I urge our servicemen to take our gesture as a sign of our deep appreciation of the services they render to our fatherland. Together we shall prevail over the enemies intent on destroying the fabric of our nation.’

Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, is passionately pushing a President Tinubu agenda on national security. On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Matawalle, was in Kaduna to inaugurate the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Institute of Technology. The trip was without fanfare but it was loud on implications for President Tinubu’s iron-cast resolve to fight and overawe insecurity in the country.

It bears restating that Matawalle, a ardent ally of President Tinubu, has been very active in promoting the Tinubu government. He has been discreet in strategy as the government rallies to tame the bogey of insecurity.

For context, the institute was established as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to achieve self-reliance in defence production through the building and sustenance of a viable military industrial complex within the country. The institute will not only provide the requisite technical expertise for the design, development and sustenance of platforms and systems critical for the security of the nation, it will significantly reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign sources for critical defence capabilities including technical capacities and relevant 21st century skill sets for the nation’s security personnel.

For decades, Nigeria has relied on foreign technical and technological assistance to defend its territorial integrity and ensure internal security for the citizenry. This has obvious implications on the sovereignty of the nation. It has also over the years put enormous pressure on the naira as all the imported arms and ammunition including high-end military hardware and training of security personnel overseas are procured with forex. The establishment of the institute, therefore, is not only a landmark but a paradigm shift for the nation’s indigenous defence industrial base especially in the area of capacity building and professional counterterrorism training.

In modern warfare, possession of defence infrastructure is no longer enough. Strategy and intelligence innovation have become inevitable resources to place a nation at the cutting edge of any war or security threat. Without strategic thinking, communication cum surveillance gadgets, and innovative positioning, the physical defence infrastructure could become articles for decoration. The operators of such physical defence infrastructure, if they lack the requisite knowhow on how to handle the military hardware, may consistently strike amiss resulting in waste of personnel and money. This is why critical skills set and strategy have become strong combinations in modern warfare.

This is the essence of DICON and its Institute: To produce not only defence infrastructure including guns and drones and all, but also to mint the right manpower drilled in the foundry of operational efficiency and strategy. It is called specialized security training in counterterrorism lingo. It means to not only equip but also to train your security personnel in the art and craft of counterinsurgency operations, bomb disposal techniques, hostage rescue stunts, and crisis/conflict management. These are some of the capacities to be built into Nigerian security personnel and others in the Institute.

Th DICON institute is inaugurated with the full awareness that counter-terrorism does not consist only in military-style kinetics of physical offensive and violent efforts to exterminate the opponent, it also involves non-kinetic approaches including enlightenment and re-orientation of the terrorists to wean them of terror traits and evil behavioural patterns. Other non-kinetics methods include financial squeeze and deliberate blockade of the financial sources of the terrorists and in some cases cyber weakening of the terrorists’ camp through cyber-attacks and other tech-driven techniques that shuts down their ability to communicate and engage effectively in electronic transactions.

Matawalle is confident that the Institute will provide extra layer of intelligence reconnaissance for the Nigerian military. Before the inauguration of the institute, DICON itself has been involved in the production of small arms from pistols to rifles. Other DICON products include a range of ammunition, Amoured personnel carriers (APC), built-for-purpose tactical military vehicles, ballistic vests and sundry protective garments. It is a growing list and a clear attestation to the engineering proficiency of the nation’s military personnel.

Earlier this year, UNICCON Group, a software and AI tech-savvy company, and DICON Venture partnered with DICON to launch AI-powered kamikaze drones and anti-drone detection systems. Spurred by the DICON Act 2023, the corporation has partnered with several private equities to boost local manufacture of defence hardware. Credit to President Tinubu for signing the Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Act 2023 which marked a remarkable shift in the corporation’s profile and has continued to attract investments through partnerships from the private sector. The Act was the end-product of a bill sponsored by Hon. Babajimi Benson, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Ever since, DICON has assumed a more respectable status. It has partnerships with SP Offshore Nigeria Limited, an ambitious $2 billion deal for the manufacture of arms, drones, and fast assault craft; Terra Industries for high-tech surveillance, robotics, and cybersecurity; and the EIB Group for unmanned aerial systems and other digital defence offerings.

DICON has also partnered with a couple of other private equities to shore up its capacity and capability in the production of defence tools for the good and safety of the nation. The inauguration of the institute is therefore a milestone for the corporation. The import is that the institute will not only serve as training hub for military personnel, it will be the brain-box of DICON in the areas of research and development, strategic thinking, and value addition to the nation’s defence ecosystem.

Matawalle commended the leadership of DICON under its Director-General, Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya, for birthing the institute which aligns with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu. While thanking the president for accenting to the Bill, Matawalle heaped praises on DICON Board, its management and staff for their commitment and sacrifices toward repositioning the corporation.

The minister said the institute will serve as a vehicle for driving the innovation required for the development of defence-related and civil manufacturing sectors in Nigeria. A key message from the minister to DICON leadership is to partner with industry and the academia to drive innovation that would transform DICON to a hub where ideas are transformed into products and technologies that will serve the best interests of Nigeria. He pledged government’s support, enabling environment, policy direction and resources that would enable DICON and the institute to fulfil their mandates.

Under Tinubu, the entire defence apparatchik has acquired more fire power and international recognition and synergy especially with the United States, France and Turkey. With the new drive and determination from DICON and its institute, the war against terror just got a booster shot. Thanks to Matawalle and other stakeholders in the defence sector, hope is rising among Nigerians that the days of enemies of the nation – terrorists, kidnappers and their ilk – are numbered.

· Okude, a public policy strategist, writes from Abuja

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, has accused the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke of failing to translate increased federal allocations into meaningful development.

Speaking during a media parley in Lagos on Monday, Oyebamiji, who was Commissioner for Finance in the state, said the last Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation received by the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola was about N2.6 billion, compared to an average monthly allocation of about N16 billion under the current administration.

‘The last allocation received by the APC administration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola from the Federation Account Allocation Committee stood at approximately N2.6 billion. Today, the average monthly allocation to the state is about N16 billion without commensurate value to the state and its citizens,’ he said.

He further alleged that some infrastructure projects executed by the current administration were awarded ‘secretly to incompetent contractors,’ with several of the projects allegedly failing before they were commissioned.

The APC flag bearer also raised concerns over political violence in the state ahead of the August 15 governorship election, alleging that more than 25 members of his party were killed during the 2022 governorship poll.

‘I have been a victim of the persistent political violence in Osun State. During the 2022 governorship election, more than 25 members of our party were allegedly murdered by members of the political party in power in Osun. In my own local government area, the Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Honourable Remi Abass, was killed within the council secretariat. Our party has also documented several other politically motivated attacks and killings, for which we continue to seek justice through the courts.

‘Therefore, the ongoing political violence in the state has all the signs of the government in power on it,’ he alleged.

He added that some of the alleged murder cases are currently being prosecuted before the Federal High Court.

Oyebamiji, who was flanked by the Director-General of his campaign council, Wole Oke; Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee, Remi Omowaiye; and Co-Chairman, Funke Egbemode, also unveiled his 100-day agenda, promising to prioritise workers’ welfare, youth empowerment, security, infrastructure development and fiscal reforms if elected.

He said his administration would undertake a comprehensive review of outstanding entitlements owed to serving and retired workers and begin immediate payment within its first 100 days in office.

‘Within our first 100 days in office, we will undertake a comprehensive review of all outstanding entitlements owed to active and retired workers and commence immediate payment,’ he said.

The APC candidate also pledged to make the Dagbolu Dry Port fully operational, describing it as a strategic economic asset capable of attracting investment and creating jobs.

‘We are equally committed to ensuring that the Dagbolu Dry Port becomes fully operational,’ he said.

On youth development, Oyebamiji said his administration would partner relevant organisations to train and empower at least 10,000 young people in information and communication technology.

‘Through strategic partnerships, we will commence the training and empowerment of no fewer than 10,000 young people in information and communication technology,’ he said.

He also promised to strengthen security through monthly meetings of the State Security Council involving security agencies, traditional rulers and local government leaders, launch pilot renewable energy projects in public institutions and rural communities, review the state’s financial position, and carry out a statewide infrastructure audit to identify priority economic roads and other critical infrastructure requiring government intervention.

Oyebamiji said his campaign is anchored on a seven-point ‘Prosperity Agenda’ focusing on poverty alleviation, responsive governance, economic growth, security, agriculture, education and healthcare, as well as infrastructure development.

The Katsina State Government has concluded arrangements to disburse N4 billion in community grants across its 361 political wards to support the rehabilitation of public infrastructure and other priority development projects.

The State Coordinator of the Community Development Programme (CDP), Dr Kamaluddeen Kabir, disclosed this on Monday while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing 2027 pre-budget defence organised by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

Kabir said the programme was awaiting Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s approval before the release of the funds, adding that each ward would receive N10 million to execute projects identified by community members.

‘We are only waiting for the approval of His Excellency before commencing the disbursement. Each of the 361 wards will receive N10 million for immediate utilisation on priority projects identified by the communities,’ he said.

He said the intervention was designed to empower communities to tackle pressing infrastructure challenges, particularly the rehabilitation of dilapidated public facilities.

Kabir recalled that the state government disbursed N5 billion under the programme last year and said another N5 billion had been proposed in the 2027 budget to sustain the initiative.

‘Last year, we disbursed N5 billion to communities across the state. We have also proposed the same amount in the 2027 budget to sustain the programme and expand grassroots development,’ he said.

He explained that the grants were jointly funded by the state government and the 34 local government councils, adding that communities that demonstrated transparency and effective utilisation of previous allocations could receive additional incentives.

‘We disburse N10 million to each community. However, additional funds are approved for the best-performing communities, subject to the governor’s approval,’ he said.

Kabir urged community leaders to ensure prudent management of the funds, warning that any community found diverting the grants would face sanctions.

‘We will not hesitate to sanction any community that diverts the funds from their intended purpose. These resources belong to the people and must be used strictly for community development,’ he warned.

He also urged communities to monitor projects proposed for inclusion in the 2027 budget to ensure they are implemented by the relevant ministries, departments and agencies.

‘It is not enough to submit requests during the budget process. Communities should also monitor implementation to ensure that approved projects are executed as planned,’ he added.

The Community Development Programme is one of the Katsina State Government’s flagship grassroots initiatives aimed at promoting community participation in governance by enabling residents to identify, implement and monitor development projects at the ward level while complementing government infrastructure investments across the state.

The Federal Government has commenced training for 4,000 tractor operators as part of its nationwide agricultural mechanisation project, with private-sector technical partner AGCOMS International Trading Limited playing a key role.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, with the National Agricultural Development Fund, AGCOMS International, and the Industrial Training Fund, launched a nationwide training programme to transform agriculture, boost food security, and create opportunities for young Nigerians.

The first group of 250 trainees began their intensive two-week residential training at CSS Farms in Nasarawa State on Monday. This inaugural batch is the first of 4,000 participants nationwide who will be trained to operate and maintain advanced John Deere tractors and other agricultural machinery.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the initiative as a tangible manifestation of the government’s dedication to food security.

He emphasised that the training programme directly reflects the Federal Government’s resolve to empower Nigerian farmers to take control of the nation’s food security. According to him, the provision of two thousand tractors constitutes a significant national investment, which, when coupled with the training of four thousand skilled operators, transforms this investment into a bountiful harvest.

Tractor safety, machine operations, hydraulics, field applications, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and equipment management are all covered in the comprehensive curriculum, which was created in collaboration between AGCOMS, NADF, and ITF.

Each trainee will receive a thorough John Deere operator’s manual created especially for the program, and participants who complete the programme will obtain jointly issued AGCOMS-ITF-NADF Certificates of Completion.

The Managing Director and CEO of AGCOMS International Trading Limited, Chijioke Okoli, discussed the company’s role in converting the Federal Government’s mechanisation vision into workable results.

‘At AGCOMS, we know that the value of a tractor is created by the person in the seat. Every new operator can become a professional with our training program. Delivering this with FMARD, NADF, and the ITF is an honour for us,’ he said.

The programme also showcases the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging public-private partnerships to accelerate agricultural transformation. While FMARD provides overall policy leadership and NADF drives implementation of the mechanisation project, AGCOMS serves as the programme’s private-sector technical and operational partner, bringing global equipment expertise, operator training capability and after-sales support.

On his part, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Engr. Mohammed Abu Ibrahim described the exercise as another important milestone in implementing the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda: ‘Every operator who completes this programme will step onto their tractor with the confidence, the skill, and the safety discipline that the equipment deserves. NADF is proud to see this milestone delivered on time and in partnership with credible institutions.’

The training programme demonstrates how strategic collaboration between government and the private sector can accelerate the delivery of national priorities. By combining FMARD’s policy leadership, NADF’s implementation mandate, AGCOMS’ technical and operational expertise and ITF’s nationally recognised training capability, the initiative is laying the human capital foundation for a modern, mechanised agricultural sector.

As implementation gathers momentum, the programme is expected to advance President Tinubu’s vision of increased food production, greater rural prosperity, expanded employment opportunities for young Nigerians and lasting national food security under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The family of a Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza, who was kidnapped from his residence, has confirmed paying N50 million ransom to secure his release.

Justice Bunza was abducted in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, when heavily armed bandits stormed his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The incident was the second abduction of a serving judge in the country in recent times, after the abduction of a Bayelsa State high court judge, Ebiyerin Umokoro, in June 2025.

Justice Bunza regained his freedom on Monday after spending eight days in captivity.

His release was confirmed by the Kebbi State Police Command, his family and the state Ministry of Justice.

The police spokesperson in the state, Bashir Usman, said in a statement that the judge was released earlier on Monday and had reunited safely with his family.

‘With the judge now released, the police and other security agencies have intensified investigative efforts to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice,’ the statement said.

The command also appreciated members of the public and partner security agencies for their support during the operation.

It urged residents to continue providing confidential and actionable information that could assist security agencies in arresting the kidnappers.

A member of Justice Bunza’s family, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed that N50 million was paid to the abductors.

He said the judge was receiving attention and recovering at his residence in Bunza.

According to the family member, the kidnappers initially demanded N200 million but later agreed to accept N50 million after days of negotiations throughout the period the judge spent in captivity.

‘We are still attending to him at home since his release on Monday. As you know, he needs time to recover from the trauma he went through.

‘We will address the media when he has fully recovered, and we are ready to speak. We will then share details of his ordeal in the hands of his abductors. As for whether a ransom was paid, I can confirm that N50 million was paid,’ the source said.

The source also expressed appreciation to the Kebbi State government, security agencies, the state judiciary and residents of the state for their support, prayers and concern throughout the period of the judge’s abduction.

‘We are grateful to everyone who stood by us during this difficult period, especially the state government, the security agencies, the judiciary and all those who prayed for his safe return,’ he said.

Another family member, who spoke to the Hausa online platform, DCL Hausa, said the abductors, believed to be about five in number, received the ransom on Friday after directing the family to a location deep inside a forest, more than 70 kilometres from Birnin Kebbi.

According to the relative, the kidnappers made an unusual request shortly before the ransom was handed over.

‘While we were on our way to deliver the money, they called and asked us to bring five bottles of malt drinks and five bottles of Dudu drinks. They opened the drinks and consumed them in our presence before collecting the ransom,’ the source said.

The family said it received news of the judge’s release between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Monday.

‘We were informed of his release around 6 to 7 a.m. He was brought home in a commercial vehicle conveying firewood and dropped in front of the house,’ the family member said.

According to the source, the judge appeared to be in good health and showed no visible signs of any physical distress after regaining his freedom.

‘He is hale and hearty. There is nothing unusual about his physical appearance,’ the source added.

However, the police command said the judge abductors made a ransom demand, but it stood firmly against it.

‘Although the kidnappers made a ransom demand, the command maintains its firm stance against ransom payment,’ the police said.

How Justice Bunza was kidnapped

Gunmen on July 26 stormed the residence of the judge on Zogirma Road in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto.

The source said no one else in the house was injured, although the attackers fired several gunshots before abducting the judge.

A brother of the abducted judge, Malam Shehu Yusuf Bunza, in an earlier chat with Daily Trust, narrated how the incident happened.

Shehu said, ‘I was in Birnin Kebbi when one of his sons, Abdullahi, called me. He said about seven armed men followed his father as he was returning from Sokoto. As he drove into his compound and was getting out of his vehicle, they approached him.

‘They asked if he was Justice Faruku. He denied it, saying Faruku had gone to Birnin Kebbi, but they insisted they knew he was the person they were looking for.

‘He then asked them in Hausa, ‘Lafiya?’ They ordered him to keep quiet, but when he continued speaking, they brought out their guns and started shooting indiscriminately.

‘They asked him to take them to his rooms, but he refused, saying there were married women inside.

‘They also asked for one of his sons, Abdullahi, but he told them the boy had gone out. After that, they took him away on their motorcycles.’

The abduction sparked outrage across the state and drew condemnation from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which described the incident as a grave assault on the judiciary, the rule of law, and Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

NBA, in a statement by its outgoing President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said: ‘The NBA unequivocally condemns this reprehensible act in the strongest possible terms.

‘Judicial officers occupy a sacred position in our constitutional democracy and must be able to discharge their responsibilities without fear, intimidation, or threats to their lives and liberty.

‘The increasing audacity of criminal elements in targeting institutions and officials critical to the administration of justice poses a serious danger to public confidence in our justice system and underscores the urgent need for more effective security measures across the country.’

The NBA called for enhanced security arrangements for judicial officers across Nigeria.

‘Judges should not be left vulnerable to criminal attacks while carrying out the solemn constitutional duty of dispensing justice. Protecting members of the Bench is indispensable to preserving the independence, integrity, and effectiveness of the judiciary,’ the statement added.

Also, the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) condemned the abduction in a statement by its Chairperson, Justice Professor Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake.

The continental body described the incident as an attack on the fundamental values underpinning constitutional democracy.

Dingake said, ‘An attack on a serving judicial officer is a matter of the utmost gravity. Regardless of the motive behind this incident, the abduction of a judge strikes at values that lie at the heart of every constitutional democracy.’

He said the administration of justice depended on judges being able to perform their constitutional duties free from fear, intimidation, coercion or violence.

‘The safety and security of judicial officers are therefore indispensable to preserving judicial independence, maintaining public confidence in the justice system, and upholding the rule of law,’ he added.

Kebbi State has witnessed bandit attacks in recent years, although the violence has largely been concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the state.

Most of the worst-hit areas border forests in Niger, Zamfara and parts of Sokoto states, which armed groups use as hideouts.

One of the most notable incidents occurred in November 2025 when gunmen attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, killed the vice principal and abducted 25 schoolgirls. The students were later rescued.

Although Bunza LGA has not been one of Kebbi’s banditry hotspots, the abduction of Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza represents a significant escalation in the state’s security situation.

The continuation of trial of the Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, in the defamation charges brought against him by the Department of State Service (DSS) was stalled on Monday.

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika and Akinlolu Kehinde, engaged in a heated argument when the proceedings began.

Daily Trust reports that Sowore has been undergoing trial at a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cyberstalking against the President, Bola Tinubu.

At the Monday’s proceedings, a heated argument ensued when the lead counsel to Sowore, Olumide-Fusika, applied for an adjournment of proceedings on the ground that the document he needed for the day had just been released to him by the Court registrar.

He sought an adjournment to enable him to study the documents and prepare for cross examination of his next witness, who is an official of the DSS.

DSS lawyer, Akinlolu, opposed the adjournment application, describing it as a dilatory tactic to further delay proceedings in the trial, arguing that the Judge should foreclose the defence of Sowore.

Angered by the response of the DSS lawyer, Olumide-Fusika kicked against the use of dilatory tactics against him and, furiously, said he was no longer ready to take nonsense from the DSS lawyer.

Following the heated argument and exchange of unpleasant words, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar intervened and said, ‘You cannot behave in my court in that manner.

Without consulting the two lawyers, Justice Umar shifted the matter to 28 September 2026 for continuation of the defence.

Nigeria’s private sector sustained its growth momentum in July, supported by another strong increase in new business, although the pace of expansion moderated from the previous month, according to the latest Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) compiled by S and P Global.

The headline PMI declined to 52.5 in July from 53.4 in June but remained above the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction, signalling a sixth consecutive month of improving business conditions.

However, the latest reading represented the slowest pace of improvement in three months.

The report attributed the continued expansion to stronger customer demand, competitive pricing and the launch of new products, which helped businesses secure additional orders.

New business increased markedly for the sixth consecutive month, supporting further growth in business activity. However, output expanded at its slowest pace since January, with agriculture and manufacturing recording the strongest gains, while services and wholesale and retail posted more modest growth.

Employment also increased during the month as firms recruited additional staff to meet higher production requirements, although the pace of hiring eased to a three-month low.

Businesses expanded purchasing activity and increased inventories to meet current demand and prepare for future workloads. Despite these efforts, some firms reported logistical constraints that delayed project completion, leading to a slight rise in outstanding business.

Supplier delivery performance, however, improved after worsening in the previous survey period.

The survey also showed a further easing in inflationary pressures. Input costs and selling prices continued to rise but at slower rates than in June, with purchase cost inflation slowing to its weakest pace in five months despite higher fuel and raw material costs.

Commenting on the report, Head of Equity Research, West Africa at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Muyiwa Oni, said stronger customer demand, improved pricing and new product launches continued to support private sector activity.

‘Nigerian businesses reported improved customer demand in July while better pricing and new product launches also helped them to capture new orders arising from the increase in demand. These factors helped to keep the private sector activity in an expansionary territory, although this moderated when compared to June. Notably, the headline PMI settled at 52.5 points in July after the 53.4 points recorded in June, presenting the slowest since March 2026. Businesses also increased their input purchasing activity, linking this to efforts to keep up with current demand requirements and prepare for future workloads,’ he said.

Oni noted that firms increased purchases of production inputs to meet current demand and prepare for future workloads, while input cost inflation eased despite continued increases in fuel and raw material prices.

He added that the moderation in business costs aligns with the recent easing in headline inflation, which slowed to 15.91% year-on-year in June from 15.93% in May.

According to Oni, annual inflation is expected to moderate further to about 15.72% in July, largely due to favourable base effects, even though month-on-month inflation may rise.

He maintained Stanbic IBTC’s 2026 GDP growth forecast of 4.1%, with the oil sector projected to expand by 3.45% and the non-oil economy by 4.11%.

However, Oni cautioned that insecurity, exchange rate pressures, adverse weather conditions, higher fertiliser prices and global economic uncertainty remain key risks to Nigeria’s economic outlook.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has about 48 hours to submit report of its investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) to President Bola Tinubu, in line with the 30-day deadline issued on July 7.

President Tinubu had directed the anti-graft agency to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the purported council after the Presidency declared it fictitious and unknown to the Federal Government.

In a statement issued on July 7 by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the PFIPC ‘was never established by the Federal Government and has no legal backing through any law, presidential directive, executive approval or other lawful government instrument.’

The statement said the President ordered the ICPC to conclude its investigation within 30 days and submit a detailed report, signalling a fresh crackdown on the alleged abuse of government identity and official processes.

According to the Presidency, Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew falsely presented himself as the Director-General of the non-existent council and claimed to be a presidential appointee.

Tinubu directed the ICPC to investigate allegations surrounding the use of forged appointment letters and other government documents, as well as claims that the alleged fake presidential appointment was used to seek official recognition, diplomatic support and visa facilitation.

The commission is also investigating the opening and operation of multiple bank accounts allegedly created in the names of purported government agencies using forged documents.

Beyond the activities of the principal suspect, the President directed the ICPC to identify all collaborators and unravel the circumstances that enabled the fictitious council and the alleged false claim of presidential appointment to gain an appearance of legitimacy.

The investigation also covers the origin and use of the alleged forged official documents, the processes through which official recognition or diplomatic support may have been sought, the source and movement of funds connected with the alleged scheme, and the roles played by any public officials, private individuals, financial institutions or intermediaries that may have facilitated the alleged fraud.

Tinubu further instructed the commission to identify loopholes within government institutions that may have been exploited and recommend measures to prevent similar abuses.

He directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to provide the ICPC with relevant documents and other assistance required to complete the investigation within the stipulated period.

‘The integrity of the Presidency and public institutions must be protected from impersonation, forgery, abuse of official identity and any attempt to exploit weaknesses in government systems,’ the President said, adding that anyone found culpable should ‘face the full weight of the law.’

The probe followed growing controversy over the operations of the PFIPC and claims that it had received official recognition from several government institutions despite the Presidency’s insistence that no such agency exists.

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the detained self-styled Director-General of the council, has expressed doubt in justice being served by ICPC, seeking establishment of an independent panel.

In the last interview he granted before being arrested in Osun State, he had said, ‘I want to appreciate the President for taking the first step by asking the ICPC to investigate the matter. However, I am still appealing to him to set up an independent panel. You can see that the Presidency has already exonerated Hon Gbajabiamila in this matter, saying the Chief of Staff does not know anything. Let an independent panel prove that. In a normal circumstance, are you telling me the ICPC will indict the Chief of Staff? No. Let an independent panel prove him innocent, that Adeniyi is lying and making (unsubstantiated) allegations against the Chief of Staff. The government cannot investigate itself.’

In a statement issued on Sunday through his lawyer, Festus Akhigbe, Adeyemi argued that several federal institutions processed official requests relating to the council and recognised its activities before the controversy emerged.

His legal team claimed that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation acknowledged documents linked to the council and facilitated the allocation of office space within the Federal Secretariat.

The lawyers also alleged that the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria approved administrative budget codes, granted the council self-accounting status, opened operational accounts and facilitated the deployment of federal civil servants.

They also claimed that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation approved the council’s organisational structure and recruitment process, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission allocated office space, collected processing fees and presented a plaque to the organisation.

‘If several government institutions processed, recognised and engaged with the council over an extended period, it is unreasonable to suggest that one individual alone deceived the entire machinery of government,’ the legal team said.

The defence maintained that Adeyemi was being made a scapegoat for broader administrative failures and urged investigators to examine the roles of all ministries, departments and agencies linked to the council.

The House of Representatives is conducting a parallel investigation into the matter. During the hearings, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, admitted that her office failed to carry out adequate due diligence before approving recruitment requests associated with the controversial council. But the question on many lips is, will this probe yield result or end up like many others in the past? Will heads roll or it will end in business as usual?

Nigeria faces a food security paradox. With over 84 million hectares of arable land and a youth population of more than 60%, the country should feed itself and export to others. However, Nigeria spent N3.53 trillion on raw materials imports in the first half of 2025 alone, while post-harvest losses consumed up to 40% of staple crops annually. The naira weakens under the weight of imported food and machinery. Rural unemployment persists, and climate shocks expose the fragility of rain-fed, hoe-and-cutlass agriculture.

These are the gaps which the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is currently bridging through its indigenous technology and local contents. Tasked with promoting science, engineering, and technological infrastructure, NASENI has moved from research on shelves to factory floors with a clear mandate: mechanised agriculture, localised production, and to cut the chain of import dependence that threatens Nigeria’s food security.

Under the leadership of Executive Vice Chairman/CEO NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Agency is aggressively leveraging technology to industrialise Nigeria’s agricultural landscape. By treating engineering as the backbone of food security, NASENI is transforming the country’s agricultural architecture from subsistence farming into a highly mechanised, year-round commercial ecosystem. This initiative on mechanised agriculture is yielding results for Nigerian farmers.

Restoring the Fleet: The Tractor Recovery Initiative

At the heart of any successful agricultural mechanization drive sits the tractor-a tool historically scarce and prohibitively expensive for the average Nigerian smallholder. Recognizing that importing new fleets strains foreign exchange reserves, NASENI adopted a smarter, highly pragmatic approach-The National Tractor Recovery Programme. Partnering with the Mechanisation Equipment Company of Africa (MECA), NASENI set an ambitious target to refurbish and breathe new life into thousands of abandoned, disused tractors littered across the country.

In states like Borno and Niger, this asset restoration model has already restored over 1,000 abandoned tractors. By fixing hydraulic systems, rebuilding engines, and repurposing local scrap metal, NASENI is providing smallholders and cooperatives with affordable access to heavy machinery. This direct deployment of engineering logistics effectively slashes land preparation times, boosts rural incomes, and rapidly expands total cultivated land mass.

The NASENI Tractor Recovery Programme, launched by the Agency in Borno and Niger state is a government initiative focused on recovering, repairing, and redeploying abandoned, obsolete, or broken-down agricultural machinery. Instead of buying all new tractors at high import cost, disused and abandoned tractors were overhauled – engines rebuilt, parts replaced, hydraulics fixed to working condition. In Borno and Niger States, many farmers now have access to mechanized farming, thus having higher yields, shorter planting windows, and reduced farmer dependence on manual labour.

Domesticating Supply Chains

True self-reliance requires local manufacturing. Rather than remaining a perpetual consumer of foreign technology, NASENI is utilizing its specialized hubs-such as the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) in Lafia, Nasarawa State-to build domestic production value chains.

By utilizing AMEDI’s existing world-class facilities, NASENI is circumventing the bureaucratic delays and is creating thousands of industrial jobs for Nigerian youths while simultaneously generating a steady supply of customized, locally assembled tractors and implements tailored specifically for Nigeria’s unique soil topography. At AMEDI Lafia, research is moving rapidly toward precision agriculture, greenhouse automation, and hydroponics (soilless cultivation). These high-yields, space-optimized methodologies maximize resource efficiency, ensuring high crop output with minimal water and fertilizer footprints.

Solar-powered Irrigation Revolution

Beyond tilling the soil, mechanisation means insulating agriculture from the volatile shocks of climate change. For generations, Nigerian farming has been strictly rain-dependent. Despite possessing over 3 million hectares of irrigation potential, less than 10 per cent has historically been utilized. To confront this vulnerability, NASENI launched the Irrigate Nigeria Project in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF).

The cornerstone of this project is the national rollout of NASENI’s proprietary, solar-powered irrigation pumps. Strongly endorsed by the National Economic Council (NEC), the smart solar irrigation pumps are engineered to replace expensive, emission-heavy gasoline generators. By eliminating fuel overheads, the solar irrigation pumps significantly lower operational costs for farmers. This allows for seamless, smart, dry-season farming, effectively doubling annual harvests and capping volatile seasonal food prices.

Smart Tech and Organic fertilizers

Through international bilateral agreements-such as partnerships with Brazil’s CAMPO and also Indonesia’s PT Saputra Global Harvest, NASENI is actively working to commercialize coal-based organic fertilizers and advanced agro-processing machinery. This ensures that post-harvest losses, which historically claim up to 40 per cent of Nigeria’s perishable produce, are significantly mitigated through localized processing solutions.

NASENI and Whitefog are also in partnership for production of liquid fertilizer in Nigeria which aims to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape in line with President Bola Tinubu’s 8-point Agenda on food security, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 1 (No Poverty), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

The coal fertilizer, an innovative and eco-friendly alternative to traditional fertilizers, with its 26 additional mineral concentrates and activation technology, is poised to address the challenges of low quality soil which is a major problem to Nigerian farmers. The project will have a profound impact on Nigeria’s agricultural sector, ensuring improved soil quality and fertility, increased crop yields and better harvests for farmers.’

As NASENI continues to drive innovation and technological advancement in Nigeria, the coal and liquid fertilizer projects stand as shining examples of the Agency’s commitment to transforming the country’s agricultural landscape. With its potential to revolutionize farming practices and improve food security, the two projects will create 2,000 direct jobs and over 20 million indirect jobs across the agricultural value chain stimulating economic growth and transforming the lives of millions of Nigerians.

NASENI’s Agricultural Incubation Centre

The Agency has commenced the construction of NASENI Agricultural Incubation Centres at the University of Abuja in Gwagwalada and Bayero University of Kano (BUK) respectively. The project which represents a strategic attempt to re-engineer Nigeria’s agricultural sector through science, technology and innovation (STI), would be replicated in one federal university in each geo-political zone.

While global agriculture has embraced precision farming, biotechnologies, climate-smart agriculture and data-driven production systems, Nigeria still relies largely on traditional methods. Research outputs from universities and institutes rarely translate into practical solutions on farms, creating a wide gap between knowledge generation and real-world application.

It is within this context that NASENI’s Agricultural Incubation Centre initiative becomes significant. Situated on a 10-hectare parcel of land within the University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, the Centre is designed as a technology-driven, commercially viable agricultural hub. The NASENI Agricultural Incubation Centre integrates poultry production, aquaculture, crop cultivation, greenhouse farming and cutting-edge research facilities, including a tissue culture laboratory.

Mechanization Pipeline: From R and D to Rural Fields

NASENI’s strategy hinges on one principle: Nigeria cannot achieve food security by importing the machines needed to grow, process, and store food. Under its current leadership, the Agency has expanded efforts to commercialize research outputs and collaborate with industries to scale production of locally developed technologies.

NASENI’s 2030 targets directly address this gap. The Agency projects a 25% reduction in the import bill to $34.7 billion by 2030 by locally manufacturing the top 10 imported items. It also projects over three million jobs through focused technology transfer to more than 300,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and aims to lift 2.5 million people out of poverty in five years.

The Path Ahead: Scaling Beyond Pilots

Food security is a critical pillar of national security. As NASENI scales its manufacturing footprints and deep-tech initiatives across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, the Agency is proving that the path to feeding the nation does not lie in food imports or agricultural subsidies, but in technological self-reliance. By coupling public-private partnerships with homegrown engineering ingenuity, NASENI is successfully building an industrialised agricultural foundation capable of feeding Nigeria today and anchoring its economic stability tomorrow.

Experts argue that Nigeria’s industrial growth can only become sustainable through deliberate support for local manufacturing and homegrown technologies. For NASENI, the next step is scale. That means: Financing models that let farmers acquire equipment through cooperatives and pay-as-you-use schemes. Training 300,000+ SME operators on maintenance and fabrication to ensure machines don’t fail after one season.

Food security is not just about seeds and rainfall. It is about who owns the machines that plant, harvest, and process. For decades, Nigeria exported raw cocoa and imported chocolate, grew tomatoes and imported paste, raised the world’s largest yam output and imported starch. NASENI’s agric mechanization drive reverses that equation.

By building solar pumps instead of importing diesel ones, fabricating rice mills instead of buying them, and training technicians instead of hiring expatriates, NASENI is engineering a new link in Nigeria’s industrial chain. If Nigeria must feed 400 million people by 2050, it will not happen with hoes and imported tractors. It will happen when innovation meets the soil, and when the tools of prosperity are made-in-Nigeria, for Nigerians and by Nigerians.