Category: Daily Trust

Stanbic IBTC Insurance says it has successfully met and been verified as compliant with the new minimum capital requirements introduced under the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth journey and reaffirming its position as one of Nigeria’s leading life insurance providers.

In a statement, the institution said the affirmation places Stanbic IBTC Insurance among a select group of operators to clear one of the most consequential regulatory transformations in the history of Nigeria’s insurance industry.

NAICOM’s exercise, which began in August 2025 and closed on July 31, 2026, tested every licensed insurer and reinsurer in the country against significantly higher capital thresholds.

As a life insurance operator, Stanbic IBTC Insurance was required to meet a minimum capital base of N10 billion under NIIRA 2025, a substantial increase on the thresholds that previously governed the sector. This reflects the company’s strong financial foundation, prudent governance, and disciplined approach to long-term growth.

By achieving compliance, Stanbic IBTC Insurance said it is now well-positioned to underwrite larger risks, honour policyholder commitments with even greater confidence, and continue delivering value to customers and stakeholders.

Chuma Nwokocha, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, noted that the confirmation reflects the strength of the wider group’s approach to capital planning and governance.

‘Across the Stanbic IBTC group, we take a long view of capital, one that puts our subsidiaries in a position to meet regulatory change from strength rather than scramble to catch up with it. Stanbic IBTC Insurance’s confirmed compliance is consistent with that approach. It reflects the standards of governance and financial discipline we hold across the group, and it is the kind of outcome that gives us confidence in how our subsidiaries are positioned as Nigeria’s financial sector continues to mature.’

Akinjide Orimolade, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Insurance, noted the milestone should be understood in the context of where the industry is heading, not simply where it has been.

‘This confirmation is a moment worth marking, but it is not the finish line. NAICOM has set a new baseline for what it means to operate responsibly in this industry and meeting that baseline required real discipline across our organisation. What matters now is what we do with this position. Nigeria’s insurance industry is entering a phase where scale, governance and financial strength will separate the operators built for the long term from those simply built for today. Our task is to keep building the kind of institution that customers and stakeholders can rely on, not just at this moment, but as the industry continues to evolve.’

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed a new regulatory framework for online forex trading and Contracts for Difference (CFDs), proposing minimum capital requirements of up to N5 billion for operators seeking to participate in Nigeria’s retail forex market.

The proposed rules, issued under the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) No. 2, 2025, are contained in the draft Rules on Online Forex Trading and Contracts for Difference published by the capital market regulator on Tuesday.

They seek to bring both domestic and offshore operators that target Nigerian residents into a formal licensing and supervisory framework, alongside a proposed 30% minimum local ownership requirement for licensed brokers.

The proposed rules are designed to apply not only to operators incorporated in Nigeria but also to offshore entities that target Nigerian residents.

The draft framework creates three licence categories – Online Forex Broker/Broker Dealer, Introducing Broker, and Technology/Platform Provider – each with its own capital threshold.

According to the draft, B-Book or market-making forex brokers would require a minimum paid-up capital of N3 billion, alongside minimum liquid capital of N2.4 billion or 10% of total liabilities, whichever is higher.

Straight-Through-Processing (STP) and Electronic Communication Network (ECN) brokers or A-Book brokers would require N2 billion in paid-up capital, with minimum liquid capital of N1.6 billion or 10% of total liabilities, whichever is higher.

Technology and platform providers would face the highest minimum capital requirement of any category, at N5 billion.

Corporate Introducing Brokers would require N150 million, while individual Introducing Brokers would require N30 million.

Registration fees have also been proposed, ranging from N1 million for individual Introducing Brokers to N30 million for Technology/Platform Providers, on top of a N100,000 application fee and a N300,000 processing fee.

The proposed rules also introduce a minimum Nigerian ownership requirement for licensed entities.

Under the draft framework, at least 30% of a broker’s issued and paid-up share capital would have to be held directly and continuously by Nigerian citizens who serve as directors of the company, with at least two directors – including the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer – required to be resident in Nigeria.

The Commission has stipulated that this ownership cannot be routed through nominees, trusts or other arrangements designed to circumvent the requirement, meaning offshore brokers may not be able to satisfy the rule by simply setting up a Nigerian subsidiary.

A key feature of the proposed framework is its explicit reach into offshore platforms serving Nigerian residents. A foreign broker could fall within the SEC’s regulatory perimeter where it lists Nigeria as a supported country, allows Nigerians to open trading accounts, markets to Nigerian residents using local affiliates or influencers, or maintains representatives or customer-support channels in the country.

SEC has repeatedly warned Nigerians against unregistered forex and crypto platforms operating outside its regulatory framework, including a public notice in May 2026 flagging unregistered investment schemes promoted on WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms.

The Commission said Section 196(3) of the ISA 2025 criminalises the promotion and operation of unregistered investment schemes, with violations punishable by a fine of not less than N20 million or imprisonment.

SEC DG Emomotimi Agama had earlier stated that any digital asset or forex trading platform that is not registered is illegal.

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has approved enhanced remuneration for traditional rulers across the state.

The approval covers paramount rulers, including Emirs and Chiefs, as well as district and village heads, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Kaduna State chapter, has said.

The association commended the governor for the decision, describing it as a boost to the traditional institution and its role in promoting peace, security and grassroots development.

In a statement issued by its chairman, Sheikh Jamilu Abubakar Albani, ALGON said traditional rulers remained indispensable partners in governance and served as a vital link between the government and the people.

It said the improved remuneration would motivate traditional leaders and strengthen their capacity to support intelligence gathering, conflict resolution, peaceful coexistence and community mobilisation.

According to the association, improved welfare for traditional rulers would also contribute to efforts to address security challenges and promote peace and harmony across the state’s 23 local government areas.

ALGON commended Sani for strengthening the relevance of traditional institutions as partners in his administration’s peace-building and development efforts.

The association, on behalf of the 23 local government councils, pledged continued collaboration with the state government and other stakeholders to consolidate peace, security, good governance and sustainable grassroots development.

It also urged traditional rulers to reciprocate the gesture by strengthening their collaboration with local government councils and relevant agencies in promoting peaceful coexistence, security and the overall development of the state.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has assured that all capital projects initiated under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in the nation’s capital will be completed before the end of the administration’s tenure.

Wike gave the assurance during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he said the administration had recorded unprecedented progress in infrastructure development across the FCT.

The minister said the Tinubu administration had commissioned 107 capital projects in the territory, adding that 76 had already been completed.

According to him, 10 additional projects are expected to be commissioned before the January elections, while the remaining projects will be completed before the expiration of the administration’s tenure.

He said the FCT Administration had also made significant progress in completing projects inherited from previous administrations.

According to Wike, 23 of the 25 projects inherited from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had been completed, while two were ongoing.

He added that six of the eight projects inherited from the administrations of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had also been completed, with work continuing on the remaining two.

Wike said the Tinubu administration remained committed to ensuring that projects initiated under the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ in the FCT were completed within the President’s tenure.

Gov Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has threatened to sack any local government council chairman who fails to secure victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in his area during the 2027 general elections.

Nwifuru issued the threat on Tuesday in Abakaliki when he inaugurated the newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of the 13 Local Government Areas in the state.

He said: ‘Any chairman who fails to win his council will be removed from office and replaced with a councillor.

‘I want this information to be on the headlines of newspapers because, as politicians, we should not speak in secret.

‘The chairmen know we will win in the state, and if they choose to sleep and allow others to take their areas, they will be removed.’

He urged the chairmen not to allow the opposition to thrive in their respective areas, emphasizing that ‘charity begins at home.’

He further charged them to do everything within their power to ensure 100 percent delivery for the APC in 2027.

Admonishing the vice chairmen to work in harmony with their chairmen and avoid rivalry, the governor likened their positions to ‘spare tires inside a car boot.’

The governor reminded the vice chairmen that ‘it is only when a main tire fails or collapses irreversibly that the spare can function.

‘You should always be available to the chairmen and ask about your council’s daily activities. Do not listen to gossip and bad advice from friends against your chairmen, as that will destroy your working relationship,’ he said. (NAN)

Nwifuru noted that his deputy governor was a former council chairperson, adding that no one foresaw her rise to her present office.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the re-elected Chairman of Afikpo LGA, Chief Timothy Nwachi, thanked the governor and party stakeholders for giving them the opportunity to serve.

‘We pledge to justify the confidence reposed in us and, above all, ensure that the APC records a landslide victory in 2027,’ Nwachi said. (NAN)

Troops of the Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued Mrs Adonkie, the wife of Brig. Gen. Basil Adonkie (rtd), hours after she was abducted from her residence in Abuja.

The Brigade disclosed this in a special situation report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

The report said Mrs Adonkie was abducted at about 10:30pm on September 1, prompting the deployment of troops in a coordinated pursuit of the kidnappers.

According to the report, troops from the Brigade and Army Headquarters Garrison advanced through ACO Estate and Gosa Community, making contact with the kidnappers.

It said the troops successfully rescued the victim around Angwan-Sabo Village, while another group continued pursuing the fleeing kidnappers.

‘At about 11:09am on Wednesday, troops of the 176 Guards Battalion and 197 Special Forces Battalion intercepted two fleeing suspects around Gaube Village in Kuje Area Council.

‘Troops recovered an AK-47 rifle and a magazine loaded with 19 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from the suspects,’ it said.

The guards brigade said the rescued victim had been reunited with her family, while the two arrested suspects remained in custody for profiling.

The report added that troops had intensified operations within the area to track the fleeing criminals, adding that their morale and fighting efficiency remained high.

The House of Representatives adhoc committee investigating the existence and inclusion of the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) in the Federal Government’s budget framework has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of any wrongdoing in connection with the controversial council.

The Chairman of the committee, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC, Plateau) disclosed this yesterday while presenting the preliminary findings of the committee to journalists at the National Assembly, Abuja.

The committee was constituted by the House following the adoption of Resolution 68/07/2026 on July 8, 2026, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the inclusion of the ‘fictitious’ PFIPC in the federal budget framework and determine its legal status, funding, activities and persons connected to it.

Among the institutions invited by the committee during the investigative hearings were the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), State House, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Budget Office of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance and Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Others included the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Gagdi stressed that the findings were preliminary and did not constitute the committee’s final report or the final position of the House.

Daily Trust reports that the purported Director General of the council, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, had accused Gbajabiamila of demanding a 48 per cent kickback from N27.3bn take-off grant allegedly approved for the PFIPC. He also claimed to have paid N400m to Gbajabiamila through a proxy to secure the appointment.

However, Gbajabiamila denied ever meeting or communicating with Adeyemi or authorising anyone to act on his behalf and subsequently filed N15bn defamation suit against him.

In the suit, he is seeking N10bn in general damages, N5bn in aggravated damages, N200m as the cost of the action, and an order directing Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and apology in five national dailies.

Gbajabiamila acted promptly, says panel

Presenting the committee’s preliminary findings, Gagdi said there was no evidence that Gbajabiamila authorised, established, approved or participated in the activities of the ‘phantom’ council.

Rather, the committee said documentary evidence showed that the Chief of Staff took steps to alert relevant security and law enforcement agencies after concerns about the organisation were brought to his attention.

According to the committee, official correspondence showed that concerns about the purported organisation had previously been brought to Gbajabiamila’s attention.

It said that following an alert from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) over suspected fraud and misuse of institutional materials, the Chief of Staff acted within one day by communicating with the police, National Security Adviser, Department of State Services and anti-corruption agencies and initiating administrative verification.

The committee said further concerns, including those surrounding a proposed World Investment Summit, prompted additional communications requesting investigation and appropriate action.

‘Documentary evidence before the committee does not establish that the Chief of Staff authorised, approved, established or participated in the purported organisation,’ the committee said.

It consequently commended Gbajabiamila for his response to the alerts and recommended that his timely interventions be formally acknowledged.

58 bank accounts, 12 entities linked to ‘DG’

The committee said its preliminary findings linked about 58 bank accounts as well as 12 companies, foundations and other entities to Adeyemi.

It also identified what it described as institutional lapses within government agencies, including the Budget Office of the Federation and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, in relation to the recognition and processing of documents connected to the purported organisation.

Among the entities uncovered include Confederation of United Nations Youths, FCT Investment Promotion Agency and Public-Private Partnership, Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, United Nations Youth Global Agency, United Nations Youth Global Foundation, World United Nations Youth Global Foundation, World Entrepreneurship University Limited, World Enterprise University Limited, FCT Investment Promotion Act, FCT Promotion Agency and Olubadan of Ibadan Foundation.

The panel observed that similarities in names, objectives, management structures, signatories and banking relationships raised concerns that multiple organisations might have been created or deployed using government, international, investment, educational, charitable and United Nations-related identities to create credibility.

However, the committee stressed that it had not concluded that every account, entity or transaction identified was unlawful.

The committee said it was reconciling registration records, account mandates, beneficial ownership information, signatories and transaction histories to establish the true nature and control of the accounts and entities.

The panel said its findings were based on oral testimony, documentary evidence, financial records and submissions received from relevant institutions and individuals.

‘PFIPC does not exist in law’

The committee said its investigations so far found no valid Act of the National Assembly, gazetted enactment, presidential executive order or other lawful instrument establishing the PFIPC.

It said none of the competent federal authorities had produced an authentic record showing that the organisation was created, approved or authorised by the President, Federal Executive Council, National Assembly or any other legally empowered institution.

The committee also observed that the organisation operated under different descriptions, including the PFIPC and the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

It said the inconsistent nomenclature, alongside the documentary evidence before it, undermined any claim that the organisation was a legitimate federal institution.

The lawmakers said they examined a document purporting to appoint Adeyemi as Director General of the organisation and allegedly bearing the authority and signature of the Chief of Staff to the President.

According to the committee, evidence from the State House established that no such appointment was made or approved by the Presidency.

It said Gbajabiamila neither issued nor signed the letter and that the letterhead was not an authentic State House letterhead.

The panel also noted that the purported reference number was found to be inconsistent with the official referencing system of the State House, while the format and language of the letter differed materially from genuine official correspondence.

‘The committee therefore preliminarily concluded that the appointment letter was fabricated and falsely attributed to the Presidency.’

It also examined a purported approval for the take-off of the organisation and a document described as ‘Presidential Executive Order No. 5 of 24 February 2026’.

The panel said available evidence indicated that the documents did not emanate from the Presidency or any competent federal authority.

It described the alleged fabrication of an executive order as particularly serious because such an instrument carries the authority of the President.

The committee further said a document presented as an Act of the National Assembly establishing the purported organisation was never enacted by Parliament.

It described the alleged act as an affront to the legislative authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The panel said no individual or organisation could lawfully manufacture legislative authority by editing or fabricating a document and presenting it as an enactment of parliament.

The committee said it also uncovered a letter dated November 7, 2024, purportedly from the State House and addressed to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, requesting an administrative code for the PFIPC.

The letter was allegedly signed by one Akambi Adewale, described as ‘Director, Administration and Support Services’ for the Permanent Secretary.

However, the committee said State House evidence showed that the office cited in the letter did not exist. It also said no official known as Akambi Adewale served in the purported capacity and that the letter was neither issued nor authorised by the State House.

The committee said fictitious names, offices and designations appeared to have been used to mislead a key financial institution of the federal government.

Budget Office, AGF accused of institutional lapses

The panel accused the Budget Office of the Federation and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation of possible institutional lapses in their dealings with the phony council.

The committee said although the Budget Office claimed to have been presented with documents purporting to establish the organisation as a federal institution, verification of the legal existence of an organisation should be a fundamental prerequisite before its recognition within the federal budget framework.

The committee said it was reviewing relevant correspondence, electronic records, approvals and actions to establish whether the lapses resulted from administrative weakness, negligence, circumvention of procedure, unauthorised facilitation or active complicity.

The panel similarly questioned the circumstances surrounding the response of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) to the purported request for an administrative code.

The OAGF, according to the committee, confirmed that its response was an authentic communication, although the request that prompted it was allegedly forged.

The committee described the incident as a serious administrative and security lapse and said it would determine whether negligence, failure to follow verification procedures, breach of correspondence protocols or deliberate facilitation was involved.

‘Fake agency office at Federal Secretariat not officially allocated’

The committee’s investigation also revealed that the PFIPC occupied office space within the Federal Secretariat Complex without being allocated the facility by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The committee said evidence indicated that part of accommodation earlier allocated to the Office of the SGF was subsequently made available to the council by some officers without lawful authority.

It said the occupation of the facility was significant because it could have strengthened the organisation’s claim that it was a legitimate federal agency.

The panel said that the identities and responsibilities of officials involved in the alleged unauthorised allocation are still being investigated.

The panel also said that about 39 people were represented as employees of the council across junior, intermediate and senior cadres.

It, however, said it was still investigating their recruitment, appointment letters, identity cards, salaries and allowances.

N400m alleged transaction under investigation

Meanwhile, the committee said it has received complaints from individuals and organisations who claimed to have been deceived, offered jobs, promised contracts or investment opportunities, or induced to make payments based on representations that the PFIPC was a legitimate federal institution.

Of particular concern, it said, was the complaint of a company that alleged that Adeyemi induced it to pay about N400 million in four instalments.

The company allegedly made the payments on the understanding that it would receive a contract involving the renovation, furnishing or improvement of a residence purportedly allocated to Adeyemi in his capacity as the Director General.

The committee said it was tracing the payment destinations, identifying account holders and beneficial owners, verifying the ownership and status of the property and determining whether any public officer or other person participated in or benefited from the transaction.

It said that if established through competent investigative and judicial processes, the conduct could disclose offences including fraudulent misrepresentation, obtaining money by false pretence, impersonation, conspiracy and forgery.

Beyond the alleged activities of the individuals and entities under investigation, the committee said it had identified systemic weaknesses within government institutions.

These included deficiencies in verifying the lawful existence of government institutions, creation and administration of budget and administrative codes, authentication and custody of official correspondence, verification of presidential appointments, allocation of government accommodation and processing of official number plates.

Panel’s recommendations

Pending the conclusion of the investigation, the committee, among others, recommended that all ministries, departments and agencies should refrain from recognising or transacting with the PFIPC or any related entity whose legal status had not been independently verified.

The panel urged financial institutions and investigative agencies to preserve all relevant account records, transaction histories, mandates and beneficial ownership information connected to the persons and entities under investigation. It further recommended that security and anti-corruption agencies conclude their investigations and coordinate evidence in accordance with the law.

The committee called for the preservation of relevant documentary and electronic evidence, including websites, devices, correspondence, properties and institutional records.

It also recommended enhanced authentication procedures by the Budget Office and Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for new institutions, budget codes, administrative codes and correspondence purportedly emanating from the Presidency or other high offices.

The panel proposed the establishment or strengthening of a centralised digital verification platform through which the legal existence and status of federal ministries, departments and agencies could be authenticated.

It further recommended an audit of office allocations within Federal Secretariat complexes and a review by the Federal Road Safety Corps of procedures for issuing official and special number plates.

The committee urged relevant agencies to trace, preserve, freeze and recover proceeds of any unlawful activity where supported by evidence and authorised by law.

Reps committee should have given Adeyemi fair hearing – CHRICED

The Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr Ibrahim Zikrullahi, has accused the House of Representatives committee investigating the PFIPC of lacking fairness and objectivity.

Zikrullahi said the committee’s decision to announce the discovery of 58 bank accounts and 12 entities allegedly linked to Adeyemi without giving him an opportunity to respond raised questions about the credibility of the investigation.

CHRICED executive director said due process was a constitutional requirement and should not be treated as a favour to anyone under investigation.

‘A man’s head cannot be shaved in his absence,’ he said.

An intervention project funded by the United States Department of State has supported about 3,900 children affected by malnutrition and more than 1,900 farmers in Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The project, implemented by the North East Youth Initiative for Development (NEYIF), also reached more than 38,000 people through nutrition, agriculture, counselling, protection and other humanitarian interventions targeting conflict-affected communities.

Speaking to journalists at the project close-out and sustainability workshop in Damaturu, the Executive Director of NEYIF, Comrade Dauda Muhammad Gombe, said the intervention had impacted thousands of vulnerable people in the area.

He expressed appreciation to the United States government and American taxpayers for funding the project, saying the support had made a significant impact in nutrition and agriculture, particularly among children and families affected by conflict and poverty.

Gombe said the project covered five wards in Yunusari, where children affected by malnutrition were identified and supported.

According to him, about 3,900 children were reached directly, while more than 38,000 people benefited from the various components of the intervention.

He said one of the major interventions was the production and use of locally made nutritious food known as ‘Tom Brown’ to support children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition without complications.

He stressed that Tom Brown was not a replacement for ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), which is used for treating children with severe acute malnutrition.

‘Tom Brown is made locally, not as RUTF, but we use this to treat children with moderate issues, while children with severe cases, we refer them to OTP or stabilisation centres,’ he said.

Gombe said the project also supported about 1,900 farmers through rain-fed and dry-season farming, providing agricultural inputs, including millet and sorghum seeds.

He said demonstration farms were established in the communities, while farmer field schools were organised to train farmers on improved farming practices.

The intervention also supported mothers through counselling and maternal and infant support activities, while fathers were engaged to strengthen family participation in tackling malnutrition.

Gombe said the production of Tom Brown was largely carried out by women in the communities, creating a potential livelihood opportunity while addressing child malnutrition.

He explained that a lead mother coordinated 12 mothers whose children were receiving nutritional support.

The women collected the required ingredients from designated vendors, processed and prepared the food collectively, packaged it and took it home for use during the week.

He said the women could eventually continue producing Tom Brown as a business while helping prevent children with moderate acute malnutrition from progressing to severe cases.

According to him, more than 3,800 children had recovered through the programme.

He said the organisation was also part of a national advocacy effort led by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for the wider adoption of Tom Brown as part of Nigeria’s response to malnutrition.

Explaining the choice of Yunusari, Gombe said the local government was selected because of its status as a conflict-affected and hard-to-reach area, coupled with the limited presence of humanitarian partners.

He said other frontline local government areas, including Geidam, Gulani and Gujba, had attracted more development and humanitarian organisations.

‘Yunusari is also a frontline area. It is isolated, it is desert-ridden, and there is less engagement of partners there at the time we selected it,’ he said.

Gombe added that nutrition data from the Yobe State Primary Healthcare Management Board had consistently placed Yunusari among local government areas with high nutrition-related challenges.

He said poverty, remoteness and the difficult terrain had further worsened the situation.

‘Sometimes our staff have to travel by foot for certain kilometres to reach these communities. They are isolated, they are in the desert and they are in need of that support,’ he said.

He said the project therefore combined nutrition with agriculture to enable families to produce food locally and improve access to nutritious diets.

‘We don’t need to import, we don’t need to bring from anywhere. We produce in the community, we feed in the community and we train the community. That is the essence of this project,’ he said.

Gombe said the organisation deliberately involved community members in the implementation of the project to promote sustainability.

He said between 70 and 80 per cent of the project workforce was recruited from the local communities, including community mobilisers, supervisors and other field workers.

‘We never call them project beneficiaries. We call them project participants because they are involved. They are carried along,’ he said.

According to him, the approach was designed to ensure that the project left behind skills, knowledge and structures that could continue to benefit the communities after the funding ended.

As the project closes, Gombe called on the government to take ownership of the interventions and sustain the gains recorded.

He said development organisations and humanitarian partners could only complement government efforts, particularly given the enormous challenges facing conflict-affected communities.

‘The aim of all this project is, at the end of the day, government to take ownership, government to continue. What we are doing with the U.S. government and everyone is complementing the government,’ he said.

Responding, the Yobe State Government has commended NEYIF for its intervention in Yunusari, describing the project as evidence-based and impactful.

The Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Dr. Muhammad Goje, described NEYIF as an important partner to the state, saying the indigenous NGO had supported communities across the state in areas including education, health, protection, empowerment and nutrition.

Goje, who was represented by Malam Farouk Abdullahi Chiromari, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Project Research and Documentation in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said the close-out of the Yunusari project was a testament to NEYIF’s contribution, particularly its support for children affected by malnutrition.

‘What they are doing today is a close-out of their project and it is evidence-based. They have achieved a lot,’ Chiromari said.

He explained that organisations seeking to operate in Yobe State were screened and monitored by the government to ensure effective implementation of their programmes.

‘Before an organisation would be allowed to operate in Yobe State, that organisation needs to be screened. They have been screened and there are particular desk officers that are tracking their progress,’ he said.

Chiromari said the state government had followed and tracked NEYIF’s activities through the relevant sectors and was satisfied with the progress recorded.

He said the government would continue to partner with NEYIF and other organisations willing to support vulnerable communities across the state.

‘Yobe State Government continues to partner with not only NEYIF but all partners that are willing to support our people,’ he said.

Also speaking, the representative of the District Head of Kafiya-Bukarti in Yunusari LGA, Malam Lawan Kawu, said the project had helped address the shortage of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) in the area.

He said the intervention, which was largely implemented through women in the communities, was complementing the efforts of the state government and non-governmental organisations in tackling hunger and malnutrition.

Kawu added that the programme had also created livelihood opportunities for women involved in the local production of the nutritious food.

The project close-out workshop was organised to discuss the sustainability of the interventions and encourage greater ownership by the government and communities after the end of the U.S.-funded programme.

Leadway, Nigeria’s leading non-banking financial and wellbeing conglomerate, has announced the second edition of the Leadway Lifestyle Fair, with entries for participating SMEs opened from Monday, 31 August 2026, via Leadway Group’s official social media platforms.

The announcement was made during a stakeholder engagement held in Lagos.

Leadway Lifestyle Fair 2.0 is scheduled to hold on 24 and 25 October 2026 in Lagos, Nigeria.’

The two-day fair will build on the foundation established by its inaugural edition in 2025, with an expanded focus on the intersection of enterprise, culture and everyday Nigerian lifestyle.

With entries already open, SMEs interested in participating in the 2026 edition will be able to indicate their interest through Leadway’s official page, beginning the process of selecting businesses that will showcase their products, services and experiences at the fair.

With its core focus on SMEs, the Lifestyle Fair will bring businesses and consumers together in an engaging environment designed to support product discovery, direct interaction and meaningful market connections.

Speaking on the initiative on behalf of the Leadway Group, MD/CEO, Leadway PFA, Olusakin Labeodan, highlighted the important role of SMEs in economies and the need to create more opportunities that enable them to drive the growth of the nation’s GDP and employment, locally and globally.

‘In Nigeria, SMEs account for about 48% of the economy, underscoring their critical role in driving enterprise, employment and economic activity. Supporting these businesses, therefore, must go beyond providing financial solutions. The first edition demonstrated the value of creating that connection in a physical space, and this year, we are taking it further by bringing enterprise and the richness of the Nigerian lifestyle together. It is an opportunity to celebrate the businesses, and experiences that shape how we live, while creating meaningful avenues for

businesses to connect, engage and grow.’

Speaking during the stakeholder engagement session, Leadway’s Brand and Communications Manager, Niyi Abiola said, ‘The Lifestyle Fair is an evolution of a journey that began with the Leadway Media Dash initiative where Leadway’s media assets were deployed to give emerging businesses. What started as a media support platform has evolved into the Leadway Lifestyle Fair, a platform where businesses can showcase their products, connect directly with consumers, and create real opportunities for growth,’ he added.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says the outcome of the August 15 Osun governorship election demonstrated that the ruling party could lose an election under President Bola Tinubu without undermining the democratic process.

Sanwo-Olu spoke on Thursday in Lagos where he discussed Nigeria’s democracy and preparations for the 2027 elections.

He cited the Osun election, which was won by incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, as evidence of what he described as Tinubu’s commitment to democratic principles.

Adeleke, the candidate of another party, defeated Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by more than 60,000 votes.

Tinubu subsequently congratulated Adeleke, describing his re-election as a ‘fitting assurance’ that democracy would continue to flourish under his administration.

The president also met Adeleke behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja days after the election and urged him to unite the state.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the development was different from previous periods when opposition parties often faced significant challenges in defeating the ruling party.

He said:’There was a time in this country when ‘federal might’ was a phrase that a ruling party used without irony.

‘Under this President, the ruling party can lose a state in the South-West in an election year, and the sky does not fall. That is what a maturing democracy looks like.

‘This President is a lifelong democrat, and he means to leave behind a stronger democracy than he inherited, not only for Nigerians but as an example to a continent that badly needs one.’