Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Delta State Government has said it is pursuing reforms in the power sector to attract private investment, expand electricity supply and reduce the state’s dependence on the national grid.

Already, the state has entered into a partnership with Supply Power to generate an additional 120 megawatts of electricity for the national grid.

The State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, who disclosed this at a press conference in Asaba, said the initiative was part of the government’s broader strategy to improve electricity supply and support small and medium-sized businesses whose operations depend heavily on reliable power.

Aniagwu said the government was not seeking to return to an era when government alone controlled and operated businesses, stressing that the ongoing reforms were designed to create room for greater private-sector participation through liberalisation and public-private partnerships (PPPs).

According to him, the government is exploring opportunities to harness Delta’s abundant gas resources for electricity generation, particularly within the Kwale Free Trade Zone, which forms part of the state’s special economic zone.

He said investors had been taken to the zone during the state’s economic summit to demonstrate the availability of gas as a raw material for power generation.

Aniagwu explained that increased local power generation would reduce pressure on the national grid and make more electricity available to other users.

He cited the 8.5-megawatt Independent Power Plant behind the state secretariat in Asaba as an example, noting that the facility had enabled the secretariat complex to operate independently of the national grid.

‘Once you have an alternative source of power for the secretariat, the energy that would have been consumed by the secretariat becomes available for homes and other users,’ he explained.

Aniagwu said the state government had also intervened in areas traditionally regarded as the responsibility of electricity distribution companies because it was determined not to allow poor power supply to undermine economic growth.

He cited the extension of the electricity grid from Abraka towards the Ndokwa axis as one of such interventions, saying the objective was to ensure that more communities were connected to electricity.

He, however, expressed concern over the practice of residents and communities being required to provide transformers and other infrastructure, only for electricity distribution companies to subsequently collect bills without adequately accounting for the investments made by the communities.

According to him, the state government was willing to continue supporting efforts to energise communities because improved electricity supply would stimulate economic activity, create opportunities and potentially reduce security challenges associated with unemployment and idleness.

Aniagwu said the government was also working with the Ministry of Energy and a committee established to fine-tune the state’s energy regulatory framework.

He explained that the proposed energy commission would play a crucial role in regulating new power producers, determining appropriate pricing and overseeing distribution networks.

The Commissioner noted that electricity distribution required careful planning, including decisions on whether to deploy overhead, underground or other forms of power lines, depending on the peculiarities of each location.

He stressed that proper regulation was necessary to ensure that electricity expansion did not expose residents to electrocution or other hazards, while also ensuring fair pricing and protection of power infrastructure.

Aniagwu said the ultimate objective of the reforms was to create a more efficient and sustainable power sector capable of supporting businesses, communities and households across Delta State.

Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has explained why troops were able to rescue abducted victims without killing or arresting the terrorists.

The Defence Minister said the strategy was designed to force terrorists to abandon their captives and flee once they detected the presence of security forces around their hideouts.

The minister spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, amid concerns over the persistence of kidnapping for ransom and questions about recent military operations in which troops rescued victims without engaging their captors in deadly confrontations.

According to him, security forces could strategically surround terrorist locations and cut off the supplies needed for the criminals to survive in their hideouts.

He said terrorists often flee when they detect the presence of security forces, particularly when confronted with aerial surveillance or drones, leaving their victims behind.

‘Sometimes, if you carry out manoeuvres. The funny thing is, the terrorists too don’t want to die. I hope you know that. All these they’re doing, carrying weapons, they don’t want to die.

‘So once there’s anything, even if it’s a drone that comes, you see them scatter away and leave everybody. That’s what happens,’ he said.

Musa said the military’s approach was to deny terrorists access to the supplies that enable them to remain in their hideouts.

‘So what we normally do is once we’re able to identify where they are, we block avenues for them. Like I said, take out the oxygen, they will die,’ he said.

He added that individuals who secretly supplied terrorists with fuel, water, and food were helping to sustain their operations.

‘As long as people go to support to sneak in, give them fuel, give them water, give them food, give them all this, these are the things that are making them thrive. Once they don’t have that, they can’t survive,’ he said.

The minister also said ransom payments could provide security agencies with opportunities to trace the financial activities of terrorists and their networks.

He said the Central Bank of Nigeria was working to track funds suspected to be linked to criminal activities.

‘I’m happy that the CBN too is living up to expectation, trying to make sure that even if we were able to trace monies that are coming in from those other areas, we can track back where they are,’ Musa said.

Musa also appealed to state governors to reconsider the distribution of motorcycles as palliatives, warning that some of the motorcycles could eventually find their way into the hands of terrorists and provide them with increased mobility.

‘We try to appeal to even governors to stop selling motorcycle-giving motorcycles out as palliatives. Because these motorcycles are the same ones that still end up with these terrorists into using,’ he said.

He urged governments that must distribute motorcycles as part of empowerment programmes to consider lower-capacity models that would be less useful to armed groups.

‘Even if you have to give, don’t give them the big capacity motorcycles, give them the small capacity ones that they won’t be able to use to run around, because that gives them leverage. They can easily enter and then disappear,’ he said.

The defence minister further alleged that motorcycles distributed through constituency projects and palliative programmes could subsequently find their way into the hands of bandits.

He stressed the need for greater scrutiny of items distributed under government empowerment and relief programmes to prevent them from being diverted to criminal groups.

Ten Nigerian companies have been included in FTSE Russell’s FTSE Frontier Index Series ahead of Nigeria’s return to Frontier Market status.

The inclusion was announced in FTSE Russell’s September Index Review, following its decision to reclassify Nigeria from Unclassified to Frontier Market status.

The Nigerian companies included in the index are: Aradel Holdings, Dangote Cement, First HoldCo, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), MTN Nigeria Communications, Nestlé Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries, Presco, Stanbic IBTC Holdings and Zenith Bank.

FTSE Russell classifies the 10 Nigerian stocks as ‘Newly Eligible’ and lists them as large-cap stocks in the index.

The reclassification of Nigeria to Frontier Market status is scheduled to take effect from the opening of trading on Sept. 21.

The FTSE Frontier Index Series provides benchmarks covering large, mid and small-cap companies across eligible frontier markets.

It also serves as a performance benchmark for investors and a basis for index-tracking investment products.

FTSE Russell said the indices could be segmented by size, region, country and industry sector, and calculated on both price and total-return bases.

Nigeria was removed from the Frontier Market classification and placed in the Unclassified category in September 2023, following significant and continuing delays affecting international institutional investors’ ability to repatriate capital and execute foreign exchange transactions.

The process toward reclassification began in October 2025, when FTSE Russell placed Nigeria on its Watch List for potential reclassification following improvements in foreign exchange liquidity, capital repatriation and market accessibility.

In April, FTSE Russell announced that Nigeria would return to Frontier Market status, with Sept. 21 set as the effective date.

However, the transition plan was subsequently paused for additional assessment following Nigeria’s move from a T+2 to a T+1 settlement cycle on June 1.

The review followed concerns among market participants that the shorter settlement cycle could create a de facto prefunding requirement for international institutional investors trading Nigerian securities.

The development prompted engagements among NGX Group, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), FTSE Russell, global custodians and international institutional investors.

In July, a delegation from NGX Group held discussions with global custodians and institutional investors to explain the operation of the T+1 settlement framework.

The engagement allowed NGX Group to showcase progress on the new settlement cycle, address investor concerns, and reaffirm its commitment to global market standards.

On Aug. 27, FTSE Russell confirmed that Nigeria’s reclassification from Unclassified to Frontier Market status would take effect from the opening of trading on Sept. 21.

The return is expected to enhance the visibility of Nigerian equities among global investors and provide a framework for increased participation in the domestic capital market. (NAN)

The PBAT Door-to-Door Movement 2027 has challenged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to visit the United States and address controversies surrounding his alleged links to issues that emerged during the corruption investigation involving former US Congressman William Jefferson.

The group, which is campaigning for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said Atiku should be willing to face scrutiny over his past as he prepares to contest the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi Asuku, the movement said the issues surrounding the Jefferson case were not mere political allegations but were raised during a United States federal investigation and court proceedings.

William Jefferson, a former US Congressman from Louisiana, was convicted on corruption charges following a federal investigation into his financial and business dealings.

The group alleged that the proceedings also raised questions about dealings involving Atiku, who was Nigeria’s vice president at the time, including an alleged $500,000 payment which it claimed was linked to him.

The movement urged Atiku to provide Nigerians with an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the allegations rather than allowing them to remain subjects of political controversy.

It also raised questions about a US Senate investigation into millions of dollars allegedly moved into the United States through financial arrangements involving Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s former wife.

According to the group, the investigation examined offshore transactions and other financial dealings, including transactions allegedly linked to Siemens.

The movement, however, acknowledged that raising the issues did not amount to declaring Atiku guilty of any offence.

It argued that any politician seeking to become president should be prepared to answer questions concerning controversial aspects of his public record.

To underscore its challenge, the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement said it was prepared to finance Atiku’s trip to the United States if financial considerations were preventing him from travelling there.

The group said it was willing to cover his flight, accommodation and other travel expenses, including those of his aides, if he accepted the challenge and travelled to the US to address the issues it raised.

It said the duration or cost of the trip should not be an excuse for declining the challenge.

‘We are ready to foot his bill for the trip, even if it is for him to land in the US and spend just five hours. Let him just land in America. We are ready to pay for his flight and accommodation for him and all his aides if he cannot afford it,’ the group said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has launched the South-South zonal phase of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Cross River, with a renewed commitment to tackling food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable Nigerians.

The programme, launched in Calabar by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday, targets children below six years, pregnant women and lactating mothers, with the provision of nutritious food to support healthy growth and development.

The South-South rollout covers Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers states, and marks the fifth zonal launch of the national programme following similar launches in the North-East, North-West, North-Central and South-West zones.

The First Lady said three community food banks were being launched simultaneously across Cross River’s three senatorial districts.

They are located at Ediba Primary Health Centre in Cross River South, MCH Ikom in Cross River Central, and MCH Ogoja in Cross River North.

According to her, the initiative is a deliberate and sustainable response to food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households and aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, particularly in the areas of food security, healthcare and citizens’ welfare.

She urged governors in the South-South zone to establish community food banks in at least three senatorial districts of their respective states, working with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to provide the operational support needed to sustain the programme.

Mrs Tinubu said the nationwide rollout would be completed next week with the launch of the South-East phase in Anambra State.

She said the success of the programme would depend largely on the commitment of state governments to ensure that vulnerable families benefit from it.

Speaking at the launch, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the programme was critical to Nigeria’s human capital development, stressing that the country could not achieve sustainable prosperity without a well-nourished population.

Pate described nutrition as part of the country’s ‘grey matter infrastructure’, saying investment in the health and nutrition of children and women was as important as investment in physical infrastructure.

He said Nigeria, despite being richly endowed, continued to bear the burden of stunting and undernutrition among children and women.

According to him, the Federal Government’s economic reforms are creating the conditions for national growth, but the gains would not translate into sustainable development unless the country also invested in its people.

He therefore called on all South-South states to replicate the Cross River model and urged local governments to leverage primary healthcare infrastructure to deliver the programme.

Pate said the Federal Government would continue to mobilise resources for the initiative and ensure that vulnerable Nigerians receive both macronutrients and micronutrients.

Governor Bassey Otu said Cross River was prepared to complement the Federal Government’s intervention, noting that the state had already established functional food banks across its three senatorial districts.

Otu said his administration was also addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty through investments in agriculture and food production.

He listed a 50,000-hectare rice farming programme, a 20,000-hectare cassava farm cluster, support for fishermen and artisans, grants to farmers and agribusiness operators, as well as investments in small-holder farmer clusters.

He said the state’s Special Agro-Processing Zone would provide a ready market for farmers, while a proposed ?70 billion public-private partnership investment programme would further strengthen the agricultural sector.

The governor said the food bank initiative would complement the state’s efforts to reduce hunger, improve livelihoods and strengthen food security.

The UNICEF representative at the event, Nemat Hajeebhoy, Chief of Nutrition, UNICEF, Nigeria (Abuja)

commended the Federal Government, Cross River State Government and the First Lady for prioritising food and nutrition security.

Hajeebhoy, who represented the Country Director, Dr Wafaa Saeed, said Cross River was an appropriate state for the South-South launch, having recorded a decline in malnutrition rates over the past five years.

She, however, warned that nutrition indicators remained a concern and called for stronger multi-sectoral coordination involving health, agriculture and social protection sectors.

She also stressed the importance of reliable data in measuring the impact of the programme, noting that interventions must be guided by accurate information.

The UNICEF representative reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to working with the Federal and state governments, development partners, private sector and communities to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to adequate nutrition.

The Convener of the Ibadan Creator Summit, Dr Shola Adeyemi, has said the summit is designed to empower young creatives and contribute to the economic development of Ibadan.

Adeyemi stated this on Friday during a press briefing ahead of the summit scheduled to hold on September 5 at Harvest House, Ibadan.

He disclosed that more than 3,000 participants are expected at the event, which is free to attend.

Some of the speakers include Olivia Umeh, Seyi Adisa, Shete, Babatunmise, Ayo Adams, Ajoke Lasisi among others.

According to him, Ibadan has continued to produce talented young people in various creative fields, including photography, content creation, journalism and videography, but many of them leave the city in search of better opportunities.

He attributed the migration of talents to the lack of structures and platforms that connect creators with brands and provide them with opportunities to monetise their skills.

‘This city has been raising talent, young people who are talented, photographers, content creators, journalists and videographers. But the moment they get very good at their craft, they start looking for other places where they feel the grass is greener, and they go to places like Abuja or Lagos,’ he said.

Adeyemi described the situation as an ‘export race,’ where Ibadan develops creative talents while other cities benefit from their skills.

He said the summit was established to create a platform where creators and brands could connect, negotiate and do business within Ibadan.

‘We need to build that table where a brand and the creator can sit across each other and do business properly. This is exactly what the summit exists for,’ he said.

The convener noted that some creators in Ibadan with thousands of followers could earn as little as N50,000 for a sponsored post, whereas they could command significantly higher fees in Lagos and other major cities.

He said the disparity was not due to a lack of talent but largely because of limited information and access to opportunities.

‘It is not talent. I think it is information and access,’ Adeyemi said.

He explained that this year’s summit would focus on three key areas: building, monetising and skilling creators.

According to him, the programme would go beyond teaching participants how to create viral content to equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to turn their creativity into sustainable sources of income.

‘We have too many creators who are chasing virality when they have not built anything viable. We also want to teach them how to monetise. Your passion is not going to pay your rent. If you are doing this full-time, it has to feed you, and it can definitely feed you,’ he said.

Adeyemi also stressed the importance of showcasing successful creatives from Ibadan and creating opportunities for young talents to learn from established practitioners.

He expressed optimism that participants would leave the summit with a new perspective on their creative careers and the opportunities available to them within the city.

Adeyemi said the ultimate goal was to strengthen Ibadan’s creative economy and enable talented young people to build successful careers without necessarily relocating to Lagos, Abuja or other cities.

Also speaking, Kenny Ogunmiloro of Blast FM said the initiative was not about competing with other states but about creating opportunities for people in Ibadan to realise their potential.

‘What we are trying to achieve is that you get your value. Whoever remains here, we need to respect them,’ Ogunmiloro said.

Frontline broadcast journalist, Kayode Okikiolu, has urged young Nigerians to develop themselves into political intellectuals if they hope to drive meaningful change in the country.

Okikiolu made the call in Ibadan at the second edition of ALT Café, a solution-focused conversation series convened by Ogbeni Labzy Alternative, a social enterprise initiated by Adeola Adelabu to contribute to societal development.

Speaking during a fireside chat with the convener on the theme, ‘Young People: Policies and Politics,’ Okikiolu urged participants, comprising young people drawn from across the state, to raise their ‘government quotient.’

He said young people must develop a deeper understanding of government and politics, stressing that they could not effectively influence policies without understanding how the system works.

Okikiolu advised participants to identify government officials at various levels and build relationships with them to enable constructive and diplomatic engagement on contentious policy issues.

He said, ‘If young people want to drive meaningful change, they must develop themselves into political intellectuals and raise their government quotient’ to understand the inner workings of public sector governance.

The journalist added that building relationships with relevant government officials would give young people better opportunities to engage policymakers and contribute to decisions affecting society.

Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, Adelabu said the event was created to provide a safe environment where young people could discuss issues affecting society and explore practical solutions.

According to him, ‘ALT Café is designed to create a safe space for young people in Ibadan to discuss social and developmental issues with the potential to shape policy and drive local impact.’

Adelabu added that the initiative was deliberately designed to encourage conversations beyond partisan politics, allowing participants to freely exchange ideas on issues affecting their communities.

He said the platform would continue to promote meaningful conversations that could translate into practical solutions and contribute to societal development.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has criticised what he described as ‘totalitarian’ and overreaching education policies being implemented by the Imo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Benard Thomson Ikegwuoha.

Ugorji, in a statement, expressed concern over what he described as increasingly despotic directives issued by the commissioner, particularly through social media.

The Catholic prelate said a healthy education system depended on collaboration, open dialogue, academic freedom and mutual respect among administrators, teachers, parents and students.

He alleged that the current leadership of the Imo State Ministry of Education had adopted what he described as a dictatorial and high-handed approach characterised by intimidation, suppression of dissenting voices and the dismantling of democratic procedures.

He said: ‘This top-down approach threatens the foundational principles of our educational system. strips educators of much-desired initiatives and decision-making power, and replaces them with rigid and flawed directives’.

Ugorji said he was particularly concerned about what he described as policies that centralised control and micro-management of mission and private schools.

He said: ‘Of particular concern are recent policies that centralize absolute control and micro-management of mission and private schools, compelling Christian schools in Imo State to observe Islamic holidays, dictating dates for the resumption and closing of schools, issuing threats of punitive measures against educators who voice professional concerns, and trying to exclusively choose textbooks from the list of government approved textbooks and unilaterally fixing their prices’.

According to him, such actions did not serve the best interests of Imo children but could create an environment of fear, coercion, intellectual subjugation and stagnation.

The Archbishop maintained that education should promote critical thinking and diversity of thought rather than enforce what he described as rigid ideological conformity.

He said: ‘The administration of our schools cannot be run like an autocracy where absolute compliance is demanded with threats, and without openness to the informed opinions of stakeholders’.

Ugorji called on the Commissioner for Education to immediately halt what he described as unilateral directives and engage in transparent and meaningful dialogue with stakeholders in the education sector.

He also appealed to the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to call the commissioner to order, saying this would prevent the actions of the ministry from being interpreted as the position of the state government.

The archbishop said such actions could also create a misleading impression that the state government and the Church were in conflict.

He further urged elected representatives to investigate what he described as abuses of power and restore accountability to the Ministry of Education.

He said: ‘We stand firmly with the educators in our schools, and families in resisting these undemocratic overreaches’.

Residents of Badikko community in Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State have appealed to Governor Uba Sani to intervene in the deteriorating condition of roads and drainage infrastructure in the area.

The appeal was contained in an open letter on August 29 by the Badikko Reformers Group (BRG) and the Progressive Youth Forum (PYF), Badikko.

Sharifudeen Muhammad, who signed the letter on behalf of the groups, lamented the poor state of the roads and drainage, particularly during the rainy season.

He also noted the flood risks highlighted in forecasts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

He warned that failure to take urgent action could lead to further deterioration of the roads, flooding of residential areas and disruption of access to major institutions located in the community.

Muhammad said the community was strategic to the state, as it hosts the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital (44 NARH) and part of Kaduna Polytechnic.

He added that it serves as a major route for residents of Hayin Dan-Mani, Mahuta and Kurmin Mashi, travelling to the Central and Old Panteka markets.

Muhammad said the roads in Badikko and its adjoining routes were riddled with potholes, prone to erosion and with inadequate road surfaces, while the drainage system was insufficient to effectively channel stormwater.

He noted that the problem was affecting several aspects of community life, including vehicular movement to the Government House, access to healthcare services at 44 NARH, activities at Kaduna Polytechnic and commercial activities.

Muhammad expressed concern that the poor condition of the roads could hamper emergency and security responses in the community.

He called on the governor to direct the immediate assessment of roads and drainage channels in Badikko by the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

Muhammad requested the construction and rehabilitation of major roads in the community, as well as the provision of standard drainage systems as an emergency measure against flooding.

He also urged the government to prioritise roads leading to the Government House, 44 NARH and Kaduna Polytechnic, as well as routes connecting Hayin Dan-Mani, Mahuta and Kurmin Mashi to the Central and Old Panteka markets.

He appealed to Governor Sani to convene a stakeholder meeting with the leadership of BRG and PYF within seven days to discuss possible emergency interventions.

Muhammad said residents of Badikko had continued to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) since 2015 and expressed confidence that the governor will respond positively to their demands under his administration’s development agenda.

A Commissioner with the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NISIEC), Barrister Mohammed Ahmed Wawa, has regained his freedom after spending 338 days in captivity in the hands of bandits.

Wawa, popularly known as Ahmed Lawyer, was abducted alongside the former Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhassan Bawa Niworo, who had earlier regained his freedom.

The NISIEC Commissioner was kidnapped in Ibbi Forest a few weeks before the commencement of the local government elections, while travelling to Minna, the Niger State capital, for an official engagement.

He was released at about 7 a.m. on Wednesday along the Funtua axis in Katsina State after an undisclosed amount was reportedly paid as ransom.

He said he was fed only once daily with Tuwon Masara da Miyan Kuka, a popular northern staple, while the cattle became his companions in the forest, as he slept in their midst.

‘Throughout my stay in my abductors’ den for over 300 days, I did not take a bath. When I was handed over to my family, the first thing I did was to take an hour-long bath. The experience was traumatic,’ he said.

Ahmed expressed appreciation to everyone who supported his family and contributed to securing his release, while thanking God for returning him alive to his family.