Category: Nigerian Tribune

Financial market experts are set to examine the opportunities, volatility, and risks confronting Nigeria’s equities market as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections at the 2026 fourth-quarter Master Class scheduled for Saturday, October 3.

The virtual event, to be held via Zoom, will focus on how investors can navigate market volatility, political uncertainty, and changing economic conditions while positioning their portfolios for opportunities on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).

The Master Class, themed ‘The NGX – New Opportunities with Volatility and Risk Trading,’ is being driven by Garba Kurfi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of APT Securities and Funds Limited; Dr Sylvester Anaba, Head of Research, United Capital Plc; Abdul-Rasheed Oshoma Momoh, Executive Director, Operations, TRW Stockbrokers Limited; and Ambrose Omordion, Chief Research Officer, InvestData Consulting Limited, who is the convener.

The programme comes as investors contend with heightened market volatility and the approaching 2027 election cycle, with participants expected to examine how previous election cycles have influenced trading patterns and asset prices.

Kurfi will speak on ‘The Profitable Trading and Investing Strategies To Play NGX For The Rest of 2026 And Beyond,’ while Momoh will examine ‘Election Cycle and Patterns On The NGX: How To Trade Profitably and Protect Capital.’

Anaba will address ‘How To Position and Pick Smart Money Stocks In Q4 And Post-Election Rally,’ while Omordion will focus on ‘Straightforward Sell Or Hold Techniques To Handle and Manage Winning Stocks On NGX.’

According to Omordion, the Master Class is designed to equip investors with practical tools for identifying fundamentally sound stocks, avoiding unnecessary losses and building portfolios capable of generating returns beyond the election period.

He said market corrections should not automatically be interpreted as losses, describing them as part of the repricing process through which fundamentally strong companies could become more attractively valued.

‘When the market corrects or pulls back, quality companies that were expensive become affordable with fundamentals remaining intact. That is where long-term wealth starts,’ Omordion said.

He added that political uncertainty could amplify market volatility while also creating opportunities for investors willing to take a measured approach.

‘Political cycles always create volatility. But they also create entry points,’ he said, adding that investors should use market corrections to build watchlists of companies with strong earnings and dividend records.

Omordion advised investors to consider phased buying and naira-cost averaging rather than committing all their funds at once amid election-related uncertainty.

‘Scale in as uncertainty peaks. The investors who do well on the NGX are not the ones who avoid corrections and politics. They are the ones who use both to buy quality at a discount,’ he said.

He said the programme would provide participants with practical strategies for combining fundamental, technical and sentiment analysis to navigate a market characterised by uncertainty, changing investor behaviour and global volatility.

The InvestData chief research officer said participants would also be taught how to identify opportunities while managing the risks associated with inflation, political developments and market sentiment.

According to him, the Master Class will provide hands-on guidance on filtering market noise, determining appropriate entry and exit points and navigating different market cycles.

Participants will also examine strategies for preserving capital and positioning investments in sectors with the potential to support earnings and equity-price growth.

The organisers said the programme would further address the balance between fundamental and technical investing, risk and return, buying and selling decisions, as well as bullish and bearish market conditions. Omordion added that participants would also receive a practical session on selected stocks and strategies for identifying opportunities capable of generating returns above inflation.

With the 2027 general elections approaching, the organisers said understanding the interaction between political developments, investor sentiment and equity-market performance would be central to investment decisions in the months ahead.

Bayelsa State deputy governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, has called on the Akenfa community in Yenagoa Local Government Area to discontinue its protest against Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited (RAECL) over the non-completion of the link bridge project.

Akpe, who made the call at a meeting with the leadership of the Akenfa community at Government House, Yenagoa, urged communities to always seek peaceful means of addressing issues, rather than resorting to frequent disruption of oil production activities in their areas.

Sympathising with the community over its plight due to the non-completion of the project, the deputy governor, however, blamed the tripartite committee set up last year by his predecessor for not carrying out its assignment.

Akpe said although it was the first time the issue had been brought to his notice since he assumed office as deputy governor, he would work with other stakeholders to ensure the resumption and completion of the project.

He also assured the community that he would personally reach out to the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ascertain the status of the project, following its official handover by the state government to the agency in 2025.

His words: ‘Embarking on demonstrations and creating blockades to public facilities is not the best option to undertake in order to elicit government’s attention to address your grievances.

‘Dialogue remains the best option for seeking concrete resolution because even when you fight, you will still come back to the settlement table.

‘I am aware of the official communication to the NDDC by the state government handing over the Akenfa bridge project to the agency. So, the solution to this problem is not to stop the operations of the oil company operating in your community.

‘As a people, you should always be guided by laws and not take the law into your hands. We sympathise with the Akenfa community for your suffering due to the non-completion of that project. But let me assure you that we will interface with the NDDC to do the needful.’

In her contribution, Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, recalled what transpired at the meeting held on December 4, last year, presided over by the late deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

She said the government informed the Akenfa community of the official handover of the project back to the NDDC, adding that to ensure the resumption of work on the project, a steering committee comprising the Akenfa community, NDDC and government was constituted at the meeting.

She listed members of the committee to include the state NDDC representative, Senator Deinyabofa Dimaro; Commissioner for Special Duties (Central), Mr. Mandy Akpallo; and Chief Dikivie Ikiogha.

Others are the Technical Adviser to the Governor on NDDC Matters, Mr. Kuro Nyenye; Chief Isiya Albert; Secretary to the Akenfa community, Mr. Wilson Mumeya; youth president, Mr. Moses Izibekiebo; as well as an engineer to be nominated by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

Earlier in their remarks, the paramount ruler of Akenfa, Chief Josiah Osom Obadiah, and another stakeholder, Mr. Wilson Mumeya, attributed the latest protest to the suffering occasioned by the abandonment of the project, which was started in 2010, following an alleged agreement between the NDDC and RAECL.

They expressed gratitude to the deputy governor for his timely intervention, which they noted had given the community a glimmer of hope.

Ahead of the 2027 general election, some concerned stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ise-Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti have called on the party’s national leadership to disqualify and review the eligibility of its candidate for the Ekiti South-West/Ikere/Ise-Orun Federal Constituency, Engr Toyin Okoro.

The stakeholders said their demand followed alleged concerns over the candidate’s reported employment status as a former Senior Legislative Aide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, alleged private business interests while in public service, and the ongoing investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Speaking at the protest in Ise-Orun on behalf of the stakeholders, Stephen Ogunjemilua said their position was that the party should establish the facts surrounding Okoro’s employment, resignation from public service, and business interests through official documentation before proceeding with his nomination.

The stakeholders said one of the issues previously brought before the state leadership of the APC was the reported employment of Okoro as a Senior Legislative Aide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abass Tajudeen.

The stakeholders therefore urged the APC leadership to obtain and examine the relevant employment and resignation records rather than rely on hearsay.

He said, ‘One of the issues we brought to the attention of the State Executive of the party was the reported employment of Engr. Okoro as a Senior Legislative Aide to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

‘We specifically requested clarification regarding his employment status, the date and validity of any resignation or withdrawal from public service, and whether all applicable constitutional and administrative requirements had been satisfied before his participation in the electoral process.

‘This was not an accusation of wrongdoing. It was a request for verification. Section 66(1) (f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), provides that a person employed in the public service of the Federation or of a State who seeks election to the Senate or House of Representatives must have resigned, withdrawn or retired from such employment at least 30 days before the date of the election. Section 318 of the Constitution also expressly includes the Clerk and other staff of the National Assembly within the definition of the ‘public service of the Federation.

‘Our position, therefore, was that the party should establish the relevant facts from official records before proceeding. We did not ask the party to act on hearsay. We asked that the necessary documents be examined and the candidate’s eligibility be properly established.

‘We also drew attention to reports and concerns regarding alleged private business interests associated with Engr. Okoro during the period in which he reportedly served as a Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly.

‘Specifically, concerns were raised about the reported relationship between a private company allegedly associated with him and government-related transactions.

‘Again, our position was not that allegations should automatically be treated as established facts. Rather, we considered the matter sufficiently important to warrant proper verification because, if established, questions could potentially arise concerning conflict of interest, public-service obligations, the propriety of transactions and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

‘We therefore appealed to the party leadership to examine relevant records, including employment records, resignation documents, Corporate Affairs Commission records, public procurement records and other appropriate documentation.

‘Despite the concerns raised before the primary, Toyin Zacchaeus Okoro subsequently emerged as the APC candidate for the House of Representatives seat covering Ekiti South-West/Ikere/Ise-Orun Federal Constituency. Our concern has never been about preventing any individual from participating in politics.

‘ It has been about ensuring that the APC does not inadvertently expose itself to avoidable legal, administrative or electoral complications.’

However, in his reaction, the APC candidate, through the campaign council, described Okoro as a law-abiding Nigerian with zero record of criminal activity or fraud, calling on the people to disregard the allegations allegedly sponsored by the incumbent lawmaker.

‘ He has never been arrested, charged or convicted of any criminal offence in his life. He is a respected professional Engineer and public servant who served meritoriously, ‘ the council said.

The Director, Media, Strategy and Publicity of the council, Yomi Abegunde, said, ‘Engr. Toyin Okoro was invited by the ICPC to respond to a petition before it, which he has done as a law-abiding citizen.

‘Okoro allegedly operated as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of a private company while serving as a Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly.

‘We state categorically that Engr Toyin Okoro never broke any law as he duly resigned as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of a private company when he was appointed as Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly.’

The National President of Omo Ibile Igbomina, Sir Bisi Fakayode, has received Accord Party presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, on a courtesy visit to the Omo Ibile Igbomina House in Ganmo, Kwara State, where both personalities reflected on their longstanding relationship, the development of the Igbomina institution and the wider question of national unity.

The visit also provided an opportunity for Hashim to draw from his personal connection with Igbomina and reflect on what he described as the region’s longstanding tradition of cultural accommodation and peaceful coexistence, which he said offers lessons for Nigeria’s nation-building project.

During the visit, Fakayode conducted Hashim around the Igbomina House, showcasing renovation, rehabilitation and other improvement projects undertaken under his leadership. He also took him on an inspection of the adjoining hospitality facility and other areas where development works are ongoing.

Fakayode expressed appreciation for Hashim’s longstanding support and encouragement, recalling that he was among the first three prominent supporters of the present Omo Ibile Igbomina leadership from its formative stage.

The group’s national president described Hashim as a friend, supporter and valued stakeholder of Igbomina, noting that although his ancestral origin is outside present-day Kwara State, his upbringing and longstanding relationship with Igbomina have created a strong bond between him and the people.

‘What we are witnessing today did not start today. You supported and encouraged this journey from the beginning. From my days as a local government chairman to where God has brought me today as the national president of Omo Ibile Igbomina, your support and encouragement have been part of this journey,’ Fakayode said.

Responding, Hashim commended Fakayode for the transformation taking place at Igbomina House and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to see the projects firsthand.

He acknowledged the progress recorded under Fakayode’s leadership and encouraged the Omo Ibile Igbomina leadership to remain committed to strengthening the institution and advancing the collective interests of the Igbomina people.

Hashim also reflected on Fakayode’s journey from public service and local government leadership to his present position as national president of Omo Ibile Igbomina, acknowledging the longstanding relationships, encouragement and support that accompanied the journey.

Beyond the immediate purpose of the visit, however, Hashim said his connection with Igbomina was deeply personal.

He explained that although his ancestral roots lie in Yauri, he has long regarded Igbominaland as home, having been raised within an Igbomina family that lived in New Bussa, Niger State.

According to him, that upbringing shaped his understanding of community, identity and belonging and exposed him to what he described as Igbomina’s remarkable tradition of accommodation and peaceful coexistence.

Hashim noted that Igbomina communities have historically existed alongside settlements and communities of people from different ethnic backgrounds, including Fulani, Hausa, Tiv, Zuru, Birom and Igala communities, among others.

He said these communities were not merely tolerated as outsiders but became part of the wider social, economic and political life of the communities around them while retaining their distinct identities.

For Hashim, that experience demonstrates that cultural diversity does not necessarily have to produce social fragmentation.

He described the social environment in which he was raised as an example of the ‘workability, resilience and strength of cultural pluralism,’ arguing that people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds can live, trade, farm, build relationships and participate in shared social and political spaces without abandoning their identities.

‘We don’t have to become identical to become one nation. We can be different and yet belong together,’ Hashim said.

Hashim argued that Nigeria’s diversity can become a source of strength when supported by mutual respect, appropriate institutions and a shared sense of belonging.

The Accord presidential candidate further said his visit to Omo Ibile Igbomina House was more than a social engagement.

He described it as ‘a reminiscence of where I came from, a celebration of what I have experienced, and an inspiration for what Nigeria can still become.’

Hashim concluded that Nigeria’s diversity need not be a weakness, arguing that ‘properly organised, mutually respected and institutionally protected,’ it can become one of the country’s greatest sources of strength.

THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) and MTN Nigeria have confirmed their participation in the Africa Sustainability Forum 2026, further strengthening the breadth of stakeholders expected at the gathering scheduled for October 20, at Oriental Hotels, Lagos.

The Forum, with the theme: ‘Sustainable Futures: Driving Just Transitions, Green Growth and Shared Prosperity,’ will convene leaders and practitioners across government, business, regulation, development, finance, sustainability and civil society to examine practical pathways for advancing sustainable development across Africa.

The NCC’s role in regulating and supporting the communications sector intersects with conversations around sustainable digital infrastructure, connectivity and the digital economy. The NDPC brings a data governance and privacy perspective, with the Commission describing data privacy as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s sustainable digital economy.

FBRA, an industry collaboration platform focused on post-consumer packaging waste collection, recovery and recycling, adds a strong circular economy and responsible waste management dimension to the Forum. Its work includes promoting sustainable packaging waste management and supporting the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility in Nigeria.

MTN Nigeria’s participation further brings a corporate sustainability perspective to the conversation.

The telecommunications company has identified sustainability pillars spanning environmental responsibility, social impact, governance and inclusive economic growth, including a commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.

Elvis Eromosele, Lead Coordinator, Africa Sustainability Forum, said the diversity of organisations joining the Forum reflects the need for sustainability conversations to move beyond individual sectors.

‘Sustainability is not a conversation that belongs to one industry, one institution or one group of stakeholders. The challenges we face are interconnected, and so must be the solutions. Bringing regulators, businesses and industry-led sustainability platforms into the same room creates an opportunity to examine what is working, identify the gaps and, importantly, explore how we can move from commitments to practical action. The participation of NCC, NDPC, FBRA, MTN Nigeria, and others adds important perspectives to this conversation, and we look forward to the ideas, partnerships and solutions that will emerge from the Forum.’

The Africa Sustainability Forum 2026 is designed to foster meaningful dialogue around the realities and opportunities associated with Africa’s transition towards more sustainable and inclusive economies. Discussions will explore the intersection of just transitions, green growth, responsible business, innovation, climate action, circular economy, digital transformation and shared prosperity.

The Forum also seeks to create space for stakeholders to share experiences, examine emerging opportunities, challenge existing approaches and identify areas for collaboration that can contribute to sustainable outcomes across the continent.

The Africa Sustainability Forum 2026 calls on organisations, sponsors, business leaders, sustainability professionals, policymakers, development partners, individuals and sustainability enthusiasts to be part of this important conversation.

Whether through participation, partnership, sponsorship or knowledge-sharing, there is an opportunity to contribute to shaping practical solutions for a more sustainable and prosperous Africa.

Sometimes, governance is not about making the loudest noise. It is about seeing a problem, thinking around it and solving it.

Take what Seyi Makinde has done with the new Ibadan bypass.

You are coming from Lagos on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Instead of entering the belly of Ibadan to wrestle with traffic, heat, impatient ‘Micra’ drivers and the familiar Nigerian symphony of horns, you simply veer off.

Then-breeze, awesome breeze caressing your face.

You are moving, not spending what feels like half a lifetime trying to cross Ibadan. Just a smooth stretch of road, the kind that makes you lean back in your seat and say, ‘Ah! So government can actually think?’

And before you have finished enjoying the ride, you are on the Osun stretch.

Eighteen minutes, yes, just 18 minutes drive

That is not merely a road. That is time returned to the people.

That is a businessman reaching his destination earlier, a truck driver spending fewer hours in traffic, a family travelling with less stress, groomsmen arriving at the wedding before the couple enters panic mode. That is saving expensive fuel.

And this is where we must give Governor Makinde his flowers.

Some governors think. Some governors complain. Some governors think about why they cannot do something. Others think about how they can do it.

There is a particularly lazy Nigerian governmental logic that says: ‘It is a federal road, therefore we cannot touch it.’

Wonderful.

So everybody should suffer because a signboard says ‘Federal’?

Please.

There are governors who have discovered that leadership sometimes means thinking beyond the legal boundary of your desk. You engage the Federal Government. You collaborate. You negotiate. You find funding. You solve the problem within the law.

Because the ordinary traveller does not care whether the pothole belongs to Abuja, Ibadan, Osun or Mars.

He just wants to get home alive and on time.

That is why infrastructure such as this bypass is bigger than Oyo State.

Look at the geography.

Lagos connects to Ogun. Ogun connects to Oyo. Oyo opens the route towards Osun, Kwara and the rest of the country.

When Ibadan traffic is eased, many states breathe.

A Lagos trader heading to Osogbo benefits.

An Osun farmer taking produce towards Lagos benefits.

A transporter moving goods northward benefits.

A family travelling from Lagos through Osun benefits.

Businesses benefit.

Tourism benefits.

Logistics benefits.

And most importantly, ordinary Nigerians get back something governments have stolen from them for decades: time.

Soon, with the right road connections and continued improvements, the journey from Lagos to Osogbo could become less than three hours rather than the unpredictable ordeal Nigerians have become accustomed to.

That is legacy.

Not the number of billboards carrying your face.

Not the number of times your commissioners praise you on television.

Not the number of committees you inaugurated.

A road that continues to save people’s time and money long after you have left office? Now, that is legacy.

And perhaps that is the difference between a governor who is merely occupying a Government House and one who is actually thinking about the people outside it.

Because governance should not be a permanent exercise in wringing one’s hands and explaining why something cannot be done.

‘It is a federal road.’

‘There is no money.’

‘The previous administration…’

‘We are waiting for approval…’

‘It is not our responsibility…’

At some point, Nigerians simply want to ask:

‘Oga, are you governing or writing an excuse letter?’

Governor Makinde has shown something refreshing: sometimes, the problem is not that the government cannot solve a problem. The problem is that nobody has bothered to think creatively enough about solving it.

So, yes, Governor Seyi Makinde deserves the applause here.

Not because everything in Oyo is perfect. It isn’t.

Not because governors should be worshipped. They shouldn’t.

But because when somebody does something that makes life demonstrably easier for thousands-perhaps millions-of people, we should be grown enough to say so.

Nigeria has enough complainers and finger-pointers.

Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Bayelsa State have demanded inclusion in benefits accruing to oil-host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The PWDs made the demand during a visit to King Wapaebiama Amakiri, of Obhal-Emeyal Clan, in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking during the visit, coordinator of the group, Mr Philip Godfrey, noted that PWDs had been excluded from the benefits of the Host Community Development Trust Fund (HCDTF).

Godfrey said there had been no Act obligating their inclusion in the benefits accruing to host communities.

He commended the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and Ford Foundation for making the advocacy movement possible.

Godfrey said PWDs, notwithstanding the provisions of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, on their inclusion in all facets of Nigerian society, had consistently been excluded, discriminated against and disconnected from community benefits.

He observed that pollution did not discriminate against anyone, adding that it affected PWDs more than able-bodied persons.

The coordinator said PWDs had been excluded for too long and that it was not supposed to be so.

He said the Disability Law had created opportunities for PWDs to make their voices heard.

According to him, PWDs should benefit from oil exploration because some of them came from oil-producing communities and suffered the effects of pollution.

‘PWDs are not feeling among; if we are feeling the pain, we should also feel the benefits of oil exploration because some of us also come from oil-producing communities,’ he said.

Responding, Amakiri said the world had come to recognise that disability did not mean incapacitation, adding that PWDs were disabled but capable.

He said the setbacks associated with disability should no longer be used as a disadvantage against persons living with disabilities.

He said gone were the days when PWDs were regarded as beggars on the streets, but now they could contribute meaningfully to societal development.

Amakiri said that if given the opportunity, PWDs could contribute meaningfully to the development of society.

On the PIA issue, he said he would discuss it with fellow traditional rulers in charge of oil-producing communities in the clan.

He said they would deliberate on the issue at their meeting, noting that oil pollution affected both able-bodied persons and PWDs.

Public institutions must prioritise proactive disclosure to combat misinformation and disinformation, stakeholders demanded at a Lagos conference held recently.

The forum, organised by the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the International Press Centre (IPC) to commemorate the 2026 International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), warned that systemic secrecy and poor compliance with Nigeria’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011, undermine public trust.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Freedom of Information in the Age of Disinformation: Why Transparency Matters More Than Ever,’ IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, stressed that fighting fake news requires more than citizen fact-checking. He emphasised that public institutions hold a constitutional duty to provide credible data and support democratic accountability.

Participants – including journalists, lawyers and civil society organisations (CSOs) – were alarmed that many government agencies routinely deny requests without legal basis, ignore proactive publishing guidelines and delay responses, rendering time-sensitive data useless. Attendees also highlighted institutional impunity and a significant gender gap, noting that access barriers for women and underserved groups remain largely ignored.

To resolve these bottlenecks, delegates resolved to launch coordinated legal actions against wrongful denials.

They also charged media houses and CSOs with building coalitions to leverage the FOI Act for investigative reporting and tracking state expenditure.

The conference issued targeted demands to rescue the transparency law.

The Attorney-General of the Federation must enforce oversight and issue strict punitive directives against non-compliant institutions.

The judiciary must grant expedited hearings and fast-track judgments in FOI lawsuits.

Public institutions must also establish dedicated FOI desks, digitalise record-keeping and publish open-format information, while the National Orientation Agency (NOA) must launch public campaigns to educate citizens on their right to information.

Delegates concluded that timely access to verifiable official information remains the ultimate cornerstone of good governance.

The Nkpolu-Rumuigbo community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has been flooded, disrupting economic and social activities and forcing some residents and businesses to relocate.

The Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman of the community, Echene Daddy, lamented what he described as years of government neglect, saying residents had been left to their fate.

Daddy said the deplorable condition of the Nkpolu-Rumuigbo Road had worsened the flooding, making movement difficult for motorists and residents.

‘We have been going through this thing for the past three years or more. It has been crazy all these years, but this year is the worst,’ he said.

The CDC chairman said several residents displaced by the flood had sought refuge in his office and the community town hall.

‘As I am talking to you, stranded people have moved out of their houses. They are now in my office. They are using my office as a refugee camp. Even the community town hall is filled up with people,’ he said.

He said the flood had adversely affected businesses and companies operating in the area, adding that some businesses had been forced to relocate.

According to him, ‘There is a company here that has relocated. They are looking for somewhere in the East where they will move to because of the flood.’

Daddy attributed the worsening situation partly to the poor condition of the roads, saying the Obi-Wali Road through Tuscany, Stoke City and Eckankar areas had become impassable.

He said residents who owned vehicles had been forced to park them because of the deplorable road condition.

The CDC chairman also lamented the condition of government-owned schools in the community, saying both primary and secondary schools had been affected by the flood.

‘Our secondary school Apara has been flooded and abandoned. If you go to our primary school, UPE, it has been abandoned. Floods, no zinc on the roof. Students are learning under the rain,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly has suspended other legislative activities to address the worsening flooding situation across the state.

The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Somiari-Stewart, at the 55th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session.

Raising the matter under Order 26 of the Standing Orders, Stewart called for urgent measures to address the impact of the floods, which she said had destroyed homes and means of livelihood, with residents in some affected communities reportedly displaced.

The Speaker, Martin Chike Amaewhule, expressed sympathy with affected residents and directed lawmakers to assess the situation in their respective constituencies and provide assistance where possible.

Following the resolution, lawmakers inspected several flood-affected areas in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, where they assessed the extent of damage and heard complaints from residents.

Speaking after the inspection, Amaewhule said the visit was prompted by the motion and distress calls from constituents across the state.

He said the Assembly observed that some areas were affected by blocked canals and neglected drainage channels, while others resulted from natural water flow.

Amaewhule called on relevant government agencies responsible for drainage maintenance and desilting to intensify their efforts, while expressing optimism that the Rivers State Government would take urgent steps to protect lives and property.

The Federal Government has urged charcoal merchants and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector of the economy to adopt sustainable practices and support efforts to reverse deforestation and restore Nigeria’s degraded forests.

Speaking at the flag-off of the 2026 Operation One Million Trees programme, organised by the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchants at the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan, on Wednesday, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abass Lawal, said deforestation posed a serious threat not only to the environment but also to the economic growth of the country.

The Minister, who spoke through Dr Osakwe Igbinosa, stressed the need for precautionary steps, including tree planting, to avert impending danger.

He said tree planting remained critical to combating climate change, restoring biodiversity, checking desertification and strengthening the resilience of Nigeria’s ecosystems.

Lawal said the Federal Ministry of Environment was implementing various afforestation and forest restoration initiatives, including the 2026 National Afforestation Programme, Sovereign Green Bond Afforestation Programme and the National Greening of Cities and Urban Areas initiative.

He said the Operation One Million Trees programme complemented the government’s environmental agenda, urging participants to comply with existing forestry laws and regulations.

He stressed that the success of afforestation should be measured not by the number of seedlings planted but by their survival and growth into healthy trees.

‘Tree planting is not just about putting seedlings into the soil. The real measure of success is their survival and growth into healthy forests,’ he said.

Chairman of the association, Adeshola Adebowale Idowu, urged charcoal merchants and Nigerians generally to replace trees removed from the environment, advocating the planting of several trees for every tree cut down.

Idowu also called for greater use of technology, including drones, to accelerate tree planting in difficult-to-reach locations.

In his presentation, the Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon Ademola Aderinto, described climate change as a global phenomenon affecting everyone, warning that projections indicated the world could face a waste-management crisis within the next 15 years and an even more serious climate crisis within 20 years if current practices persisted.

‘Climate change is dealing with every one of us globally. No one is exempted. In the next 15 years, it is projected we will be having a global waste-management crisis. Within the next 20 years, we will be having a serious global climate change crisis if nothing is done,’ Aderinto warned.

He identified indiscriminate tree felling for land development, housing and business activities as a major threat to biodiversity and food security, stressing that tree planting remained a major part of the solution.

Aderinto urged residents and developers to replace trees removed for legitimate purposes with more trees, rather than merely replacing them on a one-for-one basis.

‘If you cut down one tree for any legitimate purpose, plant back more. It is no longer one for one. You cut down one, plant two, three, four back.

‘Why take down a tree if there is no need? Why not design your building with the tree in the layout?’ he queried.

He also urged residents to cultivate the habit of planting trees in their immediate environments.

‘Plant at least one tree where you live, where you walk and where you work,’ he appealed.

Earlier, the Dean, Faculty of Renewable and Natural Resources, Prof Joke Akinyeleru, said the second year of the one-million-tree commitment demonstrated the faculty’s determination to take practical steps towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to climate action.

The Chairman of the association, Mr Idowu Adeshola, alongside other partners, including Mrs Florence Omolola of FOJ Multidynamic and Mr Azeez Rasaq of Rasbat International Resources Limited, said the initiative was designed to promote sustainable charcoal production and ensure that the charcoal business was conducted in compliance with Federal Ministry of Environment regulations.

They also disclosed that technology, including drone seeding, would be deployed as part of efforts to expand tree planting and improve forest protection.

The Chief Strategy Officer of FOJ Multidynamic Interchange Nigeria Limited, Florence Omolola, said the three-day programme was designed to promote sustainable charcoal production through sensitisation, youth engagement, tree planting and independent verification.

She said the verification phase would involve environmentalists, journalists, regulators, NGOs and other stakeholders to provide evidence of trees planted and enhance transparency.

Omolola said the initiative marked the beginning of a broader effort to make the charcoal business more environmentally responsible, expressing hope that the programme would grow beyond its one-million-tree target in subsequent years.