Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Nigerian equities market extended its decline on Tuesday as renewed profit-taking across major sectors dragged the NGX All-Share Index down 0.29 per cent to 251,913.20 points.

The decline moderated the market’s year-to-date return to 61.88 per cent, while total market capitalisation fell by ?486.63 billion to ?163.53 trillion.

Market breadth remained negative, with 32 stocks closing lower against 27 gainers, translating to a breadth of 0.8x.

NPF Microfinance Bank, LivingTrust Mortgage Bank, WAPIC Insurance, VFD Group and ABC Transport recorded the strongest price gains, while Sovereign Trust Insurance, Unilever Nigeria, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals, UPDC and International Breweries emerged as the major decliners.

Sectoral performance was mixed, although the major sectors closed lower. The Banking Index declined 0.91 per cent, while the Consumer Goods and Industrial Goods indices fell 0.83 per cent and 0.91 per cent, respectively.

The Insurance Index bucked the trend, gaining 0.38 per cent, while the Oil/Gas and Commodity indices were unchanged.

Trading activity also weakened significantly during the session, with the number of deals, volume and value traded declining by 23.40 per cent, 46.46 per cent and 13.38 per cent, respectively.

A total of 47,301 deals were recorded, involving 548.67 million shares valued at ?34.30 billion.

The session’s decline came amid a broader moderation in the market after its strong run this year, with investors taking profits in some highly valued stocks.

Analysts at Cowry Asset Management expect the underlying positive trend in the equities market to persist as investor sentiment improves, although profit-taking could continue to constrain the pace of gains in the near term.

The latest decline leaves the market with a substantial 61.88 per cent gain year-to-date, despite recent bouts of profit-taking.

Former Cross River state governor and presidential candidate of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has called for the establishment of state and local government police, saying that Nigeria’s highly centralised security system cannot effectively confront terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes across the country.

He said the country must localise policing because effective security depends more on intelligence gathered within communities than on the deployment of armed personnel after crimes have occurred.

He said Nigeria had failed to substantially redesign its security architecture since the end of the Civil War in 1970.

‘You really have not updated your security architecture since 1970.

‘It is only recently that more military divisions were created, but anything that is essential must be local. You have to localise it,’ he added.

He said the proposal for state police, and, where necessary, local government police, was appropriate, provided that the judiciary was strengthened and stringent safeguards were introduced against abuse.

‘You have got to decentralise your policing. The idea of state police, even local government police, is right.

‘Have it and set the guidelines, but you must strengthen the judiciary because there must be an institution everyone reports to when things go wrong,’ he said.

Duke dismissed arguments that governors could turn state police into instruments of political intimidation, saying the federal police had also faced allegations of being used by presidents and other powerful officeholders.

‘If you say state police will be abused, the national police will also be abused by the president. It is not only governors who can abuse the police. Set it up and put stringent guidelines in place,’ he said.

The PRP presidential candidate added that intelligence gathering should be the principal responsibility of decentralised police formations because residents were better positioned to identify suspicious movements and emerging threats within their communities.

‘Eighty per cent of security is intelligence. You cannot be in Sokoto and expect to know what is happening in Calabar. You need local people to gather that intelligence.

‘Only about 20 percent of policing is enforcement. Their main preoccupation should be intelligence gathering.’

He described as embarrassing Nigeria’s failure to infiltrate Boko Haram and develop reliable advance intelligence on the terrorist organisation after years of insurgency.

‘It is a shame that after almost 20 years of Boko Haram, we don’t have adequate intelligence on them.

‘We have not infiltrated their ranks. We ought to have infiltrated their ranks by now to know what they will do next,’ he said.

Duke compared Nigeria’s structure with the United States, where the National Guard gives individual states access to locally based security formations while remaining subject to defined federal authority.

‘In the United States, they have what they call the National Guard, which is military and it is in every state.

‘It is really like having a division in every state. They have decentralised security,’ he stated.

The former governor also traced the expansion of terrorism, kidnapping and banditry partly to extreme poverty and the absence of legitimate economic opportunities.

He recalled the Maitatsine uprising of the late 1970s and early 1980s, noting that violent movements often gained ground in deeply impoverished communities.

‘The northeastern part is the poorest part of the North. You find that those things are exacerbated in those areas,’ he said.

‘Now, it is creeping all over the North and coming down South.’

He said criminal activity became particularly difficult to combat when young people discovered that kidnapping and banditry could yield sums far beyond what legitimate employment offered them.

‘A kidnapper kidnaps someone and gets N20 million. You then tell him to take a steady job that pays N250,000. It cannot work.

‘He has already tasted blood, and it becomes very difficult to wean him off it,’ he said.

Duke added that policing reforms must therefore be supported by education, employment and wider measures aimed at making citizens economically productive.

He said security could not be achieved solely through military deployments while poverty and hopelessness continue to supply criminal groups with recruits.

‘The reason we need a government is to ensure the utmost productivity of our citizens within a safe and orderly environment. If people are productive and the environment is safe, what more should the government do? That is the foundation of a stable country,’ he said.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State on Tuesday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the alleged importation of foreign nationals by some politicians in the state with the intention to use them for electoral malpractices in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during a one-day pre-election training workshop in Ilorin, organised for over 3,000 PDP women across the three senatorial districts of the state, titled ‘Our vote, our power- Standing Together for Our Future’, the state PDP chairman, Mallam Isa Bawa, said that the foreigners had allegedly been issued voters’ cards to enable them to vote in the next general elections.

The PDP chairman, who identified Baruten local government area in the Kwara North district of the state as one of the areas involved, charged INEC to be good umpire by bringing the perpetrators of the act to book.

He also called on the INEC to look into alleged activities of agency of government charged with regulating pasting of posters and erection of billboards, which he said had pulled down billboards of PDP candidates in the 2027 general elections.

PDP chairman wanted the INEC to check the campaign of calumny among politicians as the campaign had started, advising the electoral body to organise dialogue/debate among candidates to enable them talk with Kwara people on their plans for the state and its people.

He assured PDP women that the opposition party would make a difference when it returns to power, tracing recent electoral victory in Osun State to women’s involvement and participation, and charged them to take 2027 general elections more seriously and prepare to defend their votes.

Also speaking, the Kwara State PDP Women Leader, Hajia Aminat Isola, said that women constitute voting power in any free, fair, peaceful and credible elections in every democracy.

Hajia Isola, therefore, tasked women in the state to master the voting process from accreditation to voting, counting and declaration of results at the polling units and collation at the ward level during the 2027 general elections in the country.

‘Women constitute the largest voting bloc in any elections. We are mothers, we are sisters and we are traders, farmers, teachers and nation builders

‘Yet, our numerical strengthen means nothing until we translate it into power at the polling units.

‘When we talk about leveraging women’s voting power, the work starts long election day but victory is determined at the polling unit and we must therefore be strategic, educated and organised’.

Hajia Isola, who said that, ‘Ignorance is greatest challenge in the struggle to our power, added that, ‘Today, we will master the entire voting process from accreditation, to voting, to sorting, counting and declaration of results at the polling units and collation at the ward level.

‘When we walk into the polling unit on election day, you must walk in confidently, knowledgeably and unshakeably.

‘Our assignment does not end with our vote. I charge every woman here to go back and educate at least five to 10 other women in your streets and communities especially the aged women. Teach them on how to thumbprint correctly so their votes will not be invalid. One rejected ballot is one silenced voice’.

The oil and gas industry is set to begin shaping a new framework for local content implementation beyond 2027, as stakeholders converge at the Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum 2026 to address funding, project opportunities, industrial capacity and regulatory reforms.

The forum comes as local content performance has reached 61 percent under the Nigerian Content Strategic Roadmap 2017-2027, with the country targeting 70 percent.

The development coincides with renewed investment in the upstream sector, including Shell’s $2 billion HI Field project and the $5 billion Bonga North project, while indigenous operators are increasingly taking over assets divested by international oil companies.

Organisers said the forum would bring together government, regulators, international oil companies, indigenous operators and service companies to determine the priorities that should guide Nigerian Content implementation over the next decade.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s forum, Wemimo Oyelana, Portfolio and Country Director, dmg Nigeria Events, said the industry must shift its focus from measuring past achievements to determining what would be required to sustain and deepen the gains.

‘Fifteen years of Nigerian Content implementation have demonstrated what sustained policy, regulatory commitment and industry collaboration can achieve,’ Oyelana said.

‘As the current Roadmap approaches its conclusion, the conversation must now move beyond measuring progress to defining what the next decade requires.’

‘PNC 2026 provides a platform for stakeholders to collectively shape those priorities, from funding and project delivery to the policy frameworks needed to sustain and deepen this progress.’

The forum will focus on four major priorities: mobilising capital, project opportunities, advancing Nigerian Content, and policy and legislation.

Discussions on capital mobilisation will examine how improved access to finance, stronger financial partnerships and innovative funding structures can enable indigenous companies to scale operations, compete for larger contracts and execute increasingly complex projects.

Stakeholders will also explore ways to improve visibility of procurement plans, strengthen supplier development and deepen collaboration between operators and indigenous businesses to unlock opportunities across the energy value chain.

The forum is also expected to examine strategies for closing existing capacity gaps, improving competitiveness and accelerating industrialisation through local content.

On policy and legislation, participants will consider how Nigeria’s regulatory framework can respond to changing market conditions, technological developments and investor expectations while supporting investment, compliance and sustainable growth.

The organisers said the forum would feature strategic leadership panels, executive debates, a town hall, breakout sessions and a Local Content Impact Stage.

The sessions are expected to provide opportunities for government and industry leaders to discuss policy and investment priorities, address compliance challenges and develop practical solutions, while the Impact Stage will facilitate major announcements, memoranda of understanding and partnerships.

Among the speakers expected at the forum are the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe; Shell Companies in Nigeria’s EVP and Country Chair, Elohor Aiboni; TotalEnergies Nigeria Country Chairman and Managing Director, Matthieu Bouyer; and Chevron Nigeria-Mid-Africa Business Unit Chairman and Managing Director, Jim Swartz.

Others include ExxonMobil Affiliates in Nigeria Chairman and Managing Director, Jagir Baxi; Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Wole Ogunsanya; President of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), Chris Osarumwense; and senior directors of the NCDMB.

With Nigeria’s local content drive approaching a critical transition point, the forum is expected to provide an avenue for stakeholders to define the financing, policy, investment and capacity-building priorities that will shape the next phase of implementation.

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have foiled two separate abduction attempts and rescued 10 victims in different locations across Zamfara State.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col Aliyu Danja.

According to the statement, on 27 September 2026, troops of Sector 2 in Maru Local Government Area received information that terrorists had abducted villagers at Kade Daba Village, Kanoma District.

It explained that the Troops swiftly mobilised to the location and engaged the terrorists, resulting in the immediate rescue of three victims.

It added that further exploitation of the area led to the rescue of an additional victim, bringing the total number of victims rescued in the operation to four.

The statement further explained that similarly, on the same day, troops of Sector 2 on a picketing operation along the Tsafe-Funtua road in Tsafe Local Government Area heard sporadic gunshots ahead of their position at Kwanoni.

According to it, ‘ the troops immediately mobilised towards the location, where they encountered the terrorists withdrawing through the surrounding high ground.

The troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee from the area in disarray.

It pointed out that prior to the arrival of the troops, the terrorists had set a Sharon vehicle ablaze while attempting to abduct its occupants.

According to it, fortunately, the occupants were able to escape before the vehicle was completely engulfed by fire.

‘In the course of the incident, the troops also rescued six persons from another vehicle that had lost control as a result of the sporadic gunshots.

‘The affected vehicle was subsequently towed off the main road to facilitate the free flow of traffic.

The statement pointed that the Theatre Commander, JTF NW OPFY, commended the troops for their vigilance, swift response and professionalism in protecting citizens along major routes and communities within the Joint Task Force’s area of responsibility.

It added that the Theatre Commander further reaffirmed the resolve of JTF NW OPFY to sustain offensive operations against terrorists and deny them the freedom to operate across the North West, while urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information on suspicious movements and activities to the nearest security agency or through appropriate official channels.

Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has warned Nigerians against the consumption of unlabelled and unregistered alcoholic and herbal concoctions following the deaths of at least 48 people in Ondo from suspected methanol poisoning.

The association said over 182 people had been affected by the consumption of an adulterated alcoholic and herbal concoction popularly known as ‘Monkey Tail’ in Odigbo, Irele and neighbouring local government areas of the state.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, NMA-NAFDAC Liaison Committee, Dr Azim Adekunle Ashimi, made available to newsmen in Abeokuta on Tuesday, the association said five victims had been rendered permanently blind. In contrast, two others suffered partial loss of vision.

The NMA said laboratory findings by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) confirmed high concentrations of methanol and Cannabis indica in samples collected from the implicated beverages.

Ashimi explained that methanol is an industrial solvent which, when ingested, is converted by the liver into formic acid, a toxic substance capable of causing irreversible blindness, severe metabolic acidosis, multi-organ failure and death.

NMA, therefore, urged healthcare providers to maintain a high index of suspicion when treating patients who develop sudden visual impairment, unexplained metabolic acidosis or altered consciousness after consuming alcoholic drinks or herbal mixtures.

The NMA also called for prompt medical intervention, including resuscitation, correction of metabolic acidosis and appropriate antidote therapy, as well as urgent haemodialysis where indicated.

It further demanded a comprehensive crackdown on informal distilleries, illegal herbal mixture blenders and open-market distribution networks, noting that 15 suspects had already been arrested by security agencies.

The Body also called for a sustained nationwide public enlightenment campaign against unlabelled and unregistered alcoholic beverages, including locally mixed drinks and unverified herbal bitters.

The NMA urged government agencies to strengthen controls over the supply of toxic industrial chemicals such as methanol to prevent their diversion into beverage production.

The association commiserated with families of the deceased and urged anyone experiencing sudden vision changes, severe headache, or breathing difficulty after consuming any drink to seek immediate medical attention.

The contest for the Ilorin Government House in February 2027 is revving up by the day, and the contestants appear not to be leaving any stone unturned in their push to succeed Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. While, to a large extent, political watchers in the state have limited the contest to the two leading candidates. Namely, Engineer Salihu Yakubu Danladi of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Engineer Bolakale Kawu of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there are 11 other political parties in the contest, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, outside the two leading political parties, only the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Associate Professor Yinka Ajia, appeared to be showing some visibility compared to the others in the race.

To the chagrin of political enthusiasts in the state, Governor Abdulrazaq, a few days ago, approved the appointment of Alhaji Mashood Mustapha, the former cabinet member and member of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015, as the leader of the state’s contingent to the 2027 Muslim pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Before his appointment, Alhaji Mustapha, popularly known as MM, was the PDP candidate for the Kwara Central senatorial district, but the ticket was given to the incumbent officeholder, Senator Saliu Mustapha, who recently defected from the ruling APC to the opposition PDP.

While no one suspected any ill feeling in the candidate swap, the leader of the PDP, Senator Bukola Saraki, and the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Engineer Bolakale Kawu, had visited MM at his Abuja residence after the announcement of Saliu Mustapha as eventual PDP candidate. Even the picture of the visit was circulated in the media, just as MM also did not indicate that he was hurt by the political development.

Hitherto, some political analysts in the state had thought that Saliu Mustapha would give Governor Abdulrazaq a hotter race to run as two were set to lock horns for the Kwara Central senatorial race in 2027. It was thought that the strength of Mustapha informed the decision to drop MM and swap the PDP ticket. But with the Amir Hajj appointment, where MM would coordinate the state’s 2027 Hajj exercise along with other statutory bodies at various levels of government, no one is left in doubt of his allegiance to the leader of the APC in the state, who is Governor Abdulrazaq.

MM, the traditional title holder of the Wakili of Ilorin, is a seasoned entrepreneur, public servant, and community leader. He is the chairman of Crystal Group of Companies. He is an alumnus of Kwara State Polytechnic, Lagos State University, and Rome Business School (Italy), and he is expected to garner votes for all candidates of the APC in the Kwara Central district, where the PDP governorship candidate hails from. Political watchers are keenly waiting to see the effect his decision to team up with Abdulrahman would have on the 2027 general elections.

The ruling APC, which is anchoring its 2027 political campaign on continuity and change, said that the implications of the governorship contest are beyond the search for a successor for Governor Abdulrazaq. According to coordinator of the Kwara North Integrity Youth Forum (KNIYF), Aliyu Likofu, the governorship election represents an opportunity to change the political history of a state where the governorship has never been held by an elected politician from Kwara North since 1999.

‘For the APC, Danladi’s candidacy represents both continuity and change: continuity with the political order established in 2019 and change through the elevation of a younger generation into the race for executive power,’ he said.

On the other hand, the state chairman of the PDP, Mallam Isa Bawa, said that the party is ready to provide improved performance and governance in the state through its flag bearer, Bolakale Kawu, arguing that the opposition party had done it in the state before now.

Mallam Bawa, who said that PDP is already gaining wider acceptance among the people, said that the 2027 general election would offer an opportunity to prove that it is a force to reckon with.

Meanwhile, in his analysis of dynamics that could offer victory to one of the political parties in the 2027 governorship poll, an erudite political commentator, a professor of Political Science, University of Ilorin, Hassan Ajisafe Saliu, said that there are variations in electoral geography of each state of the federation, arguing that the only common national denominator revolves around the poverty level.

The political scientist, who said that what recently happened in Osun State may not be replicated in other states of the federation, added that the Osun electoral geography differs from that of Kwara State in some fundamental ways.

Talking on what he described as Ancestry Politics and Voter Sophistication, the university don said that ancestry politics that defined the Osun election is absent in Kwara State, adding, ‘Kwara is just one of the states.’

‘It is instructive to note that Osun State has a relatively more sophisticated voting population than Kwara State. Until the 2019 general elections, Kwara voters had been made docile on account of historical political antecedents. Regrettably, the 2019 electoral revolution has since been replaced by another era of docility incubated in people’s strong belief in transfer earnings. This means that Kwara voters can vote either way if properly motivated,’ he said.

Professor Saliu also said that Kwara’s politics is defined by three senatorial districts with different power blocs: Kwara Central with the highest votes, Kwara North, and Kwara South.

However, he said that no single district can deliver victory alone, adding that alliances must be built. ‘Political alliances in the state are fluid and unpredictable because of the state’s diversity and sharp ethnic divisions. In Osun State, by contrast, people tend to vote more as a bloc, and swings are often statewide. It’s just like Kwara’s three senatorial districts versus Osun’s Unity,’ he said.

While discussing money politics and vote buying, the university don said that major political parties offered high sums of money during the Osun election.

Relating that scenario to Kwara State, he said that money will be a significant factor, ‘but I doubt the N50k and N100k figures reported in Osun State will be on offer here in Kwara State because of the high stakes of that election.’

‘Politicians will definitely give money to voters, but I am not sure the state can beat the Osun record because of the imposed orientation of the voters,’ he said.

Professor Saliu said that the governorship contest in Kwara State will also fall within the neo-liberal tendency just like that of Osun.

‘Nothing spectacular is on offer to make the election highly interesting and competitive beyond the goal of gaining control and ego. People have argued that there is no fundamental difference between the old order and the current: PDP and APC. A capitalist orientation has driven the state’s actions since 1999 and even before, when the Fourth Republic kicked off. In other words, the Kwara election will be more like an ego war between different sides of the capitalist orientation, engaged in expanding the scope of their political control and the allied benefits that come with it,’ he said.

He also added that most people have not realised this is the simple truth. ‘Moreover, that is why, whichever way the election goes, no fundamental changes may happen unless God takes control. Wherever huge sums of money dominate every step in the political process, the outcome hardly favours the masses. The Kwara case may prove to be different this time around. This represents a challenge to those jostling for elective and appointive positions in the state,’ he added.

Talking about the timing of the election, the political scientist said that one needs to appreciate that the Kwara election will be coming up during the general elections. ‘This means it will not be an isolated election, as the recent Osun election was. As a result, not all eyes will be on it, though current political developments in the state are already drawing attention to it,’ he stated.

President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted a bill seeking to expand the mandate of the National Postgraduate Medical College to include the award of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Degree in Clinical Medicine, Dentistry and related fields.

Tinubu had in a cover letter with Reference No: PRES/134-1/HR/36/EB dated: 24th August, 2026, solicited for expedite consideration and passage of the proposed legislation.

According to the letter titled: ‘Transmission of National Postgraduate Medical College (amendment) bill, 2026 for passage into law’, Mr. President explained that the ‘purpose of the Bill is to, among other things, reflect the change of the institutional name, expand the mandate of the College to include the award of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Degree in Clinical Medicine, Dentistry and related fields.

According to him, Federal Ministry of Justice subsequently vetted and finalized the Bill in line with drafting standards and constitutional provisions.

‘In consequence of the above, National Postgraduate Medical College (Amendment) Bill, 2026 is hereby forwarded to the House of Representatives for legislative action by the National Assembly.’

The Anambra State Government has launched a decisive clampdown on individuals denying female citizens their legal right to property inheritance, declaring the discriminatory practice is a criminal offense.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Tobechukwu Nweke (SAN), announced the development on Tuesday in Awka, the state capital.

He disclosed that he has directed the Nigerian Police Force to thoroughly investigate all complaints regarding female disinheritance and transmit the resulting case files directly to his office for immediate prosecution.

According to Barr. Nweke, this enforcement drive stems from a formal letter he personally signed and released to newsmen.

The Attorney-General emphasised that subjecting women and girls to such obnoxious customs solely because of their gender constitutes a direct violation of Section 22 of the Anambra State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2017, carrying a penalty of up to four years’ imprisonment upon conviction.

Highlighting the operational framework for the crackdown, Barr. Nweke stated that the Ministry of Justice has designated its Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Unit to spearhead the prosecution of offenders under the law, alongside existing mandates to tackle domestic violence and sexual offenses.

He expressed grave concern that despite landmark rulings by the Supreme Court declaring customs and practices excluding females from inheritance as unconstitutional and illegal, certain members of the public continue to flout the law through these discriminatory acts.

The State Government therefore urged members of the public to report violations to law enforcement agencies to ensure justice is served and the rights of women and girls are fully protected across the state.

No fewer than 85.2 percent of Nigerians are without effective social protection coverage, leaving the vast majority of the population exposed to poverty, economic shocks and other vulnerabilities, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said.

The development means only 14.8 percent of Nigerians are effectively covered by social protection, highlighting a major gap in the country’s efforts to protect vulnerable households and workers from economic hardship.

ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Dr Vanessa Phala, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the National Social Protection Statistics Dialogue and Data Collection Engagement organised by the ILO, in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), European Union (EU) and UNICEF.

Phala said the 14.8 percent coverage figure represented more than a statistic, stressing that behind it were millions of Nigerians struggling without adequate protection against economic shocks.

‘Effective coverage in Nigeria stands at 14.8 per cent. Behind this figure are real families: mothers, workers in the informal economy, persons with disabilities, and children who remain vulnerable to economic shocks,’ she said.

She said closing the gap required government and stakeholders to move beyond broad estimates and develop a comprehensive statistical system capable of identifying those covered, those excluded and areas where social protection interventions were most urgently required.

Explained that effective policy decisions could not be based on assumptions, noting that reliable, timely and disaggregated data was essential to improving social protection delivery.

Phala said the ILO, through the European Union-funded Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria (SUSI) project, was partnering with the NBS to strengthen the generation, coordination and use of social protection statistics.

She said that the initiative, which initially covered Abia, Benue, Oyo and Sokoto states, was being expanded nationwide to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with the aim of equipping state statistical institutions to collect, analyse and harmonise social protection data.

She said that stronger sub-national data would enable Nigeria to better understand regional disparities, identify excluded groups and improve reporting on Sustainable Development Goal indicator 1.3.1, which measures the proportion of the population covered by social protection systems.

Phala added the exercise would support the production of a national Social Protection Statistics Bulletin to expose coverage gaps, guide resource allocation and improve interoperability among state registers, the National Social Register and other social management information systems.

‘To transform this reality, policy choices must be grounded in precise, reliable, and timely data.

‘We must equip every state directorate of statistics with the technical tools to gather, analyse, and harmonise social protection data,’ she said.

Also speaking, the Statistician-General of the Federation, Mr Semiu Adeniran, noted that the dialogue was taking place at a time when Nigeria’s social protection landscape was undergoing significant transition.

Adeniran said government was taking steps to strengthen national ownership, coordination, financing and delivery of social protection and poverty-reduction interventions.

He said the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction was also advancing a more integrated approach through its ‘One Humanitarian, One Poverty Response System’, aimed at moving the country away from fragmented interventions towards a coordinated national social protection architecture.

According to him, the NBS has a responsibility to ensure that government reforms and programmes are supported by reliable, timely, comparable and disaggregated data.

‘Our role at NBS is to help ensure that as Nigeria strengthens its social protection architecture, we also strengthen the evidence architecture.

‘This will enable government to know what is working, who is being reached, where the gaps are and how the system is performing over time,’ Adeniran said.

He disclosed that work was ongoing to establish a Social Protection Management Information System (SPMIS) to bring together data currently held by different institutions and make it available in a coordinated and harmonised form for national and sub-national statistical production.

Adeniran said Nigeria must stop treating social protection data as occasional reporting and instead establish sustainable systems, standards, institutional arrangements and data flows for regular statistical production.

He called for stronger coordination of social protection data at the sub-national level, particularly at the ward level, noting that the NBS’s recent ward demarcation exercise provided an important statistical foundation for understanding development conditions at a more disaggregated level.

‘If development planning is increasingly taking place at the ward level, our social protection statistics must also start to tell us what is happening at the ward level,’ he said.

He, however, clarified that the objective was not to conduct a new large-scale survey for every social protection programme in every ward.

Rather, he said the NBS would explore developing a ward-level social protection data layer by bringing together information already available across government systems and complementing it with targeted statistical data collection.

Representing the Head of Human Development at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Ben Amor Mathieu, Chioma Osuji said effective social protection planning was impossible without credible data.

She said the EU viewed the engagement as part of a continuing process to strengthen institutions, coordination and data systems rather than a one-off exercise.

‘When we say we want to reduce poverty and we don’t know how many people that are poor, the level of vulnerability, we can hardly come up with programmes that would be able to help us address the reduction of poverty,’ Osuji said.

She added: ‘We cannot build effective and responsive social protection systems without data. High quality, timely and disaggregated data is a very good foundation on which sound policy and effective planning is going to be built.’

Osuji urged participating institutions to establish practical mechanisms for routine data sharing, validation and accountability, rather than treating social protection statistics merely as information produced for reporting purposes.

She also supported the institutionalisation of the proposed Social Protection Statistics Bulletin Committee, saying it could help sustain coordination and ensure that data generated continued to inform policy and government action.

The EU, ILO and UNICEF have continued to support Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen social protection systems, including institutional capacity, integrated management information systems and the extension of coverage to vulnerable groups and workers in the informal economy.