Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Rivers State Government has sealed 21 illegal health facilities across four local government areas following an enforcement operation that uncovered suspected baby-trafficking and racketeering, arresting three persons for prosecution.

The crackdown, conducted by the Rivers State Ministry of Health in the third quarter of 2026, included a joint operation with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at Manda Clinic and Maternity, Elelenwo, where officials said a Liberian national reportedly disclosed the procurement of three children from the facility within one month.

The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, disclosed this during the Ministry’s third-quarter press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, 5 October 2026.

Wachukwu said the enforcement followed surveillance reports indicating that more than 150 health facilities were operating without registration and regulatory supervision. He added that the 21 facilities sealed comprised eight hospitals, five maternity homes and eight diagnostic centres across Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Etche Local Government Areas.

He noted that 19 of the facilities were found to be operating without registration and below the minimum standards prescribed by the Ministry of Health, while another registered facility was found operating without a licensed doctor or nurse.

Wachukwu said the Manda Clinic operation was particularly concerning because of the suspected child-trafficking activity allegedly linked to the facility.

‘The Rivers State Ministry of Health is fully committed to its regulatory function and is committed to eradicating quackery from Rivers State as part of our mandate on health security.

‘This exercise is a continuation of our anti-quackery mandate to stamp out all unregistered facilities and facilities operated without the minimum standards,’ he said.

According to him, Manda Clinic and Maternity, Elelenwo, Obio/Akpor LGA, was operating without registration and had no licensed medical practitioners, while its operators were arrested by NAPTIP after the joint operation and the facility subsequently sealed by the Ministry.

Other facilities shut include Vasty Clinic, Omoku; Danny Clinic and Daba Clinic in old Port Harcourt Town; Kambel Hospital, Abara-Etche; Havilla Hospital, Igwuruta; Golden Era Hospital, Igwuruta; and Ola-Oluwa Hospital, Igwuruta.

Wachukwu said Havilla Hospital was an unregistered facility operated by a man identified as Mr Isaac, who claimed to have undergone medical training in Ukraine in 2013 but had no licence from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

He said Mr Isaac had been arrested and would be referred to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for further action, adding that Ola-Oluwa Medical Centre, Igwuruta, was sealed after the Ministry discovered that its operator, identified as Sunday Ogundele, allegedly had no medical training or professional licence.

Wachukwu said Ogundele was arrested and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for prosecution for alleged impersonation.

He added that Kambel Hospital, Abara-Etche, and Golden Era Hospital, Igwuruta, were shut down after inspectors found that no licensed doctor or nurse was operating the facilities.

On Sarah Maternity, Belema Polo, Enugu Waterside, the Permanent Secretary said the facility, operated by a popular social media traditional birth attendant, had a patient load of more than 1,000 women and daily traffic of over 200 women.

He said the Ministry used the inspection to establish practice guidelines, supervision and advertisement standards, while the operator was issued an official warning and designated as a contact point for other TBAs and maternity operators on the need for supervision and training.

Wachukwu said the remaining 16 facilities sealed during the exercise were found to be unregistered and operating below the minimum standards stipulated under the Rivers State Facility Registration Act No. 2 of 2019.

He warned that the Ministry would sustain the enforcement campaign and urged residents to patronise only health facilities that meet the state’s regulatory requirements.

‘We mandate all registered facilities to display their Certificate of Standards at the reception of their facilities.

‘We also mandate individuals and corporate organisations to only access care in facilities with verified Certificates of Standards, as this serves as the quality assurance check for health security,’ Wachukwu said.

He appealed to members of the public to report suspicious medical practices and unregistered health facilities to the Ministry of Health, adding that the 2026 enforcement drive would target facilities that default on annual inspection and renewal of certificates of minimum standards.

The Permanent Secretary commended the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NAPTIP, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Medical Association and other professional bodies for supporting the enforcement exercise, assuring that the Ministry would continue to work with relevant agencies to uphold professional standards across Rivers State.

The Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, on Sunday met with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja.

The Governor was accompanied by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, FCA.

The meeting focused on Federal support for Kogi State’s development priorities following the Governor’s recent visit to Kuwait. Governor Ododo briefed the Minister on the purpose of the mission and the opportunities it opened up for development cooperation, including potential engagement with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).

He explained that Kogi State is pursuing a phased development programme focused on water security, irrigation and agriculture, reliable energy, and mineral and industrial value addition. These priorities align with the State’s long-term development plan and are intended to expand economic activity, create jobs and improve living conditions across the State.

The Honourable Minister promised to work with the Kogi State Government to advance its development goals. His support will strengthen coordination between the State and the Federal Government as the proposed projects proceed through the required preparation, appraisal and approval processes.

Governor Ododo said the State is committed to ensuring that proposed projects are supported by sound feasibility studies, clear implementation plans and responsible fiscal management. He noted that the Kuwait discussions provide an opportunity to develop a pipeline of well-prepared projects, with financing arrangements to be determined through the appropriate technical and government reviews.

The meeting marks a further step in the Ododo administration’s efforts to build strategic partnerships that can support Kogi State’s development priorities and deliver lasting benefits for its people.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has said the economic positions of Accord Party and Social Democratic Party presidential candidates, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and Adewole Adebayo deserve serious public attention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Ajaero made the remarks during an interview, at the weekend, with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, where he was asked about the economic policy of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Rather than focusing on Atiku’s proposal, the NLC president said he had examined the positions of Hashim and Adebayo and found their approach sufficiently different to warrant engagement.

‘I have looked at Gbenga Hashim’s position and I think he’s an expert to an extent. I also looked at Adebayo. I may listen to them.’

Ajaero contrasted their positions with those of Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as sharing broadly similar economic thinking.

‘Peter Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju, they all have the same position and they have shown that they are market people from far right.’

He said Hashim and Adebayo, by contrast, were bringing ‘new ideas worthy of engagement’.

Ajaero’s comments have drawn attention to Hashim’s economic platform, particularly his Energy First agenda, which places affordable energy, increased domestic production, industrialisation and productive capacity at the centre of his proposed economic transformation.

Hashim has proposed a ?605 per litre starting petrol price, with a longer-term target of ?200-?300 through lower production costs, domestic refining, increased crude production and improved efficiency.

He has also pledged to raise Nigeria’s crude production to at least four million barrels per day within 24 months, while expanding domestic refining and energy infrastructure as part of a broader plan to make Nigeria a major global energy power.

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the killing of Francis Chibuzor Ogwu in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state, with an alleged OSPAC member arrested in connection with the incident.

The command also said the firearm allegedly used in the incident had been recovered, while an investigation was ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing.

The police spokesperson, ASP Agabe Blessing-Kaborlo, disclosed this in a statement, identifying the suspect as Felix Dibia.

Kaborlo said the command would ensure that due process was followed and that the outcome of the investigation was based strictly on facts and applicable law.

She warned that no OSPAC personnel or any other individual had the lawful authority to unlawfully take another person’s life, stressing that the right to life was guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Meanwhile, the Organised Security Planning and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) has denied responsibility for the alleged killing, describing claims linking the organisation to the incident as ‘blatant lies’.

The OSPAC Public Relations Officer, Egbo Godknows Nkem, said the suspect, identified by the group as Chinasa Dibia, was not acting on behalf of OSPAC when the incident occurred.

Nkem said Dibia, a hunter who had previously participated in OSPAC activities, was on personal duty when he allegedly accosted Ogwu at about 2:20 a.m. on 1 October in Omoku.

He stressed that Dibia was not operating under any directive or authority of OSPAC at the time of the incident.

According to him, OSPAC General Commander, Felix Nwaobakata, had handed Dibia over to the police for investigation.

Nkem urged the police to expedite the investigation and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, reaffirming OSPAC’s commitment to operating within the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and working with conventional security agencies to protect lives and property in the area.

The Federal Government has said Nigeria cannot compete globally without sustained investment in science, research and innovation, urging the country to create an environment where locally developed technologies can move from laboratories into practical solutions for society.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated this on Monday in Abuja at the public presentation of the 2026 winner of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation (NPSI), Dr Mary-Brenda Akoda, whose GenScan AI technology is designed to reduce magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan time by up to 90 per cent.

Reflecting on last year’s edition of the prize, Alausa said the absence of a winner should prompt Nigeria to reassess its approach to science and innovation.

‘Last year, at the grant award dinner, in my keynote address, it was difficult to celebrate. There was no prize for science and innovation. At that time, I said we needed to pause and reflect. Without innovation, Nigeria could not hope to compete in a digital future,’ the Minister of Education said.

He, however, said the 2026 competition produced a different outcome, with Akoda’s GenScan AI emerging from 237 entries as the winning innovation.

‘But today, I stand before you with a different story. The prize has produced an outstanding work of global relevance and national importance,’ Alausa said.

The Minister of Education commended NLNG for sustaining the prize, describing the winning innovation as an example of what could be achieved when advanced technology was directed at addressing real human needs.

‘This is the kind of science we must encourage: science that moves from laboratory into society, and shows young Nigerians that they can create solutions to Nigerian problems,’ Alausa said.

He described Akoda’s achievement as further evidence that Nigeria’s education system could produce innovators capable of competing internationally.

The minister also urged Akoda to explore applications of the technology beyond MRI, including CT scans, chest X-rays and angiography.

‘You don’t limit this to MRI alone. You can use the same thing for CT scan, for chest X-ray, and for angiography. You don’t have a limit. The entire world is your breadth,’ Alausa said.

He urged Akoda to urgently protect the intellectual property associated with the technology, given its commercial potential, and directed relevant officials to facilitate access to teaching hospitals and federal medical centres for clinical trials.

Earlier, Dr Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, NLNG, said effective treatment depended on accurate diagnosis, noting that diagnostic imaging enabled medical professionals to identify conditions that might not be detected through physical examination.

Horsfall said MRI scan quality could be affected by acquisition time and patients’ inability to remain still because of pain, anxiety, age or illness.

According to the NLNG General Manager, these challenges provided the context for the 2026 NPSI, which focused on artificial intelligence, ICT and digital technologies for development.

She said the judges found that GenScan AI could considerably reduce MRI acquisition time, improve image quality and accommodate patient movement without requiring new hardware.

Horsfall said the public presentation was designed to allow medical and scientific professionals to hear directly from the inventor and examine the technology from the perspective of clinical practice.

Speaking on the significance of the prize, Professor Barth Nnaji, Chairman, NPSI Advisory Board, said the award was not simply for research but recognition of innovations capable of solving significant problems and producing practical impact.

‘This prize is not awarded for research. It’s simply given to you because you have done something that is so important out there in the world, something that is solving a world problem but has impact in Nigeria,’ Nnaji said.

He explained that the previous year’s competition produced no winner because none of the entries met the rigorous standards set by the advisory board and expert evaluators.

Nnaji said the decision to retain artificial intelligence, digital technology and ICT as the focus of the competition reflected the growing importance of those technologies.

He described Akoda’s innovation as particularly significant because of the limited availability of MRI services and the length of time required for patients to undergo scans.

‘It looks like Dr Mary Akoda has done it for the world, not just for Nigeria, but for the world,’ the NPSI Advisory Board Chairman said.

Presenting her innovation, Mary-Brenda Akoda, founder of GenScan AI and an AI research scientist, said her personal experience with a relative who suffered a stroke helped shape her understanding of the consequences of delays in medical imaging.

She said MRI scans could take between 15 minutes and one hour or longer, with patients sometimes required to remain completely still in an enclosed space.

According to Akoda, movement during scanning could produce blurred images and require repeated scans, while children, elderly patients and other vulnerable groups might require sedation.

She said GenMRI, the AI technology behind GenScan AI, was developed to address the problem by reconstructing diagnostic-quality images from a fraction of the data normally required for MRI scans.

‘GenMRI is a first-of-its-kind AI imaging software that makes MRI scans up to 90 per cent faster,’ Akoda said.

She explained that the technology could reduce a 20-minute scan to about two minutes and an hour-long scan to approximately six minutes without requiring hospitals to purchase new MRI machines.

Akoda said the technology achieved up to 99.7 per cent similarity to conventional MRI scans despite the reduction in acquisition time.

She added that consultant radiologists who participated in a blinded assessment rated the GenMRI images as diagnostically equivalent to conventional scans in all the cases evaluated.

The researcher said the technology originated from her work at Imperial College London and had produced two peer-reviewed publications at leading conferences.

She said GenScan AI had also received support from Innovate UK, UK Research and Innovation and the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme, while clinical partners had been secured in the United Kingdom, United States, Kenya and Nigeria.

In Nigeria, Akoda said Asokoro Diagnostic and Medical Centre had agreed to support a clinical pilot of the technology.

She said the next steps were regulatory submission and clinical pilots, with the aim of obtaining approval and deploying the technology commercially by the second half of 2027.

Representing the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation, Dr Kazeem Kolawole Raji, pledged government support for the commercialisation and protection of the innovation.

Raji said the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion had a mandate to protect intellectual property and facilitate the commercialisation of research outcomes.

He also offered Akoda an opportunity to participate in an international innovation programme in London, where Nigerian innovators would have access to prospective investors.

The Director-General stressed the importance of protecting the intellectual property of GenScan AI before seeking investment.

‘We need their money, but you cannot come and steal our intellectual property,’ Raji said.

He said the government would continue to support Nigerian innovators and create platforms through which research could be transformed into commercially viable products capable of generating jobs, revenue and solutions to national challenges.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound sadness over the crash on Monday morning of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 jet near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.

According to Ehimen Ejodame, NAF director of public relations and information, the aircraft was on a ‘routine mission’ from Benin to Lagos, when the accident occurred.

President Tinubu, in a condolence message signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy and made available to State House correspondents, ‘extends his deepest condolences to the family of the 25 passengers and seven crew members involved, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and all officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.’

President Tinubu directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences.’

President Tinubu who prayed for the souls of the officers who died in the plane crash also assured Nigerians that their sacrifice would not be forgotten.

His statement read: ‘This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.’

‘The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences.

‘I commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate Search and Rescue operation following the accident..

‘ I pray for the repose of the souls of the gallant officers and for Almighty God to grant their families and the Nigerian Air Force the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss.

‘ I assure the Nigerian Air Force of the continued support of our administration as they continue their vital role in securing our nation.

‘I also commend the swift response of first responders and the Ondo State Government at the crash site.’

THE exit of French banking group, Société Générale from Ghana is creating fresh opportunities for indigenous and other African banks to deepen their presence in the country, as global lenders increasingly restructure their African operations and focus on markets and businesses where they see greater scale and returns.

Société Générale Group has agreed to sell its entire 60.22 percent stake in Société Générale Ghana to Morocco-based Attijariwafa Bank and Ghana’s Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

Under the transaction announced on October 1, Attijariwafa Bank will acquire 55.22 percent, while SSNIT will take an additional five percent, increasing its holding in the Ghanaian lender from 19.36 percent to 24.36 percent. The transaction remains subject to the required conditions and regulatory approvals.

The deal marks the end of Société Générale’s ownership of the Ghanaian subsidiary and gives Attijariwafa Bank control of the bank’s operations, including its customer portfolios and employees. Société Générale Ghana operates about 40 branches and outlets and serves retail and corporate customers.

The development is particularly significant because it follows years of uncertainty over the French lender’s future in Ghana.

In May 2024, then Managing Director of Société Générale Ghana, Hakim Ouzzani, dismissed reports that the bank was preparing to leave the country, saying no exit had been announced. A day later, however, the Ghanaian subsidiary disclosed that Société Générale Group had initiated a strategic review of its operations in the country, according to Ghana News Agency.

The eventual sale points to the broader restructuring of international banking operations across Africa, with global lenders increasingly reassessing businesses that do not fit their strategic priorities.

Standard Chartered, for instance, announced in June 2026 that it was exploring the sale of its Wealth and Retail Banking business in Ghana. The bank said the review was part of its strategy to concentrate on businesses and client segments, where it has greater scale and differentiated capabilities, while retaining its Corporate and Investment Banking operations in the country.

For Nigerian banks, the developments underline the opportunity to acquire established franchises, customer bases and distribution networks as international lenders reduce their exposure to parts of the African market.

Nigerian banks have already demonstrated an appetite for such transactions. Access Bank completed the acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank Angola and Standard Chartered Bank Sierra Leone in 2024, expanding its corporate and SME banking operations in both markets.

The Ghanaian market could therefore become another battleground for African lenders seeking regional scale.

Nigerian banks have an advantage in terms of capital, technology, digital banking capabilities and experience operating across multiple African markets, while Ghanaian lenders possess local market knowledge, established customer relationships and familiarity with the regulatory environment.

The combination could support more cross-border partnerships, acquisitions and financial-service platforms across West Africa.

The significance extends beyond ownership of individual banks. A continued shift from European-controlled subsidiaries to African-owned or African-led institutions could increase the role of locally headquartered banks in mobilising savings, financing businesses, facilitating trade and providing payment and investment services across the continent.

However, the opportunity also comes with challenges. Acquiring a bank does not automatically guarantee improved returns, while regulatory requirements, asset quality, funding costs, technology investment and competition from fintech companies could determine whether new owners can translate expanded footprints into sustainable earnings.

The completion of the Société Générale transaction and the eventual outcome of Standard Chartered’s Ghana retail-business review will therefore provide important signals on the next phase of consolidation and ownership changes in Ghana’s banking industry.

For Nigerian banks, the developments could provide another opening to deepen their West African franchises at a time when some international lenders are reassessing the scale and profitability of their African operations.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said Nigeria’s national register of voters has risen to more than 103 million ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Monday at a strategic workshop for editors organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in collaboration with the commission in Abuja.

Amupitan said the figure followed the completion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise conducted in line with Section 10 of the Electoral Act 2026.

According to him, the first phase of the exercise, which ran from August 25 to December 10, 2025, recorded 2,611,266 new registrations.

He said a further 4,121,835 voters were registered during the second phase, held between January 5 and April, while the third phase, conducted from May 11 to July 26, produced 3,867,997 new registrations.

‘The total new registration stands at 10,772,421, subject to the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) verification currently being concluded,’ he said.

Amupitan said the commission introduced an Online Registration Portal during the third phase to address challenges associated with distance and time.

He added that INEC also introduced printable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in line with Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, with the aim of reducing delays in obtaining voter cards.

‘Following the conclusion of our three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which captured over 10.6 million new applicants, and the completion of the public display of the Preliminary Register for claims and objections, our Voter Register Department has completed the final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup.

‘Nigeria’s National Register of Voters is now more than 103 million,’ Amupitan said.

The INEC chairman said the commission remained committed to preventing the disenfranchisement of eligible voters.

He cited the theft of PVCs in some wards in Osun State as an example, saying the commission deployed technology to replace the affected cards and enable registered voters to participate in the election.

‘I want to place on record that during the Osun election, when PVCs of some wards in some local government were stolen, people thought they would be completely disenfranchised. Instantly, we used this technology to print, not to disable, those PVCs that were stolen.

‘We also implemented the downloadable PVCs, which the electorate used and cast their votes, just to ensure inclusivity and that nobody was disenfranchised,’ he said.

Amupitan announced that nationwide collection of PVCs would begin on October 9 and urged registered voters to collect their cards.

‘We have completed the processing and distribution of Phase 1 PVCs to all local government centres.

‘We appeal to the Nigerian Guild of Editors and all media executives present to leverage your platforms to inform the public, explain collection locations and encourage the registered voters to collect their cards promptly,’ he said.

THE Office of the Tax Ombud, in collaboration with key stakeholders from the public and private sectors across the North-West geopolitical zone, recommitted to addressing taxpayers’ grievances and promoting trust in tax and revenue authorities in the country.

The resolution was made at the end of a landmark stakeholder engagement programme in Kaduna focused on promoting fairness, protecting taxpayers’ rights, and advancing effective revenue administration in Nigeria.

The two-day engagement held between 28 and 29, September, was attended by representatives of the seven state governments in the zone, members of the organised private sector, business owners and professional bodies, provided a platform for strategic dialogue and collaboration between taxpayers and tax and revenue authorities.

In his welcome address, the Tax Ombud/Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr John Nwabueze, highlighted the institution’s mandate as an independent, impartial and non-judicial body dedicated to addressing operational, procedural and administrative grievances in tax and revenue administration.

‘Our focus is not only on the rights of taxpayers but also on their responsibilities and those of the relevant authorities. Our services, which are offered free of charge, are designed to resolve disputes, mediate complaints, and promote a transparent, fair and consistent tax administration system,’ Dr Nwabueze stated.

The Tax Ombud added that: ‘It is important to clarify what we do not do. The Tax Ombud is not a mechanism for cancelling legitimate tax liabilities merely because the taxpayer does not wish to pay. We do not make tax policy. We do not encourage non-compliance. We do not shield taxpayers from their lawful obligations and we are certainly not the courts.’

Dr Nwabueze said the engagement in the North-West included a roadshow across Kaduna metropolis to sensitise taxpayers and business owners on their rights and responsibilities, as well as the role of the Tax Ombud.

He said: ‘This direct outreach provided an opportunity for taxpayers to interact with officials and lodge complaints on the spot, reinforcing the Ombud’s commitment to transparency and accessibility.’

In his speech, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, emphasised the importance of increased taxpayer compliance in boosting tax revenue to fund the state’s developmental projects and social services, which are among the statutory responsibilities of government.

The Governor said that since the inception of his administration, the Kaduna State Government had improved its tax collection processes through the use of technology and regular engagement with taxpayers to enhance revenue generation.

He stressed the important role the Office of the Tax Ombud could play in deepening tax revenue in the state, noting that its free mediation services were expected to strengthen taxpayer confidence and encourage greater compliance.

The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner of Finance, Hon. Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, appealed to the Tax Ombud to consider Kaduna State as the North-West Regional Headquarters of the Office, pledging to provide an enabling environment for the immediate take-off of the office in Kaduna.

For Sokoto State, Governor Dr Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto described the establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombud as timely and commendable, particularly at a time when subnational governments are seeking to deepen internally generated revenue to provide infrastructure and social services for their people.

Represented by the Special Adviser on Revenue and Taxation, Hon. Isah Mu’azu, the Governor expressed confidence that the Tax Ombud would strengthen taxpayer trust in Nigeria by promoting fairness in tax administration and providing an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

He said the Ombud’s intervention would help address gaps in the tax administration ecosystem by providing taxpayers with an accessible mechanism for resolving complaints and disputes.

The Governor said: ‘Our support for the Tax Ombud’s work will help ensure equitable treatment and address long-standing challenges in tax collection and administration.’

In his goodwill message, the Acting Chairman of the Kaduna Internal Revenue Service, Dr Muhammad Lawal, said: ‘This engagement strengthens our shared objective to build trust in the tax system and support taxpayers through transparent processes.’

In his remarks, the representative of the Nigerian Revenue Service, Falalu Yahya, described the establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombud as a commendable regulatory initiative that would provide relief to taxpayers who may otherwise face slow and costly litigation processes that are not easily accessible, particularly for low-income taxpayers.

He urged the Tax Ombud to protect the rights of all parties that may appear before the Office, noting that tax authorities could also approach the Ombud with complaints against taxpayers over alleged unfair treatment and other grievances requiring mediation.

The North-West Zonal Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Kabir Kassim, said: ‘The private sector welcomes this partnership as a path to creating a fairer environment for businesses across the region.’

The Chairman of the ICAN Kaduna District, AbdulAzeez Olagunju, said: ‘Upholding fairness in revenue administration is critical for economic growth, and we are fully committed to this initiative.’

The stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to active participation, continuous dialogue and collaborative efforts towards building a fair, transparent and accountable tax ecosystem in Nigeria’s North-West region and beyond.

It is one of the most profitable small-scale manufacturing businesses in the country today. A simple food packaging enterprise can grow from a small room into a venture that supplies major supermarkets in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt.

However, many well-meaning business owners hit a brick wall early. You package your goods nicely, deliver them to a big departmental store, and the manager immediately asks for your regulatory approval number. Without it, standard retail stores and major distributors will reject your goods outright, and regulatory enforcement task forces could seize your inventory off street shelves.

In this article, Tribune Online examines the exact, practical steps required to secure your NAFDAC registration for a food packaging business, outlining how to prepare your premises, assemble your documents, pass site inspections, and secure your registration number without unnecessary delays.

Why getting official regulatory approval is compulsory

Operating a food packaging venture without regulatory clearance exposes you to legal trouble.

Food is consumed directly into the body, so the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) treats any unpackaged or repacked consumable with serious caution. Under Nigerian law, distributing packaged edible items without a valid registration number is a punishable offence that attracts heavy penalties, product confiscation, or factory seal-offs.

Securing regulatory certification transforms your venture from a roadside hustle into a trusted commercial brand. Big supermarket chains, major shopping malls, and reputable wholesalers do not accept unregistered packaged consumables because they cannot risk their corporate licenses. With certification, customers trust that your food product is prepared under clean conditions and is safe for family consumption.

According to regulatory advisory reports published by the corporate legal firm Strachan Partners, registering processed and packaged foods with NAFDAC is not merely a formality, but a statutory requirement under the Food, Drugs and Related Products Registration Act that shields SMEs from arbitrary business shutdowns and costly product seizures.

Setting up your packaging space to pass inspectionn

You must prepare your operational space before applying for inspection. The agency does not permit packaging food inside an active home kitchen or an open backyard. You do not need to lease an enormous industrial warehouse, but you must designate a separate, dedicated facility solely for this operation.

Your building structure must follow a clean, one-way operational workflow. This layout means that raw ingredients enter through an intake area, move forward into the cleaning and preparation room, progress into the final packaging room, and end in the finished goods store. This flow ensures dirty raw materials never cross paths with finished, sealed packets.

The production floors, walls, and tabletops must be smooth, waterproof, and easy to wash with disinfectant. Windows must be fully fitted with insect-proof netting, and doors must close tightly to keep out rodents, flies, and dust. The agency requires a steady supply of potable water, dedicated washing sinks, proper drainage channels, and adequate lighting throughout the entire work area.

Gather your foundational corporate documents

Before you fill out registration forms, assemble all essential legal and company documents. You must register your business name or limited liability company with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). NAFDAC will not process applications for unregistered business entities.

You also need a trademark certificate or an official trademark acceptance letter from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. This step confirms that you own the exclusive right to your brand name and packaging logo, protecting you from having another producer duplicate your identity.

In addition, your enterprise needs a clean medical fitness certificate for every production staff member who touches the food items. These medical examinations must be conducted by a recognized government hospital and must specifically test for communicable diseases like hepatitis, tuberculosis, and typhoid to prevent food contamination.

Formulate standard operating procedures and product labelling

Every packaging outfit must provide written guidelines showing how tasks are handled on-site. These documents are called Standard Operating Procedures, commonly known as SOPs. They explain your daily sanitation routine, personal hygiene protocols for food handlers, raw material sourcing, waste disposal, and pest management.

Your packaging label must strictly satisfy mandatory standards before you print thousands of units. The artwork must state the genuine product name, brand name, net weight, batch number, production date, and best-before date. It must also list all ingredients in order of quantity, carry your company’s physical factory address, and display a blank space reserved for the NAFDAC registration number.

Your label must never claim that your food cures diseases, illnesses, or infections. Claiming that a spice blend or herbal flour cures diabetes or hypertension turns the product into a drug under regulatory classification, which triggers a much more expensive, clinical registration process that will cause an immediate rejection of your packaging application.

Submit your application on the automated portal

All product registration filings are handled digitally through the automated NAFDAC Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System portal, popularly known as NAPAMS. You begin by creating a business profile on the portal, uploading your CAC paperwork, trademark documents, and staff health certificates.

After submitting your corporate credentials, you will generate an electronic payment invoice through the official Remita platform. The exact tariff depends on the size of your enterprise and whether your business qualifies under the federal government’s discounted micro, small, and medium enterprise schemes.

Once your payment clears online, the portal assigns an official application number to your file. You can then submit your factory floor layout, SOP manuals, and draft label artwork directly through the digital dashboard for preliminary review by regulatory vetting officers.

Undergo the good manufacturing practice facility inspection

After desk officers scrutinize and endorse your online documentation, the agency will schedule an on-site physical visit known as the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspection. Regulatory inspectors visit your packaging unit to confirm that the facility looks exactly like the layout you submitted online.

On inspection day, the officers will inspect personal protective equipment, including hairnets, clean aprons, hand gloves, and dedicated factory footwear. They examine your pest traps, verify that no raw items sit directly on bare floors, and confirm that all materials rest on elevated plastic or wooden pallets.

If the inspectors notice minor structural problems or procedural lapses, they will not fail you immediately. Instead, they will issue a formal compliance directive listing the specific corrections you must make. You will rectify these issues and invite them back for verification. If your facility satisfies all hygiene standards, the inspectors take random product samples and seal them for laboratory assessment.

Laboratory analysis and final issuance of your registration number

The sealed product samples collected from your facility undergo detailed laboratory testing at an official agency laboratory. Scientific officers analyze the food to check for bacterial contamination, mould, excessive moisture, unauthorized synthetic colourants, or heavy metal residues.

When your samples successfully pass microbiological and physical testing, your application advances to the final regulatory review committee for statutory approval. Upon successful confirmation, the agency officially issues a Certificate of Registration and your unique NAFDAC registration number.

Once this approval is handed over, you can print the official registration number onto your commercial packaging pouches, boxes, and bottles. With your certificate in hand, you can walk into retail supermarket networks, supply major distribution channels nationwide, or export your processed packaged foods across borders with complete legal confidence.