Category: Nigerian Tribune

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has donated luxury buses to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and Kaduna State University (KASU) to strengthen their operations and ease mobility challenges.

Presenting the vehicles to the beneficiaries in Kaduna, Sani said the intervention was in recognition of the important roles played by the organisations and institutions in the development of the state.

The governor described the beneficiaries as critical institutions whose contributions cut across democracy, justice, healthcare, education, security and public service delivery, assuring that the government would continue to support them where necessary.

Sani said the bus presented to the Nigerian Correctional Service would help address transportation challenges, particularly the movement of inmates to courts, healthcare facilities and other official engagements.

He said his administration had visited the Kaduna Correctional Centre twice within the year and observed the level of infrastructure decay and other challenges confronting the service, adding that government had commenced interventions to address some of the identified problems.

According to him, providing the vehicle was part of efforts to improve the operational capacity of the Correctional Service and enable its personnel to discharge their responsibilities more effectively.

The governor also commended the NMA for its collaboration with his administration in improving healthcare delivery, describing healthcare as a fundamental right of every citizen and promising continued support for the sector.

He said the vehicle donated to the medical association would enhance the mobility of doctors and other healthcare professionals and facilitate the association’s activities across the state.

On the NBA, Sani described the Kaduna Branch as ‘one of the most vibrant branches in the whole of Nigeria’, commending its contributions to justice, the rule of law and protection of the rights of underserved and underrepresented citizens.

He said the intervention at KASU was also part of his administration’s commitment to strengthening the institution.

Sani recalled that the government had worked with the university management and the National Universities Commission to address accreditation challenges, while the 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees had contributed to increased enrolment.

The governor described the NUJ as a critical institution in the sustenance of democracy, noting that journalists had historically played significant roles in the struggle for the return to civil rule, with some losing their lives during military dictatorship.

Receiving the bus on behalf of doctors and healthcare professionals in Kaduna, NMA Chairman, Dr. Hassan Bala Salihu, thanked the governor for the gesture, saying it reflected his administration’s commitment to advancing the healthcare system in the state.

NBA Kaduna Branch Chairman, Barrister Baba Lawal, also expressed appreciation to the governor, saying the vehicle would strengthen the branch’s operational capacity and enable it to serve its members and the public more effectively.

KASU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Musa, described the donation as historic, expressing appreciation to the governor for what he called his generosity and commitment to the development of the university.

Receiving the bus on behalf of the NUJ, Kaduna State Council Chairman, Comrade AbdulGafar Alabelewe, said journalists had requested the vehicle about six months ago during a Ramadan Iftar with the governor.

He said its delivery marked a major milestone for the union, noting that the last similar gesture from the state government was about two decades ago.

Alabelewe assured the governor that the bus would be put to good use in facilitating journalists’ movement to assignments across the state, while the media would continue to hold government accountable and set agenda for development.

He further conveyed the appreciation of NUJ President, Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, and disclosed that the union would, at the governor’s convenience, confer on him the position of Grand Patron of the NUJ in Kaduna State.

The representative of the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, also expressed appreciation for the donation, saying the bus would address a major operational challenge facing the Kaduna Command.

He assured the governor that the vehicle would be properly maintained and deployed strictly for the purposes for which it was donated.

Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State has offered offices for some agencies of the Federal Government in its administrative edifice with a total of 110 office spaces.

At the inauguration of the complex, chairman of the council, Dr Obi Kelvin Ezeyili named the agencies to include National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), National Orientation Agencies (NOA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC and the National Population Commission (NPC).

A non-profit organisation specialised in the training and management of children with special needs which aligns with Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori’s project Every Chiled Matters, a well-stocked sick bay for emergencies and top notched, fully air-conditioned, state of the art marriage registry, have their offices in the complex.

Similarly, the newly constructed access lane named in honour of the Asagba of Asaba, Epiphany Azinge was also inaugurated.

Addressing the people, the council boss said the administrative complex named after Governor Sheriff Oborewvori in appreciation of his outstanding leadership and support for local government councils was designed to provide a more functional and conducive working environment for council workers, staff of federal agencies and personnel of the non-profit organisations, as well as improving the quality of service delivery to the people of Oshimili South.

Ezeyili noted that the achievements would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of President Bola Tinubu, and the commitment of Governor Oborewvori to grassroots development and for making local government administration in the state an important component of his MORE Agenda, for Delta’s rapid growth and progress.

Inaugurating the projects, Oborewvori thanked President Tinubu for making it possible for the third tier of government to meet their financial obligations to workers and also execute multi-million naira projects.

Represented by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, the governor also commended the leadership of the council, the contractors, and the engineers for delivering the projects to standard.

The Osun State High Court sitting in Iragbiji has set aside the White Paper and Gazette through which the state government recognised the Lagbua family as the fifth ruling house entitled to the Aragbiji of Iragbiji stool.

Justice G.O. Lawal gave the judgment in Suit No. HIR/3/25 filed by Chief Salawu Kayode Fatai, Chief Wale Olateju Oyedokun, Prince Kola Yekeen Afolabi and Prince Adeyinka Niyi Adebisi for themselves and on behalf of the Ajibode, Ogunmolu, Osungbemi and Arodoye ruling houses.

The dispute followed the state government’s decision to revisit the report of the Justice Aderibigbe Judicial Panel of Inquiry, which had recommended the inclusion of the Lagbua family as a ruling house in the Aragbiji chieftaincy. The recommendation had earlier been rejected by the government, with the rejection published in Osun State Gazette No. 7, Volume 23 of 4 April 2013.

The plaintiffs challenged the government’s power to reopen the matter more than a decade later and reverse its earlier position without constituting another panel or committee and without giving the affected ruling houses an opportunity to make representations before a fresh decision was taken.

They also asked the court to determine whether the governor could lawfully authorise another White Paper approving a recommendation which the government had previously considered and rejected, arguing that any reconsideration capable of affecting their interests must comply with the requirements of fair hearing.

In its judgment, the court granted the plaintiffs’ reliefs and set aside the decision reportedly taken by the Osun State Executive Council at its meeting of 29 January 2025, approving the Lagbua family as the fifth ruling house in the Aragbiji chieftaincy. It consequently nullified the new White Paper and Gazette issued pursuant to that decision.

The court treated the government’s 2013 rejection of the Aderibigbe Panel’s recommendation and the subsequent attempt to reverse that position as distinct governmental decisions, with the latter subject to applicable legal requirements, including procedural fairness. The plaintiffs had argued that the government could not, after allowing its gazetted position to stand for about 12 years, reverse it in a manner prejudicial to them without giving them an opportunity to be heard.

With the judgment, the 2025 decision recognising Lagbua as the fifth ruling house and the instruments issued to give effect to it have been nullified at the trial court level, marking another turn in the long-running dispute over the ruling houses entitled to participate in the selection of the Aragbiji of Iragbiji.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State has organised a rally in support of President Bola Tinubu and the appointment of Senator Abdulaziz Yari as DG,saying Zamfara people have every right to support Tinubu reelection in 2027.

The massive rally, which was organised on Wednesday, started with a solidarity walk from the trade fair complex bypass Gusau down to Government House Gusau,the state capital.

The APC supporters presented a letter of appreciation to President Tinubu via Governor Dauda Lawal over the appointment of Senator Abdulaziz Yari as DG campaign council.

The stakeholders’ solidarity walk was led by the Chairman of the AA Yari Political Organisation, Dr Lawal M. Liman, with APC stakeholders, support groups and supporters across 14 local governments in the State.

Speaking at the Government House, Dr Lawal Liman, who spoke on behalf of the APC support groups, described Senator Yari’s appointment as a strategic decision that would strengthen the party’s chances of victory in the 2027 elections.

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In his remarks, the Zamfara State APC Chairman, Hon.Kabiru Moyi, assured the party’s readiness to secure victory for President Tinubu and Governor Dauda Lawal in the 2027 elections.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Talata Mafara Local Government Area, Hon. Yahaya Yari, explained why people of Zamfara State have to support President Tinubu, citing federal interventions and development programmes, including the NG-CARES initiative in the state.

Receiving the letter on behalf of Governor Dauda Lawal, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Mani Malam Mummuni assured Senator Abdulazeez Yari of the state government’s full support in discharging his responsibilities as Director-General of the campaign.

Those at the solidarity walk included the member representing Maru/Bungudu Federal Constituency Federal House of Representatives, Abdulmalik Zubairu; member representing Tsafe/Gusau Federal Constituency, Kabiru Ahmadu Mai-Palace, Chairman of APC in Gusau Local Government Area, Engineer Babangida Abdullahi , former APC chairman Tukur Danfulani as well as the 14 local government chairmen in the state.

The Federal Government has been urged to accelerate the power sector reforms to arrest electricity crisis derailing Nigeria’s recovery.

According to the Director /Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, the country’s emerging economic recovery could be weakened unless the government urgently accelerates reforms in the power sector.

The advice followed the latest report of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures, showing that the economy expanded by 4.43 percent in real terms in the second quarter of 2026, its strongest quarterly growth in five years.

Analysing the figures, Yusuf pointed out that despite the positive headline growth in the second quarter, it was overshadowed by continued weakness in the electricity, gas and steam sector, which contracted by 10.63 percent during the quarter.

Although the contraction was an improvement on the 15.30 percent decline recorded in the first quarter, the CPPE boss said the performance remained unacceptable for an economy seeking to attract investment, expand industries and create millions of jobs.

In its policy brief on the Q2 GDP report made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday, in Lagos, Yusuf argued that a sustained recovery in electricity supply must become a central pillar of Nigeria’s economic and industrial strategy.

According to him, power-sector reform should be accelerated as a central pillar of industrial and investment strategy.

Yusuf, who is a former Director-General, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said reliable electricity would have a multiplier effect across the economy, reducing the enormous cost businesses currently incur on diesel, petrol and alternative power sources.

‘Better electricity supply will lower production costs across manufacturing, agriculture, mining, information and communications technology, logistics and services.

It will also release business capital currently tied up in self-generation, allowing companies to invest more in expansion, employment and productivity,’ the CPPE boss said.

He maintained that Nigeria cannot achieve sustained industrialisation while businesses remain heavily dependent on expensive self-generated electricity.

He called on government and regulators to accelerate investments in generation, transmission and distribution.

He also urged authorities to address persistent gas-supply constraints and liquidity problems in the electricity market.

Other recommendations include deeper metering, stronger commercial discipline, support for embedded generation and captive power, as well as greater deployment of industrial mini-grids and renewable-energy systems.

The CPPE boss also called for effective implementation of state electricity-market reforms under the Electricity Act, with clear accountability and measurable targets for delivering reliable electricity to industrial and agro-processing clusters.

The economist expressed that the power sector should no longer be treated simply as an infrastructure challenge but as a fundamental economic-growth issue.

According to him, a turnaround in electricity would strengthen virtually every other productive sector by reducing operating costs and improving competitiveness.

The call for urgent reforms comes against the backdrop of stronger performances across several areas of the economy.

The Q2 GDP growth of 4.43 per cent represented an improvement from 3.89 per cent in Q1 and 4.23 per cent in Q2 2025.

Oil-sector growth increased sharply from 2.57 percent in Q1 to 7.31 percent in Q2, supported by an increase in average crude oil production from 1.55 million barrels per day to 1.72 million barrels per day.

The non-oil economy also strengthened, rising from 3.94 percent to 4.31 percent, while the services sector grew by 4.60 percent and accounted for 56.62 per cent of real GDP.

Several productive sectors also recorded growth.

Construction expanded by 6.75 percent, financial and insurance services by 9.29 percent, real estate by 3.76 percent and transport and storage by 5.70 percent.

Information and communications technology remained one of the strongest-performing sectors, growing by 9.62 percent, while telecommunications expanded by 10.38 percent.

Domestic refining was another major growth driver, expanding by 43.94 percent in Q2 after recording 37.46 percent growth in Q1.

Manufacturing, however, grew by a more modest 3.24 percent, slightly below the 3.29 percent recorded in Q1.

The Niger Delta Progressive Alliance (NDPA) has commended Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) for what it described as effective pipeline surveillance and responsible community engagement during the recent flooding in parts of the Niger Delta.

The group, in a commendation by its convener, Ambassador Nse Victor Udoh, said PINL’s operational efficiency and interventions in the past few years had helped protect the environment, preserve farmlands and safeguard aquatic ecosystems from additional threats associated with pipeline failures and oil spills.

According to the NDPA, annual flooding in the Niger Delta poses significant environmental risks, particularly when floodwaters interact with damaged pipelines, oil spills and illegal activities around oil and gas infrastructure.

The organisation, however, said the recent flood season presented a different experience, noting that there were no reported incidents of widespread oil contamination of floodwaters, dead fish or the spread of oil into farms and residential areas attributable to pipeline failures.

It said the development demonstrated the importance of preventive pipeline management, as the effectiveness of infrastructure protection was often measured by disasters that were prevented, rather than emergency situations that attracted public attention.

The group attributed the outcome partly to PINL’s sustained surveillance and maintenance of pipeline corridors.

‘This season, the waters rose again, higher than caution would have preferred. Yet, something in the old pattern broke. As an organisation that has watched this region’s rivers for as long as it has watched its people, we have followed this flood from its rise to its recession, and we have found an absence worth naming: no dead fish crowding the shallows, no oil trailing the water into our homes and farmlands, no poisoned harvest waiting to be discovered.

‘For this, we look to PINL, and we commend it on two distinct grounds: the efficiency of its core service and the integrity of its social responsibility to the communities it operates among.

‘This season made the two difficult to separate, for competence in the technical met conscience in the communal, and the result speaks for itself,’ NDPA said.

It added that regular patrols, monitoring and right-of-way surveillance helped identify and address potential threats before they developed into major incidents, while inspection, maintenance and repair activities contributed to maintaining the integrity of critical pipelines.

Beyond pipeline surveillance, the group commended PINL for its interventions in flood-affected communities in Rivers, Bayelsa and Imo states.

It also cited the company’s restoration activities in areas previously affected by illegal refining, as well as empowerment programmes targeting women and youths in host communities.

The organisation said the interventions demonstrated that corporate social responsibility should go beyond occasional charitable gestures and become part of a sustained commitment to community welfare and development.

The NDPA maintained that infrastructure security and community welfare were closely connected in the Niger Delta, where pipelines traverse several communities and environmentally sensitive areas.

It said effective pipeline protection therefore, required not only technical competence but also cooperation and goodwill from host communities

The alliance urged PINL to sustain the standard, stressing that the protection of critical national infrastructure, environmental preservation and improvement of host-community welfare should remain mutually reinforcing objectives.

The NDPA consequently reaffirmed its commendation of PINL, describing the company’s performance during the flood season as an example of how operational efficiency and responsible community engagement could combine to protect critical energy infrastructure and the environment.

The worsening environmental crisis in Nigeria has come under renewed scrutiny, with the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) calling for a national coalition of government, civil society organisations, researchers and citizens to halt the accelerating degradation of the country’s environment.

The call came as EDEN unveiled its state of the Nigerian environment report and posthumously inducted three prominent Nigerians: Professor Festus Iyayi, Comrade Oronto Douglas and Comrade Jonathan Ihonde, into its Hall of Fame for their contributions to environmental justice, social activism and national development.

Executive Director of EDEN, Chima Williams, said the report was conceived as a wholly Nigerian effort to document the state of the nation’s environment and stimulate informed action against the threats confronting communities across the country.

Williams, who described the occasion as one of his happiest days, said the initiative was driven by the need to preserve the legacies of environmental defenders while equipping a new generation with the knowledge and courage required in confront environmental injustice.

He disclosed that the report was personally funded with support from colleagues in EDEN.

He urged government institutions, civil society groups, academics, researchers and environmental stakeholders to scrutinise the report, provide additional data and collaborate towards producing a comprehensive, objective, and regularly updated national environmental record.

‘Our environment is our life. If we protect our environment, it will protect us,’ Williams said, warning that environmental degradation was no longer an isolated ecological problem but a threat to the survival, health and future of Nigerians.

Douglas was honoured for his pioneering role in environmental justice litigation and his contribution to the development of environmental advocacy in Nigeria, including mentoring young activists and supporting student-led environmental initiatives.

Iyayi, renowned academic, writer, social critic and former ASUU president, was recognised for his lifelong commitment to social justice, intellectual freedom and activism, as well as his mentorship of generations of students and young Nigerians, particularly at the University of Benin.

Ihonde, described as a ‘silent operator’, was honoured for his contributions to the labour movement, politics, theatre, education and public life, with EDEN acknowledging his enduring influence on activists, intellectuals and performers.

Williams said the recognition of the three late Nigerians was intended to ensure that their contributions will not be forgotten, urging younger activists to draw inspiration from their courage, sacrifice and commitment to justice.

He further challenged Nigerians to move beyond condemnation of environmental degradation and embrace collective responsibility for protecting forests, waterways, communities and other natural resources.

The Oronto Douglas award was received by Williams on behalf of the Douglas family with the authorisation of his wife, Mrs Tari Oronto Douglas; Mrs Grace Iyayi received the award on behalf of Professor Iyayi, while Mary Ihonde, granddaughter of Jonathan Ihonde, received the honour on behalf of the Ihonde family.

Traditional rulership is one of the oldest and most important institutions in African society. Before the establishment of modern political systems, traditional rulers played significant roles in the administration of communities, maintenance of peace, settlement of disputes and preservation of customs and traditions.

In Nigeria, traditional rulers such as Obas, Emirs, Ezes and other community leaders continue to play important roles in society. Although they may no longer exercise the same political powers as in the past, they remain custodians of culture, history, traditional institutions and community values.

The preservation of cultural heritage is particularly important in today’s rapidly changing world. Globalisation, modern technology and changing lifestyles can lead to the gradual loss of indigenous languages, customs, traditional knowledge, festivals and historical practices. Traditional rulers therefore have an important responsibility to ensure that valuable aspects of our heritage are not forgotten. Among these are: Traditional rulers as custodians of cultural heritage: One of the major responsibilities of traditional rulers is to protect and promote the cultural heritage of their people. They preserve traditional institutions, customs, ceremonies, festivals, historical sites and other cultural practices.

Traditional rulers often participate in important cultural celebrations and encourage their communities to maintain practices that promote their identity and unity. Through their palaces, councils and community institutions, they help preserve historical knowledge and traditions for future generations.

Preservation of history and oral tradition: Before the widespread use of written records, much of African history was transmitted orally from one generation to another. Traditional rulers and elders played an important role in preserving genealogies, historical events, migration stories, legends and traditional knowledge. Traditional rulers can support the documentation of these histories through museums, archives, publications and digital platforms. This can help younger generations understand where they come from and appreciate the achievements of their ancestors.

Promotion of indigenous values: Traditional rulers are important promoters of values that encourage responsible living and peaceful communities. These values may include respect for elders, honesty, hard work, hospitality, communal responsibility, justice and respect for human dignity. By encouraging these values, traditional rulers contribute to moral education and social stability. They can also use traditional gatherings and community events to educate young people about the importance of responsible citizenship.

Preservation of indigenous knowledge: Traditional communities possess valuable knowledge about agriculture, crafts, architecture, traditional medicine, food production, environmental conservation and other areas of life. Traditional rulers can encourage the documentation and responsible preservation of such knowledge. This is particularly important because some indigenous knowledge is disappearing as older generations pass away without transferring their knowledge to younger people.

Promotion of Peace and Conflict Resolution

Traditional rulers have historically played an important role in resolving conflicts within their communities. They often use dialogue, mediation, reconciliation and customary methods to settle disputes. Their position and experience can help bring conflicting parties together and encourage peaceful solutions. In this way, traditional institutions complement the work of modern government and the formal justice system.

Promotion of Cultural Identity and Unity

Culture gives people a sense of belonging and identity. Traditional rulers help strengthen this identity by promoting cultural festivals, traditional ceremonies, indigenous languages, arts and historical traditions. At the same time, they can promote unity among different groups by encouraging mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. A strong cultural identity does not have to prevent people from participating in modern society; rather, it can provide a foundation from which communities engage confidently with the wider world.

Contribution to Tourism and Economic Development

Cultural heritage can contribute significantly to tourism and local economic development. Traditional festivals, palaces, historical sites, traditional arts and cultural ceremonies can attract visitors from within and outside Nigeria. Traditional rulers can work with government agencies, museums, cultural organisations and tourism bodies to promote cultural attractions while ensuring that communities benefit economically from their heritage.

Role in Educating the Younger Generation

The survival of culture depends greatly on the younger generation. Traditional rulers can encourage schools, cultural organisations and community groups to teach young people about local history, traditions and values.

They can also support cultural programmes where young people learn traditional crafts, music, dance, language and oral history. This creates a connection between the younger generation and their cultural heritage.

Traditional Rulers and Modern Governance

Traditional rulers can serve as a bridge between government and local communities. Because they often have close relationships with their people, they can help government communicate policies and development programmes to rural communities.

They can also communicate the concerns and needs of their communities to government authorities. Through cooperation with government, traditional rulers can contribute to development while maintaining the cultural identity of their people.

Challenges Facing Traditional Rulers

Despite their important responsibilities, traditional rulers face several challenges. These include the influence of modernisation, declining interest in indigenous culture among some young people, political interference, inadequate funding and the gradual disappearance of indigenous languages and traditional knowledge.

Another challenge is the increasing influence of global culture through social media and modern entertainment. While modernisation has many benefits, there is a need to ensure that it does not completely replace valuable indigenous traditions.

Recommendations

To strengthen the role of traditional rulers in preserving cultural heritage, the following measures are recommended:

Government should support legitimate cultural preservation programmes.

Traditional institutions should collaborate with museums, universities and cultural organisations.

Indigenous languages and oral traditions should be documented and preserved.

Young people should be encouraged to participate in cultural festivals and heritage programmes.

Important cultural objects and historical sites should be properly preserved.

Digital technology should be used to document and promote Nigerian cultural heritage.

Traditional rulers should encourage values such as peace, honesty, respect and communal responsibility.

Cultural tourism should be developed in ways that benefit local communities.

In conclusion, traditional rulers remain important custodians of cultural heritage and national values. Their responsibilities extend beyond traditional ceremonies and titles. They contribute to the preservation of history, indigenous knowledge, cultural identity, peace, moral values and community development.

In an era of rapid globalisation and technological change, the role of traditional institutions is becoming increasingly important. Traditional rulers should therefore work closely with government, educational institutions, museums, cultural organisations and young people to ensure that valuable cultural heritage is preserved and passed on to future generations.

The preservation of culture is not a rejection of modernisation. Rather, it is about maintaining the valuable knowledge, identity and values of our ancestors while adapting positively to the demands of the modern world.

The Federal Government has formally inaugurated the National Steering Committee for the Lagos International Financial Centre (LIFC) Initiative, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s drive to establish a globally competitive financial hub in Africa.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume inaugurated the committee at a ceremony held on Wednesday, in Abuja, according to a statement by the Head, Information and Public Relations Department, Mr. Chris Ugwuegbulam.

Akume explained that LIFC is a strategic initiative designed to deepen Nigeria’s capital markets, attract domestic and foreign investment, promote financial innovation, and strengthen the country’s financial ecosystem for sustainable economic growth.

‘The establishment of the LIFC presents an opportunity to leverage Lagos’ strategic position and Nigeria’s economic potential to create a financial centre of international standing,’ he said.

He noted that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has endorsed the LIFC Initiative as a strategic national economic priority and directed the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to coordinate Federal Government support for its implementation.

The Committee, he added, brings together key Federal Government institutions, the Lagos State Government, and private sector stakeholders to ensure effective coordination in addressing policy, legal, regulatory, institutional, and infrastructure issues critical to the Centre’s success.

He urged members to approach the assignment with commitment and urgency, emphasising that the success of the LIFC will depend on a strong whole-of-government approach and effective partnership between the Federal Government, Lagos State Government, and the private sector.

The SGF congratulated all members and wished the Committee a successful and impactful engagement while also assuring the Committee of the full support of his Office in facilitating the discharge of its mandate.

The National Steering Committee is composed as follows: Chairman, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume CON; Co-Chairman: Governor, Lagos State Babajide Sanwo – Olu.

Shadow Chair: Permanent Secretary (GSO) OSGF, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni, DRM, Shadow Co-Chair: Hon. Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State Government, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi.

Others are: Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy – Taiwo Oyedele; Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice – Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumiegwu-Ojukwu; Honourable Minister of Interior of Nigeria is Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, MFR; Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso; Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama; Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Dr. Zacch Adedeji and EnterpriseNGR Chairman Aigboje Aig- Imoukhuede.

Members of the Secretariat are: Director of Legal Services (OSGF) Mrs. Kamilatu M. Kida and CEO, EnterpriseNGR, Ms. Obi Obiekwe.

The highpoint of the inauguration ceremony was an elaborate briefing and presentation made by the Co-Chairman of the Committee and the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

He explained that International Financial Centres are deliberate instruments of national economic strategy: trusted jurisdictions built to mobilise long-term capital, deepen markets and connect domestic opportunity to global capital. Their foundations are institutional trust, regulatory quality, legal certainty and international connectivity.

LIFC, he explained, can become the trusted platform through which Nigeria competes for global capital – and through which capital accesses African opportunity.

The Committee, the Governor added, brings together key Federal Government institutions, the Lagos State Government, and private sector stakeholders ‘represented by EnterpriseNGR’, to ensure effective coordination in addressing policy, legal, regulatory, institutional, and infrastructure issues critical to the Centre’s success.

The PBAT Mandate Elders Forum in Ondo State on Wednesday urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to prioritise genuine reconciliation among major stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying such unity was necessary to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu an easy electoral victory in the state in the 2027 election.

The Ondo APC elders said Aiyedatiwa’s appointment as Tinubu’s 2027 campaign coordinator in the state was an assignment to unite the party and bring its various tendencies together, not an opportunity to consolidate political supremacy.

Chairman of the Forum, Hon. Demola Ijabiyi, stated this on Wednesday in Akure while addressing journalists on recent political developments within the APC and preparations for the 2027 elections.

Ijabiyi said the governor must take the lead in resolving the differences between his camp and other influential stakeholders, particularly the three ministers from the state, members of the National Assembly and other stakeholders, if the party genuinely wants to present a united front for Tinubu.

He said merely inviting stakeholders to meetings or recognising their positions without addressing the issues responsible for the divisions would amount to cosmetic reconciliation.

‘If we want genuine reconciliation, the only way we can participate is when we see the governor, the ministers and National Assembly members hold a meeting in the Government House and have lunch together. The day we see that, then we will know reconciliation is genuine,’ he said.

The APC chieftain said the responsibility for achieving such reconciliation rested largely with Aiyedatiwa as the leader of the party in the state.

According to him, the governor’s campaign coordination role should be measured by his ability to bring all tendencies within the APC together and mobilise them for Tinubu’s victory.

He warned that the appointment of Aiyedatiwa as the coordinator of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign in the state should not be interpreted as a licence to dominate or subjugate other political stakeholders within the APC.

Ijabiyi congratulated Aiyedatiwa on his appointment as the President’s campaign coordinator, and expressed the Forum’s readiness to cooperate with every genuine effort aimed at securing an overwhelming victory for Tinubu in Ondo State.

He, however, drew a clear distinction between coordinating the President’s campaign and controlling the political structure of the state.

‘Appointment as campaign coordinator is an assignment to unite; it is not a coronation to rule over other political stakeholders.

‘The success of the governor’s assignment will ultimately be measured not by declarations of political supremacy, newspaper articles or social-media exchanges, but by the votes delivered to President Tinubu in 2027,’ Ijabiyi said.

The Forum’s position followed recent efforts by the state APC leadership to engage stakeholders on the possibility of convening a meeting aimed at strengthening unity within the party.

Ijabiyi, however, insisted that such a meeting would only be meaningful if the major political differences were first confronted and resolved.

He also urged the governor to rein in aides and supporters whose public statements could further inflame tensions within the party, warning that political disagreements should not be allowed to degenerate into personal attacks.

The Forum reaffirmed its support for Tunji-Ojo, describing the minister as an important political asset to President Tinubu and the APC in Ondo State.

Ijabiyi said the minister’s popularity should be deployed towards expanding the President’s support base rather than treated as a threat to the governor.

‘The Governor’s constitutional authority does not diminish BTO’s political relevance, and BTO’s popularity does not diminish the Governor’s constitutional position.

‘President Tinubu needs both men. More importantly, he needs everybody,’ he said.

He stressed that the APC’s overriding assignment in 2027 was to secure Tinubu’s re-election and victory for the party’s candidates, not to determine which faction or individual controlled the party.

‘There is no victory yet to celebrate. The campaign has not been fought. The election has not been held. The votes have not been counted,’ he said.

Ijabiyi urged all stakeholders to subordinate personal ambitions and factional interests to the broader objective of retaining the Presidency for the APC.

‘The governor has been given the responsibility to coordinate. Let him coordinate. The stakeholders have a responsibility to cooperate. Let us cooperate.

‘Nobody’s ego will be on the ballot in 2027. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC candidates will be,’ he added.