Category: Nigerian Tribune

Sylva, a founding member of the APC, announced his resignation in a letter dated August 31, 2026, addressed to the APC Chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

He said he made the decision after consulting his family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers.

Sylva also criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying it had disappointed most Nigerians and expressing confidence that voters would seek a change in the 2027 general elections.

In the letter, which was electronically delivered, Sylva said he could no longer remain in a party whose leaders appeared to believe that ‘all is fair in politics.’

He wrote, ‘Having consulted widely with my family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers, I wish to formally tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), with immediate effect.

‘As a founding member of the APC, and one who joined other well-meaning Nigerians in building the party with sweat and money, it is deeply saddening to witness how the ideals we espoused have been so thoroughly and unrecognisably thwarted.

‘Moreover, I cannot, in all good conscience, continue to belong to a party whose leaders believe that ‘all is fair in politics;’ and have consistently demonstrated that belief in practice.

‘All cannot be fair in any endeavour of life. The demands of basic decency and morality forbid it. Unfortunately, this mentality appears to underpin virtually every action, and even inaction, of this administration.’

The former governor said the APC-led government had failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians, adding that he saw no realistic effort to change its direction.

‘The present Government, formed under the banner of the APC we once loved, has disappointed the vast majority of Nigerians. And I can see neither a credible attempt nor any possibility of a revamp,’ he said.

Sylva said he had therefore decided to leave the party rather than remain part of what he described as a ‘floundering ship.’

‘I am therefore left with no other choice than to jettison a floundering ship whose fate appears to have been sealed by its irredeemable load of iniquities. I have no doubt that, in the coming election, Nigerians will vote for Nigeria and free the Country from this stranglehold on our beautiful country,’ he stated.

Sylva also explained why he copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in his resignation letter.

He said he knew the decision could lead to increased scrutiny of him and his associates but was prepared to face the consequences.

‘I am fully aware that this action of mine may invite a redoubled witch-hunt against me and my associates, but that is a risk I am willing to take,’ he said.

Copies of the resignation letter were also sent to the National Chairman of the APC, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC and the APC Chairman in Bayelsa State.

African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed the Presidency’s claim that a petrol subsidy to support a pump price of about ?600 per litre under Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s proposal would cost Nigeria approximately ?19.1 trillion annually, describing it as a ‘phantom figure’ and ‘arithmetic vandalism.’

Reacting on Monday through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the Presidency was attacking a model it created for itself rather than Atiku’s actual plan.

‘We are at a loss as to how the presidency conjured up this phantom figure. But we do not agree with it.

‘In trying to discredit Atiku’s proposal as unrealistic, the president’s men fail to address its fundamental principle, which is that Nigerians cannot afford the cost of unsubsidised fuel. That is classic straw man argument, the presidency attacking the model it created by itself, and passing it off as an attack on the opponent’s position.’

‘Prove the ?19.1 trillion claim’

The ADC said the Presidency’s own spokesman admitted the calculation was based on assumptions of $80 crude and a $40-per-barrel subsidy differential that were not independently verified.

‘The ADC does not concede that implementing the AERP would cost ?19.1 trillion annually, because it does not. And nothing they have said so far suggests they have a proof for concluding that it does. Instead, what we see is fiscal scare-mongering,’ the statement said.

The party explained that the proposal of its presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is not a return to the old import-subsidy regime.

‘[It is a] complete step-change that moves subsidy away from imported finished petroleum products toward domestic production through a controlled crude-feedstock incentive for local refineries, based on a benchmark-and-ceiling principle.

‘Atiku subsidy changes the object of intervention. It proposes a subsidy for production input – domestic crude feedstock supplied to qualifying Nigerian refineries within Nigeria,’ Abdullahi stated.

He contrasted the old model of importing and subsidising products with the ADC model: ‘Nigerian crude ? Nigerian refinery ? Nigerian petroleum products ? Nigerian consumption ? surplus regional exports.’

‘Account for your own multi-trillion spending’

The ADC challenged the government to explain petroleum-related expenditures already reported under the current administration instead of inventing figures for the opposition.

‘NNPC’s audited 2024 accounts recorded approximately ?7.13 trillion under Energy Security… bringing the broader petroleum-related exposure reported in the accounts to roughly ?17.5 trillion,’ the party noted.

‘The question is: what does the government’s multi -trillion naira petroleum intervention mean and why has it the huge expenditure not subjected to any fiscal and value -for-money scrutiny?’

The ADC also cited the government’s Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives (Tax Remission) Order 2026, which provides production tax credits of up to $11.50 per barrel.

‘If Nigeria can provide a production-linked fiscal incentive of up to $11.50 per barrel to stimulate offshore oil production, why is a carefully controlled crude-input incentive for domestic refineries dismissed as economic madness when its objective is to make fuel cheaper for Nigerians?’ the statement asked.

The party further referenced the Nigeria Customs Service report of approximately ?34 trillion in Import Duty Exemption Certificates, saying it shows government itself recognizes that foregoing revenue can be justified for national objectives.

‘Where are the FX savings and multiplier?’

Abdullahi said the Presidency’s N19.1 trillion figure ignores the foreign-exchange and industrial benefits of domestic refining.

‘Every petroleum product Nigeria does not import is foreign exchange Nigeria does not need to spend on that import. Every barrel refined domestically retains more value within the Nigerian economy,’ he said.

‘For decades, the absurdity has been: export crude ? import refined products ? spend scarce foreign exchange ? transmit the cost into the Nigerian economy.

The Atiku plan seeks to reverse that: produce crude ? refine domestically ? consume domestically ? industrialise ? export surplus products ? earn foreign exchange.’

The ADC added that cheaper energy impacts the entire economy, from food distribution to manufacturing, and that ‘doing nothing is not free. It is ultimately more expensive.’

‘This is not the old subsidy’

The party said the Atiku plan proposes a capped, audited and traceable intervention with benchmark pricing, verified refinery capacity, digital tracking and domestic-supply obligations.

‘The question under the old subsidy system was: ‘How many litres did you import?’ The question under the Atiku subsidy plan would be: ‘Where is the barrel, what did it produce and where did the product go?’ That is not a return to the old regime. It is a redesign of the subsidy architecture,’ Abdullahi said.

The ADC said the real debate is not subsidy versus no subsidy, but priorities.

‘The debate is: what should Nigeria subsidise, why, and for whom? The ADC answers: What Nigerians need is cheaper fuel, because Nigerians are too poor not to be subsidised. Nigerian crude should create Nigerian value for Nigerians,’ the statement said.

‘We do not propose to subsidise waste. What we propose to subsidise production that directly improves capacity. And if the Presidency truly believes that even such an intervention is too expensive, then it must answer the question it has so far avoided: Why is cheaper energy for Nigerians less deserving of public investment than the other multi -trillion naira expenditures that this government has made?’

Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria following his participation at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Luanda, Angola.

His media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

VP Shettima represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the high-level summit, where Nigeria called for stronger African-led mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, as well as urgent continental action against recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks on Africans and other nationals in South Africa.

At the summit, Nigeria also backed the Luanda Action Plan and called for sustainable financing of Africa’s peace and security architecture, stronger collective responsibility among AU member states and greater African ownership of solutions to conflicts on the continent.

The Vice President returned to Abuja after the conclusion of his engagements in Angola.

The Federal Government’s $1 billion social protection programme has been described as a commendable step towards supporting vulnerable Nigerians, but cash transfers alone cannot generate sustainable income or permanently lift households out of poverty, a leading poverty eradication expert has cautioned.

Professor Magnus Kpakol, former National Coordinator of the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), made the remarks while speaking on an Arise TV programme. He urged the government to provide greater clarity on the financing of the initiative, particularly the sources of the $1 billion fund, the share expected from World Bank financing, and how the intervention would be sustained over the long term.

Kpakol stressed that the true measure of the programme’s success should not be the volume of money distributed but the number of Nigerians who eventually graduate from poverty and become economically self-sufficient.

He praised the government’s recognition of the need to move beneficiaries beyond welfare, calling the proposed graduation approach ‘extremely commendable’. However, he warned that cash transfers must remain only a basic safety net rather than the central solution to poverty.

The N40,000 cash transfer, he noted, may offer temporary relief to poor households but is unlikely to fundamentally alter their economic circumstances without complementary measures. ‘What we really need is a ladder – a catalytic mechanism that takes people from the basic cash transfer to sustainable economic activity,’ Kpakol said.

He recalled that when he introduced the cash-transfer concept in Nigeria under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the programme combined a Basic Income Guarantee with a Poverty Reduction Accelerator Investment initiative. The latter provided training, financial literacy, capacity development and access to productive opportunities. The same principle, he argued, should guide the current scheme. Beneficiaries require skills, access to capital, markets and industries capable of absorbing them into productive economic activities.

Kpakol also raised concerns about the integrity of the National Social Register, calling for a more transparent beneficiary-selection process.

During his tenure at NAPEP, he said beneficiaries were selected openly at the community level, with residents identifying those they considered genuinely poor. Such an approach fostered community ownership and reduced the risk of political patronage. ‘Nigerians need to know that beneficiaries are not simply party members, political cronies or people connected to influential individuals,’ he stated.

While acknowledging that social programmes are often politicised, Kpakol emphasised that political considerations must not determine who benefits. He advocated stronger participation by state and local governments, noting that poverty reduction cannot be driven by the Federal Government alone. States collectively control substantial financial resources that could complement federal efforts, while local governments are better placed to identify community-level needs and opportunities.

Sustainable poverty reduction, he insisted, demands industrialisation, infrastructure development and stronger institutions. ‘Poverty reduction is not simply about providing capital. It is about increasing our capacity to produce the goods and services we need,’ Kpakol said. Microfinance, like cash transfers, can help people connect to the mainstream economy but should not be regarded as a permanent solution. He called for greater local ownership of resources so communities can develop economic opportunities around assets available in their areas, and urged the utilisation of gas currently being flared to supply energy for households and businesses.

On the $1billion programme itself, Kpakol pressed the Federal Government to clearly explain its financing structure and sustainability plan. World Bank funding, understood to be an International Development Association loan, could offer relatively low interest and long repayment periods. Such financing would be justified, he said, if it successfully increased productivity and moved beneficiaries permanently out of poverty.

Ultimately, government should judge the programme by whether it delivers measurable and lasting reductions in poverty over the next 10 to 20 years. ‘The real test is not simply what we announce or how much money we distribute. It is whether we can produce measurable and sustainable reductions in poverty,’ Kpakol concluded.

THE security challenges posed by banditry and terrorism have continued to escalate in the northern part of the country, as the number of internal displaced persons and camps has continued to swell, putting a significant financial burden on the state governments.

The Nigerian Tribune’s findings revealed that states such as Benue, Borno, Niger, Zamfara, and Katsina have the highest number of displaced persons, primarily women and children who fled their ancestral communities as a result of attacks and killings, with the unfortunate situation exacerbated by flooding in some communities.

Benue

Checks in Benue pointed out that there are no fewer than 21 camps for the IDPs across the state, while records obtained from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) depicted that 219,477 persons were displaced from their communities, with the majority of them at the IDP camps.

The breakdown of the number of people displaced as obtained by BSEMA include that Male: 0-four years 9,708, five-17 years, 53,449, 18-59 years, 28,488 and 60+ 4,002, and Female: 0-four years, 9,212, five-17 years, 50,168, 18-59 years, 56,432 and 60+ 8,018.

Kaduna

A recent survey by some civil organisations indicated that more than 1.1 million out-of-camp internally displaced persons are currently squatting in Kaduna, placing growing pressure on housing, services, and livelihoods.

This was disclosed during a one-day capacity-building workshop on youth migration governance for staff of the Kaduna State Ministry of Youth Development.

Zamfara

Similarly, Zamfara harbours 290,000 IDPs, and the state government spends N7.3b for their upkeep. The state government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian and Relief Matters, disclosed that it spent over N7.3 billion to support these camps, saying Zamfara State harbours over 290,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

The commissioner, Honourable Salisu Tsafe who disclosed this during the Commemoration of 2026 World Humanitarian Day, highlighted that banditry activities have forced quite a lot of people out of their communities and villages to seek refuge in the IDP camps

Katsina

An assessment carried out by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Katsina State recently revealed that more than 138,000 people were displaced by insecurity and natural disasters in Katsina State between January 2025 and January 2026.

The organisation’s Chief Mission Officer, Sharon Dimanche, disclosed at a press conference in Katsina that 72,000 people were displaced in the state following floods, heavy rainfall, and windstorms, while 60,000 others were forced out from their communities by armed banditry and kidnapping within the period under review.

Niger

Niger is also one of the states in the North battling insurgency at different fronts, as records obtained from the Niger State Directorate of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) showed that eight IDP camps are currently operating across six local government areas with a total of 21,258 displaced persons.

Shiroro Local Government Area has the highest number of camps, with three facilities, while Munya, Mashegu, Rafi, Rijau and Mariga local government areas have one camp each.

The Gwada IDP camp in Shiroro is hosting 2,222 displaced persons, while Kuta camp has 2,615, and Gijiwa camp has 321.

In Munya Local Government Area, the camp is accommodating 6,183 IDPs, representing the highest population among the existing camps.

Similarly, the Mashegu camp has 3,541 displaced persons, while the Rafi camp has 2,278 persons. The Rijau camp also has 2,278 displaced persons, while the Mariga camp is accommodating 1,820.

Plateau

Findings in Plateau showed that all the IDP camps had closed, despite ongoing attacks on communities and villages in parts of the state, making it difficult to obtain precise data on the number of people displaced from their ancestral homes.

Recall that the state government closed all the camps three years ago with the aim of relocating those displaced to their respective villages.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, National President, Berom Youth Moulder Association (BYMA), Mr Dalyop Solomon, stated that the people of the state, despite repeated attacks, did not fully embrace the practice of IDP camps, highlighting that victims of attacks often preferred to relocate to their neighborhoods or cities within the state to stay with their relatives.

‘They do not stay in government-designated camps. You will see their relatives from Jos and other cities in the state arriving to take them away,’ he stated.

Kwara

It is the same pathetic story in Kwara, which has only one Internally Displaced Persons camp, located at Patigi, in the Patigi local government area of the state.

The North Central Zonal Director of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Hajia Ahmed Afusat Jumai, who gave the data of the affected persons said men; 2,231; women; 3,642 and children; 6,124.

Kogi

In Kogi, it is a combination of banditry and flood, which have made the number of internally displaced persons increase, but those displaced seldom stay in camp, thereby making it difficult to aggregate their numbers.

Borno

Another state facing the problem is Borno. The governor’s spokesman, Mallam Dauda Iliya, said some years back most of the IDP camps were closed, adding that the state government prioritised voluntarily returning of displaced persons to their communities of choice as security conditions improved.

He mentioned that so far, about two million people, including men and female-headed households, youths, and children, have been resettled across Borno State.

However, he said only one IDP camp remains operational in Maiduguri, while other camps were in liberated communities, including Monguno, Damboa, Gwoza, Dikwa, Konduga, Mafa and Ngala.

Sokoto

In Sokoto, thousands of residents forced to flee their homes as a result of persistent attacks by bandits and other security threats, is causing a growing humanitarian crisis across several communities in the state.

Investigations revealed that displaced population is scattered between formal and informal camps, as well as host communities, making it difficult to establish a single, up-to-date figure for the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sokoto.

The Nigerian Tribune further learnt that Sabon Birni Local Government Area alone has more than 25,000 displaced persons, making it one of the major displacement hotspots in the state.

The Federal Government has assured Nigerians in the diaspora that it is strengthening national security to guarantee a safer country and facilitate seamless visits to their homeland.

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), gave the assurance during an interactive engagement with members of the Nigerian community residing in Angola, on the sidelines of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Luanda, Angola.

This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja on Monday by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister, Leah Katung-Babatunde.

Gen. Musa expressed appreciation to the Nigerian community in Angola for maintaining a harmonious relationship with the diplomatic mission.

According to the statement, the high-level session provided an opportunity for government representatives to listen directly to the concerns of the diaspora community and provide immediate feedback.

The Nigerian delegation to the AU Summit was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Minister emphasised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to neutralising security threats nationwide and highlighted ongoing efforts to increase the numerical strength and operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies.

According to him, ‘Every sector is receiving targeted interventions to enhance our national security framework. Some of our ongoing challenges stem from regional instability in the Sahel, which trickles across our borders.

‘However, comprehensive border management measures are actively being implemented to curb these incursions.’

He further reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to sustain the integration of reliable data into national security strategies and developmental planning, stressing that efforts to restore lasting peace and stability remain on course.

In his remarks, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, highlighted the enhanced data protection and identity management structures recently instituted by the government, noting that strengthened inter-agency collaboration is yielding measurable results.

While reiterating her commission’s mission, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, assured citizens that the commission’s doors remained open to support their welfare and promote opportunities for mutual engagement.

Present at the meeting were the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and the Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Angola, Ambassador Maxy Ogbede.

INVESTORS in the Nigerian capital market have been advised to rebalance their portfolios and increase exposure to fixed-income, money market and alternative assets as the strong rally recorded in the equities market begins to moderate.

The call was made at the Coronation Media Parley 2026, held in collaboration with the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN).

At the parley, themed: ‘Positioning for the Second Half: Market Outlook, Capital Flows and Investment Opportunities’, investment professionals at a capital market panel session, cautioned investors against relying solely on equities, following the market’s strong performance in the first seven months of 2026.

The panel noted that the Nigerian equities market’s 57 percent year-to-date rally as of the end of July, may not be sustainable in the remaining months of the year, making asset allocation and liquidity management increasingly important for investors.

Speaking on investment opportunities for the second half of the year, the CEO of Coronation Wealth, Izekeo Adegoke, said investors should focus on balancing their portfolios across equities, fixed-income securities and money market instruments rather than concentrating their investments in a single asset class.

According to Adegoke, the strategy should be to determine how much of an investor’s portfolio should be allocated to fixed income, equities and money market instruments in a way that supports sustainable wealth creation.

‘It is about how much do I have in my fixed income; how much do I have in equities; how much do I have in money markets spread across, such that it’s not about did I make a 30 per cent increase. It’s about did I grow wealth in alignment with what inflation is saying,’ she said.

Identified declining inflation and the possibility of lower interest rates as factors that could create opportunities in fixed-income securities, Mayowa Ikotun, Head of Coronation Infrastructure Fund, urged investors to take advantage of prevailing fixed-income yields before a further decline in inflation and yields.

He explained that if inflation continues to decline, yields are also likely to moderate, making it attractive for investors to lock in current yields.

‘As inflation continues to drop, yields continue to stem down. So, if you have a lot in fixed income now, as the yields drop, you get more returns in terms of the value of your fixed income,’ Ikotun said.

He added that money market instruments remain attractive because they provide liquidity while current yields remain relatively high.

While highlighting infrastructure funds as an alternative investment opportunity for investors seeking long-term returns, Ikotun noted that the Coronation Infrastructure Fund is currently raising capital for its Series 2, with funds to be deployed into critical infrastructure projects across the country.

However, behind this convenience lies a silent threat that drains business capital daily. Many retail shop owners discover severe cash shortages at month-end, only to realize that their own sales clerks or cashiers manipulated the payment process.

According to annual fraud reports by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), internal fraud and point-of-sale vulnerabilities consistently rank among the primary channels through which retail financial losses occur.

To prevent theft, you must first understand the tricks dishonest workers use at the counter. The most common trick is the personal account swap. A cashier quietly replaces your business POS machine with their personal terminal or displays their personal account transfer code to unsuspecting customers. The customer pays, the cashier pockets the money, and your inventory records show an unexplained loss.

Another method is the fake transaction reversal or unauthorized void. A customer buys goods worth ten thousand naira, pays with cash, and leaves. The cashier then enters the system, cancels the transaction as an error, and takes the physical cash directly from the register drawer.

Some cashiers also exploit transaction discrepancies. When a customer makes a direct bank transfer, the worker presents a fabricated SMS or app confirmation without verifying settlement in the company’s ledger. The staff member splits the proceeds with an outside accomplice, leaving the store owner with unpaid stock.

Step 1: Assign unique logins and restrict user access

Securing your counter begins with user identification. You must never allow multiple workers to operate a single cashier profile or share one general password. Every cashier must have an individual profile with limited permissions tied strictly to their shift.

Restricting administrative permissions ensures that cashiers cannot process refunds, cancel completed transactions, or edit prices without higher clearance. If an item needs to be returned or an invoice voided, the system should strictly require an manager’s PIN.

This access control builds personal accountability into daily duties. When every transaction carries the name of a specific worker, pinpointing discrepancies takes minutes rather than weeks.

Step 2: Perform dual end-of-day balancing

Daily reconciliation is the most vital discipline for preventing retail leakage. At the end of every business day, the store manager must print the settlement summary directly from the POS machine and compare it with the internal sales log.

Begin by comparing the total count of completed card payments on the physical terminal with the sales logged in your stock register. A single missing receipt indicates an issue that must be addressed before the cashier leaves the premises.

Next, verify that every POS settlement has arrived in your business bank account. Terminal receipts alone are not sufficient proof, because offline errors or network downtime can hold funds in transit. Confirming direct credit into your corporate account prevents surprises.

Step 3: Secure the physical counter and position cameras

Physical supervision provides crucial support for digital records. Position a clear security camera directly above the payment counter to monitor customer interactions and terminal handling.

The camera angle should capture the POS screen, the cash drawer, and the cashier’s hands without recording customers’ secret debit card PINs. Make sure the placement shows whether a staff member switches terminals or accepts personal transfers.

Additionally, mount your official business POS machines securely to the checkout desk using tamper-resistant terminal stands. This prevents staff from slipping machines into bags or swapping them under the counter.

Step 4: Display clear customer payment notices

Your customers can serve as effective monitors for your payment counter when given clear guidance. Place bold, visible signage at every payment point stating that cash payments require an official printed receipt.

The notice should state clearly that all bank transfers must go exclusively to the designated corporate bank account name displayed on the wall. Remind buyers that transfers sent to personal staff accounts are strictly invalid and rejected.

Add an official customer care line or WhatsApp contact on the notice. Encouraging customers to report unissued receipts or private account requests creates an active deterrent against dishonest checkout practices.

Step 5: Implement regular spot audits and surprise inventory checks

Predictable audit routines make it easier for dishonest workers to conceal discrepancies. If your staff knows that accounts are inspected only on the final day of the month, they can cover up shortfalls throughout preceding weeks.

Introduce surprise stock checks across your fastest-moving inventory items. Match shelf quantities against logged POS transactions midway through normal shifts to catch irregularities in real time.

When employees realise that supervisors conduct random mid-day transaction checks, the temptation to void sales or divert payments drops sharply. Consistent supervision remains the ultimate safeguard for business profits.

How to safeguard your business capital

Operating a profitable retail business requires constant vigilance over income channels. Technology simplifies commerce, but without strict operational procedures, it can create costly financial loopholes.

Securing your point-of-sale operations does not require expensive technology. It requires setting clear operational boundaries, checking end-of-day balances every evening, and maintaining direct visibility over checkout points.

By enforcing individual worker logins, installing overhead cameras, and reconciling daily terminal receipts with actual bank balances, you protect your cash flow and ensure long-term stability for your business.

The G100 has proposed a Government of National Competence anchored on a single four-year transition term as part of efforts to unite Nigeria’s opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The proposal was contained in opening remarks delivered on behalf of the G100 by Mallam Salihu Moh. Lukman at the Summit of Nigeria’s Opposition Political Parties held on Monday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

The summit was attended by representatives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Lukman said the proposed government would be based on competence, integrity, national inclusion and fair representation, and guided by a four-year National Reset Programme.

He said the arrangement should be backed by an ‘enforceable Transition Charter’ to prevent participating parties from reneging on the agreement.

According to him, the proposed cooperation would include a Central Leadership Committee, Publicity and Communication Committee and Legal Committee.

He added that five working groups would develop proposals on democratic renewal, the single-term transition charter, national reforms, opposition unity and a roadmap for selecting a common presidential candidate.

Lukman stressed that the summit was not seeking the dissolution of any political party or asking any candidate to step down.

He said the immediate objective was to establish a framework for cooperation before discussions on leadership and candidates.

Lukman said the G100 was facilitating the process without backing any candidate or party, adding that the ultimate goal was to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative government in 2027.

Fresh political tensions are emerging within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State over the 2027 senatorial ambition of Senator Sunday Karimi, with party stakeholders expressing concern over alleged moves to challenge his candidacy.

The development has reportedly generated disagreements among APC members in Kogi West, following the party’s May 18, 2026 senatorial primary, where Karimi was declared winner with 51,665 votes.

The result, announced by the returning officer, Isah Haruna, came after some of the aspirants, including Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro, reportedly stepped down before voting commenced.

However, the issue resurfaced in July when Aro approached the Federal High Court in Lokoja, challenging the outcome of the primary and the submission of Karimi’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The legal challenge came despite the APC National Working Committee’s reaffirmation of Karimi as the party’s candidate after reviewing petitions arising from its primaries.

The development has also triggered debate among party members over the activities of some groups and political actors perceived to be opposed to Karimi’s return to the Senate.

A meeting described as the ‘Kogi West APC Leaders Forum,’ which reportedly attracted several government appointees and other stakeholders, was said to have questioned the outcome of the primary.

The Kogi West Elders Assembly subsequently criticised the gathering, arguing that it did not represent the entire leadership structure of the party in the senatorial district.

The controversy has raised concerns about the unity of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly as the party seeks to retain its hold on Kogi State.

Some party members have also alleged selective disciplinary measures against ward and local government officials who participate in Karimi’s constituency activities, while accusing other actors of engaging in activities perceived as contrary to the party’s position.

The allegations have not, however, been independently established.

The controversy is coming at a time when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s supporters in Kogi are intensifying mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with several APC leaders publicly expressing support for his re-election.

Speaking on the development, Executive Director of the Okun Renaissance Initiative, Chief Elijah Ola Olorunsuwa, urged the APC leadership in the state to prioritise reconciliation and unity ahead of the elections.

Olorunsuwa said continued internal disagreements could weaken the party’s electoral prospects if not addressed before the 2027 polls.

He expressed confidence that President Tinubu would win the 2027 presidential election and predicted that Karimi would return to the Senate, while cautioning that the governor and the APC leadership had reasons to be concerned about the consequences of prolonged internal divisions.

According to him, the alleged normalisation of what some party members regard as anti-party activities within the APC could eventually have political consequences for the party leadership.

He urged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and other stakeholders to embrace reconciliation and ensure that party structures operate fairly and transparently.

The growing disagreement has therefore placed the Kogi APC leadership before a major political test: whether it can resolve its internal differences and present a united front ahead of the 2027 elections.

With the general elections still ahead, stakeholders say there remains sufficient time for dialogue and reconciliation to prevent the dispute from becoming a major electoral liability for the ruling party.