Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has received reports of an accident involving a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on 5 October 2026, expressing readiness to support the military with the investigation where required.

The NSIB said the Nigerian Air Force had confirmed that the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred, adding that search and rescue operations had been activated and were ongoing in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

‘The Bureau extends its sincere condolences to the Nigerian Air Force and to the families and colleagues of all those on board. Our thoughts are with them and with the search and rescue teams working at the site.’

According to a statement signed by the Director-General of the NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., the Bureau noted that it stood ready to assist the Nigerian Air Force, at its request, with whatever technical support might be required.

‘That support can include the deployment of investigators and the use of the Bureau’s Flight Safety Laboratory for the recovery, readout and analysis of flight recorder data.

‘As this occurrence involves a military aircraft, investigative responsibility rests with the Nigerian Air Force. The Bureau will provide assistance upon a formal request from the Air Force.

‘The NSIB commends the swift activation of search and rescue operations and the efforts of first responders at Igbokoda. The public is urged to rely exclusively on official updates from the Nigerian Air Force on the rescue operation and any investigation.

‘Further comment from the Bureau will be issued only as appropriate and in consultation with the Nigerian Air Force,’ the statement said.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated alcoholic beverages valued at about N300m packaged in sachets and plastic bottles below 200ml during enforcement operations across major markets in Lagos State.

The agency also arrested some distributors and retailers allegedly involved in the sale of the prohibited products during raids at Ile-Epo Market, Ojuwoye Market in Mushin and Oke-Arin Market on Lagos Island.

NAFDAC disclosed this in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Sunday, saying its officials removed several cartons of the banned alcoholic drinks from the affected markets.

According to the agency, some of the arrests were made during the operation at Ile-Epo Market, while enforcement teams also searched shops and outlets at the other two locations.

NAFDAC said its investigation indicated that some traders had been stockpiling the prohibited beverages amid increased demand and higher prices.

The agency said the exercise was aimed at enforcing the Federal Government’s ban on the production, sale and distribution of alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml.

It warned traders and other businesses involved in the supply chain against continuing to deal in the banned products.

‘NAFDAC emphasises that the ban remains in force and warns distributors, retailers and other operators against the sale, distribution or hoarding of the prohibited products,’ the agency said.

It put the estimated value of the seized alcoholic beverages at N300m.

The latest enforcement action followed an earlier directive by NAFDAC for manufacturers of the affected products to recall them from circulation nationwide or face sanctions, including possible closure of their facilities.

The agency has maintained that the prohibition remains in force after the expiration of the grace period previously granted to manufacturers to discontinue production of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET or plastic bottles below 200ml.

NAFDAC said it would continue enforcement to ensure compliance with the ban.

Mixed reactions have continued to trail the emergence of Temitope Chigbue a.k.a Temi Nkem as winner of the 11th season of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show.

Temi was crowned winner of the ‘Show Ya Sef’ edition at the grand finale on Sunday, defeating Aikou, who emerged first runner-up, on Sunday in a closely contested final vote.

The official results showed that Temi pulled 25.87 per cent of the votes, while Aikou secured 23.68 per cent, giving Temi a 2.19 percentage-point margin.

Sheba finished as second runner-up with 9.80 per cent, while the remaining finalists shared the other votes.

The victory made Temi the fifth female winner in the history of BBNaija, after a 70-day competition that began with 24 housemates and featured weekly tasks, Head of House games, nominations and several twists.

The season was also notable for recording two disqualifications and a voluntary exit, making it the first BBNaija season to record all three developments in one edition.

Temi’s victory earned her a prize package valued at N160 million, comprising N90 million in cash, a brand-new SUV and other sponsored prizes.

Following the announcement, fans took to social media to express contrasting views, with some congratulating Temi while others questioned the outcome and argued that Aikou deserved the crown.

One user, @iamZephyr01, said Aikou would have made a better winner, arguing that Temi did not deserve the win in comparison with him.

The user also blamed Aikou’s supporters for what was described as an ineffective voting strategy, saying, ‘you guys gave Aikou the gambit and spoiled his game.’

Similarly, @brenda_odi23217 described Aikou as her preferred winner, saying he deserved the prize more than Temi.

‘Nigerians y’all better do better next year. Vote for the ones that truly deserve the money,’ she wrote.

Another user, @Fazemay05, criticised the outcome, saying Nigerians continued to allow ‘fake/razz people’ to win the reality show.

Questioning the show’s contribution to Nigeria, @ezekieledoso wrote: ‘So @BBNaija you carried someone from the UK to come and carry N160M worth of prizes in Naija, so how is this show supposed to support the local citizens? This is the last time I’ll watch or subscribe for this rubbish.’

The comment reflected a separate line of criticism over Temi’s residency in the United Kingdom and whether the show should prioritise contestants who are resident in Nigeria.

However, the post did not establish that Temi was ineligible to participate or that her victory breached any rule.

Some fans, however, celebrated Temi’s victory explaining that the show was to entertain the viewers and not for charitable purposes.

@Samue606 posted ‘Winner’ alongside a picture of Temi holding the N90 million winner’s cheque, while @lovezone234 congratulated her.

The voting process also came under scrutiny, with @Jubeeton calling for improvements to prevent contestants or their supporters from allegedly organising groups to influence voting.

‘I don’t know how… But you guys should improve in that voting aspect, so that someone inside cannot pay people to organise groups to vote for them,’ the user wrote.

Other reactions were critical of Temi’s victory, with @mrseun alleging that she had ‘stolen’ the win. The allegation was presented as the user’s opinion, and no evidence was provided to support it.

Meanwhile, @slaychichi7 made reference to Temi’s return to Nigeria, saying she came back ‘to take the money and go back.’

In spite of the criticism, @lovezone234 wrote, ‘Chakam. Congratulations Temi Nkem,’ while other supporters shared celebratory posts following her victory.

The divided reactions followed one of the closest finishes of the season, with only 2.19 percentage points separating Temi and Aikou in the final vote.

From the custard moment to the BB Bucks controversy in Biggie’s house, the kiss with Tram, the fake eviction and the awards that captured her unpredictable personality, Nkem’s 70-day journey ultimately ended with the one thing every housemate entered the Big Brother house hoping to achieve, the crown.

As the winner, Temi Nkem will go home with a ?160m prize package, comprising ?90m in cash, a brand-new SUV and other sponsored prizes.

Her victory also makes her the fifth female winner in BBNaija history, bringing an end to a journey that had included drama, laughter, controversy, romance, surprises and resilience.

The Federal Government has described healthcare as critical economic infrastructure, stressing that investments in health are investments in Nigeria’s human capital, productivity and long-term economic growth.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, stated this on Monday at the commissioning of NSIA-MedServe Diagnostic Centres in Bauchi and Ibadan, as part of the nationwide expansion of specialised healthcare infrastructure under the NSIA Healthcare Expansion Programme.

Oyedele said the significance of the investments goes beyond the facilities themselves, noting that a healthy population is better positioned to work, learn and contribute productively to the economy, while illness imposes substantial costs on households through medical bills, lost income and depleted savings.

He said the projects also demonstrate how government can use public capital to mobilise private and development financing for critical infrastructure.

‘Government budgets alone cannot meet Nigeria’s development needs. The question cannot only be how much government spends – it must also be how much private and development capital government can mobilise.’

The Minister commended the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank Group for their support to the programme, particularly through long-tenor, local-currency financing, which he described as appropriate for long-term assets whose revenues are earned in naira.

He said the model could be replicated across other priority sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, energy and housing.

Oyedele noted that the NSIA’s earlier healthcare investments had demonstrated significant demand for specialised medical services, with the MedServe-LUTH Cancer Centre having treated more than 16,700 patients, delivering over 30,000 radiotherapy sessions and 25,000 chemotherapy treatments, while diagnostic centres in Kano and Umuahia had served more than 410,000 patients by December 2025.

He said MedServe is now developing 23 new diagnostic centres nationwide, including three with oncology units and three with cardiac catheterisation laboratories, across two phases.

The Minister said the expansion of diagnostic services would bring specialised healthcare closer to Nigerians and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances or seek treatment abroad.

He also linked the investments to the Federal Government’s broader objective of reducing medical tourism and retaining more economic value within Nigeria.

‘Every procedure performed at home keeps value, jobs and expertise in our economy and eases pressure on foreign exchange,’ he said.

The Minister stressed that Nigeria’s ambition should extend beyond reducing outbound medical tourism to building a competitive healthcare economy capable of serving patients within Nigeria and across Africa.

He, however, emphasised that sustainable healthcare delivery requires more than buildings and equipment, highlighting the need to retain and continuously develop doctors, nurses, radiographers, laboratory scientists, technicians and other specialised healthcare professionals.

He further called for the development of domestic capacity in medical technology, equipment maintenance and pharmaceuticals to deepen Nigeria’s participation across the healthcare value chain.

According to Oyedele, the success of the investments should ultimately be measured by outcomes-not simply by the commissioning of facilities.

‘The real test is whether the equipment still works in ten years, whether we retain qualified staff, and whether patients are treated with dignity, diagnosed earlier and able to afford the care they receive.’

The Minister said the investments reflect the broader objective of the Federal Government’s economic reforms, which seek to translate macroeconomic stability into productive investment, improved public services and better living standards.

‘Macroeconomic stability is not the destination – it is the foundation. We are converting stability into investment, investment into services, and growth into better lives.’

He congratulated the NSIA and MedServe teams, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Bauchi and Oyo State Governments, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, the relevant healthcare institutions in Ibadan, the IFC and other partners for delivering the projects.

The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to partnerships that mobilise capital, strengthen critical infrastructure and translate economic reforms into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Ms Wasilat Adegoke, has urged young people to harness technology and acquired skills to become self-reliant and contribute to the state’s economic growth.

Adegoke, who was represented by Mrs Funmilayo Oyeniran, made the call on Saturday in Ibadan during the graduation ceremony of the September cohort of the Shining Stars Global Impact Foundation (SSGIF) Tech Innovation Boot Camp.

She commended the foundation for supporting government efforts to equip young people with relevant skills to improve their employability and create opportunities for themselves and others.

‘This kind of initiative that equips youths with practical skills is essential for preparing them for the changing world of work and fostering economic independence,’ the commissioner said.

The founder of SSGIF, Dr Omokehinde Deji-Akinpelu, said the boot camp was designed to develop problem-solvers and future employers of labour.

She said the September cohort differed from previous editions as it combined technology training with soft skills and other areas, including communication, leadership, anti-drug awareness, physiotherapy, and sports.

According to her, 30 of the 36 participants admitted for the program completed training in artificial intelligence tools, graphic design, web development, content creation, and social media management.

‘I urge the graduates to be self-reliant, accountable, and responsible. The skills they have acquired will enable them to work remotely, even while studying, and provide support for their families,’ Deji-Akinpelu said.

She also called on the state government, organizations, and philanthropists to support the next cohort of the program.

Prof. Isaac Adebayo Adeyemi, former Vice-Chancellor of Bells University of Technology and member of the foundation’s Board of Trustees, described the initiative as a foundation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by information and communication technology and artificial intelligence.

The guest lecturer and CEO of KEC Group, Mr Kayode Adeleke, urged the graduates to turn their ideas into impact by addressing real community problems and developing scalable business models.

In a goodwill message, the Vice-Chancellor of Dominican University, Ibadan, Prof. Jacinta Opara, who was represented by Prof. Timothy Odiaka, urged the graduates to use their skills positively and shun cybercrime.

Also, the former Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ibadan Branch, Mr Folarin Bello, advised the graduates to embrace lifelong learning, collaboration and service to society.

Bello also urged the foundation to partner with universities and industries to provide internship and mentorship opportunities for participants.

The ceremony featured participants’ feedback, presentation of awards and networking.

The beneficiaries of the boot camp included secondary school leavers, undergraduates and some National Youth Service Corps members.

An eyewitness, Oluboyo Olusola, who visited the scene of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo, on Monday, said he saw parts of the aircraft, human remains and personal effects scattered around the swampy area, with some bodies inside the water.

Olusola, who explained that the incident happened around 10 am, said difficult terrain made access to the crash site challenging, adding that it took the intervention of naval personnel in the area to eventually assist in reaching the area.

He said although he did not witness the aircraft crash, the deafening sound alerted residents of the community, adding that what he saw at the scene suggested that there might be no survivors among those on board.

He explained that ‘We heard a loud noise like thunder and rushed to the scene, only to discover that it was an aircraft crash. Initially we thought it was an helicopter but later understood it was an aircraft.

‘It was difficult to access the terrain, but with the assistance of some naval officers, we were able to get there and saw the remains of the aircraft, as well as human remains, clothes, shoes, and other personal effects.

‘Some of the bodies were also inside the water. From what I saw, it appeared that there was no survivor,’

Also speaking with our reporter, the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, said he was in court when the incident occurred and immediately directed some of his palace aides to visit the crash site.

The traditional ruler said he initially feared that the aircraft might have been a commercial passenger plane because of the potentially high number of casualties.

He said: ‘I was in court when the incident happened, and I directed some of my palace officials to visit the site. At that time, nobody could determine whether it was an aircraft or a helicopter.

‘I was worried because it must not be a plane, because the number of casualties would be just too high.

‘Our first thanks to Almighty God is that it did not happen inside the town; otherwise, the casualties would have been too many, but we sympathised with the families of the victims.

‘The aircraft crashed into the river and a swampy area. It was raining when the incident happened, and the place was waterlogged.

‘The aircraft did not catch fire, but a substantial part of it has gone into the water.

‘We cannot describe the exact situation for now, but from my investigation and what we have gathered so far, there was no survivor.’

The aircraft, an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931, was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when it crashed in a swampy area opposite the Naval Base in the Igbokoda area of the state.

The aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

The crash threw the coastal community into panic as residents, security personnel and emergency responders moved towards the scene.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force confirmed the accident and said it had immediately activated a search and rescue operation.

In a statement issued by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF said the search and rescue operation was being conducted in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

The NAF said further details would be communicated as the operation progressed.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the aircraft.

The Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Hon. Maurice Oripelaye, who earlier confirmed the incident, said military equipment was recovered from the crash site.

Oripelaye, however, said it was too early to establish the number of casualties, adding that the aircraft had been badly damaged.

The Ondo State Police Command also confirmed the crash and urged residents to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information.

In a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Abayomi Jimoh, the command said details of the incident were still emerging as authorities worked to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash.

The command assured members of the public that credible information would be released as soon as it became available.

Meanwhile, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has expressed sadness over the incident and directed relevant state agencies to provide full support for the ongoing search and rescue operation.

The governor, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, said he had been in contact with the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force, the Ilaje council chairman and security agencies on the ground.

Aiyedatiwa directed the State Emergency Management Agency, Ministry of Health and relevant security agencies to immediately mobilise logistical and human support for the NAF and other emergency response agencies involved in the operation.

He also ordered that the crash site be cordoned off and secured to ensure unhindered rescue operations.

The governor expressed sympathy to the Chief of Air Staff, the Nigerian Air Force family and the families of the passengers and personnel on board.

He urged residents of Igbokoda and neighbouring communities to remain calm, cooperate with emergency responders and refrain from circulating unverified reports.

As of press time, the official casualty figure had yet to be released, while search and rescue operations continued at the crash site, and the cause of the crash also remained unknown.

THE aim of a leader should be the welfare of the people whom he leads. I have used ‘welfare’ to denote the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the people-Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his 1967 address to Western leaders of thought in Ibadan. On that premise, today’s intervention serves two purposes: a response to President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day Address and a continuation of my structural amendment to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s production-subsidy proposal.

Mr President told us that ‘the emergency treatment is over’, and now begins the ‘age of prosperity’. I submit that while Nigeria may have achieved macroeconomic stabilisation, inclusive prosperity cannot exist without energy availability and affordability at the grassroots. I will show this through the ledger of three Nigerian teachers, using illustrative profiles with plausible salary benchmarks.

Fundamentals

Energy availability is reliable access to electricity, petrol, diesel, or compressed natural gas (CNG) to power households, transportation, and productive activities. It is central to energy security, where supply meets demand through distribution networks. Energy affordability is the capacity to pay for energy without sacrificing food, healthcare, housing and other necessities. This requires bringing the structural cost of essential energy within reach, not merely raising salaries. For a poor but resource-endowed Nigeria, the security and equity dimensions of the energy trilemma-expressed practically as availability and affordability-are urgent. Sustainability matters too, but these two are foundational.

The International Energy Agency’s July report projects coal at 32.94 per cent of global electricity generation in 2026-the largest single source even as renewables collectively overtake it. The global system still depends on a diverse energy mix. Should Nigeria not?

The grassroots middle class under the lens

Mrs Yewande Tinubu, a Level 10 Accounting teacher at Iragbiji Grammar School, Osun State, earns ?160,000 monthly. Mallam Ibrahim Shettima, a Level 9 English teacher at Jere High School, Borno State, earns ?150,000. Miss Chinwe Okeke, a Level 8 Chemistry teacher at Aguleri Community High School, Anambra State, earns ?135,000. Parents entrust these teachers with educating their children-the future leaders of Nigeria. Their work continues after school: marking scripts, preparing lessons and researching curricula. They pay taxes and represent Nigeria’s productive grassroots middle class.

Mr President, here is the brutal reality of your abrupt first-day declaration that ‘fuel subsidy is gone’, before sufficient protections had been put in place for workers like these. Let us use conservative assumptions. Over 22 school days, each teacher commutes five kilometres each way, totalling 220 kilometres monthly. In a 2005 Toyota Corolla averaging 7.8 litres/100 km, that requires 17.16 litres of petrol. At home, 82 hours of professional work monthly on an ‘I better pass my neighbour’ generator assumed to consume 0.60 litres/hour requires another 49.2 litres. At ?1,350 per litre, generation costs ?66,420 monthly and commuting ?23,166. Each teacher spends ?89,586 monthly on 66.36 litres of petrol for school and preparatory work at home-before food, rent, healthcare, phone and internet data.

Unreliable grid supply makes petrol generators necessary. Teachers servicing car loans may struggle to finance solar-inverter systems. CNG conversion costs ?350,000-?600,000-two to five months of salary-and CNG access remains sparse in these locations. In these illustrative profiles, Miss Okeke’s productive-energy costs consume 66.4% of her gross salary. She survives partly on remittances from her big brother, Chinedu, in the UK while awaiting admission to a foreign university-one more young science teacher preparing to join the brain drain. For Mallam Shettima, with two wives and four young children, energy consumes 59.7 per cent of his salary; for Mrs Tinubu, a single mother of three who lost her husband to kidney disease, 56.0 per cent. Both would need additional income, compromising the attention they can devote to their classrooms.

For a more conservative test, suppose Shettima rides a fuel-efficient Bajaj Boxer. At 55 km/litre, his monthly commuting bill falls from ?23,166 to ?5,400, yet his productive-energy cost remains ?71,820-47.9 per cent of salary. The motorcycle lowers cost but increases road-crash exposure. Mr President, how exactly do you plan to bring prosperity to these teachers?

Energy policy and productivity

This is why I support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s proposal for production subsidy for locally refined petrol. However, my amendment remains critical: do not begin with the refinery; begin with Nigerians. Identify productive activities society has a structural reason to protect. For these teachers, the goal should be to halve their productive-energy burden-from ?89,586 to about ?44,793 monthly. That reduces it to 33.2% of Miss Okeke’s gross salary, 29.9 per cent of Mallam Shettima’s and 28.0 per cent of Mrs Tinubu’s-still substantial, but far below 56 per cent to 66 per cent.

That reduction should come first from improved energy-system efficiency; lower production costs across the value chain; functioning public refineries; and tax-deductible productive-energy costs-then, where necessary, targeted production support for verified users.

Together, these three teachers require about 199 litres monthly. Applied to 937,000 public primary and secondary teachers, based on 2022 UBEC data, this benchmark translates to about 2.07 million litres of PMS daily. Dangote’s 39.9 per cent PMS output share for the year to June 2026-against the IMF’s earlier 55 per cent assumption-implies about 32,700 barrels/day of crude-equivalent throughput. The pilot could also include an assumed 271,800 eligible non-VIP police personnel, whose mobility, communication and power needs underpin community security, especially around vulnerable schools.

Assume a 30-litre monthly PMS cap per officer-roughly half the teacher benchmark because some police mobility is institutionally supported. That adds about 4,300 crude-equivalent barrels/day, taking the combined requirement to about 37,000 crude-equivalent barrels/day. Under the pilot, any crude-price discount should apply only to the crude-equivalent share attributable to verified eligible PMS volumes. Such a mechanism may require amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act. Supported PMS should be tracked through custody-transfer metering and digital reconciliation from refinery gate to participating filling stations across the 774 LGAs, with eligible litres redeemed by verified beneficiaries.

The same architecture could extend to verified diesel needs for large farms and factories. Fiscal exposure would be limited by capping both eligible volumes and support per litre. As grid reliability improves, generator dependence falls; as CNG infrastructure expands, government’s exposure should decline further.

Admonition

Mr President, you warned against ‘certain influential but regressive voices’ seeking a return to the ‘abuse of addictive subsidies’. That framing creates a false binary. Nigeria need not choose between yesterday’s corrupt universal subsidy and today’s exposure of low-income productive citizens to international energy prices. Band A customers pay about ?209.50 per kWh before VAT for a minimum 20-hour daily service commitment-roughly the July 2026 Texas residential average at current exchange rates-yet Texas has no service-band rationing structure. Petrol at ?1,400-?1,500 per litre likewise rivals or exceeds prices in parts of the United States. This is utterly preposterous. Nigeria’s lower labour costs should offset part of the domestic energy-cost structure.

The policy question is: how much of today’s price reflects legitimate costs versus power-system inefficiency, underutilisation of mature oilfields, poor infrastructure, financing dysfunction, system losses, weak competition and institutional failure. Why should those failures be transferred to workers paid in naira? That is an assignment for your energy and economic teams. Advanced economies combine market pricing with targeted relief for productive uses. The U.S. provides fuel-tax relief for qualifying farm and off-highway uses; the UK permits rebated fuel for qualifying agricultural uses. The principle is targeted support-not universal subsidy.

The statecraft question is: who should be supported, for what productive purpose, in what quantity, at what cost, for how long and with what verification and monitoring?

Until your administration shifts from macroeconomic rhetoric to grassroots energy availability and affordability, any proclamation of national prosperity will remain a dangerous delusion.

The Lagos State Government has commended Greenwich Bank Limited for opening its first three commercial banking branches in Lagos, describing the expansion as a positive development that would support financial inclusion, wealth creation and economic growth in the state.

Greenwich Bank on October 2 officially opened branches in Surulere, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, marking the first major phase of its physical branch rollout following its transition from a Merchant Bank to a commercial bank with Regional authorisation.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Abayomi Oluyomi, said Greenwich Bank had an important role to play in the economic development of the state, particularly given its decades of experience and contribution to Nigeria’s financial services industry.

The governor, who performed the commissioning of the Awolowo Road, Ikoyi branch, expressed optimism that the bank would support individuals and businesses while contributing to the continued growth of the Lagos economy.

‘Lagos needs banks like Greenwich to expand business opportunities, and we are confident that Greenwich Bank will support businesses and customers to grow. The entrance of the bank into the state’s financial ecosystem is very important to the business enterprise of the state,’ he said.

Sanwo-Olu congratulated the management of the bank, describing its emergence as a commercial bank as an important milestone in the institution’s evolution.

The commissioning ceremonies attracted senior government officials, business and corporate leaders, financial market regulators and other stakeholders.

The opening of the three branches represents a significant step in Greenwich Bank’s strategy to take its expanded range of banking services closer to individuals, businesses and institutions across its approved operating regions.

The bank also disclosed plans for further expansion, including the opening of branches in Akure, Ondo State and Ado-Ekiti I Ekiti State with plans to open more in the South West, South South, Northwestern regions of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory. There are plans to pursue a national banking licence in the medium term.

The expansion follows the regulatory approval granted the bank in August 2026 for Greenwich to operate as a commercial bank. The new licence broadens the bank’s scope beyond its traditional merchant banking activities, enabling it to serve retail customers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), commercial organisations and public-sector institutions.

Group Chairman of Greenwich Holdings Limited, Kayode Falowo, emphasised that the bank would establish additional branches in other locations within the regions approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to him, Greenwich Bank would bring the discipline and professionalism of institutional banking to the everyday financial needs of Nigerians.

‘We will bring the discipline of institutional banking to bear on those everyday needs, so that a market trader and a corporate client can both expect the same professional service and respect,’ Falowo said.

He added that the new branch network would complement the bank’s digital channels by combining physical accessibility with technology-driven banking services.

‘The bank will focus on and address the challenges average Nigerians and businesses face. We will advise, and we will invest in the growth of enterprises with the same seriousness we bring to the largest corporate clients,’ he added.

Also speaking, Chairman Greenwich Bank Limited, Segun Olekutuyi, described the opening of the branches as a significant milestone and the beginning of a new chapter for the institution.

He said the bank would seek to meet the aspirations of its broad range of stakeholders through quality services and products, integrity, speed and value for customers.

Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, commended the Board of Greenwich Bank for its vision, noting that NGX Group was proud of the institution’s evolution over the decades and its contribution to Nigeria’s financial system.

Kwairanga said that despite the competitive nature of the banking industry, Greenwich Bank had a unique role to play in deepening the financial market and supporting customers to grow.

Group Managing Director of Greenwich Holdings Limited, Oyewale Ariyibi, said the group would continue to strengthen its capital base, expand its retail financial services footprint and accelerate its digital transformation agenda.

He said the expansion of Greenwich Bank formed part of a broader strategy to build a stronger financial services group capable of providing complementary solutions across banking, asset management, securities and other related financial services.

Managing Director of Greenwich Bank Limited , Benson Ogundeji, said the branch openings marked an important stage in the bank’s evolution and its efforts to make its expanded capabilities more accessible to customers.

According to Ogundeji, the commercial banking licence provides Greenwich with an opportunity to build on its corporate and institutional banking heritage while extending its relationship-driven model to individuals, SMEs and a wider range of businesses.

He said the group’s strategy combines the accessibility and relationship-building advantages of physical branches with the speed and convenience of digital banking, providing customers with multiple channels through which they can access the bank’s services.

Greenwich Holdings comprises Greenwich Bank Limited, Greenwich Asset Management Limited and Greenwich Securities Limited, while its broader financial services ecosystem includes Greenwich Registrars and Data Solution Limited and Greenwich Trustees Limited.

The Federal Government, state governments, non-state actors and development partners have renewed their commitment to implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration 2026-2035 to accelerate Nigeria’s agricultural transformation and strengthen food security.

The commitment was made on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State, during the Annual Community of Practice (CoP) Meeting, organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with state governments, development partners and other stakeholders.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said effective alignment between the Federal Government, states and development partners was critical to achieving sustainable food security and resilient livelihoods.

Kyari said such alignment must go beyond policy statements to include compatible policies, reliable data, complementary investments and clearly defined responsibilities.

‘We need one coherent agrifood system in which national direction and state-level execution reinforce one another,’ the minister said.

He said the need for stronger coordination had become more important with the adoption of the Kampala CAADP Declaration and its Strategy and Action Plan for 2026-2035.

According to him, the Kampala framework adopts a broader agrifood systems approach, covering sustainable production, investment and finance, food and nutrition security, trade, inclusion, resilience and stronger governance.

Kyari said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had placed food security at the centre of the national agenda, adding that the Federal Government’s responsibility was to translate the mandate into increased production, affordable food, stronger rural economies and a resilient food system.

He disclosed that some essential food commodities had recorded price reductions of up to 50 per cent, alongside expanded input delivery, investments in rural infrastructure and support for smallholder farmers.

He, however, stressed the need to sustain and deepen the gains. The minister said Nigeria had developed and validated a 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan to domesticate the Kampala commitments, describing it as the vehicle for translating the framework into concrete action.

He said the strategy would provide a harmonised implementation framework with clear roles, responsibilities, timelines and accountability mechanisms.

Kyari added that CAADP Biennial Review indicators had been integrated into national planning, budgeting and reporting systems to help align federal and state budgets, reduce duplication and channel investments towards agreed priorities.

He urged states to leverage their comparative agricultural advantages rather than attempt to produce every commodity, stressing that the country’s diverse agricultural zones offered opportunities for specialised production supported by appropriate technology, infrastructure and market linkages.

On fertiliser supply, the minister said early procurement under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, now under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, helped secure supplies for the 2026 farming season and generated N61.58 billion in savings.

He added that Nigeria was on course to deliver a 1.1 million metric-tonne fertiliser programme in 2026.

Kyari also highlighted the recently unveiled National Agricultural Mechanization Policy and National Agricultural Mechanization Investment Strategy, saying the initiatives would move the country away from fragmented equipment interventions towards a sustainable mechanisation ecosystem.

He disclosed that plans included the establishment of a mega tractor assembly plant with the capacity to produce between 2,000 and 4,000 tractors annually.

The minister further said the government was expanding all-season production through irrigation, improving access to quality seeds, supporting national agricultural research institutes and strengthening the translation of research into practical solutions for farmers.

He also highlighted the role of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones in connecting production areas with processing facilities and markets.

Kyari called for stronger participation of women and young people across agricultural value chains, as well as improved conditions for private investment and development finance.

He urged state governments to ensure their agricultural action plans were aligned with the Kampala commitments and national priorities, particularly in rural infrastructure, extension services, agricultural credit, quality inputs, labour-saving technologies, post-harvest loss reduction and climate-resilient agriculture.

The Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum, represented by his deputy, Usman Kadafur, described the meeting as more than a gathering of policymakers and development practitioners, saying it provided an opportunity for shared learning, reflection and collective action.

Zulum said a Community of Practice should translate experience into knowledge, knowledge into action and action into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

Also speaking, the Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Nigeria, Dr Karin Jansen, said Germany welcomed Nigeria’s leadership in advancing the Kampala Agenda and was committed to supporting the country in moving from commitments to coordinated implementation.

Jansen stressed the importance of cooperation between the Federal Government and states, as well as the active participation of non-state actors, in transforming Nigeria’s agrifood systems.

She said the Community of Practice provided a mechanism for connecting national priorities with action at the state level while facilitating knowledge exchange, learning and joint problem-solving.

According to her, the first Community of Practice focused on developing a common understanding of the Kampala Declaration and strengthening state-driven implementation, while the second meeting represented a shift from understanding to implementation and from commitments to coordinated action.

She noted that Germany, through the Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys) project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ, was supporting Nigerian partners to strengthen agricultural policy processes, scale successful approaches and enhance civil society participation.

In his closing remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said Nigeria must move away from a siloed approach to agricultural development by encouraging states to focus on their specific comparative advantages.

He said the challenges facing Nigeria’s agrifood systems were multidimensional and required an integrated approach involving agriculture, health, the environment and rural development.

‘The nexus between food production, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and rural development is the cornerstone of our national prosperity,’ Abdullahi said.

The Anambra State Government has called on voters, particularly supporters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to reject Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in the upcoming 2027 general election.

The call was issued in a statement posted on the state government’s official X handle, managed by the New Media office of Governor Charles Soludo, on Monday.

In the post, state authorities accused Obi-who served as governor of Anambra State from 2006 to 2014 under APGA-of consistently seeking to weaken the party since his departure, while claiming that President Bola Tinubu had shown support for APGA.

Accompanying the post with a graphic aimed at Obi, the government characterised the former governor as having betrayed the party that launched his political career.

‘A betrayal alert for Ndi APGA. Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him,’ the statement read.

‘In 2015, while President Tinubu stood with APGA, Obi backed the opposition to bury us. Do not be deceived by a man who abandoned his own house. Anambra is APGA. Ndi APGA, defend your home, resist the NDC.’