Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, declined to grant an application for bail filed by the Director-General of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.

In a ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by Adeyemi’s lawyer, M.B. Abdulazeez, Justice Obiora Egwuatu held that, there was the need to hear from the police and other respondents in the suit in the interest of fair hearing.

The judge, however, granted a relief for the respondents to give Adeyemi, who is currently in police custody, an unhindered access to his lawyers.

Adeyemi, through his lawyer, had, in the suit, sued the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Assistant-Inspector General of Police as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.

Adeyemi had, in the suit, urged the court to admit him to bail, release him from detention and allow him to seek medical attention from health practitioners of his own choice over his alleged ill health.

He also sought an order retsraining the police or any other officers or agents from interrogating him or directing him to make, adopt or sign any statement, save in the presence of a legal practitioner of his own choice.

Adeyemi equally sought, ‘an order that, for so long as the applicant remains in custody, the respondents do permit the applicant unimpeded access to legal practitioners of his own choosing at all reasonable hours.’

In his affidavit, Adeyemi’s elder brother, Adeniyi Adebola, said the detainee was unable to attend to the commissioner for oaths by reason of his detention.

The police, in a criminal charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/562/2025, is presently prosecuting Adeyemi over allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation, among others, before another brother judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, who had, in July, issued an arrest warrant against Adeyemi following his absence from scheduled proceedings.

The judge then fixed September 30 for his arraignment.

After the issuance of arrest warrant, Adeyemi was later apprehended by the police and had been in custody, pending his arraignment.

Meanwhile, when the civil case before Justice Egwuatu was called on Thursday, Abdulazeez, who appeared for Adeyemi, moved the motion ex-parte.

After moving the application, Justice Egwatu held that the requests for bail, medical attention and other reliefs could not be granted without hearing from the respondents.

The judge, however, granted Relief 6, which mandated the AGF and the police to give Adeniyi unfettered access to his lawyers.

The judge also gave the respondents a 72-hour ultimatum to show cause why the other reliefs sought by Adeniyi should not be granted.

The court consequently fixed September 9 for the respondents to show cause.

The police, in the criminal charge, named Adeyemi, ‘Femi Surname Unknown,’ and ‘Anu Surname Unknown’ as the first to third defendants, respectively, over alleged forgery and impersonation.

In the police processes before Justice Umar, the prosecution lined up several witnesses, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, etc, to give evidence in the case.

Investigators alleged that Adeyemi operated the purported agency from the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja before his arrest.

Kano State Government has constituted a 20-member Advisory Committee on Almajiri Education and Welfare Reform as part of efforts to comprehensively reform and reposition the traditional Tsangaya education system.

The initiative, approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is aimed at developing a sustainable framework for regulating and integrating the Tsangaya system while protecting the welfare, dignity, and future of children enrolled in it.

The committee is chaired by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Abdulkarim Kabir Maude, SAN, while the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Barrister Amina Yusuf Yargaya, serves as Secretary.

Salisu Musa Aliyu, PAS/REPA, and Hafsat Tijjani Shehu, AS II/REPA, will serve as Co-Secretary and Assistant Secretary respectively.

The state government said the broad composition of the committee reflects the multi-sectoral nature of the reform, with members drawn from government, traditional institutions, Islamic and religious bodies, the legal profession, education sector, and child-rights advocacy groups.

The committee is mandated to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the existing Tsangaya system and engage stakeholders in developing appropriate regulatory, integration and enforcement frameworks.

It will also develop a roadmap for pilot implementation, monitoring and long-term sustainability of the proposed reforms, while examining best practices and models that could strengthen the system.

A major focus of the reform is the integration of Qur’anic education with literacy, numeracy and vocational skills to expand educational opportunities for children while preserving the religious and cultural foundations of traditional Qur’anic education.

The committee is further expected to recommend measures to eliminate exploitative practices, strengthen child-protection mechanisms and develop a legal framework for the registration and licensing of Tsangaya schools.

It will also examine mechanisms for effective oversight, appropriate sanctions for violations, sustainable funding and support, as well as constructive engagement with Qur’anic teachers, parents, religious scholars, traditional rulers and communities.

According to the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim, the calibre and experience of members of the committee demonstrate the seriousness attached to the reform of the Tsangaya system.

He expressed confidence that the committee would produce practical and implementable recommendations capable of improving educational opportunities and the welfare of Almajiri children across the state.

Responding on behalf of the committee, its Chairman, Maude, thanked the state government for entrusting members with the responsibility.

He assured that the committee would discharge its mandate diligently and within the provisions of the laws of Nigeria and Kano State.

Maude also urged members of the committee and the general public to contribute towards the success of the initiative.

The state government stressed that the reform is not intended to undermine traditional Qur’anic education, but to strengthen and reposition it through a balanced framework that preserves its Islamic and cultural foundations while equipping children with essential literacy, numeracy, vocational and life skills.

It added that the success of the initiative would depend on broad-based collaboration with traditional institutions, religious scholars, Qur’anic teachers, parents, communities and other stakeholders.

The government said the ultimate objective is to ensure that children within the Tsangaya system are protected from abuse and exploitation, provided with quality and relevant education, and adequately prepared to contribute positively to the future development of Kano.

The Federal Government has dismissed reports alleging that Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) supported or endorsed the recent failed coup attempt in Niger Republic.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, described the claims circulating on social media as false, mischievous and deliberately designed to mislead the public and damage Nigeria’s reputation.

Enikanolaiye, in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, stressed that Nigeria remained firmly opposed to military coups and all forms of unconstitutional changes of government.

According to him, Nigeria is a peace-loving country committed to constitutional order, democracy and stability in West Africa, the Sahel and across Africa.

He said Nigeria’s position on the situation in Niger had already been made clear in an earlier statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 30, 2026.

The minister said the Federal Government had expressed deep concern over developments in Niger and called for a peaceful, inclusive and participatory process leading to stability and the restoration of constitutional order.

‘Any resort to force to settle political differences is contrary to this objective and to Nigeria’s long-standing foreign policy,’ he said.

Enikanolaiye stressed that Nigeria’s close historical, cultural and fraternal ties with Niger made peace, security, democracy and development in the neighbouring country a priority for Abuja.

He also rejected suggestions that Nigeria’s membership of ECOWAS meant it endorsed the military takeover or any attempt to change the government through unconstitutional means.

The minister urged Nigerians at home and abroad to disregard videos and narratives circulating online which, he said, were intended to sow discord and misrepresent the country’s foreign policy position.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, as well as the African Union’s zero-tolerance policy towards unconstitutional changes of government.

Enikanolaiye said Nigeria would continue to work with ECOWAS, the African Union and the international community to defend democratic governance, uphold the rule of law, and promote peace and stability across West Africa and the wider region.

WHERE are the materials Honourable Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad donated to General Hospital, Umaisha, in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State? Unfortunately, in Nigeria, questions about the whereabouts of things provided for the public are becoming common. Sa’ad, who represents Umaisha/Ugya Constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, recently visited the hospital and was disturbed when he could not find the mattresses and fans he had donated for patients. In a video that went viral, he demanded explanations from hospital officials. Reports quoted him as saying he had provided about 50 orthopaedic mattresses, more than 50 ceiling fans and about 40 standing fans. Sa’ad later clarified that the materials had been donated more than two years ago and acknowledged a disparity between the quantities he mentioned in the viral video and what was supplied. He said he was informed that some materials had been kept in the hospital store while others were being used in staff quarters.

If the materials were donated to improve conditions in hospital wards, why were they not identifiable more than two years later? Which items were received and how many? Which remained in the store? Which were transferred to staff quarters, by whose authority, and for what purpose? Reports quoted a hospital official as saying some mattresses had been allowed to leave the facility temporarily with discharged patients. Where is the register documenting such movements? Every public hospital should maintain an asset register showing what it receives, where each item is deployed, and when it is transferred or disposed of.

The Nasarawa State Hospitals Management Board constituted a committee to investigate the matter. Governor Abdullahi Sule also directed the Commissioner for Health to investigate and said anyone found responsible for diversion should be dismissed and prosecuted. That response is commendable. But the findings should be made public as soon as possible. What happened in Umaisha touches a deeper Nigerian problem: our increasingly destructive relationship with anything regarded as belonging to everybody. Nigerians complain, justifiably, that governments do not provide enough. Hospitals lack beds, medicines and equipment. Schools lack books and furniture. Roads and bridges deteriorate. Electricity infrastructure is vandalised. Yet, when government, philanthropists, legislators, communities or private citizens provide what they can, somebody within the same society removes, diverts, damages or appropriates it. How do you demand more public goods while destroying the few you already have?

Only in May, the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, confirmed a case of diesel theft. UCH spokesperson, Funmi Adetuyibi, confirmed the theft depicted in a viral video. Imagine the contradiction: somebody earning a living from a public hospital can steal the fuel needed to support its operations. There is an even more frightening example. The Federal Government recently ordered CCTV cameras to be installed on the First Niger Bridge after vandals removed bolts, iron bars, expansion-joint components and other parts. What kind of reasoning makes someone steal bolts from a bridge that he, his relatives and fellow citizens may travel on tomorrow?

The same mentality appears in different forms. In 2023, Kano authorities uncovered a warehouse containing palliative food allegedly diverted from intended beneficiaries, leading to arrests and an investigation. The ICPC has also investigated allegations involving diversion of COVID-19 funds and palliatives. The health sector presents particularly painful examples because lives are involved. A published study of physician self-referral in Nigerian public hospitals found instances in which patients were redirected towards private facilities associated with public-sector doctors. The researchers found both direct and indirect forms of patient diversion. There are also cases of public hospital workers diverting hospital materials.

Nigeria certainly has a political-leadership problem. Politicians mismanage resources, public institutions frequently fail and corruption at the highest levels deserves relentless scrutiny. But national failure cannot be explained entirely by politicians. We cannot build an accountable country by demanding accountability only from people above us. There is also an important institutional lesson in the Umaisha episode. Donations to public institutions should never depend on memory. Every donated asset should be formally received, numbered, tagged and entered into an auditable inventory. Transfers between wards, stores, offices or staff accommodation should be recorded. Periodic verification should reconcile the register with what exists. Technology makes this inexpensive. A QR code or asset number on every item, linked to a digital inventory, would allow management, auditors and donors to establish where an asset is supposed to be. Hospital boards should publish annual summaries of major donations and their deployment. Such accountability is important for another reason: Nigeria must not discourage generosity.

Why should a legislator, community association, diaspora group, company or private citizen donate beds, computers, books, medicines, fans or medical equipment to public institutions if there is no assurance that the donations will still serve the public a few years later? Every unexplained disappearance destroys trust and discourages the next donor. Sa’ad deserves commendation for returning to see how his intervention was being utilised. Too often, politicians commission projects, distribute materials, take photographs and never look back. But follow-up is part of stewardship. His clarification is equally important: hospital officials must properly account for donated materials, but accusations must also correspond to verified facts. The Nasarawa investigation should settle the matter transparently. Let the public know what was donated, what remains, where it is, and whether anything was improperly removed. Wrongdoing must have consequences. If poor records, communication or inappropriate deployment caused the controversy, that too should be stated and corrected.

The question is larger than Umaisha General Hospital. How do you build a country when some steal from the country they say has failed them? Nigeria cannot be repaired only in Aso Rock, state government houses or the National Assembly. It must also be repaired in hospitals, schools, ministries, warehouses, and communities, where citizens decide whether something belonging to everybody belongs to nobody or to all of us and must be protected.

The public property stolen today becomes the public service Nigerians complain is missing tomorrow.

Governor Uba Sani provided the political will that enabled the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service(KADIRS) to increase Internally Generated Revenue, without interfering with its operations, said the outgoing Executive Chairman of KADIRS, Mr Jerry Adams.

Adams made this known while speaking at the ongoing 160th meeting of the Joint Revenue Board, held in Kaduna on Thursday.

In his submission, Mr Adams noted that the IGR of Kaduna State stood at N58 billion before 2023 and by 2023, it had risen to ?62 billion, adding that in 2024, it had reached ?71 billion.

”In 2025, we recorded an annual revenue of ?85 billion, with an average monthly collection of ?7 billion. Today, we are trending towards ?120 billion, at a monthly average of ?10 billion,” he disclosed.

The outgoing Executive Chairman pointed out that the IGR figures are not a spike but ”a trend that is steady and sustainable, with even stronger performance ahead as we deepen collaboration with MDAs, stakeholders, and with the full support of His Excellency, the Governor.”

He recalled that ”between 2019 and 2023, the highest annual collection this Service ever recorded was ?59 billion in 2022 at a monthly average of about ?4.8 billion.”

”On paper, that looked like progress. But if you looked closer, as we eventually did, you’d find out that a significant portion of that revenue didn’t come from organic tax growth.

”It came from back-duty recoveries, sale of government properties and some other one-off recoveries, not a growing, breathing tax base,” Mr Adams had disclosed.

According to him, ”by early 2023, that model had done exactly what such models always eventually do: it stalled. Vertical growth had become stunted, just as we feared it would.”

Mr Adams said that KADIRS then had an honest and uncomfortable conversation, decided that ”we could no longer keep squeezing the same familiar taxpayers a little harder each year and call it strategy. ”

”We needed to grow horizontally, not just vertically; to expand the tax net itself, rather than simply tighten it around those already caught in it, and to stop relying on windfalls to flatter our numbers,” he clarified.

The outgoing Executive Chairman said that KADIRS decided to fully digitize its processes to block leakages, through the introduction of the PAYKADUNA portal, alongside Project C.R.A.F.T (Cross-Sector Systems for Revenue Administration and Fiscal Transparency).

”This gave us, for the first time, a centralised payment system for all state revenue, closing gaps that informal, cash-based collection had long allowed to thrive,” he added.

According to him, the Service recruited more staff ‘to comb the streets and expand the tax net, provided necessary working tools and facilitated promotions that had been delayed.”

Mr Adams further said that KADIRS also ”provided capacity building opportunities to staff and established three additional area offices to complement the existing 34 offices for improved accessibility.”

”We also strengthened partnerships beyond our own borders with institutions like the Joint Revenue Board, the Nigeria Revenue Service, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, particularly around data sharing, which has been invaluable in identifying taxable activity that would otherwise have gone unseen,” he added.

Mr Adams who is the APC running mate for the 2027 gubernatorial election, concluded that tax compliance is a function of trust.

”When we began, compliance across the state stood at a modest 30 per cent. Today, I am pleased to report that the compliance level has risen to approximately 65 per cent,” he disclosed.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; former President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina; and 28 others have been listed for recognition as Nigeria’s heroes, according to the Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN).

The disclosure comes after the newspaper earlier announced a separate category featuring current and former presidents and other distinguished Nigerians, while the Times Heroes Award category focuses on individuals whose contributions to national development cut across public service, politics, business, entrepreneurship and other sectors.

Chairman of the DTN@100 Heroes Awards Council, Bolaji Okusaga, disclosed the names while speaking with journalists in Abuja yesterday, ahead of the award ceremony scheduled for Thursday.

Okusaga said about 30 Nigerians would be honoured in the first batch, with subsequent ceremonies expected to produce the remaining honourees under the centenary award cycle, which is expected to climax in June 2027.

He said about six to seven governors would be recognised alongside public servants, lawmakers, private-sector leaders, entrepreneurs and Nigerians whose activities have had national or global impact.

Akume, according to him, would be recognised for his public service career spanning several decades, including his tenure as governor of Benue State, his years in the Senate and his current position as SGF.

Adesina, a former President of the AfDB, is to receive the Global Impact Award and is expected to deliver the keynote address at the ceremony.

Okusaga said the selection process was not restricted to political office holders, explaining that nominees were subjected to a process involving nominations, engagement with candidates, and physical verification of claims about their achievements.

‘Daily Times could not have done this because for you to be a news platform, you need news makers. So we are awarding news makers over the course of the last 100 years, with particular emphasis on the last 10 years, who have added to Nigeria as a nation,’ he said.

He said nominees who did not make the first batch could still be considered in subsequent rounds, adding that the recognition would extend to the judiciary, legislature, security agencies, traditional institutions and other sectors.

Among those also listed for recognition is Senator Ahmed Wadada, while other Nigerians whose contributions have enriched the country are expected to feature in subsequent categories.

Beyond the awards, Okusaga said the 100 Nigerians eventually selected under the centenary programme would be documented in the Nigeria Grand Book, a historical record of the country’s development from 1914 through independence and the post-independence era.

Reflecting on the history of the newspaper, he said the Daily Times played a role in Nigeria’s independence struggle and subsequent national development, including its contribution to the establishment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

He also recalled the newspaper’s investment in education and its pioneering of the Evening Times, which provided more frequent news updates before the emergence of the internet and the current 24-hour news cycle.

Okusaga said the centenary also offered the newspaper an opportunity to examine how it could respond to changing patterns of news consumption and the evolving media environment.

The Daily Times, which began publication in 1926, is marking its 100th anniversary with a series of activities culminating in the DTN@100 Heroes Awards ceremony in Abuja.

The City Boy Movement has appointed aviation entrepreneur and political mobiliser, Isaac Balami, as an executive board member of its organisation and its National Director on Special Duty.

Balami, who recently left the Obidient Movement, has been actively mobilising support groups and political associates towards the All Progressives Congress (APC), with indications of a broader political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His appointment letter was formally presented to him by the Director-General of the City Boy Movement, Hon. Francis Oluwatosin Shoga, and the National Secretary, Hon. Tosin Odufuwa, alongside other board members.

The development was also confirmed by Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The executive board is the highest decision-making body of the City Boy Movement and is responsible for providing strategic direction and overseeing the activities of the moment.

Balami’s inclusion in the board is being viewed by supporters as significant because of his growing influence among young political and support groups across the country.

His coming on board is also expected to give a boost to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 campaign mobilisation in the North and Middle Belt, particularly with Balami’s growing network of support groups and political associates in the regions.

He is also described by associates as the first Christian from Northern Nigeria to serve on the board, a development they believe would strengthen the representation of different ethnic, religious and regional interests within the movement.

The appointment comes amid Balami’s increasing political activities following his reported departure from the Obidient Movement.

In recent months, he has led several support groups and political platforms in moves towards the APC, as part of preparations for what has been described as a larger national political crossover.

The City Boy Movement has also appointed Ahmad Abdulaziz Yari, the son of former Zamfara State Governor and Director-General of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, Governor and Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, to its board.

The latest appointments are expected to further strengthen the movement’s political structure and broaden its reach among young Nigerians and political support groups ahead of the 2027 elections.

Balami, who has built a profile in Nigeria’s aviation sector, has in recent years combined his professional activities with youth mobilisation, political advocacy and support for political movements. He was the Deputy Campaign Manager for the Obi/Datti campaign organisation in 2023.

His latest role is expected to place him at the centre of the City Boy Movement’s efforts to coordinate political mobilisation and expand its network across different regions of the country.

House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) has cleared the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of involvement in the establishment or operations of the organisation.

The committee’s Chairman, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau), disclosed this in the panel’s preliminary report released in Abuja on Wednesday.

Gagdi said the committee found no evidence linking Gbajabiamila to the establishment or operations of the purported organisation.

According to him, the findings showed that Gbajabiamila neither authorised nor approved the establishment or operation of the PFIPC, contrary to allegations made by the organisation’s purported Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi.

The chairman said evidence presented before the committee showed that a letter purportedly appointing Adeyemi as Director-General was fabricated and falsely attributed to Gbajabiamila.

He said Gbajabiamila neither issued nor signed the letter, while the letterhead and reference number used were inconsistent with official State House correspondence.

Gagdi said documentary evidence further showed that Gbajabiamila took steps to expose and investigate the purported organisation after receiving a formal alert.

‘The Chief of Staff acted within one day of receiving an alert from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission over suspected fraudulent activities,’ he said.

He added that Gbajabiamila subsequently communicated with relevant security and investigative agencies over the matter.

The agencies, according to him, included the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Gagdi said the committee preliminarily commended Gbajabiamila for what it described as timely security and administrative interventions.

He, however, stressed that the findings remained preliminary and did not constitute the final report or decision of the House.

The committee also found that the PFIPC was not established by any valid Act of the National Assembly, executive order or other lawful instrument.

Gagdi said the panel uncovered alleged fabrication of presidential correspondence, a purported executive order and an altered document presented as an Act of Parliament.

He identified Adeyemi as the principal person associated with the purported organisation and recommended further investigation into alleged financial transactions involving it.

Adeyemi had alleged that Gbajabiamila was behind the establishment of the organisation and collected N400 million as bribe.

He also alleged that the Chief of Staff demanded an additional N200 million bribe.

According to Gagdi, the purported agency was captured in the 2026 budget and allocated office space at the Federal Secretariat Complex.

He said it also operated accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria and obtained an official vehicle bearing a government number plate.

The chairman, however, said the purported organisation secured government facilities and other privileges through allegedly forged documents and fraudulent means.

National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) is pushing to accelerate the transformation of Nigeria’s insurance landscape and position the sector as a more inclusive, innovative, resilient, and trusted contributor to national development.

Speaking at the launch of the Insurance Sector Strengthening Programme (ISSP) on Thursday in Abuja, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, said, ‘Today marks an important milestone in our collective journey to build an insurance industry that responds effectively to the evolving needs of our economy and our people.

‘As the regulator of the insurance sector in Nigeria, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) is clear in its mandate: to protect policyholders, preserve market stability, enforce sound market conduct, and promote the orderly growth of the industry’.

He explained that sustainable growth cannot be achieved by regulation alone, ‘but growth without discipline, transparency, and accountability cannot serve the public interest. It requires collaboration, innovation, consumer confidence, professional competence, and a shared commitment to deepening insurance penetration across every segment of society.

‘The importance of this initiative is clear when viewed against the realities confronting our industry. Despite Nigeria’s large and growing economy, insurance penetration remains significantly below its potential.

Many citizens remain uninsured or underinsured, public understanding of insurance products and benefits is still limited, and opportunities among women, youth, and small businesses are not yet fully harnessed. Issues of trust, capacity gaps, and fragmented distribution channels also continue to constrain industry growth.

‘These challenges should not be viewed merely as obstacles. Rather, they point to the need for innovative solutions, stronger industry coordination, and deeper stakeholder engagement to unlock the enormous potential of Nigeria’s insurance market’.

The Commissioner said the ISSP provides a structured and strategic response to these priorities. ‘Built around six critical pillars-Advocacy and Policy, Awareness and Education, Capacity Building, Gender Inclusion, Youth Engagement, and MSME and Value Chain Development-it offers a comprehensive framework for advancing the growth and sustainability of the insurance sector.

‘Its focus on awareness and education is particularly timely. Insurance uptake is directly linked to public understanding and trust. No insurance market can flourish where consumers do not appreciate insurance as a practical tool for financial protection and risk management.

‘Through targeted campaigns, stakeholder education, and innovative communication approaches, the ISSP aims to strengthen insurance culture and improve financial literacy among Nigerians.

‘Equally important is the programme’s emphasis on capacity building. The future competitiveness of our industry depends on the quality of its human capital. As technologies evolve and customer expectations change, insurance professionals must continue to develop the skills and competencies required for excellent service delivery.

‘The proposed training and professional development initiatives will strengthen technical expertise, professionalism, and performance across the insurance value chain,’ he stated.

Omosehin reaffirmed that the programme prioritizes gender inclusion and youth participation. ‘No sector can achieve sustainable growth when large segments of society remain underserved or underrepresented. Women are a significant economic force, while young people represent the future of our nation and our industry.

‘Bringing these groups into the mainstream of insurance through tailored products, innovative engagement, and career development opportunities will expand market reach and enhance the sector’s relevance.

‘The programme further acknowledges the central role of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in national economic development. MSMEs drive employment, innovation, and productivity, yet many operate without adequate risk protection. Expanding insurance access for this segment will promote business resilience, economic stability, and long-term enterprise growth.

‘The ISSP also aligns strongly with the objectives of the Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Agenda (NIIRA 2025). It supports key sector priorities, including deepening insurance penetration, enhancing professionalism, promoting innovation, strengthening consumer protection, and increasing the sector’s contribution to national economic growth,’ the Commissioner noted.

Omosehin said the ISSP provides a platform for regulators, insurers, intermediaries, technology providers, development partners, and consumers to work together in pursuit of these shared objectives.

A major tragedy struck the Okari Jetty area of Okrika Mainland, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, as an illegal bunkering attempt on an export pipeline belonging to Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited resulted in the death of at least 43 youths, with several others reported missing.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, has sparked widespread tension and panic across neighbouring riverine communities.

According to emerging reports, the disaster occurred when a vessel anchored at the riverside jetty to load petroleum products for export.

More than 200 youths from surrounding communities reportedly arrived at the jetty in locally made boats to siphon a volatile petroleum byproduct, commonly known as ‘C5’, from an illegally tapped point on the pipeline. C5 is a high-concentration chemical used in plastic manufacturing.

The victims were reportedly overcome by the toxic, high-pressure chemical fumes while attempting to siphon the substance into their boats.

Confirming the tragedy, the Rivers State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, stated that the victims were allegedly attempting to steal petroleum products when the disaster occurred.

ASP Agabe noted in a brief statement that while the exact number of casualties had not been fully verified by security agencies, investigations into the incident were ongoing.

Speaking on behalf of civil society, Dr Fineface Dumnamene, Executive Director of the Youth and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), provided further context on the nature of the chemical involved and the casualties recorded along the waterways.

Clarifying the chemical composition, Fineface explained, ‘The fuel is called Indorama fuel, but we have found out that it is called C5. So, this C5 is a byproduct that comes from the production of plastic product at the petrochemical company of Indorama. And as a result of the fact that they don’t have license to sell that product in Nigeria, they normally export it outside the country.’

He added, ‘We now got report that some youths from within the area tapped into the pipeline that brings this product from petrochemical to the waiting vessel that comes every two weeks. And in the process of that, due to the high concentration of the product and the flammable nature and how strong the fume is, they now inhaled the fume because of the pressure it was also coming with, and we got report that about 37 persons allegedly died and many others are still missing with some corpses still found floating on the river.’

Expressing deep sadness over the tragedy, the advocate strongly warned Niger Delta youths against pipeline vandalism, oil theft and artisanal refining, urging them not to risk their lives despite the severe economic conditions.

‘We have to warn our youth, like we’ve been warning them at the centre, that breaking into pipelines, stealing product will not help them,’ Fineface cautioned. ‘No matter how there is hunger in the land, stealing product of this nature is not very good because look at now, in the process of trying to get something to eat, they have lost their lives. If they have still had their lives with them, who knows, tomorrow it may have been better. So, we warn the youth of the Niger Delta to stay away from pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and artisanal refineries.’

The YEAC director called on the Federal Government to urgently provide sustainable economic alternatives for youths in oil-producing communities through legal channels.

‘It is important for the federal government to look for alternative livelihood opportunities for these youths who are interested in going into the petroleum sector to make a living. I think that if the government is able to provide the license they promised the youth in the Niger Delta for modular refinery, it will go a long way to keep them busy,’ he urged.

‘We have also been proposing the legalization of artisanal refineries through the Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) that the YEAC in Nigeria proposed on 27th July 2020, that if this is established, it will help these youth to be engaged through cottage petroleum refining processes. They pay tax to government, get their licenses, and everybody will get busy away from pipeline that they are using to export product outside the country.’

He further urged both Indorama and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) to beef up physical security along the Okari Jetty export corridor to prevent future breaches.

‘The companies, Indorama and the NNPC Ltd, they should try as much as possible to provide security for their pipeline so that the youth will not have access to it, break into it, and then begin to tap their product that they are trying to export outside the country,’ Fineface emphasised.