Category: Nigerian Tribune

Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced the arrest of vandals by security operatives and community vigilantes, following a foiled attempt to dismember towers T297, T298, and T299 along the Mando-Jos 330kV Double Circuit transmission line.

TCN’s general manager, public affairs, Ndidi Mbah, in a statement made available to Tribune Online on Thursday in Abuja, said the vandals had removed key tower components, which threatened the structural stability of the towers.

The statement, while commending the swift action of security operatives and members of the host community, which led to the arrest of the vandals and their suspected buyers, added that the suspects are currently in police custody in Saminaka, Kaduna, where they are being investigated. ‘The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) wishes to inform the public that security operatives, in collaboration with community vigilantes, have successfully foiled an attempt by vandals to dismember towers T297, T298, and T299 along the Mando-Jos 330kV Double Circuit transmission line. The suspects and potential buyers were arrested on Sunday, October 5, 2025.

‘The vandals had removed tower members, compromising the structural integrity of the towers. Fortunately, the line remains intact and did not collapse.

‘To safeguard the integrity of the transmission infrastructure, TCN engineers had commenced emergency reinforcement works on the affected towers. These efforts are aimed at restoring full stability and ensuring continued bulk power delivery along the Mando-Jos power transmission corridor.

‘TCN commends the swift action of security operatives and members of the host community, which led to the arrest of the vandals and their suspected buyers. The suspects are currently in police custody in Saminaka, Kaduna State, where investigations are ongoing.

‘TCN urges communities across the country to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities around transmission facilities to security agencies or the nearest TCN office. The company remains committed to working with security operatives to protect Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure and ensuring efficient and reliable power delivery nationwide,’ the statement read.

About 1,000 residents of Sepeteri, Saki East local government area of Oyo state have benefited from a non-governmental organization, Enablers Diaspora Grassroots Support Outreach (EDGSO), free medical and food support.

The NGO’s President, Mrs Ayoyinka Wilson, at the annual free medical outreach on Monday, said that the exercise was aimed at touching lives and giving back to the community.

Wilson, a registered nurse in the United Kingdom, stated that beneficiaries of the free medical check-ups and treatment include the poor, the aged, and individuals who could not afford paying for their treatments.

According to her, EDGSO has no political affiliation, therefore, its programmes and gesture to the public has no political undertone.

The president urged beneficiaries to take their health issues seriously, always endeavour to use their drugs rightly and shun self-medication.

‘Our target is to take care of as many people as possible. We are treating all participants and giving them multivitamins, paracetamol and other essential drugs.

‘Apart from drugs, we are giving foodstuffs, clothes, shoes and household essentials to the people,’ she said.

Wilson stated that plans had been concluded to extend this year’s medical outreach to other communities in Lagelu and Olorunsogo local government areas of the state.

Also, the Life Patron of EDGSO, Dr Junaid Ogundiran lauded members and other sponsors of the NGO for allowing Sepeteri to be among the selected centres for 2025 outreach.

Ogundiran who is also an indigene of Sepeteri ,added that the visits of the NGO to Sepeteri over the years had contributed to wellbeing of the residents.

Speaking, a 69-year-old beneficiary, Mr Musibau Oladokun, commended the foundation and appealed to other kind-hearted Nigerians to emulate its gesture.

Another beneficiary of the initiative,Mrs Janet Faniyi, said she was given necessary drugs and foodstuffs after a comprehensive test had been conducting on her, adding that she was also given necessary medical advice.

The outreach services included checking blood pressure, health education on chronic and preventive diseases as well as free medical check-ups.

Other services rendered at the outreach included: free distribution of basic medications, sensitisation on eating and living healthy, and awareness of dementia and memory loss.

THE Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) has expressed its hope for a measles- and rubella-free Nigeria, where children are protected from other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Nigeria launched a nationwide, phased vaccination campaign on Monday to protect over 106 million children against measles, rubella, and polio. The initial phase targets 20 high-risk northern states plus Oyo State, with a second phase focusing on southern states beginning in January 2026.

Dr Foluso Balogun, a consultant paediatrician at University College Hospital, Ibadan, and team lead for the Oyo State Immunization Champions, disclosed this during an outreach organized by PAN in collaboration with the International Paediatric Association. The event was held for nursing mothers attending the immunization clinic at Oranyan Primary Health Care Centre in Ibadan.

According to her, the introduction of the measles-rubella vaccine is something that paediatricians are very happy about because even a single case of congenital rubella syndrome is devastating.

Balogun stated: ‘We are very excited because this will address rubella and its complications in our community. When a woman is pregnant, especially during her first trimester, and comes into contact with rubella and becomes infected, it can lead to congenital rubella syndrome.

‘We have rubella circulating in various parts of the country. If we have this vaccine, it will drastically reduce the number of rubella cases. Additionally, it could help us achieve eradication.

‘We are very pleased about the measles-rubella vaccine; it represents a huge step. And we look forward to a Nigeria free of rubella and measles. As PAN, we are committed to making vaccine-preventable diseases a thing of the past among our children. This will tremendously improve our health indicators and reduce the under-5 mortality rate.’

Miss Tinuola Onireti, an assistant chief nursing officer and a PAN immunization champion, also urged the women to ensure their daughters receive the HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer in the future.

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Onireti emphasized that while cervical cancer is not curable but preventable, assured that the HPV vaccine is safe and does not cause infertility in girls.

In a statement, Mr Akeem Imam, the State Technical Facilitator for the Integrated Measles-Rubella Campaign in Ibadan Southeast Local Government, said that immunization is the right of every child in Nigeria and therefore urged mothers to take their children to the nearest health facilities to receive all the necessary vaccines.

Mr Imam said that adequate vaccination should be complemented with exclusive breastfeeding and vitamin A supplements, among other measures, to strengthen children’s immunity against illnesses and childhood killer diseases.

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has disclosed his plans to repatriate some of the Oyo artefacts carted away by the British soldiers during the historical Pepe war.

Some of the Oyo artefacts items that were taken away from the palace include crowns, gold, beads, and other monumental items.

The palace source disclosed that part of the plan is a week-long activity in commemoration and memorialisation of the historical event, which will be held in November this year. The event is coming up 130 years after the British imperialists invaded the palace of Alaafin of Oyo.

The event, which is billed to be given a global relevance, will showcase the tradition, customs, and prowess of the Oyo Empire, as well as the dogged spirit of resistance to domination by its traditional leaders, as exemplified by the Alaafin Adeyemi Alowolodu I on November 12, 1895.

The Alaafin of Oyo was seen by the British Imperialists as the next target after some kingdoms in Yorubaland had been subdued, among them: Oba Kosoko of Lagos, following the bombardment of Lagos, and the Awujale Ogbagba I, after the Danasungbo War.

A minor dispute broke out following the castration of a man named Bakare, an Ilari (a royal messenger or eunuch) in the court of the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Adeyeri I. Bakare had been accused of committing adultery with one of the Oba’s wives. As per longstanding Yoruba custom, Iseyin, being a provincial domain under Oyo, deferred such grave capital matters to the authority of the Alaafin.

Upon Bakare being brought to Oyo, and Alaafin Adeyemi ordering his castration as a form of punishment in line with traditional royal codes,

Captain Robert Lister Bower, the stern and imperial-minded British Resident and Travelling Commissioner in Ibadan, felt infuriated and declared that the Alaafin had overstepped his bounds.

He demanded the custody of both Bakare and the messenger, Kudeefu, who carried out the castration, but Alaafin Adeyemi refused, and instead, had Bakare executed, and continued to shield Kudeefu. The open defiance of British authority was the final straw that led to the ‘Pepe War’.

Bower led a force of sixty soldiers to invade the Oyo metropolis to subdue the Alaafin and enforce British demands, but the citizens of Oyo, loyal to their monarch, took up arms to defend their Oba and their sovereignty. A fight erupted, and as the situation intensified, Bower called for additional ammunition from Ibadan, where the British had stronger influence.

With superior firepower and reinforcement of about two hundred soldiers, the British forces eventually overwhelmed the local resistance. The sharp, staccato sound of British gunfire during the attack-‘pepe ! pepe !! pepe!!!’ – thus became the origin of the name: ‘Ogun Pepe’.

In the war, the Alaafin was injured in the leg but mysteriously escaped to Oke-Owinni, where he reported Bower to the Catholic Bishop of Oyo. After six days of intense war, the Catholic Bishop mediated, and after a negotiated Treaty, Alaafin was allowed to make a triumphant entry back to his Palace. The citizens of Oyo celebrated his return with great fanfare, hailing his resilience and symbolic victory.

The planned ceremonial re-enactment of the ‘Ogun Pape’ by the Alaafin and his subjects, therefore, stands as a testament to the resilience of Yoruba sovereignty in the face of imperial aggression and confrontation. With the return of the Oyo artefacts, this commemoration seeks not only to remember that moment of loss but to draw enduring lessons that speak powerfully to our present and future existence.

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has engaged the stakeholders on the various challenges facing power supplies across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State.

The interactive session, tagged ‘Breakfast Meeting with Managing Directors and Key Customers’, which brought together major business leaders within the IBEDC network, was held in Ibadan on Thursday.

The issues bordering on persistent issues, such as voltage fluctuations, supply inconsistencies and response time to faults were deliberated on.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IBEDC, Engineer Francis Agoha, in his address, said the forum was designed not only to identify and resolve existing challenges but also to strengthen collaboration with valued customers.

‘We want to understand their challenges and jointly chart a way forward. This will be a periodic engagement to help us track the progress of the issues raised and ensure continuous improvement. Our goal is for customers to truly appreciate the quality of our supply and services,’ he said.

Agoha assured attendees that the company was already working on measures to deliver tangible improvements in service delivery.

He noted that the meeting itself reflected IBEDC’s renewed sense of accountability and commitment to its clients.

‘I am holding my colleagues responsible for ensuring that the problems identified here are promptly addressed.

‘We have taken note of the key issues affecting our major customers and are fully ready to resolve them,’ he added.

Participants at the event welcomed the initiative, expressing willingness to partner with IBEDC in tackling electricity supply challenges in the region, as many described the engagement as a positive step towards achieving a more reliable and customer-focused power distribution system across Oyo State.

This week has been Customer Service Week across the world, and as always, it is a time to celebrate customers and appreciate those who serve them. At the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the celebration has been full of colour, excitement, and unity. From themed dress days to fun activities, staff across the country took time to appreciate the people who make their work meaningful, the taxpayers.

But beyond the glamour and celebration, this year’s Customer Service Week has given everyone at FIRS another reason to reflect on the kind of leadership the agency has been blessed with. Since Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman, came on board, he has shown that leadership is not just about policy but about people, and when I say people, I mean the people of Nigeria. He has brought a human touch to tax administration and changed the way many Nigerians perceive the agency.

Today, FIRS is not just an agency collecting taxes across Nigeria; it is a people-driven institution that listens, understands, and responds. Through innovations such as the TaxProMax platform, electronic invoicing, and an active online presence, people and businesses can now file returns, make payments, or access information with ease. Every transaction is secured and verifiable through a unique Invoice Reference Number and QR code, while taxpayers without internet access can conveniently use the *829# USSD code to retrieve their TIN, verify tax clearance certificates, locate nearby offices, or make quick inquiries. It is now easy for anyone to pay taxes or ask questions, as FIRS experts are always ready to assist through the website, social media, or call centers.

The Tax Boss is a man who knows his onions and leads with direction and purpose. FIRS has built a strong culture of courtesy and service excellence. Staff are reminded that taxpayers are partners in progress and that respect, fairness, and timely service are necessary to good governance. This change has increased public trust and strengthened the agency’s reputation as a responsive institution. Today, if you ask ten Nigerians, nine will tell you they now understand taxes better and why they are important. We have never had it this good.

His calm confidence, intelligence, and people-first approach have changed the atmosphere within the Agency. Staff now take pride in serving, knowing that their work makes life easier for millions. Taxpayers, too, are beginning to see FIRS differently, not as a burden, but as an institution they can trust.

As this year’s Customer Service Week comes to an end, with the theme ‘Mission: Possible,’ Nigerians can agree that Dr. Zacch has made it more than just a theme; he has made it our reality. He has shown that change is possible in public service. He leads by example, puts people first, and ensures that FIRS has become a true model of what responsive governance should look like.

At the end of the day, Dr. Zacch is a tactical leader whose results speak louder than words. What he has built at FIRS tells its own story. It is a system that works, a team that serves, and a nation that believes again. Nigerians can now see that the mission is truly possible.

Happy Customer Service Week to the Tax Boss, the entire FIRS team, and the ever-supportive taxpayers across Nigeria. Together, we keep building a better country for everyone.

Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi is the Technical Assistant, Broadcast Media to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

The National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) and key industry stakeholders have taken a major step toward improving the quality and efficiency of Nigeria’s seed industry with the validation of the draft national seed regulation.

The move, described as a good reform, is expected to decentralise seed certification, enhance private sector participation, and ensure that farmers across the country have better access to high-quality seeds.

Speaking at the stakeholder validation workshop in Abuja, Dr Okelola Folarin Sunday, Registrar of the Plant Variety Protection Office at NASC, said the new regulations aim to harmonise existing laws and create a clear framework for operations within the seed industry.

‘When you have clear regulations or clear laws and people know what they need to do and how they have to do it, then you can get the best result.

‘The seed space is a regimented one where everybody must know the right approach to do things. So today we are looking at harmonising our regulations as they affect variety registration, release, and other key components like third-party certification,’ he said.

He explained that one of the key reforms is the decentralisation of NASC’s roles, allowing private actors to handle certain certification functions under strict supervision.

The initiative, he noted, would enable the council to focus on oversight and regulatory functions while empowering trained, licensed third-party operators to handle field and laboratory certification.

‘Our eyes will be on the job, but our hands will be off the job. We are bringing in more actors to produce early generation seeds, such as breeder and foundation seeds, to ensure farmers have access to certified seeds for improved productivity,’ Okelola added.

He further noted that companies seeking to operate their own internal quality assurance units would be required to meet stringent standards, including staff training and periodic audits by NASC.

The approach, he said, would build the capacity of the seed industry while addressing funding limitations that make it difficult for the government to solely police the fast-growing sector.

Also speaking at the event, Mr Dahiru Rabiu, a Director in the Office of the Director General of NASC, described the validation as a memorable moment for the Nigerian seed industry, marking a transition toward greater private sector involvement and improved regulatory efficiency.

According to Rabiu, three key draft regulations were being reviewed and validated: Third Party Certification Regulation 2025, Early Generation Seed Production Regulation 2025 and Crop Variety Release Regulation 2025

He explained that the regulations were developed to operationalise sections of the National Agricultural Seed Council Act, 2019, which empowers the council to engage private operators in certification and quality assurance processes.

‘The council is going to license private sector players to handle some of these activities because the number of staff we have is too small compared to the growing needs of the industry. By bringing in the private sector, we can ensure wider coverage and better quality assurance across the country,’ Rabiu said.

Rabiu disclosed that three models are being tested under the new framework: the company model, where seed companies establish internal quality control units; the institutional model, involving research and academic institutions; and the independent third-party model, comprising accredited private firms.

He also highlighted efforts to liberalise Early Generation Seed (EGS) production, noting that Nigeria currently meets only about 30 per cent of its national seed requirement. Most breeder and foundation seeds, he said, come from public research institutions, a gap the private sector can help close to boost productivity and food security.

The validation workshop brought together representatives from across the seed value chain, including seed companies, research institutions, NAFDAC, and the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB).

Participants described the effort as a necessary step toward a more competitive, transparent, and sustainable seed system in Nigeria.

The new regulatory framework, once adopted, is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s seed quality assurance, attract private investment, and accelerate the country’s drive toward agricultural transformation and food security.

House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to probe activities of International Oil Companies (IOCs) as well as regulatory agencies over estimated $20 billion decommissioning and abandonment compliance gap in breach of the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion on urgent public importance titled: ‘Need to investigate decommissioning and abandonment compliance, in the Nigeria Petroleum Industry in line with Petroleum Industry Act of 2021’, sponsored by Chairman, House Committee on Political Parties, Hon. Zakaria Dauda Nyampa.

In his lead debate, Hon. Nyampa explained that decommissioning and abandonment (DandA) is the process of safely shutting down and dismantling oil and gas facilities, wells, and infrastructure after their productive life is a critical issue in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. ‘The House also notes that globally, the regulatory regimes mandate operators to set aside funds during the productive life of assets to cover future decommissioning, dismantling, remediation, and site restoration costs, which run into billions of dollars, as failure to plan adequately exposes the host communities to massive environmental, financial, and social liabilities.

‘The House is aware that the fund is designed to address the environmental, safety, and financial risks associated with abandoned or decommissioned facilities, preventing state liabilities and ensuring orderly asset closure in accordance with the best global best practices.

‘The House is also aware that in Nigeria, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 (Sections 232-233) and the NMDPRA/NUPRC Decommissioning and Abandonment Regulations (2022) require all licensees and lessees to: Establish DandA programmes for their assets, Contribute to DandA Escrow Accounts ring-fenced for dismantling and remediation, Secure regulatory approvals for plans, timelines, and funding, and pay applicable penalties for non-compliance.’

Under the arrangement, the regulatory agencies are expected to mandate the operator to establish a dedicated escrow fund for licensed facilities based on the estimated residual value and projected decommissioning cost of the facility, spread evenly over its remaining operational life; and make mandatory annual payments into the escrow account, impose prescribed penalties for non-compliance.

‘The House is worried that most States in Nigerian are facing increasing risk exposure due to low compliance with decommissioning and asset transfer provisions in the oil industry, including the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, which face decommissioning liabilities and lack formal remediation plans or funding provisions, instances where, International Oil Companies (IOCs) exited assets in the Niger Delta and transferred them to domestic operators without adequate provision for DandA, effectively externalizing future liabilities to the government and Host Communities, leaving behind aging wells, flow stations, pipelines, FPSOs and platforms with few DandA escrow funds established, despite multi-billion-dollar liabilities.

‘The House is also worried that about 90% of operators in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, including refineries, depots, pipelines, gas plants, and retail infrastructure, are non-compliant with PIA provisions.

‘Regulatory bodies NUPRC and NMDPRA have failed to effectively enforce penalties, leading to fiscal leakages, environmental risks, and loss of governance credibility. This inaction threatens Nigeria’s oil sector reputation and sustainability.

‘The House is alarmed that Nigeria’s upstream oil sector, with over 250 OMLS/OPLs, 1,500 producing wells, and hundreds of flow stations, faces financial exposure in Decommissioning and Abandonment (DandA) costs. Data Sourced from Global and Local Platforms such as Wood Mackenzie, IHS Markit, and even NUPRC, data estimates place Dand$500,000 and $1 million per well and $20-50 million per field for associated surface facilities, totaling liabilities of $10-15 billion; however, less than 20% of operators have adequately funded their DandA escrow accounts, leaving cumulative funds supervised by NUPRC/NMDPRA below $1 billion, far short of the requirement.

‘The House is concerned that Nigeria’s midstream and downstream sector faces a potential remediation liability of $4-5 billion due to widespread infrastructure breakdown.

‘The House is cognisant that the risk of this inaction will result in abandoned offshore rigs, rusting pipelines, and non-functional refineries, which could lead to oil spills, toxic contamination, and severe ecological damage, which will worsen environmental degradation, fueling unrest and risks of explosions, gas leaks, fires, and pipeline vandalism, endangering lives and infrastructure in host communities.

‘The House is also cognisant that Nigeria’s petroleum industry faces a $15-20 billion decommissioning and abandonment compliance gap, with low compliance risk of abandoned assets, pollution, and stranded costs. However, firm legislative oversight can secure billions in DandA escrow accounts, protecting the environment, communities, and public finances. The National Assembly has a chance to act decisively and establish a legacy of environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility.’

To this end, the House resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate decommissioning and abandonment (DandA) compliance in Nigeria’s petroleum industry in line with the Petroleum Industry Act and report its findings and recommendations to the House within 12 weeks for consideration and further legislative action.

The Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for the African Region (BCCC-Africa) has organised a workshop for students of the University of Ibadan to train them on how to create awareness on the dangers of plastic waste and solutions to the menace when they proceed to their compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme across the country, and for serving corps member currently enrolled in the scheme.

The workshop tagged, ‘Accelerating Community Awareness on Plastic Waste through Interventions with Students and Graduates of Tertiary Institutions in Ibadan, Nigeria,’ is a continuation of a project which commenced earlier this year. Earlier on June 18, BCCC-Africa held a one-day Inception Workshop for a project titled: ‘Accelerating community awareness on plastic waste through interventions with students and graduates of tertiary educational institutions in Ibadan, Nigeria,’ on the campus of the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State.

The BCCC-Africa Executive Director, Professor Percy Onianwa, at the project inception, noted that ‘Nigerian students and youth corps members have never before been utilised in this manner for any community awareness raising programme. The scheme has a high potential for a wide reach within the country. The trainees are also likely to carry on with awareness-building activities even beyond the lifespan of this project.’

He added, ‘The project is being executed by the BCCC-Africa, with funding provided by the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions through its third Small Grants Programme (SGP-3) on Plastic Wastes.’

The project aims to engage about 450 final-year students of the University of Ibadan (UI), and 450 final-year students of The Polytechnic Ibadan, and also work with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members that are already deployed to serve in the metropolitan city of Ibadan.

The project will also develop educational materials that are suitable for awareness raising and outreach programmes on plastic waste in Nigeria and build the capacities of higher academic institutions’ students and NYSC members for the purpose of engaging them in community awareness through advocating activities on plastic waste and management.

The intensive full day programme held on Saturday, September 20, for students of UI could be broadly divided into two parts, namely ‘problems’ and ‘solutions’ to the plastic waste challenge in Nigeria. The first part with the broad topic of ‘Plastics, Plastic Wastes, Plastic Pollution,’ took them through sub-topics including: ‘Nature of Plastics/Plastic Waste/Single-Use Plastics’, ‘Microplastics and Chemicals in Plastics’, ‘Plastic Pollution: Health Hazards of Plastic Wastes’.

The second part of the session on ‘Managing Plastic Wastes’ dealt with sub-topics including Sorting, Collection and Recycling. Mr Victor Okunola, a recycler from Plastic Edge, said that recycling can become a viable source of income. Professors Adie and Ipeaiyeda spoke on ‘Alternatives to Plastics’ that are less harmful to the environment, such as bamboo, liquid wood and substances that can be added to make plastic biodegradable.

Mr Rafiu Akorede of the Oyo State Ministry of Environment, who spoke on the topic: ‘Managing Plastics in Ibadan,’ mentioned strategies the state government is using for waste management, including decentralised waste collection through waste management consultants, public awareness and advocacy and promoting reusable items.

The ‘Role of Extended Producer Responsibility in Managing Plastic Waste in Nigeria’ was handled by Agharese Onaghise of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA).

Before she spoke, Prof Onianwa noted that the economics of waste management has changed with the increase in the cost of managing dumpsites. He added that one of the ways to cope with this challenge is the extended producer responsibility.

Onaghise said FBRA, established in 2018, with just four members, now has about 47, adding that the organisation empowers Nigerian industries to manage plastic waste effectively.

Speaking about their experiences, Happiness Abiodun, a 400-level student in the Department of Chemistry, said the workshop was indeed insightful, as she not only learned about the activities of BCCC-Africa but also discovered how plastics can be harmful to the environment, despite their usefulness.

She added, ‘I am grateful to BCCC-Africa and all the speakers for teaching us how to enlighten secondary school students and market women on plastics recycling.’

She said she planned to use her upcoming national service year (NYSC) to initiate a group of corps members that would embark on an enlightenment campaign to students and market women. ‘I also plan to introduce clubs in secondary schools that will focus on plastic recycling, and also bring in resource persons to teach them. Secondary school students are well-exposed these days, and I believe they will catch the message quickly,’ she added.

David Adewale, a Geology student of the university, said he was now fully aware of the need to reduce the usage of plastics due to its impact on the environment. ‘I understand that there are alternatives to plastics.

BCCC-Africa also conducted another session of the same workshop on Thursday, September 25, for corps members currently enrolled in the NYSC scheme for the same purpose of creating awareness on the dangers of plastic waste and how to manage it.

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After the session, Babalola Sunday, a corps member serving in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, described the session as educative. ‘I understood what BCCC-Africa stands for and its functions. I now understand the dangers of plastic pollution, and we can help to save the situation.’

Ayomide Hannah, another corps member, thanked BCCC-Africa for the opportunity to attend training on plastic waste. ‘I learned about the history and objectives of BCCC-Africa, particularly its role in protecting human health from hazardous waste.

‘The sessions emphasised the hazards of plastic pollution on land and in aquatic environments, supported with statistics, and also explored existing policies and management strategies. I was especially encouraged to create awareness by communicating plastic waste issues to people of all ages.’

The Federal Government and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) have renewed their commitment to ensuring that the gains from Nigeria’s recent macroeconomic reforms are translated into tangible improvements in citizens’ livelihoods through inclusive growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.

This consensus was reached on Wednesdayat the closing session of the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) held in Abuja, which brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as international development partners.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Finance and -Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said the summit achieved its objective of forging consensus on critical reforms under the themes of reform, resilience and results.

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‘Over the last three days, we have done exactly what this summit promised to do – forge consensus under the pillars of reform, resilience and results, particularly growth that creates jobs, increases incomes and reduces poverty,’ Edun stated.

He said the Federal Government is determined to sustain macroeconomic stability while aligning national and sub-national strategies toward achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

Edun noted that the summit’s deliberations underscored key priorities such as strengthening institutions, building infrastructure, unlocking investments, driving industrialisation, and advancing inclusion.

He added that the government would develop a unified implementation matrix aligned with sector-specific reforms, national development plans, and scalable sub-national models to ensure that policy outcomes are measurable and impactful.

‘The reforms must translate to better living standards and lift Nigerians out of poverty. That is the overall goal of the Renewed Hope Agenda,’ Edun stressed.

The minister also highlighted ongoing fiscal and structural reforms, including tax system improvements, public asset optimisation, and the integration of digital and artificial intelligence tools into financial management to enhance efficiency and revenue generation.

On his part, Chairman of the NESG, Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, said it was time for the government to build on the stabilised macroeconomic environment by implementing policies that directly improve the lives of Nigerians.

He also disclosed that the NESG will design a framework for amicably resolving industrial disputes, following Vice President Kashim Shettima’s call for the group’s intervention in the recent Dangote Refinery-PENGASSEN face-off.

The NESG Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Tayo Aduloju, lauded the summit’s legacy of contributing to major national policy milestones, including the Petroleum Industry Act, telecommunications liberalisation, and tax reforms, among others.

Aduloju noted that these achievements are documented in the NESG’s ‘Green Book,’ adding that the group remains committed to championing evidence-based policy advocacy that places the economy on a path of sustainable growth.

Edun concluded by reaffirming the government’s partnership with the NESG and other stakeholders to ‘sustain consensus, solve bottlenecks, crowd in private capital, and publish evidence-based results’ ahead of the next economic summit.

‘We leave not just with a communiqué, but with commitments and shared accountability to deliver,’ he said.