Category: Nigerian Tribune

The gathering was generally a spontaneous coagulation of eggheads in the University of Ibadan. It was quite convivial as people milled while coming and leaving, but it was also measured. The venue – the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Residence – immediately spelt sublimity, but it also buzzed with different kinds of feelings. Relief. Thanksgiving. Joy. Laughter. Accomplishment. Belief. Expectation. The established academics and other members of the immediate University of Ibadan community had congregated, on the spur of the moment, at the residence of one of theirs, Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba, who had just been announced as the 14th Vice Chancellor of Nigeria’s Premier University. Friends and well-wishers too were coming in their various forms, shapes, sizes and callings – some with their spouses to rejoice with the new Vice Chancellor.

I had also arrived there with a reasonable measure of ‘what should we expect?’ Was it still purely a university affair – which would mean that all non-initiates must ‘hold on’, or could ‘civilians’ now join in the deserving felicitation? It would be trite to say that my classmates, who went with me, upon the prompting of the Head of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, Dr Bisi Olawuyi, would also be wary of what to expect there. However, we were all within the university campus and would lose nothing by just getting there to see. What is more, it is good to rejoice with them who rejoice… going by biblical suasions.

And here is a unique opportunity to, once again, rejoice with ‘Makinde Olapegba, my roommate in the Great Ransom Kuti Hall of Residence of the University of Ibadan; my housemate for a brief period in Fodacis Estate, Ring Road, Ibadan; my friend, my gist-mate; my brother, and more. We are proudly The Boys from Kuti – where we lived for years as hopeful undergraduates. Now, we have come of age even though we are still trudging forward as we travel in the journey. But we have come long enough to be grateful to the Almighty God, and to all men (and women) who have been instrumental to the successes of today.

The Boys from Kuti is not thinking in the same mould as Ira Levin’s 1976 book entitled: ‘The Boys from Brazil.’ Levin wrote about present atrocities; the chilling realisation that evil usually persists even when we have achieved peace after an open war, and so on. The Boys from Kuti is a celebration of small beginnings, of friendship, comradeship and solidarity. The nearest lesson from Ira Levin’s work, which warns against complacency, is its implicit advice that we should not forget lessons of our past. Levin warns against forgetting past atrocities so that we will not fall into the same snares. The boys from Kuti are here with the exact opposite of such sentiments – we want a sustenance of those successes after we have fought through barriers, enjoyed The Divine Assistance to rise to the top.

Mrs. Temilola Hannah Olapegba, PhD, fetched the thought of ‘the boys from Kuti’ when she welcomed me and my friends to their home. Days earlier, we reeled in the joy of Dr Olapegba’s successful defence of her PhD thesis. Days after, her husband got the nod to be the 14th Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan beginning from November 1, 2026. While we shared the joy of the moment, she went into a deep contemplation. She recalled the days her husband and I were undergraduates and roommates in Kuti Hall. Prof. Olapegba, myself, Chief Ademola Adebayo and Chief Olushola Olaniyan were roommates at B48, Kuti Hall, University of Ibadan. She lifted her face in an introspective gaze and said: ‘Look at you, look at your friend… The boys from Kuti.’

She struck a chord with that statement. It was a profound reflection that pulled many strings in the harmonious relationship our families share. That statement sat so deeply in me that I deduced it was not a submission from mere human wit or introspection. It was a call to show and give thanks to Him who makes all things beautiful in His time. There are many other hugely successful boys from Kuti, but we are simply being grateful for one of them – one with whom I share a close relationship. There are also many other boys from Kuti who have been forgotten. There are many other boys from Kuti who would have gone six feet under. There are many Kuti boys who cannot joyfully declare their relationships as roommates, floor mates, block mates or even hall mates. Of a fact, there are many Kutites whom we do not know. But they too are boys from Kuti and they sure would have their stories.

Professor Olapegba should especially be celebrated. His emergence as the Vice Chancellor of Nigeria’s Premier University on Wednesday, 22 July, 2026 did not come as a passing whiff. He had come from such depths that you will not fail to decipher after a few minutes with him. Makinde is profound in his convictions, and vocal in his thoughts. When you interact with him, you will soon be sure of the direction of your interaction. No airs, no pride, no pretenses, and be sure you have a strong enough standpoint to defeat a convinced Makinde. This is the same in the room back; at home, at the Kegites Club, in Hall interactions and in school positions.

His emergence seeped in so innocuously and left many in amazement. The surprise expressed at his emergence was not because of the appointment itself, but the smoothness of the process. There was the usual politicking and lobbying, but his appointment is among the smoothest the university has witnessed in many years. A lot of factors are responsible for that, but the ones that stand out are the overwhelming love and support of his colleagues, the love from alumni, the backing of the students, and the prayers of friends. All these speak to the kind of person Prof Olapegba is. He has built his reputation over the years and his lifestyle agrees with people across board in and outside of the university community. What might earn a man such acceptability? Integrity. Humility. Humaneness and worthwhile relationships.

In November 2022, this column mused on the life that one has lived up to that point. It was a peep into some of the events that one recalls with nostalgia and why our past should rather not haunt us. It was entitled: ‘Language, lies and all of us.’ A successful man’s reputation should rather excite his friends and community. I also think that a man’s trajectory should not be a source of confusion and conflict. Why would your life become some people’s debate standpoint? Why should your life cause so much argument and strife? The entire University of Ibadan community felt the same way when Professor Olapegba was announced as the new Vice Chancellor. Those who felt differently could not speak up because he is not just qualified and experienced, his appointment met all the necessary criteria, and his persona satisfied the overwhelming majority of the relevant stakeholders. That is the boy from Kuti.

A man who opts to go to the stream will have to go. Olapegba has sought appointment as the VC. He submitted himself for all that was necessary to be able to get the job. Now he has got the job. We trust his ability to do all of us his supporters proud. However, it must be stated that the job of a Vice Chancellor is not a miniature responsibility. It is even more so being the Vice Chancellor of a first-grade, iconic institution like the University of Ibadan. So, Prof Olapegba will need the sustained support of all and sundry, especially stakeholders in the university. He needs the continued support of all those who have been behind him all along, who encouraged him to get to this height. Those prayers for his success must not stop, and the work to make his job easy for our overall success must also not cease.

Please pray for the success of the boy from Kuti who has come of age. Congratulations Professor Olapegba and best wishes.

Self-styled financial and relationship coach, Geh-Geh, has revealed that he has four baby mamas and is expecting two more children from different women.

The content creator made the disclosure during an appearance on the Echoo Room podcast, where he spoke about his personal life and relationships.

Responding to a question about whether he had a girlfriend, Geh-Geh said he was involved with multiple women rather than being in a relationship with one person.

When the podcast host asked in Pidgin, ‘So as you dey like this now, you get girlfriend?’ Geh-Geh replied, ‘I get women.’

Asked to clarify how many women he was referring to, Geh-Geh disclosed that he currently has four baby mamas.

‘They’re many. I get like four baby mamas now,’ he said.

Geh-Geh also revealed that his first child is about four years old, while his youngest child is only a few months old.

He further disclosed that two other women are currently pregnant for him.

‘My first child dey like four years now, and the youngest dey like months. I still get two women wey still get belle for me,’ he said.

The revelation comes months after Geh-Geh made headlines over his controversial opinions on relationships and politics, including his claim that Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi would not defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the presidency’s attempt to invoke China in attacking him as a ‘monumental own goal,’ saying the comparison has only exposed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to greater public scrutiny.

In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said it was ironic that while the presidency has been ‘parading the United States government’s routine reply to its diplomatic correspondence as though it were a love letter, a trophy, and a certificate of innocence rolled into one,’ its spokesman carelessly introduced China into the debate.

‘It takes a peculiar kind of unintelligence for a spokesman to set out to drag an opponent before a hypothetical Chinese court, only to end up dragging his own principal into the dock.

‘Perhaps the spokesman did not realise that the maximum penalty under Chinese law for the most serious drug trafficking offences is death. Having chosen China as his benchmark, he unwittingly invited Nigerians to examine the very standard he thought would embarrass Atiku Abubakar,’ the statement said.

Atiku stressed that he has ‘never been indicted or convicted by any court in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world for corruption, narcotics offences or, indeed, any criminal offence whatsoever. That is an incontrovertible matter of public record.’

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said if the Presidency insists on using China as the yardstick for accountability, then Nigerians are entitled to ask what Chinese authorities would do in a case involving the $460,000 forfeited to the United States government in a civil forfeiture proceeding alleged to be connected to narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

‘China is renowned for its uncompromising approach to narcotics-related offences and public accountability. It is not a jurisdiction where the forfeiture of suspicious proceeds ordinarily marks the end of official scrutiny. More often than not, that is where scrutiny begins.’

Atiku further argued that the Tinubu administration should also acquaint itself with China’s treatment of corruption and abuse of office.

‘Not in China would a President sign into law a national budget immersed in scandals, padding and duplicitous appropriations. Not in China would a President look the other way while a senior presidential aide faces grave allegations of creating a fake government agency.

‘Not in China would a government campaign on Renewed Hope only to deliver renewed hardship to its citizens. These are precisely the reasons the Presidency should have been more circumspect before invoking China.’

The former Vice President also faulted the Presidency for ‘brandishing the United States Government’s reply to its diplomatic correspondence as though it were a judicial acquittal.’

‘Diplomatic correspondence between sovereign governments is routine. It is neither a judgment of a court, nor a declaration of innocence, nor an instrument for rewriting history.’

He said that the lesson is clear: ‘Those who invoke China must be prepared to accept the Chinese standard-not selectively, not rhetorically, but completely. Accountability is not a buffet from which governments choose only the dishes they find palatable.’

Atiku urged the Tinubu administration to focus on ‘confronting the economic hardship, rising hunger, insecurity and institutional decline afflicting Nigerians instead of manufacturing diversions that collapse at the slightest contact with the facts.’

He urged the Presidency to elevate the quality of its public communication, noting that while propaganda may dominate a news cycle, facts ultimately prevail.

In a statement on Thursday titled ‘When Will Atiku Abubakar Report Himself to President Trump?’, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has said that, ‘A man with such a dismal record as a public servant certainly has no business asking for our votes. Indeed, if Atiku Abubakar were a Chinese, he would be rotting away in jail for his crimes against the Nigerian people.’

The Nigerian naira appreciated against the United States (US) dollar, trading at N1,362.0866 at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official foreign exchange (FX) window on Friday, July 24, 2026.

The data shared on the CBN’s official platform shows that the naira traded at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) rate of N1,362.0866 per dollar and closed at N1,361.0000 per dollar.

The currency, which traded at an NFEM rate of N1,367.7574 on Thursday, July 23, 2026, appreciated by at least N5.67 after trading activities on Friday.

At the parallel market, the buying rate remained the same while the selling rate appreciated by N5 when compared to the previous trading rate on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

According to Aboki FX , the Naira-to-dollar exchange rate at the black market on Friday, July 24, 2026, was N1,405 per dollar for the buying rate and N1,415 per dollar for the selling rate.

Every rainy season, many Nigerians become familiar with Apollo, which is the local name for conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. The infection often spreads rapidly in schools, offices and other crowded places where people interact closely and use the same facilities.

Conjunctivitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria or allergies. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are highly contagious and spread through direct contact with infected eye secretions, contaminated hands and shared objects. Without proper precautions, one infected employee can unknowingly spread the infection to several colleagues.

In this article, Tribune Online highlights practical ways to protect your workplace during the Apollo season.

Practise good hand hygiene

Regular hand washing with soap and clean water is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of conjunctivitis. Employees should wash their hands after using shared office equipment, before eating and after touching their faces. Where soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitiser is a good alternative.

Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes

Touching your eyes with unwashed hands increases the risk of transferring viruses or bacteria into the eyes. If your eyes feel irritated, wash your hands before touching them or use a clean tissue instead.

Do not share personal items

Face towels, handkerchiefs, eye drops, cosmetics and other personal items should never be shared. These items can carry infectious eye secretions and easily spread the infection from one person to another.

Disinfect shared surfaces regularly

Frequently touched surfaces such as desks, keyboards, mouse, telephones, door handles and meeting room tables should be cleaned regularly. Routine disinfection reduces the presence of germs that may contribute to the spread of infections in the office.

Encourage sick employees to stay home

Anyone with symptoms such as red eyes, eye discharge, excessive tearing or swollen eyelids should avoid coming to work until they have been properly evaluated by a healthcare professional. Staying home while contagious protects other employees and reduces the likelihood of an office-wide outbreak.

Nigerian media personality and critic, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has reacted to Habeeb Hamzat, also known as Peller’s wedding announcement, urging the young content creators to reconsider decision to get married.

In a video shared on his social media page, VDM questioned whether Peller and Jarvis were ready for marriage, saying they were still young and should carefully think through such a major life decision.

According to him, the pair should prioritise education and personal growth before settling down.

‘Jarvis and Peller, I hope you actually know what you guys are doing because marriage is not a joke or a content creation. You really need to think about this. Peller, you are still a very young boy that needs to be in school not in marriage. Think very well,’ he said.

Borno State Government has released the sum of ?565.7 million to cover the 2026 external examination fees of 28,789 final-year students in public secondary schools across the 27 local government areas of the state.

The disclosure was made on Friday by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, during the symbolic presentation of cheques at the conference hall of the Ministry’s Workhub, Quality Assurance Office, Maiduguri.

The payment covers candidates who sat for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examinations, and the Senior Islamic Studies Examination (SISE).

Lawan Abba Wakilbe explained that the intervention has transformed examination administration in public schools by ensuring students receive their results simultaneously with their counterparts in private institutions.

‘Today, public school students receive their examination results at the same time as their counterparts in private schools, promoting fairness and equal opportunity,’ Lawan Wakilbe said.

He added that Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration has continued to ease the financial burden on parents through substantial subsidies for examination registration.

‘The Borno State Government continues to subsidise 75 percent of WASSCE and SISE registration fees, and 70 percent of NABTEB fees, for eligible students in public schools,’ he added.

The Commissioner further disclosed that, for the first time, students of Higher Islamic Colleges are benefiting from the state’s examination fee support through the Senior Islamic Studies Examination (SISE), describing the initiative as another milestone in broadening access to quality education.

According to him, the initiative aligns with Governor Babagana Zulum’s vision of formally integrating the Sangaya education system into Borno’s mainstream education framework, ensuring that every child, irrespective of educational background, has equal opportunity to succeed.

Lawan Abba Wakilbe revealed that since Governor Babagana Zulum assumed office in 2019, the state government has spent ?4.71 billion on external examination fees, benefiting 193,963 students across Borno State.

He noted that the sustained investment has eliminated the long-standing disparity that previously delayed the release of examination results for public school candidates compared to those in private schools.

Speaking on behalf of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Officer-in-Charge of the Maiduguri Office, Dr. A. I. Akanimoh, expressed appreciation to Governor Babagana Zulum for the timely release of funds.

He described the intervention as a reflection of the administration’s unwavering commitment to education, noting that it would enable thousands of students to sit for their examinations without financial constraints.

The highlight of the event was the symbolic presentation of three cheques on behalf of Governor Zulum to the examination bodies: ?558.13 million to WAEC for the 2026 WASSCE registration fees; ?4.58 million to NABTEB for technical examination candidates; and ?3.03 million to the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) for candidates sitting the Senior Islamic Studies Examination.

In a related development, the Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, commissioned and officially handed over the newly completed permanent office of the National Examinations Council (NECO) in Maiduguri.

The ceremony took place at the new NECO office located at Moduganari Junction along the Maiduguri-Jos Road, where the Governor was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe.

Lawan Abba Wakilbe said the facility, donated by the Borno State Government, occupies a 4,500-square-metre site within the premises of the Mustapha Umar El-Kanemi Azhar College and is expected to strengthen examination administration and improve educational service delivery across the state.

The new complex comprises a storey building with eight offices, an examination strong room, a conference hall, ten conveniences, and is fully landscaped and powered by solar energy.

Responding, the NECO Zonal Director, Mrs. Deborah C. Rukop, thanked Governor Zulum for completing and commissioning the permanent NECO State Office after the project had remained abandoned for more than a decade.

‘The completion and commissioning of this permanent office after more than a decade of abandonment is a landmark achievement that will significantly enhance NECO’s operations and service delivery in Borno State,’ she said.

The event was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Hajiya Yakaru Mustapha, alongside directors, senior ministry officials and representatives of the various examination bodies.

The Oyo State Government has expressed dissatisfaction with the life imprisonment sentence imposed on three persons convicted in connection with the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the punishment as inadequate despite ruling out an appeal.

The state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, stated this during an interview with journalists in Ibadan following the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Federal High Court sentenced the three convicts to life imprisonment after finding them guilty of concealing information about the masterminds behind the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area.

Reacting to the judgment, Oyelade described the sentence as ‘cold comfort,’ arguing that it did not reflect the severity of the crime and the trauma suffered by the victims, their families and the state.

‘The ruling is cold comfort. We expected capital punishment for the convicts, as that would better reflect the gravity of abducting innocent schoolchildren and teachers,’ he said.

The commissioner maintained that those who concealed information about the kidnappers should bear the same level of responsibility as those who carried out the abduction.

‘It is myopic for anyone to try to create a wedge between the crime of concealment committed by these people and those who actually perpetrated the crime. They are one and the same,’ he added.

Despite the government’s reservations about the judgment, Oyelade said it would not challenge the court’s decision.

‘The government will not be appealing the judgment. While we have our reservations, we respect what the law has said,’ he stated.

He, however, commended the Federal High Court for the speedy hearing and determination of the case, describing it as a positive signal for Nigeria’s justice system and proof that criminal cases can be concluded without undue delay.

Oyelade also called for a review of Nigeria’s anti-terrorism and related criminal laws to ensure stiffer penalties for kidnapping and other security-related offences.

According to him, stronger legislation, backed by swift prosecution and effective enforcement, would serve as a greater deterrent to criminal activities.

The commissioner disclosed that the Oyo State Government worked closely with the Federal Government, security agencies and prosecutors throughout the investigation and prosecution of the case to ensure that those found culpable were brought to justice.

On measures to prevent a recurrence, he said the government had strengthened security around schools through the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, and other security agencies.

‘We are not relaxing. Security around schools has been strengthened through Amotekun and other security agencies. Even where there is no visible physical presence of security personnel in every school, intelligence gathering and rapid response mechanisms have been enhanced to improve the safety of schools,’ he said.

Oyelade also dismissed claims that the government had abandoned the rescued victims and their families, insisting that support for them has continued.

‘The situation is unfortunate, and we will not drag issues with anybody. I am from Ogbomoso, and Professor Alamu, the husband of the abducted school principal, Mrs Rachael Alamu, is my brother. I can assure you that the state government has been doing everything that needs to be done,’ he said.

The Oriire school abduction, which drew national attention, involved the kidnapping of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area before they were eventually rescued after weeks in captivity. The judgment marks the first convictions secured in connection with the incident.

Ahead of the next general elections, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to its chieftains in Anambra State to bury their individual differences in the larger interest of the party’s electoral fortunes.

Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC, Dr Ben Nwoye, made the appeal on Thursday while addressing party chieftains from Anambra State at a peace meeting held at Transcorp Hilton at the instance of the APC National Working Committee.

In attendance at the meeting were former elected officials, party elders, women and youth leaders.

Nwoye, who lamented that the party has continued to suffer electoral defeat because of permanent bickering amongst its chieftains, maintained that the time has come to change the narrative in Anambra State.

He said, ‘For too long, some observers have described Anambra APC as a party known for leaderless contests, endless divisions, and missed opportunities. Whether that description is fair or exaggerated, the fact that it is repeated should concern every one of us. It is time to change that narrative. It is time to prove that Anambra APC can produce disciplined leadership, credible organisation, mature negotiation and united electoral action. Anambra is a state of enterprise, intellect, courage and influence.

‘It is a state that has given Nigeria outstanding public servants, business leaders, professionals, innovators and political thinkers. Such a state cannot afford a party chapter that is permanently weakened by internal discord. If our people can build businesses across the world, if they can organise communities with discipline and resilience, then surely, we can also organise a political party with maturity and unity.

‘I therefore call on all political leaders and stakeholders in Anambra APC to rise above narrow camps. Let no one be remembered as the leader who destroyed the house because he could not control the room. Let no one be remembered as the stakeholder who preferred a factional title to collective victory. Let no one be remembered as the member who allowed anger to defeat opportunity. This is the time to rise, unite and rebuild.’

The APC Deputy National Chairman declared that the next general elections provide ample opportunity to the party chieftains in Anambra to put their house in order and dislodge the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

‘The 2027 general election and the next governorship election present great opportunities for our party. But opportunity does not reward disorganisation. ‘Victory will not come because we desire it; victory will come because we prepare for it. It will come because we build functional ward structures, credible local government coordination, disciplined campaign committees, reconciled leaders, motivated members and a message that connects with the needs of the people.

‘Peace building in Anambra State is therefore not an emotional appeal alone; it is an electoral necessity. A reconciled Anambra APC can register voters, mobilise polling units, protect votes, recruit new members, attract respected community influencers, strengthen alliances, communicate the achievements of the APC-led Federal Government, and present credible candidates with confidence.

‘A divided Anambra APC can do none of these effectively.

‘Our duty is to compete and win. We must no longer approach elections merely to participate, negotiate relevance, or explain defeat. ‘We must approach elections as a serious governing party determined to earn the trust of Anambra voters. That requires unity from the state executive to the ward executive; from aspirants to campaign agents; from elders to youth mobilisers; from Abuja stakeholders to community leaders at home.

‘Our party bears the responsibility of supporting and explaining the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope agenda. That responsibility cannot be discharged by a divided state chapter. We cannot convincingly ask Nigerians to trust our national leadership while our local structures are consumed by avoidable conflict. We cannot mobilise for our presidential, national assembly and state assembly candidates if our leaders are speaking in contradictory voices.

‘In unity and cohesive team spirit, we can deliver on the mandate of Mr. President and all our candidates. In unity, we can take the message of reform, growth, security, investment and national renewal to every ward in Anambra State. In unity, we can build a credible bridge between federal opportunities and local expectations. In unity, we can show Anambra voters that APC is not merely a platform for elections, but a vehicle for development, inclusion and progress.

‘Let us remember that candidates do not win alone. They win with structures. They win with volunteers. They win with agents. They win with financiers. They win with community ambassadors. They win with women who mobilise markets, youths who drive digital and physical campaigns, elders who command respect, and ward leaders who know every polling unit. No one faction can provide all these alone. Only a united party can.’

Nwoye, who asked all stakeholders to feel free to ventilate their grievances, assured that his committee has no mandate to apportion blame but to seek lasting peace building.

‘This committee will be guided by the need for win-win recommendations. A lasting resolution must not humiliate any side; it must restore the authority of the party, protect legitimate rights, preserve discipline, and give every genuine stakeholder a pathway to participate constructively. Reconciliation that excludes justice will not last. Justice that ignores healing will not unite. We must therefore pursue both.

‘Teamwork is the strength that turns many voices into one message, many hands into one labour, and many ambitions into one victory.’

‘Our recommendations will consider mechanisms for inclusive consultation; respect for the recognised organs of the party; verification and restoration of legitimate party offices and elected structures where due process was not followed; review of grievances arising from primary election outcomes and candidate substitution claims; withdrawal or de-escalation of avoidable litigation where appropriate; reactivation of internal dispute resolution channels; confidence-building meetings among principal stakeholders; strict observance of fair hearing before disciplinary action; strengthening of ward and local government structures; clear communication from the national leadership; and a timetable for reconciliation, mobilisation and electoral preparation.

‘A win-win outcome means that the party wins first. It means individuals may not get everything they want, but everyone gets a party strong enough to serve their legitimate political aspirations. It means no stakeholder is treated as useless, no leader is encouraged to act above the party, and no member is denied dignity. It means we replace suspicion with structure, bitterness with dialogue, and factional victory with collective success.’

MASSIVE job loss looms in Nigeria’s logistic chain sub-sector following the increasing take-over of logistics jobs by foreign firms at the nations ports and borders, a situation that is threatening employment, encouraging capital flight and posing serious national security risks through massive importation of arms and ammunition at Nigerian ports.

Disclosing this with the Nigerian Tribune exclusively, the former Acting National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr. Kayode Farinto, called on the National Assembly to urgently initiate legislation that would reserve critical aspects of Nigeria’s freight forwarding and customs brokerage business for indigenous operators.

According to Mr. Kayode Farinto: ‘Nigeria’s logistics industry has gradually slipped into the hands of foreign interests, leaving indigenous freight forwarders increasingly marginalized, particularly in the handling of project cargoes and customs brokerage services

‘The development calls for urgent legislative intervention similar to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act to ensure that critical components of the logistics value chain are reserved for Nigerians.’

Farinto explained that logistics comprises several interconnected sectors, including transportation planning, cargo booking, documentation, customs clearance, warehousing, cargo handling and customs brokerage.

However, he stressed that customs brokerage and freight forwarding should be protected because of their strategic importance to the nation’s economy and security.

He urged the National Assembly to either enact a new law specifically on indigenous freight forwarding or expand the country’s local content legislation to accommodate customs brokerage and other sensitive areas of the maritime logistics industry.

Such legislation, according to him, would stimulate local participation, create jobs and ensure that wealth generated within the sector remains in the Nigerian economy.

‘If freight forwarding is left in the hands of indigenous Nigerians, it will create employment opportunities and ensure that revenues generated from the business are retained within the country rather than being repatriated abroad,’ he said.

Farinto lamented that foreign firms now dominate the lucrative project cargo segment of the industry, alleging that about 90 per cent of project cargoes entering Nigerian ports are handled by expatriate companies.

He noted that indigenous freight forwarders, who previously played significant roles in handling specialised cargoes, have steadily been edged out by multinational logistics companies.

‘I cannot remember the last time an indigenous freight forwarder handled a major project cargo in Nigeria. Today, almost everything is controlled by foreign companies,’ he said.

He further expressed concern that international shipping companies have expanded beyond their traditional role of transporting cargoes into freight forwarding and customs brokerage, thereby competing directly with Nigerian practitioners.

Citing Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) as an example, Farinto said shipping lines are increasingly offering end-to-end logistics services that have significantly reduced business opportunities available to indigenous freight forwarders.