Category: Nigerian Tribune

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the lack of parking spaces in public markets across Abuja.

A visit to Wuse Modern Market, one of the most congested markets in the territory, showed heavy vehicular traffic at the entrance as motorists trooped in for business.

Before gaining entrance, motorists were required to pay for tickets. A ticket attendant told the Nigerian Tribune that the fee is N300 for cash payments and N400 for Point of Sale (POS) transactions.

Inside the market, motorists engaged in shouting matches with one another and with private security officers controlling traffic in the market and in the car park.

A trader who identified himself only as Ugochukwu said traders occupy most of the parking spaces before 9 am daily.

‘Before 8:30 to 9 am, we the traders alone fill up almost all the spaces in the parking lot, talk less of customers, and we don’t leave here till evening.

‘The management of the market can go down and create another parking space. There is space down there.’ He said.

A security officer, who declined to be named, said the situation was a daily challenge.

‘This is what we go through on a daily basis in this market. This place cannot contain the number of cars that come into this market. We need another car park in this market,’ he said.

A motorist who had finished shopping, who asked not to be named, said he was delayed because another vehicle blocked his car.

‘I’m calling on the FCT Administration to do something about this car park issue in this market. To think that we pay N300 to get inside. What is government doing with the money that they make here almost every minute during hours of the day?’ He stressed.

Efforts to get comments from the management of Wuse Modern Market were unsuccessful as staff declined to speak with the media.

Outside the market, a shopper who parked on the road corridor pavement said he avoided the hassle inside.

He said: ‘I don’t want to waste time looking for a place to park after paying money. On the other hand, if you are unlucky and park on the pavement, law enforcement officers will remove your number plate or tow your vehicle to their offices.’

At Garki Model Market, traders said parts of what should be parking space have been converted to a construction site for shops. They said the inadequate parking often drives customers to other markets.

Salisu Sokoto, a trader, said: ‘Most of our customers are civil servants. When they come they don’t want to waste time, but because of inadequate parking space here, it wastes their time and they sometimes go to another market. We are calling on Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), to look into the matter.’

In Nyanya Market, owned by Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), residents also lamented inadequate parking.

Dede Agana said the little space available was not enough, especially on Wednesdays, the main market day.

‘People come from neighboring states to sell or buy here. They take over that little space. In fact, they converge here, blocking the roads and causing traffic gridlock.

‘When most of the markets in Abuja were opened, they didn’t know that the population of the territory would expand to this level. Let AMAC and FCTA open more markets for us. Experiences like the one in Nyanya Market are so tiring,’ she said.

At Karu Market, also owned by AMAC, residents said they face the same problem.

Ushator Adamu, a resident, said: ‘You can see for yourself, the crowd at the gate and on the road is because there is inadequate parking space inside the market, so people park and shop on the road. We need more well-planned markets in Abuja.’

Efforts to get a response from AMAC were unsuccessful.

However, the Director of Operations of Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), Innocent Amaechina, said the FCTA was aware of the problem and was taking steps to address it.

‘We are not unaware of the situation, and as you can see in Wuse Market, for example, there is a multi-layer car park under construction. There are a lot more in other markets,’ he said.

Educational experts and stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to enforce the mandatory patronisation of the Nigerian French Language Village (NFLV) in Badagry, Lagos.

They argue that strengthening local French immersion programmes is critical to boosting Nigeria’s economy, enhancing regional trade, and curbing capital flight to unaccredited foreign institutions.

The call formed the central resolution of a high-level national stakeholders’ conference. The event, held at the weekend, was well attended by French language lecturers, education administrators, and language experts drawn from various Nigerian universities.

The NFLV is a Federal Government-owned inter-university centre. It serves as a specialised training hub for 300-level university undergraduates studying French, providing them with a mandatory, hands-on language immersion experience.

Speaking at the conference, the Director-General of NFLV, Professor Samuel Kolawole, revealed a worrying trend.

While the Federal Ministry of Education has previously issued directives instructing universities to utilise the Badagry-based Village for mandatory immersion programmes, several institutions continue to bypass it. Instead, they choose to route their students to unrecognised and unaccredited language centres across the border.

‘The Nigerian French Language Village was created specifically to provide high-quality immersion programmes for students studying French language,’ Professor Kolawole said. ‘Universities offering French should be encouraged, if not strictly mandated, to send their students here rather than to unrecognized institutions across the border.’

Echoing these serious concerns, the President of the University French Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (UFTAN), Professor Richard Ajah, warned that bypassing local academic infrastructure severely damages both the nation’s academic standing and its financial reserves.

‘Encouraging or allowing Nigerian institutions to bypass the French Village in favour of foreign centres amounts to undermining our own national asset. No serious country weakens its own educational institutions in that manner,’ Professor Ajah asserted.

A major highlight of the conference was the announcement of a comprehensive overhaul of the institution’s French curriculum to directly serve Nigeria’s economic interests and global reality.

Stakeholders unanimously agreed that French studies must move away from a traditional, narrow focus on literature and grammar toward practical, career-driven skills.

Professor Kolawole revealed that the NFLV is actively reviewing its academic frameworks to align language studies with entrepreneurship and high-growth professional sectors.

‘Our objective is not simply to produce graduates who can speak French, but professionals who can use the language as a strategic tool for employment and professional development,’ Professor Kolawole explained. ‘The focus is shifting rapidly toward employability and economic relevance.’

In his own remarks, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Professor Omolegbe Laditan, emphasised that a bilingual workforce unlocks massive economic opportunities. These span vital sectors such as diplomacy, journalism, international relations, tourism, hospitality, and cross-border West African trade.

‘The world is changing rapidly, and our academic programmes must evolve accordingly,’ Professor Laditan said. ‘We need diplomats who can communicate effectively in French without relying on interpreters. We need bilingual journalists, technicians, and corporate professionals who can operate confidently in both English and French.’

Also addressing the gathering, the Chairman of the NFLV Governing Council, Alhaji Labiru Kafur, stressed Nigeria’s unique geographical position. Being entirely surrounded by Francophone nations makes French fluency an indispensable tool for West African regional integration and economic dominance. He strongly advocated for a complete harmonisation of university French curricula with the NFLV’s specialised programmes.

To make this transition seamless, the NFLV has already intensified its campus immersion activities. The institution now enforces strict French-only communication rules on campus grounds and organises supervised educational excursions to neighbouring Francophone communities.

Given these institutional upgrades, Professor Laditan urged parents to stop paying exorbitant fees to send their children to unverified foreign immersion programmes. He noted that the NFLV now offers superior, fully accredited training at a fraction of the cost, preserving personal family finances and protecting the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

The conference concluded with a dedicated business session where Heads of French Departments from institutions nationwide brainstormed solutions to remaining institutional bottlenecks.

They strongly urged policy continuity and tighter collaboration between universities and the Federal Government.

To demonstrate the relevance of excellence, the institution rewarded its latest cohort of graduating immersion students who demonstrated exceptional performance in both academics and sports. The rewarded students represented 45 Nigerian universities from across the country.

A total of 14 students won prestigious awards for achieving the highest results across nine specialised courses, with some students obtaining identical top marks.

Interestingly, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, produced six of the 14 students in that category award.

Additionally, the overall best student from each participating university received individual recognition.

The overall best-performing student of the set, Ibrahim Ahmad Baushe from Abia State University, received the highly coveted star prize.

Meanwhile, the best-performing student, who is an indigene of Badagry Town, received a special community award sponsored by the Badagry Local Government.

The Chairman of the Governing Council, Alhaji Labiru Kafur, and the Director-General of the Village, Professor Samuel Kolawole, expressed immense pride in the resilience, hard work, and good character demonstrated by the students throughout their six months of intensive training.

They warmly congratulated the graduates and urged them to remain focused, studious, and exemplary ambassadors of the Village as they return to their respective home universities to complete their degrees.

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC), Peter Obi, has said President Bola Tinubu should consider retiring from politics in 2027 if he is unable to effectively tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Obi made the remarks while fielding questions on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics programme monitored by Tribune Online on Sunday.

He argued that the country requires leadership with the capacity to address its security challenges.

According to him, recent abductions in Zamfara and Sokoto states underscore the severity of the nation’s security crisis.

‘His (Tinubu’s) best is not enough. On Wednesday, 40 people were abducted in Zamfara, leaving the entire community to scamper for safety. On Thursday, another 50 were abducted in Sokoto,’ Obi said.

He maintained that Nigeria is facing an emergency that demands capable leadership.

‘We are in a crisis situation that requires adequate capacity to solve. He can’t tackle insecurity today because he doesn’t have the capacity. If he can’t do it, he should retire in peace. I can show you several places where we had crises; I went there as governor of Anambra state,’ Obi added.

The NDC presidential candidate has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration over insecurity and the economy, insisting that the government must take more decisive steps to protect lives and property.

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of several prominent individuals from the state.

He has called on residents to pray for the peaceful repose of their souls and to support the families who are grieving.

In a statement issued in Damaturu on Sunday by his Director-General for Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed, the governor highlighted the recent passing of notable figures in Yobe.

Buni described their loss as a significant tragedy for the state, noting that the deceased made lasting contributions through their selfless service and dedication to community development.

Those who recently passed away include the late Emir of Ngazargamu, Dr Bukar Aji, and former Permanent Secretary Alhaji Ligali Lawan Ma’aji, along with Hajiya Mairiga Umar and other distinguished citizens.

‘As faithful, we all know death is a necessary end. It will always come at the prescribed time as ordained by Almighty Allah (SWT),’ the governor said.

He noted that although death was inevitable, the succession of losses within a short period had cast a shadow over the state, describing the deceased as individuals whose services would be remembered for years to come.

‘The deceased persons have, in their individual capacities, contributed immensely to the people and the development of Yobe State,’ he explained.

The governor urged the people to accept the losses as the will of Almighty Allah, stressing that faith demanded patience and submission in moments of grief.

He appealed to residents to continue praying for the deceased and to stand by their families during the difficult period.

‘May Almighty Allah grant them Aljannah Firdaus and give their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,’ he prayed.

Buni reaffirmed his faith in the divine will of Allah, saying, ‘It is indeed a trying moment for us, but we firmly believe that it is the will of Almighty Allah.’

He further prayed: ‘May Allah forgive their shortcomings and bless their souls with Aljannah Firdaus.’

In today’s creative economy, successful brands are no longer defined by a single product or industry. Around the world, the most influential creative companies have evolved into ecosystems bringing together fashion, music, events, media, and community under one identity. In Nigeria, one of the emerging names embracing this model is THIRSTY Universe.

Founded in 2016, THIRSTY Universe began with a vision that extended far beyond clothing. While its first venture, WearTHIRSTY, established the brand through contemporary ready-to-wear fashion inspired by youth culture, the founders always imagined something larger: a platform where creatives from different disciplines could collaborate, grow, and build lasting careers.

Over the years, that vision has developed into a growing network of brands, each serving a different part of Africa’s creative landscape.

At the heart of the ecosystem is WearTHIRSTY, the fashion label that introduced the brand to a new generation of consumers seeking locally designed streetwear with a strong cultural identity. Alongside it sits THIRSTYLAB, an experimental design studio focused on custom fashion pieces and creative collaborations that push the boundaries of wearable art.

Recognising music as one of Africa’s most influential cultural exports, THIRSTY Universe launched THIRSTYSONICS, a recording and artist development collective dedicated to nurturing emerging talent. Through the platform, artists receive creative support, strategic direction, and opportunities to connect with wider audiences while maintaining their artistic identity.

Community has remained central to the brand’s philosophy. That commitment is reflected in THIRSTYNALIA, the annual cultural festival that celebrates African music, fashion, art, and youth expression. The event has grown into a gathering point for creatives, entrepreneurs, and fans who see culture not only as entertainment but as a driver of innovation and economic opportunity.

Building on that momentum, the collective introduced THIRSTYCLUB999, a recurring cultural experience that has quickly become one of Lagos’ most talked-about community-driven events. Bringing together established artists, emerging musicians, designers, DJs, photographers, filmmakers, and cultural tastemakers, the platform creates an environment where collaboration happens naturally and new talent can share the stage with recognised names.

Unlike many entertainment brands that operate within a single niche, THIRSTY Universe has intentionally developed an interconnected model where each platform strengthens the others. Fashion supports music, music fuels live experiences, and events create opportunities for creative partnerships that extend beyond the stage.

This approach reflects a broader shift within Africa’s creative industries. As independent creators gain greater control over how they produce, distribute, and monetise their work, platforms that combine multiple creative disciplines are becoming increasingly important. They

offer not only visibility but also infrastructure, collaboration, and community resources that many emerging creatives struggle to access.

The rise of THIRSTY Universe also demonstrates how Nigerian entrepreneurs are redefining what a modern creative company can become. Rather than following traditional industry structures, they are building brands that function as ecosystems, capable of supporting talent, generating cultural influence, and creating sustainable business opportunities across multiple sectors.

As African creativity continues to attract global attention, organisations that invest in community, collaboration, and innovation are likely to shape the industry’s next chapter. For THIRSTY Universe, the ambition has never been limited to producing clothing, releasing music, or organising events. It has been about creating a home for creative expression, one where ideas, talent, and culture can thrive together.

Nearly a decade after its founding, that vision continues to evolve, positioning THIRSTY Universe as one of a new generation of African creative collectives proving that culture, when nurtured with purpose, can become both a movement and a business.

Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has reaffirmed that the education sector will play a pivotal role in achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s target of building a $1 trillion Nigerian economy by 2030, saying the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms are focused on producing a globally competitive workforce to drive national development.

Speaking in Abuja over the weekend, the Minister said the Tinubu administration has placed education at the centre of its economic transformation agenda through sustained investments in human capital development, skills acquisition and reforms across the tertiary education sector.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Ikharo Attah, Dr. Alausa said the administration is deliberately repositioning Nigeria’s education system to meet the country’s manpower needs while producing highly skilled professionals for Africa and the global labour market.

‘We want to be the manpower supplier of the world. We need to produce competent, skilled and educated young Nigerians who will drive our economy, contribute to Africa’s growth and compete successfully across the world,’ the Minister said.

He noted that the Federal Government is transforming Nigeria’s youthful population into a demographic dividend by expanding access to quality education and equipping young people with the knowledge and skills required to thrive in an increasingly competitive global economy.

Dr. Alausa said one of the administration’s major achievements has been the expansion of admissions into health-related programmes to address the shortage of critical professionals.

He disclosed that annual enrolment into nursing schools has increased from about 20,000 before the current administration to approximately 50,000 students, while admissions into medicine, pharmacy and dentistry have also been significantly expanded.

The Minister expressed confidence that the reforms would eliminate shortages in the health sector within a few years as more qualified professionals graduate into the workforce.

‘As the President advances his vision of building a one trillion-dollar economy, education will remain at the centre of that transformation,’ he stated.

On the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Dr. Alausa said the scheme was deliberately designed as a sustainable financing model capable of supporting generations of Nigerian students.

He explained that President Tinubu has consistently directed ministers and heads of government agencies to ensure that every major reform introduced by the administration is built to endure beyond the tenure of the current government.

‘There is no value in introducing policies that cannot stand the test of time. Sustainability is central to this administration’s philosophy, and that principle guided the design of NELFUND,’ he said.

The Minister also commended President Tinubu for restoring industrial harmony in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions through dialogue, mutual trust and respect, saying the administration has successfully resolved the prolonged disputes between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions.

According to him, President Tinubu demonstrated sincerity by approving the payment of 50 per cent of the withheld salaries inherited from previous administrations within months of assuming office, a move that rebuilt confidence between government and academic unions.

He added that the administration also approved a salary increase of nearly 40 per cent for workers in tertiary institutions, significantly improving staff welfare while maintaining fiscal discipline.

Dr. Alausa said the return of industrial peace is already yielding positive outcomes, citing the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, which showed that the number of Nigerian universities recognised globally has increased from 21 to 24.

He noted that public universities now occupy the top positions nationally, describing the development as evidence that the Federal Government’s reforms are strengthening the quality and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s higher education system.

The Minister reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Education to implementing policies that expand access to quality education, strengthen human capital development and prepare Nigerian youths to compete successfully in the global economy.

He stressed that under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, education will remain the foundation for sustainable economic growth, national development and shared prosperity.?

Nigeria’s governance crisis, occasioned by a deeply flawed electoral process, has continued to be a source of worry for most Nigerians. It is believed that when the will of the people is compromised as a result of flawed electoral processes, the foundation of governance is weakened, public trust erodes, and accountability becomes elusive.

This is largely what Nigerians have experienced since the return to civilian rule in 1999. In the last 27 years, the electoral space has degenerated so much that every election cycle has thrown the country and its people further into despair. The products of such elections, who feel no attachment whatsoever to the electorate, wilfully trample on the will of the people.

The lack of electoral integrity and absence of good governance in the country was the thrust of a discourse in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday. Concerned about the dangerous drift of the country, which has been bedevilled by economic mismanagement, growing poverty among the populace and insecurity, some eminent Nigerians from different fields of human endeavour came together, on the occasion of Penpushing Media’s eighth annual lecture, to provide solutions.

The theme of this year’s lecture, ‘Restoring Electoral Integrity: The Path to Good Governance and Public Accountability,’ provided the perfect platform for a robust conversation on the state of Nigeria’s democracy and the urgent need to rebuild public confidence in the electoral process.

The gathering, made up of critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project, included retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Oladeinde Shoremi, who was the Father of the Day; the Mother of the Day, Ambassador Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, represented by Mr Sina Oladeinde, Editor, Sunday Tribune; the keynote speaker and legal icon, Mr Femi Falana, SAN; former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Tunde Lemo, who chaired the event; Senator Iyabo Obasanjo; prominent media professionals; as well as prominent traditional rulers in Egbaland, Oba Professor Saka Matemilola, the Olowu of Owu, and the Osile of Oke Ona Egba, Oba Dr Adedapo Tejuoso, among others.

Before the keynote speaker, Mr Falana, SAN, delivered his treatise, speakers such as Dr Lemo, chairman of the event, who declared the programme open; retired Justice Shoremi; the Olowu of Owu; the Osile of Oke Ona Egba; Ambassador Awolowo Dosumu; and others agreed that electoral integrity is not merely a democratic ideal but the bedrock upon which accountable leadership and sustainable development are built.

Pastor Dr Lemo, in his opening remarks, decried the inglorious electoral culture the country’s political elite has foisted on the people and the havoc that questionable electoral processes have wreaked on the nation. He shared his personal experience as a participant in the last party primaries, recalling how the process was skewed to favour some entrenched interests. He submitted that a strong electoral culture rooted in integrity and accountability is necessary if the country desires to overcome its debilitating socio-economic challenges.

The Father of the Day, retired Justice Shoremi, in his message, reminisced about the golden age of the Western Region when Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the Premier. He compared the current leadership, which sees the country as its fiefdom, with the Awolowo era, when leaders truly saw themselves as servants of the people.

He recalled an encounter he had with the sage as a young student. He and his friend had gone to the Moor Plantation to pluck some fruits when it started raining. Drenched, they were worried about how they would get back to town when they saw a car approaching.

‘We knew immediately that the car was Chief Awolowo’s. We all knew the number plate by heart. When the car got to us, it stopped and the door opened. Chief Awolowo then beckoned to us to enter.

‘He didn’t mind the fact that we were drenched. He took us in his car to our homes. Before then, I had never met Chief Awolowo. But he saw us, little children on the road, and took us home. That was the Premier of the Western Region. Who among today’s leaders would do that? We would visit him in his house at Oke-Bola and ask him questions. Chief Awolowo would patiently answer us,’ Justice Shoremi recalled, maintaining that the Western Region earned recognition because its leaders placed public interest above personal gain and enjoyed the trust of the people they governed. He noted that visionary leadership, coupled with the creation of credible institutions, was the bulwark of the remarkable achievements recorded in education, healthcare, infrastructure and public service during that era.

He submitted that credible elections remain the cornerstone of every democratic society, admonishing the judiciary to preserve its independence and resist every form of political manipulation, especially in election-related matters. Judges, he maintained, must remain impartial, while politicians should desist from turning the judiciary into an instrument for perpetuating corruption and electoral injustice.

The message resonated with many participants who insisted that Nigeria’s democracy can regain credibility if political leaders embrace the discipline, transparency and accountability that defined governance in the Western Region under Awolowo.

Also speaking, former Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands and chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, Dr Awolowo Dosumu, in her goodwill message to the organisers, emphasised that restoring electoral integrity is fundamental to achieving good governance, public accountability and sustaining democracy.

Dr Awolowo Dosumu described elections as the constitutional expression of the sovereignty of the people and noted that their integrity is essential to the legitimacy of governments and the stability of the nation. According to her, good governance and public accountability begin with credible elections whose outcomes inspire public confidence.

Mr Falana, SAN, in his keynote address, while concurring that the malfeasance in the electoral process has brought incalculable damage to the country, said no nation can attain meaningful development when elections fail to reflect the genuine choices of citizens. He pointed out that credible elections are indispensable to producing leaders who possess both the legitimacy and moral authority to govern effectively.

Falana identified irregularities in political party primaries, vote-buying, abuse of state resources, poverty and oppression as major factors undermining electoral integrity in Nigeria.

According to him, the country cannot achieve credible elections until political parties themselves become transparent and comply with electoral laws. He argued that electoral integrity begins with internal democracy, lamenting that many parties impose candidates despite collecting huge nomination fees from aspirants.

‘You cannot talk about electoral integrity when aspirants are prevented from participating in primaries and candidates are imposed,’ he said, warning that the absence of transparent primaries ultimately weakens democracy.

Falana further described the current political order as drifting towards plutocracy, where wealth increasingly determines political participation and outcomes.

Citing disclosures by the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, he noted allegations that some governorship aspirants spent between N20 billion and N30 billion to secure party tickets.

For the human rights lawyer, such enormous spending raises serious concerns about the integrity of the political process and the source of campaign funds. He also condemned the growing culture of vote-buying, describing it as a criminal offence that has gradually become normalised in the country.

Beyond the legal implications, Falana linked vote-buying to the worsening economic conditions confronting millions of Nigerians. Quoting figures from the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that over 133 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor, he argued that poverty has made many citizens vulnerable to inducement during elections.

According to him, electoral integrity means little to citizens struggling to meet their basic needs, as hunger often compels voters to accept financial inducements from politicians.

His remarks underscored the broader reality that democratic consolidation cannot be divorced from economic justice and social welfare.

Traditional rulers at the event also lent their voices to the conversation on electoral reforms and public accountability.

The Olowu of Owu, Oba Professor Matemilola, called on all stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political actors, security agencies, civil society organisations and the media, to work collectively towards restoring public confidence in the nation’s electoral process. The Oba submitted that democracy thrives only when citizens trust the system and believe that their votes truly count.

Similarly, the Osile of Oke-OnaEgba, Oba Tejuoso, urged political leaders to respect the rule of law and avoid actions capable of undermining electoral credibility. He highlighted the critical role of the media in promoting accountability, combating misinformation and educating citizens before, during and after elections.

The founder of Penpushing Media, Mr Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, said the organisation has remained committed to promoting journalism and stimulating national conversations on issues of public importance. The annual lecture series, according to him, reflects the media platform’s dedication to nation-building and responsible journalism.

The chairperson of the anniversary planning committee, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, explained that the theme was deliberately chosen because of its relevance as the country gradually moves towards another election cycle. She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to authentic journalism and constructive engagement on national issues.

As Nigeria continues its democratic journey, the message from Abeokuta was clear. One, the quality of governance is directly linked to the credibility of elections, and without integrity in the electoral process, accountability becomes difficult, public trust diminishes, and democracy itself is endangered.

Two, the nation stands a good chance of producing leaders who are accountable to the people and committed to national development when elections are transparent, supported by strong institutions, and citizens participate actively.

For digital entrepreneurs and e-commerce business owners, TikTok Shop is a goldmine for viral sales and unprecedented organic reach. However, the days of simply posting a catchy video and watching the sales roll in are over.

TikTok has introduced a major policy shift that is currently sending shockwaves through the e-commerce community: the mandatory 24-Hour Response Rate rule.

If you are a seller on the platform, your customer service metrics are no longer just a secondary priority; they are the very lifeblood of your store’s visibility. Failing to reply to customers promptly will now trigger serious algorithmic penalties that throttle daily sales and push products into obscurity.

Whether you are a seasoned merchant or a brand-new seller looking to scale, here is everything you need to know about this new enforcement, how the algorithm uses customer experience signals, and the exact steps you must take to protect your revenue.

Key Takeaways

Mandatory Metric: TikTok Shop now requires all sellers to maintain a strict 24-Hour Response Rate to customer inquiries.

The Warning Zone: Dropping below a 90% response rate results in a formal algorithmic warning.

Violation Points and Restrictions: Falling below 85% triggers ‘additional enforcement actions.’ This means your shop is hit with Violation Points or a reduced Account Health Rating (AHR), leading to product delistings and suspension from campaigns.

Algorithmic Demotion: Poor customer service signals the algorithm that you are overwhelmed, causing TikTok to deliberately restrict your organic traffic and lower your search rankings so you dont get more than you can handle.

Proactive Defense: Viral content is no longer enough; sellers must utilize chat automation, actively manage spam, and use ‘Holiday Mode’ to maintain their metrics and safeguard their visibility.

How the 24-Hour Response Rate Throttles Your Shop

To protect consumers and ensure a seamless shopping experience, TikTok Shop is now actively enforcing a mandatory 24-hour response time for all direct messages. From the moment a potential buyer or existing customer sends a message to your shop’s inbox, a 24-hour countdown begins.

TikTok tracks the percentage of messages you respond to within this timeframe. This metric is strictly graded, and the platform has established two thresholds that determine whether your shop thrives or gets throttled:

1. The 90% Threshold (The Warning Zone)

If your 24-hour response rate dips below 90%, your account is flagged, and you will receive a formal warning. While a warning might not immediately halt your sales, it is a massive red flag. It indicates that your account is now under strict algorithmic scrutiny. If your metrics do not improve rapidly, punishment is imminent.

2. The 85% Threshold (The Restriction Zone)

If your response rate plummets below 85%, TikTok takes immediate enforcement action against your store. Instead of a mere warning, your shop’s Account Health Rating (AHR) drops, and your product visibility is severely reduced.

This is exactly how TikTok throttles sellers. Poor metrics act as an emergency brake, triggering escalating restrictions that block your messages, freeze campaign access, or delist your items entirely. Imagine hitting a viral trend, only to have TikTok pull your product because your inbox management was slow. For a growing shop, this kills algorithmic momentum and costs thousands in lost sales.

Why the Algorithm Punishes Poor Customer Service

To succeed on TikTok Shop, you must understand how the platform’s algorithm thinks. TikTok is, first and foremost, an entertainment platform. Its ultimate goal is to keep users happy, engaged, and on the app. If users have a frustrating shopping experience-such as being ignored by a seller-they are likely to blame TikTok itself.

Because of this, the TikTok Shop algorithm relies incredibly heavily on customer experience signals to determine who gets visibility on the ‘For You’ page and in search results.

The algorithm is designed to protect the buyer. If your customer service metrics drop, the system’s logic assumes that you are receiving more orders than your current infrastructure can handle. In the eyes of the algorithm, a seller who cannot answer messages is a seller who will likely fail to ship items on time or handle returns properly.

So, the moment your response rate drops and violation points are issued, the algorithm intervenes. It deliberately limits your organic traffic, stops pushing your videos to wider audiences, and shoves your product listings far down in search rankings. You are essentially put in a ‘timeout’ until you prove you can handle the operational side of your business.

Why Creating ‘Viral Videos’ Is No Longer Enough

For years, the blueprint for TikTok e-commerce success was simple: create highly engaging videos, use trending audio, and let the algorithm do the heavy lifting. Sellers focused 90% of their energy on content creation and 10% on operations.

This new enforcement marks a profound shift in how business is done on the app. You can no longer rely solely on catchy videos to drive revenue. TikTok is maturing into a highly regulated e-commerce ecosystem similar to Amazon. The platform is demanding operational excellence. Your backend inbox management is now just as critical to your marketing strategy as the lighting, script, and editing of your promotional videos.

5 Steps to Protect Your Shop from Being Throttled

If you want to maintain your organic reach and keep your daily sales flowing, you must integrate inbox management into your daily workflow. Here are five highly effective strategies to ensure your 24-Hour Response Rate remains pristine:

1. Check Your Messages Often

This sounds incredibly simple, but it is where most sellers fail. You can no longer afford to check your TikTok Shop inbox once every few days. You need to treat your seller inbox like a priority email account. Set up dedicated times throughout the day-morning, noon, and evening-to clear out your messages. If you have a team, assign a dedicated customer service representative whose primary KPI is keeping the response time within a few hours.

2. Use Chat Automation Tools

You do not have to be awake 24/7 to maintain a perfect response rate. TikTok Shop offers features like the Customer Service Chat Assistant and AI Recommended Replies to help you automate customer service. Set up automatic replies and FAQs for common questions regarding shipping times, return policies, and product dimensions. An automated quick reply often resolves the inquiry entirely, or at least buys you time to provide a personalized, detailed answer later. (Note: If the bot cannot answer and forwards the chat to you, the 24-hour manual clock starts!)

3. Mark Spam Messages Appropriately

As your shop grows, your inbox will inevitably attract spam, promotional messages from other businesses, or bot inquiries. If you simply ignore these messages, they will count against your 24-hour response rate and drag your percentage down. You must actively monitor your inbox and use the ‘Mark as no response needed’ icon. By officially categorizing these messages as irrelevant, you tell the algorithm to exclude them from your response rate calculation, instantly protecting your metrics.

4. Activate ‘Holiday Mode’ for Extended Absences

Burnout is real in the e-commerce world, and you are entitled to take a break. However, if you disappear for a weekend or go on a vacation without telling the algorithm, your response rate will tank, and you will return to a throttled account. If you know you will be unavailable to answer messages for an extended period, you must activate Holiday Mode in your seller center. This pauses your shop’s obligations temporarily and protects your metrics from plummeting while you are away from your desk.

5. Track Your Metrics Regularly

What gets measured gets managed. Do not wait for a warning notification from TikTok to realize your customer service is slipping. Make it a daily habit to log into your TikTok Shop Seller Center and check your account health dashboard (specifically under Service Analytics > Shop Performance). By tracking your 24-Hour Response Rate regularly, you can spot downward trends before they hit the dangerous 90% threshold, allowing you to course-correct proactively before any throttling occurs.

Conclusion

TikTok Shop’s strict enforcement of the 24-Hour Response Rate is a clear signal that the platform is prioritizing the buyer experience above all else. While this may seem like a heavy burden for independent sellers, it actually presents a massive opportunity. By mastering your inbox, utilizing automation, and maintaining flawless customer service metrics, you will not only avoid violation points and product delistings, but you will also signal to the algorithm that your business is trustworthy. In the new era of TikTok e-commerce, the sellers who care for their customers behind the scenes are the ones who will continue to dominate the feed.

Scotland-based Nigerian fashion designer and Creative Director of Teeday Honts Couture, Tobilola Tonueyi, has unveiled Heritage Confluence, a debut collection that reinterprets the iconic Scottish tartan through the traditional craftsmanship of Yoruba Aso Oke weaving.

The collection, launched in Scotland, explores the shared heritage of two distinct textile traditions by focusing on their histories, symbolism and weaving techniques rather than simply combining their visual elements.

Rather than printing tartan patterns onto African fabric or stitching the two textiles together, Tonueyi recreated the familiar tartan checks directly on the loom using centuries-old Yoruba Aso Oke weaving techniques. The result is fabric that resembles classic Scottish tartan at first glance but reveals the raised texture and handwoven structure unique to Aso Oke upon closer inspection.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the collection, Tonueyi said Heritage Confluence was conceived as a conversation between cultures rather than an attempt to replace one tradition with another.

‘I wanted people to see that cultural exchange does not require cultural compromise. Each textile has its own story, identity and dignity,’ she said.

The collection features relaxed trousers, tailored waistcoats and coordinated separates with minimalist silhouettes designed to place emphasis on the handwoven textiles. A standout tailored waistcoat showcases the geometric precision of the tartan-inspired weave while highlighting the structural elegance of the garment.

Beyond the finished pieces, visitors were also given an insight into the creative process through an exhibition of woven fabric samples and textile developments, demonstrating the extensive research and craftsmanship involved in producing the collection. The display underscored that the tartan-inspired motifs were created through weaving rather than surface printing or embellishment.

The unveiling attracted representatives from OneRen, Paisley Museum, Miss Africa Scotland and fashion schools across Glasgow, positioning Heritage Confluence as a notable addition to Scotland’s creative and cultural calendar.

Among the guests was Miss Africa Scotland co-founder, Kemi Komolafe, who commended the authenticity of the concept.

‘What stood out was that the two traditions had not simply been placed together for effect. The tartan remained recognisable, but the weaving gave it a different character. It felt like a genuine exchange between the cultures rather than one being used to decorate the other,’ she said.

By weaving Scottish tartan aesthetics into the structure of Yoruba Aso Oke rather than layering one tradition over the other, Tonueyi’s Heritage Confluence offers a fresh perspective on contemporary fashion, demonstrating how craftsmanship, research and mutual respect can foster meaningful cultural exchange.

The Zamfara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nafisa Mohammed Maradun, has assured residents that the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) vaccine is safe and free, saying that 1.2 million children are targeted for this year’s vaccination exercise in the state.

This was disclosed on Saturday in Gusau during a press briefing on the state government’s preparedness for the SMC exercise.

Dr. Nafisa Maradun, represented by the SMC State Coordinator, Sani Aliyu, explained that over 11,000 ad hoc staff had been engaged for the exercise, including community leaders, supervisors, and personnel administering the vaccine across the state.

‘Over 500 government facilities are to be used during the exercise across the 14 local government areas of the state.

According to him, the state government recorded significant progress during last year’s exercise, with 1.050 million children vaccinated across the state.

Also speaking, the Zamfara State Chairman, Advocacy on Malaria, Dr. Bashir, assured that no child would be left behind despite the insecurity in the state.

‘This time around, we have made adequate arrangements to ensure the success of the exercise. It is going to be house-to-house, with close supervision. No child should be missed,’ he assured.