Category: PM News

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has clarified that both the standard N100 note and the commemorative N100 note are still legal tender and must be accepted for all transactions across the country.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, the apex bank said it had received reports that some individuals and businesses were refusing to accept the standard N100 note because they believed it was no longer valid.

The CBN explained that the commemorative N100 note, which was introduced in 2014 to mark Nigeria’s centenary celebration, did not replace the regular N100 note. According to the bank, both versions remain valid and can be used for payments nationwide.

The bank stressed that rejecting the standard N100 note is against the provisions of the CBN Act and warned that appropriate sanctions could be imposed on individuals, businesses, financial institutions, or any organisation found engaging in such practices.

The CBN reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the value and integrity of the naira while ensuring smooth circulation of all officially issued banknotes.

It urged Nigerians to continue accepting and using all valid banknotes issued by the bank and advised members of the public to seek clarification through its official communication channels whenever necessary.

The commemorative N100 note was unveiled by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014 to celebrate 100 years since Nigeria’s amalgamation.

The clarification comes years after the CBN redesigned the N200, N500 and N1,000 notes as part of efforts to improve currency management and help security agencies tackle illegal financial activities.

In 2023, the apex bank also directed all its branches to continue accepting and issuing both old and redesigned naira notes through deposit money banks across the country.

The Global Climbing Initiative has opened applications for its Economic Development Grants 2026 programme, offering funding of up to $2,000 for community-led climbing projects that promote sustainable economic growth.

The grant is designed to support initiatives that create jobs, boost tourism, strengthen local businesses and expand climbing-related economic opportunities. Eligible projects must be located outside the continental United States or be led by Indigenous communities within the United States.

According to the organisers, the programme aims to use climbing as a catalyst for economic development by helping communities build sustainable income sources and long-term economic resilience.

The initiative seeks to support projects that generate local employment, promote responsible climbing tourism, encourage entrepreneurship, strengthen local climbing organisations and align with community development priorities.

Successful applicants can receive grants of up to $2,000, with approved projects expected to be implemented within a six-month period.

Eligible projects include guide training and certification programmes, development of local climbing guide businesses, community climbing festivals that stimulate economic activity, workforce development and skills training, climbing instructor training, social enterprises connected to climbing, sustainable tourism initiatives and projects that create employment opportunities.

Applicants must demonstrate measurable economic benefits, community leadership and a clear connection to indoor or outdoor climbing activities.

The programme is open to local climbing organisations with proven climbing-related impact and local leaders representing such organisations. Projects must be community-led, support sustainable local development and show clear economic outcomes.

Organisers said projects unrelated to climbing, lacking community leadership or failing to demonstrate economic impact will not be considered.

Applications will be assessed based on community leadership, economic impact, sustainability, local ownership, feasibility and long-term benefits to the community.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to develop projects that create measurable employment or business opportunities, strengthen local organisations and provide lasting economic benefits beyond the grant period.

The application deadline is July 24, 2026. Applicants are required to submit project objectives, implementation plans, budgets, expected economic outcomes and details of their organisational experience.

The Global Climbing Initiative said the programme is intended to help communities unlock the economic potential of climbing through locally driven and sustainable development efforts.

Aichatou and Asiya, two of the wives of former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai on Tuesday appealed to President Bola Tinubu to end what they described as ‘psychological warfare’ against their family.

The wives said this on Thursday while reacting to the arrest of Professor Bello Abubakar, the personal physician to El-Rufai by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

ICPC had in a statement by its spokesperson, John Odey, claimed the physician was arrested over alleged abuse of a court-approved medical visit.

Odey said that El-Rufai’s personal physician was arrested because he made false statements in connection with a court-approved medical visit.

According to him, while the visit was granted to El-Rufai at the private wing of the National Hospital, Abuja, the former governor used the opportunity to hold political meeting.

Odey said this was confirmed by photos later posted online by a political associate, Isa Kudan, showing El-Rufai having meeting with Prof. Abubakar and others at the same time.

ICPC this indicated the medical visit was used for activities outside the scope approved by the court, which the Commission described as an abuse of its goodwill and a violation of the court order.

The Commission added that Abubakar had been taken into custody for making false statements and for further investigation.

But speaking on behalf of the family, the wives of El-Rufai told journalists that their appeal to the President was to ensure that their husband enjoined the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian, including access to medical care, his family members, lawyers and bail on reasonable terms.

Asiya who spoke on behalf of the family said they are not demanding interference of the President in the ongoing prosecution of the former governor.

She also recalled the role she and her husband played during Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign.

‘Mr. President sir, I campaigned for you. I stood up and went to every nook and cranny of Kaduna state for you. My husband stood by your side. Is this what our family deserves?’ she asked.

‘The ball is in your court, Mr. President. All these can stop if you say a word. We believe that you are a father and we know you can empathise,’ she said.

‘Please let him go free. I am not asking you to tell them not to prosecute him, but we are asking you to allow him the basic human rights that the constitution you swore to uphold and defend guarantees,’ she said.

‘Let them give him the bail that he can afford. If he is guilty, let the court decide; if he is innocent, let the court decide.’

According to the family, the restrictions imposed on El-Rufai in ICPC custody have made it difficult for him to prepare his defence.

‘We do not shy away from defending ourselves, but we want a fair trial. We want an opportunity to be heard.

‘Mallam cannot adequately prepare for his defence while he remains in custody and has limited access to his lawyers.’

She said El-Rufai shuld be granted bail on conditions he can reasonably meet pending the conclusion of his trial.

‘We are only asking that he be given the basic human rights guaranteed by the constitution. Let him be granted bail on reasonable terms. If he is guilty, let the court decide. If he is innocent, let the court also decide,’ she added.

Asiya also claimed that the family of the former governor has been living in fear about what may happened to him in custody of ICPC because of his medical condition.

She claimed that despite having high blood pressure and sugar levels, the former governor has been denied access to adequate medical care.

This, she said, has left the family traumatised.

‘We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up and hear some bad news,’ she said.

‘I honestly think that what they are doing is more about psychological warfare against Mallam and against his family.

‘If they humiliate us, dehumanise us and put us in constant fear, they feel that affects Mallam.’

Asiya also claimed that the decision to deny her husband access to his doctor by ICPC resulted from orders from the above.

‘We were told that orders from ‘above’ said Professor Bello Abubakar cannot have access to anybody for 24 hours. Who is the ‘above’?’ she queried.

She added that relatives are also being denied access to the former governor.

Asiya also called for probe of a medical report purportedly issued by the National Hospital Abuja which was recently used to deny their husband bail by a Kaduna High Court.

According to her, the document and the circumstances surrounding its issuance should be investigated through the consultant whose name appeared on it.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) had earlier claimed that El-Rufai was denied access to medical care by officials of in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.

The party said El-Rufai was taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical attention but was returned to custody despite recommendation by doctors that he should be admitted.

The party also said protests by El-Rufai’s wife and personal physician led to a confrontation during which his wife was assaulted and the doctor arrested.

A new group exhibition opens in Lagos, presenting a bold convergence of artistic perspectives across multimedia practice.

Reflection, a multimedia exhibition comprising seven of Nigeria’s most intriguing emerging and mid-career artists, opens at One Art Gallery in Lagos. The show will run for two weeks, from July 4 to July 17, 2026.

The exhibition, which debuted on July 4 at 2/5 Idowu Ajao Street, Ajao Estate, Anthony Village, Lagos, is expected to be one of the gallery’s most significant group exhibitions to date.

The term ‘Reflection’ carries considerable weight. It invites both the artist and the audience to pause and look again, exploring what lies beneath the surface of a picture, an object, or a moment. As a multimedia showcase, the exhibition embraces that proposition by bringing together practitioners from a variety of media and disciplines, each contributing a distinct visual language to a shared conversation about identity, perception, memory, and the world as seen and reimagined through the artistic lens.

One Art Gallery has established itself as one of Lagos’ most important spaces for contemporary Nigerian art, presenting thoughtful and intellectually engaging work by artists whose practices are rooted in cultural inquiry and visual innovation. Its programming consistently supports artists who are expanding the boundaries of contemporary Nigerian art, and Reflection is no exception.

Located in the heart of Anthony Village, the gallery’s Ajao Estate venue has become an accessible, community-rooted cultural destination, attracting both seasoned art enthusiasts and first-time visitors.

Reflection brings together seven exhibiting artists: Hycenth David, Wisdom Madunacho, Darlington Raymond, Moses Oyeleye, Samuel Joseph, Christopher Ohia, and Oluwapelumi Fagbemi. Across their collective practices, the exhibition spans painting, photography, digital art, and mixed media, creating a truly multimedia programme that offers visitors multiple entry points into the exhibition’s central themes.

Among the exhibiting artists, Madunacho Onyedikachi Wisdom brings a practice of particular depth and international recognition to the Lagos stage. A Nigerian artist currently based in the United Kingdom, Madunacho works primarily in fine art photography, using the medium not simply to document but to excavate-to recover memory, preserve cultural heritage, and explore the quiet yet enduring ways identity is carried across time and geography.

His work is deeply rooted in his Igbo upbringing. His photographic series-including ?m? Ada, Njirimara, Nkw? (Palm Tree), and Ije (Journey)-approach their subjects with remarkable stillness and compositional precision, transforming photographs into works that function as portraiture, testimony, and cultural archive.

Through careful attention to people, objects, and landscapes, he explores themes of migration, belonging, and cultural continuity, questioning what it means to carry one’s heritage across borders into places where it may not always be recognised or understood.

His contribution to Reflection is especially fitting given the exhibition’s title. Photography is, in many ways, an act of reflection-capturing a surface exposed to the world while revealing not only what is seen but also what the photographer chooses to see. In Madunacho’s hands, that reflective surface becomes a repository of cultural memory where the traditions of his Igbo childhood are preserved, honoured, and made visible.

Reflection is the kind of exhibition that rewards patience and close attention. With seven artists working across multiple disciplines and media, it offers a breadth of perspective that a solo exhibition cannot provide. It becomes an ongoing dialogue between different ways of seeing, creating, and understanding what it means to be an artist in contemporary Nigeria.

For the next two weeks, One Art Gallery provides the space for that dialogue to unfold. The exhibition invites Lagos’ arts community-and anyone who encounters it-to pause, observe, and reflect.

Reflection runs from July 4 to July 17, 2026, at One Art Gallery, 2/5 Idowu Ajao Street, Ajao Estate, Anthony Village, Lagos.

The Federal Government has commenced construction of 100 Renewed Hope Housing Units, tagged Tinubu Estate, in each local government area to support vulnerable persons, including victims of insecurity.

Mr Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Enlightenment has revealed this in Kano on Tuesday.

He spoke during an inspection visit to Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Renewed Hope City project in Janguza, Kano.

The presidential aide said the project was already underway and designed to provide succour to vulnerable Nigerians.

‘Apart from this phase 1 and 2 of the Renewed Hope City project, there are also 100 housing units per local government, which have commenced as ‘Tinubu Estate.’

‘They are targeted at vulnerable groups, especially victims of insecurity and other disadvantaged persons in the society.

‘And this is being done across all local governments in Nigeria as we speak,’ he said.

On the Renewed Hope City project, Abdulaziz said it was designed to address the country’s huge housing deficit.

‘This is an effort by the President Bola Tinubu administration to reduce Nigeria’s housing deficit and also provide affordable housing for workers and other Nigerians.

‘Already, people are patronising the project and allocations have been made.

‘These are part of the sustainable projects the Tinubu administration is undertaking to support vulnerable Nigerians and address national challenges,’ Abdulaziz said.

Also speaking, the Project Manager, Builder, Awe Augustine-Babatunde, said Phase 1 of the Renewed Hope City, comprising 325 housing units, had been completed, while Phase 2, with 698 housing units, would be ready by next month, August.

He said work at the site had reached 75 per cent completion, with about 426 housing units already constructed.

He added that the project included provisions for road networks, a school, a clinic, and a playground, among other facilities, to make it habitable for prospective occupants.

The Nigerian Senate has said the executive should explain how the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a budget line.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, said this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

Adaramodu also said the Senate will not intervene in the controversies over existence of the PFIPC with one Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi claiming to be its Director-General.

According to him, the controversy over the inclusion of the fake agency in the Appropriation Act should be sorted out by the executive where it emanated from.

He said the Senate would not probe PFIPC because it has not received any petition to intervene in the alleged fake agency headed by Adeyemi.

Responding to the position of the senate on the raging controversy, Adaramodu lawmakers would not interfere on the matter at the moment.

He admitted, as reported in the media, that the alleged fake agency had budget line in the 2026 Appropriation Act, saying that the controversy should be sorted out by the executive where it emanated from.

Adaramodu, however, said that that given the fact that the controversy had become a matter of litigation, the senate, in line with its rules, would not interfere in it.

‘The allegations and counter-allegations over fake agency and fake director-general are all within the executive and should be sorted out by it.

‘Specifically, it is between the office of the Chief of Staff and the alleged fake DG.

‘The budget line being referred to was not created or inserted by the National Assembly and it is not the duty of the senate or the House of Representatives to carry out security checks on those supposedly appointed to head the various MDAs.

‘If the alleged fake DG were to be one of the presidential appointees screened and confirmed by the senate, the controversy might have been perceived to be somewhat linked to us.

‘However, if a petition is sent to the senate by any of the feuding parties or any concerned Nigerian on the existence or non-existence of the agency or the DG, it will be legislatively looked into,’ he said.

Recall that the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, had denied knowledge of the agency and the so-called director-general.

President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday also directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the fictitious PFIPC.

The president also directed the commission to conclude the investigation and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days.

This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The directive followed the discovery that the PFIPC was never established by the Federal Government and had no legal backing, presidential approval or executive authorisation.

Tinubu said the probe should extend beyond the principal suspect to identify all collaborators and those who may have facilitated the alleged scheme.

The President said anyone found culpable at the conclusion of the investigation should be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.

Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has pledged to strengthen environmental conservation and climate action following his emergence as President of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).

Osinbajo made the pledge on Wednesday while delivering his acceptance speech at the Foundation’s 37th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos.

He paid tribute to the founding fathers of the NCF, particularly its President Emeritus, Chief Philip Asiodu, for their foresight in promoting environmental conservation decades before climate change became a global concern.

The former vice president also acknowledged the contributions of the late Chief S.L. Edu and other founding trustees, saying their vision laid the foundation for Nigeria’s environmental conservation movement.

According to him, the founders recognised the importance of biodiversity conservation long before climate change gained global prominence.

‘They deserve our commendation and gratitude because, but for their vision, Nigeria would not have had the strong foundation it has today for climate action,’ he said.

Osinbajo said the effects of climate change had become increasingly evident across Nigeria through flooding and rising temperatures.

He noted that parts of Europe were experiencing temperatures of between 38 and 41 degrees Celsius, underscoring the urgency of collective climate action.

‘There is no question that we are living in the most challenging times with respect to climate change,’ he said.

He, however, expressed optimism that advances in technology, innovation and scientific knowledge would provide opportunities to tackle environmental challenges more effectively.

According to him, Nigeria has the tools required to make significant progress in biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability.

Osinbajo described the NCF as Nigeria’s foremost non-governmental organisation dedicated to environmental conservation and climate action.

He commended the Foundation’s trustees, members, management, staff, volunteers and development partners for sustaining its conservation programmes over the years.

Accepting his new responsibility, Osinbajo pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessors and deepen collaboration with stakeholders.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday constituted an ad hoc committee, to be chaired by Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC, Plateau), to investigate how more than ?1.3 billion was reportedly allocated in the 2026 federal budget to the alleged non-existent Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The committee is expected to trace the disputed allocation from the Executive’s budget proposal through the legislative process, identify the stage at which it was introduced, determine how existing scrutiny mechanisms failed to detect it, and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in future appropriation exercises.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Gagdi, who warned that the controversy surrounding the PFIPC had exposed serious weaknesses in Nigeria’s budget preparation and verification process.

Leading the debate, Gagdi said the ease with which the alleged agency gained official recognition pointed to systemic failures that could allow other fictitious organisations to find their way into government budgets.

‘The ease with which a single unestablished entity processed through official channels suggests a systemic vulnerability rather than an isolated administrative lapse,’ Gagdi said.

He noted that although the entity reportedly operated from the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Abuja, between November 2024 and October 2025 and interacted with several government institutions, the Federal Government has since declared that no such agency was ever lawfully established.

According to him, allegations of forgery and impersonation involving the organisation are already the subject of investigations and criminal proceedings before the Federal High Court in Abuja, stressing that the House probe would focus solely on the budgetary process and institutional failures that enabled the agency to appear in the appropriation framework.

Gagdi further stated that records of the National Assembly showed no law establishing the PFIPC. He explained that the organisation allegedly relied on a document claiming to be codified as ‘Chapter N2117, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria’, whereas no such legislation exists.

He added that the nearest existing law is the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Act, making the purported legal instrument ‘manifestly false’ when compared with official statutory records.

The lawmaker questioned how an entity without any legal instrument of establishment could secure a budgetary provision exceeding ?1.3 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Framework.

He said the House must determine whether the allocation originated from the Executive’s budget proposal or was introduced during legislative consideration, and identify the exact stage at which the safeguards in the appropriation process failed.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated the ad hoc committee to invite the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation to explain the verification procedures applied before new entities are admitted into the federal budget.

The committee is also expected to verify all ministries, departments, agencies and government bodies captured in the 2025 and 2026 Appropriation Frameworks against their legal instruments of establishment and receive briefings from relevant security and anti-corruption agencies.

The House directed the committee to report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

Lawmakers also requested the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to confirm that no funds have been released, and that no payment warrants would be honoured, in respect of any budget provision linked to the PFIPC pending the conclusion of investigations.

In addition, the House resolved that the Budget Office should, ahead of every Appropriation Bill, submit a comprehensive list of all ministries, departments, agencies and other bodies proposed for funding, together with the legal instruments establishing them, to ensure that no unverified entity is admitted into future federal budgets.

Supporting the motion, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu recounted how he personally met representatives of the disputed organisation after receiving what appeared to be an official communication bearing the Presidency’s insignia, a Federal Secretariat address and a government domain name.

According to him, his office verified the address before granting the delegation an audience, but he became suspicious when the visitors abandoned the policy issues contained in their correspondence and appeared more interested in taking photographs.

Kalu said the incident demonstrated that official symbols alone could no longer be relied upon as proof of an agency’s authenticity and urged the committee to uncover how the organisation secured office accommodation and gained access to senior government officials.

The investigation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the alleged PFIPC, which the Presidency has disowned while anti-corruption agencies continue investigations into its activities and the circumstances surrounding its appearance in the 2026 federal budget.

Four African cities have been listed among the 10 lowest-ranked cities in the world in the 2026 Global Liveability Index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

The report assessed 173 cities across the world based on five key areas: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

The rankings measure how comfortable and suitable cities are for everyday living.

The African cities that made the bottom 10 list are Harare in Zimbabwe, Lagos in Nigeria, Algiers in Algeria, and Tripoli in Libya.

Tripoli was ranked as the lowest-rated city in Africa and the second-worst city globally. The Libyan capital placed 172nd out of 173 cities with an overall score of 41 out of 100. Only Damascus in Syria ranked lower.

Harare ranked 165th with a score of 45. The city performed relatively well in education, scoring 67, but its healthcare score of 33 affected its overall ranking.

Lagos came in 168th position with a score of 44.

The city received a low stability score of 30 and a healthcare score of 38. However, it recorded a better performance in infrastructure with a score of 54.

Algiers ranked 169th with an overall score of 43. While the city scored 54 in healthcare, its infrastructure score of 30 contributed to its low ranking.

According to the report, factors such as armed conflicts, political instability, economic challenges, and poor infrastructure continue to affect the quality of life in many cities around the world.

The report noted that Tripoli’s low ranking reflects the impact of years of conflict and instability. Lagos and Harare continue to face challenges linked to rapid population growth, pressure on public services, and inadequate infrastructure.

Algiers recorded mixed results, with stronger healthcare services but weaker infrastructure.

Other cities in the bottom 10 include Tehran in Iran, Kyiv in Ukraine, Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, Karachi in Pakistan, and Dhaka in Bangladesh. Damascus in Syria ranked last among all 173 cities.

The EIU Global Liveability Index is widely used by governments, businesses, and international organizations to assess living conditions in major cities.

It considers factors such as safety, healthcare, education, culture, and infrastructure when evaluating the quality of life in urban areas.

President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have called for patriotism, accountability and inclusive partnerships to accelerate Nigeria’s sustainable development.

They stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the government and civil society and community-based organisations.

President Tinubu made the appeal during the National Summit of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) held in Lagos on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, the President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, described the theme of the summit, ‘Nigeria First and Sustainable Development’, as both timely and significant.

President Tinubu stressed that national interest must remain the guiding principle for policies, partnerships and public investments.

He said the ‘Nigeria First’ philosophy does not imply isolationism but rather a commitment to ensuring that every government policy and development initiative prioritises the welfare of Nigerians while promoting inclusive, climate-resilient and future-focused development through purposeful leadership.

The President noted that the summit aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on economic reforms, national security, food security, infrastructure development, improved healthcare and education, industrialisation, and effective governance.

He identified agriculture, the blue economy, renewable energy and environmental sustainability as key sectors where stronger partnerships between government and civil society could drive economic growth and improve livelihoods.

While reaffirming the government’s commitment to working with civil society across the federation, President Tinubu cautioned organisations against undue foreign influence, urging them to ensure that national interest remains the overriding consideration in accepting external funding.

Nigeria First is more than a slogan. It is a call to every citizen, every leader and every institution to place the collective destiny of our nation above narrow considerations of ethnicity, religion, region or partisanship,’ he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu maintained that civil society organisations remain indispensable partners in democratic governance, serving as the bridge between government and citizens while promoting accountability, transparency, electoral integrity, community health, gender equality and good governance.

He, however, urged civil society leaders to ensure that their advocacy remains factual, constructive and patriotic.

‘The privilege of holding the government accountable comes with a corresponding duty to be constructive, factual, fair and patriotic. Advocacy that inflames division rather than heals it betrays the very communities it seeks to serve,’ he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted Lagos State’s long standing collaboration with civil society, noting that his administration has institutionalised citizen engagement through open budget processes, town hall meetings and consultations with CSOs and CBOs on education, healthcare, transportation, environmental protection and social welfare.

The Governor said policies developed in partnership with citizens are more sustainable than those imposed without public participation.

Addressing the nation’s economic and security challenges, Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed confidence in Nigeria’s resilience, citing its youthful population, entrepreneurial spirit, abundant natural resources and over 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance as reasons for optimism.

Speaking earlier, the National Convener of the summit, Hon. Kunle Yusuf, said the Civil Society Organisations platform serves as the coordinating body for accredited civil society organisations across Nigeria.

He disclosed that the platform currently has about 6,000 registered CSOs, CBOs and NGOs, with thousands actively implementing programmes aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Yusuf said the summit focuses on five critical areas: national unity, peace and security; food security and sustainable agriculture; climate action and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals; democratic governance, judicial independence and institutional reforms; and strategic information management and public communication.

He called on civil society organisations to combat misinformation by ensuring that only verified and credible information is disseminated to the public.

The National Convener further encouraged CSOs to deepen collaboration with community-based organisations across Nigeria’s local governments and recommit themselves to promoting national unity, democratic values and sustainable development