Category: The Nation – Nigeria

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Abuja after a week away in Rome, the capital of Italy, where he had taken part in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government meeting.

President Tinubu, whose aircraft touched down at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 7:30pm, had participated in the high-level meeting aimed at strengthening regional and international collaboration in combating terrorism and violent extremism, with special focus on West Africa.

The meeting was hosted at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rome.

The Aqaba Process, launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, is co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Government of Italy.

Since its inception, it has convened 33 meetings across different levels, from technical expert sessions to summits of Heads of State and Government, with its agenda built around prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in counterterrorism efforts.

The Rome session was attended by several world leaders, including King Abdullah II, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Algeria’s Upper House President, Azouz Nasri, as well as delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan, joined the deliberations, which were held behind closed doors.

On the sidelines of the conference, President Tinubu held a series of bilateral meetings-first with Prime Minister Meloni on enhancing Nigeria-Italy economic and security cooperation; then with Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump on Arab and African Affairs, who reaffirmed Washington’s support for Nigeria’s efforts to resolve internal conflicts and fight terrorism.

The Nigerian leader also met privately with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, where discussions centred on promoting religious harmony and addressing disinformation campaigns that falsely portray Nigeria as intolerant of faith diversity.

President Tinubu was received on arrival by senior government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.

The Institute of Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Management and Administration (IEAMA) has unveiled its flagship initiative, Finance Meet Entrepreneur 2025, designed to connect small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) with financial institutions, with the aim of boosting economic growth across Nigeria.

The programme officially launched at an inaugural event held in Lagos, where IEAMA also inducted new members and highlighted the vital role microfinance banks play in empowering entrepreneurs and combating poverty nationwide.

Speaking at the event, IEAMA’s Acting Registrar, Jerry Ibeh, emphasised the institute’s mission to professionalise entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

He noted that a key focus is the formalisation of the traditional Igbo apprenticeship model, IgbaBoy, which has contributed significantly to the growth of the informal sector.

‘We are working towards professionalising entrepreneurship, starting with the IgboBoys system practiced in Igbo land. When you assess Nigeria’s economy, it’s clear that this group is driving significant growth,’ Ibeh said.

He further explained that IEAMA acts as a bridge between entrepreneurs and financial institutions, ensuring that loans are properly utilised.

‘There are financial institutions partnering with us to empower entrepreneurs after they acquire skills. We follow up to ensure that if someone borrows 20 naira, it is spent on the intended purpose,’ he added.

IEAMA has also partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to train corps members in practical entrepreneurial skills.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Adebosin Gbadebo, Acting Provost of the Lagos State Cooperative College, underscored the importance of SMEs to the Nigerian economy.

He noted that SMEs make up about 96% of businesses in the country and contribute roughly 40% to the gross domestic product (GDP).

‘Without access to finance, no business can thrive. Nigeria’s economy largely depends on the activities of SMEs,’ Gbadebo said, adding that as of 2025, more than 800 microfinance banks are operational across the country.

He also classified businesses into four main categories: nano enterprises with annual revenues below N3 million; micro businesses generating between N3 million and N5 million; small enterprises with turnover up to N29 million; and medium businesses employing up to 200 staff.

Among those decorated with IEAMA’s doctorate was Dr. Edwin Ashibudike Nwabaku, a pastor and businessman who said the programme deepened his understanding of entrepreneurship.

Nwabaku said he plans to integrate IEAMA programs into his church’s empowerment initiatives.

The uproar over the exercise of the President’s Prerogative of Mercy is yet to die down. Many in the legal community and the politically aware have raised objection to the rather large number of those convicted for drug-related offences and the case of Maryam Sanda who murdered her husband and got sentenced to death by hanging. While no one could query the President for complying with the constitution by receiving recommendation by a panel for the purpose and duly passing same to the Council of State for approval, the feedback from the public is quite helpful.

The task of public review of policies has been left to the government and a few activists for too long. As long as we practice democracy, the people must be at the centre of all government activities and all decisions should be subjected to intense scrutiny, despite the fact that some could do so from narrow subjective angles. While, in this case, the government could be commended for listening to the public outcry, it must be said, too, that any institution of state saddled with such and similar responsibilities should be more thorough before coming up with its recommendations.

It would appear that due diligence was not exercised in this process. Before the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), appended his signature to the list and passed it to the President, he ought to have done a thorough review. It is expected that the recommendations would be accompanied case-by- case with reasons for the advice. Had this been done, when the criticisms mounted, they would have been met with acceptable explanations, rather than capitulation.

We hope that the attorney-general who assumed the office as a learned silk would take time to personally review the final list after it might have been compiled by his subordinates. And, it should be realised that passing a list that had not been vetted to the President is an embarrassment, especially when the Council of State had to approve. Now that it is being further reviewed, should the improved list be re-presented? Everything that has the imprimatur of the President should have the mark of near perfection.

For the avoidance of doubt, the law that empowers the President to grant pardon does not limit him in anyway. He could grant a hardened criminal, a political prisoner or anyone long gone, especially in cases where injustice is established in the process of conviction and or sentencing. What we are saying is that presidential pardons are usually controversial, even in advanced countries.

In the United States of America, President Joe Biden, in 2024, just before his tenure expired, elected to pardon 39 persons and commuted the sentences of about 1,500 others. One prominent name on the list was Hunter Biden, his son. The convicts were those jailed for non-violent crimes. Each case had a short description of how and why the pardoned got their sentences and reasons for the pardon.

Biden’s successor, Donald Trump, who had been indicted for inciting his supporters to invade Congress on January 6, 2021, got all the convicts pardoned. This generated public uproar but it had little effect because the President acted within his constitutional powers.

In Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari granted clemency to former Governors Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, and Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, who were convicted for corrupt enrichment. The reasons given were found even more ridiculous. Claiming that both were ill and getting old did not cut an ice with the public who argued that there were more persons in jail who had no access to appropriate medical care and were older, yet did not catch the attention of the President.

With regard to Herbert Macaulay, a foremost nationalist who was also pardoned but whose family felt he should not have been lumped with ”all manner of characters”, the Federal Government may want to consider the family’s request for a separate pardon for him in the coming review of the list. This is notwithstanding the argument in some quarters that Macaulay’s sentence was under colonial laws and therefore irrelevant; the optics is good.

To formally cleanse such an iconic figure of any possible stain is commendable. Indeed, it would not be out of place to now follow the presidential pardon with the conferment of the nation’s highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, on him.

We call on the state and federal chief executives to constructively use their prerogative of mercy to free as many deserving persons awaiting trial in the various correctional centres in the country. The congestion that has formed the crux of eyebrows of managing criminal justice in the country should receive more than the occasional pardons. Since correctional centres were moved from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent, state governments have been reluctant to take up the responsibility. This should change.

The attorney-general of the federation, must now ensure that the chapter on the list just released is closed as soon as possible. It helps to assure Nigerians that the engine driving management of the justice system is still working effectively.

For the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Nigeria’s economy has weathered global headwinds from trade tariffs, oil prices decline, prolonged financial markets uncertainty. It hinged the success of the economy turning the corner to economic reforms instituted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, explained how the turnaround came. He said there were strategic efforts taken by both monetary and fiscal authorities that provided strong buffers for the economy and triggered IMF growth revisions for the country.

Speaking during the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four (G-24) press briefing at the 2025 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, US, the CBN said that Nigeria’s economy has been fully restructured and resilient, with huge buffers against global risks.

Cardoso, who is the leader of the Nigeria delegation at the meetings, said the naira, has equally emerged as a competitive currency, with the economy witnessing positive trade balances and large businesses moving from imports to export of locally produced goods and commodities.

On the impact of the trade tariffs on the domestic economy, he said the tariffs are less of problems for the country.

‘And I think we were very fortunate, because a lot of the things that were needed to have been done, we did them much earlier, and as a result of that, we’re able to create resilience and buffers against potential shocks,’ he stated.

‘And for us again, oil is basically the only commodity that was so exposed to the tariffs, and the impact of that was relatively modest. We now have a more competitive currency with the results that, for once, we have a situation where we have a positive balance of trade surplus, and we expect it to be six per cent in GDP for some time,’ he said.

‘So basically, what is happening is a complete restructuring of the economy, where we are encouraging people to go into domestic production, and, of course, discouraging imports,’ he added.

Cardoso explained that oil was the oil commodity that was exposed to the trade tariffs, but the impact was equally modest.

‘So, and of course, in terms of anchoring expectations, we found that those who followed the Nigerian economy were fairly comfortable. And for us, again, oil is basically the only commodity that was so exposed, and the impact of that was relatively modest,’ he said.

In his remarks, G-24 Chairman, Pablo Quirno noted that recent adverse shocks in global economy have left growth below pre-pandemic levels, with rising policy uncertainties creating substantial medium-term headwinds.

‘Emerging market and developing economies have faced deteriorating terms of trade, reduced export volumes, and declining foreign currency earnings. Many of these countries have implemented domestic policies to mitigate uncertainty, but constrained policy space underscores the urgent need for collective solutions supported by multilateral institutions,’ he said.

Nigeria’s revised growth for 2025, 2026

The IMF also gave a positive growth forecast of 3.9 per cent to Nigeria in 2025, and 4.1 per cent in 2026.

In its World Economic Outlook (WEO) report for October 2025 , the IMF Economic Counsellor Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, said the Fund based its outlook for Nigeria on several improving macroeconomic indicators and supportive domestic factors.

He said factor responsible for the higher growth revision include improved oil production, rising investor confidence, a supportive fiscal stance, and given its limited exposure to higher US tariffs.According to him, the Fund also listed the stability in the exchange rate, rising foreign reserves and rebasing of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as significant factors expected to propel the Nigeria economy forward in 2026.

Aside Nigeria, many other economies see significant downward revisions because of the changing international trade and official aid landscape.

‘Whereas growth in Nigeria is revised upward on account of supportive domestic factors, including higher oil production, improved investor confidence, a supportive fiscal stance in 2026, and given its limited exposure to higher US tariffs, many other economies see significant downward revisions because of the changing international trade and official aid landscape,’ he said.

He said that the 10 to 12 per cent weakening of the dollar has helped financial conditions in many emerging market economies, especially countries that have dollar denominated debt. He added that local currency recovery and dip in inflation figures have also been supported by weakening dollar.

‘The depreciation of the dollar also helps a number of these countries on inflation front, because a lot of goods are invoiced in those dollars, and so the pricing dollar remains constant, but the dollar itself is weaker. This helps to reduce input prices, and lead to drop in inflation,’ he said.

IMF Deputy Director in the Research Department, Petya Koeva Brooks, said that many low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa benefited from preferential access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which expired in September.

She explained that in sub-Saharan Africa, growth is expected to remain subdued, unchanged in 2025 from 4.1 percent in 2024, before picking up to 4.4 percent in 2026.

‘This is an upward revision relative to the April 2025 WEO forecast by a cumulative 0.5 percentage point, but a downward revision of 0.1 percentage point compared with the October 2024 WEO,’ she said.

According to the WEO report, the global economy is adjusting to a landscape reshaped by new policy measures.

It projected global economy growth to slow from 3.3 per cent in 2024 to 3.2 percent in 2025 and 3.1 percent in 2026, with advanced economies growing around 1.5 percent and emerging market and developing economies just above 4 percent.

It said that some extremes of higher tariffs were tempered, due to subsequent deals and resets.

‘But the overall environment remains volatile, and temporary factors that supported activity in the first half of 2025-such as front-loading-are fading. As a result, global growth projections in the latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) are revised upward relative to the April 2025 WEO but continue to mark a downward revision relative to the pre-policy-shift forecasts,’ the report said.

Likewise, inflation is projected to continue to decline globally, though with variation across countries: above target in the United States-with risks tilted to the upside-and subdued elsewhere.

‘Trade diplomacy should be paired with macroeconomic adjustment. Fiscal buffers should be rebuilt. Central bank independence should be preserved. Efforts on structural reforms should be redoubled.’

‘The tactics that keep activity seemingly resilient in the short term, such as trade diversion and rerouting, are costly. Suboptimal reallocation of productive resources, technological decoupling, and limitations on knowledge diffusion are bound to restrain growth over the longer term,’ it said.

The Fund said the global economy has shown resilience to the trade policy shocks, including because these shocks materialised on a smaller scale than expected at their onset, but the drag from shifting policies is becoming visible in more recent data. There have been several common drivers of growth patterns across countries but also some important idiosyncratic factors.

How it started

Speaking at the Lagos Business School leadership programme in Lagos, Cardoso, explained that when he assumed office as governor in 2023, Nigeria’s economy faced formidable headwinds.

‘Inflation was spiraling, external reserves were strained, investor confidence was shaken, and nearly every macroeconomic indicator was under pressure. It was a moment that demanded not just technical skill, but leadership rooted in courage, credibility, and accountability. We had to act decisively,’ he said.

To rein in inflation, the apex bank tightened policy aggressively, raising rates by more than 800 basis points and strengthening liquidity management.

‘We restored orthodoxy by halting central bank financing of government beyond statutory limits and re-anchoring monetary policy on its core mandate,’ he said.

‘On foreign exchange, we introduced a willing-buyer, willing-seller framework, unified exchange rate windows, and cleared the backlog of verifiable FX commitments, restoring market confidence. We strengthened reserves, now standing above US$42 billion, and created new channels for diaspora remittances and investments, including the Non-Resident BVN platform, which allows Nigerians abroad to open accounts seamlessly from anywhere in the world,’ he stated.

For Nigeria, Real GDP expanded by 4.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, signaling the re-emergence of growth momentum.

‘Capital flows are rebounding, sovereign credit ratings have improved, as seen in the Credit Default Swap curve, and the naira is beginning to stabilise. Together, these shifts suggest more than a cyclical adjustment: they mark the outlines of a developmental inflection point, where investor confidence is gradually restored and Nigeria positions itself, two years on, at the threshold of structural renewal and long- term transformation,’ Cardoso said.

‘But this is only the beginning. The real task is to ensure that these hard-won gains translate into durable prosperity, especially for the next generation. And this is where leadership becomes critical,’ he added.

Over the past two years, the CBN has undertaken critical reforms to unify Nigeria’s exchange rate, eliminating distortions and restoring transparency.

This unification has enabled us to clear the outstanding foreign exchange obligations, giving businesses-ranging from manufacturers to airlines-the confidence to plan and invest in the future. To further enhance the functionality of the foreign exchange market, we are introducing an electronic FX matching system, which has proven effective in other markets.

In the foreign exchange market, the apex bank faced a backlog of over $7 billion in unfulfilled commitments and a fragmented FX regime characterized by multiple forex rates, which had encouraged arbitrage opportunities. This regime stifled much needed foreign investment, and led to the depletion of our external reserves which fell to $33.22bn in December 2023.

It must also be understood that the cost of the FX subsidy regime is estimated to far exceed that of fuel subsidies. In 2022 alone, the potential revenue lost due to a less flexible FX regime was approximately N6.2 trillion, compared to N4.5 trillion from fuel subsidies. These funds could have significantly contributed to critical investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

While the Central Bank will continue to lay the foundation for price stability and foster a conducive policy environment, the role of our banks in this journey is crucial.

An FX market defined solely by when and how the Central Bank buys or sells dollars is inadequate for the needs of a dynamic economy like Nigeria’s. Now is the time for banks to step up to their intermediation and market-making responsibilities, providing customers with the right solutions to run their businesses and manage risks effectively.

Eleven villagers have been killed by herders in Kuyelo Ward, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Eight people suffered various degrees of gunshot wounds and were receiving treatment in different hospitals, The Nation learnt.

The incident, according to eyewitnesses, occurred on Thursday around 4pm.

Reliving the people’s ordeal in a telephone interview with our correspondent, an eyewitness, who gave his name simply as Buhari, said: ‘I was in the community when the assailants came. They killed nine people on the spot while two people died on Friday. Eight people were injured and they are in the hospital.

‘We are still expecting them anytime again. When they attacked us yesterday, they looted people’s shops. They later called some people in the community, saying that they would come back at any moment.’

A member of the community, who identified himself simply as Surajo, said: ‘They came around 4 pm. Apart from killing our people, they also kidnapped one person.

‘The hoodlums were many. If I am not mistaken, they were up to 100.

‘They rode on motorcycles.

‘Security operatives came around 5pm after the hoodlums had left, and started shooting.

Former Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi has described the incumbent Biodun Oyebanji as his greatest achievement, lauding his outstanding performance, visionary leadership, and commitment to continuity in governance.

Fayemi gave the commendation in Ijelu-Ekiti during the commissioning of the Itapa-Ijelu-Omu Road, one of the numerous projects completed by the Oyebanji administration as part of activities marking its third anniversary.

The former Governor expressed delight his successor had not only built on his administration’s legacy but also surpassed expectations in the delivery of good governance.

‘Absolutely, he is my greatest achievement. ‘I have my own imperfections, but those imperfections he has managed to correct or reduce. God has indeed been kind to us in Ekiti by blessing us with a Governor who is focused on transformation rather than unnecessary politicking at the expense of development,’ he said.

The former Governor stated that the success of the Oyebanji administration validates his belief in purposeful and people-centered leadership, adding that the Governor’s track record within three years justifies the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of Ekiti to rally behind him for the 2026 governorship election.

Fayemi praised Governor Oyebanji for prioritizing infrastructure development, particularly road construction and rehabilitation, which, according to him, have boosted commerce, improved connectivity, and eased transportation across the state.

He explained the new roads constructed and commissioned under the Oyebanji government are strategic to Ekiti’s economic growth, linking key agricultural zones, business communities, and tourism corridors to major urban centers.

‘I want to thank our Governor for not disappointing us and for holding firmly to his faith in God and commitment to truth. He has delivered on the task of governing Ekiti and is leaving it better than we left it. ‘We have every reason to be proud of him and no reason to abandon him.’

Highlighting the Governor’s performance, Fayemi listed several roads initiated by his administration but completed by Oyebanji, including Itapa-Ijelu-Omu, Omisanjana-Atlas, Agric Olope-Moferere, Ijurin-Ayegunle, GRA Third Extension, Ikole-Ara-Isinbode, and Ikere-Ilawe roads, among others.

Oyebanji expressed appreciation to his predecessor for laying the solid foundation upon which his administration continues to build. He emphasized that the achievements recorded so far were the result of collective efforts of successive administrations united by a common vision for a prosperous Ekiti.

The Governor described the event as a demonstration of the gains of continuity in governance, stressing that development becomes faster when leaders build on the legacies of their predecessors rather than abandon them.

Oyebanji thanked Fayemi for breaking the jinx of discontinuity that had hindered Ekiti’s progress since its creation, noting that all road projects initiated by the previous administration but left unfinished have now been completed.

‘I bless God for today. What is happening here speaks to what Ekiti has lost over the years due to lack of continuity. If we had been building on each other’s work since the days of Otunba Niyi Adebayo, our state would have gone far. I thank Dr. Fayemi for breaking that jinx, and I’m proud that nearly all the projects he started are now completed.’

French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron has called on Europeans, Americans, Asians and Africans at home and in the diaspora to come together to harness and promote African cultural and creative industries.

He made the call at the opening of a forum titled: Forum Creation Africa Lagos. Speaking to the conference via zoom, Macron noted that Nigeria is the hub of African creative ideals.

He said that the first edition of the cultural and creative industries forum which took place in France in 2023 was a prelude to this year’s edition happening in Lagos.

The three-day international conference, according to Macron, is to build the momentum in this digital era where the youths have the freedom to develop and grow their talents.

For him, at the intersection of arts and cultural industries is the yawning space for entrepreneurs to come together and make money from the creative industries in Africa and other places.

He commended Nigeria as ‘the greatest home where music, crafts, paintings, writings, and all forms of the arts reside.’

The attention of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has been drawn to The Nation’s SUNDAY PARADE feature of Sunday, October 12, 2025, titled ‘Fear of Epidemic as Refuse Takes Over Lagos’, which raises some public-health concerns and posits that Lagos may be returning to the old bad and inglorious days of mountains of refuse.

While the State Government, through the Lagos Waste Management Authority, takes those concerns seriously, it is, however, very inaccurate and fallacious to suggest that the city’s waste-management system has ‘collapsed.’ As of today, Lagos generates roughly 13,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day-which ranks among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa-and the system in place continues to collect and dispose of the vast majority of it daily through LAWMA’s public-private model with licensed PSP operators.

The pertinent question that the report failed to highlight and which should agitate the minds of everyone is: ‘What could be driving the recent nuisance spots along Apapa-Mile 2-Oshodi, Ikotun-Ejigbo-Egbeda, Iyana Ipaja, LASU-Iyana Iba, and around large markets in the state?’

These pile-ups reflect localized pressure points, not a system-wide or state-wide failure. Some major reasons stick out as being responsible for this increased pile up and include, but are not limited to: Night-time illegal dumping on medians and setbacks by residents or unlicensed collectors trying to avoid PSP service fees. The Lagos State Government has responsively tightened penalties to ?250,000 fine or up to three months’ imprisonment for illegal dumping and littering, while enforcement is active and ongoing.

There has also been a Market-area surge in waste, which comes in the form of high, continuous inflows from traders and non-traders who bring street waste to market frontages, overwhelming daytime loading windows amidst heavy traffic. (Lagos Waste Management Authority LAWMA ) has repeatedly cautioned against using medians as collection points and back up PSPs with targeted ‘intervention’ clearances.)

Also noticeable is the return of banned, illegal collectors (‘cart pushers’) in some districts, who typically dump refuse at night into canals and road medians, creating the very eyesores residents decry. Authorities have renewed crackdowns with LAWMA and partner agencies undertaking arrests and prosecutions for these offences-with over 300 persons arrested and prosecuted by April 2025 alone-through day/night surveillance with KAI/LAGESC.

As a responsible and responsive organisation, LAWMA is responding to the new challenges by undertaking hotspot clearance and night operations through intensified ‘intervention’ sweeps on the named corridors (including Apapa-Mile 2-Oshodi; Ikotun-Jakande Gate; LASU-Iyana Iba), with night evacuations to prevent daytime re-accumulation, paired with targeted enforcement.

The organization is also undertaking PSP performance management through ongoing route reviews, backup services where private capacity is thin, and directory transparency so that residents can reach assigned PSP operators.

Public reporting channels have also been provided so that residents can report black spots and service gaps via 080000LAWMA (08000052962), 07080601020, or the short code 617, or email [email protected]. which are all LAWMA’s official, published hotlines.

The government is also embarking upon structural system upgrades that come with structural fixes. These include decommissioning legacy landfills and building modern infrastructure through which Lagos is transitioning Olusosun (Ojota) and Solous III (Igando) away from open dumping towards a network built around Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) and Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)-with timelines publicly stated and preparatory works ongoing. This shift shortens haulage, speeds turnaround for PSP trucks, and keeps markets and highways clear.

Also part of the structural upgrade is the Waste-to-Energy pathway, where, as part of the end-state system, the state has outlined waste-to-energy capacity (e.g., Epe) to handle residuals after recycling/composting, reducing landfill reliance and methane emissions. There are also plans to introduce Compact/Mobile TLS at pressure points to stop medians from becoming de facto dumps. LAWMA has advanced plans to introduce compact/mobile TLS that will relocate loading off the roadway and into controlled nodes-especially around large markets and dense corridors.

We are also undertaking organic management and biogas at source: roughly 6,500 tonnes of Lagos’ waste stream is organic. LAWMA’s Ketu-Ikosi market biogas project pilots on-site treatment that will cut odour, reduce bulk, and generate useful energy-an approach now being scaled through training and partnerships.

While LAWMA’s marine unit continues clean-ups around Five Cowries Creek and related in-water interventions, working to prevent canal outfalls from pushing litter into the lagoon system. The agency recently screened off 22 canal outlets along Five Cowries Creek to prevent waste from ever entering the canal. This will be extended to other canal outfalls throughout the state.

LAWMA is also in the process of procuring additional compactor trucks for PSP waste collectors, which will improve service delivery and reliability statewide when coupled with the introduction of the new Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) that will reduce turnaround time, enabling the PSP operators to evacuate waste more rapidly from the doorsteps of Lagosians.

It must be stressed that Lagos’ scale is unique, with the capacity to manage 13,000 tonnes/day in a megacity of 20M+ people that requires continuous upgrading of assets and rules-not a one-time fix with that upgrade already underway and publicly documented. Eyesores are preventable: Where residents must bag waste, keep bins, pay their assigned PSPs, and avoid illegal collectors, medians do not become loading points-and enforcement will continue against violators under the updated penalty regime. Enforcement is real, as arrests and prosecutions of offenders have increased; penalties are stiffer; and surveillance now targets nighttime dumping, when most infractions occur.

It is, however, expected that residents and businesses play their part by effectively ensuring that they use only the assigned PSP operator (door-to-door collection) and keep a covered bin-never use the median-as your staging point. Residents are to report black spots or service failures to LAWMA via 080000LAWMA (08000052962), 07080601020, 617, or [email protected] for rapid intervention.

We must also segregate organics (especially in markets) and support on-site solutions, such as the Ketu-Ikosi biogas initiative, as they scale. We should not patronise illegal cart pushers-they are a proven source of median dumps and canal blockages.

The bottom line is that Lagos is not returning to ‘the bad old days.’ The city is tightening enforcement against illegal dumping, clearing hotspots, and, most importantly, building the next-generation system-Transfer Loading System + Material Recovery Facilities + market-area compact Transfer Loading System + organics/biogas + Waste To Energy-that will keep refuse off our roads and medians while creating jobs and cleaner neighbourhoods.

It must, however, be stressed that environmental protection ought to be the duty of everyone, and not simply that of the government. Therefore, we all need to embrace a positive attitude towards the environment.

With a global upsurge in the occurrence of natural disasters, partly caused by abuse of the environment, a collective approach to the protection of the environment is, without doubt, the best way to protect the city against diseases and other harmful environmental hazards.

Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, COOUTH, has issued a 21-day ultimatum to Anambra State government to address their demands or face industrial action.

They threatened that they would stop the training of residents doctors, recall those posted out, suspend all ongoing research and discharge every patient in the hospital if they are ignored.

The 21-day ultimatum, according to them, will begin on October 20 till November 21, to give room for smooth electoral process in the state.

The Chairman of the group, Dr Amaechi Nwachukwu and the Secretary,Prof Joseph Umeobika, spoke on Friday at the hospital, flanked by all the members of the association, while briefing reporters

They consultants, said they had held meetings with the authorities, paid courtesy visits to the hospital management and written petitions to correct the anomalies, all to no avail, declaring,’ enough is enough’

Some of their grievances are that the government graciously,placed resident doctors on the proper salary scale, the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS)2024 which, according to them, was the standard salary scale enjoyed by all doctors across Nigeria

They said he equally approved the payment of their Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), a fund to support their training as approved by the federal government

‘As of today, October, our salaries are being prepared with the same old scale, while those of our trainers are being done with the proper scale .

‘Recall that any payment to resident doctors in the health sector is automatically extended to their bosses, the Consultants,in the same teaching hospital,as they are the heads of all doctors working there.

‘However, despite our loyalty and diplomatic approach to issues,we were disappointed to note that we were excluded from the proper placement after September salaries were paid. We are left confused on how there are two different salary structure for doctors working in the same place.

‘We will stop the training of resident doctors, recall all resident doctors on outside postings, suspend all ongoing research, discharge all patients from the teaching hospital, and halt all demonstrations to medical students using patients.

‘This will not only delay the graduation of medical students and resident doctors but also affect the overall functioning of the teaching hospital.

‘Many consultants have left the services of the teaching hospital for better conditions. We have lost key specialists to some other institutions where they are better appreciated and paid.

‘Many have left the country due to the ‘Jakpa’ syndrome, but the few of us holding on here and keeping faith with the government are being treated as unimportant.

‘We know this is a sensitive period, and any action taken now will be viewed through a political prism. However, we have been quietly persuading the authorities to do the needful, but unfortunately, that hasn’t yielded any results.

‘We are left with no choice but to resort to this pathway. We are still hopeful that this situation can be avoided, and our numerous patients and trainees can be spared untold hardship while we continue to take on the numerous responsibilities foisted upon us by virtue of our position and expertise.

‘We, therefore, call on all well-meaning Anambrarians to join us and persuade the government to avoid unnecessary loss of lives that this unpleasant action might result in’ the Consultants said

Foursquare Gospel Church has unveiled an ultramodern hospital to address critical health needs of the people.

The hospital was unveiled during the grand finale of the church’s 70th Annual Convention held at the Foursquare Camp, Ajebo, Ogun State.

Speaking at the convention, the General Overseer, Reverend Sam Aboyeji, declared that the church has entered its season of jubilee after 70 years of existence, describing the milestone as a divine turning point ordained by God.

Rev. Aboyeji drew inspiration from Jeremiah 29:10, emphasizing that God Himself had set the agenda for the next phase of the church’s journey.

He noted that ultramodern hospital will serve as succour to people living within the communities.

‘In Nigeria today, accessing healthcare without insurance is difficult. Most people in these rural areas cannot even afford basic health insurance. Our small health center attended to over 2,500 patients last year alone, so we decided to upgrade the facility. The state government approved the plan, and now we have a hospital that will serve even more people,’ he explained.

He added that the new facility would continue to provide critical medical support for thousands who rely on the church’s outreach programs.