Category: The Nation – Nigeria

A British Airways (BA) flight from London to Abuja was forced to make an emergency diversion to Barcelona, Spain, after Prof. Osita Obierika, died mid-air.

Obierika, a retired Air Vice Marshal (AVM) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), was a former Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Training Command, Kaduna and a directing staff at the National Defence College, Abuja.

The Octogenarian was said to have been returning to Nigeria from the United Kingdom where he was being treated for cancer.

According to reports, the aircraft departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 11pm on Sunday and was to arrive Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by 5am on Monday.

However, around 1:30am, the pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted to El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Spain.

A source who confirmed his death said there were many senior officers at the Abuja airport awaiting his arrival before news of his death filtered in.

It was gathered that the incident caused distress among passengers especially a pregnant woman said to have required urgent medical attention.

British Airways apologised to passengers for the disruption, assuring them of support and alternative travel arrangements. The airline said a replacement aircraft was deployed to continue the journey to Abuja, with the flight rescheduled to depart Barcelona at 2:50pm local time and arrive in Abuja around 5:45pm.

It was not immediately clear if Obierika’s remains were deposited in Barcelona or arrangements were made to return his body to Nigeria on the new flight.

A native of Enugu-Ukwu in Anambra State, Obierika was a distinguished elder statesman who was fondly called Prof.

He remained active after retirement, delivering lectures on national security at public events including a 2021 lecture at Baze University on ‘Security Sector Reform in Nigeria and the 4th Industrial Revolution’.

Chair of Badagry Local Government in Lagos State, Babatunde Hunpe, has facilitated release of five inmates from Badagry Correctional Centre.

His Chief Press Secretary, Augustine Kriko, said this in a statement yesterday.

He said the release was part of the council celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence.

The chairman noted their freedom followed recommendations of a committee set up by him, after receiving reports about their predicament.

‘The committee comprises Chief Security Adviser, Johnson Adagba; council’s Legal Officer, Olubode Savage; and my Private Secretary, Dr. Sewedo Samuel.

‘The five – three from Badagry council and two from elsewhere, were sentenced for offences with options of fine; N200,000 to N250,000, which they were unable to meet.

‘Acting on the report, I mandated a committee to conduct background checks and visit to assess their conduct.

‘After monitoring, the committee confirmed the inmates had reformed, supported by evidence of good behaviour.

‘One inmate, a barber, was especially commended for cutting the hair of fellow inmates and teaching others the skill,’ he said.

Kriko said Hunpe’s intervention not only covered the settlement of their discharge conditions, but also provided resources to support their return home and ensure their smooth reintegration into the society.

‘This gesture, in the spirit of independence, reflects the chairman’s commitment to justice, mercy and giving the reformed citizens a fresh start,’ he said.

Africa is not just participating in the global creative conversation, it is shaping it, drawing significant strength from the Pitcher Showcase Lagos, a vibrant celebration of African excellence in marketing communications.

Chairman of the Pitcher Festival, Dr. Nnamdi Ndu, made this declaration when operators on the continent’s creative industry gathered at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, for the Pitcher Showcase Lagos, during the week.

The event featured a curated exhibition, the official presentation of the Pitcher Special Awards, and recognition of emerging talent through the Academy Awards Segment.

Ndu, in his opening remarks, reflected on the evolution of the Pitcher Awards into one of Africa’s most respected platforms for creative excellence.

‘Africa is not just participating in the global creative conversation, we are shaping it,’ he declared, referencing the Pitcher Showcase’s presence in Cannes during the Cannes Lions Festival earlier this year.

The Awards Segment was hosted by renowned journalist and media personality, Dr. Rufai Oseni, who guided guests through the celebration of top-performing agencies, networks, brands, and marketing companies.

The Special Awards, determined by the Pitcher Awards points system, were presented by the Director General, Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo.

Winners of the 2025 Pitcher Special Award were PHD Nigeria, Media Agency of the Year; Dentsu Creative Kenya, Advertising Agency of the Year; OMD, Media Network of the Year; Dentsu Africa, Advertising Agency Network of the Year; X3M Ideas, Independent Network of the Year.

Others were Omnicom Media Group Africa, Regional Holding Company of the Year; Tusker Lager Kenya, Brand of the Year (National); Martell, Brand of the Year (Multinational); NCBA, Marketing Company of the Year (National); and Pernod Ricard, Marketing Company of the Year (Multinational).

The Academy Awards Segment honored winners from the Future Creative Leaders Academy (FCLA), and the Young Pitcher Competition.

Ndu emphasised that these awards are not just accolades but endorsements of systems that enable creativity to thrive.

Presentations were made by President of Upticomm Marketing Co. Ltd. and immediate past Chairman of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos, Mr. Segun McMedal, who represented NIPR President Dr. Ike Neliaku.

Participants from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Benin, and Burkina Faso were celebrated for their outstanding contributions and creative promise. Also recognised were winners of the National Young Lions Competition.

Although visa challenges prevented most winners from competing in Cannes this year, all affected teams have been rebooked for the 2026 Young Lions Competition.

The programme included a visual exhibition of Grand Prix and Gold-winning campaigns, academy entries, and a screening of the Pitcher Awards reel.

Attendees enjoyed networking, refreshments, and a shared sense of pride in the continent’s creative achievements.

The organizsers appreciated Tolaram Nigeria for their generous support, providing products from their Indomie and Colgate stables for inclusion in the winners’ gift bags.

Registration for the 2026 Pitcher Academies opened on October 1st, with a call to agencies and brands to partner in nurturing the next generation of African creative leaders.

Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has warned that the country’s maritime sector could mirror the ‘mistakes’ of its oil industry if urgent reforms are not implemented to strengthen governance, industrial capacity, and trade competitiveness.

Head of Research at SEREC, Forwarder Eugene Nweke, stated that while the sector holds immense potential for job creation, industrialisation, and regional dominance, it remains weighed down by structural weaknesses that limit its ability to drive national development.

‘Nigeria’s maritime sector holds the promise of jobs, industrialisation, and regional leadership. But unless structural reforms are accelerated, we risk repeating the oil paradox: rising revenues, rising costs, and vanishing welfare,’ Nweke cautioned.

According to him, despite commendable milestones such as reduced piracy incidents, expanded seafarer training, and the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the country’s maritime story remains one of unrealised potential rather than tangible transformation.

He noted that over 80 per cent of the nation’s trade passes through its seaports, yet the sector continues to suffer from systemic bottlenecks that hamper its competitiveness and economic contribution.

SEREC acknowledged recent gains, including multinational patrols that have curbed piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, the growth of seafarer training pipelines enabling hundreds of Nigerian cadets to complete mandatory sea-time, and modest progress in establishing inland container depots to decongest Lagos ports. It also commended the renewed effort to rebuild a national shipping identity through a re-emerging national container operator and the formal recognition of the Blue Economy as a policy focus.

However, the group identified critical structural weaknesses that continue to undermine the sector’s growth. It warned that Nigeria’s dormant steel industry remains the greatest obstacle to a viable shipbuilding and repair ecosystem, making the nation dependent on imported materials and uncompetitive in global maritime trade.

‘Without a functioning steel industry, Nigeria’s shipyards will remain import-dependent, uncompetitive, and unable to support large-scale ship repair or newbuilding,’ Nweke said.

The maritime think tank also highlighted challenges including poor multimodal integration, underdeveloped rail and inland waterways, environmental sustainability gaps in port operations, and persistent trade imbalances worsened by heavy import dependence and weak non-oil exports.

It urged policymakers to anchor maritime development on industrialisation, with the revival of steel – even through modular mini-mills – forming the foundation for a credible shipbuilding and repair industry. It also called for practical implementation of the Blue Economy policy, emphasising the need to harness fisheries, aquaculture, ocean energy, and seabed mining under transparent, research-driven frameworks.

Additionally, the centre stressed the importance of multimodal transport integration, urging that ‘rail, barge, and inland port connectivity must become functional to ease pressure on Lagos ports.’

Revenue agencies, SEREC added, must move beyond ‘record collections’ to demonstrating tangible trade impact – reducing port costs, improving cargo flow, and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

Nweke concluded that Nigeria’s maritime potential can only be fully realised through disciplined execution and sustained reform.

‘At 65, the time for ceremonial speeches is over. The next decade must be about execution – steel for shipbuilding, disciplined national carrier governance, green ports, regulated seabed mining, empowered seafarers, and multimodal integration,’ he said.

According to stakeholders, SEREC’s statement reinforces growing calls for the repositioning of the maritime industry as a driver of job creation, industrialisation, and regional leadership, transforming the country from a maritime nation in name to one in practice.

The Commander-General of the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Wole Joshua Osatimehin, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assent to the bill establishing the NFSS, aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s forests.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the NFSS boss noted that Nigerian forests have become a safe haven for criminals and need an organization like the NFSS to complement the efforts of security forces in engaging them.

The Nation recalled that President Bola Tinubu had in May, 2025, approved the establishment of forest guards to protect Nigerian forests, many of which are occupied by terrorist groups.

The president, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, directed that the forest guards are to be well-trained and armed to perform their duties, which is essentially to flush out terrorists and criminal gangs hiding inside the forests for criminal activities.

The recruitment of the forest guards, which is a collaborative effort between the federal and state governments, and coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Ministry of Environment, is expected to employ thousands of young Nigerians.

Osatinehin said his personnel are already providing these services in several states across the country, citing Zamfara, Borno, Benue, Taraba, Oyo, Lagos, and Taraba as examples of places where NFSS personnel are complementing the efforts of security forces to protect forests against terrorists and bandits.

The Commander-General, however, lamented that the NFSS, with a strength of over 48,000 personnel, requires constitutional backing to effectively combat bandits and terrorists that have taken the nation’s forests as their hideouts.

He said, ‘The absence of federal approval has affected our morale and operational confidence. We appeal to the President to assent to the NFSS Bill to give us formal legal backing.’

Osatimehin said the organisation which began in 2016 has been operating selflessly since without adequate funding or mobility.

He said, ‘The NFSS evolved from community hunter associations to the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service, and now to the Nigerian Forest Security Service – a transformation that went through the National Assembly.

‘A bill was presented to the Senate seeking the establishment of the organization as part of Nigeria’s national security framework. During the public hearing, 103 memoranda were received; 102 supported the establishment, and only one was against it.

The bill has been passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and transmitted to the President for assent.’

Speaking further, he noted that the morale of its personnel has been low due to lack of welfare support schemes.

‘Many of our members are married and have families, yet receive no formal remuneration,’ he said.

‘This has caused low motivation and at times, harassment by other security agencies who dismiss us as unrecognized.

‘We call on the Federal Government to officially recognize the Nigerian Forest Security Service. Let President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also make history by signing the NFSS Bill into law.

‘We are not here to compete with existing agencies but to complement and strengthen national security within forested areas. Currently,our forests are unsafe and have become hideouts for criminals,’ he added.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the completion of his second and final term in office.

Yakubu, appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission, served two consecutive five-year terms, with his second term beginning in 2020. His tenure formally ended in October 2025, marking the conclusion of a decade-long leadership of Nigeria’s electoral body.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended Professor Yakubu for his dedicated service and contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy through the conduct of credible, free, and fair elections.

‘President Tinubu thanked Professor Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy,’ the statement read, highlighting his pivotal role in modernizing electoral administration during a period of significant political evolution.

As a mark of national appreciation, the President has conferred on Professor Yakubu the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), one of Nigeria’s highest national distinctions.

The President further directed that May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior National Commissioner at INEC, should immediately assume leadership of the commission in acting capacity, pending the conclusion of the process to appoint a substantive successor.

In a letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu had expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the nation for ten years.

‘In the letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the nation as chairman of the commission since 2015’, the statement said.

Popular skit maker Samuel Bankole, better known as Samuel Banks lost his newly purchased iPhone 17 Pro Max during the Luli Concert in Lagos.

The content creator, who recently celebrated acquiring a new home, had been actively promoting the concert organized by the Celestial Church of Christ, expressing excitement about the event and what fans could expect.

In a promotional video ahead of the show, which took place on Friday at Tafawa Balewa Square, Samuel was seen wearing his signature white garment.

However, a viral video now circulating online shows a visibly distraught Samuel Banks searching for his missing phone alongside his partner and several others.

The comedian was seen pacing nervously while discussing the situation with a man nearby, as his partner stood by looking worried.

Onlookers were also seen trying to call his number in hopes of finding the device, but their efforts proved unsuccessful.

The incident added to a growing list of celebrity phone thefts. A few years ago, popular DJ Florence Otedola, widely known as DJ Cuppy, had her phone snatched in London while walking down the street.

The federal government has identified a set of conditions necessary to improve the performance of public assets, attract investment inflows, and generate stronger economic growth across key sectors.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, made this known in Abuja during the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit interactive session titled ‘Public Asset Management and the Rule of Law: Building a Framework for Long-Term Sustainable Investment.’

Represented by Mr. Olusegun Adekunle, a retired Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SGF, Akume said that the underperformance of public assets can be reversed through ‘strong policies that stimulate private capital inflows, good governance practices, asset management systems that limit value extraction, robust legal and regulatory frameworks devoid of fragmentation, and efficient institutional coherence.’

According to him, ‘These conditions will soar performance of public assets, stimulate investment inflows, and bring about high positive impact on the economy.’

Akume noted that Nigeria is abundantly endowed with public assets – including land, infrastructure, state-owned enterprises, and strategic institutions – which, if effectively managed, can become platforms for wealth creation and prosperity. ‘Yet, many of these assets remain underexplored and perform below their potentials,’ he said.

He explained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recognises the economic potential of effective asset management and has taken decisive steps to strengthen the institutional framework for managing public assets.

‘The boldest manifestation is the strengthening of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), which signifies combined institutional, legal and regulatory reforms,’ Akume stated. ‘MOFI is responsible for managing and optimising the government’s portfolio of assets, including investments, estates, and rights to grow national wealth and prosperity.’

He added that by empowering MOFI, the government aims to build a central institution for public asset management capable of unlocking non-tax revenues, strengthening fiscal sustainability, and attracting private capital to close Nigeria’s infrastructure gap. ‘All these invariably translate into jobs, growth, and improved quality of life for citizens,’ he said.

The SGF described the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) dialogue as ‘critical’ to achieving this transformation, noting that it requires broad collaboration. ‘Government cannot achieve this transformation alone,’ he said. ‘The legislature, the judiciary, the private sector, civil society, and development partners all have roles to play.’

He added that forums such as the NESG Summit are vital for building consensus and generating practical solutions that translate policy discussions into measurable outcomes.

‘Forums like this therefore help to build consensus, align priorities, and generate practical solutions. Your outcomes should uniquely point towards bridging the gap between legislative reforms and economic development, ensuring that conversations such as would be held here are translated into actionable frameworks,’ Akume stated.

Also speaking at the session, Mr. Kyari Bukar, Chairman of the Ernest Shonekan Centre for Legislative Reform and Economic Development, said effective public asset management is a key driver of economic transformation.

‘Managing an asset literally means running it so that value is created or produced out of those assets,’ Bukar said. ‘The proper entities that are very good at doing those are the private sector. I’m not saying that the government should shirk all responsibility, but as the owner of these assets, it can attract investors to put the assets to productive use in a way that benefits both parties.’

Bukar explained that private participation in asset management offers mutual benefits, especially when properly structured. ‘If you are the landlord of a land or facility and you don’t have the wherewithal to invest in it, you can bring in an investor who will invest and share in the returns. Both sides benefit – because previously, you had an asset lying fallow,’ he said.

He further called for consolidation and proper record-keeping of all public assets, stressing the need for coordination among ministries, departments, and agencies. ‘We need to basically have all of those entities come in, collaborate, and have a common understanding. That way, we will then have a harmonised view of all the assets Nigeria owns,’ he said.

According to him, many public assets remain dormant or underutilised, and it is necessary to ‘sweat the assets’ – that is, generate value from them through different structuring models such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), long-term leases, or outright sale where necessary.

Citing the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) as a successful example of public-private collaboration, Bukar said, ‘NLNG is an entity where the federal government owns 49 percent and the private sector owns 51 percent. Because of the nature of its corporate governance, it’s been one of the most successful entities, paying the Nigerian government not only taxes but also huge dividends every year.’

He called for open collaboration among government agencies, private investors, and development partners to craft an effective national framework for public asset management. ‘When an investor puts money into a dormant asset, that asset becomes valuable, generating income for both sides. It’s a win-win situation,’ Bukar said. ‘Once an asset becomes productive, it pays taxes, creates jobs, and contributes to closing fiscal and financial gaps in the economy.’

The session, part of the broader 31st Nigerian Economic Summit deliberations, reinforced the growing consensus that strategic asset management and private sector participation are key to unlocking Nigeria’s wealth potential and sustaining long-term economic growth.

The Credence Awards has named Onaolapo Alabi as the Winner of the Leadership in Digital Transformation category, recognizing his outstanding contributions to HR technology, people operations, and digital innovation in Nigeria.

The Judging Panel highlighted Onaolapo’s sustained record of delivering enterprise-wide HR technology transformations that translate people’s needs into scalable digital solutions. Over the course of his career, he has led comprehensive HRIS implementations, including BambooHR, Lattice, and Bento, overseeing data migration, validation, and integrations with internal and external systems to ensure optimisation and alignment with organisational objectives. These overhauls, together with targeted efforts to increase tool adoption, materially improved operational efficiency and enhanced workforce visibility across the organisations he served.

Judges also drew attention to Onaolapo’s measurable impact in process automation and data strategy. He automated core HR workflows such as Confirmation and Onboarding Operational Processes, introduced robust data synchronisation across Organimi, Google Sheets, and BambooHR, and delivered actionable dashboards and reports through Looker Studio to support workforce planning and talent management.

Those initiatives closed payroll leakage gaps, saving ?1.35 million annually, raised previous-employer check success rates from 37.5% to 90%, and produced clear gains in turnaround time and employee experience. His practical innovations, including the design and deployment of a virtual service agent, HR service helpdesk, and a chatbot for People Operations, reduced support queries and increased responsiveness for employees and managers.

Beyond technical delivery, the Judges recognised Onaolapo’s leadership in product management, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance. He successfully translated HR requirements into technical specifications, introduced Agile practices within HR functions, and led cross-functional integrations with Product and Engineering teams to ensure timely delivery. His representation of HR in ISO audits (ISO 20001, 22301, and 9001), a payroll framework aligned with the Finance Act, and ongoing contributions to audit readiness demonstrate a disciplined approach to governance and compliance.

This award affirms Onaolapo Alabi’s professional credibility and authority as a lead in People Operations, a product-focused HR strategist, and a community-minded leader. The Credence Awards celebrate his accomplishments and look forward to the continued influence of his work in advancing HR technology, people transformation, and organisational resilience in Nigeria and beyond.

In a statement acknowledging the selection, David Ajayi, Chair of the Judging Panel, congratulated Onaolapo and praised the demonstrable, measurable outcomes that underpinned the panel’s decision, noting that the selection reflects both technical excellence and tangible benefit to organisations and their people.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) are collaborating to promote credible elections and strengthen democratic institutions across Africa.

As part of the collaboration, NEBE, alongside the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organisations for Elections (CECOE), led by NEBE’s Deputy Chairman Tesfaye Neway, was at the INEC office in Abuja on a working visit.

Receiving the delegation, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, underscored the importance of inter-institutional cooperation in improving electoral governance across the continent.

He said: ‘INEC and NEBE share similar constitutional responsibilities. Over the next week, we will share various aspects of the Nigerian experience in conducting elections, including innovations in technology, inclusivity, and stakeholder engagement.

‘This visit is happening at a time voter registration is ongoing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the February 2026 FCT Area Council Elections, giving our guests the chance to observe real-time voter registration.’

Yakubu expressed appreciation to the German Agency for International Development in Ethiopia for facilitating the visit.

The INEC chairman assured the delegation of a meaningful and interactive engagement.

On behalf of the delegation, Neway highlighted the significance of the visit in fostering mutual learning and strengthening electoral institutions across Africa.

‘Our presence here is part of an experience and exposure visit aimed at building strategic partnerships between our institutions. We believe democracy grows stronger when institutions learn from one another

‘We hope to learn from Nigeria’s innovations in voter registration, electoral technology, civic education, and stakeholder engagement while also sharing the challenges we face, such as electoral violence and misinformation,’ he said.

CECOE’s Executive Director, Abera Hailemariam, said there was a need for continued collaboration between the civil society and electoral bodies, particularly in strengthening voter education efforts.

‘We value this partnership and look forward to deeper cooperation between NEBE and INEC, with support from development partners. We are especially interested in how Nigeria conducts voter education in diverse languages,’ Hailemariam said.