Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed concern that some governors’ alleged failure to implement the 2025 agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities could trigger another strike in the nation’s universities.

The students’ body stated this yesterday following ASUU’s decision to authorise 20 affected university branches to issue 14-day ultimatums over the non-implementation of the agreement.

The development has already triggered industrial action at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, where the union’s branch has commenced a strike.

In a statement by its President, Akinteye Afeez, NANS acknowledged the right of university lecturers to demand the implementation of agreements reached with the government, but urged ASUU not to make students bear the consequences of the dispute.

NANS said repeated strikes had subjected students to prolonged academic disruptions, delayed graduation and extended programmes, with serious psychological consequences.

The statement read in part: ‘While we recognise and respect the rights of university lecturers to demand their rights, we strongly appeal to the leadership of ASUU to ensure that Nigerian students are not made to bear the consequences of disputes arising from the implementation of an agreement to which they are not parties.’

The students’ body urged ASUU to direct its engagement towards the state governments and institutions responsible for outstanding aspects of the agreement rather than shutting universities.

It said the failure of some state governments to implement the 2025 agreement was a major concern, particularly in the affected institutions.

NANS also warned governors that allowing avoidable industrial action to cripple universities in their states would amount to a serious dereliction of responsibility.

‘Any governor who, despite the increased allocations accruing to states, allows avoidable industrial action to cripple the university system in his state is irresponsible and unfit to be a Governor,’ the association said.

It called on all state governments with affected universities to immediately honour their obligations under the 2025 agreement and resolve outstanding issues affecting academic staff.

NANS said students should not be sent away from classrooms because of what it described as the ‘irresponsibility, ineptitude, and callousness’ of governors.

‘We appeal to these Governors to place the interests of students at the centre of their governance. The classroom must remain the last place where the consequences of an administrative failure are borne by innocent students,’ the statement said.

The students’ body, however, said it remained committed to constructive engagement with ASUU, the Federal Government and university managements to ensure uninterrupted academic activities.

‘Nigerian students deserve uninterrupted education,’ NANS added.

Prominent political leaders, senior government officials, and grassroots mobilizers are set to headline discussions at the Oyo State Emerging Political Leaders Summit 2026, scheduled for August 24-25, 2026, at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Ibadan.

The summit, themed ‘Bridging the Gap, Uniting Political Strength, and Mobilizing Emerging Leaders for 2027,’ is being positioned as a strategic political convergence platform aimed at bringing together influential emerging political leaders, stakeholders from across political parties, independent mobilizers, community political leaders, and other grassroots actors ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the organisers, the summit is designed to promote political reconciliation, strengthen grassroots coordination, deepen inclusion, and broaden support for the APC in Oyo State, while building wider momentum for the re-election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Among the leading figures billed for the event include the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr. Zacchaeus Adedeji who will serve as Chief Facilitator.

Adedeji is expected to deliver a session on ‘Fiscal Renewal, Revenue Mobilization, and the Economic Future of Oyo State in the Context of Nigeria’s Progressive National Agenda.’

Organizers say the session will connect Oyo State’s future to broader national reform efforts, while helping emerging leaders better understand the link between politics and economic governance.

Also expected at the summit is the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, who is the Special Guest of Honour, while Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, will deliver the keynote address on ‘Bridging Political Divides, Building Strategic Alliances, and Mobilizing Òyó State for Progressive Victory in 2027.’

His speech is expected to focus on coalition-building, political alignment, and the strategic steps required to unify political strength in the state ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Other featured speakers include Comrade Ayodele Wisdom Olawande, Honourable Minister of Youth Development, who will speak on ‘Youth Mobilization, Political Inclusion, and Building a New Generation of Electoral Victory’; Mr. Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on ‘Emerging Political Leaders and the Future of APC Grassroots Mobilization in Òyó State’; and Barrister Ismael Ahmed, OON, Executive Chairman of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, on ‘Energy Reform, Youth Enterprise, and the Politics of Economic Hope.’

Also listed among the speakers are Barrister Seyi Tinubu, who will address ‘Youth Engagement, Political Consciousness, and Mobilizing the Emerging Generation for 2027’; Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, who will speak on ‘Reconciliation, Political Relevance, and the Power of Inclusion in Òyó State Politics’; Chief Engineer Dotun Sanusi, with a session on ‘Private Sector, Grassroots Mobilization, and Building Political Strength for Òyó’s Future’; and Honourable Engineer Aderemi Abass Oseni, who will speak on ‘Grassroots Representation, Political Inclusion, and Mobilizing Emerging Leaders for APC Victory in Òyó State.’

The summit is expected to host more than 1,000 participants from across Òyó State, including Emerging Political Leaders, stakeholders from the APC, PDP, APM, and other political parties, independent mobilizers, community political leaders, youth leaders, women leaders, civil society stakeholders, and media actors.

A major highlight of the event will be the launch of the 50 Below 50 Project, Òyó State Chapter, alongside the signing of the Generational Inclusion Pact by Senator Sharafadeen Alli, APC Òyó 2027 Governorship Candidate, with Emerging Political Leaders across the state.

Organizers described the summit as a timely political intervention aimed at reducing fragmentation among key actors, restoring the relevance of strategic stakeholders, and building a broader progressive coalition capable of shaping the political future of Òyó State.

Sixteen travellers abducted by kidnappers in Kogi State on Sunday have been rescued by a joint security team comprising troops of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, the Police, local vigilantes and hunters.

The victims were rescued on Monday after the security team engaged their abductors in a fierce firefight in the vicinity of Adumu Community in Dekina Local Government Area of the state.

However, a local hunter who participated in the operation was killed, while a police officer sustained injuries during the encounter.

The victims were abducted on Sunday along the Ojuwo-Ajengo-Memarebo and Ojiwo-Itobe roads in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Col. Appolonia Anele, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

She said the rescue operation followed credible intelligence that the victims had been moved to the vicinity of Adumu Community.

According to her, the intelligence prompted troops of 21 Battalion and personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Lugard to immediately launch a joint search and rescue operation in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, vigilantes and local hunters.

‘During the operation, the joint security team established contact with the fleeing kidnappers and engaged them in a fierce firefight,’ she said.

Anele said the kidnappers, overwhelmed by the superior firepower and coordinated assault of the security forces, abandoned all the victims and fled into the surrounding forest with gunshot wounds.

‘The operation culminated in the successful rescue of all 16 kidnapped victims, comprising six adult males, six adult females and four children,’ she said.

She said the rescued victims were undergoing documentation and medical assessment before being reunited with their families.

Anele, however, said a local hunter who participated courageously in the operation was killed during the encounter.

‘Regrettably, one local hunter who participated courageously in the operation paid the supreme sacrifice. May his soul rest in peace.

‘Also, one police personnel sustained injuries during the encounter and is currently receiving medical treatment,’ she said.

The Army spokesperson commended the bravery and commitment of the fallen hunter and other security personnel involved in the operation, saying their sacrifice demonstrated their dedication to protecting innocent citizens.

She said the successful rescue of the 16 victims underscored the effectiveness of sustained joint operations and the synergy among the Nigerian Army, sister security agencies and local security stakeholders in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes.

‘It also reflects the resolve of security forces to deny criminal elements freedom of action across the country,’ Anele said.

The Federal government, the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, on Tuesday expressed concerns over persistent fibre-optic cuts across Nigeria, and warned against further damage as a result of its impacts on the economy.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr Nadungu Gagare and his counterpart in the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr Rafiu Adeladan, said it had become imperative for stakeholders to address the phenomenon holistically in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

They made the remarks at the National Workshop for the protection of fibre-optic cables, held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to the President.

The Workshop was jointly organised by the two federal Ministries, ONSA, NCC and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

Speaking at the workshop, Gagare, who was represented by the Director of Communications and Poster Services in the Ministry, Engr Stanley Musa, said government institutions must come together to address the challenges posed to Nigeria’s digital Infrastructure by fibre optic cuts across Nigeria.

He noted that the Ministry had written memos to the Federal Executive Council on other critical issues regarding the telecommunications sector, especially on the Right of Way (RoW) and the need to get other stakeholders along to fast-track policies that would change the narrative in the industry.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Dr Adeladan, congratulated the stakeholders for coming together to address challenges of fibre optic cuts, especially during road construction across Nigeria.

He expressed the willingness of the Ministry to collaborate and engage with other stakeholders to proffer lasting solutions to the problems.

In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Wada Maida, lamented that within the first six months of 2026, over 5,000 fibre-optic cuts were recorded across Nigeria.

‘In the first six months of this year alone, over 5,000 fiber cut incidents were reported from road excavation, construction, and related civil work. Many occurred because there was little or no coordination between works before they began, or before the first shovel entered the ground’, Dr Maida said.

While emphasising that telecommunications infrastructure has become a lifeline for the Nigerian economy, the EVC enjoined critical stakeholders to work together to protect telecommunications infrastructure, especially as President Bola Tinubu targets a one trillion dollars economy for the country.

He said the workshop aimed to ‘clarify stakeholder responsibilities and strengthen coordination between work construction and network operators so that damage is prevented rather than repaired after the fact.’

Also, the Director of Critical National Assets and Infrastructures in ONSA, Air Vice Marshall Effiom Enebong Ewa, maintained that acts of damage to Assets and infrastructure constitute an offence under Nigerian law.

AVM Ewa said, ‘Your presence here today, despite your demanding status, is a strong demonstration of your commitment to the protection of Nigeria’s digital future. Thus, the objective of this engagement is to foster stronger collaboration amongst critical stakeholders whose collective actions have directly impacted, and continue to impact, the future of Nigeria’s digital future.

‘As we deliberate today, let us recognise that every fatal cable damage is more than a disruption to a network, or simply a cable cut, as we hear in the field.

‘It is indeed a disruption to governance, economic productivity, public services, and the daily lives of millions of Nigerians. Accordingly, protection of fibre optic infrastructure is a shared national responsibility of every citizen, government institutions, private organisations, contractors, or operators residing here in Nigeria.

‘Let us also remind ourselves that fibre optics have been designated as critical national information infrastructure, and any damage due to negligence or interference with the assets or acts directly or indirectly which predisposes the assets to damage, constitute an offence under Nigeria’s legal framework.’

AVM Ewa highlighted the importance of institutional coordination and strict adherence to established protocol, and urged stakeholders to abide by guidelines and procedures, especially during construction and maintenance activities.

Katsina State Government has stepped up its campaign against banditry with the deployment of 23 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 200 pickup trucks, motorcycles, drones and other surveillance equipment to security agencies operating across the state.

The security build-up, described by government officials as part of a multidimensional strategy to tackle insecurity, also includes the establishment of a 10,000-member Community Watch Corps to complement the efforts of conventional security forces.

The state government has supplied much of the equipment to the military, police and other security agencies, while also strengthening intelligence gathering and community-based surveillance across the 34 local government areas.

Officials said the acquisition and deployment of the security hardware were being coordinated under the supervision of the Government House, with the objective of improving the capacity of security agencies to respond rapidly to attacks and disrupt bandit operations.

The initiative came against the backdrop of persistent banditry in parts of Katsina, particularly in forested and rocky areas where criminal groups have established hideouts and used difficult terrain to evade security forces.

A major component of the strategy has been increased collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force in intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance and precision operations against bandit camps.

In August 2025, the Air Force raided a bandit hideout at Pauwa Hill in Kankara Local Government Area, rescuing 76 people.

Under Operation Fansan Yamma, the Air Force also destroyed a bandit hideout at Danfako in Faskari Local Government Area in November 2025 following intelligence obtained through surveillance.

The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Ehimen Ejodame, had said the operation was based on intelligence gathered through surveillance.

According to a statement signed on Tuesday by Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Dan Musa, another major operation was recorded in May 2026 when the Air Force destroyed a logistics hub at Dan-Aji Forest.

Beyond military operations, the state has also intensified surveillance along major highways, including the deployment of officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service to monitor the movement of persons, particularly aliens.

The surveillance is considered important because Katsina shares an international border with the Niger Republic, making its major routes vulnerable to the movement of criminal elements and illegal arms and logistics.

He said the state government has also adopted a security classification system that divides the 34 local government areas into three categories – frontline, vulnerable and crisis-free areas.

Dan Musa, said the classification was designed to ensure that security resources, personnel and equipment were deployed according to the level of threat in each area.

He said; ‘Eight local government areas – Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Dan Musa, Faskari, Sabuwa, Kankara and Sandamu – have been classified as frontline areas because of the intensity of bandit activities.

‘Eleven others are classified as vulnerable, while 15 are regarded as crisis-free’.

Musa explained that the government’s strategy was based on the understanding that banditry was largely community-driven and could not be effectively tackled through the deployment of conventional security forces alone.

He said communities were therefore being placed at the centre of the security architecture through intelligence gathering, surveillance and rapid-response mechanisms.

The Commissioner said the strategy was aimed at disrupting the logistics networks supporting criminal groups and ensuring that intelligence from local communities reached security agencies promptly.

The government, he said has also expanded its engagement with traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, academics and security experts in an effort to improve coordination and strengthen local participation in the fight against insecurity.

‘The initiative includes a Security Advisory Committee and a Peace Committee established in each of the 34 local government areas.

‘The committees are expected to provide local intelligence, advise on emerging security threats and facilitate engagement between communities and security agencies.

‘The deployment of APCs, patrol vehicles, drones and surveillance systems, alongside the Community Watch Corps and community-based intelligence structures, marks a significant expansion of Katsina’s security architecture under Governor Dikko Radda’, he added.

The strategy is designed to combine the firepower and operational capacity of conventional security agencies with the local knowledge and intelligence-gathering capacity of communities in the battle against banditry.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for peaceful coexistence and national unity as Nigeria host international security conference.

The conference, which is organsied by Nigeria and the Muslim World League, begins today in Abuja and it is expected to bring together religious leaders and other stakeholders to promote peaceful coexistence, national unity and security.

The conference is expected to explore the relationship between peace, security and socio-economic development, while strengthening dialogue and mutual understanding among Muslims, Christians and people of other faiths.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this yesterday at the inauguration of the Muslim World League Mosque in Abuja by the Secretary General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Organisation of Islamic Scholars, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa.

A statement by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, said Idris, who had earlier hosted Sheikh Al-Issa at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and accompanied him to the mosque’s inauguration, described the visit as a demonstration of the strong relationship between Nigeria, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the international community.

The minister said the conference comes at an important time for Nigeria, as the country continues to strengthen its national security architecture, while pursuing reforms and investments aimed at accelerating socio-economic development.

He reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, religious harmony and national unity.

Idris also stated that peace and security are fundamental to Nigeria’s prosperity and stability across Africa.

‘The President is determined to ensure peace and tranquillity not just in Nigeria but around the world. This is a clear demonstration of the path that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking,’ Idris said.

The minister noted that Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous country, has a major responsibility to promote peace and stability across the continent, adding that a peaceful and secure Nigeria would positively influence West Africa and Africa.

Idris said the international conference would provide an important platform for religious leaders and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and develop practical approaches to strengthening peaceful coexistence, security and mutual understanding.

He hailed the Muslim World League, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), the Saudi Arabian Government and other stakeholders for facilitating Sheikh Al-Issa’s visit and the establishment of the mosque.

Idris also expressed appreciation to Sheikh Al-Issa for his sustained commitment to peace, dialogue and understanding among faith communities.

Sheikh Al-Issa had applauded President Tinubu’s efforts at fostering peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims, stressing that peace and harmony in Nigeria would contribute significantly to stability across West Africa and the wider world.

The Secretary General said his visit was centred on peace and peaceful coexistence and expressed confidence that the conference would provide an important platform for advancing dialogue and harmony in Nigeria and globally.

He also inaugurated a newly constructed mosque in Gauda, Abuja, and expressed appreciation to all those who contributed to its establishment.

The international security conference brings together religious leaders, policymakers and other stakeholders.

Dignitaries at the event included Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto; the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi; Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, representing Sokoto North Senatorial District; Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, representing Gombe Central Senatorial District; and Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima.

Liverpool have completed the signing of Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Romano reported that the agreement includes a pound 55 million buy option, allowing Liverpool to make the Uruguay international’s move to Anfield permanent at the end of the loan.

Araujo’s arrival is expected to add further strength and versatility to Liverpool’s defensive options. The Uruguay international has established himself as one of Barcelona’s key defenders, known for his physicality, pace and ability to play in different positions across the back line.

The deal marks a major move for Liverpool as the club continues to strengthen its squad. Araujo will now begin a new chapter at Anfield, with the possibility of turning the temporary switch into a permanent transfer for pound 55 million.

A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, has said that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, will surely deliver Rivers State and the FCT for President Bola Tinubu in 2027, even without a campaign role.

Dike’s statement affirmed the minister’s recent dismissal of reports that he was lobbying to become Director-General or a member of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.

Wike had said his commitment to the President’s re-election was not dependent on holding any official position within the campaign structure.

Backing the Minister, Dike, a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, said Wike’s declaration reinforced his reputation as a loyal and strategic supporter of the Tinubu administration.

He said the minister’s focus on delivering votes in two key political territories, Rivers and the FCT, underscored his commitment to the president’s second term in office.

He said, ‘The Minister of FCT has shown that true loyalty is not about titles in a campaign council. It is about results. His focus on delivering Rivers and the FCT for President Tinubu speaks louder than any position.

‘What Nigeria needs now are leaders who work, not those chasing offices. Wike’s declaration proves he is more interested in victory for Mr President than in personal recognition.’

‘The attempt to distract Minister Wike with DG rumours will fail. He has made it clear: his energy is for Tinubu’s success in Rivers and FCT, and that is where it matters most.’

The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has urged stakeholders to do everything within the law to mitigate electoral risks.

Team Lead of KDI, Bukola Idowu, made the statement yesterday in Abuja at the stakeholders’ presentation of the organisation’s 2026 Osun Election Integrity and Security Assessment titled, ‘Electoral Pressures, Risk Scenarios and Strategic Mitigation Priorities.’

Idowu said election security must begin well before voting through good intelligence, impartial institutions, responsible political conduct, trusted communication, prepared citizens and timely preventive action.

‘This meeting is therefore not simply a report launch. It is a call to turn evidence into coordinated action before risks become incidents and incidents become crises,’ he said.

He said the August 15 election was significant not only because of the choice of governor but because it would be the final major off-cycle governorship election before the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the Osun election would also provide a critical test of important changes in Nigeria’s electoral framework, including election logistics, security coordination, technology, results management, stakeholder compliance and, most importantly, public confidence.

‘What succeeds or fails in Osun will shape preparedness, expectations and reform for the entire country,’ Idowu said.

He said KDI conducted the assessment as a decision-support and early-warning tool, rather than as a prediction of violence or an indictment of any community, political party or institution.

Idowu said the assessment was designed to answer three practical questions: where pressures were building, why specific locations were vulnerable and what each stakeholder could do immediately to reduce the risk of escalation.

The KDI Team Lead also expressed regret and disappointment over Nigeria’s classification as a ‘fully authoritarian regime’ in the Human Rights Foundation’s 2026 Tyranny Tracker.

He said the warning resonated with KDI’s recently launched State of Democratic Performance in Nigeria 2025 report, which assessed democratic practices across all 36 states.

According to him, the report identified pressures on institutional accountability, citizen participation, electoral integrity, civic space and public trust.

‘Democracy is not defended by labels; it is defended by honest diagnosis and sustained reform,’ he said.

He said it drew on a citizen survey of 3,275 respondents across all 30 local government areas of Osun State.

The assessment also involved 15 key informant interviews covering political actors, security agencies, traditional institutions, women and youth leaders, civil society organisations, the media and electoral stakeholders.

Other sources of evidence included continuous incident monitoring from October 2025 to August 2026, monitoring of print, broadcast, online and social media, a multi-stakeholder validation process, field observation and secondary research.

He said the assessment was intended to combine grassroots knowledge with rigorous data and bring citizens, institutions and decision-makers into the same problem-solving space.

Idowu said the significance of the Osun election extended beyond the immediate contest, stressing that its outcome and conduct would provide lessons for Nigeria’s preparations, expectations and electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Researchers, government agencies and other stakeholders in Ebonyi State have called for stronger collaboration, standardisation and improved infrastructure to address challenges in the production, distribution and use of medical oxygen in the state.

The call was made at a Stakeholders Engagement and Co-Creation Workshop on Medical Oxygen Economy in Ebonyi State, organised by the EQUI-RESP Africa Research Project in conjunction with the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) and the University of Edinburgh, UK.

The Vice Chancellor of DUFUHS and lead investigator of the EQUI-RESP Africa Research Project, Prof. Jesse Uneke, said research and collaboration were critical to expanding the impact of medical oxygen interventions beyond the communities where they were initiated.

He said the multi-country, multi-centre project was designed to assess existing systems, identify gaps and develop better approaches to ensuring adequate access to medical oxygen.

Uneke commended the Ebonyi State Government for creating an enabling environment for oxygen production, noting that the state previously had no production facility but now has multiple centres producing medical oxygen.

He said the importance of medical oxygen became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when healthcare systems nationwide struggled to meet the oxygen needs of critically ill patients, exposing gaps in the country’s supply system and the need for sustainable local production.

He identified the oxygen production facility at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), as one of the centres supplying oxygen in the state, and commended its personnel for their training in oxygen production, distribution and use.

Uneke said the installation of piped oxygen systems in the hospital’s intensive care units and other sections had improved access by eliminating the need to move cylinders around the facility, allowing patients to access oxygen directly through designated outlets.

He said the project’s objective was to assess existing practices, highlight strengths and gaps, and ensure medical oxygen is adequately provided to patients who need it, acknowledging funding support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a boost to research and healthcare development in the region.

Nwachukwu Udoka of the Ebonyi State office of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) said medical oxygen administration required multi-sectoral cooperation, noting that NESREA established national regulations on healthcare waste control, including provisions on oxygen production waste, in 2011.

The State Coordinator of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Samuel Nwachukwu, said the agency was committed to ensuring oxygen production and supply met required standards, explaining that standards are developed through collaboration among academia, manufacturers and other stakeholders and represent minimum requirements producers must meet.

He said SON currently monitors oxygen-producing companies for compliance and pledged the organisation’s support for research, policy development and standards for the medical oxygen sector.