Category: The Nation – Nigeria

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday said Nigeria’s prosperity cannot be separated from the future of the northern part of the country.

President Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, spoke yesterday in Abuja at this year’s edition of the Nigeria Investment and Industrialization Summit (NNIIS) organised under the leadership of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF).

Edun said the Tinubu administration was embarking on critical industrialisation projects for the North to develop and progress.

He hailed the NEF for its determination to change the narrative and the efforts to place the region in its rightful place.

The NEF announced that the theme of the summit: Unlocking Northern Nigeria’s Mining, Agricultural and Power Potentials (MAP2035), is based on a 10-year blueprint for the transformation of the region.

The forum described it as a framework designed to reposition Northern Nigeria as a hub of innovation, industrialisation, and inclusive growth.

President Tinubu said: ‘The future of Nigeria’s prosperity is inseparable from the future of northern Nigeria. If we unlock the north’s minerals, we secure a new era of industrial competitiveness. If we unlock the North’s agriculture, we guarantee food security and global export leadership. If we unlock the north’s power, we ignite a wave of industrialisation that will employ millions of Nigerians.’

Edun noted that President Tinubu’s economic vision is geared towards building a strong, stable, and inclusive economy, for which the government clears obstacles out of the way, where the private sector provides the engine of growth and where every Nigerian can rise.

He added: ‘The North is not just a part of the country; it is the engine of the country. So, together, let us seize this moment to transform northern Nigeria into the powerhouse of Nigeria’s prosperity.

‘I warmly commend the Northern Elders Forum, the 19 states of Northern Nigeria, for convening this historic summit. The theme: Unlocking Strategic Opportunities in Mining, Agriculture, and Power, MAP for short, could not be more fitting because these sectors do represent the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and indeed the foundation for industrialisation.’

The minister examined the state of the economy and some of the achievements of the Tinubu administration since it assumed office 28 months ago.

He said: ‘In the second quarter of 2025, that’s just this last quarter, April to June, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Nigeria grew by 4.23 per cent, the strongest growth in a decade except for the COVID rebound era. The strongest growth in a decade, and since 2023, year-on-year growth has consistently been above three per cent, outpacing two per cent of the five to eight years previously.

‘More critically, industrial growth, where jobs are created, doubled year-on-year, while agriculture and services also expanded robustly. Inflation has begun to ease, 20.12 per cent in August, and it’s consistently, month after month, the last five months have been coming down.’

Edun said: ‘Our trade surplus, $7.4 trillion; reserves have risen to $42 billion. As we know, the naira has not only stabilised, it has even strengthened. But this progress is not by chance; it is a result of deliberate, intentional, and strategic policies anchored on the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and the Renewed Hope Agenda is anchored on economic transformation, inclusive growth, and national prosperity, but it recognizes the interconnected roles of finance, public policy, and technology in unlocking Nigeria’s full potential.

‘The key focus areas have been stabilizing the macroeconomic environment, creating jobs, reducing poverty, mobilising private sector investment, whether domestic, and focused on digital and financial innovation.

‘That’s why the President’s administration’s strategic reforms place mining, agriculture, and power in the North at the heart of our growth agenda. What are those opportunities? As we have just heard, the North holds some of the most valuable mineral deposits in Africa. Gold, lithium, tin, zinc, limestone, and coal are all available in the North, and new reforms are formalising artisanal mining, attracting credible investors, as we have heard earlier today in lithium, for example, and ensuring that host communities benefit directly.

‘And that is critical, ensuring that host communities benefit directly, thereby avoiding some of the problems that can come from when host communities feel left out.

‘So, we are building value chains so Nigeria no longer just exports raw materials, but also processes those raw materials into batteries, cement, and industrial inputs. Let me turn to agriculture.

‘With 70 per cent of Nigeria’s arable land located in the North, agriculture is both the region’s heritage and its future, and key to unlocking that agricultural potential is really the world. It’s things like the infrastructure that was referred to by the Chairman.

‘Key infrastructure, such as the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, will link so many states and their dams and their ability to provide irrigation, as well as link it all the way down to the South, all the way down to the ports. It’s that kind of transformational infrastructural development that is being undertaken under Mr. President’s Review of Hope agenda.

‘These are the things that are being done differently that give us tremendous optimism that at last some of the discussions which the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) was undertaking in the 1090s are now coming to fruition. The goal is to build agro-industrial corridors where crops don’t just feed the market but supply flour mills, textile factories, and export hubs.’

Speaking of efforts on energy revolution for the North’s industrialisation to attract investors, Edun noted that the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano-AKK Pipeline, protected when completed, would make the north an industrial hub.

‘Looking at power and industrialisation, energy, of course, is the oxygen of industrialisation. Without power, there can be no factories, no agro-processing, and no jobs at scale, which is what Nigeria needs. Of course, we now have the Ministry of Livestock Development, and that’s an important innovation that retains great value. But in terms of going back to power, we do have the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano-AKK-Pipeline. That is a strategic project.

‘It is almost completed, it will deliver natural gas for power generation and industrial use across the whole of northern Nigeria, and coupled with the Mission 300, which, as I said earlier, is unlocking about $32 billion in energy and industrial investment, we are laying the foundation for a northern Nigeria that is fully powered and industrialized.

‘Imagine a northern Nigeria where textiles in Kaduna, cement in Sokoto, fertiliser in Bauchi, agro-processing in Kano, and mining in Zamfara, are all powered by reliable and affordable energy.’

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal called for serious action to tackle the current insecurity bedeviling the region to attract investors.

He said; ‘The question before us, as leaders, is not what needs to be done but how we must collectively act to transform potential into prosperity, to attract the investment we so desperately need and to industrialise our region for the benefit of the entire nation. We must move beyond rhetoric and embrace a new paradigm of collaborative action.

‘Firstly, we must collectively secure people and investments. Security is the fundamental prerequisite for any meaningful development. Investors, both domestic and international, are not philanthropists; they are realists.

‘They will not commit capital where it is not safe. We, as leaders across the 19 northern states, must deepen our collaboration beyond politics. We must integrate our security architectures, share intelligence in real-time, and foster greater community policing to create a secure and predictable environment. A safe North is a bankable North.

‘Secondly, we must harmonise and simplify our policies. The current landscape, where investment policies and regulatory frameworks differ-and sometimes conflict-from one state to another, creates confusion and discourages large-scale, regional investment. We must work towards a ‘One-North’ Investment Policy. This would include harmonized land administration, streamlined approvals for mining and agriculture, and uniform tax incentives for strategic sectors. By presenting a united, predictable, and business-friendly front, we become a more attractive destination than any single state could be if it were to act alone.

‘In line with the above, I propose that the Northern States’ Governors’ Forum constitute a committee of our state investment promotion agencies to draft a unified Investment policy and regulatory framework which will be submitted to the NSGF secretariat for review and ratification.

‘Thirdly, we must commit to building enabling infrastructure, particularly in Power. No nation or region has ever industrialized with generators. The power sector is the engine room of industrialisation. Taking advantage of the Electricity Act 2023, we must pool our resources and political will to develop a Northern Power Strategy. This involves not just connecting to the national grid but aggressively investing in embedded generation from solar, hydro, and gas to create industrial clusters with dedicated, reliable power.’

He also stressed that; ‘Our fortunes are intertwined. Therefore, my call to action today is for a Northern Nigerian Economic Compact. A binding commitment among the 19 states to: Speak with One Voice on security and economic matters; Create a Single Window for major investors looking to do business across the region; Co-invest in critical infrastructure like power, rail, and fibre optics that connect our states.

‘By doing so, we will not only be unlocking the strategic opportunities in mining, agriculture, and power; we will be unlocking the immense potential of our people. We will create jobs for our youth, create wealth for our people, and contribute meaningfully to the food security and economic resilience of our nation, Nigeria.’

The Convener/NEF Chairman, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, who was represented by Air Marshal Al’amin Daggash (retd.), underscored the importance of the summit.

He noted that one of the major challenges that have impeded the industrialisation of the region is lack of critical infrastructures.

According to him, the summit is not political, nor is it ceremonial, but a mission for prosperity, a rallying call to action, and a decisive step toward building a sustainable economic future for Northern Nigeria.

He said: ‘We cannot delay any further. The resources are here, the people are ready, and the time is now. Let us be clear: if the North rises, Nigeria rises. If Nigeria rises, Africa rises

This summit marks the beginning of a decade-long journey. The North must walk it with determination, unity, and vision.

‘The backbone of Northern Nigeria’s economy, from colonial times through the early years of independence, was agriculture and an extensive network of rail lines. These facilitated the movement of groundnuts, cotton, hides and skins, and solid minerals to the coastal states-predominantly Lagos-for export.

‘That legacy demonstrates two enduring realities: The North has always been the engine room of Nigeria’s productive economy.

‘Our challenge has always been infrastructure to link our vast resources to markets.

‘Today, those realities remain unchanged. Northern Nigeria is blessed with abundant mineral wealth, fertile land, and vibrant human capital. But without modern infrastructure-railways, roads, power, and storage-the full value of these resources cannot be realized. This explains the growing preoccupation of government agencies and stakeholders with exploiting our region’s tremendous mineral resources.

‘Yet, as elders, we must stress: without corresponding infrastructure, these efforts will remain sub-optimal

Call for Deliberate Action; We, as elders, strongly believe that for government policies to deliver meaningful impact, there must be deliberate commitment to the mining sector and its related services.

‘Imagine the multiplier effect-industrial growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and renewed prosperity for our people-if mining is properly harnessed, linked to value chains, and supported by strong infrastructure.’

But the NEF boss also called for favorable financial inclusion of northern entrepreneurs in terms of project financing.

‘The Question of Finance. It is also pertinent to bring to the fore the issue of project financing.

‘We must express our continuous concern that unless the government and financial sector review their policies, businesses based in Northern Nigeria will remain disadvantaged.

‘The current practice where entrepreneurs can only access substantial credit if they hold properties in Lagos or Port Harcourt is unjust and exclusionary.’

Sir: Nigeria’s uniqueness as a nation lies in its entity and corperativeness, despite years of threatened balkanization by forces of dismemberment. The civil war years (1967-1970) remained a singular episode that buffeted its zeal for survival almost beyond its wits end, but God remained faithful and rather than bring the nation to its knees, the nation once again sprang up to its feet.

The June 12 presidential election annulment topsy-turvy was also an exercise in brinkmanship, but God saved the nation, it also wriggled out of what someone described as a national political catastrophy unleashed on her by an unfeeling and politically heartless leader.

Every four year’s general election to choose a new government has been likened to a war time, because of the large-scale destruction often accompanied by disloyal political contenders who are always bent on winning even when they knew their stakes were ridiculously low, and unabashedly out of political reality, yet God’s faithfulness continue to save the nation out of self-destruction.

The second uniqueness of our situation as a nation these past 65 years is the political stability that the country has recorded since 1999 to date. Many African countries are still under the yoke of military rule with its concomitant abrasiveness and loss of freedom and fundamental human rights.

Despite the lack of popularity of military rule in world politics, a horde of some African countries are still basking in such derisive euphoria with all its limitations in growth and development. But Nigeria has matured politically these past 25 years of civil rule to appreciate the role of uninterrupted democracy in national development.

Given the resolve of the present APC government, one can savely say that the country is on the threshold of total recovery of its past lost grounds.

A lot can still be achieved between now and 2027 if all drummers of diversionary politics will stop their beats and join all hands with the president to pilot the affairs of the country so that the policies and advocacies of the government for the over-all development of the country can be achieved.

Over time the excuse has been the problem of good leadership but in the past couple of years, the leadership has shown unparalleled commitment; with good followers to complement the zeal of the present crop of leadership, Nigeria will soon experience the socio-economic recovery and financial wellness that they have long advocated for.

At 65, even though not yet entirely Uhuru, there is ray of hope and greater hope at the end of the tunnel. The die is no longer cast any more. Rather, the hope is now ever more.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, declared that Nigeria is moving in the right direction with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms beginning to yield positive results.

He also appealed to Nigerians to endure the pains of the reforms for just a little while longer ‘in the interest of our children and future generations.’

Akpabio made the appeal in a statement personally signed by him to commemorate the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary.

The statement reads, ‘My dear resilient and wonderful people of this great nation, I wish to heartily congratulate you for witnessing Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary celebration. At 65, we are matured and should be working for the unity of the nation and prosperity of our people.

‘We salute your resilience, patience and endurance in the last two years. We deeply appreciate your support and understanding.

‘In line with the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘All hands are on deck for a greater Nigeria’, I urge you to continue to bear the temporary discomfort of the ongoing reforms. We are not unaware of the pains occasioned by the reforms, but I want to assure you, very soon, this will be a thing of the past because the benefits of the reforms are beginning to manifest positively.

‘Let me also congratulate our President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his demonstrated commitment to the peace and development of our dear country, Members of the National Assembly for the steadfastness in their legislative engagements, the judiciary and the Nigerian people at home and in diaspora on this auspicious occasion.

‘I must tell you that Nigeria is not finished. Do not buy into the mischievous narrative that Nigeria is irredeemable. We are on the right pedestal and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is reshaping the country; we are growing and making progress.

‘If we all join hands together to support the reforms, Nigeria will become better and surely get to the promised land.’

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, has declared his complete retirement from politics, affirming that his new role as monarch now defines his focus and responsibility.

Receiving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Senate President Iyorcha Ayu, and other dignitaries, the former Oyo State governor reminisced about his political journey and camaraderie with fellow leaders.

Oba Ladoja emphasized that his decision to step away from politics was final, stressing that he would dedicate his reign to upholding justice and fairness across Ibadanland.

He said, ‘I am no longer one of you. I am not a politician anymore. Welcome to my house.

‘Now that I am the Olubadan, I am no more interested in anything other than the Olubadan. You are welcome to my house

‘We started from SDP, we were in exile together, we were in PDP together. When I wanted to create an identity, I went to the Accord Party, which became a household name here. I know you politicians have a way of coming back.

‘All the religious leaders said that the only thing the leaders can do is to promote justice and fairness. I will serve my people. Ibadan people, Oyo State, Africa, and the world at large. I will depend on your support and advice’.

Leaders of the Federation of Ahlus-Sunnah Organizations in Nigeria (FASON) on Sunday paid royal homage to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade.

The delegation, led by FASON National Amir Sheikh Tajudeen Abdul Kareem Al Adabiyy, included the West Africa President of JIBWIS Dr. Abdullahi Bala Lau, National Vice President of the Supreme Council for Shari’a in Nigeria Sheikh Isa Solahudeen Akindele, and other prominent Islamic scholars.

They were joined by traditional rulers such as Oba Abdul Azeez Olatubosun Adebanji, the Akire of Ikire Ile, and Oba Qazeem Ilufemiloye I, the Olowu of Owu Ile, alongside academics including Professor Mutiullah Olasupo of the University of Abuja.

Sheikh Al Adabiyy said the visit was to offer prayers for the monarchs’ long life and successful reigns. Akindele, in his remarks, also appealed to the Olubadan to help curb land-grabbing challenges in Ibadanland.

‘We pray to Almighty God to grant you a long time and good health. We pray to God to give you the wisdom to direct the affairs successfully.

He said, ‘God will allow you to implement the good visions you have for this city and Nigeria in general. Many things that are not good are happening in the city, such as land grabbing. You have said that you will tackle these problems, God will give you the wisdom to do it’.

During the visit to the Alaafin, Sheik Al Adabiyy informed that the visit became necessary to pray for the traditional rulers.

While in Oyo, the group was received by the Khadeemul Musleemuun of Oyo Kingdom, Sheikh Daud Tijani Igi Ogun, and Aare Musulumi of Oyo, Alhaji Kamarise, in a brief but colourful reception at the JIBWIS group of school, a multilingual event anchored by Sheikh Tajudeen Imam of Prince and Princess Central Mosque, Abuja.

Sheik Al Adabiyy, while speaking, said, ‘We have come from different parts of the country; we have people who came from Abuja and other parts of the country here. The purpose of the visits is to pray for you for a long life and a successful reign

‘We are here to greet you, we are here to pray for you. We have been doing it when you were not there, we are now doing it in your presence. What we want is for God to grant you a long life’.

The Olubadan and the Alaafin, in their separate remarks, said that they were happy to receive the leaders of the Islamic organisation.

They thanked the organisation for the visit.

They urged them to continue in their prayers to promote peaceful coexistence in the country.

This is an unusual time – a dreadful one. We are not used to it. Lives are at stake. The anxiety is justified, and there is no dismissing people’s experiences and feelings – not by any inch.

Some have said we are in a state of war. It is their own way of saying it. However, in honor of the dead and to save everyone, this is a time to major only in the major.

So much has been said about the statement of the Nigerian Air Force which was issued yesterday. It has degenerated into arguments. Two things are at issue here: was there a statement on Monday September 29 by the NAF announcing an air strike on enemy position? Yes. The Air Force shared the statement on its official WhatsApp platform at 1:54pm yesterday. Some people claim the statement was not posted on their Facebook or other social handles. Does that invalidate its authenticity? No. Has the NAF disputed it issued the statement since it went viral yesterday? No. There is absolutely no basis for the disputations. Was there a security operation last night in the area of interest? Yes. There are pictures from the secret police, which was heavily involved in the operation last night.

Attached herewith are pictures from the DSS on the operation between Kogi and Kwara, in which several criminals were eliminated, and a screenshot from the NAF WhatsApp platform with editors.

What does the government gain in saying there was an operation if there was none? Many operations happen without getting to the media, legacy or new. When things are shared with the public, it is sometimes to keep our people at ease in times of tension. Nothing more. It serves no general good if we do not operate with minimal trust in times of crisis.

We should focus on the real issue, unite in the outrage against the enemies, and leave ‘fine, fine details’ for the good days. No one should have time for petty partisan bickering and twaddle now.

The other issue is the picture, which accompanied the NAF statement on different platforms. Yes, the NAF didn’t share its statement with the picture. But hey, what does that matter in the context of whether the operation happened? The problem would be if there was no engagement or airstrike at all, and someone just wrote a fiction and attached the picture. The strike happened. It did.

The news reporter in me took it further. At 3:11p.m. this afternoon, September 30, I spoke with the NAF spokesman Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame to confirm to me if he issued the statement. He confirmed he issued it! My call was to satisfy ‘all righteousness’. Multiple authoritative sources had earlier told me the airstrike took place.

News media (including Sahara Reporters) have used pictures from thousands of kilometers away to illustrate their stories – attached herewith are screenshots of news media using old pictures to illustrate new stories. What is the fuss about a picture of a previous air strike in Borno or Alabama accompanying the statement?

Politicians do not miss opportunities to wrong-foot their opponents. Average citizens who are concerned about all of us getting out of this crisis stronger and better as a community should not join such chitchat. It is not worth it.

Finally, and this is in good faith, there is no truth to the claim that DSS withdrew weapons from the forest guards at any time. The leadership of the forest guards has disputed this claim. The DSS, for its part, has expressed strong reservations about the demoralising, albeit false, claim which was made in a viral video. We pray to God to console the bereaved woman- and every other ones – but her claim is not true. This clarification does not in any way delegitimise her grief. Not at all. May God uphold her and others in her position.

We will get out of this stronger and safer. Let us remain United and calm, and refuse to be at daggers-drawn with ourselves. That will be a road to the Golgotha.

A non-governmental organisation aimed at cutting maternal mortality and improving reproductive health care, Maternal and Reproductive Health (MRH) Collective, has called on government, stakeholders, and institutions to intensify efforts in implementing formal maternal care among pregnant women and girls.

MRHC made this call at its Iyaloju initiative dissemination meeting on Monday, held at Sojourner by Genesis Hotel, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

The meeting was held to analyse the progress of the Iyaloju project, an initiative aimed at improving the use of primary health care for maternal services in Nigeria, where pregnant women lack access to skilled care.

The hall was full às government officials and community stakeholders, and civil society organisations strategising on the way forward.

Those who directed the event were Ðr. Olajumoke Oke, Mrs. Funmi Owosho, Dr. Chiamaka Uwalakà, and Ms Fehintoluwa Aluko.

Also àt the event were Mr. Uçhe Azubuike, Ms Damilolà Busari, Mr. Sodiq Owolabi, ànd Ms Mariàm Oladejo.

Mrs. Funmi Owosho moderated the panel session. Other panelists were Dr Iwayemi, Baale Àmusu Sunday, Mrs. Otiwa Christiana, Dr. Otakpor Uzoyieçhine, Felix Omomobi Oluwole, Dr. Àsiyànbi, ànd Mrs Sanni Afolabi.

With a power-point presentation, the initiative focused on improving the utilsation of skilled health maternal services (primary health care facilities) among vulnerable women and low-income urban women in Lagos State using strategies such as Emergency Obstetric Care training for Doctors and Nurses, Respectful Maternity Care Training for healthcare workers from all cadre, Data audit trainings for Health Information Managers, Community outreaches in communities and participatory forums. This project was implemented across 18 LGAs in Lagos State except for Alimosho and Ikorodu LGAs.

The programme seeks to ensure more women receive the quality care they need during pregnancy and childbirth.

Executive Director of MRHC, Dr. Olajumoke Oke, said that the forum was held to analyse findings, get feedback and insights from stakeholders of the Iyaloju initiative since it began.

She said that the forum was an avenue ‘to discuss and come up with recommendations that will significantly impact maternal health outcomes positively in the state.’

Oke said, ‘As policy makers, leaders and community influencers, your feedback is invaluable. So we are not just here to share our data, we are also here for your feedback, your insights, so that together, we can create a lasting impact on the state. We couldn’t have done any of what we have achieved in these three years alone.

‘That is why we call together all the stakeholders that have helped us to make it happen, from the Ministry of Health and Primary Health Care board who helped us and guided us from the inception, from the design phase down to the implementation stages and the end line, and the primary health care board especially, which played a crucial role in coordinating our activities within the health care facilities.

‘We can’t go on without mentioning also the community influencers who are the stakeholders that helped us to step down and explain our activities to the women that we serve and our media partners present today. We thank you once again, because without you, we might not be able to spread the word to the ends of the nation.’

During the meeting, MRHC discussed its research findings from when it began the Iyaloju Project, comparing baseline and endline data of facility and community evaluation. According to the organisation, a cross-sectional study was carried out among women aged 15 to 49 in 10 local governments in Lagos State based on the population size and low incomes.

MRHC revealed, ‘We used mixed methodology for our result findings, a cross-sectional study among women of reproductive age who have had at least one child or are currently pregnant at the time of data collection. The sampling procedure was a multi-stage one where we selected 10 LGAs based on those that had high population size and low-income communities, and within those LGAs, we identified purposes. We selected households by simple random sampling, then we recruited and interviewed respondents who consented to participate in the research study.

‘For the data collection procedure, the study population focused on women of reproductive age between the ages of 15 to 49 years. The data collection period for baseline was between the 12th of June and to 7th of August. 2023, and the endline was from the 3rd of March to the 9th of May 2025. The instrument used was a structured questionnaire where we asked questions on social demographic characteristics of the respondent, their reproductive history, and care-seeking behaviour during the most recent pregnancy, the place of delivery, and satisfaction with care received at the facility where they delivered. The total number of respondents surveyed in the community for baseline was 3651, and for end line, it was 3509. For the facility survey, the total number of respondents was 927 for baseline, and 963 for end line.’

From its findings, it stated that there was an increase in the perception of respondents in seeking formal maternal care at health centres, with deliveries from traditional birth attendants declining from 30.1% in 2023 to 24.6% in 2025, while deliveries in public and private hospitals rose from 39.1% to 40.7% and 30.8% to 34.7% respectively.

The organisation cited affordability as the main issue causing women to make use of traditional birth attendants, and also revealed that some women had no form of health insurance.

MRHC stated that changing health worker behaviour and community norms was a long-term initiative, adding that there was a need to sustain social behavioural interventions, to enable the norms to be integrated into the community and be institutionalized.

‘It’s very key for development, to invest in community engagement and health worker mentoring to ensure women feel comfortable with the formal health care system. Then there’s an urgent need to increase awareness around health insurance, especially for pregnant women and women in the communities generally. I think that the government should be able to lead this charge while we can support as much as we can.

‘We also recommend a strengthening of the accountability systems at the facilities, largely to evaluate the quality of care. What kind of care is being given? How are health workers interfacing with clients? Things of that nature should be evaluated, and there should be some form of accountability in the system. And in that way, we’ll see, and we’ll begin to record even better, respectful maternity care in the facilities’.

Giving an overview of the project, Chief Operating Officer of MRHC, Mrs. Funmi Owosho, said that the organisation aimed to create the opportunity for every African woman and girl to access information, resources, and quality health care that she needed to live a healthy and prosperous life.

Owosho said, ‘Our work at MRHC is anchored on three strategic pillars. We have the research arm, the programmes, and the advocacy arm. For research, we conduct rigorous studies to uncover the root causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria and across Africa. This includes examining barriers to accessing healthcare and assessing healthcare delays in emergencies. These insights guide the design of impactful interventions. Our research portfolio covers evaluations and feasibility studies, health system mapping, implementation, and participatory research, as well as clinical trials.

‘Currently, we have research projects being carried out across Nigeria, across Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and Gombe. Our programmes are community-focused, and these community-based interventions are designed to reach and support the most vulnerable women. And we’re currently implementing three flagship initiatives. First is the Iyaloju initiative, which is why we’re here today. And one major objective of the Iyaloju initiative is to generate demand for maternal healthcare by engaging communities to shift norms and increase health-seeking behaviour.’

Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement Manager of the MRHC, Dr Chiamaka Uwalaka, reiterated that the policy stakeholders meeting would ‘share insights from our intervention activities and research activities to policy makers, so that with the information we give to them, they can use it to also influence decision making.’

Uwalaka said, ‘We had this meeting in 2023 and in 2024 as well, and this is a policymakers meeting as well, but we brought up different other stakeholders to be part of it, because this is the closeout ceremony of the project’.

Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Oluwakemi Ogunyemi, acknowledged everyone present at the event, stating that the organisation had achieved a lot through the Iyaloju initiative.

She stated that no individual organisation could achieve milestones alone, hence the need for stakeholders, community leaders, and civil society members to always work together.

Ogunyemi also emphasised the commitment of her office in promoting policies that prioritise the well-being of women and children in the community.

Baytur-Rahmah Orphan Foundation has paid fees of N3.8 million to orphans for the first term of 2025/26 academic session.

Speaking at the New Session event at As-Siddiq Schools, Ketu, Chief Executive, Sherifah Yusuf-Ajibade, said N6 million was spent in 2024 on the welfare and education of orphans.

She said most of the fees were paid into the schools’ account

She said the intervention was continuous to ensure orphans are not denied quality education that will mould them into better members of society.

‘This journey is not one-off. It is a commitment to support orphans until they get the requisite education to ‘fish’ for themselves,’ she said.

She added the intervention run is for basic and tertiary.

‘We support 34 orphans from 20 families. Ten are in tertiary schools, while others are in nursery, primary, and secondary’, she said.

She said sponsoring orphans is one of the deeds that benefits Muslims after death.

‘Part of what continues to benefit a Muslim after death are benefits they brought to others. Sponsoring an orphan is one of such,” she said.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has been barred by the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja from cutting supplies of petroleum products to the $20 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals in Lagos.

Justice Emmanuel Subilim issued the order yesterday while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the refinery’s management. The motion was argued by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) George Ibrahim.

Also to be affected by the order are the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd, (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC),which are respondents to the motion.

The Federal Government also yesterday said the strike by PENGASSAN over the sack of 800 workers by Dangote Refinery was a matter of security concern.

The union members yesterday barricaded the entrances to the NNPCL, NMDPRA and NUPRC offices in Abuja, preventing their officials from gaining access till the Dangote Refinery recalled the sacked workers.

Dangote Refinery, in an affidavit supporting its motion at the industrial court, claimed that in recent times, it noted incidents of sabotage by some of the employees in the Lagos-based plant that raised issues of grave health concern and safety of human lives.

The company added that it came to an irresistible conclusion that there should be re-organisation in the plant, which led to 800 of its 3,000 workers losing their jobs last Thursday.

The management stated that it was surprised to see online reports the following day(Friday) that the workers were laid off because they joined PENGASSAN.

The company said it refuted the report via a statement in which it also explained it was not averse to employee unionising.

The management added that by a letter dated last Friday and allegedly circulated online by PENGASSAN through its General Secretary, Lamumba Okugbawa, the union wrote Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo, warning that its members would take action that would force the refinery to its knees if the sacked workers were not reabsorbed.

It added: ‘The first defendant issued a press statement on the 26th day of September, 2025, wherein it erroneously referred to the laying off of the workers by the claimant as anti-labour practices, alleging that the workers were being victimised because they joined the 1st defendant(PENGASSAN) as members of the union, which is not correct.

‘The first defendant is going to make good its threat to shut down operations of the claimant, knowing the strength of its membership across the country, unless the court intervenes.

‘The claimant’s plant was constructed with over $20 billion by its promoters to solve the energy problem of Nigeria that has been lingering for decades and has been sailing with good results to consumer satisfaction and have been making significant contribution to the economy of Nigeria, but the first defendant if allowed to make good its threat will undoubtedly plunge Nigeria into the dark days of energy dearth and crisis and again, jeopardise the livelihood of the Nigerian’s end users and consumers and negatively impact on the economy

‘The first defendant has not engaged the claimant with respect to a dispute, if any, before championing and calling for an industrial action against the claimant contrary to the extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

Ruling after listening to Dangote Refinery’s lawyer, George Ibrahim (SAN, Justice Subilim held that the balance of convenience is in favour of the claimant as the continuation of the strike would irreparably damage its business and cripple the provision of essential services to the Nigerian public.

The judge was of the view that it was in the interest of justice for the court to restrain the respondents to preserve the industrial peace and further aid the continuous provision of essential services to the public pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Justice Subilim, while granting the restraining order, directed that copies of the order be promptly served on the respondents, along with motion on notice.

He subsequently adjourned till October 13 for the hearing of the motion on notice.

PENGASSAN action is security concern to Fed Govt

Labour and Employment Minister Muhammad Dingyadi said yesterday that the strike by the PENGASSAN posed a significant security and economic concern to the Federal Government.

Before the meeting between the oil unions’ leaderships, Dangote Refinery representatives and the Government team went into a closed-door session, Dingyadi promised that the government would ensure that the strike didn’t escalate into a national emergency.

The meeting had Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and top officials from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in attendance.

Dingyadi admitted that the government initially underestimated the scale of the industrial action.

He said: ‘We didn’t know the magnitude of this strike. Initially, we thought it was just about Dangote Refinery, but we have now been informed that it has extended to affect NNPC and other subsidiaries in the oil and gas industry.

‘What is happening today(Monday) is of concern to this country, our economy, and the security of our nation.

‘PENGASSAN has always been very peaceful, and we know for a very long time they have never done this kind of thing.

‘We consider them as friends and as people who wish this country well. Their action must be understood as a reflection of deep concerns that deserve urgent and sincere attention.

‘We want to make sure that this face-off is not extended to the ordinary citizens of the country.

‘That is why we are taking urgent steps to act as conciliators, to resolve this issue amicably for the good of our workers, our economy, and the spirit of our nation.’

As at few minutes to midnight, the meeting was still ongoing.

Dangote Refinery assures consumers of steady supply

Also yesterday, the refinery authorities assured Nigerians of uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene and cooking gas.

The assurance came amid alleged planned attack on the refinery by some PENGASSAN members and hired thugs.

According to intelligence sources, the plotters intend to disrupt critical units of the facility, particularly those responsible for petrol production.

Sources said that the management has requested heightened protection and surveillance.

One of the sources alleged that the planned disruption was part of a broader strategy to undermine Nigeria’s progress in domestic refining and push the country back into dependence on imported fuel.

‘Despite the sabotaging acts of PENGASSAN and its allies, Dangote Refinery is determined to continue with uninterrupted production and supply of petroleum products to the Nigerian people and businesses,’ he said.

Dangote should apologise, says TUC

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) demanded an apology from the Dangote Refinery management over the dismissal of the workers.

‘We demand the reversal of the arbitrary dismissal of over 800 workers by Dangote. If that is done, the next thing that we demand is a public apology from the Dangote Refinery Management, with an assurance that such won’t be used against the union in the future,” the union said in a statement by its Secretary General, Nuhu Toro.

Toro accused the refinery management of giving the TUC a bad name for calling for the reinstatement of the dismissed workers

‘What Dangote simply did was to give us a bad name. The first thing he did was to violate the agreement we both signed, arising from the previous intervention, that no worker was going to be victimised,” he said.

He also dismissed the claim by the management that the affected workers were plotting to sabotage the firm’s operations

‘For Dangote to react, he has to hide under the guise of sabotage, which is debatable in my opinion, because by the time you say sabotage, you must be able to substantiate and provide evidence of who is sabotaging,’ Toro said.

NLC mobilises affiliates

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday directed its affiliates and members nationwide to immediately mobilise for what it described as a ‘full-scale, decisive engagement’ against the refinery for its alleged anti-worker practices.

The NLC directive is contained in an internal memo by its President, Joe Ajaero.

The NLC stated that the matter has moved beyond the individual struggles of PENGASSAN and NUPENG, becoming a broader fight for workers’ rights across the country.

The memo reads in part: ‘This letter serves as a formal and urgent request in response to the protracted and deliberate anti-worker crusade being waged by the Dangote Group against the Nigerian working class.

‘The ongoing battle with PENGASSAN and NUPENG is merely a symptom of a deeper sickness – a capitalist pathology of union-busting, worker enslavement, and gross impunity that defines the Group’s industrial relations strategy.’ The congress further accused Dangote Refinery of behaving like ‘a state within a state,’ and repeatedly violating Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, flouted International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98, and treated national labour laws with ‘utter disdain.’

It described the company’s operations as ”plantations of exploitation, where the dignity of the worker is systematically crushed to maximise profit for the few.’

The Congress added: ‘The time for pleading and endless, fruitless dialogue is over. The moment for decisive, collective action is now.

‘The impunity of the Dangote Group must be met with the resistance of organised labour.’

Nigeria’s sole representative at the IWF World Weightlifting Championship in Forde, Norway African Games and Commonwealth Games multiple gold medalists, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal will depart the country for the Scandinavian land today.

The competition will start from Thursday this week to 11th October with Lawal aiming to boost her chances of qualifying for the next year’s Commonwealth Games.

The Nigerian is expected to compete in the Women’s 58kg on October 4th and her decision to leave about five days to her event is to enable her to train in Norway and also to get acclimatized to the weather.

The Oyo-born weightlifter represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics where she placed fifth in the Women’s 59kg with a total lift of 230kg.

Lawal has been training very hard in anticipation of the competition and she told NWF Media that she’s doing all within her powers to finish on the podium and boost her chances of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games next year.

She said she’s thrilled with the spotlight on her and that she’s convinced she would give a good account of herself in Norway notwithstanding the weather and other factors.