Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has clarified that the three Executive Orders issued by President Bola Tinubu in March 2024 did not weaken or sideline the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.

This assurance was given during a Local Content Masterclass and panel session at the African Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa, where stakeholders examined Nigeria’s local content milestones, clarified misconceptions, and provided lessons for other African oil and gas-producing countries.

Panelists included NCDMB officials such as Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Director of Capacity Building; Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye, General Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation; and Ms. Fateemah Mohammed, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF). The session was moderated by the General Manager, and Corporate Communications, Obinna Ezeobi.

Engr. Bamidele explained that some industry players had misinterpreted the Presidential Directives to mean that compliance with the NOGICD Act was no longer mandatory. He clarified that the directives simply mandated the use of existing local capacities and eliminated middlemen from the contracting process.

The three orders cover Local Content Compliance, Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Costs and Timelines, and Tax Incentives for Oil and Gas Companies. To align with these directives, NCDMB streamlined its contract approval process from nine to five stages, reducing project costs and accelerating investment decisions.

Bamidele also disclosed that qualified international service companies can now obtain the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificates (NCEC) to participate in deepwater operations-an initiative expected to attract new investments. He added that NCDMB is advancing infrastructure projects such as the Brass Island Shipyard, supported by NLNG, and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks at Odukpani, Cross River State, and Emeyal-1, Bayelsa State.

Ajimijaye highlighted NCDMB’s robust monitoring systems that ensure compliance with the NOGICD Act. He noted that oil asset divestments have not reduced compliance levels, as indigenous operators have adopted established frameworks. He also stressed the importance of research and development, citing six Centres of Excellence in Nigerian universities and support for 15 innovative projects through the Board’s R and D Fund.

Speaking on financing, Ms. Mohammed explained that the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund provides single-digit loans to indigenous service companies. She outlined key schemes such as the ?50 billion Community Contractors Fund, which grants up to ?100 million to local contractors, and the $20 million Women in Oil and Gas Fund, managed by NEXIM Bank, to support women entrepreneurs.

She urged other African countries to adopt similar financing models to enhance local capacity, while reaffirming NCDMB’s commitment to expanding the Fund and partnering with financial institutions to unlock bigger projects

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Friday re-emphasized that no Nigerian mother should lose her life while giving birth, as she commissioned two major health facilities in Gombe State.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 100-bed Senator Oluremi Tinubu Maternal and Child Specialist Hospital, the First Lady described healthcare – particularly maternal and child health – as central to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

According to a statement issued by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady said ‘the commissioning of this hospital is not just the unveiling of a building; it is the opening of doors to life, to hope, and to a healthier future for our mothers and our children.

‘Healthcare, especially maternal and child health, is at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which seeks to ensure that every Nigerian child has a healthy start in life, and that no mother dies while birthing life’, Mrs. Tinubu declared.

She commended the Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for building the hospital, noting that the facility would significantly help reduce maternal and infant mortality while bringing relief to families in Gombe and neighboring states.

‘It is my belief that this facility will provide quality healthcare services, reduce maternal and infant mortality, and bring relief to families in Gombe State and beyond,’ the First Lady said, while urging medical professionals, community leaders, and citizens to ensure the facility serves its purpose with excellence, compassion, and integrity.

In addition to the specialist hospital, Senator Tinubu also commissioned the ultra-modern New College of Nursing and Midwifery, Gombe, where she interacted with enthusiastic students who expressed gratitude for her visit.

The First Lady’s engagements in Gombe form part of her ongoing nationwide advocacy for improved healthcare and education under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

She has since returned to Abuja after her two-day official visit to the state.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 100 kilometer stretch of the project to pass through Edo, correcting the initial alignment that excluded the State from the 700-kilometer route, it has emerged.

The extension of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to Edo State has been described as a strategic socio-economic intervention that will unlock new opportunities in trade, investment, and connectivity across the South-South corridor.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the approval during the Edo State Independence Day Gala Night at the State Villa in Benin City, where Governor Monday Okpebholo rallied support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid, citing his ongoing efforts to address decades of infrastructural decay that are beginning to yield results.

According to his Media aide, Uchenna Orji Inna statement on Friday, the Minister said the decision to extend the route through Edo was a demonstration of President Tinubu’s inclusive approach to development and his long-standing vision for a modern coastal highway.

Umahi explained that the project, first conceived 47 years ago by then-Governor Tinubu of Lagos, had suffered setbacks but was now a reality under the Renewed Hope agenda.

He noted that the revised alignment increased the project length from 700 to 750 kilometers, with the additional stretch captured in Edo State.

‘The coastal road was first dreamt by President Tinubu 47 years back. He contacted Governors who were in office with him, but unfortunately, the project could not take off.

‘But then, the route was made known, but unfortunately, the route did not pass through Edo State, very sad.

‘When you hear 700 kilometres, and today you hear 750 kilometres, you ask yourself where is the difference coming from, the difference is coming from here because a miracle Governor appeared on the State.

‘The President called me and said, This project must pass from Lagos to Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and to Cross River. That is why we are here.

‘Your Excellency, the President has given you 100 kilometers 2 of the coastal highway,’ Umahi told Governor Okpebholo and guests at the gala.

The Minister commended Edo people for their support for Tinubu administration and praised the governor for agreeing to intervene on critical sections of the Benin-Sapele-Warri highway, which he described as a deathtrap for motorists.

He applauded the quality of work being delivered by the contractor CBC on part of the road and directed them to remobilize fully, with strict supervision from the Works Ministry.

‘I want to thank you highly, for this intervention, and I want to thank CBC for the quality work we have seen. But we must see more. The controller must be giving me photographs of work done every day. We have to do more work at night,’ Umahi said.

He assured residents that the Federal Government remained committed to completing inherited road projects in Edo and across the country despite the huge infrastructural and funding deficits carried over from previous administrations.

Governor Okpebholo, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for correcting what he described as a historic omission by ensuring Edo was part of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

He said the gesture was proof of the President’s extraordinary love for the State and urged Edo people to stand firmly behind him as he seeks re-election in 2027.

The governor also hailed Umahi for his innovative approach to road construction, which he said guarantees quality and value for money.

He pledged that his administration would continue to complement federal efforts in infrastructure delivery.

‘A few days ago, I came to this axis on my way back, and what I saw almost made me weep. Knowing the number of vehicles that were on this road, the trailers that fell, I felt it should not be so.

‘The President is trying, and whoever is criticizing the President does not know what they are doing. However, criticism is also good because it serves as a wake-up call for all of us,’ Okpebholo said.

He explained that he invited the Minister because of the deplorable condition of the Benin-Sapele-Warri road, which he described as a daily ordeal for commuters.

‘Our people are crying out for this road to be fixed. For us to earn more votes, we need to do something about this place, whether it is the Federal Government or Edo State. The Benin people use this road the most, and they cannot go to work or come back from work without struggling.

‘That is why we need to fix this road so that it will be motorable. This is the essence of inviting you here,’ he added.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria can only defeat the Boko Haram insurgency when both the political and security leadership begin to think beyond the available narrative about the sect.

He added that documenting the experiences of those affected can help the country understand the issue and develop effective strategies to address it.

Obasanjo made this known while speaking as the chairman of the occasion at the public presentation of ‘Scars’, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, in Abuja, on Friday.

He said, ‘When in 2011, after Boko Haram had attacked the UN office here in Abuja, I went to Maiduguri to find out if there was Boko Haram, and what it was? Who were they? What are their objectives? What do they want? How can we satisfy them? And I found out, yes, there was Boko Haram. I found they were not really aiming for anything political or anything seriously religious. But people who were looking for a better life, and any other thing attached to that, are a better life for them.

‘Have we understood that? If we have, have we taken the steps that we should take? If we have, why is it that after 15 years, Boko Haram is now gradually becoming part of our lives? Should we accept that? If we do not accept it, what should we do? How much do we know?’

‘Even from the other side, and from this side, have we been active enough? Have we been proactive enough? I think we have to ask ourselves the necessary questions to be able to deal with this . something that is now becoming a monster within our country.’

The former president noted that while Nigeria has faced various security challenges since independence, Boko Haram stands out for persisting for over 15 years without resolution, largely due to a lack of proper understanding of the group.

He noted that General Irabor’s book examines the past to identify factors that could be hindering progress in the present and future, praising the courage of the author to say things as they were.

Obasanjo said, ‘I believe that is what you have tried to do in your book. There is normally the tendency of ‘don’t talk about it’, let’s leave it. And I believe that we will get out of that culture.

‘The history and life of any nation has the good, the bad, and the ugly. What is important is to look at it and to think about it. And when we have to find solutions, we may even look beyond what we can see. Let us think beyond what is available. And I think that is what you have done here.

‘I will urge and appeal to those who have things to say about this particular issue of Boko Haram to say it. We don’t even know where Boko Haram stops and banditry starts, and kidnapping begins. They are all mixed together.

‘And by the time we go, even those who have been on the other side, who have been part of a supporter of Boko Haram, for whatever Boko Haram is, let them write, let them speak up, and that way, we will be able to find solutions to these ugly problems,’ he added.

The federal government has renewed its calls for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to advance tourism as a key driver of sustainable national growth and development.

The government said tourism, if properly harnessed, has the potential to serve as a catalyst for economic growth, attract local and foreign investors, and stimulate entrepreneurship across communities.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti during the official launch of the Visit Ekiti Project, Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, noted that tourism development plays a vital role in preserving cultural heritage and legacies, projecting Nigeria’s image on the global map, and promoting national pride.

He also underscored the importance of youth empowerment within the tourism value chain, noting that young Nigerians must be placed at the centre of the process to unleash their creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit.

The minister reaffirmed the readiness of the federal government to collaborate with the visit Ekiti project to ensure that its core objectives translate into opportunities for the people, particularly the youth.

He described the project as a visionary platform to showcase the Ekiti natural endowments, festivals, and cultural heritage to the world.

Olawande added that the ministry would collaborate with the Visit Ekiti Project on programmes such as cultural exchange opportunities, training in hospitality and tour management, support for youth-led startups in eco-tourism, among other areas.

In his remarks, the Lead Creative Director of Visit Ekiti Project, Mr. Ayo Ogunro, said the initiative was primarily designed to project the state’s tourism potential to both local and international audiences.

He noted that the project would serve as a platform to reintroduce Ekiti state to the world as a destination of choice for culture, heritage, and leisure.

He described Visit Ekiti as a strategic blueprint for economic transformation, saying it would not only attract investors but also harness Ekiti’s abundant natural resources and unique cultural assets for growth.

He said that the project has the capacity to create jobs, empower communities, and inspire entrepreneurship, particularly among the youth who are expected to play a central role in its execution.

Ogunro, therefore, called on investors, partners, and residents to support the initiative, stressing that the dream of positioning Ekiti as a leading tourism hub in Nigeria could only be achieved through collective commitment and shared responsibility.

A medical expert, Dr. Abuh Raymond, and his co-coordinator, Sumayyah Muhammad Sani, have called for free distribution of sanitary pads to young girls in Nigeria, the same way condoms are often given out freely for sexual protection.

They made the call on Thursday in Kaduna while speaking on the launch of the ‘Pad the Girl Initiative’, a government-backed programme aimed at promoting health, dignity, and empowerment among young women.

The initiative, described as the first of its kind in the history of Kaduna State and Northern Nigeria, was rolled out by the Uba Sani administration on September 20 at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

It targets over 40,000 female students across tertiary institutions with free sanitary pads and menstrual health education.

Dr. Raymond and Sumayyah said the programme reflects ‘a bold, inclusive, and modern approach to governance under the visionary and compassionate leadership of Senator Uba Sani.’

According to them, menstrual health remains one of the least discussed yet most pressing challenges facing Nigerian girls, with many forced to miss classes or drop out of school due to lack of access to pads.

‘This initiative is a practical demonstration of the Governor’s belief that if condoms can be distributed free in the interest of public health, sanitary pads must also be free in the interest of women’s health and dignity,’ they said.

Governor Sani’s administration has also expanded scholarships for girls in STEM, strengthened laws against gender-based violence, promoted digital training, and supported vocational programmes for sustainable livelihoods.

Dr. Raymond and Sumayyah, who coordinate the Pad the Girl Initiative under the UBA Ambassadors Network, described the project as a ‘landmark intervention’ and a historic step towards ensuring that no girl in Kaduna State is denied education or dignity because of her gender.

‘Governor Uba Sani’s leadership is rewriting the narrative for Kaduna State and Northern Nigeria, ensuring equity and empowerment for the next generation. His unwavering commitment to the welfare of young women is truly making a difference,’ they added.

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has disbursed N5,604,205,998 to 1,198 former councillors, fulfilling outstanding entitlements and prompting the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Jibrin Falgore, to endorse him for a second term.

The APC councillors were denied their between 2018 to 2023 by the Abdullahi Ganduje administration, Yusuf said.

Five years after a prolonged delay, Governor Yusuf has settled over N5.6 billion severance and furniture allowances owed to councillors.

The Governor had earlier paid N1.8 billion in May 2025 to 903 former councillors who served between 2014 and 2017 as the first tranche. The second tranche of N5.6 billion is now being disbursed to 1,198 former councillors.

Speaking during the payment of the second tranche, an excited Falgore said, ‘The only way we can repay him is to reelect him in 2027.’

Governor Yusuf confirmed that bankers had been directed to begin crediting the councillors’ accounts immediately.

Governor Yusuf said he inherited the liability of N15.6 billion from the previous APC-led administration, which failed to pay its councillors that served between 2014 and 2020 across the 44 local government areas.

He described the payment as a defining moment for Kano State, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to restoring dignity, fairness, and justice to those who served at the grassroots level.

‘These are moments when we rise above the ordinary to restore dignity, fairness, and justice to those who have served with loyalty and dedication. Today, by the grace of Allah, is one of the defining moments in the history of Kano State.

‘It is my belief that many of you have already started receiving your alerts, as I instructed the bankers to begin crediting your accounts even before I finished my speech,’ Yusuf added.

He further assured that preparations were underway for the third and final tranche amounting to N8.2 billion which will cover 1,371 former councillors. He said the final payment is expected to be disbursed by the second week of November.

Yusuf stressed that the initiative was not just a financial obligation but a means to strengthen trust between the government and its people.

The governor added that government is not only about building roads, schools, or hospitals. It is also about building trust and honoring those who have served.

The Chief Executive Officer of Luxe by Glamoholic and founder of the Lachlan Foundation, Ambassador Dr. Princess Akawor has been honoured with the UNIPGC and Jewel Howard Taylor Leadership Excellence and Distinguished Personality Award at the Global Leadership Investment Summit and Peace Awards (GLISPA).

It was held at the House of Lords, UK Parliament.

The international recognition, organisers said, celebrates Akawor’s transformational leadership, advocacy for peaceful coexistence, and contributions to good governance.

A seasoned entrepreneur with over 15 years in the fashion industry, Akawor leads Luxe by Glamoholic, a brand with outlets in three major Nigerian cities.

She is also renowned for using her platform to empower women and support vulnerable communities through the Lachlan Foundation.

Armed with a degree in Biomedical Technology from the University of Port Harcourt, she has successfully blended science and fashion to emerge as one of Africa’s outstanding female entrepreneurs.

With this award, the Nigerian fashion icon joins a growing list of local and international recognitions for her impact across business, leadership, and humanitarian service.

Abia Warriors and Kwara United secured crucial home wins in their rescheduled games played yesterday to move up the ladder of the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Both were involved in CAF Confederation Cup games and were eliminated by Djoliba Athletic Club of Mali and Asante Kotoko of Ghana in the first preliminary round.

Abia Warriors beat Remo Stars 2-0 through the goals of Emeka Obioma and Sunday Megwo in the 28th and 60th minutes. The second goal came from the penalty spot. With the victory, Abia Warriors have moved to the fourth spot with nine points from five games while the Sky Blue Stars slid to the 14th spot with seven points from five games.

The Umuchineke Boys will travel to Ilorin as guests of Kwara United who triumphed over Plateau United 2-1 in another rescheduled game dubbed the North Central derby played yesterday in Ilorin.

Junior Aimufua put the Harmony Boys in the lead in the dying minute of the first half. The Peace Boys equalised in the 58th minute through Vincent Temitope but Kwara United had the last laugh when Aule Johnmark struck in the 79th minute off a goal mouth scramble.

Kwara United have moved to the seventh spot with eight points.

Lagos, the Centre of Excellence, would ne bursting at its seams tomorrow, October 4, by playing host to the grand finale of the biggest 7-aside football competition at the Showtime Arena, Lekki.

Abuja’s Energy FC-known for their imperious form-will battle it out against Lagos’ own Snowlions FC in what promises to be one of the most electrifying encounters in the tournament’s history. While Energy FC will be hoping to return the trophy to Abuja, the Snowlions are determined to defend their turf in front of a passionate home crowd.

Adding extra spice to the event, some of Nigeria’s top music stars-Zlatan Ibile, Mayorkun, L.A.X, Ibroking, and Blaqbonez-will headline a novelty celebrity match promoting unity and peace.

Dignitaries expected at the finals include Mr. Adeboye Adeyinka (SSA Grassroots Sports Development), Chief Adaralegbe Akintayo (Chairman, TPumpy Concept), Hon. Nasir Ja’oji (SSA President on Citizenship and Leadership), Mr. Dami Orimoloye (SSA Sports to Governor Sanwo-Olu), Ayo Amusan (Country Manager, Puma NG) and other special guests from MTN, DevonKings, Moremonee and Nigerian Breweries.

The event will be a vibrant mix of football, music, and entertainment, with both male and female celebrity matches scheduled to thrill fans before the grand finale.

This year’s showdown marks only the second time in seven years the national final will be staged in Lagos. The last time, at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Abuja’s 12Strong FC defeated Warri’s Obodo Starlights under the floodlights.

Certainly, all eyes would be Lekki, where no question would be asked when defending champions Energy FC stake their claim against the ambitious Snowlions on their home soil with the kick-off slated for 3:00pm prompt.