Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has launched a ‘go cashless policy’ at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, to block revenue leakages and improve seamless operations.

FAAN also stated that it will be phasing out physical cash payments at all FAAN revenue points, including access gates, car parks, and VIP lounges, by Q1 of 2026.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, said the initiative means faster, more secure transactions, an end to delays of cash handling and long queues.

Speaking during the launch at the Abuja airport on Monday, Mrs. Kuku said continued reliance on physical currency causes delays, operational inefficiencies, and vulnerabilities in revenue collection.

Kuku, represented by the Director of Commercial and Business Development, Ms. Adebola Agunbiade, outlined the policy’s benefits.

She said, ‘Effective September 29th, 2025, we have started phasing out physical cash at all FAAN revenue points, including access gates, car parks, and VIP lounges.

‘The benefits are clear. A faster, smoother journey from the access gate to the parking lot for passengers and enhanced security, as you no longer need to carry large amounts of cash.

‘For FAAN and the nation, it means optimised revenue collection, significantly reduced leakage, and a robust financial accountability system.

‘We have begun this rollout strategically, starting with the access gates and lounges at the beginning, and subsequently, to all FAAN-managed airports across the country.’

On when the initiative will be fully operational, she said, ‘The card is being activated for only FAAN-managed revenue points and within this first pilot phase, we expect to increase our revenue by 50 per cent. By the time we go fully cashless, we expect to be doing between 75 per cent and 100 per cent growth on the revenue we currently do today.

‘Everybody sees our figures; they are not hidden. What we are trying to do is to ensure that we are collecting 100 per cent of all the revenue for the federal government.

‘Today, between Lagos and Abuja, we have roughly about 300,000 motorists who go through our access gate. That gives you a vague idea of what we generate from just the access gate. We haven’t considered the car parks, we haven’t considered the lounges.

‘So rest assured that by the time we roll out this program fully, which we hope will be by Q1 next year, we should be able to double the revenue we are currently making from it.

‘We have given ourselves a target of six months. And we hope that by the end of Q1, we will have phased out, totally, cash collections within the airport. So by Q1 next year, we’re totally phasing cash out at FAAN.’

Nigeria’s foremost policymakers, business executives, and thought leaders gathered at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on September 5-6 for the National Leadership Conference (NLC 2025), organised by the GOTNI Leadership Centre.

Themed ‘Transforming Minds. Inspiring Results.’, the two-day event featured robust discussions on leadership, innovation, and national development, with a focus on addressing Nigeria’s governance, security, economic, and youth empowerment challenges.

Among the keynote speakers were former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; Maj. Gen. Garba Ayodeji Wahab (rtd.); UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Attafuah; and EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot.

Convener of the conference and President of the GOTNI Leadership Centre, Dr. Linus Okorie, stressed the importance of leadership anchored on purpose, impact, and legacy.

‘NLC 2025 is about equipping leaders to make informed decisions and drive measurable change in Nigeria,’ he said.

The conference featured interactive workshops and masterclasses designed to build capacity in performance-driven leadership, strategic decision-making, and wealth creation.

Delegates also enjoyed networking sessions that fostered collaboration among CEOs, founders, and policymakers.

By merging local insights with global perspectives, NLC 2025 reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to nurturing transformational leaders capable of driving sustainable development and inclusive growth.

A support group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Abia Best Interest Association (ABIA), has called on the former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to ensure transparency and accountability from Abia state governor, Alex Otti, over what it described as ‘massive revenue inflow’ to the state.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the group’s convener, Hon. Eze Chikamnayo, criticised Obi for constantly faulting the federal government while allegedly ignoring governance issues in the only state controlled by his party.

Chikamnayo accused the Otti administration of operating a system ‘marked by corruption, impunity, and lack of transparency,’ saying it contradicted the values Obi often preaches.

‘If we talk about accountability at the federal level and refuse to talk about it at the state and local government levels, we make ourselves hypocrites and undermine the essence of good governance in Nigeria,’ he said.

‘We have a message for Mr. Peter Obi. He is galivanting to Indonesia, going to India, and even going to Egypt to look for a model on how Nigeria should be governed. I say to him: Stop this hypocrisy. You don’t need to go abroad. Go to Abia State – the only Labour Party state in Nigeria – and ask Mr. Alex Otti how the N54 billion meant for education was taken for Smart Schools, yet no single school is to be found,’ Chikamnayo added.

Ahead of the 2027 governorship election, the APC group also cautioned Governor Otti against plans to defect to the APC, saying he would not be welcomed and would face defeat from ‘competent and loyal members’ of the party in the state.

He said, ‘We will not welcome Mr. Alex Otti with his excess baggage, and with his corruption, and with his lack of transparency, and with his lack of accountability to the APC at the state.

‘Anybody who is thinking that he is going to cooperate with Mr. Alex Otti continued his era of complete intimidation, his era of complete impunity, his era of complete anarchy in Abia State by joining APC through the backdoor, such a person is day-dreaming

‘Abia State APC has in its kitty competent men who are capable of joining hands with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make sure that APC and the Renewed Hope Agenda are made available to the people of Abia State, both at the state and the local government levels.

‘So, we are set to replace Mr. Alex Otti in 2027 with the APC government that will make sure that the Renewed Hope Agenda is spread to the grassroots in Abia State.’

Dismissing the propaganda that the incumbent is unbeatable, Chikamnayo said, ‘People who are saying that Alex Otti is not beatable are building castles in the air. Mr Alex Otti knows within his heart that he is completely using the machinery of media propaganda and manipulation to build an image that doesn’t exist.

‘The reality in Abia state today is that civil servants are being repressed, the reality on the ground in Abia state today is that there are phantom projects that used to siphon billions of Abia money without accountability and transparency.

‘The reality in Abia state today is that Abians are yearning for liberation, and that liberation must come to pass in 2027. Alex Otti will be roundly defeated in 2027 because Abia people are tired of his rule that has become a rule of tyranny and a complete rule of confusion.’

For the second straight year, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), the publisher of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, has won the 2025 Golden World Award (GWA) from the International Public Relations Association (IPRA).

The prestigious prize was presented at the body’s 70th anniversary in Ghana. The historic event featured the inauguration of IPRA’s new President, Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah, the first African woman to assume the role. She succeeds Natasa Pavlovic Bujas.

Established in 1990, the Golden World Awards – regarded as the ‘Oscars of Public Relations’ – celebrate campaigns that exemplify excellence, ethics, and impact. The 2025 gala, the first-ever hosted on African soil, coincided with Ghana’s Institute of Public Relations’ 50th anniversary.

The NCS-IMPR partnership topped the Publication category with a book titled ‘Impactful Public Relations in Customs Management,’ which highlights innovative PR strategies implemented under the leadership of Comptroller-General Wale Adeniyi.

It comprises practical case studies and engagement tools, and illustrates how strategic communication can enhance an institution’s reputation through transparency, boost revenue through stakeholder engagement, and reinforce national security through effective crisis communication.orsed by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), the 162-page publication co-authored by Kabir Abdulsalam and Maryam Na’Allah also received commendation from Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Receiving the award in Accra, Nigeria Customs spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, remarked, ‘This honour reaffirms the power of communication in building institutional credibility. Under CG Adeniyi, our service has embraced transparency, innovation, and accountability.’

Dr. Sule Yau Sule, Chairman of IMPR’s Board of Directors, described the honour as a testament to public-private collaboration in strategic communication: ‘This recognition proves that Nigerian agencies can compete globally. PR is not just for publicity; it is a tool for reform and public trust.’

The latest accolade came after the 2024 GWA win in Belgrade, Serbia, where the ‘100 Days of Impactful PR at Customs Service’ campaign triumphed in the Crisis Management category, positioning the NCS as a global benchmark for reform-driven government communication.

Led by CEO Yushau Shuaib, IMPR has secured IPRA awards for nine consecutive years since 2016. It was named the Most Creative PR Agency Worldwide in 2020 by the Global Creativity Index (GCI) published by PRovoke Media, organisers of the SABRE Awards.

Professor Mahmood Yakubu will in a few weeks be bowing out as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after 10 years in the saddle. He makes history as the longest serving helmsman of the electoral body, having been in office for two terms of five years each. He was tapped to the job subject to Senate clearance in November 2015 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who also reappointed him to a second tenure in December 2020.

Yakubu presided over two presidential elections (2019 and 2023), just like his immediate predecessor, Professor Attahiru Jega, who umpired the 2011 and 2015 polls although within a single tenure in his own case.

Besides the 2019 and 2023 general elections, Yakubu also presided over INEC’s conduct of no fewer than 19 end-of-tenure and off-cycle governorship elections, and more than 300 supplementary polls into legislative houses at both state and national levels. His tenure at INEC is hallmarked by extensive reforms – both in terms of changes to the electoral legal framework and digitisation of the electoral process.

It is under Yakubu’s leadership that election schedules have become calendared: for instance, national elections are slated for the third Saturday in February of an election year and state elections a fortnight after.

Following this pattern, the commission has already fixed the dates for the conduct of the next 10 general elections spanning 2027 to 2063. This should help all stakeholders, including political actors and election observers, to plan ahead and work towards better coordination with the electoral commission.

Among changes to the legal framework under Yakubu, the 2022 Electoral Act amendment has legally enshrined the use of digital tools in the electoral process, unlike the 2010 amendment that did not make that provision and allowed for successful legal challenge of the use of Smart Card Readers by the Jega-led commission in the 2015 general election.

Retaining permanent voter cards (PVCs) that was introduced by the former commission, Yakubu upscaled the use of technology by way of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), a digital device that combines fingerprint and facial recognition in ascertaining the identity of voters before they are allowed to cast their ballots. This has been a game-changer that severely curtailed voter impersonation and multiple voting – tendencies that had plagued the Nigerian electoral system.

His leadership also introduced the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, an innovative platform that allows the public to track polling unit results as they are uploaded in real time during polls, ahead of collation at constituency levels.

IReV has been successfully deployed at governorship and other lower constituency polls. It suffered a glitch during the 2023 presidential election, however, and the attendant controversy is the lowest point of Yakubu’s tenure at INEC. But its backup protected the election’s integrity.

The electoral body under Yakubu has also fully moved online nomination of candidates by political parties, applications by political associations to be registered as parties, as well as application for accreditation as election observers by observer groups and journalists, among other processes.

Another major stride of Yakubu’s leadership at INEC is the facilitation of increased access of voters to the polls. Hitherto, creation of additional polling units was a political hot button that compelled the previous commission to make do with splitting unduly large centres among the 119,973 polling units created in 1996 into sub-units known as voting points.

Yakubu, however, managed to pull off transforming those voting points into autonomous units, leaving the country with 176,846 polling units that were operated for the 2023 general election. The size of the voter register has also swelled from some 68.83million registrants that Yakubu inherited in 2015 to 93.5million registrants on roll before the 2023 general election.

Since 2023, there has also been continuous voter registration on a standardised – as opposed to previously ad hoc – basis that has brought millions more voters onto the register. The flip side, though, is that the ballooning voter roll has also translated into dwindling percentage turnout of voters, because increasing voter population that is not matched by proportionately increasing quantum turnout at elections only shows up as inverse percentage turnout.

A monument to Yakubu’s shortfall in office, however, is his failure to usher in electronic voting in Nigeria’s electoral system.

Perhaps the strongest point of Yakubu’s leadership at INEC was his entry point. He consolidated on the achievements of the Jega commission and didn’t go reinventing the wheel, and was thus able to tremendously improve the performance of the commission, more so with the advantage of time that he had.

Like his predecessor, the outgoing INEC boss comported himself with civilised restraint in the face of virulent criticisms. This has helped to keep political temperature on the leash and allowed no manoeuvring room for mischievous inciters; and naturally, the country has been better for it.

The appointment of Sarah Mullaly as the new archbishop of Canterbury has touched off not a little controversy in Christendom.

The contention is that a woman is not permitted by scripture to lead the people of God. Those who make such claims often cite passages of the Bible.

For instance, Paul roared to Timothy, ‘I suffer not a woman to teach or usurp authority over the man.’ To the Corinthians, he urged that the woman should ‘learn in silence.’

Other points are that Jesus Christ did not pick a woman among the 12 apostles and 70 disciples. Paul’s assertion ‘Let a bishop be blameless, a husband of one wife,’ presumes that a bishop must be a man. Yet in Old and New Testaments, we have women who, with the blessings of God, could be described as called by God. The word prophet means ‘to call.’

We have Mariam, Deborah, wife of Isaiah, Jezebel, Huldah, Noadiah and Anna.

Mariam fell out of favour for rebellion. But the most distinguished of them all was Deborah, who the Bible announces glowingly: ‘Deborah, the prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, judged Israel at that time.’ Huldah affirmed the book of the law to Josiah.

Anna was called a prophetess at the time of Christ’s birth. Jezebel was a false prophet. She was never anointed. Just like male impostors. You can be anointed and God can take it away, as God did to Saul. Hence David begged God not to take the holy spirit from him.

Paul is known to have mixed his opinion with revelations. It takes discerning to distinguish them. After all, he himself wrote, ‘the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet.’

It may well be that Men are God’s preferences but it may also be because, in Bible times, God was working through, not necessarily affirming, a patriarchal world, a world that placed women in a leash. That may explain why Jesus chose only men.

Yet, Mary Magdalene played great role in Jesus’ life. And can we forget that the first evangelist of Christianity were women who saw an empty grave and proclaimed that He has risen? Is that not all the essence of Christianity. The 11 apostles hid their tails behind their legs. Even Paul asserted that if Christ did not rise from the grave, then the faith is in vain.

Men always bit the woman’s neck like a hunting cat throughout history.

A woman in charge challenges the hubris of the ages. Men often underplay the power of women. Great men from Sisera to Sheba died by a woman’s cunning.

And General Namaan regained his limbs by a maid’s counsel. Scriptures show men do not monopolise strategy. Some say God allows women to reign only when men fail. But when have men not failed in history? Just like when God backed the Zelophehad daughters on inheritance rights. Or when Esther led her fellow Jews to freedom.

Maybe women don’t want to remain under the bushel anymore. Neither does the Almighty. It is time for them to take charge and the holy spirit may be behind them. The problem with religion is that we superimpose culture on it. Church is not a man’s world. It is Christ’s.

An irony: a king wed and divorced a woman for England to divorce the Catholic Church and start the Anglican Church. If King Henry VIII shed Ann Boleyn to beget the Church of England, Archbishop Mullaly may be enjoying history’s revenge.

The 762.5 per cent leap, said Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), indicates renewed investor confidence in the nation’s energy sector.

NUPRC, in a statement highlighting its successes in the last four years, expects the number of rigs to increase in the coming months.

The commission, however, revealed that it identified 400 dormant oil fields during the period.

The statement yesterday by its spokesman, Eniola Akinkuotu, was titled: ”Rising Rig Count: As a testament to the renewed vigour in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector.”

NUPRC also explained that it approved 79 Field Development Plans (FDPs) between 2024 and 2025, with estimated investments valued at $39.98 billion. This comprises $20.55billion in 2024 and $19.43billion in 2025.’

The commission, which put current crude oil production at 1.65mbpd, projected the figure to 2.5 Mbpd in 2027.

It added that crude oil theft has dropped by 90 per cent with the combined efforts of ”General Security Forces and a private security contractor, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited.

The statement partly reads: ‘The latest rig count of 69 which comprises 40 active rigs, eight on standby, five on warm stack, four on cold stack and 12 on the move, represents a 762.5 per cent increase in barely four years.”

On dormant oil fields, the commission said: ‘We successfully identified 400 dormant oil fields and have also propelled complacent oil companies to take quick action.’

NUPRC explained that its successes in the past four years align with the charge of President Tinubu that Nigeria is ready for business and that the right investment climate prevails now in the Nigerian upstream sector.

NUPRC listed 16 high-impact post-Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) successes, saying they were attained despite challenges it inherited from the pre-Petroleum Industry Act era.

One of the achievements was surpassing the revenue targets.

The commission said that in 2022, 2023 and 2024, it surpassed its revenue target by 18.3 per cent, 14.65 per cent and 84.2 per cent, respectively.

On transparent bid rounds, NUPRC recalled that before its establishment, licensing rounds were clouded by political influence.

NUPRC said in line with the PIA and with the support of President Tinubu, it began implementation of the ‘Drill or Drop’ policy which prescribes that unexplored acreages are to be relinquished.

The commission added: ‘ We approved divestments running into billions of dollars in 2024. From the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to Oando Energy Resources; Equinor to Chappal Energies; Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to Seplat Energies; and Shell Development Company Nigeria Limited to Renaissance Africa Energy.

‘The divestment is about investor portfolio re-ordering to focus on deep-offshore development.”

To give meaning to the intent of the PIA, the commission, in consultation with stakeholders, developed 24 forward-thinking Regulations out of which 19 have been gazetted.

On gas flare commercialisation, NUPRC said it has completed awards of flare sites to successful bidders under the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP).

The programme is aimed at eliminating gas flaring and attracting at least $2.5 billion in investments.

It also said that Host Community Development Trusts have remitted N122.34billion and over $168.91 million as of the first week of this month to oil host communities.

NUPRC added that it was currently overseeing at least 536 projects, including schools, health centres, roads and vocational centres in the oil host communities.

The projects, according to the commission, are being funded by the trust fund.

Abuja-based Energy FC put up an imperious performance and silenced the home crowd with a commanding 4-1 victory over Snowlions FC of Lagos to retain their 5Stars Premier League title in Lagos on Saturday.

Despite playing away from home, Energy FC showed no signs of intimidation, displaying composure, teamwork and clinical finishing to ensure the prestigious trophy returned to the capital – marking back-to-back victories for Abuja-based teams in the competition.

Star of the night, Titus Ayuba, delivered a master class performance that earned him the Man of the Match award, netting a brace and orchestrating much of Energy FC’s attacking brilliance.

For Lagos fans, however, it was another night of heartbreak, as the city’s teams continue to chase an elusive first 5Stars Premier League title.

The grand finale wasn’t just about football – it was a spectacle. The entertainment segment featured top celebrities including Zlatan, Skiibii, L.A.X, Ibroking, Kanaga Jr., and Sexy Steel, who traded the stage for the pitch, showcasing their football flair in a lighthearted exhibition.

Energy FC walked away with a ?1.5 million cash prize, while runners-up Snowlions FC received ?800,000. The regional runners-up from Abuja and Lagos each earned ?350,000.

Dignitaries who graced the medal and trophy presentation included Dr. Lakinbofa Goodluck, MTN’s Public Relations Manager; Mr. Adanklounon Cyrile, representing the Ambassador of Benin Republic to Nigeria; Mr. Chinedu, representing Nigerian Breweries; League Ambassador Mr. Ibrahim Bakare (Ibroking); and Mr. Desmond Emenike, among others.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it was closely monitoring the remaining banks yet to meet the recapitalisation requirements.

The apex bank had recently stated that 14 banks had already met the new minimum capital base for their functions.

Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Hakama Sidi Ali, who spoke in Abuja during the ‘CBN Special Day’ at the 20th Abuja International Trade Fair, said the apex bank, under the leadership of Governor Olayemi Cardoso, remains committed to tackling economic challenges and strengthening the resilience of the Nigerian financial system.

According to her, the CBN has continued to sustain a stable and sound banking sector despite prevailing macroeconomic pressures.

‘The CBN has continued to address pockets of macroeconomic challenges confronting the Nigerian economy, ensuring that the banking system remains robust and resilient, with most financial soundness indicators staying within their respective prudential benchmarks,’ Sidi Ali said.

She explained that the recapitalisation exercise is part of broader reforms to safeguard the financial system, deepen productivity, and prepare the economy against external shocks.

She said the bank is leading the evolution of Nigeria’s payments system through innovation. ‘The Bank’s Payment Systems Vision 2028 is a bold initiative to future-proof Nigeria’s payments ecosystem, aiming to broaden financial inclusion in rural areas, improve security, and minimise downtime for faster, safer, and more efficient transactions,’ she said.

Sidi Ali stressed that achieving economic sustainability rests on three pillars – a strong financial system, a stable foreign exchange market that supports planning, and effective collaboration between monetary and fiscal authorities.

According to her, these efforts are beginning to yield results. ‘Our external reserves reached $43.05 billion on September 11, 2025, up from $40.51 billion at the end of July 2025,’ she disclosed.

On currency management, she reiterated the bank’s commitment to ensuring the availability of clean Naira notes, urging Nigerians to treat the currency with respect.

She said: ‘We urge you to see the Naira as our vital symbol of national identity. Respect it and keep it clean. Do not spray, hawk, mutilate, or counterfeit the Naira. Be ambassadors of the Bank’s clean Naira notes, as the CBN cannot do it alone. Our Naira, Our Pride’.

Director General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Mr. Agabaidu Jideani, commended the CBN for its role in supporting business growth and ensuring macroeconomic stability.

‘For the business community represented by ACCI, the CBN is not just a regulator but a vital enabler of growth. Through access to credit facilities, intervention funds, forex management, and financial inclusion strategies, the CBN has opened opportunities for our members, particularly MSMEs, to thrive in a competitive environment,’ Jideani said.

He noted that the bank’s efforts in stabilising inflation, promoting innovation, and enhancing financial transparency are essential for business sustainability.

He said: ‘The rollout of the Open Banking Framework, expansion of contactless payments, regulatory sandbox for fintech innovation, and continued support for MSMEs are crucial milestones.

‘These initiatives provide businesses with easier access to finance, safer payment channels, improved forex transparency, and innovative financial solutions that address the peculiarities of our economy’.

Jideani also acknowledged the CBN’s contributions to youth empowerment, capacity building, and targeted sectoral interventions in agriculture, housing, healthcare, and education. ‘These efforts not only reduce barriers to doing business but also de-risk critical sectors for private investment, creating a more inclusive and resilient economy,’ he said.

He added that the business community appreciates the Bank’s deliberate steps toward fostering an environment where enterprises can innovate, expand, and contribute meaningfully to national development.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged the international community to disregard the allegation of genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

It said the claims were unfounded.

The ministry’s spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said the claims were a gross misrepresentation of the complex security situation and a dangerous oversimplification of the nation’s challenges.

Speaking with The Nation, Ebienfa said: ‘I must state categorically that the allegations are false and baseless. The Federal Government of Nigeria unequivocally refutes these unwarranted allegations in their entirety. They represent a gross misrepresentation of the complex security situation in Nigeria and a dangerous oversimplification of the challenges we face as a nation.

‘Such claims are not only false but are also irresponsible, as they threaten to undermine the unity, interfaith harmony, and national sovereignty of Nigeria.

‘As you are aware, Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious society where over 230 million people of diverse faiths, chiefly Christianity and Islam, have co-existed and thrived together for generations. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion for every citizen. The government remains steadfast in its duty to protect this right for all Nigerians, irrespective of their creed.

‘The ministry, therefore, calls upon the international community to disregard these unfounded allegations and to instead support Nigeria’s efforts in combating terrorism and banditry.’