Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Manchester City are facing 115 charges from the Premier League over alleged breaches of the competition’s financial rules spanning nine seasons between 2009 and 2018.

The charges, announced by the Premier League in February 2023, relate largely to allegations that the club failed to provide accurate financial information and did not comply with financial regulations.

City have denied wrongdoing and have contested the allegations.

1. The charges cover a nine-year period

The Premier League alleges that Manchester City breached its financial rules over nine seasons, from the 2009/10 campaign through to 2017/18.

The allegations centre on the accuracy of the club’s financial information, including revenue, expenditure and remuneration.

2. 54 charges relate to financial information

The largest category involves 54 alleged breaches for failing to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information between 2009 and 2018.

The information in question includes details relating to the club’s revenue, sponsorship income and other financial matters.

3. 14 charges concern player and manager payments

City are also accused of 14 breaches involving the failure to provide accurate financial reports concerning player and manager compensation between 2009 and 2018.

One of the allegations concerns the actual remuneration received by a manager. The Premier League alleges that the club failed to fully disclose the financial arrangements surrounding the manager’s pay.

4. Five charges involve UEFA’s financial rules

The Premier League alleges that City failed to comply with UEFA’s regulations, including Financial Fair Play rules, on five occasions.

The allegations cover a five-year period.

5. Seven charges relate to Premier League profitability rules

City are accused of seven breaches of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability regulations between 2015 and 2018.

These rules are designed to place limits on the losses clubs can incur over a specified period.

6. 35 charges concern the Premier League’s investigation

The final category accounts for 35 charges relating to alleged failures to co-operate with Premier League investigations between 2018 and 2023.

The Premier League says City were required to provide information and documents during its investigation into the club’s finances.

Here’s a full list of all the charges:

54 – Failure to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information (2009-2018)

14 – Failure to provide accurate financial reports concerning player and manager compensation (2009-2018)

5 – Failure to comply with UEFA regulations, including Financial Fair Play rules

7 – Breaches of Premier League Profitability and Sustainability regulations (2015-2018)

35 – Failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations (2018-2023)

Former D’Tigers coach Ayodele Bakare has urged Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) stakeholders to judge presidency aspirant Olumide Oyedeji on his documented record and personal responsibilities, not on his links to past administrations.

Bakare, who owns Comets Basketball Club, made the call in a statement issued on Thursday, reacting to a position taken by Coach Eleniyan on Oyedeji’s career.

‘Nobody is saying that Mr. Olumide Oyedeji’s playing career should shield him from scrutiny. It should not,’ Bakare quoted Eleniyan as saying.

Oyedeji, a former Nigeria captain, was part of the NBBF leadership structure during the 2017 crisis and later served as South-West representative on the board elected in 2022. Bakare said this should prompt specific questions about the duties assigned to him, the decisions he took and their outcomes, rather than blanket blame for every decision of those boards.

‘If someone has evidence that Mr. Oyedeji personally made a particular decision, mishandled a particular responsibility, or was personally responsible for a particular failure, then let that evidence be presented and examined,’ the statement said.

Bakare listed initiatives he attributed to Oyedeji’s time as League Chairman:

*Measures on player welfare, salary payments, scheduling and recovery periods for teams

*Welfare provisions for referees, statisticians and match commissioners

*Sponsorship deals involving Peak and the All-Star Games

*Expansion of the women’s league into five phases in Abuja, Kaduna, Asaba, Ibadan and Lagos, with 18 teams

*The Kwese Elite Future Camp for experienced and emerging coaches

He also cited Oyedeji’s grassroots work, including basketball camps in Kano, Jos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Osogbo, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Abeokuta, Akure and Lagos. Other programmes named were the Rising Stars Basketball Championship, the National Intercollegiate Basketball Championship and the Hoops and Read Basketball Club.

Bakare added that Oyedeji’s involvement with Dolphins Basketball Club, winners of the 2025/2026 Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League, showed his club-level contribution.

He said the same scrutiny should apply to every aspirant, with delegates given documented records, responsibilities and proposed ideas to assess.

‘Ask the questions. Demand the evidence. Examine the record,’ Bakare quoted Eleniyan as saying.

Africa must strengthen its capacity to deliver the payment systems, efficient borders and infrastructure that businesses need to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Secretary-General, AfCFTA Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, has said.

He gave the advice to project professionals at Project Management Institute (PMI’s) Global Summit Series in Cape Town, South Africa during a fireside conversation with PMI’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, George Asamani.

Mene outlined the work needed to turn continental trade commitments into easier access to markets.

The priorities include aligning national policies, modernising customs and enabling cross-border payments in local currencies.

Speaking under the summit theme: Africa Delivers M.O.R.E. Together, he urged professionals across infrastructure, construction, agriculture, services and customs to consider how their expertise could help connect African economies.

‘We all have a contribution to creating a single integrated market,’ Mene said.

He illustrated the cost of fragmented markets through a transaction between businesses in Ghana and Kenya. Despite trading within Africa, the businesses may need to purchase a third currency, typically the US dollar, to complete payment. He estimated the associated currency conversion costs across the continent at approximately $5 billion annually.

Mene pointed to the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), developed by Afreximbank in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat, as a practical response. The system enables cross-border payments in local currencies, reducing reliance on third currencies. The payments example showed why the mechanics of integration matter to businesses. The ability to trade across borders depends on the systems supporting each transaction, as well as the agreement itself. Reducing friction in those systems can help make access to a continental market commercially useful.

Making trade easier also requires customs authorities to apply agreed rules and governments to align domestic policies with continental commitments.

Asamani connected those requirements to the skills needed to deliver programmes involving multiple institutions and countries.

He said: ‘A continental agreement becomes meaningful when a business can use it. That depends on people who can coordinate institutions, manage risk, deliver reliable systems and keep the intended benefit in view. Project management provides the discipline to carry a policy commitment through to a service that businesses can use.’

Mene also addressed concerns about the impact of liberalisation on domestic industries. He explained that the agreement includes safeguards and that adjustment support can help sectors facing disruption as markets open. ‘We have rules that protect infant industries in a country,’ he added.

He emphasised the need to assess potential losses and support affected businesses, with domestic reform and continental cooperation working together to help firms compete in larger markets. Infrastructure remains central to that effort. Mene called for greater attention to project preparation and trade infrastructure, alongside digital investment. He highlighted the role of the Digital Trade Protocol in creating conditions for investment in emerging technologies and data centres.

That makes project preparation an important part of the integration agenda. Planning must account for how infrastructure will connect with customs processes, digital services and the institutions responsible for operating them. The value of each investment depends partly on whether these connections function effectively. For project professionals, the challenge extends beyond completing individual assets – payment platforms, transport connections and customs systems must work across institutional and national boundaries.

‘Africa needs more project professionals equipped to deliver across these boundaries. Investing in their capabilities strengthens our ability to build infrastructure, implement digital systems and make public institutions more effective. It also gives African talent a greater role in delivering the projects that will shape the continent’s future,’ Asamani said.

The discussion linked Africa’s talent development agenda to the practical demands of integration, with professionals helping institutions translate shared objectives into coordinated delivery across sectors and participating African countries.

For Mene, the ultimate test of AfCFTA is whether businesses can enter new markets at lower cost and with less administrative burden. Delivering those benefits will determine how effectively continental integration translates into commercial opportunity.

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s transportation sector have called for an integrated transport system linking road, rail, waterways and aviation to reduce logistics costs, ease congestion and support economic growth. They made the call at the 2026 Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) summit in Lagos, themed ‘Unlocking Economic Growth Through Transportation Logistics.’

Representing the Lagos State Governor, the Special Adviser on Marine and Blue Economy, Emmanuel Damilola, said Lagos could no longer rely solely on roads to meet the transportation needs of its growing population and economy. He said more than 540,000 people lived in waterfront communities, many depending on water transport for mobility and livelihoods.

Damilola said the state was implementing the pound 410 million Omi Eko project to establish a modern inland waterways system, with 15 structured ferry routes, 140 kilometres of dredged waterways, 25 upgraded terminals and 78 modern electric ferries. The project is financed by the European Investment Bank, AFD, European Union and Lagos State Government, with additional private sector participation.

He said the project would integrate water transport with rail, buses, private vehicles and park and ride facilities to improve first mile and last mile connectivity. Citing the Ikorodu to Falomo route, he said a journey that could take more than an hour by road could be completed in about 25 to 30 minutes by water.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Aderibigbe, said Nigeria needed a transport system in which rail, road, maritime, inland waterways and aviation complemented one another.

Opeifa said rail was particularly important for moving large volumes of passengers and bulk freight over long distances, reducing pressure on highways and logistics costs. He said the NRC was expanding freight operations and improving connections between rail lines, seaports, inland dry ports, industrial centres and major economic corridors.

‘The future of Nigeria’s transportation sector must also be driven by stronger partnerships. Government alone cannot provide all the infrastructure and investment required,’ he said, calling for greater private sector participation in rolling stock, freight terminals and logistics hubs. He also urged stakeholders to protect railway infrastructure from vandalism and encroachment.

Representing the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Director, Inland Transport Services, NPERA, Mr Paul Garnuwa, said Nigeria’s waterways should form part of an integrated national logistics network.

The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), represented by the Lagos Area Manager, said the country’s rivers, creeks, lagoons and inland waterways could provide efficient corridors for passengers and bulk cargo when properly connected to roads, rail and ports.

NIWA called for greater investment in terminals, jetties, vessel development and logistics, while stressing safety compliance. It also advocated digital tracking, electronic documentation, vessel monitoring and data driven planning to make inland water transportation safer and more predictable.

The Waterfront Boat Owners and Transporters Association of Nigeria (WABOTAN) called for sustained investment in inland waterways, describing water transport as a potential driver of economic activity.

Its National Public Relations Officer, Chief Raymond Gold, said members transported commuters, traders and goods across waterways, particularly in areas where road transport was inefficient or inaccessible. He called for investment in jetties, safety infrastructure and operator training.

‘Economic growth through logistics will only be truly unlocked when all four modes of transport are seen as partners rather than parallel silos,’ Gold said.

The Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), in a goodwill message delivered by its National Secretary General, Mohammed Sani Bala, urged government to address infrastructure and operational bottlenecks affecting the maritime logistics chain.

AMATO called for improved roads and port infrastructure, weigh bridges, truck marshalling yards, stronger intermodal connections and digitalised logistics operations. It also demanded action against illegal checkpoints and extortion and sought CNG palliatives for heavy duty truck operators.

The association said adequate truck parks and marshalling facilities would reduce indiscriminate parking on highways and port access roads, while a more efficient logistics system would lower costs, improve competitiveness and support investment and job creation.

The stakeholders agreed that Nigeria’s transportation challenge required coordinated investment in infrastructure, regulation, safety, technology and private sector participation rather than isolated development of individual transport modes.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) disclosed that more than $57 billion in Field Development Plans had been approved since 2024, with another 22 major offshore projects expected between 2026 and 2030 carrying estimated investment potential of $30 billion to $50 billion.

The NUPRC Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan said the figures underscored the need to move from investment commitments to actual project delivery.

‘The priority now is execution. Approvals and investment commitments are important, but their real value is realised when projects move and new volumes come onstream.’

Represented by the Director, Surface Development.at the Commission, Mr. Joseph Ogunsola, she said Nigeria averaged about 1.68 million barrels per day of crude oil and condensate in August 2026, with crude production meeting the country’s OPEC quota for the fourth consecutive month.

She spoke yesterday at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Association of Energy Correspondents, Abuja FCT (AECAF), themed, ‘Sustaining Oil and Gas Investment in Nigeria Amid Energy Transition.’

According to her, the development provided a stronger base for the country’s ambition of reaching two million barrels per day in the near term and three million barrels per day by 2030.

She added that achieving the targets would require bringing viable shut-in volumes back onstream, reducing production losses and ensuring operators progressed credible work programmes.

‘For me, the starting point is economic value. Nigeria has a significant petroleum resource base, but resources in the ground do not, by themselves, create prosperity.

‘This is why our responsibility at the Commission goes beyond regulating activity, we remain focused on creating the conditions that allow good projects to progress without incumberance.’

Eyesan said investors needed clarity on regulations and timelines before committing long-term capital, stressing that regulatory predictability and speed remained critical.

She said the Commission was staying closer to projects, identifying bottlenecks and resolving them early enough to keep investment decisions moving, while holding operators accountable for their commitments.

‘We have to spend less time admiring the opportunity and more time converting it. Our role as regulator is not to stand in the way of investment neither is it to lower the standards required to protect Nigeria’s interest.

‘The task is to regulate in a way that gives credible investors the certainty to deploy capital and the confidence to remain. I have said before that we want to grow the pie, because when you grow the pie, everybody benefits.’

Eyesan said sustaining investment also required the industry to remain competitive as investors increasingly assessed the efficiency of resource development and production alongside project economics.

She said the Commission’s Upstream Oil and Gas Decarbonisation and Sustainability Blueprint was designed to integrate decarbonisation considerations into new developments from the Field Development Plan stage.

She added that operators would be expected to consider energy efficiency, gas utilisation, flaring and emissions performance alongside the technical and commercial fundamentals of projects.

Earlier, Chairman of AECAF, Mr. John Ofikhenua said the conference was aimed at examining how Nigeria could retain and renew investor confidence in the hydrocarbon industry amid the global shift towards cleaner energy.

He said investment had repeatedly been affected by major global developments and domestic policy decisions, citing the United States shale boom, COVID-19 and the global energy transition.

According to him the energy transition had triggered divestments from Nigeria’s onshore oil assets, while subsequent geopolitical developments, particularly the Russia-Ukraine war, had demonstrated the continuing strategic importance of oil and gas to global energy security.

Ofikhenua said renewed investor interest in opportunities such as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Initial Public Offering and NUPRC’s oil and gas field bid rounds offered Nigeria an opportunity to consolidate investment flows.

He urged government to maintain stable policies, implement the PIA and strengthen security, particularly in the Niger Delta.

‘Experience from coverage of the beat has been that of complaint over policy summersaults. Nigeria can only sustain investors confidence with enduring and stable policies.’

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo called for sustained policy stability, regulatory certainty, improved security and faster project execution to attract and retain investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry as the global energy transition reshapes the sector.

Ekpo, represented by his Senior Technical Adviser, Abel Nsa, said Nigeria’s challenge was no longer simply having abundant oil and gas resources, but creating an investment environment capable of converting those resources into industrialisation, jobs, infrastructure and improved living standards.

He said: ‘Our task is therefore not simply to produce hydrocarbons, but to create an investment environment that enables these resources to support industrialisation, job creation, infrastructure development and improved living standards.

‘This requires a sustained commitment to policy stability, regulatory certainty, fiscal competitiveness, security and efficient project delivery.’

The minister said implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and ongoing reforms in the petroleum sector were designed to provide greater clarity for investors, strengthen regulatory institutions and create a more competitive operating environment.

He, however, acknowledged that legislation alone could not guarantee investment, stressing that investors also needed confidence in consistent policy implementation and efficient project execution.

Ekpo said government was particularly focused on leveraging Nigeria’s gas resources as a catalyst for economic transformation through the Decade of Gas Initiative.

According to him, the initiative seeks to move gas beyond its traditional role as an export commodity by expanding its use in power generation, manufacturing, fertiliser production, petrochemicals, transportation and other productive sectors.

He identified the AKK and OB3 gas pipelines, gas processing, LNG and other midstream projects as critical infrastructure required to connect Nigeria’s gas resources to markets.

The minister also said government was promoting LPG and CNG expansion to improve access to cleaner and more affordable energy for households, businesses and industries.

On energy transition, Ekpo said Nigeria’s strategy must reflect its development realities, particularly the millions of Nigerians who still lacked reliable electricity and access to cleaner cooking fuels.

‘Natural gas therefore has an important role to play as a transition fuel and as an enabler of industrialisation.’

The Group Managing Director/CEO, Dangote Cement, Mr Arvind Pathak, has outlined the company’s growth roadmap and funding strategy.

He spoke at the Dangote Cement Capital Markets Day presentation in London,

According to him, the next phase of expansion will add about 25 million tonnes to the company’s capacity, bringing it to 80 million tonnes.

The philosophy, he said, is to press the levers to achieve the goal through brownfield expansions.

‘The majority of the investments are in brownfields, and that is by design. We want to grow Pan-Africa so that we get the advantage of scale, which Nigeria enjoys,’ he added.

He explained that brownfield expansions offer significant advantages, including lower capital expenditure, faster execution timelines, and a payback of 2.5 years, noting that the company has already acquired land and extended power lines and water infrastructure to the factory locations, reducing cost and time to execute projects.

Pathak noted that the new capacity requirements are driven by demands across the group’s operations.

The company recently inaugurated a grinding plant and has additional expansions planned, including projects such as Srirangam in India and capacity additions in Cameroon and Senegal, which will require more clinker.

‘A very sizable percentage of it, around 60 per cent, will come from our own clinker, which ultimately leads to better utilisation of our output. The balance is a mixture of third-party customers and focuses on market areas with adjoining countries,’ he said.

On funding, the Managing Director said the Company intends to finance the CAPEX expansion primarily from internal sources while retaining room for debt if needed.

‘The first one is strong cash flow, which you can see is very strong. The second is that we have very good supplier credit systems, whereby you can take on equipment and pay for it later. This makes this project very easy to fund, and we can conserve cash,’ he stated.

He added that Dangote Cement’s leverage is currently very healthy at 0.1 times, actually negative, which provides additional headroom for any funding, but strong cash flow remains the first and primary source for the project.

The GMD stressed that by leveraging scale, reducing costs and increasing volume across Pan-African operations, the Company will replicate the successful low-cost model it adopted in Nigeria, positioning itself as the last man standing in competitive markets.

The NIgerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) recorded N45.44billion revenue collection shortfall in July 2026.

This was made known in its latest Commercial Performance Factsheet that was released yesterday.

The Factsheet also said the transaction represented Collection Efficiency of 81.95 per cent.

It was an improvement of 2.25 percentage points month-on-month.

The factsheet also showed that the DisCos received a total of N333.94billion worth of energy during the month but billed customers only N250.79billion, representing a Billing Efficiency of 75.10 per cent, a decline of 1.14 percentage points from June 2026.

NERC said while the DisCos were allowed an average tariff of N130.15 per kilowatt-hour, they were only able to collect an actual average of N97.50/kWh, placing the industry’s Recovery Efficiency at 74.91 per cent, up 0.67 percentage points from the previous month.

Eko Disco recorded the highest Recovery Efficiency in the industry at 94.67 per cent, a rise of 7.62 percentage points from June, and was also the only DisCo whose Collection Efficiency, at 101.78 per cent, exceeded 100 per cent for the month.

Port Harcourt Disco followed with a Recovery Efficiency of 84.95 per cent, though the figure dropped 1.38 percentage points compared to June, while Benin Disco completed the top three at 79.15 per cent, despite a decline of 3.07 percentage points.

At the other end of the table, Kaduna Disco posted the lowest Recovery Efficiency at 39.71 per cent, followed by Jos Disco at 46.27 per cent and Kano Disco at 55.41 per cent, with the three companies classified as ‘Red’ performers on the Commission’s rating scale.

Yola Disco recorded the sharpest improvement during the month, with its Collection Efficiency rising by 20.34 percentage points to 88.92 per cent and its Recovery Efficiency climbing 12.44 percentage points to 78.24 per cent, while Kano posted the second-highest gain, with its Recovery Efficiency up 11.37 percentage points.

Under NERC’s rating classification, DisCos with a Recovery Rate below 50 per cent are marked ‘Red’, those between 50 and 80 per cent are marked ‘Amber’, while those at 80 per cent and above are marked ‘Green.’

The Federal Character Commissioner representing Oyo State, Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, has felicitated with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on the occasion of his 82nd birthday and first anniversary on the throne.

In a congratulatory message issued through his Media Aide, Oladiipo Adegoke, Prince Aleshinloye described the monarch as an accomplished politician, administrator, elder statesman and revered traditional ruler, whose wealth of experience has continued to contribute positively to the development of Ibadanland.

According to him, since ascending the throne, Oba Ladoja has demonstrated exemplary leadership by deploying his vast experience, wisdom and connections to advance the interests of Ibadanland and its people.

He commended the Olubadan for promoting peace and unity, discouraging the excesses associated with the ‘Omo onile’ phenomenon, and redefining the role of traditional institutions by transforming royalty into a platform for meaningful development.

The APC Chieftain further noted that the monarch’s tenure has been characterised by visionary leadership, unity, peace and development, adding that his contributions have strengthened the bond between the traditional institution and the socio-economic aspirations of the people.

The former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Oyo State, prayed for the Olubadan to be blessed with long life, sound health, peace and a long, successful and impactful reign.

He expressed confidence that Ibadanland would continue to witness greater development and progress under the leadership of the revered monarch.

Injured Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has confirmed he will be at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on Friday to support his teammates in their AFCON 2027 qualifier against Madagascar.

The Galatasaray forward was left out of Coach Éric Chelle’s squad because of injury, but he will be in the stands when the match kicks off at 5pm Nigerian time.

‘Of course, I will be in Uyo to support my teammates, though I won’t be involved in the match on the field,’ Osimhen told NationSport. ‘They need all the support, so I will be in Uyo to boost their morale.’

His absence is a considerable blow to the Super Eagles. Osimhen is the team’s leading scorer and has been the focal point of the attack for several years. His pace, movement and finishing have repeatedly given Nigeria an edge in tight games, and he is widely rated among Africa’s most dangerous forwards.

Without him, Chelle must look to other options up front. Coventry City’s Taiwo Awoniyi is among those expected to fill the void as Nigeria chase a strong start to their ‘Pamoja 2027’ qualifying campaign.

The Madagascar tie is the first of a double-header. The Super Eagles then travel to face Guinea-Bissau at the 24 September Stadium in Bissau on Tuesday, 29 September.

Osimhen’s presence in Uyo is expected to lift morale in a squad that will feel the loss of its most prolific marksman.

Lagos State Government has launched a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Policy, with stakeholders calling for stronger coordination among states and institutions to tackle violence against women, children and other vulnerable persons.

The policy was unveiled yesterday at the National Convening of GBV State Coordinators.

The theme was ‘Strengthening a Unified and Coordinated Response to Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria.’

Welcoming participants to the two-day event, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), stressed the need for stronger coordination among states and institutions in tackling gender-based violence.

Pedro said the launch of the state’s policy would further strengthen the prevention framework and provide a structured approach to addressing the root causes of gender-based violence.

He said the fight against GBV requires more than isolated interventions, stressing the importance of collaboration among justice-sector institutions, law enforcement agencies, health and social-welfare providers, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and communities.

According to him, stronger coordination would help close gaps in prevention, reporting, referral, protection and access to justice for survivors.

The opening session featured goodwill messages from the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Alogba; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi(SAN); and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

The Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS was also represented at the event.

Speaking through the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the battle against gender-based violence cannot be won by government alone.

He said families, schools, communities, traditional institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations and government have roles to play in preventing violence and protecting vulnerable Nigerians.

According to the governor, government must provide the leadership, systems and accountability required to bring the various efforts together.

He stressed the need to ensure that survivors do not have to navigate a maze of institutions before accessing assistance.

‘When survivors reach out for help, there must not be a maze of institutions between that person and justice. There must be a pathway to care, a pathway to justice and, ultimately, a pathway to healing and restoration,’ the governor said.

Sanwo-Olu revealed that more than 3,000 cases of domestic and sexual violence were handled through the state’s response system between September 2021 and July 2023.

He said each case represented a human life affected by violence and underscored the need for stronger prevention and response mechanisms.

The governor said Lagos has strengthened its institutions, response mechanisms, survivor support, access to justice, public awareness and prevention programmes, but added that more needed to be done.

He described the national convening as an opportunity for states to share experiences, identify gaps and learn from one another’s successes and challenges.

Sanwo-Olu said safety and dignity should be treated as a common national interest, while stressing the need to build institutions and systems capable of surviving changes in political and administrative leadership.

He stressed that policies must not merely exist as documents but should translate into measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

The governor also called for a change in social attitudes that allow violence to persist, including silence around abuse, stigma against survivors and the tendency to excuse perpetrators.

He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening institutions, protecting and supporting survivors, improving access to justice, deepening collaboration and addressing misconduct.

Also, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who was represented by Mrs Lawson Olubunmi, said gender-based violence remained a persistent violation of human dignity in the country.

He said that survivors have continued to face barriers in reporting incidents, accessing protective services and obtaining timely justice despite progress in legislation and institutional development.

She identified fragmented response systems, weak inter-agency collaboration and inconsistent case management as some of the challenges undermining the fight against GBV.

The minister called for closer cooperation among the judiciary, prosecution, law enforcement, legal-aid providers, health and social-welfare agencies, civil society organisations, and traditional and community structures.

Fagbemi stressed the need for stronger referral systems, standardised case-management protocols, reliable data collection and effective accountability mechanisms.

The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Claudiana Sanwo-Olu, called for sustained commitment and collective action to prevent GBV and protect women, children and other vulnerable persons.