Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has charged chief executives of federal parastatals to take the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to the grassroots and counter what he described as disinformation surrounding the government’s economic reforms.

Akume said Nigerians must be adequately informed about the objectives and impact of the administration’s policies, insisting that the reforms were not designed to ‘imprison or impoverish Nigerians’.

The SGF spoke on Friday in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Forum of CEOs of Federal Parastatals, led by its Convener and Chairman, Dr Kazeem Kolawale Raji, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).

Akume, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens, urged heads of government agencies to use their nationwide structures and networks to improve public understanding of the administration’s programmes and achievements.

In a statement issued by Head of Information and Public Relations Department of the OSGF, Chris Ugwuegbulam, Akume said ‘in your various domains where your power is operative, ensure that people become aware of these achievements. Push this message down to the grassroots, because one thing I’ve observed in the policy right now is a lot of disinformation.

‘This reform policy is not meant to imprison or impoverish Nigerians, and that is the narrative that has been spread down to the grassroots. Push this message to help promote the image of this administration’, the SGF said.

Akume commended the forum for promoting the Renewed Hope Agenda within its members’ respective agencies and assured the chief executives of the institutional support of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) in pursuing their objectives.

He also thanked the forum for conferring on him the position of Grand Patron, saying its organisational structure and projections made its proposed target of mobilising 10 million votes for President Tinubu achievable.

The SGF urged the forum to sustain its momentum and establish a structured framework for continuous engagement with the OSGF, stressing that effective communication would enable the government to track its objectives and strategic initiatives.

Earlier, Raji said the forum was prepared to mobilise 10 million votes for President Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 general election through what he described as lawful, ethical, peaceful and issue-based grassroots engagement.

He said the forum intended to leverage the extensive professional and community networks of federal agencies across the country to pursue the target.

Raji said one of the forum’s major objectives was to bridge the communication gap between government policies and Nigerians, adding that the achievements, reforms and measurable outcomes of the Tinubu administration must be properly documented and communicated with fidelity to facts.

He said the forum conferred the position of Grand Patron on Akume in recognition of his leadership, institutional stewardship and role in coordinating the machinery of the Federal Government.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, Dr Chidiebere John Ezeamama, urged the forum to establish a work-related communication network with the OSGF to ensure that achievements of federal parastatals were transmitted to the office in real time for proper documentation.

Ezeamama also proposed the creation of a centralised digital platform to facilitate real-time information sharing, coordinate participation among federal agencies and track developmental milestones.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Niger State Command has seized five bags of cannabis from a premises in Maitumbi, Minna and declared the owner, Isah Sani, wanted for alleged illegal storage and dealing in the drug.

The seizure took place on September 16, this year, according to a statement by the State Commander, Alhaji Shehu Gwadabawa.

During the same period, the command said it also arrested four other suspects which include Attah Shamaki who was arrested in Rijau with 150 grams of cannabis, Nura Ibrahim Bako and Abbas Mustapha, who were arrested on Suleja-Tafa Road with one kilogram of cannabis and Yusuf Salisu who was arrested in Beji, Bosso Local Government Area, with one bag of cannabis.

The Commander said the suspects are in custody and under investigation, adding that they would be charged before the Federal High Court in Minna after the investigations were completed.

The NDLEA state Command appealed to residents to provide useful information on illegal drug activities in their communities.

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.

Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (‘Sterling Financial’ or ‘the Group’) has commenced its approved share capital reconstruction, consolidating every ten existing ordinary shares into one new ordinary share.

Following the expansion of its equity base and balance sheet, this exercise is designed to improve capital-structure efficiency, support strategic growth and strengthen the Group’s positioning with institutional and retail investors.

Sterling Financial enters this phase following a first half in which profit after tax grew 20.4 percent to ?50.3 billion on gross earnings of ?279.6 billion. Total assets reached ?4.67 trillion while shareholders’ funds increased 27.8 percent to ?547.7 billion, supported by the Group’s capital raise.

The reconstruction forms part of its approach to optimising its share structure as it pursues sustainable earnings growth and stronger returns.

To implement the exercise, trading in the Group’s shares on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) was temporarily suspended on Wednesday, 23 September 2026. The announced suspension period runs for up to ten working days, through Wednesday, 7 October 2026, allowing the Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) and Pace Registrars Limited to reconcile holdings and update the shareholder register. NGX will communicate the resumption of trading after completion and confirmation.

Services across the Group’s subsidiaries – Sterling Bank, The Alternative Bank, and SterlingFI Wealth Management – continue as usual.

Sterling Financial expects the revised share structure to support more efficient price formation and strengthen its appeal to institutional and retail investors. Alongside consistently adjusted financial disclosures, the reconstruction is intended to make per-share performance easier to assess across reporting periods and support sharper comparisons with relevant sector peers.

A higher per-unit reference price also supports the Group’s intended positioning for a valuation that more fully reflects its earnings capacity, capital strength and growth prospects. Sustained valuation improvement will depend on operating performance, returns on capital, investor demand and market conditions. The proportional price adjustment itself does not increase the business’s economic value.

Shareholders approved the reconstruction at the Annual General Meeting on 9 June 2026. The requisite regulatory no-objections have been obtained and an order of the Federal High Court, dated 22 September 2026, confirmed the share reduction exercise.

Under the approved structure, issued ordinary shares will reduce from 68,502,331,708 to 6,850,233,171, each retaining a nominal value of 50 kobo. Issued share capital will consequently reduce from approximately ?34.25 billion to ?3.43 billion, with approximately ?30.83 billion transferred to a Share Reconstruction Reserve. This reclassification leaves total shareholders’ funds unchanged. It does not constitute a fresh capital raise or a cash distribution.

For individual shareholders, every 10,000 existing shares will become 1,000 reconstructed shares, with a corresponding tenfold adjustment to the reference price. This preserves the calculated holding value at the point of adjustment. Actual trading prices may rise or fall when trading resumes.

Voting and economic interests will continue in proportion to reconstructed holdings, subject to the approved treatment of fractional entitlements. Where a holding does not divide evenly by ten, whole shares will be credited and the remaining fractional entitlement aggregated with other fractions for sale. The company will distribute net proceeds from the sale proportionately to affected shareholders.

Accrued dividend entitlements remain intact. Future dividends, when declared, will be calculated on the reconstructed share base. The reconstruction does not itself determine the amount of any future dividend.

Conversion of eligible holdings is automatic and requires no application or payment. Shareholders with a valid CSCS account and stockbroker details will have their reconstructed shares credited electronically without further action. Holders of physical certificates should contact Pace Registrars and a licensed stockbroker for help converting their holdings into electronic form and providing the required account details.

CSCS maintains electronic securities records, while a Clearing House Number (CHN) identifies an investor within that system. Holdings without valid CSCS account details will remain with Pace Registrars under a non-tradeable Registrar Identification Number until the required process is complete. Shareholders with outdated or incomplete records should contact the registrar to update them.

Investors with transactions awaiting settlement around the suspension should confirm with their stockbroker and the registrar how the approved record date and settlement cut-off apply to their holdings. Once adjustments are completed, shareholders should check their revised balances through their stockbroker, CSCS or Pace Registrars and report any missing or incorrect balance promptly for reconciliation. The registrar will also provide details of fractional entitlement proceeds and payment arrangements.

Former Big Brother Naija housemates Khafi Kareem and Gedoni Ekpata are celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary.

Khafi celebrated the milestone on Friday with a heartfelt message to her husband on her Instagram page, @acupofkhafi.

She wrote, ‘6 whole years. 6 whole years! Married to this wonderful man @Gedoni. God is so good, and I can’t help but feel so proud of how we have allowed God to shape us, mould us and surrender to Him in our marriage. We have loved, we have fought, we have laughed, we have cried, and most of all, we have tried! Through it all, God has held us, and I am so incredibly grateful’.

Khafi admitted she is often hesitant to discuss marriage publicly due to scrutiny, adding that she does not consider herself an expert.

She, however, described marriage as one of her favourite subjects, noting that it requires humility, growth and unconditional love.

‘I always feel nervous to talk about marriage online because it opens you up to scrutiny and I don’t feel I know enough. I certainly don’t feel I am an expert of any sort with our 6 years compared to the many 30-, 40-, 50-year-plus married couples that exist (where we are headed in Jesus name!).

‘But marriage is definitely one of my favourite subjects. I do know that it takes two people willing to humble themselves, willing to grow, willing to stretch and willing to love always. Plus, I do think I have been blessed with whom I get to be married to; as a lover, you really do make it easy (now hehe).

‘Gedoni, I am grateful for your life, grateful for your good, good love, and grateful that we get to create and curate the beautiful family God has given us. Thank you for steering our family aright, thank you for loving me like Christ loves the church and thank you for allowing yourself to be led by God. You are so tolerant, patient and just an all-round blessing. May this be year 6 of 100, onwards and upwards, my very own Emmanuel (God with me). Happy anniversary, my love; I love you! God is so good, loving, and has given us’, she added.

Khafi and Gedoni met during the 2019 edition of Big Brother Naija and began a relationship on the show.

They married afterwards and have since built a family together.

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.

A private firm, D’Rogers Initiatives, has completed a 12- week assisted community surveillance of Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, aimed at strengthening security around the community and its farmlands.

The operation was done in collaboration with local security structures like Egbe Mekun Security Committee, Local Government Area’s Departmental Security Office, as well as the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Kogi State Vigilante Services and the Forward Operating Base in Egbe.

Ground patrols were combined with drone surveillance to monitor difficult -to- access areas, including forests around the community.

The patrol team maintained coverage of the major routes throughout the 12 weeks, with no casualties recorded during the operation.

The security initiative also focused on farmland and corridors used by residents and traders, with the organisation reporting improved security within the areas covered. It was funded by its headquarters without contributions from residents or community levies.

Field activities also brought to light health concerns among some residents linked to the psychological effects of previous banditry and kidnapping incidents.

D’Rogers also said arrangements were being made with ECWA Hospital for community- based medical assessments and treatment.

It said plans were also underway for a monthly fitness and environmental programme in Egbe with relevant community and local government stakeholders.

Barau FC midfielder Stephen Wisdom believes the club can make a strong impact in the Nigeria Premier Football League following their impressive start to the season.

Wisdom spoke after helping the Maliya Boys defeat Abia Warriors 2-0 at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, a performance that earned him the SWAN Man of the Match award.

The former Bayelsa United midfielder has become an important part of Barau’s midfield since earning a starting place against Ranchers Bees.

His performances have helped provide balance in midfield as Barau maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Attention now turns to their next league fixture against Sporting Lagos, and Wisdom says the team will travel with the intention of collecting maximum points.

‘We are not going to Lagos just to see the place. We are going there to fight for the three points,’ he said.

Wisdom believes Barau have the quality and confidence to build on their promising start as the season develops.

The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, said a second term for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will allow the administration to deepen its transformation of Nigeria.

Momoh said this at Nomeh Unateze, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, where the South East Development Commission (SEDC), in partnership with the Enugu State Government, flagged off a 200-hectare integrated agricultural development project.

The minister said the project was an example of the implementation of policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration, particularly in food security, regional development, and economic transformation.

He said the administration had embarked on changes aimed at improving the country, adding that another opportunity for President Tinubu would mean ‘complete transformation’ of the sectors his administration has been turning around.

‘Another opportunity for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means transformation. Another opportunity means complete transformation of all the things that have been happening,’ Momoh said.

The minister explained that the SEDC project conforms with the policies of the Federal Government and the presidential priorities, particularly the priority on food security.

‘What you are doing here today conforms with the ministry’s policy and the Federal Government’s policy. We are transforming policy into implementation now,’ he said.

Momoh praised the SEDC for what he called its capacity, vision and commitment to translating the objectives for which regional development commissions were established into concrete projects.

The minister cited the SEDC and the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) as two of the newly established commissions that have demonstrated capacity and vision.

He urged other commissions to accelerate the implementation of their mandates.

According to him, the commissions were established as government institutions to drive development and were expected to work in accordance with government policies and regulations.

The minister also praised SEDC’s Managing Director Mark Okoye for his consultation and engagement with various stakeholders before embarking on major interventions.

He said the agricultural project would incorporate food processing and other aspects of the commodity value chain.

‘It is not just sufficient to develop the land, but we must go beyond that to embark on processing,’ Momoh said.

The minister noted that the initiative could help to revive the commodity ecosystem for which the Southeast was historically known.

The 200-hectare project, which is the pilot component of SEDC’s Southeast Agro-Development Programme, is designed to integrate agricultural production with mechanisation, processing, training and market access. The commission says the project is intended as a model for wider agricultural interventions across the five Southeast states.

Momoh hailed Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for providing the land for the project and applauded the cooperation between the state government, the SEDC, and communities in the state.

The minister said the collaboration demonstrated the importance of state and regional institutions working together to bring development initiatives closer to the grassroots.

The names of African Democratic Congress (NDC) National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, are missing on the list of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council released yesterday.

On the list are the campaign principals – presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, national chairman, Senator David Mark and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

El-Rufai is on trial and remains in the ICPC custody.

Also on the list are former presidential aspirant Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former Central Bank Deputy Governor Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, Senator Dino Melaye and former presidential aide Lauretta Onochie.

A statement by Atiku’s media aide, Phrank Shaibu, said Senator Austin Akobundu will serve as Director-General and Campaign Manager while El-Rufai will serve as Deputy Chairman.

Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam was named as chairman of the council.

The structure includes a five-member Campaign Advisory Board chaired by former Edo State Governor John Oyegun, a six-member Policy Team headed by Hayatudeen and a seven-member group of Senior Campaign Advisers.

Akobundu will be supported by six Deputy Directors-General overseeing Administration, Operations, Media and Communications, Contact and Mobilization, Diversity and Support Groups, and Technical and Systems.

Dele Momodu will oversee Media and Communications; Dino Melaye, Contact and Mobilisation; Salihu Tanko Yakasai, Diversity and Support Groups; and Lauretta Onochie, Technical and Systems.

The campaign also named five presidential campaign spokespersons. They are Kenneth Okonkwo, Keturah King, Nana Kazaure, Uche Diala and Dahiru Maishanu.

Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications to the campaign, said the council was designed as a lean structure.

He said the members will drive an issue-based campaign focusing on the cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.

He said: ‘Every directorate has a duty. Every director has an assignment. Every appointee must account for results.’

The campaign council is also made up of six Deputy Directors-General and 32 named portfolio heads across the six operational directorates.

Shaibu explained why Aregbesola and Abdullahi are excluded from the council, saying that they are among the party leaders who set it up.

He said: ‘These are National Working Committee (NWC) members who constituted the campaign council.’

It could not be confirmed whether the omission of Aregbesola and Abdullahi from the list is as a result of intrigues within the party.

Aregbesola has been absent from some activities of party chieftains, including the burial of vice presidential running mate Amaechi’s mum in Ubima in Rivers State early this month.

Aregbesola and the ADC also failed to make an impact in the Osun State governorship election last month.

Moghalu: I am not in Atiku’s team

However, Moghalu yesterday rejected his nomination.

In the campaign council, he is listed as a member of the policy team for the 2027 presidential election.

Moghalu said in a statement that he was ‘surprised’ to see his name included in the announcement, adding that he never agreed to serve on the team.

The statement reads: ‘I am surprised to see a statement from Atiku and ADC campaign team including my name as a member of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s policy team for the 2027 presidential campaign.

‘I was not consulted and did not give my consent to my name being published as a member of the ADC candidate’s policy team.