Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) warns all manufacturers, retailers and service providers across the State to comply fully with the Lagos State Consumer Protection Law 2025 (as amended) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018.

he General Manager, Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Afolabi Solebo, issued the warning during an interview with select journalists in Lagos.

He said: ‘LASCOPA will now sanction businesses that deliberately fail to honour scheduled mediation sessions on legitimate consumer complaints. Where authorised by law, affected premises may be sealed. All businesses are required to treat consumer complaints and redress processes with utmost seriousness.

‘Practices that will attract regulatory intervention include unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, deceptive pricing, hidden charges, poor service delivery, and the manufacture or sale of substandard, counterfeit or unsafe products’.

Solebo warned that offenders could face applicable penalties under the law, including fines, enforcement orders, suspension of operations, prosecution, or sealing of premises.

He appealed to consumers with unresolved complaints to remain patient, noting that delays often occur when businesses ignore mediation invitations. He urged all consumers to retain receipts, invoices, warranties and relevant records when filing complaints.

He reaffirmed Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to protecting consumers and building a fair business environment in Lagos. Consumer protection is a shared responsibility – businesses and consumers together build a transparent, accountable and truly consumer-friendly marketplace.

Bassey Otu, Cross River State governor, Saturday, presented his administration’s record of debt reduction, asset recovery, infrastructure renewal and public service reforms as evidence of progress under the People First Agenda, declaring that a second term would propel the state from economic recovery to wealth creation and shared prosperity.

Otu made the declaration in Calabar, while inaugurating the Cross River State All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections. He charged party leaders and campaign officials to take the administration’s achievements to the electorate, insisting that continuity was essential to consolidating the foundations already laid for sustainable development.

Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding his assumption of office in May 2023, the governor recalled that the state was grappling with insecurity, a demoralised public service and underutilised public assets. ‘We did not promise all things in one year, but we covenanted to stop the bleeding, clear the ground, recover the losses and restore abandonments,’ he said, describing the administration’s first phase as one of recovery and restoration.

On fiscal management, Otu disclosed that his government had reduced the inherited domestic debt of more than ?204 billion by over ?70 billion without taking fresh loans, bringing the outstanding debt to approximately ?132.3 billion as of March 2026. He also disclosed that internally generated revenue increased from ?21.1 billion in 2022 to ?46.3 billion in 2024. ‘Every debt retired is freedom for our children and house-cleaning for fresh fiscal air,’ he said, adding that improved revenue and financial discipline would strengthen investment in public services.

The governor identified the recovery of strategic public assets as another major achievement, citing the reclamation of Tinapa from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), the recovery of nearly N1 billion from Etung Cocoa Estates and other public assets, and ongoing efforts to reclaim the state’s oil wells and secure its interests in the Bakassi axis and proposed Deep Seaport.

He also highlighted improvements in security, the lifting of the employment embargo, the restoration of more than 3,000 local government workers to the payroll and the payment of the first tranche of gratuities after nearly two decades. ‘The government is not just concrete – it is the people,’ he said.

On infrastructure and economic revitalisation, Otu cited the reconstruction of the Obudu Cargo Airport runway, the revival of the Teachers Continuous Training Institute in Biase, the transformation of Akamkpa College into the University of Entrepreneurship and the concessioning of the Garment Factory and Obudu Ranch through public-private partnerships.

He also pointed to road construction and rehabilitation, increased and expanded Cally Air fleet and operations, as well as the growing economic impact of Carnival Calabar. ‘Continuity is an attitude of maturity,’ he said, arguing that completing inherited projects and sustaining viable investments were critical to the state’s progress.

Otu also highlighted agriculture and digital transformation as key drivers of future growth, noting investments in cocoa, rice, potatoes, palm fruits and cassava to strengthen food security and rural livelihoods.

He said more than 200 kilometres of fibre infrastructure had been deployed across Calabar, over 600 residents had received ICT training, and digital platforms were improving revenue collection and public service delivery.

He further cited Cross River’s selection by the World Bank GovTech Team for its 2026 AI in Governance and Public Administration Bootcamp in Seoul, South Korea, as international recognition of the state’s technological advancement.

Outlining his second-term priorities, the governor pledged to turn recovered assets into productive enterprises, complete major infrastructure projects, expand youth and agricultural enterprise programmes, establish industrial parks across the three senatorial districts and improve workers’ welfare.

Urging the campaign council to engage voters across the state’s 18 local government areas and 196 wards with facts and decorum, he said: ‘You do not change a farmer who has cleared the farm just when it is time to plant. You do not abandon a builder who has laid the foundation when it is time to raise the roof.’ He formally inaugurated the council, declaring that the campaign must be fought not for an individual, but for the future of Cross River and its people.

Conversations with Nigerian delegates attending the annual Nigeria-Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum revealed strong support for retaining more value at home. But they also reinforced a practical truth: Nigeria cannot legislate value addition without building the industrial system that makes it possible.

Over breakfast, the conversation began with cocoa. At lunch, it moved to minerals, machinery and industrial power. By dinner, we were discussing finance, European buyers and the uncomfortable possibility that a well-intentioned export restriction could harm the very Nigerian producers it was designed to support.

I am writing from Brussels, where I have been engaging with business leaders and institutional representatives attending the ongoing Nigeria Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum. Many have travelled from Nigeria to explore partnerships in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, maritime logistics, finance, technology and other sectors.

Amid the formal panels and scheduled business meetings, one subject has repeatedly found its way into our informal conversations: Nigeria’s proposed requirement that raw materials receive at least 30 per cent domestic value addition before export. I was amazed by how engaged the delegates were. They did not dispute the diagnosis behind the proposal. On the contrary, there was broad frustration with an economic structure in which Nigeria exports cocoa beans but imports branded chocolate; ships minerals abroad but purchases the machinery and industrial components produced from them; and supplies raw materials while employment, technology and processing margins accumulate elsewhere.

The desire to retain more value in Nigeria is real. It is not an abstract policy slogan. It is shared by entrepreneurs who want to manufacture, exporters who want to move up the value chain and professionals who understand the opportunities Nigeria loses when productive conversion happens elsewhere.

Yet the more we discussed the proposed legislation, the clearer the central question became:

Can Nigeria require value addition before it has built the factory, supplied the electricity, financed the machinery and secured the buyer?

The principle deserves support. The instrument requires careful design.

Breakfast and the cocoa question

Our breakfast conversation was particularly relevant in Belgium. Belgium occupies an important place in the international cocoa and chocolate economy. Nigerian cocoa enters European supply chains through ports, warehouses, traders and processors. Yet much of the highest commercial value is created after the commodity has left the producing country. Nobody around the table argued that this pattern should continue indefinitely.

But cocoa also illustrates why a universal percentage can create more questions than answers. What constitutes 30 per cent value addition? Is it measured by weight, production cost, market value or processing stage? Does fermenting, drying and grading cocoa qualify? Must beans be converted into liquor, butter or powder? Would finished chocolate be required? At which point has the statutory threshold been crossed?

The same difficulty appears across other commodities. Cutting and polishing a mineral is not equivalent to refining it into an industrial input. Processing sesame, cashew, timber or lithium requires different technologies, energy requirements, capital commitments and markets. A single percentage may offer political simplicity while producing commercial confusion.

My view, shared by several delegates, is that Nigeria needs commodity-specific value-chain assessments before imposing restrictions. For each product, the government should establish existing processing capacity, energy requirements, technology gaps, access to finance, viable markets and the time businesses will need to adjust. Thirty per cent may be achievable for one commodity, insufficiently ambitious for another and temporarily impractical for a third. Industrial policy must be bold enough to change behaviour but sophisticated enough to recognise different economic realities.

At lunch, electricity entered the conversation

By lunchtime, our conversation had moved from the legal requirement to the physical conditions of production. Factories do not run on legislation. Processing is energy-intensive. A Nigerian manufacturer operating with unreliable grid electricity and expensive self-generation may be legally required to add value but remain commercially unable to compete with a foreign processor enjoying dependable and cheaper power. This is not a theoretical concern.

Across Africa, governments are using export restrictions, tax incentives and access to mineral deposits to encourage local processing. Investors broadly understand the ambition. But they repeatedly identify affordable and dependable electricity as a decisive constraint. South Africa possesses enormous mineral reserves yet has lost much of its ferrochrome-processing capacity as electricity costs and reliability undermined competitiveness. Guinea has become a leading bauxite producer but will need several times its present electricity generation to realise its aluminium-processing ambitions.

The lesson for Nigeria is straightforward. For every commodity made subject to a processing obligation, the government should publish an accompanying industrial-capacity plan. It should address electricity, water, industrial land, transport, storage, waste management and access to the relevant technology. Otherwise, the policy would not create value addition. It would simply transfer Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit to producers and exporters. Power must precede prohibition.

The machinery still needs finance

Finance became the next subject. Domestic processing requires machinery, construction finance and working capital. Exporters must hold inventory through longer production cycles. Small farmers and artisanal producers need aggregation systems capable of delivering consistent volumes and quality. Yet the structure of Nigerian finance remains poorly suited to long-term industrial development.

A processor cannot sensibly finance machinery with short-term, high-cost credit. An international investor cannot price a twenty-year project if electricity tariffs, export rules or foreign-exchange arrangements may change after construction begins. The Federal Government has said that private capital should finance Nigeria’s next phase of growth rather than additional sovereign borrowing. That is a reasonable objective. But private investors will not finance industrial transformation merely because the government prefers private capital. They will require investable projects, appropriate finance, capable counterparties, predictable rules and credible routes to market.

Nigeria must therefore connect the value-addition proposal to credit guarantees, equipment leasing, development-finance facilities, export credit and blended-finance structures. The purpose should not be to subsidise factories indefinitely. It should be to bridge the difficult period between industrial ambition and commercially sustainable production. This is also where Belgian and Luxembourg institutions can contribute. Belgium brings industrial technology, logistics, commodity-market knowledge, and access to European buyers. Luxembourg brings expertise in investment funds, cross-border finance and structured capital. But those capabilities must be organised around real projects, not general expressions of interest.

Dinner and the danger facing primary producers

Our dinner discussion turned to the people most likely to be overlooked: farmers, miners and other primary producers. An export restriction introduced before domestic processors can absorb available production may reduce competition for raw materials. Farm-gate or mine-gate prices could fall. Large processors might gain access to captive supply while smaller producers lose the option of selling to foreign buyers. That would transform a policy presented as economic sovereignty into a transfer of income from primary producers to protected processors. Nigeria must not allow that to happen.

Before applying restrictions, the government should conduct transparent domestic-capacity tests. If local processors cannot purchase available production at commercially reasonable prices, producers should retain access to export markets. Independent monitoring should publish domestic processing capacity, utilisation rates, purchasing volumes, producer prices, and export demand. The purpose of value addition is to enlarge national income. It is not to redistribute existing income towards a small group of industrial beneficiaries.

My conversations with European counterparts

The responsibility does not rest with Nigeria alone. In my conversations with European counterparts during the forum, I have made the point that Europe cannot praise African industrialisation while preserving commercial arrangements that favour the importation of unprocessed African commodities. European buyers can support processing in Nigeria through long-term purchase agreements. Equipment manufacturers can provide training, maintenance and local assembly. Financial institutions can offer patient capital and risk-sharing. Importers and standards bodies can help Nigerian companies meet European safety, traceability and environmental requirements before new factories begin production.

Belgium is particularly relevant. Its ports, cocoa industry, commodity-trading networks, industrial engineering, and logistics capabilities connect directly to Nigerian value chains. However, a fair industrial partnership must go beyond selling European machinery into Nigeria. It should develop Nigerian suppliers, train engineers, transfer knowledge and guarantee meaningful market access for the processed products those factories eventually produce. Fair trade is not achieved merely when Africa processes more. It is achieved when African processed goods can enter valuable markets and compete on reasonable terms.

Not every factory must be national

Another point arising from our discussions concerned regional scale. Not every African country can efficiently process every commodity. Some industrial facilities require volumes, power and markets larger than one national economy can provide. AfCFTA should therefore form part of the value-addition architecture.

Nigeria could host facilities supplied partly by neighbouring producers. Another African country may develop specialist processing capacity serving Nigerian enterprises. Regional power pools, transport corridors, and harmonised standards can make investments viable where isolated national projects cannot. The objective should be African value addition. It should not be 54 countries attempting to reproduce every stage of every value chain. Economic sovereignty is strengthened through strategic interdependence, not industrial isolation.

The conversation after the forum

The engagement of our delegates has convinced me that Nigeria’s business community is ready for a serious value-addition conversation. These entrepreneurs are not asking to preserve an extractive economic model. Many want to manufacture, process and export higher-value goods. They understand that Nigeria cannot achieve prosperity by remaining principally a supplier of raw materials. But they also know from experience that ambition without infrastructure becomes another cost imposed on enterprise.

Nigeria’s proposed legislation begins with the correct diagnosis. Exporting unprocessed resources indefinitely will not create the jobs, technology, and productive capabilities the country needs. But diagnosis is not execution. A functioning value-addition strategy requires a complete conversion chain: Raw-material endowment, reliable power, processing technology, appropriate finance, skilled operators, competitive logistics, verified standards, committed buyers and measurable national value.

Break any link and the percentage mandate may become an obstacle rather than an industrial policy. Nigeria should therefore implement the proposed requirement gradually and commodity by commodity. It should publish capacity assessments, protect primary producers, provide realistic transition periods and connect export restrictions to measurable infrastructure and financing milestones.

As we break into two groups for company visits, one heading for Antwerp to take a tour around cocoa handling, warehousing, and logistics, and the other heading for Kortrijk to visit technology, innovation, and industrial hubs, I hope the Couch Conversation will be consistent. Success should not be measured by the volume of raw exports prevented. It should be measured by factories operating, workers trained, domestic suppliers developed, processed products exported, and national income increased. As our breakfast, lunch, and dinner conversations repeatedly reminded me, 30 per cent can be written into legislation. The factory, the electricity, the finance, and the market must still be built.

. Nweke is an International Trade Consultant and author of Economic Diplomacy of the Diaspora. A former Belgian politician of Nigerian origin, born in Igbuzo, Delta State, Nigeria, he was a 2014 candidate for Member of the European Parliament. A third-term Municipal Legislator at Ostend City Council, Belgium, since 2006, his portfolio included the Economy, Social Policy, Equality Affairs and International Development. Collins features regularly on TV Continental Lagos as Global Affairs Analyst, on Channels TV as Foreign Policy Commentator, on TRT World Istanbul as African Affairs Analyst, among other Afrocentric media houses, including BusinessDay Nigeria

In a bid to prepare women for emerging economic opportunities in the tech ecosystem, Wise Network Foundation, has trained and graduated100 women in data analytics and generative Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The training which held virtually was organised in partnership with Leadway Assurance Company Plc, and held under the Cohort 2.0 of Wise Tech Titans programme, an initiative designed by the Foundation to equip women and youth with practical, future-focused and in-demand technology skills.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, held in Lagos, Executive director and the founder of Wise Network Foundation, Adeyinka Akinyede-Ashaolu, explained that the training drew women from South Western states.

She empahsised that it was part of the Foundation’s broader work in promoting self-leadership, financial literacy/inclusion and practical entrepreneurship with a focus on expanding access to opportunities that can support youth and women’s economic participation.

While highlighting importance of translating skills acquisition into practical results and economic value, Ashaolu said: ‘Technology is changing how businesses operate, how decisions are made and how opportunities are created. But acquiring a skill is only the first step. The real value comes from what you do with that skill”.

She also highlighted the complementary roles of digital skills and financial literacy in helping individuals build sustainable livelihoods.

According to her: ‘Wise Tech Titans 2.0 provided practical training in Microsoft Excel, SQL and Power BI, alongside exposure to Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gamma.

‘Through Wise Tech Titans, Wise Network Foundation continues to promote women’s participation and youth development in the digital economy by connecting practical technology training with career development, entrepreneurship and financial empowerment.”

The training she further explained introduced the women to financial products and services, cash-flow management, wealth creation and personal financial planning.

The inclusion of financial literacy, she said reflected Wise Network Foundation’s focus on combining skills development with financial capability and entrepreneurship.

The programme, she said provided for the documentation of participant demographics, skills acquired, project outputs and employability-related outcomes as part of its impact reporting.

‘Participants, worked on practical projects and received guidance on LinkedIn optimisation and portfolio development to improve their professional visibility and career prospects’, she added.

However, she encouraged the graduates to apply their knowledge to solving business problems, improving productivity, supporting better decision-making and creating income-generating opportunities.

On the other hand, she commended Leadway Assurance for its sponsorship, which made the training possible.

Speaking also at the event, a representative of Leadway Assurance, Team Lead, Data Management and Analytics, Oluwatoyin Oyedele spoke on the importance of digital skills in helping young people access opportunities in the technology sector.

Drawing on her professional experience at Leadway, Oyedele discussed the use of technology-enabled solutions and highlighted pathways to career development, professional advancement and financial independence.

On his part, a representative of CcHUB Robert Ekat, who spoke on, ‘Technology skills: Enabling youth innovation and economic growth,’ discussed how digital skills drive youth innovation.

Ekat also pointed graduates to platforms where young women can find remote work and earn income, and identified potential areas of collaboration between CcHUB and Wise Network Foundation.

Beyond technical training, the programme incorporated financial literacy sessions covering financial products and services, cash-flow management and personal wealth creation.

This approach, the organisers noted reflected the Foundation’s emphasis on combining the ability to earn with the knowledge needed to manage financial resources effectively.

The organisers also noted that the graduation marked the completion of the formal training phase, while the continued use of these skills, they said would determine how participants translate the learning and project experience into professional and economic opportunities.

Some of the participants who spoke in an interview commended the organisers of the training, describing it as insightful empowering.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UPDC Plc, Muttaqha Darma and Odunayo Ojo, respectively, headline the dignitaries who will be attending the Property and Environment Writers’ Association of Nigeria (PEWAN)’ s 2026 annual forum.

The minister will attend as a Special Guest of Honour, while Ojo has been invited to chair the occasion. Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of HBM Nigeria, will also be in attendance. He will be speaking on ‘Innovative Building Materials: Place of the Private Sector.’

Other expected participants include built environment professionals, lecturers in environmental sciences, government officials, real estate operators, non-governmental organisations, recyclers, students and other stakeholders in the housing and construction industries.

The theme of this year’s forum, already slated for Wednesday, November 4, at NECA House Conference Hall, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, is ‘Re-imagining Housing: Sustainability, Facility Management and Innovative Building Materials.’

PEWAN’s expectation is that the lecture will examine emerging approaches to addressing Nigeria’s housing challenges, particularly the need for sustainable construction practices, effective management of housing assets, and adoption of innovative building materials.

A major highlight of the event will be Alade-Akinyemi’s presentation, which is expected to examine how businesses and private investors can promote modern building solutions, improve construction standards, and contribute to sustainable housing delivery.

Florence Gbaye, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), will be delivering a goodwill message and receiving a Special Recognition and Award

PEWAN, in a statement at the weekend, explained that Gbaye’s nomination for recognition stems from her contributions and work recorded at the agency since she assumed leadership. Her participation is expected to provide insights into LASBCA’s efforts to strengthen building control and promote safer construction practices in Lagos.

HBM Nigeria Plc and its chief executive, Alade-Akinyemi, have equally been nominated for recognition for their contributions to innovation in the building materials sub-sector.

The awards will further recognise public and private sector operators, as well as individuals whose contributions have made notable impacts in their respective fields, with emphasis on quality, innovation and sustainable development.

Okwy Chikezie, PEWAN’s chairman, explained that the annual lecture was designed to provide a platform for informed discussions on developments, challenges and opportunities in the built environment, while encouraging stronger collaboration between government and private-sector players.

PEWAN, an umbrella body for journalists reporting on property and environment across print, electronic and online media platforms, hopes that the participation of industry leaders and professionals would generate ideas and proffer solutions for improving housing delivery in Nigeria.

Lagos State’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Biodun Ogunleye, has said that the renewal of established cities such as Lagos must go beyond rebuilding roads and buildings to restoring their ability to deliver dependable services, with reliable electricity at the centre of that effort.

Delivering the lead presentation at a panel on Urban Renewal, Regeneration and the Transformation of Older Cities at [event name, venue and date], Ogunleye framed regeneration as a systems problem rather than a construction exercise.

‘An older city does not need a new identity. It needs a new operating system,’ he said. ‘Renewal is not the demolition of the past. It is the restoration of the city’s ability to serve the future.’

Six pressures on older districts

Citing UN-Habitat’s World Cities Report 2024, the Commissioner identified six pressures reshaping established urban districts: ageing and overloaded power, water and sanitation networks; climate exposure from flooding, heat and stressed drainage; conflicting demands on land from housing, commerce and mobility; housing affordability, overcrowding and tenure insecurity; fragmented governance across agencies, utilities and capital; and the loss of heritage and livelihoods to poorly managed renewal.

In response, he outlined a six-part framework for what he called ‘genuine regeneration’, covering physical infrastructure, utilities (power, water, waste and digital), economic activity, social protection and housing, cultural heritage, and climate resilience.

He pointed to ongoing road, drainage and collector reconstruction across parts of Lagos Island as a live example. The aim, he said, is to reduce recurring flooding and improve movement and commerce in the historic core, while managing disruption, coordinating utility relocation and safeguarding traders and heritage.

The generator economy

Ogunleye described unreliable electricity as ‘the invisible constraint’ on urban productivity. Drawing on a 2024 study by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the Lagos State Government, he noted that an estimated 4.5 million fossil-fuel generator sets operate in the state, that the grid met only about 20 per cent of electricity demand in the study, and that generators produce an estimated 39 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year.

‘The generator is not merely a backup device; at scale, it becomes an expensive parallel urban infrastructure system,’ he said.

The shift Lagos needs, he argued, is from a ‘generator-powered district’ marked by high fuel costs, noise, pollution and uneven reliability, to a ‘serviced district’ with networked electricity, shared infrastructure, measured service standards and utility planning linked to land use. Dependable energy infrastructure, he said, should be located where people already live, work and trade.

Reform before scale

The Commissioner traced the state’s institutional groundwork to the 2024 Lagos State Electricity Law, followed by the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) and the Lagos Independent System Operator (LAISO) in 2025-26. Work on investment, licensing, contracting and consumer protection is ongoing.

‘An energy market is an instrument of urban policy, not an end in itself,’ he said.

He cited two projects that show what neighbourhood-scale implementation could look like. Victoria Island Power, a commercial district upgrade with 40MW of planned embedded capacity and a 12.6km dedicated underground feeder network to supply local businesses, is under development and not yet operational. The Akute independent power plant, an existing dormant asset with 26MW of base contracted capacity, is set for rehabilitation under a concession agreement in 2026 to supply public services.

People must be able to stay

Ogunleye insisted that the true test of regeneration is whether existing residents can remain and prosper. He set out a social compact built on four commitments: protecting renters, traders and vulnerable households through open consultation and fair procedures; preserving significant architecture and neighbourhood identity; including affordable housing, accessible public space and livelihood opportunities in plans; and staging works to protect access, utilities, safety and trading during construction.

‘Regeneration without inclusion risks becoming displacement with better architecture,’ he warned.

Making neighbourhoods investable

On financing, he proposed that districts be planned as single units, with roads, drainage, power, water and land use coordinated before procurement. Public capital should fund common goods, while private and public-private partnership (PPP) capital funds service assets. Contracts should pay for outcomes such as reliability, maintenance and resilience, not just construction, and affordability and local commerce should be ring-fenced.

He also presented an illustrative three-stage playbook, which he stressed is not a set of announced government deadlines. It would begin with a diagnosis phase of up to 12 months, mapping infrastructure, flood risk, residents, traders and power demand. A delivery phase from 12 to 36 months would bundle priority works and pilot district energy zones. After 36 months, a scale-up phase would replicate what works and use performance data to attract more capital. Progress would be tracked through power reliability, flood disruption, business continuity, affordability and resident satisfaction.

He closed with a challenge to policymakers and investors: ‘Do not just rebuild the city. Renew what the city can do.’ The goal, he said, is a Lagos that is more resilient, more inclusive and more productive.

Bola Arotiowa, chief commercial officer, C.H.I. Limited (CHI), has reiterated that the beverage company will continue to strengthen its engagement with consumers just as it pushes to sustain its market penetration.

‘This award inspires us to keep raising the bar in delivering the quality, taste and refreshing experiences our consumers expect from us,’ Arotiowa said recently, following Chivita emergence as the most outstanding juice brand at Brandcom awards 2026.

According to Arotiowa, the recognition underscores the firm’s sustained relevance in the juice category and its connection with consumers across generations. He stated that the award also reinforced the brand’s reputation as the gold standard of juice, built on a commitment to quality, excellence and taste while keeping pace with evolving consumer preferences.

‘We see this recognition as a celebration not only of our brand, but also of the people who continue to make Chivita part of their everyday moments,’ Arotiowa stated, expressing appreciation to consumers for their continued trust and patronage, noting that their support has been instrumental in strengthening the brand’s position as the gold standard of juice in Nigeria.

According to him, the recognition further reinforces the brand’s ‘Your Chivita Your Way’ platform, which celebrates consumers’ individuality and the different ways they connect with the brand.

He reiterated that the brand will continue to build meaningful connections that extend beyond its products to the occasions and experiences they create, by placing consumer preferences at the heart of its approach.

‘We are delighted to receive this recognition, and we are especially grateful to our consumers for their continued trust and patronage. Their loyalty and the different ways they continue to enjoy Chivita have been an important part of our journey,’ Arotiowa stated.

He added that the firm’s recent recognition at Brandcom 2026 marks another milestone in its continued engagement with Nigerian consumers, reinforcing its commitment to delivering refreshing moments and building on the trust it has earned over the years.

‘For CHI, the award highlights the importance of consistency, innovation and consumer understanding in building enduring brands in Nigeria’s competitive beverage sector. As tastes and expectations continue to evolve, the company remains focused on strengthening its brands through quality products and relevant consumer experiences.’

The need for Nigeria to strengthen local pharmaceutical production, expand access to essential medicines and improve preparedness for epidemics and pandemics took a centre stage at a side event during the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly in Midtown Manhattan, New York.

The programme was hosted by 10Generation, in partnership with the Institute of Scientology as well as Word Mission Foundation in New York.

The event brought attention to the relationship between pharmaceutical manufacturing, public health education and Africa’s capacity to prevent and manage future health emergencies.

Moderated by international broadcast and multimedia Journalist, Lydia Enyidiya Eke, the discussion examined the opportunities for Nigeria to strengthen its pharmaceutical industry, serve its domestic market more effectively and position locally manufactured medicines for eligible regional and international markets.

A central issue was the need to look beyond Nigeria’s domestic pharmaceutical market and explore the country’s potential to become a stronger participant in the global pharmaceutical industry.

With Africa’s population approaching 1.5 billion, the continent represents a substantial market for medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and other essential healthcare products.

However, converting this demand into improved health outcomes requires investment in manufacturing capacity, research, quality assurance, infrastructure and effective regulation.

The discussion however, highlighted the importance of building local capacity to meet healthcare needs while ensuring that pharmaceutical products intended for international markets satisfy the relevant safety, quality and regulatory requirements.

Beyond manufacturing, the programme addressed the importance of preparing Nigeria and other African countries to prevent, detect and manage epidemics and pandemics.

The panelists who spoke included President and Founder, World Mission Foundation who is the main Representative to the UN ECOSOC, Ambassador Anthony.

Others were Fadja Robert-Carr, of 10 Generation and Nicole Berth, Community Affairs, Institute of Scientology.

The speakers noted that health emergencies could expose weaknesses in medicine supply chains, healthcare infrastructure, disease surveillance and public communication.

Strengthening these systems before an outbreak occurs is therefore an important part of building national and regional health security.

Expanding reliable local pharmaceutical production could contribute to this effort by diversifying sources of essential medicines and reducing exposure to international supply disruptions.

Nevertheless, effective preparedness also requires trained health personnel, laboratory capacity, emergency response systems and coordinated public health policies.

The conversation underscored the importance of treating preparedness as a continuous responsibility rather than an activity undertaken only when an outbreak emerges.

Public Health Communication as a Prevention Tool was also a part of the panel discussion.

Public service announcements and sustained health enlightenment campaigns equally featured among the issues highlighted during the programme.

Radio, television, digital media and community communication channels can help people understand disease risks, recognise the importance of prevention and obtain reliable information about appropriate health practices.

Effective communication is particularly important during epidemics and pandemics, when misinformation and delayed access to credible information can complicate public health responses.

The discussion pointed to the need for accurate, accessible and actionable public health messages that reach people across different communities.

For Nigeria, this means strengthening collaboration among health authorities, medical professionals, pharmaceutical manufacturers, researchers and the media.

Public health communication must also be supported by accessible healthcare services so that people can act on the information they receive.

Another important dimension of the discussion was the need to place disease prevention at the centre of healthcare planning.

Prevention includes immunisation, sanitation, health education, screening, early diagnosis and access to appropriate medical interventions. These measures can reduce avoidable illness and help ease pressure on healthcare facilities.

The right to health is recognised within international human rights frameworks, although the specific legal obligations and mechanisms for implementation differ across countries.

This makes the responsibility to provide reliable health information, strengthen preventive services and improve access to essential healthcare an important issue for policymakers and public health institutions.

Moderating the discussion, Eke brought her experience in broadcast journalism, editorial leadership and public-interest communication to a conversation connecting pharmaceutical development with health security and public enlightenment.

Her participation reflects the role of professional moderators and journalists in facilitating conversations on issues with implications for public policy, economic development and the well-being of communities.

The issues raised at the Manhattan programme point to the importance of a coordinated approach to Africa’s health future.

Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry requires an enabling environment for responsible investment, innovation, quality manufacturing and regulatory compliance. At the same time, health systems need sustained investment in preparedness, prevention and public communication.

Governments, manufacturers, research institutions, healthcare professionals and media organisations all have roles to play in advancing these priorities.

For Nigeria and the wider African continent, the challenge is to translate market potential into stronger production capacity, and public health knowledge into practical preventive action.

The broader message is that health security cannot depend exclusively on responding to emergencies.

It must be built through sustained investment in local capacity, effective healthcare systems and informed communities.

Solar energy investors and industry stakeholders are intensifying efforts to address Nigeria’s electricity crisis through increased investment in renewable energy, mini-grids and energy storage solutions.

The move comes amid persistent electricity challenges facing households and businesses, with about 86 million Nigerians reportedly lacking access to reliable grid electricity.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos ahead of the Renewable Energy Forum Africa (REFA) 2026, Benjamin Clark, director of operations at the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA), said Nigeria was emerging as a major player in Africa’s solar energy market.

He disclosed that Nigeria had approximately 620 megawatts of operational solar capacity, making it the leading country in West Africa, while its annual solar additions increased from 15MW in 2019 to 123MW in 2024.

Clark said the country’s solar market could record further growth in 2026, with new projects and partnerships expected to expand electricity access.

He also announced that more than 600MW in framework agreements had been signed with Nigerian partners to support commercial, industrial and residential rooftop solar installations.

However, industry stakeholders said financing, technical capacity and project development remained major challenges to expanding renewable energy access.

Ololade Raji, technical services manager for West Africa at Alpha ESS, said Africa’s challenge was not necessarily a lack of resources or capital, but the ability to develop bankable projects and connect them with investors.

He identified proper feasibility studies, reliable payment models, skilled local engineers and compliance with technical standards as essential to attracting investment.

Similarly, Olamide Niyi-Afuye, chief executive officer of the Africa Minigrid Developers Association (AMDA), said expanding electricity access should go beyond connecting communities to power and focus on the economic activities reliable electricity could support.

He highlighted agricultural processing, cold storage, local manufacturing and industrialisation as areas that could benefit from improved electricity supply.

Niyi-Afuye added that Africa’s mini-grid sector required between $28 billion and $46 billion in investment to connect approximately 150 million people.

Meanwhile, Esther Eyenobong, sales manager at Jinko Solar Nigeria, emphasised the importance of local partnerships and after-sales technical support in ensuring the long-term reliability of solar installations.

The Renewable Energy Forum Africa 2026 is scheduled for November 25 and 26 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, under the patronage of the Rural Electrification Agency.

The forum is expected to connect investors, project developers and technology providers to accelerate renewable energy investment across Africa.

Seyi Makinde, Oyo State governor, has reiterated the importance of entrepreneurship to economic prosperity, noting that Nigeria’s natural resources alone could not guarantee prosperity without entrepreneurship, skills, knowledge and intensive production.

Makinde acknowledged the significance of having a growing group of businesses headquartered in Ibadan, and commended CapitalSage Holdings for its entrepreneurial journey and contributions to economic development in Oyo State and Nigeria.

‘Somebody has to take the risk on behalf of the people, so John Alamu and team, I congratulate you. I thank you for taking the risk on our behalf,’ he stated at the recent 10th anniversary and launch of CapitalSage Holdings’ new global headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He also pledged the state government’s continued support, while encouraging businesses and partners to work with the group. ‘When I was looking at your profile, I saw that you now have about 20 companies in the group. And those 20 companies are headquartered here.

‘I can assure you that we will continue to give our support as a government because we want you to continue to provide jobs and grow the economy of Oyo State,’ Makinde stated.

John Alamu, founded and group managing director, CapitalSage Holdings, stated that the new headquarters reinforces the group’s commitment to building from Nigeria while serving markets beyond its borders.

‘A business can have global ambitions without abandoning its roots. From Ibadan, we can build for Nigeria. From Nigeria, we can build for Africa. And from Africa, we can build for the world. That is what we are doing,’ Alamu stated.

He reiterated that the business started 10 years ago with personal conviction that problems could become businesses. ‘So, for us, the next ten years cannot simply be about becoming bigger.’

He disclosed that the next 10 years would be about creating generational wealth built on stronger, more enduring legacies. ‘We want to build businesses that a generation after us can inherit, improve and take further,’ Alamu stated.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, CapitalSage Holdings held a three-day public exhibition between October 29 and 31, 2026, at CapitalSage House, Kenneth Dike, Secretariat Road, Ibadan.

The exhibition opened daily at 10:00 a.m., allowing visitors to explore participating businesses, discover products and services, and engage directly with representatives across the group.

As CapitalSage Holdings enters its next decade, Alamu reiterated that the group remains focused on developing its businesses, strengthening partnerships and contributing to economic activity through enterprise, innovation and job creation.

He added that the business has grown over the past decade into a diversified group of companies with interests spanning financial services and technology, agriculture and food processing, manufacturing, healthcare, and cross-border payment solutions.