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The World Bank Group has called on the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to bring down the inflation rate, in order for citizens to enjoy the benefits of reforms so far introduced.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s annual inflation rate eased to 20.12 per cent in August, a decline from 21.88 per cent recorded in July 2025.

However, speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31) in Abuja, Mathew Verghis, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, said that Nigeria requires decisive policies to bring down inflation and interest rates to make the impacts of recent reforms felt by citizens, stimulate job creation and private investment.

Verghis, who commended the government’s reform strides over the past two years, described them as crucial steps that have repositioned the country for long-term growth.

‘The first priority is to bring inflation down so that people can start feeling the benefits of these reforms to a greater extent. This will also help reduce interest rates, which are critical for businesses to perform better. Once that is achieved, Nigeria can focus on actions that promote job creation, investments in people, and infrastructure,’ Verghis said.

He revealed that the World Bank’s upcoming Nigeria Economic Update, to be presented later in the week, would address these priorities in detail. According to him, the Bank is shifting its focus from growth alone to job-centred development, emphasising the need for strategic support to labour-intensive sectors such as agribusiness.

‘If you care about job creation, then you must identify the sectors that will create jobs and strategically support them. Agribusiness in Nigeria comes to mind very easily, but we must move beyond subsidies to policies that enhance competitiveness,’ he added.

Also speaking, Boye Olusanya, Group Managing Director/CEO of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, stressed that Nigeria’s industrialisation ambitions cannot succeed without addressing the twin challenges of infrastructure and power.

He warned that high production costs, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and weak export quality controls continue to undermine the competitiveness of Nigerian manufacturers.

‘Our cost to produce is too high compared to anywhere else in the world. Without fixing infrastructure and power, we cannot be competitive. We also need to streamline customs processes, enforce quality standards for exports, and strengthen institutions like the Bank of Industry (BOI) to mobilise more long-term capital,’ Olusanya said.

He called for practical and consistent policies that attract private investment into key sectors, urging government agencies to provide seed funding and an enabling environment for investors.

‘Private capital continues to look for investments that give long-term returns. The government needs to align with that horizon and provide stability,’ he said.

On his part, Gautier Mignot, Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s trade competitiveness, regional integration, and investment attraction.

He outlined ongoing EU initiatives such as a pound 200 million package for African market access and the Global Gateway Strategy, which mobilises investments in renewable energy, green economy, agriculture, and connectivity infrastructure, including the rollout of 90,000 kilometres of optic fibre across Nigeria.

‘We believe Nigeria has enormous untapped potential. Our partnership focuses on leveraging private investment, improving trade infrastructure, and harmonising standards to make the economy more competitive,’ he said

The EU envoy also encouraged Nigeria to sustain reform momentum through ‘big-bang’ policy actions that would reinforce investor confidence and accelerate integration into global value chains.

‘You need harmonisation or mutual recognition of rules and standards, you need strengthening of institutions, and finally, you need trade infrastructure and corridors,’

The 31st Nigerian Economic Summit, organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in partnership with the Federal Government, brought together policymakers, international partners, and private sector leaders to discuss strategies for achieving inclusive and sustainable growth under the theme ‘Pathways for Economic Transformation and Shared Prosperity.’

Umo Eno, governor of Akwa Ibom, has signalled his government’s intention to partner with T2 to accelerate digital technology growth and innovation across the state.

He made this announcement at the opening ceremony of the Ibom Ignite Conference 2025, a youth-focused leadership and entrepreneurship gathering designed to equip participants with tools, networks, and insights to transform ideas into impact.

Akwa Ibom State is positioning itself as Nigeria’s next digital innovation hub as the state governor announced a partnership with T2 to accelerate the state’s technology and digital growth agenda.

Governor Eno’s announcement followed a keynote by Obafemi Banigbe, chief executive officer of T2, who outlined a bold vision for Akwa Ibom as a future leader in software development, artificial intelligence, and startup innovation.

‘Akwa Ibom is not just poised to birth the next big thing like Flutterwave or Paystack; it has the potential to emerge as a genuine digital goldmine for this region,’ Obafemi Banigbe, CEO of T2, stated.

Banigbe emphasised that achieving this vision requires prioritising investment in people and education. ‘The future is not built on oil. It is built on education, human capital, and digital skills. If we fail to develop the next generation, we risk wasting the immense talent of our youth.’

‘We are back in business. T2 is repositioning as a digital business and lifestyle partner – youth-friendly, tech-friendly, startup-friendly, and committed to enabling innovation and the creative economy,’ Banigbe added. ‘We are ready to work hand-in-hand with His Excellency to make Akwa Ibom the South-South’s digital powerhouse.’

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has announced that an executive bill is before the State House of Assembly for the establishment of the State Teacher Development Agency, which will focus exclusively on teacher training, retraining, and professional capacity development.

Speaking at the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration held at the Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi Durbar Ground in Dutse on Sunday, the governor commended teachers for their hard work, resilience, and dedication to duty, describing teaching as the foundation of every other profession.

‘The objectives of the Bill, therefore, include, among others, enhancing the capacity of teaching and non-teaching staff at both the basic and post-basic levels, undertaking capacity-building programmes at the basic and post-basic levels, and enhancing teaching methodologies. Only through an agency established for this purpose would teacher development be given the actual attention it deserves.

‘This underscores our concerns towards professional teacher development to ensure that our children get the opportunity to receive quality teaching from high-quality teachers. The quality of our pupils and students is directly related to the quality of our teachers.’

The Governor also restated his administration’s commitment to teachers’ welfare, continuous professional training, and recruitment to further strengthen the education sector across the state.

While recognising the role teachers play in nation building, he described them as role models and mentors who provide moral guidance and inspiration to pupils and students alike.

Teachers play the role of parents and provide moral guidance and inspiration for pupils and students to grow up as functional and productive members of society. This is precisely why most often people say that the reward of teachers is in heaven, and this is true if teachers see what they are doing as service to humanity.’

Earlier, Abdulkadir Yunusa, Jigawa State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), lauded the State Government for its continuous support to the education sector, highlighting several achievements under Governor Namadi’s leadership, including the promotion of over 16,000 teachers, the implementation of a ?70,000 minimum wage, and the recruitment of more than 10,000 teachers across the state.

Yunusa also commended the governor for introducing digital reforms in schools, fencing off education facilities for safety, and establishing critical agencies such as the Jigawa State Senior Secondary School Education Board, Jigawa Education Resource Agency (JERA), Education Quality Assurance Agency (JISEQA), and the Teacher Training and Development Agency (JITDA).

He further acknowledged the government’s allocation of 32% of the state’s budget to education, exceeding UNESCO’s recommendation, and praised the reinstatement of the Best Teacher Award as motivation for excellence in the teaching profession.

Today, 6 October 2025, the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Henry Dele Alake, clocks 69. For many in Nigeria, the name conjures memories of his decades as a journalist and public communicator. These days, it represents a new hope for sustainable reform in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and Africa’s mining industry.

To understand the minister, you must know his father, Pa Michael Ojo Alake. He graduated in philosophy from Fourah Bay College, then West Africa’s most prestigious university. He later founded and ran the Benevolent High School in Lagos, where indigenes of his hometown, Ikoro-Ekiti, as well as indigent students, attended free of charge. His sacrifice was not ignored. The Ikoro people gave him the title ‘Eleyinmi of Ikoro-Ekiti’ to appreciate his benevolence.

Between 1979 and 1983, Alake Senior was one of the trusted advisers of Governor Lateef Jakande on the formulation and implementation of the free education programme, a scheme which scrapped the classroom shift system and built over 500 new schools to accommodate the pupils in one single shift within four years.

Being an educationist, Alake Senior knew the impact of good schools in forming the character of a civilised, confident and progressive child. He put his son in the best schools of the times – Surulere Baptist Primary School, Surulere, Lagos; Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti; Igbobi College, Yaba – and topped it with university education at the University of Lagos, where the minister studied political science and later earned a master’s in mass communication. But his exposure was not only academic. His inter-campus, extra-curricular engagements brought him under the influence of Professor Wole Soyinka, further raising his social consciousness and commitment to public good.

This pedigree set a high standard in morality, elocution, and public service for the minister. He is still determined to surpass it. His father excelled in education, but he chose communications. As soon as he enrolled in the National Youth Service Corps and was deployed to Ogun State Radio, his hard work and creativity were noticed. The organisation entrusted him with tasks of confirmed staffers. His work led to his engagement with Lagos State Radio and a quick elevation to Senior Sub-Editor-one of the fastest advancements in the organisation’s history.

The crusader

As a columnist, news manager, and editor, Alake made crusading for good governance the raison d’être of his career. His choice of stories and writings was deliberately crafted to conscientise the readers in the fashion of Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. This required immense courage under military rule, and he was often the guest of the secret service. At such times, they would find him ready with his toilet bag. At one point, Concord Press of Nigeria, where he worked, was put under lock and key by the junta. But this didn’t deter the crusader, whose conviction that journalism must have social relevance made him even more determined to mobilise the people to resist bad governance. To Dele, the words of Frantz Fannon, that ‘the future will have no pity for those men who, possessing the exceptional privilege of being able to speak words of truth to their oppressors but have, instead, taken refuge in an attitude of passivity, of mute indifference, and sometimes, of cold complicity’, were a call to be an agent of change.

The annulment of the June 12, 1993 election won freely by the publisher of Concord Press, Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, thrust him into the epicentre of the struggle for the actualisation of this historic exercise of popular sovereignty by the Nigerian people. In that titanic struggle, he met and worked alongside Senator Bola Tinubu, who had given up his plan to be president of the Third Republic Senate to facilitate Abiola’s emergence. A comradeship that endures to date was forged in the furnace of that struggle, in Nigeria and in exile. Indeed, Tinubu’s plan to return to the Senate in 1998 was diverted to governorship by advisers such as Alake, who believed he had established the progressive profile and financial wizardry to execute Abiola’s manifesto, Farewell to Poverty, in Lagos State at a micro-level and later escalate to the national level. When Bola Tinubu became Governor of Lagos State in 1999, Alake became the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, a position he held till 2007. In that capacity, he was instrumental in shaping the communications strategy and public image of the Tinubu administration in Lagos. Beyond Lagos, Alake’s involvement in national politics deepened. In December 2014, he was appointed Director of Media and Communication for the Buhari Campaign Organisation during the 2015 presidential election. Over the years, he cultivated a reputation as a strategist, tactician, and loyal political confidant of President Tinubu.

The mining reformer

Only a man like Alake, who has established the mental agility for cracking difficult tasks and a record of standing up to the status quo, could have been assigned the herculean task of cleaning the Augean stable of the solid minerals sector. The risks were real: weak institutions, vested interests in illicit mining, and security challenges-all posed serious headwinds. Without strong follow-through, even well-intended policies can stall. Since his appointment as the Minister of Solid Minerals Development in August 2023, he has led efforts to reform a sector long considered underutilised, fragmented, and rife with regulatory inefficiencies.

Alake hit the ground running by applying the agenda-setting theory of journalism. He developed the Seven-Point Agenda for international competitiveness and local industrialisation of Nigeria’s mining sector through critical research and review of the literature and interviews with stakeholders. He identified the challenges, such as insecurity caused by illegal miners and bandits, speculation in licence administration, violations of the Minerals and Mining Act 2007, the corporate void caused by the winding down of the Nigerian Mining Corporation, low rates of royalties and administrative fees despite multi-million-dollar technological investment and the failure to establish statutory and regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Rehabilitation Fund. He was very passionate about reversing the export of raw minerals and ensuring that minerals were processed locally to provide jobs and attract higher prices in the international markets.

In 25 months, Alake put no one in doubt that a new sheriff is in charge in the solid minerals sector. He took many steps. He set up the Mining Marshals to combat illegal mining and banditry, revoked 3,974 titles for failure to pay the annual service fee or refusal to mine after obtaining licences, established the private sector-orientated Nigerian Solid Minerals Company and the Environmental Rehabilitation Fund, increased rates of administrative fees and royalties, and revolutionised mining communications. To top it all, the advocacy for value addition that he espoused for the first time at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh in January 2024 won the hearts of ministers of mining in Africa. To maintain the momentum across the continent, they formed the Africa Minerals Strategy Group and made him the pioneer chairman. A year after, at the 2025 Future Minerals Forum, they poured encomiums on Alake for branding the one-year-old AMSG into a continental colossus!

The results of Alake’s reforms in the solid minerals sector form a major component of the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. These include an increase in revenue of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office from N6 billion in 2023 to N12.5 billion in 2024. It has reported N10 billion between January and April this year. Similarly, for the first time, royalties collected by the Mines Inspectorate department of the Ministry peaked at N6.4 billion as of December last year.

The advocacy for value addition has stimulated mineral processing and manufacturing projects such as Hasetin’s $400 million Rare Earth plant, the $60 million ASBA lithium processing plant, the $200 million Canmax Lithium plant, the $200 million New Energy Materials Company lithium plant, and new processing projects are in the pipeline. It has encouraged existing plants such as Segilola/Thor, Kursi, and Africa Industries Group to scale up operations. The Ministry, through SMDF, its funding agency, is also planning to invest in the $1.3 billion alumina and $96.8 million silica processing projects in collaboration with the Africa Finance Corporation.

The establishment of the Mining Marshals has led to the prosecution of over 300 suspected illegal miners by the Mining Marshals, the dislodgement of illegal miners from 90 licensed areas and the monitoring of 450 locations occupied by illegal miners. With more logistical resources, the enforcement of the mining laws will surely be intensified.

Transparency and accountability in licence administration have been achieved with the upgrade of the Electronic Mining Cadastre system, the launch of the mining decisions website and the improvement of content on the websites of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and the ministry. Today, research for and applications for licences can be initiated 24 hours every day from anywhere on the earth.

Alake has also intervened in human capacity development. His deal with the Australian government, negotiated during the Africa Down Under in September 2023, was executed this year with the training of the first batch of Nigerian geologists in modern exploration practices at Murdoch University. Locally, over 250 youths have benefitted from workshops on gemology and jewellery making, and the Institute of Geosciences continues to produce fresh mining professionals yearly.

What no serious witness of the solid minerals sector won’t contest is Alake’s sterling achievement in ensuring better compliance with the law. Operators are now more alert to their responsibilities and religious in observing deadlines and the rules of engagement.

With these records, Alake continues the family tradition by devoting his life to the service of his fatherland. It is a daily grind of hard-work, creativity and persistence that may make him forget that another year has passed and today is his birthday. This article is a gentle reminder for him to take a day off and celebrate God’s grace. Happy birthday, sir!

Kehinde Bamigbetan, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, is the Special Adviser to Dr Dele Alake, the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development.

George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Monday, extended an invitation to members of the Council of State and Police Council to a hybrid strategic meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 9.

Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information and Public Relations, office of the SGF, in a statement on Monday, announced that the meeting is expected to take place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Recall that the country had in recent times witnessed heightened insecurity, with attacks and extortion of innocent Nigerians, especially in states hitherto considered peaceful.

The meeting, which will be presided over by President Bola Tinubu, will be attended by all former Presidents, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Inspector General of Police and any other invited public officials.

BusinessDay gathered that all the Service Chiefs are also expected to attend the meeting summoned to discuss the current security situation in the country

Emanso Umobong, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, at the office of the SGF, disclosed that ‘ the meeting aims to discuss matters of national importance and key issues affecting national security and policing.’

The SGF said that while the meeting with the Council of State comes up at 1 pm, the Police Council will take place at 2:00 pm

According to the statement, ‘Members are requested to participate either physically or virtually.’

‘This high-level meeting underscores President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to addressing pressing national issues and ensuring the safety and security of citizens.’

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Crimson Fusion Curators to embark on a monumental documentation project: ‘A Window into the Soul of a People: 8,000 Years of Art in Nigeria.’

This is a landmark step to safeguard and celebrate Nigeria’s cultural identity.

Project scope

The initiative will trace the unbroken story of Nigerian creativity – from the 8,000-year-old Dufuna Canoe and Nok terracottas, through the luminous bronzes of Ife and Benin, to the bold visions of contemporary artists shaping the global stage. Projected to span over 750 pages, the archive will be one of the most ambitious scholarly and visual undertakings in the history of Art in Nigeria.

Voices of leadership

At the MoU signing, Olugbile Holloway, director-general of NCMM, underscored the significance of the collaboration: ‘This initiative will go a long way in dispelling the misconception of us being primitive or unable to create enduring masterpieces. Even when the Ife heads and Benin bronzes first stunned the world, deliberate efforts were made to deny Nigerians full credit. This partnership is about reclaiming that narrative and presenting our heritage as it deserves to be seen.’

For Oriiz U. Onuwaje, griot, designer, curator, and publisher, the project is the continuation of a lifelong commitment to heritage storytelling. He created and edited ‘The Benin Monarchy: An Anthology of Benin History’ – popularly known as The Benin Red Book – which has become a touchstone of Nigerian cultural preservation.

Reflecting on the new MoU, Onuwaje said: ‘Our art must be properly recorded and presented because documentation is not a luxury – it is cultural survival. When we strengthen our claim to it, we unlock its economic potential and assert our identity as the art superpower we truly are. In over 35 years in this business, I have not seen an art economy truly blossom in Nigeria – the simple reason is a critical lack of documentation.’

Broader context

The initiative also builds on the experience of The Intersecting Worlds of Climate Change, the Mangroves and Art – a 2025 exhibition that fused environmental consciousness with artistic expression – underscoring the team’s commitment to using art as a lens for identity, sustainability, and resilience.

Culture strategists

To strengthen its scope, Crimson Fusion has assembled leading culture strategists and consultants. Professor Frank Ugiomoh, Chief Technical Consultant, affirmed that when Nigerians take ownership of their narratives, they tell their stories with authority and authenticity. Olaseinde Odimayo, Technical Consultant on Traditional and Contemporary Art, pledged his commitment to elevating Nigerian art to the highest possible level. Solomon Ikhioda, consultant on Design and Strategy, projected that with the right framework, Nigeria will soon see art reach unprecedented levels of market value and investment potential.

Conclusion

By combining NCMM’s institutional authority with Crimson Fusion’s editorial expertise, the partnership signals a vision of heritage as more than memory. It positions Nigerian art as a living archive – a driver of tourism, education, cultural pride, and national renewal.

Governor Babagana Zulum Borno State has expressed concerns that if the Military does not scale up security around borders communities, the security situations at the border areas and the Borno State might get worse.

The governor expressed the fear following the rampaging attacks by the outlawed Group, the Boko Haram terrorists and its arch-rival Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) fighters which occurred around Bama and Gwoza axis in Borno State recently.

BusinessDay had reported how the terrorists attacked several locations, including Darajamal in Bama Local Government Area and Banki and Kirawa on fringe of Nigeria-Cameroon border community in Bama and Gwoza Local Government Areas, claiming the livies of over 65 civilians aside wanton private and public structures raze down.

Also, Governors Babagana Zulum of Nigeria’s Borno State and Mahamadou Ibrahim Bagadoma of Niger Republic’s Diffa Region had last Wednesday held a closed-door meeting in Diffa to re-strategise and find lasting security solutions around the Lake Chad shores.

Their discussions reportedly centered on joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and sustaining the recent gains that had pushed insurgents out of many of their former strongholds.

But, speaking on the frightening resurgence of terror attacks, Governor Zulum charged the Nigerian Armed Forces to scale up military operations in Borno State to avert the possibility of terrorists reversing the gains recorded so far.

‘??’???? ???????? ???????????????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? ????e??e ????????s ?????????????? ???????????????? which are borders community Wulgo, Kirawa, Baga, Damasak, Malamfatori, and others are borders community that has to be protected because of significant of these communities.

‘?????? ??????????????????????????, ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? and two days ago you have seen these terrorists came to this town and destroyed everything.

‘I am appealing to the Nigerian Armed Forces to be more committed. Above all, we need military operations. For sometime, military operations were not conducted in Borno State.

‘This has been instrumental to the renewed insurgency. We need to take note of one very important thing, continued military operations. There is need for us to sustain our military operations’, Governor Zulum said.

Sharafadeen Alli, an All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator that represents the Oyo South Senatorial District, has urged Governments at all levels to prioritise teachers’ welfare, training and working conditions to ensure improved productivity and sustainable educational standards.

The lawmaker while felicitating teachers across Nigeria on the occasion of the 2025 World Teachers’ Day, described them as nation builders and torchbearers of knowledge.

In a statement issued by his media office and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan, he reaffirmed his commitment to supporting legislative efforts and policies that would uplift the teaching profession, adding that investing in teachers was synonymous with investing in the nation’s future.

Alli commended teachers for their invaluable contributions to national development despite daunting challenges.

He said teachers remain the backbone of every thriving society, shaping minds, nurturing talents, and instilling values that form the foundation of a progressive nation.

He emphasised that teachers deserve greater recognition and motivation, considering their pivotal role in moulding future leaders and driving societal advancement.

Alli urged the private sector and well-meaning Nigerians to also support educational initiatives that empower teachers and enhance learning outcomes.

The senator congratulated all teachers for their steadfastness, patience, and dedication to duty, assuring that their labour of love would not go unrewarded.

He prayed for their continued strength, wisdom, and divine favour as they continue to impact generations positively.

Ayo Balogun, a former Nigerian Air Force officer has raised alarm that terrorism in Nigeria is being sustained not only by illicit funding networks but also by deep-rooted religious loyalties within the security forces and political class, a dangerous mix he says is undermining national security and crippling the country’s decade-long fight against insurgency.

Balogun, who spoke with BusinessDay in Abuja, said that while some military commanders have been accused of selling weapons to insurgents, the problem goes beyond corruption and points to divided allegiances within the system.

‘Some revelations are coming out that commanders and top officials are actually selling weapons to Boko Haram. But the issue is deeper than just selling arms, religion has become a major factor keeping the insurgency alive’, Balogun said.

The retired officer explained that unlike the Niger Delta militancy or other economic-based conflicts that could be resolved through negotiation and incentives, Boko Haram’s ideology is rooted in religious extremism, a problem, he said, ‘lies in the heart’ and is far more difficult to defeat.

‘You can always talk your way out of economic insurgencies if you give people the right incentives. But when an insurgency is religious, it becomes a matter of faith and conviction. No amount of money can make an indoctrinated person drop that belief’, he said.

He warned that religious and territorial conflicts are the most dangerous forms of crises, often tearing nations apart.

‘If you are fighting because of land, it’s serious. If you are fighting because of religion, it’s even more serious. Those are the two types of problems that can destroy a country,’ Balogun said.

Commenting on recent reports that some Nigerian Army officers were caught selling weapons meant for frontline operations to insurgents, Balogun said such betrayals thrive partly because some soldiers sympathise with the enemy due to shared religious beliefs.

‘A soldier who is a staunch Islamist may see insurgents as his religious brothers. There’s already a conflict of interest,. ‘They are human beings before they are soldiers. That’s what makes this conflict very complicated.’

He added that this dynamic also extends to politicians and government officials, some of whom, he said, may be reluctant to confront insurgents decisively because of religious affiliations.

Balogun drew parallels with other global and local conflicts, noting that wars driven by economic interests, such as the civil wars in Sierra Leone and the Congo or the Niger Delta militancy, were easier to resolve through negotiations, incentives, or amnesty programmes.

‘When the Niger Delta militants were fighting, the government offered training, compensation, and engagement. It worked because it was economic. If the Boko Haram crisis were economic, it would have been solved long ago’, he explained.

He contrasted this with the peaceful resolution of Nigeria’s territorial dispute with Cameroon under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, noting that diplomacy and compromise ended what could have been a prolonged war.

‘If Obasanjo hadn’t gone to the World Court over Bakassi and accepted the ruling, we’d still be at war today.

‘That’s the difference between a territorial conflict and a religious one. Religion doesn’t bend easily’, Balogun said.

The former officer also linked the resilience of Boko Haram to foreign support networks.

According to him, intelligence reports and past military briefings have consistently shown that much of the funding and ideological backing for religious extremism in Nigeria comes from outside the country.

‘The funders of religious fundamentalism are mostly from the Middle East countries. There is clear evidence of external influence. Even the Chief of Defence Staff once admitted it’, he said.

Balogun said these external forces exploit Nigeria’s porous borders and weak internal controls to fuel instability, adding that religious indoctrination and foreign funding make the insurgency far harder to contain.

He urged the Nigerian military to focus on professionalism and loyalty to the Constitution above personal or religious sentiments, warning that divided allegiances within the ranks could prolong the insurgency indefinitely.

‘The only hope is for soldiers to be professional. Once a soldier allows religion to dictate his loyalty, the war is already lost’, he said.

Balogun’s was reacting to the reports that some Nigerian military officers have been caught selling weapons to insurgents and bandits, with recent court-martials confirming the depth of internal sabotage within the armed forces.

According to report, a soldier who recently returned from Maiduguri, Borno State, disclosed that he once buried unexpended rounds of ammunition rather than risk being caught with them.

According to him, soldiers in the North-East theatre of operations face strict accountability for weapons but some still find ways to divert military supplies into the black market.

Another army officer confirmed witnessing the arrest of soldiers caught attempting to sell arms to Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri.

The officer, who spoke anonymously, described the situation as ‘a dangerous breach of trust that endangers fellow troops and undermines national security.’

The disturbing revelations align with earlier concerns raised by Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA), who in October last year publicly condemned the infiltration of Nigeria’s security system by corrupt officials.

Speaking during the destruction of confiscated arms by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Abuja, Ribadu blamed the circulation of illegal weapons on internal sabotage within security agencies.

Ribadu cursed officers aiding the illicit trade, accusing them of betraying their oath of service.

He said a significant portion of the arms used by terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers across the country were originally government property but found their way into criminal hands through compromised personnel.

‘The proliferation of small arms and light weapons remains a major threat to our national security,’ Ribadu warned, adding that the menace was worsened by ‘merchants of death and evil’ operating both within and outside Nigeria.

According to Balogun, the recurring cases of arms diversion and internal sabotage continue to raise questions about accountability and oversight within Nigeria’s security architecture, even as the country battles to curb terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes.

QNET, the global lifestyle and wellness company, has received international acclaim for its sweeping consumer protection initiative across Africa.

The global spotlight on QNET’s initiative comes amid growing concern over the economic and emotional toll of fraud worldwide.

According to the 2024 Global State of Scams report by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) and Feedzai, global losses from scams are estimated at over $1.03 trillion in the past year, underscoring the urgent need for corporate-led consumer protection campaigns.

The company’s ‘QNET Against Scams’ campaign, a bold multi-country effort to combat brand misuse and educate communities on identifying fraud, earned a Gold Stevie® Award at the 22nd Annual International Business Awards (IBAs), reaffirming QNET’s leadership in promoting transparency and consumer safety.

QNET clinched three awards for its impactful communication and social responsibility efforts, at the 2025 IBAs. The company won the Gold Stevie® Award in the Brand/Reputation Management category for ‘QNET Against Scams: Rebuilding Trust Through Crisis Communication and Public Education in Ghana’, a Silver Stevie® in the Public Service category for the same campaign, and a Bronze Stevie® for ‘V-Africa 2025’, its flagship convention aimed at empowering entrepreneurs across the continent.

Launched in Ghana in 2024 and later expanded to Senegal and Sierra Leone, the QNET Against Scams campaign tackles the growing misuse of QNET’s name by fraudulent individuals and syndicates who mislead communities with false promises of jobs, visas, and quick profits. The initiative combined grassroots engagement, law enforcement partnerships, and multimedia outreach, including radio and TV spots, billboards, comic-style flyers, social media content, and dynamic street activations featuring roller-skating teams, to educate the public and rebuild trust in legitimate direct selling.

QNET’s collaboration with authorities such as Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Police Service, and the Immigration Service, as well as partnerships with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has strengthened regional efforts to protect consumers and curb impersonation schemes. The campaign also introduced a dedicated Scam Alert portal, empowering individuals to verify claims and report fraudulent activities linked to misuse of the QNET brand.

The impact has been significant as tens of thousands of people across major cities engaged through outdoor activations and educational events, while widespread media coverage amplified the campaign’s reach and reinforced public vigilance against scams.

Speaking on the recognition, Trevor Kuna, chief marketing officer of QNET, said, ‘These awards are a validation of our efforts to fight back against those who misuse our brand name to defraud others. We are determined to protect the communities in which we operate and rebuild trust with our customers and stakeholders. Together, they affirm our commitment to responsible entrepreneurship and the values that drive us forward.’

Through its award-winning efforts, QNET continues to set a new benchmark for ethical business conduct and brand accountability in Africa’s direct selling sector, demonstrating that the fight against fraud is not just a legal obligation, but a shared responsibility to safeguard livelihoods and rebuild public trust.