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Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, has assured the United Nations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not delegitimise or suppress opposition in Nigeria.

Ibrahim gave the assurance on Tuesday while delivering his address at the ongoing Global Parliamentary Conference on Counter-Terrorism and the Prevention of Violent Extremism in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Federal Government came hard on Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) yesterday over last month’s strike during their faceoff with Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals (DRP).

‘We cannot hold the whole nation to ransom because of issues that we can amicably settle across the table,’ President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said.

It was his first reaction to the situation during which the union disconnected the gas supply to the refinery in addition to limiting the pumping of crude to export terminals, an action likened to economic sabotage.

The President spoke yesterday at the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) event in Abuja.

He was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

He called for patriotism and caution, urging union leaders to maintain sensitivity to national security during their free agitations for industrial welfare.

Also yesterday, the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, recalled the huge loss incurred by the country in the few days the strike lasted.

In Lagos, the scarcity of cooking gas surfaced over the weekend, with residents searching for the product across the metropolis.

The few places where the product was available witnessed long queues, and the price was hiked.

The scarcity was attributed to the effect of the PENGASSAN strike.

Describing the $20 billion privately-owned refinery as a national asset that should be supported to function, President Tinubu said the nation should jealously protect, promote, and preserve the facility in the national interest.

President Tinubu emphasised the importance of industrial harmony in the sensitive sector while declaring open the 31st NESG in Abuja.

Its theme was: ‘The reform imperative: building a prosperous and inclusive Nigeria by 2030.’

At the summit were the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, and other senior government officials.

The President said any threat to the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery should be viewed as a national sabotage.

The PENGASSAN/Dangote Refinery rift provoked anxiety nationwide about a looming fuel scarcity that had become a thing of the past since it commenced operation.

Ojulari said 200,000 barrels were lost to the union strike daily.

He also lamented that the company experienced deferred gas output during the dispute.

Ojulari, who briefed the President at his private residence in Lagos, however, said Nigeria would hit 1.8m bpd oil production by December.

Nigeria will protect every investment, says President

The President said his administration would protect every investment, warning that nothing must be allowed to disrupt the operations of the $20 billion facility.

President Tinubu described the Dangote Group President, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, as ‘not just an individual, but an institution’.

He urged labour unions to exercise restraint and seek peaceful dialogue in addressing industrial issues involving the refinery.

The President explained that the refinery, which was financed through a mix of equity, debt, and local and foreign bank loans, should remain operational to meet its financial obligations and sustain national economic stability.

He said: ‘The refinery has to function to service the debt. We cannot hold the whole nation to ransom because of issues that we can amicably settle across the table.’

President Tinubu said Dangote’s decision to invest massively in Nigeria, rather than abroad, was an act of faith in the country’s future.

He stressed: ‘If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he might be worth $70 to $80 billion today.

‘But he chose to invest in Nigeria, and we owe it to future generations to promote, preserve, and protect the interests of this very Nigerian.’

The President called for ‘caution, introspection, and a sense of accountability from all the organised and independent private sector players’ to maintain industrial peace and a sustainable investment climate.

He added: ‘It’s not about holding the gold medal for ransom. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN; Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us.

‘I’m not speaking as a partisan but as a Nigerian in search of solutions to our national challenges.’

The President urged the NESG to come up with policies that can resolve industrial disputes and prevent future disruptions in the sector.

Turning to broader economic issues, the President assured that Nigeria will overcome its current economic challenges through industrialisation, infrastructure development, and human-centred policies.

‘As Nigerians, we are not condemned to low growth, high costs, and low trust. We will stabilise. We will industrialise. We will humanise our economy. We will stabilise prices and currency, and we will industrialise through power, logistics, and technology.’

The President said his administration has created pathways for the youth to access grants, loans, and equity investments of up to $100,000 to grow their enterprises, innovate, and build sustainable livelihoods.

He also announced a N200 billion intervention fund to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and manufacturers in overcoming structural challenges and enhancing competitiveness.

He said: ‘Our expansion of digital micro-loan access has improved financial inclusion, empowered small businesses, and stimulated community-level productivity.’

On fiscal policy, the President said the newly signed Tax Reform Act-which introduced the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act-marked a major recalibration of the nation’s tax architecture.

‘These reforms will boost domestic revenue mobilisation, reduce dependence on oil, and simplify compliance,’ he said.

‘They protect low-income earners, ensure fairness in corporate taxation, and strengthen digital innovation in tax administration.’

Ojulari: Production hit 1.68 tr last month

The NNPCL boss lamented the PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery faceoff.

He said: ‘It was quite unfortunate that the Dangote and PENGASSAN issue led to the strike.

‘As you know, whenever critical staff manning key facilities are unavailable, operations are disrupted.

‘We actually lost significant production of over 200,000 barrels per day and also experienced deferred gas output, while about 1.2 megawatts of power generation were affected.’

Ojulari commended the Federal Government for swiftly intervening through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dingyadi, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, who brokered peace.

He said: ‘Everyone was brought to the table, and a communiqué was agreed upon on the way forward. We are very hopeful that all parties will abide by it.’

On the recent gas price spikes, Ojulari attributed the rise to temporary supply chain disruptions during the strike.

He added: ‘The increase you saw was relatively artificial. For the period of the strike, loading and movement were delayed by about two or three days, and that created a temporary scarcity.

‘Some marketers exploited the situation to raise prices. Now that things are back to normal, prices should return to what they were before the strike.’

Ojulari said that Nigeria’s crude oil production would reach 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) before the end of the year, following months of consistent growth and strategic maintenance interventions across production facilities.

He said production hit 1.68 million barrels per day in September-the highest level in about five years-while gas output also reached a record seven billion cubic feet (BCF) per day.

Ojulari said: ‘With the turnaround maintenance completed in August and September now coming back onstream, we expect that before the end of the year, we should be clocking at least 1.8 million barrels per day, all things being equal.’

He noted that the achievement aligned with the President’s directive to ramp up production to at least two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million barrels by 2030 under the Renewed Hope energy roadmap.

Reforms should yield gains, says Yusuf

Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, who lent his voice to the dark side of the labour dispute, said in a statement that sensitive investments should be protected.

Yusuf enjoined the government to come up with a policy framework to prevent the unlawful shutdown of businesses in the country.

He said a policy to protect investors is a national economic imperative, adding: ‘Investors mobilise capital, create jobs, and generate the tax revenues that sustain government and society.

‘Without them, there can be no sustained growth, no employment, and no national prosperity.

‘Nigeria must, therefore, urgently institutionalise a fair, secure, and predictable business environment that protects those who take risks to create wealth.

‘This is not about weakening labour unions but about balancing rights and responsibilities to foster sustainable economic growth, social stability, and national security.’

Protesters ask Tinubu to crush saboteurs

In Kaduna, Protesters under the aegis of ‘Partners for National Economic Progress (PANEP) yesterday urged President Tinubu to halt the activities of those trying to sabotage efforts to achieve local refining of petroleum products.

The protesters, who converged on the Murtala Mohammed Square before marching through major streets of the city, accused an unnamed oil cartel of frustrating and undermining local refinery initiatives, particularly the Dangote Refinery.

Chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Support Local Refining,’ ‘Crush Economic Saboteurs,’ and ‘Protect Dangote Refinery,’ the protesters said Nigeria should be liberated from economic manipulation.

Their leaders, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta and Comrade Dahiru Umar Maishanu, said the call on the President was necessary to save Nigeria from a cartel that has thrived on importation and fuel scarcity at the expense of national development.

Music icon, Innocent Ujah Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, is set to mark a major milestone in his illustrious career as he celebrates 25 years in the music industry alongside his 50th birthday and the birthday of his wife in a grand event scheduled to hold at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on Friday, November 14.

The event, packaged by Yankee Entertainment, is aptly titled ‘The 2Baba Experience. May I Know You Again.’

The celebration is expected to attract top figures from the entertainment industry, business community, political circles, and fans from across the country and beyond, as the legendary artiste reflects on a career that has spanned over two decades of consistent impact.

Reflecting on his music journey at at press conference in Abuja, Mallam Yankee of Yankee Entertainment said 2Baba’s journey into music began in the late 1990s when he teamed up with Blackface and Faze to form the popular music group Plantashun Boiz. He said the trio rose to national fame before going their separate ways, paving the way for 2Baba’s successful solo career.

Born and raised in Benue State, 2Baba attended Mount Saint Gabriel Secondary School and later studied at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, before opting to pursue his passion for music.

But Mallam Yankee said his decision, considered risky at the time, eventually helped open doors for many young and poor Nigerians who later found an escape route in the entertainment industry.

He said: ‘Since going solo, 2Baba has released multiple chart-topping albums and hit singles, including the global classic ‘African Queen’, which gained international acclaim and helped define the new era of Afrobeats.

‘He is known for his deep lyrics and socially conscious themes. Widely regarded as one of Africa’s most influential musicians, his songs often transcend entertainment, addressing love, unity, and social responsibility,’ he said.

The jagaban of entertainment said Hits such as ‘For Instance’, ‘Only Me’, and ‘One Love’ highlight 2baba’s commitment to promoting moral and political consciousness among his listeners, stating that through his work, 2Baba has not only entertained audiences but also used his platform to advocate good governance and youth empowerment.

‘Beyond his music, 2Baba is admired for his humility and dedication to his family. Despite occasional controversies surrounding his personal life, the singer has remained grounded, often emphasizing that fame does not make him immune to human flaw,’ Yankee said.

Speaking further, he said, those close to him have constantly described him as a devoted father and husband whose love for his family continues to reflect in his public life.

Mallam Yankee announced that his 25th anniversary in the music industry coincides with the birthday of his wife, Natasha, ‘making the celebration even more symbolic.’

He stressed: ‘As 2Baba turns 50, he stands tall as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished musicians whose influence has crossed borders and generations. From local stages in Enugu to global platforms, his story remains a source of inspiration to many African artistes.

‘With 25 years of consistent success, numerous awards, and global recognition, 2Baba’s name has become synonymous with excellence, resilience, and creativity in African music.’

He said The Abuja event is expected to be a reflection of that legacy, hence the rider, ‘May I know You Again’

Mallam Yankee said: ‘It’s not just a celebration of a man, but a movement that helped redefine the sound and spirit of African entertainment.’

Fire had engulfed a section of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt destroying some property.

It was gathered that the inferno started at the ground floor of one of the tall buildings popularly called the Podium after the close of work and spread to the office of the newly constituted Rivers State Pension Board.

Sources said the fire started at about 4pm and was reportedly caused by an electrical fault, though there was no casualty.

Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Information, Dr Honour Sirawoo, confirmed the incident saying fire fighters intervened immediately to stop the inferno.

Sirawoo said: ‘It was at the Podium Block of the State Secretariat, on the right side where the fire started from. But we are fortunate to have the State and the Federal Fire Service would intervened and did what they know best to arrest the situation.

The State Head of Service, Dr Inyinge Brown, confirmed that no life was lost saying she was happy that the recently rehabilitated State Fire Service was on ground to quench the fire.

She said: ‘We were informed that there was a fire incident at the right wing, ground floor of Podium Block and we immediately made calls to the River State Fire Service and they responded promptly.

‘We also called other partners of the state, such as the Renaissance, Federal Fire Service and the military who promptly sent their fire trucks. It’s a combined effort, and as we speak, you can see that the fire has been contained.

‘We thank God, and we thank His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara for being proactive in rehabilitating the fire service before this time. If not for his investment in the Fire Service, this situation would have been worse’.

She added: ‘We urge all civil servants to take responsibility in safety. Put off our sockets and our lights. Not just putting off the sockets, but unplug to ensure there is no residual charge because these buildings are heritage buildings and we don’t want anything to happen to them.’

Three of the five members elect who won the August 16, 2025 bye election into the House of Representatives were on Tuesday inaugurated by the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen at the resumption of plenary.

Those inaugurated on Tuesday are Omosede Igbenedion (APC- Ovia Federal Constituency of Edo state), Joseph Bagudu (APC-Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency of Kaduna state) and Mukthar Rabiu (APC-Garki/Babura federal constituency of Jigawa state)

Two others, Elegbeji Yetunde Ayoola (Ikenne/Remo federal constituency of Ogun state and Oyekunle Fola Sunday (Ibadan North Federal constituency of Oyo state) we’re absent.

The seats became vacant as a result of the death of the lawmakers representing Chikun/Kajuru- Ekene Abubakar Adams, Ibadan North- Akeremi Olaide, Ikenne/Remo- Oriyomi Onanuga and Garki/Babura-Isa Dogonyaro as well as the resignation of Denis Idahosa to contest as the Deputy Governor of Edo state.

The inauguration was witnessed by the former Deputy Governor of Edo state, Phillip Shuabu, Lady Cherry Igbenedion, Chairman of the North West Development Commission, Samaila Abdullahi Yakawada among others.

The House immediately went into a executive session after the inauguration to discuss the leadership crisis in the minority caucus.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has convicted Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, a leader of Sudan’s notorious Janjaweed militia, for his role in atrocities committed during the genocide in the western region of Darfur more than 20 years ago.

It is the court’s first conviction for crimes in Darfur, where similar violence has flared again amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war.

Judges found that mass killings and sexual violence were part of a plan backed by Sudan’s former government to crush a rebellion by African ethnic groups in the western region. Abd-Al-Rahman, also known by the nom de guerre Ali Kushayb, was found guilty on 27 counts, carried out between August 2003 and April 2004. He remained silent as the verdict was read out by presiding judge, Joanna Korner.

People who fled the Zamzam camp for the internally displaced after it fell under RSF control, walk in a makeshift encampment in an open field near the town of Tawila in war-torn Sudan’s western Darfur region on April 13, 2025.

‘The accused was not only giving orders . but was personally involved in the beatings and later was physically present and giving orders for the execution of those detained,’ said Korner.

Abd-Al-Rahman, who claimed he was wrongly identified, will be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. Born in 1949, Abd-Al-Rahman fled to the Central African Republic in February 2020 after Sudan’s new government announced it would cooperate with the ICC investigation. He later turned himself in, saying he was ‘desperate’ and feared he would be killed by authorities.

The conflict in Darfur lasted from 2003 to 2020, and is widely considered to be the 21st century’s first genocide. During that time the United Nations estimates that the conflict killed 300,000 people and forced 2.5 million from their homes.

Reading out the verdict, Korner recounted the horrific crimes committed by Abd-Al-Rahman, including gang rapes, abuse, and mass killings. Although the ICC has successfully prosecuted Abd-Al-Rahman, several arrest warrants remain outstanding against Sudanese officials, including one accusing former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir of genocide, which he denies. Bashir, who was ousted in a 2019 coup, is reportedly in military custody in northern Sudan.

During the trial, Karim Khan, the ICC chief prosecutor said Abd-Al-Rahman and the Janjaweed militia ‘rampaged’ through Darfur and ‘inflicted severe pain and suffering on women, children and men in villages that he left in his wake.’

The Janjaweed later evolved into the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since 2023. The RSF is accused by the United States, the U.N. and others of committing another genocide in Darfur, displacing thousands, triggering famine and driving the region toward a new humanitarian catastrophe.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has begun the nationwide verification of Private Tour Operators as part of its preparation for the 2026 Umrah and Hajj operations.

The verification comes on the heels of the inauguration of the Committee on Licensing and Verification of Private Tour Operators by NAHCON’s Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, last week at the Hajj House in Abuja.

The committee was mandated to verify and assess all applications submitted by licensed and intending tour operator companies seeking accreditation.

The verification, which kicked off in Kano State, is being conducted by a delegation from the commission’s Tour Operators Unit under the Operations, Inspectorate, and Licensing Department (OILS).

The team is visiting companies’ offices to inspect their facilities, documentation process, staffing, and compliance with the operational guidelines stipulated by the commission.

In a statement by Shafii Mohammed, the committee said the verification is meant to ensure that only credible, financially capable, and operationally prepared companies are granted licences to handle pilgrim services for the 2026 Hajj and Umrah.

‘This process is essential for transparency, accountability, and quality assurance. It ensures that only operators who meet the commission’s standards and Saudi Arabian regulatory requirements are accredited,’ the statement said.

The verification is expected to extend to other geopolitical zones in the coming days, covering all registered and intending tour operators nationwide.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after a 10-day working visit to Lagos.

During the period, he engaged with investors, industry leaders, and national stakeholders on key economic and governance matters.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said the President arrived in Lagos on September 26 after attending the coronation of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan in the Oyo State capital.

While in Lagos, President Tinubu met with major investors, including the Chief Executive Officer of Global Infrastructure Partners, Mr. Bayo Ogunlesi, and a former Chairman of United Bank for Africa and Etisalat, currently the Chairman of Metis Capital Partners, Mr. Hakeem Belo-Osagie.

The discussions, according to the Presidency, focused on deepening private sector partnerships and boosting investor confidence in the economy.

The President also received the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, alongside the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, as well as other key stakeholders in the maritime sector.

He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to position the maritime industry as a viable alternative source of national revenue beyond fossil energy.

On the eve of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, President Tinubu travelled to Imo State, where he inaugurated several projects executed by Governor Hope Uzodimma and unveiled a book authored by the governor, chronicling 10 years of All Progressives Congress (APC) governance in Nigeria.

He delivered his Independence Day national broadcast from the State House at Dodan Barracks in Lagos, urging Nigerians to speak positively about their country and remain united in hope.

Later that day, President Tinubu inaugurated the newly renovated National Theatre, now renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.

On October 4, the President visited Jos, the Plateau State capital, for the burial of Mama Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.

At the funeral, President Tinubu paid a glowing tribute to the late matriarch and reassured Christian communities in Northern Nigeria of his administration’s unwavering commitment to fairness and equity among all faiths.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order temporarily freezing a bank account belonging to Mars Aviation Limited in Fidelity Bank Plc over the company’s alleged complicity in fraud associated with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

Justice Musa Liman issued the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), moved by its lawyer, Geraldine Ofulue.

Ofulue, while moving the motion, claimed that the account was currently being investigated in a case of criminal misappropriation and money laundering.

The lawyer identified the account number as: 5250350283 (C03651082) with the account name – Mars Aviation Limited.

The order issued on September 22 was on the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1299/2025, filed on July 1.

The EFCC stated, in a supporting affidavit, that it received an open source intelligence alleging that some monies had been paid by NNPCL to Mars Aviation Ltd for purported contracts that were phony and granted in default of the provisions of the Procurement Act.

It added that based on the intelligence, the commission launched an investigation and found that huge sums of money had indeed been paid to the account of Mars Aviation Ltd by NNPCL, in various installments.

The EFCC said the interim freezing was necessary to preserve the funds and prevent any transaction on the accounts, pending the conclusion of investigation.

Soaring food import bill in Africa has emerged as both a symptom of its deepening dependence on external markets and a warning sign for the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers, experts have endorsed.

Professor of Applied Economics at the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Rachid M. Doukkali, said the continent’s food import bill has more than quadrupled since 2003, driven largely by cereals. ‘While Africa records a surplus in several key agri-food products, its progress is significantly hampered by a deep-seated vulnerability in one critical area. Cereals remain its Achilles’ heel,’ Doukkali stated.

He explained that while cereal production grew at an annual average of 2.7 per cent between 2003 and 2023, consumption rose faster at 2.9 per cent, pushed by rapid population growth and urbanisation.

‘Generally, when we talk about food deficit in Africa, we are only referring to the deficit in cereals and not to other agri-food products,’ he noted.

The imbalance, Doukkali said, has left countries such as Nigeria and Morocco increasingly linking on imports. ‘Governments tend to put pressure on the domestic prices of these staple food products by facilitating imports at very low prices.

Given that the large majority of small producers are specialised in the production of these staples, they are indirectly taxed by these low prices.

The direct consequence is the low profitability of small farms, which strongly and negatively impacts their productivity and competitiveness,’ he explained.

In Morocco, according to him, the contrast between thriving agro-industrial giants and struggling smallholder farmers remains stark, with post-harvest losses of up to 30 percent due to lack of cold-chain infrastructure. Doukkali acknowledged that state-backed initiatives such as the Green Morocco Plan and Green Generation Strategy have helped farmers through subsidies, cooperatives, and mentorship, but he stressed that broader challenges persist across the continent.

‘Research should be directed towards technologies that allow for greater adaptation and resilience of production systems, as well as greater efficiency in resource use,’ he urged. Climate shocks, especially recurrent droughts, he warned, could devastate even capital-intensive irrigated farming systems.

Doukkali meanwhile underscored the importance of regional cooperation. He argued that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could boost intra-African food trade, which currently accounts for less than 20 percent of agricultural commerce. ‘The AfCFTA will likely increase intra-African agri-food trade through trade substitution and trade creation,’ he said.

For now, Africa’s dependence on imports is both an economic burden and a strategic vulnerability. As Crises in recent years-from the 2007-2008 food price crisis to COVID-19 and the Ukraine war-have all demonstrated that the question of a country’s food security is crucial, and that a minimum of domestic production must be ensured to guarantee that security,’ Doukkali concluded:

As policymakers grapple with these structural weaknesses, international experts argue that Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) could offer Africa, and Nigeria in particular, a pathway out of crisis.

Secretary-General of the Brussels-based Farm Tech Society (FTS), Thomas Zoellner, said Nigeria must act quickly to leverage CEA-ranging from high-tech greenhouses to vertical farms-if it is to protect its food supply. ‘CEA is extremely resource-efficient, reducing water use by up to 90 percent compared to open-field farming and requiring far less land. For Nigeria, where urban expansion is swallowing farmland and water stress is growing, these systems could be transformative,’ he explained.

He noted that across Europe, CEA has become a tool for meeting sustainability goals under the EU’s Green Deal, while in Asia, China and Japan have made major strides in vertical farming and hydroponics. But Africa,he indicated, lags behind, with only scattered pilot projects in Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt.

‘Nigeria has an opportunity to learn from these experiences and design its own model,’ Zoellner said. He stressed, however, that capital costs-estimated at $2 million to $4 million per hectare for vertical farms-remain a major barrier. ‘Knowledge transfer to young farmers is the single most important factor for adoption. Without skills, capital, and infrastructure, resource-efficient systems will remain out of reach. But with proper training and public-private partnerships, Nigeria can create a generation of tech-savvy farmers.’

Beyond food security, Zoellner pointed to CEA’s potential for job creation. ‘This is about building resilience in an agriculture sector that feeds over 200 million people,’ he said.