Kia EV5 underscores industry leading quality

Kia’s EV5 electric SUV has secured first place in a comparative test by renowned German automotive magazine Auto Motor und Sport, outperforming several leading competitors from the United States and China.

The EV5 GT-Line emerged ahead of rivals across seven evaluation categories: body design, safety, convenience, powertrain, driving performance, environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness.

The vehicle scored 100 points in body design, leading the closest US rival by 24 points. The magazine praised its elevated seating position, spacious cabin, comfortable seats and generous second-row and cargo space, which ranges from 566 to 1,650 litres.

The EV5 recorded an even stronger performance in safety, finishing 29 points ahead of its nearest competitor. Its braking performance was particularly impressive, with stopping distances of 35.1 metres and 35.0 metres from 100 km/h under cold and warm conditions respectively-the shortest recorded in the test.

In the convenience category, the EV5 led by 11 points, with judges highlighting its steering-wheel paddles, which allow drivers to adjust regenerative braking and activate one-pedal driving directly.

The electric SUV also won the driving performance category by nine points. Reviewers said it provided the most stable control over uneven road surfaces and delivered a highly refined driving experience.

The results gave the EV5 GT-Line 588 points overall, 31 points ahead of the second-placed vehicle, which scored 557 points. The third and fourth positions recorded 541 and 528 points respectively.

The latest victory adds to Kia’s growing list of comparative test successes and awards, which the company attributes to extensive engineering and validation programmes. Kia vehicles undergo digital and physical prototype testing, proving-ground assessments and public-road evaluations across different surfaces and weather conditions before reaching customers.

A Kia official said the recognition was particularly significant because the EV5 performed strongly in areas that drivers experience daily, including braking and ease of operation.

The EV5 is Kia’s entry in the competitive C-SUV segment and is designed as a five-seat, family-focused electric SUV. Built on the company’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), it features Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, including a bold silhouette and ‘Star Map’ LED lighting.

The vehicle is equipped with an 81.4kWh battery and a front-mounted electric motor, offering a claimed range of up to 329 miles and fast charging from 10 to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes.

Inside, it features integrated 12.3-inch instrument and infotainment displays, a 5.3-inch climate-control screen and fold-flat second-row seats. The GT-Line adds sporty styling, 19-inch alloy wheels, Vehicle-to-Load capability, wireless charging, ambient lighting and a smart power tailgate.

Ikire killings: Victims’ families challenge Police narrative, seek independent probe

The families of persons killed during Monday’s violence at the Naira and Kobo Garage in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, have demanded an independent investigation into the incident, rejecting the account given by the police over the deaths.

The families, who addressed journalists in Osogbo on Friday, said they were dissatisfied with the explanation offered by the Osun State Police Command and insisted that a transparent inquiry was necessary to determine what actually happened at the busy garage.

They alleged that the victims were shot by police personnel, contrary to the police version that its operatives were responding to an attack by hoodlums at the location.

The development has opened a fresh dispute over the circumstances surrounding the deaths, with the families presenting eyewitness accounts which they said contradicted the official explanation released by the police.

The police had earlier said its operatives were deployed to the area following a distress call and came under attack from suspected hoodlums.

According to the command, two civilians were killed, while three police officers sustained injuries during the confrontation.

But the victims’ families said the account failed to answer critical questions about how the confrontation started and how the deceased came to be killed.

One of the witnesses presented by the families, Azeez Isiaka Idowu, said he was driving from Ibadan towards Bayelsa when he encountered the incident under the Ikire bridge.

Idowu said he was travelling in a Toyota Sequoia with a man seated beside him and the man’s wife in the rear seat when he slowed down at a speed breaker.

He claimed that a white Hilux vehicle marked ‘Police’ approached from the direction of Ikire town and that shots were fired from the vehicle.

According to him, one of the passengers in his vehicle, whom he identified as a man sitting in the front seat, was struck by a bullet and died immediately.

‘I did not witness any fight or anything happening before the Hilux came to that junction,’ Idowu said, adding that the bullet entered the vehicle through the front windscreen.

He maintained that the occupants of the vehicle were not involved in any confrontation before the shooting occurred.

The witness’ account was supported by Fatai Sonde, a relative of one of the deceased, Nureni Sobowale, who said the victim had travelled to Ibadan shortly before his death in connection with his mother-in-law’s burial.

Sonde said the family was informed by Sobowale’s wife that he had been shot, adding that relatives who arrived in Ikire later heard that the deceased had been killed by police personnel.

He expressed disappointment over the subsequent description of Sobowale as a criminal and an alleged wanted person, saying the family knew him as a businessman and mechanic who was responsible for the upkeep of his household.

According to him, Sobowale was the breadwinner of his family and left behind a wife and five children.

‘We want justice,’ Sonde said, insisting that the family would not accept a narrative that portrayed the deceased as responsible for his own death without a thorough investigation.

The families also challenged the circumstances under which the police intervention was launched at the garage, arguing that eyewitnesses they consulted did not describe the area as being in a state of violence before the arrival of the police team.

They further questioned aspects of the police account concerning the alleged disarming of security personnel and the events that followed, saying several unanswered questions remained about the sequence of events.

Another contentious issue raised at the briefing was the alleged attempt to associate Senator Lere Oyewumi with the violence.

The families dismissed the allegation, arguing that the senator’s presence in the area was connected to efforts to calm tensions and prevent the situation from degenerating into wider communal violence.

Oyewumi, who also spoke on the controversy, denied having any role in the violence.

He said his intervention was motivated by the need to restore calm and discourage residents from taking the law into their own hands, adding that he also assisted security authorities, including the Commissioner of Police, in moving through some areas affected by the tension.

The senator described attempts to link him to the violence as misplaced and alleged that the focus should instead be on establishing the circumstances that led to the deaths.

For the families, however, the central issue remains the circumstances in which the victims lost their lives and whether the official account adequately reflects what happened at the scene.

They therefore appealed to the Osun State Government and other relevant authorities to constitute an independent commission of inquiry capable of examining evidence from all sides.

The proposed inquiry, they said, should hear from eyewitnesses, relatives of the deceased, injured persons, police officers involved in the operation and other residents who may have witnessed the incident.

They also called for the preservation and examination of relevant evidence, insisting that no party should be allowed to determine the outcome of an investigation in which it is itself a subject of allegations.

The families said they were not seeking vengeance but justice, stressing that only an impartial investigation could establish responsibility and prevent conflicting accounts from deepening tension in the community.

The police have meanwhile announced the arrest of suspects in connection with the violence and maintained that its personnel acted in response to an attack.

Enitan seeks support, says no individual can transform civil service alone

The newly appointed Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, has called on Permanent Secretaries, Directors and all Federal Civil Servants to support the ongoing reform agenda and work collectively to build a more agile, professional and citizen-focused Civil Service.

Enitan made the call in Abuja while assuming office as the HCSF, following his swearing-in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the State House.

His appointment took effect on August 27, 2026, following the retirement of the immediate past HCSF, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, who attained the statutory retirement age of 60.

Enitan expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him, describing his appointment as a call to service and a responsibility he would discharge with humility, dedication and integrity

He commended Walson-Jack for her contributions to the transformation of the Federal Civil Service, noting that her tenure advanced key reforms and provided a strong foundation for continued progress.

The new HCSF said his administration would build on the reforms already established while strengthening the EPIC Culture of Efficiency, Productivity, Incorruptibility and Citizen-Centredness across the Service.

He stressed that transforming the Civil Service could not be achieved by an individual, but required the collective commitment and ownership of all public servants.

Enitan urged Permanent Secretaries, Directors, Heads of Agencies and the wider workforce to embrace professionalism, innovation, accountability and results-oriented service delivery.

He said the Federal Civil Service must remain responsive to the changing needs of Nigerians and capable of delivering quality public services efficiently and effectively.

According to him, stronger collaboration among senior officials and the workforce would be critical to improving institutional capacity and ensuring that government policies translate into tangible outcomes for citizens.

Enitan pledged to work with all stakeholders to strengthen professionalism and efficiency, while contributing to the realisation of the Federal Government’s reform objectives and the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Lawmaker challenges Atiku over renewed Tinubu certificate dispute

House of Representatives member Dr Wale Ahmed (Agege Constituency) has condemned the renewed controversy over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials, describing them as a tiresome political distraction ahead of the 2027 general election.

He said in a statement that the continued focus on allegations surrounding the President’s certificate reflected the opposition’s failure to offer Nigerians compelling alternatives on governance.

His reaction followed a fresh legal challenge reportedly instituted by former vice-president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking Tinubu’s disqualification from the 2027 presidential election over allegations concerning his NYSC certificate.

‘The case remains pending, and the allegations have not been established by a court,’ he said.

Ahmed said political actors were entitled to subject public officials to legitimate scrutiny, but insisted that elections should ultimately be about competing visions and solutions for the country.

‘Nigerians deserve a campaign of ideas, not an endless recycling of allegations. If anybody believes President Tinubu has failed, let that person tell Nigerians what he will do differently and how he will do it,’ he said.

He questioned the value of repeatedly revisiting the certificate controversy, instead of debating the economy, security, infrastructure, employment and other issues affecting Nigerians.

Ahmed cautioned against conflating the Nigerian certificate controversy with a separate legal dispute in the United States involving records connected to a historical investigation and civil forfeiture proceedings concerning funds associated with Tinubu.

‘There is a difference between legitimate scrutiny and political obsession. If there is a case before a court, let the court determine it. But an election campaign cannot be reduced to litigating the same allegations repeatedly,’ he said.

On Atiku’s renewed presidential ambition, Ahmed said he respected the former vice-president’s aspiration, but argued that political realities should also be considered.

‘I respect the life ambition of Atiku to be President, but for now he should know that the Presidency remains in the South. A southerner must have his eight-year tenure, just as the North did between 2015 and 2023,’ he said.

Ahmed added that Atiku should recognise that Tinubu intends to serve two terms and support his administration to succeed.

‘Atiku should know that longevity belongs to God. He can still be President in 2031, only if he retraces his steps to the All Progressives Congress (APC),’ he said.

The lawmaker maintained that Tinubu should ultimately be judged by his record in office and the direction of his administration, rather than allegations still subject to legal and political contestation.

‘2027 cannot be reduced to who can shout loudest about a certificate. Nigerians are asking a bigger question: who has the ideas and capacity to move Nigeria forward?’ Ahmed said.

He reaffirmed his support for Tinubu, saying Nigeria needed continuity, consolidation and the completion of reforms already underway.

Corps members abducted in Kogi

Some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been abducted in Kogi State.

The corps members who were returning to the nation’s capital after three-week orientation exercise in Bayelsa State, were abducted along Aloma-Egane Expressway in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi, on Wednesday.

Confirming the incident on Friday, spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command, Saliu Afusat, said the attackers hid in a bush from where they intercepted two buses travelling in opposite directions near Ogene Zaria, around the Ogene Zaria/Onicha-Igo Junction, at about 4:40pm.

According to the police image maker, the gunmen abducted some passengers, while others managed to escape into the surrounding bush.

Following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer in Ofu led a joint team of security personnel to the scene, where two abandoned buses-a Peace Mass Transit Hummer bus and a yellow 18-seater bus-were recovered.

However, the command said security operatives subsequently launched a bush-combing operation that led to the rescue of 11 abducted persons, including the drivers of the two vehicles.

‘Preliminary debriefing indicates that most of the rescued victims are NYSC members travelling from Bayelsa State to Abuja,’ she said.

She added that the rescued victims were debriefed and, after the necessary procedures, allowed to continue their journeys.

The police did not disclose the exact number of people abducted during the attack but said efforts were ongoing to locate and rescue those still in captivity.

The command said all available operational and intelligence resources had been deployed to secure the release of the remaining victims.

Families Seek Govt Intervention

In a viral video, a woman identified as Chidimma appealed to the government, the NYSC and Nigerians to help rescue her sister, whom she said was among those abducted.

She said her sister had completed her NYSC orientation in Bayelsa and was posted to Niger State for her primary place of assignment.

According to her, the corps member planned to spend the night in Abuja before proceeding to Niger State when the attackers struck.

Chidimma alleged that the driver of the vehicle was killed during the attack, while her sister and other corps members were taken into the bush.

She said the family had yet to receive positive information about her sister’s whereabouts and appealed for urgent action to secure the victims’ release.

Another man, identified as Chisom Ede, also claimed that his sister was among the abducted corps members.

He called on the NYSC, Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue those still being held.

Another social media user, @ddevilsworkshop, reportedly shared a list said to contain the names of passengers travelling in the Peace Mass Transit vehicle and alleged that the abductors were demanding N20 million as ransom.

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has gifted N7 million, three laptops and postgraduate scholarships to three outstanding medical students of Bayero University Kano (BUK) in recognition of their academic excellence.

Radda presented the rewards to the beneficiaries during a meeting with them at the Government House.

The beneficiaries are Dr Ismail Abubakar Muhammad, Dr Abba Bashir and Dr Fatima Tukur Sada, who distinguished themselves through exceptional performances at the university’s College of Health Sciences.

Muhammad emerged as the Best Student in Biochemistry, Best Student in Medicine and Surgery and Overall Best Student. He received N3 million, a new Lenovo laptop and sponsorship for postgraduate training in Nuclear Medicine.

FTSE Russell: Oyedele welcomes Nigeria’s reclassification to Frontier market status

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has welcomed Nigeria’s reclassification to Frontier Market status by FTSE Russell.

Oyedele commended the confirmation by global index provider FTSE Russell that Nigeria’s capital market will be reclassified from ‘Unclassified’ to ‘Frontier Market’ status, effective from the opening of trading on Monday, 21 September 2026.

According to a statement signed by the minister, the decision marks Nigeria’s return to the global Frontier Market universe, nearly three years after its exclusion in September 2023, when persistent difficulties with capital repatriation and foreign exchange execution made the market inaccessible to international investors.

‘The reclassification follows sustained improvements in foreign exchange liquidity, capital repatriation and market accessibility, and reflects the cumulative impact of the Federal Government’s macroeconomic and structural reform programme.

‘The reclassification is an important validation of Nigeria’s reform trajectory and a foundation for the next phase of the country’s capital market development. It is a meaningful signal to global capital that our market is open, orderly and improving.

‘It reflects years of disciplined work across government and the private sector to restore confidence in our economy. We see this as a milestone, not a destination. Our ambition remains to build a capital market that is deep, liquid and competitive enough to earn Emerging Market status in the near term.’

The statement commended the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Exchange Group, the Central Securities Clearing System, and all capital market operators and stakeholders for their sustained collaboration in achieving the outcome.

‘Their coordinated efforts spanning regulatory reform, market infrastructure modernisation and investor engagement have been central to restoring Nigeria’s standing among global index providers.

‘Looking ahead, the Federal Government reaffirms its commitment to working with market regulators and institutions to deepen liquidity, broaden participation and strengthen investor protection, with the medium-term goal of positioning Nigeria for progression to Emerging Market status.

‘The Ministry will continue to support policies that enhance the depth, transparency and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s capital market as a key pillar of the nation’s economic transformation agenda,’ the statement stated.

Arsenal Premier League title matters more to me than Grammy – Odumodublvck

Rapper Tochukwu Gbubemi Ojogwu, popularly known as Odumodublvck, has revealed he would forgo a Grammy Award for Arsenal to win the Premier League title.

The artist made the statement in a Capital Xtra interview that has since gone viral.

Odumodublvck, a vocal Arsenal supporter, said a league title for the north London club would mean more to him than the music industry’s top individual honour.

He recounted a conversation with Super Eagles midfielder Eberechi Eze after Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester City.

According to the rapper, he met Eze the next day while filming a New Balance commercial, and Eze assured him Arsenal would still win the league.

‘When we lost to Manchester City, I saw Eze the next day when we were doing a New Balance commercial, and he told me we’re gonna win the league and I said yes, I believe,’ he said.

Asked to choose between winning a Grammy and seeing Arsenal win the Premier League, Odumodublvck said he would pick the latter.

‘So stuff like that for me, winning the league was everything. If you gave me the opportunity to win a Grammy Award or let Arsenal win that Premier League, I would have chosen that Premier League. Take it to the bank,’ he said.

Odumodublvck, who has consistently voiced support for Arsenal across his music and public engagements, reiterated the point by referencing Arsenal’s controversial 2024/25 loss to West Ham.

‘If I had the chance to win a Grammy Award, yeah, say this is a Grammy Award, and they say, let that West Ham goal count or whatever, let them cancel that West Ham goal for Arsenal to win the league, which one will you pick? I would pick that league ahead of the Grammy Award,’ he said.

’Islamic values must guide children’s use of technology’

Parents have been urged to take greater responsibility for their children’s exposure to digital technology, particularly social media, to protect them from moral corruption, addiction and other dangers.

The call was made by Imam Taiye Hassan Mustapha Agaka at a public lecture organised by The Muslim Congress (TMC) in Ajase Ipo, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Speaking on ‘Raising Children in the Digital Age,’ Agaka said technology had created learning opportunities but also exposed children to harmful influences.

He cited internet fraud, popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo, inappropriate skits and other immoral social media content as some of the dangers confronting children.

Agaka said phones, computers, TikTok and other platforms could be used positively or negatively, depending on how children were guided.

‘Technology can be used positively or otherwise. The fact that some people are using it for evil does not mean Muslims should abandon it,’ he said.

He also raised concern over the use of artificial intelligence to produce materials capable of defaming Muslims and Islam.

He urged the government to address negative stereotyping of Muslims through digital content.

Rather than abandoning technology, Agaka urged Muslims to acquire the necessary knowledge and use it positively.

He cited Iran’s technological development as an example of the importance of mastering modern technology.

The cleric warned against social media addiction, saying it had affected the studies of many children and turned some brilliant pupils into dropouts.

He also cited reduced physical activity, cyberbullying and cult recruitment as other dangers.

He urged parents to carefully consider when to give their children phones and ensure proper supervision.

He also encouraged them to use technology to teach their children the Qur’an and Islamic values.

Agaka stressed the importance of sound aqeedah, saying children grounded in the belief that Allah is the ultimate authority would be better equipped to withstand negative influences.

He cautioned parents against allowing love for their children to make them compromise religious duties such as fasting and Salah. He also urged them to follow Islamic guidelines on the interaction between boys and girls, including separation from around age 10.

The imam advised parents to combine discipline with love, saying children should not be disowned because of their shortcomings. He urged them to correct their children while maintaining strong bonds with them.

Tinubu commends 90 percent completion of NLNG’s Train 7 Project

With Nigeria LNG Limited’s Train 7 Project now beyond the 90 per cent completion mark, President Bola Tinubu, has said its successful delivery will be critical to the country’s ambition to build a stronger gas economy, expand exports, create jobs, deepen local capacity and reinforce investor confidence.

President Tinubu spoke at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, when he received the NLNG delegation, led by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Adeleye Falade, who briefed him on the progress of Train 7 and the company’s broader role in the gas development agenda.

The briefing, General Manager External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said covered the status of Train 7 and prospects for future expansion, alongside key issues affecting NLNG’s operations and wider contribution to Nigeria.

These, she added included liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pricing and accessibility, LPG trucking through the Bonny-Bodo Road corridor, the company’s contribution to public revenue, its investment in the Bonny-Bodo Road and national social-impact projects, and the need for a more enabling business environment.

President Tinubu congratulated Falade on his appointment, saying he was taking charge of NLNG at a defining moment for the company and for Nigeria’s gas ambitions.

With Train 7 nearing completion, the president said NLNG should help convert the country’s gas reserves into jobs, exports, industrial growth and long-term economic value.

‘I congratulate you, Leye, on your appointment. Train 7 is at the centre of our national gas agenda. Its success matters not only to NLNG, but to Nigeria’s economic future,’ the president said.

The president commended the progress recorded on Train 7, describing the project as a benchmark for delivery, partnership, Nigerian Content and investor confidence.

He assured the NLNG management that the Federal Government would continue to improve the business climate, provide greater regulatory clarity and remove bottlenecks to major oil and gas investments.

‘Nigeria is open for business, but it must be business that creates value at home – building capacity, supporting communities, protecting the environment and contributing to national prosperity. NLNG must continue to lead by example,’ he added.

In his remarks, Falade thanked the president for his support and assured him that NLNG remained fully committed to the safe and successful delivery of Train 7 and to the company’s wider responsibility to Nigeria.

‘Your Excellency, we appreciate your administration’s support for NLNG and for the wider gas sector. Train 7 is a strategic national undertaking. With the project now over 90 per cent complete, our immediate priority is to deliver the remaining work safely, efficiently and to the required quality, while preparing the plant for reliable and sustainable operations,’ Falade said.

He said the project would expand Nigeria’s LNG production capacity, support export growth, create opportunities for Nigerian workers and businesses, deepen local participation and generate greater long-term value from the country’s gas resources.

On LPG, Falade restated NLNG’s commitment to supporting the domestic market and improving access to cleaner cooking fuel for Nigerian households and businesses.

Falade called for coordinated action by the Federal Government, regulators and industry operators to expand domestic supply, improve storage and distribution infrastructure, eliminate avoidable costs and create a more transparent and efficient market that would make LPG more accessible and affordable to Nigerians.

‘Improving LPG accessibility is important to Nigeria’s energy transition and to the wellbeing of millions of Nigerian households. NLNG remains committed to supporting the domestic market, but improving affordability requires coordinated action across the entire LPG value chain,’ he said.

Falade asked for the president’s support in addressing ease-of-doing-business challenges, particularly the proliferation of taxes, levies, charges and regulatory demands imposed by different levels and agencies of government.

He said multiple and sometimes conflicting fiscal and regulatory obligations increase operating costs, create uncertainty and can become barriers to existing operations and future investment.

Falade assured the president that NLNG was ready to align more closely with the administration’s development agenda and explore additional opportunities for partnership with the Federal Government.

The meeting ended with a shared commitment to sustain momentum on Train 7 as the project enters its final stretch and to strengthen the partnership between the Federal Government and NLNG.

Both sides agreed to continue working together to support the project’s successful delivery and NLNG’s broader contribution to Nigeria’s gas development and economic growth.

FG makes procurement certification Mandatory for federal civil servants

The Federal Government has approved mandatory professional certification for officers in the Procurement Cadre across the Federal Public Service.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, announced the policy in a circular dated August 26, 2026, directing Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure compliance.

Under the new policy, the National Public Procurement Certification Programme (NPPCP), administered by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), will serve as the mandatory professional certification for officers in the Procurement Cadre.

The move, according to the HCSF, is part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening professionalism, competence and accountability in the Federal Public Service.

The certification is expected to establish a common professional competency standard for procurement officers while enhancing their capacity in procurement planning and procedures, public procurement laws and regulations, contract management, ethics, compliance, accountability and value for money.

The circular clarified that the Procurement Cadre covers officers formally appointed to the cadre as well as those performing procurement functions in Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies in line with approved schemes of service and applicable regulations.

It also stated that the NPPCP certification would complement, rather than replace, academic and other professional qualifications prescribed under existing schemes of service.

Consequently, officers would still be required to meet applicable academic qualifications, years on grade and other conditions for appointment and career progression within the Procurement Cadre.

The HCSF directed all MDAs to ensure that procurement officers obtain the appropriate level of NPPCP certification corresponding to their grade levels and functions, in accordance with the certification framework established by the BPP.

However, serving procurement officers have been granted a 12-month moratorium from the date of the circular to obtain the required certification.

During the transition period, affected officers may remain in their current positions or be appropriately deployed, provided they present verifiable evidence of enrolment in the relevant NPPCP certification programme.

They must also demonstrate satisfactory progress towards obtaining the certification within six months of the circular.

The Federal Government further warned that upon expiration of the 12-month transition period, possession of the relevant NPPCP certification would become a requirement for deployment to positions or roles within the Procurement Cadre across the Federal Public Service.

The BPP is expected to work with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to provide technical information and guidance on the certification programme.

This will include details on the curriculum, certification levels, eligibility and entry requirements, examination and assessment arrangements, competency areas and implementation framework.

The circular, which takes immediate effect, was addressed to senior government officials, including ministers, permanent secretaries, service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, heads of federal commissions and agencies, as well as chief executives of treasury-funded extra-ministerial departments and agencies.

The HCSF directed the affected institutions to bring the new requirement to the attention of all relevant staff for guidance and strict compliance.