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Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, stated on Saturday that the worst of the nation’s economic challenges was over as the country stepped into prosperity driven by President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.

Speaking in Enugu at the flag-off of the South-East Women Mega Empowerment and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Mobilisation Directorate’s campaign across the six geopolitical zones, Senator Tinubu likened the reform process to childbirth, noting that labour pains ultimately lead to delivery.

The rally featured the distribution of empowerment materials including sewing machines, food processors, electricity-generating sets, and popcorn machines to women from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states to support small-scale enterprises. Dignitaries in attendance included the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima; Governors Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), and Peter Mbah (Enugu); as well as Anambra Deputy Governor Onyekachukwu Ibezim.

Expanding on the administration’s support initiatives, Senator Tinubu announced that on December 3, APC senatorial candidates will receive funds to empower 250 women each with ?200,000 to establish businesses. A separate empowerment programme for 250 elderly persons aged 65 and above is scheduled for December 17, bringing the total beneficiaries to 750 across the three senatorial districts of Enugu State.

Peter Mbah ,Enugu State Governor commended the initiative, noting that his administration has partnered with the First Lady’s office to support thousands of women through cash assistance, medical bill settlements, and business tools. Governor Mbah credited federal economic reforms and increased federation allocations for funding development projects such as Smart Green Schools and primary healthcare centres across the state.

Throwing the region’s weight behind the administration, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu asserted that Ndigbo were not part of any one-term presidency arrangement and deserved an eight-year tenure when an individual of Igbo extraction assumes the presidency. Kalu urged the South-East to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing long-term federal commitments such as the establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) and key regional appointments.

Governors Uzodimma and Nwifuru similarly echoed support for the President’s second-term project, urging party members to ensure robust mobilisation ahead of the general elections. Other prominent figures present included Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Dr Kingsley Udeh (SAN); and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

Landmark Africa says it is advancing its vision to redefine West Africa’s entertainment and tourism landscape through the proposed development of Landmark City. The city is a US$250 million integrated destination anchored by the Dream Theatre Entertainment Centre.

Landmark Africa is a leading Nigerian hospitality, real estate, and tourism development company, known for creating premier lifestyle and leisure destinations across Africa.

The proposed Dream Theatre Entertainment Centre, recently unveiled, is a 20,000-seat indoor arena that will anchor a landmark entertainment, tourism, and leisure destination on a 10-hectare Atlantic Ocean beachfront site in Lagos.

Located on a 10-hectare site along the Atlantic Ocean waterfront, approximately 15 kilometres along the coastline from the existing Landmark Village ecosystem in Victoria Island, Lagos, the development represents a significant expansion of Landmark Africa’s established business, leisure and lifestyle model.

The project is being advanced in partnership with African Capital Alliance (ACA), a leading Africa-focused private equity and investment management firm, combining Landmark’s destination development expertise with ACA’s investment capabilities and institutional relationships.

A new destination for entertainment, tourism and leisure

More than an arena, Landmark City is envisioned as a vibrant, year-round destination that brings together world-class entertainment, hospitality, retail, sports and recreation within one integrated ecosystem.

At its heart, Dream Theatre will provide a purpose-built, all-weather venue capable of hosting international concerts, basketball tournaments, sporting competitions, theatrical productions, exhibitions and major corporate events.

The wider development will feature a beachfront resort, retail avenue, hospitality accommodation, convention and exhibition facilities, themed restaurants, recreational parks, family attractions and a signature Ferris wheel.

Together, these attractions are designed to create a destination that remains active beyond major event days, encouraging longer visits, repeat patronage and sustained commercial activity.

Building on Landmark Africa’s proven experience

Since its establishment in 1997, Landmark Africa has evolved into one of Nigeria’s prominent developers and operators of integrated business, leisure and lifestyle destinations.

Its flagship Landmark Village ecosystem in Victoria Island demonstrated the commercial potential of bringing together corporate offices, hospitality, retail, entertainment and recreation in one location, attracting millions of annual visitors and supporting numerous businesses.

Landmark City builds on this experience, translating a proven destination-development approach into a larger, internationally competitive entertainment and tourism offering.

The project is targeting approximately five million visitors annually, with the potential to stimulate tourism spending, support local enterprises and generate employment across hospitality, entertainment, event production, retail and supporting services.

Connecting African entertainment to the global stage

Nigeria’s growing influence in music, sports and popular culture presents an opportunity to develop the infrastructure needed to attract major international productions and sporting events.

As Afrobeats continues to reach global audiences and interest in African sports expands, the demand for modern, large-capacity entertainment venues is becoming increasingly significant.

Dream Theatre seeks to address this opportunity by providing the facilities required to host major international tours, sporting competitions and large-scale live experiences within Nigeria.

The development is also attracting investment interest from American and Canadian investors, reflecting the growing opportunities for international capital and strategic partnerships within Africa’s entertainment and tourism industries.

Beyond the venue itself, Landmark City is expected to generate wider economic opportunities through increased demand for accommodation, transportation, food and beverage services, event technology, logistics and other supporting businesses.

A Vision for Africa’s Entertainment Future 974,756

For Landmark Africa, the Dream Theatre vision represents more than an infrastructure investment. It is an opportunity to establish Lagos as a leading destination for world-class entertainment, sports, tourism and cultural experiences.

By combining private-sector investment, international partnerships and its experience in developing successful destinations, Landmark aims to create a commercially sustainable ecosystem capable of attracting global audiences while delivering lasting economic value.

The ambition is clear: to build not just an arena but a destination that brings the world to Lagos and places African entertainment on a truly global stage

The inaugural Germany-Nigeria Film Week has successfully concluded after 10 days of film screenings, industry engagements, cultural exchanges and awards across Berlin, Hannover, Bremen and Hamburg, Germany. The festival, held from October 1-10, 2026, brought together filmmakers, government representatives, cultural institutions and industry stakeholders from Nigeria and Germany to promote cinematic collaboration and strengthen cultural relations between both countries.

The opening ceremony took place on October 1 at the Arsenal Film Institut in Berlin, with the screening of The Chronicles of Afrobeats, directed by Nigerian filmmaker and music executive Oluseun John Abisagboola, popularly known as Bankuli.

The opening event also featured a fireside chat between Ali Nuhu, managing director, Nigerian Film Corporation, and Shaibu Husseini, executive director, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB). The discussion focused on the growth of the Nigerian film industry, international partnerships and opportunities for collaboration between Nigerian and German filmmakers. Among the dignitaries in attendance were: Ita Enang, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany; Stefanie Schulte Strathaus, director, Arsenal Film Institut, alongside several filmmakers, producers and creative industry stakeholders from both countries.

A major highlight of the Berlin opening was the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Volker Schlöndorff, renowned German filmmaker, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to international cinema. Schlöndorff, whose career spans several decades, has also filmed documentaries across Africa, including Nigeria. A Special Recognition Award was also presented to Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, in recognition of her contributions to the development and promotion of Nigeria’s creative industry. The award was received on her behalf by the executive director of the NFVCB.

Following the Berlin opening, the festival continued in Hannover, where SONNENKINDFILM e.V., led by Michael Davies, co-founder of Germany-Nigeria Film Week, hosted a press conference attended by festival delegates, filmmakers and industry representatives. During the press conference, a Special Recognition Award was presented to Chief Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, in acknowledgement of his contributions to the promotion and preservation of African culture and heritage.

The Hannover programme featured the screening of Amanyanabo: The Eagle King, produced by Ibinabo Fiberesima and directed by Fred Amata. Another Nigerian production, Evi, directed by Uyoyou Adia, was also screened during the festival in Hannover. Uyoyou Adia received an award in recognition of her outstanding creativity and artistic achievement in directing Evi, while Ibinabo Fiberesima was also honoured for her contributions to the Nigerian film industry.

Festival activities extended to Bremen and Hamburg, where Love and New Notes, directed by Kayode Kasum, was screened in both cities. On Different Grounds, directed by Mildred Okwo, was also screened in Bremen.

The Germany-Nigeria Film Week was founded by Mykel Parish Ajaere of the Pan-African Film Development and Advancement Foundation (PAFDAF), Nigeria, and Michael Davies of SONNENKINDFILM e.V., Germany, as a platform to promote film collaboration, cultural exchange, international distribution and co-production opportunities between Nigeria and Germany. According to the organisers, the festival was established to create a sustainable platform for Nigerian and German filmmakers to connect, exchange ideas, develop partnerships and explore business opportunities within both film industries, while promoting Nigerian cinema to wider European audiences.

The inaugural edition received institutional and logistical support from the Office of the Mayor of the City of Hannover, Arsenal Film Institut Berlin, KoKi Cinema Hannover, City 46 Cinema Bremen and Metropolis Kino Hamburg. The festival also enjoyed the support of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and the NFVCB, whose involvement further strengthened the initiative’s objective of building sustainable partnerships between the Nigerian and German film industries.

The second edition of the Germany-Nigeria Film Week has been scheduled for October 4-9, 2027, with plans to expand its programming, industry participation and international partnerships.

The Kogi State government has announced its willingness to boost the welfare of media practitioners, as it approved the enrolment of 45 journalists from Correspondents’ Chapel and the federation into the Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme (KGSHIS).

Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Commissioner for Information, Kogi State, disclosed this while delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Governor Ahmed Ododo at the 2026 Press Week organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Lokoja. He noted that while journalists on the state government’s payroll are already beneficiaries of the health insurance scheme, the governor extended the coverage to the 45 remaining active journalists operating within the state to ensure their health and well-being are adequately safeguarded.

The commissioner emphasised that a healthy workforce remains vital to sustaining a vibrant press. He stressed that while the pen remains mightier than the sword in shaping an egalitarian society, journalists must prioritise their health to effectively carry out their constitutional responsibilities.

Fanwo pointed out that the administration’s ongoing interventions in the state’s media sector include the approval for the overhaul of Radio Kogi House to boost broadcasting capacity and coverage across the state.

He assured that state-owned media institutions, including The Graphic Newspaper, are being repositioned to deliver reliable news and mobilise civic participation in governance.

The commissioner urged journalists to uphold professional ethics, practice developmental journalism, and refrain from sensational reporting. He cited instances where fake news caused unnecessary panic and harmed investment prospects, cautioning that reporting unverified security scares undermines the state’s economic growth and job creation efforts.

He highlighted the achievements of the Ododo-led administration, saying that Kogi State currently delivers more than the UNESCO benchmark in education, offering free basic and secondary education from Primary 1 to Senior Secondary 3 (SS3), adding that major infrastructural strides include solar-powered primary health centres, ongoing township road projects, and landmark tertiary infrastructure such as the engineering college at CUSTECH, Osara, and modernised medical student hostels.

Speaking on macro-economic stability, Fanwo credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification reforms for improving federal allocations to states, pointing out that the enhanced revenues have enabled Kogi State to meet salary obligations seamlessly while aggressively funding capital projects, including the Lokoja International Market and the ongoing development of the Kogi International Airport, slated for commissioning by next year.

Fanwo commended the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) for exceeding its annual revenue targets by expanding the tax net rather than burdening citizens with increased taxes, noting that sustained revenue generation remains critical to funding state infrastructure and public utilities.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the government to providing a secure and enabling environment for media personnel to practice without intimidation, calling on the NUJ to maintain its partnership with the administration in projecting the true potential, natural resources, and cultural heritage of the state.

Alhassan Yahya Abdul, president, NUJ, called on journalists to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness, balance, impartiality and accountability in their reportage, particularly as the country prepares for another election cycle.

‘As journalists, we are custodians of public trust and vital partners in democratic development. Our responsibility is to inform the electorate accurately, hold public officials accountable and promote transparency, peace and responsible political participation.

‘I urge our colleagues to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness, balance, impartiality and accountability in their reporting. We must resist the temptation to publish unverified information, sensational claims, hate speech and politically motivated narratives capable of misleading the public or threatening national peace. Our duty is to report elections, not inflame them; to inform the electorate, not manipulate it; and to hold power accountable without fear or favour’.

In his remarks, Ademu Seidu, chairman, NUJ, Kogi State Council, described this year’s Press Week as a period of stocktaking, reflection, thanksgiving, service and celebration.

He appreciated Governor Ododo for his consistent support for the union and sustained collaboration with journalists in the state.

The chairman also expressed gratitude to Fanwo for serving as a bridge between the government and the media, assuring that the union would continue to promote objective, constructive and responsible journalism in the discharge of its duties.

The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, approved the sum of N70,000 for workers on the payroll of the federal government.

The money was approved following an agreement the government had with the organised labour in Abuja. For the government, it said the reason for such allowance was to help cushion the effects of skyrocketing transport fares in the country.

But for PDP chieftain, Adetokunbo Pearse, President Tinubu’s N70,000 monthly transportation allowance for Federal Government workers for 6 months is a political gimmick, just like the 30-day discount on the price of petrol.

‘Firstly, Federal Government employees make a negligible percentage of Nigeria’s workforce. Secondly, a federal government worker who lives in Ikorodu and works at Apapa dockyard, for instance, spends about N6,000 per day to and from work. That is 150,000 naira per month.’ He said that President Tinubu’s N70,000 transportation allowance was an insult and a travesty.

For some Nigerians, as the 2027 election draws nearer, Tinubu appears desperate to impress prospective voters. Unfortunately for him, these gimmicks he keeps bringing up expose him more every day as a desperado, a politician whose only target is election victory.

For Martin Onovo, a Petrochemical Engineer, this transportation allowance is a case of ‘Too little. Too late’, and nothing will make Nigerians vote for Tinubu in 2027.

‘It is clearly a deceitful, unpatriotic and unlawful act of desperation by the ad hoc Tinubu regime. The regime is currently owing many federal workers, and some workers’ unions have threatened strikes. It is deceitful because the timing and duration of the transport allowance confirm that it is obviously intended to deceive federal workers for the period of the elections. Jagaban Tinubu and his ruling party, the worst regime since 1914, have seen categorical rejection in this campaign season all over the country. So, this is a desperate move to deceive Nigerian workers. It is unpatriotic because it is not in the best interest of the country but for the partisan agenda of the ruling party.’

He said that the N70,000 was reckless and unlawful because it is extra-budgetary, as has become normalised with the lawless regime.

‘You may refer to the IMF report that the Tinubu regime made over N8 trillion in extra-budgetary spending. The desperation of the Tinubu regime has no boundaries. From extra-budgetary spending to violence against opposition party supporters, to the misuse of the Police against opposition supporters, to AI-generated fake voters on the INEC voters register, to this deceitful, short-term transport allowance, to the sharing of vehicles procured with slush funds to their paid attack dogs, etc. However, nothing will save Jagaban Tinubu from a complete defeat at the 2027 elections,’ he said.

Recall that on July 29, 2024, President Tinubu signed the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, increasing it from N30,000 to N70,000. It is now law; any employer paying less is committing an offence punishable by jail.

Of course, after subsidy removal in May 2023, petrol price jumped from N190 to over N600-N1000; today it is in the neighbourhood of N1400; transport, food, housing all doubled. N30,000 could no longer take workers home; inflation and Naira devaluation pushed the cost of living beyond the reach of the common man. Inflation hit 34percent; the purchasing power of N30k dropped to less than 30percent of its value. FG had to adjust to current economic realities as at 2024, but no more.

Another reason for new minimum wage then was pressure from Organised Labour: NLC and TUC demanding up to N250,000 to N615,000 initially. After months of negotiation and threat of nationwide strike, both sides compromised and N70,000 was signed.

Another milestone then was that the old law reviewed minimum wage after every 5 years but it was agreed that minimum wage should now be reviewed every three years, so that wages would keep pace with economic changes. This, of course, was to protect decent work standard as the government said that no Nigerian worker, whether public or private sector, should earn below living standard, and that private employment agencies must ensure contracts reflect N70,000 as minimum.

Implication for Nigerian workers

The new minimum wage law shows that the least paid worker must go home with N70,000 after deductions. Other salary levels above minimum were adjusted upward, Level 1-6 workers got higher percentage increase.

Following the crippling economic hardship in the country, workers in Nigeria have started another round of agitation. Workers in some states argue that even though they are paid N70,000 minimum wage, a state like Imo State is paying N104,000; Lagos N85,000, so they use it as a basis for agitation for further increase.

However, from all economic indices, even the federal government now admits N70,000 is not sustainable. Chief of Staff, Gbajabiamila said recently, ‘The N70,000 wage, which was a milestone in 2024, must be honestly reassessed against today’s realities, while NLC says workers are under immense pressure.

The matter is indeed complicated because even though there is agitation for further increase there is also the issue of non-compliance by Private Sector. Many private companies, schools, security firms still pay N30,000-N50,000 even when the federal government has warned that defaulters risk jail term. But like everything Nigeria enforcement remains weak.

There is also state implementation gap. Some states delayed implementation until late 2024/2025, and Local Governments still struggling.

Inflation has also eaten deep into workers’ salaries, as they claim transport alone now takes 40-50percent of N70,000. Petrol, food, and rent have eroded the gain.

New negotiation starting

FG has agreed to set up new Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee. NLC on its part is asking for N300,000 minimum, while FG just approved temporary N70,000 transport allowance for six months to calm tension.

However, if truth must be told, N70,000 was a 133percent increase and a major win in 2024, but with today’s cost of living, it is now seen as survival wage, not living wage. That is why FG itself has signaled fresh review before the 3-year deadline of 2027.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Aviation Chapter, has congratulated its pioneer chairman, Ayodele Samuel Olatiregun, on his forthcoming investiture as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) of Nigeria.

Olatiregun, who is the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), is expected to receive the fellowship during the CIS 30th Annual Stockbrokers’ Conference scheduled for November 4 and 5, 2026, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The conference, with the theme ‘From Capital Mobilised to Prosperity Realised: Financing Nigeria’s Next Era of Growth and Global Competitiveness,’ will feature presidential awards, a capital market prosperity walk, induction and investiture ceremonies, panel sessions and a career fair.

The event will also feature a special focus on the Lagos advantage by the Lagos State Government and the Lagos International Financial Centre, with the Director General of the Debt Management Office, Ms Patience Oniha, as special guest.

In a statement, the Executive Committee of the ICAN Aviation Chapter described Olatiregun’s forthcoming fellowship as a significant milestone in his professional career, which spans accountancy, financial management, investment, corporate governance and aviation leadership.

The Chapter said his professional journey reflects a commitment to continuous development and the application of financial expertise to institutional growth.

As pioneer chairman of the ICAN Aviation Chapter, Olatiregun has played a key role in establishing a professional platform that connects accountancy with the operational and financial needs of the aviation industry.

His leadership has focused on building a community of finance professionals within the sector, promoting knowledge sharing and encouraging collaboration among members.

The Chapter said his commitment to capacity development and professional engagement had helped shape its foundation and direction, while strengthening the role of accountants in addressing the financial and governance challenges facing aviation.

His forthcoming fellowship, it added, would serve as an encouragement to members to pursue professional excellence, uphold ethical standards and broaden their contribution to national development.

The Chapter noted that the conference theme was particularly relevant to Nigeria’s aviation industry, where access to long-term funding remains critical to infrastructure development, operational efficiency and global competitiveness.

It said mobilising investment for airport infrastructure, strengthening financial governance and developing sustainable funding models were essential to the sector’s long-term growth.

Olatiregun’s experience in financial management, investment and airport administration, the Chapter said, provided him with valuable insight into the role of capital markets in supporting aviation development.

His professional advancement also highlights the growing importance of financial expertise in an industry where infrastructure expansion, commercial sustainability and effective resource management are central to growth.

The ICAN Aviation Chapter said the fellowship was a source of collective pride and wished its pioneer chairman continued success in his service to the accountancy profession, capital market, aviation industry and Nigeria.

The Chapter congratulated Olatiregun on the recognition, describing it as a well-deserved milestone in his professional journey.

The union said the settlement of inherited financial obligations, continued salary payments during industrial action and improved engagement with the state government could boost staff morale, reduce disruptions to academic activities and create a more stable environment for teaching and research.

These developments are significant for the education sector and the wider economy, as prolonged university disruptions can delay students’ graduation, extend the time families spend financing education and affect the availability of skilled manpower required by employers and industries.

The commendation was contained in a press briefing on Friday, jointly addressed by Abubakar Abdullahi, chairman of the KASU-ASUU branch, and Silas Amos Bakut, its secretary.

The union disclosed that the Kaduna State Government had paid the 60 percent withheld salaries dating back to 2017, settled outstanding Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) allowances covering 2016 to 2020, and cleared five months of withheld salaries between May and September 2022.

It also said the government had advanced N300 million towards settling Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) arrears covering the 2016-2020 academic sessions.

According to ASUU, these interventions represent progress in addressing longstanding welfare challenges that had affected academic staff, while providing some financial relief to affected members.

However, outstanding death benefits and promotion arrears dating from 2021 remain under consideration through engagements involving the university’s Governing Council, management and the union.

On industrial relations, ASUU commended the Kaduna State Government and KASU management for their handling of the earlier industrial action, saying its members were not subjected to intimidation, threats or harassment during the strike.

The union disclosed that academic staff continued to receive their salaries while the strike lasted, while discussions between the union, government and university management remained cordial and focused on resolving the issues in dispute.

It said prioritising dialogue over confrontation had helped strengthen mutual confidence and provided a basis for resolving industrial disagreements without further disrupting university operations.

Beyond salary and allowance settlements, the union highlighted the government’s housing intervention for university staff through the allocation of approximately 10.2 hectares of land to the KASU-ASUU Multipurpose Cooperative Society for the development of the Academia Housing Estate.

The project is designed to provide homeownership opportunities for academic staff and other civil servants.

ASUU further disclosed that Governor Sani approved a subsidy of N4 million for each beneficiary, amounting to approximately N400 million for the project.

The union said the intervention was intended to reduce the financial burden of homeownership and make housing more accessible to beneficiaries.

It also commended the Commissioner for Education and chairman of the negotiation committee, Emeritus Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo, for his contributions to resolving the disputes.

Others recognised included the Chairman of the KASU Governing Council, Ibrahim Umar; the chairman of the subcommittee, Professor Usman Abubakar; and other members of the negotiation committee.

The union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with the state government, the university’s Governing Council and management to resolve outstanding welfare issues, sustain industrial harmony and improve the institution’s academic standing.

It said sustained cooperation among the stakeholders would be important in positioning Kaduna State University as a leading institution in Nigeria and strengthening its contribution to human capital development.

Last year, a corporate defendant in the English courts made an argument that should give Nigerian policymakers pause. In Alame and Ors v Shell Plc and Anor [2025] EWHC 1539 (KB), the Bille and Ogale Communities case, Shell’s lawyers argued that the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as domesticated in Nigeria, imposed obligations principally on the State and did not provide a clear basis for claims against private corporate entities. The King’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice accepted that position on its assessment of Nigerian law, leaving communities affected by decades of oil pollution in the Niger Delta to face an obstacle rooted not in the Charter itself, but in how a foreign court understood the Nigerian statute through which the Charter operates domestically.

The decision does not bind Nigerian courts, but it exposes something worth taking seriously: the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, has not undergone substantive legislative reform since 1983. It still refers to the Organisation of African Unity, replaced by the African Union in 2002. It does not reflect the role now played by the National Human Rights Commission. And, as Alame shows, it leaves real uncertainty about how Charter rights can be enforced against private and corporate actors.

A natural question follows. If Nigeria adapts the Act to fix these problems, is it tampering with a treaty it has no unilateral power to change? The answer is no. Nigerian law has long recognised the distinction that explains why, but it has rarely been applied to this particular statute.

Two different acts, two different instruments

Ratification alone did not make the Charter enforceable before Nigerian courts. Section 12(1) of the 1999 Constitution provides that a treaty has no force of law in Nigeria unless it is enacted by the National Assembly, and it was to satisfy that requirement that the National Assembly enacted the African Charter Act in 1983. The Supreme Court confirmed the consequence of that in Abacha v. Fawehinmi (2000) 6 NWLR (Pt. 660) 228: the Charter’s enforceability within Nigeria comes from its domestication, not from ratification alone, a point the Court had already made in Ibidapo v. Lufthansa Airlines (1997) 4 NWLR (Pt. 498) 124.

Ratification and domestication are not the same act. Ratification is performed on the international plane, the means by which a State consents to be bound. Domestication is a separate, constitutional exercise: a dualist State like Nigeria deciding, through its own legislature, how those obligations operate inside its own courts. Section 12 prescribes no particular form for that exercise, only that it occur, and the National Assembly accordingly retains its ordinary legislative authority over the Act today, subject always to the Constitution and to Nigeria’s continuing international obligations. That is an important limit: the National Assembly cannot legislate its way out of what Nigeria owes under the Charter. What it can do is amend the domestic statute through which the Charter operates, provided the amendment continues to give effect to that same obligation.

Article 1 of the Charter supports this, as it requires States Parties to ‘adopt legislative or other measures’ to give effect to Charter rights, without requiring verbatim reproduction of the Charter in domestic law nor prescribing any particular method of implementation. What Article 1 asks for is that the rights be given effect. The legislative form is left to each State, and remains open to revision as circumstances require. The Charter itself, for its part, can only be amended through the Article 68 procedure, which involves the other States Parties, a route Nigeria’s domestic legislation neither uses nor needs, because what the National Assembly amends is its own statute, operating only within Nigeria’s own legal system.

This is consistent with the general international law principle under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. Article 26 requires good-faith performance of treaty obligations; Article 27 prevents a State from invoking its own internal law as an excuse for non-performance. Neither requires a State to keep its implementing legislation unchanged. Nor does the absence of a reservation on ratification change this: a reservation qualifies what Nigeria owes internationally, not how it is domestically implemented. The relevant distinction is between altering what Nigeria owes under the Charter and updating the domestic law through which those obligations are given effect.

Enforcement and reform are not competing projects

There is, of course, a reasonable objection: Nigeria has no shortage of laws on paper. Why spend legislative energy rewriting another one when the greater problem is enforcement? This concern rests on the understandable view that the existing legislative framework is sufficiently clear and that the principal challenge is one of enforcement. But that premise becomes harder to sustain where the legislation itself leaves uncertainty about the scope or application of the rights it seeks to protect. In such circumstances, legislative review can itself strengthen enforcement by removing avoidable uncertainty.

Alame is the clearest illustration. The defendants argued that neither the Constitution nor the Charter, as domesticated, provided a basis for claims against private companies for environmental damage, and the Court accepted that on its assessment of Nigerian law. The decision does not establish the meaning of Nigerian law, but it shows how a question about the scope of domestic enforcement can become an obstacle in litigation before the substantive human rights question is even reached. That is a distinct question from whether the Charter itself contemplates such claims. International responsibility for a State’s failure to protect people from harm caused by private actors is not the same thing as horizontal enforceability of the underlying right against the private actor itself. The former is well established: the African Commission found Nigeria responsible on exactly this basis in Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC) and CESR v. Nigeria, Communication No. 155/96 (2001), arising from the same Ogoni crisis. The latter is the unresolved question of domestic enforceability that Alame brought into sharper focus.

That question matters more as disputes increasingly involve corporations, employers, extractive industries and technology companies rather than the State alone. The National Human Rights Commission’s National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights 2024-2028, which includes a dedicated Business and Human Rights chapter, is part of that changing landscape, and initiatives of this kind achieve their fullest impact against a legal framework that states clearly what rights and obligations exist and against whom. Legislative clarification, in that light, is part of the enforcement work itself, not a distraction from it.

Nigeria’s domestic model is not the only possible model

Comparative practice among fellow African States Parties is instructive, since these are states bound by the same treaty obligation. Kenya follows a monist model, under which Article 2(6) of its Constitution gives ratified treaties the force of law directly. Namibia does the same under Article 144.

South Africa took a markedly different route from Nigeria’s. Its Constitution regulates the domestic implementation of treaties generally, while its own Bill of Rights carries the weight of protection and enforcement. Section 8(2) is particularly relevant: it expressly extends certain rights to bind natural and juristic persons, including private actors, where the nature of the right makes that appropriate.

What these examples show is that the Charter prescribes no single legislative model. Nigeria’s 1983 approach, transplanting much of the Charter’s own text, was one constitutional choice among several, not the model the Charter requires. What stays constant across every jurisdiction is the underlying treaty obligation. What varies, and is left to each State to decide, is the domestic form chosen to deliver it.

A modernised Act, not a different Charter

None of this touches the substance of what Nigeria promised on ratification, or disturbs the African Commission’s own continental mandate, which continues regardless of anything Nigeria does domestically. What is available, consistent with both the Constitution and Nigeria’s international obligations, is a modernised Act: one that reflects Nigeria’s present constitutional and institutional framework, recognises the National Human Rights Commission’s domestic role, retires its OAU references, and provides greater clarity on how Charter rights apply to private and corporate conduct.

Such a review would benefit from the Federal Ministry of Justice’s involvement, given its role in legislative development and treaty implementation, but the National Human Rights Commission, by mandate and by its standing engagement with government, civil society and international human rights bodies, is well placed to champion the advocacy and stakeholder engagement such a review would require.

More than four decades after the Act’s enactment, and with a UK court having recently shown what its current wording permits litigants to argue, the case for review is no longer legislative housekeeping. It is a question of whether the framework through which Nigeria enforces some of its most important human rights obligations is still fit for the present. The answer need not be to change the Charter. It may simply be to make sure the law through which Nigeria gives effect to it is capable of doing the job.

For decades, the way to distort a Nigerian election was physical and crude: snatch the ballot box, send thugs to keep voters away from an opponent’s stronghold, make the result sheets disappear. It was effective – and it was visible. Everyone could see it, film it, name it. The next distortion may need none of that. Why risk a viral video of enforcers at a polling unit when a single AI-generated voice note – ‘voting here has been postponed’ – could empty that same stronghold quietly, from a phone, with no one to arrest and nothing to film? The crude methods are becoming old-fashioned. Disinformation is the upgrade.

This is hypothetical – not an allegation about any election, nor evidence that INEC’s systems have been compromised. It illustrates the question Nigeria must confront before 2027: how will citizens and officials tell authentic instructions, records and announcements apart from convincing fabrications? An election can be distorted without a single ballot being altered. Deceive the voters, confuse the officials, or persuade citizens that honest results are fraudulent, and you can damage participation and public confidence even while the official count stays perfectly intact.

The recent #AI4Elections initiative – launched by Rise Networks with electoral, technology and civil-society partners – is a timely opening for this conversation, seeking practical solutions to misinformation, inclusion and electoral security. Its organisers have said plainly that winning the competition does not authorise operational deployment. That distinction deserves support: innovation is welcome, but the whole journey of a vote has to be examined, stage by stage.

THE GAPS ARE HUMAN, NOT MECHANICAL

Here is the point that should anchor everything, and the one I most want to be precise about. AI’s easiest target in an election is not the machine – it is the human and the process around the machine. You do not need to defeat BVAS if you can convince the officer, the voter, or the public of something false at exactly the right moment. INEC has already named this family of risk: in October its chairman warned about impersonated officials, false electoral instructions and unauthorised result announcements, and the commission reported establishing an AI unit to address digital threats. Seen that way, three gaps deserve attention – and none of them requires anyone to breach a system.

At accreditation, the exploit is the instruction, not the fingerprint. An AI-impersonated supervisor could issue a convincing but false directive to officers working under pressure – ‘the device is faulty here, accredit manually’ – or a fabricated ‘BVAS has failed’ rumour could change how officers and voters behave. The biometric is not beaten; the people around it are deceived. Let me be explicit, because the distinction matters: this is not a claim that AI can defeat BVAS. That would require specific technical evidence. Impersonating a supervisor, misleading a voter, and compromising an accreditation device are three different threats needing different proof and different safeguards. The protection here is procedural – consequential instructions confirmed through established channels, exceptions documented, responsibility identifiable.

At result upload, the exploit is the silence. A transmission delay usually has an ordinary, innocent cause – but an unexplained gap is an opening, and AI can fill it with fabricated ‘results replaced’ screenshots, counterfeit dashboards and invented technical explanations that harden into belief before an authoritative update arrives. The transmission is not breached; the public’s understanding of its status is hijacked. That is why INEC should treat status communication as election infrastructure: timely explanations of any interruption, its scope and the path to resolution, distinguishing results received, records under verification and matters still open. Internally, submissions, corrections and access to sensitive systems should leave auditable records – reassurance is strongest when it rests on evidence.

At collation, the exploit is misplaced trust. Uploading a result image, aggregating votes and declaring a winner are not the same act. If AI tools are used to read result sheets or flag inconsistencies, their role must be bounded: a mistaken machine reading must never become an accepted figure simply because software produced it. And rival fabricated images of a single polling unit, or a fake ‘winner declared’ broadcast, can pressure or pre-empt the authorised declaration. A correct total cannot authenticate the figures behind it; officials must establish both the accuracy of the calculation and the integrity of the source records, with discrepancies examined and corrections preserved.

Virality is not verification. A fabricated image does not prove an official result has changed – and a record should not be trusted merely because it looks professional or appears on a convincing dashboard. Integrity requires evidence that can be followed back to its source.

THE DECLARATION – AND THE TRAP AFTER IT

At the announcement stage, the risk shifts again. A fabricated broadcast could appear to announce a winner, a cancellation or a concession; even with official records intact, duelling announcements could spark confusion and confrontation. The defence combines clearly identified official broadcasts, independently accessible written records, and rapid confirmation across established channels – and media organisations should authenticate consequential announcements before amplifying them. Political parties share this duty: verify before publishing, correct false claims quickly, and reject deceptive impersonation no matter whom it appears to favour.

Then comes the subtlest danger of all: genuine evidence dismissed as artificial. The very ability to fabricate images and recordings gives bad actors an excuse to wave away authentic material as ‘AI-generated.’ Nigeria must guard against both errors at once – accepting false evidence and rejecting real evidence without examination. Preserving original files, documenting their origin and enabling independent scrutiny are what keep either accusation from settling a dispute by assertion. None of this justifies restricting legitimate observation, reporting or criticism: citizens must stay free to document, question and seek explanations, and any measure against deception needs transparent standards and a route to challenge mistakes.

TURNING CONCERN INTO READINESS

The #AI4Elections programme could help turn these concerns into practical tests. Developers could show how their tools handle conflicting records, uncertain answers, interrupted connectivity and attempts at impersonation; independent reviewers could assess them and publish honest limitations before anyone considers deployment. Preparation should also include election-day exercises with officials, broadcasters, observers, security agencies and technology providers – and a good exercise would test how fast a false announcement is identified, verified and corrected, and whether the correction actually reaches the citizens it needs to.

Over more than two decades building technology and security systems, one lesson has held: reliability lives in the connections between technology, people and procedure. A sophisticated device cannot, by itself, make every instruction genuine, every operator accountable or every record trustworthy. AI can support electoral administration and help protect public information – but its contribution depends entirely on how carefully institutions define its role and supervise its use. For 2027, Nigerians should be able to follow a clear chain from the votes counted to the result declared: at every stage, an authentic record, an accountable official, and a credible way to resolve disagreement.

The ballot must be protected. So must the information that brings citizens to it, the records that preserve their choices, and the announcement through which those choices become a public result. Nigeria must ensure the result citizens receive is the result their votes produced.

Dr. Afolabi Abiodun (Dr. AFOO) – Information Security Researcher | EdTech Entrepreneur | CISA | PhD

Samuel Ibibi Ibrahim, a professor of Geography at the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), has called upon governments at all levels to prioritise water quality and safety over the provision of water infrastructure.

Ibrahim made the call while delivering the 47th inaugural lecture of the university, themed ‘Water Is Life: Is Our Water Living? Confronting the Water Quality Crisis in Nigeria’s Environment’, at the Felele Campus of the institution.

Ibrahim warned that contaminated water sources pose serious risks to public health and environmental sustainability in Nigeria, stressing that the country’s water crisis could not be resolved by drilling more boreholes and constructing additional water schemes alone, but required effective monitoring, stronger environmental regulations, improved sanitation and sustained protection of water sources.

He observed that Nigeria must move beyond measuring success by the number of boreholes drilled or communities connected to water schemes to determine whether the water supplied to households is safe for consumption.

‘The country’s water resources are under increasing pressure from pollution, poor waste disposal, inadequate sanitation, flooding, industrial effluent and unregulated human activities around water sources’.

He warned that contamination could occur at different stages, from rivers and underground aquifers to boreholes, storage facilities and household containers, making it necessary to protect water throughout the supply chain.

‘The time has come to shift to the question of safety,’ he said, arguing that access to water would remain incomplete without guarantees of quality.

As part of his recommendations, Ibrahim advocated Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), explaining that rivers, groundwater, land, waste streams and human settlements constitute interconnected systems that must be managed collectively.

He called for the strengthening of River Basin Development Authorities and hydrological institutions to incorporate water -quality protection into their planning activities, rather than concentrating largely on irrigation and dam development.

He also urged relevant agencies responsible for water supply, sanitation, agriculture, mining, environmental protection, urban planning and public health to coordinate their activities, share information and harmonise regulations, pointing out the need to protect source -water zones around boreholes, reservoirs and river intakes, while ensuring that land -use planning takes account of the potential impact of human activities on water resources.

He noted that poorly located pit latrines and soakaways could contaminate nearby boreholes, while indiscriminate waste disposal and industrial pollution could threaten entire communities downstream.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, vice chancellor of the university, called for greater scrutiny of water quality and sustainable management of water resources, warning that the abundance of major rivers does not necessarily translate into access to safe and adequate water.

Using a bottle of water on the lectern to illustrate his point, Ibileye suggested that, in the light of the subject of the lecture, even drinking water should be subjected to scientific scrutiny, noting that the lecturer’s research raised important questions about the origin and quality of water consumed by Nigerians, stressing the need to move beyond the mere availability of water to ensuring its safety.

Ibileye commended Ibrahim for his sustained engagement with environmental issues affecting ordinary Nigerians, describing his scholarship as an illustration of the relevance of Geography to understanding the relationship between natural resources, human activities and environmental sustainability.

He expressed confidence that the lecture would deepen public understanding of water quality challenges, highlight unresolved environmental concerns and stimulate further research into the sustainable management of water resources.