Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

There will be no economic growth in the absence of the rule of law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Lawrence Fubara Anga, has said.

The Founding Partner at AELEX, a commercial and dispute resolution law firm, said the rule of law goes beyond governance.

‘The rule of law is not just a political or human rights issue.

‘It is the foundation of economic growth, investor confidence, and sustainable prosperity.

‘Without it, the aspirations for positive transformation cannot materialise,’ Anga said.

He spoke during a briefing on the firm’s 19th Annual Lecture, billed for October 14, 2025, with the theme ‘Rule of law and economic development: the Nigerian experience.’

The flagship intellectual forum, which has become a fixture on Nigeria’s legal and business calendar, will feature former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) as keynote speaker.

Anga said the lecture serves as part of the firm’s corporate social responsibility and provides government, business leaders, and the public with critical insights into national challenges.

He further noted that: ‘People don’t always agree, but they generally engage honestly. That credibility is what makes this forum unique.’

He added that AELEX intends to compile a summary of discussions from the lecture and make them available to government institutions for policy consideration.

Managing Partner, Mr. Adedapo Tunde-Olowu (SAN), described the annual lecture as a platform dedicated to fostering dialogue at the intersection of law, governance, economics, and society.

‘Over nearly two decades, the AELEX Annual Lecture has earned its reputation as one of the most respected intellectual gatherings.

‘It has provided a space for rigorous debate, shaping conversations that influence both national and continental development,’ he said.

Since its inception, the lecture series has hosted global thought leaders, including Judge Mervyn King S.C., Prof. Patrick Lumumba, Mr. John Githongo, Professor Frederic Jenny, and Dr. Kwabena Donkor.

This year’s panel of discussants will bring together leading voices across law, business, and public affairs. Confirmed participants include Dr. Chinyere Almona, Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), Chairman of Bi-Courtney Group; Mr. Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Ltd.; and Dr. Reuben Abati, journalist and public affairs analyst.

The 2025 edition will also address pressing issues such as property rights, sanctity of contracts, regulatory powers, and dispute resolution mechanisms, all of which are central to Nigeria’s economic revival efforts.

To extend participation beyond the physical venue, proceedings will be streamed live on the firm’s YouTube channel, @AELEXPARTNERS, allowing a global audience to engage in the dialogue.

The AELEX Annual Lecture has grown into a non-partisan platform where diverse voices exchange ideas without fear of partisanship.

A civil society coalition, the Alliance for Energy Stability and Economic Growth (AESEG), has urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, noting that his administration has restored investor confidence in the oil and gas sector.

In a statement on Monday, AESEG President Dr. Suleiman Garba Danladi said the recent approval for Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPco) and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAE) to acquire TotalEnergies’ 12.5 per cent stake in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118 highlights renewed trust by international oil companies in Nigeria’s regulatory framework under Tinubu’s leadership.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) confirmed that Shell purchased 10 per cent of the asset for $408 million, while Agip acquired 2.5 per cent for $102 million.

The approval, granted under Section 95 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, followed a rigorous due diligence process confirming the firms’ technical competence, financial strength, and managerial capacity to sustain deepwater operations in the Bonga field.

Dr. Danladi said such transactions were not only reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape but also strengthening the country’s economic base.

‘President Tinubu’s reforms in the oil and gas industry have shown clear results. Today, we see Shell consolidating its stake in Nigeria’s deepwater, we see Agip reaffirming its commitments, and we see a regulator that is firm in protecting government interests. This is the kind of progress that only continuity in leadership can sustain,’ he said.

The group recalled that only last week, the NUPRC revoked an $860 million deal involving TotalEnergies and Mauritius-based Chappal Energies for failure to meet financial obligations.

According to AESEG, this underscores the regulator’s strengthened resolve to enforce accountability, a move the group credited to Tinubu’s ‘decisive political will to reposition the sector.’

‘With these bold steps, Nigeria is no longer seen as a playground for speculative investors. Instead, serious players with track records of performance are being encouraged. This has positive implications for revenue, jobs, and energy security,’ the statement added.

Dr. Danladi also pointed out that the Bonga oilfield, Nigeria’s first deepwater project, remains a strategic contributor to the country’s crude output and foreign exchange earnings.

‘By ensuring the continuity of such assets in the hands of experienced operators, Nigeria is laying the foundation for production stability and gradual recovery to the 2 million barrels per day mark,’ he said.

The group further argued that Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is entering a period of ‘delicate balance’ as IOCs divest from onshore operations while strengthening deepwater investments.

‘Only a steady hand at the helm of government, backed by political stability, can guarantee that Nigeria reaps the full benefits of this transition. We therefore urge Nigerians to support President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027,’ the statement said.

AESEG concluded by warning that reversing course in leadership could shake investor confidence.

‘The oil majors are watching Nigeria closely. They are reassured by the current pace of reforms, but they also value predictability. Changing direction in 2027 could disrupt the gains we are seeing today,’ Dr. Danladi added.

The technical director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Gabriel Okon, has enthused that athletics can strongly and favourably impact on the Nigerian sports economy.

Okon, who just returned from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, noted that Nigeria is endowed with numerous talented athletes that are making positive strides in promoting the country’s image internationally.

The former Nigeria International athlete, has therefore, called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) to take concrete steps in providing sufficient financial support for the development of these athletes.

‘As of today, Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s 100mH World Champion, holds a record time of (12:12s.) and by propagating Amusan’s achievement, Nigeria can encourage others to take up sports but this endeavour requires substantial funding,’ said the former sprinter.’

‘Examples from South Africa, Jamaica, and other nations demonstrate how world-class athletes can drive sports development through targeted investments.’

The AFN TD faulted the common chorus of ‘lack of fund’ often expressed by government officials, describing it as retrogressive for the growth and development of athletics in Nigeria.

‘We don’t just attend Championships, we also learnt from how others are achieving their podium finish,’ Okon said.

He emphasized that countries achieving podium finishes in World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games invested heavily in their athletes over multiple seasons.

He argued that sports funding should come from consolidated investment funds rather than yearly budgetary allocations or personal funds.

According to him, athletes require training grants, competitions, trainers, medical care, equipment, and welfare, none of which should be compromised due to lack of funds.

Okon noted that countries like Turkey, Qatar, Spain, and Saudi Arabia lure athletes from other nations with substantial funding, leading some to change their names and forgo recognition under their birth names.

The Coach also stressed that Nigerian athletics require substantial funding, as the current ad-hoc approach has hindered many of the country’s top athletes to achieve podium finishes.

Sir: Nigeria’s waterways tell a sobering story. Reports of mass drowning, sometimes over a hundred lives lost in a single accident, sit uneasily beside official figures that suggest far fewer. The gap between record and reality is not just a matter of data; it is a measure of whose lives are visible in policy and whose are left to sink in silence.

This dissonance between official counts and lived losses is more than a statistical hiccup. It exposes the politics of visibility in Nigeria, highlighting whose deaths matter enough to be counted, whose disappear into watery margins, and what it says about a state struggling to bridge its reform narratives with the harsh texture of life along its neglected waterways.

Boat mishaps are not random acts of fate. They are predictable collisions of poverty, poor infrastructure, and policy neglect. From January to September, at least 10 major accidents were reported across states like Sokoto, Kwara, Niger, Rivers, Anambra, and Adamawa. Communities described boats packed with traders rushing to market, schoolchildren ferried across swollen rivers, and seasonal workers desperate to reach farmland.

In Niger State in June, villagers spoke of 70 lost; the state’s official report acknowledged fewer than 30. In Adamawa, fishermen counted 40 bodies pulled from the Benue, while federal records insisted on a mere dozen. Numbers shrink, and with them, lives vanish from public memory.

If one traces the trend over the past five years, the pattern is unsettling. In 2021, media tallies suggested at least 500 deaths from boat mishaps, compared to an official 250. In 2022, official counts dropped to 180 while newspapers carried reports of more than 400.

By 2023, the gap widened again, with Sokoto and Kebbi alone producing accidents that eclipsed national totals. In 2024, watchdogs estimated more than 600 waterway deaths; government figures recorded less than half that number.

Now in 2025, even before October, local reporting already suggests upward of 300 fatalities, but consolidated national statements hover below 100. The arithmetic does not add up, unless the goal is to make tragedy less visible.

The gap between official counts and lived losses is not inevitable. Other Global South countries with similar geographies have taken decisive steps. In Bangladesh, once infamous for ferry disasters, strict enforcement of passenger limits, mandatory life jackets, and designated ferry routes cut accidents significantly in a decade.

In the Philippines, public pressure after a string of tragedies forced government to establish a searchable, real-time maritime incident database. Both countries show that visibility is the first step to accountability.

For Nigeria, three reforms are urgent. First, harmonise reporting: independent verification teams including local leaders, civil society, and journalists should cross-check casualty numbers before they are published.

Second, invest in community-based safety infrastructure including subsidised life jackets, regulated boat construction, and trained riverine rescue units.

Third, make water transport part of national economic planning, not an afterthought. If rivers are arteries of commerce for millions, then safety on those waters is a matter of economic justice, not charity.

When policymakers speak of reforms and rising national revenues, they must also account for the ordinary citizens who never see those gains because they drowned on the way to market. The disconnect between Abuja’s statistical optimism and Sokoto’s funerals is not abstract; it is the very definition of a broken social contract.

There is need for a new lens that treats each casualty not as a number to be trimmed but as a life that bore dignity and deserved protection. Critical literacy demands we do not just consume headlines but interrogate them, asking why certain deaths count and others are erased.

Sociological instinct insists we see that statistics are never neutral but reflect power. Policy relevance means creating pathways where communities feel seen, governments are not shamed but invited to reform, and justice is measured not just by GDP but by whose lives the state is willing to keep afloat.

The question is not whether the rivers will rise, but whether Nigeria will rise with them, counting every life, protecting every community, and refusing to let tragedy sink into silence.

Health care and information technology are often spoken about as if they belong to separate worlds. One is about doctors, hospitals, and patients. The other is about servers, data, and networks. Yet in today’s world, the two cannot survive apart.

From booking appointments to storing records and delivering results, technology is no longer optional; it is the backbone of modern healthcare. In Nigeria, the separation between these two worlds is still stark. Patients continue to wait in long queues for records that could be accessed in seconds. Hospitals often rely on folders stacked high in cabinets, while doctors sometimes lack the information they need because files are misplaced or incomplete.

At the same time, Nigeria has one of the fastest-growing technology sectors in Africa. Millions of people use mobile apps for banking, communication, and shopping. But in healthcare, the use of IT remains limited. The gap is visible in the daily experiences of ordinary Nigerians. A man in Kano managing hypertension may visit three different facilities, each with its own file, none connected to the other.

A mother in Port Harcourt may repeat laboratory tests simply because previous results are not available. A student in Lagos may present a paper report that employers or schools doubt, because there is no easy way to verify it. These are not problems of medicine but of systems, and systems are the domain of information technology. Globally, the connection between IT and health is not new. In the United States, electronic health records are the standard. In India, mobile platforms allow patients to access prescriptions and test results instantly. In Rwanda and Kenya, technology is used to notify patients about results or to support community health workers in the field.

These examples show that when IT is integrated into healthcare, patients benefit, providers save time, and governments gain reliable data for planning. Nigeria has begun to experiment with electronic systems in some hospitals and private clinics. But the adoption remains scattered and uneven. In many cases, systems work in isolation. Records do not travel with the patient. Labs and hospitals often operate separately. Patients themselves rarely have access beyond the paper they are given.

The result is duplication, waste, and frustration. The question is not whether technology belongs in healthcare-it does-but how Nigeria will bridge the gap. The banking sector provides a useful lesson. Two decades ago, banks operated with paper ledgers and long delays. Today, customers check balances and transfer money in seconds using their phones. This leap did not happen because of banking reforms alone; it happened because IT became central to financial services.

Healthcare requires the same urgency. Bridging IT and health is not only about efficiency. It is also about trust. In a system that depends on paper, records can be forged or altered, creating room for doubt. Technology can strengthen credibility by ensuring that records are secure, verifiable, and consistent. Patients deserve confidence that their health information will not disappear with a misplaced folder or be questioned when presented for school, work, or travel. Of course, challenges exist. Power supply, connectivity, and the cost of infrastructure cannot be ignored.

But these are the same barriers Nigeria has overcome in other sectors. The spread of mobile banking, the growth of e-commerce, and the rise of digital payments all prove that where there is demand and commitment, solutions follow. Healthcare should not remain the last frontier of outdated processes.

IT professionals have a role to play here. Doctors and nurses are experts in treatment, but technology requires its own expertise. The bridge between these two worlds must be built by collaboration: health professionals defining needs, and IT experts designing systems that make those needs possible. Neither side can succeed alone. Patients also have a role.

Just as Nigerians embraced mobile banking and messaging apps, they will adapt to new ways of accessing health information. In fact, demand often drives change faster than policy. When people expect faster, safer, and more reliable access, providers will be pressured to respond. Nigeria has transformed before. The introduction of the Bank Verification Number reshaped financial services. The arrival of mobile telephony opened communication to millions.

A similar transformation is possible in healthcare, if IT is placed at the centre rather than the side-lines. Healthcare is not just about hospitals. It is about information accurate, timely, and available when needed. Without technology, information is lost, delayed, or doubted. With technology, it becomes a foundation for better treatment, better planning, and better outcomes. Bridging IT and healthcare is no longer a choice; it is a necessity. The health of Nigerians depends on it.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) on Tuesday morning blamed the dip in electricity generation on the disruption of gas supply.

Its management in a statement said the disruption was due to the industrial actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) within the gas supply chain.

‘Public Notice on Generation Curtailment Due to Gas Supply Disruptions

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) wishes to notify the public of recent major generation shortfalls on the National Grid, caused by industrial actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) within the gas supply chain,’ the statement reads.

NISO further noted that the disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation from over 4,300 MW in the early hours of Sunday, 28th September 2025 to about 3,200 MW at the lowest point.

In response, NISO said it has promptly deployed contingency measures to preserve the stability, security, and reliability of the National Grid.

According to the statement, key interventions include:

Hydropower Optimization: Strategic ramp-ups from major hydro stations, contributing over 400 MW of additional output to cushion the shortfall from gas-fired plants.

The statement added that ‘Generation Dispatch and Load Balancing: Real-time load adjustments to match available generation with system demand, while preventing a system frequency collapse.

Voltage and Frequency Support: Continuous deployment of reactive power compensation and reserve monitoring to safeguard system integrity.

‘Demand-Side Management: Selective load shedding, applied as a last resort, to avert a system-wide collapse and ensure fair power distribution.

‘These timely actions enabled the NISO NCC to minimize the impact of the labour-induced gas shortages, sustain operational security, and maintain supply to critical loads, thereby averting a nationwide blackout.

‘The System Operator reaffirms its commitment to proactive grid management, operational excellence, and the application of best-in-class practices to guarantee a secure and reliable electricity supply for the nation.’

Sir: Nigeria’s uniqueness as a nation lies in its entity and corperativeness, despite years of threatened balkanization by forces of dismemberment. The civil war years (1967-1970) remained a singular episode that buffeted its zeal for survival almost beyond its wits end, but God remained faithful and rather than bring the nation to its knees, the nation once again sprang up to its feet.

The June 12 presidential election annulment topsy-turvy was also an exercise in brinkmanship, but God saved the nation, it also wriggled out of what someone described as a national political catastrophy unleashed on her by an unfeeling and politically heartless leader.

Every four year’s general election to choose a new government has been likened to a war time, because of the large-scale destruction often accompanied by disloyal political contenders who are always bent on winning even when they knew their stakes were ridiculously low, and unabashedly out of political reality, yet God’s faithfulness continue to save the nation out of self-destruction.

The second uniqueness of our situation as a nation these past 65 years is the political stability that the country has recorded since 1999 to date. Many African countries are still under the yoke of military rule with its concomitant abrasiveness and loss of freedom and fundamental human rights.

Despite the lack of popularity of military rule in world politics, a horde of some African countries are still basking in such derisive euphoria with all its limitations in growth and development. But Nigeria has matured politically these past 25 years of civil rule to appreciate the role of uninterrupted democracy in national development.

Given the resolve of the present APC government, one can savely say that the country is on the threshold of total recovery of its past lost grounds.

A lot can still be achieved between now and 2027 if all drummers of diversionary politics will stop their beats and join all hands with the president to pilot the affairs of the country so that the policies and advocacies of the government for the over-all development of the country can be achieved.

Over time the excuse has been the problem of good leadership but in the past couple of years, the leadership has shown unparalleled commitment; with good followers to complement the zeal of the present crop of leadership, Nigeria will soon experience the socio-economic recovery and financial wellness that they have long advocated for.

At 65, even though not yet entirely Uhuru, there is ray of hope and greater hope at the end of the tunnel. The die is no longer cast any more. Rather, the hope is now ever more.

Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other stakeholders in the built environment, have called for mutual respect and cooperation between government enforcement officers and members of the public.

Speaking at the 2025 Stakeholders’ Engagement on Physical Planning, themed ‘Planning Permit: The Rebirth’, organized by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) on Friday, the Governor stressed that harassment or assault of enforcement officials on duty is counterproductive and detrimental to the orderly growth of Lagos.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Sam Egube, maintained that physical planning officers are carrying out statutory responsibilities in line with approved regulations and therefore deserve due courtesy and cooperation.

He cautioned residents against verbal or physical attacks on officials and urged aggrieved members of the public to channel complaints through established government platforms. ‘Civility, dialogue, and adherence to due process are the hallmarks of a functional society that seeks sustainable development,’ he said.

The governor further assured that the engagement reflected government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the protection of both residents and officials in building a more resilient, well-planned Lagos.

In his goodwill message, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro, emphasized that the administration is working tirelessly to bequeath a better Lagos to future generations.

He urged residents to uphold law and order, and treat government officials with the respect they deserve.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Olumide Oluyinka, explained that the forum was a follow-up to the 2024 Physical Planning Summit held at Eko Hotels and Suites, where stakeholders underscored the importance of public sensitization and engagement on physical planning.

Dr. Oluyinka assured that despite the frequent challenges faced by LASPPPA officials during enforcement, the government would not relent in ensuring that no physical development takes place in the state without necessary approvals.

Contributing, the Special Adviser to the Governor on eGIS and Planning Matters, Dr. Olajide Babatunde, represented by the Permanent Secretary for Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, commended the General Manager of LASPPPA, Kehinde Osinaike, and his team for their efforts.

He however lamented the poor attitude of some property owners and professionals toward planning laws, calling for a change in behavior.

‘Built professionals must discourage lawlessness by advising property owners appropriately and respecting their own professional boundaries,’ he said, urging the public not to view demolitions of illegal structures emotionally, but rather as actions taken in the collective interest of society.

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Oba of Lagos, the Bajulaiye of Lagos, Chief Ayodele Oyekan, appealed for public support of government’s planning regulations.

He stressed that harassment of officers is unjust, considering they act strictly in line with the law. He encouraged aggrieved property owners to use complaint mechanisms or seek redress through the Lagos State House of Assembly, instead of resorting to self-help.

‘To live in Lagos, you must abide by the laws of the State,’ he emphasized.

Also speaking, former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Toyin Ayinde, urged the government to streamline the operations of multiple agencies dealing with property owners by creating a one-stop centre for physical development matters.

He also highlighted political interference as a major bottleneck limiting LASPPPA’s efficiency and called for its minimization or outright removal.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on yesterday’s celebration of his 63rd birthday.

The President described the celebrant as a consummate administrator and dedicated public servant.

In a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President joined the Badaru family, friends, and associates in celebrating the former governor of Jigawa State.

Badaru, who was Jigawa State governor from 2015 to 2023, currently holds the traditional titles of Sardauna Ringin and Walin Jahun.

President Tinubu hailed him for his years of leadership, particularly his interventions in security, agriculture, and infrastructure while in office.

He offered prayers for the minister’s well-being, asking Almighty Allah to grant him many more years of good health and strength to continue serving the country.

‘President Tinubu commends the minister for his dedication to service, recalling his leadership in Jigawa State, where he led security, agriculture, and infrastructure interventions.

‘The President prays that God Almighty will grant the former governor more years of good health and strength,’ the statement said.

Super Falcons attacker, Gift Monday says her attention has shifted from her heroic of last weekend and now fully focused on Washington Spirits continental action against Gotham FC in the Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup tomorrow.

Monday also revealed that they also have San Diego Wave to slug it out this weekend in the league and cannot continue to dwell on her hat-trick of the past weekend.

The former FC Robo Queens striker etched her name into the history books on Sunday, scoring the fastest hat-trick from the start of a match in NWSL history to inspire Washington Spirit’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Houston Dash and book their place in the playoffs.

The 23-year-old forward struck three times inside the opening 36 minutes, underlining her reputation as one of the league’s most lethal finishers. She opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a calm finish past Abby Smith, doubled her tally three minutes later by pouncing on a rebound, and completed her treble with a deft strike from a Trinity Rodman assist.

Each goal was marked with Monday’s trademark bow-and-arrow celebration and dance routine, a gesture she explained carries a personal meaning.

‘Growing up, I didn’t have people who really believed in my potential,’ Monday said. ‘Each time I score, I shoot the arrow because I see myself more than how people see me – right there up in the sky among the stars.

‘I can’t continue dwelling on the goals I scored though I am thrilled about it. I am now more concerned about our upcoming games in the Champions Cup and the league.’

Her historic feat, assisted by U.S. internationals Rodman (two) and Croix Bethune (one), makes her only the second Spirit player after Crystal Dunn in 2015 to record a first-half hat-trick.

Signed earlier this year from UD Granadilla Tenerife in Spain, Monday has now netted eight goals in 19 appearances, keeping her firmly in the Golden Boot race alongside Orlando’s Barbra Banda and Chicago’s Ludmila.

The Spirit’s triumph was not only historic for Monday but also for the club, delivering their biggest-ever winning margin and stretching their unbeaten streak to 10 games – a new record.