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Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, Sunday, flagged off the 2025 Carnival Dry-run dry run, heralding the beginning of what promises to be a spectacle of celebration of culture, unity, and creativity as the event marks 20 years of existence.

Speaking at the Millennium Park in Calabar, where the ceremony took place, Otu expressed immense excitement and optimism about this year’s edition, describing it as a historic convergence of reconciliation, cultural revival, and global attraction for Africa’s biggest street party.

‘I feel very excited and so glad that this coincidence has happened,’ Otu said. ‘Like the Bible says, all things work together for good for those who trust in the Lord. God knew why He made it so, that today we are not only celebrating reconciliation and unity but also marking the 20th anniversary of the Calabar Carnival.’

The governor, while extending a warm invitation to tourists and fun-seekers across the world, assured that the 2025 Carnival Calabar Festival would be one of the most vibrant and colorful editions ever witnessed.

‘I am welcoming the whole world to come to Calabar and enjoy this great party with us,’ he said. ‘If you do not come, you are going to miss too much. The theme this year, ‘Traces of Time,’ captures our journey through culture, creativity, and transformation. You will see your heritage beautifully displayed right here in Calabar, the home of culture and heritage.’

Otu commended the organisers, band leaders, and stakeholders in the state’s creative industry for their perseverance and commitment to sustaining the Carnival Calabar brand over the past two decades, urging them to make this landmark anniversary edition truly unforgettable.

‘We have the biggest street party right here in Calabar,’ the governor noted. ‘Let the world know that the Season of Sweetness is not just about governance; it is also about joy, culture, and unity. Everyone must come and participate.’

The flag-off ceremony was attended by notable dignitaries, including members of the National Assembly, representatives of other state governments, traditional rulers, captains of industry, and members of the diaspora community, who turned out in colorful attires to lend their support to the cultural spectacle.

The 2025 Carnival Calabar Festival, themed ‘Traces of Time,’ symbolises two decades of evolving creativity, resilience, and cultural excellence. The maiden dry run officially signaled the start of rehearsals and route testing for the grand parades slated for December, featuring the competing carnival bands alongside emerging cultural ensembles.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday, put smiles on the faces of hundreds of retired civil servants as he flagged off the bulk payment of N2.396 billion gratuity arrears to 2016 and 2017 retirees in the state service.

BusinessDay reports that the exercise marked another major fulfilment of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s promise to clear the backlog of pension and gratuity arrears inherited by his administration.

Speaking at the event, held at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s office, Akure, Aiyedatiwa described the exercise as a continuation of a deliberate and well-thought-out policy to ensure that every retiree receives their benefits fairly and transparently.

According to him, the disbursement was not a coincidence but a product of consistent planning, coming barely a week after his government paid over N1.4 billion to local government and primary school retirees.

‘This is a culmination of our administration’s sincerity of purpose and unwavering resolve to honour men and women who gave their strength, intellect and years of service to the development of Ondo State,’ he said.

The Governor explained that his administration adopted the ‘year of exit’ method as the sole criterion for gratuity qualification to eliminate bias and confusion in the process.

He said that retirement is not an end but a dignified transition that deserves honour, fairness, and respect.

Reaffirming his government’s commitment to the welfare of pensioners, the Governor said, ‘We are resolutely committed to clearing all backlog of gratuity obligations. Our retirees deserve empathy, honour, and respect. This is not an act of favour; it is a moral and constitutional duty we hold dear.’

He recalled that since assuming office, his government had released N180 million monthly to defray gratuity arrears while ensuring regular payment of pensions at both state and local government levels.

He highlighted other welfare strides of his administration, including the payment of N2.236 billion to 2015 retirees; an N30,000 monthly allowance for pensioners as fuel subsidy support; installation of solar-powered streetlights and road beautification; digital infrastructure investments; and the O’Datiwa Metering Programme, which has installed over 15,000 meters in less than a year.

He also listed the approval of a six-kilometre road linking Scab Filling Station to Imafon and the establishment of the State Senior Secondary Education Board as part of ongoing developmental efforts.

While expressing appreciation to labour leaders, pension administrators and senior citizens for their patience and cooperation, Governor Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed that his administration would remain people-oriented and responsive to the welfare of residents, especially during economic hardship.

He urged retirees to enrol in the Ondo State Health Insurance Scheme for accessible healthcare, stressing that ‘health is the foundation of happiness and longevity.’

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Pension Transitional Department, Bunmi Alade, lauded the governor for prioritising retirees’ welfare despite numerous developmental projects competing for funds.

Alade disclosed that the N2.396 billion payment marked the first time in the state’s history that two full years of gratuity arrears were cleared simultaneously.

The Permanent Secretary also appreciated the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners for their cooperation and support throughout the exercise.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Ondo State chapter, Johnson Osuyemi, expressed profound appreciation to Governor Aiyedatiwa for his consistent efforts in addressing the welfare and financial concerns of pensioners.

Osuyemi said the union and its members had remained optimistic since the inception of the administration, noting that the governor had demonstrated genuine commitment to easing the burdens of retirees.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has chosen Nigeria’s former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, to head its election observation team for Côte d’Ivoire’s upcoming presidential election.

The election is set for October 25, and Osinbajo’s team will be on ground from October 19 to 29 to monitor events before, during, and after the polls. ECOWAS said in a statement on Sunday that the move is part of its ongoing efforts to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections across the West African region.

As the head of the mission, Osinbajo will lead a group made up of respected individuals from different West African countries. Their main task will be to meet with political leaders, election officials, and civil society groups in Côte d’Ivoire. The goal, ECOWAS said, is to help promote calm and build confidence among voters and politicians as the election approaches.

The election observers are also expected to work closely with other international and local monitoring organizations to assess how well the election is conducted. This collaboration, according to ECOWAS, will help strengthen trust in the democratic process and encourage transparency in the vote counting and results announcement stages.

ECOWAS emphasized that sending the mission shows its ‘strong commitment to peace, stability, and credible elections’ in the region. The organization has played similar roles in other West African countries in the past, helping to reduce election-related violence and disputes.

Côte d’Ivoire’s election is drawing global attention because it comes at a sensitive time for the country’s democracy. President Alassane Ouattara, who is 83 years old, has announced plans to seek a fourth term in office a decision that has stirred controversy.

Many Ivorians recall that Ouattara previously promised to step down after completing his current term. His change of mind has sparked debates over constitutional limits on presidential terms and raised concerns about the future of democratic transition in the country.

Tensions have been rising, with opposition groups accusing the government of trying to hold onto power. Analysts fear that the political climate could become unstable if the election process is not seen as fair and transparent.

That is why ECOWAS’ presence, led by Osinbajo, is being viewed as a timely and important step. The mission is expected to help calm fears, encourage dialogue among political rivals, and reassure voters that their voices will count.

Osinbajo, who served as Nigeria’s vice president from 2015 to 2023, is widely respected across Africa for his calm leadership style and experience in governance. His appointment is seen as a sign of confidence from ECOWAS in his ability to guide the observation team effectively and foster peace during the tense election period.

The mission will release a report after the polls, assessing how the election was conducted and recommending steps to strengthen democracy in Côte d’Ivoire and across the West African region.

Muhammad Pate, Nigeria’s minister of health and social welfare, has expressed concern over the growing threat of drug-resistant infections in the country, warning that the trend poses a ‘silent pandemic’ capable of undermining progress made in disease control and treatment.

He cautioned that countries often waits for crises before investing in preparedness, noting that this reactive approach has proven costly in both human and economic terms.

‘The rising threat of drug-resistant infections is a silent pandemic. It is time now that we need to prepare and get ready because crisis can strike any time. The lesson of Ebola and COVID-19 are clear. Every naira spent on infection prevention, hygiene, and antimicrobial resistance control, save many more in treatment and economic loss.’

Pate, who was represented by Nse Akpan, Director of Port Health Services, made the remarks in Abuja on Monday during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Dr Ameyo Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Health Trust in honour of the late Adadevoh who died after courageously index ebola case in Nigeria.

The minister paid tribute to the late Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, whose decisive actions during the 2014 Ebola outbreak helped to prevent a national catastrophe.

‘Ten years ago, Nigeria faced a tremendous threat of the Ebola virus. We remember with profound respect Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, whose courageous and decisive action to protect millions of Nigerians and sacrifice embodies the highest ideals of medical professionalism and national service. Today, through DRASA’s work, her legacy lives on as a living movement for disease prevention and health security’, he said.

The minister warned that infectious disease outbreaks such as cholera remain a persistent challenge, worsened by human factors including poor sanitation and indiscriminate waste disposal.

‘It’s time we ensure that we have a universal health coverage, a sustainable improvement in public health practices in this country. If we fail to act now by addressing and extending infection control in hospitals, promoting responsible use of anti-vaccine in communities, and expanding hygiene practices in schools, then we risk undermining the very foundation of modern medicine’, he warned.

Pate acknowledged the role of partners such as DRASA, whose collaboration with government agencies over the past decade has contributed to advancing infection prevention and control (IPC) as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) strategies nationwide.

‘For much of the past decade, DRASA has helped us to achieve our target in this sustainable system and providing technical services that align with both national and state level priorities, evidenced by how they have mobilized nearly 100,000 health champions’, Pate said.

‘They have done good in communities, schools, health facilities, government institutions, and how they have supported policies. We want to appreciate DRASA for a nice job they have done and their contribution toward improving and improving the health sector. DRASA has proven to be a trusted and expert partner of the government, ensuring that interventions are not parallel or fragmented, but woven into a national health system’, the minister added.

Niniola Williams, DRASA’s Managing Director, the niece of the late Dr Adadevoh, reflected on the organisation’s journey over the past ten years. She said her aunt’s courage and sacrifice during the Ebola outbreak inspired the creation of the foundation, which has since become a vital partner in building Nigeria’s public health resilience.

‘In July 2014, during a moment of fear and uncertainty, she made a decision that turned into what was now support for the greater public good. Her decision protected Nigeria and the world from what could have been a major public health disaster, but it cost her her life. She stood firm to protect Nigeria, refusing to let an infected traveller leave her hospital, despite the risk. That legacy is the seed from which DRASA was grown’, she said.

According to Williams, the trust has established 13 public health response systems at Nigeria’s major airports, seaports, and land borders, while activating cross-border health forums with neighbouring Benin and Niger Republic to facilitate information sharing and coordinated responses to regional health threats.

She added that DRASA has also supported the development and implementation of 28 national and sub-national public health policies, working closely with government agencies to strengthen infection prevention and control.

Williams noted that the impact of these efforts is best measured not only in numbers, but in the stories of communities now better prepared to respond to infectious diseases.

On future plans, she outlined DRASA’s new ten-year strategic plan, which includes the establishment of the DRASA Academy a to train and certify an additional 50,000 health workers in infection prevention and control and expand its health champions network to 500,000 people nationwide. She said the Trust also intends to set up centres of excellence across all six geopolitical zones to promote innovation, training, and research in public health, while urging support of Nigerians.

Public health experts like Chikwe Ihekweazu, an assistant director general at the World Health Organisation, Jide Idris, director general of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) all commended the impact of DRASA.

A heavy security presence on Monday morning caused major traffic congestion along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway as security agencies tightened control at key entry points into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the planned #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest.

Unlike previous demonstrations where military vehicles were stationed at the Nyanya Bridge, only a handful of policemen, about seven officers with a Hilux patrol van, were sighted at the location.

However, at the Karu Bridge, soldiers were deployed on both sides of the road, forcing motorists to move slowly through multiple checkpoints and routine inspections.

The protest, championed by activist Omoyele Sowore, seeks the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Protesters had vowed to march toward the Presidential Villa despite a subsisting court order restricting demonstrations around strategic national sites.

By 7:00 a.m., joint security operatives, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Army, and other paramilitary agencies, had mounted barricades on major roads leading to the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly Complex, and Eagle Square.

Tension heightened as police fired teargas in parts of the city to disperse gathering protesters.

Teargas canisters were discharged near the bridge close to the Nigeria Police Headquarters and around the Ministry of Finance Junction, forcing pedestrians and commuters to flee for safety.

Security operatives also restricted pedestrian movement across several adjoining roads.

Benjamin Hundeyin, Police spokesman confirmed that the deployment was in compliance with a Federal High Court order obtained by the federal government in a case involving Omoyele Sowore and others.

‘The order restrains the parties and any group acting under their instruction from staging protests within and around Aso Rock Villa and its environs,’ Hundeyin said, warning that violators risk arrest and prosecution.

He added that the police remained committed to maintaining peace and enforcing lawful restrictions to prevent any breakdown of public order.

Despite the restrictions, Sowore insisted that the protest would go ahead peacefully.

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, he accused the government of defying multiple court judgments ordering Kanu’s release.

‘Our legal team will challenge any alleged court order the moment it is served, but nothing will stop this mass movement.

‘October 20 remains sacred. We march peacefully, lawfully, and powerfully’, Sowore declared.

He condemned what he called the ‘illegal detention’ of Kanu, citing the 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that discharged and acquitted the IPOB leader.

‘The government is disobeying its own laws and mocking the 1999 Constitution. The Court of Appeal cleared Mr. Kanu in 2022, yet the DSS has refused to release him for a single day,’ Sowore added.

Kanu’s prolonged detention continues to stir political and regional tension. Arrested in 2015 and granted bail in 2017 on health grounds by Binta Nyako (Justice), he fled the country after a military raid on his Abia home.

He was re-arrested in Kenya in June 2021 and returned to Nigeria to face charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony.

Although the Court of Appeal struck out all charges in 2022, the Supreme Court later reinstated seven counts, ruling that Kanu still had questions to answer.

His ongoing trial is now before James Omotosho, Justice, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who recently dismissed a ‘no-case submission’ by Kanu’s legal team.

The court held that the government had established a prima facie case requiring Kanu to enter his defence.

Omotosho also directed the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to evaluate Kanu’s health status, after which the court ruled that his ailments were not life-threatening and could be managed within the Department of State Services (DSS) facility.

The judge consequently refused Kanu’s request for transfer to the National Hospital, Abuja.

As the day unfolded, movement across central Abuja remained severely restricted, with security operatives stationed at Aso Drive, Eagle Square, and the Central Business District.

Thousands of commuters were stranded for hours as traffic stretched from Nyanya through Karu to the city centre.

While protesters maintained that their movement was peaceful, authorities reiterated a zero-tolerance stance toward any action that could disrupt public order or threaten national security.

The Nigerian Army says it has foiled a major attack by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State, though not without losing a senior officer and several soldiers in the process.

The encounter, which took place on Friday around Kashimri in Bama Local Government Area, left a lieutenant-colonel and other soldiers dead, while several insurgents were neutralised and their camps destroyed.

Army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, describing it as both a victory and a painful reminder of the ongoing sacrifices made by Nigerian troops in the fight against terrorism.

According to her, troops of Operation Hadin Kai, under the coordination of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, acted on credible intelligence that Boko Haram fighters were regrouping to attack civilian communities and disrupt social and economic life in the area.

Acting swiftly, the soldiers launched a preemptive strike on the terrorists’ hideouts, engaging them in what was described as a ‘fierce gun duel.’ Several insurgents were killed, while others fled with gunshot wounds. The operation also led to the destruction of identified Boko Haram camps.

However, the army confirmed that the Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Paiko, and several other soldiers were killed in action. The statement did not provide the exact number of military casualties.

Lieutenant Colonel Anele said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, had expressed deep sorrow over the loss, extending condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers.

‘Their sacrifices will never be in vain,’ the COAS was quoted as saying. ‘They fought with honour and demonstrated exceptional courage in defending the sovereignty of our nation.’

General Oluyede reaffirmed the army’s commitment to eradicating terrorism across Nigeria, saying operations against Boko Haram and other extremist groups would continue with renewed determination until lasting peace is achieved in the North East and other affected regions.

The army also appealed to the public and the media to respect the privacy of the deceased soldiers’ families by refraining from sharing graphic images of the casualties on social media. Lieutenant Colonel Anele said such restraint would uphold the dignity of the fallen heroes and give their families time to receive official notifications.

The incident underscores the continued security challenges in the North East, where Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have waged an insurgency for more than a decade.

While the military has made significant progress in reclaiming territories and weakening the terrorist networks, occasional clashes and ambushes still result in casualties among troops and civilians.

For now, the army says it remains undeterred vowing that the blood of its fallen heroes will only strengthen its resolve to end terrorism once and for all.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has in collaboration with other agencies deported another batch of 51 foreign nationals convicted of cyber-terrorism, internet fraud, and related financial crimes in Lagos.

EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Oyewale said the exercise was jointly carried out by the anti-graft agency with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

According to him, the final batch of 51 convicts, including 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian, brings to 192 the number of foreigners convicted of financial crimes in Lagos state to a close.

He said that the last batch of deportees left Nigeria on Oct. 16.

‘The deportation exercise followed the arrest and successful prosecution of 759 suspects during a major sting operation conducted by the EFCC on Dec. 10, 2024, at Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

‘The deportation exercise, which began on Aug. 15, followed the conviction of the offenders by the Federal High Court in Lagos for offences bordering on cybercrime, money laundering, and ponzi scheme operations.

‘The first batch of 42 convicts, comprising Chinese and Filipino nationals, was deported on Aug. 15; subsequent batches followed throughout August and September,’ he said.

According to him, the deported convicts include nationals of China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Timor-Leste.

They were deported in coordinated batches between August and mid-October 2025, in accordance with court directives and immigration procedures.

‘All the deported convicts bagged their imprisonment when they were arrested with their Nigerian accomplices believed to be members of a sophisticated cybercrime and ponzi scheme syndicate.

‘The syndicate was said to be operating under the cover of Genting International Co. Limited.

‘The operation, based on credible, actionable intelligence, and subsequent investigations, confirmed that the convicted foreigners were involved in large-scale online fraud, identity theft, and cyber-enabled Ponzi schemes.’

According to him, evidence revealed that they trained recruits and managed fraudulent digital platforms aimed at defrauding victims both locally and internationally.

‘The Nigeria Immigration Service deported them as directed by the court,’ he said.

Nigeria’s search for new agribusiness frontiers beyond grains and oilseeds may find an unlikely candidate in wine grapes.

Industry expert Victor Ikem, founder of LWS Wine Academy (Lagos Wine School), says parts of the country have the right soil and climate to begin cultivating grapes for wine production that could reduce imports and open a new source of non-oil export earnings.

Speaking on Smooth FM’s Business Hub program, Ikem said regions across Kaduna, Plateau, and Benue States show strong potential for viticulture if backed by targeted investment and research.

‘Based on recent findings, some regions in Nigeria have the potential to produce wine grapes,’ he said. ‘Wine production involves a lot of investment and time. At the moment, almost all the wines consumed in Nigeria are imported, but we have the opportunity and resources to grow our own grapes. We have seemingly the right environment to do that on a large scale.’

Ikem estimates that parts of the North Central and North West have as much as an 85 percent chance of successfully cultivating wine grapes, depending on varietal selection and soil management.

‘It’s not just about planting grapes,’ he explained. ‘We need to identify the right varieties that can thrive in our climate, likely red grape varieties such as Zinfandel, Shiraz, and Merlot. Nigeria has the soil and temperature to support grape cultivation, but we need research and collaboration with globally acclaimed winemakers who can share their technical knowledge and experience.’

Import dependency and missed opportunities

Nigeria currently imports nearly all its wines from France, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Germany, and the United States, spending millions of dollars annually in foreign exchange. Ikem noted that while South Africa remains the continent’s dominant producer, other African countries are gradually investing in local winemaking.

‘The wine business is capital-intensive,’ he said. ‘But Nigeria’s thriving consumer market makes it a profitable venture if properly structured.’

He insists that developing a domestic wine industry could strengthen value chains linking agriculture, manufacturing, and hospitality, while reducing dependence on volatile global imports. Wine production could also boost rural employment and stimulate tourism in areas suited for grape cultivation.

A growing taste for wine

Nigeria’s wine market is valued between $400 million and $420 million annually, according to industry estimates referenced by Ikem. Consumption is driven largely by younger consumers and urban professionals shifting from beer to wine as disposable incomes rise.

‘Young Nigerians generally have a sweet palate,’ he said. ‘Over 70 percent of respondents in a recent survey said they prefer sweet wines with higher alcohol content. This reflects our culture and the youthful demographic that’s transitioning from beer to wine. Sweet wines are easy to drink, pair well with local dishes, and fit our lifestyle of convenience and celebration.’

While sweet wines dominate sales, Ikem noted that dry and sour wines are gradually finding loyal consumers among more mature drinkers. ‘Every style of wine appeals to a specific market segment,’ he said

Building capacity through education

Through LWS Wine Academy, Nigeria’s first dedicated wine education institution, Ikem is advocating a deeper understanding of wine as both a product and an industry.

‘At LWS Wine Academy, our goal is to develop Nigeria’s wine industry through education, exposure, and experience,’ he said. ‘We want to create an ecosystem where Nigerians don’t just consume wine; they understand it, appreciate it, and build sustainable businesses around it.’

Experts say Nigeria’s large consumer base and improving agricultural research offer a foundation for future local production if supported by coherent policy. Developing vineyards, processing facilities, and cold-chain infrastructure, they argue, would place wine alongside cocoa, cashew, and palm oil as part of Nigeria’s broader agro-industrial diversification.

For now, the ambition remains largely untapped. But as consumption rises and agribusiness investors seek new opportunities, Nigeria’s next high-value crop may not be wheat or rice, but it could be wine grapes.

As the world marked World Food Day on October 16, 2025, under the theme ‘hand in hand for better foods and a better future,’ the industry acknowledged the necessity for a fundamental shift in the national agricultural strategy. The consensus among major stakeholders is that the country must move beyond the defensive goal of ‘food security’ and commit to achieving food sovereignty.

Food sovereignty, in this context, is defined not merely as ensuring enough caloric intake, but as controlling the entire food system-from production and processing to distribution-to ensure national resilience and self-reliance. Industry analysts argue that this objective is directly synonymous with comprehensive national development and is a non-negotiable component of national security.

To construct a durable future, the prevailing view is that policy must be anchored in data rather than political rhetoric. This requires a frank confrontation with the numerical reality of Nigeria’s agricultural paradox.

The Nigerian paradox: Confronting the data

Nigeria faces a severe paradox: a nation blessed with extensive agricultural land and human resources yet grappling with profound food insecurity. This disparity, experts note, is a statistical reality demanding immediate and focused attention.

Data released by the United Nations indicates a deeply troubling trend for 2024. Over 30 million Nigerians are food insecure, representing a staggering increase of five million people from 2023 figures. This crisis is further underscored by the latest Global Hunger Index, which ranks Nigeria 115th out of 123 countries assessed, signalling a serious and pervasive level of hunger nationwide. Compounding this structural vulnerability are the lingering effects of environmental disasters, notably last year’s devastating floods, which impacted 9.2 million people and destroyed over 1.6 million hectares of vital farmland.

While these statistics define the magnitude of the national problem, they also risk obscuring the immense and proactive efforts the domestic private sector is already making to close the gap.

The engine of progress: Domestic Direct Investment in action

Discussions about national economic growth often prioritise Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). However, major Nigerian agribusinesses champion the foundational necessity of Domestic Direct Investment (DDI). These are the investments made by Nigerian companies and those with a deep, long-term commitment to the nation, often operating in challenging environments for decades.

The logic is straightforward: FDI will inevitably gauge its security based on how well domestic investors are protected and incentivised. Industry leaders assert that DDI is the foundational bedrock of the agricultural ecosystem, having proven its resilience against currency volatility, infrastructural deficits, and natural disasters.

Integrating the value chain: From seed to shelf

Massive, tangible investments across the agricultural value chain evidence this deep commitment. Companies like Olam Agri, for instance, operate on a philosophy of ‘farm to fork’ and ‘seed to shelf’, demonstrating a radical integration into Nigeria’s agricultural landscape. The company’s actions, including swiftly pivoting and rebuilding after being directly impacted by last year’s floods, underline the long-term nature of DDI.

This commitment manifests in several critical areas:

· Integrated operations and outgrower empowerment: Companies are not merely running large-scale farms; they are building resilient agricultural ecosystems. Operations typically include nucleus farms that work in partnership with extensive networks of smallholder farmers. Olam Agri, for example, collaborates with over 35,000 outgrowers, empowering them with better seeds, financing, and modern agronomic techniques to ensure sustainable and inclusive production scaling.

· Significant production capacity: Nigeria has demonstrable capacity to produce staple foods. Key players report holding high stocks of locally produced goods. The fact that the country’s largest rice producer can maintain a consistent supply, including popular, high-quality local brands, proves that the fundamental capacity to produce is not the central issue.

· Diversified value chain investments: Investments extend robustly beyond the farm gate and into industrial processing. Alongside processing essential grains, these investors are establishing new facilities, such as a $45 million soya crushing facility currently slated for commissioning by one firm, Olam Agri, which will add significant value to domestic agricultural output by processing oilseeds locally.

· Economic contribution and foreign exchange strength: The positive impact of DDI extends to the national economy. Related entities are contributing substantial figures-in one case, an Olam group company, OFI (Olam Food Ingredients), exports between $300 and $350 million in annual non-oil exports, directly strengthening Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves and demonstrating the global competitiveness of its integrated agricultural sector.

Despite this proven production power and investment depth, critical external roadblocks are actively preventing the translation of bumper harvests and significant capital deployment into genuine food sovereignty.

The real bottlenecks: Smuggling, storage, and logistics

Analysis from the private sector is unequivocally clear: Nigeria’s current food insecurity crisis is not a problem of production or investment. It is, fundamentally, a crisis of logistics, post-harvest management, and border security. Systemic failures in these areas are actively undermining domestic producers, eroding the value of DDI, and creating artificial scarcity in a land of potential plenty.

The scourge of unchecked smuggling

The most corrosive threat to food sovereignty today is the unchecked smuggling of agricultural products, particularly rice, the country’s most significant staple. Smuggled goods enter Nigeria without paying duties or levies or adhering to local quality standards. This creates a fundamentally distorted and unlevel playing field where domestic producers, who diligently pay taxes and invest billions locally, are rendered uncompetitive in their own market.

While legal importation remains necessary to bridge a national consumption gap (estimated at 2 million tonnes for rice), it must be strategically managed by competent companies with proven, long-term investments, rather than being left to an unregulated free-for-all.

The enforcement of border security is a core and non-negotiable responsibility of the government, and they should own up to it.

The catastrophic post-harvest crisis

The second critical bottleneck is the paradox of post-harvest losses, which keeps consumer food prices stubbornly high even after ‘bumper harvests’. This is attributed to a catastrophic lack of preservation, storage, and logistics infrastructure. Conservative estimates suggest that 60-70 percent of perishable produce rots before it reaches the final consumer.

Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of staples like cassava, yam, and cocoyam. Yet, the inability to move, store, and preserve this abundance effectively turns an agricultural strength into a national weakness. This logistics failure is the true engine of food price inflation.

A call for strategic partnership: An action plan for government

The private sector cannot resolve these systemic challenges in isolation. They are calling for a strategic partnership with the government, which must act as an enabler of both growth and security. This requires policymaking guided by what industry leaders term the ‘SID principle’-it must be Strategic, Intentional, and Deliberate.

The sector has formally proposed a clear, four-point action plan designed to create an environment where domestic production capacity can finally translate into genuine food sovereignty for all Nigerians:

· Secure the borders: Combating smuggling must be the most urgent priority, framed as a national security issue. Consistent, decisive enforcement is needed to protect domestic investment and ensure the economic benefits of agricultural labour remain within Nigeria.

· Invest in national infrastructure: The government must lead the investment in a national network of silos, modern supply chain logistics, and strategic grain reserves. These critical assets should be managed by competent, private-sector professionals, not political appointees, to reduce post-harvest losses drastically.

· Act as a strategic off-taker: The government should act as a primary, strategic off-taker, buying bulk produce directly from large-scale, compliant producers to fill these strategic reserves. This action would stabilise prices for farmers, provide a powerful tool to cushion food inflation for consumers, and bring predictability to the market.

· Foster a transparent marketplace: The government must strengthen commodity exchanges to ensure transparent price discovery. Arbitrary price controls should be discouraged, as they distort markets and discourage long-term production, advocating instead for an open and efficient marketplace.

One must acknowledge positive foundational steps, primarily the stability achieved through recent fiscal and monetary policy alignment under the current Central Bank leadership, which is a welcome development that has boosted confidence for businesses planning long-term investment and helped with predictability.

Conclusion: Cultivating our shared future

In summary, I believe that Nigeria’s food insecurity stems from a systemic crisis of logistics, policy, and enforcement, not a failure of production capacity or private sector commitment. Domestic direct investors have responded to the national emergency call with massive production and investment.

The private sector now extends a firm offer of strategic partnership. This moment calls for joint action-industry and government-to secure the borders, build the necessary storage and logistics infrastructure, and stop the dual scourges of smuggling and post-harvest waste. By collaboratively tackling these real, systemic bottlenecks, Nigeria can secure the lasting food sovereignty and economic dignity its population deserves.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested several suspects linked to armed robbery, drug trafficking, and vehicle theft following a series of coordinated intelligence-led operations across Abuja between October 9 and 18, 2025.

The operations, carried out by the Command’s Scorpion Squad in collaboration with the Kubwa, Life Camp, and Mabushi Divisions, resulted in multiple arrests and the recovery of stolen vehicles, weapons, and illicit substances.

Among those apprehended were Manaseh Emmanuel, 36; Dogora Ibrahim, 21; and Ibrahim Idamusa, 40, identified as members of a notorious armed robbery gang led by Ibrahim Yakubu, popularly known as ‘Ycome,’ who is currently remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

In a related operation, the Life Camp Division arrested Umar Abubakar, Iliyasu Ibrahim, Usman Ibrahim, and Alkasim Abubakar for their alleged involvement in theft and robbery.

Police investigations revealed that the suspects belong to a ten-man armed robbery syndicate responsible for a series of violent robberies within the Kubwa, Life Camp, and Mpape areas of the city.

Similarly, operatives of the Mabushi Division apprehended Bello Mohammed Tambuwal for stealing a 2019 Toyota Corolla, while another suspect, Paul Onogwu, was intercepted in possession of fifteen bags of dried leaves suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.

According to the Police, recovered items during the operations include a cutlass, a sword, a jackknife, a Toyota Land Cruiser stolen during a robbery, a black 2019 Toyota Corolla with chassis number JTNK4RBE1K3054902, a Toyota Camry with registration number KRD 391 JF, and fifteen bags of suspected Cannabis Sativa.

Dantawaye Miller, Commissioner of Police, commended the officers and men involved in the successful operations, urging all Divisional Police Officers across the FCT to sustain the tempo and intensify the onslaught against criminal elements.

He reiterated the Command’s resolve to make Abuja safer by uncovering criminal hideouts and ridding the territory of insecurity.

‘We will continue to hit hard on criminal elements until the Federal Capital Territory is completely rid of crime and insecurity,’ Miller stated.

He further urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or activities to the police through the emergency numbers 08061581938 and 08032003913 or the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) line 08107314192.