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The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has called for deeper collaboration with the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) in advancing the implementation of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025.

In extending the invitation, NAICOM urged the Council, under the leadership of Ekeoma Ezeibe, the 63rd President of the NCRIB, to play an active role in driving reforms aimed at strengthening the insurance sector, enhancing regulatory compliance, and promoting sustainable growth.

Segun Omosehin, commissioner for Insurance, who made the call during the investiture of Ezeibe held in Lagos, reaffirmed the Commission’s openness to dialogue and its commitment to harmonizing the roles of all industry stakeholders for the collective progress of Nigeria’s insurance ecosystem.

Omosehin described Ezeibe’s emergence as the third female President in the 63-year history of the Council as a powerful symbol of progress and inclusion. He noted that her journey reflects quiet strength and strategic impact, both within the NCRIB and across the broader insurance industry. He emphasized that in today’s dynamic environment, brokers must evolve to meet emerging risks by providing client-first risk advisory rather than product-driven solutions; ensuring transparent placements with clear wordings and quality coverage; leading claims processes with data-driven, empathetic approaches; expanding inclusion through affordable microinsurance for underserved sectors; and leveraging digital tools to reduce costs while maintaining ethical standards.

‘I urge the Council to professionalise these capabilities through training, peer review, and accountability,’ he said, adding that the reputation of the market is inseparable from the reputation of its brokers.

According to him, NAICOM’s priorities are clear, which are to foster innovation, protect policyholders, and build public confidence.

‘For brokers, our regulatory focus includes aligning governance and financial requirements with business operations; ensuring transparency, suitability, and fairness, especially during claims; and making placement quality and client outcomes measurable, among others,’ Omosehin stated.

Stallion Group, Nigeria’s leading automobile distributor, has expanded its MG lineup with four new models, as part of efforts to drive sustainable mobility and offer motorists more energy-efficient vehicle options in the country.

The company stated that these models reflect its commitment to innovation, reliability, and cleaner transportation, adding that the expansion aims to meet the growing demand for versatile vehicles that combine performance with fuel efficiency across Nigeria’s evolving mobility landscape.

The new models launchef are the MG RX9, RX5, MG5 CNG (bi-fuel), and MG T60 pickup,

Speaking at the unveiling event, Josephine Nwosu, general sales manager for the Stallion MG brand in Nigeria, described the launch as a strategic move to close the year on a high note by introducing models tailored to evolving consumer needs, vehicles that blend innovation, efficiency, and value.

‘MG’s reputation for quality and innovation complements our vision to elevate the automotive experience for Nigerian drivers,’ Nwosu said.

She explained that with the introduction of the SUV RX9, SUV RX5, MG5 CNG (Bi-fuel), and T60 Pickup, Stallion MG is deepening its presence in Nigeria by offering stylish, high-performance vehicles that deliver both reliability and affordability.

‘We aim to reinforce Stallion MG’s commitment to growing the local automotive sector through technology-driven solutions.

‘As demand for reliable and stylish vehicles continues to rise, MG’s impressive lineup, including electric and hybrid options, reflects the global shift toward sustainable mobility,’ Nwosu said. The RX9 leads the lineup as MG’s luxury flagship SUV, featuring a spacious three-row interior, intelligent infotainment with a BOSE audio system, and a powerful yet efficient 2.0T ‘Net Blue’ engine. Designed for comfort, safety, and performance on any terrain, it represents the pinnacle of MG’s craftsmanship.

The RX5, compact, dynamic, and tech-forward, is powered by a 1.5L turbocharged engine with a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission. Its bold design, panoramic sunroof, and advanced connectivity make it ideal for Nigeria’s modern urban lifestyle.

The MG5 CNG (Bi-fuel) introduces an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fuels. Running on compressed natural gas, it offers reduced emissions, extended range, and lower running costs, aligning with the federal government’s push for greener mobility solutions.

Built tough for Nigeria’s diverse terrain, the MG T60 pickup combines power and versatility. With 2.4L petrol and 2.8L turbo diesel engine options in both 4×2 and 4×4 configurations, designed for durability, high towing capacity, and comfort, ideal for both business and leisure.

Nwosu emphasised that these new models highlight Stallion MG’s ongoing commitment to value, modern design, safety, fuel efficiency, and advanced technology, all backed by trusted aftersales service.

‘Stallion MG partnership with MG Motors is built on dedicated service, genuine parts, and strong nationwide support.

‘SUV models like the RX5 and RX9 are assembled in Nigeria as part of our long-term investment in the local automotive industry and in support of the government’s automotive development plan,’ she said.

Nwosu also revealed Stallion MG plans to expand local assembly operations in the coming months, strengthening its position as a key player in Nigeria’s evolving automotive landscape.

‘With Stallion MG’s strong legacy and nationwide network, MG is well-positioned to redefine customer experience in the automotive space,’ she said.

Nigeria has taken a major step toward integrating women into environmental governance and climate action with the validation of the Green Women Platform (GWP) – a national initiative designed to empower women as leaders in the fight against land degradation, desertification, and climate change.

The two-day validation workshop, held from October 28-29, 2025, in Abuja, brought together key stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, and international organizations, including the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Pan-African Great Green Wall Agency (PAGGW).

Delivering the keynote address, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the minister of Environment, represented by Agnes Aneke, director planning, research and statistics said the initiative marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental and gender inclusion agenda.

He noted that the Green Women Platform was not just a program but ‘a movement for empowerment, advocacy, and transformation.’

‘Through this platform, women will not only have a voice in governance and decision-making around land use, natural resources, and climate action, but they will also gain access to economic opportunities in reforestation, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green enterprises,’ he stated.

The minister emphasised that women were central to Nigeria’s efforts to restore degraded lands and strengthen community resilience under the Great Green Wall Initiative, adding that the GWP aligns with global frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He further noted that the platform would advance SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 13 on climate action, and SDG 15 on life on land, while creating livelihoods that contribute to SDG 1 on ending poverty.

‘The validation of this platform must not be seen as another routine exercise. It must mark the beginning of concrete actions that restore degraded lands, create jobs, empower women and youth, and build resilient communities,’ the Minister added.

In his opening remarks, Mahmud Adams Kambari, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment who was also represented by Agnes Aneke, said the initiative demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring that women are not left behind in the country’s environmental and climate change response.

‘Women bear the most significant burden of environmental degradation, yet they are also the most potent agents of resilience and adaptation,’ she said, noting that the workshop aimed to validate the structural framework and governance arrangements for a two-year national action plan. She commended the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), the Office of the First Lady, and development partners for their collaboration and support.

Saleh Abubakar, director general of the NAGGW, in his welcome address, described the Green Women Platform as ‘a unique innovation designed to place women at the center of the fight against desertification, land degradation, and climate change.’

‘Here in Nigeria, women are not only custodians of the land but also agents of transformation within their communities,’ he said, urging participants to work collectively toward building a strong and inclusive platform that empowers women to restore degraded lands and build sustainable livelihoods.

Representing the executive secretary of the Pan-African Great Green Wall Agency, Almoustapha Garba, a PAGGW delegate commended Nigeria’s leadership and commitment to implementing the Great Green Wall vision. ‘The Women’s Green Platform, initiated in 2018, was designed to federate and harmonize the multiple actions of women across Africa. Nigeria’s validation of this platform is a key step in ensuring women’s full and effective participation in local governance and access to natural resources,’ he stated.

He recalled that the Green Women’s Platform process began with a regional scoping study and the establishment of a regional framework in April 2024 in Bamako, leading to national-level adoption in member states including Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mali, and Mauritania.

Supported by the World Food Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the initiative seeks to enhance women’s leadership in climate governance and ensure their representation in community-level decision-making.

The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment from all partners to operationalise the Green Women Platform, ensuring that Nigerian women move from the margins to the forefront of environmental restoration and climate resilience.

The Association of Corporate Treasurers of Nigeria (ACTN) has announced the 2025 edition of its flagship event, the Treasury360 Conference, Exhibition and Corporate Treasury Awards. The event will be held on November 6 and 7, 2025, at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.

At a media launch held on Friday in Lagos, the President of ACTN stated that this year’s conference will focus on how treasury professionals can utilise digital finance and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency, mitigate risks, and foster resilience.

The theme for the 2025 edition is ‘Navigating Treasury Challenges in Nigeria: Leveraging Digital Finance and AI for Efficiency.’ The event will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and regulators from across Nigeria’s financial sector.

The ACTN President said 2025 has been a difficult year for businesses. Inflation remains high. Interest rates are elevated. Fiscal tightening and new tax reforms are reshaping the business environment. Rising operational risks, he added, have disrupted liquidity and cash flow cycles across many firms.

He explained that corporate treasury roles are becoming more strategic. ‘Treasurers now go beyond managing cash. They are focused on risk, capital optimisation, and ensuring business continuity,’ he said.

The two-day event will highlight discussions on AI-powered treasury systems, digital FX and liquidity management, payments modernisation, and sustainable finance. Experts will also explore risk mitigation strategies, governance, regulatory compliance, and capital market insights.

Several high-profile speakers are expected at the conference. They include the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Michael Cardoso, who will serve as Special Guest of Honour, and Emomotimi Agama, Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Others are Yele Oyekola, Co-founder and CEO of Duplo; Wole Ayodele, CEO of Fincra; Ola Oyetayo, Co-founder and CEO of Verto; and Olaitan Martins, Group Executive, Corporate Banking at FirstBank Nigeria Limited. The ACTN President commended regulators such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for their continued engagement with industry players. He also called for greater policy stability, a more cohesive foreign exchange framework, and deeper financial market reforms. He added that a supportive regulatory environment is essential for business growth and economic recovery.

The 2025 conference has already attracted strong institutional support. FirstBank of Nigeria Limited is the headline sponsor. Other sponsors include FMDQ Group Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Fincra, Duplo, Oando Plc, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Waza, May and Baker Plc, and Verto.

The conference will also feature the 2025 Corporate Treasury Awards, which celebrate excellence in treasury practice. Award categories include Corporate Treasury Team of the Year, Most Digitally Transformed Treasury Department, Best B2B Payment Digitisation Initiative, Best Foreign Exchange Risk Management Strategy, and Innovative Use of Capital Markets Instruments. Others are Best Liquidity Management Strategy, ACTN Support Bank of the Year, and ACTN Corporate Member of the Year.

According to ACTN, Treasury360 is ‘more than a conference.’ It is a platform for collaboration and innovation, designed to empower treasurers and help businesses navigate uncertainty.

Participants expected at the event include corporate treasurers, chief financial officers, finance executives, risk managers, auditors, regulators, fintech innovators, and capital market operators

Anambra State has emerged as Nigeria’s top-performing state in fiscal management for 2025, moving up from second place in the previous report and displacing Lagos State, which retained the second position for the second consecutive year.

The 2025 ‘State of States’ report released by BudgIT in Abuja on Tuesday ranked Anambra, Lagos, Kwara, Abia, and Edo as the top five states with the highest fiscal performance.

Edo State made its debut in the top five, after staying within the top 10 range over the past four reporting periods. Abia State also posted a remarkable improvement, entering the top five for the first time to rank fourth overall.

At the bottom of the ranking were Kogi, Jigawa, Benue, and Yobe states, while Cross River recorded the sharpest decline, dropping from 5th place in 2024 to 30th in 2025.

The ranking is based on an index that evaluates states’ ability to meet operating expenses from internally generated revenue (IGR), debt sustainability, and the ratio of capital to recurrent expenditure.

According to the report, Enugu and Lagos were the only two states with IGR sufficient to cover their operating expenses, recording IGR-to-operating-expense ratios of 146.68 percent and 120.87 percent, respectively.

Unlike the 2024 report where six states generated enough IGR to cover at least 50 percent of their operating expenses, only five states, Abia, Anambra, Kwara, Ogun, and Edo, achieved that benchmark in 2025. This indicates that 28 states relied heavily on federal transfers and other inflows to fund their budgets. It added that although several states struggled with IGR growth during the 2024 fiscal year, all 36 states were able to fund their total recurrent expenditures through a combination of IGR, federal allocations, aids, and grants.

‘No state needed to borrow to cover its total operating expenses,’ BudgIT noted.

The report also highlighted a shift in capital expenditure priorities. Unlike the 2024 period when only Rivers State spent more than 70 percent of its total expenditure on capital projects, the 2025 assessment shows Abia State leading the country in capital allocation, dedicating 77.05 percent of its total spending to capital items.

In addition to Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Taraba also allocated more than 70 percent of their total spending to capital expenditure. Overall, 24 states spent at least half of their budgets on capital projects, while Bauchi, Ekiti, Delta, Benue, Oyo, and Ogun devoted more than 60 percent of their total expenditure to personnel and overhead costs.

LAGOS – Fintech subsidiary of the Wakanow Group, Kalabash54, has officially unveiled its new range of payment solutions, the Kalabash Cards, designed to deliver rewarding and borderless payments for both travellers and lifestyle-savvy consumers.

According to an official statement released on Monday and signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kalabash54, ‘Ladi Ojuri, the card suite consists of three variants, the Elite Black Card (USD), a Mastercard World Card with a sleek black metallic finish; the Deluxe and Leisure Card (USD), which are Mastercard Platinum Cards; and the Naira Card (NGN), a Mastercard Standard Card. The cards, which are available in both physical and virtual formats, enable customers to fund, spend, and earn cashback rewards across Nigerian naira transactions and global US-dollar transactions alike, applicable locally and internationally for travel, shopping, dining and lifestyle purchases.

Commenting further on the launch, Ojuri said: Kalabash Cards are a testament to our commitment to simplifying travel and lifestyle payments for Africans. At Kalabash54, we continue to leverage innovation to remove barriers and enrich customer experiences. With Kalabash Cards, we are empowering our customers to experience global convenience and financial freedom wherever they go.’ On the strategic positioning, he added that: ‘The Kalabash Card is not just a payment tool; it’s a lifestyle enabler. We designed it to meet the diverse needs of modern travellers and professionals, offering flexibility, security, and instant value through cashback and exclusive benefits. Whether you’re travelling abroad or making local lifestyle purchases, Kalabash Cards are built to help you save while you spend.’

Reinforcing the brand’s product vision, Nozipho Sibanda, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Kalabash54, explained: ‘Financial innovation is central to how we empower our customers. The Kalabash Cards is a secure, globally accepted payment solution that delivers both convenience and tangible value. We have integrated an extensive cashback network of over 200 merchant partners across hotels, entertainment, dining, and retail, ensuring that every transaction becomes not just a payment, but a rewarding financial experience.’

With the launch of the Kalabash Cards, customers can enjoy up to 10 per cent cashback, discounts, and lifestyle perks across a growing network of partner brands in hospitality, dining, and entertainment – including Ebonylife Place, Burger King, Wave Beach, and Wakanow, among others such as Chowdeck, Xovar Lounge, Price Pally, and Sweet Sensation. Premium cardholders also get airport lounge access in more than 135 countries, while all card types, powered by Mastercard, can be easily ordered through the Kalabash App.

Nigeria has joined the global race for super apps with the official launch of Abaaly, a locally built all-in-one platform that merges social interaction, online shopping, and digital payments in one ecosystem.

Billed as Nigeria’s first truly homegrown super app, Abaaly aims to redefine the way Africans connect, buy, and pay, offering users a seamless experience that fuses messaging, e-commerce, and financial transactions under a single interface.

‘We built Abaaly by Nigerians, for the world. Our vision is to simplify digital life by putting communication, business, and money in one place, making it accessible to everyone, from the student in Ilorin to the merchant in Aba,’ said Power Aden, Abaaly’s founder and CEO, during the product unveiling on Tuesday, in Lagos.

To ensure inclusivity and cultural relevance, Abaaly is also embedded with Nigeria’s major local languages: Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, and Pidgin English, allowing users to navigate, chat, and transact in the language they understand best. This feature reflects the app’s broader goal of bridging Nigeria’s linguistic diversity with digital access, making technology feel local, relatable, and empowering for every user.

At its core, Abaaly combines three major pillars:

Abaaly Chat: a fast, secure messaging tool that supports individual and group chats, voice and video calls, and media sharing.

Abaaly Market: a digital marketplace that allows small businesses, creators, and brands to showcase and sell their products directly to users.

Abaaly Wallet: a payment feature that enables users to send and receive money, pay bills, and shop without leaving the app.

The app’s interface is designed to be lightweight and intuitive, optimized for both high-end smartphones and entry-level devices, a key consideration in Nigeria’s cost-sensitive market.

Africa’s own super app moment

Globally, the super app model, popularized by platforms like WeChat, Alipay and Grab, has transformed how people live and transact. In Africa, however, no single platform has yet achieved this level of integration. With Abaaly, Nigeria is making its own play in that space.

‘We looked at how fragmented our digital experience is. You chat on one app, buy on another, and pay through a third. Abaaly solves this problem by merging them into a single, secure ecosystem,’ Aden explained.

The team says the app is built with end-to-end encryption, cloud-native architecture, and AI-driven security layers to ensure privacy and protect user data, a major selling point in Nigeria’s evolving fintech and e-commerce environment.

Four years in the making

Founded in 2021, AbaaTech Solutions, has evolved from a startup into a bold player in advanced digital integration technologies.

The company’s journey from concept to launch took four years of design, testing, and refinement by a team of Nigerian engineers, designers, and innovators.

Between 2021 and 2025, the team focused on building a secure, reliable, and people-centered platform that mirrors the resilience and creativity of Nigerians. The result is a digital ecosystem that allows users to chat, share, buy, sell, and pay all within one app.

‘This milestone proves that local innovation, when fueled by purpose, can achieve global standards of excellence,’ Aden said.

By integrating communication, commerce, and payment tools, the app allows citizens, businesses, and institutions to connect and thrive in one unified space. It is designed to simplify life, promote inclusion, and foster opportunities across every social and economic class.

The launch of Abaaly aligns with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the National Digital Economy Policy, both of which emphasize inclusion, innovation, and digital empowerment as pillars of national progress. According to the company, the platform complements government efforts while remaining independent, citizen-driven, and innovation-led.

‘By promoting communication, entrepreneurship, and creative expression, Abaaly supports the president’s goal of building a diversified, people-centered economy,’ Aden affirmed.

A call to creators and innovators

Beyond the technology, the launch also comes with a national call to action, inviting Nigerian creators, entrepreneurs, and innovators to use Abaaly as a canvas for local expression and digital enterprise.

The platform calls on content creators and artists to share authentic Nigerian stories, music, and films; it called on entrepreneurs and brand leaders to build and promote local products; writers, filmmakers, and musicians to reclaim the national narrative; and technologists to design homegrown solutions that solve local challenges.

‘We all have a shared responsibility to promote our culture, our creativity, and our collective pride. By building and sharing local content, we are not just telling our story, we are reshaping how the world sees Nigeria,’ Aden said.

Abaaly’s creators envision it as a bridge between citizens and the systems that serve them, improving transparency, communication, and trust between people, government, and institutions. Ultimately, the platform represents a future where every Nigerian can participate fully in the nation’s digital economy and social progress.

‘Abaaly is more than an app. It is a movement, a step toward a Nigeria where technology strengthens unity and restores faith in our shared potential,’ Aden affirmed.

The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) has expressed concern over the growing risks posed by unregulated religious schools and external ideological influence, calling for stronger oversight of madrassas across Nigeria.

The concern was raised during a national briefing held under the EU-supported Research and Action for Peace (REcAP) Programme on Monday in Abuja.

The briefing examined how religious education, particularly madrassas, may intersect with radical ideologies and foreign funding.

In his statement, WANEP’s representative in Nigeria, Emmanuel Ami-Okhani, said the event brought together policymakers, researchers, civil society leaders and security actors to deliberate on the theological, cultural, and security implications of religious schooling in the country.

He said the REcAP project was being implemented in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

According to him, it seeks to strengthen the role of civil society and research in responding to violent extremism and promoting peacebuilding in West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin.

Presenting a study titled ‘Madrasas, Charities and Religious Radicalism in Northern Nigeria,’ Dr Saheed Owonikoko revealed that the Almajiri system, though originally rooted in noble Islamic education, had become susceptible to informal and unverified foreign influence.

He explained that many Almajiri schools remain unregulated and undocumented, creating vulnerabilities that extremist elements could exploit.

Ami-Okhani emphasised that the initiative aims not to stigmatise Islamic education but to ensure transparency and strengthen the role of credible religious learning in fostering peace and unity.

‘Religious education should remain a force for tolerance and nation-building, not division,’ he said.

‘While the majority of Almajiri students are peaceful and committed to Quranic learning, the lack of structure and supervision creates loopholes for ideological manipulation,’ he said.

He noted that some foreign-linked religious charities, particularly from the Middle East, fund these schools informally, making transparency and accountability difficult.

The second study, titled ‘Madrassas and Islamic Extremism among Teenage Muslim Students in Southwestern Nigeria’, was presented by Busari Dauda of the University of Ilorin.

The study found that while Southwestern madrassas are relatively structured and registered with authorities, ideological influences can still filter through sect-based teachings and global media narratives.

Dauda said that although there was no widespread evidence of violent radicalisation, many young Muslims expressed growing perceptions of global injustice, often shaped by conflicts such as the Palestinian crisis and anti-Muslim sentiments in Western societies.

Participants at the briefing called for coordinated oversight of informal religious institutions and collaboration between education authorities, religious councils and community leaders.

Olasupo Olusi, the managing director of the Bank of Industry (BOI), has reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to promoting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles as a catalyst for Nigeria’s sustainable industrial growth.

Speaking at the bank’s inaugural ESG Conference in Lagos on Tuesday, Olusi said sustainability has become a strategic imperative for enterprises seeking competitiveness, resilience, and access to global capital.

He said the conference marked the beginning of a national conversation on the kind of economy Nigeria seeks to build, one that balances profitability with responsibility, and industrial growth with environmental stewardship.

Olusi described sustainability as a strategic imperative and a key driver of enterprise growth, industrial competitiveness, and inclusive national development.

He noted that the BOI, as Nigeria’s foremost development finance institution, is uniquely positioned at the intersection of finance and development, with a mandate that goes beyond lending to catalyzing transformation across sectors.

‘BOI stands at the intersection of finance and development. Our mandate goes beyond lending. It is about catalyzing transformation, supporting industries to grow in ways that are both profitable and responsible. It is about ensuring that as we industrialise, we also safeguard the environment, uplift our communities, and strengthen governance across our focus sectors,’ Olusi said.

The BOI boss emphasised that Nigeria’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which account for over 90 percent of the country’s businesses and nearly half of its GDP stands to benefit greatly from adopting ESG principles. He said many MSMEs still face challenges in understanding how to integrate sustainability into their operations, noting that the conference was designed to bridge that knowledge gap.

According to him, the forum would provide a practical platform for policymakers, financiers, business owners, investors, and sustainability experts to share insights and co-create solutions that empower Nigerian enterprises to grow sustainably and profitably. Olusi also highlighted the economic benefits of ESG adoption, including improved access to finance, enhanced brand reputation, cost efficiency, risk management, and compliance with global standards, all of which position Nigerian businesses for long-term competitiveness.

He pointed out that ESG principles are central to achieving Nigeria’s industrialisation and climate goals, attracting green capital, and fostering innovation in key sectors such as clean energy and circular economy.

‘Through our Sustainable Financing Framework and our accreditation as Nigeria’s first National Implementing Entity of the UNFCCC’s Adaptation Fund, BOI is aligning its interventions with global standards to ensure that every project we support contributes to sustainable industrial development,’ he added.

The Lagos Area Office of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has deployed a task force to map out strategic operational measures aimed at tackling the buildup of water weeds, popularly known as water hyacinth, around the Ikorodu axis.

According to NIWA, the move is part of proactive efforts to prevent the menace from disrupting boat transportation and other waterway activities in the littoral communities. The NIWA team, supported by heavy-duty equipment including swamp devils, harvesters, and other relevant machinery, has commenced preliminary clearing operations around Ebute Ikorodu and Ikpakodo ferry terminal.

The exercise is intended to ensure that the waterways remain navigable and free from obstructions caused by the invasive aquatic weed. Sarat Braimah, Lagos area manager of NIWA, explained that the deployment of the task force is a preventive measure designed to guarantee the smooth movement of goods and passengers through the Ikorodu waterways, a zone that often experiences recurring infestations of water hyacinth. ‘We have carefully studied the pattern and spread of the water hyacinth phenomenon and have chosen to act swiftly to mitigate its impact before it causes disruption to boat and ferry operations,’ Braimah stated.

‘Beyond transportation, we are also mindful of the effects on local fishing activities. The earlier we address the problem, the better. My boss, the managing director of NIWA, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, has awarded the contract to tackle the menace of water hyacinth across the country to ensure the smooth passage of movement of goods and passengers. , I will personally be on the ground throughout the week to monitor the progress of the operation by the contractors,’ she added.