Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Security forces in Abuja on Monday dispersed protesters demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), using tear gas before the demonstration fully began.

Omoyele Sowore, Human rights activist was among those present.

The protest, organised under the hashtag #ReleaseNnamdiKanuNow, was set to start at Transcorp Hilton and other locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, police officers moved in early, firing tear gas to disperse protesters and bystanders.

Security presence was increased across Abuja ahead of the protest. Personnel from the military, police, and Department of State Services (DSS) were deployed to key locations, including the Three Arms Zone, Eagle Square, Unity Fountain, Federal Secretariat, and roads leading to the Presidential Villa.

The protest took place despite a court order prohibiting demonstrations near government institutions.

On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an interim order restricting protests around the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Shehu Shagari Way, and Eagle Square. The order followed an ex parte application filed by the Nigeria Police Force and remains in effect pending further hearing.

Organisers under the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow campaign said the protest would proceed in Abuja and other cities.

Damilare Adenola, director of mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, said the demonstration would go on.

‘Our right to peaceful assembly is protected by the Constitution. We will not be intimidated,’ he said.

Legal counsel to the organisers, Maxwell Opara, stated that his clients had not been served the court order. He argued that the protest was a lawful way to express public concerns. ‘The police were notified. Their role is to provide security, not to stop peaceful protesters,’ he said.

Convener Omoyele Sowore, warned that any use of force by security personnel would be recorded and challenged. He said legal, medical, and media teams had been deployed to monitor the protest and assist participants.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also deployed personnel to protect public infrastructure.

FCT Commandant Olusola Odumosu, warned against vandalism or violence. ‘The corps will not tolerate damage to property in the name of protest,’ he said.

Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police, directed officers to enforce the court order and secure restricted areas.

As the protest began, tensions rose over the potential for clashes between protesters and security personnel.

At the time of filing this report, the protesters were heading to Utako district in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, has approved the reopening of the Sa’adatu College of Health Technology, Mubi, following a comprehensive review by the Committee on the Establishment of Private Colleges of Health Technology.

The governor also issued a 6-12 month ultimatum to eight other private health institutions to upgrade their facilities, staffing, and accreditation status or risk continued closure.

In a statement by Humwashi Wonosikou, chief press secretary to the governor, the affected colleges include:

Savannah College of Health Science and Technology, Yola.

Central College of Health Science and Technology, Yola.

School of Health Technology, Jimeta

NAFAN College of Health Science and Technology, Jimeta.

School of Health Technology, Mayo Belwa.

Humanity College of Health Science and Technology, Hong.

Abubakar Isa Ahmadu College of Health Science and Technology, Mubi.

EYN Brethren College of Health Technology, Garkida.

Fintiri said the move forms part of his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare education and ensuring that only accredited institutions operate in the state.

Meanwhile, the government has ordered 15 other private colleges of health technology to remain shut for failing to meet minimum operational and academic standards.

These include: Fat-Hur Rahman College of Health Science and Technology, Yola; Al-Mashkur International Academy, College of Health Technology, Yola; KSOHT School of Health and Technology, Yola; Bell Dome College of Health Science and Technology, Wauru Jabbe; Guyuk College of Health Science and Technology, Guyuk; College of Health Technology, Daura Shelleng; College of Administration and Human Resource Management, Bambam Gombe State (Numan Campus); City Gate College of Health Science and Technology, Demsa; Dr. Umar Adamu Sanda Sugu College of Health Science and Technology, Ganye; School of Health Technology, Jada; Tikos and Kings College of Science and Technology, Michika; Royal Intellect College of Sciences and Technology, Michika; Professor Jibril Aminu College of Health Science and Technology, Song; Luther College of Health and Remedial Science, Numan; and Pan-Africa College of Health Science and Technology, Gombi.

Fintiri reaffirmed that the state will not compromise on the quality of healthcare education, stressing that institutions must meet regulatory benchmarks to produce competent professionals for the sector.

‘The state will not compromise on quality. Institutions must meet the required standards for effective training and service delivery,’ he said.

He further directed the Ministry of Health and Human Services to carry out a final verification exercise before granting any further approvals for reopening.

For decades, Nigeria’s oilfields told a familiar story, one of dependence. Foreign rigs dominated the terrain, foreign engineers dictated the rhythm of operations, and innovation was often imported, not developed. Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude producer, supplied the world but depended on others to extract its wealth.

That story is changing. A quiet transformation is reshaping the country’s energy landscape, driven by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010 and the deliberate efforts of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). At the heart of this shift is a growing class of indigenous service companies proving that technical mastery and operational excellence can, indeed, be homegrown.

Among them, one firm has become emblematic of this evolution. Kenyon International, a Nigerian oilfield services company founded in 2015, is spearheading what many now call Nigeria’s ‘brownfield renaissance’, the revival of dormant and mature oil wells through local innovation and expertise.

When Kenyon entered the scene a decade ago, the terrain was dominated by multinational service giants with deep pockets and decades of global experience. To many, the idea that a Nigerian firm could compete on precision, safety, and technological sophistication seemed ambitious at best. But for Victor Ekpenyong, Kenyon’s founder and chief executive officer, the challenge was personal.

‘Local content is ownership of our future,’ he said in a recent interview. ‘When Nigerians are trained to solve complex field problems and manage advanced technologies, we strengthen not just our companies, but the country’s capacity to compete globally.’

That conviction became Kenyon’s blueprint. The company focused not only on acquiring advanced well intervention and control technologies, but also on cultivating a deeply skilled Nigerian workforce capable of deploying them. Its internal training programmes mirror global oilfield standards, combining field experience, simulation exercises, and international certifications.

This investment in people has paid off. In less than a decade, Kenyon has become one of Nigeria’s most trusted names in well intervention, completion, and control services, executing complex field operations once deemed the preserve of foreign contractors.

Kenyon’s defining moment came with a breakthrough project involving Interwell MSAS, a cutting-edge multi-setting activation system used in well intervention. The company deployed the technology to restore over 7,000 barrels per day of oil production-without shutting down operations. It was a first-of-its-kind success for a Nigerian-led team, executed with precision and efficiency that matched, and in some aspects exceeded, international benchmarks.

The achievement carried profound symbolism. For the first time, an all-Nigerian engineering team had executed a world-class well control operation independently. The project demonstrated not only technical capacity but also cost efficiency. Analysts noted that Kenyon’s local-led approach significantly reduced downtime and logistics costs while enhancing safety and operational control.

Since then, Kenyon has extended this model across multiple oilfields, helping operators revive production from wells that had been idle for years. Industry estimates suggest that its interventions have collectively unlocked around 30 million barrels of recoverable crude, a figure that underscores how indigenous expertise is redefining Nigeria’s production potential.

The company’s success mirrors a broader trend across Nigeria’s upstream industry. According to NCDMB data, local content participation reached an unprecedented 56 percent in 2024, up from less than 10 percent a decade earlier. The rise reflects not only regulatory mandates but also the growing technical and managerial maturity of Nigerian firms.

‘Local content has moved from compliance to competitiveness,’ said an energy analyst at Lagos-based research firm. ‘Companies like Kenyon are not just participating; they’re setting new efficiency benchmarks for production recovery and field optimisation.’

With Nigeria’s crude production averaging 1.71 million barrels per day as of July 2025, the pressure to sustain and optimise output remains intense. Years of underinvestment, theft, and pipeline vandalism have eroded capacity. As international oil majors gradually divest from onshore assets, indigenous operators and service companies have stepped in-not as placeholders, but as the new custodians of Nigeria’s petroleum heritage.

Kenyon’s approach has been to blend technical innovation with a deep understanding of Nigeria’s field realities. Its engineers have developed adaptive solutions for aging infrastructure-ranging from wellhead maintenance and idle well management to emergency blowout response. The company’s field teams often work in remote and challenging terrains where logistical improvisation and local insight are as critical as engineering skill.

This blend of innovation and contextual understanding has allowed Kenyon to sustain operational excellence even in volatile market cycles. ‘We design for resilience,’ Dr. Ekpenyong said. ‘Oil prices fluctuate, but competence and efficiency are constant. That’s what keeps production alive in brownfield environments.’

Beyond the rig floor, Kenyon has positioned itself as a catalyst for human capital development. Through partnerships with universities and vocational institutions, the company funds scholarships, runs technical boot camps, and mentors young engineers eager to enter the oil and gas sector.

These programmes, often conducted during industry downturns when training budgets are typically cut, have earned Kenyon repeated recognition from the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council. For the company, the commitment goes beyond corporate social responsibility-it is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s intellectual infrastructure.

‘Sustainability in oil and gas goes beyond barrels and balance sheets,’ said Ekpenyong. ‘It’s about people. When we empower local talent, we guarantee innovation, resilience, and progress that outlasts production cycles.’

Kenyon’s model has also attracted attention for its emphasis on operational safety and global compliance. The company operates under ISO 9001:2015 certification, underscoring its adherence to international quality management standards. It is also recognised as a trusted first responder for well control emergencies-an endorsement that speaks to its growing reputation as a dependable technical partner for both indigenous and multinational operators.

Industry observers note that this rise of indigenous technical competence carries broader economic implications. By reducing dependence on foreign contractors and imported equipment, local service companies like Kenyon help retain value within the domestic economy. The multiplier effect-jobs created, taxes paid, skills transferred-ripples through local communities and the national balance sheet alike.

‘The local content policy has achieved what decades of rhetoric could not,’ said an NCDMB official who requested anonymity. ‘We now have companies that can execute world-class projects end-to-end in Nigeria. That’s structural transformation.’

As Nigeria looks ahead to its energy transition goals, the significance of such transformation cannot be overstated. While the world races toward renewables, oil remains central to Nigeria’s fiscal and export base. The challenge is to extract maximum value from existing reserves while investing in cleaner energy pathways. Indigenous service companies are critical to this dual agenda: they ensure cost-effective production today while building the technical foundation for tomorrow’s diversification.

Kenyon International exemplifies this balancing act. Its focus on brownfield recovery and well optimisation ensures that the country continues to generate vital revenues from mature assets. At the same time, its investments in local capacity and technology position it as a future-ready partner for whatever direction Nigeria’s energy policy may take.

‘The energy landscape is changing,’ Ekpenyong acknowledged. ‘But regardless of the resource-whether oil, gas, or renewables-the principles of competence, innovation, and local empowerment will remain the same.’

Kenyon’s story is ultimately one of belief-belief that Nigerians can lead in an industry long dominated by outsiders; belief that local expertise can match global standards; belief that ownership, when backed by competence, creates sustainable prosperity.

Ten years after its founding, Kenyon International stands as both proof and promise: proof that indigenous capacity can deliver measurable results, and promise that Nigeria’s oil story can finally be one of independence, innovation, and inclusive growth.

In unlocking 30 million barrels from dormant wells, Kenyon has done more than restore production. It has restored confidence in what’s possible when vision meets discipline, and when the tools of progress are held firmly in local hands.

The Nigerian Army on Monday confirmed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled an attack by the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group on Friday but added that some Nigerian soldiers were killed during the battle.

The Army also revealed that a lieutenant-colonel and many other soldiers were amongst those killed on Friday during the attack on Boko Haram hideout in Borno State.

The Army spokesperson, Appolonia Anele, a Lieutenant Colonel, said in a statement, that the troops successfully repelled the attack but lost some of the Nigerian soldiers during the battle.

She disclosed that troops of Operation Hadin Kai foiled the planned attack around Kashimri in Bama Local Government Area of Borno, killing several of the insurgents and destroying their camps.

Anele said Commanding Officer of 202 Tank Battalion, Aliyu Paiko, a lieutenant-colonel, and some other gallant soldiers, were amongst those who paid the supreme price during the encounter.

According to her, the operation took place under the coordination of the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, acting on intelligence that the terrorists were regrouping to launch attacks on civilian communities and disrupt socio-economic activities in the area.

She said, ‘the troops swiftly moved to the suspected locations and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun duel, neutralising several of them while others fled with gunshot wounds.

‘The operation also led to the destruction of identified Boko Haram camps.’

She also revealed that the Olufemi Oloyede, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), had extended condolences to the families of the fallen heroes, describing them as ‘patriots who demonstrated exceptional courage in defence of the nation.’

‘Their sacrifices would never be in vain. The Nigerian Army remains committed to pursuing all terrorist elements relentlessly until total peace is restored in the North East and across the country.’, she said.

She also used the opportunity to appeal to members of the public and the media to refrain from circulating images of deceased personnel until their next of kins have been duly informed.

This, she said, is necessary to enable the army protect the dignity of the fallen heroes and the privacy of their families.

Leading economist Bismarck Rewane is not given to easy optimism, which is precisely why his assertion that Nigeria’s economic recovery is now ‘tangible’ demands serious attention.

The numbers, as presented to the Lagos Business School this month, are indeed compelling. Fiscal consolidation is gaining traction after the government’s shock therapy package of fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate liberalisation. The gigantic Dangote refinery is up and running and has transformed Nigeria from a net importer of petroleum products to a net exporter. Exporting petrol from Nigeria to the United States is no small feat.

‘Credit is due to the current administration for demonstrating the political spine required to undertake politically painful structural reforms.’

GDP growth is also ticking up. The 4.23 percent expansion in second-quarter GDP is not only the fastest rate in four years but also the first time in the same period that growth has exceeded population growth.

Economic momentum is accelerating, validated by the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), which has posted a strong, sustained expansion for three consecutive months through September. The index peaked at 54.2 in August, following 52.7 in July, and settled at 53.4 in the final month, a performance that robustly signals a faster pace of economic growth is expected to materialise in the third quarter.

The naira has also found stability, helped by a record trade surplus in the first half of the year ($8.15 billion / N12.64 trillion) and rising external reserves, which are expected to close the year at $44 billion from a current $42 billion. At under N1500 per US dollar, Rewane estimates that the naira is undervalued by 21.86% and the fair value should be N1,430. According to him, the currency is expected to trade toward its fair value within 2-3 years, if there are no distortions.

The relentless creep of inflation is also slowing its march, cooling to 18.02 percent in September, with food prices easing. Food inflation dropped to 16.87 percent from 21.87 percent in August, following a rapid decline in maize and grain prices.

Credit is due to the current administration for demonstrating the political spine required to undertake politically painful structural reforms.

For a nation long accustomed to false dawns, this moment feels different. It is a shift, as Rewane notes, rooted not just in growth but in changing economic fundamentals. Yet, hope is a notoriously fickle commodity in the corridors of power, and one need only glance at the global historical ledger to see how swiftly such promising trajectories can be undone by familiar, self-inflicted wounds.

The success of this nascent recovery hinges less on market dynamics and more on whether Abuja heeds the three ancient warnings Rewane astutely flags: high governance costs, oil volatility, and the paralysing power deficit. These are not mere risks; they are structural malignancies that have historically brought nations to their knees.

The governance bloat and the Hellenic lesson

The most insidious threat is the ballooning cost of governance and the resulting debt pile, which has expanded exponentially from $28 billion to nearly $100 billion (N152 trillion) in a generation.

Nigeria’s spiralling cost of governance, which has surged from just N27.7 billion in 1998 to an estimated N54.99 trillion today, demonstrates an alarming governmental appetite for consumption. This financial expansion acts as a perpetual drain on national resources, systematically diverting crucial capital away from productive investments needed to sustain the country’s economic recovery.

If we require a cautionary tale, look to Greece before the 2010 financial crisis. The Hellenic Republic’s debt spiral was not simply a factor of global markets; it was the direct result of a political establishment’s systematic failure to curb patronage, civil service bloat, and unsustainable pension liabilities. Every euro of tax revenue was swallowed by a sclerotic bureaucracy designed to serve political ends rather than market efficiency. Greece had a ‘recovery’ period in the early 2000s, but because it could not shrink the state or curtail the cost of its political class, it remained structurally fragile. When the tide went out, the nation was left bankrupt, forcing a decade of humiliating, externally mandated austerity. Nigeria must realise that a government that is too expensive to run is ultimately a government that the nation cannot afford to keep.

The oil windfall trap of Caracas

Rewane rightly cautions against a sharp drop in oil prices. This is not a geopolitical risk; it is a structural dependency. Every Nigerian finance minister has fought the ghost of the ‘Dutch Disease’, which is the phenomenon where resource revenue strengthens the currency, renders local manufacturing uncompetitive, and makes the state lethargic in its pursuit of non-oil tax revenue.

But for the starkest warning, consider Venezuela. Despite holding the world’s largest oil reserves, its catastrophic economic collapse was engineered by an almost total reliance on crude exports to fund government spending. When oil prices collapsed in 2014, the state had no diversified tax base, no competitive manufacturing sector, and no fiscal buffer. The result was hyperinflation, mass exodus, and the shredding of the social contract. The Naira’s recent stability and rising reserves are excellent, but they are a shield, not an engine. Until Nigeria’s economy is structurally indifferent to the price of Bonny Light crude, its recovery will remain fundamentally fragile.

Nigeria is, however, aggressively restructuring its fiscal foundation, reducing reliance on crude oil revenue. This year, non-oil revenues have already surpassed oil receipts to account for the bulk of government income. Furthermore, forthcoming tax reforms are poised to deliver an estimated N1 trillion to the government’s coffers next year, significantly reinforcing this critical shift toward a more diversified and sustainable revenue base. Efforts to grow non-oil revenues should be sustained with more reforms like privatisation or concession of redundant government assets.

The South African stranglehold

Finally, there is the power sector deficit. No amount of fiscal prudence or foreign portfolio investment will secure sustainable growth if factories cannot run, logistics chains seize up, and small businesses cannot power their computers.

The most proximate and painful global example is South Africa’s Eskom crisis. Chronic corruption, poor maintenance, and political interference at the state power utility have institutionalised ‘load shedding’, crippling the continent’s most industrialised economy.

The resulting energy insecurity has directly capped South Africa’s GDP growth potential for over a decade.

In the current Nigerian context, the power deficit is not a regulatory hurdle; it is a hard ceiling on economic ambition. The recommendations for debt forbearance and asset sales in the power sector are critical, as they are the emergency surgery needed to remove this ceiling before it crushes the economy’s new momentum.

The good news, as Rewane notes, is empirically sound. The groundwork has been laid. But the hard work, as the adage goes, begins when the initial applause ends. If this administration fails to aggressively cut the cost of governance and reform the critical infrastructure that empowers the real economy, then the historical precedent is clear: no amount of external reserve growth can outrun internal decay.

Indeed, as more ‘fish’ are netted in the tax dragnet, the reciprocal demand for accountability and prudence will surely become deafening. The Nigerian public, now paying the full cost of the currency and fuel market reforms, will demand a visible return on their sacrifice. If the cost of governance is not slashed to match the renewed fiscal discipline, this recovery will not just be derailed; it will be deemed yet another spectacular failure of stewardship.

The administration has earned its applause, but now is the time to don the work boots, not the laurels.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced the clearance of a significant portion of its drivers licence backlog ahead of the 2025 Ember Months public enlightenment and sensitisation campaign, signaling a major step toward improving service delivery and road safety management across the country.

FRSC disclosed that the backlog of drivers licences had been reduced from 800,000 to 400,000, following round-the-clock operations at the Corps’ printing facilities.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja to flag off the 2025 Ember Months Campaign themed ‘Take Responsibility for Your Safety: Stop Distracted Driving,’ Shehu Mohammed the Corps Marshal, disclosed that FRSC’s upgraded printing infrastructure can now produce an average of 15,000 licences daily, with plans to completely clear the remaining backlog by the second week of November 2025.

‘We have activated plans to overcome the perennial challenges associated with delays in obtaining the drivers licence and number plates. Our printing facility has been upgraded to print an average of 15,000 drivers licences daily. This production average will be increased to clear the backlog before the second week of November 2025,’ he said

According to him, this milestone marks a significant improvement in efficiency and responsiveness to public demand.

The FRSC also announced the introduction of a contactless biometric capture and instant printing system for drivers licences, which will eliminate the use of temporary licenses and allow applicants to receive their cards immediately after processing.

Mohammed explained that the new system integrates FRSC’s database with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for real-time identity verification, similar to the Nigerian passport system. The enhanced drivers licence will also come with embedded security codes and a digital copy, ensuring authenticity and convenience.

The Corps highlighted other upcoming features, including a penalty point system that ties traffic offences to individual licences. Under the system, offenders will receive progressive warnings and face suspension or revocation once they reach specified thresholds.

To simplify renewals, FRSC will deploy self-service kiosks at major locations such as transport terminals and shopping malls, enabling motorists to renew and print their licences instantly.

On the broader campaign, Mohammed stated that FRSC will deploy personnel and Special Marshals nationwide, conduct free vehicle checks, organise motor park rallies, and hold town hall meetings with transport unions and security agencies.

These initiatives, he said, aim to curb reckless driving, reduce crashes, and promote safer highways during the high-travel Ember Months period.

While appreciating the federal government’s continuous support, Mohammed called on Nigerians to embrace the campaign message and take responsibility for their safety. ‘Together, we can change our road use culture for safer roads and fuller lives,’ he concluded.

The Oyo State Government has called on young adults and students to embrace modern agricultural practices which is now driven by innovation, technology, and professionalism.

Olasunkanmi Olaleye, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, made the call at a Symposium for Agricultural Students and Youths, held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, as part of activities commemorating the 2025 World Food Day celebration.

Olaleye noted that agricultural practices had evolved from the traditional hoe-and-cutlass system to a more advanced, mechanised and technology-driven methods that can guarantee productivity and sustainability.

‘Agriculture today is fundamentally different from what it used to be decades ago. Until our youths and students have a change of mindset towards agriculture, there can be no meaningful progress,’ the Commissioner stated.

He identified climate change, post-harvest losses, food inflation, and unemployment as major challenges confronting the agricultural sector, stressing that young people and students represent the future of the food system.

Olaleye therefore encouraged participants to take farming as a business venture and complement government efforts towards achieving food security in the State.

‘You are the generation of advanced agriculture the generation of digital agriculture where every aspect, from cultivation to processing, is technologically driven,’ he added.

Debo Akande, Director General, Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kola Badmus in his goodwill message commended the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for organising the symposium, describing it as timely and strategic.

He stated that the role of youths and students in reshaping the agricultural landscape couldn’t be overemphasised, adding that OYSADA remains committed to creating an enabling environment for agribusiness growth across the state.

Abosede Owoeye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, explained that the symposium was part of activities marking the 2025 World Food Day, themed ‘Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.’

She stated that the programme aimed to open the eyes of young people to the limitless opportunities in agriculture, highlighting that modern agriculture focuses on innovation, agritech, sustainability, and employment creation.

‘We are here because we recognise that the future of agriculture, our state, and our nation rests in the hands of our youths,’ she said.

Owoeye added that bringing together both young and old future agricultural leaders and experienced farmers, reflects unity and a shared purpose in driving agricultural transformation.

She therefore urged participants, particularly students, to view agriculture not as a last resort, but as a field rich with opportunity.

The symposium featured lectures and interactive sessions, where students and participants engaged experts with diverse questions on modern agricultural practices.

Nigerian startup founders should focus on value creation and sustainability rather than chasing trends, according to experts at the Nigeria Fintech Week 2025 hosted by Fintech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR).

The 2025 edition of Nigeria Fintech Week (NFW), under the theme ‘The Fintech Ecosystem Symphony: Orchestrating Nigeria’s Digital Future, ‘ spotlighted startups as key drivers of the country’s digital transformation, with industry leaders urging founders to focus on value creation, make compliance a priority, and ensure sustainability rather than trends for rapid expansion.

Stanley Jacob, President of FintechNGR and host of Nigeria Fintech Week, said the association’s vision was to go beyond observation and actively lead innovation across the ecosystem. ‘The vision was not just to have an organisation that sits back and watches what happens in the ecosystem, but one that drives digital transformation in our financial landscape.

‘No single person can whistle a symphony; you need an orchestra. That’s what we are demonstrating at Nigeria Fintech Week,’ he stated. ‘This is no longer about individuals or isolated startups-it’s about the entire ecosystem playing in harmony to orchestrate Nigeria’s digital future.’

Jacob noted that FintechNGR’s transformation is anchored on a ‘PIE’ framework-Participation, Innovation, and Expansion-which, he said, remains the foundation of the sector’s growth.

‘We are no longer just an association; we are now a movement,’ he said. Nigeria Fintech Week, hosted by Fintech Association of Nigeria (FintechNGR), ran simultaneously across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt for the first time, marking a milestone in its evolution from a trade body to what its organisers now call ‘a movement’

Experts noted how fintech startups can build real, lasting value in Nigeria’s volatile economic environment as Tolulope Adeyinka, manager, Fintech Business Development (West Africa) at Mastercard, urged founders to put compliance at the centre of their innovation process.

‘You can’t capitalise on the economic volatility of a country to make a product. If you are trying to solve real problems, engage regulators and build on compliance. Compliance should be your number one priority,’ Adeyinka said.

John Akoji, Nigerian country lead at Innovate UK Business Connect, stated that pricing and trust are make-or-break factors for startups in Nigeria’s cost-sensitive market.

‘Nigerians are very sensitive to pricing. To win them over, prioritise real-time problem-solving, build trust-because trust is a scarce currency in Nigeria-and give people access to try your product,’ Akoji said. ‘When users test your product, you don’t have to convince them to pay for it.’

Investors also cautioned against the rush to expand. Tosin Faniru, partner at Breega, warned that many founders fall into the trap of ‘premature scaling’

‘Don’t try to scale geographically without scaling well at home,’ Faniru said. ‘Weak financial discipline is another pitfall-remember, a raise is not revenue. Revenue comes from your customers. Retain the ones you have and acquire new ones responsibly.’

Rasaq Ahmed, CEO of Cowrywise, highlighted the importance of building Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) based on real needs rather than fleeting trends.

‘An MVP should be built around a genuine need, not a trend,’ Ahmed said. ‘Trends evaporate. If your idea is tied to a temporary macroeconomic problem, scaling will be difficult because the foundation isn’t stable.’

Since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, few political moments have been as bewildering for the electorate as the current wave of defections sweeping through the political landscape. What used to be occasional acts of political realignment have now become a torrent of opportunistic crossings that blur ideological boundaries, mock internal democracy, and erode public trust in the Nigerian political process.

In recent months, the defections from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have intensified, reshaping the political map ahead of the 2027 general elections. From governors to lawmakers and key party figures, the move has become both strategic and symbolic, an open confession that political survival, rather than conviction or ideology, remains the dominant belief in Nigerian politics.

The latest defections of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, coming in quick succession, stunned even the most disinterested observers. Their speeches, hidden in vague appeals to ‘align with the centre for development’ and ‘ensure continuity of progress,’ offered no substantive justification. Their followers, including state assembly members and local government chairmen, dutifully followed, as if political conscience had been outsourced. To many Nigerians, it all felt like watching a well-scripted scene in a movie where the audience already knows the ending: those in power will always find a way to stay close to power.

Defection, by itself, is not new to democracy. It can be legitimate when driven by principle, when political ideals clash irreconcilably, or when a party deviates from its founding philosophy. But in Nigeria, defections are rarely about personal ideology or reform. They are about political convenience, protection, and access to state resources. The actors, rather than being guided by conviction, are motivated by the calculation that proximity to federal power guarantees political survival and economic benefits.

What makes this wave especially troubling is the sense of inevitability with which it is being conducted. Politicians speak as though the electorate no longer matters, as if their loyalty can be purchased or taken for granted. In the public statements accompanying these defections, the recurring undertone is that ‘our people will understand’ or ‘we are aligning for the good of our state.’ But the electorate, tired, disillusioned, and economically burdened, is neither consulted nor persuaded. They are simply expected to applaud and follow.

This assumption betrays a deeper democratic decay. When politicians begin to act as though elections are mere formalities and the people’s will is a negligible factor, democracy is in danger. The electorate, stripped of their role as the ultimate judge, become mere spectators in a game played by elites. The governors’ loyalists in state assemblies, who defect en masse without public explanation, only deepen the tragedy. Their silence reveals the extent to which internal party democracy has collapsed and how political institutions have been reduced to instruments of personal ambition.

Sadly, this is happening under a president who, as an opposition leader two decades ago, warned that Nigeria must never become a one-party state. Yet, the current gale of defections suggests a slow drift toward political monopoly, where dissenting voices are weakened, opposition structures dismantled, and governance becomes an echo chamber. A healthy democracy thrives on competition, debate, and ideological alternatives; when all that remains is the quest for self-preservation, governance becomes an act of consolidation rather than service.

For the Nigerian electorate, the implications are profound. Every defection that is not anchored on principle further erodes trust in the system. It reinforces suspicion and voter apathy. Why vote, many ask, when politicians change sides without shame or accountability? Why participate when loyalty to the people means nothing compared to loyalty to power? The electorate’s confidence is the oxygen of democracy; without it, the entire system suffocates.

The way forward must therefore begin with a return to political ethics and institutional reform. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary must strictly enforce constitutional provisions on defection, especially the clauses that require lawmakers to vacate their seats when they defect without a division in their party. Political parties, for their part, must strengthen internal democracy and make loyalty to principles more rewarding than loyalty to personalities.

Civil society and the media also have a crucial role: to call out opportunism and amplify the voices of ordinary citizens who feel betrayed. Democracy cannot thrive where accountability is selective or where political betrayal is normalised as a strategy.

Most importantly, the electorate themselves must rise above resignation. Nigerians must learn to reward integrity and punish inconsistency at the polls. Every vote should become a statement against political impunity. The idea that the people will always follow must be confronted and defeated at the ballot box.

Defection should be a tool for ideological realignment, not a shortcut to power. The politicians may believe they have mastered the game, but history shows that no political elite can permanently outsmart the people. When citizens finally awaken to the power of their vote, no gale of defections will be strong enough to subvert their will.

Until then, the current political drama will continue to play out like a bad movie, one in which the audience is forced to watch but never asked to choose the ending.

The National Single Window (NSW) Secretariat in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has deepened understanding and support for the ongoing implementation of the NSW project among stakeholders in the South East and South-South region.

The National Single Window project, according to the organisers, which is expected to be operational by first quarter (Q1) of 2026 as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is aimed at achieving the $1 trillion economy by year 2030 in line with world economic growth projections for countries.

In his welcome address, Tola Fakolade, Director of the NSW Secretariat, emphasised the government’s commitment to simplifying trade processes and improving transparency across Nigeria’s ports.

Fakolade applauded the efforts of the Nigeria customs service, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and others for their pioneering roles in digitisation of trade processes, while he also provided a project update, sharing key milestones and next steps in the NSW rollout.

Fakolade assured the stakeholders of Federal Governments full commitment towards deploying the NSW to enable the country become a new business destination, while hoping that all bureaucratic bottlenecks hindering trade would be drastically reduced.

‘It will ensure transparency in the system and enthrone predictability when transacting business, eventually reducing cost of doing Business and person to person contacts in the trade ecosystem,’ he stated.

In his keynote address, Kingsley Igwe, Registrars, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), highlighted the NSW’s benefits to traders, noting that importers and exporters stand to gain from reduced bottlenecks, faster clearance and improved competitiveness.

He urged stakeholders to take advantage of the system and leverage it in their businesses, describing it as a one -Stop Shop platform that houses all government related revenue collection agencies, importers and exporters as well as other regulatory agencies, granting them a single access for declarations.

In his opening remarks, Bashir Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs, represented by the Zonal Coordinator, Customs Zone C, Headquarters Port Harcourt, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Kamal Mohammed, welcomed the stakeholders, insisting that the event was a defining moment for trade facilitation.

The Customs boss called for collaboration of all stakeholders to make the project work, emphasising that no single organisation can achieve meaningful success in isolation but through collaboration.

He stated that with National Single Window, clearance process and procedures as well as documentation would be easier and faster, thereby reducing cost of trade even as he said that collective purpose was the watchword.

Also present at the event, the President of the Association of Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Emeka Nwokeoji and the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Pius Akutah, applauded the initiative and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure its success