Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Senior Partner at Babs Mila Legal, Babatunde Ogungbamila, has accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of failing in its core responsibility to protect the welfare of lawyers and strengthen the nation’s justice system.

Speaking at the opening of the law firm, Babs Mila Legal in Lagos, Ogungbamila, formerly a partner at Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL), said the NBA had ‘lost focus’ and was more interested in political matters than in addressing the deep-rooted challenges facing legal practitioners and the judiciary.

He said: ‘As a lawyer, the first thing the NBA should do is to look after the welfare of its own lawyers before dabbling in political issues. You will have a case in court for eight years, and it will not be resolved, yet the NBA is more concerned about political fights.’

Ogungbamila said the NBA was established primarily to promote the welfare of lawyers and uphold justice, but lamented that the body had strayed from its founding purpose.

‘The NBA is supposed to ensure that justice prevails and that we have a system everybody will be proud of, where people are not oppressed. Unfortunately, the NBA as a body has lost it,’ he said.

The senior partner decried the state of the judiciary, describing it as the ‘biggest obstacle to investment’ in Nigeria due to slow and inefficient court processes.

‘Why should a tenancy or matrimonial matter get to the Supreme Court? The courts are clogged because people are not being held accountable.

‘The judiciary, as it is, drives away foreign investors because disputes are not resolved quickly,’ he asked.

He urged the NBA and heads of court to take responsibility for fixing the justice system, warning that the continued neglect of core issues would erode public trust in the law.

‘People should be held accountable. In Nigeria today, when people say, ‘go to court,’ it’s a joke. Nothing happens there anymore. We must sit up and restore faith in justice,’ he said.

Ogungbamila further called for the embrace of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve legal services, saying AI should be viewed as a tool for efficiency, not a threat.

He said: ‘AI has come to stay. Lawyers should be trained to use it effectively. But they must be careful.’

Presenting his firm’s vision, Ogungbamila said Babs Mila Legal was built on ethics, truth, and faith, aiming to be ‘the highest-paying law firm in Nigeria’ while remaining true to clients.

‘You don’t need to cheat another person to become a billionaire. Our mission is honesty, transparency, and integrity,’ he said.

Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) formally issued distribution licences to two companies – Excel Distribution Company Limited and IE Energy Lagos Limited, on October 2, to herald their takeover of electricity distribution operations from Eko Electricity Distribution Plc and Ikeja Electric Plc, respectively.

With the development, the two entities will now restrict their operations to Lagos, to the exclusion of Ogun State where both had held sway before now. Far from being symbolic therefore, the development can be said to mark a new phase in the on-going restructuring of the sector, particularly at the level of the sub nationals.

This development had long become inevitable under the new Electricity Act signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in 2023, under which the states were expected to set up their regulatory bodies to superintend the activities of the service providers.

In furtherance to this, seven states, Enugu, Ondo, Ekiti, Imo, Oyo, Edo, and Kogi states are said to now control their electricity markets in accordance with the Electricity Act 2023, with Anambra, Ogun, Niger, and Plateau states said to be gearing up to assume the responsibility.

While we commend the states that have taken up the challenge, we can only urge the others to move with speed, if only to fulfill the cardinal desire of Nigerians for an unbundled and truly liberalised electricity market. In fact, it would amount to a willful dereliction should any state be found to be shirking in this responsibility.

But then, the development itself raises some salient questions. What will happen to Ikeja and Eko distribution companies now that their subsidiaries are in control of Lagos electricity market? Will the two entities still retain their jurisdictions over the Ogun State segment as it is most likely be the case?

In other words, are we expecting separate subsidiaries to be carved out specifically for that segment while they – Ikeja and Eko Discos – sit atop as parent companies? Wouldn’t the changes amount to mere superficiality – a case of two diseased peas in the same pod? And how will that bode for competition and the long sought after efficiency?

To Nigerians, the more fundamental issue is what the changes would bode for service delivery. After all, it’s been nearly two decades since the Electric Power Sector Reform Act became law. Yet, it remains the same old story, the same old plagues of undercapitalisation, inefficiencies, corruption, poor service orientation and a complete inversion of everything that a utility company should be.

Of course, we understand how critical the need to devolve the power of regulation to the states is. It seems the surest way to get the electricity distribution companies to discharge their duties responsibly as one might expect of a corporate organisation.

Surely, the idea of a Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), sitting somewhere in Abuja and serving as an overseer to the activities of the electricity distribution companies is not only absurd but illogical.

Yet, those state regulatory bodies would at best be another critical milestone in the long journey to equitable service delivery. In other words, they represent a means to a desirable end.

For, while we are in no doubt about regulations as being a critical part, Nigerians’ expectations, however, go beyond them or even the nameplate changes as it appears to be the case in this instance. What Nigerians have long yearned for – and which they seek demonstrable evidence – is a crop of players who know what to do; who have the ideas and the financial muscle to get things done; and who will not look up to electricity consumers to supply everything, from service cables to transformers and even, pre-paid meters.

The country, as it appears, is not there yet.

The Cheetahs of Benin have fired the Super Eagles warning ahead of today’s high-stake FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo.

Managed by former Super Eagles boss Gernot Rohr, the Beninese are just one step away from securing their first-ever World Cup qualification and they brimming with confidence for the ‘battle of Uyo’ holding at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

The Beninese captain Steve Mounie expressed his team’s determination to make history, describing the encounter as a typical every footballer’s dreams.

‘We play football for this kind of match. It will be a historic meeting. We will give everything to take Benin to the World Cup,’ the powerful striker affirmed.

Their confidence has been buoyed by a hard-fought 1-0 win over Rwanda last Friday at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali – a result that kept them top of Group C with 17 points from nine matches.

The Cheetahs need just a single point in Uyo to officially seal their World Cup berth. Even in defeat, their qualification could still be confirmed if South Africa fail to beat Rwanda in the group’s other decisive fixture.

For the Super Eagles, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Sitting just behind Benin on the table, Nigeria must deliver a victory in front of their passionate home fans to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

The European Union (EU) has extended Euro 190 million, about N320.5 billion, credit line to Nigerian commercial financial institutions for onward lending to agribusinesses in a major global support for domestic agricultural sector.

The fund, provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB), is aimed at significantly broadening Nigerian financial institutions’ lending capacity to the agricultural sector, particularly cocoa and dairy value chains.

The Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning yesterday stated that the credit facility was announced during a meeting between senior EIB executives and a delegation from the ministry on the sidelines of the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Belgium.

Director for International Partnerships, European Investment Bank (EIB), Ms. Thourayya Tricki, connected the financing directly to the EU’s vision for Nigeria’s agricultural and digital future.

She said the credit facility was part of the EU’s commitment to the development of Nigeria’s agricultural value chains, ‘particularly in cocoa and dairy.’

Tricki, who attended the bilateral meeting alongside the bank’s Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Relations, Mr. Diedrick Zambon, noted that the overall Nigerian investment package for climate-smart agricultural production and processing is at an advanced stage.

She said the package was designed to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of agri-food products and includes both credit lines and technical assistance to relevant Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and commercial banks to expand their lending portfolios.

Tricki also conveyed the EU’s commitment to support Nigeria’s ambitions and initiatives for digital transformation, recognising its potential to spark growth in other sectors of the economy.

The Nigerian delegation, which included the Special Assistant to the Minister, Mr. Bolaji Onalaja, and the Focal Officer, EU Unit, Mr. Benjamin Galadima, presented ongoing reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The team pointed to the forthcoming National Development Plan (2026-2030) and the Ward-Based Development Programme as crucial frameworks for attracting sustainable investments and strengthening community-level development.

On behalf of the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who was on another official assignment, the Nigerian team expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gauthier Mignot, for the ‘excellent facilitation of Nigeria’s participation at the 2025 Global Gateway Forum.’

The Global Gateway Forum, which served as the backdrop for the announcement, is the primary platform for converting the EU’s vast investment package into tangible projects and partnerships.

In her keynote address at the forum, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, spoke about the EU’s dedication to developing mutually beneficial partnerships ‘based on trust, sustainability, and shared prosperity’ under the Global Gateway Strategy.

The Commission President announced a significant increase in the EU’s global investment target. She revealed the expansion of the Global Gateway Investment Package to pound 400 billion and the formation of a dedicated **Investment Hub** to improve transactions and accelerate project delivery across partner regions, ‘especially in Africa.’

Nigeria is already a beneficiary of other EU facilities, including an pound 18 million Technical Assistance grant to strengthen its regulatory framework for vaccine manufacturing and a pound 50 million facility to expand credit for the pharmaceutical industry.

Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikorodu has declared that a lawyer, Idris Thany, can continue with his legal practice notwithstanding the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC)’s direction imposing a two-year suspension on him on September 15, 2025.

Justice Akinkugbe held that Thany’s appeal against the LPDC’s direction ‘automatically operates as a stay of execution.’

The ruling, delivered by Justice (Mrs,) Akinkugbe settled the question of whether or not Thany could continue his professional practice following the LPDC’s direction imposing a two-year suspension on him on September 15, 2025.

The issue for determination, according to the court, was founded upon an issue raised by the claimants counsel, Abiola Duduyemi, in suit No: IKD/1317LMW/2015 who on the last date of sitting raised the question on whether Thany representing the 1st to 3rd defendants could continue to appear as counsel in view of his recent suspension by the LPDC.

The court also noted that Thany who stood up for himself, was of the opinion that he could continue to practise as a counsel, having filed an appeal against the decision, and that the appeal operated as a ‘stay:’ while relying on Section 12 (7) of the Legal Practitioners Act.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Akinkugbe after carefully considering the submissions of counsels as well as the provisions of Section 12 (6) (a) of the Legal Practitioners Act LFN volume 7, 2010, upheld that Mr. Thany’s argument, which was grounded in the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA).

The issue arose during proceedings in the case IKD/1317LMW/2015, where opposing counsel challenged Mr. Thany’s eligibility to appear. Justice Akinkugbe upheld Mr. Thany’s argument, which was grounded in Section 12(6)(a) of the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA).

The judge held that ‘the filing of an appeal does operate as a ‘Stay’ of execution which in effect means I.K Thany Esq. can continue to practise until his appeal is determined.’

The Court further confirmed and held that Mr. Thany’s Notice of Appeal, received by the LPDC on September 26, 2025, was filed within the required 28-day statutory period.

The decision by Justice Akinkugbe validates the statutory protection afforded to legal practitioners under the LPA, reinforcing the principle that a disciplinary direction, though serious, is not final until the appellate process is exhausted.

Thany’s case currently before the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 12 comprehensive grounds of appeal, is primarily challenging the LPDC’s procedural errors, including its reliance on unsworn evidence, a matter now being litigated with the full protection of his practicing license.

The ruling confirms that the status quo is maintained, allowing Mr. Thany to fully discharge his professional duties to his clients while he pursues justice at the Apex Court.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) collected N658.6 billion in revenue in September 2025, marking a strong performance attributed to ongoing reforms aimed at improving trade efficiency and plugging revenue leakages across the nation’s ports and borders.

Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed this yesterday at the Monthly National Joint Security Press Briefing in Abuja, organised by the NOA in collaboration with security, paramilitary, and regulatory agencies.

Issa-Onilu said the impressive revenue haul reflects Customs’ steady march toward reform, innovation, and stakeholder confidence under the leadership of Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi.

He said: ‘In the month of September, the NCS recorded a total revenue collection of N658,605,400,392. This figure demonstrates the Service’s sustained fiscal performance amid ongoing reforms and heightened enforcement efforts.

‘It reflects the cumulative contributions of various commands and operations aligning with the broader strategy to strengthen revenue mobilisation and minimise leakages across the system.’

Highlighting the Service’s growing engagement with key sectors, Issa-Onilu noted that the NCS held a high-level strategic meeting with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) during the review period to harmonise trade policies and boost industrial growth.

According to him, the engagement reaffirmed the Service’s reform agenda anchored on collaboration, inclusiveness, and shared responsibility for economic development.

‘The engagement also reflected the Service’s recognition of the manufacturing sector as a key partner in national productivity and a driver of Nigeria’s non-oil revenue diversification efforts,’ he stated.

In a bid to accelerate clearance processes and ease trade bottlenecks, Customs introduced a One-Stop-Shop platform, an innovation aimed at integrating cargo clearance procedures and enhancing coordination among port stakeholders.

Issa-Onilu said the platform marks another major step toward enhancing trade efficiency, reducing delays, and improving service delivery across the trade ecosystem.

On enforcement, Issa-Onilu disclosed that officers of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A made significant interceptions within the Southwest region, including firearms, industrial drones, and other prohibited items.

He said: ‘This operation exemplifies the Service’s vigilance, operational intelligence, and unwavering resolve to safeguard national borders against illicit trade and transnational threats.

‘The interception further reinforces the Service’s dual mandate of trade facilitation and security enforcement, ensuring that legitimate trade thrives while threats to national safety are neutralised.’

Beyond its fiscal and enforcement strides, the Service, Issa-Onilu, said, also extended its impact to social and institutional collaboration. He noted that the agency supported sister organisations and engaged in community development initiatives across various formations, demonstrating its commitment to corporate social responsibility.

He added that the commendation by the Board of Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) serves as external validation of the Service’s institutional renewal and professionalism.

‘The feat recorded in September stands as evidence that the Service is not merely evolving; it is setting new standards in institutional excellence, reform communication, and national service delivery,’ Issa-Onilu remarked.

There is something genuinely inspiring about a government that moves beyond slogans and campaign promises into terrain where lives are clearly transformed. In Kaduna State, under Governor Uba Sani, the recent announcement that trachoma has been eliminated is not just a health milestone. It is a testament to leadership, persistence, and respectful partnership with communities.

For those who might not know, trachoma is a tropical bacterial eye infection that causes blindness if left untreated. While it is treatable, neglect has been responsible for thousands of people losing their sights, especially in northern Nigeria. To confront trachoma required more than distribution of drugs or periodic health campaigns: it required a sustained, multifaceted push into the very environment and behaviors that sustain its spread.

Kaduna’s success came because the state government partnered with the federal government and Sightsavers. Methodically, they combed the whole 23 local government areas, with one aim – sight restoration. Hence, at the recently held close out ceremony on the disease, Permanent Secretary of the State’s Ministry of Health, Ms. Aisha Abubakar, described how the feat was achieved.

‘Trachoma, a preventable bacterial infection and one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, has long been a burden in areas with poor access to clean water and sanitation,’ Dr. Sadiq said, while commending Governor Sani, the Federal Ministry of Health, Sightsavers, and community volunteers for their commitment to eliminating trachoma.

‘Your constant dedication has brought hope to hundreds of families and moved Kaduna State closer to the goal of eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases. Through the SAFE strategy Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement we have made trachoma ancient history in Kaduna State. Through this effort, 558,761 residents of Igabi LGA received antibiotics, while 683 individuals across the 11 endemic LGAs benefited from corrective eye surgeries. Ten ophthalmic nurses were trained as trichiasis surgeons, 122 boreholes were constructed, and more than 10,000 community case finders were deployed.’

The Country Coordinator for Trachoma at Sightsavers, Teyil Wamyil-Mshelia, described the day as one of celebration. According to her, Sightsavers worked closely with the state and local communities to end trachoma as a public health problem.

‘Kaduna is one of the first states where Sightsavers began its work not only in Nigeria but globally,’ she said.

‘It’s been 73 years of partnership, and we are proud to see the progress that has been made. With the elimination of trachoma in Kaduna State, we have successfully removed one of the major public health challenges in the state. We have met all the World Health Organisation (WHO) requirements to ensure that trachoma is no longer a threat here.’

It is worth pausing on what elimination really means. The World Health Organization requires that a disease no longer constitutes a public health problem. Kaduna has now met that requirement in relation to trachoma. Of course, to reach that stage is no small feat, and it signals that the Sani administration is not merely chasing headlines or short-term wins. It is laying groundwork for durability.

Critics might ask: was this expensive? Was it politically convenient? Was it worth the investment? The true answer lies in the cost of doing nothing. The pain, the blindness, the lost productivity, the isolation – those are the hidden tolls borne by afflicted communities. Kaduna’s choice to act decisively reflects a moral calculus where leaders understand that governance is responsibility, not spectacle. The investment in surgery, clean water, hygiene education, antibiotics, and environmental infrastructure is a down payment on human dignity. The dividends are lives spared from needless blindness, families kept whole, communities more resilient.

When Ms. Abubakar also disclosed that 558, 761 residents of Igabi LGA received antibiotics, and 683 people across 11 endemic local government areas underwent corrective eye surgeries, one begins to see not just numbers, but faces saved from blindness. That kind of reach-deep into rural areas, into the homes and faces of people who once might have seen no hope-is what separates rhetorical gestures from real governance.

Kaduna’s leadership must be commended not only for achieving elimination, but its coordinated interventions across all 23 local government areas is commendable. Equally important is the manner of partnership. The collaboration with Sightsavers and the buy-in from local communities is not incidental; it is essential. According to Dr. Wamyil-Mshelia, Kaduna’s success came about stakeholder interaction and engagement.

‘We began by raising awareness because if people don’t know, they won’t participate,’ she explained.

‘Community leaders, district heads, and traditional institutions played a crucial role. They took ownership and ensured that community members understood that services were available and beneficial. The Kaduna State Government provided strong support to ensure that these systems continue to function effectively beyond the project. We trained ophthalmic nurses, surgeons, and community volunteers to identify and manage trachoma cases, ensuring that future outbreaks can be handled immediately.’

No matter how well a government plans, if the people themselves do not engage, respect, and sustain, the gains become fragile. That the community volunteered, welcomed interventions, and took ownership is also a tribute to the trust that Kaduna’s leaders have cultivated. A similar style was adopted by the Sani administration in tackling criminality which had crippled several local government areas in the state.

Across the country, many administrations promise health reform, but few deliver on the long haul. What Kaduna’s government has pulled off reshapes the narrative: that a disease once endemic, can be eliminated is simply a well-managed public health strategy. It is a model that can inspire other states. Already, the Kaduna State government is taking the best healthcare his administration can affor to the residents. His administration over 15,000 Vulnerable Persons onto the Kaduna State Health Insurance Scheme. It revitalised existing Primary Health Centres and General Hospitals, equipped and staffed them. But as it has eliminated trachoma, it would do not to rest on its oars. If the same zeal, coordination, and accountability are applied to maternal health, child immunization, water and sanitation, malaria control, and noncommunicable diseases, this state could emerge as a benchmark for public health governance in Nigeria.

One cannot help but feel admiration for an administration that recognizes that health is foundational to human flourishing. Eliminating trachoma is not a political trophy; it is permission for thousands more children to go to school without impediment, for adults to see clearly into their livelihoods, and for families to invest in hope rather than healing. It is a declaration that in Kaduna, no one is meant to suffer from blindness caused by a preventable disease.

Let this achievement register, loudly and permanently, as proof that leadership that listens, partners, plans, and perseveres can make a real difference. Governor Sani and his health team deserve commendation not for what they promised, but for what they delivered. May the legacy of this victory spur further progress, and inspire other leaders to take public healthcare more seriously.

Sir: When reports surfaced that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had ‘approved’ the export of cannabis oil, it quickly stirred debate and confusion across Nigeria’s policy and public health circles. A closer look, however, shows that the agency’s remarks were not an endorsement of cannabis use or a sign of legalization, but a scientific contribution to an ongoing national discussion.

What really happened? The controversy began after NDLEA chairman and chief executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), spoke at a workshop organized by the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) in Abuja. During his presentation on the prospects of cannabis oil export, Marwa said the agency was ‘not averse to the controlled and regulated export of cannabis oil’ for international markets, while maintaining its opposition to local use in line with existing law and the country’s high rate of drug abuse.

His comments, made in a scientific forum, were intended as an academic opinion – not a policy announcement.

Globally, several countries have explored the medicinal and economic potential of cannabis oil, particularly CBD – a non-psychoactive compound known for its therapeutic value. But Nigeria’s context is unique. The country’s drug abuse prevalence stands at 14.4 percent – nearly three times the global average, according to the 2018 National Drug Use Survey. Cannabis remains the most abused substance, with about 10.6 million users nationwide.

Given these figures, the NDLEA’s cautious approach is rooted in public health realities. Premature legalization or commercial production could worsen addiction and mental health challenges already straining Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Cannabis oil is extracted from the cannabis plant and contains cannabinoids – mainly THC (the psychoactive compound responsible for the ‘high’) and CBD (the non-psychoactive compound used for medical purposes in some countries).

While CBD oil has recognized therapeutic benefits, products containing THC remain tightly controlled worldwide because of their potential for abuse. The NDLEA’s position, therefore, is that cannabis oil should be discussed only in the context of scientific research and possible regulated export – not local use or open trade.

The NDLEA’s position is, therefore, not about legalizing cannabis – it’s about understanding it.

By promoting open dialogue and commissioning research, the agency is ensuring that when Nigeria eventually decides on cannabis policy, it will do so with facts, not assumptions; with science, not speculation. In simple terms, NDLEA’s message is clear: Nigeria must ‘learn before it decides.’

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has announced its support for the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) draft guidelines requiring all banks to refund customers’ money in cases of failed Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions within 48 hours.

In a statement by its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagu, the FCCPC said the exposure of the CBN’s Draft Guidelines on the Operations of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) in Nigeria followed the commission’s Consumer Complaints Data Report published last month.

‘The report, which covered the period from March to August 2025, showed that the banking and Fintech sectors accounted for the highest number of complaints nationwide, over 3,000 cases in banking alone, with about N10 billion recovered for customers across 30 sectors,’ the statement said.

The findings highlighted recurring issues, such as failed transactions, unauthorised deductions, and delayed refunds, all of which the CBN draft guidelines seek to address.

FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tunji Bello, described the proposal as a timely and long-awaited correction to a persistent consumer challenge.

He noted that even at the draft stage, it demonstrates stronger alignment between regulatory agencies committed to consumer protection.

‘It is consistent with what the FCCPC has been advocating, given the number of complaints we receive about failed transactions. We commend the CBN for this decisive step, which will ease the burden on consumers and rebuild trust in financial services,’ Bello said.

The commission stated that the proposed directive was consistent with the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018, particularly Sections 17(g), (h), (l), (s), and (t). These sections mandate the elimination of unfair practices, the promotion of fair dealings, the resolution of consumer complaints, the protection of consumer interests across all sectors, and the adoption of measures to ensure that goods and services are safe for their intended use.

‘The commission advocates the prompt adoption and implementation of the proposed directive, as its early enforcement would provide immediate relief to consumers who continue to experience delayed or unresolved electronic transaction reversals. Timely adoption would also reinforce accountability within the banking sector and demonstrate a shared regulatory commitment to fairness, efficiency, and consumer confidence.

‘To make the policy effective, the FCCPC will work with the CBN to establish systems for monitoring compliance and ensuring timely redress when banks fail to meet the 48-hour deadline. The commission maintains that closer collaboration among regulators will lead to faster resolutions, prevent recurrence, and strengthen consumer confidence in Nigeria’s growing digital economy,’ Bello added.

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) has called for stronger institutional policies and collaboration to address sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the workplace.

The agency made the call during a symposium with the theme: ‘The Impact of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence on Labour and Organisational Productivity in the Workplace,’ held at the Civic Centre, Lagos.

The event brought together over 130 professionals from the banking, oil and gas, hospitality, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and trade union sectors.

Executive Secretary of DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said sexual and gender-based violence was not only a human rights violation but also a major economic challenge.

She said: ‘SGBV is not just a social or moral issue; it has economic consequences. According to the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, Nigeria loses an estimated $3 billion annually, about one per cent of its economic output, due to gender-based violence.’

Vivour-Adeniyi noted that a recent DSVA survey involving 549 professionals revealed that over 70 per cent had experienced workplace harassment, 89.3 per cent knew someone affected, while only 4.5 per cent had never encountered such misconduct.

‘These numbers show that SGBV is not a distant issue. It is happening in workplaces across Lagos State, affecting productivity, mental health, and economic growth,’ she said.

She emphasised that preventing and addressing workplace harassment required the collective effort of government, employers, and employees to create safe, inclusive environments where workers can thrive.

Also speaking, Chief Marketing Officer of AXA Mansard, Adebola Surakat, reaffirmed her organisation’s commitment to advocacy and awareness on workplace harassment.

She said: ‘We must continue to educate and empower employees to speak up and ensure organisations upheld zero-tolerance policies against harassment.’

Chairman, Lagos State House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Omolara Olumegbon, described SGBV as both an economic and societal challenge.

She said the House would continue to strengthen existing legal frameworks to protect vulnerable workers and promote dignity in the workplace.

Keynote speaker and founder of the Women At Risk International Foundation (WARIF), Dr. Kemi Ibru, stressed the negative impact of harassment on workplace productivity.

She said: ‘Workplace harassment affects not only the victims but also the entire organisation. We must ensure survivor support systems and accountability mechanisms are in place.’

A panel discussion moderated by Ms. Anuli Aniebo featured contributions from Comrade Oyinkan Olasanoye, Dr. Nkechinyere (Nikky) Duru, Dr. Iyadunni Atinuke Gbadebo, Mrs. Olubusola Abidakun and Comrade Abiodun Aladetan, who shared practical strategies for prevention and response.

The symposium also witnessed the launch of the Lagos State Guidelines for Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, which was described as a pioneering framework for promoting safer and more inclusive organisations across the state.

Consultant Psychiatrist and Chief Executive Officer of Redimed Consulting Services, Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri, gave the vote of thanks, appreciating partners and participants for their commitment to advancing the fight against SGBV.

She said: ‘Sexual and gender-based violence concerns everyone. Together, we can create workplaces that are safe, respectful and productive.’