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The United Kingdom’s (UK) Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has released a new report outlining 82 mid-skilled occupations eligible for temporary work visas under a fresh migration route designed to tackle ongoing labour shortages.

Among the occupations listed are bricklayers, fashion designers, HR officers, engineering technicians, welders, carpenters, civil engineers, photographers, translators, and logistics managers, all identified as essential to sustaining the UK’s growth ambitions.

The initiative forms part of Britain’s Temporary Shortage List which aims to attract foreign workers to fill roles vital to the country’s industrial strategy and long-term infrastructure plans. The new immigration pathway will grant visas lasting between three and five years for professionals across sectors such as engineering, logistics, health and safety, and the creative industries.

The government has described the Temporary Shortage List as a ‘narrow’ and targeted measure, offering time-limited visas for positions where domestic supply is currently insufficient. According to the MAC, the selected roles are considered crucial to delivering the government’s industrial priorities. The list centres on eight growth-focused sectors, including defence, life sciences, and creative industries, alongside critical infrastructure development such as road construction and hospital projects.

The scheme is expected to provide short-term relief for employers grappling with persistent skills shortages while the UK continues to invest in training and upskilling its domestic workforce.

Under the new scheme, eligible workers would be granted three to five-year visas but would not have the right to settle permanently, unless future government policy changes, the MAC confirmed.

Here is the full list of occupations and job code.

Job code | Occupation title

1,243 Managers in logistics

1,257| Hire services managers and proprietors

1,258| Directors in consultancy services

3,111| Laboratory technicians

3,112| Electrical and electronics technicians

3,113| Engineering technicians

3,114| Building and civil engineering technicians

3,115| Quality assurance technicians

3,116| Planning, process and production technicians

3,119| Science, engineering and production technicians not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.)

3,120| CAD, drawing and architectural technicians

3,131| IT operations technicians

3,132| IT user support technicians

3,133| Database administrators and web content technicians

3,213| Medical and Dental Technicians

3,411| Artists

3,412| Authors, writers and translators

3,413| Actors, entertainers and presenters

3,414| Dancers and choreographers

3,415| MusiciansCurbing net migration

The announcement follows a surge in net migration, which climbed to 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The figure has intensified pressure on the government to strike a balance between attracting overseas workers and training more UK nationals to meet domestic labour demand, as it continues to contend with a sluggish economy and persistent worker shortages across several key industries.

Keir Starmer, UK’s prime minister adopted this firm stance on immigration amid growing public concern over illegal Channel crossings and with Labour slipping behind the Reform UK party in recent opinion polls.

Concerning the report, the MAC cautioned that any job added to the Temporary Shortage List must be supported by ‘a clear plan demonstrating the action being taken to maximise the use of domestic workers and reduce reliance on migrant labour.’

Applicants under the new route will be required to meet a minimum English language threshold, while employers must outline strategies to train and recruit UK-based talent.

A second phase of the review, scheduled for July 2026, will assess which occupations should be included on the final list.

Similar targeted visa systems are already in place in countries such as Canada and Australia, where specialised schemes help plug workforce gaps in areas like healthcare, engineering, and skilled trades.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing travel planning, delivering personalized itineraries and cost-saving deals with remarkable ease.

However, a Kaspersky survey conducted in summer 2025 with 3,000 respondents across 15 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, China, and South Africa, reveals a critical concern as 86 percent of travelers using AI for trip planning are wary of data security risks.

This widespread apprehension underscores the hidden dangers behind AI’s convenience, as travelers navigate the balance between efficiency and protecting their personal information.

The survey highlights AI’s appeal: 73 percent of users value its time-saving capabilities, 65 percent appreciate personalized recommendations and local attraction insights, 63 percent seek budget-friendly offers, and 61 percent rely on it for hard-to-find information.

Parents favor tailored suggestions (68 percent) more than those without children (60 percent), while older travelers (55+) prioritize unique recommendations (65 percent) over personalization (60 percent).

This broad adoption across demographics showcases AI’s growing role as a versatile travel assistant. Yet, the risks of AI travel planning are significant. Nearly half of respondents (48 percent) hesitate to share sensitive data, such as IDs or payment details, due to fears of data breaches or misuse.

Another 37 percent exercise caution despite fewer concerns, contributing to the 86 percent who prioritize data security.

Notably, there have been instances where travelers faced issues after trusting AI-generated recommendations without verification, including falling for scams or encountering malicious phishing links embedded in AI outputs.

These incidents highlight the potential for AI to inadvertently expose users to cyber threats, especially when handling tasks like booking hotels or tickets that require personal information. Younger travelers (18-34) are particularly cautious, with 52 percent reluctant to share data, compared to 42 percent of those over 55, though 44 percent of the latter still practice selective sharing.

Regional variations further illuminate the issue. Travelers in Spain, the UK, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Africa express heightened caution, while those in China, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia show greater trust in AI’s security.

Vladislav Tushkanov, group manager at Kaspersky AI Technology Research Center, said the survey highlights a noteworthy level of caution among travelers who use AI, which is a promising sign.

‘A rational attitude is crucial for any type of online interactions, especially when we talk about personal data sharing. After all, your ‘private’ conversations with AI can still be exposed to cyber threats, or a favorable offer discovered by a chatbot may turn out to be nothing more than a scam.

‘This doesn’t mean you should abandon these digital tools altogether. Instead, stay mindful, avoid oversharing personal information, and think carefully while choosing which task you can assign to the AI. By doing so, AI-powered services can evolve into reliable assistants that help you tackle a wide range of challenges safely and effectively,’ Tushkanov asserted.

Kaspersky shares several tips on how to stay safe while interacting with AI:

– Avoid sharing personal data with AI assistants: ID, address, passwords, or any other sensitive details. Be very selective with the resources where you upload them.

– Perform all important actions and decisions (sending emails, making purchases, booking, etc.) yourself. Assign the AI assistant only routine tasks.

– Verify links and emails AI gives you. Use reliable security solution to check all URLs and block suspicious resources, secure your online payments.

– If you choose AI as your main travel assistant make sure you have stable internet connection while staying abroad. Consider using an eSIM to have constant mobile data access.

– Do not link your main accounts with confidential data to the chatbot or any other AI powered service.

The naira on Thursday recorded a slight appreciation against the dollar in the official foreign exchange (FX) market, as Nigeria’s external reserves continued to maintain a steady upward trend.

At the close of trading yesterday, the naira strengthened by 0.3 percent, with the dollar quoted at N1,466.65 compared to N1,470.62 recorded on Wednesday at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), according to data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The marginal gain reflects improved liquidity and sustained positive sentiment in the official window, driven by steady inflows and foreign exchange management measures implemented by the apex bank. However, at the parallel market, popularly known as the black market, the local currency weakened slightly, losing 0.5 percent to close at N1,492 per dollar on Thursday, compared with N1,485 recorded on Wednesday. Traders attributed the decline to higher cash demand from retail end-users and importers, amid limited supply in the informal segment.

Nigeria’s external reserves have continued to build up, rising steadily to $42.57 billion as of October 7, 2025, according to the latest data from the CBN. The growth in reserves has been supported by improved oil earnings, diaspora remittances, and foreign portfolio inflows, reinforcing confidence in the foreign exchange market and contributing to the naira’s relative stability across trading segments. The World Bank Group said the CBN has leveraged net positive inflows to build FX reserves. It stated this in the October 2025 edition of its Nigeria Development Update titled ‘From Policy to People: Bringing the Reform Gains Home’, released on Wednesday.

‘The exchange rate has been market-reflective, and its previous adjustment continues to benefit the external position,’ the World Bank said.

According to the report, the market remains heavily dependent on FX flows from Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) and the CBN. FPI has been attracted by high Open Market Operation (OMO) yields, and CBN has leveraged positive net FX inflows to build up reserves and maintain exchange rate stability. Yet, for the FX market to be sustainably liquid and market-driven, longer-term inflows, including from oil and remittances, need to increase. It is also critical to accelerate non-oil exports, which also depend on addressing supply-side constraints. In addition, with low incentives to hoard US dollars given the higher domestic yields and a more stable exchange rate, progressively allowing banks to hold larger FX net open positions within appropriate macroprudential limits and as part of a broader strategy to support FX market deepening and exchange rate flexibility would, as market confidence strengthens, help promote greater market-driven naira stability. ‘Lastly, CBN’s exchange rate policy, including FX intervention policy, needs to be clarified and communicated to the market. A transparent FX strategy would help anchor expectations as to what CBN’s reserves target is and how it would intervene in case of large shocks, as in April 2025,’ the report stated.

As cyberattacks and data breaches continue to rise globally, cybersecurity experts have warned Nigerians to strengthen their password protection habits to safeguard personal and business data from potential compromise.

In recent months, multiple large-scale breaches have exposed millions of email addresses, passwords, and sensitive user information, underscoring the vulnerability of individuals and organisations when basic security practices are neglected.

Experts say that with the growing adoption of digital banking, e-commerce, and online learning platforms in Nigeria, ensuring robust password security is more critical.

Frank Samuel, Investment Associate at Sahara Impact Ventures, emphasised the importance of proactive security management. ‘Managing passwords in this day and age is critical for personal data security. It is important to activate all means of maximum security on platforms that hold your details, including two-factor authentication (2FA) and the use of security keys.

‘Also, everyone should stay updated on the privacy policies of apps and web portals we constantly engage with, as not every privacy policy update may be favourable for users,’ Samuel added. According to Check Point Research, global cyberattacks increased by over 20 percent in the first half of 2025, with Africa emerging as one of the regions most targeted by phishing and credential theft campaigns. In Nigeria, both financial and educational institutions have recorded a surge in attempted account compromises.

The urgency for improved security practices grew after the largest password leak on record occurred in June 2025, exposing more than 16 billion login credentials collected by info-stealer malware from user devices.

The dataset found on the dark web contained user data from major platforms, including Google, Facebook, and Apple, heightening the risk of identity theft, fraud, and account takeovers.

Kaspersky, in a public advisory, urged users to act swiftly. ‘Yes, we don’t reliably know whose data is in this leak, but that doesn’t mean you should do nothing. The first and best recommendation is to change your passwords.

‘For example, take a favourite line from a song or movie and replace every second or third letter with special characters that aren’t sequential on the keyboard.

If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, you might transform ‘Wingardium Leviosa’ into something like ‘Wi4ga/di0mLandvi@sa’.’

Jed Oyeneye, lead faculty at The Hacktive Campaign, described passwords as ‘the first and most personal line of defence’ in today’s digital economy.

‘Yet, many still treat them as casual access tokens rather than the cryptographic keys they truly are. The truth is simple: your password is your armour. They have to be unique, long, protected, and constantly monitored,’ Oyeneye said.

He advised individuals and organisations to adopt zero-knowledge password managers, which securely store and generate new, random, and high-entropy passwords for every account. ‘By removing human memory from the equation, you eliminate the temptation to reuse passwords across platforms,’ he noted.

According to Oyeneye, password length is more important than complexity. ‘A 16-character passphrase made of random words, like ‘river+nile-table-lagos=horizon’, is exponentially stronger than a short, complex one like ‘Complex#1!’. Length increases entropy, and entropy makes guessing practically impossible.’

He further urged business leaders to work closely with their Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) to implement phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA) systems.

‘FIDO2 or WebAuthn hardware keys like YubiKey or Google Titan offer near-impenetrable protection against phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks, far beyond what SMS-based one-time passwords can provide,’ Oyeneye advised.

Oyeneye also highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring and recovery planning, noting that tools like Have I Been Pwned can help users detect compromised credentials.

‘Once a breach is detected, immediate password rotation and review of related accounts can prevent cascading compromises,’ he said. ‘No armour is complete without recovery planning-store recovery codes offline, set login alerts, and maintain a playbook for responding to compromised credentials.’

In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025, Oyeneye encouraged individuals and businesses to take digital safety more seriously.

Here are simple steps to stay safe online security professionals recommend the following measures to enhance password protection and minimise the risk of breaches:

Use Strong, Unique Passwords by avoiding predictable combinations like ‘123456’ or ‘password.’ Mix upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols for each account. Enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) by adding a second layer of verification, such as a one-time code, greatly improves security.

Use a password manager with tools like 1Password, Bitwarden, and Google Password Manager to help securely generate and store passwords.

Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions, as hackers can intercept data on unsecured networks. Regularly update passwords by changing passwords every few months or after any suspected breach.

Stay alert to Phishing Scams and avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments in unsolicited emails.

The House of Representatives has set up another committee to investigate the moribund state of the country’s refineries and the over $18 billion spent on their rehabilitation in the last two decades, the latest in the series of probes of refineries that have yet to yield result.

The House reached this resolution during plenary on Thursday after considering a motion on ‘Non-functionality of State-owned Refineries’ sponsored by Sesi Whingan, member representing Lagos.

The House resolved to establish a joint committee composed of members drawn from the Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream), Public Accounts, Anti-Corruption, Finance, and Legislative Compliance to investigate funds appropriated and disbursed for the rehabilitation of the four state-owned refineries located in Port Harcourt (two), Kaduna and Warri between 2010 and 2024.

The Committee is to ascertain the status of the refineries, examine how public funds were utilised, and identify agencies responsible for infractions or mismanagement.

The decision comes despite the existence of several ongoing investigations into the same matter. In July, 2025, the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) launched twchnical sub-commitees to investigate investments into the Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of local refineries and why the exercise has not yeileded any result.

A similar probe was conducted in 2023, when lawmakers examined the N11.3 trillion allegedly spent by the Federal Government on TAM projects between 2010 and 2020. None of these investigations has produced a definitive outcome or accountability report.

During Thursday’s debate, some lawmakers objected to the creation of another committee, arguing that standing committees and sub-committees were already handling related matters. However, Whingan insisted that a new, broader probe was necessary to tackle what he described as ‘a longstanding national embarrassment.’ He lamented the persistent non-functionality of the refineries despite two decades of rehabilitation efforts and billions of dollars spent. Whingan referenced recent comments by industrialist Aliko Dangote and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, both of whom questioned the viability of the refineries and described the huge rehabilitation spending as wasteful.

He further recalled that in 2007, under Obasanjo’s administration, Dangote and other private investors acquired the refineries, but the sale was reversed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who opted instead for government-led rehabilitation, a decision that has produced no visible progress to date.

‘On Thursday, July 10, 2025, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, in an interview sought to distance the current administration from the monumental mismanagement of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries confirming their continued non-functionality despite significant investments estimated at $18 billion, and proposed the potential sale of these assets, thereby raising critical questions about fiscal responsibility, strategic asset management, and the long-term implications for Nigeria’s energy security and economic stability’, he said.

He further expressed concern that despite consistent annual budgetary allocations for refinery rehabilitation, there is no verifiable evidence of progress, describing the situation as a ‘gross misuse of public funds’ and a ‘betrayal of public trust.’

He emphasised that the nation’s economic stability and energy security are closely tied to a functional downstream petroleum sector, especially following the removal of petrol subsidies by the Tinubu administration, a policy that has heightened public hardship and underscored the need for domestic refining capacity.

Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker who presided over the session, gave the committee two weeks to report back for further legislative action. This echoes past timelines on previous probes that have often expired without tangible outcomes.

This lack of transparency and tangible outcomes continues to fuel public sentiment that these hearings are more about financial gain and political maneuvering than actual governance.

Chidi Omeje, a Political analyst Chidi described the repeated probes as ‘mere theatrics,’ suggesting they serve more as political exercises than genuine efforts to deliver transparency or reform.

Olaniyi Yusuf, the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), has emphasised that Africa’s economic transformation and long-term prosperity depend largely on strengthening regional collaboration, unlocking trade barriers, and accelerating cross-border investments.

Speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31) in Abuja, Yusuf said the continent must move beyond rhetoric to action by deepening integration across borders and mobilising regional capital to finance growth and development.

According to him, ‘Nigeria’s economic transformation, as well as Africa’s, will remain elusive without collaboration across borders, propelled by shared markets, talent, and resources.’

He noted that while Africa accounts for 17 percent of the world’s population, its share of global trade remains just 3 percent, with intra-African trade standing at a mere 14.4 percent compared to 49 percent in North America and 38 percent in Asia.

Yusuf said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a historic opportunity to reverse this trend, unlock regional value chains, and boost Africa’s GDP by an additional $140 billion by 2035, if effectively implemented.

He called for urgent efforts to remove non-tariff barriers, harmonise regulations, and mobilise African institutional capital to power regional industries and infrastructure.

‘We continue to rely heavily on external financing when over $2.9 trillion in assets are available within the continent. Imagine what we could achieve if we deployed this to support trade and investment across Africa,’ he said. The NESG Chair also underscored the importance of mobilising pension and sovereign wealth funds to drive cross-border investments and industrial expansion, noting that Nigeria’s pension assets alone are valued at over ?20 trillion.

He urged governments and private sector leaders to prioritise the creation of regional capital markets and investment instruments that promote intra-African trade and development.

‘Reforming at home without aligning with Africa will leave our progress incomplete and fragile. When Africa truly invests and grows together, Nigeria will rise with it.’ He reaffirmed NESG’s commitment to institutionalising the Rising Together initiative, a platform designed to advance Nigeria’s regional footprint and support Africa’s collective economic transformation.

Yusuf also called for public-private partnerships, policy coherence, and cross-border trust to build a future where, ‘Africa’s prosperity knows no borders.’

In his remarks, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, said Nigeria’s foreign policy must directly serve its economic priorities by unlocking trade borders, attracting investments, and driving industrialisation across the continent.

According to him, foreign policy and economic policy are inseparable in today’s interconnected world, and Nigeria’s diplomacy must focus on advancing trade, securing partnerships, and promoting regional prosperity.

‘At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we recognise that foreign policy must serve economic policies. Our diplomacy will choose to unlock trade borders, attract investment, secure partnerships, and expand opportunities for Nigerian businesses,’

He explained that the ministry is strengthening economic diplomacy as a core pillar of Nigeria’s international engagement, guided by the government’s 4D foreign policy agenda, Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora.

Highlighting lessons from Asia’s industrialisation model, Tuggar said Nigeria has the potential to replicate the ‘Flying East’ paradigm by driving industrial growth through strategic collaboration, regional integration, and private sector participation.

‘With our demographic weight, market size, and strategic position, we have the capacity to drive industrialisation not only in Nigeria but across Africa. However, this requires policy alignment between foreign affairs and economic planning, between public institutions and private enterprise, and between national ambition and global competitiveness,’

Tuggar warned that Africa’s economic transformation cannot be achieved through donor dependence, but through sound industrial policies and regional coordination that attract private capital.

He cited the West African Economic Summit as a key platform for deepening trade, infrastructure, and policy integration across the subregion, aligning closely with the goals of the Nigerian Economic Summit.

He further urged closer collaboration between government, academia, and research institutions to strengthen ‘policy intelligence’ and build a pipeline of ideas and innovation to guide Nigeria through an increasingly competitive global landscape.

Pelumi Olajengbesi, a lawyer based in Abuja, has urged the police to thoroughly prosecute the robbers who were detained in connection with the killing of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, an Arise Television news anchor and producer.

Olajengbesi praised the police for their quick arrest of the suspects in a statement released on Thursday following the police’s announcement that they had detained 12 people in connection with the reporter’s killing.

Nonetheless, he urged the police to bring the culprits to justice as soon as possible and subject them to the full force of the law.

Olajengbesi said, ‘The police should not stop at the arrest of the suspects involved in the death of Somtochukwu Maduagwu but must pursue diligent prosecution of the suspects.

‘The police said the 12 suspects have confessed to committing the crime. There should be no further delays or investigation as claimed by the police; the suspects should charged to court immediately. ‘The death of the Arise TV reporter is tragic and very painful on its own. Delaying the prosecution of the suspects is more painful and dishonorable to the family of the victim.

‘The diligent and swift prosecution of the suspects will serve as deterrents to criminals of all ranks – a strong message to them that bad behaviour won’t go unpunished.’

The suspects have confessed to the crime, according to the police, who announced their arrest on Thursday. About 15 armed men broke into Unique Apartments, a four-story building with 16 apartments in the city’s Katampe neighbourhood, on September 29.

Somtochukwu, also called Sommie, and the building’s security guard were killed in the armed robbery event.

Telemedicine refers to the delivery of healthcare services such as diagnosis, treatment, and prevention remotely with the use of Information and telecommunication technology.

The wide acceptance and adoption of telemedicine in global healthcare was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional factors contributing to the growth of telemedicine include technological advancement such as the increasing use of cloud technology, remote conferencing and artificial intelligence.

Telemedicine holds significant value, potential to enhance accessibility to health care services, and improving the quality of medical service delivery in Nigeria. In this newsletter, therefore, we highlight the key legal considerations that governs the practice and use of Telemedicine in Nigeria.

Regulatory Landscape

There is currently no exclusive legislation dedicated solely to telemedicine in Nigeria. Telemedicine practice intersects with multiple laws regulating healthcare, technology, data protection, licensing, and professional conduct.

The following laws regulate the practice and use of Telemedicine in Nigeria:

1. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) [‘Constitution’]

Section 37 of the Constitution provides privacy protection for all citizens in respect of their homes, correspondence, telephone conversations, and telegraphic communication.

Therefore, medical practitioners who adopt telemedicine for medical services such as consultation, diagnosis, treatments and prescriptions are obligated to ensure that utmost privacy is maintained in service delivery. Medical records, health information and the line of treatment of a patient must be kept private and confidential.

2. The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (‘NDPA’ or ‘Act’)

The NDPA is a comprehensive law that provides a legal framework for the protection of personal information including the personal data of patients. The NDPA safeguards sensitive and non-sensitive patients’ data, such as medical history, laboratory test result, treatment information, clinical notes and demographic information. Healthcare service and telemedicine platform providers must therefore process the personal data of patients in accordance with the Act.

In providing telemedicine services, medical service providers are expected to comply with the NDPA by ensuring transparent data processing, and regulating cross-border transfer of patient’s data. Additionally, by the provisions of the NDPA, telemedicine platforms must register with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and submit periodic compliance audits to demonstrate compliance with the law.

3. National Health Act 2014 (NHA)

The NHA provides a comprehensive framework for the regulation, development, and management of Nigeria’s healthcare system. Section 29 of NHA mandates health establishments to implement preventive control measures to prevent patients’ health records from unauthorized access. Therefore, telemedicine service providers must put adequate security measures in place to prevent unauthorized access or breach to patients’ records. Section 27 of the NHA also provides for the legal basis for which a health service provider may process the personal data of a patient.

4. Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria 2008 (the ‘Code’)

The Code expressly recognizes telemedicine in Nigeria. Appendix 5 of the Code recommends the use of encryption as a security measure for the transfer of patients’ personal data. Additionally, the Code urges medical professionals to exercise caution to avoid potential legal pitfalls, particularly in areas such as maintaining patient confidentiality.

5. The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 2004 (MDPA)

The MDPA includes measures for discipline of medical and dental practitioners found culpable of misconduct. Such misconducts may include breach of data protection rights of a patient, negligence leading to data breach or such other infractions committed while adopting telemedicine in consultation, diagnosis or treatment of patients in Nigeria.

Strategies for Ensuring Compliance in Telemedicine

To navigate Nigeria’s complex telemedicine regulations effectively, platform providers should: regularly update policies including implementing NDPA-compliant data privacy policies operational documents, with clear patient consent, terms of use etc.;

enhance data privacy and security by investing in security, registering with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), conducting mandatory annual audits, and filing audit reports as required;

perform routine audits, risk and impact assessments to identify and address compliance gaps;

train staff thoroughly on privacy rights, security protocols, and telemedicine-specific issues;

implement risk mitigation via encryption, pseudonymization, and anonymization to protect patients’ data;

maintain robust patient record systems to efficiently handle consultations, prescriptions, and referrals; and

timely submit all regulatory filings, including company annual returns to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and tax returns with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Licensing and Regulatory Compliance Requirements for Operating a Telemedicine Platform in Nigeria

To operate a telemedicine business in Nigeria, compliance requirements include:

1. Company Incorporation

Incorporate a local company with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) per the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). Foreign-owned businesses must also register with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and obtain a business permit from the Federal Ministry of Interior.

2. Registrations and Licensing

Healthcare practitioners must hold valid licenses and qualifications as required by relevant Nigerian health laws. Additional permits may be needed from the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, and others based on the telemedicine model. Telemedicine facilities in Lagos State must annually register with the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA).

3. Data Privacy and Protection

Comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023 including registering with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) as a data controller/processor. The NDPA mandates security measures such as encryption and anonymization to protect patient data and regulate cross-border data transfers.

4. Technology Transfer

Register any foreign technology transfers, including patents related to telemedicine, with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP).

Conclusion

Telemedicine substantially advances healthcare delivery in Nigeria. However, achieving sustainable growth with Telemedicine requires not only innovation but also a thorough understanding of the legal framework and regulatory requirements. By addressing the key legal considerations outlined in this newsletter, businesses and innovators can develop platforms that are both compliant with regulations and capable of making a meaningful societal impact.

Seun Timi-Koleolu is a Founding Partner at Pavestones, a full-service law practice situated in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) has disclosed a remarkable rebound in its operations, which has resulted in the facilitation of N70 billion in commercial financing for agribusiness as at third quarter (Q3) 2025.

This represents NIRSAL strongest annual performance since inception. Since its establishment, NIRSAL has remained faithful to its mandate of de-risking agricultural lending, facilitating finance across the value chain, and proving that agriculture is both bankable and sustainable.

The timing of this turnaround is critical: bank lending to agriculture had been in steady decline, falling from 6.18 percent of aggregate lending in 2022 to 4.82 percent in 2024, while sectoral growth slowed from 2.5 percent to 1.7 percent within the same period.

Its 2025 performance to date signals not just recovery, but a new era of confidence for Nigeria’s farmers, financiers, and the wider economy.

In operation since 2013, this result represents nearly a quarter of the organisation’s cumulative N270 billion facilitated for agriculture and agribusiness to date, an achievement that underscores the impact of NIRSAL’s revamped strategy under its new Board and Executive Management. By applying its signature tools for value chain modelling to address identified issues, providing technical support to agribusinesses and financial institutions, all while deploying its risk-sharing frameworks, NIRSAL has restored lender confidence thus channelling fresh funds into key value chains, including grains, cocoa, shea, and livestock.

In terms of impact, there has been an improvement in local production across key commodities and a positive balance of trade for agriculture, with over 32 percent of the facilitated sum directly supporting value-added commodity export.

Most notably, agriculture’s share of bank lending has risen again to 5.33 percent as of May 2025, reflecting renewed interest from financiers. Two newly licensed banks have also entered the sector relying on NIRSAL’s frameworks, contributing to the N70 billion facilitated so far this year.

Commenting on the milestone, Sa’ad Hamidu, Managing Director/CEO, NIRSAL said: ‘N70 billion may appear modest compared to the size of Nigeria’s agricultural financing needs, but the significance is profound. It proves that agriculture can be commercially and sustainably financed. With the right blend of capital, technical support, and risk mitigation, the sector can become more productive, resilient, and globally competitive.’

Hamidu added that NIRSAL remains confident of hitting its N150 billion target for 2025: ‘This is not yet the peak of the harvest season when merchants typically seek credit for offtake and storage, and when super agro-dealers stock up on fertilisers and inputs ahead of the next planting cycle. Therefore, the opportunities still to come give us every reason for optimism.’

Beyond headline figures, NIRSAL is working to reshape the lending landscape for agriculture. Its integrated model, spanning prospect identification, deal structuring, business advisory, and credit guarantees, handholds agribusinesses from loan origination to disbursement. Also, by providing tailored advisory and risk mitigation, the institution helps businesses once deemed unbankable to gain access to sustainable credit.

Through this approach NIRSAL aid the creation of a pipeline of emerging agribusinesses while supporting established firms to scale. Meanwhile, several borrowers who once engaged NIRSAL have since graduated into routine lending relationships with their bankers whose understanding of the dynamics of agribusiness has grown, leading to greater comfort in lending. This proves that the NIRSAL model is a pathway to long-term sustainability in the agriculture sector.

The N70 billion facilitated so far this year is a direct outcome of NIRSAL’s sustained capacity-building efforts for financial institutions. Through targeted training sessions for over 1,100 staff of banks, NIRSAL has deepened understanding of agricultural financing within its risk-sharing framework leading to an increase in loan request approvals.

Similar training programs for agricultural value chain actors, including 450 participants trained on feedlot management, commodity export, and climate finance so far, will become increasingly evident over time, as capacity and confidence grow across these sub-sectors.

As part of its forward agenda, NIRSAL is developing a digital network it calls the NIRSAL LandBank portal-a connected ecosystem of agricultural stakeholders, from research and development to markets, to provide data-driven insights for investors, policy makers, and development partners for the identification of opportunities, risk reduction, and informed decision-making.

The LandBank portal would become an additional channel for project development, with climate finance another potential source of funding. NIRSAL continues to deepen its interest in and collaboration around climate finance, recently signing an understanding with the Rural Electrification Agency to provide off-grid power to production and processing clusters in rural locations. These efforts, the institution believes, will build resilience into the agricultural value chain and aid Nigeria’s push toward a $1 trillion economy.

Nigeria on Tuesday called for the upholding of fairness and inclusivity in the distribution of the statutory positions within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu made the appeal while declaring open an Ad hoc Ministerial Meeting on the Rotation of Statutory Appointees of ECOWAS Institutions.

She noted that the meeting was a reaffirmation of member states’ shared commitment to upholding the principles of equity, regional balance, and institutional integrity within the governance framework of ECOWAS.

‘I want to assure you that, as part of our enduring commitment to the ideals of regional integration and solidarity, Nigeria will continue to assume its traditional leadership role by constructively engaging with all member states to build consensus and ensure that our collective decisions reflect both equity and a shared vision for the future of our Community,’ she said. Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the task before the committee was crucial, and at the heart of ECOWAS’ regional integration agenda, hence members were carefully constituted to undertake the assignment for the sub-region.

According to her, it is essential to duly recognise and accommodate the aspirations of member states, who have smaller populations or limited resources, but who demonstrate unflinching commitment to ECOWAS.

The minister cautioned that membership of the Ad-hoc Committee should not be construed as a pathway to positions of leadership within the ECOWAS institutions.

Rather, she said, its members’ engagement should be guided by the principles of regional solidarity, prioritising the collective interest of the sub-region above national aspirations.

She explained that, in doing so, they would contribute to fostering deeper unity, mutual trust, and a shared sense of purpose among ECOWAS citizens.

The minister stressed that the task of reviewing and considering proposals for the allocation of statutory positions within ECOWAS institutions for the term 2026 to 2030 was given to them based on trust.

‘This task takes on particular urgency as the current statutory appointees, serving non-renewable four-year terms, are set to complete their tenures between July and October, 2026.

‘Our mandate, therefore, is to carefully review the Commission’s proposals and to submit our report to the Council of Ministers during the Statutory Meetings in December 2025, for its final consideration and subsequent recommendation to the Authority. ‘Let us remain focused on ensuring that the outcomes of our engagements are both meaningful and impactful for the future of our region,’ she added.

Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, in a remark, recalled that in June during the Ministerial Council’s 94th Ordinary Session, he notified the Council that the current management of ECOWAS Institutions’ tenure would elapse by July 14, 2026.

He explained that this was in compliance with the 2012 Supplementary Act on the Modalities for the Allocation of Statutory Positions in ECOWAS Institutions, and Article 14, Paragraph 3 of the Supplementary Act.

Touray added that the Commission would present the memo, which would set out the framework for the allocation of the statutory positions to the committee for final consideration.

‘The memo was prepared taking into account the provisions of the 2012 Supplementary Act and historical data on the allocations of the statutory positions of the institutions since 1975.

‘It is the expectation that the Ad-hoc Committee will review this proposal with the broader interest of the Community at heart.

‘The Commission stands ready to provide any services that would ease the work of the Committee,’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the positions to be filled are those of ECOWAS President, Vice-President, Commissioners, and judges of the Community Court of Justice. Others include the Auditor-General, the Directors-General of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) and the West African Health Organization (WAHO).

The rotation of ECOWAS statutory appointees follows the principle of rotating positions among member countries for equitable representation in the organisation’s executive bodies, as stipulated in its regulations, with a non-renewable four-year term.

The six-member Ad-hoc Committee, which comprises of Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo, will review the proposed appointments allocation and submit it to the Ministerial Council for consideration.

The final document will be forwarded to the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for final decision.