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Nigeria’s long-awaited National Single Window (NSW), the digital platform expected to unify all import and export processes and ease congestion at its busy ports, will begin its first phase of operations in March 2026, according to officials at the Stakeholder Forum held in Lagos on Thursday.

The project, contracted to CrimsonLogic, a Singaporean global technology company, is designed to model successes in Benin, Djibouti and Kenya where it helped reduce business costs, smoothen Customs processes and improve cargo turnaround times.

It is especially crucial for Nigeria where the cost of doing business at its ports is 40 percent higher than in neighbouring West African countries according to the World Bank, leading to annual losses of N2.5 trillion. Abubakar Dantsoho, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) had iconically tagged it ‘the most significant initiative since the 2003 port reforms.’ The launch of the first phase, according to documents made available to BusinessDay will include submission of applications for licenses, certificates and permits (LCPO) for imports, submission of manifests by air, sea and land operators, and risk management for regulatory agencies like the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, NAFDAC and NAQs, that will be followed with operational reports.

Before this, the Steering Committee, led by Tola Fakolade, Head of the NSW project secretariat, said the platform would be pilot-tested by ‘select stakeholders.’ Up to 60 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), associations, security agencies, and trade service providers are lined up for integration into the ‘One-Stop Shop’ upon rollout.

Since the first stakeholder meeting in January, when the Committee reported plans for testing and training, it had undergone a series of consultations and onboarding sessions with the World Bank, Central Bank of Nigeria, the shipping and airport authorities, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Nigeria Police, and other key players to prepare for the rollout.

Stakeholders, however, pointed to issues that must be resolved before the March 2026 deadline for the rollout to be successful. They warned that infrastructure, software and data integration, as well as port infrastructure and access to finance, would require major investment. Both the IT and physical aspects must be adequately funded for things to work.

Their concerns come amid several complaints about the Nigeria Customs Service B’Odogwu, a digital system to replace physical Customs declarations for speed, with many complaining of software hitches that have left them unable to retrieve vital documents needed for clearance, leaving their cargo in the port for weeks, resulting in extra inventory costs.

They say they would hate to go through such an experience with the Single Window.

‘If B’Odogwu is part of the sumptuous food that the NSW is, a hungry man would rather go on a fast for one year than eat it,’ said one clearing agent.

But compliance is a challenge, the stakeholders and even the Customs Service noted, while apologising for breaches to its digital platform. Participants called it the ‘Nigeria factor,’ warning that the human element could make or mar the reform.

Meanwhile, private sector representatives, including Dangote Cement, called for a review of charges on exports, noting that clearing costs in Nigeria are nearly double what firms pay elsewhere and are often billed in dollars, despite local transactions being done in naira. The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), led by Kingsly Igwe suggested that the platform capture tariff preferences across the various trade deals Nigeria has with its trade partners notably the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA), which could reduce logistics costs compared to the current common external tariff structure.

Although the project’s total cost has not been disclosed, officials confirmed that funds have been approved to support the participating agencies. Once fully operational, the Single Window is expected to shorten clearance and export times to one day, reduce physical inspection of containers to less than 10 percent and generate for Nigeria up to $3 billion annually.

The World Bank Group has decried the prices of food in Nigeria, which it said has remained on high side despite early signs of inflation easing.

The Bank in its October edition of the Nigeria Development Update titled: ‘From policy to people: bringing the reform gains home’, despite recent progress in Nigeria’s economy, reform gains have not yet translated into broad-based improvement in living standards.

The report which indicated that the estimated number of Nigerians living in poverty in 2025 was 139 million, showed that high food prices hurts poor households whose food spending accounts for up to 70 percent of their total spending.

High and rising food prices according to the Bank is mainly driven by supply constraints imposed by foreign trade barriers and domestic structural problems.

It noted that essential products in the Nigerian diet are subject to import ban and extraordinary high tariffs, including rice, meat, wheat based products, tomato and sugar.

It emphasised that trade barriers have also led to undersupply, as with maize output, which repeatedly falls short of demand from poultry and maize processing industry.

‘Import barriers also apply to key production inputs such as fertilisers and cement which raise production costs and discourage competitiveness.

‘These import restrictions aim to support domestic production but for the most part, lead to substantial market power, low yields, insufficient food supply and ultimately higher and increasing prices.

‘Internal structural constraints also restrict domestic supply. Poor access to transport, power, storage, and cold chain infrastructure limits farmers market size and increase costs,’ it stated. The Bank however stated that lowering food inflation relies on continued macroeconomic stabilization, increasing access to imported food and inputs, as well as improving institutional and physical infrastructure.

It stated that greater integration into global markets would reduce food prices and allow farmers to access better and cheaper inputs,helping them to make them more competitive. Another measure to addressing high food prices, according to the Bank is staying the course on macroeconomic reforms, which it said is crucial to sustaining aggregate disinflation, adding that ‘food prices are also influenced by naira liquidity, exchange rate flexibility and output gaps in other sectors of the economy.

‘Soft infrastructure is also key to increasing production and shifting the sector from subsistence agriculture to more modern, commercial operations.’

Speaking during a panel session at the report’s launch in Abuja on Wednesday, Ebele Enunwa, managing director, Sunday markets Limited, said that currency devaluation, more than the bans on importation is a major driver of high food prices.

He also highlighted insecurity, which he said affects farmers, scares them of their land. Others factors driving food proces according to Enunwa include: extreme weather, flooding and drought that happens intermittently and affects supply of vegetables.

‘Cost of transportation, which has been aggravated by the fuel subsidy removal, multiple taxation on the roads as well, legal and illegal taxation, by the way, the COVID followed by the Russia-Ukraine war also caused serious shortages in the supply of imported food, like grains.

‘These are the obvious ones, some of the less obvious factors I will mention are the absence of a vibrant food processing industry. For some weird reason, we skip industries in Nigeria, we go from agriculture to manufacturing, the same way we ignore retail. Food processing industry has a very critical role, the primary purpose of which is preserving and extending the shelf life of agro products,’ Enunwa said.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos has warned Bafana Bafana must earn their qualification the hard way when they face already-eliminated Zimbabwe in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday.

Bafana, who are tied on 14 points with Benin but trail on goal difference, are desperate for victory to stay in contention ahead of their final group match against Rwanda at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday. Despite Zimbabwe sitting bottom of the group with just four points, Broos warned that his side should not expect any favours from their southern neighbours.

‘I think this game is one of the most important matches in the past 24 or 25 years,’ Broos said at Thursday’s pre-match press conference in Durban.

‘A victory gives us a big chance to qualify, but a defeat means we can stop dreaming. Zimbabwe have always been a tough opponent and will be no different this time.’

Broos noted that Zimbabwe’s determination to host the fixture outside South Africa showed its intent to make things difficult for Bafana.

‘They are very motivated, we don’t expect favours from them. When a team that played its previous four home games in South Africa suddenly wants to play in Botswana, that tells you everything,’ he added.

‘But we don’t need favours. We believe in ourselves and want to win this match correctly.’ The Belgian coach praised his players’ attitude in training, expressing confidence in their readiness for the high-stakes encounter.

‘The boys are very motivated and understand the importance of this game. What I’ve seen in training over the past three days makes me happy and confident we can do the job,’ Broos said.

He added that a win on Friday could ease the pressure going into the final qualifier against Rwanda.

‘If we win and God is with us, the last match might be different, maybe we won’t even need to win again. But our focus is on doing the job tomorrow.’

Lyle Foster is expected to lead South Africa’s attack, while Zimbabwe goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze said the Warriors would use their remaining qualifiers as part of preparations for the AFCON finals in Morocco.

Looking ahead to December’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group B meeting with Zimbabwe in Morocco, Broos said his team’s mentality remains focused on winning every game.

‘Every match we play, we want to win, that’s the mentality we have. I’m confident we can beat Zimbabwe because the team has the right attitude for such games, not just because we are a good team,’ he said.

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, pardoned Mamman Vatsa, who was sentenced to death over a treason charge in 1986, under the regime of former President Ibrahim Babangida

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement, said Vatsa has received a posthumous pardon from President Bola Tinubu.

Vatsa, a poet, was among the 17 people who received presidential pardons following the endorsement of the National Council of State, which met in Abuja on Thursday. President Tinubu also granted a posthumous pardon to Herbert Macaulay, a Nigerian nationalist and co-founder, along with Nnamdi Azikiwe, of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).

Macaulay was the party’s first President, which played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s struggle for independence.

He was however, believed to be unjustly convicted in 1913, by the British colonialists and banned from public office.

Macaulay died in 1946, but the stigma of being an ex-convict was not exorcised from his records until now. President Tinubu also pardoned four former convicts, including former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, Anastasia Nwaobia, Hussaini Umar and Ayinla Alanamu.

The statement said they were pardoned to enable them to be integrated into society, having demonstrated sufficient remorse.

Nweke Chibueze, serving a life sentence for cocaine, was pardoned, along with Nwogu Peters, who had served 12 out of his 17-year sentence for fraud.

The President also extended the clemency to the Ogoni Nine, Ken Saro Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine were formally pardoned on Thursday, and whose pardon was ratified by the National Council of State. At the same time, the President awarded national honours to the Ogoni Four- Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage.

In exercising his constitutional prerogative of mercy, President Tinubu granted clemency to 82 inmates and reduced the prison terms of 65 others. He gave a reprieve for seven inmates on the death row by commuting their sentences to life imprisonment.

Christopher Kolade, doyen of the boardroom, broadcaster, and teacher, died peacefully early Thursday, aged 93.

Dr Kolade was born in Erin-Oke, Osun State, Nigeria, in 1932. He was the son of an Anglican missionary and completed his secondary-school education at Government College, Ibadan, after which he studied at Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone. He worked as a broadcaster and was Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. He was Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc and formerly the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Kolade was a colonial-era education officer in Nigeria. And taught corporate governance and human resources management at the Lagos Business School (LBS), as well as leadership and conflict management at the School of Media and Communication (SMC). LBS and SMC are both schools of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. Formerly a member of the university’s Governing Council, Kolade also served as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Pan-Atlantic University. He was also the Chancellor of McPherson University, Ogun, Nigeria.

Kolade has promoted business integrity in Nigeria through his chairmanship of organisations such as Integrity Organisation Ltd GTE and The Convention on Business Integrity Ltd GTE.

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested twelve suspected armed robbers allegedly involved in the violent attack that claimed the life of Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, Arise News Anchor, during a robbery incident in Gishiri, Abuja.

According to a police source, the suspects, all males and one female, were identified as Shamsudeen Hassan from Malumfashi Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State; Hassan Isah, 22, from Zaria, Kaduna State; Abubakar Alkamu, also known as Abba, 27, from Musawa LGA, Katsina State; Sani Sirajo, also known as Dan Borume, 20, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Mashkur Jamilu, also known as Abba, 28, from Igabi LGA, Kaduna State; Suleiman Badamasi, also known as Dan-Sule, 21, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Abdul Salam Saleh, also known as Na-Durudu, from Katsina LGA, Katsina State; Zaharadeen Muhammad, also known as Gwaska, 23, from Chikun LGA, Kaduna State; Musa Adamu, also known as Musa Hassan, 30, from Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State; Sumayya Mohammed, also known as Baby, 27, from Saminaka LGA, Kaduna State; Isah Abdulrahman, also known as Abbati, 25, from Zaria LGA, Kaduna State; and Musa Umar, also known as Small, 31, from Maiduguri LGA, Borno State.

Police investigations revealed that four of the suspects, Shamsudeen Hassan, Abubakar Alkamu, Sani Sirajo, and one other accomplice, were the first to be apprehended after detectives tracked mobile phones stolen from the victims’ apartment.

During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan reportedly confessed to shooting the security guard who attempted to prevent their entry into the compound. Sani Sirajo told investigators that he tried to hold Maduagwu as she struggled and fell from the three-storey building during the robbery but was unable to sustain her weight.

Shamsudeen further admitted that he drove away in the white Honda CR-V belonging to the victims after the operation. The suspects disclosed that each of them received ?200,000 as their share from the robbery proceeds.

Recovered exhibits from the gang include a fabricated AK-47 rifle, 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition, a locally made pistol, a pump-action gun, two live cartridges, four mobile phones belonging to the victims, two sharp knives, a cutlass, and nine torchlights used during the operation.

Further investigation led to the arrest of additional gang members on October 8, 2025.

Acting on a tip-off and actionable digital intelligence, police operatives intercepted suspects Musa Umar (Small), Hassan Isah, and others while en route to another planned robbery operation in the Maitama area of Abuja, scheduled to take place in the early hours of the following morning.

All suspects have reportedly confessed to their roles in the Gishiri robbery and the death of Maduagwu.

As of press time, the FCT Police Command had yet to confirm the arrest. Efforts to reach Josephine Adeh, FCT Police Public Relations Officer, proved abortive, as calls to her phone were declined and messages sent via WhatsApp went unanswered.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Thursday, urged President Bola Tinubu to accept the recent verdict of the World Bank, in its October 2025 report, which shows that 139 million Nigerians are now living below the poverty line, up from 81 million in 2019,

This is just as the party accused the government of ‘masking its domestic economic failures with creative statistics that paint rosy pictures of economic progress while the people continue to suffer.’

Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC national publicity secretary, in a statement on his X handle, noted that the World Bank report has also exposed ‘the wide gap between the government’s rhetoric of economic progress and the lived reality of Nigerians.’

The party said Nigeria’s domestic poverty threshold, roughly N137,000 per month, or about $90, sits far below the global real-value benchmark, adding that ‘By using a deflated local measure, the government effectively undercounts millions of poor Nigerians.

‘The implication of this ‘race to the bottom’ statistics is that, using the Tinubu government’s revised definition of poverty, citizens who are globally poor will appear statistically fine in Nigeria.

‘ In reality, however, they would have become invisible to a policy that mistakes low expectations for progress. A poverty line that is set too low does not protect the poor; it hides them. The APC cannot fix poverty by attempting to redefine it downward.

‘The ADC believes that what Nigeria needs now is not cosmetic reform, but a government that puts the people first and understands that inclusive growth is not just another slogan, it is a conscientious strategy.

‘The ADC therefore calls on the Tinubu-led APC government to stop celebrating revenue as achievement and start putting the people first by prioritising food security, job creation, and targeted social protection systems that shield the 139 million vulnerable Nigerians that their ill-thought-out economic policies have created.’

It noted that the verdict of the global financial institution, is a ‘clear confirmation that the economic policies of the Tinubu-led APC government have ruined the lives and livelihoods of the majority of Nigerians.’ The ADC said while the administration celebrates increased revenue and meeting revenue targets, more citizens are slipping into abject poverty at a rate never seen before in Nigeria.

The latest statistics released by the World Bank, represents about 61% of the population, which the ADC says is a clear evidence that the economic policies of the Tinubu-led APC government have actually sent more Nigerians into abject poverty, contrary to the government’s performance propaganda and claims of progress. ‘The World Bank numbers tell a simple but painful story: under the APC and President Bola Tinubu’s government, more Nigerians have fallen into poverty than at any other time in our history. In 2019, four out of ten Nigerians were poor. Today, it is, at least, six out of ten.’

Referencing President Tinubu’s recent Independence Day broadcast to the nation, where he stated that ‘the worst is over’, the party said the President was ‘bandying statistics which have now been proven to be calculated whitewash to serve the government’s narrative of progress.

‘ What is important is the reality that those numbers were meant to hide. Behind President Tinubu’s shiny statistics are the grim realities of historic human suffering – families skipping meals, children dropping out of school, and households selling assets just to buy food and basic drugs to survive.

‘Under the APC, nearly 30 million Nigerians have now joined the ranks of the ultra-poor – those who, even if they spend every naira they earn on food, still cannot afford enough calories to survive.’

The party noted that, ‘While the government celebrates record revenue collection and the illusion of economic stability, the World Bank’s data shows that Nigerians are actually growing poorer by the day.

‘Food inflation has gone through the roof, with the price of a bag of rice multiplying five times in just four years. Poor families now spend roughly 70 percent of their income on food, leaving nothing for rent, school fees, or medicine.’

The ADC also noted that the so-called social safety nets that should protect the vulnerable have also collapsed, with coverage falling from 20 percent in 2019 to just 6 percent in 2025.

‘The Government support to the poorest citizens is almost non-existent, amounting to a mere 0.14 percent of GDP compared to a global average of 1.5 percent.

‘What all this means is that Nigerians are worse off under the APC and President Bola Tinubu’s government.’

According to the ADC, ‘contrary to the President’s claim, the worst is not over; instead, it appears that the worst has actually not arrived.

‘Rather than continuing to dig in to defend its propaganda, the government should accept the unbiased verdict from its partner, the World Bank, and try to make amends before it is too late.

‘To make matters worse, the government’s entire approach to poverty measurement now seems designed to flatter itself rather than to help the poor.’

Nigerians may need to start rethinking traditional academic pathways, by adopting international in-demand certifications for better career prospects and earnings. There are several international certifications which have become a powerful alternative to university degrees.

Recent insights from the United States (US) – based Burning Glass Institute (BGI) underscores this shift.

The institute drew on data from over 65 million individual career histories, representing about 40 percent of the US workforce, BGI’s credential value index assessed more than 23,000 non-degree certifications to identify those that most effectively improved workers’ salaries. Although the findings are based on the US labour market, they hold significant relevance for Nigeria, where the demand for globally recognised skills is rising. Professional certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Cisco Networking (CCNA), AWS Cloud Practitioner, and Google Data Analytics are increasingly sought after by employers both locally and overseas.

For Nigerians working in the country, these certifications can help bridge the skills gap that often limits access to better-paying role, particularly in sectors such as technology, finance, engineering, logistics, and construction, where practical expertise is valued as much as academic qualifications.

For those seeking international opportunities, globally recognised certifications can significantly enhance employability, enabling Nigerian professionals to compete favourably in the global talent market. With remote and hybrid work, these qualifications also open doors to freelance contracts and international projects without requiring physical relocation. Globally, certifications that demonstrate specialised skills and up-to-date industry knowledge can provide a competitive edge which proves for Nigerian professionals that career success no longer depends solely on a university degree, but increasingly on continuous learning and globally relevant credentials.

Here are the top seven certifications that can increase earnings based on findings from BGI: Top certifications that increase earnings

Project Management Certification: £6,500 minimum annually. Suitable for construction managers, project management specialists.

Associate Certified Electronics Technician: £4,300 minimum annually. Suitable for electrical and electronic engineering technologists, computer network architects.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): £2,600 minimum annually. Suitable for computer systems analysts and IT support specialists.

Certified Coding Associate (CCA): £2,500 minimum annually. Suitable for network and systems administrators, computer network architects.

Check Point Certified Security Expert (CCSE): £2,100 minimum annually . Suitable for sales engineers and information security analysts.

Citrix Netscaler SD-WAN Certification (CC-SDWAN): £1,800minimum annually. Suitable for network support specialists, facilities managers.

Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA): £1,700 minimum annually. Suitable for information security analysts, network support specialists.

Strengthens capacity to expand financing in infrastructure, energy, trade, and digital innovation.

Citibank Nigeria Limited (Citi) on Thursday announced that it had successfully met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN)’s new minimum capital requirement of N200 billion for national commercial banks.

In a statement seen By BusinessDay, the bank said the achievement reinforces its enduring commitment to Nigeria’s financial sector and economic growth.

Nneka Enwereji, MD/CEO of Citibank Nigeria Limited, stated, ‘Meeting the CBN’s N200 billion capital requirement is more than compliance – it is a statement of confidence in Nigeria’s future and a deliberate investment in its next chapter of growth.

‘For 41 years, we have partnered with Nigeria’s governments, banks, corporations, and communities. With a strengthened balance sheet, Citi is ready to expand support for clients across priority sectors including infrastructure, energy and trade. Citi has a legacy of pioneering innovative solutions in Nigeria and this investment will help expand digital innovation and payment solutions, while advancing social finance initiatives aligned with national development priorities.’

Citi has consistently acted as a trusted conduit for foreign direct investment, actively showcasing Nigeria’s robust reform momentum to global investors. Leveraging its extensive international network, the bank connects Nigerian institutions with global capital, convening senior policymakers and corporates to explore opportunities in trade, industry and cross-regional capital flows.

The bank has been instrumental in shaping a deeper, more resilient financial market that fosters sustainable growth.

Speaking on the importance of the milestone, Ebru Pakcan, head of Middle East and Africa at Citi, said: ‘As one of Africa’s largest and most dynamic economies, Nigeria has consistently demonstrated resilience and opportunity. This milestone reflects the strength of our franchise

and reinforces our long-term commitment to supporting Nigeria’s growth and connectingclients to opportunities across our global network.’

Reflecting on the achievement, Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, chairman of the board, Citibank Nigeria Limited, added: ‘This milestone highlights both our financial strength and our dedication to

sustainable growth. Citi has consistently played a central role in Nigeria’s financial system, and this recapitalisation further enhances our capacity to support clients, investors, and the broader economy. We remain steadfast in positioning Nigeria as a key destination for global capital.’

Citi’s vision is to be the pre-eminent bank for clients with cross-border needs. With over 200

years of global leadership in financial services and dedicated in-country teams in over 90 fully

licensed banking operations worldwide, the bank combines global perspective with local

expertise to help clients navigate challenges and capitalise on growth opportunities.

By integrating this significant capital commitment with its global reach, Citi reinforces its position as a catalyst for growth, contributing to a stronger and more dynamic landscape for Nigeria’s future.

As food prices soar and more Nigerian households struggle to afford basic meals, a renewed call for resilience in the country’s food system is gaining momentum.

Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited is convening stakeholders across government, private sector, civil society, and media for the ‘Sahel Food Systems Changemakers Conference 2025’, aimed at rethinking how agricultural programmes are designed and sustained.

Themed ‘Designing for Legacy: Building Resilient and Impact-Driven Food Systems,’ the conference comes amid rising concerns over Nigeria’s dependence on short-term donor-driven projects that often collapse when funding ends.

‘When we talk about legacy, we are talking about resilience – programmes that last beyond a donor’s funding window and continue to deliver impact for farmers, families, and communities,’ said Temitope Adegoroye, managing partner at Sahel Consulting.

She explained that billions of dollars have gone into Nigeria’s agricultural development in the last decade, but persistent structural challenges – from low productivity to poor coordination – continue to undermine progress. ‘Too often, projects thrive while funding is flowing, but once it stops, everything comes to a halt. We need new models embedded in local systems, owned by communities, and strengthened by private sector leadership,’ she said.

The call for reform comes at a time of shifting global development priorities. With major international funders scaling back in 2025, many organisations that once shaped Africa’s food security landscape are struggling to remain viable.

For Nigeria, this presents both a crisis and an opportunity – a chance to chart a path toward homegrown resilience.

‘Funders, governments, and communities all agree that we cannot keep doing the same things and expect different results,’ Adegoroye noted. ‘We must design for legacy – initiatives that outlive donor cycles, empower local actors, and build resilience into the food system from the start,’ she added.

The upcoming conference, scheduled for October 30, 2025, will bring together policymakers, private investors, researchers, and grassroots leaders to discuss innovative policy and investment strategies.

Participants will reflect on lessons from past interventions, share successful models, and explore ways to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on external aid.

One of the conference’s priorities is to emphasise responsible public spending in agricultural programmes. Adegoroye stressed that projects must move away from patronage-driven models.

‘We cannot see projects as opportunities to fill pockets. They must drive real, lasting impact, owned by the people who live with the outcomes,’ she noted. Experts say Nigeria’s food system remains vulnerable because many agricultural interventions fail to take root locally. Programmes are often externally designed and donor-dependent, with limited local ownership. This has made sustainability a recurring challenge even in successful projects.

By bringing together a diverse range of voices – from policymakers and private investors to farmers, community leaders, and journalists – the group hopes to foster cross-sector collaboration that can drive lasting change.

‘This is not the usual conference,’ Adegoroye said. ‘It is a chance to unlearn, relearn, and design initiatives that truly serve our people and our future. If we succeed, generations to come will inherit food systems that are stronger, fairer, and more resilient.’

Sahel Consulting, an African advisory firm working with governments, private sector actors, and development partners, says the ultimate goal is to translate dialogue into tangible actions that strengthen food security, promote value addition, and ensure sustainable livelihoods for farmers.