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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said the cost of the federal government’s electricity subsidy was reduced to N514.35 billion in the second quarter of 2025 (Q2 2025) from the N536.40 billion paid in the Q1 2025.

The decline was by 4.11 per cent, according to the commission’s Q3 Report.

The payment of subsidy was incurred due to the lack of a cost-reflective tariff.

NERC said, ‘The total amount invoiced by the GenCos for energy delivered to each DisCo and the DRO-adjusted NBET invoice to the respective DisCos during 2025/Q2.

‘It is important to note that due to the absence of cost-reflective tariffs across all DisCos, the Government incurred a subsidy obligation of ?514.35 billion 21; this represents a ?22.04 billion (-4.11 per cent) reduction in FGN subsidy compared to 2025/Q1 (?536.40 billion).’

The report also noted that although the subsidy obligation of the government decreased in naira terms (-?22.04 billion), it accounted for 59.60 per cent of the total GenCo invoice, which is a

0.44pp increase compared to 2025/Q1 when subsidy accounted for 59.16 per cent of the total GenCo invoice.

NERC said this is because the actual generation cost (?/kWh) increased by 0.59 per cent, while the allowed end-user tariffs remained unchanged across the quarters.

According to the report, the total revenue collected by all DisCos in 2025/Q2 was ?564.71 billion out of the ?742.34 billion that was billed to customers.

This, said NERC, translates to a collection efficiency of 76.07 per cent.

In comparison, the report said, the total revenue collected by all DisCos in 2025/Q1 was ?553.63 billion out of the ?744.26 billion billed to customers, which translated to a 74.39 per cent collection efficiency.

This means that at an aggregate level, DisCos recorded a 1.68pp increase in collection efficiency between 2025/Q1 and 2025/Q2, according to the report.

NERC revealed that in 2025/Q2, three DisCos recorded collection efficiencies greater than 80% with Eko (87.80%) recording the highest collection efficiency.

Conversely, it said Jos DisCo recorded the lowest collection efficiency at 43.82 per cent.

It added that on the other hand, the remaining five DisCos recorded declines in collection efficiency, with Abuja (-3.93pp) and Jos (-3.37pp) DisCos having the most significant declines across the quarters.

NERC explained that the Market Operator issues invoices to DisCos for energy transmission and administrative services.

The report said the period under review, DisCos made a total remittance of ?65.30 billion against the cumulative invoice of ?68.68 billion issued by the MO.

This payment, according to the report, translates to 95.07 per cent remittance performance and is a 1.25pp decrease when compared to 96.32 percent remittance performance recorded in 2025/Q1, when DisCos remitted ?59.49 billion out of ?61.76 billion invoice issued by the MO.

On the remittances made by bilateral customers (domestic and international) and special customers for invoices issued in 2025/Q2 by the MO, NERC noted they are the six international bilateral customers being supplied by GenCos in the NESI made a payment of $9.01 million against the cumulative invoice of $17.54 million issued by the MO for services rendered in 2025/Q2, translating to a remittance performance of 51.33 per cent.

It also said the domestic bilateral customers made a cumulative payment of ?1.401.00 billion against the invoice of ?2.796.29 billion issued to them by the MO for services rendered in 2025/Q2, translating to 50.10 per cent remittance performance.

The report explained that one domestic bilateral customer made payments during 2025/Q2 for outstanding MO invoices from previous quarters.

NERC said the MO received ?10.53 million from Trans-Amadi (OAU/FMPI) towards outstanding invoices from previous quarters.

Meanwhile, it said the special customer (Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd and the host community) did not make any payment towards the ?1.27 billion (NBET) and ?0.12 billion (MO) invoices received in 2025/Q2.

It explained that this continues a longstanding trend of non-payment by this customer, and the Commission has communicated the need for intervention on this issue to the relevant FGN authorities.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has cautioned against the rising proliferation of northern groups with similar objectives, warning that such parallel formations threaten the unity and collective strength of the North.

Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees (BOT), Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, Wazirin Dutse, gave the warning during the Forum’s BOT meeting on Tuesday in Kaduna, which also had state chairmen, secretaries, and members of the Arewa100% Focus group in attendance.

Dalhatu said the forum was compelled to invite all state chapters to discuss two urgent matters, the need for a unified communication protocol among officials, and preparations for the ACF Silver Jubilee scheduled for November.

He lamented that contradictory statements by some national and state officials had caused confusion and threatened the Forum’s image, stressing that the BOT had both the obligation and authority to determine and enforce communication policies. ‘No doubt, the ACF today stands in great need of a firm protocol that should guide and regulate the manner in which officials speak about our affairs,’ he stated.

Speaking on the upcoming Silver Jubilee, Dalhatu said the November 20-22 celebration in Kaduna would feature the launch of an endowment fund, books presentation, and fundraising for a befitting national headquarters that reflects the Forum’s history, culture, and aspirations.

He expressed appreciation to members of the organising committees and called on all ACF members to turn out en masse to celebrate the milestone, describing it as an opportunity to reposition the forum for greater relevance in northern and national affairs.

On politics, the ACF BOT chairman reminded members that the Forum remains a socio-cultural and non-partisan organisation. ‘Although members may belong to political parties of their choice, as an organisation, ACF is politically neutral and will not support one party over another,’ he said, urging officials to maintain neutrality ahead of the 2027 elections.

Dalhatu also cautioned against the ‘unhealthy proliferation’ of northern associations with objectives similar to the ACF, recalling that in 2000, northern leaders, including former presidents, governors, traditional rulers, and intelligentsia-merged several groups to form a united Arewa Consultative Forum.

‘In deference to the memory of these elder statesmen, northerners thinking of creating parallel or splinter groups should rethink their actions and come back within the ACF. There is enough room in the Forum to accommodate all northerners,’ he urged.

He further directed state chapters to intensify membership drives and establish local government branches to strengthen grassroots presence and unity.

While commending security forces for their sacrifices against insurgency and banditry, Dalhatu prayed for the repose of fallen soldiers and urged continuous strategy reviews to minimize casualties.

The ACF BOT chairman also condemned alleged sabotage attempts against the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, describing them as ‘unpatriotic and unacceptable.’ He said those behind the disruptions were working against Nigeria’s economic progress and urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to protect the national asset.

Dalhatu concluded by thanking ACF members who attended the meeting both physically and virtually for their sacrifice and commitment to the organization’s ideals.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the departure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the completion of his second and final term in office.

Yakubu, appointed in November 2015 as the 14th chairman of the commission, served two consecutive five-year terms, with his second term beginning in 2020. His tenure formally ended in October 2025, marking the conclusion of a decade-long leadership of Nigeria’s electoral body.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended Professor Yakubu for his dedicated service and contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy through the conduct of credible, free, and fair elections.

‘President Tinubu thanked Professor Yakubu for his services to the nation and his efforts to sustain Nigeria’s democracy,’ the statement read, highlighting his pivotal role in modernizing electoral administration during a period of significant political evolution.

As a mark of national appreciation, the President has conferred on Professor Yakubu the honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), one of Nigeria’s highest national distinctions.

The President further directed that May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior National Commissioner at INEC, should immediately assume leadership of the commission in acting capacity, pending the conclusion of the process to appoint a substantive successor.

In a letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu had expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the nation for ten years.

‘In the letter dated October 3, 2025, Professor Yakubu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the nation as chairman of the commission since 2015’, the statement said.

Mainstream Global Insurance Brokers has been officially announced as the Title Sponsor of the highly anticipated Oke Ogun Open Tennis Tournament 2025, set to take place in Ado Awaye, Oyo State between November 18 and 20 2025.

The partnership marks a major boost for the fast-growing tennis event, which continues to attract top talents and sports enthusiasts from across the Oke Ogun region and beyond.

As title sponsor, Mainstream Global Insurance Brokers reaffirms commitment to supporting youth development, sports excellence, and community engagement through meaningful corporate social responsibility initiatives.

According to the project Coordinator of OkeOgun Tennis Club, Oloye Bola Olalere, the organisers of the tournament, the 2025 edition promises to be the most exciting yet, featuring a lineup of competitive matches, community tennis clinics, and dedication of ‘ our brand new tennis court built at the foot of Ado mountain with special attractions highlighting the scenic beauty of Ado Awaye – home to the famous Iyake Suspended Lake, one of Africa’s natural wonders.’

The Oke Ogun Open Tennis Tournament 2025 will serve as a platform for emerging talents and a celebration of unity, fitness, and regional pride.

It will also feature the induction of about 100 Young Players into the presitigious OkeOgun Tennis Club.

With Mainstream Global Insurance Brokers leading the way as title sponsor, the event is set to reach new heights of professionalism and excitement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appealed to the authorities of the Republic of Benin to release Nigerian national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, to enable him to receive proper medical treatment and serve out his sentence in Nigeria.

Egbaji, a businessman and cleric from Cross River State, has reportedly been detained for nearly two years in a hospital in Cotonou under dehumanising conditions, with his health said to be deteriorating rapidly.

The Nigerian government expressed deep concern over his worsening condition and ongoing trial in Benin Republic.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a statement issued through her media aide, Dr. Magnus Eze, disclosed that discussions with the Nigerian Mission in Cotonou confirmed that Pastor Egbaji’s health is steadily declining and requires urgent medical intervention.

The statement further read, ‘She stated that the Ministry had made spirited effort to rescue the troubled Egbaji in line with the citizen diplomacy thrust of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.

‘The minister who in early August, visited Egbaji in the Cotonou hospital alongside the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, disclosed that the Ministry had requested the transfer of the Nigerian national to receive the deserved medical care and serve out his custodial term in Nigeria.

‘She explained that Nigeria was worried over the pace of the Benin authorities in addressing the situation and acceding to its request.

‘Noting the longstanding cordial relations between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, founded on shared cultural heritage, bonds of trust, mutual respect, and a spirit of brotherhood, she urged the country to consent to Nigeria’s request and accelerate the release of the detained Nigerian pastor.

‘Odumegwu-Ojukwu also disclosed that Nigeria’s position was further highlighted in a recent letter to the Republic of Benin Government.

‘It is against this backdrop of solidarity and mutual goodwill that I seek Your Excellency’s kind consideration regarding the plight of a Nigerian national, Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who has been serving a custodial sentence in Cotonou since October 2023 for a jail term of 10 years. As Your Excellency may be aware, Pastor Egbaji has been in Benin Republic for over three decades, contributing meaningfully as an entrepreneur, pastor, and community leader.

‘Regrettably, his health has deteriorated severely while in detention. Two independent medical experts appointed by the court recently recommended that he be transferred abroad for urgent medical care, as local interventions have proved ineffective.

‘In the spirit of our longstanding friendship and in recognition of the humanitarian imperative, not being unmindful of the grievous nature of the offence he is charged with, we kindly request that Pastor Egbaji be repatriated to Nigeria to serve out the remainder of his sentence in a Nigerian Correctional Centre,’ she stated.

She reiterated that this gesture would demonstrate in practical terms the enduring spirit of fraternity and cooperation that bind Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

Despite a two-decade global decline in traditional tobacco use, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has sounded the alarm over a new surge in nicotine addiction fueled by e-cigarettes and other emerging tobacco products, particularly among young people.

According to a new WHO global report, the number of tobacco users worldwide has dropped from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024 – a 27 percent reduction. However, one in every five adults across the globe remains addicted to nicotine.

More concerning, the report revealed that over 100 million people now use e-cigarettes, including about 15 million adolescents aged 13 to 15, who are on average nine times more likely to vape than adults.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the trend as a ‘fightback’ by the tobacco industry, accusing it of using sophisticated marketing strategies and sleek new nicotine products – such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches – to hook the next generation of users.

‘Millions are quitting thanks to tobacco control efforts,’ he said. ‘But the tobacco industry is fighting back with new products aggressively targeting young people. Governments must act faster and stronger in implementing proven tobacco control policies.’

For the WHO Director of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention, Dr Etienne Krug, ‘E-cigarettes are fuelling a new wave of nicotine addiction. They are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.’

The report shows that women are leading the global quit revolution. Between 2010 and 2024, the number of female tobacco users fell sharply from 277 million to 206 million, reducing global prevalence among women from 11% to 6.6%. Women met the global 30% reduction target for 2025 five years early, in 2020.

Men, however, lag behind. With nearly one billion still using tobacco, men account for over 80% of global users. Their prevalence dropped from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024, but at a pace too slow to meet global targets before 2031.

WHO’s analysis presents a mixed picture of global tobacco use. South-East Asia recorded the most progress, with male tobacco use nearly halved, from 70 percent in 2000 to 37 percent in 2024, accounting for over half of the global decline.

The Americas followed with a 36 percent relative reduction, bringing prevalence down to 14 percent.

In contrast, Africa recorded the lowest prevalence globally at 9.5 percent, but population growth continues to push up the absolute number of users.

Europe now stands out as the world’s highest-prevalence region, with 24.1 percent of adults still using tobacco. European women also have the highest female tobacco use globally, at 17.4 percent.

The Eastern Mediterranean region reported a prevalence rate of 18 percent, with some countries showing rising trends, while the Western Pacific region showed the slowest progress. 22.9 percent of adults still use tobacco, with men in the region recording the world’s highest prevalence at 43.3 percent.

WHO is calling for urgent action from governments to step up the fight against tobacco and nicotine products. The global health organisation recommends countries adopt and enforce the MPOWER package, a set of proven tobacco control measures under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Key actions include raising tobacco taxes, banning advertising and sponsorships, closing regulatory loopholes for emerging products like e-cigarettes, and expanding cessation services to help millions quit.

‘Nearly 20% of adults still use tobacco and nicotine products. We cannot let up now,’ warned Dr Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. ‘The world has made gains, but stronger, faster action is the only way to beat the tobacco epidemic.’

The WHO’s warning underscores a troubling paradox: while traditional tobacco smoking is declining, the nicotine industry is reinventing addiction through modern technology and youth-focused marketing.

Without stronger regulations and renewed political will, experts warn, a new generation could be trapped in the cycle of nicotine dependence just as the world was beginning to win the fight against it.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Tuesday organised a sensitisation campaign in Kano to raise awareness about the dangers of consuming chemically ripened fruits, adulterated meat, and contaminated grains.

The workshop, held at Gidauniya Hall of the Kano Foundation, focused on promoting food quality standards, safety regulations, and fair business practices in the food sector.

FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman, Olatunji Bello, described access to safe, nutritious, and unadulterated food as a vital pillar of public health, economic growth, and national security.

Bello, represented by the Director of Quality Assurance and Development, Dr. Nkechi Mba, noted that ensuring food safety is a shared responsibility involving regulators, manufacturers, and consumers alike.

He expressed concern over the growing trend of harmful food practices, particularly the forceful ripening of fruits with dangerous chemicals such as calcium carbide, which contains toxic traces of arsenic and phosphorus.

The campaign forms part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to safeguard consumer health and ensure compliance with food safety standards across the country.

‘Adulteration of food products with dangerous additives and preservative chemicals such as bromate, Sudan red colorant, sniper and formalin.

‘Improper handling and contamination across the food value chain, from farm to table such as poor storage conditions, unhygienic environment, poor waste disposal, exposure of food stuffs to flies, insects and rodents etc.

‘These practices not only endanger the lives of millions of Nigerians, but they also erode consumer trust and sabotage the integrity of our food systems.

‘The FCCPC, as the apex consumer protection body in Nigeria, has the statutory mandate to promote consumer interests, ensure fair market practices, and prevent exploitative or dangerous conduct in all sectors of the economy including the food and agricultural sector,’ Bello stated.

The Director, Consumer and Business Education, Yahaya Garba Kudan, said the food industry-forced ripening of fruits, adulterated palm oil, contaminated meat, and grains were issues that affect, not only people’s health and well-being but also the integrity of the nation’s food supply chain.

‘It is disturbing to note the increasing incidences of harmful practices in food production and processing. These practices not only pose significant health risks but also undermine consumer trust in the food industry,’ Kudan said.

He noted that FCCPC was committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that they have access to safe and high-quality food, and the programme was a testament to the commission’s dedication to educating and empowering consumers, farmers, vendors, and all stakeholders involved in the food supply chain.

The programme featured experts who shared insights on how to identify and prevent the harmful practices.

‘To all stakeholders present: farmers, food processors, vendors, and business owners, you are critical to the nation’s food security and health, as they say, ‘you are what you eat.

‘Therefore, you all have the responsibility and duty of care to the public as every product you put on the shelves for consumers affects a family or a community positively or negatively. Abstain from the use of harmful substances in food processing,’ the director told the participants.

The commission said it was collaborating with relevant agencies, such as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOSW), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and State and Local Government Health and Agriculture authorities to improve compliance with food safety laws and consumer rights.

Embattled Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has resigned from his position.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Nnaji in August 2023.

A statement by presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga confirmed Nnaji’s resignation.

Onanuga said: ‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him.

‘He resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria.

‘Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents.

‘President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours.’

The latest development followed a an investigative report, which alleged that Nnaji submitted forged academic and NYSC certificates to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial nomination process in 2023.

The report claimed that the UNN disowned the degree certificate submitted by Nnaji, stating that although he was admitted in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, confirmed this in a response to a Freedom of Information request dated October 2, in which he stated that Nnaji was not a graduate of the institution.

This contradicted a December 2023 response from UNN’s Registrar, Celine Nnebedum, who had previously confirmed Nnaji’s graduation but later recanted before the Public Complaints Commission in 23 May 2025 letter that the university searched its graduation records for the 1985 session but could not find Nnaji’s name on them.

The investigation also revealed that in a court affidavit, Nnaji admitted that the university never issued him a degree certificate and that he had ‘never collected one.’

In September, Nnaji filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission, UNN, Vice-Chancellor Ortuanya, and others, seeking to restrain the university from ‘tampering’ with his academic records.

The case was heard on Monday, with Sebastian Hon (SAN) representing Nnaji, while E.M. Asogwa appeared for the university and its officials.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oba Maduabuchi, has stated that the suit filed in the Federal High Court, Abuja, to prevent ex-President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting in 2027 is ‘an abuse of court process.’

The senior lawyer made this known on Tuesday while featuring on Arise TV’s Morning Show.

‘An abuse of court process is when you want to relitigate a case or an issue that has already been settled by a court of competent jurisdiction,’ he said.

He added that Jonathan’s qualification or disqualification has already been adjudicated in Yenegoa, and since ‘nobody has taken that issue on appeal . until that judgment is set aside, it remains what the law is.’

Maduabuchi said any party that takes that settled issue to a court of coordinate jurisdiction is simply ‘abusing the process of the court’ and branded such action as one by ‘a busy body.’

He observed that what controls any situation is the law in force ‘when the act in issue was done,’ asking whether Section 1373 existed in 2010 when Jonathan took the oath of office.

He said the law only came into effect in 2018 and ‘when Goodluck Jonathan was taking the oath of office . there was no statutory limitation . which could inhibit him from running his constitutionally guaranteed two terms.’

He questioned whether Jonathan swore any oath after the amendment of 1373 and likened attempts to apply a later law earlier to punishing someone under a law that did not exist when the act occurred.

He recalled that judges’ retirement age was formerly 65, then changed to 70, and asked if a judge who had retired just before that change would sue to be reinstated under the new law.

He emphasised that law demands certainty, and noted that ‘in 2011 and 2010, when Goodluck Jonathan swore the oath . Prohibition of 1372 was not in existence. It was not binding on him.’

He said no ‘pyrotechnic’ argument can breathe existence into a law that did not exist.

He further referenced a case in the Federal Court of Appeal, which affirmed that Jonathan had the right to run, and one cannot apply retrospective laws to him.

The federal government has launched an independent data platform for the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to ensure the timely and accurate rendition of solid minerals revenue data across states.

The initiative is aimed at eliminating discrepancies in the figures submitted by government agencies and operators in the solid minerals sector.

The new platform, according to the Commission, will serve as a reliable, discrepancy-free data source that can be used for verification, comparison, and attribution of revenues generated from the solid minerals sector into the Federation Account.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at a one-day sensitization exercise on the implementation of a new solid minerals data rendition template for effective revenue monitoring, the Chairman of RMAFC, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, represented by Hon. Ibrahim Shettima, the Federal Commissioner representing Niger State in the Commission, said the new system was designed to close existing information gaps and strengthen transparency in revenue reporting.

Dr. Shehu said, ‘It is imperative that the perceived discrepancies in the figures submitted by State Governments and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development as revenue from the solid minerals sector into the Federation Account be addressed through the use of a uniform solid minerals data rendition template.’

According to him, the template will clearly specify the ‘scale of measurement used to report quantity, actual location of production aside from the State, the company mining the mineral, and the rate being sold per unit of measurement.’

He stated that this approach would improve accuracy and efficiency in the process of monitoring revenues from the solid minerals sector. ‘This process is aimed at enhancing effective revenue monitoring,’ he explained.

Dr. Shehu pointed out that RMAFC’s role is constitutionally mandated, noting that ‘the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission is empowered by paragraph 32 (a) of Part I to the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), to, among other things, monitor accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account.’

He further stated that the Commission has a responsibility to identify areas of potential revenue growth, lapses, or discrepancies in remittances from all economic sectors.

‘It is therefore a responsibility of the Commission to look into areas of potentials, lapses or discrepancies in revenue remittances into the Federation Account from all economic sectors for the purpose of advising the three tiers of government on appropriate ways to enhance their revenue, as enshrined in paragraph 32 (c) of Part I to the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution,’ he said.

Dr. Shehu added that revenue monitoring from critical sectors such as solid minerals is crucial to improving national income and ensuring equitable distribution among the three tiers of government.

He said the sensitization exercise was designed to foster collaboration and information sharing across the six geopolitical zones.

‘Over the course of this exercise, the six geopolitical zones of the country will be engaging in sharing best practices and opinions in terms of solid mineral data rendition and forging partnerships that will undoubtedly contribute to the overall progress and development of the solid minerals sector, and indeed Nigeria,’ he stated.

He urged participants to take full advantage of the engagement, stressing the importance of collaboration among stakeholders.

‘I urge all participants to actively leverage the experts and perspectives in the discourse. Let this be an occasion for constructive dialogue, meaningful networking, and a shared commitment to transforming our nation for the benefit of all Nigerians,’ Dr. Shehu said.

The new solid minerals data rendition initiative marks a significant step in the federal government’s broader drive for transparency, accountability, and improved revenue generation in the solid minerals sector, which has been identified as one of Nigeria’s key non-oil growth areas.