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The Presidency yesterday reaffirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to inclusive growth and implementing tangible measures to ease economic hardship across the country.

It was responding to the World Bank Group report that poverty levels remain alarming, despite increased government revenues at all levels and higher capital spending by federal and state governments.

The Bank said 139 million Nigerians are probably living in poverty.

In a post on X, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, outlined key programmes and fiscal reforms driving the administration’s economic recovery and social protection agenda.

According to him, the Tinubu Administration ‘remains firmly focused on improving household welfare through targeted, verifiable interventions’ aimed at ensuring that economic growth translates into improved living standards.

He listed the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) as one of the flagship programmes, expanded to reach up to 15 million households nationwide, with over N297 billion disbursed since 2023 to poor and vulnerable families. Beneficiaries, he said, are being enrolled through a verified digital process under the National Social Register.

Dare also highlighted the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RH-WDEP) as ‘a major initiative targeting all 8,809 electoral wards’ to deliver micro-infrastructure, livelihood support, and social services at the grassroots.

He said the administration is consolidating the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) – including N-Power, GEEP micro-loans, and the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme – to protect jobs, support small businesses, and keep children in school.

On food security, Dare said government efforts are focused on curbing inflationary pressures through the distribution of subsidised grains and fertilisers, mechanisation partnerships, and revival of strategic food reserves.

He cited the establishment of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund (RHIF) to finance energy, road, and housing projects expected to reduce living costs and create jobs.

Similarly, the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC) is expanding access to affordable credit for small businesses, women, and youth through risk-sharing partnerships with banks.

The presidential aide acknowledged that reforms such as fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification have been tough but ‘necessary choices to tackle the root causes of poverty rather than its symptoms.’

‘Even the World Bank has acknowledged that these reforms are restoring macroeconomic stability and renewed growth momentum,’ Dare noted.

He said the administration’s priority remains ensuring that ‘economic growth must be inclusive,’ translating macroeconomic stability into affordable food, quality jobs, and reliable infrastructure.

According to him, investments are being scaled up in agriculture, MSMEs, and power.

He said the agricultural value chain expansion, gas-to-power initiatives, and skills development hubs are all designed to create jobs and lower living costs.

‘As these programmes mature, Nigerians should begin to feel visible improvements in food prices, income, and purchasing power,’ he assured.

He explained that the government is strengthening its social investment architecture through a unified, data-driven framework to enhance transparency and accountability.

This includes scaling up existing NSIP schemes, expanding the National Social Register, and rolling out the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme to ensure that ‘no vulnerable community is left behind.’

‘The reforms are necessary, the direction is right, and the foundation for a fairer and more prosperous Nigeria is being firmly laid,’ Dare said.

Tinubu to investors: best time to invest now

President Tinubu reiterated his call on local and international investors to take advantage of emerging opportunities in Nigeria, saying reforms have stabilised the economy.

Speaking at the maiden Bauchi Investment Summit yesterday, with the theme ‘Revealing a Resilient Economy: Optimising Investment Partnerships’, the President – represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima – said, ‘Nigeria has exited a space of economic instability. There is no better time to choose Nigeria than now.’

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and business mogul Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi attended the summit.

President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment through transparency, strong partnerships, and consistent policies.

He praised Governor Bala Mohammed for organising the summit, describing it as ‘a march into the future.’

He identified Bauchi’s potential in agriculture, solid minerals, tourism, and renewable energy as aligning with the Federal Government’s diversification and job creation agenda.

The President listed major achievements, including reducing the debt-service-to-revenue ratio from 100 to less than 50 per cent, a 400 per cent rise in non-oil revenue, GDP growth of 4.23 per cent as of last month, external reserves of $43 billion, and a higher tax-to-GDP ratio of 13.5 per cent, up from seven per cent a few years ago.

‘These gains were made possible by bold reforms that promote productivity over consumption,’ President Tinubu said.

He lauded Indimi for pledging a $250 million investment in Bauchi and urged others to partner with the federal and state governments on viable projects. ‘This is not the time for mere talk. Let us move from paper to performance,’ he added.

Obasanjo, who inaugurated the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre, described it as a world-class facility that could make Bauchi a hub for tourism and investment.

He commended Governor Mohammed for his vision and pledged to support the state’s investment drive.

Mohammed assured investors of safety, saying: ‘We will make you and your investments safer than us.’

He said the state would expand solar projects and improve water management to support industrial growth.

World Bank: reforms boost revenue

The World Bank Group reported that Nigeria’s economic reforms have significantly increased government revenues at all levels, leading to higher capital spending by federal and state governments.

This was contained in its Nigeria Development Update (NDU) titled ‘From Policy to People: Bringing the Reform Gains Home’, released in Abuja yesterday.

World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said the reforms are delivering measurable fiscal outcomes, including improved revenue generation, higher public investment, and macroeconomic stability.

Lead Economist Samer Matta said gross revenues shared as federation allocations have risen sharply over the past eight months.

However, he cautioned that ‘a large portion of what is collected goes to deductions that don’t impact real development outcomes.’

The report noted that sub-governments now allocate 60-65 per cent of total spending to capital projects.

Capital spending by states rose from about one per cent of GDP in 2022 to a projected 2.7 per cent by 2025.

Verghis observed that at the federal level, recurrent expenditure still dominates, with wages and salaries taking about 70 per cent of total spending.

He said the economy is showing ‘encouraging signs of stabilisation’ as revenue collection improves, debt indicators strengthen, and inflation begins to ease.

However, he warned that poverty levels remain alarming, projecting 139 million Nigerians could live in poverty by 2025. ‘The challenge is how to translate stabilisation gains into better living standards,’ he said.

Verghis urged the government to reduce inflation, especially food inflation, use public funds efficiently, and expand social safety nets.

The report projects GDP growth to rise to 4.4 per cent by 2027, driven by stronger services, agriculture rebound, and industrial recovery under a stable macroeconomic environment.

Inflation is expected to fall to 15.8 per cent, and fiscal deficit to average 2.7 per cent of GDP between 2026 and 2027.

Nigeria’s debt, the Bank said, would remain stable in the low 40 per cent of GDP range, though risks persist from oil price shocks, reform fatigue, and climate events.

Overall, the World Bank said Nigeria’s reforms are yielding fiscal and macroeconomic gains, but the main challenge remains ensuring these translate into tangible improvements in living standards and poverty reduction.

Nigeria’s 2025 wet season farming faced a tough mix of challenges from pest infestations and erratic rainfall to soaring input costs that weakened production gains despite farmers’ resilience, according to findings from 2025 Agricultural Performance Survey (APS) yesterday in Abuja.

The report, by National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is an assessment of performance, showing progress and vulnerabilities.

Executive Director of NAERLS, Prof. Yusuf Ahmad, said over 19,358 hectares were affected by pests and diseases, leading to an estimated 22.5 per cent yield loss in the impacted areas.

He said fall armyworm, rice blast, bacterial blight, streak virus, cassava mosaic, yam nematodes, cocoa black pod, and cotton smut were culprits, noting most agro-ecological zones were hit.

‘Maize, rice, millet, cowpea, cassava, and tree crops were most affected,’ Ahmad said, warning the nature of infestations underscores need for a stronger pest surveillance and early response.

The report also noted rising production costs on farmers.

Despite improved fertiliser availability through government efforts, input prices surged. NPK fertiliser rose by 19.5 per cent, from N43,500 to N52,000 per 50kg bag, while urea increased by 10.1 per cent to N43,500.

‘These increases, mostly recorded in Northwest, Northcentral, and Northeast, have placed smallholder farmers under severe cost pressure. Affordability, not availability, has become the core problem,’ he added.

The Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies from arresting Vice Admiral Dada Olaniyi Labinjo (retired), following a ‘deserter signal’ the service issued against him.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, who issued the order, also ordered that the deserter signal numbered 643NG and dated September 3, 2025, which ordered the arrest or apprehension of the retired naval officer ‘shall remain unexecuted’ until the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Justice made the orders while granting an ex parte motion filed by Labinjo’s lawyer, Andrew Igboekwe (SAN).

Respondents in the suit are the Nigerian Navy, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Navy Board and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

Justice Lewis-Allagoa granted an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents and other law enforcement agencies from arresting the applicant either on account of the signal or any other account whatsoever, other than a valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.

He ordered that the signal ‘shall remain unexecuted by the respondents’ pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for the enforcement of the applicant’s fundamental rights.

The judge adjourned the case until October 20.

President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the $400million Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) oil export terminal in Otakikpo, Rivers State. He yesterday assured the people that the government is already engaging them on the resolution of Ogoni issues.

The facility being the first indigenous terminal, came five decades after the previous ones.

Represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, he said with the resolution of the issues, the Otakikpo terminal will evacuate the crude oil produced from their land.

He said: ‘It is important for me to state that in the commitment of the government that is already talking with Ogoni people to resolve the Ogoni problem.

‘And once the Ogoni problem is resolved, this will be the best terminal that will evacuate the crude oil we produce from Ogoni.’

Tinubu who sought the cooperation of Ogoni leaders for the production of oil in their land, noted that the resource would never be beneficial to either the indigenes or government when it lays idle.

Tinubu said: ‘And that is why we are calling, you know, talking with Ogoni people, Ogoni leaders, to say let’s revert back. If these things are buried there forever, Ogoni will never get any value from those resources. Nigeria will never get any value from those resources.’

He said the era of battling with lack of finance is over as the $5 billion African Energy Bank (AEB) is about to commence operations.

According to him, the worst challenge in the upstream operation is access to finance and the promoters of AEB have met all its obligations for the operations.

‘Let me also, you know, assure Green Energy that the era of perhaps looking elsewhere for finance will soon be over.

‘We have discovered that the biggest challenge we have in Africa is access to, you know, finance. And that was why we’ve come up with the African Energy Bank, which is ready to go. Nigeria, as the host country, has met its obligations.

‘We have met all our obligations, legal, financial. We have met all our obligations. We are waiting, you know, for the bank to take off, which I think will take off, you know, any moment from now,’ Tinubu said.

He commended the management of GEIL, recalling that the indigenous firm started from a marginal field the same time with other awardees who spent their finances on private jets while GEIL decided to build an export terminal to create value in the industry.

He assured the company and other operators that are keeping to the terms of their licenses of total support and collaboration.

Speaking, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, said the terminal is historic on two levels.

According to him, it expands Nigeria’s crude export infrastructure at a critical time and demonstrates the capacity of Nigeria operators to deliver world class projects once thought possible only for international major players.

He further noted that the Otakiko terminal is significant to the present national crude oil production that is about 1.8million barrels because the efficiency of evacuation and export is critical.

Komolafe also said by creating an alternative export hub in Rivers State, the Otakikpo terminal reduces over reliance on existing terminals many of which are operating at a near capacity and are exposed to security and pipeline challenges.

He said the industry indigenous operators have evolved to the stage of accounting for 30 per cent of the national production.

The Chief Executive Officer, GEIL , Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe said the storage capacity of the terminal is 750,000 barrels that is expandable to 3 million barrels.

He also said it has a pumping capacity of 360,000 barrels per day. The CEO added that since June 2025, the company has already completed four export operations, totalling 1 million barrels of crude oil.

He said beyond the numbers, the terminal is a catalyst for national renewal as it opens the door for more than 40 stranded fields in the region, with over 3 million barrels of reserves, long held back by lack of export infrastructure.

According to him, the fields alone could contribute more than 200,000 barrels per day to the country:s production.

Adegbulugbe added that ‘with this terminal, their potential can finally be unlocked.’

Does the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, after a 10-year tour of duty, exit as the electoral demon? No!

But it just rivets the Nigerian mind to the ugly finger-pointing and arch-demonizing of election umpires, by foul-tempered Nigerian losers, who pour all venom on electoral managers, in a classic case of a failed artisan blaming his tools!

To be sure: INEC and allied election managers have not always been above board. No. But since the exit of the real demon, Prof. Maurice Iwu, of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s do-or-die electoral heist of 2007, INEC, first under Prof. Attahiru Jega, and then under Prof. Yakubu, has broken new grounds.

Which is why Yakubu’s exit should have been met with due praise; or at least, a rigorous critique of his tenure: lauding him where he did well and knocking him where he did not. But some electoral desperadoes, who already wail in advance for the election they would lose in 2027, because they have pretty little to campaign on, have condemned Yakubu and his INEC as eternal devils. Not so!

In any case, Bible-speak, the INEC prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, among his own people. How? The same demonized INEC is being toasted by Ethiopia electoral managers, who just came to town to understudy INEC’s strides. Do folks understudy unmitigated failures? That’s food for thought for the many INEC critics, who seem to spew vitriol before they even think!

Prof. Yakubu, during his tenure, was certainly not an angel. He would be Angel the Immaculate, had INEC, under his charge, got everything right. He wasn’t – as they didn’t. Logistics on polling days, with complaints of late arrival of the polling staff and materials, is an area the new INEC chair should work upon with all vigour.

But from the tragic depth Iwu plumbed in 2007, the INEC Yakubu is leaving behind is another life, to borrow the title of that very popular TV series of yore, Another Life (1981-1984), from America’s Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).

Indeed, old Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, sensationally declared: you can’t step in the same river twice! From Iwu to Yakubu, it’s like crossing endless rivers and seeing the difference. INEC, in terms of public trust, is not exactly where it should be. But even its bitterest foes would admit that under Yakubu, it strove hard and improved itself. It must continue on that lonely path.

But one thing Yakubu’s successor must learn from the exiting good professor: that art – or is it science? – of strategic deafness: that blocks out the market din and imposes severe focus on the work.

Losers would bleat, row and growl. But Yakubu’s successor should ensure such din does not distract him – or her. Yakubu’s lack of loose talk, and golden lack of controversy, is one ethos all INEC staff should imbibe, as they work on better elections still, in the post-Yakubu era.

As the Super Eagles prepare to take on the Crocodiles of Lesotho in tomorrow’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, key members of the squad have expressed determination to secure victory and get their campaign back on track.

The quartet of captain Wilfred Troost-Ekong , Wilfred Ndidi. Terem Moffi and Calvin Bassey, told NFFTv that the Super Eagles will ride their luck and grind the much-needed wins in their two remaining matches to boost their chances nicking the Mundial ticket at all cost.

Midfielder Ndidi stressed the importance of the fixture, noting that the team is fully aware of the stakes.

‘We know where we are at the moment. These two games are very crucial. We shall first focus on Lesotho before the one with Benin Republic,’ the Besiktas’ man said.

Defender Bassey who scored a vital equaliser for the Super Eagles in the 1-1 away draw to Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Match day 8, emphasized the need for composure and unity as the team looks to bounce back from recent setbacks.

‘We have to remain calm and do what we know how to do best. This is not the first time we shall be in this tough moment,’ the hard-working Fulham defender noted confidently.

Speaking in the same vein, OGC Nice crafty striker Moffi echoed similar optimism, assuring that the players remain focused on their responsibilities on the pitch.

‘We are confident about qualifying for the World Cup. We have to do our part. We shall do our part and hopefully results from other games are in our favour,’ he stated.

Concluding, William Troost-Ekong reaffirmed the squad’s fighting spirit, insisting that the Super Eagles are ready to give their all for qualification.

‘We are going to fight until we achieve our aim,’ the experienced defender declared.

Currently in Polokwane, South Africa, where they will face Lesotho tomorrow, the Super Eagles will wrap up their qualifiers at home in Uyo against Cheetahs of Benin .Both matches are expected to play a pivotal role in determining Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes.

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has put measures in place on how it can be more united so as to win 2027 governorship and other elections.

The party lamented the activities of some aspirants seeking elective positions, who had been floating and nurturing groups, saying ”this is furthering causing divisions within the party, instead of uniting it.”

In a communiqué issued at the end of its Leadership Summit in Ibadan, the party resolved that its interest must take precedent over and above personal interests, saying every aspirant, who had been floating groups within the party must desist.

The communiqué said the aspirants were enjoined to concentrate efforts on promoting APC, instead of promoting groups’ interests.

‘We note that imposition of candidates for elective and party positions is unhealthy for peace, unity and cohesion within the party. We therefore advocate an all-inclusive, free, fair and transparent processes of electing party candidates and officials without external influence.

‘There is gross misuse of social media platforms by some party members. Such misuse of social media platforms is further causing divisions within the party. We have therefore resolved that the use of social media as a means of passing information concerning the party must be controlled.

‘We note that the absence of a rallying point is negatively affecting coordination within the party. We hereby resolve that in the absence of a sitting governor, who is a member of our party, it is imperative that a collegiate leadership comprising two nominees from the three senatorial zones be immediately put in place.

‘We note that some aspirants have been campaigning and in the process, they are making inflammatory comments capable of further deepening divisions within the party.

‘We therefore resolve that campaign activities are premature at the moment, most especially, taking into cognisance INEC’s guidelines. We therefore caution aspirants against making inflammatory statements and engaging in campaign activities, against INEC’s guidelines.

‘We note that Oyo State is short-changed in respect of appointments from Abuja despite our contributions to the successes of the party in 2023. We therefore resolve that the party needs to make a strong representation to Abuja to address this unfair treatment.’

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has assured foreign investors that Nigerian sea ports are viable and safe for investment opportunities.

Dantsoho spoke yesterday in Japan, on the sideline of the World Port Conference holding in Kobe.

The NPA boss, apart from meeting world-class investors on port development to boost the nation’s economy and seeking partnerships to enhance NPA’s infrastructure and equipment renewal across Nigerian ports, he reiterated the Federal Government’s readiness to cooperate and welcome investments for the development and management of infrastructure in its port system.

The theme of the event is: ‘Reinvention and Prosperity in Turbulent Times and brings together port executives, policymakers and industry leaders from over 89 countries to tackle pressing maritime sector challenges.’

Dantsoho said the government was working to digitise and automate all port processes to reduce human and physical interface to the barest minimum

It was learnt that key discussions on energy transition, decarbonisation, digitalisation, and resilience align with the NPA’s commitment to port automation and its recent MoU with APMT terminal, Apapa, to electrify container freight to reduce the carbon emissions footprint.

Dantsoho is scheduled to tour Kobe’s port facilities, gaining insights into seismic-resilient infrastructure and smart logistics, which are directly applicable to NPA’s ongoing port modernisation programme across the country.

NPA has been actively seeking to attract private investment by emphasising ongoing reforms, a commitment to developing the nation’s maritime sector, and the vast investment potential of Nigeria’s eastern ports, which include opportunities in infrastructure, equipment, technology, and human capital development.

Senator Shehu Buba has commended security agencies for the arrest of the individuals behind a coordinated defamatory campaign that targeted him and others.

Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, urged Nigerians to remain peaceful, verify information before sharing, and focus on issues affecting society.

‘I have always stood for peace and the welfare of our people. I deny these baseless allegations and will continue to work in favour of Bauchi South,’ the lawmaker assured.

Security agents recently apprehended some social media influencers allegedly behind a smear campaign against political office holders, including Senator Buba.

The arrests followed an intensive investigation involving the monitoring of social media posts and accounts linked to the spread of manipulated content and hate speech.

Buba, in particular, was accused of links with banditry. Despite his repeated denials, the attackers continued to malign him across various platforms before the authorities intervened.

The perpetrators used doctored video clips to produce and distribute fake news aimed at damaging the lawmaker’s reputation both in the legislature and ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Following their arrest in northern states, some of the influencers admitted to being misled by persons they had trusted. Those granted bail have issued apologies through videos and written statements on their social media pages.

In a video, one of the influencers, Nasiru Ontop, said: ‘We made a grave mistake by trusting Kibanna, someone we barely knew. His documents were fake. It wasn’t until our arrest that we began to question his authenticity.

‘His TikTok account has now been deleted. We acted on misinformation and forged documents, and for that, we apologise to Senator Shehu Umar Buba and everyone affected,’ he added.

Abdulrashid Abdullahi Kano, who operated under a Facebook page ‘Vanguard Hausa,’ also issued a statement: ‘We have confirmed that the video accusing Senator Shehu Buba Umar is false and malicious.

‘It was fabricated by enemies of peace to tarnish his image. Senator Buba has consistently promoted peace and reconciliation, working with clerics and community leaders to resolve conflicts in Bauchi South.’

ýNigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, is set to return to action in the Italian Serie A next week after serving a suspension for his alleged involvement in a betting-related incident.

ýThe Udinese Calcio shot-stopper was banned in late July after being found guilty of intentionally earning a yellow card during a league match against Lazio – an act reportedly linked to a betting scheme.

ýFollowing months on the sidelines, Okoye has now been cleared to re-join the squad. His teammate and fellow goalkeeper, Daniele Padelli, confirmed the news during ‘Udinese Tonight,’ a weekly football show on TV12.

ýPadelli disclosed that the Nigerian international remained focused and in excellent shape throughout his suspension.

ý’He’s been training hard, as if he was playing every week, maybe even more than before,’ Padelli said. ‘He used the time to work on small details. Now that the suspension is over, it’s up to the coach to decide who starts.’

ýIn a light-hearted comment, Padelli added:ý’The only sure thing is that I’ll drop further down the pecking order,’ he joked. ‘Maduka has a strong personality, he doesn’t let pressure get to him.’

ýOkoye’s return comes as a timely boost for Udinese, who have struggled for consistency in goal since his absence. It also offers renewed hope for Nigeria’s Super Eagles ahead of the forthcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.