Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) has said building long term security in retirement is not quick fix as it mirrors life of a retiree without pension.

While identifying the two faces of retirement, PenOp considered the story of two hypothetical retirees, both of whom left service with N20 million.

According to PenOp, Madam Okeke for instance decided to withdraw everything and invest in a family business. For a while, it seemed promising. But within three years, inflation, currency depreciation, and unforeseen costs left her with nothing. By her early seventies, she had become dependent on relatives for basic needs.

Her colleague, Mr. Ade, opted to remain under the CPS.

His monthly pension was modest but consistent. Each month, without fail, his payment arrived. At 80, he still enjoys independence, secure in the knowledge that his pension will not dry up.

Both individuals worked hard; both sought security. But their choices determined whether retirement meant stability or vulnerability.

Stating why structure matters, the operators said some critics argue that restricting lump-sum withdrawals treats retirees like children.

PenOp said: ‘In reality, the principle is protective, not paternalistic. Across the world, pension systems are structured to spread income across retirement years because experience shows that without safeguards, many retirees exhaust savings too quickly. Family obligations, health crises, or speculative investments often erode lump sums, leaving individuals vulnerable at the exact stage of life when they are least able to recover financially.

‘The Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) prevents this outcome by ensuring that pensions last as long as life itself. For retirees who live beyond expectations, payments continue through programmed withdrawals or annuities arranged with insurance companies. The notion that payments ‘end’ at 75 is a misconception; in truth, actuarial science only uses life expectancy as a guide for planning, not a cut-off point.

‘Few issues stir as much passion as pensions. After all, retirement is not some distant concept; it is the very moment when decades of work are meant to translate into dignity, stability, and peace of mind. For Nigerian workers, the CPS is the system designed to ensure that this promise is kept.

Yet, as public debates grow louder, it is important to separate emotion from fact, and quick fixes from sustainable solutions.

‘At the heart of the pension conversation lies a simple question: should retirees be allowed to withdraw their savings in full, or should access remain structured? The former offers instant gratification; the latter seeks to protect long-term security. The choice is not trivial-it is one that determines whether our elders live their final years in comfort or in poverty’, the operators said.

The Hidden Risks of ‘Take-It-All’

The operators further said: ‘Imagine that a retiree with N20 million saved up over a career. It may seem logical to withdraw the entire sum and invest it independently. Some might argue that by chasing attractive interest rates or putting the money into a family business, higher returns can be secured. But this perspective often ignores three hard realities.

‘The first is longevity risk-the possibility of outliving one’s savings. A lump sum might look substantial at 60, but what happens if life stretches to 85 or 90? Of which many are praying for. The CPS is deliberately structured to provide income for life, ensuring that retirees do not face destitution in their later years.

‘The second is market volatility. Treasury bill yields and bond rates do not remain at 15 elevated levels (double digits) indefinitely. They fluctuate sometimes falling to single digits. A retiree who counts on fixed high returns may quickly discover that returns are unpredictable and insufficient, especially during downturns.

‘The third is investment risk. Stories abound of pensioners who withdraw funds to finance ventures that collapse under inflationary pressures or poor management. The intention may be noble, but the outcome is often tragic: savings vanish, while bills remain’.

Building Trust in the System

Trust is the lifeblood of any pension system, said PenOp.

‘Workers must believe that their savings are safe and that administrators are acting in their best interests. Under Nigerian CPS, pension assets are not even held by the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs). Instead, they are kept with independent Pension Fund Custodians under the strict oversight of the National Pension Commission (PenCom). This three-tiered structure: Saver, Administrator, Custodian provides layers of security that safeguard against mismanagement.

‘Since the scheme’s inception in 2004, pension assets have grown to over ?24 trillion. These funds are invested in government securities, infrastructure, corporate bonds, and housing, supporting not just individual retirees but also the broader Nigerian economy. PFAs earn regulated fees among the lowest in Africa while all investment returns accrue to contributors. Far from exploiting workers, the system has built a sustainable pool of capital that benefits both retirees and national development.

The Temptation of Oversimplification

PenOp maintained that it is easy to believe that giving retirees unrestricted access to their funds is the ‘fair’ solution.

‘But pensions are not simple savings accounts. They are insurance against the twin uncertainties of longevity and economic shocks. Psychologists call it the Dunning-Kruger effect: when complex issues are oversimplified by those who do not fully understand them. In the pension context, what looks like empowerment today may translate into widespread elderly poverty tomorrow’.

The Real Struggle

Ultimately, the true enemy is not the pension structure it is poverty, PenOp noted.

‘A nation that fails to protect its elders condemns itself to cycles of dependency and despair. Justice in pensions is not about short-term payouts but about ensuring that workers who devoted decades to the economy are not left helpless in their later years.

‘The CPS was designed precisely for this: to move Nigeria away from the inefficiencies and corruption of the old Defined Benefit Scheme, and toward a sustainable system that outlasts political and economic turbulence’.

A Call for Balance

PenOp submitted that: ‘Nigeria must pursue a balanced path one that recognizes retirees’ genuine frustrations while preserving the safeguards that protect them. Quick fixes may win applause in the moment, but true dignity in retirement comes from careful, compassionate, and sustainable reform. Our elders deserve nothing less’, the operators stressed.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ad Hoc Committee on rotation of statutory positions to uphold fairness and inclusivity among member-states.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu spoke at the opening of the committee’s meeting yesterday in Abuja.

The members of the committee were drawn from Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo.

The committee is mandated to review and consider proposals for the allocation of statutory positions within the ECOWAS institutions for the 2026 to 2030 term.

It has till December to turn in its report.

The current appointees’ tenure expired in June, having exhausted their four year non-renewable term.

Addressing members of the ad hoc committee, Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed the need for them to be wary of the sensitivity of appointments.

She said: ‘We are fully aware that the appointment of statutory positions within ECOWAS institutions remains a matter of considerable importance and sensitivity among member-states. This issue has become even more delicate in recent times, given the reduction in the number of statutory positions available following the implementation of the ECOWAS institutional reforms.

‘In this context, our Committee must be mindful of the need to uphold fairness and inclusivity in the distribution of the statutory positions within the ECOWAS Institutions.’

Odumegwu-Ojukwu warned that aspirations of all member-states, particularly those with smaller populations or limited resources, should not be trampled upon.

She added: ‘It is also essential that the aspirations of all member-states, particularly those with smaller populations or limited resources but who have nonetheless demonstrated unflinching commitment to the organisation, are duly recognised and accommodated.

‘It is equally important to underscore that our membership of this ad hoc committee should not be construed as a pathway to positions of leadership within the ECOWAS institutions. Rather, our engagement should be guided by the principles of regional solidarity, prioritising the collective interest of the community above national aspirations. In doing so, we will contribute to fostering deeper unity, mutual trust, and a shared sense of purpose among our citizens.

‘As we prepare to commence deliberations on the memorandum before us, I encourage us all to approach our discussions with unflinching commitment, open-mindedness and a spirit of constructive dialogue. Let us remain focused on ensuring that the outcomes of our engagements are both meaningful and impactful for the future of our region.’

The minister also assured the gathering that Nigeria would, as a traditional leader, engage with all member-states to build consensus and ensure collective decisions for the future of the community.

‘We would also recall that Nigeria, as a long-standing and committed member-state, played a significant role in shaping and supporting the institutional reforms which culminated in the current and more streamlined structure.

‘Excellencies, these reforms were aimed at reducing operational costs, optimising administrative efficiency, and enhancing the effectiveness and impact of ECOWAS programmes across the region.

‘I want to, therefore, 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.’

Odumegwu-Ojukwu praised the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, and his team for the comprehensive and well-prepared memorandum provided to guide the deliberations of the committee over the course of the two-day engagement.

‘The document thoughtfully reflects the relevant legal framework governing the allocation of statutory positions within the ECOWAS Institutions, and will no doubt serve as a valuable reference in facilitating our discussions,’ she said.

Touray urged the committee to do its work with broader interest of the community at heart.

He reminded the gathering that the Council of Ministers was informed at the 94th ordinary session of the impending end of the mandate of the current management of ECOWAS Institutions by July 14, 2026, in compliance with the 2012 Supplementary Act On the Modalities for the Allocation of Statutory Positions in ECOWAS Institutions.

This, the ECOWAS Commission President recalled, culminated in the setting up of the six-member ad hoc committee.

He stressed that ‘Article 14, paragraph 3 of the Supplementary Act mandated Council to recommend the allocation of the positions to the ECOWAS Authority based on a proposal to be submitted by the President of the Commission’.

Touray added: ‘To facilitate this process, Council, in June, established this six-member ad hoc committee, comprising the Republics of Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo, to review the proposed allocation of the commission and submit it to Council for consideration, and ultimately to the ECOWAS Authority for decision.

‘During this meeting, the commission will be presenting a memo setting out the framework for the allocation of the statutory positions for your 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.’

Nigeria and Argentina will, once again, set the global football stage alight as the Round of 16 of this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals commence in Chile this evening.

Both countries have fought memorable battles in the FIFA World Cup finals, FIFA U20 World Cup finals and at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, but the most recent remains Nigeria’s spectacular 2-0 defeat of the Albiceleste in a Round of 16 encounter when Argentina hosted the FIFA U20 World Cup finals two years ago.

Ibrahim Muhammad and Haliru Sarki got the goals that stunned the hosts and upturned the prediction of most pundits, with the Flying Eagles marching ahead to the quarter-finals where they lost in extra time to the Republic of Korea.

Two decades ago, the Flying Eagles narrowly lost 1-2 to the Argies in the FIFA U20 World Cup Final in The Netherlands, both Argentine goals coming through penalty kicks converted by Lionel Messi, while Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi scored a brilliant goal for Nigeria.

Argentina have won the FIFA U20 World Cup six times, while Nigeria have finished with the silver medals twice (1989 and 2005) and the bronze once (1985), but there will be no inferiority complex on the part of the seven-time African champions when they take the pitch of the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos in Santiago from 8.30pm Nigerian time tonight.

Self-belief, sense of purpose and pride, and resilience got the wards of Aliyu Zubair through the group stage, with four points off Saudi Arabia and Colombia, and the Colombians are unlikely to forget how the West Africans dominated a game they (Colombia) were tipped to easily win.

Thrice, the Flying Eagles struck the bar in the encounter at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca, and earned a deserved point at the end when captain Daniel Bameyi coolly converted a penalty kick conceded in desperation by the South Americans as the tireless Nigerian attack went on the rampage once more.

Coach Zubair must pick a new man to team up with Tahir Maigana and Kparobo Arierhi in the fore, with Suleman Sani suspended after accumulating two yellow cards in the group stage.

The Flying Eagles arrived in Santiago from Talca on Monday evening, and will conduct a training session on Tuesday evening ahead of the clash with the Argies.

Veteran Scrabble player Chinedu Okwelogu, fondly known as Chinedu Thorpe or Sidespin, is brimming with excitement at the prospect of representing Nigeria at the 2025 World English Scrabble Players Association Championship (WESPAC) in Ghana.

While many of his contemporaries are settling into retirement and grandparenthood, the 60-year-old Okwelogu is defying age barriers and proving that scrabble is a lifelong sport as he prepares to battle it out on the world stage against some younger opponents.

Sidespin is one of the 15 players selected by the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), to represent the country at next month’s biannual competition holding in Accra, Ghana.

For Okwelogu, the thrill of competing among the best minds in global scrabble is not just about personal glory-it is a testament to the longevity and employability that the game offers.

Having first picked up Scrabble tiles in 1973 before a decade-long detour into table tennis, Okwelogu turned professional in 1983.

His love for the game eventually helped him achieve academic success, earning his O-Levels in 1986 after several unsuccessful attempts.

His passion for scrabble also opened professional doors, leading to his employment within the Scrabble community in Kano State.

Now set to retire from the Federal Civil Service on November 7, Okwelogu remains fully active in the sport as a Tournament Scrabble Consultant, illustrating what he calls the ‘uncommon reality’ of scrabble as a lifelong profession.

‘Scrabble can employ a human being for life in multiple capacities,’ he said. ‘I’m fulfilled just by being an example of that truth.’

In both Nigerian and international circles, it is not unusual to see players well into their 70s still competing-and winning prize money. Okwelogu takes pride in being part of that enduring tradition.

Looking ahead to WESPAC 2025, the veteran aims to break into the Top 10, determined to better his previous outing at the 2009 Championship in Malaysia, where he finished around 68th position.

Before heading to camp with the rest of his teammates, his preparations have been intense, focusing particularly on mastering two- to six-letter words, a key component of elite-level Scrabble success.

Team Nigeria will be camping in Lagos for about two weeks before leaving for Accra.

As Okwelogu counts down to Ghana, his journey stands as an inspiring reminder that passion and persistence can indeed make age just another word on the board.

By virtue of Nigeria’s leading role and state in the World, the country has been given 15 slots for players representation at the global event which runs from the 9th to 17th November in Accra.

Nigeria is currently ranked second in the World and that’s our lowest ranking in the last ten years.

After a series of National and Continental championships and Qualifiers the most revered and respected NSF Technical Committee has carefully selected 15 players who will represent Nigeria at the World Championship.

The list include, current African Champion, Oluwatimilehin Doko, former African Champion Rex Ogbakpa, PANASA President’s Cup winner Victor Godwin and Africa number two player George Ezinore as well as number three ranked player on the continent and highly rated in the World, Abdulmumin Jimoh.

The rest of Team Nigeria are very experienced serial winners at national and international competitions in the last five years.

TEAM NIGERIA SQUAD

Oluwatimilehin Doko – Continental Champion

John Aiyedun – All Africa Championship winner

George Ezinore – Africa’s No 2 and NSF Green Jacket holder

Victor Godwin – President Cup winner

Rex Ogbakpa – Continental Champion

Abdulmumin Jimoh

Tega Okiemute

Samuel Adebola

Chinedu Thorpe

Emmanuel Umujose – EEAST winner

Larry Etuwa

Ben Quickpen – 2024 NSF golden medallist

Tuoyo Mayuku – The most decorated female of all time in Africa

John Curtis Ebomah

Peter Ebomah

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has announced a change of date for the implementation of the guidelines for deduction and remittance of check-off dues (CODS) from October 3, 2025 earlier scheduled for December 31, 2025.

The Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya, in a statement, called on pensioners, pensioners’ union and other related stakeholders to familiarise and comply with all the provisions of the guidelines, which had earlier been communicated in the publication dated June 30, 2025 and published July 1, 2025

Odunaiya stated that the extension is intended to provide additional time for stakeholders to fully familiarise themselves with the provisions of the guidelines and to ensure a smooth, orderly and seamless transition toward a more efficient application of all Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) pensioners.

Consequently, she said the provisions of the guidelines for the deduction and remittance of check-off-dues (CODs) to all eligible pensioners’ unions shall remain operational on the terms earlier communicated with effect.

Accordingly, DBS pensioners and their respective unions are hereby enjoined to familiarise themselves with and comply with all the provisions of the guidelines, which had earlier been communicated in the publication dated 30 June, 2025 and published July 1, 2025 and are once again reproduced below for emphasis and ease of reference, she stressed.

Guidelines for Deduction and Remittance Of Check-Off Dues (CODS)

She further said that in line with relevant provisions of the Trade Unions Act, Labour Act and PTAD’s mandate to ensure transparency and accountability in pension administration, the following guidelines are approved for the deduction and remittance of Check-Off Dues (CODs) from the monthly pensions of eligible Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) Pensioners as managed by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

Eligibility Criteria

She said: ‘Only duly registered Unions/Associations registered by the relevant registrars and operating under the provisions of the Trade Unions Act provision and, in furtherance of the decision of the Registrar of Trade Unions (RTU) to rationalise and regulate the implementation of check off dues under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), that henceforth PTAD will remit check-off dues to a maximum of two registered unions or associations.

‘They are Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) to oversee pensioners under the Civil Service Pensions Department; and Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN) to oversee Pensioners under the Parastatals Pensions Department. Consequently, all COD deductions will now be remitted directly to the two unions on behalf of pensioners, as previously approved by the RTU. These Unions are required to provide the documents to the Directorate if they have not done so already. They include Certificate of Registration; Constitution/By-laws; List of all verified members and their Pension IDs; and Official request letter for deduction

‘The Directorate will, as necessary, collaborate with relevant stakeholders comprising of executives of Pensioners’ Unions and representatives of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in the process of harmonising the two Unions, as well as other related parties on 29 August, 2024 to establish the modality for the implementation of COD deductions and remittances under the new order’.

Pensioner Consent

The ES explained that deductions are strictly voluntary hence the consent of representatives of eligible DBS Pensioners, such as the NUP and FEPPPAN, is required to proceed with the new arrangement. The guideline for the consent process is as follows below:

‘All pensioners under the Civil Service Pensions Department (CSPD) will have their CODs deducted and remitted to NUP, except where the Pensioner has individually requested, and is exempted, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2(a) of these guidelines. All Pensioners under the Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Department (PaPPD) who wish to align with FEPPPAN, in accordance with the directive of the RTU, should indicate same by a formal letter to the Directorate.

‘All Pensioners’ Unions/Associations and Associations who choose to align with FEPPPAN will have 100 percent of Check-Off-Dues deducted from their members’ monthly pensions remitted directly to FEPPPAN and details of such deductions and remittances will be cascaded to their members. All Pensioners’ Unions and Associations under Parastatals Pensions Department who do not wish to align with FEPPPAN, in line with the directive of the RTU, should indicate same by a formal letter to the Directorate. However, it is to be noted that PTAD will not remit check off dues from members of these Unions and Associations, and 100% of such deductions would be retained by the Directorate.

‘Only individual pensioners are allowed by law to exercise the power to withdraw consent. Check-off dues from any pensioners’ Union must be placed under the following statutory directive of the RTU. In essence, it is not permissible for a group of individuals as neither legal nor acceptable’.

Compliance

‘All pensioners and pensioners’ unions and associations are required to comply with the provisions of these guidelines on or before December 3 , 2025, and to provide all the required documents to the Directorate within the same time frame.

‘It is important to note that, at the expiration of December 31, 2025 timeline, only pensioners, and pensioners’ unions and associations who comply with the provisions of paragraph 2 will be eligible to receive Check-Off-Dues deduction from the Directorate, and this will be remitted through either the national bodies of NUP or FEPPPAN’.

On deduction mechanism and remittance procedure, Odunaiya said deductions will be processed monthly based on submitted and verified membership list.

‘No deduction shall exceed the amount authorized or contravene pension regulations. All remittances will be made to the approved Bank account(s) of the two national bodies of the unions within 10 working days of monthly pension disbursement.

‘A monthly remittance schedule will accompany each COD payment, including total pensioners, amounts deducted, and total sums remitted. PTAD will also provide monthly reports and may schedule periodic reconciliation meetings to all stakeholders within 30 days. Any discrepancies must be reported within 30 days of remittance.

On that termination of deductions, she disclosed that pensioners may cancel their authorization at any time via a written withdrawal notice.

‘The pension board shall effect their request one circle. PTAD reserves the right to suspend remittances in cases of irregularities or legal disputes. PTAD also reserves the right to review and update these guidelines periodically.

‘The Directorate values the contributions of all Pensioners’ Unions and Associations toward ensuring effective, transparent and fair administration manner to safeguard the welfare of our Pensioners.

‘In ensuring a more seamless, orderly, and fair administration of Check-Off Dues (COD) is strictly based on directives issued by the Registrar of Trade Unions (RTU). The Directorate is committed to ensure that all deductions are remitted to the appropriate authority for necessary attention. PTAD remains committed to its core values of transparency, accountability, and fairness’, she noted.

Mikel Obi has challenged the Super Eagles to take responsibility and deliver the results needed to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup dream alive when they face Lesotho on Friday in Polokwane, South Africa.

Speaking on the Obi One Podcast alongside Chris McHardy, the former national team captain warned that failing to qualify for a second consecutive tournament would be ‘a crime’ and called on the players to shut out off-field distractions and rise to the occasion.

He described Nigeria’s qualifying campaign as hanging by a thread , adding the situation is still redeemable if the players set their minds to play for their country with their hearts.

‘First to qualify, you know, again, we’ve seen, you know, lucky us, um, South Africa has been deducted three points for some reason, ineligible players,’ Mikel said. ‘So that’s good for us. I think right now you can; you can literally say the group is, it’s sort of a shootout group.

‘It’s a shootout group. We have Benin at home and go to win both. We have to win both. We have to win both. I don’t care what’s going on. I don’t care what’s happening. I don’t care what’s going on. I need the players. I know; I still know a lot of them in the squad. I need them. We need them. Nigerians need them.’

The Super Eagles sit three points behind South Africa and Benin Republic in Group C and face Lesotho in Polokwane on Friday before returning to Uyo to host Benin.

With just two games left, Mikel said there was no room for error: ‘Our World Cup fate is in their hands.’

Mikel who rose through every level of Nigerian football, spoke candidly about the inner workings of the national team, adding the Super eagles will have to play out of their skins to book a ticket for the 2026 Mundial.

He continued: ‘I don’t speak a lot about the national team because I know what’s going on. I know what’s happening. For so many years, I probably am the only player. I’m not sure. I probably am the only player who played the under-17, the under-20, the under-23 and the Super Eagles. I played the whole rank. And the Olympics. Yeah. Which is the under-23.

‘So I know deep down inside what goes on there. I know. I understand the players, but when you come to this stage of the tournament, every one of those players’ problems from the top goes away. It goes away. It goes out of the window. It’s about the players. It’s about the players taking responsibility and knowing our World Cup fate is in their hands.’

The former Lyn Oslo midfielder didn’t shy away from criticising the Nigeria Football Federation but stressed that now was not the time for excuses.

‘It’s right now in the hands of the players. Yes. The NFF, the board, they are who they are, the corruption that is going on, the issues that are going on there. all that goes out of the window.

‘Win your two games, the players win your two games and qualify, and then the whole thing – we can talk about the whole thing another day, but our World Cup fate is in their hands, and I’m begging them. I’m with my whole heart begging the players on behalf of Nigerians.’

Happy World Teachers Day. May we empower, equip and pay them to better win the education war. Amen.

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN pledges to introduce clean naira notes. Good. Hopefully the good work of the Tinubu government and governor of CBN, Yemi Cardoso and his team to service proper mechanisms for proper use of available funds, naira and dollar, and the efforts to prevent fraud in the supply and service chains like customs and the oil sector, will also improve the value of the clean notes.

At the behest of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, the bank moguls, often rightly vilified for their greed, collectively released N60b of funds earned from Nigerian citizens’ money in the very profitable bank balances of trillion naira-a-year banks for the refurbishment of the Wole Soyinka National Theatre. Hurray for Sanwo-Olu’s wisdom in choosing to leverage on and actually create a Mega-Public Private Partnership. This is most likely the largest in Nigeria and the way forward. Congratulations to the bank moguls and all involved. However, the curse of most government projects and some in the private sector is poor maintenance.

Hopefully, having expended such a huge sum in resuscitating the WS National Theatre, these same bank moguls have an adequate maintenance blueprint. We have just refurbished the multibillion-naira Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and already, as reported recently in this column, a chronic lack of political will and civil service supervision and maintenance has resulted in thousands of islands of weeds and grass growing along the concrete barrier. Shame!

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SOGON, and women’s groups should together fight the danger of death from ectopic pregnancy. Hospital frontline staff and administrators should be ordered to release ‘GUIDELINES FOR ECTOPIC PREGNANCY CASES’. Ectopic pregnancy patients bleed inside, not outside. No blood is seen by the staff to alert them to the serious situation. The patient can deteriorate very quickly, within five minutes and collapse and die while the staff are selfishly haggling with the patient or the family over the patient’s insurance or ability to pay. Even with money some patients are turned away to avoid ‘inconvenience to the staff or hospital’. Maybe the staff want to close or are just coming on duty.

No medical service with the capability to perform emergency surgery should be allowed to reject such patients. The patient has a high chance of dying while being conveyed to another hospital which also could also reject her if she arrived alive. That second rejection will almost certainly be a death sentence. When I was in practice, I introduced the 15-minute rule for ectopic pregnancy patients. It meant that from diagnosis in the casualty or clinic, to rushing the patient to theatre for knife-on-skin, it should not take more than 15 minutes.

Some patients’ families will run away, deserting the patients resulting in zero hope of recovering the funds expended on surgery. It is also true that sometimes the medical personnel are unfairly and wrongly burdened by conviction or compassion, with raising the ‘lost’ surgical funds.

Unknown to readers, many doctors throughout the country and probably widely in the developing world, pay towards drugs, investigations and surgery procedures for many needy patients, rather than have those same patients abandoned, refused admission or discharged to suffer and even die because they were financially challenged. Delay in ectopic pregnancy care is a death sentence. Period.

We heard a lot around a ‘FREE CAESARIAN SECTION’ policy. Hurray! We await its introduction to help level the financially uneven delivery ground for what is the ‘MOST DANGEROUS DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WOMAN AND CHILD’ in the ‘LABOUR WAR-D’. Why not decisively deal politically with these twin maternal medical emergencies at the beginning and end of the pregnancy spectrum and introduce a ‘free caesarean section and free ectopic pregnancy for those who cannot afford them’?

When implemented countrywide, ‘FREE CAESARIAN SECTION and FREE ECTOPIC PREGNANCY FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEM’, will bring comfort to millions of families, noting that 70% of the citizenry are poor. It is a worthy investment in the health service delivered to women and in families especially when we consider the amount of money stolen as attested to by the huge sums for which many politicians are taken to court for by ICPC and EFCC, even if they are not convicted due to technical and other loopholes.

For years it has been advocated that Nigeria should have adopted a warlike stance against Boko Haram and its fellow terrorism travellers years ago. It did not and now we are facing a serious low and high tech, including terrorist drone, escalation. Certainly, Nigeria should adopt a much more warlike attitude to acknowledge the cost in our millions displaced, injured and killed and our security heroes past who have fallen fighting Boko Haram since 2009. A warlike footage must cut cost of politics, including the ludicrous cost of political forms for the coming elections and diverting such funds to the military and psychological defeat of the terrorists.

A warlike stance against Boko Haram and other terrorists can only become a reality if we take seriously the combined past and present plight of our dead and more than five million Internally Displaced Persons. We demand a new pressure group – ‘INTERNALLY DISPLACED POLITICIANS’ – IDPOL- made up of politicians who cannot go back home, because of terrorism and Boko Haram. Nigeria must defeat terrorism, Amen

The Chairman of the board, management, and staff of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) yesterday hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for the directive to reduce the cost of the 2026 Hajj.

NAHCON described the development as a thoughtful and timely move that has brought relief to intending pilgrims nationwide.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by the commission’s Deputy Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Sanda Usara, reads: ‘The President’s instruction to review Hajj fares downward shows a government that listens and responds to the people’s concerns. It also reflects genuine empathy for the financial strain faced by many Muslims who dream of performing the sacred pilgrimage.

‘NAHCON equally hails the government’s call on pilgrims and State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards to take advantage of the current appreciation of the Naira by making early remittances. Acting promptly, as mentioned by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Ibrahim Hadeja, after the meeting at the Villa, would help Nigeria lock in the benefits of the stronger currency.

‘The directive and recommendation for early remittances show a deep understanding of both NAHCON’s operational challenges and the economic realities of our pilgrims. It is another clear example of a responsive and people-focused administration that steps in with practical solutions, especially to the Commission.

‘This directive reinforces President Tinubu’s steady support for improving Hajj management in Nigeria through interventions that make the exercise more affordable, transparent, and well-coordinated.

‘NAHCON will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure the full implementation of the directive and to deliver a smooth and rewarding 2026 Hajj for Nigerian pilgrims.

‘Hence, NAHCON calls upon intending pilgrims to hasten and make payment in sequence to the disclosure of the new fare, which will be announced soon. This will enable their boards to make early remittances that will enable the Central Bank of Nigeria to use the favorable exchange rate for the Hajj services.’

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Qatar have strengthened their partnership in combating illicit drug trafficking with the symbolic exchange of instruments of ratification between both countries.

The exchange was conducted yesterday in Abuja by the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, and the Ambassador of Qatar to Nigeria, Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the development followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 3, 2024, in Doha, between President Bola Tinubu and the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The agreement focused on cooperation in combating illicit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.

Marwa, in his remarks, commended the existing partnership between both nations, describing it as a joint commitment to tackling a major global threat to public health and security.

He assured that the NDLEA would continue to collaborate closely with its Qatari counterpart to protect the people and countries from the threat of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

According to him, the agency in the past four years has intercepted over 1,000 kg of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and other illicit substances destined for Qatar.

Marwa also lauded the government of Qatar for its peace-building efforts and humanitarian interventions across the world through the Qatar Foundation.

He appealed to the foundation to support Nigeria in the provision of rehabilitation facilities for the treatment of persons struggling with drug addiction.

Responding, Amb. Al-Hajri pledged to convey Marwa’s request to the Qatar Foundation.

He commended the growing cooperation between the two nations and noted that the partnership had led to an increase in travels and exchanges between Nigeria and Qatar.

He reaffirmed Qatar’s readiness to continue working with Nigeria in areas that promote security, stability, and mutual prosperity.

Bioclinix Medical Diagnostics Centre has congratulated its Advisor on Molecular Diagnostics, Dr. Elekofehinti Olusola, for being named among the top two percent of researchers globally, a recognition that highlights his outstanding contributions to science, innovation, and biomedical research.

Olusola, an Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure is widely respected for his pioneering work in bioinformatics, molecular biology, and biomedical drug design and development.

His research has advanced global understanding in the fields of computational biology, drug discovery, and molecular diagnostics.

The recognition, compiled from global citation metrics, places Dr. Olusola among a distinguished group of scholars whose research has had significant impact worldwide.

Speaking on the milestone, Dr. Isaac Olatunde, CEO of Bioclinix Medical Diagnostics Centre, described the recognition as both an inspiration and a validation of Bioclinix’s commitment to excellence in diagnostics.

‘We are proud to have Dr. Olusola as part of the Bioclinix team. His expertise in bioinformatics and molecular diagnostics is invaluable to our vision of advancing healthcare delivery in Nigeria. This global recognition shows that our advisor is not just shaping science locally, but contributing meaningfully to the global body of knowledge.’

Dr. Olusola’s role at Bioclinix as Advisor on Molecular Diagnostics is to guide the Centre in developing cutting-edge diagnostic services, build research collaborations, and mentor the next generation of scientists.

With this recognition, Bioclinix believes that Nigeria’s diagnostic and biomedical research sector can continue to compete on the global stage, drawing strength from local expertise with international impact.