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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.

The Gateway International Airport at Iperu Remo in Ogun State yesterday began scheduled commercial flights

Governor Dapo Abiodun, who inaugurated the ValueJet Airlines flight to Abuja on its Bombardier CRJ jet, lauded the vision of his predecessors in facilitating the construction of the fastest-built airport terminal in the country.

Abiodun described the choice of the location of the airport as strategic and essential in driving the economic development of the Gateway State.

The governor lauded the efforts of the team that delivered the facility, saying such a project would boost the socio-economic development of the state.

He praised aviation authorities, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), for ensuring the regulatory requirements were complied with.Abiodun also hailed the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, and his team, as well as other aviation regulatory bodies, for ensuring that the best was put together to accomplish the objective.

The governor applauded the efforts of the ValueJet Airlines boss and other members of the project implementation committee for their hard work in completing the project.

He said: ‘Our vision for Ogun State, which we have encapsulated, is to provide a focused and cohesive governance, while creating an enabling environment for public-private sector partnership, which we believe is fundamental to the economic growth of the state and the individual prosperity of every citizen of Ogun State.

‘In short, that vision clearly aims to bring more people to live, work, and play in Ogun State. So, in helping us to actualise that vision, we were advised on how we must ensure that our multi-modal transportation connects road, rail, air, and water.

‘This location had been chosen by my predecessors. But, they again confirmed, because they wanted to be passionate about the location of the airport. They again confirmed and validated the fact that this is indeed the location for an airport in the state.

‘Being almost at the centre point of the state, we came back here and noticed that the land had been encroached on and become a dump site. It was a forest. Today, the journey that started in 2021, and that evolved into the first plane that landed here after the construction of our runway, sometime in February 2023, two years afterwards. It has made us one of the fastest-constructed airports.’

Also, the Director General of NCAA, Captain Chris Najomo, hailed the Ogun State government for the project.

He noted that the airport would add value to the aviation ecosystem.

Najomo said: ‘He started this thing in 2021. Now, this is the fastest one we have seen in the creation of airports. As a regulator, we made sure that everything was done according to regulations. As such, we did not leave any stone unturned.

‘If other states want to do the same, they must make sure they take value from what Ogun State has done. It is one thing to start a project, but it is another to see it through and ensure that regulations are followed.’

Also, the Federal Government has given Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport approval to start scheduled flight operations or commercial flights, effective October 4.

This followed the expiration of the initial approval for a non-scheduled flight approval for the airport by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in December 2024 and compliance with regulatory requirements.

The NCAA, in the letter dated October 3, 2025, addressed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, confirmed the new approval for scheduled flights. The approval will be for an initial period of six months.

According to the letter signed by the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Godwin Balang, the validation inspection was conducted on the airport from June 16 to 19.

‘The outcome revealed that the basic operational requirements for scheduled flight operations to Ado-Ekiti Airport have been significantly complied with and the instrument flight check validation report conducted by NAMA indicates satisfactory compliance with regulatory requirements.

‘In view of the above and in line with the provisions of Nig CARs Part 12 Vol. 1, 2023, I have been directed to convey the Authority’s Interim Operational Permit subject to the limitations of VFR or daylight (sunrise to sunset) operations.

‘Furthermore, Your Excellency is respectfully invited to note that this interim Operational Permit is to enable Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport to implement outstanding gaps and commence the certification process, which will allow for issuance of Aerodrome Operational Permit with a year’s validity in accordance with the Nig.CARS Part 12 Vol. 1.’

Also, the Ekiti State government has reached an advanced stage of installing the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to position the airport for night and all-weather operations.

Governor Oyebanji has hailed the development as a major boost to the economic development of the state.

He noted that the commencement of commercial operations at the airport would boost agribusiness, tourism development, commercial activities, and medical tourism.

These activities, the governor said, would further position the state as a destination of choice for people looking for where to live, work, invest, and relax.

Oyebanji thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the enabling environment for socioeconomic development at the national and subnational levels. He also thanked his immediate predecessor in office, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who laid the foundation of the airport project in 2019.

The governor also thanked the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), for his remarkable contributions to the airport project as well as members of the Airport Committee.

Nigerian smallholder farmers collectively earned over $40 million from agricultural sales through Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) co-financed Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).

IFAD Country Director, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, spoke yesterday in Abuja at the workshop of the 12th Joint Federal Government and IFAD Supervision Mission for the programme.

She said the $334 million initiative, funded by IFAD and Nigeria, has transformed smallholder agriculture, especially in rice and cassava value chains.

Ekoue described the programme as a reflection of Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening food systems, enhancing productivity, and improving livelihoods of rural farmers.

Highlighting its impact, she noted that participating rice farmers record yields of five to six metric tonnes per hectare a remarkable improvement, from the national average of two to 2.5 tonnes.

Through the Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF), the VCDP’s flagship public-private-producer partnership platform, farmers have generated over $40 million in sales through 878 agreements with off-takers, benefiting more than 16,000 rice farmers.

‘These showcase what can be achieved through collaboration between governments, farmers, communities, private sector, and IFAD,’ he said.

‘We are delighted that the VCDP complements President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy, and African Union’s Kampala Declaration on agricultural transformation.’