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The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Jos, has officially commenced full orthopaedic services, marking a significant milestone in healthcare delivery for the North Central Zone of Nigeria.

Icha Inalegwu Onche, the medical director of the hospital, announced during a press briefing held on Wednesday in Jos.

Onche described the journey as challenging but rewarding, noting key milestones such as the hospital’s establishment law signed in July 2021, his appointment in 2023, and eventual confirmation as substantive Medical Director in November 2024.

He commended the support from the Federal Government, Plateau State Government, and stakeholders who made the project a reality.

‘We currently have 736 registered patients, and about 150 of them are awaiting surgery,’ Onche revealed. He emphasised the hospital’s readiness to provide specialised musculoskeletal and plastic surgery services, adding that all clinical departments are now fully staffed and operational. He expressed optimism that the facility would not only treat patients but also serve as a training and research hub for future orthopaedic specialists.

David Wujika Ngwan, director of clinical outlined the range of services available, including outpatient care, trauma management, joint replacement, paediatric orthopaedics, sports medicine, spine surgery, and prosthetics.

‘This marks a new chapter in our commitment to restoring mobility and improving quality of life,’ he said.

In his address, Pokop Bupwatda, chief medical director of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), commended Onche’s leadership and pledged continued collaboration.

He said the hospital was poised to become a national model, noting that Jos had earned a reputation for excellence in healthcare and training.

BusinessDay reports that the hospital, which serves Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Niger, and the FCT, now stands as the only regional orthopaedic centre in the zone.

When Tu Youyou set out to find a cure for malaria more than half a century ago, she had no modern laboratories, no advanced funding, and no international training. Yet her perseverance – guided by centuries-old Chinese medical wisdom – led to the discovery of artemisinin, a compound that has saved millions of lives and earned her the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Tu, then 84, was one of three scientists honoured for their work on treatments for parasitic diseases. The prize totalled eight million Swedish kronor (about $920,000), with Tu receiving half. The remaining half went to Irish biochemist William C. Campbell and Japanese microbiologist Satoshi Omura. Tu’s share of the prize symbolised something far larger – the triumph of perseverance, curiosity, and the fusion of traditional Chinese medicine with modern science. A discovery born from crisis

The story began decades earlier. In the late 1960s, during the Vietnam War, malaria was killing thousands of soldiers in the jungles of Southeast Asia. The parasite had grown resistant to chloroquine, then the most widely used drug. In 1967, China’s Chairman Mao Zedong launched a secret military project – known as Project 523 – to find a new cure.

Tu Youyou with one of her mentors, pharmacologist Lou Zhicen, in the 1950s. Lou Zhicen trained her to identify medicinal plants based on their botanical descriptions. Photo: Public domain

Tu, a 39-year-old researcher at the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Beijing, was appointed to lead one of the research teams. The assignment came with great personal sacrifice. She left her two young daughters in the care of her parents for several years while she travelled to Hainan Island, then battling its own malaria outbreak, to study the disease in real conditions.

‘The work was the top priority,’ she later said. ‘I was certainly willing to sacrifice my personal life.’

learning from the ancients

Faced with limited resources and growing frustration, Tu turned to an unlikely source: classical Chinese medical texts. Among them was A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies, written in the fourth century. It mentioned that the herb qinghao (sweet wormwood) could ease symptoms of ‘intermittent fevers’ – a hallmark of malaria.

Ge Hong’s A handbook of prescriptions for emergencies (East Jin Dynasty, around 317-420 A.D.). Tu Youyou searched ancient compendia of traditional Chinese medicine to find a cure for malaria. Photo: © Nobel Prize Museum

Her initial extractions failed, until she noticed that the ancient recipe called for soaking the plant rather than boiling it. High heat, she reasoned, might destroy the active ingredient. She tried again, using a lower-temperature ether-based solvent. This time, it worked. Tests on mice and monkeys showed 100 per cent effectiveness. In 1971, Tu and two colleagues volunteered to take the first doses themselves. When the compound was later tested on malaria patients in Hainan, every one of them recovered.

The active substance – artemisinin – had been found. From local experiment to global cure

It took years for the international community to recognise the breakthrough. Tu’s findings were first published in Chinese, and it was not until 1979 that they appeared in English. But by the 1980s, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Bank, and the United Nations were inviting Tu to present her results.

By the early 2000s, artemisinin-based combination therapies had become the global standard for malaria treatment. The WHO lists artemisinin and related drugs among its essential medicines, and the compound is credited with saving millions of lives across Africa and Asia.

Scientist Tu Youyou, a 2015 Nobel Prize laureate, does research in her lab in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

Jan Andersson, a member of the Nobel Committee, said at the time that Tu’s work ‘opened a new window for researchers’ by uniting traditional knowledge and modern science. ‘She combined Eastern and Western medicine to achieve an effect where one plus one is greater than two,’ he said.

Humble scientist, historic legacy

Tu ‘s journey was anything but conventional. Born in 1930 in Ningbo, eastern China, she studied pharmacology at Beijing Medical College and later trained in traditional medicine. She never earned a doctorate, nor did she study abroad – a rarity among Nobel laureates. But her ability to bridge two worlds made her stand out.

In 2011, she received the prestigious Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, often called ‘America’s Nobel’, for what the Lasker Foundation described as ‘arguably the most important pharmaceutical intervention in the last half-century’. Despite the accolades, Tu has remained modest. ‘I do not want fame,’ she once said, choosing instead to share credit with her colleagues and the generations of scholars who built China’s medical tradition. When she delivered her Nobel lecture, titled Discovery of Artemisinin: A Gift from Traditional Chinese Medicine to the World, she described her work not as a personal triumph but as a contribution from China to humanity.

Still leading at 95

Now aged 95, Tu continues her research as head and chief professor at the Artemisinin Research Centre of the Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. In 2025, she was elected an international member of the US National Academy of Sciences – another rare honour for a mainland Chinese scientist.

Tu remains convinced that ancient Chinese medicine still holds untapped potential. ‘Chinese medicine will help us conquer life-threatening diseases worldwide,’ she once said. ‘People across the globe will enjoy its benefits for health promotion.’

Tu’s discovery was more than a medical milestone; it was a cultural and scientific bridge between past and present, East and West. From yellowed pages of a fourth-century text, she uncovered a molecule that would reshape modern medicine.

Every scientist dreams of doing something that can help the world. Tu, against all odds, did exactly that.

VFD Group Plc has said that its N50.67 billion Rights Issue will strengthen its capital base, fund expansion plans and increase investments in key subsidiaries.

Olatunde Busari, chairman of the Board of Directors, VFD Group while speaking on Wednesday at the signing cermony for the Rights Issues described the capital raise as a pivotal step in strengthening the Group’s capital base and advancing strategic growth agenda.

‘Following careful deliberations and engagement with our advisers, the Board approved this Rights Issue – comprising 5,067,396,400 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each, offered at N10 per share, on the basis of 2 new shares for every 3 existing shares held.

‘The proceeds of this offer, estimated at N49.55billion net of costs, will be strategically deployed to deleverage the Company’s balance sheet, fund our geographical expansion across the United Kingdom and Southern Africa, and increase investments in key subsidiaries,’ Busari said. According to him, the capital raise reflects a continued commitment to building a stronger, more resilient, and diversified investment group which will enhance liquidity, improve leverage ratios, and position VFD Group to capture emerging opportunities across multiple sectors and regions.

The chairman extended appreciation to shareholders and advisors and regulators for their unwavering trust, professionalism, dedication and steadfast guidance and partnership throughout the process, adding that the Rights Issue marks the beginning of a new phase of growth, innovation, and value creation for our stakeholders.

The shareholders at the company’s 8th Annual General Meeting approved a capital raise of up to N30 billion, of which N12.5 billion has been successfully raised. Building on that momentum, the chairman said the shareholders during the 9th Annual General Meeting held on May 8, once again demonstrated their confidence in the vision by authorising the Board to raise additional capital of up to N50 billion through various instruments. Nonso Okpala, General Managing Director, VFD Group Plc said that the company’s confidence in the current economy informed the decision to raise the fund, explaining that the economy has gained positive growth from where it was a few years ago.

‘We think that the economic atmosphere of the country has positioned us to raise this amount. If you look at this time three years ago, you find out that it will not be more comfortable to raise such an outage today.

‘We think that the economy is opening up, we think opportunities are leveraging. We know that respective sectors are raising funds and the formation of their capital is stable and the opportunities abound. We will take advantage of the opportunities that lie in the country,’ Okpala said. He praised the federal government for the reforms and policies that have been put in place since the commencement of the administration

Okpala further said, ‘We look forward to getting the best of it. The economy is in the right direction. There are short term pain that we must deal with and I think the government is sensitive to those pains but for an economic and opportunity stand point there is a lot we can take advantage of.

‘If you look at the insurance sector, the capital market and banking the sectors are being revitalised and you can see their level of profitability,’ adding that VFD Group is positioning itself to drive most of the developmental reforms and leverage some of the reforms leading in the area of investment company sectors.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reported that Nigeria experienced 19,384 fibre optic cable cuts between January and August 2025.

Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, disclosed during the Business Roundtable on Broadband Investment and Infrastructure Protection on Wednesday in Abuja.

Maida also revealed that within the same period, there were over 3,200 cases of telecom equipment theft and more than 19,000 instances where telecom operators were denied access to their sites.

Highlighting the risks of ongoing damage to telecom infrastructure, Maida explained that vandalism and fibre cuts disrupt digital services across sectors such as commerce, healthcare, and security.

‘These interruptions slow services, reduce productivity, limit access to opportunities, and, in some cases, endanger lives,’ he said.

With over 140 million internet users and a national broadband penetration rate of 48.81%, Maida stressed that broadband connectivity is no longer just a technical issue but a development priority.

He cited research indicating that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can lead to a 1.38% increase in GDP for developing countries, highlighting the losses Nigeria risks if its digital infrastructure remains vulnerable.

Maida acknowledged the June 2024 Presidential Order designating telecom infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), which gives security agencies greater authority to tackle vandalism.

Despite this, attacks on telecom facilities continue, causing service disruptions and raising operational costs.

He called for stricter protection measures, stronger enforcement, and better collaboration across government levels to safeguard telecom assets.

Addressing the inconsistent application of Right of Way (RoW) fees across states, Maida noted that while the Nigerian Governors Forum agreed on a uniform fee of N145 per metre to facilitate broadband rollout, only 11 states have fully waived these charges. Other states still impose higher fees or lack clear policies, hindering network expansion. He urged state governments to adopt the agreed rate or waive the fees entirely, saying this would speed up the rollout of the 90,000-kilometre fibre network outlined in Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan (2020-2025).

To improve transparency and streamline infrastructure deployment, Maida announced two new initiatives aimed at speeding up telecom infrastructure development nationwide: the Ease of Doing Business Portal and the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index (NDCI).

Both tools address challenges in the sector.

The Ease of Doing Business Portal is a digital platform designed to simplify the permit and approval process for telecom infrastructure projects. It allows operators to submit, track, and manage applications in a centralized system, reducing delays and inconsistencies between states. Maida said the portal would promote uniformity and eliminate bottlenecks that have slowed broadband expansion.

The Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index (NDCI) is a benchmarking framework that will assess and rank states based on digital infrastructure, broadband coverage, policy environment, and digital inclusion.

The index aims to identify gaps, encourage competition among states, and guide investment and policy decisions.

These initiatives target two major issues: slow and inconsistent approval processes across states, and the lack of reliable, comparable data on digital progress nationwide.

Despite the national agreement on a uniform RoW rate of N145 per metre, many states still impose high fees or lack clear frameworks, with only 11 states implementing the agreed rate so far.

Maida revealed that telecom operators have committed over $1 billion in new broadband investments, driven by recent regulatory reforms and growing investor confidence.

He emphasized the importance of cooperation between federal and state governments to secure Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.

‘Pipelines of oil are giving way to pipelines of fibre,’ he said. ‘In today’s world, a community without digital connectivity is cut off from education, markets, and opportunity.’

As Nigeria aims to reach 70% broadband penetration by the end of 2025, the roundtable highlighted the need for sustained and unified action to protect and expand broadband infrastructure.

Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, called on the private sector to increase investments in the telecom industry.

Edun, represented by Ali Mohammed, director at the ministry of finance, said the sector is vulnerable and compact. ‘We call on local and international investors to invest. Government alone cannot handle this challenge. We need private sector collaboration,’ he said.

He acknowledged challenges including weak frameworks and excessive taxation but expressed confidence they could be addressed through stakeholder collaboration.

Abdulateef Shittu, director general of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, chairman of the NGF, reaffirmed the governors’ commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation.

‘We fully support the national goal to raise broadband penetration to 80% by 2027. Achieving this will require an additional 95,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable across Nigeria. It’s an ambitious target that demands collaboration among all stakeholders,’ he said.

The event brought together government officials, industry leaders, and investors to discuss threats to broadband infrastructure and their implications for Nigeria’s digital economy.

Head Coach Eric Chelle will have a total of 20 players available for the Super Eagles’ second training session on Wednesday in Polokwane, ahead of Friday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash against the Crocodiles of Lesotho.

As of Tuesday night, 19 players were already in camp at The Ranch Hotel, with Portugal-based defender Zaidu Sanusi and Spain-based forward Jerome Akor Adams expected to join the group on Wednesday. Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, who plays in the United States, is scheduled to arrive in South Africa on Thursday. Chelle has made adjustments to his squad following injuries to Bright Osayi-Samuel and Cyriel Dessers, prompting the inclusion of Zaidu Sanusi and Christantus Uche of Crystal Palace. An earlier injury to Felix Agu had already reduced the original 23-man list to 22.

Meanwhile, Russia-based winger Olakunle Olusegun is yet to receive his South African entry visa, meaning the Super Eagles could face Lesotho with just 21 players available for selection.

The Matchday 9 encounter will take place at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, on Friday, October 10, 2025, with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. Nigeria time.

President Bola Tinubu has asked the National Assembly to approve plans to raise $2.35 billion in external loans to part-finance the 2025 budget deficit and refinance Nigeria’s maturing Eurobonds, as well as issue a $500 million sovereign Sukuk to fund infrastructure.

The request, read at plenary on Tuesday by Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives is part of the government’s plan to bridge funding gaps, manage debt obligations, and attract new investors to the country’s capital markets.

According to the President, the $2.35 billion borrowing comprises new external loans of N1.843 trillion (about $1.229 billion at ?1,500/$) to help finance the 2025 Appropriation Act and $1.118 billion to refinance Eurobonds issued in 2018, which are due to mature in November 2025.

Tinubu explained that the funds would be accessed through any of the following options in the International Capital Market (ICM): issuance of Eurobonds, syndicated loans, bridge finance facilities from bookrunners, or direct borrowing from international financial institutions.

‘The House may wish to note that the 2025 Appropriation Act provides for N9.276 trillion as new borrowings to part-finance the 2025 budget deficit, of which N1.843 trillion (equivalent of about $1.229 billion at the budget exchange rate of $1.00/N1,500.00) is to be raised externally,’ the President wrote.

He said the plan to refinance the maturing Eurobonds is a standard practice in global debt markets and will prevent any risk of default.

‘The plan is to refinance the maturing Eurobonds through the issuance of Eurobonds, bridge finance facilities, syndicated loans, or direct borrowing from international financial institutions, as necessary, to avoid default,’ Tinubu said.

The President added that Nigeria, as a regular participant in the ICM, is well-positioned to raise the proposed amount, subject to market conditions.

‘Because Eurobond issuance is a market-based transaction, the terms and conditions can only be determined at the time of the transaction and will be subject to prevailing market dynamics,’ Tinubu said, adding that the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office (DMO) would work with transaction advisers to secure the most favourable terms. He said the pricing of the new Eurobonds would reflect yields on Nigeria’s outstanding instruments trading in the ICM at the time of issuance, while the tenor would depend on investor preference, market price, and the DMO’s liability management strategy.

In a related development, Tinubu also sought approval to issue a debut stand-alone sovereign Sukuk of up to $500 million in the international capital market, with or without credit enhancement from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group.

He noted that Nigeria has recorded considerable success with domestic Sukuk issuances, which have raised N1.392 trillion since 2017 for road and infrastructure projects across the country.

Extending Sukuk issuance to the international market, he said, would allow Nigeria to mobilise additional funds for infrastructure, diversify its investor base, and deepen the sovereign debt market.

‘There is the need to pool resources from external sources to complement domestic issuance to help bridge infrastructure funding gaps,’ Tinubu said. ‘It is also imperative to open new sources of funding for the Federal Government and thereby diversify the investor base, as well as deepen the Federal Government securities market.’

Tinubu therefore urged the House to approve the external borrowing of $2.35 billion and the issuance of the $500 million Sukuk to ensure fiscal stability, sustain investor confidence, and support Nigeria’s infrastructure and economic growth plans.

.scientists, stakeholders brainstorm at the Nigerian Academy of Science workshop on cannabinoids use

There are indications that Nigeria will soon join the league of major exporters of cannabis oil, also known as CBD, a chemical found in marijuana, largely grown in large quantities in Nigeria.

The global cannabis oil market is considered to be huge at $7.2bn, currently, but is projected to be about $39.7bn by 2034.

The usual CBD formulation is a vaporised liquid oil sold as an extract and does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana that produces a high.

As part of efforts to harness the aboundance of the huge potentials from the specie of marijuana that grows freely in Nigeria, Buba Marwa, chairman/chief executive officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said the Agency is considering ‘controlled and regulated export of cannabis oil to countries who desire it, while remaining opposed to its local consumption.’

If the policy is adopted, it is likely to change the current law around the cultivation and use of the plant, as Nigeria currently forbids the cultivation and use of marijuana.

The law also doesn’t differentiate between CBD and THC-rich marijuana, as any ‘part of the plant of the genus Cannabis’ is illegal, meaning that CBD and CBD products are prohibited in Nigeria.

But speaking at a stakeholders workshop themed ‘Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria’, organised by the Nigerian Academy of Science in Abuja on Wednesday, Marwa described the dialogue on cannabis oil as ‘a welcome development.’

‘At NDLEA, our position on cannabis oil is simple: we welcome dialogue. We believe Nigeria must make informed choices, not choices driven by half-truths, commercial interests, or global trends.’

Marwa, who noted that although Cannabis oil may have medicinal properties worth investigating, added that ‘it also carries health risks, potential for misuse, and implications for public safety.

‘This is why scientists, medical experts, policymakers, and regulators must be in the same room to bring facts to the table, scrutinise evidence, and weigh options carefully.

‘ Let me assure you that NDLEA is not opposed to science, nor are we indifferent to innovation. What we insist on is caution. Policy must protect lives, safeguard public health, and strengthen-not weaken-our fight against drug abuse.’

The Agency had been at the forefront of fighting the illicit drug trade in Nigeria, where it is estimated that about 14% of the population engages in substance abuse.

The NDLEA recently revealed that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of misuse of cannabis worldwide.

‘For a country already grappling with 14.4 percent substance abuse prevalence rate as against the global average of 5.6 percent and a staggering figure of 10.6 million cannabis users based on the last drug use survey report of 2018, the risks associated with cannabis cannot be dismissed. Rather, the reality should remind us that while cannabis oil may have medical potential, its dangers are real and must be addressed with strong safeguards before any policy shift is considered.’ The anti-narcotic agency said it is ‘not be averse to the idea of controlled export of cannabis oil to foreign companies and countries who desire it, as part of our drive as a country to enhance foreign earnings.’

It is on record that while some countries have approved the use of cannabis oil for therapeutic purposes, others, including Nigeria, have yet to. ‘Our concern however is about its consumption in Nigeria. In essence, we are not opposed to the idea of exporting the oil to those who desire it but such must be strictly controlled, licensed and monitored by NDLEA with such process located only within export free zones’, Marwa stated

Explaining the position of the Agency further, the NDLEA boss said the conversation is necessary because ‘we are talking about Cannabis, which is not just another plant. It is a substance with complex medical, social, and economic dimensions.

‘For decades, the debate has been one-sided. Advocates often highlight the supposed benefits of cannabis oil, while its risks and consequences are glossed over. This, no doubt, informs the decision by us at the NDLEA to commission an ongoing study on cannabis oil by this respected apex body of scientists, the Nigerian Academy of Science.

‘In a country like Nigeria, which is already contending with a high burden of drug abuse, it is imperative that we approach this matter with sobriety, clarity, and balance. Till today, much of the public debate highlights the potential therapeutic uses of cannabis oil and the commercial value of its export.

‘What about the risks? Evidence shows that cannabis, including its oil extracts, can have adverse effects on mental health, especially among young people. The prolonged or uncontrolled use of cannabis and its extracts is linked to anxiety, depression, psychosis, and cognitive impairment. In addition, dependence and addiction are real concerns as well. In reality, these side effects create additional social and economic costs for families, communities and society at large.’

The NDLEA boss highlights a fundamental issue of ‘lack of standardised production and regulation in many countries means products sold as ‘cannabis oil’ often vary in potency, contain contaminants, or are misused outside of medical supervision.’

He called on scientists to come up with measures to mitigate the consequences of illicit drug cultivation and production is the decision by the Agency, as the first in Africa, to introduce an alternative development project in 2023.

According to him, ‘The Alternative Development Project demands ethical responsibility and commitment to develop transformative policies and humanitarian responses to mitigate drug-related problems and end the complexities and violence of the war on drugs in Nigeria and globally.’

Abubakar Sambo, president of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), who was represented by the vice president, Friday Okonofua, noted that several research studies have considered various uses of cannabis and its side effects.

He said the workshop was aimed at reaching a consensus on the contentious issue of the use of cannabis oil.

‘At the end of the day, we’ll have evidence-based consensus work, which will be properly documented that will lead us to decide what we should be doing regarding the use of cannabis in this country’, he stated.

Also contributing, Musbau Akanbi, chairman of the NAS study committee on cannabis oil use, commended NDLEA for being proactive and working with the Academy to obtain a science-driven guide for Nigeria.

‘As we all know, cannabis oil is extracted from cannabis, and the legalisation of the use of the oil would translate to large-scale cultivation of the weed itself. The Nigerian Academy of Science consequently constituted the consensus study committee on the cannabis oil debate, comprising experts in all fields that had to do with the study request.

‘The committee collected a lot of literature on the subject matter from all over the world, reviewed what is happening in other lands, and decided to arrange this workshop where experts from various related fields will come together with stakeholders and present evidence that will be collated to assist NDLEA in carrying out its honest responsibility.’

Samuel Adekola, who represented Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state noted that, ‘this all-important workshop will offer our great country, Nigeria, the opportunity to move from debate to design, from potential to policies and I urge all participants to contribute constructively so that together we can rise to craft a model that not only benefit the consumers of health, also the sunshine state and Nigeria, but also position our nation as a leader on the African continent in this emerging field.

‘Let us proceed with vision, with courage, and with unity of purpose.’

In his keynote address, Oye Gureje, director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, Neurosciences, and Substance Abuse, University of Ibadan, stated that cumulative evidence suggests that ‘cannabis has some limited medical use’, and ‘widespread recreational use is likely to lead to increased risk of psychosis’, while ‘public health may be moderately affected by increased use (e.g. road accidents).’

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm Idris Olorunnimbe as chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), with Dr Aminu Wada retaining his position as executive vice chairman and chief executive officer.

The request, contained in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Wednesday’s plenary.

The letter also included the nomination of other members to the NCC Board.

They are Abraham Oshidami (executive commissioner, technical services), Rimini Makama (executive commissioner, stakeholder management), Maryam Bayi, Col. Abdulwahab Lawal (retd.), Lekan Mustafa, Chris Okorie, and Oforitsenere Emiko.

The President explained that the nominations were part of the administration’s efforts to reposition key communication and regulatory institutions for better service delivery. In similar correspondences, President Tinubu sought the Senate’s confirmation of Dr Musa Babayo as chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Dr Aminu Yusuf as chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), and Prof. Adeniran Raymond Tella as resident electoral commissioner (Oyo State) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Also forwarded for legislative approval was the nomination of Keji Onwu as independent director on the Board of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), alongside nominees for the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

After reading the letters, Akpabio referred the nominations to the relevant Senate committees for screening and report, directing the INEC Committee to conclude its assignment within one week.

Under Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), all presidential appointments into key federal positions must be confirmed by the Senate before appointees can assume office.

A group of prominent Nigerians, including religious leaders, economists, civil society advocates, and former public officials, have issued a joint statement calling for restraint, dialogue, and respect for both workers’ rights and national economic interests in the wake of recent labour unrest at the Dangote Refinery.

Last week, members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) embarked on strike over the alleged sack of about 800 unionised employees at the refinery. The industrial action was suspended following the intervention of the minister of labour and employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, and Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser.

In the statement dated October 6, 2025, the signatories, including Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, Atedo Peterside, Bishop Matthew Kukah, and former SEC DG Arunma Oteh said the refinery represents ‘a national symbol of what bold domestic investment can achieve’ and must be protected from disruptions that could deter investors.

Other signatories include Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, Dudu Mamman Manuga, Ibrahim Dahiru Waziri, Obonganwan Barbara Etim James, Opeyemi Adamolekun, Osita Chidoka, Senator Sola Akinyede, and Aisha Yesufu. ‘For decades, Nigerians endured the collapse of government-owned refineries, the waste of trillions of naira in subsidies, and dependence on fuel imports,’ the statement read.

‘These failures left citizens exposed to scarcity, inflation, and insecurity. In this context, the Dangote Refinery represents more than a private venture; it is a national symbol of what bold domestic investment can achieve.’

The group noted that the refinery’s operations have already begun easing fuel supply pressures across the country, leading to a 55 percent reduction in petrol prices in some areas, from about N1,500 per litre to around N820.

‘This impact on transport costs and food prices offers Nigerians a glimpse of how local productivity can improve daily life,’ they said. ‘It also signals to investors at home and abroad that industry, rather than speculation, can still thrive in Nigeria.’

However, they cautioned that the strikes and threats that recently disrupted operations at the refinery ‘send the wrong signals’ to investors at a time when Nigeria needs stability and confidence to attract capital and innovation.

The statement outlined three guiding principles for managing such disputes: respect for workers’ rights, protection of markets and productivity, and adherence to social responsibility by large investors. The signatories also called for transparent and lawful handling of concerns around monopoly or market dominance, urging stakeholders to use appropriate government institutions such as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) instead of resorting to strikes.

‘Concerns about monopoly or market dominance should not be settled by disruptive industrial action,’ they said. ‘There is no legal monopoly here; others are free to invest in refining, provided they can mobilise the necessary resources and expertise.’

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday called on Nigerians to safeguard and respect the multibillion-dollar investment, describing the $20 billion refinery as a ‘national treasure’ that must not be undermined by industrial disputes or political sentiment.

Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja, Shettima said the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, one of the largest in the world, was central to Nigeria’s ambition for energy security, job creation, and global competitiveness.

Shettima, while commending the government’s mediation, urged labour unions and the organised private sector to exercise restraint and patriotism in resolving disputes, warning that reckless actions could jeopardise national progress.

‘It’s not about holding the whole nation to ransom because of a minor labour dispute,’ he said. ‘Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us.’

Reacting to Shettima’s remarks, a former state attorney-general and public policy expert, who asked not to be named, said the vice president ‘missed a huge opportunity’ to speak directly to investors and uphold the rule of law.

‘The VP spoke yesterday as he often does, with authority and erudition, but I believe he missed the chance to reassure investors that the government will enforce the law dispassionately,’ he said.

According to him, existing legislation such as the Trade Disputes Act and the Trade Disputes (Essential Services) Act explicitly prohibit strike actions in the energy sector, which is classified as an essential service.

‘A VP who swore to uphold the Constitution ought to have reminded the unions that no one, certainly not a trade union, is above the law,’ he argued.

‘A further statement that the Federal Attorney-General had been instructed to file a declaratory lawsuit against those two racketeering and blackmailing trade unions (it is not too late to do so) would, in my view, have had a more salutary effect both on the Unions’ behaviour and on the perception of domestic and foreign investors about Nigeria as an investment destination,’ he said.

He cited precedents, including a 2002 court case against the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), which upheld the government’s right to prevent industrial action in essential services.

Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies (DisCos) installed 225,631 meters in the second quarter of 2025, indicating a 20.55 per cent increase from the 187,161 meters deployed in the first quarter, according to the latest report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

According to the commission’s second quarter 2025 report, of the total installations, 147,823 meters (65.52 per cent) were provided under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework, 65,315 through the Meter Acquisition Fund (MAF) scheme, 12,259 via the Vendor Financed model, and just 234 under the DisCo Financed scheme.

Despite the progress, NERC revealed that as of June 2025, only 6.42 million out of 11.82 million registered customers in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) had been metered, a national metering rate of 54.33 per cent. This means nearly half of electricity users remain unmetered and continue to face estimated billing.

To protect these customers, NERC said it continues to enforce the monthly energy cap policy, which limits how much energy unmetered customers can be billed based on actual consumption patterns of metered users on the same feeder. Meanwhile, customer complaints across DisCos declined during the quarter. NERC’s report showed that 227,267 complaints were recorded in Q2, down 10.67% from 254,404 in Q1. However, at NERC’s Central Complaint Unit (CCU), only 1,129 of 2,474 complaints were resolved, a 45.63% resolution rate, which the regulator described as unsatisfactory.

Most complaints related to metering, billing, and service interruptions, consistent with previous trends.

The report also noted that two Forum Offices were shut down during the quarter, reducing active offices to 24. Out of 1,418 active appeals (including 1,040 new cases), the panels resolved 958, achieving a 67.56 per cent resolution rate, down from 74.10 per cent in Q1.

In April, NERC penalised eight DisCos, Abuja (AEDC), Ikeja (IKEDC), Eko (EKEDC), Enugu (EEDC), Jos (JEDC), Kaduna Electric, Kano (KEDCO), and Yola (YEDC), for violating the energy cap on estimated billing for unmetered customers.

The Commission imposed fines totalling over N628 million and directed the companies to issue credit adjustments to affected customers. The penalties, however, sparked mixed reactions among electricity consumers and power sector experts.