LNG law is only half of the promise investors are waiting for

Every serious investor reads a host country twice. The first reading is of its laws and the second is quieter and, in my experience, more decisive: the institutions that will sit across the table for the next thirty years, and whether they can carry their share of the load. Tanzania’s $42 billion LNG project is about to face both readings at the same time.

The project is closer than it has ever been. Commercial terms, taxation and revenue sharing have been negotiated with Shell, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Pavilion Energy and Medco Energi. What remains is the legal architecture: a dedicated law to govern the project, targeted for completion by year end, followed by parliamentary approval and the partners’ final investment decision.

The Energy docket has also just changed hands, and the new minister arrives from Constitutional and Legal Affairs precisely when the outstanding work is legal.

The case for a project-specific law deserves an honest hearing. The 2017 natural wealth and resources laws gave Parliament the power to review and renegotiate agreements it considers unconscionable.

While that was a legitimate assertion of sovereignty, capital however, prices every assertion. A liquefaction project whose first production is still close to a decade away cannot be financed on terms that may be revisited halfway through its life.

The concern on the other side is equally legitimate: a law that grants one project protections the rest of the economy does not enjoy must be drawn narrowly, or it becomes a precedent every future investor will ask for. Both positions are right, and the drafting must hold them together.

Here is what the legal debate tends to miss. A stabilisation regime protects the investor from the state as legislator. It does nothing to protect the investor from the state as shareholder, or from the state as customer.

In this project, Tanzania is both. TPDC sits inside the consortium. The domestic market obligation, one of the issues that pushed the signing past its June target, means part of the gas will be sold at home, where most of the gas already produced goes to power generation.

Lenders will model TPDC’s capacity to meet cash calls, and the domestic buyer’s capacity to pay, long before they debate a stabilisation clause.

I press one question on every client entering a joint venture with a state entity: not what the agreement says, but what happens in year six when the partner’s budget allocation does not arrive. That is the question the LNG law cannot answer on its own.

This is why the conversation in Arusha this week matters to Lindi. At the forum of chief executives and board chairs of public entities convened by the Treasury Registrar, the message was that state enterprises will no longer be judged mainly on the dividends they remit, but on productivity, financial resilience, innovation and competitiveness. That is the right yardstick.

Government investment in public entities has reached Sh92.28 trillion, and the Public Investment Law now in its final stages will create a Public Investment Fund and introduce merit-based recruitment for boards and chief executives.

The problem it responds to is real: public corporations have historically received only a fraction of the capital they requested, which is how strategic institutions end up borrowing expensively to stand still.

TPDC itself reported a Sh73 billion profit for 2025/26 and a Sh15 billion dividend. Respectable for an operating company; not yet the balance sheet of a co-owner of a project this size.

The LNG law and the public investment reforms are being drafted in different rooms. Investors will read them as one document.

Three design choices would close that gap. First, the Public Investment Law should state how the state’s equity in strategic projects is funded, so cash calls never depend on annual appropriations.

Second, TPDC’s scorecard under the new yardstick should include published project-readiness measures: timely audited accounts, a funding plan for its participation, and a governance charter for its role in the consortium. Third, domestic gas pricing and payment security should be settled alongside the LNG law, not after it.

Tanzania has done the harder work of negotiating with some of the world’s most demanding counterparties, and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has made an Indian Ocean supplier more attractive to Asian buyers than at any point in the life of this project.

The window is real although not permanent. I have not yet heard the LNG conversation and the state enterprise conversation held in the same room, in public and yet they belong together.

Amne Suedi is the Managing Director of Shikana Investment and Advisory, Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Zanzibar, and Chair of the Switzerland-Tanzania Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed are strictly Amne Suedi’s only.

Beyond numbers: The case for quality real estate investment

Tanzania’s real estate market is changing quickly. Across Dar es Salaam and other growing urban centres, new residential and commercial developments are reshaping our skylines and giving buyers and investors more choice than ever before.

But as the market grows, I believe our real estate conversation also needs to mature.

The question should no longer simply be: How much are we building? We should also be asking: What are we building, who are we building it for, and will it still represent good value ten or twenty years from now?

From quantity to quality

For many years, development activity itself has been seen as a sign of progress. More apartments, more towers and more projects coming onto the market naturally signal investment and confidence in the sector.

But more supply on its own does not necessarily create a strong property market. Quality matters just as much.

A good development begins long before construction starts. Location, architecture, unit sizes, practical layouts, natural light and ventilation, the quality of materials, parking, security, amenities and how the property will eventually be managed all have an impact on its long-term value.

And these details matter more today because buyers are becoming better informed and more selective.

A development can look impressive when it is launched. The real test comes later. Does it work well for the people living there? Is it being properly maintained? And will people still want to live there ten or twenty years from now?

Buyers are changing

Today’s buyer is not simply purchasing square metres. Whether someone is buying a home or an investment property, they increasingly want to understand what sits behind the asking price. They are looking at lifestyle, running costs, rental potential, resale prospects, management standards and the overall quality of the development.

For an investor, the lowest price per square metre is not always the best deal. A well-designed and well-managed property in the right location may cost more initially, but it can also be easier to rent, attract better long-term demand and hold its position in the resale market.

That distinction is important. Price and value are not the same thing.

Developers must understand the end user

One of the biggest opportunities I see in Tanzania is for developers to become more closely connected to the people who will eventually live in, rent or buy their properties.

You cannot develop successful real estate from drawings and financial models alone. You also need to understand the market.

What unit sizes are people actually looking for? What layouts work for today’s households? Which amenities do residents really use? What are corporate tenants asking for? And what makes a buyer walk away from an otherwise attractive property?

These are questions that should be asked before a project reaches the market, not afterwards. This is also where experienced real estate professionals can play a much bigger role.

Our job should not begin when construction is underway and a developer needs someone to sell the units. Because we deal directly with buyers, tenants and investors, we see what people are asking for, what they are willing to pay for and, just as importantly, what they reject.

That market knowledge can help developers make better decisions about the product itself, as well as pricing, positioning and sales strategy.

The next phase of Tanzania’s real estate market

Tanzania has an important opportunity ahead. Dar es Salaam is seeing increasingly sophisticated residential developments. At the same time, infrastructure investment, tourism, business activity and continued urbanisation are creating opportunities across different parts of the property market.

But as more projects enter the market, adding more units will not be enough. The developments that stand out over the long term will be those that understand who they are building for and deliver well – from the initial concept and construction quality through to handover, maintenance and management.

For developers, that means building with the end user in mind. For buyers, it means looking beyond the brochure, the renders and the launch price, and asking the right questions.

And for investors, it means recognising that a good property investment is not simply about buying at the lowest possible price. It is about buying something that people will continue to want to live in, rent or buy in the years ahead.

Towards a more mature property market

As Tanzania’s real estate sector grows, our standards should grow with it.

We need developments that add something to their neighbourhoods rather than simply occupy them. We need homes that actually work for the people who live in them. And we need investments that can retain their appeal and value over time.

That requires developers, investors, real estate professionals and buyers to think beyond the immediate transaction and consider what happens to a property after the excitement of the launch and the sale is over.

The future of Tanzania’s property market should not be measured only by how much we build. It should also be measured by how well we build, how intelligently we invest and, ultimately, how much lasting value we create.

Hellen Kiwia is CEO, Zara Real Estate Limited.

We named the price; most guides don’t

Whenever we exhibit at conferences, present our work at forums, or post about our programs on social media, the same question keeps finding its way back to us: how does CARE Tanzania do this work?

People want to know how we get com munities and government to co-own a program that outlasts the funding, how a savings group can establish a daycare centre, and how a village cooperative can build a processing enterprise.

We would answer in the moment, a quick explanation after a conference pan el, a reply in the comments. But the honest answer deserved a document that other organizations and the private sector could use.

That question is part of why CARE Tanzania developed Generating Impact: A Practical Guide for Non-Governmental Organizations and Partners in Community Transformation in 2025.

As the Country Director, I had carried the idea for some time that the answers we kept giving informally deserved to be written down properly, tested, and shared.

We gave the guide its first public airing at a side event during the NGO Forum in September 2025, a lively session where the room was as eager to share as to listen.

One of the liveliest exchanges came from a panel of married women entrepreneurs from our project speaking with real confidence about how far their small businesses had grown.

They were candid that winning their husbands’ full support had been a process, not an event, and credited part of that shift to CARE’s approach of inviting men into the savings groups too, so the benefit is felt by the whole family.

‘I raised chicken layers, and my husband was very willing to take care of them whenever I was away,’ said Etheria Kihongosi, a farmer from Madizini village, Kilolo, in Iringa Region. That exchange told us the guide had struck a nerve well beyond CARE.

We had something worth sharing. CARE Tanzania has supported the formation of more than 35,000 Village Savings and Loan Associations, reaching over 1.5 million members, around 68% being women.

In Mufindi District, one savings group turned a shared childcare burden into a community-run daycare centre, freeing mothers to farm, trade, and lead, a model local government later backed with land and funding once its value became clear. ‘Before the daycare, I could not go to the farm before nine in the morning,’ said Irene Kivinge, a farmer from Ukelemi village.

‘Now I am there by six, and my child is safe.’ In Buhigwe, young people moved from selling raw cassava at a loss to running their own processing enterprise. In Tanga, smallholder tea farmers multiplied their income more than twentyfold by processing and branding their own specialty tea instead of selling green leaf. These are not theories.

They are field-tested models, with real budgets, real numbers, and real setbacks behind them. Knowledge like that, left buried in internal reports, is knowledge wasted. If an approach measurably improves lives in one district, the people doing similar work in the next district, or the next country, deserve to know how it was done, not simply that it worked.

We did not assume our way was the only way. We went out and listened, to other organizations, government partners, private sector actors, to understand where our models could genuinely travel, and where they could not.

A savings-and-loan platform that works well in Mufindi does not automatically translate to Kigoma or Singida without adjustment. So this guide is not a record of what CARE alone did; it is an attempt to test transferability honestly, shaped by what other actors told us was useful, adaptable, or missing in their own contexts.

That same commitment to honesty shaped how we wrote about cost. Most sector documents present the finished success story and leave out the price tag. Ours does not.

The guide names real figures: a Sh 12 million cassava-processing machine, a USD 350,000 tea factory co-financed across a cooperative, a private company, and a donor.

We included what things cost, how long they took, and where they nearly failed, because a reader who sees only the polished version will underestimate what replication demands.

We are placing this guide, its models, checklists, and hard-won lessons, in the hands of every NGO, government partner, private sector actor, and community actor working toward the same end we are: communities that lead their own transformation.

We believe it adds real value to Tanzania’s sustainable development, turning what individual organizations know quietly into something the whole sector can build on.

For a copy of the guide, and to discuss terms for how our team can orient your staff and adapt a specific approach to your own context, reach out to CARE Tanzania through TZA.CARETanzania@care.org, or by phone at +255 22 2668061 / +255 754 400 440.

The next genuine breakthrough in community-led development will not come from one organization working in isolation. It will come from organizations finally comparing notes, honestly, including about what things cost and where they fail. My thanks to the CARE Tanzania team, and to the many partners and consultants who supported this work.

’Give us one year’ – Amaechi vows to quit If ADC fails

Rotimi Amaechi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election, has pledged to resign from office if the country fails to record significant improvements within one year of an ADC administration taking power.

Amaechi made the commitment during an interview on AIT’s Democracy Today programme on Wednesday, outlining security, education and economic development as key priorities of an ADC government.

He also identified corruption as a major obstacle to solving Nigeria’s problems, arguing that public resources meant for critical sectors were being diverted into private hands.

‘We must deal with three things. We must deal with security; we must deal with education; we must deal with the economy. And to do all that, corruption will have to come down because there’s no money for anybody to steal,’ Amaechi said.

The former governor also faulted President Bola Tinubu’s removal of the petrol subsidy, questioning the benefits Nigerians had derived from the policy.

‘President Tinubu remove subsidy, what are the benefits of subsidy? Subsidy money is in private pockets and they are celebrating,’ he said.

Amaechi expressed concern about the level of poverty in the country, contrasting it with what he described as extravagant celebrations in some parts of Nigeria.

He said he sometimes left such events after spending only a short time there because he was troubled by questions over the source of the money being spent.

‘I sit down and ask myself, where are these people getting this money from, going by how high poverty is in Nigeria?’ he said.

Speaking on the economy, the ADC candidate claimed that Nigeria was increasingly dependent on imported finished products, saying the country now imports more than 46 per cent of such goods.

‘Who are those importing? Nigeria is in trouble,’ he said.

Amaechi also referred to reports of some Nigerians booing President Tinubu during his arrival at the Lagos International Airport, saying such scenes would change under an ADC administration.

‘I watched people hoot at Tinubu from the Lagos International Airport to his house. If we become President, nobody will do that, they will be clapping for us because we will change Nigeria,’ he said.

Atiku promises zero tolerance for electoral malpractice ahead of 2027

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to end election rigging and strengthen the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if elected President.

Atiku made the pledge in his address delivered on Thursday at the ADC headquarters in Abuja to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.

He promised to support prompt publication of results from every polling unit and ensure electoral offenders faced the law, regardless of party affiliation.

The presidential candidate said anyone caught buying votes or altering election results would face prosecution, stressing that every Nigerian’s vote must count as cast.

He urged Nigerians to protect their votes, reject intimidation and carefully question every candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, Nigerians should demand detailed plans that could be examined and promises whose implementation could be objectively measured.

‘The coming election offers us a peaceful way to choose our course. This country is yours,’ Atiku said.

He also promised that, if elected, his administration would prioritise affordability and protection of lives as central components of governance.

He said his administration would work to reduce the cost of food, fuel and electricity while improving access to healthcare and education.

The former vice president also pledged to restore security to communities facing insecurity and ensure accountability in public spending.

He said government performance would be measured by Nigerians’ ability to afford basic necessities and live safely in their communities.

Atiku said his administration would introduce a capped and budgeted production subsidy tied to verified fuel refined locally, including modular refineries.

He said imported petrol would not qualify for the proposed subsidy, adding that the benefit would reach consumers through lower pump prices.

‘We will publish the costs, independently audit the payments and cut government waste to help fund the programme,’ Atiku said.

He said the principle behind the proposal was to produce and refine locally, create jobs and reduce the cost of petroleum products.

Atiku also promised to work with his running mate and ADC partners to pursue policies aimed at making life affordable.

He said Nigerians deserved access to affordable food, healthcare, education, transportation and other necessities required for dignified living.

The ADC candidate urged Nigerians to scrutinise campaign promises and demand accountability from political leaders before, during and after elections.

He said Nigeria’s independence should guarantee political freedom, allowing citizens to question leaders, organise peacefully and demand change without intimidation.

Atiku called for strict adherence to the rule of law, fair application of justice, respect for lawful appeals and due process in cases involving citizens detained or convicted.

‘On this day, I call for the rule of law to be applied fairly in every case,’ he said.

Atiku said the continued detention of Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria and Malam Nasir El-Rufai raised questions about due process.

He also urged that following Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s conviction, his right to lawful appeal should be respected, while the grievances and divisions surrounding his case should be addressed.

He said his administration would focus on creating productive employment and sustainable opportunities for the youths capable of enabling them to build better lives.

The ADC presidential candidate said budgets should serve as timetables for delivery, clearly showing funded projects, completed programmes and outstanding obligations.

He urged Nigerians to demand transparency and accountability from whoever emerged as their elected representatives in the 2027 general elections.

Atiku said his commitment would remain centred on making governance responsive to citizens’ needs and protecting democratic institutions and processes.

Nigeria at 66: CACOL calls for urgent action to end poverty, corruption, economic hardship

The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), has celebrated the 66th Independence Anniversary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, reflecting on the state of the nation.

CACOL, in a statement signed by Comrade Debo Adeniran, congratulated Nigerians at home and in the diaspora for their courage, sacrifices and patriotic commitment.

‘As Nigeria commemorates its 66th Independence Anniversary, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) congratulates Nigerians at home and in the diaspora and honours the courage, sacrifices and patriotic commitment of the men and women who fought for Nigeria’s independence. However, while we celebrate 66 years of nationhood, CACOL considers it necessary to reflect soberly on the state of the Nigerian nation. Independence should not merely be measured by the absence of colonial rule, but by the extent to which citizens enjoy freedom, dignity, security, economic opportunity, social justice and a reasonable standard of living.’

‘It is therefore worrisome that, six and a half decades after independence, millions of Nigerians continue to contend with abject poverty, unemployment, insecurity, inadequate healthcare, housing challenges, rising food prices and declining purchasing power. The widening gap between the rich and the poor is particularly disturbing. A nation cannot achieve sustainable development when a small proportion of its population enjoys enormous economic privileges while a significant majority struggles to afford basic necessities,’ the statement reads.

CACOL, however, noted that corruption remains one of the most persistent obstacles to Nigeria’s development, adding that resources should be channeled into education, healthcare, infrastructure, social protection, job creation and other essential public services.

‘CACOL maintains that corruption remains one of the most persistent obstacles to Nigeria’s development. Resources that should be channeled into education, healthcare, infrastructure, social protection, job creation and other essential public services are too often lost through corruption, mismanagement, inflated contracts, diversion of public funds and weak accountability mechanisms. While corruption may not be the only cause of Nigeria’s challenges, its pervasive effects have contributed significantly to weakening public institutions and reducing the impact of government programmes’

‘CACOL therefore calls for greater transparency in public expenditure, stronger institutions, effective prosecution of corruption cases, recovery of stolen public assets and consistent enforcement of anti-corruption laws, irrespective of the status or political affiliation of persons involved. The difficult economic environment has also contributed to the increasing departure of talented, skilled and creative Nigerians in search of better opportunities abroad. Professionals in healthcare, education, technology, engineering and other critical sectors continue to seek greener pastures in countries where they perceive better remuneration, working conditions and opportunities for professional advancement’

‘CACOL is concerned that sustained emigration of skilled Nigerians can create significant capacity gaps at home. Government must therefore create conditions that make Nigeria attractive not only to foreign investors but also to its own citizens. This requires decent employment opportunities, competitive remuneration, reliable infrastructure, merit-based systems, support for innovation and entrepreneurship, and an environment where talent can thrive’

‘CACOL is equally concerned about the country’s growing debt burden and the implications of continued borrowing for present and future generations. Borrowing may be justified where it finances productive investments capable of generating economic returns and improving citizens’ welfare. However, excessive borrowing without commensurate improvements in productivity, revenue generation, infrastructure and citizens’ living standards risks placing an unsustainable burden on the Nigerian people’

‘Government must therefore exercise greater prudence in borrowing and ensure that every borrowed fund is transparently accounted for, properly deployed and directed towards projects that have measurable developmental and economic benefits. As an organisation committed to anti-corruption, good governance and accountable leadership, CACOL urges the Federal Government and all levels of government to adopt practical measures capable of improving the welfare of citizens’

Among other measures, we recommend that government should:

1. Strengthen the fight against corruption by ensuring that anti-corruption institutions have the independence, resources and institutional support required to investigate and prosecute corruption effectively.

2. Reduce the cost of food and essential commodities by supporting farmers with affordable inputs, improving agricultural productivity, investing in storage and transportation infrastructure, and addressing avoidable disruptions across food supply chains.

3. Expand affordable housing programmes and provide incentives for mass housing development, while improving access to affordable mortgages and addressing the cost of land and building materials.

4. Make healthcare more affordable and accessible, particularly for low-income and vulnerable Nigerians, while strengthening primary healthcare facilities and expanding effective health-insurance coverage.

5. Create sustainable employment opportunities by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, local manufacturing, agriculture, technology, creative industries and other productive sectors capable of absorbing Nigeria’s large youthful population.

6. Invest substantially in education and skills development, ensuring that Nigerian young people are equipped with the knowledge and technical skills required to compete in the global economy.

7. Address insecurity decisively by strengthening intelligence gathering, community policing and other lawful security mechanisms, while improving the welfare, training, equipment and accountability of security personnel.

8. Strengthen social protection programmes and ensure that interventions genuinely reach the poorest and most vulnerable citizens through transparent, verifiable and accountable mechanisms.

9. Promote responsible public borrowing, linking loans to clearly defined productive projects and publishing sufficient information to enable citizens to monitor the utilization and impact of borrowed funds.

10. Improve transparency and citizen participation in governance, including greater openness around public budgets, procurement, government contracts and implementation of development projects.

11. Create an enabling environment for Nigerians in the diaspora to contribute to national development, while also addressing the conditions that are driving skilled citizens out of the country.

12. Strengthen local government administration and grassroots development, ensuring that resources and development initiatives reach communities where ordinary Nigerians live and work.

INDEPENDENCE MUST DELIVER FREEDOM AND DIGNITY

‘CACOL believes that the sacrifices of Nigeria’s past leaders and independence heroes must not be rendered meaningless. The struggle for independence was not simply a struggle to replace colonial administrators with indigenous leaders; it was also a struggle for dignity, self-determination and a better future for Nigerians. Therefore, 66 years after independence, the ultimate test of nationhood should be the quality of life enjoyed by the ordinary Nigerian’

‘Government at all levels must do everything within its constitutional responsibility to ensure that the majority of Nigerians experience the dividends of democracy through affordable food, decent housing, accessible healthcare, quality education, productive employment, security and social justice. CACOL calls on political leaders, civil society organisations, the private sector, labour, professional bodies, traditional institutions, religious organisations and citizens to work collectively towards building a Nigeria where public office is regarded as a responsibility rather than an avenue for personal enrichment’

‘As we celebrate our 66th Independence Anniversary, CACOL urges Nigerians not to lose hope in the Nigerian project. Rather, we must continue to demand accountability, transparency, responsible leadership and good governance, while also playing our individual and collective roles in rebuilding the nation’

‘Nigeria belongs to all of us, and its resources must be deployed for the benefit of all Nigerians. For the efforts and sacrifices of those who fought for Nigeria’s independence not to be in vain, independence must translate into tangible freedom, dignity, opportunity and prosperity for the majority of our people. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’ the statement reads.

Nigeria at 66: Sanwo-Olu mandates solution-driven action

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged Nigerians to uphold the values of patriotism, resilience, determination and responsible citizenship as the country celebrates 66th Independence Anniversary.

While speaking during his Independence Day address at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Sanwo-Olu reflected on Nigeria’s 66-year journey as an independent nation, the sacrifices of its founding fathers, and the responsibilities of its citizens and leaders to build a stronger nation.

He noted that the anniversary provided an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the nation’s journey and recommit themselves to the ideals upon which the country was founded.

‘Sixty-six years is not just a round number. It is a significant milestone. I ask you to think for a moment about what 66 years truly means for every Nigerian. Some of us were born in Nigeria, some of us have lived here all our lives, and our parents and grandparents helped to build this country. Today, we must ask ourselves what kind of Nigeria we want to leave for the next generation,’ he said.

The governor stressed that the responsibility of building Nigeria could not be left to government alone, adding that citizens also had obligations to the country.

‘Government has responsibilities to the people, and the people also have responsibilities to government and to one another. We must pay our taxes, obey the law, protect public property, participate responsibly in our democracy, and contribute to the development of our communities,’ he said.

Nigeria @66: Fubara urges Rivers residents to reject division

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has called on residents to embrace peace and unity, saying both are important for the development of the state.

Fubara made the call in a goodwill message to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

He said the anniversary was an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey since independence in 1960 and renew their commitment to peaceful coexistence.

The governor described Rivers State as the ‘treasure base of the nation’ and a home to people from different ethnic groups. He said the state could only achieve meaningful development when its people lived together peacefully.

According to him, political differences are normal in a democracy but should not be allowed to affect the interests of the state.

‘We may disagree as politicians, but we must never disagree on the peace and progress of Rivers State,’ Fubara said.

He said his administration had made peace a major part of its governance since assuming office, describing it as the most valuable infrastructure.

Fubara also said the relative peace in the state had helped his government attract investments and carry out development projects across the three senatorial districts.

He urged youths, traditional rulers, political leaders and other stakeholders to promote peace in their communities, wards and local government areas.

The governor said no one would benefit if Rivers State returned to crisis and urged residents to support the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He added that national unity and cooperation between the Federal Government and states were important to achieving the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Thomas Bariere, also called on residents to promote peace, unity, tolerance and responsible citizenship.

Bariere, in his Independence Day message, said the development of Khana required the collective efforts of all residents.

He urged the people to reject division and work together for the progress of the local government.

The chairman also reaffirmed his commitment to improving security, creating opportunities for youths and women, and ensuring that the welfare of residents remained a priority.

He said the journey towards a more developed Khana would require patience, sacrifice and cooperation from residents.

Bariere expressed hope that the new month would bring peace, prosperity and greater opportunities to families and communities across Khana.

He congratulated Nigerians on the 66th Independence Anniversary and prayed for continued peace and progress in Khana, Rivers State and Nigeria.

WHO, other development partners commend Kano’s healthcare transformation

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other development partners have commended Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his commitment towards strengthening the state’s healthcare system and addressing the human resources for bridging the gap in the health sector.

The WHO representative in Kano, Dr. Sunusi Abubakar Mayana, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Kano, Dr. Muhammadu Damish, made the commendation during the official launch and presentation of appointment letters to 2,037 newly recruited clinical and non-clinical health personnel at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

Mr. Mayana said the role of development partners was not to compete with government but to support and mobilise the resources needed to implement government programmes and policies.

According to him, the recruitment demonstrated the Governor’s commitment to delivering results and addressing critical gaps in the health sector, noting that the impact of the intervention would be felt by families across the state.

He commended the government for working through established systems and institutions, stressing that sustainable development requires building systems that will continue to deliver results beyond the present administration.

The UNICEF representative also commended the state government for investing in human resources and strengthening healthcare delivery, describing the recruitment as an important step towards improving access to quality healthcare services.

In his remarks, the chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) also lauded Governor Yusuf for transforming primary healthcare facilities across the state and upgrading major secondary healthcare institutions.

The professional body noted that the upgrading of hospitals, including Muhammad Buhari Hospital and Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Hospital, would strengthen medical training, residency programmes and specialised healthcare services.

Other stakeholders, including the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Medical and Health Workers Union and Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria said the reforms represented an investment in the future of healthcare delivery in Kano, adding that generations of citizens would benefit from the improvements.

They urged the government to sustain the momentum and continue supporting initiatives that create opportunities for citizens and strengthen the healthcare system.

The development partners reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration with the Kano State Government to consolidate the gains recorded in the health sector.

FGBMFi congratulates Nigerian at 66, charges Nigerians to pursue true nationhood

As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International-Nigeria (FGBMFI) has congratulated the nation while urging citizens to move beyond mere celebration and pursue true nationhood built on righteousness, unity and shared values.

The fellowship also called on Nigerians to work towards building a nation that reflects the ideals of true nationhood.

In a message contained in the fellowship’s Independence Day publicity material, the National President of FGBMFI Nigeria, Isaac Okpanachi, Esq., alongside the Board of Trustees, National Executive Council, National Board of Directors and the entire membership, called on Nigerians to remain focused on the nation’s progress.

The Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International-Nigeria (FGBMFI) is set to hold its 2026 National Convention in Lagos from November 11 to 14.

The fellowship said the theme was inspired by the need for Nigerians to ‘press toward the mark’ of a better and united nation while seeking God’s guidance in the affairs of the country.

The convention is expected to bring together members of the fellowship from across Nigeria for spiritual, leadership and fellowship activities.

FGBMFI also urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the 66th Independence Anniversary to reflect on the country’s journey and renew their commitment to national development.

The organisation expressed optimism that, with collective effort, faith and a renewed sense of responsibility, Nigerians could build a stronger nation.