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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says it has approved a weekly allowance of N100,000 per person for people quarantined following possible exposure to a confirmed Ebola patient in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Jide Idris, director-general of the NCDC, announced the allowance at a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday, adding that some contacts had complained that quarantine was preventing them from running their businesses and meeting their family obligations.

He said the agency had been paying for accommodation and meals for those staying in designated facilities but decided to provide additional financial assistance after some requested money to support their families.

‘We are providing N100,000 per person per week just to maintain their comfort and feeding, because they were complaining,’ Idris said.

The NCDC chief described the payment as an emergency intervention that was not part of the agency’s original spending plan, adding that it would be reviewed as the response progressed.

‘But again, it’s an emergency. We continue to review it as we go along,’ he said.

Idris said state governments were expected to provide the funding, facilities and materials required to manage people identified as contacts during public health emergencies.

‘These are the responsibilities of the various state governments. So, each state again must provide money and must provide the materials for it to do this,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the NCDC has also identified 53 primary contacts linked to the confirmed Ebola case in the FCT. Of the 53 people, 44 were identified at the health facility where the patient received treatment, while nine others were linked to the case through separate interactions.

The additional contacts comprise the patient’s husband, driver and chef, three healthcare workers who treated her at another clinic, and three members of the team that collected samples.

The development adds to concerns about the disease’s potential spread, prompting public health authorities to strengthen surveillance, testing and contact tracing.

Idris said about 12 public and private laboratories are available to conduct Ebola tests, adding that the NCDC has strengthened its laboratory capacity to ensure suspected infections are investigated and confirmed promptly.

Rapid testing and identification of exposed individuals are critical to containing Ebola, a highly infectious disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of an infected person, particularly after symptoms develop.

The NCDC said it was maintaining heightened surveillance and expanding its capacity to detect and investigate suspected infections as part of measures to prevent further transmission.

The agency also called on public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to strengthen screening and triage procedures, alongside infection prevention and control measures.

Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported palm oil is highlighting the need for greater investment in local agriculture, as private-sector initiatives seek to attract more Nigerians into farming to strengthen domestic production.

Nigeria spent N23 billion importing palm oil in the first quarter of 2026, according to figures cited by Reftop AgroField Limited.

David Assogba, group chief executive officer of Reftop Homes Limited, said the palm oil sector had been neglected despite the crop’s historical importance to West Africa. He argued that changing public attitudes towards farming was essential to unlocking its economic potential.

‘Every Nigerian should consider going back to farming because farm is the next oil,’ he said.

Assogba noted that many Nigerians had grown up viewing farming as an occupation for the poor or uneducated, despite growing global interest in agricultural land. He said agriculture could become a more attractive investment option as countries seek to strengthen food production and reduce dependence on imported commodities.

One approach being explored is agro-real estate, which combines agricultural land ownership with professionally managed farming.

Emmanuel Oluwatosin, chief operating officer of Reftop Homes Limited, said the company’s PalmCrest initiative had allocated 2,700 acres of land to subscribers across its first two phases, with plantation development also underway.

PalmCrest is marketed by Reftop Homes Limited and managed by Reftop AgroField Limited. The initiative allows subscribers to own designated agricultural land while the company oversees plantation development and farm operations.

However, its contribution to Nigeria’s palm oil supply will depend on crop yields, plantation maturity and the capacity to process harvested palm fruit.

Assogba called on the government to support agricultural development through access to fertiliser, mechanised equipment and improved security for farmers.

Nigeria’s challenge extends beyond attracting investors. Increasing local palm oil production will require productive plantations, efficient processing facilities and sustained support for farmers.

Whether private investment can help reduce import dependence will ultimately depend on how effectively agricultural land is converted into commercially productive farms.

The United Kingdom and Nigeria have agreed to deepen cooperation on migration, justice and security, with a focus on tackling visa fraud, organised immigration crime, drug trafficking and cyber-enabled fraud, while improving legal migration pathways and border management.

The agreement followed the annual UK-Nigeria Migration, Justice and Home Affairs (MJHA) Dialogue held in London on October 6, where senior officials from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UK Home Office jointly chaired discussions on translating commitments made during President Bola Tinubu’s State Visit to the UK in March 2026 into practical measures.

The discussions covered a range of areas, including document verification, border security, the return and reintegration of migrants, extradition, asset recovery and prisoner transfers, as both countries seek to strengthen law enforcement cooperation and protect legitimate travel between them.

The two countries also agreed to work together to address drug trafficking and crimes facilitated by digital technologies, reflecting the broadening scope of their bilateral security cooperation.

According to a statement by the British High Commission, the dialogue was designed to convert political commitments made during the State Visit into practical areas of cooperation that would benefit citizens of both countries.

The discussions also emphasised the need to support safe and dignified migrant returns and reintegration, alongside efforts to prevent the abuse of immigration systems.

It noted that Nigeria remains a significant source of travellers to the UK, receiving the third-highest volume of UK student visas globally and the fifth-highest volume of work visas. This level of movement has made cooperation on protecting legitimate travel, strengthening verification processes and holding those responsible for immigration-related offences accountable a key priority for both governments.

The UK and Nigeria also agreed to support the development of Nigerian visa pathways for businesses seeking to invest in Nigeria.

Vicky Seymour, British Deputy High Commissioner, said the partnership was producing practical results on issues of importance to both countries.

‘The UK-Nigeria partnership is delivering practical results on issues that matter to both our countries,’ Seymour said.

She said both governments were building on the momentum of Tinubu’s State Visit by implementing commitments aimed at tackling visa fraud and organised immigration crime, strengthening border security, and supporting safe and dignified return and reintegration.

‘Our goal is simple: protect legitimate travellers, tackle those who abuse our systems and make both our countries safer,’ she said.

On Nigeria’s part, Dunoma Ahmed, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said migration remained one of the most important and visible aspects of the bilateral relationship.

Ahmed said cooperation on migration should not be limited to enforcement but should also create meaningful opportunities for legal migration and establish credible pathways for legitimate migrants.

‘Migration remains one of the most important and visible aspects of the UK-Nigeria relationship.

‘This dialogue must both cover enforcement activities as well as ensuring meaningful opportunities for legal migration, and credible opportunities for pathways for legitimate migrants,’ he said.

He added that the dialogue was ultimately aimed at strengthening the security, prosperity and safety of both countries and their citizens.

Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi has matched Mohamed Salah’s Premier League appearance record among African players after featuring in Fulham’s 1-0 victory over Coventry City on Saturday.

Iwobi’s appearance took his Premier League tally to 328, drawing him level with Liverpool forward Salah as the joint-second most-capped African player in the competition’s history.

However, Salah has played more minutes in the league, accumulating 26,785 compared with Iwobi’s 22,898.

The Fulham midfielder could move into outright second place when the Cottagers travel to Aston Villa for their next league fixture, provided he features in the match.

Former Manchester City and Arsenal defender Kolo Touré holds the record for the most Premier League appearances by an African player, with 353.

Iwobi played 73 minutes in Fulham’s victory over Coventry, recording 60 touches, completing 51 passes and achieving a passing accuracy of 86.3 per cent.

The achievement puts the Super Eagles midfielder within reach of Touré’s record, with 25 appearances separating him from the former Ivory Coast international’s tally.

At 29, Iwobi has the opportunity to become the African player with the most Premier League appearances if he maintains his run of involvement for Fulham and surpasses Touré’s record.

His latest milestone places him alongside Salah, underlining the longevity of both players’ Premier League careers and bringing Iwobi closer to a record held by one of Africa’s most experienced defenders.

Salisu Ogbo Usman, vice-chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, has stated that effective science teaching requires more than transmission of facts or memorisation of the theories, saying activity-based learning, inquiry, experimentation, laboratory practices ant the appropriate of technology can help students develop curiosity, critical thinking, creativity and practical skills.

Ogbo stated this during the 30th inaugural Lecture themed ‘Monkey de work Baboon de Chop’

has described the 30th Inaugural Lecture as a reaffirmation of the University’s commitment to rigorous scholarship, intellectual engagement, the preservation of knowledge and the application of research to societal advancement.

Usman described the topic as timely and significant, noting that science education is central to a society’s ability to develop, innovate, solve problems and compete in an increasingly knowledge -driven world.

He explained that the manner in which science is taught influences how learners think, investigate problems and acquire the competencies required to contribute to the future development of the nation, noting that the lecture drew attention to the challenges confronting teachers and researchers who develop and implement innovative teaching methods, often in the face of limited resources, inadequate institutional support and insufficient recognition.

He noted that the implications of science education extend beyond the classroom, as the quality of education influences a society’s capacity to respond to challenges in health, agriculture, engineering, technology, environmental sustainability and industrial development.

Ogbo equally congratulated Achimugu on the academic milestone and commended his contributions to teaching, research, mentorship and educational leadership.

He also expressed appreciation to the Chairman and members of the Inaugural Lecture Committee for their dedication, diligence and careful planning in organising the event.

The lecture attracted members of the University community and other invited guests who gathered to celebrate scholarship and reflect on the challenges and prospects of improving science education through effective teaching methods.

Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its national journey – a moment that demands clarity of thought, institutional sobriety, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about how nations truly grow. For decades, we have been conditioned to believe that leadership change is the panacea for all national ailments. Every election cycle becomes a referendum on personalities rather than policies, and every transition ushers in a fresh wave of disruption, resetting the national compass before any reform has had the chance to mature. In my June 2026 column, I argued that Nigeria’s real challenge is not the frequency of leadership turnover but the fragility of the systems that underpin governance. Today, unfolding economic indicators reinforce that argument with unmistakable force: continuity in governance is no longer a political preference; it is an economic imperative.

Nigeria’s reform trajectory is beginning to attract the kind of global confidence that only stability can sustain. This is not a matter of partisan sentiment; it is a matter of managerial logic, institutional discipline, and economic realism. Nations that have successfully transformed their economies did not do so by constantly changing direction. They did so by staying the course long enough for reforms to take root, stabilise, and deliver prosperity.

Signals of confidence are emerging – And they are not accidental

In recent months, Nigeria has witnessed a series of developments that speak unmistakably to rising international confidence. Morgan Stanley’s decision to enter the Nigerian market is not a casual gesture; global financial institutions of that calibre move only when they detect credible policy direction and macroeconomic stabilisation. Similarly, Opay’s ambition to list on a major U.S. stock exchange signals that Nigerian-rooted digital enterprises are maturing into globally compliant, investor-ready corporations. These developments are complemented by the steady growth of both net and gross foreign reserves, as well as the increasing flow of foreign currency toward the country.

These signals are not accidental. They are the early fruits of structural reforms that require discipline, patience, and – above all – continuity to mature into broad-based national prosperity. They indicate that Nigeria is beginning to regain the trust of international markets, and that the reforms currently underway are being interpreted as credible, coherent, and worthy of long-term engagement.

For a nation that has long struggled with policy inconsistency, this moment is significant. It suggests that Nigeria is finally entering a phase where reform outcomes are becoming visible, where investor sentiment is shifting, and where the global community is beginning to recognise the country’s potential for sustained economic transformation.

Reforms are systems, not events

From the vantage point of an exemplary Chartered Manager, the logic is straightforward: structural reforms do not deliver prosperity overnight. They deliver stability first, then confidence, then investment, and finally broad economic benefit. This sequence is universal. It is the same path travelled by nations that have successfully transitioned from volatility to stability, and from stability to prosperity.

Nigeria is now in the most delicate phase of this cycle – the stabilisation phase. This is the period when markets quietly test policy credibility, investors watch for consistency, institutions adjust to new frameworks, citizens endure short-term discomfort, and long-term dividends begin to form beneath the surface. It is a phase that demands patience, discipline, and a refusal to succumb to the temptation of abrupt political resets.

To interrupt this moment with political discontinuity would be to uproot crops at the very point they begin to germinate. It would send a signal to investors that Nigeria remains trapped in its old cycle of disruption, where reforms are abandoned before they mature and where every new administration begins from scratch. Such a reset would not merely slow progress; it would reverse it.

Continuity is the bridge between reform and prosperity

The argument for continuity is not partisan; it is managerial. Nations that have successfully transformed their economies – from Singapore to South Korea – did so through policy consistency rather than constant political experimentation. Continuity offers what every reforming economy needs: predictability for investors, institutional learning that cannot occur under perpetual resets, and the maturation of policies long enough to reach their intended equilibrium.

Predictability is the most valuable currency in global investment. Investors do not simply seek favourable conditions; they seek conditions that will remain stable long enough for their investments to yield returns. Continuity provides that assurance. It signals that a nation is committed to its reform path, that it understands the importance of institutional memory, and that it is willing to prioritise long-term prosperity over short-term political theatrics.

Continuity also strengthens national resilience. Rising reserves enable the country to absorb external shocks, stabilise the currency, and maintain macroeconomic balance. As reforms mature, they begin to deliver human-level impact: stabilised markets translate into improved purchasing power, increased employment opportunities, and money flowing into household pockets. These are the outcomes that matter most to ordinary Nigerians, and they are the outcomes that continuity makes possible.

Nigeria’s current reform cycle has reached a point where disruption would not merely slow progress – it would reverse it. The nation must recognise that it is standing at a crossroads, and that the decisions made now will determine whether the country continues on its path toward stability or returns to the familiar cycle of volatility.

The evidence is emerging: Nigeria is stabilising

The signals are clear: international financial institutions are re-engaging, Nigerian companies are scaling into global markets, foreign-exchange reserves are strengthening, investor sentiment is improving, and regulatory systems are becoming more predictable. Taken together, these developments reinforce the thesis I advanced months ago – that Nigeria does not need another abrupt leadership reset, but rather the continuity required for reforms to mature into genuine, broad-based prosperity.

These developments also suggest that Nigeria is beginning to build the institutional credibility that has long eluded it. For decades, the nation has struggled to convince investors that it is capable of sustaining reform momentum. Today, however, the evidence suggests that Nigeria is finally beginning to break that cycle. The reforms currently underway are being interpreted as credible, coherent, and worthy of long-term engagement.

A nation must choose between perpetual planting and eventual harvest

Nigeria has spent decades planting – new leaders, new slogans, new promises – but it has rarely allowed reforms to mature long enough for harvest. The current administration’s structural reforms, though imperfect, are beginning to attract the kind of global confidence that only stability can sustain. The choice before the nation is therefore stark: return to the familiar cycle of disruption, where every election resets the national compass, or embrace continuity so reforms can stabilise the economy, strengthen institutions, and translate into real prosperity for ordinary Nigerians.

Continuity is not stagnation; it is the disciplined patience required for national transformation. It is the recognition that reforms must be allowed to mature, that institutions must be allowed to learn, and that policies must be allowed to reach their intended equilibrium. Nigeria must now decide whether it will remain a nation of perpetual planting or finally become one that stays the course long enough to reap what it has sown.

Conclusion: The courage to stay the course

Nigeria’s future hinges on its willingness to embrace continuity as a strategic national choice. The reforms currently underway are beginning to yield visible dividends, and the global community is responding with renewed confidence. To abandon this trajectory now would be to squander the progress made, undermine investor trust, and return the nation to its old cycle of volatility.

Continuity is not a political slogan; it is an economic strategy. It is the bridge between reform and prosperity, between potential and performance, between aspiration and achievement. Nigeria must stay the course – not because continuity is convenient, but because it is necessary. The nation stands at a defining moment. It must choose wisely.

District Governor, Rotary District 9112 Olayioye Abidoye, has described sports as a vital tool for driving Rotary’s mission of service to humanity.

Abidoye stated this at a media parley in Lagos, heralding the Rotary Sports Festival (RoSFest) 2027, emphasising that sports foster unity, teamwork and healthy living, which align with the organisation’s core value of impacting society,

Rotary Sports Festival is an annual event, a six-month fitness and fellowship fiesta designed to keep Rotarians mentally and physically sound to carry out humanitarian service.

According to the Rotary District Governor, ‘When you participate in sports, you are mentally sound, you are physically sound and your health is in the right frame to do service and to function in your family. We Rotarians who have dedicated our lives to serving humanity must be fit mentally, physically and health-wise,’

While stating that District 9112 currently has over 2,700 members across 96 Rotary Clubs, which he supervises, he said that RoSFest was one way of taking care of those who take care of others.

Enumerating some of the interventions that his organisation had embarked on, he said it included: donation of learning materials to Ojuwoye Inclusive Nursery and Primary School for children with visual and hearing impairments, observance of Disaster Relief Day, and screening of public primary school pupils for sight and hearing defects under the Legacy Programme to prevent mislabelling poor performance as dullness.

On the other hand, he appealed to Rotarians to ensure effective participation at RosFest 2027, quoting WHO’s definition of health: ‘Health is wealth. When you are not healthy, that is the only thing you think about. We can only mind other people’s business when we are healthy.’

On her part, Chairman of the RoSFest 2027 Committee, who is also the past president, Chinyere Madueke-Onwo, described RoSFest 2027 as a platform for strengthening the relationship between Rotarians and Rotaractors, adding, ‘We recognise the energy, creativity and enthusiasm that Rotaractors bring to the Rotary family, and we look forward to meaningful collaboration that will promote unity, leadership, development and active participation”

She further explained that the RoSFest 2027 edition would feature12 sporting activities, six indoor games which include Ayyolopon, draughts, Scrabble, chess, table tennis and snooker.

While the six outdoor games, she said include: 100m dash for both male and women, relay race, tug of war, football, volley ball and golf.

The objective, Chairman of RoSFest 2027 Committee said was to create opportunities for participation, healthy competition fellowship while encouraging Rotarians and other participants to embrace physical fitness and an active lifestyle.

‘We intend to make this edition more inclusive, engaging and competitive, with every participating Club having the opportunity to demonstrate its sporting strength and team spirit. Medals and points shall also be awarded to Clubs according to merits.

‘RoSFest 2027 presents a valuable opportunity for corporate organisations, institutions, individuals and Clubs to associate with an initiative that promotes health, youth development, community engagement and excellence.

On his part, Augustine Irabor of Rotary Club of Ikoyi and member of RoSFest Committee, explained that the media parley aimed to announce dates and mobilise Rotarians and the public.

Irabor, who was among those honoured for their roles in the last edition for participating in football, tug of war and golf, said RoSFest awareness is growing.

While recalling that last year’s RoSFest recorded huge success, he said that this year’s edition would be more impactful.

It is interesting to note that the qualifying games/tournaments will run from 31st January to 31st March 2027. While 2nd April would witness the opening ceremony of RoSFest Week.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has congratulated Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi after he became the joint second-most-capped African player in Premier League history, drawing level with Egypt’s Mohamed Salah.

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Iwobi reached the milestone on Saturday during Fulham’s 1-0 win over Coventry City, taking his Premier League appearances to 328.

The 30-year-old Nigerian ball passer is now 25 appearances short of the record held by former Ivory Coast international Kolo Touré, who made 353 appearances in the competition.

Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, NFF’s acting general secretary, congratulated Iwobi on the achievement and expressed hope that the midfielder would go on to set a new record.

‘The NFF celebrates Alex Iwobi for this new achievement, and we wish him even greater glory. We will be very happy to see him become the African with the most appearances in the Premier League in the near future,’ Ikpeme said.

Iwobi, who celebrated his 100th cap for Nigeria during a friendly against Portugal this summer at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria, has also won one silver and two bronze medals with the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The emergence of airlines, the expansion of routes and renewed investment in airports across Nigeria deserve attention for their potential to benefit the wider economy.

A dependable flight connection can shape where a company holds a conference, whether an investor visits a project and how easily a producer reaches a buyer.

The opportunity is not just to move more passengers, but to turn improved access into sustained business activity, infrastructure investment and employment.

That is the context in which I believe we should assess recent developments. United Nigeria Airlines’ approach to the capital market, Air Peace’s international expansion, Ibom Air and Enugu Air, along with new airport projects and terminal improvements, all point to an evolving aviation market. They also raise a broader question: how are the places these airlines serve preparing to benefit from improved connections?

An airline’s financial performance matters because services cannot continue indefinitely without viable operators. But its revenue is only one part of the broader economic picture. A passenger arriving for a meeting may pay for accommodation, use local transport, dine in restaurants, and purchase professional services.

A successful conference generates demand for several businesses at once. These effects reach beyond the airline’s accounts and the airport’s operating income.

Reliable services can also influence decisions before a passenger travels. A company may be more willing to maintain a regional office if its managers can travel predictably. Conference organisers need confidence that delegates can arrive and return conveniently. Investors considering a factory, hotel or commercial development will assess access alongside power, security and market demand. Aviation can strengthen a location’s appeal, though it cannot overcome every weakness.

Akwa Ibom offers a useful Nigerian example. Ibom Air and Victor Attah International Airport are complemented by investment in hospitality, tourism and aviation support facilities.

The state has connected its aviation ambitions to projects such as the Arise Palm Resort, convention facilities and hotels. In February 2026, it signed an agreement to manage four government-owned hospitality properties, including the resort and Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort.

The significance lies in how these assets work together. Flights make the destination accessible, while attractions and business events give passengers reasons to visit. Hotels accommodate visitors, and restaurants, retailers and transport operators compete for their spending. Maintenance facilities can create demand for technical skills and supporting services. Each element must be commercially viable, but together they offer a stronger development proposition than anyone could alone.

Abia’s airport project at Nsulu should be assessed against the needs of its productive economy, especially Aba. Improved access could make it easier for buyers, suppliers and technical partners to visit.

Northern connectivity proposals deserve the same careful scrutiny. Long distances and challenging journeys can limit trade and investment, while regular flights could improve access to markets and projects. Regional airline plans should therefore respond to clear travel needs and show that their operations are sustainable.

Investment in existing gateways is equally important. The reconstruction of Murtala Muhammed International Airport Terminal 1 gives Nigeria an opportunity to look beyond renovating a terminal building. The nearly 50-year-old terminal is being stripped to its structural frame and rebuilt with new passenger-processing, mechanical, electrical, security and commercial systems.

The approved design for a monorail linking the Lagos Red Line at Ikeja to the airport takes that thinking beyond the terminal complex. The proposed stops are Ikeja Station, Domestic Airport Station, Beesam Station, Toll Gate Station and MMIA Terminal 1. Design approval is an important step, but construction has not yet commenced, and no completion date has been announced. The proposal nevertheless recognises that rebuilding an airport without improving access for passengers and workers would leave an important part of the problem unresolved.

The real opportunity is to make these investments work together as one system. The rebuilt terminal should improve movement and the passenger experience within the airport, while the monorail and redesigned roads improve access. The precise location of the Domestic Airport Station and how it connects to the domestic terminals will be especially important.

A station within the airport district is not enough if passengers still have an inconvenient transfer to the terminal.

If properly integrated, the combined investment can do more than shorten journeys. Easier access can influence passenger spending, retail demand, advertising exposure, hospitality services and the attractiveness of surrounding commercial locations.

Therefore, consider commercial spaces, passenger services, and interchange facilities alongside the engineering works, not after the principal decisions have been made. The airport must be treated as an economic gateway connected to the city, rather than as a building standing apart from it.

Dubai South shows how public authorities can take this approach further. Al Maktoum International Airport is part of a broader development that brings together aviation, logistics, commercial premises and housing.

Dubai’s April 2024 approval of an AED128 billion airport expansion reinforced this long-term direction. Its planned capacity of 260 million passengers a year is a future ambition, not a measure of current activity.

What interests me more is the work around the airport. Road and utility infrastructure, links to Jebel Ali Port, free-zone arrangements, and dedicated business districts have given companies reasons to locate there. Dubai South has also partnered with private developers to provide logistics premises suited to occupiers.

The government did not assume the airport alone would drive development; it helped bring together a location where transport access, facilities, and commercial arrangements could work together for investors.

There are tangible results beyond drawings and announcements. Dubai South reported 653 new companies in 2025, bringing its total number of operational businesses to more than 4,200.

These results reflect years of development and Dubai’s broader trading strengths, so they should not be attributed solely to the latest airport expansion. Still, they demonstrate the value of planning for businesses alongside aviation infrastructure.

Nigeria can apply the lesson without matching Dubai’s scale. Opportunities around each airport should reflect the local economy. A tourism destination needs accommodation and attractions; an agricultural export proposition needs suitable produce, buyers, inspection arrangements and reliable cold storage. Aviation maintenance requires technical partners, skilled workers and sufficient demand. Facilities should meet credible needs, not follow a standard airport-city template copied from elsewhere.

This is where commercial property becomes essential. Warehouses, hotels, workshops, shops, and offices provide the space where the wider activity takes place. Their success depends on appropriate sites, clear land arrangements, utilities and access. Prospective occupiers should help shape development early. Their willingness to commit is more informative than a general assumption that proximity to an airport will make every property successful.

Local businesses also need a practical route into the opportunity. A growing visitor economy can buy food, transport, maintenance and other services from nearby communities. Connecting local suppliers with the standards and requirements of larger buyers gives them a better chance to grow alongside the investment.

For government, coordination is therefore part of the infrastructure investment itself. Airport development, rail and road access, land-use planning and business promotion must align behind a common direction. Private operators need clarity about what will be delivered, by whom and when. Development can then be phased around firm commitments, with financing matched to each asset’s useful life. This reduces the risk of expensive facilities sitting idle as they wait for customers who were never properly identified.

The growth of Nigerian airlines and investment in airports present an opportunity we should take seriously. Our next task is to connect that growth with the activities our states and cities want to attract. We should measure results not only by passenger numbers or terminal capacity, but also by viable services, businesses established, premises occupied, and jobs sustained. The broader return on aviation investment will depend on how deliberately we prepare the economy to benefit.

JMC-Alliance Co-operative Society Limited recently raised expectations in the cooperative enterprise community as it stepped into the future of this enterprise with the launch of Digital Cooperative Enterprise and Grassroots Financial Empowerment.

The launch is a foray into a new era of cooperative enterprise and has positioned JMC-Alliance as a digital-first public cooperative, redefining how communities access shared resources, financial empowerment and collective growth.

By combining technology with grassroots engagement, the cooperative seeks to build a legacy of trust and innovation that resonates with Africa’s next generation of leaders.

At the launch, the cooperative emphasised three pillars: inclusive growth, financial inclusion and financial security. What makes JMC-Alliance unique is its dual approach.

On one hand, it is fully digital, designed to empower tech-savvy youth with micro-lending and wealth-building tools accessible through smartphones. On the other, it deliberately incorporates traditional, offline methods to ensure market traders and grassroots communities are not left behind.

Whether through mobile apps or physical registers at the market square, the cooperative promises accessibility for all.

Joseph Onwuka, JMC-Alliance chairman, explained that the model was inspired by the need to merge traditional cooperative structures with digital innovation.

‘We are adopting a more pragmatic and market-driven model. The objective is not to abandon the traditional approach but to combine it with digital innovation so we can build a more flexible, accessible and sustainable business for the future,’ he said.

Technology is central to the cooperative’s vision. Onwuka noted that digital platforms will enhance transparency, member participation and sustainability. Members will be able to monitor their accounts, access services and resolve issues remotely, ensuring continuous communication and responsiveness.

Mary Okafor, a director at the company, highlighted the cooperative’s role in connecting the diaspora to local opportunities. She said structured channels would allow Nigerians abroad to invest earnings back home, supporting market women and small business owners with responsible loans that enable sustainable growth.

‘Instead of simply giving people money, we can provide responsible loans that enable market women and other small business owners to stock their businesses, keep trading, increasing their turnover and ultimately growing their enterprises,’ she explained.

Looking ahead, Onwuka said the cooperative’s legacy would be measured by the people it empowers. ‘We are going further into the grassroots, reaching people directly and creating opportunities that can make a real difference in their lives.

‘Our vision is to become a major player in Nigeria’s financial sector. Very soon, you will see JMC -Alliance everywhere, across Nigeria,’ he assured.

The launch signals a new chapter in cooperative development, one where digital transformation meets grassroots empowerment. JMC-Alliance is positioning itself not just as a financial association but as a community vehicle designed to drive inclusive prosperity and build a trusted nationwide brand.

Its ambition is to create a cooperative that is both modern and deeply rooted in the realities of everyday Nigerians, ensuring that financial inclusion is not just a slogan but a lived experience for millions.