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Ahead of the 2027 general elections, candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have visited the secretariat of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to seek media support.

The candidates, including Paddy Iyamu for Oredo Federal Constituency and Richard Edosa for Oredo West and Osamuede Henry Edebiri for Oredo East constituencies in the Edo State House of Assembly, sought partnership with the media to project their electoral agendas and manifestoes to the electorate.

The candidates, in their separate speeches, described the media as an integral part of their electioneering campaigns.

They maintained that the media would enable them to effectively communicate their manifestoes to the electorate in their respective constituencies.

Speaking, Paddy Iyamu, the immediate past Commissioner for Education in Edo State, said his legislative priorities would include education, healthcare, women’s empowerment and youth development.

Iyamu added that his experience in public service had equipped him with the knowledge and contacts needed to attract developmental projects and deliver results for the people of Oredo Federal Constituency.

He said, ‘During my short tenure at the Ministry of Education, I facilitated the construction and commissioning of about 6.2 kilometres of internal roads at a state-owned polytechnic through engagements with relevant authorities in Abuja.

‘The experience strengthened my resolve to use the platform of the National Assembly to attract federal projects and advance the interests of my constituents.

‘My tenure also witnessed the reconstruction and remodelling of nearly 100 schools within one year, alongside improvements in classroom facilities and the provision of furniture for pupils.

‘Within the period, the administration began implementing aspects of the Safe School Initiative before the Federal Government’s intervention’, he said.

He described education as a critical tool for breaking the cycle of poverty, tackling insecurity and expanding opportunities for young people.

The former commissioner assured that, if elected, he would prioritise legislation and policies aimed at making schools safer and more conducive to learning.

He said quality education would equip children with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed, irrespective of their backgrounds.

Iyamu added that his foundation had supported women through various initiatives, noting that he intended to expand such interventions if given the mandate.

On his part, Richard Edosa promised to continue prioritising initiatives that would improve access to healthcare services and support programmes aimed at enhancing residents’ well-being.

Edosa, a medical doctor and former lecturer at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), said his re-election would enable him to consolidate on his achievements so far.

Also speaking, Osamuede Edebiri pledged to build on his experience as a former appointee in previous administrations to deliver the dividends of democracy to his constituents.

The candidates also promised to empower women, saying that improving women’s economic status would have positive effects on families and communities.

They further pledged to invest in youth development, noting that young people remained critical to societal progress and deserved opportunities to acquire relevant skills and build sustainable livelihoods.

Earlier, Osamudiamen Osarenkhoe, the APC chairman in Oredo Local Government Area, who formally introduced the candidates to journalists, said they had completed the party’s selection process and were ready to represent the APC in the forthcoming elections.

Osarenkhoe, who expressed confidence in their chances at the polls, said the visit was aimed at establishing a cordial relationship between the party and the media ahead of the electioneering period.

He urged journalists to give the party’s candidates adequate coverage, expressing hope that the relationship with the NUJ would be sustained.

The federal government said about 90 percent of Nigeria’s 42 million agricultural households may not be producing optimally, citing unsuitable seeds, inadequate farm inputs and poor agronomic practices as constraints to productivity.

Abubakar Bagudu, minister of budget and economic planning, said improving farm productivity could increase agricultural output, strengthen food security and create investment opportunities.

Bagudu spoke at the closing ceremony of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #32) in Abuja on Tuesday. The summit’s theme was ‘Growth That Works: Delivering Jobs, Productivity and Shared Prosperity.’

‘Of these 42 million households in agriculture, maybe 90 percent or even above are not doing it optimally,’ Bagudu said, identifying unsuitable seeds, inadequate inputs and inappropriate farming practices as constraints.

He said the productivity gap was not necessarily due to farmers’ unwillingness to work but reflected limited access to the inputs and support needed to improve yields.

‘They are either using the incorrect seed, inadequate inputs, inappropriate agronomic practice, not because they are lazy,’ he said, noting that some farmers begin work as early as 4am.

Bagudu urged businesses to invest across agricultural value chains, including farm input supply, production, processing and market access.

He said raising farm productivity could increase output and improve farmers’ incomes.

The minister said the government planned to map economic opportunities across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards to identify local needs and attract investment. He called for greater cooperation among federal, state and local governments and the private sector to expand economic activity.

He also said public resources should be used to reduce the risks associated with private investment, particularly in sectors where financing constraints discourage businesses from committing capital.

‘Budget or public resources should be used … to de-risk private investment,’ Bagudu said.

He cited government support for the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture and the National Agricultural Development Fund as part of efforts to improve financing for productive sectors.

Bagudu also called on businesses to expand domestic investment, saying Nigeria had the market to support more large-scale enterprises.

‘Why not 100 other BUAs? Why not 100 other Dangotes?’ he asked, urging businesses to invest in ventures that could drive production and employment.

He said government initiatives in consumer credit, mortgages and credit guarantees were intended to improve access to financing and support economic activity.

The minister added that investment in early childhood nutrition and skills development was important for improving productivity and preparing workers for changes in the labour market, including the growing use of artificial intelligence.

He acknowledged that the benefits of economic reforms were taking time to reach households and businesses. He called for continued cooperation between the government and private sector to translate reforms into higher productivity, job creation and improved living standards.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group organised NES #32 in partnership with the Federal Government.

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Thursday for Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah.

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Umrah is an Islamic spiritual exercise involving a pilgrimage to the Holy City.

The President on Wednesday, presided over an emergency meeting of the Federal Executive Council, the 5th to be held this year, at the Council chambers of the presidential Villa, Abuja, where far reaching decisions were announced.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement on Wednesday, said the visit will give ‘ the President an opportunity for spiritual reflection, devotion, and prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability, and continued progress’.

While in Makkah, President Tinubu will perform the religious rites associated with Umrah, seeking Allah’s guidance and blessings for Nigeria and its people.

Before leaving Abuja, President Tinubu will commission some equipment acquired by the Nigerian Air Force for its operations, at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport

The President is expected back in the country next week, after completing the spiritual exercise.

Traders in Onitsha, Anambra State, have called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to investigate alleged property document forgery, threats and the demolition of four buildings amid a dispute over the ownership of a market plaza and its leadership.

The traders, operating under the Association of Modebeb Traders, said the dispute had lasted about two years, disrupting business activities and raising concerns about their safety and investments.

Okey Muojekwu, who spoke on behalf of the traders, in Abuja, said the plaza where they conducted their businesses was demolished in 2025, affecting traders and other investors.

He alleged that four buildings, including properties at numbers 77 and 79, were demolished amid disagreements over ownership. He also accused some individuals of altering or forging property documents to change the ownership name from Osumakan Model Ventures.

Muojekwu called on the relevant authorities to investigate the documents and establish the rightful ownership of the properties.

The traders alleged that some individuals had used their connections with security agencies, including police personnel attached to a special anti-narcotics command in Onitsha, to intimidate members of the association.

Muojekwu said he was recently attacked by suspected thugs who allegedly stabbed him with a knife. He said he escaped and reported the incident to the police but complained that, to his knowledge, no effective action had been taken against those responsible.

He added that threats against members had continued despite complaints to the authorities.

Muojekwu also alleged that a man identified as Chris Okon was beaten at his residence and taken away alongside a woman. According to him, the woman was detained from Friday until Monday or Tuesday before being released.

The traders asked the IGP to investigate the alleged attacks and threats, protect members and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.

The dispute also involves disagreements over the removal of some market leaders by the Anambra State Government.

Tochukwu Umeh, chairman of the market association, alleged that some individuals continued to occupy leadership positions after the government removed them. He argued that the government had no right to remove leaders elected by market members.

Umeh said the dispute had complicated market administration and disrupted trading activities.

Onyeka Oguejiofor, a patron of the market, alleged that some individuals had taken over shops without following due process and were attempting to remove recognised leaders and traders.

He said some traders had been removed from their positions or threatened with eviction without formal notice. He added that those involved allegedly boasted of their connections with the police.

Oguejiofor said the traders had reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police and the Police Public Relations Officer and had also approached the leadership of the relevant market association, but had yet to reach a resolution.

He alleged that some individuals were arrested and detained for about a week before being released, after which the activities complained about reportedly resumed.

He added that the traders had approached state government officials responsible for trade and commerce, who reportedly urged them to comply with the government’s decision to remove the affected leaders.

The traders called on the police and relevant government authorities to investigate the allegations and resolve the dispute to enable them to conduct their businesses without intimidation.

Rex Forestry Limited hosted 74 delegates from 15 countries on 27 August 2026 for a field visit to its operations in Ondo State, connecting forestry students with practical experience in seedling production and plantation management.

The visit formed part of the International Forestry Students’ Symposium (IFSS) programme in Nigeria. According to the company’s visit records, participation exceeded 84 when Rex representatives, Nigerian university students, lecturers and other forestry stakeholders were included.

The seven-hour programme took delegates through an operational briefing, nursery activities and plantation sites in the Oluwa Forest Reserve landscape. It offered an opportunity to connect university learning with the practical decisions involved in establishing and managing timber plantations.

At the nursery, participants explored seedling production and nursery management, following the early stages of a process that leads to plantation establishment. The field component extended that learning into plantation operations and discussions with forestry practitioners.

The visit followed a presentation on 26 August at the T.I. Francis Auditorium of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). Representatives of Rex’s Planning and Research and Development teams introduced the company’s operations and forestry practices, providing context for the following day’s field programme.

Together, the university session and field visit created a link between academic discussion and operational experience. Delegates were able to engage with practitioners and relate the subjects discussed at FUTA to the activities observed on site.

The delegation brought together participants from Nigeria and other countries across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. Alongside the technical programme, the visit provided opportunities for informal discussion, professional networking and exchange among students, lecturers and industry representatives.

For Rex Forestry, hosting the delegation formed part of its support for forestry education and practical learning. The engagement gave visiting students access to an operating forestry business while creating space for dialogue between the company and the next generation of forestry professionals.

The visit also placed Ondo State’s forestry landscape within an international learning exchange, with students encountering Nigerian plantation operations directly. Such engagement can help build the understanding and professional relationships needed for continued cooperation between universities and industry.

Rex Forestry acknowledged the symposium organisers, participating universities, lecturers and students for their contribution to the visit, and reiterated its interest in supporting opportunities that connect forestry knowledge with practice.

Delegates at Rex Forestry’s head office and during the plantation field visit. Photographs supplied by Rex Forestry.

The naira appreciated against the dollar in the official foreign exchange (FX) market on Tuesday, recovering N14.74 after five consecutive days of losses, as the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) interventions and strengthening external buffers supported the local currency.

Data published by the CBN showed that the naira appreciated by N14.74, or 1.09 percent, as the dollar was quoted at N1,352.87 on Tuesday, compared with N1,367.61 on Monday at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).

In the parallel market, also known as the black market, the local currency steadied at N1,382 per dollar. Consequently, the gap between the official and parallel market rates widened to 2.2 percent, or N30, from 1.09 percent, or N15, on Monday.

Activity moderated in the interbank segment of the FX market, with total turnover declining by 11.48 percent to $543.74 million on Tuesday from $614.25 million on Monday. The number of deals also fell by 1.99 percent, from 201 on Monday to 197 on Tuesday.

Although NFEM data on turnover and the number of deals for Tuesday were unavailable as of the time of reporting, total turnover at the NFEM window had declined by 61.29 percent to $1.25 billion on Monday from $3.24 billion on Friday. The number of deals also dropped by 29.56 percent, from 609 to 429 over the same period.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s external reserves, which provide the CBN with the capacity to support the naira and meet the country’s external obligations, have maintained an upward trajectory, reaching an 18-year high of $55.26 billion as of October 26, 2026.

Data published on the CBN website showed that the reserves increased by 28.30 percent from $43.07 billion recorded on October 27, 2025, strengthening the country’s external buffer amid pressure on the foreign exchange market.

A CBN report showed that total foreign exchange inflows fell by 4.24 percent to $30.03 billion in the second quarter of this year from $31.36 billion in the first quarter, while outflows declined by 19.17 percent to $8.94 billion from $11.06 billion.

Foreign exchange inflows through the CBN fell by 20.47 percent to $8.12 billion from $10.21 billion, while inflows through autonomous sources rose by 3.59 percent to $21.91 billion from $21.15 billion.

Consequently, autonomous sources recorded a net inflow of $17.74 billion, compared with $17.53 billion in the first quarter. The CBN’s net inflow also increased to $3.35 billion from $2.77 billion.

Meanwhile, average turnover at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market declined by 7.56 percent to $530.42 million from $573.81 million in the preceding quarter.

The average exchange rate of the naira strengthened to N1,365.95 per dollar in the second quarter from N1,384.48 in the first quarter, representing a 1.36 percent appreciation during the review period.

The performance of other emerging-market currencies was mixed during the quarter. The Chinese renminbi and Russian ruble appreciated by 1.74 percent and 5.33 percent, respectively, supported by export earnings and other market factors.

In contrast, the South African rand depreciated by 0.79 percent amid global risk aversion linked to uncertainty in the Middle East and domestic concerns over anti-immigration demonstrations.

The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has called on beverage manufacturers to guarantee the purchase of locally produced sugar, saying predictable demand and stable policies are critical to attracting the investments needed to achieve Nigeria’s sugar self-sufficiency target.

Kamar Barkin, chief executive officer of the NSDC, said the country’s sugar industry requires about $7bn in investment to achieve full self-sufficiency, while successful implementation of the Nigerian Sugar Master Plan could create 110,000 jobs, benefit about one million Nigerians and save the country $1bn annually in sugar import costs through backward integration.

Speaking at a panel session on Nigeria’s industrial policy, sectoral reforms and measurable economic outcomes at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Tuesday, Barkin said investors needed confidence that locally produced sugar would have a ready market.

He noted that sugar investments typically take about four years before generating cash flows, making policy stability and guaranteed demand important considerations for businesses committing capital to the sector.

‘One is you need to be able to commit to guarantee off-take of locally produced goods. I know some of this is already happening, but you need to reconcile the matter of policy, as it were, to commit to and to off-take because that’s what’s going to give the financiers the confidence.

‘In those four years, the private sector investors will need to see stable demand during this period. At the same time, they want to see stable policies.

‘We are talking about people who, in total, they’re probably going to see about seven billion dollars of investments in order to get to full self-sufficiency. These are not small numbers.

‘When it is successfully implemented, what does the Nigerian sugar master plan do? It will create 110,000 jobs. This will impact about one million Nigerians,’ he said

Barkin urged beverage manufacturers to support local production through off-take agreements, backward integration and investments in host communities, stressing that stronger links between sugar producers and industrial consumers would help deepen domestic value chains.

‘The achievement of backward integration of Nigeria, it will save Nigeria every year a billion dollars in importation of sugar from backward integration. These are numbers that are not inconsequential by any standard of imagination,’ he added.

The sugar industry’s concerns come amid broader calls from manufacturers and business groups for greater consistency in government policies, better coordination among regulatory agencies and improved engagement with the private sector to reduce uncertainty around investment decisions.

Zahrah Audu, director-general of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), said policy stability and predictability were essential to creating a business environment in which investors could plan and commit resources with confidence.

She stressed the need for government to engage stakeholders before introducing policy changes, warning against what she described as the ‘surprise element’ in policymaking.

Audu said businesses needed a clear, publicly accessible and preferably digital directory of government policies across sectors. Such a platform, she explained, would enable businesses and policymakers to identify existing rules, cross-reference their implications and reduce the risk of conflicting regulations.

She also said PEBEC had a digital reporting platform through which businesses could escalate challenges involving 69 business-facing ministries, departments and agencies, with responses expected within 72 hours.

According to her, the council is also working to improve coordination between federal and subnational governments and address illegal checkpoints and unauthorised fees that increase the cost of doing business.

Manufacturers at the session said inconsistent regulations and weak coordination across federal, state and local governments continued to raise operating costs and weaken the predictability required for long-term investment.

Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director-general of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), said manufacturing accounted for about 8 per cent of Nigeria’s real gross domestic product, while the sector’s share of exports remained below 2 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.

He also cited manufacturing capacity utilisation below 60 per cent, underscoring the difficulties confronting producers seeking to expand output and compete in domestic and international markets.

Ajayi-Kadir called for predictable fiscal policies, regulatory coherence across all levels of government, reliable electricity, better logistics and the development of industrial parks to support manufacturing growth.

He presented the Nigeria Industrial Policy Sectoral Competitiveness and Growth Initiative as part of efforts to strengthen the sector’s contribution to economic growth and exports.

Amaka Onyemelukwe, senior director at Coca-Cola Nigeria, said the non-alcoholic drinks sector contributed 46 per cent of manufacturing GDP across its operations and 33 per cent of total manufacturing output, while supporting 1.9 million jobs.

She said the sector also contributed about N386m daily in sugar-sweetened beverage taxes, excluding other taxes such as value-added tax and company income tax.

‘Nigeria does not need less regulation or less revenue. We simply need smarter and better coordinated policy,’ Onyemelukwe said.

She identified the cumulative effect of regulatory requirements, including traceability systems, excise tax stamps and multiple haulage taxes, as a concern for businesses. She called for regulatory impact assessments and better coordination to ensure that new requirements did not impose unnecessary costs on producers.

The Federal Government, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), has called for stronger measures to contain avian influenza through tighter control of livestock movement, strict biosecurity protocols, enhanced surveillance and deeper collaboration across the poultry value chain.

Mitchell Alao, national programme coordinator of the Avian Influenza Control Programme at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, made the call at a workshop on strengthening the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), held in Keffi, Nasarawa State, recently.

Alao, who is also head of the Department of Animal Health and Reproductive Services, stressed that NAQS plays a critical role in restricting animal movement during outbreaks, noting that effective controls are essential to stop infected birds from spreading the disease to unaffected areas.

He identified disease surveillance, risk communication and sustained stakeholder engagement as key tools for containing outbreaks, with animal movement control remaining central to the strategy.

‘The Quarantine Service is there to ensure that affected birds are not moved out of locations where an outbreak has occurred,’ he said.

He emphasised the need to build institutional capacity and deepen collaboration with security agencies and other government bodies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, state governments and local authorities.

‘Such partnerships would improve regulatory compliance, enforcement and coordinated responses nationwide,’ he said.

Otto Vianney, FAO country team lead for Livestock in Nigeria, said the organisation had developed a digital tool for collecting global data on animal movement to improve monitoring and tracking.

Vianney explained that the workshop aimed to assess how animal movement contributes to the spread of animal diseases in Nigeria, while also strengthening public awareness, community education and understanding of preventive measures.

He outlined the four pillars of the Good Emergency Management Practices (GEMP) Framework: prevention and preparedness; early detection and early response; eradication and recovery; and coordination and communication.

He noted that these pillars would provide a structured approach to managing animal health emergencies and reducing the impact of outbreaks.

Shehu identified key priorities for a productive and profitable poultry sector as strict enforcement of biosecurity during animal movement, proper documentation, regular updating of designated control posts, prevention of illegal transportation, promotion of public-private partnerships, technology integration and full compliance with existing regulations.

However, he highlighted challenges facing the agency, including porous alternative routes, poor regulatory compliance, inadequate infrastructure and the inherent risks of transporting live animals.

A major highlight of the workshop was an inspection visit to the Garuku Toll Gate along the Akwanga Road in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where officers assessed animal movement procedures and the effectiveness of existing monitoring measures.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expanded President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign structure with fresh appointments to its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), ahead of the January 16, 2027, presidential election.

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Felix Morka, APC national publicity secretary, announced the supplementary appointments in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, saying the new list covers leadership and membership positions across key campaign structures.

Morka said the appointments cut across directorates, sectoral groups, mobilisation structures and operational units of the PCC.

‘The supplementary list contains additional appointments of leaders and members across various directorates, sectoral groups, mobilisation structures and operational units of the PCC,’ he said.

He said the party was committed to improving coordination among the different components of the campaign council as it prepares for the presidential election.

‘Our great Party reiterates its commitment to ensuring effective coordination among the various components of the PCC as preparations remain in top gear for the 2027 general election,’ Morka said.

Bitget Wallet, a self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet, has launched a service allowing freelancers, remote workers and salary earners to receive dollar and euro payments without requiring a US or European residential address.

The product, called Virtual Account, enables users to receive international bank transfers into accounts held in their names, potentially easing access to foreign currencies for Nigerians and other users in emerging markets who face restrictions opening overseas bank accounts.

The company announced the launch on Tuesday, saying the accounts are provided by Noah, a licensed stablecoin payments company.

The service provides account details that support transfers through the US Automated Clearing House (ACH) and Fedwire systems, Europe’s Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) network and the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT).

Funds received are automatically converted into USDT or USDC, two dollar-pegged stablecoins, and credited to users’ wallets. Senders see the recipient as the account holder.

The launch comes as freelancers and remote workers across Nigeria increasingly seek ways to receive payments from international clients, amid the challenges associated with accessing conventional foreign banking services.

Under the arrangement, users can receive payments directly into their accounts but cannot yet make outbound bank transfers through the service. Bitget Wallet said the functionality would be introduced in the coming months.

In the meantime, recipients can spend their funds using the Bitget Wallet Card or QR payments, transfer them to other users, or allocate them to the wallet’s earning products, crypto assets and tokenised real-world assets.

Bitget Wallet said transaction fees could be as low as $2 on a $500 transfer, equivalent to about 0.4 percent. The World Bank estimates that the global average cost of sending remittances remains around six percent, although costs vary by corridor and transfer method.

Traditional cross-border payments often pass through multiple correspondent banks, adding processing time and fees. The new service seeks to simplify the process by connecting international payment systems to a self-custodial wallet.

‘Crypto wallets are expanding beyond storage to provide essential international banking channels,’ said Alvin Kan, chief operating officer of Bitget Wallet.

‘By embedding payment rails directly into self-custodial wallets, we offer users in emerging markets a direct path into the global financial system.’

Shah Ramezani, founder and chief executive of Noah, said dollar and euro accounts had ‘traditionally been out of reach for many users in these regions’.

He said the integration gives users ‘foreign account access and cross-border settlement while maintaining sole custody of their funds.’

In Nigeria, freelancers can use the account details on invoices to receive payments from US and European clients through ACH, Fedwire or SEPA, according to the company.

In South Africa, remote workers receiving foreign salaries can access their earnings and spend locally using the wallet’s card. In Morocco, contractors and families can receive payments from European Union clients and relatives through SEPA-linked euro accounts.

However, the service does not provide users with conventional bank deposits. Funds received are converted into stablecoins, meaning recipients hold digital assets rather than dollar or euro balances in a traditional bank account.

Bitget Wallet said a $300 million protection fund backs user assets, although the announcement did not provide further details on the fund’s coverage or the conditions under which users could make claims.

The Virtual Account service forms part of the company’s Onchain Payments Matrix, which includes card payments, QR transactions and transfers. It is available through the Bitget Wallet application.

The company is also offering transaction-fee refunds to the first 1,000 eligible users who make qualifying deposits.

Bitget Wallet said it has more than 100 million users globally.