ACCI urges FG to use trade surplus to diversify economy

By

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September 22, 2026

ACCI President Urges FG To Address Rising Inflation

KEY POINTS

• Nigeria’s merchandise trade rose to N41.44 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, with a N12.60 trillion surplus.

• ACCI says the surplus could strengthen the naira and external reserves, but warns that its heavy reliance on mineral exports leaves the economy exposed.

• The chamber wants greater focus on manufactured goods, processed agricultural products and refined solid minerals to build productive capacity.

MAIN STORY

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the Federal Government to use Nigeria’s rising trade surplus as an opportunity to deepen economic diversification and expand domestic productive capacity.

Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, First Deputy President of the chamber, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Monday.

Adesugba said figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that merchandise trade increased to N41.44 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, up 19.13 per cent from N34.79 trillion in the first quarter.

The quarter produced a trade surplus of N12.60 trillion, with exports valued at N27.02 trillion compared with imports of N14.42 trillion.

According to Adesugba, the surplus means Nigeria earned considerably more from international trade than it spent during the period and could provide short term support for the naira, external reserves and the balance of payments.

He, however, said the composition of the surplus was more important than its size because Nigeria remained heavily dependent on commodities, particularly crude oil.

Crude oil accounted for N12.91 trillion, or 47.79 per cent of total exports, while mineral products as a whole made up 87.04 per cent of exports.

Adesugba said such a structure leaves Nigeria vulnerable to changes in international commodity prices because a significant share of export earnings remains tied to products whose prices are determined largely outside the country.

He added that a substantial fall in global crude oil prices could weaken a trade surplus built largely on oil earnings, meaning the improvement in the external position did not necessarily indicate a fundamental shift in the country’s production structure.

The chamber official also drew attention to the 12.55 per cent year on year decline in imports. He said the fall could indicate increasing import substitution and weaker demand for foreign goods as domestic production and sourcing expand.

At the same time, he said the import composition offered a potentially positive signal, with machinery and transport equipment accounting for N5.46 trillion, representing 37.83 per cent of imports.

According to him, such imports could expand productive capacity by providing businesses with equipment needed for manufacturing and other economic activities.

Adesugba said the greater concern would arise if imports were concentrated on finished products and consumables that could otherwise be produced locally.

On the export side, he said non crude oil exports reached N14.11 trillion, accounting for 52.21 per cent of total exports, while non oil products contributed N3.73 trillion.

He nevertheless expressed concern about the sharp year on year decline in agricultural exports, saying the mixed performance reinforced the need for deliberate diversification.

He identified manufactured products, processed agricultural goods and refined solid minerals as areas where Nigeria could increase value addition and reduce its dependence on crude oil.

According to him, developing these sectors could also create employment opportunities as the country’s youth population expands.

THE ISSUES

The N12.60 trillion trade surplus provides a stronger external position in the short term, but its durability depends partly on the composition of export earnings. With crude oil and other mineral products making up a large share of exports, Nigeria remains exposed to international commodity price movements.
The decline in imports needs to be considered alongside what Nigeria is importing. Machinery and transport equipment accounted for more than a third of imports, which could support domestic productive capacity if businesses use the capital goods to expand production.
Diversification requires moving beyond the export of raw commodities. Processing agricultural products, manufacturing goods and refining solid minerals would allow Nigeria to capture more value from resources produced within the country.
The decline in agricultural exports shows that higher total exports do not automatically mean broad based diversification. Expanding non crude and non oil exports would require stronger performance across several productive sectors.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“The surplus can strengthen the naira, support external reserves and ease pressure on the balance of payments,” – Adesoji Adesugba

“The trade surplus could support a stronger naira, healthier reserves and greater macroeconomic stability in the short term.” – Adesoji Adesugba

“The favourable trade balance should be viewed as an opportunity to accelerate reforms that will make economic growth less dependent on oil.” – Adesoji Adesugba

WHAT’S NEXT

Adesugba urged the government and private sector to channel the favourable trade position towards expanding productive, diversified and value adding capacity.

He said future trade surpluses should increasingly be driven by goods and services produced, grown, manufactured and refined in Nigeria rather than by the country’s extraction of raw resources.

BOTTOM LINE

Nigeria’s N12.60 trillion trade surplus offers stronger external earnings, but ACCI says its heavy reliance on mineral exports remains a vulnerability. The chamber wants the surplus used to expand domestic production and increase the share of value added exports.

Innovation critical to Nigeria’s shift from extraction to value creation – Researcher

Editor’s Ledger: Bokkunomics and the hard-discount disruption

By

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

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September 22, 2026

Walk into almost any Lagos neighbourhood right now and you will likely find a Bokku Mart nearby. Launched in September 2022, the chain opened its 200th store in May 2026 at the Kingsway Building in Marina, making it the largest supermarket chain in Nigeria by store count, with outlets now spread across Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states.

In a macroeconomic climate where inflation has squeezed purchasing power, Bokku has built a following on price. Groceries, toiletries, cooking oil, drinks and body care products at its stores run roughly 22 per cent cheaper than the open market, with uniform pricing across all regions — savings visible on staples like cooking oil, seasoning cubes and pasta, where Bokku’s shelf price consistently undercuts the market by a wide margin.

How? Shoppers call it “commonsensical prices.” In the boardroom, it is the hard-discount model, a framework pioneered by global operators like Aldi and Lidl. Let’s take a closer look at the operations and the microeconomic levers driving “Bokkunomics”.

The Five Pillars of Bokkunomics

1. Real estate: the micro-format density play

Traditional supermarkets anchor themselves in multi-billion-naira malls, paying premium square-metre leases that are eventually passed to the consumer. Established players like Shoprite built their model on exactly this logic, anchoring large malls as a destination experience that shoppers drove to and spent time in.

Bokku does the opposite. It typically secures long-term leases of 15 to 20 years on bare land or ground-floor retail space, running a micro-format density strategy that Estate Intel’s research finds significantly more cost-efficient than leasing large mall spaces.

The maths: early outlets ran 200 to 250 square metres, though the company’s current expansion criteria specify slightly larger footprints of 300 to 500 square metres, still a fraction of the 4,000-square-metre-plus format a chain like Shoprite typically leases. The saving: compact, localised stores that are quick to deploy, usually within one to three months, let the chain open several suburban hubs for the cost of a single mega-destination.

2. The cold chain boycott

In Nigeria, electricity overheads can break a retail business. Traditional superstores run banks of open-air chillers and commercial beverage refrigerators, burning diesel or high-tariff grid power around the clock.

Bokku made a radical trade-off to bypass this. On visits to several outlets, I found no chilled beverage cabinets on the shop floor, beverages sit on dry shelves at ambient temperature instead, cutting a large share of a standard grocery store’s daily electricity load. The chain appears to protect that low-energy baseline even as it expands into frozen protein, running one or two mid-sized chest freezers per store rather than a bank of them. This keeps power demand low and, just as importantly, predictable.

3. Extreme SKU discipline

A premium supermarket can carry upwards of 30,000 unique product variations, stocking ten brands of dishwashing liquid or five sizes of the same milk. Bokku launched with a far tighter range, around 350 essential grocery commodities against its 200-to-250-square-metre footprint, well below the 2,000 SKUs a wider-format some competitors carry in nearly four times the space. That range has likely grown with Bokku’s private-label push, but the store still runs on a fraction of a conventional supermarket’s catalogue.

Instead of ten brands of an item, it stocks one or two “hero” products with reliable, high-volume turnover. The leverage is in the concentration: routing purchasing volume into a handful of suppliers secures bulk discounts and volume bonuses smaller stores cannot access.

4. Private label and the vertical integration margin

Bokku does not only resell other companies’ products; it manufactures its own, under house brands that trace back to Atreos, its parent holding company. Treos White Bread (800g) retails for ₦1,100 and Treos Whole Wheat (600g) for ₦900, alongside a private-label cleaning line, REOS Bleach, sold exclusively at Bokku for ₦1,600 a litre.

The bread has become the chain’s signature draw. In one 11-month stretch, the bakery operation employed 200 bakers to meet demand, and retailers in open markets buy it in bulk to resell at a markup. Manufacturing internally cuts out third-party distributors, letting the chain capture the manufacturer’s margin and return part of it to the customer as a shelf discount, while Treos and REOS also build brand recognition that keeps shoppers inside the Bokku ecosystem for products they’d otherwise buy elsewhere.

5. Stripping away the frills

Hard discounting means eliminating embellishment: uniform layouts, minimalist self-service, no free carrier bags. Even before Lagos’s 2023 single-use plastics ban forced the issue sector-wide, Bokku already required shoppers to bring their own bags, reuse empty cartons, or buy nylon bags at the store, the policy was a deliberate cost lever, not a regulatory afterthought. A sign in one outlet put the philosophy plainly: wherever possible, the store avoids any cost that could raise the sales price.

The checkout counter captures that philosophy best. Rather than hand out free branded plastic bags, Bokku charges a nominal fee for them while offering discarded product shipping cartons free of charge. The practice does two things at once. It converts a cost into a saving: disposing of bulk shipping cartons is an operational expense in traditional retail, requiring staff hours and paid waste-management logistics, and Bokku turns that liability into something customers are glad to carry out of the store. And it aligns the shopper psychologically, the message is that the company refuses to spend on packaging, proof that every shortcut exists to protect the customer’s wallet.

The Ledger’s Operational Comparison

Operational lever	Traditional superstores	The Bokku model
Location archetype	Prime malls, high-traffic avenues	Suburban residential neighbourhoods
Store footprint	4,000m²+	200–250m² (up to 500m² in newer formats)
Product variety (SKUs)	30,000+ variants	Roughly 350 at launch; still a fraction of a conventional store today
Cold chain footprint	Rows of open-air beverage chillers	No cold drinks observed; one to two chest freezers
Supply chain flow	Multi-tiered wholesale and distributor networks	Direct bulk sourcing plus in-house manufacturing (Treos, REOS)

The Executive Bottom Line

Bokku Mart’s rise to Nigeria’s largest supermarket chain by store count proves a structural point about Nigerian consumer behaviour under pressure: in an inflationary squeeze, cost-efficiency beats premium ambiance every time.

By treating electricity, store sizing and product variety not as fixed necessities but as variables to be optimised, Bokku has built an asset-light model that is unusually resistant to macroeconomic shocks. It did not lower prices by sacrificing profitability. It lowered them by systematically engineering waste out of its operational plumbing.

For executives across manufacturing and distribution, that is the new benchmark.

Innovation critical to Nigeria’s shift from extraction to value creation – Researcher

By

Kehinde Victor

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September 22, 2026

KEY POINTS

• Innovation can help Nigeria diversify beyond crude oil and develop new sources of growth and foreign exchange.

• Technology adoption could improve productivity in agriculture, logistics and other sectors while creating new employment opportunities.

• An innovation researcher identifies weak research funding, unreliable power, limited broadband and financing gaps among barriers to progress.

MAIN STORY

Innovation could help Nigeria move beyond an economy largely dependent on extracting value from natural resources towards one that creates higher value products, services and businesses, according to an Innovation Policy Researcher, Dr Abel Shagu.

Shagu made the assessment in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, saying innovation was central to the country’s efforts to diversify its economy and develop alternative sources of growth and foreign exchange.

He said continued reliance on crude oil left the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in international oil prices and naira volatility, making sectors such as agricultural processing, manufacturing, digital services and the creative industries increasingly important.

“Innovation is how Nigeria moves from an economy that extracts value to one that creates it,” he said.

Beyond creating new businesses, Shagu said technology adoption could raise productivity by improving the way existing sectors operate. He identified agriculture and logistics among areas where better processes could increase output per worker.

He said mechanised and data driven farming, combined with digital logistics systems, could improve productivity and potentially raise incomes for millions of Nigerians.

The researcher also pointed to innovation led businesses, particularly startups and technology enabled small and medium enterprises, as a potential source of employment for Nigeria’s growing young population.

With millions of people entering the labour market each year, he said the formal sector would not be able to absorb every job seeker.

“Startups and tech-enabled SMEs create new kinds of jobs and give young people an alternative to unemployment or informality,” Shagu said.

He said Nigeria could extend the type of innovation seen in fintech to sectors with major social and economic needs, including healthcare, energy access, education and food security.

According to Shagu, fintech showed that solutions designed around local challenges could develop into companies with international recognition while expanding access to payments, lending and other financial services.

He said greater investment in research and development, technology adoption and skills would be necessary for Nigeria to compete more effectively and build resilience within global value chains.

THE ISSUES

Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil leaves economic performance exposed to changes in oil prices and currency conditions. Diversification into productive sectors could provide alternative sources of economic activity and foreign exchange.
Productivity gains will depend not only on access to technology but also on its adoption across sectors. Agriculture and logistics are among the areas identified where improved processes could raise output and incomes.
Nigeria’s expanding labour force creates pressure for businesses and the wider economy to generate new forms of employment. Startups and technology enabled SMEs could provide opportunities outside traditional formal sector employment.
Innovation requires an environment in which businesses and researchers can develop and commercialise ideas. Shagu identified inadequate research funding, unreliable electricity, limited broadband, weak long term financing and poor links between universities and industry as constraints.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“Innovation is how Nigeria moves from an economy that extracts value to one that creates it.” – Abel Shagu

“Startups and tech-enabled SMEs create new kinds of jobs and give young people an alternative to unemployment or informality.” – Abel Shagu

“Innovation is not a luxury for Nigeria. It is the most credible path to diversified, inclusive and resilient growth.” – Abel Shagu

WHAT’S NEXT

Shagu called for stable regulation, more reliable infrastructure, stronger research funding and improvements in STEM and digital skills. He also advocated better public procurement policies that would create opportunities for local innovators to secure customers.

He said the Nigeria Startup Act could support innovation, but its impact would depend on effective implementation.

BOTTOM LINE

Innovation could support Nigeria’s economic diversification by improving productivity, creating businesses and opening new employment opportunities. Shagu says stronger infrastructure, financing, research and regulatory support are needed for those opportunities to translate into wider economic gains.

Nigerian equities gain N228bn as market extends upward trend

FG rules out immediate electricity tariff increase, says power minister

By

Kehinde Victor

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September 22, 2026

KEY POINTS

• The Federal Government says it has no immediate plan to increase electricity tariffs.

• Power Minister Joseph Tegbe says the government is prioritising grid stability, market discipline and stronger sector governance.

• The ministry reports higher generation and transmission, restored generation capacity and progress in metering, equipment deployment and debt settlement.

MAIN STORY

The Federal Government has ruled out an immediate increase in electricity tariffs as it focuses on stabilising Nigeria’s power sector and addressing weaknesses across the electricity value chain.

The Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Tegbe, gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja while briefing Power Correspondents on his first 100 days in office.

Tegbe, who assumed office on June 8, said the administration’s immediate priority was to improve the performance of the sector rather than place additional financial pressure on consumers.

He said the first 100 days were spent assessing the sector and implementing measures aimed at addressing constraints affecting gas supply, generation, transmission and distribution.

According to the minister, the initial assessment found that gas supplies to power stations were constrained by damaged pipelines and commercial conditions that discouraged investment.

He also identified ageing thermal generation plants, deferred maintenance, stalled projects and inadequate capacity to deliver available generation to consumers as major challenges.

Payment weaknesses across the value chain were another concern. Tegbe said generation companies received only 27 per cent of their billed payments, limiting their ability to maintain plants and meet obligations to gas suppliers.

The transmission network, he said, was also affected by vandalised towers and lines, overstretched equipment and frequent system trips.

At the distribution level, the minister put aggregate technical, commercial and collection losses at between 30 per cent and 40 per cent. He also cited inadequate metering, estimated billing, damaged infrastructure and weak payment discipline as continuing problems.

Despite the challenges, Tegbe listed several developments recorded since his assumption of office.

The Alaoji open cycle power plant, with a capacity of 375 MW, was restored after remaining offline for three years. Upgrades at substations in Apapa, Ijora, Alausa and Lekki were also said to have unlocked 672 MW, while a new 300 MVA transformer at Katampe in Abuja unlocked another 240 MW.

Tegbe said generation and transmission had exceeded 5,000 MW in recent weeks, compared with between 3,700 MW and 4,700 MW before June. He put the peak at 5,330 MW in August and September.

The minister also disclosed that more than 300 containers containing TCN equipment had been released from the ports. He said solar and mini grid installations across 30 states had delivered 43.6 MW and created 41,735 new connections.

On metering, Tegbe said 350,000 meters were installed within the 100 day period, bringing the cumulative number to 1,004,260 as of August. He added that 90,000 meters had been installed in military formations.

The government has also raised an estimated N1.23 trillion towards settling the N3.3 trillion legacy debt owed to generation companies, according to the minister.

THE ISSUES

The decision not to pursue an immediate tariff increase places the focus on improving sector performance and addressing existing weaknesses before consumers face additional electricity costs.
The payment gap remains a major pressure point because generation companies need revenue to maintain plants and meet gas supply obligations. Tegbe’s 27 per cent payment figure highlights the financial strain within the electricity market.
Generation capacity alone does not guarantee improved electricity supply. Transmission constraints, distribution losses and damaged infrastructure can prevent available power from reaching consumers.
Metering remains important to the sector’s payment system. The installation of 350,000 meters in 100 days is part of the government’s effort to reduce reliance on estimated billing and improve collection.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“Upon assuming office, the diagnosis we undertook at the onset revealed constraints at every segment of the electricity value chain.” – Joseph Tegbe

“Our commitments remain clear: a disciplined approach, grid stability through strategic reform, visible improvements in electricity supply, and honest communication.” – Joseph Tegbe

WHAT’S NEXT

Tegbe said the government would use the next six months to deepen grid stabilisation along the Lagos, Enugu Port Harcourt and Abuja Kaduna Kano corridors.

The ministry also plans to develop a transmission super grid, connect electricity supply to productive clusters through bilateral arrangements and prepare infrastructure for future demand, including the proposed Mambilla hydro project.

The minister appealed to Nigerians to support the reforms and help protect electricity infrastructure from vandalism and theft.

BOTTOM LINE

The Federal Government says electricity tariff increases are not an immediate priority as it concentrates on stabilising the power sector. Its next phase will focus on grid reliability, transmission expansion, infrastructure protection and improved electricity supply.

Lokpobiri says deregulation leaves fuel prices to market forces

Nigerian equities gain N228bn as market extends upward trend

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 22, 2026

KEY POINTS

• Nigerian equities gained N228 billion at the start of the week as the market extended its upward movement.

• Market capitalisation rose 0.14 per cent to N162.385 trillion, while the All Share Index increased to 250,156.80 points.

• Trading volume climbed 9.16 per cent, with Zenith Bank accounting for the largest share of activity by both volume and value.

MAIN STORY

The Nigerian equities market began the week with another gain as buying interest across several stocks lifted market capitalisation by N228 billion.

The market capitalisation increased from N162.157 trillion to N162.385 trillion, representing a 0.14 per cent rise at the close of trading on Monday.

The All Share Index also advanced by 352.24 points to 250,156.80 from 249,804.56 recorded at the previous session.

The latest movement pushed the market’s year to date return to 60.76 per cent.

Sunu Assurances, Nascon Allied Industries, Omatek Ventures, Thomas Wyatt Nigeria and Critical Minerals Financing Corp were among the stocks that recorded strong buying interest, alongside 34 other gainers.

Nascon Allied Industries, Sunu Assurances, Thomas Wyatt Nigeria, Critical Minerals Financing Corp and Omatek Ventures each rose by 10 per cent to close at N176, N3.08, N2.53, N2.24 and N1.32 per share respectively.

The positive movement was reflected in market breadth, with 39 stocks gaining against 26 that declined.

On the losing side, Okomu Oil fell by 10 per cent to close at N1,276.20 per share. Custodian Investment declined by 9.13 per cent to N68.15, while Sovereign Trust Insurance lost 8.64 per cent to finish at N2.01.

Haldane McCall dropped by 8.33 per cent to N3.30, while Ellah Lakes declined by 5.39 per cent to N7.90 per share.

Trading activity also increased during the session. A total of 574.19 million shares valued at N38.06 billion changed hands in 68,655 transactions, representing a 9.16 per cent increase in volume.

Zenith Bank dominated trading activity, recording 77.07 million shares valued at N9.90 billion. The bank accounted for 13.42 per cent of total market volume and 26.01 per cent of total value traded.

THE ISSUES

The market’s continued rise reflects sustained buying interest across a range of listed companies, with 39 gainers outweighing the 26 stocks that declined.
The increase in market capitalisation indicates that the gains were broad enough to lift the overall value of listed equities despite declines recorded by some major stocks.
Higher trading volume points to increased market activity at the beginning of the week, with investors exchanging more shares than in the previous session.
Zenith Bank’s dominant share of both volume and value traded made the stock the main driver of trading activity during the session, accounting for more than a quarter of the market’s transaction value.

WHAT’S NEXT

The market’s performance in subsequent sessions will determine whether the upward trend is sustained, while investors will continue to respond to movements across individual listed stocks.

BOTTOM LINE

Nigerian equities opened the week with a N228 billion increase in market capitalisation, while the All Share Index and year to date return also moved higher. Trading activity strengthened, led by Zenith Bank.

Lagos commends Chinese envoy for strengthening bilateral cooperation

Lagos commends Chinese envoy for strengthening bilateral cooperation

By

Kehinde Victor

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September 22, 2026

lagos - china collaboration — Screenshot

KEY POINTS

• Lagos State Government has commended Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Yan Yuqing, for strengthening cooperation between China and Nigeria.

• The state highlighted partnerships covering trade, investment, healthcare, education, technology and renewable energy.

• Officials also recognised support for cataract surgeries for people from financially disadvantaged and underserved communities.

MAIN STORY

The Lagos State Government has recognised the contributions of the Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Ms Yan Yuqing, to stronger cooperation between the state and China during her more than three years in office.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Abimbola Salu Hundeyin, gave the commendation on Monday at a reception in Lagos organised to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and bid farewell to the envoy.

Yan assumed office in Lagos on May 25, 2023, becoming the eighth Consul General of China in Lagos and the first woman to hold the position.

Salu Hundeyin said the envoy had helped facilitate engagements between Lagos and China across several sectors, including trade, investment, culture, education, healthcare, technology, renewable energy and people to people exchanges.

According to her, the partnerships generated opportunities for knowledge transfer, investment, institutional cooperation and livelihoods for Nigerians.

She said the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China in 2026 provided a basis for both countries to deepen their relationship.

“As Nigeria and China mark 55 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, we have a strong foundation upon which to build an even more dynamic and mutually beneficial partnership.”

The SSG also highlighted Yan’s support, through the Chinese Consulate and Chinese community, for cataract surgeries benefiting people from financially disadvantaged families and underserved communities.

She said the initiative showed how diplomatic relations could produce benefits beyond formal agreements and official engagements.

“Your brilliant contribution cannot be measured only in achievements facilitated, investments attracted, and official engagements undertaken.

“It can also be measured in the lives you have touched, the families you have encouraged, and the hope you have restored.

“You have demonstrated that stronger diplomatic relations are built on trust, respect, compassion and tangible benefits for the people,” she said.

In her remarks, Yan thanked Nigerians and friends of China who supported relations and cooperation between both countries during her tenure.

She said she worked with stakeholders across the consular district to expand areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.

“Political mutual trust has kept growing, and our development plans have been well aligned.

“Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China’s commitment to China-Nigeria friendship and support for Nigeria’s development path will remain unchanged,” Yan said.

The envoy described her time in Lagos as one of the most memorable periods of her life, citing the relationships she developed during her tenure.

“Three years may seem both short and long: short in the time we have shared together, yet long in the friendships we have forged along the way.

“I have fallen deeply in love with this charming and vibrant country, especially Lagos, a state full of potential and hope,” she said.

Also speaking, the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo Olu, said China Nigeria cooperation could create opportunities for young people and women, particularly through education and skills development.

She said stronger international partnerships should translate into stronger communities and provide opportunities for women and young people to contribute to development.

THE ISSUES

The range of sectors identified by the state shows that China Nigeria engagement extends beyond trade and investment to areas such as healthcare, education, technology and renewable energy.
The cataract surgery initiative provides a direct community level example of how international relationships can support social interventions for people with limited access to healthcare.
Knowledge transfer and institutional cooperation were identified as other potential benefits of the relationship, alongside investment and livelihood opportunities.
The emphasis on women, young people, education and skills development places human capital among the areas where Lagos wants international partnerships to produce practical benefits.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“Political mutual trust has kept growing, and our development plans have been well aligned.” – Yan Yuqing

“Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China’s commitment to China-Nigeria friendship and support for Nigeria’s development path will remain unchanged.” – Yan Yuqing

“I have fallen deeply in love with this charming and vibrant country, especially Lagos, a state full of potential and hope.” – Yan Yuqing

WHAT’S NEXT

The state government is expected to continue building on its existing engagements with China across trade, investment, education, healthcare, technology, renewable energy and other areas of cooperation.

BOTTOM LINE

Lagos says its relationship with China has produced opportunities across economic and social sectors, while community initiatives have provided direct support to residents. The farewell reception also marked the end of Yan Yuqing’s tenure as Chinese Consul General in Lagos.

Nigerian firms account for over 60% of oil output, says Lokpobiri

Eti Osa council inaugurates three roads with solar lights

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 22, 2026

KEY POINTS

• Eti Osa Local Government Area has inaugurated three newly constructed roads in Itedo, Gbara and Igbo Efon.

• The 1.5 km roads feature drainage systems and solar powered street lights.

• The council says the projects are intended to improve movement, support businesses and address infrastructure gaps in the communities.

MAIN STORY

The Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State has commissioned three roads constructed with drainage systems and solar powered street lights as part of activities marking the first year in office of its chairman, Dr Alimot Adetoro.

Adetoro inaugurated the projects on Monday during the first day of a four day programme organised to commemorate her first year in office.

The roads are Ogunyemi Road in Itedo, Ibrahim Atere Road in Gbara and Engr. Murphy Adetoro Road in Igbo Efon, all within the Lekki area.

According to the chairman, the three roads cover a combined distance of 1.5 km and were built with standard materials to improve mobility and access within the communities.

She said the projects would also strengthen drainage infrastructure, support commercial activities and create better conditions for local businesses and residents.

Adetoro said improved infrastructure could contribute to higher property values and improve residents’ quality of life in Itedo, Gbara and Igbo Efon.

She linked the projects to the council’s HEYIGA agenda, which focuses on holistic development, empowerment, infrastructure, grassroots governance and accountability.

“Exactly a year ago when we assumed office, we promised that infrastructural development would be paramount in the agenda of our administration.

“Roads are not just pathways; they are lifelines of commerce, access to healthcare, education and community development.

“What we are witnessing today is a fulfilment of that promise. I want to assure you that this is just the beginning of more good things to happen.

“It is now my honour to officially commission these roads for public use, to the glory of God and for the benefit of the people of Eti-Osa,” she said.

The chairman said the council planned to extend its infrastructure programme to other areas, including schools and primary healthcare centres, while also implementing empowerment initiatives.

She expressed confidence that the council could develop into an economic hub and a model for grassroots development.

THE ISSUES

Road infrastructure affects more than transportation in densely populated communities. Better access can make it easier for residents to reach businesses, schools and healthcare facilities while improving movement within neighbourhoods.
The inclusion of drainage systems is significant for the long term usefulness of the roads. Poorly maintained drainage can undermine road infrastructure and reduce its effectiveness, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
Solar powered street lights add a lighting component to the road projects while providing an alternative to conventional electricity supply for street illumination.
The projects also place responsibility on the benefiting communities to protect and maintain the infrastructure. Continued maintenance will determine how long the roads, drainage systems and street lights remain functional.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“The CDAs need to take ownership of these roads and other infrastructure because the more they maintain them, the longer they will last for the communities.” – Saheed Bankole

“If the drainage systems are left uncleaned, they will become blocked and will no longer serve the purpose for which they were constructed.” – Saheed Bankole

“The legislative arm would perform its oversight functions to ensure proper maintenance of the facilities.” – Sadiq Olayinka

WHAT’S NEXT

Adetoro said the council would continue its infrastructure programme through road construction, schools and primary healthcare centres, alongside empowerment programmes. The council’s legislative arm also said it would monitor maintenance of the completed facilities.

BOTTOM LINE

The three road projects add new road, drainage and solar lighting infrastructure to communities in Eti Osa. Their long term impact will depend partly on continued maintenance by the council and benefiting communities.

Lokpobiri says deregulation leaves fuel prices to market forces

Nigerian firms account for over 60% of oil output, says Lokpobiri

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 22, 2026

KEY POINTS

• Indigenous Nigerian companies now account for more than 60 per cent of the country’s oil and gas production, according to Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri.

• The minister said local content policies had expanded Nigerian participation across the petroleum value chain and increased value retained within the country.

• The Republic of Congo is seeking to draw lessons from Nigeria’s local content experience as it works to strengthen indigenous participation in its petroleum industry.

MAIN STORY

Nigeria’s local content policy has increased the role of indigenous companies in the petroleum industry, with local operators now accounting for more than 60 per cent of the country’s oil and gas production, according to Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri.

Lokpobiri disclosed this on Monday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the Republic of Congo led by its Minister of Hydrocarbons, Mr Steve Onanga, on a working visit focused on local content development.

He said the development represented a major stage in Nigeria’s more than 15 year local content programme, which followed legislation designed to increase indigenous participation in the petroleum sector.

“Indigenous companies currently account for more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s approximately 1.8 million barrels of oil equivalent daily production, including condensate.

“Some years ago, some of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) divested their onshore and shallow water assets to indigenous operators,” he said.

According to Lokpobiri, the transfer of some assets from international oil companies to Nigerian operators had created room for local firms to develop stronger technical and operational capabilities.

He said international oil companies had largely remained active in deep offshore operations, while Nigerian companies had expanded their presence across land, swamp and shallow water operations.

The minister said the growth of indigenous participation had also enabled Nigerian firms to operate across more areas of the oil and gas value chain and retain a greater share of economic value domestically.

He said Nigeria’s experience showed how African oil producing countries could strengthen their energy sectors by building indigenous technical capacity and developing local expertise.

Lokpobiri said Nigeria was prepared to share its experience with Congo as the country seeks to develop its own local content framework.

“If Nigeria can do it, I believe Congo can do it. Nigeria believes that the solution to Africa’s energy poverty largely rests with Africans developing their own capacity and resources,” he said.

The minister added that Nigeria now had more than 20 to 30 competent indigenous service companies operating alongside international service companies.

He said the presence of both local and international firms had provided opportunities for Nigerian companies to expand their technical capabilities and offer services across the petroleum industry.

Lokpobiri also explained that the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, was financed through contributions from industry operators rather than direct government funding.

“The industry is expected to contribute one per cent of contracts to support the administration of local content development,” he said.

Onanga said the Congolese delegation was in Nigeria to study the country’s experience and identify practices that could help strengthen local content in the Republic of Congo.

“Our wish is to improve local content in the Republic of Congo, and that is why we are here in Nigeria.

“We came here to learn from what Nigeria has done, share experiences and see how we can improve our own sector in Congo,” he said.

He said the delegation included officials responsible for upstream and downstream petroleum, local content, gas, energy and engineering, alongside representatives of Congo’s national oil company and indigenous companies.

THE ISSUES

Nigeria’s local content policy has increased the participation of indigenous companies in petroleum production and services. The transfer of some onshore and shallow water assets from international operators has provided Nigerian firms with opportunities to take on larger operational responsibilities.
The shift has also affected where local companies compete within the industry. While international oil companies have largely retained deep offshore operations, indigenous operators have expanded across land, swamp and shallow water activities.
The coexistence of Nigerian and international service companies provides another channel for local capacity development. According to Lokpobiri, Nigerian firms have gained opportunities to expand their technical capabilities while operating alongside established international companies.
Congo’s interest in Nigeria’s experience reflects the practical challenge facing African oil producing countries seeking to retain more value from their petroleum resources. The Congolese delegation is examining Nigeria’s policy framework and institutional experience as it works on its own local content system.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“Indigenous companies currently account for more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s approximately 1.8 million barrels of oil equivalent daily production, including condensate.” – Heineken Lokpobiri

“If Nigeria can do it, I believe Congo can do it. Nigeria believes that the solution to Africa’s energy poverty largely rests with Africans developing their own capacity and resources.” – Heineken Lokpobiri

“Our wish is to improve local content in the Republic of Congo, and that is why we are here in Nigeria.” – Steve Onanga

WHAT’S NEXT

The Republic of Congo will continue examining Nigeria’s local content framework and experience as it seeks to strengthen indigenous participation in its petroleum industry. Nigeria has offered to share lessons from its more than 15 year local content development journey.

BOTTOM LINE

Nigeria says local content policies have helped indigenous companies expand their role in production and services while retaining more value domestically. Congo is now looking to adapt relevant lessons from that experience to strengthen its own petroleum sector.

ECOWAS Parliament seeks urgent action on climate displacement

Lokpobiri says deregulation leaves fuel prices to market forces

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 22, 2026

KEY POINTS

• Petroleum Minister Heineken Lokpobiri says deregulation allows market forces to determine refined petroleum product prices in Nigeria.

• He said higher domestic crude production would not automatically lower local fuel prices under a deregulated market.

• The minister said oil sector investment and increased drilling could raise Nigeria’s crude production to about three million barrels per day.

MAIN STORY

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has said the prices of refined petroleum products in Nigeria will continue to respond to market forces under the country’s deregulated downstream petroleum sector.

Lokpobiri made the clarification on Monday in Abuja while responding to concerns over repeated increases in fuel prices.

He said crude oil was traded internationally, meaning its value was influenced by global market conditions irrespective of how much crude an individual producing country supplied.

The minister said the same market principle applied to refined petroleum products and that Nigeria had chosen to allow prices to be determined within a deregulated downstream market.

“Oil and gas is an international commodity, the price is known globally.

“The price in Nigeria is the same as the price in New York and London.

“Increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production will not necessarily reduce the prices of locally refined petroleum products under a deregulated market,” he said.

Lokpobiri said the government’s decision to deregulate the downstream sector was intended to allow market forces to operate while creating conditions capable of attracting investment into domestic refining.

He cited the Dangote Refinery as an example of the investments that could emerge from the policy environment.

The minister, however, said Nigeria’s crude oil output was expected to rise substantially in the coming years, with production potentially reaching about three million barrels per day.

He attributed the projected increase to rising investment and greater drilling activity across the country.

According to him, the number of active drilling rigs has increased from 10 to 65 under the present administration.

“Today, we have over 65 rigs actively working in different fields in Nigeria. We are drilling new wells and making new discoveries,” he said.

Lokpobiri said the increase in drilling activity reflected government policies aimed at creating a more favourable environment for investment in the oil and gas industry.

THE ISSUES

Deregulation separates crude oil production from the direct determination of pump prices. Under the market based system described by Lokpobiri, increasing domestic crude output does not automatically translate into cheaper refined products.
Global oil market conditions remain relevant to petroleum pricing because crude oil is traded internationally. This means domestic production levels are only one factor within a wider market that influences the value of petroleum products.
The government is also linking deregulation to investment in domestic refining. Lokpobiri cited the Dangote Refinery as an example of the investment the policy environment is intended to support.
Increased drilling activity is expected to raise Nigeria’s crude production capacity. The minister said the number of active rigs had risen significantly and that additional drilling and discoveries could support higher output in the coming years.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“Oil and gas is an international commodity, the price is known globally.” – Heineken Lokpobiri

“Increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production will not necessarily reduce the prices of locally refined petroleum products under a deregulated market.” – Heineken Lokpobiri

“Today, we have over 65 rigs actively working in different fields in Nigeria. We are drilling new wells and making new discoveries.” – Heineken Lokpobiri

WHAT’S NEXT

The government expects continued investment and drilling activity to support higher crude oil production, with Lokpobiri projecting output of about three million barrels per day in the coming years.

BOTTOM LINE

Lokpobiri says higher Nigerian crude production should not be viewed as an automatic route to lower fuel prices under deregulation. The government is instead linking increased production with investment, drilling and stronger domestic refining capacity.

Shettima urges Africa to process minerals locally

Nigeria to renew push for permanent UN Security Council seat

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 22, 2026

Nigeria Is Ready To Join UN Security Council - Foreign Minister

KEY POINTS

• Nigeria will renew its campaign for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council during the 81st General Assembly.

• The country will also advocate wider UN reforms, stronger development outcomes for developing countries and increased investment in Nigeria.

• Vice President Kashim Shettima will represent President Bola Tinubu and present Nigeria’s national statement during the General Debate.

MAIN STORY

Nigeria will use the 81st United Nations General Assembly to renew its campaign for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council and press for reforms of the multilateral system.

The country will also seek stronger development outcomes for developing countries and promote Nigeria as an investment destination during high level engagements in New York.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim, outlined the priorities while briefing Vice President Kashim Shettima on Nigeria’s agenda for the gathering.

Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, disclosed this after the meeting.

He said Nigeria would build on positions presented at previous UN engagements, particularly its advocacy for reforms that would make multilateral institutions more responsive to developing countries.

“The Vice-President will, at all the forums, present President Tinubu’s message across different sectors, including Nigeria’s push for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council,” Nkwocha said.

Nigeria has consistently argued that Africa’s absence from the permanent membership of the Security Council leaves the continent without representation in decisions affecting international peace and security.

The Security Council has 15 members, including five permanent members with veto powers: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Nigeria’s position is that reform of the Council should reflect current geopolitical realities and give Africa greater participation in its decision making. In a 2026 statement to the UN, Nigeria called for permanent African representation with the privileges attached to existing permanent membership.

Jimoh said Nigeria’s participation would also focus on reforms capable of improving the practical impact of multilateral institutions on member states.

According to him, international policies and resources should translate into measurable development gains for countries and their citizens.

Nigeria’s delegation is expected to use engagements with governments, international organisations, businesses and development partners to promote sectors including solid minerals, energy, infrastructure, agriculture and technology.

Shettima is representing President Tinubu at the 81st General Assembly and will deliver Nigeria’s national statement during the General Debate. The UN confirms that the General Debate runs from Sept. 22 to Sept. 26 and Sept. 28.

THE ISSUES

Nigeria’s Security Council campaign centres on the broader African demand for permanent representation. The country has maintained that the continent should have a permanent voice in the Council and has linked the demand to reform of global decision making.
UN reform is also being framed around development outcomes for countries in the Global South. Nigeria wants multilateral institutions to translate their policies and resources into practical benefits for member states and their populations.
The General Assembly provides Nigeria with an opportunity to combine diplomatic advocacy with economic engagement. The delegation is expected to promote investment opportunities across sectors including energy, solid minerals, agriculture, infrastructure and technology.
Nigeria’s participation also comes as the 81st session considers wider questions around the future structure and effectiveness of the UN system. The General Assembly’s stated theme for the session is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.”

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“The Vice-President will, at all the forums, present President Tinubu’s message across different sectors, including Nigeria’s push for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.” – Stanley Nkwocha

WHAT’S NEXT

Shettima is scheduled to present Nigeria’s national statement during the General Debate and participate in high level engagements on the country’s diplomatic and economic priorities.

BOTTOM LINE

Nigeria will use UNGA81 to renew its call for permanent African representation on the Security Council while pushing wider reforms of the multilateral system. The delegation will also use the gathering to advance Nigeria’s development and investment priorities.

Guterres calls for end to plundering of Africa’s minerals

Afreximbank signs $500m facility to boost African trade

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 22, 2026

Afreximbank Announces $500,000 Support For Earthquake Relief In Morocco

KEY POINTS

• Afreximbank and the Africa Trading and Distribution Company have signed a $500 million Global Credit Facility to support trade and commodity distribution across African and international markets.

• The financing will cover commodity purchases, aggregation, logistics, transportation, warehousing and distribution.

• The facility is expected to strengthen trade corridors, expand market access and support greater processing and movement of African goods.

MAIN STORY

The African Export Import Bank, Afreximbank, has signed a $500 million Global Credit Facility with the Africa Trading and Distribution Company, ATDC, to strengthen commodity trade and distribution across African and global markets.

The facility will provide ATDC with trade financing for eligible transactions involving the purchase and aggregation of African goods, as well as the logistics required to move them through different stages of the supply chain.

According to a statement issued by Vincent Musumba, Communications and Events Manager, Afreximbank, in Abuja on Monday, the financing will cover transportation, warehousing and distribution costs alongside commodity purchases.

The arrangement is also expected to enable ATDC to develop repeatable trade corridors and establish more dependable sourcing and distribution networks across African markets.

Beyond individual transactions, the facility is expected to support commercially sustainable trade flows, increase the processing of African commodities and improve regional access to raw materials, inputs and value added products.

Mrs Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said the agreement reflected the bank’s focus on strengthening the trade, logistics and distribution systems needed to support the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.

Awani said improved distribution would help “Made in Africa” goods reach markets across the continent, while strengthening regional value chains and expanding opportunities for African producers.

She added that the financing would support manufactured exports and improve the ability of African products to compete in international markets.

According to her, stronger trade infrastructure and market access were important to expanding Africa’s export footprint and supporting economic transformation.

Mr Stewart Makura, Chief Executive Officer of ATDC, said effective links between producers, processors, manufacturers and markets were essential to unlocking Africa’s trade potential.

He said the facility would increase ATDC’s ability to aggregate supply, mobilise working capital and move goods more efficiently through regional value chains.

“Together with Afreximbank, we will support stronger supply chains, value addition, import substitution and intra African trade,” Makura said.

ATDC is a pan African platform established to expand African trade, support industrialisation through greater local value addition and promote economic integration.

The company currently has local operations in Egypt, Nigeria, Malawi and Zimbabwe, where it focuses on addressing gaps in trade and market intelligence, improving market access and supporting implementation of AfCFTA.

THE ISSUES

Financing is a major part of moving commodities from producers to final markets, particularly where transactions require working capital across purchasing, storage, transportation and distribution. The facility is structured to cover several stages of this process rather than individual commodity purchases alone.
The agreement also targets the infrastructure connecting African producers with regional markets. More dependable trade corridors and distribution networks could make it easier for businesses to source and move goods across borders.
Greater local processing is another expected outcome of the facility. Supporting the movement of value added products, alongside raw materials and inputs, could strengthen regional value chains and create more opportunities for African manufacturers.
The arrangement is linked to the wider objective of implementing AfCFTA by improving the systems required for goods produced in one African market to reach consumers and businesses in another.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“Together with Afreximbank, we will support stronger supply chains, value addition, import substitution and intra African trade.” – Stewart Makura, ATDC

WHAT’S NEXT

The facility will support ATDC’s eligible trading and distribution transactions, including commodity aggregation, logistics, transportation, warehousing and distribution across its operating markets.

BOTTOM LINE

The $500 million facility gives ATDC additional financing to move African commodities and products through regional supply chains. The broader aim is to strengthen distribution, local value addition and intra African trade.

Dangote petrol price increase to raise costs, economist says

Guterres calls for end to plundering of Africa’s minerals

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 22, 2026

press conference HC Refugees — Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR at a Press Conference after 66th session of Excom. 9 October 2015. UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré

KEY POINTS

• UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for an end to the extraction of Africa’s mineral wealth without sufficient local economic benefits.

• He urged greater local processing of critical minerals and called for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council.

• Guterres said Africa’s growing economic weight should translate into greater control over its resources and stronger influence in global decision making.

MAIN STORY

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has called for a fundamental shift in how Africa’s natural resources are extracted and traded, urging the continent to retain more value from its mineral wealth.

Guterres made the call at the fifth annual Global Africa Business Initiative, “Unstoppable Africa”, in New York, where he argued that critical minerals should be processed within Africa instead of being exported mainly as raw materials.

“No more plundering,” Guterres declared, stressing that Africa’s natural wealth must translate into employment and prosperity for its people.

“We must ensure that Africa’s vast natural resources, particularly critical minerals, create local value and decent jobs, rather than simply being shipped overseas,” he said.

The UN chief linked the resource question to Africa’s broader demand for greater influence in global institutions. He called for permanent African seats on the UN Security Council and reforms to the international financial system.

“Africa also needs permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, where it can contribute to dialogue and action for the whole globe,” he said.

Guterres described Africa as a “double victim of colonialism”, arguing that most African countries were not present when major global institutions were established.

He said the structure of both the Security Council and international financial institutions had not adequately reflected Africa’s interests.

According to Guterres, Africa is increasingly becoming an important global economic force, with a three trillion dollar market opportunity, the world’s fastest growing labour force, about 30 per cent of global mineral resources and 60 per cent of global solar energy potential.

“The shift you long envisioned is taking place: from doing business in Africa, to doing business with Africa,” he said.

He pointed to developments across several African economies as evidence of the continent’s expanding role in global business and innovation.

Guterres cited Nigeria, South Africa and Senegal for their growing global cultural influence through music and film. He also highlighted Kenya’s renewable energy sector, noting that more than 90 per cent of its electricity comes from renewable sources, as well as Rwanda’s nationwide drone delivery system.

He said Tunisia was competing internationally in artificial intelligence and computer vision software, while Africa’s fintech sector had become the continent’s biggest attraction for investment capital.

Trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, he added, was expected to reach about $230 billion this year, while Africa’s economy grew by 4.4 per cent last year despite wars and wider global economic turbulence.

Guterres warned, however, that unpredictable tariffs, competition for critical minerals and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East were disrupting supplies of food, fertiliser, fuel and other essential commodities.

He said these pressures should strengthen the case for Africa to reduce its dependence on raw material exports by expanding local processing and manufacturing.

THE ISSUES

Africa’s mineral wealth remains closely tied to the continent’s ability to capture more value from extraction. Guterres’ position places local processing and manufacturing at the centre of efforts to turn natural resources into employment and wider economic gains.
The call for permanent African seats on the Security Council reflects a broader demand for greater African participation in institutions that shape global decisions. Guterres linked the issue to what he described as the continent’s limited role when the current international system was established.
Global disruptions are also affecting the economic environment in which African countries operate. Tariffs, conflicts and competition for critical minerals are putting pressure on supply chains for essential commodities, creating an additional incentive for countries to strengthen domestic production and processing capacity.
At the same time, Guterres highlighted developments in African technology, renewable energy, fintech and creative industries as signs of the continent’s expanding economic role. The challenge is to convert that growth into greater local ownership, investment and productive capacity.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“No more plundering.” – António Guterres

“We must ensure that Africa’s vast natural resources, particularly critical minerals, create local value and decent jobs, rather than simply being shipped overseas.” – António Guterres

“Africa also needs permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, where it can contribute to dialogue and action for the whole globe.” – António Guterres

WHAT’S NEXT

Guterres’ call points towards greater emphasis on local mineral processing and manufacturing, alongside efforts to increase Africa’s representation in global decision making and strengthen its economic position.

BOTTOM LINE

Guterres wants Africa’s natural resources to generate more value within the continent through local processing, manufacturing and job creation. He also called for stronger African representation in global institutions as the continent’s economic importance grows.

JAMB opens SIM, email update for candidates who lost access

Shettima urges Africa to process minerals locally

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 22, 2026

KEY POINTS

• Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged African countries to process more of their mineral resources locally and use them to drive jobs and industrial growth.

• He called for stronger continental cooperation to improve Africa’s bargaining power and increase its share of value from global mineral supply chains.

• Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake called for the formalisation of artisanal mining and stronger safety regulation.

MAIN STORY

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on African countries to move beyond exporting raw minerals and develop industries that can generate jobs and greater economic value from the continent’s natural resources.

Shettima made the call at the Third High Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The meeting, themed “From Resources to Wealth: Continental Cooperation for Mineral Value Addition,” brought together governments, investors and mining industry stakeholders to discuss ways of increasing local value from Africa’s mineral wealth.

The Vice President said Africa’s mineral endowment should be assessed not only by the volume of resources extracted but by the benefits reaching ordinary Africans.

He urged countries to strengthen cooperation on mineral governance, process resources within the continent and develop industries around minerals that are becoming increasingly important to the global economy.

According to him, Africa must move away from a system where raw materials are exported and finished products are imported back at much higher values.

He said greater cooperation among African countries could strengthen their negotiating position and enable the continent to retain more value from global supply chains.

Shettima also urged members of the strategy group to develop bankable projects capable of attracting investment into mineral processing, manufacturing and other value adding activities.

He said such investments should support employment, industrialisation and economic benefits for communities where minerals are extracted.

THE ISSUES

Africa’s mineral resources can generate greater economic value when more processing and manufacturing activities take place within the continent. Developing local industries around mineral resources could create employment while allowing producing countries to capture more value before products enter international markets.
Continental cooperation is also central to Africa’s position in global mineral supply chains. The Africa Minerals Strategy Group is seeking to strengthen this through harmonised mining policies, shared infrastructure, regional processing hubs and improved geological data systems.
Artisanal mining remains another area requiring regulatory attention. Alake argued that miners working to earn legitimate livelihoods should be distinguished from operators involved in illegal activities, with formalisation providing a route to safer and more regulated operations.
Stronger regulation could also address recurring mine site accidents and improve traceability within the sector. Alake said formalised miners could gain access to training, equipment, finance and government oversight while reducing risks linked to smuggling and environmental degradation.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“Illegal mining must remain illegal, but artisanal miners should have a structured framework that allows them to operate legally and safely.” – Dele Alake

WHAT’S NEXT

The Africa Minerals Strategy Group is expected to continue pursuing cooperation on mineral governance, local processing, shared infrastructure and geological data as part of efforts to strengthen Africa’s position in global mineral supply chains.

BOTTOM LINE

Shettima wants African countries to retain more economic value from their mineral resources by expanding local processing and industrial activity. The approach would link mineral extraction more directly to jobs, investment and benefits for producing communities.

Arridex brings large-format composite manufacturing capability online at Omnifactory

ECOWAS Parliament seeks urgent action on climate displacement

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 22, 2026

KEY POINTS

• ECOWAS Parliament has called for urgent measures to address climate change and environmental degradation in West Africa.
• Speaker Mémounatou Ibrahima linked climate disruption to livelihood losses, displacement and insecurity across the region.
• Lawmakers and experts are examining regional responses to the interconnected challenges.

MAIN STORY

The ECOWAS Parliament has called for urgent and practical measures to address the growing effects of climate change and environmental degradation across West Africa.

Speaker Mémounatou Ibrahima made the call on Monday in Accra, Ghana, at the Parliament’s 2026 Second Extraordinary Session Seminar.

The seminar, themed “Focusing on Climate Change, Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Growing Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region,” is examining the links between environmental changes, population movements and insecurity.

Ibrahima said climate change was increasingly affecting livelihoods and communities while creating additional security challenges for populations across the sub region.

She said the consequences of environmental disruption were already being experienced by communities and should no longer be considered only through scientific projections and statistical measurements.

“Climate disruption can no longer be measured only in degrees, statistics or projections. It is read in land that yields less, in coastlines that retreat, in flooded neighbourhoods, in families losing their livelihoods, and in communities forced to relocate,” she said.

The Speaker called for responses that focus on the people affected by environmental changes and address the practical challenges facing communities.

She said regional parliamentarians had a responsibility to connect scientific and technical knowledge with the experiences of the communities they represented.

According to her, the expertise presented at the seminar would be useful only when considered alongside the experiences of lawmakers who remained closely connected to their constituencies.

“Our responsibility during this seminar is precisely to connect these realities, not to restate here what we already know, but to better understand what is at stake in our territories and to consider the most appropriate responses,” she said.

Ibrahima said dialogue between technical experts and lawmakers could help produce proposals that respond more effectively to conditions in communities across the region.

The seminar forms part of activities of the Parliament’s Sixth Legislature, which brings regional lawmakers together to examine interconnected challenges affecting communities in ECOWAS member states.

Lawmakers, experts and other stakeholders are expected to examine how climate change and environmental degradation contribute to population displacement and insecurity and consider possible regional responses.

THE ISSUES

Climate change is increasingly being considered alongside population movement and security because environmental disruption can affect livelihoods and living conditions in communities.
The Parliament is seeking to connect technical expertise with information from lawmakers who have direct knowledge of conditions in their constituencies.
The regional nature of environmental challenges means that climate related displacement and insecurity can extend beyond individual communities and require cooperation among ECOWAS member states.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“Climate disruption can no longer be measured only in degrees, statistics or projections. It is read in land that yields less, in coastlines that retreat, in flooded neighbourhoods, in families losing their livelihoods, and in communities forced to relocate.” – Mémounatou Ibrahima, Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament

“Our responsibility during this seminar is precisely to connect these realities, not to restate here what we already know, but to better understand what is at stake in our territories and to consider the most appropriate responses.” – Mémounatou Ibrahima, Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament

“It is from this dialogue between technical knowledge and lived realities that truly useful proposals can emerge.” – Mémounatou Ibrahima, Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament

WHAT’S NEXT

ECOWAS lawmakers, experts and other stakeholders are expected to use the seminar to examine the links between climate change, environmental degradation, population movements and insecurity and develop regional responses.

BOTTOM LINE

The ECOWAS Parliament is treating climate change and environmental degradation as issues with implications for livelihoods, population movement and regional security. Its seminar is focused on connecting technical expertise with the experiences of affected communities to inform regional responses.

Funke Akindele sparks online debate after missing Kamo’s movie premiere

Funke Akindele sparks online debate after missing Kamo’s movie premiere

By

Annette Ikponmwonba

-

September 21, 2026

By Annette Ikponmwonba | September 21, 2026

Key Points

· Funke Akindele has faced social media criticism for missing the premiere of protégé Kamo State’s debut film, Star Lomo

· The pair’s close relationship grew prominent during Everybody Loves Jenifa in 2024, with Kamo featuring in several of Akindele’s projects since

· Their public appearances together have noticeably reduced this year, fuelling speculation about a possible falling out

· Akindele was reportedly in Ghana on a staycation with singer Waje during the Lagos premiere

· Social media users are divided, with some criticising her absence and others defending her past support for Kamo

· The article notes that online speculation alone does not confirm any actual rift between the two

Main Story

Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has come under criticism on social media following her absence from the premiere of her protégé, popular skit maker Akinyoola Ayoola, popularly known as Kamo State. The actress’s absence from Sunday’s premiere of Kamo’s debut cinema film, Star Lomo, has generated questions from some netizens, particularly given the close relationship the pair have shared in recent years.

Kamo and Akindele’s relationship became more prominent during the production of Everybody Loves Jenifa in 2024, where the skit maker was involved in the film’s promotion and subsequently became closely associated with the actress. Kamo frequently appeared in content shared by Akindele on Snapchat, and through his association with her, featured in projects including Aiyetoro Town Season 2, Behind The Scenes and Everybody Loves Jenifa. The pair have also been seen together at several events over the years, with Akindele publicly showing support for Kamo on different occasions.

However, their frequent appearances together appeared to reduce earlier this year, with Kamo no longer featuring as regularly in Akindele’s social media content, a shift that, combined with her absence from his premiere, has fuelled speculation among some social media users about a possible disagreement between the two.

The Issues

The controversy touches on a familiar dynamic in Nigerian entertainment circles, where mentorship relationships between established stars and rising talents are often followed closely by fans, sometimes to the point of scrutinising every public gesture, or lack thereof, as evidence of the relationship’s health. This kind of speculation can place significant pressure on both parties, particularly when personal circumstances, such as Akindele’s reported travel commitments in Ghana, are reframed by the public as deliberate snubs rather than simple scheduling conflicts.

The situation also reflects a broader pattern noted by commentators around Akindele’s past relationships with other protégés, including Juliana Oloyede and Tobi Makinde, suggesting this isn’t an isolated incident but part of a recurring public narrative around how she manages relationships with people she has helped elevate professionally. Whether that narrative is fair or accurate remains contested, as reflected in the sharply divided reactions online.

There is also a tension embedded in the public reaction itself, between those who feel Akindele’s absence reflects a genuine lapse in reciprocal support, given how much she has done to promote Kamo’s career, and those who argue that the public has no basis to demand explanations for her personal or scheduling decisions, especially without direct confirmation from either party involved.

What’s Being Said

Reactions on social media were sharply divided. Some users questioned Akindele’s absence directly, with one, Depegan of Lagos, writing that Kamo had supported Funke heavily during her own movie season and questioning why she wasn’t reciprocating that support now that it was his turn.

Others pushed back firmly in her defence. One user, Vgooduc, pointed out that Akindele had attended Kamo’s wedding, sponsored his child’s naming ceremony, and featured him in her films even when his scenes weren’t strictly necessary, arguing that missing one premiere shouldn’t overshadow that history of support. Another user, adeloisade, made a similar point, arguing that what Akindele has done for Kamo far outweighs what he has done for her, citing her role in his career promotion and personal support over the years.

Some users leaned toward speculation about a rift, with one, s@RioLa, arguing that the absence of any promotional support from Akindele across Kamo’s premiere activities suggested the pair were no longer on good terms. Others used the moment to raise broader critiques about Akindele’s public relationships with collaborators, with one user, The Graced Olabisi, suggesting she should reduce overfamiliarity with people who work with her to avoid these kinds of public expectations altogether.

What’s Next

Neither Akindele nor Kamo has directly addressed the speculation, and the article notes that the online chatter alone does not establish that any actual falling out has occurred. Attention will likely remain on whether either party publicly comments on the matter, or whether their future public appearances and social media activity offer any further indication of the state of their relationship.

Bottom Line

The online debate over Funke Akindele’s absence from Kamo State’s movie premiere highlights how closely fans track celebrity mentorship relationships in Nigerian entertainment, though without direct confirmation from either party, the speculation remains just that, leaving the true nature of their relationship an open question.

JAMB opens SIM, email update for candidates who lost access

Arridex brings large-format composite manufacturing capability online at Omnifactory

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 21, 2026

The journey towards greater industrial resilience in Africa has reached another milestone as Arridex has completed the installation and commissioning of a CEAD Flexcube large-format 3D printing system at its Omnifactory in Lagos, bringing large-scale composite manufacturing capability fully online in Nigeria.

The Flexcube, developed by CEAD B.V., a Netherlands-based specialist in large-format additive manufacturing, is a gantry-based industrial 3D printing system designed for the production of large composite parts, moulds, tooling and structural components. The system uses pellet extrusion technology to enable the production of large-format components for demanding industrial applications.

The installation marks the next stage in Arridex’s partnership with CEAD, first announced in 2025 to introduce large-format additive manufacturing to West Africa. Under the partnership, Arridex is deploying CEAD technology to support localised production across sectors including energy, maritime, construction and defence.

For Nigerian industry, the capability brings large-format production closer to the point of need. Components that may previously have required overseas specification, tooling, production and shipment can now be manufactured in-country, reducing the distance between a design requirement and production-ready hardware.

The capability is particularly relevant to applications requiring large moulds, tooling, composite structures and specialised components, where conventional production methods can involve significant tooling requirements and extended supply chains. CEAD describes its large-format additive manufacturing systems as enabling local, scalable production closer to the end user, with applications spanning large parts, tooling and industrial components.

According to Kayode Adeleke, Group Chief Executive Officer, Arridex, “The significance of this installation goes beyond the machine itself. We are building the capability to move from a requirement on paper to production of large composite parts, moulds, tooling and structural components here in Nigeria, particularly where the scale and complexity of the components have traditionally pushed manufacturing offshore.”

The installation was led by engineers from CEAD B.V., who worked alongside the Arridex team throughout the deployment and operational training of the system. Following the training, Arridex engineers received CEAD Operator Certificates, strengthening the in-country technical capability required to operate the technology and sustain its use locally.

For Arridex, the skills transfer is an important part of the investment. The objective is not simply to install advanced equipment, but to build the technical capability required to operate, maintain and progressively develop its applications locally.

Speaking further he said, “industrial resilience is built through capability, and capability is built through technology, people and the ability to apply both repeatedly. The Flexcube adds another important layer to what the Omnifactory can do, while the certification of our engineers ensures that the knowledge required to operate that capability remains here and can be transferred to the next generation.

“This is what we mean when we talk about building industrial capacity in Africa. We are not simply acquiring technology. We are putting the technology to work, developing the people to operate it, and creating the conditions for more of what industry needs to be designed and manufactured closer to where it is needed.”

The operationalisation of the Flexcube further expands the capabilities of the Arridex Omnifactory, West Africa’s first multi-technology industrial additive manufacturing facility. Commissioned in Lagos in June 2026, the Omnifactory brings multiple additive manufacturing technologies together to support the on-demand production of industrial components, spares and improved part designs for critical industries.

The addition of large-format composite manufacturing extends this capability into larger structures and components, complementing the Omnifactory’s existing metal and polymer additive manufacturing technologies.

Arridex will continue to work with CEAD to develop applications for large-format additive manufacturing across critical industries, while deepening local technical expertise and building the industrial processes required to deploy the technology at scale.

About Arridex

Arridex is an African industrial technology company with more than twenty years of operational delivery across oil and gas, maritime, aerospace, defence, construction and manufacturing. Through the Arridex Omnifactory, West Africa’s first multi-technology industrial additive manufacturing facility, Arridex produces industrial components, spares and improved part designs for critical industries. Through its subsidiaries, the company designs and manufactures autonomous systems, delivers engineering and construction projects, and develops advanced technology products.

Industrial resilience for African industries, built one layer at a time.

JAMB opens SIM, email update for candidates who lost access

JAMB opens SIM, email update for candidates who lost access

By

Annette Ikponmwonba

-

September 21, 2026

By Annette Ikponmwonba | September 21, 2026

Key Points

· JAMB has reviewed its policy to allow candidates who lost access to their registered phone number or email to update their details

· The service commenced on September 21, 2026, and is available only at designated JAMB Computer-Based Test centres and State Offices

· Candidates must undergo strict identity and biometric verification to access the service

· The update can only be used once per candidate

· JAMB is urging candidates to avoid unauthorised persons or channels when seeking the update

· The initiative falls under JAMB’s JCARE and JAMB Updates programmes

Main Story

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has reviewed its policy to allow candidates who have genuinely lost access to their registered phone numbers or email addresses to update the details through a controlled process. JAMB announced the policy change on Monday through its official X account, saying the service commenced on September 21, 2026.

The board said the service would be available only at designated JAMB Computer-Based Test centres, including State Offices where applicable. It clarified that the measure was specifically intended for candidates with genuine cases involving loss of access to their registered GSM numbers or email addresses, rather than a general avenue for changing contact details.

According to the board, candidates seeking to use the service would be required to undergo strict identity and biometric verification before any update is processed. “Please note: The service can be accessed only once and is subject to strict identity and biometric verification,” JAMB said.

The Issues

The policy addresses a recurring practical challenge for JAMB candidates, many of whom register for the examination using phone numbers or email addresses that may later become inaccessible due to lost SIM cards, forgotten passwords or other circumstances beyond their control. Without a formal channel to resolve this, affected candidates risk being locked out of important updates, results notifications or other critical communications tied to their registration.

At the same time, the strict verification requirements and single use limitation reflect JAMB’s evident concern about potential abuse of the system, particularly given the risk of impersonation or fraudulent identity changes in a high stakes examination process where registered details are closely tied to a candidate’s official record. The emphasis on using only designated centres also points to an awareness of the risks posed by unauthorised intermediaries who might attempt to exploit anxious candidates seeking quick fixes.

What’s Being Said

JAMB was firm in cautioning candidates against seeking help from unofficial sources, warning that doing so could expose them to unnecessary risk. “For your security, use only designated JAMB centres and avoid unauthorised persons or channels,” the board said, The board also situated this announcement within its broader public communication efforts, describing it as part of its JCARE and JAMB Updates initiatives, suggesting the policy change is one of several ongoing efforts to improve candidate support services.

What’s Next

Candidates who meet the requirements can now seek to update either their registered GSM number, email address, or both, through the designated centres, though JAMB has been clear that this option will only be available once per candidate and will remain subject to identity and biometric checks throughout, It remains to be seen how smoothly the rollout proceeds across the various designated centres nationwide, and whether JAMB will need to issue further guidance as candidates begin utilising the service in the coming weeks.

Bottom Line

JAMB’s new update policy offers a much needed lifeline for candidates locked out of their registered contact details, while its strict one-time, biometrically verified process signals the board’s effort to balance accessibility with safeguards against identity fraud in an examination system where accurate candidate records are critical.

TCN repairs four vandalised towers on Rivers transmission line

Dangote petrol price increase to raise costs, economist says

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 21, 2026

KEY POINTS

• An economist says Dangote Refinery’s latest petrol price increase will raise transport and business costs.
• He warned that higher energy costs could put further pressure on food prices and inflation.
• He urged the Federal Government to strengthen domestic crude supply and expand CNG as an alternative to petrol.

MAIN STORY

The latest increase in Dangote Refinery’s petrol gantry price could further raise transportation and business costs while reducing household purchasing power, economist Kenneth Ife has said.

Ife, President of the Institute of Professional Economists and Policy Management (IPEPM), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

Dangote Refinery increased its petrol gantry price from N1,265 to N1,350 per litre on Sept. 12, marking the fourth increase since Aug. 21.

The latest adjustment has taken the cumulative increase to N185 per litre, representing a 15.9 per cent rise within 22 days.

Ife said the effect of higher petrol prices would extend beyond motorists as increased transport and energy costs feed into the wider economy.

He warned that food prices and inflation could come under additional pressure as businesses face higher costs for transportation, imported goods and industrial raw materials.

“The petrol price increase transmits directly to shrinkage in household purchasing power,” he said.

According to Ife, higher transport costs could also worsen food and energy insecurity, while rising production expenses could make Nigerian businesses less competitive in regional and international markets.

He said international crude prices could place further pressure on petrol prices if disruptions to global oil supplies persisted.

Ife noted that Bonny Light had risen to $112 per barrel before falling to $108, adding that further tensions around major oil producing countries and important shipping routes could push crude prices higher.

He also pointed to recent attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and disruptions around major shipping routes as factors contributing to concerns over global oil supplies.

Rather than restoring petrol subsidies, Ife urged the Federal Government to focus on measures that could lower domestic fuel costs while allowing market forces to determine prices.

He called for full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act and stronger domestic crude supply to Nigerian refineries.

“The government can get Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. to supply the full complement of crude required by local refining capacities,” he said.

“Under the PIA, domestic crude supply operates on a willing supplier, willing buyer basis, with the regulator empowered to establish a Domestic Crude Supply Obligation,” he added.

Ife also called for faster expansion of Compressed Natural Gas as an alternative fuel for the transport sector.

He proposed partnerships with filling station operators to increase CNG infrastructure and accelerate vehicle conversion, arguing that broader adoption could reduce dependence on petrol and ease energy costs for households and businesses.

“The government can rapidly accelerate the CNG gas expansion and capacity utilisation by taking CNG to the mass market,” he said.

The Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles currently reports more than 400 certified conversion centres and over 90 CNG refuelling stations nationwide.

The initiative was introduced to expand CNG infrastructure and reduce transportation costs following the removal of petrol subsidies.

THE ISSUES

Higher petrol prices can affect households beyond the cost of filling vehicles because transportation expenses feed into the prices of goods and services moved across the country.
Businesses also face higher operating costs when fuel becomes more expensive, particularly those that depend on petrol for transportation, logistics and other activities.
Rising energy and transport costs can add to existing inflationary pressure by increasing the cost of production and distribution across different sectors.
Greater use of CNG could provide an alternative for transport operators and reduce dependence on petrol, but this would require wider access to refuelling infrastructure and vehicle conversion facilities.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“The petrol price increase transmits directly to shrinkage in household purchasing power.” – Kenneth Ife, President, IPEPM

“Cost push inflation will be aided by the rising input cost.” – Kenneth Ife, President, IPEPM

“The government can rapidly accelerate the CNG gas expansion and capacity utilisation by taking CNG to the mass market.” – Kenneth Ife, President, IPEPM

WHAT’S NEXT

Ife wants the Federal Government to strengthen domestic crude supply to local refineries, fully implement relevant provisions of the PIA and accelerate CNG deployment and vehicle conversion.

BOTTOM LINE

The latest Dangote petrol price increase could raise transportation and operating costs across the economy, with possible effects on household purchasing power and inflation. The economist is proposing stronger domestic crude supply and wider CNG adoption as alternatives to petrol subsidies.

Nigeria’s Image Abroad Far From Reality — Airline Chair

Ondo unveils solar scheme for 1,000 small businesses

By

Kehinde Victor

-

September 21, 2026

KEY POINTS

• Ondo State plans to provide solar electricity to 1,000 small businesses across its 18 local government areas.
• The Lucky Light Initiative will be introduced in phases to reduce energy costs for businesses.
• The state also plans to buy Dangote Group shares for 500 young entrepreneurs and 20 ONDEA My IDEA beneficiaries.

MAIN STORY

The Ondo State Government has launched an initiative to provide reliable and affordable solar electricity to 1,000 small businesses across the state.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa unveiled the Lucky Light Initiative on Saturday in Akure at the 2026 Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA) Entrepreneurs Summit.

The project will cover all 18 local government areas, with implementation beginning this year and businesses receiving the intervention in batches as subsequent phases expand its reach.

Aiyedatiwa said the programme was designed as an economic intervention for small businesses rather than a household electrification project, with the aim of reducing the cost of energy used in production.

“Electricity is not a luxury for small businesses; it is part of their cost of production. Rising energy costs translate directly into higher production costs,” he said.

Speaking on the theme, “The New Ondo: Positioning Entrepreneurs for Emerging Opportunities”, the governor said entrepreneurship now required businesses to identify problems, develop solutions, use technology and build enterprises capable of creating jobs and competing beyond their immediate markets.

He said the state was working to diversify its economy and had identified sectors including agriculture and agro processing, cocoa and other cash crops, tourism, the blue economy, oil and gas, solid minerals, technology, renewable energy, creative industries, manufacturing, logistics and export oriented businesses as areas of opportunity.

Aiyedatiwa said the administration’s objective was to move Ondo beyond the production of raw materials towards processing, packaging, branding and exporting value added products.

He said the government was also developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem designed to link ideas with skills, skills with businesses, businesses with finance and businesses with markets.

According to him, ONDEA is supporting this process by helping entrepreneurs formalise their businesses, acquire skills and access training, equipment and other forms of business assistance.

The governor also announced plans for the state government to purchase shares in the Dangote Group of Companies for 500 young entrepreneurs and 20 beneficiaries selected through the ONDEA My IDEA programme.

At the summit, Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said entrepreneurs would play an important role in the Federal Government’s ambition to build a one trillion dollar economy by 2030.

Represented by his Special Adviser, Toba Oyedele, the minister urged entrepreneurs to prepare for emerging opportunities and convert economic reforms, innovation and investment into sustainable businesses and jobs.

Summy Francis, Special Adviser to the Governor on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Investment, also urged young entrepreneurs to actively pursue opportunities rather than wait for them.

Francis said successful entrepreneurship required “clarity, discipline and velocity”, which he explained as moving quickly in the right direction.

He described the summit as the largest gathering of entrepreneurs in Nigeria and said its theme was aligned with the seven point agenda of the Aiyedatiwa administration.

THE ISSUES

Energy costs are a direct operating expense for small businesses, making access to lower cost electricity relevant to businesses that depend on power for production and services.
The phased solar intervention is intended to cover businesses across Ondo’s 18 local government areas rather than concentrate the support in a single location.
The state’s wider entrepreneurship strategy is focused on connecting business owners with formalisation, skills, equipment, finance and markets, alongside opportunities in sectors identified for economic diversification.
The planned share purchases for young entrepreneurs represent another form of business support announced at the summit, extending the programme beyond training and enterprise assistance.

WHAT’S BEING SAID

“Electricity is not a luxury for small businesses; it is part of their cost of production. Rising energy costs translate directly into higher production costs.” – Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Governor of Ondo State

“Entrepreneurs should identify problems, create solutions, adopt technology, build sustainable enterprises, create jobs and compete beyond their immediate environments.” – Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Governor of Ondo State

“Clarity, discipline and velocity.” – Summy Francis, Special Adviser to the Governor on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Investment

WHAT’S NEXT

The Lucky Light Initiative is expected to begin this year, with solar support provided to businesses in batches as the programme expands across the 18 local government areas.

The state government also plans to proceed with the announced Dangote Group share purchase for 500 young entrepreneurs and 20 ONDEA My IDEA beneficiaries.

BOTTOM LINE

Ondo State is combining a solar energy intervention with broader entrepreneurship support aimed at reducing business costs and expanding access to skills, finance, equipment and markets. The Lucky Light Initiative will begin with 1,000 small businesses across the state.

TCN repairs four vandalised towers on Rivers transmission line

Nigeria’s Image Abroad Far From Reality — Airline Chair

By

Annette Ikponmwonba

-

September 21, 2026

Nigeria Air's MD Confirms Aircraft Hiring From Ethiopian Airlines

By Annette Ikponmwonba | September 21, 2026

Key Points

· United Nigeria Airlines Chairman Prof. Obiora Okonkwo says he has no intention of relocating from Nigeria despite the growing “Japa” emigration trend

· He argues Nigeria’s international image is far removed from its actual reality, based on his own international exposure and travel

· Okonkwo made the remarks at an Abuja reception honouring Global Alliance President Prof. Justin Green ahead of the World Public Relations Forum

· He described the upcoming forum, expected in Abuja from November 15 to 21, as one of Nigeria’s biggest opportunities since independence

· NIPR President Dr Ike Neliaku praised Nigeria’s resilience, while Green said Africa’s global reputation no longer needs active promotion

· The World Public Relations Forum is expected to attract about 3,000 delegates from 126 member countries

Main Story

The Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, has said he cannot contemplate relocating permanently from Nigeria, despite the growing trend of Nigerians emigrating abroad in search of better economic and career opportunities. Okonkwo said he could hardly stay outside Nigeria for more than a week, insisting that the country was not as bad as it was often portrayed internationally.

He made the remarks in Abuja on Sunday at a reception organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in honour of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Alliance, Prof. Justin Green, who is in Nigeria ahead of the World Public Relations Forum and the 37th African Public Relations Association Conference, scheduled for November 15 to 21, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Reflecting on the long-standing trend of Nigerians emigrating abroad, Okonkwo acknowledged that what is now popularly described as Japa was not a new phenomenon, but stressed that he personally had no intention of joining the trend. Drawing on his international exposure through living, studying and doing business abroad, he maintained that the country’s global image was often at variance with its actual reality. “We may not be the best country in the world, but we’re not the worst. But the way we are being perceived and portrayed is nothing near to what we are,” he said.

The Issues

Okonkwo’s comments touch on a persistent tension in Nigerian public discourse between the lived experience of citizens who remain committed to the country and the broader narrative shaped by the ongoing emigration wave, often driven by economic hardship, insecurity and limited opportunities. His framing suggests that international perception has become disconnected from Nigeria’s actual conditions, though this raises questions about how much of that perception gap is shaped by genuine misinformation versus the very real struggles that continue to drive large numbers of Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad in the first place.

There is also a broader strategic dimension to his remarks, tied directly to Nigeria’s upcoming hosting of the World Public Relations Forum. By framing the event as an opportunity to reshape global perceptions, Okonkwo positions the forum not just as a professional gathering but as a soft power moment for the country, one that could influence how thousands of international visitors and their networks perceive Nigeria going forward.

The event’s significance is also underscored by government involvement, with the Presidency confirming its support for the forum in August through Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, reflecting an official recognition of how much weight is being placed on the country’s ability to successfully host and showcase itself to a large international delegation.

What’s Being Said

Okonkwo was direct about his personal commitment to Nigeria despite his international lifestyle, describing his inability to stay away from the country for extended periods. “I cannot see myself spending more than one week outside Nigeria. I will have to return and go back again, so that I will just feel a little bit relaxed. So as you look at me, I’m not ready to ‘Japa’ from Nigeria,” he said. He also described Nigeria’s hosting of the global PR forum as one of the most significant opportunities the country had received in decades, comparing its potential impact to one of the biggest developments since Nigerian independence.

NIPR President Dr Ike Neliaku echoed a similarly optimistic tone about the country’s resilience, describing Nigeria as a great nation whose people continue to demonstrate strength and joy despite significant challenges. He said, “In spite of all we have gone through as a people, we are still smiling, happy, and celebrating. That is the mark of greatness and the resilience of Nigerians.”

Justin Green, responding on behalf of the Global Alliance, offered a somewhat different perspective, suggesting that Nigeria and the broader African continent no longer need to actively convince the world of their value. He argued that the continent’s resources, culture, business and political contributions were already being recognised internationally, stating plainly that the world is watching Africa and has already seen what the continent is capable of achieving.

What’s Next

Preparations for the World Public Relations Forum and the 37th African Public Relations Association Conference will continue in the lead-up to the November event, with organisers expecting roughly 3,000 delegates from 126 member countries of the Global Alliance to attend in Abuja.

Given the Presidency’s already confirmed backing of the event through the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the NIPR, attention will likely turn to how the government and event organisers coordinate to ensure the forum leaves a strong impression on international attendees, particularly given how explicitly Okonkwo and others have framed the event as a perception-shaping opportunity for the country.

Bottom Line

Okonkwo’s remarks reflect a broader effort by Nigerian business and institutional leaders to reframe the national conversation ahead of a major international event, betting that showcasing the country directly to thousands of global visitors could meaningfully shift entrenched perceptions that have, in their view, fallen out of step with Nigeria’s actual reality.

APC governors- ‘why Tinubu won’t sacrifice Wike before 2027’