The Finance and Business Online Publishers Association (FiBOP) is set to host its 2025 Youth Capacity Building and Empowerment Program on April 15, 2025, at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.
The event, themed “Empowering Nigerian Youths with Knowledge of Insurance, Digital Payment and Investment to Drive Financial Inclusion,” aims to promote financial inclusion and empower Nigerian youths.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has been invited as a Special Guest of Honour.
The Chairman Organising Committee, Barnabas Esiet, said everything necessary has been put in place to make the event a memorable one.
According to him the event will bring together over 200 Senior Secondary School students and teachers from various educational districts in Lagos State.
The program is supported by top Nigerian companies and institutions, including Sanlam Life Insurance Nigeria, Coronation Insurance PLC, Cornerstone Insurance PLC, AIICO Insurance PLC, and NEM Insurance Plc.
Other supporting partners include the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) in partnership with College of Insurance and Financial Management (CIFM), Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Lagos State Ministry of Education, and MTN Nigeria.
The program is designed to impart the youth with knowledge of insurance, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and financial literacy, equipping them with the skill set required to play effectively in the current dynamic financial landscape and for future leadership roles.
The President of FiBOP, Charles Onwuatogwu, highlighted that the program is part of FiBOP’s initiative to promote financial literacy and awareness among secondary school students in Lagos and other states of the federation.
Renowned professionals in the Insurance, ICT, and financial sector are expected to speak at the event, which will also celebrate notable figures who are seen as sources of inspiration for the upcoming generations.
FiBOP is a duly registered association of online publishers with a clear mandate to build capacity and make impactful contributions to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy and the continent of Africa as a whole.
The partnership with top companies demonstrates FiBOP’s commitment to empowering Nigerian youths with the knowledge and skills required to drive financial inclusion and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah is to lead State Governors Roundtable on unlocking opportunities in Enugu and beyond as the 2025 edition of the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit, CTIS, opens in London on Monday.
This was contained in a press release issued by the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, CWEIC, at the weekend.
CWEIC, which has an official mandate from the Commonwealth Heads of Government to facilitate trade and investment, boasts of a network of over 140 Strategic Partners from both the public and private sectors and helps build vital relationships that drive economic growth and development in the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries.
According to CWEIC, the 2025 edition of CTIS, which holds from Monday, April 7 to Tuesday, April 8 at the historic Mansion House in London, would bring together the Commonwealth business community with Heads of Government, senior ministers, and representatives of Commonwealth governments.
“Following the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa last October, this business-to-government summit will provide a platform to advance discussion, re-focus on critical issues, and ensure that Commonwealth business priorities are advanced.
“The Summit will feature plenary sessions and high-level roundtable discussions, supported by informal networking opportunities and one-to-one meetings, attracting some of the Commonwealth’s most high-profile participants. With over 400 delegates confirmed from more than 40 countries, CTIS 2025 is already heavily oversubscribed – highlighting the Commonwealth’s growing importance as a global network for trade and investment.
“In his capacity as Governor of Enugu State, HE Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah will be attending CTIS, and will lead a State Governors Roundtable on unlocking opportunities in Lagos and Enugu States. Theroundtable will also feature representatives from Acre Capital, Africa Exim Bank, British International Investment, Crown Agents Bank, KPMG, M&G Investments, Standard Chartered, and will provide an invaluable opportunity to tell Enugu’s story to the international business community.
“Confirmed speakers at CTIS include Hon. Lee Kinyanjui (Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry, Kenya), Hon. Dr Jumoke Oduwole (Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria), HE Dr Hussain Ali Mwinyi (President of Zanzibar), HE Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Governor of Lagos State), The Rt Hon Alderman Alistair King (Lord Mayor of the City of London), Hon. Shirley Ayokor Botchwey (Secretary-General of the Commonwealth), as well as ministers from Gibraltar and Jersey.
CTIS 2025 will also feature representatives from major Commonwealth businesses, such as Lloyd’s, Open Capital, Arup, Crown Agents Bank, and Equity Bank Kenya, and representatives from major public investment organisations, such as British International Investment, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. CTIS 2025 will be sponsored by Zenith Bank, as Anchor Partner, and the Government of Cameroon, as Supporter.
“Discussions will focus on a wide variety of relevant issues, bringing together business leaders and senior policymakers. Sessions include high-level dialogues on reducing barriers to Commonwealth trade, unlocking investment in growth markets, artificial intelligence, and the global energy transition,” CWEIC stated.
Recall that the Mbah Administration in Enugu State and CWEIC had last December signed a strategic partnership agreement that would accelerate trade and investment inflow to the state.
Speaking during the partnership signing ceremony at the Government House, Enugu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CWEIC, Mrs. Rosie Glazebrook, expressed the organisation’s eagerness to support the investment drive of the Governor Mbah administration.
“Our organisation is there to drive trade and investment. We do this with very excellent convening power. We will bring this to bear in our partnership with Enugu State.
“Our organisation is there to support and collaborate to really showcase anything that Enugu is ready to offer in investment and trade. Our organisation’s aim is to look out for how we can bring down barriers to trade and to encourage investment,’ Glazebrook had also told state house correspondents on the occasion.
A group of petroleum industry experts has criticized the recent appointment of Mr. Aminu Said Ahmed to the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), describing it as a violation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
In a statement signed by Mr. Abolade Adewale, Secretary of the PIA Watchdog Monitors, the group criticized the appointment of Ahmed — a Senior Manager at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) — as the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (MPR) representative on the NNPC Ltd Board.
Citing Section 59(2)(d) of the PIA, the experts argued that board representation from the MPR must be at least at the rank of a Director. Ahmed, they emphasized, is not only below the required grade but also not a staff member of the Ministry, which makes his nomination both illegal and institutionally inappropriate.
They further clarified that the NMDPRA, while under the petroleum sector umbrella, operates independently of the MPR and therefore cannot validly represent it on the NNPC Ltd Board.
“This appointment defies the spirit and letter of the PIA, which aims to ensure transparent and merit-based representation. It sets a dangerous precedent and weakens ministerial oversight,” the statement read.
The group also pointed out that the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) is represented on the board by its Permanent Secretary, in line with statutory provisions. They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to restore balance and legality by appointing the Permanent Secretary of the MPR as its official board representative.
Additionally, the experts raised concerns about recent trends in which non-Ministry personnel are assigned to represent Nigeria at international petroleum forums such as OPEC. According to them, Section 3(1)(d) of the PIA empowers the MPR to lead such delegations. Bypassing the Ministry, they warned, undermines institutional memory and could harm Nigeria’s global energy reputation.
“All petroleum-related international appointments should be made through formal processes by the Minister, and limited to serving Ministry officials,” Adewale insisted.
The group called on the President to reverse the appointment of Aminu Said Ahmed and reaffirm his administration’s commitment to lawful governance and regulatory integrity in the petroleum sector.
The Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, has described the death of a former governor of Oyo State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo as the dropping of one of the finest stars from Nigeria’s sky.
Olunloyo’s death was announced by the family early Sunday morning.
Adedeji, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Dare Adekanmbi, said that the deceased was a genius of a rare breed, adding that he marvelled at Olunloyo’s intellectual depth and native intelligence.
“Papa Olunloyo could rightly be described as Nigeria’s Albert Einstein. He graduated with First Class Honours and proceeded to bag a PhD in Applied Mathematics at the age of 26 at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.
“Every moment I shared with Papa while he was with us was an opportunity to pick lifelong lessons. He was very deep and his intellection was not just in Mathematics, but also in Classical Music with a bias for W.A Mozart’s works as well as in Literature.
He would recite paragraphs and even lengthier dialogues from Shakespeare’s works and show how the lessons therein can be applied to life and living.
“An African adage says for every old man that dies, a library is set ablaze. This is what has happened in this instance. A library of encyclopaedic collections has been set ablaze with the departure of Dr Olunloyo,”
Adedeji commiserated with family, friends and admirers of Dr Olunloyo, noting that though Papa was advanced in age, his wealth of experience was still needed.
The Mayor of Idemmili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon Stanley Nkwoka has expressed displeasure over the activities of touts collecting illegal money at Amafor Bridge, Nkpor.
Making this known while speaking to newsmen in his office on Friday, Nkwoka, who stressed the need for people of the area to embrace peace, explained that he heard that certain people from Amafor community were protesting that somebody has taken over their land.
He recalled how he was invited to a meeting by ANSSIPA regarding Business Link, ANSSIPA and Amafu community sometime last year, adding that he heard that the three parties had a concession with the state to beautify and build a modern park under the bridge in 2016, and that in 2019, somebody entered the park and took over the park which the government built under private partnership.
He noted that since local government election was held, management of markets and parks is the sole duty of the local government.
” I was invited in the meeting and it was dragged between December and January. The initial MoU that was had, there was no provision for a CSR for the community so they included that in the agreement and forwarded the letter to my office to take over Amafor Park and make sure that the local government gets their percentage, while Business Link that built the park, and the community as well get their percentages.
” I invited the community and presented the letter to them and i asked them any objection. They said they would like their children to be working there and i said fine, if they want their children to be working there, they should go back and present the issue to their people. If there is any objection, they should report back which they failed to report and i wrote and sealed the park. I said first that they should seize any operation so that we can do a proper renovation there for the management of the park but unfortunately, on 1st of April, what i saw was protest that somebody has taken over their land,” he said.”
The mayor added that the community is claiming that they have a right of payment from Federal Ministry of Environment .
He noted that no federal government can grant a licence in a park anywhere and that he still made efforts to reach them while the protest was going on, which they refused, adding that it is his duty to protect lives and property in his local government.
According to him, the best he did was to use his security operatives and sealed the park for both parties not to have access to it until they come to stability and agreement instead of fighting since there are two parties dragging the land; one is government and the other is individual.
Speaking on the argument that they have boys who are making a living from the park, Nkwoka advised them to key into the 1 Youth 2 Skills programme provided by the state government and within six months, they will be equipped to make a positive living from from it.
“Nobody is taking anybody’s land,” he said, and warned those parading themselves to desist from there, adding that henceforth, any Agboro found there operating illegally, collecting cash from people will be jailed since the government of Soludo has banned cash collection.
He emphasised that touts who have vowed not leave the place because they are working for people will cool heads in jail if they persist.
“Adverts have been placed in different radio stations concerning sealing of the park on 1st of April to avoid people parking their vehicles there. They have to partner with the government if they wish. It’s s a park between the government and Business Link. There are certain years Business Link can operate which is 10 years but they just operated three years,” he said.
L – R : Director, Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products (VMAP), NAFDAC, Dr. Rametu Omamegbe Momodu, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye and Director, Narcotics and Controlled Substances (NCS) Mrs Yedunni Adenuga, at a hybrid Technical Meeting on Mitigating Substandard and Counterfeit Products through the Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) Scheme in Lagos…Friday.
…. To ensure that substandard and fake medicines are prevented from entry into Nigeria using NAFDAC appointed Pre-Shipment agents
Sequel to the widely acclaimed success recorded by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC in the recent unprecedented seizure, evacuation and destruction of over N1tn worth of substandard, banned, and expired medicines in Idumota, Onitsha and Aba Open Drug markets, NAFDAC continues to strengthen her fight against imported substandard regulated products from China and India through the appointment of a global testing and Inspection agency in addition to the existing Pre-Shipment agents in India.
According to a press release by Sayo Akintola Resident Media Consultant NAFDAC, this is to ensure that only safe and high-quality products are exported into Nigeria.
The Director General NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye disclosed this at a hybrid Technical Meeting on Mitigating Substandard and Counterfeit Products through the Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) Scheme.
The meeting which took place in Lagos had in attendance representatives from various sectoral groups, clearing and forwarding agents, NAFDAC staff and CRIA Agents.
Prof. Adeyeye noted that globally, the manufacture and trade of substandard and falsified medicines (SFs) have become a lucrative crime, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, resulting in economic sabotage, treatment failures, drug resistance, and loss of lives.
According to the DG, the growth of SFs is fuelled by inadequate vigilance, corruption, lack of regulatory and political will, insufficient technology, and patronage by healthcare providers, stressing that in Nigeria however, NAFDAC has made significant progress in addressing the prevalence of SFs.
Prof Adeyeye emphasised that the presence of SFs poses several challenges, including:
Decreased confidence in healthcare systems due to the targeting of high-demand drugs in public health.
Therapeutic failure, adverse drug reactions, and increased drug resistance.
Loss of lives resulting from the availability of substandard medicines.
The involvement of organized criminal networks, which see counterfeit medicine trade as less risky than narcotics trafficking.
Reduced access to safe, high-quality, and effective medicines.
The use of advanced printing technologies, making counterfeit detection by the naked eye almost impossible.
Significant financial losses for genuine importers and manufacturers, with criminals profiting instead.
She explained that the Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) is one of NAFDACs anti-counterfeiting strategies aimed at preventing the importation of substandard and falsified medicines and other regulated products into Nigeria.
Upon assuming office as NAFDACs Director General, she reviewed the scheme and the performance of existing CRIA agents which led to the suspension and eventual disengagement of one CRIA agent, the renewal of contracts with two others, and the addition of two new CRIA agents in India.
These measures were implemented to strengthen the CRIA scheme, enhance efficiency, and bolster the fight against counterfeit and substandard products, she said.
Over time, she added that significant regulatory strengthening has been undertaken, which has been acknowledged by compliant manufacturers, exporters, and importers, adding that this includes signing consultancy agreements, issuing service level agreements, establishing guidelines for service provision to NAFDAC and clients, and intercepting substandard and counterfeit products.
Additionally, she reiterated that NAFDAC has introduced an electronic platform, the Ports Inspection Data Capture and Risk Management System (PIDCARMS), for verifying documents issued by NAFDAC and CRIA agents and for processing inspection reports.
Prof. Adeyeye said the CRIA Scheme is currently operational in China and India and has significantly strengthened regulatory control over products exported from these countries to Nigeria, adding that it ensures that only safe and high-quality products are shipped while preventing the export of substandard, counterfeit, and non-compliant products.
She disclosed that in the last five years, CRIA agents have successfully stopped nearly 200 consignments of products that failed laboratory testing at the country of origin and prevented shipments that did not meet NAFDACs documentation and labelling requirements.
To ensure further strengthening of the CRIA Scheme in India, NAFDAC has appointed Cotecna Inspection Services (CIS) as addition to the already existing Agents. She therefore reeled out the list of CRIA agents as follows:
CRIA Agents in China:
China Standards Tech. Services Ltd (CSTS)
Guangzhou Test Technology Consulting Co. Ltd
NHU Laboratories
Shanghai Hanlin Laboratory Ltd
CRIA Agents in India:
Assurance Analytics Pvt. Ltd
Cotecna Inspection Services
QCS Labs LLP
Quntrol Labs Pvt Ltd
Silis Labs Pvt. Ltd
Prof. Adeyeye listed responsibilities of CRIA Agents as follows
Physical Inspection:
Verify that product labels comply with NAFDAC labelling guidelines before shipment.
Ensure packaging is adequate, secure, and compliant with NAFDAC standards.
Product-Specific Testing:
Conduct random sampling of regulated products and send same to NAFDAC-approved laboratories for quality evaluation.
Confirm that products meet safety and quality requirements.
Compliance with Regulatory Requirements:
Review regulatory documents provided by exporters to ensure authenticity.
Verify shipping documents, such as invoices and packing lists, for accuracy and completeness.
Report cases of failed laboratory analysis and forged documents to NAFDAC.
Identify and report shipments that may have bypassed CRIA processing.
As stipulated in the consultancy agreements signed with each CRIA agent, she explained that there are designated laboratories in both China and India where sampled products must be tested.
‘It is important to note that all NAFDAC-regulated products require CRIA processing, except those on the CRIA exemption list. I encourage you to visit the NAFDAC website to review regulations and guidelines on product registration, permit issuance, labelling, and shipment into Nigeria. CRIA agents operate under clearly defined guidelines to ensure efficient service delivery and support NAFDAC in its mission to combat the importation of substandard and counterfeit products.’
The NAFDAC boss further explained that the reports issued by CRIA agents encompass critical aspects such as quality, quantity, packaging, labelling, and compliance with NAFDAC regulations, documentation standards, and internationally recognized pharmacopeial specifications.
Beyond ensuring compliance, she added that the CRIA scheme also facilitates international trade by providing Nigerian importers with confidence and assurance that their goods have been thoroughly inspected and meet regulatory requirements.
Prof Adeyeye however, disclosed that the Agency would soon swing into action in partnership with the Indian government to ensure that medicines rejected in India by the CRIA agents do not find their way back into Nigeria through the back door.
She emphasised that we want to know what happens to the medicines that we rejected in India and ensure that some unscrupulous Nigerans do not connive with their counterparts in India to smuggle the same products back into Nigeria through unorthodox means.
She strongly encouraged exporters of NAFDAC regulated products to always engage CRIA agents before shipping any consignment from China or India to Nigeria, adding that they have the flexibility to choose from any of the listed CRIA agents to ensure compliance and safeguard the quality of imported products.
CRIA agents in India and China who attended the meeting virtually took turns to join other stakeholders in Nigeria in commending the DG and reiterated the inevitability of CRIA agents in her untiring efforts to sanitise the Nigeria pharma and other regulated products ecosystem.
They spoke generally on their experiences with the scheme, the NAFDAC approved requirements verification, efforts made at ensuring compliance among exporters and recommendations for further strengthening of the scheme.
Newly appointed CRIA Agent, COTECNA Inspection Services represented by Vice President, Verification of Conformity and Africa, Mrs Lena Sodergren opined that the collaboration between COTECNA and NAFDAC is a testament to shared commitment to consumer safety, product quality and facilitation of international trade.
COTECNA is entering the partnership with the aim to deliver the best possible services by leveraging on its unwavering dedication to ensuring compliance and top quality with its expertise in inspection, testing and certification adding that I can confirm that the NAFDAC CRIA scheme is the most comprehensive food and drug, cosmetics programme in Africa and other continent as well.
She stated that the CRIA scheme is unique at ensuring traceability and comprehensive control which helps in eliminating fake declaration, fake certificates, fake test report, the shipment of counterfeit or blacklisted, non-compliance or expired products.’
,In his opening remarks, Director of Ports Inspection Directorate PID, Dr Olakunle Olaniran disclosed that his Directorate has gained tremendously from the deployment of the CRIA Scheme, especially in the close to 200 regulated products that have been either stopped from coming into the country or intercepted on arrival following intel from the countries of origin.
He said that intercepted cases range from outright falsified products or documents, alteration of labels, or attempts to ship products that have failed laboratory tests, adding that we have also had a few cases that deliberately attempted to evade CRIA screening for unacceptable reasons. These have always been apprehended and sanctioned as appropriate.
There are tons of endorsements for Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, who is running for re-election on the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ticket in the November gubernatorial election. The overwhelming number of people who support Governor Soludo surpasses all the support ever given to an incumbent governor in Anambra State’s history, so it is safe to assume that there is no opposition at all. It is also almost impossible to compile the complete list of all the endorsements that are coming to Governor Soludo.
It is important to emphasise that every endorsing group is contributing financially to help the adored governor purchase the party’s reelection form. Even the students who supported Governor Soludo contributed ₦2 million to the cause!
The impressive array of endorsements has 60 support groups uniting to officially express their support for Governor Soludo’s second term. The convergent support groups were unreserved in their praise of Mr Governor’s outstanding accomplishments and vision for a better Anambra.
The solidarity of Governor Soludo’s supporters is demonstrated by their convergence and singleness of purpose. The fact that more than 60 support organisations from throughout Anambra State united in support of Governor Soludo’s reelection campaign brought tears to many people’s eyes. There is no greater indication of inclusive leadership and dedication to the advancement of the state by the solution administration.
It is impossible to overstate the significance of the massive endorsement. The general Anambra public has learnt many lessons, the most important of which is an open acknowledgement of the effective government of their state under Professor Soludo. The broad support for Governor Soludo’s reelection recognises the accomplishments of his administration and its dedication to the advancement of the state.
Given that APGA is at the core of every Anambra man, woman, and child, grassroots mobilisation is, in fact, the foundation of the Soludo support base. The participation of several support groups from around the state, especially grassroots organisations, emphasises how crucial it is to rally support from the bottom up rather than imposing rules from the top down and to govern for the common good rather than settle a few politicians and elites with scarce resources meant for development.
Rumour has it that the opposition parties have more candidates than followers in Anambra State. The overwhelming support for Governor Soludo’s reelection in every ward of Anambra State is a fitting example of the APGA motto, “nkea bu nke anyi.” One may argue that the togetherness and solidarity are impressively unchangeable. “Onye aghana nwanne ya,” or “let no one be left behind,” is the APGA’s motto.
It is important to emphasise that the fact that 60 support organisations came together to approve and even present a staggering N30 million shows how powerful solidarity and unity can be in accomplishing a shared objective. In order to score a stunning goal inside the net come November, the people and the administration are aiming for the same goal. APGA, Soludo’s political party is upbeat and certain of electoral victory in the 21 LGs and now also almost certain it would win the 326 wards in Anambra State.
In an indication of success before the elections, several organisations and groups have hurried to support Governor Soludo. The undeniable evidence everywhere merely confirms my frequent assertion that there is no vacuum.
“I don’t see anyone that can challenge you in the election,” said All Progressives Congress (APC) leader and Works Minister, Engr David Umahi, in a public statement to Governor Soludo. Nobody. Who is that? I see none. Governor Soludo, who works extremely hard, has performed remarkably well, fulfilling all of his promises in his People’s Manifesto. Beyond his manifesto, Soludo has gone. He never promised free education, for instance. However, up to senior secondary school, Anambra children are now eligible for free education, and a subsidy for tertiary students is on the horizon.
Let me reiterate my direct advice to the opposition: let them all support Soludo so that he can run unopposed, just as the APGA did by letting him run as the only candidate and aspirant.
As the Americans say, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”
The fact is that no governor before Soludo has completed, in comparison, what he did in three years without taking out a single dime, while also paying off the mountain of debt he inherited from previous state governments. This is not to argue that borrowing is bad as long as it is prudently used to finance productivity rather than consumption. It is a compliment to both Soludo and Anambra State that he has not borrowed. It is indisputable proof of responsible financial management, fiscal discipline, and accountability.
Last but not least, Soludo has implemented a very extensive security intervention that is significantly calming Anambra State and regaining the state’s former reputation as the safest in Nigeria. This is accompanied by the governor’s push for moral rearmament and social reformation to restore the three virtues for which Onye Anambra has always been reputed – Uche (wisdom), Uchu/Igba mbo (hard work), and Egwu Chukwu (fear of God/integrity).
Although it is within their rights to run and lose, there is no benefit to running just to add the pointless title of former governorship candidate to one’s resume. The question now is not whether Soludo would win—he will because there is no other viable option—but rather whether he would make history as the only candidate for governor in a Nigerian general election. Can the opposition, knowing that there is no vacancy in Agu Awka, step aside and support Soludo and use the money they would have wasted for more worthwhile endeavours, like aiding the underprivileged in their communities?
· Law Mefor, PhD, is the Commissioner for Information of Anambra State.
A cross section of dignitaries during the inauguration of the 4.5km Ilogbo road by Shell Nigeria Gas on Thursday.
Officials of the Ogun State Government and community leaders hailed Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) and NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) for their partnership in the reconstruction of a key community road that was commissioned on Thursday (April 3) in Ado – Odo Otta Local Government Area. The 4.5km Ilogbo road provides access to some 75 communities and was in a bad state until both companies who operate in the area intervened in support of the development of host communities.
“Today we celebrate more than just the completion of the road, we celebrate the building of connections that will improve lives and strengthen communities true to our administration’s vision,” said Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun who was represented by the Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele at the commissioning. “Creating an enabling environment for business through effective public private partnerships remains central to our development efforts,” he said.
SNG Managing Director, Ralph Gbobo said: “The rehabilitated road is a testament to our shared commitment to enhance the quality of life for the people of Ogun State and our collaboration with NGML exemplifies our unified approach to community development. At SNG, we take pride in working alongside NGML to deliver real benefits to the people we serve.”
Managing Director NGML, Igwe Justin Ezeala expressed similar sentiments: “We pride ourselves in the fact that we look after the needs and the interests of all our stakeholders. We take pride in ensuring that those people who are close to us, those people, we relate to, that they feel the positive impact of the business activity that is taking place there. I believe that Ogun State is not an exception,” he said in remarks delivered by the Executive Director Gas Distribution, Lawrence Chukwu.
The Olota of Otta-Awori Kingdom, Oba Abdulkabir Obalenlege, represented by the Aro of Ota Ezekiel Fadipe expressed gratitude to the sponsors of the project and commended them for involving artisans and other community labour in the construction process.
SNG has operated in Ogun State for over 20 years, setting up a thriving natural gas distribution business in the Agbara and Otta areas. The supply of gas to industries has promoted industrialisation, created employment opportunities and increased internally generated revenue in the State. The reconstruction of Ilogbo road presents an extension of these benefits, as it will open pathways for trade, connect local businesses to broader markets and ultimately contribute to the economic development of the community and its neighbours.
Indications that National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) may soon grant relief to Mr Joachim Egerue in his case challenging alleged illegal termination of his appointment by the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri, Imo State emerged when the accused persons, institutions and their defense councils failed to put up appearance at the court. The Chief Medical Director of Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri formerly known as Federal Medical Centre Owerri (FMC) Dr. Kinsley Ihedioha Achigbu, the Minister of Health and Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri among others are defendants to the case which is before NICN, Owerri, Imo State.
The defendants to the alleged unlawful termination of appointments of Mr. Joachim Egerue, a former staff of the institution, were absent in court even as they failed to file their defense for substantive hearing despite the directive of Hon. Justice N.C. Ogbonnaya, the Presiding Judge of National Industrial Court, sitting in Owerri.
It would be recalled that Mr Joachim Egerue, a former staff of the institution, had dragged the defendants to court in suit no NICN/OW/32/2025, for unlawful termination of his job based on audit report of the dental unit where he worked. According to him, the audit was carried out without his knowledge or involvement; an exercise his lawyer Dr. Barr. Chris Nwadigo described as ”a witch-hunting special audit report of Dental Store of Dec, 2020″.
At the last hearing, the counsel to the defendants, Barr Franklin Ninis, had argued that Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, one of the defendants, formerly known as Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, before its conversion, has no,”Juristic personality to be sued”, because according to him, it has not been gazetted, asserting also that the NICN has no powers to declare declaratory reliefs.
The Judge who lectured the counsel on the inherent powers of the court, described his argument as “lack of intellectual diligence”, and directed him to file his defence for substantive hearing of the substantive case adjourned till March 28. It was therefore surprising that on the adjourned date, none of the defendants, nor their counsels were present in court.
The complainant Mr Joachim Egerue is praying the court to order his re-instatement to his position with attendant arrears of promotion or in the alternatively order direct the Defendants jointly and severally to pay the sum of N200 million as Special damages to the Claimant being the salaries, allowances, emoluments, benefits etc. which the Claimant should have earned from July, 2021 when his appointment was wrongly terminated to 2035 which would have been his retirement age.
Joachim Egerue is asking the court to order the Defendants jointly and severally to pay his arrears of salaries, allowances, emoluments, benefits etc. from March 2021 until judgment is delivered and thereafter, interest thereon at the banking rate of interest until the judgment sum is fully liquidated.
The other prayers are order directing the Defendants jointly and severally to pay N250 million as General damages and compensation for flagrant and unlawful termination of appointment/employment, an order directing the Defendants jointly and severally to pay N75 million as aggravated, exemplary and punitive damages for flagrant and unlawful termination of the Claimant’s appointment/employment
The Anglican Bishop of Eha-Amufu Diocese in Isi-Uzo LGA of Enugu State, Rt. Rev. Daniel Olinya, has refuted the reports of mass killings and arson in Eha-Amufu making the rounds on the social media, noting that many mistook Nkala-Eha community in Ebonyi State, which suffered grisly attacks in February, for Eha-Amufu, which shares boundaries with it.
Bishop Olinya said that while Isi-Uzo LGA in general and Eha-Amufu communities and farm settlements in particular had suffered suspected herders’ attacks over the years, peaking between 2020 and 2022 when farm settlements and communities were sacked, security had since greatly improved under the Governor Peter Mbah dispensation and Eha-Amufu people had returned to their homes.
He said that unlike in December 2022 and January 2023 when many Eha-Amufu residents, including himself, escaped to townships and Internally Dispacdd Persons (IDP) camps where they spent the Christmas and New Year, relative peace and order had returned to the communities.
The clergy, who fielded questions from newsmen after briefing the governor on the actual security situation in Eha-Amufu, explained that apart from isolated incidents of security breach such as the recent murder of a young undergraduate, the people go to their farms.
He however noted that most people were still afraid to live in many of the farm settlements as they were far removed from their communities. He blamed it on the fears instilled by the gruesome attacks of 2020 to 2022, but promised to expedite advocacy to encourage people to return to their farm settlements, given what Governor Mbah was doing in the area of security.
“No. There is no mass killings. But Abor people used to run away to Eha-Amufu town to stay any time they hear that the herders were coming. But not that there was any mass killing this year in Eha-Amufu. No.
“Even a blind man will tell you that he has seen what Mbah is doing. The security situation in Eha-Amufu has become very good because we do not run again. And we have seen his efforts. Farmers are ready to go back to their farm settlements. And when I go back now, I will start encouraging them to go back because the governor has done something that will make our people to go back to their farm settlements.
“Anybody, who refuses to go back now, will not say it is because the herders are chasing him because they cannot chase anybody now in Eha-Amufu with what our Governor has done and still doing,” he said.
Providing more insights, he continued, “The problem in Eha-Amufu started way back 2020, and in 2022 the entire Eha-Agu, Mbuji-Agu, Ebor-Agu and Mgbuji-Agu were sacked completely. Even those in Eha-Amufu town were also sacked. Like myself, I had to run away from my Bishop’s Court because the Fulani militia were approaching Eha-Amufu town. So everybody had to run away.
“I ran to Bishop Agbo’s house; that’s bishop of Nsukka, and that was where I celebrated my Christmas that year and the New Year.
“But this recent time, like this year, we cannot say that anybody has been killed, apart from the young man, the undergraduate, who was unfortunately killed at Ndi-Agu Amofia. But, as I said, there is nothing like mass killings this year in Eha-Amufu.
“Nkala-Eha is in Ebonyi State, but people mistook it because we (Eha-Amufu and Nkala-Eha) share the same boundary. So, this made some people to say that it was in Eha-Amufu. It wasn’t in Eha-Amufu. It was in Ebonyi State.”
The Finance and Business Online Publishers Association (FiBOP) is set to host its 2025 Youth Capacity Building and Empowerment Program on April 15, 2025, at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.
LarryBravo Nwaiwu
