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Revenue Generation: FAAN Launches Cashless Universal Card at Abuja Airport

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Monday launched the airport contactless universal card at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

FAAN noted the contactless card is the physical embodiment of its “Go Cashless” vision, unified key to a seamless airport experience, noting it is prepaid and saves time.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive, FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, speaking during the launch in Abuja, hinted: “This is more than a new payment system, it is a fundamental upgrade to the passenger experience and a powerful reaffirmation of our commitment to transparency and excellence.”

Kuku added that following its successful launch in the dynamic city of Lagos, she was proud to officially announce the full deployment of ‘OPERATION GO CASHLESS here in Abuja, the Centre of Excellence.

According to her, “This is a comprehensive, cashless, and contactless payment solution for all our airports. Effective September 29th, 2025, we have started phasing out physical cash at all FAAN revenue points, including access gates, car parks, and VIP lounges.

“For you, our passengers, this means faster, more secure transactions and an end to the delays of cash handling. It is a direct response to your call for modern, efficient, and world-class service.”

Kuku, represented by the Director, Commercial and Business Development of the project, Ms. Adebola Agunbiade, hinted: “This reliance on physical currency creates a chain of challenges. It causes delays as it introduces operational inefficiencies and vulnerabilities in our revenue collection. This is why the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has embarked on a strategic and of efficiency, transparency, and convenience.

“It means optimised revenue collection, significantly reduced leakage, and a robust system of financial accountability. It aligns our airports with global best practices, strengthening Nigeria’s position in international aviation and tourism.

“We have begun this rollout strategically, starting with the access gates and Iounges at the and, subsequently, to all FAAN-managed airports across the country we have partnered with Paystack, a leader in fintech, to ensure the technology behind this is robust, secure, and reliable. But distinguished members of the press, technology is only one part of the equation.

“Beyond this unparalleled passenger convenience, this initiative is a cornerstone of our strategy for enhanced accountability and sustainable revenue growth.

“It creates a traceable financial environment, aligns us with global standards, and strengthens Nigeria’s position as a ready partner for international business,” Kuku said.

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Monday launched the airport contactless universal card at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (NAIA), Abuja. FAAN noted the contactless card

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Adelabu: With FG’s Reforms, Discos’ Revenue to Hit N2tn By End of 2025

•Declares over 700mw additional transmission capacity achieved

• Says average generation capacity grew to 5,300mw in 2024 from 4,200mw in 2023

•N700bn secured from FAAC to deploy 1.1m meters by year end

•Nigeria in talks with China for $2bn supergrid loan, minister discloses

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, yesterday gave what seemed like a scorecard in his over two years in the saddle, stressing that as a result of the federal government’s reforms, revenue collected by Distribution Companies (Discos) is set to hit N2 trillion by the end of 2025.

Speaking in Abuja during an expert forum tagged: “Uninterrupted Power: The Industrial Imperative”, at a programme organised by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Adelabu said that over 700mw additional transmission capacity had been achieved under his watch.

Adelabu admitted that the federal government was acutely aware of the cost pressures faced by businesses as a result of inadequate and unreliable grid supply, reason why the government is prioritising strategic investments in key infrastructure to ensure stable and predictable power delivery, particularly to commercial and industrial customers who are willing to pay for availability, reliability, and quality of supply.

He highlighted the implementation of the ‘Light Up Nigeria’ project which is a federal government initiative to boost industrialisation by providing reliable electricity nationwide, noting that it aims to deliver stable power to key industrial clusters. The initiative, he said, has already been launched in Agbara Industrial hub in Lagos State and Enugu State.

In addition to scaling up supply to the industrial clusters, he stated that the government recognised the potential need for a differential tariff or a time-of-use tariff for industries especially at off-peak hours of the grid to encourage increased energy offtake, improved productivity in the economy, and increased job opportunities for our teaming population.

Currently, he stated that the federal government is pursuing a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to reposition the Nigerian power sector for sustainability, efficiency, and growth, spanning critical pillars which include legislation, policy reforms, infrastructure development, energy transition and access expansion, and local content and capacity development.

He pointed out that the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023 remains a major milestone, providing a robust governance and regulatory framework for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

The Act, he said, devolves regulatory powers to the states, enables subnational markets, promotes competition, and empowers private participation across the value chain, representing a clear shift towards a liberalised and investment-friendly electricity market.

Since its passage, he revealed that 15 states have received regulatory autonomy to establish subnational electricity markets with one fully operationalised, while stakeholders are working actively with the states to ensure strong alignment between the wholesale market and the retail market.

According to him, the ministry has developed the Integrated National Electricity Policy, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in February, with its accompanying Strategic Implementation Plan now being finalised to harmonise existing policies and provide a coherent roadmap for sustainable sector growth.

This, the minister stressed, marks the first comprehensive, sector-wide policy framework in nearly two decades, while on sector commercialisation, the government was deepening power sector commercialisation to strengthen revenue, liquidity, and investor confidence.

“Through tariff policy reforms which enabled cost-reflective tariffs for select consumers, supply reliability has improved while reducing energy costs for industries, and industry revenue has increased by 70 per cent to N1.7 Trillion in 2024 compared to previous year and the revenue is expected to exceed N2 Trillion for 2025. To stabilise the market, Mr. President has approved a N4 trillion bond to clear verified Genco and gas supply debts.

“Alongside this, a targeted subsidy framework is being developed to protect vulnerable households and ensure a sustainable path toward full commercialization and viable industry. In the area of infrastructure development, the federal government has introduced targeted national programs aimed at accelerating the viability, expansion, and modernisation of the national grid.

“Under the phase zero of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), we enhanced transmission capacity, grid stability, and overall system reliability, with over 700mw of additional transmission capacity already achieved. Under the PPI Phase One, contracts have been signed with Siemens Energy, CMEC, Elswedy Electric, and Power China. Financing arrangements are underway to support implementation. Phase one is planned to add 7000mw operational capacity to the grid.

“In parallel to the grid expansion, generation capacity is being expanded through the rehabilitation of existing NIPP plants to unlock about 345mw, alongside the successful integration of the 700mw Zungeru Hydropower Plant into the grid. Collectively, these interventions have helped sustain an average generation capacity of approximately 5,300mw in 2024 up from 4,200mw recorded in 2023,” the minister said.

Additionally, Adelabu emphasised that the federal government has operationalised the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) to close the national metering gap and improve sector viability.

“Already, N700 billion has been secured from FAAC to deploy 1.1 million meters by end of 2025, and 2 million annually over the next five years under the PMI. This complements the 3.2 million meters being procured through the World Bank’s DISREP programme, positioning Nigeria to close the metering gap within five years and strengthen transparency and revenue assurance across the value chain,” he added.

To advance Nigeria’s energy transition and access goals, the federal government, he said, is leveraging bilateral funding and development finance to de-risk investments and attract private participation for access expansion across underserved and unserved communities, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and government institutions.

According to him, in the past two years, over $2 billion has been mobilised through key facilities, including the $750 million World Bank DARES programme for off-grid and mini-grid expansion, the $500 million NSIA RIPLE platform to unlock private capital for renewables, and the $190 million JICA fund to complement DARES.

Collectively, these interventions, Adelabu said, are accelerating renewable energy deployment and expanding reliable, affordable power across the country.

“Finally on local content and capacity development, the ministry recently commissioned new training equipment, simulation infrastructure, and two workshop blocks with 104-room hostel accommodation at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) to strengthen technical capacity across the sector.

“These facilities were delivered in partnership with development partners. Additionally, a landmark agreement was signed between the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and Oando Clean Energy for a 1.2GW solar power project with a recycling line to promote sustainability in solar panel deployment.

“ Our ultimate goal is to increase local content in the electricity value chain and ensure continuous capacity development to drive sustainability of the sector,” Adelabu stated.

Meanwhile, Blooming has reported that Nigeria is in talks with China’s Export and Import Bank for a $2 billion loan to build a new super grid to reduce power shortages that have curtailed economic growth for decades.

The new power line will serve the eastern and western regions of the country – where most industrial consumers are situated, Bloomberg quoted Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adelabu, as having said in Abuja on Monday.

“It’s part of plans to decentralise power generation in Nigeria” and get the heavy commercial users that left the power grid because of its unreliability to return, he said.

Talks with China Eximbank are advancing, the minister’s team said in response to Bloomberg questions.

Firms operating in Africa’s most populous nation face frequent power-supply disruptions. While the nation’s power generation capacity is about 13 gigawatts, the central grid can distribute only a third of that to the country’s more than 200 million people. Even then, the grid fails frequently. South Africa, with a population that’s a quarter of that, has about 70 gigawatts of installed generation capacity.

The situation has forced many firms to exit the national pool with self-generated power accounting for nearly half of the electricity consumed in the nation. The new super grid will help ensure that more of the generated power goes to the nation’s industrial zones.

The financing for the new super grid has already been approved by the cabinet, Adelabu said.

Nigeria has initiated several significant reforms since Tinubu came to power in 2023 to boost economic growth. They include eliminating fuel subsidies that drained government finances for decades, overhauling tax laws and increasing crude output by improving security in its main producing region.

Tinubu has also allowed power firms to increase tariffs for some urban consumers to improve the financial viability of the sector.

•Declares over 700mw additional transmission capacity achieved • Says average generation capacity grew to 5,300mw in 2024 from 4,200mw in 2023 •N700bn secured from FAAC to deploy 1.1m meters by

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FG Committed to Ensuring Global Competitiveness, Relevance of National Education Institutions

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The federal government says it will not relent in making educational institutions in the country globally relevant and competitive in this digital, advanced age and the increasing relevance and impact of Artificial Intelligence.

The Chairman, TETfund Board of Trustees, Aminu Masari, gave the assurance at the inauguration of a project in Akwa Íbom State; stressing: “For us at TETFund, the inauguration of projects is a pointer to progress and success in aligning with TETFund’s vision of making our institutions globally relevant and competitive.”

Masari who launched a N1.3bn administrative block and ICT centre at Afaha Nsit College in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area said TETfund has appropriated N7.4bn for infrastructural development at the Akwa Ibom State College of Education.

His words: ‘’We are resolved as an agency of the Federal Government to keep pace with current advancements and are making significant efforts at ensuring that our beneficiary institutions are up to date, through support to acquire relevant tools of work for knowledge creation, learning, research and supporting teacher training, entrepreneurship and skills development.”

Masari, a former governor of Katsina State, said out of the N7.4bn spent for infrastructural development at the Akwa Ibom State College of Education, a total of N6. 9bn has been accessed leaving a balance of N462.9m.

“The total cost of the projects to be commissioned today is N1,391,116,511.32. You may wish to know also that from the start of TETFund interventions to this College, the Fund has allocated a total of N7,388,131,247.96, for infrastructure-related projects only.

‘’Out of this, a total of N6,925,204,879.46 have been accessed, leaving a balance of N462,926,368.50, most of which are already committed,”Masari said.

He pledged TETfund’s sustained commitment to infrastructure interventions in Tertiary institutions across the country, pointing out that the commissioning of the projects aligns with TETfund’s vision of making Nigerian institutions globally competitive and relevant.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, represented by the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, lauded TETfund’s intervention in the state, noting the intervention at the Akwa Ibom State University and the commissioning of the project at the College of Education are worthy of commendation.

These interventions, according to the governor, show the extent to which the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and ARISE Agenda of the state government are shaping education to make life better for Nigerians

“’From what we see in Akwa Ibom State University, a significant signature of TETfund and what we are seeing here in the College of Education Afaha Nsit, in accessing over N7bn, this is commendable.

“It shows the extent to which the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President in Education aligns with the emphasis on Education of the ARISE Agenda, to make Nigeria hopeful and great again,” the governor posited.

The Provost of the College, Prof. Daniel Udo, had recalled the threat from TETfund that institutions yet to access their intervention will lose it to another school, adding that the college already had 2017,2018,2019 and 2020 interventions unaccused.

Okon Bassey in Uyo The federal government says it will not relent in making educational institutions in the country globally relevant and competitive in this digital, advanced age and the

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NLNG: With 45m Tonnes of New Global Supplies, Africa’s LNG Output May Hit 120MPTA By 2035

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has said that with ownership of at least 45 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MPTA) of potential new supply, Africa’s LNG output could rise from about 70 MTPA today to 120 MTPA by 2035.

Speaking during a keynote address titled: “The Role of African LNG in a Dynamic Export Market” at the Africa Energy Week (AEW) 2025 in South Africa, the Company’s Deputy Managing Director, Olakunle Osobu, stated that Africa was not a bystander in the conversation on energy security, affordability, and sustainability.

Osobu also said Africa remains a rising pillar of global supply, maintaining that Nigeria has a duty to lead. He urged Africans to move beyond the role of raw material suppliers and take their place as key players in the global LNG market.

He stressed that with more than 850 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, about 6 per cent of the total global reserves, Africa has the resources, the position and the ambition to double its share of the global LNG market within the next decade.

Osobu highlighted Nigeria’s role as the continent’s LNG pioneer, pointing to the NLNG Train 7 expansion project, which will grow the company’s capacity from 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA, as a demonstration of sustained leadership, a statement by the company’s General Manager, External Relations & Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said.

“Our investment in expansion shows that Nigeria is driving LNG growth not only for exports but also for domestic industries and energy access. We must prove that Africa can deliver LNG that is secure, competitive, and sustainable,” he added.

Osobu noted that emerging LNG frontiers across the continent collectively represent more than 45 MTPA of potential new supply. With these additions, Africa’s LNG output could rise from about 70 MTPA today to 120 MTPA by 2035, further consolidating the continent’s standing as a global LNG hub, he added.

While noting Africa’s strategic advantage, shorter shipping routes to both Europe and Asia, Osobu warned that competitiveness, financing, and domestic responsibility remain Africa’s biggest hurdles.

He pointed out that the US and Qatar are rapidly expanding LNG capacities, while financiers increasingly demand low-carbon and decarbonised LNG projects.

He stressed that Africa’s LNG journey must strike a balance by supplying the world reliably, catalyse African industrialisation, and demonstrate sustainability in line with global decarbonisation goals.

Organised by the African Energy Chamber, Africa Energy Week 2025 brought together policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to shape Africa’s energy future.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has said that with ownership of at least 45 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MPTA) of potential new supply, Africa’s LNG

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FCCPC Approves Coca-Cola’s Sale of CHI Limited to UAC

James Emejo in Abuja

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reportedly approved Coca-Cola’s sale of Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited) to UAC of Nigeria Plc.

The transaction was disclosed by the Coca-Cola Company, which stated that the transaction had now been closed.

The deal, first announced on July 30, transfers ownership of CHI Limited, a Nigerian food and beverage producer whose portfolio includes juice and value-added dairy brands.

Though terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed, Managing Director of Chivita|Hollandia, Eelco Weber, in a statement said, “We are pleased to have received regulatory approval for this transaction.

“We look forward to a smooth transition and to seeing Chivita|Hollandia thrive under UAC’s ownership.”

Coca-Cola initially acquired a 40 per cent stake in CHI in 2016 and completed the full acquisition by purchasing the remaining shares in 2019, gaining 100 per cent ownership of the company.

The Group Managing Director of UAC, Fola Aiyesimoju, said, “We are excited to officially welcome the Chivita|Hollandia team and brands into the UAC family, and we are eager to work together to build on their strong legacy and market leadership.”

UAC is a holding company focused on domestic manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of leading consumer brands in Africa.

The company operates nine manufacturing facilities and several logistics and distribution hubs across Nigeria, with 5,000 employees.

Incorporated in 1980, Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited) was established as a local producer of high-quality food and beverage products for Nigerian consumers.

Chivita|Hollandia champions innovation and supports economic growth through state-of-the-art, ISO 22000-certified manufacturing.

However, UAC had entered into an agreement to acquire CHI Limited from The Coca-Cola Company.

In a statement filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited then it was revealed that the transaction is still subject to regulatory approval.

Chivita|Hollandia is a food and beverage player in Nigeria, with a portfolio across value-added dairy products, juices, nectars, still drinks, and snacks. They are the owners of the Hollandia and Chivita brands.

Commenting on the transaction, the Group Managing Director of UAC, Fola Aiyesimoju, then said, “As a company with a strong presence in Africa, we are deeply committed to the continent’s growth. We are pleased to announce the acquisition of Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited), a leading dairy and juice business in the region.

James Emejo in Abuja The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reportedly approved Coca-Cola’s sale of Chivita|Hollandia (CHI Limited) to UAC of Nigeria Plc. The transaction was disclosed

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First Lady Takes Bold Step to Protect Lives and Future of Nigerian Children

•Launches measles-rubella vaccine campaign to end devastation caused by the diseases

•Pate: President repositioning health as central pillar for national development

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Wife of the president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the much-anticipated Measles-Rubella Vaccine Introduction Integrated Campaign.

The campaign, representing a clear commitment of Mrs Tinubu to child health and national progress, is the largest health initiative in Africa history aimed at immunising millions of children and adolescents against measles, rubella, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

At the flag-off ceremony held at Banquet Hall of State House, Abuja, the first lady said the campaign was a bold step towards protecting the lives and future of Nigerian children.

She said, “This flag-off signals a collective national resolve to end the devastation caused by measles and rubella. These diseases steal the future of our sons and daughters.

“Measles can cause blindness, permanent disability, and in too many cases, death. Its twin disease, rubella, though often silent, is equally harmful, especially to unborn children of infected pregnant women who may be born with blindness, deafness, or serious heart defects.”

Mrs Tinubu highlighted the consequences of the diseases, not only on families but also on communities and the country.

She urged Nigerians to embrace the vaccine wholeheartedly, stressing, “A vaccine in a vial does not save a child.

“A vaccine in a clinic does not protect a community. Protection only becomes real when that vaccine is injected into the arm of a child.

“Mothers, take your children to be vaccinated. Fathers, support your wives and families to ensure your children are protected. To our revered traditional rulers and religious leaders, your voices carry immense weight—use your influence to spread the truth, dispel rumours, and ensure no child is left behind.”

The first lady expressed appreciation for the pivotal role traditional and religious leaders played in the successful rollout of the HPV vaccine.

She said, “These vaccines are safe, effective, and free.

“They are among the greatest gifts of modern medicine, saving lives, preventing disease, and allowing our children the chance to grow, learn, and thrive.”

Mrs. Tinubu, then, officially flagged off the campaign, setting into motion a nationwide drive expected to reach approximately 106 million children aged between nine months and under 15 years in two phases.

The campaign also integrates vaccination efforts against polio and the rollout of the HPV vaccine among adolescent girls, combining resources to optimise health impact.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, stated that Nigeria was witnessing a historic moment in its health system with the launch of the largest integrated health campaign on the African continent and the second largest in the world.

Pate described the initiative as a bold re-imagination of how health services were delivered to Nigerians under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, the president’s vision is repositioning health as a central pillar of national development, bringing healing, unity, and inspiration to the country through improved healthcare delivery.

The minister commended Tinubu’s leadership and the unprecedented progress in strengthening primary healthcare services across the country.

He stated that the number of Nigerians accessing care at primary health centres had increased almost fourfold in the last two years, while thousands of women had benefited from free emergency obstetric care under the president’s health intervention programme.

Pate paid special tribute to the first lady for her unwavering commitment and personal investment in improving the health and well-being of women and children across the country.

He praised her for dedicating her time, talent, and personal resources to championing causes, such as tuberculosis, HPV vaccination, cervical cancer prevention, and maternal health, describing her as a “mother of the nation”, whose passion continues to inspire millions.

On his part, Deputy Director for Immunisation and Disease Control at Gates Foundation Nigeria, Yusuf Yusufari, emphasised the resilience and progress of Nigeria’s immunisation journey.

Yusufari recalled that two years ago, Nigeria introduced the HPV vaccine into its routine immunisation programme at the same venue, led by First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

He said, “Nigeria became a global exemplar in protecting young girls from cervical cancer,” he said, affirming that the campaign launched shares that same critical goal: “No child (and woman) in Nigeria, and indeed globally, should be left unprotected and left to die from preventable diseases.”

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Senior Programme Manager for Nigeria, Tarcile Mballa, highlighted the historic partnership between Gavi and Nigeria that had spanned two decades with investments exceeding $2.6 billion.

Mballa emphasised the ambitious scope of the campaign, describing it as a convergence of “ambition and opportunity” with Nigeria leading public health innovation on the continent.

On his part, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, stressed the importance of protecting children’s health as a national priority.

He stated, “We are all aware of measles, but I am very positive many here have never heard of rubella, like me. We must continue to create awareness throughout the country.”

Highlighting the vital role of mothers in the fight for child health, the Ooni called on all Nigerians to prioritise the wellbeing of children, calling them the “future of our country”.

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, emphasised that advocacy and education, rather than enforcement, will be crucial for Nigeria’s rubella vaccine campaign to succeed.

He recalled the country’s successful polio eradication efforts, attributing it to community persuasion rather than coercion.

The Sultan stated, “We defeated polio not by force but by convincing people that the vaccine is safe. We held seminars with religious leaders to educate communities and show that the vaccine is not anti-childbirth or harmful in any way.”

He praised the commitment of the first lady, describing her efforts across the nation as inspiring.

“Her total commitment strengthens us, and we fully support government programs that advance the health of our nation,” he said.

President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, expressed support and optimism for the initiative aimed at protecting children and strengthening public health nationwide.

Okoh described the campaign as a golden opportunity to reduce preventable childhood deaths and strengthen public health in the country.

•Launches measles-rubella vaccine campaign to end devastation caused by the diseases •Pate: President repositioning health as central pillar for national development Deji Elumoye in Abuja Wife of the president, Senator

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VERVELIFE 8.0: Lagos Set to Host Africa’s Biggest Fitness Party

Precious Ugwuzor

Lagos, the Centre of Excellence, is gearing up to host the grand finale of Africa’s Biggest Fitness Party, VerveLife, powered by the leading domestic payments card scheme, Verve.

Following a series of satellite events across Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya, the much-anticipated 2025 VerveLife Grand Finale will take place at the prestigious Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, for the first time. The event, widely regarded as the Fitness Party of the Year, is expected to attract thousands of fitness enthusiasts from within and outside Lagos, adding colour to the city’s vibrant year-end calendar.

Themed ‘Elev8’, the 2025 edition will hold on Saturday, November 1, 2025, kicking off at 7:00 a.m. with a thrilling line-up of fitness trainers from across Africa, dance instructors, and celebrities. In addition to VerveLife’s signature fitness workouts and wellness masterclasses, this year’s edition will feature deeper lifestyle integrations through the VerveLife Weekend Experience, open exclusively to Verve Card holders courtesy of Verve and Google Play.

The festivities will climax at 7:00 p.m. with an electrifying afterparty, featuring top performers, artistes, and DJs in what promises to be an unforgettable celebration of fitness, music, and lifestyle.

Speaking ahead of the event, Tomi Ogunlesi, Divisional Head, Brands, Communications and CSR, Interswitch Group, said:

“Over the years, VerveLife has grown beyond just a fitness event into a holistic lifestyle movement. We are excited to once again host the grand finale of Africa’s Biggest Fitness Party in Lagos, the Centre of Excellence as a build up to the famous year-end season. Alongside the support of our partners like Google Play, Interswitch, Quickteller, Hygeia HMO, and Reelfruit, this year’s edition promises a rich and rewarding experience that transcends fitness to touch on every aspect of everyday life.”

This year’s inclusion of Google Play as a major partner introduces a new digital lifestyle dimension, blending fitness, wellness, and entertainment through its wide ecosystem of apps and digital content.

Other key partners include Interswitch Group, Quickteller, Hygeia HMO, Reelfruit, and Chery Automobile. Quickteller, the consumer payments platform, will ensure seamless transactions throughout the event, enhancing convenience for all participants. Hygeia HMO will focus on health and preventive wellness, providing access to medical and wellness insights during the activities. Reelfruit, renowned for its nutritious dried fruit snacks, will offer participants healthy treats that align with the event’s emphasis on wellbeing.

Chery Automobile, the mobility partner for VerveLife 8.0, joins the line-up as one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive brands, with over 15 million vehicles sold globally, including popular models such as Tiggo and Arrizo.

Now in its 8th year, VerveLife has evolved into one of Africa’s most anticipated fitness and lifestyle gatherings, bringing together fitness enthusiasts, wellness advocates, and lifestyle brands in a vibrant celebration of health, style, and community.

The 2025 edition promises to raise the bar even higher, merging fitness with technology, mobility, and wellness in ways that reflect the evolving lifestyles of modern consumers.

Precious Ugwuzor Lagos, the Centre of Excellence, is gearing up to host the grand finale of Africa’s Biggest Fitness Party, VerveLife, powered by the leading domestic payments card scheme, Verve.

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Kane Opens Up On Potential Return To Premier League

Bayern Munich England striker Harry Kane has spoken about his potential return to the Premier League There have been reports on Kane making a return to the Premier League with…

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BANDITRY AND ABDICATION OF DUTY IN NIGER

There are moments in history when governments prove themselves not merely negligent but spectacularly absent. Niger North, tragically, is living through such a moment. For three unbroken days, bandits turned Borgu, New Bussa, Ibeto, Salka, Atabo, and Magama into their playground—kidnapping lawyers, carting away citizens, looting cattle, and leaving entire communities traumatized. A war-like campaign, executed in broad daylight, without a whisper of interruption from those sworn to protect us. And what did the Federal and State Governments do? Absolutely nothing. Not a statement. Not a condemnation. Not even the tired and recycled assurance of being “on top of the situation.” For three days, silence reigned supreme—louder than the gunfire that echoed across villages.

Two lawyers of noble standing, Ahmed Mohammed Borgu and Isyaku Muhammad Danjuma, were among the abducted, just few days after a Magistrate and a Prison Warden were shot on the legs by bandits on the outskirts of Kontagora. If the abduction of legal practitioners, custodians of justice, does not stir the conscience of government, one wonders what possibly could. Or is it that the kidnappers have now joined the exclusive club of “untouchables” in our nation’s political economy?

The Niger-North Senatorial Zone is not merely disappointed; it is outraged. Outraged that a government that swore to defend lives can maintain such robotic indifference while its citizens are dragged into captivity. Outraged that banditry has become so normalized that operations lasting more than seventy-two hours attract neither intervention nor alarm. Outraged that Niger North has been turned into a laboratory for insecurity, where citizens provide the specimens and bandits conduct the experiments.

One might think this is satire, but it is not—it is Nigeria. In Shiroro, Tegina, Kontagora, Mariga, Magama, Ibeto, and Borgu, bandits now operate with the confidence of tax collectors. They determine who travels, who stays, who pays, and who vanishes. Meanwhile, the government’s presence in these zones is limited to campaign seasons and ribbon cuttings. Security agencies? They arrive only when the damage is complete, to count the bodies and pose for press briefings.

This is not governance. This is abdication dressed in official uniforms. It is betrayal, broadcast daily, with citizens as the audience and victims alike.

The citizens must therefore raise their voice, not merely in protest but in thunderous condemnation. Government must be told, without equivocation, that this silence is complicity, and this inaction is endorsement. Citizens are not pawns to be abandoned on the chessboard of insecurity. They are human beings whose lives are sacred, whose dignity must not be traded for indifference.

Until the Government and security agencies wake up to their primary duty, Niger North will remain under the cruel authority of bandits. And if nothing changes, history will record this moment not as the era of banditry, but as the era when government became a spectator while its citizens perished.

Baban Khalifa, Minna, Niger State

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BETWEEN RHETORIC AND REALITY

Tinubu’s economy boasts ring hollow amidst bloodshed, argues KALU OKORONKWO

On Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, President Bola Tinubu delivered a familiar scorecard of economic “victories” growth figures, fiscal reforms, and selective statistics packaged as progress. Yet for millions of Nigerians who bury loved ones lost to bandits, kidnappers, and robbers, these numbers ring hollow. What good is economic growth when the roads to work, school, and home have become corridors of death?

The dissonance between celebratory economic rhetoric and the daily reality of violent insecurity is not an accidental oversight, it has become the Tinubu-led administration’s defining failure. The claim of economic high points during the 65^th independence anniversary speech while treating security as a secondary operational problem rather than the foundational political economy issue that it is, leaves much to be desired.

The government’s self-praise of economic revival sounds muffled in a country where the value of life continues to plummet faster than the naira. “Under our leadership, our economy is recovering fast, and the reforms we started over two years ago are delivering tangible results. The second quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23%, Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund. Inflation declined to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest level in three years. The administration is working diligently to boost agricultural production and ensure food security, reducing food costs” the President said.

When open markets for food items and other essentials cannot operate safely, the informal economy on which most Nigerians depend suffers. When roads are unsafe, supply chains fail and food inflation escalates, neutralizing the value of GDP growth.

The alarming frequency of kidnappings, armed robberies, and ethnic violence paints a picture of a country at war as citizens live in fear.

The tragedy that befell Peace Onyeka, a young law graduate freshly called to the Nigerian Bar, and her sister Gift Onyeka illustrates this national nightmare. The sisters were kidnapped along the Okene–Auchi road while returning from Abuja after the Call to the Bar ceremony on Friday September 26, 2025. This euphoria of the occasion was still very much in the air as the young lawyer took a journey back to her base in Edo State to celebrate with her family and friends.

Instead, her life and that of her sister were thrown into the morbid uncertainty of captivity with their family left to plead and pray for mercy. They were eventually released near Okpella in Edo State, but their trauma in the hands of their abductor is better imagined.

Equally tragic was the gruesome death of Somtochukwu (Sommie) Maduagwu, a bright young Arise TV anchor and lawyer, who lost her life on September 29, 2025 during a brazen armed robbery attack in Abuja. Her story, heartbreaking and senseless, exposes how insecurity has metastasized, reaching even into the Federal Capital Territory, once considered the safest part of the country. In the same city where the government flaunts macroeconomic gains, its citizens die fleeing criminals who roam unchecked.

These incidents are not isolated. They represent the daily reality of millions who travel in fear from sun rise to sun set.

The Tinubu administration’s focus on economic optics, while the nation bleeds, is a tragic misplacement of priorities. Economic reforms, no matter how ambitious, cannot take root in an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness.

No foreign investor will pour capital into an economy where movement is perilous, logistics are unsafe, and insurance companies balk at underwriting risks.

Security is not just a social issue; it is an economic pillar. Every killing, kidnapping, and act of banditry is a blow to productivity and national morale. The informal economy, the backbone of Nigeria’s workforce thrives on mobility and stability.

Traders cannot move goods across states if roads are ambushed by criminals. Farmers cannot tend their fields if bandits rule rural communities. Professionals, like Somtochukwu and Peace, cannot fulfill their dreams if the highways to opportunity have become highways to hell.

Globally, history teaches that no economy thrives amidst chaos. In Colombia, for instance, the government’s decisive push to reclaim its territories from armed militias in the early 2000s paved the way for economic resurgence and foreign investment. In Rwanda, post genocide security stability became the foundation for an impressive developmental turnaround. Singapore, once plagued by crime and instability, achieved its economic miracle only after instituting strict security and governance reforms. The lesson is simple but profound; security is the bedrock of economic transformation.

The failure of President Tinubu to tell Nigerians how he plans to curtail the hydra headed insecurity challenge facing the country during his Independence Day broadcast appears to be celebrating mediocrity and heralding transient fiscal adjustments as recovery while citizens count their dead and kidnapped victims.

There is a cruel irony in boasting about GDP growth or exchange rate gains when the average Nigerian is more likely to encounter bandits than benefit from any “economic rebound.” A nation that cannot protect its people has no moral authority to claim progress. It is time for the government to confront the truth: Nigeria’s economy is bleeding because its people are bleeding. This administration must stop treating insecurity as a political inconvenience and recognise it as the core of national survival.

The government should move from the point of reactive actions whereby at any turn of fatalities, it hurriedly boasts of ensuring perpetrators of the crimes will be apprehended and made to face the weight of the law.

This the administration could do by adopting and resourcing intelligence led policing nationwide and funding a national ILP architecture with fusion centres, interoperable databases, forensic labs and embedded analysts at federal, state and local levels. This will ensure that policy frameworks are developed by data, not guesswork.

The government can also protect highways by setting up chokepoints with combined military and police operations. The Okene–Auchi corridor, a hot bed for kidnapping and banditry attacks and similar routes must be made high security zones with regular patrols and intelligence gathering, rapid response units and publicized safe times/routes for movement. This will ensure that transport links which are the arteries of the national economy are safe for commuters.

Government must also tackle corruption and accountability within security agencies. Weapons diversion, leaked intelligence as payoffs to criminal groups thrive when systems lack transparency. Independent oversight, forensics, and prosecutions for negligence and collusion would send an immediate, deterrent signal. Also the judiciary must deliver swift justice to deter crime. Most importantly, leadership must embody empathy not in words, but in decisive, measurable action.

No country fixed violence overnight, but some turned the corner by combining force with governance reform and community engagement. For instance, Colombia’s early 2000s strategy under President Álvaro Uribe, for better or worse, though controversial, strengthened state presence in contested zones and combined military pressure with state rebuilding efforts.

Other success stories are more modest and replicable including community rooted anti-gang operations in Liverpool that used a “clear, hold, build” strategy and restored public confidence after high profile killings, showing how coordinated policing and local rebuilding work together. These are not blueprints to copy wholesale, they are lessons in sequencing: secure, then rebuild.

Why economic indicators matter, they cannot paper over mortuaries full of citizens who died on roads the state failed to secure. They cannot console families whose children never came home from university or from a Call to the Bar celebration.

For governance to be credible, Nigerians must feel protected in their homes, on their commutes, and in their towns. Otherwise growth figures remain abstractions and anniversaries become hollow rituals.

If this administration truly values the “security of lives and property,” it must stop treating insecurity as a side note and start treating it as a national emergency. The government should allocate resources, enthrone reforms, act on actionable intelligence and protect the very people whose votes and sweat underpin every economic statistic.

President Tinubu must rise above rhetoric. The Nigerian people do not need more speeches about economic renewal; they need a renewal of safety, trust, and hope. The memory of Peace Onyeka and Somtochukwu Maduagwu, two young Nigerians whose sad stories still lingers resulting from the failures of the state must become a moral mirror for this government.

At 65, Nigeria cannot afford to keep celebrating statistics while burying its citizens in hundreds every month. Independence will only come when every Nigerian can travel, trade, and thrive without fear. Until then, every boast about economic recovery will remain what it is: an echo of progress in a country still drowning in blood and broken promises.

Okoronkwo is a communications strategist, a leadership and good governance advocate. kalu.okoronkwo@gmail.com

Tinubu’s economy boasts ring hollow amidst bloodshed, argues KALU OKORONKWO On Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, President Bola Tinubu delivered a familiar scorecard of economic “victories” growth figures, fiscal reforms, and selective