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NUPRC: Nigeria Attracted over $4.9bn in Non-Associated Gas Investments in Four Years

•Unlocks 9,790 billion standard cubic feet of reserves

•Nation’s gas stock to last about 92.7 years

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday revealed that since the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), it has approved over 25 Non-Associated Gas (NAG) Field Development Plans (FDPs), attracting over $4.9 billion in capital expenditure (Capex) investment.

Besides, the upstream regulator stated that its activities unlocked nearly 9,790 billion standard cubic feet (BSCF) of reserves and 3.54 BSCF/D of gas output.

It stated that Nigeria’s ambition to become Africa’s gas powerhouse received a major boost with the unveiling of a bold regulatory roadmap, aimed at unlocking over 55 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of uncommitted gas reserves and attracting billions of dollars in new investments into the country’s gas value chain.

A statement in Abuja by the Head, Media and Strategic Communication, NUPRC, Eniola Akinkuotu, stated that the Commission Chief Executive (CCE), Gbenga Komolafe, made these comments at the 3rd Gas Investment Forum held in Lagos.

Represented by the Executive Commissioner, Development and Production, Enorense Amadasu, Komolafe outlined the Commission’s strategic focus on driving gas development, monetisation, and infrastructure expansion to secure Nigeria’s energy future and support economic transformation.

Komolafe stated that Nigeria’s proven gas reserves currently stand at 210.54 trillion cubic feet (TCF) comprising 109.51 TCF of NAG and 101.03 TCF of Associated Gas (AG).

He said out of this, about 55 TCF representing 26 per cent of total gas reserves remains uncommitted to existing or planned monetisation projects, signalling a massive investment opportunity for both domestic and international investors.

Komolafe noted that with an annual average daily gas production of 6.99 billion standard cubic feet (BSCF/D) in 2024, Nigeria’s Reserves Replacement Ratio (RRR) stands at 1.56, while the Reserves Life Index (RLI) is about 92.7 years an indication of long-term sustainability for investors in the country’s gas sector.

The national gas reserves, he said, grew from 208.83 TCF in 2023 to 210.54 TCF in 2025, while gas production rose from 6.91 BSCF/D to 7.61 BSCF/D, reflecting steady growth across the value chain. The domestic market currently accounts for about 28 per cent of total gas utilisation, while exports via LNG and WAGP take up 35 per cent, and field use including gas lift and reinjection represents 29 per cent.

On policy reforms and regulatory milestones, Komolafe enumerated several regulatory instruments that have shaped Nigeria’s gas development journey, including the Associated Gas Re-injection Act (1979), National Gas Policy (2008), Flare Gas (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Regulations (2018), Decade of Gas Initiative, and the landmark Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

He said recent instruments such as the Domestic Gas Delivery Obligation Regulations (2022), the Gas Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions Regulations (2023), and the Oil and Gas Companies (Tax Incentives) Order (2024) further consolidate the Commission’s pro-investment posture.

Since the enactment of the PIA, he said the Commission has approved over 25 NAG Field Development Plans, unlocking nearly 9,790 BSCF of reserves, 3.54 BSCF/D of gas, and attracting over 4.9 billion dollars in CAPEX investments.

He further disclosed that the Commission was actively facilitating regulatory approvals and negotiations for upstream gas supply to major projects such as NLNG Train 7, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Pipeline, and the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Project.

Komolafe also observed that NUPRC was currently monitoring 19 active gas development projects, comprising 10 production facilities and 9 pipeline projects, with a combined capacity of 3.55 BSCF/D. About 88 per cent of these projects, he said, are in the engineering phase, while 12 per cent have progressed to construction or fabrication.

He explained that 86 per cent of the new gas production projects are targeted at the export market, particularly feed gas supply to the Nigerian LNG, while 23 per cent (142 MMSCFD) were directed toward the domestic market.

Komolafe emphasised that the NUPRC’s regulatory roadmap aligns with the federal government’s National Gas Policy and Energy Transition Plan, which prioritise decarbonisation, clean energy adoption, and inclusive economic growth.

According to him, the Commission is intensifying efforts to attract new investments by eliminating entry barriers through the ‘drill or drop’ provision in the PIA, driving full implementation of the Decade of Gas Initiative.

Besides, he stated that the NUPRC was facilitating access to fiscal incentives, promoting cluster and nodal gas infrastructure development, and organising a gas production ramp-up strategy workshop in Q4, 2025. He reaffirmed that Nigeria stands at a pivotal juncture in its energy journey, one that demands innovation, collaboration, and sustainable investment.

•Unlocks 9,790 billion standard cubic feet of reserves •Nation’s gas stock to last about 92.7 years Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory

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NCC Moves to Improve Investments in Broadband Connectivity, Safeguard Telecoms Infrastructure

Emma Okonji

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stressed the need for improved investment in broadband connectivity, and safeguarding critical national infrastructure in the telecoms sector. Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, stated this during a business roundtable held yesterday at NCC Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, in Abuja, themed, “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity.”

Speaking on the importance of connectivity, Maida said, “When we talk about connectivity, our minds go to faster downloads or smoother video calls. But the scope and impact extend far beyond these. Connectivity today equals economic inclusion, productivity, and national resilience. As of August 2025, Nigeria had achieved a broadband penetration rate of roughly 48.81 per cent with over 140 million people having internet access. The ICT/telecom sector is already one of the leading contributors to Nigeria’s GDP.”

According to him, for individuals and small businesses, broadband access turns local markets into national and global ones.

He said it transformed opportunities for graduates from local to global digital earning possibilities; transforms a state economy from being dependent on traditional revenue streams to fostering an innovation-driven ecosystem.

Citing African countries that had invested in broadband connectivity, Maida said Rwanda had positioned itself as an African hub of digital services by investing heavily in backbone fibre and digital governance, adding that India’s outsourcing and IT services industry is worth over $240 billion annually, enabled largely by early and consistent investment in digital infrastructure and human capacity.

“With over 200 million people and a median age of 18, Nigeria can not only follow those trajectories but surpass them—if we equip our youth with reliable, aﬀordable, high- speed connectivity,” Maida said.

He said through the sustained advocacy of the commission, and eﬀorts of the Oﬀice of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as well as the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order was signed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024.

CNII Presidential Order guarantees proactive protection of Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure by providing the executive backing for law enforcement agents to deal with vandalism, theft and denial of service to the assets, while ensuring continued network service provision by operators.

Maida explained that working closely with the Oﬀice of the National Security Adviser, NCC had been tasked with ensuring the full operationalisation of the mandate in the telecommunications sector.

He said, “To achieve the mandate, NCC has set up a Telecommunications Industry Working Group to coordinate its operationalisation. Our first task has been to ensure strict compliance with baseline standards for site security, maintenance, and access control.

“We have also launched a broad public awareness drive, including TV and radio jingles, social media campaigns, and community engagement initiatives, to mobilise citizens in protecting telecom infrastructure.”

He said NCC will yesterday in Abuja launch two strategic tools: The Ease of Doing Business Portal, a one-stop-shop that provides information and link to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); and The Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index (NDCI), a framework to measure and publish annually each state’s digital readiness and competitiveness, creating a transparent scorecard to drive accountability.

Emma Okonji Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has stressed the need for improved investment in broadband connectivity, and safeguarding critical national infrastructure in the telecoms sector. Executive Vice Chairman of NCC,

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NCDMB Recommits to Deepening Local Content

•Unveils compliance certificate system in Rivers

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has unveiled its compliance certificate system in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The board reaffirmed its commitment to deepening local content through certification, compliance and financial support.

NCDMB Executive Secretary, Felix Ogbe, restated the commitment at a stakeholders sensitisation and engagement forum, organised in collaboration with Bank of Industry and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Announcing the introduction of a new Nigerian Content Fund Clearance Certificate (NCFCC), at the event, Ogbe described the certificate as a verifiable and transparent instrument that served as tangible proof of compliance by relating companies.

Represented by Director, Finance and Personnel Management, NCDMB, Mr. Osa Uchendu, Ogbe said, “Today’s sensitisation programme is an open conversation between us as stakeholders. It provides us an opportunity to listen, to present and address critical issues and present better clarity on the interventions and benefits of the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund.”

He stated that over the years, NCDMB had remained steadfast in promoting and ensuring the Nigerian oil and gas intervention funds were taken good care of.

Ogbe stated that for compliance to be ready, it must be practical and mutually beneficial to all participants in the industry.

“In line with this, we are introducing the Nigerian Content Fund Clearance Certificate (NCFCC), a verifiable and transparent instrument that serves as tangible prove of compliance by relating companies,” he said.

He explained that the innovation reinforced the board’s commitment to accountability and trust in the implementation of local content across the oil and gas value chain.

“Beyond compliance, we also recognize the pivotal role of financing in different local contents,” he added.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director, Large Enterprises, Bank of Industry, Dr Ifeoma Uzokpala, said the stakeholder’s engagement reflected the three organisations’ vision and shared commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.

Uzokpala said, “This stakeholders’ engagement us important and we realised that it the dialogue will help us deepen our understanding better on how to service the oil and gas industry and make the best of it for Nigeria and the world.

“The gathering reflects our vision and shared commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain by not only providing finances, but also deepening engagements with our customers and partners.”

Head, Specialised Business Development, Nigeria Export-Import Bank, Mohammed Awami, said the event provided a vital platform for dialogue and shared commitment towards advancing Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic diversification agenda.

Awami stated, “This forum represents a vital platform for dialogue and shared commitment towards advancing Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic diversification agenda.

“At NEXIM Bank, we recognise the pivotal role NCDMB chose to play in driving local content development, building indigenous capacities and promoting value addition within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and linkages to other activities.”

•Unveils compliance certificate system in Rivers Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has unveiled its compliance certificate system in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State

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Amid High Cost of Funds, NEXIM Bank Seeks to Enhance SMEs’ Access to Cheap Financing Options, Others

James Emejo in Abuja

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Abubakar Abba Bello, yesterday, said the bank was ready to provide more affordable financing options to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

Bello said one of the biggest challenges SMEs faced was the high cost of funds, as interest rates from commercial banks peaked at 30 per cent. He said this was “too high for small businesses to sustain”.

Bello spoke at the Abuja edition of the SME Export Finance Sensitisation Forum (EXCEL Programme), jointly organised by NEXIM and GIZ Nigeria under the SEDIN programme.

He said alongside other Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), including Bank of Industry (BoI) and Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), NEXIM had worked to reduce the cost of finance and provide refinancing opportunities for MSMEs.

Bello said the aim was to help them become more competitive, sustainable, and capable of scaling their operations, adding that as a development finance institution, “our role is to help them grow to the level where they can attract financing from multiple sources”.

Bello explained, “One of the major issues affecting MSMEs is access to finance. Others include infrastructural deficits, regulatory challenges, and related constraints.

“Of course, we cannot address all these challenges at once. However, one critical factor is the capacity of the business itself—the capacity of the entrepreneur, the management, and the enterprise as a whole.

“That is why sensitisation programmes like this are important. Their goal is to help build the capacity of MSMEs. It’s not that banks are unwilling to lend to MSMEs; rather, banks often observe that many MSMEs lack the necessary capacity to manage credit effectively.”

He said through such sensitisation efforts, the bank aimed to strengthen MSMEs to become eligible to access finance—whether from development finance institutions, commercial banks, or even equity investors.

He added, “Sometimes, businesses want to expand or scale up but lack the structure or platform to attract equity investment. Sensitisation programmes like this help entrepreneurs understand the right processes, documentation, and structures required to make their businesses bankable and investment-ready.

“As I’ve said before, no single organization or agency can do this alone. However, when all stakeholders play their part at various levels, we can collectively strengthen and scale the MSME sector.

“So, beyond sensitisation, what we are really talking about here is capacity building.”

The NEXIM MD said Micro, MSMEs remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, with over 41 million operators, accounting for 96.9 per cent of all registered businesses, contributing 48 per cent to GDP, and employing 87.9 per cent of the workforce.

However, he stated that despite the immense contribution, 55 per cent of MSMEs faced challenges in accessing finance, stressing that a significant percentage of the entrepreneurs failed within their first five years—largely due to limited access to finance, infrastructure deficits, high costs of doing business, and regulatory burdens.

He added, “This is precisely why the EXCEL Programme was conceived in partnership with GIZ. Globally, export financing has proven to be a powerful driver of economic growth.

“However, according to the World Bank, exports of goods and services contribute only about 7.64 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP. This figure underscores the huge untapped potential of Nigeria’s MSME export sector, especially considering its size and diversity.

“It also highlights the transformative potential of programmes like EXCEL in unlocking the full value of our MSME ecosystem.

At NEXIM Bank, we are proud to introduce financing solutions such as the SME Export Facility (SMEEF) and the Women & Youth Export Facility (WAYEF), alongside our NEXA digital platform, which provides MSMEs with access to digital export and financial management services.

“These initiatives are designed to make export financing more accessible, transparent, and impactful.

“We are also preparing to commence the onboarding of our SME clients onto the African Trade Gateway (ATG)—a platform aimed at enhancing market access, improving payment systems, and deepening intra-African trade.”

James Emejo in Abuja Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Abubakar Abba Bello, yesterday, said the bank was ready to provide more affordable financing options to Small and

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SAN: Idheze Integrity Forum Felicitates Delta Solicitor General

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Some sons and daughters Isoko Nation, who are members of Idheze Integrity Forum (IIF), have felicitated the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Barrister Omamuzo Erebe, who was recently elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The legal practitioner with a history of practice in Alternative Dispute Resolution, (negotiation, mediation, arbitration), w as among many others who were recently elevated by the apex court of the country.

And in a letter signed by the President of IIF, Elder Ogaga Nathaniel, the group said Erebe’s elevation is testament to the his unwavering dedication, intellectual rigour, professionalism, and remarkable contributions to the Nigerian legal system.

Nathaniel said: “IIF extends congratulations to you, on your well-deserved elevation to the esteemed rank of SAN.

Your achievement is a shining example of hard work, dedication, and intellectual rigour. As a proud son of the Isoko Nation, your success brings immense pride to your family, colleagues, and the entire Isoko Nation. You inspire the younger generation with your perseverance, discipline, and devotion to duty and excellence.

We celebrate this historic moment with you and your family. We are confident that you will continue to uphold the finest traditions of the legal profession, providing leadership, wisdom, and courage that will shape the course of justice universally.”

Erebe has a history of practice in Alternative Dispute Resolution, (negotiation, mediation, arbitration), skilled in Legal Drafting and Criminal Law. He graduated from the University of Benin and the Nigeria Law School, Lagos.

The SAN title is the highest honour conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria, reserved for lawyers who have attained exceptional distinction in the legal profession, either as advocates in the courtroom or as academics.

Sylvester Idowu in Warri Some sons and daughters Isoko Nation, who are members of Idheze Integrity Forum (IIF), have felicitated the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General of the Delta State

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Ten Years of Progressive Governance in Nigeria: From Reform to Renewal

By Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu

During the public presentation of the book “Ten Years of Impactful Progressive Governance in Nigeria,” authored by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma, I reflected on Nigeria’s decade-long journey under successive progressive administrations as Chief Presenter. Though time did not allow me to deliver my written remarks, the message remains vital to our national conversation on leadership, governance, and reform.

There are moments for politics and moments for governance. Once elections are over, governance must take precedence. Our duty as citizens is to move beyond division and measure progress not by sentiment but by delivery, performance, and impact.

Over the past ten years, Nigeria’s story has been one of courage and continuity, of institutions learning discipline, and of leaders willing to face hard truths about our economy. President Muhammadu Buhari laid the foundation of fiscal prudence, agricultural revival, and infrastructure renewal. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has advanced that legacy through decisive structural reforms such as removing the fuel subsidy, unifying exchange rates, modernising tax policy, and restoring credibility to public finance. These choices were not easy, but they were necessary. They broke habits that had become too costly to sustain and redirected public wealth toward productivity.

Since May 2023, government non-oil revenue has grown by more than 400 percent. This is not coincidence. It is the outcome of intentional policy and technological transparency. The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee has simplified compliance, eliminated duplication, and placed technology at the centre of revenue collection. Revenue agencies that once competed now cooperate. Multiple taxation is being dismantled. Incentives for businesses are transparent and available online without intermediaries or privileged access. Every entrepreneur, large or small, can now apply for fiscal waivers or export credits within minutes. Fairness by design and technology is replacing favour by connection.

Energy stability has returned as proof that reform, though painful, delivers results. The queues that once defined our petrol stations are gone. Deregulation has reopened the downstream market and restored investor confidence in oil and gas, bringing new capital into deep-water, midstream, and modular-refinery projects. Parallel reforms in the Presidential CNG Initiative are changing urban mobility by replacing petrol fleets with cleaner and cheaper gas vehicles. At the same time, a nationwide solar-power rollout is providing electricity to schools, clinics, and small industries. Together, these initiatives reflect a balanced energy future built on efficiency, competition, and sustainability.

Security remains the foundation of every reform. In 2024, N3.85 trillion, about 13 percent of the national budget, was allocated to defence and internal security. For 2025, that figure rose to N6.57 trillion, with significant investment in equipment, intelligence, and personnel welfare. The Nigerian Air Force is modernising with 24 M-346 attack jets and 10 AW-109 helicopters. The Navy has commissioned new patrol ships and maritime helicopters to strengthen coastal and energy-asset protection. Across all theatres, joint operations by the Nigerian Armed Forces and intelligence agencies have neutralised tens of thousands of terrorists, insurgents and criminal elements, arrested many more, and rescued tens of thousands of hostages and displaced persons. The tempo has changed. Our armed forces now take the initiative rather than wait for it.

Infrastructure remains the bridge between ambition and opportunity. Across the country, more than 260 major projects in roads, bridges, ports, and pipelines are under construction or near completion. The Lagos to Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto to Badagry Super Highway are redefining commerce and mobility. The national Bridge Fibre Project is expanding digital connectivity across cities and rural areas, strengthening the country’s broadband backbone and opening new corridors for education, innovation, and enterprise.

Digital governance reform is also deepening national capacity. The ongoing overhaul of the National Identity Management Commission has expanded NIN registration to tens of millions of citizens, creating a reliable digital backbone for planning, financial inclusion, and social protection. For the first time, national data is being harmonised across agencies, improving service delivery, strengthening security coordination, and helping the country plan development with precision.

Work along the River Niger corridor from Lokoja to Baro Port is progressing to enable future inland-waterway operations that can reduce transport costs and improve market access across regions. These projects reflect a deliberate effort to balance regional growth, from the Niger Delta cleanup and gas expansion in the South to new exploration in the North and industrial corridors across the Middle Belt.

Reform without human investment is reform without soul. The $2.2 billion Health Sector Renewal Programme is upgrading 17,000 primary health centres and training 120,000 health workers, while free caesarean care and subsidised dialysis are easing the burden on families. In education, student-loan schemes, digital-skills initiatives, and new STEM and AI curricula are preparing our young people for a digital economy. Through the Student Loan Fund, access to higher education is becoming a right, not a privilege. Its synergy with new financing institutions such as CREDICORP and the Nigeria Credit Guarantee Company ensures that young Nigerians can pursue knowledge with the same confidence that entrepreneurs pursue capital. Free technical and vocational training at the tertiary level will supply the technicians and artisans required for industrial growth.

Agriculture and food security have become the centre of national resilience. Beyond grains, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development is unlocking a trillion-naira value chain in meat, dairy, and leather. Expanded fertiliser blending, mechanisation, irrigation, and storage are supporting millions of smallholders. With increased investment in rice, cassava, and cash-crop processing, Nigeria is moving toward genuine food sovereignty. Food security is not an aspiration but a necessity for economic stability.

The government’s economic renewal is also anchored on access to finance, enterprise, and inclusion. The establishment of CREDICORP, the Nigeria Credit Guarantee Company, and the Student Loan Fund has strengthened the foundation for a credit-based economy as well as human capital and domestic productivity. Together, these institutions expand access to credit for small businesses, farmers, civil servants, individuals, and students while derisking lending and empowering citizens to build their future without political connections. In promoting local production over import dependence, the Nigeria First Policy is not only conserving foreign exchange but also creating pathways for skilled youth employment and industrial apprenticeship across states.

I say this not out of any search for appointment or reward, but from a place of patriotism and perspective. From where I stand, and for every Nigerian, the true beauty of the Nigeria First Policy is that it invites us all to become participants in our country’s renewal. We can each now go into productive enterprise and live the Nigerian dream, so long as we care enough to believe in this nation and invest in our people, resources, and future.

In the midst of reform, President Tinubu’s words have been both compass and caution: “As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.” That statement captures the essence of progressive governance which I define as courage guided by compassion. Under this directive, Nigeria’s social-protection system has been rebuilt on transparency and technology. The Conditional Cash Transfer programme now reaches more than 15 million households on a verified digital register, each linked to a NIN-validated wallet or bank account for direct payment. No intermediaries and no leakages. In addition, N344 billion has been disbursed in three tranches to the 36 states and the FCT to support local welfare and enterprise programmes. The Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which will operate across 8,809 wards, will economically engage over 10 million Nigerians and ensure that national policy translates into local opportunity.

The humanitarian principle of progressivism is simple. Reform must lift, not leave behind. Fiscal discipline restores credibility. Social investment restores trust. When citizens see roads being built, hospitals working, and social payments arriving on time, faith in reform deepens and the social contract is strengthened. Special attention is also being given to women, rural communities, and persons with disabilities through targeted enterprise and skills-support initiatives under the Renewed Hope framework.

The numbers also tell their own story of impact and renewed hope in Nigeria. Non-oil revenues continue to rise. Exports are diversifying. Nigeria has recorded its first trade and balance-of-payments surplus in years, a sign of growing production and renewed confidence in the naira. Oil output is improving, new investments are flowing into the upstream and midstream segments, and our current account is gaining strength as reforms take hold. President Bola Tinubu and his government recognise that inflation and living costs remain a strain on households, but the fiscal discipline now taking root is designed to restore purchasing power in a sustainable way. President Tinubu has also acknowledged that meaningful reform takes time. While citizens are beginning to see the first trickles of progress, the greater task is to ensure that these trickles flow downward to communities, markets, classrooms, and farms where growth becomes tangible and human.

The task ahead is to sustain this momentum but it won’t be easy. Every child must be in school. NIWA must be further strengthened to expand partnerships for safer and cleaner waterways. NDLEA must receive greater support to combat the rising threat of drug trafficking and addiction, and NAFDAC must be empowered with stronger laboratories and technology to protect the public from counterfeit medicines and unsafe food. These are not peripheral agencies. They are frontline guardians of national wellbeing, and their effectiveness determines the credibility of our progress.

Communities themselves must also understand that with all the support given to our security agencies and the military, their partnership is vital. Cooperation between citizens, traditional institutions, and security operatives will solidify these gains, strengthen intelligence at the grassroots, and prevent a return to disorder. National security is not the burden of the state alone. It is the shared duty of all Nigerians determined to protect their future.

The state governors of Nigeria, under this Renewed Hope and progressive compact, also have a historic role to play. We have faith that with President Tinubu’s commitment, they can write their names in gold, but that gold must first be mined in proper service of the people.

The progress of any nation is not measured only by its wealth, but by the collective will of its people to do right, even when it is hard. That is the essence of progressive governance and the covenant that must bind us for the next decade.

I imagine a Nigeria where every child learns, every farmer prospers, every hospital has power, and every young person earns a dignified living. That is the spirit of renewal behind this progressive decade. It is the belief that courage and compassion are not opposites but partners in building a fair and prosperous country. Tomorrow’s Nigeria is not waiting to be discovered. It is waiting to be delivered with courage, competence, and care. I am Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu and I endorse the publication of this message.

God bless our President.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

•Alhaji Rabiu Isiyaku Rabiu is a business entrepreneur who advocates private-sector innovation that strengthens reform and institutional growth. Drawing from experience across critical sectors, his reflections on governance, accountability, and shared prosperity are grounded in both enterprise and national purpose.

By Rabiu Isyaku Rabiu During the public presentation of the book “Ten Years of Impactful Progressive Governance in Nigeria,” authored by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Executive

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A Bold Step into the Future: Olubunmi Fayokun and the Evolution of Nigeria’s Legal Profession

Aderibigbe Benedicta

In a profession steeped in tradition, the appointment of Olubunmi Fayokun as Chairman of Aluko & Oyebode and Head of its Corporate & Commercial Practice marks a bold step into the future.

Elevating her to this role is more than the placement of a capable leader at the helm, it is an acknowledgement of the power of persistence, precision, and long-term vision.

Fayokun is a strategic force who has spent decades working at the intersection of law and finance, leading firms and shaping Nigeria’s legal and economic landscape.

Since its founding in 1993, Aluko & Oyebode has been instrumental in shaping the legal frameworks of modern Nigeria. From its role in privatisation efforts, to banking sector reforms, and the structuring of power, oil, and infrastructure projects, the firm has been at the centre of transactions that underpin the Nigerian economy.

With a client base that includes multinationals, investors, and regulators, Aluko & Oyebode has earned credibility that extends far beyond Nigeria’s borders.

This leadership transition reflects a culture of succession that is deliberately embedded in the firm’s identity. Fayokun’s appointment is both proof and product of that strategy.

Over the past three decades, Fayokun’s influence on Nigeria’s legal and economic architecture has been substantial. She has led major transactions in banking, aviation, and power infrastructure, represented multinational clients in oil, mining, and agriculture, and served as company secretary and legal adviser of one of Nigeria’s leading investment banking firms.

Her imprint is clearly visible on Nigeria’s capital markets, where she has played a pivotal role in refining their structures.

Her career demonstrates that lawyers can and should be more than facilitators of deals. They must be guardians of the rules that hold the economy together. As Chair of the Capital Market Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Business Law, she worked with the SEC to reform and expand Nigeria’s stock market. That work may lack glamour, but without such frameworks, markets collapse.

It is no coincidence that her work has earned international recognition. Citations in Chambers Global, IFLR1000, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal (Lexology Index) are not just accolades; they are evidence that Nigerian professionals can meet the highest global standards. Her induction into the IFLR1000 Women Dealmakers Hall of Fame further affirmsher consistency in a market where inconsistency too often prevails.

As a woman leading one of Nigeria’s largest law firms where men dominate at senior levels, Fayokun’s appointment is not just a personal achievement but challenges entrenched norms within the profession. Aluko & Oyebode’s decision to elevate her underscores its pioneering spirit: not only in the practice of law, but in promoting from within and empowering the most competent—regardless of gender—to lead.

It is a reminder that excellence is not determined by gender, and that the barriers women face in Nigerian law must neither be normalised nor accepted.

Her career also carries lessons for the wider legal profession. Too many Nigerian law firms are personality-driven, built around the founding partners. When those figures fade, the firms often fade with them, leaving fragility where resilience should be.

In contrast, Aluko & Oyebode’s institutional approach—prioritising continuity and succession—has preserved its credibility with clients at home and abroadthrough the adoption of a legal culture rooted in persistence and long-term vision.

Fayokun also represents a different kind of leadership.

Her approach is unostentatious, steady, and consistent. Paradoxically, this approach has made her, and Aluko & Oyebode, stronger.

Of course, no leader is immune to market realities. Law firms are businesses, subject to competition, macroeconomicvariables, and global pressures. Leadership is never uncomplicated. That is what makes Fayokun’s appointment so significant: she takes charge of a firm with deep roots in Nigeria’s legal landscape, and her objective will be not only to preserve its standing but to extend it in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Her experience makes her uniquely suited for this role. Having led the firm’s Capital Markets and M&A practices, and having worked closely with the SEC, she understands both the technical demands of complex transactions and the policy frameworks that shape them.

In her new role, she has the opportunity to unite these perspectives, pushing the firm into new terrains while helping to shape the broader economic frameworks that Nigeria will rely on in the years to come.

Her appointment is a reminder that continuity is what sustains institutions. Fayokun’s task is not simply to preserve the firm’s standing, but to elevate it. In doing so, she offers a model not only for the legal profession but for leaders in general: progress is best achieved through steady, enduring and effective authority.

*Aderibigbe Benedicta wrote in from Lagos

Aderibigbe Benedicta In a profession steeped in tradition, the appointment of Olubunmi Fayokun as Chairman of Aluko & Oyebode and Head of its Corporate & Commercial Practice marks a bold step into

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Super Eagles Miss Intercontinental Playoffs Route to 2026 World Cup

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Only one route is now left for Nigeria’s Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after teams in the race have already secured the slots reserved for the four best runners up in the African qualifying series to go for the intercontinental playoffs.

As at yesterday, the first of the Match-day 9 fixtures ensured that Gabon (19 points; Madagascar (19 points); Burkina Faso (18 points); and Cameroon (18 points) have all surpassed the maximum points that the Super Eagles can achieve even if they win their two remaining matches against Lesotho on Friday and Benin Republic on Tuesday to finish on 17 points!

It therefore means that the only way left for Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 World Cup will be to win Group C despite leaders Benin and South Africa three points clear of them.

With the Group C ticket now in the views of Benin Republic and South Africa both on 14 points before their next two matches, Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup appears over. Only miracle can now make either South Africa or Benin to drop points in their next two games for Nigeria to profit. The coast is even clearer for the Bafana Bafana who are playing their next two games against Zimbabwe and Rwanda at home. They are to play Zimbabwe in Durban on Friday before wrapping up with Rwanda at the same venue on Tuesday to end up with possible 20 points if Bafana Bafana win both games.

Benin’s Cheetahs are not sure of what will happen in Uyo on Tuesday.

Despite this glaring second back-to-back World Cup miss staring the players in the faces, team handler, Eric Chelle, continued to tinker with the team’s preparations to play Lesotho in Polokwane, South Africa yesterday.

A total of 20 Super Eagles’ players took part in the second training session on Wednesday in Polokwane, ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifying match against the Crocodiles of Lesotho.

Portugal-based defender Zaidu Sanusi and Spain-based forward Jerome Akor Adams joined the other 18 players in the team’s The Ranch Hotel base on Tuesday night to bring the squad to 20.

United States of America-based midfielder Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi is expected to land in South Africa today to bring the list to 21 for the fixture against Lesotho.

Chelle has had to tinker the team following injuries to defender Bright Osayi-Samuel and forward Cyriel Dessers, bringing in Sanusi and Crystal Palace of England’s Christantus Uche. Injury to wing-back Felix Agu had cut the squad from 23 to 22.

Russia-based former junior international Olakunle Olusegun is yet to be issued with an entry visa into South Africa, meaning Nigeria could probably prosecute the encounter with 21 players.

All the 2nd Placed Teams

Team. P. GD. PTS. W

1.Gabon. 8. 10. 19. 6

2.Madagascar 9. 8. 19. 6

3.Burkina Faso. 9. 13. 18. 5

4.Cameroon. 9. 12. 18. 5

5. Congo DR. 8. 7. 16. 5

6.Namibia. 8. 8. 15. 4

7.Uganda. 8. 5. 15. 5

8.South Africa. 8. 3. 14. 4

9.Tanzania. 8. 0. 11. 3

Duro Ikhazuagbe Only one route is now left for Nigeria’s Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after teams in the race have already secured the slots reserved

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October 9, 2025
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WAEC’S NEW SUBJECT COMBINATION

The new subject combination is uncoordinated and senseless, contends

ELVIS EROMOSELE

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has once again stirred public outcry, this time over its newly released subject combinations for the 2026 examination. In what appears to be a hurried and poorly thought-out reform, WAEC has reordered subjects in a manner that defies logic, stifles student choice, and risks undermining years of learning.

At first glance, the new structure appears harmless, perhaps an attempt to align subjects more neatly by discipline. But a closer look reveals an alarming lack of coordination. Under the new arrangement, science students can no longer take Economics, a subject that has traditionally bridged the gap between science and the social sciences. Even more baffling, students in the Humanities are also excluded from offering Economics.

According to the new subject list, only students in the Business department are allowed to take Economics.

The biggest question is, why now? Why force Nigerian students, many of whom are already preparing for their final year, to adjust to such a radical change in less than a year? The 2026 WAEC exam is barely months away, yet the Council expects students to abandon subjects they have studied since SS1. How does that support learning, fairness, or excellence?

Education reforms, by their nature, should be gradual, well-communicated, and rooted in consultation. This one feels like the exact opposite: hasty, disorderly, and devoid of empathy. No public engagement. No clear transition plan. No explanation of the rationale. Instead, students, parents, and teachers are left scrambling for answers.

Take, for instance, the case of a science student who has taken Economics since SS1, a student who dreams of studying Agricultural Economics or Environmental Management at the university. Under this new arrangement, the student can no longer sit for Economics in WAEC, despite two full years of preparation. How do you explain to such a student that their effort no longer counts?

Likewise, students in the Humanities, those in Literature, Government, or History, are also barred from taking Economics. In a world where interdisciplinarity is increasingly valued, WAEC seems to be doing the opposite: erecting walls between knowledge areas instead of building bridges.

The question must be asked: Whose interest is WAEC serving with this sudden change? It certainly doesn’t appear to serve the interests of Nigerian students. Nor does it seem aligned with the goals of educational development. On the contrary, it looks like another top-down directive, conceived without sufficient input from the real stakeholders, teachers, students, parents, or curriculum experts.

Education should open doors, not close them. It should encourage curiosity, not conformity. Yet, this new subject combination does exactly the opposite; it limits opportunity. By narrowing who can take certain subjects, WAEC is effectively dictating career paths for young people before they’ve even had the chance to decide for themselves. This is completely unacceptable.

WAEC’s mandate is to assess learning, not to restrict it. Its role is to measure what students have been taught, not to alter the structure of learning midway. When an examination body starts dictating what subjects belong to which departments, and does so without adequate preparation or consultation, it crosses into policymaking territory best left to curriculum development agencies and ministries of education. The Minister of Education must step up to the plate and intervene. He can’t allow WAEC to usurp the role of his ministry.

Furthermore, such abrupt changes can have serious implications for university admissions. Many Nigerian universities require Economics as a prerequisite for a wide range of disciplines beyond Business, including Geography, Sociology, Political Science, and several hybrid courses. The new WAEC arrangement could inadvertently disqualify deserving candidates from pursuing these courses.

There’s no denying that reform is necessary. Nigeria’s education system needs periodic review to reflect evolving realities. But reform must make sense. It must be student-centred, data-driven, and inclusive. It must prioritise learners’ needs and ensure that every student, regardless of department, has access to subjects that support their dreams and potential.

The new WAEC subject combination fails all these tests. It is, at best, an administrative experiment carried out without foresight. At worst, it is an educational injustice that undermines the principles of fairness and equity.

WAEC must go back to the drawing board. It must engage teachers, parents, and education policymakers across the member countries. It must publish clear justifications for any change and provide enough time for schools and students to adjust. Most importantly, it must restore flexibility, allowing students to select subjects across disciplines in line with their aspirations.

Any reform of this magnitude should involve proper alignment with the National Universities Commission (NUC), especially as it directly affects university admission requirements and subject combinations. I doubt this is the case here.

Nigerian students deserve better. They deserve a system that empowers, not limits them. Education is the bridge to opportunity; WAEC should not be the one tearing it down.

Until WAEC makes this make sense, this reform remains what it is, a hasty, uncoordinated, and disserviceable disruption to the nation’s educational fabric. For now, the implementation must stop!

Eromosele, a corporate communications expert and sustainability activist, authored this through elviseroms@gmail.com.

The new subject combination is uncoordinated and senseless, contends ELVIS EROMOSELE The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has once again stirred public outcry, this time over its newly released subject combinations

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October 9, 2025
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UCHE NNAJI AND THE BURDEN OF FORGERY

It was only a matter of time. Everyone paying close attention knew that Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, could not survive the certificate forgery storm. The handwriting was on the wall, and two days ago, it finally happened. Nnaji bowed out.

The truth is simple and damning: Nnaji himself admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) never issued him a degree certificate. So the million-naira question is, where did the one he brandished come from?

UNN has washed its hands off the matter. The institution categorically stated that Nnaji never completed his studies and was never awarded a degree. In short, the certificate he paraded is fake.

And that’s not all. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has also distanced itself from Nnaji’s so-called NYSC certificate, describing it as“strange.” A Premium Times investigation revealed yet another oddity, Nnaji’s NYSC record shows that he supposedly served for 13 months. Thirteen months! Even the NYSC found that hard to explain.

Of course, Nnaji claims that political enemies are behind his ordeal. But he knows the truth, no opponent can forge a certificate on your behalf. He laid the trap himself and walked right into it.

Let’s remember the facts. Nnaji was admitted into UNN in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry and was expected to graduate in 1985. But he reportedly failed some courses and never graduated. That means for over 40 years , Uche Nnaji neither regularized his academic records nor obtained a valid certificate , yet he rose through political ranks, occupying sensitive positions and waving fake credentials. Nnaji was careless, so to speak

Forty years of deception finally caught up with him. And this time, not even political connections could save him.

But beyond Nnaji’s personal fall lies a bigger question, how many more “Nnajis” are out there, quietly occupying sensitive positions in government, hiding behind forged papers and political influence? Some commentators are beginning to say that Nnaji’s case might just be the tip of the iceberg.

Zayyad I. Muhammad, Abuja

It was only a matter of time. Everyone paying close attention knew that Uche Nnaji, the former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, could not survive the certificate forgery storm.