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  • Drug abuse among youth threatens Nigeria’s future, Marwa warns

    Drug abuse among youth threatens Nigeria’s future, Marwa warns

    National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman, Brig. Buba Marwa (rtd) has raised the alarm, warning that drug abuse among the youth threatens Nigeria’s future.

    Marwa gave the warning, Tuesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the Football Anti-Drug Abuse Programme.

    The programme was tagged “Kick Out Drug Abuse” (KODA), and was organised by Richy Gold International Ltd in partnership with NDLEA.

    He commended the organisers for creatively using the power of football, the world’s most loved sport, to engage youths in positive and life-transforming activities.

    According to Brigadier Marwa, substances such as tobacco, alcohol, cannabis sativa, tramadol, codeine mixtures, cocaine and methamphetamine are sadly being abused in schools, communities and even sporting circles.

    “These substances rob young people of their health, potential and future. The devastating consequences are broken homes, wasted talents, increased crime rate, violence and shattered communities,” he said.

    The NDLEA boss emphasised that prevention remained the best defence.

    Marwa stressed that the football-based sensitisation programme underscored the value of using sports to steer youths away from destructive habits.

    “Football teaches discipline, teamwork, resilience and determination. Every pass, every goal and every victory comes from focus and commitment.

    “Similarly, in life, our youths are constantly faced with choices, whether to stay on the path of discipline or to fall into the dangerous trap of drug abuse.

    “Just as one reckless foul can cost a team a match, one poor choice to experiment with drugs can destroy dreams, ruin careers and even cut short lives,” Marwa said.

    The NDLEA boss reminded the youths that professional footballers, whether in local leagues or on the international stage, sustained their excellence by maintaining drug-free lifestyles.

    According to him, to win in football and in life, one must stay drug-free. No footballer who abuses drugs can sustain excellence on the pitch.

    “Therefore, I charge every young person here. Let football inspire you to channel your energy into creativity, hard work and teamwork.

    “Let the slogan ‘Kick Out Drug Abuse’ be more than words. Let it be your lifestyle. Remember, when you say no to drugs, you are saying yes to your dreams, your health and your future.”

    Marwa reiterated NDLEA’s full commitment to keeping drugs off Nigeria’s streets, out of schools and far away from the nation’s youths.

    He explained that the agency was strengthening prevention programmes, promoting counselling and rehabilitation for users who need help.

    He added that the agency was also deepening partnerships with ministries, agencies, schools, sports bodies, religious groups and community leaders among others.

    According to him, emphasis is placed on prevention targeting young people both in and out of school, with interventions designed to delay initiation into drug use while providing support for those already using.

    “However, the fight against drug abuse cannot be won by NDLEA alone.

    “We enjoin every young person to be a champion in your own corner, rejecting drugs and influencing your peers positively,” he added.

    The Managing Director, RICHYGOLD International Ltd, Mr Jude Onwusonye said that beyond manufacturing, the organisation was proud to champion social impact through its flagship campaign, KODA.

    Onwusonye said that KODA was more than a project, adding that it was a clarion call in partnership with relevant agencies.

    This, he said, was to safeguard the future of the youth, combat the menace of drug abuse and inspire a healthier, more productive society.

    “At RICHYGOLD International Ltd, we don’t just make pharmaceutical products, we build healthier communities, restore hope and fuel dreams.

    “With innovation, integrity and compassion at our core, we are redefining pharmaceutical excellence while leading the charge for a drug-free generation.”

  • National oil assets: are the buccaneers coming? [2]

    National oil assets: are the buccaneers coming? [2]

    By UGO ONUOHA

    “Federal Government led by the ministry of petroleum incorporated [MOPI] and the ministry of finance incorporated [MOFI], have planned to sell significant portions of Nigeria’s equity in some of our best-performing oil and gas joint ventures”.

    Some commentators have since alleged that this set of our rulers behaves like “usu biara orji ntagbu”, Igbo for ravaging and destructive locusts and cankerworm. They claimed that by the time this journey is over, whenever that will be, the country will be empty and comprehensively hollowed out. The carnage could turn out to be numbing and crippling. By the way, locusts are known to be destructive given their voracious appetite for food. They, like our rulers, are at their worst when they exhibit swarming behaviour under certain conditions. Also like Nigerian politicians, locusts can and do devastate farms and cause significant economic damage wherever and whenever they invade any territory. Desert locusts are reported to be some of the most destructive species. And they are mostly found in Africa. Politicians are some of the worst species in many countries. The worst of the worst are mostly found in Africa with Nigeria competing strongly for the number one position. There are some other interesting bits about locusts that parallel Nigerian politicians. Each locust can eat its weight in plants daily. A typical Nigerian ruler can steal more than he needs in 10 lifetimes. Locust swarms can consume vast amounts of food to rival the daily consumption of residents of well populated cities. The same can be said of the amazing capacity of our rulers to steal from the commonwealth, even money that would confound their successors up to the fourth generation.

    It was not long ago that Nigeria’s president, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reminded us that the problems we are contending with currently, over which he has been exerting so much energy and sleepless nights to reverse, were because his predecessors were nonchalant in their governance style which failed to provide for the upcoming generations. In other words, the earlier rulers spared no thoughts for future generations of Nigerians. The irony was that at the time that Tinubu was grandstanding and waxing philosophical, his regime was busy borrowing and accumulating foreign and domestic debts for the next generations he claimed to be concerned about to repay. For the discerning, the president was engaged in theatre. It was a performance for his choristers, and the unwary. And the background music was the ubiquitous…’On your mandate…’ which is now strongly competing to dislodge the national anthem at events organised by the national assembly, and the ruling All Progressives Congress [APC] political party. At some formal sessions and sittings of the national assembly, including during budget presentations by the president, the partisan ‘On your mandate…’ dwarfs and takes precedent over the national anthem. This speaks to the state of the fears of some people about state capture by this regime.

    Apart from propaganda and the desperate search for wins where there are no wins, the current APC regime is notorious for borrowing and taxation. It has made deceit an artform, and a governance imperative. For them there will always be a lie as a solution to every problem. To tax or borrow and spend on productive ventures can be excused. But to tax and borrow, and then leave Nigerians wondering what happened to the revenues is numbing. It is also troubling to tax and borrow to fund the lavish lifestyles of our rulers, and the profligacy of the regime. Our rulers cannot in good conscience, that’s if they have conscience, ask us to tighten our belts whilst they’re loosening theirs. That’s wicked. That’s evil. That’s unconscionable. Sadly, that’s what is happening now.

    “Elsewhere, a commentator who identified as Umar Sani, likened the speculated proposed sale of public investments in some oil assets, and the amendment of the PIA, to winding down [liquidation] of a corporation but in this case the country.“

    And like buccaneers our rulers are now reported to be training their eyes on our national oil assets. The goal is essentially two folds- increase the revenue accruing to the regime, and asset stripping for the benefit of regime honchos, their collaborators and business partners. The plot is laid out, starting with the amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act [PIA]. The amendment is given since we have a pliable national assembly which has elected to be a parastatal under the presidency. The curated and carefully selected leadership of the national assembly said from the onset that the primary reason for their existence is to accede, without question, to ALL the demands of the president and his executive council. What this means in effect is that looming vandalisation of our national oil assets is a fait accompli unless Nigerians rise to the challenge to say enough is enough. The designs on the oil assets are clear, and coming into the public domain. But that an alarm has been blown on the scheme by industry operators and sundry watchers does not seem to deter the government.

    Instead the regime has started preparing the grounds by falsely claiming that $18billion has been secured through some of its reforms in sectors of the oil and gas industry. “Nigeria secures $18bn in oil and gas investment commitments” was one of the headlines that trended last week. To be sure, ‘commitments’ are not contracts”. As someone wrote, “in the oil and gas sector, they [commitments] often amount to handshake promises, useful for optics [and photo opportunities], but rarely backed by enforceable timelines, financing structures, or regulatory clarity. Without transparency, execution plans, and measurable milestones, such announcements risk becoming political theatre rather than economic transformation. Nigeria deserves more than ceremonial pledges. We need bankable deals, local capacity building, and a clear path to energy security”. The danger is that the planned alteration of the PIA and the expected accompanying assets stripping, and the ceding of portions of our oil commonwealth to self and acolytes and business partners will not ensure and assure “a clear path to energy security” for our country.

    Elsewhere, a commentator who identified as Umar Sani, likened the speculated proposed sale of public investments in some oil assets, and the amendment of the PIA, to winding down [liquidation] of a corporation but in this case the country. His could be an extreme position probably borne out of deep concern over the frightening dimensions of the proposals allegedly by this administration. With this regime and given its insatiable appetite, lust and hankering for money, and more money for hedonistic and less than altruistic purposes, the planned spinning off of the country’s productive, profitable and strategic investments in the oil and gas industry to benefit individuals and private corporations should not be treated as red herring. The trending exposé in the media, even if by unknown author[s], was imbued with the knowledge and expertise of insiders.

    The whistleblowers made their presentations in two parts- asset stripping, and sudden alteration of the PIA. They voiced their opposition to the two plots and urged Nigerians to take a stand because of the feared dire consequences of letting the plot succeed. The first issue they raised was the ‘Planned sale of Federation’s equity in the Upstream oil and gas JVs [Joint Ventures]’, and the ‘Proposed amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act [PIA]’. They described their action as “a call to defend Nigeria’s future and economic security”. They said: (The) “Federal Government led by the ministry of petroleum incorporated [MOPI] and the ministry of finance incorporated [MOFI], have planned to sell significant portions of Nigeria’s equity in some of our best-performing oil and gas joint ventures”. They proceeded to name the JVs in which the Federation’s equity is being sold to private individuals, the prospective beneficiaries, and the percentages involved. Some of the JVs slated for divestments are Renaissance Africa Energy Company [RAEC JV] where 25% of the current 55% held in trust by the NNPCL for the Federation will be sold to an Indian oil firm, Sterling; 25% of the 60% in Oando JV will be spinned off and then sold to Oando Oil Company led by Wale Tinubu. Nigeria’s president is Bola Tinubu. If the sale is effected the Federation will be left with 35% equity in Oando; the Federation holds 60% equity in Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited JV. The plan is to sell 35% to an unnamed company which is alleged to be in the orbit of Chagoury & Chagoury, a well known long-standing business partner of Tinubu, Nigeria’s president.

    The whistleblowers contended that the planned divestments will lead to loss of control of strategic national assets. They argued that “handing over control of these JVs to a few individuals [will] take away [the] sovereign ability of the Nigerian state to control its national economic affairs”, and could lead to economic shocks that could threaten the stability of the country. It is also their contention that the sales of the JV assets to a few “well-connected private individuals” will be at great expense to Nigeria’s energy security. “… (T)he revenue coming from these JVs are among the country’s most reliable source of revenue and foreign exchange. Shrinking the Federation’s stake in the JV means shrinking of the Federation’s revenue and Forex inflow. This is simply selling away Nigeria’s assets that have sustained the Nigerian nation since the discovery of crude oil in Nigeria “. They also warned that the planned divestments will be a threat to jobs, discourage skills transfer, blunt vendor opportunities, and make host-community obligations moot. The whistleblowers further argued that selling the identified critical and profitable national oil assets will endanger existing potential employment opportunities. “This is because reduced equity means a weaker say on field development [and] local content targets. This is tantamount to taking Nigerians’ power to manage their resources from them. Once the crown jewels are sold, they are difficult and costly to recover. This will then set a precedent for further disposals and it will greatly undermine intergenerational equity in the management of our natural resources. These assets belong to Nigerians. They must not be traded away behind closed doors for the benefit of a few”.

    The whistleblowers also canvassed against altering the PIA, claiming that the move will work against the interest of Nigerians. “The amendment is planned with personal interest and so it will destroy [the] stability of the [oil and gas] industry and discourage investment. The amendment is designed to hand over the nation’s oil and gas resources in deep water to a…few rich private individuals who are within the corridors of power”. The whistleblowers signed off as a Committee of Patriotic Forces. The gravity of the issues raised above by this so-called Committee of Patriotic Forces notwithstanding, it must be noted that the oil and gas industry is a shark-infested terrain. That business is ‘ike keta orie’ or might is right or the survival of the fittest. It’s not for the faint-hearted. It is a business for the financially well-heeled and politically well-connected. In effect the alarm raised by this Committee could be due to patriotism, but it could also be sour grapes and false alarms by losers in the bazaar of auctioning our collective oil assets by the privileged few for their own personal and selfish purposes. But whichever it is, the government has a bounden duty to lift the veil on the status of the country’s oil assets and provide clarity on its policy concerning this sector of the oil and gas industry. On this allegation, silence cannot be golden.

    UGO ONUOHA, Veteran Journalist, was the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Champion Newspapers Limited

  • Experts decry global inequality, urge Nigeria to embrace China’s GGI

    Experts decry global inequality, urge Nigeria to embrace China’s GGI

    Flustered by the illusion that the solution to Nigeria’s governance challenge lies in foreign ideologies, a group has recommended the adoption of Chinese Global Governance Initiative (GGI) to foster inclusive development.

    The group says they are however, bothered by existing inequality in the contemporary global system and the impunity of major powers.

    It therefore, urged Nigeria to instead embrace China’s Global Governance Initiative as a panacea.

    The group is operating under the aegis of International Relations Experts, and made the call during a one-day seminar on the GGI with the theme: “Opportunities for China-Africa Cooperation under the GGI,” on Thursday in Abuja.

    The GGI is China’s framework designed to promote fairness, equity and inclusive development globally.

    Mr Charles Onunaiju, Director of the Centre for China Studies, described the GGI as a timely response to “the obvious deficit in global governance,” particularly the exclusion of voices from the Global South in decision-making.

    He warned that outcomes in the global system would remain “paralysed without the wisdom and input of the majority world.”

    “China has taken a bold step to bridge this lacuna with the Global Governance Initiative,” Onunaiju said.

    “It is not just a slogan but an idea whose time has come. Nigeria must not stay on the sidelines.”

    He also proposed the establishment of a Nigeria-China joint committee on the GGI to design action plans, exchange expertise, and strengthen cooperation.

    Prof. Sheriff Ibrahim, Director of the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research, criticised global institutions for favouring “a handful of dominant powers at the expense of billions of others.”

    He emphasised that exclusion begins at the UN Security Council, where only five nations hold permanent seats.

    “There is a need to involve every continent, every region as a permanent member,” Ibrahim said.

    “The impunity of powerful nations in breaching UN resolutions without consequence has eroded trust in international law.

    Reform is not optional, it is urgent.”

    He also called for reforms in the International Monetary Fund and the G20 to reflect the realities of developing nations.

    “What happens to Africa, the Pacific, Latin America or the Caribbean? Why is the Chinese yuan sidelined?

    “Let there be inclusion in the international monetary establishment,” he added.

    Ambition and Opportunity

    Dr. Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, described China’s proposals as both “ambition and opportunity.”

    “China seeks a fairer world order.

    “Nigeria must position itself strategically to benefit from this shift,” Amadi said.

    He added that Nigeria’s key lesson from China was the importance of adaptive reforms.

    “China did not copy models blindly. Under Deng Xiaoping, it adapted reforms to its own reality.

    “Nigeria must do the same industrialise, stabilise politically, and then leverage initiatives like the GGI.

    “We cannot remain weak domestically and expect to benefit globally,” he stressed.

    Level playing field

    Dr Muhammad Sani of the Department of Mass Communication, Baze University, noted that the GGI speaks directly to Nigeria’s push for fairness and inclusive development.

    “It levels the playing field for developing nations and restores justice in global decision-making,” he said.

    According to him, Nigeria’s BRICS membership, peacekeeping record, and advocacy for UN reform already align with GGI principles.

    “With GGI frameworks, Nigeria can diversify trade, expand renewable energy, and build digital innovation hubs.

    “But rhetoric must give way to action. Priority should be renewable grids, green jobs and digital skills for youth,” Sani added.

    Shared future

    Also speaking, Chinese Embassy Counselor, Dong Hairong, said the GGI was one of four initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping to advance “a community with a shared future.”

    Dong explained that the five guiding principles of the GGI: sovereign equality, rule of law, multilateralism, people-centred development and real action had already gained wide recognition.

    “Nigeria particularly welcomes them as aligned with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and its own national development aspirations,” she said.

    She reiterated China’s readiness to work with Nigeria and Africa to reform global institutions, address under-representation of the South, and promote consensus on climate, trade, cyberspace and innovation.

    “China is ready to cooperate under the GGI to build a just global order,” Dong said.

  • NLC demands probe of UBA Fire, market Infernos

    NLC demands probe of UBA Fire, market Infernos

    Insists that the fires are totally not accidents of fate

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded an independent probe into the recent United Bank for Africa (UBA) fire and other infernos on Lagos Island.

    This is according to a statement signed by the Acting President of NLC, Prince Adewale Adeyanju,  on Thursday in Abuja.

    It would be recalled that on Sept. 16, no fewer than  six people died in the UBA Afriland Building blaze, while several others sustained injuries and remain hospitalised.

    “Our grief is worsened by the fresh memory of another devastating fire that consumed shops and warehouses in the same axis, destroying livelihoods and goods valued in billions of Naira.

    “These fires are totally not accidents of fate. They are products of systemic rot, institutional negligence,, and disregard for safety rules which expose citizens to needless deaths and losses,” it said.

    The NLC said that the sight of workers jumping out of windows to escape the UBA fire was disheartening.

    “Were there safety precautions in the building design? Were workers trained? Where were crisis management teams?” the statement asked.

    The congress also expressed concern over recurring market fires in Lagos, calling them an annual ritual that should have been addressed with adequate safeguards.

    It added that every society was judged by how it safeguarded citizens.

    “In Lagos, we see the opposite fires without water, collapsing buildings without rescue, citizens without emergency response.

    “Why do emergency agencies continue to budget billions annually yet arrive unprepared in moments of crisis?.

    “Why are corporate institutions allowed to compromise safety standards without accountability?” it asked.

    The NLC,  therefore, demanded the investigation of the fires, compensation for victims, mandatory safety enforcement, and adequate funding for emergency services.

    “No worker should leave home for work and end up in the morgue because of preventable disasters,” it said.

    The NLC also warned against reducing the tragedies to mere statistics.

    “The blood of the workers cries out for justice,” the statement said.

    The NLC commended NEMA for issuing flood warnings but urged proactive evacuations and long-term solutions to annual flooding linked to water releases from Cameroon.

    It called on Nigerians to resist normalising tragedies.

    “We must demand institutions that work, safety that is guaranteed, and governance that protects, not abandons,” the NLC stated.

  • Alleged bribe of $6b: EFCC re-arraigns ex-Power Minister, Agunloye

    Alleged bribe of $6b: EFCC re-arraigns ex-Power Minister, Agunloye

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday re-arraigned Dr Olu Agunloye for alleged infractions in the award of contract for Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station.

    Dr. Agunloye was alleged to have perpetrated the fraudulent act while acting as the Minister of Power and Steel.

    The EFCC had dragged Agunloye, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, Abuja, on amended seven count- charge, bordering on disobedient to presidential directive, forgery and receiving gratification.

    At the resumed hearing in the matter, Prosecution counsel, M. K. Hussain, holding the brief of Abba Muhammed, SAN, informed the court that he was ready for the cross examination of PW3.

    He also stated that, the prosecution had filed its second amended charge against the defendant.

    He urged the court to allow the defendant to take his plea on the second amended charge.

    But Counsel for Agunloye, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, did not object to his client taking plea to the second amended charge.

    The amended seven count charge was subsequently read to the defendant and Agunloye, however, pleaded not guilty to the amended charge.

    In the amended charge marked FCT/HC/CR/617/2023, EFCC alleged that Agunloye on May 22, 2003 knowingly disobeyed the directive of the President made at the Federal Executive Council meeting of May 21, 2023.

    He claimed that the directive was in pursuant to the President’s powers under Section 5(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

    The prosecution further alleged that the defendant went ahead and signed a letter addressed to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL), conveying the “approval of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the construction of the 3,960 megawatts Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station.”

    EFCC also alleged that on May 22, 2003, Agunloye conspired with Leno Adesanya of SPTCL now at large to do an illegal act to wit; forgery of a letter titled, “Construction of 3,960 megawatts Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station on a build, operate and transfer basis.”

    The commission among others alleged that the former minister on different dates in 2019 received various sums of money, totalling N5.212 million from SPTCL and Leno Adesanya, through Jide Abiodun Sotirin through Agunloye’s Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account, for conveying the Federal Government’s approval for the construction of the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station.

    The former minister has consistently maintained his innocence of the charge preferred against him by the anti-graft agency.

    After his not-guilty plea, Hussain informed the court that the PW3, Umar Hussein Babangida, was absent in court.

    He, therefore, pleaded with the court to vacate the earlier dates of Sept. 22 and 25 fixed for hearing the case, adding that the former dates had been communicated to the defence team.

    Based on parties’ agreement, Justice Onwuegbuzie consequently adjourned the matter until Oct. 9 for cross examination of the PW3.

  • PENCOM inaugurates leadership council to shore up coverage gaps

    PENCOM inaugurates leadership council to shore up coverage gaps

    The National Pension Commission (PENCOM) has unveiled the Pension Industry Leadership Council (PILC), a multi-stakeholder consultative body aimed to foster synergy between the regulator and industry operators.

    Performing the unveiling ceremony on Thursday in Abuja, the Director General of PENCOM, Omolola Oloworaran says the body shall address persistent challenges plaguing the sector as well as expanding pension coverage.

    Oloworaran said PILC’s core mandates include expanding pension coverage, enforcing governance standards, and driving innovation across the industry to safeguard contributors’ interests.

    The PenCom DG also unveiled what they called Pension Revolution 2.0, which is a set of reforms championed by President Bola Tinubu.

    The initiative introduces a minimum pension guarantee and healthcare coverage for retirees, described as unprecedented in Nigeria’s pension history.

    She assured stakeholders that PenCom is working with government partners on new investment instruments and revised regulations to hedge against inflation and currency depreciation.

    Oloworaran added that contributors’ Retirement Savings Accounts would retain long-term value under the new measures.

    She explained that pension funds would be increasingly deployed into infrastructure, agriculture, affordable housing, and capital markets to spur jobs and growth without compromising safety.

    According to her, pensions are expected to serve as a pillar of social protection, inclusion, and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.

    Oloworaran disclosed that significant progress had been made on the N758 billion bond, noting that government efforts are ongoing.

    She also urged the media to champion advocacy for better retirement planning in the country. 

  • Spotify unveils video celebrating Afrobeats’ dynamic evolution

    Spotify unveils video celebrating Afrobeats’ dynamic evolution

    Tech group, Spotify has  released a captivating new video that chronicles the vibrant evolution of Afrobeats, tracing its transformative journey from the 2000s to the 2020s.

    The video also highlights the cultural impact of Afrobeats on the global music stage.

    In a statement on Saturday, Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, said Afrobeats, a genre known for its constant reinvention, has evolved through decades of innovation.

    According to Okumu, the genre blends influences from street pop, Fuji, Amapiano, drill, and even prayer chants.

    READ ALSO: Celebrity Chef, Hilda Baci sets another world record

    “Today, Afrobeats continues to push boundaries with fearless experimentation, cementing its status as a global musical phenomenon.

    “The animated short film showcases Afrobeats’ rise from local Nigerian dance floors to international stages, spotlighting the artistes, movements, and pivotal moments that have shaped its trajectory.”

    According to her, the video serves as a tribute to the creativity and resilience that have made Afrobeats a cultural export and the heartbeat of a generation.

    Okumu ememphasised the genre’s significance, stating, “The story of Afrobeats is one of constant innovation and incredible growth.

    “This animated video honours it while showcasing its limitless potential, celebrating the artistes and fans who have shaped its legacy.

    “Music fans can watch the full video on Spotify’s platform to explore the rich evolution of Afrobeats and its enduring influence on global music.” 

  • Celebrity Chef, Hilda Baci sets another world record

    Celebrity Chef, Hilda Baci sets another world record

    – Hailed by Tinubu’s wife

    Nigerian chef Hilda Baci has secured another place in the Guinness World Records after cooking the largest pot of jollof rice and serving the dish in Lagos.

    Baci first gained international attention in May 2023 with her 100-hour cook-a-thon in Lagos.

    Baci, in partnership with Gino Nigeria, achieved the second feat  on Sept. 13, where she cooked 4,000 kilogrammes, about 200 bags of Basmati rice in a 22,619-litre pot, measuring six metres wide and six metres tall in a procedure that lasted about nine hours.

    The Guinness World Records confirmed the achievement on Monday in a post on X: “New record: Largest serving of Nigerian style Jollof rice – 8,780 kg (19,356 lb 9 oz) achieved by Hilda Baci and Gino in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.”

    Acknowledging the feat, Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, congratulated Ms Baci, for setting another Guinness World Record for cooking the largest serving of Nigerian-style Jollof Rice.

    Mrs Tinubu in her congratulatory message issued in Abuja on Tuesday, acknowledged that Hilda Baci’s achievement was rare, and  had brought her to international limelight.

    She further prayed for greater accomplishments for Hilda Baci and other Nigerian youth who dared to dream.

    PLEASE READ: Strike: Dangote, NUPENG talks deadlocked

    According to the First Lady, “Your passion, resilience and creativity in showcasing your craft as a Celebrity Chef of one of Nigeria’s most loved dishes on the global stage is inspiring.

    “Your art of culinary techniques has not only brought pride to our dear nation, but has gained national and global recognition.

    “Through this feat, you have shown what young Nigerian women can accomplish with hard work, determination and power of innovation.

    The 28-year-old chef had initially planned to cook 5,000 kilogrammes, 250 bags of rice but reduced it to 200 bags due to weighing challenges.

    Guinness rules required strict, precise measurement of ingredients and output, with organisers ensuring no food was wasted.

  • Nigeria-UK trade hit all-time-high at N16trn

    Nigeria-UK trade hit all-time-high at N16trn

    British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, says the trade value between Nigeria and Britain, which currently stands at 7.9 billion pounds (16 trillion naira) has hit an unprecedented level.

    Montgomery made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He lauded the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) which he said boosts trade relations by removing non-tariff trade and investment barriers to foster cooperation in priority sectors.

    According to him, the ETIP, which also promotes collaboration with the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), would scale the trade value by providing generous trading terms and tariff reductions on Nigerian products. 

    “So I’m really delighted at our most recent trade figures. The 7.9 billion pounds or 16 trillion Naira trade is the highest that it’s ever been between the UK and Nigeria. And so it’s a very positive trajectory.

    PLEASE READ: Unpaid benefits: Pensioners threaten nationwide ‘naked protest’

    “The enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) is exciting because it’s a mutually agreed set of sectors and issues on which the UK and Nigeria government are going to work on.

    “It’s happening under the umbrella of our respective ministers, the federal minister of industry, investment and trade, and the UK business and trade minister,” he said.

    He added: “The exciting thing about ETIP is, and you’ve used the word leverage, that’s precisely right.

    “It identifies through mutual agreement the areas that the UK feels it has a comparative advantage in and the areas that Nigeria wants to create more economic opportunities in.”

    Montgomery said the UK was not competitive in all sectors, but has major advantages in various sectors, including the financial services, new technology, financial technology, artificial intelligence and other digital platforms.

    The British envoy said that in the creative economy, his country has some advanced manufacturing and advanced energy solutions, which are worth looking at, and credible in the Nigerian context.

    READ ALSO: Petroleum upstream sector reform delivers 28 FDPs worth $18b

    He said the UK was doing a lot in higher education investments in the Nigerian education sector, as well as in the agricultural sector to boost Nigeria’s agricultural exports, considering its high potential.

    “So, the ETIP identifies these priorities and we have ways of following up in each sector with the businesses and the government agencies on both sides that can unlock more investment and growth.

    “The aim is mutual growth, it’s creating jobs in both our countries, and that’s why it’s really important that we realise that ETIP is mutually agreed and negotiated, it’s in both our interests,” he added.

  • Mixed reactions greet end of emergency rule in Rivers

    Mixed reactions greet end of emergency rule in Rivers

    The lifting of emergency rule in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu has triggered mixed reactions from stakeholders in the state.

    Tinubu on Wednesday announced the end of emergency rule in Rivers, and reinstated Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and members of the state assembly after six months of suspension.

    A Niger Delta activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs, described the announcement as expected but raised concerns over the uncertainties surrounding Fubara’s return to full constitutional duties.

    She said that Rivers people were expecting Fubara to return as governor and perform his constitutional duties without being gagged.

    “Until the governor is allowed to freely carry out constitutional responsibilities, we cannot say exactly what the lifting of suspension portends,” Briggs said.

    The activist said that the six months period of emergency rule was characterised by project abandonment, poor performance and undemocratic practices.

    Briggs further stated that the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers inflicted incalculable losses on the people.

    She said that Rivers people would demand accountability for the period the state was governed under emergency rule.

    Darlington Nwauju, a factional Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers, commended Tinubu for lifting the emergency rule, and reinstating Fubara.

    READ ALSO: Fubara resumes today as Tinubu ends controversial emergency rule in Rivers state

    Nwauju however, said that the state witnessed unprecedented poor governance and mismanagement of resources during the six months period.

    “Rivers was poorly managed during the past six months. The sanitary condition alone reflected absence of governance. Workers experienced delayed salary payments,” he said.

    He said that the emergency rule period had left Fubara with the huge tasks of restoring confidence, improving infrastructure, and re-establishing investor confidence.

    “The state did not attract any foreign direct investment during the emergency rule period, but we must move on now that democracy is back in action,” he said.

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    Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the President, Ijaw National Congress, said that although the emergency rule had been lifted, the state was taken several years backwards.

    He claimed that no fewer than 10,000 jobs were lost during the six months of emergency rule in the oil-rich state

    According to him, suspending the governor, his deputy and the legislature handed absolute power to a sole administrator and undermined  democratic principles.

    Analysts say that although the lifting of emergency rule has ended uncertainties, questions remain concerning the political climate that awaits Fubara as he returns to office.

    They suggest that sincere reconciliation between the governor and other political stakeholders will determine the pace of recovery.