The people of Iwo-Ama Nkoro in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State may soon be connected to the national electricity grid, following a commitment by the council chairman, Hon. James A. James, to end the community’s prolonged dependence on a faulty local generator.
The proposed connection to the national grid is part of efforts by the James-led administration to provide the ancient satellite community of Nkoro Kingdom with a more sustainable and dependable electricity supply.
For more than nine years, residents of Iwo-Ama Nkoro have lived without electricity after the community’s power generator broke down and was abandoned by successive administrations.
The situation has now changed following the intervention of the council chairman, who repaired and restored the generator, bringing electricity back to the community.
Community leaders and youths have welcomed the development, describing it as a significant step towards reconnecting Iwo-Ama Nkoro with economic activities and improving the quality of life of its residents.
Speaking on the restoration, community leaders, including Alabo Wilson Osokor and Hon. Harry Derrick, commended James for reviving the community’s electricity supply after years of darkness.
They said access to electricity would boost small businesses, improve household activities and provide young people with better opportunities to engage in productive ventures.
The residents, however, appealed to the council to ensure regular provision of diesel to keep the generator running pending the proposed connection to the national grid.
According to the Special Adviser to the Chairman on Media, Bestman Silas Dokubo, connecting Iwo-Ama Nkoro to the national grid would represent a more lasting solution to the community’s electricity challenges.
Dokubo said the chairman’s decision to restore the abandoned generator was only an immediate intervention, while the plan to connect the community to the national grid was aimed at securing a more reliable and sustainable power supply.
He said the administration had also facilitated electrical connections from existing poles to individual homes and provided the community with a modern electrical ladder for emergency repairs and maintenance.
The chairman’s commitment, he added, reflected his administration’s concern for the welfare and development of the people of Iwo-Ama Nkoro.
The planned grid connection is expected to reduce the community’s reliance on generator-powered electricity and provide a stronger foundation for economic development.
For residents who have endured more than nine years of darkness, the prospect of joining the national grid could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the community’s development. Oruigoni is the Information/Public Relations Officer, Opobo/Nkoro LGA.
This angle makes the national-grid commitment the main news, while presenting the generator restoration as the immediate step towards that larger objective.
The Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, in the middle, with officials of CHAI during the visit.
The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has stressed the need for a sustainable and resilient healthcare supply chain to guarantee uninterrupted access to quality medical services for residents of the state.
The Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, Dr Vetty Agala, stated this on Monday, September 7, 2026, when representatives of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) visited the programme’s office in Port Harcourt.
Agala said an efficient and well-coordinated supply chain remained critical to the effective operation of RIVCHPP, particularly in ensuring the continuous availability of medicines, medical supplies, equipment and other essential resources required across its network of accredited healthcare facilities.
According to her, strengthening the supply chain would not only improve healthcare delivery but also ensure that RIVCHPP enrollees receive timely and quality services without disruptions.
She said RIVCHPP was open to strategic partnerships with the private sector and development organisations capable of supporting efforts to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services for its enrollees.
Speaking at the meeting, CHAI Project Manager, Peace Oruma, said the engagement focused on identifying opportunities to improve access to affordable medicines for RIVCHPP enrollees.
Oruma said discussions also examined ways of improving the sustainability, efficiency and effectiveness of the programme’s pharmaceutical supply management system.
She noted that a stronger pharmaceutical supply chain would contribute significantly to ensuring consistent access to essential medicines while improving the overall effectiveness of the health protection programme.
CHAI, a global health organisation operating at the intersection of government, business and healthcare, has been partnering with RIVCHPP to expand access to affordable healthcare services for residents of Rivers State and reduce the risk of financial hardship arising from medical expenses.
The latest engagement is expected to further strengthen collaboration between the two organisations and support ongoing efforts to improve healthcare access and outcomes across the state.
The Federal Government has fully automated the evaluation and authentication of academic certificates, ending the need for applicants to visit the Federal Ministry of Education physically to access the service.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, said the reform represents a significant step in the government’s digital transformation drive and aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
A statement posted on the Ministry’s X handle and signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations said that under the new system, applicants can complete the entire academic credential evaluation and authentication process online through the Ministry’s dedicated platform.
Alausa said the initiative was designed to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, reduce processing time, enhance transparency and make the service more accessible to Nigerians and applicants residing outside the country.
According to him, the digital system will also strengthen the integrity and credibility of Nigeria’s academic certification process by providing institutions, employers and other stakeholders with a structured and reliable mechanism for verifying educational qualifications.
The minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to deploying technology to modernise education governance, improve institutional efficiency and deliver more responsive, citizen-centred services.
He urged applicants seeking credential evaluation and authentication to make use of the official platform and avoid unnecessary physical visits to the Ministry.
Applicants can access the service through essverify.education.gov.ng, while enquiries can be directed to ess1@education.gov.ng. The development is expected to further streamline the verification of academic credentials while supporting the Federal Government’s broader efforts to digitise public services and improve ease of access for citizens.
UNITAR-CIFAL Nigeria, in collaboration with Health, Environment and You (HEY), has intensified efforts to tackle plastic pollution through an ambitious campaign aimed at recovering 100 million used water sachets and other plastic waste from the environment.
The initiative, which places strong emphasis on environmental education, community mobilisation and circular economy solutions, seeks to transform plastic waste from an environmental burden into an economic resource capable of supporting sustainable livelihoods.
HEY–Health, Environment and You is a group of young people based in Port Harcourt. They started this water-sachet throw pillow venture some months ago. One throw pillow contains 4,000 processed disposed water sachet. The Convener of the group is Mr. Kelvin Ogbonaya.
Under the partnership, discarded water sachets that would otherwise litter streets, clog drainage channels, pollute waterways or end up in dumpsites are being recovered and repurposed into useful and aesthetically appealing products.
HEY’s waste-to-value approach demonstrates the potential of innovative recycling and reuse initiatives to address plastic pollution while creating economic opportunities for individuals and communities.
One example of the initiative’s practical impact is the repurposing of about 4,000 used water sachets into a single decorative throw pillow, underscoring the scale of opportunities that exist in recovering materials often regarded as worthless waste.
The partners said the initiative goes beyond conventional recycling, describing it as a practical pathway towards environmental protection, climate action, circular economy development, job creation, skills acquisition and wealth generation.
They stressed that sustained environmental education and community participation are critical to achieving lasting behavioural change in the management of plastic waste.
The collaboration is also designed to bridge the gap between knowledge and action by encouraging schools, individuals, communities and businesses to become active participants in environmental protection.
Through the programme, participants are being encouraged to rethink their perception of waste and recognise its potential value when properly collected, processed and creatively transformed.
The partners said the vision is to nurture a new generation of environmental champions by moving environmental advocacy beyond classrooms and into communities, where measurable action and impact can be achieved.
The 100-million-sachet recovery campaign therefore represents a broader effort to demonstrate how strategic partnerships, innovation and environmental education can contribute to sustainable development.
UNITAR-CIFAL Nigeria and HEY reaffirmed their commitment to turning waste into resources, pollution into opportunities and environmental challenges into practical solutions for sustainable development.
L-R: NDDC Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde; the Chairman NDDC Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie; Retired Justice of the supreme Court, Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego, Peter-Odili; the NDDC Executive Director Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the 30th President of the NBA, Mr. Olumide Akpata and the NDDC Director Legal Services, Mr Victor Arenyeka, during the NDDC Annual Moot and Mock trial competition, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Ebie spoke during the 2026 Moot and Mock Trial Competition for law Faculties in universities in the region, held at the Dr Nabo Graham Douglas Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Rivers State.
He said that the Commission would continue to play its statutory role in developing and supporting efforts to advance education, especially in legal education through practical training to improve capacity.
He stated: “We have been deliberate about our interventions in the educational and human capacity development of the people of this region. This is evidenced by the repositioning of our foreign and local Postgraduate Scholarship Programmes, and by the provision of infrastructure, roads, hostels, desks and other learning facilities, across many higher institutions in the Niger Delta.”
The NDDC Chairman stressed the importance of Moot Court and Mock Trial competitions in the academic curriculum for law students, and the strategic role they play in shaping and building the confidence of young legal minds.
“Moot Court competitions offer students a platform to hone their advocacy and courtroom presentation skills, and to learn firsthand lessons that will serve them well in their future careers. They offer students an opportunity to step outside the classroom and engage in practical courtroom work,” he said.
“It is our expectation that this competition lays the foundation for the advocacy skills these young legal minds will need to draw attention to the challenges of our region, even at this early stage of their careers.”
In his address, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, noted that the Commission was strengthening its partnerships and collaborations with the Judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association, and, indeed, the wider legal community.
Ogbuku said: “We strongly believe that law, when deployed effectively and efficiently, can be a catalyst for rapid, sustainable development in our region.
He urged the students to look beyond the competition and reflect on how their fresh knowledge and insight could be harnessed toward the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
According to the NDDC boss, “We are at a critical stage in the global socio-economic matrix, a period of rapid energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. We are also at a technological stage where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is experiencing exponential growth. Therefore, our legal education curriculum in the region must adapt quickly and embrace these global shifts and trends to position and equip the region’s future leaders with the skill set to compete globally.”
In a keynote address, the Special Guest of Honour, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Mary Odili, commended NDDC for sponsoring the Moot and Mock Trial competition for law students, stating that it was an essential component of legal training.
She shared her experiences with the students and advised them to make the most of the competition, as not everything was learnt in the classroom.
Also speaking, the 30th President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olumide Akpata, noted that the NDDC understood the transformative powers of legal training.
He observed: “Advocacy is the bedrock of the legal profession. The ability to think on your feet is something AI can’t replicate.”
The Deputy Director-General and Head of the Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Chinonso Mmuozoba, stated that human capacity building was a very important factor in the development of any region, adding that it was central to the development of critical thinking in all professions.
He affirmed that the NDDC was helping with legal education and training for lawyers. He also commended the interventions of NDDC in the educational sector generally. He advised the students to see the trial as more than competition.
In his welcome address, the NDDC Director of Legal Services, Mr Victor Arenyeka, declared that the Moot Court and Mock Trial competitions were key components of the training process for law students globally.
He explained: “Through the Moot Court Competition, we bring together law students from Universities across the region in a healthy contest, frame facts from legal issues peculiar to the socio-political environment of the region, where the students discuss topical matters in environmental law, oil and gas law, petroleum industry laws and sustainable development with a view to offering solutions from a legal standpoint.”
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE has unveiled plans for a public offering that could raise more than N2 trillion, with the company setting a minimum subscription of just 10 ordinary shares valued at N5,250.
The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, disclosed this on Monday at the signing ceremony for the proposed Initial Public Offering (IPO), held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Under the offer, investors will be able to subscribe to 4.1 billion ordinary shares at N525 per share. Each share has a nominal value of $0.000013.
Dangote said the company was deliberately setting a low entry point to make ownership of the refinery accessible to a broad spectrum of Nigerians, describing the offering as an “IPO for the people.”
“In this IPO, we intend to raise just a bit more than N2 trillion, which I’m sure is too small, at an offer price of N525 naira, with a minimum subscription of only 10 shares to fund our expansion of the refinery,” he said.
He explained that proceeds from the offer would primarily support the expansion of the refinery, while also creating an opportunity for Nigerians to acquire an ownership stake in one of the country’s most ambitious industrial projects.
According to him, the initiative was designed to ensure that ownership of the refinery would not be limited to institutional investors or wealthy Nigerians.
He said the structure would allow “drivers, our cooks, our servants, our managers, and everybody” to become shareholders.
Dangote added that investing in the company could provide subscribers with an avenue to build long-term savings through equity ownership, urging Nigerians to view the offer not merely as an investment opportunity but as a chance to participate directly in the growth of the refinery.
The proposed IPO marks a significant development in the evolution of the Dangote refinery, which was conceived as a major response to Nigeria’s longstanding dependence on imported petroleum products. Located in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos, the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility is among the largest single-train oil refineries in the world. Its development has been closely watched because of its potential to transform Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, reduce dependence on imported refined products and strengthen the country’s position as a petroleum-products supplier in Africa.
The refinery began supplying refined petroleum products to the Nigerian market after commissioning, amid expectations that increased domestic refining would help reduce pressure on foreign exchange and improve the security of fuel supply.
Its proposed expansion and the planned injection of additional capital through the IPO indicate an attempt to deepen the refinery’s capacity and broaden its economic impact.
For Dangote, however, the public offer is also about changing the ownership structure of the strategic asset.
By fixing the minimum subscription at 10 shares, the company is seeking to bring small-scale investors into the fold and potentially create a broad shareholder base around an asset that has, until now, been overwhelmingly associated with the Dangote conglomerate.
The company said the offer would therefore serve a dual purpose: raising substantial capital for expansion and opening the doors of ownership to Nigerians across different income groups.
The proposed offer, if successfully completed, would represent one of the most significant attempts to mobilise domestic retail investment around a major Nigerian industrial enterprise.
Dangote maintained that the objective was to make the refinery’s future growth a shared opportunity, rather than an enterprise whose benefits accrue only to its promoters and large investors.
With an offer price of N525 per share and a minimum subscription of N5,250, the proposed IPO is positioned as a mass-market investment opportunity, subject to the applicable regulatory and offer terms.
The National Association of Surveying and Geoinformatics Lecturers (NASGL) has challenged Nigerian universities to urgently modernise geomatics education as artificial intelligence (AI), drones, machine learning, LiDAR, satellite constellations and other disruptive technologies reshape the surveying profession.
The call was made at the opening of the 5th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of NASGL, a subgroup of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), held on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the Staff Development Centre, Rivers State University.
The theme of the conference was “Disruptive Technologies and Geomatics Education”.
Declaring the Conference open, the Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, welcomed participants and described the conference as an important intellectual engagement, reaffirming the university’s commitment to advancing surveying and geomatics education.
The Vice-Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Richard N. Amadi, disclosed that the university had recently approved a nomenclature change for the relevant department to better align it with contemporary professional and industry standards, stressing that the conference was a serious intellectual platform capable of contributing to national development.
The Chairman of the Occasion and Chairman of the Board of Fellows, Surv. Alabo C. D. Charles, JP, FNIS, PPNIS, said surveying had always evolved with technology, moving from traditional instruments and manual processes to digital mapping, satellite remote sensing and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
He said the current technological wave was different in scale because AI, machine learning, LiDAR, digital twins, robotics and other emerging technologies were fundamentally changing how surveying and geospatial professionals work.
He urged stakeholders to approach technological advancement with preparedness, strategic thinking and continuous learning, noting that previous innovations such as GNSS and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) had expanded rather than eliminated the profession.
The NASGL National Chairman, Dr Y. D. Opaluwa, MNIS, called for greater unity and collaboration among lecturers and professionals to confront the rapid technological transformation of the geomatics sector.
He stressed that educators must go beyond teaching existing techniques and prepare students for emerging technologies and professional demands, while strengthening geomatics education, research and professional practice.
Delivering the keynote address, former Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. B. B. Fakae, said disruptive technologies were fundamentally transforming geomatics, geodesy and related geospatial disciplines.
He identified AI and machine learning, drones and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), satellite mega-constellations, cloud computing, Big Data, blockchain applications for land records and Augmented and Virtual Reality as technologies reshaping the acquisition, processing and application of geospatial information.
Prof. Fakae warned that universities risk producing graduates whose skills no longer meet industry expectations if they fail to deliberately respond to the technological revolution.
He identified outdated curricula, inadequate access to modern hardware and software, weak academia-industry collaboration, insufficient research funding, slow adoption of digital teaching systems and the widening gap between graduate competencies and employer expectations as major challenges.
He called for continuous curriculum modernisation, competency-based education, digital learning systems, stronger industry participation in university training, continuous professional development for lecturers and geospatial innovation hubs to support research, entrepreneurship and technology development.
Prof. Fakae also described geomatics education as a strategic national investment, noting that many of Nigeria’s challenges, including urbanisation, climate change, land administration, infrastructure development, agriculture and national security, have strong spatial dimensions.
He urged NASGL and other stakeholders to lead the transformation of geomatics education and equip graduates not only to understand emerging technologies but also to innovate and apply them to real-world national challenges.
Representing the Special Guest of Honour and President of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Surv. P. C. Eze, FNIS, the Vice President, Academic and Professional Issues, Surv. Prof. Gertrude Nnanjar Njar, said the profession was rapidly moving from analogue mapping to real-time and automated data collection and analysis.
The President identified GeoAI, machine learning, autonomous UAVs, mobile LiDAR and nano-satellite constellations as technologies redefining surveying and geospatial practice, adding that professionals were increasingly shifting from manual data collection towards data analysis, management, software-driven processes and geospatial data science.
The President of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON), Surv. M. O. Akinwande, FNIS, in his special remarks, commended Rivers State University and the academic community for hosting the gathering.
He recalled policy developments that have enabled lecturers to engage in professional practice, describing the development as an important bridge between academic knowledge and practical field experience.
Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Dr Godwill T. Pepple, welcomed delegates to Rivers State University and said the gathering would promote knowledge exchange, professional relationships and practical strategies for advancing geomatics education.
NASGL Rivers State Chairman, Dr K. P. Jackson, MNIS, described the conference as a significant gathering of academics and professionals and urged participants to generate ideas capable of strengthening education, research and practice.
SURCON President, Surv. M. O. Akinwande, FNIS, called for technology to be embraced as an opportunity while maintaining professional identity, standards, regulation and the foundational principles of surveying.
The reactions that have followed General Christopher Gwabin Musa’s comments on the treatment of the people of Southern Kaduna during the administration of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai reveal how deeply issues of justice, memory and reconciliation resonate in Nigeria.
Yet beyond the debate itself lies a more important lesson: nations heal when courageous leaders are willing to speak the truth, even when that truth is uncomfortable.
General Musa’s remarks were significant not simply because they touched on a sensitive chapter in Kaduna State’s history, but because they were delivered without bitterness, hostility or a desire for revenge.
In a country where many public figures avoid controversial subjects, Musa’s frankness deserves commendation. Honest conversations are often the first step toward healing longstanding wounds.
What stands out most is that his comments reflected the spirit of forgiveness. Rather than reopening old divisions, he appeared to be encouraging reflection on the lessons that can be learned from the past.
True forgiveness does not require silence. It means acknowledging painful experiences while refusing to allow them to dictate the future. That is the message many Nigerians have drawn from Musa’s intervention.
The experiences of communities in Southern Kaduna have been part of national discourse for years. For many affected persons, acknowledgment of their concerns is itself an important step toward reconciliation.
History shows that societies become stronger when they confront difficult realities rather than ignore them. Sustainable peace is rarely built on denial; it is built on truth, understanding and mutual respect.
Nigeria’s diversity makes this lesson even more important. With hundreds of ethnic groups and multiple religious identities, national unity depends on continuous dialogue and empathy.
The debate generated by Musa’s comments should therefore be welcomed as part of a healthy democratic process. Citizens must be able to discuss sensitive issues openly and responsibly.
Leaders who speak candidly help strengthen public trust. Transparency creates confidence, while silence often breeds suspicion and misunderstanding.
Musa’s comments also reflect emotional maturity and statesmanship. It takes strength to forgive, but it takes even greater strength to discuss painful experiences without seeking personal vindication.
At a time when many societies are becoming increasingly polarised, Nigeria needs leaders who can combine honesty with reconciliation and truth with compassion.
The country’s future will be shaped not only by economic policies and security strategies but also by its willingness to address difficult issues with sincerity and fairness.
Ultimately, General Christopher Gwabin Musa has demonstrated that speaking the truth and promoting unity are not opposing goals. By choosing candour over silence and forgiveness over bitterness, he has shown how courageous conversations can become powerful instruments of national healing.
Chuks Oyema is National Coordinator, APC Grassroots Governance Group APC G3
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu “to direct the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) and the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) to urgently account for over ₦78.8 billion in public funds reportedly diverted, unaccounted for or irregularly spent.”
The grave allegations are documented in the 2024 Annual Report published by the Auditor-General of the Federation on 7 August 2026. According to the Auditor-General, the findings in the report variously covered periods between January and December 2023 and ending on 31 December 2024.
SERAP urged the President “to direct the Ministry and NCTO to publish the full records and audit trail of the ₦33.751 billion 2023 cash transfers, including the name of the beneficiaries, payments, verification, authorisations and reconciliation, and to explain the failure to provide REMITA records to the Auditor-General.”
SERAP urged him “to direct the Ministry and NCTO to account for the ₦36.744 billion payments made without prepayment audit, the ₦4.616 billion in unsupported expenditures, the ₦350.182 million enrolment payments, the ₦89.511 million store purchases and the ₦17.422 million diesel advances.”
SERAP also urged him “to direct appropriate anticorruption agencies to promptly and thoroughly investigate the ₦76.24 billion in questionable and unaccounted-for expenditures at NCTO and ₦2.55 billion at NASSCO, and to ensure the recovery and remittance of any public funds improperly spent, diverted or lost.”
In the letter dated 5 September 2026 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Anyone suspected to be responsible should be sanctioned and prosecuted as appropriate if sufficient admissible evidence is established, irrespective of status, position or institutional affiliation.”
SERAP said, “Every naira identified in the report must be properly accounted for, and any public funds found to have been diverted, misapplied or ‘paid to ineligible or fictitious beneficiaries’ must be fully recovered and remitted to the Treasury.”
The letter, read in part: “The Ministry should be directed to publish a clear schedule showing the amount recovered, the date of recovery, the institution responsible and the Treasury account into which each recovered amount was paid.”
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions and measures including before the ECOWAS Court, and the Inspection Panel, World Bank Accountability Mechanism to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
“There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these very serious allegations.”
“The findings raise fundamental questions about the integrity, transparency and effectiveness of Nigeria’s social protection system, particularly where billions of naira are intended to provide assistance to poor and vulnerable households/beneficiaries.”
“The failure to provide basic payment records and beneficiary information capable of establishing that public funds reached genuine beneficiaries undermines public confidence in the cash-transfer programme and creates a serious risk that funds intended for some of Nigeria’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens may have been lost, misapplied or paid to persons who were not entitled to receive them.”
“The failure to subject billions of naira in payments to prepayment audit, the absence of supporting documents for several expenditures, irregular procurement processes, and payments without evidence of delivery also raise serious concerns about the adequacy of existing safeguards over public funds.”
“Nigerians have the right to know the state-by-state beneficiary numbers, amounts disbursed, payment dates, failed and reversed transactions, amounts returned to the Treasury and all administrative and transaction costs incurred under the cash-transfer programme.”
“The Ministry and NCTO also ought to explain if there is any independent mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from persons who were listed as beneficiaries but did not receive payments, as well as persons whose identities or bank accounts may have been used without their knowledge.”
“SERAP further urges you to direct the Ministry to publish a comprehensive and regularly updated register of all beneficiaries of the cash transfer programmes, subject to appropriate safeguards for personal data and the privacy of vulnerable persons, together with sufficiently detailed and anonymised information.”
“SERAP is particularly concerned about the Auditor-General’s finding that the NCTO made ₦33.751 billion in cash transfers to 3,295,207 households and beneficiaries in 35 states in 2023 without evidence confirming receipt of the money by the beneficiaries.”
“The Auditor-General found that the NCTO failed to provide REMITA statements needed to authenticate the payments and establish whether the beneficiaries were genuine and eligible. The audit report also raised concerns about incomplete beneficiary information and frustration of the audit process.”
“The Federal Government must reconcile the payments against the National Social Register and National Beneficiary Register and independently verify the identity and eligibility of beneficiaries, including identifying any duplicate, fictitious, deceased, ineligible or otherwise irregular beneficiaries.”
“According to the Auditor-General’s report, the NCTO paid ₦4.616 billion for various expenditures without adequate supporting documentation. The Auditor-General is concerned that ‘the money may have been diverted.’”
“The NCTO also ‘paid ₦36.74 billion in December 2023 without prepayment audit or internal audit checks, contrary to applicable financial regulations.’ The NCTO ‘paid ₦89.51 million for store items that were not delivered or entered in the store ledger’. The Auditor-General found that the store ledger had not been updated since 2020.”
“The NCTO also ‘disbursed ₦350.18 million to state coordinators for the enrolment of unbanked beneficiaries’, but the Auditor-General is concerned that ‘the money remained unaccounted for, with no adequate beneficiary lists, acknowledgements or other supporting documentation.’”
“The NCTO ‘spent ₦17.42 million through cash advances to staff for the purchase of diesel.’ The Auditor-General said the expenditure should have been subjected to the applicable procurement process and that the procured items could not be traced to the stores.”
“The NCTO ‘paid ₦280.42 million as mobilisation and advance payment to Payment Service Providers without an Advance Payment Guarantee.’ The Auditor-General found no evidence that due process was followed in their selection.”
“The NCTO also ‘failed to account for ₦393.71 million in unutilised funds disbursed to nine states for beneficiary enrolment activities.’ Although the NCTO reportedly claimed that the funds were returned to the Treasury, the Auditor-General found no evidence showing that the money was credited to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.”
“NASSCO also ‘paid ₦2.24 billion paid through 158 vouchers without prepayment audit.’”
“NASSCO also ‘paid ₦44.55 million for laptops that were not delivered or entered in the store ledger, ₦19.76 million for advertisements without evidence that the publications were made, and ₦141.01 million to two contractors for software without NITDA clearance.”
“NASSCO also ‘paid ₦16.93 million paid to 56 officers for National Social Register data reconciliation without supporting documentation and ₦14.53 million paid for staff reimbursement relating to National Social Register validation and verification activities without supporting documentation.’”
“NASSCO ‘paid ₦14.53 million as reimbursement to one officer rather than individually to the 55 staff concerned, with no acknowledgements of receipt.’”
“NASSCO ‘awarded ₦27.56 million to an unqualified contractor for the design and printing of materials and paid ₦44 million in insurance premiums to two companies without evidence of the premium payments.’”
“SERAP is particularly concerned that the audit findings reveal repeated failures of basic financial and administrative controls, including the failure to conduct mandatory prepayment audits, missing payment and procurement records, payments for goods and services that could not be verified, inadequate beneficiary documentation, questionable procurement processes and unaccounted-for public funds.”
“Transparent investigation and accountability are especially important where the public funds concerned are part of programmes designed to provide social assistance to millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians.”
“Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes a responsibility on government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter II of the Constitution. Section 15(5) requires the State to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 14 further provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
“Nigeria is also a state party to the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which require effective measures to prevent, investigate and sanction corruption and promote accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.”
“Article 9 of the UN Convention requires appropriate systems of public procurement and public finances founded on transparency, competition and objective criteria. Article 10 requires measures to enhance transparency in public administration, including access to information. Article 13 recognises the role of civil society and public participation in preventing and combating corruption.”
All roads lead to Nha Trang, Vietnam, on Saturday as Nigeria’s representative at the 2026 Miss World Festival, Queen Tamunosoye Karibi-George, takes centre stage in the competition’s grand finale, with a high-powered Nigerian delegation mobilising support for the Rivers State-born beauty queen.
The finale has generated excitement among Nigerians in Vietnam following Karibi-George’s impressive run in the competition, which has seen her secure a place among the Top 40 contestants and emerge as one of the African contestants attracting significant attention.
Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, earned her place in the Top 40 after navigating the preliminary stages of the competition, strengthening Nigeria’s hopes of recording a strong finish at the global pageant.
Her campaign has also been built around the Miss World philosophy of “Beauty With a Purpose,” with her advocacy and public engagements helping to position her as more than a contestant competing for a crown.
A high-powered Federal Government delegation is in Nha Trang to support the Nigerian representative. President Bola Tinubu is represented by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who is leading the delegation.
Rivers State is also strongly represented, with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honor Sirawoo, mni, representing Governor Siminalayi Fubara and leading the state delegation.
Among other prominent Nigerians in Vietnam is Prof Steve Azaiki, former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government and former member of the House of Representatives, who also serves as Chairman of Miss World Nigeria.
Also present is Engr Udengs Eradiri, a Bayelsa-based activist and politician, while the Silverbird Group delegation is led by the National Director of Miss World Nigeria, Guy Murray-Bruce.
Karibi-George’s family has equally travelled to Vietnam to stand behind her, with her parents, Barrister Karibi and Mrs Ebitari George, joined by her uncle, Dr Dawari George, a former member of the House of Representatives, alongside other members of the Prince George Group of Houses from Buguma, Rivers State, and the Aganaba Royal Family of Odi, Bayelsa State.
The TeamSoye lead, Prince Iwefa Aganaba, described the finale as a “coronation ceremony” celebrating beauty, purpose and national pride.
The strong African solidarity behind the Nigerian contestant has further heightened expectations, with supporters describing the level of continental backing for Soye as unprecedented in the history of the competition.
Karibi-George’s journey to the Miss World stage has been closely followed in Nigeria since she was crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026. Her emergence has particularly resonated in Rivers State, where her success has been celebrated as a source of pride for the state and the wider Niger Delta.
With the grand finale now upon the contestants, attention is focused on whether the Nigerian beauty queen can convert her strong preliminary showing into a place among the finalists and ultimately challenge for the coveted Miss World crown.
For the Nigerian delegation in Nha Trang, however, the message is unequivocal: Nigeria is ready, Nigeria is here, and the day belongs to Soye.
