The Nigerian stock market on Wednesday sustained its bullish run, with investors’ wealth increasing by N254 billion on the back of renewed bargain hunting.
The upward trend was driven by demand in equities such as Regency Alliance Insurance, Mecure, Etranzact, Daar Communications, Deap Capital and 31 other stocks.
The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) market capitalisation, which opened at N88.199 trillion, rose by N254 billion or 0.29 per cent to close at N88.453 trillion.
Similarly, the All-Share Index appreciated by 0.29 per cent or 401.36 points, finishing at 139,796.11 compared with 139,394.75 recorded on Monday.
The market breadth also closed positive, with 36 gainers outnumbering 19 losers.
Regency Alliance Insurance led the gainers’ table with a 10 per cent rise, closing at N1.43. Mecure followed, advancing 9.92 per cent to N21.60 per share.
Etranzact gained 9.73 per cent to settle at N12.40, while Daar Communications appreciated 9.57 per cent, ending the session at N1.03 per share.
Likewise, Deap Capital Management rose by 9.52 per cent, closing at N1.84 per share.
On the losers’ chart, Unilever Nigeria recorded the highest decline of 9.79 per cent, settling at N63.15 per share.
FTN Cocoa Processors fell 9.40 per cent to N5.40, while Ellah Lakes declined 8.76 per cent to close at N13.02 per share.
Linkage Assurance dropped 6.85 per cent to N2.04, while Berger Paints shed 6.33 per cent, closing at N35.50 per share.
An analysis of trading showed a decline in market activity, as investors exchanged 659.2 million shares worth N12.5 billion in 25,334 deals.
This was lower than Monday’s 947.9 million shares valued at N17.9 billion, traded in 36,036 transactions.
FCMB Group emerged the most active stock, recording 202.5 million shares valued at N2.1 billion.
Universal Insurance followed with 63.1 million shares worth N79.4 million, while FirstHoldCo transacted 44.2 million shares valued at N1.34 billion.
Regency Alliance Insurance accounted for 30.9 million shares worth N43.8 million, while Access Corporation traded 26.12 million shares valued at N676.42 million.
It is no longer news that Rivers State conducted a local government election in August 30, 2025 which ushered in new set of council chairmen and councillors across the 23 local government areas and 319 wards in the state.
While public discourse continues to rage on the manner of the emergence of these leaders at the grassroots level, what is important at the moment is to galvanise public opinion that would change the perception of the elected leaders in governance, leadership, accountability and transparency, with the aim of witnessing robust development in the LGAs.
Local government administration in Nigeria and indeed in Rivers State is designed to be the closest tier of governance to the people, bringing developments that would change the socio political cum economic lives of the people at the grassroots.
Over the years, unfortunately, local government administrations failed in their core mandate of grassroots development. They remained derelict, failing to bridge governance and grassroots development, having severely underperformed in delivering vital services.
The expectation and promises of bringing government nearer to the people has become a mirage, a fleeting illusion pursued, but never attained. Rather, local administrations became a system riddled with corruption, political interference, and sheer neglect.
Reports since 2015 point to corruption, poor planning, incompetence, and lack of transparency as the critical obstacles to sustainable local development. Council chairmen, who are often handpicked by state level political godfathers, treat councils as their personal estates. Transparency is non-existent. Accountability is sacrificed on the alter of partisan loyalty. The result is a complete disconnect between the council’s and the communities they are supposed to serve. These failures, which are structural, stifled rural economies, and deepened the urban- rural divide.
This new set of chairmen and councillors sworn in recently in Rivers State have a duty to change the narrative by breaking the chain of mediocrity and perennial underdevelopment which has become a bane of economic growth in the state.
Before assuming offices, the chairmen, especially, were admonished to be selfless and to focus on grassroots development. The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) advised them to embrace, “a new era of transparent, accountable and reform-driven leadership for the people”, cautioning that, “public office is a sacred trust not an avenue for personal gain.” He stated further: “The victory is not a prize to be enjoyed. It is a burden to be carried.
It is not an entitlement but a duty. It is not a call to self- interest, but to selfless services.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Micheal Odey, while presenting certificates of return to the elected local administrators emphasized that, “your certificates are not symbols of victory, but mandates of service to people.” He urged them to embrace humility, transparency, and accountability in leadership and uphold the rule of law as a foundation for effective governance.
It is instructive to note that between March and June 2025, the combined state and local governments in Rivers State received N246.7 billion with local government councils getting between 16 to 19 billion Naira per month, yet there is no corresponding impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.
What is true is that if the wealth of the local governments continue to bypass the grassroots, the local government tier of administration will remain a hollow promise instead of the bedrock of democratic governance it was meant to be.
A situation where funds allocated to local government councils mysteriously vanish into private pockets or are divided for political patronage will continue the mediocrity and underdevelopment rather than breaking the chain to ensure common good.
It is a known fact that governments exist primarily to provide services that will make life worth living. Local governments in Rivers State must now justify the reasons for their creation through the delivery of cutting-edge services to the people.
With enormous resources at their disposal, especially with an increase in allocation from federation accounts, these council chairmen have the opportunity to transform the rural communities, create jobs, and reduce poverty.
They must endeavour to end the decades of decay, which had been entrenched in Rivers State’s grassroots governance with tangible results by leading with impact. They must rise above mediocrity and make service delivery their defining mission.
The new chairman of local councils in Rivers State must know that the people of the state are tired of excuses and glaring incompetences. They must shatter the age-old tag of failure and rather deliver results that people can see, feel, and trust.
It is time to bring to the fore, bold, and visionary leadership, transparency, and service delivery that is distinguishable if the transformation that the people crave for can be achieved.
It is fundamentally important for the chairmen to realize that no nation state or local government can boast of excellent performance at the grassroots if a large percentage of her rural inhabitants are facing uncontrollable abject poverty, lack of basic social amenities. These are the things that have caused citizens to lose both faith and trust in local government administration.
In spite of the manner of their emergence as chairmen, since they are products of a political compromise, must maintain a sense of decorum in dealing with the executive arm of government. In any case, both tiers of government need each other in delivering goods and services for the benefit of the people.
While we know that the chairmen will want to show loyalty to their political godfathers, there should be a balance of such loyalty with performance in office and accountability.
The Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has suspended its two-day strike following a meeting with the Dangote Group on Tuesday. The meeting was summoned by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The suspension followed an agreement reached with the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals on the contentious issue of workers’ unionisation.
At a conciliation meeting convened by the minister, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, both parties held lengthy discussions that produced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Abuja.
The signed MoU read thus: “That since workers’ unionisation is a right in line with the provisions of the extant laws, the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals agreed to the unionisation of employees of Dangote Refinery and unionization of employees of Petrochemicals, who are willing to unionise.
That the process of unionization shall commence immediately and be completed within two weeks (9th–22nd September, 2025), and it was agreed that the employer will not set up any other union.
“Arising from the strike notice, no worker or employee of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals will be victimized.”
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government to withdraw the planned 5% tax on petroleum products.
The TUC which described the proposal as “reckless act of economic wickedness,” threatened that if the Federal Government fails to withdraw the plan, it will shut down critical sectors in the country.
In a statement signed by Festus Osifo and Nuhu Toro, President and General Secretary of TUC respectively, they said that Nigerians were already overburdened with different taxes.
The labour leaders, who described the new tax as unacceptable, argued that Nigerians cannot be used as sacrificial lambs again, declaring that all the affiliates of the Congress had been placed on standby.
They said, “This reckless proposal is nothing but an act of economic wickedness against already overburdened Nigerians.
“Let it be clear: workers and citizens are still reeling from the pains of subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices, food inflation, and a collapsing naira.
“To now introduce another levy on petroleum products is to deliberately compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty.
“Government cannot continue to use Nigerians as sacrificial lambs for its economic experiments. Instead of offering relief, jobs, and solutions, it has chosen to further squeeze citizens dry. This is unacceptable.
“The TUC, hereby, urge the Federal Government to immediately stop this anti-people’s plan in its entirety. Failure to do so will leave us with no option but to mobilize Nigerian workers and the masses for a total nationwide resistance.”
Vowing to resist the implementation of the tax, the Congress added, “Strike action is firmly on the table if government dares to ignore this warning and go ahead to implement this policy
“Failure to do so will leave us with no option but to mobilise Nigerian workers and the masses for a total nationwide resistance. Strike action is firmly on the table if the government dares to ignore this warning and go ahead to implement this policy,” the statement read.
The labour body directed all its state councils, affiliates, and structures nationwide to remain on alert and prepare for possible industrial action.
It also urged civil society organisations, professional associations, student unions, faith leaders, and market groups to stand in solidarity with the Nigerian people.
“We also call on our allies, civil society organisations, professional bodies, student unions, market associations, faith leaders, and all patriotic Nigerians to stand in solidarity with us in this struggle.
“Together, we must resist policies that seek to further impoverish citizens and mortgage our future. Enough is enough. Nigerians deserve economic justice, not endless punishment,” the TUC declared.
However, the federal government, while defending the surcharge the said the tax is intended to provide steady funding for road projects and close the country’s infrastructure gaps.
According to Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, the measure is being implemented at a higher rate in over 150 countries.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas has described Nigeria’s N149.39 trillion ($97 million) debt as not only alarming but one that has exceeded the country’s legal threshold, which now poses a major threat to fiscal sustainability.
Wale Edun
Abbas who spoke on Monday at the opening of the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC), organised by the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee in Abuja, with the theme: “Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight of Public Debt.”
He said Nigeria’s total public debt rose to N149.39 trillion (about US$97 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, up from N121.7 trillion the previous year.
“As of the first quarter of 2025, Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N149.39 trillion, equivalent to about US$97 billion. This represents a sharp rise from N121.7 trillion the previous year, underscoring how quickly the burden has grown. Even more concerning is the debt-to-GDP ratio, which now stands at roughly 52 per cent, well above the statutory ceiling of 40 per cent set by our own laws”, Abbas said.
Abbas, who was represented by the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbhere, said this has breached the nation’s debt limit and signals the strain on fiscal sustainability.
According to the speaker, the development highlights the urgent need for stronger oversight, transparent borrowing practices, and a collective resolve to ensure that tangible economic and social returns match every naira borrowed.
The speaker warned that across Africa, debt has become a structural crisis, with several countries spending more on servicing loans than on healthcare and other essential services.
He cautioned that many African countries are already spending more on debt servicing than on healthcare and other essential services, adding that Nigeria must avoid a similar situation.
To address fiscal risks, the Speaker announced plans to establish a West African Parliamentary Debt Oversight Framework under WAAPAC.
The initiative will harmonise debt reporting across the sub-region, set transparency standards, and equip parliaments with data to scrutinise borrowing.
The speaker cautioned that borrowing should be targeted at infrastructure, health, education, and job-creating industries, warning that reckless debt that fuels consumption or corruption must be exposed and rejected.
“Our oversight must also be people-driven. Major borrowing proposals should be subject to public hearings, and simplified debt reports must be made available to the public. Citizens have the right to know, and we have the duty to inform,” he stated.
In his contribution, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged West African countries to strengthen the constitutional backing for public accounts and finance committees, ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainability in public debt management.
Akpabio stated that unchecked debt can jeopardise the future of citizens and undermine democracy across the sub-region.
Akpabio who was represented by Senator Osita Izunaso, described parliamentary oversight as indispensable to fiscal stability, noting that when debt is well managed, it serves as a strategic instrument for financing infrastructure, growth, and sustainable development.
However, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, projected optimism and insisted that Nigeria’s debt profile was manageable.
Edun painted a more reassuring picture, declaring that Nigeria was turning the corner under President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.
“Nigeria is turning the corner. The reforms are delivering measurable impact in terms of investor confidence, reduced spending on fuel imports, greater energy self-sufficiency, and value addition in our economy,” Edun said.
He said the country’s debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped to about 60 per cent in 2024, while the debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 38.8 per cent, a level he described as comfortable compared to global benchmarks.
Revenues, he added, rose by 34.7 per cent in the first half of 2025.
The minister acknowledged that Nigeria, like many countries in West Africa, faces significant fiscal challenges, including elevated debt service costs, constrained revenues, and rising demands for public spending.
He said Nigeria achieved the gains through tough but necessary policy choices such as the removal of fuel subsidies, liberalisation of the exchange rate, and the roll-out of a comprehensive tax reform programme aimed at boosting efficiency, simplifying compliance, and raising Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio over time.
The alarm raised by the National Assembly comes barely weeks after it approved President Bola Tinubu’s external borrowing plan of over $21 billion for the 2025–2026 fiscal cycle, including $21.19 billion in foreign loans, €4 billion, ¥15 billion, a $65 million grant and domestic borrowing of about N757 billion.
The approval, recommended by both the House and Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt, also included provisions to raise $2 billion through a foreign-currency-denominated instrument in the domestic market.
He highlighted the structure of Africa’s debt, noting that 35 per cent is owed to Western private lenders, 39 per cent to multilateral institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, 13 per cent to bilateral creditors, and 12 per cent to China
According to him, these reforms are essential for creating a predictable macroeconomic environment that encourages private investment, which accounts for about 90 per cent of economic activity.
“Government’s role is to act as a catalyst, not to crowd out the private sector. With the right fiscal discipline, we can unlock opportunities and ensure inclusive growth that lifts millions out of poverty,” he said.
On Nigeria’s fiscal direction, the minister outlined priorities, including debt transparency, growth-enhancing borrowing, domestic revenue mobilisation, and prudent budgeting within the limits set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
He said the government is committed to project-linked borrowing that yields direct returns and avoids reliance on money-printing or unsustainable financing.
Edun also drew attention to global headwinds, such as shrinking development aid, reduced world trade, and rising international interest rates, that have made fiscal management more difficult for developing economies.
He said these challenges underscore the need for African countries to be more self-reliant by embracing reforms, technology, and digitisation to strengthen revenue generation.
The minister emphasised that parliamentary oversight is central to maintaining fiscal discipline.
He urged lawmakers to hold governments accountable for borrowing and spending decisions, insisting that transparency and accountability must underpin every fiscal framework.
“A sound fiscal framework is not just the responsibility of the executive; it demands partnership, leadership, and rigorous oversight from parliamentarians such as you, especially public accounts and finance committees,” Edun said.
The Minister described Nigeria’s fiscal trajectory as a turning point, with reforms providing the foundation for stability, competitiveness, and inclusive growth.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Bamidele Salam disclosed that the committee recovered over N200 billion in lost revenues for the federal government within the last year.
Salam said the recoveries were part of a series of reforms aimed at strengthening fiscal accountability in Nigeria.
He described the gathering, which Nigeria is hosting for the first time since WAAPAC’s creation in 2009, as timely, given the rising debt burden across Africa.
The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, expresses his deep condolences to the people of Dara Jamal community, Borno.
In respect to the brutal attack in Dara Jamal community by Boko Haram, which took place on Friday, 5th September 2025, Shettima expressed his deep concern via a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, on Monday. He described the incident as a national tragedy, sharing in the grief of the bereaved families and assuring that those responsible would be brought to justice.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, the people of Borno State and the Nigerian military over the tragic loss of our compatriots,” Shettima said.
Over 63 people were confirmed dead, including 58 civilians and 5 soldiers. Reports indicate that the terrorists raided the community around 10:00 PM on motorcycles, opening fire on residents and setting houses, shops, and vehicles ablaze. The operation lasted for several hours before the military intervened.
Shettima stated that President Bola Tinubu has given an immediate order to the Armed Forces to review security operations across the nation, including the deployment of surveillance equipment and advanced military hardware.
He further explained that the government is considering the establishment of state police, emphasizing the president’s position on security challenges in Nigerian states. These well-trained units would understand local terrains and cultures, enabling them to operate effectively at the grassroots level.
Having assured the people of continuous federal support, he offered prayers for those affected and promised that justice will be served.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, on Monday, September 8, 2025, in Abuja, urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to shelve plans of industrial action. He said there was no need for a strike since the Federal Government is already addressing their concerns through ongoing negotiations.
Alausa insisted that government is committed to meeting the unions’ needs through constructive dialogue rather than disruption of academic activities. He described his engagements with the unions as “holistic” and “constructive.”
“We are engaging with the unions holistically and constructively. Dialogue is the way forward, not strikes. Our students must remain in school while we continue to resolve all issues on the table,” the minister said.
He explained that government would not rush into any new agreement without proper negotiation but assured the unions that their outstanding demands would be met.
Before now, ASUU, ASUP, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) had threatened to go on strike over unmet expectations. On August 26, 2025, the unions staged a one-day nationwide strike to express displeasure and to draw government’s attention.
At its National Executive Committee meeting on August 14, ASUP President, Shammah Kpanja, warned that the association would embark on a strike after 21 days if demands were not addressed. He later confirmed that five meetings had been scheduled with government officials, which would determine if the strike would proceed.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, also disclosed that the outcome of recent talks would be communicated to members through branch chairmen before being made public, which will determine their next line of action.
On the matter of agreements, Alausa clarified that the 2009 ASUU–FG agreement remains valid and enforceable, while the 2021 draft led by Prof. Nimi Briggs, which was never signed, will only serve as a reference point in current negotiations.
He noted that past negotiations with unions were fragmented, even though their demands were similar — NEEDS assessment, improved conditions of service, and the 2025 wage review. He assured that government is now coordinating talks to address these issues collectively.
Alausa further explained that while the government is aware of the unions’ financial needs and is willing to provide support, it must also balance competing national priorities.
“Everybody knows President Bola Tinubu — when he makes promises, he fulfills them. We are not a government that, just for the sake of averting strike, signs bogus agreements with unions. Mr. President has given me a clear mandate, and I will carry it out truthfully until we resolve these issues once and for all,” he said.
The appeal comes amid fresh agitation in the academic sector. ASUU’s last major strike in 2022 lasted eight months, disrupting university education nationwide. Parents and education stakeholders have since urged both government and unions to avoid another shutdown.
Alausa assured that the Tinubu administration is determined to maintain stability in the higher education sector and keep students in school.
Over 7 billion people across Africa, Australia, Asia, and Eastern Europe will be able to witness the lunar eclipse (Blood moon) between September 7-8, 2025. It could be one of the most stunning lunar events seen in years.
Scientists state that the eclipse will be observable across most of Africa, with some regions able to view the entire event.
Some of the countries to experience the eclipse including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo, Niger, Chad. In Nigeria, it would last for about 83 minutes, starting at about 8.00pm.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes between the moon and sun, temporarily bathing the entire lunar disk in its shadow. This in turn causes our natural satellite to glow a deep red, as the scattered light from every sunrise and sunset on Earth is bent onto the lunar disk.
Several distinct phases will be on display during the September 7-8 total lunar eclipse, which will be visible in its entirety across swathes of Asia, western Australia and eastern Europe, while other countries like Spain and Norway will witness only a partial eclipse.
What makes this eclipse special isn’t any myths or mysteries, but just its natural beauty. With a long total phase and great visibility across the world.
A striking red Moon – The ‘Blood Moon’ effect
During the eclipse, the Earth will pass directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its darkest shadow (the umbra) over the Moon. Rather than disappearing into darkness, the Moon will take on a deep red hue, earning it the nickname “Blood Moon.” This glowing red effect isn’t mystical—it’s pure atmospheric science. As sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere.
The science behind the red glow – Rayleigh Scattering
So why exactly does the Moon turn red? According to a report by the Times of India, the phenomenon is caused by Rayleigh scattering. As sunlight travels through Earth’s atmosphere, shorter wavelengths like blue and violet scatter in all directions. However, longer wavelengths, such as red and orange, pass through more directly. This filtered light is what illuminates the Moon during the total eclipse, making it appear red, orange, or even copper-coloured.
An exceptionally long total phase
One major feature that sets this eclipse apart is its duration. According to India Today, the total eclipse will last around 82 minutes, making it one of the longest total lunar eclipses in recent years. That’s over an hour of the Moon glowing in rich red shades—plenty of time to take in the full beauty of the event.
A sky show visible to billions
Another factor making this eclipse extraordinary is how many people can witness it. As reported by NASA, the event will be visible across Asia, Australia, Africa, and Europe, offering a rare opportunity for a large portion of the world’s population to catch at least part of the eclipse. This widespread visibility makes it a truly global visual event.
No mysticism- Just beautiful physics
Despite the dramatic look of the Blood Moon, there’s nothing mystical or supernatural about it. The effect is purely due to Earth’s atmosphere filtering sunlight, the same way it creates red and orange hues at sunset. As Time and Date points out, what makes this event special is not hidden meanings, but the sheer natural beauty of the eclipse and its rare visibility conditions.
This Blood Moon eclipse on September 7–8 will be a beautiful sight for people around the world. With its red color and long total phase, it’s a great chance to enjoy a special moment in the night sky. Just check the time for your area, step outside, and take a look!
Whether you’re an astronomy enthusiast or just someone who enjoys looking up at the night sky, this eclipse is worth setting aside time for. Events like these remind us of the beauty of nature’s cycles—no myths, no mysteries, just science creating a spectacle. On September 7–8, all you need to do is step outside, look up, and witness one of the most breathtaking sky shows of the year.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, on Saturday said there is no case of an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria.
However, the centre has issued a public health advisory following confirmation of a new outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC.
The DRC Ministry of Health announced that 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, have been recorded in Kasai Province as of September 4, 2025. Laboratory tests in Kinshasa confirmed the Ebola Zaire strain as the cause of the outbreak.
In a statement on Saturday, the agency said that although no case has been detected in Nigeria, it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure early detection and preparedness.
The NCDC urged members of the public to adopt preventive measures such as regular handwashing with soap and running water, avoiding contact with individuals showing symptoms of Ebola — including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and unexplained bleeding — refraining from bushmeat consumption, and ensuring animal products are properly cooked.
The NCDC said surveillance has been heightened, especially at borders and points of entry, while healthcare facilities across the country are being strengthened to improve infection prevention and control.
“Early recognition, isolation of patients, and supportive treatment reduce the risk of death,” the agency warned, urging Nigerians to maintain strict hand hygiene, avoid contact with persons showing symptoms of fever, diarrhoea or bleeding of unknown cause, and avoid direct contact with wildlife or raw bushmeat.
The NCDC also cautioned health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, adhere strictly to infection prevention measures, and report suspected cases immediately.
The Ebola Zaire strain responsible for the latest outbreak has an approved vaccine — Ervebo — and response teams supported by the World Health Organisation have been deployed to affected communities in DRC.
Travellers are advised to avoid all but essential trips to countries with confirmed Ebola cases. Those arriving Nigeria from such countries within the last 21 days who experience symptoms like fever, vomiting or unexplained bleeding have been urged to call the NCDC’s toll-free number, 6232, for immediate assessment.
Nigeria continues to battle multiple outbreaks, including Lassa fever, meningitis, diphtheria, measles, and anthrax.
The NCDC assured that it is monitoring regional and global developments closely and will provide periodic updates.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has directed workers all over the country to prepare for a solidarity action in support of the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, in its face-off with the Dangote Group.
The move comes as NUPENG announced the commencement of a nationwide strike beginning on Monday, over what it described as among others, Dangote’s “anti-union practices, monopolistic agenda, and indecent industrial relations strategies.”
A statement by the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, called on the Federal Government to immediately call to order and impress on the duo of Aliko Dangote, and Alhaji Sayyu Dantata to respect the laws of the nation and international law.
The statement noted that NLC, in full solidarity with NUPENG, “declares that we will not stand by while one conglomerate seeks to enslave the Nigerian working class and trample on the hard-won rights of unions.”
Part of the statement reads thus; “We have received and carefully studied the petition and alarm raised by our affiliate union, the NUPENG, on the anti-union practices, monopolistic agenda, and indecent industrial relations strategies being pursued by Aliko Dangote and his associates.
“It must be realized that this is not the first complaint we are receiving against Dangote group. We have received several from other unions with jurisdictions over the companies owned by the group. All of them verge on the same acts of impunity and unfair labour practices.
“We state without equivocation that the revelations contained in NUPENG’s statement represent not just an attack on petroleum workers, but a full-blown declaration of war against the Nigerian working class, trade unionism, and the principle of Decent Work.
“It exposes what has long been the questionable hallmark of the Dangote Group; a consistent record of union-busting, exploitative labour practices, and monopolistic capture of markets to the detriment of both workers and the Nigerian people. We have it on good authority that Dangote Refinery pays one of the lowest wages in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria today and treats its staff members beneath acceptable standards.
“Dangote group’s business model clearly enslaves and is not in any way developmental. The Nigerian people were promised that the Dangote Refinery and associated operations would create jobs, deepen industrialization, and promote national self-sufficiency.
“Instead, what we are witnessing is the classic playbook of primitive capitalism as the group resorts to monopolistic Capture. It is using state backing to eliminate competition and dominate entire sectors (cement, sugar, flour, and now petroleum products). It is boasting already of its rooting in the power structure and preparedness to continue using it against the unions.“Dangote group continues in its Union busting strategy has systematically denied workers their constitutional right to freedom of association by preventing them from joining trade unions of their choice, forcing them into ‘company unions’ designed to weaken collective power. “We have had cause in African trade union circles to defend Dangote from complaints by workers of other African nations out of patriotic fervour, but we have reached the point where remedial actions have become necessary.
“The group revels in precarious work. Dangote companies thrive on casualization, poor wages, and unsafe working conditions; all in direct violation of the ILO’s Decent Work agenda to which Nigeria is a signatory and in contradiction to the promise which Dangote holds on Paper. The group believes that Nigerian workers are helpless because there is nothing the government can do against his various violations.
“Dangote believes in employing foreign nationals to the detriment of Nigerian workers. We remember the case of the Asian Welders and Fitters that were recruited from India and others while capable Nigerian welders and Fitters languished in the unemployment queue. Unfortunately, these thousands of workers were not treated fairly, and some of them came to us for remediation. This is definitely not how to be patriotic by a group that received all manners of waivers and concessions from the nation’s coffers.
“Instead of lowering costs for Nigerians, the Dangote monopoly exploits scarcity and control of distribution to raise prices, thereby deepening poverty and hardship. This is not industrialization; it is economic sabotage. It is not nation-building; it is class robbery, where the working masses subsidize the obscene wealth of rich families through exploitation and manipulation in cahoots with cronies in government.
“By seeking to recruit drivers under the condition that they must not belong to NUPENG or any union in the Oil and Gas industry, Dangote and his associates are directly violating Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, the Labour Act, and ILO Conventions 98 and 87 on Freedom of Association and the Right to Organise and Collectively Bargain (ratified by Nigeria in 1960).
“If this is allowed to stand, it will set a dangerous precedent where powerful capital can openly defy the laws of Nigeria, enslave workers, and destroy the very foundation of collective bargaining. This is a dangerous road to fascism in industrial relations, where workers are treated as slaves without voice or dignity.
“The NLC, in full solidarity with NUPENG, declares that we will not stand by while one conglomerate seeks to enslave the Nigerian working class and trample on the hard-won rights of unions. The scale of workers’ rights violations is growing alarmingly, and we are poised to ensure that it is contained if nothing is done by the government to sanction the Group and make it act more responsibly.
“We hereby unequivocally condemn the anti-union, anti-worker, and monopolistic practices of the Dangote Group and its affiliates.Call on the Federal Government to immediately call Aliko Dangote and Sayyu Dantata to order. Their operations must comply with all Nigerian labour laws and international conventions.
“We call on Dangote group to cease all anti-union, anti-workers practices. We demand the immediate unionization of not just Dangote Refinery but all the other entities within the group.
“We place entire Nigerian workers, State Councils and industrial unions in Nigeria on red alert and mobilize for a united front of resistance against the Dangote Group’s anti-worker agenda and support the proposed industrial action by NUPENG.
“We demand that the Federal Government and its regulatory institutions; especially the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Authority; that history will hold them complicit if they continue to look the other way while few individuals privatize the nation’s energy future and enslave its workforce.
“We call on the Nigerian people to see through the deception: this is not philanthropy, it is plunder; it is not development, it is dispossession and enslavement.
“The attack on NUPENG is an attack on us all. The NLC without equivocation states that Nigerian workers are not slaves and cannot be serially abused without consequences. Our Constitution and international conventions guarantee our right to organize, collectively bargain, and defend our dignity at work. The NLC will resist every attempt by the Dangote Group to roll back these rights.
“We warn that if Dangote continues on this reckless anti-union path, the NLC and its affiliates will move beyond words to action. We will confront this tyranny head-on until victory is secured for Nigerian workers and the Nigerian people.
“Let it be clearly understood, if the Dangote Group does not immediately halt its anti-union and anti-people agenda, the we will not hesitate to mobilize all workers across the length and breadth of this country for actions and solidarity necessary to protect our dignity and to defend Nigeria from the clutches of monopoly capital.
“Our solidarity is not negotiable. We will fight because we must. The working class must not be sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed.”
