News Agency of Nigeria
Group lauds Tinubu’s economic reforms
Economy/Business , General News

Group lauds Tinubu’s economic reforms

Reforms

By Dorcas Jonah

The Hope Alive Initiative, an NGO, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, attributing Nigeria’s recent robust economic growth to these initiatives.

The group gave the commendation in a statement by its Director of Press, Ernest Omoarelojie, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Omoarelojie cited from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showing a year-on-year Gross Domestic Product growth of 4.23 per cent in the second quarter of 2025.

He said that the data was a confirmation that the administration’s reforms were yielding results.

According to him, before President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, the economy was in dire straits, weakened by unsustainable fuel subsidies.

“Some bold policy measures, including the removal of petrol subsidy, unification of the foreign exchange market, fiscal consolidation and social interventions have now begun to turn the tide,” he said.

He listed some notable gains of the Tinubu administration to include
GDP growth of 4.23 per cent in Q2 2025 compared to 3.48 per cent in Q2 2024.

“Others are external reserves: now at 42 billion dollars, boosting investors confidence and stabilising the Naira.

”Inflation has declined consistently in six months with projections for single-digit levels by 2026, ” he said.

Omoarelojie said that Nigeria’s aggregate GDP, now N100.73 trillion (up from N84.48 trillion the previous year), reflected a tectonic shift towards a more diversified and sustainable economy.

He urged Nigerians to support the administration, avoid distractions, and remain confident in the country’s economic direction.

“Nigeria is not just recovering—it is rising,” said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

Tinubu’s reforms, bold, fruitful – D-G SEC
Defence/Security

Tinubu’s reforms, bold, fruitful – D-G SEC

Convocation

By Mohammad Tijjani

The Director-General General (D-G) of the Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama, says the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu will significantly stabilise and develop the Nigerian economy.

He stated this on Wednesday in Kaduna at the Nigerian Defence Academy’s (NDA) 23rd Convocation Lecture titled ‘Pathway to Economic Prosperity for a Public Server in a Deregulated Economy’.

The lecture was part of the activities lined up for the graduating Cadets of 72 Regular Course and Post-Graduate students of the military academy.

Agama said Tinubu had initiated bold and transformative reforms across key sectors in order to lay a solid foundation for inclusive growth and long-term sustainable development of the country.

Agama said, ” The government had undertaken several significant macro-fiscal reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, the unification of exchange rates, and the tightening of monetary policy.”

According  to him, through these measures, the country has made notable progress in deregulating key sectors of the economy.

“The bold decision to eliminate Nigeria’s long-standing fuel subsidy programme on May 29, 2023, was more than a fiscal adjustment.

“It marked a pivotal shift toward a deregulated economy, aimed at reducing fiscal burdens and redirecting public funds to more productive sectors.

“The move signalled the Tinubu administration’s commitment to market liberalization, allowing fuel prices to be determined by supply and demand rather than government control,” he postulated.

Agama also said the government has begun scaling back electricity subsidies by adjusting tariffs, a strategy designed to enhance efficiency and attract private investment into Nigeria’s power sector.

The  director-general said that to  address rising inflation and support the Naira, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had adopted a tighter monetary policy stance, notably through interest rate hikes.

“These measures are part of a broader strategy to stabilise prices, restore investor confidence, and lay the foundation for a more market-oriented and resilient Nigerian economy.

“Another significant step taken by the CBN was the unification of the country’s multiple exchange rate systems, aimed at simplifying foreign exchange transactions and enhancing transparency in the currency market,” he added.
.

The SEC boss also spoke on the investments opportunities in the capital market and the need for the cadets to invest in order to secure their future.

Agama appreciated the Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. Abdul Ibrahim, for inviting him to deliver the convocation lecture, saying it was a great opportunity to make the cadets financially literate.

The director-general advised that while officers and men of the military battle to make the nation secure, “it is important they have a scheme behind them to sustain their families.

“I’m grateful to the commandant that we have this ability and this opportunity to make sure that retiring officers do not retire in penury.

“The reason why some retire in penury is because there is some lack of financial education and lack of financial support that could be generated from adequate knowledge of financial products in the capital market.”

Agama explained that the capital market was providing support and condition for the people to live well after retirement.

Earlier, the Commandant, NDA  Maj.-Gen. Abdul Ibrahim, appreciated the SEC official for the incisive lecture.

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Ibrahim said the NDA has been providing trainings for the Nigerian Armed Forces since 1964, with a focus on producing well-rounded commissioned officers.

According to him, the academy has adopted the National Universities Commission (NUC) Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standard (CCMAS) requirements to ensure quality and competitiveness in its programmes.

He added that NDA provides intensive professional training, including physical fitness, weapons handling, and tactical manoeuvres, to prepare cadets for the national defence and security challenges.

Ibrahim said the Post-Graduate students undergo programmes in military science, defence and strategic studies, psychology, technology, and national development, aiming to develop students’ critical thinking and research skills.

He said the NDA had bilateral partnerships with foreign military academies, providing opportunities for cadets to complete the final year of their training abroad and enhancing regional defence cooperation.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

BPP urges NYSC to champion procurement reforms
Economy/Business

BPP urges NYSC to champion procurement reforms

By Lucy Ogalue

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has urged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to take a leadership role in driving procurement reforms across government agencies.

The Director-General of BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, made the call during a courtesy visit to the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, according to a statement.

Adedokun said the scheme should serve as the standard umbrella for transparent procurement practices in government institutions.

The BPP director-general emphasised that procurement must be seen as an enabler of national growth and not just a set of transactions.

He highlighted ongoing reforms under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that NYSC’s unique position as a national youth platform could strengthen compliance and foster a culture of accountability among future leaders.

Adedokun said the scheme was vital for nurturing the next generation of high-tech specialists, infrastructure developers, agricultural leaders, and professionals committed to ensuring value for money in public service.

He also reiterated the need to deepen collaboration between the BPP and NYSC to entrench sound procurement principles that would contribute to Nigeria’s development.

Responding, the NYSC director-general commended the BPP for its sustained support and recognition of the scheme’s peculiarities.

Nafiu described the partnership as a demonstration of patriotism and responsiveness.

He assured that the NYSC would continue to work closely with the BPP in advancing accountability and good governance through effective procurement processes.(NAN)

Edited by Mark Longyen

SDG 2: Revisit economic reforms, Pharmacist urges FG
Food Security , Health

SDG 2: Revisit economic reforms, Pharmacist urges FG

 

By Adeyemi Adeleye

Mr  Akinjide Adeosun, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ST.RACHEAL’S™ Pharmaceutical Nigeria Ltd., has urged the Federal Government to review reforms to tackle hunger, high transport fares and rents.

Adeosun, a licensed Pharmacist and Founder of the Akinjide Adeosun Foundation (AAF), made the appeal on Sunday at the grand finale of events earmarked to celebrate his 57th birthday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the birthday, celebrated on Aug. 4, witnessed a Thanksgiving Service at the All Souls’ Church, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, with philanthropic gestures including the unveiling of food bank among others.

Adeosun, who tagged the celebration as “Thanksgiving in Freedom” said that true leadership must focus on providing freedom for people in terms of ending hardship, hunger and insecurity.

According to him, the 57 birthday is the most fulfilling because of the privilege to distribute food to some vulnerable people in the society including cleaners, security personnel earning peanuts among others.

The pharmacist, who provided detailed insight into the link between food and health of the people, said every society must prioritise feeding, transport and rents (shelter).

Adeosun said: “Let us look at our reforms again and review where necessary. There is no where in the world where there is no subsidy one way or the other.

“There is a huge link between food and the health condition of the people. We just need to do something about food, transport and rents.

“These are the three anguish facing the people that I found out after special interviews with cleaners, security men and other vulnerable people in Lekki Phase I, Ikoyi and Victoria Island.”

He said that government needs to partner with well-meaning individual and corporate organisations to achieve the SDG’s Goal 2 “Zero Hunger” to improve life expectancy in the country.

Commending President Bola Tinubu’s removal of subsidy on fuel, the medical expert said that the government should have planned well to tackle the expected consequences including hunger, poverty and anger.

According to him, the government must increase capacity of manufacturing companies including indigenous pharmaceutical films to crash the inflation of products.

“We cannot use palliatives to solve this. They can only be solved through macroeconomics. Our reforms cannot be cast on stone, we have to review them.

“There is an urgent need for investment in manufacturing and production industry.

“We must move Nigeria from consumption to production nation such that we produce even more than what we need as a people.

“Prices will come down automatically and thirst for foreign products will no longer be there,” he said.

The philanthropist said: “We must ban importation of petrol. We must ensure crude oil naira discount for local refining firms like Dangote. We must ensure exchange rate rebasing also.

“The President has to do something about petrol price because it is what is driving inflation.

“We must tinker with the crude oil price to Dangote and price will come down,” he said.

He advocated 20 per cent crude oil discount to Dangote Refinery and other local refinery or buying of five barrel and getting one free or even 20 per cent naira price discount.

According to him, the same can be extended to local flour, cement and basic commodity producers including farmers to bring down prices and rents.

On saboteurs, the philanthropist advocated death penalties for all economic saboteurs just like the situation in Singapore and China.

He urged the government to make life easy for people at the grassroots by building infrastructure like schools, hospitals and equipping them. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Nigeria pushes bold health reform to achieve self-reliance—-SWAp
Health

Nigeria pushes bold health reform to achieve self-reliance—-SWAp

Reform

By Abujah Racheal

Nigeria is embarking on a health sector reform that experts believe could redefine the nation’s journey toward self-reliance in healthcare and broader development.

The Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) is leading the transformative effort, anchored by the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).

Dr Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, National Coordinator of the SWAp Coordination Office, disclosed in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that the reform aims to establish a more integrated and efficient health system adding that the goal is to sustain and strengthen Nigeria’s national response to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

Describing the initiative as “audacious and worthy,” Umar-Sadiq emphasized the deep commitment of federal, state, and community stakeholders, alongside development partners.

“This week, we reignited a new chapter in building an efficient, integrated health system that can sustain our fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

“What sets this effort apart is its foundation within the broader NHSRII framework.”

“The SWAp framework prioritizes resource-efficient integration driven by demand, data intelligence for informed decision-making, and a unified national approach to reduce fragmentation and foster collaboration,” he said.

He said in response to changing global funding landscapes, Nigeria organised a Technical Working Group on AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM-TWG) to identify funding gaps.

According to him, key organisations—including NACA, NASCP, NTBLCP, NMEP, and agencies such as NPHCDA, NHIA, and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare—collaborated to produce a cost analysis that informed a ₦200 billion domestic investment.

Umar-Sadiq added that a transition strategy is underway to address systemic gaps, strengthen programme arrangements, and deepen stakeholder engagement.

“The initiative aims to maximize population-level impact and optimize funding efficiency.

“While integration has always been a principle of our health system, SWAp provides the necessary environment for accelerated institutionalization and targeted policy reforms,” he explained.

Umar-Sadig recalled that on Aug.11–12, health sector stakeholders converged in Abuja for a workshop to co-create solutions capable of unlocking system efficiencies.

He said the meeting identified numerous integration opportunities Nigeria plans to implement over the next three years.

“This journey blends passion and faith,” Umar-Sadiq said. “It is a bold step that reflects the unwavering commitment of our leadership and partners at every level.” (NAN)
Edited by Yakubu Uba

ActionAid seeks urgent security, food reforms
Agriculture

ActionAid seeks urgent security, food reforms

By Felicia Imohimi

ActionAid Nigeria’s General Assembly has called on the Federal Government to urgently reform the national security architecture to address widespread violence across the country.

This includes persistent herder attacks, civilian casualties from military airstrikes, and the violent suppression of protests.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the assembly’s review of the state of the nation in Abuja.

The document, signed by the Convener of the General Assembly, Dr Steve Onya, noted that in spite the ongoing implementation of the “Renewed Hope” agenda, millions of Nigerians continued to face severe economic hardship.

Onya expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in the country, citing economic instability, rising food prices, worsening inequality, high inflation, growing insecurity, and governance failures.

Also speaking, Ms Rabi Isma, Chairperson, Board of Directors of ActionAid Nigeria, said insecurity in the North Central region had contributed to rising food prices, while the country’s increasing debt burden posed a serious threat to economic sustainability.

She urged the federal government, along with the Plateau and Benue state governments, to declare a state of emergency on security and adopt a coordinated, civilian-sensitive security strategy to end the ongoing violence.

Isma stressed the need to ensure the protection of both farming communities and herders in order to sustain agricultural productivity and reduce conflict.

She noted that although the federal government had declared a national emergency on food security, there had been no major policy shift, increase in funding, or implementation of tangible actions to tackle the crisis.

She called for immediate scale-up of targeted food and livelihood interventions in conflict-affected and food-insecure areas, especially in the North Central and North-East regions.

“These interventions should include food aid, cash transfers, subsidised farm inputs, and support for women-led cooperatives,” she said.

She emphasised that such efforts must be community-driven, transparent, and insulated from political interference to ensure maximum impact.

On the state of education, Isma decried the persistent technical failures and safety lapses affecting major examination bodies like JAMB and WAEC, warning that such issues were undermining students’ academic prospects.

She also raised alarm over the country’s strained public health system, citing the spread of Lassa fever to 18 states, the emergence of a new polio variant in Kano, and the recent flooding in Niger State, which claimed over 200 lives.

Isma expressed concern over the continued violence in Plateau and Benue states, noting that the government’s delay to respond adequately had led to mass displacement and psychological trauma among affected communities.

She recommended that both federal and state governments increase investment in food security and public health infrastructure.

According to her, this should include the development of resilient health systems, local vaccine production, expanded immunisation coverage, and grassroots-level disease prevention.

“Nigeria must reduce its over-reliance on donor support and stop limiting its response to publishing fatality figures,” she added. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

Vietnamese administrative reform will enhance efficiency- Ambassador
Foreign

Vietnamese administrative reform will enhance efficiency- Ambassador

By Sarafina Christopher

Mr Bui Hung, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria says his country’s administrative reforms will enhance efficiency within the government and reduce redundancy.

The ambassador stated this during an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

He highlighted the Vietnamese government’s strategy aimed at restructuring its administrative tiers, particularly by merging and reorganising administrative units at provincial and commune levels.

According to him, the initiative follows the adoption of Resolution No. 202/2025/QH15, which officially decreased the number of provincial-level administrative units.

He said that the reduction was from 63 to 34, comprising 28 provinces and 6 centrally-administered cities.

“The restructuring process is imperative for streamlining governance and ensuring that resources are utilised effectively,” Hung stated.

He explained that this plan was not only about reducing numbers but focused on creating more efficient administrative functionalities and improving public service delivery.

He added that as part of the reform effort, existing local government structures are being re-evaluated and refined.

“We aim to establish new commune-level Party Committees and appoint key leadership positions that align with the vision of efficient governance,” he noted.

According to the ambassador, this will enable local authorities to respond more effectively to community needs and enhance overall government responsiveness.

He also underscored the importance of these reforms in the context of economic growth and stability in developing countries.

“By eliminating unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, we can minimise delays and streamline processes that have previously hindered effective governance,” he explained.

The ambassador said that the government had taken deliberate measures to address the various impact of these changes on political stability and leadership continuity.

“Our plans have strong public backing, and we are committed to maintaining continuity of services through established local authority structures throughout the transition.

“We believe that these administrative reforms will yield positive outcomes, ultimately benefiting the Vietnamese people through enhanced governance and an improved public,” he said.

He said that the initiative would further foster collaboration with other developing nations facing similar challenges, particularly in Africa.(NAN)(www.nannews.com.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Katsina partners PEBEC to accelerate business enabling reforms
Economy/Business

Katsina partners PEBEC to accelerate business enabling reforms

By Abbas Bamalli

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and the Katsina State Government have engaged business leaders to access and accelerate business enabling reforms in the state.

The business leaders and other stakeholders were engaged at the State Action on Business-enabling Reforms (SABER) Technical Session and Statewide Town-Hall Meeting in Katsina.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event which brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors was organised by PEBEC in collaboration with the state government.

Gov. Dikko Radda, in his remarks, said the event aimed at assessing the state’s performance on business, enabling reforms and strengthening alignment with national economic initiatives.

Radda, represented by his Deputy, Mr Faruk Lawal, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling bottlenecks and fostering a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in the state.

He added that the state had made significant progress in implementing actionable and revolving business reforms, which had helped to attract investors and promote economic growth and sustainability.

The Governor emphasised that the ease of doing business had become a top priority of the state government and would remain steadfast in achieving the desired goals.

Radda added that the state government had restructured its business framework and created the Katsina Enterprises Development Agency (KASEDA).

According to him, the aim of creating the agency was to support nano, small and medium businesses with resources and tools to grow.

“My administration is creating an enabling environment for business, especially small and medium enterprises, to operate and succeed, and we know the role of the government in creating such an enabling environment for businesses.

“As a government, therefore, we first began our journey by strengthening leadership around the Ease of Doing Business agenda.

“We appointed the Deputy Governor to chair both the Ease of Doing Business and the MSMEs,” Radda said.

In her remarks, the Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Audu, explained that the ongoing nationwide sub-national tour was aimed at strengthening state-level ownership of the reform initiatives.

She explained that the PEBEC works closely with state governments to improve the business environment and deepen the implementation of SABER for the sustainability of ease of doing business in the country.

Audu virtually told the  participants that PEBEC was a World Bank-funded project aimed at promoting economic growth and development in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Katsina State Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA), Ibrahim Tukur-Jikamshi, said the meeting was a step towards deepening ease of doing business and economic reforms.

He said that Radda had embraced the SABER reforms framework not just as a compliance requirement, but as a strategic instrument for state transformation and economic inclusion.

He stated that the Radda-led government had waived all Right of Way (RoW) charges for fabric optic development and granted ‘interest-free loans’ to MSMES to simplify business support schemes in the state.

“We have exempted qualifying businesses from selected fees and levies to reduce start-up costs.

“We continued to prioritise transparency and public feedback, with all MDAs now publishing all timelines and costs,” he added.

Tukur-Jikamshi stressed that the government had taken proactive steps in mainstreaming reforms into the fabrics of the state by establishing a high-powered reforms implementation committee to deliver results across all reform sectors. (NAN)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Bashir Rabe Mani

NECA hails Tinubu’s economic reforms 
Economy/Business

NECA hails Tinubu’s economic reforms 

By Joan Nwagwu

The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) says President Bola Tinubu’s  reforms in the economic sector align with the desires of the Organised Private Sector(OPS).

Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, the Director General of NECA said this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the 2025 edition of the Employers Summit, organised by NECA

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the summit is themed, “Enabling Sustainable Enterprise in a Transiting Economic: Aligning Fiscal,Trade and Regulatory Reforms for Rapid National Development ”

Oyerinde said the reforms being undertaken by the federal government are in alignment with the desires of employers.

He said the summit was apt in bringing the critical stakeholders together to deliberate and agree on the execution of the reforms.

“NECA believes that there is no better time to get the reformers and those that will implement the reforms as well as those that the reform is supposed to reform to have a conversation and engender consensus around those reforms.

“It will also help us to make policy recommendations to the government on those issues where it pinches the private sector and employers.

“This is the avenue where definite solutions or implementation of palliatives or innovation that might ease the pressure on the private sector can come,” he said.

According to the NECA DG, employers play a major role in promoting national development through job creation, payment of taxes and other contributions to economic growth.

He further said that the summit was unique coming at a time when the government was implementing many reforms, such as the tax reform bills.

Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasised the need to build an economy that is resilient, inclusive, driven by private enterprise and enabled by government.

Shettima, represented by Mr Temitola Johnson, Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and Small, Medium Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), said the organised private sector has contributed positively to socio-economic development of Nigerians.

He said that the contributions were through the millions of jobs that were created, as well as the goods and services they provide.

Shettima added that the vision of President Bola Tinubu-led administration was to build an economy where sustainable business enterprises thrive and create decent jobs.

“One of the comprehensive reforms being undertaken by the government is that, which prioritises prudent expenditure and a more efficient, transparent and equitable tax system.

“We are a nation in transition, navigating our part of bold reforms designed to stir our economy away from volatility into becoming a more stable, sustainable and prosperous one.

“These reforms, though difficult in the short term, are laying the foundation for a more transparent, competitive, diversified and investor-friendly environment,” he said.(NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

NTI committed to achieving Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda- Director
Education

NTI committed to achieving Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda- Director

By Moses Kolo

Prof. Sadiya Sani-Daura, Director and Chief Executive of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, says it is fully committed to facilitating the achievement of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Sani-Daura disclosed in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna as part of the celebration of Tinubu’s two years in office.

According to her, NTI will be diligently playing the critical role expected of it to fully realise the president’s all-important agenda.

She said: “We have a lot to do in achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda and we will never waiver in doing so.

“Instructively, we are now creating the direly needed conducive environment to achieve this noble agenda of Tinubu.”

Sani-Daura further extolled the Federal Government’s commitment to taking Nigeria’s education sector to the next level.

She said that the Federal Ministry of Education was critical to the myriad of successes the institute had achieved.

“Hopefully, NTI will soon bounce back and fully restore its enviable lost past glory.

“We are digitising all our activities so as to be in tune with the current global trends and this is working just as it is bolstering our operations.”

The director, therefore, commended the two Ministers of Education for their uncommon commitment and patriotism, describing them as the key motivators and benefactors of NTI.

Sani-Daura disclosed that the premier institute was partnering with various local and international agencies like the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

She listed some of NTI’s global collaborators to include JICA and UNICEF, among numerous others.

The director also stated that the institute was robustly partnering with the various state governments in the country.

“We will never relent in the diligent discharge of our mandate, and will continue to train and retrain teachers, with a view to continuously upgrading their capacities,”  she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

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