Nigeria at 65: Anambra election must be fair, credible – IPAC charges INEC, politicians

The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has called for a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Anambra State slated for 8th November, 2025.

IPAC also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to provide a level playing field for all the political parties and the candidates participating in the election.

It made the call in a congratulatory message to Nigerians on the occasion of the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary.

The body of political parties hailed Nigerians for a milestone in the nation’s democratic governance and saluted the courage and patriotism of the founding fathers and compatriots who fought for the independence from the British colonial masters.

“We call for a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Anambra State slated for 8th November 2025. We urge INEC to provide a level playing field for all the political parties and their candidates participating in the election,” the statement signed by Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, the National Chairman of IPAC said.

“Politicians should also imbibe issue-based campaigns and eschew politics of bitterness that impedes the nation’s electoral process.

“We should respect the sanctity of the ballot box and ensure that every vote is counted and counts in the overall result. Election is the beauty of democracy, let us rebuild trust in the democratic system ahead of the 2027 general election.”

It added, “Nigerians are a resourceful and resilient people determined to build a better nation in spite of our political, socio-economic and security challenges.”

It urged citizens to use the 65th Independence anniversary as an opportunity for sober reflection and rededicate themselves to the service of the nation bearing in mind that this is the only country they have.

“It is time for action. It is time for patriotism. It is time to deepen the nation’s democracy and look forward to the future with renewed confidence and faith.

“This is our chance to steer the ship of the nation to the path of rectitude, progress, development and advancement, and bequeath to our children, indeed, future generations a peaceful, stable, just and prosperous society.

“Politicians should also imbibe issue-based campaigns and eschew politics of bitterness that impedes the nation’s electoral process.

“We should respect the sanctity of the ballot box and ensure that every vote is counted and counts in the overall result.

“Election is the beauty of democracy, let us rebuild trust in the democratic system ahead of the 2027 general election,” it said.

As the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, IPAC said it is unwavering in its commitment to sustainable democracy and development in the country.

“Together, we will build an enduring democracy. We are all in it together.,” the statement added.

2027: Yobe APC chieftain Mohammed Bello quits  party

A prominent leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State, Hon. Mohammed Bello, has resigned from the party, describing his decision as a move to “come out from bondage.”

Bello, a former senatorial aspirant for Yobe Zone A, announced his exit along with many of his supporters.

In a resignation letter addressed to the APC Ward Chairman in Gwange, Damaturu, and made available on Monday, Bello said his decision takes effect immediately.

“I am writing to formally notify you of my decision to resign my membership from the All Progressives Congress (APC) immediately,” the letter read in part.

.“This decision has not come lightly; it follows considerable reflection on my personal values and the direction of the party. After much deliberation, I have concluded that it is in my best interest and that of my community to step away from the party at this time.”

Bello thanked the APC for the opportunities he had while in the party, saying the relationships and experiences he gained would remain valuable. He also submitted his membership card along with the letter.

Dangote vs PENGASSAN: ‘Act like dictator’ – Ndume tells Tinubu how to end crisis

Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has called on President Bola Tinubu to sign an executive order towards resolving the crisis between Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN.

Ndume said he won’t mind if Tinubu acts like a dictator in ensuring that the crisis is resolved.

On Saturday, PENGASSAN ordered its members to down tools over the sack of 800 workers by Dangote Refinery.

Reacting, Ndume appealed to the president to take firm action and dissolve the union.

Featuring on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, Ndume said: “The best thing is for the president to sign an executive order calling them off.

“He has the right to dissolve them. In this case, I don’t mind if he acts like a dictator because some situations require very drastic measures.”

He accused PENGASSAN of serving private interest rather than that of the public.

Ndume said he has long opposed “so-called unionism” that prioritises the benefits of a few individuals at the expense of the country.

‘Regrettable’ – FG reacts to death of Arise TV’s Somtochukwu Maduagwu

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described the death of Arise News anchor, Ms. Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu as regrettable and a grievous loss not only to her immediate family and the Arise News team, but to the Nigerian media fraternity and indeed, the nation.

In a letter of condolence he signed and addressed to the Chairman of the Arise News channel, Chief Nduka Obaigbena, Idris, stated, “I write to convey our deepest condolences to you and the entire ARISE News family on the shocking and untimely death of your esteemed anchor, Ms. Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, who by every account was a vibrant and a dedicated news anchor, consummate lawyer, and a model of professionalism whose work resonated with audiences across Nigeria and beyond.”

Idris said he was saddened by the “heinous incident that cut down a promising young journalist in her prime,” adding that “Ms Somtochukwu’s tragic death is a grievous loss not only to the ARISE News family but to the Nigerian media fraternity, and indeed the nation.”

He gave assurances for a swift investigation to unravel the circumstances leading to the death of the late news anchor.

The Minister extended his “heartfelt sympathy to the parents, siblings, colleagues, and all who knew and loved the late news anchor,” and prayed that God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Makinde beats predecessors’ IGR record, targets N100bn – Oyo

Oyo State Governor, Seyi MakindeThe Oyo State Government has said that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue  has grown more than fourfold under Governor Seyi Makinde, positioning it as a leading financial hub in Nigeria.

The Commissioner for Information,  Dotun Oyelade, stated this on Monday while reacting to a report by the State Performance Index, which ranked Oyo as the best place to live in Nigeria based on quality of life, functional infrastructure, service delivery and security.

He said the Makinde administration had raised the state’s IGR from the N15bn mark under previous governments to N65bn in 2024. As of July 2025, collections had already hit N58bn — just N7bn short of the 2024 total.

“The implication of these figures is that the state will surpass its own record by the end of this year, with a target close to N100bn, making Oyo sit comfortably as a leading financial hub in the country,” Oyelade said.

According to him, the surge in revenue has not increased the burden on investors. Instead, the state has expanded its economy through agribusiness, infrastructure and tourism, while the consistent payment of salaries has further boosted economic activity.

“This expansion of the economy, coupled with the ripple effect of consistent payment of N11.9bn to over 130,000 workers monthly, has had a salutary effect on the increasing IGR of the state,” Oyelade noted.

He added that N15.4bn was paid as salaries in September alone, higher than the usual N11.9bn.

On healthcare, the commissioner said the administration had upgraded 264 primary healthcare centres and recruited more than 3,900 professionals, significantly restoring the state’s healthcare system.

He recalled that during a recent courtesy visit to the Governor’s Office, UNICEF Country Representative, Celine Lafocriere, commended Oyo’s achievements, noting that UNICEF had engaged more with Oyo than with any other state in Nigeria in the past two years.

On education, Oyelade highlighted sweeping reforms, including a doubling of staff strength in primary schools from 13,730 in 2019 to 26,436 in 2025. He said over 10,500 teaching and non-teaching staff had been employed to boost academic performance and improve the standard of living for young people.

He added that the government had built 60 model schools, constructed 289 new classroom blocks, renovated 229 others, and reintegrated more than 60,000 out-of-school children.

Additionally, four new educational zones had been created with administrative structures, while 2,000 teachers were absorbed into the Teaching Service Commission  to further strengthen efficiency.

NELFUND closes loan application for 2024/25 academic session

Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund  has announced the closure of its application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session, effective from today (Tuesday).

According to the Fund, the move signals the completion of its second full cycle and will allow it to finalise the processing of pending applications and upkeep payments.

In a statement signed on Monday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND also released timelines for the next round of applications.

The portal will reopen in the second week of October 2025 for the 2025/2026 academic session and remain accessible until January 2026.

The Fund urged institutions to promptly update their students’ records on the Student Verification System to enable eligible applicants to participate in the new cycle. Institutions yet to commence a new academic session within the stated window were asked to notify NELFUND for possible concessions.

“All applications for the 2024/2025 academic session that remain unverified by institutions after October 8, 2025, will be automatically cancelled.

Students in this category are strongly encouraged to prompt their school management to complete the verification process before the deadline. Affected students will have to submit fresh applications for the 2025/2026 academic year,” the statement read.

NELFUND further disclosed that some students’ applications remained unapproved or unpaid due to institutions’ failure to complete the mandatory verification process.

“NELFUND is actively engaging with such institutions to resolve the delays. However, institutions that fail to comply by the stipulated deadline should note that the Fund will publish the names of all non-compliant institutions for transparency,” it added.

On upkeep allowances, NELFUND clarified that disbursements for the 2024/2025 session would continue until November 2025, but students must reapply for the 2025/2026 session to maintain eligibility.

So far, more than 510,000 students have benefited from the Federal Government’s Student Loan Initiative, with a total of N99.5bn disbursed since the scheme’s launch on May 24, 2024.

According to the Student Loan Disbursement Daily Status Report released on September 27, 2025, NELFUND has received 835,360 applications since inception, out of which 510,378 students have successfully accessed the interest-free facility.

UNIBEN bars 5,000 students from exams over unpaid fees

UNIBEN-main-gateThe management of the University of Benin, on Monday, said about 5,000 students of the institution will miss the second semester examination over failure to pay school fees.

A memo released by the Registrar of the institution, Ademola Bobola, said the affected students failed to pay their school fees despite repeated reminders.

He lamented that the students failed to subscribe to the opportunities provided by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

NELFUND, a pivotal financial institution established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, 2024, was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on April 3, 2024.

The primary objective of NELFUND is to provide financial support to qualified Nigerians for tuition and other fees, charges, and upkeep during their studies in approved tertiary academic institutions and vocational and skills acquisition institutions within Nigeria.

According to the memo released by UNIBEN, defaulting students were barred from writing the second semester examination, which commenced on Monday, September 29, 2025, adding that the school management had put in place an enforcement team.

The memo read, “With the second semester examination set to begin on Monday, 29th September, 2025, these (defaulting) students shall be barred from writing the examination if they fail to pay their school charges or subscribe to the student loan by NELFUND.

“About 5,000 students have been identified in this category of defaulters.

“In compliance with the directive of the Senate of the University of Benin, these students shall not be allowed to write the forthcoming examination.

“Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Deans, Directors, and Heads of Departments are specially required to enforce the directive of the Senate without compromise.”

The memo asked that the list of all defaulting students in their respective colleges, schools, faculties, institutes, and departments be published not later than 8.00 am on Monday.

“This is to enable the affected students to know their status as defaulters and afford them the opportunity to remedy their situation before the examination begins.

“Management has, accordingly, appointed an enforcement task force headed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) to monitor and enforce full compliance with the directive of the Senate.

“Management expects full cooperation and compliance by all stakeholders to maintain the university’s high standards.”

AIICO wins outstanding insurance company award

AIICO Insurance PlcAIICO Insurance Plc emerged as the Outstanding Insurance Company of the Year at the 2025 Marketing Edge Brands & Advertising Excellence Awards held in Lagos.

This recognition marks the third consecutive year that AIICO has been celebrated at the event. It was named Insurance Company of the Decade in 2023, followed by another top industry honour in 2024, before bagging this year’s award.

The organisers of the award noted that AIICO’s selection was based on its performance and the positive impact it continues to make on the Nigerian financial services industry.

The Head of Marketing and Communications at AIICO Insurance Plc, Mr Segun Olalandu, expressed the company’s appreciation, “We sincerely thank the organisers of the MARKETING EDGE Awards for consistently recognising and honouring the AIICO brand over the years. This recognition affirms our strength and relevance in the marketplace. At AIICO, we will not rest on our oars.

We remain intentional about delighting our customers, meeting their needs, and surpassing their expectations with innovative solutions and superior service.”

AIICO Insurance is a composite insurer in Nigeria, founded in 1963. It provides life and general insurance, health insurance, and investment management services.

Investors gain N115bn as banking, oil stocks lift market

NGX-750×375Trading activities on the Nigerian Exchange Limited opened the week on a positive note as investors gained N115bn in market value on Monday, driven by strong performances in the banking and oil and gas sectors.

At the close of transactions, the market capitalisation of listed equities advanced to N90.1tn from N89.99tn recorded at the previous session, reflecting a gain of N115bn. Similarly, the benchmark All-Share Index appreciated by 244.51 points, or 0.17 per cent, to settle at 142,377.54 basis points.

Market data showed that a total of 383.91m shares worth N11.61bn were traded in 28,088 deals, representing a 26 per cent decline in volume and a 36 per cent decline in value compared with last Friday’s session, although the number of deals rose 26 per cent.

The day’s rally was largely supported by buying interest in stocks such as Fidelity Bank, Zenith Bank, Eterna and Seplat Energy, which buoyed the banking and oil and gas indices. The NGX Industrial Index gained 1.59 per cent, while the Banking Index advanced 0.47 per cent.

A total of 125 equities participated in trading, with 25 gainers and 36 losers. SFS Real Estate Investment Trust led the gainers’ chart with a 10 per cent rise to close at N346.55 per share, followed by Thomas Wyatt Nigeria, which also appreciated 10 per cent to N3.63 per share. LivingTrust Mortgage Bank rose 9.9 per cent to N5.66, while Eterna advanced 9.86 per cent to N30.65 per share.

On the flip side, AXA Mansard Insurance topped the losers’ list, shedding 10 per cent to close at N14.40 per share. University Press dropped 9.85 per cent to N5.40, Learn Africa fell 9.72 per cent to N6.50, while Julius Berger depreciated 8.7 per cent to N136.50 per share.

In terms of activity, First HoldCo led the volume chart with 47.5m shares valued at N1.47bn. Ellah Lakes followed with 24.46m units worth N290.87m, while Veritas Kapital Assurance traded 21.87m shares valued at N44.66m. Zenith Bank also featured among the top volume and value drivers with 18.75m units worth N1.31bn.

The Top 30 Index advanced 0.26 per cent, and the Main Board Index rose 0.31 per cent, while the Premium Index dipped slightly by 0.13 per cent. Year-to-date, the ASI has now returned 38.33 per cent, reinforcing investors’ appetite despite volatility in select counters.

Meanwhile, the release of fresh corporate earnings also shaped investor sentiment. Zenith Bank Plc posted a 19.96 per cent growth in revenue and declared an interim dividend of N1.25 per share. United Bank for Africa Plc reported a 6 per cent rise in profit after tax, but its interim dividend was reduced to 25 kobo per share, much lower than last year’s payout.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc delivered a 49 per cent jump in profit after tax, rewarding shareholders with an interim dividend of N2.45 per share. However, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc saw a sharp 50 per cent decline in profit after tax, though it still announced a dividend of N1.00 per share. Other listed companies such as BUA Foods, Cutix, Red Star Express and Sovereign Trust Insurance also released results during the session.

Analysts noted that these earnings reports, coupled with the broader market momentum, reflect the resilience of the Nigerian corporate sector despite macroeconomic headwinds.

They added that Nigeria’s economy is gaining momentum with a recovery in oil production, expansion in non-oil activities, and looser monetary policy. However, they cautioned that while opportunities exist in energy, ICT, agriculture, and finance, investors should remain diversified and cautious.

Globalview Capital Limited, a licensed investment firm, reiterated that it is registered and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria.

Providus, Unity Bank merger set to reshape competition

Stakeholders have said that the merger between Providus Bank and Unity Bank would intensify competition in the banking sector and commended it for being a better deal for minority shareholders.

This assertion followed the ratification of the merger by the shareholders of the Unity Bank at the court-ordered meeting of the lender held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday.

Ahead of the meeting, the Nigerian Exchange Limited had lifted the suspension on the trading of Unity Bank’s shares, enabling the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria to sell its 34 per cent holding in the lender to a current shareholder of Unity Bank.

Speaking on the development, the Head of Financial Institutions at Agusto & Co, Ayotunde Olubunmi, said, “The merger has been long coming. As we all know, Unity Bank has been in the market for over a decade, and for additional capital, so this is a way of finally resolving its negative capital issue. Secondly, for Providus Bank, it’s also a positive development. They are relatively new in the market; this will give them a bigger footprint, right? By the time they actually receive Unity Bank branches, they will have more branches. It will also give them exposure to different parts of the country, particularly in the North, where Unity Bank is more prominent. I doubt if Providus Bank has any branches in the North, given that they are a regional bank, and they only have a presence in the South.

“For the banking industry, it also intensifies competitiveness. Because of this merger, Providus Bank now has a bigger footprint. They can easily compete more with the big boys in the markets, and that will also help them. That will increase competition.”

On the recapitalisation, Olubunmi anticipates that the Central Bank of Nigeria may have a special arrangement to enable it to meet the new capital threshold of N200bn for a national bank.

The financial analyst said, “In terms of capitalisation, because automatically Providus Bank now becomes a national bank, maybe the CBN will give them some sort of waiver on when to meet the N200bn capitalisation. Also, some part of the facility that CBN will give them will qualify.”

When the merger between the lenders was announced in August 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria okayed financial support totalling N700bn to the new entity to be repaid with an interest rate of six per cent. The CBN said the support, structured as a 20-year term loan, will begin repayment after a five-year moratorium without giving further indication of the source of funds.

A stockbroker and Vice Chairman of Highcap Securities, David Adonri, in a chat with The PUNCH, noted that the merger aligned with the motive for the recapitalisation mandate of the CBN, which was to create stronger banks.

“At the end of the day, there will be no weak bank within the banking system. Apparently, Unity Bank has been a laggard. The acquisition or merger with Providus Bank is like a lifeline to the bank. It is a welcome development for the shareholders of Unity Bank. Otherwise, if the bank had failed, we would have lost the investment just like everybody did in Skye Bank. For the depositors, if the bank had failed, the NDIC would just settle the depositors with meagre sums of money. So, it is a welcome development for all the stakeholders,” he said.

Adonri, however, wondered whether Providus Bank would return to the market as a replacement for Unity Bank.

“The next thing, however, is whether Providus Bank will come to the market to list its shares. So, it will be like a replacement for Unity Bank, which is very weak, and then a stronger bank is coming into the market. So, we are therefore waiting for the announcement from Providus Bank to know whether they are going to be listed or not,” he stated.

The 59th president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Innocent Okwuosa, echoed similar sentiments about the merger fulfilling the objective of the CBN’s recapitalisation directive.

Okwuosa, who is also the chairman of the Nigerian Integrated Reporting Committee, said, “The first implication in the banking industry is that of the ability of the merged bank to withstand the macroeconomic challenges and headwinds occasioned by external and domestic shocks, making it more resilient. I expect the solvency and capacity of the merged bank to improve, thereby contributing to the stability of the banking industry and its ability to contribute to the economy.