SEC, SMEDAN sign MoU To boost SME Access To Capital Market

……… Over 40m small businesses To Benefit From Improved Financing Options

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at improving access to long-term financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the Nigerian capital market.

The partnership is designed to create alternative sources of capital for the country’s over 40 million registered micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), helping them grow, create jobs, and contribute to the Federal Government’s $1 trillion economy target.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, Director-General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, said the initiative would open new funding routes for SMEs and integrate them into the capital market ecosystem.

“Capital is the bedrock of any company. Today we have about 40 million Small and Medium Enterprises that are duly registered with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria and it is important that as a capital market, we are able to find a route for these small and Medium Scale enterprises to be able to raise capital for sustainability.

“We also want to bring them on board the pipeline of listed companies in Nigeria where they will be able to democratize wealth and share a part of their institutions with Nigerians making sure that development is faster and to lead to the growth of the economy,” he stated.

He added that the collaboration aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda on employment, growth, development, and production, describing it as a critical step toward achieving the administration’s trillion-dollar economy vision.

 

On his part, SMEDAN Director-General, Mr. Charles Odii, said the MoU would enable small businesses to overcome the high cost and scarcity of capital by leveraging the capital market.

“Capital in this part of the world is very expensive and scarce,” Odii said. “Through this collaboration, we are creating another source of financing for our medium-scale businesses. We have set ourselves a target of at least 1,000 SMEs listing on the capital market. This will galvanize growth, create wealth, and reduce unemployment in Nigeria.”

The agreement between the two agencies seeks to deepen the integration of MSMEs into the formal financial system and help them meet regulatory and governance standards required for market participation.

Among its major benefits, the MoU will improve access to long-term financing by supporting qualifying MSMEs to raise funds through equity or debt securities under SEC regulations. It also provides for capacity building, as both agencies will organize training and awareness programs to educate SMEs on capital market participation, financial literacy, and corporate governance.

In addition, the SEC will contribute to SMEDAN’s five-year strategic policy framework to promote inclusive financing and SME-friendly capital market policies. SMEDAN, on its part, will identify and encourage qualifying SMEs to list on recognized exchanges, expanding their access to funding and business growth opportunities.

The collaboration will also facilitate debt market participation by guiding creditworthy SMEs to issue debt securities to qualified investors, thereby widening their financing options beyond traditional bank loans. Both institutions will jointly organize a three-day national SME conference to engage stakeholders, promote market opportunities, and drive policy discussions.

The MoU further provides for the establishment of a Joint Working Group (JWG) to monitor implementation, as well as mechanisms for data sharing in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.

PDP spokesperson lists possible reasons behind govs’ defection to APC

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, has said that there is no compelling reason for a sitting governor to leave the PDP at this point apart from greed and selfishness.

He maintained that the PDP is currently in good standing as the party has addressed its major problems.

Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, was the latest governor to resign his membership of the PDP.

He left the PDP and announced he was joining the ruling APC alongside 23 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on Wednesday.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah had joined the ruling party.

“It’s nothing other than greed, avarice, and you know, selfishness on the part of those leaving.

“You cannot find compelling reason, in the words of Senator Seriake Dickson that would warrant a governor rounding up a second term, for example, in the case of Bayelsa, to want to leave the party, you can’t find a justifiable reason other than covetousness, greed and avarice,” he said on Arise News.

“Our party is in good stead. We have internal challenges like every other political party and we have since addressed major problems that would have afflicted the possibilities of our having, you know, a platform for Nigerians to serve as opposition as we journey towards 2027.

“So these few elements are driven by self, greed, and probably a few of them that are having a second term ambition, coercion, intimidation and temptation of the ruling party, which it keeps, you know, offering them.

“Other than those, we can’t find any other reason, but to the best of PDP is good riddance to bad rubbish, if only we can have the opportunity of, you know, weeding these terrible elements out of the PDP as we head towards our convention, exactly a month from today, you would find out that we will get to that convention ground better.

“We would understand our problems and appreciate them and come out not just more cohesive, but prepared, you know, to retrieve this country from this army of occupation called government, you know, masquerading in the gap of Democrats, Nigeria has not had it funny the last 10 years, but particularly two years plus now.

“And so I can’t understand why a sitting governor, of all persons who must have been promoted by a political party and campaigned against this rudolphus element, you know, who are vicious elements of democracy, you know, to want to now get attracted to them, to want to go.

“A lot of persons have called a lot of them and were asking questions. What could have been the reason? Because there’s no available reason out there, and in all of the states, PDP is in good state, like you heard, you know, the deputy with that you interviewed earlier, saying there’s no problem, no rationale whatsoever, in most of the states other than selfishness and greed.

“But then we bid them farewell. Let’s see what happens. You know, as we journey towards 2027 it’s not about PDP and APC, or in other political parties, as it were, it’s now against APC, against Nigerians.

“Let them do all the things they can do. We have had worse temptations than this,” he added.

Defections: It’s now APC against Nigerians – Abdullahi

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, has described the recent wave of defections from the party as acts driven by greed and selfish interest.

According to him, the defections would not deter the PDP from its resolve to rebuild the country, stressing that the political struggle ahead is no longer between the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and other parties, but between the APC and the Nigerian people.

“As we journey towards 2027, it’s not about PDP and APC anymore, it’s now APC against Nigerians,” Abdullahi declared.

He spoke on Wednesday while fielding questions Arise Television’s News programme.

Abdullahi maintained that there was no justifiable reason for governors elected on the PDP platform to abandon the party, particularly those nearing the end of their tenures.

The PDP spokesperson lamented the state of the nation under the APC administration, saying Nigerians have suffered greatly over the past decade, especially in the last two years.

He said, “It’s nothing other than greed, avarice, and selfishness on the part of those leaving because, to the best of my knowledge and that of Nigerians, you cannot find a compelling reason that would warrant a governor completing his second term, for example in Bayelsa, to want to leave the party.

“To the best of the PDP, it is good riddance to bad rubbish. If only we can weed out these elements before our convention next month, we will emerge more cohesive and better prepared to retrieve this country from what we consider an army of occupation masquerading as a democratic government”.

Lagos Assembly moves to establish state-owned railway corporation

Lagos State House of Assembly has commenced legislative work on a bill aimed at establishing a comprehensive legal framework for the creation, management, and operation of a state-owned railway corporation.

The proposed law, titled “A Bill for a Law to Establish the Lagos State Railway Corporation and for Connected Matters, 2025,” seeks to provide a structured foundation for an efficient rail transport system in the state.

Speaking during a one-day public hearing on the bill held on Wednesday in Lagos, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said the initiative showcases the government’s commitment to modernizing transportation infrastructure and improving residents’ quality of life.

Obasa, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, said the establishment of the corporation would enhance mobility, reduce road congestion, and shorten travel time across the state.

“This proposed legislation represents yet another bold and visionary step in the Lagos State Government’s continued efforts to improve the welfare and quality of life of its people,” he stated.

“Railway transportation remains a critical component of modern infrastructure. It ensures safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly movement of people and goods while driving trade, commerce, and economic growth,” he added.

The Speaker also explained that Section 26 of the bill provides for the appointment of an Inspector of Railways, whose responsibilities would include conducting regular inspections of trains and tracks, offering professional guidance, and ensuring the safety and operational integrity of rail services.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, Hon. Temitope Adedeji, noted that the proposed corporation would play a vital role in easing the movement of people and goods within the state.

Adedeji, who represents Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 1, described the bill as timely and necessary, given Lagos’s rapidly growing population and the increasing demand for a modern, reliable transport system.

“With the state standing at a pivotal point in its infrastructural and economic development, there is an urgent need to establish a robust legal and institutional framework to regulate and operate railway services efficiently,” he said.

Court slams Kaduna CP N15m fine for blocking ADC, SDP rallies

A High Court sitting in Kaduna has fined the State Commissioner of Police N15m for violating the fundamental rights of members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, to peaceful assembly.

Justice Murtala Zubairu, while delivering judgment on Wednesday, also granted a perpetual injunction barring the police commissioner, his officers, and agents from disrupting or interfering with lawful political meetings and rallies in the state.

According to the court, the police acted unlawfully when they disrupted two meetings involving a former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and chieftains of the ADC and SDP on August 30 and September 4, 2025, respectively.

The first meeting was reportedly broken up by thugs in the presence of police officers, while the second was halted by the police on the strength of an ex parte order obtained from the court.

The police had filed the suit marked KDH/KAD/NPD/1315/2025, seeking to suspend all political meetings in Kaduna State pending investigations into alleged threats of violence.

However, Justice Zubairu dismissed the suit as incompetent and politically motivated, describing it as an abuse of the court process.

He declared that the police acted in bad faith and exceeded their statutory powers under the Police Act 2020.

“The notion that the police can indefinitely suspend the fundamental rights of association and assembly of every political party in a state is an overreach and constitutes an abuse of statutory powers.

“The duty of the police is to provide security for peaceful assemblies, not to ban them pre-emptively based on vague fears or speculative intelligence,” the judge ruled.

The court declared that the ex parte injunction obtained by the police on September 4, 2025, violated Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association, and ordered it discharged for procedural irregularities and lack of merit.

Consequently, the court ordered the police to pay N15m to the respondents as compensatory, general, aggravated, and exemplary damages for breach of fundamental rights, wrongful injunction, and abuse of statutory duty.

The breakdown of the award includes N5m for the arbitrary suspension of the parties’ meetings, N5m for obtaining a wrongful injunction, and N5m for failure to investigate the reported attack.

Justice Zubairu also directed the Commissioner of Police to investigate the August 30 violence and submit a report to the Attorney-General of Kaduna State within 60 days of the judgment.

He warned that selective enforcement or suppression of opposition activity by law enforcement agencies erodes public trust and undermines democracy.

Taraba state university suspends students’ union over controversial ‘gender swap day’

The management of Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo, has suspended the Students’ Union Government (SUG) indefinitely following allegations of misconduct during the recently concluded 2025 Students’ Week celebration.

The decision came after photos and videos from the event’s controversial “Gender Swap Day” surfaced online, sparking outrage from members of the university community and the general public. The university said the activities violated its values, dress code, and moral standards.

In a statement signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sunday Paul Bako, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the management described the incident as “regrettable and disappointing,” noting that some students’ actions were inconsistent with the institution’s core principles.

An emergency management meeting held on Monday, October 13 reviewed the incidents and blamed poor supervision and coordination by the current SUG leadership for the disorder that occurred during the week-long celebration.

As part of the resolutions reached, the SUG has been suspended indefinitely to pave the way for a complete restructuring of student leadership and representation. The university also announced plans to introduce a new framework promoting accountability, discipline, and inclusiveness among student leaders.

“Students who were involved in actions that misrepresented the university’s image will face disciplinary action,” the statement read.

“Those whose behavior involved criminal acts have been arrested and will be handed over to law enforcement for further investigation.”

In response, the SUG led by Victor Mishak Abednego, tendered an official apology to the university management, expressing regret over the embarrassment caused by the event and promising stricter adherence to university rules in future activities.

The university reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence and moral integrity, warning that such conduct will not be tolerated in any future student-organized events.

NAF decorates 64 newly promoted senior officers

Nigerian Air ForceThe Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has decorated 64 Wing Commanders with the rank of Group Captain, in recognition of their outstanding service to the nation.

According to a post on the Nigerian Air Force’s official X handle on Wednesday, Abubakar, represented by the Director of Veterans Affairs, Air Vice Marshal Chidiebere Obiabaka, congratulated the newly promoted officers, describing their elevation as both “an honour and a call to greater responsibility.”

He urged them to redouble their efforts and remain steadfast in upholding the NAF’s core values of integrity, excellence, and service to the nation.

“Representing the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, the Director of Veterans Affairs, AVM Chidiebere Obiabaka, congratulated the newly promoted officers and reminded them that the promotion is both an honour and a call to greater responsibility,” the statement read in part.

It added that the newly decorated officers, joined by their families and colleagues, expressed appreciation to the Chief of Air Staff and the NAF leadership for the confidence reposed in them, pledging renewed dedication to duty and service excellence.

The latest promotion exercise follows a similar one in December 2024, when the Air Force Council elevated 52 senior officers, comprising 19 Air Vice Marshals and 33 Air Commodores, across various commands and units of the service.

Senate screens new INEC chair Amupitan today

Professor-Joash-Amupitan-932×1024The Senate will today (Thursday) screen  Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan for the position of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The announcement was contained in a circular issued on Wednesday by the Director of Information for the Senate, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, and made available to journalists in Abuja.

The development comes barely 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu’s letter seeking the speedy confirmation of Amupitan was read on the Senate floor by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

The circular read in part: “The Office of the Secretary, Research and Information wishes to notify members of the press and the general public that the Senate will on Thursday, 16th October, 2025, conduct the screening of the nominee of President Bola Tinubu, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, as INEC Chairman.

“The exercise is scheduled to hold at the Senate Chamber, National Assembly Complex. Members of the Senate Press Corps are kindly requested to provide their usual media coverage and support to ensure adequate dissemination of information to the public. Similarly, television stations are expected to extend the usual courtesies of providing live coverage of the event.”

Amupitan’s nomination, which followed last week’s endorsement by the National Council of State, marks a significant transition for the electoral body following the exit of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu after a decade at the helm of INEC.

In his letter to the Senate, Tinubu stated that the appointment was made “in line with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)” and urged lawmakers to grant it their “usual expeditious consideration.”

“I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” the President wrote.

Amupitan’s nomination comes at a politically sensitive time, with renewed debates over INEC’s independence and credibility following contentious post-election reviews.

While the Presidency described him as “an apolitical figure of impeccable integrity,” opposition parties and civil society groups have urged the Senate to ensure a transparent and rigorous confirmation process.

Today’s screening is expected to be closely watched nationwide, as it will set the tone for electoral reforms and test the administration’s commitment to credible polls ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Northern Nigeria Minorities Group  has warned against attempts by individuals and interest groups to ethnicise Amupitan’s appointment.

In a strongly worded statement issued in Kaduna on Tuesday and signed by its Convener, Chief Jacob Edi, the group expressed concern over what it described as “divisive commentaries and social media tirades” questioning President Tinubu’s choice of the Kogi-born scholar.

Edi noted that Amupitan, an indigene of the Okun ethnic group in Kogi State, represents one of the minority nationalities in northern Nigeria and that his appointment should be celebrated rather than politicised.

“We view with consternation the ongoing attempts by certain individuals and interest groups to ethnicise the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission,” Edi said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Professor Amupitan is an Okun man from Kogi State, one of the minority ethnic nationalities in Northern Nigeria. There are 19 states in the North, each richly diverse and unique, none superior to another by tribe, tongue, or faith.”

He expressed concern that “some self-styled northern voices” were portraying the President’s decision as an act of ethnic preference, describing such a narrative as “false, dangerous, and inimical to national unity.”

Edi, who also holds the title of Kakaki Basanghe, noted that this is the first time in 65 years—since the establishment of a statutory electoral commission in 1959—that someone from a northern minority group has been appointed to lead the nation’s electoral body.

“In all these decades, no northern minority group has ever questioned the decisions of successive Heads of State or Presidents to appoint individuals they felt comfortable working with, even when the North-West and North-East held the position consecutively for 15 years,” the statement added.

The NNMG urged Nigerians to recognise northern minorities as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project and to desist from questioning their appointments to national offices.

Edi lamented that the “unfortunate trend” of delegitimising northern minority appointments began during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when such appointments were derisively dismissed as “not northern enough.”

“The current ethnicisation of Professor Amupitan’s appointment is a direct continuation of that ugly and retrogressive trend, and it must stop,” he declared.

The group stressed that the North should not be defined by ethnicity but by inclusiveness and diversity, warning that those peddling divisive narratives were “the real enemies of national unity and progress.”

It further outlined four key points, asserting that the backlash over Amupitan’s appointment exposes a long-standing prejudice against northern minorities.

“This jejune narrative underscores our growing concern that some of our northern colleagues continue to perceive northern minorities merely as fillers of demography, unworthy of the privileges and recognition that come with our place in the federation,” it stated.

“Such thinking is antiquated, divisive, and inimical to the spirit of modern governance.”

According to the NNMG, 65 years after independence, Nigeria should be guided by competence, integrity, and capacity rather than ethnic considerations.

“The appointment of Professor Amupitan should be celebrated as a bold step toward inclusivity, equity, and meritocracy. These are values that must be internalised if we are to strengthen our democracy,” the statement added.

While commending President Tinubu for “recognising the diversity of the North,” the group said the President deserves credit for giving all constituent groups in the region a sense of belonging through his recent appointments.

Edi cautioned that further attempts to polarise the country along ethnic or sectional lines would only undermine democratic development.

“We urge political actors, commentators, and citizens alike to rise above petty identity politics and focus on building institutions that work, irrespective of who heads them. The time for ethnic arithmetic is over. The era of competence, fairness, and national responsibility must begin in earnest,” he said.

The group also maintained that northern minorities play a crucial role in stabilising the Nigerian federation, noting that collectively they represent “the real majority” that continues to believe in the unity and progress of the nation.

“We must reiterate, without ambiguity, that northern minorities collectively constitute the true stabilising force of this federation — and when placed together, we are not just minorities; we are the real majority that believes in the unity and progress of Nigeria,” Edi said.

He concluded by calling for an end to the politicisation of national appointments and urged Nigerians to rally behind Professor Amupitan as he prepares to lead the electoral commission.

“Let competence and fairness, not ethnicity, define our national discourse. The success of Nigeria’s democracy depends on it,” Edi added.

NCC links tariff reforms to N1tn telecom infrastructure investment

NCCThe Nigerian Communications Commission said recent tariff reforms have triggered more than N1 tn in new investments by telecom operators, helping to modernise the country’s digital backbone and improve service quality across the industry.

Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, disclosed this while delivering his keynote address at the 94th edition of the Telecoms Consumer Parliament, held on Tuesday in Lagos.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Addressing Network Quality for Improved Consumer Experience’, Maida said the tariff reform, approved in February 2025 under the Commission’s economic regulatory mandate, was designed to make rates in the telecom sector more cost-reflective and competitive, thereby ensuring sustainability and long-term service improvements.

According to him, the strategic intervention, though initially met with hesitation by the public, has begun to yield tangible results by stabilising the market, strengthening competitiveness, and restoring investor confidence in the country’s telecommunications industry.

“Collectively, the operators have committed over $1bn, that is over N1trn, in new investments aimed at upgrading network infrastructure, modernising equipment, and expanding coverage nationwide,” the executive stated.

“Over the past six months alone, tower companies and operators have deployed more than 2,700 additional capacity and coverage sites across the country. These sites will directly improve network strength, service reliability, and ultimately user experience for millions of Nigerians.”

Before the tariff adjustment in February, Africa’s largest telecom market, with over 220 million active mobile lines, had seen service quality strained by surging data usage, currency fluctuations, and rising energy costs. Operators, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Africa, Globacom, and 9mobile, have repeatedly said that tariffs no longer reflected operational costs, leading to underinvestment in infrastructure.

He said the Commission remains committed to ensuring that the quality of service delivery in the sector is non-negotiable, adding that consumers have the right to reliable, efficient, and high-quality telecommunications services.

Maida acknowledged that while the quality of service is not yet at the desired level, significant progress has been made. “Quality of service today is not yet where we want it to be, but it is equally true that we are no longer where we used to be,” he said.

He recalled that Nigeria’s telecom industry had grown remarkably from about 500,000 active lines at the time of sector liberalisation to over 169 million active mobile subscriptions and a teledensity of 78.11 per cent as of July 2025.

However, he stressed that such growth must be matched by corresponding improvements in service quality to ensure that consumer expectations are met, saying the Commission remains fully committed to this goal, working hand in hand with all industry stakeholders.”

Maida highlighted several recent regulatory initiatives by the Commission aimed at improving network quality and strengthening consumer protection.

He said one of these was the updated Quality of Service Regulations, which set clear and measurable performance benchmarks for operators, including call setup success rates, call drop rates, and network and power availability.

A key feature of the updated regulations, he noted, is the expanded regulatory scope to include co-location providers – companies that host multiple operators on shared infrastructure, making them accountable under similar frameworks as mobile operators.

UBA to unveil whitepaper on Africa’s financial infrastructure

UBA-logoUnited Bank for Africa Plc is set to launch its landmark whitepaper on powering the continent’s development through its financial ecosystem.

According to a statement from the bank on Wednesday, the whitepaper, titled ‘Banking on Africa’s Future: Unlocking Capital and Partnerships for Sustainable Growth’, will be unveiled on the sidelines of the ongoing World Bank-International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in October 2025 in Washington, D.C.

UBA said that the document presents a comprehensive and actionable framework for unlocking Africa’s vast economic potential, providing analysis of critical growth pillars including trade facilitation, infrastructure development, digital innovation, climate finance, and inclusive growth, while showcasing strategies for leveraging domestic capital alongside strategic global partnerships to access the continent’s $3.4tn single market potential under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, who emphasised the strategic importance of this whitepaper, explained that over the past few years, the bank has become an active leader in conversations and activities that drive tangible investments to the continent

“UBA is shifting Africa’s development agenda from talk to action. With this whitepaper, we are championing initiatives that convert strategic dialogue into bankable projects and direct investments. Our commitment to execute these plans for the benefit of the continent and its people cannot be overemphasised. We are committed partners in Africa’s development and sustainability and will continue to provide the capital, the platform, and the network needed to transform Africa’s vast potential into economic growth,” Elumelu said.

The UBA Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, remarked on the white paper’s significance, highlighting the urgent need for private sector leadership.

“This whitepaper is a call to action and a statement of our capability,” Alawuba said. “It underlines our unique position in facilitating the partnerships and capital flows required to finance Africa’s future, providing the blueprint for action. The document delivers critical insights at a defining moment for Africa’s financial infrastructure.”

United Bank for Africa operates in 20 African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and the United Arab Emirates.