By Adedapo Adesanya

The chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, has been appointed as the new Vice President of Francophone Africa for the MTN Group starting November 1, 2025. He will remain as the head of the Nigerian unit.

Mr Toriola has led MTN Nigeria since 2021, but before that, he had held leadership roles in Francophone West Africa since 2010.

MTN Nigeria, under Mr Toriola’s leadership, saw several milestones both for the company and the wider industry, including spearheading the first comprehensive tariff increase in 12 years.

Also in the first six months of 2025, the telco also saw a net profit of N414.9 billion, after a N519.1 billion in the 2024 fiscal year.

The new role will see him oversee some of the group’s key Francophone markets, including Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Congo Brazzaville.

The appointment is part of MTN’s broader leadership reshuffle as the group refines its Ambition 2025 strategy to remain strong in three core areas: connectivity, fintech, and digital infrastructure.

Mr Toriola, while leading the largest and most profitable subsidiary of MTN Group, will be seeking to replicate some of his successes in these markets.

There were other leadership changes including in South Africa where Mr Ferdi Moolman, currently Group Chief Risk Officer and a former CEO of MTN Nigeria, will become the new CEO of MTN South Africa, succeeding Mr Charles Molapisi.

Also, Ms Yolanda Cuba, who steps into the role of Deputy CEO and Executive Director of MTN SA, ensuring continuity and leadership depth.

The Group Chief Financial Officer, Mr Tsholofelo Molefe, will now oversee mergers and acquisitions (M&A), consolidating capital allocation and ensuring that investment decisions are aligned with the Group’s long-term growth priorities. This move brings M&A squarely under the finance portfolio, tightening discipline around capital deployment.

On the markets front, Mr Ebenezer Asante, previously Senior Vice President of Markets, will assume responsibility for Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan, Sudan, Liberia, and joint ventures in Eswatini and Botswana. He takes on this revised role as Vice President of Ghana and Southern & East Africa, focusing on accelerating growth and deepening contributions from these operations.

“These leadership changes illustrate the depth of talent and experience we have across the Group,” MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita said in a statement on Monday. “The changes will support the accelerated execution of our strategy beyond 2025 as well as greater value creation for stakeholders over the medium term.”

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Two hundred and forty-three members of staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have been promoted as a motivation for higher performance.

A statement from the agency said nine of them were elevated from the position of a deputy director to a director.

In addition, the board approved the promotion of 30 assistant directors to deputy directors, 35 chiefs to assistant directors, and ratified the promotion of 169 other staff members from one grade level to the next grade level.

While congratulating the newly promoted workers, the Director General of NIMASA, Mr Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the management’s commitment to staff welfare and a transparent, merit-based career progression system.

He charged the beneficiaries to rededicate themselves to excellence in service delivery, saying, “Our administration is committed to improved staff welfare.

“This promotion exercise is strictly merit-based, and we expect staff to reciprocate by rededicating themselves to higher productivity.

“We will continue to prioritize staff welfare, while counting on your commitment to the ideals of the Agency in helping Management actualize its mandate,” Mr Mobereola stated in a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations at NIMASA, Osagie Edward.

The newly appointed directors include the Coordinator for Abuja Liaison Office, Mrs Moji Jimoh; the Director for Internal Audit, Dr Odunayo Ani; the Special Adviser to the DG, Mrs Nneka Obianyor; the Director for Procurement, Mrs Biodun Fatade; Dr Oma Ofodile; Ms Gloria Anyasodo; Mr Abdulahi Yelwa; Umar Buba and Mr Umar Ibrahim Sidi.

By Adedapo Adesanya

President Bola Tinubu on Monday approved the reconstitution of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in a statement announcing the development.

The Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, will serve as chairman of the reconstituted Governing Council. Other members include Mr Loanyie Barituka Victor, representing environmental non-governmental organisations; Mr Bright Onyebuchi Jacob and Mr Henry Obiabure, representing Niger Delta communities; Prof. Barinedum Nwibere and Mrs Baride Gwezia, representing the Ogoni community; and Mr Gideon Onyebuwa and Dr Ibikunle Omotehinse, representing the nine oil-producing states.

The President appointed four alternate members, including Dr Abraham Olungwe and Mr Maeba Ekpobari for Ogoniland, and Mr Joseph Akedesuo and Mrs Beauty Warejuowei for the Niger Delta.

The President also reconstituted the HYPREP Board of Trustees, with Mr Emmanuel Deeyah reappointed as chairman. Other members include Mr Fred Igwe and Dr Fred Kpakol for Ogoni communities and stakeholders; Mrs Dorcas Amos for other Niger Delta communities; and Mr Jide Damazio, who was reappointed to represent environmental NGOs.

The development comes after President Tinubu, in January, held a closed-door meeting with key stakeholders from Rivers State, including now suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, former Governor Nyesom Wike, and representatives of Ogoni leaders, to address pressing issues surrounding the Niger Delta cleanup project and escalating political tensions in the state.

The meeting was attended by key government figures, including Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Mr Nuhu Ribadu; former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr Mele Kyari; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris; and other senior officials.

Many quarters have advanced the need to ensure the Ogoni cleanup as well as tackling environmental and socio-economic challenges in the region.