General
FG to Release Data of Cash Transfer Beneficiaries
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To show to Nigerians and the world that its cash transfer policy to vulnerable citizens is not charade, the federal government has promised to release data of beneficiaries.
The Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, speaking at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference on Tuesday in Abuja, said the government has established a transparent, accountable, and robust system for providing direct payments to 15 million households across the country, noting that the process ensures transparency and accountability while enabling the government to monitor disbursements in real time.
“Each individual beneficiary is identified by name and their national identity number, and payments are made digitally—either directly to their bank accounts or mobile wallets,” he disclosed at the event.
He assured Nigerians that the federal government’s ongoing economic reforms were being implemented with a strong focus on easing the hardships faced by ordinary citizens, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
The Minister acknowledged the economic challenges confronting Nigerians, including rising food and transport costs, but emphasized that measures were already in place to cushion the effects of the reforms.
Responding to concerns that some communities had yet to benefit from the payments, Mr Edun said data would soon be released showing the names of beneficiaries who had received the first, second, and third tranches.
Beyond the cash transfers, he disclosed that the government was also implementing a ward-based development programme designed to take resources, information, and funding directly to the 8,809 wards in Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
“The initiative will empower economically active people at the ward level—supporting small businesses, cottage industries, and local entrepreneurs to boost production and create sustainable livelihoods,” he stated, noting that the reforms aim not only to stabilize the economy but also to ensure that their benefits “reach right down to the lowest levels of society.”
He commended the organisers of the event for fostering dialogue on leadership and development, reiterating that the government’s goal was to build an inclusive economy where every Nigerian feels the positive impact of reforms.
The founder of Oxford Global Think Tank, Ms Arunma Oteh, called for urgent action to mobilize long-term capital, accelerate infrastructure development, and decentralize the management of Nigeria’s mineral resources to unlock sustainable growth.
Ms Oteh, who was one a Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Vice President at the World Bank, said Nigeria’s economic potential could only be realized if the country creates an environment that attracts “reasonably priced, long-term, patient capital” for both government and private sector development.
According to her, Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit remains a major barrier to growth. Citing data from China, she noted that the Asian country invested about 24 per cent of its GDP in infrastructure, compared to Nigeria’s 4–5 per cent. “If we want to bridge our infrastructure gap, we must increase that investment to at least 12 per cent of GDP,” she stated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Thursday, March 19, and Friday, March 20, 2026, have been declared as public holidays by the federal government to mark Eid-ul-Fitr.
A statement on Tuesday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, urged Muslims to sustain the virtues of love, generosity, peace, tolerance, and sacrifice emphasised during the holy month of Ramadan.
The work-free days were declared by the Nigerian authorities to celebrate the end of the 30-day fast of Ramadan observed by Muslims in Nigeria and across the globe.
The statement issued today said the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who declared the holidays on behalf of the federal government, extended warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to the Muslim faithful on the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan.
He called on all Nigerians to use the festive period to pray for the continued peace, unity, and prosperity of the nation.
While wishing the Muslim faithful a joyful Eid-ul-Fitr celebration, the Minister encouraged citizens to celebrate responsibly and extend acts of kindness to the less privileged in society, expressing the government’s commitment to “fostering national unity and peaceful coexistence among all Nigerians.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) is targeting improved energy efficiency and the reduction of electricity supply hiccups to meet demand from the commercial sector.
The chief executive of the commission, Mr Temitope George, while listing the development agenda, vowed to make LASERC the foremost electricity regulator in Nigeria, reaffirming its commitment “to be the leading electricity regulator facilitating sustainable electricity and enhancing the quality of life for all residents in Lagos State.”
Mr George spoke at the close of the organisation’s maiden three-day capacity-building retreat, which had in attendance members, senior government officials, regulatory experts, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on key issues shaping electricity regulation and market development in the state.
With the theme Strengthening Regulatory Framework and Institutional Capacity for a Sustainable Electricity Market in Lagos State, the forum served as a platform for knowledge exchange, policy alignment, and institutional learning aimed at sharpening regulatory effectiveness and electricity governance in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Sabur Oluwa, assured the commitment of the Lagos State House of Assembly to support policies and legislative frameworks that will promote sustainable power development and improved electricity service delivery for residents of the state.
Also, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), highlighted the role of legal and institutional frameworks in ensuring effective regulation and alignment with the broader developmental priorities of Lagos State.
Delivering a presentation on the strategic implementation plan and electricity policy overview, the commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Biodun Ogunleye, noted that a well-structured regulatory framework is essential for attracting investment, improving infrastructure, and ensuring a reliable electricity supply across the state.
The permanent secretary of the ministry, Mr Abdulhafiz Toriola, stressed that effective collaboration within the public service is critical for the successful implementation of policies that will strengthen the electricity sector and enhance service delivery.
The general manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Mr Afolabi Solebo, shared insights on strengthening consumer protection mechanisms and improving complaint resolution within the electricity market, while the director general of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr Fatai Onafowote, highlighted the role of procurement processes in ensuring transparency and efficiency in public sector projects.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening human capital development and institutional collaboration in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Patience Oyekunle, during a familiarisation and courtesy visit to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in Abuja on Monday, described the organisation as a strategic institution within Nigeria’s petroleum sector architecture.
According to her, the organisation’s mandate to develop indigenous human capacity for the oil and gas industry remains critical to the long-term sustainability, competitiveness and technological advancement of the sector.
She lauded the body for its contributions to manpower development through its Overseas and In-Country Scholarship Schemes, which have supported the training of thousands of Nigerian professionals in petroleum and energy-related disciplines over the past two decades.
The senior government official noted that many beneficiaries of the programmes now contribute meaningfully across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, regulatory institutions, academia and research establishments, thereby strengthening the country’s technical competence and knowledge base in the sector.
Mrs Oyekunle further reiterated that the ministry remains committed to advancing sector reforms and the strategic priorities of the federal government.
She stressed that the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s petroleum industry following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) places renewed emphasis on efficiency, transparency, institutional effectiveness and the strengthening of indigenous technical capacity across the sector’s value chain.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Mr Ahmed Galadima Aminu, reaffirmed the fund’s commitment to supporting the policy direction of the federal government and working closely with the ministry to further strengthen Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
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