General
Yoruba Youth Group Rejects FG’s Cattle Colonies
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A Yoruba Youth socio-cultural group called Igbimo Odo Yoruba has rejected plans by the Federal Government to establish cattle colonies across the country for herdsmen.
Leader of the group, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, in a statement on Monday, emphasised that the position of the Yoruba youth was in reaction to a statement credited to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Audu Ogbeh, that the cattle colonies were to curb increasing cases of clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the country.
Mr Lawson said the youths will vehemently resist any attempt by the Federal Government to introduce the cattle colonies in any part of the Southwest, and other Yoruba speaking parts of the country.
According him, every legitimate means within its reach would be used to fight the government, stressing that creation of the colonies was another attempt to re-colonise Nigerians, particularly the people of the Southern part of the country.
“It is absolutely sad that at this age and time in our history as a people, certain persons will resort to arbitrary use of state power to grab the ancestral lands of our people in order to reward a minute but violent group of herdsmen, who have continually assaulted, molest and violate the right to life of innocent Nigerians across the country without any concrete action to checkmate their excesses by the Federal Government,” Mr Lawson said in the statement made available to Business Post.
The group further said it was alarmed by the ‘insensitive’ position of the Federal Government, coming at the very moment when several states are counting their losses, particularly of human life, as a result of attacks on innocent farmers, women and young children allegedly by Fulani herdsmen.
“We cannot continue to overlook the humongous disasters that these herdsmen have continued to wreck on our communities, leading to loss of means of livelihood, assault on our women and loss of lives.
“Sadly, all these atrocities have not been enough to attract any concrete action from the federal government, neither have they resulted into the arrest or prosecution of the perpetrators of these crimes and their sponsors.
“What we have witnessed instead is the audacity of these elements to claim responsibility for their crimes and even make media appearances to justify their actions against armless people, who are being maimed endlessly by these gang of herdsmen,” the statement read.
“While we want to specially commend Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State for the radical approach of his government towards tackling the menace of these (alleged) Fulani herdsmen in Ekiti State, we wish to seriously warn other Governors of the Southwest that any attempt by them to conspire with the proponents of the ‘Cattle Colonies’ whose main agenda is to unjustly grab our lands out of our possession, shall be resisted by our generation and generations to come,” the statement stressed.
The group also advised the Federal Government that rather than proposing the establishment of cattle colonies, which is seen as a colonial anti-people land grabbing strategy, government should first take decisive actions by bringing to justice all perpetrators of violence hiding under farmers/herdsmen clashes without further delay.
It also urged the Federal government to stop looking too far in finding a lasting solution to issues of grazing in the country as practicable solutions have already been proffered through various recommendations of the past. Most recent, as contained in the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
All the police personnel involved in the fatal shooting of Mr Mene Ogidi in the Effurun area of Delta State have been dismissed by the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
A statement issued on Wednesday by the police spokesman, Mr Anthony Okon Placid, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), said findings established unequivocally that the principal officer, ASP Nuhu Usman, acted in gross violation of Force Order 237 and other extant regulations governing the use of firearms.
The police described his actions as unlawful, unprofessional, and a clear betrayal of the oath to protect life and uphold the law.
It was gathered that the assassination of Mr Ogidi, captured in a video online, happened on Sunday when the deceased was with a package believed to contain a pistol.
After a public outrage, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Tunji Disu, directed all officers connected to the incident to be immediately withdrawn from the Delta State Command and transferred to Force Headquarters, Abuja, where they were subjected to expedited disciplinary proceedings.
The Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), alongside other internal disciplinary processes, after the conclusion of its review, recommended the immediate dismissal of ASP Nuhu Usman and other officers found culpable.
This has been approved by the police chief and forwarded to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for ratification in line with due process.
It was disclosed that upon completion of the administrative procedures, the affected officers will be handed over to the appropriate judicial authorities for prosecution for their roles in the extrajudicial shooting.
Mr Disu reiterated, in the strongest terms, that the Nigeria Police Force maintains a zero-tolerance stance on extra-judicial actions and abuse of power. No uniform confers the right to take life outside the provisions of the law. Any officer who violates this fundamental principle will face the full weight of disciplinary and legal consequences.
He extended his deepest and most solemn condolences to the family of the deceased, acknowledging the pain and loss suffered and assured the family that this tragic incident would not be treated lightly. The Force is fully committed to ensuring that justice is not only served but seen to be served, in a manner that reinforces public confidence and institutional accountability.
Members of the public were urged to remain calm and law-abiding, as the Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its commitment to discipline, professionalism, and the protection of the rights and dignity of all citizens while ensuring accountability at all levels.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Friday, May 1, 2026, has been declared a public holiday by the federal government to celebrate this year’s International Workers’ Day.
The public holiday was declared by the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in a statement signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, on Thursday.
The Minister congratulated Nigerian workers on this year’s celebration, lauding them for their hard work and dedication to national development.
He noted that their efforts are essential for the nation’s growth and prosperity, urging them to embrace patriotism, productivity, and dedication to their duties. According to him, these qualities are crucial for sustainable development, assuring that the federal government is committed to supporting the welfare and security of all workers and creating a favourable environment for economic growth.
While wishing workers a happy celebration, the Minister urged all Nigerians to remain peaceful and law-abiding, encouraging everyone to use this occasion to reflect on the importance of unity and hard work in building the nation.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The World Bank Group’s private-sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Standard Chartered on Wednesday announced a new risk-sharing facility aimed at strengthening supply chains and supporting business growth across Africa.
The programme will roll out across eight markets—Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia—targeting sectors including agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing, with a focus on improving access to working capital for suppliers.
This marks the IFC’s first project under its Global Supply Chain Finance Program and the Africa Trade and Supply Chain Recovery Initiative, supported by the International Development Association’s Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
Global demand for supply chain finance continues to rise, reaching an estimated $2.7 trillion in 2025, an increase of 8 per cent year-on-year. However, access in emerging markets remains limited, as financial institutions tend to prioritise developed economies.
The facility will cover up to $300 million in supply chain and trade finance assets originated by Standard Chartered. It includes financing instruments such as payables finance, receivables discounting and pre-shipment finance programmes, which enable businesses to access funds earlier in the payment cycle.
The facility aims to address this imbalance by mitigating risk in short-term trade and supply chain finance portfolios, helping to unlock capital in underserved markets.
By accelerating payments to suppliers, the initiative aims to strengthen supply chain relationships, improve delivery reliability and support job creation across value chains.
IFC will provide guarantees of up to $150 million, with $100 million committed as an initial tranche. The facility will support transactions in both U.S. dollars and selected local currencies.
Over three years, the partnership is expected to enable approximately $1.9 billion in supply chain finance transactions, supporting more than 500 suppliers, including small and medium enterprises. The programme also has the potential to indirectly benefit over 1 million farmers.
Speaking on this development, Mr Mohamed Gouled, Vice President, Products & Clients at IFC, said, “Supply chain finance is among the fastest ways to narrow the growing finance gap that businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, are facing in emerging economies. By partnering with Standard Chartered to support companies at the centre of strategic value chains, we can unlock much-needed working capital at scale for businesses across Africa, including smaller firms and farmers, making supply chains more competitive and boosting job creation.”
On his part, Mr Dalu Ajene, Chief Executive and Head of Coverage, Standard Chartered Africa, said, “This $300 million facility with IFC underscores our shared commitment to strengthening Africa’s supply chains and enabling sustainable business growth. As a super-connector bank with deep expertise across key trade corridors linking Africa to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas, we are uniquely positioned to channel capital and innovation into the real economy.”
“By expanding access to supply chain finance, we are helping African companies unlock liquidity, manage risk, and invest with confidence. Our collaboration unites Standard Chartered’s cross-border expertise with IFC’s development mandate to empower businesses – from major corporations to smaller local suppliers – to engage more actively in regional and global trade, fostering job creation and promoting inclusive growth,” he added.
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