General
Coalition Condemns Rising Attacks on Human Rights Activists
By Adedapo Adesanya
The coalition of 32 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working to promote democracy and human rights has expressed grave concerns over the rise in the level of attacks targeted at human rights activists in the country.
The groups include: Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Enough is Enough (EIE) Nigeria; Partners for Electoral Reform; and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).
Others are Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED); Centre for Information, Technology and Development (CITAD); Yiaga Africa; and Global Rights Project Alert among others.
The group in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja said that the attacks on activists and pro-democracy campaigners have increased since the start of the #EndSARS protests.
“Escalation of threats against human rights activists is putting Nigeria in the negative global spotlight.
“This is in spite of the local and global condemnations which have trailed the death of protesters as a result of extrajudicial killings by security forces and the activities of sponsored non-state elements.
“It is worrisome that there has been no remorse on the part of those perpetrating these atrocities.
This Coalition is aware that the Nigerian authorities have stepped up measures to clamp down on individuals, organisations and corporate bodies alleged to be the masterminds of the protests,” the group said.
According to the coalition, for the avoidance of doubt, the #EndSARS protests, which gripped the country in the last few weeks, focused on the legitimate demands of the Nigerian youth.
Thus, it was for an end to police brutality and other dimensions of human rights abuses.
The alliance urged the government to focus attention squarely on the necessary administrative reforms to meet the short and long term demands of the protesters.
It also expressed concerns about the government’s inaction in responding to the direct threats issued against human rights organisations by non-state elements with pro-government objectives.
“This coalition has documented several patently illegal steps taken by the government, which clearly infringe on the fundamental rights of citizens.
“Increasingly, protest organisers are being intimidated and coerced by various state institutions.
“There have also been situations in which travel bans, which have no basis in the rule of law, have been slammed on individuals for their alleged roles in the #EndSARS protests,” the statement noted.
The organisation condemned the resort to acts of intimidation, profiling and coercion of citizens who it alleged had committed no offence, saying that the government’s action constitutes a serious attack on freedom of expression, which is a constitutionally guaranteed right of every Nigerian citizen.
“Specifically, Section 39(1) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as amended makes it clear that every person “shall be entitled to freedom of expression’’ among others.
“The group said that the peaceful protests staged in recent weeks provided an opportunity for the young people of Nigeria to air their views and express their opinions about the state of the country,” it said.
The CSOs said that the government’ acts of clamping down on those who participated in or mobilised for the protests amounted to a brazen violation of citizen’s fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
The association condemned acts of targeting the bank accounts of individuals who were alleged to be financing the protests without any exhaustive recourse to the judicial process.
The group said the reliance on ex parte applications to freeze accounts of citizens was antithetical to the principle of fair hearing and proper judicial oversight.
According to the organisation, these underhand tactics run contrary to the principles of natural justice which aver that an entity cannot be the judge in its own case.
“This coalition for the umpteenth time calls on the international community to take urgent measures to pressure the Nigerian authorities to act in accordance with the rule of law by halting the ongoing unconstitutional assault on citizens’ rights,” it stated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The federal government and the Honeywell Group are strengthening a partnership aimed at achieving sustainable development in Nigeria.
The company on Thursday held a meeting with the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja. Both parties explored ways to promote economic development, reaffirming the importance of public-private sector cooperation in advancing Nigeria’s development agenda and improving service delivery for citizens.
The Senior Adviser to the Honeywell Group, Mrs Oduwaye Nsidi-Sakiri, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting national development through constructive engagement and collaboration.
“We commend the remarkable progress that has been made. These achievements are a reflection not only of leadership but also of the dedication and hard work of the entire team within the Ministry,” she said.
She explained that the visit reflected Honeywell Group’s longstanding tradition of maintaining proactive and constructive relationships with government institutions, regulatory agencies, and other key public-sector stakeholders. She further expressed the group’s willingness to explore opportunities for collaboration in support of government initiatives and national development objectives.
Also speaking, Honeywell Group Chief Operating Officer, Mrs Tomi Ayo-Tugbo, commended the Ministry for reforms that are delivering tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians, reiterating the firm’s commitment to supporting the country’s growth and prosperity.
On his part, Mr Tunji-Ojo praised the company for its longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s economy and acknowledged the critical role of the private sector in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and supporting national development.
He further assured the delegation of the Ministry’s readiness to engage with stakeholders and collaborate with responsible corporate organisations in advancing initiatives that promote economic development, innovation, and improved service delivery.
The Minister emphasised that the reforms being implemented across the Ministry and its agencies are designed not only to improve operational efficiency but also to strengthen national security and enhance public confidence in government institutions.
“Our goal is to build institutions that work efficiently for the people. We are committed to creating systems that are transparent, technology-driven, and capable of delivering services in a manner that reflects the aspirations of a modern Nigeria,” he stated.
“The government cannot achieve sustainable development alone. Strong partnerships between the public and private sectors are essential to building a prosperous nation. We value organisations such as Honeywell Group that have consistently invested in Nigeria and contributed to the country’s growth over several decades,” Mr Tunji-Ojo added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has directed that no new public contracts should be awarded without first getting the funds, as part of efforts to improve project delivery across the country.
Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr Adebowale Adedokun, disclosed this on the sidelines of the Inaugural Hosting of The Procurement Evolution in Abuja on Thursday.
Mr Adedokun said President Bola Tinubu had approved measures to raise resources needed to settle outstanding obligations to contractors, describing timely payment as critical to an efficient procurement system.
“Mr President has given a directive on when funds should be raised to address the concerns of contractors who are yet to be paid. With this, procurement processes will be much better because payment is now tied to procurement.
“Meaning that no award will be further issued without resources or funding available. So these are the things that the President has asked us to do.”
The BPP boss said the government was also implementing 23 procurement reforms aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and value for money in public spending.
According to him, committees to drive the reforms will soon be inaugurated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
He said the reforms were designed to ensure that Nigerians benefit directly through improved infrastructure, healthcare, education and better living conditions.
“The president wants Nigerians to feel the effects of this transformation by having good roads, good hospitals, good educational institutions, and a good living wage for all workers.”
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr George Akume, said public procurement remained central to the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mr Akume noted that ongoing reforms, including proposed amendments to the Public Procurement Act 2007, the Nigeria First Policy, Nigeria e-Marketplace initiative, community-based procurement and affirmative procurement programmes, were intended to strengthen local industries and promote economic inclusion.
The SGF, represented by Mr Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Office of the SGF, added that the reforms would enhance transparency, simplify procurement processes and leverage technology to improve service delivery and national development.
“As we move forward, our collective responsibility is very clear.
“We must ensure that procurement processes are simplified. without compromising accountability, that technology is fully leveraged to eliminate inefficiencies and that all stakeholders work collaboratively to achieve shared national goals.
“The federal government remains fully committed to supporting the Bureau of Public Procurement in driving these reforms and ensuring that public procurement becomes a catalyst for economic growth, infrastructure development and improved quality of life for all our citizens.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies (DisCos) generated N196.13 billion in revenue in March 2026, despite billing customers a total of N246.43 billion during the month, according to the latest commercial performance report released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The figure represents a slight decline from the N196.68 billion collected in February, highlighting persistent challenges in revenue recovery across the power distribution segment, even as energy supplied to the grid continued to improve.
NERC’s March 2026 fact sheet showed that electricity billing rose by 1.71 per cent from N242.29 billion recorded in February, reflecting increased energy deliveries and customer charges. However, collection efficiency declined to 79.59 per cent from 81.17 per cent in the previous month, indicating that a significant portion of billed revenue remained uncollected.
The regulator disclosed that DisCos received 293.76 million kilowatt-hours of electricity during the review period, representing a 6.02 per cent increase compared to February. The development suggests a modest improvement in power availability across the distribution network.
Despite the increase in energy supplied, revenue recovery remains uneven across the industry. NERC reported that the average approved tariff for March stood at N124.30 per kilowatt-hour, while actual collections averaged ₦100.75 per kilowatt-hour, resulting in an overall revenue recovery efficiency of 81.05 per cent.
Among the eleven DisCos, Ikeja Electric emerged as the strongest performer, posting a revenue recovery efficiency of 99.30 per cent. Eko Electricity Distribution Company followed with 95.73 per cent, while Benin DisCo recorded 85.18 per cent.
At the lower end of the performance table, Kaduna Electric recorded the weakest recovery rate at 35.65 per cent. Jos DisCo and Yola DisCo also struggled, achieving recovery efficiencies of 53.53 per cent and 58.58 per cent, respectively.
Ikeja Electric also led in collection efficiency with 96.38 per cent, ahead of Benin DisCo at 90.97 per cent and Eko DisCo at 87.68 per cent. Kaduna, Jos and Yola remained the poorest performers in this category, underlining the persistent commercial and operational challenges facing power distributors in parts of northern Nigeria.
In terms of billing efficiency, Eko DisCo ranked first with 92.30 per cent, followed by Port Harcourt DisCo at 90.36 per cent and Ikeja Electric at 87.76 per cent. Yola DisCo recorded the lowest billing efficiency at 58.68 per cent.
The latest figures underscore the mixed realities within Nigeria’s power sector. While electricity supply and customer billing continue to improve, revenue collection remains a major obstacle to the financial sustainability of the industry.
Analysts note that stronger metering penetration, improved customer confidence, reduction in energy theft and more efficient collection systems will be critical if DisCos are to close the widening gap between electricity supplied, billed revenue and actual collections.
The March performance report comes as regulators and industry stakeholders intensify efforts to strengthen the commercial viability of the electricity market, attract fresh investment and improve service delivery across the country.
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