Economy
Empowerment: Okowa Scores Administration High
By Dipo Olowookere
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has scored his administration high in its empowerment programme.
Mr Okowa, in his inaugural speech on May 29, 2015, had said the performance of his administration would be predicated on an agenda he tagged SMART; Strategic wealth creation projects and provision of jobs for all Deltans; Meaningful peace building platforms aimed at political and social harmony; Agricultural reforms and accelerated industrialisation; Relevant health and education policies; Transformed environment through urban renewal.
Addressing a press conference today in Asaba, Governor Okowa said, “I came in with the SMART Agenda and I have continued to stay on course despite the economic recession; yes I agree that we are supposed to move much faster than we are doing today, but, the fact remains that though the economy is bad we have continued to keep hope alive and to do that which we have been able to do and we will continue to stay focused on our programs.”
He specifically, observed that his administration has done a lot in the area of job creation, stating, “realizing that we need to create jobs for our unemployed youths, realizing that we need to grow the private sector and we are growing through the micro credit support and some other programs we have been running in the course of our governance.”
“In the year 2015 we had two main programs for the youths; the Youth Agriculture and Entrepreneurialship Program (YAGEP) and in that year we had 256 youths that were trained in agricultural production and we are happy to announce that they have all been established; we have visited some of them and they are doing very well and we are glad to announce the success of the program,” he said, adding, “in the Skills Training and Entrepreneurialship Program (STEP) we engaged 1044 youths and we have had a continued monitoring and mentoring program; we have created a mentoring and monitoring office and the reports we have received have been very positive.”
Continuing, the Governor disclosed, “in the year 2016 YAGEP program, we trained 342 persons while in the STEP program, we trained 557 persons; the programs had their starter packs put in place and we had a microcredit adjustment because we believe that if we continue to meet the people’s need, things will be better for them, so, while we are providing them with starter packs, we are also introducing them to work with the microcredit scheme.”
“We have also started a program for people with disabilities, they have been engaged in the programs and they are currently doing very well; we also had the graduate employment enhancement scheme; most of the youths in the agricultural scheme are in clusters because we realized that it was the best way and we have been doing very well with the cluster system,” he emphasised.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The founder and chief executive of Austin Laz and Company Plc, Mr Asimonye Austin Lazarus Azubuike, has sold off about 52.24 million shares of the organisation.
The stocks were offloaded in 11 tranches at an average price of N4.36 per unit, amounting to about N227.8 million.
The transactions occurred between December 2025 and January 2026, according to a notice filed by the company to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Friday.
Business Post reports that Austin Laz is known for producing ice block machines, aluminium roofing, thermoplastics coolers, PVC windows and doors, ice cream machines, and disposable plates.
The firm evolved from refrigeration sales to diverse manufacturing since its incorporation in 1982 in Benin City, Edo State, though facing recent operational halts.
According to the statement signed by company secretary, Ifeanyi Offor & Associates, Mr Azubuike first sold 1.5 million units of the equities at N2.42, and then offloaded 2.4 million units at N2.65, and 2.0 million units at N2.65.
In another tranche, he sold another 2.0 million units at a unit price of N2.91, and then 5.0 million units at N3.52, as well as about 4.5 million at N3.87 per share.
It was further disclosed that the owner of the company also sold 9.0 million shares at N4.25, and offloaded another 368,411 units at N4.66, then in another transaction sold about 6.9 million units at N4.67.
In the last two transactions he carried out, Mr Azubuike first traded 10.0 million units equities at N5.13, with the last being 8.5 million stocks sold at N5.64 per unit.
By Dipo Olowookere
ASO Savings and Loans Plc has been delisted from the daily official list of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
This action followed the revocation of the operating licence of the company by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in December 2025.
In a circular on behalf of the NGX Regulation (NGX RegCo) by Ugochi Eke, it was disclosed that the effective date of the delisting is today, Friday, January 16, 2026.
Already, the company has been notified of this development, according to the notice obtained by Business Post.
Before ASO Savings lost its operating licence, it had failed to meet some post-listing requirements, a part of the disclosure from the NGX RegCo stated.
“The board of NGX Regulation Limited via its decision dated January 1, 2026, approved that the step below should be taken pursuant to the process for regulatory delisting of issuers.
“The board has approved the delisting of ASO Savings and Loans Plc from the Nigerian Exchange Limited’s daily official list effective January 16, 2026.
“ASO Savings is hereby notified of this enforcement action and is advised to direct any communication in respect of the foregoing to [email protected].
“NGX RegCo was engaging the listed entity, concerning its outstanding post-listing obligations. However, due to the revocation of the operating license of ASO Savings by its primary regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) effective December 16, 2025; NGX RegCo will delist the entity from the daily official list effective January 16, 2026.
“In view of the foregoing, NGX RegCo has proceeded with publishing the name of the Company in the national dailies.
“The company has been duly notified of this enforcement action, and this publication serves as notification to the investing public, particularly shareholders of the company and investors in the Nigerian capital market,” the statement read.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, has issued a stern warning to oil and gas investors that petroleum licences in Nigeria are strictly for active development, not asset hoarding or speculative holding, declaring that operators must drill or risk losing their rights.
He made this admonition while delivering his message at the 2025 Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Licensing Bid Round Conference in Lagos, where he outlined the government’s hardline stance on asset utilisation and investor accountability.
“The oil assets in portfolio are not mere symbols or souvenirs,” Mr Lokpobiri said, adding that, “Holders of licences are obligated to drill, drill and drill for a shared benefit for the Government, Nigerians and the operators.”
He stressed that the administration is determined to ensure petroleum assets are translated into tangible economic value, noting that licences are time-bound rights granted solely for productive use.
“These assets belong to the Federal Government, and licences are granted strictly for a defined period for productive use, not passive ownership,” the minister said. “Our licensing framework is designed to eliminate speculation and ensure that only serious, capable investors participate.”
Mr Lokpobiri also issued a strong caution to bidders seeking to participate in the 2025 licensing round, urging them to fully understand the process and obligations before submitting bids.
“As prospects take part in this bid round, a clear understanding of the modus operandi guiding the process is essential,” he said, recalling previous bid rounds where some winners attempted to reverse their commitments.
“Past experiences have shown instances where some winning bidders sought refunds based on unmet expectations or perceived asset limitations,” Lokpobiri stated. “Such actions are untenable, as there is no provision in law for the refund of a bid already won.”
According to him, the conference was convened to remove ambiguity and protect the integrity of the licensing system, stressing that the government would strictly enforce all contractual obligations arising from the process.
“This conference serves to provide clarity upfront,” he said. “Participants must be fully informed, deliberate and committed, as the Government will uphold the sanctity of the process and enforce all obligations.”
The minister’s remarks reinforce the Federal Government’s broader push to accelerate upstream development, boost production and attract only technically and financially capable investors into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, amid renewed licensing activity under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
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