General
FG Eyes 50,000 Jobs from FCT Agro-Processing Zones Project
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government is targeting the creation of 50,000 jobs in the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) project direct and indirect jobs in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The FCT Minister of State, Mrs Mariya Mahmoud, stated this in Gwagwalada on Wednesday at the commencement of the distribution of agricultural inputs to the FCT SAPZ project’s beneficiaries to boost agricultural production.
Represented by the Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat for FCT Administration, Mr Lawan Geidam, she stated that women would constitute 40 per cent of the beneficiaries.
The Minister said the 50,000 direct and indirect jobs would be created within the five-year duration of the SAPZ project.
Mrs Mahmoud identified food as the most essential need for human survival, adding that agriculture plays a vital role in meeting this need, and said agriculture remained the mainstay of the nation’s economy, providing livelihoods to millions of people and ensuring food security.
The Minister, however, said that farmers and agro-entrepreneurs face numerous and complex challenges, ranging from climate change, poor agricultural practices, and access to markets.
She stressed, “These challenges require innovative solutions and collaborative efforts to address them.
“It is for these reasons that the FCT Administration has fully embraced the SAPZ Project, designed in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The project is designed to inject the much-needed manpower, resources and investments to reinvigorate the agricultural sector for sustainable development.”
Mahmoud expressed optimism that the agricultural inputs would be a vital catalyst for building a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector in the FCT.
She identified the inputs as bull calves, animal feeds, improved seeds, fertilisers, crop protection chemicals and equipment.
The minister said that 5,000 crops and livestock farmers have been profiled and cleared to benefit from the support in the first phase of the SAPZ intervention.
Mahmoud reaffirmed FCTA’s unwavering commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the SAPZ project.
Speaking as the mandate secretary of the agriculture and rural development secretariat, Mr Geidam explained that SAPZ was initiated to unlock the potential of the livestock sub-sector in the FCT.
This, he said, was being done by providing critical financing and support to drive the growth, productivity, and sustainability of the sector.
He said that the project would also train various groups and provide funding for the operations of the groups in their respective agricultural ventures.
According to him, the support is expected to reduce the high cost of production to enable them to maximise the farmer’s earnings and improve their livelihood.
On her part, SAPZ Project Coordinator in FCT, Mrs Umma Abubakar, said that the project was a flagship initiative designed to revolutionise agriculture in Nigeria.
Mrs Abubakar added that the project was also expected to promote the livestock value chain and concentrate on industrial processing and marketing of beef and dairy products.
“It also aimed at developing the rural areas, increasing household income, and fostering job creation in rural agricultural communities, targeting youths and women.
“This in the long run will enhance food and nutrition security in FCT,” she said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Three African subsidiaries of global advisory firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), have been debarred by the World Bank Group for 21 months after being found guilty of manipulating procurement processes for a major cross-border electricity project.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Washington-based multilateral lender said PricewaterhouseCoopers Associates Africa Ltd, based in Mauritius, along with its Kenyan and Rwandan affiliates, engaged in “collusive and fraudulent practices” linked to the Eastern Electricity Highway Project, a flagship initiative to transmit hydropower from Ethiopia to Kenya.
The decision sidelines PwC from lucrative World Bank-funded projects on the continent, dealing a blow to one of the region’s most influential audit and advisory firms.
This development could reshape competition for high-value consulting work across emerging markets, potentially disrupting startups and tech firms reliant on World Bank funding, as scrutiny over governance and compliance tightens.
The World Bank, through its private sector arm, International Finance Corporation (IFC), offers grants and low-interest loans to startups across emerging markets.
Earlier this week, the IFC committed $20 million to invest in high-growth startups in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
“The debarment makes PwC Associates, PwC Kenya, PwC Rwanda, and any affiliates they control ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed projects and operations,” the World Bank said. “It is part of a settlement agreement under which the three companies admit culpability for sanctionable practices.”
The determination was based on the company’s conduct between 2019 and the award of contracts for consultancy services and asset valuation work for the Ethiopian state power utilities.
According to the World Bank statement, the firm obtained confidential procurement documents to improperly influence the award of a contract for the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards at the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation.
They also attempted to steer a separate contract for a fixed asset inventory and revaluation for the power utility towards PwC Associates. During the bidding and execution of that contract, the bank found that the company misrepresented the availability and qualifications of key experts and failed to disclose the full list of subconsultants involved.
According to the World Bank, the debarment is shorter than would otherwise apply because PwC admitted misconduct. The advisory firm also agreed to a series of remedial measures, including internal investigations, disciplinary action against responsible staff, terminating relationships with all subconsultants involved, and additional staff training.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has affirmed the right of Nigerians to film personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on duty.
The judgment was given by Justice H. A. Nganjiwa on Tuesday in a case filed by Mr Maxwell Uwaifo in suit number FHC/WR/CS/87/2025.
The court held that Nigerians have the constitutional right to use any device to record police officers executing their official duties in public.
It was ruled that police officers must wear visible name tags, display their force numbers, and must not harass, intimidate, arrest, or seize devices from citizens documenting their activities.
The court awarded the applicant N5 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental rights and N2 million for the cost of litigation.
Business Post reports that the respondents in the case were the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the NPF, the Police Service Commission (PSC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The lawyer filed the case in accordance with Sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41 of the Constitution of Nigeria and others.
“This judgement has significant implications for policing standards, civil liberties, and public accountability across Nigeria,” Mr Uwaifo said after the judgement.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The General Manager in charge of Transmission for Lagos Region of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Adeshina Adeonipekun, has stressed the critical role of Lagos in the national grid.
While receiving the chief executive of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Ms Wola Joseph Condotti, at his office on Monday, he said the Lagos region accounts for about 30 per cent of total power off-take in Nigeria.
He stated that TCN was implementing strategic expansion and project upgrades aimed at enhancing grid stability and operational efficiency in response to rising demand.
Mr Adeonipekun highlighted recent key milestones achieved in the region, including the commissioning of a 100MVA power transformer at the Ijora 132/33kV Transmission Substation, a 300MVA transformer at the Lekki 330/132kV Transmission Substation, and a 125MVA unit at the Agbara 132/33kV Substation, among others.
According to him, these additions have further increased the region’s installed capacity to 5,470MVA on the 132/33kV network and 4,110MVA on the 330/132kV network.
He further said that there were several ongoing rehabilitations at key substations within the region, including Amuwo GIS, Akoka 132/33kV, and Itire 132/33kV Transmission Substations, all geared towards further improving reliability, reducing system constraints, and enhancing the overall efficiency of power delivery.
In her remarks, Ms Condotti expressed appreciation for TCN’s continued partnership and support, underscoring the importance of sustained collaboration between transmission and distribution companies in building a more stable and efficient electricity transmission and supply network.
Both parties explored ways to strengthen collaboration and ensure a more stable and efficient power supply in Lagos, the nation’s commercial hub.
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