General
FG Reaffirms Commitment to Safety of Aid Workers
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Federal government has reiterated its commitment to protection of humanitarian workers across the country and beyond.
This assurance was given by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SFG), Mr Boss Mustapha, in his keynote address on the occasion of the Annual World Humanitarian Day in Abuja on Saturday, August 19, 2018.
Mr Mustapha said humanitarian workers deserved to be protected and should not be an object of attack during crises “there is need to demonstrate as well as demand greater humanity and create support for humanitarian action” he said.
According to him, the scope and complexity of the challenges faced by the Humanitarian community are expanding by the day as the World become more volatile, stressing that it was imperative to stand in solidarity with the Humanitarian actors who are working in risky and hazardous environments around the world to assist the vulnerable people affected by disaster and conflict.
Represented the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Mr Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, said Secretary to the Government of the Federation urged the Humanitarian community not to work in silos, but in fellowship, even as he noted that early warning System and forecasting have a very important role to play in the reduction of the impact of natural or human- induced disaster.
Speaking on the issue of security challenges in Nigeria, Mr Mustapha assured that the Federal government was doing everything possible to end Boko Haram insurgency is the North Eastern part of the country, adding that the rights and protection of civilians and Humanitarian Workers must be guaranteed in the process.
He commended the Nigerian military and security personnel in the desert, Forest and trenches outside the comfort of their homes to guarantee the security of the nation.
“The federal government of Nigeria will not rest on her oars until terrorism is completely subdued in our country,” he said.
Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced persons (NCFRMI), Ms Sadiya Umar Farouq, earlier in her address, said the uniqueness of the 2018 commemoration was reflected in the global theme “#NOT A TARGET” urging that we must come to term with the fact that conflict is exacting massive toll on people’s lives.
“People in cities and towns struggle to find food, water and safe shelter, while fighting drives millions of people from their homes.
“Children are recruited by armed groups and used to fight, and their schools are destroyed. Women are abused and humiliated.
“As humanitarian workers attempt to deliver aid and medical workers treat the sick and the wounded, they are directly targeted, treated as threats, and prevented from bringing relief and care to those in desperate need. In most situations, these humanitarian workers pay the supreme price,” she stressed.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria is eyeing stronger diplomatic and strategic ties when it comes to sustainable development as it participates in the 2026 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).
President Bola Tinubu arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Sunday. His plane landed at the Presidential Wing of Zayed International Airport at exactly 11:30 pm local time.
He was received by Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi; Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; and members of the Nigerian diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi.
Several other ministers, including the Minister of Budget and Planning, Mr Atiku Bagudu; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Jumoke Oduwole; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr Mohammed Mohammed, welcomed President Tinubu at his hotel.
President Tinubu arrived in Abu Dhabi from Europe, where he spent part of his end-of-year break, engaging in fruitful discussions with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and French President Emmanuel Macron, according to a statement by the presidency.
The 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, with the theme The Nexus of Next, All Systems Go, is a global platform that brings together world leaders, policymakers, investors, and experts to advance dialogue and action on sustainable development, climate action, energy transition, and inclusive economic growth.
This visit further reinforces the strong diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while positioning Nigeria as an active contributor to global conversations on sustainable development.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to account for about N55.9 billion earmarked for the purchase of some materials for the 2019 general elections has forced the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to file a lawsuit against the commission.
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/38/2026 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP asked the court for an order of mandamus to compel INEC to disclose the names of all contractors paid the sum of money.
It was claimed that the N55.9 billion was meant for the purchase of smart card readers, ballot papers, result sheets and other election materials for the 2019 general elections, which produced the late Mr Muhammadu Buhari as President for a second term in office.
SERAP is relying on the latest annual report published by the Auditor-General on September 9, 2025, to ask for the use of the funds, which is said to be missing or diverted.
The organisation argued that the electoral umpire “must operate without corruption if the commission is to ensure free and fair elections in the country and uphold Nigerians’ right to participation.”
“INEC cannot ensure impartial administration of future elections if these allegations are not satisfactorily addressed, perpetrators including the contractors involved are not prosecuted and the proceeds of corruption are not fully recovered,” a part of the statement issued by the group stated.
“INEC cannot properly carry out its constitutional and statutory responsibilities to conduct free and fair elections in the country if it continues to fail to uphold the basic principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
“These allegations also constitute abuse of public office and show the urgent need by INEC to commit to transparency, accountability, clean governance and the rule of law,” it further declared.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Ministry of Finance has directed all shipping companies and airlines operating in Nigeria to submit their manifests through the Single Window Project (SWP) as part of efforts to strengthen cargo tracking and transparency.
The submission of shipping manifests before the change of policy was handled exclusively by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for onward cargo processing and port clearance.
However, following a memo from late last year signed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, all shipping firms and airlines were directed to integrate with the National Single Window platform to ensure seamless Manifests submission.
“I would like to bring to your attention that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated the National Single Window (NSW) Project on the 16th of April 2024.
The NSW Project aims to streamline and automate import and export processes at Nigeria’s entry & exit ports, with the dual goals of enhancing trade facilitation and increasing government revenue.
“By integrating the operations of multiple government agencies involved in trade processes on one platform, the NSW platform will ensure faster clearance of goods and services, improve operational efficiencies at the imports and significantly reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“Key components of the Single Window as defined by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and World Customs Organisation (WCO) include: (a) a single-entry point i.e. traders, shipping lines, airlines and other stakeholders should submit all required import and export documentation through a single-entry point on a centralized digital platform, and (b) single submission i.e. all documentation should only be submitted once and data only entered once.
“As a result, the NSW Platform will be the single-entry point of submission for all Sea and Air Manifests. Therefore, all shipping lines and airlines are therefore directed to integrate with the NSW Platform to ensure seamless Manifests submission,” parts of the memo read.
The Comptroller-General of the NCS, the chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS), the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were copied in the memo.
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