General
FG to Regularise Sale of Afam Power Plant to Transcorp Power Consortium
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has approved a request by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to proceed with the engagement of Transcorp Power Consortium to ensure full execution of the Performance Agreements (PAs) governing the sale of Afam Power Plc and Afam III Fast Power Limited.
According to a statement from the presidency on Friday, the approval aims to regularise outstanding conditions and operational targets under the post-acquisition plan, ensuring the commercial viability of the Afam plant.
The sale to the Transcorp Consortium had been concluded in November 2020, but the federal government delayed the finalisation as it was required to execute the performance agreement, which outline the investor’s commitments, including increased operational capacity within a defined timeframe.
Presenting the memo to the NCP at its third meeting of 2025, Director-General of the BPE, Mr Ayo Gbeleyi, disclosed that the Federal Government had completed the sale process, with N53.9 billion received as privatisation proceeds.
He added that although the asset was handed over to Transcorp Power Consortium, the government restructured the transaction earlier this year, necessitating the execution of the performance agreements.
With this approval, the BPE can now begin mandatory post-privatisation monitoring of the investor’s performance obligations. Gbeleyi also briefed the Council on the BPE’s achievements in 2025, including the unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) into the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and the Transmission Service Provider (TSP).
Chairing the meeting, Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasised the need for a decisive shift in Nigeria’s privatisation strategy, from merely selling state-owned enterprises to optimising national assets for economic growth.
He said this direction is essential for powering Nigeria’s ambition to become a $1 trillion economy by 2030, stressing that the NCP must serve as the nation’s economic compass and provide discipline, vision, and guidance for policymaking.
Mr Shettima described Nigeria’s underutilised assets such as lands laying fallow, dormant real estate, and intellectual property as an immense reservoir of untapped wealth.
He called for bureaucratic efficiency, commercial agility, and the removal of bottlenecks that burden the government with the costs of subsidising inefficient state-owned enterprises.
To drive asset optimisation, the Vice President instructed the Council to explore modern economic models such as long-term concessions, asset-backed securitisation, and investor-led benchmarks.
Mr Shettima also warned against transaction irregularities, insisting on zero tolerance for ambiguities that could trigger disputes, while reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to transparency for the international investment community.
On his part, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, commended the BPE for its dedication to quality and best practices. Other contributors at the meeting included the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Atiku Bagudu; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi; and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Yemi Cardoso.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Young bloggers, online content creators and digital influencers have been charged to embrace ethical journalism, responsible storytelling and fact-based reporting as they shape public opinion in the digital age.
This task was given by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, during the Niger State Bloggers, Online Publishers and Content Developers Forum on Monday in Abuja.
In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Rabiu Ibrahim, the Minister said digital platforms offer enormous opportunities for innovation and civic engagement but must be used responsibly to promote truth, national unity and constructive public discourse.
He urged bloggers and content creators to verify information before publication, reject misinformation and disinformation, avoid sensationalism, and use their platforms to educate, inspire and promote national development.
Mr Idris also encouraged young Nigerians to see digital content creation not only as a source of income but also as a tool for civic engagement and nation-building, stressing that ethical communication is essential to strengthening democracy and public trust.
He further encouraged aspiring bloggers and digital entrepreneurs to continue developing their skills and uphold professional standards that will strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s online media ecosystem.
“There is no democracy that can thrive without a responsible media. You cannot carry freedom and abandon responsibility,” he stated, adding that the government remains committed to protecting press freedom while encouraging ethical journalism.
The Minister also highlighted the establishment of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), the world’s first UNESCO Category 2 Institute dedicated exclusively to Media and Information Literacy, describing it as a major step in promoting digital literacy and responsible online engagement.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Rabiu Kwankwaso, disclosed that Mr Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, signed agreements committing himself to serving only one four-year term if elected in 2027.
Mr Kwankwaso explained that the documents comprised a formal agreement involving the political party and a separate personal accord between himself and Mr Obi.
According to Mr Kwankwaso, the deal stipulates that the presidency will return to Northern Nigeria in 2031 upon the completion of an Obi-led administration’s four-year tenure, if elected next year.
“We have agreed to formalise it in writing,” Mr Kwankwaso stated. “We have executed one document for the party and another between the two of us,” he revealed during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today late on Monday.
He reiterated that Mr Obi would honour his pledge and resist pressure to seek a second term, expressing confidence in the former Anambra State governor, noting that his interactions had convinced him that he would respect the agreement.
“I personally believe him, and, based on what I now know about him, I do not believe he will change his mind when the time comes,” he said. “We are all gentlemen.”
Mr Kwankwaso added that he and Mr Obi would continue to collaborate after the proposed administration completes its term.
“The agreement is that after four years, we will continue to work together as a group, as a party, and as friends and brothers,” he said. “After our four-year term, from 2027 to 2031, power returns to the North. That is the consensus.”
The former defence minister did not state that he would be the NDC presidential candidate in 2031; his comments referred broadly to the presidency returning to the North, rather than to his personal political ambitions.
Mr Obi has repeatedly pledged to serve only one term if elected; however, he has yet to publicly confirm the specific details of the documents described by Mr Kwankwaso.
In the 2023 Presidential polls, Mr Obi was the Labour Party presidential candidate while Mr Kwankwaso contested on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 1.14 million hectares of degraded land have been restored by the Nigerian government, with more than 1.5 million trees planted across the country in the past year.
This information was revealed by the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Abbas Lawal, at the 2026 Top Management Retreat and National Tree Planting Campaign in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He said these achievements were made through initiatives of the federal government like the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall.
According to him, the restoration of the land and the planting of trees demonstrate a clear national commitment to securing environmental sustainability while advancing economic growth.
The Minister reemphasised that the environment is not an abstract concept, pointing out that “it is the air we breathe, the land that feeds us, the rivers that sustain communities, and the climate that shapes the future.”
He praised Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State for his giant strides in the environment sector in the state, urging other state governors to emulate him by providing sponsorship for their students to the various Federal Colleges of Forestry Resources Management institutions located across the six geo-political zones of the country to encourage and boost Forest education in the country.
He described the decision of Mr Zulum to sponsor 540 indigenes of the state to a forestry college in Maiduguri as commendable.
Mr Lawal also informed the participants of the programme that the Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025, is a key policy instrument under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying it protects Nigeria’s forest resources, curbs illegal logging, and encourages tree planting as a national duty.
He pledged the Federal Ministry of Environment’s continued partnership with state governments on afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and other interventions tailored to their needs.
“Nigeria’s environmental future can be secured by protecting natural heritage, strengthening climate resilience, and advancing inclusive and sustainable development for present and future generations,” he declared.
