By Adedapo Adesanya

Malaysia is positioning itself to help scale Nigeria’s Halal infrastructure as bilateral trade between Nigeria and Malaysia surged to $1.23 billion in 2025.

Malaysia, the undisputed heavyweight champion of the global Halal market, is stepping in as a strategic anchor, following the launch of Nigeria’s National Halal Economy Strategy.

The High Commissioner of Malaysia to Nigeria, Mr Aiyub Omar, urged Nigerian exporters and businesses to showcase their products and capabilities in the global $3.5 trillion halal economy.

Trade between the two nations is driven largely by agricultural raw materials exported from Nigeria and processed food/palm oil technology imported into Nigeria.

Mr Omar said the 22nd edition of Malaysia International Halal Showcase, MIHAS 2026, was an ideal platform to support Nigeria’s aspiration of becoming a key player in the global halal economy.

Themed Shaping Trust, Driving Resilience, the event is scheduled to take place from September 23 to 26, 2026, at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre, MITEC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Mr Omar said Nigerian exporters and businesses would be able to identify potential partners, suppliers and technology providers to support the development of Nigeria’s halal ecosystem.

On his part, the country’s Trade Counsellor, Mr Jude Dass, said that a total of eight buyers from Nigeria and 21 from across West Africa, including participants from Senegal, Mali, and Ghana, had participated in MIHAS 2025 under the INSP programme.

The Trade Counsellor added that, taking into consideration the strong interest received from Nigerian companies and institutions thus far, he was optimistic of greater participation from buyers across West Africa, particularly Nigeria, at MIHAS 2026.

He said approved buyers would benefit from the incentives, which include complementary hotel accommodation and ground transportation for the duration of the programme.

“We are hopeful of a sizeable participation by Nigerian exhibitors at MIHAS 2026, potentially under a consolidated Nigeria Pavilion, to benefit from the Hosted Buyer Programme, which provides opportunities to connect directly with 50 Malaysian importers through structured business meetings aimed at facilitating market entry and distribution partnerships within Malaysia and the wider ASEAN market.”

MIHAS 2026 will feature food & beverage, modest fashion & lifestyle, food technology & packaging, pharmaceuticals & medicals, Halal ingredients, cosmetics & personal care, and Islamic art & craft.

MIHAS 2026 will leverage intelligent digital trade tools to enhance business matching, streamline engagement, and improve commercial conversion opportunities for participants.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Nollywood star-turned politician, Mr Desmond Elliott, has said he did not withdraw from the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to elect a candidate for the Lagos State House of Assembly Surulere Constituency 1.

Earlier on Wednesday, the actor released a video where he said he was not participating in the exercise after he alleged intimidation of his supporters.

But moments later, after videos started emerging that his opponent, Ms Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, had clinched the party’s ticket for the proper election in 2027, Mr Elliot said he never stepped down.

In a statement shared on his social media platform, X, formerly Twitter, the movie star described reports of his purported withdrawal from the race as “misleading,” saying they were “deliberate misrepresentations” of his stance in the video.

“We wish to categorically state that Desmond Elliott did not withdraw or step down from the race,” a part of the statement signed by the Concerned Supporters and Stakeholders in Surulere Constituency 1 noted.

“For the avoidance of doubt, what Desmond Elliott communicated in the video posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @DesmondOElliot, was his deep concern over the deliberate exclusion and intimidation of his supporters, many of whom were denied access to the designated voting venues, particularly in Ward F2 and Ward F3.

“These unfortunate developments created an atmosphere of tension and raised legitimate fears of a possible breakdown of law and order. In light of these troubling circumstances, Desmond Elliott, acting responsibly and in the interest of peace, urged his agents and supporters to withdraw from the immediate voting environment to prevent escalation and to avoid any form of violence or chaos.

“His decision was one of statesmanship and restraint—not a concession, withdrawal, or surrender of his candidacy.

“It is therefore misleading and inaccurate for anyone to interpret or portray his remarks as stepping down from the race. Desmond Elliott remains committed to democratic principles, the rule of law, and the mandate freely given to him by the overwhelming majority of his supporters across Surulere Constituency 1.

“We call on party members, stakeholders, and the general public to disregard false narratives and remain focused on the need for transparency, fairness, and justice in the electoral process.

“At this critical moment, it is imperative that the integrity of the primary election process be upheld and that every legitimate supporter and delegate is allowed to participate freely, without intimidation or obstruction,” the disclosure stated.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Lagos Council will begin enforcement against pension defaulters under the Contributory Pension Scheme from June 1.

The NLC Lagos Council Chairperson, Mrs Funmi Sesi, disclosed this after an interactive session organised by PenCom in Lagos on Tuesday.

The session focused on the workings of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and sensitised labour leaders on pension compliance obligations under the Pension Reform Act.

Mrs Sesi condemned the continued failure of some government agencies and private employers to remit deducted pension contributions to Pension Fund Administrators.

“It is unacceptable that in spite of monthly deductions from workers’ salaries, some employers deliberately fail to remit the funds,” she said.

She warned that the practice endangered workers’ future and undermined their economic security after retirement.

“The non-remittance of pension contributions constitutes a gross violation of labour laws and abuse of workers’ trust,” Sesi stated.

She described a pension as a fundamental workers’ right, stressing that employees deserved to retire with dignity after years of productive service.

According to her, NLC and PenCom had received growing complaints from affected workers across public and private establishments in Lagos.

Mrs Sesi said the complaints prompted immediate monitoring and enforcement efforts in collaboration with PenCom and other relevant stakeholders.

She warned that the Congress would mobilise affiliate unions against employers refusing to comply with pension remittance obligations.

“If we need to purchase locks and keys just to ensure compliance and enforcement, we will apply that.

“We are the voice for the voiceless, the power for workers and the last hope of workers and pensioners,” Sesi said.

She further warned that defaulting employers risked public exposure and possible legal action for violating pension regulations.

Mrs Sesi urged employers to comply fully with pension laws to promote industrial harmony, social justice and national development.

On his part, PenCom Director-General, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, said the Contributory Pension Scheme guaranteed financial security for workers after retirement.

Ms Oloworaran, represented by Mr Ahmed Lawan, Head of Compliance and Enforcement Department, said retirees previously suffered severe hardship and delayed pension payments.

She noted that the CPS had improved pension administration but accused some employers of frustrating the scheme through non-remittance of deductions.

Ms Oloworaran warned ministries, departments, agencies, parastatals and private firms against denying workers their pension rights.

She stressed that retirement should not become painful after years of dedicated public and private service.

“Deducting workers’ pension contributions without remitting them is a criminal offence under the pension law,” she warned.

The PenCom chief encouraged affected workers to report defaulting organisations to the NLC for investigation and enforcement.

She assured workers that the identities of whistleblowers would remain protected where necessary during enforcement operations.

The official announced that PenCom and NLC would begin joint monitoring and enforcement exercises across Lagos from June.

“We will go after organisations involved in non-remittance of workers’ pension deductions in Lagos State,” she said.

She urged workers to cooperate by providing useful information to strengthen compliance efforts and protect employees’ retirement savings.

The NLC inaugurated a committee of task force commanders from affiliate unions to support enforcement operations statewide.