General
Nigeria Seeks Stronger Ties Against Gulf of Guinea Piracy
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on countries in the Gulf of Guinea to strengthen ties towards ensuring regional stability.
The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr Clement Agba, made the call at the graduation of the Anti-Piracy Course 3/2022 organised by the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) in Abuja recently.
The course was organised in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the support of the Government of Japan.
The Minister was represented by the Director of International Cooperation, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr Lanre Adekanye.
He said the course was meant to checkmate the recurrent phenomenon of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea region and countries bordering it.
According to him, being a major international economic route, the need to improve maritime security along the coastlines, territorial economic seas, and exclusive zones cannot be overemphasised.
“It is, therefore, heartwarming to note that the Government of Japan has spearheaded the funding of the project as a bilateral cooperation effort through the UNDP and MLAILPKC.
“This Project aligns with international best practices towards enhancing the capabilities and capacity of relevant security institutions with the assistance of Member State Governments to create a more secure, stable and prosperous continent.
“It is important to protect and utilise our natural resources as a means for economic growth, jobs creation through robust regional and international trade, increased export and import, and balance of payment, amongst others.
“The menace of piracy has, however, denied us these opportunities and has further impoverished the continent,” he said.
Mr Agba emphasised the need for maritime countries in the Gulf of Guinea to be equipped with strong, professional military and law enforcement institutions that could provide the setting for maritime trade to flourish.
He added that when maritime trade freely sailed across the seas, economic development and the opportunity for prosperity were possible.
He said the initiative of the Counter-Piracy and Response Project would help countries in the region protect their resources and help provide these resources for their prosperity and their people.
On his part, the Commandant, MLAILPKC, Maj.-Gen. Auwal Fagge said the objective of the course was to enhance participants’ understanding of the issues involved in piracy, its implications and measures required to counter the high-security challenges, conflicts and other maritime crimes in the region.
He said the objectives had been fully achieved, adding that it had broadened their horizon on the root causes of piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea and measures put in place to counter piracy.
Some of the measures, according to him, include inter agencies’ roles, and member states’ efforts to counter piracy through the judiciary, armed forces and other security agencies.
“It is hoped that what you have learnt here would reflect on your performances and general conduct in your various places of deployment or work,” he said.
The commandant thanked UNDP, the Japanese government, services chiefs and participating countries for making the course a reality.
The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, represented by the Defence Attaché, Lt.-Col. Kazuaki Uchiumi, urged participants to redouble their anti-piracy efforts upon returning to their home institutions.
He said the government of Japan had emphasised the importance of human resource development and business promotion in Africa and the government of Japan’s contribution to such efforts during the 8th Tokyo International Conference on Africa (TICAD8) in Tunisia.
He also called for stronger collaboration among the countries in the region to tackle the menace of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
One of the participants, Cdr Kanu Kabadi of the Angolan Navy, said the course had broadened his understanding of the need for member states to strengthen partnerships in countering piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, pledging to deploy the knowledge gained in the fight against pirates in the region in various ways.
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By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Thursday sealed the premises of the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) in the Alausa area of Lagos for alleged violation of consumer rights.
Leading FCCPC official to carry out to closure, the Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Mr Bola Adeyinka, said the move was in line with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 after repeated attempts to resolve the matter.
“Sealing this facility is a proportionate enforcement measure taken only after repeated engagement and several opportunities for voluntary compliance,” Mr Adeyinka said in a statement.
“The seal will remain in place until Ikeja Electric complies fully with the directives issued by both NERC and the FCCPC and provides written evidence of that compliance,” he added.
According to the FCCPC, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) issued a binding decision directing Ikeja Electric to unbundle a Maximum Demand account into 20 non-Maximum Demand accounts, to recognise each of the 19 residential units and a service point owned by the complainant as separate customer units, and to provide the required metering and connection.
“Ikeja Electric did not carry out that decision,” the statement read in part. “Because of this failure, the complainant has been without electricity supply for more than two and a half years.
“This was despite paying all charges requested by Ikeja Electric and meeting every obligation. The lack of electricity has prevented the complainant from putting the 19 residential units to use.”
It said the move followed unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issues through warnings and dialogue.
FCCPC listed one of such attempts to include a directive to the company in April 2025 on the steps required and the timelines for compliance.
However, “No action was taken. On 2nd October 2025, the Commission issued a Compliance Notice requiring full compliance within seven business days.
“The company still did not comply,” the commission explained.
As of press time, Ikeja Electric, which supplies electricity to several areas in Lagos, has not yet commented on the matter.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Chief Digital Officer of MTN Nigeria, Ms A’isha Umar Mumuni, has said though Africa has immense cultural capital and talent, the lack of infrastructure, ownership, and platform control prevent creators from benefiting fully.
However, she highlighted some steps that can be taken by the governments, investors, and stakeholders to change the narrative.
Ms Mumuni, while speaking at the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive) 2025 in Lagos, themed, Powering Africa Through Creative Enterprise, “Africa has the cultural capital, the skills, and the talent. What we do not yet have is global access at scale, and that is the gap we must close. Africa’s talent cannot be ignored.
“Africa is a cultural paradise without global access or control. Africa needs global cultural influence, but we do not control global data, we do not own the platform, and we export to other countries without a consistent home platform. We explore creativity, but we import the system without profiting from it.”
The MTN executive explained that unlocking Africa’s access to global digital assets requires transforming local customs, people, and platforms to ensure creativity can flourish and generate sustainable revenue.
She noted that African content, whether in music, film, fashion, or digital media, must be positioned strategically to compete and succeed on the global stage.
Emphasising the need for Africa to invest in technology and digital skills to drive the creative economy, she said, “Africa has the youngest population on earth, which is a leverage. We must invest in AI, coding, digital skills, and content production. Creativity without a platform cannot sail.”
Ms Mumuni noted that broadband policies, digital copyright protections, and clear monetisation opportunities are critical for African creators to earn from their content and reach global audiences.
She warned Africans that without investment and strategic planning, African innovation risks remaining local, while foreign platforms reap the benefits, urging African creators to ensure their stories are shared globally while retaining cultural identity.
“The world expects good stories. Africa’s stories are rooted in culture, resilience, and spirituality.
“To unlock Africa’s access to global digital assets, we must transform investment, policy, and perception,” she said.
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