By Adedapo Adesanya

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is seeking increased assistance from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to curb vandalism of transmission infrastructure.

The chief executive of TCN, Mr Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, told a visiting delegation from both parties at the company’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, on Wednesday, that the partnership between TCN and security agencies was growing and remained vital to protecting the national transmission network.

He said sustained inter-agency partnership, intelligence sharing, prompt response and effective law enforcement were critical to combating vandalism and protecting critical infrastructure.

Mr Abdulaziz said vandalism was a major financial and operational challenge for TCN.

He cited recent attacks that damaged six transmission towers on the Apir–Makurdi line and led to the loss of 14 spans of conductors on the Lambata 132kV line.

The TCN boss disclosed that the damage forced TCN to mobilise contractors for emergency repairs despite financial constraints, and that the vandals had struck again while repairs were ongoing.

He said TCN had been carrying out community sensitisation programmes across the country, engaging host communities, traditional rulers and security agencies to promote collective ownership and protection of transmission facilities.

He added that because the transmission network is widely spread, there was an urgent need to deploy technology-driven surveillance systems and to establish a joint monitoring centre for real-time monitoring and prompt response to threats.

On his part, Air Vice Marshal E. E. Effiom of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Programme in the office of the National Security Adviser said there was a need for innovative approaches to protect critical national assets.

He proposed a three-tier asset protection strategy he described as Delay, Awareness and Response, explaining that Delay involved physical barriers to stall intruders; Awareness meant using surveillance technology for early detection; and Response focused on apprehending and prosecuting offenders.

He added that community vigilantes remained important partners but needed timely intelligence and technological support to be effective.

Assistant Commandant General, Power, Mrs Esther Akinlade of the NSCDC, told the meeting that the Corps was committed to supporting TCN in safeguarding transmission infrastructure.

She said NSCDC commands across the federation were ready to respond to reported incidents and to work with TCN to ensure offenders were investigated and prosecuted according to the law.

TCN, in a statement, said the meeting ended with a renewed commitment by TCN, ONSA and the NSCDC to deepen institutional collaboration through improved intelligence sharing, regular stakeholder engagement and coordinated security operations.

The company said the agencies were confident that a sustained partnership would significantly reduce vandalism and help create a more reliable and resilient national grid.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved N83.2 billion for the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF) interventions to mitigate the impacts of anticipated flooding and other climate-related emergencies nationwide.

This is just as the chairman of the council, Vice President Kashim Shettima, called on states to work with the federal government in resolving the logistical and compliance barriers that prevent farm produce from reaching international markets.

The approval of the N83.2 billion intervention funds was made at the 158th meeting of the NEC on Thursday, following a presentation to the council by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Atiku Bagudu, on the need to proactively address issues associated with flooding across Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season.

In addition, the group noted the importance of the AATF in addressing disasters and emergencies across the country, underscoring that NEC cannot continue to be seen as always taking reactive measures in emergency and disaster management.

Speaking at the meeting, the Vice President said the President Bola Tinubu administration’s reform agenda must now produce visible results across the federation.

Mr Shettima noted that the council’s work must be judged by the changes it brings to the lives of ordinary Nigerians, especially farmers, manufacturers, vulnerable citizens, unemployed young people, and children who will inherit the country.

He stated, “When this council last met, I called our economy a workshop. A place of measurement and correction. A place where plans are turned into systems, and systems into institutions, before any of it becomes prosperity.

“A workshop is judged by one thing. Not by the plans pinned to its walls, but by what comes off the bench. We return to that bench today. Not to admire the image, but to ask the question that honours it. Is the work taking shape?”

He said Nigeria remains a federation moving from stabilisation to production, from aspiration to implementation, and from isolated interventions to coordinated national growth.

According to him, the agenda before the council was not a new conversation, but a continuation of the national assignment with greater pressure for action and results.

“The assignment has not changed. We remain a federation moving from stabilisation to production, from aspiration to implementation, from isolated interventions to coordinated national growth. What has changed, I hope, is our proximity to delivery.

“A federation does not earn its prosperity by leaving its most vulnerable behind and hoping they catch up. The dignity of the citizen with the least is the floor beneath which we have resolved that no Nigerian shall fall.”

Mr Shettima pointed out that the social protection agenda before the council was an opportunity to convert national conscience into a durable system that protects citizens and strengthens human capital.

On exports and production, the VP said Nigeria must stop relying on exporting raw materials while importing finished products from other countries.

He maintained that the country’s economic transformation depends on a complete value chain linking farms to factories, factories to standards, standards to ports, and ports to markets.

“We cannot continue to export raw materials and import finished products,” he said.

The VP also assured that the council would confront bottlenecks that weaken Nigeria’s agricultural exports, especially those affecting the movement of goods through ports and the standards required by international markets.

He averred that improving port processes and meeting export compliance requirements are central to rewarding farmers, strengthening manufacturers and expanding Nigeria’s participation in global trade.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

About 3,714 pre-retirees across Lagos, Akure, Port Harcourt, Abuja, and Kano were recently engaged by Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, through its 2026 Pre-Retirement Seminar series.

The programme was crafted to give attendees a thorough and practical understanding of what it truly means to retire well in today’s Nigeria.

The annual series has firmly established itself as one of the most impactful and far-reaching retirement education platforms in the country’s financial services industry.

One of the most anticipated elements of this year’s edition was a live interview panel session that brought together representatives from Stanbic IBTC’s subsidiaries speaking directly to the financial realities facing pre-retirees.

The panel addressed key market intelligence questions on pension management, income planning, and life after work. The open format encouraged substantive exchanges that helped participants gain clarity on complex decisions and understand the full range of options available to them as they transitioned out of active employment.

A dedicated health talk rounded out the core sessions, addressing a dimension of retirement planning that is often overlooked: the critical role of physical wellbeing in sustaining a fulfilling post-work life.

Throughout the day, carefully placed interludes highlighted the breadth of Stanbic IBTC’s product and service offerings, ensuring attendees left with both the knowledge and the resources to take meaningful steps towards securing their retirement.

“This seminar series reflects our broader definition of what financial services should deliver. Success is not just measured by the assets we manage, but by the quality of life our clients are able to live in retirement.

“The strong engagement across all five cities highlights a growing appetite among Nigerians to take ownership of their retirement journey,” the chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Mr Olumide Oyetan, said.

“For many, years of pension contributions have not always translated into a clear understanding of their future. These seminars are designed to address that gap in a direct and practical way – ensuring every client leaves with clarity on their current position, available options, and the steps to take next.

“This initiative is a clear expression of our commitment to our clients, and one we will continue to invest in, because they deserve nothing less,” Mr Oyetan added.