The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has strongly opposed fresh calls by a group of processors for restrictions on raw cashew nut exports, warning that such measures would harm farmers and contradict government policies.

In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Joseph Ajanaku, the association emphasised that farmers remain the foundation of Nigeria’s cashew industry, adding that any export ban would drive down farm-gate prices and push smallholder growers deeper into poverty.

While affirming support for value addition, NCAN insisted that industrial growth should not come at the expense of farmers. It identified high energy costs, poor infrastructure, and limited access to affordable financing as the real challenges facing local processors.

The group noted that existing funding channels such as the National Agricultural Development Fund, the Bank of Industry, and Central Bank intervention programmes were available but called for the creation of special agro-processing loans at interest rates of five percent or lower to boost competitiveness.

NCAN further warned that restricting exports would breach Nigeria’s obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), discourage investment, and fuel smuggling.

The association also highlighted the rollout of its Farmers Mapper App, which provides real-time agricultural data and serves as a planning tool for stakeholders across the cashew value chain.

“Processors are partners, not adversaries. But industrial growth must be driven by government-backed incentives and innovation, not by punishing the very farmers who sustain Nigeria’s cashew economy,” Ajanaku stated.

The Zamfara Good Governance Network (ZGGN) has criticised Governor Dauda Lawal over a viral video in which he claimed that banditry in the state could be ended within two months if he had direct control of security agencies.

The group described the governor’s comments as an insult to the Nigerian military and a betrayal of citizens, accusing him of playing politics with insecurity despite nearly three years in office.

In the video, which circulated widely this week, the governor said he had purchased 150 vehicles for security agencies but could not issue orders on their use, stressing that directives could only come from Abuja. He also claimed to have access to tracking devices that reveal the daily movements of bandits, insisting that if he had authority over the forces, the crisis would be resolved within weeks.

Reacting in Gusau on Friday, ZGGN president, Murtala Abdullahi, described the statement as reckless and a disservice to the armed forces.

“This is a governor who campaigned on the promise of ending insecurity in Zamfara. Now, almost three years into his administration, he is telling the world that he can solve the problem in two months if only he had control of security agencies. This is not just laughable, it is an affront to the gallant men and women of our armed forces,” Abdullahi said.

The group further accused Lawal of undermining federal efforts to tackle banditry by withholding intelligence. It pointed to his admission that he could track bandits’ locations but had not shared such information with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, or the military.

Abdullahi also faulted what he described as hypocrisy, noting that while the governor complains about lacking control, he personally moves around with a heavily armed convoy guarded by multiple security agencies.

“Whereas he enjoys full protection with sophisticated equipment and military-grade vehicles, ordinary citizens continue to fall victim. The governor has created a cocoon of safety for himself while failing to protect the people he swore to defend,” he said.

The group warned that Zamfara could not continue under what it called a “compromised administration,” urging President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state.

“With this level of failure, it is only wise that the President declares a state of emergency. The people of Zamfara are being killed daily, and this administration has failed woefully to deliver on its most basic duty of protecting lives and property,” Abdullahi said.

The ZGGN cited recent attacks in Bukkuyum and Kaura Namoda Local Government Areas that left dozens dead and hundreds abducted as evidence of the escalating crisis.

“It is shameful that instead of providing solutions, the governor is busy issuing excuses. Just in August, more than 24 people were killed in Kaura Namoda, 16 injured, and 144 abducted. A week later, 100 villagers were taken from Bukkuyum, with two killed. What Zamfara needs is decisive leadership, not excuses,” Abdullahi added.

The group also called on civil society organisations, religious leaders, and community groups to demand accountability from the state government, warning that silence would only embolden criminals.

“Our people cannot continue to be sacrificial lambs on the altar of weak leadership. If Governor Lawal cannot deliver, then the federal government must step in to rescue Zamfara from total collapse,” the statement read.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says its Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch will embark on an indefinite strike from Monday, September 8, 2025, in protest against the planned deployment of 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for nationwide fuel distribution.

The union warned that the new system could threaten the jobs of thousands of tanker drivers currently engaged in transporting petroleum products across the country.

In a statement signed by NUPENG President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, the union said several meetings with industry stakeholders failed to resolve the dispute.

It explained that the recruitment of drivers under new conditions of service for the CNG trucks had further heightened concerns, as the terms appeared to prevent them from joining existing oil and gas unions.

Describing the development as a violation of labour rights, NUPENG called on the Federal Government and its regulatory agencies to urgently intervene.

“By this statement, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria, its regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders to urgently wade into this matter,” the union said.

The group warned that failure to address the issue would result in severe disruptions to the lifting and distribution of petroleum products nationwide.

While appealing to Nigerians for understanding, NUPENG said the strike action was necessary to safeguard the welfare and rights of its members.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Olasijibomi Ogundele, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction, wanted over alleged diversion of funds and money laundering.

In a wanted notice signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, and posted on its official X handle on Friday, the EFCC urged anyone with credible information on Ogundele’s whereabouts to come forward.

According to the notice:
“The public is hereby notified that Olasijibomi Ogundele of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an alleged case of diversion of funds and money laundering.

“Ogundele is a 44-year-old indigene of Ori-Ade Local Government Area of Osun State. His last known address is: G29, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices, or through 08093322644; its e-mail address: info@efcc.gov.ng, or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”

Ogundele, widely known for developing luxury real estate projects in Ikoyi and Banana Island, has built a reputation in Nigeria’s high-end property market with projects valued in billions of naira.

Although the EFCC did not reveal the specific sums allegedly diverted, the wanted declaration points to an ongoing investigation into financial crimes involving real estate and luxury investments.

The anti-graft agency has previously reiterated its commitment to tackling money laundering and prosecuting individuals suspected of using Nigeria’s booming property sector to conceal illicit wealth — whether in politics, the civil service, or private enterprise.

Nigeria has signed its first production-sharing contract (PSC) with French energy giant TotalEnergies, in a landmark deal that reflects the country’s new focus on natural gas development.

The agreement, sealed on September 1 with TotalEnergies and its local partner, covers oil and gas prospecting licences across roughly 2,000 square kilometres in the Niger Delta Basin. It is the first PSC executed under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, which introduced reforms to separate oil and gas economics and offered incentives such as tax credits and investment allowances for gas-focused projects.

Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), described the contract as a turning point. “This new PSC with TotalEnergies represents a policy shift, in line with the PIA, which aims to unlock Nigeria’s gas potential and support the transition to a gas-powered economy,” he said.

According to Komolafe, similar gas-focused terms are expected to apply to all upcoming deepwater and frontier contracts, making the TotalEnergies deal a blueprint for future agreements.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, is seeking to increase gas use in its domestic energy mix, both as a growth driver and as a transition fuel toward cleaner energy. In July, daily gas production stood at 1.31 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), compared to 1.86 million barrels of crude and condensates. With an estimated 210.5 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, almost on par with its crude reserves, the country sees vast potential in expanding the gas sector.

Despite this, progress has long been hampered by weak infrastructure and regulatory shortcomings, while gas flaring remains persistent. Even at a three-year low in July, flaring still exceeded 7% of total production.

Industry experts welcomed the new framework but warned that investment confidence will depend on implementation. Ayodele Oni, an energy lawyer at Bloomfield Law Firm, pointed to uncertainties around cost recovery. “The real challenge lies in the detail of cost recovery, particularly the timing, scope, and administrative process,” he said.

Mikolaj Judson, an analyst at Control Risks, echoed this caution, stressing that without broader reforms to address infrastructure bottlenecks and governance gaps, investors will remain wary. “Otherwise, investors will continue to face various risks in developing gas projects,” he noted.

The Plateau State Government has announced plans to inject ₦2 billion into its Youth Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition (PLAYESA) for Wealth programme, aimed at equipping young people with practical training in ICT, fashion, and leatherworks.

Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Musa Ashom, disclosed this at the flag-off of the latest batch of PLAYESA training, organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, at the National Youth Centre, Shere Hills, Jos.

Ashom said the supplementary budget request, once approved by the state House of Assembly, would strengthen the government’s youth empowerment drive and position Plateau as a hub for digital technology and the creative economy.

“This training is to help young people acquire employable skills, because not everyone can get white-collar jobs,” he said. “In this batch, we have 150 participants, and another 100 will soon join, making it 250 trainees from all 17 local government areas of Plateau State.”

According to him, the initiative will expose youths to trades such as ICT, fashion design, shoemaking, and bag production — sectors he described as proven pathways to wealth creation.

Highlighting government support, Ashom revealed that the Joseph Gomwalk House has been donated to serve as an ICT centre, while the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy is currently laying 30km of fibre optic cables in the state. “Plateau is on course to become an ICT hub, and our youths must take full advantage,” he added.

Zonal Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Deborah Simon Pitmang, emphasised that the training is strictly practical under the Skills for Wealth scheme. “The focus is ICT, fashion design, and leather works. This is not ‘skills for WhatsApp.’ Participants will receive start-up kits to help them build sustainable livelihoods, not to sell them for quick cash,” she said.

Some trainees described the programme as a life-changing opportunity, especially for its hands-on approach and provision of equipment. One ICT trainee said the initiative would “boost digital exposure” and provide a foundation for building careers in technology, while participants in fashion and leatherworks expressed optimism about supporting their families through entrepreneurship.

The PLAYESA programme, launched under Governor Caleb Mutfwang, is designed to empower youths across Plateau’s 17 LGAs with entrepreneurial and vocational skills, as part of wider efforts to tackle unemployment and create wealth.

The Federal Government has ordered urgent repairs on the damaged Benin-bound section of the Shagamu-Benin bridge, with assurances that a lasting solution will be delivered within weeks.

In a statement on Tuesday, Uchenna Orji, media aide to the Minister of Works, said David Umahi has dispatched a team of engineers to the site located at the border between Edo and Ondo states.

According to the ministry, the affected span of the bridge developed a puncture on one carriageway, prompting immediate intervention. Umahi explained that traffic will be diverted to the other lane during the repairs, which are expected to take about 45 days after concrete work is completed, to allow for curing.

The ministry noted that the Shagamu-Benin bridge, constructed in 1981, has shown signs of deterioration due to age and heavy usage. Umahi said the current effort goes beyond temporary fixes, as the government plans to replace the entire deck slab of both bridges at the location using advanced engineering methods.

“The Federal Ministry of Works shall work with the FRSC to manage traffic during the rehabilitation period. A permanent solution is being adopted to rebuild the deck slab,” the statement added.

While apologising to motorists for the inconvenience, the minister commended the individual who raised awareness about the damage, stressing that over 30 bridges across the country are undergoing rehabilitation this year under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

Umahi also highlighted the broader plan to expand Nigeria’s road infrastructure as a driver of economic growth, linking improved transport systems to development in healthcare, education, industry, and tourism.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced a 50 percent reduction in fares on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line to celebrate its second anniversary.

The governor, in a post shared on his official X handle on Wednesday, revealed that the rail service has moved over five million passengers since it began operations in 2023 — without recording a single accident.

“In these two years, the Blue Line has carried more than five million passengers safely, without a single accident,” he wrote.

Sanwo-Olu added that trains now run at 10-minute intervals, completing more than 90 trips daily, and have significantly cut travel time for commuters.

“These achievements show that with dedication and purpose, we can build systems that truly serve the people,” he said, while appreciating Lagos residents for their trust and support.

The governor further disclosed that the fare reduction will take effect on Thursday, September 4, 2025, encouraging more residents to experience the service.

Launched in 2023, the Blue Line is a flagship project in Lagos State’s drive to expand public transportation and reduce traffic congestion across the metropolis.