Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Hundreds of youths in Mubi, Adamawa, State are now going into commercial motorcycling to beat the unemployment scourge.
The trade, locally called “achaba”, is increasingly becoming popular among the jobless youngsters in the area in spite of the high rate of accident and other risks associated with it.
According to a survey in Mubi, most of the motorcyclists are graduates and high school dropouts who took to the business after being idle for many years.
The investigation showed that the motorcyclists are making brisk business due to the absence of taxis and city bus services in the area.
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 17 suspected criminals in the past two months, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Abdul-Majid Ali, has said. Ali made the announcement in Bauchi while briefing newsmen on the activities of the command between September and this month. He named culpable homicide, conspiracy, mischief and theft as some of the offences allegedly committed by the suspects who are currently in police custody.
FCT
The University of Abuja on Thursday said the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) accreditation for clinical stage was being awaited to promote its 500 level students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Prof Olatunde Ajagbonna, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the university stated this in Gwagwalada in an interview with newsmen.
He said the delay in advancing 500 level students to clinical stage of their course followed challenges in getting the National Universities Commission (NUC) and VCN accreditation for the stage.
Jigawa
The Jigawa Police Command has beefed up security in the state, following threats by the dreaded Islamic group, Boko Haram.
Mobile policemen were seen in large numbers at various check points in Dutse confiscating motorcycles without registered number plates.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP. Abdu Jinjiri, told newsmen in Dutse on Monday that officers and men of the police were at the checkpoints for their normal routine duty.
Jinjiri said the command had earlier warned motorcyclists without registered number plates not to ply any of the roads in the state.
Kaduna
Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State has called on pilgrims to pray for peace, development and growth of the nation while in the Holy land.
More than 1,400 the pilgrims had been flown to Saudi Arabia.
Yakowa, who paid a visit to the temporary Hajj camp at the International Trade Fair and Investment Centre, Rigachukwu, Kaduna, also urged them to be good ambassadors of the country.
“Pray for Kaduna State so that the unfortunate and unnecessary post-election crisis that we witnessed in the state would never occur again. Pray for peace and pray for the government”, the governor urged the pilgrims.
Kogi
The Kogi State government has approved the expulsion
of 56 students of the state College of Education, Ankpa, for their involvement in the Aug.16, bloody violence in the institution.
The Ministry of Information, in a release in Lokoja said that the council also approved the immediate dissolution of the college’s governing council.
Dr Tom Ohikere, the commissioner for information was quoted in the release as saying that the council’s decisions followed the critical consideration of the report of a seven-man panel of enquiry set up on the incident.
Lagos
The Lagos State Government is to commence the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) of individual homes in the Badagry-Central Local Government Area on Thursday, to rid the area of mosquitoes.
Dr Adeyanju Oyetoyan, the council’s Medical Officer, told newsmen in an interview that the objective of the exercise was to control malaria in the area.
Last month, the local government distributed 112,000 Long Lasting Insect-Treated Nets to residents of the area.
Oyetoyan said that the objective of the programme was to stem malaria attacks in four local government areas of Badagry-Central, Ojo, Amuwo-Odofin and Ikorodu.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State says it will collaborate with the Federal Capital Territory Administration on its High Capacity Bus project, aimed at de-congesting the heavy traffic on the Keffi-Abuja road.
The Deputy Governor, Mr Dameshi Barau, disclosed the plan on Thursday in Lafia when a team of the Task force on Traffic Management and officials of the African Development Bank (ADB) paid him a visit.
Barau said the state government was planning a rail line project, which would link the state with the FCT as part of the efforts aimed at reducing traffic congestion on the route.
Ondo
Former deputy to ex-Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, Chief Abiodun Aluko, has commended the latter for his decision to return to the PDP. Aluko told the newsmen in Akure that the return of Fayose to his former party was a welcome development to the party in the state.
He also lauded the former governor for toeing the path of reason and truth by retracing his steps back to the PDP which he said was the party to beat in the state come 2014.
Plateau
Constable Nelson Eric, a soldier serving with the military Special Task Force (STF) in Plateau, is to be tried for allegedly shooting and injuring one Alfred Adams, a pastor. The STF said in a statement last Thursday in Jos that Eric would be tried for “misapplication of firearms’’.
The statement signed by its media officer, Capt. Charles Ekeocha, said that the “ugly“ incident, which took place in the premises of the University of Jos, was “regrettable’’. “We thank the students of the University for listening to the voice of reasoning by not taking the law into their hands.
Sokoto
Supporters of Sen. Abubakar Gada have said the former lawmaker had remained a bona fide member of the party since 2003.
Gada represented Sokoto East Senatorial Zone in the Senate from 2007 to 2011.
He had since indicated his intention to contest the March 10, 2012 gubernatorial poll after failing to clinch a second term ticket with his defeat by the incumbent, Sen. Ibrahim Gobir (PDP-Sokoto).
Addressing a news conference, Alhaji Umar Sadik , the Special Assistant to Gada, said the former lawmaker had contributed immensely to the growth of the party at all levels.
“As a senator, he distributed thousands of motorcycles, bicycles and vehicles free as well as 3,000 water pumping machines while he dug over 3,000 tube wells among others.
“ We are strongly behind his candidature come March 10, 2012 to contest as governor in the state,’’ he said.
Taraba
The Chairman of Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr Bubajoda Mafindi, has expressed surprise at Monday’s protest by primary school teachers in Jalingo. Mafindi told newsmen in Jalingo that the board was in constant touch with representatives of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) over the issue of salary. The chairman said the state government agreed to pay the new minimum wage to all workers, pointing out that the delay in its implementation for teachers was due to the decision to use the bio-metric system.
He said the money for the September salary of teachers based on the old rate was intact, adding that this was rejected for the new wage.
“The protest took me by surprise because we have been in constant touch with the NUT representatives.
The Etche Area Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs has declared seven days of mourning across Etche Nation following the demise of late Eze E.M.B Opurum,the Ochie of Etche land .
The declaration was made by the Chairman of the Council, His Royal Majesty, King Dr. Samuel Ndiwe Amechi, during a condolence visit by a delegation of traditional rulers and chiefs to the family of the late Ochie.
The delegation expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the traditional ruler and commiserated with the bereaved family, while acknowledging the late monarch’s contributions to peace, unity, culture and development in Etche Land.
King Amechi described the death of late E.M.B Opurum as a loss to the traditional institution and the wider Etche community, and prayed for the peaceful repose of the late Ochie of Etche.
He also prayed for divine strength and comfort for members of the bereaved family as they mourned their departed patriarch.
In honour of the late Etche reverend monarch, the Council announced the immediate suspension of the Central Etche Wrestling Festival, directing that the cultural event should not proceed during the mourning period.
The traditional council further ordered that flags should fly at half-mast across Etche Land as a mark of respect for the deceased Ochie of Etche, late king ,Eze E.M.B Opurum and in recognition of his position within the traditional institution.
The seven-day mourning period, according to the Council, is intended to enable the various clans of Etche Nation to collectively mourn the late monarch and honour his memory.
Meanwhile, the Council has warned members of the public against relying on any statement purportedly issued on the letterhead of the late Ochie and attributed to Eze Kenwala.
The Council said such a statement was not authorised, urging the public to disregard it and rely on official communications from the recognised traditional authority concerning matters relating to the late Ochie of Etche.
The warning was contained in an official announcement signed by King Dr. Samuel Ndiwe Amechi, Chairman of the Echei Area Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the mourning period is observed with dignity and respect, while urging the people of Etche Nation to remain united as they honour the memory of their departed traditional ruler.
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has charged contractors and consultants handling its projects across the Niger Delta to embrace Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, mechanisms to ensure faster and sustainable project delivery.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave the charge while declaring open a three-day sensitisation programme with the theme: “Enhancing Capacity for Alternative Dispute Resolution” for NDDC contractors and consultants.
Ogbuku, who was represented by the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, said the programme was informed by the recognition that while conflicts are inevitable in project implementation, their escalation can be prevented through early identification and professional management.
He noted that disagreements in the course of execution could arise from issues such as payments, variations, designs, project timelines, quality of work, measurements, access to sites, contractual obligations and relationships with host communities.
According to him, the ability to address such issues promptly could determine whether a problem is resolved within days or allowed to degenerate into a dispute lasting months or years.
The NDDC Chief Executive said the consequences of delayed projects go beyond the Commission and its contractors, stressing that communities waiting for roads, bridges, schools, healthcare facilities and other interventions bear the ultimate burden.
He listed delayed completion, increased project costs, strained relationships, litigation, claims and loss of valuable time among the consequences of unresolved conflicts.
Ogbuku described contractors and consultants as critical first responders in conflict management because of their proximity to project sites, host communities and emerging challenges, and urged them to develop capacity to identify early warning signs and negotiate effectively.
He identified negotiation, mediation, conciliation, adjudication and arbitration as practical ADR mechanisms that could be deployed depending on the nature of disputes, adding that the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, FIDIC, emphasizes early dispute avoidance as key to successful delivery.
He stressed that ADR should not be seen as a means of avoiding accountability or compromising legitimate contractual rights, but as a mechanism for addressing problems intelligently, proportionately and early enough.
Also speaking, the Director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Department, Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe, said the complex social, economic and environmental realities of the Niger Delta often generate tensions which, if poorly managed, could undermine development projects.
He said contractors must understand host community dynamics to ensure their interventions promote inclusion, trust and cooperation, rather than deepening divisions.
Presenting the lead paper, Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert called on the NDDC and its contractors to integrate conflict sensitivity and ADR into everyday project execution, warning that technically sound projects could still fail when community expectations and grievances are poorly managed.
He identified elite capture, exclusion, local-content disputes, land and compensation issues, employment grievances and environmental concerns as major risks, and advocated stakeholder mapping, transparent communication, early-warning mechanisms and accessible grievance channels, declaring that “peace is not an accessory to project delivery; it is part of the infrastructure we are building.”
PRESCO.LG NGX: PRESCO), Nigeria’s leading fully integrated agro-industrial company, today held its 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM), where shareholders adopted the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 and approved key business and governance resolutions. The AGM also highlighted Presco’s record 2025 performance, its expanded regional platform and priorities for 2026.
Presco delivered record financial performance in 2025. Revenue rose 59.3% to ?330.6 billion, Profit Before Tax (PBT) increased 57.1% to ?177.9 billion and Profit After Tax (PAT) rose 56.1% to ?121.4 billion. EBITDA grew 43.7% to ?211.8 billion, while total assets increased 94.9% to ?926.0 billion. A landmark ?236.7 billion rights issue more than doubled total equity to ?442.7 billion, materially strengthening the balance sheet and supporting the Company’s growth plans.
Shareholders approved a final dividend of ?14.66 per 50 kobo ordinary share, taking the total dividend for FY2025 to ?44.66 per share. The payout reflects Presco’s disciplined approach to balancing reinvestment for growth with consistent cash returns to shareholders.
Commenting on the Company’s performance, Mr. Rasheed Olakanmi Sarumi, Chairman, Presco Plc, said:
“I commend our management teams across the region for their exceptional execution during a transformational year, and I thank my colleagues on the Board for their diligent oversight.
The record performance delivered in 2025 reflects the strategic choices we have made and the stronger regional platform we are building.
As we integrate our operations across Nigeria and Ghana, our focus remains clear: build scale, improve efficiency and create sustainable long-term value for our shareholders and stakeholders.”
The record performance was matched by significant strategic progress. Presco completed the acquisition of the remaining 48% shareholding in Ghana Oil Palm Development Company Limited (GOPDC), taking its ownership to 100%, and acquired Saro Oil Palm Limited (SOP), including the Nsadop and Boki estates in Cross River State.
Together, these transactions expanded the Company’s plantation base and production pipeline, deepened its regional presence and positioned Presco for medium- to long-term volume growth. The successful rights issue further strengthened funding capacity for integration and expansion.
Commenting on the Company’s outlook, Mr. Reji George, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Presco Plc, said: “We enter Presco’s next phase of growth with greater scale, stronger operating capabilities and a more integrated regional platform. Our priority is to convert that scale into measurable efficiencies and stronger performance, while building the people, systems and capabilities required to sustain growth across West Africa.”
The AGM also recorded key governance outcomes. Shareholders ratified the appointments of Mr. Ademola Adebise, Mr. Adewale Arikawe and Mr. Francois VanHoydonck as Directors of the Company, while Mr. Rasheed Olakanmi Sarumi, Mr. Abdul Akhor Bello and Ms. Osayi Alile were re-elected as Directors retiring by rotation.
The Chairman paid tribute to Mr. Felix Nwabuko FCA, a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Presco and former Group Chief Executive Officer of SIAT, who retired from the Board with effect from 2 January 2026, and expressed the Board’s appreciation for his distinguished service and enduring contribution to the Company.
Looking ahead, Presco is focused on translating its expanded scale into stronger operational performance and sustainable value creation. Immediate priorities include completing operational harmonisation across its businesses, capturing synergies across procurement, production and logistics, optimising the integrated cost base and pursuing disciplined growth opportunities aligned with the Company’s long-term strategy.
With a stronger balance sheet, an increasingly integrated operating model and a growing regional platform, Presco is well positioned to strengthen its competitive position across the West African edible oils value chain and deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders and other stakeholders.
