President Bola Tinubu has called on international oil companies operating in Nigeria to increase contract opportunities for indigenous engineering and manufacturing firms, stressing the need for greater local participation in major energy projects.

Tinubu made the appeal on Thursday during a meeting with the Founder and Chairman of Lee Engineering Group, Leemon Ikpea, at the State House in Abuja.

Details of the meeting were disclosed in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled, ‘President Tinubu Backs Nigerian Engineering as Local Firm Builds Compressor Stations to Unlock Escravos–Lagos Pipeline’s 2.3 Billion Cubic Feet Daily Gas Capacity’.

Lee Engineering is currently handling the engineering, procurement and construction of two midline compressor stations in Edo State. The facilities are expected to improve the performance of the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System by increasing operating pressure and enabling it to deliver up to 2.3 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily.

According to the statement, the pipeline’s capacity was increased from 1.1 billion standard cubic feet per day following the ELPS II expansion.

The project is also expected to improve gas supplies to power plants and industries along the pipeline corridor while supporting additional deliveries to neighbouring West African countries through the West African Gas Pipeline. This could create further opportunities for export earnings.

Tinubu said his administration’s Nigeria First policy should translate into more contracts for qualified Nigerian companies, increased use of locally manufactured equipment and the creation of skilled employment opportunities.

He urged international oil companies to establish stronger partnerships with indigenous engineering firms that had demonstrated the technical capacity to execute complex projects.

The President also highlighted the executive orders and presidential directives introduced by his administration in 2024 to strengthen local content compliance, reduce contracting costs and shorten approval timelines.

According to Onanuga, the measures were designed to attract investment, eliminate unnecessary delays and widen opportunities for Nigerian businesses.

Tinubu reiterated his commitment to developing the country’s gas resources to support industrial growth, improve electricity supply, generate employment and increase export revenue.

He maintained that local firms should play a greater role in the energy sector, with more project contracts and equipment manufacturing opportunities retained within the domestic economy.

In his response, Ikpea praised the administration’s policy direction, noting that Lee Engineering was using its fabrication yard in Warri, Delta State, to produce some of the components required for the compressor station project.

He described the facility as being equipped with some of the industry’s most advanced fabrication machinery.

Ikpea said Nigerian engineering companies had made substantial investments in equipment, technology and skilled manpower, positioning them to handle sophisticated projects that were previously dominated by foreign contractors.

He added that expanding opportunities for indigenous firms would help retain more jobs, technical expertise and economic value within Nigeria.

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Nigeria’s oil revenue outlook is receiving a potential boost from rising international crude prices and improving domestic production, as escalating tensions in the Middle East raise concerns about global supply disruptions.

Nigerian Bonny Light crude was last quoted at $115 per barrel, while United States West Texas Intermediate settled at $103 per barrel amid growing concerns over supply constraints.

Brent crude also advanced above $110 to between $114 and $115 per barrel as regional hostilities, shipping risks and higher transportation costs heightened uncertainty in the international oil market.

The price rally could strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal receipts and foreign exchange earnings, particularly if elevated crude prices are sustained alongside improvements in domestic output.

The latest market developments come amid renewed concerns over a possible escalation of the conflict involving the United States and Iran.

US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could launch further strikes against Iran, referring to Operation Epic Fury, which began in February.

U.S Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack separately indicated that a strike could occur over the weekend, although Trump said he was unaware of any such planned attacks.

The growing uncertainty has intensified concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping corridor through which a substantial volume of the world’s crude oil supplies passes.

According to figures from the Washington Institute cited by Reuters, at least 28 commercial vessels had been struck in the strait during the month, representing the highest monthly number of attacks recorded during the period under review.

The institute documented 113 attacks since February, while the International Maritime Organization recorded 120 incidents.

The threat to maritime traffic has increased the geopolitical risk premium attached to crude oil prices, with traders weighing the possibility of further disruptions to production, exports and shipping.

Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said the agency was technically prepared to resume nuclear verification activities in Iran but would require a negotiated agreement to proceed.

Iran’s top representative to the United Nations maintained that the country had not abandoned its nuclear safeguards commitments, despite security concerns surrounding the inspections.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also expected to travel to Moscow next week for a summit of gas-exporting countries, where he is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Elsewhere in the region, Israel announced tighter restrictions across the occupied West Bank following a shooting near Hebron that killed two Israeli soldiers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently promised a large-scale military operation, as Israeli forces carried out raids and demolitions.

The developments have added to concerns about a wider regional escalation and its potential consequences for global energy supplies.

For Nigeria, the situation presents both opportunities and challenges. Higher international crude prices could improve government earnings, but disruptions to global trade and increased shipping costs could also raise expenses across the energy supply chain.

Bonny Light, Nigeria’s light, sweet crude grade, can attract a premium over Brent under certain market conditions because of its low sulphur content and refining characteristics. It may become more attractive to buyers when supplies of competing Middle Eastern grades are disrupted.

However, the extent of any premium will depend on demand, refinery requirements, competing crude grades and transportation costs.

Nigeria’s improving production performance provides another potential source of support for public revenue.

Crude oil and condensate output averaged approximately 1.7 million barrels per day in August 2026, up from around 1.53 million barrels per day earlier in the year.

The improvement has been attributed in part to easing crude theft and pipeline tapping, alongside enhanced security around key production and transportation infrastructure, including the Nembe Creek and Trans-Niger Pipeline corridors.

According to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the country holds approximately 37 billion barrels of crude oil and condensate reserves.

Despite the production gains, Nigeria’s exportable crude volumes could remain under pressure as more domestic supply is directed towards local refineries.

The expansion of refining capacity, particularly with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and other public and private facilities, is changing the distribution of Nigerian crude between domestic processing and overseas markets.

With domestic refining capacity expanding, more light, sweet grades such as Bonny Light, Qua Iboe and Forcados are being supplied to local refineries, potentially reducing the volumes available for export to Europe and Asia.

The shift could help reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products, although its overall effect on foreign exchange earnings will depend on production levels, domestic demand, refined-product exports and the cost of crude supplied to local processors.

Nigeria’s ability to benefit fully from elevated international prices will also depend on whether production can move closer to the two-million-barrel-per-day mark.

Longer-term growth, however, will require sustained investment in upstream operations, particularly marginal fields, as well as improved infrastructure protection and access to capital to convert discovered reserves into commercially viable production.

OPEC+ production decisions will also remain an important influence on global crude availability and prices.

With Brent trading above $110 per barrel amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, Nigeria could see stronger oil-related revenue in the near term. Sustaining those gains will depend on improved production, reliable export infrastructure and the country’s ability to balance domestic refining needs with overseas market opportunities.

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The Federal Government has commissioned a 120MVA transmission substation in Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State as part of efforts to improve electricity transmission capacity and strengthen power supply across the country.

The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, and Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, inaugurated the facility on Friday, describing it as a significant investment in the state’s power infrastructure.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Tegbe said the project aligned with the Federal Government’s strategy to reinforce the national grid and expand transmission capacity to ensure more efficient delivery of electricity to consumers.

He reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to developing critical power infrastructure to improve the transmission of electricity generated across the country to homes, businesses and industries.

The newly commissioned substation is equipped with two 60MVA transformers, providing a combined capacity of 120MVA to strengthen the transmission network serving Katsina State.

Governor Radda described the facility as a major milestone in the state’s efforts to improve electricity supply, noting that its increased capacity would enable more power to be transmitted to consumers.

He said dependable electricity was essential to economic growth, industrial development and effective public service delivery, adding that the project would support the state’s broader development agenda.

According to the governor, the new substation would complement Katsina’s expanding renewable energy initiatives while providing support for critical sectors, including agriculture, agro-processing, commerce, education and healthcare.

Radda expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the project and commended the Minister of Power and the Transmission Company of Nigeria for their roles in ensuring its completion.

He noted that improved electricity infrastructure would help create a more conducive environment for businesses, strengthen economic activities and support the delivery of essential services across the state.

The governor also called on residents of the host community to protect the facility against vandalism, stressing that the substation was a strategic national asset intended to serve both current and future generations.

He urged the community to cooperate with relevant authorities in safeguarding the installation to ensure that its benefits could be sustained over the long term.

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The Kaduna State Government has rejected a viral letter claiming that Governor Uba Sani approved and released N2.3 trillion to fund the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign, describing the document as fake and misleading.

The government said the allegation was designed to undermine the governor’s reputation for fiscal discipline and responsible management of public funds ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this in a statement issued in Kaduna on Saturday, dismissing the purported correspondence as a fabrication with several inconsistencies.

According to Maiyaki, the letter, dated October 18, 2026, and titled “Notification for Preparations for the Grand Rally Flag Off”, was allegedly addressed to Senator Abdulazeez Yari, identified in the document as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

He said the letter falsely claimed that N2.3 trillion had been approved and released for the campaign flag-off, insisting that neither the governor nor the state government authorised such a payment.

The commissioner questioned the credibility of the claim, noting that Kaduna State’s 2026 budget stood at N985.92 billion, meaning the alleged campaign expenditure would be more than twice the state’s entire annual budget.

He maintained that the purported release was financially implausible and had no backing in the state’s legitimate budgetary approvals or expenditure records.

Maiyaki also pointed to errors in the document, including the misspelling of the governor’s surname as “Uba Sai” and the apparent unauthorised use of his signature, which he said further raised doubts about its authenticity.

“The Kaduna State Government categorically disowns this document. Gov. Uba Sani neither authored nor authorised the purported letter, and no N2.3 trillion was budgeted, approved or released,” he said.

The commissioner described the allegation as fictitious and an attempt to mislead the public through the circulation of false information about the state’s finances.

He said that since assuming office on May 29, 2023, Sani had focused on strengthening fiscal discipline, transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources.

According to him, the administration has prioritised investments in security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and social protection as part of its development agenda.

Maiyaki expressed concern over what he described as coordinated efforts to spread misinformation and discredit the governor and his administration as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum.

He warned that the fabrication of official correspondence and the circulation of false claims involving public funds could amount to criminal offences, stressing that political disagreements should not be used to justify the spread of unverified allegations.

“Political competition must be conducted within the bounds of truth, decency and the law,” he said, urging critics to present credible evidence when questioning government spending.

The commissioner disclosed that the state government was taking steps to establish the source of the disputed letter and determine how it was produced and circulated.

He also called on security and investigative agencies to examine the document and ensure that anyone found responsible was dealt with in accordance with the law.

Maiyaki urged media organisations and members of the public to verify official documents before publishing or sharing allegations concerning public expenditure, warning against the spread of claims capable of misleading residents.

He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to peace, institutional development, infrastructure expansion, public welfare and sustainable governance, adding that the government would remain focused on responsible financial management despite what it described as deliberate attempts to spread misinformation.

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The National Information Technology Development Agency has raised the alarm over two critical security vulnerabilities in PHP that could allow hackers to gain access to web servers and execute malicious commands without authentication.

In a security advisory issued on Thursday, the agency’s Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team, CERRT.NG, identified the flaws as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, collectively referred to as PHP2Shell.

NITDA warned that nearly all PHP versions dating back to version 5.4 were reportedly affected, adding that attempts to exploit the vulnerabilities had begun even before security patches became available.

According to the agency, successful exploitation could give attackers the ability to execute remote code on affected servers without requiring login credentials, potentially exposing sensitive information and compromising entire systems.

“A successful attack gives full server access to execute remote code without authentication, and provide full memory access,” NITDA said.

The agency cautioned that the security flaws could result in data theft, website defacement and complete system takeovers. It added that sensitive information, including passwords and application programming interface keys stored in memory, could also be exposed.

NITDA identified PHP-based websites and applications as potential targets, including platforms built with WordPress, Drupal, Joomla and Laravel, as well as software products that incorporate PHP.

The agency advised organisations running affected systems to upgrade to the patched PHP versions, depending on their existing installations. The recommended versions are PHP 8.5.12, 8.4.27, 8.3.36 and 8.2.35.

It urged administrators to prioritise internet-facing systems, which could be more exposed to remote attacks, and ensure that security updates were installed without delay.

“If you cannot update now, take the system offline until it is fixed,” the advisory reads.

NITDA also called on organisations to contact their hosting providers to confirm that the PHP versions powering their websites and applications had been updated.

In addition, it urged system administrators to investigate possible signs of compromise and take appropriate action where suspicious activity was detected.

The vulnerabilities have drawn international attention, with Volker Dusch, a security engineer at the PHP Foundation, describing them as the most serious PHP security issue in more than a decade.

Dusch reportedly compared the flaws to Heartbleed, a major security vulnerability discovered in 2014 that triggered a global effort to secure affected systems.

Reports also indicated that governments and businesses in different parts of the world had temporarily taken websites and online services offline while working to address the vulnerabilities.

The latest warning underscores the security risks facing organisations that rely on PHP to operate websites, digital platforms and other online services, particularly where critical updates are delayed.

NITDA urged affected organisations to treat the advisory as a priority, stressing the importance of applying the recommended patches, verifying hosting environments and checking for evidence of unauthorised access.

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The Katsina State Government has announced that a planned mass kidnapping in Bakori Local Government Area has been thwarted after community hunters engaged suspected bandits in a fierce gun battle that left 14 of the assailants dead.

The confrontation occurred in Gidan Wawo village, Kakumi Ward, following intelligence reports that a heavily armed group was moving towards Dawan Laila Forest to launch coordinated attacks on surrounding communities.

According to the state government, security authorities received the intelligence at about 1:28 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026. The report indicated that 26 suspected bandits, travelling on 13 motorcycles, were advancing towards the forest under the leadership of a notorious figure identified as Isiya Kwashen Garwa.

Security agencies subsequently placed their operational assets across Bakori Local Government Area on high alert in a bid to prevent the planned attacks and protect vulnerable communities.

However, the situation took a deadly turn later in the day when, at about 1:31 p.m., the armed men attacked a private vehicle conveying four passengers from Kakumi Ward to Illela Market in Sokoto State.

The attackers reportedly set the vehicle ablaze while the passengers were trapped inside, prompting a swift response from community hunters in Gidan Wawo.

The hunters mobilised to confront the assailants, triggering an intense exchange of gunfire as the suspected bandits attempted to flee. The encounter ended with 14 of the armed men killed, while three victims were rescued alive.

Despite the successful intervention, the operation resulted in casualties among the community defenders and the travellers caught up in the attack.

A 29-year-old hunter, Mohammed Ibrahim Jidda, was killed while defending the community against the assailants. Another member of the group, 25-year-old Usman Sunday, sustained minor gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical attention.

The attack also claimed the life of one of the passengers, identified as 50-year-old Jamilu Lawal, who died after being burnt in the vehicle.

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Government has raised concerns over the possibility of further violence, disclosing that intelligence reports point to potential reprisal attacks by the surviving members of the armed group following the heavy casualties they suffered.

The government said security agencies had activated additional measures to prevent further attacks and address emerging threats to communities in the area.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Danmusa, the state government commended security personnel and community hunters for their swift response, courage and sacrifice in confronting the suspected bandits.

It said their intervention helped prevent what could have resulted in a large-scale abduction, while reaffirming its commitment to protecting residents and their property across the state.

The government also called on residents to remain calm and vigilant, urging them to provide security agencies with timely and credible information that could help prevent further attacks.

With warnings of possible reprisals now emerging, authorities have emphasised the need for continued cooperation between residents, community hunters and security agencies to prevent further threats to lives and property in the affected communities.

The post 14 Bandits Killed As Katsina Hunters Foil Mass Kidnap Plot appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.

The North-East Development Commission has unveiled plans to introduce 10,330 electric vehicles across the six states in the region as part of efforts to reduce transportation costs, generate employment and promote cleaner mobility.

The initiative, being implemented in partnership with Attahir Enterprises Nigeria Limited, comprises 10,000 electric tricycles, 300 electric taxis and 30 electric buses.

The commission disclosed the plan during a two-day stakeholders’ engagement and sensitisation workshop held in Bauchi State, which brought together transport operators, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the end of the workshop on Friday, the NEDC Bauchi State Coordinator, Aliyu Isiyaku, said the programme was designed to provide residents with affordable, safer and environmentally friendly transportation options.

The workshop, themed “Powering the North-East: Embracing Electric Mobility for a Cleaner, Smarter and Prosperous Future,” was organised to familiarise stakeholders with the initiative and secure their support for its implementation, particularly at the grassroots.

Isiyaku said the project was expected to create employment opportunities for young people, reduce carbon emissions and contribute to environmental protection.

He added that the outcome of the initial phase would determine the prospects of expanding electric vehicle deployment across the region, urging stakeholders to help raise public awareness and promote the long-term sustainability of the programme.

Providing details of the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer of Attahir Enterprises Nigeria Limited, Umar Abacha, said the vehicles could cover distances of up to 300 kilometres on a full charge.

He explained that the electric taxis and buses would mainly operate in urban areas, with three charging stations planned to support their operations.

The electric tricycles, however, would be distributed to local government areas to extend the benefits of the programme to rural communities.

According to Abacha, each tricycle would be supplied with two charging units, allowing operators to charge their vehicles at home without depending entirely on public charging facilities.

He said the vehicles would be handed over to the respective state governments for distribution to selected beneficiaries, who would undergo training before being allowed to operate them.

The training, he added, would equip beneficiaries with the necessary skills to handle the vehicles safely and efficiently.

Stakeholders at the workshop, however, emphasised the importance of transparent distribution, effective monitoring and proper maintenance to ensure the initiative delivers lasting benefits.

The District Head of Shafa, Lawal Mohammed, pledged the support of traditional institutions in educating residents about the programme and encouraging its adoption, particularly in rural communities.

Mohammed called for sustained collaboration with community leaders, noting that grassroots awareness would be crucial to ensuring public acceptance and achieving the project’s objectives.

Similarly, the Bauchi State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Ismail Abubakar, commended the NEDC and the Federal Government for introducing the initiative.

He said the programme could ease the financial burden on transport operators, improve their livelihoods and make transportation more affordable for passengers.

Abubakar, however, urged the commission to work with recognised transport associations in selecting beneficiaries, arguing that their involvement would promote fairness, transparency and accountability.

He said the unions were better positioned to identify genuine operators who could put the vehicles to productive use.

The Chairman of the Bauchi State Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators’ Association, Bala Dauda, also pledged the association’s support, describing the initiative as an opportunity to improve the welfare of operators and passengers.

Dauda called for transport unions to be involved in identifying beneficiaries, saying their knowledge of members’ needs would help ensure that the vehicles reached the intended recipients.

The Zonal Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Abdullahi Muhammad, equally welcomed the programme, citing its potential to create jobs and reduce the cost of transportation.

“We are very excited and happy about the project because of the benefits it will bring to the people,” Muhammad said.

He nevertheless warned that proper management and clear operational guidelines would be essential to sustaining the programme and protecting the investment.

“My advice is that adequate attention should be given to the sustainability of the project because we believe it will benefit the masses across the country,” he said.

Muhammad cautioned against distributing the vehicles without clearly defined conditions covering their use, maintenance and accountability.

He stressed that beneficiaries needed to understand their responsibilities, adding that the vehicles should not be treated as personal entitlements but as assets intended to provide transportation services and improve livelihoods.

He said effective implementation would determine whether the initiative translated into tangible benefits for ordinary Nigerians.

The RTEAN zonal chairman also advocated distributing the vehicles directly through recognised transport unions rather than relying solely on state governments.

According to him, such an arrangement could reduce the risk of political considerations influencing the selection of beneficiaries and help ensure that genuine transport operators were prioritised.

He noted that established transport unions operate under defined constitutions and regulations, which could provide a framework for transparent distribution and accountability.

Muhammad further proposed an equitable allocation of the vehicles across Bauchi State’s three senatorial zones, with operators who were not accommodated in the initial phase considered in subsequent allocations.

He said clear eligibility criteria and effective monitoring mechanisms would be necessary to prevent the diversion or misuse of the vehicles.

Highlighting the economic pressures facing transport operators, Muhammad identified the rising cost of petrol as a major factor driving up operating expenses and making affordable fares increasingly difficult to sustain.

He cited a petrol price of about ₦1,460 per litre as a significant burden on operators, arguing that the introduction of electric vehicles could provide some relief by reducing dependence on petrol.

However, he noted that charging, maintenance and other operational costs would still need to be considered to ensure that the vehicles remained affordable to operate.

The commission’s planned deployment represents a major proposed investment in electric mobility across the North-East, with its ultimate impact expected to depend on how effectively the vehicles are distributed, maintained and integrated into existing transport services.

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The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the Federal Government is targeting the completion of the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway within the next three years, a timeline that could see the project delivered around 2029.

Umahi disclosed this during an interview on Friday, where he defended the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure agenda amid concerns over the deteriorating condition of several existing federal roads.

The minister also defended the decision to award the coastal highway contract without a public bidding process, maintaining that the government adopted a direct procurement method permitted by law.

“There was no public bidding but there was direct procurement. It’s within the law. That’s all I’ve just said,” he stated.

Asked when the entire 750-kilometre highway would be completed, Umahi said the government was working towards delivering the project within the next three years, noting that the administration still had more than four years to run, by God’s grace.

“We have four years plus by God’s special grace. So we are looking at three years,” he said.

When pressed on whether he was confident that the entire highway could be completed within the projected period, the minister expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and the administration’s ability to deliver the project.

“I am a child of God. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Okay, so I’m giving you the faith I have and the president that I know, that I believe that within the next three years plus, that the president will be able to complete that project,” he added.

Although the projection points to a possible completion around 2029, Umahi did not provide a detailed construction schedule or specific delivery dates for the different sections of the highway during the interview.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the Federal Government’s flagship infrastructure projects, designed to link coastal communities and improve transportation along Nigeria’s southern coastline.

However, the project has attracted public scrutiny over its contract award process, cost, funding and the government’s spending priorities, particularly as motorists continue to grapple with poor road conditions across several parts of the country.

Responding to concerns about the state of federal roads, Umahi said the Ministry of Works was undertaking extensive construction and rehabilitation projects beyond the administration’s major legacy infrastructure schemes.

According to him, approximately 17,000 kilometres of federal roads are currently under construction or reconstruction out of the country’s estimated 35,000 kilometres of federal road network, excluding the major legacy projects.

“Out of about 35,000 kilometres of our federal roads, the one that is before me in the Ministry of Works, if you remove the few legacy projects we are constructing, we are presently constructing 17,000 kilometres of roads,” he said.

The minister further disclosed that about 1,700 kilometres of roads had been completed since the current administration assumed office, alongside more than six kilometres of flyovers, bridges and underpasses.

Umahi also pointed to the growing pressure on the Lagos transport corridor as a reason for developing the coastal highway, warning that traffic congestion could become increasingly severe without additional infrastructure.

He specifically highlighted the stretch connecting the Lekki axis, cautioning that traffic could grind to a standstill within the next five years if urgent measures were not taken to improve movement along the corridor.

“In the next five years, unless something is done in the corridor VI to Lekki, it becomes, you know, a car park because of the conjecture. And that’s why we are building the seven taxi route,” he said.

Meanwhile, the minister addressed the controversy surrounding plans to engage 4,000 social media influencers to publicise the administration’s projects, insisting that the initiative would be funded personally rather than with public money.

Umahi said the proposed campaign was intended to increase awareness of the Federal Government’s achievements nationwide and support efforts to promote Tinubu’s administration.

“I am funding 4,000 influencers to advertise what the president is doing and it’s a catalyst for campaigning for him all over Nigeria,” he said.

The minister’s projection has placed renewed attention on the delivery timeline of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, with the proposed 2029 completion date likely to remain a key measure of the Federal Government’s ability to execute one of its most ambitious infrastructure projects.

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About 84 per cent of chief executive officers across Africa expect their workforce to grow over the next three years, despite the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence in business operations, a new report by KPMG has found.

The report, the 2026 KPMG Africa CEO Outlook, highlights business leaders’ growth expectations, investment priorities and concerns about economic uncertainty, technological advancement, workforce development and sustainability.

It is the third edition of the Africa CEO Outlook and forms part of the 12th edition of the KPMG Global CEO Outlook. The survey covered 1,400 chief executives globally, including 176 from Africa, between August 11 and September 21, 2026.

According to the report, African businesses are increasingly recognising the importance of artificial intelligence but continue to face challenges in adopting the technology at the pace required to remain competitive.

“While 86 per cent of African CEOs are confident or cautiously optimistic about keeping pace with AI, compared with 95 per cent globally, just 14 per cent believe they are moving at the right pace or ahead of the curve, against 66 per cent globally,” the report stated.

It added that the disparity pointed to difficulties in converting interest in AI into practical implementation rather than a lack of ambition among African business leaders.

The report also noted that turning revenue growth into sustained profitability remained a challenge for businesses operating amid economic uncertainty and rising operational costs.

On investment priorities, 72 per cent of African CEOs identified AI as a major area of investment, compared with 79 per cent of their global counterparts.

However, the report found that African businesses were less advanced in implementing AI, with only 14 per cent of respondents saying their organisations were moving at the right pace or ahead of developments in the technology.

The findings also revealed differences in expectations for returns on AI investments. While 48 per cent of African CEOs expect to realise returns within one to three years, 42 per cent anticipate returns after three years. Globally, 71 per cent expect returns within one to three years.

KPMG attributed the longer investment horizon in Africa partly to the time required to strengthen data capabilities, integrate AI into existing systems and develop the skills needed to translate technological adoption into measurable business results.

Despite these challenges, African business leaders appear determined to prepare their employees for the changing demands of the workplace.

The report found that 86 per cent of respondents intend to retain and retrain high-potential employees, while 82 per cent are redesigning roles, career paths and team structures to encourage collaboration between workers and AI systems.

Another 74 per cent said they were recruiting AI and technology specialists to support their organisations’ digital transformation efforts.

However, workforce development remains a major obstacle, with 59 per cent of CEOs identifying skills gaps as a constraint, 58 per cent citing the need for AI training and upskilling, and 52 per cent pointing to difficulties in attracting and retaining talent.

Cybersecurity and data protection, alongside supply-chain resilience, emerged as the leading threats to business growth, each cited by 31 per cent of respondents. The integration of AI into business operations and workflows followed at 27 per cent.

To address these risks, 45 per cent of African CEOs said their organisations were increasing investment in cybersecurity and digital-risk resilience. Another 36 per cent were investing in regulatory compliance and reporting, while 31 per cent were directing funds towards AI integration.

On sustainability, 65 per cent of African CEOs said their organisations were equipped to meet new sustainability reporting requirements, compared with 55 per cent in the previous year.

KPMG Urges Businesses To Prioritise Workforce Reskilling

Commenting on the findings, the CEO of KPMG One Africa, Tola Adeyemi, said the report was intended to help business leaders understand how their counterparts worldwide were responding to common challenges and apply relevant lessons to their own organisations.

Adeyemi described the CEO Outlook as one of the ways KPMG supports business transformation in Nigeria by providing leaders with insights to make informed decisions and take action.

He said the findings could challenge existing assumptions and encourage executives to adopt strategies that had proved effective in other markets.

On the impact of artificial intelligence on employment, Adeyemi said the priority for business leaders should be preparing workers for evolving job requirements rather than reducing staff numbers.

“The real challenge is not about how you cut the workforce. It’s about how you reskill and retool the workforce in order to be able to work alongside artificial intelligence and the new technologies to deliver value for the organisation,” he said.

He added that employees would need to develop new capabilities to make effective use of emerging technologies and remain productive as businesses adjust their operating models.

“CEOs are not thinking of laying you off. They’re thinking of how do we reskill you? Yes, and how do you upskill yourselves as well, in order to be able to optimise the new tools that artificial intelligence and technology will make available,” Adeyemi said.

KPMG Economist Calls For Infrastructure, Policy Reforms

Meanwhile, KPMG South Africa’s Chief Economist, Frank Blackmore, said governments and businesses had complementary responsibilities in creating conditions that would support economic growth across Africa.

Blackmore urged governments to prioritise infrastructure development, particularly in logistics, digital connectivity and energy, to enable businesses to concentrate on their core operations, investments and workforce development.

He argued that reliable infrastructure would reduce the burden on businesses and allow them to focus resources on areas where they could generate the greatest economic value.

“If the government focuses on the provision of those sort of bulk infrastructure, it allows businesses to focus on the things that they are good at,” he said.

The economist also stressed the importance of workforce training, noting that skills development could benefit the wider economy beyond the organisations that initially invested in it.

“You can’t keep people in your department. Once that guy is trained, he’s trained forever, and he can move on throughout the economy,” Blackmore said.

He further called for greater policy harmonisation among African countries, warning that differences in regulations, languages, tax systems and visa requirements continued to complicate cross-border business operations.

According to Blackmore, addressing these structural barriers would help companies take advantage of opportunities across the continent and improve their ability to compete with businesses in larger economies.

The report’s findings suggest that while African CEOs remain optimistic about workforce growth, translating that confidence into stronger business performance will depend on their ability to close skills gaps, strengthen digital infrastructure and integrate AI into their operations effectively.

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The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has restored electricity to two communities in Kano State after 16 years without power, unveiling mini-grid projects expected to provide electricity to 2,222 households.

The projects, located in Ballagaza and Marayar Rogo in Warawa Local Government Area, comprise a 195-kilowatt-peak mini-grid and a 70-kilowatt-peak system, respectively.

REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, disclosed this during the commissioning of the facilities, according to a statement issued on Thursday.

He said the projects formed part of the Federal Government’s efforts to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda target of providing electricity to more than 17 million Nigerians.

Aliyu described the initiative as an example of how public-private partnerships could accelerate rural electrification, explaining that private investors financed, built and would operate the facilities, while the government provided partial subsidies to make electricity more affordable.

“The Federal Government did not build these mini-grids and hand them over. Alfuttaim Nigeria Limited invested its own money, built them, and will own and operate them for many years,” he said.

He explained that the government, through the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme implemented by the REA with support from the World Bank, subsidised part of the project costs to reduce the financial burden on consumers.

According to Aliyu, the programme is targeting the deployment of 1,350 mini-grids and has already delivered new or improved electricity access to more than five million Nigerians.

He noted that expanding electricity access remained a major national challenge that required sustained collaboration between government, private investors and beneficiary communities.

“Nigeria’s electricity access challenge will not be solved by a single agency or programme; it will be solved community by community, in places like Ballagaza and Marayar Rogo, when private companies are willing to invest, and communities take ownership of what is built for them,” he added.

The REA managing director also commended Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf for prioritising electricity access and creating an enabling environment for the projects.

Beyond providing household electricity, the mini-grids are expected to stimulate economic activities, particularly agricultural processing and small-scale businesses that have long been constrained by unreliable or unavailable power.

Communities in the area produce groundnuts, millet, sorghum and soya, while local artisans engage in blacksmithing, weaving and dyeing.

With the new electricity supply, groundnut processors are expected to use electric machines to produce groundnut oil and kuli-kuli, potentially increasing output, improving productivity and enabling them to secure better prices for their products.

The projects are also expected to improve healthcare delivery, with the mini-grid providing electricity to a primary healthcare centre that previously operated without power.

Speaking at the commissioning, Alfuttaim co-founder Nabilah Sani expressed satisfaction with the completion of the projects, saying the facilities would improve household access to electricity and support agricultural production.

She thanked the Federal Government for facilitating the funding arrangements that made the projects possible, adding that the two locations were among 10 sites the company was developing across Kano State.

Sani urged residents to protect the infrastructure and avoid vandalism to ensure the facilities continued to provide reliable electricity to the communities.

The projects mark another step in efforts to extend electricity access to underserved areas through renewable energy solutions and private-sector investment, particularly in communities where conventional grid expansion has yet to deliver reliable power.

The post REA Restores Power To Two Kano Communities After 16 Years Without Electricity appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.