Why Pipeline Surveillance is Central to Nigeria’s Economic Stability
Nse Victor Udoh
Every durable economy rests on a simple sequence. First, strategic assets are protected. Next, stability is established. Then confidence returns. Finally, prosperity becomes possible. Nigeria’s recent experience with pipeline surveillance in the Niger Delta has followed precisely this progression.
What renders this sequence instructive is that it reflects not abstract theory but lived national experience.
This sequence is now observable in national production recovery trends, restored pipeline receipts, and rising institutional performance across the petroleum sector. It affirms that economic advancement is determined not solely by the possession of resources, but by the quality of their stewardship. In this regard, pipeline surveillance has transcended its initial security purpose to become a practical demonstration of how nations convert structural vulnerability into strategic advantage.
For decades, Nigeria’s most valuable economic assets have flowed silently beneath forests, farmlands, creeks, and communities. The nation’s pipeline network, carrying crude oil and gas from production fields to terminals and refineries, has always been more than infrastructure. It is the circulatory system of the national economy. Yet for too long, this system operated under persistent threat, exposed to sabotage, theft, vandalism, and illegal refining.
The consequence was not only lost revenue but also environmental degradation, social instability, and an economy unable to fully benefit from its own resources. In practical consequence, this produced a nation generating energy without securing its full economic yield, budgeting without dependable metrics, and designing development policy on foundations persistently weakened by leakage. It also left host communities positioned along corridors of wealth that delivered risk more often than reward.
In recent years, pipeline surveillance has emerged as a decisive response to this long-standing vulnerability. By establishing comprehensive monitoring systems, deploying rapid response mechanisms, and engaging communities as active participants in asset protection, Nigeria has begun to reverse decades of decline. What began as a security intervention has evolved into something larger: a national asset protection strategy with far-reaching economic implications.
By securing pipelines and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of petroleum resources, surveillance operations have shifted Nigeria from a posture of constant loss management toward one of stability, planning, and growth.
This shift is measurable: national crude output climbed from approximately 1.18 million barrels per day in August 2023 to over 1.7 million barrels per day by late 2024; a recovery of nearly 500,000 barrels daily.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission attributed much of this gain to reduced pipeline vandalism and improved asset protection. This production recovery has direct fiscal implications: each additional 100,000 barrels per day translates to approximately $2.5-3 billion in annual export revenue at current pricing, funds that flow directly into national development budgets.
It has enabled national institutions to progress from reactive crisis management to strategic foresight, from temporary containment to durable systems-building, and from uncertainty-driven decisions to calculated national ambition.
It is important to clarify the role of pipeline surveillance within the wider energy landscape. Energy security encompasses the full value chain, from exploration and production to refining, distribution, pricing policy, and subsidy frameworks. Pipeline surveillance does not manage these domains.
Its mandate is precise: safeguarding critical infrastructure that transports petroleum resources. Yet this single function has proven foundational. Without secure transportation channels, production targets falter, refining plans collapse, exports decline, and fiscal projections become unreliable.
Asset protection, in this context, is not a supporting activity. It is a precondition for economic order. In effect, the pipeline is the hinge on which the entire petroleum value chain turns. When that hinge is weak, every other link in the chain carries strain. When it is secure, the entire system gains coherence.
The immediate impact has been operational. Sustained monitoring and rapid response systems have sharply reduced pipeline breaches and illegal tapping. Receipt rates have climbed toward full recovery, with national output rising to levels not seen in recent memory.
This redirection has restored Nigeria’s credibility in international oil markets, allowing Nigeria to reclaim market share lost to Angola and Libya. The Port Harcourt refinery restart in late 2023, processing over 60,000 barrels per day, depended on assured feedstock delivery through secured pipelines. International oil traders now price Nigerian crude with smaller risk premiums, compounding into hundreds of millions in additional annual revenue across national export volumes.
Economic stability follows predictability. When crude flows are secure, refineries can plan feedstock intake with assurance. Export commitments can be met without fear of sudden shortfalls. Gas-to-power projects can operate without recurrent shutdown risks. Investors can assess Nigeria’s petroleum sector with clearer risk profiles. Surveillance therefore does more than stop theft. It reintroduces reliability into national energy planning. And reliability is the bedrock upon which sustainable economic growth is built. With predictable flows, national budgeting becomes more credible, infrastructure planning becomes more precise, and long-term contracts become easier to negotiate. Predictability is the silent currency of modern economies, and pipeline surveillance has begun restoring it.
The benefits extend into public finance. Higher accounted-for production translates directly into increased export revenues, improved foreign exchange inflows, and strengthened fiscal capacity. National oil company performance in recent years illustrates this shift toward profitability and efficiency, driven in part by reduced losses and enhanced operational continuity.
As revenues stabilise, government budgeting gains credibility.Development planning becomes less speculative. The national economy gains breathing space to invest in infrastructure, social services, and diversification. This breathing space matters. It allows policy makers to think beyond survival and begin shaping structural reforms, industrial expansion, and long-term social investment. It also reduces dependence on emergency borrowing and short-term fiscal patchwork.
Asset protection has also produced environmental and social dividends, particularly in the Niger Delta. Illegal refining and pipeline sabotage once left waterways polluted, farmlands infertile, and communities trapped in cycles of hazard and insecurity. With sustained surveillance operations dismantling illegal sites and preventing repeated breaches, ecological recovery has begun.
Rivers are gradually clearing. Fishing and farming livelihoods are returning. Health burdens linked to chronic pollution are easing. Environmental repair, in turn, reduces the long-term economic costs of remediation and emergency interventions. This systematic dismantling of large numbers of illicit refining sites in recent operations has accelerated environmental regeneration across multiple creek systems. It has also reduced the hidden liabilities that once accumulated silently against the national balance sheet, restoring dignity to communities instead.
Community engagement has been another critical dimension. Surveillance operations increasingly integrate local participation, turning host communities from passive victims of infrastructure insecurity into stakeholders in its protection. Employment opportunities for youths, educational support programmes, and targeted women’s enterprise initiatives have tied local economic survival to the stability of legitimate operations.
This shared interest lowers community tensions, reduces conflict risks, and builds social consent around national assets. Where mistrust once dominated, cooperative stewardship is gradually taking root. This shift is crucial because no infrastructure can be protected sustainably without the consent of those who live closest to it. Community partnership transforms protection from an external imposition into an internal commitment.
Security outcomes reinforce these gains. The disruption of oil theft networks and illegal bunkering operations has reduced violence, improved freedom of movement, and restored normalcy to daily life in many areas. Markets, schools, and local businesses now operate with fewer interruptions. Security, in this sense, is not merely a policing outcome. It is an economic condition. The dismantling of organized crude theft logistics has materially reduced armed confrontation around strategic energy corridors.
Safe environments attract investment, retain talent, and enable long-term planning. Pipeline surveillance has therefore functioned as both an infrastructure safeguard and a stabilizing force in regions critical to national revenue generation. Stability at the regional level thus translates into stability at the national level, linking local peace directly to national economic continuity.
The broader national implication is clear. A country cannot prosper while its primary revenue-generating assets remain exposed. Asset protection is not an isolated security expense. It is an investment in economic continuity that transforms the narrative from one of leakage and loss to one of stewardship and yield. It reframes security spending not as a cost burden, but as capital invested in protecting national earning capacity. When viewed through this lens, pipeline surveillance becomes part of a wider economic architecture rather than a narrow tactical operation.
Yet honest national discourse requires acknowledging that asset protection is neither cost-free nor instantly perfect. Recent public reports have raised concerns about the scale of expenditure on pipeline security and the need for transparency in how such funds are deployed. These debates are not signs of failure. They are indicators of a maturing governance environment where strategic investments attract scrutiny, as they should. No economy reaches prosperity without first passing through a phase of disciplined investment, institutional learning, and accountability refinement. Scrutiny, when constructive, strengthens institutions and builds public trust in national priorities.
What matters is the direction of travel. And the progression remains clear even amidst ongoing debate. As pipeline integrity centred on asset protection improves, operational stability follows. From stability emerges confidence. And from confidence, prosperity becomes attainable. Increased retained production supports foreign exchange inflows. Improved efficiency enhances national oil company performance. Public revenue projections gain credibility. With credible revenue comes capacity to invest in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic diversification. In this sequence, pipeline surveillance serves not merely as a security measure, but as a catalyst of broader economic possibility. It becomes the quiet enabler of national ambition.
The Niger Delta Progressive Alliance views this period as a decisive transition in Nigeria’s economic story. The task ahead is consolidation: advancing technology, strengthening oversight, improving transparency, and deepening community partnership. Asset protection must mature into a permanent national discipline, not a temporary intervention. It must be embedded in institutional culture, policy continuity, and civic consciousness so that future gains are not reversed by neglect or complacency.
Prosperity is not declared. It is constructed. And in Nigeria’s case, it begins with the disciplined protection of the infrastructure that carries the nation’s wealth. A country that secures its strategic lifelines secures its future. The evidence increasingly suggests that Nigeria has begun crossing that threshold. In protecting its pipelines, Nigeria is learning to protect something larger than steel and crude. It is learning to protect stability, credibility, and the conditions that allow a nation to rise.
Udoh is the President General, Niger Delta Progressive Alliance
Mbah Urged to Balance Economic Growth, Infrastructure Development with Poverty Reduction
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
Enugu State Governor, Mr. Peter Mbah, has been urged to strike a balance between revenue growth, infrastructural development and poverty alleviation in order to make citizens feel the real impact of governance.
The advice was contained in a statement by the Enugu State 2023 governorship candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Ray Ogbodo, following his assessment of the trajectory of development under Mbah’s administration.
In the statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Azubuike Afam, Ogbodo noted that there was no doubt that Enugu has witnessed increased revenue and accompanying infrastructure development in the state.
But the former governorship flag bearer claimed that the growth in revenue has not been matched with reduction in poverty index, saying “there is worsening hardship and rising poverty after 32 months in office”.
He said that he has been observing Mbah’s governance style since he came into office and after 32 months into the administration, “silence is no longer an option” hence his decision to speak out and give advice on the way forward.
“It would be unfair not to acknowledge the governor’s vision and ambition, but that vision alone isn’t governance,” Ogbodo said, adding that “Mbah came into office with confidence, clarity of intent, and an aggressive economic posture.”
He made it known that his scrutiny of the present Enugu government was borne out of “a deep sense of responsibility, (and) not just as a political opponent, but as a stakeholder, a former governorship candidate, and a citizen compelled by conscience and reality.”
Alluding to the spate of attendant economic and social dislocations suffered by people as a result of the infrastructural projects of Mbah’s administration, Ogbodo pointed out Enugu people were yet to feel the benefits.
He said, “The reality across Enugu communities is grim and unmistakable. Despite huge inflows from federal allocations and acclaimed IGR growth, Enugu people are still suffering and many are worse off.
“Families can no longer afford basic necessities. Traders and small businesses are collapsing under economic pressure and multiple levies. Youth unemployment remains dangerously high.
“Many rural communities feel abandoned and invisible. Hunger, frustration, and despair are becoming normalised.”
Ogbodo, who is a management expert and strategist, tasked the Mbah administration to confront “the painful contradiction” and not live in self-denial because “government revenues are rising, but the people are sinking deeper into poverty”.
“No amount of statistical celebration can explain this away,” he stated, adding that “it this point in the administration, Enugu people deserve honesty, not optics. They deserve leadership that listens, not one that speaks only in numbers.”
The former AAC governorship candidate noted that it’s good that Mbah’s administration has “consistently projected itself as reform-driven, data-focused, and determined to reposition Enugu economically.”
However, he stated that such positive posture “on paper, are indicators of seriousness and scale, but in reality, it’s a different story” hence the need to pursue people-centred policies and balance development with wealth creation.
According to him, “leadership is not an academic exercise, governance is not a PowerPoint presentation, and ambition is not impact hence “any economic policy that extract, but doesn’t empower people isn’t good”.
He warned that “an economy does not grow by taxing suffering citizens into submission. Economic policy must empower production before it pursues extraction.
“Let this be stated clearly: Growth that does not reduce poverty is deception. Development that bypasses the masses is exclusion. A government cannot claim success while its people cannot afford to live,” Ogbodo stated.
He, therefore advised the Enugu Governor “to correct the course” of his policies and actions in order to achieve resounding success at the end of the day as “no administration can sustainably succeed against the weight of popular hardship.”
“This call for course correction is not to score points. It is to sound an alarm. Enugu does not need less ambition, it needs human-centred leadership,” the AAC chieftain said.
He proffered the a number of solitiims, saying, “I urge the administration to urgently recalibrate its priorities: Shift from revenue obsession to people protection, especially for the poor and the endangered middle class.
“Stop suffocating SMEs and the informal sector, they are the backbone of Enugu’s economy and must be supported, not punished.
“Focus on job creation and income security, not just capital-intensive projects that do not translate to livelihoods.
“Deepen transparency and accountability, so citizens can see, trust, and believe in governance again.
“Govern with empathy, not just efficiency. Policies should reflect the pain and aspirations of real people.”
Eba Island Oil Dispute Reactivates Ode-Omu Custodial Feud
Linus Aleke in Abuja
The federal government’s approval of crude oil drilling on Eba Island has reignited a long-standing custodial dispute in Ogun State, prompting the people of Ode Omi Kingdom to raise the alarm over the potential for communal unrest if the matter is not urgently addressed.
In a formal protest and appeal dated 28 January 2026 and addressed to the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Ode Omi community expressed appreciation to both the governor and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for facilitating the oil project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the community warned that renewed competing claims over the ownership of Eba Island now pose a serious threat to peace in the Ijebu Waterside area.
The letter followed a separate correspondence dated 24 January 2026, allegedly written by another monarch, laying claim to Eba Island as ancestral land.
Ode Omi Kingdom firmly rejected the claim, describing it as historically unfounded and capable of inflaming tensions in the coastal region.
The protest was conveyed in a statement signed by the Balogun of Ode Omi Kingdom, High Chief Prince Shittu Aliu Adeyemi, on behalf of the community.
According to the statement, Eba Island has belonged “since time immemorial” to the Lenuwa ruling houses of Ode Omi Kingdom—specifically the Ojafoyewa and Ojagbuwa royal families—alongside other ancient families within the kingdom.
The community stated that members of these ruling houses historically lived on Eba Island and neighbouring Eba villages, which share boundaries with Irokun Town, a neighbouring settlement to Ode Omi Kingdom. It further noted that in the 17th and 19th centuries, two Kings Lenuwa of Ode Omi Kingdom, both from the Ojafoyewa lineage, were born and raised in the Eba settlements.
The statement added that, prior to their installation as rulers of Ode Omi, residents of the Eba communities maintained family houses within Ode Omi Kingdom, a practice said to date back several centuries.
It also claimed that past Baales of Imakun Omi community traditionally acknowledged the authority of the King Lenuwa of Ode Omi Kingdom.
Expressing concern over the timing of the renewed claim, the community said the challenge to its custodianship emerged only after President Tinubu approved oil drilling in commercial quantities on Eba Island.
“We are deeply concerned that this claim has surfaced at a time when crude oil drilling has been approved, and we are keen to avoid any escalation that could disturb the peace of the area,” the statement said.
The Ode Omi Kingdom therefore appealed to President Tinubu and Governor Abiodun to intervene swiftly to prevent communal disorder.
It called for a calm, transparent investigation by relevant state authorities and the Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs to verify historical records and customary practices relating to Eba Island.
Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful coexistence, the community described Ode Omi as a long-standing and peaceful kingdom that maintains cordial relations with neighbouring communities.
It identified the King Lenuwa of Ode Omi Kingdom, Oba Folailu Adekunle Hassan (Oshotekun II), as a paramount and foundational ruler in Ijebu land.
The statement further asserted that Eba Island was never shared with any traditional ruler from Ilaje communities in present-day Ondo State, noting that the first recognised ruler of Mahin Kingdom emerged after the reign of the 11th Oba Lenuwa of Ode Omi Kingdom.
Calling for restraint, the community urged all parties involved to pursue dialogue and lawful channels rather than confrontation, stressing that an amicable resolution was necessary to preserve peace and stability in the region.
ECWA Raises Alarm Over Worsening Insecurity After Fresh Attack on Worshippers
Yemi Kosoko in Jos
The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has raised a fresh alarm over what it describes as the worsening state of insecurity across Nigeria, condemning the persistent attacks on Christian communities, clergy, and vulnerable citizens.
The church’s President, Rev. Dr. Job Ayuba Bagat, issued the statement in response to the latest assault on worshippers in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In the strongly worded address, ECWA expressed deep concern over what it called a “pervasive and escalating” security breakdown that has left many communities living in fear.
According to the church, its pastors, workers, and members have suffered repeated attacks, kidnappings, displacement, and loss of life across several states.
The church condemned the abduction of worshippers during Sunday service on 18 January 2026 in Kurmin Wali, describing the incident as “sacrilegious and barbaric.” The Nigeria Police Force has since confirmed the attack.
ECWA noted that the Kurmin Wali incident fits into a disturbing pattern of violence targeting its congregations. Before the latest abduction, the church said about 100 members from the Kwassam District Church Council, 30 from Saminaka DCC in Kaduna, and another 30 from Kabba DCC in Kogi State were already being held by kidnappers, with families facing unbearable ransom demands.
The statement also listed several District Church Councils currently under severe threat, including Katari and Gidan Waya in Kaduna; Katsina South in Katsina; Patigi, Omu-Aran, and Ora-Ago in Kogi; Igbaja in Kwara; Gwol and Mangu in Plateau; and Shiroro in Niger State.
While acknowledging recent federal efforts and the eventual deployment of security personnel to Kajuru, ECWA criticised what it described as “operational delays” that embolden criminal groups.
The church urged the Federal, State, and Local Governments to fulfil their constitutional and moral responsibility to protect citizens. It outlined four urgent demands: strengthen intelligence gathering and early-warning systems, ensure swift and effective responses to threats, especially in rural communities, prosecute perpetrators and their sponsors transparently and provide adequate protection for places of worship and other soft targets
Beyond government action, ECWA called on traditional rulers, community leaders, and citizens to promote unity and peaceful coexistence. The church encouraged communities to work closely with security agencies and resist criminal elements through lawful, collective
ECWA reaffirmed its solidarity with all victims of insecurity, extending prayers and pastoral support to families of the abducted and those living in fear. The church urged Nigerians not to lose hope.
Rev. Bagat concluded by restating ECWA’s commitment to prayer, peacebuilding, advocacy, and practical support for affected communities, calling on Nigerians to remain united and steadfast in the pursuit of a secure nation.
Marwa: Knowledge Deficit in Law Hinders Effective Law Enforcement Operations
Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), has warned that inadequate knowledge of the law among security personnel continues to undermine the effectiveness of law enforcement operations in the country.
General Marwa made the observation at the official unveiling of multiple legal publications authored by Deputy Commander General of NDLEA (DCGN), Sule Momodu (rtd).
The books include Explanatory Notes on the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022; Human Rights and Law Enforcement Agencies Operations: A Guide; and Law Enforcement Agencies Acts in Nigeria: A Compendium.
According to the NDLEA Chairman, ignorance of legal frameworks by officers often results in serious operational and institutional consequences.
He noted that poor understanding of the limits of lawful authority frequently leads to avoidable litigation, costly financial judgments against the state, wrongful arrests, collapsed prosecutions and violations of fundamental human rights.
“These failures not only weaken the justice system but also erode public trust in law enforcement institutions,” Marwa said. “Ignorance of the law is not merely a personal shortcoming; it is an institutional risk. These books provide a definitive response to that risk.”
He explained that the Compendium of Acts would serve as a vital reference tool for officers seeking to understand the legal foundations, mandates and boundaries of their agencies.
Similarly, he described the Human Rights and Law Enforcement Operations guide as a balanced resource that protects both officers and citizens by promoting ethical conduct while empowering the public with knowledge of their rights.
Marwa further noted that the explanatory notes on the 2022 terrorism, money laundering and proceeds of crime laws demystify complex legal regimes governing national security and financial crimes, making them accessible to practitioners, researchers and students alike.
“To build a more professional, law-abiding and efficient security sector, continuous learning is non-negotiable,” he said. “I commend DCGN Sule Momodu (rtd) for his intellectual contribution and for continuing to serve the nation even in retirement. I urge everyone here—officers, legal practitioners and guests—to acquire these books. They are an investment in professional competence and collective security.”
Also speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, described the publications as timely, relevant and profoundly consequential.
He said they come at a critical point in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, where national security, economic integrity, human rights protection and effective law enforcement must be pursued in a balanced and legally grounded manner.
Senator Akume observed that Nigeria continues to face complex security challenges, including terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and illicit financial flows, which threaten national stability, economic development and public confidence in state institutions.
He noted that the author’s detailed exposition of terrorism-related legislation provides much-needed clarity on the legal architecture for countering such threats, while emphasising strict adherence to constitutional safeguards and international obligations.
Commending the author’s depth of scholarship and public-spirited commitment, the SGF said illicit financial activities remain a major obstacle to sustainable development, weakening institutions and empowering criminal networks.
He added that the books make a significant contribution to transparency, accountability and the rule of law by clearly outlining the legal frameworks for prevention, prohibition, recovery and management of criminal proceeds.
Of particular importance, he said, is the publication on human rights and law enforcement operations, stressing that in a democratic society, security and human rights are complementary rather than competing values.
“Effective law enforcement must be firm and professional, but it must also be guided by respect for human dignity, due process and the rights of citizens,” Akume said. “Sustainable security can only be achieved when public trust and cooperation are secured through lawful and humane practices.”
He added that the compendium on law enforcement agencies in Nigeria provides an invaluable reference on institutional mandates and inter-agency relationships, especially at a time when coordination, intelligence sharing and synergy across the security architecture are essential.
According to the SGF, the publications align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in strengthening national security, combating corruption, enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement institutions and entrenching governance founded on the rule of law and respect for human rights.
Stakeholders Commend FG, Imo Govt, NDDC, LIFE-ND, IFAD for Investing in Rural People
Amby Uneze in Owerri
Stakeholders in 12 communities in six local government areas of Imo State have commended the federal government, Imo State government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Nigeria Delta (LIFE-ND) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for transforming the lives of the rural people.
The stakeholders who include beneficiaries of the programme, traditional rulers and other community leaders of the various areas expressed their satisfaction to the government for providing a palliative platforms for transformation of the rural economy in which the population can derive prosperity and equal benefits.
The commendation was made during the three-day NPCO/NDDC Joint oversight/monitoring visits to the Imo State LIFE-ND Incubation centres which involved Ezimgbidi and Ibiasoegbe communities in Oru East LGA, Nnebukwu, Izombe, Mgbele and Egbuoma communities in Oguta LGA, Amaigbo in Nwangele LGA, Amandugba in Isu LGA, Ogbor in Isiala Mbano LGA, Ezimba in Ihitte Uboma LGA, and Eziama and Nguru Umuaro in Ngor Okpala LGA.
The farms/value chain visited were Mgbeanulu Farm (poultry – brood and sell), Dera’s farm (aquaculture), Frankorie’s cassava farm (cassava), Livestock Specialists Agro Development Co. Ltd (aquaculture), Dee Imo’s farm (aquaculture), Brohood farm (poultry), Duka’s farm (fishing), Lordside Ejeval farms (poultry), C. Christ Investment Farms (rice), Agunanne Farms (aquaculture), Charles Excel Farm (cassava), and Kilos Farm (poultry).
Addressing the team, the Imo State LIFE-ND Project Coordinator, Mrs. Victoria Igboanugo highlighted the essence of the oversight visit as the commission’s commitment to youth employment, agribusiness development, food security, and sustainable economic growth in the Niger Delta region.
She noted that within the short period of one year and four months since the inception of the LIFE-ND Project in the State, commendable achievements in line with the objectives of the Commission have been recorded, adding that three batches of incubatees have been on-boarded totalling 1,403 beneficiaries under the programme.
According to her, the first batch comprises 313, second batch has 500 incubatees with 188 agro-marketers across the value chains, while the third batch with 590 incubatees are currently active and are receiving their monthly stipends while the former had been fully empowered.
Mrs. Igboanugo added that the project had also made remarkable progress in infrastructure development by constructing of cassava and rice processing centers/clusters at Ozuh Omuma in Oru East LGA, and Ezimba in Ihitte Uboma LGA respectively.
She thanked the federal government and State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma for believing in the NDDC vision, partnership and unwavering support to the development of the rural people in the State.
Speaking to the beneficiaries the NDDC officials comprising Mr. Tony Frank Oputa (Director, Agric and Fisheries) and Awi Harriet (Assistant Director, Agric and Fisheries) leading other Commission’s staff reminded the Stakeholders that NDDC is proud with the progress of LIFE-ND in the State, adding that the State has become a model where other States would come to learn from.
According to them, in line with the slogan of the commission “making a difference”, our target is to give joy among the people, adding, if there is no difference in the lives of the rural people them we are not improving.
In her own contribution, the Agribusiness Promotion Coordinator of LIFE-ND, national office, Mrs. Antonia Esenwa noted that the son of the oversight visit is to touch lives of the rural people hence “we go the sites to access your progress and how we can improve on our programme.”
The beneficiaries expressed great joy to NDDC and partners for lifting them from nobodies to some bodies, adding “our lives are improving, we can contribute to the well-being of our family members.”
Winning AFRIMA ‘Life-Changing’ Say Juma Jux, Folex as Stakeholders Meet in Tanzania
Fresh from their victories at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) in Lagos, Nigeria, Tanzanian stars Juma Jux and Folex have described the platform as a major driver of global visibility for African creatives, as industry stakeholders met in Dar es Salaam to review the impact of the awards on the region’s music industry.
The award-winning artistes shared their views during a Media and Stakeholders’ Parley hosted by AFRIMA’s International Committee, which brought together artistes, regulators, music executives and the media to examine opportunities created by the awards and how East Africa can better harness them.
Speaking at the event held at Urban by City Blue Hotel, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Juma Jux, winner of East African Artiste of the Year (Male) at the 9th AFRIMA, described the experience as career-defining.
“Winning AFRIMA changed a lot for me,” Jux said. “People who never spoke to me before now reach out. Being on a stage watched in over 84 countries gives you a new level of visibility and responsibility.”
He also called for stronger partnerships between platforms like AFRIMA and government agencies in Tanzania. “When institutions work hand in hand with platforms like AFRIMA, artistes benefit more through exposure, training and knowledge sharing,” he added.
Also speaking, Tanzanian music director Folex, who won Best Music Video of the Year for his work on Juma Jux’s Ololufemi video, said the recognition had changed his life. He explained that the Lagos experience opened doors to new networks and learning opportunities.
“Being nominated alongside international names like Pink and TG Omori and then winning the award was life-changing for me. It showed that East Africans can compete and win at the highest level. This award validates the work of music video directors in Tanzania and brings more confidence to our creative industry,” he said.
Associate Producer of AFRIMA, Victoria Nkong, said the awards had grown beyond a celebration of talent to become a strong development platform for African creatives.
“AFRIMA is designed to build an ecosystem for African music,” Nkong said. “Beyond the trophies, we focus on talent promotion, industry development and creating pathways that help African artistes move from local recognition to global visibility.”
She added that the engagement in Tanzania was important for deepening collaboration with government institutions and industry stakeholders.
“Tanzania and East Africa have rich musical identities. AFRIMA is committed to working closely with institutions and creatives here to ensure that their music and talent are well represented on the global stage,” she said.
Also speaking, Selemani Mabisso, Acting Assistant Director of the Music Department at the National Arts Council of Tanzania, BASATA, reaffirmed the council’s willingness to partner with AFRIMA and other international bodies.
“BASATA is open to collaborations that will help grow and strengthen Tanzania’s music industry,” Mabisso said. “We are ready to support initiatives that will position our creatives competitively on the global stage.”
The 9th AFRIMA was held from January 7 to 11, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria, and was organised by the African Union Commission and the International Executive Committee of AFRIMA, in partnership with the Lagos State Government as the Official Host City.
The five-day celebration of African music featured seven major events, including a Welcome Soiree, the Africa Music Business Summit, the AFRIMA Music Village at Ikeja City Mall, where over 25 top artistes thrilled more than 30,000 fans, and a grand finale at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, Nigeria which was broadcast to audiences in 84 countries worldwide.
Gov Sule Condemns Killing Of Farmers in Nasarawa
Igbawase Ukumba in lafia
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, yesterday expressed deep sadness over the recent killings on innocent farmers by unknown persons in Kwara Chiefdom of Keana Local Government Area.
The farmers, numbering about four, were reportedly killed by suspected herdsmen while on fishing expeditions at River Kereke even as several others were severely wounded and are receiving treatment at undisclosed hospitals in the state.
Governor Sule condemned the incident in strong terms describing it as “senseless and reprehensible act of violence”. He extends condolences to the families of the victims and the entire people of Keana LGA.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the Osoho of Olosoho, Dr. Umar Abubakar Apeshi over the demise of his mother, Governor Sule said he has since directed security agencies to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
He said, “Our commitment to the protection of lives and property of all citizens regardless of their tribe or community is unshakable. We are unrelenting in our collaboration with all stakeholders holders and security agencies towards achieving peaceful coexistence in our state.”
Sule called for calm while urging citizens to avail security agents with useful information that lead to arrest of the perpetrators.
On the passing of the mother of the Osoho of Olosoho, Sule prayed Allah rest her soul and grant her aljannat Firdausi and give the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the loss.
