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Afolabi Urges Upgrade of University ICT Infrastructure over COVID-19 Challenges

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From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos

To stem the challenges of COVID-19, which slowed down teaching and learning in Nigeria’s academic institutions, the Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, has urged relevant stakeholders to upgrade the information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure in schools across the country.

   In his keynote address at the fifth Annual International Conference of the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Afolabi stated that such upgrade would provide unhindered access to quality education to all students, irrespective of socio-economic status, especially during unforeseen circumstances.
   Based on the theme, “COVID-19 and the Emerging Issues in Education,” Afolabi, who was represented by the company’s Group Executive Director, Mr. Bode Ojeniyi, noted that “COVID-19 has exposed the inadequacies in our educational sector, as teaching and learning were affected during the lockdown and post-pandemic.   “There is need for a ‘state of emergency’ in the education sector in Nigeria, particularly in the public institutions, towards the upgrade of the entire educational infrastructure, with particular emphasis on ICT equipment and skills re-tooling in schools that will support virtual teaching and learning.   “The government, apart from coming up with enabling policies to support private-sector-led initiatives, must also consider setting aside ‘special funds through any or all of its development agencies, to be dedicated to the development of the educational sector technology infrastructure upgrade and personnel training/teaching faculties’ skills upgrade.”   He further called on all stakeholders, including parents, alumni and alumni associations, wealthy private individuals, philanthropists and corporate organisations to lend a hand in the transition of the educational sector to a 21st Century-compliant one that is largely driven by technology.   Earlier, the OAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, commended Dr. Afolabi and SIFAX Group for their numerous support and interventions in the education sector, especially the financial support to the institution’s Faculty of Education and other faculties.   Also, the Dean of Faculty of Education, Prof. Bola Omotesho, thanked Afolabi for his support towards the conference and solicited further assistance to reposition the faculty for improved teaching and research.

BUSINESS

NNPC Posts N7.2trn Profit amid Revenue Decline

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd.) recorded N7.2 trillion Profit After Tax (PAT) in 2025, a 33 per cent increase from N5.4 trillion.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a media briefing after the company’s AGM and second Earnings Call.

Revenue declined to N34.

5 trillion from N45.1 trillion in 2024.

Ojulari attributed the 24 per cent revenue decline to lower crude oil prices and reduced product volumes following market deregulation.

He said earnings per share rose to N35.

90 from N27.07, while return on equity improved by 200 basis points to 16 per cent.

The company’s declared dividend increased by 35 per cent to N5.8 trillion, while taxes, royalties and other government remittances rose 39 per cent to N22.3 trillion.

 “Stronger earnings in spite of this pressure demonstrate the resilience of NNPC Limited’s operations,” Ojulari said.

He said profit grew because NNPC had improved its operations and maintained discipline across its businesses.

Ojulari said crude oil and condensate production reached a five-year peak of 1.77 million barrels per day.

He added that gas supply reached a three-year high of 7.2 billion standard cubic feet per day.

“Stronger performance gives NNPC Limited more capacity to invest, contribute to public revenue and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security,” he said.

On infrastructure, Ojulari said the mainline of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline had been completed.

He said work was ongoing on tie-ins to delivery points, beginning with Abuja, followed by Ajaokuta and Kaduna.

According to him, the next milestone is to commence gas flow through the pipeline to industries and power plants.

Ojulari said the company completed the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline in 2026 after several years of challenges.

On the refineries, he said prospective partners under NNPC’s technical equity partnership model had conducted a three-month onsite review.

He said more than 34 engineers participated in the review, adding that NNPC was now concluding the report.

Ojulari said the company was targeting self-sustaining and profitable refineries, with a pathway expected to be defined soon.

He reaffirmed NNPC’s target of producing two million barrels of crude oil daily by 2027 and three million barrels by 2030.

He said gas production targets were 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion by 2030.

“NNPC plans to mobilise over 60 billion dollars of investment across the energy value chain,” he added.

Ojulari said more than 1,000 newly recruited professionals joined NNPC in 2025 under its Talent to Value programme.

He said the recruits completed a one-year internship and training programme before being deployed across the company. (NAN)

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FCCPC Calls for Improved Capacity Building on Competition Reporting, Matters

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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says there is a need for sustained capacity building in competition reporting and issues.

The Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Bello described competition matters as a relatively new area in the country adding that it required specialised knowledge among journalists, regulators and other stakeholders.

He said that competition law and consumer protection regulations had made stakeholders’ education a priority for the commission.

Bello said that the FCCPC recently supported the training of judges through the National Judicial Institute (NJI) to deepen understanding of competition-related matters.

He noted that members of the judiciary also required exposure to the nuances of the emerging field.

“We recognised that because it is a new terrain, the judges themselves are not familiar with the nuances.

”So we brought in experts on competition,” he said.

Bello stressed that the media had a critical role in promoting public understanding of competition and consumer protection issues.

“If FCCPC is becoming more known to the public, it is as a result of the kind of publicity you have given us,” he said. (NAN)

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Fire Guts Customs Western Marine Command Office in Lagos

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Fire gutted the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Western Marine Command office in Apapa, Lagos, on Monday, destroying property worth millions of Naira.

The fire, which reportedly started at about 10:23 a.m. from an electrical surge in the conference room, spread to other sections of the building.

Officers on duty made frantic efforts to contain the fire before officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived at about 10:45 a.

m.

The Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Timothy Jonah, who just resumed at the Command, to take over the affairs from his predecessor, described the incident as unfortunate.

He said: “I just resumed duty to take over, only to witness this fire outbreak.

“Every challenge, though negative, is an opportunity to strengthen our operations.

“In the meantime, we will set up a committee to investigate the cause of the fire.”

He commended the swift response of the personnel on duty and their collaboration with the fire service, saying measures would be taken to strengthen safety protocols and prevent a recurrence. (NAN)

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