By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Thursday gave an immediate waiver of fees for the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the Nigerian Law School’s Abuja campus.

Wike revealed this during a meeting with the school’s management in Abuja.

He also declared an “Emergency” on the construction of staff quarters and other critical infrastructure to enhance the institution’s learning environment.

The FCT Minister while responding to an appeal from the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Dr.

According to the FCT Minister, “Luckily, the Department of Land is t/here. We are going to waive the fee for C of O for you immediately. But it’s quite unfortunate that since the time they moved the law school to Bwari, they don’t have the C of O. So you’re occupying an illegal institution. I was thinking the first thing the government would have done as the school was coming in was to give you a C of O to show that you are a rightful owner”.

He described the lack of official documentation for government institutions as a trend that his administration is actively correcting.

He noted, “It’s not only you. I think even the Department of State Services, the SSS, they just got their C of O. That’s not encouraging at all”.

The Minister directed the Director of Lands to waive all processing fees for the school’s C of O, and issued a firm directive to ensure the document is processed and ready within one week.

He noted that regularizing the land is essential to move the school from what he colloquially termed an “illegal session” to rightful ownership.

Beyond land matters, the Minister committed the FCT Administration (FCTA) to several high-priority projects aimed at resolving overcrowding and improving staff efficiency.

Wike announced that 10 staff quarters have already been completed and will be commissioned as part of the President’s third anniversary. He further pledged to construct an additional 10 units using existing prototypes to save on design costs.

According to him, work is progressing on two new hostels—one for male students and one for female students—to alleviate overcrowding.

The Minister confirmed he has approved the budget for a new auditorium and questioned why the contractor had not yet moved to the site.

To modernize administrative functions, Wike directed the school to liaise with the FCTA General Counsel, Salman Dako, to explore digitization solutions similar to ongoing efforts at the FCT High Court.

Minister Wike emphasized that these interventions are part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader agenda to support legal education and the judiciary.

He noted that the President is currently constructing “presidential apartments” for judges to ensure their security, welfare, and autonomy.

“Anything we can do to help our children, we are willing to do that,” Wike stated.

He also added that the staff quarters must be treated as an emergency project to ensure rapid delivery.

Dr. Odusote congratulated the Minister on his appointment and praised the visible infrastructure developments across the FCT, while highlighting the specific challenges of disrepair and infrastructure deficits facing the Law School.

Australian researchers on Thursday revealed that alcohol consumption causes a higher proportion of cancers in Australia than previous estimates.

According to a statement of the University of Sydney, the study estimates that around 4.6 per cent of all cancers in Australia are caused by alcohol consumption, which also increases the risk of developing cancer by 19 per cent.

The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, analyzed alcohol consumption behavior among 225,000 people in the Australian state of New South Wales’ 45 & Up Study.

The study’s lead author Peter Sarich from the University Of Sydney School Of Public Health said “cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Australia.

“While the science on the causes of cancer continues to evolve, the evidence is now clear that reducing alcohol consumption is an effective strategy for preventing cancer.’’

Researchers estimated that over 7,800 cancer cases diagnosed in Australia in 2024 were attributable to alcohol, exceeding earlier estimates of between 2.8 per cent and 4.1 per cent.

The study found cancer risk rises with increased alcohol intake. For every 10 drinks consumed per week, the risk of cancer increased by 19 per cent.

The risk rose by 46 per cent for liver cancer, 27 per cent for cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx and esophagus, 18 per cent for breast cancer, and 16 per cent for colorectal cancer, according to the study.

Sarich said if Australians followed national guidelines of no more than 10 drinks per week, more than 3,700 alcohol-related cancer cases annually could be prevented.

He added that only around half the population is aware that alcohol causes cancer.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed banks and other financial institutions to submit monthly reports on failed electronic transactions across digital channels, as part of new compliance measures introduced in its revised Guide to Charges.

The directive was contained in a circular issued on April 21, 2026, titled “Exposure Draft of the Guide to Charges by Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria, 2026 (The Guide)” and signed by the Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Dr.

According to the apex bank, Chief Compliance Officers and Heads of Information Technology in financial institutions are required to jointly render electronic reports of all failed transactions conducted via Automated Teller Machines, Point of Sale terminals, mobile channels, web platforms, and other electronic systems.

The circular read, “The Chief Compliance Officer and Head Information Technology shall jointly render monthly reports electronically, of all failed electronic transactions via various e-channels (ATM, PoS, mobile, web/internet and related channels) that originate or terminate in the institution.”

The reports are to be submitted to designated CBN email addresses, reinforcing the regulator’s push for stricter monitoring of service failures across the banking system.

Beyond the reporting requirement, the CBN also introduced broader accountability measures, placing responsibility on top management of financial institutions to ensure strict adherence to the new guide.

Executive Compliance Officers or Managing Directors are mandated to cascade compliance expectations across all business units and ensure that banking systems are configured to apply only approved charges.

Specifically, the regulator directed that Heads of Information Technology must ensure that “all systems configurations only capture and allow posting of charges as permitted and described in this Guide,” while Chief Compliance Officers are to monitor strict compliance with the framework.

The revised guide, effective May 1, 2026, replaces the 2020 version and provides a comprehensive framework for charges across banking and other financial services.

The CBN explained that the review was aimed at promoting a safe and sound financial system, encouraging innovation, and expanding financial inclusion through lower tariffs on micropayments and transactions.

It added that the revised framework would strengthen oversight and accountability, encourage the adoption of electronic payment channels, and accommodate new industry participants.

A key feature of the proposed guide is the introduction of caps on several banking charges, alongside a requirement for banks to disclose fees clearly and allow customers to negotiate charges where applicable.

The document states that where fees are designated as negotiable, financial institutions must inform customers of their right to negotiate and agree on charges through verifiable means.

The guide also mandates that any new product, service, or charge not covered must receive prior written approval from the CBN, tightening regulatory control over fee innovation in the banking sector.

Under the new structure, charges apply across a wide range of institutions, including commercial banks, merchant banks, payment service banks, non-interest banks, microfinance banks, finance companies, primary mortgage banks, development finance institutions, credit guarantee companies, and mobile money operators.

To strengthen consumer protection, the CBN directed that non-credit-related charges can only be applied to the extent of funds available in a customer’s account, while any unpaid charges must be deferred without accruing interest.

The draft also introduces enhanced compliance requirements, mandating senior management and compliance officers to ensure that only approved charges are applied across banking systems.

In the detailed schedule of charges, the CBN set clear limits across multiple banking services. For electronic transfers, interbank charges are capped at no fee for transactions up to N5,000, N10 for transactions between N5,000 and N50,000, and N50 for transactions above N50,000.

ATM withdrawals from other banks are also regulated, with charges of N100 per N20,000 withdrawal on on-site machines and additional surcharges capped for off-site transactions.

The guide maintains zero charges on several customer-facing services, including account reactivation, account closure, and mandatory monthly statements, while introducing caps on others, such as statement requests to third parties and card issuance fees.

In the lending segment, the CBN requires all loan pricing to be quoted using the Annual Percentage Rate, ensuring that borrowers see the full cost of credit upfront. It also caps penalty charges on loan defaults at one per cent per month for naira loans and 0.25 per cent for foreign currency loans.

The regulator further outlined minimum disclosure requirements for loan agreements, covering borrower details, loan purpose, repayment schedule, collateral, interest rates, and penalties, as part of efforts to improve transparency in credit transactions.

The draft guide has been released for public comments, with stakeholders expected to submit their inputs to the CBN before May 8, 2026, ahead of its full implementation.