From Attah Ede, Makurdi

An abandoned newborn baby girl has been rescued alive near Ashar forest at Wuese community in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State by some good Samaritans.

The baby, who was seen wrapped up in clothes and packed up in a carton by her unknown mother, was picked up on Saturday August 29, 2026 by one Mbakasev Yisa with maggots allegedly found around the baby and a foul smell emanating from the carton.

An eye witness who identified himself as Terkumbur Gabriel Mbaukaan, told journalists on phone in Makurdi on Sunday, that the baby was in an extremely critical condition when she was rescued and immediately evacuated to Dooshima Clinic in Wuese for medical attention.

He narrated that the passerby Mbakasev Yisa, first discovered the abandoned newborn in the forest and immediately reported the situation to the police outpost in the area.

“As a councillor representing the area, I visited the scene to personally assess the situation and ascertain the condition of the abandoned child.

“So, when the policemen came to the scene, they carried out necessary documentation of the discovery and equally directed that Yisa take the baby to a medical facility for urgent medical attention. And because the baby’s condition was so critical, the first clinic we approached could not admit the child.

“We later took  the baby to Dooshima Clinic in Wuese, Konshisha LGA, where is being treated and fed with glucose and NAN infant formula as medical personnel work to stabilise the infant”, he said.

He said tests have been conducted to ensure the baby is healthy. However, she remains under observation at the hospital’s intensive care unit after being exposed to harsh external conditions immediately after birth.

“I have made a financial donation towards the child’s upkeep and appeal to the medical personnel to ensure that the infant receives continuous and effective treatment.

“I am using this opportunity to appeal to individuals, humanitarian organisations, community leaders, government agencies and other people of goodwill to support the baby’s treatment and welfare.

“We are managing the situation at our own level as a community. We have told those police officers attached to the police outpost here in our community not to take the matter to the divisional office in Tse- Agbaragba yet because we are following up the matter. We will do our best to ensure that the newborn baby gets well. Am also making concerted efforts to get across to the local government council chairman. He is yet to be informed”, he said.

Similarly, the youth leader of the Wuese community, Udigi Waya, equally confirmed the rescue of the newborn baby.

Waya lamented over the situation, saying that the baby may have spent approximately three days in the abandoned condition before she was rescued.

He maintained that the baby cried out whenever the carton was opened which was the only indication and apparent sign that the infant was still alive.

When contacted, the Benue State command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Peter Orchia Aondongu, said he was yet to get such a report.

“I have called the DPO of the Konshisha local government area and he told me that he is not aware of such a situation yet. So, I will still call him and get back to the press thanks”, he said.

The identity of the mother, the circumstances surrounding the delivery and what led her to abandon the newborn are the questions that still beg for answers.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said the adoption of the T+1 settlement cycle in Nigeria’s capital market is going on smoothly, describing it as a development that has enhanced competitiveness and provided relief to market participants.

The Director-General of the SEC, Dr.

Agama, who was represented by the Director, Registration, Exchanges and Market Infrastructure, Mrs. Hafsat Rufai, said both local and international investors had expressed satisfaction with the new settlement cycle.

She said: “Feedback from them has been excellent. They are happy with T+1, and the local investors are also happy with T+1. The fear initially was around the availability of cash to settle, time zone being one of the major considerations.

 “Sometimes, in some countries, when we are closing our market at 4:00 p.m., it is still early in the day. Sometimes, it’s even longer than being early in the day; it’s midnight in some countries. And so everybody is concerned about how to source cash or how to source funds for settlement.

 “But knowing that it is not at 8:00 a.m., it is 5:00 p.m., I think that gives enough time for the custodian banks, who are representatives of those investors, to source the funds required and settle the securities and cash as well, because it’s a DVP market. It’s delivery versus payment.”

Agama said no default had so far been recorded due to the unavailability of funds for settlement at the new deadline.

 “It’s just a matter of letting everybody understand that the settlement time is not 8:00 a.m.; it is 5:00 p.m. And by 5:00 p.m., everybody is good. So far, it has been good. Feedback has also been very excellent,” he added.

According to him, the Nigerian capital market operated on a T+3 settlement cycle for several years before the market began a phased transition aimed at modernising the market, improving competitiveness and attractiveness, increasing liquidity and reducing settlement risks.

He said the market moved from T+3 to T+2 on November 28, 2025, before migrating to T+1 on June 1, 2026.

“Transaction day or the trade day when your shares are bought or sold on a particular day, that is day T, and then plus one, which is the current settlement cycle, means that when you buy your shares, say for instance you buy today, being a Monday, the shares will settle in your account by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow,” he explained.

Agama said the reduction in the settlement cycle was aimed at making the Nigerian market more efficient by allowing investors to receive their securities or cash sooner.

 “The emphasis on 5:00 p.m. is that over the years, when you were on T+3 or T+2, settlement time was 8:00 a.m. Meaning that if you buy your shares today on T+2, that is the trade date, and then two days after, which would have been Wednesday when you were on T+2, you would get your shares if you bought or you get your cash if you sold at 8:00 a.m.

 “Now we decided that we need to do better for the Nigerian market by shortening that cycle. So why buy today and wait for another 48 hours or thereabout, or two days, before you get your security? So, we shortened that transaction cycle, or settlement cycle, I beg pardon, to T+1, meaning that the trade day and a day after, that’s the first step.”

The SEC DG further disclosed that the market also shifted the settlement deadline from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. following the extension of trading hours.

He said trading hours on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) had earlier been extended from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

“If you recall, we extended trading hours earlier this year from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the NGX, and then we thought, if market closes at 4:00 and we ask people to settle, that is, to provide cash and securities, at 8:00 a.m. the next day, that kind of close to being T+0 is almost as good as just telling me to pay.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu has emphasized the significance of greater collaboration between RMAFC and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), to promote transparency, accountability and improved revenue mobilisation and generation in Nigeria’s extractive industries.

Dr. Shehu stated this when the NEITI Executive Secretary Hon. Musa Sarki Adar  paid him a courtesy visit at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja  on Friday.

He reaffirmed RMAFC’s commitment to deepening its longstanding partnership with NEITI.

“RMAFC is delighted to receive the Executive Secretary and his delegation. Our relationship with NEITI is longstanding, strategic and mutually beneficial. We value NEITI’s work in promoting transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector, and we are committed to deepening this partnership,” Shehu said.

The Chairman commended NEITI for providing credible information on the operations and financial flows of the extractive industries, noting that its efforts had improved public understanding of the sector and strengthened accountability in the management of Nigeria’s natural resources.

“NEITI has earned a strong reputation through its consistent efforts to uncover facts, reconcile information and promote openness. That work is important to the country and deserves the support of all stakeholders,” he said.

The Chairman also acknowledged the support of NEITI’s international partners and expressed the hope that stakeholders would continue to strengthen the organisation’s capacity in information gathering, data verification, revenue transparency and accountability.

He assured NEITI of the Commission’s continued support and openness to collaboration in data sharing, research, revenue monitoring and policy engagement.

Shehu congratulated Hon. Musa Adar, on his appointment, described it as well deserved while expressing confidence in his ability to provide effective leadership.

“Your appointment is well deserved. You have demonstrated commitment, competence and diligence in your professional career. I am confident that you will bring these qualities to bear in your new role and lead NEITI to even greater achievements.” He said.

In his remarks, the NEITI Executive Secretary described the relationship between both institutions as a long-standing partnership built on a shared commitment to transparency, accountability and improved revenue mobilisation.

“The relationship between NEITI and RMAFC is not new. It is a partnership built over time, and we must now take it to a higher level,” Hon. Sarkin Adar said.

He highlighted RMAFC’s role in monitoring revenues accruing to the Federation Account and advising on measures to improve revenue collection and accountability, particularly in relation to Nigeria’s natural resources.

Sarkin Adar noted that reliable information on revenues generated from oil, gas and mining activities was essential for fiscal management, public accountability and informed decision-making.

He explained that NEITI’s independent reconciliation of financial and physical flows in the extractive industries provides useful data on revenues, payments, production, exports and company activities.

“NEITI’s reports can support RMAFC’s work in revenue monitoring, verification, policy analysis and the development of measures to improve revenue mobilisation,” he said.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s presence at the ongoing 2026 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) implementation under the 2023 EITI Standard, describing it as an opportunity to demonstrate measurable progress in strengthening governance across the extractive industries.

According to him, the standard’s emphasis on data reliability, systematic disclosure, transparency of revenue flows and institutional collaboration aligns closely with RMAFC’s mandate and creates opportunities for deeper cooperation.

Sarkin Adar invited RMAFC to participate in the Global EITI Conference scheduled for October 8–9, 2026, in Brussels, Belgium, where Nigeria is expected to showcase its progress in resource governance.

He called for stronger collaboration among NEITI, RMAFC and other relevant institutions in data sharing, revenue mobilisation, research, capacity building and policy dialogue.

“Our objective should be to build a more coordinated institutional framework for revenue assurance and resource governance. By working together, NEITI and RMAFC can strengthen oversight and support evidence-based policymaking,” he said.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the Commission, Comrade Tosin Adeyanju; some Directors and Special Advisers to the Chairman of the Commission.