Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sworn in Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa as the substantive Chairman of Agege Local Government, marking a new phase in the council’s leadership.

The inauguration took place on Monday at Lagos House, Ikeja, where the governor also swore in Toyin Adejimiwa as a Permanent Secretary. The event drew senior government officials, party leaders and retired top civil servants.

During the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu charged the new council chairman to lead with fairness and restraint. He warned against actions that could divide residents, stressing that local government leadership must unite people at the grassroots.

The governor described local councils as the closest level of government to the people. He said chairmen must remain accessible, compassionate and responsive to community needs. According to him, development at that level should be people-focused and measurable.

Sanwo-Olu urged Obasa to avoid policies that could create tension in Agege. He advised him to focus on inclusive governance, teamwork and service delivery that directly improves the lives of residents.

The governor also reminded public office holders that discipline and performance remain key factors for growth within the Lagos State public service. He noted that leadership is judged by results, not position or background.

Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa is the son of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa. Before his formal inauguration, he had been serving as acting chairman of the council.

Sanwo-Olu also recognised retired permanent secretaries present at the event. He described them as dedicated public servants whose records of service continue to shape and inspire the state’s civil service.

Obasa’s emergence as chairman follows the resignation of former council boss, Hon. Tunde Azeez, who stepped down after taking medical leave shortly after assuming office. His exit paved the way for Obasa, then vice chairman, to fully assume leadership.

Explaining the decision at the time, the media aide to the former chairman said, “Tunde Azeez has been long sick and his decision to resign and devote his attention to his health rather than being weighed down by the responsibility of that office is the wise decision any sane person should take.”

He added, “The beneficiary of that excellent decision, Abdulganiyu Vinod Obasa is a visionary young man who in the last few months of Azeez’s absence has demonstrated uncommon capacity. I think Agege is lucky to have both guys.”

Despite these explanations, the transition has continued to attract criticism. Opposition parties have described the development as a “carefully scripted succession,” raising concerns over internal party processes.

They argue that resistance from some stakeholders during the local government election period suggested deep divisions within the ruling party at the council level.

Supporters of the new chairman, however, insist the process was lawful and driven purely by health considerations. They maintain that leadership passed from “a sick man who chose recovery over politics” to “a young leader prepared to serve.”

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Human and vehicular traffic was brought to a standstill for several hours on Monday as residents of Idokpa Community in Aduduwawa blocked a major highway into and out of Benin, the Edo State capital.

The protesters, demonstrating against several weeks of power outages in the area, barricaded the bypass, causing severe gridlock.

Travellers heading to northern Nigeria were stranded, with residents insisting the road would remain closed until government officials and media representatives came to address their grievances.

A resident said that the outage had disrupted local businesses and that the protest was meant to draw attention to their plight.

“What is most painful is that the neighbouring community has a steady power supply while we remain in darkness,” she said.

She accused the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) of diverting electricity meant for their area.

“We are protesting because the power outage has crippled our businesses. We are sure blocking the road will make the authorities pay attention.

“We call on BEDC to restore our electricity,” Doris added.

Another resident, Gideon, said the road would remain blocked until senior government officials responded and the media reported on their complaints.

“We cannot continue to live in darkness while others enjoy electricity,” he said.

Some travellers, including Hassan, who was en route to Kaduna, criticised the timing of the protest, saying it caused unnecessary delays for long-distance commuters.

A BEDC official, denied that the outage was deliberate, explaining that a shortage of gas used to generate electricity had caused the disruption.

“The power outage being experienced in some parts of Edo is not deliberate; it is due to a shortage of gas used to generate power,” the official said.

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The Nigerian All-Share Index rose by 401.7 points on Monday, 22 December 2025, to close at 152,459.1, holding firmly above the 152,000-mark.

This represents a 0.26% gain from Friday’s close of 152,045.9, achieved despite weaker market activity.

Trading volume declined to 451.5 million shares, down from 839 million shares recorded in the previous week.

Winners, losers, and market activity 

Total equity capitalization rose to N97.1 trillion across 33,327 deals, up from N95.8 trillion in the previous session.

On the gainers’ chart, ALEX (Aluminum Extrusion Industries) and INTENEGINS led with gains of 9.72% and 9.69%, respectively.

On the flip side, CUSTODIAN and ABCTRANS each shed 10%.

In terms of trading activity, TANTALIZER and FIRSTHOLDCO topped the volume chart for the day.

Market summary  

• Current ASI: 152,459.07
• Previous ASI: 152,045.9
• Day Change: +0.26%
• Year-to-Date Performance: +48.12%
• Volume Traded: 451.5 million shares
• Market Cap: N97.1 trillion.

Top 5 gainers   

• ALEX: Up 9.72% to N13.55
• INTENEGINS: Up 9.69% to N2.49
• MECURE: Up 9.64% to N60.30
• ROYALEX: Up 9.60% to N1.94
• AUSTINLAZ: Up 9.50% to N2.65

Top 5 losers  

• CUSTODIAN: Down 10.00% to N35.10
• ABCTRANS: Down 10.00% to N3.15
• PRESTIGE: Down 7.41% to N1.50
• GUINEAINS: Down 7.38% to N1.13
• ELLAHLAKES: Down 6.45% to N13.05

Trading volume 

TANTALIZER led the activity chart with 50.1 million shares, setting the pace for the session.

FIRSTHOLDCO followed with 32.6 million shares, while ACCESSCORP ranked third at 27.3 million shares.

CUSTODIAN and CHAMS rounded out the top five, trading 22.0 million and 21.3 million shares, respectively.

Trading value 

By transaction value, ARADEL dominated the session with trades worth N1.5 billion.

FIRSTHOLDCO followed closely at N1.4 billion, while ZENITHBANK recorded N1.14 billion.

CUSTODIAN posted trades worth N857.8 million, and WAPCO completed the top five at N782.1 million.

SWOOTs and FUGAZ 

Stocks worth over one trillion naira (SWOOTs) reflected a bullish tone during the session.

• INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES gained 4.17%, while BUACEMENT advanced by 2.35%.

Among the FUGAZ names, FIRSTHOLDCO rose 2.35%, while UBA declined 2.5% and ZENITHBANK slipped 0.47%.

Market outlook 

The All-Share Index has firmed above the 152,000-mark as bullish momentum returns to large-cap stocks.

If sustained buying interest spreads across more mid- and large-cap counters, the market could push higher, with eyes set on levels above 155,000 points.

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U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills has clarified that the recently announced U.S. visa restrictions are intended to enhance security vetting procedures and are not directed at Nigerians as a group.

The ambassador provided this explanation on Sunday in Abuja during a press briefing held as part of a visit by a U.S. Congressional Delegation (CODEL).

According to Ambassador Mills, the presidential proclamation, which takes effect on January 1, 2026, applies to specific visa categories as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen U.S. border security and safeguard American communities.

“The focus of the visa review is on ensuring proper vetting and credible information in the visa process, not on penalising Nigerians,” Mills said.

He emphasized that the proclamation clearly identifies the affected visa categories and includes specific exemptions.

Among those exempt are holders of official and diplomatic passports, as well as individuals traveling for religious purposes.

Ambassador Mills encouraged visa applicants and the public to consult the U.S. Embassy’s official website for complete details on the proclamation, the impacted visa categories, and the applicable exemptions.

He also advised anyone with specific questions to contact the embassy through its designated communication channels.

Rep. Bill Huizenga, who led the Congressional Delegation, described visa reviews and restrictions as standard, routine measures designed to promote compliance and cooperation rather than to punish individuals.

Huizenga noted that these measures primarily target government systems and processes, not the Nigerian people, and that similar reviews are regularly conducted in other countries around the world.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that, while announcing these visa measures, the U.S. government reaffirmed its strong commitment to maintaining robust people-to-people ties with Nigeria.

The measures were presented as part of broader efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation and address mutual security challenges.

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The Federal Government has officially classified kidnappers and violent armed groups operating across the country as terrorists.

The development signaled a major escalation in Nigeria’s response to abductions, attacks on farmers and persistent community violence.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the development during the Federal Government’s end-of-year press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

Idris said the new designation marks a clear departure from treating mass kidnappings and rural attacks as conventional criminal acts, noting that such groups will now be confronted using full counterterrorism measures.

“Henceforth, any armed group or individual that kidnaps our children, attacks our farmers, and terrorises our communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist,” the minister said.

According to him, the policy ends years of what he described as unclear labels for violent groups terrorising communities across the country.

“Now, the era of ambiguous nomenclature is over. If you terrorise our people, whether you are a group or you are an individual, you are a terrorist and will be classified as such. There is no name hiding under this again,” Idris added.

He explained that the new approach would enhance intelligence sharing and improve operational coordination among security agencies, enabling quicker and more decisive action against perpetrators of violence.

The minister also spoke on Nigeria’s recent diplomatic tensions with the United States following comments by US President Donald Trump, who had threatened military intervention over allegations of killings of Christians in Nigeria.

Idris said the disagreement had been largely resolved through diplomatic engagement.

“The recent diplomatic spat with the United States has been largely resolved through a firm, respectful engagement culminating in a strengthened partnership between America and Nigeria,” he said.

Trump had, in October and November, claimed that Nigerian Christians faced an “existential threat” and described the situation as “genocide” amid the country’s multiple security crises.

While the remarks drew mixed reactions, with some welcoming international attention and others warning against inflaming religious tensions, Nigeria remains on Washington’s list of countries of “particular concern” over alleged religious freedom violations.

Last week, Nigeria was also among several countries affected by new visa and immigration restrictions announced by the Trump administration.

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The Presidency has clarified reports of discrepancies in the new tax reform laws scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, insisting that claims circulating in the media were based on misinformation.

This followed growing criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, lawmakers, and several civil society groups, who called for a suspension of the implementation of the laws.

The controversy was triggered by claims from Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives, who alleged that the versions of the tax laws gazetted by the government differed from those debated and approved by the National Assembly. Dasuki argued that such discrepancies amounted to a breach of lawmakers’ legislative rights.

However, speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast show, ‘The Morning Brief’ on Monday, the chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, said the allegations were unfounded.

“Before you can say there is a difference between what was gazetted and what was passed, we have what has not been gazetted. We don’t have what was passed,” Oyedele explained.

“The official harmonised bills certified by the clerk, which the National Assembly sent to the President, we don’t have a copy to compare. Only the lawmakers can say authoritatively what we sent.”

He added that even his committee did not possess the certified version of the harmonised bills, noting that only the National Assembly can clarify the final contents.

Oyedele further revealed that he had contacted the House Committee on Finance concerning a contentious provision under Section 41(8), which reportedly requires taxpayers to make a 20 per cent deposit before pursuing certain appeals.

“I know that particular provision is not in the final gazette, but it was in the draft gazette. Some people decided to write the report of the committee before the committee had met, and it circulated everywhere,” he said.

“What is out there in the media did not come from the committee set up by the House of Representatives. I think we should allow them to do the investigation.”

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had recently signed four major tax reform bills into law — the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act which will operate under a unified body known as the Nigeria Revenue Service.

According to the Federal Government, the reforms represent the most significant overhaul of the country’s tax system in decades and are designed to simplify compliance, expand the tax base, eliminate overlapping taxes, and modernise revenue collection at all tiers of government.

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No fewer than 45 illegal immigrants from Benin Republic, Chad, Sudan and other African countries have been arrested by the police to curb social vices in Ogun Community.

Secretary of the Conflict Resolution Committee and Other Related Matters, Hadi Sani, who disclosed this in an exclusive interview on Monday in Abeokuta, said the committee facilitated the arrest in Sabo Community to curb anti-social behaviour in the area.

He said that the 45 illegal immigrants were nabbed in Sabo Community following the alarm raised by Hausa residents over strange faces and behaviours of the immigrants, which were alien to the people of the community.

Sani, who doubles as Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on Inter-Ethnic Affairs, said that, upon receiving the information, the committee contacted the police; the immigrants were arrested and handed over to the state immigration office for further investigation.

Sani said, “Of recent, we made some arrests of some foreign nationals from Chad, Cameroon, and Sudan because some of these countries, like Sudan, are in war. We have arrested over 45 illegal immigrants who reside in Sabo area.”

“We can do that because the people of the area raised the alarm because when they saw strange people, they handed them to security officers who handed them to the immigration. Some are illegal immigrants, some are legal, some are war challenge displaced fellows. You cannot vouch for anyone,” he added.

He also dismissed the notion that the Dapo Abiodun-led administration set up the committee to address only farmers-herders clashes, insisting that the committee’s other objectives are to combat social vices in communities across the state.

Sani noted that the committee, since its establishment, had been able to resolve farmers-herders clashes and prevent them from escalating through the effective support and cooperation from its stakeholders, including the Head of Villages and Fulani leaders in the state.

He opined that improved dialogue and peaceful communication were needed to mitigate the effects of the farmer-herder conflict, while calling for a cordial relationship between the two groups, given their contributions to agriculture and livestock production, to boost food security in the state.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on Friday approved the appointment of Mrs. Omolara Adebukola Adebayo as the new Statistician-General of the state.

This was a move aimed at further strengthening the operations of the Ogun State Bureau of Statistics and enhancing the quality of the Civil/Public Service.

The appointment was contained in a statement issued by the State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, who said the decision was in line with the provisions of Section 12 (1) of the Ogun State Statistical Law, 2012.
According to the statement, Mrs. Adebayo was selected from the pool of successful Directors under the Ogun State Pipeline Leadership Development Programme, a scheme designed to groom and supply competent officers for top-level appointments in the Civil/Public Service.

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As a business owner, prioritising your customer experience should be one of the topics that dominate your desire to grow. Your customers cannot think about your business as you would. It is the entrepreneur’s duty to always think about them. That is why you need to engage with them. It is more like a reminder and solidifying your relationship with them.

Below are ways to improve customer engagement:

1. Always keep in touch

You should always stay in touch with your customers so they can keep patronising you. You’re simply telling them you’re the best, you offer the best services or product. This is how customers begin wanting to know more about what you do.

2. Work on negative feedback

One of the hallmarks of good entrepreneurs is how they handle negative feedback. Don’t be pissed off. 

When you listen to complaints and you work on them, your customers will keep loving your work because you have demonstrated that they really matter; you do not take them for granted. 

Note: even if the negative feedback you get is few, don’t ignore them, every customer counts.

3. Give back

Another way to improve customer engagement is to get involved in community development.

When people see that you’re not all about making money but also interested in giving back to society, your customers will become more loyal because of the love you’ve shown to their community. They would always prioritise you.

4. Speak more of them

You can enhance your customer engagement by speaking highly of them in every business function you do. Emphasise their importance and how their loyalty has continued to help your business. Reiterate your commitment to ensuring they always get the best. 

When you’re in the midst of a targeted audience, it is an opportunity to talk about your company, your objectives, and convince them of why they should buy from you.

5. Understand their language 

There are now digital tools that can help you monitor your target market, where your customers are from, and so on. It will give you an insight into who they are and what they would surely like. Send messages to them in their local language whilst also solving their problems.



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The World Bank has commended the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) Environmental Node for commencing professional certification examinations, describing the move as a significant step in strengthening standards-based practice in Nigeria.

The Bank said the development represents a critical milestone, marking the transition of the SPESSE Project from largely theoretical capacity building to the practical implementation of professional certification anchored on recognised standards.

According to the World Bank, the certification exercise was a key outcome of the recently concluded Implementation Support Mission on the SPESSE Project, which took place between November and December 2025.

As part of the mission, the World Bank delegation undertook a focused visit to the SPESSE Environmental Node, hosted by the Environmental Assessment Department of the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Receiving the Task Team on behalf of the Environmental Node, the Director of the Environmental Assessment Department, Mrs Rofikat Odetoro, reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to developing certification systems under SPESSE that were credible, transparent and institutionally sustainable.

Speaking during the visit, the World Bank Task Team Leader, Mr Ishtiak Siddiqe, praised the Environmental Node for initiating certification activities but cautioned that success should not be judged solely by the number of certificates issued.

He noted that the long-term value of the programme would rest on the credibility, governance and verifiability of the systems supporting the certification process, particularly the National Environmental Standards Certification Programme (NESCP).

According to him, verification was not a routine administrative requirement but the foundation for building confidence in SPESSE certifications among development partners, government institutions and the professional community.

He said: “For the Environmental Node, this reinforces the need to align operational practices with the verification standards that underpin the credibility of the certification system.”

The engagement, the Bank noted, went beyond a routine progress review, reflecting a deliberate focus on strengthening institutional systems capable of sustaining SPESSE outcomes beyond the life of the project, rather than concentrating only on completed activities.

A major focus of the discussions was the independent verification framework embedded in SPESSE’s results-based financing structure. The World Bank Task Team outlined the expectations, indicators and assessment approaches that will guide future verification exercises.

In response, the SPESSE Environmental Node Project Coordinator, Mr Hussain Shittu, explained that operational practices are being aligned with these requirements, with systems established to ensure comprehensive digital records, clear audit trails and accessible participant data through the certification portal.

He added that the entire certification process from application and screening to examinations and issuance was managed on a digital platform designed to promote consistency, transparency and traceability.

Governance arrangements also featured prominently during the engagement, as the Task Team underscored the importance of formal certification approval structures, including certification boards and secretariats, to ensure institutional legitimacy.

The team acknowledged this requirement, noting that steps are being taken to align the Environmental Node’s certification governance framework with established practices across other SPESSE Nodes and relevant national institutions, in order to strengthen institutional ownership and public confidence.

Beyond certification processes, discussions also linked SPESSE outcomes to broader development impact. On additional financing, the World Bank highlighted a strategic focus on Ministries, Departments and Agencies with a high concentration of World Bank-funded projects.

This approach, the Bank said, was intended to ensure that SPESSE-certified professionals are deployed where development investments are most active, thereby improving project delivery, safeguarding compliance and overall institutional performance.

As SPESSE approaches project closure and potential additional financing, the experience of the Environmental Node underscores a key lesson: effective standards systems depend not only on training, but equally on strong governance, rigorous verification and institutional discipline.

The World Bank’s engagement, it said, reaffirmed SPESSE’s core objective — not just to build individual capacity, but to establish durable systems that uphold environmental and social standards long after the project concludes.

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The Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Engineer Olalekan Badmus, popularly called Omo Oloore, has underscored the importance of grassroots sports development as a vital tool for youth empowerment, unity and talent discovery.

Badmus made this known on Monday at the annual Olayinwola Football Competition, held at Ile-Ishana, Baruwa, Ogo Oluwa area, Osogbo, Osun State, where he praised the organisers for using sports to foster peaceful coexistence among people of diverse backgrounds and political affiliations.

According to him, football remains a powerful platform that promotes endurance, discipline and togetherness within communities.

“We should always encourage sports in all ways possible. This competition has brought together people from different categories, irrespective of political parties. Beyond unity, we have also seen endurance and commitment among the players,” Badmus said.

Congratulating the SRJ Football Club for emerging champions of the tournament, the NPA Executive Director described the competition as one that should be sustained and replicated across local communities.

He also applauded Gangaria FC and Olayiwola FC for clinching second and third positions, respectively, noting that their performances reflected the growing football potential among youths in the area.

Badmus revealed that the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, was represented at the event and donated generously in support of the tournament, a gesture he said demonstrated commitment to grassroots sports development.

He further expressed optimism about the future of sports in Osun, stating that if Oyebamiji emerges victorious in the upcoming August 8, 2026, Gubernatorial election, efforts would be made to “bring the lost glory of sports back to life in Osun State”.

Reaffirming his personal support for youth-focused sporting initiatives, Badmus disclosed that he had attended and supported other football competitions prior to the Ile-Isana event.

“The best way to harness the talents of our youth is to encourage them. I congratulate all the teams and urge them to continue to excel in their chosen paths,” he added.

At the end of the competition, SRJ FC emerged winners, Gangaria FC took second, while Olayiwola FC claimed the third position.

An Osun-based media practitioner, Adeniyi Ademola, emerged as the new chairman of Olayiwola Football Club with a promise to discharge his duties tremendously wel,l just as he vowed to take the football club to greater heights.

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