General News
GE Commits to Investing $1Bn in Nigeria
General Electric Company, a global technology leader in energy, health and rail transportation once again reiterated its commitment to fulfilling its pledge to invest $1billion in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The company restated this commitment though Jay Ireland, its president and CEO, when it hosted potential suppliers of services under the aegis of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), to an engineering conference at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, in recently.
The event is the second of such meant to kick-start preparations towards actualizing GE’s investment, whose first edition took place in Lagos.
According to him, General Electric also remains committed to meeting the requirements of Nigeria’s local content policy with a significant increase in the employment of more Nigerians in the global company, and plans to set up a training programme for the recruited staff in order to build capacity and capability.
“GE is making these investments using its own capital; we are not financing this through a venture capital company, and this shows how much we believe in the potential here in Nigeria,” Ireland said.
He said the Engineering Fair was aimed at bringing together companies with the potential to offer the technology services required to kick start the $1 Billion investment commitment made by GE to the Federal Government.
His words: “GE is working towards unleashing the full compliments of its capabilities in Nigeria in order to see the country become a base to serve the technological service needs of West Africa when it comes to manufacturing and servicing of parts.”
Mr. Emeka Ene, Ppresident of PETAN, who was represented by Mr. Pedro Egbe, managing director of WELTEK noted that developing local content capabilities in technology and manufacturing rests on building sustainable partnerships with organizations like GE.
“This partnership between GE and PETAN is a strategic supply chain agreement for the growth of local content, products and services in the oil and gas industry. GE is coming with a new perspective of building a truly Nigerian operation and we at PETAN believe that this relationship will help provide the needed avenue to actualize development in the industry,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, Engineer Ernest Nwapa, executive secretary/chief executive officer, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, described the partnership between GE and PETAN as a welcome development.
“The people of Nigeria need the impact of multinationals like GE to achieve development in the industry; the government cannot do it alone,” he argued, noting that GE is making significant efforts towards meeting up with the requirements of local content.
He however stressed that more needed to be done in that area and advised GE to take into consideration the peculiarities of the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry in dealing with its potential suppliers and in drafting the framework that will form the basis of the working relationship with the indigenous companies.
GE has shown considerable interest in sub-Saharan Africa in the last two years and has reached out to a number of countries in West Africa as part of efforts aimed at achieving its goal of providing 1.5 Giga Watts of electricity across the region with a recent visit by the GE Africa President and CEO to Ivory Coast and Ghana. GE has also increased investments in Angola and Kenya.
Global Supply Chain Leader- GE Africa, Mr Phil Griffith said: “We at GE are excited and look forward to working in Nigeria and fulfilling the commitments that have been made. Through this partnership with PETAN we hope that we can find indigenous companies that we can work with in the immediate future ahead of the full commencement of the project.”
Police in Abuja have uncovered a criminal group making fake diplomatic and government number plates.
Ahmed Sanusi, commissioner of Police FCT, stated this during a press briefing on Friday.
He explained that criminals use these fake plates to dodge security checks and enter restricted areas.
The investigation started soon after Sanusi took office.
He noticed too many unauthorized cars driving around with official government and diplomatic tags.
“I immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into this disturbing trend,” Sanusi said. He noted that these individuals use the plates as a cover to commit crimes and avoid arrest.
The police have already arrested several people caught using the fake plates.
They have also figured out who is making them.
The manufacturers operate outside Abuja, and police are actively hunting them down.
Sanusi kept their names secret so they would not flee.
He stressed that this is a highly profitable illegal business.
Buyers pay between N500,000 and N1.7 million for a single fake plate.
“This will tell you that they are making such huge expenditure because they have an agenda,” Sanusi explained.
“Now they will face punishment that is bigger than both the cost they incur and the agenda they are planning.”
The commissioner urged residents to report any cars with suspicious diplomatic plates.
He reminded the public that real diplomatic tags follow a very specific format.
A diplomatic number plate in Nigeria is a special vehicle identification tag issued to foreign embassies, high commissions, and accredited international diplomats.
Gavi has approved $500 million to strengthen Nigeria’s immunisation programme, primary healthcare services and long-term vaccine financing.
The move followed high-level discussions between Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, ]and Dr. Sania Nishtar, chief executive officer, Gavi in Abuja.
The funding, approved under the Gavi 6.0 programme, will support Nigeria’s efforts to accelerate routine immunisation, sustain polio eradication, expand HPV vaccination, strengthen primary healthcare services, and improve long-term vaccine financing.
Speaking during the meeting, Pate said Nigeria was strengthening its partnership with Gavi to accelerate immunisation, expand primary healthcare services, and ensure sustainable financing for vaccines.
He welcomed Gavi’s country-focused reforms, including the introduction of a predictable five-year funding envelope.
Pate said the US$500 million allocation will enable Nigeria to plan more effectively and deliver life-saving vaccines to more children and vulnerable populations.
The minister also revealed that quarterly visits to primary healthcare centreshad increased from about 10 million in 2023 to more than 45 million, reflecting significant progress in revitalising the country’s primary healthcare system.
Pate welcomed the announcement of a US$600 million pledge by the United States government to Gavi, describing it as a strong endorsement of the alliance’s leadership and the global value of vaccines.
He also commended Nishtar for prioritising Nigeria and praised the closer coordination among Gavi, World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, World Bank, Gates Foundation, and other development partners, describing it as a model that has improved efficiency and aligned support with Nigeria’s health sector reforms.
The minister expressed appreciation to Gavi and its partners for their continued technical and financial support, while calling on state governments to invest more in healthcare and immunisation to complement federal efforts.
For many women, financial independence means the freedom to provide for their families and build a better future. Yet, this remains out of reach due to limited access to opportunities, business support, and secure payment solutions.
Like millions of women in Nigeria determined to be financially independent, Pricillia started with a single PalmPay POS terminal, and as an agent, every successful transaction provided a commission which brought her one step closer to achieving her dream.
Through consistency, discipline, and support from the payment platform, she reinvested her earnings and eventually opened her own provision store.
“I started as just a PalmPay agent with one POS. The consistency of the platform gave me the confidence to expand. With the income I earned, I was able to open my own provision shop.” Priscilla said.
For Priscilla, PalmPay was more than a payment platform. Its secure payment infrastructure gave her the confidence to serve her customers, build trust, and grow her income.
Today, Pricillia has joined the statistics of SMEs powering Nigeria’s economy and PalmPay continues to support her daily operations, helping her receive payments, as she works towards her next business milestone. Her journey is a reminder that when women have access to secure financial tools and opportunities, they can build lasting economic independence.
Speaking on Pricillia’s journey, Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing, PalmPay said: “Providing a secure platform that users can trust, whether for everyday payments or high-value transactions, is central to our vision of advancing financial inclusion. Priscilla’s story reflects our commitment to supporting the ambitions of Nigerians by providing a platform they can rely on to grow their finances. After all, seamless banking begins with security, and every successful transaction reinforces the trust our users place in us.”
Priscilla stands among thousands of PalmPay agents nationwide who are helping to expand financial access across Nigeria while earning commissions to create sustainable sources of income for themselves.
Every payment tells a story. It begins with trust, the confidence that your money is secure and that financial services are accessible. And when that opportunity reaches women, it creates ripple effects that transform families, strengthen communities, and drive economic growth.
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