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Buhari Rules out Amnesty for Boko Haram

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Major General Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, vowed yesterday to ensure that Boko Haram members face justice for their atrocities committed against Nigeria and its people, if he wins the March 28 presidential election.

Buhari said in London that rather than grant amnesty to the insurgents his administration would make those arrested answer for their crime by prosecuting them.

Speaking after delivering a paper titled: “Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition,” at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, popularly known as Chatham House, the former head of state said he would restore Nigeria’s lost glory if elected.

 “On amnesty for Boko Haram, I think I wouldn’t go to that office with such a promise. I mentioned in my address how thousands of Nigerians have been killed by Boko Haram, how millions of them have been displaced and are being camped in different places as internally displaced persons; schools are closed and there is so much disruptions to life. People are not able to farm, and where they farm, they couldn’t harvest.

So, for me, I think I will be unfair to the system if I say I am going to grant amnesty to Boko Haram. We want to secure Nigeria, so we must ensure through intelligence that those who are caught are given the chance to be properly prosecuted.” While debunking insinuations that he once referred to attack on Boko Haram as an attack on the North, he said those attributing such a statement to him were ill-informed.

He also dismissed claims that he is not fit to run Nigeria’s affairs on account of his age.

According to Buhari, at 72, he is as fit as a fiddle even after touring 35 out of 36 states for his campaign.

He stated further that his stance on graft has not changed, vowing not to engage any corrupt individual in his administration, if elected.

The one-hour interactive session, which was chaired by a former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Sir Richard Gozney, was also attended by prominent APC leaders, Senator Bola Tinubu, Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, and former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, among other supporters of the party and Nigerians residing abroad. Justifying his no-amnesty- for-Boko Haram stance, Buhari said it would be unfair to thousands of people killed and maimed by the terror group for the Federal Government to pardon them as it did with Niger Delta militants.

He added that it would be erroneous to believe that a region with more than 12,000 of the about 13,000 casualties suffered by the country would regard an attack on the insurgents as an assault on them.

“I think this is an uninformed opinion. Out of those 13,000 casualties, I believe more than 12,000 are Northerners. So how can Northerners feel that an attack on Boko Haram is an attack on them? The schools that were vandalised, the children killed, and particularly the Chibok girls, more than 200 of them, and most of them are Northerners.

So I think one has to examine reasons for believing or disbelieving allegations against any part of the country. It is just like saying that the stealing of about 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day is by the people of Sokoto or Maiduguri, where most of them have never even see a sea. But I assure you that people in their own way are already fighting insurgency by passing relevant information to security agencies and that is to tell you that they are the biggest casualties,” he stated.

On his health status, the APC candidate said: “I am very happy that I have been able to go to 35 states out of 36 and I haven’t broken down. Somebody announced me dead yesterday. I had a call from Maiduguri yesterday (Wednesday) that somebody rushed to a friend’s house that Buhari has died in a hospital in London.

So, the person called me and I laughed my head off. Certainly, I will be expecting too much if I don’t expect that people are wishing me dead. But I am fit. Doctors have declared me fit and I am going back with a renewed onslaught.”

Buhari also warned against postponing the general elections, saying that he will go to court to challenge any fresh vote delay. Asked what his disposition would be to the ‘fat salaries’ of legislators, Buhari said: “I really won’t like to touch their salaries now and I don’t know if I will be constrained to touch it when I become the president.”

On his stance on Sharia, Buhari said: “Sharia is limited by our constitution. So, anybody who wants to change the Sharia will have to change the constitution.” Buhari, in his lecture, described the present administration as a wasteful government.

According to him, the two major problems of the Peoples Democratic Party – led government are corruption and waste.

“Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently, that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa, and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service; we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunition to work with.

We will improve intelligence gathering to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels; we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas.

“We will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester, and I, General Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and return Nigeria to its leadership role in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.” On corruption, he said: “First and foremost, we will plug the holes in the budgetary process. Revenue producing entities such as Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Customs and Excise will have one set of books only. Their revenues will be publicly disclosed and regularly audited.

The institutions of state dedicated to fighting corruption will be given independence and prosecutorial authority without political interference. But I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-hunt.

I’m running for president to lead Nigeria to prosperity and not adversity.” Buhari also stated that he accepted responsibility for his actions as a military ruler, adding that dictatorship is sine qua non to military rule. He said: “I have heard and read references to me as a former dictator in many respected British newspapers including the well regarded The Economist. Let me say without sounding defensive that dictatorship goes with military rule, though some might be less dictatorial than others.

“I take responsibility for whatever happened under my watch. I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. So before you is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time.” The PDP, however, faulted Buhari’s lecture, saying his appearance at Chatham House will not stop his defeat on March 28. The party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation also queried Buhari’s decision to honour the Chatham House invitation while refusing to participate in presidential debate.


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Indigenous Firm Deploys 400,000 Smart Electricity Meters in 2025

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MOJEC International Limited has revealed that it deployed over 400,000 smart meters nationwide in 2025, representing a significant year-on-year growth for the indigenous smart meter manufacturer.

This performance reflected a 33.3 percent increase over the 300,000 meters deployed in 2024, highlighting the scale and acceleration of MOJEC’s metering operations.

Chantelle Abdul, group managing director, attributed the sustained impact to deliberate investments in infrastructure, people, and technology.

“MOJEC operates two state-of-the-art meter production facilities with a combined installed capacity of up to five million meters annually. This scale enables us not just to meet current demand, but to support Nigeria’s long-term metering and energy efficiency goals,” she said.

She further noted that MOJEC’s expansive installer ecosystem, comprising over 5,000 trained professionals nationwide, remains a critical enabler of its delivery advantage, ensuring speed, quality, and compliance across diverse terrains and markets.

The company stated that the deployment surge reflected growing confidence by Distribution Companies (DisCos) and sector stakeholders in MOJEC’s technical capacity, delivery speed, and end-to-end metering solutions.

According to Monday Ubogu, MOJEC’s head of installation, the scale and consistency of delivery set the company apart.

“Within the first three quarters of the year, MOJEC completed about 300,000 installations, accounting for roughly 40 percent of total installations nationwide during that period.

“The momentum continued into the final quarter with an additional 150,000 meters deployed, highlighting our operational depth and nationwide reach,” he said.

Ubogu added that MOJEC’s performance builds on decades of sector engagement, spanning key national metering initiatives including CAPMI, MAF, Vendor Financing, MAP Phases I & II, and NMMP 0, with the company having deployed nearly four million meters since the privatisation of NESI.

According to the company, a substantial portion of the deployment was driven by MOJEC Meter Asset Management Company (M3AC), the Group’s asset management subsidiary, which accounted for about 350,000 installations.

 


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Globacom Donates ₦1Bn to Lagos State Security Trust Fund

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In its bid to contribute its quota to the consolidation of security in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, telecommunications giant, Globacom, has thrown its weight behind the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) with a donation of ₦1 billion.

The generous donation was announced at a Private Sector Breakfast Meeting with CEOs, convened at the instance of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, January 30, 2026 and shows the company’s commitment to fostering public safety which would in turn, culminate in enhanced prosperity and social re-engineering in the state.

The donation, which is the biggest private-sector intervention from the telecommunications sector to the Fund in recent years, again shows that Globacom is a responsible, responsive and people-oriented corporate citizen.

Globacom disclosed that the intervention emphasized deeper collaboration between government and the state’s business community especially in relation to security, innovation and economic resilience—an agenda which the digital solutions company has unabashedly supported through sustained social investments.

The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Fund, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, in his display of appreciation described Globacom’s largesse as “a powerful demonstration of corporate citizenship and a strategic investment in the stability of Lagos State,” saying since LSSTF was established to bridge funding gaps in security infrastructure, it desired voluntary contributions from corporate bodies and well-meaning collaborators.

Dr. Ogunsan promised that the ₦1 billion donation will significantly enhance the Fund’s capacity to address critical priorities for 2026, including multipurpose security helicopters and drones, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), water cannons, digital communication equipment and Smart CCTV systems. These assets, he added, were germane to proactive policing, rapid response and intelligence-led operations across the state.

He therefore encouraged Lagosians to support businesses that invest in the safety and development of the state, saying, “When companies step forward to secure our environment, residents should reciprocate by patronizing them. Their support directly impacts the protection of lives, property and economic activity.”

A statement from Globacom explained that the donation was an expression of the company’s staunch belief in Nigeria’s future. “At Globacom, we see security not as a government burden alone, but as a shared responsibility. When people feel safe, enterprise grows, creativity flourishes and hope becomes practical. Our support for the LSSTF is about protecting the everyday dreams of millions of Lagosians,” he noted.

With this donation to the LSSTF, Globacom has furthered its tradition of investing directly in the conditions like safety, confidence and stability which help commerce to thrive. Consequent on the support, LSSTF is gingered to raise the bar of security thereby concretizing Lagos State’s position as Nigeria’s safest and most vibrant commercial hub.

This recent financial intervention from Globacom is in tandem with its avowed commitment to social responsibility that is practical, timely, scalable and aligned with national priorities.

The company’s interventions in the past decades have spanned relief efforts for flood-affected communities, support for displaced persons, advanced youth skills through structured training programmes, and investments in education, culture and digital inclusion.


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WIEG to host Nigeria’s first International Investment Summit in Lagos

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World International Economic Group (WIEG) Nigeria has announced plans to host its inaugural International Investment Summit on Feb. 25 and 26 at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

WIEG to host Nigeria’s first International Investment Summit in Lagos

WIEG

The summit, themed “Nigeria’s Next Frontier: Unlocking Sustainable Investments for Economic Transformation,” is aimed at connecting investment-ready Nigerian enterprises with global capital while addressing long-standing challenges facing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives and women-led businesses.

Speaking at a pre-summit press conference on Friday at Compact Communications Ltd., GRA Ikeja, Lagos,  Mr. Bassey Essien, WIEG’s Project & Event Consultant  said the summit would serve as a structured platform linking policy, finance and enterprise growth.

Essien identified limited access to structured funding, poor investment readiness and weak documentation as major barriers confronting Nigerian businesses, despite the availability of domestic and international capital.

“Enterprises that succeed understand the importance of preparation. Some invest as much as N200 million in professional feasibility studies to meet the standards of banks and institutions such as the African Development Bank. That level of preparation enables access to collateral-free funding,” he said.

According to him, weak policy continuity, inadequate post-intervention monitoring and fragmented regulatory frameworks have continued to undermine business growth in the country.

“Policies often change with governments, and there is little tracking after interventions. More importantly, many businesses are not prepared in ways financiers require,” Essien noted.

He explained that the summit would convene policymakers, investors, development finance institutions and pre-screened MSMEs and SMEs operating in priority sectors, including the creative industry, agriculture, energy transition, finance and aviation.

Essien described the creative sector as a major contributor to Nigeria’s economy, accounting for about 2.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, but said weak financing structures, piracy and poor intellectual property (IP) protection had limited its growth.

Highlighting the summit programme, he said Day One would feature conferences on macroeconomic issues, policy reforms and enterprise growth, while Day Two would focus on sector-specific deal-making roundtables.

“These deal rooms will be organised by sector — from aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) to renewable energy — with lawyers, financiers and policymakers present to fast-track transactions,” he said.

Essien added that the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) would be present to ensure post-event monitoring and tracking of investment deals concluded during the summit.

He disclosed that the creative economy segment would be supported through partnerships with the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria (AMP) and financial institutions to fund viable projects in Nollywood, music and fashion.

“Intellectual property regularisation is critical. Once ideas are properly documented and protected, investors gain confidence,” he said.

On energy and aviation, Essien said the summit would spotlight renewable energy solutions to reduce dependence on generators and promote the establishment of commercial MRO facilities to curb the high cost of aircraft maintenance abroad.

He also announced the participation of B Lab Africa, a U.S.-certified organisation focused on environmental, social and governance (ESG), diversity, equity and inclusivity standards, noting that the initiative would help small businesses improve governance and access global funding.

Essien revealed that investment commitments estimated at about 500 million dollars were expected to emerge from the summit.

“This is a private-sector-led, non-partisan initiative that places no financial burden on government. It is focused on job creation, empowering women-owned enterprises and improving investor confidence through transparent and secure processes,” he said.

He urged Nigerian entrepreneurs and SMEs to prioritise proper documentation, professional advisory services and IP protection to position themselves for sustainable growth.

“We are creating a structured pathway from policy to capital to enterprise growth,” Essien added.


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