News
Buhari Rules Out Second Term for Lamorde, EFCC Boss
President Muhammadu Buhari may have ruled out a second term for Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), according to a report by the Punch.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan had on November 23, 2011 named Lamorde the commission’s acting chairman, after sacking Mrs. Farida Waziri as the chairman.
His appointment was later confirmed by the Senate on February 15, 2012.
According to the Punch, the EFCC boss will complete his four-year term next month.
A top Presidency source told our correspondent on Thursday that it was almost concluded that Buhari would not renew Lamorde’s tenure.
The source said the decision to name another chairman for the commission at the expiration of Lamorde’s tenure was taken because of the lull in the EFCC’s activities over the years.
“The impression is that the commission under Lamorde has been sleeping since. Their recent publicised activities are seen as just ways of impressing the President and the man (Buhari) cannot be fooled,” the official said.
The source however said it was not clear yet who the President is considering to take over from Lamorde.
Ahead of the expiration of his tenure, media reports had it that Lamorde is currently being investigated over allegations of diversion of over N1tn from the sale of confiscated properties belonging to convicted public officials, including a former governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyesiegha and a former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, among many others.
The decision to probe him was said to have been taken after one George Uboh appeared before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on August 23, where he alleged that Lamorde dipped his hands into the said funds.
But the government official told our correspondent that Buhari did not necessarily have to order for his probe when the Senate was already investigating the same matter.
He attributed the reports of alleged probe to what he called “the politics of succession” in the commission.
“The President does not need to order a probe of what is already a subject of the Senate’s investigation.
“Since the man is leaving office next month, it is natural that politics of succession would have started and that may be responsible for the reports.
“Those who think the President may be considering a renewal of tenure for him will naturally come up with such reports,” he added.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said he had no information on the matter when approached on Thursday.
When the EFCC was created in 2003, Lamorde was made Director of Operations under the pioneer chairman, Nuhu Ribadu.
In December 2007 when Ribadu was removed by President Umaru Yar’Adua, Lamorde took over as Acting Chairman in January 2008, holding this position until Waziri was appointed Chairperson in May 2008.
He was then posted to Ningi in Bauchi State.
In December 2010, Lamorde returned to the EFCC, again as the Director of Operations. He replaced Stephen Otitoju, the acting Director of Operations.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) have enjoined banks to further deepen and prioritize financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and sustained growth through strategic mandates and frameworks, aimed at closing the financial gap and empowering more small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
Both organisations made this call during a courtesy visit to the newly invested 24th President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Dele Alabi, Ph.D, FCIB, as part of plans to congratulate him on his investiture as well as seek a stronger alliance between both bodies.
The visit followed Alabi’s investiture where he unveiled his “IMPACT” Vision, themed “Consolidating Our Local Impact, Enhancing Our Global Relevance.”
The vision rests on six pillars: Inclusion across geographic, gender, and generational lines; Membership growth and quality; Professionalism and ethics; Accountability; Competencies and skills development; Technology, automation, and innovation. Other areas of shared interest, include women empowerment, financial inclusion and literacy, as well as MSME clinics, all of which are top on his agenda.
Alabi explained that under him, the institute will be prioritising financial inclusion and women empowerment, because of its realisation that women are often the primary financial managers and caregivers in families. Access to savings, micro-credit, and insurance acts as a safety net during crisis and allows them to significantly improve living conditions.
He added that CIBN would be happy to drive joint knowledge sharing and exchange sessions with CBN and ACAMB across various platforms. “Educating the public through public awareness programmes, with ACAMB as the rallying point, is central to what we do,” he noted.
ACAMB President, Jide Sipe, who led the delegation, spoke in unison with the CIBN president, as he noted that, closing the inbalances in financial access help economies grow faster, reduces inequality, and encourages greater civic participation by all.
Lagos State has become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Registry, a move aimed at strengthening climate governance, improving emissions accountability and accelerating the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Lagos State Greenhouse Gas Registry (LGHGR) was unveiled at the Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, at a ceremony attended by Prof. Akin Abayomi, commissioner for Health, members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, TPHG Technologies, the diplomatic and business communities, academics, civil society organisations and the media.
Describing the initiative as a landmark achievement in the state’s environmental sustainability drive, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, general manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said the Registry marks a defining moment in Lagos’ climate action journey and reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to building a resilient, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable economy.
According to Ajayi, the digital platform will enable the state to accurately measure, monitor, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors, providing credible data to guide environmental policies and climate interventions.
He said the Registry would strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve transparency and accountability, support national and international climate reporting obligations, unlock carbon market opportunities and boost investor confidence in Lagos’ environmental initiatives.
Ajayi also commended TPHG Technologies for providing the technical expertise that made the pioneering project possible.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Abayomi described the Registry as a major milestone that positions Lagos at the forefront of climate governance and emissions accountability in both Nigeria and Africa.
He noted that climate change has evolved into a significant public health and governance challenge, stressing that access to reliable emissions data would enable the state to formulate evidence-based policies, attract climate financing, strengthen resilience and accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Providing insights into the technical framework of the project, Dr. Mofoluso Fagbeja, lead consultant and chief executive officer, TPHG Technologies, explained that the Registry was developed from the greenhouse gas inventory jointly undertaken by LASEPA and TPHG Technologies in 2022, using 2019 as the baseline year for emissions assessment.
He said the platform is designed to close critical emissions data gaps, particularly within the industrial sector, while supporting effective climate policy implementation, emissions management and sustainable development.
Fagbeja also disclosed that the greenhouse gas inventory estimated that poor air quality contributes to about 35,000 premature deaths annually in Lagos, underscoring the urgent need for stronger emissions control measures and cleaner environmental practices.
In a goodwill message, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, minister of Environment, represented by Mrs. Adenaike Olunimpe Oludunni, federal controller of Environment in Lagos, commended Lagos State for pioneering the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s climate commitments.
He said the Registry aligns with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and supports the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to deeper collaboration with Lagos State on climate governance and environmental sustainability.
A recently released Henley Passport Index 2026, showed that Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.
This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond with greater ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to countries outside Africa which Nigerian passport holders can visit without a traditional visa.
Visa-Free Countries outside Africa for Nigerian Passport Holders:
Barbados
Cambodia – Visa on arrival
Comoros Islands – Visa on arrival
Cook Islands
Dominica
Fiji
Haiti
Iran – Visa on arrival
Kiribati
Lebanon
Maldives – Visa on arrival
Micronesia
Montserrat
Niue – Visa on arrival
Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
Samoa – Visa on arrival
St. Kitts and Nevis
Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
Tuvalu
Vanuatuul
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