General News
Lagos, Four Others Get N23.7 Billion World Bank Intervention Fund
World Bank has granted an intervention fund of about $158 million (equivalent of N23.7 billion) to Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu and Cross Rivers states to support commercial agricultural development projects in the states.
Dr. Lucas Akaka, the bank’s project monitoring team leader disclosed the release of the fund at the weekend during a mission visit to Lagos, tasking the beneficiaries to speed up infrastructural development in their states to ensure effective implementation.
According to him, the World Bank earmarked a sum of $ 158 million for the sector improvement and development in five benefiting states including Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu and Cross River states within a period of five years.
Akaka expressed misgiving at the snail pace of the project implementation, saying the project was designed “to be demand-driven, and beneficiary-oriented, towards achieving sustainability through organize associations’ involvement and public private participation.”
But the team leader acknowledged that the states “are making progress towards achieving its developmental objective, because when a project starts, you need time to prepare the ground to move. The staff members for the five states are in place, offices are in place and the project has two different components.”
According to him, the first relates to production and commercialization, while the other component relates to infrastructure and we focus on rural network of roads and energy.
He added that the state effort with respect to infrastructure improvement “is slow, though improvement is required in this area for this project to achieve its goal.”
In his response, Chief Enoch Arioso, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives said the government’s commitment to the project implementation had been quite encouraging.
Arioso explained that the commitment of the Bank was further demonstrated in the unanimous vote by the State Executive Council for the approval of the sum of N168 million for the 2010 counterpart contribution to the project, listing the achievement of the project implementation in the state to include the registration of 292 commodity interest groups with over 2800 members.
Arioso said the state received no objection on commercial agriculture development plan to the tune of over N1 billion for implementation this year from the World Bank, adding that 66 sub projects were prepared out of which no objection were initially received for 21 sub projects valued at over N40million .
According to him, the Community Interest Group had implemented 18 approved sub- projects valued at about N36 million and another objection has been received for the additional 10 sub project valued at over N20 million.
General News
EFCC Detains Ayeni, Ex-Skye Bank Chairman over Alleged N36.5Bn, $30m Fraud

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has detained Tunde Ayeni, former chairman of defunct Skye Bank Plc, for alleged fraud involving N36.5 billion and $30 million.

Tunde Ayeni, former chairman of defunct Skye Bank Plc,
This follows the probe of alleged diversion of N36.5 billion and $30 million secured as loans from Polaris Bank Plc through companies linked to Ayeni.
He was arrested by EFCC operatives in Abuja on April 23, 2026, and is still been held in custody as at the time of filling the report.
Dele Oyewale, spokesperson, EFCC, confirmed the arrest on Friday but declined to provide further details.
Ayeni is under investigation for diverting funds obtained for marine security, electricity distribution, and real estate projects into other unknown projects.
Investigators allege the loans were instead channelled into telecom investments tied to NITEL/MTEL assets via a NATCOM account.
About 12 firms believed to be connected to Ayeni are also under investigation for their role in securing the loans.
The EFCC is expected to file charges once the investigation is concluded.
General News
Summit Factory Opens in Ogun, Targets Hygiene Market Expansion

Summit Household Solutions Limited has opened its ultra-modern manufacturing facility in Ota, Ogun State, as part of its efforts to scale production of home and personal care products in Nigeria.

The plant, which started operations in April 2025, produces items such as dishwashing liquids, handwash, sanitisers and multipurpose liquid soaps, with an annual capacity estimated at 7,000 tonnes.
Commissioning the facility on behalf of Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Investment, Mr Kehinde Akintomide, said the investment reflects growing confidence in Ogun State’s business environment.
He noted that the state hosts over 6,000 manufacturing firms and described the development as consistent with ongoing efforts to promote industrialisation, attract investment and reduce reliance on imports under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope initiative.
Akintomide disclosed that the factory has already employed more than 50 Nigerians, with projections to exceed 250 jobs as operations expand.
In his remarks, the General Manager of the company, Mr Sadiq Ali, said the facility represents a major step in Summit’s growth plans, adding that its flagship brand, 2Sure, currently leads production at the plant.
He also revealed that the company is preparing to introduce new home and personal care products later this year.
Summit Household Solutions manufactures the 2Sure brand and has expanded into the personal care segment with Lewar, a premium beauty soap line positioned for quality and affordability.
Among dignitaries present were the Onikotun of Otun, Ota, Oba Abdulakeem Odunaro, representing the Olota of Ota, Prof. Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege; the Agba Akin of Ota, Chief Dada Olusola; Director of Investment, Ms Yemisi Folarin; Director of Industrial Promotion, Mr Femi Adeboye; former Managing Director of 7Up Bottling Company, Mr Ziad Maalouf; and the Chief Executive Officer of OmniRetail, Mr Deepanker Rustagi.
Speaking at the event, Maalouf, who conceived the 2Sure brand during his time at 7Up Bottling Company, expressed satisfaction with its growth and commended Summit Solutions Limited for advancing the brand.
The special guests were conducted around the facility, and the programme was concluded with a luncheon.
General News
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