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Systematic Reopening of the Nigerian Economy by the PTF

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By Chido Nwakanma

Eight months later, the arteries of the economy are pumping once again. Airports have reopened, bringing in 5,000 to 7,000 passengers daily. Schools have resumed, as have formal and informal markets. Machines are humming again in hitherto shut factories.

The full reopening of the economy after months of a lockdown that required careful management and phasing to reopen has brought relief. Nigerians are eager to get on with their lives. For the managers of the system, it was a delicate balancing act between health and economics. At times, it was akin to the famed chicken and egg scenario.

Caution governed the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in the management of the closing and opening of the Nigerian economy in the wake of the global pandemic. It has involved monitoring of local incident statistics and case numbers, international comparison, and trend analysis. It has been sequential and systematic and, importantly, data driven.

Many factors inform this extra caution. COVID-19 came into our shores through a visiting Italian businessman. It came against the backdrop of well-founded fears that Nigeria and other African countries could not cope with any widespread infection. Experts are currently trying to unravel how and why Africa escaped the feared doom.

Across the country, citizens now move freely to do their businesses. It was not so beginning 29 March 2020 when the PTF led the health authorities to announce the first lockdown.

It lasted 14 days during which the country banned interstate movements and imposed a curfew on Lagos and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Federal Government ordered the full closure of all land borders and banned all large gatherings.

The ban on large gatherings affected many sectors of the economy from entertainment to religion and others in-between. Schools shut down with the more technically proficient turning to online lessons. Cinemas, restaurants, event centres and stadia all shut down.

The clampdown affected Lagos and Abuja the most for the simple reason that they had the most significant number of infections. Lagos has remained an epicentre of the incidence and spread of COVID19.

PTF then followed with two other shutdowns of less severity. At each stage, it eased the measures for each shutdown in line with what the figures and trends stated. For instance, while Europe and America are currently in the throes of a second round of the COVID-19, Nigeria’s incident numbers have remained low.

Health authorities in Nigeria worry about returnees for the Christmas period importing new cases into the country and the disregard of counsel on best practices to prevent infection by citizens in many cities across the country.

Opening of the economy followed even more caution and recommendations in the thematic areas the PTF established as a guide. These are movement, industry, labour, and community activities. Schools reopened, followed by the NYSC Orientation Camps. It was a significant test of its caution on mass gatherings.

As such, it followed the template of care and caution. Officials went round the states to certify the camps COVID-19 compliant. They then established COVID-19 testing facilities in each of the centres as well as the management of possible cases. It then lifted restrictions on outdoor sporting activities, including football, in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development.

In recent times, PTF has increased the volume of its messaging on prevention practices. They include mandatory wearing of face masks in public settings, hand washing and sanitising routines, observing social distances of at least two metres between persons and limitations to the size of gatherings. No more than 20 people can stay together.

The PTF has since relaxed the restrictions on worship places. Worship places were a particular concern because of sensitivities around religion, but the intervention agency walked the tightrope skilfully.

Which comes first? The right to earn a living or the opportunity to stay alive in the first place?. Many a citizen fretted about the denial of the right to work, worship and gather during the restrictions.

Even in those periods, PTF allowed a window for the operations of banks, graduated opening of markets and shopping centres while exempting agricultural produce, petroleum products, manufactured goods, and essential services from the restrictions on movements. Logistics plays a central role in the chain of goods and services in the country.

With the international gateways now re-opened in select airports, Nigeria’s mandatory dual tests for incoming travellers is one of the strictest in the world.

Courtesy of the PTF, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health, persons arriving Nigeria via the airport gateways must do a COVID-19 CPR test five days before boarding their flight. They then do a confirmation test in Nigeria on Day 7 after arrival.

The test represents one of the mitigation measures Nigeria has implemented to checkmate the spread (and importation) of COVID-19. Additionally, a recent travel advisory by NCDC has urged international travelers to suspend holiday plans to Nigeria unless deemed essential.

Even so, records on 2 December 2020 showed Nigeria had 67, 960 cases of COVID-19. Deaths stood at 1,177 persons. Hospitals had discharged 63,839 COVID survivors. By that date, Nigeria had done 779,708 tests.

The PTF has gradually unsealed the taps to allow the full blossoming of the economy. National Coordinator Dr Aliyu and the Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr Boss Mustapha continue to tread with caution even as they open up more and more of the economy.


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General News

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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