By Editor

Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive received a renewed push as the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) called for stronger youth participation, citizen oversight, and transparency safeguards in the implementation of the country’s 2025 tax and revenue reforms.

Speaking in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NEITI, Musa Sarkin Adar, said Nigeria’s youth must be positioned at the heart of the fight against corruption and poor resource governance.

Delivering the address on behalf of the NEITI National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) and as Chair of the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT), Sarkin Adar said corruption continues to undermine economic growth, distort extractive sector governance, and widen inequality across the country.

“The youth remain our greatest source of hope and strength. Their energy, innovation, and desire for a more just society place them at the centre of Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and the future of integrity in the extractive industries and beyond”, he said.

He reaffirmed NEITI’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians not just as advocates for accountability but as active partners in shaping transparency, noting that informed and courageous citizens are essential to dismantling entrenched corruption.

As part of this commitment, Sarkin Adar said NEITI would continue to expand civic education, strengthen reporting mechanisms, support youth-led innovation, and create platforms for constructive engagement with students, professionals, and entrepreneurs.

A key focus of this year’s Anti-Corruption Day, he noted, was the link between tax transparency, trust, and accountability, particularly as Nigeria prepares to roll out far-reaching tax and revenue reforms in 2025.

Sarkin Adar disclosed that NEITI has concluded a policy-backed brief on the inclusive implementation of the new tax laws, offering a roadmap aligned with global standards of transparency, accountability, and efficiency in revenue administration.

According to him, the policy brief assesses the conformity of the legislative provisions with international best practices and recommends safeguards to protect the fiscal autonomy of states and local governments.

“We cannot afford to treat transparency as an afterthought. A robust tax reform without citizen oversight is simply centralisation under another name”, he warned.

He said NEITI stands ready to provide independent oversight, facilitate dialogue among stakeholders, and ensure accountability in the implementation of the reforms, particularly in the extractive sector where revenues remain critical to national and subnational finances.

Calling on government, industry players, civil society, and development partners to embrace the roadmap, Sarkin Adar stressed that the success of the 2025 tax reforms would depend on inclusive implementation and sustained public trust.

He added that the reforms must deliver inclusive growth, fiscal accountability, and sustainable prosperity across all levels of government, with special attention to the youth, whom he described as “Nigeria’s future.”

“As we mark International Anti-Corruption Day, we celebrate the courage, resilience, and integrity of Nigeria’s youth. Together, we can shape a future defined by honesty, justice, and shared prosperity”, he said.

By Ambrose Nnaji

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the rollout of 4,000 telecom towers nationwide in a major push to expand digital access and economic inclusion in Nigeria’s underserved communities.

Speaking after FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, said the approval stemmed from a joint memo by the Ministry of Digital Communications and the Ministry of Finance.

Idris said the initiative would address the digital exclusion of an estimated 23 million Nigerians who currently lack reliable connectivity, limiting their participation in the economy, access to information, and basic communication.

“Under this programme, about 4,000 towers will be erected in underserved communities. These service centres for agricultural mechanisation and the digital economy will ensure that no community is left behind”, he said.

He noted that the lack of digital access in remote areas had slowed rural commerce and hindered national security efforts. The deployment of the towers, he said, would boost local economies, improve security communication systems, and support the federal government’s broader digital transformation drive.

“Indeed, this will also help in fighting insecurity and enhancing commerce and economic activity amongst the people of Nigeria,” the minister added.

Idris further disclosed that FEC had approved the establishment of agricultural mechanisation service centres across the six geopolitical zones to strengthen year-round farming and support food security. The decisions, he said, align with the medium-term expenditure framework presented earlier by the Ministers of Finance and Budget.

The initiatives are part of ongoing government reforms aimed at accelerating digital inclusion, strengthening rural economies, and modernising the agricultural sector.

By Ambrose Nnaji

Africa’s foremost industrial conglomerate, the Dangote Group, is on track to become the world’s largest producer of fertilizer by 2028, according to its Chairman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. He made the disclosure at the Imo Economic Summit held in Owerri.

Dangote said the group is accelerating an aggressive expansion strategy that will raise its urea production capacity from 3 million metric tons to 12 million metric tons within four years—placing Nigeria at the forefront of the global fertilizer market.

He emphasised that Africa must now assert its place in global commerce and industrial growth, noting that the continent’s development will only be achieved through bold local investments.

“The time has come for Africans to step into greatness. We will top global fertilizer production by 2028 because we are expanding capacity from 3 million to 12 million tons,” he said.

Dangote urged African investors to prioritise investments within the continent, arguing that foreign capital often follows the confidence demonstrated by local entrepreneurs.

“Only a local investor can convince a foreign investor to invest in his home. There is no place like home,” he said.

He also revealed ongoing efforts to double the group’s domestic investments—including plans to scale up operations to 1.4 million barrels per day in the energy sector—while calling for stronger private-sector interventions in electricity generation.

The summit also featured notable global leaders. Former President of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, noted that Africa’s youthful population and its 30% share of the world’s mineral resources offer a foundation for long-term economic transformation.

“It is time for Africa to take her destiny in her hands,” she said.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, declared the event open. Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also graced the summit, underscoring its international significance.