The UN, in acknowledgement of the importance of senior citizens, designated Oct. 1 annually as International Day of Older Persons.

In Nigeria, the National Senior Citizens Act, 2017, birthed the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) to cater for the needs of the senior citizens and bolster social inclusion.

Afterwards, the NSCC implored state governments to urgently domesticate the National Senior Citizens Act to safeguard the welfare of the elderly.

In Abia, Gov. Alex Otti is blazing the trail.

Recently, Otti signed the Senior Citizens Welfare Bill into law, providing free medicals and a monthly stipend for senior citizens aged 60 and above.

Law No. 4 of 2025 established the Abia State Senior Citizens Centre.

This landmark law aims to improve the quality of life for elderly residents, ensuring dignity, security, and social protection.

The law establishes a framework for proper support, including registration, identification, and administration of benefits.

The key components of the law are among others, free medical care, access to healthcare services in public facilities, social support, and assistance for vulnerable and indigent seniors.

The law stipulates that to be eligible, one must meet the age requirement of 60 years and above and must be indigene of Abia.

Eligible seniors will be verified and registered in the state’s database.

In the ensuing euphoria and misconstructions, the Abia Government offered clarifications.

Okey Kanu, the Commissioner for Information, said that the Abia Senior Citizens Centre was not a free money distribution scheme, or direct cash handouts.

According to him, it is a structured social welfare and support system designed to provide care, coordination, dignity, and inclusion for senior citizens, not direct cash handouts.

Kanu said it had imperative to properly inform the public and dispel misconceptions surrounding the law.

“This legislation is a deliberate and compassionate response by the Otti’s administration to the growing population of elderly persons in Abia and the long-standing absence of a structured, government-backed system dedicated to their care, welfare, and social inclusion.”

Kanu acknowledged the contributions of senior citizens over the decades, saying that that ageing often came with health challenges, social isolation, and economic vulnerability.

“Law No. 4 of 2025 is therefore a social protection policy, not political symbolism, aimed at restoring dignity, care, and relevance to elderly citizens,” he said.

He said the law formally established the Abia Senior Citizens Centre as a government-recognised institution.

Kanu emphasised the centre is not a retirement home or a place of abandonment.

“It serves as a coordinated hub where senior citizens can access support services, engage socially, receive guidance, participate in recreational and skills-sharing activities, and benefit from structured welfare programmes.

“Through the centre, the state government now has a unified platform to plan, coordinate, and implement elderly-focused interventions across the state, replacing the previously fragmented and informal approach to senior citizens’ welfare.”

Kanu said that the centre was mandated to promote the welfare, dignity, and quality of life of senior citizens by providing social, psychological, and health-related support.

He said it would also serve as an advocacy platform for the protection of their rights.

“It is empowered to develop programmes, maintain a reliable database of elderly persons, facilitate access to healthcare and social welfare schemes, and collaborate with relevant ministries, agencies, NGOs, faith-based organisations, and development partners.”

He said that administratively, the centre operated under the supervision of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to ensure accountability, transparency, and alignment with the state’s broader social welfare policies.

He added that funding would be to be sourced through lawful budgetary allocations, grants, and approved donations, in line with due process.

“Law No. 4 of 2025 is a bold and humane policy choice that places Abia among progressive states that recognise ageing as a governance issue and institutionalise care for senior citizens ,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, senior citizens from Abia are reveling over the state government’s gesture.

They say the move is in tandem with practices in other climes where senior citizens are conferred with proper care, having devoted their youthful years to service of their nation.

Mr Felix Nwadioha, a senior citizen from Abia commended the governor for the initiative, noting that it was great to work in one’s fatherland and be recognised .

“It is not only when you are in service that you are relevant; you are also relevant when you are out of government,’’ he said.

He added that a country with senior citizens was deficit in necessary experience.

Nwadioha urged other states to follow suit.

Another senior citizen from Abia, Mr Obike Ukoh, praised the gesture, comparing it to practices in developed countries.

He said that in developed countries, people were not just part of social security, they had social insurance coverage.

Obike said that the programme would help alleviate the challenges faced by the aged in the state.

He added that living without a source of income at old age was risky

Obike said that in many Igbo communities, there was a strong cultural expectation that children would take care for their parents in old age but such suppositions did not apply in all cases.

“You know, within the Igbo land, we make a lot of assumptions that somebody will be taken care of by his children, dependents and relatives in old age.

“But while doing that, you also forget that there maybe people that may not have children; there are also those who may not have dependable relatives.

“So, this kind of intervention will solve a lot of major problems, but the issue is the modalities and the sustainability of such a programme.

“It is a human approach to help people live longer; not to live a little longer in suffering but to live long in a very healthy living and in comfort,” he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mrs Eunice Offor, a senior citizen, described the development as a game-changer.

According to her, the governor’s decision to sign the Senior Citizens Bill into law is a huge relief for her adding that a lot of senior citizens from the state cannot afford basic healthcare services.

“The monthly stipend, free medical care, and other benefits will go a long way in improving our quality of life.

“It is heartening to see the government prioritising our welfare; especially considering the challenges we face in our golden years.

“Many of us have contributed to the growth and development of Abia, and it is only fitting that we are taken care of.

“The fact that this law is now a statutory entitlement gives us a sense of security and dignity; we will no longer be dependent on family members or charity for our basic needs,’’ she said.

Worthy of note, former Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, also applauded Otti.

Osinbajo spoke while felicitating with the governor on his 61st birthday celebration in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the Abia Senior Citizens Law signed by Otti is a landmark initiative that will protect vulnerable senior citizens of the state.

He said that the law reflected the state government’s concern for the elderly.

Osinbajo said it also embodied transformative values of compassion and social responsibility inspired by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“I was quite particularly touched by the new law for Senior Citizens in Abia and I think it is one of those very important issues that we have to address.

“The gospel of Jesus Christ transformed nations because of the concern for the poor and vulnerable,’’ Osinbajo said.

While Otti and the Abia House of Assembly deserve praise for this gesture, policy analysts urge the full implementation of the watershed law.

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German Ambassador to Nigeria Annett Gunther disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja.

She was speaking against the background of the one year anniversary of Tinubu’s leadership since May 29, 2023 when he assumed office as Nigeria’s president.

A coup d’etat was launched in the Republic of Niger on July 26, 2023, coming only a few months after the military takeover of governments in Mali on May 24, 2021 and in Burkina Faso on Jan. 23, 2022.

At the time the coup in Niger happened, it had become clear that a wave of military takeover of democratically elected governments was pervading the ECOWAS subregion.

ECOWAS wasted no time in saying that the trend was fuelling insecurity in West Africa.

To drive home the gravity of the insecurity to which military coups contributed from Jan. 1 – Oct. 23 2023, ECOWAS said, “In just Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, a total of 4.8 million people face food insecurity, 2.4 million people are internally-displaced, and close to 9,000 schools remain closed.

“From January to Nov. 30, 2023 the number of terrorist attacks in Burkina was 1,256; in Mali, 1,032, and in Niger 391.

“The figures in terms of casualties were 4,788 in Burkina Faso; 2,174 in Mali, and 606 in Niger.”

The German ambassador said, “Tinubu made it clear that ECOWAS will not tolerate such actions and I think that is the right approach.

“Democracy is a fundamental principle of ECOWAS and it is essential to uphold it.

“The fact that some countries resorted to military coup to gain power is deplorable, and we cannot accept it.”

She emphasised the need for ECOWAS to sustain peace-building and democracy by reintegrating the three countries within its fold (after they announced they were leaving the bloc) and ensuring they return to constitutional systems.

“We have seen examples like Britain’s exit from the European Union and it is unclear if it was advantageous or not.

“The door is still open for them to return.

“I am told that behind-the-scenes efforts are being made to convince them to come back.

“As a European, I can attest to the benefits of a strong regional organisation.

“Peaceful and cooperative approach is the right way to tackle these issues and promote stability within the sub-region,” Gunther stated.

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The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther, who tendered the acknowledgement in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, pointed to the efforts the administration has made in the past one year toward bolstering the oil sector, tackling insecurity, and corruption.

Gunther underscored the need for the Federal Government to stay focused on the economic reforms taking place, saying they were long overdue.

“The nation’s economic reforms were long overdue, and it took courage by Tinubu to implement such, knowing they would come with short-term costs like inflation,” she said.

The German envoy maintained that the reform measures taken by Tinubu would eventually help stabilise and strengthen Nigeria’s economy, saying the actions taken by the president are crucial to providing vital social services to the citizens.

“I would not say the president has done everything, but he is on the right track and we are eager to support and work together to make meaningful progress and also achieve this goal,” Gunther said.

She spoke of the need for the Tinubu-led government to strengthen its security agencies to put an end to kidnapping, killings, and other related crimes.

According to her, Germany is ready to to help Nigeria tackle insecurity as doing so will foster nation-building, transparency in governance, and enthronement of the dividends of democracy.

“We have been working closely with the National Security Adviser and Inspector General of Police.

“We have been actively engaged in police reforms in Nigeria.

“We have experienced former German police officers that have trained more than 1,000 trainers in Nigeria, who in turn have trained many other police officers.

“We have also equipped and refurbished the police training college, and we are proud to be the largest donor in this area, and it did not happen overnight.

“We are working together with the administration to make progress in governance and security,” she added.

The envoy stressed that although the Tinubu administration has been making efforts to tackle corruption, it should do more to preserve the nation’s resources.

According to her, corruption signifies a huge loss for the society as a whole and based on the progress made by Tinubu with several cases of misuse of funds already detected there is hope for the future.

“The people are eager to see tangible results with convictions and consequences because that is the most effective way to combat corruption and deter others from indulging in corrupt practices.

“We must see results aimed at ending impunity; and bringing perpetrators to justice is crucial,” Gunther said.

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British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomerry, disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in the course of his courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the agency, Malam Ali M. Ali in Abuja.

“It’s great that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are visiting Nigeria, which I understand is at the invitation of Defence Headquarters.

“But they are visiting in a private capacity, not an official one.

“So, the British High Commission is not involved in arranging or facilitating their programme.

“They are not representing the work of His Majesty’s Government on this visit.”

Prince Harry are expected to kick off the journey on May 8, by attending the 10th anniversary celebration of the Invictus Games at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Shortly after, Meghan will join him in Nigeria for a series of engagements aimed at fostering cultural exchange and celebrating the spirit of resilience among service members.

The couple’s itinerary includes visits to military rehabilitation centers, sports facilities, and meetings with local organizations working to support veterans’ welfare.

They will also attend cultural events and engage in discussions with community leaders on topics.

The trip to Nigeria holds special significance as it underscores Prince Harry’s dedication to the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women.

Last year’s Invictus Games in Germany saw the participation of 500 athletes from 21 countries.

Nigeria, Colombia, and Israel, were represented and it marked their debut in the event.

Nigeria’s Minister of Defense, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, has expressed eagerness to host the games in the future, further solidifying the country’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and sportsmanship.

During their time at the Invictus Games in Germany, Meghan and Harry shared memorable moments with Team Nigeria, showcasing their support and camaraderie.

In a lighthearted exchange, Prince Harry joked about the friendly competition between him and Meghan, especially since she discovered her Nigerian heritage.

Meghan’s connection to Nigeria runs deep, as she revealed on her podcast Archetypes that she has Nigerian ancestry, with her genealogy test showing she is 43 Nigerian.

The revelation further strengthens the bond between the Duchess and the Nigerian people, fostering a sense of shared identity and belonging.

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Our correspondent reports that this was announced on Dana Air Twitter handle @DanaAir.

Ememobong Ettete, the Chief Operating Officer of Dana Airline said the proud Nigerian brand would always support the creativity, efforts and innovation of Nigerian youths.

”We have always blazed the trail in terms of support for the arts and entertainment industry, health care and culture.

“We will be supporting Hilda’s local travels for one year and we are inspired by her.

“We will be supporting her Mum also with three months of local flights for free and we thank her for giving us an amazing daughter,“ it read.

The 27-year-old Hilda Bassey Effiong, known as Hilda Baci started cooking on Thursday May 11, to surpass India’s Lata Tondon who set the record in 2019 with 87 hours 45mins 00 seconds.

Our correspondent also reports that Baci started her career as a chef in 2020 with her brand as @Myfoodbyhilda.

She embarked on a journey to break the Guinness World Record for longest cooking marathon on May 11 at Amore Gardens Lekki, Lagos Nigeria and ended it on May 14.

Baci surpassed the current world record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual with 100 hours, to break the Guinness World Record for longest cooking hours.

The show was life streamed on multiple social media channels where she made over 250 recipes.

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Buhari, represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, made the call on Monday in Abuja in his remarks at the opening ceremony of National Economic Summit.

According to the president, there is the need for more intentional and focused investment on the youth, especially in globally marketable skills.

“The task ahead requires partnership, innovative thinking but, most importantly, disciplined implementation,“ he said.

Emphasising on improving macroeconomic conditions, Buhari said that the economy continued to grow, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 3.54 per cent in the second quarter of 2022.

“Non-oil revenues have similarly continued to improve due to part of strategic revenue initiatives, including the annual Finance Act.

“It is still our revenue challenges that heighten the notion that we have a debt problem, which is really not the case, given that our debt-GDP ratio is just 23 per cent,” he said.

The president said that though the country’s debt service to revenue ratio was high, the country, through the Debt Management Office, was better able to adopt strategies to manage the debt more efficiently.

He said that the government was adopting strategies such as using more concessional loans, spreading out debt maturities and re-financing short-term debt with longer-term debt instruments.

“This is why increasing revenues should engage most of the attention,” he said.

Speaking, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba, said that the NESG has provided a veritable platform for dialogue on reforming the Nigerian economy.

“Since the inception of the summit, the nucleus of conversations between government and the private sector had been targeted at building a resilient, virile and competitive economy.

“The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020, developed in 2016, was to restore growth.

“It was designed to restore growth, invest in our people, and build a globally competitive economy.

“Principally, the conscientious implementation of the Plan helped in making Nigeria exit recession early,” Agba said.

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A statement from the office of SON’s Director-General, Malam Farouk Salim, said the ARSO competition was being administered by an inter-ministerial committee to promote objectivity and transparency in the process.

Salim said that the ARSO essay competition was an avenue for both the graduate and postgraduate students to familiarise themselves with issues of standardisation and quality assurance.

According to him, the theme of this year’s essay competition is: “The role of Standardization in promoting African Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Industries to Attain Self-Reliance and Resilience in Combating COVID-19 and Future Pandemics.”

Salim therefore urged qualified students under the age of 35 to submit their essays not later than Feb. 23.

The SON boss explained that all rules and conditions guiding the competition had been published on the SON’s website.

“Three national winners are expected to emerge from the competition in Nigeria.”

“The first five essays will be submitted to the ARSO Secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya for the continental competition,” Salim said.

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Abubakar said this in statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, signed by Mr Rasheed Mahe, CAC’s Media Head, after declaring open a one-day Customers’ Stakeholders Forum.

Abubakar was represented by Mr Abdulhakeem Mohammed, Director Compliance.

He enumerated a series of reform initiatives embarked upon by the commission, pursuant to CAMA, 2020.

Abubakar said that notable features of the new law included the dispensation of the appointment of company secretary by private companies in pursuant of Section 330 of the new law.

According to him, while electronic signature has been introduced by the new law, one man is allowed to register a private company, adding that incorporated trustees amalgamation with similar objectives is now possible under Section 849.

The Registrar-General also said that the minimum share capital for private companies was increased to N100,000 and two million for public liability companies.

He said it was upgraded to two million respectively under Section 27 sub-section 2 of the act.

Abubakar said that small companies and one-man company were now permitted to hold statutory and annual general meetings abroad.

He said the provisions of Sections 705 and 707 which introduced the registration of accredited insolvency practitioner, liquidator, receiver

or receiver-manager stated that such professionals could only practice upon obtaining due accreditation from the CAC.

Abubakar said key reforms contained in the new law also stated that there was now prohibition of the combination of the office of the chairman and chief executive officer in one and the same person for public companies.

He said the commission, in collaboration with its software provider, was making strenuous efforts to fine-tune its processes in line with global best practices.

Abubakar reiterated its resolve to continue to initiate and implement enduring institutional reforms tailored not only for the demands of ease of doing business, but to establish a registry that would rank as one of the best 10 in the world.

He said the commission had resolved to ensure complete digitisation of its operations to further provide efficient and effective services in 2022.

In their separate goodwill messages, Dr. Balogun Abdulrasheed, Chairman, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Acting Managing Director, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Mr Shehu Abdulkadir, represented by Aisha Yusuf, applauded the initiatives and urged the commission to sustain the tempo.

Speaking in the same vein, representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Folarinwa Aluko, Mr Tony Idoko and Mr Clement Owowo, applauded the CAC for the engagement and stressed the need for more frequent engagements.

They restated their commitment to partnering with the commission and described as world class, the ability of a customer to register and download CAC registration certificate anywhere in the world.

The stakeholders, however, implored the commission to review its post incorporation processes, as well as enhance its customer engagement mechanism to become real time.

Other speakers, who similarly applauded the commission’s reform initiatives and charged it to sustain the tempo, included the representative of the Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).

Our correspondent reports that in addition to the Abuja Forum, the commission has held Customers’/Stakeholders forum in Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos (Ikeja and Ikoyi) and Enugu where it has Nodal offices.

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Sen. Francis Fadaunsi, Chairman of the Committee, gave the commendation when he led other members on an oversight visit to CAC office in Kano.

Mr Rasheed Mahe, Head Media Unit of the commission said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mahe said that Fadahunsi expressed delight at the commission’s use of technology to drive its processes.

He added that the use of technology was crucial to the success of CAC, and enjoined the Registrar General to ensure continued improvement in the commission’s processes.

He pledged continued support to the commission to enable it deliver on its mandate.

Earlier, Abubakar, highlighted some of the reform initiated under his leadership.

“The commission which is 30 year old, started its digitalisation in 2004 with electronic workflows, but there was no update for over 10 years.

“However, we are almost achieving full digitalization at present,” he said.

Abubakar reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring that it competed with its global peers as well as deliver seamless services to customers both within and outside the country.

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The PIA was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on Aug. 16.

Specifically, Section 53(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, requires the Minister of Petroleum Resources to cause for the incorporation of the NNPC Limited within six months of the enactment of the PIA in consultation with the Minister of Finance on the nominal shares of the Company.

The Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Alhaji Garba Abubakar confirmed the incorporation in Abuja while speaking at the Quarterly meeting of Heads of Agencies in the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment.

He further stated that the registration was completed same day after fulfilling all requirements set for the incorporation of the NNPC LIMITED.

The RG while updating the gathering on the digitisation of the Trademark and Patent Registry

Said that the digitisation was being pursued by the CAC in a bid to ensure synergy and eliminate other possible conflicts.

He said that the project was awaiting clearance from NITDA which was studying the statement of requirements submitted to it.

Speaking also on the free Federal Government sponsored 250,000 Business names registration; the Registrar General noted that despite suffering a delay from one of the selected Aggregators, the Commission has less than 3,000 applications to wind up the project.

He, however, gave a commitment to ensure completion by first week of October, 2021.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo said the event holds quarterly to asses among others the journey so far, challenges and way forward for the agencies under the ministries purview.

Adebayo charged the agencies to ensure more commitment and dedication to service for the overall growth of the economy.

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Maryam Katagum gave an update on the implementation of the Covid-19 Survival Fund which she described as a tough and challenging experience.

Katagum, however, added that the programme was a huge success and would wound up soon.

The meeting was attended by no few than 18 Heads of Agencies and Directors in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

It was reported that on Aug. 18, Buhari approved a steering committee, headed by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva to guide the effective and timely implementation of the PIA in the course of transition to the petroleum industry envisaged in the reform programme and ensure that the new institutions created have the full capability to deliver on their mandate under the new legislation.

Other members are Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Group Managing Director, NNPC, Executive Chairman, FIRS, Representative of the Ministry of Justice, Representative of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Natural Resources, Barrister Olufemi Lijadu as External Legal Adviser, while the Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, will serve as Head of the Coordinating Secretariat and the Implementation Working Group.

The committee has 12 months duration for the assignment, and periodic updates will be given to Buhari.The Petroleum Industry Act provides legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry, the development of host communities, and related matters.

The Senate had passed the Bill on July 15, while the House of Representatives did the same on July 16, thus ending a long wait since the early 2000s, and notching another high for the Buhari administration.

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