Experts have linked the rise in Nigeria’s mining revenue to new licence rates and strategic promotion of the sector, which has led to increased investment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Minster of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, had stated that in 2024, Nigeria’s mining sector secured more than 800 million dollars in investments for processing projects.
Alake said government revenue from the sector increased significantly from ₦6 billion in 2023 to ₦38 billion in 2024, attributing this to stricter licencing, the value addition policy, and measures against illegal mining.
The experts including Akinade Olatunji, a Professor of Geology at the University of Ibadan who spoke to NAN, noted that the mining licence rates introduced in 2024 contributed to sanitising the sector, increasing Nigeria’s GDP, and attracting more investors to the sector.
Also, the immediate past president of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Olatunji said the revocation of dormant licences sent a strong message that attracted genuine investors to the sector.
“Firmer implementation of the rule of use it or lose it has also helped, as those who had dormant and unpaid licences are complying more, otherwise, they will lose their licenses.
“ We must also state that the campaign to redirect attention to the sector seems to have caught the attention of Nigerians and foreign investors alike.
“Additionally, there is also an upsurge in increased investment by licence owners.
“There are no so many active exploration works ongoing in several parts of the country, so this has also led to increased job availability for professionals in the sectors
“There is also an increased attention in building of processing plants in the country, owing to the policy on value addition from the government,” he said.
According to him, a sustenance of the policy will ensure that the fruits from these investments are sustainable.
Also, Shekwonyadu Iyakwari, a Professor of Applied Mineralogy and Exploration Geology at the Federal University of Lafia, hailed the revenue growth but said more should be done to add value to minerals before export.
Iyakwari noted that policies requiring mining companies to process their products locally would create jobs, provide roads, power, and water for host communities.
According to him, the policies will open up these areas to more economic activities and development.
“Also, most of these ores mined contain other economic minerals or metals, but in most cases, only one or a few are declared by the companies.
“When companies start processing here, we will see that what we allow them to export is beyond what is declared. Processing locally will go a long way in helping our economy,” he said.
The professor commended the government for introducing the value addition policy in 2024, which required mining companies to present concrete plans for adding value before they were given licences to operate.
He, however, said that proper and strict implementation was needed to further improve the sector’s revenue, and that the policy should also be extended to existing companies, that would need to be encouraged to do the same.
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has congratulated the Super Falcons for their history-making performance at the just concluded 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) which ensured that they won record 10th title in Rabat, Morocco.
SWAN President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin in a statement via the association’s Secretary-General, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, on Sunday, in Abuja, said the team’s victorious outing especially their comeback win against host Morocco in the final, was a testament of commitment and focus.
President Benjamin who noted that no effort should be spared in rewarding both the players and officials of Super Falcons, expressed optimism that Nigeria’s Sports ecosystem is capable of turning the economic tide of the country if well harnessed.
“On behalf of teeming Sports Writers in Nigeria, I congratulate the Super Falcons for exhibiting resilience in their pursuit and fulfillment in winning the 10th WAFCON title. The outcome of their display shows that as a nation, we can achieve greater heights in any endeavour.
“I’m particularly delighted with the steady growth of Women football in the continent. It goes to show that there’s more ahead. I couldn’t imagine the massive followership that greeted the just concluded WAFCON. The final matchday was spectacular.
“Though the match was played into late night, yet many football and even non-enthusiasts kept awake to catch a glimpse of what their darling team were up to. All that is needed is for government, corporate bodies and well-to-do individuals to channel greater attention to sports by investing in infrastructure and human development,” he said.
Also, the SWAN President has thumbs-up Nigeria’s 2024 Paralympic Games bronze medalist, Eniola Bolaji, who triumphed over all her opponents to clinch gold medal at the 2025 British and Irish Para-Badminton International.
Remarkably, Bolaji at the final of the women’s SL3 category, defeated world No. 1 and Tokyo Paralympic silver medalist, Qonitah Ikhtiar Syakuroh of Indonesia to emerge champion at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff on Saturday.
“Eniola Bolaji has maintained a level of consistency on her sporting career path. All she and other Nigerian athletes (both elite and upcoming ones) need is continuous support,” he said.
Gone are the days when Nigerians dreaded tedious visits to licensing offices or feared being left in the dark about safety regulations. Today, with just a smartphone or internet connection, drivers across the country can access a world of road safety services at their fingertips.
In an era where technological innovation determines the efficiency of public institutions, one agency stands tall for its decisive leap into the digital age, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). Under the resolute leadership of Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, FRSC has redefined what it means to deliver public service in the 21st century, using technology not as a cosmetic add-on but as a core driver of reform and impact.
This transformation is embodied in two groundbreaking tools: the FRSC Mobile App and the newly redesigned FRSC Website. Two robust digital platforms that are fast becoming the gold standard for service delivery and safety regulation in Nigeria’s road sector.
Launched as part of the Corps’ digitization drive, the new FRSC Mobile App is nothing short of a road user’s companion. The app integrates drivers license renewal, real-time alerts, emergency rescue requests, vehicle verification, and access to safety tips—all in one seamless platform. Its intuitive interface and swift response capability reflect a keen understanding of the modern driver’s lifestyle: fast, mobile, and always connected.
What makes the app even more powerful is its emergency SOS feature, allowing users to call for help during road crashes or vehicle breakdowns. This functionality links road users directly to FRSC rescue teams, proving that technology is not just making processes easier, but saving lives in real time.
The FRSC Mobile App is not a fancy gadget, it is a lifesaving tool. With its user-friendly interface and real-time functionalities, this app puts the power of road safety in the hands of every Nigerian. From renewing driver’s licenses and verifying number plates to receiving real-time traffic alerts and requesting emergency rescue during crashes, the app is a command center for road users.
This is not guesswork. The app is already closing response time gaps, reducing queues at licensing centers, and empowering motorists to take full control of their safety obligations. It’s smart. It’s secure. And it is revolutionary.
Complementing the mobile app is the completely redesigned FRSC website—a sleek, easy-to-navigate portal that demystifies road safety administration. With faster load times, simplified menus, and mobile responsiveness, the website puts relevant information and services at the public’s reach. Whether it’s checking license status, reporting traffic issues, tracking policy updates, or reading safety campaigns, the website serves as a one-stop hub for all stakeholders in Nigeria’s road ecosystem.
Not to be outdone, the FRSC’s new website has been reborn, faster, sharper, more intuitive, and rich with essential resources. It is now a fully integrated portal that connects citizens to the Corps without barriers. Whether you want to report a traffic incident, track your license processing, or access vital road safety data, the website delivers all with ease, speed, and clarity.
This isn’t just a facelift; it’s a structural redesign that signals the Corps’ transition from manual inefficiency to digital transparency. The days of clueless motorists and inaccessible information are over.
These innovations are no accident. They are the direct results of Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed’s visionary leadership and refusal to accept the status quo. Since assuming office, he has championed a culture of data-driven operations, IT-based enforcement, and citizen-centered services. His blueprint is clear: digitize or die.
By anchoring FRSC’s operations on digital platforms, Shehu Mohammed is not only confronting the nation’s road safety challenges—he is demolishing outdated systems, dismantling corruption-prone processes, and laying the foundation for a more efficient, transparent, and accountable FRSC.
With these tools now in the hands of the Nigerian public, the message is unambiguous: road safety has gone digital, and the FRSC under Shehu Mohammed is not waiting for the future, it is creating it. The app and the website are not just innovations; they are weapons in the fight against avoidable deaths, road chaos, and public distrust.
His commitment to innovation reminds us that progress is not a distant dream. It’s here, it’s active, and it’s driving on Nigerian roads today.
Shehu Mohammed’s name is already being written in the annals of public sector reformers who matched rhetoric with results. And through this bold embrace of technology, he is proving that when leadership is focused, fearless, and futuristic, even the most rigid systems can be transformed.
Bisi Kazeem fsi, MNIM, anipr Deputy Corps Marshal (Rtd) writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
The Kanwan Katsina Usman Bello Kankara’s first contact with the Media was in 1975 after completing his Secondary Education, following which he picked up an appointment with Radio Nigeria Kaduna as a News Reporter, under the guidance of Abdulaziz Oladimeji who was the News Manager.
In 1976 Usman Bello Kankara, mni left the Services of the FRCN Kaduna in pursuit of higher education and in the year 1990 while in the employment of the Nigerian Customs Service he was appointed as the Public Relations Officer PRO of Apapa Port Command Lagos. However the experience he gained while working in the News Room of the FRCN Kaduna assisted him greatly in the discharged of his duties as the Public Relations Officer .
Following visionary leadership at repositioning the PR unit at the Apapa Port, he was given another appointment at the Tincan Island Port to showcase his PR resourcefulness.
Tin Can Port
At the Tin can Island, Usman Bello Kankara took over from the current Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewole Adeniyi to build on what he met on ground.
Within the ten years that Usman Bello Kankara manned the PR Unit of the two busy Port Commands in Lagos, Apapa and Tincan Island respectively, he supported Journalists Covering Port activities to establish an Association known as Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria.
In a bid to maintain balanced and update reporting of issues affecting the Ports, Usman Bello was known to always engage the Association by holding monthly press briefings on Customs activities and Federal Government’s Policies on Import and Export.
At that time, Usman Bello Kankara mni popularly known as U K Bello was always available and ready to attend to Journalists in his office for any follow up or investigation on any new development.
Nicknamed Mr. Welfare by Journalists covering the Maritime beat in Lagos when he was the PRO, the Kanwan Katsina won an award as the best PRO in the Nigeria Customs Service at the Nigerian Custom Service annual conference held in Port Harcourt in 1999.
Besides, his open door policy paved the way for the Tincan Island Port Command, Lagos to also win the award of the most covered and reported Customs command by the media in those years.
After retirement, the Kanwan Katsina continued to support the activities of the NUJ especially in his home state of Katsina, a reason why the State Council made him one of the Patrons of Union.
No wonder, Usman Bello Kankara, mni was honored by the Katsina State Council of the NUJ in 2019 and was also recognized with an Award as the Mirror of the Katsina State Radio and in 2020 he was again presented with an Award for Humanitarian Service development by the FRCN Kaduna NUJ where he once served.
To cap it up, the National Body of the NUJ also recognized the Kanwan Katsina as Media Supporter of the Union at an event organized to celebrate 70 Years of NUJ’s Existence in Nigeria.
Kanwan Katsina being honoured byNUJ
It must be noted that the Kanwan Katsina, Alh. Usman Bello Kankara mni was born in Kankara, Katsina State on 1st September, 1957 to the Famous Nadabo Family in Katsina State which has produced five District Heads under the Katsina Emirate Council.
The District heads are: Sarkin Pawan Katsina, District Head of Kankara; Makaman Katsina, District head of Bakori; Sarkin Kudun Katsina, District head of Danja; Jarman Katsina, District head of Tsiga and the recipient of numerous NUJ awards, the Kanwan Katsina, District head of Ketare.
Kanwan Katsina attended the Central Primary School, Kankara from 1963 to 1969 and thereafter, attended Government Secondary School, Malumfashi, from 1970 to 1974.
He later gained admission into Katsina College of Arts and Science for his Advanced Studies, after which he enrolled into the Famous Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained a Degree in Political Science in 1981.
Usman Bello served the mandatory NYSC in the old Bendel State and there after enlisted in the then Department of Customs and Excise now Nigeria Customs Service as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Customs, from where he rose to the Apex Rank of Comptroller of Customs in the year 2009.
He served as Comptroller of Customs in Kano/Jigawa Command, FCT, Abuja Command, Sokoto/Kebbi, Zamfara Command and Eastern Marine Port Harcourt which covers Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, Delta, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.
Onne Port
It is on record that the award winning former PR guru excelled in Revenue Collection in all the Commands he served, surpassing the revenue target given to him, a feat that got him Letters of commendation from the Customs Headquarters.
The NUJ awardee attended so many courses while in Service both within and outside the country, worthy of mention among the numerous courses are the one he attended in the United State of America on Ethical, Good Governance and accountability and that of valuation on imported goods organized by the World Customs Organization in Brussels, Belgium.
Immediately the course attended at Brussels, Belgium, Usman Bello Kankara was appointed as the Comptroller in charge of Valuation Unit at Customs Headquarters Abuja.
NCS Headquarters Abuja
In Nigeria, the NUJ award winning Usman Bello Kankara also attended the prestigious National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos and became a Member National Institute mni.
After retirement, the Kanwan Katsina has continued to support the activities of NUJ Katsina State Council as one of its Patrons and attended all functions organized by the Union.
Worthy to note, he renovated the Mosque located at the NUJ Secretariat to ease the five daily prayers for working Journalists in Katsina. He additionally provided Religious Books in the Mosque and initiated Free Feeding programme during Fasting of the Holy Month of Ramadan each year as Welfare to Journalists.
Recalled also that Alh. Usman Bello Kankara mni was Honoured with an award by the Katsina State Council of NUJ in 2019, he was also honoured with an award for humanitarian service development by the FRCN Kaduna NUJ Chapel in the year 2020, the Katsina State Radio also presented him with an award in the year 2020 as the Mirror of the Station and today the National Body of the NUJ is Honoured the Kanwan Katsina as Media Supporter as the Union celebrates 70 Years of its Existence in Nigeria.
Comrade Tukur Hassan Dan Ali is the Chairman, Katsina State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists
The Governing Council of the Federal University Gusau, has approved the promotion of eleven (11) senior academic staff of the University to the rank of Professor and Reader. Of the 11, four (4) were promoted to the rank of professor while seven (7) others were elevated from Senior Lecturer to Reader. The promotion was approved at the Council’s 30th (Regular) meeting held on July 23rd 2025, in Abuja, Those promoted to the rank of professor are: Dr. Lawal Sa’adu, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration; Dr. Aliyu Usman Moyi, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic; Dr. Nasir Garba Anka and Dr. Rabiatu Musa Mafara. The list of those elevated to the rank of Reader are Dr. Taofiki Aminu, Dr. Abbas Sani Dahiru, Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha Muhammad and Dr. Adamu Muhammad. Others are Dr. Precious C. Ezeh, Dr. Ahmad Kainuwa and Dr. Omokhuale Emmanuel.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Engr. Aminu Sani Isa, according to a statement by the University Management, congratulated the promoted academic staff and urged them to see their elevation as a challenge to further dedicate themselves to the service of the University, the community and humanity at large.
The Governing Council of the Federal University Gusau, has approved the promotion of eleven (11) senior academic staff of the University to the rank of Professor and Reader.
Of the 11, four (4) were promoted to the rank of professor while seven (7) others were elevated from Senior Lecturer to Reader. The promotion was approved at the Council’s 30th (Regular) meeting held on July 23rd 2025, in Abuja, Those promoted to the rank of professor are: Dr. Lawal Sa’adu, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration; Dr. Aliyu Usman Moyi, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic; Dr. Nasir Garba Anka and Dr. Rabiatu Musa Mafara. The list of those elevated to the rank of Reader are Dr. Taofiki Aminu, Dr. Abbas Sani Dahiru, Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha Muhammad and Dr. Adamu Muhammad. Others are Dr. Precious C. Ezeh, Dr. Ahmad Kainuwa and Dr. Omokhuale Emmanuel.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Engr. Aminu Sani Isa, according to a statement by the University Management, congratulated the promoted academic staff and urged them to see their elevation as a challenge to further dedicate themselves to the service of the University, the community and humanity at large.
The Governing Council of the Federal University Gusau, has approved the promotion of eleven (11) senior academic staff of the University to the rank of Professor and Reader.
Of the 11, four (4) were promoted to the rank of professor while seven (7) others were elevated from Senior Lecturer to Reader. The promotion was approved at the Council’s 30th (Regular) meeting held on July 23rd 2025, in Abuja, Those promoted to the rank of professor are: Dr. Lawal Sa’adu, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration; Dr. Aliyu Usman Moyi, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic; Dr. Nasir Garba Anka and Dr. Rabiatu Musa Mafara. The list of those elevated to the rank of Reader are Dr. Taofiki Aminu, Dr. Abbas Sani Dahiru, Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha Muhammad and Dr. Adamu Muhammad. Others are Dr. Precious C. Ezeh, Dr. Ahmad Kainuwa and Dr. Omokhuale Emmanuel.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Engr. Aminu Sani Isa, according to a statement by the University Management, congratulated the promoted academic staff and urged them to see their elevation as a challenge to further dedicate themselves to the service of the University, the community and humanity at large.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with Core International, have unveiled the Nigerian Capital Market Secondary Schools Quiz Competition.
The initiative aims to promote financial literacy and enhance understanding of capital markets among secondary school students.
Mr Patrick Muzundo, the Managing Director of Financial Markets Indaba, a sister organisation of Core International, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Muzundo said that the youth-centred competition would involve 370 schools from across Nigeria in a three-stage tournament format.
He said that the stages included state-level preliminaries, zonal semi-finals and a national grand finale.
“the quiz will run for six months, commencing in September and will involve 370 schools, 10 from each state of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),” he said.
He said that the initiative would be hosted on the Financial Markets Indaba platform, which has experience in financial literacy initiatives and national engagement.
Muzundo said that the quiz, in addition to equiping Nigerian youths with essential financial knowledge, would lay a foundation for sound decision-making.
He said that it would also foster a spirit of academic excellence, teamwork and inclusivity among students.
According to him, the event will enable participating students to access a virtual trading platform that simulates real-time stock trading using Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) market data.
According to him, as part of preparations for the quiz, teachers will undergo dedicated training workshops to help students prepare and to support the long-term integration of financial literacy into the school curriculum.
He further said that the competition’s theme, ‘Empowering Future Investors through Knowledge’, aligned with the SEC’s mandate of investor protection and market development.
“It directly supports SEC’s mandate of investor protection and market development by nurturing a financially literate generation.
“It also aims to empower Nigerian youths with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the capital market and make informed financial decisions,” he said.
