From Lateef Taiwo

The Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), Major General Adamu Laka, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to ending kidnap economy in the country.

General Laka stated this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell in collaboration with the United Kingdom – National Crime Agency on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the centre had officially launched the State Expansion Programme of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell, bridging a critical gap between national security coordination and state-level tactical response.

The National Coordinator noted that kidnapping in Nigeria was no longer a random crime, but an industry being ran by sophisticated and well-armed criminal networks that thrive on fear and fund violence through ransoms.

According to him, the programme was aimed at dismantling that economy by connecting national strategy with boots-on-ground action.

He said the fusion cell was created in partnership with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to facilitate high-profile rescues and breaking up kidnapping rings across the country.

The national coordinator noted that kidnapping in Nigeria was no longer a random crime, but an industry being ran by sophisticated and well-armed criminal networks that thrive on fear and fund violence through ransoms.
According to him, the programme was aimed at dismantling that economy by connecting national strategy with boots-on-ground action.

He said the fusion cell was created in partnership with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to facilitate high-profile rescues and breaking up kidnapping rings across the country.

General Laka noted the cell had played key roles in supporting rescue operations, disrupting kidnapping networks, and improving interagency coordination.

According to him, experience has shown that while national coordination is crucial, state-level engagement is also indispensable.

“Too often, real-time intelligence, local knowledge, and operational readiness reside with field commands, while national coordination can only succeed when it is informed by ground realities.

“This is the primary purpose of this programme – to close the gap between national-level coordination and state-level response. Essentially, to build direct operational linkages between the Cell and state commands across the country,” Laka said.

The Good Governance Campaign Forum (GGCF) has praised the Lagos State Government for launching the “Produce for Lagos” programme, describing this initiative and its ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund as a brilliant solution to the food insecurity challenges the nation faces.

The Forum issued this commendation in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Rahman Suleiman, on Wednesday, following the official unveiling ceremony of the program earlier in the week.

The program aims to transform Lagos’ food system and reduce the state’s dependency on external food sources, receiving positive recognition both within and outside the state for the Sanwo-Olu-led government’s efforts.

According to Suleiman, the initiative is timely and represents a pioneering collaboration between the Lagos State Government, the private sector, the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company (LAFSINCO), Ekolog, and the Lagos Bulk Trading Company. He noted that this model is designed not only to enhance food production and logistics across the state but could also serve as a scalable framework for improving livelihoods and national resilience.

Suleiman shared insights from the Forum’s sampling of public opinion in Lagos and other states, indicating that people are pleased with the Lagos State Government’s strategic programs aimed at tackling hunger and starvation. He emphasized that a key component of the “Produce for Lagos” program is its data-driven approach, which will help address agricultural inefficiencies and strengthen value chains.

“Food security is a collective responsibility that we cannot afford to neglect as a nation,” Suleiman stated. “We are grateful to God for providing us with a leader like Sanwo-Olu, who is visionary, forward-thinking, and compassionate toward ordinary people.”

He commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for consistently setting benchmarks and leading by example in subnational governance. These achievements underscore the economic growth, infrastructural development, and urban planning efforts of the Lagos government.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu is a trailblazer; he has done exceptionally well, and we fully support his programs and policies. His work over the past six years speaks for itself,” he added.

Suleiman noted that this initiative, a partnership between the state government and the private sector, is expected to significantly boost agricultural production.

During the launch, Governor Sanwo-Olu also announced the deployment of a fleet of 150 cold and dry trucks—the largest of its kind—in partnership with the private sector.

Business mogul Tony Elumelu, who supported the project with ₦25 billion, stated that food security is crucial and expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between Lagos and other participating states.

Other prominent individuals at the event included Amir Kamel, Vice President of Afreximbank, and Michel Deleen, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, among other dignitaries.

Commends Nigeria’s Lead Role In Minerals Value Chain Devpt

By Lateef Taiwo

Ahead of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) 2025 just ended in Abuja, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, led a team of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) comprising sectorial ministers from member states on a tour of the ASBA-Widom Lithium Processing Plant, located in the Wasa District of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), co-founded and chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, is a collaborative initiative that welcomes sovereign African nations committed to the sustainable development and responsible management of Africa’s mineral wealth.

Our correspondent who accompanied the team on the tour reports that the foreign dignitaries, including accomplished consultant from Saudi Arabia Ahmed Salaman Albader, expressed satisfaction with the privately owned multi-million-dollar project and the commitment of the Nigerian government to championing the course of adding value to mineral extractions and wealth creation on the continent.

The ASBA-Wisdom is expected to create over 1,200 jobs, while processing lithium ore at the initial stage, before transitioning to the production of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, according to recent reports.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the home tour, Olajide Olusola, Deputy Director, Investment promotion and Rural Trade Department of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, explained that one of the priorities of this administration is to bring foreign investment into the country, hence it has kept encouraging investors like the ASBA Group by providing the enabling environment.

“So as you’re all aware, we’re having a summit this week in Abuja here, for which ministers from around Africa, from Liberia, from Malawi, and African mineral Strategy Group delegation are converging on Abuja to rub minds on the way forward for Africa’s minerals future.

“Part of the programme is to bring them to have the first hand idea how Nigeria has been able to draw investment in recent times, an that is why we are here now,” he added.

According to him, the ASBA-Wisdom Mining venture is 100 percent a private Nigerian company.

“We as a government just provide all the necessary environment for smooth take-off and for business to thrive.

“In terms of using local content, it’s over 80 per cent, especially talking about workers. All the plants are being manned by Nigerians. You know, just the little side of it that we have the foreigners,” he further explained.

The ASBA lithium processing plant, which has a planned capacity of 1.6 million metric tons per annum, is to commence operation before the end of August, 2025, according to Engr Adamu Husseini, the Chief executive director (CEO), ASBA Group of Companies.

Engr Adamu said, “We have not yet started operation, but next month we’re taking off. Production capacity, is about 1.6 million. Actually, before we were exporting. But when Mr President came to power, they now said, no, we can’t continue exporting our raw materials, which are our wealth.

He said, the next step is to start battery production in Nigeria, attributing the success story to the vision and support of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with thanks.

Speaking, Secretary General of the AMSG Moses Engado (from Uganda) who lead the team said,” I’m happy today that we are in this lithium plant, because for a very long time, we’ve always exported our mineral wealth and imported poverty.

“So since last year, when this organisation was launched under the leadership of Dr Dele Alake as the Chairman, we have been working to move Africa up the value chain, to be able to ensure that we are adding value and producing minerals in such a manner that we can create jobs an increase the wealth that we have on the continent.

“We can only do this when we are able to start processing and manufacturing on the continent so that we can be able to export finished products and contribute to the local economy and to all the countries.

Making reference to the ASBA investment, he said, “As as you can see, this is a shining example that Africa can do it, and together, we can be able to replicate these models Across Africa.

“I’m happy to say that our presidents across the continent, the president of Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and several other countries have banned the export of raw materials.

“This means we want to change the narrative so that our minerals can become a blessing, not a curse. For a long time, we have sat back and seen people take even our soil. The least we can do is clean the minerals. But this is to show us that Nigeria, with your leadership, with coming together, with the private sector that’s being supported by government, we can do better things as a continent.”

“Africa is rising, and this is a clear demonstration, and I would like to congratulate ASBA and Wisdom lithium plant for taking this bold step, but most importantly, the people of Nigeria for supporting this project, because without the support of the communities, the people, you can never move forward.
There is an African proverb that says if you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, you must go together.”

On his part, Minister of Mining, Blue Economy, Shipping and Maritime Affairs in the Republic of Kenya, Hassan Ali Joho, said, “And I must first of all begin by passing our warm appreciation and gratitude for this critical invite, particularly being able to visit a site as important as this one, because in the continent, we are having a different conversation altogether on value chain of our minerals, and it gives me a lot of pride that I’m in Abuja today to visit a site that does exactly as the conversation in the continent today in creating an ecosystem that is supportive of our extractions. So the most critical conversation is that there is a shift from exporting our raw oil into some processed products. No