Economy
SSDC Holds Inaugural Meeting, Pledges To Address South-South’s Socio-Economic Challenges Urgently
SSDC Holds Inaugural Meeting, Pledges To Address South-South’s Socio-Economic Challenges Urgently
SSDC holds inaugural meeting, pledges to address South-South’s socio-economic challenges urgently. Mr Nwuche said the commission will tackle the region’s deep-seated infrastructural and socio-economic challenges with urgency, vision, and strategic planning.
The chairman of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), Chibudom Nwuche, has pledged to overhaul the region’s development trajectory.
Mr Nwuche said this at the inaugural meeting of the SSDC Board in Abuja on Thursday, pledging to transform the commission for the nation’s benefit.
According to him, the commission will tackle the region’s deep-seated infrastructural and socio-economic challenges with urgency, vision, and strategic planning.
He explained that the passage of the Niger Delta Development Commission Act would help in catalysing the development of the Niger Delta region and bring the needed succour to the masses of those regions.
“Our country, from independence, has held a lot of promise, but unfortunately, we are still on the journey to development, while our contemporaries, like Malaysia, China, and Indonesia, have made much more progress,” he stated.
However, Mr Nwuche believed that the development commissions passed into law by President Bola Tinubu would provide room for the growth of the region and the country.
He cited Section 8 of the SSDC Act, which he said included the identification of underlying causes of underdevelopment in the region, as well as examining road and water transportation, industries, agriculture, telecommunications, electricity, urban development, and housing development, among others.
“It will then formulate practical solutions and implement sustainable development projects and programmes for the benefit of the region,” he added.
He added that the commission would address these priority areas by strategically deploying resources to ensure steady and sustainable progress.
Mr Nwuche said the SSDC would prioritise youth and women’s empowerment by collaborating with relevant stakeholders such as the National Assembly and the governors of the South-South states and would consult constantly with other development organisations to harmonise efforts and avoid duplication of projects.

SSDC Holds Inaugural Meeting
He urged the board members and other staff to adhere to the code of conduct for public officers stipulated in the Constitution and work to earn the trust and respect of the people who have called them to serve.
Usoro Akpabio, the managing director of SSDC, stated that the commission would ensure the region’s cities, towns, and rural communities are not left behind.
Ms Akpabio said the SSDC would invest in capacity building, financial access, innovation ecosystems, and digital tools, ensuring that the people of the South-South are not just beneficiaries of development but remain its driving force.
She added that the commission would promote the blue economy, arts, culture, and tourism, which she described as vital economic levers and the cultural treasures of the region’s people.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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