Information Minister Emphasized on Strengthen the Regulatory Framework of Nigeria’s Advertising and Marketing Communications Industry

It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you to this important occasion, the inauguration of the newly constituted Advertising Offenses Tribunal.
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Today marks another significant step in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the regulatory framework of Nigeria’s advertising and marketing communications industry, promote professionalism and integrity, and ensure that the industry continues to contribute meaningfully to our national development.

The Federal Government recognizes that advertising is far more than the promotion of products and services. It is a powerful instrument of communication.

Nigeria has one of Africa’s largest and most dynamic advertising and marketing communications ecosystems, with enormous potential to contribute to economic growth, employment, innovation, and investment.

The enactment of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act No. 23 of 2022 was a major milestone in this direction. The Act replaced the former Advertising Practitioners (Registration, Etc.) Act and established ARCON as the successor to the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria.

More importantly, the new law expanded ARCON’s mandate and powers, including the authority to prosecute offenses established under the Act, relevant regulations, and codes.

It is within this broader regulatory framework that the Advertising Offenses Tribunal assumes its importance.

Section 37(1) of the ARCON Act establishes the Tribunal to adjudicate offenses created under the Act, the Code of Advertising Practice, Standards of Practice, proclamations, and other relevant enactments made under the law.

The establishment of the Tribunal reflects a clear legislative intention: that offenses within the advertising ecosystem should be addressed through a specialized mechanism capable of delivering justice efficiently, fairly, and without unnecessary delay.

It will help ensure that the rules governing advertising are not merely written on paper but can be meaningfully applied when violations occur. This is essential for protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, strengthening professional standards, and maintaining public confidence in the industry.

Following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the first panel of the Advertising Offenses Tribunal in May 2026, the incoming panel was duly nominated and appointed in accordance with the provisions of the law.

I am particularly pleased that the new panel brings together individuals with considerable experience in the judiciary, legal practice, advertising, broadcasting, and marketing communications.

The Chairman, Honourable Justice Cecilia M. A. Olatoregun, is a Judge Emeritus of the Federal High Court with more than four decades of post-call experience. Having previously served as the Tribunal’s inaugural Chairman, she brings invaluable judicial experience and institutional knowledge to this new assignment.

The members of the Tribunal — Musa Ahmed Attah, SAN; Merga Tyowanan Kachina, Esq.; Dr. Ken Onyeali Ikpe, FRPA; and Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim, RPA—also bring distinguished professional backgrounds spanning law, arbitration, advertising, marketing communications, broadcasting, and public service.

Collectively, they possess the experience, professional competence, and institutional understanding required for this important responsibility. I congratulate each of you on your appointment.

I therefore urge the Chairman and members of the Tribunal to discharge your responsibilities with the highest standards of integrity, independence, fairness, and professionalism.

Every matter that comes before you should be considered on its merits, without fear or favour, affection or ill will. The Tribunal must be, and must be seen to be, a fair and impartial institution.

Information Minister

To the Chairman and members of the Tribunal, I urge you to see this appointment not merely as an honour, but as a call to service. Your experience has brought you to this point. Your integrity will define your tenure.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, will continue to support ARCON’s work and all legitimate efforts to build a more professional, responsible, and globally competitive advertising industry.

Once again, I congratulate the Chairman and members of the Advertising Offenses Tribunal on your appointment.

Let us build an advertising industry that commands creativity, earns trust, and upholds responsibility.

Thank you.
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EFCC Academy Flags off Training of New Code of Conduct Bureau Officers

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced a four-week Basic Investigation and Enforcement training for 102 newly recruited officers of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.
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The Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, August 10, 2026 at the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja, said “the programme marked a significant milestone in the history of the two institutions, this is the first time the EFCC is hosting and training newly recruited staff of the Code of Conduct Bureau”.

The training is aimed at strengthening the investigative capacity, professionalism, discipline and ethical conduct of the newly recruited officers.

Olukoyede, represented by the Acting Commandant, EFCC Academy, Assistant Commander of EFCC, ACE1 Joseph Ogwiji emphasized that the partnership “represents more than a training arrangement, it is a new chapter in institutional collaboration and capacity development”

Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, in his address said “the partnership between our two institutions remains essential to the Nigerian Government’s efforts to promote integrity and ethical conduct in public service”.

Bello charged the trainees to approach the training with all the seriousness it deserves because it is to prepare them to carry out the constitutional mandate of the Bureau which is to promote transparency, prevent conflict of interest and help build the public service that Nigerians can trust.

EFCC Academy

The trainees were also urged to uphold integrity, discipline, professionalism, confidentiality and strict adherence to the law in the discharge of their responsibilities.
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Nigerian Navy, NIMASA Strengthen Strategic Partnership for Maritime Security

The Nigerian Navy (NN) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have renewed their strategic partnership through the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to strengthen maritime safety and security across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
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The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, Principal Staff Officers and senior officials of both organisations at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja. The renewed MoU consolidates a relationship that began in 2007 and has been sustained through successive renewals, reflecting the resilience and enduring national value of the partnership. By aligning the complementary mandates, capabilities and expertise of both institutions, the framework is expected to improve coordination, strengthen operational alignment and translate cooperation into measurable maritime safety and security outcomes.

Speaking before the signing, the DG/CEO NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, described the renewal as a reaffirmation of the shared commitment of both organisations to the security, safety, sustainability and prosperity of Nigeria’s maritime domain and Blue Economy. He noted that Nigeria’s economic wellbeing is closely connected to the sea and stressed that securing the nation’s maritime space is a national imperative. He acknowledged the Nigerian Navy as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s maritime security architecture and recognised its operational support to NIMASA in the discharge of the Agency’s statutory responsibilities.

In a similar vein, the CNS, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, described the renewed MoU as an important milestone in an enduring relationship founded on decades of cooperation and shared national interests. He expressed confidence in the leadership of NIMASA and the progress being recorded by the Agency, while reaffirming the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustained collaboration for improved national outcomes. He pledged the Navy’s operational support towards the effective discharge of NIMASA’s mandate over

the next five years, emphasising that sustained inter-agency cooperation remains indispensable to securing Nigeria’s maritime space and advancing the national interest.

Under the renewed framework, the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA will deepen cooperation in maritime safety and security, marine pollution control, search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, intelligence and information sharing, hydrography, training and professional capacity development. These areas of cooperation will enhance maritime domain awareness, strengthen coordinated responses to incidents at sea and support the safety of ships, crew, cargo, passengers and navigation within Nigeria’s maritime domain.

Navy, NIMASA

Beyond operational activity, the MoU establishes a stronger institutional framework for timely intelligence and information exchange, the appropriate utilisation of relevant facilities and capabilities, and cooperation in other areas of mutual interest. Significantly, the agreement provides mechanisms for accountability and sustained delivery. Its implementation will be subjected to regular institutional review, while both organisations will jointly convene an annual Maritime Safety and Security Conference. These mechanisms will provide opportunities to assess progress, address emerging challenges, refine joint priorities to ensure that the partnership continues to produce practical and measurable outcomes.

For the Nigerian Navy, securing Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone remains fundamental to protecting lives and property, safeguarding legitimate maritime activities, preserving national security and creating an enabling environment for the sustainable development of the Blue Economy.

The Nigerian Navy will continue to work with NIMASA, sister Services and other security agencies to protect Nigeria’s maritime interests and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Navy remains resolute in advancing a safer, more secure and prosperous maritime environment for Nigeria and the wider Gulf of Guinea. Please kindly disseminate accordingly.

ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO

Navy Captain for Chief of the Naval Staff
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