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NCP Mulls BOA-NIRSAL Merger, Injection Of Fresh Capital

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NCP Mulls BOA-NIRSAL Merger, Injection Of Fresh Capital

*We must reposition BOA to drive Nigeria’s food security- VP Shettima

By: Our Reporter

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has received key recommendations from its committee on the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), including a proposed merger with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s NIRSAL Microfinance Ltd and a fresh capital injection to revitalize the bank.

Addressing the second NCP meeting of 2024 at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to repositioning and reforming BOA to drive the administration’s food security agenda.

“Let’s get very sound professionals with integrity to manage the bank. If we use it well, it’s going to be a tool for the transformation of our economy because agriculture is the key,” the Vice President said.

Presenting the committee’s report, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who doubles as NCP Vice-Chairman, said the Council’s decision was informed by the challenges identified and the need for urgent resolution of the issues confronting the Bank.

Edun outlined the major recommendations, including “the immediate reconstitution of the Board of Directors of the Bank to enhance corporate governance” and “a merger of BOA with the CBN’s NIRSAL Microfinance Ltd.”

He also highlighted the proposal to “cede National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) land titles to BOA so that it reflects in its Balance Sheet, thus increasing its capital adequacy for the purpose of raising funds from institutional investors.”

Acknowledging the need for financial reinforcement, the Minister identified “adequate capital injection into the Bank by the shareholders” as a crucial step forward.

The committee’s report comes after the NCP empanelled an 8-member inter-ministerial body in December 2023 to review the state of affairs at BOA, given agriculture’s critical role in the economy and the Tinubu administration’s commitment to food security under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

In 2016, the NCP had approved the collaboration between the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the then Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Federal Ministry of Finance to restructure and recapitalize BOA.

A consultant, Lead Capital Consortium, was engaged in 2019 to review the bank’s operations and advise on strategies for rebirth and growth. The consultant’s core recommendation was for the government to recapitalize the bank, implement reforms, provide technical assistance, and transform BOA into a sustainable agricultural development bank.

Edun further outlined additional recommendations, including “Provision and upgrade of the Bank’s ICT infrastructure to automate processes, reduce costs and enhance the Bank’s outreach to the grassroots” and “Enhance governance and risk management by appointing qualified Board members and senior management with relevant expertise.”

In a move to bring transparency and efficiency to the nation’s energy sector, the NCP also noted the proposal seeking approval for the establishment of an independent system operator from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

NCP Chairman, Vice President Shettima, set up a committee to liaise with the Special Adviser to the President on Energy and the Federal Ministry of Power to provide a roadmap and reach out to stakeholders.

The committee is chaired by Mr. Oye Hassan-Odukale, Technical Committee Chairman of NCP.

On a Strategy Paper for the Optimisation of Oil and Gas Assets, the Council also formed a committee to look into issues concerning oil and gas infrastructure, stressing the strategic importance of investors in the sector.

The committee chaired by the Minister for Budget and Economic Planning includes the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the NCP Secretariat, the Ministers of Power, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas),

The committee was given three weeks to come up with its report on optimizing the nation’s oil and gas assets.
End

NCP Mulls BOA-NIRSAL Merger, Injection Of Fresh Capital

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Violent clash in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga Minna leaves one dead, several arrested

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Violent clash in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga Minna leaves one dead, several arrested

By: Zagazola Makama

A violent confrontation among rival youths in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga, Minna, Niger State, resulted in the death of one person and the arrest of several others, security sources confirmed on Saturday.

According to sources, on Friday at about 8:00 p.m., a group of youths armed with dangerous weapons were sighted causing havoc along David Mark Road. Security operatives quickly intervened and dispersed the group.

However, at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, the same group engaged in a violent clash among themselves using matchets and daggers. Twelve suspects, including Ibrahim Musa, Abbah Hussaini, Babangida Gambo, and Abubakar Bala, were arrested, by the police and their weapons recovered.

Later at about 8:30 a.m., Bello Mohammed of Farm Centre, Tunga Minna, was found lying in a pool of blood. He was rushed to General Hospital Minna but was confirmed dead on arrival.

Sources said that preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased was among the suspected thugs terrorizing residents in the area.

Violent clash in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga Minna leaves one dead, several arrested

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Young fulani man killed, six cows poisoned in separate farmland incidents in Plateau state

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Young fulani man killed, six cows poisoned in separate farmland incidents in Plateau state

By: Zagazola Makama

A 25-year-old Fulani man, Yakubu Salisu of Tenti village, Bokkos Local Government Area, was killed in a violent attack, while six cows were poisoned in a separate incident in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Saturday, authorities confirmed.

According to sources , Salisu was stabbed at the back by yet-to-be-identified assailants suspected to be locals of Bokkos. He died instantly at the scene.

Before the attack, a farmer, Josiah Joshua, 28, said he reportedly confronted six herders rearing cows on his farm. According to him, herders allegedly refused to remove the animals and attacked Joshua, resulting in injuries.

In retaliation, Joshua mobilized his friends to attack Yakubu Salisu, stabbing him multiple times on his before and killing him instantly.

Local leaders told Zagazola that the claims by some parties suggesting the Fulani victims “invaded farmlands” are false and appear to be an attempt to justify the attacks. Investigations indicate both incidents were unprovoked and targeted.

The police, however stormed the scene, photographed the corps and later released to relatives for burial according to Islamic rites, as the family declined an autopsy. The Authorities said they have commenced investigation, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, in Riyom LGA, six cows were poisoned in Kwi village without any apparent provocation.

Authorities have commenced investigations into both incidents, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.

Security officials warned residents to remain vigilant and urged communities to avoid taking the law into their own hands.

These incidents illustrate the rising tensions in Plateau State, drawing attention to the need for swift intervention to prevent escalation of communal violence over farmland disputes.

Young fulani man killed, six cows poisoned in separate farmland incidents in Plateau state

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Silent Changes, Big Impact: Adeola Ajayi’s Transformation of the DSS

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Silent Changes, Big Impact: Adeola Ajayi’s Transformation of the DSS

By: Sunday Oladapo

Leadership in the security sector often reveals itself not through grand speeches or public displays of authority, but through quiet, deliberate decisions that gradually shift systems, culture, and outcomes. Adeola Ajayi’s stewardship of the Department of State Services (DSS) exemplifies this subtle but powerful form of leadership. Though he rarely seeks the spotlight, the changes unfolding under his watch are reshaping the DSS in ways that many insiders describe as the most meaningful transformation the agency has witnessed in years.

From the moment Ajayi assumed office, it was clear he was bringing a different kind of energy—one rooted in discipline, modernization, and strategic silence. Instead of sweeping pronouncements, he focused on strengthening the agency’s foundation: its people, processes, and purpose. And this approach, though understated, is now yielding visible dividends.

Reinvigorating Professionalism and Intelligence Capacity

One of Ajayi’s most significant achievements is the recalibration of the DSS’s intelligence framework. Recognizing that modern threats—from terrorism to cybercrime—require an intelligence service that is both proactive and technologically sophisticated, he initiated targeted reforms to upgrade analytical tools, digital surveillance capacity, and field operations coordination.

Training programs have also been revitalized. Officers are now exposed to global best practices in intelligence gathering, behavioral analysis, cybersecurity, and inter-agency communication. The goal is simple but transformative: build a DSS that can prevent threats before they materialize, rather than merely responding after damage has been done.

Ajayi’s emphasis on data-driven intelligence has contributed to more efficient threat assessment, improved crisis response, and a more agile internal structure that encourages innovation instead of outdated, rigid protocols.

Strengthening Inter-Agency Collaboration

A common weakness in Nigeria’s security architecture has been fragmentation—agencies working in silos, often competing rather than collaborating. Ajayi has worked quietly but effectively to change this dynamic. His leadership has fostered smoother cooperation between the DSS, the police, the military, and other national security institutions.

By prioritizing information-sharing, joint operations, and coordinated strategy development, Ajayi has positioned the DSS as a core driver of national security synergy. This shift may not be flashy, but its impact on operational success is already becoming evident.

Humanizing the Service and Rebuilding Public Trust

For many years, perceptions of the DSS fluctuated between respect and apprehension, largely due to concerns over transparency and human-rights practices. Ajayi has taken deliberate steps to address this by promoting a more professional, rights-conscious operational culture. Officers now undergo enhanced training on ethical conduct, community engagement, and communication.

While the DSS is not—and cannot be—a public-relations-driven institution, Ajayi understands that a modern security service must maintain a level of trust with the citizens it protects. His reforms are gradually helping to redefine the agency’s public interface, balancing its mandate for secrecy with an improved commitment to professionalism and accountability.

Internal Welfare and Institutional Stability

Security agencies perform best when their personnel feel valued, motivated, and well-equipped. Ajayi has strengthened internal welfare systems, ensuring officers receive improved support, clearer career growth opportunities, and the tools they need to perform effectively. This has boosted morale and reduced internal friction—two factors crucial for operational efficiency.

His quiet stabilizing influence has also brought a sense of predictability to DSS operations. Under his leadership, the agency appears more insulated from political turbulence, allowing it to focus squarely on its mandate.

A Leadership Style Rooted in Strategy, Not Spectacle

In a time when some leaders rely on bravado or theatrics to appear effective, Ajayi stands out for his disciplined restraint. His philosophy seems guided by a fundamental principle: a security agency’s success is measured in outcomes, not headlines. The calmness of his leadership style has enabled him to pursue reforms without unnecessary noise, distractions, or politicization.

And this may be the true hallmark of his impact—delivering change through consistency rather than controversy.

Looking Ahead: A Long-Term Blueprint for the DSS

If the momentum of Ajayi’s reforms is sustained, the DSS could emerge as a more modern, reliable, and globally respected intelligence service. His agenda sets a foundation for:

A culture of professionalism over patronage

A stronger intelligence-driven approach to national security

A more integrated and collaborative security environment

A service that balances secrecy with lawful, ethical conduct

A stable institution that prioritizes national interest above all else

His leadership demonstrates that meaningful reform does not always come with fanfare. Sometimes, it comes quietly—through silent changes that produce big, enduring impact.

In transforming the DSS with such strategic subtlety, Adeola Ajayi is not only redefining the institution but also showing that a new era of thoughtful, modern security leadership is both possible and already taking shape.
Sunday Oladapo is a public analysts from Abuja

Silent Changes, Big Impact: Adeola Ajayi’s Transformation of the DSS

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