President of the Africa Development Studies Centre, ADSC, Sir Victor Walsh Oluwafemi warmly congratulates the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, and the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the landmark arbitration victory against European Dynamics UK Ltd.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Sir Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, an International Development Expert, Reputation Architecture Strategist stating that:

“This decisive outcome is not merely a legal win. It is a governance statement.

“At a time when international contractors often assume that African institutions will capitulate under technical pressure, Nigeria has demonstrated maturity, institutional discipline and contractual courage.

“The dismissal of claims totalling over 6.2 million dollars signals a structural shift in how the country manages public-sector technology contracts.

“This is a defining moment in Nigeria’s procurement evolution, Oluwafemi asserted.

He explained that: “For years, procurement in many developing economies has been vulnerable to inflated milestone claims, loosely defined deliverables and weak enforcement of performance validation mechanisms.

“The tribunal’s affirmation of the centrality of User Acceptance Testing reinforces a fundamental principle: value must be delivered before value is paid for.

“That principle must now become doctrine. The Bureau of Public Procurement has sent a powerful message to the global contracting community that Nigeria will no longer accept distorted contractual interpretations, premature payment claims or technical shortcuts disguised as compliance. Payment must follow performance.

“Performance must be verifiable. Verification must be independent and rigorous.This is how institutions are built.

“The courage shown by Dr Adedokun in resisting premature settlement discussions reflects leadership rooted in fiduciary responsibility rather than convenience.

“The strategic coordination between the Bureau, the Attorney General’s office and Nigerian legal experts further demonstrates that domestic professional capacity can compete and prevail on the international stage.

“This victory should now catalyse a broader reform journey. Nigeria must seize this moment to institutionalise a new procurement architecture anchored on:

• Mandatory performance validated digital milestones

• Strengthened e-procurement oversight frameworks

• Independent technical audit layers embedded into contract execution

• Clear modular phase governance structures

• Structured risk allocation in technology contracting

“Through frameworks such as Policy as a Platform and Results as a Service, Nigeria can move beyond reactive dispute resolution into proactive procurement intelligence. The future of public procurement must be data-driven, performance-coded, and legally fortified.

“This arbitration win should mark the beginning of a national procurement renaissance.

“Let the journey of procurement reform begin in earnest. Let Nigeria’s e-procurement ecosystem evolve into a benchmark for transparency, accountability, and technical excellence across Africa. Let every contractor understand that Nigeria welcomes partnership but insists on performance.

“Today, Nigeria did not simply win a case. Nigeria strengthened its institutions. Nigeria protected public resources. Nigeria restored confidence in the architecture of public accountability.

“The Africa Development Studies Centre stands ready to support the Bureau of Public Procurement and relevant federal institutions in embedding these lessons into sustainable reform frameworks that will redefine public sector contracting for the digital age.

“The message is clear. Nigeria is no longer business as usual. The procurement reform era has begun,” Oluwafemi added.

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved the constitution of the 2026/1447AH Ramadan Feeding Programme Committee to supervise the distribution of food to residents across the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa Thursday.

The Governor announced that food distribution commenced since Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 115 feeding centres across the eight Kano metropolitant LGAs.

He explained that the programme is aimed at supporting the less privileged and easing the burden of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

Governor Yusuf urged members of the committee to carry out their duties with dedication, transparency and fear of God to ensure the success of the programme.

Members of the Committee

Chairman

1. Ahmed Tijani Auwalu – Hon. Commissioner, Ministry for Religious Affairs

Members

2. Muhammad Tajo Othman – Hon. Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government

3. Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf – Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Health

4. Dr. Dahiru Hashim – Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Environment

5. Shiek Ibrahim Shehu Maihula – Chairman, Hisbah Board

6. Aliyu Muhammad Bichi – Special Adviser, Religious Affairs II

7. Gwani Musa Hamza Falaki – Special Adviser on Tsangaya

8. Dankaka Hussaini Bebeji – Special Adviser, DGO

9. Abdulkadir Auwalu (Alhajiji) – Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs

10. Usamatu A. Salga – Special Adviser, Religious Affairs I

11. Jamila Magaji Abdullahi – State Accountant General

12. Abba Saidu Sufi – Director General, Hisbah Board

13. Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa – Director General, Media & Publicity

14. Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo – Director General, Protocol

15. Nana Asma’u Jibril – Director General, Research & Documentation

16. Yahaya Musa Kwankwaso – Deputy Director General, Protocol

17. Sa’adatu Salisu Yusha’u – Chairman, T/Wada Local Government (ALGON Chairperson)

18. Ahmad Ibrahim Muhammad – Chairman, Tarauni Local Government

19. Salisu Usman Masu – Chairman, Fagge Local Government

20. Salim Hashim Idris – Chairman, Kano Municipal

21. Abubakar Mu’az Yusuf Mojo – Chairman, Gwale Local Government

22. Yusuf Imam Oganboye – Chairman, Nassarawa Local Government

23. Suraj Ibrahim Imam – Chairman, Dala Local Government

24. Abdullahi Gali Shitu Basaf – Chairman, Kumbotso Local Government

25. Binta Lawan Aliyu – Permanent Secretary, Government House

26. Barr. Habibu Dan’almajiri, Chairman, Zakkat Commission

27. Hon. Aisha Muhammad Idris, Special Adviser on Food Security

Secretaries

28. Akibu Isa Murtala – Special Adviser on Administration (Secretary)

29. Bilkisu Shehu Maimota – Permanent Secretary/AGS, SSG’s Office (Co-Secretary)

Secretariat

30. Kawu Nasiru – Director/AGS, SSG’s Office

31. Hassan Salisu Kofarmata – Director, Special Duties, SSG’s Office

32. Jamilu Hassan Yola, Confidential Sec. SSGs Office

The Governor reaffirmed that the Ramadan Feeding Programme remains a key social intervention initiative of his administration aimed at promoting unity and supporting vulnerable residents of Kano State.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on their victories in Saturday’s area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and legislative by-elections in Rivers and Kano states, praising the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for his role in the party’s success.

The elections, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), involved chairmanship and councillorship contests across the FCT’s six area councils—Abaji, Abuja Municipal (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. Concurrent by-elections were also held for the Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies in Kano State, and the Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies in Rivers State.

According to results declared by INEC, the APC secured chairmanship victories in four of the six FCT councils: Abaji, Kwali, AMAC, and Bwari. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed victory in Gwagwalada. In the Rivers State by-elections, the APC won both contested seats.

In a statement on Sunday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, quoted Tinubu as urging the winners to view their mandate as “a sacred trust” and to serve with humility, patriotism, and dedication.

The President specifically commended Wike, a key opposition figure who defected to the APC to serve in the cabinet, for his “remarkable achievements in the territory, which have yielded political dividends to the governing APC.” Tinubu also congratulated the APC national and state leaderships on the victories.

Tinubu further lauded INEC, security agencies, and voters for the “peaceful and successful conduct of the elections,” describing the process as one that strengthens democratic culture and institutions.

However, the post-election period was not without contention. Reports indicated a low voter turnout across the FCT, and opposition parties alleged widespread irregularities.

In a swift response, the PDP inaugurated a special legal team to handle election petitions arising from the FCT Area Council polls. While congratulating its victorious candidates, including Gwagwalada Chairman-elect Mohammed Kasim, the party claimed the elections were marred by “unprecedented intimidation, high-powered money politics, and brazen executive brigandage.”

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, alleged that video evidence exists showing security forces interfering with the process. “Armed security personnel were used to cart away result sheets in polling units, intimidate voters, and unduly influence the outcome of the elections,” he claimed.

The party warned that the conduct of the polls and the low turnout could be a “foreshadowing” of the 2027 general elections if urgent corrective measures are not taken by the National Assembly and the President. The newly inaugurated legal team, headed by National Legal Adviser Shafi Bara’u, Esq., will manage all complaints and litigations arising from the election.