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.

The Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) on Sunday formally flagged off the 2026 Ramadan Fair at the Trade Fair Complex, Kano, in a colourful and spiritually uplifting ceremony attended by government officials, traditional leaders, religious scholars, captains of industry, and members of the business community.

Organized in collaboration with the Kano State Government through the Ministry of Commerce and Investment and the Kano Markets Chairman Forum Association (KAMCHAFA), the Fair is designed to ease the burden on citizens by providing essential commodities at affordable prices while strengthening Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Executive Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, was represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Investment, Goni Shehu Wada Sagagi. Delivering the Governor’s official remarks, the Commissioner described the Ramadan Fair as “a timely and deeply humane intervention” in light of prevailing economic realities.

He noted that the initiative reflects government’s unwavering commitment to protecting consumers and supporting traders, particularly during a sacred period defined by compassion, sacrifice, and community solidarity. He commended the leadership of KACCIMA for its foresight and proactive engagement, urging traders to embrace fairness, moderation in pricing, and empathy in the spirit of Ramadan.

“The true essence of Ramadan,” he stated, “is not only in fasting but in demonstrating kindness, honesty, and social responsibility. Let our markets reflect these noble values.”

In a separate address, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, applauded the President of KACCIMA, Ambassador Usman Hassan Darma, for his tireless efforts in repositioning and revitalizing the image of the Chamber.
He described the current leadership as visionary and result-driven, noting that KACCIMA has regained public confidence through impactful initiatives such as the Ramadan Fair.

He further admonished market leaders to ensure stable business activities, transparency, and discipline within their domains to sustain economic growth and public trust.

Representing His Highness the Emir of Kano, the Danmalikin Kano and District Head of Rimingado, Royal highness Dr. Auwalu Mudi Yakasai, urged the business community to uphold integrity and fairness in all commercial dealings. He reminded traders that wealth earned through honesty attracts blessings, while exploitation and deceit diminish both spiritual and social value.

In a spiritually charged lecture, Sheikh Kamalu Inuwa, Chief Imam of Hidaya Friday Mosque Gandu layout, delivered a heartfelt reminder to traders and entrepreneurs.

He admonished them to desist from cheating, forgery, hoarding, and all forms of dishonest practices.

The Sheikh emphasized that Islam permits and encourages lawful trade but strictly forbids ussery, exploitation and fraud. Citing various Qur’anic verses, he reminded the audience that Allah commands justice and fairness in measurement and transactions, warning against reducing weights and measures for unjust gain.

He stressed that Ramadan is a season of purification not only of the body through fasting but of wealth through lawful earnings. “Let your businesses reflect the teachings of Islam,” he urged. “Trade in what is halal, deal with sincerity, and remember that every transaction is accountable before Allah.”
His lecture drew deep reflection from participants and reinforced the moral foundation upon which the Ramadan Fair stands.

In his welcome address, the President of KACCIMA Amb. Usman Hassan Darma reaffirmed the Chamber’s dedication to promoting ethical commerce, protecting consumers, and supporting enterprise development. He described the Ramadan Fair as both an economic intervention and a moral commitment to social responsibility.

The 2026 Ramadan Fair will run throughout the Ramadan period, offering food items, household goods, and locally manufactured products at competitive and affordable prices.

KACCIMA expresses profound appreciation to the Kano State Government, traditional and religious leaders, market associations, and all stakeholders whose collaboration ensured a successful and impactful opening ceremony.

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.