The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Retired), has urged the Nigerian Army to strengthen joint operations and enhance professionalism.

General Musa also urged the Army to ensure that strategic deliberations translate into concrete actions to address the country’s evolving security challenges.

He gave the advice while delivering the opening address at the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference 2025 which took place in Lagos.

He described the annual forum as “a vital opportunity for reviewing the Army’s operational posture, assessing readiness and aligning its future direction with national security priorities.”

“This annual engagement remains a vital strategic forum for the Nigerian Army to review its operational posture, assess its readiness and professionalism, and align its future direction with national security priorities,” the Defence Minister said.

General Musa also said that the conference provides senior commanders and key stakeholders with a platform to reflect on lessons learned from ongoing operations, examine emerging threats and develop practical responses aimed at strengthening the Army’s capacity to discharge its constitutional responsibilities effectively.

He stressed that the importance of the conference cannot be overstated, especially in view of Nigeria’s complex and dynamic security environment, which remains characterised by terrorism, banditry, criminality and other asymmetric threats.

“Nigeria continues to face… asymmetric threats that require sustained focus, strategic clarity and adaptive leadership,” General Musa noted.

He expressed confidence that the deliberations at the conference would generate actionable recommendations and innovative approaches capable of enhancing operational effectiveness in 2026 and beyond, while reinforcing the Nigerian Army’s role as a central pillar of national stability.

He commended officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their resilience, professionalism and unwavering commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

While acknowledging that security challenges persist, the Defence Minister said the operational capacity of terrorist groups, bandits and other criminal elements has been significantly degraded across multiple theatres, attributing the gains to troops’ courage, improved planning and execution, and coordinated operations conducted within a joint and multi-agency framework.

“It is evident that the operational capacity of terrorist groups, bandits and other criminal elements has been significantly degraded across multiple theatres,” he said.

General Musa emphasised that success in today’s security environment can only be sustained through unity of effort, adding that inter-service cooperation and joint operations are no longer optional but fundamental requirements for effective national defence.

The Defence Minister also highlighted the human dimension of service, paying tribute to fallen personnel who paid the supreme sacrifice in defence of the nation, while recognising wounded soldiers and the families who bear the enduring cost of service.

He said; “We honour the memory of our gallant personnel who paid the supreme sacrifice in the defence of our nation,”Musa said, adding that their welfare and long-term support “remain a sacred obligation that must be upheld without compromise.”

General Musa reaffirmed that security remains a central pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, pledging that the Ministry of Defence will continue to provide strategic direction, policy support and capability development to ensure the Armed Forces remain professional, responsive and future-ready.

The Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) has renewed calls for a 10-year tax relief for operators in Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones, warning that the immediate implementation of the new tax law could unsettle long-term investments across the sector.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of OGFZA, Mr Bamanga Jada, made the call in Onne, Rivers State, at a town hall meeting with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and OGFZA licensees.

Jada said the proposed relief would provide operators with the much-needed “adaptation space” to adjust their operations and ensure compliance with evolving tax requirements.

“Accordingly, OGFZA supports the call for a ten-year extension of existing tax incentives, coupled with a phased implementation to mitigate potential disruptions. Many of our licensees, including prominent foreign investors, formulate strategies spanning 10, 15 or even 25 years, based on prevailing incentives,” he said.

He noted that such a transitional window would strengthen policy consistency, which he described as critical to sustaining investor confidence and advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The OGFZA chief disclosed that Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones have attracted over $24 billion in investments, host more than 200 enterprises, and have created hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs nationwide.

“Energy-oriented free zones have been pivotal in driving development in several countries, as seen in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai and the Sohar Free Zone in Oman. These initiatives have attracted billions of dollars in investments, created massive employment opportunities and positioned their economies as global leaders,” Jada said.

Similarly, OGFZA-regulated free zones in Nigeria have secured more than $24 billion in investments, host over 200 enterprises, and have generated hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. This highlights the value of strong incentives and effective regulation in accelerating industrialisation,” he added.

Jada further revealed that exports from Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones have surged under the current administration, reaching 496,537,804 metric tonnes, with products supplied to markets in Brazil, the United States, France, India, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea.

“Our operators now supply markets in Brazil, the United States, France, India, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea and beyond, in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.

He commended President Tinubu for his commitment to tax reforms and economic transformation, while also acknowledging the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, for her guidance and advocacy in support of the sector.

Reaffirming OGFZA’s commitment to collaboration, Jada said the Authority would continue to work closely with FIRS, in line with their memorandum of understanding, to ensure tax reforms are implemented efficiently and fairly.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Dr Zacch Adedeji, described the 2025 tax reforms as a significant step towards modernising Nigeria’s fiscal framework. Represented by his Special Adviser on Tax Incentives, Dr Cletus Adie, Adedeji stressed that compliance and transparency remain central to the reforms.

“For export processing and free trade zones, the focus is not on taxing income or profits, but on promoting transparency, accountability and proper reporting,” he said.

He explained that the introduction of a tax clearance certificate as a mandatory requirement for licence renewal was aimed at strengthening oversight, citing what he described as “continuous recalcitrant behaviour by some enterprises”, which had made a structured administrative approach necessary, in line with Section 72(4)(f) of the Nigerian Tax Administration Act.

Stakeholders at the meeting unanimously urged the Federal Government to exempt operators in special economic and free zones from the new tax law provisions for a transitional period to enable a smooth adjustment to the reforms.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to encouraging innovative individuals and groups capable of scaling up the state’s food security systems.

Governor Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance at the 2025 Lagos Food Festival held at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, with the theme “Taste Without Borders”.

The governor said that over the past eleven months, the state government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, had implemented several interventions and empowerment initiatives that have positively impacted agripreneurs and the entire agricultural value chain.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems has done a great deal this year. It has empowered many entrepreneurs as part of efforts to support innovators and aggregators in the food business, allowing them to become independent and thrive as entrepreneurs.

“Families are also here to enjoy the exhibition of diverse food cultures and cuisines. You can see that the venue is filled with people. I even took on the role of a chef today. I cooked seafood rice with spinach and tasted my own cooking,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that the festival was designed to bring families together while encouraging participants in the catering and food sector, adding that food serves as a powerful tool for telling the Lagos story.

“It is about people coming out to appreciate who we are: creative and fashionable people in all areas. Food is one way to showcase our art and skills. We are doing this on a budget while opening opportunities for many young talents, smart minds and businesses that are being transformed,” he added.

The governor further noted that it was imperative for the government to design programmes that uplift citizens and promote diverse skills, stressing that his administration would continue to take necessary steps to sustain food security and ensure Lagos remains a safe and welcoming home for all.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, described the festival, now in its fifth edition as an embodiment of what Lagos represents, particularly in culinary culture fused with entertainment.

Olusanya noted that the festival had created opportunities for food actors in the state to connect, network and expand their businesses beyond borders.

She said:

“Lagos is very diverse, it is very multicultural and so we believe that in celebrating everything that is Lagos, food is the embodiment of that and we as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, we are the curators and the custodians of that, so it is best that we celebrate all of our value food chain actors and the Lagos Food Festival is a place to do so.

“We have had many stars made from the Lagos Food Festival just by reason of Mr Governor cooking along with them and tasting their foods and giving a word of encouragement. So, this is an avenue for us as the ministry of agriculture and food systems to solidify all of our interventions over the years and to celebrate everyone that makes it possible for all of us to eat in Lagos.”

She added that, given the multicultural nature of Lagos, the government remains committed to celebrating the state’s values and all food value chain actors.

Some participants at the festival, particularly food vendors, commended the state government for its continuous, all-year-round interventions aimed at ensuring the growth and sustainability of food businesses across the state.