Business
Fish farmers to new NAIC boss: ‘Your appointment must bring real change, not just promises’
A coalition of aquaculture professionals under the aegis of National Aquaculture Professionals Alliance (NAPA) has welcomed the appointment of Yazeed Shehu Danfulani as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), but with a clear message: it must not be business as usual.
In a statement signed by its President, Engr. Ibrahim Ayotola Bamidele, the group applauded President Bola Tinubu for what it described as a “strategic choice”.
But while NAPA acknowledged the appointment as a potential turning point, it stressed that farmers are tired of symbolic appointments that fail to deliver results on the ground.
“For years, fish farmers have suffered in silence—plagued by floods, disease outbreaks, and unpredictable production costs—with little to no insurance support,” Bamidele said.
“Mr. Danfulani’s appointment is a moment of renewed hope, but it must lead to action.”
The group pointed out that NAIC, despite its mandate, has remained distant from everyday farmers, especially smallholder aquaculture operators who form the backbone of Nigeria’s protein supply chain.
“The truth is, NAIC has been largely invisible to grassroots farmers. This is the time to change that,” Bamidele stated, calling on Danfulani to break from the past and usher in a new era of practical insurance schemes that are accessible, affordable, and timely.
He argued that Danfulani’s background in finance, agriculture, and enterprise development gives him an edge — but only if it’s matched with the political will to reform NAIC into a truly farmer-focused institution.
According to Bamidele, the sector has the potential to contribute significantly to food security, foreign exchange earnings, and employment if it is properly supported with risk mitigation tools like insurance.
“The reason many young Nigerians avoid agriculture is because of the risks. But if NAIC is repositioned under Danfulani to offer responsive insurance schemes and timely payouts, more people will be willing to invest in farming,” Bamidele noted.
The group called on the new NAIC leadership to prioritise stakeholder engagement and bridge the existing gap between the agency and farmers at the grassroots.
“We urge Mr. Danfulani to work closely with associations like ours. Let NAIC move from being a name on paper to being a visible support system for farmers across Nigeria. Organise sensitisation drives. Meet us where we are — in hatcheries, ponds, and markets,” the group said.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has declared that banks and financial institutions must establish and maintain a temporary watch-list for Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) implicated in suspected fraudulent transactions.
According to the CBN in a circular dated March 12, 2026 and signed by its Director of Payments System Policy Department, Musa I. Jimoh, the apex bank said such a suspected BVN may remain on the temporary watchlist for a maximum period of twenty-four (24) hours during which the owner would be contacted to make clarifications.
The circular explained that the move is part of several new measures under a revised regulatory framework aimed at enhancing financial system stability.
“A BVN may remain on this temporary Watchlist for a maximum period of twenty-four (24) hours, during this period, the BVN owner shall be contacted to provide clarification regarding the identified transaction(s),” the circular stated.
The circular also sets an age requirement for BVN enrolment, restricting registration to individuals who have attained eighteen (18) years and above.
The CBN also added that amendments to phone numbers linked to a BVN shall be allowed only once.
“Amendments to phone numbers linked to a BVN shall be allowed only once,” the circular noted.
The apex bank stated that access to BVN databases will remain tightly controlled.
“Access to the BVN databases shall be exclusively granted to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licensed financial institutions.
“Notwithstanding this provision, the Central Bank of Nigeria (the Bank) reserves the right to approve access to the BVN databases in extenuating circumstances and in accordance with the provisions of extant laws,” the circular said.
Financial institutions are expected to comply with the new requirements, and customers may be contacted by their banks if their BVNs are temporarily flagged during the new fraud monitoring process.
The new policy, as stated by the CBN, takes effect from May 1, 2026.
NNPC Reduces Fuel Price
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has reduced the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, at its retail stations in Lagos and Abuja.
The adjustment took effect on Wednesday as the national oil company reduced the price to N1,130 per litre in Lagos and N1,165 per litre in Abuja.
The new price means motorists in Lagos are now paying N100 less than the previous pump price of N1,230 per litre.
In Abuja, the new rate represents a reduction of N95 from the former price of N1,260 per litre.
Checks showed that the new price was already in place at several NNPC filling stations in Lagos, including outlets located along Isheri Oshun Road, Apple Junction and Ago Palace Way.
The same adjustment was also recorded in the Federal Capital Territory, where NNPC stations in areas such as Jabi and Wuse began selling petrol at N1,165 per litre.
The reduction comes at a time when many private oil marketers have not yet adjusted their pump prices to match the recent drop in the gantry price announced by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Dangote Refinery had earlier lowered its gantry price for petrol by N100 per litre, bringing it down to N1,075 per litre.
The change followed a fall in international crude oil prices.
Global oil prices had earlier risen sharply due to tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Iran and Israel.
The crisis raised fears of possible disruption to oil supply, especially around the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for global crude shipments.
Prices later began to fall after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, indicated that the conflict might end soon.
Grief has swept through the business and faith communities following the passing of Sir Innocent Chinedu Onuoha, the respected entrepreneur and Executive Chairman of InnoChris Group. He died peacefully in his sleep on December 11, 2025, at his home in Lagos. He was 71.
Born in 1954 in Umuoma Umuaro II Autonomous Community, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, Onuoha grew to become a symbol of enterprise, generosity, and unwavering faith. A devoted member and evangelist in the Anglican Communion, he lived a life that blended business success with service to God and humanity.
Long before many came to know his vast business interests, the name Innochris had already echoed in popular culture. In the 1990s, legendary Ogene music maestro Oliver De Coque famously chanted “Ugbo ndi oma Innochris eh!” in one of his songs — a line that celebrated the Onuoha brothers and helped make Sir Innocent Onuoha and his brother Christian Onugha widely known during that era.
Onuoha’s entrepreneurial journey began after years of professional experience working as secretary to a former Chief Engineer at Flour Mills of Nigeria. With determination and vision, he went on to establish InnoChris Group, a conglomerate that grew to include InnoChris Transport, InnoChris Computers, and InnoChris Spare Parts, serving customers across Nigeria.
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