News

Confusion Surrounds Appointment of Commandant for Operation Rainbow in Plateau State

Published

3 years ago

July 3, 2023

Preport

There is growing confusion and uncertainty in Little Rayfield, Plateau State, as the delay continues in appointing the commandant for Operation Rainbow, the state’s own security outfit. Governor Caleb Mutfwang has yet to make a decision, which is believed to be linked to the controversy surrounding the choice of who will lead the security outfit.

Many Plateau residents have expressed their preference for Brig. Gen. John Sunday Sura (rtd.) to be appointed as the commandant of Operation Rainbow. Gen. Sura, a retired general, contested the gubernatorial seat but lost to Governor Mutfwang during the PDP Primaries. Plateau residents consider Gen. Sura as the popular and consensus choice for the position.

A source from the Government House, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed that Governor Mutfwang is reluctant to appoint Gen. Sura due to concerns about elevating someone who competed against him during the primaries and potentially increasing their popularity.

It should be noted that Governor Mutfwang had previously considered appointing a non-indigene to the position, but this decision was met with strong opposition from Plateau residents. The general sentiment is that a non-indigene may not have sufficient patriotism to serve the state and goes against the prevailing demand for the creation of a state police force, an idea that Plateau State has actively championed.

Supporters of Gen. Sura argue that without his efforts during the general elections, Governor Mutfwang would not be in his current position. They view the governor’s hesitation to appoint Gen. Sura as a betrayal of the trust and goodwill that facilitated his victory. They also highlight Gen. Sura’s security blueprint during his gubernatorial campaign, as well as his military expertise gained from successful peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Rwanda, as qualifications that make him deserving of the appointment.

The situation has now become a battle between merit and politics. Meanwhile, the state continues to suffer from incessant attacks by militias who exploit the political climate on the Plateau, resulting in loss of life, property destruction, and the displacement of people from their ancestral homes.

The onus now falls on individuals of good conscience to intervene and save the state from these recurring security challenges. Plateau residents are eager for a commandant to be appointed to Operation Rainbow, as they believe this will contribute to the actualization of peaceful coexistence in the region.

News

Templar-Adrenale (A5 Athletics) Secures Historic National Partnership with Nigeria to Develop and Represent the Country’s U19 Athletes Across All Sports

Published

35 minutes ago

May 21, 2026

Preport

Templar-Adrenale (A5 Athletics), a global high-performance athlete development organization, today announced the execution of a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Office of the President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The agreement establishes Templar-Adrenale (A5 Athletics) as the officially recognized strategic development and placement partner for Nigeria’s elite Under-19 athletes across all sports disciplines marking what is believed to be the first time in history that a private company has secured national-level rights and authorization to develop and internationally represent a country’s U19 athletes across all sports categories.

Nigeria, home to more than 225 million people, is the largest country in Africa by population and one of the most talent-rich athletic markets in the world. The partnership positions A5 Athletics at the center of what analyst’s project could become one of the largest youth sports development ecosystems globally.

Under the 10-year agreement, the estimated long-term commercial value and opportunity pipeline associated with the A5 ecosystem is projected to be $525 million, driven by athlete development, international competition, media rights, sponsorships, academy operations, NIL
opportunities, global placements, and strategic sports infrastructure initiatives.

The MoU outlines a comprehensive nationwide framework for identifying, training, developing, and placing Nigeria’s top U19 athletes into elite global competition and educational pathways.

“This agreement represents a transformational moment not only for A5 Athletics, but for the future of global sports development,” said Francis Titus. “Nigeria possesses one of the deepest untapped pools of athletic talent in the world. Through this partnership, we are building a fully integrated pipeline capable of developing world-class athletes across every sport while creating life-changing academic and professional opportunities for the next generation.”

The partnership aligns directly with Nigeria’s national grassroots sports strategy, which targets sports industry contributions of up to 5% of the nation’s GDP and annual revenues between $3 billion and $4 billion by 2027.

A First-of-Its-Kind Global Sports Development Model

The MoU grants A5 Athletics the responsibility to develop elite Nigerian U19 teams across all sports disciplines through its proprietary “A5 Grassroots-to-Elite Pipeline,” including:

• Nationwide scouting and talent identification across all 36 Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory
• Year-round academy operations and holistic athlete development
• International prep competition circuits and showcase tours
• Academic scholarship placement pathways into U.S. schools and universities
• Athlete performance development including nutrition, sports science, psychology, and elite coaching
• International representation of Nigeria through officially validated A5 Prep Teams

The agreement also formally validates A5 Prep Teams as authorized representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in international competitions, camps, showcases, and tours.

Industry observers believe this creates a uniquely defensible competitive position for A5 Athletics in the rapidly expanding global sports economy.

Investor Highlights and Strategic Value
The partnership creates several significant investment and growth catalysts for Templar-Adrenale and the A5 ecosystem:

Exclusive Market Access

A5 gains structured operational access to one of the largest youth populations in the world and one of the most naturally gifted athletic regions globally.

Long-Term Government Alignment

The 10-year framework establishes direct alignment with Nigerian federal sports development initiatives and includes formal government recognition as a strategic partner.

Multi-Sport Scalability

Unlike traditional sports academies focused on a single discipline, A5’s mandate spans all sports, creating diversified revenue and talent acquisition opportunities across basketball, football, track & field, volleyball, combat sports, and additional emerging categories

U.S. Placement and Scholarship Pipeline
The agreement creates recurring pathways for Nigerian athletes to access U.S.-based academic and athletic opportunities through A5 U.S. Academies and affiliated programs.

Intellectual Property Ownership

Templar-Adrenale retains ownership of the A5 Program methodologies, scouting systems, training curricula, and associated branding under the agreement.

National Talent Infrastructure

The agreement establishes a recurring annual National Grassroots Talent Camp rotating throughout Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, ensuring nationwide athlete discovery and engagement.

Massive Commercial Expansion Potential
The projected enterprise opportunity exceeding $525 million is expected to derive from:

• Sponsorship and endorsement agreements
• International tournaments and showcase events
• Athlete placement and academy operations
• Media and streaming rights
• NIL and athlete brand partnerships
• Licensing and merchandising
• Sports tourism and international exhibitions
• Strategic global sports partnerships

As part of the agreement, Templar-Adrenale committed an initial direct investment of $10 million over the next decade to fund infrastructure, athlete development, international competition, staffing, scouting operations, and elite training systems.

Retaining Nigerian Talent on the Global Stage

A central objective of the partnership is addressing the longstanding migration of elite Nigerianborn athletes to other national programs. Under the agreement, athletes developed through the A5 system will represent Nigeria internationally while receiving advanced training and global exposure opportunities

The initiative is designed to create a sustainable sports development infrastructure capable of producing internationally competitive athletes while generating educational, economic, and social impact throughout Nigeria.

About Templar-Adrenale (A5 Athletics)

Templar-Adrenale (A5 Athletics) is a high-performance athlete development organization focused on building integrated pathways for elite youth athletes through scouting, academy training, education, international competition, and global placement opportunities. The organization’s A5 Grassroots-to-Elite Pipeline combines world-class coaching, holistic athlete development, and international exposure to prepare athletes for collegiate, professional, and global competition.

Media Contact
Templar-Adrenale (A5 Athletics)
Email: media@a5venture.com/media@a5athletes.com

Attention: Media Relations
Nigeria Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria

Business

Consolidated Hallmark Holdings Declares N0.25k Dividend, Revenue Rises By 47%

Published

2 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Preport

BY NKECHI BAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Consolidated Hallmark Holdings Plc, has reported a robust 47 per cent growth in insurance revenue for the 2025 financial year, alongside a record-breaking dividend payout, despite navigating severe capital market volatility that impacted its bottom line.

Speaking at the group’s 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, Group Chairman Shuaibu Idris disclosed that insurance revenue surged to N43.27 billion in 2025, up from N29.42 billion in the previous fiscal year.

The net insurance service result—reflecting performance after meeting claims, reinsurance obligations, and direct costs—rose sharply by 121 per cent to N6.85 billion, up from N3.10 billion in 2024.

Additionally, non-insurance operations picked up significant momentum, with operating and other non-insurance income jumping 61 per cent from N4.09 billion to N6.59 billion.

The group’s Profit Before Tax (PBT) declined to N8.44 billion from N22.65 billion in 2024. He attributed this drop entirely to a sharp decline in the mark-to-market valuation of the group’s capital market investments.

Cash and cash equivalents nearly doubled, climbing 96 per cent to N7.38 billion while financial assets grew 65 per cent to N45.90 billion.

Total assets expanded by 33 per cent to N75.94 billion, while shareholders’ funds marked a 21 per cent growth.

He noted that the fundamentals of the investment remained strong and hold better prospects for the future,” Idris stated, noting that consistency and diversity served as the group’s strength in a volatile year.

The group’s balance sheet remained highly liquid and well-capitalized:

Following its outstanding performance the board proposed a final dividend of 15 kobo per share. When combined with the 10 kobo interim dividend already distributed, CHH’s total dividend for the year stands at 25 kobo per share.

“This is the highest dividend that we have ever paid,” Idris told shareholders, expressing optimism about maintaining the growth trajectory.

Also, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Eddie Efekoha, who’s responding to shareholders questions, confirmed that the financial holding structure is perfectly insulated from recapitalization pressures.

“Our Group does not require additional capital to meet the new regulatory thresholds. We are not compelled to seek mergers or external funding, as our capital base remains strong and sufficient,” Efekoha asserted.

Efekoha noted that businesses and individuals are increasingly turning to dependable financial protection amid macro-economic uncertainties, and added that it achieved its resilience through disciplined underwriting, cost optimization, and rigorous operational processes across its subsidiaries.

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