Business
Experts Push For Customer-Centric Reforms at BusinessToday Conference
From left: Dr Julius Odede, Head of Lagos Operations at National Insurance Commission, (NAICOM), presenting appreciation award plaque to Chief Strategist of MelvinAfrica, Chiamaka Ugo-Obidike, at the just concluded 2026 BusinessToday Annual Conference and Exhibition on Insurance and Pensions held in Lagos , with the Convener of the conference, Mrs. Nkechi Naeche-Esezobor.
Expert in the financial market has called on insurance and pension operators to need for customer-focused innovation and stronger integration across financial services.
The Chief Strategist of MelvinAfrica, Chiamaka Ugo-Obidike, made this call at the 2026 BusinessToday Annual Conference & Exhibition on risk protection and retirement planning, held recently in Lagos.
The MelvinAfrica Chief Strategist, who also delivered the keynote presentation themed “Youth Advantage: Redefining Risk Protection and Retirement Planning for a New Era,” said one of the major challenges in product development is creating solutions without involving the actual end users.
From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Unitrust Insurance Company Limited, Adedayo Arowojolu; Chief Strategist of MelvinAfrica, Chiamaka Ugo-Obidike, past President of Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers Babatunde Oguntade at the event.
She stated, “Customers must be part of the product development process to ensure solutions truly meet their needs.”
She further highlighted the importance of data and seamless connectivity across financial platforms, urging stakeholders in the industry to embrace open finance.
According to her, customers should be able to access banking, coverage services, retirement savings, and investment solutions through a single platform, rather than having to navigate multiple applications.
She noted that although the financial services industry is evolving, it must move more quickly to keep pace with a youthful and increasingly digital population.
“Today’s customers do not want to open different apps to access their financial information. The industry must come together to make this work.”
“The biggest advantage we have is the youth. If the system is not ready for them, they will move on without it,” she said.
Earlier, while addressing participants, the convener of the conference, Nkechi Naeche-Esezobor, reflected on how the initiative began. She described its early phase as demanding but highly significant. According to her, the platform first started as an awards-focused initiative before gradually evolving into a forum designed to drive meaningful industry progress.
She explained that this transition was inspired largely by the late Mrs. Tonia Smart, who advised that recognition should go beyond celebration and contribute directly to measurable industry growth. Her recommendation later led to the introduction of conferences and seminars shortly after the platform’s fifth anniversary.
She said the platform has continued to expand under that vision of sustainable impact and sector advancement.
Speaking on the theme of the event, she said placing young people at the centre of sector reforms would help the insurance and pension industries build a stronger, more inclusive financial protection system.
She explained that the theme seeks to modernise insurance and pension products to reflect the realities of today’s youth-driven economy. With the growth of digital work, entrepreneurship, and the gig economy, the conference aims to promote flexible, affordable, and technology-enabled solutions tailored to young Nigerians.
This approach, she noted, is expected to close existing protection gaps and make insurance and pension products more accessible and relevant.
The event featured over 450 delegates, including regulators, business executives, key stakeholders, and young participants who explored practical ways to increase adoption among the youth.
The post Experts Push For Customer-Centric Reforms at BusinessToday Conference appeared first on Business Today NG.
Business
NDLEA Secures 974 Drug Convictions in Three Months as 11 Drug Kingpins Receive 254 Years’ Jail Term
BY SUNDAY SAMUEL—The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a major enforcement milestone, securing 974 convictions for drug-related offences across Nigeria within the first quarter of 2026. The convictions, achieved between January and March, reflect an intensified nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks and their collaborators.
No fewer than 974 offenders have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms including 11 drug kingpins who bagged 254 years imprisonment in the first quarter of 2026 as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) ramped up the arrest, prosecution and forfeiture of the assets of drug traffickers and their collaborators across the country.
Among the 974 drug traffickers convicted between January and March, 899 of them are male and 75 females, while a further breakdown of the conviction figure shows that 265 were secured in January, 316 in February and 393 in March.
Top on the list of the 11 drug kingpins who were successfully prosecuted and convicted within the period include a notorious Italy-based 42-year-old businessman, Adegbite Solomon (a.k.a Obama) who was arraigned on 15-count charge before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court Lagos in suit number: FHC/L/851C/2025. Delivering his ruling on the matter on 18th March, Justice Kakaki convicted the repeat offender on all 15 counts and sentenced him to a total of 130 years in prison.
Specifically, Justice Kakaki sentenced Adegbite to 15 years’ imprisonment on count 1; 15 years on count 2; 15 years on count 3; 15 years on count 4; 15 years on count 5; 15 years on count 6; 10 years on count 7; four years on count 8; four years on count 9; four years on count 10; four years on count 11; four years on count 12; and 10 years on count 15. While the prison sentence is to run concurrently, the trial judge also ordered the revocation of the convict’s pharmacy license and the forfeiture of two branches of his pharmacy store as well as the forfeiture of funds in his three bank accounts to the Federal Government, among others.
Another top drug kingpin sentenced to long years in prison in the first quarter of the year is 32-year-old Ridwan Animashaun who was arraigned by NDLEA before Justice Nkenoye Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo state in charge number: FHC/IB/97C/2025. In her judgment delivered on 26th February 2026, Justice Maha convicted and sentenced Animashaun to 25 calendar years for drug trafficking.
The convict was first convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment for a similar offence on 15th July 2022 by Justice Uche Agomoh of the Federal High Court following his arrest by NDLEA along Lagos/Ibadan expressway on 27th March 2022.
Two other convicts who bagged long years imprisonment are: Rauf Asogba, 28, and Seun Olaniyi, 24, who were convicted and sentenced to 17 years in jail each by Justice Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi of the Federal High Court Abeokuta, Ogun state on 28th January 2026 after NDLEA arrested and charged them to court for trafficking 1,779 kilograms of skunk in suit number: FHC/AB/160C/2025.
Another set of two convicts got 15 years imprisonment each. They are: 54-year-old Jonathan Nuhu (a.k.a Doctor) who was convicted by Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Kano, Kano state on 17th March 2026 following his arraignment by NDLEA in charge: FHC/KN/CR/96/2023, and 40-year-old Idris Yusuf who was sentenced on 31st March 2026 by Justice Fatima Murtala Nyako of the Federal High Court, Damaturu, Yobe in suit number FHC/CR/6/21, in addition to another eight years sentence for a similar case brought against Yusuf by NDLEA in charge number FHC/CR/DM/16/24.
Other convicts who got seven years imprisonment each for drug trafficking offences in parts of the country include: Godday Obizuo in FHC/AK/64C/2024; Asabe Abubakar in FHC/BAU/CR/16/2026; Godwin Peter, Asuquo Christian and Olabode Sunday in FHC/AD/CR/66/2024.
In his reaction to the conviction of the drug offenders, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) described the sentencing of the 11 drug kingpins to a combined 254 years in prison as a watershed moment in the country’s war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
He noted that the conviction of 974 offenders between January and March 2026 sends an unambiguous message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for those who trade in human lives and derive pleasure in destroying the lives of the nation’s youth.
According to him, “Securing 974 convictions in just three months is a testament to the relentless spirit of our officers and the thinning patience of the Nigerian state toward drug merchants. To the 11 kingpins who thought they were untouchable, their 254-year collective residency in correctional centres is a firm reminder that the long arm of the law has finally caught up with their greed.”
Marwa commended the Judiciary for the accelerated hearing of the cases, noting that swift justice is the most potent deterrent. To officers, men and women of the Agency, he said
“Your bravery in the face of danger is yielding fruit. We will continue to prioritize your welfare and provide the tools needed to stay ahead of these criminal syndicates.”
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, adding that “these victories belong to the citizens who provide the intelligence that fuels our operations.”
The post NDLEA Secures 974 Drug Convictions in Three Months as 11 Drug Kingpins Receive 254 Years’ Jail Term appeared first on Business Today NG.
The Lagos State Police Command has recorded significant breakthroughs through coordinated and simultaneous operations targeting cultism and illegal arms proliferation across Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Okoko, Ilasan, Ogba, and Iju areas of the State.
The operations resulted in the arrest of twenty-three suspected cultists, recovery of five (5) firearms and other incriminating exhibits.
During the operation in Ikorodu, four suspects were arrested following credible intelligence linking them to cult-related activities. Preliminary findings indicate links to the Buccaneers Confraternity (Sea Lords).
In Lagos Island, nine suspected cultists were arrested during a raid on a criminal hideout. In Ilasan, five suspects in connection with a cult-related killing of one Emmanuel Obioson were arrested. In Okoko, one suspect with ties to the Eiye Confraternity was intercepted in possession of a firearm.
Similarly, in Ogba and Iju areas, the operations led to the arrest of four (4) suspects involved in illegal cult gatherings, assault, and other related violent crimes. Weapons used in the attacks were recovered, and victims are currently receiving medical attention.
The suspects are: Shina Wale ‘m’ 36yrs, Kehinde Kareem ‘m’ 18yrs, Mohammed Aileru ‘m’ 18yrs, Bada Mujeeb ‘m’ 18yrs, Salam Kosoko ‘m’ 30yrs, Yusuf Anjorin ‘m’ 19yrs, Quadri Abubakar ‘m’ 21yrs, Lateef Salako ‘m’ 18yrs, Fawaz Bello ‘m’ 30yrs, Oyesola Olalekan ‘m’ age 36yrs, Ubaka Justice ‘m’ age 36yrs, Emmanuel Obekpa ‘m’ age 36yrs, Sodiq Ademola ‘m’ age 36yrs, Balogun Taofeek ‘m’ 33yrs, Azeez Owolabi ‘m’ age 28yrs, Meshack Obini ‘m’ age 24yrs, Fabulous John ‘m’ age 25yrs, Promise Israel ‘m’ age 28yrs, Bright Aniedi ‘m’ age 27yrs, Familola Fikayo David ‘m’ age 24yrs, Akeem Olamilekan ‘m’ aka Magali age 43yrs, Muiz Oyedele ‘m’ age 20yrs, Hamzat Sadiq ‘n’ age 19yrs
The exhibits include: Five (5) locally made pistols, one (1) toy pistol, fifteen (15) live cartridges, three (3) expended cartridges, one (1) Police camouflage face cap, one (1) Army camouflage face cap, one (1) jack knife with the pouch.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, reiterates the Command’s unwavering commitment to eradicating cultism and violent crimes.
He urges members of the public to remain vigilant and continue to support the Police with timely and credible information through the Command emergency lines: 07061019374, 08065154338, 08063299264, 08039344870, and 09168630929.
The post Lagos Police Arrest 23 Suspected Cultists, Recover Firearms in Statewide Raids appeared first on Business Today NG.
-
Business4 days agoJapan Moves to Raise Immigration Costs Under New Policy Proposal
-
Events3 days ago
Jilli Airstrike: Lawan Probes as NAF launches Investigation
-
Business3 days ago
PenOp Elects Donald Onuoha as President, Unveils New Executive
-
News2 days ago
DSS Re-Arraigns Malami, Son Over Alleged Terrorism Charges
