News

Former Plateau Commissioners Reaffirm Loyalty to Governor Lalong during Visit

Published

3 years ago

June 16, 2023

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A group of commissioners who served under the immediate past Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, recently paid a visit to Governor Lalong in Abuja. During the visit, they expressed their unwavering loyalty to him as their political leader and reassured their commitment to the peace, progress, and stability of Plateau State, as well as the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Led by their Chairman and former Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Dan Manjang, the commissioners conveyed their gratitude to Governor Lalong for the opportunity to serve the people of Plateau State under his leadership. They described their tenure as a memorable experience that they would cherish.

Hon. Dan Manjang expressed their admiration for Governor Lalong’s leadership style, stating, “We enjoyed working with you because you not only appointed us to serve but also supported us and respected our views on government policies and their implementation. You trusted us and never hesitated to listen to us whenever we needed your attention. Your humility as a leader is truly remarkable. Despite the challenges you faced, some individuals castigated and maligned you for political reasons. However, it is gratifying to note that people are already missing you in Plateau State less than a month since you left. Truly, you never know what you have until you lose it.”

He emphasized that their loyalty to Governor Lalong was not driven by political convenience but by his demonstrated capacity to lead without seeking personal gains. According to Manjang, the former governor consistently worked for the betterment of the people, and the legacies of his Rescue Administration continue to resonate across Plateau State, even after leaving office.

The commissioners offered prayers for Governor Lalong’s good health and further opportunities to serve Nigeria, highlighting his instrumental role in leading the APC campaigns that resulted in the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They expressed confidence that Governor Lalong would ensure Plateau State plays a more significant role in national politics.

In response, Governor Lalong expressed his appreciation for the heartwarming visit and cherished the collaborative work they accomplished together. He commended the commissioners for their commitment to impacting the lives of the people of Plateau State through peaceful and intelligent discourse.

Governor Lalong affirmed that his administration had not been self-seeking or focused on personal enrichment, but rather on serving the people of Plateau State with their support and collaboration. He emphasized his unwavering dedication to the development of Plateau State and expressed his immediate focus on securing a prominent place for the state in national politics under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who shares a passion for Plateau.

Governor Lalong urged the commissioners to continue playing their part by praying for Plateau State and working towards peace and stability.

News

NPFL: VAR Is Not A Luxury, Technology Is Taking Over – Avonda Richard

Published

60 minutes ago

November 7, 2026

PlateauReports

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Avonda Richard, an ardent supporter of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) based in Ogba, Lagos State, has called for the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the domestic league, insisting that Nigeria must embrace modern football technology to improve officiating and strengthen the credibility of its football competitions.

Speaking during Sports247’s Let’s The Fans Talk programme, Richard expressed concerns over the standard of refereeing in Nigerian football, acknowledging the efforts of match officials while pointing out the challenges affecting their performance, particularly inadequate training and facilities.

“To be honest, the Nigerian officiating sometimes is really, really poor. But I must also give it to them; they are trying their best,” Richard said.

He argued that some referees lack the necessary professional training and access to adequate facilities to prepare them for the demands of the game, stressing that officiating should be treated as a serious profession that requires proper development and continuous education.

Richard maintained that introducing VAR into the NPFL would help reduce officiating errors and bring Nigerian football closer to the standards of other competitive leagues.

“VAR is not a luxury because technology is taking over. So VAR is something that Nigeria needs to introduce in the Nigerian Premier League,” he stated.

Beyond the introduction of technology, Richard also called for improved television coverage of the domestic league, noting that Nigerian football deserves greater visibility and should be accessible to supporters in the same way they follow major European competitions.

“We should be having a Nigerian professional league that people can watch, just like when we watch Premier League, Italy and Germany on the screen,” he added.

He believes that increased broadcast coverage would attract more attention to the NPFL, create greater awareness among football supporters and encourage accountability within the league.

Richard’s comments highlight the growing conversation around the need for improved refereeing standards, investment in modern technology and greater visibility for Nigerian football as the NPFL continues to seek stronger recognition within African football.

Business

CBN issues regulations for non-security virtual assets, effective November 5,

Published

2 hours ago

November 7, 2026

PlateauReports

BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The apex regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday issued regulations for the Operations of Non-Security Virtual Assets in Nigeria, setting out a framework for licensing, regulating and supervising stablecoins, virtual asset service providers and related activities.

According to a circular to virtual asset service providers and stakeholders in the financial services industry, the apex bank said the regulations are meant to promote responsible innovation, strengthen the integrity of the Nigerian financial system and provide an appropriate framework for emerging digital payment instruments.

The CBN said the regulations are issued under the CBN Act, 2007, the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020, and other applicable laws. It described them as a comprehensive, risk-based framework covering the licensing, authorisation, regulation, supervision and oversight of non-security virtual assets in Nigeria.

The framework covers stablecoins, Deposit Money Tokens, virtual asset service providers, virtual asset payment services, platform-facilitated peer-to-peer services, and custody, transfer, remittance, clearing and settlement activities.

The regulations also set requirements on the classification and designation of regulated tokens and activities, and on the licensing of issuers and providers of non-security virtual asset services. Other areas covered include capital, reserve-backing, liquidity and redemption; corporate governance, risk management and internal controls; and technology risk, cybersecurity and operational resilience.

They further address the safeguarding of reserve and customer assets; customer protection, disclosures and complaints management; and anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing obligations. Sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, blockchain analytics, Travel Rule compliance, counterparty due diligence, regulatory reporting, supervisory access, information sharing, enforcement, administrative sanctions and orderly wind-down arrangements are also included.

The CBN said the regulations apply to persons carrying out regulated activities in or from Nigeria, those directing such activities at persons in Nigeria, and those whose activities may materially affect the country’s payments system, financial system, foreign exchange market or financial stability. They may apply whether or not the person has a physical presence in Nigeria.

The apex bank said the regulations do not displace the statutory mandate of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other competent authority. Activities involving security virtual assets, securities, investment contracts or other capital-market products remain subject to the capital-market regulatory framework. Where an activity involves both non-security virtual assets and matters under another authority’s mandate, approvals must be obtained from each competent authority.

All affected institutions, issuers, service providers, operators, promoters and other stakeholders are required to familiarise themselves with the regulations and comply fully with the applicable requirements.

The regulations take effect from November 5, 2026. The circular was issued by the CBN’s Payments System Policy Department.

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