News

PMDC, TRICentre Drive ADR Training for Plateau Agencies to Safeguard Land and Property Rights

Published

9 months ago

August 15, 2025

vicky

MultiDoor Courthouse ,TRICentre,ADR Training3

The Plateau MultiDoor Courthouse (PMDC) and the Tattaaunawa Roundtable Initiative (TRICentre), with support from the Government of Sweden through the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), have concluded a two-day capacity-building workshop on Collaborative and Alternative Dispute Resolution (CDR/ADR).

The training, held under the project “Improving Access to Women’s Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Rights through Legislative Actions and Strengthening Institutional Capacity in Plateau State,” targeted key government stakeholders from the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Plateau Peacebuilding Agency.

Day One focused on the foundations of ADR, cultural considerations, and system design. Chairperson of PMDC, Hon. Justice Nafisah Lawal, delivered the keynote, stressing ADR’s role in easing court congestion, preserving relationships, and fostering community stability. Sessions covered negotiation, arbitration, conflict analysis in traditional and formal systems, restorative justice, and integrating gender equity into mediation practices.

Day Two featured intensive practical sessions led by Dr. Prince Charles Dickson, Lead Facilitator and peace practitioner, alongside other experts. Participants engaged in mediation and negotiation techniques, arbitration opportunities in the public sector, the mediator’s code of conduct, and personality-based communication in dispute resolution. Role plays, case studies, and small claims court simulations allowed participants to apply their skills in realistic scenarios.

The workshop doubled as a platform for inter-agency dialogue, with ministries and commissions sharing experiences and strategies for addressing disputes—particularly around housing, land, and property rights, which often fuel community tensions.

Closing the event, Justice Lawal described ADR as “a transformative tool for building trust, mending broken relationships, and fostering a culture of dialogue rather than confrontation.” NRC’s ICLA Project Officer, Jil Freeson, urged participants to embed ADR principles in their agencies to resolve disputes swiftly and prevent escalation.

Certificates were presented at the close, symbolising the emergence of a culturally responsive, government-led justice network. Participants left committed to championing dialogue and collaboration in their respective sectors, strengthening peace and inclusion across Plateau State.

News

As Tim Cook steps down, Apple hit record sales — but a chip shortage looms

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2026

Preport

Tim cook iphone GettyImages 2234563479.jpg

Apple reported a record quarter on Thursday. Yet outgoing CEO Tim Cook warned of some gathering storm clouds in the form of memory chip supply issues that could impact business in the near future.

“Today Apple is proud to report our best March quarter ever, with revenue of $111.2 billion and double-digit growth across every geographic segment,” Cook said during Thursday’s earnings call. “iPhone achieved a March quarter revenue record, fueled by such extraordinary demand for the iPhone 17 lineup.”

Less rosily, Cook relayed that Apple spent more on memory chips in March than in previous quarters though the company’s costs were offset by its ability to sell stockpiled inventory. But, he warned, the expectation is “significantly higher memory costs” in June and beyond — the likes of which may “drive an increasing impact” on the business.

Cook was referencing what has commonly been called “RAMaggedon,” the trend of the AI industry guzzling up memory chips with such astonishing gusto it is spurring shortages. This is driving up the prices of hardware. Apple is primarily a hardware company, so that’s obviously not great news for its core products.

Most notably, the chip shortage has impacted the iPhone. Despite the strong sales figures touted by Apple on Thursday, it has previously been reported that RAM costs have quadrupled — impacting phone production costs, and putting John Ternus, Apple’s incoming CEO in a less-than-enviable position.

One possible result may be that Apple increases prices for the iPhone. “There’s just a little less flexibility in the supply chain at the moment for getting more parts,” Cook told Reuters on Thursday.

Ternus, who has served as Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, was on Thursday’s earnings call and praised Cook. “In my view, Tim is one of the greatest business leaders of all time. Stepping into the role of CEO is an incredible honor, and it means a great deal to me to have Tim’s trust and confidence,” Ternus said.

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He will obviously have his work cut out for him when he begins the job on September 1. But he will still have Cook’s supply chain experience to lean on for a while. Cook will become executive chairman.

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Business

Lafarge Africa Plc Posts N97.95bn Profit, Up 101% in Q1 2026

Published

3 hours ago

April 30, 2026

Preport

BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The Board of Directors of Lafarge Africa Plc has reported a strong financial performance for the first quarter of 2026, with Profit After Tax (PAT) rising to N97.95 billion—representing a 101 per cent increase from N48.64 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

The company also recorded significant growth in revenue, with net sales climbing by 35 per cent to N334.88 billion in Q1 2026, compared to N248.35 billion in the same period last year.

Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, attributed the strong performance to sustained revenue growth, improved operational efficiency, and disciplined cost management.

“Our Q1 2026 results reflect continued progress in executing our strategic priorities. Net sales grew by 35 per cent year-on-year, supported by improved volumes, enhanced plant stability, and greater distribution efficiency. Operating profit rose by 97 per cent to N141 billion, while profit after tax increased by 101 per cent to N98 billion,” he said.

He added that the performance was driven by supply reliability, prudent financial management, and an improved route-to-market strategy.

Alade-Akinyemi noted that the company will continue to leverage the industrial and technical expertise of its strategic partner, Huaxin Building Materials Ltd, to further optimise operations and unlock additional efficiencies.

Looking ahead, he said the company would maintain a strong focus on disciplined capital deployment, cost control, and capturing growth opportunities across its markets. He added that improving macroeconomic conditions and easing global supply chain disruptions have supported rising consumer demand and volume growth.

“We anticipate continued expansion in Nigeria’s infrastructure and construction sectors, driven by improving economic fundamentals and demand across key segments. We remain focused on capturing these opportunities while maintaining cost optimisation to protect margins,” he stated.

He also expressed appreciation to customers and stakeholders for their continued support, reaffirming the company’s commitment to delivering consistent performance and long-term value.

“Our sustainability-led growth model remains central to our long-term value creation, supported by disciplined execution and operational excellence,” he added.

Lafarge Africa Plc said it will continue to prioritise supply reliability, cost leadership, innovation, and sustainability, while maintaining high standards in health and safety across its operations.

About Lafarge Africa Plc

Lafarge Africa Plc, a member of the Huaxin Group, is a leading provider of innovative and sustainable building solutions in Nigeria. Established in 1959 and listed on the Premium Board of the Nigerian Exchange Limited, the company operates cement plants in Sagamu and Ewekoro (Ogun State), Ashaka (Gombe State), and Mfamosing (Cross River State), with a total installed production capacity of 10.5 million metric tonnes per annum. It remains committed to sustainable development, combining industrial efficiency with environmental responsibility and stakeholder value creation.

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