Business

Unity Schools Alumni Raise Concerns Over Proposed Land Concession

Published

4 months ago

May 9, 2026

Preport

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By Glory Akpan

The Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) has raised concerns over the planned concession of lands belonging to some unity schools by the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the members of the association, drawn from over 60 unity schools across the country, expressed their concerns during an awareness walk and rally on Saturday in Lagos.

The members, some carrying placards with captions including, “PPP: Save the Future” and “Schools are not for Real Estate”, urged the Federal Government to engage alumni associations in funding and developing the institutions.

Speaking at the rally, Humphrey Nwafor, Lagos Chapter President of the Federal Government College, Kano Old Students Association, said the alumni support Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) but oppose the sale of educational assets.

Nwafor said 33 hectares of land belonging to FGC Kano was concessioned without adequate consultation with stakeholders.

“We are saying there is a better option. Instead of selling our lands and assets, we would rather fund the schools ourselves.

“If the government says it does not have enough money to run the schools, the old students can provide support without taking one inch of land,” he said.

According to him, the concession arrangement involving the school’s land will undermine the future of unity schools established to promote national integration.

“These schools are building the unity of this country.

“They were established to unite Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

“We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that public educational assets are protected,” Nwafor said.

Also speaking, the President-General of USOSA, Jos, Michael Magaji, said unity schools are nation-building institutions that have produced leaders across various sectors.

According to Magaji, alumni associations have long contributed to school infrastructure and educational support.

He called on the Federal Government to leverage alumni networks in addressing funding challenges confronting unity schools.

“We are in solution mode and impact mode.

“We believe alumni associations should be integrated into the process of repositioning these schools.

“We recently met with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and discussions are ongoing toward finding mutually beneficial solutions,” he said.

Magaji said the association was advocating a sustainable funding model that would preserve educational assets while improving infrastructure, manpower and learning conditions.

Similarly, Mr Alex Akindumila, President of FGC Idoani Alumni Association, said the concession controversy was a national test of how public assets and educational institutions were being managed.

Akindumila warned that reducing lands allocated to unity schools could limit future expansion, agricultural projects, sports facilities, technical workshops and staff accommodation.

“The lands allocated to unity schools were deliberate and visionary.

“They were designed to ensure that the schools remain self-sustaining and adaptable to future needs,” he said.

He added that the schools remained central to Nigeria’s unity and development agenda.

Also, Mrs Ifeoma Okeke, an alumna of FGC Ileja, called for transparency, due process and stakeholder engagement in any PPP arrangement involving educational institutions.

She said PPP agreements should align with the public purpose of the schools and not diminish their long-term capacity.

“There must be transparency, competitiveness and proper stakeholder engagement in any concession process involving public educational assets,” she said.

Mr John Duru, another alumnus of FGC Kano, said alumni associations represented a major but underutilised resource in supporting education in Nigeria.

Duru said alumni bodies across unity schools possessed the financial and professional capacity to support infrastructure, curriculum development and innovation without disposing of school lands.

“This is about more than land. It’s about legacy.

“It’s about whether institutions built with foresight and sacrifice will be preserved with the same care that were built and preserved.

“We are not against development or partnership but we are against exclusion and erosion of public educational assets,” he said.

Samuel Valentine, an alumnus of FGC Port Harcourt, said the rally was held to support FGC Kano and protest the government’s planned concession of the school’s land.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Related Topics:Alumni Concerns Concession Land Proposed raise Schools Unity

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Nigeria Targets $21 Billion Investment in Landmark Bonga Southwest Deal

Published

6 hours ago

August 25, 2026

Preport

BYAGENCY REPORTERS —The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), and the OML 118 Contractor Parties — Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAE) — yesterday executed the Addendum to the OML 118 Production Sharing Contract (PSC) and the Addendum to the Dispute Settlement Agreement (DSA), marking a major milestone in the advancement of the deepwater Bonga Southwest/Aparo project (BWSAp) towards Final Investment Decision (FID).

The execution gives effect to the fiscal and commercial terms approved by the Federal Government to support the development of BSWAp and it reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to creating a competitive, stable and attractive environment for large-scale deepwater investment.

The milestone follows the approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives (Tax Remission) Order, 2026, an important component of the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms to enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s deepwater sector and unlock new investment. The BSWA PSC and DSA Addenda demonstrate the practical impact of these reforms in translating policy into investment and project development.

BSWAp is expected to be one of Nigeria’s largest deepwater developments, with the potential to attract US$15 billion to US$21 billion in investment over the life of the project and achieve peak production of about 175 kbopd of oil and 140 mmscfd of gas. The development is expected to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economy through increased oil and gas production, government revenues, foreign exchange earnings, local content development, employment and expanded opportunities for Nigerian businesses.

Speaking on the milestone, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, said: “The execution of the BSWAp PSC and DSA Addenda demonstrates the effectiveness of President Tinubu’s reforms in translating policy into investment. This is about unlocking a major deepwater project and demonstrating that Nigeria has a competitive fiscal framework and a clear pathway for sustainable investment in its energy sector. NNPC Ltd will continue to work closely with the Federal Government, our partners and other stakeholders to ensure that this project delivers maximum value for the Federation and the Nigerian people.”

The Contractor Parties also announced the successful completion of the project’s Pre-Front End Engineering Design (Pre-FEED) phase, marking an important milestone in maturing the technical and commercial scope of the development and positioning the project to progress into the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase, subject to applicable partner, assurance and governance requirements.

Following a competitive selection process, a bidder has been identified as the preferred Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) contractor for the BSWA project, subject to completion of applicable partner, regulatory, assurance and governance processes. The selection provides a basis for progressing the FPSO concept into FEED and for undertaking the further engineering and commercial work required to mature the project towards FID. Any eventual award of the FPSO Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) contract remains subject to the completion of all applicable approvals and requirements.

Once operational, BSWAp is expected to become one of Nigeria’s most significant new deepwater production hubs, contributing materially to national oil production and supporting the country’s ambition to sustainably grow oil and gas output over the coming years.

The project is expected to deliver substantial benefits to Nigeria through billions of dollars of investment, increased participation by Nigerian contractors and suppliers, and significant direct and indirect employment opportunities across engineering, fabrication, offshore construction, logistics and operations.

BSWAp is also expected to strengthen Nigerian content through increased contracting opportunities for indigenous companies, enhance local fabrication, marine and engineering capabilities, facilitate technology transfer and skills development, and create lasting value across the wider Nigerian economy.

The milestone reflects the strong collaboration among NNPC Ltd, the Federal Government, relevant regulatory agencies and the OML 118 Contractor Parties , and reinforces Nigeria’s position as a competitive destination for deepwater investment.

NNPC Ltd reaffirmed its commitment to working with all stakeholders to advance the BSWA project safely, competitively and responsibly, while maximising value for Nigeria and the Nigerian people.

The post Nigeria Targets $21 Billion Investment in Landmark Bonga Southwest Deal appeared first on Business Today NG.

Business

Africa largest beneficiary of GEF funding – Official

Published

14 hours ago

August 24, 2026

Preport

The Global Environment Facility (GEF), a family of funds supporting environmental action globally, says African countries are the largest beneficiaries of its funding for sustainable environmental projects.

Ulrich Apel, GEF Senior Environmental Specialist, disclosed this on Monday while responding to questions on mechanisms for accessing environmental finance.

Apel said Africa had received about 30 per cent of GEF funding, ahead of Asia, which received 18 per cent, and Latin America and the Caribbean, which received 15 per cent.

“First of all, we have programmes that cover all the available funding. We programme all of our available funding, and in fact, the African region is the largest beneficiary of our funding, having received about 30 per cent of the funds, followed by Asia with 18 per cent, and Latin America and the Caribbean with 15 per cent,” he said.

He was responding to PREMIUM TIMES’ questions about how African countries, including Nigeria, could more easily access GEF funding.

According to him, African countries are a particular focus of the GEF’s funding because of the region’s vulnerability to land degradation, desertification and drought, which are central issues at the ongoing United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17.

“So, I don’t think the problem is necessarily the accessibility of funds, because we programme all the funding that we have available,” Apel said.

The disclosure came as governments, financial institutions and businesses at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia intensified efforts to mobilise finance for land restoration and drought resilience.

Finance takes centre stage at COP17

24 August was designated as Finance Day at UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with discussions across meeting rooms and the plenary hall focused on mobilising public and private investment for land restoration and drought resilience.

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD is placing particular emphasis on rangelands — including drylands, grasslands, shrublands, wetlands and deserts — which cover more than half of the Earth’s land surface.

Despite their importance to pastoralists, biodiversity, food systems and carbon storage, about half of the world’s rangelands are estimated to be degraded.

Against this backdrop, governments, development banks, investment funds and businesses participating in COP17 on Monday announced $1.3 billion in new and pipeline financing for land restoration and drought resilience across 23 countries on five continents.

GEF unveils drought programme

The GEF also announced the development of a new Drylands and Drought Management Integrated Program aimed at helping countries proactively manage drought, strengthen resilience in drylands and respond to growing risks to ecosystems, food security, water availability, livelihoods and health.

The programme will be implemented during the GEF-9 investment cycle, covering 2026 to 2030.

The facility said the programme responds to requests from parties to the UNCCD for the GEF to prioritise drought resilience in its programming.

It will support countries and communities in better preparing for, monitoring, assessing, mitigating, and responding to the cascading impacts of drought.

“Investing in healthy land and healthy people means investing in food security, climate resilience, biodiversity, water, jobs, and peace,” said Claude Gascon, GEF Interim CEO and Chairperson.

“Through this new Integrated Program, we will support countries in moving from crisis response toward proactive drought resilience.”

The Drylands and Drought Management Integrated Program has a tentative GEF grant envelope of $140 million.

It will work closely with the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, the Drought Resilience Investment Facility, and other initiatives that support resilience across drylands and rangelands.

GEF backs rangelands initiative

As part of the broader push, the GEF is also supporting the Rangelands Flagship Initiative, a multi-partner global initiative led by Mongolia and the UNCCD to significantly increase investments in conserving, sustainably managing and restoring rangelands.

The GEF supports the development and coordination of the initiative through the UNCCD COP17 Legacy Project, a $3.3 million GEF investment implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The project is leveraging an additional $8 million in co-financing from Mongolia and IUCN.

During the GEF-8 cycle, which runs from 2022 to 2026, the GEF approved 50 projects across its family of funds supporting sustainable rangeland management and restoration, as well as pastoralist livelihoods.

The projects represent a total investment of more than $300 million.

The GEF said the projects, which are at various stages of development, could complement the Rangelands Flagship Initiative and help scale up successful approaches to rangeland management and restoration.

What GEF-9 means for Africa

With an initial programming level of $3.9 billion, GEF-9 will support expanded investments in nature-positive development, drought resilience and sustainable land management.

Four GEF-9 Integrated Programs are strongly aligned with UNCCD objectives and are expected to attract more than $800 million in GEF grant funding.

READ ALSO: COP17 advances $1.3bn for land restoration, puts rangelands at centre

They include programmes focused on Food Systems, Critical Forest Biomes, Blue and Green Islands, and the new Drylands and Drought Management Integrated Program.

Under GEF-9, drought resilience is expected to become more central, targeted and measurable.

The cycle includes a dedicated objective for implementing national drought plans, a drought vulnerability index incorporated into the resource allocation formula for countries, and new indicators to track improvements in drought resilience.

The GEF said GEF-9 would enable investments that help countries address urgent environmental priorities through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.

Across the GEF family of funds, 20 per cent of resources are expected to benefit Indigenous Peoples and local communities directly.

The replenishment also places greater emphasis on mobilising private capital for environmental action. Ten per cent of total GEF-9 funding is allocated to the blended finance window, with an overall target of using 25 per cent of GEF resources to help mobilise private-sector investment