Metro977Live, Federal Secretariat Road, Ikoyi, Lagos (2026)

08/09/2026

Good Morning and welcome to Tuesday's edition of Newspaper Review on AM Lagos live with Pretty Adegoke, and Isreal Etim on the production desk.

Here are the headlines :

2027: They may discount us, but our votes will count — Makinde

Ooni names NBA star Jaylen Brown ‘Babatunde’

2027: Atiku using subsidy promise like APC used Muslim-Muslim ticket — Fayemi

Defamation: Northern groups back minister as el-Rufai demands N10b damages

Police intensify protection for school resumption as bandits kill 17, abduct 52 in Sokoto

ADC, HURIWA tackle Tinubu on N33.75b cash transfer, N585m social investment scheme

FG borrowing like drunken sailor despite revenue windfall - Atiku

Counterfeit crisis: NAFDAC blames Chinese dealers amid backlash

Niger police arrest 21 for thuggery, robbery

Protest in Sokoto over court order remanding Islamic cleric

NSCDC arrests four suspected drug dealers in Kano, recovers ma*****na

Lagos family petitions IG, accuses police of shielding alleged land grabbers

Fake agency sagas: Ministers, DGs face fresh hurdles over foreign trips

Falconets lose World Cup opener to Spain

Nomy disqualified from BBNaija Season

Dangote confirms ADNOC, govts, other investors interested in refinery

FG to give Nigerian shipowners $25m each under new shipping fund

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola,

How bandits held my brother, others for five months in Kwara forest — Cleric

Respite for the masses: Ogun community gets health centre after

Respite for the masses: Ogun community gets health centre after

Police bullet has made my right hand dead, made my life difficult - Lagos man

Did you know the first public electricity power station opened in 1882?

King placed sacrifice in our lake, forcing us to fetch water in Benin Republic — Ogun community

Our family got ₦800,000 for ‘Ayinla’ movie — late Ayinla Omowura’s son

Protest in Sokoto over court order remanding Islamic cleric

Tension in Sokoto as youths protest the remand of Islamic cleric Dahiru Mai

Barewa, clashing with security personnel. Learn more about the court order...

NSCDC arrests four suspected drug dealers in Kano, recovers ma*****na

Lagos family petitions IG, accuses police of shielding alleged land grabbers

20-year-old nabbed for alleged defilement, robbery of Bauchi girl

Six-month refuse heap persists on Lagos road despite earlier evacuation

Four arrested for killing Lagos man weeks before wedding

Police uncover child-stealing syndicate, rescue 17 children

23-year-old arrested with loaded gun in A’Ibom

Enugu community lifts banishment on mob attack survivor, six arraigned

Counterfeit crisis: NAFDAC blames Chinese dealers amid backlash

NNPC disowns fuel truck conveying cannabis

Firm launches business credibility report

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan

INEC rolls out real-time tracker as voters’ register nears 100m

INEC rolls out a real-time tracker to monitor 2027 election preparations across Nigeria as the voters' register nears 100 million.

APC legal team disowns petition challenging Adeleke’s victory

2027: PDP chieftain targets 90% Ekiti votes for Tinubu

2027: Elections not won by boasting, intimidation, Rivers ADC tells Wike

The Peoples Democratic Party Youth Leader in Ebonyi State, Francis Okechukwu
Ebonyi PDP youth leader condemns Nwifuru’s threat to sack council chairmen

2027: Obi, Ameh demand credible polls, urge voters to protect their ballots Accord Party chairman in Osun State, Mr Victor Akande.

Osun poll: Adeleke’s victory unchallenged as 21-day petition window closes

Speaker’s emergence as APC gov candidate reshapes Kwara’s politics – Groups

Hood FC crowned 2026 5Stars Premier League Champions

Wizkid headlines Afro Plus Fest, marks 15 years in music

Actress Temitope Osoba for burial in Ogun Thursday

One more person to love, US singer Ciara announces fifth pregnancy

Awolowo remains my favourite politician — Pete Edochie

Imo’s representative wins Mr Universe Nigeria 2026

Nigeria bows out as Dominican Republic wins Miss World 2026

Stem-cell breakthrough offers hope for spinal cord injury patients

How Kwara building collapse killed mother, four children

Horror in Ogun: Celestial pastor kills wife over infidelity, runs into speeding truck

I nearly lost weight from pressure to excel at LASU — First-class graduate

Passengers fled buses because of my skin condition — Anambra content creator

My community turned ghost town after kidnappers seized my brother’s wife, child — Relative

I lost two teeth after vehicle knocked me down – Retired Ogun traffic warden, Bello

INEC has no excuse to delay results in 2027 — ACSPN president

When suspicion turns death sentence: Calabar community grapples with two killings after mob attack

Beyond the N133bn debate: Accountability crisis hits Gombe water sector

After the kidnappers, the checkpoints: Four years after Lagos-Ibadan Expressway kidnapping crisis

Food crises: Six tips on how to own a thriving home garden

Drug addiction took 10 years of my life, left me smelling at work — Man narrates
20m children sexually exploited online in 21 countries — UNICEF

Cross River begins compulsory health insurance scheme for civil servants

FCTA targets 20,000 dogs, cats for rabies vaccination

Adeboye inaugurates RECTEM governing council

Pan-Atlantic University mourns pioneer VC

Ekiti varsity pensioners demand unpaid pensions, gratuities

People’s IPO Opens With $49 Billion Share Capital

Peter Obi To Baba-Ahmed: I Can Transform, Bring Honour To Nigeria

NDDC Moot Court: 16 Law Faculties Battle For Honours, Ebie, Akpata Seek Stronger Legal Education

Gombe 2027: Yahaya Receives Prominent ADC Chieftain, Garkuwa Babba, Into APC

2027: Bello Tasks Members Of ‘Arewa For Asiwaju’ To Go On Integration Of Grassroots

‘N355.9bn NELFUND loans face recovery risk’

2027: Shettima urges transporters to keep Tinubu mobilisation peaceful

Abia 2027: I’ll pay N90,000 minimum wage, recall unlawfully retired workers — Anosike
Iran asks FIFA to ban Israel over war in Gaza

FIFA, CAF delegation to arrive Abuja Monday

Cross River to procure 103 agric tractors for smallholder farmers

Customs officer dies in Cross River crash

Collapsed building: Emergency responders on ground – Wike’s aide

‘It’s not easy’ – Maresca agrees with Haaland that players started season tired
Police deploy school protection squad in Ogun

Building collapses in Abuja hours after FCTA sealing

2027: Atiku using subsidy promise like APC used Muslim-Muslim ticket — Fayemi

D’Tigress end World Cup campaign winless after France defeat

FIFA, CAF delegation to arrive Abuja Monday

Leave your comments below or send them via SMS and WhatsApp to 0916-257-1214 or 0901-133-9791

07/09/2026

Nigerian Ports Handle More Cargo as FG Reforms Begin to Change Trade Landscape

By Fabian Anawo

For years, Nigeria’s seaports have been associated with long queues of trucks, congested terminals, delayed cargo, rising logistics costs and the frustration of businesses waiting endlessly to move their goods.

But beneath the familiar complaints, something different appears to be happening.

More ships are calling at Nigerian ports. More cargo is being handled. Container traffic is rising, vehicle imports are picking up, while transshipment cargo, goods transferred from one vessel to another for onward shipment is beginning to find its way into the country’s port system.

The latest figures from the Nigerian Ports Authority show that cargo throughput rose by 12.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, climbing from 31.83 million metric tonnes in the same period of 2025 to 35.74 million metric tonnes.

For a country whose economy depends heavily on imports and increasingly needs to expand its exports, the figures are more than statistics. They offer a glimpse of what a more efficient port system could mean for businesses and the wider economy.

The NPA’s Operational Performance Report for Q2 2026 also recorded a 14.4 per cent increase in ocean-going vessels, from 1,050 to 1,201.

The Gross Registered Tonnage of the vessels increased by 22.2 per cent, from 40.87 million tonnes to 49.95 million tonnes.

For exporters, one of the most encouraging figures is the 22 per cent growth in outward cargo.

Outward cargo accounted for 41.9 per cent of total cargo handled during the quarter, while inward cargo represented 56.8 per cent.

The increase in outward cargo suggests that Nigeria’s ports are not only serving as gateways for imported goods but are also supporting a gradual expansion in the movement of goods leaving the country.

That development matters in an economy seeking to reduce its dependence on imports and earn more foreign exchange through exports.

A Port System Beginning to Move

The story is also visible in the container terminals.

Container traffic increased by 11.3 per cent, rising from 541,229 twenty-foot equivalent units in Q2 2025 to 602,392 TEUs in Q2 2026.

Inward laden containers rose by 6.3 per cent, accounting for about half of total container traffic.

But perhaps the most interesting development is the return of transshipment activity.

Nigeria recorded 29,038 TEUs of transshipment containers during the quarter, compared with no recorded movement in the corresponding period of 2025.

Similarly, transshipment cargo reached 488,364 metric tonnes, representing about 1.4 per cent of total cargo throughput.

It may still be a small share of the overall cargo handled, but for the Nigerian port system, the development carries a bigger significance.

Transshipment is the kind of business that can turn a country's ports into regional gateways, attracting cargo destined for neighbouring countries and generating income from vessels, terminals, logistics operators, freight forwarders and other service providers.

The NPA believes the continued growth of transshipment traffic could position Nigerian ports as an emerging regional transshipment hub.

More Cars, More Business

Another figure likely to interest importers and automobile dealers is the rise in vehicle traffic.

The ports handled 44,147 vehicles in Q2 2026, compared with 37,306 in Q2 2025—a rise of 18.3 per cent.

The NPA attributed the increase largely to improved automobile import activities and greater stability in the exchange rate.

For businesses that depend on imported vehicles, this can translate into more predictable operations and increased availability of stock.

But the real test goes beyond bringing more cargo into the ports.

The cargo must also leave the ports quickly.

A port can handle millions of tonnes of cargo and still remain inefficient if trucks spend days trying to access terminals, documentation remains largely manual, or imported goods are trapped by congestion.

This is where the Federal Government's broader reform agenda becomes important.

The Infrastructure Question

NPA Managing Director, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, says the authority's priority for 2026 is a massive infrastructure overhaul backed by digital reforms and improvements in operational efficiency.

At the centre of the plan is the modernisation of the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.

The challenge is obvious. Apapa port is nearly a century old, while Tin Can Island Port is more than 50 years old.

Both ports remain critical to Nigeria's economy, but their ageing infrastructure has increasingly come under pressure from rising cargo volumes.

The NPA is also supporting the development of the Lekki and Badagry deep-sea port projects, while efforts are being made to revitalise the Eastern Ports.

The objective is not simply to build new infrastructure.

It is to create a port system capable of handling larger vessels, distributing cargo more efficiently and reducing the enormous pressure on Lagos.

Taking the Paperwork Out of the Ports
Infrastructure, however, is only one part of the problem.

For years, port users have complained about multiple agencies, paperwork, manual processes and delays that add time and cost to the movement of cargo.
The NPA says digitalisation is now being placed at the heart of its reform programme.

The full implementation of the Port Community System is expected to connect stakeholders and streamline port operations, while integrating with the National Single Window, which became operational in the first quarter of 2026.

The goal is simple: fewer manual bottlenecks, faster documentation and a more connected digital trade ecosystem.

For an importer waiting for cargo clearance, an exporter trying to meet an overseas delivery deadline or a manufacturer waiting for raw materials, such changes can make a significant difference.

Every day saved at the port can mean lower storage costs, fewer demurrage charges and less pressure on the final price of goods.

Beyond the Numbers
The Q2 figures therefore tell two stories.

The first is the story of a port system handling more business.

The second and perhaps more important is the question of whether Nigeria can turn that growth into lasting competitiveness.

Dantsoho says the NPA is working towards 24-hour operations through technology-driven security, closer collaboration with Customs and other stakeholders, and measures to improve cargo evacuation.

He says the expected impact includes faster port operations, lower logistics costs, increased trade volumes and improved export competitiveness.

For Nigerians, these may sound like technical port reforms.

But they ultimately affect everyday life.
When cargo moves slowly, businesses pay more. When businesses pay more, consumers often pay more. When exporters face delays and high logistics costs, Nigerian products become less competitive in international markets.

Conversely, when ships berth faster, cargo is cleared and evacuated more efficiently, and exporters can move their goods at competitive costs, the benefits can spread beyond the port gates.
Jobs can be created. Businesses can expand. Government revenue can increase. Nigerian products can reach more markets.

That is why the 12.3 per cent increase in cargo throughput and 14.4 per cent rise in vessel traffic should not be viewed merely as impressive numbers on an NPA performance sheet.

They are an early measure of whether Nigeria can finally transform its ports from points of congestion into engines of economic growth.

The numbers are encouraging.

The bigger challenge now is ensuring that the reforms continue—and that the improvements being recorded inside the ports are eventually felt outside them, from the warehouse and factory floor to the market and the pockets of ordinary Nigerians.

07/09/2026

Nigeria’s Ports Have the Cargo, But Are Losing the Competitiveness Race

By Fabian Anawo

Nigeria has the market, the cargo and the traffic to dominate maritime trade in West Africa. Yet, industry stakeholders say the country’s ports are still struggling to convert those advantages into the efficiency and competitiveness needed to compete with neighbouring ports in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and Lome, Togo.

The paradox is striking. Nigeria’s huge population and economy generate enormous cargo volumes, giving its ports a natural advantage over smaller ports in the sub-region. But behind the numbers are complaints of high charges, inadequate cargo-handling equipment, regulatory uncertainty, corruption, weak compliance and persistent bottlenecks that continue to make doing business at Nigerian ports more difficult.

These concerns are coming to the fore ahead of the 2026 Annual Maritime Lecture, MAMAL, organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, MARAN. The lecture, with the theme, “Nigeria Ports Modernisation, Charges and the Competitiveness Question,” is expected to bring industry players and policymakers together to examine why Nigeria, despite its maritime advantages, continues to trail some neighbouring countries in port competitiveness.

The Cotonou comparison

For former Acting President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Dr Kayode Farinto, Nigeria still has what it takes to compete successfully.

He said the country’s greatest strength remains its market size and cargo volume, but argued that government policies must change if the ports are to compete more favourably within the West African sub-region.

“Nigeria has the advantage of market and volume. But there are some policies that need to be reviewed for Nigeria to be able to compete favourably,” Farinto said.
He pointed to Cotonou as an example of how port policies can influence the decisions of importers and shipping users.

According to him, importers using the Benin port benefit from more favourable storage and demurrage arrangements, including waivers and concessions that give them more breathing space when their cargoes remain at the port.

Farinto said such incentives make neighbouring ports more attractive, even though Nigeria has a much larger market.
But he maintained that Nigeria’s huge cargo base remains the reason its ports continue to hold their ground.

“Because we have the volume of the market, that's why Nigeria is still doing well. That's why we can say that we stand tall,” he said.

The equipment problem

Beyond charges and policies, Farinto identified another major weakness: inadequate investment in modern cargo-handling equipment.

He linked the problem partly to uncertainty over the renewal of terminal concession agreements.

According to him, terminal operators are unlikely to commit significant resources to new equipment when they are uncertain about the future of their concessions.

“The government should renew the concession agreement of the various terminal operators. It is keeping us in abeyance. It is making the terminal operators not want to invest in equipment purchase,” he said.

He argued that renewing the agreements would give terminal operators the confidence to invest in modern equipment and improve cargo-handling efficiency.
“If their concession agreement is renewed, everybody will want to bring in new handling equipment. This is very, very paramount,” he added.

For Farinto, the competitiveness question therefore goes beyond simply building new infrastructure. It also requires predictable policies, investment incentives and a regulatory environment that encourages private-sector investment.

‘Nigerian ports are not competitive’
Founder and Principal Consultant of International Trade Advisory Services Limited, ITASL, Okey Ibeke, offered a more blunt assessment.

Asked whether Nigerian ports are currently competitive, his response was unequivocal: “If you ask me if the ports are currently competitive, I will tell you they are not.”

Ibeke said the appropriate yardstick should be the performance of neighbouring ports, particularly those competing for the same regional cargo.
He acknowledged government efforts to modernise port processes, including moves by the Nigeria Customs Service to automate cargo clearance.

But he argued that automation alone cannot solve the deeper problems confronting the Nigerian port system.
One of those problems, he said, is resistance from individuals and groups who have benefited from the inefficiencies within the system.

The Port Access Road dilemma

Ibeke cited the Port Access Road as an example. He alleged that vested interests benefiting from congestion and illegal collections along the access corridor have continued to frustrate efforts to improve movement around the ports.

“The people that have been benefiting from the chaos and collecting bribes on that access road are frustrating all efforts of the government,” he said.

The implication, according to him, is that infrastructure development can achieve little when the human and institutional factors surrounding the ports remain unchanged.

When automation meets corruption
Perhaps the biggest challenge, Ibeke argued, is compliance.

He maintained that the success of automation depends heavily on the willingness of importers to make correct declarations and comply with customs regulations.

According to him, some importers engage in wrong classification, undervaluation and concealment of cargoes, creating opportunities for security agencies and other officials to intervene.

He alleged that police and other security agencies sometimes exploit such non-compliance to interfere in cargo clearance and demand payments.
“If you do all the automation in the whole world, if the compliance level does not increase, it would frustrate the whole system,” Ibeke said.

His argument raises a fundamental question: can technology make Nigerian ports competitive if the behaviour of the people operating within the system remains unchanged?

Revenue or trade facilitation?

Ibeke also questioned the underlying philosophy behind port automation in Nigeria.

He said that in many advanced economies, automation is primarily designed to improve security and facilitate legitimate trade rather than simply maximise revenue.

“In the countries where automation has worked, their primary objective is not revenue, it is preventive,” he said.

Nigeria, however, continues to depend heavily on import duties and other revenues generated through international trade to finance government activities.
That dependence, he argued, creates a difficult balance between facilitating trade and maximising revenue.

Compliance and the Customs dilemma
Ibeke said the situation is further complicated by the conduct of some importers.

He called for greater public enlightenment and urged the National Orientation Agency to educate importers on the economic consequences of false declarations.
He argued that neighbouring ports such as Cotonou and Lome also experience violations, but that the level of non-compliance is comparatively lower.

According to him, false declarations at those ports can result in outright seizure of cargo, whereas the Nigerian system sometimes allows importers to regularise under-declared consignments through additional duty assessments.

He said this difference in enforcement contributes to a culture in which some operators continue to test the limits of the system.

“There is need for attitudinal change in Nigerian ports, corruption has now become a norm, people no longer see it as doing the wrong thing,” Ibeke said.

Yet, he acknowledged the dilemma facing the Nigeria Customs Service.

He warned that if Customs suddenly adopted extremely strict enforcement, a large number of consignments could be affected, potentially triggering complaints from importers and worsening congestion.
“If the customs decides to do the right thing today, importers would cry out that they are not facilitating trade, 90 percent of cargoes would be affected and it would cause congestion at the port,” he said.

A regional competitiveness battle

The views of Farinto and Ibeke point to a deeper problem facing Nigeria’s maritime sector.

The country does not lack cargo. It does not lack a large consumer market. And it does not lack the strategic geographic position required to become a dominant maritime hub.

What appears to be missing is the ability to translate those advantages into a seamless port experience for importers, exporters, shipping companies and other users.

For Nigerian ports to compete effectively with Cotonou and Lome, stakeholders say the country must address more than physical infrastructure. Port charges, concession agreements, cargo-handling equipment, regulatory certainty, compliance, corruption, security interference and the enforcement of rules all form part of the competitiveness equation.

The challenge is therefore not simply about constructing bigger terminals or introducing more technology. It is about changing the environment in which those investments operate.

MAMAL 2026: Searching for the missing link

These issues are expected to dominate discussions at MAMAL 2026, as maritime stakeholders confront a question that has become increasingly difficult to ignore: why does a country with one of Africa’s largest economies and the biggest cargo market in the region still struggle to make its ports the most competitive?

The answer may lie in the gap between modernisation and implementation.
Nigeria can invest in automation, roads, terminals and port infrastructure. But unless policies become predictable, charges remain competitive, equipment improves, regulations are enforced fairly and port users change their attitude to compliance, the country’s natural market advantage may continue to mask an underlying competitiveness problem.

For now, Cotonou and Lome remain reminders that having the biggest market does not automatically mean having the best port.

And that is the competitiveness question MAMAL 2026 will be expected to confront.

05/09/2026

The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN)

Presenter: Uche Igwe and Produced by Fabian Anawo / Chinedu Okolo

Guest Speaker: Mr Temitope Omogbemi and Arch Bola Odunmorayo

Topic for today's Episode is CONFLICT

Engineer / ICT: Daniel Kuye

anawo
Olalekan
Darksam Igwe (The Darksam)
Ighedosa
Ukpong Kalu
Temitope

Ikutegbe
Daniel
Igunnu

Olajide
Anawo
Odunmorayo
Shehu
Oladokun

Alalade
Yomi Adewale
Abosede

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Call 08033131880, 08162372424, 08026373514,07007000977

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05/09/2026

Top of the morning Lagos. It is Saturday's edition of Newspaper review with Uche Igwe. Producing is Chichi Okolo

Below are some of the headlines:~

2027: Makinde Decries Rate Of Poverty, Insecurity In Nigeria

‘Disclose your records before reviving old allegations against me’ – Atiku challenges Tinubu

2027: Vote Tinubu and die of poverty – Amaechi warns Nigerians

Alleged terrorism: Court stalls Gani Topba’s bail hearing, trial

Iran war is ‘small potatoes’ for US – Trump

UN approves new map showing Africa’s true size, US opposes

Fuel can sell for N605/litre, subsidy is ‘Accounting Magic’ — Olawepo-Hashim

Evacuation: US missionary blasts Pastor Adeboye over donation to Tinubu administration

‘We’ve no hand in Uber’s exit’ – FAAN opens up on disputes with e-hailing firms

I will recall 15,000 sacked Abia workers – PDP governorship candidate, Anosike

‘Nigeria is behind you’ – FG tells Karibi-George ahead Miss World finale

Full List: ADC unveils 28 governorship candidates for 2027 election

Tinubu Congratulates Adeduntan On Installation As Balogun Of Oyo

Millions of Nigerians trapped in poverty – Gov Makinde

Police confirm Boko Haram attack on Borno APC gov candidate’s convoy

Boko Haram Attacks Borno APC Gov’ship Candidate’s Convoy

Shettima Arrives Jigawa To Condole With Family Of Late Gumel Emir

Atiku decries Nigerians selling kidneys amid economic hardship

Troops rescue 25 abducted civilians in Katsina, Zamfara

Police confirm Boko Haram attack on Borno APC gov candidate’s convoy

2027: Atiku is only serious contender; Obi is chief content creator - Arabambi

Int’l Youth Day: Sani Gives Financial Support To Innovators

2027: Makinde Decries Rate Of Poverty, Insecurity In Nigeria

‘My N500,000 electricity bill now N4m, Atiku’ll restore subsidy’ — Amaechi

2027: Obi Needs Opposition Coalition To Defeat Tinubu — Okonkwo

2027: ‘He’s injured Atiku, Obi too much’ — Lere Olayinka defends Wike’s ‘payback’ fear

How US inequitable policies, restrictions put immigrant, non-immigrant Nigerians on visa processing dilemma

Zamfara Gov appoints new Head of Civil Service

2027: Make every vote count, Obi challenges Rivers voters

Lagos Muslim Community Backs Hamzat for 2027

Oyo moves to overhaul basic education with UBEC, US group

Insecurity: Zamfara ADC questions APC's priorities

2027: Former PDP national treasurer backs Gwamna’s governorship bid

2027: PR expert urges journalists to avoid inflammatory reports

Horror in Ogun: Celestial pastor kills wife over infidelity, runs into speeding truck

Okpebholo swears in 18 Edo LG chairmen

Why I’m still passionate about filmmaking — Tunde Kelani

‘247 suspects arrested in August’

Tinubu, Gowon, others to provide economic plan for N’Central

Bauchi senator battles fresh banditry allegations, DSS reacts

Meet Nigerian professor appointed dean at Canadian university

Auditor-General flags N33.75bn transfers to unverified beneficiaries

From beaches to plates: How Lagos plastic waste pollutes aquatic life, threatens humans

2027: Makinde has built bridge, I'll take Oyo people across, says Adekanmbi

2027: PDP steps up Kogi Central mobilisation for Natasha

Peter Obi: NDC knows it can’t win 2027 election – Wike’s aide

Outcry as fake products flood markets

Atiku’s camp kicks as El-Rufai spends 200 days in detention

2027: ADC publishes names of governorship candidates

2027: SDP to hold fresh governorship primaries in Nasarawa, Gombe

2027: SDP to hold fresh governorship primaries in Nasarawa, Gombe

Two found alive as Nepal rescuers search tunnels for missing workers

Leave your comments below or send them via SMS and WhatsApp to 0916-257-1214 or 0901-133-9791

04/09/2026

Beyond Sanctions: ARCON Moves to Reward Compliant Brands, Advertising Champions

By Ngozi Kanebi with additional reports by Favour Olubi, Faith Mandash, Ajarat Adele and Felicia Patrick

For many businesses, the mention of a regulatory agency often brings one thing to mind: compliance.

Rules must be followed. Standards must be met. And when they are violated, sanctions may follow.

But the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON, is taking a different approach.

Rather than focusing only on those who break the rules, the advertising industry regulator is preparing to shine the spotlight on those who have consistently played by the rules, raised industry standards and contributed to the growth of advertising in Nigeria.

This is the thinking behind the ARCON Special Recognition Awards, ASRA, an initiative designed to celebrate compliant brands, agencies, advertising practitioners and individuals whose contributions have made a difference in the industry.

The awards were unveiled to journalists in Lagos in the presence of key stakeholders in the advertising and marketing sectors.

Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, ARCON Director-General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, said the time had come to recognise people and organisations that had distinguished themselves in an increasingly competitive industry.

For Dr. Fadolapo, recognition is not merely about handing out trophies. It is also about encouraging others to emulate positive examples.

He explained that the awards were initially conceived as a Compliance Award, particularly to recognise advertisers and practitioners who consistently complied with ARCON's vetting requirements.

“As we all know, an award is extremely important because we need to continuously recognise the people that have done well in all ramifications.”

He added that recognising compliance would encourage more players in the industry to follow the rules.

“The initial plan was the Compliance Award, which means that the vetting, which is one of the critical elements of our regulatory oversight, we need to recognise people that have complied so that we can encourage other people in the system.”

From Punishment to Recognition

The expansion of the awards beyond compliance reflects a broader ambition.
ARCON wants to celebrate not only those who comply with regulations, but also public institutions, private-sector brands and individuals whose contributions have helped shape the advertising ecosystem.

Chairman of the ASRA Planning Committee, Mr. Yinka Adebayo, said the initiative would help change the perception of ARCON as a body concerned mainly with regulating and sanctioning advertisers.

He said the awards would cover four major areas: Advertising Compliance Awards, Public Sector Recognition Awards, Private Sector Recognition Awards and Individual Recognition Awards.

The nomination process is already underway and will close on September 13, 2026.

This will be followed by evidence submission from September 14 to 19, voting from September 20 to 27, and jury selection between September 28 and October 2.

The process is expected to culminate in the unveiling of the winners at the awards ceremony in Lagos on October 23, 2026.

Why Recognition Matters

For industry leaders, the importance of recognition goes beyond celebration.

In an industry built around visibility, creativity and the ability to influence public perception, being recognised can reinforce confidence and encourage better performance.

President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN, Mr. Lanre Adisa, believes celebrating the industry's achievements is critical to improving its visibility.

“We can't overemphasise the need for recognition in an industry like ours.”

According to him, the industry must first acknowledge and celebrate its own achievements before expecting the rest of the world to appreciate its contributions.

He said such recognition would help move the industry's visibility agenda forward.

For the President of the Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria, EXMAN, Tolulope Medebem, recognition can equally serve as a tool for maintaining professional standards.

“We believe that recognition is important in every industry because it does more than celebrate achievements.”

Medebem said awards reinforce standards, reward commitment and remind practitioners of the values and behaviours that the industry wants to encourage.

More Than Trophies

The ASRA initiative comes at a time when Nigeria's advertising industry is becoming increasingly competitive, with brands battling for consumer attention across traditional media, digital platforms, experiential marketing and other emerging channels.

Against this background, recognition could become another way of encouraging professionalism and responsible advertising.

For compliant brands, the awards offer an opportunity to demonstrate that adherence to regulation can be a mark of distinction rather than simply an obligation.

For practitioners, it is an opportunity to have years of creativity, professionalism and contribution publicly acknowledged.

And for ARCON, it is an opportunity to communicate a different message about regulation that while violations may attract sanctions, excellence and compliance can also attract recognition.

The Special Recognition Awards will therefore be more than an evening of glamour and trophies.

They could become a platform for setting examples, celebrating industry champions and encouraging a culture in which doing the right thing is not only expected, but also publicly rewarded.

On October 23, the advertising industry will gather in Lagos to find out who made the cut.

For the winners, it will be a moment of recognition.

For those watching, it may be an invitation to do better.

Metro977Live

08/09/2026

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

05/09/2026

05/09/2026

04/09/2026

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