Category: Uncategorized

The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has disclosed that Section Two of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is expected to be completed by November, while Section One is substantially completed and ready for inauguration.

Umahi disclosed this while speaking with journalists during an inspection tour of the highway project on Wednesday evening in Lagos.

He said that some ongoing works, including flyovers, underpasses and interchanges being observed on the corridor, belonged to section two of the project.

“Some of the works you are seeing, such as underpass, overpass and the interchange, belong to section two.

“Section one does not have any flyover. You may be asking why we say it is ready while flyover construction is still ongoing. Those works belong to section two,” he said.

The minister also said that about 200m of pavement had been intentionally left unfinished due to soil settlement concerns.

“We have been checking the settlement there, and it is settling very fast. We do not want to take chances.

“If after two weeks we are not satisfied with the settlement, we will put flexible pavement there temporarily for one year before replacing it with rigid concrete pavement,” he said.

According to him, rigid concrete pavement does not tolerate settlement because it can crack.

Umahi said that only minor works such as shoulders and landscaping remained on section one.

He expressed satisfaction at the quality of work by the contractor, Hitech Construction Company, and praised President Bola Tinubu for initiating legacy infrastructure projects across the country.

“We are doing the same in Sokoto, Kebbi, Badagry, Oyo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Jos, Gombe and Biu.

“These legacy projects are spread across the six geopolitical zones, and it shows that the president is fair,” he said.

Umahi added that by November, the coastal highway construction would have reached the Ogun/Lagos border.

He noted that the highway construction was also progressing on the Ogun/Ondo axis.

“Before this time next year, motorists will be able to drive all the way to Ondo, while work on the Edo section will commence,” he said.

He assured Nigerians that roads constructed under the current administration were designed to last for between 50 years and 100 years.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Engineer Olufemi Dare, said that 47km Section One of the coastal highway was 98 per cent completed.

“The remaining works within the next two weeks are mainly tree planting and walkways.

“I can confidently say that this project is completed and ready for commissioning,” he said.

The Director of Bridges and Design in the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Musa Saidu, said that the construction met all engineering standards of the ministry.

“As you can see, from Victoria Island to Chainage 47, engineering-wise, the project is complete.

“What remains are aesthetics such as tree planting, solar installations and about 100 metres of continuously reinforced concrete pavement awaiting settlement,” he said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-West), Mrs Moremi Ojudu, described the highway as a major economic corridor for the South-West and Nigeria at large.

Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), Mrs Chioma Nweze, commended the Federal Government for extending legacy infrastructure projects to the South-East.

She cited ongoing work on the Trans-Saharan Road as evidence that no geopolitical zone was left out.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi, described the project as a dream come true.

He recalled that the coastal highway was envisioned by Tinubu when he was the Governor of Lagos State.

He commended the president, Umahi and the National Assembly for supporting the project through funding and oversight.

Also, Senator Osita Ngwu, a member of the Senate Committee on Works, said that initial doubts about the project had disappeared following visible progress on it.

“It is difficult for anybody to come here and not be impressed.

“This is what we call a legacy project, and I encourage Nigerians to visit and see what the government is doing,” he said.

Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Ready By November, Says Umahi is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A rare hantavirus case involving a foreign traveller has triggered an international public health investigation involving the World Health Organisation (WHO), multiple countries, and cruise ship passengers travelling between continents.

A 69-year-old Dutch woman collapsed on arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on April 25 after travelling on Airlink flight 4Z 132 from the British island of St Helena. She died the following day.

South African authorities confirmed on May 3 that she died of hantavirus, a rodent-borne disease rarely recorded outside the Americas, Europe, and parts of Asia.

The diagnosis, confirmed by Johannesburg’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), prompted a multinational investigation involving the WHO, national health authorities, and the operator of the cruise vessel MV Hondius.

The woman’s 70-year-old husband had died two weeks earlier aboard the same cruise ship.

A British passenger who fell ill on board was evacuated to a private hospital in Johannesburg and remains in intensive care, though officials say his condition is improving.

Virus Rare In Africa

Hantavirus is carried by rodents and spreads to humans through contact with infected urine, droppings, saliva, or contaminated particles in the air.

The disease is most commonly linked to parts of the Americas, Europe, and Asia where the rodent hosts are found. No sustained local transmission has been recorded in Africa.

The virus drew global attention in 1993 after deaths in the southwestern United States were traced to a strain carried by deer mice. Since then, cases have been reported in South America, particularly Argentina and Chile, and in Europe.

South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told Parliament: “Local rodents in South Africa are not known to carry hantavirus.”

He said the strain identified in the current cases, the Andes virus, originates in South America and is among the few hantavirus strains with documented, though limited, human-to-human transmission.

Regional And International Response

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said it is monitoring the situation.

South Africa’s NICD conducted laboratory confirmation, while Institut Pasteur de Dakar is analysing additional samples from symptomatic passengers with WHO support.

Health officials have begun contact tracing involving airport staff, airline passengers, hospital workers, and cruise ship contacts. Monitoring continues because the virus can incubate for up to six weeks.

Former NICD deputy director Lucille Blumberg described the rapid identification of the virus as “like finding a needle in a haystack,” saying confirmation was achieved within 24 hours of alert.

Authorities have also traced passengers from connecting flights, including KLM services, as part of precautionary monitoring.

Cases Linked To Cruise Vessel

Health agencies have identified about seven to eight cases linked to the vessel, including at least two to three laboratory-confirmed Andes hantavirus infections.

Three deaths have been reported, while one patient remains critically ill in Johannesburg..

Symptoms include fever, headache, and gastrointestinal distress. Severe cases can progress rapidly to respiratory failure and shock.

The MV Hondius vessel, which departed Ushuaia in March on an Antarctic and Atlantic expedition, is heading toward Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands after anchoring off Cape Verde. Several passengers have been evacuated to hospitals in the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland.

The WHO said the global risk remains low, with no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission or wider community spread.

How Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak Reached Africa is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

As the 2027 elections draw near, former Nigerian President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has called for active participation of Nigerian youths in electoral processes.

DAILY POST reports that Jonathan made the remark in Abuja on Thursday when a large number of youths stormed his residence, appealing to him to join the 2027 presidential race.

Addressing the crowd, Jonathan urged those advocating his comeback to get their Permanent Voters Card, PVCs, and actively participate in the election.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to carefully look at the growing apathy in Nigeria, lamenting that Nigerians are not interested in elections.

He said that young citizens of the country “must be involved in the electoral process”.

Lamenting the prevailing voter apathy in the country, Jonathan told the youths, “Probably 50% of you don’t even have voters card and you are asking me to go and contest the election”.

DAILY POST recalls that on 5th May 2010, upon the death of then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Jonathan was sworn in as Nigeria’s President.

On May 29, 2011, the Bayelsa-born politician was again sworn in after winning the April 2011 presidential election.

Although Jonathan, who lost the 2015 election to Mohammadu Buhari is yet declare his intention to join the 2027 race, a cross section of Nigerians are calling for his comeback.

Some political analysts, however, argue that the Nigerian constitution does not allow for a person to be sworn in as President three times.

2027: ‘You’re asking me to contest but 50% of you don’t have voters card’ – Jonathan to Nigerians

Nigeria has recorded about 24.1 million compromised user accounts since 2004, making it the third most affected country in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new report by cybersecurity firm, Surfshark.

The report, which analysed global data breach trends for the first quarter of 2026, showed that Nigeria recorded 281,500 leaked accounts between January and March 2026, ranking the country as the 34th most breached nation globally during the period.

Globally, the report revealed that 210.3 million accounts were breached in the first quarter of 2026, representing a sharp increase compared to previous periods.

The United States accounted for 29 per cent of all reported breaches worldwide, followed by France, India, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

According to the report, cyber threats targeting Nigerian users have continued to intensify over the years, exposing millions of individuals to risks such as identity theft, account hijacking, extortion and financial fraud.

Surfshark disclosed that about 7.5 million unique email addresses linked to Nigerian users have been exposed since 2004, while approximately 13 million passwords were leaked alongside compromised accounts.

The report noted that more than half of breached Nigerian users remain vulnerable to cyber-related crimes.
“Statistically, 10 out of 100 Nigerian people have been affected by data breaches,” the report stated.

Further analysis showed that leaked data linked to Nigerian users included highly sensitive information such as Social Security-related records, payment card details, residential addresses, and personal contact information.
According to the report, about 3,900 Social Security-related records and 1,600 payment card details were exposed, alongside 1.9 million phone numbers and more than 925,000 residential addresses.

The cybersecurity firm warned that the growing scale of data exposure reflects increasing vulnerabilities in the global digital ecosystem as businesses accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies.

Commenting on the trend, Surfshark’s Chief Security Officer, Tomas Stamulis, said the rapid integration of AI systems by companies has significantly expanded the volume of user data being collected and stored.
According to him, businesses are increasingly relying on AI-driven tools for automation, analytics and operational efficiency, leading to the accumulation of larger datasets that could become attractive targets for cybercriminals.

The report cited industry statistics indicating that 20.2 per cent of companies used AI technologies in 2025, up from 8.7 per cent in 2023.

“These AI-driven systems collect and log more detailed user information for automation, analytics, and model improvement,” Stamulis said.

He added that while artificial intelligence improves productivity and operational efficiency, it also increases the number of systems organisations must secure, thereby creating additional opportunities for cyberattacks and data leaks.

Stamulis further warned that compromised personal information often retains value for cybercriminals long after passwords or email credentials have been changed.

According to him, hackers frequently combine old and newly leaked information into so-called “combo lists,” which are repeatedly traded or deployed for fraudulent activities and identity theft schemes.

He advised internet users to minimise the amount of sensitive personal information shared online, use alternative email identities or masking services where possible, and provide confidential information only when necessary.

The report also showed that global breached accounts in the first quarter of 2026 tripled compared to the corresponding period of 2025 and rose by 22 per cent relative to the fourth quarter of 2025, underscoring the growing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks worldwide.

Nigeria Hit By 24.1m Data Breaches Amid Rising Cyberattacks is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

 

PRESS STATEMENT ON MY AMBASSADORIAL RE-POSTING. 

By Femi Fani Kayode 

It gives me pleasure to announce the fact that Mr. President has graciously approved my posting as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa. 

This came a few days after the initial posting to Germany was announced and after I made a formal representation to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, that I was not comfortable with Germany for a number of personal reasons and given the fact that I had lived in Europe most of my life I would prefer to go to South Africa which is a country that I had never been to and for which I have so much interest. 

I also expressed the fact that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beilefs and values when it comes to world affairs, that has the biggest economy in Africa, that has closer ties to Nigeria and that is more proximate to my political thinking when it comes to foreign affairs and a pan African vision. 

I therefore made an application for a redeployment to South Africa two days after the initial announcement was made and I am pleased to say that after the then Foreign Minister (H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar) heard my reasons he considered them favourably after which he conveyed the request to Mr. President who graciously approved it. 

I will be eternally grateful to Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this favourable consideration. 

I also take this opportunity to thank Senator Sam Enang, who was originally posted to South Africa and who was pleased to go to Germany instead, to agree for a straight swap. 

I take this opportunity to once again confirm that this was my choice and that Germany NEVER formally rejected me, which was a fake report that was published in an irresponsible online magazine that thrives on sensationslism, lies and blackmail. 

Their story was not only irresponsible and insulting but was also a total and complete fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip and designed to embarass my goodself, the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

Worse still they listed a number of clearly outlandish and absurd reasons for this purported and fake “rejection” which they patched together and concocted reflecting the malevolent condition of their perverse imagination. 

Our findings after a preliminary investigation was that the story was not only sponsored but was also written with malicious intent and designed to hurt and destroy my career and bring me into both national and international opprobium and disrepute.  

We have reported the online magazine and the individuals that are behind it with a petition to the relevant security agencies for necessary action. 

I have also briefed my lawyers to take up the matter and we shall be suing the them in a civil action for defamation.

What actually happened was that the day an “agreement” was sent to South Africa by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was on March 13th, it was leaked to them and they falsely and maliciously reported that it was sent only because I had been formally rejected by Germany which they knew to be false. 

They attempted to establish falsehood as fact and this is unacceptable and far below the par of professionalism and proper journalism. 

If there was such a formal rejection I challenge them to bring the proof with documentary evidence.

I repeat this never happened and I urge the media to be far more circumspect with such reports. 

This statement has been made necessary due to the concern that many of my friends and loved ones have expressed over the matter and in an attempt to set the record straight. 

God-willing, I look forward to serving as Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, a nation that I admire and respect given its remarkable and inspiring history. 

(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Ambassador-Designate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to South Africa)

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved his redeployment as Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to the Republic of South Africa in a diplomatic reshuffle affecting several postings.

Fani-Kayode, who was initially listed in March 2026 among 65 ambassadorial nominees and posted to Germany, said Senator Ita Solomon Enang, originally assigned to South Africa has now been redeployed to Germany in what he described as a “straight swap” approved by the President.

In a statement on Thursday, he disclosed that he personally requested the change shortly after the initial announcement, citing personal and ideological reasons.

“I expressed that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beliefs and values when it comes to world affairs; a country that has the biggest economy in Africa, closer ties to Nigeria, and aligns more with my political thinking and pan-African vision,” he said.

He explained that he conveyed the request to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who reportedly forwarded it to President Tinubu for approval.

Fani-Kayode added that the President granted the request, and expressed appreciation to all parties involved in facilitating the adjustment, including Senator Enang.

The former minister also dismissed reports suggesting that Germany rejected his nomination, describing them as false and malicious.

“Germany NEVER formally rejected me. That story was not only irresponsible and insulting but was also a complete fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip,” he said.

He further claimed that preliminary findings indicated the report was deliberately sponsored and said the matter had been reported to security agencies, while his legal team had been instructed to pursue a defamation suit.

Fani-Kayode said he looks forward to his new posting in South Africa, describing the country as “a nation that I admire and respect given its remarkable and inspiring history.”

The Presidency is yet to issue an official gazette or formal statement on the reshuffle, though the ambassadorial postings remain subject to agrément from host countries before assumption of duty.

Fani-Kayode Redeployed As Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate To South Africa is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Seven men have been arrested by the Hisbah Command in Katagum Zone of Bauchi State over alleged involvement in wife swapping in Azare, the headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area.

The Zonal Commander of Hisbah, Ridwan Khairan, confirmed the arrests on Thursday, saying the suspects were linked to a group identified as the Wuddadu group.

According to him, the suspects allegedly exchanged their wives among themselves under the guise of temporary marriages, an act he said violated Islamic teachings and societal values.

Khairan explained that the arrests followed complaints from residents and information provided by insiders within the group. He said the Hisbah enforcement unit, popularly known as “Operation Ko Ba Kobo,” raided the group’s hideout in Azare and apprehended the seven suspects.

He noted that the suspects admitted organising the arrangement and attempted to justify it by claiming that one of their members had a dream endorsing the practice.

The commander, however, dismissed the explanation, stressing that Islamic law only recognises marriages conducted according to proper religious procedures and witnessed appropriately.

He described the act as adultery and moral misconduct, warning residents against practices contrary to religious principles. He also commended members of Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) and the Guddiri Youths Forum for supporting efforts to maintain peace and moral discipline in the community.

Meanwhile, the leader of the group, Sagir Bashir, said members had repeatedly been warned against engaging in such behaviour.

He stated that the group had spent more than two years counselling members and advising them to stop the practice, but some allegedly continued secretly. According to him, the matter was eventually reported to Hisbah authorities to protect the moral values of the community.

Bashir insisted that the actions of those arrested did not reflect the teachings of the group and warned that any member found engaging in such conduct would be expelled.

One of the suspects reportedly told investigators that recurring dreams made him believe the practice was acceptable. However, Hisbah authorities rejected the claim, describing it as baseless and unacceptable under religious and societal laws.

The suspects’ wives also reportedly admitted participating in the act at the instruction of their husbands, who allegedly convinced them it was normal.

Both the men and their wives were said to have expressed regret over their actions and pleaded for leniency, promising not to engage in such behaviour again.

Authorities said investigations were ongoing, while further legal and corrective measures were being considered to prevent a recurrence.

Hisbah Arrests Seven Over Wife Swapping In Bauchi is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), have renewed their partnership to strengthen regulatory oversight of pharmaceutical and consumable products manufactured within Nigeria’s Free Trade Zones.

The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by the

NAFDAC’s Director- General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPZA, Olufemi Ogunyemi, at the NEPZA headquarters in Abuja.

Adeyeye said the visit was aimed at deepening cooperation between both agencies to support NAFDAC’s regulatory responsibilities, particularly in overseeing the importation, exportation, production, and distribution of pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics by businesses operating in the zones.

“I wish to, on behalf of my team of directors, express our appreciation to you, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, the Managing Director/CEO of NEPZA, and your team for this kind gesture in welcoming us,’’ she said.

“Let me, however, state that we must view this meeting as a responsibility we have to the country to protect citizens from fake drugs and consumables that are infiltrating our markets from known and unknown destinations.

“NAFDAC has always insisted on conducting appropriate tests and ensuring compliance with the standard specifications designated and approved by the Council to effectively control the quality of regulated products across the relevant industries in Nigeria,’’ the NAFDAC boss said.

Adeyeye stressed the importance of the Free Trade Zone scheme to Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic growth, noting that stronger efforts were needed to ensure the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals and the safety of food products entering the customs territory from the zones.

“NEPZA and NAFDAC can fix this misalignment by jointly insisting on compliance. We can close this gap through excellent facility management and improved inspection across the production lines,’’ Prof Adeyeye said.

Responding, Ogunyemi welcomed NAFDAC’s initiative to tackle alleged irregularities affecting the supply of quality medical products and consumables from the Free Trade Zones.

He described the scheme, which currently comprises 63 zones and more than 900 enterprises, as a major gateway for Nigeria’s economic development, while acknowledging regulatory challenges.

“We need a joint effort to address some of the irregularities. We will allow NAFDAC to perform its regulatory functions because the public’s health depends on it.

According to the NEPZA boss, the Authority has always been at the vanguard of disallowing the zones to be used as blind spots for illicit activities.

He stated, “We fully endorse this partnership and collaboration, which has the potential to enhance the scheme’s global compliance across all production and export activities for the benefit of the country.’’

As part of the renewed collaboration, both agencies confirmed the establishment of an eight-member technical committee to examine factors hindering the seamless implementation of their regulatory functions within the Free Trade Zones.

NEPZA, NAFDAC Tighten Pharma Export Rules In Free Zones is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

China has sentenced two former Defense Ministers to death with a two-year reprieve in what are calling the most severe punishment handed to senior military officials since President Xi Jinping launched his sweeping anti-corruption campaign in 2012.

Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu were both sentenced by a Chinese military court on Thursday. Wei was convicted of accepting bribes, while Li was convicted of both accepting and offering bribes. Both were also stripped of their political rights for life and had all personal property confiscated.

Li served as China’s Defense Minister from March to October 2023, making him the country’s shortest-serving defense minister. Wei preceded him in the role, serving from 2018 to 2023.

The two men were expelled from the ruling Communist Party in 2024 for what officials described as “serious violations of discipline,” a standard euphemism for corruption. Both were also former members of China’s powerful Central Military Commission, which oversees the military.

Under Chinese law, the suspended death sentences are effectively a path to life imprisonment. After the two-year reprieve period, their sentences will be commuted to life imprisonment, with no possibility of further commutation or parole.

The Xinhua statement announcing the sentences did not specify the amounts of bribes involved in either case.

The verdicts mark a dramatic escalation in Xi Jinping’s ongoing purge of the People’s Liberation Army, which has seen dozens of senior military figures investigated in recent years over graft tied to weapons procurement and military modernisation contracts.

China Sentences Former Defense Ministers To Death Over Corruption Scandal is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Mr Adekunle Alade is the Founder and Director of Pathway Asset Management Limited. The seasoned investment professional in this interview with Chris UGWU of THE WHISTLER shares his perspectives on key developments in Nigeria’s Asset management and economy.

What is your outlook for Nigeria’s asset management industry in the next five years?

Nigeria’s asset management industry is entering a defining transition period, and the SEC’s recapitalisation directive is the central catalyst. In the next five years, the industry will move from a fragmented, lightly capitalised landscape to a more consolidated, institutional, and competitive ecosystem.

Many smaller or undercapitalised firms will be unable to comply independently, leading to mergers, acquisitions, or outright exits. Within the first two to three years, the number of asset managers is likely to shrink significantly, leaving behind a smaller group of well-capitalised firms alongside a handful of specialised niche players.

In terms of growth, the outlook is structurally positive but cyclical. Assets under management (AUM) are expected to expand at a solid pace, supported by high domestic interest rates, increased financial savings, and improved macroeconomic reforms.

However, this growth will remain sensitive to macro conditions, particularly FX stability and interest rate cycles. Because a large portion of capital inflows into Nigeria is still short-term and yield-driven, the industry should expect periods of volatility rather than smooth, linear expansion.

How would you assess the impact of Nigeria’s current monetary policy direction on investment portfolios?

We’re in a transition phase; from aggressive tightening to a more stable environment.

For us, that creates opportunity. In fixed income, we’re locking in high yields now, knowing that rates may compress as inflation moderates.

At the same time, improving stability in exchange rates and interest rates creates a better environment for businesses, which supports selective equity exposure.

As a firm regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, how do you ensure compliance while maintaining operational efficiency?

So, rather than reacting, we’re positioning clients to benefit from both sides; strong yields today and potential upside as the macro environment improves.

At Pathway Asset Management Limited, we view compliance as a competitive advantage, built into how we operate every day. To maintain efficiency while meeting and compliance, we have adopted a ‘Compliance-by-Design’ approach from onboarding clients to tech-enabled reporting and risk management without over-leveraging our resources.

We’ve put in place strong internal controls, invested in the right people, have clear processes, and a culture of accountability across the firm. At the same time, we leverage technology and experienced professionals to ensure compliance is seamless, not a bottleneck.

So, for us, it’s about getting it right from the start; operating efficiently while staying fully aligned with regulatory standards.

What safeguards are in place to protect investor capital across your managed portfolios?

At Pathway Asset Management, the security of investor capital is built into our operations through a multi-layered ‘Triple-Lock’ framework. We operate strictly under the license and oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria.

This means our operations are subject to periodic review, stringent reporting requirements, and minimum capital adequacy standards.

We don’t just follow the rules; we embrace them as a baseline for trust. But beyond that, one key safeguard is that we don’t hold client funds directly; assets (cash and securities) are held by independent SEC-approved custodians. That separation is critical for transparency and protection. We also apply disciplined investment policies. We don’t chase returns at the expense of safety. Every investment goes through a rigorous assessment process.

How does your Asset Management manage downside risks, particularly in a volatile macroeconomic environment marked by inflation and FX instability?

In a market like Nigeria, volatility isn’t an anomaly; it’s a constant. Our approach to managing downside risk is built on dynamic asset allocation and financial discipline. We also hedge against currency risk by giving clients access to dollar-denominated investments, which helps preserve value.

On inflation, we focus on assets that can reprice or deliver returns above inflation over time. Our focus is not just on returns, but on protecting value and delivering consistency.

As the Founder and Director of Pathway Asset Management, could you please tell us about Pathway Asset Management?

Pathway Asset Management is registered and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria as a fund and portfolio manager company with the main focus of helping individuals; retail, HNIs and institutions make smarter investment decisions and build long-term sustainable wealth.

We understand how complex and unpredictable the Nigerian market can be because we operate in it every day. So, we’ve built a firm that is clear, disciplined, and driven by research, not guesswork.

Our offerings cut across Pathway Fixed Deposit Notes, Privately Managed Notes, Fixed Income Notes, Pathway Dollar Notes, Funds/Portfolio Management and Pathway Money Market Fund (coming soon), Pathway Dollar Funds (Coming Soon), and Investment Advisory services, all tailored to each client’s goal. But beyond the products, what really defines us is how we think; deep client understanding, strong governance, and a long-term mindset. That’s what guides every decision we make.

Can you take us through Pathway Asset Management’s core investment philosophy and how it differentiates the firm in Nigeria’s asset management space?.

Our philosophy is simple and profound. We are partners in our clients’ financial success. We create value, but never at the expense of disciplined risk management. Every investment is carefully assessed to ensure the returns justify the risk, helping clients move from speculation to structured, sustainable wealth building.

Your portfolio includes Fixed Deposit Notes, Privately Managed Notes, and Portfolio Management services. How do these products cater for varying investor risk appetites?

What sets us apart is our advisory DNA. We don’t just offer investment products; we bring an investment banker’s eye to asset management, combining strategic advice with precise execution.

We combine diversification, deep sector insight, and strong risk discipline to solve wealth preservation challenges, while prioritising transparency, client experience, and long-term outcomes.

We’ve designed our products to meet clients exactly where they are. For more conservative investors, our Fixed Deposit and Money Market offerings are focused on capital preservation, liquidity, and stable income. For clients looking for higher returns, our Privately Managed Notes; across fixed income, hybrid, equity and dollar structures; offer more optimised yield with a bit more structure.

For more sophisticated or institutional clients, our portfolio management services provide a fully tailored approach. Some clients prefer us to take full discretion, while others want to stay involved. Essentially, we have a vehicle specifically engineered for different investors’ financial goals.

What’s next for the Asset Management, where are you focusing growth?

With the recent unveiling of our Board of Directors, we’ve strengthened our governance and strategic direction, which is important for where we’re going.

In the next few months, our focus is on deepening client relationships, expanding our product offerings; especially mutual funds like our upcoming Pathway Money Market Fund and positioning the firm to take advantage of emerging opportunities. For us, growth is not just about scale; it’s about scaling responsibly while maintaining the discipline and trust we’ve built.

What gap in the market is the upcoming Money Market Fund designed to fill?

For a long time, the Nigerian investment space has had a gap. You either had low-yield savings accounts or high-entry institutional investments. The Pathway Money Market fund is designed to bridge that gap.

With rising inflation, many people are losing value just by keeping money in traditional bank accounts. What we’re doing is opening access; giving everyday investors a simple, regulated way to benefit from high-quality government and corporate instruments with as low as N5,000 to start investing. We want someone with relatively small capital to still participate in opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Our focus isn’t just on returns; it’s about providing a liquid, SEC-regulated vehicle where a small saver can get a big-market yield and still have capital preserved.

INTERVIEW: SEC Recapitalisation’ll Reshape Nigeria’s Asset Management Industry — Alade is first published on The Whistler Newspaper