Business
OLATUNDE PASEDA : A POLITICAL TACTICIAN WITH A HEART OF GOLD
By Femi Salako(Triangle News Media)
So much value is attached to names in the Nigerian society because of the fact that whatever name we bear definitely has a defining role to play in our lives. Olatunde Rotimi Paseda is one individual who has continually enjoy the ample benefits of manifold presence of God. His name has also become a household name within and outside of Ogun state because of the major character traits that he shares with the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo.
Otunba Paseda as he fondly called by his supporters is clearly a blessing to Ogun state in view of his character traits that is firmly focused on providing for the needs of the vulnerable and giving back to the society that has produced him. His involvement in politics is premised on the quest to reenact the political ideals of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the area of harnessing state resources to meet the critical needs of the masses. Otunba Paseda has proven his mettle in world of business outside the shores of Nigeria and has left no one in doubt that he can actually achieve the same success in politics if giving the opportunity.
He is the Elisha of our time that is on assignment to reignite the laudable achievements of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Ogun state in particular and the South Western part of Nigeria at large.
Olatunde Paseda is a successful business man with entrenched interest in the United Kingdom where he has done very well for himself and family. The Omu man has successfully established engineering firms in the UK with business interests in the fabrication and building of heavy machinery; manufacturing of water tankers, fire engines, garbage/compacting trucks and the likes. Political interest of Paseda has largely been awakened by his conviction that he could conveniently leverage on his business successes in the United Kingdom to develop the people of Ogun state, the state itself and Nigeria as a nation.
Ogun state is very lucky to have a man like Olatunde Paseda who is conscious of the world of difference between a political leader and the followers; yet he has sufficiently bridged such gaps. The consciousness of this difference has always inform the image, actions, and communication mode of Otunba Paseda. The fabrication giant carries himself with an aura that never suggests that he is in anyway better than his followers; but will always elect to have an objective perspectives on wide range of issues bothering on his domain.
Rotimi Paseda sure has a gentle mien but posses a tough character traits. This has often than not helped him to take tough decisions whenever the need arises. He is never unmindful of the fact that difficult and timely decisions need be taken in certain situations if the the best interests of state and party are to be given premium consideration. Decisions of this nature are not always expected to go down well with everyone, but he had always effect them with the required firmness, authority, and finality. Olatunde Rotimi Paseda is never given to taking unilaterally decisions; rather he has made himself an advocate of collaborative decision making process that would bring about party cohesion and positive developments.
Paseda is also a model of empathy who always look out for solutions to the challenges being faced by his people. He takes it upon himself to look inward in providing pragmatic solutions to whatever problem that is encountered by any of his followers with a firm focus on forward movement.
Rotimi Paseda has proven himself as a leader who has earned the trust of his followers. He would always do a personal follow-up on all outstanding issues, pay personal visits to his supporters, and make it a point of duty to monitor the effectiveness of party policies and procedures. Paseda will never hesitate to commend party members that are worthy of commendations while reprimands would also not be spared for those that fall short of acceptable set standard of conduct for party members. Paseda is a distinct leader that would promptly identify any problem before it becomes an emergency and would not waste time to proffer effective solution.
Olatunde Paseda has established himself as a political leader who is confidence inspiring. He is also a fountain of good counsels who has helped in a great deal to shape and better the lives of so many of his supporters. He is a model of a resolute mind that will stand firm to fight for and champion all worthy causes for his followers.
Olatunde Rotimi Paseda radiates positive energy and communicates this through his thoughts and deeds. He is no doubt a man with an heart of gold and in whose veins kindness flows. This explains why he always feels genuinely concerned for other people’s welfare. Paseda is never short of practical solutions to issues and words of reassurances that edify the souls of his party members. He is a team player who abhors pessimistic thoughts that are capable of dampening the highly effective unity of purpose spirits of his supporters.
Olatunde Rotimi Paseda is one of the very few politicians around that cherishes ethical practices and believes that only diligence, reliability and honesty are the bedrock of a lasting success. He so much personifies these high moral values to a point of emulation that his integrity has never been in doubt. He would not hesitate to openly share information and avoid spin control.
ORP has no doubt proven himself as a leader that motivates followers to best performance through effective, clear and concise communication. He throws up subtle challenges to those around him by setting high and yet attainable standards for them. He would follow it up by providing the much needed support, exposure, training and latitude for the pursuance of visions, so as to attain the very height that one can possibly climb.
The 2015 gubernatorial candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria has not giving up on his dreams and visions to effect a total turn around in the body polity of Ogun state.
He still remains a strong advocate of job creation for millions of Nigerians that need a means of survival. Paseda remains unpleased with the fact that the nation in general and Ogun state in particular are yet to unleash the potentials of the youthful generation in view of the available manpower.
Olatunde Paseda is still very much itching to effect a change that will usher in an era of innovative governance, people-oriented programmes and an all inclusive government that will be based on the tested principles of the old Unity Party of Nigeria founded by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo for a guaranteed future in Ogun state.
ORP still finds the prevailing incremental development in Ogun state very much unacceptable. He believes the only and best way to go for the state is to join the league of state like neighbouring Lagos state and take the full advantage of total development which is bound to usher prosperity into the state. In the words of Olatunde Paseda, “Yes, some can argue that there are pockets of developmental projects scattered here and there in Ogun state under the present administration, but most of these developments are obviously not people-oriented and did not benefit everyone”.
The grassroot mobilizer still take exception to the prevailing governance style in Ogun state that is deliberately crafted to favour few privileged ones at expense of the larger population. Paseda still remains convinced that free education from nursery to tertiary level for all Ogun State students is achievable under the Unity Party of Nigeria. He also has his sight on provision of free health services and facilitation of integrated rural and community development in Ogun State. The Omu political tactician once lamented the health and educational states of Ogun thus: “Our tertiary institutions remain grossly underfunded and tuition fee is out of reach for majority of Ogun State students”.
Olatunde Rotimi Paseda equally remains committed to the creation of full and sustainable employment opportunities for the people of Ogun state. He is of the opinion that free education and free healthcare are no rocket science as some detractors would want to believe. According to him, “I’ve said it on different fora that achieving this is as simple as intelligent budget manipulation”.
GTCO Launches “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, Opens Call for Applications
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has announced the launch of “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, reaffirming its commitment to fostering innovation, empowering talent, and supporting the development of technology-driven solutions that address real-world challenges across Africa.
Now in its third edition, the Hackathon brings together developers, designers and entrepreneurs across Nigeria in a collaborative environment to build practical solutions across key sectors including financial services, healthcare, commerce and digital inclusion. Under the theme “Smart Systems: The Intelligent Economy,” participants are challenged to design and build intelligent, data-driven solutions that transform how communities engage with money.
Applications are now open, and interested teams can find full guidelines and registration details on the official portal at https://squadco.com/hackathon.
Speaking on the initiative, Eduophon Japhet, Managing Director of HabariPay, stated: “Today’s dynamic, digitally driven world demands continuous innovation, which is shaping how economies grow, how businesses scale, and how societies evolve. Through “Take on Squad” Hackathon, we are deliberately investing in the ideas and talent that will define the future. Our objective is not simply to encourage innovation, but to enable its translation into scalable solutions that deliver real and measurable impact. This reflects GTCO’s role as a financial services platform that connects capital, capability, and creativity to drive sustainable progress.”
The social coding event remains a cornerstone of HabariPay’s mission to foster creativity and problem-solving among emerging tech talents. Competing teams will leverage Squad’s advanced APIs to create scalable digital tools that address everyday challenges faced by businesses and individuals.
Through initiatives such as this, GTCO continues to position itself at the intersection of finance, technology and enterprise, actively shaping the future of digital transformation in Africa.
About HabariPay
HabariPay Ltd is the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), one of the largest financial services institutions in Africa with direct and indirect investments in a network of operating entities located in 10 countries across Africa and the United Kingdom.
Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), our goal is to support SMEs, micro merchants, large corporations and other fintechs (Tech Stars) with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving digital economy and expand beyond their current market reach. HabariPay’s solutions include Squad, a full-scale digital payments toolkit to make in-person and online payments simpler, HabariPay Storefront, an e-commerce website to facilitate online purchases, Value-Added Services to help merchants access cost-effective and flexible airtime and data bundles to run their businesses, as well as a switching infrastructure that enables tech-focused businesses to optimise cost and make transactions more efficient.
HabariPay’s contributions to Accelerating Digital Acceptance in Africa have not gone unnoticed–it received Mastercard’s Innovative Mobile Payment Solution Award at TIA 2022 for its innovative payment solution, SquadPOS.
About Squad
Squad is a complete digital payments solution that is reliable, secure, and affordable, making receiving in-person and online payments simpler and convenient.
Thousands of merchants currently leverage Squad’s payment solutions for their daily business operations. Squad’s current products and service offerings include SquadPOS, Squad Payment Links, Squad Virtual Accounts, USSD, and E-Commerce Storefront.
Find out more at www.squadco.com.
Electric 8-Seater Tula Moto Keke Enters Nigerian Market, Targets Higher Operator Earnings
LAGOS — A new electric-powered tricycle with an expanded passenger capacity has been introduced into Nigeria’s urban transport sector, offering operators a potentially more profitable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional petrol-driven “keke.”
The newly launched 8-seater electric tricycle, now available in Lagos with plans for nationwide distribution, features a dual-row seating arrangement capable of accommodating up to eight passengers per trip—significantly higher than the standard three-passenger configuration common across the country.
Promoters of the innovation say the increased capacity is designed to boost daily earnings for operators, particularly amid persistent fluctuations in fuel prices. By running entirely on electric power, the vehicle eliminates dependence on petrol, reducing operating costs and shielding drivers from fuel price volatility.
According to the distributors, the tricycle is equipped with a durable battery system capable of covering extended distances on a single charge, making it suitable for commercial operations across high-traffic routes, residential estates, campuses, and marketplaces.
“The concept is straightforward—enable drivers to earn more while spending less,” a company representative stated. “With higher passenger capacity and zero fuel requirements, operators can maximise each trip without the burden of daily fuel expenses.”
Beyond its cost-saving potential, the electric keke is also said to require less maintenance than traditional models, offering additional long-term savings. Its quieter and smoother operation is expected to enhance passenger comfort and overall commuting experience.
Industry analysts note that the introduction of electric mobility solutions reflects a growing shift toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation alternatives in Nigeria, particularly in densely populated urban centres such as Lagos.
The distributors added that the product is currently available under a limited promotional offer, with delivery options across the country.
For inquiries and purchase: 📞 08153432071
📞 08035889103
Office Address:
📍 Plot 9, Block 113, Beulah Plaza,
Lekki–Epe Expressway,
Lekki Phase 1, Lagos
As transportation costs continue to rise and environmental concerns gain prominence, innovations like the electric 8-seater keke may signal an emerging transition toward more efficient and sustainable mobility solutions nationwide.
Business
A Pipeline, a Licence, and a Storm Brewing: Corruption allegations Draw global oil giant, Shell, Into Nigeria’s Reform Test
*A Pipeline, a Licence, and a Storm Brewing: Corruption allegations Draw global oil giant, Shell, Into Nigeria’s Reform Test*
By Deji Johnson and Mustapha Bello
t begins with a pipeline that should have been completed by June 2026. It widens into a regulatory dispute. And it now risks becoming a defining test of Nigeria’s gas reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
At the center is a stalled 80 kilometre gas pipeline from Sagamu to Ibadan, a project backed by over 100 million dollars in investment and built on a protected Gas Distribution Licence issued under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021. The licence granted NGML–NIPCO exclusive rights to distribute gas within Ibadan for 25years based on Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act.
On paper, the law is clear. On the ground, the situation is anything but.
For more than three months, construction has been halted following a stop work order issued by the Oyo State Government led by former Shell Contractor and engineer, Governor Seyi Makinde. No detailed public justification has been provided that aligns with existing federal approvals already secured for the project.
What might have remained a quiet regulatory disagreement has now escalated into something far more politically charged. How?
In recent remarks, Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who is of the same political party as Governor Seyi Makinde, made a pointed allegation that has since rippled across political and industry circles. He suggested that the Governor of Oyo State and Shell were in what could be described as an “unholy alliance.”
It is a serious claim. One that, if substantiated, would raise profound questions about the intersection of corporate influence, state level action, and federal law.
Neither Shell nor the Oyo State Government has publicly responded in detail to the allegation.
But the silence is now part of the story.
*THE SHELL QUESTION*
For Shell, this moment carries particular weight.
The company has operated in Nigeria for decades, building one of its most significant global portfolios in the Niger Delta. But that history is not without controversy. From corruption claims to environmental damage claims and community disputes amongst others, Shell has faced years of litigation and, in several high profile cases, adverse rulings tied to its operations in the region.
Those cases, many adjudicated in foreign courts, have shaped a negative reputation that continues to follow the company.
Now, a new question emerges.
Is Shell once again operating at the edge of Nigeria’s regulatory framework seeking to exert undue influence in circumventing Nigeria’s petroleum laws, or firmly within it?
Industry sources including a widely reported meeting between their representatives, Oyo State Government representatives and the newly appointed midstream and downstream chief executive, indicate that engagements involving Shell and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority could enable the company to enter a gas distribution zone already licensed to another operator in breach of the PIA.
If true, the implications are immediate and far reaching.
A licence meant to protect investors and investments in Nigeria’s gas space ceases to be exclusive against the dictates of the guiding laws. A framework begins to look flexible, and a reform risks appearing reversible.
To many, it seems more than just a commercial dispute and is not just about one company versus another.
Nigeria is in the middle of an energy transition where gas is expected to play a central role in powering industries, stabilising electricity supply, and reducing reliance on expensive diesel. President Bola Tinubu has emerged as a global champion of using gas as a transition fuel in Nigeria and Africa whilst rolling out elaborate but clearly defined plans to achieve it. Yet gas availability remains inconsistent, constraining power generation and limiting industrial output.
Projects like the Sagamu to Ibadan pipeline are designed to close that gap. To halt such a project is to delay not just infrastructure, but impact. To undermine its legal basis is to question the system that enabled it and to introduce competing claims within the same licensed zone is to risk regulatory confusion at a time when clarity is most needed.
This is where the issue moves from commercial to national because at stake is not only an investment, but the credibility of the reform architecture itself.
*OYO STATE AND THE FEDERAL QUESTION*
The role of the Oyo State Government adds another layer of complexity.
Energy regulation in Nigeria, particularly in the gas sector, is governed by federal law. Yet implementation often intersects with state authority, creating spaces where jurisdiction can blur.
The stop work order issued on the pipeline has become the clearest manifestation of that tension. Was it a regulatory necessity?
A precautionary measure? Or, as alleged by Minister Wike, part of a broader alignment with external interests? Without transparency, speculation fills the vacuum and the regulator must avoid finding itself mired in such allegations.
*QUESTIONS THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY*
For Shell, the questions are now direct and unavoidable:
Is Shell, a global energy giant, seeking to operate within the Ibadan gas distribution zone already licensed to NGML–NIPCO?
What assurances, if any, has it received from regulators or state actors?
How does it reconcile such actions with the exclusivity provisions of the PIA?
For the regulator, NMDPRA:
Can a Gas Distribution Licence be effectively shared, diluted, or overridden after issuance? According to Nigerian laws, the answer is No.
What precedent does this set for Nigeria’s gas infrastructure market?
For the Oyo State Government:
On what legal grounds does the stop work order stand, given federal approvals already in place?
And how does this action align with national energy priorities or the state’s gas needs?
Nigeria has spent the last two years telling a new story to the world. A story of reform, of discipline, of a country ready to compete for global capital. And it has worked so far with stability returning to Nigeria’s economy and over $20bn of energy investments looking to enter the country in the short to midterm.
But reforms are not tested in policy papers. They are tested in moments like this.
Moments where law meets influence, investment meets interference and promise meets pressure.
For Shell, long mired in issues surrounding ethical operations in Nigeria, this is more than a business decision. It is a reputational crossroads.
For Nigeria, it is something even larger. Whether the country’s laws will hold when they are most challenged or Whether its reforms will stand when they are most inconvenient or even whether Nigeria’s energy investments future will be shaped by the rules of law, adherence to regulatory protections and provisions or by unethical and corrupt relationships.
Until those questions are answered clearly, publicly, and decisively, the pipeline in Ibadan will remain more than steel in the ground.
It will remain a symbol of a country still deciding which path it truly intends to follow. Nigeria must act quickly and decisively because the world is watching.
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