Business
“We are ready to die to wrestle the Olympic Gold’’ – Nigeria Dream Team VI boasts
Nigerians appear to pin hopes in Dream Team VI, going by steady manner that the team has been inching toward the medal zone in the ongoing Rio Olympic Games’ soccer event. Even though the team had been dogged by a myriad of problems, thrown at them by the haphazard manner of preparation for big events including the ongoing Olympics, the team has hardly let that come in between them and victory when it mattered most.
Captain Mikel “We are ready to die to wrestle the Olympic Gold,’’ members of the Dream team have resolved shortly after they overcame the Danish team to win the ticket to meet the Germans in one of the semi-finals of the soccer event of the Games. Chelsea star player, John Obi Mike, captain of the team and one of the three overage players, said he did not want to return to Chelsea, his club, without an Olympic Games gold medal.
He vowed to delay his return to his English Premier League side after helping Nigeria to reach men’s football semi-final against Germany in Sao Paulo on Wednesday. He added that he was determined to have the Games gold to declare in his luggage. “I hope to go back to Chelsea as the Olympic champion. That is my aim,’’ vowed the 29-year-old Obi, who scored the opener in the 2-0 quarterfinal win over Denmark in Salvador on Aug. 13. “I came out here to do my best to help the team with the gold medal. “That has always been my objective. It’s my aim and the players all want the same. When you have a group of players all wanting to achieve the same thing, hopefully it will go well at the end. “Hopefully, the semi-final will go well on Wednesday and then we will be in the final and win the gold medal’’. An ex-Eagles’ goalkeeper, South Africa-based Idah Peterside, said the team could defeat Germany when they clash in the semi-final. Peterside said from Johannesburg, that the match would be tough. “ The semi-final against Germany will be tough. We can win the match. We all have to pray for them and wish them well’’. He said the presence of striker Etebo Oghenekaro in the match can boost the country’s chances because he has potential to score goals. “ Etebo`s presence will be a great boost to the team. I hope he is okay and fit for that match,” he said. He noted that the Dream team has recorded great results in the course of the games. “All that matters now is the Gold. I am optimistic that this result is achievable’’. The team will be certain to have the backing of many lovers of Nigerian brand of soccer because many Brazilians have not forgotten the raw deal they had at the 1996 Atlanta Games, when the original Dream team beat them to gold.
The venue of the match, Sao Paulo, will offer a good setting, if the boys can reproduce the sparkle that they have shown since the start of the completion right from the tight and strangulating circumstance that dogged their path to Manaus for the opening match. In spite of late arrival at the venue of the first match in Manaus, they hit Japan 5-4 to set the tone for a challenging event. They also defeated Sweden, 1-0 but gave a second string side the opportunity to concede 0-2 to Colombia. The result did not upset the balance as the two previous victories were enough to see the team through quarters. With a huge number of Nigerians in Sao Paulo and environs, the National team would not lack vital support to forge ahead. Although the team did not impress during the last group match against Denmark, losing 0-2 but many said they had since put that behind them since it did not affect the team’s progress to the crucial quarters. Mike Adjuya, a Brazil-based Nigerian soccer agent, said: “I have since forgotten about the loss. Many other Nigerians will be there at the Arena Corinthian to show solidarity to the team.’’ “The team needs us now. We shall be more organised in providing the vital support. The team will make history. I will be happy to be part of it, ‘’ noted Chinedu Nwosu, a Nigerian and Sao Paulo businessman. “I am confident the Dream Team will prevail. They have Olympic Games’ soccer pedigree. That is what has seen them through to this stage. “I have seen that Nigerian spirit of rising to occasion when a challenge presents itself, especially the many obstacles that have dogged their getting to this stage. They are fired up now. They have a way of dismantling big soccer nations. “I see a Nigeria-Brazil finals and it will be a good advertisement for World football,’’ noted George Aluo, the Sports Editor of the Sun Newspaper, in Brazil covering the Games.
Coach Samson Siasia said he was confident that his boys would deliver. “The dream is a gold medal. This vital possession I want. I know all my boys want this as well.’’ Mikel reckons that his team has already defied the odds in reaching the last four. “It was a bit frustrating coming down here, but while we were in Atlanta we knew that we had a good shot at getting to the final or winning the tournament.’’ “With the problems we have had getting to this stage, it is just absolutely amazing and we just have to keep going.’’
Harmony Gardens’ Ibeju-Lekki Portfolio Crosses $1bn
Harmony Garden & Estate Development Limited has expanded its development activities across Ibeju-Lekki, pushing the projected long-term value of its estate portfolio beyond $1 billion.
Led by Chief Executive Officer Hon. Dr. Audullahi Saheed Mosadoluwa, popularly know Saheed Ibile, the company is developing seven estates within the Lekki–Ibeju corridor. Details available on Harmony Garden & Estate Development show a portfolio spanning land assets and ongoing residential construction across key growth locations.
A major component is Lekki Aviation Town, where urban living meets neighborhood charm, located near the proposed Lekki International Airport and valued internally at over $250 million. The development forms part of the company’s broader phased expansion strategy within the axis.
Other estates in the corridor tagged as the “Citadel of Joy” (Ogba-idunnu) include Granville Estate, Majestic Bay Estate, The Parliament Phase I & II, and Harmony Casa Phase I & II.
With multiple projects active, the rollout of the Ibile Traditional Mortgage System, and structured expansion underway, Harmony Garden & Estate Development Ltd continues to deepen its presence within the fast-growing Ibeju-Lekki real estate market.
Business
BUA Group Showcases Food Manufacturing Strength at 62nd Paris International Agricultural Show
BUA Group Showcases Food Manufacturing Strength at 62nd Paris International Agricultural Show
BUA Group, one of Africa’s leading diversified conglomerates, is maintaining a strong presence at the ongoing 62nd edition of the Paris International Agricultural Show in France, participating as a premium sponsor and supporting the Nigeria Pavilion at one of the world’s most respected agricultural gatherings.
The 62nd Paris International Agricultural Show, taking place from February 21 to March 1, 2026, at Porte de Versailles in Paris, convenes global leaders across farming, agro processing, technology, finance, and policy. The event serves as a strategic platform for industry engagement, knowledge exchange, and commercial partnerships shaping the future of global food systems.
BUA Group’s participation reflects its long term commitment to strengthening the entire food production value chain. Through sustained investments in large scale processing, value addition, and branded consumer products, the Group continues to reinforce its role in advancing food security, industrial growth, and regional trade integration.
Speaking on the Group’s participation, the Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu CFR, said, “BUA’s presence at the Paris International Agricultural Show reflects our belief that Africa must be an active participant in shaping the future of global food systems. We have invested significantly in local production capacity because we understand that food security, industrial growth, and economic resilience are interconnected. Platforms like this allow us to build partnerships that strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness and expand our reach beyond our borders.”
BUA Foods, a subsidiary of BUA Group, maintains a strong footprint in flour, pasta, spaghetti, sugar, and rice production, serving millions of consumers within Nigeria and across neighbouring African markets. The Managing Director of BUA Foods, Engr. Abioye Ayodele, representing the Executive Chairman, is attending the event at the Nigeria Pavilion, engaging industry stakeholders and showcasing the company’s manufacturing capabilities.
Also speaking at the show, Engr. Ayodele stated, “BUA Foods has built scale across key staple categories that are central to household consumption. Our participation at this Show allows us to demonstrate the quality, consistency, and operational strength behind our products. We are also engaging global stakeholders with a clear message that Nigerian manufacturing can meet international standards while serving both domestic and regional markets efficiently.”
The Show provides BUA Group with an opportunity to deepen trade relationships, explore new export pathways, and reinforce Nigeria’s growing relevance within the global agricultural and food ecosystem.
BUA Group remains focused on building enduring institutions, expanding productive capacity, and positioning African enterprise competitively within global markets.
Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
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