The licence authorises STN to provide services including voice, data, fixed and mobile communications, marking the company’s entry as an independent operator in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.

The company said the licence marks a new phase in its development, following its earlier operations as a telephone call service under an umbrella structure.

Chief Executive Officer of STN, Oluwole Adetuyi, said the licence would provide the platform for the company’s expansion and its plans to contribute to Nigeria’s digital economy.

According to the company, its plans include developing telecommunications infrastructure, expanding connectivity and helping to bridge the digital divide.

STN also said it would invest in skills development and training for Nigerian engineers, technicians and digital professionals, while working with local service providers and global technology partners.

The company said it also plans to create employment and business opportunities for Nigerians involved in areas such as distribution, retail and support services.

STN said it would announce strategic partnerships, infrastructure rollout plans and programmes for engaging investors and other stakeholders in the coming weeks as it prepares for commercial operations under the UASL.

Tinubu said the government would expand mechanised irrigation and dry-season farming while improving access to seeds and fertiliser.

He added that the administration would increase agricultural mechanisation and invest in storage and transportation infrastructure.

According to him, roads, railways and ports are also being built and completed to connect farms and factories to markets.

The President said reducing production and transportation costs would help businesses and ultimately influence the prices paid by consumers.

“When a farmer produces more cheaply, when fewer crops are lost between the farm and the market,” he said, the savings would eventually be reflected in market prices.

Tinubu said the government’s broader objective was to create an economy where farmers could produce more at lower costs and earn better returns from their labour.

He also said Nigeria has the land and people needed to feed itself, while calling for greater domestic production to supply both cities and factories

Tinubu stated this in his Independence Day address, where he said the next phase of his administration would focus on delivering “shared and widespread prosperity” after three years of economic reforms.

According to him, reducing the cost of production would be central to making food and other essential goods more affordable for Nigerians.

“Our priority is to bring down the cost of living. We will achieve this by lowering the cost of producing and moving the things Nigerians consume,” the President said.

He said the government would expand mechanised irrigation and dry-season farming, improve access to seeds and fertiliser, increase mechanisation and invest in storage and transportation.

Tinubu also said the government was building and completing roads, railways and ports to improve the connection between farms, factories and markets.

He explained that lower production costs, reduced post-harvest losses, cheaper electricity for manufacturers and faster transportation would eventually translate into lower prices for consumers.

The President said the government would also focus on improving industrial productivity by using gas to power new industries and supporting businesses seeking to revive factories.

He added that reliable power, access to credit and improved infrastructure were necessary for businesses to expand and create productive employment.

Tinubu said millions of young Nigerians enter adulthood every year with talent and ambition, adding that government’s responsibility was to turn the country’s demographic strength into an engine of production.

He acknowledged that millions of Nigerians were still struggling with food, school fees, medical bills and transportation costs.

According to him, the government would continue strengthening support for vulnerable households while pursuing policies aimed at creating jobs and increasing productivity.

He said the ultimate objective was to build an economy capable of steadily lifting people out of poverty while ensuring that vulnerable Nigerians were not abandoned.

The heavy downpour, recorded between Friday and Monday, affected parts of Osogbo, including Ayekale, Famson Area, Oke Baale, Sasa and Ilesa Garage.

In Ilesa, Muroko Road was flooded after the Ora River overflowed, while the bridge linking Ijaregbe to Ilesa was damaged following hours of rainfall on Monday, cutting off the community from Ilesa.

Other affected communities include Ijana, Ibala, Ayegunle, Idooko and Eesun Ijesa, with the flooding disrupting the movement of residents, goods and services.

Residents of Ayekale in Osogbo, Akin Olugbodi and Shekinat Olaegbe, said they lost property following the flooding. Olaegbe, a widow, said several houses were also affected and called for urgent government intervention.

The Olomu of Ijaregbe, Oba Edward Adetimo, confirmed that the bridge linking the community to Ilesa was damaged by the heavy rainfall.

According to the monarch, the House of Assembly member representing Obokun State Constituency, Adewumi Adeyemi, visited the area alongside others to assess the situation. He said officials of the Ministry of Works were expected to provide a temporary solution pending full reconstruction.

The monarch also said the damage had affected schoolchildren from Ijaregbe who attend schools in Ilesa, urging the state government to urgently intervene.

Meanwhile, Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, said the government had implemented measures to mitigate the impact of flooding.

Adejoorin attributed the flooding to heavy and prolonged rainfall but said the situation had not reached an uncontrollable level.

He said preventive measures by the state government included dredging waterways and public awareness campaigns against indiscriminate dumping of refuse along waterways.

The commissioner explained that the damaged bridge and box culvert linking Ilesa with Ijaregbe and other neighbouring communities fell under the responsibility of the Ministry of Works, which he said had already commenced action.

Abiodun said the project would move into the construction phase immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DP World MEA FZE in Paris, witnessed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to the governor, the port is expected to be substantially completed within two and a half years.

He said the project would unlock Ogun State’s maritime and economic potential, attract major investments, create employment opportunities and position Ogun Waterside as a major maritime hub in West Africa.

Abiodun also highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, including the rehabilitation of the Sagamu–Ijebu-Ode–Ore Road and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying they would improve connectivity and boost economic activities across Ogun East.

The governor said his administration was also exploring the state’s mineral and energy resources, particularly the vast bitumen deposits in the Ijebu East axis and crude oil potential identified in parts of Ogun State.

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support for the Gateway Deep Sea Port project, describing it as a historic initiative with the potential to transform the state’s economy.

Abiodun said his administration would continue to combine planning with implementation in its efforts to attract investment, create opportunities and promote sustainable prosperity for the people of Ogun State.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, announced the development, saying the approval builds on the earlier modernisation plan for the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos.

Oyetola said the expansion of the programme beyond Lagos was aimed at reducing the concentration of cargo traffic around the nation’s commercial capital while creating additional efficient gateways for international trade.

He said modern ports were critical to Nigeria’s economic development because they facilitate trade, support industries, attract investment and create employment opportunities.

According to him, upgrading the four ports would improve cargo handling, reduce vessel turnaround times, strengthen regional connectivity and make the movement of goods more predictable and cost-effective.

The minister said the Federal Government was pursuing a broader expansion of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure, including approvals for the development of the Ibom, Bakassi, Agge, Gateway, Ondo and Bonny Deep Seaports.

“Our approach is comprehensive. We are modernising existing ports while facilitating the development of new deep seaports,” Oyetola said.

He added that the combined investments would expand Nigeria’s maritime capacity, create stronger economic corridors and strengthen the country’s position as a maritime and logistics hub in Africa.

Oyetola said the government’s vision was to develop an integrated maritime and logistics system where ports, roads, railways, inland waterways and other transport infrastructure work together to facilitate the movement of cargo.

He said the ministry would continue working with state governments, terminal operators, investors, shipping companies and other stakeholders to ensure that the projects produce tangible improvements in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

Oyedele made the call while addressing the United Nations Dialogue on Solutions to Climate Finance on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The minister said Africa’s development ambitions, particularly in the energy sector, remain constrained by high financing costs, currency risks and limited access to affordable long-term capital.

According to Oyedele, African countries also face what he described as a “prejudice premium” and “narrative cost” when seeking financing for critical infrastructure, despite the continent’s relatively low contribution to global carbon emissions.

He identified currency risk and what he termed a “stereotype tax” as additional challenges that increase the cost of raising capital for energy and other development projects.

Oyedele therefore advocated a strategic shift in the global approach to climate finance, including simpler access to affordable capital for developing countries and financing arrangements that better reflect their development realities.

He also urged increased investment in gas and other transition energy sources in Africa, saying such investments could expand access to reliable and affordable energy while helping to address global energy poverty.

The minister said greater investment in Africa’s energy sector could also diversify global energy supplies and reduce concentration risks, particularly amid disruptions affecting the Gulf region.

He stressed that Africa’s energy transition must take into account the continent’s significant energy-access deficit. He called for increased investment that would enable African countries to meet their development needs while pursuing a practical transition towards cleaner energy sources.

For Nigeria, Oyedele said the immediate priority was to develop and implement policies and programmes aimed at reducing poverty, expanding economic opportunities and accelerating the distribution of shared prosperity.

He added that achieving these objectives would require stronger international cooperation and a financing framework that allows developing countries to mobilise the capital needed to invest in infrastructure and improve living standards.

Adeola was received by the Regent Awujale and Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Olorogun (Dr.) Sunny Kuku, alongside members of the Ijebu Interregnum Council, Council of Chiefs and other traditional leaders.

During the engagement, discussions focused on healthcare, education, security, infrastructure and economic opportunities across Ijebuland.

Adeola also recalled his relationship with the late Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, describing him as a father and reaffirming his commitment to the development of Ijebuland.

The APC candidate said he welcomed the proposed Ijebu Development Agenda and would consider its priorities within his broader plans for Ogun State. His wider development agenda, tagged “ITESIWAJU for Ogun State,” was unveiled this week and covers infrastructure, tourism, economic empowerment, security, inclusive growth, agriculture, job creation and urbanisation.

Adeola also expressed support for the aspiration for the creation of Ijebu State and highlighted the economic potential of the Ogun Waterside and coastal corridor, particularly in areas such as port development, oil exploration and other investments.

President and Chairman of Council of CIBN, Dr Dele Alabi, stated this on Tuesday at the 19th Annual Banking and Finance Conference in Abuja, where he said the benefits of economic reforms must extend beyond national indicators to businesses and households.

Alabi said Nigeria continued to face external pressures through fluctuations in crude oil and gas prices, rising costs of petrol, diesel, cooking gas and fertiliser, increased freight and logistics expenses, exchange-rate pressures and changes in capital flows.

He, however, noted that measures adopted by the Federal Government and other stakeholders were beginning to produce positive results, particularly through greater coordination of fiscal, monetary and energy policies.

“The good news is that certain policies implemented in the past couple of years are beginning to yield fruit. Likewise, recent indicators show that these efforts are beginning to rebuild confidence,” he said.

Alabi pointed to the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) second-quarter 2026 Gross Domestic Product report and the recapitalisation of 33 banks, which he said had resulted in N4.65 trillion in new capital, as signs of improving stability and investor confidence.

He cautioned, however, that the success of the reforms should ultimately be measured by their impact on Nigerians, including lower living costs, increased employment, stronger incomes, affordable credit and improved public services.

“Macroeconomic progress must therefore be felt at the micro level, in households, small businesses and the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians,” he said.

According to him, MSMEs remain critical to employment, enterprise development and local value creation, but continue to face high operating expenses, poor infrastructure, weak market access, low productivity, skills shortages and slow digital adoption.

He said the next phase of reforms should focus on transferring economic stability from national balance sheets to business balance sheets and household budgets.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the administration had undertaken difficult reforms to address structural weaknesses built up over decades.

Tinubu said Nigeria remained “the largest economy in Africa by scale of opportunities,” adding that “credibility is rising and prosperity is coming.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Yemi Cardoso, represented by Deputy Governor Philip Ikeazor, called for a multi-layered response to global economic shocks and said inflation could be brought down to single digits with stronger cooperation among sub-national governments and fiscal authorities.

Similarly, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation said banks must continue providing financing for entrepreneurship, infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing while strengthening investment in people, technology, governance and institutional capacity.

Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday, September 2, praised Lawal’s infrastructure and urban renewal initiatives, as well as his efforts to promote industrialisation in Zamfara.

The President also commended the governor for extending his administration’s focus beyond physical infrastructure to the education and health sectors.

According to Tinubu, Lawal’s administration has rehabilitated more than 800 schools, recruited over 2,000 teachers, upgraded hospitals and provided medical supplies across the state.

The President said the governor’s multi-sectoral approach to governance was consistent with the need for holistic development, particularly in the area of human capital development.

“President Tinubu particularly acknowledges Governor Lawal’s infrastructure and urban renewal drive, as well as his industrialisation effort in the state,” the statement said.

Tinubu wished Lawal good health and renewed strength as he continues to serve the people of Zamfara State and the nation.

He also joined the governor’s family, friends and the people of Zamfara in celebrating the occasion.