By Francesca Hangeior

Renowned real estate developer and entrepreneur, Dr. Kennedy Okonkwo, has highlighted the major reasons young Nigerians struggle to own homes, citing high property costs, poor mortgage systems, and financial mismanagement as key barriers.

In an exclusive interview, Okonkwo, who built his real estate empire through Nedcomoaks, said Nigeria’s economic structure does not favour young people in homeownership, but added that financial discipline is a crucial factor in overcoming these challenges.

“Nigeria is not a country that makes it easy for young people to own homes because of how expensive it is,” he said. “Mortgages come with high interest rates, making it almost impossible for many to afford a house.”

He argued that beyond systemic challenges, poor financial priorities among young Nigerians also contribute to the difficulty in owning property.

“A lot of young people are more interested in luxury than investment. You see someone driving a GLE, carrying a designer bag worth millions, but they have not thought about owning a piece of land,” he said. “It’s not always about the government. It’s about what you do with your money.”

Okonkwo, who has been in the real estate sector for over two decades, emphasised the importance of long-term investment strategies. He revealed that he started his journey in construction and later expanded into renewable energy and electric vehicles, ensuring that his wealth was built on sustainable investments.

“For me, I started with real estate and construction, perfected it, and then diversified into other sectors like renewable energy and electric vehicles,” he explained. “You cannot rely on one stream of income. The key is to start with one, master it, and then expand.”

He stressed the importance of investing in income-generating assets rather than spending active income on non-essential luxuries.

“Don’t spend your active income. Invest in assets that generate cash flow, and use only the profits for your lifestyle,” he said.

Okonkwo also pointed out that strategic collaboration has been instrumental in his success, noting that he partners with experts in the construction, energy, and automobile industries to scale his businesses.

“I am not an architect or an engineer, but I understand business. I bring together the best professionals in construction and development to execute projects,” he said.

Speaking on his latest ventures, Okonkwo disclosed that he recently partnered with CIG Motors to introduce 2,000 electric vehicles into the Nigerian market while also making strides in renewable energy with Citadel Power.

Looking at Nigeria’s economic outlook, he maintained that despite challenges, opportunities remain abundant for those who position themselves strategically.

“Forty years ago, where was Aliko Dangote? Where was Femi Otedola? The economy has always been tough, but people find ways to build businesses. There will always be new billionaires because more money is being made every day,” he said.

Okonkwo encouraged young Nigerians to focus on high-demand industries like real estate, renewable energy, and technology, emphasising that wealth creation requires patience, vision, and discipline.

“More people are being empowered, and opportunities are everywhere. If you can think ahead and make the right choices, you will succeed,” he added.

As his businesses continue to grow, Okonkwo remains committed to developing sustainable housing projects and increasing access to clean energy, positioning himself at the forefront of Nigeria’s evolving business landscape.

By Francesca Hangeior

The Pakistani Taliban claimed the killing of a police officer as he travelled Monday to guard polio vaccinators on the first day of a nationwide immunisation effort after a year of rising cases.

The officer was travelling to guard polio vaccinators in the area of Jamrud town in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when he was killed, local police official Zarmat Khan told AFP.

“Two motorcycle riders opened fire on him. The constable died instantly at the scene,” he said.

Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan are the only countries where polio is endemic and militants have for decades targeted vaccination teams and their security escorts.

The Pakistani Taliban in a statement claimed responsibility for the “targeted attack” and said militants also “seized” the slain officer’s weapon.

Pakistan reported at least 73 polio infections in 2024, compared to just six cases in 2023. The vaccination campaign which started on Monday is the first of the year and is due to last a week.

“Despite the incident, the polio vaccination drive in the area remains ongoing,” Khan said.

Another senior police official in the area, Abdul Hameed Afridi also confirmed details of the attack and said officers have “launched an investigation.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the violence in a statement from his office, saying, “The anti-polio campaign will continue with full vigour.”

Polio can easily be prevented by the oral administration of a few drops of vaccine, but scores of vaccination workers and their escorts have been killed over the years.

In the past, clerics falsely claimed that the vaccine contained pork or alcohol, declaring it forbidden for Muslims.

In more recent years the attacks have focused on vulnerable police escorts accompanying the vaccinators as they go door-to-door. Last year, dozens of Pakistani policemen who accompany medical teams on campaigns went on strike after a string of militant attacks targeting them.

Pakistan has witnessed rising militant attacks since the Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan.

More than 1,600 people were killed in 2024–the deadliest year in almost a decade, according to the Centre for Research and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based analysis group.

Islamabad accuses Kabul’s new rulers of failing to rout militants organising on Afghan soil, a charge the Taliban government routinely denies.

In November 2024, at least seven people–including five children, were killed in a bombing targeting police gathered to guard vaccinators near a school in southwestern Balochistan province.

Balochistan, which also neighbours Afghanistan, was the area with the largest number of polio cases in 2024, despite being the most sparsely populated.

By Francesca Hangeior

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, on Monday ordered the remand of a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Usman Yusuf, at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu gave the order after Yusuf was arraigned and took his plea.

Yusuf is accused of abusing his office to confer undue advantages on himself between 2016 and 2017. He is also alleged to have awarded contracts without adhering to the due procurement process.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Yusuf on five counts amended charge bordering on alleged fraud.

However, Yusuf pleaded not guilty to all five counts when the charges were read to him.

Yusuf’s counsel, O.I. Habeeb, afterwards, requested that his client be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the bail application. The trial judge, however, declined the request.

Justice Nwecheonwu ruled that once a defendant is arraigned, custody is transferred from the EFCC to the Nigerian Correctional Service.

She, therefore, ordered Yusuf’s remand in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.

She adjourned the case to February 12, 2025, for a hearing of the bail application.

Yusuf’s continued detention had sparked a condemnation from the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

In a tweet via his X handle on Friday, Atiku described Yusuf as a “fierce and unyielding social critic,” saying his detention is likely “politically motivated.”

In his tweet, the former Vice President, while acknowledging that the charges brought against Yusuf had been lingering since the past administration, criticised the President Bola Tinubu-led government for using the “machinery of the state to silence its critics.”

His tweet read, among others, “Two days ago, the nation was jolted by the arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf, a fierce and unyielding social critic. Though the charges against him have been festering since the previous administration, it is impossible to ignore the strong likelihood that his detention is politically motivated.

“The Tinubu government, despite being riddled with individuals who themselves are embroiled in scandals and investigations by both local and international authorities, continues to use the very machinery of the state to silence its critics. It weaponises these pending investigations to suppress all opposition.”