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All Protocol(s) Observed By Reuben Abati
This means you can’t recognize a Member of a State House of Assembly before a Member of the House of Representatives, and you can’t “acknowledge the presence (as it were) of” a Minister before a Senator. Any slight mix up is likely to fetch you a reprimand and complaints about how you are such an insensitive compere who wants to ruin an event that had been so well planned. Getting the pecking social order right is not even enough, you must be politically correct when you deploy such egoistic phrases as Your Excellency, The Distinguished, The Most Honourable, Your Honour, Your Worship, My Lord, Your Grace, Your Eminence…Only God knows what these honorifics do to the Nigerian big man or big woman’s mind. When you get it right, you can see the person actually believing the myth about he or she being so excellent, distinguished or honourable. Some would even rise and wave to the crowd.
The institutionalized flattery involved, is of course not limited to the special guests, sorry special guests of honour (!) who occupy the high table, or the top table, or better still, the reserved table. Other guests also have to be introduced. The rule is never to overlook any important person. If it is a government or corporate event, nearly everybody is important. If certain persons are mistakenly overlooked, they would insist on sending their personal assistants to the compere to remind him or her of how a grave error has been committed. Some would send their business cards, or a note or summon the compere to their table to register not a complaint but a protest!
Indeed, being a master of ceremony at a Nigerian event could be the ultimate test of humility and human patience. I once introduced a certain VIP as Chief XYZ. I was summoned and reprimanded. “He is not a Chief, but a High Chief”, he said. Correction taken, apology offered. “It is now my pleasure to introduce once more High Chief XYZ, the whatever 1 of anywhere.” The man grinned cheerfully. His retinue of assistants applauded so loudly, you would think the event was all about him. There certainly must be something special about being a High Chief; ordinary Chiefs, I guess, must be less human. But consider this: on another occasion, I mistakenly referred to another VIP as a Chief. The man sent for me, and whispered into my ears: “next time you call me a Chief, I’ll sue you, only unserious people go about saying they are Chief this and Chief that. I have never taken a chieftaincy title in my life; I am simply Mister. You understand? ” Yes, sir!
Again, apologies tendered. I went back to the microphone to introduce the Mister properly, cleverly leaving out his anti-chieftaincy commentary. But how do you deal with royalty? Now that many Nigerians act and behave like Republicans, traditional rulers and the royalty have also learnt to leave the comfort of their palaces to hustle like other Nigerians on the streets, and so, you can’t miss royal presence at most events. But there is a challenge, acknowledging them. You have to know who is His Royal Highness or which traditional ruler is better addressed as His Royal Majesty.
To play safe, it is always advisable to refer to every traditional ruler as His Royal Majesty. It doesn’t matter if the man is a common village head. The word “Royal” is where the magic lies. Leave it out, and you’d have palace jesters rushing to you to insist you emphasize that special phrase. To get the protocol right, the titles of female guests of honour must also be properly mentioned, the problem is knowing who is what: Yeye, Erelu, Lolo, Alhaja, Hajia, Dame, Mrs, Miss or Ms. And there is at least one female VIP who objects to any young compere mentioning her first name: she says that is rude! “I am old enough to be your mum, and you know my dear, we are Africans!” Etiquette lesson taken: “Sorry Ma.” Not to talk of the Igwes. the Knights of numerous Saints, the Otunbas and holders of honorary degrees who insist on being addressed as “Dr.”
By the time a Nigerian compere struggles with these imposed standards, half of the time is wasted on absolutely unimportant niceties. And wait a minute, most of the guests would arrive late anyway and insist on being seated close to the high table, at a visible location, preferably in full view of the television cameras. Important guests like to be noticed; they want to appear on television and have their photographs taken by photojournalists who criss-cross the floor, blocking people’s view, blinding guests with camera flashes, thus constituting extra nuisance.
But the real notice-me tactic often adopted is when in the middle of a programme or a speech, some really self-important guest arrives noisily and holds everything up, making a song and a dance, sashaying across the hall. The compere is expected to suspend the programme and massage the ego of the latecomer: “Announcing the arrival of….” I imagine it is precisely because of this elevation of bad conduct into a side event, that nobody is allowed to arrive late at any event where the President of Nigeria is already seated. The security people will not allow such breach of protocol. And if anyone at all must be allowed in, he or she would have to sneak in quietly and no official compere would dare announce such rude arrival. That is another delicate protocol matter, though.
Then, the speeches: no event is complete without speeches and do Nigerians love to make speeches? Oh yes. Most of the time, many of the speeches are unnecessary. Those who are not supposed to say a word are invited to say a few words and they take an hour. There is so much repetition, with some speakers not having enough sense to leave out what has already been said. You are also likely to find someone who starts with “I don’t have much to say” only to go ahead and bore you silly. Or, some would start with: “I’ll try to be brief.” When you hear this, it’s better to be on your guard. Be prepared to listen to a rambling sermon. Even when time is allotted for every speech, this is usually ignored. I have been at events where the microphone was deliberately muted when the speaker started wasting time. Some speakers would still insist that they should be allowed to finish whatever they believe they are saying and they’d go on rudely, without the microphone!
Then, the acknowledgements: Every speaker begins with a long list of acknowledgements: Your Excellency, the President of the world, Your Excellency the Governor of this, Your Excellency the Governor of that… (if ten or twenty governors are in attendance, some speakers will mention each one of them by name!), and the Distinguished Senator whatever, The Right Honourable somebody, My Lords, spiritual and temporal….this alone may go on for close to five minutes. Before then, the compere would also have taken about five minutes giving the biography of the speaker. And he does that with every speaker, who again takes the microphone and repeats the same protocol list, only to end it all with “All protocol(s) observed.” Sometimes, all protocols are not just observed but “duly observed”, followed by the ritual of time-wasting salutations.
And in some cases, the protocols are “respectfully and fully observed.” The truth is that speakers don’t have to worry about protocol being “duly, respectfully or fully” observed. Career diplomats often protest that these phrases are incorrect and offensive. But this has not stopped speaker after speaker adopting similar short cuts: “Madam Chairperson, permit me to stand on existing protocols”. Or: “Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to adopt existing protocols.” On one occasion, a speaker said: “I am sitting on existing protocols, Mr. Chairman.” That was something novel except that it didn’t stop the next speaker from standing on the same protocols that someone had just sat upon.
Elsewhere, in Britain, United States, Canada, and Europe, when speeches are to be made, people don’t sit or stand on protocols and there are no long introductions and acknowledgements. The speeches are delivered in a pre-arranged order, promptly, briefly and to the point. And of course, the guests arrive on time. Prefacing a speech with “Ladies and Gentlemen” is considered adequate. Here and in other African countries: Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Namibia, Ghana…the reverse is usually the case. We should perhaps begin to worry about African protocol, very much like African Time (!). Our public events and ceremonies could become more purposeful and business-like, however, if we dispense with lengthy introductions of titles and biographies. I once embarked on the onerous task of measuring the time spent on protocol at a particular event: two full hours. The main business of the day – an award ceremony – was just a little under an hour!
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has lifted a 12-year-old Condition of Entry (CoE) imposed on vessels arriving in the United States after calling at Nigerian ports, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola has announced.
The development ends a regime of additional security requirements that had affected vessels operating between Nigeria and the United States since June 25, 2014.
Under the former arrangement, vessels heading to the US that had visited designated Nigerian ports within their previous five port calls were subjected to additional security measures and enhanced scrutiny before being allowed into American waters.
Oyetola said the decision followed significant improvements in Nigeria’s maritime security system and its implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
The minister credited the achievement to collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), government agencies, port and terminal operators, shipping companies and other stakeholders.
According to Oyetola, the US Coast Guard conducted four comprehensive assessments of Nigeria’s maritime security framework and port facilities between 2024 and 2026.
The assessments took place in March and April 2024, March 2025 and April 2026, with the findings showing improvements in Nigeria’s compliance with international maritime security standards.
The lifting of the restriction is expected to have implications beyond security compliance.
According to the minister, Nigerian ports could benefit from faster vessel turnaround times, improved shipping schedules and lower operational costs, as vessels will no longer face the additional requirements imposed specifically under the CoE.
The development could also make Nigerian ports more attractive to international shipping operators and potentially encourage greater shipping activity, trade and investment.
For more than a decade, the additional requirements had contributed to increased security and operational expenses for shipping companies, as well as extra inspections, documentation and delays.
Oyetola described the lifting of the restriction as an important milestone for Nigeria’s maritime sector and an indication that the country’s efforts to improve port security are yielding results.
He also commended NIMASA Director-General Dayo Mobereola and his team for their contribution to the process.
The minister said the Federal Government would continue working to maintain the progress made and position Nigeria as a safe, secure and competitive destination for international shipping.
The removal of the US restriction is therefore being seen as a significant development for Nigeria’s maritime industry, particularly as the country seeks to improve port efficiency and strengthen its role in international trade.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has secured a $400 million underwriting commitment as preparations continue for its planned initial public offering (IPO), which could become one of Africa’s largest-ever stock market listings.
The underwriting commitment was announced by IPO advisers Marob Strategies and Consulting DIFC Ltd and Lilium Capital Group. It forms part of a broader $1 billion underwriting programme supporting the proposed offering.
The programme comprises a $600 million completed and funded private placement alongside the new $400 million underwriting commitment.
The refinery, owned by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, has submitted an application to Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a potential $5 billion IPO. However, the final size of the offering has not yet been determined and will depend on regulatory approval and market conditions.
According to the advisers, the $400 million underwriting facility will become effective when the IPO is launched, subject to prevailing market conditions and the necessary regulatory approvals.
The development represents another major step in the refinery’s plans to broaden its ownership base and raise additional capital for future growth.
The company has been preparing for a retail-focused Nigerian IPO, with management previously indicating that the offering is intended to give Nigerian investors an opportunity to participate directly in the refinery’s growth.
The proposed $5 billion offering has attracted considerable attention because of its potential scale.
Dangote Refinery is Africa’s largest refinery, with an initial refining capacity of about 650,000 barrels per day. The company has also set out plans to increase capacity to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day within three years, with the expansion expected to be financed partly through IPO proceeds and debt.
The refinery’s management has said preparations for the IPO are progressing, while investor interest has been strong during pre-marketing activities.
A $2.5 billion private placement in July reportedly valued the refinery at around $40 billion. The transaction was said to have been heavily oversubscribed, attracting interest from African and international institutional investors.
Dangote Refinery has also strengthened its position in international fuel markets amid disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran.
The refinery has become a major supplier of aviation fuel to markets across Africa and Western Europe, with its management saying it became Europe’s largest supplier of jet fuel in June and July.
The company also benefits from its access to Nigeria’s crude oil resources, strong domestic fuel demand and its integrated refining operations.
Unlike plans for an immediate foreign listing, the company currently intends to focus its IPO on the Nigerian market.
Dangote Refinery’s CEO, David Bird, said the company wants the offering to encourage broad participation by Nigerians and create an opportunity for citizens to share in the refinery’s future growth.
A potential foreign listing could be considered later, after the company establishes a longer track record of production and financial performance.
With the new $400 million underwriting commitment and preparations for a potential $5 billion offering continuing, the Dangote Refinery IPO is shaping up to be a major development for Nigeria’s capital market and the country’s energy sector.
Nigerian security forces have arrested a suspected terrorist operative allegedly connected to notorious terror figure Dogo Gide, alongside 60 other suspected collaborators in separate operations across the country.
The arrests were recorded between August 12 and 13, 2026, according to a military situation report released in Abuja on Thursday.
In Kaduna State, troops of the 4 Demonstration Battalion reportedly intercepted a suspected ISWAP operative at the Kadage Checkpoint. The suspect was allegedly transporting seven pairs of sewn foreign camouflage uniforms believed to be destined for a terrorist camp.
Military authorities said preliminary questioning indicated that the suspect was a close associate of Dogo Gide and had allegedly been providing logistical assistance to his network.
Items recovered during the arrest included 23 yards of foreign camouflage material, two mobile phones, three ATM cards and an identity card, among other materials.
In Adamawa State, troops from the 226 Battalion, working alongside local hunters, conducted a raid on a motor park in the Gombi area following intelligence reports concerning suspected terrorist collaborators.
The military said some of the suspects were allegedly operating under the cover of menial workers and hawkers. The operation resulted in the arrest of 60 people, who have been detained while investigations continue.
Authorities are expected to establish the identities of those arrested and determine whether they have links to terrorist activities.
The military also reported a significant recovery in Zamfara State, where troops of the 1 Brigade found an RPG bomb during a fighting patrol around Tunga-Jambako in Maradun Local Government Area.
The recovery followed an earlier terrorist ambush in the area. Troops subsequently carried out searches and expanded their presence to prevent further attacks and restrict the movement of suspected terrorists.
In Benue State, troops operating under Operation Whirl Stroke arrested five suspected terrorists during offensive operations around suspected terrorist enclaves in Chito, Jootar and Ikyior, all in Ukum Local Government Area.
The military said the troops destroyed the identified enclaves and recovered two motorcycles and two locally fabricated firearms, among other items.
The report also disclosed that troops in Borno State intercepted five women and seven children believed to be family members of terrorists after they reportedly escaped from the Gazuwa Camp.
Separately, six male children were intercepted at Ajiri after reportedly fleeing Murofari Village, where violent clashes had occurred between rival terrorist groups.
The military said the operations demonstrate its continued reliance on intelligence-led actions to disrupt terrorist logistics, dismantle support networks and restrict the freedom of movement of armed groups across the country.
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