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Unifoam Debunks Alleged Staff Maltreatment, Warns Against Blackmail
A company, United Foam Products Limited, has dismissed an online report accusing it of maltreating and enslaving its workers among other allegations.
The firm described the report published on Sahara Reporters as a lie from the pit of hell, saying that a huge number of people including educated, non-educated and artisans have been engaged through its operation spanning four decades in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital alone.
This was contained in a statement issued by Barrister O.T Olorunnisola, an External Solicitor to the company, a copy of which was made available to Journalists in Ilorin, saying that the company prioritizes staff salaries and welfare.
The statement said there was no time the factory enslaved its workforce, pointing out that while they work for seven hours daily, they receive pay above the recommended minimum wage.
It described the report as the handiwork of the blackmailers, who were only out to drag the reputation the company built over the years in the mud and mislead the unsuspecting members of the public.
The statement also debunked the allegation that it bribed the police to arrest any staff with audacity to challenge the management of the company, saying that the reputable company of its nature would not indulge in such an unholy practice.
The statement also said the company enrolled with National Social Industrial Trust Fund (NSITF) on job hazards for contract staff, adding that the company also takes care of any job related accidents.
Contrary to the claim in the report that the company worked during COVID-19 lock down, the statement clarified that it got exemption from the state government to mass produce mattresses for donation in Kwara and Oyo States, just as it added that the company remains the longest surviving private company in the history of Kwara State with minimum of 500 staff strength.
The statement entitled ‘Re: We work like slaves, Nigerian workers in Lebanese company cry out over maltreatment’, read:
“Our attention has been drawn by our client (UNIFOAM)to a report on an online news platform, Sahara Reporters, alleging that client has been enslaving its staff and maltreating them at will among other spurious allegations.
We wouldn’t have dignified the catalogue of unsubstantiated allegations against our client , United Foam Products Limited, which the report identified as Unique Foam( a company which doesn’t exist) with a response but as a responsible and responsive organization, it behoves us to correct the erroneous impression created and set the record straight so as not to mislead the undiscerned.
First, our client has been operating as a company for the past four decades in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital being the Head Office, providing employment opportunities for educated, non-educated and even artisans. This, we believe, has gone a long way in curbing unemployment debacle in our society.
Secondly, our client maintain and sustain corporate and social responsibility and contribute its quota to the development of its host community in the spirit of giving back to the host community as a responsible organization.
Therefore, we want to state it clearly that there was never a time whatsoever that our client maltreated its staff in terms of payment of salaries and other welfare packages. The allegation that staff are paid peanuts is nothing but lie from the pit of hell.
In Unifoam, staff work for seven hours and they are paid more than the recommended minimum wage. This is a verifiable fact. Testimonies are there for people to see except for those who are in the habit of maligning and dragging the name of client in the mud, which obviously the writer is part of.
They also alleged in the report that our client sack staff arbitrarily. This is nothing but a cheap blackmail all in an attempt to portray our client in bad light. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Part of the allegations was that our client bribed the police authority to arrest any staff, who challenged the management on condition of service and welfare. This is another sensation and ploy to malign our client. As a responsible organization, our client has never and would never under whatever guise engage in such an unholy practice.
Our client is enrolled with National Social Industrial Trust Fund (NSITF) on job hazards for contract staff. In spite of that, the company takes care of any job related accidents. Unifoam also has a standard clinic on its premises to handle minor incidences, a facility which most corporate organizations cannot boast of. The company safety and security procedures are industrial standard and we are being regulated by all manufacturing regulatory bodies.
On the allegation that our client worked during COVID-19 lock down, we need to make it abundantly clear that our client was covered under the provider of essential services by Kwara State government to mass produce mattresses for Isolation Centres in Kwara and Oyo States among other states. These were DONATIONS from our client in support of the battle against coronavirus pandemic. We ensured all COVID-19 protocols were and still being observed in the company.
It is imperative to state that in spite of COVID-19 induced lock down, our client continued paying staff salaries in full regardless of whether they were at work or not. It would be recalled that the period under review was when most private companies laid off staff due to their inability to pay salaries.
For the record, United Foam Products Limited remains the longest surviving private company in the history of Kwara State with minimum of 500 staff strength.
We want to therefore urge the public to disregard the erroneous impression created by some faceless people through the unsubstantiated report. Our client is committed to prioritizing welfare of its staff and hold its customers and the general public in high etseem.
The Federal Government has begun moves to operationalise 112 as Nigeria’s single national emergency number, with the aim of giving citizens one toll-free line to access emergency assistance across the country.
The development follows the approval by the National Economic Council (NEC) of 112 as the unified emergency number across all levels of government and relevant response agencies.
FG Sets Roadmap for Nationwide Rollout
Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed relevant government agencies and stakeholders to develop a comprehensive operational roadmap for the nationwide implementation of the emergency number.
A committee comprising the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies has been constituted to finalise the roadmap and standard operating procedures.
The plan will subsequently be presented to the NEC for formal endorsement.
One Number for Different Emergencies
Under the proposed unified system, Nigerians would no longer need to determine which emergency agency to contact before seeking help.
The 112 system is designed to provide access to the appropriate response for situations including security incidents, road accidents, fires, medical emergencies, natural disasters and other life-threatening situations.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu said the adoption of a single emergency number would provide citizens with a simpler and more reliable way to seek urgent assistance.
FG Seeks Faster Emergency Response
The Federal Government said the initiative is intended to address fragmentation within Nigeria’s emergency response system, where different agencies and jurisdictions have historically operated through separate channels.
At the NEC meeting in April, Shettima said Nigerians facing emergencies needed a rapid response rather than bureaucratic delays. The council consequently approved 112 as part of efforts to create a more coordinated national emergency-response framework.
The government’s latest roadmap is expected to clarify responsibilities among participating agencies, establish operating standards and set milestones for implementation.
NCC Has Established Emergency Communication Centres
The NCC has already established about 35 Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) across the country to support the national emergency response system.
NCC officials, however, have stressed that the success of the initiative will depend on stronger cooperation among state governments and emergency-response agencies.
The commission has also called for the maintenance of communications infrastructure already deployed and greater integration between the police, ambulance services, fire services and disaster-response agencies.
112 Already Exists, But FG Wants a Unified System
Although 112 is not a completely new emergency code in Nigeria, the current reform seeks to make it the single, coordinated national emergency lifeline.
Government officials have acknowledged that challenges including connectivity, management of Emergency Communication Centres and public awareness have affected the effectiveness of the existing system.
A government report earlier in 2026 found that about 80 per cent of states could access 112, while connectivity and awareness remained challenges.
The latest initiative is therefore focused not simply on assigning a number, but on ensuring that calls placed to 112 result in coordinated and timely responses.
Committee to Finalise Implementation
Stakeholders involved in the rollout include the police, NCC, NEMA, FRSC and other emergency-response institutions.
The government says the committee will develop the operational framework and standard operating procedures required to make 112 function as a reliable nationwide emergency service.
Once fully implemented, the system is expected to give Nigerians a single point of contact when they require urgent assistance.
The Federal Government has announced the full automation of the evaluation and authentication of academic certificates, ending the need for applicants to visit the Federal Ministry of Education in person.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the development as part of the government’s wider digital transformation efforts under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the ministry, applicants can now complete the entire credential evaluation and authentication process online through its dedicated platform.
Applicants No Longer Required to Visit Ministry
Under the new arrangement, Nigerians and other applicants seeking academic credential authentication or evaluation will no longer need to travel to the ministry’s offices for physical verification.
The Federal Ministry of Education said the online system is designed to reduce bureaucratic delays, speed up processing and make the service more accessible to applicants both within Nigeria and abroad.
The reform also seeks to improve transparency and strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s academic certification system.
How the New Online Verification System Works
Applicants are required to use the ministry’s official credential evaluation and authentication platform to begin the process.
The ministry directed applicants to register and upload the required supporting documents through essverify.education.gov.ng.
For transcript verification, applicants are required to request their institutions to send transcripts directly from official institutional email addresses to the ministry’s designated email channel. This is intended to ensure that academic records are transmitted securely from recognised institutions.
Employers and Institutions Can Verify Qualifications
The ministry said the digital system is not only designed for individual applicants.
Institutions, employers and other authorised stakeholders will also be able to verify academic qualifications through a more structured and reliable process.
According to the government, this is expected to strengthen confidence in academic records while making credential verification more efficient.
FG Highlights Benefits of Digital System
The Federal Government said the transition is expected to bring several improvements, including:
– Faster processing of certificate verification requests
– Reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks
– Greater transparency in credential evaluation
– Improved data management
– Stronger protection of the integrity of academic records
– Easier access for Nigerians and applicants living abroad
The education ministry described the reform as part of its broader effort to use technology to modernise education governance and improve public service delivery.
Ministry Provides Official Contact Details
Applicants have been advised to rely only on the Federal Ministry of Education’s official platform and communication channels when applying for certificate evaluation or authentication.
The ministry provided essverify.education.gov.ng as the official online portal and [email protected] for enquiries in the latest announcement.
The move represents another step towards reducing physical bureaucracy in government services and shifting academic credential verification to a fully digital process.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has recorded a remarkable $1 billion increase in his estimated fortune within 24 hours, pushing his net worth to $32.5 billion, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire tracker.
The latest jump came as investors focused on the planned Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which is expected to open on September 14, 2026.
Dangote’s Wealth Rises 3.3% in One Day
Forbes’ real-time data showed that Dangote’s estimated fortune rose from about $31.5 billion to $32.5 billion, representing a 3.3 per cent increase.
The figure was based on data recorded on Monday, September 7. His wealth had also increased by about $3.3 million on the previous Friday.
The latest gain means Dangote’s fortune has risen significantly since the end of 2025, when Forbes valued it at approximately $25.6 billion.
It is important to note that the $1 billion figure represents an increase in estimated net worth and should not be interpreted as $1 billion in cash income earned by Dangote in one day.
Bloomberg Puts Dangote’s Wealth Higher
Different billionaire wealth trackers currently give different estimates of Dangote’s fortune because they use different methods for valuing publicly traded and privately held assets.
While Forbes’ real-time tracker placed his wealth at $32.5 billion, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index valued it at about $35.5 billion on Monday.
The difference is largely linked to how the two platforms assess Dangote’s private holdings and other assets.
Dangote Refinery IPO Set to Open September 14
The surge in Dangote’s wealth comes as his massive petroleum refinery prepares for a landmark share offering.
The refinery plans to offer 4.1 billion ordinary shares at N525 per share, potentially raising about N2.15 trillion, or roughly $1.6 billion, if fully subscribed.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the offering and registered the refinery’s existing 120.13 billion shares, putting the company on course for what is expected to become Africa’s largest IPO.
The offer is scheduled to run from September 14 to October 13, 2026, according to details reported by Reuters.
Refinery Valuation Put at About $47 Billion
The registration of the refinery’s existing shares implies an equity valuation of roughly $47 billion, based on Reuters’ calculations.
The company plans to use funds from the IPO to support expansion and increase the refinery’s processing capacity from about 700,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day.
Reuters reports that the refinery has also unveiled a broader $14.3 billion expansion programme, with completion targeted for 2029.
Why the IPO Matters to Dangote’s Wealth
The public offering could provide investors with a clearer market-based valuation for one of the biggest assets in Dangote’s business empire.
The refinery, which began operations in 2024, has become a major player in Nigeria’s petroleum industry and has expanded its reach into international markets.
Dangote has also expressed plans to attract investors from across Africa, describing the planned listing as an opportunity that goes beyond Nigeria.
With the IPO approaching, investor interest in the refinery has added another layer of attention to Dangote’s already substantial fortune.
Dangote Remains Africa’s Richest Man
The latest figures further strengthen Dangote’s position as Africa’s wealthiest individual.
Earlier in 2026, his fortune had already climbed substantially. Billionaires Africa reported in March that Bloomberg had valued Dangote at $32.5 billion, making him the 64th-richest person globally at the time.
His latest reported wealth increase comes at a significant moment for the Dangote Group, with the refinery IPO expected to attract major attention from Nigerian and international investors.
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