Ecobank Nigeria has unveiled a new art installation, ‘Kong in a Cage,’ by artist, Toyeeb Ajayi.

According to a statement from the bank on Tuesday, the installation, made entirely from recycled materials, is now on display at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos.

Ecobank has been fostering sustainability in the country through some of its initiatives like the ‘Get Cash for Plastic Bottles’ campaign, which removed over four million plastic bottles from the streets and drains of Lagos. The bank is also actively involved in tree-planting efforts aimed at preserving and protecting the environment.

Commenting on the sustainable art installation, Managing Director/Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria,
Bolaji Lawal emphasised that the installation is part of the bank’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, environmental protection, and the promotion of Nigeria’s creative industries.

He added that the bank remains dedicated to offering a global platform for emerging Nigerian artists, especially in the fields of sustainability and the arts.

Lawal also pointed out that ‘Kong in a Cage’ aligns with Ecobank’s broader mission to promote the creative sector across Africa.

“Our aim is to highlight the incredible talent of Nigerian artists, providing them with opportunities to showcase their work both locally and internationally.

“The creative sector is an essential driver of economic growth, well-being, and global interconnectedness. At Ecobank, we are committed to investing in the future of our youth, helping to shape a brighter future for Nigeria,” he said.

The artist, Toyeeb Ajayi, revealed that ‘Kong in a Cage’ is a commentary on environmental sustainability, with the installation’s use of recycled materials reflecting this theme.

“By employing sustainable materials and practices, this installation does more than just entertain—it prompts a conversation about the intersection of art and environmental stewardship.

“’Kong in a Cage’ is not just an artwork; it’s a dialogue—a visual plea for accountability, responsibility, and a renewed respect for the fragile balance between humanity and nature.

“I encourage everyone to reflect on humanity’s impact on the environment, consider the potential of reclaimed materials, and rethink our relationship with the planet”, Ajayi said.

The work of art will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays.

Five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue have been detained by the Kano Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged misappropriation of N1,294,337,676.53.

According to the EFCC, the suspects — Rabiu Abdullahi, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, Ibrahim Aliyu, and Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri — were arrested after a petition from the Katsina State government.

The petition alleged collusion to divert funds from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières, and Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA).

The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirming the arrests on Monday in Abuja, said, “The suspects are currently being detained at the Kano Zonal Command of the EFCC and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.”

Preliminary investigations revealed that Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections and current Permanent Secretary of the Board, authorised the opening of a Sterling Bank account named “BOIRS.”

The account, with sole signatories Sanusi Mohammed Yaro and Ibrahim M. Kofar Soro, reportedly became the channel for the funds.

The funds were allegedly funnelled to NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company owned by Nura Lawal Kofar Sauri, an Assistant Director of Career Skills/Staff Welfare at the Board.

Further investigations revealed that the company and its owner were the primary conduits for laundering the stolen money, which was traced to multiple bank accounts linked to the suspects.

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has explained that documents of agreements on the failed Nigeria Air project were signed by Hadi Sirika, the former minister of aviation.

In a viral video, Festus Keyamo exposed some pages of the documents, explaining parts of the deed of agreements signed by Sirika and the Ethiopian government.

According to Keyamo, the agreement document showed that a foreign airline would have taken over Nigeria Air.

He stressed that the Nigerian government had no regrets about ending the agreement with Ethiopian Airlines over Nigeria Air.

Keyamo said, “You will be shocked if you look at this agreement. What it simply says is that a foreign government should come and take over our national carrier. Ethiopian Air was the single major shareholder in that deal. It is the same thing they did in Togo with Asky. We cannot be Togo. We are big and ambitious.

“We cannot give up our aviation ecosystem to another entity. What would have happened is that the Ethiopian government would now be the complete beneficiary of all our Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) routes.

“A national carrier has first priority over all the BASA routes we have negotiated all over the world. If we give them all the routes we have suffered to negotiate, where will all those profits go? It is not Nigeria.”

This comes as Keyamo explained that Nigeria did not lose any foreign direct investment by not agreeing to the terms of Nigeria Air.

He said what the Ethiopian government was going to do was to get wet-lease aircraft and fly them as national carriers, with all the profits going to Addis Ababa.

“The CEO of Nigeria Air would have been an Ethiopian, the financial officer Ethiopian, the director of operations Ethiopian, and all other key positions would have been reserved for foreigners. That is not a national carrier.

“In the document, it also says the people that will run Nigeria Air will not pay any tax to the Nigerian government. They are not also building any investments in the country. The documents also say Nigeria will be the guarantor of any loss they suffer here,” Keyamo further explained.

Recall that in May last year, Keyamo announced the indefinite suspension of the Nigeria Air project.

While there are reports that N85 billion was spent on the Nigeria Air project, the former minister, Sirika, clarified that it was N3 billion.