When Tayo Faniran began his acting career after participating in Big Brother Africa Season 9, he knew at the time that he would only be acting temporarily. What lay ahead of him was a life as a model in South Africa. But fate had a different tale for him. After an experience in South Africa, he decided to return home to Nigeria and pursue a career in acting. Before he left for South Africa, he had been cast in Tinsel, but it was a temporary role. Upon his return to Nigeria, he began seeking more permanent roles. Faniran has honed his acting skills to the point where he secured roles in major productions, such as Gangs of Lagos and Labake Olododo, but he wasn’t always comfortable in front of the camera. It took a director from his early days, having a conversation with him about his being camera-shy, to bring out the actor we all now know.
Read Tayo Faniran’s story on pages 8 to 10 of this issue.
Pearls have always been an elegant and timeless piece of accessory. Whether you’re dressing up for a special event or you want to add a touch of class to your everyday look, pearls are the perfect accessory to go with. We showcase various ways to incorporate pearls into your ensemble for a fashion-forward look on pages 4 and 5.
Our movie of choice this week is Smurfs. Our reviewer reviews the live-action adaptation, and he wasn’t very impressed, but don’t let that stop you from seeing it; he’s just not a fan of making cartoons into live-action films. Let us know what you think when you see it.
Until next week, enjoy your read.
Photo: Kola Oshalusi
@insignamedia Makeup: Zaron
OnahNwachukwu
THEWILLNIGERIA
SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2025
THEWILLNIGERIA
SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2025
THEWILLNIGERIA
COVER
Can Obi Outfox Atiku to the ADC Presidential...
BY AMOS ESELE
When Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 presidential election, submitted his single-tenure proposal to the opposition coalition politicians for consideration, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, was a mirage. Fortunately, not anymore. The party is waxing stronger by the day since its adoption by the same coalition politicians as the platform for the realisation of their political ambition to defeat President Bola Tinubu for the presidency in 2027.
One of the coalition leaders, Atiku Abubakar, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on whose platform he contested the 2023 presidential election. He is yet to officially join the ADC.
As these events unfold quickly, Obi is fighting hard to remain in the scheme of things within the ADC.
The single-term tenure he promised the coalition over a fortnight ago as a bargaining chip is being overwhelmed by reactions from opposing forces.
THEWILL gathered that since he resigned from the PDP, Atiku’s influence has risen within the North and the champions of the North versus South politics see him as the one who the cap fits in the North for the contest ahead. In addition to this emerging scenario, the leaders of the coalition insist that whoever gets the ADC presidential ticket must emerge through the party’s primaries.
the “fearful possibility of handing victory to the President on a silver platter,” according to a source.
In fact, Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the ADC has been making this point recently that only a candidate of northern extraction can defeat President Tinubu in 2027. He explained that his analysis of the situation was based on expediency, noting that, ““The ADC is not zoning to the North. That’s my strategy because it’s the only way to unseat (President) Tinubu. The party has committed to free and fair primaries where everyone can contest.”
But a reliable source close to the politician told THEWILL that the ADC is where the former Vice President is headed. “He said he is running for the presidency in 2027. ADC is the platform the leaders of the opposition coalition have adopted,” the source told this newspaper on Friday night.
A serving Senator, Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory in the National Assembly on the platform of the Labour Party has defected to the ADC alongside some others from other political parties.
What is more, Atiku’s supporters across the country are said to have pulled out of the PDP and started building ADC structures in their respective constituencies.
While it is still a matter of conjecture now whether Atiku will beat Obi in the party’s presidential primary, tension is said to be building up among some big wigs of the party who calculate that on the strength of the pervading perception and identity politics in the North an Obi candidacy will be easier to sell in the South than in the core North, particularly in the North-West and North-East geo-political zones, thereby enabling
MOUNTING PRESSURE FROM ‘OBIDIENT MOVEMENT’
Following the ongoing plots within the ADC, alongside the ongoing factional conflict in the Labour Party, the leadership of the Obidient Movement is said to have sought and obtained Obi’s permission to move into the ADC and take up positions before Atiku’s group seizes the party structure.
A leader of one of the Movement’s founding groups confided in THEWILL that the general consensus among them is that Obi will pull out of the coalition if ADC fails to give him the
Can Obi Outfox Atiku to the ADC Presidential...
presidential ticket. He disclosed that ‘PO,’ as Obi is popularly called by the group, has agreed to their request to move into ADC and take up leadership positions before it is too late. The source told this newspaper, “This is the political reality facing us now. During a recent meeting with us, PO said those in LP are free to remain in the party and contest some upcoming election while those crossing over to ADC are free to do so. That is why Senator Ireti Kingibe moved into ADC. PO’s close confidant, Dr. Moses Paul, has also moved into the party and he will contest the local government chairmanship in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, forthcoming poll on the party’s platform. PO has also given clearance to the 2023 governorship candidate of the LP in Lagos State, Gbadebo Patrick Rhodes-Vivour and his group to cross over to the ADC. The strategy of the OM is to move into ADC just as Atiku’s supporters are doing and take up positions before PO comes in. Otherwise, he will not have the structure to negotiate and realise his ambition. As of now, we are building structures in over 23 states at the ward and unit levels.”
He argued that 2027 politics will present a different scenario from that of 2023. According to him, the fear of religious persecution exhibited by voters during the 2023 polls because of APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket will be a hard sell in 2027.
He points out that the Bola Tinubu Administration has appointed many Christians into key positions to drain that fear of any electoral value. For example, people like the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo; Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen Christopher Musa; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; Governor of Central Bank, Olayemi Emmanuel Cardoso and the recently appointed National Chairman of the governing APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, are all Christians.
Still, Obidient Movement is said to have sought and obtained PO’s clearance to move into the ADC as a bloc with a condition: Wherever Obi goes, the Movement follows. In other words, if the Labour Party leader fails to get the ADC ticket and chooses to leave, the Movement will pull out of the party and follow him.
conference in Abuja at the end of July, 2025, to state its 2027 stand.
CONVENTION/PRIMARY SETBACK
The dilemma in all of these permutations is that ADC’s convention, like all other political parties, will come up in mid 2026, in line with the rules of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which prescribes a period of 90 days for electioneering. The implication of this is that an Obi decision to pull out of the party in the likelihood of his failure to clinch its presidential ticket may backfire as it would be too late to find another viable platform for the completion of his aspiration.
LABOUR PARTY AS PLAN B
On Friday, images of Obi and former Governor of Niger State, Dr Aliyu Babangida, as well as former Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state hit the news wave, fueling speculations that the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election is extending his ongoing negotiations with relevant stakeholders to explore the possibility of returning to the PDP in the hope that the major opposition party will zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South.
Former Minister of Information and one of the founding fathers of the PDP, Professor Jerry Gana on Friday gave further credence to this speculation when he hinted that talks with Obi and other prominent political figures were ongoing.
““I have met people. I have met him (Obi). I have met the people he would refer to and I have sat with them for some hours. We are moving step by step,”
THEWILL
meeting with el-Rufai and Babangida is part of his moves to seek support from a broad range of prominent politicians to mount pressure on Atiku to forgo his presidential ambition and support an Obi candidacy on the platform of the ADC.
It is in that same light that Obi is said to have supported the move by his running mate in 2023, Yusuf Datti Ahmed to meet last week with the Abure faction of the LP in a bid to broker peace between the warring factions of the party. Although the Abia State governor, Alex Ottiled faction, supported by the Nigeria Labour Congress, appointed Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as Interim National Chairman to plan the party’s elective national convention later in the year, there is a strong indication that both factions are open to reconciliation as INEC is yet to accord recognition to either of them.
Efforts to get reactions from the Spokespersons of the Abure-led faction, Mr Obiora Ifoh and Arabambi Abayomi failed. Ifoh said he was indisposed to speak.
Obidient Movement, Tanko Yinusa, also failed to answer his phone and reply to messages.
A source however said that the reason Obi continues to say he is still a card-carrying member of the LP is “because LP is his plan B if his ADC plan fails.”
This is said to be the main reason, Obi is yet to resign from the LP and join ADC. But ADC holds a different view. Interim National Publicity Secretary of ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi said pressing party matters have restrained Obi alongside el-Rufai from resigning from their parties and joining ADC.
But for the spokesperson of the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, Luka Binniyat, who insists that nothing significant has changed in two years to alter the voting preferences of a majority in the Middle Belt zone, given the uncertainty created by insecurity in the country, Obi’s involvement in the ADC was still to ignite excitement from the Forum. The Forum alongside Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, supported Obi’s candidacy in 2023.
“We are still observing the politics taking shape in the ADC and we in the Middle Belt are yet to be excited by what is going on there,” he told THEWILL. He said the Forum and the Southern Leaders Forum, comprising Afenifere, PANDEF and Ohanaeze, would address a press
While it is still a matter of conjecture now whether Atiku will beat Obi in the party’s presidential primary, tension is said to be building up among some big wigs of the party who calculate that on the strength of the pervading perception and identity politics in the North an Obi candidacy will be easier to sell in the South than in the core North, particularly in the NorthWest and North-East geo-political zones, thereby enabling the “fearful possibility of handing victory to the President on a silver platter
“They were given the opportunity to finalise pending elections, including by-elections and the selection of governorship candidates, within their legacy parties,” Abdullahi said, while reassuring the public that both Obi and El-Rufai were committed to the ADC coalition and they would formally join the party after completing those processes.
Abdullahi also addressed the issue of party democracy and alleged preference for any aspirant: “We have no hidden agenda or preferred candidate. Everyone will have a fair chance in the race for the party’s ticket.”
Even so, the OM source claims that with the strong support of the movement behind him, Obi can decide to move into any platform anytime. “That is the reason we decided to move very early into ADC before the positions are taken up. As a impact its structure,” he said.
How this move translates into victory for Obi in 2027 amid the increasingly volatile politicking, web of intrigues and strategic alliances remains to be seen.
The Presidency has faulted claims by former Kano governor and 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, that President Bola Tinubu has neglected the North in the allocation of federal resources.
THEWILL earlier reported that Kwankwaso, on Thursday, at the Kano State Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the 2025 Constitutional Amendment, had accused the Tinubu administration of lopsided distribution and execution of federal resources to favour the South at the expense of the North.
He cited rising poverty and insecurity in the region, as well as deteriorating infrastructure, referencing a recent road trip he made from Abuja to Kano due to a cancelled flight.
“Let me advise the Federal Government on the distribution of federal resources. From the information available to us, it’s like most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction in this country. That is why we have insecurity, we have poverty and so on. It is happening here mainly, but like a desert, it would go everywhere. Most roads in the northern region remain in a deplorable condition, whilst the APC government
continues to allocate lump budgetary provisions for infrastructural development in the southern region”, he said.
Responding in an X post on Friday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, dismissed Kwankwaso’s claim entirely false, declaring that President Tinubu has the “North covered” and his presence could be felt in the AbujaKaduna-Kano Expressway, Sokoto-Badagry Expressway, and Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina Expressway.
“Senator Kwankwoso. You are wrong. North not neglected. President Tinubu has the North covered. Northern Nigeria not left behind”, he said. Dare highlighted Tinubu’s 43 Northern interventions covering agriculture, road infrastructure, health, energy and gas, rail and metro, among others, in only two years in charge.
According to him, the President has also provided the $158.15m Agriculture Value Chain (VCN) Programme for nine Northern states, Kolmani Integrated Development Project (Bauchi and Gombe States), and Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) — a six-year World Bank–funded programme to restore 1 million hectares of
degraded land and improve climate resilience in Northern Nigeria states.
Dare further explained that the Tinubu administration has reinvigorated about 1,000 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in the North, and upgraded many tertiary and secondary health facilities across the region.
He listed key road infrastructure projects such as the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Expressway, Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, Kano–Kongolam Road, Kaduna–Jos Road, and the Kano–Maiduguri Dual Carriageway. He also highlighted railway projects, including the Kaduna–Kano and Kano–Maradi rail lines, as well as the ongoing rehabilitation of the Abuja Metro. In the energy sector, Dare mentioned the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, the Gwagwalada Power Plant, and upcoming solar projects in Kaduna State.
Dare also highlighted major investments in healthcare, including upgrades at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, University of Jos Teaching Hospital, and Federal Medical Centre in Nguru. He added over 1,000 primary health centres are currently undergoing revitalisation in various northern communities.
FG to Unveil N50m STEMM Grant for Student Innovation
The Federal Government has announced plans to unveil a N50 million Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG) to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development among Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM) students.
A statement signed on Friday by Mrs Folasade Boriowo, the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, said the initiative will be formally unveiled in August by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
It explained that the S-VCG was designed to empower full-time undergraduate students in tertiary institutions,
especially those in 300 level and above to build scalable, job-creating ventures.
Quoting the minister during a recent stakeholders’ engagement, Alausa said the grant represents a strategic investment in Nigeria’s knowledge economy. He added that the initiative aims to equip students with tools to develop practical solutions across sectors such as technology, medicine, agriculture, and green energy.
Each selected student-led project will be eligible to receive startup funding of up to N50 million, alongside access to mentorship, incubation services, and business development support.
The programme will be implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to ensure transparency, impact assessment, and effective project delivery.
Alausa noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive education, youth empowerment, and sustainable development.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring inclusive rollout and rigorous monitoring to guarantee measurable and lasting impact across Nigeria’s higher education institutions.
L-R: Kola Adesina, Tony Elumelu, Col. Sanni Bello (rtd) President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila and Adebayo Adelabu Minister of Power during the meeting betweeen the President and chairmen of GENCOS over N4trillion FG’s debt to the electricity company held at the President Villa, Aso Rock in Abuja, Friday, July25, 2025.
L-R: Registrar, University of Ibadan(UI), Ganiyu Saliu; Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale; Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; representative of Chairman of the Occasion, retired Gen. Lamidi Adeosun; Acting Director, TETFUND Centre of Excellence in Security Management UI, Dr Benjamin Aluko and the host, Prof. Isaac Albert; during a lecture on global fragility and Security Management in Nigeria delivered by CDS, at the TETFUND Centre of Excellence ,University of Ibadan on July 24, 2025.
Heathrow Welcomes Air Peace Abuja-London Services to Terminal 3
BY FELIX IFIJEH
London Heathrow Airport has congratulated West/ Central Africa’s largest carrier, Air Peace, as it commences direct international flight services from Abuja to London on October 26, 2025.
Commending the airline in a post on its social media
handles on Friday, Heathrow said it looked forward to receiving Air Peace’s first flight to its terminal 3.
The post reads, “Heathrow is proud to welcome Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace @flyairpeace to Terminal 3.
“Starting 26 October 2025, a new 3-weekly service will
connect London Heathrow directly with Abuja, offering seamless access to West Africa and world-class service aboard a Boeing 777.
“Congratulations to Air Peace on expanding its UK operations. We look forward to welcoming its first flight.”
Nigerian Passport Ranks 88th in Global Rankings
The Nigerian passport has been ranked 88th out of 99 countries on the latest Henley Passport Index, released on July 18. Nigeria shares the 88th position with Ethiopia and Myanmar, the same countries Nigeria was grouped with earlier in the year when it was ranked 91st.
The ranking reflects a notable improvement in global mobility for Nigerian passport holders. The Henley Passport Index is the original, authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
With historical data spanning 19 years, the Henley Passport Index is the only one of its kind based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – the largest, most accurate travel information database – and enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team.
The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations. Updated monthly, the Henley Passport Index is considered the standard reference tool for global
citizens and sovereign states when assessing where a passport ranks on the global mobility spectrum.
In the latest release, which captured only 99 countries, Singapore ranked 1st, followed by Japan and South Korea in 2nd position. Making 3rd are: Denmark. Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain. The 4th position is occupied by Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden.
While Greece, New Zealand and Switzerland made the 5th position, the United Kingdom was ranked 6th, and Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta and Poland ranked 7th. At the 8th position are Canada, Estonia and the United Arab Emirates.
Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia made the 9th position. At the 10th spot are Iceland, Lithuania and the United States.
While China made it to the 60th Spot, Malawi and Morocco were ranked 67th, Kenya and The Gambia made the 69th spot and Tanzania 70th.
Cape Verde Islands, Benin Republic, Ghana, Tunisia, Uganda. Zambia and Sierra Leone occupied the 71st and 72nd positions, respectively. Rwanda and Zimbabwe made the 73rd spot, Mozambique occupied the 74th spot, and Togo made the 76th spot.
However, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal occupied the 77th spot; Gabon and Madagascar occupied the 78th position. At the 79th spot are Guinea, Mauritania and the Niger Republic, while Equatorial Guinea occupied the 80th position. Algeria and Mali occupied the 81 spot, Guinea-Bissau, 82 and Chad. 83. At the 84th spot are the Central African Republic and Liberia, while Cameroon and Egypt made 85th; then Angola, Burundi and Congo (Rep) occupied the 86th spot.
While Nigeria and Ethiopia shared the 88th spot, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan made 90th and Sundan at 92nd spot. Eritrea, Libya and Somalia made the 93, 95 and 96th spots, respectively. The last was Afghanistan, which occupied the 99th spot.
World Bank Restates Commitment to Private Sector Growth in Nigeria
Nigeria’s economic reforms have received a major boost from the World Bank who Reaffirms its commitment to private sector growth.
subsidy removal, for restoring investor confidence and laying the foundations for inclusive, private sector–driven development.
signals of success. “The path to sustainable prosperity lies in unlocking private investment. The World Bank’s partnership is critical to achieving this”, he noted.
The statement came when the Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, received Ms. Anshula Kant, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of the World Bank, for a high-level engagement focused on deepening economic reforms and mobilising private capital for growth.
Ms. Kant, who led a senior delegation to Abuja, described Nigeria as a cornerstone of the World Bank’s Africa strategy and praised the government’s bold macroeconomic reforms, including foreign exchange liberalisation and
“Nigeria’s reform momentum is both necessary and commendable”, she noted. “We stand ready to accelerate our support, particularly in energy, digital access, and youth employment, the pillars of a competitive, futurefacing economy”.
On his part, Mr Edun reiterated that Nigeria’s priority is scaling growth through strategic investment in infrastructure, agriculture, and digital innovation. He cited renewed investor interest, improved reserves, and over $7 billion in oil and gas commitments as early
The meeting also explored innovative financial tools to reduce the cost of capital and boost SME financing, including blended finance platforms and new guarantee instruments under MIGA.
Our Correspondent reports that the session concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration, ensuring Nigeria’s reforms translate into jobs, capital flows, and resilient economic growth for the benefit of all.
R-L: President Bola Tinubu, Adamu Ailero, Niyi Adebayo, Victor Attah and Boni Haruna during of the Class of 99 Governors with the President at the Presidential Villa on Friday, July 25, 2025.
Diri Tasks Universities on Made-in-Nigeria Innovations
BY AMOS OKIOMA
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has implored universities to embrace technology in order to produce innovators for Nigeria. Governor Diri also challenged policy makers and education managers to develop and update curriculum at all stages of learning to meet realities of the digital age.
He called on universities to lead the way in research that optimises made-in-Nigeria inventions and products. Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said the Bayelsa governor stated this at his alma mater, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, while delivering the 35th convocation and 50th anniversary lecture.
He advocated that governments at all levels make budgetary allocations to adequately fund educational institutions with support from the private sector as well as interventionist and donor agencies.
He stated that his administration deliberately introduced the Bayelsa Promoting Reform to Improve and Modernise Education (BayelsaPRIME) policy at the basic education level to effectively incorporate information technology in learning processes and facilitate access to digital skills among teachers and students. He also stated that his government built an ICT hub in Yenagoa with the aim of empowering citizens through digital literacy.
He expressed delight that the University of Port Harcourt reached a golden age, and hoped that the next 50 years of the institution will require not merely prestige but purpose and not merely knowledge but also impact.
The governor announced that as part of his contribution to the growth of the institution, his government would embark on a staff housing project before his tenure ends. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, in his address, congratulated the 861 graduates for successfully completing their studies.
Banks
BY FELIX IFIJEH
On behalf of the institution, Prof. Georgewill presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Lifetime Achievement in Education Partnership Award to Governor Diri for promoting education in Bayelsa and in recognition of his commitment to development of his alma mater.
He said Diri was among 50 distinguished alumni of the university selected for honour on its 50th anniversary. On the governor’s entourage were his wife, Justice Patience Diri, Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, other lawmakers, and the National Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Amb. Boladei Igali.
Others were members of the state executive council, including the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, his deputy, Mr. Irorodamie Komonibo, General Manager of the state Housing and Property Development Authority, Dr. Tonye Isenah, and other government functionaries. Tinubu Meets Chairmen of GENCOS, Pledges to Resolve Debts Claims C
President Bola Tinubu has appealed to power generation companies (GENCOs) to give the federal government more time to complete the verification and validation of longstanding debts owed to them.
During a meeting with members of the Association of Power Generation Companies, led by Col. Sani Bello (rtd), at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the President assured them of his administration’s commitment to resolving the liquidity challenges in the power sector.
The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, disclosed that a N4 trillion bond programme has received anticipatory approval from President Tinubu to address the liquidity shortfall in the sector.
President Tinubu acknowledged the historic liabilities inherited from previous administrations and pledged transparency and fairness in addressing them:
“I accept the assets and liabilities of my predecessors, and there is no question about that. But that acceptance must be on credible grounds. I need to wear the audit cap of verifiability, authenticity, and the fact that this inheritance is not a mere deodorant but a support structure for critical economic and industrial promotion.” The President emphasised the need for patience from GENCOs and financial institutions, noting that government agencies are actively engaging audit and legal firms to scrutinise the claims.
While reaffirming his belief in a market-driven electricity sector, the President said the industry’s long-neglected legacy issues are now receiving the attention they deserve. President Tinubu also emphasised the government’s commitment to creating a stable investment environment and avoiding extreme measures, such as bank asset foreclosures, against the generation companies.
The Special Adviser to the President, Ms. Verheijen, attributed the liquidity crisis to “a combination of unfunded tariff shortfalls and market shortfalls” that have built up over a decade.
She stated that as of April 2025, the Federal Government is carrying a verified exposure of N4 trillion in debts to GENCOs, an accumulation dating back to 2015.
According to her, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET)—the agency that contractually mediates between GENCOs and the government—has validated N1.8 trillion of these claims so far. However, Ms. Verheijen cautioned that the figure remains subject to downward revision, pending final validation.
Close 29.4m Accounts as Dormant Accounts Hit 33.39m in March 2025 – NIBSS
Commercial banks in Nigeria closed 29.4 million accounts as of March 2025, according to the latest report by the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS). The figure represents a sharp year-on-year increase of 30.43 per cent from the 22.54 million closed accounts recorded in March 2024.
It also reflects a steady rise in account closures over recent months, with 33.29 million closed accounts reported in February 2025 and 29.43 million in January.
The report also revealed a significant increase in dormant
accounts, which surged to 33.39 million in March 2025, up from 19.79 million in the same period in 2024, a 71.3 per cent rise in inactive accounts over the past year.
Despite the spike in closures and dormant accounts, the number of active bank accounts rose from 219.64 million in March 2024 to 320.05 million in March 2025, representing an increase of over 100 million, or 45.7 per cent.
NIBSS defines a dormant account as one that has seen no deposit, withdrawal, transfer, or point-of-sale transaction
for a period of six months.
The surge in account closures and dormancy follows the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive issued in December 2023, mandating commercial banks to restrict Tier-1 accounts not linked to a Bank Verification Number (BVN) and National Identification Number (NIN) by March 1, 2024.
In response to the directive, BVN enrolment increased from 61.6 million in April 2024 to 66.23 million by July 2025, as more Nigerians rushed to meet the CBN’s compliance deadline.
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The Nigeria Police Again!
TThis case is more than a scandal for the Nigeria Police Force. It is unimaginable that after many years of deliberate effort to clean the force of bad eggs, the Force still has within its ranks such dregs as those that unlawfully arrested a minor and denied him his childhood in a most horrible way through detention for 18 years
“
he story of Gospel Uebari Kinanee is the kind of stuff seen in horror movies and a sad reminder that the Nigeria Police Force still has within its rank and file officers whose conduct paints the Force as a refuge for scoundrels.
As the story goes, on July 17, 2025, Kinanee regained freedom from the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre, where he spent 18 years after he “vanished” from his Ogoni home at the age of 14. The police had pounced on him sometime in 2007 while resting on a bench at the family compound and dumped him in prison.
For his family members who were unaware of his arrest 18 years ago, Kinanee died and was lost after he had been declared missing following several failed attempts to find him. But on a routine visit to the correctional centre in September last year, a team from Haven Foundation, a NonGovernmental Organisation, were able to sense his queer behaviour and fished him out from a crowd of convicts.
Upon interrogation, the NGO found out that he had a peculiar case and pursued it to its logical conclusion. According to him, he was forcefully taken away by policemen allegedly invited by an influential neighbour for reasons he failed to understand.
On July 17, 2025, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Amadi set him free alongside 20 other inmates during a quarterly visit to the correctional centre in line with the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) (Special Provisions) Act, Cap C.40, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and Section 34(1) of the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law No. 7 of 2015.
Justice Amadi, who noted that the judiciary, under his leadership, conducts quarterly visits to correctional facilities in a bid to address prison congestion also disclosed that the Port Harcourt facility, designed to accommodate 1,500 inmates, currently holds over 2,500 inmates.
However, Kinanee’s case may look like many other cases of awaiting trial suspects, ATS, as exemplified by two mentally ill inmates who had spent between eight and 10 years without trial at the Port Harcourt prison. But his case is peculiar. As the Haven Foundation found out in the intervening period before his release on clemency, he had no case file, no documentation of any kind. In fact, there was no record of him existing in the prison system. He was simply locked up at age 14 until he turned 32. That was when he regained his humanity.
Fortunately for him, the NGO,
NIGERIA BUREAU: 36AA Remi Fani-Kayode Avenue, GRA, Ikeja. Lagos, Nigeria.
810 345 2286, +234 913 333 3888
THE TEAM
OPINION
Olukoyede and the New EFCC
BY REUBEN ABATI
On Friday, July 18, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, hosted a sensitisation programme on Naira Abuse at the Colonades Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos. What grabbed the headlines was his revelation that 18 serving governors are currently under EFCC investigation, and that once they’re out of office and their immunity ends, the Commission would waste no time in moving against them. But he stopped short of mentioning names, the part Nigerians would have found most delicious.
With citizens groaning under the burden of petrol subsidy removal and high living costs, at a time state governors are receiving more revenue than ever, the thought that many are possibly looting the treasury is infuriating.
Yes, the EFCC can investigate sitting governors, deputy governors, the President and the Vice President, but they’re protected from prosecution by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.
Take Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, who spent six months in Ikoyi Correctional Centre for spraying Naira at a public event. He pleaded guilty.
Pascal Okechukwu (Cubana Chief Priest) was arraigned in April 2024. He pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers even challenged the EFCC’s jurisdiction. In the end, he walked away with a N10 million fine.
Neither man has been seen abusing the Naira since. Bobrisky, in particular, has gone noticeably quiet — “Mummy of Lagos” was humbled by the college of imprisonment.
In May 2025, Okoli Frank Emeka was jailed for six months for trampling on the Naira in Lagos. That same month, Kelly Okungbowa, aka Ebo Stone, was arraigned in Benin for similar offences. In Kaduna, TikToker Muhammad Kabir Sa’ad dared the EFCC online to arrest him for Naira abuse. They did.
The spirit of this clause is to shield public officials from distractions due to numerous petitions. Yet, this level of immunity doesn’t apply in many parts of the world.
In South Africa, Israel, the US, Brazil, and France, not even a President is above the law. France’s former President, Nicolas Sarkozy, was jailed in 2021 for corruption. In 1974, Gerald Ford was booted out of office over Watergate.
South Korea has sent more than one President to prison, from Yoon Suk-Yeol to Lee Myung-bak. Brazil’s Lula da Silva served time. The message is clear: misdeeds must not go unpunished.
In Nigeria, however, Section 308 offers an immunity so powerful it might as well last for life. It’s no surprise it has barely featured in ongoing constitutional reform debates. Nigerians would love to see that clause reviewed, public office holders should be held accountable, regardless of rank.
Olukoyede also noted the trend of governors fleeing the country as soon as their tenure ends — the infamous “japa” syndrome. Many don’t even wait to hand over before disappearing.
But back to the original reason for the Lagos event, the Naira.
The EFCC boss was in town not just to talk governors, but to highlight his campaign against the abuse of Nigeria’s currency. The event, he said, was held in close partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Under Section 21 of the CBN Act, 2007, acts like spraying, stepping on, dancing on, or mutilating the Naira are punishable by up to six months in jail or a fine of no less than N50,000, or both.
Also included is the common but unlawful act of selling Naira notes. Banks often fail to supply new notes, yet at every weekend party, hawkers sell them openly. One wonders if there’s a secret Mint somewhere printing cash for these vendors.
Olukoyede’s EFCC has taken this fight seriously. Celebrities, in particular, have been targeted.
But the crackdown hasn’t been limited to ordinary Nigerians. In January 2025, billionaire businessman Razaq Okoya’s sons, Wahab and Raheem, were invited for questioning after spraying N1,000 notes in a music video.
In May, Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo was summoned for spraying Naira during her daughter Priscilla’s wedding. She got off lightly and hasn’t been caught doing it again.
Actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin wasn’t so lucky. She got six months in prison for spraying Naira at an event in 2023.
Even comedian Ayo Makun (AY) got invited. Grateful for the EFCC’s leniency, he released a statement saying he had learnt his lesson.
Still, despite these high-profile arrests and convictions, many Nigerians continue to flout Section 21(1) of the CBN Act. What’s changed is the brazenness.
The once-common sight of partygoers trampling on or spraying money with reckless abandon has reduced.
The practice, which began in the Yoruba-dominated South West, spread nationwide, with Igbo elites adding a flamboyant twist, using spraying guns and a showy flair. I once criticised this in my 2021 piece “Obi Cubana and the Oba Funeral”.
WITH CITIZENS GROANING UNDER THE BURDEN OF PETROL SUBSIDY REMOVAL AND HIGH LIVING COSTS, AT A TIME STATE GOVERNORS ARE RECEIVING MORE REVENUE THAN EVER, THE THOUGHT THAT MANY ARE POSSIBLY LOOTING THE TREASURY IS INFURIATING
But many Nigerians don’t listen. Their excuse? It’s “culture.” Actor Deyemi Okanlawon said EFCC should focus on bigger crimes.
To this, Olukoyede responded: “There is nothing cultural about spraying or stamping on the Naira. Nowhere in the world is that tolerated. Nobody who works hard would throw their money in the air. As a salary earner, I can’t imagine doing that!”
To him, the Naira is a national symbol — a reflection of our sovereignty and economic strength — and its desecration must not be condoned.
Much Ado About Adeleke’s Rumoured Defection
BY ABIODUN KOMOLAFE
The main thing about Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State is that there will be questions about whatever decisions he makes or does not make. Of course, there has always been a sword of Damocles hanging over Adeleke’s head for a long time.
The patriarch of the family and financier, Deji Adeleke, who is a very astute businessman, has to weigh his options beyond the governorship incursion of a younger brother. For instance, will the older brother secure a sovereign guarantee to facilitate a consortium of international financiers in funding the $2 billion Omotosho Power Plant project? The Omotosho Power Plant is a significant driver of the Nigerian economy. It is capable of generating an additional 1,000 megawatts of electricity.
As we know, Nigeria is a developing country, where economic decisions are inextricably linked to political actions. Moreover, there’s no significant ideological divide driving political decisions among the elite. So, does it matter if politicians switch parties or, to be impolite, move from one Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to another one? In Osun’s context, the crucial question is whether Adeleke, if he defects, can convincingly take over the All Progressives Congress, APC’s machinery there? That will be the key question!
Surely, taking over the structures of the Osun
APC won’t be a cakewalk like it was in Delta and Akwa Ibom States. Osun is too fragmented and sophisticated to accommodate a smooth takeover, regardless of President Bola Tinubu’s influence. If Adeleke succeeds in defecting to the APC, a fierce battle for control of the party’s structure in Osun is likely, which will further erode the party’s already tenuous relevance. In light of this, the President needs to be cautious in his calculations.
It must be noted that politics in this part of the world has become more about personal advantage and jockeying for power than people-centric leadership. In contrast to the properly structured political parties with clear ideologies, like the Action Group (AG) and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), post-1999 political parties in Nigeria lack ideological foundations, and this has made it easy for individuals to switch parties without consequence.
IT MUST BE NOTED THAT POLITICS IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD HAS BECOME MORE ABOUT PERSONAL ADVANTAGE AND JOCKEYING FOR POWER THAN PEOPLECENTRIC LEADERSHIP
This fluidity is distinct from the more ideologically-driven party switches seen in countries like the UK or the US, where politicians might transition from the Conservative Party to Labour or from Republicans to Democrats. Nigeria’s lack of ideological anchor in its party politics contributes to its ongoing challenges. And that’s why we are where we are!
As rumours gain traction, preparing for all eventualities would be wise.
Africa Must Build Domestic Refining to Reclaim $90bn Lost to Fuel Imports - Dangote
Africa is increasingly becoming a destination for cheap, often toxic petroleum products — many of which are blended to substandard levels that would not be permitted in Europe or North America.
This concern was raised by the President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, during the ongoing West African Refined Fuel Conference held in Abuja. The event is organised by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and S&P Global Commodity Insights.
Dangote revealed that, due to the continent’s limited domestic refining capacity, Africa imports over 120 million tonnes of refined petroleum products annually, at a cost of approximately $90 billion.
Despite producing around 7 million barrels of crude oil per day, Africa only refines about 40% of its 4.3 million barrels daily consumption of refined products domestically. In stark contrast, Europe and Asia refine over 95% of what they consume.
“So, while we produce plenty of crude, we still import over 120 million tonnes of refined petroleum products each year, effectively exporting jobs and importing poverty into our continent. That’s a $90 billion market opportunity being captured by regions with surplus refining capacity. To put this in perspective: only about 15% of African countries have a GDP greater than $90 billion. We are effectively handing over an entire continent’s economic potential to others—year after year,” he said.
EDITOR Sam Diala
GDP Rebasing: Nigeria’s Economy Shrinks by $266bn in 10 Years Amid Receding FDI
Nigeria’s rebased GDP puts the economy’s size at N372 trillion as of 2024 -- equivalent to US$244 billion at a recent exchange rate of N1,550/US$1.
In USD terms, this constitutes a $266 billion slump in 10 years when compared to the $510 billion the economy attained in 2014.
In 2014, Nigeria’s GDP was rebased, resulting in a significant increase in its dollar value.
The rebasing, which changed the base year from 1990 to 2010 and incorporated new sectors, pushed Nigeria’s GDP from $270 billion to $510 billion, representing a growth of 88.8 percent.
The 2014 rebasing exercise involved incorporating new sectors like film and video, telecoms, and information technology, which had previously not been fully accounted for. This led to a more accurate representation of the Nigerian economy’s true size; the increase in GDP made Nigeria the largest economy in Africa, surpassing South Africa.
Similarly, the recently rebased GDP of the Nigerian economy came in at a time such critical insight and numbers are necessary for repositioning, planning and global economic engagements, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
THE NEW GDP STATUS
Nigeria’s new GDP (2025) is now estimated at N372.8 trillion in 2024, based on the new base year of 2019 — marking a 41.7 percent increase from N314.02 trillion in 2023. Nigeria remains the 4th largest economy in Africa, trailing South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria, unlike in 2024 when it was at the top.
For the average Nigerian, this shift means the economy is finally catching up with lived experience. Most people don’t work in oil rigs or factories. They sell, deliver, sew, code, plant, or drive. These activities, once sidelined in policy conversations, are now the country’s economic core.
agriculture now accounts for 25.8 percent, industry has dropped to 21.1 percent, and services have grown to 53.1 percent.
RECEDING FDI
A major factor that boosted the 2014 rebased figures was robust foreign direct investment which has since shrunk to an abysmally low level.
This is because FDI has the inherent capacity of creating the desired multiplier effects that expand the economy and drive growth. For instance, the historic FDI in the telecommunication sector in the early 2000, propelled the economy to an unusual peak. The significant impact was evident in massive job creation, innovation, backward integration and the birth of viable sub-sectors. Bountiful tax revenues continue to accrue from the sector to the three tiers of government.
THE DROP IN NUMBERS
However, FDI inflow to the economy has been in the negative for a long period, thereby posing a challenge to the gains that various reforms bring. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) latest Balance of Payments report published in June, FDI inflows into Nigeria declined by 19 percent to $250 million in Q1 2025, compared to $310 million in the previous quarter.
While the figure marks a quarter-on-quarter contraction, it represents a recovery from the net divestment of $310 million recorded in Q1 2024, signaling a fragile return of investor confidence in the country’s long-term prospects.
According to Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Public Communication), “The rebasing makes one thing clear: Nigeria’s economy is not just about exports or revenue from crude oil. It’s about people making things work in a difficult environment, often informally, often without support.”
While reaffirming his belief in the power of free markets and international cooperation, Dangote emphasised that trade must be grounded in economic efficiency and comparative advantage — not at the expense of quality or safety standards. He stressed that, “it defies logic and economic sense for Africa to be exporting raw crude only to re-import refined products—products we are more than capable of producing ourselves, closer to both source and consumption.”
Reflecting on the experience of delivering the world’s largest single-train refinery, Dangote also highlighted a range of challenges faced, including technical, commercial, and contextual hurdles unique to the African landscape.
Africa’s wealthiest man described building Continues on page 35
The long-held image of an oil-fuelled, industry-led economy is fading. Agriculture and services have grown in prominence, while industry, especially manufacturing, has shrunk.
Based on the old calculation method using 2010 prices, Nigeria’s 2019 economy was estimated to comprise 22.1 percent agriculture, 27.7 percent industry, and 50.2 percent services. The revised data tells a different story:
Analysts say the FDI decline in Q1 2025 reflects a broader slump in capital inflows, with portfolio investments suffering an even sharper reversal. Overall, the financial account came under pressure, weakening Nigeria’s external position despite a current account surplus and positive trade performance.
Nigeria remains the 4th largest economy in Africa, trailing South Africa, Egypt, and Algeria, unlike in 2024 when it was at the top
The plunge in DFI had experienced a long downward trajectory. In Q1 2024, Nigeria saw a significant improvement in total capital importation, reaching US$3.38 billion, a 210.16 percent increase compared to Q4 2023. However, FDI remained relatively low, contributing only US$119.18 million, or 3.53 percent of the total capital imported, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
While the overall capital inflow surged, the investment profile was heavily skewed towards Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) and ‘Other Investments’ which do not offer the desired sustainable economic development.
TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
Unlocking Africa’s Hidden Engine of GDP Growth
BY LERE BAALE
As Africa strives to diversify its economic base and stimulate inclusive growth, the tourism and hospitality sector is emerging as a powerful yet underleveraged driver of GDP. With its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities and warm hospitality, the continent holds immense potential to become one of the world’s leading travel destinations.
More importantly, tourism represents far more than leisure; it is a multidimensional catalyst for employment, infrastructure, foreign exchange earnings, and national branding.
THE UNTAPPED POWER OF AFRICAN TOURISM
Globally, tourism contributes over 10 percent to GDP and accounts for one in ten jobs. In Africa, however, the average contribution of tourism to GDP hovers around 7 percent, with
With intentional investment, policy support, and stakeholder collaboration, the sector can grow from a supplementary industry into a primary contributor to GDP and societal wellbeing
3. Marketing and branding: Africa must tell its story through coordinated campaigns showcasing its safety, hospitality, and uniqueness.
4. Security and stability: A stable political and social environment reassures investors and travellers alike.
5. Digital transformation: Online booking systems, e-tourism platforms, and virtual tours are critical tools for global competitiveness.
TOURISM
BEYOND GDP:
DIPLOMACY, IDENTITY, AND SOFT POWER
Tourism is more than economics; it is a tool of diplomacy and identity. It shapes how Africa is perceived, strengthens cultural pride, and builds bridges between nations. A thriving tourism industry enhances a country’s soft power, promotes intercultural dialogue, and reinforces a sense of unity and possibility across the continent.
Events like Afrochella in Ghana, the Lake of Stars Festival in Malawi, and the Cape Town Jazz Festival in South Africa show how tourism can be fused with creative industries to elevate national influence and continental integration.
CONCLUSION
Africa’s future prosperity depends on economic sectors that are inclusive, sustainable, and scalable. Tourism and hospitality meet all three criteria. With intentional investment, policy support, and stakeholder collaboration, the sector can grow from a supplementary industry into a primary contributor to GDP and societal
Now is the time for African nations to see tourism as an add-on to development and a strategic transformation lever. In doing so, they will attract the world to Africa and empower Africa to shine brightly from within.
Baale is the CEO of Business School Netherlands International in Nigeria
SHOTS OF THE WEEK
Before the Final: How Nigeria Outclassed South Africa
n their semi-final game against defending champions, South Africa, the Super Falcons of Nigeria once again proved their dominance in African women’s football, earning a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Banyana Banyana at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), held in Casablanca, Morocco, on July 22. That triumph propelled Nigeria into the final and kept their hopes alive for a recordextending 10th continental title. The match, played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, was a gripping encounter between two of Africa’s footballing powerhouses, marked by intense rivalry, tactical battles and moments of individual brilliance.
It was clear that Nigeria entered the 2024 WAFCON to prove a point. The ladies had been defeated 2-1 by South Africa in the group stage of the 2022 tournament, a loss that stung deeply as Banyana Banyana went on to claim their first continental title. The Super Falcons, with nine WAFCON titles to their name, have long been the standard-bearers of African women’s football, qualifying for every FIFA Women’s World Cup since 1991. However, recent years have seen South Africa close the gap, with three victories in their last five competitive meetings, including that group room in 2022. This year’s
semi-final clash was therefore billed as a “final before the final,” a testament to the stakes and the quality of both teams. Nigeria’s campaign in Morocco had been impressive, with an unbeaten record and no goals conceded prior to the semifinal, highlighted by a commanding 5-0 quarter-final win over Zambia, a team boasting a deadly global pairing in Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji.
The Super Falcons’ performance against Zambia exhibited their attacking depth and defensive strength. Osinachi Ohale opened the scoring just two minutes into the match, setting the tone for a dominant display. By half-time, Nigeria led 3-0, with goals from Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo. Tosin Demehin and Folashade Ijamilusi added further goals in the second half, completing a rout that silenced critics who had questioned coach Justin Madugu’s tactics after a goalless draw against Algeria in the group stage. The victory was a statement of intent, with five different players scoring, demonstrating Nigeria’s ability to spread their attacking threat. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, a standout performer throughout the tournament, maintained her clean sheet, reinforcing Nigeria’s defensive solidity.
Against South Africa, Nigeria faced their toughest test yet. Banyana Banyana, the defending champions, had reached the semi-final after a hard-fought penalty shootout victory over Senegal, with goalkeeper Andile Dlamini proving decisive. Despite their strong group stage performances, including a 4-0 win over Mali, South Africa were without star forward Thembi Kgatlana, who withdrew for personal reasons, leaving their attack reliant on players like Hildah Magaia and Linda Motlhalo. Nigeria, by contrast, had a fully fit squad, with key players like Ashleigh Plumptre and Chioma Okafor available despite minor injury concerns. Coach Madugu opted for an unchanged starting line-up from the Zambia match, with Asisat Oshoala, Deborah Abiodun, and Toni Payne on the bench, signaling confidence in his starting XI.
The semi-final began with Nigeria asserting early
control, dominating possession and creating chances through quick transitions. In the opening minutes, Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo combined for a double chance, only to be denied by Dlamini and South Africa’s resolute defence. The first half saw Nigeria press relentlessly, with Ihezuo and Folashade Ijamilusi testing the Banyana backline. The breakthrough came just before half-time when Ijamilusi’s shot struck the hand of South Africa’s Bambanani Mbane, resulting in a penalty. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade stepped up, firing a low shot that Dlamini touched but could not stop, giving Nigeria a 1-0 lead at the break. The goal capped a first half in which Nigeria’s disciplined defence, led by Ohale and Tosin Demehin, limited South Africa’s attacking opportunities.
South Africa emerged with renewed intensity in the second half, pressing Nigeria’s defence and seeking to exploit setpieces. Their efforts were rewarded in the 60th minute when Osinachi Ohale was adjudged to have tugged Hildah Magaia’s shirt in the box, leading to a penalty confirmed by VAR. Linda Motlhalo, South Africa’s midfield metronome with a tournament-leading 92% pass completion rate, converted the spot-kick, sending Nnadozie the wrong way to level the score at 1-1. The goal marked the first time Nigeria had conceded in the tournament, momentarily disrupting their rhythm. South Africa nearly took the lead in the 73rd minute when Noxolo Cesane met a deep cross, but her effort lacked power, and Ohale cleared off the line, redeeming her earlier mistake.
As the match appeared headed for extra time, Nigeria’s depth and determination shone through. In the 94th minute, right-back Michelle Alozie delivered a long-range ball from deep in her own half. Intended as a pass, the ball bounced just outside South Africa’s six-yard box, evading Dlamini and sparking confusion in the Banyana defence. Despite claims from Deborah Abiodun, replays confirmed the goal belonged to Alozie, whose opportunistic strike secured a 2-1 victory. The final minutes were tense, with South Africa’s Gabriela Salgado stretchered off after a serious-looking injury and tempers flaring, but Nigeria held firm through nine minutes of stoppage time.
*Continues online at www. thewillnews.com
Rasheedat Ajibade
ogannah@thewillnews.com
Nigeria’s Police Pension Brouhaha and Officers’ Poor Salary
On July 21 and 22, retired police officers across Nigeria marched through the streets of Abuja, Benin City, Jalingo and Calabar, braving heavy rain to demand the Nigeria Police Force’s immediate withdrawal from the Contributory Pension Scheme. These former officers, many in their sixties and seventies, carried placards with messages like “Scrap Police Contributory Pension Scheme” and “We Need Our Full Gratuity,” voicing years of frustration over meagre pensions that have left them in poverty after decades of service. Their protests signal not only a financial grievance but a deeper crisis of trust between the state and those who once enforced its laws, raising questions about Nigeria’s commitment to its security personnel and the integrity of its institutions.
The Contributory Pension Scheme, introduced under the Pension Reform Act of 2014, aimed to replace the Defined Benefits Scheme, which had been plagued by corruption, mismanagement and chronic payment delays. The new system required employees to contribute eight percent of their salary and employers 10 percent to individual Retirement Savings Accounts, promising funded, transparent and sustainable pensions. For police officers, however, the scheme has fallen short. Retirees report receiving monthly pensions as low as N14,000 to N40,000, with gratuities sometimes as little as N2.5 million after 35 years of service. These amounts, insufficient to cover basic needs in today’s economy, have driven many into destitution. The protesters also highlighted a disparity: senior officers, including those who have attained the rank of Inspector-General and Assistant Inspector-General, are exempt from the scheme, receiving higher pensions under different arrangements, which fuels perceptions of inequity. These stories underscore a broader sentiment among retirees: that the nation they served has abandoned them in their old age, stripping them of dignity and security.
The protests reflect more than a demand for better pensions; they expose a fracture in Nigeria’s social contract. Police officers, tasked with upholding law and order, often work under dangerous conditions with low pay and limited resources. Their expectation of a dignified retirement is rooted in the sacrifices made during service. Yet, the Contributory Pension Scheme’s failures have left many feeling betrayed. This betrayal extends beyond retirees to serving officers, who, aware of their future under the same scheme, face declining morale. Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun acknowledged this concern, stating that poor retirement benefits worry active personnel, as they too will retire someday. If those who enforce the law lose faith in the system, the implications for national security are profound, potentially weakening public trust and operational effectiveness.
The retirees’ demand to exit the Contributory Pension
Scheme is not new. For over a decade, the Nigeria Police Force has agitated for withdrawal, citing low remittances and inadequate payouts. A 2023 bill to establish a Police Pension Board, which would manage pensions separately, passed the National Assembly but was vetoed by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, highlighting the issue’s complexity. Exiting the scheme requires legislative amendments, interagency coordination and significant funding, challenges that lie beyond the Inspector-General’s authority. Egbetokun has noted that progress has been stalled by legal provisions, fiscal constraints and administrative bottlenecks. The National Pension Commission, which oversees the scheme, defends its sustainability, pointing to a June 2025 pension increase as evidence of flexibility. However, critics argue that these adjustments remain insufficient for low-ranking officers, who form most retirees.
The financial scale of the problem is daunting. Retirees have called for the payment of a N758 billion pension shortfall owed security agencies, unpaid since June 2025. Addressing this would strain Nigeria’s budget, already stretched by competing demands. Reverting to the Defined Benefits Scheme, as some protesters advocate, poses further risks. That system’s history of non-payments and mismanagement prompted the shift to the Contributory Pension Scheme in the first place. The root issue lies not in the scheme itself but in police officers’ low salaries and stagnant promotions. Pensions
are calculated based on contributions tied to salaries, so poor pay and limited career progression result in low payouts. Reviewing police salaries and welfare would address the problem more effectively than abandoning the scheme.
The protests also carry broader societal implications. In Abuja, activists like Omoyele Sowore joined the retirees, amplifying their demands and drawing attention to systemic governance failures. The Nigeria Police Force expressed concern that such involvement risks politicising a legitimate grievance, potentially inciting public distrust. While the protests remained peaceful, with police providing security and directing traffic, the presence of activists underscores a growing public frustration with unmet promises. The retirees’ vote of no confidence on the Inspector-General reflects not only dissatisfaction with pensions but also a deeper disillusionment with the leadership’s inability to deliver justice.
What does justice look like for those who once upheld it? For retirees, it begins with financial redress: higher pensions, full gratuities, and clearance of the N758bn shortfall. Short-term measures, such as increasing the government’s contribution to Retirement Savings Accounts from 10 to 20 percent, could boost payouts without dismantling the scheme. Egbetokun has proposed such alternatives, alongside exploring supplementary pension benefits using police-generated revenue. Long-term, a Police Pension Board could tailor pensions to the force’s unique needs, similar to the military’s Defined Benefits Scheme. The 2023 bill’s revival, with expedited legislative action, offers a path forward, provided it addresses fiscal and legal hurdles.
Beyond money, justice for retirees requires restoring dignity. Retirees like Chief Superintendent of Police Manir Lawal, who at 67 declared his readiness to die for the cause, seek acknowledgment of their service. Public discourse must shift from viewing their protests as a nuisance to recognising them as a call for accountability. The government, National Assembly and pension authorities must engage retirees directly, avoiding promises that go unfulfilled. Failure to act risks further eroding trust, not only among police but across society, where other groups, like federal civil servants awaiting wage arrears, echo similar grievances.
The July 2025 protests mark a turning point. When elderly retirees march in the rain, defying physical frailty to demand their rights, it is a signal that Nigeria’s institutions are failing. The Contributory Pension Scheme’s shortcomings, the unpaid pension shortfall and the state’s inaction reflect a system that has neglected its protectors. If Nigeria cannot honour those who served its security, it undermines its moral foundation. The nation must respond not with rhetoric but with reforms that ensure no retiree is left behind.
The July 2025 protests mark a turning point. When elderly retirees march in the rain, defying physical frailty to demand their rights, it is a signal that Nigeria’s institutions are failing
