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Gbubemi Ejeye has always been interested in acting. Right from primary school, she acted in school plays. By the time she got to university, she wanted to study Theatre Arts, but she studied Law instead. However, she didn’t see herself practising, so after school and NYSC, she started going for auditions.
Ejeye’s path to the screen wasn’t rushed; she started her career as an admin on a movie set before she started bagging roles. She had no lines in her first movie, but progressed to getting roles with lines from then on. As far as sharpening her acting skills goes, Ejeye attributes this to practice. Choosing what roles she takes mostly depends on whether the script calls her the first time she reads it. As for roles she dreams of playing, Ejeye says there are many characters to explore, and she wants to explore everything.
Some characters are very intense, and it may be hard to detach yourself from them, but this isn’t the case. For Ejeye, it’s a case of out of sight, out of mind.
Read Gbubemi Ejeye’s story on pages 8 through 10.
Spaghetti strap outfits never go out of style. They are appealing and perfect for hot days. With your accessories, you can dress up or dress down a spaghetti strap outfit. Many women avoid wearing spaghetti straps because they lack knowledge of how to style them, but our fashion pages show you how. Scroll to pages 4 and 5 for this.
There’s a saying that first impressions count. Therefore, on page 11, we show you how to leave a good first impression.
As always, our playlist has a great selection of music. Scroll to page 16 to download. Until next week, enjoy your read.
Photo: Kola Oshalusi
@insignamedia Makeup: Zaron
SUNDAY, JUNE 08, 2025 THEWILL NEWSPAPER • www.thewillnews.com
THEWILLNIGERIA
COVER
AKWA
IBOM
Gov. Eno’s Defection to APC Triggers Confusion Amongst Stakeholders. . .
BY AMOS ESELE WITH UDEME UTIP
The resignation of a commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Ini Ememobong, in protest against Governor Umo Eno’s formal defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Friday was not unexpected.
The PDP had dominated the state since the country’s return to civil rule in 1999 and all the while, it never encountered major political opposition such as witnessed in Delta, Rivers and Cross River States, where the gradual build-up in strength by the APC over time helped to make defections in those states a piece of cake. Eno’s defection was therefore a defining moment for many, a significant political shift in the state’s political realignment that has ignited heated reactions.
Ahead of the governor’s defection on Friday and the commissioner’s resignation, dark clouds had begun to gather over Akwa Ibom. Between Tuesday and Wednesday, some lawmakers had separately defected to the APC. Others decided to bide their time and on June 6, made up their mind to stay away from the grand event.
For example, the Speaker of the House of Assembly Rt.Hon. Udeme Otong, officially defected from the PDP to the APC last Tuesday alongside the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah. The Chairman of Abak Local Government Area and many other key PDP stakeholders also followed. They all hail from that constituency. Not all state lawmakers have switched.
THEWILL checks showed that 15 out of the 26 members of the State House of Assembly have declined to join the APC as at the time of writing this report.
Anticipating heated debates and reactions to his defection, Eno undertook “three months” of strategic consultations with stakeholders and the grassroots, deploying arm twisting tactics sometimes and at other times, openly issuing threats against resisters. Ending the PDP’s 26-year dominance in the state is no mean job, especially for a governor who has just done two years of his first tenure in office.
Following the open resignation by the commissioner, who had apparently played along at a recent cabinet meeting where members agreed to defect alongside the governor, the question now, according to observers, is what next?
Further checks shows that all those who rejected the directive to defect to the APC are loyalists of the immediate past Governor of the state and godfather of the current of the current governor. Councillors who say they were not carried along by the governor during his consultations are also aggrieved. They claimed that the governor consulted with local government chairmen, members of the National Assembly and other stakeholders, wondering why they were neglected. The lawmakers fear that the defection will expose them to a more structured platform
Gov. Eno’s Defection to APC Triggers...
his defection. “What has happened in Akwa Ibom State is a movement. The governor has overwhelming support to make the decision on enlightened state interest across board,” he told this newspaper on Saturday morning in a phone chat, adding that, “Governor Umo Eno was elected governor of the state and not for a party. So, the interest of a majority of the people becomes paramount. He is running an inclusive administration.”
GRASSROOTS REACTION
No reaction best illustrates the opposition to the governor’s defection other than the last town hall meeting he conducted last Wednesday.
The meeting took place in Ikot Abasi where a receptive crowd had gathered. Eno who spoke at the Town Square Meeting with the constituents of the Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency that Wednesday, said he had conducted extensive consultations and was convinced that “it is time to move” in order to align the state with the ruling party at the federal level.
“We’re progressively moving forward, linking Akwa Ibom to the centre. And I know you’re going with us. Are you going with us, so we can connect to the centre?” he asked the people and got a resounding “No! No!! Noo!!” from voices which drowned out the few yeses among them. Unperturbed, the governor proceeded to reassure the people, as he had done during the state-wide consultations, that they should be hopeful because the future is bright and both President Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio need support across party lines to be re-elected in 2027.
MUM
IN PDP
Efforts to contact the Chairman of the PDP, Aniekan Akpan for his reaction failed as he neither answered his phone nor replied to text messages. However, Governor Umo’s revelation that he had consulted widely for three months before Friday’s defection, provided some insight into the party’s reaction.
A month ago when the governor first alluded to his defection plan by likening PDP to a faulty aircraft unfit to fly at Ukanafun/ Oruk Anam town hall meeting, Akpan responded to enquiries by saying that talk about the governor’s defection was baseless.
“I am not aware of any concluded plans to join APC…The governor made an analogy. Like you are interpreting it, somebody else may interpret it to mean something else,” he said. He was conspicuously absent at the Friday event. Akpan’s counterpart in the APC, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo was in high spirits on Friday, describing the defection as a prized trophy that would not only take the state and “every Akwa Ibomite across party lines to the centre, open the state to inclusion but also guarantee the re-election of Governor Umo Eno in 2027…”
Even so, the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, APC, and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, alluded to the testy moments sparked by the defection when while delivering his address, he said, “Leaders will take decisions for followers, sometimes the decision may not be seen immediately…” REALITY CHECK
on the platform of the APC. He failed. Worse, Akpabio lost his senatorial re-election bid to former Deputy Governor of the state, Emmanuel Ekpenyong. Since then, political sources say, the battle line was drawn between Akpabio and PDP stakeholders in the state.
Unrelenting, Akpabio kept on the heat. He is said to have played a big role, through mobilisation and house to house campaign, to help President Tinubu secure 27 per cent of the votes cast in the state, next to PDP’s 47 per cent for its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 presidential election.
“Believe in us. Believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because the future is bright. We shall continue to run on our ARISE Agenda, on a united Akwa Ibom to work together because united, we stand, divided, we fall. Now, we are coming together across party lines. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Godswill Akpabio and Pastor Umo Eno must return for their second terms in office in 2027,” he stated.
Although Akwa Ibom presents a different political trajectory as Delta, Cross River and Rivers States where the APC had established a formidable foothold to smoothen the path to defections, analysts say Eno’s defection had been long expected. According to them, the subtle movement started in 2018, shortly after Akpabio in a move that showed the parting of ways with PDP, resigned as PDP Minority Leader in the Senate, defected to the APC and engineered the take-over of the state’s political structure through his sponsorship of a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NNDC, Nsima Ekere, for the governorship election in 2019
Akpabio’s controversial re-election as Senator in 2023 and his subsequent elevation to the status of number three citizen after becoming President of the Senate, strengthened his hands to turn the tables against his rivals as he could claim the privilege of being the President’s man in Akwa Ibom and in South-South politics, coordinating the distribution of federal patronage in the region.
In view of the governing APC’s moves to mop up opposition ahead of the 2027 election, which led to the recent defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, members of his cabinet, local government chairmen in the state and exGovernor Ifeanyi Okowa, as well as the possible defection of embattled and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, sources say Umo had to make a tough choice. The leadership crisis in PDP, further softened the grounds for him to make the decision to defect from the party, as he said on many occasions during his consultations.
Shortly before his defection, Umo received an endorsement for a second term from Senator Akpabio. After his defection on Friday, the governor immediately paid a visit to Akpabio.
DEFEATING THE OPPOSITION
With the combination of federal might represented by Senator Akpabio and the governor’s grip on the state treasury, those opposed to his defection have a formidable power to contend with in the days, weeks and months ahead.
In what appeared to be a bullish move, the governor on Thursday returned to Ikot- Abasi where he was literally booed the previous day and splashed over N250m on the people. The money was given as grants to 540 beneficiaries in trade, Agriculture, equipment support scheme, as well as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs.
According to the governor, the grant, which was released during a Town-Square Meeting with the people of Ikot- Abasi Federal Constituency, was “intentionally arranged for the people in appreciation of their support before and during the governorship election, as well as for the past two years of his administration.” He said he had to come back to thank them for the massive support they gave him during the elections.
He urged the people to see the need for the state to move progressively and feel the full impact of the Federal Government.
“ What has happened in Akwa Ibom State is a movement. The governor has overwhelming support to make the decision on enlightened state interest across board
In tow, leaders and stakeholders of the Federal Constituency thanked the governor for his visionary leadership and pledged their support for his political decisions to reposition the state.
Leading the Chairmen of the three local government areas that make up the federal constituency for a welcome remark, the Chairman of Ikot Abasi LGA, Hon. Ime Williamson Essien, described Eno as a visionary leader, a promise keeper and a lover of good things who will be remembered for demystifying and simplifying leadership during his time. Others who spoke in a similar vein were the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation, Hon. Iniobong Akpan, a political leader of Ikot Abasi Local Government, and Managing Director of Hensek Integrated Services, Engr. Uwem Okoko, the Senator representing Eket Senatorial District, Senator Ekong Sampson and Barr. Kufre Udosen, the Special Adviser, Bureau of Political and Social Reorientation. Events are still unfolding, but it is questionable how far the opposition can last in the face of the combined might of the federal and state governments. Umanah, however, rejected the idea that the governor’s gesture was a reaction to an earlier verdict against his defection. He said the N250m grant “is part of the N2bn grants to support farmers and SMEs throughout the 10 federal constituencies in the state.”
DEFECTION AS SALAH GIFT TO TINUBU
Governor Umo said he decided to join the APC in deference to President Tinubu and due to the need for Akwa Ibom State to align with the Federal Government in order to reap continuous benefits.
He assured the people of the state that he would continue to work tirelessly for their benefit, regardless of party affiliation. He said, “after completing the rounds of my consultation as your servant whom you have elected to serve, I have therefore decided to progressively move to the APC.
” We are joining the APC today in the interest of the state and because of our critical admiration and respect for President Tinubu and to provide the needed support for Senate President Godswill Akpabio. I am not known for double-speak. This is a clear and conscious declaration. I have consulted widely and made my reasons known. Today’s defection is our Salah gift to Mr. President,” he affirmed.
The event was attended by several prominent APC figures, including Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and their counterparts from Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ebonyi state and Imo States. Uzodinma is also the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum.
“We hope the political alignment will generate a tangible infrastructural renaissance. We expect to see the fruition of the Ibom Deep Seaport, the upgrade of the Nigerian Maritime Academy to a full- fledged University and the completion of the Ikot Ekpene-Aba, Calabar -Itu roads, which have suffered neglect for decades,” Akwa Ibom State Chairman of The Nigerian Institution Of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, ESV Kufre Ufot told journalists in Uyo, the state capital, adding that the development signals an impending era of increased federal appointments and presence.
He advised Akwa Ibom people to fix their gaze on the larger picture of governance vis-a-vis political party names.
Some of the Graduands of 2025 Course 45 Warrant Officer’s Academy during their graduation at Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna on June 5, 2025.
FG Inaugurates Inter-Ministerial Committee for 2025 Democracy Day Celebration
BY FELIX IFIJEH
The Federal Government has inaugurated an InterMinisterial Committee (IMC) for the 2025 Democracy Day Celebration, tasked with the responsibility of organising a memorable and befitting Democracy Day anniversary.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, represented by The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, inaugurated the Committee in Abuja on Thursday. Akume said Democracy Day, marked every June 12, presents opportunity to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices of “our national heroes who fought for democratic dispensation” in the country.
“It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the inaugural meeting of the 26th Democracy Day Celebration Inter-Ministerial Committee. This year’s Democracy Day Celebration is an opportunity to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices of our founding fathers to attain independence for our dear nation and to retrospect on the daunting challenges and trauma that other
democratic champions faced in their collective efforts to wrest power from the grip of military dictatorship. To celebrate this day in their remembrance is to honour and recognise their place in history”, he said. The SGF said the annual Democracy Day Celebration also affords the government the avenue to showcase its achievements and present its scorecard to Nigerians. He further urged the committee to work collaboratively with President Bola Tinubu to realise the Renewed Hope Agenda for a better Nigeria.
A statement signed by the Director, Information & Public Relations at the office of secretary to the government of the federation (OSGF), Segun Imohiosen, said the proposed activities lined up for the 2025 Democracy Day celebration, include World Press Briefing on Friday, 6th June, 2025; Special Juma’at Service on Friday, 6th June, 2025; Church Service on Sunday, 8th June, 2025; Youth Programme to be held on Tuesday, 9th June, 2025, Public Lecture, Wednesday, 11th June, 2025, and the Presidential Broadcast alongside Parade on Thursday, 12th June, 2025.
Chaired by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF): Sen. George Akume, other members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee include the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning: Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi TunjiOjo; Special Adviser to the President, Policy and Coordination: Hadiza Bala-Usman.
Others are the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Director-General, Department of State Services, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; Commander, Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Adebisi Onasanya; Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, OSGF, Dr Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Kachollom Daju and Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office (OSGF)- Member/Secretary, Engr. Nadungu Gagare.
The Terms of Reference for the Committee are to plan, organise and execute all approved activities befitting the Democracy Day Celebration; co-opt any organisation(s)/person(s) relevant towards the successful execution of the programme; Document for posterity all activities for the Democracy Day Celebration; and Carry out any other assignment as may be required towards the successful implementation of the celebration.
COAS Reaffirms Commitment to Personnel Welfare
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army leadership’s commitment to the welfare of its personnel. Oluyede stated this when he hosted a special Eid-el-Kabir luncheon for frontline troops of Operation Hadarin Daji under Sector 3 (Fansan Yamma), stationed in Sokoto.
The event was designed to foster camaraderie and strengthen esprit de corps among personnel actively engaged in counterinsurgency operations in the North West. The Army Chief, who was represented by the Commander of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Major General Adeleke Ayannuga, stressed that enhanced welfare and support systems remain a
top priority under his command. The COAS, however, praised the gallant efforts of the troops in confronting terrorism and maintaining peace and stability across the region. According to him, “You have displayed courage, resilience, and patriotism in the face of daunting challenges.
“Your sacrifices are acknowledged not only by the Nigerian Army but also by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian people”, Oluyede said. He further conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s commendation to the troops, describing the President as a staunch supporter of the Armed Forces and a worthy Commander-in-Chief. Earlier, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division and Commander of Operation Fansan
Yamma, Major General Godwin Ibikunle Ajose, described the event as a morale booster that reflects the Army’s deep appreciation for the troops’ sacrifices.
Ajose also lauded the soldiers for their dogged determination to restore peace to troubled communities, noting that their resilience has enabled displaced residents to return to their homes and resume lawful activities. He urged the troops to remain united, vigilant, and committed to their mission while honouring the memory of fallen comrades who paid the ultimate price for national peace.
As part of the day’s activities, the COAS also visited wounded soldiers receiving treatment at the Army Hospital, Sokoto.
Accolades as Benue Lawmaker Empowers Constituents
BY KAJO MARTINS, MAKURDI
T he member representing Katsina-Ala West Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Bemdoo Ipusu, has empowered his constituents with various items, including Bajaj motorcycles, sewing and grinding machines, herbicides, knapsack sprayers, wrappers, as well as cash donations, to be self-sufficient. Handing over the items to the beneficiaries at Amaafu,
Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Hon. Ipusu, who is the Majority Chief Whip in the assembly, promised to sustain the initiative aimed at improving the livelihood of his constituents.
The lawmaker also expressed his readiness to create more employment opportunities for the constituents, as well as attract more development projects, pledging unwavering
support to the traditional institutions, disclosing that plans are already underway to construct traditional council halls in the remaining four council wards.
The APC chieftain noted that, just like he did in Iwar council ward, motorcycles will also be provided to traditional rulers to facilitate their movements in coordinating their subjects.
BY TUNDE OMOLEHIN, SOKOTO
L-R: Corporate and Public Affairs Manager, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, Temitope Adeola; Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, Ore Famurewa; Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMILD), Idi Mukthar Maiha and Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC Roger Adou, at the World Milk Day Conference organized by the Ministry in Abuja at the weekend.
MRA Condemns NEITI’s Call to Amend FOI Act
Media Rights Agenda, MRA, at the weekend condemned the recent call by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, for an amendment to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011, to impose punitive measures on “fake CSOs” allegedly “misusing” the law to blackmail public institutions, describing the call as an attempt to discredit the Act and weaken it.
In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA said such a proposal is not only ill-conceived but deeply troubling as it undermines the spirit and purpose of the FOI Act, which was enacted to guarantee a right of access to information, promote transparency, and combat corruption, adding that “suggesting punitive measures based on vague, subjective and unsubstantiated claims of ‘misuse’ poses a huge risk of the Act becoming a tool for silencing journalists, researchers, civil society actors, as well as other citizens and members of the public who legitimately seek information.”
MRA’s Programme Officer, Ms Ayomide Eweje, said in the statement, “We reject any narrative that seeks to criminalise the exercise of a fundamental right under the guise of protecting public institutions. The appropriate response to concerns about abuse of the FOI Act, even if such concerns are legitimate, is institutional transparency, including routine compliance with the Act by all public institutions to ensure its effective
implementation and rigorous enforcement of the current mechanisms for ensuring compliance so that no public institution or official is put in a vulnerable position where they can be blackmailed.”
She described as illogical NEITI’s claim that “fake NGOs” had hijacked the FOI Act and were using it to blackmail public institutions, arguing that since every person has a right to request information under the Act, there is no need for anyone to pretend to be representing a nongovernmental organisation, whether fake or genuine, in order to use the Act; and that when public officials disclose any information requested from them, there is no way they can be blackmailed as any information that is obtained from any public institution under the FOI Act is effectively information that is publicly available and has no blackmail value.
Besides, Ms Eweje noted, if public institutions have grounds for withholding requested information, they also cannot be blackmailed for denying such requests for information as they will be standing on solid ground, adding “you can only complain of blackmail if you have done something wrong or even criminal, in which case the appropriate response should not be to amend the Act to protect public officials or institutions engaged in wrongdoing or criminal activities.”
there is no conceivable reason why anyone using the FOI Act to blackmail public institutions or officials or to extort money or other favours from them cannot be prosecuted under the existing criminal laws without amending the FOI Act to introduce the offences into it.
Ms Eweje said it was particularly disappointing that such a call was coming from the head of NEITI, an agency created to deepen accountability in the extractive sector and strengthen public trust, adding that “Dr. Orji’s position contradicts the global standards of openness that NEITI claims to uphold and could damage the credibility of the agency both locally and internationally.”
She urged that instead of seeking to discredit the FOI Act or weaken it, NEITI and other public institutions should commit to full compliance with their disclosure obligations under the Act, build internal capacity to manage FOI requests efficiently and speedily, and promote a culture of openness as a tool for building public confidence in public institutions and government in general.
Ms Eweje declared that MRA and its partners across different sectors and stakeholder groups all over the country remain committed to defending the FOI Act against any attempt to dilute its provisions and effectiveness or to punish citizens and other members of the public for exercising their rights under the Act.
She observed that blackmail and extortion are already criminal offences contained in various Federal and State laws in virtually all the States of the Federation and that
Otu SeeksTransparency with 2025 Budget Disclosure
BY BONG ANIEKAN
Governor Bassey Otu has taken a bold step towards open governance by presenting the approved 2025 budget to civil society organisations, media professionals, and other non-state actors in Cross River State.
The disclosure, facilitated by the Department of Budget, reinforces the administration’s commitment to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and public engagement.
Presenting the state’s first-quarter fiscal performance, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget, Mr. Otu Otu-Ita, revealed that Cross River generated N55.5 billion in revenue and spent N33.46 billion in the period under review.
He explained that 35% of the expenditure was channeled into capital projects, while overhead costs and debt servicing took up 50% and 25% respectively.
Otu-Ita said the high figures for overhead and debt servicing were due to inherited financial obligations but assured that the state government was focused on prudent resource management.
“We have not borrowed a kobo this year. The state is managing its resources prudently, guided by Governor Bassey Otu’s principle of responsible governance,” he said. He also highlighted the implications of the state’s debt servicing burden, calling attention to the strain it places on development.
“Twenty-five percent of our spending goes to debt servicing — imagine what that could achieve in education, healthcare, or infrastructure. It’s a delicate balancing act, and we are committed to getting it right,” he said.
Executive Secretary of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Network (BTAN), Mr. Kingsley Eworo, commended the administration’s openness but called for the urgent reactivation of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee to deepen reforms.
OGP representative in the state, Ms. Ukeme Ekong, echoed the call, urging the government to move beyond budget visibility to meaningful stakeholder collaboration.
“The 2025 budget is already online — that’s a great step. But we must go beyond visibility. We need deeper collaboration between government, civil society, and the media to ensure accountability is not just a principle but a practice,” she said.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister of Defence at the Dodan Barracks prayer ground in Lagos on Friday, June 6, 20225.
NEWS
Don’t Issue Planning Approvals Without FG Input, Tinubu Tells Governors
BY FELIX IFIJEH
President Bola Tinubu has called on state governors to collaborate with the Federal Government before granting building and planning approvals, saying such alignment is critical to the nation’s infrastructure development.
Speaking on Thursday at the commissioning of the Lekki Deep Sea Port Access Road at the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Plant in Lagos, the President assured Nigerians that more funds would be dedicated to infrastructure nationwide.
Tinubu said his administration is determined to build roads, bridges, and other public assets that stand the test of time, adding that such projects can only progress efficiently when state and federal authorities work hand in hand.
Tinubu stated, “I have directed the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and the Surveyor General of the Federation to work more closely with state governors. “Please, my dear governors, let us work together. Don’t give planning approvals without first collaborating with the Surveyor General and the Ministry of Works. I’m appealing to you to realise we share the same development goal.”
The President also reinforced the Federal Government’s ban on dredging within a 10-kilometre radius of bridges nationwide, urging governors, agencies, and security operatives to ensure full enforcement. The event comes just days after Tinubu commissioned Phase 1 of Section One of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Works, contractors including Hitech Construction Company, Dangote Industries,
BUA Group, and others for their contributions to road development. Addressing criticism surrounding the scope of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Tinubu clarified that the project is being executed in sections.
“It is important to clarify that the Federal Executive Council approved our Legacy Projects to be procured, awarded, and constructed in phases. The 30-kilometre segment of the LagosCalabar Coastal Highway completed so far is part of the 47.7km, six-lane Section I contract — not a blanket 750km contract as falsely claimed,” he said.
Tinubu described the government’s approach to the coastal highway and other legacy projects as “systematic, transparent, and section-based.” He also gave updates on other key infrastructure projects. On the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, which was initiated over four decades ago under President Shehu Shagari and is now being revived, Tinubu said over 10 kilometres have been completed in Kebbi while the second carriageway was flagged off. In Sokoto, work has already commenced on the 120-kilometre stretch, with over 10 kilometres completed and the second carriageway now underway.
The President noted that Section II of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has also recorded over 10 kilometres of progress out of the planned 55 kilometres. He added that construction works are ongoing in the Cross River and Akwa Ibom sections, and he has directed that more segments be designed and procured.
On the Trans-Sahara Trade Route, he said the project is advancing steadily and will connect Calabar to Abuja through Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa States. He also announced
that accelerated design work has begun on the fourth Legacy Project — the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe corridor — to enable the procurement process to commence. “With God on our side, we will complete these projects and deploy them for the economic benefit of our nation,” the President assured.
Among other commissioned projects were the Yakasai to Zalli Road in Kano State (handled by CCECC), the Shendam Bridge in Plateau State (Triacta), the Kwanar-Hadejia Section II (82km) in Kano/Jigawa States (CCECC), Jimeta Bridge in Adamawa State (Triacta), the Ilobu-Erinle Road across Kwara and Osun States (IAC), and the Cham-Numan Bridge in Adamawa State (CGC).
Projects flagged off for construction included Section I Phase 1B of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway in Sokoto State (120km), Section II Phase 2B of the same highway in Kebbi State (258km), Section II of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from Lagos to Ogun State Border (55km), the rehabilitation of the Zaria–Hunkuyi–Daya Road in Kaduna/Kano States (152.67km), and the reconstruction of the Dikwa–Gamboru–Ngala Road in Borno State (49.55km).
Other major projects flagged off included the dualisation of the Kano–Maiduguri Road linking Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, and Borno States (100.95km), the construction of the Maiduguri Ring Road (108km), the Kano Northern Bypass (74km), the construction of the 7th Axial Road from Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos to Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State (25km six-lane), and the completion of the rehabilitation of the Lokoja–Benin Road using rigid pavement.
Suspended Civil Service Commission Chairman, Others Sue Ibas
The chairman and members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission, appointed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, have sued the Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, and others in court over their suspension.
The claimants, Rev. Goodlife Iduoku Ben, Amadi Christian Echele, Chimenim Wisdom Jerome and three others, are challenging what they described as their illegal removal by the sole administrator.
In the suit filed at the Rivers State High Court, the claimants contend that they were legally appointed and confirmed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, and that before they were issued letters of appointment by the governor, records of their confirmation were with the Clerk of the House.
According to an affidavit signed by the suspended chairman, Ben, the claimants insist that the sole administrator
lacks the legal power to suspend them and appoint a new chairman and members of the commission.
When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, the legal team of the sole administrator, comprising about five Senior Advocates of Nigeria, filed their defence, along with a notice of preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the Rivers State High Court to hear and determine the matter.
They are also contending that, by the combined provisions of the Emergency Powers Act, 1961 and the Emergency Powers (Jurisdiction) Act, 1962, the proper court for such matters is the Federal Supreme Court, which they argued has since been modified by regulation of the President to what is now known as the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The legal team of the state’s sole administrator also relied heavily on the aforementioned legislations to argue, in their defence of the substantive suit, that the administrator derives his powers to suspend and make appointments from those laws.
However, the claimants’ legal team, in their response, insisted that both the 1961 and 1962 Acts relied upon by the defence are obsolete, stating that under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN), those laws are considered spent and are clearly listed as such in the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004.
The presiding judge, Justice Frank Onyiri, thereafter adjourned the case to the 17th of June, 2025, for the adoption of all processes.
L-R: Former Minister of Works, Raji Fashola, Bello Mattawale, Minister of State for Defence, Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, President Bola Tinubu,
NEWS
Nigeria Secures $2.2bn for Health Sector Reforms
BY FELIX IFIJEH
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday commissioned the ultramodern African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, describing the state-of-the-art facility as a symbol of African resilience and a bold stride toward making Nigeria a global healthcare destination.
The event coincided with the announcement that Nigeria has secured over $2.2 billion in health sector commitments through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023 by the Tinubu administration.
The initiative is already in motion and aims to renovate over 17,000 primary health centres, train 120,000 frontline health workers, and double national health insurance coverage within three years.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning ceremony, President Tinubu said the AMCE is more than just a modern building—it is a statement of intent.
“This is not just a structure of steel and concrete. It is our collective refusal to accept medical vulnerability as destiny,” he said.
The President highlighted several key reforms and investments made in the health sector since assuming office two years ago, including the signing of an Executive Order and the launch of the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain
(PVAC). These, he noted, have spurred local pharmaceutical production, improved regulatory frameworks, and expanded diagnostic services.
On the $2.2 billion sectoral investment, Tinubu said, “These are not just aspirations—they are milestones already in motion.”
Developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London, the AMCE is designed to be a hub for advanced treatment, medical training, and research.
It houses West Africa’s largest stem cell laboratory and is expected to expand to include a teaching hospital, a nursing school, and residential quarters for medical staff.
Commending Afreximbank President, Prof. Benedict Oramah, Tinubu said, “This is what happens when African institutions rise to meet African challenges with African solutions.”
The President also emphasized the importance of infrastructure in supporting healthcare, noting that hospitals cannot thrive without good roads and reliable electricity.
“A world-class hospital cannot function on a dirt road, and no MRI machine works without stable electricity,” he said, reaffirming government investment through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund.
“With partners like King’s College London and the University of Wisconsin, this centre will train the next generation of African medical specialists—trained at home, not exported abroad.”
Finance Minister Wale Edun described the centre as a milestone in both health and economic development, revealing that over $400 million in private sector contributions were committed to the project.“This couldn’t have come at a better time. This hospital is a marvel of science and modernity,” Edun said.
Afreximbank President, Prof. Oramah, said the AMCE represents a personal mission, recalling his own experience as a patient at King’s College Hospital in London.
He said the project was a way to give back and contribute to a more self-reliant healthcare system in Africa.
“This centre is not just for treatment—it will catalyse the transformation of the African health sector,” he stated.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, lauded the initiative, expressing optimism that the hospital would help curb outbound medical tourism by providing quality care locally. Also speaking at the event were Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan (represented by Health Minister Dr. Jenista Joakim Mhagama); Prof. Clive Kay, CEO of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; and Dr. Tajudeen Raji of the Africa Centre for Disease Control, among others.
CAS Assures NAF Readiness to Dismantle Bandits’ Network
BY LADI DAPSON, MAIDUGURI
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to dismantling the networks of terror groups and restoring lasting peace to every corner of the nation.
The CAS gave the assurance on Friday while hosting the 2025 Eid-ul-Adha Sallah Luncheon with troops of the Air Component, Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, held in Maiduguri.
Air Marshal Abubakar, who was represented by the Air Officer Commanding aTactica Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Patrick Owecho Obeya, saluted troops’ steadfastness, attributing it to why they continue to make meaningful progress in the fight against insurgency, particularly in Borno State and the wider Northeast region.
“Your efforts ensure that millions of Nigerians can live in
safety and with hope for a better tomorrow. “I take this opportunity to express my profound appreciation to each and every one of you, gallant officers, airmen and airwomen, for your unwavering dedication, courage, and sacrifice. Many of you serve far from your families, enduring challenging conditions with discipline and patriotism.
“Let it be known that our message to the enemies of peace is clear: we will find you, dismantle your networks, and restore lasting peace to every corner of this nation. The effectiveness of our day and night air operations has been greatly enhanced by our proactive approach, strategic planning, and relentless execution.”
He attributed the growing synergy between the Nigerian Air Force and our counterparts in the land forces, noting that this improved coordination has yielded significant operational successes.
“The recent joint air and ground offensives in Damboa, Marte, Izge, Bitta, and other flashpoints stand as clear
proof of what we can achieve through teamwork and unified purpose. These operations have not only disrupted terrorist activities but have also restored hope and stability to affected communities.
“We are acutely aware that the complexity of today’s security environment demands advanced and capable platforms. In that regard, the Nigerian Air Force has continued to modernise its fleet and operational capabilities. In addition to the A-29 Super Tucanos, JF-17 Thunder multirole fighters, and T-129 ATAK helicopters, we are in advanced stages of acquiring additional fighter ground attack aircraft and combat helicopters to enhance our precision strike capability and overall effectiveness.”
He informed that NAF have deployed the MI-171E helicopter and CH-4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to the theatre. These platforms provide enhanced surveillance, day-andnight strike capabilities, and tactical support, which will significantly degrade enemy movements, particularly under the cover of darkness.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu (m), and other members of the Inter-ministerial Committee for the 2025 Democracy Day Celebration after their inauguration in Abuja on Friday, June 6, 2025.
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COLOUR BLACK AND WHITE SPECIAL SPOTS
Lessons from Mokwa Flood Disaster
TThe reality is that the muchvaunted climate change is here with us in full force. Hitherto, flooding in Niger State was usually tied to water released from either the Kainji dam or Jebba dam. But both dams are currently intact and safe
“
he recent flood disaster in Mokwa in Niger State has once again reminded Nigerians of the need to be proactive in matters relating to flooding. With over 200 persons reportedly dead, an estimated 500 declared missing and an unaccounted amount of property loss, the flooding, in the words of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Adam, was “devastating and unprecedented.”
According to the Minister, Mokwa is not on a known floodplain, yet it suffered catastrophic flooding due to torrential rainfall—a clear indication of worsening climate realities.
The reality is that the much-vaunted climate change is here with us in full force. Hitherto, flooding in Niger State was usually tied to water released from either the Kainji dam or Jebba dam. But both dams are currently intact and safe.
The deadly Mokwa flooding incident would have been compounded by clogged drainage systems, a recurring feature of many urban areas in Nigeria, as well as unregulated building and construction over drainage easement coupled with either lack of diligence or compromise by building approving authorities.
The implication of this statement is that every Nigerian community is vulnerable to flooding this year. Rain is the main culprit, if the early warning being issued by the Nigerian
Meteorological Agency, NiMET and Annual Flood Outlooks AFO, by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, are anything to go by.
The 2025 AFO 2025 report indicated that 1,249 communities in 176 Local Government Areas in 33 states and the FCT fall within the High Flood Risk Areas, while 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs in 31 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, fall within the Moderate Flood Risk Areas
The high-flood risk states are: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, CrossRiver, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory FCT.
Considering the death and displacement of people and loss of several hectares of farmland caused by flooding in the last few years, it is obvious that a better approach is needed to address this yearly menace that is looking like a national scandal.
In 2022, floods killed more than 600 people, displaced about 1.4 million and destroyed 440,000 hectares of farmland.
in 2024, flooding reportedly killed more than 1,200 people and displaced 1.2 million persons. The flooding, which impacted 31 of the country’s 36 states, also destroyed more than 1.4 million hectares of
farmland.
We urge the authorities, agencies and communities to collaborate in tackling this menace. These relevant stakeholders need to be more proactive in heeding professional warning signs, acting on them and further developing and maintaining mitigating physical structures.
It is commendable that the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has deployed its officials in 15 high-risk states on a public enlightenment mission on the impending floods and the need to relocate from flood-prone areas before we witness a repeat of the Mokwa case on a wider scale.
The Mokwa tragedy should serve as part of the campaign.
Head of the Press Unit at NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel, who said the states on target include Kogi, Imo, Enugu, Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Zamfara, Katsina and the Federal Capital Territory, disclosed that Mokwa people in Niger State “lived in gully areas and were caught unawares by the recent flooding disaster in the state despite official warnings.”
This early campaign, we hope, would help to further sensitise Nigerians living in flood prone communities and in expectation of heavy rains, of the need to heed early warning signals and make the necessary adjustments. We should not make flooding look unpreventable.
AOPINION
No Oil Spillage in A’Ibom Community
BY UKPATU CLEMENT
rumour circulating recently in the media and community circles about an oil spill in some communities within the Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has been put to rest following a series of independent investigations.
Contrary to initial claims linking the incident to Sumedha Energy Ltd, findings from environmental scientists, community leaders and local observers confirm that the discolouration and odour observed in local water bodies are part of a natural, seasonal process common during the rainy season. The occurrence is unrelated to oil or gas operations and involves no petroleum contamination.
It has been confirmed that the darkly water and reported odour observed in the Emere-Oke and Akpabom communities are the result of a natural hydrological process — a seasonal outflow from ancient inland lakes into the Atlantic Ocean, which is a recurring event during the rainy season.
“This is a classic case of microbial activity acting on decomposing organic matter in stagnant freshwater bodies”, said a university-based environmental microbiologist, who requested anonymity due to institutional protocols. “What people are seeing is stained water, not oil. The brownish-black colouration is the result of humic substances and tannins produced by the breakdown of leaves and organic debris.”
The water, described by locals as “smelly and dark”, was confirmed through preliminary field tests to contain no hydrocarbon contamination — the primary indicator of an oil spill. Instead, the changes are consistent with anaerobic decomposition in swampy terrain which occurs seasonally in places like the Nigeria Delta.
A senior community elder from Akpabom, who has lived in the area for over 70 years, described the phenomenon as normal and often expected at this time of year.
“We have seen this water change colour every rainy season. The lakes overflow and run into the ocean. It’s not oil. It has happened for generations”, the elder stated.
Clarifying the oil spill rumour, a technical officer working with Sumedha Energy Ltd said, on the condition of anonymity, that the company’s operations in Eastern Obolo LGA remain fully compliant with environmental and safety regulations, with no reported leaks,
spills, or operational failures.
“All the equipment at the Durga 4 site and surrounding infrastructure have been verified to be intact. We maintain routine checks and there is no record of any oil release, accidental or otherwise. These allegations are baseless and have no technical merit,” the official said.
The report also found that no official notification of an oil spill has been received or recorded by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the statutory body mandated to respond to and verify oil-related incidents.
A regulatory contact within NOSDRA (who asked not to be named) confirmed that no credible evidence of a spill has been presented to the agency, and no directive for remediation has been issued in Eastern Obolo.
Despite the alarm raised, no community member has reported illness, fish kills, or crop failure — all common consequences of genuine oil spills. Instead, the concern appears to stem from visual and olfactory misinterpretations of naturally occurring swamp water changes during flood surges.
The findings of this report underscore a critical need for science-based environmental awareness, especially in regions where industrial operations and natural ecosystems coexist. Advocacy for ecological justice must be anchored in empirical evidence, not assumptions.
THERE IS NO OIL SPILL IN EASTERN OBOLO. THE PHENOMENON DESCRIBED BY RESIDENTS AND MISREPRESENTED BY SOME VOICES IS A SEASONAL ECOLOGICAL EVENT, NOT A PETROLEUM-RELATED DISASTER
As one government environmental analyst noted anonymously: “We welcome citizen engagement in monitoring the environment, but it must be based on fact. Misreporting can lead to panic, erode public trust, and hurt investment in host communities.”
There is no oil spill in Eastern Obolo. The phenomenon described by residents and misrepresented by some voices is a seasonal ecological event — not a petroleumrelated disaster. Sumedha Energy Ltd has not violated environmental protocols, and its operations remain under routine surveillance and regulatory compliance. However, investigation reveals that there is currently no rig or any oil production activity, nor a drilling rig in Emereoke Community, as alleged.
Parliamentary Diplomacy and Inclusive Interfaith Dialogue in Nigeria
BY LEO IGWE
The Inter-Parliamentary Union will hold its second conference on interfaith dialogue in Rome in June. It is pertinent to reflect on the significance of interfaith conversations, communications, and cooperation. In particular, I ask: can parliamentary diplomacy help further interreligious dialogue in Nigeria?
Nigeria is religiously pluralistic, and religious attacks and sectarian violence often take place. Faith-based abuses are rampant. IPU is a global organisation of national parliaments. It empowers parliamentarians to promote peace, democracy, and sustainable development. Parliamentarians are key stakeholders in statecraft and can utilise their positions to foster inclusive dialogue and promote effective governance.
Unfortunately, parliamentary diplomacy has not been robustly deployed to further inclusive interfaith dialogue. Interreligious dialogue in Nigeria is anything but inclusive. The exercise has exclusively been a “Chrislamic” affair, that is, a dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
That should not be the case because millions of Nigerians do not profess Christianity or Islam. Leaders of other religions and belief groups deserve seats and slots at the table of interfaith dialogue in Nigeria. At the moment, Christian and Muslim actors constitute the Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIREC), excluding traditional religious groups, and atheist and humanist belief constituencies in the country. This situation must change if Nigeria is to rise to the challenge of realising an inclusive interfaith dialogue.
In the past couple of years, I have invested in promoting understanding and positive and cooperative interactions between people of different religions and beliefs. I have called for a more inclusive interfaith dialogue, especially the inclusion and representation of other faith and belief communities in NIREC. These appeals have fallen on deaf ears. But I have not given up.
In furtherance of interfaith/belief harmony, understanding, and cooperation, I organised with James Wuye and Imam Ashafa of the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna the first interfaith/belief dialogue between people of different religions and beliefs in Nigeria in 2021. For the first time, believers and nonbelievers met in the same room, sat side by side, and discussed issues of common interest. Parliamentarian diplomacy can be a resource in this respect. It can facilitate a more inclusive interfaith dialogue in Nigeria.
AT THE MOMENT, CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM ACTORS
CONSTITUTE THE NIGERIA INTER RELIGIOUS COUNCIL (NIREC), EXCLUDING TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS GROUPS, AND ATHEIST AND HUMANIST BELIEF CONSTITUENCIES IN THE COUNTRY. THIS SITUATION MUST CHANGE IF NIGERIA IS TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGE OF REALISING AN INCLUSIVE INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
Meanwhile, the king of Morocco has called for the evolution of interreligious dialogue. The king acknowledged that the dialogue between Abrahamic religions was out of step with the times and the religious and belief realities of the 21st century. As the king rightly pointed out, the paradigm of life and living is shifting and changing, so must interfaith relations and, yes, interfaith dialogue. In Nigeria, interreligious dialogue needs to evolve. NIREC needs to be inclusive. NIREC has existed for many years, and interfaith dialogue has been going on for some time. Still, the goals of this dialogue are far from achieved. Hence, for this year’s conference, IPU urges a strengthening of trust in interfaith relations, an embrace of hope for a common future. To realise this goal, parliamentarians should take measures to remove all obstacles to the free exercise of freedom of religion or belief.
There cannot be a robust interfaith relationship in a situation where people cannot fully exercise their right to believe or not believe. There cannot be a meaningful dialogue where individuals cannot profess, change, or express in public or private their religious belief or non-belief.
In Muslim-dominated areas, sharia is enforced. Mistrust of other faith and belief communities is entrenched. While nonmuslims can embrace Islam, convert, and become Muslims. Muslims are forbidden to renounce the faith. Apostasy is considered a dishonour to the religion and the Ummah, and an offence against the ‘state’. Open and public dissent or criticism is easily designated as blasphemy, which is a crime punishable
Fidelity Bank Leads Volume Chart as ASIIndex, Market Cap Rise
Trading in top three equities led the gains recorded in the first trading week of June, 2025, as recorded by the NGX.
The top three stocks namely Fidelity Bank Plc, Legend Internet Plc and Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 1.545 billion shares worth N34.446 billion in 4,939 deals, contributing 48.06% and 45.12% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
The NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 2.57% to close the week at 114,616.75 and N 72.275 trillion respectively.
The market opened for four trading days last week as the Federal Government declared Friday June 6, 2025 and Monday June 9, 2025 as Public Holidays to commemorate the 2025 Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Meanwhile, a total turnover of 3.214 billion shares worth N76.348 billion in 64,156 deals was traded last week by investors on the floor of the Exchange, in contrast to a total of 3.794 billion shares valued at N119.394 billion that exchanged hands last week in 89,636 deals.
The Financial Services (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 2.313 billion shares valued at N52.241 billion traded in 27,326 deals; thus contributing 71.96% and 68.43% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.
The ICT industry followed with 301.996 million shares worth N5.026 billion in 4,137 deals. Third place was the Consumer Goods Industry, with a turnover of 144.538 million shares worth N5.632 billion in 8,093 deals.
Fidelity Bank is the #1 most traded stock on the Nigerian Exchange over the past three months (Mar 4 - Jun 5, 2025). The stock has traded a total volume of 3.95 billion shares—in 35,905 deals—valued at NGN 75.2 billion over the period, with an average of 62.7 million traded shares per session.
A volume high of 830 million was achieved on June 5th, and a low of 6.54 million on March 12th, for the same period.
EDITOR Sam Diala
Port Harcourt Refinery: NNPCL’s Crude, Unrefined Tales
The current share price of Fidelity Bank Plc is N19.25. The stock closed its last trading day (Thursday, June 5, 2025) at N19.25 per share on the NGX, recording a 1.3% gain over its previous closing price of N19.00. Fidelity began the year with a share price of N17.50 and has since gained 10% on that price valuation.
There has been a massive hunt for Fidelity stocks in recent times as investors position strategically for the outcome of the ongoing banking recapitalisation with March 31, 2026 as the deadline. Continues on page 35
barrels per day (bpd) and the new plant 150,000 bpd, both summing up to 210,000 bpd.
In a press release on December 21, signed by Soneye, titled ‘NNPC Ltd Fulfils Promise, Delivers Port Harcourt Refinery … Achieves Mechanical Completion, Flare Start-
the doubts by sceptics that the over $1.5 billion spent in the refurbishment of the plant would have been a waste
Port Harcourt Refinery: Debunking NNPCL’s... BUSINESS WEEKLY
Continues from page 34
2023 to protest the excruciating hardship resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy, President Tinubu gave his commitment that the Port Harcourt Refinery would resume production in December, 2023.
At a meeting with the leaders of Organised Labour in the State House on August 2, 2023, President Tinubu assured Nigerians that the Port Harcourt Refinery will start production by December 2023 after the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation contract on the facility between the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont SpA.
Before his death in July 2024, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Ifeanyi Ubah, had said that two refineries- Port Harcourt and Warri would be fully operational by the end of 2024.
Ubah said plans had already been put in place to achieve the target, stressing that the Kaduna Refinery would also be operational before the end of the following year.
“My mandate is to ensure that the refineries in Nigeria are up and functional. By my involvement, before the end of this year, two refineries will be up and running.
“Also, before the end of next year, the Kaduna refinery will come on stream.
“I can assure Nigerians that I will tirelessly pursue and ensure that these refineries are up and running before the end of the year. We have set up a technical team to visit the refineries every two weeks in order to meet the set target,” he said.
The latest shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refinery for another “maintenance” six months after the NNPCL announced the commencement of production at the facility in November 2024, validates the doubts by sceptics that the over $1.5 billion spent in the refurbishment of the plant would have been a waste.
Continues from page 34
Fidelity Bank Leads...
Oando PLC, Africa’s leading integrated energy company listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), posted robust Audited Full Year (FY) 2024 financial results with a 44% increase in revenue to N4.1trillion compared to N2.9 trillion in FY 2023.
In the upstream, Oando’s production witnessed a 3% increase to 23,727 boepd; made up of crude oil production which increased by 27% to 7,558 bopd, while NGL production and gas decreased respectively by 35% to 156 bpd, and 5% to 16,013 boepd.
The company’s 2P reserves grew 95% year-on-year to 983 MMboe (2023: 505 MMboe), representing a 188% reserves replacement ratio and underscoring the strength of the company’s upstream portfolio post-acquisition. The company also reported a sustained operational uptime of 86%, supporting off-take reliability and reducing deferred production.
Similarly, other indigenous players have also reported significant revenue growth following the recent wave of International Oil Company divestments. Seplat recorded a revenue of ₦1.65 trillion, representing a 137% increase from 2023, while Aradel posted ₦581.2 billion in revenue, a 162% increase compared to the previous year.
Speaking on the company’s upstream performance, Group Chief Executive, Oando PLC, Wale Tinubu said, “2024 was a defining year for Oando, with the successful acquisition and integration of NAOC marking the culmination of a decade-long strategic growth journey which has significantly deepened our upstream portfolio, resulting in our assumption
THEWILL recalls that the Senate on October 24, 2023 constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate all contracts estimated at over N11.35 trillion awarded for the rehabilitation of the four moribund refineries in the country.
This followed a motion brought by Senator Sunday Karimu on the unending repairs of the nation’s refineries despite the huge resources invested in fixing them.
He added, “We are concerned that the Federal Government of Nigeria has carried out rehabilitation projects in Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) over a period of seven (7) years from 2013-2019 at an estimated cost of N12,161,237,811.61.
“In addition, on the 18th March 2021, a rehabilitation contract was executed between NNPC/PHRC and Tenenimont SPA at a Lump Sum of $1,397,000,000.00, about N75 billion naira amidst global public criticism, no result has been achieved.”
This abrupt shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refinery in May 2025, has raised concerns, especially as it followed reports that the refinery was only blending naphtha into diesel, while questions hung over its actual petrol production. It has laid to rest the controversy as to what the facility was really doing – production or blending. It has also ended the long years of empty promises and vague utterances by the authorities who saw the Port Harcourt Refinery as the easiest way to reach out to the citizenry that the government is working.
Meanwhile, the companies will continue to pay huge salaries to the idle workers who have been hibernating in the government-owned refineries that have kept churning crude, unrefined tales of lies and deceit as the nation’s refineries are on their way to becoming scraps good for the archives.
“Fidelity is strong; the bank’s recent performance points in that direction. It was the first to embark on the recapitalisation outing while the others were yet to commence. Its shares were oversubscribed and its successful acquisition of the Union Bank UK subsidiary positions it for a greater deal”, said Adewale Braimoh, a financial analyst.
The renewed rally in the lender’s stock hinges on the FY2024 impressive performance.
Fidelity Bank Plc consolidated its place in the top industry leadership league with its shareholders’ funds surging to N897.87 billion in FY 2024, from N437.30 billion in the previous year, constituting a 105.32 percent growth.
The surge was driven by an expansion in share capital and premium accounts which recorded an increase of 133.58 percent to N305.55 billion.
This stellar performance suggests that Fidelity is making significant advancement toward meeting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) new capital requirement of N500 billion for banks with international licence.
Fidelity Bank completed its acquisition of 100 percent equity in Union Bank UK, a subsidiary of Union Bank Plc, in September
2023.
It explained that the acquisition aimed at strengthening its strategic initiatives on international expansion as it planned to expand into five African countries via acquisition.
The stellar performance deepens the Capital Adequacy Ratio by 23.5 percent - a positive result from the capitalisation of its half year result.
The bank completed the first phase of its capital raising exercise through a Public Offer and Rights Issue in 2024, which were oversubscribed by 237.92 percent and 137.73 percent, respectively.
A total of N175.9 billion was recognised as fresh capital in 2024 financial year from the exercise, which had a positive impact on its Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) at 23.5 percent.
The bank says it plans to conclude the second phase by Q3 2025, ahead of the March 31, 2026 CBN’s recapitalisation deadline.
THEWILL reports that Fidelity Bank surpassed its capital-raising target of N127.1 billion, marking the completion of the first phase of its recapitalisation efforts.
The combined offer, which marked the first phase of the
*Continues online at www. thewillnews.com
Oando Profit-After-Tax up 267% to N220bn in FY2024
of operatorship of the OML 60–63 series and the doubling of our working interest in the assets from 20% to 40%, as well as our 2P reserves from 500 million barrels of oil equivalent to 1 billion barrels.”
In the downstream, Oando’s trading subsidiary reported that it sold 20.7 million barrels of crude oil in 2024; a 37% decline from 2023 due to structural changes in the Nigerian oil market. Additionally, refined product volumes declined by 64% to just over 599 kMT, due to weakened domestic demand, driven by the challenging macroeconomic incountry.
Projections for global oil prices and demand in 2025 remain uncertain due to persistent macroeconomic and trade policy uncertainties. JP Morgan pegs Brent to peak at $66/bbl in 2025 and $58/bbl in 2026 while the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) predictions project Brent crude oil prices to fall from an average of $81 per barrel (b) in 2024 to $74/b in 2025 and $66/b in 2026 citing an increase in global production coupled with slower global demand growth.
Within its renewable energy business, the company continued to advance its clean energy agenda recording measurable progress across multiple verticals. By the end of 2024 the electric mass transit programme had covered 121,145 km, transported over 205,000 passengers, displacing 163,546 kg of CO2 emissions and saving more than 60,000 litres of diesel.
Other notable achievements include signing MoUs for wind projects with Cross River and Edo State as well as launching a geothermal feasibility study in collaboration with NNPC, exploring the conversion of mature wells to renewable power assets.
As the company continues to integrate its expanded portfolio following its most recent strategic acquisition, current projections show it’s gone into 2025 with strong momentum and clear ambition.
Tinubu remarked “Looking ahead, 2025 will be our year of execution. Our key priorities shall include unlocking synergies from the acquisition, addressing above-ground security risks through the implementation of a revamped security framework aimed at curbing the persistent theft of oil, cost optimization, balance sheet restructuring, enhancing operational efficiency, and leveraging technology to improve productivity across our operations.
“In our bid to ramp up production towards achieving our target of 100,000 bopd and 1.5 tcf of gas by 2029, we shall pursue a dual-track approach of rig-less interventions and well workovers, complemented by an aggressive drilling program.
“We are excited by the opportunities that lie ahead and remain committed to delivering enhanced shareholder returns, shared prosperity and maintaining our position as a leading player in Africa’s evolving energy landscape.”
The published audited FY 2024 results also include approximately four months of contribution from Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), following the completion of the acquisition on August 22, 2024.
Following this, the company has set a production guidance of 30,000–40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in its 2025 outlook. This aligns with its post-acquisition optimisation plans to maximise portfolio value and supports its four-year target of reaching 100,000 barrels per day.
It is evident that local players, particularly those that have become operators following the recent IOC divestments, are increasingly well-positioned to drive the future of the Nigerian energy sector. These indigenous companies possess unique insights and contextual experience that enable them to more effectively manage onshore and shallow water assets.
This shift is expected to generate a ripple effect across the economy by increasing local employment, enhancing capacity development, and improving government revenue through taxes retained within the country, revenue that was previously repatriated to the home countries of the International Oil Companies (IOCs).
FINTECH
Remita: A fundamental Case for Legislating Indigenous Participation and IP Ownership in the Fintech Ecosystem
BY CHRIS UWAJE
In today’s hyperconnected world, digital infrastructure has become the lifeline of national development. Just as roads and power once defined industrial growth, so do data platforms, software systems, and digital frameworks now define the knowledge economy. For a country like Nigeria, the implications are profound. Digital infrastructure is no longer a luxury. It is a strategic asset, a national security issue, and an economic necessity.
Back in 2001, Nigeria adopted its first National Information Technology Policy. That document signalled intent, but the digital era has since evolved with breathtaking speed. What once seemed futuristic is now foundational. Nations must choose whether to be passive consumers of foreign technology or strategic producers of indigenous innovation. At stake is not just economic potential but also sovereignty itself. The global economy is moving toward artificial intelligence, cloud governance, digital currencies, and decentralised systems. Without a deliberate strategy to build and protect local digital capacity, we risk exclusion from critical value chains, and we would continue to depend on external systems we neither control nor fully understand to our detriment.
ECONOMIC AND STRATEGIC CASE FOR INDIGENOUS INNOVATION
Technology is more than hardware and code, it is a nation’s capacity to define its future. Local tech innovations have the potential to transform Nigeria’s economy by creating jobs, opening new markets, and enabling digital self-reliance. From payment infrastructure to education platforms and digital identity systems, indigenous technologies are becoming essential tools for economic resilience and inclusive development.
Consider India, which implemented a deliberate national strategy that helped build a software export industry worth over 200 billion dollars. Nigeria has comparable human capital and an equally vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. With the right mix of strategic investment, policy alignment, and institutional support, our software ecosystem has the potential not only to replicate that success but also to surpass it, shaping Africa’s digital future and influencing the global tech landscape. Indigenous software also plays a vital role in inclusion. Designed with contextual awareness, it helps bridge rural access gaps, address gender inequities, and navigate infrastructural constraints. It ensures that technology serves the needs of all Nigerians - not just the connected elite - while preserving cultural relevance and economic value within our borders. This has long been my advocacy. At a keynote address delivered seven years ago at the NITRA Quarterly Forum, I called for a national software development strategy and the creation of a technology innovation park to nurture talent and boost productivity. I also urged the allocation of at least 10 percent of the national budget to ICT, noting that Nigeria’s technology ecosystem was, and remains, underfunded and insufficiently protected. True indigenous content must involve products developed by Nigerians that do not require foreign remittance. That principle is more critical today than ever.
A FOUNDATION FOR WHAT COMES NEXT
Few examples illustrate the power of indigenous innovation more clearly than the Treasury Single Account (TSA). Once plagued by fiscal inefficiencies, Nigeria now has in place a robust public finance mechanism made possible by a local software solution, Remita. The TSA was created to address the longstanding problem of fragmented government banking. Before its introduction in 2011, thousands of government accounts scattered across commercial banks facilitated financial leakages and institutional opacity. The TSA’s goal was to consolidate government revenues into a single account at the Central Bank of Nigeria, enforce financial discipline, and eliminate waste. Since its full implementation in 2015, the results have been near-extraordinary. The TSA helped recover over N3 trillion from previously untracked accounts, led to the closure of more than 17,000 redundant accounts, and has saved the country over N45 billion in monthly interest payments. Annual overheads from bank charges also dropped by over N24 billion, according to reports.
This success story was enabled by Remita, a world-class solution developed by Nigerian software company SystemSpecs. Originally a product of SystemSpecs, Remita has since evolved into an independent company, Remita Payment Services Limited (RPSL). Contracted through a competitive process involving the Central
Bank of Nigeria, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and international consultants, Remita outperformed foreign options. Its performance over the years has demonstrated unequivocally that Nigerian software can deliver significant national impact. The TSA’s achievements have drawn global attention. Countries such as The Gambia and Kenya have sought to replicate the initiative, seeing in Nigeria a model of digital fiscal reform. TSA is a powerful validation of Nigeria’s indigenous technological capacity and a testament to what is possible when local innovation is aligned with national strategy.
Now, a new and transformative policy frontier is emerging in the form of the National Revenue Service (NRS) and its accompanying Revenue Assurance initiative. This reform aims to harmonise revenue collection across all levels of government, reduce tax evasion, and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for sustainable revenue mobilisation. At the heart of this reform is a coordinated framework that will rely heavily on the foundational digital infrastructure already laid by the TSA.
The TSA will remain the critical bedrock on which the NRS must stand. The centralisation and accountability the TSA brought to public finance are the same principles the NRS must uphold and expand. If Nigeria is to build a credible, secure, and efficient national revenue system, then it must be deliberate about embedding indigenous technology such as Remita, which is tested and trusted, into the very fabric of its evolving.
INDIGENOUS SOFTWARE AS THE BEDROCK OF DIGITAL SOVEREIGNTY
Digital sovereignty is a nation’s ability to control its digital infrastructure, data, and technological future. In today’s world, software is at the heart of this control. Without it, we compromise our economy, governance, and national resilience. The most vulnerable point of a nation’s development and security ecosystem is the financial ecosystem – especially when the Software that powers its processes is owned and controlled by foreign solution providers.
It is important to clarify what we mean by indigenous content. Too often, indigenous content is mistakenly equated with local content. However, the two are not always the same. Local content may refer to digital platforms or solutions developed within Nigeria, yet owned or controlled by foreign corporate entities. In such cases, while the software may be locally deployed, the underlying intellectual property (IP) remains foreign. True indigenous content, on the other hand, embodies both local development and indigenous IP ownership. It is Nigerian in conception, in code, and in control. This distinction is crucial because only indigenous content truly strengthens digital sovereignty, ensures value retention within the local economy, and guarantees long-term control over critical systems.
NIGERIA IS RICH IN TALENT, WITH OVER 400,000 developers and indigenous tech firms such as Interswitch, Flutterwave, and Paystack demonstrating global competitiveness. These success stories are not outliers, they reflect the broader potential of our tech ecosystem and the capacity that exists when innovation is supported and scaled. It is therefore imperative to preserve and protect homegrown solutions. A recent call by the House of Representatives for penalties of almost two hundred billion Naira to be imposed on the indigenous company, Remita on account of an ongoing and yet to be concluded reconciliation process in respect of transactions processed over the past 12 years is puzzling and bizarre, to say the least. If there are legitimate concerns about aspects of the TSA implementation, then any investigation must be seen to be impartial, transparent, and rooted in verifiable evidence, with findings made available to the public. No individual or organisation is exempt from accountability. However, targeted actions that appear politically motivated risk eroding the very trust that public finance reforms such as the NRS seek to build. These practices not only destabilise confidence in Nigeria’s software ecosystem, but also reveal a tendency to sacrifice long-term digital independence for short-term expediency.
A Legislative Imperative for Indigenous Content and Software Sovereignty. Despite the notable successes, institutional inertia continues to undermine Nigeria’s software potential. Many government agencies at the national and sub-national level still default to foreign software, often driven by outdated preferences and procurement biases. The procurement process remains fragmented, with no clear national standard for evaluating software solutions based on performance, security, and
Originally a product of SystemSpecs, Remita has since evolved into an independent company, Remita Payment Services Limited
adaptability. Executive Orders EO003 and EO005, which mandate the use of local goods and services, are yet to be implemented with the consistency and seriousness they require. The proposed National Revenue Service law offers an unprecedented opportunity to correct these structural flaws. It must not only harmonise revenue collection but also institutionalise indigenous technology as the default infrastructure for digital public finance. Much like the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Local Content Development Act of 2010 transformed local participation in energy, a national digital content policy is needed to protect our fintech and govtech industries.
While legislation is key to driving compliance in the public sector, the private sector must be encouraged to voluntarily adopt local technologies as part of broader ESG and national development strategies. Corporate Nigeria can play a crucial role in normalising trust in indigenous platforms, forming innovation partnerships, and integrating Nigerian solutions into their value chains. The shift from import dependence to domestic innovation must be a collective national movement, not a government-alone endeavour. Equally important is the creation of an Indigenous Software Sovereignty Fund, a dedicated mechanism to support research and development, incubate startups, and scale local platforms that will power the NRS and future national systems.
Years ago, I remarked that SystemSpecs deserved a national merit award for the monumental role it played in harmonising government accounts into a single, technology-driven platform through the Treasury Single Account (TSA). This was not just a technical achievement — it was a profound act of patriotism. At a time when few believed local solutions could drive national-scale reform, SystemSpecs stood firm, offering its homegrown innovation to serve the nation’s fiscal transformation. For over a decade, the company has supported the TSA’s implementation with uncommon dedication, professionalism, and resilience. That contribution should not fade into the background — it deserves formal recognition as a benchmark of what becomes possible when Nigeria believes in Nigeria, and when private enterprise rises to meet the public interest.
The success of the TSA is a demonstration that local technology can solve national challenges. Now, as Nigeria embarks on a broader revenue transformation through the NRS and Revenue Assurance initiative, we must ensure that the lessons of the TSA are not only remembered but also enshrined in the next chapter of reform. This is our chance to cement digital sovereignty as a pillar of national policy. The sovereign code has already been written by Nigerian hands, on Nigerian soil. What remains is the political will to protect it, scale it, and embed it in the future we are building. In the era of e-Knowledge, time is still running out.
• Uwaje, known as the “Oracle of the Nigerian IT Industry,” is a pioneer of Nigeria’s National IT and Founder of Mobile Software Solutions
Nigeria‘s $24.14bn External Borrowing Plan: New Face of Debt Diplomacy
BY INWALOMHE DONALD
It is worrying that the debt service-to-revenue ratio, which peaked at over 90 percent in 2023, is presently under pressure. President Tinubu is embarking on debt diplomacy, which is no longer relevant to most Nigerians; it is a serious threat to Nigeria’s national security because of our experience with the IMF/World Bank Structural Adjustment Programme.
Most recently, debts have led to the seizure of strategic assets in most developing countries. President Tinubu will soon embark on fruitless foreign debt diplomacy from the United States to the European Union to find a solution to the unsustainable budget deficit, which the federal government and the national assembly have created.
Nigeria has consistently faced budget deficits, meaning its government spending exceeds its revenue. In 2023, the government budget deficit was 6.10 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The deficit is largely financed through domestic borrowing, which has contributed to a significant increase in the public debt stock.
The fiscal deficit has been on the rise. In the first 18 months of President Bola Tinubu’s administration (July 2023–December 2024), the deficit grew to N22.37 trillion, a 74.6 percent increase from the previous period.
President Bola Tinubu has requested the National Assembly’s approval to secure fresh foreign loans amounting to about $24.14 billion, which, to Nigerians, will not transform the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. It is not a new argument that these loans to Nigeria will not bring good institutions, infrastructure, human capital and technology.
The loans will not drive manufacturing-led growth in Nigeria. This is another debt diplomacy that President Tinubu has introduced. President Tinubu and the National Assembly should not drive Nigeria into bankruptcy. The new borrowing plan represents the new face of debt diplomacy in Nigeria.
So far, the structural transformation that shifts productive resources from agriculture and mining to manufacturing, which has helped many countries achieve greater prosperity, has bypassed Nigeria. The limited structural transformation in Nigeria has not translated into more jobs because the manufacturing sector itself requires extensive reform.
Therefore, what Nigeria needs is a manufacturing renaissance, with more local value addition that would create more and better-paid jobs and contribute to fulfilling the aspirations of Agenda 2063.
More loans for Nigeria will not make Nigeria become more resilient to economic shocks and less dependent on natural resource exports. Nigeria can achieve ambitious goals if it taps into available opportunities while mitigating the challenges it faces.
Loans have been used as weapons of underdevelopment in Nigeria by the IMF and World Bank. Bureaucrats, too, can easily get a cut without much accountability. Yet, the loans are like a Trojan horse. Its consequences will be far-reaching.
While the British expanded the empire through conquest, China understands a subtle approach, which is sovereign debt. It is now the ammunition of choice
Nigerians are worried that the new borrowing plan does not focus on increasing production at the industrial base or growth-enhancing projects and that the government is not committed to fiscal discipline and transparency
Digital Transformation Enhancing Nigeria’s Financial Service Delivery
Changes in consumer behaviour, especially during the pandemic, pushed banks to raise contactless limits and invest more in digital platforms. Today, fewer people visit branches. They tap, scan, and even use voice to make payments.
Regulators have introduced stronger identity checks, requiring banks to verify customers through more than one method
customers at home and abroad.
Yet not everyone is keeping up. In both countries, some groups face challenges. Older people may struggle with new technologies. To support them, banks are offering voice-assisted services and simpler app designs.
Why do you think healthcare is becoming such a priority topic across Africa right now?
Because we’re at a turning point. Africa’s population is young, fast-growing, and increasingly urbanized and connected. There’s rising demand for better, faster, more personalized healthcare, especially among the continent’s high net worth individual’s (HNIs) and elite sectors. At the same time, there’s pressure on governments and systems to deliver at scale. This creates both a challenge and an opportunity: to build a health sector that is fit for the future and that’s why I believe healthcare is no longer just a service — it’s the new currency of investment for any serious economy.
Why do you say healthcare is the new currency of investment for serious African economies?
This is because in the 21st century, health drives wealth. You cannot build economic resilience, attract international investment, or develop sustainable industries without a healthy, productive population. We are in an era where healthcare is no longer just a moral imperative — it’s an economic engine. For Africa to leapfrog into the future, there must be cross-sector collaborations, governments, businesses, and investors must recognize that healthcare isn’t a sector; it’s infrastructure. Without it, every other industry is vulnerable.
What do you mean by cross-sector collaboration. And who exactly needs to come to the table?
It’s no longer just hospitals and doctors anymore. We need banks, fintech, insurers, real estate, hospitality, transport, energy, tech — and every citizen who drives a nation forward — all at the same table.The future of healthcare in Africa is about building ecosystems — where health services are seamlessly integrated into financial products, urban design, digital platforms, luxury experiences, and even travel. Think smart cities with embedded healthcare, financial products that package health access, and luxury hospitality that wraps in wellness. This is future-proof healthcare for the continent.
You mentioned High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs). What do
SHOTS OF THE WEEK
Photo Editor: Peace Udugba [08033050729]
Chief Technology Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Harmanpreet Singh Dhillon; Director, Human Resources & Administration, Airtel Nigeria, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias; Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh; Director, Sanitation Services, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Hassan Sanuth and Director, Corporate Communications & CSR/ Marketing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Ismail Adeshina, at the sustainability seminar hosted by
L-R: President/Chief Executive Officer, Green Plinth Africa, Dr Olawale Akinwunmi; Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy to the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Titilayo Oshodi; Commissioner for Economic, Planning and Budget, Mr Ope George and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic, Planning and Budget, Mrs Olayinka Ojo, during the inauguration of 80-Million Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), Compliant Clean Cook Stoves Project Lagos State working group in Lagos on June 2, 2025.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Emeka Obi (4th, l); Director, Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Dr Sam Amadi (5th, l); Convener/Executive Director, Princess Anita Teens Development Initiative (PATDI), Princess Anita Umeweni (4th, r); representative of the Chairperson, House of Representative Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Amb. Ganiyat Adegbite (3rd, r); and other participants, during a special unveiling of our 2035 goal ‘‘Crime-Free Society is Possible among the Teens’’ in Abuja recently.
Global Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), Mr. Ben Farrell (l), receiving Eyo
in Charge of Okrika LGA, Dr Chisa Neriton-Prefer and others, during the official flag-off of the Optimized Maternity/New Born and Child Health Week at the Ogbogbo Health Centre, Okirika LGA on June 4, 2025.
House of Representative Committee on Public Accounts,
of
L-R:
Airtel Nigeria in commemoration of World Environment Day at the company’s head office in Lagos on June 4, 2025.
figurines from the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a courtesy call at the Lagos House, Marina, on June 4, 2025.
L-R: Health Educator, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Babbo; Wife of the Sole Administrator, Okirika Local Government Council, Mrs Bessie Isodiki; Doctor
Chairman,
Rep. Bamidele Salam (m), with other members
the committee, during a news conference on the forthcoming 2025 National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on June 3, 2025.
Medals and Mourning: Kano’s Young Athletes Betrayed by the System
BY JUDE OBAFEMI
The medals were still shining when the brake pedal went to the floor. Seconds later, 29 pieces of gold, silver, and bronze representing months of training and dreams realised at Nigeria’s National Sports Festival were scattered amongst the wreckage of government bus KN 041 A17 beneath the Chiromawa Bridge. What began as Kano State’s most successful sporting campaign in years ended in the country’s worst athletic tragedy in decades.
The bus had been limping home for two days, breaking down repeatedly on the 900-kilometre journey from Abeokuta.
A survivor, Dorathy Okwuzuluike would later confirm the vehicle’s dire condition. By the time it reached the notorious bridge on the Kano-Zaria Expressway that Saturday morning of May 31, the aging coaster was already a death trap on wheels.
At half past 12 in the afternoon, 32 passengers experienced every traveller’s nightmare as their transport veered off the bridge, plummeting into the abyss below. 22 young athletes, coaches, and officials perished in the crash, their triumphant return from the Gateway Games transformed into a national tragedy that would expose the deadly compromises Nigeria’s sports system forces upon its brightest talents.
athletes who died in this tragedy represented Nigeria’s future in sport
The passengers were returning from the 22nd National Sports Festival, known as the Gateway Games, held in Ogun State. They carried with them the pride of Kano’s sporting achievement: 29 medals comprising six gold, 13 silver, and 10 bronze. These were not merely statistics but symbols of months of training, sacrifice and dreams realised on the tracks and fields of Abeokuta. Among the deceased were teenagers who had competed in everything from sprinting to traditional wrestling, their futures as bright as the medals they had won.
Okwuzuluike attributed the crash to brake failure, stating that the bus was in poor condition when it began its fateful descent from the bridge. The Federal Road Safety Corps would later cite driver fatigue and excessive speed as contributing factors, but the survivor’s account painted a picture of mechanical negligence that had been evident throughout the journey. The bus was one of eight vehicles transporting Kano’s contingent, yet it was the only one that failed to complete the journey home.
The tragedy exposed the systemic failures that plague Nigeria’s youth sports infrastructure. The National Sports Festival, intended to foster unity and development through athletics, had become a journey of peril for the very athletes it sought to celebrate. The decision to travel overnight in aging vehicles, driven by the need to cut accommodation costs, reflected the chronic underfunding that characterises Nigerian sports at all levels.
The contingent had spent two days on the road, a journey that should have taken less than twelve hours under normal circumstances. The repeated breakdowns, the mechanical failures, and the eventual catastrophe were not acts of fate but the predictable consequences of a system that consistently prioritised economy over safety. The Chiromawa Bridge, already known as a dangerous section of the expressway, had claimed lives before, yet little adequate measures had been implemented to address its hazards.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf declared June 2 a public holiday for mourning, offering each victim’s family one million naira and food supplies. The gesture, whilst well-intentioned, highlighted the inadequacy
of the response to such a profound loss. These were not faceless statistics but young people with names, stories, and families who had entrusted their children to a system that failed them catastrophically.
Galadima Ibrahim, a respected coach and spokesperson for the Kano State Sports Council, was among those who perished. Colleagues remembered him as a reliable figure who was always present when needed most. A 17-year-old sprinter who had won bronze at the festival died alongside her dreams of representing Nigeria at international competitions. Medical personnel, a journalist, and mechanics who had dedicated their time to supporting the athletes also lost their lives in the wreckage.
The National Sports Commission, led by Shehu Dikko, acknowledged the tragedy but its response revealed the absence of national standards for athlete travel. Promises of mandatory vehicle certifications and insurance requirements for future events came too late for the 22 souls lost beneath the Chiromawa Bridge. The commission’s announcement of a post-Games safety roundtable seemed a reactive measure rather than evidence of proactive planning.
Expressions of sorrow from national and community leaders soon followed but these same sentiments have become customary reactions after previous tragedies without resulting in meaningful change. The Federal Road Safety Corps, through Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, urged collective action against road carnage, but enforcement challenges remained evident in Nigeria’s alarming accident statistics.
Nigeria recorded over 9,500 road crashes in 2024 alone, resulting in more than 5,400 deaths. These figures place the Kano tragedy within a broader context of national negligence regarding road safety. The reliance on overnight travel, poorly maintained vehicles, and dangerous routes like the KanoZaria expressway create conditions where tragedies become inevitable rather than exceptional.
The contrast between the celebration of youth at the National Sports Festival and the neglect of their safety reveals fundamental contradictions in Nigeria’s approach to
Education
Crisis Behind Abuja’s Infrastructure Boom
In the heart of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, where gleaming new flyovers stretch across freshly tarred roads and ribbon-cutting ceremonies mark another infrastructure milestone, over 200,000 primary school children have been locked out of their classrooms for more than three months. The irony is stark and deeply troubling: whilst bulldozers work overtime to build Abuja’s physical landscape, the nation’s future builders sit idle at home, their education indefinitely suspended.
The prolonged strike by public primary school teachers in the FCT, which began in earnest on March 24, 2025, has exposed a fundamental contradiction in Nigeria’s development approach. As the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s administration celebrates the completion of yet another road project, thousands of pupils have missed their second-term examinations entirely and the third term hangs in the balance. The dispute centres on something as basic as it is scandalous: teachers have not received the N70,000 minimum wage that was approved months ago alongside other arrears rightly due them.
What makes this situation particularly galling is not just its duration, but the apparent ease with which billions of naira are found for concrete and steel whilst teachers’ salaries and arrears remain unpaid.
Meanwhile, construction crews continue their work on visible projects that will undoubtedly feature in the next round of government publicity photographs whilst the area council chairmen and FCT Minister trade blames over where the buck stops.
Yet, the contrast could hardly be more pronounced. In affluent areas like Maitama and Guzape, private schools hum with activity, their well-appointed classrooms filled with children whose parents can afford fees that often exceed many civil servants’ monthly salaries. Yet in the same territory, public schools serving the children of the less privileged and lower-grade civil servants remain shuttered, their playgrounds silent and their libraries gathering dust.
This tale of two education systems reveals something deeply unsettling about priorities in Nigeria’s seat of power. The FCT is the place in Nigeria where there is zero subsidy for WAEC and NECO examination fees, forcing parents to choose between feeding their families and paying the N75,000 required for their children’s examinations. For many families already struggling with Nigeria’s economic pressures, this represents an impossible choice.
The educational crisis extends far beyond the immediate inconvenience of closed schools. Nigeria already bears the shameful distinction of having one of the world’s highest number of out-ofschool children, with over 17 million young people denied access to education. The FCT’s contribution to this statistic is particularly damaging because of its symbolic importance as the nation’s capital. When the seat of government cannot keep its own schools open, what message does this send about national priorities?
The learning poverty statistics paint an even grimmer picture. Recent assessments reveal that 92 per cent of pupils in Nigeria’s public
In
primary schools suffer from learning deprivation, unable to read and understand simple texts appropriate for their age. In a country where 70 percent of 10-year-olds cannot comprehend basic written material, every day of lost schooling represents a step backward in an already desperate situation.
The human cost of this educational neglect is immeasurable. Children who should be developing critical thinking skills are instead learning harsh lessons about governmental indifference. Teachers, the backbone of any education system, are receiving clear signals that their profession is undervalued and their welfare secondary to more photogenic government activities. The message is unmistakable: if you work in education, your contribution to nation-building is less important than those who pour concrete and cut ribbons.
This situation becomes even more troubling when viewed against Nigeria’s budget allocations. The education sector receives a mere 7.3 per cent of the national budget, far below the 15-20 per cent recommended by UNESCO for developing countries. The highest allocation in the past decade was just 10.7 per cent, whilst the lowest, recorded in 2021, was a paltry 5.6 per cent. These figures represent a systematic undervaluation of education that has persisted across different administrations.
The minister responsible for the FCT has built a reputation around infrastructure development, and indeed, Abuja’s roads and buildings have improved markedly under his tenure. However, this focus on
visible achievements appears to have come at the expense of less glamorous but equally vital public services.
Education and healthcare require sustained, behind-the-scenes effort that rarely generates newspaper headlines or social media applause, yet these sectors form the foundation upon which all other development must rest.
The economic implications of educational neglect are already visible across Nigeria. Youth unemployment rates above 60 per cent reflect, in part, the failure to provide young people with relevant skills and knowledge. High inflation and modest economic growth compound these challenges, creating a cycle where poor education leads to limited economic opportunities, which in turn constrains resources available for educational improvement.
What makes the FCT situation particularly tragic is that solutions exist and have been tested elsewhere. Technology platforms like the Nigeria Learning Passport, developed with UNICEF support, offer innovative ways to reach children even during disruptions. School feeding programmes have demonstrated remarkable success, with Osun State recording over 78 per cent increases in enrolment where such initiatives operate effectively.
Still, such technological and programmatic solutions cannot substitute for the basic requirement that schools must be open and teachers must be present and motivated. The most sophisticated digital learning platform becomes irrelevant when teachers are on indefinite strike over unpaid wages. The finest school feeding programme cannot operate when school gates remain locked.
The broader implications of this crisis extend well beyond the FCT’s boundaries. Nigeria’s ambition to become a major economic power in Africa rings hollow when its capital territory and area council chairmen cannot resolve a teachers’ strike lasting several months. International observers and potential investors take note when a country’s seat of government demonstrates such dysfunction in basic service delivery.
The irony deepens when one considers that the infrastructure projects receiving such attention will ultimately require educated citizens to utilise and maintain them effectively. Roads and bridges are only as valuable as the human capital available to make productive use of them. A nation that builds gleaming highways whilst allowing its schools to crumble is constructing monuments to its own short-sightedness.
The path forward requires more than simply paying teachers their overdue wages, though this represents the immediate priority. The FCT administration must fundamentally reassess its approach to development, recognising that human capital formation deserves equal attention with physical infrastructure. This means not only adequate funding for education but also transparent and timely disbursement of allocated resources.
The ongoing strike serves as a sobering reminder that true development cannot be measured solely in kilometres of new roads or numbers of completed buildings. A capital territory that fails its
a country where 70 percent of 10-year-olds cannot comprehend basic written material, every day of lost schooling represents a step backward in an already desperate situation