SUNDAY 10TH AUGUST 2025

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and James Sowole in Abeokuta

President Bola Tinubu; former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo

and Goodluck Jonathan; ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; and former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola

Saraki, yesterday paid tribute to a former Minister of Agriculture and ex-Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, describing him as a patriot who believed deeply in

the nation’s potential. Others, who mourned Ogbeh include: Northern States’ Governors’ Forum (NGF); former Senate President and Interim National Chairman of the African

Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark; Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia; Labour Party (LP), and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

statement by the Ogbeh’s family said the elder statesman died peacefully at his Abuja residence yesterday morning

Amaechi: I’ll Defeat Tinubu If ADC Gives Me Ticket; I Know His Weaknesses

Claims Obi won presidential election in Rivers Denies ever engaging in election rigging Says electoral malpractice involves governors, diversion of public funds via govt agencies Challenges Wike to take a walk along the streets of Port Harcourt to prove his popularity

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; former Ekiti State Governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; wife of Bayelsa State Governor, Mrs. Gloria Diri; and Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri; at the burial service for the former Military Administrator of Bayelsa State, Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade: in Lagos...yesterday

Amid Strong Performance, Operating Expenses of Dangote Cement, BUA, Eight Others Rise 22% to N4.04tn in H1 2025

Kayode Tokede

Amid strong operational performance that led to a significant increase in profit, Dangote Cement Plc and nine other manufacturing companies collectively incurred N4.04 trillion in operating expenses for the first half of 2025 (H1 2025).

The figure generated from the unaudited H1 2025 results of the 10 companies translates to a 22 per cent increase compared to the

N3.31 trillion they incurred in the corresponding period of 2024, indicating rising cost of production, sales expenses, as well as distribution and administrative expenses.

The other nine companies are: BUA Cement Plc, BUA Foods Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Lafarge Africa Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Nascon Allied Industries Plc, International Breweries Plc, and Champion Breweries Plc. Amid challenges, the 10 companies declared a

combined N1.13 trillion profit in the period under review.

The significant increase in the operating expenses was against the backdrop of inflationary pressure, exchange rate volatility, and rising input costs.

Aside from inflationary pressure, the plummeting of the naira at the foreign exchange market, the other key factors contributing to these companies' operating expenses include: High cost of power, transportation of

goods and services, among others.

The naira at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) depreciated to N1,529.71 against the dollar as of June 2025, from N1,469.70 against the dollar in June 2024, fueled by the government's decisions to remove the subsidy on petrol and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy on the Naira at the foreign exchange market.

The prolonged RussiaUkraine war induced strain in

the global supply chain and has continued to cause an increase in the cost of raw materials for manufacturers, particularly as both countries rank among the top 10 producers of wheat.

Dangote Cement, followed by BUA Foods and Nestle Nigeria, recorded the highest expenses in the period under review.

The cement maker declared N1.29 billion operating expenses in H1 2025, up by 5.07 per cent from N1.24 trillion in H1 2024. The increase reflects

AMAECHI: I’LL DEFEAT TINUBU IF ADC GIVES ME TICKET; I KNOW HIS WEAKNESSES

In a confirmation of his ambition to vie for the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has stated that he is confident of defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election if he secures the ticket of the ADC.

Amaechi, who claimed that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, won the presidential election in Rivers State, denied ever being involved in election rigging.

He added that he had consistently declined to serve on the election planning committees of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking yesterday in a video on X tagged: ‘Weekend

The programme allowed private sector participants to finance the construction and rehabilitation of critical road infrastructure in exchange for tax credits equivalent to their investment.

The withdrawal of NNPC from the scheme is coming amid sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and the company’s transformation into a fully commercial entity.

The exit, it was learnt, aligned with NNPC’s new operational focus on profitability and efficiency, reducing the extent of quasi-fiscal obligations that previously characterised its operations under government directives.

Report from FAAC’s PostMortem Sub-Committee for July, covering February 2024 to May 2025, which was sighted by THISDAY, showed that NNPC’s contributions to the scheme were channelled through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) under the Joint Venture (JV) Gas Companies’ Companies Income Tax (CIT) obligations.

at the age of 78.

It noted that details of the funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course, while expressing gratitude to friends, colleagues, and wellwishers for their prayers and support.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said the late politician was “always

Politics’, the former governor of Rivers State also challenged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, to take a walk along the streets of Port Harcourt to prove his popularity.

Amaechi said he knows Tinubu’s strengths and weaknesses.

“I tell you, I’ve not had an election against Tinubu. I know Tinubu very well. I know his strengths. I know his weaknesses. And I know that if I am allowed to fly the flag of ADC, I will defeat Tinubu for sure,” he said.

“I challenge any politician, living or dead, to come forward and say I was part of rigging.

“In fact, all the appointments given to me by APC to join election planning committees, I have refused to participate.

“There was no one I participated in. Why? Because

These payments were deducted monthly from the company’s tax liabilities of the National Oil Company (NOC) and allocated to road construction and rehabilitation projects approved under the scheme.

According to the FAAC records, NNPC’s last monthly dollar payment for the RITCS was made in December 2024, when it remitted its last $52.5 million monthly contribution to the programme.

The report showed that no further dollar deductions were recorded from January to May 2025.

By the close of December 2024, cumulative dollar payments had reached $577,604,432.08.

However, the detailed breakdown showed that from February this year, the deductions reverted to the local currency, the naira.

According to the document, naira-denominated deductions for specific projects were thereafter recorded, with N151.27 billion deducted in January 2025 and a significantly larger N671.04 billion in April 2025, to hit a

ready with facts and figures to support his propositions” and “a man of strong convictions who spoke the truth as he saw it.”

“The nation will sorely miss his insightful perspectives and wealth of experience,” Tinubu noted.

Similarly, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President Obasanjo, who is currently on a visit to Uganda,

I know what they discuss. I listen to them. I hear them. If I get the ticket, I will reveal those things,” Amaechi added.

Amaechi alleged that electoral malpractice often involves state governors and the diversion of public funds via government agencies.

“They will bring governors. They will go to government agencies and get money, but the rest, I don’t want to say it until I win primaries,” he said.

He vowed never to be part of election manipulation.

“I will never participate in any rigging whatsoever, and I will not do it. What I promise to do now, going forward, is to stop rigging,” he added.

Amaechi also challenged anyone to prove he has ever been involved in rigging.

“I challenge any Nigerian to produce evidence that I participated in any election

total of N822.3 billion.

The FAAC Post-Mortem Sub-Committee noted that the sums captured in its June 2025 analysis did not include payments by NNPC or other agencies before 2024, implying that the company’s total historical contribution to the RITCS could be substantially higher when earlier years are computed.

Although the RITCS launched in 2019, had received several criticisms, a struggling NNPC forged on with the programme and was one of the largest participants, committing to fund major highways across the country and committing substantial corporate resources to the programme.

In Phase I, launched late in 2021, NNPC pledged N621.24 billion toward the reconstruction of 21 strategic roads spanning approximately 1,804.6 km across all six geopolitical zones, including the Ilorin–Jebba–Mokwa/Bokani Junction Road (Sections I & II) in Kwara and Niger States.

Also included were the Suleja–Minna Road, including a second phase extension; reconstruction of Bida–Lambata

described the late minister as a peace-loving, unassuming, committed patriot and a firm believer in democracy and participatory governance.

Jonathan, in a condolence message issued yesterday by his spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, hailed the late Ogbeh’s decades of service to Nigeria, noting that his life was defined by patriotism, humility, and a steadfast commitment to national

rigging, and I will apologise for that,” he said.

The former Rivers governor also acknowledged that Labour Party presidential candidate Obi won in Rivers State during the 2023 election.

“I would agree to an extent that Peter Obi won in Rivers State, but unfortunately, the result that came out was different. How it happened, I have no idea,” he said.

Amaechi vowed to change the Nigerian constitution and end corruption within one month if elected president in 2027.

According to the former Rivers State governor, who served as minister under the late President Muhammadu Buhari, “if I become president, I will change the constitution from indigeneship to citizenship.

“If I do not end corruption

road; and emergency repairs along Mokwa–Makera–Tegina toward the Kaduna state border.

Besides, a key priority was the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, which underwent rehabilitation and partial expansion to enhance trade connectivity in the Southwest.

In Phase II, approved in January 2023, NNPC expanded its road infrastructure footprint, securing approval to invest N1.9 trillion in the reconstruction of 44 federal roads, covering 4,554 km nationwide.

However, despite these huge investments, Nigerians have continued to complain about the deplorable state of some major road arteries.

Among the most notable projects in this second phase were the East-West Road, spanning Warri, Port Harcourt, Ahoada, and Eket; the Port Harcourt–Onne Junction upgrade, the Eket bypass, and the construction of the Nembe–Brass Road in Bayelsa State.

Also, the North-east region was supposed to receive major rehabilitation work, including the Yola–Mubi–Maiduguri

unity and development.

Atiku has also described Ogbeh’s demise as a rude shock and loss of a patriot and principled politician, adding that he was a quintessential gentleman, affable and amiable friend and reliable political ally, whose immense contributions to nation-building would be sorely missed.

On his part, Saraki described Ogbeh as a public figure whose words were always guided by

higher raw material costs and sustained volume growth across product categories.

The breakdown of Dangote Cement’s operating expenses revealed that production costs stood at N853.6 billion in H1 2025, representing a 2.4 per cent increase from N833.27 billion in H1 2024, while administrative expenses/selling and distribution expenses increased from N403.22 billion in H1 2024 to N445.67 billion in H1 2025, representing a 10.5 per cent increase.

in Nigeria within one month, I will tender my resignation.

Challenges Wike to Take a Walk along the Streets of Port Harcourt

Amaechi also challenged the Minister of the FCT, Wike, to take a walk along the streets of Port Harcourt to prove his popularity.

“I challenged the present FCT minister, Wike, to take a walk along the streets of Port Harcourt, which will reveal who is healthy and who the people actually loved.

The former minister, who alleged that some influential people in the country often visited the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to steal money, further described Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the worst Chairman of

corridor, Numan–Jalingo, Bali–Serti–Gashaka–Gembu route in Taraba, and stretches in Bauchi.

In the North-central, some projects included parts of the Minna–Zungeru–Tegina–Kontagora axis, and sections of the Lokoja–Benin Road, spanning Obajana to Benin City.

However, the programme has also faced criticisms. Nigerians raised concerns about transparency in project selection, the actual cost of projects compared to market rates, and the fiscal impact on government revenues, particularly at a time when Nigeria is grappling with high debt servicing costs and foreign exchange pressures.

In the same vein, the FAAC’s latest update showed that while the Ad-hoc Committee set up to review RITCS deductions had written to both the FIRS and the Federal Ministry of Works for details on agencies benefitting from the scheme, the Ministry of Works had yet to respond as of the sub-committee’s last meeting.

The Federal Ministry of Finance submitted its report

integrity and whose service was rooted in genuine concern for the people.

The Northern States’ Governors’ Forum has expressed sadness over the demise of the elder statesman.

Chairman of the Northern States’ Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, in a condolence message issued yesterday by his Media Aide, Mr. Ismaila Uba-Misilli, described Ogbeh as a towering

the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“It enrages me that those very influential among the ruling class visit CBN often to steal money; if they could use all the money they are pocketing to improve security and the economy, Nigeria wouldn’t be in such dire straits today.

“The worst INEC chairman in the history of Nigeria is Mahmood Yakubu,” he said.

The former governor of Rivers State added that he would not reverse the removal of subsidies if elected president. Rather, he promised to direct the funds into the pockets of Nigerians.

“I will not reverse the removal of subsidies. I will instead direct the funds into the pockets of Nigerians, not the elite,” he added.

on July 16, 2025, for review, the records showed.

By exiting the scheme, the NNPC has reduced its non-core expenditure commitments, freeing up resources for upstream investments, energy transition projects, and other strategic ventures.

Given that the scheme was designed to run for several years with staggered tax credit redemptions, the sudden exit of a major contributor like the NNPC, THISDAY learnt, has necessitated some adjustments.

But the Minister of Works, David Umahi, hinted in the week that President Bola Tinubu had directed the ministry to explore alternative funding models, adding that a list of affected road projects is being compiled and will be evaluated under a Public-Private model.

“The federal government requires N3 trillion to complete road projects awarded under the NNPC tax credit scheme,” Umahi hinted during a briefing where he sought to dismiss reports of cracks on the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

political figure, a statesman of uncommon intellect and an iconic son of Northern Nigeria.

On his part, the SGF, Senator Akume, who paid a condolence visit to the late statesman’s residence in Abuja yesterday, also described the late politician as “a distinguished leader, consummate public servant, and patriot, who committed his life to his people and the nation in various capacities.”

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

REBRANDING FOR SERVICE DELIVERY...

After Ribadu, NCC’s

Intervention, Diesel Suppliers

Resume Supply to MTN, Airtel, Globacom, 9mobile

Following the intervention of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), diesel suppliers have resumed supply to IHS, a telecoms infrastructure firm overseeing over 16,000 base stations for MTN, Airtel, Globacom and 9mobile, bringing relief to telecommunication companies and their subscribers.

The suppliers under the aegis of Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) yesterday announced the suspension of a strike action declared by its members.

National President of NOGASA, Bennett Korie, told journalists in Abuja that the association decided to call off the industrial action after the intervention of the ONSA and officials of the NCC.

The suppliers had earlier blocked supply to the telecommunications companies, which depend heavily on diesel-powered generators for their operations, after what they described as years of accumulated debts.

With the National Security Adviser (NSA), Ribadu’s mediatory role, the action which would have resulted in prolonged telecoms services disruption, cutting voice and

Daniel Not Above the Law, Says Abiodun Amid Demolition Row

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Ogun State Government has advised a former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, to stop crying foul and comply with lawful directives.

Kayode Akinmade, a spokesman for Governor Dapo Abiodun, stated this in response to the alleged plan to demolish Daniel’s Asoludero residence and Conference Hotel in the Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.

The former governor, who is also the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, had raised concerns over a plan by the state government to demolish his properties using the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022, which he said were legally constructed before the law came into existence.

He maintained that the move by the state government to demolish his private residence in Sagamu and Conference Hotels Limited, among others, was politically motivated and also a blatant disregard for due process and the rule of law.

However, the governor’s aide, Akinmade, declared

that Daniel was not above the law.

He explained that the former governor, like others who owned properties within that neighbourhood, were served with the notices.

He said Daniel, rather than presenting his planning permit and land title to the relevant government agency for verification within the time specified in the notices, resorted to cheap blackmail.

Akinmade said, “The Ogun State Government is not engaged in any untoward move against Otunba Gbenga Daniel in any way.

“The fact of the matter, quite simply, is that in his holistic approach to development efforts across the length and breadth of Ogun State, His Excellency, Governor Dapo Abiodun, has embarked not only on building new communities as exemplified by the affordable housing estates and the yellow roof revolution but also on the redevelopment of Ogun State’s towns and cities through urban renewal. This, he started with Ibara GRA in Abeokuta, the state capital, and is being extended to Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode GRAs.

data services for millions of users, has now been averted temporarily.

It was gathered that Nigeria’s mobile industry consumes more than 40 million litres of diesel monthly, with costs about 37 per cent higher for rural and off-grid sites, where there is lack of access to electricity.

In the media briefing, NOGASA President, Korie stated that members resolved to resume supply immediately, while giving the authorities seven days to sort out the outstanding issues.

“Following the interventions of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and

the National Communications Commission (NCC) and their assurances that the matter that led to the withdrawal of our services will be resolved amicably with effect from Monday, August 11, 2025 in the interest of energy security and Nigerians at large, we hereby resolve to resume our services immediately at the affected depots.

“The NEC of NOGASA has resolved at the meeting that started 8.30 this morning (Saturday), August 9, 2025 to suspend our withdrawal of services for seven days to IHS. However, if the matter is not

resolved within the seven days, we will resume the withdrawal of our services effectively without further notice,” Korie added.

He directed all suppliers to resume their business with IHS immediately, urging them to embark on round-the- clock services to make up for lost time, where possible.

Korie clarified that the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) was not part of the withdrawal of services by NOGASA, noting that they were merely concerned about the safety of their workers.

He explained that despite the

fact that debts owed NOGASA members cut across most sectors, including construction, IHS’ case was special because the company was invited to NOGASA's July 31 National Executive Committee (NEC) to reconcile the outstanding figures, but the officials declined to attend.

“That's what led to this. We invited them. They are not the only ones we invited, and some appeared, but they refused to come. As a result of that, the committee set up decided to withdraw NOGASA's service. That was what happened,” he added.

Police: Sowore Arrested for Criminal Offences, Wasn’t Tortured in Custody

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that the recent arrest of human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, was based on credible and corroborated allegations including forgery, cyberstalking, and other offences currently under active investigation.

The Force also dismissed widespread claims that he was tortured while in custody.

In a detailed statement issued yesterday, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Muyiwa

Gov

Adejobi, said Sowore’s arrest complied with all legal and constitutional protocols and that his rights were fully upheld throughout the process.

“The arrest was effected in full compliance with extant legal provisions, and with strict adherence to constitutional safeguards, due process, and the rights of the suspect,” Adejobi stated.

He further disclosed that Sowore was released on bail within the 48-hour window mandated by the Nigerian Constitution, specifically

citing Section 35(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

According to the statement, Sowore has been informed of the allegations against him and is expected to appear in court soon to face the charges in a “lawful and transparent judicial process.”

The police also debunked viral claims that Sowore was tortured in custody, describing such reports as “false and grossly misleading.” The statement emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for torture, in line with the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, and relevant international human rights obligations. Regarding the viral image showing Sowore with a bandaged arm, the police clarified that the bandage was part of his personal belongings prior to his arrest. Nonetheless, the Inspector-General of Police ordered an internal investigation to determine how Sowore was able to access it while in custody, particularly after he declined independent medical evaluation by police medical teams on two separate occasions—August 7 and August 8, 2025.

Sule Faults Obi’s Single-tenure Pledge, Says Pressure of Office Makes One-term Promise Hard to Keep

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has reacted to the promise by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, that he would do one tenure of four years if elected in 2027 presidential elected, reminding the former Anambra State governor that political pressure makes it difficult for presidents to fulfill the promise

of serving for only one term.

Obi has repeatedly said he was willing to be a one-term president if elected in 2027.

But speaking on Prime Time, an ARISE NEWS Channel programme, at the weekend, Sule cautioned Obi and other aspirants against underestimating the complexities of governance in Nigeria.

The Nasarawa State governor said while a president might intend to serve only two years

or a single term, the reality of the office and the political environment often make it nearly impossible to solve even a fraction of Nigeria’s problems within four years.

“Peter Obi might say he wants to do one term, but it is not up to him,” Sule said.

“Once he assumes office, powerful interests will pressure him, saying, ‘It’s our turn; you cannot do that to us,’ ‘we cannot allow you to do that,’ and ‘we

will take you to court if you do that.”

Speaking on the performance of the current administration, Sule praised President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to stabilise the economy and improve security. He highlighted the government’s success in boosting Nigeria’s foreign reserves to about $40 billion and increasing oil production from roughly 1.1 million to 1.8 million barrels per day.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

L-R: Chairman of T2 (formerly 9mobile), Thomas Etuh; Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; member of the T2 Board, Gloria Danjuma; and Chief Executive Officer of T2, Obafemi Banigbe, at the strategic brand transition and unveiling to T2 in Lagos…weekend

TWENTY HEARTY CHEERS...

Act Now to Avert Looming Strike, ASUU Warns FG, Says Lecturers in Public Universities Unhappy

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday warned the federal government to act immediately to prevent a looming strike across government-owned universities.

In a statement signed by ASUU’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, the union stated that the government had pushed it to the wall.

ASUU noted that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, recently declared that “not again ever in this country will ASUU or tertiary institutions, trade

unions, teachers, lecturers go on strike.”

According to the union, Alausa predicated his declaration on the government’s strategy of “dialogue, maintaining a good relationship with union heads (leaders), and meeting the demands of the unions.”

ASUU said while it shared the minister’s optimism about dialogue and maintaining relationships, it added that the government needed to go beyond words and act on outstanding issues.

“Feelers across campuses indicate that lecturers in

Nigerian public universities are, to put it mildly, not happy. They teach students on an empty stomach.

“They conduct research in libraries and laboratories bereft of essential electronic and physical journals, books, chemicals, and reagents.

“They engage with communities and agencies in rickety cars while encumbered by utility bills, children’s fees, house rents, family upkeep, and a legion of other unmet responsibilities.

“Yet, elite Nigerians are quick to blame the universities for

‘producing unemployable graduates’ and failure to initiate innovative research for addressing the country’s problems.

“Our members feel forgotten, shamed, and demoralised by past and present governments,” it said.

ASUU said it had ceaselessly warned owners of public universities — the federal and state governments — of the consequences of breeding a disempowered, dissatisfied, and disoriented intellectual workforce.

“At the centre of the

Jonathan is PDP’s Best Option for 2027 Presidency, Says Lamido; Demands Expulsion of Wike, Ortom, Others for Anti-party Activities

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has declared that former President Goodluck Jonathan is the best option as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 presidential election. He also called for the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom; former Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and other members of the PDP who, according to him, worked against the party during the 2023

general election.

Speaking during a television interview, Lamido urged the party to “woo” Jonathan back into its fold.

“I think so far now in the PDP, with all due respect to all the members of the PDP, I don’t see any better alternative than Jonathan. If he comes into PDP, I don’t see any other person, really,” he said.

“If we are giving the president to the south, who is there in the PDP who can challenge Jonathan? In terms of pedigree, in terms of being there in office, in terms of being cool-headed, in terms of somebody willing

to listen… and somebody who also believes in partnership.

“I think for PDP now, they should try to woo him. To me, he is their best bet. Anybody put forth by the PDP, Nigerians will support him.”

Lamido also described Jonathan as an experienced leader who understands governance and works well with others.

The PDP chieftain reiterated that no southern politician or presidential hopeful from the region can match the former president’s pedigree.

“He is most welcome, competent, and very qualified.

To me, I welcome him into the PDP,” he added.

Lamido’s remarks came amid persistent speculation over Jonathan’s possible return to the PDP to seek the presidency in 2027.

Jonathan, who has largely kept a low political profile since losing the 2015 presidential race, has not publicly declared his intentions.

However, growing speculation over his possible comeback, fuelled by reports of quiet negotiations and lobbying within PDP circles, has made him one of the closely watched political figures ahead of 2027.

2027 Election: Ambode Declares Support for Tinubu

Wale Igbintade

Former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has publicly reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

Speaking on his unwavering support for APC, the former governor also pledged full commitment to the president’s 2027 re-election campaign.

In a strongly worded statement yesterday, Ambode

dismissed recent speculations linking him to a governorship ambition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the reports as “false publications” aimed at causing distractions.

“I wish to publicly reaffirm my absolute and unshakable loyalty to the APC, the party under which I had the privilege of serving Lagos State as governor in 2015, and to President Bola Ahmed

Tinubu, my leader, mentor, and a tireless champion for Nigeria’s progress,” Ambode said.

The former governor praised President Tinubu’s leadership style, describing him as a “proven achiever and result-oriented leader” whose administration has delivered significant reforms in pensions, student loan accessibility, youth empowerment, and national economic growth.

Highlighting key

achievements of the Tinubu administration, Ambode pointed to the elimination of fuel scarcity, improved security measures, and policies designed to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

“His focus, determination, and inclusive governance style are restoring hope and delivering tangible results. I am convinced that, given another four years, Nigerians will have even greater reason to celebrate,” Ambode stated.

union’s advocacy is respect for collective bargaining principles as enshrined in the International Labour Organisation’s Convention No. 98 of 1949 and Convention No. 154 of 1981.

“The flip-flop disposition of successive governments towards collective bargaining has created an atmosphere of distrust which will take extra effort and energy on the part of the current federal government to dispel.

“Nothing illustrates this antipathy better than the frustrated attempts to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement,

despite the submission of a draft agreement by the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed committee to the government since December 2024, eight clear months ago! “Every major dispute ASUU has had with governments since 2012, when the 2009 Agreement was due for renegotiation, emanated from failure to respect the provisions of the signed document on (i) conditions of service; (ii) funding; (iii) university autonomy and academic freedom; and (iv) other matters, including the review of the laws governing the National Universities Commission and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

Zacch Adedeji: Nigeria’s Complex Economic Realities Demand Policy Reforms, Technological Innovations

James Emejo in Abuja

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, has stressed that Nigeria’s complex economic realities demand that policy reforms and technological innovations be anchored on credible data and rigorous analysis.

Adedeji said this when he hosted FIRS’s inaugural Research Day, a milestone event aimed at embedding research-driven decision-making into Nigeria’s tax administration.

The event brought together internal stakeholders, scholars, policymakers, and tax professionals to unveil a set of knowledge products designed to boost the country’s tax system and economic governance.

Speaking at the event, Adedeji described Research Day as “a bold statement that research matters in tax administration,” adding that “without research, we risk working in the dark; with it, we shine a light on the path ahead.

“Every question we ask, every data point we analyze, and every policy we shape brings

Nigeria closer to prosperity,” he said.

The FIRS boss also urged all departments to integrate research findings into their planning and execution, while calling for sustained collaboration with the academic and development community “to strengthen the bridge between theory and practice.”

At the heart of the occasion were the unveilings of three key initiatives: FIRS Research Policy Document, which sets high ethical, methodological, and transparency standards for research within the Service. Others include: Tax Revenue Statistical Bulletin, an authoritative publication documenting tax data trends from 1970 to 2022, intended as a critical resource for economic analysis and policy-making; and Volume 4 of the FIRS Journal of Tax Studies (FJTS), a peerreviewed platform featuring contributions from FIRS staff, academics, and industry experts. To expand accessibility, the FJTS digital platform (www. fjts.online) was also launched in collaboration with the Technology Department.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

L-R: Chief Retail Officer, NIPCO Plc, Bishwas Paudel; Senior Procurement Manager, Lazarus Ayoku; Manager, Finance and Accounts, Paul Baba; and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Suresh Kumar, jointly presenting an award for 20 years of meritorious service to Ayoku, during the company's Long Service Awards ceremony in Lagos…recently

DOUBLE CELEBRATIONS…

L-R: Chairman JEZCO Group of Companies, Chief Joseph J. Ezeokafor; Son of the celebrants, Chukwuebuka Ezesionwu; Daughter of the celebrants, Onyinyechukwu Ezesionwu; Chairman, Mic-Elma International Company Limited, Chief Mike Ezesionwu; Director, Mic-Elma, Mrs. Obianuju Ezesionwu; Son of the celebrants, Nzubechukwu Ezesionwu, daughter of the celebrants, Chimdalu Ezesionwu; and son of the celebrants, Chibuikem Ezesionwu at the 25th wedding anniversary of Chief Mike and Obianuju Ezesionwu and Obianuju’s 50th birthday celebration in FESTAC-Town, Lagos…yesterday

Ralph Nwosu Accuses APC Govs, Leaders of Sponsoring ADC’s Leadership Crisis, Says Ruling Party Arm-twisting INEC

Insists opposition followed due diligence in adopting ADC

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Ralph Nwosu, has blamed the perceived factional leadership crisis in the party on desperation on the side of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He specifically alleged that the officials of the ruling party and unnamed governors were trying to arm-twist the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) and giving out money as if it were ''financial bazaar'' to former members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of ADC that tendered their resignation letters before the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting monitored by officials of INEC’s Department of Election Monitoring.

In an interview with THISDAY, Nwosu said: "We are not surprised. This is the level of desperation by senior government officials and the ruling party. Governors in their respective states are doling out money to our former executive members to disrupt the ADC.

''But we are not worried. Rather, our membership is growing, increasingly steadily. Without boasting, I can say that ADC membership has increased twice more as any existing party; we are still growing. ''When the Senate and House of Representatives are back from their recess, you will see the level of defections. Some may not openly defect, but in body and soul, they are with us. Why they cannot defect now is due to intimidation. We are the party to beat and ADC is the government in waiting," Nwosu added.

On the claim by Nafiu Bala that he is the Interim National Chairman of the ADC, Nwosu described him as an impostor who joined the party in May 2022 to contest for the Bauchi State governorship election.

According to him, "In May 2025, he resigned as a deputy national chairman, pledging support to the coalition proposals. If he said that he is the deputy national chairman who has been transformed to the acting National Chairman, ask him, deputy national chairman, from which of the zones?

Osun 2026: God is on ADC’s Side, Aregbesola Tells Supporters

National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has disclosed that God will secure victory for his party in the 2026 governorship election in Osun State.

The former governor of the state disclosed the 60th birthday party of one of his associates and former speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam. According to him, I don’t want to offend the speaker of the House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, and the representative of the governor. But I am very sure that it is our own that God will do.

Meanwhile, the guest lecturer, Professor Shola Omotola, who spoke on “Legislative Contributions to the Sustenance of Nigeria’s Democracy

since 1999: Hurdles We Must Overcome,” emphasised the need for strict laws to curb the rate of defections, stressing that it poses a great challenge to democracy in Nigeria.

He argued that the phenomenon of leaving political parties without consequences has significantly hindered the legislature’s ability to contribute to the consolidation of democracy. He, however, proposed reforms for political parties, focusing on strengthening internal party democracy, adding that there should be appropriate legal sanctions for party switching to serve as a deterrent.

Meanwhile, the speaker of the Osun Assembly, Wale Egbedun, congratulated the celebrant on his 60th birthday, noting that his contributions to the legislature will forever be remembered.

''By our constitution, we have six deputy national chairmen, each representing one of the six geopolitical zones.

''During discussions for the coalition party, since he is from the North-east, it was agreed that he should be the Secretary from the North-east, but his colleagues found out that they needed someone with the necessary skills for the job. So, another person was chosen for the post of the zonal secretary. This is where his challenges came from.

“In forming the coalition party, all due processes were followed, and we carried INEC along. That was why when we wrote INEC, the electoral body followed and attended by observing the NEC meeting in Chelsea Hotel, where the National Working Committee was recalled and dissolved. A motion to that effect was moved and duly seconded.

''Nafiu Bala is a bad loser. This is not how to play politics. In May this year, he resigned. His resignation letter is in the public domain. He pledged

to support all we did before handing over to Senator David Mark, who is doing a wonderful job in mobilising Nigerians for the coalition party,” Nwosu explained.

Also reacting to the opposition mounted by the presidential candidate of the ADC in the 2023 general election, Dumebi Kachikwu, against the adoption of the party by the opposition coalition, Nwosu stated that being the party’s presidential candidate did not confer Kachikwu the right of ownership of the structures

of the party.

According to Nwosu, Kachikwu joined the party in 2022 and contested the presidential primary election, where he defeated George Moghalu.

''But surprisingly, one day he said that the National Working Committee of the party had been dissolved. Who does that? That you are a presidential candidate of a party does not make you the leader of the party,'' the former national chairman of ADC explained.

Buba Marwa Rallies Parents, Traditional, Religious Leaders against Drug Abuse, Cultism, Banditry

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd.) has called for collective action involving families, religious and community leaders to stem the tide of substance abuse, cultism, and banditry among Nigerian youths.

Marwa made the call yesterday while delivering the keynote address at a seminar themed: ‘Dangers of drug abuse, cultism and banditry among youths,’ organised by the Ijebu-Ode Council of Olorituns in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. He noted that collective

responsibility must be embraced by all stakeholders to curb the menace of the interlinked social vices of illicit drugs, cultism, and banditry.

Marwa said the triple threat of cult-related violence, rampant abuse of drugs and illicit substances, and the challenge of banditry across various regions is a reality that must be dealt with decisively.

“While these issues may appear distinct, they are intricately connected, feeding one another in a cycle of destruction that must be broken if our society is to thrive. Cultism, once largely confined to tertiary institutions, has insidiously spread into secondary schools and neighbourhoods. What

began as secret gatherings has transformed into violent confraternities, often manipulated by political or criminal interests. These groups lure young people, often under the guise of brotherhood, protection, or empowerment, into a world of fear, violence, and premature death. Tragically, the hands of many of our youth have been stained with the blood of their peers, all for false promises of belonging and power,” he explained.

According to the NDLEA boss, “It is projected that the number of people using drugs will increase by 40 per cent in Africa. When they say Africa, I want us to think of Nigeria, because Nigeria has one of the

highest drug use prevalence rates in the world.” He, however, said that despite the projection by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), all hope is not lost. “As a nation and as communities, we still possess the power to reverse this trend”, he assured.

“The first step is collective responsibility. Parents, religious institutions, traditional rulers, educational authorities, and community leaders must rise with one voice against these vices. The family unit must be strengthened as the first point of moral instruction, while schools should be safe spaces that promote discipline, mentorship, and awareness.

Amid His One-term Controversy, Peter Obi Advocates Five-year

As controversy over the pledge by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, to do only one term of four years if elected president in 2027 rages, the former Anambra State governor has advocated for a five-year single term for the president in Nigeria. Obi recommended the single five-year tenure for president in Bauchi at the weekend when he paid a

Single Tenure for President

courtesy visit to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

According to him, there shouldn’t be any second tenure for the president, adding that instead of the four-year tenure, it should be five years as practised in South Korea.

“I’ve said it and I want to say it again in this government house that if I have the opportunity, we should stop

having a second tenure for president.

“It should be five years straight, so that people can come in knowing they have a job to do.

“What people do now is to be president for one year and use the rest of the years thinking about their next tenure. We must stop it; let’s face the real job; do your own and go,” he suggested.

The 2027 presidential

hopeful insisted that if elected as Nigerian president in 2027, he would only serve for one term, promising that he wouldn’t spend a day longer than four years in office. He added that if allowed to serve Nigeria, he would ensure that every political party functions properly. Obi said he would ensure that political parties were bigger than the elected functionaries.

GRADUATION, PRIZE-GIVING DAY CEREMONY…

L-R: Principal, Dan and Dav College, Ketu, Lagos, Mrs. Adebanjo Kate; Proprietress, Mrs. Okubanjo Yewande; Winner, Overall Best Student, Arts Department, Neatest Girl, and Incoming Head Girl, Miss Agbede Esther Wuraola; and Bursar, Mrs. Adedayo Titilayo Oriyomi, during the school’s year 2024/2025 Academic Session Graduation, Prize-Giving and Induction of new Prefects in Lagos… recently.

Perish Thought of Automatic Ticket or Hijacking Party Structure, Nnaji Tells Intending Defectors to Enugu APC

Gideon Arinze in enugu

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Uche Nnaji, has advised intending defectors to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, to perish the thought of getting automatic tickets or hijacking the party’s structure.

Nnaji stated that the party will welcome intending defectors, but that there won’t be an automatic ticket for anybody, no matter how highly placed.

Nnaji, who spoke in Enugu

during an expanded stakeholders meeting of the party, yesterday revealed that some persons, who he described as politically displaced politicians, have been running from pillar to post in Abuja with a view to defecting to Enugu APC and hijacking the party through the back door.

In what could be interpreted as a veiled reference to Governor Peter Mbah’s rumoured interest in joining the party, which has got many members apprehensive for fear of losing their positions or

NIPCO Lauds Vows to Sustain Reward for Excellence

Ejiofor Alike

The Managing Director of NIPCO Plc, Suresh Kumar, has praised the workers’ commitment to the growth of the company and reiterated the company’s determination to continue to reward hardworking employees.

Speaking at the Company’s 2024 and 2025 Long Service Awards ceremony in Lagos, Suresh, who described the workers as the most valuable assets of the company, commended the dedication and service of the recipients of the awards, some of whom have been with the organisation since its inception.

He emphasised that the company’s reward system

reflects its core values and mission, stressing the significant contributions of its workforce to the company’s advancement across all business segments.

Suresh further noted that sustained growth and development are central to NIPCO’s corporate strategy.

Suresh, who expressed gratitude to the honorees during the landmark event, which was attended by senior management staff, awardees, and other workers, expressed optimism about the company’s continued progress.

He acknowledged the loyalty and commitment of long-serving employees, attributing much of NIPCO’s growth trajectory to their efforts.

Ekiti Community, Family Mourn

Monarch’s Passage, Pay Tributes

A frontline traditional ruler and the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti in Ekiti State, Oba Olu Adegoke Adeyemi, Arugbajoye II, has joined his ancestors.

A statement from his family on Saturday stated that Oba Adeyemi passed away peacefully onTheFriday.family, while paying tributes to the deceased monarch’s remarkable leadership, wisdom, and dedication to the welfare of his people, stated that “Oba Adeyemi’s impact on the community will forever be cherished as testament to his enduring legacies”.

Adeyemi

The late traditional ruler, who was born on December 4, 1942, was a teacher, Permanent Secretary in various ministries in old Ondo State, and Sole Administrator of the former Ifesowapo Local Government area of the old Ondo State before ascending to the throne in 2009. He was Chancellor of

aspirations, the minister counselled intending defectors to perish the thought of automatic ticket, insisting that the party would receive them but subject everybody to party primaries.

“APC has come to stay; that is why from every nook and cranny, people want to join APC. And as we said earlier, we want people to come in, but we will not give them a free ticket; they must go to the contest.

“Anybody who wants to run

Lagos

for the governorship of Enugu State, let him come to the APC, we will go to contest, we are waiting for them.

“We want to populate the party, provided the person is going to look after the party when he gets in, we don’t have a problem.”

He added: “So, if the President of Nigeria wants to come and run for the governor of Enugu State, let him come, we will support him.

“If the former governor of anywhere wants to join us, let him

come; we will run the primaries. It will make it even easier; the primary will be the main election, so that when we finish with the primary, we know we have finished.

“But let me tell you, he will not enter, he is afraid, because there are too many IDPs in Enugu - Internally Displaced Politicians, many of them, they are party-less; they don’t have a party.

“That’s why we are urging him to come, but he will not come. He is an internally displaced politician; he

doesn’t have a party; we want him to come, he will be running from pillar to post, until it is too late.

“But the good thing is that this our mission is being supported by the good Lord who created us; so we are heading to the government house.

“This is part of the confusion that they will be seeing, that they will be meeting until it becomes too late for them. So, we have a focus, we know where we are going and we will keep going there,” he said.

Corps Member Accuses NYSC of Withholding Certificate over Criticism of Tinubu’s Government

A Lagos youth corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye — popularly known as “Raye” — who criticised President Bola Tinubu’s government, says the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has withheld her discharge certificate in alleged retaliation for her comments.

Ms Uguamaye grabbed the headlines earlier in the year following her viral TikTok video in which she criticised President Tinubu’s administration and described Lagos as “smelling” She alleged in a fresh video that her Local Government Inspector (LGI) refused to clear her for April despite her being present on the scheduled date.

In the viral video clip she share on Instagram yesterday, she claimed she was repeatedly told to “go to the back” until the official eventually seized her file, refused to attend to her, and ordered her to leave.

The corps member, according to Premium Times, said she was later informed she would not receive her certificate because she missed April clearance, which she insists is untrue. “I genuinely wish I wasn’t a Lagos State corps member because it’s a waste of my time,” she wrote on social media, adding that she had decided to close the chapter and move on.

LASU VC Begs Staff to End Strike, Resume Work Monday

The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has appealed to striking staff of the institution to end their industrial action and return to work on Monday, August 11, 2025, stressing that the university has achieved remarkable gains through unity and dialogue.

In a message titled “It’s Time to Move Forward” posted on the official X page of the university

yesterday, the VC described the last two weeks of silence on campus as “deafening” and said the absence of the usual rhythm of learning and work had “weighed heavily on my heart.”

She acknowledged the reasons for the strike and assured staff that “our voices have been heard.”

Olatunji-Bello, who assumed office in September 2021,

said staff welfare had been central to her administration’s policies.

She listed numerous achievements, including “100% End of the Year bonus for all staff,” prompt promotions, priority admission and employment opportunities for staff family members, regular salary payment by the 23rd of every month, amnesty promotions, and full payment

of Earned Academic Allowances. Other gains, according to her, include clearing of cooperative dues, unprecedented training opportunities locally and internationally, retroactive qualification approvals, implementation of the 25%/35% salary increase recently approved by the Federal Government, removal of administrative ceilings on career progression, and introduction of free birthday health screenings.

Shell Maintains Edge in Technology, Wins Best Technical Paper Award at SPE Conference

Ejiofor Alike

Shell has sustained its leadership in technological innovation as its staff won the highly regarded 1st Place Technical Paper Award at the annual international and exhibition conference of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), which ended recently in Lagos.

Well engineers Augustine Okosun, Osehojie Ojeh-Oziegbe, Oluwatobilola Aribike and

Oladokun Adubi were commended “for an outstanding display of in-depth technical knowledge and quality delivery” in their presentation titled: “Application of Perforated, Wash and Cement (PWC) technology for annular remediation in deepwater abandonment.”

The paper deals with the PWC technology, which is used for annular (the space between casing and wellbore) remediation to install permanent isolation

barrier during well abandonment for zonal isolation and prevent fluid migration.

This process is crucial in achieving safe and permanent abandonment of a well, preventing potential well integrity issues and environmental hazards.

The PWC technology which has been established globally as an efficient and cost-effective solution for annular remediation was deployed for the first time

in deepwater Nigeria during the Bonga field Midlife plug and abandonment campaign in Q2 last year. The paper highlights the significant savings in cost and time compared to conventional methods.

The SPE Award for Best Technical paper underscores the kind of cutting-edge technology which SNEPCo has deployed to achieve top quartile performance and operation excellence in the Bonga field.

We’ll Use August 16 By-elections to Show that APC Owns Anambra, Ukachukwu Boasts

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Anambra State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 8, 2025 election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, has said that his party will use next weekend’s by-elections in the state to show its supremacy in the state.

Ukachukwu said the APC has taken over Anambra State, and would use the governorship

election to officially announce the takeover, while the Anambra South senatorial and Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-elections to replace demised lawmakers will be a good avenue to show that the state is fully in its grip.

He spoke in Awka, the state capital, while receiving leaders of market unions in the state who came on a courtesy call, and to endorse his candidature.

“We will use the August 16

Court Dismisses Police Alleged Cybercrime Charge against Female Doctor

Alex Enumah in Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a case of alleged cybercrime brought against a female medical doctor, Bolanle Aseyan by the Inspector General of Police.

The court in a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, dismissed the case on the grounds that the police failed to establish the ingredients of the charge.

The police had arraigned the female medical doctor on a four-count charge bordering on defaming, harassing and intimidating her fellow United Kingdom-based medical doctor, Olufunmilayo Ogunsanya, in the social media.

Among others, the police

accused Aseyan of causing harm to the reputation of her former boyfriend in the social media contrary to the provisions of Cyberbullying Prevention and Prohibition Act.

In its bid to establish the allegations, the prosecution called three witnesses, while the defendant called two in her defence.

Delivering judgment, the court observed that both Ogunsanya and the defendant are medical doctors by training and were in relationship before it turned sour.

The court in addition found that the two had sexual intercourse while together in the United Kingdom and that both made publications in the social media against each other after they broke up.

by-elections to show a sample to Soludo that Anambra is an APC state. I come from the same zone, and after the election on 16, we will know who is in charge of Anambra State.

“We will show them that a barking dog does not bite. We will use that election to test our strength. I’m a child of destiny, I have come to work for you people and I have come so that Anambra will take its pride of place.

“Next weekend, there will be by-elections for Anambra South

2027:

Senatorial Zone and Onitsha North 1 State Constituency; we urge you all to come out and let us make a categorical statement about the November 8 election.”

He continued: “One thing is obvious; traders are not faring well in Anambra. If Soludo meant well for Anambra people, the first people to take care of are traders because they constitute the highest number of people in Anambra.

“How can I be governor and NAFDAC will come and

shut a market in my state for months? It cannot work. We need to encourage our traders to do better.

“As a governor, I’ll set up a loan fund where traders can access money to do their businesses.

Government can borrow with single-digit interest; so, what I will do is to use the name of the government to borrow for traders and pay within five years.

“When you are growing, we too as a government will be growing through revenue and

you will be very fit to pay tax. We will collaborate with traders on what should be paid as taxes, not using revenue agents to be pursuing you everywhere.

“We are coming to practicalise governance; we are coming to put round pegs in round holes. Grammar does not govern; it is experience that governs. Once I become governor, my commissioner for trade and commerce must be a trader. I’m a trader and I’m proud of where I am coming from,” he stated.

Onwuneme Urges Atiku to Step Aside for Obi, Hails Otti as Southeast Game-Changer

Wale Igbintade

A youth advocate, Mr. Nwabueze Onwuneme has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to shelve his presidential ambition in the 2027 general elections and throw his support behind former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi.

Speaking on the political dynamics ahead of the next presidential race, Onwuneme said it would be in the interest of Nigerian youths and the general populace for Obi to take over the nation’s leadership, describing him as the candidate best positioned to defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should help suffering Nigerian masses by letting go of his presidential ambition to support Peter Obi. The reality is that if Atiku contests against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, he will lose, because it will not be realistic to deny the South a second term,” Onwuneme declared According to Onwuneme, Obi’s proposal to serve only one term could be the “long-awaited doctrine of necessity needed to recreate Nigeria.” He argued that Obi enjoys widespread acceptance across the country and has shown that

governance can be done differently.

“If the coalition is serious about defeating President Tinubu and the APC, the right thing is to convince Atiku to sacrifice his ambition for now, accept the role of a political father to Peter Obi, and join hands with Nigerian youths to ensure victory. If Atiku does this willingly, he will book a unique place as the father of the emerging New Nigeria,” he stated.

Turning to Abia politics, Onwuneme described Governor Alex Otti as “a beautiful bride and a great asset” whose alignment with either the Labour Party or the African Democratic Congress

(ADC) coalition would guarantee sweeping electoral victories across all levels in the state.

“Wherever Otti stands, that’s where Abia youths and the majority of Ndi Abia will vote. He has offered genuine leadership and good governance, and anybody contesting against him in 2027 will be seen as an enemy of progress,” Onwuneme said.

He noted that Otti represents “Abia’s renaissance” and serves as a political torchbearer in the Southeast, adding that the governor’s influence could decisively shape presidential, national assembly, and state assembly election outcomes in the state.

New Law to Breathe Life into Insurance Sector

The signing of the Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Act into law last week by President Bola Tinubu was the climax of all the reforms that have been going on in the insurance sector, Ebere Nwoji writes

The insurance industry has, in the past few years, been going through major reforms and transformations targeted at reshaping the future of the sector and repositioning it to be one of the major contributors to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the economy.

Currently, insurance contributes 0.6 per cent to the GDP.

These reforms became more pronounced in 2023 when the immediate past Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Sunday Thomas, launched what he called “A ten-year strategic roadmap for the insurance sector, as well as a guidance note for the insurance of government assets and liabilities.

The Roadmap

With the roadmap, Thomas said over the next decade (2024-2033), the insurance industry would seek to continue its transformation journey along seven major strategic thrusts with the objective of achieving the corresponding goals.

He, however, stated that the transformation and reformation would thrive best in the face of a befitting legislative framework that would strengthen the capital base of the industry and give the regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), more powers that would lead to adequate regulation of the operators on the track of trajectory growth.

With this in mind, Thomas, in collaboration with the insurance sector operators, pursued with vigour the institutionalisation of a new regulation that will guide the operation of the sector. The insurance sector operated under the 2003 Act for 22 years until the present development of signing a new Act on Tuesday last week.

Consolidated Insurance Bill and NIIRA

Before now, insurers have been fighting for the signing into law of the 2020 Consolidated Insurance Bill, which, though successfully passed by both upper and lower chambers of the 9th National Assembly, it however failed to secure presidential assent before the expiration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

As painful as this was to the insurance sector, operators and stakeholders, however, summoned courage to propose a new bill to the 10th National Assembly, tagged Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Bill (NIIRA).

The bill was passed between December 2024 and May 2025, passed by the two chambers of the lawmakers, and to the jubilation of the entire insurance industry, on August 5th, it was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

The new Act repealed the Insurance Act, Cap. I17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; the Marine Insurance Act, Cap. M3 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act, Cap. M22,

• President Tinubu signing the new law

Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria Act, Cap. N54, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; the Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation Act, Cap. N131, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; to provide for a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for insurance business in Nigeria; and for related matters.

It introduces critical measures such as: Stringent capital requirements to ensure the financial soundness of operators; enforcement of compulsory insurance policies to enhance consumer protection; digitisation of the insurance market to improve access and efficiency; zero tolerance for delays in claims settlement; creation of dedicated policyholder protection funds, especially in cases of insolvency; and expanded participation in regional insurance schemes, including the ECOWAS Brown Card System.

NAICOM is mandated to administer and implement the provisions of the NIIRA 2025 in a manner that unlocks the industry’s full potential and significantly improves insurance penetration across the country.

The new Act provides for comprehensive regulation and supervision of all insurance and reinsurance businesses operating within Nigeria. It also ushers in a new era of transparency, innovation, and global competitiveness for the insurance industry. It aligns with the federal government’s vision of achieving a $1 trillion economy.

Operators’ Views

According to the insurers, the new law stands as the climax of all the reforms clamoured by successive regimes in the regulatory body, NAICOM.

According to them, it is indeed the climax because successive administrations in NAICOM have come up with various phases of reforms to move the industry from a very static position of minimal contribution to the GDP of the country and shallow penetration of insurance services to the masses.

For instance, several attempts by the commission to upgrade the minimum capital base of the industry from its low

level hit the rock as in each case, owners of insurance firms with low financial bases had always secured court injunctions against the move, making the industry to retain its low capital base of N2 billion for life underwriters, N3 billion for general business underwriters, and N10 billion for reinsurers despite the prevailing inflation rate.

Again, there were firms with weak financial bases, but the existing laws did not empower the regulator to revoke their licenses. Operating firms were arbitrarily shirking payment of claims without a serious penalty being meted out.

Among the public, people were violating laws on compulsory insurance because of a lack of empowerment for enforcement and a low penalty rate attached.

Thomas said NAICOM, under his leadership, had remained resilient and focused on implementing initiatives that would foster the development of the Nigerian insurance industry and align its fortune with that of the nation as Africa’s largest economy.

Omosehi’s Efforts and the Signing of NIIRA

Then came the new Insurance Commissioner, Mr. Ayo Omosehin, whose regime saw the passage of the bill by the two chambers of the National Assembly up to last week’s final presidential assent to the bill.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, said NIIRA was one of the most far-reaching reforms in the history of the country’s financial services sector.

In a statement, the lawmaker, who led the legislative push for the bill, described the Act as a milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards economic transformation.

He said, “This Act replaces a fragmented and outdated legal regime with a unified, modern framework designed to foster innovation, strengthen regulatory oversight, and protect policyholders nationwide.”

Insurance Operators’ Reaction

Also speaking on the development, the Chairman Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), Mr. Kunle Ahmed, described the development as a new era for Nigeria’s financial services sector.

According to him, it reflects the federal government’s commitment to deepening

financial inclusion and ensuring that insurance becomes a robust pillar in Nigeria’s economic architecture, and in line with the president’s vision for achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030. He said as a leading voice of the industry, the NIA pledges its full support towards the successful implementation of the NIIRA Act.

In her reaction, the immediate past Director General of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO) and former Managing Director of NICON Insurance Corporation, Ms Priscilla Soares, observed that the industry was in a very challenging situation right now and a lot needed to be done to ensure the survival of the insurance industry.

She said with the new Act, companies needed to determine the line of business they could do. She added that the days of running all over businesses were over as the law now requires each firm to concentrate on one area where its capital could be used.

Reaction by Insurance Brokers

On his part, the Executive Secretary Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Mr. Tope Adaramola, said the presidential assent was one of the finest things that could happen to the insurance industry.

He noted that the industry had huge potential for growth but that this has been constrained by several challenges, some of which concern the government not creating enough legal environment for the insurance to grow.

On the implications of the new law, he explained that “The increase in capital base will assist members, and it will also boost the capability of insurance companies to be able to undertake risks that are hitherto taken abroad. The enhanced capacity will help to broaden the solvency and the industry and ensure the financial soundness of operating firms,” he said.

The new Act, according to the insurers, has indeed ushered the insurance sector into a new era in its quest to occupy a strategic position in the global committee of developed insurance sectors.

However, stakeholders and industry analysts said it is now left for the industry operators, the law enforcement agencies, who interpret and enforce the law to work with the new legislation to ensure strict enforcement and compliance by making sure that offenders face the wrath of the law as stipulated in the new Act to serve as a deterrent to the public.

SECOND LIFE FOR WARRI STADIUM

Once considered the heartbeat of grassroots football, Warri is poised to reclaim that crown, writes AKANDE ADARAMOYE

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, is fast carving out a reputation not just as a politician with populist appeal, but as a leader with an ambitious vision for sports development. At the heart of this transformation is the reconstruction of the iconic Warri Township Stadium, a project that represents far more than a facelift of an aging sports facility, it symbolizes the revival of Delta’s sporting soul and the strategic use of infrastructure to spur economic growth, youth engagement, and community pride.

When Governor Oborevwori visited the stadium construction site recently, his message was clear: this is a legacy project, one aimed at returning Warri, and indeed, Delta State, to its rightful place on Nigeria’s sporting map. With 176 youths already employed on-site, the project has begun yielding social dividends even before the final coat of paint is applied or the first ball kicked.

The reconstruction of Warri Stadium is not simply about steel structures and Olympicsize swimming pools. It’s about reimagining sports as an engine for community renewal. For years, the once-proud stadium stood as a shell of its former self, a haunting reminder of better days when Warri buzzed with competitive sporting energy. But under Governor Oborevwori’s leadership, the facility is getting a second life, one that is aligned with global standards.

The project includes a FIFA-standard football pitch, underground drainage, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a new indoor sports hall, all designed to ensure that the stadium isn’t just suitable for local football matches, but also capable of hosting international athletics and multisport competitions. Crucially, the governor confirmed that while initial plans involved building an entirely new stadium, the scarcity of land around the existing structure forced a pivot to comprehensive reconstruction. In truth, this decision reflects a pragmatic use of available space and resources—traits that have become hallmarks of Oborevwori’s administration.

At a time when many young people in Nigeria are desperate for opportunities, the Warri Stadium project is already making a meaningful impact. “176 youths are currently employed on the site,” the governor noted during his inspection. These are not just numbers—they represent families sustained, skills acquired, and lives transformed. With a contractor like Peculiar Concern Limited leading the charge, the construction site has become a dynamic training ground for aspiring engineers, technicians, and artisans, most of them locals. It’s a quiet revolution, one where hard hats and steel beams are as powerful as scholarships and sports grants in nurturing Delta’s next generation.

This economic activity also ripples outward. Nearby businesses—food vendors, transportation operators, hardware suppliers—are witnessing increased patronage. And once completed, the stadium is expected to become a commercial and cultural hub, hosting concerts, tournaments, trade expos, and community events. Warri, once considered the heartbeat of grassroots football in Nigeria, is poised to reclaim that crown. With Warri Wolves Football Club recently qualifying for the Premier League, the timing of the stadium’s reconstruction is serendipitous.

While the current season may start before the stadium is fully ready, optimism is high that Warri Wolves will return to their home turf next season, igniting a wave of local enthusiasm. As Governor Oborevwori rightly stated: “Once completed, Warri

people will be proud, and visitors will enjoy a modern facility.”

That pride is more than civic—it is cultural, emotional, and aspirational. It is about young athletes seeing a professional-standard stadium in their own backyard. It is about a child in Ekpan or Effurun dreaming not just of playing in Europe, but of starring for Warri Wolves on home soil. The governor’s sports revival isn’t limited to football. With indoor sports facilities under development, athletes in basketball, handball, swimming, and track and field will also benefit.

This is inclusivity in action, building infrastructure not just for elite stars, but for every sport and every ambition. Another impressive aspect of the stadium project is transparency and accountability. Governor Oborevwori’s site inspection wasn’t a ceremonial stop, it was a hands-on assessment of progress. And by bringing media, local stakeholders, and technical partners along, he sent a strong message: this administration delivers on its promises. The contractor, Engr. Olaruwaju Adeleke, was equally transparent. He stated that 100% of steel fabrication and erection has been completed within the first three months of work. He also projected that by December, the pitch grassing and running track would be completed.

While he clarified that the stadium won’t be used for the 2024/2025 Premier League season, plans are firmly in place for full operations by next season. This candor reinforces public trust—and rightly so. In an era where abandoned projects are common across Nigeria, Warri Stadium is fast becoming a model of timely delivery, strategic planning, and accountable governance. The Warri Stadium is just one piece of a broader vision. Governor Oborevwori’s administration is clearly placing sports at the center of Delta’s social and economic development. From grassroots tournaments to schoolbased athletics, the ripple effect of the Warri project is expected to stimulate increased investments in youth sports, facilities maintenance, and sports tourism. Already, Delta State has a rich history in sports, having hosted national and international events including the National Sports Festival. Under Oborevwori, that legacy is being not just preserved, but expanded—with infrastructure as the bedrock and youth empowerment as the end goal. Sheriff Oborevwori’s work in reviving the Warri Stadium is more than an infrastructure project—it is a testament to bold leadership, purposeful governance, and a deep understanding of what sports can mean to a people. By investing in this monumental project, he is creating opportunities, reigniting local pride, and building a bridge between dreams and destiny for thousands of young Deltans. In a nation often desperate for good news, Warri’s rising stadium—and the rising hopes it symbolizes, offers a glimpse into what is possible when leadership meets vision, and vision meets action.

KALU

OKORONKWO urges the Commission to return the South East to the path of prosperity

SEDC AND THE IGBO IDENTITY QUESTION

The South East Development Commission (SEDC) was established in 2024 as symbol of the federal government commitment to fast-tracking development in the South East and addressed perceived marginalization of the region.

But symbols must translate into action. To do so, the SEDC must shed the cloak of politics, craft a bold and transparent development agenda, and return the South East to its rightful path of prosperity.

Anything less would betray not only the hopes of the people but also the very purpose for which the Commission was established.

The South East holds a unique place in the nation’s history, a region rich in human capital, entrepreneurial zeal, and cultural resilience, yet, scarred by the Nigerian Civil War, decades of neglect, and recent waves of insecurity, terrorism, and economic dislocation.

The establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) therefore signaled a bastion of hope, not just a policy decision. It represents a statement of intent by the Federal Government for inclusiveness, heal old wounds, rebuild battered infrastructure, and provide a foundation for lasting prosperity.

Despite the lofty vision, the SEDC still struggles with the absence of a clear, people- driven agenda. Much of its work has remained tentative; and to use aviation register, the aircraft is still taxing instead of the expected bullet take-off.

There has been minimal awareness creation to sensitize South Easterners across all demographics and socio-economic strata.

For a region where unemployment and underemployment have been fingered as key drivers of insecurity, banditry and migration of young people to other regions especially Lagos and Abuja, the Commission’s silence in mobilizing its people raises serious concerns.

The SEDC Act was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on July 24, 2024, marking the official creation of the Commission.

The Board was inaugurated on February 12, 2025, ushering in full operational status with Mark Okoye, former Director General of Anambra State Investment Promotion & Protection Agency, as pioneer Managing Director.

The Board includes Dr. Emeka Nworgu, Chairman; Edward Onoja, member; Stanley Ohajuruka, Executive Director, Finance; Ugochukwu Agballa, member; Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, ED Corporate Services; Hon. Toby Okechukwu, ED, Projects, and Dr. Clifford Ogbede, ED Natural Services among others.

The SEDC targets scaling the region’s GDP from about $40 billion to $200 billion by 2035, requiring $10 billion yearly investments for over 30 years to bridge its

infrastructure gap.

To drive faster growth and development through sustained funding, the South East Investment Company (SEIC) was also established with a target base of $1 billion and $50 million Venture Capital Fund to support youth-led and inclusive innovation and grassroots sports & youth infrastructure project (SEGRID).

Also in July 2025, SEDC unveiled a 10year Integrated Regional Development Roadmap, with UNDP and other partners. Its aim includes creating a unified oneregion, one-market economy across the five South Eastern states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

The Commission also hopes to engage stakeholders: state governments, private sector, civil society, donor agencies in constructive dialogue to prioritize the needs of the region at a macro level and needs of communities at micro level. SEDC also plans to register over 3,500 volunteers to support program delivery.

By its statutes, the commission is to establish offices in all the state capitals of the eastern states to enhance its visibility and operational efficiency, yet those offices so far are either non-existent or are not known to those who should visit them for inquiry and support.

The Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) left deep scars on the South East: physical, economic, and psychological. While other regions benefited from sustained federal attention, the South East struggled with neglected infrastructure, economic marginalization, and recurring environmental disasters, particularly gully erosion.

The idea behind the Commission draws inspiration from post conflict reconstruction models across the world. Much like the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe after World War II or Rwanda’s comprehensive recovery strategy after its genocide, the SEDC was conceived as a vehicle to drive infrastructural renewal, human capital development, and economic reintegration of a region long battered by the fallout of the Civil War and subsequent years of underdevelopment. Its aims and objectives are clear: to rebuild critical infrastructure and social services, to promote industrialization and economic diversification, to empower youths and women through education, skills acquisition, and entrepreneurship, to foster unity, healing, and reintegration within Nigeria’s socio-political framework.

Okoronkwo, a leadership and good governance advocate writes from Lagos

Adaramoye writes from Agbor, Delta State

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA

Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

A QUESTIONABLE COUNCIL POLLS

A council election by the sole administrator will leave Rivers State in a muddle

In what we described as a treacherous borderline between impunity and political expediency at the time, President Bola Tinubu had on 18th March this year suspended the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, for a period of six months in the first instance. Also suspended was the deputy governor, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly. In place of the elected officials, the president appointed a retired naval officer, Ibok-Ette Ibas as the sole administrator. He predicated his action partly on “disturbing” security reports detailing incidents of vandalism of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them. Although we did not explicitly oppose the decision, we nonetheless warned that emergency rule in Rivers State must not lead to a takeover of the political space by subterfuge. Unfortunately, that fear seems to have been confirmed by recent actions.

While swearing in Ibas, the president stated that “the state’s security situation and political tension necessitated intervention to forestall a total breakdown of law and order”. But five months after the declaration of emergency rule, there is little evidence that the objective of fostering stability and reducing tension in the state has been achieved. Rather than bring people together, many actions of the sole administrator seem to be deepening cleavages, contracting democratic space and leaving a huge question mark on the real purpose and endgame of the ongoing democratic interregnum in the state. The insistence on proceeding with council polls in the absence of a properly constituted state electoral commission is yet another example of the climate of escalating audacity.

unelected sole administrator is “an existential assault on our democracy and a brazen flouting of Nigeria’s Constitution.” We therefore urge President Tinubu not to lend his weight behind what amounts to an affront on the rule of law in the country.

It is simply not possible to strengthen democratic institutions while simultaneously undermining provisions of the Constitution

SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

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Considering that emergency rule in Rivers State arose from bad politics, including the conduct of a toxic and contentious local government election last October by Fubara, why will IbokEtte deepen the crisis by conducting another local government election that is bound to end in acrimony? And where does he derive the power to undertake such assignment since Nigeria is still operating under a constitutional democracy? We align ourselves with the public statement of 22 prominent indigenes of Rivers State that the proposed local government elections by an

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group executive directors eNioLA BeLLo, kAYoDe koMoLAFe, iSrAeL iweGBU divisional directors SHAkA MoMoDU, peTer iweGBU ANTHoNY oGeDeNGBe deputy divisional director oJoGUN viCTor DANBoYi snr. associate director eriC oJeH associate director pATriCk eiMiUHi

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It is simply not possible to strengthen democratic institutions while simultaneously undermining provisions of the Constitution. As many people have noted, the planned polls are not preceded by the statutory 90-day pre-election notification and many unresolved issues around the status and powers of the state administrator are being adjudicated by various courts. The question posed by the Rivers State stakeholders in their statement cannot be ignored. It cuts to the heart of the matter. If the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “deems by-elections untenable under such conditions, how can local government polls-unrelated to any genuine emergency-be justified?” they asked. With the executive and legislative arms on suspension, there are questions about the motives behind the idea of conducting the polls, especially at this period. Local government in the country is the third tier of government with specified constitutional provisions on how their chairmen and councillors should be elected. Therefore, the decision to organise the polls at this point is most insensitive, especially when the legality of having a sole administrator to run the state is still being challenged in court. The constitutionality of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) constituted by Ibas is also being contested.

Since the six-month emergency duration ends next month, the lifting of sanctions and full reinstitution of the state cabinet and House of Assembly ought to be the priorities of the federal government and Ibas. Until that is done, any conduct of local government elections would be an exercise in impunity. We urge the president to call the administrator to order. Rather than engaging himself in such unprofitable and divisive action, his focus should be on encouraging unity and deescalating tensions as the clock winds down on the tenure of his interim stewardship.

Letters in response to specific publications in THiSDAY should be brief(150-200 words) and straight to the point. interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. we also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer

LETTERS

THE IMPERATIVE TO FIX NIGERIA’S ELECTORAL SYSTEM

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, urgent attention must be given to the integrity of our electoral process. The 2023 elections exposed troubling realities: widespread vote manipulation, voter suppression, compromised technology, legal ambiguities, and post-election injustice. Despite constitutional guarantees, power no longer truly resides with the people. The routine swearing-in of candidates before the conclusion of electoral petitions denies citizens genuine justice and renders elections performative.

Section 64(4)–(6) and Section 50(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 give INEC unchecked

discretion over result transmission and voting methods—creating loopholes for manipulation; electronic voting lacks constitutional backing, making innovations like BVAS and IReV legally vulnerable; president’s power to appoint the INEC Chairman and RECs raises serious questions about INEC’s neutrality; electoral petitions are not concluded before inauguration, weakening faith in the judiciary; and the absence of a functional Electoral Offences Commission enables impunity for rigging and violence.

The bold reforms required before

2027 include: Amend the Electoral Act to mandate real-time electronic accreditation, voting, and result transmission; enshrine electronic voting in the Constitution for legal clarity and nationwide enforceability; ensure all court cases are concluded before elected officials are sworn in; create an independent commission to appoint INEC leadership, free from executive control; establish the long-delayed Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute violations; and demilitarise elections by banning partisan security deployment and forming an Electoral Peace Corps.

The 2027 elections must not proceed under the current compromised framework. Credible politicians, civil society, media, youth, and religious leaders must build a nationwide coalition for electoral reform—similar to the patriotic resistance that ended colonial rule and military dictatorship.

Without a transparent and accountable electoral system, true democracy and sustainable development will remain out of reach.

Dr. James-Wisdom Abhulimen, Chairman, NIPR, Edo State Chapter

John o l AJ id E

Portrait of an Astute Entrepreneur

Founder and CEO of Axxess, the leading global home healthcare technology company, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, John Olajide, is an entrepreneur, home innovator, civic leader and global community builder who advocates for a better world. In this encounter with Raheem Akingbolu, he speaks on improving healthcare access and creating jobs in various sectors in the US, Nigeria, Botswana, India and the Philippines

edited by: VAN e SSA o BI o HA/vanessa.obioha@thisdaylive.com.

When John Olajide began his earthly journey, there were no comets, prophecies, or predictions heralding his future. However, there were certain dramatic moments early in life hinting that an icon had been born.

Today, his name is synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship, and vision. Yet, Olajide does not take the glory. He is swift in attributing his success to God and his elder brother, Ron Olajide as well as his friend from secondary school days at Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta, Andrew Olowu. Currently, the senior Olajide is the Chief Financial Officer at Axxess while Olowu is the Chief Technology Officer.

As the founder of Cavista Holdings, a global investment and holding company, Olajide has made a significant impact across various sectors, including technology, healthcare, hospitality, and agriculture. His journey, marked by determination and strategic risk-taking, has taken him across continents, with investments in Nigeria, Botswana, the Philippines, and India.

His entrepreneurial spirit was ignited at a young age. Born in Nigeria, he moved to the United States to pursue his education, earning a degree in telecommunications engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas. It was during this time that he spotted an opportunity to provide cloud-based technology services to home healthcare companies, which eventually led to the establishment of a company named Axxess in 2007.

Axxess is now a global company with over 1,000 employees and serving more than three million patients. The company’s success is a testament to Olajide’s leadership and vision. Under his guidance, Axxess has become a unicorn, valued at over $1 billion, without taking on venture capital funding.

Axxess now offers a suite of enterprise software solutions for home healthcare, helping companies streamline operations and scale their impact.

Speaking to THISDAY on what informed his decision to venture into entrepreneurship, he said “Growing up, I always knew I wanted to build a company. I always knew that I had the ability to do so. I imagined that if I had gotten into the corporate world, maybe all my talents wouldn’t have been recognised as I wanted them to be.”

His passion, he said, has always centred around creating his space and solving problems.

“From the word go, I had clarity about wanting to be a successful businessman and philanthropist. I have always wanted to create my own space and solve a problem that was big enough to be worth my while.”

Outside the US, Olajide has been meeting world leaders, including President Bola Tinubu on how to further enhance technology as a platform to engage the youth population and boost the economy.

To this end, his enterprises in Nigeria, have offered more than 2,000 jobs to young Nigerian professionals covering hospitality, technology, engineering, agriculture, and financial services. For

Portrait of an Astute Entrepreneur

fintech, Olajide’s Cavista Holdings has Payzeep and for the technology company, it has Cavista Technologies, while Agbeyewa and Ikogosi Warm and Cold Resort play in the Agriculture and hospitality sectors.

According to him, his purpose in life is to serve others. “I get up every day thinking about how I can leverage my platform, my talent, my resources—all that I am—to make the world a better place.”

One notable investment is Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti State, Nigeria, which focuses on cassava cultivation and processing. The farm has not only created jobs but also opened up the area it occupies to new economic opportunities, transforming it from a previously economically dead zone to an agro-tourism area.

The farm’s impact extends beyond economic benefits. Olajide has established the Agbeyewa Farms Community Development Foundation (AFCDF) to implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in education, economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, health, and sports. This commitment to community development reflects his belief that business can be a force for good.

For this enigmatic investor, what gives him joy these days is the fact that his team thought of establishing Agbeyewa Farm and the farm is serving multiple purposes.

He said, “Perhaps at the beginning, our reason to establish Agbeyewa Farms was to impact the economy through job creation and making raw materials available for companies, but today the farm is turning the northern part of Ekiti State from being a kidnappers’ den to an agro tourism area.”

Olajide, who expressed his gratitude to the Ekiti State government for giving his team the needed support to actualise the dream, noted that the northern part of the state was economically dead for many years until the farm opened up the zone. He also commended the Tinubu administration for its commitment to revolutionising the agricultural sector through various schemes and empowerment.

“Agbeyewa Farms is a large-scale agricultural enterprise in Ekiti State, Nigeria, and we focus on cassava cultivation and processing. Through the farm, we have succeeded in opening up the area to opportunities and making it economically viable. Our aim is to revolutionise cassava

farming in Africa and drive food security and economic development.”

In the hospitality sector, Olajide’s Glocient Hospitality has made a significant impact through its management of the Ikogosi Warm and Cold Resort in Ekiti. Once a neglected asset, the resort has been transformed into a world-class destination under Glocient’s management. His approach to business, which he defines as SLAM - Sell, Leadership, Alignment of Strategy, and Management of Costhas been instrumental in the resort’s success.

Call Olajide and his team business adventurists and you won’t be wrong because oftentimes, they run against the tide. This best explains his investment in the hospital sector through Glocient Hospitality.

“Let me give you a little bit of background on how Glocient came into Ikogosi. At Glocient Hospitality, we have assembled, and I’m saying this with all humility, the best hospitality team in this country,” he said. “We have a vision of what we wanted and we pursued it. Today, I can say with all confidence that there is no better resort in Nigeria than Ikogosi Resort and Hotels.

“When we got the concession to run it in 2022, we made up our mind

to do things differently and without hiring any expatriate. We sourced the best locally, and the team has done us proud, attracting tourists, earning stakeholders’ trust and winning laurels locally and internationally. To some people, it wasn’t doable. But when we came here and I saw the passion, zeal and business understanding of members of the team, I knew the future was bright,” Olajide stated.

As a leader in the business community, this icon has been recognised for his contributions to the community and his ability to inspire others. In 2020, he became the chairman of the Dallas Regional Chamber, a position that reflects his reputation as a respected business leader. He has also been instrumental in promoting U.S.Africa trade and investment through his role as chair of the Corporate Council on Africa.

Olajide’s leadership style is centred around servant leadership, where he looks for opportunities for everyone to connect and grow. He believes that by humanising efforts and allowing everyone to communicate openly and honestly, teams can perform at an excellent level.

This approach has been instrumental in driving Axxess’ success and creating a positive work culture.

As all work and no play takes the shine off man, when Olajide is not working, he enjoys spending time with friends over a meal, playing golf, and reading. One of his favourite books is “The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life” by Alice Schroeder, which he finds inspiring and informative.

As he continues to expand his investments and pursue new opportunities, Olajide remains committed to his vision of creating value and transforming lives through strategic investments.

And with his eyes firmly on the future, he is poised to make an even greater impact in the years to come. His story serves as an inspiration to entrepreneurs and business leaders around the world, demonstrating that with the right mindset and determination, anything is possible.

Olajide (right) with then US president, Barack Obama, on July 15, 2014

L-r: ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji; Olajide; and former Governor Kayode Fayemi

HighLife

with KAYoDe ALFreD 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Samad at 65: A Billionaire Building More Than Empires

Power is loud by default in Nigeria. Yet, with quiet hands, deliberate

steps, and a gaze set squarely on legacy, Abdul Samad Rabiu moves differently. At 65, the billionaire industrialist and philanthropist, founder of BUA Group and ASR Africa, has become something of a national paradox: exceedingly wealthy, yet remarkably understated.

His story begins with privilege. Born into a prosperous family in Kano, Rabiu could have coasted. Instead, he rebuilt. What he inherited, he multiplied, cement by cement, grain by grain, policy by quiet policy, until his name became synonymous with local industry that actually works.

And that’s the thing about Rabiu: he builds. Not just factories, but ecosystems. Not just wealth, but trust. BUA Group has spun vast webs of employment across Nigeria’s Northwest, powering kilns with cleaner energy, lowering carbon emissions before it became fashionable, and, just as critically, slashing prices when others saw opportunity in scarcity.

Still in the Inner Circle? The Whispered

Truth About Dipo Eludoyin and Tinubu

Friendships rise and fall with election cycles in Nigeria’s political ecosystem. So it’s no surprise that a quiet rumour has begun to hum: Has Prince Dipo Eludoyin lost his place beside the president?

It’s the kind of question whispered over dinner tables in Lagos and murmured behind the tinted glass of Abuja convoys. After all, Eludoyin isn’t just anybody. The billionaire businessman, chairman of Paragon Group, and soft-spoken prince of IleIfe has long been seen as one of Bola Tinubu’s most trusted confidants.

In many ways, Eludoyin is more of a brother than a friend, more of a fixer than an adviser. So when the sightings thinned out and access seemed restricted, the speculation began.

Not so fast, say those familiar with the case. While palace gossip may delight in tales of a rift, the available facts sketch a different picture.

Only recently, on his 77th birthday, Eludoyin received glowing praise from Tinubu himself. The president, not known for sentimental excess, called him “one friend every leader

desirous of success should have.” Hardly the language of estrangement.

And Eludoyin has hardly gone quiet. Behind the scenes, he’s rallying a $10 billion wave of Chinese investment into Nigeria, mobilising partners in energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. The kind of deal-making that requires deep trust and deeper access.

But in a country where influence is measured by how often your name makes the news, a man like Eludoyin can seem curiously absent. That’s by design. He’s always preferred the private corridors to the public square. He doesn’t chase titles. He doesn’t court headlines. He simply gets things done.

Perhaps that’s the trouble. In an era of spectacle, subtlety is misread as distance. And when a powerful friend isn’t seen at the table, people assume he’s no longer invited.

But Prince Eludoyin, like the best power brokers, doesn’t need to be seen to be heard. His silence, much like his influence, remains strategic.

So, has the bond between him and

Even his philanthropy is industrial in scale. Through ASR Africa, he’s become a sort of silent architect of hospitals, schools, and social interventions from Sokoto to Yaoundé. No ribbon-chasing. No self-congratulatory hashtags. Just a steady flow of impact, thoughtfully delivered, strategically placed, and often under the radar.

It’s tempting to wax lyrical about such a figure (and some already do), but Rabiu’s appeal lies less in myth and more in method. He works with presidents but wears no political perfume. He champions Africa-first development but doesn’t preach. He lives like a capitalist, gives like a statesman, and speaks like someone who knows the weight of a quiet promise.

At a time when the nation reels from economic disillusionment and leadership fatigue, Rabiu stands as a reminder that power can be tempered with purpose. That a boardroom can serve the people, not just the shareholders. That you can lead without noise.

the president frayed? All signs point to no. In the noisy theatre of Nigerian politics, some friendships thrive best offstage.

Emeka Offor Sends a $1m Lifeline to Nigeria’s North-east

A shiny new weapon has arrived in the fight against cancer. And it came not from government coffers or global donors, but from a Nigerian tycoon with a knack for quiet interventions and grand gestures.

The gift? A $1 million Linear Accelerator machine, known in medical circles as a LINAC. The giver? Sir Emeka Offor, oil magnate, philanthropist, and founding chairman of the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation.

The lucky recipient? The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, which lost its only radiotherapy machine in last year’s devastating floods.

There’s something both startling and comforting about a man from Oraifite in Anambra State reaching across the map to help patients in Borno. But Offor’s giving has never been about borders. He’s made a habit of philanthropy that travels.

“This isn’t just equipment,” said Dr. Ibrahim Bako, an oncologist at UMTH. “It’s hope, packed in precision engineering.”

For months, cancer patients in the Northeast have faced an impossible choice: travel hundreds of miles for treatment—or not at all. With this LINAC, UMTH can once again treat solid tumours locally, potentially serving not only Borno, but also patients from Chad, Niger, and Cameroon who rely on Nigeria’s medical backbone.

Offor wasn’t at the handover ceremony. But in a brief statement, he doubled down on his mission, explaining that it is the responsibility of the able to ensure that quality care reaches every Nigerian, not just those in big cities.

The donation followed a personal appeal by Nigeria’s Coordinating Health Minister, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, who didn’t hold back his gratitude.

At 66, Offor has already worn many hats: lawful Knight of Saint Christopher, oil and gas mogul, serial donor. But with this act, he might have added another: cancer-care crusader.

The LINAC will be up and running soon, after calibration and training. But the impact is already humming through the wards of UMTH. Sometimes, the best kind of power isn’t electric; it’s human.

Some birds never settle on one branch for long. Ademola AdeyemiBero, the jet-fuelled mind behind Nigeria’s First Exploration and Petroleum Development Co., is one of them.

Already a heavyweight in the oil and gas arena with 57,000 barrels per day to his name and a billiondollar Shell acquisition under his belt, Adeyemi-Bero is now steering First E&P into new skies. The latest: Tanzania’s Mnazi Bay North Block, a patch of earth that hums with gas-rich promise, just shy of Mozambique’s fabled reserves.

This is not a tentative toe-dip. A six-month technical assessment has begun, courtesy of a fresh memorandum of understanding with Tanzania Petroleum Development Corp., and both sides seem eager to press forward. George Toriola, First E&P’s strategy chief, has hinted at “keen” urgency. And for good reason. If this venture bears fruit, it could be First E&P’s first major natural gas play beyond Nigeria—a symbolic and strategic expansion in equal measure.

But this isn’t just about one company stretching its wings. Adeyemi-Bero is part of a broader wave. Nigerian firms now peering eastward, outward, anywhere but home. With the majors packing up and leaving Africa’s shallow waters and swamplands behind, indigenous players are seizing the moment. They’re not just absorbing legacy assets; they’re writing their own cross-border chapters.

In that story, Adeyemi-Bero plays a dual role. Beyond the boardroom, he’s Nigeria’s governor to OPEC and chairs the group’s Board of Governors, a rare blend of corporate savvy and diplomatic heft. His résumé runs long: Shell veteran, British Gas exec, Imperial College alumnus, dealmaker with global reach.

Yet even with all this gravitas, his next act feels fresh. East Africa beckons, and First E&P, led by a man who knows when and how to leap, is airborne once more.

Only time will tell what Mnazi Bay yields. But one thing’s certain: Adeyemi-Bero isn’t circling. He’s climbing.

Ademola AdeyemiBero Flying Higher

Adeyemi-Bero

Samad

eludoyin

Just when you thought Nigerian politics had exhausted its surprises, Betty AnyanwuAkeredolu, the outspoken former First Lady of Ondo State, has taken off her gloves and picked a side. And no, it’s not the one her party might’ve expected.

Tokunbo

Leaving Tinubu for Obi: Betty Akeredolu Isn’t Sitting This One Out

In a post laced with conviction and a dash of Lee Kuan Yew nostalgia, Akeredolu declared her support for Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s perennial reformer and self-styled apostle of frugality. “I believe you @PeterObi,” she wrote on X, embracing his pledge to serve only one term if elected in 2027. For her, that’s all the time a purposeful leader needs to lay the kind of institutional foundation that Singapore built. And Nigeria, she implies, so desperately lacks.

It’s more than just a retweet-and-rant moment. Coming from the widow of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, a staunch figure in the APC, Betty’s endorsement lands with symbolic heft. It signals what some observers are calling a moral realignment among the elite, a murmuring shift toward Obi’s minimalist governance ethos. Her words? Obi is “principled and frugal,” a sharp foil to the “entrenched corruption” she says is throttling

Wahab’s Swift Response to Flood Crisis in Lagos

It began, as these things often do, in Lagos, with a sky that couldn’t hold its peace.

By dawn on Monday, streets had turned to streams, vehicles floated like abandoned toys, and whole neighbourhoods (from Ajegunle to Ikorodu) stood knee-deep in a problem no one could ignore. But unlike in the past years, something else arrived with the water: a swift and unusually frank warning from Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources.

Wahab didn’t bother with euphemisms. In a live interview, he named Lekki, Ajegunle, Majidun, and Isheri—lowlands that must now consider a temporary exodus. “Move to the uplands,” he said. “Nature will take its course, but we must mitigate its impact.”

If Wahab’s words felt rehearsed, it’s because they were. The Nigerian

Meteorological Agency had sounded the alarm as early as March. Wahab says he briefed Lagosians five times before the rains hit. He calls it proactive governance. Some call it rare honesty.

This is not his first rodeo. A trained lawyer with Ivy League credentials and a résumé that runs through Aluko & Oyebode and the Harvard Kennedy School, Wahab brings legal precision to environmental chaos. Under his leadership, Lagos has cleared drainage paths and expanded water channels, even as he continues to push for resilient infrastructure.

Still, the task is Sisyphean. Lagos, a coastal titan, sits on a bed of vulnerabilities, one heavy cloud away from paralysis. Wahab acknowledges this without spin. “We won’t tell Lagosians lies,” he said, as viral videos of submerged homes circled social media.

His tone may be earnest, but it carries a warning dressed as advice. Move now, or risk

the country’s potential.

But Betty’s rebellion doesn’t stop at the federal level. Back home in Ondo, she’s been lighting metaphorical matches under Governor Lucky Aryasatya’s desk, calling his leadership “rudderless” and openly questioning his reappointment of a finance commissioner previously ousted during her late husband’s administration. “You can connect the dots,” she said ominously.

Critics are quick to paint her as politically opportunistic. After all, she’s still eyeing a senatorial seat. But that hasn’t stopped her from skewering what she calls the “noisy prayers” that failed her late husband or denouncing President Tinubu’s Nigeria as a place where “only those benefiting” pretend all is well.

In a season of studied silences and strategic amnesia, Betty is choosing her words carefully, but also very, very loudly.

regret later. Not all of Lagos is drowning, but the parts that are may serve as a forecast for weather and leadership.

The Mbahs Celebrate 20 Years of Marriage, Leadership

It’s not every day that love and governance dance to the same rhythm. But in Enugu State, they just did.

Over the weekend, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and his wife, Nkechinyere, marked 20 years of marriage. They didn’t do this with a grand parade, but with the quiet elegance of two people who’ve learned to thrive in the public eye without losing sight of the private vows that started it all.

The First Lady, radiant as always in both bearing and reputation, arrived at the celebration still fresh off the triple-win in early 2025 of Most Outstanding First Lady, Best Performing First Lady, and the coveted People’s Choice Award. Readers who paid attention then would note that the awards were not simply hers alone but were a reflection of a purposeful life.

Meanwhile, Governor Mbah, lawyer, oil magnate, and now the 6th governor of Enugu, has made a career of straddling complexity. From boardrooms to ballots, his résumé spans legal practice, entrepreneurship,

and economic reform. But in the whirlwind of his public service (from Lagos Business School to the Saïd Business School at Oxford), it’s his wife who has quietly mirrored his momentum.

Lady Nkechinyere is no ceremonial spouse. In a space often crowded with showmanship, she stands out by standing back—visible not for excess, but for impact. Her supporters say she reflects her husband’s governance style: focused, unfussy, and steeped in results.

Their 20-year journey is a story of two paths aligned, not without friction, but full of fidelity. Four children. One gubernatorial mandate. Two lives intertwined at both the kitchen table and the state cabinet.

As Nigeria watches Enugu’s next chapter unfold, the Mbahs offer more than governance. They offer a soft reminder that love, when rooted in partnership and purpose, can shape not just families, but futures.

Opeyemi Bamidele Leading the Senate with Grace and Grit

At 62, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele walks the marbled halls of Nigeria’s National Assembly not with the swagger of power, but with the cadence of purpose. His voice, calm yet commanding, has become the ballast of a Senate often adrift in the stormy waters of national urgency.

To some, he is simply “MOB.” But behind those initials lies a man whose journey bends like a well-worn scroll, etched with years in courtrooms, boardrooms, and campaign trails. From Iyin-Ekiti to New York, from student union protests to drafting policy in the thick of Lagos politics, Bamidele has done more than wear many hats—he’s stitched them by hand.

A lawyer, legislator, strategist, and survivor of Nigeria’s political metamorphosis, he now serves as Senate Majority Leader. His ascent in July 2023 wasn’t just a promotion; it was a punctuation mark in a career marked by deliberate preparation and quiet, enduring loyalty.

Before this chapter, there were others. There was the fiery young man studying religious studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, who later took up law at the University of Benin, then crossed oceans to earn a master’s in the United States, and the rare badge of the New York Bar.

There was the counsellor in the shadows, advising Tinubu in the early 90s, navigating legal minefields in turbulent times, and later steering youth, sport, and strategy portfolios as Lagos commissioner. His tenure wasn’t flashy, but it left its mark: steady reforms, measured policies, and a knack for building what others dismissed as unfixable.

Today, his leadership in the 10th Senate is less about theatrics and more about temperature control: cooling partisan tempers, forging consensus, and quietly raising the chamber’s moral ceiling.

As he clocks 62, Senator Bamidele stands as a portrait of seasoned statesmanship. Not one for flamboyance, yet unmistakably present. A

Some names echo through the corridors of power with bombast. Others slip in like a well-oiled hinge — quiet, functional, indispensable. Bayo Otunola might just be the latter.

Though not one for front-page drama or photo-op politics, Otunola is, by many accounts, thriving under the Tinubu administration. The serial entrepreneur, political scientist, and Managing Director of TwinsFaja Nigeria Limited, has made his mark not with bluster but with a blend of quiet strategy and relentless pragmatism. In the shifting tides of Nigerian governance, he’s proven to be a man who sails skillfully.

TwinsFaja isn’t just a name; it’s a brand etched into the country’s building industry. From cement to steel, roofing sheets to reinforcements, the company has become a cornerstone supplier for everyday construction, brick by literal brick. Under Otunola’s stewardship, it has morphed from a local business to an influential player, known for marrying quality with grit.

What sets Otunola apart, insiders say, is his ability to navigate business and governance without crashing into either. He’s no stranger to political machinery; his degree in political science from the University of Ilorin adds a thoughtful, analytical layer to his enterprise mindset. Those close to him describe him as “a motivator,” “a strategist,” and, in typical Nigerian fashion, “a man of the people.”

In an era where many appointees are grappling for the spotlight or survival, Otunola seems content in the background, where real influence brews. Whether he’s crafting distribution chains for cement or opening quiet doors in Abuja, he’s reportedly doing both well—very well, according to those watching.

So, while the headlines chase louder names and scandals, Otunola continues to play a long, measured game. His rise may not be explosive, but like a good foundation, it’s holding up just fine. And considering how many others are complaining, Otunola’s skies are bright and colourful under the present administration.

Unwrapping Bayo Otunola

Otunola

Governor peter mba and wife

wahab

Bamidele

bridge between the politics of conviction and the politics of calculation. Nigeria may yet have many voices, but MOB remains one of its most reliable echoes.

For those of you who do not know, Bolaji is the first son of the highly revered banker, Otunba Subomi Balogun, who passed recently. Bolaji, in his own right, is also a super respected investment banker, businessman and thought leader. He is an influential capital market operator whose Chappelhill has been involved in some of the biggest transactions ever.

He is also an international resource person who sits on the board of the United Nations committee on something as the personal nominee of the UN Secretary General. He was once chairman of the giant Lafarge and is still chairman of Unilever.

So, why all these accolades, you may begin to wonder. Well, his name is being bandied as a possible replacement for the late Awujale, and he has told me categorically that he has zero interest.

In a very long conversation, he stated very firmly that although he has the highest respect for his heritage and regards the same as one of his utmost privileges, he has

what was That, Kwam 1?

If you have not seen that video, better find it and watch. They finally took “agberosim” to the airport. Watching the clip, the incident felt like something straight out of a poorly-made Nollywood Film. People were standing near the front of an airplane - Value Jet o - and the next thing, the aircraft started moving ooo. A plane o, not a molue or a “bolekaja”, a plane o. The next thing I saw people in uniform, and one man in brown traditional wear, dodging the wings of the plane as it started to taxi. Which kind of country is this one na? The next minute, we saw a report on FAAN letterheaded paper explaining what had just happened.

The roundly described arrogant Fuji star and main contender for the throne of his Ijebu forefathers was embroiled in an argument with staff. He was asked to drop the flask he was carrying - veteran star said no, and asked why. Is he not the Oluaye of the World? Is he not the one who is the head of his ruling family and all that crap? An argument ensued, and he was deboarded. They took the fight outside as he was alleged to have poured the contents of the flask on the staff. Content that FAAN has now come out to say was alcohol.

“zero interest” in being selected. He talked about his many international engagements; the long conversation he had with his dad before he passed; the highly revered stool and its influence not only in Ijebuland but nationwide, and his inability to commit to all that it requires to fill in the very large shoes of the immediate past Awujale as reasons for his position. What else can I say? I perfectly understand, sir. Abi wetin else I go talk? Kai.

preSIDeNT JoNATHAN, KINDlY

IgNore AND wAlK AwAY

My Lord, I have seen your name being bandied as a possible candidate for the Presidency under your party, PDP. You know me, I won’t mince words – better respect yourself and just walk away. Better just ignore those who are baiting you, because they just want to give you the last embarrassment.

The small goodwill you gained by refusing to fight and quickly surrendering when you lost to Buhari is what is giving you a small platform to talk in Nigeria and also pushing some small international

What is really baffling is the fact that the Fuji Star was said to have physically attempted to stop the plane from moving in a very stupid act of defiance, just as they do in Oshodi Motor park - you know how the bus driver would refuse to pay NURTW levy and the collector would stand in front of the bus and attempt to remove its windshield. That was what Fuji Lord may have wanted to do – remove the windshield of the plane.

The pilots moved, leading Fuji Star to do a James Bond as we have seen in the video. Rightly so, the pilots have been suspended and the Fuji Star taken in and surprisingly released even though they said they are still doing investigations.

Now, why terrorism charges should not be placed is surprising me here, as I write, and why the pilots should not be charged with attempted murder and endangerment of lives on board is beginning to annoy me here. I know they have said they are investigating, but we know how it will all end; that is why I am not holding my breath here. But seriously? What was that? What was really that? Is this not why people like that gap-toothed Kemi “Badenough” are out there calling us out? What was that? Rubbish.

jobs your way.

My egbon, let me tell you categorically that any attempt to enter the ring will not only wipe off that small goodwill but will also expose you to the kind of embarrassment that you would wish you were not born. What we need now is not your style – you lack the charisma, vision or clarity of thought that is needed for a clear eye run.

Less I forget, it is not as if your tenure was anything to write home about, it’s just that when compared to what we are seeing since you left, yours is looking like Eldorado, but the truth? Yours was truly a lame attempt at governing, filled with indecisiveness and a drunken approach to issues.

I am being this very hard at you so that you don’t go and start wearing a bowler hat, tie your wrapper and be trying yourself.

Please, do not distract us as we search for a young dynamo that will come and save us, and truth be told, I would prefer another Tinubu term than another dancing chairs scenario where we will now recycle another lame duck into power like

we are just another group of 200 million morons.

Oga, better respect yourself and go and sit down. Thank you.

emIr SANUSI: THIeveS IN verY HIgH plAceS

By now, if you do not know that Emir Sanusi is one of my most favourite people, then you don’t know me. The great Emir cannot help himself; in fact, he is one of those people who talk without thinking, and when he does, the whole place will be shaking.

It is this his “mouth” that has put him in so much trouble, possibly leading to his initial dethronement, but then again, it is this his very mouth that has built for him such huge goodwill, such massive followership, such influence that today he is one of the most respected individuals on the continent. His recent statement, which has been widely reported, is one of those statements that is quintessential Emir Sanusi. “Stop rewarding thieves with public positions,” he reportedly said.

The boldness, straight-to-the-skin talk, is simply his style. Not for

BolAJI BAlogUN: A momeNT IN SIleNce

egbetokun

Hrm Sanusi

Balogun

Jonathan

Kwam 1

him is the diplomatically dancing around the issues that we are now very used to in public engagement. For him, he says it as it is. This his latest statement reminds me of a list purportedly released by the EFCC, showing the governors under investigation, and we are now seeing them in different colourations as ministers, senators and the rest.

Emir Sanusi, with his flowing robes and peacocky demeanour, cannot be said to be a lone voice crying in the wilderness, because that description portends a starving, weak person, almost naked and looking very hungry; this our own voice na very loud, flamboyant, fine man, shouting. Will they listen to him?

egbeTokUN: THe Sowore of THe MATTer

These two are going at it like cat and mouse. One is saying the other is illegal, and the other is responding in the way he knows best – force. I chatted with Sowore the other day about his latest invite, and I asked him if he was afraid. He said no and that he will honour the invite and face whatever they throw at him. As expected, we have seen footage showing that he has been “taken” in. My people, as I write, there is no official position as to his status, and all I have to work on is a TV clip from News Central, speaking with one of Sowore’s people who spoke in very bad English and confirming that he has been rough-handled and aggressively taken in. I really do not know the main story beyond the fact that Sowore has been shouting that IG is illegal, and as a result of it, there has been an ongoing cat-and-mouse game between the Force and Sowore. You see, fighting Sowore the way it looks as if the police are doing, will not work. It is like fighting a prostitute after rounds of sex. Sowore has nothing to lose. He even needs all this attention to garner and maintain his relevance. And for the police? This is just another distraction when they are being faced with much more serious issues that they seem not to be ready for, and truly finding it hard to grapple with very efficiently. Please, if it is true that he has been “taken in,” kindly just release him or offer him bail or send him to court or whatever because if I were in the IGs shoes, I will definitely not approach this Sowore’s matter in this manner, I’ll just handle it the way you handle an irritating stuborn boil in the back side –ignore.

p e T er o b I ’S S IN gle-Ter M A M b ITI o N

Mr. Peter Obi has vowed that he will serve only a single term if elected as president. This is very strategic considering the need to take northern interests into the equation. If Obi decides to serve two terms, then the north will be feeling cheated, even though in my mind, after that Buhari’s eight years, the north should be banned for at least 50 years from the presidency. Those eight years were years of carnage and pestilence. Anyway, some watchers have said that Obi’s statement looked like that of a desperate man. I don’t agree; it is a very realistic, strategic statement to calm the nerves of a region that claims to have the numbers.

If he doesn’t push that narrative

and very strongly, he may not get their support, especially if you see that his kinsmen governors - only God knows what is wrong with those ones - are not supporting him.

Even if they were, and he gets all the South-east votes, he would not be able to cross the River Niger with it.

I don’t think Obi is the saviour, I

bIoDUN SHobANjo: STIrrINg A STorM

This Ijebu high chief is looking for my trouble o. Ara adugbo eja de wa o. The 80-year-old lovable grandfather and advertising legend just woke up one day and started yabbing me o. Me? What gave him the courage to go at me is something that I really do not understand o. But the Baba was on me for over three hours nonstop, even pulling in my sister, Tosin Adefeko and Mudi into the fray. The likeable daddy yabbed me o. No name he didn’t call me and dared to say that no Ijebu girl will ever agree to marry me. Me that has dated five Ijebu girls before, it is me that this still very handsome Baba is yabbing.

I laughed o and sent a message to 10,000 people on my WhatsApp to come and carry their Baba o before I unleash. As expected, they started begging. Some said I should tamper justice with mercy, others said I should be the bigger person, that the whole world knows that I am king of yabis, and as such, I should be the bigger man. But as they were begging, daddy was still firing missiles – Duke, you this Shomolu boy, I go send people to beat you o. I don tell Mudi to arrange boys come beat you. By this time, the gloves were off, and I was not going to care again that this was the biggest and most influential advertising personality of the decade, and a very wellrespected Ijebu high chief; he must be attacked. He had taunted me enough, pushed

my buttons and triggered my attack mode. I gave him one last chance to save himself, I said “aghhh, aghhh, aghhhh, daddy, I will fire o,” and he retorted “Duke, you are not real Shomolu, you are fake Duke, I tell you, I will send boys to go and wait for you at Onipanu and they will beat you. Shebi you have been asking for people to come and beat you, oya wait.”

That was it, no more patience, I will fire o and scatter, not caring that this was my life’s mentor and not caring that I went to his 80th and ate three plates of rice. He has touched the tail of a lion, not just any lion, but a castrated one, and that could only mean total annihilation.

As I carried my phone to start the war, the thing just crashed- ohh my God, juju has scattered my phone o. The phone just hang. As I am typing, I am at Computer Village begging the Igbo boys to quickly repair the thing before the baba reach Ijebu o …

Well done, daddy, you are my favourite old man after Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and I really would like to buy afang for you – no strings attached. I know say na the afang dey hungry you, that is why you are sending me all these yabis instead of asking. Don’t worry, sir, I will surprise you one of these days – hope you can still chew meat, or I should come with dentures? Lol. Kai, daddy will retaliate o, I trust him, he will soon send his own yab as I have mentioned dentures now. Kai.

don’t think he will even win the election, but I swear, from what we have suffered since Obasanjo handed over, Obi is looking like a very gentle saint.

The kind of leadership we have been exposed to since Obasanjo left is like taking Hitler, Emperor Bokasa, Mobuto Sese Seko and Idi Amin together, crushing them, mixing them to create new human beings and placing them as presidents of Nigeria. I tell you, the children of Israel did not see onetenth of what we have seen in their so-called suffering in the wilderness. Obi mbok, should we pray for your emergence?

keMI bADeNocH:

A brITISH IN YorUbA SkIN

This one seems to have missed the way. Person who is Conservative leader, pushing for Prime minister and it is what is happening in Sagamu that is doing her. It is like this one has no sense, as we say on the streets.

With the myriad of problems facing the UK, it is the pit latrine at FGC in Sagamu that is disturbing her. She has talked so much that our own Chief FaniKayode has decided to take her on, and you will start to see fire for fire because Chief Fani-Kayode is really up to the task.

For me, I have tried to ignore her, but find it extremely difficult to. The Nigerians that she keeps vilifying have no real voting bloc to help or not help her in the UK elections – those ones are there cleaning toilets, working three jobs and eating fish and chips to keep body and soul together, and this one is here abusing them up and down.

Even Nigeria, the country with such a diminished international posturing, is of no use to her, abi she cannot see that our last two presidents used to come to the UK with a night bus to sneak into a clinic to check their blood pressure. When last did a sitting Nigerian President visit Buckingham Palace or Number 10? So, this fixation with Nigeria is really beating my imagination here o. Mbok, “Kemo” focus and stop trying to be a bully. We already know our problems and we are ok with them, so don’t come and remind us. We are ok with our problems. When we are ready, we will face them. Oya, face your own and carry that your mumu gap tooth and go somewhere else abeg. Thank you.

VDM, I YA bo o jo AS Irr ITANTS of TH e Ye A r

If there were any award of this nature, these two would win it. I don’t even know what they are fighting and shaking themselves about. Today, VDM will distract us with rants about her. Tomorrow, she will respond, and they are both not ashamed at the cat-calling they have been giving themselves as adults, distracting police, army, the senate and Shettima. Please, whatever their grouse is, let them just go and sit down abeg. Nigerians have too many problems to be disturbed by a young man who looks like he has not taken a good bath in months, and a woman who looks very, not clean, with all those layers of annoying make-up. Both should just go and sit down. Thank you.

Shobanjo

From Lagos to Singapore: Tolu Adeniran Leads Across the Borders

No trumpet sounded the day she first walked through the doors of ambition. But today, Africa leans forward with pride as Tolu Adeniran, a child of promise and woman of purpose, takes her place at the summit of global finance. Her name now graces the corridors of Standard Chartered Singapore as Director of International Banking, not as ornament, but as a credo of brilliance and blooming in the farthest fields, writes Lanre Alfred

She is no stranger to motion. Her journey heralds a masterclass on growth. From boardrooms in Lagos to high-net-worth vaults across continents, Tolu has traded not just in capital but in trust, not merely in numbers but in the poetry of results.

To understand her ascent is to read the ledger of a life marked by luminous intention. A Master of Business Administration in hand, and a decade of tested experience woven into her stride, Tolu has charted a course through the oftenclouded corridors of banking with the clarity of a woman destined for distinction.

Her craft was not merely learned, but lived. Twelve years at the heart of Sales and Investment Advisory honed her into a strategist fluent in the language of high stakes. In that time, she did more than meet expectations; she rewrote them. Each financial quarter bore the watermark of her presence: growth, stability, and a rising tide of trust from high net worth clients who saw in her what markets cannot quantify, gravitas.

With eyes trained on possibility and feet rooted in discipline, she walked the fine line between risk and opportunity, always arriving on the side of reward. Now, from her new seat in Singapore, she will carry that same compass into deeper, wider waters.

Tolu has long been a custodian of capital, but she is also a cartographer of relationships. Her signature achievement lies not in cold figures but in the warmth of connections cultivated, in the loyalty of clients who return not simply for services rendered, but for excellence embodied.

Her intuition for expansion, her discernment in market behavior, and her tireless devotion to performance set her apart from peers. Where others chased numbers, she cultivated landscapes. Where others hunted deals, she built temples of trust.

She sees wealth not as static possession, but as flowing purpose,a resource to be managed with foresight and deployed with wisdom. She does not chase success; she magnetizes it.

There is something rare in her rhythm, she walks into every meeting as though she were born to anchor it. Clients speak of trust deepened, of strategies refined, of portfolios reborn under her watch.

But beneath the professional prowess lies something deeper: an ethic of effort, an elegance of execution. She is known not merely for her results, but for the consistency of her excellence. When others tire, she refines. When others rest, she reimagines. In every challenge, she finds a canvas. In every assignment, she writes her name in quiet.

Though her appointment in Singapore has drawn global admiration, her roots run deep into the rich earth of Nigeria. Tolu is not simply a banker; she is a builder of women, economies, and futures once deemed impossible.

She has poured herself into the veins of Nigeria’s development dreams, championing causes that do not often make headlines but which determine the destinies of nations: gender equity, decent work, and inclusive economic growth. She has sat at the tables where policy meets practice and brought with her the voice of clarity, conviction, and change.

She knows that to lift one woman is to lift a generation. That economic dignity is not a gift, but a right. Her advocacy echoes across initiatives focused on empowering women, ensuring fair work, and expanding the reach of opportunity to those long forgotten by the corridors of capital.

A decade of brilliance does not go unnoticed. She now steps into a role that demands the very synthesis of her gifts, leadership, vision, strategy, and service.

As Director of International Banking, her responsibilities span more than transactions. She will shape the bank’s relationships with the world’s most discerning clients. She will design the architecture of wealth across borders. She will lend her voice to the symphony of global finance, and it will not be background music.

Singapore, the jewel of Asia’s financial theatre, has gained a new virtuoso. Ultimately because Tolu’s narrative is not a random tale of luck. She is proof that preparation, when kissed by grace, produces flight. She is the woman

who outran gravity, not because she had wings, but because she made wings out of will.

She has become a mirror for every African girl with questions on her lips and dreams in her gaze. Her journey tells them: it can be done. It has been done.

Her ascent signals something greater than individual success. It is a testament to possibility, a salute to potential, a trumpet blast to every institution that still doubts the power of female leadership in executive finance.

What Tolu brings to the global banking table cannot be reduced to metrics. It is not merely her education, her experience, or even her accolades. It is the posture of her purpose. It is the poetry of her pursuit.

She stands at a rare crossroads, where brilliance meets responsibility, where success is not hoarded, but harvested for the greater good. Her story is still unfolding, but its chapters so far read like a hymn: clear, profound, unstoppable.

In an era that demands substance over spectacle, her presence is an answered prayer.

To chart her journey is to witness a quiet revolution. Not every leader screams their presence. Some simply become indispensable. And that is her true superpower, not charisma, but consistency; not flamboyance, but

foresight.

From Nigeria to Singapore, she carries a banner few dare to hold. Not for the prestige, but for the promise: that leadership must serve, that growth must be shared, that banking must become more human.

She reminds us that the future of finance belongs not to those who command numbers, but to those who understand people. And she does, deeply.

Tolu’s appointment is not an ending, but a beginning. Her story is now bound to a wider canvas, one that stretches from African aspirations to Asian opportunities, from boardroom briefings to boardroom breakthroughs. Her journey has never been about herself alone. It is about what is possible when a woman refuses to be small in a world that rewards shrinking. It is about the courage to say yes to greatness, again and again, no matter the odds.

She has become a symbol of soaring, a reminder that excellence is not elusive; it is earned, lived, sustained. Where others see a career, she builds a future. Where others chase promotions, she crafts purpose.

Where others linger in comfort, she strides into the unknown, torch in hand. For her, the Singaporean brief isn’t just a new job. It is a new dawn. And the sun rises with her.

Adeniran

With a Sense of Defiance, Artists Cry for Breath

Beneath the veil of the diverse creative expressions in the Life In My city art Festival’s Lagos Region exhibition, lurk profound epiphanies, personal struggles, societal commentary, and a deep desire for change. okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports

Epiphany moments – those sneaky little bursts of insight that sometimes make one wonder why they didn’t come sooner – typically pop up unannounced. And in unlikely places to boot! Take the case of Oluwashina Sulaimon, one of the 62 talented artists who showcased their works at the Life In My City Art Festival’s Lagos Region exhibition, which held from August 1 to August 8 at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre in Ikoyi. One such moment arrived for him on a rainy day. Perhaps, the Muses might have conspired to gift him with inspiration. It was at a bus stop in Ibadan, of all places. What more apt illustration could there have been that inspiration strikes when and where it is least expected?

Stuck amidst other commuters in the downpour, the 27-year-old techie with a passion for art watched in dismay as the transport fare took an unceremonious leap, vaulting from ₦200 to ₦400 in the blink of an eye – a price hike that was as unwelcome as an uninvited guest at a family dinner. This eye-opening experience would prove to be a turning point, sparking a profound realisation. As he recalls, “It was like a light bulb went off in my head. We love to shout for change, but how often do we choose what is right, even when no one is watching?”

Talk about a paradigm shift! Sulaimon’s transformation was nothing short of remarkable. He recalled how he used to be part of the choir singing the blame game – government, religion, and anything else but himself. But just then, the hypocrisy of it all became obvious through all the cracks. The people point fingers at the system, yet their own hands are busy tightening the noose. Then, a candid comment from someone stuck in the same predicament struck a chord: “We’ll blame the government for this, but it’s you people who just hiked the price.”

As he pondered the festival’s theme, Can We Breathe?, it began to assume a haunting significance. “It’s not just a question,” he says with a tinge of irony, “it’s a desperate cry – the voices of those suffocating under the weight of broken promises, choking on their own complicity.”

Similarly, this theme, which instantly calls to mind the tragic fate of Eric Garner and George Floyd, two African Americans whose earthly lives were violently snuffed out by the police, resonated with the experiences of his co-exhibitors at the exhibition. This particular exhibition, by the way, was just one of 16 regional exhibitions planned to take place across the country this year. These regional exhibitions, which typically take place at different times and venues, build up to the grand finale in Enugu, where the top 100 will be featured in late October. Ten of these hopeful top 100 have already been selected from this Lagos Region exhibition. Predictably, yet sometimes refreshingly, most of the artists kept their sights on the theme in their submissions. Among them is Victoria Somawine, who as a first child and daughter of an Igbo family, finds art to be an outlet for her emotions. She,

as the only one who chose art as a career path, is continually at odds with her parents, who wanted her to pursue a medical career.

“I’m confronted with pressure from society and family,” she says. “Being told what to do and how to act, as a representative of a social unit. My every move being watched. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells, trying to please everyone, but never really pleasing myself. ‘Be a good example, your siblings are watching,’ they say.”

Similarly, for Rebecca Obiageli Madu, another participant at the weeklong exhibition, the theme hits a little too close to home – a primal cry that reverberates through her ancestral roots, her politics, and her spirituality. Having navigated solitude since age 17, she finds solace in the sea’s vastness and has learned to shapeshift to survive life’s challenges. This experience informs her deep connection to the theme, which she feels resonating within her bones. “Breath is sacred,” she says, her words a reflection of her own journey. “It is the first permission to exist. But in many spaces, especially as Black women and artists from the grassroots, our breath has been interrupted by systems, silence, and survival. This festival theme resonates deeply because my art is my exhale. My canvas is where I reclaim breath, where I speak what the world tried to silence…”

All participants in this youth-focused art competition, which now for the first time welcomes foreign artists who have been residing in Nigeria for at least five years, had in response to the call for entries earlier this year, which ended on May 31, paid a non-refundable token fee of N5000 while submitting their works.

On its 18th edition, the competition, more popularly known as LIMCAF, is offering a dazzling array of over 60 million naira in prizes for the contestants, all of whom are below 35 years. A closer look at the prize portfolio reveals that the grand prize, now rechristened as the Elder Kalu Young Artist of the Year Prize, has been substantially upped to the naira equivalent of USD 2,000, honouring the indelible legacy of the late Elder Kalu Uke Kalu, a stalwart of the annual festival. Complementing this are an array of category prizes as well as bespoke prizes, each designed to recognise and reward exceptional talent. Notable examples include the Chinelo Chime Prize for Best in Photography, which stands out with a prize of N1 million, and category prizes in painting, sculpture, drawing, and ceramics, each worth N500,000.

As the artists’ voices converge in a collective cry for breath, freedom, and self-expression, the festival stands as a beacon of the transformative power of art to challenge, inspire, and uplift.

A view of the exhibition hall

Another view of the exhibition hall

A solo saxophonist serenading guests at the exhibition's opening

Strategic Autonomy from an Individual Perspective: The Case of Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi @ 85+

Strategic Autonomy is synonymous with selfreliance as a strategy and technique of national development. Self-reliance is about capacity building and position of strength, self-perception and self-respect, self-security and signal of deterrence. In this regard, who is responsible for the administration of strategic autonomy in a country? Is it only the government and its agents? Where and how should the quest for strategic autonomy begin? Should it begin at the home or family level, since every family seeks self-reliance in terms of survival?

Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT), strategic autonomy has been adopted as a foreign policy objective, which requires the use of domestic and international environments to build capacity to do and undo in international relations. Strategic autonomy is also about ensuring state and human security, economic productivity and vibrancy, especially in terms of food sufficiency, and self-reliant healthcare system. Should this be exclusively reserved for the government?

With the life and style of some notable Nigerians, it appears that individual attitude and behaviour can go a long way in positively shaping the quest for strategic autonomy. This requires investigating strategic autonomy as an attitude and as a behaviour. The case of Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi @ 85+ serves as a good illustration for analysis and Louis Odion has lent much credence to our observation by recalling that the life-style of Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi @ 80 was inspiring and publicly appreciated.

As he put it, in the ‘media industry alone, the list is endless. Since the torrent of tributes begin a week ago in commemoration of his 80th birthday, media heavyweights like Sam Omatseye, Dr Reuben Abati, Segun Adeniyi, Azubuike Ishiekwene, Simon Kolawole have individually given touching testimonies. Indeed, these tributes have celebrated his trophies and laurels in multiple fields of human endeavour. But it will require tomes and tomes to document his positive impact on the lives of so many.’

Individual-defined Strategic Autonomy

The issue to address by adding tomes and tomes to the documentation of his positive impact is determining how Nigeria’s quest for strategic autonomy can benefit from the individual life-style of Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi? Put differently, how can strategic autonomy be defined by the factor of individuality? Does national strategic autonomy not begin from the private individual? What are the roles of individuals and professionals in the quest for strategic autonomy?

Private individuals like Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi and other notables like him can play vital roles in Nigeria’s quest for the status of strategic autonomy. They can promote their community’s involvement, advocate for transparency, contribute to societal solutions to local problems, as well as hold government institutions accountable to the people. This role-playing has the potential to enhance effective governance and citizen empowerment. More importantly, community involvement enables contribution to the taking of strategic initiatives and promotion of a collective approach to problem-solving.

Additionally, when a community tries to hold public institutions accountable by demanding transparency in political governance, promoting ethical practices, and also asking that all policy decisions be taken in the interest of their community, public service delivery cannot but be improved, building resilience and long-term sustainability cannot but be also ensured. And true enough, a healthy platform for the operationalisation of the doctrine of 4-Ds would have also been created. Democratic values will thrive. The Diaspora will not operate like strangers. Development efforts will engender joint responsibility. Demography will have the potential to promote mutual understanding of national statistics on societal questions and the changing structure of human populations. And more interestingly, when statistics point to problems and economic inadequacies, collaboration cannot but be a necessity. Thus, the roles of private individuals who have influence in their communities cannot be ignored

•Adelusi-Adeluyi

in the quest, conduct and management of Nigeria’s strategic autonomy.

Indeed, a former Federal Minister of Health and distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Fellow of the Institute of Management, and Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacy, as well as the Pioneer President of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi still carried his distinguished pharmaceutical personality to other strata of socio-political platforms. At the level of the stratum of legal society, he first graduated as a Pharmacist in 1965 from the University of Ife and then moved to the University of Lagos to read Law and graduating in 1986 as the overall best student in the Law School Class of 1987. He not only attended Course 12 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), but also served on the Governing Council and President of the Alumni Association of the NIPSS.

In this regard, the quest for strategic autonomy cannot but require men of timber and calibre, on the one hand, and on a more serious note, men of iron and steel, on the other. Men in both categories must first target the use of Chief Ojo Maduekwe’s Principle of Citizen Diplomacy as one of the instruments of promoting the Doctrine of 4-Ds. They must promote democracy, unite the Diaspora and foster national development. Doing this still requires identifying the counterparts of Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi

The quest for strategic Autonomy is better, if not best, achieved from an individual perspective. In other words, how do individual Nigerians see and understand strategic autonomy? To what extent do they feel much concerned about it? Do they see themselves as major instruments of national growth and development? And more inquisitively, how much attention do the Nigerian elite feel about the need for national self-reliance, an objective that has been a major preoccupation of Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs? Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi has, grosso modo, always given the priority of attention to building national unity at various levels. There is no reason why Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi @ 85+ should still not be concerned with helping to build a Nigerian nation. Old age is a matter of self-perception. Many young people behave mentally like an old experienced people. Yet, many octogenarians have fresh and evergreen thinking mind set of the young people. Our own birthday wish is that Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi should continue to engage the Nigerian youth, create greater awareness about the need for strategic autonomy, as well as mould their character in order to free the Nigerian state from galloping political chicanery, unending institutional corruption, and recidivist politics of self-deceit. Many happier returns of August 2

in countries of special interest to Nigeria.

For instance, who are the friends of Professors like Wole Soyinka, Akinwande Bolaji Akinyemi, Jide Osuntokun, Tunde Adeniran, Yinka Omorogbe, Remi Ajibewa, Ambassadors like Kayode Shinkaiye, Segun Apata, Joe Keshi, Segun Akinsanya, Florentina Adenike Ukonga, Femi George, Godknows Igali, Abdullahi Omaki, Rasheed Akinkuolie, Enaruna Imohe and veteran media moguls like Nduka Obaigbena, and John Momoh, as well as seasoned public affairs analysts like Dr Reuben Abati, Mohammed Haruna, SegunAdeniyi, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, Eniola Bello, etc. in other countries? Whenever there are controversial issues between Nigeria and any other country, Government should be able to find Nigerians who have friends in such a country to speak to their friends on the basis of people-to-people relations.

Citizen diplomacy is quite useful in strengthening bilateral relationships. Consequently, notable Nigerians should be organised into a group of Citizen Diplomats from which nominations can be made in the foreseeable future to engage in people-to-people diplomacy while official diplomacy can be reserved for state-to-state interactions. Citizen diplomacy cannot but be a good complement to official diplomacy in the quest for a self-reliant Nigeria in the making. We strongly believe that Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi is still quite young in mind to help lay the foundation for the take-off of citizen diplomacy. Put differently, who can rightly say that the Ekiti Prince is not a colossus or does not have the capacity to engineer a citizen diplomacy movement that will be instrumental to the achievement of the objectives of Nigeria’s foreign policy of strategic autonomy?

Who says that he is not a nationalist and an internationalist per excellence? He was a former Chairman Ekiti State COVID-19 Rapid Response Mobilisation Committee. He is Patron of Ekiti Parapo and Pioneer. He is President of the Igbimo Ure Ekiti (IUE). If Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi can play active roles in fostering greater understanding and unity among international students and also foster better entente among the people of Ekiti State, it cannot but be required of him to also help Nigeria to be meaningfully self-reliant in international relations. Self-reliance should begin at the individual level before the focal point can shift to the family, nuclear or extended.

Additionally, to be able to sustain the quest for self-reliance, Government must stop bastardising the award of National Honours by only giving them out stricto sensu on the basis of merit and proven patriotism. Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi received the National Awards of MFR and OFR, and was also given a street named after him in Abuja to mark his 80th birthday in 2020. This was befitting but not befitting enough for someone who has served in various capacities of nation-building. A Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigeria-American Chamber of Commerce, for a Nigerian by ius sanguinis, who has served on the Governing Councils of Ondo State University (now EKSU), University of Ibadan, Elizade University, and Veritas University, Abuja, as well as on the Council of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, he truly deserves a higher level of national recognition. One good way may not be another award but giving him the responsibility of what he knows how to do best, like organising citizen diplomats, and translating Chief Ojo Maduekwe’s foreign policy principle of citizen diplomacy into action.

And true enough, he is a pharmacist, a lawyer, a Private Pilot Licence recipient in 1973, a recipient of the degree of Doctor of Law, LLD (Honoris Causa) by the Ekiti State University in April 2024. What else for Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi @ 85 plus after having promoted youth development nationwide and worldwide? He is an old man @ 85 but still youthful in mind at 85. He is wrapped up in the glory of Jesus-like humility and good leadership by example. In fact, again, he became plurilingual as a result of his commitment to the promotion of University Student Organisations which prompted his travelling to several countries of the world.

The Case of Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi

“Prince Julius Adewale Adelusi-Adeluyi, A Quintessential Gentleman’s Gentleman at 80,” was the title of an article written by Kemi Pinheiro and Wahab Shittu and published in the ThisDay in 1987. In their words, ‘Prince Julius Adewale AdelusiAdeluyi, OFR, mni, is easily classified as one of the doyens of his generation, celebrated only in part, and the Nigerian Law School Class 1987 takes pride in being associated with this man of many excellent descriptions and accomplishments. How do we explain the pride of the Nigerian Law School Class 1987 in associating with Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi? Could the reasons have been different from his attitudinal and behavioural dispositions? Attitudinally, Louis Odion has spoken little but with much wider implications in his Arts & Life column on “JAA @ 85: A Measure of Public Spirit,” in The Nation newspaper of Wednesday, July 30, 2025, p.15. He first noted that, on August 2, 2020 when Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi turned 80 years of age, ‘no cymbals sounded nor any lack or that his legion of mentees now immensely accomplished in all fields of human endeavour were incapable. It was his fervent wish). As Pa JAA turns this week (August 2, 2025) there will be no Owambe anywhere still. It is by choice. Obviously, the effluxion of time has not in any way diluted his existing prescription for a better country.’

Read full article online - www.thisdaylive.com

IN THE ARENA

Let’s Query Governors’ Profligacy

President Bola Tinubu’s call for governors to prioritise citizens’ welfare, echoed by the United States’ Embassy’s recent critique of their extravagance and mismanagement of resources, has fuelled the urgent need for Nigerians to start holding their leaders at the subnationals accountable, Davidson Iriekpen writes

Again, President Bola Tinubu last week called on state governors to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians by investing more in rural electrification, agricultural mechanisation, poverty eradication, and infrastructure.

His advice came on the heels of a presentation on the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP) at the 150th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) in Abuja.

“I want to appeal to you; let us change the story of our people in the rural areas. The economy is working,” he said.

“We are on the path of recovery, but we need to stimulate growth in the rural areas. We know the situation in the rural areas; let us collaborate and do what will benefit the people. We have to embrace mechanisation in agriculture, fight insecurity and improve school enrolment through schoolfeeding,” he said.

The call is not the first by the president. In March, while hosting governors and other officials for an Iftar dinner at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu had urged governors to prioritise policies and initiatives that directly benefit the poor and vulnerable in society.

In May, while speaking at the opening of a twoday investment summit organised by the Nasarawa State Government in Lafia, he said the time had come for governors of various states to develop their states, and make them economically viable for the growth and development of the country.

Also in July, at the 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, Tinubu implored state governors to focus more on increased community engagement to meet the expectations of Nigerians. While admitting that Nigerians were still complaining at the grassroots, he charged governors to wet the grass more and deliver progressive change to Nigerians.

From these indications, President Tinubu may have indirectly been urging Nigerians to sometimes defocus their attention from the federal government and shift it to their state governments which are closer to them and are properly situated to provide their basic needs.

Although analysts have attributed the biting economic hardship to Tinubu’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the foreign exchange windows, there is no doubt that these policies have helped to seriously increase the revenue base of the three tiers of government.

For example, in 2023, the 36 states of the federation shared N1.5 trillion in the first half of the year.

Chairman of NGF, Abdulrasaq

The figure increased to N1.88 trillion in the first half of 2024 and ballooned to N2.2 trillion by April this year.

Despite huge allocations, including internally generated revenue, the country continues to grapple with inflation, rising living costs, hunger, unemployment, and a widening infrastructure gap, all of which have deepened poverty, slowed economic growth, and worsened living conditions nationwide.

At the state levels, many governors have failed to prioritise or deliver critical infrastructure such as good roads, schools, hospitals, and portable water. This negligence fuels youth unemployment, discourages investment, and pushes citizens to fend for themselves.

While the eyes of many Nigerians are focused on the federal government, the state governors live like emperors who cannot be questioned, not even by their state Houses of Assembly.

The huge allocations to states and local governments are meant to fast-track the execution of viable economic and social infrastructure at the grassroots. But this is not the case, and it has exacerbated poverty and frustration in the country.

There is also the sustained and worsening public outcry from several residents and stakeholders in some states over the consistent absence of their governors, who, rather than sit at home, prefer to govern the people from Abuja, United States, United Kingdom, Dubai, Turkey and other parts of the world at the expense of state resources.

In many states, roads and hospitals are in deplorable conditions. Agriculture, which is supposed to

be encouraged to drive investment and massive employment in order to tame hunger and ruralurban drift, is neglected.

A recent report by the Cadre Harmonisé Food and Nutrition Insecurity Analysis, led by the federal government, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and other partners, projected that 33.1 million Nigerians would face high levels of food insecurity during the June–August 2025 lean season. This totals 34.7 million, the number of Nigerians at risk of hunger.

According to UNESCO, approximately 20 million children are out of school in the country. This figure represents about one in three children in Nigeria and accounts for 15 per cent of the global total of out-of-school children. The situation is particularly severe in the northern regions, where over half of the girls are not in school.

Last month, Prince Clem Agba, former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning in the Muhammadu Buhari administration, reiterated the validity of the multidimensional poverty survey he commissioned while in office, which put the population figure of multidimensionally poor Nigerians at 133 million.

Speaking at the honorary national steering committee meeting and dinner with the Open Government Partnership global support unit in Abuja, he said that neither the federal government under the former Buhari administration nor the successor administration of Tinubu was responsible for the multidimensional poverty in Nigeria. Instead he blamed the state governments for the poverty

p OLITICAL NOT e S

plaguing the country.

“Who, in our constitution, is responsible for these things I have spoken about? Who is responsible for basic education? It is subnational government. Who is responsible for basic health? It is subnational government. Who is responsible for providing potable drinking water? It is subnational government. Who is responsible for sanitation? Subnational government. So, why are we blaming the federal government?

“We need to hold those who are to provide these amenities responsible because it is not enough to say government did not provide this or government did not provide that. Which government? We run a Federation and there are three tiers – the federal government, the state government and then the local government,” Agba said.

Perhaps, it was against this background that the United States Embassy in Nigeria raised serious concerns over the spending habits of some governors, accusing them of extravagance and poor management of public funds.

In a report it released, the embassy highlighted that many governors have been allocating huge sums of money towards the construction and renovation of government houses, even though many millions of Nigerians are facing severe economic difficulties.

The report noted that while President Tinubu has urged Nigerians to endure the current economic challenges brought about by government policies, some governors have not been sharing the burden of sacrifice.

It went further to accuse them of embarking on frivolous projects like the renovation and building of government houses with multi-billion naira while their people suffer from infrastructure decay or wallow in poverty and hardship.

The US embassy condemned these actions, emphasising that such reckless spending undermines public trust and increases inequality across the country.

BudgIT Nigeria, a civic-tech organisation advocating transparency in public finance, has also lamented that instead of investing in essential sectors like education, health, or agriculture, state governments are choosing to build facilities that are rarely used and provide little public value.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) echoed similar concerns. “There is more money, little accountability, and no priority,” it noted, adding that many governors are acting with impunity, emboldened by weak oversight and minimal citizen engagement in the budgeting process.

It is time for Nigerians to rise up and demand accountability from their governors.

INeC’s Inaction on early Campaigns

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seems to have ignored its responsibility of checking the excesses of political parties over their current resort to public campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election.

Signs of early campaigns emerged with rising presence of political posters, gale of endorsements, mobilisation and escalating verbal exchanges among political figures.

InJune,theposterspromotingPresidentBolaTinubu’s re-election emerged everywhere in Abuja, sparking debate about the appropriateness of such activities, given that the official campaign season is yet to begin.

Responding to questions on the issue, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi last week noted that any open campaign

or canvassing votes for the 2027 elections is not only inappropriate but also a violation of the Electoral Act.

He said Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 stipulates that the period of campaigning in public by political parties for an election shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.

He also disclosed that the attention of all political parties had been drawn to the situation at INEC’s last quarterly consultative meeting.

This was immediately followed by the criticism by human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), of early campaigns, describing them as illegal and urging INEC to caution politicians against breaching the Electoral Act, 2022.

“As far as the Electoral Act, 2022 is concerned, the

ongoing election campaign is illegal, totally illegal.

“It’salsodiversionary,becausewhatNigeriansexpect now, and what the law provides, is governance of the country without disruption.

“So, it’s not time yet to campaign and I do hope that INEC would draw the attention of politicians, including those in government, to relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.

“There is no provision yet. There is no room yet for campaigning in Nigeria,” Falana insisted.

However, many believe that the present leadership of INEC is a toothless bulldog with no political will to sanction the political parties, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has since commenced campaigns for PresidentTinubu, who has not even declared his ambition to seek reelection in 2027.

BRIEFING NOTES

Dangers in Culture of Tenure Extensions

ejiofor Alike argues that the breach of long-standing retirement regulations anchored on 35 years of service or 60 years of age in the civil service by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, which is being sustained by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, will expose the civil service to political interference, encourage corruption, mediocrity and executive impunity

As part of the impunity and nepotism that characterised his administration, former President Muhammadu Buhari had promoted the culture of extending the tenure of public servants in violation of service regulations that stipulate 35 years of service or 60 years of age for public servants for retirement from service.

It was obvious to close watchers of the administration that the primary motive behind this impunity was to reward loyalists, and deny certain individuals the opportunity to occupy top positions in a bid to sustain the dominance of a section of the country or an ethnic group.

Tenure extension breeds mediocrity, stifles career progression, destroys professionalism, exposes civil service to political interference, undermines its credibility, and dampens the morale of the workforce.

International best practice requires that the tenure of an office holder should only be extended under exceptional circumstances where it is difficult to recruit a successor.

But Buhari abused this special executive privilege by extending the tenure of public officials recklessly.

Barely two years into his administration in December 2017, Buhari extended the tenure of Nigeria’s military chiefs, citing their efforts in tackling Boko Haram in the North-east and addressing other security issues.

The military chiefs whose tenure were extended were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral IbokEte Ikwe Ibas; and the Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, all retired.

Tenure extension during a period of war or crisis is necessary to give military chiefs and war commanders enough time to implement their war strategy and successfully bring the war to an end.

However, the worsening insecurity after the extension of the tenure of the military chiefs showed that the extension was not merit-based.

It was common knowledge that the remaining part of their service years was characterised by renewed insurgency in the North-east, escalation of kidnappings for ransom across the country, frequent mass abductions of Nigerian school children and train passengers, frequent security threats in Abuja, and the rise of separatist groups in South-east, and South-west, as well as unknown gunmen in the South-east.

Buhari had also on February 4, 2021 extended the tenure of Mohammed Adamu as Inspector-General of Police by three months after he had clocked the mandatory 35 years in service on February 1, “to give room for the proper selection of a successor.”

Nigerians had wondered if it was difficult for Buhari to find Adamu’s successor from the pool of competent Deputy Inspector Generals of Police (DIGs) and Assistant Inspector Generals of Police (AIG) at Louis Edet House.

Buhari also extended the tenure of Usman Alkali Baba as IG.

Having attained the mandatory retirement age of 60, Adamu was supposed to have retired on March 1, 2023 during the general election, which started on February 25, 2023.

But in justifying the extension of his tenure, Buhari’s administration had argued that he would not be retiring midway into the general election.

Buhari had also approved the extension of the tenure of the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mr. Isah Jere by one month from April 24, 2023 to May 29, 2023.

Despite the damage tenure extensions caused in Buhari’s eight years, President

Bola Tinubu has sustained this culture of impunity and political interference in civil service administration.

To ensure that the current IG, Kayode Egbetokun remained in office after attaining the retirement age, the bill to amend the Police Act was speedily passed by the Senate on July 23, 2024, following an appeal by President Tinubu to allow Egbetokun to continue to serve a four-year term.

However, if the IG’s tenure extension was backed by law, no law was cited to justify the brazen extension of the tenures of the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, and the CG of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

Mrs. Nandap, who began her career in the NIS on October 9, 1989, was billed to retire in October 2024.

Tinubu had appointed her as CG on March 1, 2024, to serve till August 31, 2025.

But in a strange twist, the president in March 2025, extended her tenure through December 31, 2026.

Similarly, the tenure of the CG of Customs is due to expire on August 31, 2025, but the president extended his tenure by one year.

In justifying this brazen act, the Presidency explained that the extension would enable Adeniyi to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete critical initiatives of the administration.

With this new narrative, retirement is no longer based on age or length of service as the president is now at liberty to extend the tenure of any official once he is satisfied with his performance.

Some analysts alleged ethnic motives for this extension, claiming that it was a deliberate act to deny Deputy Comptroller General (DCG), BU Nwafor the opportunity to head the customs.

They believe that by extending Adeniyi’s tenure to August 31, 2026, Tinubu has shut the door against Nwafor, who is due to retire in October 2026.

As sound as this argument may seem, many have also argued that no law stops Tinubu from appointing an Assistant Comptroller to replace Adeniyi on August 31, and retiring all the DCGs, including Nwafor.

They recalled that Buhari sidelined all the top officials of customs and appointed a retired Colonel to head the agency, an impunity that stifled career progression in the customs for eight years.

Reacting to the tenure extensions, human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, had accused Tinubu of promoting ethnic favouritism in federal appointments, lamenting that Egbetokun, Nandap and Adeniyi have remained in office, despite exceeding the statutory 35-year service limit.

Sowore described the situation as “governance by tribalism,” calling Tinubu “the worst” in terms of promoting sectional interests over national unity and the rule of law.

Tenure extension has done more harm than good to productivity and the psyche of civil servants, and this impunity seems to be gradually eating deep into the civil service, potentially threatening industrial harmony. Recently, labour unions rejected alleged attempt by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) to extend the tenure of the Permanent Secretary representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Ministry of Defence, warning that such a move would undermine public service rules and erode transparency in the civil service.

President Tinubu’s administration should stop rewarding loyalists and their cronies by bending the civil service rules and undermining the credibility of the civil service.

waiting for AGF, IG to prosecute Ayinde

Following his unruly behaviour at the Abuja airport last Tuesday, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) slammed an indefinite ban on Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde popularly known as Kwam 1.

NCAA also warned that any local or international airline that fly the singer risk its licence being withdrawn.

It also petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; and the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, to prosecute him .

Ayinde was visibly seen in viral videos blocking the aircraft after he was prevented from boarding the Lagos-bound flight while holding a flask that allegedly contained alcohol, which he allegedly spilled on an aviation staffer during a fit of rage.

NCAA spokesman Michael Achimugu said Ayinde’s attempt to block a moving ValueJet aircraft violated Nigeria’s civil aviation regulations.

In its letter to the AGF and the IG, the NCAA called for a “comprehensive criminal investigation and the initiation of appropriate prosecution in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Civil Aviation regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 supra and all other applicable laws.”

Many wondered if the musician would have tried such alleged criminal behaviour if he were abroad.

Clearly, Kwam 1 took the laws into his hands because he believes he is close to those controlling the corridors of power, otherwise he should have been instantly arrested by the litany of security officials at the airport.

Special kudos to the Minister of Aviation and

Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for publicly condemning the despicable action and describing it as unacceptable and reprehensible. While the NCAA has suspended the pilot of Value Jet, Capt. Oluranti Ogoyi, for her role in the saga, it is incumbent on the AGF and IG to immediately arrest and prosecute the musician as recommended by the agency. Nigeria cannot be a lawless country. Many believe that Nigeria is not making progress because powerful individuals and weak institutions have held it down for too long, thereby allowing impunity to thrive.

The musician may have apologised , he should be made to face the full wrath of the law. Influential persons like him needs to be taught a lesson to serve as a deterrent to others. His apology is either an afterthought or he was advised to do so.

Tinubu

Fagbemi

NDLEA’s Sustained Drug War in Edo

The transformative journey in the relentless fight against illicit drug trafficking and abuse spearheaded by the Edo State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, is gathering momentum, Sunday ehigiator writes

Edo State is among the major cannabis cultivating states in Nigeria, alongside Delta, Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Ondo states. The national drug use survey that was conducted in 2018 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicates that Edo had a drug prevalence of 15 per cent, with about 330,000 persons aged between 15 and 64 who used drugs. This is slightly higher than the national prevalence of 14.4 per cent, translating to 14.3 million Nigerians who used drugs at the time of the study.

Expectedly, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), has tasked the Edo State commander of the agency to reduce the drug menace by building on the successes of his predecessors. The specific mandate is to enforce zero tolerance for drug trafficking in the state. Commander Ofoyeju’s approach to combating drug trafficking is multifaceted, characterised by a strict enforcement policy for illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse.

Drawing on his extensive experience from the Tincan Island Port, where he achieved significant success in drug seizures, Ofoyeju has unleashed a series of rigorous operations, targeting cannabis cultivators and traffickers across the state. Under his leadership, the Edo State Command has intercepted a staggering 53,520.80 kg of drugs, including cannabis, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and psychotropic substances, with an estimated street value of about a billion naira.

The commitment to eradicating drug abuse covers cannabis farm destruction, evacuation of processed cannabis in illicit warehouses and the interception of illicit drug shipments. These operational strategies are complemented by a focus on community engagement and enlightenment initiatives. In partnership with the Edo State government, Ofoyeju and his team are working tirelessly to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse through programmes such as the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.

The commander has fostered synergy through working visits to key stakeholders to seek collaborative

measures against illicit drug trafficking and abuse. The stakeholders are the Commander, Nigerian Army 4 Brigade in Benin City, Brigadier General Ebenezer Oduyebo; state Commissioner of Police, Monday Ogbonika; the state Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Isaac Uka Chikere; and the Managing Director of the Edo Geographical Information Service, Dr. Tony Ikpasaja.

He also visited the Benin Zonal Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mr. Sam Offiah, and the Esama of Benin Kingdom and Honorary Romanian Consul to Edo and Delta States, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, to gather support.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, while speaking at the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, emphasised the urgent need for coordinated actions to dismantle drug syndicates that pose grave threats to society.

“We must stand firm against the drug trade that endangers the lives of our youth and disrupts our communities. Operations of drug trafficking cartels must be dismantled. We are collaborating with the NDLEA to eliminate or drastically reduce drug production, trafficking and abuse in the state,” he stated.

Echoing the governor’s position, Ofoyeju underscored the NDLEA’s unwavering commitment to tackling the drug problem.

“Drugs have a strong nexus with criminal acts like kidnapping, murder, and cultism. We cannot allow drug barons to continue their destructive influence in the state. The life of every Edo citizen is precious and must be protected from derailment by neutralising the

drug syndicates,” he declared.

In appreciation of the support, an award was presented to Governor Okpebholo in appreciation of his outstanding leadership and unwavering support in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse. The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Drugs and Illicit Trafficking Control, Hon. Andrew Oghenovo, was also honoured for his exceptional partnership in promoting anti-drug abuse awareness. While the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Uyi Technical, Mr. Francis Omoruyi, was rewarded for his exceptional service and commitment to the anti-narcotic campaign.

Ofoyeju has consistently demonstrated the significance of a synergistic approach among various security agencies to combat drugrelated crimes effectively. Remarkably, the palpable enthusiasm for this campaign has attracted support from various quarters. The Northern Youth Association of Nigeria, led by Mallam Danladi Iliya, publicly recognised Ofoyeju’s achievements, presenting him with the prestigious Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Award for his efforts in youth empowerment and his commitment to combating drugrelated issues.

The recognition is not just symbolic; rather, it echoes the collective resolve to confront the drug menace. Similarly, Ofoyeju was presented an Icon of Hope award by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Edo State chapter.

Forging partnerships and strategic collaboration has enhanced intelligence sharing and joint operations, promoting law enforcement’s operational capabilities in a united front against drug trafficking. Additionally, Ofoyeju has articulated measures to flag off operations at the Benin City Airport. The plan is to establish a robust defence against air, land, and water drug trafficking routes in the state.

In his message to youths, he emphasised the importance of promoting entrepreneurial opportunities in dissuading young people from drug abuse, cultism, and cybercrime.

“Entrepreneurship is a transforma-

tive tool that can empower our youth, provide them with necessary skills, and ultimately reduce their engagement in harmful activities. Let me charge our students to channel their creativity and innovative ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that can contribute positively to society,” Ofoyeju declared. His efforts have also been marked by courageous stands against violence. After the command destroyed three large cannabis plantations in the state, the drug cartel put up a stiff resistance in retaliation for the huge losses incurred from counter-narcotic operations but the NDLEA commander said that they are not perturbed.

“On July 8, 2025, our dedicated operatives successfully destroyed 28,000 kilogrammes of skunk, a potent local strain of cannabis, on three large plantations, spanning over 11 hectares within the Ewere Uzebba forest in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State. However, on the way back to the office, my men were ambushed, but they were promptly repelled. Such hostilities, rather than deter us, only strengthen our resolve to combat those who seek to undermine the health and safety of our communities. The NDLEA will not succumb to intimidation and threats,” the commander stressed.

As the year enters the second half, the NDLEA’s proactive strategies under Ofoyeju point to a brighter and drug-free society for the state.

A holistic approach to community engagement, inter-agency cooperation, and a firm commitment to eradicating the drug trade through raid operations and educational campaigns is an inspiring example of what a unified effort can achieve. With an unbroken focus on protecting lives and preserving the integrity of communities, Commander Ofoyeju is clearly steering the state towards a safer and healthier society.

This holistic approach to community engagement and inter-agency cooperation aligns with General Marwa’s drug control strategy at the national level. With an unbroken focus on protecting lives and preserving the integrity of communities, Ofoyeju is clearly steering the state towards a safer and healthier society.

Marwa

Ofoyeju

can be inferred that this charge covers imports of all goods; and four, the FOB value of imports is not just the value of the imported items, it can include the cost of transportation, loading, brokerage, insurance etc. (See Section 69 Subsection 10 of NSC Act, 2023.)

The current administration had asked Customs to pause implementation of the 4% FOB charge and to consult more with stakeholders. This is sensible, given the historic cost-of-living crisis unleashed by the administration’s economic reforms. Customs has been consulting and has suspended the take-off of its preferred funding arrangement once or twice. But it has also been making a strong case for the charge so that it could serve importers better and digitise its operations. Specifically, Customs’ grandees have been trumpeting the need to ensure adequate funding for the roll-out of B’Odogwu, its online and ‘homegrown’ unified platform for custom clearance and related matters.

In the 2025 budget that the National Assembly passed for Customs in late June, a princely sum of N1.07 trillion was included as revenue from the 4% FOB cost of service (with the balance of N1.13 trillion revenue target drawn from N33 billion from 2% of import VAT and N29 billion from accrued revenue on ongoing capital projects). While passing the law, the legislators instructed Customs to stop charging 1% for the Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS), otherwise known as destination inspection, and to stop receiving 7% as cost of collection from the Federation from the end of July 2025. One of the chambers of the National Assembly even offered to speak to the Ministry of Finance to ensure commencement of the 4% levy on imports. The legislators merely but predictably instructed the agency to operate within the law passed and signed for it since 2023. On 4th August 2025, Customs obeyed the ‘instructions’ by the lawmakers. It started charging 4% of the FOB value of imports.

Allowing Customs to be funded as stated in its 2023 law takes the burden of the agency’s operations off the Federation. The bulk of Customs funding used to be from the Federation Account, deducted as costs of collection from Statutory Revenue

and VAT. Customs used to receive 7% of duties and tariffs and was splitting 4% of import VAT with the Federal inland Revenue Service, FIRS. Occasionally, it receives some refunds too. Costs of collection, refunds and other deductions are usually taken off the gross revenues before the three tiers of government share the remaining distributable revenues at the monthly meetings of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC. Deductions are like first line charges and constitute steady income streams for institutions that benefit from them. But the deductions have been growing, thus reducing the proportion of gross revenues available to the three tiers of government. According to FAAC documents, Customs received N266.87 billion as costs of collection from the Federation in 2024 (N234.84 billion from Statutory Revenue, N31.81 billion from VAT and a refund of N220 million in August 2024). In the first half of this year, Customs has received a total of N201.13 billion from FAAC (N141.13 billion from Statutory Revenue and N60 billion from VAT). When the 4% FOB cost of service to importers kicks in, Customs will be kicked off most of its entitlement from FAAC. That should be a relief to the Federal Government, the 36 states and the 774 local councils because they will have more money to share. But basically, they will only be shifting the burden of funding Customs: from deductions from Federation’s revenues to a new tax on consumers and businesses. This is good for Customs, as it is going to get multiple of its previous funding. This should be pretty obvious but it is possible that those who approved this extra tax did not bother to crunch the numbers or do not care that much on the possible impact of this type of provisioning. Customs was receiving from the Federation 7% of the duties and tariffs alongside 2% of import VAT (which from the 2025 budget it appears will continue to receive); now Customs will directly be charging 4% of the value and associated costs of imports and likely still get 2% of non-import VAT. There is no special prize for guessing which funding option is bigger and is preferred by Customs. But let’s do a rough estimate. The total

value of Nigeria’s imported goods in 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), was N60.59 trillion. If Customs had charged and kept 4% FOB value of imports last year, it would have raked in at least N2.42 trillion. That is almost ten times more than the N266 billion that it received as cost of collection from FAAC in the same year. (My sense is that the N1.07 trillion that Customs budgeted as revenue from the 4% FOB charge this year is not for the entire year). Ordinarily, this new arrangement should pass as a win-win, as FAAC would be spared the bulk of the deductions for NCS; and NCS would get all the revenues that it needs, and much more. But FAAC and Customs are not the only parties in this equation, and their gain is the pain of others.

The brunt of the new way of funding Customs will be borne by the consumers of imported items, which would be practically most Nigerians. It should be noted that the 4% charge is in addition to, and not a replacement of, the duties and tariffs paid on imports. This is thus a form of additional tax or tariff on imports. This tax is not part of a deliberate policy to reduce our dependence on imports or to stop other countries from “cheating us”. It is solely to provide dedicated and predictable funding to the Nigeria Customs Service. The levy will show up in higher prices of the affected goods. At the receiving end will be consumers who have been consistently pummelled by high inflation and whose purchasing power continues to shrink. Businesses will be negatively affected too, as they can’t conceivably pass all the extra costs to consumers. They are likely to be faced with reduced sales and profits. And since our imports include intermediate goods, this is likely to also negatively impact the competitiveness of the manufactured goods that we export. Also, there is the additional risk that other countries could look at this levy as a tariff and might be inclined to retaliate. This may affect our non-commodity exports, which should make of the levy of interest to those in the trade ministry too. For the larger economy, this new Customs levy will probably show up somewhere as a drag on economic activities and growth.

PRESIDENT TINUBU, THE NORTH AND DISTORTIONS OF POLITICS

Dry Ports for agro-export and logistics; and Expansion of Airport Runways in Katsina, Maiduguri and Kaduna.

But firstly, there is a need for recourse to the promise Tinubu made to the North before he was elected president. On October 17, 2022, Tinubu came before the Northern leaders to present his agenda for the region and solicit their votes. This was in the run-up to an election where former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the poll, had fouled the air, fanning the embers of ethnicity, telling the North he belonged to it and was the best candidate to protect the Northern interest. There was tension in the land. The nation’s fault lines were being toyed with. Atiku’s erstwhile presidential running mate in the 2019 election, who by then had become the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, was also unrelenting, ratcheting up ethnic and religious sentiments for his candidacy.

It was against this backdrop that Tinubu mounted the podium at the Arewa House. Both Tinubu and Atiku were leading other candidates in the North at the time. Thus, the North had become divided and the atmosphere at the venue of the talks was charged. In a measured but purposeful tone, Tinubu told the gathering that as president, he would consolidate on the investments of the late President Buhari administration in all sectors to build on the gains recorded. He spoke of his plans to ensure that insecurity was nipped in the bud in the North and across the country, harness the resources that abound in every part of the nation for greater economic development, and utilize the vast natural resources of the

country through strategic investment in infrastructure.

Speaking specifically and cautiously on his plans for the North, he said, among other things, that the region has a comparative advantage in agriculture and mining, and that under his presidency, the North would emerge as the hub of agribusiness in Africa through huge investment in the sector in collaboration with the private sector. “Agriculture is of special interest to me. It is both an economic and existential issue for every country. Experience in the last seven years has shown the potential of agriculture in solving the problem of unemployment and boosting our GDP,” he said.

On his plans for education and reducing out-of-school children in the North, he said working with both states and local governments to reform and retool the system, he would provide the required leadership and mobilize investment for the development of the sector. These reforms, according to him, will give special attention to the welfare and training of teachers and lecturers as necessary catalyst for the better system the North desires.

He identified some priority roads and hydropower projects in the North which had either not been followed through, and new ones he would introduce to aid the development of the region.

His lucid presentation and the way and manner he calmly but firmly responded to the questions thrown at him were quite impressive. I know this as a fact because I was there. With that event, the North and Tinubu apparently entered into a pact. And following the results of the 2023 presidential election, the North voted well for Tinubu, giving him about 60% of the votes that

In trying to solve a problem, we might have (as usual) created other problems. There is hardly any public policy that is cost-free. The onus is always on policy makers to devote considerable time to examining the different cost dimensions— apparent, hidden, opportunity forgone etc—to be sure that the costs of the course of action being considered are bearable, not disproportional and are outweighed by overall benefits. It is about taking a holistic and big-picture view of things. It is doubtful that the 4% funding for Customs was examined from any other prism other than how it will take some burden off the Federation and give the agency more money. As I have said repeatedly, I think agencies that perform important functions should be adequately provided for but only according to their verifiable needs and as part of the federal budget that is visible to the whole country. If the budgets of the presidency and even security agencies can be part of the general budget and in the open, there is no compelling justification for treating the budgets of these organisations differently.

Putting some agencies in a special category by granting them earmarked and mostly excess revenues, even when subjected to appropriation, is a suboptimal way to allocate scarce public resources, creates distractions, and is open to all sorts of abuse. In 2024, the budgets of 62 GOEs were made public for the first (and last?) time. The 282-page document more than confirmed the waste, misallocations and opacity rife in these agencies. It is not surprising that Customs plans to spend the entire N1.13 trillion it hopes to generate in 2025. Or that the sum of N169 billion in that budget, as some senators pointed out, was vaguely listed as simply “miscellaneous.” Expenditures will always rise up to meet available revenues, so states a version of the Parkinson Law. A more prosaic version is that: available money will be spent. Ordinarily, the institutionalised checks should impose order and checkmate abuses. But authorisers and oversight bodies see and treasure the patronage value of these super agencies, and despite some public posturing, they are more inclined to squeezing some of the juice for themselves.

brought him to power.

Are there gaps in what he promised the North and what he delivered to them? Has President Tinubu treated the North unfairly two years down the road? I do not think so! I think the President has kept faith with his promise. However, there is room for improvement. Ongoing critical projects in the North like the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano reconstruction work, Mambilla Hydroelectric Dam, Baro Inland Port, and Ajaokuta Steel Mill should be pursued vigorously.

The views expressed at the Kaduna two-day summit titled “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizens’ Engagement for National Unity” were nonetheless interesting, though admittedly mixed. The Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Board of Trustees, Bashir Dalhatu, alleged that the Tinubu government had neglected the region, especially in its budget allocations and infrastructural development. “Two years into President Tinubu’s four-year tenure, the feeling among the people of the North is, to put it mildly, completely mixed,” he said, citing certain federal budget figures to underscore the alleged neglect.

Such grim prognosis was offset by some contrasting submissions. Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State said the President is committed to fulfilling his promises to the North, while Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume affirmed that President Tinubu’s administration would leave no region behind. Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Dr. Aliyu Moddibo, his Special Adviser on General Duties, noted that the current administration’s inclusive

reforms were in line with the economic reality of Nigerians.

Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu stated that the administration is implementing policies aimed at transforming Nigeria’s economy and fulfilling the promises made to Nigerians. “The President has complete faith in Nigeria. He does not make decisions based on ethnicity or region. His government is rooted in fairness and inclusivity,” he said.

On the fight against banditry and terrorism, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu said the Tinubu administration had made giant strides in protecting lives and properties. Ribadu said Nigerian security forces had subdued and neutralized some of the terrorist leaders, who had unleashed terror along the Kaduna-Abuja highway, making it safer for travellers. The NSA noted that the once-troubled highways from Zamfara to Katsina, Kaduna-Abuja and Kaduna to Birnin Gwari that were a nightmare for travellers, can now be safely used at night due to improvement in security. “Politics will not allow people to give us credit for all of that,” he added.

In the final analysis, the Kaduna Governor gave the Northern leaders some food for thought when he declared that the northern woes should not be blamed on President Tinubu. “Yes, President Tinubu made promises. But let’s be honest with ourselves: he has kept faith with the North in many critical areas – security, agriculture, education, and economic inclusion. The real question is, have we kept faith with our people as Northern leaders?”

•Rahman is Senior Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties.

In Kaduna, Uba Sani Revs up Food Security and All-year Farming

In the chronicles of modern Nigerian governance, rare is the leader who combines vision with execution, rhetoric with resolve, and political acumen with an unswerving commitment to the common good. In Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani has emerged as a transformative figure: a man for whom agriculture is not just a policy priority, but a strategic axis for economic renewal, social inclusion, and sustainable development. Since assuming office in May 2023, Governor Sani has methodically repositioned the state as a nucleus of agro-industrial dynamism, all-season farming, and food security. His administration’s ambition transcends subsistence; it seeks nothing short of an agricultural renaissance, powered by modern inputs, strategic investments, rural infrastructure, and an ecosystem built for prosperity.

What is now unfolding across the length and breadth of the state is nothing less than a new agrarian revolution, one anchored in meticulous planning, courageous leadership, and a deep belief in the dignity and potential of farmers. In just over two years, Governor Sani’s reforms have shifted agriculture from the margins of public policy to the commanding heights of economic strategy.

At the heart of Governor Sani’s agricultural vision lies a steadfast belief in inclusion. From rural communities in Giwa and Soba to the fertile plains of Kachia and Zangon Kataf, the administration has deliberately targeted both smallholder and commercial farmers, ensuring that no one is left behind in Kaduna’s march toward food sovereignty. The 2025 Fertilizer Distribution Programme, flagged off on August 2 at Murtala Square in Kaduna, exemplifies this approach. In a sweeping intervention, the government distributed 400 trucks of fertilizer to 100,000 smallholder farmers, with each farmer receiving two bags free of charge — a bold affirmation of the state’s “farmer-first” policy.

While most Nigerian states continue to grapple with access, affordability, and transparency in fertilizer distribution, Kaduna has charted a different path. It is, to date, the only state in the federation providing fertilizer completely free to smallholder farmers. Commercial farmers are not left out either; they receive up to 10 bags at a subsidized rate of ₦30,000 — 40 per cent below market cost, reducing input expenses and enhancing productivity. But even more telling is the comprehensive nature of the intervention.

All 100,000 smallholder beneficiaries are automatically enrolled in a crop risk insurance scheme, shielding them from the vagaries of climate change, pests, and market shocks. This signals a deep understanding of the complex risks farmers face — and an equally profound commitment to building resilience at the grassroots.

The connection between security and agricultural prosperity cannot be overstated. Under Governor Sani, Kaduna has seen measurable gains in security, owing to coordinated surveillance, community partnerships, and local government engagement. This reclamation of peace has had a catalytic effect on agriculture: previously inaccessible farmlands have been reopened for cultivation. The state is currently clearing over 20,000 hectares of reclaimed land and installing modern irrigation infrastructure, including rainwater harvesting systems. The goal is simple yet transformative: to make farming a year-round endeavour, no longer tethered to erratic rainfall or seasonal constraints.

This strategic focus on all-year farming, backed by physical infrastructure and policy support, is pivotal in a state where agriculture contributes 42 percent to GDP and employs 60 percent of the workforce. By extending productivity into the dry season, Kaduna is not only boosting output but also stabilising incomes and enhancing rural livelihoods. What perhaps most distinguishes Governor Sani’s agricultural push is the scale and sincerity of public investment.

Between 2023 and 2025, the Kaduna State agricultural budget surged from a mere ₦1.48 billion to ₦74.02 billion, a 4,871 percent increase. As a share of the overall state budget, agriculture has grown from 0.4 percent to 10 per cent, meeting and exceeding the Malabo Declaration benchmark on agricultural spending. With supplementary allocations under legislative consideration, the figure may soon rise to 14 per cent, placing Kaduna among the rare few sub-nationals on the continent to treat agriculture not as charity, but as policy bedrock.

In the words of African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, Kaduna State has

shown the kind of political will that translates aspiration into action: “You didn’t just put your money where your mouth is — you put your money where your mind and your body are,” he declared at the launch of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Kaduna earlier this year.

Indeed, on April 8, 2025, Kaduna State reached a historic milestone as it became the first Nigerian state to launch a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone. The project, sited in Daki-Takwas, Chikun Local Government, represents the epicenter of Kaduna’s industrial agricultural ambitions. With the Federal Government and AfDB as strategic partners, the SAPZ will house clusters for production, processing, storage, packaging, and distribution — a value-chain-integrated ecosystem designed to attract private capital and drive rural industrialisation.

The SAPZ is not a mere infrastructure project; it is a new economic geography in the making. It focuses on Kaduna’s comparative advantage crops: maize, tomatoes, ginger, soybeans; and is expected to cut post-harvest losses, reduce transaction costs, and facilitate access to both regional and global markets. The decision to site the SAPZ in Chikun LGA — a constituency that was once considered not to be politically aligned with the current administration — was praised by Vice President Kashim Shettima as a “demonstration of inclusive governance over petty politics.” It speaks to Sani’s statesmanship, which places development above partisanship.

The AfDB has already committed over $934 million to SAPZs across Africa, and Kaduna’s leadership in this space positions it as a continental trailblazer. Dr. Adesina pledged AfDB’s further support for school feeding integration, health insurance, sanitation, and digital infrastructure, all tied into the SAPZ framework. The broader ambition is to create development corridors, where agriculture becomes the nucleus of holistic human development.

To match ambition with capacity, Kaduna State has also aggressively pursued mechanisation. In partnership with the private sector, over 200 tractors have been deployed to major agricultural clusters, easing land preparation and enhancing productivity. Farmers are no longer yoked to primitive tools, but are instead accessing modern implements that reduce drudgery and increase efficiency.

The Dry Season Agricultural Empowerment Programme, launched in 2024, provided highquality seeds, fertilizers, solar-powered pumps, and power tillers to farmers in all 23 LGAs.

Ginger farmers received targeted support to bounce back from disease-related losses, while livestock producers benefited from vaccinations, mineral licks, fodder choppers, and solar boreholes in pastoralist communities. This multi-pronged approach: crop and livestock, smallholder and commercial, wet and dry season, marks Kaduna’s agriculture not as a singular programme but a holistic agenda. Recognizing that agricultural production without access to markets is a recipe for loss, Governor Sani has prioritised rural road rehabilitation. Feeder roads across farming LGAs are being upgraded, connecting producers to processing hubs and urban markets. These roads are already reducing post-harvest losses, lowering transport costs, and stimulating local trade. For the first time in decades, many rural communities in Kaduna are feeling integrated into the broader economic system.

To ensure Kaduna’s agricultural output meets international standards, the state is establishing an Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre. This facility will provide testing, grading, and certification services, enabling farmers to tap into high-value export markets, especially under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This forward-thinking move situates Kaduna at the intersection of agriculture and trade, positioning it as an export hub not only for Nigeria but for West Africa. Quality, Governor Sani insists, must be the hallmark of Kaduna’s agro-products if the state is to transition from food security to food wealth.

There is a quiet revolution sweeping across Kaduna State, one not heralded by noisy fanfare but visible in the bumper harvests, in the rejuvenated farms, in the newly tarred rural roads, and in the hope rekindled in the hearts of tens of thousands of farmers. Governor Sani has not merely improved agriculture in Kaduna; he has redefined it — as a tool for development, a shield against poverty, and a gateway to economic sovereignty.

His administration’s agricultural policies represent a symphony of policy clarity, investment resolve, and inclusive governance, making Kaduna a veritable blueprint for the rest of Nigeria. With a secure state, an empowered farming population, and a bold vision for agro-industrialisation, Kaduna is not just feeding itself — it is poised to feed the nation and, indeed, the continent. The soil is rich, the vision clear, and the seeds of transformation firmly planted.

• Aliyu writes from Kawo, Kaduna.

Musa Aliyu

Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza sabuwa Balarabe (fifth left) Governor Uba sani (sixth left) and emir of Zazzau, HrH Alhaji Nuhu Bamalli (third right) flanked by other members of the Kaduna state executive council

STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT…

L-R: Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Obafemi Awolowo

Head, Department of

Professor

The Costs of Supersizing Customs’ Funding

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is one of Nigeria’s heavily-resourced federal institutions. I call the few organisations in this pantheon the super agencies. Though they always claim not to have enough, these special agencies are usually awash with money because they are funded differently from the majority of government agencies. Some of the super agencies are assigned a dedicated revenue or tax; some are allowed to keep most of the revenues they ‘generate internally’; and some are allocated a percentage of the revenues they collect on behalf of the Federation. Customs belonged in the last category, the cost-of-collection league, the juiciest of the special categories. But Customs is about to be bounced from this category, though not for ill: its already large funding is about to be supersized. However, there is a cost, a steep one.

On 25th June 2025, the House of

Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

Representatives and the Senate separately appropriated N1.13 trillion as the 2025 budget for Customs. This amount is 60%

higher than the N706 billion passed for the agency in 2024 and almost triple the size of its N432 billion approved budget for 2023. At above the N1 trillion mark, the 2025 budget puts Customs at the top of the pack of super agencies, at least for now. (It is conceivable that this will change when the Nigeria Revenue Service takes off and begins to charge 4% of all revenues that it collects, minus petroleum royalties; and if the annual budgets of the national oil company and the central bank are not obscured from public view). It is noteworthy that the 2025 budget of NCS is 131% of N866.48 billion, which is the combined budget of the National Assembly and the Judiciary, two distinct arms of government. It is also worth noting that only three of the 36 states have budgets that are bigger than that of the Customs in 2025: Lagos State, N3.37 trillion; Niger State, N1.56 trillion, clearly a joke; and Rivers State, N1.19 trillion.

What has led to the supersizing of

the funding of Customs is the eventual implementation of a part of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, signed into law by late President Muhammadu Buhari on 20th April 2023 and gazetted on 9th June 2023. Section 18 (1) (a) of the law permits Customs to, among others, charge and keep in its operations accounts: “not less than 4% of the free-on-board value of imports according to international best practices.” It is important to underscore four things upfront: one, the charge can be more than 4% of the value of imports, if the president requests an upward review based on recommendation and justification of the board of Customs and if the request is approved by the National Assembly—see Sections 18 (2) and 18 (3); two, it is written into the law that charging 4% of the value of free-on-board (FOB) of imports is an international best practice, a claim worth fact-checking; and three, it

President Tinubu, the North and Distortions of Politics

Two years in the saddle, has President Bola Tinubu undercut the Northern region in the management of the country’s affairs and distribution of political appointments and development projects? Has he reneged on the promise made to the Northern elites three years ago in Kaduna that he would run an all-inclusive government, protect the national interest and be fair to every part of the country and the North in particular?

It was in a bid to answer these important questions that governors, ministers and other top government functionaries from the Northern region converged on Arewa House, Kaduna on July 29 and 30, 2025, under the auspices of the Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, to present their scorecards and tell the region what they had all done to advance the interest of the region since May 2023.

At the end, the intervention by the

governors and government functionaries yielded an overwhelming approval rating and an outright rejection of politically motivated allegations of marginalization. They reeled out impressive strides recorded by the administration in infrastructure, social investment programmes, and security. According to them, President Tinubu has done a lot for the North. Whatever underdevelopment that may exist in the region should not be attributed to him, but to Northern leaders, for the many years they had neglected the region.

However, it was apparent that the motive behind the frenzied conversation about the Tinubu administration’s achievements is not so much what the President has done – or not done – for the North in terms of distribution of national offices and infrastructure. It was propelled, essentially, by the self-serving interests of some Northern elites angling to shape political decisions and the politics of 2027. As my friend, the Publisher of The Cable and former Editor of Thisday, Simon

Kolawole, would say, “it’s all politics”, and this time, it is all about the politics of 2027.

It’s a page from an old politics playbook: couching the views, political agenda, opinions, and interests of the elites as those of the larger society where they operate. To achieve their aim, they deploy all kinds of subterfuge, including ethnicity or tribalism. Richard Sklar hints at this when he states that, “tribalism is an instrument in the hands of political elites.”

This is quite evident in the outburst of the New Nigeria Peoples Party leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who recently accused President Tinubu of marginalising the North in infrastructure development. However, available evidence points to the contrary. According to the Director-General, Budget Office, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, who should know, more than half of the capital budgets for 2024 and 2025, were allocated to projects and programs in Northern Nigeria. “Contrary to politically-motivated narratives, Northern Nigeria is not on the margins;

it is at the heart of federal investment priorities. Over 50% of the capital budget for 2024 and 2025 is traceable to projects and programs in the North when major national trunk infrastructure and water basin investments are properly accounted for,” he declared Tanimu outlined flagship projects and interventions that serve as evidence of the administration’s commitment to developing the North. These include the Abuja–Kano Expressway dualization, ₦12.1 trillion Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, the most ambitious cross-regional road project in decades, spanning 1,068 km, costing ₦3.63 trillion, with 30% of it already approved by President Tinubu for the project’s initial rollout in Sokoto and Kebbi; Kano–Maradi Standard Gauge Railway, a Sahel trade corridor enabler; Zungeru–Kano Power Transmission Line, boosting industrial power supply; Funtua and Bauchi Inland

University, Ile Ife, Professor Ganiyu Aderounmu; Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Bamire; Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr. Zacch Adedeji;

Accounting,

Olayinka Akinlo; Director, Capital Projects Division, Dr. Anthony Owolabi; and Professor Yemi Akinkoye, during a visit of the institution’s management team to the FIRS chairman in Abuja…. Friday.