Kayode Tokede
Bride’s parents, Mr. Christopher and Omolola Oshiafi; Couple, Nelson and Josephine Onuoha; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the solemnisation of Holy
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Erstwhile Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, yesterday declared that he was ready to give account of his service as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) continues with its probe of sacked officials of the national oil company.
Kyari, who was at the helm of affairs at the NNPC between 2019 and 2025, before he was removed on April 2 by President Bola Tinubu, in a post on his X handle, maintained that he served the country with the fear of God.
Earlier, THISDAY learnt that the EFCC had begun investigation into the alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of funds by Kyari and a former Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr Umar Ajiya, as well as 12 others.
former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Daughter of the deceased, Ms Ayotunde
the deceased, Mrs.
Ayo-Adebanjo; and former Ogun State Governor, Senator lbikule Amosun, during the funeral service for the leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, in Isanya Ogbo, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State...yesterday
James Sowole in Abeokuta
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; immediate-past Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi; Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; and his counterparts from Lagos and Oyo States, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Seyi Makinde, respectively, were among the dignitaries who bid farewell to the late Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, during his burial yesterday, at Isanya Ogbo in Odogbolu Local Government Area (LGA) of Ogun State.
Others present were the former governors of the state, Gbenga Daniel and Senator Ibikunle Amosun; the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso; the former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, among others.
Adebanjo, a lawyer, politician, statesman and one of the laststanding associates of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, died in Lagos on February 14, 2025, at the age of 96.
Apart from the duo, the anti-graft agency had also extended its dragnet to other NNPC officials that headed or were at various times involved in the rehabilitation of the governmentowned refineries, which gulped nearly $3 billion.
A former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Abubakar Lawal Yar'Adua; recently dismissed Managing Director of the Port Harcourt refinery, Ibrahim Onoja as well as a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) and the Warri refinery, Babatunde Bakare and Dikko Ahmed, ex-Head of the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries are also under the EFCC radar.
A document seen by THISDAY
the forests, in the North-west and across Nigeria, promising to also deploy advanced surveillance and technology to combat kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism.
This is just as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) expressed strong support for ongoing peace efforts aimed at resolving the persistent violence plaguing the Middle Belt, with a focus on Plateau, Benue, and Gombe states.
Speaking on Friday night in Katsina while addressing Katsina elders and at leaders at a state dinner held at the Government House, the president said: "On the issue of security raised by former governor Aminu Bello Masari again this evening, yes, I agree that security is a challenge for the country. I addressed the men and women of the armed forces earlier today and assured them that we will do everything to fight terrorism and
inflation and steady interest rate by the CBN; digital transformation and cybersecurity threats, and competition from Fintech and Mobile Money Operators (MMO).
During the period under review, Zenith Bank maintained its position as the most profitable DMB operating within Nigeria, Sub-Saharan African countries, and across the globe.
GTCO and First Holdco were the only DMBs with a decline in PBT, while Wema Bank saw its PBT increase significantly.
Zenith Bank recorded N350.82 billion in Q1 2025, about a 10 per cent increase over the N320.19 billion recorded in Q1 2024, while profit after tax stood at N311.8 billion in Q1 2025, an increase of 20.7 per cent from N
Governor Abiodun, who paid tribute to the late nationalist during the funeral service held at St Philip Anglican Church, Isanya Ogbo, his hometown, described him as a titan of integrity and justice, and a dogged fighter for true federalism who always wanted the best for Nigeria.
Abiodun noted that Adebanjo was a lover of democratic ideals, and one of the few who risked their lives fiercely opposing military dictatorship.
He described him as one of the heroes behind the democratic governance the country now enjoys.
The governor explained that:
“Chief Adebanjo was a dogged fighter of true federalism. He persistently argued that Nigeria’s over-centralised system of government bred economic imbalance and ethnic tension
“Under his leadership, Afenifere, the Pan Yoruba socio-political group was revitalised becoming a potent force with democratic wisdom pushing for regional integration, restructuring and devolution of powers.
“Beyond politics, he was deeply committed to preserving the rich
at the weekend further showed that aside from the aforementioned officials, the EFCC had also requested information on former Group Executive Director and CFO at the NNPC, Isiaka Abdulrazaq; one Ademoye Adeniji Jelili; Mustapha Magaji Sugungun, a former Kaduna refinery Managing Director; one Kayode Olusegun Adetokunbo; one Efiok Michael Akpan and another former head of the Warri refinery, Jimoh Olasunkanmi.
Also, on the list of those whose information the EFCC requested from the current leadership of the NNPC were: One Bello Kankaya as well as a Manager, Audit, at the NNPC, Desmond Inyamah.
banditry.
"We will invest more in technology and take over the forests. Security is a national issue, not just at the local or regional levels. If we genuinely need investment in Nigeria, we must address security.
"Investment is cowardly, and it will not go where there is banditry and terrorism. We will solve the problem together with the states and local councils."
President Tinubu highlighted encouraging signs of Nigeria's economic recovery, attributing recent positive growth indicators to bold policy decisions.
According to him, the federal government will consider upgrading the airport in Katsina State to create jobs and expand the economy.
The president also assured that victims of terrorism will receive support to pick up their lives.
258.3billion reported in Q1 2024. Zenith Bank in the 2024 financial year (FY) had emerged as the most profitable financial institution in Nigeria, followed by GTCO.
Zenith Bank in 2024FY declared N1.33 trillion profit before tax, up by 66.7per cent from N795.96 billion in 2023, while GTCO posted N1.27 trillion profit before tax, representing an increase of 108 per cent from N609.31 billion declared in 2023. But GTCO in Q1 2025 declared a profit before tax of N300.4 billion, about a 41 per cent decline from N509.4 billion in Q1 2024. The N300.4 billion growth in GTCO’s profit before tax was on the back of strong performance posted on the core earnings lines of interest
Yoruba culture, he denounced nepotism, corruption and impunity whenever they rear up their ugly heads and became a moral compass for all.
“As Nigeria continues his walk towards democratic consolidation, the life of Chief Ayo Adebanjo remains a timeless blueprint for Nigeria, one defined by courage, conviction and unbending integrity.
“His ideals will continue to live on in the hearts of millions and his contributions shall continue to serve as a path to building a just, united and truly federal Nigeria,” the governor explained.
Ministering at the church service, the Archbishop of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province of Anglican Church and
Bishop of Remo Diocese, Bishop Micheal Fape urged the people to live a life of purpose and selflessness just like Adebanjo.
Bishop Fape who spoke on “the purpose of a glorious life” and took his sermon from John 18 vs 37-38, explained that death was what every mortal would taste at one point or the other. He said that what would then be of paramount importance was what each individual was able to do with the gift of life before the end would come knocking. Fape said that Jesus Christ lived a life of purpose as he came to this world to declare the purpose of God which is to save mankind.
Emma Okonji in Lagos and James Emejo in Abuja
The Federal Competitive and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said that WhatsApp’s claim of being forced to exit Nigeria due to the commission’s recent fine appears to be a calculated move aimed at inducing negative public reaction and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision.
In a statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, the
THISDAY had also reported the sack of the Chief Health Safety and Environment (HSE) Officer of the national oil company, Mr Bala Wunti; and the Chief Compliance Officer, Lawal Sade, among 200 others.
Senior members of President Bola Tinubu-led administration were also said to be pushing strongly for the sacked officials to be tried if found by the EFCC to have committed any infraction.
They were said to have been miffed by the mismanagement of the country's commonwealth, especially in the last few years. But in an apparent response to the media reports, Kyari hinted that he had been taking a rest since the
President Tinubu thanked Aminu Bello Masari for his role in ensuring that he got the endorsement of the North-west and emerged as the APC presidential candidate.
The President also thanked the governors of Kaduna, Jigawa, Borno, Benue, Yobe, Sokoto, and Kwara states who honoured the invitation of the Katsina State Governor Radda for the inauguration of projects and his daughter's wedding.
President Tinubu acknowledged the leadership roles of Katsina indigenes in the country and described President Muhammadu Buhari as a man of integrity who contributed significantly to Nigeria's development.
"I wish him well," he said.
Earlier in his remarks, Governor Radda said the state had established a security outfit that gathers and supplies intelligence.
income, which grew by 41.1 per cent and fee income, which rose by 41.2 per cent.
While ETI reported N267.3 billion profit before tax in Q1 2025, an increase of 33 per cent from N201.46 billion in Q1 2024, Access Holdings posted N222.78 billion profit before tax, representing an increase of nearly 10 per cent from the N202.74 billion posted in 2024.
On its part, UBA announced N204.3 billion profit before tax in Q1 2025, up by 31 per cent from N156.3 billion in Q1 2024, just as First Holdco posted N186.5billion profit before tax in Q1 2025, a decline of 20.4 per cent from N234.2billion reported in Q1 2024.
UBA’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, in a statement,
FCCPC said it had investigated Meta Platforms and WhatsApp (jointly referred to as “Meta Parties”) for allegedly violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
“The commission found that Meta Parties engaged in multiple and repeated infringements of the FCCPA (2018) and the NDPR. These infringements included denying Nigerians the right to control their personal data, transferring and
dissolution of the NNPC board, noting that he would be willing to answer questions on his service at the company at any time.
“I served not only my country but also God. I am happy to account for my stewardship. Over the past few days and in particular in the past two hours, I have been inundated with calls from concerned family and friends over claims by an online newspaper that I was in the custody of the EFCC.
“This is clear mischief and a calculated attempt by the newspaper and its sponsors to achieve a desired outcome, which only they know. At present, I am taking a well-deserved rest after the dissolution of the
In a related development, CAN has expressed strong support for ongoing peace efforts aimed at resolving the persistent violence plaguing the Middle Belt, with a focus on Plateau, Benue, and Gombe states.
In a statement released yesterday and signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN condemned what it described as “brutal attacks and persistent violence” in the region, calling the situation intolerable and demanding justice for affected communities in Plateau, Benue, and Gombe states, where Christians have endured immense suffering and loss.
“We unequivocally reaffirm our steadfast commitment to advocating for their safety, security, and dignity. We will not relent in our pursuit of
said the bank was on a solid start for the 2025 financial year, which, according to him, reflected the disciplined execution of its strategy and the sustained momentum of the business model of driving strong earnings growth, maintaining robust asset quality, and expanding market share.
He said: “Our results this quarter underscore the effectiveness of our focus on core banking operations, prudent risk management, and ongoing investments in customercentric innovation.”
Other DMBs: Stanbic IBTC Holdings announced N116.42 billion profit before tax in Q1 2025, an increase of 86 per cent from N62.7 billion in Q1 2024; Fidelity Bank declared
sharing Nigerian user data without authorisation, discriminating against Nigerian users compared to users in other jurisdictions and abusing their dominant market position by forcing unfair privacy policies.
“Interestingly, Meta had been fined for similar breaches in Texas ($1.5billion) and only recently was asked to pay $1.3 billion for violating E.U. Data Privacy Rules. Elsewhere in India, South Korea, France and Australia, Meta had faced varying penalties for similar breaches. But
management and board of the NNPCL, of which I was the Group Chief Executive.
“It should be stated that having served the NNPC and the NNPCL for 34 years, and 17 of those in management roles and especially the last 5 years and 9 months, I had little time for leave of even two weeks. So, I am thankful for the opportunity to serve under their Excellencies Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I must emphasise that I served with the fear of God knowing fully well as a Muslim that if I do not account before man, I will account before Allah, and that I am better off accounting to the institutions of man.
justice and lasting peace for all affected communities,” the statement read.
CAN urged Nigerians from all faiths, ethnic groups, and professional backgrounds to support peace efforts and avoid actions that might worsen the country’s already fragile security climate.
“We urge Nigerians from all walks of life, backgrounds, and faiths to support ongoing peace initiatives and refrain from actions that could undermine efforts to address the country’s security challenges, particularly in the Middle Belt region.
“Engagements with stakeholders across professional, ethnic, and religious lines are recognised diplomatic practices that foster dialogue and mutual understanding. Any actions or statements that heighten tensions risk destabilising our nation, and we therefore call for the utmost caution,” the CAN President stated
N105.77 billion profit before tax in Q1 2025, representing 168 per cent growth from the N39.5billion in Q1 2024; Wema Bank reported N41.2 billion profit before tax in Q1 2025, a growth of 269 per cent from N11.15 billion in Q1 2024 and FCMB Group posted N35.02 billion profit before tax in Q1 2025, about 12 per cent increase when compared to the N31.3 billion declared in Q1 2024.
The MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe commenting on the Q1 2025 results, stated that: “We started the year with triple-digit growth in profit and sustained the momentum in our earning assets growth.
“This performance shows the resilience of our business model
Meta never resorted to the blackmail of threatening to exit those countries. They obeyed”.
Ijagwu added the recent affirmation of FCCPC’s final order by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal requires Meta Parties to take steps to comply with Nigerian law, “stop exploiting Nigerian consumers, change your practices to meet Nigerian standards and respect consumer rights, consistent with international best practices”.
Therefore, having served in public capacity, I am willing and happy to account for my stewardship in this world,” the former GCEO wrote. However, he explained that the resort to what he described as ‘disinformation’ does not serve anyone's purpose, including the NNPC and the country in general. According to him, it has the potential to send the wrong signals to investors and the international community.
Kyari urged the media to be circumspect and avoid being ‘stampeded’ into misleading the public on unverified stories or matters that are subject of further validation by relevant organisations.
Okoh also warned against the spread of fake news, which he said could inflame tensions and deepen divisions in the country. He instead called for unity and mutual trust, urging Nigerians to “embrace the teachings of the Bible to love our neighbours and pursue peace with all.”
“We appeal to all citizens to refrain from spreading unverified information that may deepen divisions. The strength of our nation lies in our unity, and it is only through collective effort that we can build a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria,” he said. He further acknowledged ongoing diplomatic efforts, notably the engagement of U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills, and called on international partners and local bodies such as the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council to intensify collaborative solutions.
and reinforces our confidence in delivering a better result in the 2025 financial year.”
Investment Banker & Stockbroker, Mr. Tajudeen Olayinka said DMBs operating in the country were resilient and also playing a critical role in the economy drive.
He disclosed that a significant portion of these DMBs' recent profit gains came from high -yield on government securities, and revaluation gains on their net long US dollar income positions. He stated that most DMBs had structured their balance sheets to maintain net long US dollar positions, which means that they can record gains whenever the currency is adjusted.
The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy &Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, yesterday said the new tax reform bills were in the interest of the Nigerian workers, insisting that the changes in the tax bills should be supported by everyone who seeks the well-being of Nigerian workers.
In his message released yesterday through his X account, to the Nigerian workers in commemoration of this year’s Workers’ Day, Oyedele, outlined some key areas where the bills would improve the welfare of the Nigerian workers as well as the promoters of the Small and Medium Scale businesses, stressing that the bills would increase the net income of the workers.
While calling on the support of the organised labour, Oyedele said: “We believe that the NLC and the TUC will not intentionally work against the interests of their members.”
According to the tax expert, the new bills would lower taxes to enhance the disposable income of workers.
He pointed out that the bills made provision for the full exemption for workers earning up to N1.3million per annum (over N100,000 per month), representing not less than 35 per cent of all workers in the private and public sectors from Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax.
Other benefits, according to him, were the full PAYE tax exemption for members of the armed forces; and the reduced PAYE tax for workers earning up to N20million yearly (about N1.7million per month), which would benefit an additional 60 per cent of all workers.
On the measures to reduce the cost of essential items, Oyedele refers to the zero (0%) Value Added Tax (VAT) on food, healthcare, and education, representing about 60 per cent of all consumption.
He listed the others in this category to include: VAT exemption on rent, transportation, renewable energy, CNG, baby products, sanitary towels, and fuel products representing over 20 per cent of all consumption.
He explained: “These items constitute an average of 82 per cent of household consumption and
nearly 100 per cent for low-income earners to cushion the impact of rising cost of living for workers.”
According to Oyedele, the new bills also contain incentives to facilitate higher compensation for workers through tax breaks for wage awards and transport subsidy to low-income earners.
It also includes the removal of restrictions and bureaucratic approvals for wage awards and the introduction of a cap on the amount that may be taxed as a benefit-in-kind granted to workers.
He drew attention to the Tax waivers to promote affordable
housing, especially the VAT exemption on rent and acquisition of real property as well as exemption of stamp duties on rent below N1million.
The bills also provided incentives to stimulate employment opportunities for workers with tax incentives for employers to hire
more workers.
It is believed the tax incentives will enable organisations to recruit more staff, which will in turn lead to more employment generation.
He maintained that the new tax regime provides friendly tax rules to attract international remote work opportunities for Nigerians.
Other provisions, according to him, include tax exemption for 97 per cent of SMEs earning an annual turnover of N100m or less, harmonising and reducing corporate tax burden for large businesses to stimulate growth and create more employment opportunities for workers.
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The Coordinator of Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in Rivers State, Mrs. Tonye Briggs-Oniyide, has faulted the claim by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, that the supporters of the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, staged a walkout on the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
This came as the suspended Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Adaeze Oreh, denied any involvement in the disruption of the empowerment programme.
It would be recalled that some Rivers women on Friday walked out of the women empowerment event organised by the RHI, in partnership with the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The women who were beneficiaries of the empowerment, walked out of the programme, as the wife of the state Sole Administrator, Mrs. Theresa Ibok-Ete Ibas, mounted the podium to address them.
The women had protested that they wanted Fubara's wife, Mrs Valera or Senator Oluremi Tinubu to address them, insisting that they will not have two governor's wives in a state.
They also demanded the reinstatement of Governor Fubara.
But in a statement issued yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT minister claimed that Fubara’s supporters walked out on Mrs. Tinubu, who was not at the event.
Wike, who also apologised to the
First Lady and President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the people of Rivers State, said: "Insult on anyone representing the First Lady of Nigeria in an event is a direct insult on the office of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as a leader in Rivers State; I apologise."
Wike, who is on official assignment in China, said: "It is not enough to be visiting people to plead for peace; those who genuinely want peace work and act for it.
"These are the same people pleading for peace, but at the same time doing things that are contrary to what they are pleading for.
"How can you say you want peace and at the same time, you are sponsoring people to insult everyone, including the President and his wife?” Wike queried.
But in a swift response, RHI State coordinator, Briggs-Oniyide, faulted Wike’s claims, saying "despite being on vacation, the Governor Fubara ensured full support logistical and otherwise for the success of the empowerment programme organised under the esteemed leadership of the First Lady, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu".
She explained that "the event was progressing successfully, with the women of Rivers State expressing
overwhelming appreciation for the initiative, until a disruption occurred when the wife of the Rivers State Administrator, Mrs Theresa Ibas, was making a speech.
"At that point, the women in attendance vocally opposed her participation, stating clearly that they did not recognise her as their First Lady and would prefer not to be addressed by her".
She described Wike’s claims as deeply misleading and a calculated attempt to politicise a well-meaning, non-partisan event.
She said Rivers women are known for their dignity and unity beyond political affiliations.
Meanwhile, the suspended Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Oreh, has denied any involvement in the disruption of the empowerment programme. In a statement she personally signed, she said the allegations levelled against her regarding the supposed disruption of the empowerment programme were "entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs."
She said the allegations were nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish her reputation and sow discord.
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has announced a five-year suspension of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) programme to promote student growth, prioritise welfare, and strengthen Nigeria’s education system.
The minister made this known in a statement released in Abuja yesterday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, Mrs. Boriowo Folasade.
He spoke after a comprehensive review of academic programmes available overseas.
Alausa said the decision followed careful evaluation, which revealed that all courses offered abroad
through the BEA scheme are now available and, in many cases, better enhanced within Nigerian institutions.
“We have carefully reviewed all courses our citizens pursue abroad. Every single one is now offered here at home,” he stated.
The minister explained that while the suspension encourages Nigerians to study locally, it does not prevent parents from sponsoring their children to study overseas privately.
“We must be fair and equitable to every citizen. The government currently spends significantly on tickets, stipends, and other costs to send students abroad for education they can now access at home, often
at better quality,” he said.
He clarified that the federal government will still welcome BEA partner countries that offer fully funded scholarships to Nigerians.
“Such scholarships must cover tuition, accommodation, travel, living expenses, healthcare, and a monthly stipend of no less than $500, at no cost to the Nigerian government.”
Alausa also stressed that the moratorium will not affect other government-funded scholarship schemes such as the Nigerian Scholarship Award for students in public universities and polytechnics, the Education Bursary Award for undergraduates studying education, and the Presidential Scholarship for ex-NYSC corps members.
He further highlighted the improved Nigerian Student Loan Programme, which now provides more robust financial support to students enrolled in local higher institutions.
Alausa assured that all current BEA scholarship beneficiaries will continue to receive full government support until they complete their studies and return to Nigeria.
“We stand by the promises made to our students abroad,” he affirmed. He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to expanding local scholarship opportunities and supporting the educational aspirations of all Nigerians, ensuring that no dream is delayed or denied.
Says granting such elements access to public space endangers national security Unveils plan to develop framework on use of Artificial Intelligence NHRC seeks ethical, right-based regulation of AI
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
As the world yesterday marked the World Press Freedom Day, which was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, the federal government has urged media organisations to be vigilant and not allow their platforms to be hijacked by subversive elements, anti-state actors, or ultra-nationalist groups, who seek to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who gave this admonition in a statement issued to commemorate the World Press
Freedom Day, argued that granting such elements access to the public sphere without scrutiny, will not only endanger national security but also erode public trust in the media.
Idris also disclosed that the federal government was developing a national policy framework on responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the media space.
This is as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) called for the creation of ethical and legal frameworks to regulate the use of AI, warning that unregulated use poses risks to press freedom and fundamental human rights.
Idris stressed that the role of the
media, as a gatekeeper of truth, had become more critical.
The minister noted that the media must take a principled stand to protect the information ecosystem from being polluted by falsehoods and manipulated content.
“Media organisations must be vigilant and not allow their platforms, whether traditional or digital, to be hijacked by subversive elements, terrorists, anti-state actors, or ultra-nationalist groups, who seek to undermine our collective peace and the sovereignty of our nation.
“Granting such elements, access to the public sphere without scrutiny, will not only endanger national
security but also erode public trust in the media,” Idris said.
Idris explained that the framework would ensure that innovation does not come at the cost of ethics, press freedom, and national security.
Speaking on the theme of the day, ‘Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media,’ the minister underscored the critical role of the media in shaping informed societies.
“As we commemorate this day, let us all; government, media, and civil society, work together to protect freedom of expression while embracing technology that advances, rather than
Segun James
A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to implement the recommendations of the 2014 Constitutional Conference in honour of Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Edwin Clark.
George made the appeal at a media briefing in Lagos on Friday.
Adebanjo, the late leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, who died at 96 on February 14, was buried yesterday in Ogun State.
Similarly, Clark, the late Niger Delta leader, who died at 97 on February 17, will be buried on May 13 in Delta State.
Both deceased nationalists were said to have inspired and participated in the 2014 Constitutional Conference convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking on how to immortalise the duo, George said the best way to honour them was to release and implement the resolutions into which they invested all their life’s experience, in the national interest.
The retired naval commodore and
former military governor of Ondo State said he had become closer to Adebanjo and Clark during the Confab, having worked with them in the same sub-committee on what constitutional system should be adopted.
George said: “Mr President, I am appealing to you today, May 2 to release the report of the 2014 Confab for the benefit of the people of this country, in memory of the two old men, to immortalise their names.
“These people (Adebanjo, Clark, and other elder statesmen) are crying to Tinubu to release and implement
that report.
“The report was unanimously agreed upon at the plenary session by the delegates. That is where we can achieve peace.
“When I saw all the work — the contributions of these two elders — and look at it, they died three days apart, I am not afraid to say we are going to take over from where they stopped.”
According to him, it has become imperative for the nation to revisit the report now that the ship of state appears to be drifting in terms of the economy, politics, security, and other areas.
Ndubuisi
Nigeria has called for global financial reforms, arguing that a fairer international financial structure was crucial in achieving sustainable development and reducing inequality.
The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, made the call in New York, United States of America, while representing Nigeria at the special
high-level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions, World Trade Organisation (WTO) as well as the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Uzoka-Anit, who reaffirmed Nigeria’s call for urgent reform of global finance, highlighted the need for the reallocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to vulnerable economies; UN-led mechanisms for sovereign debt restructuring as well as an
inclusive global financial system that promotes development over austerity.
According to a statement issued by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, the minister who expressed optimism that a fairer international financial architecture was crucial for achieving sustainable development and reducing inequality, observed that
developing economies undertaking ambitious reforms would require tailored support and concessional financing to ensure that their efforts yield meaningful results for their citizens. She underscored Nigeria's commitment to bridging the global financing gap and promoting a more inclusive and equitable financial system that supports development and prosperity for all nations.
diminishes the values we hold dearly.
“Let me reaffirm that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains deeply committed to upholding press freedom as a cornerstone of our democracy.
“A free and responsible media is the lifeblood of any democratic society; it gives citizens the power to express themselves freely and hold leaders accountable,” he said.
The minister added: “In this new era, our resolve must be matched with action, through policies that promote media innovation while protecting journalists from the misuse of technology.
“As part of this commitment, the federal government is currently developing a national policy framework on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in the media space.
“This framework will ensure that innovation does not come at the cost of ethics, press freedom, or national security”.
The minister expressed concern that, at a time when AI-powered
misinformation, deepfakes, and disinformation, campaigns are being used as weapons to exploit, divide and sow discord. Meanwhile, NHRC has called for the creation of ethical and legal frameworks to regulate the use of AI, warning that unregulated use poses risks to press freedom and fundamental human rights.
A statement issued yesterday by the Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages of NHRC, Fatimah Mohammed, stated that the commission would release an advisory on the use and deployment of AI in the country.
Mohammed stated that NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, called for AI to be developed and used in a way that aligns with human rights principles to prevent potential abuses.
Ojukwu, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said AI has the potential to enhance journalistic activities such as content development, investigative reporting, research, and fact-checking.
Eight members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other non-OPEC members, collectively known as OPEC+ member countries, yesterday announced a sharp increase in oil production for the month of June at the risk of driving down already very low prices.
Saudi Arabia, along with Russia and six other members of the oil cartel, will implement a production adjustment of 411,000 barrels per day out of the ground, as in May, according to a OPEC+ statement, whereas the initial plan called for an increase of just 137,000 barrels.
Numbering a total of 22 countries, most of which are highly dependent on oil, the group had until recently been exploiting supply scarcity to boost prices, holding millions of barrels in reserve.
“OPEC+ has just thrown a bombshell to the oil market,”
Jorge Leon, analyst with Rystad Energy, told AFP.
“Last month’s decision was a
wakeup call. Today’s decision is a definitive message that the Saudi led group is changing strategy and pursuing market share after years of cutting production,” he added. That about-face will also provide an opportunity to build good relations with Donald Trump’s United States, he went on.
Shortly after taking office in January Trump called on Saudi Arabia, which heads the cartel, to up production in order to bring prices down.
Last month the group slightly lowered its forecast for oil demand growth, citing the impact of US tariffs on the world economy.
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in 2016 came up with OPEC+ to strengthen their weight on the global market.
The eight who have agreed additional increases are Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman.
Former Special Adviser on Political Matters in the Office of Vice President Kashim Shettima, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has alleged that the Nigerian economy is worse under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu than during his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
He made the claim during a live television programme, on Friday, where he spoke concerning his open letter to President Tinubu in which he asked him not to contest in 2027, why he stepped down from the administration, and the political
defections rocking the country. Baba-Ahmed served for 17 months before resigning.
Tinubu’s assumption of office on May 29, 2023, has seen bold economic reforms such as the removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the naira.
At that time, Nigeria’s inflation rate stood at 22.41 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). However, inflation surged to an alarming 34.6 per cent by November 2024, a rise many economists attributed to the president’s removal of the petrol
Chiemelie Ezeobi
BRAS Marine and Yacht Services Limited, the exclusive representative of Sea Rays boats in Nigeria and West Africa, has renewed its call for improved safety protocols and eco-conscious practices across the boating industry.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Yomi Sonuga, made this call while raising the alarm over persistent safety lapses and growing environmental threats to the country’s waterways, particularly at a time that recreational boating is increasingly becoming popular in Nigeria.
Speaking with THISDAY over the weekend at the Lagos Motorboat Club in Ikoyi, Lagos, Sonuga reiterated the company’s commitment to protecting lives and marine ecosystems through sustained public education and stakeholder engagement.
He said: “Our operations are focused on the sales and after-sales support of Seaway boats. But through our corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, we are going further—educating stakeholders in the boating space about the importance of safety. That includes boat owners, operators, and everyday users.”
Sonuga, who identified one of the major safety concerns as overloading, particularly among commercial boats, warned that overloading often ends in tragedy, especially when compounded by the absence of basic safety equipment.
He said: “We advocate for the proper use of life vests, fire extinguishers, paddles, and navigation
lights—regardless of whether it’s a luxury boat or a commercial one. Safety should never be optional.
“Promoting boating safety and environmental stewardship is not just good business—it’s a social obligation. With more awareness, training, and enforcement, we can build a sustainable boating culture that benefits everyone.”
Alongside its safety campaign, BRAS Marine is also placing a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility.
Sonuga condemned the widespread habit of dumping plastic waste and other refuse into waterways, stressing its damaging effects on marine life and the long-term viability of marine transport.
“Throwing debris into the water not only damages the ecology but also increases maintenance costs for boat owners,” he said.
“Clean waters contribute to longer-lasting equipment and a better experience for all. Everyone has a role to play—both individuals and institutions,” he added.
He also acknowledged efforts by the Lagos State government in tackling the menace of water hyacinth, which has historically disrupted inland water transport.
However, he warned that several threats have persisted, notably plastic pollution and the dangerous practice of sailing at night without navigation lights.
Joining BRAS Marine in its advocacy was a European boating safety expert and Sea Ray representative, Mr. Tomek Kepa, who was on his first official visit to Nigeria.
subsidy and the unification of the country’s foreign exchange rates.
“It is worse than Buhari left it,” Baba-Ahmed said while commenting on the state of the economy.
On recent economic growth rate statistics by top world organisations, he said, “This is the thing with the statistics that the administration keeps reeling out. And you really wonder where they get the statistics from. You go to villages, go to Katsina, go to Zamfara, go to Niger State, go to Plateau, go to Benue, virtually, in fact literally, go to every part of Nigeria.
“More blood is shed now than it was maybe two years ago. And yet you see this kind of statistics
that say there are fewer killings, there is less violence. You have to ask, do our leaders know how our people live? Who is telling them all this? How do these statistics get acquired? Because if you want to measure how people live, you do not do that by just some statistics that someone gives you. Do the president’s people tell him the state of the country? Does he know? Does he know the level of poverty? Does he know how many families, entire families, live in that village?” Baba-Ahmed said he had hoped President Tinubu’s administration would bring economic development, given his role as former Lagos State governor who had also tasted
poverty.
“I saw a president who was stubborn, almost visionary, but he ran Lagos for eight years. Whether he ran it well or not, I do not know. But he ran Lagos well. He resisted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s overbearing and strong determination to get rid of him. Beyond that, I saw him as a calculating politician. He gave his platform to Atiku. He gave his platform to Nuhu Ribadu. He participated actively. Then he agreed with Buhari and created a platform that allowed Buhari to become president. Because for 2003, 2007, 2011, Buhari was running, he did not get anywhere.”
He said Tinubu had played a major role in the election of former president Buhari.
“To be honest with you, I think that coalition, CPC-APC-AC, was decisive in terms of giving President Buhari victory. And as I said, I was part of the campaign. I had a front-line seat; so, I know what I am talking about. And Tinubu’s contribution to Buhari’s emergence was genuinely a deciding factor. So, in many ways, you have to give him credit for being a calculating president. I do not know what has happened since 2015, but I do not see the fire. I do not see that calculation. I did not see much of him, to be fair to him.”
Four Soldiers Killed in Boko Haram Attack on Military Base in Yobe 24 Hours After North-east Governors’ Meeting
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
No fewer than four soldiers lost their lives when suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked 27 Task Force Brigade, Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Sources also said several operational equipment belonging to the troops of ‘Operation Hadin Kai’ were destroyed while others were looted by the armed terrorists.
This is coming less than 24 hours after the North East Governors Forum held its routine/11th meeting in Damaturu, the state capital and adopted a multidimensional
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, has tackled the 19 northern governors over the death of 111 former employees of the New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN), who were expecting their entitlements from the governors, describing their deaths as worrisome and unacceptable.
In a communique issued after a congress of the union presided over by the council chairman, Abdulgafar Alabelewe, the union condemned the failure of the owners of the famous newspaper company established by the late Ahmadu Bello to pay
approach to tackle insurgency in the region.
The incident which took place yesterday, came at a time when the new Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, took over the mantle of leadership, after his predecessor, Major General Waidi Shaib,u was untimely removed.
A security source who escaped the attack, said the assailants stormed their location around 2.am yesterday through the western direction.
“We were taken off guard by the heavy explosion and gunfire, but we stood our ground. A lot of
our fighting equipment has been destroyed during the encounter.
“Yes, we lost four of our men, just as they also recorded casualties during the fierce battle that lasted for hours,” he said
The Nigerian Army Headquarters confirmed the attack via its verified Facebook page yesterday morning.
“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI are currently in a fierce battle against an ISWAP attack at Buni Gari, Yobe State. Details later,” it stated.
However, the military is yet to give further details on the casualties as at the time of filing this report.
Buni Yadi is the country home
of Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, and a distance of 65km from Damaturu, the state capital.
A local source who fled to the local council’s headquarters, Buni Yadi, said many residents have fled their homes to areas they consider safe, even as the Biu-DamaturuMaiduguri road was temporarily closed which prevent motorists and passengers reach their destinations on time.
“The military had shut down vehicular movement on the busy road, which serves as a link between Yobe and Biu and other towns in southern Borno,” a passenger, Mallam Musa Isa said.
severance benefits of their former workers, despite realising far more than the amount needed to settle staff liabilities from the sale of the assets of the organisation.
“We observe with grave concern the plight of former workers of the New Nigerian Newspapers over the deliberate refusal of Northern State Governors chaired by Gombe State Governor to settle their entitlements which has resulted in the death of 111 former staff and 45 others on admission battling various ailments.
“We are calling on the concerned authorities to take immediate steps toward ensuring that the outstanding benefits of the NNN workers are paid
without further delay,” the NUJ added.
The NUJ, however, lauded the concerted efforts of the Kaduna State Government and residents in addressing insecurity across the state and expressed deep concern over what it called the resurgence of street gangsters in the metropolis, especially motor parks, pedestrian bridges among other flashpoints.
The council acknowledged the success of adopting the non-kinetic approach by Governor Uba Sani’s administration in fighting banditry and other forms of insecurity in Kaduna State.
The NUJ expressed satisfaction with the National Security Adviser
(NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa’s collaboration with the Kaduna State Government in tackling kidnapping and banditry across the state.
The journalists commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for what they described as demonstrable leadership qualities geared towards advancing the interest and welfare of his constituents and indeed Nigerians. NUJ welcomed the distribution of welfare packages to various groups and associations, including NUJ, and Zaria Unit which got a Ford Galaxy car, from Abbas.
Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
A youth group in Plateau State, Mwaghavul Youth Movement (MYM), has raised the alarm, alleging that some militias were planning another attack on the people of Plateau State.
The group, which reacted to the allegations by the herders that their cattle were being poisoned, argued that the use of herbicides and other chemicals to protect farms was a common legitimate practice, alleging that the herders also used certain vaccines on their animals that made their consumption hazardous to human beings at certain window periods.
Addressing a press conference in Jos, the state capital, the National President of the group, Kyesmang Jonathan Yusuf, said
recently herdsmen in the state came up with baseless allegations that their cattle were rustled and some were poisoned.
The youth group noted that from antecedents, similar allegations raised in the past by Fulani herdsmen were usually followed by attacks on the people of the state, adding that the allegations were usually used to justify their attacks.
He said: “We know that such lies often precede coordinated attacks on our people, which is why we are here today to inform the general public of their evil intentions against the state.
“Also, recently, a Fulani leader, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Chairman in Mangu LGA made threats against the peace of our community in a
viral video. Another individual, Bilal Gambo, a former resident at Jwakchan-Kwaghas of Mangu LGA made provocative and defamatory statements against our people.
“At this point, we will not conclude that the security agencies are still pretending not to have read or heard the threats issued by these terrorists.
“Previous unprovoked attacks on the Mwaghavul people have resulted in the sacking of over 30 villages, displacement of over 65,000 villagers, grounding of 6,111 houses, and immense loss of over 600 lives aside properties.
“It is not in doubt that the Fulanis have mistaken our people’s simplicity for weakness and stupidity. We demand that these individuals be arrested and prosecuted immediately for inciting
The Anambra State Government announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be in the state on Thursday next week, to commission some projects.
The state government also warned that as a result of this, there may be disruption of traffic flow in parts of the state where the projects to be commissioned by the president are located.
A press statement by the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor said as a result of this, there will be slight traffic adjustments in some areas.
The release read: “In preparation for this highpowered visit, the government anticipates slight adjustments to traffic flow and commuter schedules. We kindly urge Ndi
Anambra to cooperate with security agencies and other relevant authorities in the build-up to this visit.
“We are excited to welcome Mr President to Anambra State and assure him of a warm and hospitable reception.
“We appreciate your understanding, cooperation, and support in ensuring a hitch-free and memorable visit by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
THISDAY gathered that some of the projects to be commissioned by the president during the visit include the new Anambra Government House, Governor’s Lodge, and Presidential Lodge project, the Solution Fun City project which is an ultra-modern recreation facility, Ekwulobia flyover bridge project and numerous strategic roads.
violence against our people.”
The group said that the Fulani have made allegations against the Mwaghavul youths, claiming they were responsible for criminal acts such as poisoning of their cows and cattle rustling.
According to the youth group, the Fulani also accused the District Head of Kombun, Da Gambo Tetmut of protecting cattle rustlers.
“Whereas we understand their pain for the loss of their animals, they should report such cases to security agencies who have the expertise to investigate, arrest, and prosecute such criminals rather than using such occasions to stereotype or blackmail our youths. We detest such cheap blackmail.
“And if such blackmail is intended to scare us, they would
be making a terrible mistake. They better advise themselves as we shall meet them at our gates with the devastating force of our unity and patriotism.”
He said: “The use of herbicides and other chemicals to protect farms by our farmers is a common legitimate practice. We urge the government to support our farmers in their efforts to protect their crops. We are also aware that herders use certain vaccines on their animals that make their consumption hazardous to human beings at certain window periods.
“Herders should educate their under-aged children on the consequences of deliberate abuse of farms that have been treated.
Most adult herders know about this. We call on the Nigerian Army to investigate the recent
destruction of crops by the Fulani in Mangu and other parts of Mangu LGA.
“It is essential that the Army takes an objective stance, protecting all ethnic groups within Mangu LGA equally, while giving attention to the temerity of the Fulani elements.
“We call for unity among all tribes on the Plateau to stand together against this common enemy, the terrorists, and urge the government to provide security, investigate where these terrorists come from, and arrest and prosecute them.
“The Fulanis must expose the foreign terror groups hibernating amongst them to ensure trust. Together we will defeat the terror groups. Until they show such commitments, they are perceived as friends of our enemies.”
Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia
Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule has said that it is only God Almighty who will select his successor.
The decision, he said, is beyond him.
He urged residents to look forward to that moment when God will select who he pleases out of the over 20 people aspiring to succeed him in 2027.
The governor stated this at the
weekend at the grand reception organised by the Hon. Safiyanu Isa Andaha-led Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Nasarawa State chapter, in honour of Labaran Shuaibu Magaji on his recent appointment as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
He said power comes from God, adding that only he has the discretion to give it to whoever he pleases and whenever he wants.
“This position of governor,
only one person will get it and all others must rally around the one chosen by God. From my count, I have seen about 20 people already in the race for Governor of Nasarawa State so far. That is what I have seen.
So, there is going to be a lot of alliances, a lot of forgiveness, and a lot of working together if we want to get to where we want.
“Because, at the end of the day, one person will get it, and let me make it categorically
clear; God Almighty alone gives this position, the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, is not Engr Sule that gives position to him, it is God Almighty that gave it to him. And so, it is God Almighty that is going to select our next governor, not Abdullahi Sule for that reason, we must look forward to that time,” Sule asserted. Sule thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support of Nasarawa State.
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Minister of Regional Development, Mr. Abubakar Momoh, has promised enhance regulatory frameworks and policy measures towards strengthening economic growth and revitalising regions across the country.
Momoh stated this at a three-day sectoral retreat of the ministry in Lagos, where he reaffirmed the commitment
of the ministry to fostering a structured approach to regional development.
The retreat, themed: “Improving Institutional Coordination for Better Development Results,” brought the six regional development commissions together towards improving institutional synergy, strengthen policy implementation, and promoting strategic collaboration.
The minister, together with the
Minister of State in the ministry, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, noted that for years, Nigeria lacked a specific, well-formulated regional development policy framework that can propel the country towards economic emancipation and all-encompassing development.
This, they said, underscored the urgency and relevance of strengthening the synergy between the Ministry of Re-
gional Development and all the Regional Development Commissions.
The development commissions include the Niger Delta Development Commission (NEDC), Northeast Development Commission (NEDC), Southeast Development Commission (SEDC), and Northwest Development Commission (NWDC) in addition to those that will soon been on-board.
Air Peace yesterday reacted to the directive by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the airline to immediately address persistent flight delays, explaining that flight delays and cancellations were for the safety of human lives in line with air safety standards.
In a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications at Air Peace, Ejike Ndiulo, the airline insisted that it had no regret cancelling or delaying flights.
While empathising with passengers who experienced inconveniences from its flight cancellations and delays, Air Peace said the disruptions were due to safety considerations.
NCAA had on Friday issued a stern directive to Air Peace to immediately address persistent flight delays and cancellations that had sparked growing outrage among passengers.
However, the airline said flights would not be operated if weather
conditions, technical parameters, or operational standards fell short of safety standards.
“It is not our policy to delay or cancel flights without due cause, and when we do, we are often the greater loser financially. We will never sacrifice safety for convenience, comfort, speed, or profit,” it said.
Air Peace thanked the NCAA for requesting improvement in its domestic operations and also hailed the agency’s efforts in ensuring airline operators’ adherence to global safety standards.
Air Peace, however, said that it was also important to clarify that it had more aircraft than were being rostered for daily operations.
“Therefore, any delays or cancellations we have experienced have absolutely nothing to do with the fleet shortage.
“For instance, on Friday, one of our aircraft experienced a bird strike, which damaged the engine while landing in Enugu.
“The aircraft was immediately
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
A former Labour Party governorship aspirant in Edo State, Kenneth Imasuagbon, has urged Nigerians to heed the advice of General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) on self-defense.
He specifically asked Nigerians to rise to the occasion and defend themselves in the face of growing insecurity and the government’s inability to protect the citizenry.
The prominent legal practitioner and philanthropist, popularly known as the “Rice Man” for his humanitarian outreach, made this call yesterday at a press interaction to mark his 59th birthday.
He expressed disappointment at the state of the nation, saying his birthday was not a moment of joy but of sober reflection.
“At 59, I should be celebrating progress, not speaking on government failure. People are being killed, kidnapped, and displaced daily, yet the government appears powerless,” he said.
He criticised what he described as the silence and inability of the federal and state governments in the face of banditry, terrorism, and communal violence.
“The Nigerian state has failed in its primary responsibility to protect lives and property. When the government is silent, the people must not be silent. We must defend ourselves,” he noted.
Backing General Danjuma’s call, Imasuagbon said Nigerians must begin to organise local security structures to defend their communities.
grounded and withdrawn from operation in accordance with safety protocol,” it said.
Air Peace said that the aircraft was scheduled to service multiple routes, noting that its unavailability
had had a ripple effect on flight operations for the routes.
“This kind of situation is completely beyond the control of any airline, but again, our priority is the safety of our passengers.
“It is to be stated that every decision Air Peace has taken since the inception of this airline, whether resulting in a delay, cancellation, or suspension of flight, has been taken in the best
interest of safety. “If such situations occur again, we will do the same because we are not ready to compromise safety. We do not cancel any flights for the fun of it,” the statement added.
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has raised the alarm over the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), describing AMR as a ‘silent killer,’ deadlier than malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) combined.
The Director General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, who stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, also highlighted the urgent need to tackle the global health threat, which many Nigerians remained unaware of.
Idris said: “AMR is a silent killer. It kills more than the combination of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/ AIDS together. The worst thing is that not much is known about it, especially among the public. It has become a global focus.
“AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the effects of medications—making common infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.
“This resistance, while naturally occurring, is significantly accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents in humans,
animals, and agriculture.
“It is unacceptable that most Nigerians don’t know how dangerous AMR is; we must act now,” the DG said.
He said that the federal government had stepped up its response and that the country was already working on implementing its National Action Plan on AMR 2.0, which has strategic pillars, including Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), antimicrobial stewardship, and financing.
“AMR was supposed to be part and parcel of our current health programmes. We are now about to roll out
specific programmes targeting AMR.
“These efforts will include IPC, antimicrobial stewardship, and sustainable financing—these are critical areas we’re looking at,” he added.
Idris also announced that Nigeria was set to host the next Global Ministerial Conference on AMR in 2026, a landmark event that would bring global attention to the issue.
The NCDC boss also highlighted the importance of awareness, particularly among the public and healthcare providers, to stop the rampant misuse of antibiotics in the country.
Ejiofor Alike
The Managing Director of NIPCO Plc, Mr. Suresh Kumar, has declared that the company’s safety culture, which is rooted in a strong commitment to excellence, is a good model for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Kumar made the declaration during the company’s commemoration of the 2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work, held recently in Apapa, Lagos State.
He emphasised the enormous role of employees in the rising profile of the company.
He said the company’s strong commitment to safety excellence has rubbed off positively on the organisation’s reputation as a leader in safety compliance.
Kumar added that the company’s safety policy reflects its dedication to providing a secure environment for all employees, which guides every aspect of the company’s operations.
He listed NIPCO’s safety achievements, which he said are impressive, including a record of no Lost Time Injuries (LTI) over the past two decades, adding that the feat was a testament to the company’s rigorous safety protocols and high housekeeping standards.
Kumar said the company’s safety goals were centered around proactive risk management, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.
According to him, by prioritizing safety, NIPCO Plc ensures that all employees are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent accidents.
“Employee engagement is a key aspect of NIPCO PLC’s safety culture. The company fosters a safety-first culture through training and awareness programmes, ensuring that all employees are empowered to prioritize safety in their daily tasks,” he explained.
Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has decried the rising economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians as a result of the unstable pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS), calling on the federal government
to consider reviewing some of the harsh economic policies and ensure the implementation of people-friendly policies that will alleviate poverty, create better economic opportunities, and improve the overall living conditions of the common man.
These and other wideranging national issues
formed part of the 13-point communique issued at the end of the 72nd General Church Council (GCC) meeting of ECWA, held at the ECWA international conference hall, Jos, Plateau State.
The 72nd ECWA GCC meeting which started from 28th April to 2nd May
2025, had in attendance the ECWA Executive Council, the Board of Trustees, Chairmen, Secretaries, and Delegates from the 94 District Church Councils, including representatives from the Chad Republic, Togo, and Cameroun as well as ECWA Heads of Departments and Institutions.
Membership of an organisation varies according to the organisation. But, grosso modo, membership can be full, associate, observer, or honorary. In professional organisations, eligibility for membership is a major factor. An aspiring member has to be considered for possible acceptance, meaning that there must be shared interests before such consideration. In many international organisations, membership can be by origination, accession, invitation or conferment. For example, the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and SouthAfrica) has three categories of membership: original members that involve the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). They are the founding members. The second category is membership by accession. South Africa was the first invited country to accede to the agreement establishing the BRIC and the acronym was changed to BRICS with the accession.
Under normal circumstance, in international treaty-making, when a treaty is done, it has to be signed. The signatories are considered original members. When the treaty enters into force following the attainment of the number of ratifications required by the treaty, any further signatures fall under the category of accession. What is noteworthy about original members and members by accession is that both categories are full members of the organisation. Full membership confers total rights, privileges and obligations. On the contrary, associate members have limited participation while membership by observation does not confer such rights. Observer status allows for monitoring but not to the extent of voting involvement. Some professional organisations have the corporate and government membership categories. In the context of the BRICS, there is the special category of invited partner membership. Nigeria’s membership falls into this category.
Nigeria’s
There are three main types of international organisations in international relations: inter-governmental organisations, international non-governmental organisations, and multinational enterprises. The BRICS is an inter-governmental organisation with three types of membership. There is the first category of founding members, comprising the BRICS. Instead of talking about members by accession, the BRICS has the expanded membership category which is the second category. It comprises Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Argentina was invited into this category but withdrew. There is the third group of membership, the partner members which covers countries that have interests and just to partner with the BRICS. Countries like Mexico, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria among others, are in this category.
It is important to note here that the formation of the BRICS is not a resultant from any formal agreement but from cumulative summits, dialogues, declarations, etc. For instance, the first informal meeting of the BRIC Foreign Ministers was held on the margins of the UN General Assembly in 2006 and was followed in 2009 with the first formal meeting at the summitry level in Yekaterinburg in Russia. This was also the beginning of the structured cooperation marked by a BRIC Joint Statement. Following the accession of South Africa in 2010, the summit of all the five Heads of State was held in 2011. More importantly, Brazil played host to the next summit in 2014 where the Fortaleza Declaration was not only made, but also where the New Development Bank and Contingent Reserve Arrangement were established. More important was the most recent meeting of the BRICS’ Foreign Ministers held on Wednesday, 30th April, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro. Representatives of the expanded BRICS members were there. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, represented Nigeria at the meeting. Amongst the many global questions addressed at the meeting were trade and economic policy, which condemned protectionist trade and raised concerns about U.S. trade policies, especially in the areas of high tariffs; climate change and environmental cooperation, on the basis of which a call was made to the developed countries to enhance climate finance and not to use restrictive
measures in global trade as a justification for combating climate change; global health and pandemic preparedness, which was taken as a major commitment to global pandemic preparedness; reform of global architecture, which not only endorses the current IMF governance reforms but also wants a comprehensive reform of the global financial architecture; cultural and technological collaboration, which calls for more cultural exchange program and citizen diplomacy (people-to-people interactions), as well as energy and food security, which underscores the need for food security and nutrition, access to affordable and reliable energy.
In his statement, entitled “The Role of the Global South in Reinforcing Multilateralism,” Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar noted that ‘in a world facing complex challenges from climate change and technological disruption to global economic instability, Nigeria stands with BRICS in calling for reforms that reflect today’s realities and empower the global South.’ Additionally, Foreign Minister Tuggar ‘noted that BRICS offers a viable collaborative alternative to outdated international structures, pointing to initiatives like the New Development Bank and discussion on a common payment system as signs of a more balanced global order in the making.’ Thus, Nigeria has reaffirmed her commitment to inclusive global order.
More significantly, Ambassador Tuggar availed himself of the opportunity to receive his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the side lines of the Rio Janeiro meeting on April 29, 2025. As noted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, ‘China welcomes Nigeria as a partner country to attend
Above all, the linkage between Nigeria’s partner membership of the BRICS and quest for strategic autonomy also extends to the issue of sub-regional security at the level of Nigeria’s immediate neighbourhood. Strategic autonomy is particularly about self-security, freedom from political chicanery and imminent terrorist threats from the immediate neighbourhood. With the intervention of President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic in the conflict-ridden Celestial Church of Christ, worldwide, Nigeria’s quest for strategic autonomy, beginning with the immediate neighbourhood, cannot but be seriously threatened. President Talon is seeking peace and unity by sharply dividing the Church and by wrongly assuming that he is more knowledgeable than Chief Olusegun Okikiola Obasanjo who had intervened in the matter, but to no avail, a situation that has served as a catalytic factor in the taking of the matter to the court by the Board of Trustees of the Church. President Talon wrongly believes that by side-tracking or removing Nigeria in the conflict resolution and by particularly ignoring that the dispute is in a court in Nigeria, he is bringing more shame to the church and insecurity to Nigeria. With the arrangements of President Talon and the expected va-et-vient movements between Benin and Nigeria, the inflow of more terrorists into Nigeria cannot but threaten Nigeria’s quest for strategic autonomy
the BRICS meeting and supports Nigeria in actively fulfilling its responsibilities as the rotating president of the ECOWAS and playing a greater role in international and regional affairs.’
More significantly, Wang Yi said that ‘Nigeria is a large developing country and a significant member in the Global South, enjoying a great development potential and a promising future. China has always placed Nigeria in an important position in its overall diplomacy and relationship withAfrica and firmly supports Nigeria in safeguarding its state sovereignty, and national dignity and in following a development path that suits its national conditions.’ Without doubt, it is this type of international recognition of Nigeria’s efforts that Nigeria’s quest for strategic autonomy is all about. Strategic autonomy is earning international respect. It is about safeguarding state sovereignty and national dignity. It is also about enhancing the development potential of Nigeria. No wonderAmbassador Tuggar similarly told the Chinese counterpart what he too wanted to hear: Nigeria appreciated ‘the support provided by China for Nigeria’s economic and social development,’ and that ‘Nigeria will continue to firmly abide by the One-China principle. And perhaps most significantly, Ambassador Tuggar said that ‘Nigeria expects to jointly implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and accelerate Africa’s industrialisation.’
Thus, there is no disputing the fact that, when Ambassador Tuggar pointed out that strategic autonomy is the ‘fulcrum’ of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he largely meant that it is a major defining philosophy of political governance. In other words, every political, economic, technological or cultural undertaking must be done with the ultimate objective of how to achieve strategic autonomy or self-reliance to begin with and how to use the tactical strategic autonomy ultimately to have a foreign policy grand strategy. To a great extent,Ambassador Tuggar appears to be treading the right path, quietly re-presenting the new Nigeria in the making to the world. The mere fact that China, a major stakeholder and founding member of the BRICS, has friendly welcomed Nigeria’s partner country status, the likelihood of the use of the BRICS by Nigeria to achieve some of her foreign policy strategic objectives means better days cannot but be coming to borrow the words of Jimmy Cliff: ‘better days are coming. Let us now address the linkage between the quest for strategic autonomy and Nigeria’s partner membership of the BRICS.
The Strategic Autonomy Linkage
Nigeria’s partner membership of the BRICS is consistent with Nigeria’s quest for strategic autonomy by building on the doctrine of 4-Ds (Development, Democracy, Demography and Diaspora). The doctrine as a new idea is being raised to the higher level of diplomacy, that is, it is no longer being simply considered as an indestructible idea but elevated to doctrine as a tactical technique of achieving a self-reliant status for Nigeria. Consequently, we are talking about the diplomacy of 4-Ds as an instrument of attaining strategic autonomy.
Strategic autonomy and non-alignment as policies are two sides of the same coin. The fundamental difference in the two is that non-alignment, as adopted under Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa in 1960, was mainly reactive. It was about not blindly following the lead of any bloc of powers and ensuring that policy decisions were taken on the basis of the national interest. Strategic autonomy is basically about self-reliance, self-determination, and self-authorisation like non-alignment. And perhaps more fundamentally, strategic autonomy is about proactivity and not simply reactivity.
Put differently, strategic autonomy, as being conceptualised by Ambassador Tuggar, is a foreign policy project in the immediate but aimed at evolving a foreign policy grand strategy in the long run. It is against this background that Nigeria’s interest and partner membership of the BRICS should be explained and understood. There is therefore a strong linkage between Nigeria’s strategic autonomy and her partnership with the BRICS.
As reported by The Cable Report Afrique, Ambassador Tuggar has always said Nigeria has interest in joining the BRICS and that Nigeria would join ‘at the right time’ as the country is committed to strategic autonomy. The manifestations of the quest for strategic autonomy are not far-fetched: Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, participated in the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa in August 2023; Nigeria is not only cooperating with Russia on energy projects, but also seeking alternatives to western financial systems along with Russia.
In this regard, it is important to note that Nigeria’s partner membership of the BRICS, and particularly Nigeria’s cooperation with Russia and other members of the BRICS is to enhance the attainability of the objectives of strategic autonomy. Without any whiff of doubt, one major dynamic for the quest for strategic autonomy is the consideration that, sooner than later, Africa cannot but become the new theatre for great power rivalry in light of the new situational reality: movement from a unipolar world to a multipolar world. Ambassador Tuggar noted during an interactive session in Washington, DC, that ‘we are very wary of Africa becoming the ground for the great power contestation that has changed from a unipolar to a multipolar world. Our outlook is that of strategic autonomy.’
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Editor: Festus Akanbi
08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com
One of the takeaways from the 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was the gap between Nigeria’s economic self-assessment and that of the Bretton Woods institutions. While Nigerian officials painted a picture of resilience and recovery, the IMF and World Bank expressed caution, citing persistent inflation, rising debt, and sluggish reforms, reports Festus Akanbi
Although the 2025 Spring meetings of the two leading global financial institutions, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), ended last week in Washington, DC, United States, the echoes of the review and the outlook of the global economy are still reverberating in Nigeria.
For the Nigerian delegation led by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and Central Bank Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, Nigeria currently, and in the immediate future, has what it takes to turn its economy around.
Speaking at a joint media briefing on the last day of the 2025 meetings, Edun and Cardoso presented a bullish outlook for the country, highlighting macroeconomic reforms, improved investor confidence and expressed optimism for an ambitious growth target of seven per cent.
The CBN governor further disclosed that the gap between the official and parallel market exchange rates had disappeared, while speculative arbitrage, a persistent source of currency pressure in past years, had also vanished.
“This renewed stability has restored confidence and spurred autonomous inflows through formal channels. These inflows are diversifying our foreign exchange sources beyond oil,” Cardoso said.
In his remarks, Edun confirmed that critical economic indicators were now trending positively, noting a clear break from the precarious conditions that existed a few years ago.
Edun added: “Nigeria’s reform efforts are strongly appreciated by the international community as the most credible way to economic prosperity.”
However, reports from the World Bank and the IMF appear to be saying a different thing about the Nigerian economy, with the multilateral institutions saying Nigeria is producing more poor people.
Since he assumed power, President Bola Tinubu has introduced sweeping socio-economic reforms, which the government said were aimed at fixing the economy and redirecting it on the path of growth. These include the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates, among others. The ripple effects of the policies have been severe on many Nigerians, amid elevated food prices and sundry inflationary pressures, triggering hunger and poverty protests across sections of the country.
While Edun and Cardoso beat their chests that Nigeria has weathered its most turbulent storms and is now firmly on a path towards growth and stability, the World Bank predicted that growth in Nigeria is expected to remain moderate in the coming year.
The World Bank projects that headline inflation will ease to 22.1 per cent in 2025, down from 26.6 per cent in 2024, with further moderation to 15.9 per cent by 2027. These forecasts are based on adjusted CPI figures following the rebasing exercise by the National Bureau of Statistics in JanuaryHowever,2025.the IMF offers a less optimistic outlook, projecting inflation to average 26.5 per cent in 2025 and spike to 37.0 per cent in 2026. The Fund attributes the stubborn inflation to structural inefficiencies, a weak supply response, and exchange rate volatility despite ongoing reforms.
The World Bank projected that Nigeria’s
economy will grow by 3.6 per cent in 2025, building on an estimated expansion of 3.4 per cent in 2024, as key macroeconomic reforms begin to stabilise the business environment.
The bank’s latest economic forecast, which is contained in the Spring 2025 edition of Africa’s Pulse, reflects a more optimistic view than that of the International Monetary Fund, which revised Nigeria’s 2025 growth rate downward to 3.0 per cent in its April 2025 report.
According to the World Bank, the projected recovery is anchored on improved performance in non-oil sectors, notably financial services, telecommunications, information technology, and a gradual rebound in oil production, which is expected to align with Nigeria’s OPEC+ quota.
The multilateral lender anticipates that the country’s economic growth will further strengthen to 3.8 per cent by 2027, assuming current reforms are sustained.
The report stated, “Economic growth is expected to remain moderate in Nigeria. It is expected to increase from 3.4 per cent in 2024 to 3.6 per cent in 2025, and slightly increase to 3.8 per cent in 2026–27.
On the issue of Nigeria’s current account position, the World Bank projects that the current account surplus will rise slightly from 9.2 per cent of GDP in 2024 to 9.4 per cent in 2026. This outlook is underpinned by lower imports, increased remittances, and higher oil exports.
The IMF, however, forecasts a narrowing of the surplus to 6.9 per cent in 2025 and 5.2 per cent in 2026, warning that prolonged oil prices below Nigeria’s fiscal breakeven of $60 per barrel could undermine the external balance.
Poverty on the Increase
The World Bank believes Nigeria is now home to 15 per cent of the world’s extremely poor people. An analysis of its Africa Pulse report, unveiled during the Spring Meet-
ings, revealed that more than 106 million Nigerians currently live on less than $2.15 per day, the global benchmark for extreme poverty.
This places Nigeria at the centre of the global poverty crisis, despite being Africa’s largest economy by gross domestic product.According to the bank’s projections, Nigeria’s poverty rate is expected to increase by 3.6 percentage points between 2022 and 2027, despite temporary improvements in sectors such as telecommunications and financial services.
Among the four countries, the report identified Nigeria as the single largest contributor to extreme poverty in the sub-Saharan Africa region, with about 19 per cent, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (14 per cent), Ethiopia (9 per cent), and Sudan (6 per cent).
This means that about 106.4 million of the 560 million extreme poor in Sub- Saharan Africa reside in Nigeria, which further accounts for 15 per cent of the global total.
It warned that poverty in resource-rich and fragile economies, such as Nigeria, would worsen unless decisive structural reforms are urgently implemented.
According to the bank’s projections, Nigeria’s poverty rate is expected to increase by 3.6 percentage points between 2022 and 2027, despite temporary improvements in sectors such as telecommunications and financial services.
Preventing Further Slide into Poverty
In his reaction, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, said the federal government should take bold steps to address the key drivers of poverty to prevent the gloomy prediction by the World Bank from coming to pass.
According to him, “This kind of statement from the World Bank can only be conditional, because if the government does the right things, then the situation will not be as gloomy as it has been presented.
“If the government can address the key drivers of poverty, then the poverty situ-
ation may not deteriorate beyond what it is. If anything, it could be reversed. We have seen it done in other countries like China, where a lot more people have been taken out of poverty because of the kind of policies and governance that are inHeplace.”believes that the first step is to address the rising cost of living. He was referring to the costs of food, energy, transportation, logistics and many other basic things that the poor consume.
“It is the increasing cost of living that makes a lot of people drop into poverty. If we can moderate the costs, then many more people will be able to live above the poverty line. These variables I mentioned are the critical issues as far as the cost of living is concerned,” he stated, adding that the second thing is to address the macroeconomic management dimensions of the drivers of poverty.
“Another point is that the government should address the issue of productivity because when we have an economy where productivity is an issue, it affects everybody, both the small and large businesses. Because productivity determines the ability to be able to create wealth, to create value. It determines how much effort we need to put in to achieve a particular outcome,” Yusuf said.
On its part, ActionAid Nigeria, a group working to end poverty and injustice, challenged the government to fully strengthen and expand social protection, including universal cash transfers and food support for the most vulnerable. They also called for the protection of smallholder farmers by tackling insecurity and ensuring access to markets, inputs, and tools to boost local food
Theproduction.organisation also calls for massive support for small and medium-sized en- terprises (SMES), and improving access to finance, which it said can also stimulate job creation. It also calls for investment in agricultural infrastructure, provision of modern farming techniques, and facilitation of market access, saying lessons can be drawn from countries like Niger, where strong growth in the agricultural sector is projected to reduce extreme poverty from 45.3% in 2024 to 35.8% by 2027.
On Tuesday, April 29, Nigerians celebrated the 72nd birthday of the iconic billionaire businessman, Otunba Mike Adenuga Jnr, honouring his daring enterprise and remarkable contributions to the nation’s economic growth, job creation, and philanthropy in a way that transformed the media landscape into a national altar of thanksgiving, reports Festus Akanbi
Up until last Tuesday, Otunba Mike Adenuga’s 72nd birthday blossomed into a radiant festival of national gratitude, eclipsing headlines and silencing the usual din of daily news.
Like the unfurling of a majestic flag on a wind-kissed hill, the nation rose in salute to a man whose heart beats with the rhythm of generosity and audacity.
His name, etched in gold across the pillars of commerce, culture, and compassion, summoned a symphony of tributes from every corner of Nigeria.
From the bustling streets of Lagos to the quiet hamlets of the North, voices united in reverent admiration for the benevolent titan who built empires not just of wealth but of hope.
It was more than a birthday - it was a patriotic revival, a celebration of a man whose every step leaves behind footprints of love, whose open hands have lifted thousands, and whose story reminds us that greatness anchored in kindness is a light too bright to ignore.
There seems to be a unanimity among those who have come across him that at 72, Mike Adenuga shines like a golden sunrise over the Nigerian landscape - warm, steady, and full of promise.
He is the lion-hearted builder who dared to dream when the skies were dark, and with grit and grace, carved out empires where there was once only dust and doubt.
His story is unshakable resilience, like a river that finds its way no matter the rocks in its path. With the quiet strength of a patriot, he poured his soul into lifting Nigeria higher, not with noise, but with noble deeds.
His foresight is a lighthouse for generations, his humility a soft fragrance in a world often too loud, and his generosity flows like the Harmattan breeze—gentle yet far-reaching. Dr. Adenuga is more than a businessman; he is a blessing, a symbol of what is possible when courage meets compassion in the heart of a true son of the soil.
Harvests of Tributes
It is therefore not a surprise that in an overwhelming display of reverence and national pride, the major newspapers across Nigeria burst forth last week like pages of a sacred chronicle, ablaze with full-page tributes and thunderous proclamations of Otunba Mike Adenuga’s monumental impact.
From front covers to centre spreads, the
dailies surrendered their space to a tidal wave of heartfelt accolades - corporate giants, community leaders, cultural icons, and everyday Nigerians poured out gratitude in ink, recounting how his vision built bridges where there were none, gave voice to the voiceless, and turned dreams into living legacies.
The sheer volume of advertisements, resplendent with tales of philanthropy, patriotism, and daring enterprise, transformed the press into a national altar of thanksgiving, silencing the usual clamour of politics and punditry. For a moment in history, ink became incense, and the media bowed to a man whose life story reads like a covenant of service to the soul of Nigeria.
According to Forbes, Mike Adenuga, Nigeria’s second richest man, built his fortune in telecommunications and oil production. His mobile phone network, Globacom, is the second-largest operator in Nigeria, with more than 60 million subscribers. His oil exploration outfit, Conoil Producing, operates 6 oil blocks in the Niger Delta. Globacom also built Glo-1, a 6,100-mile-long submarine Internet cable to the U.K. via Ghana and Portugal. Adenuga also owns 74% of publicly traded gasoline firm Conoil and just under 6% of publicly traded Nigerian bank Sterling Financial Holding.
Apart from his family business which he helped to structure when he returned from United States, after his education, his businesses have been gigantic including banks: Equatorial Trust and Devcom which he founded at mid thirties, and the Oil and Gas audacious move which led to the rise of Consolidated Oil, the first indigenous Nigeria Oil company to discover crude oil in commercial quantity. His other bold moves include the acquisition of National Oil marketing company, which is today Conoil marketing, and the telecoms move, which gave birth to Nigeria’s telecommunications giant, Globacom.
Although its impacts had always been felt in the nation’s economic firmament, the entry of his telecommunications company, Globacom, became a game changer in the way businesses are transacted in Nigeria.
Like a change agent, Globacom entered
the telecoms sector in Nigeria, unleashing the larva of ‘per second billing’ that other networks, which started operations about two years before it had claimed was impossible. Glo under Adenuga decided to make the change that Nigerians were yearning for and offered Nigerians the package, with millions of Nigerians joining the network immediately to Glo with Pride.
Before its entry, GSM SIMS were selling for between N20,000 and N25,000. Glo brought this down to N6,999 and later to N100. Globacom also ensured that the N50 per minute for calls was stopped. It crashed the tariff to as low as 1kobo per second.
Glo became the first telecom company to single-handedly build an international submarine cable, Glo-1, connecting thousands of kilometres of national fibres to all parts of Nigeria and neighbouring landlocked countries across Africa to the world.
The Globacom-1 (Glo-1) submarine cable system spans 9800 kilometres, linking Bude in the United Kingdom to Lagos, Nigeria, and the rest of West Africa.
It has landings in Nigeria, London, Lisbon, Portugal, and Accra, Ghana, among other places. It is made up of two fibre pairs, with an original design capacity of 320 (32*STM-64) and an upgrade to 2.5 Tbps.
Landing in Lagos, Nigeria, in September 2009, the entire project was completed in July 2010. Globacom began operations on the Glo-1 cable system in October 2010 and has since provided bandwidth throughout the country and beyond.
The Glo 1 underwater cable recently demonstrated its strength when it remained the sole cable operational during significant internet outages in Nigeria and other regions of Africa caused by damage to international undersea cables supplying the country with access.
The damage affected major undersea cables near Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire, causing internet downtime in West and South African countries. Telecommunications companies and several banks in Nigeria were affected by the outage, which lasted several days.
Philanthropy
Otunba Mike Adenuga’s philanthropy stands tall like a lighthouse on a stormy coast, guiding countless dreams to safe shores, especially in sports and beyond.
Through his flagship company, Globacom, he has been a principal sponsor of Nigerian football for decades, powering the Nigerian Premier League, the national teams, and highprofile tournaments like the CAF Awards,
where African talent is celebrated on a global stage. He supported the career of legendary footballer Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha and other athletes whose rise to stardom was lit by his generosity.
Beyond the pitch, Adenuga’s giving hand has stretched into education with scholarships for indigent students, arts and culture with funding for festivals and Nollywood growth, and quiet acts of compassion, such as paying the medical bills of the sick, building churches and mosques, and supporting families in times of crisis. His philanthropy is not loud, but it roars through the lives it has saved, the futures it has built, and the hope it continues to inspire.
Not forgetting art and culture. Top festivals in Nigeria, including Ojude Oba, Lisabi, and Ofala festivals, are still being sponsored by Globacom.
Another milestone recorded by Dr. Adenuga was in 2022 when he quietly signed a business contract in Paris between Globacom and Eutelsat, the French Satellite conglomerate. Many communities nationwide without access to internet links will benefit immensely from VSAT/Satellitebased internet service and Satellite-based community Wifi internet service, courtesy of Globacom.
Otunba Mike Adenuga has been adorned with a constellation of honours, both at home and on foreign soil, each one a resounding testament to his towering achievements in business and philanthropy. In Nigeria, he was conferred with the revered title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) - the second-highest national honour - recognising not only his entrepreneurial brilliance but also his immense contributions to national development.
Across the Atlantic, France decorated him with the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and later the Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur, the country’s highest civilian award, marking him as one of the few Africans to be so honoured for fostering economic and cultural ties between nations.
These accolades, from bustling Abuja to elegant Paris, affirm his status as a global titan - celebrated not just for building businesses that employ thousands but for lifting lives with uncommon generosity, and inspiring generations with a legacy woven from excellence, courage, and compassion.
www.thisdaylive.com
ZACCh ADEDEJI: MAN IN ThE MIRROR
Emmanuel Egboh pays glowing tribute to the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Zacch Adedeji on the occasion of his birthday
See Page 20
A VOTE FOR UMO ENO
Akwa Ibom labour unions endorse Eno’s ‘compassionate’ leadership, writes JAMES UWEM
See Page 20
EDITORIAL
WANTED: CREDIBLE POLITICAL PARTIES!
opinion@thisdaylive.com
Though much is being done on road construction in Abuja, the health of the city is worrying, argues TUNDE OLUSUNLE
Three years ago, I wrote a piece which I titled *Capitol of the Dank, Dark, Dirty and Dangerous.* It was my personal assessment of notable, multisectoral degeneration in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, which is supposed to be Africa’s showpiece to the world. Muhammadu Buhari was President within the period and Mohammed Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, (FCTA). Permanent power outages in the territory foisted a regime of disturbing darkness. Streets, roads, boulevards, closes were strewn with filth and garbage, gifting parts of the territory unusual stench and smell. Muggers reigned unchecked around and about the city, emerging from unknown hideouts to harass drivers at traffic lights fleecing them of valuables, particularly at nightfall. They targeted telephones and similar devices and would simply disappear into the wombs of darkening night. Should your vehicle malfunction in sections of the capital area especially in lonely stretches, criminals lurking in unsuspecting crevices sprang out to attack innocent victims and fleece them of their belongings.
The quantum vandalism visited on multibillion naira by scroungers better known in these parts as *baba’n bola,* “kings of dump sites,” equally evoked concern. Prized metal covers of service ducts on our street were wilfully stolen by these vagrants, a practice which still subsists. The gaping holes continue to leave commuters at the mercy of road crashes. Metal poles bearing illumination lights were not spared. They ended up as scraps in *panteka* markets where they are traded at our collective expense. Not forgetting the wholesale recalibration of the otherwise eyecatching aesthetics of Abuja, into a functional ranch by Fulani herders. Herds of cattle were on daily excursions across the city till today. They enjoyed primary “right of way,” over and above commuters, who were also doomed to contend with the lacquer of cattle dung, routinely splashed on city ways. Such was the basal levels to which our beautiful Abuja was dragged in that dispensation.
Today, the most casual of Abuja residents or fleeting guests would not but notice ongoing works in the city’s landscape. Road construction sites buzz with activity in select locations, even as concrete bridges are being launched across major roads. These will facilitate better commuter experiences for road users in the immediate future. Structures are sprouting in certain zones in the city and have been activated as public conveniences. The initiative aims to address a critical, probable omission in the Abuja master plan. The absence of dedicated spaces as car parks across Abuja which has fuelled illegal loading bays across the city is another omission which will have to be creatively addressed. Kerbs and stone-pitching are being introduced in certain areas of the city’s road networks, even as hedges are being built around designated spaces for potential greening, in certain areas.
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike without doubt, brought with him to his present brief, the dynamism which characterised his years as Governor of the oil-blessed Rivers State. His profile evidently accentuated public expectations when he was named chaperone
of the FCT by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023. It needs no restating that Wike covets the limelight. Many would be familiar with his regular live telecast “state of the nation’s interviews” which he periodically hosts. Reminds of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s *yabis* sessions at his famous performance arena, the *Shrine,* in the good old Lagos. Wike sits on a grand sofa, either in the comfort of his living room, or in the breezy greenery of the lawns in his house, surrounded by a number of journalists. He hurls invectives at his adversaries, real or imagined, some of which actually border on libel and slander, in the name of discussing Nigerian politics.
As Governor of Rivers State, Wike routinely drew up timetables for the formal inauguration of projects executed by his administration. Such programmes often stretched into several days and weeks. He invited statesmen and political bigwigs sometimes across party lines to commission projects. Every such event was telecast real time on the terrestrial platforms of multiple television stations for global viewership. He replicated the practice when he got the President, on the first anniversary of his inauguration in May 2024, to perform the ceremonial tape-cutting of some projects across the capital city.
Yet another *Democracy Day* is just weeks away. Wike has been moving around the FCT with his very grandiose convoy of sleek automobiles, which could be misconstrued as being in direct contest with that of the President, in recent weeks. The taste of our leaders for extravagant consumption and obscene exhibitionism, is incompatible with our aggregate, pitiably low developmental indices on many counts. The FCT Minister is readying some projects executed by his ministry for commissioning by President Tinubu, come May 29, 2025. Predictably, as part of the preparations, select roads and avenues will wear fresh markings. Flags and buntings will be hoisted around Abuja. Laudable as these are, one is duty-bound
to call the attention of the FCT helmsman to subsisting and worrying developments in Abuja as we speak. We shouldn’t be glossdressing the exterior of a structure, which indeed is internally decrepit and degenerate. From what one sees as one commutes around and across the city, the level of cleanliness and sanitary condition of Abuja has dropped remarkably.
Garbage receptacles in various neighborhoods overflow, Abuja streets strewn with cellophane sachets, plastic bags and all manner of debris. Instances are noticeable even within the city centre. While this is bad enough during weekdays when few garbage trucks are sighted in parts of Abuja, it is indeed worse at the weekends. There has been a suggestion that since Minister Wike is traditionally engrossed with politicking in Rivers State at the weekends, and more recently in neighbouring Bayelsa State, the absence of governance those few days of minimum governance should be overlooked. Open and covered drains are clogged by sand, silt and sundry waste. Sewers have ruptured in several districts and zones, streaming to streets, assailing the nostrils and impairing the health of residents. Despite recent recourse to solar lighting, illumination of the city remains very poor. Dark, uncertain stretches can even be noticed on the major gateway into Abuja, the airport road.
Criminal activities including car theft, kidnapping and killings, hitherto rarities in the FCT, have become recurrent. It must have embarrassed the Office of the National Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu to no end, that a truck in the inventory of his office was stolen on the streets of Abuja earlier this month, minutes after its occupant stepped out to observe the *juma’at* service, Friday April 12, 2025! The clear absence of defined, structured parking areas for the ever growing city, the unavailability of structured “pick and drop” zones for public transportation contributes tremendously to avoidable traffic snarls in the capital. This reality needs to be confronted with every ingenuity to impact the functional showpiece we envision of Abuja.
Structures in public schools in Abuja are mostly substandard, unfit for teaching and learning. It would seem in many instances, that the builders of the primordial structures, shortchanged the system on account of the unpardonably shoddy jobs they executed. The buildings have since unravelled and become largely inimical to habitation and studying. With the onset of the rains, structures in many such institutions could be fundamentally affected and students displaced in instances. And there seems to be no resource provision for school heads to take initiative for palliative repairs remediation. The red-tapism en route such good intentions, can only be imagined. For all the verve and boisterousness with which Wike settled into his job, it was expected that the menace, the eyesore constituted by herds of cattle straddling arrogantly through the capital, popularised during the Muhammadu Buhari presidency, would by now have been decisively addressed.
Emmanuel Egboh pays glowing tribute to the Executive Chairman of FIRS, Zacch Adedeji on the occasion of his birthday
Some illustration with motivational notes was recently shared on social media. It trended so well because of its inherent message - a powerful message at that. Source is though unknown, the message rankled forlorn hope and neutralised depression from failing faith.
What’s the illustration about?
Atattered-looking young boy standing in front of a full-length mirror saw a different person other than his real image. Staring at him in the mirror was a full-grown, smart, good-looking, and successful man.
Sporting an expensive suit, with a nice pair of shoes and a briefcase in his hands as his dream reflection, he was yet, tattered, haggard and hungry in real life, but accompanied with a beautiful smile.
Titled the power of vision, the illustration addressed the fact that the boy was not discouraged by his present situation, and already had an idea, where life was taking him by virtue of his ability to envision a dream, and the determination to live the dream.
Reflecting poverty at its worst state, the boy saw himself differently because that was whom he assumed himself to be, and he seemed resolved to achieve that vision without letting his current state stifle him.
From a sleepy village of farmers, IwoAte, in Oyo State, once a little boy, Zacch Adedeji, PhD, probably inspired the illustration above. For a little boy who grew up amid plantations of all sorts as neighbors, the life he saw then and lives today summarises the power of dream.
With a yearning for a decent living that transcended his primitive birthplace, Adedeji dreamt a life of purpose, different from the type that shaped his forebears. He wanted to be different and made sure nothing stood in his way.
Despite hailing from a hardly known sleepy village, he didn’t wait for opportunities to crawl his way in fulfillment of his dream. Instead, he desperately went in search of them to bring his dream into reality. At each turn in his life, he has continued to fulfill destiny.
From a National Diploma in Accountancy at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, to netting a First-Class degree in Management and Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe, his Master’s degree and ultimately a PhD in Accounting, would later crystalise and complement his dream and vision.
Attending the Harvard Kennedy School to sharpen his knowledge and expertise in economic development and public policy, further attested to his search for knowledge, beyond the mediocrity of sheer emphasis on degrees and certificates.
It is no wonder, therefore, that President Bola Tinubu, the man known for raw talent hunt, found him worthy of the different appointments he had extended to him since he assumed office about two years ago. After all, the Iwo-Ate-born financial Czar has come to be identified as one of the best picks of the current administration. And without pushing too hard, he has been administering doses of what he’s capable of dishing out with evident results on the economy.
At just 47, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has accomplished what many had spent their whole life chasing. Not only has he changed the dynamics at Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), deploying efficiency and excellence, the
agency, under his direct supervision, has utterly changed the narrative in tax revenue in the country.
Making taxes seamless and fair is the fulcrum of the initiatives of his regime at FIRS, which seeks to balance both sides of the government and the citizenry.
This was after his initial appointment as the Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, a stint which began the shaping of the nation’s fiscal policies, by firming up her revenue structure, soothing the economy, and arousing certainty in her body politic.
His growth, generally, is not what anyone could gloss over. He was the Commissioner for Finance in Oyo State, where he implemented the Treasury Single Account and changed how the finances of the state were managed.
He was also at the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), where he canvassed and led the establishment of the Nigeria Sugar Institute and secured extensions for key programmes that braced the nation’s sugar industry.
Today, people talk about Adedeji as the man of the moment as if this was served on him a la carte. That would be unfair to his culture of hard work. He got to where he is today with resilience, foresight, and untiring commitment to excellence.
For a boy, said to have successfully managed his father’s farm accounts and now skillfully handling the country’s multibillion dollar revenue agency, Zacchaeus Adelabu Adedeji, is truly that boy, now man, in the mirror, boasting a life of inevitable envy.
What further testimony does anyone need aside form the one by a renowned lawyer, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Olisa Agbakoba, who recently reminded the nation of how Adedeji, moved the economy from the proposed seemingly impossible nine trillion to an hypnotising 50 trillion in less than two years. It is correct to argue that the nation may not have reached the station many assumed was their desired destination, but it is also true that things have moved from where they used to be to a different terminus, courtesy the efforts and doings of someone like Adedeji, who remains focused and takes his job seriously. His story, especially his rise to prominence and rising successes, does not just stimulate optimism but places emphasis on hard work, vision, and the determination to consciously sculpt his path to victory.
Egboh is the MD/CEO of Advonics Services Nigeria Ltd, an ultra-modern security outfit with the largest brand marketing company in Nigeria and West Africa TODAY.
Akwa Ibom labour unions endorse Eno’s ‘compassionate’ leadership, writes JAMES UWEM
Usually, workers unions are not chummy with their employers. In fact, the general expectation is for unions to pose as an Oliver Twist, always asking for more.
Hence, it seemed a bit strange when the Akwa Ibom chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), appeared content, aligning and passing a vote of confidence on the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno.
The unions made this declaration at the 2025 International Workers’ Day celebration held at the Uyo Township Stadium on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
In his address, the Akwa Ibom NLC Chairman, Comrade Sunny James, expressed satisfaction that the governor has fulfilled his promise to workers. According to James, the promises included clearing N78 billion outstanding workers’ entitlements inherited from his predecessor, resolving 18 of the 25 demands NLC presented and initiating the refund of 7.5 percent contributory pensions amounting to over N2.6 billion. The NLC Chairman also lauded the governor’s approval of N80,000 as minimum wage and urged workers in the state to support the governor.
“The time to support His Excellency is now,” James said. “It is time for all of us to queue behind the Governor. I want to say the organized labour of Akwa Ibom State passes a vote of confidence on the governor for looking in the direction of workers’ welfare.”
The Akwa Ibom TUC Chairman, Dr. Dominic Abang, also showered praises on the governor whom he described as ‘outstanding’. And in recognition of the administration’s actions like the allotment via a lottery of 150 housing units in Ibiono Ibom and Ikono local government councils for civil servants between Grade Levels 01 and 08 and the full implementation of the State Health Insurance Scheme. And for the administration’s workers-first posture, TUC presented Eno with an award of excellence as ‘Nigeria’s Best Performing and Labour-Friendly Governor.’
Responding, Eno, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, thanked the workers for scoring his administration high and asked for their support. “Thank you for all you are doing and will continue to do to move our State and nation forward in line with the ARISE Agenda,” said Eno.
“In the course of our successful electioneering campaign in 2024, I assured Labour that, if elected, I would sustain collaboration to move the union and our State forward. So far, we have done more and will continue to do more with the resources available. We ask for more collaborations and a tension-free government. We will continue to prioritize your wellbeing.”
For those not familiar with goings-on in the state, such a fraternity of workers union with the government may seem an anomaly. But the fact is that the state has adopted a culture which prioritises workers welfare and has garnered co-operation from labour unions. Upon assumption of office in May 2023, Eno set upon human capital development. Hence, when the federal government passed a minimum wage of N70, 000, Akwa Ibom did not only comply but increased it, setting its own minimum wage at N80, 000. And about 53, 000 Akwa Ibom civil servants have been benefiting from this since November 2024.
Beyond salary adjustments, as testified by the NLC Chairman, the Eno administration has scored high on paying gratuities. Only last month, it announced it had paid over N60bn out of the over N90bn debt of inherited gratuities and arrears, especially owed to retired primary school teachers. At a press briefing to announce the payment, the state Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Effiong Essien, commended Governor Eno for prioritising workers’ welfare by consistently releasing funds to settle both retired and serving civil servants “The governor’s mindset is that such money is released back into circulation to support senior citizens who had committed decades in service to the state
and its people,” Essien said. The HOS also revealed an upward review of pensions. Accordingly, Akwa Ibom State government retirees from the year 2000 have received an additional N20,000, while those from 2011 were granted N15,000 more, while retired permanent secretaries now receive an increase of N500,000.
“Governor Eno has proven that workers’ welfare is not just a campaign promise but a practical commitment. The productivity index across ministries has significantly improved as a result.”
On the mandatory 7.5 per cent contributory pension scheme the state is obligated to pay. Essien disclosed that the government has been releasing N500m monthly to offset outstanding contributions.
“The administration is steadily closing the gaps left by years of neglect,” he said.
“We’re not just playing catch-up; we’re building a sustainable structure.”
Also, one unique policy introduced by the Eno administration is the declaration of the first and third Fridays of every month as work-free to enable civil servants in the state to focus on agriculture. According to the administration, this period is to encourage them to engage in farming activities. In addition, the Eno administration established ‘demonstration farms’ aimed at training young people in modern agricultural techniques. This is a win-win for both the workers as well as the government as it stimulates food production and ensures there is food security.
And recognising the importance of education and healthcare, the Eno administration has put in place policies to ensure they are available for Akwa Ibomites. While attending public primary and secondary schools in the state is free, also made free are examination fees for final year students in public secondary schools. To this end, the state government has spent over N750 million. In terms of healthcare, the state is revamping the primary healthcare facilities and plans to employ 600 medical personnel to boost service delivery. Moreover, over 20 permanent secretaries were provided with SUVs to ease their transportation needs. These interventions, no doubt, alleviate conditions for the workers of the state.
Another major stride of the administration would have to be in empowering entrepreneurship by creating the Ibom Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development (Ibom-LED) program. This provides training and financial support to small business owners. And so far, grants of 500,000 have been awarded to 400 entrepreneurs, while specialised hubs for tailoring and shoemaking have been established to foster local industries.
In all these, it must be noted that Eno continues to deliver democracy goods and services without borrowing. With fiscal prudence, investments in infrastructure, road construction, building of houses and even aircraft acquisition for Ibom Air are being realised.
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
The desire of Nigerians for virile opposition political parties that can articulate alternative policies and offer constructive challenge to the current administration of President Bola Tinubu is fast becoming a mirage. In recent weeks, there has been a gale of defections from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). From their presidential running mate in the 2023 general election, to a governor and the entire party structure in his state, to several National Assembly members, the movement from the PDP to the APC is surging. Unfortunately, the situation is not better in the fringe parties where members are also breaking camp and heading for the APC. All this bodes ill for our democracy.
Ordinarily, opposition parties are expected to offer alternatives to the ruling party and in the process, enhance transparency and accountability in governance. By playing their role effectively, they help to put the people in power on their toes. But the opposition parties in Nigeria are not only weak and uncoordinated, many of their leaders also seem highly compromised. Today, the PDP that held power for 16 years between 1999 and 2015 is in disarray, torn apart by selfinflicted crisis arising either from the inordinate ambition of some top members or the virtual overthrow of its constitution by a succession of self-serving members of its National Working Committees (NWC). To worsen matters, the national leadership has for the past two years been enmeshed in a crisis that is not about the interest of the people but rather about cold calculations on who gets what ticket for the 2027 general election.
programmes of the incumbent government is integral to representative democracy.
The case of the PDP is quite pathetic. Before it lost power in 2015, the party controlled more than 60 per cent of the National Assembly membership as well as no fewer than 23 of the 36 states of the federation. Today, it has lost its way.
The ability of the opposition to challenge the policies and programmes of the incumbent government is integral to representative democracy
As for the other parties, they are either internally polarised or fragmented, leaving Nigerians practically at the mercy of the APC in what is tending towards a one-party arrangement. The Labour Party (LP) which controls one state (Abia) and whose presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, won in 12 states finds it difficult to extricate itself from a crisis of ownership that makes the platform incapable of playing any credible role in the polity. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) which controls Kano State is essentially a one-man show. Even the ruling APC is only coherent in appearance and mostly because it is in power and has patronage to dispense. Not that its promoters share any ideals about how to change the fortunes of Nigerians.
In a dysfunctional political system being exploited by the party in power, the real losers are the people of Nigeria. Beyond occasional soundbites and empty slogans, there is nothing to differentiate between the existing political parties and that explains why members crisscross from one to the other. Yet, the ability of the opposition to challenge the policies and
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The real danger in the absence of credible political parties is democracy anchored on the rule of law and popular participation. To date, the concept of a political party among our politicians remains that of a badge or acronym for contesting elections. In real terms, these political parties have no belief content and are only equal to the superficiality of their principal members. It is difficult to even speak of viable opposition parties when no one knows what the ruling party stands for since you cannot posit nothing as an alternative to nothing.
Overall, we need a new democratic culture where value is placed on high standards by leaders with issue-based political parties that can articulate clear ideologies and road maps with which to envision the country. In essence, while we worry over the disarray within and between our opposition parties, what requires serious homework is the meaning, content and substance of political parties in Nigeria.
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 to the Editor
· Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, is neither a complainant who seeks to hide under past failures to underperform nor a compliant leader who sustains retrogressive systems. He is a realist who adequately appreciates challenges and strives to surmount them. He not only avoids indulgence in escapism and skepticism, both of which hinder attainment of tangible results, but also commits himself to the expansion of scope of governance as a strategy for the delivery of democracy dividends.
As the member of the ninth Senate and current Governor of Kaduna State who also belongs to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Uba Sani holds a position that is most critical to the peace and development of the North and therefore absolutely qualified to respond to the views of others on the region and the whole country. He reserves the right to, either as a counter-argument or simple clarification, respond to the issues being raised
against the government of Kaduna State or even federal government by some political opponents.
It is, therefore with the usual courage for which he is known that he acknowledges the predicaments of the North in particular and Nigeria in general, but always strongly attributes the persistence of the identified problems to the prolonged neglect that the North suffered when most of those critics were in positions of authority, and could therefore have dealt with them. Atiku Abubakar who was a very powerful vice president, Nasir elRufai who was at various times the Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprises, Minister of Federal Capital Territory and two-term Governor of Kaduna State as well as some others like them who have turned themselves into regular attackers of even the most well-intentioned policies of the APCcontrolled government are, by his judgement,
guilty in this regard.
The bluntness with which he speaks about the North’s woes, tracing them to their sources, depicting their magnitude and proffering solutions shows that he is prepared to tackle them to the extent that his position allows. As he continuously and desirably exposes the complacency of most of those critics at the time a lot of the challenges surfaced or even their complicity in the noticeable escalation of same, the Northerners and indeed, all Nigerians are speedily becoming more knowledgeable about the origin and dimensions of the deterioration.
By taking the blame for the underdevelopment of the North to the doorsteps of the critics and even advising them to apologise to the victims of their inactions, Governor Sani has fully spoken the minds of all well-meaning Northerners. It has
already been widely realized that the succour for the North can be found only when such a realistic approach to the challenging issues is adopted and sustained.
What is, perhaps, most laudable is his effort to make a difference by introducing measures for the integration of the neglected persons in Kaduna State into the financial circles to enable them benefit from the empowerment programmes and other services offered by governmental and non-governmental institutions. The inclusion, so far, of millions of people of Kaduna State in the social register as a result of which financial services have now become accessible to them is a giant and most desirable step towards poverty reduction, especially among the underprivileged members of the society.
Shuaibu Gimi, shuaibugimi1966@gmail.com
Even a 10-hour flight delay couldn’t dim the aura of world-renowned perfumer, Christian Provenzano, during his first-ever visit to Nigeria.
Vanessa Obioha was there to capture the fragrant moments.
There was a faint hint of fatigue when Christian Provenzano, the legendary perfumer, walked into Seinde Signature’s perfume store at Purple Mall, Lekki, Lagos recently. He was accompanied by Olaseinde Olusola, founder of the niche fragrance house, after enduring a 10-hour flight delay from Abuja.
Despite the long wait, guests who had gathered for a meet-and-greet held their patience. Thanks in part to Abiola Aloba, Seinde Signature’s affable PR officer, whose warm jokes and regular updates kept the mood light.
“We just learned that they’ve arrived and will be on their way shortly,” Aloba reassured the guests at one point. Later, he added, “They’re almost here. We sincerely apologise for the delay.”
Even without Provenzano present, guests were well-entertained. Platters of finger foods, trays of cocktails and wine, and an alluring display of niche perfumes, from Clive Christian to Toke Makinwa’s collection, set the scene. But the main highlight was the unveiling of Provenzano’s latest creations: Mangostino, Crystal Musk, and Onda de Mor.
The new fragrances are the reason Provenzano made his first trip to Africa and Nigeria notably is his first choice on the continent.
Though visibly tired, Provenzano warmly greeted guests, posed for selfies, and engaged in conversations about his art.
Widely regarded as “the alchemist” of perfumery, Provenzano has spent over five decades in the industry, and is now a master perfumer. He began his career in the 1970s and quickly made a name for himself through his mastery of blending high-quality raw materials into unforgettable compositions. Over the years, he has crafted more than 300 fragrances for niche houses like Clive Christian, Electimuss London, and Sospiro. In 2018, he launched his eponymous line, Christian Provenzano (CP) Parfums.
His signature creations—Oud Noir Intense (sensual and smoky), Ambre d’Or (rich, warm, and spicy), and Patchouli Noir (a bold reinterpretation of a classic)—are designed to be both timeless and modern, crafted with meticulous attention to detail.
His visit to Nigeria marks the continuation of his distribution partnership with Seinde Signature. He hinted at a potential collaboration on a signature Seinde Signature fragrance.
“I got about 60 samples that we have to evaluate together,” he shared. “Hopefully, we’ll select five or six to launch as his own brand.”
Provenzano’s growing interest in Nigeria isn’t without reason.
“Niche fragrances are becoming very popular here. And you guys know fragrances anyway,” he said, acknowledging Nigerians’ fashionable flair.
Indeed, no one exemplifies this better than Seinde Signature’s founder, Olusola, whose personal collection once exceeded 1,000 perfumes. His passion led him to open a perfume museum at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island and, later, multiple perfume stores in Lagos and Abuja.
His daughter, Oreoluwa, now oversees the business and sees the partnership with Provenzano as a perfect fit.
“I don’t think any other brand would be able to promote his products like we do in Nigeria,” she said.
A legendary nose, Provenzano is
celebrated for his inventive olfactory compositions. Widely travelled, from Casablanca to Amsterdam, the U.K. to Dubai, his innate curiosity and relentless quest to master new ingredients have earned him a
reputation for both innovation and perfection. Culture and storytelling are central to his creations, allowing him to retain a distinct sense of originality.
“Perfumers have a very large palette
of raw material,” he explained. “You have approximately 2000 raw materials to use from. So every time you create something, if you put a tiny drop of something else, it will change the smell completely.”
Before designing a scent, he studies the local culture and native ingredients.
“I ask myself what are these countries producing? And then I start from these ingredients and build around them to create a fragrance.”
For a country like Nigeria, he starts from our spices.
“Ginger is one of the spices that is associated with Nigeria.”
So, what does Nigeria smell like?
“The smell of Nigeria is very strong perfume, really long-lasting, highly concentrated. And this is what I’m good at because I’m based in the Middle East. All the fragrances I do are usually for the local people, the Arabs. They love very strong fragrances as well, like the amber, oud, musk, saffron and rose.”
Having created perfumes for 30 countries (with Russia next on his list), Provenzano shows no signs of slowing down.
“‘Master perfumer’ is just a title. You always learn because there are always new essential oils coming into the market. There are always new molecules you have to explore and work with to see how they perform in the perfume. So you’re always learning, you never stop,” he said.
Candide-Johnson Law Practice has announced the appointment of its Senior Partner, Mr Charles Adeyemi CandideJohnson, as a Trustee of Ikoyi Club 1938.
In a signed statement, the appointment recognizes Mr. Candide-Johnson’s longstanding leadership in the legal profession and his sustained commitment to corporate governance and institutional excellence.
A distinguished figure in the law, he has pioneered impactful reforms and served with distinction, earning a reputation as a forward-thinking and principled advocate for justice.
Candide-Johnson currently chairs several prominent boards, where his strategic insight and depth of experience continue to shape governance at the highest level.
“Within our firm, he has led with integrity and discernment for over three decades, guiding our practice through evolving legal landscapes with clarity and conviction,” reads the statement.His new role as Trustee is both a fitting continuation of his dedication to public service and an affirmation of his stature among the country’s most respected legal and civic minds.
Candide-Johnson
Stories by Vanessa Obioha
It was a mammoth crowd that gathered at The Palms Mall, Oniru, last weekend for the first-ever live talk concert, #WithChude Live! From dignitaries to students, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as the convener, media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, hosted an engaging lineup of guests. Even unsuspecting shoppers were drawn in, with many lingering near the venue, hoping to be part of the moment.
As promised, Jideonwo brought together a stellar cast of celebrities for a robust conversation. However, perhaps aware of the live audience, some of his guests played it safe when faced with questions that could have elicited the soul-stirring revelations the show is known for. Falz, for instance, skirted around inquiries about his love life, offering general responses. While he didn’t reveal anything new, he hinted that his single status might stem from the strain of balancing fame with romance.
Again, during the panel session with Taaooma, Teni and Kiekie, attempts to make them open up on their personal journeys didn’t quite hit the mark. While Kiekie’s frequent jokes drew laughter from fans, it sometimes distracted from the conversation’s intent.
With the comedian Bovi Ugboma, however, Jideonwo found a somewhat willing participant. He opened up about his relationship with his father and how his initial need for recognition stemmed from a place of survival. Bovi’s session was also filled with lessons of gratitude, love and parenting, like when he spoke candidly about his son, who struggles
with communication and, in moments of frustration, would break TV screens.
“We tried to teach him English but realised that he was good at picking other languages such as Russian,” he shared.
At some point, he and his wife thought he was autistic, only to later realise the challenge was primarily with communication.
Chimamanda Adichie, one of the revered guests, broke barriers by discussing a topic often kept behind closed doors, surrogacy.
“I want more women to feel less ashamed of talking about reaching motherhood through non-traditional means,” she said, to the audience’s resounding applause and emotional nods. Her vulnerability challenged societal norms and gave voice to women navigating similar paths in silence.
The real star of the live talk concert is, however, the audience, and Jideonwo did a good job engaging them. From their spontaneous applause to the random, heartfelt questions which made the whole experience more human and engaging instead of just a one-man show.
For subsequent editions, Jideonwo may have to invest more in venue design and other technical aspects, such as sound, which proved to be a daunting challenge at the event. Aside from the stage and a few VIP seats, the venue lacked a polished finish.
Other notable guests included prophetic voice Pastor Jerry Eze, screen icon Funke Akindele, gospel sensation Moses Bliss, filmmaker and actress Ruth Kadiri, and celebrated creative Hauwa Lawal.
Last weekend, Dune London made itself at home with the opening of its latest store at Purple Mall, Lekki, Lagos, adding to its existing presence in Nigeria. The British footwear brand, known for balancing style with comfort, now counts four locations in Nigeria — with others in Ikeja, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.
The brand, known for its mix of fashion-focused and classic footwear, entered the Nigerian market through SmartMark Limited, a retail company that handles several international brands including Aldo, Levi’s, and Clarks in Nigeria.
SmartMark CEO, Mr. John Onyeguzoro says the Lekki store is part of its continued push to reach a wider customer base seeking affordable luxury fashion pieces in Nigeria’s fashion-conscious urban hubs.
“We’ve identified the key cities in Africa. What motivates us to be in these places is the clientele that aligns with our brand vision — cities where the demographics suit what we offer and the positioning of the brand for access.”
He continued: “Partnering with Dune is important because it’s now a global estate. Nigerians are welltravelled, and for us, those kinds of widely known global brands are the ones we resonate with, and our customers also resonate with the brand. For us, it’s about quality,” Onyeguzoro concluded.
Founded in 1992 by Daniel Rubin, Dune London was built on the idea of making well-designed, quality shoes available at accessible prices. Rubin, whose grandfather migrated from Russia to the UK in 1895 and worked as a shoemaker, brought that heritage into what would become a globally recognised brand. Today, Dune’s product line spans shoes and accessories for men, women, and children.
The new Lekki outlet caters to a wide range of
‘Dear Father’ is Contributing to
shoppers, from trend-driven buyers to long-time loyalists of the brand. According to SmartMark, Nigerian consumers continue to show demand for premium fashion that balances comfort and style.
Among the guests at the launch were media influencer and longtime fan of the brand Kiekie and TV host and fashion personality Denrele Edun, who praised the brand’s “attention to detail and edge.”
“It is a brand that not only resonates with us but, aside from that, we can factor in its affordability. There is also a relatability to it,” Edun noted.
Plans are in motion to expand the brand’s footprint across the country before the end of the year.
Why
Lancelot Imasuen, 30 Years In, Rejects the Old–New Nollywood Divide
Iyke Bede
“Where are the founding fathers?” Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen throws the question lightly, but it lands with weight. He’s not talking about the on-screen faces who came to define Nollywood, but those behind the camera—those who projected the actors, carved paths where there were none, and built Nollywood.
This year marks 30 years since Imasuen started that journey, a career launched with the film ‘Adaku’. A University of Port Harcourt alumnus, he honed his skills under actors like the late Enebeli Elebuwa and Sadiq Daba, men whose names are written in indelible ink in Nollywood’s annals.
But Imasuen isn’t one to dwell on nostalgia. His focus now is ‘Area Command’, a YouTube series that reunites a cadre of Nollywood greats like Charles Awurum, Victor Osuagwu, Francis Odega, and Afeez Oyetoro. For him, reassembling these figures isn’t just a tribute, it’s a reflection of careers that have thrived and still remain relevant from sheer hard work. Next on the slate is ‘Issakaba Return’, a fresh take on his famed vigilante film franchise that helped define early 2000s Nollywood. For fans of the original, the new entry promises not just action but an updated reflection of justice in today’s Nigeria.
Yet, it’s when the conversation veers to the so-called ‘old’ and ‘new’ Nollywood divide that he leans in.
“I tell these young ones, you must value what you meet,” he says. “Everyone must come with the mindset to add to building Nollywood. Don’t come with the mindset of looking down on what has been done.”
There’s a trace of frustration there, but more than that, a plea for understanding. To Imasuen, labels like “old” and “new” serve no one. What matters is progress. He believes progress is only sustainable when the bridge between generations is strong.
It’s this belief that fuels his work with emerging filmmakers. Through platforms like the Benin Film Festival and the International Student Film Festival, he’s opened doors for younger voices to learn, create, and find their own paths. “Every one of my works is focused on the next generation of filmmakers,” he says. “God giving us life, I may just want to still do some great work. I’m just 54.”
He says that with a grin, aware that time is on his side, and also that time is precious. As he sees it, the industry’s future isn’t just about streaming rights or shiny premieres. It’s also about remembering the Alaba marketers who took risks when no one else would, the veterans who held boom mics and shared costumes.
Nollywood didn’t arrive fully formed. It was made. And in Imasuen’s world, everyone who tries to move it forward matters.
In recent years, Nigerian theatre-makers have increasingly taken their work beyond Lagos and Abuja to stages around the world. ‘Dear Father’ represents the latest and most high-profile example of this trend. The production by The Sumi Group sees the return of Richard Mofe-Damijo to stage.
“When we formed The SUMI Group, we believed our stories could transcend borders,” said the group in a statement. “Having RMD lead the cast in London confirms that belief.”
At the centre is Adenike, portrayed by Idia Aisien, whose layered performance teases both heartbreak and defiance.
Viewers have praised how the trailer seamlessly weaves scenes of her tender relationship with her husband Kunle (Kunle Remi) alongside furtive late-night rendezvous — a bold depiction of a modern woman’s struggle between love, ambition, and desire. Insider whispers suggest that the interplay of UK minimalism.
This production follows in the footsteps of successes like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ‘The Thing Around Your Neck’
adaptation in New York and Wole Soyinka’s plays in Oxford, signalling a watershed moment for African narratives on Western stages.
London’s Woolwich Fireworks Factory, once an industrial landmark, has become a hub for boundary-pushing performances—its raw, cavernous space mirrors the play’s themes of intergenerational tension and emotional catharsis.
With other starred actors like Tobi Bakre, Akin Lewis, Tomi Ojo, and Ronke Ojo; Lagos-style storytelling will make this a truly unique stage event.
Bwala,
DDaniel Bwala had many dreams as a young man. He once thought of playing professional football, securing a place in the national team and eventually trading tackles on foreign turfs with a football club abroad. As lofty as that ambition was, it never turned into a reality. At one point, he wanted to study medical law at the Masters level because he felt medical negligence is a pandemic in Nigeria.
Of all his aspirations, public speaking and advocacy became his reputation, earning him recognition and accolades in the legal, media and political fields. There were pointers earlier that he was going to toe this path. As a young man, Bwala rarely conceded to any allegation anytime he and his siblings got into trouble with their parents. He always insisted on explaining his conduct, which frequently led to a favourable outcome as he made himself clear. Such was the strength of his convictions and arguments that his late father once proclaimed that he, Bwala, would be useless if he didn’t become a lawyer.
“I was always an advocate of the rights of people,” he shared during a recent encounter. “Afterwards, I gave my life to Christ, became born again and later a preacher; this endeavour of preaching finetuned my advocacy skills and gave me the passion for studying law.”
Today, Bwala is the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Policy Communications. Prior to that, he was the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Born in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, Bwala hails from Gwaski in Hawul LGA. His father was a retired military officer and his mother a businesswoman.
He grew up in Maiduguri, where he had his primary, secondary and tertiary education, studying Public Law at the University of Maiduguri before proceeding to Law School in Abuja for his vocational training. He later attained his LLM at Coventry University and is currently studying for his PhD at the University of Reading, UK.
Glimpses of Bwala’s activism were evident during his undergraduate days. Although he did not join Aluta, he was an active participant in moot court activities and “later in Law Clinic simulation of the various alternative dispute resolution mechanisms,” he added.
“This led me to win a national law clinic competition where selected top law clinic universities in the country and campuses of the Nigerian Law School participated,” he continued.
“I led my colleague Aminu Gamawa, who is now Dr. Aminu Gamawa, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Bauchi State. In the national competition, we defeated universities and even Nigerian Law School campuses to emerge winners and went on to represent Nigeria and Africa at the International Client Counselling Competition hosted by Cardiff University, UK. On the international stage, we defeated the USA, Canada, and Scotland but fell short of New Zealand. We emerged runner-up at the international finals.”
Bwala started gaining recognition for public speaking during his university days. Many instances announced him on the big stage, but one that readily came to mind as he attempted the question was when he and his team won the national competition on client counselling.
“It was aired all over the nation and abroad ahead of our participation in the international finals. I started to get invites for interviews locally and internationally, including requests from universities abroad
to send articles in the related field.”
Before setting up his own firm, Bwala & Co (Crystal Chambers), the international motivational speaker and author, worked for the law firm JK Gadzama LLP.
“I learned the rudiments of law, research and courtroom advocacy there. I worked there for five years before setting up my law firm Bwala & Co (Crystal Chambers),” he said.
“In those days in England,” Bwala recounted, “after you are admitted to practice, you are required to spend at least five years doing pupil-age before you can set up your law firm. Even though that is not the case anymore, I, however, told myself that I would work for five years and then proceed to establish my law firm. Thankfully, I was able to do just that.”
Part of this decision may have stemmed from the influential figures in his life. They include Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church, better known as Winners Chapel, whom he said influenced his life to a large extent. “I listened to his teachings, which were basically spiritual, but also had a lot of motivation around career, knowledge, selfesteem, etc.”
In his legal profession, he learnt discipline and diligence from his former employer Chief JK Gadzama, SAN.
“I learned the business of law, diligence and timing,” he said. “I recall when I started work with his law firm, we reported at 8am and closed at 11pm daily; at weekends, we reported at 4pm and closed at 10pm. I developed my research skills working with Chief Gadzama, SAN. During my first month at his chambers, fresh off of a call to the bar, he ensured I appeared in all the superior courts of record. This meant that in the first month, I appeared in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. As Principal of the chambers, he personally ensured the allocation of counsel in chambers to the cause list. God bless Gadzama, SAN.”
None of these persons, however, left a lasting impression on him as President
Tinubu. Politically, he influenced him just as much as Atiku did.
“These two (Atiku and Tinubu), in my view, are the politicians with true democratic credentials as champions who fought for democracy. But with the President, I learned a lot about what it takes to not only be a politician but also a leader, father and source of inspiration. I am hopeful that in my lifetime, I will write a book about President Tinubu.”
When it came to the tricky request of having him choose his most admired politician, Bwala said it was impossible to work for a president and admire another politician.
“Only civil servants can be in that situation because they work for a salary and not necessarily because they subscribe to any political leader or his ideology. A politician follows his passion and works on ideological grounds. You can only work for who you believe in, and the one who most influences your life. Otherwise, the outcome of your work would show a lack of diligence or double standards.”
It was late last year that the president announced Bwala as an appointee with a specific assignment. Some members of the public labelled Bwala a traitor for turning his back on Abubakar and embracing Tinubu. They felt the appointment was a betrayal of sorts. But the former PDP presidential candidate quickly debunked the opinion, clarifying that Bwala only worked as the spokesman for his presidential campaign and his service period expired with the end of the campaign.
With the president’s image makers and cleaners multiplying each passing day, Bwala clarified his position and how it differs from that of Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the president on Information and Strategy.
“My alignment in the presidency is quite clear and concise,” he began. “As a special adviser on policy communication, my duty is to advise Mr. President on his policy and its implementations and also to
communicate the same to the Nigerian public. It involves communicating the message across all platforms necessary to reach the various demographics of our people. I am doing just that by constantly reflecting on the administration’s policy drive as it affects the common man. I use various mediums such as TV, Radio, Podcasts, Focus Groups, rallies and hangouts, town halls etc.”
Bwala also engages the international press to highlight the administration’s foreign policy efforts and its global and regional relations. Periodic press briefings, he said, would soon begin to explain government policies and their impact on citizens and to receive feedback on Nigerians’ experiences.
Specifically, he explained the expertise he brings to the table.
“I have over two decades of unmatched public communication skills anchored on sound knowledge of governance, law and diplomacy. There is a vast difference between print media and public communication. In public communication, a lot of oral advocacy is required, hence the skills of the nuances of public engagement and how to navigate around it.”
According to Bwala, public communicators aren’t limited to print journalists, just as public and policy communication differs from traditional media roles. A true communicator, he said, engages openly with all media, doesn’t shy away from interviews, doesn’t court controversies, and earns credibility through real-world experience.
Most importantly, he added, his communication skills should be easily understood by all and sundry.
“The knowledge of law and advocacy is the icing on the cake because it helps me to know the legal implications of all issues I communicate on behalf of my principal. I used that skill to advocate for President Tinubu before the primaries of the APC presidential congress. Even when I joined PDP, I was immediately asked to speak as spokesman for the campaign. When I returned to my father and leader, President Tinubu, there were many places he could place me, but he chose to utilize the area of my maximum comparative advantage. This is what I bring to the work. I am constantly learning on the job. And growing every day. The capacity to speak to different demographics of the public and private sector without missing the message or lacking in competence is the hallmark of a good public and policy communicator.”
Earlier this year, Bwala celebrated his 50th birthday. In a moment of reflection, he thanked the Supreme One for his direction in his life, his siblings and family support. But more importantly, he is most grateful to his spouse for her love and support.
“My wife is my first critic on all issues to ensure my motives and motivation are right. She is a strong source of encouragement and her keeping the family intact when I travel all over the world in search of destiny is off the charts,” he said.
Although he side-stepped a question that would touch on the security situation in Borno, Bwala is nonetheless a hometown hero. Recently, he was counted among the small but distinguished sons and daughters of Borno South who were decorated for recording milestones. From his humble background, Bwala went on to achieve great things, worthy of standing on the same podium of honours with the likes of the retired Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General, T. Y. Buratai, retired Justice Ibrahim Auta and former Minister of Women Affairs Hajia Maryam Ciroma among others. Despite his success, Bwala never forgot his roots.
The people of Borno South celebrated Bwala’s accomplishments, and his story motivates others to follow in his footsteps. His selflessness, determination, and commitment to giving back have inspired countless people. His increasing professional, social and political stature serves as a reminder that true success is not just about personal achievements, but about making a positive impact on the community that shaped you.
with KAYoDe ALFreD 08116759807, E-mail:
...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous
Once booted unceremoniously out of office in a political rout that stunned Nigerians, former Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode might just be writing the opening lines of a sequel. Six years ago, he lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary dramatically - undone not by poor performance, but allegedly by palace politics and his falling out with the state’s political kingmaker, Bola Tinubu. Now, as Lagos inches toward 2027, whispers are growing louder: could Ambode return?
The signs are everywhere. A spirited group, Ambode Support Group (ASG), has pledged to buy Ambode’s APC nomination form if he throws his hat in the ring. Their logic? Lagosians still drive on roads he rebuilt, wait at bus terminals he installed, and remember a time when governance was brisk, if politically aloof. “We understand how he lost the ticket,” ASG’s Dr. Olumuyiwa Olusi said, “but not why he shouldn’t return.” Indeed, Ambode’s fall had less to do with governance than with politics. He was branded “not a team player,” accused of neglecting party loyalties, and targeted after awarding a waste management contract to a foreign firm, Visionscape, bypassing local power brokers.
The resulting backlash was severe: a failed primary, a public disavowal by Tinubu, and an EFCC probe. Still, Ambode never publicly fought back. He didn’t switch parties. He didn’t defect. He simply faded.
Now, the music is shifting. President Tinubu, once Ambode’s chief adversary, recently hosted him at the Presidential Villa. No job offer was announced, but the optics were tantalizing. Add to that talk of Ambode possibly running on a ticket with Tinubu’s son, Seyi, and the plot thickens. A return wouldn’t just be a political comeback, it would be an intricate reconciliation, potentially recasting Lagos’s leadership arc well beyond 2027.
But is it possible? Yes. Likely? That’s harder. Tinubu still commands the APC machinery in Lagos. Ambode’s return would require not just goodwill, but tactical forgiveness—and perhaps a promise of future loyalty.
Still, in Lagos politics, stranger things have happened. And Ambode’s comeback campaign may already be humming its first verse.
For over two decades, Arthur Eze ruled quietly but firmly in the oil corridors of Equatorial Guinea. As the billionaire founder of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, he operated with the ease of a man whose name was both passport and protection. But in Malabo today, the winds have changed, and the doors are no longer opening as they once did.
The government of Equatorial Guinea has revoked two of Eze’s oil exploration licenses, citing violations of production-sharing agreements. It was a move that sent ripples through the oil world: a once-welcomed investor now being asked to pay a $10 million “bonus” merely to reopen talks. Officials have drawn a line: unless Atlas Oranto meets its financial obligations, delivers on its work programs, and complies with local content rules, there will be no return.
The message from the
Aliko Dangote has built fortunes turning raw materials into empires. Now, Africa’s richest man may be eyeing a new frontier in his industrial
Equatorial Guinean government seems to be unmistakable. Eze’s influence in the country is waning, and the time for his eventual departure is drawing close.
To the casual observer, it may appear a bureaucratic hiccup. But to those who know the region’s delicate power dances, it marks the end of an era. The days of sweeping deals and gentlemen’s agreements seem over, replaced by structured expectations and formalized compliance. Eze, long accustomed to deference, is now navigating a landscape that no longer bends for legacy.
And yet, all is not lost. Atlas Oranto continues to thrive elsewhere: Uganda has extended its licences, and Venezuela—a bold new frontier—has opened its doors. Eze remains a force in African energy. But Malabo, once a jewel in his empire, now feels distant.
playbook: selling fuel directly to Nigerians.
With the 650,000-barrel-perday Dangote Petroleum Refinery ramping up output and early signs of distribution deals in motion, industry watchers suggest Dangote is quietly preparing to enter the retail fuel business. Licensed marketers like SGR have already launched new filling stations along key highways, selling petrol below prevailing market rates—a possible dry run for a larger nationwide rollout.
The question is not just whether Dangote wants his own petrol stations, it’s why? The answer, as always, lies in control. By building a vertical chain from crude supply to the pump, Dangote could stabilise pricing, manage margins, and bypass a historically opaque downstream sector where inefficiency and profiteering are the norm.
Nigerians might cheer the move, at least initially. Recent price cuts, with petrol dropping as low as 835
per litre at Dangote-linked outlets, offer a glimpse of what’s possible when middlemen are removed. For drivers long battered by erratic pump prices and unreliable supply, a network of wellstocked, transparently priced Dangote stations could feel like a turning point.
But retail expansion won’t come without friction. Independent marketers may resist being edged out, while questions linger over how sustainable Dangote’s lower pricing is, especially if crude costs or forex pressures rise again. His brief halt on naira sales earlier this year underscores how fragile these balances remain.
Still, the direction is clear. Dangote’s fuel ambitions stretch beyond refinery gates. He is positioning himself not just as the producer of Nigeria’s petrol, but potentially as its primary seller. If executed carefully, this could reshape a broken sector. If not, it could concentrate market power in fewer hands, with all the risks that entails.
Either way, the pumps are watching.
In the shadows of a sweeping reorganisation at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), a new and pointed question is being asked in louder tones: does Mele Kyari, the company’s former Group Chief Executive Officer, have a case to answer?
Last week, a coalition of lawyers and civil society organisations filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request demanding full disclosure on transactions during Kyari’s tenure, which ran from July 2019 to April 2025. The coalition, led by Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, is seeking clarity on the alleged inflation of refinery rehabilitation contracts worth $4 billion, murky crude oil allocations,
and questionable financing of pipeline and exploration projects.
The FOI request is detailed, and forensic in its focus: from consultant payments to gasoline import records and crude-backed loan agreements. It signals a push beyond rhetoric to legal scrutiny. “We need this data to seek judicial intervention,” said Comrade Ogwuche Emmanuel, fronting the coalition. The legal framing matters—it implies the allegations are not merely speculative but potentially actionable.
Simultaneously, over 200 senior staff have been sacked in a radical shake-up under Kyari’s successor, Bayo Ojulari. Several top officials directly linked to projects under Kyari have been quietly relieved of duty, adding a layer of intrigue. Was this routine restructuring, or institutional
distancing?
These developments, though not conclusive, point toward a shifting tide. While Kyari has not been formally indicted, the demand for transparency is escalating into a coordinated attempt to re-examine the books. Whether the FOI request yields the information required is uncertain—NNPCL has historically treated public queries with bureaucratic stonewalling.
Still, Kyari’s legacy is now under sharper public audit than at any point during his five-year tenure. The question is no longer whether there are questions—it is whether Kyari will have credible answers. In the court of public accountability, the silence may soon be interpreted as admission.
In the corridors of Nigeria’s oil bureaucracy, few names once shimmered as brightly as Bala Wunti’s. Technocrat. Reformer. Negotiator par excellence. But in the latest wave of restructuring under NNPC’s new leadership, his name now floats among those unceremoniously shown
the door.
With over 30 years in the industry, Wunti’s credentials read like a primer on oil-sector statecraft—production-sharing renegotiations, LNG deals, upstream cost optimization, and a Harvard polish to top it off. His tenure at NAPIMS was marked by ambition and execution. Yet, even a sterling résumé is no match for the political tides now reshaping the state-run oil giant.
New NNPC chief Bayo Ojulari, freshly plucked from Shell and charged with reform by President Bola Tinubu, is cleaning house. Over 200 officials have been let go in what insiders describe as both a gender-forward shakeup and a structural recalibration. Wunti, once tipped by some as a potential GCEO, was not spared.
The symbolism is striking. His exit feels less like a routine retirement and more like a quiet exile - an implicit rebuke to years of internal
In Osun State, politics often dances— sometimes literally. But beneath the trademark moves of Governor Ademola Adeleke lies a serious recalibration of governance, and now, a striking invocation of one of Nigeria’s most enduring political legacies: that of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
At first glance, Adeleke’s recent pledge to deepen Osun’s stake in Oodua Investment Company Limited may seem like a routine fiscal update. But listen closely, and you’ll hear the echoes of a larger ambition. “Oodua is not just an investment firm,” Adeleke declared; “it is heritage.” In that heritage, he sees the spirit of Awolowo—Yoruba unity, economic selfreliance, and bold infrastructural vision.
The parallels are hard to miss. Like Awolowo’s legendary Western Region government, Adeleke is building, and not just roads and flyovers. He touts cleared pension arrears, upgraded schools and hospitals, and
There is governance, and then there is governance with a brushstroke. Prince Dapo Abiodun’s recent moves in Ogun State suggest that he may be holding a palette as much as a policy brief. His leadership style
a rare achievement in Nigerian governance: free health insurance for retirees. It is, he insists, governance with guts.
More than nostalgia, Adeleke’s rhetoric marks a strategic pivot. Oodua Investment, once a sleepy vestige of regional cooperation, is being reimagined as a tool for 21st-century statecraft. Mining, agriculture, and environmental compliance - these are not just buzzwords, but the foundations of what could become a post-oil economic structure for the South-west.
Still, this move is as political as it is economic. By invoking Awolowo, Adeleke positions himself not just as a builder, but as a bridge: between past and present, legacy and innovation. It is a claim to ideological continuity, rare in a political culture where most leaders inherit power but not purpose.
The real test, of course, lies in delivery. Stakeholding in Oodua must go beyond boardrooms and translate into tangible
jockeying and alleged ambition. After all, Wunti’s name had become a lightning rod: admired by reformists, distrusted by others who questioned his political calculations. The air around him had grown dense with speculation, not all of it flattering.
His defenders might argue he became a victim of palace intrigue, a casualty of others’ ambitions projected onto him. But the oil sector, like politics, rarely distinguishes between myth and motive. In this game, perception is power.
So what next for Wunti? The answer may lie not in boardrooms but in backchannels. Men like him rarely disappear. They regroup. Still, the message from Ojulari is clear: a new chapter is being written, and not everyone gets to turn the page.
For Wunti, the road ends here. Or perhaps, it merely forks.
dividends for Osun citizens. But for now, Adeleke has struck a compelling chord: governance that remembers, invests, and - as ever - dances.
is less bulldozer, more sculptor—shaping the economic and cultural landscape with deliberate finesse.
The latest canvas is Olumo Rock, the ancient monument nestled in Abeokuta’s granite embrace. Once faded and underwhelming, the site is now set to become an art lover’s sanctuary, thanks to a striking collaboration with Nike Art Gallery. The move—part cultural revival, part economic reimagination—transforms a dusty event hall into a vibrant gallery space, expected to quintuple tourist numbers. In an age of performative politics, this is policy with pigment.
But the Olumo project is just a brushstroke in a much broader mural. Governor Abiodun’s flair for blending heritage with innovation is evident across Ogun. From digitizing the Adire industry to declaring the textile part of the official dress code, he has woven tradition into governance. The state’s cultural showcases - OjudeOba, Lisabi Day, the Adire Marketplaceare no longer local pageants; they’re soft power
In Nigeria’s often combustible political cinema house, Senator Iyiola Omisore remains something of a paradox: technocrat and politician, royal son and streetwise strategist, exiled hero and comeback craftsman. From his engineering boardrooms to the National Assembly, Omisore has long known how to navigate complexity—and perhaps never more so than now.
Once national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Omisore’s influence in Osun politics was unmistakable. He helped build the local party structure with surgical precision, fortifying it with grassroots reach, reconciling bitter factions, and designing election machinery that delivered results. Then came the political turbulence: allegations, half-truths, and eventual resignation. Yet even outside official corridors, Omisore’s fingerprints remain all over the APC’s strategic map - not just in Osun, but
across the South-west.
Indeed, if Osun is his political workshop, the broader South-west is his laboratory. Insiders whisper that behind key reconciliations in Ogun and Ekiti, Omisore’s diplomatic instincts were quietly at play. His vision? A cohesive APC bloc in the region - disciplined, policy-driven, and youth-inclusive. His style? Less megaphone, more chessboard. The goal? Long-term regional dominance anchored on competence, not cults of personality.
Despite earlier friction, Omisore has reportedly resumed quiet consultations, driven less by ambition and more by obligation - or so say loyalists. His deep links to traditional institutions, technocratic networks, and grassroots cells give him a unique triangulation few APC leaders in the region can match. In a party often tugged between populism and pragmatism, Omisore is staking his bets on institutional clarity.
A polite but persistent call is growing louder: Wale Edun, Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, should run for Governor of Ogun State. The group behind it, the Advocates for Ogun Development and Innovations, believes Edun’s “visionary leadership” and “deep commitment to community prosperity” are best suited for home turf. Their plea? “Answer the call of history.”
platforms.
Meanwhile, in Iperu, a different kind of masterpiece is emerging: a 400-hectare industrial ecosystem housing that is billed as the largest cotton and polyester factory in the world. Under the “Renewed Hope” initiative, this venture is more than manufacturing; it’s a socioeconomic engine set to employ a quarter of a million people daily. Airports, Air Force bases, housing estates: Iperu is transforming from a transit town to an economic hub.
This isn’t just a flurry of projects. It is, perhaps, an expression of governance as curation: the state as a gallery, each initiative a carefully mounted exhibit. Prince Abiodun’s artistry lies not in flamboyance, but in layering aesthetics with strategy, history with investment.
And if Ogun’s rising profile is anything to go by, the governor is painting with strokes that might just outlast the frame of his tenure.
Either way, Omisore remains a consequential forcecombining the gravitas of a statesman with the instincts of a fixer.
But history, it seems, may not be the one placing the call. Observers are puzzled. Why, just as Edun is seen stabilising Nigeria’s fragile economy and delivering longpromised inflows, would anyone think he’s more useful as a state governor than as a national steward of the economy?
In the past year alone, Edun helped deliver over $9 billion in foreign inflows, raised foreign reserves by 24%, oversaw a return to the international bond market, and midwifed billion-dollar investment commitments. These are not feats typically rewarded with demotion— unless that’s not how some see it.
So, is this grassroots loyalty? Misplaced nostalgia? Or a strategic distraction?
Some analysts believe the campaign reflects a misreading of influence, equating governorship with autonomy. But the reality is more nuanced: as Finance Minister, Edun shapes national fiscal policy, investment strategy, and FX reforms. Ogun, though important, cannot rival that portfolio.
Others suggest the pressure may be political rather than strategic. Perhaps a soft nudge from factions hoping to reroute the minister from Abuja’s reform engine. Still, a third view sees this not as pressure, but positioning: Edun’s rising visibility might be triggering early 2027 calculations.
Either way, the optics are odd. Few would question Edun’s recent performance, though the naira remains volatile, and inflation stubborn. But moving from federal finance czar to state administrator isn’t a promotion, it’s a pivot.
So, while the minister may smile politely at calls to return home, the real question remains: who benefits more if he does, and why now?
TroUble
That party was something else o.
That party was the one that launched this beauty into national recognition. Everybody who was somebody went o, even my favourite governor disguise go the party but was outed by paparazzi.
Since that party, this divine creature has been on the radar so I was not surprised when her name started being mentioned in some very “odorous” circumstances.
Declared wanted by the EFCC for money laundering, among other such very embarrassing allegations leading to her arrest and the immediate order for release by the court, she is now a very powerful subject for discussions, especially relating to things of an Alausa nature.
What I am getting out of all of this is very simple. Is it that there is no real clean wealth again in this country as almost every wealth is tied to stealing, especially from the government purse?
Almost every billionaire na thief now. The sequence is strikingly the same – flaunting of wealth, huge parties, media promotion, philanthropy and the next thing EFCC.
I once wrote a scathing commentary on this my governor and a senior colleague, Etim Etim came at me. Edgar, that was rude, please recant. I sent him Maddtimes instead. Recant wetin? Unlike these turncoats, I am a man of conviction. I don’t cross carpet just like that, I stick to my principles and would rather be flogged in one position than mushy on the luscious breast of a slay queen with my convictions in tatters.
This our governor, from day one, I don dey look am with one kind eye. From the day he went to kneel to collect anointing from his predecessor, I had hissed and moved on. Since his emergence, he has done nothing to prove me wrong. This his latest “follow, follow” move was long predicted.
Akwa Ibom people from day one knew that the day would come, so all these his elegant
Well, don’t let me say much, we are under bail when the matter ends, we will really look very closely at this woman and discuss her in real terms. For now, let me be quiet “make them no come beat me.”
SIm fUbArA: wHISperS IN THe DArk
“Edgar, Fubara don go beg.” That was the text I got from someone who should know. This was last month and I responded, “not true, Fubara can never beg.” The person replied, “I went to UNIPORT with almost all the characters on both sides. In fact, one of them was my roommate, Edgar, Fubara don go beg. He no only beg, he lie down for floor hold Wike leg dey beg.”
I said, “wait make I make calls.” I made calls and my sources debunked it. Not true, Fubara cannot beg. We die there.
My people, information reaching Nigerians as released by a credible media source – not THISDAY, has shown that Fubara no only go beg but he even vomit from too much crying.
Fubara don fall my hand o. How can he go and beg after fighting so courageously? If you knew that it is begging that will end this thing, why
way of announcing his betrayal is beside the point. Whether PDP is like a plane or whatever it is he wants to term it, we are not surprised nor do we have any regrets because we expected nothing.
Mbok Akpaneke, come and do and go. If there is anything we in Akwa Ibom cannot stand is threats. We know how to call people’s bluff. Which one is “my movement is imminent, PDP is like a faulty plane?” Mbok Udo adukpo, if you want to go, just go make we see road. It’s not as if your being in PDP bettered the lot of the average Akwa Ibomite and as such, your sojourn to APC will not even put one single extra morsel of fufu on our plates.
All these movements of men of no conviction leave me with palpable excitement because freedom is near. Wait and see, just wait and see. You guys will say “and Edgar said it o.” Just dey look, e go soon happen.
do you carry our hopes so far to the point that some of us nearly equated you to Nelson Mandela?
Well as at the time of writing, the report that you have gone back to beg your maker has not been refuted and as such I can feel free to say wetin really dey mind – very sad. Not to worry, we will find another hero. Sooner than you know it. Even if it takes Ken Saro Wiwa to arise from his heroic grave, we will find a true leader worthy of our support.
Thank you.
IfeANYI okowA: IN wHoSe beST INTereST?
Even this one with no electoral value or one pint of charisma is even saying that he is decamping in the interest of the people. Can this one even win one vote in his street? Shebi we all knew how he emerged as governor, was it not as a result of the firm backing of people who understand politics? Shebi his own was just to bathe, wear cloth and go and take office after the people had done all of the work.
Did he deliver his ward or any house during his stint as Atiku’s running mate? A man with no colour, no position and a mere traveller in
politics decamp because dem don shake am small.
Please sir, your movement is not in the interest of anybody bu § znt you, your family and whatever interest that concerns you.
You say you regret running with Atiku, they too regret running with you because na that your running that has put Nigeria where it is today. If Atiku had not made the mistake of choosing you over Wike, PDP would not be the “mumu” party it is today, Rivers State would not be under any military rule and just maybe Emilokan would be in retirement today fighting to install his son in Lagos.
But as a result of your misadventure in that race, the whole of Nigeria is suffering and you really think we give a toss as to what or where you are going. Shebi you have gone to APC, oya go and deliver your village for them.
As my mama used to say – the light comes when the darkness goes. You have gone, see what happens next. Please use that una broom, sweep yourself away. Come and beat me.
profeSSor peTer ogbAN: IN THe THIck of SHAme
Once in a while, God used to send
a signal of what He can do. He will just pick one person to show as an example in this ocean of corruption and avarice.
I think this is what is happening in this case. It is truly a miracle that this person is facing what he is facing with his “client” in power. Furthermore, with the kind of judgements we have been getting which is making people scratch their heads and resort to “self-help,” this man is losing his fight for freedom in such a telling and colourful way. He was reported to have been found guilty of rigging elections in favour of our most exciting Senate President. The case went on appeal where he lost again and this is truly very surprising, I swear.
In Nigeria of today? This shameless professor who decided to discard public trust in favour of whatever it is they gave him is losing a case when his principal is not only in power but firmly in very strong power. If it is not God, what else can we call it? I can only imagine what or how he would be feeling seeing his client hobnobbing with international leaders at the Pope’s burial and moving in very long motorcades while he is struggling with scabies in prison. Abeg, when he comes out he should write his biography, it will really be an exciting read. Kai.
emekA OkONkwO: IT’S NOT A TrIbe THINg
He calls himself E-Money and he was arrested by the EFCC over naira mutilation charges. Immediately this happened, several highly influential figures on social media went on the offensive – ohh it is an Igbo thing. They screamed, it’s another way of emasculating the Igbo man.
One very popular social media influencer went even as far as asking whatever happened to the Okoya boys who were also accused of the same issue. He went further to allege that it is really Obi Cubana that they are after and that he was surprised they got to E-money first.
I don’t really know if there is an untoward motive by those who arrested him, but in a sane world, these billionaires would be under all sorts of radar with their lifestyle. Tax authorities, EFCC, normal police and even civil defence would not be doing their work if they are not watching closely.
Even the billionaires who are under structured and well-run organisations are constant visitors to the authorities talk less of these ones who live like emperors and display wealth like over-fed peacocks, and who have nothing more than the odd night club business and a clearing and forwarding business of no real repute to show as a source of their outstanding wealth. Let’s not be using “tribe” to defend, justify and attempt to evade scrutiny if it is genuine.
The authorities themselves must be able to act above board all of the time. They must show above the board approach and a strong resolve to fight crime anywhere they find it.
It is this their “kurukere” moves that throw up the loopholes that give people to start reading other meanings to their actions. If this is a straightforward naira mutilation issue then it should no matter if the culprit comes from Abakiliki or Zungeru, let the law take its course. Thank you.
kINg SUNNY ADe: gONe TODAY, Here
TOmOrrOw
They have kidnapped KSA. That was the screaming headline in almost every serious blog. Some added drama – unknown gunmen have carried away the legendary KSA Me, I was really interested, you know my biographical musical on the King is playing in London this October. I don pay for hall over N20m so if any unknown gunman carry Daddy, they should return him, I cannot shout.
I quickly called veteran Yemi Shodimu the go-between and asked – mbok how will this affect us? And the Yoruba man did not pick up and started calling me by 2 am, thinking that me and him belong to the same coven wey no dey sleep. Thankfully, the King himself came out to debunk the rumours and even went ahead to threaten the bloggers with a lawsuit. Daddy, the most important thing is that you are safe and well. You remain an inspiration, a great Nigerian story and a wonderment that continues to engage us.
No musician in this world has attained your level of relevance and whatever is going on internally within your family will not diminish your huge impact. Please nothing should happen to the great KSA before October, na beg o. kai.
kUNLe SONAme: cOme AND beAT me
This my bro is famously press shy. But like I always tell him, with the things he is doing, he cannot be under the bed for too long.
Kunle is the owner of Value Jet, Remo stars and BetNaija, the biggest lottery platform in the country. His business activities employ thousands, impact whole sectors and transform huge swaths of Nigeria. It is not by mistake that in writing my latest book on ‘Power and Influence’ when we got to Sports, every sports authority I contacted called Kunle first.
Kunle is very unassuming, friendly and open. He loves his Ikenne people as he lives with them, and opens his massive gates to them. Furthermore,
You cannot beat Nigerians when it comes to laughing at ourselves. Our sufferings have brought up the comics in all of us, after all, laughter is the only thing that remains free.
So, Senate President Godswill Akpabio led Nigeria’s delegation to the burial of the Pope and in his delegation was legendary beauty and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu. Immediately pictures of the delegation were released, social media went into a frenzy of jokes and mimicry. You all know what Akpabio is going through with his colleague Senator Natasha, another beauty. So Nigerians, seeing him with a more edifying and more elegant and accomplished beauty, the madness could not be contained.
Now Bianca is famous for the slap she gave the former First Lady of Anambra State and another woman had come out openly to say she
slapped Akpabio when he tried to go under her skirt. were more than enough ingredients for comedians, skit makers, commentators and normal Nigerians. While the world was busy burying the Pontiff, Nigerians were busy making merry at Akpabio’s expense. The jokes were unrelenting and I must say very healthy and fun to read. I marinated in them and loved being a Nigerian. We are truly a blessed people and I must really thank Akpabio for being a good sportsman. Others in his shoes will use police to abduct some of us to Ekiti. But instead, he has been a jolly good fellow taking the blows and taunts like the champion he is, knowing full well that we all were very envious of him, abi who will not give an arm and a leg to be beside the ethereal beauty in the Vatican mixing with world leaders, allexpense paid? Akpabio is truly living a charmed life, I swear.
he allows indigent but football-crazy youths to explore their talents in an all-expense paid jaunt that leads to scholarships, and in some cases footballing careers in Europe. Why am I hailing bro like this, you may want to ask? Well, it was his birthday and as usual he held something in Ikenne and I could not make it. I called him and as usual, he didn’t pick up, so I sent him a text –whether you like it or not, I will hail you in the papers and if you don’t like it, come and beat me.
Soname truly deserves to be honoured by well-wishers. Happy birthday, bro and please try not to increase my rent o – na my landlord ooooo. Kai.
LekAN AjISAfe: AN embArrASSINg SITUATION
For those of you who do not know, Lekan is one of the biggest insurance brokers in the country. His clientele spans the globe and he is wellconnected and he is an Ekiti man. It was his birthday the other day and his friends decided to throw a surprise party for him. That was how they opened a WhatsApp group and invited me. I quickly joined o. You cannot be close to Lekan and not enjoy his kindness, friendship and love.
Lekan is the main financial backer of the Ekiti International Theatre Festival which is expected to create over 5,000 jobs in the space in Ekiti and throw in another N2billion to the local economy so you see why I am not joking with him o.
That was how they said we should start contributing for his surprise party, I just shouted, send me the account number o. I want to be the first to donate o.
They sent me the number and “network” really saved me from thorough embarrassment. As I was struggling to do my N100,000 transfer the thing was telling me “Error.” That was how I saw N5million alert on the group. I clean my eye, the next thing na N7.5 million. Aghh , I shouted o. The next thing na N8 million, then N2 million started dropping like a prostitutes’ pants. I lost self-confidence. I call Duchess and ask her what I should do, that it is looking like I am not in this league o.
She said, I should give her the N100,000 and she would go and sing happy birthday to Lekan. Mbok, I ignored her and kept watching. Then I saw N200,000, my confidence jumped, yesss my financial colleagues were standing up. Then another N150,000 I said, yesss, oya, I began to open my app, then N6million landed, I panicked again. Another flurry of N1 million, I just weak.
I quietly transferred my N100,000 and put anonymous, and quietly carry myself go the party where it was announced that apart from the N18million raised for the party, another N20million was collected that will now be donated to his foundation named after his mother- Lekan donates over 50% of his intervention to education. At the party which pulled in the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and so many dignitaries, Lekan made a profound statement – these shows that I should be chasing friends and not money- very profound.
My own lesson is that, I have to change my circle of friends, simple. If na me dem set up Whatsapp fund, Mudi will put N100k in tranches of N25k four times. I just tire. Kai.
“We don’t need to have deep pockets or be rich to help the needy, the poor and the hungry. We need to have a heart.”
Hon. Pascal Ugbome must have borrowed from the above proverb by Portuguese-English-born musician, Kevin Dcruz, recently when he joined the Diamond Club on April 18.
Ugbome, in the most unusual manner, opted to dine and drink with children from the Eghosa Orphanage Home. This was followed by a choir ministration by the Love World Assembly, Benin City.
The top politician is a man of many parts. To some, he is a trailblazer, while others view him as a unifier. Even many more, particularly the less privileged, see him as a bridge-builder, a jolly good man and a humanist.
Indeed, Hon. Ugbome embodies the finest attributes anyone could imagine. As a proven man of impact, his milk of kindness was felt during his stint as a lawmaker in the Edo State House of Assembly, as Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government and later as National Examination Council of Nigeria, NECO Governing Council among several public offices.
Under his watch, Etsako Central Local Government Area enjoyed unprecedented development, while he also consolidated the successes of his predecessors.
Among his landmark achievements are the establishment of the Etsako Central Mass Transit Company, the skills acquisition centre in Fugar and Cassava Mills in Fugar and Ekperi.
He also conceived and commenced the construction of the Fugar Township stadium. Under his watch, over 200 Workers were employed as full-time staff of the council as well as many others who were employed as casual workers.
Hon. Ugbome is presently a member of The Panel of Neutrals of The Edo State Multi-Door Court House and also a member of the ICMC ODR Panel of Neutrals. He has presided and meditated over several matters that have to do with community disputes, matrimonial disputes, corporate business matters, labour related matters, among several others.
As a lawyer, he honed his skills at the law firms of General IBM Haruna and Co. and later at Abalu, Bobga and Co. He later established his own law firm, Paschal Ugbome and Co. He is presently in active legal practice and general business of construction.
Barely a few weeks after his installation as the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I has suddenly become the subject of gossip among some sections of society.
It was rumoured that the newly installed monarch is allegedly in a supremacy battle with the Ooni of Ife. This has raised eyebrows with many wondering if it isn’t too early for the newly installed Alaafin to be involved in any kind of battle.
However, the Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo has strongly denied the claims, describing the tittle-tattle as a “malicious fabrication devoid of truth or logic.”
The palace also refuted allegations that the Alaafin ordered an assault on a visiting monarch from Oyotunji Village
in the US. The rumour, according to the palace, falsely claimed that the father of the Oyotunji monarch was beaten on the instruction of the Alaafin and later handed over to the police.
The palace dismissed the claims as “deliberate misinformation,” and labelled the video’s anchor a “pathological liar,” accusing him of attempting to stir unnecessary conflict between Yoruba royal institutions.
“The visit from the Oyotunji monarch was purely ceremonial,” Durojaiye clarified. “As descendants of Oyo town, the Oyotunji community has always acknowledged its ancestral roots. They were warmly received during previous visits under the late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, and nothing different occurred during the recent visit.”
If there is one quote that the Group Chief Executive Officer, GCEO, of Oando Group Plc, Jubril Adewale Tinubu, has a firm belief in, it is the inspiring words penned by the late South African President, Nelson Mandela that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
He has, through his ceaseless commitments, demonstrated this abiding belief. Also a lawyer, Tinubu recognises that investing in quality education is paramount to developing the nation’s future talent pool.
His firm, the Oando Joint Venture (JV), consisting of NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited (OERNL), in demonstrating its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), recently launched the 2025/2026 applications for its Tertiary Scholarship Scheme.
This initiative, targeted at both the JV’s host communities and the country
Chioma Stan Ekeh, wife of Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group, is not the kind of woman you meet every day.
Despite being a darling wife to a super-rich dude, she has proven to all that money doesn’t always change you. The 61-year-old graduate of Accountancy runs the biggest company in her husband’s group of companies, Technology Distributions Limited, a multi-billion naira company. Not only that, her philanthropic interest has impacted several lives across the length and breadth of Africa. This was brought to the fore recently when she lit up the atmosphere at Yudala Heights with her humanitarian gestures.
TD Africa, the leading tech distribution company in Sub-Saharan Africa, celebrated the graduation of 400 young Nigerian women from its flagship TecHERdemy program.
Over the past six months, these incredible women have immersed themselves in rigorous, hands-on training in Cybersecurity, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Software Development. They are now confidently stepping into the tech world, ready to make their mark and contribute to the development of the fatherland.
The event brought together top voices in the
From a young age, the beautiful Yutee found the allure of books irresistible.
Through reading, she discovered the depth of love, especially in romantic novels that foregrounded fictional characters drawn to each other. The many romantic movies she watched also shaped her understanding of love. Still, nothing compared to the lessons her devoted mother shared with her.
So, when she later met the handsome Julius, she felt romance would blossom between them. Yet, she didn’t give her heart away easily, not even to Julius, who was already in his 30s.
Fate, the ultimate matchmaker, led them on a romantic journey admired by all.
After a few years of courtship, having
The palace emphasised that the video footage circulated does not align with the voice-over narration, calling into question the authenticity and intentions of the content creators.
studied each other like a well-thumbed book, the lovebirds declared their intention to marry. With their families’ blessings, they eventually walked down the aisle in a celebration full of pomp and joy.
Now, 20 years later, the lovely couple still honours the vows they made before God and man: to love each other forever.
Rone, fondly known as the Gas King, has remained true to the promises he made that day. Despite his busy schedule, he always finds time to express his unwavering love and care for his family. He’s a man who walks his talk.
Last week, the happy couple, blessed with lovely children, pulled out all the stops as they hosted friends and family to mark their 20th wedding anniversary.
The celebration reminded them of the moment they became one, and once again, they renewed their vows, promising never to part.
at large, aims to build the next generation of leaders by supporting the academic aspirations of undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary
industry, including Dr. Ekeh, who commended the graduates for their resilience and brilliance. In his keynote address, he shared a hopeful vision for Africa’s future, calling these young women “the pioneers of a new, inclusive era of tech leadership on the continent.” Mrs. Ekeh, CEO of TD Africa, delivered a heartfelt message, urging the graduates to let their values guide them as they navigate their careers.
“Hold tightly to your values. Let integrity guide your work, let innovation fuel your dreams, and let your impact speak louder than your résumé,” she charged the graduates.
The ceremony was filled with emotion as graduates shared their personal stories of transformation. One of them, Yetunde Kayode, now a certified data scientist, summed it up beautifully: “This program changed my life. I’m walking away empowered, skilled, and deeply grateful to Mrs. Ekeh and the TecHERdemy team for believing in us.”
Fifteen exceptional participants were also honoured for their outstanding performance and leadership qualities during the programme, reminding everyone that
institutions. The scholarship program empowers young Nigerians with the tools they need to contribute to the country’s growth and prosperity.
The company offers two categories of awards: The Host Communities Merit Award specifically for students who are indigenes of Oando’s host communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Imo States; and the National Merit Award open to students from across Nigeria, excluding Oando’s host communities, who are pursuing studies in Engineering, Geology, Geosciences, and Agricultural Sciences. This inclusive approach ensures that talented students from all over Nigeria have the opportunity to benefit from this programme.
excellence comes in many forms. TecHERdemy, which launched in November 2024, was built with a simple but powerful mission: to equip young Nigerian women with globally relevant digital skills and open doors to a tech career.
In a spectacular Sunday afternoon classical music concert in Lagos, remarkably talented young instrumentalists deliver breathtaking performances, leaving their audience spellbound and inspired. okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports
Fuelled by passion and precision, Mmesoma Ozumba’s breathtaking rendition of Franz Liszt’s “Liebestraum No. 3” is a tender awakening of the Hungarian master’s Romantic-era masterpiece. Inspired by Ferdinand Freiligrath’s poignant poem “O Lieb, so lang du lieben kannst”, the music swells with an aching beauty, Ozumba’s fingers dancing across the keys with effortless precision. In this captivating performance, Liszt’s genius and the young pianist’s remarkable skill entwine, conjuring a moment of sublime beauty that lingers long after the final note fades.
Amidst the subtle nuances of anticipation, Chibuikem Nwamara’s electrifying rendition of Chopin’s “Waltz Opus 18 No. 1” sparks a transcendent energy and sets the tone for the rest of the performance, igniting the modest Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos-based Grail Centre hall with an otherworldly ambience. As the phrase swirls, rising and falling in melodic motion, the unassuming setting blurs, transporting the audience to the grandest of concert halls, where music reigns supreme. The 15-year-old’s performance is a dazzling display of sophistication and poise, leaving the audience entranced and eagerly anticipating the remaining 28 offerings.
In a sublime convergence of talent and dedication, the entire piano soloists’ collective dexterity is met with effusive applause, their individual brilliance belied only by the unassuming nature of their amateur status. Otito Okeakpu’s rendition of Purcell’s “Toccata”, for instance, is a study in precision, each note a masterstroke of refined artistry that showcases the Baroque master’s intricate style. Then, Kachikwulu Ozumba’s gentle touch coaxes J.S. Bach’s “Minuet in G” into vibrant life, imbuing the music with a soft, golden light that highlights the composer’s enduring legacy. Furthermore, Chinazom Nwamara’s interpretation of Clementi’s “Sonatina in C” is a nuanced exploration of texture and emotion, revealing the pianist’s deep understanding of Classical music’s subtleties. And there is Chiedozie Nwamara’s wistful take on “Beauty and the Beast”, which is an enchanting reverie, while Ekene Agina’s spirited rendition of Schubert’s “Scherzo in D Flat” is a breathtaking display of technical virtuosity that defies expectations. Collectively, these performances demonstrate that true artistry knows no bounds, as the pianists transcend their amateur status to deliver interpretations that would leave even the most discerning classical music enthusiasts in awe.
Tethered to the universal language of music, a constellation of talented instrumentalists adds lustre to the concert, their performances a triumphant celebration of the power of music to transcend and uplift. The Joseph siblings – Prince, Elizabeth, Victor, and Amarachi – weave a spellbinding mosaic of sound with their enchanting rendition of Charles Gounod’s “Ave Maria”, their harmonies
merging in a rich, euphonious unison that seems to transport the audience to a realm of serenity. Adaeze Nwamara’s guitar interpretation of Bob Marley’s classic, accompanied by Nwaife Akhidenor’s and Kunle Arofin’s soulful vocals as with Edikan Abia’s subtle input with the recorder, brings a welcome burst of energy and joy to the afternoon’s proceedings, its infectious rhythms and melodies resonating deeply with the audience. Chiamaka Nwamara’s cello performance of Beethoven’s “Minuet in G” is a highlight of the afternoon, its delicate beauty and precision-crafted nuances showcasing the young musician’s remarkable skill. Her duet with her brother Chiedozie on “Edelweiss” by Richard Rodgers is a delightful showcase of sibling chemistry, their musical bond palpable and infectious. As the pièce de résistance, the rousing finale – Johann Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”, performed by a talented quartet, brings the Sunday afternoon treat to a glorious close, its soaring melodies and lush harmonies weaving a final, spellbinding spell that lingers long after the music fades.
Highlighting the importance of nurturing young talent at the end of the concert, David Nwamara, chairman of Orpheus Company Limited, delivers a heartfelt plea to parents, urging them to help their children fulfill their potential. He reminds them that serving others is a fundamental aspect of serving a higher purpose. As the audience is swept away by the concert’s infectious enthusiasm, even the most discerning classical music aficionados can’t help but be impressed by the young instrumentalists’ and vocalists’ raw talent. What’s truly remarkable is that most of these gifted youngsters have achieved this level of artistry without formal music training – a shining proof of their innate ability and dedication.
As the notes of Johann Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” still linger in the air, the concert’s timing (Sunday, April 27), exactly a week after Easter Sunday, seems not to be a happenstance. Perhaps it is a poignant reminder that the concept of renewal and rebirth remains a prerequisite for attaining true humanity. The Easter narrative’s call for a symbolic resurrection from the material worlds to the eternal spiritual realm echoes as a mournful theme song of the present era, whispering truths that transcend time. Amidst the chaos of modern life, individuals are called upon to awaken to a new life, one in which he harmonises the hitherto discordant notes of his existence and aligns it with the whole. Hence, as humanity navigates the complexities of these times, the quest for true fulfilment becomes a refrain, reminding all that sustenance for the soul lies beyond the material realm.
Jess Castellote
Afew weeks ago, I watched a teenage girl—a student at PanAtlantic University—standing silently before a sculpture by Chris Afuba in our museum, the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art. She was an island of stillness amid her classmates taking selfies, checking phones, chatting about deadlines. But she stood anchored, as if the artwork had pulled her into a private conversation. She didn't reach for her phone. She didn't call over a friend. She simply looked. From across the gallery, I couldn’t know what was going on in her mind, but I recognised something in her posture—a familiar attentiveness that transcends casual observation. In that moment, she wasn't just seeing an object where wood meets metal. She was experiencing something deeper. The sculpture had become a bridge between worlds. But something about her posture, her stillness, felt familiar. I, somehow, understood. I had similar experiences in the past. Times when, in front of an exceptional artwork, I felt myself drawn into something beyond the canvas. Seeing the work as if it was alive, pulsating softly. Times when I wasn’t interpreting or analysing. When I was simply present. Moved. These rare occasions when the world fell away for a moment, and I felt as though I had touched something just beyond reach.
This scene of the girl in front of the sculpture by Afuba matters more than ever in our digital age, where quick consumption has replaced contemplation. Instagram-worthy moments outdo genuine connection. I read recently that as museum attendance has rebound post-pandemic, visitors are spending less time with each artwork—an average of just 28 seconds, according to some studies.
What exceptional artworks possess that gives them such power? They make the invisible visible. Art, at its best, creates a portal. Most days, visitors rush through galleries half-distracted, but occasionally something cuts through. The surface of a painting, the shape of a sculpture reaches out and stops us cold. We connect not just with an object, but with a feeling, a memory, a truth we cannot name.
When I speak of the "invisible" in art, I'm not
invoking the supernatural. I mean the intangible things that make us human: love, grief, wonder, sadness, memory, longing, conscience, presence, soul, God. We cannot photograph these directly, yet they define our humanity more than anything we can touch. Through art, these realities find a form.
A gesture. A presence. That's probably what the girl experienced with Afuba's sculpture—its contrast of wood and metal, organic curves meeting industrial edges, sparked a quiet recognition, a moment of inner clarity. Not analysis, but revelation.
This is the paradox of art: it is entirely material, and yet it helps us reach what is immaterial. Powerful artworks don't tell us what to feel. They create space where our own inner lives awaken. Where shape and colour speak in a language we didn't know we understood.
Of course, not all art achieves this. Much of what fills galleries today is merely decorative or commercial. Works created to be seen rather than experienced. These works catch the eye but leave the soul untouched. Some are well-crafted but empty, more about style than substance. In a world moving at lightning speed, both artists and audiences often settle for surface gloss.
That’s why the moment with the girl felt important. It wasn’t dramatic. But it was real. When that young
woman stood gripped before the sculpture, she was probably experiencing not just what she saw, but realities she could not see—a momentary revelation of what normally remains hidden from view. Her quiet attention revealed something increasingly rare: reverence. Not for the museum or artist, but for the encounter itself. For the possibility that something meaningful was unfolding between her and the sculpture.
The invisible in art encompasses memory and history—both personal and collective—that resurface through images and textures. It includes the spiritual and transcendent dimension: that quiet sense of something beyond us that certain works mysteriously evoke. It embraces human dignity and presence, as in portraits that reveal more than appearances. And it encompasses meaning itself: values and insights that resist literal explanation
but become perceptible through metaphor, symbol or silence.
For that student, the sculpture became a mirror reflecting something deeper than her physical self—her feelings, questions, and emerging identity. These moments matter profoundly. They remind us that even in an age of algorithms, we remain beings of feeling and spirit.
Art's spiritual potential remains one of its most overlooked dimensions. From cave paintings to Gothic cathedrals, from Yoruba masks to minimalist canvases, art has been our way of reaching beyond the material world—not to escape it, but to deepen our relationship with it. No specialised knowledge required. A great artwork—and there are few of them—moves you without explanation. It invites silence. It simply opens a space—intimate, surprising—where something happens. It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t demand. It holds a conversation, if you’re willing to enter it. Something you might not be able to describe, but which you carry with you after you leave. The best artists understand this.
I witnessed this truth once in Ibadan, at a friend's home. In a corner stood an old Yoruba carving— weathered wood, unadorned, almost forgotten. It wasn’t there for display. It was simply present. When I asked about it, my friend spoke of it not as an artwork, but as a witness. A companion. That sculpture had stood through years of silence. It wasn't asking for admiration. It was asking to be remembered.
Today, we risk losing this depth. We frequently reduce art to investment, content, or branding. Market value overshadows meaning. Yet art's most vital role has always been different: it gives shape to what cannot be said. It carries the invisible for us—and with us.
And sometimes, as I believe happened with that student, the boundary between viewer and artwork dissolve. The sculpture wasn't just an object—it became a portal. The most powerful works don't simply show what we already know. They surprise us. They reveal what we had not guessed or expected, what we hadn't noticed was missing. They stretch perception beyond the physical into emotional and spiritual dimensions.
So, when you next find yourself moved by art, pause. Listen. Ask yourself: what invisible reality is now being made visible? In that space between seeing and feeling, something essential could be happening. Our capacity for perception expands. Quietly. Deeply.
read full Article online - www.thisdaylive.com
Yinka olatunbosun
Media personnel and artists gathered in Lagos for a walkthrough of art collections at the National Gallery of Art, led by the visitingDirector-General,Mr. AhmedSodangi,andhisdelegation.Themuseumstaff warmly welcomed the visitors to view the national art collection.
These documented works are part of the hidden treasures long preserved in the weathered facility located within the premises of the National Theatre, OrileIganmu,Lagos.Withreforminitiativesunderway, these works are set to receive much-needed attention through a partnership between the NGA, the Goethe Institut, the Museum of WestAfricanArt (MOWAA), and Julius Berger.
To this end, the National Gallery of Art (NGA) has launched a series of strategic reforms focused on the restoration, archiving, cataloguing, and digitisation of the National Art Collection.
The Director-General, NGA, Mr Ahmed Sodangi, said the initiative was aimed at improving access to and safeguarding Nigeria’s rich artistic heritage.
Sodangi outlined that the reforms are built on four core pillars, including a review of the gallery’s enabling Actandinternalrestructuring,whichinvolvesrebranding the institution. A key focus area is implementing
the National Art Renaissance Programme, aimed at cataloguing and digitally preserving artworks worth billions of Naira. He also emphasised the need for human capacity building, noting that NGApersonnel, as custodians of the National Collection, require ongoing training to stay aligned with global best practices.
“The Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the
Yinka olatunbosun
Inside the library at Alliance Francaise, Ikoyi Lagos was bubbly with wholesome conversations and banter last weekend as Tewa Moda unveils her first book titled ‘Fragments of Glass and Time.’
The fictional prose is built on episodic plot structure capturing a crime story revolving around a female protagonist, Chinwe and a male antagonist, Olu.
This literary effort, published in August 2024,
is set in Lagos. Detailing the episodes of betrayal, unrequited love, crime and interwoven by suspense, the plot introduces to the reader Chinwe, a beautiful, successful young lady in search of a good man. Having been stood up by two men within a month, she looks forward eagerly to a date with Olu. Meanwhile, Olu who hailed from a once-wealthy background with the baggage of hate is an accomplished CEO with an evil intent. He is the centrepiece in the conflict
that reveals how nine seemingly unrelated events constitute a state emergency that satirises the criminal justice system in Nigeria.
Using suspense, Tewa Moda coagulates a story that is emotion-filled, romance-laden and socially relevant. Using stock and round characterisation, she exposes the systemic failure in crime resolution using Kunle as a self-appointed detective. Through the moving story of Yvonne, she demonstrates how young, vulnerable girls are lured into prostitution by prominent men in the society with the help of handlers and other conspirators.
Creative Economy is more or less a new ministry, but the creative industry and creative economy have been blossoming,” he said.
“It has had so much success, with very little interaction with the government. So, as a government, we have to look at ourselves, and see how we can come up and not take control. But see how we can partner with the private sector, and the creatives that have built this undeniable industry to where it is today.”
Sodangi noted that due to the absence of a national gallery building, the National Collection is currently stored in various locations across the country. “These artworks are meant to be displayed, and are meant to be seen by the general public,” he said.
For him, a digital database of the National collection is urgently needed as part of the ongoing National Art Renaissance programme to facilitate the proper cataloguing, restoration, and valuation of the collection. He disclosed that the NGA is collaborating with Goethe-Institut Nigeria and the Museum of West AfricanArt (MOWAA) to assess, digitally document, and carry out conservation work on the artworks.
Dr Nadine Siegert, Director of Goethe-Institut Nigeria, highlighted the significance of the collection, noting that it contains hundreds of masterpieces that deserve global visibility.
As prominent Nigerians are calling for self-defence in the face of rising insecurity, which signifies outright vote of no confidence on the government and the security agencies, many analysts feel it is a dangerous proposition that could push Nigeria over the cliff, Davidson Iriekpen writes
Former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd), again stirred the hornet’s nest recently when he called on Nigerians to defend themselves against the bandits and terrorists running amok across the country and leaving in their wake tears, sorrow and blood.
Speaking in his community, Takum, Taraba State during a get-together he organised for his members of staff working within the area against the backdrop of renewed and intensified killings in communities in the state and across the country, Danjuma said: “If government security cannot protect us, we must protect ourselves. Nigeria is on the brink.”
Danjuma, who is also a former Chief of Army Staff, called on Nigerians, particularly his people of Taraba, to defend themselves against killings, which he described as genocide. He noted that the circumstances that made him call for selfdefence in the past had not abated but rather intensified.
“I once asked you to rise and defend yourselves. I am still repeating it today with more seriousness; rise and defend yourselves. The killers have obtained sophisticated arms; we don’t know where they got the arms. But you people should also seek to get it wherever they get the arms; you must defend yourselves against the killers.
“You should know that they are well-armed to kill you and take over your land. Be ready for them as they are also humans like you,” he explained.
The retired general added that unless the people are prepared to defend themselves against the killers, nobody is ready to save their lives. In the past eight years, several lives have been lost to senseless banditry, terrorist attacks, raids and kidnapping for ransom.
Last month alone, bandits turned parts of Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto and Borno states into killing fields with over 300 killed. Nigerians wake up to hear fresh massacres almost daily. The situation in Taraba, Niger, Katsina, and Kaduna states is not any better.
General Danjuma has maintained his call for self-defence since 2018 when he openly warned Nigerians to defend themselves.
“The armed forces are not neutral,” he said at a forum in Jalingo, Taraba State capital.
“They collude with armed bandits to kill Nigerians. You must rise and defend yourselves. Other-
wise, you will all die,” he had said.
Again, in 2022 Danjuma reiterated, “We are under siege. Nigerians must not sit idly; self-defence is no longer an option but a necessity.”
His position has sparked debate with other prominent figures echoing similar sentiments.
For instance, former Minister of Defence, General Bashir Magashi (rtd), once stated: “It is the responsibility of everybody to be alert and defend themselves. If you are armed, defend yourself.”
For the better part of his eight years as Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, who survived an assassination attempt in 2021, consistently called for citizens to bear arms legally for self-defence.
We can’t continue like this; our people must be empowered to defend themselves,” Ortom stressed.
The latest came from the incumbent Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, who, during a 2024 national security summit, remarked,
“Citizens must take ownership of their own security; government alone cannot guarantee protection,” he said.
But Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi is among the Nigerians who feel otherwise about the proposition, describing it as a dangerous path
to follow. He warned that the move could further plunge the country into anarchy.
Namadi argued that rather than encourage armed self-defence, the government at all levels must continue to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
Others have also argued that civilians cannot confront hardened criminals armed with sophisticated weapons like AK-47s, AK-49s, and RPGs. Many can understand that the continuous calls for self-defence reflect the desperation of Nigerians who feel abandoned.
For a former defence minister to publicly advocate citizens taking up arms shows how bad Nigeria’s security architecture has failed.
Political analysts and security experts have argued that when very important personalities with rich military and security backgrounds consistently call on citizens to arm themselves, it is a damning indictment of the government’s failure to protect its people.
However, they argued that rather than encouraging everyone to bear arms, the country must strengthen communal security frameworks where vigilante groups, community policing and neighbourhood watch initiatives that are properly regulated and supervised could provide im-
mediate relief while larger systemic reforms are undertaken.
This situation should also serve as a wake-up call to President Bola Tinubu and his administration. If individuals who once held the levers of military and state security no longer believe in the system, then ordinary Nigerians have even more reason to feel worried.
While some have argued that self-defence is a fundamental right, especially when the state fails in its primary duty to protect the citizens, others feel it is a dangerous proposition that could push Nigeria over the cliff.
According to them, the country would descend into chaos if everybody is allowed to bear arms, in the name of self-defence.
A typical example is the United States, where despite strict regulations, gun violence claims thousands of lives annually. Even individuals legally licensed to carry firearms often misuse them.
Therefore, encouraging citizens to arm themselves in Nigeria will inevitably lead to the uncontrolled proliferation of arms.
Observers believe that both the political class and security agencies already know what needs to be done to tackle insecurity but are playing politics with people’s lives instead of implementing the obvious solutions.
They argued that based on what the country is facing, state police are no longer a luxury but a necessity. According to them, the federal police structure has proven inadequate for a country as large and diverse as Nigeria.
Those who spoke with THISDAY called on governments at all levels to address the root causes of insecurity – poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunities, adding that when young men cannot feed themselves legitimately, carrying arms becomes attractive. What this means in a nutshell is that economic solutions must complement military operations.
Equally important is the demand for accountability from the state governors. As the chief security officers of their respective states, they must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order. Hiding behind the excuse of centralised policing is no longer acceptable.
Finally, Nigeria needs to stop treating these criminals with kid gloves. When bandits are caught, they should face swift justice, not endless trials. State attorneys-general also need to be alive to their responsibilities.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to initiate legal proceedings against the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and other key stakeholders who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Oborevwori, his deputy, Monday Onyeme, and their political allies, including commissioners, local government chairmen, and the grassroots structure of the PDP in Delta, officially joined the APC on April 23.
The party’s leadership, after a marathon six-hour closed-door meeting at its national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, directed the PDP National Legal Adviser to commence the process of reclaiming what it termed the party’s stolen mandate in Delta State.
After a meeting, the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, said he had directed the national legal adviser to initiate a legal process to reclaim the “stolen mandate” from the Delta State governor and others who defected from the party in the state.
It is simply laughable and surprising that Damagum wants to embark on a futile journey.
Under which law does he want to reclaim the party’s “stolen mandate” from Governor Oborevwori? Is he not aware that since 1999, the courts have not been able to sack a governor from office on account of defection?
Is it the same Damagum who does not have the courage to fix the problems bedeviling the PDP since its leadership position fell on him that is surprised that people are defecting from the
party? What was he expecting? Was he expecting people to continue to tolerate his despicable leadership?
He cannot enforce harmony, how much more discipline. He is also allegedly dining with people who were accused of committing anti-party. More importantly, if he is not fighting his NWC members, they are fighting him. He allows people to be destabilising the party before his very eyes. It is only under Damagum’s leadership that some persons are bigger than party. He made the party very unattractive for many to stay or for many to join.
It is better for him to dissipate his energy trying to fix the rots in the party than embarking on a futile journey of going to court except he wants to waste the party’s resources.
Despite not having declared interest to defect to the All Progressives Congress, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party in the 2023 general election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s rumoured plan to join the APC, which was fuelled by his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, has sent panic to the party’s leaders in Kano State, ejiofor Alike reports
Though the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general election and former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has not indicated interest to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu has spread panic to the APC leaders in Kano State.
Ordinarily, his defection to APC should have been a welcome development and a boost to the fortunes of the party in the state but the party’s leaders are jittery about his perceived domineering influence and his capacity to hijack the party structure from them.
Indeed, Kwankwaso is the undisputed political leader of Kano State despite the presence of key national figures of the ruling APC, such as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin and the National Chairman of the ruling party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
Kwankwaso has remained silent on his rumoured defection plan, but APC leaders believe he visited Tinubu, whom he had described as his friend, to broker a defection deal.
This development is said to be causing panic in Ganduje and Jibrin’s camps.
Jibrin is believed to be eyeing the APC governorship ticket in 2027 and Kwankwaso’s return to the ruling party will make his ambition dead on arrival, given the former governor’s capacity to hijack the APC structure with his massive followers, largely from the Kano Central senatorial zone, which accounts for the winning votes in the state.
Kwankwaso’s NNPP has only one senator in the state, Rafai Sani Hanga, representing the Kano Central, as the party’s fortunes have continued to dwindle with its recent loss of the Senator representing Kano South, Sumaila Kawu, and two members of the House of Representatives, Aliyu Sani Madaki and Kabiru Usman Rurum, to the APC.
However, Kwankwaso has maintained a firm grip on Kano Central.
Jibrin is representing Kano North, where Ganduje hails from.
As the permutations on 2027 intensify, the immediate past Secretary to the state Government (SSG), Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, who is also from Kano North, has also joined forces with Jibrin ahead of the next elections.
Bichi’s removal as SSG from the NNPPcontrolled government in December 2024, was said to be linked to his strained relationship with Kwankwaso and Governor Abba Yusuf.
Describing the NNPP leaders as “masters of betrayal,” Bichi had threatened to reveal what
he described as “explosive evidence” against political figures in the state, accusing them of deceit and betrayal.
“I have documents, videos, and voice notes that will show everyone who they really are,” Bichi reportedly said.
The former SSG’s strained relationship with Governor Yusuf and Kwankwaso first came to light on October 14, 2024 when he was suspended from the NNPP.
Though the Kano NNPP is accused of not reaching out to its supporters, Kwankwaso still enjoys massive grassroots support.
It is largely due to the large followership he enjoys that President Tinubu has been courting him, and at the same time, working closely with his sworn political enemy, Ganduje.
Ganduje was Kwankwaso’s deputy when he was governor from 2011 to 2015 but they eventually fell apart.
Kwankwaso’s perceived closeness to Tinubu is said to have unsettled Jibrin, Ganduje and their supporters who fear that he might join the APC and take
over the party’s structure.
Shortly before he was sworn in, Tinubu had in May 2023 met for four hours with the leader of the NNPP in Paris, France.
The meeting, brokered by Kwankwaso’s strong ally, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, who was formerly in Tinubu’s camp as his presidential campaign spokesman, had fuelled speculations that the then President-elect might bring Kwankwaso into his cabinet in line with his promise to run a government of national unity.
After Tinubu’s swearing in, the president also met with Kwankwaso in June 2023 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, also fuelling strong speculations of the possibility of the former Kano State governor joining Tinubu’s cabinet.
Following Kwankwaso’s latest visit to Tinubu, several groups and individuals believed to be enjoying the support of the APC leaders in the state have declared that the former governor would not be welcomed to the APC.
At a press conference held in Kano last Tuesday, the leader of a group that identified itself as Kano APC Youth and Students Council (KASASCO), Yahaya Kabo, declared that the party was better off without the return of
the NNPP leader.
“Kwankwaso’s return would yield no benefits to the party, either directly or indirectly, considering his evident political decline. Under the current leadership of Hon. Abdullahi Abbas, the APC in Kano State boasts a strong presence, with two sitting senators, members in the House of Representatives, and the State House of Assembly”
According to Kabo, the NNPP was facing massive defections, with key figures who contributed significantly to its success in the 2023 general election abandoning the party to join the ruling APC in Kano.
“Among the defectors are serving Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South, whose departure undoubtedly weakens the NNPP, as they were crucial to the party’s electoral success,” Kabo said.
Also, in what appears to be a mockery of the NNPP leader and Governor Yusuf, the state Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Abbas had told journalists that the party was aware of the speculations of Kwankwaso’s impending defection to APC.
“We are fully aware that some people are desperate to join the APC because they have scuttled their political goodwill and have become political lepers in the national scheme of things and are looking to the APC for political relevance.
“We are also aware that some politicians are trying to run away from accounting for their corrupt misdeeds both in government and party administration, and seeking refuge in the APC to escape from the fangs of anticorruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC. However, joining APC as a political party is not a panacea for escaping from their past sins.”
Apparently referring to Kwankwaso’s supporters under the aegis of the Kwankwasiyya movement, which has become an ideological subgroup in NNPP, the state APC chairman warned that his party would not encourage or promote the existence of cult-like associations in the name of political activities or groupings in its fold.
But reacting, the state Chairman of the NNPP, Hashimu Dungurawa, described the report of Kwankwaso’s planned defection as baseless.
According to Dungurawa, while Kwankwaso does not need Kano APC’s approval for his political decisions, there are currently no plans for him to defect
He described those behind the defection rumour as mischief makers.
However, the fear of Kwankwaso’s defection has continued to unsettle the leaders of Kano APC.
Amidst the violent attacks and bloodshed in parts of the country, it was surprising and totally despicable that the National Economic Council (NEC), comprising the 36 state governors, met penultimate week in Abuja and deferred talks on state police until its next meeting
Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, who briefed journalists after the council’s 149th meeting, said though the issue was on the agenda, it could not be discussed in detail as it was still far down on the list.
“State police was part of our agenda today, but unfortunately, because of time demands, and after a very long meeting, we have been there for a very long time now, the presentations
could not get to that point. So, I assure you that in our next meeting, that issue will be exhaustively discussed,” the governor explained.
Although all 36 states had submitted reports supporting a decentralised police force, the NEC had deferred discussions until January 2025. But the council only sat in February and the matter was not discussed.
It was equally sad that the governors did not consider state police important during their last meeting at this critical time when people are dying in the hands of bandits and terrorists.
Between November 2024 and last month, reports have it that no fewer than 590 Nigerians were said to have been massacred by armed bandits, killer
herders and other criminal groups in the six North-central states alone.
Yet the governors, who are the chief security officers of the respective states, did not discuss state police which everybody has been advocating as one of the recipes to tackling insecurity in the country.
The question is: What could the governors have been discussing that were more important than the security of Nigerians?
Is there someone in the Presidency working against President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to establish state police and trying to prevent the governors from discussing the issue?
One would have thought that the issue would have been on top of the agenda but it appears someone more influential than the governors is not comfortable with state police.
Whilst the President Bola Tinubu-led administration has strongly rejected allegations of coercing and blackmailing of state governors and other elected officials to the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections, many political analysts have continued to highlight the dangers of plunging Nigeria into a one-party state, wale Igbintade writes
The recent trend of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by members of opposition political parties has unsettled some civil society organisations (CSOs), analysts and leading political figures in the country, who are concerned that the mass exodus is a threat to multi-party democracy.
Last week, a few of the leading civil society activists and political figures expressed concerns over what they described as a calculated and systematic effort by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to dismantle democratic foundations and reduce Nigeria to a one-party state.
The analysts, who vowed to resist the move, said that democracy without opposition is not a democracy, expressing worry over the weaponisation of state institutions for partisan gain, adding that it undermines the “integrity of our democracy.”
Not too long ago, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his deputy, Monday Onyeme, and his commissioners defected from Nigeria’s main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC. Oborevwori’s predecessor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, who was the PDP vice presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, also defected to the ruling party. Okowa dumped the PDP about five months after he was quizzed by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over corruption allegations.
There are also strong indications that Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and his benefactor and predecessor, Udom Emmanuel are likely to defect to APC anytime soon.
Eno had on Wednesday hinted that he would likely join the ruling party as he likened the PDP to a “faulty aeroplane” which might not take its passengers to their destination.
In January 2024, Senator Godswill Akpabio said it was abnormal for him as Senate President not to have the APC produce a governor of his state in 2027.
Speaking at a meeting of the APC leaders in Uyo, the state capital, Akpabio said: “It will be an aberration for the number three citizen not to have a governor from the same party at the end of an election.
“You know, wherever the senate president is, that is where the party is. Is it possible that Nigeria will give Akwa Ibom the number three citizen and at the end of the election, it will not produce an APC governor?”
The wave of defections is not limited to the Southsouth. In the North, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), which made an impressive showing in the
last general election, especially in Kano State under the leadership of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has seen a haemorrhage of key figures. Last week, Kano South Senator Kawu Sumaila resigned from the party and joined the APC. The lawmaker said the move was driven by his “unwavering commitment to the welfare of his constituents.”
Also, serving senators, members of the House of Representatives, and other opposition figures are decamping en masse to the ruling party, not out of conviction, but out of fear and pressure.
For many, these defections to the APC are quite troubling. At a time when the state of the nation is sorry and sordid, it is inconceivable that political leaders and notable citizens should be trooping into the very party that is squarely responsible for running the nation aground.
Although Nigeria is constitutionally a multiparty democracy, the country has increasingly functioned as a de facto one-party state since the APC assumed power in 2015. The party has consolidated control over the presidency, the National Assembly, and a majority of state governments.
Under Tinubu’s administration, the steady consolidation of power by the party has moved from being a political trend to what some now consider a systematic dismantling of opposition strength.
Fearing that the 2027 presidential will not be an easy win for him especially in the North, there are clandestine plot to use every available means to woo some governors particularly those in the opposition and other big wigs to the APC.
This is because despite the fact that 25 governors supported Tinubu in 2023, he won only 12 states with others shared between Atiku Ababukar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
But beyond defections lies a more profound issue: the inability of Nigeria’s opposition parties to put their house in order. The PDP, which ruled Nigeria for 16 uninterrupted years, is now a shadow of its former self, riddled with internal crises, factionalisation, and a chronic failure to adapt to the demands of modern opposition politics.
Analysts have argued that if the current trend of defections continues unchecked, Nigeria risks becoming a de facto one-party state—an outcome that history has shown to be
detrimental to national development and civil liberty.
Since the assumption of office by President Tinubu, Nigerians have suffered untold hardships, massive unemployment, hunger, and inflation at about 33 per cent, deplorable state of roads, epileptic power supply, massive insecurity – killings and kidnapping - and inability of people to go to their farms, To add to the pains of Nigerians, the naira was floated and rendered worthless, and bills are on top of the roof with high levels of insensitivity, nonchalance, extravagance and affluence on the part of government officials, including, of course, members of the National Assembly.
This is why analysts have accused the administration of using “blackmail and coercion” to weaken opposition parties, claiming that political figures are defecting to the ruling party “not out of conviction, but out of fear and pressure.”
In a statement titled ‘Defending democracy: A call to resist a one-party state in Nigeria,’ signed by Prof Chidi Odinkalu, Richard Akinnola, Abdul Mahmud, Dr. Sam Amadi, Auwa Ibrahim Musa (Rasfajani), Prof Adele Jinadu, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, and others, the analysts said they would resist any attempt by the Tinubu administration to foist a one-party state on Nigeria.
They denounced constant invitations of key opposition by the EFCC for questioning on financial impropriety and weaponisation of state institutions for partisan gains, saying that it corrodes public trust and undermines the integrity of the country’s democracy.
“Under this administration, political pluralism is being eroded not by persuasion or performance, but by bribery, blackmail, and coercion. Serving and former governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and key opposition figures are decamping en masse to the ruling party, not out of conviction, but out of fear and pressure. The pattern is disturbingly clear: An invitation by the EFCC for questioning on financial impropriety is swiftly followed by political capitulation. This weaponisation of state institutions for partisan gain corrodes public trust and undermines the integrity of our democracy.
“The drift toward a one-party state is a betrayal of the ideals that many of us—and indeed President Tinubu himself - fought for during the darkest days of military dictatorship. It is not what we envisioned when we stood in the streets demanding civil rule. It is not what the Constitution guarantees. And it is not what Nigeria’s future demands.”
They urged President Tinubu “to respect the democratic path that brought him to power” and to “end the persecution and intimidation of opposition
leaders.
They noted that they did not fight to end military dictatorship only to enthrone civilian authoritarianism, adding that they will fight to defend democracy or risk losing it forever.
“A democracy without opposition is not a democracy,” the group said, warning that the weaponisation of state institutions for partisan gain “corrodes public trust and undermines the integrity of our democracy.”
However, Tinubu has countered critics, saying democracy is not under any threat. According to him, politicians changing party affiliation is not new or peculiar to Nigeria and can be seen in more advanced democracies, where there are ready examples of notable politicians, statesmen and women who changed their parties.
He further stated that the accusations that the administration is moving towards authoritarianism are baseless and exaggerated.
The president, who spoke via a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, wondered why the defection of some members of the ruling party APC like the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) should be celebrated, while the defection of some members of the opposition party should be condemned.
Tinubu told the opposition elements in the country to lick their wounds and stop blaming him for their alleged gross incompetence in managing the affairs of their party.
The statement titled: ‘Democracy strong and alive in Nigeria, ignore alarmists,’ partly read: “We have read the alarming claims of disgruntled opposition figures, some partisan human rights crusaders and emergency defenders of democracy over recent defections of key members of opposition parties into the governing APC.
“Contrary to the false claims in the propaganda materials in circulation across mainstream and social media, democracy is not under any threat in Nigeria. Accusations that the administration is moving towards authoritarianism are baseless and exaggerated.
“Nigerians migrating to the APC and expressing support for Tinubu are doing so out of their free will, based on the belief that the reforms being executed are in the interest of Nigerians and the unborn generation. It is a gross disservice to democracy in itself for these emergency defenders of democracy to delegitimise the political choices of some Nigerians while upholding the choices of others to form a coalition against Tinubu and APC.”
At the 2025 Akinjide Adeosun Foundation’s Leadership Colloquium and Awards, held recently in Lagos, experts presented a nuanced perspective on the theme ‘Fearless Leadership, a Panacea for Sustainable Development’, highlighting that both fearless leadership and followership are vital catalysts to achieving sustainable development, rather than just leadership alone. Sunday ehigiator reports
The pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) has become a pressing concern for individuals, organisations, and governments worldwide.
As the global community grapples with the challenges of climate change, poverty, inequality, and social injustice, it has become clear that a new approach is needed—an approach that combines the strengths of leadership and followership to drive positive change.
In recent years, the concept of fearless leadership has gained significant attention. Fearless leaders are described as those who are willing to challenge the status quo, take risks, and push boundaries to achieve their goals.
They are the ones who inspire and motivate others to follow them on a journey of transformation, whereby they develop a working system towards attaining zero poverty, as well as equity, fairness, and justice, that would outlive them.
However, leadership is only half the equation, as followership is just as crucial, if not more so, in driving sustainable development.
Fearless followers are those who are willing to support and amplify the efforts of their leaders, while also demanding leadership accountability. They are the ones who bring their unique perspectives, skills, and experiences to the table, helping to create a more diverse and resilient movement.
Arguably, both fearless leadership and followership form a powerful catalyst for sustainable development. By combining the strengths of both, individuals and developing countries like Nigeria can create a snowball effect of positive change that can help to address even the most pressing global challenges.
These were the positions of speakers at Chapter 9 of the AAF’s Leadership Colloquium and Award, held at the Alliance Francaise Auditorium, Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Laying a background on the need for fearless leadership in his welcome address, the Founder and Chairman, AAF, Akinjide Adeosun noted that “the conquest of fearfulness enables a leader to do audacious things that generate an output of goodness, which in turn enables taking difficult decisions leading to economic growth, security, and competitiveness.
“Our strategy, drawn from our mission of building great leaders, is changing the belief, which is unseen in individuals to behaviours that are seen.
“The good behaviours of fearless leaders are seen in great strides towards good healthcare, provision of excellent infrastructure, world-class infrastructure and avowed industrialisation.
“Elon MUSK is a Fearless Leader. His triumph can be seen in the multiple businesses he oversees in multiple industries.
“Nelson Mandela epitomised fearlessness. He was unafraid to navigate South Africa through a very difficult apartheid era to a prosperous democratic nation despite threats to his personal life.
“Governor Seyi Makinde is a fearless enigma personified. He has had to triumph over attempts on his life several times. He forges ahead anytime he believes in something, despite multiple difficulties along the way. Oyo State has benefited massively from his ‘Can-do’ spirit in the areas of infrastructure, economy, health and education.
“I congratulate the family of the former governor of the Western Region of Nigeria for benefiting from the goodness of a fearless leader, Major General Adeyinka Adebayo. His name opens doors for them; a beautiful legacy of character and capability.
“Greatness starts with Goodness,” Adeosun said, quoting Michelle McBride. “The conquest of fear enables a leader to do audacious things that generate an output of goodness,” he noted.
In his keynote address, Former Governor of Rivers State, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, spoke on the importance of fearless followership as against fearless leadership, in the quest to attain sustainable development.
According to him, “I listened to the founder’s address, and I was struck by the emphasis on ‘fearless’ leadership. But as I reflected on the concept, I began to wonder if we’re focusing on the wrong thing. Is fearless leadership the answer to our problems, or is it something else entirely?
“As I delved deeper into the topic, I realised that what we mean by ‘fearless’ is actually ‘courageous’. And courageous leadership is not something that can be sustained in the long term.
“When systems work well, we don’t need courageous leaders; we just need people who can follow the rules and procedures. It’s only when there’s a failure in leadership that we start looking for courageous leaders.
“But even if we find a courageous leader, what happens next? The leader serves their term, and then they’re gone. The system collapses again, and we’re back to square one, searching for another fearless leader. This cycle can go on indefinitely, and it’s not a sustainable solution.
“Moreover, courageous leaders can also be bad leaders. Leadership is not just about being fearless or courageous; it’s about having the right qualities, abilities, and virtues.
As Aristotle said, leadership is the art of persuasion, and it requires a deep understanding of human nature and behaviour.
“Socrates identified the qualities of a good leader as knowledge, abilities, and virtues. Plato took it a step further, saying that a leader’s job is not to tell people to follow them, but to persuade them through their character and actions.
“As I researched the concept of leadership, I realised that the different definitions all point to one thing: the power
of persuasion and followership.
“A leader must be able to convince their followers of their vision and persuade them to take action. This requires a deep understanding of human nature and behaviour, as well as the ability to communicate effectively.
“But followership is just as important as leadership. Followers must be convinced of their leader’s character and abilities, and they must be willing to follow them. This requires a level of trust and accountability, and it’s something that’s often missing in our societies.
“As President Harry Truman said, leadership is the ability to make followers do what they don’t want to do. But this requires a level of persuasion and influence that’s based on character and trust, rather than fear or coercion.
“In the end, it’s not fearless leadership that we need, but fearless followership. We need followers who are willing to hold their leaders accountable, who are willing to speak truth to power, and who are willing to stand up for what they believe in.
“As I looked at the state of our country, I realised that we’ve been focusing on the wrong thing. We’ve been looking for fearless leaders when what we need is fearless followership.
“We need people who are willing to stand up for their rights; who are willing to demand accountability from their leaders, and who are willing to work together to build a better society.
“In conclusion, fearless leadership is not the answer to our problems. What we need is fearless followership and a deeper understanding of what leadership means.
“We need to focus on building strong, accountable institutions, and on cultivating a culture of trust and responsibility. Only then can we build a society that’s truly just, equitable, and sustainable.”
The concept of fearless leadership and followership is often viewed as separate entities, but as emphasised by various speakers at the event, these two concepts are, in fact, intertwined and interdependent.
Fearless leaders rely on fearless followers to amplify and support their efforts, while fearless followers need fearless leaders to inspire and motivate them.
The intersection of fearless leadership and followership is where meaningful change occurs. It is here that individuals and institutions come together to create a movement for positive change, leveraging the strengths of both leadership and followership to achieve common goals.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the ‘Excellence in Leadership Award’ posthumously to the former Governor of the Western Region of Nigeria, Major General Adeyinka Adebayo, as received by his children, Chief Mrs. Nike Makinde and Chief Mrs. Joke Chukwuma.
inability to afford basic drugs, forcing many to resort to using some unproven but cheaper local alternatives.
I always ask myself: how and when are we going to get out of this mess? We can lament all we want, but lamentation cannot be a strategy. Doctor shortage is not limited to Nigeria. It is a global issue. When purpose-driven countries face this kind of crisis, they come up with a strategy to get out of jail. Some develop short-term to medium-term plans by recruiting foreign doctors from less buoyant countries. That is why Saudi Arabia and the UK have been coming for our doctors. But they are not stupid: they simultaneously pursue a long-term plan to train their own doctors. As they become more and more self-sufficient, they can start reducing the influx of foreign doctors into their system.
What are the plans for the short, medium and long terms to address this pathetic situation in Nigeria? Are we actively trying to improve the working conditions for our doctors? Are we actively encouraging students to study medicine? Are we improving training facilities? In 2015, my niece applied to study medicine at the Kaduna State University. She met all the requirements bar one: state of origin. She was told the programme was for Kaduna indigenes. Although her dad is from Ondo state, she was born in Kaduna and had lived there all her life. By the time she applied for admission, she had only been out of Kaduna thrice, all short trips. But her name meant she was not qualified.
Thereafter, my niece made several efforts to study medicine at other universities but had to settle for biochemistry because time was passing by. Her case is typical. The point I am making here is not about discrimination on the basis of state of origin. Rather, I am trying
MELE MESS
Mr Bayo Ojulari, the new group CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, is carrying out what looks like an extensive surgery on the leadership of the national oil company. To do an audit, he has fired the MDs of the three refineries. Mr Mele Kyari, the former GCEO, led an overhaul of the refineries running into billions of dollars, but it seems the reality on the ground is far from the claims that they have been working well and churning out products without fail. Industry experts are not surprised: “turn around” contracts have been the “oil block” of many NNPC bosses and petroleum ministers for decades. That is why we have refused to sell the refineries. Nigeria!
to point out the fact that we have thousands of students who want to study medicine but there are no spaces to accommodate them. We have universities bragging all over town that they had 2,000 applications for medicine but took only 200. This is a country that urgently needs more doctors! We would have to ask why it should be treated as a badge of honour that students who want to study medicine are being blocked.
I am happy that the minister of education is highlighting this issue. The minister of health, Prof Muhammad Pate, has also expressed worries over the exodus of doctors abroad. However, a crisis of this nature requires extraordinary measures. For a start, are we expanding training capability and capacity? Our first line of action until recently was to curtail the number of medical school intakes.
The ceiling used to be 5,000 per year. We, thankfully, increased it to 10,000, but it is glaring that it is a drop in the ocean. I am not saying we should over-admit students or lower the standard. Medical training is delicate and we can’t turn our schools to Dugbe market. But we need to scale things up.
However, I am honestly at a loss as to what to do with doctors who “japa” after the country has spent so much money training them. It is a very complicated matter: we cannot restrict freedom of movement but how do get returns from our highly subsidised medical education? Some people have suggested a form of bond that will make the doctors who trained at public schools to work for the government for a number of years. This may make sense for the government in trying to get value for money but it may enrage the doctors, who would rather want to practise in places where they will get the kind of compensation they think they deserve. Well, there must be a
solution somewhere.
We need to think, think and think. It is not only about how to address the health sector challenges. We generally have a severe thinking deficiency in policymaking. It always shows up in the way we approach issues. Recently, I commented on the Lagos state house of assembly’s resolution calling for the enforcement of the tenancy law to contain astronomical increases in rent. Housing crisis is usually caused by a supply problem in mega cites. In some other climes, government will come up with incentives — such as tax waivers and accelerated approval processes — to encourage private developers. Government will embark on affordable mass housing projects to reduce the deficit.
In my dearly beloved Nigeria, it is law enforcement that will address housing shortages! Just unleash government agencies on landlords and rent will start falling! This faulty reasoning is endemic in the lawmaking and policymaking spheres. I am forced to wonder at times if we actually think before we manufacture certain laws and reel out some policies. I am sincerely interested in the thinking process that leads to the drafting of some laws and policies. We behave as if we can just decree some things into being. I would implore our leaders to always take the chill pill, take a deep breath, think logically and consult widely before pouring a torrential rain of policies on us. We need to have some insight.
In a recent article, ‘If the Foundations of Logic Be Destroyed’ (April 20, 2025), I raised the issue of logical reasoning in our policymaking. I think many policies fail at the problem definition level. If the problem is not well defined and analysed, we will come up with solutions that are superficial. If the
THE CBEX TRAP
Have you ever wondered why some people get burnt in tanker explosions while scooping petrol but that does not stop others from going for their own share? Despite all the hullaballoo over the CBEX catastrophe in which over 600,000 Nigerians lost an estimated N1.2 trillion, credible reports show that the crypto trading platform is still attracting new “investors” and taking money from the old ones. They are asking people to pay a certain fee in order to regain access to their accounts and get refunded a percentage of their “investments” in June. I can understand why old timers are vulnerable — they are still hopeful of recouping their funds — but what about their new victims? Delusion.
ARE WE WITNESSING PDP’S FINAL RITES?
competing classes that Ekwueme and others had identified about 15 years before PDP’s formation in August 1998: the political class and the military class. It became obvious to AD and APP that for them to stand a fighting chance against PDP in the presidential election of February 1999, they would need a united front of their own. They formed a sensible alliance. But this didn’t help much. The PDP flagbearers, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, roundly defeated the APP candidates, Chief Olu Falae and Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi. (Though of AD, Falae ran on the platform of APP, the senior partner of the AD/APP alliance in a presidential election conceded to the South West to appease the zone for the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections won by Chief MKO Abiola of the Social Democratic Party, SDP).
In the unusual race between two Yoruba chiefs, Obasanjo (fully rejected in his South West zone) polled 63% of the valid votes cast and led in 27 states and FCT. Though he got the lowest proportion of votes in Lagos (11%)—incidentally the state with the highest number of votes cast in the country—Obasanjo scored more than 70% of the valid votes in 19 states, the highest proportion being in Taraba (91%). There were question marks here and there about the 1999 presidential election, but the results largely reflected the prevailing sentiments in the country. Obasanjo and his PDP rode into the dawn of this republic with all-conquering, imperial air.
Four years after, in 2003, PDP further upped the ante. This was despite Obasanjo’s not-so-stellar performance in his first term, a more crowded field of candidates and a stiff competition from another retired military head of state, Major General Muhammadu Buhari of ANPP. PDP and Obasanjo dusted 19 other candidates to secure 62% of the valid votes cast in 2003, with some fantastic twists including winning the presidential elections in all the six South West states this time around, securing 99.9% of the valid votes cast in Ogun State and snapping 92% of the votes in Rivers
State, a state which notably had 95% voter turnout that year. PDP secured a near absolute majority in the National Assembly, gaining 17 seats apiece in the House of Representatives and the Senate and notching 62% of the seats in the House and about 70% in the Senate.
Similarly, PDP increased its governorship tally from 22 to 28: it flipped two North Central states from the APP (Kwara and Kogi) but lost Kano to APP and gained five South West states from AD. Lagos State was the lone survivor of the South West tsunami. Two things worthy of note here: AD, for some curious but obvious reason, did not present a presidential candidate in 2003 and did not form an alliance with any other party; PDP’s haul of 28 states later dropped to 27 when the courts in 2006 ruled that the 2003 gubernatorial election in Anambra State was won by Mr. Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
PDP went on to win the presidency in two other electoral cycles—2007 and 2011— and to welcome or even poach governors and others from the other parties before tumbling out of power in 2015. Things have not been the same for the once towering party since 2015. But PDP’s decline did not start when it lost power. It started shortly after it strode majestically into office in 1999. From the very first day, PDP had been dogged by a consistent battle for the control of the party. PDP, as a big umbrella, was an agglomeration of different tendencies trying to upstage one another but unified by the common quest for power, not what to do with it (other parties are cut from the same cloth in this respect). The battle for control within PDP took different forms, but Obasanjo who was drafted to the party was able to impose himself, making himself the leader of the party ahead of the chairmen who he installed and replaced as he fancied along with principal officers of the parliament, especially Senate Presidents. The governors mimicked the president at the state level. Obasanjo had enforcers, who spared no means, to impose his will in the
Something is going on that should automatically trigger police investigation, but I assume they are yet to pick it up. A popular online prayer group known as Abba’s Heart Ministry suddenly went underground and there are now reports that many members might be held at a location without the knowledge or consent of their families and friends. The story is not yet clear, but the things I have read so far point to the possibility that this might be one of those religious cults that brainwash members into selling their possessions and handing them over to their leaders. We may have a real problem and I hope police are keeping a close tab before we start hearing of mass suicide. Wackos.
party and in the parliament. The governors did same in the states.
There were cracks within, and PDP remarkably became the biggest opposition to itself, ahead of the neutered or coopted opposition (Chief Bola Ige of AD and the party chairmen of AD and APP were appointed into Obasanjo’s cabinet ostensibly to form a government of national unity). Obasanjo with his totalising impulses triumphed but the big party was more of a divided house held together by the allure of power and the certainty that PDP offered as an electoral machine enhanced in no small measure by access to patronage and instruments of the state. PDP once provided such a certainty that the battle to fly its flag used to be fiercer than actual contests in the general election, as winning the PDP ticket became almost a guarantee for winning the election proper. (It must be said that internal opposition was also a net positive: it helped in holding Obasanjo in check. He was threatened a few times with impeachment by people from his own party and his Third Term bid—which he continues to lamely deny—was snookered because many PDP members made common cause with the opposition.)
The initially muted but bitter altercation between Obasanjo and Atiku in the lead up to the 2003 elections also contributed a lot to weakening the party. By 2003, PDP had become vulnerable. But the party survived because it wasn’t confronted by an opposition with the required spread and because it corralled state apparatus to its advantage. It even did more corralling in 2007 when it reportedly scored 70% of the valid votes in the presidential election. The magnitude of the enhancement even embarrassed the declared winner, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
The second major crisis that enfeebled PDP was the internal struggle over its power rotation principle following the death of Yar’Adua in 2010.
President Goodluck Jonathan went on to complete Yar’Adua’s term and to win a fresh mandate in 2011, though with a reduced margin by PDP
medical schools are overloaded, we tend to define the problem as that of having “too many applicants”, so we limit the number of intakes. We do not see the big picture. If rents are high, we think it is the landlords that are to blame, so we make laws to put them in their place (and it never works). If a road is prone to vehicle accidents, we always put the blame on the “reckless” drivers. I recently came across excerpts of a book, ‘Sequential Analysis’, written in 1972 by the late Robert Holland, a respected figure at McKinsey & Company known for developing a practical framework for tackling complex decision-making. He recommended five sequential questions: (1) Is there (or is there likely) to be a problem (or opportunity)? (2) Where does it lie? (3) Why does it exist? (4) What could we do about it? (5) What should we do about it? (Note the “could” and “should”.) They are applicable to public policies as well. Questions 1 and 2 help define the problem we are trying to solve. Question 3 allows us to structure our thinking. Questions 4 and 5 help us to find a solution. My sense is that many Nigerian policymakers and lawmakers start from either No 4 or No 5: what could/should we do about it? They define a problem by the “solutions” they already have in their heads. They take the short-cuts by avoiding rigorous thinking. This lack of sequential thinking often gives birth to policies that worsen rather than solve the problems they are intended to address. Until something changes in the way we attend to many national issues — such as doctor shortages, housing crisis, communal conflicts, herder/farmer clashes, and even environmental sanitation — we will keep making laws and policies that will end up having little or no impact on the society.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state — who is also referred to as pastor — has been speaking in tongues all because he wants to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). “What Akwa Ibom people want is good governance, not the name of the party,” he said. “Whether Ibom Air or Air Peace, board the flight that is ready to take you to your destination. Board the flight and forget the name of the airline.” He doubled down days later, saying: “I see party as a vehicle to get to power. When you get there, please begin to govern everyone.” All manner of philosophy and poetry simply because of an impending defection. Just do it! Hahahaha.
standard. The division over the rotation principle and the emergence of a viable opposition, which included a splinter group from PDP which former Vice President Atiku was part of, eventually led to the dethronement of the all-conquering PDP. Meanwhile, the party had lofty ambitions and was not shy of trumpeting it. Some of its thinkers and foot soldiers, possibly high on hubris, used to tell anyone who cared to listen that PDP aspired to be like the LDP of Japan and the PRI of Mexico. Interestingly, the PDP shares the same colours with PRI, which ruled without interruption for 71 years in Mexico. PDP heavyweights, including a former chairman, used to boast that their party would rule Nigeria for between 60 and 70 years. They sounded believable because of PDP’s imposing stature at the time. But PDP’s dominance ended after 16 continuous years in office. It became the leading opposition party afterwards. But PDP was never designed to function as an opposition party. In football terms, PDP is a team that is programmed to starve other teams of the ball but is out of its depth without the ball. Out of office and without the accoutrements of power that it pressed to electoral advantage, PDP is lost, floundering, now being fed the bitter pills it patented. The problem is not that a party got knocked off its perch. It is PDP’s failure to adapt or reinvent itself, made a bit more difficult by the eagerness of most Nigerian politicians to jump on the winning team.
As at today and even in its diminished and threatened state, PDP is still a major party, given its existing structure, national spread and name recognition. The news of its death may be a bit exaggerated, though the circling of the vultures overhead cannot be ignored. PDP may continue to be a major party. It may become marginal. And it may even manage a comeback. Time will tell. But whatever happens to this once dominant party, it is difficult to write about the Fourth Republic without devoting some sizeable space to PDP. It has been a force to reckon with.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has lamented the increasing demand for medical doctors’ services in the country amidst the current brain drain syndrome.
The NMA President, Prof. Bala Muhammad-Audu, raised the alarm while reading a communique at the end of its Annual Delegates Conference and General
Meeting, 2025, held in Katsina State.
The conference had the theme: ‘The Universal Applicability of Care Standards for Patients and the Well-being of Health Care Providers’.
“Population is increasing, demand on individual doctors also increasing, while the doctors are leaving the country for greener pastures. “15,000 doctors had left the country for greener
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has expressed strong support for Operation Safe Corridor (OSC), a Federal Government initiative aimed at the deradicalisation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of repentant ex-combatants, particularly those formerly associated with Boko Haram, into society.
This reaffirmation was made on Friday during a courtesy visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja by the Coordinator of OSC, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, and his delegation.
Welcoming the OSC team, NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, acknowledged that public misunderstanding of the programme remains a major challenge. He admitted to having previously held reservations about the initiative due to limited information, but now recognises its critical role in achieving sustainable peace and national security.
Issa-Onilu pointed out that a significant number of those undergoing rehabilitation were not ideologically driven insurgents but individuals who had been abducted, coerced, or misled during periods of militant occupation in Nigeria’s northeast. He emphasised that their successful reintegration hinges on strong community and institutional support, cautioning that failure to welcome reformed individuals back into society leaves them
vulnerable to re-radicalisation and further alienation.
He lauded the armed forces and other security agencies for their commitment to national peace, noting that their efforts are often underappreciated. He stressed the urgent need for strategic public education to dismantle stigma, counter misinformation, and foster a more unified national response to insecurity.
In his address, Brig. Gen. Ali outlined OSC’s phased approach, comprising profiling, screening, rehabilitation, and reintegration, and described the programme as a long-standing, collaborative effort involving United Nations agencies, state governments, traditional rulers, and religious leaders. He reiterated that the success of OSC depends on national buy-in and a balanced use of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies.
General Ali also expressed concern over the stigma attached to the program’s beneficiaries, calling for more accurate storytelling and awareness campaigns to support reconciliation and national cohesion.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to deepen collaboration, intensify grassroots sensitisation, and reshape the public narrative surrounding rehabilitation efforts for former combatants.
pastures abroad in the last five years,” Muhammad-Audu said.
The president revealed that the standard ratio of doctor-patients was 1:600, adding,” But due to the continuous exodus of the medical doctors, the ratio has increased tremendously.
“If you divide the estimated population of 240 million by the number of practising doctors, which is 30,000, it will give you
All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Valentine Ozigbo, has alleged that Governor Chukwuma Soludo was funding the governorship candidate, Nicholas Ukachukwu to destabilise his party.
On April 5, Ukachukwu clinched the APC’s gubernatorial ticket at the party’s primary election, with 1,455 votes.
Ozigbo secured 67 votes, while
the doctor-patient ratio of 1:8,000.”
According to him, Nigeria is among the countries with the best-trained doctors, where even America, the UK, and Saudi Arabia, among other countries, purposely come to Nigeria to recruit doctors.
“Difficulties are pushing the doctors to leave the country, one of which is poor working conditions and remuneration.
“Here we are calling for the
Edozie Madu and Johnbosco Onunkwo, got eight and 26 votes, respectively.
Speaking during a television programme, Ozigbo, who contested for the governorship election on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform in 2021, challenged all parties to swear with the Bible.
“Soludo is funding Nicholas (Ukachukwu) to weaken APC and the only way we can prove this is
payment of seven months outstanding arrears and the consequential adjustments to doctors working in federal tertiary health institutions,” he said.
Muhammad-Audu further said that the NMA was now advocating the universal applicability of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to its members in all sectors to reduce the brain drain syndrome.
to invite all of us here and bring the Bible to swear,” he said.
“Unfortunately, when you have a certain intelligence, am I going to give you the source? Who is Nicholas Ukachukwu?
“How come he has never won anything since after he became a House of Rep member in Abuja here? How come every single election he shows up? How come?”
Ozigbo said he defeated Soludo in the last election,
He also said that the association rejected the newly proposed National Prescription Policy because only doctors were trained to make prescriptions to patients.
The president said that NMA had conducted an outreach where 500 patients were treated, conducted eye surgeries on 100 patients, and distributed nutritional supplements to orphanage homes in Katsina State.
adding that the governor is scared of facing him again.
“I defeated Soludo; I repeat this on national TV. He knows why he’s scared of me becoming a candidate, but I was rigged out,” he said.
“I have it on good authority about what happened long after it happened. But I called Governor Soludo the same day and I said congratulations.
“I moved on. I didn’t go to tribunal; I didn’t go to court to challenge him. I moved on”.
Wale Igbintade
An anti-corruption group, the Abia Conscience Movement, has urged the Abia State Government not to stop at merely exposing the alleged fraudulent activities of the directors of Enyimba Automated Shoe Company (ENASCO), but to ensure that those involved are prosecuted and that all public funds invested
Fidelis David in Akure
Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said that his administration accomplished a reduction of domestic debt by an unprecedented 82.6 per cent within one year by implementing sweeping cost-control measures.
in the company are recovered.
In a statement signed by its leader, Mr. Akubokwu Onuoha, the group expressed shock that the name of Sam Hart, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has been linked to the scandal.
The group called on the Deputy Speaker to launch
an immediate investigation to clear his name, “unless Mr. Hart was in fact acting on his behalf in the deliberate omission of the Abia State Government from official ownership records of ENASCO.”
“We are deeply saddened to learn that high-ranking government officials may have colluded with private individuals
to defraud the people of Abia State,” Onuoha said. He recalled that the previous administration under Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu had promoted ENASCO as a flagship initiative to support Aba’s shoe industry.
“We supported the idea wholeheartedly, not knowing that it would be turned into a tool for fleecing our people,” Onuoha added.
of N61billion and a percentage of 82.6.
Data from the Debt Management Office (DMO) on states’ debt comparison between 2023 and 2024 showed Ondo State at the top in reducing domestic debt from N74billion in 2023 to N12billion in 2024, a difference
Aiyedatiwa said he achieved the feat without halting public services or sacrificing workers’ welfare.
Aiyedatiwa said the reduction was not merely statistic but a reflection of deliberate policy choices, strong leadership, and responsible governance.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, Aiyedatiwa, said
the development has made significant improvements on the economy of the state and restored in his administration.
“This outstanding achievement is attributed to the strategic economic reforms and financial prudence of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration since its inception.
Edited by: Duro Ikhazuagbe
Former England’s Three Lions forward, John Fashanu, 62, is advocating for the involvement of ex internationals in the administration of sports in Nigeria.
Fashanu whose football career spanned between 1978 and 1995 during which he was capped thrice for the Three Lions and won the English FA Cup with Wimbledon in 1988, scored over 100 goals in all competitions.
Speaking in Abeokuta at the weekend, Fashanu insisted that people should stop making excuses for why former sports men and women are largely excluded from fully participating in Nigeria’s sports administration.
“Former footballers will like to lead but people like making excuses to ensure we do not get there. People say I played most of my life for England but does that mean I do not love my country Nigeria?” queried the former footballer.
Fashanu stressed that since quitting playing professional football, he has been back in Nigeria for several years and would like to be involved in the running of the country’s sports.
“I have been back in the country now for about 13 years. I want to be involved and be part of it. The same thing with
other players,” he offered.
Fashanu pointed out that he would like to serve the country as the Sports Minister or be given a free hand to manage the Super Eagles under a conductive Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“I want to be the next sports minister but you can only do it if you have got support and people who want you to do it. It is not about how much you can give me. At 60 years old plus, I still want to give something back. People do say Fashanu doesn’t like Nigeria he doesn’t come home. I am home now.
“It is about John Fashanu, are you good enough? I played football all my life. For 17 years, I was a footballer. I have won the FA Cup. I will like myself, Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and others to come out and lead this country because we can,” he pressed further on his ambition the country’s sports.
He however admitted that managing Nigeria’s football appears to be the toughest job in the country but that he can succeed with the right people to work with him.
“I want to be the Super Eagles’ head coach though it is one of the hardest jobs in the country but I am saying I can do it with the right people. The right people are the ones I just told. People who understand the game of football.
“It is not about how much you can give them? It is about getting players who can play from different countries. It is very
important to get players with the right mentality, right character and players who want to play for Nigeria.”
Fashanu who was accused of being a traitor for dumping Nigeria to play for England hinted that he really wanted to play for the then Green Eagles.
“I really wanted to play for Nigeria but in the end I was chosen to play for England three times. But when I came back to the Nigerian national team, I was called a traitor for playing for England. For me, the English football was all about the game and at the end of the day, the game of football started from England and it will finish in England.”
Fashanu feels disturbed by the news of ex internationals who were dying in poverty after using the better part of their youthful life to serve the country.
“I feel devastated because as a footballer we spend like 25 players actively and when such persons did after serving in penury, it is really sad. One of such persons could have been me if I didn’t have an alternative.”
He counseled past and present footballers on the need to lead useful lifestyle and stay healthy and keep in contact with their teammates.
“Football is a team game and basically we must stay healthy and stick together. It doesn’t mean because we are no longer playing we will stop keeping in touch,” concludes the former player English press once dubbed Fash the Cash.
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Saturday, participated in the 1st Enugu City International Marathon, completing the 10km road race in 45 minutes, while East African athletes cleared the first, second, and third positions in the elite 42km full marathon.
In the elite men’s category, Ken Kopos of Kenya, ran the 42km in 2 hours: 22 mins.
32secs to set the course record and claimed the star prize of $15,000, while his compatriots, Steve Baswey and Bernard Sang placed second and third, respectively, to earn themselves $10,000 and $5,000, accordingly.
In the female elite category, Shaoline Chepriroi of Kenya finished in 2 hours: 44 mins.
37secs to clinch the premium prize of $15,000 while Tilahu Birul of Ethiopia was second in 2:45:10 and walked away with $10,000 prize money with Rita Busiengy third in 2:47:17 and earned $5,000 for her effort.
Nigeria’s Blessing Shambo completed the 42 kilometres in 2:48:04 and placed fourth. She was rewarded with N1 million, while Charity Agofure and Elizabeth Pam finished in 2:55:03 and 3:01:45 to clinch the second and third prices, respectively,
in the Nigerian elite runners category. Agofure and Pam got N750,000 and N500,000, accordingly, for their efforts.
Davou Gyang finished in 2:29:03 to emerge Nigeria’s best in the elite category, beating compatriot Boyi Nyango with just three seconds, while Iliya Pam placed third. They got cash prizes of N1 million, N750,000, and N500,000, respectively.
LydiaAkusho, EstherAfigbo, and Mwantiti Davou came first, second, and third, respectively in the women’s category of the 10km Road Race, while Francis James, Iliya Raymond, and Boyi Gang placed first, second, and third, respectively, in the male category.
While congratulating the winners and participants, Mbah assured all participants of continued improvement of the road race event, noting that Enugu City International Marathon was in line with his administration’s vision to position Enugu State as the premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and for living.
“What we have just witnessed is a spectacular event. It is a testament to the power of sports. Remember that I told you all that participated in our last year’s Enugu City Half Marathon that we are going to make the Enugu City International Marathon, an international event. Have we not done that?
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has declared that late former Green Eagles’ Captain, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu, is a man that can never be forgotten.
Gusau spoke Friday afternoon in Enugu when a delegation from the NFF and FA Chairmen from the South East zone paid a condolence visit to Chukwu’s family. Gusau, who spoke through the NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix AnyansiAgwu, described Chukwu as a diligent and patriotic on-field
leader who served the country with all his heart and mind, and every ounce of his energy.
“The late Chukwu gave his all for the country. He served Nigeria with all his heart and
he is a hero even in death. One thing is clear: Chukwu can never be forgotten given how well he served the country and his achievements both as a player and as a coach,” Gusau stated.
The NFF President noted that the visit was not just a condolence visit but one the footballruling body made in order to be intimated, first-hand, plans being put in place by the family ahead of Chukwu’s burial, and for the family and the soccer house to be on the same page.
“We want to be on the same page with the family and know what plans they are putting in place. Chukwu is a hero and the NFF will participate fully in his burial,” Gusau assured.
Chukwu’s son, Emeka, while responding on behalf of the family commended the NFF leadership for the visit even as he disclosed that the family will soon make public the programme of the final burial rites for the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team captain and Most Valuable Player. Also on the delegation were Member of the NFF Executive Committee and Chairman of the Nigeria National League, Mr. George Aluo; Chairman of Enugu State Football Association, Barrister Tony Ugwu; Imo State FA Chairman, Barrister Ifeanyi Dike and;Anambra State FA Chairman, Mr. Chikelue Iloenyosi.
Nigeria’s brightest junior female tennis talent Mofi Atilola and Isah Yahaya have emerged the Most Outstanding Players of the 2025 CBN Junior Tennis Championship which ended in Lagos yesterday.
To emerge the best, Atilola won the Girls 14 category by defeating Godwin Success 6-0, 6-1 in the final of that category at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club on Lagos Island. Before that final, Atilola who was given wild card to play in the Girls 16 category had caused an upset in the
CBN JuNIor TeNNIs
semi final. She beat defending champion and No.1 seed in the Girls 16s, Gloria Samuel from Ekiti, 6-1, 6-4 to reach the finals of the Girls 16 s of the CBN Junior Tennis Championship.
Atilola was on fire from the beginning, spraying forehand and backhand winners to lead 5-0 before a dazed Samuel manged to take one game. The story was almost the same in the second set as Mofi as she is popularly called, raced to a 4-0 lead with unbelievable defensive skills, before Samuel found her bearing to fight back to 4-4. Undaunted by the new challenge, Atilola raised her
game to win the next two games to close out the match. But in the Girls 16 final
against Goodness Aina, Atilola met her match, as she succumbed to 6-1, 6-3 defeat.
Speaking shortly after losing that epic clash, Atilola told THISDAY that she was overwhelmed by the physicality of Aina.
“I was chanced by Aina’s physical play. If she was of my category, there was no way I would have been beaten,” observed the girl who is touted as the future face of Nigerian tennis.
Isah Yahaya on the other hand, was selected as the Most Outstanding Player in the Boys category for reaching the finals of the Boys 14 category with outstanding play. He played Joel Michael of Lagos in the Boys 14s final.
Dr Tunji Alausa, minister of education, made a frightening disclosure on Monday that, predictably, attracted little attention: Nigeria has a shortage of 600,000 medical doctors. Kindly read that again, this time slowly. Our attention is devoted to the 2027 presidential election, so we can be excused for missing the unhealthy piece of news. Nigerians were created for elections and politics. Nothing excites us more. Politics could be a good thing if it leads us to the road of redemption. After all, the real purpose of politics is the greater good of the society. Socrates, according to Plato in Gorgias, said the goal of politics is to make the citizens “as good as possible to live the best lives”. How I wish!
Politics and elections aside, we have an emergency in our hands but it seems we are going about our normal business. By any means, a shortage of 600,000 doctors is massive. We have the capacity to train only 10,000 doctors a year and that means it will take us the next 60 years to fill the gap. Wait. By then — that
the time we hope to have closed the gap, so training 10,000 doctors yearly for the next 60 years will still not solve the problem. Pardon me but there is no elegant way of saying this: we are in a hot mess. We can use some emergency measures. Things are getting worse, what with the economic situation forcing thousands of doctors — who feel overworked and underpaid — to exit the country in search of fresh pasture. We thus have two significant problems: inadequate training capacity and exodus, known as “brain drain” in the 1980s (when many doctors migrated to Saudi Arabia) and now rebranded as “japa”. We are bleeding. The shortage is inflicting fatigue and frustration on the doctors who choose to remain in Nigeria, and the implications will continue to show in the quality of patient care. A doctor cannot be attending to a hundred patients per day and still be optimally productive.
as working conditions, inadequate facilities, obsolete equipment and unstable power supply. Many doctors also suffer depression not just from the workload but seeing avoidable deaths every day. Some things that modern technology has simplified are still being done manually. Some illnesses that could have been nipped in the bud at primary health care level have developed into chronic diseases, leading to a flood of patients at secondary and tertiary hospitals.
A visit to many public hospitals will break your heart. A country that values productivity will place, and pay, a premium on having a healthy population. Does this really bother us? In Nigeria, once you are rich enough to start checking your cholesterol levels, you no longer use public hospitals. You go to private hospitals that charge like five-star hotels or travel abroad for your medicals. It is the ordinary people — the tomato seller, the shoemaker, the truck pusher — that suffer the consequences of the inhospitable health care system. This is to say nothing about their is, 2085 — our population will have exploded from the current 200 million to 741 million (according to PopulationPyramid.net). That means the doctor deficit will be in millions by
In reality, there will be lethargy and apathy as the day progresses, and there could be loss of empathy as well. Misdiagnosis is not to be unexpected, and this may have nothing to do with the other obvious challenges, such
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is presently at the strangest pass for a major political party in Nigeria. The party is wracked by protracted and enervating wranglings from within. And it is being systematically assailed from without. PDP has lost a major, loyal and safe state, Delta State, to the ruling party, and is likely to lose more states as the battle for 2027 prematurely heats up. The political grandees still left in PDP are mostly of divided loyalty: some are suspected to be working for the ruling party from within; some are reportedly staying back to further weaken the party to pave the way for the emergence of another party or a coalition; and some are clearly on their way out to a more viable political platform for the next general election. Is the end then nigh for PDP? It is still difficult to say, as politics is more art than science. Whatever happens, PDP has had a good run. It is not only the oldest political party on the scene today, PDP is also the sole survivor of the three registered parties that ushered in the Fourth Republic in 1998/1999. The Alliance for Democracy, AD, lost its way in 2003 and was eventually
supplanted by the Action Congress, AC (which later became Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN).
The All People’s Party, APP, lingered for longer, initially effected a slight change by inserting Nigeria in its name to become ANPP, and eventually got folded, alongside ACN and other parties and splinter groups, into the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2013. But PDP, even in its most difficult moments, has remained as PDP, a constant feature of Nigeria’s political landscape in more than a quarter of a century, and this epoch’s most dominant political force—whether in power or out of it.
PDP’s longevity thus far is a tribute to thoughtful political design. The party was conceived as a platform wide enough to accommodate different political tendencies and sturdy enough to serve as a bulwark of democracy. The idea behind PDP predated the party by more than a decade. With the fall of the Second Republic, most of the prominent politicians ended up in Kirikiri Maximum Prison, no matter their political parties. Some of the jailed politicians like Chief Alex Ekwueme, who was Vice President from 1979 to 1983, received an epiphany: there were two political parties in Nigeria—the political class and
the military class. They reckoned that having a broad-based platform for politicians would be a good insurance against the usual suspects, who in alliance with disaffected politicians, rudely abbreviated the first two experiments with democratic rule in the country. The umbrella symbol for the eventual culmination of the big-tent idea in PDP was thus not an afterthought. It is an apt representation. However, that accommodating and broad conception has worked both ways for PDP. It led to the creation of a political behemoth but one so enormous to be threatened by its own bulk. PDP almost became the only game in town, and the internal contestation for control became its albatross. We will return to this shortly. Of the class of 1998/1999, PDP stood out as the only party with national aspiration, more than its precursors in either the leading National Party of Nigeria (NPN) or the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) of the Second Republic and the stillborn Third Republic respectively. AD clearly was a regional party, localised in the South West. APP had tentacles in three zones, but all restricted to one segment of the country, the north. At the outset, PDP was the only party that had
dominant or significant presence across most of the geo-political zones, and it has largely maintained this national outlook.
The results of the 1999 general election confirmed PDP’s pre-eminent status in the beginning of this republic. At the gubernatorial level, PDP took control of 22 states—all the six states in the South South; all the five states in the South East; four of the six states in the North East; four of the six states in the North Central; and three of the seven states in the North West. On their parts, APP won the governorship election in eight states—four in the North West, two in the North Central and two in the North East; while AD won six states, all in the South West. PDP also earned more than a simple majority in both chambers of the National Assembly. PDP was seen as the anointed party of the military (an impression reinforced not just by its presidential candidate being a former military head of state but also by the large number of retired military men within its ranks). In a sense, PDP became a synthesis of the thesis and the anti-thesis, a fusion of the crème of the two