Peter Obi Hints at Possible Run in 2027 Presidential
Chuks Okocha in Abuja Labour Party’s standard bearer in 2023, Peter Obi, has again hinted his
In Major Feat for Continent, First Pan-African Card Scheme, PAPSSCARD Launched
Afreximbank’s initiative to lower transaction fees across borders, boost intra-Africa trade, others
James Emejo in Abuja
The continent’s first Pan-African card scheme, PAPSSCARD was launched yesterday in Abuja, marking a significant step towards financial independence.
The new card was unveiled last week at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja.
The breakthrough represented a major leap in the continent’s efforts to achieve financial sovereignty by building resilient and independent payment systems, easing people’s travel, and boosting trade integration.
Essentially, PAPSSCARD, a joint venture between Afreximbank, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), and Mercury Payment Services (MPS), enables fast, secure, and affordable retail payments across African borders.
Today, most African card payments are routed through global systems, causing increased fees and loss of data control.
However, by processing transactions entirely within the continent, PAPSSCARD keeps value, data, and economic benefits in Africa.
Speaking at the launch, Afreximbank President/Chairman, Board of Directors, Prof. Benedict Oramah, highlighted the significance of the card scheme in reclaiming Africa’s financial autonomy.
He said, “For too long, Africa’s
reliance on external payment systems has impeded trade, increased costs, and compromised control over our financial data. PAPSSCARD changes that. It empowers us to move money swiftly, securely, and affordably across our borders.
“It is a transformative step towards strengthening intra-African trade and preserving value within the continent.”
Chief Executive of PAPSS, Mike Ogbalu III, described the card as a major advancement in the continent’s financial architecture, adding that it is “more than just a payment tool, it is a powerful symbol of progress and a bold step towards financial independence.”
He said the card reflected Africa’s ability to create practical, home-grown solutions that align with how the continent trades, lives, and grows.
On his part, Executive Chairman of MPS, Muzaffer Khokhar, said the launch represented a milestone in Africa’s move toward financial sovereignty.
He said, “We are proud to support a system built by Africa, for Africa. This is about sovereignty, innovation, and building trust in African systems to shape the continent’s financial future.
“The PAPSS Card will become Africa’s most trusted payments brand, strengthening the backbone
of the continent’s financial future.”
Acting Chief Executive of PAPSSCARD, John Bosco Sebabi, said the new payment offering will unlock benefits for a wide range of stakeholders, from corporates and banks to merchants and individuals.
He said PAPSSCARD card would “reduce costs for public institutions, support innovation
across the financial sector, and expand access to secure, modern payment tools for people and businesses across the continent.”
Commemorative cards were unveiled at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings to mark the launch of the card.
The initiative was made possible by strategic partnerships with issuing
banks - Bank of Kigali and I&M Bank Rwanda; Rswitch, Rwanda’s national switch - Smart Cash; and Unified Payments, ensuring its seamless acceptance throughout Nigeria.
With the development, African central banks and payment systems are set to spearhead the continentwide adoption and rollout of the new PAPSSCARD. The initiative will significantly advance Afreximbank’s strategy to promote financial inclusion and boost intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), fostering a more integrated and self-sustaining African economy, according to a statement by Afreximbank.
NECA Commends Tinubu for Pegging FRC Levy at N25m
Calls for final legislative amendment
Dike Onwuamaeze
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decisive action in capping the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) levy at 25 million for Public Interest Entities (PIEs), including unlisted companies.
Speaking in Lagos, the DirectorGeneral NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, described the move as a landmark moment for Nigeria’s
FG Partners UNODC to Strengthen Response to Minerals’ Financed Terrorism
The Federal Government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are partnering to strengthen Nigeria’s response to criminal and terrorist finance related to minerals.
Consulting the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake recently, officials of the UN agency said the project, funded by the Canadian government, will strengthen the capacity of criminal justice actors in the detection, investigation and prosecution of illicit financial flows associated with conflict financing, including the financing of armed groups and money laundering in the solid minerals sector.
private sector, restoring confidence and reducing the regulatory burden previously imposed by the openended levy in Section 33 of the FRC (Amendment) Act 2023.
Oyerinde also applauded the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, for her inclusive leadership in facilitating a multi-stakeholder Technical Working Group that included NECA and other key private sector players.
He noted that the adoption of the group’s proposals, calling for
a moratorium, a levy cap, and legislative amendment, reflected responsive and evidence-based governance.
NECA emphasided that the policy alignment between listed and unlisted companies would enhance equity, supports job creation, and frees up capital for enterprise growth.
The association also recognised the strategic timing of this reform alongside the recent signing of four transformative tax laws aimed at streamlining Nigeria’s fiscal
architecture and boosting MSME competitiveness.
Oyerinde also urged the federal government to promptly transmit a clean amendment bill to the National Assembly to formally embed the N25 million cap in law and ensure full legal clarity before the 2026 fiscal year.
“Regulatory certainty is the lifeblood of investment,” he said, adding that the president’s decision sent a strong message that Nigeria listens, adapts, and is open for sustainable business.
Forfeiture: Court Begins Hearing in AlisonMadueke’s Suit against EFCC October 6
Responding, Alake expressed delight at the significant support that the project would give to the efforts of the federal government to combat illegal mining and other crimes funded by proceeds of illicit mining of natural resources.
He explained that the Mining Marshals were created from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to avoid the constitutional challenges of setting up a new security outfit.
“In the illegal mining area, we
UNODC’s Project Co-ordinator on counter-terrorism, Mr. Tom Parker, who led a team including project officers Inneke GeysensBourgions and Nicole Andersen, praised the minister for the establishment of the Mining Marshals and other measures to combat illegal mining, adding that the agency will work with the ministry to implement the project.
set up the Mining Marshals. When I got in here, I discovered we needed a new security architecture specifically for the mining sector. I sought the permission of Mr. President to set up Mining Marshals, and they’ve been doing a good job arresting and prosecuting illegal miners.
“The essence is to send a strong message that it can’t be business as usual. And it is yielding salutary effects. A lot of operators are trying to regularise their operations and are obeying the mining laws, “he said.
The minister said the president has approved a new satellite monitoring system for mines to further curb malpractices and enable the security operatives to identify the location of the incident and mobilise the necessary forces to the site.
Alex Enumah in Abuja
The Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, adjourned till October 6, for a definite hearing in the suit filed by former Petroleum Minister, Deziani Allison-Madueke, challenging the forfeiture of some of her assets to the federal government.
Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the date after lawyers representing parties in the suit identified and regularised their processes in the matter.
When the case was mentioned yesterday, Alison-Madueke’s lawyer, Mr. Godwin Inyinbor, told the court that the matter was for hearing but that they were served with two motions to which they had responded.
Responding, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Mofesomo
Oyetibo, SAN, informed the court that he was appearing in the matter for the first time.
While also admitting that the matter was coming before him for the first time, trial judge, Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until October 6 for definite hearing.
The former petroleum minister in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/21/2023, prayed the court to extend the time to apply for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice issued for the sale of her properties, because the orders for the forfeiture of her assets were made without jurisdiction.
Alison-Madueke submitted that she was denied fair hearing in the proceedings that led to the forfeiture orders.
Among the reliefs she is seeking from the court includes; the voiding of the EFCC’s public notice on the
sale of her properties. She contended that the various court orders issued in favour of the EFCC violated her constitutional right to fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution. She further claimed that she was never served with the charge sheet, proof of evidence or summons regarding the charge against her. Besides, the plaintiff argued that the court was misled into granting the forfeiture order due to the suppression or non-disclosure of critical information.
On its part, the anti-graft agency wants the court to dismiss the case because she had been properly brought before the court. According to the commission, the application for final forfeiture of the said assets had been properly instituted and conducted following all legal requirements.
TINUBU ADDRESSING SPECIAL SITTING OF LAWMAKERS IN SAINT LUCIA ...
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressing a special joint sitting of the Senate and House of Assembly of Saint Lucia at Sandals Grande, Gros Islet. … yesterday
Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF FORVIS MAZARS IN NIGERIA...
Group Executive and Board Member, Forvis Mazars Group, Mr.
Country
NCDMB to Champion Nigeria First Policy in Oil, Gas Sector, Revamps N50bn Community Contractors Fund
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has pledged its full commitment to implementing the recently introduced ‘Nigeria First’ policy.
The policy is a key directive of President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed at boosting local production and patronage of locally made goods and services, reducing dependence on imported items.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Felix Ogbe announced the board’s commitment to the policy at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja, yesterday.
Ogbe described the policy as a strong reinforcement of the board’s core mandate of promoting Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry.
“For Nigeria, energy sufficiency goes beyond availability, it is about building resilience, ensuring sustainability, and protecting our sovereignty. That is why we say local content is not just a policy, it is a strategic imperative.” he noted.
Speaking on the theme, “Achieving Energy Sufficiency through Local Content implementation”, Ogbe observed that achieving energy sufficiency will require deepening Nigeria’s local capabilities across the oil and gas value chain from exploration and production to
processing, manufacturing, and services.
He said prioritising local capacity would not only retain economic value within Nigeria but also mitigate supply disruptions, create jobs, and foster technological growth.
The ‘Nigeria First’ policy is the latest in a series of government interventions designed to strengthen domestic content.
The NCDMB boss referenced landmark initiatives such as the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010, Executive Orders 001 and 005, and the Presidential Directives on Local Content issued in 2023, which were aligned with President
Tinubu’s 8-Point Agenda. According to Ogbe, the new policy is rooted in a clear principle: all goods or services that are produced and/or available locally will not be procured from foreign sources unless there is a clear and justifiable reason.
“This aligns with Section 3(1) of the NOGICD Act, which mandates first consideration for Nigerian made goods and services provided they meet industry standards”, he said.
The executive secretary pointed that to translate the policy into action, the board announced a series of implementation steps which include the development of a dedicated ‘Nigeria First Procurement Policy’
MTN Launches $120m Data Centre, Local Cloud with 4.5MW Capacity
MTN Nigeria will today launch Phase 1 of its Tier III Data Centre and local cloud located in Ikeja, with a total – expandable – IT capacity load of 4.5 megawatts.
According to MTN, the data centre infrastructure cost $100 million, while the local cloud infrastructure cost $20 million, totalling $120 million.
Known as Sifiso Dabengwa Data Centre, the centre would be Nigeria’s largest pre-fabricated modular data, with 96 pre-fabricated containers, and a total rack capacity of about 1,500, which is fully modular in power and cooling, and it occupies three floors.
Speaking about the planned launch of the data centre during a press conference in Lagos yesterday, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Karl Toriola, said the data centre would bring a lot of transformation
to the Nigeria technology ecosystem, since its services will be offered through pay-as-you-use, and it would be priced in Naira.
Toriola said, “With the data centre launch, MTN is at the forefront of Nigeria’s digital space, and ready to drive Artificial Intelligence (AI) needs across the country, as we expand the capacity of the data centre facility.
“In addition to that, the data centre will enhance Nigeria’s data sovereignty and ensure that local data are hosted in Nigeria and that the data are also protected from exposure and attacks.
“MTN is working closely with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to ensure compliance with data policy.”
Speaking on the advantages of the data centre to Nigerian businesses, both large and small enterprises, Toriola said it would reduce cost of doing business, since businesses would be
paying for the services in Naira.
According to him, the data centre will provide cost-effective solutions to businesses that will enable them to host their data in Nigeria, boost quality of service delivery, and comply with the NDPC policy on data sovereignty. on the cost element, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Nigeria, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, said, “It cost MTN the sum of $100 million for the Phase 1 data centre infrastructure, with additional $20 million for the cloud infrastructure.”
According to Saint-Nwafor, the data centre will reduce latency, enhance customers’ experience in data computing and storage, especially during the on-boarding process.
She stated, “The MTN Data Centre will offer self-orchestration data platform that will allow users to log into the cloud service from any part of the world to develop solutions.”
Saint-Nwafor added that the MTN
FRSC Corps Marshal Congratulates Customs CG on WCO Council Chairmanship
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has congratulated the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on his election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organiation (WCO) Council. Mohammed, described the appointment as a testament to the Comptroller General’s dedication, visionary leadership, and passion for excellence, which have positioned the Nigeria Customs Service as a model
of professionalism and efficiency in Africa.
The Corp Marshal, in a statement yesterday, noted that the emergence of Adeniyi was not only a personal achievement but also a national pride, reflecting Nigeria’s competence and the international community’s confidence in the country’s ability to contribute meaningfully to global governance in trade and customs management.
The Corps Marshal also congratulated Nigeria and the FRSC on winning the election to become the Permanent Secretariat of the Africa Association
of all Road Safety Lead Agencies (AARSLA).
Mohammed said the strategic position would enable the Corps to coordinate road safety initiatives across Africa, promote best practices, and foster partnerships to achieve the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety targets.
The Corps Marshal appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating an enabling environment for the agencies to thrive through strategic support and commitment to their ideals.
Cloud offered more and easily accessible services than those offered by hyperscalers, like Google, Amazon Wireless, and Microsoft Azure.
Senior Consultant, MTN Enterprise Solutions, Ifeanyi Otudor, explained that the data centre was built to support everything, right from the high data traffic in the fintech space, to the e-government platforms today and in the future.
Otudor said, “The data centre effectively puts MTN in the position to address the co-location needs of the enterprise business, the different businesses, including government entities as well, that are looking to offload that responsibility to experts like us over the period.
for the Board, integration of the policy into internal systems, and its application in the review of Nigerian Content Plans (NCPs), Compliance Certifications, and Authorisation Certificates.
He disclosed further that NCDMB will commission two major baseline studies to verify the capacities of Nigerian service providers and to identify locally manufactured consumables used in the oil and gas sector.
“The Nigeria First policy is a bold commitment to national pride, industrial competence, and long-term economic sustainability.
At the NCDMB, we are prepared to lead the charge in making this vision a reality.” Ogbe committed. Similarly, NCDMB has unveiled a restructured approach to its N50 billion Community Contractors Financing Scheme — a key component of the Nigerian Content Intervention (NCI) Fund. Originally launched in 2018 to support indigenous contractors from oil-producing host communities, the Community Contractors Fund had recorded little traction until recent efforts under the current executive secretary, Ogbe set the scheme on a path to revival.
216 Chinese Investors Indicate Interest to Invest in Nigeria
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
Ahead of the Nigeria-China Sustainable Business Bilateral Trade and Investment Summit, slated to hold in October this year, no fewer than 216 Chinese investors have indicated interest to explore opportunities in Nigeria.
This is as 295 Chief Executive Officers, CEOs from reputable organizations in Nigeria and China, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and four governors among other leaders and captains of industry have concluded a meeting on widening investment opportunities between Nigeria and China.
The Summit which was held at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos was organized by the National As-
sembly in partnership with Merited Negotiation Consulting. It brought together key stakeholders from Nigeria and China to explore opportunities for sustainable business collaborations and investments: The four governors that attended the summit are Sheriff Oborovwori of Delta State, Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), and Demola Adeleke (Osun). Also present were the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar; Blue Economy and Marine, Adegboyega Oyetola; Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Amb. Yu Duhai, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria; Yan Yuqing, Chinese Consular General, Lagos; Ye Shuijin, President of China Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria and Tristan Cui, Director General, China Chamber of Commerce.
Oyetola Inaugurates 11-Man NPA
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, yesterday, inaugurated an 11-man Governing Board for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), following their appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The inauguration, Oyetola stressed, aligns with the President’s vision to reposition key government institutions for optimal performance.
He said that the Board’s role was critical in enhancing trade facilitation, improving transparency, and unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
The Blue Economy Minister, while inaugurating the Board in Abuja, emphasised the importance
of maintaining clear boundaries between governance and management, as stipulated in the NPA Act and the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
He charged the Board members to set operational and administrative policies in line with government directives, measure performance against targets, and introduce broad policy measures to achieve set targets.
He also enjoined them to foster a harmonious working relationship with the NPA management to achieve the overall objectives of government.
The Board members include Senator Adebayo Adeyeye as Chairman; Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho as Managing Director; Dr. Mercy
member representing the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy; Amirudin Tukur Idris, member; Ekpebide Ebi-Erin Daniel, member; Lawan Zarami, member; Olabanjo Olateju, member; Barr. Kelechi Igwe, member; Ibrahim Umar, executive director, NPA, member; Olalekan Badmus, executive director, NPA, member; and Vivian Edeth, executive director, NPA, member. In his response, Adeyeye expressed the Board’s appreciation to Tinubu and the Minister for considering them worthy to serve the nation. He pledged that the Board would work collaboratively with the NPA management and the Ministry to drive development and growth.
L-R:
Mark Kennedy;
Leader, Forvis Mazars Nigeria, Mr. Uhabia Ojike; wife of the Country Leader, Forvis Mazars Nigeria, Mrs. Nonso Ojike; Country Leader, Forvis Mazars South Africa, Mr. Anoop Ninan; and Tax Partner, Forvis Mazars Nigeria, Mr Peter Nwofia during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Forvis Mazars in Nigeria, held in Lagos on Friday
Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
Ilori,
Emma Okonji
Peter Uzoho in Abuja
New INTERPOL Report Warns of Sharp Rise in Cybercrime in Nigeria, Other African Countries
Online fraud accounts for more than 30% of all reported crimes
Scam notifications rise by up to 3,000 per cent in selected African countries
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report has indicated that a growing share of reported crimes in Africa is cyber-related, rising to 30 per cent in Western and Eastern Africa during the year.
Online scams, particularly through phishing, were the most frequently reported cybercrimes in Africa, while ransomware, Business Email Compromise (BEC) and digital sextortion also remain widespread, the report stated.
INTERPOL Cybercrime Director, Neal Jetton, said: “This fourth edition of the INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment provides a vital snapshot of the current situation, informed by operational intelligence, extensive law enforcement engagement and strategic private-sector collaboration.
“It paints a clear picture of a threat landscape in flux, with emerging dangers like AI-driven fraud that demand urgent attention. No single agency or country can face these challenges alone.”
Acting Executive Director of AFRIPOL, Ambassador Jalel Chelba, said: “Cybersecurity is not merely a technical issue; it has become a fundamental pillar of stability, peace, and sustainable development in
Africa. It directly concerns the digital sovereignty of states, the resilience of our institutions, citizen trust and the proper functioning of our economies.”
In the past year, the report stated that suspected scam notifications rose by up to 3,000 per cent in some African countries, according to data from Kaspersky – one of several private sector partners that works with INTERPOL’s cybercrime directorate. Ransomware detections in Africa also rose in 2024, with South Africa and Egypt suffering the highest number, at 17,849 and 12,281 detections respectively according to data from Trend Micro, followed by other highly digitised economies such as Nigeria (3,459) and Kenya (3,030).
Incidents included attacks on critical infrastructure, such as a breach at Kenya’s Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and on government databases, such as hacks of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), it added.
BEC-related incidents also rose significantly, with 11 African nations accounting for the majority of BEC activity originating on the continent. In West Africa, BEC fraud has driven highly organised, multi-milliondollar criminal enterprises, such as transnational syndicate Black Axe, the report said.
Sixty per cent of African member countries reported an increase in
Stakeholders
reports of digital sextortion, where threat actors use sexually explicit images to blackmail their targets. The images can be authentic – shared voluntarily or obtained through coercion or deception – or they can be generated by artificial intelligence, it added.
“Cybercrime continues to outpace the legal systems designed to stop it, according to African law enforcement. Seventy-five per cent of countries
surveyed said their legal frameworks and prosecution capacity needed improvement.
“At the same time, countries also reported struggling to enforce the existing laws on cybercrime, with 95 per cent of respondents reporting inadequate training, resource constraints and a lack of access to specialized tools.
“Despite rising caseloads, most African member countries surveyed
still lack essential IT infrastructure to combat cybercrime. Just 30 per cent of countries reported having an incident reporting system, 29 per cent a digital evidence repository and 19 per cent a cyberthreat intelligence database.
“While cybercrime routinely crosses national borders, 86 per cent of African member countries surveyed said their international cooperation capacity needs improvement due to slow, formal processes, a lack of
operational networks, and limited access to platforms and foreign-hosted data, ” the INTERPOL report stressed. Cybercrime investigations increasingly rely on cooperation from private sector partners, yet 89 per cent of African countries said their cooperation with the private sector needed ‘significant’ or ‘some’ improvement due to unclear channels for engagement, low institutional readiness and other barriers.
NCAA Grounds Rano Aircraft Following Engine Failure
Crew executes successful emergency landing protocols
Chinedu
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Sunday grounded Rano Air’s aircraft with registration mark 5N-BZY, billed to operate a round trip from Sokoto to Kano and Abuja, due to engine failure.
The incident occurred at 3:34 pm, Nigerian time.
Highlight Gas Turbine Deployment to Boost Power Supply
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s energy space have underscored the need for gas turbine deployment as a way to boost the country’s electricity supply shortages. This was disclosed when industry leaders and policymakers convened in Abuja at the 2025 Gas Turbine Asset Management Conference in Abuja with the theme: “Powering the future – One Upgrade at a Time”.
Hosted by Thomassen Energy and PE Energy, the event set a decisive tone for transforming the country’s energy sector and revitalising its industrial foundation through innovation, accountability, and strategic partnerships.
At the event, Chairman of PANA Holdings, Daere Akobo, highlighted
the gap between Nigeria’s installed power capacity, estimated at 12,000 megawatts, and the actual utilised output, which lingers around 4,500 megawatts.
Akobo emphasised the critical role of gas turbines not just as utility for power generators but as core enablers of economic resilience, as Nigeria continues its quest for reliable and scalable electricity.
He said: “Reliable electricity is the lifeblood of economic growth and bridging this gap demands immediate, systemic reform, beginning with the reinstatement of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).”
Making a bold recommendation, Akobo proposed the formation of an independent, privately led energy Council.
“This non-profit body would
be composed of volunteer experts offering advisory support to government institutions, aimed at ensuring consistent, technically sound reforms in the energy space” , he added.
Minister of State for Industry, Representing Senator John Enoh, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Strategic Communications, Ifeoma Williams, urged participants to move from rhetoric to results, stressing that stakeholders we must no longer leave conferences with recommendations alone.
“Let us leave with resolve to manage and sustain our gas assets with intelligence, urgency, and courage,” he stated.
Chief Executive of Thomassen Energy, Peter Stuttaford, reinforced the company’s commitment to the Africa region.
In reaction, NCAA issued a directive that the aircraft should be grounded as a precautionary safety measure until it was certified airworthy.
The agency said the directive was part of its strict enforcement of aviation safety protocol compliance across all carriers operating in the Nigerian airspace.
Inside sources indicated that the first engine of the aircraft (engine 1) emitted smoke, which wafted into the cabin and cockpit, as it experienced a malfunction on approach to land.
In response to the engine malfunction, the flight crew immediately donned oxygen masks and activated
all appropriate emergency procedures to prepare for safe landing.
Fortunately, the smoke dissipated before landing, and the aircraft landed safely without further incident by the flight’s captain.
However, NCAA’s Directorate of Airworthiness instructed that aircraft 5N-BZY must remain grounded pending full safety investigations.
The incident caused disruptions in passenger movement, particularly affecting travellers scheduled to depart from Sokoto to Kano and, finally, to Abuja.
Following the incident, NCAA reiterated that it will not compromise
on aviation safety protocol compliance, even when disruptions inconvenienced flight operations.
The authority stated that Nigerian aviation safety record remained solid, despite the challenges of operating in a developing environment, stating that countries with more advanced aviation infrastructure still report more severe incidents than Nigeria. NCAA said that was because in Nigeria, flights were cancelled at the slightest indication of a safety-related concern, and the agency’s current actions aligned with global best practices and international regulatory benchmarks in civil aviation oversight.
UN Agency Gives USD 395,000 to 39 Land Restoration Projects Worldwide
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
In a decisive step to reverse land degradation, 39 land restoration projects led by grassroots organisations have been awarded USD 395,000 through the inaugural Small Grants Programme of the G20 Global Land Initiative (GLI), a flagship initiative of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Drawn from 22 countries, the winning projects were selected for their innovation, impact and sustainability. Over 650 organisations from more than 100 countries applied for the award. The winners were selected following three rounds of review by separate UNCCD staff teams, with varied expertise in land management and restoration. Awardees will receive between US$5,000 and US$15,000 to fund grassroots efforts that boost local economies, improve food and water security and strengthen ecosystem resilience. The announcement was livestreamed at an event showcasing the grant winners.
The Small Grants Programme is an important tool for achieving the G20 GLI’s mission of reducing degraded land by 50 percent by 2040. Speaking during the award ceremony, Director of the G20 Global Land Initiative, Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy, said: “We are aware that these big numbers, cannot be achieved by small initiatives alone.
“Yet, we feel, it is important that tens of thousands of small actors, engaged in land restoration around the world, be supported, promoted and recognized.”
Eze and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Chairman, THISDAY Media Group/ ARISE NEWS Channel, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; and Acting Consul General, US Embassy to Nigeria, Joellen Gorg at the 249th US Independence Day Celebration held in Lagos... yesterday .
PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN
FG’s Delegation Condoles With Dantata’s Family in Madinah Ahead of Nonagenarian’s Burial Today
Jonathan, northern governors mourn business icon
Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Segun Awofadeji in Gombe
A federal government’s delegation led by the Minister of Defence and former Governor of Jigawa State, Muhammad Badaru, has visited the Dantata family in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, to offer condolences and participate in funeral rites for the late elder statesman and business icon, Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
Equally, former President Goodluck Jonathan and northern governors expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the renowned business magnate and philanthropist.
Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya in a condolence message on behalf of his colleagues, described the death of the Kano-born industrialist as a monumental national loss and the end of a remarkable era.
He noted that the deceased was one of Africa’s wealthiest and most respected private sector figures.
Dantata, who died on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, aged 94, had wished to be buried in Madinah. His burial is scheduled for Tuesday (today).
A statement issued by the Special
Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim, revealed that the delegation departed Nigeria on Sunday and arrived in Madinah on Monday.
Those who accompanied Badaru included the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Ata.
Also, part of the delegation included prominent Islamic clerics like Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, and Khalifa Abdullahi Muhammad, the Imam of Dantata Mosque in Abuja.
The delegation was received by Alhaji Mustapha Junaid and other family members, including the deceased’s wives, children, and grandchildren, who expressed appreciation for the government’s condolence visit.
President Bola Tinubu’s condolence message delivered by Abubakar read: “The demise of Baba Aminu deeply touches President Tinubu. He prays that Allah grants him Aljannah Firdaus and gives the entire family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
The Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi
Arabia, Ibrahim Moddibbo; Consular General, Ambassador Muazam Ibrahim Nayaya and Defence Attaché, Maj. Gen. Adamu Hassan, were also part of the delegation. Islamic clerics offered prayers for the late Dantata.
Northern governors also expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the renowned business magnate and philanthropist.
Governor of Gombe State in a condolence message on behalf of his colleagues, described the death of the Kano-born industrialist as a monumental national loss and the
end of a remarkable era.
He noted that the deceased was one of Africa’s wealthiest and most respected private sector figures.
The statement issued by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General (Press Affairs) Government House, Gombe, was made available to journalists in Gombe yesterday.
“It is with profound sorrow and a deep sense of national loss that I, on behalf of the Government and people of Gombe State as well as the Northern States Governors’ Forum, mourn the passing of elder statesman
and one of Africa’s most accomplished businessmen and philanthropists, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata.
“His demise marks the end of a remarkable era, an era defined by visionary enterprise, uncommon generosity, rare humility, and integrity,” part of the statement read.
It noted that the deceased was a towering figure in the economic history of Nigeria who belonged to a class of visionary leaders committed to enterprise, development, and uplifting humanity.
“Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s contributions to the socio-economic transformation of Northern Nigeria and the country at large are both monumental and enduring. We have indeed lost a pillar of support, a source of wisdom, and a true elder statesman,” Yahaya added.
The NSGF Chairman extended his heartfelt condolences to the Dantata family, the government and people of Kano State, and the entire nation, praying to God to forgive the shortcomings of the deceased and reward his lifetime of service with Aljannatul Firdaus.
Meanwhile, former President Jonathan has expressed sadness over the passing of the Kano billionaire businessman.
In a condolence message sent to the
family, the former President described the late elder statesman as a respected industrialist, distinguished patriarch, and outstanding philanthropist.
“I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of elder statesman and accomplished businessman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata. His death is a great loss to the nation, especially given his considerable contributions to entrepreneurship, economic development, and community service.
“Alhaji Dantata was a great industrialist, distinguished patriarch and philanthropist whose vision and commitment helped shape Nigeria’s private sector landscape. His life was a testament to the power of enterprise defined by humility and an unwavering dedication to the service of humanity.
“As a patriarch of the Dantata family and a custodian of values that promote peace, entrepreneurship, and education, he leaves behind a rich legacy that will not only be remembered for generations but will continue to inspire many across our country.
“My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the good people of Kano State. May God grant his soul eternal rest and comfort all those who mourn his passing,” Jonathan said.
Troops Apprehend Suspected Terrorists’ Logistics Supplier, Intercept Major Supplies
Shinkafi volunteer forces kill bandit kingpin, Danbokolo, 173 fighters in Zamfara
George Okoh in Makurdi and Linus Aleke in Abuja
The military revealed that troops of the Joint Task Force, North-east, Operation Hadin Kai, deployed to Sector 3 in Monguno, Borno State, intercepted a vehicle conveying supplies suspected to be for terrorist logistics.
The military also disclosed that one suspected terrorist logistics supplier was arrested, and several items were recovered from him.
The arrests came as Shinkafi Volunteer Forces, reportedly, killed notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Yellow Danbokolo, and 173 other fighters, who had terrorised Zamfara and adjoining states in the North-west zone, during a bloody gun battle.
However, at least four mobile policemen were, reportedly, killed on Sunday afternoon by armed herders at Udei community, in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. Director of Defence Media
Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, in a statement, said items recovered from the terrorist collaborator included 65 litres of petrol, four bags of rice, five bags of groundnuts, four bags of NPK fertiliser, some yam tubers, seven motorcycle headlights, 10 solar lights, 2,000 empty cement bags, four solar panels, and one mobile phone.
Kangye also said in Kaduna State, “troops of 2 Battalion on escort duty in Birnin Gwari recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition after engaging fleeing armed men on a motorcycle.
“Also, troops of 1 Brigade of Operation Fansan Yamma in Zamfara State neutralised a terrorist kingpin identified as Mai Dada during a counterattack in Maru LGA.
“Meanwhile, in Edo State, a criminal suspect in Etsako Central LGA was arrested with a pump-action gun and cutlasses.”
Kangye stated that troops of JTF Operation Safe Haven conducted an
offensive operation in Tangur, Kwakas, Horop, Tulus, Jinak, and Hok village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
He said during the operation, troops exploited the mountainous areas with the aid of UAVs/drones and recovered one dane gun abandoned by criminals upon sighting the troops.
Shinkafi Volunteer Forces Kill Notorious Bandit Kingpin, Danbokolo, 173 Fighters
Shinkafi Volunteer Forces killed a notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Yellow Danbokolo, and 173 other fighters.
Security sources confirmed the death of the vicious bandit kingpin, stating that his demise at the hands of local security forces led to widespread jubilation in Zamfara and many parts of the Northwest.
Locals familiar with his penchant for bloodletting described him as the
most dreaded bandit in the zone, more dangerous than his cousin, Bello Turji, who reportedly acted as his spokesperson.
However, there was scant information on the level of involvement of the Department of State Services (DSS) in planning and executing the operation that eliminated nearly 200 bandits, including the notorious kingpin.
Another security source said Danbokolo, who sustained serious gun injuries during the attack, died over the weekend and was buried on Saturday.
The source restated that Danbokolo’s death and that of several loyal fighters were being celebrated, particularly by residents of Kurya District in Shinkafi Local Government Area, whom he had terrorised for months.
A villager stated, “We are in a celebration mood. It’s hard to believe that Danbokolo, a man whose name used to strike fear into our hearts, is
NNPC Releases Data on May Operations,
AKK pipeline hits 81% completion after River Niger crossing
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) last night released the information on its May 2025 operations, announcing approximately N6 trillion revenue and a N1.054 trillion Profit After Tax (PAT) during the period.
The Bayo Ojulari-led national oil company also stated that during the month under consideration, the critical Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline recorded a milestone, progressing from 70 per cent to 81 per cent completion after the recent River Niger crossing. It would be the second Monthly Report Summary under the new leadership of the company, which was appointed by President Bola Tinubu on April 2, 2025, underscoring a renewed bid to open up the
organisation to public scrutiny.
In the first release of the April operational data, the NNPC had announced a total revenue of N5.89 trillion, PAT of N748 billion and statutory payments to the federal government for Q1, 2025 totalling N4.225 trillion.
Also in the release yesterday, the NNPC stated that petrol availability in its retail stations nationwide had increased from 54 per cent in April to 62 per cent in May, while upstream pipeline availability was 98 per cent, from 97 per cent previously.
In the same vein, in May, the company’s statutory payments to the federal government for the first four months of 2025 rose to N5.58 trillion.
In terms of production of hydrocarbons, crude oil and condensate output for the month of May stood
at 1.62 million barrels per day while natural gas production was 7,352 mmscf/day, even as the OB3 pipeline has now been 96 per cent completed.
According to the NNPC, there is ongoing collaboration with venture partners to accelerate sustainable production enhancement. Nigeria has a production benchmark of 2.06 million bpd in its 2025 budget.
The NNPC added that the company progressed technical interventions on the AKK to resolve challenges of River Niger crossing (RNC) and conducting detailed evaluations on OB3 RNC to determine the best project execution path forward.
Besides, the national oil company said it completed the Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) in May, of the Trans Escravos Pipeline (TEP), OML 40 -Opuama flow station, OML 17
- Obigbo and Agbada flow stations. However, uncertainty continued to surround efforts to revamp the nation’s refineries, with the NNPC stating that the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries were still under review.
In terms of the NNPC Foundation’s public impact initiatives, it listed the official handover ceremony for the 531 NYSC Corps members’ starter packs , which took place as planned on May 22, 2025.
Besides, it stated that a total of 6,028 cataract surgeries had been completed across the southern and northern regions, while plans to provide Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala-Kano (NOHDK) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Awka (NAUTH) was underway.
Confusion mounts over killing of policemen
no more. I can authoritatively say that Danbokolo was the mastermind behind the violence. He was the overall commander, while Turji merely communicated his orders. Danbokolo was the executioner of all the evil deeds.
“Not only was Danbokolo killed, but at least 173 bandits loyal to him have been killed and buried within the week, and several others have fled the community. We see them running away after every raid on
PETER
their hideouts.”
Another resident stated: “Known loyalists of Turji are now in a state of fear and confusion, and some are seeking to surrender as they see the end in sight. This is the first time we believe these bandits will soon be gone for good.
“Bello Turji has no hiding place, and knowing his days are numbered, he and some of his foot soldiers have begun desperately begging for amnesty.”
OBI HINTS AT POSSIBLE RUN IN 2027 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION office by 28th May, 2031,” he said.
Obi acknowledged being involved in coalition talks because of his desire to rescue Nigeria from the drift by aligning with all patriotic Nigerians.
He said, “If the coalition is not about stopping the killings in Benue, Zamfara, how to revive our economy, how to make our industries productive, how to put food on the tables of Nigerians… Count me out. Nigeria is currently at war. We need to do something about it.”
Obi urged Nigerians to see the need to rescue this country with him, saying, “I will bring stability in Nigeria within two years in office. Leaders of Nigeria should sit down in Nigeria and fix Nigeria
On the situation in the Labour Party, Obi said they were working round the clock to get INEC to endorse the Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party based on the Supreme Court ruling.
Speaking on the rotation of the Presidency between the North and the South, Obi said, “I believe in the rotation of government between North and South. I implemented it in Anambra as a governor.”
Answering questions on President Tinubu’s visit to St Lucia Obi noted that, “In two years, Tinubu has not spent one night in any state in Nigeria apart from Lagos, yet he is going to spend 8 nights in St Lucia, a place smaller than Ajegunle.
“St Lucia is about the size of the 10th largest city of Nigeria, Ilorin.
President Tinubu has never slept a night in any state of Nigeria outside
Lagos since the assumption of office in 2023. PBAT to stay in St Lucia for 10 days.”
On his preparation for the election, the former Presidential Candidate remarked: “We will do things differently in 2027. We will follow a non-violent approach and insist that the right thing will be done before the result announcement in Abuja. Our votes in 2027 will count, and we will ensure they count.
“Three things to follow up with in the first 100 days... prioritise security, education and poverty eradication; cut costs and shun corruption. My family will not be involved in corruption. Funds to be channelled into key critical sectors.
“My Presidency will ensure there is a strong opposition in party politics. There will be no defection of elected officials to other parties when I am in charge.
“Imagine in this country, People are dying in Benue, Borno, (and other parts of the country), and our leaders are commissioning Bus Stops and holidaying.
“To bring order in governance, I will prioritise security, education and pulling people out of poverty. To do this is by cutting the cost of governance and fighting corruption from day one.
“My past speaks loudly for me. Wherever there was an issue in Anambra State, I was there physically. Anybody who wants to serve should be ready to put even their life on the line for the lives of Nigerians. Nobody abroad takes you seriously if you don’t have a stable government.”
The late Dantata
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
2025 AFRICAN HAIR SUMMIT...
AU Commission: NDLEA Central to Africa’s Action Plan on Drug Control, Crime Prevention
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
African Union Commission said the formulation of new action plan on drug control and crime prevention in Africa would not be complete without inputs from Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) because of its central role in law enforcement on the continent. AU Commission stated this on Monday during an
assessment visit to NDLEA’s national headquarters in Abuja by a threemember delegation.
The delegation included the team lead, Dr. Olubusayo Akinola, Head of Social Welfare, Drug Control and Crime Prevention; Dr. Abiola Olaleye, Senior Drug Epidemiology and Research Officer; and Professor Johan Strijdom, Senior Drug Control Consultant.
The visit was to evaluate the
African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control and Crime Prevention (2019-2025).
Akinola said, “We are here to understand the status of implementation of this continental action plan on drug control and crime prevention.
“We are in the process of reevaluating and starting another continental action plan that will take us from 2026 to 2030. So, we have identified a few countries to
understand how this action plan was actually implemented in the member states. And if there are gaps and the new and current emerging trends that we can include.
“So, we understand very well the work of NDLEA and we believe that the formulation of the new action plan will not be finalised and concluded until we have inputs from NDLEA Nigeria, because you are basically on the forefront when it
Diri Congratulates Re-elected NGE President,
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has congratulated President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Eze Anaba, on his re-election.
Governor Diri also felicitated with other elected members of the executive committee, who emerged at the weekend during the Guild’s national elective convention in Enugu.
The Bayelsa governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Monday, said Mr. Anaba’s re-election was an affirmation of the confidence reposed in him by his colleagues and media stakeholders.
Senator Diri also commended the
process that produced the new Exco, which he noted was rancour-free, transparent and credible.
He urged media practitioners to continue to set the pace as the watchdog of government and the voice of the society.
He stated that as custodians of truth and objectivity, the media must not relent in its constitutional role as the fourth estate of the realm.
“I extend hearty congratulations to Mr. Eze Anaba on his re-election for another term as President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
“I also congratulate other elected members of the Guild’s executive committee.
“It is noteworthy that the elec-
toral committee midwifed a process that was transparent, leading to a free and credible election.
“I commend the Guild for achieving another hitch-free transition and urge media practitioners to continue to set the right pace for other institutions to emulate.”
According to the Bayelsa helmsman, the society and indeed Nigeria will make good progress if media practitioners and other stakeholders in the profession robustly play their roles.
“The media remains a formidable partner in national development and it must play its role conscientiously.
“Fake news and deliberate false-
WISCAR Targets 35% Female Representation in Nigeria’s Legal Sector by 2027
Mary
Nnah
In a bid to bridge the gender gap in Nigeria’s legal profession, Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) has set a target to increase female representation in leadership to 35% by 2027.
Founder and Chairperson of Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), Amina Oyagbola, emphasised the urgent need for intentional interventions to close the gender gap in the legal profession.
Speaking at the launch of WISCAR’s Women in Law Mentoring Programme (WILMP), on Wednesday in Lagos, Oyagbola said: “Our goals are clear: increase female representation in leadership to 35% by 2027, support career re-entry pathways, and strengthen inclusive structures that empower women to rise, lead, and thrive.”
To achieve this goal, WISCAR has launched the WILMP, a six-month programme designed to equip emerging female leaders in the legal and governance sectors with
the skills, mentorship, and networks needed to rise to leadership roles.
The programme will support 150 mentees, providing them with targeted capacity building, leadership development, and access to strategic networks.
The programme’s launch was marked by an opening ceremony, which featured the unveiling of the 2025 WISCAR WILMP Needs Assessment Report.
The report reveals stark statistics about the underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s legal and governance institutions. Women comprise only 4% of National Assembly members, 23% of Supreme Court justices, and 4% of Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
Over half of those surveyed reported having limited or no access to mentorship and professional networks, essential resources for career advancement and leadership development.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, commended WISCAR’s leadership
and commitment to equity in the legal profession. “The justice system can only achieve its full potential when women are equally represented, empowered, and heard. As the second female Chief Justice of Nigeria, I know firsthand the value of mentorship and support systems.
“To every mentee in this programme: you are our future judges, lawmakers, advocates, and nation-builders. Let us continue to uphold a legal ecosystem grounded in integrity, excellence, and equity,” she said.
The WILMP directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), by promoting inclusive leadership and strengthening women’s representation across Nigeria’s legal and governance frameworks.
The programme is part of WISCAR’s broader strategy to increase women’s representation in key legal and policymaking roles to at least 35% by 2027.
Anaba
hood have become a challenge for the media and our society. The NGE should make concerted effort to tackle the scourge as it endangers good governance, peace, unity and development.
“I urge the new executive of the Guild to focus on creativity and innovation just as I wish them a successful tenure.”
comes to law enforcement on the entire continent.”
The AU Commission delegation commended NDLEA for its sustained provision of critical and policy-relevant data, which had significantly informed and shaped the work of the commission over the years.
The delegation said the visit aimed to obtain a comprehensive update on the current status of implementation of national drug control strategies, identify operational and institutional gaps, and explore potential areas for technical assistance, particularly in relation to capacity development, forensic science capabilities, canine detection units, and other strategic enablers of drug control efforts.
Welcoming the delegation, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), emphasised the importance of the mission. Marwa said he considered it imperative to receive the
team, personally, due to the strategic relevance of their engagement. He said, “We are particularly pleased that the African Union is giving due weight to the implementation of the continental action plan, not merely as a theoretical exercise, but by undertaking direct field consultations with national counterparts.
“This grounded, evidenceinformed approach will undoubtedly result in a more pragmatic and responsive framework for implementation.”
Marwa highlighted the urgency of addressing the continent’s growing drug challenge, adding that while global projections estimate a 10-11 per cent rise in drug use prevalence, Africa is expected to experience a surge of up to 40 per cent.
“This disparity signals a looming crisis that demands coordinated and accelerated action,” he said, adding, “We deeply appreciate the AU’s leadership in this space and commend your proactive efforts.”
Navy Hands Over Militant/Sea Pirate Caught in Possession of Machine Gun to DSS, Arrests Two Cultists
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH, operating under the Central Naval Command (CNC) based in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Monday handed over one suspected militant/sea pirate caught in possession of an illegal General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and ammunition to the Department of State Services (DSS).
Commander of the Navy outfit, Commodore Omobamidele Akinbami, disclosed during a press briefing, that on June 27, 2025, NNS SOROH conducted a targeted raid on a suspected militant camp located within Peremabiri Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government of Bayelsa.
He said that the operation was the result of credible intelligence and sustained surveillance activities on the said location and its occupants, believed to be involved in illegal activities inimical to national security.
According to him: “The operation, executed with precision and professionalism, led to the arrest of one militant, identified as Mr. Daniel Damigo, the raid resulted in the recovery of one HK GPMG and a significant quantity of ammunition.
“The swift and decisive action of the Nigerian Navy personnel ensured minimal disruption to
the surrounding community and avoided any collateral damage.
“The success of this operation was made possible through effective collaboration between the Nigerian Navy and Labrador Security Services, whose support and field coordination were instrumental in the safe and successful mission.
“The suspect is currently undergoing preliminary interrogation and will be handed over to the relevant prosecuting agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
“Additionally, the recovered weapon and ammunition will be subjected to forensic analysis to establish linkages with past criminal incidents.
“This operation aligns with the CNS mission statement of maintaining and equipping a professionally competent and ethical naval force.
“While leveraging on all elements of national power for the effective defence of Nigeria’s maritime area of interest against all forms of threat in fulfilment of national security imperative.”
The Commander warned those engaged in militancy, pipeline vandalism, and other criminal activities that the Nigerian Navy remains vigilant and resolute in its constitutional mandate.
He solicited continued cooperation of all law-abiding citizens, urging the public to remain vigilant
and report suspicious activities to appropriate security agencies.
He said security and safety of our communities and critical national assets are a collective responsibility, and together, we can build a safer, more secure and prosperous Nigeria.
In another development, the Commander said last week two suspected cultists were arrested with a locally made pistol and some rounds in Yenagoa. They were later handed over to the police anti-cultism task group for further investigation and possible prosecution.
According to him: “Furthermore, there was exchange of gunfire between men of NNS SOROH deployed in Akassa yesterday, Sunday Jun 29, 2025, with suspected sea-robbers who later abandoned their boat and fled into the creeks due to superior firepower.
“The boat is presently with its own forces and would be handled appropriately. Additionally, let me still use this medium to sound a note of warning to all perpetrators of this illegal act.
“That Bayelsa State will not be a safe haven for them and they should desist from these unscrupulous activities because the Nigerian Navy, OPDS and other security agencies will not rest on their oars to bring perpetrators to book.
L-R: Convener, African Hair Summit, Adana Ifeoma Egwuatu; Founder, Bunmi Obakoya Foundation, Dr. Bunmi Obakoya; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Idris Aregbe; and Dean, Faculty of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Professor Olunifesi Adekunle Suraj, at the 2025 African Hair Summit held at UNILAG, Akoka... recently
Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa
2025 GAS TURBINE ASSET MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE...
L–R: Managing Partner, Greenfields Consultancy & Allied Services
Ahead Public Hearing, 85 Senators Back Creation
of Anioma State
As South-east traditional rulers endorse historic equity move
Louis Achi
As the support base and campaign for the creation of Anioma State continues to gain momentum nationwide, 85 senators of the 10th National Assembly have already endorsed the initiative by appending their signatures in support of the state’s creation.
The crucial move comes ahead of zonal public hearings scheduled for July 4 and 5, where the Senate Committee on the Review of 1999 Constitution will consider proposals for state creation as part of a fresh bid to amend Nigeria’s constitution.
The hearings will take place simultaneously in Lagos (South-west), Enugu (South-east), Ikot Ekpene (South-south), Jos (North-central), Maiduguri (North-east), and Kano (North-west).
There were strong indications that more senators were poised to join in the coming weeks to shore up the new mantra of equity driving the push for the state’s creation.
Additionally, traditional rulers from the South-east declared their backing, further solidifying the growing national consensus for the creation of Anioma State.
The signatures of the senators were being obtained sequel to a letter written and personally addressed to each of the senators of the 10th National Assembly by Senator Ned Nwoko,
representing Delta North Senatorial District.
Nwoko is championing the course for the creation of the new state in the interest of national development, justice, and federal balance.
In the letter dated May 27, 2025, and addressed to the senate president and all members of the senate, Nwoko sought their endorsement and support for the creation of Anioma State – a constitutional proposal captured under the Senate Bill 481, currently undergoing legislative consideration
as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
Nwoko challenged his colleagues to rise to the occasion with courage, vision, and a commitment to justice.
“Let us be remembered as the Senate that brought balance to Nigeria’s state structure and healed a longstanding national wound,” he appealed.
In the letter titled, “Anioma as Equity State,” Nwoko emphasised that the creation of Anioma State was not merely about redrawing boundaries or
political convenience – it is a matter of equity, fair representation, and justice.
He pointed out that the South-east currently had five states, while other geopolitical zones have six or seven states.
Nwoko stated, “Anioma State, to be carved out of Delta State, is a just and logical solution to this imbalance.”
He described Anioma as a region with deep cultural and historical ties to the South-east.
“Its creation will not only bring balance to Nigeria’s geopolitical structure
but also promote national unity by addressing a longstanding grievance of the Igbo nation,” he added.
Ndigbo Progressive Traditional Rulers Forum also threw its weight behind the campaign.
In a letter dated May 15, 2025, signed by HRM Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu (Oroko Abia), Diawa I of Umudiawu Ancient Kingdom, Chairman of the forum, and HRM Igwe Sunny Orah, Secretary, the traditional rulers praised Nwoko for his leadership and pledged their unwavering support.
They stated, “Your vision, passion, and courage in championing this noble cause resonate deeply with our mission as traditional rulers to uphold unity and fairness among all Igbo people.
“We are proud to identify with you in this historic endeavour and formally declare our support for the creation of Anioma State. Our forum is committed to adding our royal voice and influence to this just cause and collaborating with you in every constructive way possible.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan Docked for Alleged Cybercrime against Akpabio, Bello, Released on Self Recognition
Alex Enumah in Abuja
The senator for Kogi Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was on Monday arraigned before a Federal High Court, Abuja. Akpoti-Uduaghan was, however, admitted to bail on self-recognisance by Justice Mohammed Umar, who recognised her status as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and a lawyer. Besides, the court agreed with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Chief
Roland Otaru, SAN, that the defendant was not a flight risk.
The Kogi senator had pleaded not guilty to all six-count charge bordering on making statements via broadcast that were allegedly capable of harming the person of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello.
The federal government, represented by Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, had told the court that the prosecution was not opposed
Nigeria Risks Acute Protein Deficits, Heightened Food Insecurity, Warns Jega
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
Special Adviser to the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu on Livestock Reforms and Coordinator, Presidential Initiatives on Livestock Reforms, Prof. Attahiru Muhammed Jega yesterday said Nigeria risks acute protein deficits, heightened food insecurity and intensified pressure on already fragile rural livelihoods unless there is deliberate, anticipatory planning and long-term investments in livestock systems.
Jega stated this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Monday while delivering the Distinguished Personality Lecture organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ilorin as part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the university and in honour of the Senator Saliu Mustapha,
chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture Production Services and Rural Development.
The lecture is themed: “The Political Economy of Livestock Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects. According to him, “Demographic shifts and evolving dietary preferences are set to place unprecedented pressure on Nigeria’s livestock systems in the coming decades”.
He said: “Projections indicate that by 2050, Nigeria’s population will reach nearly 400 million, positioning it as the third most populous nation globally.
“This demographic surge will necessitate a 253% increase in poultry meat, a 117% rise in beef and a staggering 577% expansion in milk production to satisfy domestic consumption requirements.
“These figures are not hypotheti-
cal abstractions; they are alarm bells.
“Without deliberate, anticipatory planning and long-term investments in livestock systems, Nigeria risks facing acute protein deficits, heightened food insecurity and intensified pressure on already fragile rural livelihoods”.
Jega added: “Meeting this projected demand cannot be accomplished through the inertia of business-as-usual practices.
“Instead, it calls for a bold reimagining of the sector’s architecture - anchored in sustainable intensification, climate-smart production and inclusive value chain development.
“The alternative is an avoidable crisis in which growing populations, shrinking arable land and deteriorating ecosystems combine to worsen both rural poverty and national food dependence”.
to the bail application and did not also file a counter affidavit. Abubakar, however, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail in a term that would ensure that the she attended her trial.
The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice had on May 22 slammed a six-count charge bordering on cyber-bullying and defamation against Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had been suspended from the senate for allegedly violating the senate rules.
The filing of the charge was sequel to a complaint by Akpabio.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CR/195/25, the Kogi senator was alleged to have, while on a live television programme, accused the senate president and the ex-Kogi State governor of plotting her assassination.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was in count one alleged to have on or about April 1, 2025, while addressing a crowd of people at Ihima Community, Kogi State, “intentionally caused the following communication to be transmitted via a computer system and network, to wit: ‘... and Akpabio told Yahaya Bello, I am saying, standing by what I have said. He told him that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, it should be done here, so it will seem as if it is the people that killed me here...’”
According to the charge, the defendant “knew this contained a threat that could harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio as the President of the Senate, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
In count two, the defendant was alleged to have on or about April
1, 2025 while addressing a crowd of people at Ihima Community, Kogi State, within the jurisdiction of the court “intentionally caused the following communication to be transmitted via a computer system and network, to wit: ‘...and Akpapio told Yahaya bello, I am saying, standing by what I have said. He told him that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, it should be done here, so it will seem as if it is the people that killed me here...”
The federal government claimed the defendant knew that contained a threat that could harm the reputation of Bello, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (2) (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under same section of the Act.
Sanwo-Olu, SYNLAB Boss Urge King’s College Alumni to Drive Change, Support Nation Building
Funmi
Ogundare
Chief Executive Officer of SYNLAB Nigeria, Mr. Kenneth Okolie, yesterday called on alumni of King’s College, Lagos, to channel their influence, networks, and shared values toward initiatives that would create lasting social impact beyond personal success and professional achievements. Okolie made this known at King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) (class of 2025) 20 years reunion anniversary celebration themed,’ 20 Years of Brotherhood
and Excellence’, held at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, in Lagos. He challenged the Old Boys to transform their reunion into a launchpad for bold and collaborative action.
“ The real question isn’t what have we accomplished, but what we will we stand for in this next chapter?” he said. “You already have the talent and track record. What you need now is shared intention.”
In his keynote, titled, ‘Legacy, Leadership and the Long Road Home”, he emphasised the legacy
of King’s College, praising its role in producing national icons across law, governance, business, and civil service.
“King’s College does not just produce graduates; it produces nation builders,” he stated. He urged the class to consider tangible initiatives such as an innovation to support young entrepreneurs, a healthcare outreach program for early cancer screenings in underserved areas and a mentorship platform linking undergraduates with seasoned professionals.
Ltd, Mr. Chris Osarumwense; CEO, Association of Power Generation Companies, Dr. Joy Ogaji; Chairman, PANA Holdings, Dr. Daere Akobo; CEO, Thomassen Energy, Mr. Peter Stuttaford; Executive Director, Generation, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd, Engr. Abdullahi Kassim; and CEO, First Independent Power Plc, Mr. Olurotimi Famoroti, during the 2025 Gas Turbine Asset Management Conference hosted by Thomassen Energy and PE Energy in Abuja…recently
www.thisdaylive.com
FOUR YEARS OF PIA IMPLEMENTATION
The future looks bright, if the momentum is sustained, argues AKPANDEM JAMES
THE N200TRN UNREMITTED FUNDS
The lawmakers should be blamed for abandoning their responsibilities, contends BAMIDELE ATOYEBI
EDITORIAL
THE MOVE FOR STATE POLICE
opinion@thisdaylive.com
POWER THAT WORE HUMILITY
Lateef
Fagbemi, Attorney General of the Federation,
symbolises
humility in leadership, reckons PAT ONUKWULI
It was just another day at the local wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The air was humid with anticipation as travellers queued, and the low murmur of boarding calls buzzed system.
a man who looked strangely familiar, unassuming. There were no security details, carrying his luggage and standing patiently like everyone else.
I had encountered in news headlines. He looked like someone I should know, but the context and simplicity made me secondguess myself. After hesitating for a moment, I walked up to him and asked politely, “You look familiar, sir. May I know you?”
With a warm and quiet smile, he quietly replied, “I am Lateef Fagbemi.”
I was astounded. Here stood Chief Lateef General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, in line like an ordinary citizen, exuding the kind of humility rarely found in people of such stature. Before I could fully process the moment, the called.
He shook my hand gently and proceeded on his way.
It was a brief encounter, barely two minutes, but it left a lasting impression. As they say, perception is nearly reality. In worn like a beaded crown of entitlement,
kind of leadership Nigeria desperately needs.
At the Nigerian Law School, we were merely a political appointee. He is, in the philosophical sense, the Law itself. Not just the embodiment of the state’s prosecutorial power, the only individual constitutionally empowered to bring a criminal case to an end by a mere stroke of the pen, invoking
that exposed inhumane conditions and is spearheading a 46-member law review of Nigeria’s outdated statutes. His reforms in arbitration, cybercrime prosecution, and legal aid are quietly reshaping the legal landscape.
acknowledged, is his instrumental role in facilitating the passage and presidential assent of the new tax legislation aimed architecture.
His deft legal guidance helped reconcile contending positions across federal ministries and revenue agencies, thereby laying the groundwork for a more transparent and development-focused tax regime. In a nation struggling with widening not just technical; it is transformative. It is easy to list achievements, but what struck me that day was not just the accomplishments, impressive as they are. It was his disposition, what jurisprudential thinkers like Lon L. Fuller would call the “inner morality of law,” not in statutes but in the temperament of those who administer it. There is something profoundly ennobling
courts.
His reasoning is rooted in a strict constitutionalist interpretation, a view that honours the sanctity of judicial processes.
But I respectfully urge him to consider something deeper: strategic and conciliatory justice.
The principle of nolle prosequi exists not just as a technical tool but as a jurisprudential instrument of statecraft. Sometimes, law must bend, not break, in the service of national healing.
From Mandela’s post-apartheid South Africa to Yar’Adua’s amnesty to Niger Delta and Boko Haram militants, nations have shown that there are moments when the full weight of prosecution.
Kanu’s prolonged detention has become a symbol, rightly or wrongly, of ethnic alienation and political imbalance. Ending his case, especially under a legal umbrella that allows it, could douse tension, rebuild trust, and unlock meaningful dialogue.
It would not be an admission of weakness but a demonstration of far-sighted leadership.
Chief Fagbemi reminds me of the kind of public servants Nigeria needs in this season, those who bring gravitas without grandeur, simplicity without smallness.
Like a wise village elder who speaks
he boasts. His posture at the airport, alone and humble, was not merely happenstance; it was a metaphor for a kind of governance that values proximity to the people over pomp.
In Yoruba cosmology, power that does not humble itself eventually cracks under its weight. But here was a man who stooped, not because he had to, but because it was his nature, a legal titan who chose the path of modesty over muscle.
Nigeria needs more like him. And if he not just to prosecute, but to reconcile and renew, history will remember him not just as the man who enforced the law, but as the one who also became its moral compass. intoxicates and isolates, I urge Chief Fagbemi to continue wearing his humility like a second skin.
That level of discretionary power requires not only legal skill but also jurisprudential maturity, ethical restraint, and, above all, wisdom.
Chief Fagbemi has shown those qualities in his public conduct. His legacy since volumes. He led the historic Supreme Court suit that restored autonomy to local governments, an act many legal scholars have hailed as a democratic milestone.
He launched a nationwide prison review
Quite unlike some of his predecessors, and vengeance, Fagbemi has carried himself with an air of deliberation and restraint, preferring process to posturing.
Yet, it is in the sensitive case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu that his deep understanding of justice will be most tested. Chief Fagbemi has drawn a clear line between Kanu’s case and that of Omoyele Sowore, stating that while Sowore could be released without much constitutional strain, Kanu’s case
whose understated lifestyle and refusal to be swept away by the tides of political grandstanding have earned enduring respect across Nigeria’s fractious landscape.
•Dr. Onukwuli, a legal scholar and public
The future looks bright, if the momentum is sustained, argues AKPANDEM JAMES
FOUR YEARS OF PIA IMPLEMENTATION
On August 16, 2021, the then President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, signed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law. He described the resulting Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 as Nigeria's second largest achievement in the energy sector. He believed that the Act had the potential to address longstanding challenges and drive
Four years down the line, there remains no doubt the former helmsman was right. It is indisputable that the PIA has driven
functioning of regulatory bodies.
Now approaching four years since its enactment, the Act has transformed the regulatory framework, catalysing a
series of pivotal reforms and operational achievements.
These developments have enhanced
propelling the sector toward sustainable growth and long-term stability. During the review period, the Act restructured the regulatory framework of the petroleum sector by dividing oversight responsibilities between two distinct agencies: the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Each with their respective segments of the industry.
The Act has also reformed acreage policies on voluntary conversion and relinquishment. Additionally, it established critical funding mechanisms, including the Frontier Exploration Fund and the Host Community Trust Fund, aimed at promoting exploration, infrastructure development, environmental remediation and the socio-economic advancement of host communities. The transformation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into a limited liability company, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, marks a pivotal shift, while streamlined licensing processes
The PIA also introduced mechanisms for the development of petroleum host communities, fostered a business environment conducive to investment and deepened local content participation. By repealing outdated laws and consolidating
regulatory oversight, the Act has provided and ensuring sustainable economic foundational reforms, recent executive orders by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, issued between 2024 and 2025, have further strengthened the sector.
Tinubu signed four executive orders that introduced targeted tax incentives for gas and oil projects, streamlined contracting processes to reduce timelines and costs, aligned local content requirements with performance-based incentives to reward cost savings in upstream operations. Together, these measures aim to position Nigeria as a preferred investment destination within Africa's petroleum sector
The ongoing reforms, increased production and substantial investments economic goals of growth, stability and
in several key areas, including regulatory restructuring, which has improved the framework for the industry.
The commercialisation of NNPC has paved the way for enhanced operational of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) demonstrates a commitment to fostering positive relationships with local communities. There has also been a notable impact on investments and the exploration of deepwater projects, which bodes well for future growth. Fiscal and contractual reforms have streamlined processes and created a more inviting environment for stakeholders. And, the transformation of approach aimed at maximising resources and meeting demand.
Overall, these achievements position the industry for a sustainable and prosperous future. The restructuring of the regulatory bodies focused on enhancing governance sector, with the NUPRC for upstream activities and the NMDPRA for midstream and downstream operations. The commercialisation of NNPC transformed the former behemoth into a limited liability company, marking a fundamental shift towards an independent operation that
The introduction of development trusts for host communities was to ensure that activities are directed towards the local populations, thereby fostering goodwill and reducing community tensions. The Act mandates the establishment of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDT) funded by 3% of the operating expenditure of oil companies, aimed at ensuring sustainable development for communities impacted by petroleum operations. Although there still exist murmurs in certain quarters, the quietness in oil-bearing communities is loud enough to indicate that
•James, a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, writes from Abuja
The lawmakers should be blamed for abandoning their responsibilities, contends BAMIDELE ATOYEBI
THE N200TRN
UNREMITTED FUNDS
No serious nation jokes with its policymakers and revenue sources.
revenue from the country's cash cow, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation broke the surface, there were hues and cries, and correctly so.
However, some issues make the
The issue wasn't one of last month or just last year but has been there in both Auditor General's report and that of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) reports, yet no whimper came from the Senate or any other body. That was typical.
Then, in no distant past, a policy that would have opened the oil and gas sector to huge investments that would have ushered in life changing opportunities took years to be handled.
Petroleum Industry Act stayed on the shelf gathering dust while several fake versions were pushed out allegedly by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) who used same lawmakers to
In the end, it was passed in phases of what experts have described as watered down, not as punchy and rewarding as the original aim of the legislation intended. By the time the lawmakers woke up from their most investments in the sector had been snapped up by other countries, and we lost.
What has happened is that there is very strong suspicion that the lawmakers in reverse reasoning are appropriating the general interest of Nigeria's to be their personal interests, otherwise, what could have pushed them into such anomy?
oversights the NNPC and had been inviting them to their chambers. Why didn't they ever raise the issue with the people who were in charge their voice with a team that is just three months old? Or is this a case of the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob? Where is it coming from? It is a known fact that when the went professional by cleaning the organisation through opaque recruitment processes as expected professionally suited for running the organisation. So could this be
Some are thinking aloud that been removed from their mouths
The PIA experience is not new. A similar experience had played out in the health sector reforms by same their agenda focuses on their pockets and what they get for their families to continue living large while Nigeria bleeds.
The incontrovertible fact is that nationalism and patriotism have been replaced by personal aggrandisement, where personal interests have replaced collective interest.
of revenues, it beggars belief that while it happened year- on -year, the lawmakers never raised an eyebrow or raised the issue. So coming after those on the saddle have left to raise it is absolutely suspicious.
Like a journalist once asked a politician in Calabar, "who is sponsoring this"? That innocuous question is known to have stopped the tour. So the pertinent question here is who is sponsoring our lawmakers to do the unthinkable?
A simple take on this is like asking a groom to account for the escapades of her bride while growing up with the full knowledge that they may have what each of them did.
by professionalising the place are behind the heckling and if one may ask, what answers were they expecting from a team that has hardly gone to work?
Mele Kyari, the former MD of NNPCL is still alive and should be summoned to answer for them. It is hoped that this is not a case of a nursing mother on sighting who shop for who will hold her baby didn't they raise the issues with the team that handled the transactions?
The failure of the lawmakers in oversighting NNPCL which led to the problem should be blamed, and lack of patriotism on their part too should be condemned for their failure to act in the overall interest of the country. This crop of lawmakers not worthy of their seats.
•Atoyebi, the Convenor of the BAT Ideological Group, engages in accountability and policy monitoring while also serving as a social worker, criminologist, maritime administrator, and philanthropist
LAWYER
TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2025
EBONYI STATE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE, DR BEN URUCHI ODOH
PULLOUT
‘State Police Is No Longer Academic; It’s Urgent’
QUOTABLE
‘My view has always been that, Government has no business fixing the price of petrol. Why? Petrol isn’t as essential as food…..But, Government doesn’t fix the price of food. Why? Government should have put the right policies in place, and allow demand and supply to determine the price of fuel, like food, clothes and shoes….What’s peculiar about petrol?’. - HH Oba Olu Falae, the Olu of Ilu-Abo, Akure North, Ondo State; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation
COLUMNISTS
PROF MIKE OZEKHOME, CON, SAN, FCIArb, PH.D. LLD Constitutional Democracy, means a system of government, in which political and governmental power, is defined, limited and shared by a grundnorm called the Constitution, which provides inbuilt checks and balances.
This column seeks to fiercely discuss constitutional, legal and political issues, with a view to strengthening, deepening and widening the plenitude and amplitude of democracy and good governance, without fear or favour.
The writer of this column, Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is a Constitutional Lawyer, Human Rights Activist, Pro-Democracy Campaigner, Notary Public and Motivational Speaker. He co-founded the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Nigeria’s pioneer human rights league, on October 15, 1987, the Universal defenders of Democracy (UDD), in 1992, and with Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others in 1998, the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON), to push out the military. In his early days, he lectured at the University of Ife. Prof Ozekhome is an author of many books. He is also a Special Counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague.
LAWYER
Whether Pre-Action Petition to Governor in Chieftaincy Disputes Applies to Deposition Page IV Nigeria Must Build a Security System that Gets There
The In(Justice) in the Gwandu Emirate Case
“We are final not because we are infallible; rather, we are infallible because we are final” - per Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa, JSC in Adegoke Motors Ltd & Anor v Adesanya & Anor (1989) LPELR-94(SC)
I had written about the Supreme Court Judgement in SC.266/2017 Governor of Kebbi State & 12 Ors v Alhaji Al Mustapha Jokolo & Anor delivered on June 4, 2025 (10/6/2025 “For Mustapha Jokolo, It’s Double Jeopardy”). However, then, I had admitted that I had not had the benefit of reading the judgement, only excerpts from the media; and I had then gone ahead to examine the role of a pre-action notice, and discuss if the non-service of same, even if it was required, should be fatal in this particular case. My answer then was No, and it still remains No. I have since read the judgements, and while I cannot examine all of it due to space constraints, I will consider the salient aspects, some of which led to the lead and dissenting judgements.
Lead Judgement: His Lordship, Agim, JSC The lead Judgement in the aforementioned Gwandu Emirate case, was delivered by Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC. As I had said before, it was a split decision, 3:2, and upon reading the first few lines of the lead judgement and that of the dissenting judgements of Uwani Abba Aji and Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, JJSC, I couldn’t but align myself with the Dissenters. As for the majority judgement, my mind immediately put it within the context of the words of Oputa, JSC in Adegoke Motors Ltd & Anor v Adesanya & Anor (Supra), with regard to finality not because of infallibility. I respectfully disagree with the majority decision.
On Page 7 of Agim, JSC’s judgement, his Lordship stated thus: “Although I hold the view that it is absurd to require a pre-action complain(t) to the Governor that carried out the disputed deposition or appointment of a chief for review, and that there is nothing in Section 4(3) or like provisions that prescribe such a requirement, I am bound by the plethora of decisions of this court on the point in keeping with the principle of stare decisis, until this court departs from the prevailing case law established by its said decisions”. In the first place, the facts of Alhaji Jokolo’s case differs from that of the authorities his Lordship relied upon, and he admitted same on Page 10 of his judgement. Why then must the same case law used for appointment tussles, be used for a case that is founded upon an opposite set of facts, that is, deposition of a Chief?
It is trite that the principle of ’Stare Decisis’ can be set aside 1) where a previous decision may have been erroneous; or 2) where the law has changed since the previous decision; or 3) where following the previous decision leads to injustice. I respectfully submit that, in the Gwandu Emirate case, not only could one say it wasn’t on all fours with those previous decisions that it purported to follow, following those decisions instead of affirming the decisions of the lower courts, led to a decision which many consider to be irreconcilable with the facts of the case, and therefore, result in the aforementioned third option - injustice.
His Lordship, Agim, JSC’s aforementioned statement, addressed my observation in my previous piece on this Gwandu Emirate case, that a pre-action notice wasn’t even required in this circumstance, not even because of my analysis, but because the law doesn’t require it. Was his Lordship’s view, that it is absurd to make a pre-action complaint to the same Governor that may have deposed you or improperly appointed a Chief, then not enough to set the stage to depart from the extant case law in this case, while his admission that nothing in Section 4(3) of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law 1996 (KSCL) makes a pre-action notice a condition precedent before filing a suit to fight the deposition of an Emir, solid ground to make a distinction between this case of deposition and the previous ones cited which had to do with appointment? I submit that his Lordship should have distinguished this case of deposition from that of appointment of a Chief, and decide the case accordingly.
His Lordship, Agim, JSC also held that initiating an action for deposition of one Emir, necessarily means that it is must also include one that is a complaint against the appointment of a replacement Emir, if not the complaint against the deposition, even if it succeeds, would remain a sterile academic exercise, as that position of the replacement Emir would still remain valid if unchallenged (see Page 11-12 of the judgement). He therefore, held that Section 4(3) of the KSCL should be applicable to both deposition and appointment, and that a pre-action petition to the Governor concerning the deposition of the 19th Emir and appointment of the 20th Emir was required, before the case was instituted. I respectfully disagree with this position, because in my humble opinion, if the deposition of the 19th Emir is declared null and void, and invalid, it follows that the appointment of the 20th Emir cannot be valid. It is self-executory. Tying an imaginary rope between the deposition of a Chief and the appointment of a replacement, in order to force an already aggrieved deposed Chief to go and seek the permission of the Official who possibly breached the KSCL and acted maliciously/ treated him unfairly in deposing him without due process, doesn’t appear to serve the interest of justice. Instead, it further skews equity, fairness and justice
“….upon reading the first few lines of the lead judgement and that of the dissenting judgements of Uwani Abba Aji and Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, JJSC, I couldn’t but align myself with the Dissenters. As for the majority judgement, my mind immediately put it within the context of the words of Oputa, JSC in Adegoke Motors Ltd & Anor v Adesanya & Anor (Supra), with regard to finality not because of infallibility. I respectfully disagree with the majority decision”
against the deposed Chief, making the road to seeking legal redress more convoluted. Surely, this couldn’t have been the aim of the framers of this law, and if it was, then a judicial review of the law may be required. Additionally, some of the cases cited by Agim, JSC, are not on all fours with Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo’s case. For instance, Agbodemu & Ors v Agboola & Ors (2025) LPELR-80531(SC) per Habeeb Adewale Olumuyiwa Abiru, JSC, had to do with selection and appointment of a Chief, and not deposition, and Section 3(3) of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law of Kwara State in pari materia with Section 4(3) of the KSCL, refers to any dispute regarding selection. In the locus classicus, Madukolu & Ors v Nkemdilim (1962) LPELR-24023(SC) per Vahe Robert Bairamian, JSC, the Supreme Court held inter alia that a case must be initiated by due process of law, and upon the fulfilment of any conditions precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction. I submit that, even by Agim, JSC’s own admission, there was no condition precedent in Section 4(3) of the KSCL that a pre-action complaint must be laid, before a case regarding the deposition of an Emir can be instituted. Similarly, other cases cited by his Lordship, Agim, JSC, such as Aribisala v Ogunyemi 2005 6 N.W.L.R. Part 921; Adesola v Abidoye & Anor (1999) LPELR-153(SC), were also cases based upon tussles about appointment/selection of Chiefs, and not deposition. In AC & Anor v INEC (2007) LPELR66(SC) per Aloysius Iyorgyer Katsina-Alu, JSC, the Supreme Court held inter alia that, the provision of a statute must not be interpreted in isolation, but in context of the whole statute. Section 4(3) of the KSCL read as a whole provides only for any dispute related to selection and appointment of a Chief, not deposition. Interpreting Section 4(3) as relating to
deposition or anything else, would be tantamount to interpreting the law in part and not as a whole, and/or stretching the interpretation of its clear and unambiguous words beyond the literal meaning. See the case of Awolowo v Shagari & Ors (1979) LPELR-653(SC) per Andrews Otutu Obaseki, JSC on the rules of interpretation of statutes, particularly using the literal rule of interpretation and taking words in their ordinary and grammatical meaning unless doing so would lead to a contradiction in the purpose of an Act, or an absurdity. I submit that the meaning and purport of Section 4(3) of the KSCL is clear and unambiguous - it only applies to pre-action protocol concerning tussles relating to the selection and appointment of Chiefs.
Dissenting Judgements: Their Lordships, Abba Aji and Saulawa, JJSC In her dissenting judgement, Her Lordship, Abba Aji, JSC, held that Section 4(3) of the KSCL is inapplicable to Alhaji Jokolo’s case, as condition precedent is applicable “when a dispute arises between two candidates to the throne, that the aggrieved party who lost, must resort to the Governor as the only and final arbiter. It is when this condition is not followed, that the Plaintiff's suit can be caught up with the issue of condition precedent. Since this is clearly not the case herein, the 1st and 3rd Cross- Appellants cannot import the provision of Section 4(3) of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law of Kebbi State, 1996, to seek the nullity of the proceedings of the instant appeal. The condition precedent they seek does not avail them, nor applicable to their case” (see Page 15 of her Lordship’s judgement). Also see the case of First Registrars (Nig) Ltd v SEC & Anor (2022) LPELR-56667(CA) per
Abubakar Sadiq Umar, JCA (as he then was) where the Court of Appeal held thus: “Therefore, where an enactment makes provision for the service of pre-action notice, such provision ought to be considered, to determine whether they apply to the suit in question”. I agree with Abba Aji, JSC, that it doesn’t apply in this suit. Again, in his dissenting judgement, His Lordship Saulawa, JSC, held that Section 6 of the KSCL was what Alhaji Jokolo’s case was predicated upon, and not Section 4, which is inapplicable (see Page 24-25 of the judgement). That it wasn’t about a tussle between the 19th Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Jokolo and the 20th Emir who was appointed after he was deposed, but about the fact that the Governor of Kebbi State didn’t follow the process laid out in Sections 6 & 7 of the KSCL before deposing Alhaji Jokolo, that is, setting up a Panel of Inquiry, consultation with Kingmakers, receiving advice from the Council of Chiefs, and giving Alhaji Jokolo a chance to defend himself, all prior to his deposition. It is no surprise therefore, that the Dissenting Justices were of the view that the Kebbi Governor didn’t come to equity with clean hands, as he himself hadn’t followed due process before deposing Alhaji Jokolo, and it was against the principles of natural justice for the same person who was responsible for the dispute, to have to be consulted or his permission sought, before initiating legal proceedings to seek redress for his alleged wrongdoing in the same matter. I concur. Their Lordships, Abba Aji and Saulawa JJSC, also stated that Alhaji Jokolo’s right to fair hearing had been breached, as he had been deposed on 3/6/2005 without being given the opportunity to be heard (see Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria)(as amended) (the Constitution on the right to fair hearing). It was Alhaji Jokolo’s testimony that he was called to Government House to meet the Governor, and upon his arrival he was forcibly taken by security agents to Obi, Nasarawa State (see Section 41(1) of the Constitution on freedom of movement), where, on television, he watched an announcement that he had been deposed. In Chief Joseph Oyeyemi v Commissioner for Local Government Kwara State & 3 Ors 1992 2 N.W.L.R. Part 226 Page 661 (cited by Saulawa, JSC), the Supreme Court held inter alia that a person adversely affected must be informed about the allegations against him, given a chance to respond, failing which any decision by any Panel of Inquiry without the person adversely affected being given a fair hearing, would be invalid. How come this precedent wasn’t followed by the majority, seeing as an alleged breach of fundamental rights was involved? How could the alleged breach of the provisions of the Sections 36(1) & 41(1) of the Constitution, the supreme grundnorm (see Section 1(1) & (3) of the Constitution on its bindingness and supremacy) have been ign ored, relegated and discountenanced for case law or an inferior State Law, Section 4(3) of the KSCL, which Agim, JSC himself had admitted didn’t provide for pre-action complaint for deposition of a chief?
Assuming, but not conceding that Alhaji Jokolo’s case was one that required a pre-action notice, the Appellants didn’t raise the issue of non-service at the court of first instance and the Court of Appeal. As his Lordship, Saulawa JSC rightly stated, it was raised at the ‘11th hour’ at the Supreme Court. To buttress his point, Saulawa, JSC cited the case of Daewoo Nigeria Ltd v Alamina & Anor (2022) LPELR-56588(SC) where he held thus: “Equity follows the law and it assists or aids the vigilant and not the indolent (not those who sleep) (Vigilantibus non dormientibus jura subveniunt)”. Having not included the non-service of a pre-action notice in their pleadings at the court of first instance, had they not already acquiesced to the non-service (if it was a requirement ), and then simply introduced it as a last ditch attempt at the Supreme Court? See Madukolu & Ors v Nkemdilim (Supra) where the Supreme Court held thus: “It may turn out that the party complaining was to blame, or had acquiesced in the irregularity; or that it was trivial; in which case, the appeal court may not think fit to set aside the judgement. A defect in procedure, is not always fatal”. I submit that since one of the exceptions to the non-service of a pre-action notice being fatal to a case, is when it isn’t mentioned in the pleadings, and therefore, it is implied that it isn’t an issue. Once the trial court is competent to hear the case, had a pre-action notice been required in Alhaji Jokolo’s case, it’s non-service should have been treated as an irregularity, as it wasn’t so grave “as to affect the fairness of the trial and the soundness of the adjudication” - it wasn’t fatal.
Conclusion
What I have observed is that, in Nigeria, because a good number of our institutions are somewhat weak, they are used as tools of persecution against individuals for one reason or the other. This not only goes against the rule of law, it is something that occurs in authoritarian countries where Government does whatever it pleases without accountability, not in a so-called democracy. In 2005, we were already six years into a democratic dispensation, yet, Alhaji
arbitrary
Jokolo was deposed in a similar
manner to that of the 18th Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, who was deposed in 1996 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
19th Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Al Mustapha Haruna Jokolo
Whether Pre-Action Petition to Governor in Chieftaincy Disputes Applies to Deposition
s
Fact
On 13th September, 1995, the 1st Cross-Appellant appointed the 1st Cross-Respondent as the 19th Emir of Gwandu, pursuant to the powers conferred on him by Section 3 of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, Cap. 20, Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963 and the Appointment of the Emir of Gwandu Order, 1995. However, on 3rd June, 2005, the 1st Cross-Appellant summarily deposed the 1st Cross-Respondent and appointed the 2nd Cross-Respondent in his stead as Emir of Gwandu.
Aggrieved, the 1st Cross-Respondent filed Suit No. KB/HC/14/2005: Alhaji Al-Mustapha Haruna Jokolo v Governor of Kebbi State & 13 Ors, at the High Court of Kebbi State to challenge his removal. The case of the 1st Cross-Respondent was that the 1st Cross-Appellant breached the principle of fair hearing by not affording him the opportunity to be heard, before deposing him from the throne.
Following the conclusion of trial and final addresses, the trial court delivered its judgement in which it granted the 1st Cross-Respondent’s claims, and made amongst other orders, an order setting aside his purported deposition and an order directing the 1st Cross-Appellant to reinstate the 1st Cross-Respondent as Emir of Gwandu.
Dissatisfied, the 1st Cross-Appellant and the 2nd Respondent appealed to the Court of Appeal. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and affirmed the decision of the trial court. Thereafter, the 1st CrossAppellant and other parties who were dissatisfied with the outcome of the appeal for varying reasons, filed different appeals in SC/2/2013; SC/314/2016; SC/1064/2024 and the instant cross-appeal at the Supreme Court. With the concurrence of all Counsel for the parties in the different appeals, the Supreme Court directed that since the Cross-Appeal deals with both the issues of lack of jurisdiction of the trial court and the merit of the case, the Court’s decision in the Cross-Appeal would bind the other sister appeals.
Issue for Determination
In determining the appeal, the Supreme Court considered the first issue raised by the Cross-Appellants, as follows: Whether the proceedings conducted before the trial court and the court below without compliance with the precondition for the institution of a competent action by the 1st Cross-Respondent under the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law Cap. 21. Laws of Kebbi State 1996, were not null and of no effect whatsoever?
Arguments
Learned Senior Counsel for the Cross-Appellants argued that the 1st Cross-Respondent failed to comply with the condition precedent to the activation of the court’s jurisdiction provided in Section 4(3) of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, Cap. 21, Laws of Kebbi State 1996, which, according to Counsel, requires that any complaint or dispute arising from the appointment or deposition of a chief must first be submitted to the Governor for resolution before any court action can be initiated. Counsel submitted that the 1st Cross-Respondent did not make any representation to the Governor for possible resolution, prior to filing the suit at the trial court. Counsel for the Cross-Appellants contended that since the law had designated the Governor as the sole authority to determine such disputes in the first instance and the 1st Cross-Respondent did not follow this procedure, the suit was incompetent and the trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it. Counsel relied on the decision of the court in A-G KWARA STATE v ADEYEMO (2017) 1 NWLR (PT. 1546) PG 243-255 in support of his position. In response, Counsel for the 1st Cross-Respondent argued that Section 4(3) of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law only applies to disputes over the appointment of a chief or a head chief, and is not applicable to disputes over the deposition of a chief or a head chief, such as the present case where the challenge is as regards the 1st Cross-Respondent’s deposition from the throne of Emir of Gwandu. Counsel submitted further that, that it would be a breach of the rule of natural justice; nemo judex in causa sua to require the 1st Cross-Respondent to first refer the matter to the Governor, who was the very authority responsible for his deposition. Counsel also distinguished the case of AG KWARA STATE v ADEYEMO
In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 4th day of June, 2025
Before Their Lordships Uwani Musa Abba Aji Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Emmanuel Akomaye Agim Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme Jamilu Yammama Tukur Justices, Supreme Court SC.266/2017
Between
GOVERNOR OF KEBBI STATE AND 12 ORS CROSS-APPELLANTS And
1. ALH. AL-MUSTAPHA HARUNA JOKOLO
2. ALH. MUHAMMADU ILIYASU BASHAR CROSS-RESPONDENTS
(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC)
(supra) relied on by the Cross-Appellants, arguing that the dispute in that case was over a vacant stool and succession, unlike the instant case where the dispute is on deposition without compliance with the procedure laid down in Section 6 of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law. Counsel submitted that the trial court validly exercised jurisdiction, in entertaining the 1st Respondent’s suit.. Court’s Judgement and Rationale The Supreme Court held that it had since been established by the Apex Court in a long line of its decisions on chieftaincy disputes, in which provisions similar to Section 4(3) of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law were applied, that a pre-action complaint or petition must first be made to the Governor
“….that there is nothing in Section 4(3) or like provisions that prescribe such a requirement, I am bound by the plethora of decisions of this court on the point….The prevailing case law is that, a preaction complaint or petition to the Governor must first be made before an action over a chieftaincy dispute can be filed in court”
the suit incompetent and deprives the court of jurisdiction.
On the 1st Cross-Respondent’s submission that the requirement for pre-action complaint or petition to the Governor is only applicable to dispute over selection and appointment of a chief and not applicable to disputes over the deposition of a chief, the Supreme Court held that existing case law on this point has established that similar provisions apply to all chieftaincy disputes, regardless of whether the dispute involved the selection or appointment or deposition of a chief. The Court held further that the Apex Court while applying provisions exactly the same with Section 4(3) of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law in OLATIFU v AKOMOLAFE (2011) ALL FWLR (PT.575) 292, had defined chieftaincy dispute as a dispute or question as to the validity of selection, appointment, approval of appointment, recognition, installation, grading, deposition or abdication of a chief.
The Supreme Court held that, in this instant case, the grant of the relief of the 1st Cross-Respondent for his reinstatement and reinstallation would be rendered illusory, sterile and academic without a concomitant grant of the relief for the setting aside of the appointment and installation of the 2nd Cross-Respondent as the 20th Emir. The Court held that, the deposition of the 1st Cross-Respondent and the appointment of the 2nd Cross-Respondent as the 20th Emir of Gwandu are intertwined and cannot be dealt with separately. The Court held further that the appointment of the 2nd Cross-Respondent was made upon the deposition of the 1st Respondent by the 1st Cross-Appellant pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law that empowers the Governor to appoint a new chief to replace a deposed one, hence, it follows therefore that a pre-action complaint or petition to the Governor concerning the deposition of the 1st Cross-Respondent and the subsequent appointment of the 2nd Cross-Respondent as the 20th Emir of Gwandu ought to have been made before Suit No. KB/HC/14/2005 was commenced. The Supreme Court consequently found that the suit filed by the 1st Cross-Respondent was incompetent, thus, the exercise of jurisdiction by the trial court to entertain it as well as the judgement of the Court of Appeal affirming the trial court’s decision, were null and void.
in any dispute concerning the appointment or deposition of a chief before an action can be validly instituted in court. The Court cited its decisions in ARIBISALA v OGUNYEMI (2005) 6 NWLR (PT 921); A-G KWARA STATE v ADEYEMO (2017) 1 NWLR (PT 1546) 210; OLATIFU v AKOMOLAFE (2011) ALL FWLR as binding precedents under the doctrine of stare decisis. The Apex Court held that although it is absurd to require that a pre-action complaint be made to the same Governor that carried out the disputed deposition or appointment of a chief for review, the prevailing case law as established by the previous decisions of the Supreme Court on the point, is that a pre-action complaint or petition to the Governor must first be made before an action over a chieftaincy dispute can be filed in court, and the absence of a pre-action complaint or petition to the Governor before an action is filed is a feature that renders the action incompetent and robs the court of the jurisdiction to entertain it. With particular reference to its recent decision in AGBODEMU & ORS v AGBOOLA & ORS (SC/169/2015), in a judgement delivered on 7th February, 2025, the Apex Court emphasised that the requirement to first approach the Governor forms part of a domestic grievance resolution process and does not violate the constitutional right of access to court, since it is not a final determination, but a mandatory preliminary step; hence, failure to comply with this condition precedent renders
In conclusion, the Supreme Court struck out Suit No. KB/HC/14/2005 for being incompetent, and set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal. Cross –Appeal Allowed on a Majority of 3:2 Dissenting Opinion of Honourable Uwani Musa Abba Aji, JSC and Honourable Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, JSC Their Lordships, Honourable Ibrahim M. Musa Saulawa and Honourable Uwani Musa Abba Aji, JSC, dissented from the majority decision, and opined that Section 4(3) of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law of Kebbi State would apply only in situations where a dispute arises between two candidates to the throne who contested but one lost, and not to cases involving the deposition of an incumbent chief such as the instant case. Their Lordships reasoned that requiring a deposed chief to submit a pre-action complaint to the Governor who effected the deposition would violate fundamental principles of natural justice, particularly the rule against bias (nemo judex in causa sua) and the right to a fair hearing (audi alteram partem), and would also amount to an infringement of the 1st Cross-Respondent’s right of access to the Court. The Honourable Justices also opined that since the issue of non-service of pre-action notice was not raised at trial or at the Court of Appeal, it was too late to raise it on appeal. Their Lordships viewed that accepting the Cross-Appellants’ argument would effectively shield executive action from judicial scrutiny, allowing the Governor to act with impunity and still determine the legality of his own actions. In finality, the Honourable Justices opined that the failure to first submit a petition to the Governor did not render the 1st Cross-Respondent’s suit incompetent, and did not deprive the trial court of jurisdiction to entertain the claim.
Representation
Y. C. Maikyau, SAN; Abdullahi Yahya SAN; Wale Fapohunda, SAN with others for the Cross-Appellants.
Sylvester Imhanobe with others for the 1st CrossRespondent.
Hussaini Zakariya, SAN with others for the 2nd Cross-Respondent Reported by
of Babalakin & Co.)
Honourable Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC
REJOINDER
Background: Onikepo Braithwaite’s Article
Onikepo Braithwaite’s recent article, “It’s Time to Arrest the Killings”, is a critical and courageous intervention. She cuts through the comfortable, misleading language that has long softened the brutality of Nigeria’s security crisis. By calling out the phrase “communal clashes” as a lazy and dangerous euphemism, Braithwaite forces the nation to face what has been unfolding for years: a sustained campaign of terror, land seizure, and displacement that has devastated communities in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, and beyond.
Her insistence that we must stop normalising these atrocities is both timely and necessary. The killings she describes are not random, they are not spontaneous, and they are not the inevitable by-products of social tensions. They are the result of deliberate attacks, predictable patterns, and a security system that consistently shows up after the fact.
But, if we are to truly arrest the killings - as Braithwaite demands - we must go even further. We must confront the brutal truth that, Nigeria’s security architecture is not just failing because it is under-resourced. It is failing because it is fundamentally designed to react, not to prevent. And, by the time our security forces react, entire villages have already been burned to the ground. It is a deadly cycle that has played out with cruel precision, across Nigeria’s most vulnerable regions. The attackers plan, strike, and vanish long before security reinforcements arrive. The survivors bury their dead. Government officials issue condolences. Investigations are promised, but rarely concluded. Then the process repeats itself. We cannot continue like this.
If Nigeria is serious about protecting its people, it must now build a security system that gets there first. The era of helpless reaction must end. The era of intelligent prevention must begin.
Technology Must Lead the Way
The tools to make this shift, already exist. Nigeria does not have to invent them. Drone surveillance, satellite imagery, geofencing of high-risk rural areas, and mobile-based early warning systems are all practical, proven technologies. They have been used to monitor insurgencies in East Africa, to track poachers in Southern Africa, and to prevent village raids in fragile parts of South Asia. These are not luxuries. For a country as vast and vulnerable as Nigeria, they are essential.
In many of the attacks that Braithwaite describes, the warning signs were visible well before the violence. Suspicious movements, abandoned farms, the build-up of armed groups - all of these were detectable. But, Nigeria’s current security system lacks the capacity and the urgency to see them in time.
Imagine instead, a system where drone patrols monitor remote farmlands in real time. Where satellites flag unusual gatherings in forest corridors. Where villagers can issue distress signals through simple mobile apps that instantly trigger alerts to nearby security posts. This is not science fiction. This is basic modern security infrastructure. But, technology alone, will not save us.
Security Must Go Local and Regional Nigeria must finally abandon the dangerous illusion, that security can be centrally managed from Abuja. The Federal Government cannot possibly protect every farm, every village, and every highway in a country this large. Yet, for decades, Abuja has clung to near-total control of armed security forces, while leaving State and regional actors under-equipped and under-authorised. This approach is no longer sustainable.
The idea that States and local communities should play a primary role in their own defence, is not radical. It is common sense. State Governors, local leaders, and community-based security groups, are often the first to hear of impending threats. They have the terrain knowledge, the language fluency, and the trust of local populations - advantages that Federal forces rarely enjoy.
Structures like the Àmòtèkun Corps in the Southwest, Ebube Agu in the Southeast, and vigilante groups in the North, have already emerged out of
Nigeria Must Build a Security System that Gets There First
This Rejoinder to Onikepo Braithwaite’s piece of 24/6/2025, “It’s Time to Arrest the Killings”, by Rear Admiral Bolanle Ati-John (Rtd), goes on to proffer numerous viable suggestions on how Nigeria can effectively fight its insecurity problem, including a heavy deployment of technology and the use of local regional forces who are familiar with their home terrains
sheer necessity. These groups are often the first responders, when Federal forces are absent or arrive too late. Rather than viewing them with suspicion, the Nigerian Government should formally recognise, regulate, and strengthen them.
To be clear, this is not a call for fragmented militias or for security structures to become political weapons. That risk is real, but the solution is not to paralyse local action - it is to build accountability into the system.
Regional security coordination, is the missing layer. Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones should serve as natural platforms, for security collaboration across State lines. Criminal networks, bandit gangs, and terrorist cells, do not respect administrative boundaries. Security responses should not be trapped by them.
Each region should develop its own security coordination centres, equipped to track threats in real time, to share intelligence rapidly across states, and to mobilise joint responses without waiting for Abuja’s green light. These regional hubs would not replace federal security forces but would work alongside them, combining federal resources with local speed and local knowledge.
This is how Nigeria builds a security system, that can get there first.
Funding: A Question of Priorities
“If Nigeria is serious about protecting its people, it must now build a security system that gets there first. The era of helpless reaction, must end. The era of intelligent prevention, must begin….Drone surveillance, satellite imagery, geofencing of high-risk rural areas, and mobilebased early warning systems are all practical, proven technologies…. A system that uses technology to see threats, before they strike”
One of the silent tragedies in Nigeria’s security failure, is the consistent excuse of insufficient funds. We hear it after every massacre. The security forces lacked fuel, lacked vehicles, lacked helicopters, lacked weapons. But, somehow, there is always enough money for bloated political entourages, for unnecessary capital projects, for obscene election spending.
Let’s be honest: budgets are moral documents. When a government claims it cannot find the funds to protect its citizens, what it is really saying is that protection is not a priority. The protection of life, must no longer be negotiable. If Nigeria can fund political campaigns that flood cities with billboards and charter flights, it can certainly fund regional security hubs, drones, and mobile alert systems. The country’s leaders must reorder spending, to reflect the true value of Nigerian lives. This is not a matter for international donors. The lives of Nigerians, should not depend on the goodwill of foreign partners. Nigeria has the resources. It has simply failed to apply them, where they matter most.
Guarding Against Abuse
Braithwaite warns, rightly, about the dangers of security failure. But, we must also be vigilant about the dangers of security overreach. Any system that invests heavily in surveillance and expands the role of local security forces, must come with strict guardrails. Nigeria cannot afford to trade one danger for another.
The abuse of surveillance technology is not hypothetical. Across Africa, we have seen spyware deployed against journalists, opposition figures, and human rights defenders.
In Nigeria itself, concerns have been raised about the targeting of critics under the guise of security monitoring.
If Nigeria is to adopt security technologies, they must be designed and deployed with transparency from the start. Civilian-led oversight bodies, must monitor their use. Procurement processes must be open, competitive, and free from political interference. Data protection policies must be clear and enforceable.
The new security system must protect both the physical safety, and the democratic freedoms
of the Nigerian people. We cannot build a shield for some, and a sword against others.
The Legal Ground is Solid
There is no constitutional barrier, to building the system Nigeria needs. The Constitution rightly prohibits States from forming independent armed forces, but it does not prevent the creation of wellcoordinated, technology-driven, community-based security structures.
States can deploy surveillance tools, establish early warning systems, fund local security initiatives, and cooperate across regions without violating constitutional provisions. The obstacle is not legal. It is political. It is a persistent centralisation reflex, that resists giving States and regions the tools they need to act swiftly.
This is a failure of imagination. And, it is a failure of courage.
This is Not Abuja’s Battle Alone
The greatest mistake Nigeria could make, is to continue waiting for a Federal rescue that never arrives on time. Federal forces cannot be everywhere. They cannot hear every warning. They cannot respond to every threat, before it becomes a tragedy. What Braithwaite’s intervention makes clear - and what must now be fully accepted - is that security in Nigeria is not the exclusive responsibility of the Federal Government. It is a shared responsibility. It is a multi-layered effort that requires Federal, State, regional, and community actors working in real-time collaboration. If Nigeria remains locked in its current security model, the results are predictable. More villages will fall. More lives will be lost. More families will grieve while the nation debates, investigates, and delays.
But, there is another path. Nigeria can build a security system, that anticipates danger. A system that uses technology to see threats, before they strike. A system that empowers local responders and regional coalitions, to act swiftly. A system that prioritises prevention over reaction. A system that is both accountable and effective. The choice is clear. The clock is ticking. The lives that can be saved, are waiting. And, the courage to save them must no longer wait.
Rear Admiral K Bolanle Ati-John (Rtd)
Rear Admiral Bolanle Ati-John (Rtd)
TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY
Tinubu’s Forest Guard: Who Will Guard the Guard? (Part 2)
Introduction
We started this series recently, with an x-ray of policy formation and its implementation, the constitutional status of forest vis-à-vis the States and the Federal Government, and later addressed the issue of policy Unitarianism in disguise, and also a review of indigenous security models and local recruitment of local guards. Today, we shall consider the challenges of evolving the rights and strategy between the forest and firepower; we shall then analyse the question: Are
Between the Forest and the Firepower: Finding the Right Strategy
The Forest as Nigeria’s New Battlefield Nigeria’s forests, once treasured for their ecological richness and environmental contributions, are increasingly viewed through the lens of national security. Spanning over 10 million hectares which is about 10% of the total land area of Nigeria, Nigeria’s forest reserves are now being infiltrated by violent actors and used as operational bases for bandits, insurgents, arms traffickers, and cross-border criminal networks. These reserves especially those in Kwara, Niger, Benue, Taraba, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Oyo have morphed into de facto war zones, where traditional policing is rendered ineffective and the military often finds itself in reactive mode.
One particularly troubling example is the Kainji Lake National Park, a protected area that spans the borders of Kwara and Niger States. Though it is officially under Federal protection, its vast and difficult-to-monitor terrain makes it a prime corridor for terrorist and bandit movements. According to security reports from the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division, several armed groups have taken advantage of the park’s proximity to Nigeria’s northwestern and central States to establish hidden bases, smuggle arms, and coordinate attacks.
Similarly, the Old Oyo National Park, which straddles Oyo, Kwara, and Niger States, has become a hotspot for criminal activity. Local intelligence from communities surrounding the park, indicates that bandit groups expelled from Zamfara and Katsina have found refuge in this forest. These criminal elements exploit the remoteness of the area and the absence of a permanent security presence, to regroup and launch attacks on nearby settlements.
Beyond national parks, numerous ungazetted forests especially in the Middle Belt serve as strategic hideouts for Fulani militia groups, foreign mercenaries, and rogue elements linked to organised crime. In Benue State, Governor Hyacinth Alia, has repeatedly warned of incursions by foreign terrorists allegedly linked to cross-border herder militias. The Upper Ogun Forest Reserve, a large forest block in Kwara, has also come under scrutiny, following reports that Mahmuda terrorist group members use it to transit between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
The implications of these developments, are profound. Without forest security, Nigeria not only risks losing its forests to environmental degradation, but also ceding large swaths of land to non-State actors, thus, turning forest reserves into breeding grounds for violent extremism. Yet, while the urgency to act is undeniable now, the quality of response matters more than its speed.
Deploying undertrained or poorly equipped forest guards into these volatile environments, would be akin to sending lambs into a lion’s den. The intelligence, terrain mastery, and firepower required in such engagements go far beyond the remit of conventional paramilitary forces. You cannot send men with shotguns, into a forest ruled by terrorists with RPGs. This is not hyperbole, it is a stark reality, backed by recurring video evidence of bandits showcasing sophisticated weaponry, satellite communication tools, and, in some cases, armoured vehicles.
Military Might vs Paramilitary Prowess: A Strategic Dilemma
At the heart of Nigeria’s forest security conundrum, lies a fundamental strategic mismatch. On one side is the proposal to deploy lightly armed forest guards; on the other is a threat landscape populated by insurgent groups with military-grade capabilities. Nigeria remains one of the most affected countries by terrorism, with Boko Haram, ISWAP, and multiple bandit groups shifting focus from urban bombings to rural forest insurgency.
Reports confirm that many of these groups are now entrenched in forests stretching from Zamfara to Taraba, taking advantage of limited surveillance and sluggish security response. These criminal outfits reportedly employ rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), improvised explosive devices (IEDs), drones and night-vision equipment, a sophisticated arsenal far superior to the basic AK-47s or pump-action rifles many forest guards are expected to wield. This power disparity raises a serious question: Can forest guards, even in significant numbers, hold their ground against such adversaries?
A Desirable Narrative
The answer, quite evidently, is no, at least not alone. This does not render the forest guard model irrelevant, but it necessitates a reimagining of their role. Forest guards should not be conceptualised as primary combatants, but as intelligence operatives, terrain scouts, and first responders. Their role must be complementary, not confrontational, with local guards. Embedded within local communities, they are best positioned to detect unusual movements, provide early warnings, and assist in planning police or military interventions.
Such integration would mirror the highly successful model employed by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the North-East, which supported the Nigerian military in combatting Boko Haram. The CJTF did not go to war with terrorists alone. Rather, they provided community intelligence, identified suspects, and enabled smoother military operations. The same should apply to forest guards. Deployed as community embedded liaisons, their greatest strength lies not in brute force but in proximity, familiarity, acculturation and adaptability. They must work in synergy with the local guards, Army, Police, DSS, and NSCDC, ensuring that information gathered at the grassroots level informs strategic planning at the Federal level.
Another vital element, is equipment and communication infrastructure. In many rural areas, mobile networks are poor, and emergency communication is non-existent. Forest guards should be equipped with satellite phones, GPS trackers, surveillance drones, and bodycams. Training must include combat survival, hostage negotiation, and tactical withdrawal protocols. It’s not enough to train them how to fight; they must also learn when, where and how not to fight.
The Path Forward: A True Federal Partnership
While President Tinubu’s forest guard initiative is ambitious and well-intentioned, its execution must be shaped by constitutional fidelity, operational pragmatism, and community trust. Nigeria's diversity requires policies that are locally adaptive,
“We have seen how the forests have evolved from mere ecological zones into the dark sanctuaries of insurgents, traffickers, and mercenaries…..Nigeria must adopt a model that blends local trust with Federal muscle, traditional knowledge with modern technology, and constitutional wisdom with operational pragmatism”
but nationally coordinated. A strategic roadmap should therefore, include the following:
Legislative Reform and National Forest Security Act
This Act should define the parameters of forest security, across the Federation. It must empower States to create, manage, and control forest guard units while providing room for Federal assistance in the form of funding, training standards, and interoperability protocols with Federal security services. The Act should also clarify jurisdictional boundaries, ensuring there’s no operational conflict between Federal and State forces.
Indigenous Recruitment and Decentralised Command
Only indigenous recruits, drawn from host communities, should serve in forest guard units. This principle ensures language proficiency, cultural awareness, and community acceptance. State Governments, in partnership with local traditional rulers, should drive recruitment processes, with background checks vetted by local Police and DSS operatives. This will mitigate risks of infiltration by criminal elements. Technology-Driven Surveillance Infrastructure Equipping forest guards with modern tools is not optional; it is imperative. Drone surveillance, motion-triggered cameras, satellite-linked walkietalkies, and forest mapping systems should be deployed. The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) can play a supporting role, in developing and deploying such technologies.
Strategic Federal Support, Not Operational Control
The role of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Office of the National Security Adviser must be clearly coordinative, not administrative. Federal agencies should support States through centralised training academies, logistics depots, and intelligence sharing platforms, but, the command structure should remain domiciled in State Ministries or specially created State Security Commissions.
Community Accountability and Oversight Boards
Every State should establish Forest Guard Oversight Committees composed of community leaders, the youth, civil society groups, religious figures, and security agencies. These committees will track operations, address complaints, and ensure that forest guards act within the bounds of law and ethics. Regular town hall reports and audits, should be mandated.
Integrate Environmental Protection and Counter-Insurgency Goals
One major flaw in Nigeria’s security strategy, is the siloed approach to environmental policy and national security. The forest guard initiative offers a unique opportunity to bridge this divide. Forest guards should be cross-trained in both environmental protection and tactical field surveillance, thereby serving a dual purpose:
preserving Nigeria’s biodiversity, while countering environmental crimes that fund insurgent activities. Illegal logging, poaching, and charcoal trading are multi-billion-Naira black-market economies that fuel insecurity in rural areas. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, environmental crimes in West Africa generate funds that are often funnelled to criminal cartels and armed groups. A forest security force that understands these dynamics, can better dismantle such networks.
It is imperative to partner with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, and international organisations like UNEP, to embed environmental crime detection into forest guard training modules.
Establish a Centralised Forest Intelligence Command
Given the complexity of forest based criminal operations and their links to wider terrorism and transnational crime, it is essential to build a dedicated forest intelligence infrastructure. This unit, the Centralised Forest Intelligence Command (CFIC), should be a joint inter-agency platform bringing together the Police, NCDC, DSS, Military Intelligence, Nigerian Immigration Service, local guards and Forest Guard Commanders from each State.
CFIC would use advanced tools such as geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT), and drone reconnaissance to provide real-time threat mapping, track insurgent movements, and anticipate forest-to-urban migration of threats. Such an initiative would vastly improve response time, and prevent security breaches before they happen.
The CFIC should be integrated into Nigeria’s National Security Architecture under the supervision of the National Security Adviser, but operated through a State Federal coordination model with joint personnel and interlinked command centres. Promote Cross-Border Forest Security Cooperation
Given that Nigeria shares porous forest borders with Benin Republic, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, it is vital to recognise the transnational dimension of forest insecurity. Bandits and militants frequently move across these borders, exploiting weak surveillance and diplomatic inertia.
Nigeria must lead in establishing a Regional Forest Security Pact, in collaboration with ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) security platforms. This pact would promote joint patrols, shared intelligence, coordinated raids, and the establishment of joint forest monitoring stations in border regions like Borno, Taraba, Cross River, and Sokoto.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should work with ECOWAS to initiate bilateral and multilateral forest security agreements, underpinned by joint training programmes and extradition protocols for forest-based offenders.
Conclusion
Where the Trees Stand Tall, So too Must the Constitution
In the final analysis, Nigeria’s Forest Guard initiative under President Bola Tinubu offers more than just a policy experiment; it presents a litmus test for the country’s commitment to Federalism, local empowerment, administration and smart security strategy. The forests in question may be dense with trees, but the issues surrounding them are denser still: constitutional authority, operational viability, regional identity, and national unity.
We have seen how the forests have evolved from mere ecological zones into the dark sanctuaries of insurgents, traffickers, and mercenaries. We have seen how well meaning central interventions, if not delicately structured, can become bulldozers flattening both local agency and constitutional principles. And, we have seen how a locally grounded, technologically equipped, and constitutionally-compliant model can actually work transforming the forest guard idea from a controversial headline into a security legacy. But, let us be clear, you do not fix a leaky roof by installing a chandelier. You do not solve rural insecurity, with a flood of centrally deployed gunmen unfamiliar with the peculiar terrain or the tongues spoken therein. Instead, Nigeria must adopt a model that blends local trust with Federal muscle, traditional knowledge with modern technology, and constitutional wisdom with operational pragmatism.
The forest is watching, as are the communities who live by it, feed from it, and now fear it. Let us ensure that the guardians we appoint are not strangers in camouflage, but sons and daughters of the soil; trained, trusted, and tethered to the trees they are sworn to protect. After all, if we cannot see the forest for the law, we may end up losing both. And, in that case, the trees would not be the only casualty left standing in silence; our Democracy may also be. (Concluded)
INSIGHT
Is the Penal Code Enforceable in the FCT?
Introduction
This curious question, is prompted by my belief that the invalidity of the Code is the only plausible conclusion to be drawn from a dispassionate analysis of the relevant provisions of the Penal Code Act as well as those of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as I shall presently demonstrate. Before then, however, some background.
Legal History of the FCT
The FCT came into being on the 6th of February, 1976 and it was codified in the Federal Capital Territory Act LFN 2004 (formerly of 1990). Its status as Nigeria's capital is affirmed in Chapter VIII (Sections 297- 304) of the 1999 Constitution, which collectively outline it's legislative, judicial and executive structures - with the National Assembly legislating for the FCT in the same way as State Houses of Assembly do for the 36 States of the Federation. This is crucial, as we shall soon see, given that Abuja ante-dates the Assembly which came into being (along with the rest of the Constitution) in 1999.
Laws of the FCT
The Federal Capital Territory Act, Cap. 128 LFN, 1990 states its commencement date as the 4th day of February, 1976. That was when the decree establishing the FCT took effect (one of the last official acts of the then Head of State, late General Murtala Muhammad before he was assassinated exactly a week later, on the 13th day of February, 1976 - R.I.P). Section 13 of the FCT Act provides that the laws set out in the 2nd Schedule thereto shall, as from 9th May, 1984, apply in the FCT - subject to such modifications to their text as would bring them into conformity with the Act. This provision is somewhat at odds with those of Section 315(1)(a), (2), (4)(a)(I) of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the President to do so in respect of such existing laws as defined in Section 315(4)(b) of the Constitution (any statute, inter alia, which is in force prior to the commencement of the Constitution, that is, the 29th day of May, 1999). This, obviously, includes the FCT Act which, it would be recalled, came into being in 1976. Every statute takes effect from the commencement date indicated therein: EBIRIUKU v OHANYERENWA (1959) 4 FSC 212; ONUOHA v C.O.P. (1959) 4 FSC 23.
Among the laws adopted for the FCT under Section13 of the FCT Act are the Penal Code Law and the penal or criminal provisions of the following laws, inter alia: Food and Drugs Act, the Money Lenders Act, the Obscene Publication Act, the Produce Adulteration Law, the Private Hospitals Law, the Public Health Act, the Road Traffic Act, the Riot Damages Law, the Vaccination Act, the Unlicensed Guides (Prohibition) Act, etc. That being the case, I believe the question is whether those provisions (particularly of the Penal Code) are valid, having regard to the ban on retrospective criminal legislation under Section 4(9) of the
Constitution. That provision is couched in following peremptory terms: "the National Assembly or a State House of Assembly shall not, in relation to any criminal offence whatsoever, have power to make any law which shall have retrospective effect".
I believe that this is precisely the effect of the wholesale adoption of the Penal Code as the general criminal law applicable in Abuja, by the aforesaid provisions of the FCT Act. Accordingly, to the extent that those provisions ante-date the 1999 Constitution, the question is whether they can take effect as 'existing laws' under the aforesaid provisions of Section 315(1)(a), (2), (4) (a)(I) & (b) of the Constitution. This, in turn, depends on whether the National Assembly can enact a criminal statute that has retrospective effect. Does the Assembly have that power under the Constitution? Of course, the answer, as previously shown, is an emphatic 'NO!'.
This means that the aforesaid provisions of the FCT Act cannot take effect as 'existing laws' under the Constitution - and it, therefore, follows that their purported adoption of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria among the laws of the FCT is null and void, on the ground that it violates the aforesaid constitutional ban on retrospective criminal legislation. Simply put, since the National Assembly cannot directly enact such a law, neither can it take effect as an ‘existing law’, as it would fail the criteria for conferring that status
"This means that the aforesaid provisions of Section 13 of the FCT Act cannot take effect as 'existing laws' under the Constitution. It follows that their purported adoption of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria as one of the laws of the FCT is null and void, on the ground that it is inconsistent with the ban on retrospective criminal legislation imposed by Section 4(9) of the Constitution”
on such statutes under the Constitution. I believe the foregoing is put beyond peradventure by the provisions of Sections 315(3) of the Constitution which preserve the power of a court or tribunal to invalidate any provision of an existing law which is inconsistent with any other law, including - of course - the Constitution.
I make this submission with a full sense of responsibility and not without some trepidation. However, as the Apex Court held in IFEZUE v MBADUGHA (1984) All NLR 256 (quoting with approval, the Queens Bench Division of the High Court of England, in ST. JOHN SHIPPING CO. v RANK (1984) 1 Q.B.. 267 & 287):
“One should not be deterred from enunciating the correct principle of law, simply because it will entail startling or even calamitous consequences”
Any Way Out?
Disturbing as this situation is, I believe it does not defy remedy. I submit that the solution is for the National Assembly to enact the Code afresh. This, it can clearly do by virtue of the provisions of Section 299(a) of the Constitution, which empowers it to legislate for the FCT, as aforesaid. I believe that this is the neater and constitutional way out of this logjam which, if left unresolved, might hand an underserved escape route to criminals in the FCT who are on trial (and others who have been convicted) under the Penal Code. This is obviously undesirable.
The alternative might be to resort to the ut res magis valeat quam pereat rule of statutory interpretation, which means to give effect to a matter, rather than have it fail. This maxim is usually considered when alternative readings are possible, one of which (usually the broader reading) would achieve the manifest purpose of the statute and the other of which (usually the narrower reading) would reduce its futility or absurdity - with the interpreter choosing the one that gives effect to the statute’s purpose. See BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY, 8th edition, page 1583 and IFEZUE v MBADUGHA (Supra)
The question is: can the said provisions of Section 13 of the FCT Act be construed vis-à-vis those of Sections 4(9) and 315 (2) & (4) of the Constitution other than that the former constitute retrospective criminal legislation which cannot take effect as existing laws under the latter and are, therefore, invalid, null and void to the extent of the inconsistency?
Can any statute which patently violates the Constitution be saved, simply for reasons of exigency - by virtue of some rule of statutory (or even constitutional) interpretation? Does the question of interpretation even arise, where the provisions in question are clear and unambiguous? Once again, I believe the answer is an emphatic ‘No!’. I submit that, this is the only possible outcome from the fact that criminal statutes are required to be construed strictly, that is, sympathetically in favour of the subject and against the State. See OHUKA v THE STATE (1988) 2 S.C. Pt II Pg. 139. Therefore, the ut res magis rule is inapplicable, as doing so would do more violence to the Constitution than the perceived benefit to be derived from applying it.
The Constitution is supreme. There is a good reason why it bans retrospective criminal statutes - either enacted after its commencement in 1999 or prior thereto. The latter simply fails the Existing Law Test, because it is inherently and fundamentally unconstitutional. It is beyond salvage. That is the fate of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 532 Laws of the FCT, Abuja and Section 13 of the Federal Capital Territory Act Cap. 128. LFN 1990. Their respective commencement dates are their death sentences: in the case of the former, it is the 30th day of September, 1960, while in the case of the latter, it is the 9th day of May, 1984. Notwithstanding the fact that the President is the appropriate authority who is empowered under the Constitution to validate both laws by modifying them so that they take effect as ‘existing laws’, the President is simply impotent to do so in the face of the clear ban on retrospective criminal legislation prescribed by Section 4(9) of the Constitution. Therefore, the National Assembly should go back to the drawing-board, and enact a brand-new Penal Code for the FCT.
‘State
Police Is No Longer Academic; It’s Urgent’
Ebonyi State, located within the South East zone, is one of the 36 federating units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi tracked down the Ebonyi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Ben Uruchi Odoh, who is also the Chairman of Body of State Attorneys-General (BOSAG). He spoke on the steps Ebonyi State has taken to reform and modernise justice administration under his watch with the vision and support of Governor Nwifuru, making their State a trend-setter in this respect; how Ebonyi State was
the only one in the South East that didn't observe the unlawful Monday sit-athome order imposed by IPOB, and his role as Chairman of BOSAG
Hon. Attorney-General, did you set a clear agenda when you assumed office, one that aligns with the current realities and needs of the justice sector? If you did, kindly, share the highlights of your agenda. The argument is that without an activity plan, the AG may get distracted with the ongoings in Government, and maybe start to see themselves as the Lawyer of only the Governor, as opposed to also being the people's Lawyer. How well have you balanced this?
When I assumed office as AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice of Ebonyi State on June 20, 2023, I came prepared. I had no intention of continuing with old routines. I was fully aware of the gaps in our justice system - delays in case handling, poor access to legal services, and the general mistrust many citizens had for the system. So, I knew that without a clear and focused agenda, it would be easy to drift or be pulled in too many directions. But, I didn’t start from scratch. I
“…we developed a plan of our own, and we called it the Charter of Justice - deliberately coined to mirror the Governor’s grand vision…the backbone of our work, at the Ministry of Justice…built on five practical goals, each one tied to real needs on the ground…..digitisation….access to justice…. building our team….legal drafting and court work….national engagement…Ebonyi is building not just a modern justice system, but one that’s accessible, fair, and future-ready”
looked closely at the Governor’s vision - the People’s Charter of Needs - which places the welfare of the ordinary citizen at the heart of Government policy. It was clear to me that, the justice sector also needed to reflect that same commitment. So, we developed a plan of our own, and we called it the Charter of Justice - deliberately coined to mirror the Governor’s grand vision.
The Charter of Justice is not a slogan. It is the backbone of our work, at the Ministry of Justice. It is built on five practical goals, each one tied to real needs on the ground.
The first is, digitisation. We needed to fix the slow pace of justice and the mess created by outdated, paper-based systems. So, we launched the Ebonyi State Case Management System, which allows better tracking of cases, easier filing, and less delay. It helps people follow up on their matters without having to physically visit an office, or rely on vague updates.
The second is, access to justice. Many people, especially those in rural areas, don’t have Lawyers or even understand how the legal system works. Some are detained for months, or even years, without trial. We responded by setting up the Office of the Public Defender, a Citizens’ Mediation Centre, a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response
Unit, and a new legal outstation in Afikpo. These are practical steps to bring justice closer to the people, especially those who cannot afford it.
The third is, building our team. We trained over 100 law officers in relevant areas like mediation, arbitration, and criminal law. We covered their Bar Practicing Fees - a first in the State. We sponsored their attendance at professional events, and built standard chambers for six prospective Senior Advocates from Ebonyi. This is because, a justice system is only as strong as the people who run it.
Fourth is, legal drafting and court work. We have drafted 34 Executive Bills, all signed into law. We’ve handled over 300 legal agreements, and concluded 166 criminal and 445 civil cases. These figures represent work done and justice served - not just paperwork.
The fifth is, national engagement. Since becoming Chairman of the Body of State Attorneys-General (BOSAG) in April 2024, I’ve taken steps to ensure that Ebonyi contributes meaningfully to legal reform nationwide. We’re working with LexisNexis on revising the laws of Nigeria, and have hosted key summits like the South East Policy Summit on Criminal Justice Reform. Ebonyi is no longer silent in national conversations; we are part of shaping them.
Now, to the second part of your ques-
Ebonyi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Ben Uruchi Odoh
‘State Police Is No Longer Academic; It’s Urgent’
tion - how do I avoid becoming just the Governor’s Lawyer?
My answer is straightforward. I have never seen a conflict between supporting the government and serving the people - at least not under this administration. His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has given me both the independence and support needed to work professionally. He respects the rule of law. He allows room for honest legal advice, even when it involves hard truths.
So, I’ve drawn a clear line. I advise the Governor, but, always within the law. I represent the Government, but I do not cover up wrongdoing. I lead prosecutions, but, I insist they be fair and timely. Every legal action we take is measured against what is right, not what is politically convenient.
I do not serve personal interests. I serve the Constitution. I serve the people of Ebonyi. And, every decision I make must answer a simple question: “Is this just?”
That question has guided me from the beginning, and it still does today.
There are some key roles that a State Ministry of Justice is expected to play - upholding the rule of law, ensuring public safety, protecting the vulnerable, prosecuting crime, supporting the ease of doing business, and leading justice sector reforms. How well has your Ministry done in this regard?
This question speaks directly, to the reason I accepted the call to serve. Justice is not an abstract ideal, it determines whether citizens are heard or ignored, protected or forgotten. The Ministry of Justice exists to ensure that justice isn’t something people admire from afar, but, something they can tangibly experience. That has been our mission from day one.
We began by strengthening the rule of law. Every executive action is guided by sound legal advice, not politics. Even in difficult or politically sensitive matters, we’ve insisted on what is lawful; not just what is convenient. No one is above the law, and no one is beneath its protection.
In terms of public safety, we have prosecuted over 160 criminal cases and supported early dispute resolution through the Citizens’ Mediation Centre and the Ebonyi Multi-Door Courthouse, helping prevent minor conflicts from escalating.
We also launched the Office of the Public Defender to offer free legal representation to indigent persons, especially pretrial detainees. Hundreds of lives have already been impacted. Likewise, the Sexual Assault and Gender-Based Violence Response Department, now provides survivors with legal and emotional support.
To improve system efficiency, we deployed the Ebonyi Case Management System, and are now installing speech-to-text transcription tools in courts, in partnership with the PPDC (USA). This reduces documentation delays, and improves access to justice.
On the ease of doing business, our Ministry has reviewed over 300 legal agreements tied to State investments. We ensure contracts are fair, bankable, and enforceable. Notably, Ebonyi now has the Ebonyi State Investment Promotion, Investor’s Protection, Concession and Regulation Commission Law - a bold legal framework that removes uncertainty for investors and guarantees protections under law.
Because of these reforms, Ebonyi State is now the safest place to invest in the South East region. Legal confidence, investor protection, and peace of mind are not just promises; they are being backed by credible legal instruments and strong institutional will.
On justice sector leadership, we’ve revitalised key legal publications, hosted summits, and contributed nationally - especially through our leadership in BOSAG, and our partnership with LexisNexis South Africa on law codification.
Yes, there is more to do. But, today, justice in Ebonyi is visible, accessible, and strategic, and the Ministry of Justice is leading from the front.
You were recently elected as Chairman, Body of State AttorneysGeneral. What are the functions of this body, and how have you piloted the affairs of the body since you assumed office?
Yes, I was elected Chairman of the Body of State Attorneys-General (BOSAG) in April 2024. It is both a privilege and a serious responsibility, especially at a time when Nigeria’s justice sector is under pressure to deliver real change.
BOSAG serves as the official forum for State Attorneys-General, to discuss legal and policy matters affecting the States. We look at how Federal laws impact sub-national governments, coordinate responses to constitutional issues, and engage with national institutions like the National Assembly, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Since assuming office, I’ve focused on making BOSAG more coordinated and results-driven. One key initiative is our partnership with LexisNexis South Africa, to support States in updating and codifying their laws. Many States still rely on outdated legal frameworks. With this partnership, we are helping modernise State laws to reflect current realities.
Though I hosted the South East Special Policy Summit on Criminal Justice Reform in November 2023 before becoming BOSAG Chairman, the event set the tone for regional collaboration. It tackled
“But, I must emphasise that Ebonyi State stands out as the only State in the South that never observed the sitat-home order. This is not by chance. It is the result of the resolute leadership of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru…. Justice cannot be held hostage by fear. In Ebonyi, we’ve chosen law over lawlessness, and we will continue to protect the right of every citizen to live, work, and seek justice without intimidation”
issues like prison congestion, delayed trials, and non-custodial sentencing. It also brought together justice actors to produce practical resolutions - a model we are now promoting at BOSAG.
We’re also building a shared legal reform hub, where States can access model legislation, policy drafts, and tested ideas, reducing duplication and saving time.
As Chairman, my role isn’t to lead others, but to coordinate, guide discussions, and help build consensus. BOSAG is a peer-driven platform, and I’m proud to work with colleagues who are deeply committed to building a more responsive and unified justice system across Nigeria.
The South-East has been a hotbed of violence and crime, based on the activities of IPOB. The sitat-home order they imposed on citizens no doubt, has been received with circumspection. How has this impacted on justice administration in Ebonyi State? Has there been an upsurge in violent crimes in the State? What have you done about the unlawful imposition of Monday sit-at-home by IPOB?
The IPOB-imposed Monday sit-athome disrupted many sectors across the South-East, halting business, affecting schooling, and delaying justice. But, I must emphasise that Ebonyi State stands out as the only State in the South that never observed the sit-at-home order. This is not by chance. It is the result of the resolute leadership of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, who made it clear from the outset that Ebonyi would be governed by the Constitution, not by fear.
While there were initial disruptions - court appearances stalled, witnesses hesitated, and logistics for transporting inmates became complicated - the Governor’s firm stance created the atmosphere needed for us to push back, using both legal and institutional tools. We worked closely with the Judiciary to reduce Monday sittings for sensitive cases while reinforcing that the rule of law must prevail.
Security agencies received clear directives. Our Ministry held engagements with traditional rulers, town unions, and religious leaders to encourage civic resistance to unlawful directives. As Attorney-General, I issued formal legal advisories to reinforce that no individual or group has the right to override State authority. Law officers were protected, and we coordinated discreetly where needed, to keep legal
processes running.
In terms of crime, Ebonyi has remained largely stable. We’ve not witnessed the spike seen in some neighbouring States. Incidents linked to separatist violence, have been dealt with swiftly. We have secured convictions for illegal possession of arms, threats to life, and attempts to enforce the illegal sit-at-home directive.
Justice cannot be held hostage by fear. In Ebonyi, we’ve chosen law over lawlessness, and we will continue to protect the right of every citizen to live, work, and seek justice without intimidation.
What are your views on State Police? Do you think it would provide the much needed panacea to the overwhelming increase in the crime rate across the country? How does your State propose to fund it, if it eventually becomes a reality?
The debate around State Police is no longer academic; it is urgent. My view is clear: Nigeria needs a decentralised policing structure. The current model, where one Federal Police Force tries to serve a country as vast and diverse as ours, has outlived its usefulness. Crime today is more complex, more localised, and in some areas, deeply rooted in local conditions. We cannot expect one central institution, to respond effectively to threats that vary from Sokoto to Abakaliki.
State Police is not about competing with the Federal Police, or politicising law enforcement. It is about proximity, cultural awareness, and local accountability. A Police Officer serving in his or her own community understands the geography, the people, and the social dynamics. That familiarity builds trust, and improves intelligence gathering. It helps prevent crime, before it escalates. In Ebonyi State, we are already laying the groundwork. Though State Police is not yet law, we are studying institutional structures and legal frameworks, to ensure we are ready. His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has already shown leadership through the Neighbourhood Watch programme, which we have helped formalise and support with legal backing. Funding is, of course, a major concern. But, we believe the cost of insecurity is far greater than the cost of building a functional local force. We are exploring a multi-source model: State budget allocations, voluntary community security levies, public-private partnerships, and external support from donor agencies. This model must, however, be backed by transparency and strong oversight.
That said, State Police is not a magic
Ebonyi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Ben Uruchi Odoh
‘State Police Is No Longer Academic; It’s Urgent’
solution. It must come with institutional reforms - better training, internal discipline, respect for rights, and protection from political misuse. If done right, it will not just mean more policing, but, better policing - the kind that is trusted, efficient, and responsive.
As Attorney-General and a former lecturer in criminal justice, I see this not as an experiment, but as a necessary evolution. Security is not a privilege. It is a right. And, the law must be close enough to protect every citizen.
It is on record that you specialised in Forensic law, criminal justice administration and lectured as Associate Professor at the Nigerian Police Academy, Kano. What are your thoughts on the prevailing insecurity in Nigeria? Why does it appear as if crime is beyond the control of security agencies?
This question is personal for me. I’ve spent years teaching criminal justice and forensic law at the Nigerian Police Academy and studying how crime works - and more importantly, how to stop it. So, I don’t speak only as a Government official, but also as someone who has trained many of the officers in service today.
Nigeria is facing a wide range of security challenges: terrorism, banditry, cultism, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts, and street crime. These aren’t random. They’re signs of deeper problems - poverty, youth unemployment, weak institutions, and lack of trust in government. In some areas, government presence is barely felt, so other actors try to fill that vacuum.
When people ask why crime seems out of control, I don’t think it’s because our security officers are lazy or incapable. Many are well-trained and committed. The real issue is that, they’re being asked to solve new problems with old tools. Crime has changed. Criminals now use technology, move quickly, and operate across regions. But, many of our security agencies still use outdated methods and lack proper equipment.
For example, some gangs now use drones and encrypted apps. Meanwhile, officers on the ground often lack fuel, basic forensic tools, or timely intelligence. There’s also a big gap in evidence gathering. Without good evidence, you can’t prosecute. And, without prosecution, crime becomes a revolving door.
This is why, in Ebonyi, we are working on reforming the full chain - from arrest to investigation, prosecution, sentencing, and rehabilitation. We’re also encouraging community policing and rebuilding trust between the people and the justice system.
No single agency, can solve insecurity alone. We need better collaboration - shared intelligence, joint operations, and mutual respect between the Police, Military, Civil Defence, and others.
Finally, we must treat the causes, not just the symptoms. Security means more than armed patrols; it means giving people a reason to believe in the system. That includes access to education, jobs, and justice. Without that, crime will always find a way in.
Magistrates are not well paid and their conditions of service are poor. What is happening to change this narrative in your State?
Magistrates are the backbone of our justice system. They handle the bulk of criminal and civil matters, and often serve as the first point of contact for citizens seeking justice. For too long, across the country,
they have worked under conditions that failed to reflect the importance of their role.
But, in Ebonyi State, that narrative has changed, and I say this with confidence. Today, our Magistrates are not only respected; they are well remunerated. Their salaries and allowances are paid promptly, and deliberate efforts have been made to ensure their economic welfare aligns with the gravity of their responsibilities. We are proud to be one of the few States in Nigeria, where the welfare of Magistrates is treated as a top priority.
I must commend His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for leading this transformation. In September 2023, he donated official vehicles to all Magistrates in the State. That move was not just symbolic, it was a concrete demonstration of value and respect. Before then, many Magistrates in rural jurisdictions relied on public transport, which affected both their dignity and court efficiency. Today, they have the mobility and visibility needed to discharge their duties with confidence.
As Attorney-General, I’ve worked closely with the Judicial Service Commission to improve conditions of service further. We’ve reviewed promotion structures, ensured equity in postings, and broadened access to professional training. Magistrates now benefit from workshops on ethics, case management, and emerging areas of law.
Our digital reforms - like transcription systems and digital case tracking - are being extended to Magistrates' courts. We’ve also upgraded legal resource access and improved infrastructure, especially in underserved areas.
In Ebonyi, Magistrates are no longer overlooked. They are valued, well supported, and positioned to deliver justice effectively.
“Perhaps, our most remarkable step is the ongoing installation of speech-to-text transcription systems in five State High Courts and four rooms in the Abakaliki Custodial Centre. This project, being done in partnership with the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), United States of America, is designed to help Judges and Lawyers, by generating real-time transcripts - a major shift from manual note-taking to automated documentation”
Many States and the Federation have embarked on law reforms. What is the state of Ebonyi State laws?
Law reform is not optional - it’s essential. A legal system must reflect current realities, and anticipate future needs. In Ebonyi State, we recognised early that outdated laws were holding back justice and development, so we made reform a top priority.
When I assumed office in June 2023, I directed a comprehensive review of the laws of Ebonyi State. We set up a dedicated team within the Ministry to examine existing statutes, identify outdated or conflicting provisions, and recommend needed reforms. Like many States, we found laws that had not kept pace with modern governance, human rights standards, technology, or business practices.
In response, we drafted and transmitted 34 Executive Bills, all of which have been passed into law. These cover areas such as public finance, environmental protection, anti-corruption, gender-based violence, and judicial reform. Each law was shaped through consultation with stakeholders, and designed to reflect the realities on the ground.
Beyond new laws, we’ve vetted and standardised over 300 legal agreements for State projects. This ensures that public contracts are legally sound, and protect the State’s interests.
We are also advancing into a second phase: codifying and publishing the Revised Laws of Ebonyi State. Through a partnership with LexisNexis South Africa, we’re digitising and indexing our laws to make them easily accessible. As Chairman of BOSAG, I’ve also promoted this model nationally.
We’ve launched the Ebonyi State Law Reports and revived the Ministry of Justice Law Journal, giving our courts and legal community consistent references for judicial reasoning.
Law reform also supports economic growth. By updating commercial laws and removing old barriers, we’ve created more certainty for private investors, and improved the ease of doing business in the State.
This is a continuous effort. We’re currently reviewing our criminal code, land laws, family law, and customary court procedures to align them with constitutional principles and modern realities.
In short, Ebonyi’s law reform agenda is active and forward-looking. We’re not just fixing old rules - we’re building a legal system that is clear, fair, and
ready for the future.
Some States have digitalised their Judiciaries, including electronic filing and virtual hearings. Has Ebonyi State been able to catch up with other States in this regard?
Yes - and I’d go further to say Ebonyi State is not just catching up; we’re stepping forward as a leader in digital justice reform.
From the outset, we recognised that any justice system not embracing technology risks becoming slow, opaque, and inaccessible. That’s why digitisation has been central to our work, over the past two years. I must appreciate His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, whose “People’s Charter of Needs” has provided the strong foundation for these innovations.
A key milestone was the launch of the Ebonyi State Case Management System (CMS), a web-based platform which allows courts, law officers, and approved stakeholders to manage case files digitally, improving transparency, reducing delays, and limiting record loss.
Perhaps, our most remarkable step is the ongoing installation of speech-to-text transcription systems in five State High Courts and four rooms in the Abakaliki Custodial Centre. This project, being done in partnership with the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), United States of America, is designed to help Judges and Lawyers, by generating real-time transcripts - a major shift from manual note-taking to automated documentation.
We’re also rolling out electronic filing and virtual hearing systems, particularly for administrative or uncontested matters. Pilot programmes are underway in coordination with the Judiciary, and some courts now conduct preliminary hearings remotely. This reduces cost and saves time, especially for litigants in custody or rural areas.
Within the Ministry, we’ve digitised internal processes. Legal memos, opinions, and contract reviews now move through an e-Governance workflow, reducing paper use and speeding up decision-making.
But, we know technology only works when people know how to use it. That’s why we’ve focused on training Magistrates, law officers, and support staff. We’ve also expanded our digital reach to rural areas, including the Afikpo outstation, ensuring equity in access.
Yes, we still face challenges - from infrastructure to funding - but, with partnerships like PPDC’s and continued Government support, we are steadily closing the gap. Ebonyi is building not just a modern justice system, but one that’s accessible, fair, and future-ready.
Thank you Honourable Attorney-General.
Ebonyi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Ben Uruchi Odoh
Ileya Festival: Olori Janet Afolabi Launches Food Bank, Distributes Rice to Apomu People
Stories by Uzoma Mba
In a heartfelt gesture that blends tradition, compassion and community empowerment, Olori Janet Afolabi, CNN award-winning journalist and Queen of Apomu Kingdom, recently distributed 150 bags of 50kg rice to residents of Apomu in celebration of the Ileya Festival.
The distribution, which took place on June 3 at the Palace of the Alapomu of Apomu, also marked the official launch of the Olori Janet Afolabi Foundation Food Bank, an initiative designed to combat food insecurity and hunger in rural areas of Osun State.
Speaking at the launch, Olori Janet emphasised the urgency of addressing hunger in Nigeria’s rural communities, particularly during festive periods when economic hardship can intensify the struggle for survival.
“The food distribution is in response to the pressing issue of hunger in rural communities,” she said. “It is aimed at providing immediate relief to those in need and supporting rural families.
“Every package of rice represents moments of relief. As we distribute the food, we are not just meeting a basic need — we are offering compassion, care and kindness. We are not just filling stomachs, we are filling hearts with hope, because every act of kindness, no matter how small, can have a profound impact.”
The event drew a large crowd of beneficiaries, including the elderly, widows, and low-income families, who expressed deep appreciation for the gesture. For many, the food aid could not have come at a more critical time.
In Yoruba communities such as Apomu, the festival is not only a time of spiritual
reflection but also of communal sharing and charity — values that Olori Janet’s intervention reflects deeply.
Therefore, her Foundation’s Food Bank, she said, is not a one-off project but a sustainable initiative aimed at long-term community support.
“We are honoured to launch this Food Bank to address hunger and promote well-being in our community. We recognise that hunger is a reality for many in our community, and we want to do something about it,” Olori Janet said.
She noted that beyond the regular distribution of food items, the Food Bank would also run complementary programmes focused on nutrition education, counselling, and community health.
“Our Food Bank is more than a pantry.
It is a symbol of hope. We are reminding those in need that they are seen, heard and valued. The Food Bank is a testament of our dedication to serve the community,” she added.
This latest initiative is part of Olori Janet Afolabi’s broader mission to uplift the Apomu community through empowerment, education, and advocacy. In recent years, she has championed female literacy, youth development, and leadership training programmes, using her influence as Queen and journalist to amplify local voices and promote rural development. Her commitment to social justice and humanitarian service continues to earn her admiration within and beyond Osun State. With the establishment of the Food Bank, Olori Janet Afolabi once again affirms that leadership — especially traditional leadership — must include the practical alleviation of suffering and the restoration of dignity.
Fromm Vision to Reality: Neveah Commences Production at its new 44,000 MT Recycling Plant
Neveah Limited is proud to announce the successful commencement of production at its state-of-the-artaluminum and copper recycling plant in Ogun State, Nigeria. In a decisive first run, the plant has produced its first set of aluminum ingots, achieving an impressive 85.1% purity level, an indicator of the superior quality Neveah aims to consistently achieve once full-scale operations begin. By leveraging cutting-edge instruments, Neveah ensures that each ingot adheres to the highest global standards, thereby facilitating seamless access to demanding export markets. This adoption of the latest technology ensures that every ingot produced not only meets but surpasses international quality requirements, reinforcing Neveah’s commitment to premium-grade output that is export-ready.
“This milestone is more than just production, it’s a glimpse into our future,” said Mr. Ibidapo Lawal, CEO of Neveah Limited. “We are not just recycling; we are redefining how Africa contributes to the global circular economy.”
As the company gears up for fullscale operations in the coming days, this milestone underscores a series of significant strides. Neveah’s recycling plant, a multi-billion Naira investment, is designed to process over 44,000 metric tons of aluminum and copper annually,
Neveah’s rapid ascent has not gone unnoticed. The company secured the top position in the Metals & Mining category and ranked 21st on the Financial Times’ 2025 list of Africa’s FastestGrowing Companies. These accolades spotlight Neveah’s global relevance and operational excellence in a highly competitive sector, a testament to its
strategic vision, and operational excellence. As the plant prepares to transition to full-scale production in the coming days, Neveah stands poised to transform scrap into high-quality metals, reinforce Nigeria’s export portfolio, and drive a circular economy model that benefits communities at home and abroad.
Olori Janet with some of the community beneficiaries
The recycling plant
Firm, Frontclear Deepen Strategic Alliance to Drive Cross-border Money Markets
Kayode Tokede
In a move set to redefine Africa’s financial market architecture, FMDQ Group Plc and Frontier Clearing Corporation B.V. (Frontclear) have deepened their strategic alliance to catalyse the growth of cross-border money market transactions. The landmark agreement was formalised at a high-level signing ceremony held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, marking a pivotal step toward strengthening financial market infrastructure and liquidity access across the continent.
The collaboration aims to introduce cutting-edge Cross-Border Money Market Products, underpinned by robust risk mitigation structures and globally aligned standards. It positions Nigeria—home to one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s most sophisticated financial ecosystems— as a springboard for deepening market efficiency, promoting
secured funding instruments, and fostering regional integration. At the heart of the initiative is FMDQ Clear Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of FMDQ Group, which serves as Nigeria’s premier central counterparty (CCP). With capabilities in third-party collateral management and post-trade risk mitigation, FMDQ Clear is poised to provide the backbone infrastructure for secure, efficient and transparent execution of cross-border money market trades. Frontclear, a Netherlands-based development finance institution, brings to the table its pioneering guarantee mechanism, Tradeclear, which enables financial institutions in emerging markets to participate in secured transactions with enhanced creditworthiness. The solution lowers barriers for liquidity access, especially for smaller domestic banks, by offering third-party risk mitigation, thereby unlocking trust among market
participants.
CEO of FMDQ Group, Mr. Bola Onadele. Koko, in a statement said, “This partnership with Frontclear represents a significant leap forward in our mission to transform the financial markets into a vibrant ecosystem, in line with our GOLD Agenda. By introducing cross-border money market instruments, we are not only expanding opportunities for local participants but also aligning Nigeria’s market practices with international standards.”
Echoing this sentiment, CEO of Frontclear, Mr. Philip Buyskes remarked, “Given the central role that financial market infrastructure plays in developing stable and inclusive money markets, we are pleased to deepen our longstanding relationship with FMDQ. Our aligned ambitions will deliver systemic value across the region.”
Ports: APM Terminals, NDLEA Strengthen Alliance Against Drug Trafficking
In a strong show of public-private partnership, APM Terminals Apapa has teamed up with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to combat drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria’s port corridors, particularly in Apapa and Tin Can Island. The collaboration was announced as part of activities marking the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Welcoming attendees at the event in Apapa, Assistant Comptroller General of Narcotics, Buba Wakawa, Commander of the NDLEA Apapa Strategic Command, described the theme as a perfect match for the objectives of the agency’s flagship campaign, War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), initiated by NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd).
Wakawa revealed that the Apapa Command had successfully intercepted 14 containers laden with psychotropic substances in the past year, including 744,635
bottles of codeine-based syrup and 36,652,460 tablets of tramadol, weighing a combined 132 tonnes.
“That’s almost 36 million tablets of tramadol that never made it into our streets. The implications for our society, if they had, would have been catastrophic,” he said, crediting the feat to the synergy between the NDLEA and other security agencies.
Supporting the cause, the Commander of NDLEA’s Tin Can Strategic Command noted that the command has seized over 30 tons of illicit drugs — including amphetamines, tramadol, codeine, and cocaine — within the past year. He emphasized the importance of intelligence-sharing, citing collaboration with British border agencies and other international partners to trace shipments from drug-exporting countries such as Brazil, Malaysia, and Canada.
He added that maritime collaboration was essential: “We work with shipping lines and port operators to track suspicious
cargo. The manifest is a critical document, and we rely on accurate data to intercept illicit substances before they enter Nigeria.”
Representing APM Terminals at the event, Health and Safety Executive Emmanuel Uko affirmed the company’s full commitment to the anti-drug campaign.
“We say, let’s break the cycle. At APM Terminals, we stand firmly with NDLEA. We support this initiative not only as a corporate social responsibility but because we see the real-life consequences when truck drivers and port users operate under the influence,” Uko said. He emphasised that APM Terminals enforces a strict zero-drug-and-alcohol policy and is keen on collaborating further with the NDLEA to strengthen port safety protocols.
“This issue goes beyond compliance — it’s about saving lives. We will continue to review our internal processes and explore new ways to support NDLEA’s efforts,” he added.
LemonLime Nigeria Ltd Launches in Lagos
Sunday Ehigiator
Lemonlime Nigeria Limited, a vibrant and visionary Public Relations (PR) agency, was officially launched over the weekend in Lagos, with a promise to offer a bold and modern public relations service in Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch, the Seasoned Communication Strategist and Founder, Lemonlime, Yahaya Wuraola abike, noted that, “LemonLime stands at the intersection of creativity, culture, and strategy. With its signature hues of lemon, lime, and soft yellow, the brand isn’t just a
name, it’s an experience. Think animated branding, intentional storytelling, and PR campaigns that don’t just speak, they spark conversation. Visibility is currency in today’s world. Whether you’re a politician, entrepreneur, or creative professional, we believe your story deserves to be seen, understood, and celebrated on your terms.
“From Lagos to the world, LemonLime offers tailored PR solutions that blend style with substance, helping clients evolve, rebrand, and elevate their public image. The brand fuses elegance with energy, delivering
professional storytelling in a tone that’s classy and playful, modern yet rooted in authenticity. Whether you’re launching a personal brand or navigating a political re-election campaign, LemonLime’s team ensures your message hits the mark, strategically and creatively. Our core services include Personal and Political PR strategising, Content Creation & Social Media Management, Rebranding & Image Consulting, Visual Identity & Brand Styling, Press Campaigns & Thought Leadership Placement, Crisis Management & Media Relations.”
Security, Technology Take Center Stage at PFSOFN Conference
The Port Facility Security Officers Forum of Nigeria (PFSOFN), in collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)— Nigeria’s designated authority for implementing the ISPS Code—has finalized robust arrangements to host its 10th Annual National Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
According to Mr. Adewole Gege, National Chairman of PFSOFN, this year’s theme centres on strengthening national
intelligence-sharing and unity among Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs), by building on the Forum’s core mandate.
Gege revealed that the twoday conference will spotlight the transformative role of digital tools, automation, surveillance systems, and security analytics. The primary aim is to bolster compliance with international standards and safeguard Nigerian ports against emerging security threats. In addition, the event will
offer extensive capacity-building opportunities through peersharing of experiences and best practices—a central pillar of this year’s discussions.
The gathering is expected to attract a wide spectrum of maritime security stakeholders, including terminal operators, CEOs from maritime public and private security agencies, academic experts, media representatives, and private sector participants.
Saharan Blend
Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).
L-R: Health and Safety Executive, APM Terminals Apapa, Emmanuel Uko; Assistant Comptroller General of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Tin-Can Island Strategic Command, Karlis Alumona; Clinician, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr. Omotayo Owoeye and Assistant Comptroller General of Narcotics, Apapa Strategic Command, Buba Wakawa, at the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Apapa, Lagos...recently
Stock Market Returns South to Close June on Negative Note
Kayode Tokede
The stock market section of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday ended the last trading day for the month of June on a negative note, with a loss of 0.01 per cent on price decline in Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) and 30 others.
A 1.52 per cent drop in GTCO to close at N81.25 per share and
1.81 per cent decline in Zenith Bank to N56.95per share drove the Nigerian Exchange Limited
All Share Index (NGX ASI) lower by 17.19 basis points or 0.01 per cent to close at 119,978.57 basis points.
Accordingly, the Month-toDate and Year-to-Date returns settled at +7.4per cent and +16.6per cent, respectively.
Also, market capitalisation lost N11 billion to close at N75.951
trillion.
THISDAY gathered that the market capitlisation has gained N13.2 trillion in the first half (H1) of 2025 amid renewed investors confidence in the listed stocks on the bourse.
However, the sectoral performance was mixed as the NGX Banking Index down by 1.1 per cent, NGX Industrial Goods Index depreciated by 0.4 per cent and NGX Oil & Gas Index
tumble by 0.3 pe cent, while the NGX Consumer Goods index advanced by 0.8per cent and NGX Insurance gaining 0.7per cent.
Despite the marginal decline, market sentiment remained slightly positive, as reflected by a narrowly negative market breadth, with 32 stocks advancing against 31 decliners.
CWG recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to
close at N12.65, per share. Caverton Offshore Support Group followed with a gain of 9.96 per cent to close at N5.74, while NEIMETH International Pharmaceuticals up by 9.93 per cent to close at N6.53, per share.
FTN Cocoa processors rose by 9.91 per cent to close at N3.66, while Meyer appreciated by 9.84 per cent to close at N10.05, per share. On the other hand, Learn Africa led the losers’ chart by
10 per cent to close at N4.59, per share. Julius Berger followed with a decline of 9.97 per cent to close at N112.00, while C&I Leasing declined by 9.90 per cent to close at N4.64, per share.
Thomas Wyatt Nigeria depreciated by 9.62 per cent to close at N1.88, while Daar Communications declined by 8.20 per cent to close at 56 kobo, per share.
TRADED ASOF JUNE/30/25
A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.
An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the
floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
GUIDE TO DATA:
Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 27 June-2025, unless otherwise stated.
DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS
Inauguration of newly constructed Access Roads in Giri District, Abuja, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas …yesterday
Minister of State FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abass, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Chairman Senate Committee on FCT, Ibrahim Bomai, EFCC Executive Secretary, Muhammad Hammajoda and Chairman Senate Committee on FCT Area Council, David Jimkuta
Area Council Chairmen
Senator Magnus Abe, MD of Levant Construction Ltd, Elie Tannous and another official of the company
The newly Constructed Access Roads in Giri District, Abuja
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, welcoming the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abass to the event
Minister of State FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abass, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Chairman Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Ibrahim Bomai and EFCC Executive Secretary, Muhammad Hammajoda
A cross section of other guests
PDP National Vice Chairman (South South), Chief Dan Orbih, Senator Philip Aduda
L-R: Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Chibudom Nwuche, Prince Emma Anyanwu, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, former Governors of Enugu and Benue States, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Samuel Ortom
Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
08033025611 SMS ONLY
As Nigeria Leads Africa’s Climate Conversation...
Stanley Nkwocha writes about the leading role Nigeria is playing in the Climate Change Narrative in the African continent and cited the recent state visit of Vice President Kashim Shettima to Ethiopia during which he launched the country’s Green Legacy Initiative.
Nigeria’s pride of place as a ‘big brother’ nation in Africa derives basically from its external relations, with primary focus on the African continent. As a regional power within the West African sub-region and the ‘Giant of Africa’ on the continent, its role involves several foundational goals, including political stability, unity, and mutual coexistence among African states, as well as the continent’s socio-economic stability.
This crucial role was reaffirmed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, where Vice President Kashim Shettima went on a state visit starting Thursday, June 26, 2025.
Nigeria’s tremendous achievements in the fight against climate change emboldened Senator Shettima to align Nigeria with that country’s aspirations during the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) on Friday.
There’s no doubt that Nigeria has since emerged as a trailblazer in Africa’s fight against climate change, with its comprehensive and ambitious climate change agenda. This has elicited widespread admiration and emulation across the continent. With the administration of President Bola Tinubu launching a comprehensive and ambitious climate change agenda, positioning Nigeria as a leader in environmental sustainability on the continent has taken the front burner.
What was meant to be an official state visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, turned out to be an avenue for the Nigerian Vice President to showcase his country’s versatility - a nation that adapts itself to the circumstances and peculiarities of other countries in Africa. State visits are the highest level of international engagements and mark a strong diplomatic relationship between two nations.
At the launch of Ethiopia’s GLI, Senator Shettima emphasised that climate change is
not a problem to be solved in a conference room. For him, it is a danger that requires practical actions from each nation, responding to their unique ecological burdens and geographical challenges. He made it clear that he was not in that country only to share in the country’s joy and exchange ideas; it was also a visit meant to convey the deep and abiding
solidarity of Nigeria’s leader, President Tinubu, and its people for one singular reason: both countries have the largest stake in Africa’s future.
“Ethiopia and Nigeria are the two most populous countries in Africa. This distinction is not just statistical; it is existential. It means we have the largest stake in Africa’s future. It means that more of our people are exposed to the peril of climate change, and it also means
that we face the highest cost of inaction,” he said. Re-echoing Nigeria’s place as ‘big brother’ in Africa, the Vice President said the most populous nation on the continent is not a mere spectator in the fight against climate change but a major partner and participant. “And we are prepared to play our part to keep Africa green,” he declared, recalling that it is the promise Nigeria and other nations have been making at the Conferences of the Parties (COP) every year.
On Saturday, Senator Shettima embarked on a tour of multiple agricultural and industrial facilities across Ethiopia. To many, the tour may seem like a routine schedule during state visits, but for the Nigerian Vice President, it was beyond that. He seized the opportunity to assess the progress made so far in Ethiopia within the purview of the Nigerian situation.
The idea of the tour, for Shettima, was to take notes, with a view to grabbing one or two ideas from programmes and initiatives that align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration in Nigeria, particularly the ones advancing the growth and development of that East African country.
He visited the Adama Dairy Farms, Luke Avocado Nursery, Shera Dibandiba Mojo Family Integrated Farm, Biyyo Poultry Farm, and Bishoftu Pea Farm, all in a bid to strengthen bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development.
During the tour, the Vice President hinted at plans by Nigeria to start planting 20 billion trees in the next rainy season. This, he noted, requires “a lot of planning, energy and drive, which Ethiopia was able to galvanise its population into doing.”
-Nkwocha, media aide to Vice President Shettima, writes from Abuja.
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Obasa: Chronicling A Decade of Commanding Legislative Tour De Force
Adeshina Oyetayo chronicles the legislative interventions of Hon Mudashiru Obasa since his election as Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly 10 years ago.
In June, 2025, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, celebrates a decade of commanding legislative tour de force, during which he has evolved from the starry-eyed wunderkind of the legislature to being present and pivotal, and integral and invaluable to Lagos’ evolution into Africa’s fourth-biggest economy.
Lagos is Nigeria’s most important state, economic nerve centre, and the largest contributor to her GDP. However, economies don’t grow in isolation; every economy needs the proactive and prodigious collaboration of the three arms of government. Therefore, the success or otherwise of any legislative season has profound impacts on individuals and institutions; the state’s economy, the executive, and the judiciary; and, by extension, the Fourth Estate of the Realm—media.
Instructively, the success of the Lagos economy is not a cosmic roll of the dice. Speaker Obasa has been at the forefront, superintending the legislative arm with unparalleled aplomb and astuteness, tact, and elemental decency, and promoting and promulgating laws for the socio-economic prosperity and progress of the state.
As of 2015, when he assumed office as Speaker, the Lagos economy was estimated to be $136.6 billion, according to Invest in Lagos. Ten years later, Lagos’ GDP is now estimated at $259 billion, making it the second-largest city economy in Africa, just behind Cairo, Egypt. According to the Africa Wealth Report 2022,
by
&
in partnership with New World Wealth, Lagos was named the fourth wealthiest city on the African continent, with a total private
of $97 billion. That was no mean feat. Seven years earlier, precisely on
Monday, June 8, 2015, Obasa was elected Speaker of the Eighth Assembly of the Lagos State House of Assembly. In his acceptance speech, he promised to work harmoniously with the executive and judicial arms of government to move the state forward. According to him, “We are stewards of the public trust,
and our employers—the people—have given us the mandate of keeping Lagos working; a mandate to steer Lagos in the direction of greater opportunities, prosperity, and development.”
In the intervening decade, during which he served as chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (2018-2020) and emerged as the most vocal advocate for legislative autonomy, Obasa has redefined legislative excellence and impact with his parliamentary expertise and experience.
As Nigeria’s most populous state with an estimated 20 million residents, where every Nigerian and non-Nigerian alike comes to seek greener pastures, there were palpable fears and threats of insecurity.
Lagos was experiencing economic growth, and from his leading position, Obasa recognises that safety and security lie at the heart of a nation’s or state’s prosperity, because significant development cannot exist without them. Therefore, he proposed a bill to create the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) to assist and complement the police by providing valuable intelligence for crime prevention and facilitating the arrest of perpetrators of criminal activities in the state.
-Oyetayo, the Media Adviser to Lagos Assembly Speaker Obasa, writes from Ikeja.
THISDAY TUESDAY JULY 1, 2025 NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com
released
Henley
Partners
wealth
Obasa
Shettima
THISDAY TUESDAY JULY 1, 2025
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
THE MOVE FOR STATE POLICE
State policing is overdue in Nigeria
In a major endorsement for State Policing in Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently called for an urgent overhaul of our security framework through constitutional reform. “The debate over State Police is no longer theoretical. It is grounded in the daily fears and live anxieties of Nigerians: farmers afraid
day legislative dialogue on constitutional review and national security architecture, organised by the House Committee on National Security Adviser (ONSA).
For years, governors have argued that each of the federating units (which the have control over their own when there will still be federal
to ask for the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force
said, “there is no federation of our size that does not have state gathering.
Notwithstanding potential pitfalls, we believe that the merits of having state police are overwhelming. It’s time to amend the constitution to reflect the current reality
allowances and other forms of assistance. But they have no take orders from Abuja. Besides, the NPF is so overwhelmed to the extent that a huge slice of the military asset is now
for years canvassed the idea. Last year, a former NSA, Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, advocated a rethink of the current
T H I S D AY
EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU
DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, EMMANUEL EFENI
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
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SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI
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Letters to the Editor
extension of true federalism where each of the units is
beyond that is the growing challenge of insecurity that needs fresh thinking. “The
Constitution must evolve or risk becoming a danger to the There are also genuine concerns that under a situation in that the National Assembly, working with the Conference we align ourselves with the strong view that the country is
Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 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 (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.
THE POLITICS OF GANDUJE’S RESIGNATION
Umar Ganduje, Chairman of APC, resigned his position last week, citing health challenges. Ganduje’s resignation came to many Nigerians as surprise. On 25th February this year, after 18 months without NEC meeting and following barrage of criticisms from APC stakeholders notably Salihu Lukman, Nasir el-Rufai and Kayode Fayemi, Ganduje convened a NEC meeting in which the Progressives Governors’ Forum chairman,Hope Uzodim-
what seemed to be another political permutations, Ganduje had to relinquish his appointment to pave the way for the emergence of deputy vice chairman North,Ali Dolari to take the position in acting capacity pending the national convention scheduled for November,2025. In 2023, after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had won the election, Abdullahi Adamu who was the national chairman had to resign.
The former National chairman who hails from North -central is believed to have endorsed Ahmed Lawan, then Senate President as the consensus candidate for 2023 Presidential election. Ganduje is one of the top four northern governors who supported Tinubu in 2023.The other three are former
governors of Zamfara,Jigawa and Kaduna States. It is only El-Rufai who did not feature in Tinubu 's administration. When Ganduje was appointed as the national chairman, despite the baggage he was carry ing, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu looked the other way and allowed him to emerge. APCeral governors and some members of national assembly to its fold through cross-carpeting. But political watchers are yet to come to terms with the reason behind Ganduje's sudden resignation.
The North-East APC caucus meeting held in Gombe State recently was embroiled in crisis. Ganduje and his Vice chairman North East were said to have endorsed Tinubu, dropping security operatives to save Ganduje from being lynched. Some Nigerians believed Umar Ganduje must have stepped on the abrupt resignation. Another story links the fall of the former national chairman to the recent Bwari Area Council primary election in which there was an allegations of corruption against him. Ganduje has also been accused for meddling in the South-east politics, particularly the recent Anambra gu-
bernatorial primary for the upcoming elections. It is also reported, Ganduje is hobnobbing with Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State against the faction of the Secretary to the Government of Federation(SGF), Senator George Akume.
Another theory puts Ganduje exit to a deliberate political strategy to lure his former estranged political boss,Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso into the APC. Ganduje served as Kwankwaso deputy until 2015. Politically speaking, Kwankwaso is believed to have control over Kano 's politics. Evidence was his performance in the 2023 presidential elections in which he won the state as the presidential candidate of NNPP. Rabiu Kwankwaso went ahead to win the gubernatorial election for his political puppet,Abba Kabiru Yusuf. With APC strengthening its party and receiving many defectors, Kwankwaso is being courted by the ruling party. Did Umar Ganduje’s resignation has to do with expected defection of Kwankwaso? Is Ganduje resignation part of the condition for Kwankwaso to join APC? With Ganduje unceremonious exist, Nigerians should expect more political permutations as the country heads to 2027 election.
• Ibrahim Mustapha, Pambegua, Kaduna State
Nigeria Keeps Flared Gas
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has managed to keep its flared gas at an average of 7.5 per cent monthly amid worsening global carbon emissions from the energy sector, which hit a record high for the fourth year running in 2024, THISDAY’s checks have shown.
Specifically, data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that throughout 2024, the country stabilised the volume of gas flared at 7.69 per cent, while so far in 7.33 per cent.
But despite the energy transition conversation, fossil fuel use continues to rise, although renewable energy also grew to a record high, data from the Energy Institute’s annual
statistical review of world energy showed. The Energy Institute’s is UK’s foremost chartered organisation for energy experts.
The report’s figures highlighted the challenge of trying to wean the world economy off fossil fuels, with last year being the hottest year on record, and global temperatures exceeding 1.5 C or 34.7 F above the pre-industrial era for the first time.
In the same vein, the world saw a 2 per cent annual rise in total energy supply in 2024, with all sources of energy such as oil, gas, coal, nuclear, hydro and renewable energy registering increases, which last occurred in 2006, the report said.
This led to carbon emissions increasing by around 1 per cent in 2024 and exceeding the record level set the previous year at 40.8
gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Of all the global fossil fuels, natural gas saw the biggest increase in generation, growing 2.5 per cent, while coal grew by 1.2 per cent to remain the largest source of generation globally, as oil growth was under 1 per cent.
A breakdown of the NUPRC data showed that in January, February and March last year, Nigeria’s gas flare was 8.28 per cent, 8.18 per cent and 7.64 per cent respectively.
Besides in April, May and June, the gas flared was: 7.58 per cent, 7 per cent and 7.07 per cent and further decreasing to 6.84 per cent, 7.45 per cent and 7.15 per cent compared to the previous quarter.
Also, in the last quarter of 2024, the volume of gas flared was: 8.2
per cent, 7.97 per cent and 8.85 per cent respectively.
Besides, in the first four months spanning January to April, the percentage of gas flared was: 7.3 per cent, 7.8 per cent, 7 per cent and 7.2 per cent.
Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and home to some of the world’s largest gas reserves, has long struggled with the paradox of flaring vast volumes of natural gas while millions of its citizens remain without access to clean cooking or stable electricity.
The flared volumes, often a by-product of oil production in remote or underdeveloped fields, represent not just a climate concern but a colossal economic loss.
However, the 7.5 per cent flare rate suggests that the country’s
efforts, anchored on regulatory tightening, monetisation incentives, and increased investor engagement are gradually making headway.
From a peak of over 2 billion standard cubic feet per day flared two decades ago, Nigeria’s consistency in keeping flare levels below 10 per cent for three consecutive years signals a shift in corporate behaviour and regulatory pressure.
Since the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021, operators are now subject to stricter gas utilisation mandates and penalties for unlicensed flaring. Additionally, the government has awarded several flare gas commercialisation licenses to independent companies under a dedicated programme aimed at turning waste into wealth.
Under the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), investors are offered access to flare sites through transparent bidding, with the promise of using captured gas for downstream purposes like compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and electricity generation. As per wind and solar energy, the report showed that it expanded by 16 per cent in 2024, nine times faster than total energy demand, the Energy Institute’s said. Analysts tracking progress said the world is not on course to meet a global goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 despite record amounts being added.
Tinubu, Others Urge Legislative Support for Nigeria-China Bilateral Trade Relations
Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
President Bola Tinubu has highlighted the importance of creating a conducive business environment to attract foreign investment, particularly from China.
This is just as stakeholders at the Nigeria-China Sustainable Business, Bilateral Trade and Investment Summit, coordinated by the Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO, Merited Negotiation Consulting, Mr. Kunle Yusuff, in partnership with the House of Representatives Committee on
Nigeria-China Relations, emphasised the need for robust support from the Nigerian legislature to enhance bilateral trade and investment between Nigeria and China.
The President in his keynote address at the summit held in Lagos, said Nigeria is positioned to become a net exporter to China within five years, appreciating the House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria-China relations and the consultant, Kunle Yusuff, for their efforts in strengthening the 54-year-old relationship between
Nigeria and China.
Represented by the DirectorGeneral/Global Liaison, NigeriaChina Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tegbe, he stressed the critical role of the legislature in deepening the trade relationship between the two countries, noting that the Nigerian Legislature has a vital part to play in actualizing the ten China-Africa partnership actions through its lawmaking, oversight, and budgetary roles.
Tinubu identified key areas where legislative support is
crucial, including appropriate legislation and funding of education; trade facilitation laws, tariff harmonization, and customs reforms and amendment to industrial policy laws to accommodate digital cooperation, special economic zones, and joint ventures with Chinese firms
Others are legislative strengthening of land use policies, provision of budgetary support for demonstration farms, and creating enabling laws for agro-tech transfer, rural livelihoods, and food security collaborations
and championing climate and environmental legislation, promote renewable energy policies, and ensure Nigeria benefits from clean energy and green innovation.
Tinubu also highlighted some of the strategic investments and highly competitive financing options from China, including an integrated agricultural investment portfolio exceeding $1 billion; a novel cassava value chain initiative valued at $800 million; investment in electric vehicles battery manufacturing and mineral extraction worth $1 billion;
a robust automotive manufacturing program estimated at $1.2 billion and roposed $10 billion in oil and gas sector investment commitments. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, affirmed the commitment of the House in creating a legislative framework that would boost the Nigeria-China economic relations.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Engineer Changing Economics of Drilling
Oluchi Chibuzor narrataes how a drilling engineer with nearly two decades of experience, Olugbenga Abolarin, has distinguished himself by driving sustained, strategic, and impactful innovation in not only the deepwater basins of West Africa but also the unconventional shale basins in the United States
In the high-risk, capital-intensive world of oil and gas drilling, the line between profit and loss is often measured in millimeters of pipe and minutes of rig time. One engineer is setting new benchmarks for what’s possible on two continents. Olugbenga Abolarin, a drilling engineer with nearly two decades of experience, has distinguished himself by driving sustained, strategic, and impactful innovation in not only the deepwater basins of West Africa but also the unconventional shale basins in the U.S.
His innovations in well planning, capital efficiency, and technical risk mitigation have earned recognition from senior industry leaders and at Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) technical conferences. A senior engineering leader familiar with his work noted, “Abolarin’s drilling packages have become the benchmark for engineers across multiple regions. He has a unique ability to fuse engineering precision with clear economic justification.”
One of the most notable examples of Abolarin’s technical and business capabilities is his pivotal role as the technical architect of a multi-billion-dollar capital development program. In this role, he was responsible for designing the drilling plans and establishing a viable business case. Most notably, Abolarin led the development and implementation of probabilistic costing models, generating transparency for data-driven funding decisions. Abolarin’s
rigorous methodology was a crucial component in his company’s success in raising over $1 billion in outside capital for the project. His influence extends beyond financial engineering. During an exploratory venture in an offshore basin with unique geological challenges, Abolarin’s well design led to the discovery of commercially viable hydrocarbon reserves. The company detailed the finding in its earnings release and it received multiple mentions by the media, including S&P Global Commodity Insights in 2024. “Abolarin’s work was essential to the well’s success,” said a technical advisor familiar with the project. “His ability to navigate depleted zones, design safe casing strategies, and reduce drilling risk was second to none.”
Beyond large capital projects, Abolarin has advanced drilling methodologies in highly constrained environments.
In a complex, dual-deviated injector well, he implemented a dynamic cementing strategy to maintain an Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD) within narrow margins, preventing catastrophic losses and achieving flawless zonal isolation without resorting to expensive lightweight cements. This strategy resulted in over $1 million in cost savings and was subsequently integrated into his company’s global
cementing best practices.
In the United States, his transition to unconventional operations had a similarly significant impact. As part of a shale development program in the Permian Basin, Abolarin introduced a slim-hole, four-string well architecture that reduced drilling days by double digits and generated multimilliondollar savings per well. The design’s performance record shattered regional benchmarks and was adopted as the standard model for subsequent developments.
One of his most notable field contributions arose from the necessity of sidetracking a horizontal well in West Africa. Faced with the unavailability of specialized tools, Abolarin engineered a cement kick-off plug using standard equipment—a solution previously believed to be unachievable. This marked the company’s first successful horizontal cement plug and sidetrack without specialized hardware, a major accomplishment. The method has since become a new model of practice within his organization for similar challenging sidetracks.
His influence extends beyond operational execution. Abolarin is also a published thought leader. He has authored several technical papers for SPE conferences, including Frameworks”
of a Well with Sustained Casing Pressure”
These papers provide pragmatic, data-supported solutions to recurring engineering challenges. In addition, Abolarin has served as a technical paper reviewer for SPE NAICE, where he reviewed more than a dozen submissions on topics ranging from machine learning for wellbore instability to AI-enabled managed pressure drilling. He plays a direct role in ensuring that only the most technically sound and impactful innovations are shared with the broader engineering community.
As noted by industry colleagues, what sets Abolarin apart is not just his technical expertise, but his ability to transform “field-level engineering to enterprise-level value.” Whether optimizing casing design, spearheading risk-based cost modeling, or reshaping offshore well architecture, his work directly enhances project profitability, safety, and sustainability. Abolarin is more than a world-class drilling engineer. He is a cross-functional strategist, problem solver, and innovator whose body of work continues to influence the global energy sector. As the oil and gas sector navigates increasingly complex operational and environmental challenges, voices like Abolarin’s are not only essential—they are transformative.
FG Targets Distribution of 5m LPG Cylinders by 2030
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has flagged off the North-west zone grassroots Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) penetration programme and cylinder distribution initiative in Sokoto State.
The programme which aims to promote the use of clean cooking gas across the country, is targeting 5 million Liquefied Petroleum Gas
(LPG) cylinders penetration by 2030.
“We are immensely proud to bring the next phase of this initiative to the North-west Zone,”
Ekpo said at the event held at the Sokoto State International Conference Centre, according to his spokesman, Louis Ibah.
The programme, he said , has already been launched in the South-west, South-south, and North-east zones, following its successful launch in Abuja in May
2024. Ekpo announced that the federal government has revised its target upwards to distribute 5 million LPG cylinders by 2030, with an average of 1 million households being converted per annum over the next five years. “This zone, with its vibrant communities, cultural depth, and entrepreneurial energy, plays a pivotal role in helping us achieve that target,” he added.
Ekpo explained that the initiative is designed to have a multifaceted impact, “protecting the health of our women and children by reducing indoor air pollution, creating jobs and livelihoods along the LPG value chain.”
According to him, it will also strengthen local enterprise through support for Nigerian manufacturers and distributors, and preserving the environment by curbing deforestation
How Factoring Became the Buzzword for SME Liqu idity at Afreximbank AGM
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
In a decisive shift away from credit-led SME financing, Woodhall Capital, under the leadership of Mrs Moji Hunponu-Wusu, hosted a robust workshop on factoring during the Afreximbank Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja.
The event, co-hosted with NEXIM Bank and backed by SEWA Capital Limited, introduced over 200 stakeholders to the game-
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said that with the activation of two newly installed power transformers at its 330/132/33 kilovolt Birnin Kebbi Transmission Substation in Kebbi State, 120mw has been added to the national grid.
General Manager, Public Affairs of the TCN, Ndidi Mbah, in a statement in Abuja, said the
changing potential of receivables finance.
At the heart of the workshop was a simple but powerful proposition: unlocking liquidity without borrowing.
In a market where SMEs often face working capital challenges due to delayed invoice settlements, factoring emerges as a transformative option that does not require physical collateral or affect ownership structure.
She said, “We are not just
100 megavolt-amperes, MVA and 150 MVA transformers were energised at 1:18 pm and 2:56 pm, respectively, on Friday, June 27, 2025. She stated that the installation of the additional transformers has increased the substation’s capacity from 300 MVA to 450 MVA.
As a result, the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, TCN said, now has an additional 120mw of bulk power for distribution to its customers
discussing access to finance; we are redefining the terms,” said Mrs Hunponu-Wusu in her keynote address. Factoring allows SMEs to monetize their cashflow pipeline without debt or dilution. That’s revolutionary in a liquidity-starved economy.”
Participants were taken through the mechanics of recourse vs. non-recourse factoring, credit insurance layering, digital documentation, and the evolving role of financial service providers
across Kebbi, Sokoto, and surrounding areas.
The company further stated that the development also enables TCN to maintain normal bulk power supply to Niamey, Niger Republic.
“We are committed to the continued expansion and maintenance of the nation’s transmission system to ensure a more effective and efficient bulk power transmission nationwide,” the statement added.
(FSPs) in providing onboarding and risk underwriting.
SMEs gained not only awareness but actionable tools, many were supported in understanding how to assign invoices, develop receivables ledgers, and meet anti-money laundering (AML) compliance for factoring participation.
The inclusion of Mrs Angela Jide Jones, Managing Director of SEWA Capital, gave the event a practical lens.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said that with the activation of two newly installed power transformers at its 330/132/33 kilovolt Birnin Kebbi Transmission Substation in Kebbi State, 120mw has been added to the national grid. General Manager, Public Affairs of the TCN, Ndidi Mbah, in a statement in Abuja, said the
and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“I urge beneficiaries to use them responsibly, promote their use in your communities, and become ambassadors of clean energy in your homes and neighbourhoods,” he stated.
Ekpo thanked the Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, for the warm reception and ongoing support for energy development in the state.
He also acknowledged the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, for his commitment to the wellbeing of the people. The minister commended the Coordinator of the Decade of Gas Secretariat for their dedication and strategic leadership in driving the initiative forward and expressed appreciation to BUA Group, the main sponsor of the LPG cylinder distribution.
Aradel Holdings Wins Best Equity Deal Award
Peter Uzoho
Aradel Holdings Plc has been awarded the Best Equity Deal in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at the 2024 edition of the EMEA Finance Achievement Awards.
The recognition, according to the organisers, is because of the company’s Listing on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).
The prestigious award was presented at the EMEA Finance Achievement Awards 2024
100 megavolt-amperes, MVA and 150 MVA transformers were energised at 1:18 pm and 2:56 pm, respectively, on Friday, June 27, 2025.
She stated that the installation of the additional transformers has increased the substation’s capacity from 300 MVA to 450 MVA.
As a result, the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, TCN said, now has an additional 120mw of bulk power for
Charity Dinner, held recently in London as part of the 17th edition of its annual Achievement Awards.
The organisers said the nominations were made by banks and their clients, from which pool of nominees, the EMEA Finance editorial team made their final selections in recognition of investment houses and capital market transactions that exemplify innovation, diligence, and outstanding performance across the EMEA region.
distribution to its customers across Kebbi, Sokoto, and surroun ding areas.
The company further stated that the development also enables TCN to maintain normal bulk power supply to Niamey, Niger Republic.
“We are committed to the continued expansion and maintenance of the nation’s transmission system to ensure a more effective and efficient bulk power transmission nationwide,” the statement added.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
STAKEHOLDERS SENSITISATION WORKSHOP...
Abdulrasheed Bawa: FG Must Resist Foreign Accusation of Re-looting Recovered Funds
Addeh
A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, yesterday argued that the federal government must resist accusations by the international community that monies recovered by the anti-graft agency are usually re-looted.
Speaking on Arise Television last night, Bawa maintained that the usual negative perception of Nigeria by foreign governments as a cesspool of corruption remains unacceptable, urging the country to reject such imputations.
Bawa was accused of abuse of office, selective prosecution, and mishandling of recovered assets and was eventually suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023 to allow for proper investigation into these claims.
ment of State Services (DSS) for several weeks, though details of the findings from the investigations were never made public, while he was never charged for the allegations.
Bawa, who was on TV to speak about his new book: “ The Shadow of Loot and Losses: Uncovering Nigeria’s Petroleum Subsidy Fraud”, was later detained by the Depart-
The former EFCC Charmane also backed the removal of fuel subsidy by the current administration, stressing that it has reduced the massive racketeering associated
APC Fixes NEC for July 24 as Dalori Assumes Office, Urges Unity at This Period
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has revealed that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting would be held on Thursday, 24th July, 2025, at the party’s national secretariat.
This was as the acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Ali Dalori, has called on all party members and stakeholders to stay united, saying they must not allow the political transitions to breed disunity.
However, the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Festus Fuanter, disclosed the proposed NEC spoke after Monday’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting.
He said the meeting would afford the party to nominate a fresh national chairman for the party.
“The National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will be held
on Thursday, 24th July, 2025, at the Party’s National Secretariat. Deputy National Secretary, Barr. Festus Fuanter, disclosed this after Monday’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting.
“A notice for the NEC meeting has already been dispatched to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” Fauanter stated. Dalori, on assumption of office, said members must avoid actions and words that would divide them and focus on what binds them. He stated this in Abuja during his meeting with the NWC.
He acknowledged the significant contributions Ganduje made during his tenure, adding that since his assumption of office in August 2023, he provided the party with experienced leadership, steadfast commitment, and a clear sense of direction.
“My appointment to this role is not a personal victory. It is a responsibility I embrace with full
awareness of the challenges ahead and the expectations of millions of our members and supporters across the nation,” he said.
Dalori said as someone who had served faithfully within this party and as a longstanding member of the NWC, he assured of his dedication to carrying out his role with transparency, inclusiveness, and unity of purpose.
“This is a period for consolidation — not conflict. For maturity — not division. And for vision — not personal ambition.
“We must keep our eyes on the bigger picture: delivering good governance to the Nigerian people, deepening democracy within our party structures, and preparing for the future with clarity and determination.
“As we head toward 2027, we must begin now to strengthen our internal processes, reconnect with our grassroots, and re-energise our structures across all levels.
“The APC remains the political
vehicle to drive this transformation, and we will stand by the President in full loyalty and partnership.
“To all party members and stakeholders, I urge us to stay united. Political transitions often create uncertainty, but we must not allow it to breed disunity. We must avoid actions and words that divide us and focus on what binds us — our shared belief in the promise of Nigeria and the future of the APC.
“In the days ahead, I will share with you a practical roadmap to guide our work during this interim period. It will cover key areas such as party discipline, reconciliation, communication, member mobilisation, and broader stakeholder engagement,” Dalori added.
National Secretary of the party, Senator Suraj Ajibola, presented Ganduje’s resignation letter before the NWC
with the subsidy regime.
“I think Nigeria as a country, we need to be bold enough to be able to challenge the international community that is always thinking negatively about our own country, that for whatever thing, this idea of re-looting the loot shouldn’t be discussed against us as a country.
“At least Nigerians, and of course non-Nigerians, should have the ability for them to trust our own leaders. And that is why they were elected, and that is why they are in the position of power, to be able to do things for the benefit of our own country.
“We shouldn’t be taking that, because it has come to be the norm, even from within ourselves, Nigerians, taking what the international community is trying to perceive us to be,” he pointed out.
Besides, Bawa who refused to compare the intensity of the fight against corruption under his leadership and under the current administration, stated that the rise of the payment of petroleum subsidy by the administration at the time was related to the fraud that was being perpetrated by its operators.
He emphasised that any human system was susceptible to compromise, especially when it was benefiting some persons, including law enforcement agencies.
“Irrespective of how fortified a system is, with human touch, there’s nothing that cannot be done. If people are willing to compromise themselves, then the system can be compromised. And then of course,
you know, everybody is benefiting from the scale and the scam.
“And then that is why it had to continue, and that is why it continued, including law enforcement, including everybody. People can be compromised in such a way that they will look the other way. It’s a general thing. You don’t have to exclude any person,” he stated. He advised that law enforcement must be ahead of fraudsters to be able to reduce corruption and be able to pick up red flags early enough, dodging the question on his assessment of the anti-graft fight by the Bola Tinubu admin.
“ I don’t have that capacity for assessment. But there is even no basis to try to compare what was done before, and what is being done now,” he added, urging Nigerians to be optimistic about their country.
He also failed to answer questions on what transpired in his last days and his subsequent suspension by Tinubu, playing down on the development.
“It’s just part of what it is, as I said. One just has to take it as a phase and just move on. People always talk. People always say things, whether you are in government or you are not in government…It’s not the norm. It’s not every chairman that passes through that. It all depends on the circumstances and the situation.
“And then, of course, available information at that time and certain decisions have to be taken. It’s what it is,” he stated.
The House of Representatives
Ad-hoc Committee on Oversight of Rivers State, led by House Leader, Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, CON, has raised concerns over the 2025 Appropriation Bill submitted by the Rivers State Government, questioning several high-value expenditure items and demanding full disclosure within 48 hours.
According to a statement by the Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jr, the Committee, sitting in Abuja, engaged the Rivers State delegation in a budget defence session as part of its oversight function.
The statement stated that Ihonvbere opened the session
by emphasising the need for transparency, accountability, and sustainable development in the state.
He noted that the Committee had conducted a detailed review of the N1.48 trillion budget proposal and found several red flags that warranted further explanation.
Among the contentious items in the budget were N24 billion for CCTV installation at the Rivers State Government House, N30 billion for the procurement of gunboats, N23 billion set aside under “contingency” without detailed explanation.
The Committee also queried the legality and rationale behind Rivers State funding certain projects constitutionally under the federal
government’s jurisdiction, reportedly without any prior agreement or reimbursement framework.
Ihonvbere while insisting that such expenditures lacked legal grounding and could undermine fiscal discipline, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Rivers State Government to submit several key documents and clarifications.
The documents included a detailed justification for the queried expenditure items, The Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which should precede any budget proposal, Monthly records of Federal Allocations and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from January to June 2025, with emphasis on the last three months.
The first prosecution witness (PW1) for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ajayi Michael Folaseye, yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos how he rejected a $7,000 bribe allegedly offered by a colleague seeking unauthorised access to the bank’s internal systems.
Ajayi, who works in the Information Technology (IT) department of Premium Trust Bank, testified before Justice Alexander Owoeye in the ongoing trial of Kehinde Odeyemi and Matthew Adeniyi Damilola, both employees of the bank.
They are standing trial alongside three others, Samson Latshin Dakup, Bolaji Omotosho Yinka, and Sunday Badeniyi Okunola on a seven-count
charge bordering on conspiracy to steal.
The case is being prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC.
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Ajayi told the court that the first defendant, Kehinde Odeyemi, an internal auditor, approached him during office hours on May 5, 2023, with a suspicious proposal.
“She approached me and suggested we could make money from a ‘side gig. She asked for a generic IP address used within the IT department,” he testified.
Ajayi explained that he informed her there was no generic IP address, only personal IPs assigned to individual users.
Despite his refusal, Odeyemi
allegedly offered him $5,000 in cash, promising to deliver the money from the bank’s head office that evening. When he again declined, she increased the offer to $7,000.
“I told her I wasn’t interested,” he said. “She then warned me to keep the conversation secret and threatened to resign if I reported her.”
Ajayi said he immediately attempted to report the incident to his supervisor, Mr. Kenneth Nwaeze.
When Nwaeze was unavailable, he escalated the matter to Mr. Idriss Adegoke and later to the Head of IT, Mr. Mike Koledoye. According to him, Koledoye convened a meeting the next day, May 6, 2023, with all parties involved.
L-R: The CDCFIB Secretary, Major General Abdulmalik Jibrin (Rtd); Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani; Interior Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and CGIS, Kemi Nanna Nandap, during the Stakeholders Sensitisation Workshop in Abuja, yesterday
Juliet Akoje in Abuja
Wale Igbintade
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
Emmanuel
in Abuja and Funmi Ogundare in Lagos
DISCUSSING CIVIL SERVANTS’ RETIREMENT...
L-R: Brand Manager, Digital and Internal Communications, Access ARM Pensions, Chiamaka Onwuneme; Executive Director, Technical, Access ARM Pensions, Afolabi Folayan; Business Manager, Institutional Clients, Access ARM Pensions, Grace Tuta, and Head, Strategic Business Unit, Abuja, Access ARM Pensions, Tunji
PDP’s 100th NEC Meeting, PDP Reaffirms Anyanwu as National Secretary
Schedules another NEC for July 23 to discuss convention date Wabara says party will not die, Mohammed insists crisis created for party, not by them, Saraki declares democracy won South-east group: Marriage with PDP a nightmare, roots for political realignment Dingyadi resigns as Damagum’s spokesman Police deny sealing off Abuja party secretariat
Chuks Okocha, Linus Aleke in Abuja and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, at its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, unanimously reinstated Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary of the party.
The reinstatement was disclosed by acting National Chairman of PDP, Umar Damagum, with the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, beside him.
Damagum said upon assumption, Anyanwu would write a letter notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of PDP’s national convention.
PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Adolphus Wabara, insisted “this party will never die no matter what her detractors feel”. Wabara stated after the NEC meeting.
Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, also said, in a statement after the NEC meeting, “No Victor, No Vanquished, PDP, Nigerian Democracy Won.”
However, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), berated PDP for alleged serial injustice against the region, describing the zone’s marriage with the opposition party as nightmarish.
The group urged leaders of the party in the South-east to seek political alignment outside PDP ahead of the 2027 general election.
Damagum briefed reporters on the outcome of the 100th NEC meeting,
especially as regards the national secretary.
He said, “We’ve all combined in one, we were all together, and we all agreed that Senator Anyanwu will continue to act as National Secretary.
“And also to bring the issue of the convention—to bring it up in the next NEC, which is slated for the 23rd of next month.
‘’At that time, we will be able to convene a proper NEC, where myself and Senator Anyanwu will sign, which is to fulfil the regulatory requirement of INEC in convening meetings.
‘’So, to our detractors, who thought this meeting would go off course or perhaps be the end of the party, the beauty of the Peoples Democratic Party is that it is the only party in this country that has the right to convene a convention; that knows the mechanism to solve its own problems and run freely.”
Damagum added, “As you can see, all our governors attended the meeting; all members of the NWC were on the same page. You will not be seeing all these press releases and counter press releases.”
Earlier, Damagum clarified that the meeting was a NEC meeting, and not an expanded national caucus, as planned.
There had been a mild misunderstanding in the BoT earlier. Chairman of the board, Wabara, had led the call for the 100th NEC, while the secretary of the BoT, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, was among those calling for the expanded national caucus of the party.
Makarfi was at the press conference, where Damagum announced the reinstatement of Anyanwu as the national secretary.
But moments later, Wabara insisted that the 100th NEC meeting would hold, as the expanded national caucus was alien to the PDP constitution.
Damagum, however, said, “I want to use this opportunity to express to you that there was a thought before now that this meeting will be an extended caucus and you can see cards flying here and there.
“The beauty of our party is that we have always handled our problems in our own ways. So after a few consultations with our leaders, the governors, leaders of other organs, we say for the synopsis, even though we’ve deferred this NEC and we had challenges, but this is our own NEC.
“And this NEC is going to deliberate on only one item so that we don’t run out of the order, regulators asking us to do this, to do that.”
Damagum said, “It is in this NEC that we will discuss when to hold a second NEC and going to convention in a most lawful and profound way. We’ll discuss that and we’ll issue the date when we conclude this meeting.”
He explained, “The issue at hand, which created a lot of tension and division within us, has been discussed and we have taken a position.
“Unfortunately, the agreement to allow the National Secretary to step in, which has been actually prompted by our meeting, which will be discussed,
Akpabio Backs New Universities, Declares Specialised Institutions Critical to Growth
Wike: Abuja varsity to lose 7,000 hectares of land
Olawale Ajimotokan and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has thrown his weight behind a series of landmark Bills aimed at establishing new federal universities across Nigeria. He declared that specialised institutions held the key to national transformation through innovation, skills development, and inclusive education. This was as the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said the University of Abuja was only entitled to 4,000 hectares out of the 11,000 hectares of land it illegally apportioned while the remaining 7,000 hectares would be taken over by the FCT Administration. However, Akpabio spoke at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Monday. He emphasised that Nigeria must urgently expand its educational infrastructure to match its growing population and development needs. The public hearing brought together lawmakers, education stakeholders, civil society groups, and representatives from key government agencies. They deliberated on six tertiary education establishment Bills.
These included the proposed Federal University of Education (Special), Oyo; Federal University of Health Sciences, Funtua, Katsina State; and Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State. Others were the Federal University of Geomatics, Oyo; Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba, Lagos State; and the amendment of the Federal University of Technology, Omoku, Rivers State. Akpabio said, “These Bills are not just legislative formalities; they are bold steps towards laying the foundation for a prosperous, inclusive, and innovation-driven Nigeria.
it was a painful decision. I will still use the opportunity to call on party faithful to stop arbitrary de-marketing of this party.
“I want the media to know, if you so much love this party, I think it is now time for you to devote your energy in propagating the beauty of this party and stop de-marketing the party, unless if you are one of those that have been contracted to come and destroy our party.
“I want to say it clearly here: enough is enough.”
Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed, said, “This is a miracle of the PDP, the party that has history, that has the pedigree and the human capital to deliver Nigeria.
“We have been engrossed in controversies and challenges, not created by us, but created for us, and we have been navigating, unlike the other parties, irrespective of the manifestations and the perceptions there.
“The news of people leaving the party are all cosmetic. They are all created to diminish us. But I must thank the leaders and other all the organs of the party, especially the BoT, the caucuses of the National Assembly, and most important to my colleagues and the NWC, because everything we are doing, we are doing for the NWC today. I must tell the world that the NWC has collapsed all differences, all wrangling.
“They met before this meeting, what you have been seeing in terms of press releases have stopped and you will not see them again. And that is what the BoT chairman is telling you. We are all on the same page, no excuse for coalition, no excuse to form any stakeholders meeting other than that of the NWC.
“We are solidly behind this NWC and governors, and we’ll continue to work as the conscience of the party and other organs of the party to make sure we succeed.
“Please, be assured that PDP will not disappoint Nigerians and our teaming supporters.”
He thanked PDP governors and their state chapters for their cooperation. Mohammed stated, “There is no element of wrangling in the state chapters. And that is where our strengths lie. We thank you, our chairman in the states, for keeping the party with or without resources and making sure that you have provided them with what is required to keep the parties intact.”
Wabara also spoke, saying, “I have always contended that this party will never die, no matter what her detractors
feel. This party will never die.
“We thank the National Working Committee of our party for coming together once again, believing that Nigerians have enormous faith and hope in PDP.
“We shall survive. The god of politics is in this party. Allah of politics is in this party. For anybody, any other party, to succeed, we have to release our God to bless them. But our God knows that PDP is the beacon of hope for this country.
“What is happening here today will shock so many people. I’m sure they will start planning again to bring problems. NWCs don’t allow a crack anymore, because once they have, once they have seen us now coming together, they say, why? What happened?
“Who is the native doctor? But they don’t believe in God. Where is the native doctor that made this possible? They will start doing something to destabilise us, which we will not agree. So whatever we are doing here today, we are doing because of our service to this nation.”
In a statement, titled, “No Victor, No Vanquished, PDP, Nigerian Democracy Won,” Saraki, wrote, “This evening, our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), successfully concluded the 100th edition of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
“It was a symbolic gathering, as the meeting could have either been the breaking point going by events of the last 48 hours or the junction to cross the Rubicon and march forward into greater heights. Our esteemed leaders chose the latter.
“Today, there was no victor and no vanquished. The winner today is the PDP. Another winner is Nigeria’s democracy because, without a vibrant opposition, democracy dies. Again, millions of our party members and supporters, who are located in all the 774 LGAs across the country also emerged winners.
“To achieve victory for the party and the great people under its golden umbrella, all the leaders at the meeting resolved to jettison our differences and rally together to pursue a common goal: forget the past, rebuild trust that might have been broken, and give peace a chance.
“I am particularly happy about the meeting for two reasons. One, we all agreed on the need for unity as a way of sending a signal to the entire nation that PDP can only wax stronger.
“This is because we have to live up to the expectations of the generality of our people as the only alternative,
capable of providing good leadership to our country. Two, the spirit of give and take dominated our frank discussions.”
Saraki said, “From this point, we need to continue working further for unity, co-operation, and stability towards the next NEC meeting fixed for July 23rd. After that, we will focus on having a hitch-free National Convention.
“As the chairman of the National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee set up by the PDP Governors Forum in May, I want to appreciate all our leaders, particularly, those who have to make huge sacrifice by conceding their earlier stands on some contending issues as a way of achieving peace, unity and stability in the party.
“I thank all our leaders who chose to act in the interest of the party, even at the expense of their personal and partisan comfort. Overall, all glory be to Almighty Allah for taking us this far.” The former senate president added, “The success of today’s NEC meeting is an indication that we have made some progress. We will continue to strive to strengthen the party and I am sure from now on, all hands will be on deck to achieve this noble purpose. We need to realise one fact: there is still a lot of work to be done. The spirit with which we achieved the peace today should be sustained from now on.
“It is good that we have disappointed the pessimists. I hope that with the outcome of today’s meeting, we have disproved the false propaganda being circulated in some quarters that those of us who chose to remain in PDP are only scheming for the death of the party as opposed to building a strong opposition.
“If this false narrative were true, the leaders who shifted positions to give peace a chance would have chosen an alternative course of action. However, we are determined to make the party a strong opposition, capable of winning the next general election and serving our people better. We only need to forge ahead along these lines.” But Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), a South-east group, sais Ndigbo had no future in PDP. The group alleged serial injustice against the zone, and called for realignment outside the party ahead of the 2027 general election. It observed that besides what it termed the mistreatment of the region over the position of National Secretary zoned to it, the party had no plan to remedy the injustice of its failure to zone the party’s 2023 presidential ticket to the region ahead of the 2027 election.
Olabode, during the International Civil Service Conference in Abuja… recently
INTERACTIVE SESSION WITH NEMA DIRECTOR GENERAL...
L-R: Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar; and Director, Special Duties, Mrs Fatima Kasim, during an interactive session of the Director General, NEMA, with staff and a sensitisation programme on Customer Care Management, held in Abuja on Thursday last week
Nigeria, Saint Lucia Forge Ties, Tinubu Considers Visa Waivers for OECS
Saint Lucian Senate President: 34% of enslaved Saint Lucians two centuries back were Nigerians Prime Minister describes Tinubu’s state visit as moment of freedom and celebration
Deji Elumoye and Michael Olugbode in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu formally announced Nigeria’s establishment of diplomatic relations with Saint Lucia, yesterday, describing it as a “symbolic bridge that will provide a gateway in fostering closer ties between us.”.
Tinubu made the announcement while addressing a special joint session of Senate and House of Assembly of Saint Lucia at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, Sandals Grande, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia.
He proposed creating a Joint Commission or Political Consultation Agreement as a mechanism for structured cooperation between Nigeria and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Tinubu also announced that he would offer full scholarships to students of OECS to promote cultural understanding and further strengthen the bond between Nigeria and the Eastern Caribbean states.
The Nigerian president, who delivered his address in the presence of OECS leaders, emphasised the deep historical and cultural bonds between Nigeria and OECS, and called for greater people-to-people engagement.
The leaders of Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Premier of Montserrat, Saint Martin, and Saint Vincent were in the audience.
Tinubu declared Nigeria’s openness to visa waivers for OECS diplomatic and official passport holders, and urged reciprocal gestures to facilitate smoother official travel and closer institutional cooperation.
“I respectfully urge a reciprocal gesture to enable smoother movement of officials and foster closer institutional cooperation,” he said.
Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening ties with OECS and Caribbean nations anchored on shared African heritage and Pan-African ideals.
According to him, “As one who feels a profound kinship with our shared African heritage, I am fully aware of the historical currents that have bound us together, currents shaped by the transatlantic slave trade and colonial subjugation, but out of which emerged a shared cultural identity, an indomitable resilience and a legacy of aspiration.
“My presence here today symbolises Nigeria’s renewed commitment to re-engage with these enduring ties, recognising their strategic and emotional significance.
“This occasion serves as a testament to the enduring ideals of Pan-Africanism and the unyielding desire for unity and collaboration among peoples of African descent.
“It is in this context that I reaffirm OECS as a cherished partner of Nigeria. We remain committed to strengthening and expanding the enduring bonds of friendship that unite our regions.”
On economic diplomacy and trade, Tinubu offered OECS access to Africa’s largest market and called for joint ventures and deeper commercial ties.
He advocated enhanced trade and investment partnerships, especially in agriculture, manufacturing, and services, that would position Nigeria as a supplier and destination for OECS exports.
He
stated, “When I assumed the office of the President of Nigeria in May 2023, my administration embarked on a series of economic, political, and social reforms, which were aimed at laying a solid foundation for the promotion of a better Nigeria and to put the country on the path of sustainable growth and development.
“It is in line with this orientation and to explore areas of cooperation and collaboration between the East Caribbean States that I decided to undertake this state visit to Saint Lucia.
“In this spirit, I wish to express Nigeria’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the OECS in mutual interest, including trade, investment, health, culture, education, and climate resilience.
“Nigeria’s vast natural resources and position as the largest market in Africa present significant opportunities for the OECS, both as a source of essential inputs and a growing export destination.
“Together, we can leverage our respective strengths to attract investment, create jobs, and foster joint ventures that benefit both our peoples.”
Tinubu proposed a maritime university collaboration and extending Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (TAC) programme to OECS countries.
He emphasised Nigeria’s readiness to provide skilled manpower, healthcare, and engineering professionals to support regional capacity-building.
He said, “I strongly advocate for educational exchange programmes between Nigerian and OECS maritime universities. Such partnerships will build technical capacity and foster mutual understanding and long-term academic collaboration.
“Beyond maritime education, both regions should explore joint scientific
research initiatives, particularly addressing common health challenges.
To structure these efforts, we should formalise agreements that clearly define key areas of cooperation in education and research.”
Recognising the existential climate threats facing small island states, the president called for joint research on adaptation strategies, sustainable agriculture, disaster preparedness, and climate-induced migration.
“By sharing research findings on climate impacts, adaptation strategies, and disaster risk management—including a rise in sea level and outbreak of hurricanes—we can deepen our understanding and enhance our collective resilience,” he added.
Reiterating Nigeria’s Afrocentric foreign policy, Tinubu emphasised the
cultural and historical ties between Nigeria and the diaspora and its enduring role in global black solidarity.
He stressed, “Nigeria, as the most populous nation on the African continent and the foremost black nation globally, has long stood at the vanguard of advocacy for the dignity and advancement of black people worldwide.
“This was evident from its strong opposition to colonialism and racial injustice, to its leadership in the Pan-African movement.
“Our foreign policy remains unapologetically Afrocentric. Notably, Nigeria played an instrumental role in establishing the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, which has since embraced the Caribbean and the broader diaspora
as its sixth region.”
Tinubu told the audience of over 300 people at the William Jefferson Clinton Ballroom, which included OECS Heads of Government, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and the Nigerian community in Saint Lucia, “Aside from its demographic and economic prominence in Africa, Nigeria has a rich history of enduring contributions to the advancement of the black race.
“It is home to the largest diaspora community of African descent and situated in West Africa, from whence countless enslaved Africans were tragically taken.
“My country holds a special place in the collective memory of the diaspora.
“Culturally, Nigeria is regarded as the continent’s creative heart, with its rich array of ethnicities and globally celebrated traditions in music, cuisine, fashion, film (notably Nollywood) and literature.”
While calling for unity, Tinubu quoted Marcus Garvey and an African proverb. He said, “As we chart the course forward, I am reminded of the words of Marcus Garvey: ‘Get organised and you will compel the world to respect you.’ His charge remains as resonant now as it was first made.”
“Likewise, an African proverb teaches us: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ Let us journey together, united in purpose and fortified by our common heritage.”
Oke Urges INEC to Clean Up Political Space, Proposes Deregistration of Parties
Situation Room says INEC leadership must be merit-based, not on partisan consideration IPAC: Appointment of INEC leadership by President an aberration
Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Juliet Akoje in Abuja
Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Busayo Oluwole Oke, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take firm and immediate action to clean up Nigeria’s political environment by using its authority to regulate political parties more effectively, especially in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
He also cautioned that the unchecked rise of inactive and opportunistic political parties was becoming a serious obstacle to the country’s democratic development.
This was as the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) – a coalition of more than 70 Civic Organisations has said appointments to the offices of Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners must be merit-based, publicly transparent and devoid of partisan considerations.
In a statement presented on June 30, 2025, during a constituency engagement in Ijesa North, Osun State, Oke, who represents the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, highlighted a worrying
pattern where political parties that neither contest elections nor maintain organisational structures continued to exploit their registered status for financial and political benefits.
He pointed out that while INEC’s role in organising elections was widely recognised, its equally important duty of supervising and registering political parties has not received enough attention.
“Our democracy isn’t suffering from a lack of political parties,” Oke stated, “but from a flood of parties that serve no real purpose.”
He warned of an alarming increase in parties that disappear during campaigns, were unseen at polling units, but resurfaced in courts after elections to file lawsuits—often not to challenge results, but to blackmail legitimate winners.
Oke condemned the rise of what he described as an “industry of political desperadoes,” individuals who appear during elections not to win office but to make money from the process. These parties, he said, have no voter base or governance agenda and use court cases as leverage for out-of-court settlements with victorious candidates hoping to avoid drawn-out legal battles.
He called this behaviour unethical and a major contributor to judicial abuse, placing additional pressure on an already strained court system dealing with tight election-related deadlines.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room), has said that appointments to the offices of Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners must be meritbased, publicly transparent and devoid of partisan considerations.
Among the suggestions made by the civil society organisations were the enactment and operationalisation of the Election Offences Commission before December 2025, timely com- mencement of continuous voter registration and civic-education to sensitise Nigerians on the voter registration exercise.
On the composition of new INEC leadership, Situation Room said all appointments or replacements in the electoral body should be completed well before the 2027 polls.
Speaking during the unveiling of the 2027 General Election Credibility and Transparency Threshold in Abuja on Monday, the Situation Room Convener, Yunusa Yau, said one of the major deciding factors for credible election is an assurance that
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be truly independent and autonomous.
He said nominees for INEC management team should have been politically neutral for at least a decade.
He also said the person would be made to disclose his or her assets and links to politically exposed persons, and undergo open Senate confirmation hearings to be broadcast live.
According to Yunusa Yau, the nomination for the chair of electoral commission should be preceded by a 14-day petition window.
“Situation Room expects that the National Assembly will screen nominees rigorously and provide written reasons for its decisions,” he said.
The Situation Room also outlined six pillars of credibility that the 2027 general election must meet, for it to be credible, including, INEC institutional integrity, robust legal and accountability framework, transparent results management and technology, security and justice, internal party democracy and good campaign conduct, and inclusive participation and civic dialogue.
“Post-election, the National Assembly must institute independent
BEST PRIVATE HOSPITAL AWARD WINNER…
L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Duchess International Hospital Ikeja, Dr. Adetokunbo Shitta-Bey; Nigerian Healthcare Excellence Awards (NHEA) 2025 red carpet co-host, Tolu Thompson; and Medical Director, Duchess International Hospital, Dr. Adedoyin Dosunmu-Ogunbi, at the 11th NHEA, where Duchess received the Best Private Hospital of the Year award in Lagos…recently
Irate Youths Protest Vandalises Emir’s Palace over Incessant Kidnappings in Kwara
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
Palpable tension erupted yesterday in Lafiagi town in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State as the irate youths staged protest over unending kidnappings in the town and other parts of the Kwara north senatorial district of the state.
The latest kidnap in the town was the reported abduction of a prominent resident of Lafiagi andagrochemical dealer, popularly called Alhaji Chemical on Sunday and which led to the protest by the youths.
Alhaji Chemical was
During the protest, the irate youths reportedly vandalised the some parts of the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi.
FG Honours 18 Outstanding Public Servants
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The federal government has honoured 18 exemplary public servants at the 2025 Federal Civil Service Rewards and Recognition Awards Ceremony held in Abuja.
The event, held in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), marked the grand finale of the 2025 Civil Service Week.
It spotlighted individuals whose dedication, innovation, and integrity had driven meaningful progress across Nigeria’s public sector.
The Director of Pollution Control & Environmental Health at the Federal Ministry
of Environment, (Dr.) Bahijjahtu Hadiza Abubakar, won the ceremony’s highest honour, the Presidential Distinguished Civil Service Career Award. Her transformative leadership in advancing Nigeria’s environmental sustainability agenda serves as a beacon of hope for the future.
Also, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Oluwabamidele Ibrahim Kobe, received the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation EPIC Award for his exceptional commitment to administrative excellence and innovative policy implementation.
Uzodimma to Showcase Imo at UN Global Compact in Spain
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, will tomorrow, Wednesday, July 2, address a high-level United Nations(UN) Global Compact roundtable in Seville, Spain, where he will showcase the state’s innovative economic models.
The roundtable, organised by the UN Global Compact, is themed, “Driving Business Leadership in Sustainable Finance in Uncertain Times.” Global finance and development leaders at the event will address critical challenges and identify
investment opportunities to bridge the financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
Governor Uzodimma was specifically invited to the event to share Imo State’s experience in creating innovative economic opportunities. The invitation letter noted, “Given Imo State’s commitment to sustainable development and your leadership in fostering economic development, your insights would be invaluable.”
Mr. Adamu Declared Missing
Mr. Adamu has been declared missing. According to a statement, the incidence of Adamu’s disappearance was noticed on Saturday afternoon, 28th of June, 2025.
“Accordingly, the incident was reported the same day at the Police Station situated at Sabo, Yaba, Lagos. Whoever has information on his location should please contact any of the following persons: Barrister Peter Obule on 09012924262; Kamoru Oladipupo
on 0802 357 7628 and Dr. Sam Majekodunmi on 08112625286,” the statement noted.
Mr. Adamu
reportedly taken from his home in Taiwo area around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday by suspected Fulani bandits.
According to information, the
attackers came on motorcycles and later subdued the local vigilance group members.
However, in view of the protest, security operatives have
been deployed to the Lafiagi town to maintain peace and order.
A high-powered government’s security delegation visited Lafiagi
yesterday following early morning tensions that culminated in an attack on the office of the NDLEA and a foil attempt to torch the Emir’s palace.
Group Tasks Kogi Gov on the Rescue of Kidnapped 72-year-old Farmer
A non-profit, non-partisan organisation based in Kogi State, Yagba Action Group (YAG), has made passionate call on Governor Usman Ododo to rescue a prominent livestock farmer, Chief Ajayi Bello, who was kidnapped about two weeks ago. Bello, aged 72, is Chairman,
Kogi State Poultry Association, by extension Poultry Association of Nigeria.
His abduction from his farm in Ponyan, Yagba East Local Council in Kogi State, has sent shockwaves to the agricultural community in Nigeria as he has remained in the kidnappers’ den with the government not making enough efforts to rescue him.
However, YAG, in a statement yesterday signed by its chairman, Tunde Olusunle, an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja, said that the federal and state governments, have repeatedly failed Nigerians, whose minimum desire is round-theclock security to enable them pursue their vocations.
YAG expressed fears about the sad reality of what it termed the “systematic and well organised plan by Fulani, funded by faceless agents to displace Yagba and Okun people and takeover their land.
NRC Signs MoU with Five Tertiary Institutions on Rail Technology, Others
Sunday Okobi
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) yesterday moved to deepen railway technology capacity in Nigeria with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with five tertiary institutions in Nigeria on technology transfer and training.
The five tertiary institutions that signed the MoU with the NRC are: Yaba College of Technology, Lagos; Kwara State Polytechnic, Kwara; the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara; Kaduna State Polytechnic, Kaduna and Trinity University, Lagos.
Speaking after the signing of the MoU, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, stated that the MoU is geared towards enhancing railway technology skill acquisition, skill dissemination and skill utilisation.
According to the NRC boss,
“The MoU we signed today is to create partnership, transfer technology, and take advantage on both ends. “It is also geared towards developing an enduring legacy that will transcend this generation in skill acquisition, skill dissemination and skill utilisation.
Eradiri, Rivers Women Commend Fubara, Wike, Assembly Members on Reconciliation
Blessing IbungeinPortHarcourt
A former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, has applauded the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for his reconciliation with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and the
27 House of Assembly members.
This is just as women group under the aegis of Rivers Women Unite for SIM, noted that peace must be genuinely sustained to rejuvenate the state, urging all parties in the crisis to embrace unity of purpose.
Eradiri, a former Labour Party
(LP) Governorship Candidate in Bayelsa State, hailed Fubara’s decision to return to the political family of the FCT Minister, Chief Wike, describing the new deal as a requirement for the peace and development of Rivers.
The former IYC president said Fubara’s boldness and determination to obey the new peace deal was another step in the right direction. He recalled that he had continually advised the suspended governor to toe the path of genuine and sincere reconciliation by returning to his political father and reaching out to all the stakeholders he offended during the crisis.
Why We Took SPDC, AGF, FG Agencies to Court, Ekpetiama Kingdom Explains
Michael Olugbode inAbuja
The people of Ekpetiama Kingdom in Bayelsa State have explained why a case was instituted against Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), the Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
A landmark legal action had been instituted by His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV of Ekpetiama Kingdom, and the people of Ekpetiama Kingdom in Bayelsa State against SPDC, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Attorney General of the Federation at the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, on June 20, 2024, with the full hearing scheduled to begin on July 22, 2025.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, a conglomerate of civil society organisations, including the International Working Group on Petroleum Pollution and Just Transition in the Niger Delta (IWG), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Social Action Nigeria, and legal advocates said that they are united in a common cause to demand justice for oil and gas bearing communities of the Niger Delta, who have endured over six decades of pollution, exploitation, and neglect.
EFCC Warned of Forfeiting Cross-Examination Right in N152m Dispute
Wale Igbintade
Justice Akingbola George of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafa Balewa Square yesterday issued a stern warning to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), threatening to foreclose its
right to cross-examine a key witness in an ongoing N152 million property dispute.
The claimants, Mr. Olukayode Olusanya, and his company, Oak Homes Limited, filed the suit (LD/4471LM/2023) against a Nigerian-American engineer, Mr. Anthony Ugbebor (1st defendant), and the EFCC (2nd defendant), over a failed property transaction.
At the last hearing on June 20, 2025, Olusanya, a property developer and CEO of Oak Homes, testified that his company failed to deliver two three-bedroom apartments at Oak Residence, Victoria Island, to Ugbebor as agreed. He revealed the apartments were later sold on EFCC’s instructions, without Ugbebor’s authorisation. He further claimed the EFCC directed him to refund N152 million to the first defendant.
2027: Delta Central APC Women Endorse Tinubu, Oborevwori
Women of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta Central Senatorial District have unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, as the sole candidates of the party for the
2027 general election.
The endorsement took place during a strategic APC women’s unity meeting held in Ughelli.
According to a statement, the motion for the endorsement of President Tinubu and Governor
Oborevwori was moved by Mrs. Josephine Oduaran and seconded by Hon. Stella Okotete. It was unanimously adopted through a voice vote presided over by former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Evelyn Oboro.
Convener of the meeting and Executive Director, Business Development, NEXIM Bank, Hon. Stella Okotete, said the women of Delta Central have resolved to follow President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori without looking back.
Atalanta Insist No Reduction on Ademola Lookman’s Transfer Fee
Atalanta are open to sell Ademola Lookman this summer, but they will not go below their valuation of the player, which is put at between 50 and 60 Million Euros.
According to Italian news outlet,Tuttomercato, the Serie A club want to cash in on the departure of the Super Eagles forward.
Meanwhile, Lookman has asked to stay away from training while his future is being sorted out.
Arsenal have revived their interest
in the 2024 African Footballer of the Year, Juventus have also been linked to the player, while Napoli are now considered a last-minute option for the 27-year-old star.
Lookman has enjoyed an excellent few seasons in Italy with Atalanta, since moving from RB Leipzig in 2022. He scored a famous hat-trick in the UEFA Europa Leaguefinal in 2024 to help Atalanta lift the trophy and qualify for the Champions League last season.
The 27-year-old has 77 goal involvements in his three seasons in Italy, remaining remarkably consistent. He notched 15 goals and eight assists in 2022/23, with 17 goals and 10 assists in 2023/24 and 20 goals and seven assists in 2024/25.
It has been reported that Atalanta would be happy to sell him to an overseas club, rather than see him remain in Serie A, with Arsenalinterested in a move
given their desire to sign a winger this summer. Atalanta have even agreed a fee with a replacement, leading to further suggestions Lookman could be on his way out of the club.
But there are two somewhat large stumbling blocks standing in the way of Lookman returning to the Premier League, at least with the Gunners.
Arsenalhave been linked with a number of other wingers so far
this summer, with Real Madrid star Rodrygo and Crystal Palace talisman Eberechi Eze heavily linked with a move.
And when it comes to signing one of the trio of names mentioned, Lookman would probably be third on the list.
Lookman’s goal contribution number is actually better than that of Eze over the past three seasons and compares well to Rodrygo’s output for Los Blancos too.
Super Falcons Hungry for Success in Morocco, Says Madugu
Duro Ikhazuagbe
in his review of the friendly with Ghana’s Black Queens in Casablanca.
After Super Falcons ended their warm up matches with emphatic 3-1 win over Ghana’s Black Queens in Casablanca on Sunday evening, Head Coach, Justine Madugu, has insisted that his wards are hungry for victory in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
the best of the first group game.
Nine-time African champions Super Falcons will open their campaign against Tunisia on Sunday evening and determined to make
“The girls are ready and are showing real hunger for victory and team spirit is high. We are looking forward to our first match on Sunday against Tunisia,” observed Madugu
Goals by Mexico-based Chinwendu Ihezuo, Asisat Oshoala and captain Rasheedat Ajibade affirmed the Falcons’ supremacy over the Queens, at a closed-door game played at the Ziaida Palace Benslimane field.
Players, Spectators Dealing with Wimbledon’s Hottest Opening Day
Alcaraz avoids shock defeat to Italian Veteran Sabalenka in flying start
Players, ground staff and spectators had to contend with sweltering conditions as Wimbledon recorded its hottest opening day on record.
Air temperature on the grounds had reached 32.3C by 16:00 BST on Monday, surpassing the previous record at the start of a Championships - the 29.3C set in 2001.
However, the tournament’s extreme heat rule, which allows players a 10-minute break, has not yet been enforced because Wimbledon measures additional factors to determine heat stress.
Players were given ice packs, cold towels and plenty of water to help regulate their temperature during
changeovers.
The ball boys and girls were also given cooling scarves, while spectators attempted to shade themselves with hats, umbrellas and even towels, and others cooled themselves with hand-held fans.
The hottest temperature ever recorded during the tournament remains the 35.7C reached in 2015.
Temperatures are again forecast to return to the mid-30s on Tuesday.
Wimbledon organisers use the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) heat index, which combines air temperature, humidity and surface temperature readings, to determine when the heat rule should be enforced.
The 10-minute breaks are allowed after the second set for all best-of-three set matches, and after the third for all best-of-five set matches, with players permitted to leave the court during the interval.
Meanwhile, two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz avoided a seismic shock against Italian veteran Fabio Fognini in the Wimbledon first round to set up a meeting with British qualifier Oliver Tarvet.
Alcaraz dug deep to win 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 2-6 6-1 as he opened the Centre Court play on a sweltering first day of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament.
The 22-year-old Spaniard quickly
secured victory when an entertaining contest resumed after a 15-minute pause in the deciding set.
In the women’s section, world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, celebrated her Wimbledon return with victory in the first round but two-time runner-up Ons Jabeur retired after struggling physically on the tournament’s hottest ever opening day.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka, who missed last year’s tournament with a shoulder injury, got off to a flying start on Court One before a more testing second set as she beat Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine 6-1 7-5.
“The match gave us the opportunity of having the full squad together to really assess our strength as a team, and build on team cohe sion, coordination and on various combinations.
“It will always be work in progress, but we are very focused on our realisable and achievable target of Mission X,” stressed the Falcons coach.
The victory over Black Queens extended Madugu’s stellar record with the Super Falcons. He was in charge when the Falcons easily surged past Ethiopia in the qualifying race for the 2024 Olympics, and also led the team to crush Cape Verde to secure qualification for the 13th Women AFCON, which kicks off on Saturday.
Last year, Madugu led the Falcons to rout Algeria’s senior girls in two friendly matches in Ikenne and Lagos, and restricted France to an odd-goal victory in another friendly match in France in November.
This year, Madugu has led the Super Falcons to a 2-0 win over Cameroon in a friendly game in Cameroon, and on Monday last week, picked a team that fought hard against Portugal in a 0-0 draw in Lisbon.
“We will continue to work on our weak areas, and I believe that by the time of our first match, we will be ready,” Madugu concluded.
(FIE) has lauded the Nigerian Fencing Federation for its outstanding organization of the 23rd African Fencing Championships, held at Charterhouse Lagos from June 25 to 29. The FIE also announced its intention to consider Nigeria as a host for future international fencing tournaments.
During her first official visit to Africa, FIE Secretary General, Gulnora Saidova, praised the high standards of the facilities and the warm hospitality extended throughout the event. She noted that the impressive atmosphere and organizational excellence have positioned Nigeria as a strong candidate for hosting more global fencing competitions.
“This is my first time in Nigeria, and I was truly impressed by the quality of the facilities and the professionalism of the organizers,” said Saidova. “It has given us confidence that Nigeria is capable of hosting more international competitions. The Deputy Governor’s commitment to supporting fencing in a country with such potential was particularly encouraging.”
Saidova was part of a high-level FIE delegation that paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor, where she expressed optimism about the future of fencing in Nigeria.
NSC Chairman, Dikko, Honours Oldest Living FA Cup Winner, Lagos Legends Club
Duro Ikhazuagbe
The oldest living FA Cup winner in Nigeria, Mr Billiaminu Thanni, 80, was honoured with a special plaque and N2million cheque at the finals of the 2025 President Federation Cup in Lagos last Saturday.
During the halftime ceremonies of the final between Kwara United FC and Abakaliki FC won by the Ilorin team via penalty shootouts, the oldest living FA Cup legend, Mr Billiaminu Thanni, who played and won the trophy with Lagos Stationery Stores FC in 1982, was duly recognized and honoured by his colleagues in the Lagos Legends Club.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, (NSC) Malam Shehu Dikko, also made a personal donation of N2million to the FA Cup legend as well as lifted the Lagos Legends Club with N3million.
According to Dikko, the National Sports Commission “would continue to work with the Nigeria Football Federation and the LLC to sustain and upscale the glory of the FA Cup (President Federation Cup) to the best level possible in line to its core objectives of ensuring mass participation across the country and a veritable platform to
unearth talents,” concludes Dikko.
The Lagos Legends Club with membership of over 3,000 former footballers at home and the diaspora, is chaired by former Super Eagles player, Engr Waidi
Akanni.
Speaking after the honour done to his member, Billiaminu Thanni, Engr Akanni commended the NSC Chairman for the gesture and prayed for more of such so
that the ex internationals will know that they have not been forgotten.
“I really must commend the NSC Chairman Malam Shehu Dikko for the gesture. Honours
like this one done to our member
Billiaminu Thanni has given us hopes that our labour for clubs and country have not been forgotten,” he noted
Amongst some of the former
footballers physically present at the
HONOUR TO FA CUP LEGEND...
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko presents a special plaque to oldest-living FA Cup winner, Biliaminu Thanni, in company with SSA to Mr. President, Adeyinka Adeboye, NFF’s President Ibrahim Gusau and General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi during the finals of the President Federation Cup in Lagos...last Saturday
demola Lookman...Atalanta aiming to cash out from his transfer
ceremony were; Waidi Akanni, Henry Nwosu, Friday Ekpo, Godwin Okpara, Wasiu Ipaye, Monday Kanu, Mba Agbai, Edema Benson, and a host of Others.
STRENGTHEN RESPONSE TO MINERAL TERRORISM...
ABATI
APC And Abdullahi Ganduje’s Resignation
It is now confirmed that Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, 75, Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has resigned from his position as Chairman of the party. He has had quite a storied career as a politician, serving under Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso as Deputy Governor of Kano State, 1999 – 2003, and from 2011 to 2015. He was Governor of Kano State, 2015 -2023. In August 2023, Ganduje became the Chairman of the APC, following the resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu. In 2025, he was also appointed Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The chairmanship of a political party is of course, not a traditional stool; before Ganduje, the APC has had Chief Bisi Akande (2013 – 2014), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (2014 – 2018), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (2018- 2020), Mai Mala Buni (2020 -2022), Senator Abdullahi Adamu (2022 – 2023), and Senator Abubakar Kyari (July 2023 – August 2023 in acting capacity). What makes Ganduje’s exit shocking, if not surprising, is the sheer suddenness of it. Felix Morka, the party’s spokesperson is on record as saying that Ganduje had to step aside due to “urgent and important personal matters”. Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential elections has been quoted and he is yet to deny the attribution, saying that other political leaders should emulate Danguje’s example by learning to resign whenever they think their health is in decline, and they are medically, physically and mentally unfit. There is no record anywhere that Dr. Ganduje admits that he is medically unfit, or that at 75, he has any major health issue. He is out anyway, his position having been taken by the Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is conveniently out of town on a trip to St. Lucia and South America, by the time he returns the dust would have settled on the transition within his party, and it is this that has prompted speculations about Danguje’s exit. Did he step on the proverbial banana peel? Was he pushed? In or out of town, most conveniently, can the President claim not to be aware of Danguje’s resignation? We have been told that the resignation has been accepted. This is yet a clear demonstration of the fickleness of political relevance: here today, gone tomorrow. Dr. Ganduje was one of the most sycophantic of Tinubu and APC loyalists. He has boasted to anyone who cared to listen that the APC and Tinubu’s victory in 2027 is “a done deal”. He also boasted that more opposition Governors and lawmakers will join the APC, and that the APC is expanding. Now if the deal that Ganduje talks about gets done, it would no longer be under his watch, and if the APC expands, he would be an observer
to the process. It must be said of him though that he has been one of the major loyalists within the Tinubu machinery. Most recently in Borno state, he refused to even mention or recognize the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima. I do not share the view that is being expressed that he has been sacrificed for political reasons by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I do not believe that his political career has ended. On his return, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is well in a position to find other assignments for him. He can be appointed a Federal Minister. He can be made an Ambassador in any of the major capitals of the world, while someone else takes over the drudgery of being Chairman of the party. It is far from the point that there is a plan to disgrace Dr. Danguje. Nonetheless, there have been some interesting stories about why he has had to step aside. One theory is that he may be probed for corruption, prompting a return to the “Gandollar” scandal when he was Governor of Kano state. That is a lie. It will never happen. The second theory is that Ganduje has had to step down to make way for Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), who may have accepted Tinubu’s invitation that he should join the APC. Kwankwaso is Ganduje’s former boss. They are now bitter rivals in the politics of Kano State. It is widely assumed that the APC cannot contain both men and their supporters, and that Ganduje may even be on his way out of the party. I don’t think that will
happen. Dr. Ganduje would be too happy to be given another assignment, and he would bring the same level of enthusiasm to it as long as he is close to the corridors of power. There is even a possibility that President Tinubu would dangle enough carrots before Kwankwaso and Ganduje and reconcile both men. He has done so in Rivers State. He may try his luck in the politics of Kano State. Of all the permutations, what is certain is not that Dr. Kwankwaso will join the APC, and even if he does, the point would have been reaffirmed that politicians have no permanent enemies but that President Tinubu is well aware of the opposition to him in the Northern part of Nigeria. To win re-election convincingly in 2027, he would need votes from the North, especially Kano, which is one of the largest political constituencies in Northern Nigeria. If he has Kwankwaso and Ganduje in his corner in 2027, he would achieve that goal in a much easier manner. In 2023, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso got 58.4% of the votes in Kano State, Tinubu came second in the state with just 31.50% of the votes.
The point has also been made that perhaps President Tinubu is wooing Dr. Kwankwaso because he wants to change his running mate in 2027. There has in fact been much talk about whether or not he would retain Senator Kashim Shettima in the 2027 race. It is a needless controversy that President Tinubu can do without. The Tinubu-Shettima ticket has worked well enough so far; it would amount to unnecessary distraction to think of dropping a Vice President who on every score has conducted himself with loyalty, poise and dignity. President Olusegun Obasanjo had a turbulent second term in office as President, 2003 – 2007, simply because of similar politics resulting in the phenomenon of “Bolekaja politics” between him and then Vice President Atiku Abubakar. It was a divided second term which did not serve the Nigerian people well. Loyalists on both sides of the Presidential Villa fought each to a standstill. In 2010, when President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua took ill in office and travelled abroad for treatment, then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan was not allowed to assume office as Acting President as the 1999 Constitution requires. The Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly eventually had to invoke a doctrine of necessity to get Jonathan into office as Acting President. The kind of crisis that could happen this time around, was telegraphed recently when Dr. Ganduje and the Vice Chairman of the APC, North East, Mustapha Salihu, failed to endorse Shettima at a party function in Gombe. Shettima’s supporters had to force the issue. They started screaming Shettima! Shettima!! Shettima!!! in protest. It is important that President Tinubu does not humiliate his own Deputy. He has not done anything
to deserve such a treatment. The specious argument that the APC would need a Muslim-Christian ticket in 2027 is an afterthought, and would amount to an act of betrayal. Those who are saying that Shettima deserves to be dropped because the Governor from his State, Professor Baba Gana Zulum and Senator Ali Ndume also from Borno State have been critical of the Tinubu administration should stop the dubious game of insulting other people’s intelligence. Shettima should not be crucified for other people’s political choices, or expression. Tinubu’s second term should be viewed in terms of what the Nigerian electorate feels about his performance during his first term not on the basis of religious affiliation. Nigerian politicians play the ethnic and the religious card as some kind of subterfuge. The religion of political leaders would not matter if only they were to deliver good governance. Merit, competence and ability do not wear ethnic or religious garments, but in the politics of opportunism and deception that we play in Nigeria, religion and geography are ready instruments of blackmail.
More importantly, President Tinubu should resist the temptation of justifying the label that some of his critics are already attaching to him namely that he finds it difficult to work with a Deputy, and prefers to be the only star in a drama of his own making. As Governor of Lagos State, he worked with three different Deputies: Mrs Kofo Bucknor-Akerele (1999 -2002) Mr. Femi Pedro (2003 – 2007) and Alhaji Ganiyu Ogunleye (15 May – 29 May 2007 – 14 days only!). Nigeria is not Lagos. Four Northern Governors, two each from the North East, and the North West, and two principal officers in the 10thNational Assembly are reportedly eyeing the Vice President’s seat and trying to advertise themselves as possible replacements. They should be ignored. It is indeed a terrible commentary on the flavour of Nigerian politics that barely two years into the Tinubu administration, there is already so much obsession with the general elections of 2027 and even 2031, whereas the focus should be how best to serve the Nigerian people at both the national and sub-national levels. Nigerian politicians think only about themselves, their future and the benefits that they stand to gain. This is partly why the major political parties are in disarray. Many politicians are rushing to join the ruling party not because they believe that it is the best platform for renewing the people’s hope, but because they think it is the forum where their own selfish interests can be better realized. We would soon witness a battle for space and relevance between new comers to the APC and the old brigade.
Ganduje
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, in a warm handshake with Project Co-ordinator, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, Mr.Tom Parker. With them are project officers Nicole Anderson (left) and Inneke Geysens- Bourgions, (right)