Tinubu: No Nigerian is Second-class Citizen, Reiterates Every Region Being Carried Along in His Government
Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu, yester-
Says he’s on oath to serve all Nigerians, not a particular section day, declared that in his over two-year-old administration, no Nigerian was being regarded as second-class citizen, while no region was left behind in developmental efforts.
Tinubu, in a verified post on his handle, @officialABAT, stressed that he was on oath
to serve all Nigerians and not a particular section of the country. Continued
He listed several projects,
lCCi: President’s brazil, Japan Diplomatic Missions are Trade Prospects worth Exploring... Page 8
www.thisdaylive.com
Nigeria Hails Finland’s Conviction of Simon Ekpa on Terrorism-related Crimes
Continued on page 9 justice and a victory against
Court: Jonathan Can Run For Presidential Election
Says it’s major victory in fight against terror Chief of Defence Staff, Fagbemi applaud ruling Learn from Finland, NBA, RULAAC tell judges, prosecutors Lawyers task govt on security, welfare of citizen Deji Elumoye, alex Enumah, linus aleke in Abuja and wale igbintade in Lagos The Nigerian government yes- terday welcomed the conviction of Biafran irredentist, Simon Ekpa, in Finland for terrorism- related crimes, describing the verdict as a bold step towards In response to Keyamo, Jonathan’s office releases a 2022 Court Judgement affirming Ex -President’s right to run again, but says he is still consulting
L-R: Managing Director, Sapetro, Chukwuemeke Anagbogu; Company Secretary, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Adesua Dozie; NNPC Chief Executive, Bayo Ojulari; Chief Executive, NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe; Secretary and Legal Adviser, NUPRC, Olayemi Adeboyejo; and MD TotalEnergies, Mathieu Bouyer, at the signing of the Production Sharing Contract between NNPC and the TotalEnergies-Sapetrol Consortium in Abuja … yesterday.
AT GITEX NIGERIA GOVT LEADERSHIP AND AI SUMMIT...
Tinubu Assures Colombia of Prompt Implementation of All Bilateral Agreements
As Nigeria, Colombia sign historic MoU to enhance political, economic ties Shettima asks both nations to transform potential into tangible economic gains beyond tariff barriers Nigeria remains strategic market for Colombia, says Márquez
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships and aligning its foreign relations with evolving global trends in trade, politics, and culture.
Tinubu spoke on Monday while receiving in audience Vice President of the Republic of Colombia, Francia Márquez, at State House, Abuja.
He stated that global economic volatility and shifting international policies will necessitate new partners for shared prosperity.
Tinubu assured the delegation of senior government, business, and diplomatic officials from the South American country that Nigeria will replicate the agreements signed with Brazil on aviation and consular issues with Colombia.
He stated that the conclusions of all the bilateral meetings and the agreements signed,
under the supervision of Vice President Kashim Shettima, will receive speedy attention.
The president stated, “I believe the vice president and his team have done the job. Our business opportunities with Colombia have already been enhanced. I support every aspect that you have agreed on.
“Particularly for Colombia, the agreement we entered with Brazil can easily be replicated in aviation, and our diplomatic relations can be enhanced. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will accelerate that.”
Tinubu urged the business leaders to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and agriculture.
He said Nigeria’s youthful and growing population presented a good market and a skilled workforce to boost investment.
Shettima said the visit by the Colombian vice president would rekindle ancestral connections disrupted by slavery
and colonialism, positioning both nations for a prosperous partnership.
He highlighted the political and cultural similarities that would foster healthy economic collaboration.
Similarly, the vice president of Colombia highlighted several areas for the strengthening of bilateral relations, including
aviation, visas, political consultations, cultural exchanges, and trade.
Márquez stated, “As the first black Vice President of Colombia, I am extremely delighted to lead this visit to the land of our ancestors. Our ancestors were taken away from Africa centuries ago.”
She said her visit will kick-
start a long-lasting relationship built on substantial cultural similarity and heritage.
Márquez assured that relations with Nigeria would benefit both countries, particularly in areas such as social justice, gender equality, and inclusivity.
“We have had a meeting with the business leaders in
Continues online aviation on the need to start direct flights to Colombia,” she added.
Marquez said Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa and African Union’s role in restoration and reparation will enhance relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.
Kekere-Ekun Reassures on Speedy Dispensation of Financial Crime Cases
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has reiterated the commitment of the country’s judiciary towards speedy trial of cases bordering on money laundering and terrorism financing.
Kekere-Ekun gave the
21,971 Admission Seekers Jostle for 13,000 Spaces at Unilorin
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
No fewer than 21,971 admission seekers are now jostling for 13,000 spaces at the University of Ilorin in the ongoing Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) of the institution for the 2025/2026 academic year.
The Post-UTME admission screening exercise of the University commenced on August 28 and will end on September 4, 2025.
The Director, ComputerBased Test (CBT) Centre, of
the institution Prof. Kamilu Rauf disclosed this in Ilorin yesterday during a chat with journalists.
“The exercise, which began with 26 under-age applicants, comprised 20,220 candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and 1,751 candidates for Direct Entry (DE),” he stated.
Rauf hinted that this year’s figure reflects an increase over last year’s 15,946 UTME and 1,175 Direct Entry candidates.
“About 12,856 candidates
were admitted in the 2024/2025 academic session.
This year, we recorded an addition of over 4,200 UTME candidates and 576 Direct Entry applicants, which shows that more students are making the University of Ilorin their first choice of institution,” he added.
The Professor of Mathematics attributed the surge in applications to the growing reputation of the university for academic excellence, uninterrupted academic calendar, and efficient administration.
reassurance while speaking at the 42nd edition of the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime holding in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
She said Nigeria’s judiciary understood that timely, predictable, and transparent judicial decisions were indispensable in satisfying the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Kekere-Ekunrequirements. recalled that Nigeria was placed on the FATF Grey List in
February 2023, underscoring international concerns about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT).
While acknowledging the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to ensure Nigeria’s removal from the list, the CJN said listing Nigeria in the FATF Grey list served as a wake-up call, spurring unprecedented national reforms.
She said, “We remain firmly committed to ensur- ing Nigeria’s exit from the Grey List within the shortest possible time.”
According to her, the Nigerian judiciary remains firmly committed to upholding the rule of law, enhancing judicial efficiency, and playing its role in combating economic crime. The CJN stated that no single country could adequately confront the challenges of cross-border economic crime alone.
UBEC, DLN Distribute 47 Milliion Laptops, Tablets to Students, Teachers
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Digital Learning Network (DLN), to implement a comprehensive National Digital Education Transformation Project to increase access and improve quality of education.
The MoU signed at a brief ceremony at UBEC headquarters
yesterday in Abuja, involving the US based corporation is to ensure distribution of 47 million laptops and tablets to students and teachers across Nigeria’s basic education sector - pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary schools.
DLN, working with Deloitte Financial Advisory, UBA Plc., Zenith Bank, and the National Credit Guarantee Company, will fully fund this transformation
through private investments from development finance institutions that support its global technol- ogy partners and institutional investors.
Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, in her remarks, highlighted the importance of the project, saying the initiative would transform learning in pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary schools, especially in remote and underserved communities.
Alex Enumah in Abuja
L-R: Senator Afolabi Salisu; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Bosun Tijani during a meeting ahead of the GITEX Nigeria Government Leadership and AI Summit, held in Abuja ... yesterday
when nhIA sIgned MoU wIth FMCs to expAnd eMergenCy MAternAl And neonAtAl CAre...
L-R: Acting Managing Director, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Lagos Zone, Aisha Abubakar Haruna; Managing Director/CEO, Reliance HMO, Mr. Novo Abere; Managing Director/CEO, Outreach Hospital, Dr. Efunbo Dosekun; Managing Director, Federal Medical Centre(FMC), Epe, Dr. Adeleke Adesola; Director-General/CEO, NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri; Managing Director, FMC, Ebute Metta, Dr. Saheed Ogunme and Director, Informal Sector Department, NHIA, Dr. Salahudeen Sikiru, when NHIA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with FMCs and private hospitals to expand emergency maternal and neonatal care in Lagos…recently
NUPRC Oversees Concession of First Deepwater Oil Blocks Under 2024 Licensing Round
Komolafe lauds Tinubu for removing obstacles in oil sector
Ojulari: New deal moves NNPC closer to achieving
3m bpd, $60bn investment target by 2030 TotalEnergies says it’s first exploration block by any IOC in 10 years
emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and peter Uzoho in Lagos
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday supervised the closing ceremonies for the execution of a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for two offshore oil blocks concessioned by the Nigerian National Petroleum (NNPC) to the TotalEnergies–Sapetro Consortium.
The closeout on the assets, Petroleum Prospecting Licences (PPLs) 2000 and 2001, THISDAY learnt, is coming about nine months after an open and transparent bid process concluded in December 2024 in Lagos threw up the two oil companies.
Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC,
Gbenga Komolafe, explained that the deal was made possible by the fresh impetus given to the oil sector by President Bola Tinubu, especially his Executive Orders 40, 41 and 42 which essentially deal with fiscal incentives, local content, and cost efficiency as well as contract timelines.
But Komolafe insisted that every award has very clear terms about its tenure, maintaining that in compliance with current
regulatory activities, unexplored acreages are expected to be relinquished in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The NUPRC chief executive disclosed that TotalEnergies with over 60 years operations in Nigeria hold 80 per cent contractor interest, and Sapetro with 30 years operations hold 20 per cent contractor interest.
The two offshore blocks, he said, span about 2,000 square
Obi: Life Expectancy in Nigeria Worse Than War-torn Ukraine, S/Sudan
Describes Rivers council elections as rascality taken too far, mockery of democracy
Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, yesterday, painted a grim picture of life expectancy in Nigeria, stating that living in the country is as good as waiting to die.
In a publication on X, Obi bemoaned Nigeria’s unenviable status of having the lowest life expectancy in the world, with an average of 54.6 years, a record he at- tributed to a United Nations World Population Prospects 2025 Report.
He also pointed out that as of today, the country held two of the most dangerous health records in the world within just one year. This situation, according to the former Anambra State governor, was “a double tragedy, considering that health is one of the most critical measures of development.”
He also alleged that “another damning report shows that
Nigeria is the worst country in the world to give birth, with one maternal death recorded every seven minutes”.
Obi stated, “We continue to hear heart-breaking stories of children losing their mothers during childbirth, and families losing both mother and child.
“These reports are not just statistics—they reflect the daily experience of Nigerian life.
Though Nigeria is not officially at war, our life expectancy is now worse than that of wartorn countries, like Ukraine and South Sudan, all because of poor governance and a failing health system.
“These grim realities expose misplaced priorities, bad governance, and the failure to invest in one of the most vital sectors of development: the health and well-being of our citizens.
“We must urgently prioritise healthcare as a cornerstone of building our dear nation.”
A 2018 statistics by the Nige- ria Demographic and Health
Survey (NDHS) placed the country’s maternal mortality ratio estimates at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births. Similarly, the UN in its World Population Prospects report from March/June 2025 indicated that Nigeria’s average life expectancy was around 54.6 years, with men averaging 54.3 years and women 54.9
years.
The report stated, “Nigeria ranks as one of the countries with the lowest life expectancy in the world.”
It attributed the situation to “high infant and maternal mortality rates, infectious diseases, poor healthcare access, poverty, malnutrition, and insecurity”.
kilometres in the prolific Niger Delta Basin, and were a direct product of the transparent, competitive, and reform-driven framework introduced under the PIA.
Stressing that the awardees of 2000 and 2001 licensees have become beneficiaries of the laudable initiatives and reforms of the President, Komolafe urged TotalEnergies and other potential investors to take advantage of the right regulatory, fiscal and governance regime as enthroned by the industry regulator.
Besides, he lauded the NNPC and contractors for their commitment in exploration and production activities in Nigeria, highlighting the successes already recorded in Egina, Akpo and other assets held or operated by the entities.
“This PSC signals the start of a committed work programme that will help us unlock the untapped geological potential of our deepwater, expand our reserves, boost production, and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security. It also affirms our broader vision to make Nigeria the premier destination for
upstream investment in Africa,” he pointed out.
According to him, the new PSC framework sets out clear terms and conditions to guide the payment of a signature bonus as stipulated in the licensing round and production bonuses tied to commercial milestones, ensuring value to the federation.
Besides, he stated that the new template will ensure a defined minimum work programme, with the requirement to provide guarantees to assure performance and clear rules on cost recovery and profit oil sharing between the federation and contractors, in line with the fiscal provisions of the PIA and applicable laws. In the same vein, he said the framework takes very seriously issues surrounding the payment of royalties and taxes, and strict compliance with the host community development obligations as well as provisions for the treatment of associated and non-associated gas and obligations relating to decommissioning and abandonment and environmental remediation fund.
Train Derailment: Damaged Tracks to be Restored in 10 Days, Says FG
The federal government, through the Ministry of Transportation, has said work is progressing well and in the next 10 days, the damaged section of the Abuja-Kaduna tracks and coaches will be restored.
Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, applauded stakeholders for their untiring efforts to ensure safety of passengers, workers and train facilities during the
tragedy which occurred on AugustAlkali,26.who stated this after an on-the-spot inspection of the ongoing clearing of the ac- cident scene in Asham station, Monday in Kaduna, said work was progressing well and in the next 10 days, the tracks would be restored.
He also stated that the staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have been working day and night to ensure that the clearing and repairing of the damaged tracks are done
at the earliest possible time.
He said: “Let me start by thanking Mr. President and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support since the incident happened. He has given us support to ensure that we move the locomotive and the coaches and fixed the rail line so that we will be back in operation.
“From what I have seen, I also want to commend the managing director, NRC and his team because they are on
site as you can see, day and night trying to restore normalcy after the incident that occurred.
“Actually, the incident occurred at a point where we have two rail lines. Normally, we are running around two trains at a time. So there are points where the two trains will interchange. So normally, we have a point there. That is where the accident occurred. However, I am not in a position now to pre-empt the investigation, to say why the incident happened.
Kasim sumaina in Kaduna
Chuks okocha in Abuja
MSME FinancE cEO FOruM 2025...
L-R: Executive Secretary, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Ajibola Olude; Head of Operations, Baobab Micro Finance Bank, Mr. Igelige Uzezi Gerald; Managing Director/CEO, National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC), Mr. Bonaventure Okhaimo; Chief Executive Officer, Enhancing Financial Inclusion and Advancement (EFInA), Foyinsolami Akinjayeju; Founder/CEO, Africa Global Economic Forum, Mr.Jude Ndu; and President, FinTech Association of Nigeria, Dr. Stanley Jacob, at the MSME Finance CEO Forum 2025 held in Lagos ... recently
LCCI: Tinubu’s Brazil, Japan Diplomatic Missions are Trade Prospects worth Exploring
Urges FG to translate agreements into tangible outcomes
Dike Onwuamaeze
Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has described the recent diplomatic missions of President Bola Tinubu to Brazil and Japan as “new trade opportunities worth exploring”, as Nigeria strives to push trade to new frontiers.
The chamber also stated that Nigeria’s foreign policy should focus on translating agreements into tangible outcomes. Director General of LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, said this yesterday in a public statement, titled, “Nigeria’s Global Partnerships: From Agreement to Action.”
The chamber said it expected “the government to reach out to strategic partners that would place Nigeria in a stronger negotiating position when needed” in the face of current uncertainties in international economic relations.
Almona stated, “The chamber commends the
signing of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Brazil, which enables direct flights between the two nations.
“This agreement will expand export markets, boost tourism and cultural exchange, and unlock new trade routes for Nigerian businesses.
“Beyond aviation, it offers opportunities for technical partnerships in aircraft maintenance, aerospace engineering, and vocational training for Nigerian youth.
“The Nigeria–Brazil BASA should not be just about flights, but about creating new pathways for trade, mobility, and job opportunities for Nigerian youths. It must therefore be activated quickly and strategically.”
Commenting on the outcomes of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), Almona said LCCI welcomed Japan’s $238
million collaborative financing framework for upgrading Nigeria’s national electricity generation grid infrastructure.
She stated, “The investment gestures from Japan and other economies encourage Nigeria to equip its youth population with vocational and technical skills to capitalise on oppor- tunities in labour-intensive sectors, such as those found in high-manufacturing countries like Japan.
“As we invest fresh capital
into the national grid, we must also consider investing in developing renewable energy infrastructure, boosting the adoption of CNG technologies, and creating an enabling environment that encourages states and foreign investors to participate in creating value.”
She also reiterated the LCCI’s view that “Nigeria’s foreign policy must now focus on translating agreements into tangibleAlmonaoutcomes.” advised “that the
private sector be well-integrated in operationalising these agreements through followup mechanisms, setting clear timelines for implementation, and prioritising vocational and technical skills development in markets where they are required”.
She said, “Japan sees our youth as Africa’s biggest strength. Nigeria must equip its young people with the technical skills to compete globally.”
The LCCI director-general stated that taking the right actions on signed agreements with new strategic partners could drive inclusive growth and boost foreign trade earnings.
According to her, “By combining visionary diplomacy with practical action, Nigeria can shift global perceptions from challenges to opportu- nities and rebrand itself as a reform-driven, youth-powered, and investment-ready economy.
Africa Must Adopt AI to Catch Up With Digital Devt, Says Communications Minister
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has urged African countries to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI), or risk been left behind in digital development.
The minister stated this on Monday in Abuja at the 2025 Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) with the theme: “Building Continental Digital Foundations for Equitable AI Development.”
He said the continent should
Minister, PSC, CSOs Mourn Arase, Condole with Family
He was champion of human rights, says NHRC
Michael Olugbode and Linus aleke in Abuja
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, on behalf of the Police ecosystem, has expressed grief over the passing of former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.
Also, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Hashimu Argungu (rtd), paid a condolence visit to the family of the former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, in Abuja.
This development comes as no fewer than 18 civil society organisations (CSOs) paid tribute to the late IGP, describing him as a rare breed — an exceptional professional and a reform-minded leader whose life epitomised integrity, intellect, discipline, and dedication to public service.
In a statement yesterday, the Minister of Police Affairs also condoled with the people and government of Nigeria — especially the Arase family — over the death of the former Chairman of the PSC,
who passed away on Sunday.
He stated: “The Ministry and all stakeholders share in this moment of grief and sorrow with the family, the people of Edo State, and the entire country. This is a great loss to the nation, the Police Ecosystem, and the government of Nigeria.
“His contributions had a significant impact on the protection of lives and property. He worked cordially with the ministry in the transparent recruitment of police constables in 2024.
It is important to acknowledge the significance of his service and the impact of his passing on the nation.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a true leader and a dedicated servant of our nation. His legacy will live on through his tireless efforts and commitment to the people.”
Noting that his demise is a profound loss for the country, the Minister stated that Arase’s dedication to public service and his unwavering commitment to the security sector would be remembered.
invest in digital infrastructure to support AI.
The minister stated: “If we are not delivering, AI will widen the gap between nations around productivity. Countries that are already ahead will move even faster and those that are still catching up will find it even more difficult to catch up.
“If we cannot close this gap, Africa risks becoming a continent of consumers, importing food, importing services, and importing innovation instead of producers and leaders; and we know that is not the Africa that we want.
“AI can disrupt jobs, but it will also create new ones. We must prepare our youth now with initiatives like Clean Energy for Talent, and similar projects across the continent. This is the only way we can build a workforce that is future-ready.
“In South Africa, satellite imaging and drone technology combined with AI models are now allowing farmers to monitor crops in real time and to respond to threats way faster.
“In a number of countries across our continent, many farmers still rely on guesswork and traditional practises because they lack access to these tools.
“The result, of course, is that farmers elsewhere are producing four to five times more food on the same line.
“These innovations mean that while workers elsewhere are becoming productive with AI, some of our own economies risk losing competitiveness if we do not adopt the same tools.”
He noted that
According to him, the central challenge is that while AI is becoming the engine for productivity, “I am waiting for our nation’s attempt to also adopt this technology.”
Speaking earlier, the Execu- tive Vice President (EVP), of Dubai Trade Centre, Trixie LohMirmand, said that GITEX was not just an exhibition but a global digital ecosystem of diverse stakeholders cutting across industries, geographi- cal areas and continents of the world.
Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja
Stanford Varsity Staff, Academic Experts Doubt Kemi Badenoch’s Claim of US Med School Offer
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Doubts have surfaced over Kemi Badenoch’s claim to have been offered a place at a prestigious US medical school at 16, with admissions staff unable to recall the proposal and the university not offering the course, the UK Guardian hasThereported.Conservative leader has said in interviews that she was offered a place and a partial scholarship to study medicine, sometimes describing
As the possibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan contesting the 2027 presidential election continues to heat up political discussions, a previ- ously unpublished judgment delivered by a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, affirmed that Jonathan was well qualified to contest presidential election.
Two members of the APC in
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a post on his verified X handle, @ HMMohammed, described the sentencing of Ekpa to six years’ imprisonment as a major victory for the Nigerian people in the collective fight against terror.
Idris, in the post, stated, “We welcome the news of Simon Ekpa’s conviction by a Finland court for terrorism-related crimes, and his sentencing to six years in prison.
“A major victory for the Nigerian people in the collective fight against terror.”
Similarly, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, applauded the judgement delivered by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland.
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, described the conviction as “good news”.
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and a civil society organisation, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), urged the government to emulate the good example set by the Finnish District Court in convicting and sentencing perpetrators of terrorism.
In its judgement delivered yesterday, the three-member panel of judges ruled that Ekpa incited terrorism, participated in the activities of a terrorist organisation, and exploited his “significant social media following” to spread violent propaganda and destabilise Nigeria’s south-east region between August 2021 and November 2024.
it as pre-medicine, at Stanford University in California, one of the most competitive in the US. However, medicine is only offered to graduates at Stanford and there is no pre-med degree, the report added. When asked for clarification, the Conservatives then said Badenoch had not applied but had been offered the place by a number of US universities – including Stanford – on the basis of good exam results in US standardised tests.
But academic and admis-
AN
Bayelsa had gone to court in 2022 to determine Jonathan’s position, given the high stakes northern lobby to mobilise Jonathan to replace late President Muham- madu Buhari before the now President Tinubu eventually clinched the APC ticket.
Aides to the former President said he is still consulting on whether to throw his hat in the ring for 2027. Sources close to the former President told THISDAY last night, that
that Ekpa was not merely a commentator but an influential member of a militant separatist movement intent on carving out an independent Biafra state fromTheNigeria. judges found that he issued direct calls to violence on social media platforms, especially X, and encouraged attacks on Nigerian security operatives.
Beyond online incitement, the court further determined that Ekpa facilitated the supply of weapons, explosives, and ammunition to armed groups in Nigeria “through his network of contacts in the region”.
Prosecutors also presented evidence of aggravated tax fraud and breaches of the Attorneys Act, which the court upheld.
Ekpa, who moved to Finland in 2007 as an athlete, had previously been a member of the National Coalition Party (NCP) and once served on Lahti’s public transport board.
He rose to prominence after the extradition of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu in 2021, when he was appointed lead broadcaster for Radio Biafra.
However, he was later dismissed by IPOB over dis- agreements regarding opera- tional rules, prompting him to establish a splinter secessionist movement.
From Finland, Ekpa routinely issued “sit-at-home” orders in Nigeria’s South-east and urged violent resistance against authorities.
His directives were frequently disowned by IPOB, which repeatedly sought to distance itself from his activities.
sions experts, according to the UK Guardian have cast doubt on this, saying it was an impossible scenario.
Jon Reider, the Stanford admissions officer at the time of Badenoch’s application who was responsible for international students and the allocation of bursaries, said he would have been responsible for offering Badenoch a place and had not done so. Badenoch moved to the UK from Nigeria aged 16.
“Although 30 years have
he has been approached by three political parties - each wanting him to contest the presidency on their platforms. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP and the recently formed coalition, the African Democratic Congress, ADC - all jostling for the former President who many see as one of the most viable candidates that can give the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a good run for his money.
investigation into Ekpa’s activities.
During police interviews, he denied all charges, including allegations of ordering weapons for separatist groups.
His defence lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, argued that much of the evidence relied on reports from Nigeria, raising questions about their Nevertheless,reliability. state prosecutor
Sampsa Hakala insisted the case was built on “a great deal of evidence” showing Ekpa’s active online role in supporting terrorism.
While acknowledging dif- ficulties in verifying events that occurred in Africa, prosecutors argued that his coordinated propaganda from Finland constituted terrorism under Finnish law.
Ekpa was arrested in Finland in November 2024.
By March 2025, the Nigerian federal government officially designated him a “terrorism financier.”
The conviction cemented his fall from political activism in Finland to being branded an international security threat.
The verdict represents one of the most high-profile cases in Finland linking local residents to terrorism abroad.
Fagbemi said the conviction was “good news”.
He said the development was a confirmation that Ekpa had influenced and committed heinous crimes against the Nigerian people, especially in the South-east.
passed, I would definitely remember if we had admitted a Nigerian student with any financial aid. The answer is that we did not do so,” he said.
Reider said he had admitted a few students based in Africa during that period but not from Nigeria. “I assure you that we would not have admitted a student based on test scores alone, nor would we have mailed an invitation to apply to any overseas students based on test scores,” he said.
He added: “O-levels would
This calculation is based on the fact that Jonathan can only legally seek one more term and could assuage the feelings of northern voters who accuse President Tinubu of marginalisation.
A claim that the presidency has vigorously denied.
The judgment delivered by Justice Isah Dashem of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, on May 27, 2022 but obtained by THISDAY yesterday, put to rest the contentious constitutional
would be taken upon receipt and under-studying a copy of the judgment of the court.”
Musa equally applauded the judgement delivered by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland.
He described the ruling as a landmark victory in the global effort to combat terrorism and violent extremism, stating that the conviction reinforces the principle that those who incite violence and fund terrorism will be held accountable, regardless of their location.
In a statement celebrating the judgement, signed by Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the CDS said, “This judgement sends a strong message that there is no safe haven for individuals or groups who sponsor or encourage acts of terror against Nigeria or any other sovereign state.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria commend the Finnish authorities for their diligence in ensuring justice is served.”
Musa extended deep appre- ciation to Nigerian intelligence agencies and diplomats for their unwavering collaboration and painstaking efforts in providing actionable evidence that led to Ekpa’s conviction.
He stated that the success reflected the power of international cooperation and collaboration in addressing transnational threats.
not have been sufficient, and we would have been very nervous admitting a 16-year- old. She would have had to have an extraordinary record.”
Reider also revealed it was implausible for a student to be offered a partial scholarship they could not afford to take up.“If an applicant needed, say, $30,000 a year to attend Stanford, we would offer them the full amount. There was no point in offering them less because they would not
amendment of Section 137(1) (b) and 3, as it affects Jonathan.
Various analysts led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and Learned Silk, Festus Keyamo, had claimed that the PDP may put its presidential chances in 2027 at “risk” should they field Jonathan going by the provisions of the above section from the amended Constitution in 2018. However, Keyamo did not disclose or was unaware of the judgement of Justice Dashem.
The judgment, which has not been appealed or set aside remains subsisting. And it is now out of time for any appeal after 3 years since it was delivered
In the 2022 suit with number: FHC/YNG/CS/86/2022, the two APC members sued Jonathan, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over rumour that the APC had planned to field the former president as its presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.
Their grouse was that Jona- than’s participation would ruin the chances of the APC having taking oath of office twice as president.
The sole issue raised for determination was “Whether, in view of the provisions of | Section 137(1)(b) and (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as
including bridges, roads, rail, health centres, as well as power, agriculture, and oil and gas schemes spread across the six geo-political zones being executed by his government.
Tinubu, in the post, stated, “Dear Nigerians, I took an oath to serve all Nigerians, not a section. That oath guides every bridge, road, rail, power, and health project we deliver.
have been able to attend. If we admitted them, we wanted them to enrol,” he said.
altered) and the fact that Jonathan had earlier been sworn-in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2010 and 2011 respectively, whether he is qualified to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2023 General Elections to be organized by the 3rd Defendant.”
The plaintiffs, Andy Solomon and Idibiye Abraham, through their lawyer, Seigha Egbuwabe, further urged that if the answer to (1) above was in the negative, then the court should determine “Whether the no 2” Defendant was entitled to field the 1st Defendant as its Presidential Candidate in the 2023 General Elections”.
The court was also to determine, “Whether the 3rd Defendant is entitled to disqualify the 1st Defendant from contesting and/or from being presented as the 2nd Defendant Presidential Candidate in the 2023 General Elections.”
Dashem, after taking argu- ments from plaintiffs’ lawyer and Jonathan, who was represented by Eric Omare, held that Jona- than was eminently qualified to contest in 2023.
Before arriving at the conclu- sion, Dashem observed that Jonathan was elected first as president in 2011.
“The office into which the
rehabilitated nationwide, light rail projects in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos & Ogun have been given the green light, 250,000 jobs are being created, power is returning to Kaduna through the revived 255MW power plant, bridges in Onitsha & Bonny reconnect our people, oil exploration is expanding in Bauchi & Gombe, and the AKK pipeline has crossed the Niger.
According to Finnish newspaper, Yle, the court held
Finnish authorities, working closely with Nigerian security agencies, launched an extensive
The AGF stressed, in a statement he personally signed, “We commend the Finnish authorities for supporting Nigeria in the fight against insecurity and see this as a signal of future collaboration.
Musa reaffirmed the armed forces’ resolve to continue working with global partners to dismantle terrorist networks and ensure lasting peace and security across Nigeria.
He called on all Nigerians to remain vigilant and support security agencies in the ongoing
“From the Lagos–Calabar Highway in the South to the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway in the North; from Port Harcourt–Maiduguri rail in the East to Abuja–Kaduna–Kano expressway in the Centre, and the Trans-Saharan highway connecting African countries, these are not local trophies. They are our national assets.
“This is the equity of Renewed Hope. No Nigerian is second-class; no region is left behind. Together we will rise as one nation, one people, and one destiny. Bet on Nigeria.” violence.
“Appropriate further actions
“Health centres are being
“Every farmer who needs a road, every trader who needs power, every child who needs a school, every patient who needs care… this is who we are building for.
Cour T: Jo NATHAN C
Alex Enumah in Abuja
Kemi Badenoch
Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
08033025611 sms only
Is Arming Citizens Solution to Katsina’s Security Woes?
Francis sardauna writes that the procurement of firearms and distribution to constituents for selfdefence by the member representing Funtua constituency at the Katsina State House of assembly, Hon. abubakar Muhammad, may have contravened the Nigerian Firearms act and the 2019 Executive Order.
Worried by the spate of killings and abductions orchestrated by bandits in his constituency, the member representing Funtua at the Katsina State House of Assembly, Hon. Abubakar Muhammad, recently purchased 60 firearms and distributed them to his constituents to fight the marauding hoodlums.
In a now viral video, the lawmaker and personnel of the state-owned security outfit, Community Watch Corps, and the hitherto weaponless tax payers, were seen in an arms drill to enable them to defend themselves against bandits’ attacks and other criminal elements in the region.
The procurement and distribution of the first batch of the locally-made firearms to the constituents in six out of the 11 political wards of the constituency, according to the lawmaker, is to ameliorate the insecurity and serve as a veritable tool for self-defence in the wave of the current insecurity bedeviling the area and other parts of the state.
He argued that with bandits carrying unlicensed sophisticated weapons everywhere there was an urgent need for his constituents to use the firearms for self-defence instead of “stones and cutlasses” to confront criminals with AK-47 rifles.
Muhammad, who is fondly called Total, believes that arming his constituents would combat the high rate of insecurity and improve security in the region, saying the procured firearms were within the purview of the law.
He explained that the procurement of the firearms, which are under the watch of the Katsina Community Watch Corps, was in response to persistent bandits’ attacks in some communities of the constituency.
According to him, the armed constituents would complement the operations of conventional security agencies in tackling the nefarious activities of bandits and other criminals in the constituency.
In a recent interview with some journalists, Muhammad said: “My constituents pleaded with me to buy firearms for them to defend
themselves, and I promised to get them firearms that are allowed by law for civilians to make use of them.
“That was the reason why I purchased the firearms and ammunition and handed them over to those who are trusted by members of their communities. I connected them with personnel of the Katsina Community Watch Corps.
“We trained them on how to use firearms and the dangers associated with the weapons. They will be operating under the guidance and leadership of the Community Watch Corps. These firearms will assist in addressing insecurity in my constituency.”
But Muhammad’s argument for the necessity of allowing residents to bear arms for self-defence due to the prevailing security challenges in his constituency and other parts of Katsina state is just a policy debate, not a current legal reality in the country.
While self-defence is a recognised need due to the spate of insecurity in the state, the country’s legal framework does not broadly permit the lawmaker and other Nigerian citizens to purchase and carry arms. Therefore, his action contravened the nation’s Firearms Act, which regulates the possession and use of firearms. It stipulates that no person shall possess a firearm without the licence granted by the Inspector-
General of Police, who operates under principles decided by the president of the country.
To epitomize it all, a legal practitioner, Omale Ajonye argued that under the Firearms Act, every Nigerian could only own a firearm with permission or license from the president, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) and Commissioner of Police of every state of the federation.
Ajonye’s position is clearly outlined in Part II, Sections 5,6 and 7 of the Firearms Act, but investigation revealed that Hon. Abubakar Muhammad did not fulfil the conditions for acquiring the firearms before obtaining them for his constituents for self-defence.
“He (Muhammed) was not properly guided on the Nigerian Firearms Act because he acquired the firearms without police license or approval. What he did is against the law and unconstitutional”, a credible security source said.
He expressed the fear that if residents of the state are allowed to take up arms in self-defence, they are being asked to simply go on a killing spree through a mechanism, which lacks the instrumentality of the law.
Muhammad’s firearms procurement and distribution is also a gross violation of an Executive Order signed by the former President of the country, late Muhammadu Buhari on May 22, 2019, which revoked and banished all firearms certificates and licenses issuance throughout the country.
With effect from June 1, 2019, the presidential order barred the lawmaker and other
Rather than encouraging people to arm themselves, Hon muhammad, the state and federal governments should focus on fixing the root causes of banditry such as poverty, unemployment, marginalisation, corruption, competition for scarce resources and systemic problems in our security architecture.
Nigerians from even seeking for licenses from the police or any other authority to acquire firearms for self-defence or other purposes.
Although the order attracted widespread condemnations from Nigerians, especially among the elite across the country, the erstwhile president refused to revoke it as demanded by some members of the federal parliament.
However, Hon. Muhammad and other proponents of gun bearing argued that Buhari’s executive order which was described by the Supreme Court as illegal and superfluous, is no longer acceptable to Nigerians because the nation’s security personnel are overstretched due to the high level of insecurity.
Consequently, they urged governors of the frontline states to purchase arms for their regional security outfits, including training and retraining of vigilantes, citizens and hunters on self-defence mechanisms to protect lives and properties in their respective territories.
One of the proponents of gun bearing, Usman Ibrahim Kankara said: “The prevailing insecurity has made it imperative for the current Nigeria’s President to licence even military-grade weapons to citizens and communities for self-defence.
“There are many assault firearms in the hands of bandits and criminal elements and so it would be appropriate for the President to exercise the discretion of granting licences of weapons to individuals and groups for defence.”
For Surajo Bako, a resident of Karfi, “If we have adequate security in place, the people will not need to go for self-defence, but where there is none, nobody should die anyhow. Nobody should be a prisoner of bandits in his or her own territory.
“We need guns to protect our lives and properties—It is a natural reaction for every human being that if you are attacked—you have to defend yourself.”
NOTE:
Radda
mohammad
Basic Education Reform in Oyo: Small Screens, Big Gains
As Oyo’s collaboration with EIDU, a global Education Technology leader, to introduce an AI-backed pedagogy and platform aimed at improving literacy, numeracy, and digital skills for public primary school children in Basic 1–3, is already boosting literacy and numeracy, Uzoma Mba writes that other states can adopt the approach
“Everything changed on 17th of September 2024. That was the day the smartphones finally arrived at our school,” recalls Mr. Abiola Salau, Headmaster of Community Basic School, Iseyin, Oyo State.“While we were happy that ours was one of the pilot schools, honestly, the teachers and I weren’t sure how things would unfold in those first few weeks—even though we had received extensive training on the new classroom management techniques,” says Salau, who has been a teacher for 33 years.
But the worries diluted, once the programme started: “That morning, the children were visibly excited—I could see it in their smiles. It was the first time they were experiencing techaided learning. You need to understand things from their perspective. At home, smartphones are usually off-limits. But in school, they could now use customised versions to learn how to read and solve math problems,” Mr. Salau explains, describing Oyo State’s basic education reform programme.
In 2024, the Oyo State Government partnered EIDU, a global Education Technology leader, to introduce an AI-backed pedagogy and platform aimed at improving literacy, numeracy, and digital skills for public primary school children in Basic 1–3.
Technology in Hard-to-Reach Areas
Oyo’s push for basic education reform was anchored on the urgent need to improve literacy, numeracy, and digital skills among public school children. The precarious state of foundational learning across Nigeria made it imperative for the government to act to save over 1,500,000 children in the state from what the World Bank describes as learning poverty—a situation in which a 10-year-old cannot read or understand a basic passage.
Various national and multilateral institutions have highlighted the depth of this crisis in sub-Saharan Africa.
According to UNICEF, (2022), 73 percent of 10-year-olds in Nigeria struggle to read or comprehend simple text.
The challenge is particularly acute in hard-to-reach areas. For decades, government interventions largely focused on urban centres or at least prioritizing those areas that were more visible, thereby leaving rural schools behind.
Learning from the mistakes of the past, the Oyo–EIDU partnership gave equal attention to both urban and underserved schools. A visit to Iseyin proves this.
Located about 100 kilometres from Ibadan, Oyo’s capital, Iseyin is surrounded by pristine greenery, rocky outcrops, fertile farmland, and communities known for traditional aso-oke weaving.
“Ours is a small school, and the very fact that the governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, thought it wise to include us in the pilot was very encouraging. We said to ourselves as teachers, this is an opportunity to do things better,”
Mr. Salau says with a faint smile.
“Each day in school, you could see our children solving problems on the small screens of the android phones that were issued to them, these small screens ironically were delivering great gains.”
EIDU’s methods democratise quality education, ensuring that schools in both urban and remote areas gain access to best-in-class teaching and learning materials suitable for children at different stages, real time. For instance, what is taught in a school in Ibadan is what is taught in any of the remote schools participating in the programme.
The system is offline-first—teachers and pupils can use it without internet access, and data automatically syncs once the device reconnects. This makes it particularly effective in rural or low-connectivity environments.
Inside the New Pedagogy
EIDU’s technology is built around a child-friendly digital learning platform that runs on affordable Android smartphones. The devices are preloaded with the EIDU platform that offers interactive literacy and numeracy lesson plans for teachers as well as personalised learning experiences for pupils, designed with colourful visuals, sounds, and animations that make learning engaging for young children.
At its core, the platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to adapt lessons to each child’s learning pace.
A struggling pupil receives remedial tasks until mastery is achieved, while quicker learners are given more advanced challenges. This personalised approach ensures no child is left behind and keeps advanced learners motivated.
The platform also relieves teachers of the dreary routine of writing long lesson notes daily. Instead, they
can adapt structured notes to their classroom environments, focusing on their prime responsibility—delivering impactful lessons.
“We are happy that our teachers were not replaced or displaced but rather empowered to do their jobs better,” says Mr. Salau. “The system provides them with digital lesson guides, structured teaching materials, and real-time feedback on pupil performance. Dashboards show which students are excelling, which are struggling, and which concepts need to be revisited for the children to fully understand.”
The data-driven insights provided by the technology underpinning the programme helps teachers adjust their methods immediately and support ongoing professional development by showing how their instruction is influencing outcomes week by week. Beyond the classroom, EIDU generates anonymised, large-scale data on how children learn; this data assists policymakers in Ibadan to determine the right policy changes that can further enhance learning outcomes. Therefore, decisions on training, resources, and reforms are grounded in evidence rather than assumptions.
Of Results and the Future
One year after implementation, the results speak for themselves.
“Certainly it has made an impact,” Mr. Salau says with a broad smile. “We didn’t only see improvements in literacy and numeracy—we also saw behavioural changes. Children now arrive at school as early as 7:30am, just to be the first to use the smartphones. They complete their sums quickly so they can go to the EIDU corner of the classroom. The changes have been immense.”
In August 2025, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, Chairman of the Oyo
State Universal Basic Education Board, confirmed the programme’s success. “The first impact was increased enrollment. In schools where enrollment had been between 50 and 70 pupils, numbers rose to around 100 after the programme began. Children eagerly shared their new learning experiences at home, prompting parents to show greater interest and commitment.
“We also saw renewed enthusiasm from learners, demonstrated by improved participation. Teachers benefited immensely too—1,039 were trained in the first phase. This improved their skills, boosted their confidence, and enhanced classroom management. The programme is now scaling up, with 3,090 additional teachers and 76 quality assurance officers already trained. Learners now look forward to school, not wanting to miss opportunities to use the devices. This excitement translates into stronger literacy and numeracy outcomes in the pilot schools compared to control schools.”
Designed to strengthen the basic education system in Oyo, the intervention is cost-effective, non-intrusive, and aligned with Nigeria’s basic education curriculum while also advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on education.
Because of the success at the pilot stage, the programme has expanded to all 33 local government areas of the state. “We have expanded the programme to reach more children, teachers, and communities. The results we got from the pilot proved that Nigerian states can successfully partner with private-sector innovators to deliver transformative outcomes,” says Dr. Adeniran.
Mr. Salau agrees: “We were happy when the government announced that more teachers and schools were being added to the programme. It’s a huge benefit for our children. For us, it will be even better if the programme is extended to Basic 4–6. Because in the long run, digital literacy will favour our children when they have to take Computer Based Tests (CBTs) in the future.”
The Road Ahead
The impact of the reform is perhaps best seen in the daily experiences of schools like Community Basic School, Iseyin. Children who once struggled with reading and arithmetic now hurry into class, eager to interact with devices that make learning fun. Teachers, freed from the grind of handwritten lesson notes, can focus fully on guiding their pupils and celebrating each step of progress. At the state level, the data streaming in from classrooms provides the clearest evidence yet of how children are learning. Policy choices on training, resources, and support are no longer guesswork—they are rooted in the lived experiences of thousands of classrooms across Oyo.
The EIDU partnership with Oyo State government is already improving literacy, numeracy, and digital skills for public primary school children in Basic 1–3
LAWYER
Indecent Assault: Rising Scourge Against Female Dignity
Quotable
‘We’ll give priority to development. Once upon a time….we heard that Brazil and Nigeria, were on the same level of development. Look at us today, and look at Brazil. It is necessary for us to be challenged, and we are challenged.’ - HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Whether Issue Estoppel Founded on Privity of Estate Applies to Prior Purchaser
Page IV
Nigeria Targets 1,368 Firms in Landmark Data Protection Crackdown
Page V
NBA Doubles Branch Remittance, Boosts Human Rights Funding at Enugu AGM
Page V
Political Parties, Primaries, and the Courts
Page VI
The Lacuna in Presidential and Gubernatorial Qualifications
Legislative Angels
I’m beginning to think that even if angels draft the Nigerian Constitution and all the laws in the country, Politicians and their Counsel will still go to court for interpretations, no matter how clear and unambiguous the angelic provisions are, because of their own selfish interests. And, even if all Judicial Officers were angels too, all losers in litigation would still twist and question court judgements, not only Politicians, but even Senior Lawyers too, when decisions do not appear to favour them or their clients.
For the record, when I examine/analyse judgements, court processes or documents, I need not conduct interviews with anyone, whether or not they are Counsel in the cases, as it is the contents of the documents that are relevant; and it is more than trite that, unless it can be proven that documents were made under duress, such as a confessional statement of an accused person given as a result of torture, the case and documents speak clearly for themselves - “Res Ipsa Loquitur”. A judgement is always preceded with the facts of the case, while a ruling is always preceded with the reason for the interim/interlocutory application; arguments and the rationale for decisions, are also stated. It is unhelpful to challenge court decisions, not based on law, but on the manipulation of law and facts, baseless personal sentiments, speculation and twisted hypotheses, as people, including Lawyers, appear to do regularly these days; this simply creates suspicion in the legal process where there shouldn’t be, and brings it into disrepute unnecessarily.
Room for Confusion
Be that as it may, unfortunately, the room for challenge and chaos is sometimes aided by the unclear provisions of the law. For example, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution) has left enough room for confusion and manipulation. Last week, I watched Channels TV’s Politics Today, and a couple of times, part of the conversation was whether former President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR is eligible to run for President again and be elected, having completed late President Umaru Yar’Adua, GCFR’s term upon his death (see Section 146(1) of the Constitution), and was subsequently elected as President in the 2011 election, thereby serving a total of 5 years and 23 days so far, meaning that if he is elected again and wins, he will serve a total of 9 years and 23 days, over 1 year more than the 8 years provided for 2 terms of office - see Sections 135(2) & 180(2) of the Constitution for President and Governor respectively.
Comparing Apples to Oranges
The issue of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa who completed Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, CON, SAN’s (Aketi) tenure upon his death in December 2023, and his subsequent election in 2024, was also mentioned on the Channels TV’s said programme. Comparing Governor Aiyedatiwa and President Jonathan in a sense, is like comparing apples to oranges, because even though they are both fruits, they are different.
Sections 137(3) & 182(3) of the Constitution which are two of the provisions relevant to this discourse, came into effect by virtue of the Fourth Alteration No. 16 to the Constitution of 2017. These provisions state that a person who was sworn in to complete the term of the President or Governor respectively, can only be subsequently elected into that position for one term. The difference is that, while the Fourth Alteration came into effect about six years before Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa assumed Aketi’s position as Governor in 2023, it took effect about seven years after Vice President Jonathan took over as President in 2010. The issue of retrospectivity, isn’t applicable to Governor Aiyedatiwa, as it is to President Jonathan.
Retrospective/Retroactive Laws: Aiyedatiwa vs Jonathan
On the face of it, it appears clear as a bell, that by virtue of Section 182(3) of the Constitution, Governor Aiyedatiwa is ineligible to run for the office of Governor again. But, is that really the case?
A retrospective/retroactive law “attaches new consequences for the future, to an event
onikepo braithwaite
onIkepo BraIThwaITe
onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com
onikepob@yahoo.com
“It therefore appears that, Sections 137(1)(b) & 182(1) (b) contradict 137(3) & 182(3) of the Constitution. While the former allows President Jonathan and Governor Aiyedatiwa to be elected twice, regardless of whether they completed anybody’s term, the latter does not…. Sections 137(3) & 182(3) should have inserted a proviso such as “Irrespective or Regardless of Section 137(1)(b)…Section 182(1)(b) above”…. is it worth sacrificing one’s dignity to answer a desperate call to attempt to salvage what may very well be for now, a sinking ship…..?
that took place before the statute was enacted”, or one that operates backward. In Adesanoye & Ors v Adewole & Anor (2000) LPELR-142(SC) per Samson Odemwingie Uwaifo, JSC, the Supreme Court named three types of retrospective statutes including “statutes that attach prejudicial consequences to a prior event” - such as what Section 137(3) of the Constitution appears to do to President Jonathan. The Apex Court went on to hold that a retrospective law isn’t necessarily unconstitutional, but, it should be stated in clear terms that a law is retrospective. This principle was well laid down in Afolabi & Ors v Governor of Oyo State & Ors (1985) LPELR-196(SC) per Kayode Eso, JSC where the Supreme Court held thus: “…. retrospective legislation that it is - "contrary to the general principle that legislation by which the conduct of mankind is to be regulated ought, when introduced for the first time, to deal with future acts, and ought not to change the character of past transactions carried on upon the faith of the then existing law."…. retrospectivity….deems (and deems is used advisedly) a thing to be what it is not. It is a make belief. It is false. It is repugnant to law….It is a fundamental rule of English law (I make bold to say - also of our law) that no statute shall be construed to have a retrospective operation, unless such
a construction appears very clearly in the terms of the Act, or arises by necessary and distinct implication”. Section 2(2) of the Interpretation Act 2004 (IA) provides that where the date a statute comes into force isn’t stated, it will take effect either the day it was made or enacted. Section 137(3) doesn’t state that it is retrospective, so, would it be fair to maintain that it is applicable to President Jonathan? I think not; it is even stated beside the provision, that it is inserted by the Fourth Alteration of Section 137 No. 16 of 2017. So, it is safe to conclude that it came into force in 2017. Having retrospective/retroactive laws, brings back memories of the military days. But, take for instance, the famous Decree No. 57 of 1977 on (Foreign) Exchange Control (Anti-Sabotage), it stated clearly in Section 1(1) that the Decree applied to actions carried out, even though before the commencement of the Decree in 1977, but not before July 29, 1975. A retrospective decree promulgated in 1977, with a commencement date of July 29, 1975.
Contradiction between Constitutional Provisions: Jonathan and Aiyedatiwa The second part of the argument, concerns President Jonathan and Governor Aiyedatiwa. That because they both completed their Principals’ terms and
were subsequently elected to their positions as President and Governor respectively, they are ineligible to be elected to those positions a second time.
Sections 137(1)(b) & 182 (1)(b) of the Constitution, disqualify only a person who has been elected twice into the office of President or Governor respectively. Neither of the two parties have been elected twice; President Jonathan was elected only once in 2011, and Governor Aiyedatiwa has only been elected once in 2024. According to Sections 137(1)(b) & 182(1)(b) of the Constitution, they still have one more bite of the cherry. This position was upheld by the 2013 decision of the FCT High Court in Cyriacus Njoku & Ors v PDP & Ors per Oniyangi J. where the court held that President Jonathan was only serving his first term (2011-2015) and he was free to seek re-election under the sponsorship of the PDP or any other party in the 2015 election (second term). The court recognised President Jonathan’s right to be elected twice, and this right would obviously be applicable to Governor Aiyedatiwa as well.
It is trite that, unless one provision in the Constitution is made subject to another, they both have equal standing. The bindingness of the Constitution on all in Nigeria; and, the supremacy of its provisions over all other laws is clear, but it doesn’t appear to apply within the Constitution - see Section 1(1) & (3) thereof. It therefore appears that, Sections 137(1)(b) & 182(1)(b) contradict 137(3) & 182(3) of the Constitution. While the former allows President Jonathan and Governor Aiyedatiwa to be elected twice, regardless of whether they completed anybody’s term, the latter does not. If the intention of the Legislature was to ensure that no one serves in such executive positions for more than eight years in total, or that a person who completes the term of another can only be elected once so that such person doesn’t end up serving for more than 8 years, Sections 137(3) & 182(3) should have inserted a proviso such as “Irrespective or Regardless of Section 137(1)(b) above”, and in the case of Governor, “Section 182(1)(b) above”, so that it is stated without contradiction that such persons who complete the terms of their Principals, are only eligible to be elected once. Completing someone’s term, cannot be equated with election - it isn’t the same thing. Deputies are selected by their Principals to join their tickets; they don’t participate in the Primaries, like other aspirants who seek to run for office. They are selected/nominated by their Principals, after the Primaries have been won - see Sections 142(1) & 187(1) of the Constitution.
Conclusion
As things stand now, it is obvious that Sections 137(3) & 182(3) of the Constitution require amendment. Unless the Supreme Court reverses the Njoku decision, President Jonathan and Governor Aiyedatiwa can argue that, on the strength of Sections 137(1)(b), 182(1) (b) of the Constitution and the Njoku decision, they are eligible to be elected one more time, while those against them will simply rely on Sections 137(3) & 182(3) thereof, to maintain that they are ineligible.
In a society like ours, that has a penchant for challenging many things, many times for nonsensical and selfish reasons, where even angelic interventions will most likely be challenged too (I believe that President Obasanjo was once quoted to have said that, even if angels conducted Nigeria’s elections, they would still be challenged), the Legislature must go the extra mile to ensure that the laws enacted have all the elements of good laws - that they are clear, unambiguous, free from contradiction, fair, reasonable, not repugnant or draconian and protect the fundamental rights of citizens. A pertinent question to ask however is, is it worth sacrificing one’s dignity to answer a desperate call to attempt to salvage what may very well be for now, a sinking ship, when one was wrongly and previously overlooked for others when it could have mattered? Those who may have been treated unfairly a few years ago, are suddenly being declared to be ‘the best thing after sliced bread’, now that there is a crisis and possibly, no viable or strong enough options within their party.
Whether Issue Estoppel Founded on Privity of Estate Applies to Prior Purchaser
Facts
The Appellant’s mother - Dr (Mrs) Margaret Essien commenced an action at the High Court of Cross River State against her husband - Obong Joseph Effiong Essien sometime in April 2002, seeking inter alia, a declaration that the building at No. 12 MCC Road, Calabar, covered by a Certificate of Occupancy registered as No. 35 at Page 35 in Volume 199 of the Land Registry Office in Calabar is the joint property of herself and Obong Joseph Effiong Essien. She also sought an order of injunction, restraining him from dealing with the property adversely against her interest. She claimed that the property was jointly built by her and Obong Essien.
In his defence, Obong Essien claimed that he is the sole owner of the house, and he solely funded the acquisition of the land and the construction of the property without any contribution from Dr (Mrs) Essien. He also claimed that he obtained a Certificate of Occupancy on the property in his name as the sole owner, and subsequently, sold the property to the 1st and 2nd Respondent in that capacity. In the course of the proceedings, the 1st and 2nd Respondent were joined as 2nd and 3rd Defendant. The 1st and 2nd Respondent filed their Statement of Defence and counter-claimed inter-alia, for a declaration that the assignment of the property to them was valid in law. The 3rd Respondent was subsequently joined as the 4th Defendant, and in its Statement of Defence, it averred that the subject property had been sold to it by the 1st and 2nd Respondent. Thereafter, the matter proceeded to trial. During the pendency of the matter, Obong Essien commenced divorce proceedings against Dr (Mrs) Essien before another High Court in Calabar in Suit No. HC/8D/2002. Judgement was delivered in Suit No. HC/8D/2002, when the instant suit was at the point of adoption of final addresses. In the judgement, it was held that the property in dispute was the joint property of Obong Essien and Dr (Mrs) Essien. Thereafter, Counsel to Dr (Mrs) Essien filed an application, seeking to tender the judgement as additional evidence.
The trial court took the application, and the adoption of final address on the substantive suit together. The trial court prefaced its judgement with a ruling on the admissibility of the judgement in Suit No. HC/8D/2002, and held that the judgement was not pleaded and as such was inadmissible, but it would take judicial notice of the same being the judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction. In its judgement on the substantive suit, the trial court found that Dr (Mrs) Essien failed to prove her claim of joint ownership of the property, and that Obong Essien being the sole owner of the property had the power to sell the same without her consent. The Court also granted the counter-claim of the 1st and 2nd Respondent, save their prayer for an order compelling Dr (Mrs) Essien to pay mesne profits to them.
Aggrieved, Dr (Mrs) Essien appealed to the Court of Appeal. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal for being unmeritorious. Dr (Mrs) Essien thus, filed a further appeal at the Supreme Court. Dr (Mrs) Essien and Obong Essien died after the appeal was filed, and while Dr (Mrs) Essien was substituted with the present Appellant, the name of Obong Essien was struck out as a party in the appeal.
Issue for Determination
The Apex Court subsumed the issues formulated by the parties into the following sole issue: Whether, on the state of the cases made out by the parties in their respective pleadings and evidence led thereon before the trial court, the lower Court was correct in affirming the findings and the conclusions reached by the trial court in dismissing the claims of the Appellant and granting the counter-claims of the Respondents.
Arguments
Counsel for the Appellant contended that the judgement in Suit No. HC/8D/2002 which declared the property in dispute as the joint property of Dr (Mrs) Essien and Obong Essien, constituted issue estoppel on the pending issue before the trial court of whether the property was the joint property of the two. Counsel
In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at abuja
On Friday, the 21st day of February, 2025
Before their lordships adamu Jauro
Moore aseimo abraham adumein
Habeeb adewale Olumuyiwa abiru Jamilu yammama Tukur abubakar Sadiq umar Justices, Supreme Court SC/190/2008
Between MS MaRy eSSIeN
And
1. SuSaN-OHIO INVeSTMeNTS LIMITed
2. HuBeRT O. OGaR
3. NIGeRIaN uNION OF TeaCHeRS (CROSS RIVeR STaTe WING)
aPPeLLaNT
ReSPONdeNTS
(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Habeeb Adewale Olumuyiwa Abiru, JSC)
argued that further deliberations by the trial court on the issue after the judgment in Suit No. HC/8D/2002 had been brought to its attention, was tantamount to the trial court indulging in abuse of court process and the Court of Appeal was wrong to have endorsed the trial court’s finding.
Counsel argued further that the lower court was also in error when it upheld the trial court’s decision, discountenancing the caveat filed by Dr (Mrs) Essien against the sale of the property at the Lands Registry, Calabar. Counsel submitted that having admitted the caveat in evidence despite the objection of Counsel for the Respondents, the trial court was wrong to have subsequently discountenanced it on the ground that it was inauthentic.
In response, Counsel for the 1st Respondent argued that the 1st Respondent had purchased the property in dispute from Obong Essien before the divorce proceedings in Suit No. HC/8D/2002 was commenced, and the law as pronounced in TALABI v ADESEYE (1973) 1 NMLR 8 is that the judgement obtained in the divorce proceedings cannot constitute issue
“…..a prior purchaser of land cannot be estopped as being privy in estate, by a judgement obtained in an action commenced against the vendor after the purchase”
v MACAULAY (2009) 7 NWLR (PT. 1141) 597. The Supreme Court held that in other words, a prior purchaser of land cannot be estopped as being privy in estate, by a judgement obtained in an action commenced against the vendor after the purchase. The Court placed further reliance on its decisions in TALABI v ADESEYE (1972) 8-9 SC 55 at 84 and AJEIGBE v ODEDINA (1988) 1 NWLR (PT. 72) 584.
The Court also referred to its decision in AKANDE v ALAGA (1988) 4 NWLR (PT. 86) in which it held that: “where a third party acquires an interest in property before the filing of a suit leading to the judgement pleaded as res judicata to defeat a subsequent action instituted by the third party, and the third party was not proved to be standing by at the time of the action, his claim cannot be defeated by the plea of res judicata. This is because the action leading to the judgement was instituted after he had acquired interest in the property, and he was not joined in the suit”.
The Apex Court held that it was not in contest that the Respondents acquired their respective titles to the property in dispute long before the divorce proceedings in Suit No. HC/8D/2002 was commenced, and before the issue of the joint ownership of the property was brought into the proceedings by Dr (Mrs) Margaret Essien in her cross- petition and much earlier than the date when judgement was entered in the action, and the Respondents were not made parties to the proceedings. The Court found that the divorce proceedings could not thus, operate to create an estoppel of whatever nature in the present proceedings; hence, the judgement was irrelevant to the present proceedings and it got the appropriate treatment it deserved from the two lower courts.
On the complaint of the Appellant’s Counsel on the refusal of the two lower courts to accord any probative value to the caveat alleged to have been filed by Dr (Mrs) Essien despite the trial court having admitted it as Exhibit 7, the Apex Court held that the fact that a piece of evidence is admitted does not translate to it being accorded weight or probative value by a trial court. The Court held that if a piece of documentary evidence is relevant, the court admits it once all other aspects of our adjectival laws are in favour of such admission; however the weight or probative value to be ascribed to it is based on factors such as relevance, credibility, probability and conclusiveness on the issues in respect of which it was put in evidence.
estoppel against the 1st Respondent. Counsel submitted that since the 1st Respondent had acquired proprietary interest in the property upon purchase, it must be made a party in any suit touching on title to the property commenced thereafter, to enable it defend its proprietary interest and to be bound by the outcome of the action.
Counsel for the 2nd Respondent submitted that the production of the judgement in Suit No HC/8D/2002 before the trial court by Counsel for the Appellant was tantamount to leading evidence outside the pleadings, and the trial court was correct in treating the same as irrelevant. Counsel argued that the evidence led by Obong Essien on his sole ownership of the property in dispute outweighed the case made out by Dr (Mrs) Essien on joint ownership of the property, and this gave credence to the claims of the 1st and 2nd Respondent who derived title to the property from Obong Essien. Respective Counsel for all Respondents submitted that the lower courts were correct in their concurrent findings against the Appellant.
Court’s Judgement and Rationale
The Apex Court held that a plea of estoppel, be it issue estoppel or per rem judicatam, must be mutually enforceable; thus, where privity of estate is set up as the foundation for its application, the title relied on to establish such privity must have arisen after the judgement on which the estoppel is based, or at least, after the commencement of the proceedings in the course of which judgement was given. The Court referred to the decision in OMIYALE
The Supreme Court held that in the present case, the caveat was admitted in evidence in the course of trial, however, in the course of its deliberations in the judgement, the trial court, in light of other facts and other pieces of evidence, found that the document was not credible and not conclusive enough to prove the fact it was put forward to establish, and consequently accorded it no weight or probative value. The Court found that the arguments canvassed by the Appellant on this point are the same arguments she canvassed before the Court of Appeal which the lower court considered and rejected, and the Appellant had not presented the Apex Court with any errors committed by the lower court in rejecting the arguments, to warrant the Apex Court’s interference.
The Supreme Court held further that an appellate court has no business dabbling into conclusions reached by a lower court in respect of which an appellant has not placed any contestation before it. The Apex Court found the Appellant having not appealed against the concurrent findings of the two lower courts that Dr (Mrs) Essien did not lead any credible and cogent evidence of her direct financial contribution to either the acquisition of the land or to the construction of the property in dispute, the Apex Court had no reason to interfere with the findings.
Appeal Dismissed.
Representation
O. J. Aboje with Emmanuel Ekong for the Appellant. Dafe Diegbe for the 1st Respondent. Chris Ohene with Ishaq Muhammed for the 2nd Respondent. Efa O. Oka for the 3rd Respondent.
Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)
Honourable Habeeb Adewale Olumuyiwa Abiru, JSC
Nigeria Targets 1,368 Firms in Landmark Data Protection Crackdown
Stories by Steve Aya
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched sweeping investigations into more than 1,300 organisations suspected of breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), marking the country’s most extensive enforcement move since the law was enacted in June 2023.
According to the Commission, a total of 1,368 organisations across key sectors including 795 financial institutions, 35 insurance companies, 392 insurance brokers, 136 gaming companies and 10 pension firms have been issued compliance notices. Each organisation has 21 days to provide evidence of adherence to the NDPA or face possible sanctions.
In a statement, Babatunde Bamigboye, Head of Legal,
Enforcement and Regulations at the NDPC, warned: “The failure to comply with the compliance notice may result in enforcement actions, including issuance of enforcement orders, administrative fines, and/ or criminal prosecution in accordance with the NDPA”.
The notices require companies to submit proof of filing compliance audit returns for 2024, appointment of data protection officers,
technical and organisational safeguards for data protection, and registration as data controllers or processors of major importance. The NDPC says the measures are designed to strengthen public trust, and safeguard Nigerians’ fundamental rights in the digital economy.
Legal experts say the crackdown, though expected, signals a tougher approach by the Regulator. Sumbo Akintola
and Timothy Ogele of Aluko & Oyebode observed that, while the Commission had announced “massive and proactive” enforcement for 2025, the decision to publish notices naming non-compliant entities marks a significant shift.
“This change reflects a more assertive stance, signalling increased regulatory pressure on organisations to proactively ensure
compliance”. The Lawyers also pointed to challenges faced by organisations, including operational delays and shifting regulatory guidance. They cited a 2024 court ruling that nullified parts of the Commission’s guidance on registering data controllers and processors of major importance, forcing many companies to reassess their compliance strategies. Similarly, a 2023 judgement
voiding the NDPC’s whitelist on cross-border data transfers, created further uncertainty. Despite these challenges, analysts believe the NDPC’s action is only the beginning. Sectors such as aviation, telecommunications, e-commerce, and healthcare— where large volumes of personal and sensitive data are processed—are likely to face similar scrutiny in coming months.
NBA Doubles Branch Remittance, Boosts Human Rights Funding at Enugu AGM
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has approved a landmark amendment to its financial structure, doubling the share of Bar Practising Fees (BPF) allocated to its Branches. At its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on August 28, held during the 67th Annual General Conference (AGC)
in Enugu, members voted overwhelmingly in favour of increasing the remittance from 10% to 20%.
Under the new arrangement, half of the enhanced allocation of 10% of the total BPF, will be dedicated to funding Human Rights Committees at the Branch
level. The move is expected to strengthen grassroots capacity in defending rights and promoting access to justice across the country.
The approval required amendments to key provisions of the NBA Constitution, governing financial distributions. It
was one of several reform proposals unanimously endorsed by delegates at the AGM, signalling strong consensus on the need for deeper structural and institutional support within the Association.
Delegates described the development as a response
Tsoho, NBA President Call for Tribunals, Digitalisation, to Ease Judicial Burden
Nigeria’s Judiciary must embrace urgent reforms to deliver faster and fairer justice, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, have said.
Speaking at a recent legal forum, Justice Tsoho observed that most Judges are overburdened with caseloads and too quick to adjourn matters over minor procedural errors by Counsel. He proposed the creation of specialised or quasi-judicial Tribunals to ease the pressure on courts, citing successful models from other jurisdictions.
Tsoho also stressed the need for judicial digitalisation, warning that inefficiency remains a “great sponsor of corruption”. Recalling reforms in Abuja where digitising the affidavit system curbed longstanding abuses, he said: “Reform is not an option. Justice must
be swift, just, and serve”.
NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, echoed these concerns, particularly the need to reduce the volume of cases reaching the Supreme Court. He suggested restricting the Apex Court’s docket to major policy issues, rather than minor disputes, in order to safeguard
efficiency and consistency in jurisprudence.
On access to justice, Osigwe flagged weaknesses in Nigeria’s pro-bono system. He proposed the establishment of a national support fund, and directed that NBA Branches create pro-bono desks to be run by young Lawyers under the supervision of volunteer
Senior Advocates. He also condemned excessive bail conditions, which contribute to congestion in correctional centres, and decried corruption within court registries where bribes are often solicited for bail processing. Judicial officers, he urged, must act impartially and ensure justice for society’s
most vulnerable.
Both Justice Tsoho and the NBA President agreed that a combination of specialised tribunals, reduced appellate bottlenecks, digitalisation, and strengthened pro-bono framework, would mark crucial steps towards a justice system that is more efficient, accountable, and accessible to all Nigerians.
Osun Monarch Jailed in U.S. Over $4.2m Covid-19 Loan Fraud
The Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison in the United States, over a multi-million-dollar Covid-19 loan fraud.
Oloyede, 62, who holds dual Nigerian and U.S. citizenship and resides in Medina, Ohio, was on Monday, August 26, 2025, handed a 56-month prison term by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko.
According to a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s
Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the traditional ruler was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completing his jail term, and to pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution. In addition, he forfeited his Medina home on Foote Road, which investigators said was acquired with fraud proceeds, as well as an extra $96,006.89 recovered from the scheme.
Prosecutors said Oloyede led a conspiracy to exploit Covid-19 emergency loan
programmes set up by the U.S. Government, to support struggling businesses during the pandemic. Between April 2020 and February 2022, Oloyede and his accomplice, Edward Oluwasanmi, submitted fraudulent applications for loans under the Small Business Administration (SBA) scheme funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
In April, both men pleaded guilty to wire fraud
and tax fraud in connection with the pandemic relief scam, which siphoned more than $4.2 million in Federal stimulus funds. Court records showed that Oloyede, who also worked as a tax preparer, operated five businesses and one nonprofit, while Oluwasanmi ran three entities. Together, they filed loan applications using falsified information and secured about $1.2 million for Oluwasanmi’s companies and $1.7 million for Oloyede’s businesses.
to longstanding calls for greater Branch autonomy, improved funding for local activities, and stronger institutional backing for human rights advocacy. “This is a bold step that empowers branches to act as true defenders of justice in their local communities”, one participant noted. The decision reflects a growing recognition within the Bar, that sustainable funding at the Branch level is essential to tackling pressing issues such as insecurity, violations of fundamental rights, and lack of access to legal services in underserved regions.
This year’s AGC, themed “Stand Out, Stand Tall,” attracted thousands of Lawyers, Judges, and legal scholars from Nigeria and abroad. Plenary and breakout sessions explored wide-ranging issues, including human rights, good governance, gender inclusiveness, alternative dispute resolution, and the justiciability of socioeconomic rights. With the financial amendment now approved, Branches of the NBA are expected to begin receiving the enhanced remittances in the next financial year, setting the stage for what observers describe as a new era of grassroots-driven legal advocacy within Africa’s largest Bar.
National Commissioner/CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji
NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN
Political Parties, Primaries, and the Courts
Introduction
Soon, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will, in accordance with constitutional and legal mandates, announce the dates for the 2027 general elections, and release the timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of party primaries. By Section 28 of the Electoral Act, the Commission shall, not later than 360 days before the day appointed for holding of an election under the Act, publish a notice in each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory stating the date of the election; and appointing the place at which nomination papers are to be delivered, and the notice shall be published in each constituency in respect of which an election is to be held.
Even before this announcement, the country is experiencing heightened political activity, exemplified by large billboards across the States of the Federation, promoting the virtues of various aspirants. The nation has seen the emergence of coalitions and subsequent coalitions. It has also witnessed mass defections from one party to another, unprecedented in Nigerian political history. Alignment and realignment of parties, have become common. Party leaders in some States have been dethroned, due to defections and repositioning. All these developments will influence the conduct of party primaries, across all political parties and formations. It would be presumptuous to assume that existing political parties, as well as those that have applied for registration and those that will eventually be registered, will conduct seamless primaries strictly under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, INEC Regulations and Guidelines, INEC Timetables for primaries, party constitutions, and their guidelines. It is essential to analyse the constitutional, legal and administrative issues surrounding the conduct of party primaries, and to explore ways in which political parties can be encouraged to hold credible primaries. Understanding the role of various organs within the party in conducting primaries, is equally important. Courts have, on several occasions, intervened to a limited extent in resolving issues related to party primaries. Reviewing what actions courts have previously taken, and what they should do to uphold party supremacy and prevent arbitrariness by party leaders is crucial.
The Screening of Aspirants
Political parties have the primary responsibility of determining who should be their candidate, in the various elections provided for under the Constitution and the Electoral Act. The screening process is provided, in their constitutions and party primary guidelines. It is their responsibility to clear aspirants with the right qualifications. The party may decide to adopt a zoning policy, for the various offices provided in the Constitution and the law. It may zone its presidential seat to a State, or geopolitical zone with a vote bank. It may zero in on a candidate who is charismatic, and can galvanise votes. Some aspirants may not like the screening process and may disagree with the party on the viability of a candidate and the politics of electability. At this point, aggrieved individuals cannot rush to the Courts to seek redress; the internal mechanisms of the party for dispute resolution must be exhausted. The party is required to act with fairness and professionalism. Despite the voluntary nature of political
as the 2027 general elections get closer, this article by Festus Okoye examines the role of political parties with regard to the process of conducting primaries, from the screening of aspirants to the conduct of primaries, submission of lists of candidates to the Independent National electoral Commission (INeC), and the role of the courts in pre-election matters that may arise therefrom, stressing that the role of the courts is limited
parties, individuals who have made valuable contributions to the party cannot easily walk away and find a new home. There is a possibility that they will accept the verdict of the party based on fairness and equity in the decision.
But when opaque decisions are taken and the basis is shrouded in secrecy, it contributes to the nomadic behaviour of the political elite, rendering political parties as simply vehicles for political power and no more.
Preparation for Party Primaries
Constitutionally, no political party can get on the ballot without conducting primaries to determine the candidate that the party should sponsor. That is the intendment of Section 65(2)(b) of the Constitution, and other corresponding provisions relating to other elective
“Given our unique political circumstances, political parties cannot hold or proceed with party primaries without notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission….every registered political party must give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting organised for…. nominating candidates for any elective offices”
offices. They collectively provide that before a candidate can get on the ballot, the candidate must be a member of a political party and be sponsored by that party.
Ordinarily, the identification, screening of aspirants, and compilation of the names of those who will contest primary elections, as well as the conduct of primaries, ought to be the exclusive responsibility of political parties. That is the gravamen of political party formation and administration. Parties cannot continue to be spoon-fed and yet, pretend to be independent entities.
As the country proceeds to the 2027 general elections, the political parties must organise themselves and bid for political power. It is a well-known fact that sometimes conflict arises between the national and State branches of political parties, regarding who has the authority to conduct primaries for Governorship, National, and State Assembly elections. Occasionally, senior party members at the national level may disagree with grassroots members, over who can screen aspirants and oversee primaries. For some, in the power struggle, political parties are linked to financiers or party owners, and must bow to their influence. Sometimes, senior figures prefer to appoint aspirants rather than hold a transparent and accountable primary. Occasionally, the party informs the electoral management body of the venue for primaries and then unilaterally changes it, leaving party
members stranded and confused.
Due to the challenges faced by nearly all political parties in conducting primaries, the National Assembly amended the Constitution to grant itself the power to make additional provisions regulating party primaries. Under Section 228 of the Constitution, the National Assembly may, by law, issue - (a) guidelines and rules to promote internal democracy within political parties, including laws for conducting party primaries, congresses, and conventions; and (b) confer powers on the Independent National Electoral Commission deemed necessary or desirable to enable the Commission to ensure that political parties uphold practices of internal democracy, including the fair and transparent conduct of primaries, congresses, and conventions; (c) provide an annual grant to the Commission for disbursement to political parties on a fair and equitable basis to support their functions; and (d) grant the Commission other powers it considers necessary or desirable to ensure political parties adhere to the provisions outlined in Section 228 of the Constitution.
The Conduct of Party Primaries
Given our unique political circumstances, political parties cannot hold or proceed with party primaries without notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission. According to Section 82(1) of the Act, every registered political party must give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or
Former INec National commissioner and chairman of Information and Voter education committee, Festus Okoye
Political Parties, Primaries, and the Courts
meeting organised for a "merger” and for electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies, or for nominating candidates for any elective offices. Nevertheless, the Commission may, with or without prior notice to the political party, attend and observe any convention, congress, conference, or meeting convened by a political party to nominate candidates for an election at any level.
By Section 84(1) of the Act, a political party wishing to nominate candidates for elections must hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions. The process for nominating candidates by political parties for various elective positions shall be through direct primaries, indirect primaries, or consensus. In the case of direct primaries, all registered members of the party shall vote for aspirants of their choice at a designated centre in each ward of the Federation, thereafter a special conventions or congresses shall be held to ratify the candidate with the highest number of votes at designated centres at the National, State, Senatorial, Federal, and State Constituencies.
For indirect primaries, the political party shall conduct its convention as outlined in the Act, and the aspirant with the highest number of votes cast at the end of voting shall be declared the winner, with the aspirant’s name forwarded to the Commission as the party’s candidate.
A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall obtain the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate. A political party that is unable to secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for a consensus candidate, shall revert to choosing between direct or indirect primaries for nominating candidates. A special convention or nomination congress shall be organised to ratify the choice of consensus candidates at designated centres at the National, State, Senatorial, Federal, and State Constituencies, as applicable.
The Submission
of the List of Candidates
A political party is not under any compulsion to organise primaries, and submit a list of candidates to the electoral management body. It is a discretionary venture. A political party may decide to participate in a cluster of elections and abandon others. This discretion is circumscribed by Section 225(a) of the Constitution dealing with the de-registration of parties that fail to meet the threshold for existence. Political parties cannot manufacture any list and submit it to the Commission. Political parties must also conduct primaries before submitting a list of candidates to the Commission. The primaries must also be organised by the constitutionally and legally recognised organ of the party. And, by Section 29(1) of the Act, the list of candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections must have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party.
Party Primaries and Pre-Election Matters
Ordinarily, the Courts should have no involvement in the conduct of primaries by political parties. Members of the Judiciary do not belong to political parties, and political parties are meant to be groups of individuals who share a common ideology or set of principles, coalesced together under a common platform to seek political power. How they organise their primaries should be regarded as their internal affair, based on their strategies, structures, and tactics for winning elections. If they organise effectively and present good candidates, the Nigerian people may choose to vote for them.
In our context, possessing a good certificate does not necessarily guarantee a place on the ballot. A political party might target specific voters, and support aspirants from that area for particular positions. They may back the aspirant preferred by the ‘owners’, or ‘big money bags’ within the party. Alternatively, they might support a grassroots candidate who can secure a win, or one capable of unleashing maximum violence on the electoral process and winning by any means necessary. Regardless of the strategy adopted, the party must conduct primaries—be they direct, indirect, or by consensus. These primaries should be carried out by the responsible party organ, and the names of the validly nominated aspirants must be submitted as the party’s candidates.
The Courts and Party Primaries Where do Courts fit in, when issues arise around the conduct of party primaries?
Section 285(14) of the Constitution categorises the conduct of primaries and the submission of names of validly nominated candidates as a pre-election matter. “Pre-election matter” refers to any suit by— (a) an aspirant who claims that any provision of the Electoral Act or any Act of the National Assembly regulating the conduct of primaries of political parties, as well as the party’s guidelines for primaries, has not been adhered to by a political party concerning the selection or nomination of candidates for an election; (b) an aspirant contesting the actions, decisions, or activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concerning their participation in an election, or alleging non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act or any other relevant law by INEC in the nomination or candidate selection process; and (c) a political party
“As voluntary organisations, the Courts are neither empowered, nor have the authority (vires) to impose leaders on them or decide who their candidates in an election will be….the Courts have a limited role in the conduct of party primaries, and in determining who the party’s candidate should be”
challenging the actions, decisions, or activities of INEC disqualifying its candidate, or alleging non-compliance with electoral laws with candidate nominations, election timetable, voter registration, or other electoral activities leading up to an election.
The Courts have consistently clarified that political parties are voluntary associations of individuals who share the same fundamental ideology, or who pretend to share it, and have agreed to come together to pursue the goal of political power. As voluntary organisations, the Courts are neither empowered, nor have the authority (vires) to impose leaders on them or decide who their candidates in an election will be. It is the responsibility of the parties and their leaders to develop their winning strategies, and promote their vision of society to the voters.
Unfortunately, some political parties in Nigeria defy a clear definition; they do not behave like traditional political parties, and cannot be classified as such. Their only claim to being parties, is that they satisfied the constitutional and electoral thresholds for registration and candidate sponsorship.
Despite their shortcomings, the Courts have a limited role in the conduct of party primaries, and in determining who the party’s candidate should be.
However, political parties must notify the electoral management body in advance of their primaries, and these primaries should be conducted by the recognised party organ responsible for that task. The primaries must take place within the constituencies and must be completed within the legal and electoral timeframe.
Only party members as defined in the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act are eligible to contest and participate in the primaries, and the party is obliged to submit the name of the primary winner as the official candidate for election. It is the responsibility of the party to resolve internal disputes arising from the screening process and the conduct of primaries. The Courts can only step in in limited circumstances.
As illustrated in the case of Ambassador M. J. Abubakar Waziri v Peoples Democratic Party & Anor (2023) 7 NWLR (Pt. 1882) 57 at 97 and 105, the fundamental legal principle is that resolving internal disputes within a political party is solely a domestic matter; courts have no jurisdiction to intervene.
The Supreme Court has emphasised that membership of a political party is voluntary and cannot be forced. It has also maintained that courts have no authority to decide who a party’s candidate should be, as long as the candidate is chosen through the proper process.
In P.D.P v Sylva [2012] 13 NWLR [Pt. 1316] 85, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the sponsorship and nomination of candidates remain internal to the party. It held that the right to nominate or sponsor a candidate is a domestic and political matter, within the sole discretion of the party. A party member has no legal right to be nominated or sponsored by the party. Therefore, courts lack the jurisdiction to determine who a party should sponsor. However, Courts have the power to review whether the primary was conducted according to the party’s constitution and guidelines on a proper application by a candidate who participated and is dissatisfied with the proceedings. This is because courts will not tolerate arbitrary actions by political parties.
Conclusion
Political parties preparing for primaries and scheduling their elections must be properly guided to follow the party’s constitution, the guidelines for the conduct of primaries, and the stipulations of the Constitution and the Electoral Act. Acting arbitrarily and imposing candidates who did not go through valid primaries, can only lead to ‘wasted votes’. Those who aspire to various offices, must accept that the party is supreme. The party decides who can win elections, during the screening process. Those who are uncomfortable with how a party is run, must recognise that it is a voluntary association and no one is compelled to belong to such a party. Any individual seeking a party operated on ideological grounds, with clear mechanisms of internal democracy, must find such a party and assist in building its structures. Those who benefit from the arbitrariness of godfathers in manipulating the screening and nomination process must also realise that godfathering is not an ideology, and the godfather may decide at any time to have another godson or goddaughter. We must protect our courts from excessive involvement in the internal afwfairs of political parties, and members of the Bar must offer professional and ethical advice to their clients on the law and the Constitution.
Festus Okoye, Legal Practitioner, Former National Commissioner, INEC
INeC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu
Indecent Assault: Rising Scourge Against Female Dignity
Nigerian women have always been vulnerable, to domestic and workplace violence. But, sadly, there is an apparent increase in the number of incidents and reports of public indecent assault on Nigerian women. Some of these incidents involved young women who were video recorded while being humiliated, assaulted and beaten, mostly by men. Their clothes were then torn, their private areas exposed, and the video recordings of the unfortunate incidents disseminated, going viral on social media. These days, this appears to be occurring once too often. The question now being asked is, why women are being deliberately targeted for violent attacks resulting in nakedness, amounting to a breach of Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution which guarantees the right of every individual against torture or inhuman and degrading treatment. Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN; Mandy Demechi-Asagba; Uju Peace okeke and okechukwu Nwanguma examine this issue holistically, discussing its causes and effects, proffering possible solutions to end this disgraceful trend, including enacting laws specifically criminalising such unacceptable behaviour
We Demand Dignity for Women
Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN
Introduction
Why do some men, especially those tasked with protecting us, choose to target women and violate their dignity?
The viral video of the female Youth Corper in Anambra State, Jennifer Elohor Edema, is a stark call for accountability: those responsible must be held to account. Who filmed this outrage, and who spread it?
The answer, disturbingly, points to the security personnel themselves. This demands urgent action.
Every woman deserves respect for her dignity, her privacy, and her bodily autonomy. Let us stand up
for women’s sanctuary, because justice means protecting everyone’s humanity. We demand safe cities for women. The current state of impunity, must come to an end.
Professor Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN, former Dean, University of Nigeria; former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking
The Growing Trend of Wilful
“When one woman is stripped of her dignity, we all lose a piece of our collective humanity. It's time for us to stand together, united in our condemnation of these inhumane acts, and demand justice, protection, and respect for all women….The indecent assault and humiliation of women is not just a women’s issue - it is a national disgrace and a human rights emergency”
Physical Assault/ Indecent Exposure of Females in Nigeria: A Discourse
Mandy Demechi-Asagba Introduction
Violence Against Women in Nigeria: A Prevalent Issue
In Nigeria, a significant proportion of women have experienced various forms of violence, with approximately one-third encountering violence and one-fifth suffering physical violence. Recent studies (2020-2025), highlight a disturbing trend of high sexual assault rates.
Notably, a 2022 study in Dutse found that 88.3% of 283 reported cases were confirmed sexual assaults, primarily affecting children and adolescents.
Statistics from Lagos State
A recent report from Lagos State reveals 8,692 cases of domestic and sexual violence were reported between August 2024 and July 2025. Breakdown:
* Domestic Violence: 3,685 cases
* Defilement: 243 cases
* Child Abuse/Physical Assault: 244 cases
* Rape: 99 cases
* Sexual Harassment: 48 cases
* Sexual Assault by Penetration: 25 cases
The extant cases of wilful and intentional Criminal Exposure/assault with intent to humiliate and shame the victims (Comfort Emmanson, the Ibom Airline case and Jennifer Elohor Edema, the Youth Corper in Anambra) leaves one in consternation not knowing who the next victim will be. These statistics which
reveal the recent surge in cases of criminal assault/ exposure on females in Nigeria, underscores the need for sustained efforts to address violence against women and girls in Nigeria.
This disturbing trend, has reached an intolerable crescendo that warrants urgent attention and collective action. The brutal treatment of Miss Jennifer Elohor in Anambra State, who was beaten, her clothes torn, and dragged naked, is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of women and girls in our society. Similarly, the Comfort Emmanson case in Ibom Air, highlights the need for a national discourse on this issue. This discourse aims to examine the underlying causes of this trend, its impact on victims, and propose strategies to prevent and address these inhumane and degrading treatments. It is a violation of right to human dignity and also a criminal act - (criminal assault/exposure, dehumanisation, grievous harm et al). What is Assault?
Section 170 (1): A person who (a)strikes, touches, moves or otherwise applies force of any kind to the person of another, either directly or indirectly, without his/her consent; or (b) by any bodily act, gesture, attempts or threatens
Miss Jennifer Elohor Edema
Indecent Assault: rising Scourge Against Female Dignity
to apply force of any kind to the person of another without his/her consent, in such circumstances that the person making the attempt or threatens has actual or apparent ability to effect his purpose is said to assault that other person.
(2) the term ‘applies force’ includes …,,,….the case of applying heat, light, electrical force, gas, odour or any other substance or thing whatsoever in such a degree as to cause injury or personal discomfort.
Unlawful Assault
Section 171 (1): An assault is unlawful and constitutes an offence unless it is authorised or excused by law. It is an offence therefore, for any person or group of persons or authority, to intentionally or recklessly assault someone, be it Ibom Air, and or Vigilantes causing actual bodily harm and/ or emotional harm or stigma. Same is punishable upon conviction with 1- 7 years imprisonment or more, depending on the gravity of the harm occasioned.
See Sections 170, 171(1), 172, 173 and 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Section 173: Any person who unlawfully assaults another and thereby does him harm commits a felony and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for three (3) years.
Section 245: Any person who unlawfully does grievous harm to another commits a felony and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven (7) years.
The offence of indecent exposure is provided in Section 26 of the VAPP Act: a person who intentionally exposes his or her genital organs or a substantial part thereof, with the intention of causing distress to the other party, or that another person seeing it may be tempted or induced to commit an offence under this Act, commits an offence termed ‘indecent exposure’ and is liable on conviction to imprisonment of not more than one year, or to a fine of not more than N500,000.00 or both. These Laws need urgent amendment, to be all encompassing: We propose:
Proposed Amendments
It is an offence to intentionally or recklessly assault someone causing actual bodily harm and or bodily exposure. Punishable on conviction with not less than 10 years imprisonment depending on the gravity of the injury and or exposure occasioned.
“A person who intentionally exposes his or her genital organs and or exposes the genital organs or any private organ/organs or a substantial part thereof of another, with the intention of causing distress to the other party, or that another person seeing it may be tempted or induced to commit an offence or to shame the victim under this Act, commits an offence termed ‘indecent exposure’ and is liable on conviction to imprisonment not more than 10 years or to a fine not less than N10,000.000.00 or both”, to serve as a deterrent.
Causes of Indecent Criminal Assault on Females
1. Patriarchal attitudes and gender stereotypes: Deep-seated patriarchal norms and stereotypes perpetuate violence against women and girls, normalising their subordination and objectification.
2. Lack of effective law enforcement: Inadequate implementation of laws and policies protecting women's rights, emboldens perpetrators.
3. Cultural and social norms: Harmful cultural practices and social norms condone violence against women, making it difficult for victims to seek help.
4. Limited access to justice: Victims often face barriers in accessing justice, including lack of awareness, fear of stigma, and inadequate support systems.
5. Poverty: Economic instability exacerbates vulnerability to violence.
6. Failure to report abuse: This is a licence for continuous abuse and a snag on adequate data to aid policy formulations and planning.
6. Insecurity: Weak security structures fail to protect women and girls.
7. Weak Institutions: Inadequate law enforcement and policy implementation, hinder effective response to violence.
8. Gaps in Policy Enforcement: Insufficient enforcement of laws and policies protecting women's rights, overwhelms reporting agencies like NAPTIP.
Impact on Victims
1. Physical and emotional trauma: Victims suffer physical harm, emotional distress, and long-term psychological trauma.
2. Loss of dignity and self-worth: Indecent assault can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and low self-esteem.
3. Social stigma and isolation: Victims may face
social exclusion, stigma, and isolation, exacerbating their trauma.
4. Suicidal thoughts and suicide.
Strategies to Prevent and Address Indecent Assault
1. Strengthening laws and policies: Review and strengthen laws protecting women's rights, ensuring effective implementation and enforcement.
2. Public awareness and education: Launch nationwide campaigns to challenge patriarchal attitudes, promote gender equality, and raise awareness about the consequences of criminal indecent assault/exposure.
3. Support systems and services: Establish accessible support services, including counselling, medical care, and legal aid, for victims of indecent assault.
4. Community engagement and mobilisation: Engage community leaders, traditional institutions, and civil society organisations in promoting women's rights and preventing violence against women.
5. Accountability and justice: Ensure perpetrators are held accountable through swift and fair investigations, prosecutions, and punishment.
6. Victim support, protection and one-stop shop welfare access: Mental health and health services.
7. Unfettered access to justice.
8. Need to focus on ensuring implementation of laws protecting women - The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended); The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015; Domestic and Sexual Violence Law; the Child’s Rights Act/ Laws; the Criminal Law, National Gender Policy, National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325; National Guidelines and Referral Standards on Gender Based Violence and the various Continental and international laws and Conventions, such as the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights Banj 1981; The Maputo Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa 2005; African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the African Child (1990); and The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) 1979 (popularly known as the International Bill of Rights); UN Declaration on Violence Against Women 1993; The Child’s Rights Convention, et al.
9. Compensation and welfare package for victims of assault.
10. The Human Rights Commission and the Citizens Rights Directorates in the various States and the FCT, should rise to the occasion. We also call for adequate funding of these agencies for prompt, efficient and effective intervention
Conclusion
The growing trend of indecent assault on females in Nigeria, is a national crisis that requires a collective response. By understanding the causes, impact, and
“…Jennifer Elohor Edema, a Youth Corps member…was brutally beaten, her clothes torn, and dragged naked in public by operatives of Agunechemba….both a crime and an assault on Nigeria’s collective conscience….Comfort Emmanson, highlights how easily women can be humiliated and assaulted in public spaces for flimsy reasons. In both cases, women were not treated as citizens deserving of dignity and due process, but as objects to be subdued and shamed”
implementing strategies to prevent and address these, we can work towards creating a society where women and girls are valued, respected, and protected. It is time for Nigerians to come together to condemn these inhumane acts, and work towards a future where every female can live with dignity and safety.
A Call to Empathy and Action
Every woman should feel a deep sense of solidarity and outrage, each time a woman is subjected to the dehumanising experience of indecent assault. This heinous act is not just a violation of the individual; it is an affront to the dignity and worth of all women. For the men, be reminded that what goes around comes around. Yesterday, it was Comfort Emmanson, today it is Jennifer Elohor Edema, tomorrow it could be your daughter, sister, wife or mother. Take action now, before it is too late.
We Must Stand Together
When one woman is stripped of her dignity, we all lose a piece of our collective humanity. It's time for us to stand together, united in our condemnation of these inhumane acts, and demand justice, protection, and respect for all women.
We must foster a culture where women feel empowered to speak out against violence and harassment, and where survivors receive the support and care they need to heal. By doing so, we can create a society that values and respects the dignity and worth of every woman. AWLA, FIDA, NBA, National Human Rights Commission, Legal Aid Council, Directorate of Citizen’s Rights, Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Child Protection Network, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Ministry of Women Affairs et al, offer free legal services to women and children whose rights are violated.
Mandy Demechi-Asagba, President (Worldwide), African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA)
Ending the Menace of Indecent Assault Against Women
Uju Peace Okeke
Introduction
Human beings are relational in nature and sometimes in these relationships, violence occurs. It can affect everyone and according to World Health Organisation (WHO), contributes nearly 8% to global annual deaths, making it a form of crime in many parts of the world. Though everyone can be a victim of violence, women are more predisposed to it. WHO reports that globally, about 30% of women suffer various forms of violence from intimate partners and non-partners, while United Nations reports that a woman is killed every 10 minutes. In condemnation of violence against women, United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, (UNDEVAW) of 1993 was adopted.
Violence Against Women (VAW)
Nigeria may not be said to be a haven for women’s rights, as there are still practices that specifically target women and impact them negatively. These are mostly perpetrated, in the guise of customs and traditions. However, Nigeria could be said to be a work in progress, having ratified International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1985, UNDEVAW in 1993 and Protocol to the African Charter on Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) in 2004. While CEDAW is referred to as Women’s Bill of Rights, as it prohibits all forms of discrimination against women in every sphere of life and calls on State Parties to
revise social and cultural patterns driving prejudices and superiority of any sex. UNDEVAW, defined violence against women (VAW), condemned it and specifies obligations of States in its eradication, thus, changing the narratives of VAW as domestic affair to a prohibited act deserving State attention. Maputo Protocol, wearing the African Women lenses, specifically highlights issues that are not envisaged in CEDAW while furthering the UNDEVAW. It dedicates articles prohibiting different forms of VAW, which it defined as “all acts perpetrated against women which cause or could cause them physical, sexual, psychological, and economic harm, including the threat to take such acts; or to undertake the imposition of arbitrary restrictions on or deprivation of fundamental freedoms in private or public life in peace time and during situations of armed conflicts or of war”;
Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPPA) and VAW
The combined provisions of these treaties cover every form of violence, that a Nigerian woman would ever face. Nigeria enacted the Violence against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPPA) in 2015. Though the VAPPA is not womenspecific, but bars every form of violence against everyone, it adopts Maputo Protocol’s definition and outlaws physical violence, economic violence, emotional violence, domestic violence, Harmful Traditional Practices, sexual violence and political violence. It penalises offences inflicting of physical injury, knowingly placing a person in fear of physical injury, stalking, substance attack, indecent exposure, among others.
Recently, VAW seems to be on the increase, as the media inundates us with such news. VAW is totally despicable, but the recent tactics of stripping the victim naked is abominable. Recently, Ms Comfort Emmanson, a passenger on Ibom Air had her breasts exposed to the whole world, during an altercation with the cabin crew. Another lady, Jennifer Elohor Edema was stripped naked by the Anambra State Vigilantes. Both acts constitute different forms of violence - physical, sexual, emotional, and economic, as well as cyber-violence. Physical violence is an act of physical aggression towards a woman or a girl, whether extreme or insignificant. VAPPA defines physical violence to include assault, harassment, etc. Circulated videos of the two incidents, showed physical assault on the ladies. They were both placed in fear of physical injury, while Jennifer suffered serious physical injury.
Sexual violence is the violation of a woman’s sexual integrity, and could be in the form of sexual assault of unlawful touching, striking, sexual harassment of unwanted persistent conduct of a sexual nature whether physical or verbal. From the circulated videos, Jennifer seemed to have been struck in different parts of her body, including her breasts and other parts, which amounted to unwanted sexual harassment. The videos could also affect them maritally, and since marriage is the official platform for the exercise of sexual rights in this part of the world, that act constitutes sexual violence.
Emotional violence is a pattern of humiliating conduct towards a woman or girl. It is a manifestation of power imbalance, wherein the perpetrator uses it to maintain control over the victim. In both cases, the exposure of their
Miss comfort emmanson
Indecent Assault: rising Scourge Against Female Dignity
bodies was a way of ridiculing and insulting the ladies. Economic violence, is the deprivation of economic resources. That act is capable of depriving them of means of livelihood. For instance, Comfort said in a video that she has been too ashamed to go about her business of real estate. Where they have no means of earning livelihood, they will be forced to be economically dependent on others.
Technological advancement saw videos of both incidents being spread on social media, constituting cyber-violence.
Treaty Ratification
Ratification of a treaty imposes on ratifying States, three obligations - duty to respect, duty to protect and duty to fulfil. With respect to the issue at hand, the duty to respect entails that Nigeria should, through actions and inactions, desist from interfering with women’s enjoyment of violence-free life provided in these treaties. It follows that State actors, agents and representatives of Government should not be caught in any act of violence against women. Jennifer Elohor was assaulted by agents of the Anambra State Government, and by the doctrine of vicarious liability, the act was done by the Government. It follows that, Government failed in its duty to respect. The duty to protect means that Nigeria should protect her female citizens, whether individually or in groups, from third parties who will interfere with their enjoyment of rights provided in these treaties by subjecting them to any form of violence. It does not matter, whether these third parties are private or public. These third parties are non-State actors and could be religious groups, business, cultural groups, schools and even families. It is the duty of Nigeria, to protect Comfort from the assault by staff of the airline.
The duty to fulfil is to the effect that, Nigeria must take a positive step in ensuring the enjoyment of these rights by Nigerian women and girls. In other words, Nigeria is expected to put its money where its mouth is, by taking some steps with regard to this issue. This step could be legislative, financial, among other measures. This will include enacting laws that will protect women and girls, as well as repealing existing ones that violate their rights; adopting female-friendly policies in different areas of life; eliminating cultural and social practices that negate these rights; increasing budgetary allocation for matters concerning women and girls; and establishing special courts to handle violation of their rights where necessary. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) (CFRN) and Gender Lenses
The essence of ratification of treaties is to replicate them in domestic laws so that citizens of States Parties to the treaties would enjoy the benefits; consequently, Nigeria is expected to domesticate these treaties by enacting domestic laws that reflect the provisions of CEDAW, UNDEVAW and Maputo Protocol. This could be in the form of a Women’s Act. Nigeria has no specific holistic law for women and girls, but has different laws dealing with issues of everyone including females. The question is, whether this is sufficient. The answer must be in the negative, because women have peculiar issues which can only be addressed when law makers wear gender lenses. Gender blindness in legislation, will always shortchange women. An instance is Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) (CFRN) which is the nondiscrimination section, prohibiting discrimination on six grounds of ‘particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion’. Though this section prohibits discrimination on the ground of sex which would imply discrimination on the basis of biological sex of male and female, yet the same section provides ‘(1) A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person…’ (Underlining mine for emphasis).
The use of ‘he’ makes this same section discriminatory because, though it prohibits discrimination on the ground of sex, ‘he’ is a pronoun that covers only males, thus, neglecting females. If the nondiscriminatory section is discriminatory against women, it will not be surprising to find more specific women-discriminatory provisions in the CFRN. If the CFRN, being supreme, binding on all authorities and persons and the foundation of all laws and policies in the land is discriminatory against women, what can be said of other laws? The Bible in Psalm 11: 3 says ‘If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?’ in this instance, if the foundational document is discriminatory against women, what can Nigerian women do?
Other Laws and Gender Lenses
The VAPPA earlier discussed prohibits violence against everyone. It prohibits indecent exposure in Section 26. This is explained in the definition section to mean, ‘intentional exposure of the genital organs… with the intention of causing distress to the other party’. The videos of two incidents earlier discussed, where Nigerian ladies were assaulted, and their breasts revealed. While breasts are not primary genital organs, they are accessory organs of the female reproductive system, serving functional and sexual purposes in females. The videos distressed reasonable Nigerians. Being that VAPPA is gender blind, it penalises one that exposes her/his genitalia but not the person(s) who exposes the genitalia of another, as shown in the foregoing examples, this provision shortchanged these women whose breasts were exposed, thereby re-victimising them.
Further, the Criminal Code Act (CCA) in Section 353 describes the unlawful and indecent assault of a male person as a felony attracting 3 years’ imprisonment, while a similar offence on a woman or girl is a misdemeanour (a lesser offence) attracting only 2 years’ imprisonment. The distinction in severity of punishment seems to be based on the sex of the victims, implying that the provision protects male victims of indent assault better than female victims, despite the fact that researches have shown that most victims of indecent sexual assault are women.
Conclusion
The ripple effect of the discrimination fuelled by the evident female-based discrimination of Section 42 of the CFRN is visible in VAPPA, CCA and other laws and policies. It also manifests in victim blaming, inadequate responses from criminal justice institutions, as well as cultural and religious practices that normalise violence against women. It follows that if the CFRN had worn gender lenses, by removing the gender discriminatory language, other laws and practices would have followed suit and the discriminatory CCA provision on indecent assault against females would have been long amended. The gendering of VAPPA, would also have protected women and girls better.
Generally, violence against women is insidious making its prevention and eradication difficult, but the current trend of stripping female victims of violence is seriously begging for immediate, urgent attention, as it violates constitutionally guaranteed right to the dignity of human person which ordinarily means right to be treated like a human being. It also exposes the failure of the Nigerian Government to perform its treaty ratification obligations to CEDAW, UNDEVAW and Maputo Protocol of respect, protect and fulfil.
Uju Peace Okeke, Lecturer, Women, Children and the Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus
“Explicitly criminalise public stripping, parading, or indecent assault under Federal and State laws…Regulate, train, and monitor community security groups, in line with human rights standards….Launch national campaigns to dismantle patriarchal narratives that normalise the humiliation of women….Provide legal aid, psychosocial support, and compensation for victims…..”
Confronting the Growing Trend of Indecent Assault on Women in Nigeria
Okechukwu Nwanguma
In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed an alarming rise in cases of indecent assault and public humiliation of women under the guise of enforcing discipline, punishing alleged misconduct, or delivering instant “justice”. Women are being beaten, stripped naked, paraded in public, and filmed for social media circulation. This dangerous phenomenon not only violates fundamental human rights, but also entrenches misogyny, deepens gender inequality, and undermines the dignity of Nigerian women.
Questions for National Debate
1. Why are women disproportionately targeted, for such degrading treatment?
2. How do we dismantle the culture of impunity, that emboldens both State actors and mobs?
3. Should Nigeria establish a special tribunal or task force to prosecute gender-based public humiliations?
4. What role can civil society, religious leaders, and traditional institutions play in shifting harmful cultural norms?
5. How can the media be mobilised to protect, rather than shame, victims?
Disturbing Case Studies
The ordeal of Miss Jennifer Elohor Edema, a Youth Corps member in Anambra State, illustrates the depth of this crisis. She was brutally beaten, her clothes torn, and dragged naked in public by operatives of Agunechemba, the State-backed security outfit. This barbaric act - committed against a young woman serving her country - is both a crime and an assault on Nigeria’s collective conscience.
Similarly, the Ibom Air incident involving Miss Comfort Emmanson, highlights how easily women can be humiliated and assaulted in public spaces for flimsy reasons. In both cases, women were not treated as citizens deserving of dignity and due process, but as objects to be subdued and shamed.
Tragically, such incidents are not isolated. Across Nigeria, countless unnamed women - accused of petty theft, quarrels, or perceived “misconduct” - have been stripped, flogged, and paraded before jeering crowds.
Why does this Happen?
Several factors sustain this disturbing trend:
1. Culture of Impunity - Perpetrators, whether security agents, vigilante groups, or mobs, rarely face consequences. This emboldens repetition.
2. Patriarchal Norms - Deep-seated cultural attitudes normalise violence against women, and justify public humiliation as “discipline”.
3. Unregulated Security Outfits - State-backed vigilantes often operate without training, oversight, or codes of conduct, descending into lawlessness.
4. Mob Justice Mentality - Communities normalise public humiliation, as a substitute for lawful justice.
5. Spectacle and Social Media - Recording and online circulation of women’s humiliation fuels further assaults, turning abuse into entertainment.
6. Weak State Institutions - A slow and indifferent justice system leaves victims without redress, perpetuating cycles of abuse.
The Legal Framework
Indecent assault and public humiliation of women are not only morally reprehensible, but explicitly unlawful under Nigerian and international law:
1999 Constitution (as amended) - Section 34 guarantees the right to dignity and prohibits torture, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 (VAPP Act) - Criminalises all forms of violence, including sexual harassment, harmful traditional practices, and degrading treatment.
Criminal and Penal Codes - Prohibit assault, battery, and acts that cause harm or indecency.
CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights - Ratified by Nigeria, obligating the state to protect women from degrading treatment.
ACJA/ACJL - Provide frameworks for due process and lawful investigation, rejecting mob or vigilante “justice.” Yet, enforcement remains weak, and perpetrators frequently escape justice.
The Human Cost
The consequences are devastating:
- Psychological trauma that can last a lifetime.
- Stigma and social ostracism, where victims are shamed instead of protected.
- Erosion of trust in State institutions, especially when perpetrators wear State uniforms.
- Perpetuation of inequality, silencing women, and reinforcing vulnerability.
What Should Be the State’s Response?
Nigeria must act decisively to halt this dangerous trend:
1. Legal Prohibition - Explicitly criminalise public stripping, parading, or indecent assault under Federal and State laws.
2. Accountability - Investigate and prosecute perpetrators, including security operatives and vigilantes.
3. Oversight of Security Outfits - Regulate, train, and monitor community security groups, in line with human rights standards.
4. Public Sensitisation - Launch national campaigns to dismantle patriarchal narratives that normalise the humiliation of women.
5. Support for Survivors - Provide legal aid, psychosocial support, and compensation for victims.
6. Institutional Strengthening - Empower the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), NAPTIP, and gender agencies to act swiftly in cases of abuse.
A Call to Action
The indecent assault and humiliation of women is not just a women’s issue - it is a national disgrace and a human rights emergency. It undermines the rule of law, weakens social cohesion, and perpetuates inequality.
Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy, while its women are stripped of dignity in broad daylight. The cases of Miss Jennifer in Anambra and Miss Comfort on Ibom Air, must mark a turning point. They should galvanise us into creating a Nigeria where dignity is non-negotiable, and no woman is ever again dragged naked in the streets as punishment.
The time has come for all stakeholders - Government, civil society, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and communities
Anambra Vigilantes, who allegedly assaulted Miss Jennifer Elohor Edema
Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)
MDGIF: Powering Nigeria’s Renewed Gas Infrastructure Drive
For decades, Nigeria’s energy sector has been described as a paradox, with abundant resources but constrained by the needed infrastructure to spur growth. Therefore, the country has struggled to translate its vast gas wealth into reliable energy for industries and households. Today, that narrative is beginning to shift. At the centre of this transformation is the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), a financing mechanism created under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to unlock investment in critical gas projects, writes Emmanuel Addeh.
An Inevitable Move
For years, everybody had talked about the problem of paucity of gas infrastructure in Nigeria, without necessarily moving to solve it. The MDGIF was therefore established under the PIA 2021 to tackle one of Nigeria’s most persistent challenges; its weak gas infrastructure.
The MDGIF serves as a financing vehicle to drive investments into pipelines, processing plants, storage facilities and distribution networks that can unlock the country’s vast natural gas reserves.
By providing equity participation in projects, MDGIF reduces risks for private investors while ensuring that critical infrastructure is delivered. In recent months, the fund has committed several billions of naira to indigenous gas companies and signed joint venture agreements to execute gas processing plants, CNG refuelling stations and LPG storage facilities.
Described as a catalyst for Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas,” with a dual mission to power industries and households while advancing the transition to cleaner, cheaper energy, at its core, the MDGIF is positioning gas as both the engine of economic growth and the bridge fuel for Nigeria’s long-term energy transition.
To drive the Fund, in January 2024, the federal government announced the appointment of Oluwole Adama as its Executive Secretary, and thereafter inaugurated the MDGIF’s governing council in March 2024, with a clear mandate to attract the needed gas investments to the sector.
Since then, the leadership team has provided a clear direction to ensure that the Fund’s interventions align with national objectives for energy transition, industrial growth and energy security.
From the start, the initiative was designed to be more than a high-level policy instrument. The federal government’s directive was clear: that its success would be measured by how directly it impacts Nigerians.
In a country where millions still rely on firewood and kerosene, the ability of the fund to drive down prices of cleaner alternatives represents a potential social as well as industrial breakthrough.
With limited processing plants, poor storage and distribution systems, and few refuelling stations, the full utilisation of gas as a cleaner and more affordable energy source, has in the past been constrained. This shortfall has increased dependence on petroleum products, leading to higher costs for homes and businesses thereby slowing the transition to sustainable energy alternatives.
Scaling Up Ambition
The first major demonstration of the fund’s strategy came in October 2024 when the government released N122
billion to six indigenous gas infrastructure companies, reflecting President Bola Tinubu’s determination to foster productive business relationships.
The selection of the firms, the government explained, was based on strict criteria set out in the PIA and the MDGIF’s investment policy. This move sent a strong signal to the private sector. By offering equity participation rather than grants or loans, MDGIF positioned itself as a partner rather than merely a financier.
This approach has already begun to reduce the perception of risk that has long deterred private capital from investing heavily in Nigeria’s energy sector.
Within months, the fund expanded its reach. In May 2025, it signed joint venture agreements with nine more indigenous companies to deliver 10 projects across the country. These included six gas-processing plants, two of them designed to capture flare gas alongside three CNG refuelling stations and a bulk LPG storage facility. Together, these projects are expected to deepen domestic supply and extend cleaner fuels to new parts of Nigeria.
From Funding to Sustained Action
The fund’s Executive Director, Adama, has repeatedly stressed that financing is only the beginning. “Consistent policy support and incentives will pave the way for increased private investment, enhancing our domestic gas value chain… Nigeria is sitting on gas. We must position our gas as the energy transition fuel,” he said during one event.
The fund’s vision goes beyond industrial use. One of its recent interventions, the
CNG project, directly targets transportation by introducing CNG-powered buses and tricycles across 20 universities, along with conversion and refuelling facilities. For students and commuters, this promises cleaner, cheaper mobility. For the government, it offers a chance to reduce dependence on costly petrol subsidies while easing pressure on household incomes.
This initiative is emblematic of the broader “Decade of Gas” campaign, a government drive to use Nigeria’s vast gas reserves as both a bridge to cleaner energy and a foundation for industrial expansion. MDGIF’s interventions bring that vision to life by placing infrastructure where it matters most: in the pipelines, plants, and stations that link gas supply to everyday consumption.
Tangible Results
To date, 16 companies have benefited from MDGIF’s support; these include: FEMADEC Energy Limited, Topline Limited, Asiko Energy Holdings Limited, Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation, Rolling Energy Limited, Nsik Oil and Gas Limited, Ant Energy Limited, Amari Energy Resources Limited, Sub-sea 9 Gas Limited, Deemah Integrated Services Limited, LNG Arete Limited, VTT LNG West Africa Limited, Geospectra Energy Limited, Waterdance International Concepts Limited, WishnefiskyGlobal Limited and Ssonic Petroleum Limited.
Significant progress is already visible across the projects being implemented by these companies. FEMADEC Energy Limited is establishing CNG refuelling stations in 20 universities nationwide. So far, 5 stations have been commissioned at Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State, Yakubu Gowon University,Abuja, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, with additional stations expected to come on stream by December 2025.
Asiko Energy Holdings Limited is constructing a 5,000 MT LPG/Propane and 13,200MT LNG Terminal in Ijora, Lagos, a project that is at varying stages of completion and is scheduled for commissioning in the third quarter of 2026.
Topline Limited is developing a 5MMSCFD mini-LNG plant at Oghara, Delta State to process natural gas and produce clean, usable LNG for industrial and household use, thereby supporting Nigeria’s energy strategy for economic growth. It is expected to be commissioned by the last quarter, 2025.
Besides, Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation, which is being supported to build 15 CNG refuelling stations, has already achieved 60 per cent completion and is expected to be commissioned by the fourth quarter of 2025.
Similarly, Rolling Energy Limited, tasked with building LCNG and CNG refuelling stations at 10 locations across Abuja, Kano,
Kaduna and Borno States, is at various stages of equipment fabrication and installation, with commissioning scheduled for the first quarter, 2026.
In the same vein, Nsik Oil and Gas Limited has reached 45 per cent completion of its CNG refuelling project, with commissioning targeted for first quarter 2026 as well. Several other vital projects are also underway with support from the Fund.
Short Delivery Timelines
Infrastructure projects are inherently complex and typically take considerable time to deliver. What appears on site as construction is the end product of months, often years of planning, design and preparatory work carried out by multiple specialists.
Key stages in that process include procurement and contracting, regulatory approvals, detailed engineering and technical design, the mobilisation of finance, and coordination among government agencies, contractors and local communities. Each stage must be completed thoroughly to ensure safety, value for money and long-term operability, because delays in any one area can push back overall delivery timelines. For these reasons, it is common for infrastructure schemes to require several years from first concept to commissioning, with the economic and social benefits gradually becoming evident only once systems are fully operational. The MDGIF is proving to be an exception in terms of early delivery. The Fund launched its first six projects in October 2024, and within a short period several schemes have already been commissioned. Additional projects are slated to become operational in fourth quarter 2025 and first quarter 2026. This rapid progress highlights the MDGIF’s focused implementation approach and its commitment to turning investment into tangible benefits for Nigerians
The impact of the Fund’s interventions is already becoming clear; its projects are expanding access to affordable and cleaner energy, lowering transportation costs through CNG adoption, strengthening energy security by reducing reliance on imports, stimulating industrial growth, and creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
The impact of MDGIF’s interventions is already tangible and set to grow as the Fund scales up delivery across the country. By accelerating the rollout of CNG, LNG and LPG infrastructure, the Fund is helping to reduce energy costs, enhance national energy security, stimulate industrial development and generate employment opportunities across the value chain. MDGIF will continue to prioritise transparent project delivery and robust governance to ensure that investments translate into measurable socioeconomic benefits for communities nationwide.
Adama
Expert Decry Absence of Intermediaries Between Retail Investors and Fund Managers
Kayode Tokede
A Financial Expert and Investment Strategist, Mr. John Oniyilo, has expressed that the absence of a robust layer of fiduciary financial intermediaries between retail investors and fund manufacturers remains a critical structural flaw amid rapid growth in Nigeria’s asset management industry.
The outcome, according to him, is the overconcentration in low-risk instruments, heightened exposure to fraudulent schemes, poor capital allocation, and chronic investor distrust.
He noted that unlike more mature markets like the U.S and South Africa, Nigeria has not institutionalized a framework where
independent, fiduciary-aligned advisors connect individual investors to a broad spectrum of investment solutions.
Oniyilo in a report stated the Nigerian investment market is structurally unbalanced, stressing that retail investors typically interact directly with fund providers, who both manufacture products and serve as the “advisors.”
“This bundling has allowed product sales to flourish, but at the expense of personalized guidance, investor protection, and diversified capital deployment. There is little or no formal guidance that links investors’ needs, goals, or risk tolerances to financial solutions,” he explained.
According to him, the vast majority of Nigerian mutual fund assets are concentrated
in money market funds.
“As of late 2023, over 65mper cent of the N5.9 trillion in collective investment schemes were in money markets — a figure that dwarfs equity and balanced fund allocations. This overexposure stems from: Lack of risk profiling and planning, fear driven by past investment losses, fund managers pushing “safe” products for easy traction.
“Without fiduciary advice, investors prioritize capital preservation over long-term wealth creation. The result is an economy awash with short-term capital — while long-duration instruments (infrastructure funds, private equity, even equity mutual funds) remain underfunded,” he said.
Legend Internet Declares 44.5% Increase in Profit
Kayode Tokede
Legend Internet Plc has reported profit after tax growth of 44.53 per cent for its financial year ended July 31, 2025.
The company unaudited results showed that, profit after tax grew to N172.6 million from the N119.4 million it recorded in 2024.
The company’s revenue stood at N1.19 billion, up slightly from N1.13 billion in the previous year, with its fiber business doing most
of the heavy lifting by contributing N1.12 billion. Wholesale bandwidth added N37.6 million, Legend WiFi brought in N22.2 million, with other services filling in the balance. Cost management gave top-line profits a boost, as sales expenses dropped 6.80 per cent to N429.6 million from N461 million. Gross profit rose to N761.4 million as against N677.4 million in the previous year.
On the balance sheet side, total assets rose 10.33 per
cent to N3.3 billion, while retained earnings grew to N734.5 million from N561.9 million in 2024.
Legend Internet in April, 2025 listed two billion ordinary shares at N5.64 per share by way of introduction on the Main Board of Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
The chairman of Legend Internet, Ladi Bada stated that, “technology is the fastest-growing sector, and broadband sits at the core of digital transformation.
Arigo Launches World’s First Seven-in-One Digital Platforms
Arigo Technologies, founded by visionary and innovative entrepreneur, Dr. Arinze Madueke, has made history with the world’s first simultaneous launch of seven groundbreaking digital platforms.
The event, described by attendees as “a defining moment for Africa’s tech ecosystem,” showcased Arigo’s flagship platforms.
The launch which held at the weekend drew
top dignitaries, media executives, investors, and technology enthusiasts to The Oriental Hotel, Lagos. It also attracted representatives from government agencies, leading banks, universities, tech investors, FIFA-licensed football agents and global business partners, cementing Arigo Technologies’ status as one of Africa’s fastest-rising innovation powerhouses.
Speaking at the event, Madueke emphasized that the platforms were built to solve Africa’s unique challenges while positioning the continent as a global technology leader. “We are not just building apps; we are building solutions that create jobs, empower entrepreneurs, connect talents, and prove that Africa can lead the world in innovation,” he said.
Autusbridge Reiterates Commitment to Drive Sales Growth
Oluchi Chibuzor
Autusbridge Consulting Limited, a leading Nigerian sales and business solutions company, has reiterated its commitment empowering organisations to achieve measurable growth through strategic sales support, capacity building, and technology-driven solutions.
Speaking recently in Lagos, the CEO Autusbridge Consulting Limited, Gbenga Johnson said the firm was established to help businesses overcome persistent sales and scalability challenges by integrating people, processes, and technology.
He explained that every business, whether big or small, depends on consistent, paying customers, noting that their mission has
This is as the firm said over the past 12 years, they have built a reputation as a trusted partner for companies across pharmaceuticals, FMCG, oil and gas, and financial services sectors.
been to help organisations understand their markets, build capable sales teams, and adopt scalable technology that drives profitability.
He further explained that since inception they have helped businesses in addressing critical business gaps, tackling some of the most pressing growth barriers in Nigeria, including low sales capacity by providing tailored training programs to build skilled, confident, and professional sales teams.
(Gabon),
Basrah
(Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE)
Merey (Venezuela).
Arigo Technologies Founder/ CEO, Dr Arinze Madueke and his wife, Chioma, flanked by staff and associates of the tech company at the launch of the seven digital platforms in Lagos...recently
Stock Market Drops by N362.8bn to Commence First Trading Week on Negative Note
Kayode Tokede
The stock market section of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) dropped by N362.8 billion in the first trading activities in September 2025 on investors profit-taking In Lafarge Africa Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Oando Plc and 30 others.
From the losers table, the stock price of Lafarge Africa dropped by 5.4per cent, while that of Zenith Bank and Oando depreciated by 2.4 per cent and 6.3 per cent, respectively to downside the market capitalisation to N88.406 trillion, representing a decline of N362.8 billion
from N88.769 trillion the stock market opened for trading.
Also, the NGX AllShare Index fell by 0.4 per cent to 139,722.19 basis points as against 140,295.50 basis points when the stock market closed for trading last week.
Consequently, the
NGX ASI in its Monthto-Date (MtD) and Yearto-Date (YtD) returns settled at -0.4per cent and +35.8per cent, respectively.
Sectoral performance was broadly negative as the NGX Banking Index was down by 1.1per cent, NGX Industrial Goods dipped by 0.9per
cent, NGX Oil & Gas depreciated by 0.5per cent and NGX Insurance fell by 0.1per cent, while the NGX Consumer Goods index closed flat.
Market sentiment remained weak, evidenced by a negative breadth with 15 stocks advancing against 33 decliners. Sovereign
Trust Insurance emerged the highest price gainer of 10 per cent to close at N2.86, per share. SCOA Nigeria followed with a gain of 9.83 per cent to close at N6.59, while Cornerstone Insurance rose by 7.98 per cent to close at N6.90, per share.
BUSINESS WORLD
Discos’ Half Year Revenue Rises 55.8% Amid Higher Tariff, More Metering
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) in Nigeria recorded a dramatic surge in revenue collection in the first half of 2025, rising by 55.8 per cent compared to the previous year.
This is according to a THISDAY analysis of data from the Nigerian
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), with the result reflecting a combination of tariff adjustments, stepped-up metering, and intensified enforcement of payment discipline across the power sector.
The Discos collectively raked in a total of about N1.13 trillion in the first half of this year, compared to N725.45 billion in the
six months to June 2024, representing an over 55 per cent per cent increase.
The turnaround marked one of the strongest halfyear performances for the distribution segment since Nigeria began the power sector reforms over a decade ago, specifically in 2013 when the sector was privatised.
For years, Discos struggled with weak
collections, mounting debts to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Generation Companies (Gencos), as well as chronic customer dissatisfaction over poor supply. But the latest figures suggest that recent policy shifts are beginning to translate into stronger financial flows across the electricity value chain.
The upward adjustment
in electricity tariffs, approved in April 2024, has been a key factor underpinning the revenue surge. Under the new Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO), certain customer bands are now charged cost-reflective levels, particularly those in Band ‘A’ who enjoy a minimum of 20 hours of power supply daily.
Before the adjustment,
many Discos lamented that they were forced to sell electricity below the cost of procurement from the bulk trader, deepening liquidity shortfalls. NERC has argued that new tariffs, though a difficult decision, were necessary to sustain investment, attract financing, and guarantee more reliable supply.
PMI Report: All Sector, Except Manufacturing, Increased Output in August
The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report of the Stanbic IBTC Bank has showed that manufacturing was the only sector that failed to experience increased output in August 2025.
It also stated that sharper increases in output and new orders were recorded, although rates of expansion in purchasing activity and employment eased.
It said: “At 54.2 in August, the headline PMI was above the 50.0 no-change mark for the ninth month running, signalling a sustained improvement in the health
The PMI reported that growth in the Nigerian private sector continued to gain momentum during August as customer demand improved and inflationary pressures softened.
of the Nigerian private sector. Moreover, the latest reading was up from 54.0 in July, pointing to a solid strengthening of business conditions and one that was the most pronounced since April.
“The rise in the headline index primarily reflected sharper expansions in output and new orders, with rates of growth hitting four- and 19-month highs respectively. Output increased across three of
the four broad sectors covered by the survey, the exception being manufacturing.”
The report also stated that “inflationary pressures waned midway through the third quarter. The pace of increase in purchase prices slowed for the fourth consecutive month and was the weakest since March 2020.”
Commenting on the report, the Head of Equity Research West Africa at
Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Muyiwa Oni, said that the increase in business activity was driven by sharper increases in output and new orders.
Oni said: “Notably, output (56.8 points vs July: 56.1 points) increased in line with customers’ willingness to commit to new projects, while the growth in new orders (58.3 points vs July: 57.3 points) quickened to a
19-month high amid reports of increasing customer demand.
“Given these higher new orders, firms expanded their staffing levels for the third consecutive month. The opening of new branches and marketing plans are also supporting firms’ optimism that output will increase over the coming year.
Dike Onwuamaeze
Dike
Nationwide satellite data has showed that farmland has been declining over the years as a result of conversion of lands for residential and commercial development and infrastructural developments.
This is contained in the Northcourt’s “Nigeria Real Estate Market Review H1 2025,” which highlighted that structural deficiency in
property distribution and zoning within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has remained impediments to land price growth.
According to the report, roughly 22 per cent of agricultural land disappeared between 2013 and 2024 in Lagos State as most of that land was developed into buildings and roads.
The report said: “From 2013 to 2024, the annual rate
Sub-regional
Insurers to Deliberate
on Climate Change at WAICA
Ebere Nwoji
Issues bothering on the “West African Insurer in the Face of Climate Change” will form the thrust of discussions at the 2025 edition of the West African Insurance Companies Association (WAICA)’s education Conference to be hosted in Nigeria.
This year’s WAICA Conference scheduled from October 12 to 15, 2025, in Lagos is organised by the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) on behalf
of the entire Nigerian insurance market.
A statement from NIA said delegates from Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and other West African nations will feature at the conference.
The Chairperson of the conference local Organising Committee (LOC), Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, said the event would spotlight the pivotal role insurers play in safeguarding communities and economies from the escalating risks of climaterelated disasters.
of farmland loss increased to -2.42 per cent, with more pronounced decreases in light forest (-6.78 per cent) open space (-3.45 per cent), shrub (-6.36 per cent), and water bodies (-1.56 per cent).
“Accelerated loss of agriculture and natural landscapes are exerting upward pressure on land
prices. The decrease in farmland and open spaces since 2013 is largely attributed to urban expansion. Urban farming in Lagos is seeing a consistent decline due to escalating conversion of land for residential and infrastructural development.”
The report said that in 2005, open vegetation
formed the predominant land use in Kaduna State, encompassing 61.65 per cent of the region adding that, “rapid urban growth drove a rise in developed land, rising from 18.57 per cent in 2005 to 50.88 per cent by 2025. Vegetation diminished consistently to 38.14 per cent (12.78km2).”
In addition, studies by Federal University Ekiti, Federal University of Technology Akure and Obafemi Awolowo University, according to the report, concluded that farmland in Lagos decreased from 1984 to 2024 whereas developed regions increased by 22,538.34ha.
Fatona: Human Capital Development Biggest Challenge for Local Oil Firms
Peter Uzoho
Foremost petroleum geologist and Chairman of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Dr Layi Fatona has described human capital development as the biggest single challenge to Nigerian independent oil and gas companies, explaining that the petroleum industry does
not recruit from the streets.
Fatona therefore asserted that human capital development must be the strongest platform for petroleum industry development, pointing at the urgent need to meet the country’s growing appetite for energy consumption.
Fatona stated this during a Fireside Chat organised by Oida Energy Group at the
recent Nigerian International Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria in Lagos.
With crew change becoming imminent in the Nigerian petroleum industry, he noted that it has become urgent for independent players to prepare for greater roles in meeting Africa’s long term
energy needs. As capacity growth strategies for sustainable petroleum industry operations may necessarily entail forging partnerships that focus on goals, Fatona advocated integrating upstream and downstream operations, developing human capital and evolving creative funding strategies.
Aradel Renews Contractual Commitment to Supply Gas to NLNG
Peter Uzoho
As part of its commitment to delivering sustainable energy solutions, Aradel Gas Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aradel Holdings Plc, has signed a Gas Supply Agreement (GSA) to supply additional gas to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas
Limited (NLNG) through the Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) and NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML) Partnership.
The milestone, according to Aradel, represents a major boost for Nigeria’s energy transition agenda and supports the federal hovernment’s gas reforms aimed at strengthening
energy security whilst driving economic growth.
The Nigerian integrated energy company has consistently invested in infrastructure to unlock the full potential of its assets.
Commenting on the GSA signing, Managing Director of Aradel Holdings Plc, Mr. Adegbite Falade, said: “We are happy to
sign an agreement that guarantees the supply of additional gas volumes to NLNG through the SNG-NGML Partnership. As the energy landscape continues to evolve, natural gas remains central to our growth strategy and the broader transition to cleaner energy.
Customs Commission Advanced Cargo Screening X-ray Machine at SAHCOL
The Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Dr. Abisoye Fagade, has commended the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) for its aggressive and strategic training initiatives, which he described as crucial to aligning members with global travel trade best practices.
Fagade described NANTA as a leading advocate of professionalism in Nigeria’s travel trade sub-sector, stressing
that NIHOTOUR would support the institutionalisation of a NANTA-focused training academy to curb quackery and unregulated entry into the profession.
“NANTA has done so much in training its members, and we at NIHOTOUR are ready to transfer our regulatory powers in that area to the association. Our goal is to ensure that anyone coming into the trade must pass through NANTA. This is the kind of collaboration we have been talking about, and we must continue to strengthen it,” he said.
Chinedu Eze
The Controller of Customs in charge of Hajj and Cargo Terminal, Controller M.T. Awe, has commissioned an Advanced Cargo Screening X-ray Machine at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc’s ultramodern warehouse in a strategic move to enhance trade facilitation and strengthen cargo security at the airport.
SAHCOL explained that the commissioning of this state-of-the-art equipment is aimed
at ensuring faster, more efficient, and secure screening of cargo, thereby boosting Nigeria’s drive for seamless trade operations at the terminal.
Speaking during the event, Controller Awe emphasized that the installation of the X-ray machine aligns with Customs’ mandate to simplify processes, promote transparency, and facilitate legitimate trade while safeguarding national security.
SAHCOL said the new equipment is expected to significantly reduce
processing time, strengthen operational efficiency, and enhance
stakeholders’ confidence in Nigeria’s cargo handling system.
Chinedu Eze
Onwuamaeze
Subsidy Removal: Where Did the Money Go?
Adaeze Obi-Umeofia
When President Bola Tinubu declared “subsidy is gone” on May 29, 2023, the announcement was met with widespread attention and cautious optimism. While the immediate rise in fuel prices was challenging, many economists and policymakers saw the move as an opportunity to redirect previously unsustainable spending toward critical sectors of the economy.
The expectation was clear: That the trillions once spent on fuel subsidies would now be channeled into rebuilding Nigeria’s future.
Two years later, Nigerians are still asking: Where did the money go?
Before 2023, fuel subsidies cost Nigeria over $1.6 billion annually. The policy was widely criticized for being wasteful, encouraging smuggling, and disproportionately benefiting wealthier Nigerians.
Subsidy removal was expected to free up revenue, reduce fiscal deficits and redirect spending toward infrastructure, education, and healthcare. The government also pledged increased state allocations and introduced short-term palliatives to cushion the impact on the most vulnerable.
Have the Gains Been Realised?
Yet, despite initial optimism, the results have been murky. The 2024 and 2025 budgets have ballooned with over ₦50 trillion proposed for 2025 expenditure, and debt servicing consuming about 30 per cent of that.
Positively, federal and state governments have reported higher FAAC allocations. However, most states have used the extra revenue to cover salaries and debt, not capital projects. Long-promised investments in infrastructure, healthcare, and education remain largely unseen.
Short-term relief programmes such as cash transfers and food distribution were introduced. Many Nigerians, however, say these benefits were short-lived, inconsistently delivered, or never reached them at all.
A Silent Return of Subsidies
In addition to all of these, though fuel prices were initially deregulated,
reports now suggest the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has resumed partially covering fuel costs. As of early 2025, the NNPC reportedly owed over $3 billion in unpaid petrol import bills pointing to the return of a shadow subsidy system.
This not only undercuts the initial goal of fiscal transparency, but also adds hidden liabilities to an already strained economy.
Public Perception and Economic Pain
The impact on Nigerians has been harsh. Inflation remains above 30 per cent, food prices have doubled or tripled, and transport costs are eating deep into household incomes.
While a few infrastructure projects have been commissioned, most Nigerians say they haven’t felt any real difference in their daily lives. The minimum wage is not coherent with cost of living, youth unemployment is rising, small businesses are struggling to stay afloat and affordable loans is also out of reach for many.
And sadly, unlike previous programmes like SURE-P, there is no dedicated framework tracking how subsidy savings are being spent. No quarterly reports. No dashboards. No breakdown of reinvestments.
The original promise was not only to remove the subsidy, but to reinvest the savings in a way that benefits the people directly. That promise feels unfulfilled.
The Way Forward
To truly make this policy shift meaningful, there must be deliberate action. Publishing regular reports on subsidy savings and how they are being spent would be a strong first step. Enforcing accountability across federal and state levels is equally critical. More importantly, public funds need to be directed into power, healthcare, education, and infrastructure; areas that directly impact citizens’ lives.
Unless transparency and accountability become the norm, subsidy removal risks being just another broken promise. The question isn’t just where did the money go? But whether the vision to use it to build a better Nigeria is still being pursued.
•Adaeze, an accounting and finance expert, writes from Lagos
Chevron Shines at GbaramatuVoice International Anniversary Awards
Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Chevron Nigeria Limited hasreceived Community Partnership Award from Gbaramatu Voice International media at the Niger Delta Night of Honour event to mark the organization’s 10th Anniversary at Transcorp Hilton Abuja. The award presented by the Chairman Editorial Board, Gbaramatu Voice International, Prof. Tosan Blessing Harriman was received by Victor Anyaegbudike, Manager
Communications, Chevron Nigeria and Mid-Africa Region.
Presenting the award, the Editorial Board Chairman highlighted Chevron’s commitment and efforts in creating and sustaining collaboration with its community stakeholders for socioeconomic development in the Niger Dela region. He extolled Chevron’s partnership with Gbaramatu Voice International in its commitment to development journalism, advocating
sustainable change and enhancing the rich cultural diversity of the region.
Receiving the award on behalf of Chevron Nigeria, Mr Anyaegbudike congratulated Gbaramatu Voice International on its 10th Anniversary Celebration. He noted that Chevron has been in Nigeria for over 60 years, contributing to the growth and development of the country and making human investments that deliver long-term transformative returns.
Hotel Presidential e nugu: a n o ld Flame r ekindled POLITY
There are many fond memories evoked by the First Republic. But it wasn’t simply a sense of nostalgia without an evident socio-economic basis. Statistics, for instance, abound that the defunct Eastern Nigeria ranked among the fastest growing economies in the mid-1950s to early 1960s, surpassing some Asian countries.
With benefit of hindsight, that achievement was not accidental. It was a product of well-conceived vision; an avalanche of progressive policies and programmes initiated by the late premier of the Eastern Region, Chief Michael Okpara, that were both ambitious and daring. One of those deft initiatives was the establishment of the iconic Hotel Presidential, Enugu.
The prestigious monument, which was commissioned in 1963, originally had a total of 100 rooms. In its early years, the hotel stood as an admired landmark in Enugu, hosting notable events and acting as a hub for tourism, business meetings, and government functions. The legendary Okpara envisioned that the East needed a place where business, leisure, tourism and culture will converge.
Hotel Presidential then was such a huge asset with huge economic importance, given the significant revenue it generated, the substantial employment opportunities it created, and sustained revenue stream it earned the Eastern Region.
It wasn’t a surprise then that it became an incubator for hospitality profession in the region. The hotel enabled investments, as so many deals were structured and sealed in its confines. It stimulated demand for local goods and services, and promoted the region’s brand image, as a high-end destination for so many good reasons. These factors contributed to increased GDP, tax revenue for the government, and overall economic development, while also driving innovation and raising quality standards within the wider tourism sector.
But like many other government enterprises, this grand structure suffered a mishap. On its 46th anniversary, its doors were finally shut, after a prolonged corporate paralysis. This bug afflicted the hotel for nearly two decades. The iconic landmark lay in ruins, straddled by overgrown weeds, and even sometimes reduced to grazing field for cattle. It was classic grace to grass decline.
People tend to think that it was only the facility that died. Many families also felt the brunt. The workers – from security men to the general manager who depended on the hotel for the upkeep of their respective families and dependants, all were locked out, never to return again; to the taxi drivers whose source of livelihood also diminished. Many youths and students who thronged the location to
partake in its lively activities - birthday parties, wedding receptions, poolside meetings, graduation parties, and many more who kept a date every weekend to swim in the expansive swimming pool – all lost hope.
Hotel Presidential offered lodging for crew members of the defunct Triax Airline, Oriental Airline, Concord Airline, Nigerian Airways, indeed, every airline that considered overnight stay in Enugu made Hotel Presidential the first choice for their crew members. They all had to look elsewhere.
Hotel Presidential played host to virtually all federal and state government’s events in Enugu. It was a home for socialites. Many people came there, expecting to have a chance meeting with top government officials and business moguls they had made efforts to meet to no avail. The gate closed against all these and more, defying all efforts of past administrations to rehabilitate it. The often cited excuses were lack of political will, paucity of funds and court cases, even up to the Supreme Court. The result was stark: the edifice remained an eyesore.
The blight lasted until Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, governor of Enugu State, came to the rescue. He vowed to revamp all moribund assets of the state as copiously contained in his manifesto. He maintained that revamping of the dormant assets would not only put Enugu State in the world map again as the premier destination for investment, tourism and hospitality, but would also create jobs for the teeming youths in the state.
Undaunted by the enormity of work and fund required to resurrect the dead facility and emboldened by his clear conviction on the potentials it will bring to bear, Mbah dared to dream. With an eye on the Okpara legacy in making the economy of the Eastern region an envious one, Mbah is bullishly pushing for a seven-fold increment of the state’s economy in the next few years – from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by 2031.
On Thursday, August 21, 2025, the governor made good his promise by matching action with words. Dr. Mbah, had while performing the unveiling, extolled the foresightedness of the former premier, regretted that the monument of pride had rotted away for the past 15 years, stressing that Hotel Presidential’s revival was in line with his campaign promise to recover Enugu’s moribund assets and also grow the state’s economy sevenfold.
“Sixty-two years ago, our forebears under the visionary leadership of Dr. Michael Okpara built this landmark as a symbol of Eastern Region’s resilience, elegance and enterprise. Over the decades,
time and neglect dimmed that light. For about 15 years, this glorious edifice stood as an affront to our pride, as something contrary to what we represent. We came into office with a strong pledge: to recover what belongs to our people, convert dormant assets into productive assets; turn liabilities into engines of growth.
“That is why this unveiling is more than opening the doors of a hotel; it is the reopening of Enugu’s confidence. It is a tangible sign that when we say Enugu is open for business, we mean business. This hotel is a strategic enabler of our growth plan, comprising the ambitious target to grow Enugu’s economy seven-fold to at least $30 billion and to achieve a zero percent poverty headcount rate,” he said.
The revamped hotel features modern facilities that compete with its peers anywhere in the world. It is simply classic and irresistibly inviting. The born- again Presidential hotel comes with full package, attentive service, including butler service and 24-hour concierge, luxurious design and amenities like high-quality linens, gourmet dining, state-of-the-art technology, and exclusive access to private areas or unique experiences. It is indeed prestigious and dignifying to be in the hotel. It also features prime location in the highbrow Independent Layout – not far from the three-arm zone, sophisticated security, exceptional attention to details in every aspect, and a commitment to creating memorable, emotionally engaging stays for guests.
The Governor noted that much when he assured that the standards for the hotel were truly world-class, emphasising that his administration insisted on this so that when Enugu says welcome to investors, “our hospitality infrastructure speaks with the same credibility as our policies. Our hospitality ecosystem today is simply inspiring: the 5,000-seat International Conference Centre (ICC) now anchors Enugu’s conferencing ambitions; the adjacent 5-star, 345-room ICC Hotel under construction will deliver premium ‘keys’ for large events; Enugu Air, which has given wings to our dreams and announced the scale of our vision to the world; and now, the renewed Hotel Presidential adds a full-service icon back into the mix”, he stated, adding that “Every conference day books our taxis and CNG buses; every visiting family discovers our art, our music, our cuisine, and our warmth.”
Hotel Presidential is now better primed to offer incredible opportunities to NdiEnugu in several ways. It will create hundreds of direct jobs, culinary and events teams, engineering, landscaping, suppliers, and several other opportunities. The hotel will also generate substantial tax revenue, and stimulate indirect
economic activity through demand for local goods and services. It will also foster local business growth by supporting farmers and merchants which contribute to the overall economic well-being of the state.
Now that the hotel is back and better, there’s strong optimism that the bumpy trap of old would be avoided. Hotel Presidential died not because it lacked customers, but because of mismanagement and unsustainable debt. Many government officials that commanded authority at the time used the facility with impunity, enjoyed privileged services without payment – an act that swelled the hotel’s deficits.
In fact, it was allegedly a common practice to lodge their guests in the hotel for days and weeks without paying. Once the kitchen began to suffer, it did not take long for it to manifest in other services – no new towels, bedspread, even replacement of electric bulbs became an issue. The management could not meet it obligation to suppliers. And gradually, the hotel began to haemorrhage, an affliction that eventually led to its “death”.
So, the public has understandably been ecstatic about its revival. Former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Sunday Onyebuchi, captured this succinctly, commending Governor Mbah for his speed in not only building new things, but also in reviving dead assets. “Your mantra says that tomorrow is here, but you have resurrected yesterday today”.
To avert a repeat of the ugly past, the present administration’s core values of transparency, accountability, and traceability stands as guardrails. It’s also very reassuring that the government understands that running the facility might create the same pitfall that befell the old Hotel Presidential. It has rather chosen the enviable path of creating an enabling friendly business environment for businesses to thrive. That policy saw Amber Hospitality’s emergence as preferred concessionaire for the management of the hotel. Amber Hospitality brings on board an enviable pedigree, earned through the efficient management of about 12 successful brands in the hospitality sector. The implication is that there is no more free lunch.
In the words of the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, while extoling Mbah’s leadership in revamping the hotel, “the silence has been broken; the lights are on — never to dim again; the doors are open — never to shut again; and the spirit of Enugu is back, stronger and brighter than ever.”
As Hotel Presidential, Enugu, returns from the proverbial benevolent god where it got a rare second chance flame, “Ozo-emena” – may the affliction of old never rise again. Indeed, our tomorrow is here.
• Dr. Malachy Uchenna Agbo, is the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Enugu State.
Last week, Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff, and exAmbassador to the Republic of Benin, Lt. General Tukur Buratai (retd.), proposed the urgent adoption of strategic, intelligence-driven lockdowns as part of a new framework to counter terrorism, banditry, and other forms of violent criminality threatening national stability.
The former Army boss urged the federal government to consider a nationwide mobilisation similar to the COVID-19 lockdown to defeat terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping feeding the bloody infamy ravaging the nation.
Buratai who spoke in a candid interview with Channels Television last Friday, argued that insecurity should not be left to the military alone but treated as a national crisis requiring collective sacrifice. His words: “When there are national crises, we need to mobilise everybody, not just the military alone. Look at COVID-19how much was spent, how much was invested into information, communication, advertisement, palliatives, and preventive measures.
“The whole nation was locked down because of COVID-19. We can do the same thing. We can lock down this country to make sure that everybody concentrates and deals with this cankerworm of so-called terrorists and bandits.”
General Buratai further noted that before leaving office as Chief of Army Staff, he had warned that the insurgency could last longer than expected if a long-term strategy was not adopted. “Just before I left office, and immediately after I was appointed ambassador to the Republic of Benin, I sent a note of warning that this insurgency may last longer. It is not something that you just wish away. We really need to have a long-term plan.”
In summation, Buratai maintained that beyond military campaigns, citizens must be mobilised “psychologically, through social media, press, and community support” to overcome what he described as the “so-called terrorists and bandits.” Understandably, Buratai’s position has provoked considerable debate among various stakeholders.
The battle-scarred General’s novel proposition provides a new discursive lens to stimulate new modes of analysis on effective strategies to cage violent extremism. His unconventional position fundamentally represents a concept note that should transition to a detailed, actionable engagement strategy to the federal government to fast track a valid response leading to the erasure of the reign of bloody infamy and destructive erosion of Nigeria’s sovereignty.
This quirky scenario has perhaps understandably eroded public trust in state authority and demands an urgent, coordinated, effective, disruptive strategy that can destroy criminal networkssimultaneously safeguarding civilian lives. There is more.
It is beyond dispute that Nigeria currently faces an overlapping mosaic of extreme, regressive violence. These include Boko
Haram and ISWAP insurgency in the Northeast; banditry, mass kidnappings, and illegal mining in the Northwest; farmer–herder clashes and communal violence in the North Central; separatist- linked attacks in the Southeast; oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and cult-related violence in the South-South; and rising cases of kidnappings and armed robbery in the Southwest.
But first, to highlight the urgency of Buratai’s proposal, it would be germane to provide some context in terms of very recent informed positions on caging insecurity in Nigeria and Africa at large.
Just this week, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, called on African defence leaders to take decisive ownership of the continent’s security challenges during her address at the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Forum in Abuja on Monday.
Mohammed, a former Nigerian Minister of Environment, accurately painted a stark picture of Africa’s security landscape, stating, “The continent accounts for the majority of global terrorism deaths, with attacks in West Africa’s coastal states surging by 250% in just two years. In the Sahel, 14,000 schools were shuttered by conflict last year, threatening an entire generation’s future.”
Lansana Kouyaté, former Prime Minister of Guinea, who proposed innovative security financing through public-private partnerships during the forum, echoed Mohammed’s call for collective action, stating, “This historic gathering of defence chiefs from all 54 African nations underscores that without peace, there is no development.”
While speaking at the 50th anniversary dinner of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 18th Regular Course in Abuja last month, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, revealed that over 47,000 lives were lost to insecurity in northern Nigeria before
President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023. He stated that the country was on the brink of collapse at the time, grappling with multiple crises that threatened its cohesion and survival.
He said, “The security landscape we inherited as a government in 2023 was a sobering reality. It was threatening the very cohesion, stability, and integrity of our Nigerian state. We inherited five intractable security challenges that had brought our nation to the brink.” These include Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West and North-Central, separatist agitations in the South-East, economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, and communal conflicts in states like Benue and Plateau.
The NSA went on to paint a positive, if not outright rosy picture of the security situation under his principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Although it could not be denied genuine efforts are being made by the current administration to reign in widespread infamy, Nigeria is far from the safe, progressive haven her citizens are entitled to.
On his part, former Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka recently weighed into the ravaging insecurity claiming that Nigeria’s situation is even more dire than that of countries embroiled in war. Chidoka expressed deep concern over the rampant insecurity, widespread hunger, and severe economic struggles plaguing the nation, emphasizing that citizens are enduring daily hardships as if the country is under siege. He cautioned that if immediate action isn’t taken, Nigeria could face total collapse.
General Buratai’s proposal, not surprisingly, spawned several responses from different concerned stakeholders. The most notable and informed reaction perhaps is that from the Crest Research and Development Institute (CRADI) and authored by conflict and security expert, Isa Mohammed.
CRADI had responded by convening a Policy Lab under its Co-Creation and Innovation Lab (CCIL), bringing together security practitioners, conflict analysts, governance experts, humanitarian actors, and community stakeholders.
The Lab drew lessons from Nigeria’s COVID-19 lockdown, at the core of Baratai’s proposal which, despite its economic costs, succeeded in reducing certain forms of crime and giving security forces a clearer view of population movements. Participants agreed that lockdowns can be effective, but only if targeted, intelligence-driven, and sensitive to humanitarian needs.
According to CRADI’s Isa Mohammed, “Conventional military campaigns alone cannot address these overlapping threats. Strategic lockdowns, when carefully designed, can restrict terrorist mobility, cut off supply lines, and create the operational space for intelligence-led security operations.”
The body strongly cautioned against a nationwide shutdown, arguing it would cripple livelihoods without delivering sustainable security. Instead, CRADI recommended zonal lockdowns tailored to local dynamics: Northeast: Seal borders with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon; enforce curfews around the Lake Chad Basin and Mandara Mountains; Northwest: Impose lockdowns in forest belts such as Rugu, Kamuku, and Birnin Gwari; ban illegal mining; restrict rural mobility; North Central: Enforce lockdowns in conflict flashpoints; secure farmlands with patrols; regulate grazing routes to reduce clashes; and Southeast: Introduce night curfews; restrict unauthorized assemblies; secure major highways against attacks. For South-South CRADI recommended Implementation of surveillance lockdowns along pipeline corridors and waterways to combat oil theft and cult-related violence; and Southwest: Apply tactical restrictions in forest reserves, especially the Ondo–Ogun axis, which has become a haven for kidnappers.
Strategy and security are core elements for achieving sustainable peace, especially for a developing country like Nigeria. Cut to the bone, when security is absent, it validly suggests the strategies adopted are faulty and need to be reviewed. As Nigerians seek to achieve sustainable growth and development, her citizens must have the requisite state of freedom and peace, amongst others, to lead meaningful and productive lives.
CRADI’s Mohammed succinctly cut to the heart of the debate when he asserted that, “General Buratai’s call for a strategic lockdown is an urgent reminder that Nigeria must rethink its approach to insecurity. If implemented with strong oversight, humanitarian sensitivity, and clear timelines, strategic lockdowns can help restore state authority, protect vulnerable communities, and lay the foundation for peacebuilding and long-term stability.”
The foregoing scenario can fundamentally validate General Buratai’s proposition to the federal government, especially when international partners such as the United Nations, African Union, and ECOWAS play an imperative role as potential providers of technical and logistical support.
Buratai
SEASON 10 PREMIER OF THE NEXT TITAN...
L-R: Head, Personal Banking, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Adetunji Lamidi; Senior Business Development Advisor, Betano, Mr. Daniel Lamberti; Head, Classic Segment, FCMB, Adaora Odibe; Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Akinyemi Ajigbotafe; Executive Producer, The Next Titan Nigeria, Mr. Mide Akinlaja; Country Manager, Betano, Mr. David Segunmaru; and Nollywood actor, Gabriel Afolayan, during season 10 premier of The Next
Wike: I’ll Bet on Tinubu Winning 2027 Election
Says Obi as presidential candidate will finally destroy PDP Urges Jonathan to remain elder statesman, global icon
Former president’s cousin insists he is 100% qualified to contest Berates Keyamo, Odinkalu, tells them not to offer unsolicited legal advice
Chuks Okocha and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday, said he was prepared to place a bet on President Bola Tinubu winning the 2027 presidential election, in spite of the groundswell of opposition to his re-election.
Wike made the assertion at a monthly media briefing, in response to a recent prediction by former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, that Tinubu
would suffer a major humiliation in the 2027 election by coming third in the first round of the poll, leading to a run-off without the president on the ballot.
Wike said the defeat the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suffered in 2023 would be child’s play compared to what it would face in 2027 if it nominated Peter Obi as its presidential candidate.
He also urged former President Goodluck Jonathan to shelve his speculated
presidential ambition in 2027, by being content with his status as an elder statesman and international peacemaker.
Wike’s counsels followed speculations that PDP might be weighing the options of presenting Jonathan or Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.
Meanwhile, Jonathan’s cousin, Robert Azibaola, yesterday, berated Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and former Chairman of National Human Rights
Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, for giving unsolicited legal advice to PDP not to field the former president as its presidential candidate in 2027.
El-Rufai had in an interview on a national television Sunday night, said, “Tinubu will be third in the 2027 election. I have done my maths, and I can tell you Tinubu has no pathway to win.
“The worst-case scenario is that there will not be any winner in the first ballot.
“Ask yourself, is your life bet- ter now under President Tinubu?
There is even no pretence of good intentions. We are free to assess our government after two weeks.”
However, Wike not only knocked El-Rufai’s predic- tion, but also boasted about his preparedness to place a bet that Tinubu will win the 2027 election squarely.
Wike said, “El-Rufai is my friend, but he failed in this mathematics. He goofed; since he knows Tinubu will come third, he should also provide who will be first and second.
FG Seeks Increase in Basic Healthcare Provision Fund
Minister, NHIA vow to end out-of-pocket spending on health Target 44m enrolees by 2030
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The federal government has said it will soon approach the National Assembly to seek increase in allocations to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), from the current one per cent of Consolidated Revenue to at least two per cent.
It said one of the key deliverables of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare under the presidential performance bond was to enrol at least 44 million Nigerians into the National Health Insurance by 2030.
The move came just as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Mohammad Pate, said the present administration is determined to put an end to out of pocket expenditure on health care by Nigerians.
Speaking yesterday at the National Health Financing Policy Dialogue in Abuja themed Reimagining a New Era of Health Financing Health, the Miñister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the federal government is committed to the evolution of
legislations regulations and policies targeted at removing the burden of healthcare expenditure on individuals.
Salako said that one of such legislations is the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act (2022), which made health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians.
He said NHIA is aimed at significantly expanding coverage beyond the previous 5 percent of the “Thepopulation. Act also establishes a Vulnerable Group Fund to cover the poor and vulnerable who
The Itsekiri people of Delta State yesterday called on the federal government to set up an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the controversial recent redelineation exercise in the
Warri Federal Constituency.
It maintained that it was only an independent inquiry that could prove that the action of INEC on the redelineation exercise created ‘phantom’ polling units and wards in the constituency. It noted that it will not accept the controversial INEC delineation of wards,
polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency.
Chief Brown Mene, who read a communique, on behalf of Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality, at the end of a press conference held innWarri South Local Government Area, maintained that the commission robbed them of what actually belonged to them.
cannot afford premiums. The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) instituted by the 2014 National Health Act, leverages 1 percent of the federal consolidated revenue to provide access to quality primary healthcare for the poor and vulnerable, and it is a key mechanism for operationalizing the Vulnerable Group Fund.
“The Ministry is already examining the possibility of
approaching the National Assembly to increase the allocation to BHCPF from the current one percent of consolidated revenue to at least two percent,” he said.
Salako said that President Bola Tinubu has directed the implementation of several interconnected policies to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and protect vulnerable Nigerians.
I will place a bet, if El-Rufai agrees, if Tinubu does not win the 2027 election securely.”
The FCT minister also warned PDP against fielding Obi. He said the setback that befell the party in 2023 would be child’s play, as it could altogether go into extinction if it nominated Obi.
Wike stated, “Bring Obi to where? You want to kill the party more? If not that some of you don’t have character, Obi that was abusing the party, that the party is rotten. So, is the party good now for him to come and run for the presidential election? You see, these people’s ambition can make them even go to Satan’s house.
“Anybody who says so, like Bala Mohammed, and I heard him say it, is entitled to his opinion. But if you want to destroy the party, dare it. Let Peter Obi come.
“There is nowhere he would not go because of ambition. Can’t we be principled because you are looking for president, no more ideology?”
Soludo: Statistics on Insecurity Show Anambra Low Among States with High Kidnap Rate
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has said that recent statistics shows that the state is among the lowest in kidnap rate across the country, contrary to shouts of insecurity by his political opponents.
Soludo attributed this to his innovative security architecture in launching the local security outfit, Agunechemba; and Opera-
tion Udo Ga Chi; a security operation that has joint forces from all the security agencies in the country.
In a press release on his behalf by his Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime, Soludo contended that the noise about insecurity in the state was merely hyped by political opponents, who seek to discredit the state.
Recently released statistics on kidnapping across the country by TheCable Index, covering the period from July 2024 to June 2025
showed that Anambra was among the state with least kidnap case, with only 63 cases, alongside Adamawa with same number, while 1,203 cases were registered in Zamfara. Aburime who reacted to this said: “The issue of security in the world today has become a political tin- derbox. No matter which region, country, or state, the presence of, or lack of security exerts much influence on governance and politics.
Titan in Lagos at the weekend
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
AFTER A 10-DAY TOUR OF CONSTITUENCY...
L-R: Managing Director/CEO of South-South Development Commission, Ms Usoro Akpabio; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Senators Osita Ngwu and Konbowei Benson, during the arrival of the Senate President from a 10-day tour of his constituency and projects commissioning in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, yesterday
Kaduna Govt Warns El-Rufai, Alleges Plot to Destabilise State
Ex-gov doubles down on accusations of payments to bandits, others Urges ONSA, Uba Sani to end insecurity, not silence opposition voices
Emmanuel
Addeh in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna
The Kaduna state government yesterday issued a strong warning to a former governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of a plot to incite violence and destabilise the state for political gains.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Suleiman Shuaibu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), alleged that El-Rufai was “plotting to destabilise the state and drag it back to its dark and violent past.”
However, in a long riposte posted on his social media handles, El-Rufai doubled down on his earlier accusation of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Kaduna government, alleging an ongoing “greasing of the palms of non-state actors in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, Kebbi, and other states.”
Besides, he took a swipe at the Kaduna state Governor,
Uba Sani, insinuating that the purported peace which currently reigns in Kaduna was non-existent and accusing him of either muzzling or inducing the local press.
However, the state government warned that its leadership will will not fold its arms and allow a ‘discredited former leader’, who left the state in ruins, to ignite chaos and plunge the state into another era of ethno-religious tension, insecurity, and economic stagnation.
The statement said El-Rufai has refused to accept the progress made under Uba Sani’s administration in the past two “Mallamyears.Nasir El-Rufai has made it glaringly obvious that he can not stomach the progress Kaduna is making under the administration of Governor Uba Sani. In just two years, Kaduna has transitioned from a state on the brink of collapse... to a growing beacon of hope, unity, and development,”
the statement said.
The state government further accused the former governor of attempting to reverse the progress made so far by “exploiting old wounds and deliberately peddling dangerous lies designed to incite violence and discord.”
The statement alleged that El-Rufai intensified his political activities after suffering electoral losses in the August 16, 2025 bye-elections won by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
“His rejected candidates and the incoherent political
coalition he assembled were resoundingly defeated in free, fair, and transparent elections. El-Rufai responded to these losses by organising an illegal and chaotic meeting on August 30, which descended into violence”, the commissioner said.
The statement also condemned the former governor for his statements made on Sunday in an interview on Channels Television, saying El-Rufai’s claim that the federal and state governments were “bribing bandits”, was a malicious lie designed to
undermine security efforts, incite public anger, and legitimise criminality.”
It said that Kaduna state will do whatever it takes, within the provisions of the law, to preserve the peace and stability that it had worked so hard to rebuild.
“Let there be no doubt, the Kaduna state government has the capacity, the resolve, and the legal backing to deal decisively with any individual or group that seeks to destabilise the state. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s time is over. Kaduna belongs to the future,
not to the ruins of the past,” the statement emphasised. However, in a long response, El-Rufai described as unfortunate remarks from the ONSA and what he described as ‘the fake, but predictable hot air from Kaduna,’ following his live television interview.
“As usual, the combined voices of the Government of Kaduna State (KDSG) and ONSA, instead of responding to the core issues I raised, seek to deflect responsibility by alleging that exposing them amounts to politicising security,” he began.
35th/25th Anniversary: NLNG Postgraduate Scholarship Awardees Set to Begin Studies in UK Varsities
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Seven Nigerian graduates are set to begin postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom after being awarded the fully funded Special NLNG 35th/25th Anniversary Scholarship.
In a statement by AnneMarie Palmer-Ikuku, Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, NLNG, explained the recipients were selected through a rigorous process.
Lagos SUBEB, NIEPA Strengthen Capacity of Education Managers to Align with UBEC Policies
Funmi Ogundare
The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in collaboration with the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), yesterday, embarked on a policy development and capacity-building training aimed at strengthening the manage- ment of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme
in the state.
The initiative focuses on aligning Lagos SUBEB’s strategies with national policies set by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to ensure effective delivery of quality basic education.
It also forms part of the 2023/2024 UBEC Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme. The three-day training
themed, ‘Educational Policy Development and Purposeful Implementation of Basic Education Programme ‘, will help the board’s top management staff adopt better approaches in managing UBE programmes while addressing existing challenges.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Head of Department, Training and Research, NIEPA, Nigeria, Dr. Lara
Ogunsola, explained that the institute’s core mandate is to build the capacity of education stakeholders across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
“What we do is to improve the skills of education managers, especially top management staff, so that they can effectively implement policies and programmes. It’s not just in Lagos State, we are committed to doing this across Nigeria,”
The statement revealed the awardees will commence their studies in the 2025/2026 academic session and become part of NLNG’s distinguished network of scholars, equipped with world-class education, advanced knowledge, and critical skills for leadership and professional excellence.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations & Sustainable Development NLNG, expressed the importance of the scholarship in building capacity for Nigeria’s future. She said: “Through this programme, NLNG continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable development by investing in human capital. These scholars represent the best of Nigeria’s talent, and we are proud to support their journey towards global excellence”.
Horsfall added that the awardees will pursue master’s degrees in fields critical to national progress, including Civil Engineering, Renewable Energy Management, Advanced Chemical Engineering, Marine and Offshore Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy Systems, Industrial Robotics, and Advanced Structural Engineering. She further stressed that NLNG is reinforcing its vision of inspiring a sustainable future, by investing in the education and development of the next generation of leaders and innovators who will drive sustainable national growth and global competitiveness. Since its inception, the NLNG Postgraduate Scholarship programme has recorded 523 graduates across diverse disciplines.
RECEIVING A REPORT ON REPOSITIONING OF TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION...
L-R: Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, receiving a committee report on the repositioning of technical and vocational education from the Chairman, Alhaji Goni Ibrahim (middle), assisted by the Commissioner of Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, in Maiduguri, yesterday
Obidients Raise the Alarm over Anti-Peter Obi Propaganda
Sensitise Nigerians on need to get their PVCs ready for 2027 election
Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Amby Uneze in Owerri
Supporters of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, under the aegis of the Obidient Movement, have raised alarm over what they described as a coordinated attempt by “paid agents and propagandists” to spread false
narratives about him.
The National Coordinator of the movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, stated this in Abuja on Monday, alleging the group had been confronted with repeated cases of propaganda and misinformation targeted at Obi, dismissing some of the narratives in circulation, describing them as deliberate
falsehoods.
In another related development, the Imo State Chapter of the Obidient Movement has vowed to mobilise millions of Nigerians into organised voting blocs to protect the integrity of the 2027 elections and ensure that the people’s mandate can no longer be stolen.
The State Coordinator,
Anukanti Vigilius Chukwuka while addressing journalists in Owerri, capital of Imo State, yesterday urged Nigerians from the ages of 18 and above to go and get registered and possess their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) which would enable them to vote and be voted for as a patriot citizen of the country.
119 Students Bag First Class as Usmanu Danfodiyo University Celebrates 50th Anniversary, 42nd Convocation Ceremony
To honour former COAS, others
Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) is set to celebrate its 50th Anniversary and 42nd Convocation Ceremony, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s history.
The event which is to take place from Monday, September 1, to Saturday, September 6, 2025, featured a series of academic, cultural, humanitarian, and technological events.
At a press briefing, the Vice-Chancellor of UDUS, Prof. Bashiru Garba, announced that 119 students graduated with first-class honors, out of a total of 4,024 graduands. The graduands included 3,561 undergraduate students, 463 postgraduate students, and 120 PhD holders.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the university’s growth and development over the past five decades, emphasizing its
commitment to academic excellence, research, and community service.
He also acknowledged the contributions of past administrators, staff, students, and stakeholders who have shaped the institution into what it is today.
As part of the celebration, the university is to conferred honorary degrees on two distinguished personalities: Sheikh Muhammad Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa and former Chief of Army Staff
Diaspora Group Pledges N25m, 10,000 Votes for Oyebamiji in Osun 2026, Rallies Support for Tinubu’s Reforms
Sunday Ehigiator
The AMBO Movement UK, a coalition of Osun State indigenes in the diaspora, has pledged an initial donation of N25 million and the mobilisation of 10,000 votes in support of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Asiwaju
Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election.
In a communiqué signed by the Chairman, Mayowa Olabisi, and Public Relations Officer, Olawale Mikail, after its weekend session in London, the group endorsed Oyebamiji as the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while
also applauding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as bold economic reforms and strategic foreign policy strides.
The movement described Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira as “politically courageous decisions” that have restored investor confidence.
(COAS), Lt. Gen. Faruku Yahaya (Rtd.). Emeritus status is also to be bestowed on Prof. Dejo Abdulrahman.
The university also immortal- ized some of its infrastructure by naming them after notable individuals who have contributed significantly to the institution’s development.
Meanwhile, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement recalled a courtesy visit to elder statesman Afe Babalola on December 9, 2024, during which a defamation case involving Dele Farotimi was discussed.
According to him, the matter was later withdrawn through the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, not because Obi “begged,” as claimed in certain reports.
“Peter Obi does not engage in personal attacks, nor does he condone them. In the case of Dele Farotimi, he merely raised concerns about the manner of his arrest and detention, which was clearly understood by the elder statesman,” Tanko said.
He further emphasized that Obi is not known for patronage politics, but rather for channeling resources into education, youth entrepreneurship, healthcare, the almajiri system, and support for the
poor and vulnerable in society.
On Nigeria’s debt profile, Tanko cited figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO), which put the country’s debt at ₦149.38 trillion in Q1 2025, up from ₦144.67 trillion in Q4 2024, saying claims to the contrary were misleading.
Addressing other issues, he said: On the “Yes Daddy” audio: Obi reserved his legal options but chose not to pursue prolonged litigation, which Tanko described as a strategic decision, not an admission of guilt.
On the alleged WhatsApp broadcast targeting Lagos: Tanko maintained that there was no credible evidence linking Obi or his team to such messages.
He accused those spreading the narratives of recycling falsehoods to gain attention, insisting that Nigerians were becoming more discerning.
Former FIRS Boss Nami Eyes
Niger South Senatorial Seat
Nami Abdullahi, former Federal Inland Revenue Service FIRS boss has buried his governorship ambition and now wants to contest the Senatorial election in the Niger South Senatorial District.
Though Nami did not say on which platform he would be contesting, political watch- ers believe he would do so on the ticket of the All Progress Congress APC.
The Niger South Senatorial District seat is presently occupied by the People’s Democratic Party,
PDP, Peter Nda Alikali.
Nami confirmed his interest to contest the Senatorial election in Bida after being turbaned as the Majin Rabba Nupe (Treasurer of Nupe Kingdom) by the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional rulers Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.
The former FIRS boss told some newsmen present at the event that he abandoned his governorship ambition after listening to wise counsels from elders in the Senatorial zone and the state in general.
“My intention initially was to contest for the governorship position, but after consultations with respected leaders, including the Etsu Nupe, I chose unity over ambition and redirected my focus to the Senate,” he was quoted as saying.
He promised to focus on how the standard of education in the Senatorial zone and the state in general would be improved pointing out also that during the campaign he would focus on rural and health care development.
breakfast sessiOn and new lOgO unveiling ...
L–R: Director, Nigeria- South Africa Chamber of Commerce, Foluso Phillips; Chairman of Nigeria-South
Gbenga-Oluwatoye
the Chamber’s
and
Steer Clear of South-east, Zonal PDP Committee Warns Wike
The South-east Zonal Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned the postulation by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, regarding the internal affairs of the party in the zone.
It stated that Wike’s demand for the “dissolution of the duly elected South-east zonal executive” was “not only reckless and baseless, but also a direct affront to the democratic processes of our party.”
Wike had earlier on Monday issued a threat that the PDP national convention scheduled for November 2025 may not hold unless conditions demanded by his team within the party are met.
He specifically said: “The issue of the National convention is not the problem, the issue is the problems leading to the convention and people should understand that the PDP has agreed to set up a committee
for the South-east and Ebonyi.”
But describing Wike as “a meddlesome interloper,” the South-east zone of the party said his divisive rhetoric was not welcome in the zone,” adding that if Wike has found comfort in the All Progressives Party (APC) as his actions and alliances suggest, he should make his defection official and stop playing the role of a double-edged saboteur. “The PDP is not a playground for political opportunists,” the party noted.
In the statement signed by the PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Chigozie Igwe, the zonal leadership said: “Let it be clearly stated Wike is neither a stakeholder nor a leader in the South-east PDP. He holds no official position in the party at any level, or state, and therefore lacks the legitimacy, authority, or moral standing to speak on the structure or leadership of our zone.
“His call for the dissolution of the duly elected South-east zonal
Osun 2026: Omisore Politically Grounded to Achieve Sustainable Devt of Osun if Elected, Says APC Chieftain
Yinka kolawole in Osogbo
A Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) Hon. Jamiu Olawumi yesterday posited that the former deputy governor of Osun State and a two-term senator, Iyiola Omisore is professionally and politically grounded to pilot the affairs of the state to achieve sustainable development if elected as Osun State governor comes next election.
Olawumi who stated this on his Facebook page contended that Omisore is equally enriched academically and tested in the political arena, saying with these qualities it has positioned him as a true symbol and a complete leader for a new generation.
According to him, “Osun State sits at a very crucial
juncture in its quest for sustainable growth and development therefore, there is need for a choice like Omisore who has visionary leadership technical expertise, intellectual depth, and political wisdom to pilot the state affairs.”
“And in that regard, Senator Iyiola Omisore is the package, a professional engineer of international acclaim, a revered academic, and a politician to reckon with. His combination of skills makes him the best track for Osun’s accelerated progress.”
He said, “Omisore came under the spotlight due to the protest against injustice during the military regime and so emerged as one of modern Nigeria’s notable political personalities of the 1980s.
executive is not only reckless and baseless, but also a direct affront to the democratic processes of
‘election’ stated in Section 137(1) (b) of the Constitution applies to the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not into the Office of the Vice President. I have perused the entirety of the Plaintiffs supporting affidavit and Written Address and I am unable to find where the Plaintiffs referred this Court contested apart from the elections conducted in year 2011.
“I, therefore, find the Plaintiffs’ contention that the 1st Defendant has been elected to the Office of President on Two (2) previous occasions spurious, baseless and unsubstantiated.
“And I so hold.”
He clarified that although elections into the offices of President and Vice President were conducted simultaneously and upon a joint ticket submitted by a political party, such as the 2nd Defendant, to the 3rd Defendant, the positions of President and Vice President were two different offices.
According to the judge, elec- tion of a person, such as the 1st Defendant, into the Office of the Vice President is not the same as his election into the Office of the President and vice-versa.
The judge stated, “A person who is elected into the Office of Vice President cannot by virtue of such election simpliciter, occupy the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I so hold.
“As I have noted above, the Plaintiff did not file a Reply Affidavit to dispute the facts contained in paragraphs 4(i) — (y) of the 1st Defendant’s Counter Affidavit. The legal implication of this failure is that the contentions of the 1st Defendant are deemed to be true.
“In the final analysis, I find that, the evidence before this Court points to the conclusion that the 1st Defendant has only been elected into the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on one (1) previous occasion, which said occasion
was in the General Elections conducted in year 2011. And I so hold.
On the provisions of Section 137(3) of the Constitution, Dashem stated that Jonathan was sworn in as president in 2010, to complete the tenure of late President Umaru Yar’Adua and again in 2011, after he won the 2011 presidential election.
He agreed with Jonathan’s submissions that the said provisions, which sought to bar persons who completed another’s tenure from contesting twice, did not apply to him because the law was passed in 2018, when he already had the right to contest and contested in the 2015, general elections.
Dashem said, “As I have held above, the provisions of sub-Section (3) of Section 137 of the Constitution was not part of our Constitution prior to June 7, 2018, when same took effect. It, therefore, follows that the provisions of sub-section (3) was not the position of our law at all material times before June 7, 2018. It also follows that, prior to June 7, 2018, no restriction was placed on the number of times a person who was sworn-in to complete the term of office of a President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can be re-elected into that Office.
“The 1st Defendant has argued that, since he acquired his right to contest and, if successful, be sworn-in as President after he lost his re-election bid, in 2025, to the current President - President Muhammadu Buhari - it would be unethical to the spirit and intendment of the legislature to take away the right he acquired in year 2015 on the basis of a law that came into effect in 2018.
“Now, the position of the law on retroactive or retrospective application of laws is quite settled. Retroactive laws are which relate or cover matters or acts which occurred before its commencement date.”
The judge added, “Despite
National
and its outcome has been ratified by the same NWC.
my best efforts, I fail to see where the legislature expressed their intention, by express and unequivocal words, that the provisions of subsection (3) of Section 137 of the Constitution should be accorded retrospective application.
“In the absence of such express words, I am constrained to hold that the provisions of Section 137(3) do not enjoy retrospective application. The application and enforceability of the said subsection can only be construed to apply with effect from June 7, 2018. And I so hold.
“In my opinion, the position being propounded by the 1st Defendant is not only tenable but accords with the position of the law. It is the duty of the Plaintiffs to point or direct this Court to where the legislature stated that the provisions of Section 137(3) of the Constitution apply to events and/or rights which have been acquired and/ or have been vested in parties prior to June 7, 2018.
“The law is that, he who asserts must prove. See: Section 131(1) of the Evidence Act, 2011. It therefore, behoved the Plaintiffs to provide this Court with facts to support their case. In the absence of such proof, I find that the Plaintiffs have not discharged the burden of proof placed on them by law.
“I, therefore, find merit in the argument of the 1st De- fendant that the introduction of sub-section (3) of Section 137 of the Constitution does not affect his right to contest for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2023 General Elections and be sworn-in as such, should he be victorious at the polls.
“As I have noted above, before, in year 2015 when the 1st Defendant lost his re-election bid into the Office of the President, the restriction imposed by subsec- tion (3) to Section 137 was not in existence. This is why the 1st Defendant despite having been
Any
undermine this process is a blatant act of sabotage.
sworn-in as President on May 6, 2010 and May 29, 2011, was able to contest for the Office of the President in the 2015 General Elections.
“Had the 1st Defendant been victorious at the 2015 polls, he would have been sworn-in for a third time without any legal impediment. Therefore, the 1st Defendant acquired his right to contest for the Office of the President immediately his term as President ended on May 29, 2015. Clearly, it is incontrovertible that the Ist Defendant’s right to contest and be sworn-in as President accrued to and was vested in him on May 29, 2015. And I so hold.
“In the final analysis, I answer Question 1 formulated by the Plaintiffs in their Originating Summons in the affirmative.
“I declare that, the provi- sions of Section 137(3) of the Constitution acquired the force of law with effect from June 7, 2018 and same does not have retrospective application.
“I also declare that, the 1st Defendant is not disqualified by the provisions of Section 137(1) (b) and (3) of the Constitution from contesting for election into the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2023 General Elections.
“Having answered Question 1 in the affirmative, the necessity to answer Questions 2 and 3 have been obviated. However, for the avoidance of doubt, I answer Question 2 in the affirmative also whilst I answer Question 3 in the negative.
“In the final analysis, I answer questions 1 and 2 posed in the Originating Summons in favour of the 1st Defendant and question 3 in the negative and therefore against the 3rd
“Consequently,Defendant. I enter Judge- ment for the I Defendant and all the reliefs sought by the Plaintiffs in their Originating Summons dated May 16, 2022 (but filed on May 17, 2022) fail and are all hereby dismissed.”
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
our party. The Zonal Congress was conducted transparently under the supervision of the
Working Committee (NWC),
attempt to
Africa Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Ije Jidenma; Immediate Past Chairman, Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, Osayaba Giwa-Osagie; Regional General Manager, Africa, Middle East and Indian Ocean Islands, South African Airways, Ohis Ehimiaghe; and General Manager, Corporate Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Chineze
at
monthly breakfast session
new logo unveiling, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos …weekend
PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN
CourT: Jon ATHA n C A n r un For Pre SID en TIA l e le CTI on
MALTINA TEACHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION STAKEHOLDERS MEETING...
L-R: Government Affairs Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Bolaji Layeni; Registrar/Chief Executive, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Dr. Ronke Soyombo; Minister of state for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed; Head of Public, External and Government Affairs, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Chukwuemeka Aniukwu; and Secretary-General, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Dr. Clinton Ikpitibo, during the 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year (MTOTY) Competition Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja on Friday
Rivers: Ibas Swears in New LG Chairs, Charges Them on Selfless Service
The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) has charged the 23 elected local government council chairmen on selfless service and grassroots development.
fight against insurgency and violent separatist movements.
NBA called on Nigerian judges and prosecutors to take a cue from Finland, following the speedy trial and conviction of Ekpa.
Reacting to the conviction, President of NBA, Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN, who said he was yet to get the full details of the Finland court judgement, stated that he was very impressed with the short time it took to conclude investigation and trial. Osigwe stated this while presenting the communique from NBA’s Annual General Conference (AGC), which held in Enugu, recently.
“I look at the time it took to do the trial, and the sort of evidence relied on by the court in order for them to arrive at a decision. That should be a lesson for us,” he said.
The NBA president stated that trials took a longer time in Nigeria because “most judges still write longhand” instead of embracing technology. He added that investigators and prosecutors should endeavour to get enough evidence, build up a good case, before going to court.
Osigwe also called on security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities in checking abuse of social media, adding, “Persons who have access to social media should be careful how they utilise them to promote hate or terrorism.”
He said, “We should look at those who are using it to pro-
The administrator who gave the charge while swearing-in the chairmen at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, urged them to reject self-interest and embrace a new era of transparent, ac- countable, and reform-driven leadership for the people.
He noted that the ceremony
vide ethnic hatred, to promote terrorism, and get hold of such, and try them,” rather than filing cyber-bullying charge against citizens in political matters.
Similarly, RULAAC urged the government to emulate the good example set by the Finnish District Court in convicting and sentencing perpetrators of terrorism.
Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, in a statement yesterday, said the sentencing of Ekpa was both a welcome development and a sobering reminder of the Nigerian government’s chronic failure to confront insecurity and hold perpetrators of violence accountable at home.
According to Nwanguma, “Ekpa, who styled himself as the ‘Prime Minister of the Biafra Government in Exile,’ exploited the pains and frustrations in Nigeria’s South-east to incite violence, mobilise armed groups, and promote bloodshed through social media.
“The Finnish court found that his activities crossed the line from political agitation to terrorism — organising armed groups, facilitating weapons acquisition, and urging his followers to commit crimes in HeNigeria.”stressed that the fact that justice was delivered not in Nigeria but in faraway Finland was deeply telling.
The executive director added, “A foreign government investigated, prosecuted, and
marked a pivotal milestone in the state’s journey to restore full democratic governance following the period of politi- cal turbulence that necessitated federal intervention.
The administrator stated that public office is a sacred trust, not an avenue for personal gain.
convicted a man for sponsoring terrorism that has killed and maimed Nigerians, while our own authorities looked away.
“This is not only an indict- ment of Simon Ekpa but also of a Nigerian state that continues to play politics with terrorism, corruption, and insecurity.
“We have seen this pattern before. The UK tried and sentenced James Ibori, a former Nigerian governor, for corrup- tion — even as the EFCC and Nigerian courts prevaricated and allowed him to escape justice at home.
“Now, Finland has done what Nigeria failed to do with Ekpa: hold him accountable for his role in the violence that has devastated communities in the South-east.”
Nwanguma, however, regret- ted that those who orchestrated violence locally — whether in the guise of “unknown gunmen,” political thugs, or militias — were hardly ever investigated, let alone prosecuted.
He lamented that ordinary citizens, journalists, and peaceful protesters, rather than actual criminals, bore the brunt of police and military crackdowns in Nigeria.
Nwanguma said the Nige- rian government could not continue to outsource justice to foreign jurisdictions.
He stated, “It must demonstrate the political will to investigate, prosecute, and punish terrorism and corrup- tion at home — no matter who
“This victory is not a prize to be enjoyed. It is a burden to be carried. It is not an entitlement, but a duty. It is not a call to self-interest, but to selfless service,” he declared. He cautioned that leadership must move beyond the politics of patronage and focus squarely on delivering mea-
is involved. Selective justice and impunity only fuel the cycle of violence and erode public trust in institutions.”
He explained that Ekpa’s conviction should serve both as vindication for his countless victims in the South-east and as a wake-up call to the Nigerian authorities, as justice delayed was not only justice denied, it was justice outsourced.
Meanwhile, NBA faulted the invitation of awardees of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Department of State Services.
According to the body, sending a confidential report in respect of each of the awardees would have been enough instead of the grilling of the nominees.
“It does not require DSS inviting them,” said Osigwe. He added, “Unfortunately, our members went there without informing us.”
NBA Life Bencher and former General Secretary, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, had condemned the clearance of awardees by DSS, stating that it undermines the independence of the legal profession.However, the Supreme Court, in its response, had pointed out that the screening was in line with Paragraph 23 (2) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee Guide- lines, the body conferring the SAN rank on the lawyers.
But NBA said the job of
surable services that tangibly improve the lives of citizens at the grassroots. Ibas recalled that President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on March 18, 2025, in the State, followed an alleged catastrophic break- down of law and order and the collapse of governance at
DSS should not go beyond sending confidential report on a nominee, because most of the information had already been volunteered by the lawyers themselves, including report from judges before whom the lawyers“Courtappeared. records are there, heads of courts also write confidential report,” Osigwe added.
Furthermore, NBA dismissed cries in some quarters over the role played by some new wigs during the conference.
Some lawyers had raised eyebrows over the roles played by former Kogi Senator, Dino Melaye, former aviation minister and former Chairman of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osita Chidoka, and rights activists, Mr. Deji Adeyanju.
Osigwe, who was flanked by NBA General Secretary, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, spokesperson Bridget Edokwe, and other executives, stated that the decision was part of the body’s campaign to ensure an inclusive bar. He insisted NBA will not shy away from allowing young lawyers to speak at its conferences.
Osigwe pointed out that while Melaye spoke from the standpoint of his legislative oversight functions at the National Assembly, Chidoka, as a former minister and head of FRSC, was well qualified to speak at the conference. Reacting to the issue of seniority at the bar, Osigwe
the local level. He hailed the peaceful and successful conduct of the local government elections on August 30, 2025, as a decisive step towards reinstating constitutional order and a testament to the resilience of the people of Rivers State.
said, “I’m not the most senior SAN.”
He stated that wisdom did not lie with age, stressing that people who have anything to offer would always be given the opportunity to do so. He added that young lawyers constituted majority of at- tendees at the conference.
Speaking on the outcome of the recent AGC, Osigwe stated that the conference, among others, observed as follows, “There is a growing divide between the affluent and the underprivileged in Nigerian society.“Many Nigerian laws are outdated and do not reflect contemporary societal realities.
“The poor are often denied legal recourse due to financial constraints and other systemic barriers.
“There is a need for the legal professions to guide society in the direction of legal reform, social justice, and the rule of law.”
Part of the resolutions/ recommendations made at the conference was the call on NBA to lead the charge in modernising the legal system to enhance the delivery of justice and alignment with international best practices.
The body, while charging both the federal government and state governments to ensure implementation of the minimum wage, assured that it would lead by example by ensuring law firms payed their staff above the minimum wage.
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
N
NiGERiaN BaR assOCiaTiON aNNUaL CONFERENCE…
L-R: Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Presidential candidate for
Blasphemy: Police Yet to Arrest Suspected Killers of Woman in Niger
Laleye dipo in minna
The police have said that it is yet to make any arrest in connection with the burning to death of a woman in Kasuwan Garba Market in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State last Saturday for alleged blasphemy.
The police, however, identified the victim simply as Amaye.
The state Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, said in a WhatsApp post that the woman was set ablaze by a mob. He said in the post that:
NHRC Urges FG to Tackle Insecurity in Nigeria
Michael Olugbode in abuja
As the world commemorates the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over the rising cases of enforced disappearances and kidnappings in Nigeria, describing them as a grave assault on human dignity.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, expressed this concern yesterday in a statement to commemorate the day. He noted that the alarming trend has left countless families in anguish and uncertainty,
with victims’ loved ones facing psychological trauma and prolonged distress.
He emphasised that the incessant wave of insecurity ranging from insurgency, banditry, herder-farmer clashes, separatist violence, and worsening poverty continues to fuel cases of missing persons across the country.
According to the NHRC boss, enforced disappearances, particularly in the context of security operations, remain a serious concern, stressing that such violations not only undermine human rights but also erode public trust in the state’s ability to protect its citizens.
American Varsity Matriculates over 300 Students
daji sani in yola
The American University of Nigeria (AUN) has matriculated over 300 new students into the institution.
The ceremony, which marked the beginning of the 2025 academic year, was attended by esteemed faculties, proud parents, and the new students.
In his address, the President of AUN, Dewayne Frazier, emphasized the importance of education in today’s rapidly changing world.
He highlighted the need for critical thinking, creativity, and empathy in tackling pressing issues facing society.
Frazier also stressed the value of community service, urging the students to engage with their communities, understand their needs, and contribute positively.
The president shared a personal anecdote about discovering new foods, including Jollof Spaghetti, and expressed his love for Suya, a popular Nigerian dish.
“On August 30, 2025, at about 2p.m., report received indicated that one Amaye, a female of Kasuwan-Garba, Mariga LGA made some comments against the Islamic prophet.
“Unfortunately, it led to a mob attack and she was set ablaze before the reinforcement of the security teams.”
He continued that: “The Police Command
condemned any act of jungle justice,” urging members of the public to remain calm as efforts are being made to ensure that arrests are effected.
The PPRO said investigation into the incident has commenced and those found culpable would be prosecuted, adding however that normalcy had been restored in the area.
Christian Youths Demand Security Architecture Review in Troubled Regions
Onuminya innocent
Christian youths from Benue, Southern Bauchi, Southern Kaduna, and Plateau States have issued a clarion call for an immediate review of the security architecture in their communities.
This demand comes after many years of
relentless attacks, killings, and displacement of people from their ancestral lands.
At a press briefing, the spokesman of the Christian youths, Mr. Jethro Doyum Moor, lamented the devastating impact of the security challenges on their communities.
According to him, “We
have lost countless lives, and many of our people have been displaced from their ancestral lands. The time has come for us to demand a change in the security architecture to prevent further attacks.”
The Christian youths rejected the narrative that the attacks are simply farmers-herders clashes or land disputes. Instead, they insisted that what is happening is deliberate ethnic cleansing.
“We demand that the government acknowledges the true nature of these attacks to find lasting solutions,” Moor emphasised.
Kano Police Apprehend 107 Criminals in One Month
ahmad sorondinki in Kano
The Operation Kukan Kura of the Kano State Police Command has apprehended 107 suspects who engaged in various crimes ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, human trafficking, theft, and thuggery across the state in
less than one month.
This was disclosed by the state Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Bakori, at a press conference yesterday on the Command’s operational success harping on improved strategies in the state.
Among those arrested included eight armed
robbery suspects, eight suspected kidnappers, three human trafficking suspects, 14 suspected drug dealers, two suspected motor vehicle thieves, six motorcycle thieves, five suspected thieves, and 61 suspected thugs (Yan-Daba).
The CP disclosed some of the items recovered during the operation to include one AK-47 rifle, two fabricated guns, 11 live ammunition, seven motor vehicles, eight motorcycles, seven cows, 102 cutlasses, 74 knives, 111 parcels, 458 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.
Dangote Cement Extends Scholarship Scheme to Kogi Communities
Dangote Cement Plc has expanded its scholarship programme to cover some communities within the Oworo District of Kogi State.
Speaking at the scholarship award ceremony in Obajana yesterday, the Plant Director, Azad Nawabuddin, explained that although the Oworo communities
do not fall directly within the company’s catchment areas, Dangote Cement had chosen to extend its generosity by including all 51 communities in the district as beneficiaries of the scheme
The plant director noted that Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, already operates
a Scholarship Scheme for its host communities in line with provisions of the Community Development Agreement (CDA).
He added that, beyond the scholarship programme, the company is also providing five boreholes to five different Oworo communities, which further demonstrates its commitment to improving the welfare of the Oworo people.
He assured the communities that the com-pany remained committed to sustaining its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme across the Oworo District.
NBTS President Admonishes Political Leaders to Imbibe Fear of God
Kemi
Political office holders in the country have been enjoined to always remember God and be fair in their dealings with people they are elected to serve.
The President, The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS), Ogbomoso, Rev. (Prof.) S. Ola Ayankeye, gave the admonition yesterday while addressing journalists on the preparation for the 2025
Ministers’ Conference of the NBTS.
Ayankeye, who was reacting to university professors’ demand for an upward review of their salaries to N2.5 million per month, said political leaders who often
increased their own pay regularly owe Nigerians to embrace selflessness and love for one another, stating that they must discharge their responsibilities with the fear of God and make service to humanity their watchword.
Olaitan in Ibadan
2026 Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya; Governor of Engu State, Peter Mbah, and Alternate Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the NBA, Nosa Francis Edo-Osagie, during the annual general conference of the NBA in Enugu… recently
AfDB An D A D e SI n A , T H e Op TI m IST - I n-C HI ef and fecundity of Adesina’s legacy, it may be necessary to remind the reader of just a few highlights. These include the High 5 Agenda, the ten-year mission statement that he announced on his first day in office as the AfDB President: Light Up and Power Africa. Feed Africa. Integrate Africa. Industrialise Africa. Improve quality of life for the people of Africa. Adesina’s distinction lies in his single-minded devotion to this framework. The granular details are evident in the testimonies in this two-part collection, with emphasis on the Technologies for African Technological Transformation (TAAT), New Deal on Energy for Africa, the Desert to Power Initiative, Mission 300 by 2030, the $10 billion Crisis Response Facility for the COVID crisis, Africa 50, the expansion of AfDB’s shareholder base, the Africa Investment Forum (AIF), the African Digital Financial Inclusion Facility (ADFI), the AfDB’s Climate Action Window, the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB), and Affirmative Finance for Women in Africa (AFAWA). Under the leadership of PRST, or Triple A, as Dr. Adesina is also known by his team, the AfDB recorded the largest capital increase in its 61-year history, attracted global capital to Africa on an unprecedented scale, rechanneled IMF Special Drawing Rights, with the institution earning recognition in 2021 as the Best Multilateral Financial Institution in the World. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina now steps down as AfDB President leaving behind a strong impression as a people-oriented leader, known for his common touch and empathy among AfDB staff. He has been recognized for his visionary and transformational leadership, and his service to Africa and humanity by institutions in Africa and beyond. He has been honoured with about 17 honorary doctoral awards by universities all over the world in addition to Distinguished Alumnus Awards from the universities he attended and where in every instance, he was known for his
outstanding academic performance. He is also a winner of several global awards including the YAMA prize (2007), the World Food Prize - the “Nobel for Agriculture” (2017), the Sunhak Peace Prize (2019), the Emeka Anyaoku Lifetime Achievement Award (2019), African of the Year (2019), Forbes Africa Person of the Year (2019), Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership (2024, and the highest national honours of ten African countries. Not many before him has been so honoured, so widely, in appreciation of visionary leadership. These publications are at once a celebration and an iconisation of a leadership example, the best parting gifts that can be prepared for the subject. The Ooni of Ife calls Adesina an “Omoluabi”: among the Yoruba of South West Nigeria, Adesina’s ancestral background, to be called an “Omoluabi” is the highest form of compliment and recognition. In translation into English, the closest equivalent would be for a man to be described as “a true gentleman”
and indeed many contributors here do not hesitate to praise Dr. Adesina, for his value-driven style of leadership. There were goodwill messages - first the presentation of a magazine publica- tion titled Pride of Africa in honour of Dr. Akinwumi, unveiled by Ambassador Saul Frazer, MD/CEO of Global Properties and Ms. Maimuna Jallow, MD/CEO, African Agenda Network. Not surprisingly, Nigeria was well represented at the occasion, and a number of the dignitaries spoke glowingly about Dr. Adesina - Dr. Bright Okogu, former Director of Budget of Nigeria, former Executive Director at the AfDB, now Chief of Staff to the Director General of the WTO – Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Deputy Governor of Ogun, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who was there with his wife. Other notable Nigerians in attendance included the Minister of State
Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Mr. Idris Mukhtar, and Chairman, Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike. Everyone spoke with pride about the honoree. There was also a Coffee Table Book, written by over 300 members of staff, titled “Making A Difference” unveiled by Mr. Solomon Mugera, AfDB Director of Communication and External Relations. The colourful, richly illustrated book tells the story of the Bank from 1964 – 2025, Adesina’s the High 5s, Transformational Projects and Cross-Cutting Development issues. The rest of the night was devoted to Staff Awards ceremonies and Testimonies and a Staff Party, with “dance, dance, dance” that stretched far into the night.
On Sunday morning, my wife and I headed straight to the airport to get back to Lagos early only to be told by the people at the Air Cote D’Ivoire counter that the flight to Lagos had been cancelled! We spent hours at the airport with no luck. It was the second time I would be stranded in Abidjan. The first time was in 1998, travelling from an African Leadership Forum Programme in Botswana, through Oliver Tambo Airport, Johannesburg on Air Afrique, with a scheduled stop-over in Abidjan. Just as was the case at the time, we ended up waiting in Abidjan till the following day. We were so upset we simply went to bed. African and West African leaders continue to talk about integration and economic growth, but it is easier to travel to Europe than within Africa itself. Our borders remain “closed”. The people relate with each other with suspicion. As Dr. Adesina takes the curtain call, he leaves behind a challenge: Africa remains an unfinished business, there is still so much ahead about agricultural transformation, governance, debt management, public-private sector co-operation, climate action, integration, security and infrastructure. It is now up to his successors at the AfDB to ensure that his legacy is sustained on a “bigger, better, and bolder” scale.
In Delta, Stakeholders Dialogue, Demand Strict Implementation of PIA
Want oil coys compelled to obey laws, implement agreements with communities
Incisive dialogue has continued among stakeholders to strike and maintain a healthy balance in the relationship between oil bearing communities and major oil companies so as to engender a violence-free and peaceful operational environment for oil and gas
exploitation in the Niger Delta. There was near consensus at the Multi-Stakeholder State-Level Dialogue organised by a civil society group, Search for Common Ground (SFCG), held in Udu, Udu Local Government Area, an important oil producing part of Delta State, over the weekend, about the need for
better implementation of the laws and regulations in the country’s oil and gas industry.
The dialogue was supported by the European Union (EU), with the collaboration of other organisations, including Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND).
The participants were united about the seeming failure of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to live up to the expectation of addressing the abnormalities and injustice in the oil sector. They, thus, demanded a review of the Act to eliminate grey areas in the law, which currently left the oil host communities at the
CSOs Call for Devolution of Policing in Nigeria
Linus Aleke in Abuja
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) operating under the banner of the Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) in collaboration with the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) and ActionAid Nigeria, yesterday called for the decentralisation of the policing system and the devolution of policing powers in TheNigeria.CSOs stressed that the
country is long overdue for state police, recalling that at independence, Nigeria did not have a unitary policing system.Speaking at a media engagement workshop on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in Abuja on Monday, the Chair of the National Steering Committee of the PAVE Network – PCVEKIRH, Jaye Gaskia, accused the military of transforming the nation’s police into a centralised system.
He emphasised that prior to this, all regions had their own police units, and the provinces also maintained independent forces.
Stating that internal security is fundamentally about the community, Gaskia noted that policing is most effective when it is Hecommunity-based. stressed that wherever policing has been successful globally, it has been decentralised and devolved.
According to him: “The origin of policing itself is
rooted in communities. What we call the police today evolved from night watchmen in the UK. The first policing units were community night watchmen.
“Therefore, in a country as large and diverse as Nigeria with its vast ethnic diversity and large population — we are tempting fate by insisting on a centrally controlled system. The belief that we can police this nation from one central location is precisely why we continue to get it wrong.
mercy of the oil multi-national companies.
The Udu dialogue on critical aspects in the implementation of the extant laws, particularly the PIA, engaged many oil host communities, traditional and community leaders, Civil Society Organisations (NGOs), Delta State Government, the state legislature, local government councils, as well as relevant federal government regulatory and security agencies.
The theme of the two-day event was, “Strengthening Accountability between Communities and Oil Companies.” The stakeholders also examined what had constituted the accountability lapses in the implementation of PIA and other agreements between the oil companies and the oil-bearing communities.
Participants said there was an urgent need for oil companies and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to be more
transparent and accountable in the computation and release of statistical figures, to enable the communities know precisely how the three per cent accruing to them in the annual budget was being arrived at by the Host Community Development Trusts under the PIA. At the moment, calculations of the respective accruals were shrouded in mystery, as the oil bearing communities were merely told that a certain amount was allocated to them as their share in the budget with the establishment of Host Community Development Trusts.
Following several hours of deliberation on modalities towards addressing the identified lapses in accountability between the oil companies and communities, the stakeholders agreed to liaise with the communities and other relevant stakeholders with a view to communicating their viewpoints and positions to the National Assembly.
Adesina
Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Oliseh: Sack NFF Leadership if Eagles Fail to Qualify for World Cup
Says: If Nigeria does not qualify for the next World Cup, and the people running football in Nigeria are still in their positions, then we don’t even deserve to qualify for the next one (in 2030)
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Former Captain of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh, has insisted that the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will have no business staying a day longer should the Super Eagles fail to qualify back-to-back FIFA World Cups.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are fourth in standing in the run up to the 2026 World Cup to be hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico. South Africa lead the Group C log on 13 points with Rwanda and Benin Republic on eight points each with Nigeria on seven points. Lesotho are on six points with Zimbabwe propping up the table on four points.Oliseh who is a FIFA Technical Study Group member told BrilaFM radioyesterday that for Nigeria to miss two World Cup in a row would amount to a huge setback for the country’s football.
“If Nigeria does not qualify for the next World Cup, and the people running football in Nigeria are still in their positions, then we don’t even deserve to qualify for the next one,” began Oliseh in the chat with the Sports Radio.
He insisted that there is no where in the world that the leadership of a football federa- tion will miss two World Cup
and they still stay in the saddle. “If, as an administration, you fail to qualify for two consecu- tive World Cups—which are worth hundreds of millions of (dollars) to a country’s football industry—there is nowhere in the world where such leadership would remain in place.”
In his opinion, such missed opportunity for Nigeria’s national team to join the rest of the world in the four yearly mundial, damages the country’s football progress.
In Oliseh’s words: “Every four years that you don’t qualify for the World Cup, your football
goes back eight years. That is how it works.”
Oliseh was on duty in Qatar 2022 and was in pains missing his country’s team in action. It will even be worse with Africa having nine slots without Nigeria.
The former Juventus and
Favour Ofili Finally Confirms Switch to Turkey
I’m also starting a new chapter representing Turkey
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Embattled former Nigerian sprinter, Favour Ofili, has con- firmed that she has formally switched nationality to Turkey.
Ofili who was conspicuously missing from Team Nigeria’s list of 15 athletes for the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo, Japan later this month, announced on her X handle on social media last night that she has started new life in Turkey.
“As some of you have heard, I’m also starting a new chapter representing Turkey,” began Ofili on her @FavOfili handle.
She insisted that she was proud to have represented Nigeria for many years in a highly successful way. “Having won SIX gold medals, TWO silvers and TWO bronze medals in championship meets and a 200m finalist while experiencing the biggest disappointment from AFN and the NOC towards me.”
Ofili insisted that she made the decision to quit Nigeria after the negligence of omitting her name from the 100m event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She was also denied the opportunity to race at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games where she and nine other Nigerian athletes were stopped from competing due to the negligence
of the AFN.
“Negligence towards me in Olympic (Tokyo/Paris). I have made this decision...while that means sitting out this year’s World Championship in Tokyo, this change comes from the heart, not from any financial motives. I ‘m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey.
Ogunmodede, Anas Arrive Abuja for NPFL Awards
Remo Stars Coach, Daniel Ogunmodede arrived the Blue Springs Hotel, venue of the 2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Awards which holds today, Tuesday, September 2. Ahead of the awards which will officially crown Nasarawa United forward, Yusuf Anas as the highest goal scorer of the concluded 2024/25 season, the organisers have perfected plans for the ceremony.
NPFL Chairman, Otunba
Gbenga Elegbeleye, explained that the awards was concep- tualised to reward exceptional performances and promote excellence.
“We are working to expand award categories to capture other positions including the best supporting fan clubs”, Elegbeleye stated.
“We also have plans to make the award more elaborate by way of adding entertainment value to the event beyond
presentation of rewards”, he added.
Anas topped the scorers chart with 17 goals for Nasarawa United while Ogunmodede led Remo Stars to their first ever NPFL title.
The award comes with a monetary reward of N2m each and some former league stars and leading football administra- tors are expected at the event which is scheduled to start at 10am.
Borussia Dortmund star insisted further that the country’s football cannot be driving in the op- posite direction and expect to reap“Yougains.cannot keep driving the same way towards Badagry and expect to find yourself in Sokoto. It can’t happen. You are going in the opposite direction,” he emphasised.
He however said that it was not over yet for the Super Eagles to still qualify for the 2026 World Cup. South Africa risks losing three points deduction by FIFA for fielding an ineligible player (Teboho Mokoena) against
Lesotho. If that happens, Bafana Bafana will be reduced to 10 points before this September’s two“Althoughqualifiers. I still believe we can qualify, failing to do so will kill our football. Something drastic must be done,” stressed the former Super Eagles Captain. Super Eagles missed the last World Cup in Qatar after failing to beat Ghana in the final game of the qualifying series in Abuja. Failure by Super Eagles to win their first two games under Finidi George watch led to the exit of the ex international from the job.
Victor Boniface Secures Werder Bremen Loan
Victor Boniface has moved on a season-long loan to Werder Bremen from fellow German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
He has completed his medical and Bremen will cover part of his salary.
He recently saw a transfer to
AC Milan fall through following concerns over his right knee that had endured two ACL injuries. At Leverkusen, ‘Boni’ had become the third-choice striker and so the need to move to guarantee more game time. He has now joined fellow Super Eagles star Felix Agu.
Tolu Arokodare in £24m Switch to Wolves
Wolves have completed the £24million signing of Nigeria and Genk striker, Tolu Arokodare.
The 6ft 6in Super Eagles forward has signed a four-year deal at Molineux.
Wolves are currently bottom of the Premier League having lost their opening three games.
Arokodare, who scored 21 goals in the Belgian Pro
League to win the Golden Boot last season, will offer support in attack for Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The Norway forward was a target for Newcastle, but Wolves rejected bids of £50million and £55million for him last week.
Arokodare, 24, scored 41 goals in 113 appearances for Genk after joining from
Samuel Chukwueze Joins Iwobi, Bassey at Fulham
Samuel Chukwueze has completed a loan deal to join Fulham for season long with the option to buy permanently.
He joins Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey at the English Premier League club from AC Milan in the Italian Serie A.
Cyriel Dessers Moves to Panathinaikos
Nigerian international, Cyriel Dessers has also joined Greek side, Panathinaikos in a permanent three-year deal from Scottish
side Glasgow Rangers. His future has been topic for discussions despite his improved form from the tale of last season.
William Troost-Ekong (right) was amongst early Eagles in camp on Monday
Favour Ofili has confirmed her switch to Turkey
TUESDAY WITH REUBEN ABATI
AfDB And Adesina, The Optimist-in-Chief
On Sunday, August 31, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (2011 – 2015), completed his maximum ten-year tenure (five years each per election) as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the premier development finance bank in Africa which effectively began operations in 1964, and more robustly on July 1, 1966, to promote integration, unity, growth and development, individually and collectively, in its member countries. The bank has a total of 81 members – 54 African independent countries as regional members, and 27 non- regional, non-African countries. Nigeria is the largest shareholder of the bank, with 9% of the entire shareholding.
When Dr. Adesina was elected as the 8th President of the Bank on May 18, 2015, and he assumed office in September 2015, he was the first Nigerian to be so elected in the history of the institution. Before him, there was Mamoun Beheiry (1967 -1970) from Sudan, Abdelwahab Labidi (1970-1976) from Tunisia, Kwame Donkor Fordwor (1976 -1979) from Ghana; Goodall Gondwe (acting President, 1979-1980) from Malawi; Willa D. Mung’Omba (1980-1985) from Zambia; Babacar Ndiaye (1985-1995) from Senegal, Omar Kabbaj (1995-2005) from Morocco; and Donald Kaberuka (2005-2015) from Rwanda. Adesina’s emergence as President of the AfDB in 2015 was a historic moment for Nigeria, and a defining moment for Adesina himself, personally and professionally. He was re-elected for a second 5-year term in office on August 27, 2020, with 100% of the votes cast, yet another remarkable achievement. He has now been succeeded, effective yesterday, September 1, 2025, by Dr. Sidi Ould Tah from Mauritania who was elected on May 29, 2025. As part of the send-forth activities to mark his retirement, the Staff Council of the African Development Bank Group organized a farewell party for Dr. Adesina this past weekend in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire. On Saturday, August 30, there was a grand event at the Sofitel Hotel Ivoire attended by quite an impressive crowd. On Sunday, August 31, there was a Dinner by Friends of Dr. Adesina at the Ivoire Trade Centre,
Cocody, Abidjan to celebrate what was titled “A Decade of Excellence.”
I was invited to both events by the AfDB Group and Professor Oyebanji OyelaranOyeyinka, Senior Special Adviser to the President of the AfDB Group and editor of a festschrift in two volumes, to honour, celebrate and memorialise Dr. Adesina’s personality, persona, vision, creativity, mission and the message embodied by his transformational leadership. My task was to review the two volumes both running into over 670 pages viz: Banji OyelaranOyeyinka (ed). Akinwumi A. Adesina: The Man, Mission and Message: A Festschrift Vol 1. Lagos: Kachifo Ltd., 2025, xxx + 372 pp and Vol 2: Akinwumi A. Adesina: The Mandate: A Festschrift, 2025, xxviii +297 pp. Both volumes offer invaluable insights into the AfDB operations, challenges and achievements, as well as sustainable possibilities under Dr. Adesina’s watch and after. Saturday night was basically a night of tributes. The programme was introduced by Dr. Victor Oladokun, Senior Advisor to the AfDB President on Communication and Stakeholder Engagement and Ms. Marie Angele Toure, Managing Director, Media Advice Training who both served as comperes. The first tribute by way of welcome remarks came from Mr. Foster Ofosu, Chairperson of the Staff Council
of the African Development Bank. After him, Ms. Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, Senior Vice President spoke at length on the subject: “A Journey of Leadership - Accomplishments and Contributions of Dr. President Akinwumi A. Adesina.” The editor subsequently provided “a short insight into the purpose and scope of the book and personal reflection on curating and contributing to the volume.” This was followed by short readings from three chapters from the two volumes by Dr. Oyebode Oyetunde, AfDB Executive Director representing Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe, and Mr. Charles Boamah, former Senior Vice-President of the AFDB. It was now my turn to review the books. I had prepared not a review, but a review essay of about 3,544 words, an extensive blend of my own reflections and an interrogation of the texts, too long to be reproduced here. In both volumes, we find tributes, recollections and reports by those who know Dr. Adesina closely, those who worked with him, those who served with him, those who worked under him – friends, associates, and colleagues over a period stretching as far as four decades back into the past. In one of the several forewords and congratulatory notes, President Olusegun Obasanjo says “Dr. Adesina’s tenure has been nothing short of extra-ordinary - a testament to visionary leadership, unwavering commitment, and the pursuit of excellence in service to Africa” (Vol 1, p. ix). This assessment echoes throughout the two volumes of tributes. Adesina’s story is the story of how a man can make a difference and transform a continent. He is an African “Optimistin-chief”, a pan-Africanist, who sees opportunities where others see challenges and difficulties, a diligent, hardworking leader who believes that Africa can and must lead its own development agenda with originality, faith, and authenticity. Where others saw doubts, Adesina saw opportunities for action, and renewal.
Part II of Volume 1 is devoted to “The Message of Akinwumi A. Adesina”. This is basically a collection of speeches and lectures which he delivered at various occasions, starting with his inaugural speech as AfDB President, and others that
followed on the key themes of his Presidency namely “Africa’s economic potential, Agricultural Transformation, Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Climate Change and Green Growth, Private Sector-led Growth, Youth Empowerment and Innovation, Debt Sustainability and Financial Reform” (Vol 1, p. 68). Reading Dr. Adesina in his own words strikes a deeper chord about his unrelenting optimism about Africa, and his belief that Africa is the last frontier which only needs to unlock its possibilities for growth and integration.
The second festschrift, Volume 2 that is, focuses on The Mandate, the style and mode of execution of the Message articulated in Volume 1. In this collection of tributes, we are introduced in practical terms to how Dr. Adesina “walked the talk” with members of his implementation team - this being an account written by senior members of the AfDB Executive: Directors, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Directors-General, Governors, and former Governors. He is their team lead, the visionary who sets the standards, the task master who does not rely on excuses, but results, the perfectionist who motivates his team to think outside the box. Volume II presents Dr. Adesina to us in action. There is a general consensus running through this volume that Dr. Adesina is an extraordinary, transformational leader, a mentor, who likes to think big. The continental flavour of the accounts indicates the scope of AfDB’s work, covering the entire African continent from North to South, East to West, a truly African institution, a diverse blend of multiple personalities, disciplines, languages and expertise working to achieve a purpose which is: a new African narrative through a relentless pursuit of excellence. We find in these pages such expressions as “The Adesina Doctrine”, “The Disaster Triangle” - of extreme rural poverty, youth unemployment, and environmental degradation” (Vol. II, p.11) and the need to disrupt the cycle, or what Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade describes as Adesina’s “The Baobab Approach” (p. 12).
While a programmatic summary of this would do no justice to the depth, width
Continued on page 54
Adesina
Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, during an audience with Colombia Vice President at the Presidential Villa Abuja ... yesterday
