L-R: Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr. Zaccheus Adedeji; Chief Executive Officer, Global Infrastructure Partners and Senior Managing Director, Blackrock, Mr. Bayo Ogunlesi; President Bola Tinubu; former Managing Director/Chief Executive of UBA, Hakeem Bello-Osagie; and Professor Afolabi Ogunlesi during an audience with President Tinubu at his Lagos residence, yesterday
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday stressed that Nigeria remains ready to partner with credible global investors, particularly Nigerians in the diaspora and “sons of the soil,” as part of efforts to secure energy independence and deliver modern infrastructure to power prosperity across Africa.
The President made this disclosure at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos after separate meetings with two of Nigeria’s foremost global investment figures — Hakeem Belo-Osagie of Metis Capital and Bayo Ogunlesi of Global Infrastructure Partners & BlackRock.
President Tinubu shared information on the engage- ments on his verified X handle, @officialABAT.
“We agreed on the urgency of unlocking large-scale investments in upstream oil & gas
and critical infrastructure to drive Nigeria’s long-term growth,” the President wrote, stressing that such partnerships were essential to transform the nation’s economic trajectory. He noted that his adminis-
tration’s reforms are already reshaping the investment climate.
According to him: “Our administration’s reforms are creating a better enabling environment whilst opening
new frontiers for sustainable financing, global capital, and transformative projects. We are determined to make Nigeria Africa’s premier investment destination”.
The engagements with
Belo-Osagie and Ogunlesi form part of President Tinubu’s ongoing drive to attract investment into Nigeria’s energy and infrastructure sectors, considered critical pillars of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
Kayode Tokede
Unity Bank Plc has made further clarifications regarding the sale of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria’s (AMCON) 34 percent equity stake in the bank, confirming that the shares were acquired by an existing shareholder and not by Providus Bank Limited.
The development was said to signpost stakeholders’ confidence in the future of the merger of Unity Bank with Providus Bank.
The newly enlarged Providus Bank will now boast expansive branch network across Nigeria and stronger capital adequacy ratio.
Nume Ekeghe
President Bola Tinubu is slated to inaugurate the newly renovated National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos which has been renamed the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts tomorrow, October 1, 2025, in a ceremony marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The extensive facelift, executed and financed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bankers’ Committee, represents one of the boldest private-sector-led interven- tions in Nigeria’s cultural infrastructure.
The federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy provided policy oversight and stewardship, ensuring the facil- ity’s rebirth as a national asset and launchpad for the country’s
creative industries.Tinubu, who in July 2024 renamed the edifice the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in honour of the Nobel Laureate, is expected to lead a distinguished gathering of state governors, members of the National Assembly, the diplomatic corps, captains of industry, academics, cultural ambassadors, and youth leaders.
In a joint statement by the CBN, the Bankers’ Committee, and the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy they underscored the theatre’s reopening as both a celebration of Nigeria’s rich cultural legacy and a launchpad for its creative industries.
It stated that the reopening would feature performances by the National Troupe and other leading artists, along
with special remarks from Prof. Wole Soyinka.
CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso will deliver the welcome address, with goodwill messages from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu and the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa. Upgrades to the facility meet the highest global standards for theatre and performance. Key improvements include a completely overhauled HVAC system, enhanced fire safety measures, new electrical, water, and sewage systems, advanced technology,audio-video-lighting world-class stage engineering, 17 new passenger lifts, solar power integration, refurbished interiors and furniture, and the restoration of historic artworks across the façade and interiors.
A statement yesterday, explained that the Chairman of Unity Bank Plc, Hafiz Mohammed Bashir, made the disclosure of the shares sale at a court-ordered shareholders’ meeting held in Abeokuta at the weekend.
The clarification followed media reports suggesting that Providus Bank had purchased the stake in a B6.5 billion transaction involving over four billion Unity Bank shares.
In the statement, Unity Bank confirmed that the transaction, executed on September 25, 2025, on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), shortly after the lifting of the suspension on its shares, involved an existing investor.
“The shares were acquired by an existing shareholder
of the bank, not by Providus Bank Limited, which is currently pursuing a merger with Unity Bank,” the statement read.
At the Court-Ordered Meeting in Abeokuta, Unity Bank shareholders overwhelmingly approved the proposed merger with Providus Bank Limited. Out of 295 shareholders who participated, 293 representing 99.32 percent of the total shareholding valued at N4.4 billion, voted in favour of the mergerUnderresolutions. the terms of the Scheme of Merger, Unity Bank shareholders will be given two options. They may choose to receive a cash consideration of N3.18 per share, or opt for share allotment, where every 17 Unity Bank shares held will be exchanged for 18 ordinary shares
of N0.50 each in Providus Bank Limited, credited as fully paid. Once completed, Unity Bank’s entire share capital will be cancelled, and the bank will be dissolved without winding up. Providus Bank Limited will retain its certificate of incorporation as the surviving and enlarged entity. Unity Bank stressed that the merger marks a significant turning point in Nigeria’s banking landscape. The enlarged institution will combine Unity Bank’s extensive national branch network with Providus Bank’s strengths in innovation, digital banking, and customer-centric services. Together, the banks will be positioned to serve households, small and medium enterprises, corporates, and government institutions more effectively.
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) has inducted 252 new members into the profession, with a strong charge to uphold ethics and integrity in the practice of procurement and supply chain management. Speaking at the 2025 Group ‘B’ Induction
Ceremony held at the Merit Award Auditorium, Abuja, the President of the Institute, Sikiru Balogun, congratulated the inductees for their dedication and commitment that earned them membership. He reminded them that procurement and supply chain management remain critical to Nigeria’s develop-
ment and must be practiced with accountability. Balogun urged the new members to comply strictly with the Institute’s code of ethics as enshrined in its establishment Act No. 2 of 2007, warning that any act of misconduct would attract disciplinary action and possible prosecution by anti-graft agencies.
THE NEW SILK...
L–R: New Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya, SAN; Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; and Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the conferment of Mrs. Badejo-Okusanya as Senior Advocate of Nigeria at the Supreme Court, Abuja, ... yesterday
The federal government yesterday denied releasing the withheld Osun State Local Government financial allocation to chairmen and councillors of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant
General of the Federation (AGF), made the denial at the resumed hearing of the suit challenging the planned release of the LG funds to the APC chairmen and councillors.
The Osun State Government had dragged the CBN and AGF to court challenging the federal government’s action on the grounds that the said
APC chairmen and councillors have been sacked by the Federal High Court in Osogbo, over controversies surrounding their election.
Pending commencement of hearing in the suit, the federal government last month applied for expedited hearing of the suit by a vacation court, due to the limited time for the expiration
of the tenure of the LG officials, who are due to vacate office come October 22.
At the resumed hearing by Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as a vacation judge, before moving their motion challenging the ju- risdiction of the court to continue hearing in the matter, lawyer to the Osun State Government, Mr Musibau Adetunbi (SAN)
Stakeholders at the just concluded 2025 insolvency conference in Nigeria have called for the strengthening of insolvency institutions to assist practitioners in effective performance and attainment of best practices in the adop- tion of appropriate tools for resolving chronic indebtedness and insolvency issues.
The call was made in Lagos during the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN) 2025 conference, organised by
the association recently.
Speaking at the event, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, said the essence of the conference was to invite discussions on strategies for restructuring and insolvency during the period of economic challenges.Represented by Justice Akintayo Aluko, Tsoho told the participants that as profes- sionals, they must shun the practice of using confidential and sensitive information for personal benefit.
He stated, “This will invite discussions and highlights on
the roles of all stakeholders, namely – the judiciary, regula- tory bodies and insolvency practitioners.
“No doubt, stakeholders like the insolvency practi- tioners, regulatory bodies and the judiciary have fun- damental roles to play in the quest for restructuring and insolvency and proceedings relating to same.
“The conference is expected to invite discussions on the fundamental ethical prin- ciples and ethos required of insolvency practitioners as conventional codes and rules of practice for resolving
Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
The European Union (EU), through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has donated N26 million to support children affected by conflict in Plateau State. The intervention, implemented under the African Peace and Stability Architecture Programme, is
to provide food, school supplies, and other essentials for internally displaced children in Mangu, Bokkos, Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Bassa Local Government Areas of the state.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by the Permanent Secretary to the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Dayi Timothy, flagged-off the initiative in Jos, commending
the EU and ECOWAS for their timely support, noting that peace and security remain central to his administration’s development agenda.
He said, “This initiative aligns with our government’s first policy thrust of peace and security. We recognize our partners the Peace Building Agency, civil society, and local authorities for their support.
commercial and financial challenges of businesses. These ethical rules include observing integrity, inde- pendence, impartiality and transparency.”
Tsoho advised practitioners to act in the best interest of beneficiaries and avoid “seeking personal gains from insolvency practitioners’ fiduciary duty of care”.
informed the court that despite the pendency of the suit and the order of the court, the status quo should be maintained.
He said that the defendants have gone ahead to release the allocation to the APC chairmen and councillors through a special account opened for them at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
He however disclosed that the plaintiff in a swift reaction approached a High Court of Oyo State and secured a restraining order stopping the bank from disbursing the said funds. The senior lawyer explained that his client had to get the restraining order from the neighbouring state as the court in Osun State had been on strike.
Adetunbi further told Justice Nwite that the restraining order had been served on the bank and the defendants, adding that he does not have documentary evidence with him at the moment.
Responding, Murtala Abdul-
rasheed and Tajudeen Oladoja, both SANs, who represented the CBN and AGF respectively, denied that their client had effected the release of the money to the APC local government chairmen as alleged by the plaintiffs.
In their separate submissions the two senior lawyers insisted that the information by the plaintiff counsel remains in the realms of rumours in the absence of documentary evidence. They subsequently urged the court to discountenance the claim of the plaintiff and proceed with the business of the day which is the hearing of the motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
They pleaded with the court not to grant the request for adjournment by the plaintiff on the grounds that time is already running out on the APC chairmen and councillors, whose tenure would expire on October 22.
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has called for reforms in the procurement system in the country, especially for agriculture, to ensure inclusion of all major stakeholders and strata.
Speaking at a workshop on “Inclusivity in Agriculture Procurement,” organised by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) on Monday in Abuja, Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, said the workshop came at an important time, when the country’s agricultural sector
was yearning for develop- ment and needed to take its rightful position in the push for economic growth.
The workshop was convened by International Budget Partnership, and Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria, as part of the “Engaging for Systems Change and Transformation” project.
Represented by Head of Research, Training and Strategic Planning Department, BPP, Adesina Mokuolu, Adedokun said, “I extend gratitude for this opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue on advancing inclusivity - an
imperative for our nation’s agricultural and socioeconomic advancement.”
He explained that inclusion, in the context of agriculture procurement, meant opening decision-making, funding, and participation pathways to all stakeholders, especially women, youth, and marginalised groups. Adedokun stated, “It requires deliberate policies and practices that ensure that procurement systems do not exclude smallholders, women entrepreneurs, or rural communities from benefitting directly from government investments in agriculture.”
L-R: Deputy Head of Section IZ14 BKA Berlin, Mr. Florian Bulow; Case Officer, BKA Berlin, Mrs. Nicole Koppe; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.); German Consul General, Mr. Daniel Krull; and BKA Liaison Officer, German Embassy, Mr. Dominik Muller, during the commissioning of the NDLEA dog facility donated by the German Government in Lagos, last Friday
Chinedu Eze
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it would boost revenue by 75 per cent in the next one year, enhance transparent financial transaction and enhance passenger facilita- tion with the introduction of cashless policy, which kicked off yesterday in Lagos at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The agency said that by the end of the first quarter of 2026, all cash points of FAAN and revenue channels will go fully cashless.
Speaking during the unveiling of the policy themed, ‘Opera- tions Go Cashless,’ yesterday, the Managing Director FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, said, “We project a 50 percent increase in revenue collection at this pilot stage, rising to 75 percent as we integrate more points, with the goal of tripling revenue within the first year of full implementation.”
Kuku said these additional funds will be strategically rein- vested into further infrastructural development across the airports
to improve capacity in response to passenger growth and intro- duction of more state-of-the-art facilities.
Kuku, represented by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, explained the agency is not just launching a new pay- ment system; but fundamentally reshaping the experience at the airports and reinforcing commitment to accountability, transparency, and excellence. Kuku said the initiative which is carried out in partnership with Paystack, would birth a comprehensive, cashless and contactless payment solution that will be deployed across all airports under the management of the agency.
She said FAAN would begin the national rollout with its flagship international gateways: the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, adding that effective from yesterday, the collection of physical cash will be phased out gradually at all FAAN revenue points, including the airport access gates, car parks,
and VIP and protocol lounges.
The FAAN boss said that for passengers, the initiative would mean faster, seamless, and more secure transactions and a goodbye to delays and inconveniences associated with cash handling, adding that the move is a direct response to demand modern, efficient, and world-class service.
“By significantly reducing our reliance on physical cash, we are building a system that is inher- ently more transparent. Every transaction will be electronic, traceable, and secure.
“This directly enhances our revenue assurance capabilities, ensuring that every Naira due to the Authority is duly collected and accounted for. This is not
just good for FAAN; it is a testament to our commitment to national development and fiscal these“Furthermore,responsibility.embracing digital trends ensures that our airports remain competitive and aligned with global best practices. We are sending a clear message to the world that Nigeria is open for business,
with infrastructure that meets international standards,” Kuku explained. Kuku also said that trained brand ambassadors have been deployed at access gates and terminal areas and their role is to guide passengers, assist with on-boarding, provide live demonstrations, and answer any questions passengers may have.
Says 50,000 machinery required to turn the tables
The Chief Executive, TracTrac Mechanisation Services Limited, Mr. Godson Ohuruogu, has said the country’s efforts towards agriculture mechanisation de- pended largely on government’s policy direction and the ability of farmers to access tractors at affordable prices when needed. He said understanding the specific types of tractor services required as well as awareness
David
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) on Monday commenced training of 300 selected youth as tractor operators and mechanics from South South, South East, and South West regions to boost mechanized farming in the country.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, speaking during the commencement of the exercise held at the
Agricultural Mechanics and Machinery Operators Training Center (AMMOTRAC) at Ilado-Elemo, in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, said the empowerment through its department of agricultural mechanization is part of the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme to boost food production and security.
Kyari, represented by the South-West Regional Director, FMAFS, Mrs. Temitope Alao said the one-week training
will provide youths in the southern region as well as Kogi and Kwara with practical skills in handling agricultural machinery and will focus on areas like tractor maintenance, diagnostics, and advanced farming techniques to enhance agricultural productivity nationwide.
His words: “To achieve food security for our nation, we must move from subsistence farming to modern, efficient, and competitive agriculture. This transformation is impos- sible without mechanization.
were critical to achieving success.
Ohuruogu spoke at the “The State of Mechanization Ecosys- tem in Nigeria” stakeholder forum which was organized by the firm in Abuja.
TracTrac is a Nigerian company focused on provid- ing mechanisation services to smallholder farmers to improve agricultural productivity and food security in the country and across Africa.
He said to truly transform the mechanisation system in the country, there must be concerted efforts by every stakeholder, though the government is currently leading efforts in
this direction, adding that they must contribute their respective quota toward improving tractor density to a more reasonable level.
According to him, tractor density – the number of me- chanical power from tractors available per hectare – remained quite low.
He said, “Currently, the statistics show that there are about six tractors for every 10,000 hectares of land. What we hope to achieve in the next three to four years is to increase that to about 20 tractors per 10,000 hectares. This will go a long way in improving the
current situation.
“Looking ahead, my estimate is that we need investment sufficient to bring about 50,000 tractors into the ecosystem. Whether that translates to N50 million per tractor or N5 million per tractor—depending on the brand and affordability—the goal is to have up to 50,000 tractors in Nigeria within the next three to five years.” The TracTrac CEO further told THISDAY that key challenges to achieving mechanisation included lack of sufficient information to make informed investment decisions on the part of investors.
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (Rtd.) will on Friday October 3, 2025 present his new book on the Boko Haram insurgency to the public in PresidentAbuja. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Fr. Mat-
thew Hassan Kukah, have been invited to grace the unveiling ceremony of the book titled: “Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum.” According to reviewers the book is “destined to change the Boko Haram narrative.”
The Chairman of the Book Launch Organising Committee, Jonah Ejenavi, in a statement, said the book, which is a compel-
ling revelation of the complex dynamics of Boko Haram terrorist organisation, will be unveiled at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Ejenavi said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been invited to the book presentation as Special Guest of Honour, while former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is chairman of the occasion.
The management and staff of ARISE News Television have announced the tragic death of a news anchor, reporter, and producer, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, who died during an armed robbery at her Katampe residence in Abuja in the early hours of yesterday, September 29, 2025. She was 29.
In an official condolence letter by Hadiza Usman-Ajayi on behalf of ARISE News management, the station described Maduagwu as “a cherished member of the ARISE News family and a vibrant voice that engaged and connected with our viewers.”
ARISE News management stated: “Beyond the airwaves, Sommie was a lawyer, a profes- sional and supportive colleague, and a friend to many. We extend our deepest condolences to Som- mie’s parents, siblings, extended family, friends, and loved ones at this difficult time.
“Sommie’s voice is now silent, but her spirit, passion, and legacy will endure as part of our collective memory. We remain in shock and call for a speedy investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of the culprits.”
The management stressed that her passing was a devastating loss to the entire ARISE News team and expressed confidence that justice would be served.
Meanwhile, Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed deep grief over the death of Maduagwu, describing it as a heavy loss to both her medium and the entire Nigerian media industry.
The governor, who condemned the incident on Monday, condoled with her immediate family, Arise News and the nation’s media industry as a whole, urging security agencies to do everything within their powers to bring the culprits to Accordingbook. to the Enugu State governor: “I received with shock and a deep sense of loss the news of Somtochukwu’s tragic death. This is highly condemnable. It is reprehensible and cowardly. At 29, she had already established herself in the nation’s media space. She was a consummate professional and lit millions of screens with her superb delivery.
“Indeed, a shining light has been extinguished too soon, a budding superstar has been cut down, and I call on the security agencies to do everything within their powers to track down her killers and bring them to book,” he stated.
He condoled with Somtochukwu’s immediate family, the Arise News family, and the Nigerian media industry, and also prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul.
Also, in a letter to the Chairman THISDAY/ARISE Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, the Kaqduna State Governor, wrote: “It is with a heavy heart, profound sorrow, and deep sense of loss that I received the heartbreaking news of the tragic and untimely
Late Somtochukwu
death of Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, fondly called Sommie, a gifted news anchor, lawyer, and rising light of Nigeria’s media landscape.“Sommie’s brutal murder during an armed robbery at her home in Katampe, Abuja, is not only a grievous blow to her family, friends and colleagues at ARISE News and THISDAY Group, but also a national tragedy. A promising life, brimming with purpose, passion, and brilliance, was snatched away in an act of cowardice and unprovoked violence.
“At just 29, Sommie had already distinguished herself as a consummate professional: intelligent, poised, warm, and articulate. Whether reporting the headlines or engaging viewers on critical issues, her presence was
magnetic. She had a rare ability to connect with Nigerians across class, region and creed; a true daughter of the soil whose voice resonated in living rooms, hearts, and minds across the country.
“Sommie was more than a journalist. She was a trained lawyer, a vibrant soul, a sister, a daughter, a friend. Her com- mitment to truth, justice and humanity shone through every story she told, every word she spoke. Her tragic demise leaves a void that words cannot fill.
“To Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of ARISE News and THISDAY Group, and the entire management and staff, I extend my deepest condolences. May you find strength in knowing that Sommie’s legacy of excellence and integrity endures.
“To her grieving parents,
siblings, and loved ones, no parent should bury their child. My thoughts and prayers are with you. May you be comforted by her beautiful memories and the indelible mark she left on all who knew her.
“As a nation, we must rise in one voice to demand justice. Her killers must not escape account- ability. Nigeria cannot continue to bury its best and brightest. Goodnight, dear Sommie. You were light. You were ours. And now, you are forever.”
On his part, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the killing of Maduagwu, as regrettable and a grievous loss not only to her immediate family and the Arise News group, but to the Nigerian media fraternity and indeed the nation.
In a letter of condolence he signed and addressed to the Chairman of the Arise News channel, Chief Nduka Obaigbena, Idris, stated, “I write to convey our deepest condolences to you and the entire ARISE News family on the shocking and untimely death of your esteemed anchor, Ms. Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, who by every account was a vibrant and a dedicated news anchor, consummate lawyer, and a model of professionalism whose work resonated with audiences across Nigeria and beyond.”
Idris, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Rabiu Ibrahim said he was saddened by the “heinous incident that cut down a promising young journalist in her prime,” adding that “Ms Somtochukwu’s tragic death is
a grievous loss not only to the ARISE News family but to the Nigerian media fraternity, and indeed the nation.
“The federal government condemns in the strongest terms the circumstances surrounding her death. We share your demand for justice and assure you that the security agencies are fully abreast of the matter. A thorough and swift investigation is already underway to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for this despicable act.” Idris further extended his heartfelt sympathy to the parents, siblings, colleagues, and all who knew and loved the late news anchor, and prayed that God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss. Nevertheless, the Nigeria Police have reportedly launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
L-R: Chairman, Cavista Holdings, John Niyi Olajide; immediate past President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi; Chairman of O’dua Group, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru; Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal; and Governor of Niger State, Umaru Bago, during Cavista Holdings Gala Dinner, themed “Celebrating Business and Investment in Nigeria,” held alongside the 80th UNGA, New York…recently
President Bola Tinubu’s search for a new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may be near an end following Tinubu’s alleged strong consideration of Kogi State-born Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN.
A highly placed presidency source, last night, confirmed the development when asked if the news doing the rounds about the nomination of a replacement for the outgoing chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, was true.
The source simply replied, “Yes ooo.”
But a close friend of Amupitan had also confirmed the news, and said while he was not sure the nomination had been announced, he could confirm he was being strongly considered.
Replacing Yakubu had
become necessary as his tenure began to wind down. He was appointed in 2015 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari and had almost served out his two terms of 10 years.
THISDAY checks revealed that Yakubu had planned to leave the office in June, but was persuaded by the presidency, while the search for a suitable replacement continued.
During his tenure, Yakubu introduced some innovations to improve the electoral process, although he was also criticised largely for some of the misdeeds of the commission, especially his repeated declaration of inconclusive polls.
Some of the innovations under his leadership included simultaneous accreditations and voting; introduction of Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which replaced the Smart Card reader; INEC
Results Viewing Portal (IRev), which allowed transmission of result from polluting units to INEC server.
With his nomination, Amupitan would be in charge of the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 6, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled to hold on February 21, 2026; Ekiti state governorship election, as well as Osun governorship election holding in 2026; and the 2027 general election.
Amupitan is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), University of Jos. He is a Professor of Law with specialisation and experience in Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law and Privatisation Law.
He was born on April 25, 1967 in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He attended St. Barnabas
Secondary School, Kabba, Kogi State, between 1977 and 1982. Amupitan attended Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin, now Kwara State Poly- technic, between 1982 and 1984, for his Higher School Certificate (HSC).
Between 1984 and 1987, he attended the University of Jos, where he obtained his LL.B. Hons Degree in 1987, emerging as the best graduating student that year and won all the aca- demic awards in the Faculty of Law, including University of Jos Prize for the best Graduating Law Student, 1987.
Amupitan also won the Richard Akinjide’s Prize for the Best Graduating Law Student, 1987, Gally-Brown Peterside Prize for the best Graduating law student, 1987, UNIJOS Chancellor Prize for the best graduating student, 1987.
He attended the Nigerian
SAN in 2014
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, President Bola Tinubu, is said to be strongly considering Prof. Joash Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Kogi state, who has taught in Nigerian universities for several years, as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A professor of law, Amupitan is the current Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Administration, University of Jos and was born in April 1967 in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of the North-central state.
Amupitan if announced, will replace Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the outgoing Chairman of INEC, who has served as Chairman of Nigeria’s electoral commission since November
2015. Yakubu is expected to retire a day after the Anambra governorship election on November 8, after serving his two terms in office.
A top of the class student in his heyday, Amupitan obtained his LL.B. Hons Degree in 1987, emerging as the best graduating student that year and winning all the academic awards in the Faculty of Law.
These included the University of Jos Prize for the best Graduating Law Student, 1987, Richard Akinjide’s Prize for the Best Graduating Law Student, 1987, Gally-Brown Peterside Prize for the best Graduating law student, 1987 as well as the UniJos Chancellor Prize for the best graduating student, 1987.
After his LL.B (Hons) degree, Amupitan attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos, Lagos State for
his Barrister at Law (BL) in 1988 and was called to the Nigeria Bar on November 3, 1988.
He obtained his Masters of Law degree from the University of Jos in 1993 and Ph.D in Law in 2007. He had his compulsory NYSC primary assignment with Bauchi State Printing and Publishing Corporation in 1988. He was also appointed the Legal Adviser to Bauchi State NYSC during his one-year national service. He won the NYSC Director’s Merit award for outstanding performance.
A thoroughbred law professor, Amupitan joined the services of the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer and became a Professor of Law on October 1, 2008. He has taught in the University for decades and has supervised several Ph.D and Masters Students. In June 2014, he
won the Teslim Elias Award for meritorious service, having taught in a Nigerian University for over 25 years at the time.
In June 2006, Professor Amupitan was appointed Head, Department of Public Law, University of Jos; a position he held until May 26, 2008 when he was appointed the Dean Faculty of Law. He was later elected as a substantive Dean of the Faculty of Law in August 2010 and re-elected for another term of two years in August 2012.
Amupitan’s area of spe- cialisation is in Company Law, Corporate Governance Law and the Law of Evidence. He has taught Company Law and Law of Evidence at undergraduate level since 1989 and Law of Corporate Governance to postgraduate students since 2006.
Law School, Lagos, in 1988 and was called to the Nigeria Bar on November 3, 1988. He obtained his Masters of Law degree from the University of Jos in 1993 and PhD in Law in 2007.
Amupitan joined the service of University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer and became a Professor of Law on October 1, 2008.
He has taught in the uni- versity for 51 years and has supervised several Ph.D and Masters students. In June 2014, he won the Teslim Elias Award for a meritorious service – having taught in a Nigerian university for over 25 years.
In June 2006, Amupitan was appointed Head, Department of Public Law, University of Jos, a position he held until May 26, 2008 when he was appointed Dean, Faculty of Law. He was later elected as substantive Dean of Faculty of Law in August 2010 and re-elected for another term of two years in August 2012. He also served as Chairman, Committee of Deans and Directors, University of Jos, between June 2012 and August 2014.
Amupitan’s area of spe- cialisation is in Company Law,
Corporate Governance Law and the Law of Evidence. He has taught Company Law and Law of Evidence at undergraduate level since 1989 and Law of Corporate Governance to postgraduate students since 2006.
He has written six books in the areas of Law of Evidence, Company Law, Corporate Governance Law and Trust Law. His first book was on Documentary Evidence, titled, “Documentary Evidence in Nigeria,” published by Hilltop Publishers, Ibadan, in 2008. In 2013, he published his major work in Evidence, titled, “Evidence Law: Theory and Practise in HeNigeria.” also has a book on Corporate Governance, titled, “Corporate Governance: Models and Principles,” published by Hilltop Publishers, Ibadan, in 2008. This was the first major book on Corporate Governance in InNigeria. 2013, he published his book on Company Law, titled, “Principles of Company Law in Nigeria.” With the enactment of the Companies and Allied Matters Act in 2020, the second edition is underway.
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited (Renaissance), Operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Renaissance, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited and Agip Energy and Natural Resources Joint Venture (Renaissance JV), is implementing the 2025 Regional Enterprise Development Programme, which focuses on youth enterprise development. The Programme aims to inspire, encourage and support young people aged 18-35 with training and financing to start their own businesses.
1. Enable youths to establish businesses by exposing them to business planning and management skills through the ‘Successful Business Owner Course’.
2. Provide business start-up grants for candidates with the best business plans.
3. Enable successful candidates to present their business plans to third parties such as financial institutions and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs).
4. Provide a volunteer mentoring programme for successful candidates.
1. Pre-start up: - Value and Organize Yourself (VOY)
2. Bright Ideas workshop (BI)
3. Become a Successful Business Owner (Business Planning & Management)
4. Value Chain workshop
5. Business Start-up (How to access finance & technology)
6. Post Start-up (Mentoring and Market linkages)
Use the link or scan the QR code below to apply online at: h ps://forms.office.com/r/yyhy1bA6Pe
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted via email or SMS.
Tuesday, 3oth September, 2025 to Monday, 13th October, 2025.
1. Applicants must be indigenes of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, or Edo State and must also reside in one of these states.
2. Must be between 18 to 35.
3. Must possess a university degree or HND in any discipline.
4. Must have completed NYSC if within mandatory bracket.
5. Must not be in paid employment.
6. Must have an innovative business idea.
7. Must desire to own and manage a business.
8. Must not be a business owner for more than three (3) years.
9. Applicants must not have previously benefi ed from any Community Skills & Enterprise Development Social Investment Programme such as LiveWIRE, Renaissance Enterprise Development Programme, Community Skills Training, Agricultural Programme, etc.
10. Relevance of Business Plan to the Renaissance JV specified value chain sectors/areas, which include:
• Agriculture
• Clean Energy Solutions /Oil and Gas
• Social Enterprise
• Manufacturing
• Retail and Wholesale
• ICT and Telecommunications
By Queen Amina Mohammad
Lagos, Nigeria — September 26, 1992. It was on this day, 25 years ago, that Nigeria was shaken by one of the deadliest air disasters in its military history. A C-130H Hercules aircraft, carrying about 158 officers from various arms of the Armed Forces, took off from Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. Within three minutes, the plane crashed into the swamps of Ejigbo, Lagos, ending all lives on board.
For the families left behind, the tragedy was more than a headline. It was a moment when time stood still. One of the families recalls the day vividly:
“When the news broke on the 9 o’clock Network News, our home fell into sudden silence. Those who understood cried out in anguish. The grief was so heavy it spread like fire, leaving us overwhelmed and broken. At first, we were sad because our mother was sad. But soon, we realised why — the last time we saw our father was the last time we would ever see him again.”
In the days that followed, sympathisers poured into homes across Nigeria. Some sat in silence, offering comfort through presence. Others shared words of encouragement. And there were those whose cries were louder than the bereaved themselves. Eventually, burials were held, sympathisers dispersed, and families were left to face the harsh realities of life without their loved ones.
A quarter of a century later, survivors
WreckagefromtheC-130Hplanecrash
and families of the fallen reflect not only on their loss but also on their resilience.
“Grief and sorrow did not win,” one family member says. “We learned to laugh again because we had cried too deeply. We learned to value abundance because we once knew want. We learned to treasure life because we had felt the sting of death.”
The tragedy left scars, but it also forged strength. Many acknowledge that grief has a way of blinding people to the blessings
T H e T HI r D Com I ng o f rASHIDI L AD oj A fought prominently in the Osogbo War (1840), in fact they are credited with having stopped the Fulani Jihad army seeking to dip the Koran in the Atlantic Ocean, thus saving Yorubaland. They were also on duty in the Ibadan-Ijaye War (1862), the Kiriji/Ekitiparapo war (1877- 1893), the Jalumi War (1878). The children of Lagelu, the acclaimed founder of Ibadan, descendants of Oluyole, were also strong military mercenaries who fought on the side of other communities that called on them for help. Ibadan indeed became a major political centre after the fall of the Oyo Empire. But the same Ibadan army would later become oppressive, expansive and territorial under Aare Latoosa and his agents called Ajeles and Baba Kekeres, leading to the 15-year Ekitiparapo revolt, but that is another story about how other Yoruba communities, forming a confederate army, saved themselves from Ibadan tyranny.
The people of Ibadan are still in a celebra- tory mood with the emergence of their 44th traditional ruler. It would be in bad taste to seize the occasion to remind them of the sordid aspects of their past history, as they look to the future, with the emergence of Senator Rashidi Ladoja as their king. He follows in the line of most modern kings that the Ibadans have had in recent times. Indeed, in general, even with a non-hereditary system in place, the preference in Ibadan as is the case elsewhere has been for educated traditional rulers who are prepared for the challenges of a modern dispensation.
The late Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan was a graduate of the Yaba College of Technology. He retired as a Major in the Nigerian Army. He was also a politician - member of the House of Representatives (Ibadan South East) in 1992 and an entrepreneur. Before him, the 42ndOlubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun was a
Ph.D holder, Senator of the Federal Republic (1999 – 2003), a former university teacher, author and educationist. The latest Olubadan is just as distinguished. He has a degree in Engineering. He is a polyglot. He has been in the private sector, politics, entrepreneurship and he has a strong network that will benefit his Ibadan people. He was honoured last week by a broad spectrum of Nigerians, not out of a sense of duty, but in recognition of his personal accomplishments, and in celebration of the junction that he has reached. Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra and Labour Party Presidential candidate, referred to him as “my dear elder brother”. Some people are losing sleep over that. I do not see their point. Obi and Ladoja were Governors about the same
they still possess. Yet, through faith and resilience, families of the fallen officers overcame despair.
The Ejigbo crash remains a national tragedy — not just for the Nigerian Armed Forces but for the nation as a whole. Husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, and friends were lost, leaving behind grieving wives, children, parents, and siblings.
period, they are brothers in that sense. Besides, referring to an 81-year-old as a brother is not a crime, in some other circumstances, this writer would call a 100-year-old man a brother and it would be considered acceptable. Brothers are most worthy persons. It is a term of endearment, respect and honour. The brotherhood of man is about the highest level of engagement.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was at Mapo Hall to honour and celebrate King Ladoja. He was there as a friend, brother and as Nigerian President. Ladoja and Tinubu used to sit in Nigeria’s Senate at the same time. One is President today, the other is now “kinging” to borrow a Nigerian phrase. Beyond the niceties, Tinubu told the Ibadan crowd that “the economy has turned a corner… The economy has returned to a moment of growth and prosperity.” He can say that to the World Bank and the IMF, those hit-men groups, who seem to lap up everything Nigeria’s obedient government says or tells them. The reality is that the growth and prosperity that the President speaks about exists only in the imaginations of Aso Villa and the funny scripts of Nigeria’s economic managers. Nigerians are in pains. They are overburdened. The only people that are enjoying prosperity are the state Governors and the men in power who chase us off the roads with their siren-blaring convoys and their uniformed men who terrorise citizens, shooting and killing at will, while armed robbers, insurgents and terrorists run amok, killing the innocent, abbreviating dreams. Armed robbers just killed an innocent Arise News anchor in Katampe, Abuja. Very sad. PENGASSAN, the Union of Oil and Gas workers, is determined to sabotage the economy. They are shutting down energy supply to every Nigerian simply because they disagree with Dangote Refinery. President Tinubu cannot boast at this time about growth
“In the end, we found victory over grief,” the family reflects. “We lost earthly fathers, but we discovered the presence of a higher Father — ever-sufficient, ever-victorious. RIP Dad, we miss you always.”
As the nation remembers, the story of the Ejigbo crash is not only one of sorrow but also one of resilience, faith, and the power to rise above grief.
•Queen Amina Mohammad lives, and writes from Abuja.
and prosperity. He must stand up and chest out and address the various ills that afflict us. In Ibadan. Oba Ladoja says that he will be the king of everybody be they Muslims or Christians, king of all religions. He does not quite have an option in the matter. The rotational structure of Ibadanland’s monarchy simply means that at one time or the other, a Christian or a Muslim can become the Olubadan. “We are all governing Ibadan”, Ladoja said. “I’m just the co-ordinator. You people are the small Olubadan; I’m the big Olubadan… I’m Olubadan for all.” These are very humble, reassuring words. But the Olubadan should remember the words of his old adversary, President Olusegun Obasanjo who congratulated and advised him to separate tradition and politics. He should heed that advice. The emergence on the throne across the country of an emerging generation of experienced, skillful, well-exposed traditional rulers should return us to the old debate about a role for traditional rulers in Nigeria’s constitutional arrangement. Nigeria’s modern traditional rulers are better educated, influential and experienced. Many of them are very young people who take to the throne because they want to secure fam- ily traditions. They represent a reserve army at the grassroots level that can be deployed more meaningfully. They are a store of valuable grassroots energy. In the First Republic, Nigeria had a House of Chiefs, a non-elective legislative chamber in the regions, analogous to the British House of Lords. The problem is that some of the traditional rulers got too involved in politics with serious, historical consequences - the Olowo of Owo, Olateru-Olagbegi, the Odemo of Isara, Samuel Akinsanya and the Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi. Notwithstanding, it is an idea that can be tried again to connect the local levels with the regions and the centres.
‘Please, when you see these Politicians fighting, even if they are throwing chairs amongst themselves in Parliament, don’t kill yourselves, because they will still close the door and distribute the money of State amongst themselves. In that area, there is no fight. Even armed robbers, have common interest.’ - His Grace, Most Reverend Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese
When Contradictions in Prosecution's Evidence are Incapable of Undermining Prosecution’s Case
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New Legal Year, CJN Warns: “Technology Must Serve Justice, Not Rule It”
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Osinbajo, Babalakin, Rewane to Speak at AELEX 2025 Annual Lecture
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Law Firms Launch Masterclass on ADR and Emotional Intelligence for Young Lawyers
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In September 2025, the Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Mohammed Umar Bago announced a directive requiring clerics and religious Preachers within the State, to submit their sermons to the Government for vetting and approval prior to delivery. According to the press release, the policy is designed to curb incitement and preaching that is “anti-people and anti-Government”, threatening peace and security in the State. Furthermore, the directive requires preachers to obtain licenses before they can lawfully minister in the State, with unlicensed preaching deemed unlawful. The Governor also stated that agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) would be involved in ensuring compliance with this policy.
This directive has generated widespread concern among religious leaders, legal practitioners, and civil society groups. At its core, the policy purports to subject the exercise of religion and expression to prior governmental control. By introducing a licensing regime and mandating the prior approval of sermons, the government effectively asserts the power to determine what can and cannot be preached within Niger State.
The purpose of this opinion paper is to examine whether the Niger State Government possesses the constitutional or legal authority to implement such a directive.
Issues for Determination
The issues that arise for consideration are as follows:
1. Whether the Niger State directive infringes on the constitutional rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
(This goes to the heart of whether requiring Preachers to submit sermons for vetting and obtain licenses amounts to an unlawful restriction of constitutionally guaranteed liberties).
2. Whether the directive can be justified under constitutional limitations. (Relating to public order, public safety, morality, or the rights of others as provided under Section 45 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended)(“the Constitution”). The Government may argue that its directive is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society, in the interest of peace and security. The goal here, is to evaluate whether the restrictions imposed meet the constitutional test of necessity, proportionality, and legality.
C. Applicable Laws
1. The Constitution
The Constitution is the grundnorm of the Nigerian legal system. By virtue of Section 1(1) it is supreme, and its provisions have binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the country. Section 1(3) further provides that if any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution, the Constitution shall prevail and that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. Consequently, any directive, policy, or legislation issued by the Government must derive its legitimacy from constitutional provisions.
In the instant case, several provisions of the Constitution such as Sections 38, 39, 45 and 10, are directly impacted by the Niger State Government’s directive. These provisions collectively provide the constitutional framework, for assessing whether the directive is valid and enforceable. The subsequent analysis in this opinion will therefore examine their import, their interplay, and the implications of their combined interpretation in determining the legality of the Niger State Government’s policy.
2. African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Nigeria has ratified and domesticated the African Charter, which forms part of Nigerian law under Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. The Charter guarantees freedom of conscience and religion under Article 8, and freedom of expression under Article 9, subject only to lawful restrictions necessary for maintaining law and order. These provisions closely mirror Sections 38 and 39 of the Constitution.
The Charter further underscores that restrictions must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate. By reinforcing constitutional protections through binding international standards, it provides an additional legal framework against which State actions, including the Niger State Government’s directive, may be tested.
3. Relevant Judicial Precedents
Judicial precedents serve as an authoritative guide to the interpretation of constitutional provisions and other laws. They provide clarity on the scope and application of fundamental rights, and determine whether measures like licensing preachers and vetting sermons can be reconciled with constitutional guarantees, or whether they amount to unconstitutional intrusions on fundamental freedoms.
D. Analysis of the Directive under the Nigerian Constitutional and Legal Framework The core of this legal opinion rests on a detailed examination of Nigeria's constitutional framework and applicable international human rights instruments.
1. Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion
“…. the Niger State Government’s directive, despite its stated noble intentions, fundamentally misinterprets the balance between State security and individual rights…. This directive is a direct assault on the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and expression… A legal challenge would likely find that the Government’s approach is not "demonstrably justifiable in a democratic society", and that its actions are a dangerous overreach of power….”
Section 38(1) of the Constitution
This provision recognises not only the internal freedom to hold religious beliefs, but also the external freedom to manifest and propagate such belief. The term “manifest” in the provision includes acts of worship, teaching, and observance, all of which are fundamental to the practice of religion. Preaching, teaching, and delivering sermons fall squarely within this protective ambit.
Impact of Sermon Vetting and License Requirement
The Niger State Government’s policy requiring sermons to be submitted for approval before they can be delivered, subverts the heart of democracy as enshrined in the constitutional right to religious freedom. Sermons are an integral part of religious worship and teaching. Prior approval means that the government, not the cleric or congregation, ultimately decides what may or may not be taught in a religious setting. This undermines the right to “manifest and propagate” religion in worship and teaching.
The Supreme Court in Lagos State Govt & Ors v Abdulkareem & Ors (2022) LPELR58517(SC) per Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo
Kekere-Ekun, JSC (Pp 42 - 44 Paras C - C) further emphasised this, where it was held that:
“…The plain or ordinary grammatical meaning of Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, is that every person is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to manifest and spread his religion or belief in the manner in which he worships, teaches, disseminates or observes the rules or customs of his religion. Sub-sections (2) and (3) further affirm the protection of these rights".
Similarly, the directive requiring clerics to obtain licenses before preaching extends the subversion even further, and effectively converts a constitutional right into a State-granted privilege. The natural position of the Constitution is that religious practice is free and open; licensing creates a prerequisite that conditions religious manifestation upon prior State approval. By doing so, the directive interferes with the essence of Section 38 of the Constitution, which guarantees unfettered freedom to worship and teach.
Licensing also introduces a risk of arbitrariness. If licenses can be granted or denied on the basis of criteria set by the State, the government assumes the power to determine who may lawfully preach. This undermines the autonomy of religious communities and contradicts the neutrality mandated by Section 10, which prohibits the government from adopting or aligning with any religion.
The combined effect of licensing preachers and vetting sermons is that, the State subverts to itself the power to control religious life. This constitutes a direct infringement of Section 38, and any attempt to justify such interference must therefore, pass the stringent test under Section 45.
2. Freedom of Expression (Section 39 CFRN 1999)
Section 39(1) states:
“Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.”
Sermons are not only acts of worship, but also a form of communication in which religious leaders impart ideas and information to their congregants. They therefore, fall within the dual protection of freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
Effect of Prior Approval on Expression
The requirement to submit sermons for approval, amounts to a system of prior restraint or censorship. Freedom of expression contemplates that individuals are free to communicate their ideas, subject only to lawful restrictions imposed on public interest. Requiring prior approval reverses this presumption, by prohibiting speech until authorised. Such a regime risks manipulating expression because clerics may even self-censor to avoid conflict with the State, thereby impoverishing public discourse.
Licensing as a Restriction on Expression
Similarly, licensing Preachers restricts expression by granting the State the power to determine who may speak. Expression protected under Section 39 does not depend on the State’s endorsement of the speaker. By licensing Preachers, the directive seeks to filter voices and determine whose message is permissible, thereby narrowing the scope of
constitutionally guaranteed discourse.
In the case of Shaibu & Ors v Utomwen & Ors (2022) LPELR-58237(CA) per Biobele Abraham Georgewill, JCA (Pp 43 - 44 Paras F - E), the court expounded on the essence of Section 39 where it held that: “…The real essence of this right therefore, is to guarantee to each citizen the right within the purview of the law to express himself freely without unjustifiable interference”.
The directive, therefore, infringes not only on religious freedom, but also on freedom of expression. It imposes prior restraint, suppresses diversity of voices, and inadvertently silences legitimate discourse. Unless demonstrably justified under Section 45, the directive is unconstitutional on this basis.
3. Constitutional Limitations in Section 45 Section 45(1) of the Constitution establishes the framework under which rights under Sections 38 and 39 may be restricted. The conditions are:
a) The restriction must be contained in a “law”; b) must pursue one of the listed legitimate aims; c) must be “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society,” which imports the requirement of necessitåy and proportionality. i. Legality Requirement
A crucial preliminary question, is whether the Niger State directive is a “law” within the meaning of Section 45. A directive or policy pronouncement, unless backed by enabling legislation of the State House of Assembly, does not qualify as law. Section 45 does not authorise rights to be curtailed by executive fiat; it requires a law duly enacted through constitutional procedure. If the directive lacks statutory basis, it outrightly fails the requirement of legality. [In fact, it is the law that the directive of a State Governor which is not codified in a statute, amounts to a breach of fundamental human right. See Okafor v Lagos State Govt & Anor (2016) LPELR-41066(CA), per Georgewill, JCA, Pp. 44-50, paras. B-B; and per Ogakwu, JCA, Pp. 18-20, paras. F-G]. ii. Legitimate Aim
The Government has invoked concerns of public order, safety, and prevention of hate speech. These fall within the recognised grounds under Section 45. Thus, the legitimacy of the aim, is not in doubt. The central question, is whether the measures adopted are necessary and proportionate to achieve that aim.
It is firmly believed that considering the body of extant laws as of today, any religious leader that incites the people against the Government can be dealt with under the relevant provisions of criminal law applicable in the State. iii. Necessity and Proportionality
For a restriction to be “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society,” it must be narrowly tailored to address a pressing social need and must impair rights no more than necessary. The measures in question; mandatory sermon vetting and licensing, seem overly broad. They subject all clerics and all sermons to State scrutiny, regardless of whether there is any risk to public order. Less restrictive alternatives exist such as criminal sanctions against actual incitement to violence, civil remedies, and targeted prohibition orders.
A blanket system of prior approval and licensing fails the proportionality test, because it burdens lawful exercise far more than is necessary to address unlawful conduct. Even if the directive were embodied in a statute, it would still fall short of the requirements in Sºection 45, because the measures are disproportionate and unne 0essary, and therefore, not “reaswonably justifiable in a democratic society.”
4. African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Nigeria has ratified and domesticated the African Charter through the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. Article 8 guarantees freedom of conscience, profession and free practice of religion, subject only to law and order. Article 9 protects the right to receive and disseminate information, and express opinions.w
The Charter permits restrictions, only to the extent necessary for maintaining law and order. The requirement of necessity mirrors the proportionality principle, under Section 45. Blanket measures such as prior approval and licensing, are inconsistent with this standard.
The provisions of African Charter form part of Nigerian law, since it is domesticated. Together, the Constitution and the Charter reinforce the conclusion that, the directive is inconsistent with Nigeria’s constitutional and legal framework.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Niger State Government’s directive, despite its stated noble intentions, fundamentally misinterprets the balance between State security and individual rights. It places the State, in the dangerous position of being the arbiter of religious truth and acceptable expression. This directive is a direct assault, on the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and expression. A legal challenge would likely find that the Government’s approach is not "demonstrably justifiable in a democratic society", and that its actions are a dangerous overreach of power, setting a perilous precedent for the erosion of fundamental freedoms in Nigeria.
The Appellant was arraigned before the High Court of Niger State on a one-count charge of armed robbery, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2)(a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act 2010. The case of the Respondent (Prosecution) was that that on 15th January, 2015, the Appellant and two others, while armed with a gun and knife, attacked one Arch. Umar Muhammed Bawa (PW1) and his female friend, and dispossessed him of his Toyota Camry vehicle and other valuables. It was further alleged that the Appellant and his accomplices were apprehended by the Police, while attempting to sell the stolen vehicle. After the conclusion of trial, the Appellant and his accomplices were convicted as charged and sentenced accordingly. Dissatisfied, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal which dismissed the appeal and affirmed his conviction. Consequently, the Appellant appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court adopted the 2nd issue distilled by the Appellant, for the determination of the appeal as follows: Whether from the facts and circumstances of this case, the guilt of the Appellant as affirmed by the Court of Appeal was proved beyond reasonable doubt as required in criminal cases.
Counsel for the Appellant argued that the Court of Appeal was wrong when after agreeing with the Appellant that the trial court erred by holding that the Appellant’s extra judicial statement (“Exhibit C”) was admitted without objection, it still proceeded to hold that the error could not lead to the reversal of the trial court’s judgement. The Appellant’s Counsel contended that the trial court’s statement that Exhibit C was admitted without objection despite the same having been objected to and the trial court taking arguments on the objection, suggested that the trial Judge had already formed an opinion on the culpability of the Appellant before the Appellant could enter his defence. Counsel relied on NYAME v FRN (NO. 1) (2010) 5 NCC 250 to submit that a trial court must refrain from delving into the merits of a case at an interlocutory stage. Counsel maintained that the concurrent findings on Exhibit C were perverse as they were not borne out of the evidence on record, and they occasioned a miscarriage of justice on the Appellant. Counsel argued further that, the prosecution failed to prove the ingredients of armed robbery against the Appellant beyond reasonable doubt. Counsel contended that there were material contradictions in the prosecution’s case, one of which was the testimony of PW1 that it was the Appellant who wielded the gun during the robbery whereas PW2 testified that it was the Appellant’s co-accused - Jemilu Shehu that did. Counsel also contended that there were contradictions in the testimonies of the prosecution’s witnesses, regarding the Police station where the robbery incident was first reported before it was transferred to the State C.I.D., Minna. The Appellant’s Counsel argued that while PW2 testified that the robbery was first reported at Bosso Divisional Police Station, PW3 on the other hand testified that it was referred from GRA Police Station to the State C.I.D., hence, there was the possibility that PW2 and PW3 were testifying about different incidents altogether.
In response, Counsel for the Respondent argued that the burden of proof of the prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt in every criminal trial does not mean proof beyond all doubt, but proof strong enough to leave no reasonable doubt in the mind of a prudent person. Counsel argued that the prosecution proved the essential ingredients of the offence of armed robbery against the Appellant beyond reasonable doubt through eye witness testimony, confessional statement and circumstantial evidence which are the legally recognised methods by which the prosecution can prove its case. The Respondent’s Counsel submitted that the fact of the robbery was established through the testimony of PW2, who recounted how three armed men robbed him and the fact that the robbers were armed was confirmed by
Haruna Simon Tsammani, JSC
In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at abuja On Friday, the 21st day of February, 2025
Before their lordships
Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju emmanuel akomaye agim Haruna Simon Tsammani Obande Festus Ogbuinya Mohammed Baba Idris Justices, Supreme Court SC/CR/408/2020 Between
FIdeLIS uGWu aPPeLLaNT And
THe STaTe ReSPONdeNT (Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Haruna Simon Tsammani, JSC)
PW2’s testimony and further corroborated by the Appellant’s confessional statement (Exhibit C). Counsel contended that the evidence at the trial that the Appellant was apprehended in Kaduna a day after the robbery while attempting to sell the stolen vehicle, established the Appellant’s complicity. On the Appellant’s complaint on the reasoning of the trial court on the admissibility of Exhibit C, Counsel for the Respondent submitted that a voluntary statement to the Police is admissible in evidence. Counsel argued that the objection raised before the trial court was on technical grounds relating to signature placement and not voluntariness; thus, the trial court rightly admitted the statement. Counsel further argued that the trial court’s remark that Exhibit C was admitted without objection was a mere slip which did not affect the voluntariness, admissibility, or probative value of the statement. Relying on OKONJO v ODJE (1985) 10 S.C. 267, Counsel submitted that the Court of Appeal was correct to hold that the error in the statement of the trial court did not occasion any miscarriage of justice on the
“…for a contradiction to affect the evidential value of a case, it must be material and go to the root of the charge against the accused…. such contradiction must touch on an important element or ingredient of the offence charged, thus, contradictions that are peripheral and irrelevant to the proof of the offence charged are not material…..”
trial, Counsel for the Appellant raised an objection to its admissibility, which was duly argued before the trial court admitted it in evidence. The Supreme Court held that the lower court also agreed that Exhibit C was rightly admitted as evidence, and there being no appeal against this finding, the resultant effect is that Exhibit C was properly and rightly admitted in evidence and the parties had no issue with the finding, hence, the decision of the Court of Appeal that Exhibit C was rightly admitted in evidence by the trial court remains binding and conclusive.
On the pronouncement of the trial court that Exhibit C was tendered without objection, the Supreme Court agreed with the finding of the Court of Appeal that the error did not affect the weight of evidence attached to the said exhibit and no miscarriage of justice was occasioned by the error. The Apex Court, relying on SOLOLA & ANOR v STATE (2005) LPELR-3101 (SC), reiterated the settled position of the law that it is not every slip or mistake in a judgement that can lead to the judgement being set aside and a mistake or misstatement that can lead to a reversal of a judgement or decision must be substantial in that it occasioned a miscarriage of justice. The Apex Court held that the trial court’s pronouncement that the Exhibit C was admitted without objection was a misstatement of what transpired when Exhibit C was tendered, which was not substantial enough and did not occasion any miscarriage of justice to warrant the setting aside of the trial court’s judgement. The Apex Court further held that the Appellant who complained against the mistake of the trial court has the onus to demonstrate that the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the trial court’s judgement occasioned a miscarriage of justice on him; however, he failed to discharge the onus. The Supreme Court also held that there was no doubt that the findings of fact made by the Court of Appeal were in accord with the oral and documentary evidence adduced before the trial court, and the Appellant did not appeal against the said findings.
On the allegations of the Appellant that there were contradictions in the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, the Supreme Court held that inasmuch as the law recognises that contradictions in the evidence of a party are usually fatal to the party’s case; for a contradiction to affect the evidential value of a case, it must be material and go to the root of the charge against the accused. The Apex Court held that such contradiction must touch on an important element or ingredient of the offence charged, thus, contradictions that are peripheral and irrelevant to the proof of the offence charged are not material, and where such is shown to exist in the evidence given by the witnesses, it cannot affect the evidential value of the totality of the evidence adduced at the trial.
Appellant.
Counsel for the Respondent also submitted that the Appellant’s possession of the stolen vehicle shortly after the robbery, without any plausible explanation as to how it came into his possession, was strong circumstantial evidence of his involvement in the robbery. Counsel argued that the fact the Appellant was arrested in possession of the stolen car constituted independent and corroborative evidence of his guilt. On the alleged contradictions in the testimony of the prosecution’s witnesses, counsel for the Respondent argued that minor inconsistencies do not diminish the overall weight of credible evidence where the essential elements of the offence have been established as in the case. Counsel submitted that the discrepancies highlighted by the Appellant were immaterial and did not go to the root of the case.
The Supreme Court held that, by virtue of Section 135 of the Evidence Act, 2011, the prosecution bears the burden of proving its case beyond reasonable doubt; however, proof beyond reasonable doubt does not mean proof beyond all shadow of doubt, but only means proof by compelling and conclusive evidence devoid of capricious or whimsical and speculative doubt, or doubts based solely on fanciful reasons or considerations. The Court restated the settled principle that the prosecution may discharge this burden through any or a combination of (i) direct evidence of eyewitnesses, (ii) the positive and unequivocal confessional statement of the accused person; and (iii) circumstantial evidence. On the Appellant’s contention that the lower court erred when it affirmed the judgement of the trial court that Exhibit C was admitted without objection, the Apex Court held that there was no doubt that when Exhibit C was tendered at the
The Supreme Court held that the contradictions complained of about the specific Police station where the case was first reported, is not a requirement for the proof of the essential elements of armed robbery against the Appellant and on the issue of who amongst the Appellant and his accomplices held the gun, it was not in doubt based on the uncontroverted evidence adduced at trial, that the robbers were armed with a gun in the process of the robbery. The Apex Court held further that whether or not the Appellant held the gun or one of his co-accused is a non sequitur to prove the Appellant’s guilt; what is paramount is that the evidence adduced comprehensively linked the Appellant to the robbery committed, and that one of the robbers was armed.
The Supreme Court found that once it is established that the Appellant acted in concert with others in the commission of the offence for which he was charged, the law does not require that the court should look for the person who held the weapon used in the commission of the offence. The Apex Court held that, in other words, the law does not cast a burden on the prosecution to prove which of the accused persons wielded the weapon of robbery; it is enough if the prosecution is able to prove that one of the robbers was armed with an offensive weapon such as in this case, a gun, and that the Appellant was one of the robbers.
Appeal Dismissed.
Representation
Philip. K. Emmanuel with D. M. Ottanwa for the Appellant.
Usman Sanni (on the fiat of the Solicitor General of Niger State) for the Respondent.
Stories by Steve Aya
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, has cautioned that technology must remain a servant of justice and not become its master, warning that breaches of data and misuse of digital court systems pose serious risks to judicial integrity. She gave the charge on Tuesday at the Lagos State 2025/2026 New Legal Year Summit, which focused on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity on justice delivery.
“Technology is no longer an option; it is an imperative. But, breaches of data and misuse of court systems threaten the integrity of justice. Technology must serve justice, not rule it”, Justice Kekere-Ekun declared, urging Judges and Lawyers to uphold fairness and accountability as the courts adapt to digital transformation.
Representing Governor
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the State’s Attorney-General, Lawal Pedro, SAN, echoed the warning, noting that irresponsible use of innovation could undermine trust in the justice system. “If malicious actors infiltrate judicial platforms or tamper with electronic evidence, the sanctity of justice is endangered”, he
said, pledging government investment in infrastructure, training, and digitalisation to prepare Judges and Lawyers for the demands of a techdriven era.
Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, lamented that States are unable to legislate on cybersecurity because it is reserved for
the Federal Government. He described this as a major weakness in protectingxq residents from cybercrime, and called for reforms to empower State legislatures in that area.
Digital Rights Advocate, Olumide Babalola, who delivered the Keynote Address, gave a practical warning, recounting how
fraudsters once hijacked his e-filing credentials to lodge bogus cases in his name. Calling it a “clear and present danger”, he urged Nigerian courts to learn from global examples where AI has been integrated responsibly, including the UK, South Africa, and China.
Earlier, Lagos State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Kazeem
Alogba, acknowledged AI’s inevitability, describing it as “all-pervading globally”. He stressed that while AI could enhance efficiency, it also carried the risk of being weaponised for fraud and manipulation. “We must prepare ourselves to be on guard against its dangers while harnessing its benefits”, Alogba said.
The AELEX Annual Lecture Series is set to hold the 19th Edition of the intellectual forum, scheduled for October 14, 2025, with the theme “Rule of Law and Economic Development: The Nigerian Experience”. The announcement was made last Friday at a press conference in Lagos, where the conveners described the lecture as both “timely and necessary”, given the country’s economic
realities.
Speaking at the briefing, the Managing Partner of AELEX Law Firm, Adedapo Tunde- Olowu, SAN, noted that the rule of law remains central to Nigeria’s quest for sustainable development.
“The rule of law is not just a legal principle; it is the foundation upon which economies are built”, he said. “We want to use this lecture to demonstrate how a predictable and just legal system can drive investment, innovation,
and growth in our country”.
He stressed that the choice of theme reflects increasing recognition of the link between governance, legal frameworks, and economic performance.
“When contracts are enforced, when investors are assured of impartial dispute resolution, and when citizens trust the judicial process, the economy thrives”, another Committee member explained.
Since its inception nearly two decades ago, the Aelex Annual Lecture has served as a forum for rigorous debate on law, governance, and public policy. Past editions have featured eminent leaders of thought and scholars, from across the world including Judge Mervyn King SC, Prof Patrick Lumumba, MrJohn Githongo, Prof Frederic Jenny, and Hon. Dr Kwabena Donkor, with discussions shaping both public discourse and
In a significant move to reshape modern legal practice, a triumvirate of professional services firms on Monday, officially launched a pioneering masterclass designed to equip the next generation of Lawyers with critical skills in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Emotional Intelligence (EI).
The joint initiative, unveiled at a press conference, brings together the expertise of Perchstone & Graey LP, a commercial law firm, Business Law Academy, a legal education provider, and the Fotefa Mediation Academy, a specialist in
negotiation and mediation training. The programme titled "Masterclass in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Emotional Intelligence for Young Lawyers", aims to bridge the gap between theoretical legal knowledge and the nuanced human skills required for success in today's complex dispute resolution landscape.
Speaking at the event, Dr Tolu Aderemi, Senior Partner from Perchstone & Graey LP emphasised the strategic necessity of the programme. "The law is not merely about statutes and litigation; it is increasingly about foresight, negotiation,
and achieving sustainable outcomes for clients", he stated. Further adding that, "This masterclass is our commitment to fostering a more holistic, efficient, and client-centred approach to legal practice from the very start of a Lawyer’s career".
The Masterclass curriculum is reported to be intensely practical, moving beyond traditional lecture formats. It will immerse participants in simulated mediation and negotiation scenarios, leveraging the Fotefa Mediation Academy's proven methodologies. The Emotional Intelligence component is strategically integrated to help young
Lawyers enhance client rapport, manage high-stakes emotions in the boardroom, and improve their own resilience and professional judgement.
Fola Akintunde, a Partner from the Business Law Academy highlighted the evolving demands of the global business environment.
"Clients now seek advisers who are not just legal experts, but also strategic partners who can navigate interpersonal dynamics and engineer win-win solutions", they explained. "Proficiency in ADR and EI is no longer a 'soft skill' - it is a fundamental competency that defines the leading legal
minds of tomorrow".
Also Speaking at the event, Mr Kayode Fabunmi , a Partner at Fotefa Mediation Academy stated the need for the master class as Mediation and ADR is the way, because it leads to quick delivery of justice, and presents a winwin situation to all parties. He also explained that ADR boosts the Lawyers revenue, and not the other way round.
The masterclass is for one year and it's Free, but interested Applicants most apply and state why they love ADR, while members of the Faculty are exact in arbitration, mediation and dispute resolution.
institutional reforms. This year’s lecture will continue in that tradition by spotlighting the role of legal reforms, in unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.
“Our 19th annual lecture will provide practical recommendations, on how strengthening the rule of law can directly improve economic outcomes. He further added: “This year’s Keynote Lecture will be delivered by His Excellency, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, GCON, SAN, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and also feature a panel session to discuss the theme of the lecture, to be led by distinguished discussants which include Dr Chinyere Almona, Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Wale Babalakin, OFR, SAN, Chairman Bi-Courtney Group of Companies, Mr Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Ltd, and Dr Ruben Abati, a distinguished Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst.
One of the greatest challenges the Government has faced in the last two decades, is taking care of the growing population of Internally displaced Persons (IdPs). The circumstances which have necessitated the displacement of persons from across the country are still very much present, and the number persons taking refuge in IdP Camps is increasing astronomically as time passes. Sabastine Anyia, Emmanuel Nnadozie onwubiko and okechukwu Nwanguma, share their views on why the number of IdPs is on the rise; why the problems related thereto appear to be intractable; criminality in IdP Camps and issues of insecurity which resulted in them being constrained to take refuge in these Camps, still occurring there; the deplorable, inhuman conditions IdPs face, ranging from living in makeshift accommodation that is unfit for human habitation; hunger and malnutrition to poor sanitary conditions, to disease and lack of healthcare, sexual exploitation of women and girls coupled with teenage pregnancies, no educational facilities for children and other human rights violations within the Camps, while proffering solutions on how to ameliorate the suffering of the IdPs and treat them with the dignity they deserve, seeing as they enjoy the same fundamental rights as anybody else
Human Rights Violations in IDP Camps: A Call for Immediate Presidential Action
Sabastine Anyia
Rmen:
epresentatives of civil society organisations, humanitarian partners, displaced persons, and all stakeholders present, Ladies and Gentle-
I rise today with a profound sense of urgency and moral duty as the 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Chair -
“The NBA Human Rights Institute….We stand ready to partner fully, in implementing these recommendations…. We will….provide legal assistance for victims, and produce regular reports on camp conditions….We offer to train camp administrators, State officials, and humanitarian actors on international standards of displacement protection, human rights law, and gender-sensitive practices”
man of the Human Rights Institute. This is not just a speech, but a clarion call to conscience. We speak not only for legal principles, nor for policy debates, but for the voiceless, the internally displaced women, children, and men who today languish in camps across our nation, living in conditions that represent flagrant violations of basic human rights.
Setting the Stage: Human Rights, the Rule of Law, and IDPs
Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution affirms the dignity of the human person and guarantees the right to life, personal liberty, and security of the person. Nigeria is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Kampala Convention on Internal Displacement, and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. These instruments impose on the State, a legal and moral obligation to protect displaced persons from
harm, ensure the provision of basic services, and facilitate their safe return or resettlement. Yet, despite these commitments, we stand today in a moment of stark contradiction.
More than 3.6 million Nigerians are internally displaced.
In North-Central and North-West Nigeria alone, over 1.3 million IDPs currently live in camps or camp-like settings, often under dire circumstances.
Recent surveys show alarming indicators: in Yobe State, 92% of IDP households reported “poor or very poor living conditions” in camps. These statistics are not abstract, they reflect ongoing systemic violations of human rights, dignity, and justice. Human Stories: Lives at the Mercy of Neglect
To understand the human rights crisis unfolding in IDP camps, we must look beyond numbers. There are several camps in Borno and Benue State, where I have personally visited
as the Chairman of NBA-HRI where mothers had lost children to preventable illnesses, and youth with wasted years without schooling. Some have shelters that flood with rain, others had births in camp toilets without medical attention.
In Benue State, Amnesty International has documented that over 500,000 displaced people are living in squalid camps or makeshift sites, facing shortages of food, water, shelter, and medical care.
A particular woman in Makurdi IDP camp, after fleeing her village following violent attacks, told investigators: “We lost everything, our homes, our farmland, and now our hope. We don’t sleep at night because of fear. At least, feed us and give us dignity while we wait”.
These testimonies reveal not only displacement, but a prolonged human rights violation of the right to health, the right to shelter, the right to education, and the right to live in dignity.
Identifying the Violations: Where the System Fails
From a human rights lens, the conditions in many IDP camps across Nigeria reflect multiple and overlapping violations:
1. Right to Health and Life: Overcrowded camps, inadequate sanitation, lack of potable water, and limited access to essential medical services have contributed to outbreaks of cholera, malaria, malnutrition, and maternal and neonatal complications. These Reports Reports from Borno, Yobe, and Benue indicate that many IDPs die from preventable illnesses, deaths the Government could and should have prevented.
2. Right to Adequate Housing: Shelter in IDP camps is often temporary, makeshift, and vulnerable. During flood seasons or heavy rains, tents and basic shelters fail, exposing families to the elements, diseases, and further displacement. Many IDP camps themselves, become flood-prone sites.
3. Right to Education: Thousands of children in displacement, have had their education disrupted or ended altogether. Many camps lack functional schools; in places where makeshift schools existed, funding is inconsistent and teachers unpaid. This interruption of education, threatens the future of a generation. Amnesty International noted that camp schools in Makurdi had been closed for over three years, because of lack of funding.
4. Protection from Violence and Exploitation: Women and girls in IDP camps are at heightened risk of sexual and gender-based violence, abuse, exploitation, and early marriage. In many cases, survivors lack access to justice or adequate post-violence support. IDPs have also described ongoing threats from armed groups, who attack camps or nearby host communities. In Benue, gunmen attacks have compounded the vulnerabilities
of displaced populations.
Right to Identity and Civic
Participation: Many displaced persons lose personal documentation, birth certificates, land titles, identity papers, during conflict or displacement. Without such documentation, they are excluded from access to social services, voting rights, financial inclusion, and legal redress. This loss of identity, is both a symbolic and practical violation of citizenship and dignity.
Right to Livelihoods and Food Security: Displacement often severs access to farmland, markets, and income sources. Many IDPs cannot engage in meaningful livelihoods, and rely on sporadic humanitarian aid. Food insecurity is widespread: nutrition surveys show rising rates of malnutrition, especially among children and pregnant women, which is a direct threat to life and human dignity.
These violations are not incidental. They reflect systemic neglect, ineffective camp management, weak infrastructure, and gaps in policy implementation. They signal not only a humanitarian crisis, but a profound breach of State responsibility.
Cost of Inaction: Why Delay is Dangerous
It is important to note that failing to address the plight of IDPs is not only a moral failure, it is a strategic threat to national stability, development, and unity.
Lost Generation: Children who miss years of schooling are less likely to ever return, less likely to find gainful employment, and more likely to become disengaged
“When we say “deplorable conditions”….overcrowded sites with inadequate shelter and insufficient latrines; unsafe water and collapsing waste management systems that make disease inevitable; food assistance falling short of caloric needs; health services absent or overwhelmed; children out of school and exposed to recruitment, abuse or exploitation; and women and girls facing heightened risks of gender-based violence with little or no access to protection, psychosocial care, or legal redress”
citizens. They risk becoming prey to radicalisation, criminal recruitment, or permanent destitution.
Deepening Human Rights Trauma: Prolonged displacement without meaningful intervention compounds trauma. Mental health challenges, social breakdown, and psychosocial distress become entrenched, placing long-term burdens on host communities and healthcare systems.
Social Friction and Conflict: Prolonged camp situations and forced or unmanaged returns can spark frictions between IDPs and host communities over scarce resources, land, water, food, security. Without careful planning, the return of displaced persons can reignite violence, resentment, and communal conflict.
Erosion of Trust in Governance: Citizens who perceive themselves abandoned by the State, lose faith in public institutions. This erosion of trust reduces government legitimacy, weakens civic engagement, and fuels cycles of conflict and displacement.
Economic and Developmental Costs: Displacement disrupts local economies. Agricultural production falls, markets suffer, and recovery becomes more expensive over time. The cost of managing prolonged displacement far exceeds the cost of early, dignified, and rights-based responses.
It's important to note that, inaction is not a neutral position. It is a decision, a decision that sanctions suffering, disrupts lives, and undermines the nation’s future.
The point at which this discussion meets decision, is here and now.
The NBA Human Rights Institute calls upon your leadership to take immediate, decisive, and lasting action to redress the human rights crisis in IDP camps. Specifically, we urge you to:
1. This issue is an emergency, it is eminent to Issue a Presidential Emergency Directive on IDP Human Rights Protection. This directive should activate a cross-Ministry task force empowered to mobilise resources, monitor human rights
standards in camps, and coordinate with State Governments, humanitarian partners, and civil society.
2. Establish a National IDP Rights Protection Fund. This fund, overseen by an independent monitoring committee, would provide emergency funding for shelter, water, sanitation, healthcare, nutrition, education, and camp infrastructure improvements, ensuring that IDPs have access to dignified living conditions.
3. Mandate Regular Human Rights Monitoring and Reporting. Through the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), in collaboration with the NBA-HRI and international partners, there must be scheduled human rights audits of all IDP camps, with transparent reporting and accountability mechanisms for violations.
4. Promote Legal Identity Restoration. Launch a nationwide campaign to provide displaced persons with birth certificates, national identity cards, and other essential documentation. This would restore IDPs’ civic rights, access to services, and ability to participate in elections and economic activities.
5. Guarantee Education in Displacement. Direct the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and State education authorities to deploy mobile schools, support teachers in IDP camps, and provide materials, so that displaced children have continuous access to quality education without interruption.
6. Ensure Access to Adequate Healthcare, Nutrition, and Psychosocial Services. Establish campbased clinics staffed with qualified personnel, maternal and child health services, immunisation campaigns, mental health support, and nutrition screening programmes to address both physical and psychological needs.
7. Strengthen Protection Against Gender-Based Violence. Provide safe spaces for women and girls, legal aid services, and survivor-centred care. Ensure that perpetrators of violence are held accountable, that survivors receive medical and legal support, and that prevention strategies are integrated into camp planning.
8. Design Rights-Based Resettlement and Reintegration Programmes. Any plans to close or relocate camps should involve meaningful consultation with displaced communities, uphold the principle of voluntary return, ensure safe and dignified resettlement, and provide support for livelihoods and property restoration. Forced or unconsulted camp closures, as observed in parts of Borno State, have violated the rights of displaced persons and destabilised communities.
9. Facilitate Economic Livelihoods and Self-Reliance for IDPs. Support IDP households with vocational training, cash assistance, agricultural inputs, and micro-enterprise grants to enable them to rebuild their lives, rather than depend wholly on aid.
6. NBA-HRI’s Role and Offer of Partnership. The NBA Human Rights Institute, does not present this discourse as a distant observer. We stand ready to partner fully, in implementing these recommendations.
Monitoring and Documentation: We will deploy trained human rights monitors to document violations, provide legal assistance for victims, and produce regular reports on camp conditions.
Legal Aid and Advocacy: We will support displaced persons in reclaiming their rights, whether to housing, identity, compensation, or justice, through legal representation, public interest litigation, and strategic advocacy.
Capacity Building: We offer to train camp administrators, State officials, and humanitarian actors on international standards of displacement protection, human rights law, and gender-sensitive practices.
Community Outreach and Education: NBA-HRI will facilitate awareness campaigns on rights, civic participation, peaceful reintegration, and the legal obligations of the State, empowering displaced communities to engage with the process actively and confidently.
Conclusion: A Pivotal Moment for Nigeria’s Humanity and Legacy Nigeria is a nation founded on the promise of dignity, liberty, and the protection of the vulnerable. How we respond to the crisis of displaced citizens is not just a measure of our policy effectiveness, it is a reflection of our national character, our collective values, and our commitment to constitutional and international obligations.
We are at a crossroads. We can allow this crisis to linger, watch displacement become perpetual, and allow generations to grow up without homes, education, or hope. Or we can declare an emergency that is decisive and compassionate, that no Nigerian is expendable. That the suffering of displaced persons is not
a footnote in our national story, but a call to action, to justice, and to restoration. Let this administration be remembered not for the crisis it inherited, but for the humanity it revived, for the displaced mothers who could feed their children, for the young girl who could return to school, for the father who could till his land again in peace, and for the communities that were healed and restored.
History awaits. The time to act is now. Let us press forward, with urgency, with compassion, and with justice, to reclaim the dignity of those whom displacement has forgotten.
Sabastine Anyia, 1st Vice President, Nigerian Bar Association; Chairman, NBA Human Rights Institute
Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
Statistics
statista published a report dated: December 12, 2022, on the complications and difficulties faced by internally displaced persons in Nigeria as follows: Nigeria has the third highest number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa. In 2020, it counted 2.7 million internally displaced people. Overall, Africa has the largest number of IDPs
“International law and regional instruments make clear that, States bear the primary duty to protect and assist people displaced within their borders….The African Union’s Kampala Convention reinforces those duties for African States, and commits governments to prevent displacement, protect displaced populations, and ensure durable solutions. These are not optional niceties; they are legal and moral commitments that require budgets, institutions and accountability”
in the world. Internally displaced persons are persons who are forced to leave their houses, but remain within their country's borders.
Then Dr Mercel Mbamalu, a Journalist, published in punchng dated 4th September, 2025, and made the following germane points on the issues of IDPS in the country.
He said: "As I step into the overcrowded IDP camps, I’m met with the haunting reality of Nigeria’s humanitarian crisis. Over 3 million internally displaced persons are struggling to survive, their lives ravaged by insurgency, banditry, and communal clashes. The statistics are staggering: 1.8 million children at risk of severe acute malnutrition, 55% of IDPs being children pushed out of schools, and at least, 18 people dying daily at the Bama camp, Borno State. The European Union’s recent aid commitments, including €35 million in humanitarian assistance, are a lifeline; however, the Nigerian Government’s response has been woefully inadequate, with chronic underfunding, mismanagement, and corruption exacerbating the crisis.
The impact of the US aid withdrawal, continues to reverberate globally. In January 2025, President Trump issued an executive order, “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid”. The programme effectively suspends large portions of aid delivered through USAID, including health sector funding for vaccines and treatments for diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, as well as humanitarian assistance programmes.
Other Western donors, such as the
UK, France, Germany and Sweden, also significantly reduced foreign aid budgets in 2024 and 2025, thereby increasing financial pressure on many developing countries.
There are human beings behind the vague statistics we scroll past on our phones: mothers who wake up with the cold at dawn, because the thin plastic sheet over their family's sleeping place does not stop the rain; children who go to sleep hungry, because food distributions are late or absent; survivors of sexual violence who cannot find a single safe, confidential place to report abuse or heal. These are not abstractions. They are internally displaced persons (IDPs); people forced from their homes by conflict, violence, or disasters, who remain within their countries’ borders, yet, live daily lives that are often more precarious than refugees or even the poorest citizens. The moral and legal truth is simple: IDPs have human rights. The political and practical response, however, is woefully behind that fact".
Globally, the scale of internal displacement has reached record proportions. By the end of 2024, some 83.4 million people were living in internal displacement; an unimaginable number of men, women and children denied the right to safety, shelter, water, health, education and dignity. Most were uprooted by conflict and violence; millions more fled floods, storms and other disasters increasingly linked to climate change. This is not someone else’s crisis; it is a global failure of prevention, protection and response.
Deplorable Conditions
Nigeria sits squarely, at the centre of one of the world’s most complex displacement crises. The humanitarian architecture that responds to the scale of need (UN agencies, national commissions, the International Organisation for Migration and countless NGOs) repeatedly warn that, millions of Nigerians either live in camps or in host communities that strain to
accommodate them. By the end of 2024, government and humanitarian data point to millions displaced across the Northeast and other affected regions; responses remain underfunded, fragmented and, in far too many places, insufficient to uphold basic human rights.
When we say “deplorable conditions”, we must be specific. Reports from human rights organisations and humanitarian agencies describe overcrowded sites with inadequate shelter and insufficient latrines; unsafe water and collapsing waste management systems that make disease inevitable; food assistance falling short of caloric needs; health services absent or overwhelmed; children out of school and exposed to recruitment, abuse or exploitation; and women and girls facing heightened risks of gender-based violence with little or no access to protection, psychosocial care, or legal redress. In some settings, forced camp closures and hurried “returns” have been imposed without meaningful guarantees of safety or services, leaving people to fend for themselves in areas they fled precisely because those areas are insecure.
These violations are not regrettable accidents of chaos; they are failures of obligation. International law and regional instruments make clear that, States bear the primary duty to protect and assist people displaced within their borders. The UN’s Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (1998) articulate rights to protection and assistance, grounded in international human rights and humanitarian law. The African Union’s Kampala Convention reinforces those duties for African States, and commits governments to prevent displacement, protect displaced populations, and ensure durable solutions. These are not optional niceties; they are legal and moral commitments that require budgets, institutions and accountability.
Yet, the record reveals a yawning gap between law and lived reality. In Nigeria, humanitarian needs assessments and agency reports show that large shares of IDPs lack access to safe settlements, to clean water and latrines, to adequate shelter and to basic health services. Large-scale outbreaks of cholera, acute watery diarrhoea and other preventable diseases have repeatedly struck displacement settings where sanitation is deficient and access to vaccines and care is patchy. The United Nations has been forced to launch multihundred-million-dollar appeals for the Nigerian crisis, signalling both the scope of need and the chronic underfunding of the response. When the world fails to fund the basics (water, shelter, medicine) it is not just bureaucracy that suffers, it is human life and dignity.
Immediate Humanitarian Action, Midterm and Longterm Solutions
What must change, and how, if we are serious that “IDPs have human
rights” is not a slogan but a standard? The answer needs to span immediate humanitarian action, mid-term protection and resilience programming, and long-term political and economic solutions rooted in justice and accountability. Below are the concrete steps that States, international partners, donors and civic actors should adopt immediately.
First, scale up humanitarian assistance with accountability. The international appeals for Nigeria’s crises are not abstract budgets; they are lifelines. Donor governments and multilateral institutions must fund the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan fully and predictably, and make funding conditional on demonstrable protection outcomes; not just distributions. Donor support should prioritise WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), essential primary health care including vaccination campaigns in camps, sufficient shelter and non-food items, and cash assistance that gives families dignity and choice. Funding must also support protection services: safe spaces for women and girls, child protection programmes, legal aid for documentation, and psychosocial support. The UN’s appeals and sector plans provide a template that must be matched by political will and resources.
Second, respect and implement rights in law and practice. Nigeria and other African States, must fully operationalise the Kampala Convention and domestic policies to ensure IDPs’ rights to security, humanitarian assistance, docu-
“….instead of addressing these deplorable conditions, the Government has pursued a policy of forcefully shutting down IDP camps…Families are herded back to unsafe communities, or resettled in areas where jihadists still roam freely. The Darul Jamal massacre is the direct and foreseeable consequence of this ill-conceived policy”
mentation and durable solutions.
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (and similar bodies) should be empowered with adequate budgets, staffing, and legal authority to coordinate durable solutions, registration and protection. Governments must stop forced or premature camp closures and returns until verifiable conditions (safety, services, livelihoods) are in place for returnees. The law provides the framework; it is implementation that is missing. Third, prioritise protection and accountability. Protection is not peripheral; it is central. IDP sites must be safe spaces where women, children and other vulnerable groups can access confidential reporting, medical and psychosocial care, and legal redress. Human rights organisations have repeatedly documented abuses in displacement settings (including sexual violence, unlawful detention and arbitrary treatment by State actors) that require investigations and accountability. Security operations should protect, not punish, displaced people. The State must ensure security-sector training on human rights and civilian protection, and investigate allegations of abuse swiftly and transparently. Fourth, integrate humanitarian response with social protection and development. Camps are not permanent solutions; neither is perpetual humanitarian dependency. National social protection systems must include IDPs - cash transfers, health insurance, access to education and vocational training. Donors and development actors should shift from short-term emergency projects to medium-term programmes that create pathways to livelihoods, housing rehabilitation, and community reconciliation. These investments reduce long-term costs, and stabilise communities that would otherwise become chronic zones of deprivation and
recruitment by violent actors. The UN and development partners have frameworks for such transitions; what is missing is sustained financing and political commitment.
Fifth, place displaced people at the centre of solutions. Too often, humanitarian programmes are top-down. IDPs are not passive beneficiaries; they are rights-holders. Genuine participation means involving camp residents and displaced-led organisations in camp management, protection monitoring, and programme design. When people are given leadership roles and avenues to earn income (through vocational training, small grants, cooperative projects) their dignity is restored, and social cohesion with host communities improves. UN and NGO partners have documented the positive outcomes of refugee- and IDP-led initiatives; scaling these models is common sense. Sixth, improve data, registration and documentation. Lack of identity documents is a practical barrier to accessing services, cash, education and legal protections. Robust, secure registration systems, in partnership with national civil registration authorities, must be funded and implemented to ensure IDPs are visible in national planning. Data collection must be disaggregated by age, gender and vulnerability, so that responses are tailored and equitable. UN and Government registration exercises have made progress in parts of Nigeria, but gaps remain and affect protection outcomes.
Seventh, prepare for and prevent health crises. Cholera and acute watery diarrhoea outbreaks in displacement settings are preventable with proper WASH, timely vaccination campaigns, and functioning health referral systems. Health Ministries, with support from WHO, UNICEF and partners, must prioritise cholera vaccination where risks are high, and ensure ready surge capacity during outbreaks. Investing in WASH infrastructure in camps and host communities, is cheaper and morally superior to reacting
to preventable epidemics. Recent outbreaks in displacement-affected areas, underscore this urgency.
Eighth, invest in durable housing, land and property rights. When people can return, they must have real choices: safe return with restored property rights and services; local integration with access to land and livelihoods; or assisted resettlement elsewhere. Governments should implement transparent processes for land restitution, compensation and reconstruction that protect property rights and prevent renewed conflict. Durable housing solutions, are as much a justice issue as a development one.
Ninth, demand political solutions to drivers of displacement. Relief without prevention, will only sustain a cycle of suffering. Long-term reductions in displacement require political engagement to resolve conflicts, address root grievances, hold perpetrators of violence to account and strengthen local governance. International partners must support diplomacy, conflict mediation and inclusive governance reforms that tackle the structural causes of displacement. Human rights must be at the centre of any peace process.
Finally, ordinary citizens and local civil society matter. Solidarity can take many forms: local host communities need support and recognition; grassroots groups can be funded to deliver services and protection; journalists can keep attention on the crisis and hold authorities to account; faith organisations and professional associations can advocate for humane treatment. In a functioning democracy, citizens pressure leaders to spend tax revenue on human dignity, rather than the narrow interests of a few. Public outrage and sustained media attention, have forced policy changes before; they can do so again.
We must also be honest, about why the response falters. Governments in affected areas, often face genuine capacity constraints: stretched budgets, overstretched health systems, insecurity restricting access, and competing national priorities. International donors, too, have finite resources and a crowded list of global emergencies. But, these realities do not absolve us of responsibility; they demand smarter, rights - based prioritisation, better coordination and an insistence that those in authority live up to commitments they signed on to years ago. The difference between a credible response and the status quo, is political will: allocating funds, protecting civilians, prosecuting abuses, and centring rights in recovery plans.
There is also a deeper moral point. The phrase “IDPs have human rights”, should not be reserved for political speeches or NGO banners. It should translate into practice: a roof that keeps rain and heat at bay; a latrine that does not sow disease; a classroom for a child;
the ability for a mother to work safely; access to documentation, so a life can be rebuilt. Rights are not rhetorical flourishes; they are the scaffolding of dignity. When any State allows millions to linger in conditions that erode those scaffolds, it betrays its own constitution and the international promises it has made.
To Editors and Publishers: an op-ed like this is an urgent editorial imperative. Shine your light, where it matters most. To Donors: fund the basics and condition support on measurable protection outcomes. To Governments: translate laws into budgets, and bureaucracies into protection machinery. To Citizens: do not look away. The lives behind these statistics are your neighbours in a moral sense; they are human beings entitled to the same rights as any of us.
If we succeed (by scaling assistance, embedding rights in law and practice, ensuring protection and accountability, and investing in durable solutions), we will do more than alleviate suffering. We will restore the most elemental social contract: that the State protects the dignity of everyone within its borders. That must be the minimum demand of our time. IDPs have human rights. Let us, at last, act like we believe it.
Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, Founder, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria; past National Commissioner,
“….the Government must halt premature camp closures…. the conditions in existing camps must be urgently improved - regular food supplies, healthcare, sanitation, education, and livelihood support must be prioritised….a rights-based approach to displacement is non-negotiable….security in the Northeast must be reimagined…. the displaced themselves must be heard”
National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria Nigeria’s Internally Displaced Deserve Dignity, Not Death Okechukwu Nwanguma
The Ugly Reality
military is overstretched, and cannot guarantee security across resettled areas. If the State cannot defend military bases from insurgents, how can it claim to protect unarmed civilians sent back to vulnerable communities?
The horror that unfolded in Darul Jamal, Borno State, where at least 63 people - including families recently resettled from an IDP camp - were massacred by jihadists, should outrage every Nigerian. It is also a tragic reminder, that our country’s approach to the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast is deeply flawed.
For more than a decade, millions of Nigerians have lived in the shadows of displacement, their homes burned, families torn apart, and livelihoods destroyed by Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISWAP. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe have endured years of indignity in overcrowded camps where hunger, disease, and insecurity are constant companions. Children are denied education, women and girls face sexual exploitation, and men languish without work or dignity.
Yet, instead of addressing these deplorable conditions, the Government has pursued a policy of forcefully shutting down IDP camps, often in the name of “stability” or “normalcy”. Families are herded back to unsafe communities, or resettled in areas where jihadists still roam freely. The Darul Jamal massacre is the direct and foreseeable consequence of this ill-conceived policy. These families were promised safety. Instead, they were abandoned to slaughter.
Governor Babagana Zulum himself admitted that the Nigerian
The plight of IDPs is not just a humanitarian tragedy; it is a national security failure. Camps that should serve as sanctuaries, have become warehouses of human misery. Closing them without providing real safety, infrastructure, and livelihoods is a betrayal of the displaced and an invitation to further bloodshed.
What must be done?
First, the Government must halt premature camp closures. Resettlement should be voluntary, safe, and dignified, not dictated by political timelines.
Second, the conditions in existing camps must be urgently improved - regular food supplies, healthcare, sanitation, education, and livelihood support must be prioritised.
Third, a rights-based approach to displacement is non-negotiable. Nigeria has obligations under the Kampala Convention to protect and assist IDPs. Those obligations are being violated. Finally, security in the Northeast must be reimagined. Military deployments alone cannot end this war. Local intelligence, community engagement, and regional cooperation are vital. Above all, the displaced themselves must be heard. They are not statistics; they are human beings with the right to safety, dignity, and a future.
The massacre in Darul Jamal, should serve as a wake-up call. We cannot continue sacrificing the most vulnerable Nigerians, on the altar of political expediency. IDPs have suffered enough in camps; they should not be sent to die in their ancestral homes. A Government that cannot protect its displaced citizens, has abdicated its most basic responsibility. Nigeria’s displaced deserve more than empty promises. They deserve dignity. They deserve protection. They deserve life.
Okechukwu Nwanguma, Founder and Executive Director, RUULAC
Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
08033025611 sms only
Fidelis David reports that the long-running legal battle over the 2024 Ondo State governorship election has come to an end with mixed reactions, as the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, a jayi a gboola, formally withdrew his appeal against the election of Governor Lucky a iyedatiwa.
Katsina State, nestled in Nigeria’s North-West geo-political region, has for too long grappled with the insidious grip of banditry and other security challenges. The pervasive insecurity has claimed lives, disrupted livelihoods, displaced communities and crippled the local economy of the state. The Ondo State governorship election held on November 16, 2024, has been a subject of intense debate and legal battles. The saga
has been a long and winding road, with twists and turns that have kept stakeholders on the edge of their seats.
The election, which saw Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa emerging victorious with a remarkable 18-0 win across all the state’s 18 local government councils areas, with the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Agboola Ajayi,
challenging the outcome at various levels of the judiciary. The legal battle began on December 11, 2024, when Ajayi filed a petition at the Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal against the victory of Aiyedatiwa, 24 days after the governorship poll. Ajayi, who scored a total of 117,845 votes behind the governor, who polled 366,781 votes, challenged the results of the election, claiming that the process was marred by irregularities and non-compliance
with the Electoral Act.
The tribunal, however, dismissed Ajayi’s petition, holding that he failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate his claims. Undeterred, Ajayi proceeded to the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, which also affirmed the election of Governor Aiyedatiwa on July.
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Gender advocate and astute Politician, Dr adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack, in this interview, speaks passionately about the need for the National assembly to ensure early passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill which she describes as the boldest democratic reform in Nigeria. Folalumi Alaran brings excerpts.
What inspired you to get involved in the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, and why do you think it’s such a crucial issue for Nigeria?
A - My inspiration comes from years of gender advocacy and from witnessing how women, despite their competence and contributions, continue to be excluded from political spaces. Throughout my broadcasting career, I have worked at the forefront of gender policy advocacy and grassroots mobilization, championing inclusive governance and amplifying women’s voices in Nigeria’s democratic process.
As a broadcaster, I host Gender Agenda on Africa Independent Television (AIT), a flagship programme dedicated to amplifying women’s voices, interrogating policy frameworks, and spotlighting inclusive governance, so I know the structural gaps women face in accessing power. In 2019, I contested for a seat in the Imo State House of Assembly and later served as Special Adviser on Information and Advocacy in Imo State. I experienced first hand, the level of party bias against women at both the party level and in the electioneering process, it was a heartbreaking experience for me. I was prepared for it but I was taken aback by the extent of the bias.
As former Chair of the Women and Gender Affairs Cluster Committee of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC) Nigeria, I also saw how critical gender
parity is to continental development priorities. And as the founder of Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI) and WeWe Network Afrique, I design programmes on gender advocacy, civic literacy, and youth inclusion, so I know how vital it is to equip women and young people with the tools to engage.
All of these experiences have inspired me to get involved in the Reserved Seats for Women Bill Campaign, I see this legislation as the most consequential gender reform of our democratic era. After nearly 26 years of democracy, this Bill represents a historic opportunity to constitutionally guarantee women’s voices in governance. That is why I have resolved to advocate and amplify this bill.
How do you envision the Reserved Seats for Women Bill impacting the representation of women in Nigerian politics, particularly in the National and State Houses of Assembly?
When I think about the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, I don’t just see a piece of legislation, I see endless possibilities. I see a Nigeria where women are no longer fighting for a seat at the political table, but where their voices are guaranteed, respected, and valued. This Bill ensures that women will have seats at the National and State Houses of Assembly. And when women are in the room, the conversation changes.
Our laws become fairer, our politics becomes richer. It means that our perspectives will consistently shape the laws that govern this country, and our daughters can look up with confidence and say, yes, there is space for me in politics too.
As the Producer & Host of Gender Agenda, leading the public hearings in Enugu and Owerri, walking into those rooms, listening to the debates, I realized just how important this fight for this bill is. In Imo and Abia states, for instance, not a single woman sits in the State Assembly. Think about half the population of these states, completely missing from the conversation because of under representation. The vision for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill is bold but it’s also practical. The Bill (HB 1349) proposes one reserved Senate seat for women in every State and the FCT, two in the House of Representatives, and three in each State Assembly. That’s not tokenism. That’s dozens of women gaining real power, votes, committees, influence. And with the 16-year sunset clause the goal isn’t dependency; it’s to normalise women in politics so completely that future elections don’t need quotas.
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Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The President of the Kwara Association of Professional Point of Sale Agents (KAPPSA) has said that, the country’s growing dependence on POS operators in the country for financial inclusion is not being matched by adequate regulatory support.
This, the association said that, it has continued to threaten the stability of the cashless economy.
Fielding questions from journalists in Ilorin on Monday on the state of the nation’s economy, the president of the association in the state,Mr. Opakunle Ridwan Ayinde noted that, the perceived gaps in Nigeria’s financial technology administration has exposed the POS operators vulnerable to fraud, liability, and systemic inefficiencies.
According to him, “One of the gravest challenges facing POS agents is fraudulent transactions involving stolen debit cards”.
He explained that while
banks and ATMs rarely face scrutiny when cash is dispensed from stolen cards, POS agents are often treated as culprits.
“In many instances, months after a transaction, agents are accused, arrested, or even jailed because they cannot produce the identity of a customer,” he said.
Ayinde described this as unjust and called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to mandate fintech companies and banks to equip POS terminals with cameras and introduce identity verification for transactions above N50,000.
He said capturing customer images and National Identification Numbers would not only protect agents but also secure consumers and reduce the scale of electronic fraud in the system.
He added, “Electronic fraud remains a pressing challenge in Nigeria. Data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) show that losses from such activities surged to more
than N17 billion in 2023.
“With POS transaction volumes rising by over 40 percent in the same year, operators have become a major target for fraudsters. Another recurring problem is the confusion created by unresolved transaction disputes.
“Customers frequently experience what he described as “failed transactions” where their bank accounts are debited but the POS terminal records no payment. Instead of the banks taking responsibility, agents are forced to shoulder the blame and deal with irate customers.”
He pointed out that, a transaction should be either successful or failed, never both, and urged the CBN to implement clearer dispute resolution protocols to protect both consumers and operators.
“In 2021 alone, the CBN received more than 200,000 complaints related to electronic payments, many of them linked to POS operations,” he added.
Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, has once again demonstrated its commitment to sustainability and community partnership with an environmental awareness walk in Apapa, Lagos, to mark World Clean-Up Day.
The initiative brought together an energetic team of volunteers, including employees drawn from the company’s Ikeja Plant, Head Office at Iddo House, and its state-of-the-art recycling plant in Apapa.
The Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director,
NBC, Soromidayo George, emphasised that the awareness walk was part of a wider Waste-to-Wealth drive.
“What we are doing here goes beyond picking plastics; it is about creating awareness and changing mindsets. Recycling is not just good for the environment; it provides economic opportunities. Our employees who volunteered today are sustainability champions, and together with the community, we are building a cleaner and greener Apapa,” she said.
Community voices also highlighted the impact of the collaboration. Youth Coordinator, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Apapa Chapter, Samuel Idoko, noted that NBC’s initiative complements ongoing youth-led recycling efforts.
Similarly, Chairman of the Azare Community Development Association, Jide Santos, commended NBC’s sustained presence in Apapa and its role in encouraging environmental consciousness across the community.
The Big Brother Naija house was alive with energy and excitement as Terra brought an unforgettable Task Night to viewers across the country. In keeping with its promise to help Nigerians Unwrap Joy and Unleash Taste, Terra transformed the evening into a blend of wit, laughter, precision, and friendly rivalry with two standout challenges: the Beef Roast and Shoot To Win. The atmosphere was set even before the games began. Housemates stepped out in Terra-branded outfits that seamlessly blended style, comfort, and movement to set the stage for an unforgettable evening. Divided into two groups, Team Unwrap Joy and Team Unleash Taste, they were ushered into the Terra Beef Roast Ring, which took center stage. But this was no physical battle. Instead, the housemates engaged in a contest of wit and humor, taking turns to pick cards with keywords and using them to roast their opponents in five rounds of lighthearted banter. The result was a house filled with laughter, creativity, and camaraderie. Teammates cheered loudly from the sidelines, and for those watching at home, the Beef Roast quickly became a spectacle of joy. Social media erupted almost instantly, with clips of the witty exchanges making the rounds and fans praising the game for its originality and entertainment. One fan commented, “Very interesting game this evening, I am glued to my TV,” while another added, “Terra, thank
you for this game.” It was clear that the Beef Roast delivered not just inside the house but across the country, capturing the brand’s ability to connect people through joy and shared experiences.
Reflecting on the evening, Chief Marketing Officer, TGI Group, Probal Bhattacharya said: “The essence of both the Beef Roast and Shoot To Win is their perfect alignment with our brand. Cooking with Terra is about wit, creativity, precision, and joy, and that’s exactly what the housemates brought to life. Whether roasting each other or aiming for the right ingredients, the message is clear: in every kitchen and every competition, Terra is the ingredient that makes the difference.”
Kayode Tokede
The market capitalisation of all listed companies on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) crossed the N90 trillion yesterday amid investors’ demand for MTN Nigeria Communication Plc, BUA Cement Plc and
23 others.
As the stock price of MTN Nigeria appreciated by 0.71 per cent to close at N423.00 per share, BUA Cement gained 5.40per cent to close at N160 per share, the market capitalisation gained N154.76 billion in opened trading activities this week to close at N90.115 trillion from
N89.960 trillion the stock market closed for trading last week.
Consequently, the NGX All-Share Index gained 0.17per cent to close at 142,377.56 basis points from 142,133.03 basis points, to bring the year-to-date (YtD) return inched up to 38.33 per cent from the 38.09per cent recorded in prior week.
Despite the index gain, market sentiment was bearish with 36 declining stocks outnumbering 24 gainers. Thomas Wyatt Nigeria recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent to close at N3.63, per share. Living Trust Mortgage Bank followed with a gain of 9.90 per cent to close at N5.66, while Eterna rose by 9.86
per cent to close at N30.65, per share.
Caverton Offshore Support Group increased by 9.28 per cent to close at N6.83, while Fidelity Bank up by 8.13 per cent to close at N19.95, per share.
On the other hand, AXA Mansard Insurance led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N14.40, per
share. University Press followed with a decline of 9.85 per cent to close at N5.40, while Learn Africa declined by 9.72 per cent to close at N6.50, per share. Julius Berger depreciated by 8.70 per cent to close at N136.50, while Cornerstone Insurance declined by 7.42 per cent to close at N5.86, per share.
www.thisdaylive.com
FIRS, ADEDEJI AND TINUBU’S $1 TRILLION ECONOMY
The vision to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030 is ambitious, but attainable, argues, JACK OKUDE
See page 21
TOWARDS CEASEFIRE DEAL IN SUDAN
Can the Quad's ambitious plan succeed where Jeddah failed? asks SAMI ABDELHALIM SAEED
See page 21
EDITORIAL
THE RECOGNITION OF PALESTINIAN STATE
opinion@thisdaylive.com
Peter Obi’s attack on the First Lady is unfortunate, argues ADE EBIMOMI
A few days ago, the First Lady, Senator (Mrs) Oluremi Tinubu, on the occasion of her 65th birthday, rather than luxuriate in obscene personal celebrations, and in her trademark humility, pleaded with well-wishers to donate money towards the completion of the almost-abandoned National Library instead of wasting same on gifts and advertorials - as a section of Nigerians are wont to do. In her words, “Education is the most enduring legacy a nation can give its people”.
Most deservingly, Her Excellency has received applause from across the country for her selfless and noble intent. Concerned about how the noncompletion of the National Library could affect the fragile psyche and educational ambitions of millions of Nigerian youths, she stepped forward and sacrificed her personal gains for a national and worthy cause.
The National Library cause wouldn't be Her Excellency's first rodeo; she has an impressive track record of selfless and compassionate philanthropic activities already.
One is therefore shocked to read the tweet on X of no less than Mr Peter Obi, attacking the First Lady's worthy intent. This writer believes PO’s attack is unnecessary, ill-intentioned and unfortunate. He didn't have to distort and misrepresent the First Lady's words to suit his narrative, as the tweet struggled to find a plank of logic and reason to stand.
Mr Peter Obi claims in his tweet: “On the surface, it (Senator Tinubu's gesture) is noble and selfless. But beneath it lies an indictment of our nation…such gestures were never meant to replace government’s duty but to compliment it”.
Truth is, Mr Peter Obi allowed his political leaning to colour his response to Mrs Tinubu’s plea. Her intent is pure, selfless, noble and transparent enough for everyone of goodwill to see. Writing that the gesture is “an indictment of our nation”, PO defies every law of logic. Her Excellency did not declare that her gesture was meant to replace government's duty, or that the nation must rely on her birthday donations to complete national projects.
PO went further to ask: “What kind of country must beg for charity to build a temple of knowledge?” So, he, rather inexplicably, equates Mrs Remi Tinubu to a “country”, and “begging for charity to build a temple of knowledge”. Mrs Tinubu did not solicit money to build; she pleaded for money to complete a library. One suspects that the only reason PO would go this route of deliberate distortion is to further his attempt to build a plank of acceptability for his, quite honestly,
unnecessary tweet.
Senator Oluremii Tinubu may be the wife of the President, she is still a private citizen nonetheless. She is neither an elected nor a politically-appointed member of this administration, and she's not the administration’s mouthpiece. To therefore equate her plea to the government supposed intent is clearly disingenuous.
Using the occasion of a private citizen's birthday request for donations towards the completion of the National Library to attack her is a little petty and a bit below the sort of national engagements someone of Mr Obi’s stature should be using his time to engage in. That the person in question happens to be the wife of the sitting president, a man Obi is trying to displace, gives his comment a definitive but unfortunate political colouration.
Such statements may appeal to his supporters but they do nothing to sell him to independent and undecided Nigerians. Perhaps he isn't politically savvy enough to realize that undecided voters yearn to glimpse his governance roadmap should he somehow become the president. Empty rhetoric and social media diatribes will no longer cut it.
Mr Obi needs to know that soliciting private donations for the completion national projects isn't something new, negative or unwholesome.
The Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, and the National Library of China were all built and continued to be sustained by public and private monies and large endowments.
In 2023, Chief Afe Babalola donated £10million to King's College, London for the establishment of Afe Babalola African Center for Transnational Education, stating us: “The vision for the Center is based on the power of education to empower and enable Africa's talented young people to make meaningful contributions to their communities and the world…the donation is intended to provide access
to higher education for students whose educational journeys have been disrupted by conflict or displacement.”
Andrew Carnegie, the renowned philanthropist who died in 1919, through Andrew Carnegie Foundation, spent over $56million in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to build 2,509 public libraries across the English-speaking world.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is known for its global library initiatives, providing grants aimed at improving library resources and accessibility worldwide. It has given a significant portion of the billionaires' $79billion philanthropic spending on library grants and initiatives.
Oxford University received a private donation of £150million from Stephen Schwarzman in 2019 to fund a humanities center and AI ethics institute.
Peter Obi even confessed in his tweet that while still Anambra State's governor, he had solicited private money for the state's library project.
So what's he harping about? It is petty and clearly beneath his status, this attempt at turning a selfless and noble gesture by the First Lady into something to squeeze political gain out of, and beggars belief that such a decent and cerebral political leader couldn't see the gross illogism and plain hypocrisy in his attack.
It's time Obi rose above this inane nothingness; time he left behind the ordinariness of topics like this. He is preparing to become Nigeria's President at some point in the future, not contesting to become social media's most influential personality.
If he's to get undecided Nigerians behind him - without whom his chances of becoming the President dim significantly - Peter Obi would need to urgently vacate this cheap and pedestrian landscape and move further afield to where burning national issues need his attention.
To end his tweet by ominously claiming, “we are finished”, surely doesn't befit a man of his stature or that of a man who arguably spends his sleeping and waking moments dreaming of leading this country someday.
Peter Obi needs to resist the urge to respond to or attack every private citizen's comment, lest he drags himself to the market place where he would be meat for all kinds of flies.
Some of us have this thinking that he's contesting for the highest office in the land, not a local government councilor slot.
Ebimomi is Founder/DG, The Asiwaju Center, Abuja, adeking@msn.com.
The vision to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030 is ambitious, but attainable, argues,JACK OKUDE
The latest news on Nigeria’s growing tax revenue haul is something to cheer for many reasons. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said it has collected N20.62 trillion in tax revenue between January and August 2025, a period of eight months. FIRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, who reeled out the figure was ecstatic as was his audience of journalists.
It was a massive jump of 40.8 percent compared to that of last year even as it outstrips the growth target of 16.4 percent for the year 2025. Historical and a rare alignment of vision and ambition, the statistics churned out by Adedeji, a first-class accountant, only strengthens the argument that the FIRS top cat ranks among the best and most strategic appointments of President Bola Tinubu.
Many factors are responsible for this increase which indexes a national economy on the path of recovery. It must be noted that Adedeji did not import personnel from overseas or from outer space to make this all-time high mark. He used existing personnel in the Service all working in the same environment called Nigeria. Without any doubt, it underscores the difference effective leadership can make in an organisation. Adedeji’s pedigree, knowledge and scholarship lent him to the job. He is a proper and prime fit. He didn’t have to learn the ropes because as an A-grade chartered accountant, tax collection and management were no strangers to him. He found a natural and professional habitat at FIRS. This is global best practice; get the right personnel with the requisite skills set to critical positions.
The deployment of modern technology is a critical factor in the unfolding FIRS tax-management story. When he assumed office as the youngest ever FIRS chairman, he served notice of navigating employees and operations through the uncharted waters of high-tech to eliminate instances of human intrusion with attendant fraudulent behaviours. He pledged a better future for tax collection, insisting that technology will not only reduce significantly the bottlenecks of bureaucracy but will also effectively manage operations for higher efficiency accentuated by speed and flawless transition from the field to the office. And he achieved that by moving FIRS operations from annual filing of Transfer Pricing Returns, and Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR) notifications from e-TPPlat to the TaxPro-Max Platform without compromising personnel’s regular login credentials. The projection for 2025 was to achieve revenue target of N25.2 trillion. Hitting over N20 trillion by August with a good four months left means that the target will be exceeded. This September alone, revenue has surged to N3.65 trillion, a hefty jump of 411 percent from the N711 billion recorded in May 2023 when the Tinubu administration assumed office.
There has been a raft of reforms in tax management. The non-oil tax receipts present an outstanding evidence of the success of the reforms, reaching an unprecedented N15.67 trillion, an increase of 49.7 percent. It was N10.47 trillion in 2024. This owes largely to the federal government renewed focus on growing non-oil export which has also greatly profited from the devaluation of the naira.
As non-oil tax is nosing up, oil tax is also in the ascendancy, reaching N4.98 trillion as of August 31, 2025, up 19.4 percent from N4.18 trillion in the same period last year. The sustained peace in the oil-bearing Niger Delta region resulting in jump in crude oil production is a strong factor for the spike in oil tax revenue. The Tinubu reforms and undeniable security and improved surveillance of oil operations and infrastructure in the Niger Delta have restored investors’ confidence in oil and gas which has led to more investments in the sector. The reforms have also triggered a wave of impressive performance in both the service and primary sectors. Telecoms sector once bogged down by low returns has bounced back. This year alone, the sector is attracting about $3 billion in investments in infrastructure, according to report from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
For the banking sector under Tinubu, it is happy days. Five major banks namely, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, First Holdco Plc, Zenith Bank International Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc reported strong growths in profitability and assets. Their pre-tax profit rose by about 70 per cent to N4.56 trillion in 2024.
And as it is with the banks, so it has been with conglomerates that once dipped into the nadir of losses. Cement companies clawed their way from losses to profits this year. Pharmaceutical firms and consumer staple companies have also returned to the path of profitability. All of this equates to more taxes paid into the national tax basket. The increase in tax returns by FIRS is therefore a consequence of the positive yields in the Tinubu reforms. Much more, it shows that FIRS is effectively tracking the tax accruals.
Okude,
public policy analyst writes from Kano.
Can the Quad's ambitious plan succeed where Jeddah failed? asks SAMI ABDELHALIM SAEED
On September 12, 2025, the Quad— comprising Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States of America—released a joint statement proposing a path to end the conflict in Sudan. The statement recalls that the war has provoked the world's worst humanitarian crisis and poses grave risks to regional peace and security. The Quad ministers called for an initial three-month humanitarian truce to facilitate the swift entry of humanitarian aid, which should lead to a permanent ceasefire and an inclusive transition process immediately.
Earlier, in May 2023, the United States and Saudi Arabia facilitated lengthy negotiations between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in the signing of the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan. Both the Jeddah Declaration and the Quad proposal share the fundamental goal of ending the conflict in Sudan, protecting civilians, and facilitating humanitarian aid. However, there are significant differences in their scope, approach, and the political context in which they were created.
Humanitarian Focus: Both initiatives prioritise addressing the humanitarian crisis. They call for the protection of civilians, ensuring safe passage, and providing unhindered access for humanitarian assistance.
Adherence to International Law: Both documents explicitly reference the obligations of the warring parties under International Humanitarian Law. The Quad proposal even references the commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration, indicating a continuity of purpose.
Rejection of a Military Solution: Both statements agree that the conflict cannot be resolved militarily and that a political solution is the only viable path forward.
Civilian-Led Governance: Both initiatives emphasise the importance of a future Sudanese government being led by civilians. They emphasise that the Sudanese people, not the warring parties, should determine their country's future.
External Mediation: Both are products of external diplomatic efforts. The Jeddah Declaration was facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the United States. At the same time, the Quad proposal involves a broader coalition of regional and international powers (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the U.S.).
Key Differences in Scope and Approach Scope and Detail: The Jeddah Declaration is a "Declaration of Commitment" focused on specific, on-the-ground rules of conduct for the warring parties regarding civilians and humanitarian aid. It is essentially a humanitarian and short-term ceasefire framework. In contrast, the Quad
proposal is a more comprehensive political roadmap. It not only addresses humanitarian issues but also lays out a detailed timeline for a political transition, including a three-month humanitarian truce followed by a ninemonth transition to civilian rule.
Actors Involved: This is a crucial distinction. The Jeddah Declaration was a direct agreement signed by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Quad proposal is a joint statement from a group of concerned nations, not a direct agreement between the warring parties themselves.
This is the fundamental point at which the Quartet initiative differs from the Jeddah Declaration. The challenge facing the Quartet initiative is how to persuade the two parties to sit down for negotiations and sign a ceasefire agreement. This challenge tests the Quartet countries' influence on both parties, as well as the strength and cohesion of the Quartet alliance itself. It is necessary to consider the Jeddah Declaration as part of the negotiating framework, as it represents the foundations of the ceasefire and was previously signed by the parties under the auspices of Saudi Arabia and the United States.
Rejection of Specific Groups: The Quad proposal goes a step further by explicitly rejecting a role for "violent extremist groups part of or evidently linked to the Muslim Brotherhood" in Sudan's political future. This political dimension was not explicitly stated in the initial
Jeddah Declaration.
After the war lasted for more than two years, the role of extremist and violent groups became prominent. Social media has begun documenting the roles of these groups and the crimes they commit. Due to their danger and clearly growing role, the US Treasury Department issued sanctions against some of them, describing them as a threat to regional stability.
Dr Saeed,
a Sudanese constitutional lawyer, is the Vice President of the African Network of Constitutional Lawyers (ANCL), based in Cape Town, South Africa. He can be reached via: advosami@gmail.com
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
The decision to identify with the Palestinian cause is commendable
At the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), France, United Kingdom, Canada and many other countries confirmed their endorsement of the creation of a Palestinian state. "We've gathered here because the time has come," French President Emmanuel Macron said after declaring that France would officially recognise a Palestinian state. "Some might say it's too late. Others might say it's too early. But one thing is certain: we can no longer wait." The UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said endorsing the idea “is an important step to preserve the prospect of a two-state solution, at a time when it is now under unprecedented threat.”
We applaud the decision of these Western countries. While diplomatic recognition may not solve all the complex problems of the Palestinian people, it will confer on them the legitimacy of a state to access humanitarian, diplomatic and other entitlements. The morale of the people will change because of the realisation that they are no longer alone. We therefore propose a global recognition of Palestine as the solution to Israeli belligerence and arrogance. The European Union (EU), African Union (AU), China and Russia should join. That should be the road to a real new world order.
sion’s chairman. “It is clear that there is an intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza through acts that meet the criteria set forth in the Genocide Convention.”
From Asia to Africa, and South America, the list of countries that now recognises Palestinian statehood has swelled to more than 150 as the catastrophe in Gaza and West Bank continues to prick the conscience of our collective humanity. While the Israeli military operation may have started with the 7th October 2023 killing of about 1300 Israelis and abduction of more than 250 others in an attack that stands condemned, it has exceeded proportionality of response. The justifiable right to self-defence has tipped over into the territory of reckless invasion and wanton abuse of human rights.
While diplomatic recognition may not solve all the complex problems of the Palestinian people, it will confer on them the legitimacy of a state to access humanitarian, diplomatic and other entitlements
T H I S D AY
EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU
DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
In January 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) urged Israel to “take all measures within its power” to prevent all acts within the scope of the Genocide Convention. The ruling was based on the nine provisional measures requested by South Africa in its genocide claim against Israel. Rather than heed the admonition, Israel became even more violent in its military operations. A recent report by the UN ‘Independent International Commission on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel’, accused Israel of genocide. “The Commission finds that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza,” insisted Navi Pillay, the commis-
T
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI
SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com
Aided largely by the United States, especially under the current administration, Israel has been recalcitrant with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing that there would be no Palestine. Indeed, the UN Mandate to partition Palestine “into two independent States, one Palestinian Arab and the other Jewish, with Jerusalem internationalised,” has failed because Israel believes that might is right. What is being witnessed daily in Gaza and the West Bank is the arrogance of might without due regard for the rights of others, notably ordinary Palestinians.
Israel must understand that denying the Palestinian people basic humanity is why the crisis persists, and it is not likely to be resolved by the force of arms. Whatever the country may be trying to achieve in Gaza and West Bank, as we stated in a previous editorial, the aftermath will be deeper hate, greater violence, and a further deferment of the much-needed peace in the region. Incidentally, the only path to Israel’s peace and security is through facilitating an independent Palestinian state next door. But since the extremities of the current operation make that end even more distant, the international community must continue to exert pressure on Israel.
Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.
For years, a common phrase has echoed in workplaces and social spaces across Nigeria: “women are their own worst enemies.” It is often said with confidence, and used to explain away instances of rivalry, jealousy, or conflict among women. Over time, this idea has hardened into a stereotype—that women cannot genuinely support one another, especially in male-dominated spaces like politics or the civil service. But is this really the truth?
The myth suggests that women are too competitive, too suspicious, and too insecure to work together effectively. Popular culture and even casual conversations reinforce this image, often pointing to stories of envy in offices or clashes in leadership roles. Unfortunately, these stories overshadow the many quiet, everyday realities of women lifting one another up.
The real story is very different. Nigerian women have always had deep traditions of solidarity. From market women’s associations to esusu cooperative systems, from grass-
roots mobilizations to professional mentoring, women have worked together to empower families and communities. The reality is that women supporting women is not rare—it simply does not get the visibility it deserves.
As someone who has served for over two decades as a civil servant, I have lived both sides of this narrative. Some of my best professional experiences came under the leadership of remarkable women. Dr. Amina Salihu, Hadiza Abdullahi, and Mrs. Alice Achu were not just bosses to me—they were mentors. They challenged me, encouraged me, and opened doors that helped shape my career. Their style of leadership was defined not by rivalry, but by grace, professionalism, and a willingness to see others succeed.
I have also had the privilege of working alongside colleagues like Halima Bagudu, whose spirit of collaboration has been a source of strength. Together, we shared knowledge, supported one another, and built bonds that went beyond the demands of our roles.
Of course, there were moments when one or two women saw me as competition. But I made a conscious choice to respond differently—by complementing their efforts and assisting wherever I could. I have always believed that lifting another woman does not diminish me; it strengthens us all. Why the gap exists: The gap between the myth and the reality often lies in what society chooses to amplify. Rivalries are sensational and attract attention; solidarity, on the other hand, is quiet, steady, and less visible. Add to this the structural barriers of patriarchy, underrepresentation, and scarce resources, and women often find themselves pushed into survival mode. In such contexts, competition is sometimes magnified while collaboration goes unnoticed.
Mrs Jumai Ahmadu PhD., Ag. Director Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department FCTA, and Founder Helpline Social Support Initiative
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) installed a total of 225,711 meters for their customers in Q2, 2025, although about 5.4 million electricity consumers across the country still remained unmetered, latest data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has shown.
An analysis of the data contained in NERC’s monthly metering factsheets for April, May and June indicated that despite this progress, nearly half of the nation’s power users are still without accurate devices to track their consumption. According to the figures, while the total number of active customers rose from 11.78 million in April to 11.82 million in June, metered customers
increased from 6.27 million to 6.42 million within the same period. This brought the national metering rate from 53.63 per cent in April to 54.33 per cent by the end of June.
In all, 77,634 meters were installed in April, 63,180 in May, and 84,897 in June. Altogether, the quarterly installations represented a modest gain, pushing the number of metered customers higher by 147,997 compared to April.
A breakdown of the data by Discos’ performance showed wide disparities in metering penetration, with Ikeja Electric (IE) and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) leading the pack with metering rates of 84.65 per cent and 83.33 per cent respectively as at June, well above the national average.
Besides, Abuja Disco also crossed the 70 per cent threshold, reaching 73.06 per cent during the
period under consideration, raising no surprises among Nigeria’s highest performing electricity utilities.
On the other hand, some operators continued to struggle as Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC), which serves parts of the North-east, remained the lowest performer with just 28.55 per cent of its customers metered. Jos Disco followed with 29.51 per cent, while
Kaduna and Kano posted 33.46 per cent and 34.35 per cent respectively. But in absolute terms, Ibadan Disco had the highest number of metered customers, with 1.17 million as at June, even though its metering rate stood at 49.52 per cent. Ikeja and Abuja were close behind with 1.07 million and 944,000 metered customers respectively.
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has called on the federal government to focus on unlocking productivity in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, real estate and trade in order to translate the current economic growth into jobs, poverty reduction,
and shared prosperity.
This call was made by the Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, in a policy brief on Nigeria’s 2025 second quarter gross domestic product’s (GDP) report.
Yusuf noted in the policy brief that Nigeria’s economy strengthened its recovery momentum in the second quarter of 2025, with real GDP
expanding by 4.23 per cent year-on-year, which he described as a notable acceleration from 3.13 per cent in Q1 and a stronger performance compared to 3.48 per cent in Q2 2024.
He said: “Q2 2025 is a clear statement that Nigeria’s economy is moving beyond stabilisation toward a stronger recovery. But to translate this growth into
jobs, poverty reduction, and shared prosperity, the focus must shift to unlocking productivity in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, real estate and trade—the sectors that touch the lives of most Nigerians.
“With consistent reform execution, improved governance, and private sector collaboration, Nigeria can transform
its present growth momentum into a more resilient, inclusive, and job-rich economy.”
He pointed out that the data confirmed that the economy is not only on a recovery trajectory but is also gaining traction, despite lingering structural and macroeconomic challenges.
Commenting on the performance of the
manufacturing sector in the Q2’25 GDP report, Yusuf said that “manufacturing slowed slightly to 1.60 per cent, highlighting the continued pressure of high production costs, logistics inefficiencies, foreign exchange (FX) volatility, and competition from cheaper imports.”
by the organisation’s spokesperson, Obiageli Onuorah, said.
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has unveiled an actionable reform agenda to reposition Nigeria’s solid minerals sector from a neglected contributor of less than 1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) into a powerhouse for economic diversification, jobs, and sustainable community development.
For decades, Nigeria’s solid minerals sector has underperformed despite its vast potential. NEITI’s latest audit shows revenues of N401.87 billion in 2023, representing only 0.83 per cent of GDP, a statement
Weak laws, illegal mining, smuggling, outdated governance, and neglected host communities have kept the sector stagnant while global demand for greenenergy minerals — lithium, cobalt, nickel surges.
“The time for lamentation is over. If we fail to act boldly and immediately, others will transform their mineral wealth into prosperity while Nigeria watches,” warned the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji.
The transition to clean energy has made Nigeria’s mineral resources, from lithium to rare earths, more valuable than oil. With
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies known as (OPEC+) will likely approve another oil production increase of at least 137,000 barrels per day at its meeting next Sunday, a Reuters report has said.
OPEC+ has reversed its strategy of output cuts from April and has already raised quotas by more than 2.5 million barrels per day, representing about 2.4 per cent of world demand, to boost the market.
Eight OPEC+ countries, including Nigeria, will hold an online meeting on October 5 to decide on November output. OPEC+ pumps about half of the world’s oil and includes Russia and other allies.
Oil prices have fallen from over $80 per barrel at the start of the year but have mostly traded in a narrow range of $60-$70 per barrel since OPEC began production increases in April. On Friday, prices rose to their highest since August 1, hitting levels above $70 per barrel, supported by Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure which disrupted refining and shipments from one of the world’s biggest oil exporters.
The group’s total output reductions amounted at their peak to 5.85 million bpd, made up of three different elements - voluntary cuts of 2.2 million bpd, plus 1.65 million bpd by eight members, and another 2.0 million bpd by the whole group.
Asst.
The eight producers plan to fully unwind one element of those cuts - 2.2 million bpd - by the end of September.
For October, they started removing a second layer, of 1.65 million bpd, with an increase of 137,000 bpd.
decisive reforms, Orji said the sector can attract billions in investment, generate massive revenues, create quality jobs, especially for
youth and women, and bring visible development to host communities.
NEITI called on the federal government and the National
Assembly to seize this historic moment by: Passing a New Solid Minerals Reform Act within 12 months; creating a National Minerals
Development Council chaired at the presidency and launching a real-time mining cadastre portal for transparent, digital licensing.
The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has flagged-off Operation Safeguard the Road (OSGR) to give Nigerians better experience while using the federal roads network across the country.
The programme is designed to ensure that there is safety and economic empowerment of youths along road corridors, a
statement by FERMA’s spokesperson, Maryam Sanusi, said.
The programme was launched along the ZubaGiri-Abaji-Lokoja-Kogi S/B Road, Kwali, Abuja. The strategy involves enhancement of visibility through vegetation control, drainage management to control flood and minor repairs which include patching of potholes up to
about 200 metres to reduce accidents.
Besides, the programme will empower youths by offering temporary employment and giving them stipends while it lasts.
In his speech the Managing Director of FERMA, Emeka Agbasi, disclosed that the programme was in partnership with the host community and it is
connected to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reduce poverty and carnage on Nigerian roads.
It seeks to improve safety, reduce travel time and cost and engage unemployed youths ages 18 to 45 along the abutting communities. This initiative will further prevent premature deterioration of the roads network.
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will officially go live with its Electronic Content Management (ECM) system today (Tuesday) to digitalise records management and streamline all official correspondences, thereby reducing paperwork and
improving service delivery. The development is in line with the directives of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, aimed at strengthening efficiency, accountability, and transparency in the operations of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The Ministry said it was notifying that all external correspondences with the Ministry, henceforth shall be conducted exclusively through its official email platforms: hmregistry@fmhud.gov. com; hmsregistry@fmhud. gov.com and psregistry@ fmhud.gov.com.
Furthermore, the ministry in a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Badamasi Haiba, said it will deploy its official website and social media platforms to publicise this initiative and ensure that stakeholders and the wider public are well informed.
Abia State has taken concrete steps to ensure efficient operations of the construction sector following the establishment of a functional materials testing laboratory in Umuahia, the capital city.
The testing facility, which was initiated a couple of months back by Governor Alex Otti became a reality with the installation of the needed equipment in the laboratory thereby making it functional.
Abia Information Commissioner, Prince Okey Kanu told a media
briefing that the materials testing laboratory is now fully operational and “up and running”.
Building and road collapses, often attributed to use of poor quality materials by contractors, have become common incidents across Nigeria, including Abia hence the
Premium Power Solutions (PPS), has said that it will on October 6, 2025, host the graduation ceremony of the first cohort from its Technician Academy in Lagos, marking a milestone in its mission to bridge Africa’s technical skills gap
and empower young people.
The academy, launched as part of PPS’s social responsibility vision, provides free, yearlong, hands-on training in electrical and mechanical technology.
Trainees also receive personal protective equipment, professional
toolkits, and preparation for the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity trade test; all at no cost.
PPS Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Ejiroghene Udu, said the initiative reflects the company’s broader commitment to community impact and sustainable workforce
decision by Otti to free Abia from such project failures. Kanu assured stakeholders in the building and construction sector that government’s strategic move to ensure execution of high quality projects in the state would be beneficial to all given the capacity of the laboratory.
development.
“Energy at PPS means more than electricity; it’s about unlocking potential and dignity for our youth,” Udu said. “This academy is our pledge to close the skills gap and empower a new wave of talent, especially young women, to shape Africa’s energy future.”
As the January 1, 2026, date for the implementation of the new tax regime draws near, there are feelings of apprehension and questions on transparent administration of the tax laws to spur industrialization, writes Dike Onwuamaeze
The Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, is convinced that the Nigeria’s four new tax laws have the answers to Nigeria’s constrained fiscal space and a tax system that is not conducive for sustained economic growth.
These tax laws, which will take effect from January 1, 2026, are the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service Act and the Joint Revenue Board Act.
Oyedele stated that Nigeria’s fiscal environment is currently characterised by low tax to GDP ratio, which stood at less than 10 per cent before 2024, high debt service to revenue ration of 97 per cent in 2022 and over reliance on oil revenue, etc.
He also noted that Nigeria’s tax policy is marked by inequity and unfair tax burden on tax payers, distortionary tax incentive system and uncompetitive tax regime for businesses.
According to him, the country’s tax laws are replete with myriad of multiple taxes and levies, complex and ambiguous tax rules as well as archaic and obsolete laws.
For him, these are challenges that new tax laws would address come January 1 by removing fiscal constraints, addressing structural issues, providing incentives for exports and reducing withholding tax rates.
He added that the new tax regime would grant higher exemption threshold for small businesses and promote business formalisation.
Oyedele stated that what should be expected from the tax reform laws are facilitation of economic growth, revenue mobilisation and shared prosperity for businesses, governments and households.
He, therefore, enthused that “we can build a prosperous Nigeria together.”
He urged Nigerians to “get on board or you will miss the train,” adding that better days are ahead as “we are on track and the worst is behind us.”
The President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, acknowledged that The 2025 Tax Acts, with its sweeping provisions on digital taxation, unified filing systems, and incentives for green and export-oriented industries as bold legislations but stated that the key questions demanding attention are: “how can the newly introduced Investment and Export Incentive Schemes under the Act be administered transparently to spur industrialisation rather than create avenues for abuse?
“And how do we institutionalise efficient dispute-resolution processes via the Tax Appeal Tribunal, so that
In a significant development that is poised to reshape Nigeria’s Niger Delta hospitality scene, Best Western Hotels & Resorts is scheduled to open its newest property, Best Western Plus Yenagoa, on October 15, 2025.
Strategically positioned at Oxbow Lake in the heart of Yenagoa, the hotel is poised to catapult Bayelsa State into the spotlight as an emerging hub for luxury, business, and tourism.
General Manager of Best Western Plus Yenagoa, Chand Rami, shared his excitement about the hotel’s launch, saying, “Best Western Plus Yenagoa is not just a hotel. It is a destination where the natural beauty of Oxbow Lake meets
international standards of hospitality. We are excited to create experiences that reflect excellence, comfort, and the warmth of Bayelsa.” This vision for excellence is evident in every aspect of the hotel, from its modern design to its commitment to exceptional service.
Best Western Plus Yenagoa carries forward the legacy of Best Western Hotels & Resorts, which has built a strong presence in Nigeria through its hotels in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Enugu. With more than 4,700 hotels worldwide, the brand is recognised for its consistent quality, innovation, and customer-focused approach. The Yenagoa property adds a new dimension to this legacy, highlighting Bayelsa as an emerging destination for hospitality and
tax disagreements do not cripple enterprise?”
But as the January 1 date draws near there is fear and apprehension among businesses and individuals regarding the implications of the implementation of the new tax laws on their businesses and personal incomes.
This apprehension was articulated recently by the President of Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria (CIoD), Mr. Adetunji A. Oyebanji. He said that the new tax laws are ambitious in their scope and laudable in their intent to simplify tax administration, enhance compliance and broaden the country’s tax base. These, according to him, are objectives that every responsible corporate entity and every patriotic Nigerian must support.
Yet, Oyebanji said that the most pressing concern of members of CIoD regarding the new tax regime bothers on the principle of fairness in application and in effect.
He said: “While the new laws rightly aim to increase revenue, some provisions, if not carefully managed, could place an undue burden on businesses already grappling with high operational costs, a volatile currency, and macroeconomic headwinds,” adding that “there is a lingering
uncertainty that the new regime may not fully eliminate the problem of multiple taxation at the state and local government levels.”
He also noted that the sharp increase in the corporate Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rate from 10 per cent to 30 per cent is a significant concern whose timing and scale of adjustment could discourage capital intensive investment, corporate restructuring, and business expansion.
“At a time when companies are struggling with high costs and fragile margins, such a steep hike risks slowing growth and reducing the tax base over the medium term,” he said.
He also shined a spotlight on the burden of compliance, particularly on SMEs that may struggle to cope with the new reporting requirements and the cost of digital infrastructure.
Oyebanji warned that without adequate support, this could drive more firms into informality, undermining the very objective of broadening the tax net.
He, therefore, called on government to provide adequate support, training and a grace period for businesses to transition smoothly, adding that the process should not be more cumbersome than the tax itself.
t he story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com
tourism.
According to Rami, Best Western Plus Yenagoa is not just another hotel; it’s a destination that seamlessly blends international standards with the rich cultural heritage of Bayelsa State. With its elegantly furnished rooms and suites, fully serviced apartments, and world-class amenities, including complimentary WiFi, flat-screen smart TVs, and mini-bars, the hotel promises an unparalleled hospitality experience for its guests. Guests will also enjoy premium facilities such as a fitness centre, spa, Chinese restaurant, and an outdoor swimming pool designed to provide both relaxation and convenience.
The Family of late Hon V E Uwanna Esq of Eluama, Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State, proudly extend our warmest congratulations to Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, on his welldeserved elevation to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)
The Family of late Hon V E Uwanna Esq of Eluama, Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State, proudly extend our warmest congratulations to Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, on his welldeserved elevation to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)
Aikay, this remarkable milestone is a reflection of your exceptional dedication, resilience, and commitment to the legal profession Your elevation brings honour not only to the legal community but also to the entire Uwanna family
Aikay, this remarkable milestone is a reflection of your exceptional dedication, resilience, and commitment to the legal profession Your elevation brings honour not only to the legal community but also to the entire Uwanna family
We celebrate this achievement with joy and pride, and we pray that this new chapter ushers in greater accomplishments, wisdom, and fulfillment in your career
We celebrate this achievement with joy and pride, and we pray that this new chapter ushers in greater accomplishments, wisdom, and fulfillment in your career
With heartfelt congra
2
LR: Creative Director at Patrickwaheed Ltd. Patrick Koshoni; Creative Director of NANA Colective, Adeyemo Shokunbi; CEO, National Theatre National and Founder of iDesign, Tola Akerele; representative of Lagos State Governor/CEO, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Bukola Agbaminoja; Managing Director/CEO, Ecobank, Bolaji Lawal; Founder/CEO, Lash Interior, Aishat Lawal; and President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi at the Ecobank Design and Build Exhibition held in Lagos…yesterday
Kuni Tyessi and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
In the face of an imminent strike action, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government over lingering issues affecting the nation’s universities.
The union, in a statement issued at the end of its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held at the University of Abuja on Sunday, September 28, 2025, decried what it described as the government’s consistent neglect of public universities and the welfare of academic staff.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, who signed the statement, recalled the union had in August, staged rallies across federal and state universities to draw attention to the plight of the system, but lamented that the efforts yielded no meaningful response from
theAccordinggovernment. to him, if the federal government fails to act within the ultimatum, ASUU will first embark on a two-week warning strike, after which it may proceed on a total and indefinite shutdown of universities nationwide.
The union listed its demands to include: Renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement; Sustainable funding of universities; Revitalisation of public universities and an end to the victimisation of its members at LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.
delayed promotion arrears spanning over four years and settlement of outstanding third-party deductions.
Others are: Payment of outstanding 25–35% sal- ary arrears; Resolution of
Prof. Piwuna maintained the issues raised were not new, while appealing for intervention by traditional rulers and well-meaning Nigerians to help resolve the issues and to prevent the looming strike, saying he be- lieves the federal government has the financial capacity to address the challenges facing the education sector.
Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
Business owners and those who live along the Benin-Sapele road axis have bemoaned the snail speed of the ongoing repairs on the road.
Signs of failure of the road, which stretches from the by-pass area to the Ologbo-Koko junction, began to show in 2018 due to poor drainage design or failure to maintain drains.
Already, Edo State Government has taken over a portion of the road rehabilitation earlier
embarked upon by Levant Construction Firm, with 5.5 kilometres of stone-based and reinforced concrete pavement structure already completed.
At a stage, the road became near impassable due to political differences between the state government, which ought to have done some palliative work, and the federal government, whose duty it was to rehabilitate the road that linked the South-west to the South-south corridors.
A resident of Ogheghe, who gave his name as Igbinovia
The Police Service Commission (PSC) yesterday announced that no fewer than thirty senior police officers were, on Monday, 29th September 2025, subjected to a promotion examination - now a prerequisite for advancement in the Nigeria Police Force.
A statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, revealed the officers included one Assistant Inspector-General of Police, two Commissioners, eleven
Deputy Commissioners, and sixteen Assistant Commissioners, out of the seventeen invited for the exercise.
The promotion examination, he said, took place at the Solomon Arase Chairman’s Conference Hall, on the 6th floor of the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission.
The Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd), stated the promotion examination is one of the innovations now established in the career progression framework for serving police officers.
He noted that although it has come rather late, it remains a welcome development, expected to restore the dignity of the Nigeria Police Force.
Argungu explained that any officer who fails the examination three times will be retired at that level, for reasons of clear incompetence.
He stressed the world has long embraced a skills-driven era, and that police officers seeking career progression must be prepared to meet the demands of this new reality.
Lucky, said since he parked into his apartment in 2022, it had been a nightmare coming to the city and going back home at the close of work.
Lucky said, “Most times, a journey which ordinarily should take an average of 30 - 45 minutes, lasts up to five or six hours just from my place of work at the government secretariat to where I live in Ogheghe and same applies to other persons who live along that route or do business on that axis.”
A transporter, Sunday Ochuko, said, “The bad state of the road has increased accident risks occasioned by trucks that often get stuck, tip over, or delay for days.” He pointed out that due
to the poor state of the road, transporters and passengers were often exposed to incidents of theft, and security concerns, including kidnappings.
Ochuko said vehicles suffered greater wear and tear, with motorists spending more on fuel and repairs.
A fruit seller, who bought fruits from Benin to sell in Sapele, lamented the delay and loss of goods due to damage, spoilage, or pilferage.
The lady, who preferred anonymity, said sellers were often forced to raise prices because transporters increased fares.
She stated, “Apart from that, businesses and individuals lose hours. What might be a 1 hour
trip becomes 5 6 hours. This reduces the number of trips, lowers work hours, increases delays in supply chains.
“The corridor is vital for trade between Edo and Delta states (and beyond) but poor road quality makes it harder to move goods efficiently to market, pos- sibly reducing competitiveness.”
A business owner at the Ologbo end of the road said, “Fares for passengers have nearly doubled on the Benin to Sapele route. Transport operators are making fewer trips per day. Business owners suffer low patronage because the road takes too much time or because vehicles break down. Goods are being damaged.”
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said there was no truth in the allegation that the President Bola Tinubu administration was marginalising the Igbo ethnic group of the South-east Idris refuted the allegation yesterday at the press conference he jointly addressed with the Secretary
to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to commemorate Nigeria at 65 Independence Day Anniversary celebration.
He said the concentration of infrastructure development currently going on in the South-east, especially roads and bridges had never happened in the history of the country.
“I was wondering whether we are actually living in same country with
you, to be honest with you. While you are saying that a particular ethnic group is being marginalised, I wonder how true that would be.
“About six weeks ago, I led the current government’s consultation to the southeastern part of this country, and what I saw happening in terms of infrastructure development, especially roads and bridges, it has never ever happened in the history of this country.
Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello (right); Executive Commissioner (Operations), Mr. Louis Odion; Executive Commissioner (Corporate Services), Hajia Ummu Salma Isyaku Rabiu; and Deputy Economic Counsellor, Embassy of the United States of America, Joseph Giblin, during a courtesy visit of the latter to the FCCPC Corporate Headquarters, Asokoro, Abuja on Monday where both sides discussed deepening Nigeria–United States collaboration to advance consumer protection
Targets 18% by 2027, says debt service reduced to 50% of revenue, from 90% Declares president has delivered on campaign promises to Nigerians
James Emejo in Abuja
Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, yesterday, said the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio
currently stood at 13.5 per cent, compared to 10 per cent at the inception of the current administration.
Adedeji said FIRS aimed to further beat Africa’s average of
15 per cent and achieve 18 per cent tax to GDP by 2027.
He also revealed that the country’s revenue to debt service had been brought down to 50 per cent, from about 90 per
cent, in two years.
The FIRS chairman spoke in an interview to commemorate his two-year stewardship at the Revenue House.
He also said tax payers should
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed is set to headline a powerhouse lineup of confirmed speakers at the 2nd Nigeria Refining Summit, hosted by the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN).
Joining him are Mrs. Nkechi Obi, Group Managing Director of TechnoOil; Mr. Temi Omatseye, Executive Chairman of Polmaz Logistics and former
Director-General of NIMASA; Dr. Ibilola Amao, Principal Consultant of Lonadek Global Services; and Begna Gebreyes, Head of Heavy Industries, Telecoms & Technology (HITT) at Africa Finance Corporation— alongside other energy leaders.
The Summit will unite policymakers, regulators, investors, and operators to chart a path toward transforming Nigeria into a self-sufficient refining powerhouse and a regional fuel supplier of choice, a statement from the Momoh Oyarekhua-led organisation
stated.
Despite producing over 1.4 million barrels of crude oil daily, Nigeria spends more than $10 billion annually on fuel imports. The Summit’s mission is to accelerate the shift from dependence to dominance by boosting refining capacity, ensuring sustainable crude supply, and aligning operations with global environmental standards.
Momentum is already building. The Dangote Refinery now runs at more than 70 per cent capacity, while Aradel, Waltersmith, and OPAC
Segun Awofadeji in Gombe
As part of government commitment to reduce the number of out of school children in the state, Gombe State First lady, Hajiya Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya, has flagged-off free registration of children in Gombe local government area of the state into schools.
THISDAY reports the state has not less than 787,619 out of school children out of the four million population of the state.
Worried by the figure, the state government through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched enrolment drive campaign to reduce the number of the out of school children by 50 percent by the yearThe2030.state launched the scheme by registering children free of charge in schools in the 11 local government areas of the state and providing school materials.
modular refineries demonstrate the agility of smaller-scale solutions, it said .
With BUA’s 200,000 bpd Akwa Ibom refinery and the rehabilitation of Port Harcourt and Warri plants on track, it said that Nigeria could surpass 1 million barrels per day of refining capacity by 2027 — a milestone that would decisively end fuel import reliance.
expect a fair tax administration that will come without hassles next year, when the new tax laws will come into effect.
Adedeji said the service had helped to reform the fiscal landscape, and consequently change the revenue structure of the federation.
He said within two years, reform initiatives embarked upon by the service and the administration of President Bola Tinubu had yielded the desired outcomes.
Adedeji, who spoke on sundry issues in tax administration, said for the first time, the three tiers of government shared a record monthly allocation in excess of N2 trillion.
He pointed out that states and local government councils were now more empowered to carry out their responsibilities to Nigerians in their domains following their improved fiscal conditions.
He also emphasised that about 70 per cent of what the three tiers of government received from federation coffers came from tax revenue collected by FIRS.
The FIRS chairman said federal allocations to states had grown by about 70 per cent, enabling them to enjoy a great level of fiscal stability and debt management.
He stated, “According to the figures from DMO, about 30 states repaid N1.85 trillion in debt over 18 months. We should keep these figures in perspective when X-raying this administration.”
Adedeji added, “This is an eloquent testimony to the reforms spearheaded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“So, all credits must go to the president for the courage he has demonstrated in leadership by setting the economic fundamentals right in order for the reforms to bring plenty fruits and gains for the federation.
The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has said a total of 7.8 million children in Kano State, aged between 9 months and 14 years, are slated to receive Measles-Rubella vaccines as part of the effort to curb the spread of disease in the state.
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, Rahama Farah, made the disclosure at a media dialogue on the Integrated Measles-Rubella Polio Vaccination Campaign
in Kano State on Monday.
He noted the campaign aimed to vaccinate 7.8 million children aged 9 months to 14 years against measles and rubella, and 2.3 million children under five years old against polio.
“It is important to highlight that the upcoming integrated campaign is planned and implemented collaboratively by partners including, the Federal Ministry of Health; the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency; WHO; Gavi; the Gates
Foundation, Civil Society Organization, UNICEF and the Kano State Government.
“Nigeria has planned to implement Measles-Rubella (MR) campaign integrated with Polio in all 36 states in two phases starting from 6th October 2025 till 16th February 2026.”
He explained that the Kano State falls under Phase One of the Campaign which will be implemented in 21 states in two streams while the phase 1, stream 1, holds from 6th October to 17th October 2025.
L-R:
Dike Onwuamaeze Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE) has called for the restoration of fiscal federalism in order to awaken subnational competition, as well as drive innovation and inclusive growth. The call was contained in a
press statement captioned, “CPPE Commentary on the Nigerian Economy at 65,” which was signed by Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf.
The statement said the current economic reform agenda was a rare opportunity to reset the economy on a path of stability, competitiveness, and shared
prosperity.
Yusuf stated, “At independence, Nigeria’s economy was largely agrarian, productive, and inclusive.
“Governance was decentralised, with regions controlling resources and revenues, which promoted balanced development, account- ability, and healthy competition.
“This early experience offers an
enduring lesson: decentralisation and local ownership of resources drive innovation and inclusive growth.“Restoring a more fiscally federal structure could once again foster subnational competitiveness, stimulate innovation, and encourage states and regions to take greater ownership of economic
outcomes.”
He said the discovery and commercialisation of crude oil in the late 1960s radically altered Nigeria’s economic and political trajectory and made the economy acutely vulnerable to oil price shock that had continued to destabilise public finances to this day.
will require export diversifica- tion, fiscal discipline, and the creation of credible stabilisation mechanisms to ensure stability of government spending during periods of revenue volatility.
“Cheerfully, recent develop- ments - notably the Dangote Refinery and petrochemical complex and ongoing industry reforms — signal a potential turnaround.
A member of the Board of Trustees of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Nurudeen Adeyemi, yesterday, said the agency would continue to prioritise the transformation of tertiary education as a critical engine for growth, innova- tion, and societal transformation.
Speaking on Monday in Ilorin, during a town hall meeting for stakeholders of TETFund beneficiary institutions in the North-central zone, Adeyemi said the transformation agenda would assist the agency to position
the country’s tertiary institutions among the best in the world.
According to him, “Since TETFund’s inauguration by the President and Commander-inChief, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Board of Trustees has pursued with vigour a reform-driven policy agenda anchored on the Renewed Hope vision.
“This agenda prioritises the transformation of tertiary education as a critical engine for growth, innovation, and societal transformation.
“It is in pursuit of these pillars
that the Board has approved and implemented numerous groundbreaking projects and initiatives across the six geopolitical zones of our country.”
He added, “One of the most remarkable areas of progress has been in academic staff training and“Thousandsdevelopment. of lecturers across universities, polytechnics, and col- leges of education have benefitted from sponsorships for PhD and Master’s programmes, both locally and“Ininternationally. addition, the Fund has supported teaching practice,
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
conference participation, and professional development programmes, ensuring that Nigerian institutions are equipped with a globally competitive workforce of highly trained academics.”
Adeyemi said, “In the area of infrastructure development, the Fund has continued to address glaring gaps through the construction and equipping of modern lecture theatres, laboratories, libraries and ICT facilities.
Yusuf stated, “The key lesson is clear: resource wealth must be managed prudently and counter cyclically through well-governed stabilisation funds and sovereign wealth investments, while industrialisation must be firmly rooted in domestic value chains rather than external dependence.”
He pointed out that Nigeria had experienced eight recessions since independence (in 1967, 1975, 1978, 1981–1983, 1993, 2016, and 2020) largely triggered by oil price shocks, fiscal mismanagement, or global Accordingcrises. to him, each down- turn revealed the same structural fragilities: heavy reliance on oil revenues, weak non-oil exports, and excessive import dependence.
He said, “Building resilience
“These efforts, if sustained, could restore value to the sector, enhance energy security, and catalyse new downstream and petrochemical investments.” Yusuf stated that the deterioration in national security in the past two decades, characterised by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, ethnic and religious conflicts, farmer-herders’ clashes, and armed robbery, had disrupted agriculture, manufacturing, and mining, and eroded investor confidence.
“Therefore, restoring security is not just a social imperative but an economic one, necessary to rebuild productivity and unlock investment in the real economy,” Yusuf said.
them access to the loans, risk being publicly listed for noncompliance.
mandate to expand access to higher education through interest-free student loans.
In its bid to promote gender equality and end gender-based violence in Nigeria, the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development in partnership with the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD) has launched a Male Feminist Network (MFN) that will act as partners in ending gender-based violence and other social vices.
leaders, professionals and grassroots influencers across all the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
The MFN, according to NISD, is poised to challenge harmful norms by training 1000 males who will be
The NSID said recognizing the role men can play in promoting gender equality and supporting feminist causes will make them allies in the movement for gender justice.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says the application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session will officially close on Tuesday, September 30. The loan portal will reopen in the second week of October for fresh applications and remain open until January 2026.
Also, it warned that institutions that failed to verify students’ records, thereby depriving
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, who disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, said the closure would allow the Fund to conclude processing of pending applications and upkeep payments.
He also announced timelines for the 2025/2026 academic cycle, in line with the Fund’s
“NELFUND remains committed to removing financial barriers for students and working with institutions to ensure that no eligible student is left behind.
“These timelines provide clarity for students, parents, and institutions to plan ahead and participate fully in the process,” he said.
L-R: Procurement Manager, NigerBev (maker of Best Premium Spirits), Segun
Trade Marketing
Manager, Cot Ps Die; Marketing Manager, Chinyere Ugwulali; Operations Manager, Collins
Ikeotonye, at the media parley of the repackaging launch held in Lagos, yesterday
Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, yesterday, declared that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would remain in office beyond 2027 in the state, while it would also reclaim the presidency and win massively in the next general election. Makinde stated this at the Oyo State PDP State Congress, citing the party’s respect for internal democracy and the amicable conduct of its congresses as a pointer to its strength.
While addressing party faith- ful at the Basket Ball Area of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, venue of the state congress, Makinde
commended the rancour-free congresses and stated that the process would ensure the party’s retention of power beyond 2027 in Oyo State.
The congresses were attended by the PDP ward and local government executives, ad-hoc delegates and stakeholders of the party from the 33 local government areas of the state. Makinde tasked the new state executive members to work hard towards ensuring the victory of PDP in all elections, from local to the national levels.
The governor told party members in the state, who were yet to be compensated, that they had not been forgotten by the government.
Makinde stated, “I want to congratulate all of us in advance because I believe, in this party, we won’t all labour in vain. We will all reap the fruits of our labour in this government.
“Let me assure us once again that those who are yet to get something from this govern- ment will be reached soon. This exercise is to ensure that the PDP continues to remain in power in Oyo State beyond 2027.
“So, the executives that will emerge from this exercise; your mandate is clear — deliver PDP from the Presidential to the Councillorship position in 2027.”
Hon. Dayo Ogungbenro was
re-elected as Chairman of PDP in Oyo State, while Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke was elected Deputy State Chairman, with Oyelami Oyeyemi, Olawumi Elizabeth Toyin, and Bello Kazeem Olalekan elected PDP State Secretary, Women Leader and Youth Leader, respectively.
Chairman, Oyo State PDP Congress Electoral Panel, Senator Austin Akobundu, in his welcome address, lauded Makinde, party leaders and stakeholders for their commitment and efforts towards fostering unity in PDP.
Akobundu stressed that the congress was of great significance to the party.
He added that PDP in Oyo
State, under the leadership of Makinde, had been one of the strongest chapters of the party, recording unprecedented growth and transformation through the governor’s political goodwill.
Akobundu, who urged members of the party to remain orderly, assured that PDP would return all its candidates in the 2027 general election.
In their separate goodwill messages, former Deputy Governor of Oyo State and PDP National Deputy Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; and Senator Gbenga Babalola
Presidency: Jonathan Free to r un in 2027, n igerians Won’t Forget h e r an e conomy a ground
Professor Jerry Gana, that Jonathan would contest the 2027 presidential poll under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a release by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the presidency emphasised that Jonathan was welcome to square up to President Bola Tinubu at the 2027 presidential election.
It, however, advised Jonathan to be wary of PDP sugar-coated cheerleaders like Gana, who only wanted to lure him into the race to satisfy their personal, religious, ethnic and political interests.
Faulting Jonathan’s ambition, the presidency added that the Tinubu presidency, in the last 28 months, had been busy correcting the past misdeeds of the Jonathan government by resetting the economy, removing the ruinous fuel subsidy, and abolishing multiple exchange rates, which paved the way for arbitrage to flourish.
The presidency, in the 15-paragraph release stated, “As we begin the march towards the 2027 elections prematurely foisted on the nation by the desperation of the opposition ganging up against President Bola Tinubu despite his glaring giant economic strides, we
are once again regaled with a cacophony of voices, most of them full of sound and fury, signifying nothing, to paraphrase inimitable Williams Shakespeare in one of his classic works, Macbeth.
“One recent statement that stands out in its absurdity is Professor Jerry Gana’s. The former Minister of Information and National Orientation, moving to draft former President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2007 presidential race, affirmed that the former president would contest the coming election on the platform of the discredited Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which bequeathed a legacy of economic ruins, after 16 years of bad “Ganagovernance. even deluded himself, asserting that the former President would defeat President Tinubu to reclaim power after 12 years. Prof. Gana of the defunct MAMSER fame is free to delude himself and engage in his usual comedy. After all, Jonathan’s entering the race would provide another job for the Niger State-born former university don.”
It added, “However, we should caution former President Jonathan to be wary of the PDP
sugar-coated cheerleaders.
Politicians of Jerry Gana’s ilk merely want to lure him into the race to satisfy their personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests. They will abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015, and leave Gentleman Jonathan in the lurch.
“Don’t get us wrong: President Jonathan reserves the right to run if he wishes. It is his inalienable right to contest the presidency again. President Tinubu will wholeheartedly welcome him if he decides to enter the race.
“But Jonathan will have his date in the court of the land. Indeed, the jury will determine whether Jonathan, who was sworn in twice as president, satisfies the constitutional requirements and is eligible to contest the presidency and be sworn in, if successful, for a third term in office.”
The statement said, “Shorn of all those selfish considerations for which some PDP big guns find his candidacy appealing, President Jonathan will also have his encounter with the people as to whether he has anything new to offer after his disastrous six years, for which they voted him out in 2015.
“Let us remind ourselves
about Jonathan’s record. We cannot forget in a hurry how his regime, devoid of any clear economic agenda, engaged in frivolous spending, ran the economy aground and put the country in dire straits.
“The nation’s economic downturn, which President Tinubu is working very hard to overcome, actually began under President Jonathan. The Jonathan administration severely damaged the economy, and all key indicators declined under his watch.
“Under him, the so-called business moguls allocated foreign exchange to import fuel, simply pocketing the dollars without importing anything. Some of those big men still have court cases on the issue today.”
The presidency also alleged, “Jonathan and his National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), freely distributed security funds to friends and cronies. In 2010, President Jonathan inherited a total of $66 billion, of which $46 billion was in foreign reserves and $20 billion in the noble-but-abused Excess Crude Account.
“By 2015, when the people democratically removed him
from office, the foreign reserves had fallen below $30 billion, and the Excess Crude Account had been depleted to $2 billion, despite generating record revenue from crude oil sales that the country had never achieved in more than 25 years combined.
“It is on record that between 2010 and 2013, crude oil sold for an average of $100 per barrel. By December 2014, however, the Jonathan-led Federal Government could no longer pay salaries to Federal Civil Servants. At least 28 states across the country owed workers huge salary arrears.
“In contrast, President Tinubu has taken bold decisions over the last 28 months to reset the economy, removing the ruinous fuel subsidy and abolishing multiple exchange rates, which paved the way for arbitrage to flourish. The President has stabilised the economy in slightly over two years in office.”
The presidency said, “In 2025 Q2, the Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23 per cent, the highest in four years, outpacing the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund. Inflation decreased to 20.12 per cent in August 2025, the lowest
described the peaceful conduct of the state congress as a dem- onstration of PDP’s commitment to internal democracy. They commended Makinde for stabilising the party and prayed for a more united PDP in Oyo State and Nigeria.
In his brief remarks, former governor of Jigawa State and one of the founding fathers of PDP, Alhaji Sule Lamido, congratulated the 39 newly- elected state executive members, charging them to continue to work for the progress and development of the party. The exercise was monitored by a team from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
level in three years.
“The foreign reserves stand presently at $42. 03 billion. The Naira has virtually stabilised. Investor confidence in our economy has been restored, and investors are betting on Nigeria.
“In plain language, the nation has turned the corner. And our people have started reaping the gains of the bold reforms instituted by the Tinubu administration. Road infrastructure is being boosted.
“Old roads are being recon- structed while new ones, like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, among others, are springing up. The government is addressing security issues in some parts of the country.
“We can go on and on, reeling out the many macroeconomic gains of the Tinubu adminis- tration. However, the point is that the PDP and Jerry Gana’s co-travellers broke the economy; President Tinubu is fixing it.
“President Jonathan and others are welcome to the 2027 race. They broke the economy before, but millions of Nigerians, who will not easily forget the recent past, will not allow them to return and run it down again.”
L-R: United States Consul General Lagos, Rick Swart; Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Richard Mills and Group Managing Director, Geometric Power, Mrs. Agatha Nnaji, during a visit to Geometric Power and tour of metering and power infrastructures plant in Aba, Abia State...recently
A Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, declared as unlawful and unconstitutional the proposed shadow government/cabinet by former presidential candidate, Professor Pat Utomi, and his associates.
Justice James Omotosho, who handed down the ruling, made an order restraining Utomi and his associates from taking any further steps in their bid to establish a shadow gov- ernment/cabinet in the country.
The judge made the order while delivering judgement in the suit by Department of State Services (DSS).
According to the court, the concept of shadow govern- ment/cabinet is unconstitutional and alien to the country’s presidential system of government.
Besides, the court held that Utomi and his associates could not hide under the rights of as- sociation to criticise the govern- ment and engage in unlawful activities.
The DSS had sued Utomi over his planned establishment of a shadow government/ cabi- net in the country.
The service alleged that the move was not only unconsti-
tutional but capable of creating chaos in the country, hence, the court should restrain him and his associates from going ahead with their Deliveringplan. judgement in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/937/2025, the judge com- mended the DSS for filing the suit, and added that it was within the powers of the secu- rity agency to take steps to pre- vent acts capable of threatening the country’s internal security.
Omotosho upheld the argu- ment by DSS’ lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, that the move by Utomi and his associates to form a shadow government/ cabinet was intended to create chaos and destabilise the country.Omotosho, in addition, agreed with the plaintiff that, not only was the planned shad- ow government an aberration, it constitutes a grave attack on the constitution and a threat to the democratically elected government that is currently in place.He held that such a structure, styled as a shadow government/cabinet, if left unchecked, might incite po- litical unrest, cause intergroup tensions, and embolden other unlawful actors or separatist
entities to replicate similar par- allel arrangements, all of which posed a grave threat to national security.Omotosho held that although the defendant was
entitled to enjoy the rights to freedom of expression and to associate, such rights were not absolute.
Besides, the court observed that although the defendant
claimed to be running a civil so- ciety organisation, his decision to form a shadow government was a nullity. Omotosho stated that there were existing avenues through
which people could criticise the government, which the defen- dant could explore, but not to take unconstitutional steps, like forming shadow government/ cabinet.
chuks okocha in Abuja
The leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, did not have the authority of the party to disclose that former President Goodluck Jonathan would become its presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.
PDP said it did not lack presidential materials for the next general election, as there were competent and perform- ing governors from the south that could easily become its presidential candidate, if they so desired.
The party further dismissed the state congress election that
michael olugbode and olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The federal government has announced the cancellation of the Independence Anniversary parade, previously scheduled to mark the 65th Independence on Wednesday, 1st October.
The cancellation was communicated via a statement issued yesterday by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to Government of Federation, Segun Imohiosen.
The statement stated that, while the cancellation was in no way a diminishment of the significance
of the milestone anniversary, the federal government remained committed to celebrating Nigeria’s 65th year of independence with dignity and enthusiasm.
It stated that all other pro- grammes scheduled for the Independence Anniversary would remain in effect.
The statement conveyed government’s deep regrets of any inconvenience caused by the cancellation.
“The federal government appreciates the understanding, support and cooperation of all Nigerians, members of the dip- lomatic community, and invited guests, and urges Nigerians to
support the reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR in making Nigeria a greater nation,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has ordered the deployment of 4500 Personnel across the nooks and crannies of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of this year’s Independence Day celebration
A statement yesterday by the Public Relations Officer of the FCT Command of the NSCDC, Monica Ojobi, stated that the order was issued by the Command’s Commandant, Dr. Olusola Odumosu.
took place at the weekend in Calabar, Cross River State. It stated that the organisers of the congress had no authority of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to conduct the election.
Gana had at the weekend said Nigerians, having seen the disparity in their lives after eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari and two years under incumbent President Bola Tinubu, now knew better and wanted Jonathan to return.
Gana spoke on Saturday in Minna after the election of new officials by the Niger State chapter of PDP. He also confirmed that Jonathan would contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of PDP.
But addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said, “Profes- sor Jerry Gana doesn’t speak for
the PDP. I don’t also speak for Professor Jerry Gana.
‘’I don’t speak for Professor Jerry Gana. People can express their opinion. But I will empha- sise this. In this party, as we are today, President Jonathan is a member, he has not said he’s not a member.
‘’But I can tell you, today, this party has eminently qualified Nigerians, particularly at the governors’ level, who have done exceedingly well, that Nigeria can tap on that and say, step up the place and do the right thing, because their performances in their states show their capacity, which is actually the DNA of the PDP.
‘’So, I don’t speak for President Jonathan. I don’t speak for Jerry Gana, with all due respect. But our party is focused on our convention and when we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it. Those should be semantics.”
On Saturday’s congress in Calabar, Ologunagba said,
“Clearly, there’s no State Congress held in Cross River State for the PDP, for the State Executive Committee of the party.
“You know we’re going to the season of carnivals now, in Cross River State, Calabar. If people were there, according to you, because I can’t recognise that, these people just went there for the pre-carnival for Christmas and it’s “Calabarokay.is a friendly place for people who want to enjoy life. I think they’re there for that purpose. I’m not marketing Calabar, but I know people go there to have some good time, drink, and take brandy and all that.
“This party has a process. That you imagine that you can sit down and get some people together and have drinks, and call it a congress, that’s hallucination.”
A former Director of the British Council, Abuja, David Roberts, yesterday posited that insinuations of genocide against Christians in Nigeria, were untrue.
“I lived in Nigeria as a British diplomat and toured the length and breadth of the country. It is ridiculous for anyone even to suggest that half a million people were killed as part of a genocide against Christians in Nigeria by Muslims last year alone.
“Yes, there are security challenges in Nigeria, but those challenges have plagued the country from the pre-colonial to the colonial and now the post-colonial eras,” he stated.
According to him, more Muslims are killed by the terrorists, explaining that recently, insecurity in Nigeria has been exacerbated by the crisis in the Sahel, with the fall of democratic governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
“And this is not some Christian genocide. As a matter of fact, more Muslims are killed in the face of these attacks in Nigeria than Christians—a fact noted by the Institute for Economics and Peace in their annual Global Terrorism Index.
“In recent times, insecurity in Nigeria has been exacerbated by the crisis in the Sahel, with the fall of democratic governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger,” he added.
L-R: Head of Aggregates and ReadyMix, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Derek Williamson; Director, Investor Relations, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Mrs. Lovina Kayode; Vice President, International Business, Huaxin Cement, Mr. Xu Gang; Group Managing Director/CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Lolu Alade-Akinyemi; and Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Innocent Bariate Barikor, during the unveiling of EcoCrete, a low carbon concrete by Lafarge Africa Plc in Abuja, weekend
Defiant union leaders urge members to continue strike Industrial action grounds activities at NNPC, NUPRC, NMDPRA, others
NACCIMA, Peter Obi call for dialogue to protect Nigeria’s economy NLC backs PENGASSAN’s action, puts members on red alert
Emmanuel Addeh, Chuks Okocha, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Alex Enumah in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos
Justice Emmanuel Sublim of a National Industrial Court in Abuja yesterday temporarily restrained the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGAS- SAN) from embarking on its planned industrial action against Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
This happened even as the strike action embarked upon by PENGASSAN yesterday grounded business activities in key public oil and gas offices, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commis- sion (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Abuja.
Also, the National President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Jani Ibrahim, has expressed concern over the nationwide strike threatened by PENGASSAN over their dispute with the Dangote Refinery, urging all parties in the dispute to resort to dialogue.
Similarly,the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, called for an urgent resolution of the dispute.
But despite the court order, PENGASSAN said that it will go on with the nationwide strike embarked upon to protest alleged anti- labour practices, stressing that it had not received any court papers urging it to halt the industrial action.
The strike followed a directive at the weekend by the union’s
National Executive Council (NEC) to its members. Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, had appealed to the union to reconsider its industrial action in the interest of peace.
However, Justice Sublim in a ruling on an exparte applica- tion on Monday, specifically restrained the defendants which included NNPC, NMDPRA and the NUPRC from cutting crude and gas supply to the Dangote Refinery.
In granting the application, the court held that going by the submissions of applicant’s lawyer, Mr George Ibrahim (SAN) as well as the affidavit deposed in support of the application, he was convinced that irreparable damage may be occasioned if the necessary orders were not granted.
He accordingly made an order restraining PENGAS- SAN from proceeding with its planned strike over its dispute with the applicant.
Justice Sublim also ordered the NNPC, NMDPRA and NUPRC from giving effect to the directive of PENGASSAN to cut crude and gas supply to Dangote Refinery.
The court ordered service of its restraining order as well as the suit on all the defendants with immediate effect and adjourned till October 13, for hearing of the motion on notice.
In the supporting affidavit deposed to by the Group Gen- eral Manager Government and Strategic Relations, Mr Ahmed Hashem, the applicant alleged that of recent there had been incidents of sabotage by some employees of the plaintiff at its plant which sprang up issues of grave health concern and safety of human lives.
He said following this, the management came to an irresist-
ible conclusion that there should be re-organisation in the plant “which led to relieving some of its staff of their employment and same was communicated to all staff by a memo or circular dated 25th September, 2025”.
He noted that the next day an online publication reported that the said staff were laid off by the Claimant because they joined the 1st Defendant’s union.
Hashem noted that the management of the Dangote Refinery by a press statement refuted the said report and explained in clear terms that the claimant was not averse to its members unionising as that is their constitutional right but however clarified that the Claimant has over 3,000 Nigerians in its workforce and
that only a negligible number of staff were affected by the re-organisation of the plant as a result of sabotage and safety concerns.
“That by a letter dated September 26, 2025 and circulated online the 1st Defendant through its General Secretary, Comrade Lamumba Ighotemu Okugbawa wrote to the Minister of Petroleum, Gas and warned that the 1st Defendant and its members were going to take action that would force the Claimant to its knees if the Claimant fails to recall the affected staff which was described in the said letter as over 800.
“That irrespective of the explanation offered by the Claimant in Exhibit DR3, the 1st Defendant became more
provoked and directed its Executives and Members in the licensees of the 2nd – 4th Defendants through whom the Claimant accesses crude and gas for its plant to stop supplying gas to the Claimant.
“That the 2nd – 4th Defendants are on standby to carry out the directives of the 1st Defendant through their agents and licensees as mentioned in Exhibit DR6 with a view to stopping the supply of gas and crude oil to the Claimant in order to halt its business and operation as threatened unless the Honourable Court intervenes.
“That the 1st Defendant is going to make good its threat to shut down operations of the Claimant knowing the strength of its membership across the
country unless the Honourable Court intervenes.
“That the Claimant’s plant was constructed with over $20 billion by its promoters to solve the energy problem of Nigeria that has been lingering for decades and has been sailing with good results to consumer satisfaction and have been making significant contribution to the economy of Nigeria, but the 1st Defendant if allowed to make good its threat will undoubtedly plunge Nigeria into the dark days of energy dearth and crisis and again, jeopardise the livelihood of the Nigerian’s end users and consumers and negatively impact on the economy.
Deji Elumoye and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has assured Diaspora Nigerians of robust engagement in the policies and programmes of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, with a view to positioning Nigeria in its rightful place among the comity of nations.
He also urged Nigerians overseas to keep believing in their home nation, saying the country was on the right track under President Tinubu’s watch.
This was as the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said the Tinubu administration in collaboration with the 10th National Assembly, was deter- mined to tackle insecurity and engender economic prosperity. Shettima, who spoke weekend during a meeting with members of the Nigerian community in the United States on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said Nigeria was on the right path with the reforms being undertaken by Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He commended Nige- rians in diaspora for their resilience and belief in the
current Nigerian government, acknowledging their capacity to add value to the country’s transformation efforts.
He said, “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart but I will have to come back to the US again and have a more robust engagement with“Eachyou.one of you has value addition capabilities in your own way, and your experi- ence is not something you can buy in the market. You have earned it.
“Continue to believe in Nigeria. Nigeria is on the right track. In the fullness of time, we will occupy our rightful place in the comity
of nations.” Shettima told the Nigerian community in the United States as well as others across the world to be proud of their heritage, noting that Nigeria’s positive developmental indices in all spheres were a reflection of well-thought-out policies of the Tinubu administration.
“Our foreign reserve is crossing the $40 billion mark, the sub-nationals are raking in trillions of naira and we are seeing infrastructureunprecedented investment across the entire country. We’re investing in the Nigerian youth and students as is the case with NELFUND,” he stated.
Hammed shittu in Ilorin
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwara State chapter, yesterday called on the federal government as a matter of urgency to deploy more troops to check the spate of incessant attacks by bandits in the state.
Also the umbrella
body of the sons and daughters of Oke-Ode Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, under the aegis of Oke-Ode Development Association (OOCDA) yesterday expressed serious concern over last Sunday’s bandit attack on the town.
During the attack, about
segun awofadeji in bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has approved a minor change in the composition of the State Executive Council with the removal of the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajiya Zainab Baban Takko.
15 vigilance members and a village head were killed and about five others were abducted.
A statement issued in
Ilorin, the state capital, yesterday by the state PDP Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olusegun Olusola Adewara, on the
sidelines of the killing of 15 vigilantes at Oke-Ode community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state last Sunday,
said that: “There are incessant attacks by these bandits, and there’s need for urgent action to check their activities in the state.”
Chuks Okocha in abuja
The Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM) has declared that former President Goodluck Jonathan will not enjoy a “free ride” to the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2027.
The governor expressed appreciation to Hajiya Zainab Baban Takko for her services to the state, and wished her success in her future endeavours.
The development is part of ongoing adjustments in the state cabinet aimed at strengthening governance and service delivery in Bauchi State.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mukhtar Gidado, confirmed that the commissioner has been relieved of her appointment with immediate effect.
Brothers Across Nigeria (BAN) International has paid N476 million to 28 families of deceased members, with each family receiving over N17million.
The Global President BAN International, Dr Anthony Mark presented cheques to each family, saying the gesture was a testament to the organisation’s commitment to supporting members and their families, even beyond their time with the group.
Mark explained that BAN, guided by core principle of ‘Brother Deliver Brother’ simply means – “all for one, and one for all,” hence the necessity to stand in
solidarity with the families of 28 departed brothers from the group untimely.
The president said:” The untimely passing of our brothers leaves a void that can never be filled especially in their families, but our hearts remain with their loved ones, and we grieve deeply for the loss of these brothers who were taken from us too soon.
“In recognition of their sacrifices, contributions, and unwavering commitment to our brotherhood, we’re providing welfare benefits exceeding N17 million per family, to be disbursed in batches.
Reacting to remarks credited to Professor Jerry Gana suggesting Jonathan’s possible comeback on the PDP platform, the GHSM National Coordinator, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, stressed that the PDP flag bearer would only emerge through an open and
transparent process in line with the Electoral Act 2022.
According to the group, “With due respect, Professor Jerry Gana is entitled to his enthusiasm about the return of former President Jonathan. However, only PDP delegates to the national convention can pick the party’s flag bearer,
and ultimately, God Almighty will determine the outcome, not a few party stalwarts.” Hamzat argued that Nigerians are yearning for progress, not a return to the past, warning that Jonathan represents an “old order” many citizens are ready to consign to history.
ayodeji ake
The Lagos State Government has launched the Nigeria State-Level Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Impact Survey (AIS) in the state, a household-based initiative designed to measure HIV treatment coverage and viral load suppression among adults aged 15 to 64.
Speaking at the press briefing in Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, described the survey as a critical milestone in the fight against HIV/AIDS, noting that its findings would inform planning, strengthen systems, and improve care for people living with HIV.
Ogboye explained that the AIS would track three major indicators: the number of people living with HIV identified, the proportion receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy, and the percentage who have achieved viral suppression. According to him, viral suppression means that “the amount of HIV in the
blood is so low it cannot be transmitted to others.”
The permanent secretary stressed that the survey is scheduled to run from October to December 2025, covering 6,150 households across all 20 LGAs of the state. Approximately 11,354 people will be interviewed, tested, and counselled, with results provided immediately.
Gbenga sodeinde in ado ekiti
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Otunba Kayode Awe, has stated that the re-election of Governor Biodun Oyebanji next year is a foregone conclusion, saying there appears to be no visible
opposition to him.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Awe stated that the two main opposition parties, namely the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are already working towards the realisation of the second
term bid of the governor.
According to Awe, APC remains the only strong platform in the state that is viable enough to win any election, describing the ADC and the PDP as mere appendages of his party by virtue of the fact that the leaders of the parties were already working for
the APC.
“APC is the only political party in Ekiti State that is cohesive compared to the other two prominent parties. I say this with a strong responsibility because the leaders of the two parties have already endorsed Governor Biodun Oyebanji for second term.
adedayo akinwale in abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it had not suspended action on the proposed delineation of wards in the Warri Federal Constituency.
The Supreme Court had ordered the electoral body to carry out the delineation of the constituency. The Federal Constituency involved comprises Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South-West local government Areas (LGA) or Councils.
However, only the Ijaw communities in the electoral district seem to have accepted INEC’s proposal, while the Itsekiri consider the proposal unfair, decrying that it fails to reflect the population and voter strength of the various ethnic groups in the area. Also, the Urhobo reject it on grounds that the exercise does not reflect their numerical strength in the region, particularly in Warri South where they claim they command an overwhelming majority in population.
Duro Ikhazuagbe
In what appears a wild goose chase, South Africa’s Football Association (SAFA), has insisted that it will challenge the decision of FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee to strip Bafana Bafana of three points and three goals in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualify- ing campaign for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho last March.
FIFA on Monday announced what many considered a belated decision to punish South Africa
for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their World Cup preliminary match against Lesotho played on 21 March 2025.
Teams in the Group C standing waited for almost six months before the world football governing body did the needful, deducting the points South Africa earned in that 2-0 defeat of Lesotho in accordance to the rule of the game governing use of ineligible player in matches.
FIFA confirmed yesterday that
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that the Super Eagles will take on Venezuela and Colombia in the United States of America during the FIFA window for international friendly matches in the month of November 2025.
NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, confirmed that the Super Eagles will be up against Venezuela on Friday, 14th November 2025 at the Shell Stadium in Houston, Texas, with kick-off billed for 8pm Texas time.
On Tuesday, 18th November 2025, the three-time African
champions will confront the Los Cafeterosof Colombia at the Citi Field Stadium in Flushing Meadows, borough of Queens, New York with kick-off billed for 8pm Eastern Time (1am Wednesday, 19th November in Nigeria).
In their last sojourn in the United States of America, in the summer of 2022, the Super Eagles played against Mexico at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, losing narrowly 1-2, with Nigeria’s goal coming off a powerful header by Cyriel Dessers. It was the first match in charge for Portuguese Coach José Peseiro.
The 2025 Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic was concluded on Sunday, September 28, 2025, with Nigeria professional golf ace, Sunday Olapade, winning the professional round with a 10-under par score in 54 holes.
Golf Manager of Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate, Femi Olagbenro, said Olapade had a brilliant spell at the event and came close to breaking the course’s 54-hole record held by Vincent Torgah.
“I believe every player
showing up at Lakowe Lakes Golf Club puts in an extra effort to match the pedigree of the course and the tough field that is always on parade during each Lakowe Lakes Golf Classic event.”
The 2025 event paraded some of the best professional players from West Africa. They include; Emos Korblah and Barry Yaw from Ghana, Oche Odoh, Kamalu Bako, Gift Willy, Godwin Okoko, Michael Ubi, and Francis Epe.
South Africa breached Article 19 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and Article 14 of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Preliminary Competition Regulations by featuring the player, who was not eligible for selection. As a result, FIFA awarded the match
to Lesotho with a 3–0 scoreline, overturning the original result. In addition to the forfeiture, SAFA was ordered to pay a fine of 10,000 Swiss Franc, while Teboho Mokoena received an official warning from the world football governing body.
But in reaction to the FIFA decision, SAFA issued a statement later yesterday stressing that it was disappointed with FIFA. It described the ruling as unprecedented.
“The outcome was delivered by a single-member panel
without reasons, and without affording the Association (SAFA) an opportunity to present legal arguments.”
SAFA further said that it has requested written reasons and will submit an appeal to FIFA’s Appeals Committee within the 10-dayDespitedeadline. the setback, SAFA stressed its continued backing of the national team the Bafana Bafana.
“The players and the technical team have worked extremely hard to reach this stage, and we remain focused on ensuring they secure maximum points in the matches ahead. We apologise to the nation for this administrative oversight,” the statement concluded.
Bafana Bafana will resume their campaign with a home fixture against Zimbabwe on 10 October at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, before hosting Rwanda on 14 October at Mbombela Stadium.
Meanwhile, Benin Republic managed by former Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, have climbed to the top of Group C on same 14 points as South Africa but with superior +4 goals difference. South Africa are on +3 goals difference. Super Eagles are third on the long on same 11 points as Rwanda but ahead on superior goals difference of +2. Lesotho who profited from the points deduction now have nine points while Zimbabwe are at the bottom of the Group C on four points.
Paul Tijani booked his place in the Nigeria Cup Hall of Fame over the weekend when he merged winner of the prestigious trophy.
To finish top in the highly competitive competition, Tijani netted a score of 69, to beat over 100 other golfers.
Victor Akinbayo placed second. Akinbayo carded 83-gross for 70-net score, winning on countback to duck in the second position.
Ademola Abidogun was
further down in the third position after losing on countback to Akinbayo. He also shot a net score of 70.
Mattia Perazzo’s 71-net placed him in the fourth position while Tope Alad- enusi, with a net score of 71 completed the top five winners in the net category.
In his victory speech, Tijani, who gave glory to God for the victory also thanked the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Wale Onaolapo for
40 Nigerian players to get classifications as the event
Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in
the support and encouragement he gave him to become the golfer he is today.
While Tijani ruled in the net category, high-flying Talal Akar took charge in the gross category for men. Playing off handicap 4, Akar tore through the tree-lined fairway of Ikoyi Club for 75-gross to win in the gross category while former Nigeria Cup winner, Remi
Olukoya finished second. Olukoya carded 78 while Aruna Sharma ducked in the third position after 78-gross, losing to Olukoya on countback.
Satisfied with the week-long competition, Onaolapo thanked the sponsors for their support for the Nigeria Cup, stressing that their backings have helped sustain the competition.
He said that a three-day
As the first International ParaBadminton championships in Nigeria is scheduled to kick off in Umuahia, Abia State today, over 40 Nigerian players are expected to get the opportunity to be classified in order to qualify for international competitions. President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, made this known in Umuahia at the weekend, stressing that after the classifica- tion, Nigerian players would start “playing in any tournament around the world”.
workshop preceding the tournament will also lead to the emergence of Nigerian coaches in Para-Badminton after scaling the assessment tests and awarded certificates of “Itcompetence. is a very major devel- opment for us as a country (because) at the end of the
day, we are going to have coaches in Para-Badminton in Nigeria,” he said, adding that Para-Badminton coaching “is a highly specialised area”.
Orbih commended Governor Alex Otti for bringing the two tournaments to Abia and doing everything possible to ensure a successful hosting.
2025 Nigeria Cup Organising Committee, Wale Onaolapo, shortly after the trophy presentation to the champion of the Nigeria Cup recently at the Ikoyi Golf Club, Lagos
On September 26, 2025, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, precisely a day after his 81st birthday was crowned the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland to succeed Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan who passed in July 2025. This may well be described as Senator Ladoja’s third momentous coming on the stage of Nigerian politics, and some may even say fourth, but I prefer the word third, given the circumstances of the Ladoja story in the public arena. Very few persons have had the luck of any achievement at all, making it remarkable that anyone would enjoy the privilege of continuous self-reinvention as Senator Ladoja. His first foray into public consciousness as a politician was as a Senator representing Oyo South in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1992 -1993 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This was Nigeria’s short-lived Third Republic, the kangaroo quasi-democratic ar- rangement put in place by the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who became a self-styled President while wearing the military toga. Nigeria’s Third Republic was an exercise in grand deception, bound to fail as it were, ending with the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election won by Bashorun MKO Abiola. Ladoja’s contemporaries in the Senate included Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu (from Lagos West, now Nigerian President), the colourful Senator Chuba Okadigbo from Anambra North, Ameh Ebute (Benue South), Iyorchia Ayu (Benue North West who served as Senate President), Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno Central) Liyel Imoke (Cross River Central), Anthony Adefuye (Lagos East), Jubril Martins Kuye (Ogun East) , Wande Abimbola (Oyo Central) and Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele (Lagos Central) – notably the only female Senator in that Senate. The Third Republic was aborted on November 17, 1993.
The highlight of that period was the June 12 crisis, the exit of General Babangida on August 23, 1993, the emergence of an Interim National Government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan, and the General Sani Abacha coup of November 1993. The newly coronated Olubadan was part of that story, now told in varying details by both historians and revisionists after the fact. In May 2003, Senator Ladoja returned to the limelight as the elected Governor of Oyo State, now on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The high point of this return was how Ladoja eventually became the poster boy for the evil of Godfatherism in Nigerian politics. His Godfather was Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, the stormy petrel of Ibadan politics, the one and only exponent of “Amala politics” who insisted that he deserved to be given 15% of the funds meant for local councils on a monthly basis, he having installed Ladoja as Governor. Ladoja refused. He did not have the support
of his party either at the state or national level. Adedibu was such a formidable political figure he had the eyes and ears of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who was President at the time. Obasanjo called him “the father of PDP”. He was also known as “the strongman of Ibadan politics”, and “Alaafin Molete.” On January 12, 2006, Ladoja was impeached by Oyo state legislators, and removed from office. This was the age of political Godfathers in Nigerian politics, and it is instructive that the Godfathers are still alive and kicking, even far more sophisticated today, as we have seen in the contemporary cases of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Lagos. A year before Ladoja’s removal, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha had been removed as Governor of Bayelsa state in December 2005, and after him, Ayo Fayose received the same treatment in Ekiti state in October 2006, Peter Obi in Anambra in November 2006, Joshua Dariye in Plateau, November 2006. Ladoja tested the limits of the law on the issue of impeachment. He went to court all the way to the Supreme Court of Nigeria to seek justice. In November 2006, his impeachment was declared null and void, and he was reinstated as Governor of Oyo State on December 12, 2006.
Ladoja may have beaten the Godfather to his game, but he never occupied the centre in Ibadan politics thereafter. He lost his bid for PDP nomination ahead of the 2007 gubernatorial election and over the years, he moved from one political party to the other: Accord Party (2010 – 2017), African Democratic Congress (2018) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) (2018), with a brief flirtation with the Action Congress (AC) in-between. In the course of his political journey, he was once arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and remanded in prison.
On this third coming, Senator, Engineer Rashidi
Adewolu Ladoja is the 44th Olubadan. He is a product of destiny and experience, and his latest achievement is probably what fate has brought to him, unlike the various battles he has had to fight in the past. The people of Ibadan run a Republican, structured system of ascension to the throne through hierarchy, seniority and promotion. It is a strict rotational, merit-based succession line on two tracks: the Balogun line and the Otun civil line, and any man can only become king after ascending the ladder of authority which is about 22 stages on the Otun line and 23 on the Balogun, military line. The state government tried to tamper with this with the Ibadanland Chieftaincy Declaration of 2017. The most senior chief on either of the two lines ascends the throne when it becomes vacant, an orderly system that shuts out any controversy or legal tussles as seen in other communities where succession to the throne is usually a struggle among ruling houses. Kabiyesi Ladoja is from the Otun (Egbe Agba) line. His successor will come from the Balogun line. Long may he reign.
The Ibadans run a transparent and accountable system: every Mogaji (that is family head) stays on the queue, every Ibadan son who becomes a family head is a potential Olubadan, and can only be eliminated by death. Thus, in the Ibadan system, the order and line of succession is predict- able, to the extent that future Olubadans know themselves, if they are lucky to be preserved by destiny. Ibadan, originally “Eba Odan” was a community founded in the 18th century as a war camp, which grew to become a strategic political and military power in the Yoruba civil wars of the 19th century as reported elaborately in War and Peace in Yorubaland 1793 -1893 by Adeagbo Akinjogbin (ed.). The Ibadan army
Continued on page 18
