Danjuma Restates His Self-defence Call as Death Toll in Benue Attacks Hits 56
Says the killers have acquired sophisticated arms to take over lands Insists nobody will save the people except themselves
As the death toll in the attacks by suspected herdsmen on the people of Benue State hit 56 yesterday, a former Minister of Defence, General
Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) has restated his call on the people of Taraba State and other Nigerians in general to defend themselves against
the invaders, who are killing people in various communities across the country. Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr.
Hyacinth Alia, who confirmed that the death toll in the attacks by herdsmen in his state has risen to 56 during his on-the-spot assessment
tour of some of the communities, declared that Benue State was going
PDP Gov Eno Confirms Support for APC’s Tinubu; Delta, Rivers, Enugu Weigh Options
Olawale Olaleye
In a major realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 general election, at least three to four governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are set to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and support the second term push of President Bola Tinubu.
This is in response to political rumblings in many northern states, which are threatening withdrawal of support for the incumbent President’s re-elections. Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State last Friday, at a public event, confirmed support for President Tinubu saying in his state, there’s no more party politics as they are all in a “unity party” of PDP and APC.
However, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, are weighing options of support for Tinubu’s second term
whilst not changing or decamping from the opposition PDP.
With Governor Eno’s open support for Tinubu’s reelection, THISDAY gathered that the entire machinery of the PDP in the state will be deployed for APC’s victory and also to facilitate the return of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio to the upper chamber as president in 2027.
The planned defection or realignment of more PDP governors, it was learnt, has brightened APC and Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 general election, especially with threats in the North to withdraw support.
Tinubu won 62 per cent of his votes in the 19 northern states in the 2023 presidential election. Investigation revealed that the defection talks with many PDP governors have reached advanced stages. However, certain conditions are said
George Okoh in Makurdi, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Wole Ayodele in Jalingo
James Emejo in Abuja
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, has stated that there is no going back in the apex bank's commitment to restore credibility
L–R: Managing Director/CEO, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Group Chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga; Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso; Group Managing Director/CEO, NGX Group, Mr. Temi Popoola; and Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, CBN, Mr. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, at the Nigerian Investment Forum organised by the CBN in collaboration with NGX Group, JP Morgan, and AVCA in New York City, United States of America...recently.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari (left), and President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, when the AfDB boss paid a thank-you visit to the former president at his Kaduna residence…recently
Shettima was Never Denied Access to Villa, Presidency Clarifies, Says Report on
The Presidency has refuted a report insinuating that the military was used to deny Vice President Kashim Shettima access to the Presidential Villa.
In a statement issued yesterday by the spokesperson to the vice president, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, the Presidency stated emphatically that there was no iota of truth in the report alleging that a military unit barred the vice president from entering the State House in Abuja.
While urging the members of the public to disregard such malicious publications, the Presidency added that the vice president remains
to be attached to the proposed deals to make the deals a win-win for the negotiating parties.
THISDAY gathered that President Tinubu had also met with some APC senators as a prelude to the governors’ defections and informed them of the development.
A competent source privy to the negotiations told THISDAY that Governor Eno agreed to join the APC because he also feared his re-election might be truncated and wanted to secure it ahead of 2027.
It was also gathered that Akpabio is coordinating talks for his defection.
Uno was also said to be determined to use his defection to get the Economic
focused on supporting President Bola Tinubu to realise the aspirations of Nigerians.
The presidential statement which was entitled - ‘Re: Mischievous Report on Access to the Presidential Villa by Vice President Kashim Shettima’, explained: "In recent times, there has been deliberate and wellplanned orchestration of falsehood against the vice president's person and office in many multidimensional forms. These mischievous and totally fabricated reports are all in a bid to cause confusion and insinuate total clash in the Presidency. These reports seek to mislead the public into believing there’s discord at the highest levels of government.”
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), off the back of his benefactor and predecessor, Udom Emmanuel, who is currently under the watch of the agency.
To also prepare the minds of his colleague-governors in the PDP, Eno was alleged to have refused to host PDP governors in his state.
To reciprocate Eno’s endorsement of Tinubu, the Senate President, Akpabio, pledged to support the governor for a second term.
Akpabio, represented by the Chairperson of the National Assembly Service Commission, Saviour Enyiekere, gave the endorsement in his Goodwill message at a public lecture organised by
Military Blocking Him Untrue
The statement added that the latest in this string of disinformation was the report claiming that the vice president had been refused entry to the Villa.
It described the report as a feeble attempt to traduce the person and office of Vice President Shettima, adding that such a thing had never happened.
"The recent publication by some obscure blogs alleging that armed military units have barricaded the vice president from accessing the Presidential Villa is not only the wildest expression of wishful thinking but a clear indication that the purveyors of these tales have exhausted both ink and imagination.
the Faculty of Social Science, University of Uyo, on Tuesday.
Akpabio’s representative said: “Sir, for doing that (endorsing Tinubu), I am a member of the All Progressives Congress. I am speaking for the elders and to tell you we are also going to support you for a second term.”
“We will support you in whatever aspiration you have. Yesterday, you broke a record by being the first opposition governor to declare support for a second term bid of President Tinubu,” he added.
Akpabio had in January 2024, at a meeting of the APC leaders in Uyo, the state capital, said it was abnormal for him as Senate president not to have
It is a story so far removed from reality that it can only be entertained by those unfamiliar with the inner workings of the Nigerian government.
"Earlier this week, the Presidency dismissed similar fake news regarding responsibility for the circulation of campaign posters bearing the images of President Bola Tinubu,” the statement added.
It said these stories reflected a desperate attempt to undermine the president and his deputy's fidelity to the rule of law and the Nigerian Constitution, insisting that those pushing these falsehoods do so in vain.
"It is understandable, though
the APC produce the governor of his state in 2027.
Governor Oborevwori, it was learnt, is also weighing options on whether to remain in the PDP and back Tinubu’s reelection or quit the opposition party.
He is said to be waiting for the other party to sign its part of the deal for him to make a commitment.
The suspended governor Fubara is also weighing the options on whether to back Tinubu whilst retaining his membership of the PDP or defect to the APC.
THISDAY also gathered that Fubara’s initial plan to defect to the APC was frustrated by the political crisis that engulfed his state.
CARDOSO: NO TURNING BACK ON CBN’S CONFIDENCE BUILDING,
MONETARY POLICY, TRANSPARENCY, OTHERS
in its operations through orthodox monetary policy, transparency, and policy consistency.
He vowed to sustain key policy reforms undertaken under his watch to address a crisis of confidence, which he inherited at his assumption of office in 2023.
Cardoso spoke during a fireside chat at a high-level global forum, hosted by the apex bank in collaboration with JP Morgan and Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), at the NASDAQ MarketSite in NYC, ahead of the IMF & World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C., United States of America (USA).
He said, “We inherited a crisis of confidence, but we chose a different path. We’re not turning back.”
Cardoso spoke alongside Nobel Prize-winning economist, Dr. James Robinson, and Professor at the University of Chicago and Director of the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts, Reverend Richard L. Pearson.
The forum, titled, ‘The Nigeria Investment Agenda: Pathways for Growth and Global Partnerships,’ convened global investors, diaspora leaders and senior financial stakeholders to discuss Nigeria’s macroeconomic outlook and reform progress.
Led by Cardoso, the CBN detailed
through “a real war.”
On his part, Danjuma spoke in Takum during an occasion he organised to appreciate his members of staff working within the area against the backdrop of renewed and intensified killings in communities in Plateau, Benue, Ondo and several other states across the country.
Meanwhile, tension has gripped the residents of Kaiama and Baruten LGAs of Kwara State as the new terrorist group identified as "Mahmuda", has resumed operations in the area, kidnapping and killing residents.
This is the third time Danjuma, who is also a former Chief of Army Staff, is calling on Nigerians, particularly his people of Taraba State, to defend themselves against killings, which he described as
its 18-month reform agenda, from monetary tightening and FX market transparency to stronger financial governance.
The central bank governor stressed that these reforms are laying the groundwork for longterm macroeconomic stability and signalling a new era of transparency and confidence.
THISDAY gathered that the forum was about facts and the future, engaging critical voices, reviewing progress, and identifying what’s needed to build enduring partnerships and attract long-term capital.
At the centre of the engagement was a clear goal - reasserting the CBN’s role as a credible, trusted institution, respected globally and committed to excellence at home.
The CBN Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, who also spoke at the event, provided macroeconomics update, stating that FX turnover had risen sharply, amid early disinflation signals.
He said the country's external reserves were strengthening, noting that with a market-determined exchange rate and a transparent, rule-based policy framework, confidence was gradually being restored in Nigeria’s economy.
The CBN presentation highlighted
genocide.
Addressing a large audience, including the Taraba State governor, Dr Agbu Kefas and other top government functionaries, who gathered to welcome him to Takum, Danjuma noted that the circumstances that made him to call for self-defence in the past has not abated but rather has intensified.
"I once asked you to rise and defend yourselves. I am still repeating it today with more seriousness; rise and defend yourselves. The killers have obtained sophisticated arms; we don't know where they got the arms. But you people should also seek to get it wherever they get the arms; you must defend yourselves against the killers.
"You should know that they are
government's focus on growing non-oil revenues, driven largely by implementing tax reforms and the National Single Window Revenue transformation through the implementation of tax reforms.
The apex bank also showcased the pursuit of bold tax reforms that will prioritise non-oil revenue sources which is crucial to mitigating susceptibility trade shocks.
Other areas included improvements in tax administration to enhance compliance and application of data intelligence systems to increase tax information and coordination, and developing and implementing the National Single Window Programme.
The central bank tipped the e-trade community to streamline import/export trade processes for ease of business and enhance Nigeria's competitiveness in the global market and increase export for sustainable economic growth with annual expected economic benefit of $2.7 billion.
The bank emphasised that the country is already benefiting from reforms, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was forging onwards with more.
However, the panel session titled, “Repricing Nigeria: Assessing the Scope for Sustained Change”, featured Chair of Global Research, JPMorgan
well armed to kill you and take over your land. Be ready for them as they are also humans like you,” he explained.
Danjuma added that unless the people are prepared to defend themselves against the killers, nobody is ready to save their lives.
Also speaking at the occasion, Governor Kefas eulogised Danjuma for his developmental strides in Taraba State and prayed God to continue to bless him with sound health.
Kefas noted that the state has benefitted immensely from Danjuma’s philanthropic gestures, particularly in the areas of health care services, roads infrastructure and economic empowerment and holistic development of the state. Meanwhile, Governor Alia of
regrettable, that the mischief-makers continue to underestimate the strength of the bond and goodwill between the president and the vice president. However, their questionable sources or habitual reliance on misinformation have once again led them astray. These fairy tales they publish serve no purpose beyond mischief and distraction,” the statement added.
The Presidency further explained that Shettima does not have the luxury of time for distractions, particularly those born of the imagination of individuals intent on creating smoke where there is no fire.
“He’s not and will never partake
His plans to join the APC were believed to have been stalled largely due to President Tinubu’s displeasure with his handling of the political crisis in his state and partly by his estranged benefactor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike’s effective grip on the APC structure in the state.
For the embattled governor, the decision to join the ruling APC was to secure his mandate against the subterranean moves by his political opponents to remove him from office or deny him a second term ticket.
He was said to have rejected the PDP governors’ resolution to challenge the state of emergency declared in his state in court due to his plan to reconcile with his political enemies and possibly defect to the APC.
in their media circus. It is a futile pursuit, even by the standards of the morally indifferent,” it said. "We commend Nigerians across all divides who continue to express goodwill towards this administration and who have taken it upon themselves to fight the spread of fake news. Your trust and support are deeply appreciated. The covenant between this government and the citizens of Nigeria was made possible through a legitimate and constitutional process. No amount of falsehood or manufactured tension can shake the foundation of that democratic mandate. Not under the watch of President Bola Tinubu.
be badly affected in the 2027 national elections, as this could deal a deadly blow to them and signal a walkover for President Tinubu.
Chase, Joyce Chang; Global Co-Head of Corporate Banking, Citi, Jason Rekate; Chief Economist, Africa & Middle East, Standard Chartered, Razia Khan; and Co-Founder and CIO, Jadara Capital Partners, Ahmad Zuaiter.
The session was moderated by Founder, New Markets Media and Intelligence, Gavin Serkin.
Each panelist offered expert insights on Nigeria’s investment outlook, pointing to renewed international interest, driven by improved fundamentals, stronger governance, and clearer policy direction.
The event was anchored by Adviser on Stakeholder Engagement, CBN, Dr. Nkiru Balonwu, who also delivered the opening remarks.
Group CEO, NGX, Temi Popoola, moderated the Q&A session while Director, Banking Supervision Department, CBN, Dr. Olubukola Akinniyi Akinwunmi, provided the closing remarks.
The CBN Board and Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) were represented by Mr. Robert Agbede, Prof. Melvin Ayogu, and Dr. Aloysius Ordu, all US-based diaspora members, underscoring the central bank’s global engagement and commitment to leveraging Nigerian talents worldwide.
Benue State has confirmed that the death toll in the herdsmen’s latest attacks on some communities in Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state has risen to 56.
Alia spoke yesterday during his on-the-spot assessment tour of some of the communities attacked in the two LGAs.
Some communities, such as Ugondo in Logo and Tyuluv, Gbagir, and Ukum LGAs were attacked in coordinated armed assaults by gunmen suspected to be armed herders between Thursday and Friday.
The police command in the state, through its Spokesman, Catherine Anene, had on Friday announced that five people in Ukum and 12 people in Logo total of 17, were
Though the PDP governors moved ahead with the court action, he was said to have told his colleagues pointblank that he would not be a party to any move that could jeopardise his four years mandate.
THISDAY gathered that it was not a mere coincidence that the three governors were absent at the recent meeting of the PDP governors held in Ibadan, Oyo State. Delta and Akwa Ibom states’ governors sent their deputies to the meeting since they had begun a gradual withdrawal from the PDP, while Fubara did not send any representative.
On his part, Governor Mbah, who is known to be a friend of the Presidency, is also weighing the options ahead of 2027.
The governor, a committed member of the PDP, is considering joining the APC to support Tinubu’s reelection and secure his second term or remaining in the PDP and work for Tinubu’s victory.
The pro-Tinubu PDP governors were said to be behind the decision of the PDP governors not to support any coalition with other parties to sack the president in 2027.
THISDAY also learnt that the planned defections have raised concerns in the PDP as the stakeholders and leaders of the party are considering the grave implications for a party that is trying to rebuild itself.
They were of the view that if this happened, the opposition party might
killed.
But Governor Alia, who gave the latest update, said the death toll in Logo at the time of his address had hit 27, and another 28 persons were killed in Ukum LGA.
“Since these attacks started, we have recovered corpses. As of yesterday (Friday), we received some, and today (Saturday), the tally rose to 27 in Logo.
“In Ukum, security operatives have recovered over 28 corpses,” the governor said, adding that the death toll was 56.
He added that some families had buried their loved ones after being given security cover by security operatives.
“Some families requested immediate burial for their relatives, and the security personnel provided
Following this development, PDP stalwarts held the view that the party leadership must meet as soon as possible to weigh the options before them, particularly on how to stop the three governors from leaving the party. However, those who believe that the deal has not been totally sealed hinged their position on the fact that the governors are aware that should the coalition sail through and a viable candidate from the South-south emerges, then they would have struck a bad deal, since the zone is believed to dislike the APC and might vote against it. But with the in-fighting in the PDP over the proposed coalition to wrest power from Tinubu and the APC, pundits are not certain if the majority of the PDP leaders understood the full weight of the situation at hand.
The PDP leaders’ handling of the development would define the future of the party to a large extent.
Meanwhile, as a precursor to Tinubu’s bid to get the north to back him in 2027, THISDAY further learnt of a meeting this weekend in London between the president and a major opposition figure from Kano State.
The meeting, said to have been put together by Akpabio, also involves an influential monarch from the state. The meeting aims to tackle the North’s perceived opposition to the president.
A second meeting involving a former president, who is expected to be in London, is being packaged as part of President Tinubu’s efforts to secure the support of the north.
Tinubu and APC leaders believe that in spite of some of the reservations about the former president, he still holds the ace in the north, and could determine the choice of majority of the voters in the 2027 general election.
The two proposed meetings, it was learnt, are essentially about the reelection of the president in 2027 and his current position in the north, which a majority of APC leaders believe is not looking good and could mar his chances at the 2027 poll if not addressed in time.
them with cover to do so,” he said. The governor, however declared that what the state was going through at the moment is “a real war” which could not be handled with kid gloves. He said, “There is no room for anyone to sleep with their two eyes closed. This is real war. We know our enemies. This is the only state that we have. I mourn with you at this very pathetic and sad moment in your lives.”
While commending the security agencies for all their sacrifices in ensuring that there is peace in the state, Alia called on the federal government to assist his administration with the necessary support to end the killings and displacement of innocent citizens in the state.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
GROOMING THE FUTURE LEADERS...
L-R: Founder/CEO, The Gemstone Group, Fela Durotoye; Executive Secretary, Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; and Lord Mayor of Entebbe Municipality, Republic of Uganda, His Worship Fabrice Brad Rulinda, at the dinner celebrating the speakers of the Lagos Leadership Summit 2025 in Lagos…recently
In Easter Messages, Atiku, Akpabio, Govs, Obi,
Olukoyede Urge Nigerians to Promote Love, Unity
Fubara preaches reconciliations, support for Tinubu
Chuks Okocha, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja, Seriki Adinoyi in Jos, Segun Awofadeji in Gombe, Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt and Wale Igbintade
On the occasion of this year’s Easter celebration, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani; Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah; Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; Gombe State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya; and Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, have urged all Nigerians to imbibe the enduring virtues of love and unity.
Also, in their Easter messages, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi; the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara; the
Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede; and the former National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus have urged all Nigerians to promote peaceful coexistence.
In his message issued by his Media Office in Abuja, Atiku emphasised that these noble virtues of Jesus Christ remain indispensable to fostering the unity and cohesion Nigeria so urgently requires, especially at a time when narrow and sectional interests threaten to erode the bonds that hold the nation together.
He called on Nigerians of all faiths and ethnicities to unite in prayer and purpose for the peace and progress of the nation.
“Let us remain steadfast in the pursuit of unity across every divide. Our strength as a people lies in our togetherness. A nation united shall always endure and flourish,” he affirmed.
Similarly, Akpabio enjoined
FG: 15 Katsina LGAs Among Worst-affected in Maternal, Child Mortality Rates in Nigeria
The Federal Ministry of Health has ranked 15 local government areas (LGAs) in Katsina State as some of the worst-affected in maternal and child mortality rates in Nigeria.
The Sector-Wide Coordinator and National Coordinator of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Muntaqa Sadiq Umar, who made the disclosure during the closing ceremony of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), in Katsina, said the country has struggled with poor health indices, especially in maternal and child health challenges
Umar, who was represented by Mr. Omoruyi Iyahen, added that MAMII was determined to change that narrative by working directly with the states’ health authorities
He said: “Out of 172 LGAs nationwide identified as high-risk zones for maternal mortality, 15 are located in Katsina alone, prompting the federal government to prioritise the state in its intervention plans.
“The minister of health gave us a clear mandate to go beyond policies in Abuja and get to the heart of the problem.
“That’s why Katsina is a priority. With the efforts seen here, especially
from the state government and the First Lady, we believe results will start to change even before 2027,” Umar explained.
On her part, the Katsina State First Lady, Hajiya Zulaihat Radda, also expressed deep concerns over the escalating rates of maternal and neonatal mortality in the state, describing the situation as “distressing and unacceptable.”
She said: “According to recent data, Katsina records over 1,000 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, while neo-natal deaths exceed 66 per 1,000 live births, placing the state among the worst nationwide.
“These figures represent far more than statistics, they are the lives of women with dreams, families, and futures lost to preventable causes,” she said.
She further highlighted the work of her NGO, the Safe Space Humanitarian Initiative (SASHI), which she said has trained 50 community-based volunteers to promote antenatal care and safe deliveries among expectant mothers in rural areas.
According to her, the volunteers are on the ground, encouraging women to attend clinics and deliver their babies in health facilities.
Christians and indeed all Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration of Easter to eschew political, religious and ethnic biases and unite for the progress and general well-being of the nation.
In an Easter message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, in Abuja, Akpabio also appealed to those perpetrating mass killings across the country to respect the sacredness of human life by showing love instead of hatred and abandoning their evil ways for peace to reign in Nigeria.
On his part, the Governor of Kaduna State, Sani, while congratulating Christians in the state and across the country on Easter, admonished them to see Easter as a season of sacrifice, renewal, hope,
and joy.
He urged them to emulate the exemplary life of Jesus Christ, which was characterised by selflessness, sacrifice and a willingness to put the needs of others before him.
Sani therefore asked Christians to use the Easter celebration to pray for his administration in Kaduna State and the administration of President Tinubu.
Also, Gombe State Governor and Chairman of NSGF, Yahaya, has extended warm Easter greetings to the Christian community in the state and across the globe, urging them to reflect on the values of sacrifice, hope, and renewal that define the season.
In a goodwill message to commemorate the 2025 Easter celebrations, Governor Yahaya
emphasised the significance of the season as a time to embrace love, unity, and compassion while reaffirming faith in God and service to humanity as exemplified by Jesus Christ.
On his part, Governor Mbah has described Easter as a time for forgiveness, love, and strengthening of the bonds of unity across creeds and tribes.
“Let us also use this solemn celebration to pray for Nigeria, and reach out in love across creeds, to strengthen our bonds and unity. That way, our dear country can overcome all its challenges,” he said.
In a statement signed by his Director of Press, Gyang Bere, the Governor Mutfwang of Plateau State expressed confidence that the state will overcome its present security
challenge and come out stronger. He said, “This is the time to rise above our differences and draw strength from our diversity in Christ. Together, let us rebuild and reclaim Plateau, a land of peace, promise, and great potential.”
Also, the presidential candidate of the LP in the 2023 poll, Obi asked Nigerian Christians to use the Easter period to pray for compassionate leaders who will share in their pains. Obi, in an Easter message, said that compassionate leaders always think of the people and the consequences of their actions and inactions.
"Therefore, there is no better time to pray for tender-hearted and caring leaders for our country than at Easter, when we see in Jesus a remarkable, compassionate leader.
Atiku Laments Worsening Security, Says Nigerians are Dying, Tinubu is Nowhere to Be
Accuses
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
Found
Wike of collaborating with APC to undermine PDP
Former Vice President and 2023
presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has again launched a scathing critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s worsening security situation, accusing him of absence and indifference in the face of national tragedy.
This is as he described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as a traitor, who is working to undermine the PDP and its interests.
In a strongly worded statement shared via his official Facebook page, Atiku condemned the administration’s failure to address the recent violent attacks in Benue State, which left scores dead in the Logo and Gbagir communities of Ukum Local Government Area.
“The Tinubu administration has proven, time and again, to be utterly incapable, wholly incompetent, and completely devoid of any coherent ideas for tackling Nigeria’s deepening security crisis,” Atiku said.
“This is not just my position - it is a growing consensus among political opposition leaders, respected security experts, and even members within the ruling party.”
He expressed dismay over what he described as a lack of empathy and visible leadership from the president
during times of national distress.
“The blood of innocent Nigerians continues to be spilled with appalling regularity… yet the Tinubu presidency remains disturbingly indifferent, displaying neither urgency nor the basic decency of public empathy,” Atiku stated.
Drawing comparisons with leaders across the world who abandoned official assignments to return home during times of crisis, Atiku cited examples of former U.S. President Barack Obama, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan as leaders who showed up in moments of national tragedy.
“Yet President Bola Tinubu… chooses instead to gallivant across Europe — governing Nigeria in absentia as if from a holiday perch. If he cannot act, the least he can do is show up,” he said.
The former vice president also extended condolences to the people and government of Benue State, stating, “We stand with you in grief and in solidarity.”
Atiku ended the statement with a call for accountability, insisting that Nigerians deserve leadership that is present, responsive, and responsible, regardless of political affiliation or background.
“If Tinubu cannot deliver safety and dignity to Nigerians, the very least he can do is pretend to care,”
he added.
As insecurity continues to grip parts of the country, Atiku’s remarks add to a growing chorus of voices calling for urgent and decisive action from the presidency.
Meanwhile, Atiku has described the FCT minister, Wike, as a traitor, who is working to undermine the PDP and its interests.
The former vice president, particularly berated the FCT minister for keeping silent on what he described as President Bola Tinubu’s use of a WhatsApp group to govern Nigeria from Europe.
Wike had during a media chat in Abuja criticised the efforts to form a coalition aimed at removing President Tinubu.
He described the coalition discussions as insincere, claiming they were driven by selfish motives instead of genuine concern.
Atiku, in response through his media aide, Paul Ibe, rejected Wike’s claims.
He stated that Wike had no moral authority to discuss integrity, accusing him of betraying the PDP.
He argued that the coalition was made up of sincere Nigerians who were committed to ending the APC’s style of governance.
He said: “Wike is not in a position to talk about sincerity.
“This is a man who betrayed his party; a man working with the APC to destroy and undermine his own
party and the interests of Nigerians. So, what does he know about sincerity? Nothing.”
Atiku went on to challenge Wike, saying that if he wanted to talk about sincerity, he should address President Tinubu, whom he accused of being an absentee leader.
“If he wants to speak about sincerity, let him talk to his principal, Tinubu, an absentee President running government from the Presidential Villa’s WhatsApp group,” Atiku said. Atiku also criticised Wike for allegedly working against the government in Rivers State, where Wike had once served as governor. He claimed that Wike was trying to gain absolute control of the Rivers State government by collaborating with Abuja to have the current governor suspended.
Atiku said, “Wike is working against his own state where he was once governor.”
Atiku emphasised that the coalition was a collective effort by Nigerians determined to end the current APC government.
“The sincere Nigerians are determined to end the reckless, irresponsible, clueless APC government. Nigerians want to reclaim their country.
“The coalition presents Nigerians with a vehicle. Atiku Abubakar and others who are involved in it are just tools to an end. This is about Nigeria,” Atiku stressed.
The Presidency has dismissed the claims by the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Yusuf Datti BabaAhmed, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not seek re-election in 2027 “if he is a smart politician.”
Datti Baba-Ahmed had called on President Tinubu to give up contesting in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that Nigerians would demand true democracy in 2027.
He stated this on ‘Prime Time’, a political programme on ARISE NEWS Channel.
The LP chieftain stressed that if Tinubu is truly a smart politician, he will know that his time is up.
Baba-Ahmed further stated that everything happening in Nigeria indicates that the president and his party, the All Progressives Party
(APC), will lose in 2027. He claimed that Tinubu started presenting presidential candidates in 2007, “culminating in his electoral heist in 2023.”
“If he is that smart, everything is there to show that he is going to lose in 2027. There are two possible candidates that I cannot mention, and they are the nemesis of Tinubu. It is proven that APC is a lying party, because Buhari did not fight corruption or provide security, nor will Tinubu do this.
“So, going forward, I see APC losing this election and I see Nigerians somehow uniting and seeing someone like me saying look, if you cannot practice this democracy, then Nigeria is not for you and they will decide for the first time to practice giving no room for bad leadership in Nigeria and gradually, we will begin to heal our land. We will begin to
recover, unite, and take each other as brothers and sisters. Their time is up,” he added. But in a strongly worded reaction on his verified X handle, @SundayDareSD, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, dismissed Baba-Ahmed’s comments as “illogical logic.” Dare insisted that President Tinubu would not only seek re-election but would win comfortably based on his performance.
“Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed’s ‘illogical logic’ was all over the place in his recent interview with a television channel. He peddled arguments that were flawed, devoid of reason and empty. He must have as well dropped from space, going by what he spewed out during the interview,” Dare wrote.
The media aide likened listening
to Baba-Ahmed’s commentary to enduring false predictions from “charlatan prophets,” adding that both Baba-Ahmed and his former running mate, Peter Obi, represent a “double whammy” in Nigerian politics.
“If listening to a Peter Obi interview was a punishment, listening to BabaAhmed, his defunct running mate, is a torment. His political logic is not fit for even a first-year political science class, and even then, they will query his postulations”, Dare said.
Dare criticised Baba-Ahmed for failing to acknowledge President Tinubu’s track record and ongoing reforms, choosing instead to focus on “antecedents” and electoral hypotheticals.
“He conveniently avoided the substance of performance and capacity. Unfortunately, he chose to walk into a lane he was unfamiliar with and
Bauchi Deputy Gov, Foreign Affairs Minister Deny Alleged Assault on Tuggar
The Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Auwal Mohammed Jatau, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, have denied the report that the deputy governor slapped the minister.
The deputy governor reacted to report that he attacked the minister on the way to the palace of Emir of Bauchi for the turbaning of former Governor Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar (SAN), as Makama Babba 1 of Bauchi Emirate, and the wedding Fatiha of his daughter, Khadija Muhammad.
Speaking to the ARISE News Channel yesterday, through his media aide, Muslim Lawal, Jatau said the report that his boss slapped the minister was untrue.
“No, no, no. How can the deputy governor slap the minister? I don’t think that ever happened in Bauchi because I know my principal is a responsible person.
He quoted a source as saying that the incident occurred inside a white coaster bus transporting dignitaries from Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport to the Bauchi Emir’s Palace for the turbaning of former Governor Mohammed Abubakar.
“The number two person cannot slap a minister or whoever the person that people are talking about. We are not even aware of that. I am just hearing this from you.”
Lawal further questioned the authenticity of the reports and challenged
anyone with concrete evidence to present it.
“Did you see the evidence of the slap? I didn’t see it, I’m just hearing about that from you. But I believe that there is no way the deputy governor will slap a minister. I don’t think such can ever happen in Bauchi, not even my principal or whoever is in his position.
“What is even the issue that will make the deputy governor slap a minister? I was not in the car, and if there is any evidence that the deputy governor did such, maybe we can speak on that, but as of now, I don’t even know about it. That’s our position. And I don’t even think that the deputy governor, even if it is not in the presence of the vice president, can do that,” he said.
In his reaction, an aide to the minister, Mr. Alkay Abdulkadir, said the report on the altercation between the minister and the deputy governor was exaggerated, insisting his boss was not slapped by the deputy governor.
Explaining that the report was intended to embarrass the minister, he said that the crisis began with a heated exchange between the state governor, Bala Mohammed, and the minister.
He quoted an eyewitness as saying,
“You know that’s not true. The Minister is an athlete and is more physically fit. If it came to a fight, he couldn’t be slapped without a corresponding action. So it’s untrue and impossible. It is just the machinations of traducers loyal to the government.”
FG Shuts Down Enugu Airport for Emergency Repairs of Runway, Keyamo Expresses Dissatisfaction with Project
Chinedu Eze
The federal government has announced the temporary closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, for emergency runway repairs.
This is as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), also expressed strong dissatisfaction with the quality of rehabilitation work carried out on the runway of the airport.
Announcing the closure of the runway, the Director of Public
Affairs and Consumer Protection, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Obiageli Orah, explained that there was a sudden and significant rupture in the asphalt surface at a critical section of the runway, necessitating its shutdown for rehabilitation.
According to her, repair work would take off from April 22, 2025 to May 6, 2025, after which the airport would be reopened for flight operation.
“In compliance with Nigerian civil aviation regulations, the
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has, therefore, closed the runway during this period. As part of FAAN's commitment to passenger safety and the modernisation of airport facilities, the runway will not be open for landings or takeoffs during the rehabilitation period,” Orah said.
The agency appealed to all airport users and stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation during this time, disclosing that flights to the airport would be diverted to nearby airports.
Following the closure, Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace, had announced the withdrawal of its operations to the airport, saying it was diverting flights to the Asaba airport.
It, however, promised to resume operation to Enugu when the runway is repaired and certified.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Keyamo, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the quality of rehabilitation work carried out on the runway of the airport.
chose to confront a politician he is no match for”, Dare stated.
According to Dare, politics is not for “theorists or the faint-hearted,” insisting that Baba-Ahmed, whom he accused of lacking courage and political insight, does not meet the standard.
“Politics is for those with a solid track record of performance, the courageous, far-sighted and gifted - qualities he clearly lacks,” Dare declared.
Dare cited recent endorsements of the President’s economic reforms by international institutions as proof of progress.
“The positive impacts of the tough choices President Tinubu has made in the interest of the country are already being felt. Even the IMF recently acknowledged - ‘Tinubu’s reforms have put the economy in a better position to navigate this external environment,” he said.
Dare expressed the confidence that President Tinubu would win a second term with ease, regardless of opposition rhetoric or political strategy. He urged Baba-Ahmed to “seriously consider how to rehabilitate his failed political career” rather than making television appearances that serve little purpose.
In Demonstration of His Passion, Davido Plans to Invest in Movie Industry, Creative Ideas
Venessa Obioha
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed that he has a strong passion for filmmaking and would have pursued a career in the movie industry if he had not become a musician.
Speaking in a recent interview with content creator Darryl, the award-winning singer disclosed that his background in business marketing had always positioned him for a career in the broader entertainment sector.
“I studied business marketing; so, I would have still been in the entertainment space if I wasn’t singing, but probably, more of behind the scenes,” Davido said.
Davido further announced that he is making concrete moves into the African film industry, with plans to invest in several film projects this year.
He noted that he is working closely with his longtime music video director, Dammy Twitch, on a number of creative ideas.
“I am investing in a couple of films this year. Shoutout to my director, Dammy Twitch. We have some ideas, series coming. The film space right now in Africa is going bankrupt. So, we are definitely going to tap into that,” he announced.
In addition to producing, the singer revealed that he is also interested in acting. According to him, he has been demonstrating his acting skills in some of his music videos.
“I can also act. I can act for real. I act in my music videos. I acted in music videos like ‘Jowo’, ‘Nwa Baby’,” he noted. Also yesterday, Davido revealed that he and his wife, Chioma, are pausing plans to expand their family to focus on personal growth and career development.
He made this known in a recent episode of Ride Along which went viral yesterday. According to Davido, Chioma is now spending more time overseas and is preparing to launch her own business ventures, starting with a line of spices.
He said, “I don’t want more children now. My wife and I are taking a break. She needs to get out and work. She wants to do a lot of things like opening her restaurant and launching her spices. I feel she deserves a couple of years off after having three kids.
“She is here mostly now so I think she is going to open something here first, both in Nigeria and here, but she wants to open something here first. The main thing is the spices for now. Get the spices in some major stores worldwide, both in Africa and diaspora, everywhere, ’cause her food tastes amazing.”
The couple welcomed a set of twins – male and female – in 2023 after losing their three-year-old son Ifeanyi in a swimming pool accident in 2022.
Says no more kids for now, Chioma to focus on career
L-R: Chairman of Energy Times Editorial Board, Mallam Yakubu Lawal; former Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Chief Chamberlain Oyibo; Assistant General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NIPCO Plc, Alhaji Lawal Taofeek; and Accounts Manager, NIPCO Gas Limited, Abidoye Azeez, at the Energy Times Award 2025 where NIPCO Gas was honoured as the Most Integrated Gas Company of the Year, in Lagos…recently
COMING TOGETHER FOR EASTER...
L-R: Chairman of Arewa Community in Obalende, Mr. Zaki Mohammed; Deputy
Chairman, Community Development Association (CDC), in Obalende, Mr. Yemi Shodipo; and Leader of Ndigbo in Eti-Osa, Chief Godwin
at the Easter
for children of
and environs organised by the chairmanship aspirant in Obalende, Lagos…yesterday
Access Holdings, UBA, Ecobank, Six Other Banks Declare N186.3tn Assets in 2024
Kayode Tokede
Following their expansion in Nigeria and other parts of the globe, a total of nine Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) declared N186.3 trillion total assets in 2024, data collected by THISDAY from their audited results and accounts revealed.
The reported N186.3 trillion total assets in 2024 represents an increase of 53 per cent from the N121.37 trillion declared in 2023.
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), followed by Access Holdings Plc, and United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), led the chart with the largest total assets in the 2024 financial year.
Other DMBs investigated by THISDAY are: Zenith Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), Fidelity Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc.
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday announced an Easter truce in the conflict in Ukraine starting this evening and lasting till midnight on Sunday.
The short-term ceasefire proposal from Russia comes as President Donald Trump has been pressing both Moscow and Kyiv to agree a truce, but has failed to extract any major concessions from the Kremlin.
“Today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce,” Putin said in televised comments, while speaking to Russian chief of staff Valery Gerasimov.
Easter, a major holiday for Christians, is celebrated on Sunday.
“I order for this period to stop all military action,” Putin said, calling the truce “based on humanitarian
reasons”.
“We are going on the basis that the Ukrainian side will follow our example, while our troops must be ready to resist possible breaches of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions,” Putin said.
He said that Gerasimov had told him Ukraine “more than 100 times… breached an agreement on not striking energy infrastructure”.
Russia on Friday abandoned a moratorium on striking Ukrainian energy targets after each side accused the other of breaking a supposed deal without any formal agreement put in place.
The latest truce proposal will show “how sincere the Kyiv regime’s readiness, its desire and ability to observe agreements and participate in a process of peace talks,” Putin said.
Remain Resolute in Fight against Drug Scourge, Marwa Charges NDLEA Officers
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) has charged officers and men of the agency to remain resolute and steadfast in the ongoing onslaught against illicit drug trafficking.
Marwa gave the charge yesterday while inaugurating blocks of terrace flats accommodation newly constructed for personnel of the Kano Zonal Command, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Command, and officers of the Strike Force Team of the Agency deployed to Kano, as well as a rehabilitation facility.
He said the inauguration was another testimony to President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment
to the welfare of security personnel, including the NDLEA.
“We are acutely aware that the effectiveness of our officers hinges not merely upon their training and tools, but also upon the quality of their living conditions. A secure and decent home front empowers the spirit, sharpens the mind, and strengthens the resolve of those tasked with the solemn duty of safeguarding our society from the scourge of illicit drugs”, he said.
While recalling that the first ever NDLEA barracks in its 35-year history was commissioned in Yola, Adamawa State in February, Marwa disclosed that the agency has just completed another barracks in Abuja, which is due for commissioning by President Tinubu, adding that similar projects are at various stages of completion in Enugu and Lagos states.
In the period under review, ETI declared N43.3 trillion total assets in 2024, about 67per cent increase over the N25.9 trillion declared in 2023, while Access Holdings Plc announced N41.5 trillion total assets in 2024, representing an increase of 55.5 per cent when compared to the N26.7 trillion declared in 2023.
In addition to the top three DMBs, UBA’s total assets hit N30.3 trillion in 2024, a growth of 46.8 per cent from the N20.65 trillion posted in 2023.
The three DMBs in 2024 saw a significant growth in deposits from customers that impacted on total assets.
Deposits from customers contributed about 47.2 per cent in ETI’s total assets in 2024 from 73.4per cent in 2023, while Access Holdings saw contribution of deposits from customers on total assets dropping
to 54.3 per cent in 2024 from 57.4per cent in 2023.
In addition, the proportion of deposits from customers/ total assets of UBA stood at 81.3per cent in 2024 from the 84per cent in 2023.
THISDAY gathered that branch expansion, among others, also contributed to these nine banks’ total assets in 2024, as Access Holdings, UBA expanded to markets in Asia, Europe and some locations in Africa.
Access Holdings stated that it was focused on delivering sustainable returns to shareholders while reinvesting in innovation, infrastructure, and cross-border expansion.
“Its banking subsidiary launched operations in Hong Kong, received regulatory approval in Malta, and successfully integrated its operations in Zambia and Tanzania, expanding its global footprint,” Access Holdings stated in a statement.
The Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, UBA, Mr. Oliver Alawuba in a statement stated that, “With total deposit increasing by 42.03 per cent from N17.4 trillion in 2023 to N24.7 trillion and total assets hitting N30.4 trillion from N20.7 trillion, the just released results reflect broad-based growth across all core businesses and were achieved despite prevailing macroeconomic challenges, geopolitical uncertainties, and exchange rate volatilities.”
The GMD added: “We will continue to grow, as we further explore strategic markets that align with our overall vision. We are currently upgrading our business scope and authorisation in France, and considering other viable markets in the short to medium term.”
Furthermore, Zenith Bank declared N29.96 trillion total assets in 2024, about 47 per cent increase over N20.4trillion in 2023, while GTCO
posted N14.8trillion total assets in 2024, representing an increase of 53 per cent from N9.69trillion declared in 2023.
GTCO in a presentation to analysts and investors said, “Total assets up 52.7 per cent, largely driven by 12.3 per cent and 68 per cent growth in loan book and investment securities, respectively.
“The asset base is well diversified and well-structured across all business verticals with loans accounting for 18.8 per cent, investment securities -29.2 per cent, cash & cash equivalent -31.6 per cent, a testament to the Group’s strong liquidity position and robust earnings capacity.”
Fidelity Bank announced N8.82 trillion total assets in 2024, up by 41.5 per cent from the N6.2 trillion in 2023, as FCMB Group closed 2024 with a total asset of N7.05trillion, an increase of 59 per cent from N4.42 trillion in 2023.
Defence Minister, Badaru, Visits Attacked Plateau Communities, Promises to Capture Perpetrators, End Killings
Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, yesterday visited communities that were recently attacked by gunmen in Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, promising to ensure that security agencies would bring killings in the state to an end.
On April 2, gunmen attacked Hurti, Josho, Daffo, and other communities in Manguna District of the locality.
Similarly, gunmen on Sunday attacked Zike and Kimakpa communities of Kwall District, Iregwe Chiefdom of Bassa.
In both incidents, the attackers
killed scores and destroyed many houses and other properties.
Speaking, the minister, who commiserated with the families of those who lost their loved ones, expressed the government’s commitment to the safety of lives and property.
“We are here on behalf of the federal government to identify and share in your grief.
“We want to assure you that security agencies will bring these senseless killings to an end.
“I have been adequately briefed, and I want to assure you that we will get to the root of this matter. We will capture the perpetrators of this evil act.
“The president is deeply concerned and have ordered us to find the perpetrators so they can face justice.
“We are working with the state government to adopt the structure that will prevent this ugly incident from happening again; it is time to end this madness,” he said.
Badaru further said that government would engage all stakeholders in the affected communities towards curbing the cycle of killings in the state.
Earlier, Retired Rev. Ranka Aku, Brra Ngwe of Iregwe chiefdom, who thanked the minister for the visit, also commended the federal and state governments for prompt response to the incidents.
Aku, who decried incessant attacks and destruction of properties in the chiefdom, called on government and security agencies to intensify efforts to end the violence. He promised to collaborate with the government towards bringing lasting peace to the chiefdom and Plateau State in general.
The traditional ruler called on the government to provide support to the victims in order to rebuild their destroyed buildings.
Baderu was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda; senior military personnel and other government officials.
Council of Legal Education Approves Law Faculties in Five New Universities, Records 260 First Class in Bar Exams
Wale Igbintade
The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has given approval for five new universities to commence law degree programmes, signalling a strategic expansion in access to legal education in Nigeria. According to a statement from the CLE’s Office of Information and Protocol, the approvals were granted during the council’s second quarterly meeting held on Thursday, April 17,
2025, at the Nigerian Law School Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, under the chairmanship of Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN).
The newly approved institutions are: Nigerian British University, Asa-Uzuaku, Abia State, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Prime University, Kuje, Abuja, and Margaret Lawrence University, Abuja
Each of these institutions has been cleared to admit up to 50 students
into their law faculties starting from the 2024/2025 academic session.
The decision followed satisfactory verification visits conducted by the Nigerian Law School team, led by the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Studies, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN. Additionally, the council approved an upward review of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s law programme admission quota from 220 to 250 students.
Seriki Hausawa in Obalende, Alhaji Saliu Waziri; APC Chairmanship Aspirant in Ikoyi-Obalende, LCDA, Mr. Oluwatoyin Oni;
Okeke,
Fun Fair
Obalende
A BOOST TO HEALTHCARE…
L-R: Representative of the Matron, Magboro Health Centre, Mrs Opeyemi Ajimoko; Member, Gbemi Akinfenwa Foundation (GAF), Mr. Kayode Omololu; Executive Secretary, GAF, Mrs. Bukola Omololu; Chairman, Magboro Community Development Committee, Prince Adeshina Olukoga; Member, GAF, Mr. Muyiwa Alagbe; Immediate past Chairman, Magboro CDC, Mr. Oluwaseun Oladosu; and Member GAF, Pastor Wole Adeoti, during the handing over of the installed solar-powered electricity equipment at Magboro Community Health Centre, Obafemi-Owode LGA, Ogun State …recently
Two Dead, 23 Injured in Lagos Building Collapse
Sunday Ehigiator
The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed two persons dead and 23 others rescued from a three-storey building that collapsed yesterday at Ojodu Berger area of the state.
The deceased, both males, were among several persons working in the ill-fated house before it collapsed around 8.30am.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the figures.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said
the agency received a distress call around 9.45am.
He said on arrival of the agency’s Response Teams at the incident scene at about 09:52 am, it was discovered that a three-storey building housing a restaurant and bar had collapsed, with several victims trapped under the debris.
“Eight victims were rescued while one of the rescued victims attended to by the LASEMA PreHospital Care Unit was taken to the hospital for further medical attention.
“LASEMA Response Teams commenced search and rescue efforts immediately on arrival. Safety measures were activated
JAMB Reschedules 2025
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced a change in the commencement date of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), now scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 24, 2025, instead of the previously slated Friday, April 25, 2025.
This development was disclosed in a statement signed by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, and shared on the Board’s official X handle yesterday.
“The 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is now set to commence on Thursday, April 24, 2025, instead of the previously scheduled date of Friday, April 25, 2025. This adjustment has been made to accommodate essential commitments by the Board and its partner agencies,” the statement said.
In preparation for the examinations, JAMB also announced that prospective candidates can now print their Notification Slips, which contain crucial details such as the examination date, venue (centre), time, and other instructions necessary for a smooth examination experience.
to April 24
“What’s included in the Notification Slip: Examination date, venue (centre), time, other essential details necessary for successfully sitting for the examination,” the statement further explained.
Candidates are encouraged to begin printing their Notification Slips starting Saturday, April 19, 2025 (Today).
“Candidates are encouraged to print their Notification Slips starting today, Saturday, April 19, 2025. This will provide ample time for logistical arrangements to access their assigned centres within the chosen examination towns,” it added.
To print the examination slip, candidates are required to: “Visit www.jamb.gov.ng, click on ‘2025 UTME Slip Printing.’ Enter your registration number and click on ‘Print Examination Slip”, the statement advised.
JAMB strongly urged candidates to visit their assigned centres ahead of time.
“It is strongly advised that candidates print their slips and familiarise themselves with their examination centres at least one or two days before the examination date. This preparation will help ensure a smooth experience on exam day,” the Board said.
with the operational area cordonedoff at the incident scene.
“The agency’s heavy-duty equipment, ‘the escavator’, has been activated and deployed to aid in the quick rescue of victims that may still be trapped beneath the collapsed structure,”
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Austin Akobundu, has refuted reports that he ordered his aide to brutalise a journalist.
Senator Akobundu, in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Jude Ndukwe, was reacting to, “a publication making
he added.
Earlier, while speaking to journalists at the scene of the incident, Oke-Osanyitolu, said emergency responders would “get to ground zero” to search for other victims still buried under the rubble. A regular
the rounds in the social media wherein Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, Austin Akobundu was alleged to have ordered the brutalisation of a ‘journalist’, one Toni Icheku, in Abia State.
He explained that the story “is one falsehood taken too far.”
Part of the statement read, “We would have ignored the poorly executed hatchet job by
visitor to the restaurant said that the building had been showing signs of distress for some time.
“I usually go to the restaurant to eat and drink. Many times, I had seen water drip from the decking of the building even
said Toni, but to ensure that the public is not misled by such a badly concocted story.
“Senator Akobundu is not aware of any such incident, talk less of ordering it, until he started seeing the story in some blogs, to his utter bewilderment.
when it was not raining. People raised the alarm when they started putting a third structure on the building, but nothing was done,” he said.
A car parked inside the premises, its owner and his son, were also trapped in the collapsed building.
“Those who know the Senator, including journalists who have covered him in public service over the years, know that he is not given to such tendencies.
“The attempt to malign him with such wicked fabrication is an attempt in futility and an unmitigated desperation to seek attention.
“We, therefore, distance Senator Akobundu from such report and call on members of the public to ignore the falsehoods and treat it as the product of mischief, malice, and vendetta that it is.”
Criminal Justice Laws: Courts, CSLS Urge Implementation of Standards in Tackling Insecurity
Alex Enumah in Abuja
A cross-section of stakeholders in the justice sector has called for effective implementation of the National Minimum Standards (NMS) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/ Laws (ACJA/ ACJL), in addressing the worsening insecurity in the country.
According to the stakeholders
drawn from judicial officers, lawyers, law enforcement agencies and civil society groups, crimes in the country have continued to surge because the justice system is still slow in punishing criminals.
They all spoke at a two-day hybrid sensitisation meeting on the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for the Implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/ Laws (ACJA/ ACJL), held in Abuja.
Speaking at the occasion, the President of the Centre for SocioLegal Studies (CSLS), Professor Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), while observing that the ACJA/ ACJL has helped in improving the country’s justice system, especially with the adoption of the NMS in 2023, lamented the rise in cases of injustice.
“When criminals go unpunished, people lose faith. And then, they take the law into their own hands. We see it now—everywhere. Banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and violence.
“Governors raise the alarm. Citizens cry out. Criminals strike boldly. Even a former military General, the Director-General of NYSC, was kidnapped. Who is safe?
NIPCO Gas Named Most Integrated Gas Company in 2024
Ejiofor Alike
In recognition of its pioneering role in the building domestic gas infrastructure in Nigeria for the supply of gas for domestic and industrial uses as well as for vehicular fuel, NIPCO Gas Limited was recently honoured with the Most Integrated Gas Company of the Year 2024 award by Energy Times during the recent awards by the news medium in Lagos.
The recognition underscores NIPCO Gas’s leadership in providing natural gas solutions through compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas
(PNG) across Nigeria.
As part of its yearly celebration of exceptional achievements in the energy sector, the award highlighted NIPCO Gas’s significant contributions to promoting natural gas as an economical and cleaner alternative fuel while expanding its infrastructure to support this mission.
Assistant General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Lawal Taofeek, who received the award on behalf of the Managing Director/ CEO of the company, Nagendra Verma, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the honour.
Commenting on the award, Verma emphasized that it reaf-
firms the company’s enduring commitment to expanding natural gas usage through significant investments in infrastructure, enabling greater adoption by motorists and industries nationwide.
He further emphasized that the recognition aligns with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes compressed natural gas as a sustainable fuel alternative.
Verma also highlighted recent advancements in NIPCO Gas’s operations, including the award of Gas Distribution
Licenses (GDL) by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
According to him, these licenses, which cover areas such as Lekki, Ibadan, kara, Ibafo, Abeokuta, and Benin City, have strengthened the company’s position in Nigeria’s natural gas sector.
“The 25-year exclusivity granted under the GDL not only secures investors’ capital but also strengthens the foundation for sustained growth and further investment in gas infrastructure,” Verma said.
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
Editor: Festus Akanbi
08038588469 Email:festus.akanbi@thisdaylive.com
Nigeria Caught in theTariff Turmoil
As the United States continues the global trade war itself grappling with deepening economic uncertainty, caught in a storm it neither started nor is prepared to weather, writes Festus Akanbi
Amidst the surging tide of US tariff hikes and a looming global tariff war, analysts believe Nigeria is in dire straits. The reality is that the Nigerian economy teeters on a fragile edge, buffeted by external shocks, import-dependent vulnerabilities, and a weakening naira. Today, protectionism tightens its grip worldwide as Nigeria’s access to critical markets narrows, foreign investment hesitates, and inflation threatens to spiral.
Economic analysts, therefore, warned that without swift, strategic shifts towards self-reliance, industrial revival, and export diversification, the nation risks being crushed beneath the weight of global economic realignment.
After initial attempts by the federal government to downplay the severity of the impact of the recent 14 per cent tariff imposed by the United States on Nigerian exports, as well as the ongoing global tariff war, members of the organised private sector last week said there is cause for alarm and that the emerging global economic crisis may worsen the nation’s economic situation.
President Donald Trump’s tariff agenda, characterised by protectionist policies and increased duties on imports, is having far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s trade space and overall economic stability.
As the economy takes the centre stage in geopolitics, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, had assured that the global tariff crisis would have a negligible effect on the Nigerian economy. While recognising the seriousness of escalating global tariff conflicts, Edun emphasised that Nigeria remains relatively insulated from severe impacts, given the exclusion of oil and mineral exports - Nigeria’s primary exports to the US - from the tariff.
But the organised private sector through the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) last week underscored the enormity of the challenges posed by the new regime of the US tariff law, saying the 14 per cent tariff imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration on Nigerian exports to the United States of America (USA) would result in a loss of between N1 trillion and N2 trillion in Nigeria’s agricultural exports to the North American country.
The Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, while raising the alarm, stated that the reciprocal tariffs could halt Nigeria’s industrialisation journey and transition from exporting raw commodities to semi-processed and finished goods.
The truth is that the hike in tariff could
pose a significant disincentive to firms investing in value-added manufacturing in Nigeria and constrain them to revert to exporting raw materials.
Ajayi-Kadir explained, “MAN members who are exporters in agro-processing, chemicals and pharmaceutical, basic metal, iron and steel, non-metallic mineral products, and other light industrial manufacturing rely heavily on the U.S. for market access.”
It is therefore clear that with increased costs for American buyers due to the tariffs, demand for Nigerian products is expected to decline. As pointed out by the MAN DG, processed agricultural goods such as cocoa derivatives, sesame seeds, and ginger, which have gained modest penetration in US markets, are likely to witness a drop in export volume.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), agricultural exports accounted for over N4.42 trillion in 2024, with the US being one of the top destinations. MAN feared that the tariff could potentially wipe out N1 to N2 trillion of that figure annually.
The MAN director-general stated that the imposition of a 14 per cent tariff on Nigerian exports would significantly undermine the competitiveness of locally manufactured goods in the US market. In what could be described as the confirmation of the fears expressed by MAN, a recent statement by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, warned that the move could significantly impact both oil and non-oil trade flows to one of Nigeria’s key markets.
While providing the federal government’s first official response to the development, which has drawn widespread criticism from the European Union and various exporting countries, Oduwole emphasised that the newly introduced tariffs could undermine the competitiveness of Nigerian products in the US market and disrupt business activities, particularly within the non-oil export sector.
Slump in Crude Oil Prices
Incidentally, the tariff has triggered a slump in global crude oil prices, a development which the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, blamed on Trump’s inconsistent tariff policies.
He warned that Trump’s reintroduced protectionist trade policies – particularly new tariffs targeting key global economies – were fuelling uncertainty in international oil markets, driving volatility and dampening investors’ confidence.
Ahmed emphasised that the unpredictability surrounding the US government’s economic direction was forcing investors and traders into short-term, high-risk decisions.
The NMDPRA boss said many oil traders were now operating on a “daily strategy,” buying and selling within 24 hours due to fears of sudden policy swings from Washington.
Nigeria Cut in the Crossfire
However, for a country like Nigeria, the impact could be especially brutal. While the policy may be aimed at China and other major exporters, Nigeria is caught in the crossfire. Though not among America’s largest trading partners, Nigeria sends about $10 billion worth of goods to the US annually - 80% of that is crude oil.
Analysts said imports are another area where Nigeria could feel the heat. The country brings in about $ 5 billion worth of goods from the US, including wheat for bread and industrial machinery. Although Trump’s tariff targets exports to the US, analysts said it could provoke retaliation.
They explained that if Nigeria decides to slap its tariffs on American imports, particularly wheat, food prices could spike. A 14% increase in the cost of US wheat, for example, could raise the price of bread by up to 15%. In a country where over 60% of households already struggle to afford regular meals, even a slight increase could deepen food insecurity.
They pointed out that, should tensions escalate, imported items like vehicles, phones, and electronics -already expensive at an exchange rate of N1,600 to the dollar - could see price hikes of
20% to 30%, squeezing consumers and businesses alike.
Then there’s the revenue shock to the Nigerian government. Oil revenues account for about 60% of federal earnings, funding everything from education and healthcare to roads and power.
If Nigeria can’t find alternative buyers quickly, excess supply could push global oil prices down by $1 to $2 per barrel, leading to further losses.
There is also the fear that a loss of $1.4 billion in export revenue would further deplete the country’s dollar reserves, causing the naira to depreciate even more.
Some analysts warn that the currency could slide toward N2,000 to the dollar if nothing is done. That would raise the cost of virtually every imported item -fuel, food, medicine - and worsen the inflation crisis, which already stands at a staggering 34%.
As a way out, experts said one path forward is to deepen trade ties with China and India, which already buy significant volumes of Nigerian crude. Another is to lean into regional trade by leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), opening new markets across the continent.
Nigeria could also take this moment to invest in local production, growing its wheat, reviving domestic manufacturing, and reducing dependence on imports. On the currency front, striking bilateral trade deals that allow transactions in local currencies - with countries like Russia, Brazil, or even India - could help reduce demand for the dollar and ease pressure on the naira.
At the same time, Nigeria has been strengthening its relationships with other economic powerhouses such as China, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. China remains Nigeria’s largest trading partner, with heavy investments in infrastructure and energy. Should the US impose further tariffs on China, Chinese firms may shift their focus toward deeper engagement in Africa, providing Nigeria with new investment opportunities and raising concerns over debt sustainability. Experts also argued for diversification, which they said is the key to economic resilience. They added that strengthening non-oil sectors such as agriculture, technology, and manufacturing will be crucial in reducing vulnerability to global trade shocks.
Trump
FINANCE
Another Ponzi Scheme Shatters Lives
As thousands of Nigerian victims of the CBEX investment scam count their losses, Kayode Tokede captures the shock and the gnashing of teeth of gullible investors who walked their way into the sham investment trap
Before the recent uproar caused by investors’ inability to access their investments, many Nigerians had never heard of CryptoBank Hybrid Exchange, known to many Nigerians as CBEX.
CBEX was reported to have commenced in Nigeria in 2024, despite claims of existence since 2017, a timeline that contradicts its domain registration and distinguishes it from the legitimate China Beijing Equity Exchange.
A report has it that the platform aims to blend traditional banking services with cryptocurrency trading, offering features like deposits, withdrawals, transfers, and investments alongside a decentralised exchange (DEX) that allows trading without registration via Web3 wallets.
THISDAY gathered that recent data indicates low trading volume and limited market activity, with some platforms reporting a 24-hour volume of $0. Being a cryptocurrency, regulation becomes an issue.
In the case of CBEX, multiple investors took to the social media site to express their dissatisfaction following the suspension of the withdrawal feature on April 10, 2025.
Multiple reports have it that the digital asset trading platform gives investors 100 per cent Return On Investment (ROI) in 30 days.
A report said that the embattled platform allegedly swept away over N1.3 trillion from unsuspecting investors. Heartbreaking scenes on social media as investors in Nigeria weep and lament the loss of their life savings.
CBEX operated by a group of foreign nationals in collaboration with their Nigerian partners with offices in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, and other parts of the country, collapsed, leaving their investors stranded as they were unable to access their funds.
Recall that in the last eight years, Nigerians have been particularly susceptible to several Ponzi schemes. In 2016, it was Mundial Moneybox, MMM, before it crashed.
After MMM’s crash, Ultimate Cycler took root in Nigeria before it collapsed, with investors’ funds trapped. MBA Forex Trading and Capital Investment Limited, Twinkas, D9 Club, Famzhi Interbiz Limited, Red King’ Chinmark Group, Brisk Capital, and Ovaioza Farm Produce Storage are some of the Ponzi schemes that have defrauded thousands of Nigerians of funds amounting to billions of naira.
For CBEEX, trouble began when users started facing difficulties withdrawing funds from the platform. Shortly after, many discovered their account balances had mysteriously been reset to zero, sparking widespread panic.
CBEX, once touted as a trustworthy avenue for digital asset trading, has since gone dark with no official explanation or refund process announced.
As affected individuals seek answers and possible legal redress, financial experts continue to urge caution and due diligence before committing to any form of investment, especially those operating outside the regulatory oversight of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Investments and Securities
SEC had warned that the newly enacted Investments and Securities Act, 2025 (ISA
2025) has made it illegal to operate digital asset exchanges or online foreign exchange trading platforms without formal registration with the commission.
Signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, ISA 2025 significantly strengthens the regulatory framework governing Nigeria’s capital market, with a particular focus on digital finance.
The commission clarified that, under the new law, it is now an offence for any entity to operate an online forex trading platform or provide related services without prior registration with the Commission.
“Under this Act, it is an offence in Nigeria for any entity that is not registered by the commission to carry out the business of online foreign exchange trading platforms or related services.
“Any business entity with the plan of setting up a business in any of these areas is advised to visit the HOD DRM Department of the Commission for further direction on how to register with the commission to avoid sanctions”, the commission added.
The commission noted that “under the newly enacted legislation, the SEC is now empowered to regulate a broader scope of market activities as Section 3(3) (b) of the Act explicitly mandates the commission to “register and regulate securities exchanges, commodity exchanges, virtual and digital asset exchanges, and other market venues.”
The Director General of the commission, Dr. Emomotimi Agama,
described the new law as “a landmark step in positioning Nigeria’s capital market to be more inclusive, robust, and in tune with global best practices.”
He stated, “The ISA 2025 has given the commission the legal backing to provide clarity, ensure investor protection, and enhance market confidence, especially in new and previously unregulated segments such as digital asset exchanges and online foreign exchange platforms.”
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to supporting innovation while maintaining strict oversight. “We welcome innovation, but it must occur within a regulated environment that protects investors and maintains the integrity of our market,” Dr. Agama added.
“With ISA 2025 now in force, stakeholders in the financial and investment ecosystem are advised to familiarise themselves with the new provisions and ensure full compliance”, the SEC added.
The commission stated that its preliminary investigations revealed that CBEX engaged in promotional activities to create a false perception of legitimacy to entice unsuspecting members of the public into investing monies, with the promise of implausibly high guaranteed returns within a short timeframe.
The commission in a circular also disclosed that CBEX was not granted registration at any time to operate as a Digital Assets Exchange.
According to the SEC, CBEX, which also operates under the corporate identity of ST Technologies International Ltd, Smart Treasure/Super Technology, has held itself out as a digital asset trading platform, offering high returns to investors in Nigeria.
SEC in the circular explained that,
“The commission hereby clarifies that neither CBEX nor its affiliates were granted registration by the commission at any time to operate as a Digital Assets Exchange, solicit investments from the public or perform any other function within the Nigerian capital market.
The SEC emphasised that pursuant to the provisions of Section 196 of the Investments and Securities Act 2025, the commission would collaborate with relevant law enforcement agencies to take appropriate enforcement action against the CBEX, its affiliates, and promoters.
“The commission uses this medium to remind the public to REFRAIN from investing in or dealing with any entity offering unrealistic returns or employing similar recruitment-based investment models. Prospective investors are advised to VERIFY the registration status of investment platforms via the Commission’s dedicated portal: www.sec. gov.ng/cmos before transacting with them”, the SEC added.
Capital market analysts, Managing Director, HighCap Securities, Mr. David Adonri, demanded a two-way punishment for both the promoters of Ponzi schemes and subscribers to address the root cause of the recurring problem.
He said that both the promoters and victims are culpable, and any effective enforcement regime must address both two of them.
Adonri said, “I do not pity the greedy people who were duped. Both the fraudsters and the victims should be punished accordingly. The fraudsters should be mercilessly dealt with for perpetrating fraud and robbery, while the victims should be punished for aiding and abetting fraud in Nigeria.
“Several campaigns have been done to warn people against Ponzi schemes and yet, the victims refused to heed the warning because of their greed and attempt to get rich quickly.”
EFCC to Probe CBEX
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and INTERPOL have commenced a probe of the recently crashed CBEX.
The spokesperson of EFCC, Dele Oyewale, in a statement, confirmed that the commission had already commenced an investigation into the scheme before its eventual collapse.
He explained that efforts were underway to arrest both the local and international operators behind the fraudulent scheme.
“We are actively working to handle the CBEX situation. We will collaborate with other regulatory agencies to ensure that Nigerians are protected from this kind of scheme. We will do our job—where recovery is possible, we will recover; where prosecution is possible, we will prosecute.
“Overall, we will do our best. Additionally, there are similar frauds across the country that people are unaware of, and we are working to uncover them. We are on the local collaborators while we are partnering with INTERPOL to trace the foreign operators,” he stated.
Oyewale further warned Nigerians to exercise caution before committing funds to any financial entity not duly registered with regulatory bodies.
“We urge the public to verify any investment opportunity with the CBN and SEC before engaging. The EFCC remains committed to safeguarding the public from predatory operators and ensuring a corruption-free economic environment,” the statement added.
Securities and Exchange Commission Headquarters, Abuja
EFCC headquarter, Abuja
FACES AT OBI CUBANA’S 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
A distinguished roll call of dignitaries, top government officials, bank executives, and politicians attended the grand 50th birthday celebration of Nigeria’s renowned business tycoon and Chairman of the Cubana Group, Chief Obinna Iyiegbu. The event took place on April 12, 2025, at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
‘OUR DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH’
The Yoruba Community in Kaduna appreciates the governor for his inclusive style of governance, writes JEREMIAH BAKO
While differences among various human subsets is a given, it is colorful and heartwarming when these barriers are bridged rather than walled. This genuine integration
governor, Senator Uba Sani. According to a report published on April
accelerated development, and improved Mustapha, thanked the governor for his people-centric leadership.
agenda.”
Responding, Sani appreciated the group’s visit and reiterated his administration’s
“We will continue to work with all ethnic
donated land for the establishment of a spare parts market as well as a bus to the in spare parts to venturing into building materials, the governor described how success of kaduna.
who felt at home in the gathering, sporting the traditional ‘Isi Agu” top and tall red cap the traditional Igbo handshakes. the huge potential and possibilities of are industrious, hardworking, resilient, resourceful and accommodating. We are industrialists and entrepreneurs. We offer of the leading states with ease of doing business in Nigeria. I have given approval for the building of a spare parts market mind, our people here would be the greatest giving for the construction and building of the spare parts market.
the Igbo.’ According to Francis Uchenna, approach, the near total peace and are some of the indices we considered,” said Uchenna.
Aisha Abba Kyari, eldest daughter of the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, pens a memorial tribute
FIVE YEARS
WITHOUT MY FATHER
Lknown to most people as Mallam
I have been unable to rebuild the world I quite comfortable in a place of grief because has spent more than 15 minutes with me will
taken the phrase ‘keeping his name and
the ongoing construction of over 60 rural roads and completion of several others, health centres and schools across the state are commendable.”
heinous crimes are declining and areas like a brief stint as a criminal haven. Roads are being constructed to link farms and markets in rural areas, local and foreign agricultural partners are investing in the state, and the administration is opening up to the modern
launch the Special Agro-Processing Zone, an more health workers, constructed general
of establishing special vocational training schools across the state and upgrading of the apprenticeship scheme the Panteka Market is famous for.
been home to Nigerians from different parts
governor responds shows he is ‘good people’
show of love and vote of confidence from non-indigenous residents is not a fluke, Rather, his embrace is borne out of love for
the ‘indigeneship’ question in the state, this of governance.
Though Sani won his rival at the gubernatorial poll with a slim lead, more towards him and his support base is growing stronger. In the political arena, defections to stakeholders and even some opponents praise him and want him back.
be.”
That struck me. And deep down, I knew
FT described him as a “self-effacing and attention to detail unsettled his opponents.” If that’s not spot on, I don’t know what is.
an alpha female, I’m an alpha male. And
the highest of standards?
listened. I inherited that quiet assertiveness
reread some of the tributes written about him after his passage, both the kind and the notwas used 123 times. That can’t be a coincidence. That’s who he was. To his friends and cherished
rare it felt sacred.
I sometimes wish he could read all that’s
response to me when I shared certain things
‘The Financial Times’—his two favourite man who tried to clean up Nigeria.” The
that gave people a glimpse into the man behind the white kaftan and red cap. Not the Chief of Staff, but the father, husband, and friend. That piece Fathers I didn’t even know reached out
was now their parenting blueprint. For a man of few words, what a ripple effect he had. What a man!
and I continue to walk-through wideopen doors, doors he smashed down long before we even reached them. We continue to receive love and support, not
all his friends, his entire network and
mum’s love and quiet strength have been grief we all share.
price. But what a privilege to have been
Aisha Abba Kyari writes from Abuja Bako writes from Kaduna
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com
THE ENDURING MESSAGE OF EASTER
Wto all compatriots to help in deepening harmony and eschew celebrate with all adherents of essence of hope, regardless of transactional. and ministry with the poor, the weak and the
that Nigerians now grapple with. What remains is for him and other leaders to walk their talk, especially in a season like this, and begin to rewrite the story of Nigeria.
transcend doctrine, and they are worthy to be than at any period in history, it is important that bandits, armed robbers, and
We invite all Nigerians to renew hope and faith in our country while their relationships with others should be based on love that is not transactional
The mystery of today’s celebration is anchored on by death on the cross and the happiness of the
SUNDAY NEWSPAPER
EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN
DEPUTY EDITORS FESTUS AKANBI, EJIOFOR ALIKE
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LIMITED
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief(150-200 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer
WHY NAIRA-FOR-CRUDE POLICY IS BEST FOR THE ECONOMY
The oil sector in Nigeria has always been the depends on oil as if it’s the only thing keeping
Year after year, billions were spent to maintain
attempt to correct this longstanding imbalance, The policy emerged as a response to at home.
maintaining market stability.
Refinery, with payments made in Naira.
_Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical assistant on broadcast media to the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service
Collateral Damage: The Unintended Consequences of US Tariffs
Isaac Megbolugbe
Introduction
The imposition of tariffs by the United States has sparked a heated debate about the potential benefits and drawbacks of this policy. While the intention behind the tariffs may be to protectAmericanindustriesand workers, the reality is that they have far-reaching and unintended consequences that affect not only the US but also the global economy.
Complexity of Global Supply Chains
Complex and Interconnected World
Risks and Consequences
Need for a Nuanced Understanding
Dichotomy Between Goods and Services
Post-WWII Global Trade Order China’s Integration and Success
Consequences of Unilateralism
Bilateral Deals and Fragmentation
Lame Duck in Global Trade
Consequences of the US Shift
WTO’s Diminished Role
Need for a Rules-Based System
Trump
How Rabiu, BUA Group’s Historic Deals in Dubai will Revolutionise Nigeria’s Economy
Recently, Abdulsamad Rabiu once again summoned the spirit of possibility, crafting mighty alliances that promise to lift Nigeria’s industrial spirit, writes Lanre Alfred
Amid the bustle of Dubai’s Middle East financial district, Rabiu forged visionary trade alliances. There, under the arc-lit gaze of the world, the Nigerian industrial colossus and founder of the BUA Group, inked a constellation of agreements. From an audacious 20MW gas power plant with Green Power International, to a sprawling 1,000 metric ton-per-day palm oil refinery with Alfa Laval, and a bold leap into food manufacturing with Qingdao ZhengYa Technology and Shanghai Poemy Machinery, Rabiu’s latest exploits resonate with promise and purpose.
A Season of Harvest in Dubai
It was not coincidence that Dubai, a city synonymous with ambition, was chosen as the theatre for this unfolding drama. Rabiu and his lieutenants orchestrated partnerships that read like battle plans for economic resurgence. The agreements shimmer with transformative potential: a 20MW gas-based power plant, ensuring energy sovereignty for BUA’s LNG operations—free from the erratic pulse of Nigeria’s national grid; 10 lines of fried instant noodles production, crafted through a pact with Qingdao ZhengYa Technology Company; automatic packaging lines for those noodles, secured via a deal with Shanghai Poemy Machinery Company and a 1,000MT/day palm oil refinery, realized through collaboration with Alfa Laval, poised to close Nigeria’s edible oil production gaps.
Each deal, a stone cast into the still waters of Nigerian industry, sending ripples of job creation, technological advancement, and economic diversification far beyond the point of impact.
Gas: The Breath of New Industry
At the heart of these achievements lies energy—the vital ether through which industry breathes. With the signing of the partnership with Green Power International, BUA Group redefines what it means to build with foresight.
The 20MW gas power plant is not merely an infrastructural addition; it is a defiance of Nigeria’s perennial power woes. While others curse the darkness of epileptic electricity, Rabiu strikes a match and builds a bonfire.
With Green Power’s expertise in lowemission, gas-based power generation, this project marries sustainability to necessity. It will furnish BUA’s LNG operations with reliable, clean energy, freeing it from the vagaries of a national grid long synonymous with failure. In doing so, Rabiu enshrines a new principle in Nigerian enterprise: energy sovereignty as a pillar of industrial independence.
More than that, it stands as a silent dare to Nigeria’s industrial class: “Power yourself—or perish.”
This model of embedded power
generation is the invisible architecture of advanced economies—and now, thanks to BUA, Nigeria edges closer to that ideal.
Feeding the Nation, One Noodle at a Time
Rabiu’s vision does not end with gas turbines. He sees with panoramic clarity the urgent need to bolster Nigeria’s food processing capabilities—especially for a burgeoning youth population whose appetite and aspirations grow by the day.
Through his partnership with Qingdao ZhengYa Technology Company, Rabiu plants another flag of ambition: 10 production lines dedicated to fried instant noodles. Each line a testament to job creation, food security, and technological transfer.
But it is not enough to produce; excellence demands precision. Thus enters Shanghai Poemy Machinery Company, bringing cutting-edge automatic packing solutions to ensure that BUA’s noodles reach Nigerian homes, not just quickly, but impeccably.
This move into instant noodles is strategic. It taps into a fast-growing market sector and aligns with broader national imperatives of food self-sufficiency and value addition. It is not simply business; it is nationcraft.
Palm Oil Renaissance
From the factories of fried noodles to the lush plantations of palm, Rabiu’s reach extends with almost prophetic precision.
Nigeria, once the world’s leading palm oil producer, now imports what it should abundantly supply. This historic irony is one Rabiu seeks to end.
In collaboration with Alfa Laval, BUA Group will erect a 1,000MT-per-day palm oil refinery and fractionation plant—a marvel of modern agro-processing that promises to resuscitate a dormant industry.
This refinery will do more than process oil; it will pump lifeblood into Nigeria’s agricultural value chains, stimulate rural economies, and reverse decades of dependence on imported edible oils.
Through the refinery, thousands of farmers will find markets, millions will find nourishment, and Nigeria will find, once again, its agricultural dignity.
And with Alfa Laval’s world-class technology, BUA ensures that the products refined will meet global standards— unlocking export opportunities and positioning Nigeria as a serious contender on the world stage of agro-industrial giants.
Method Behind the Mastery
Rabiu’s magic lies not just in the deals he makes but in the method he applies—a method that sees partnerships not as transactions, but as transformations.
Every move he makes stitches a broader tapestry: local content development, job creation, food security, energy stability, and knowledge transfer. These are not buzzwords; they are the living threads of his industrial philosophy.
It is a strategy rooted in building ecosystems, not empires. And in so doing, Rabiu ensures that BUA Group’s success is tethered to Nigeria’s broader socioeconomic ascension.
He is not merely building businesses; he is engineering an entire industrial
renaissance. Each new factory, each refinery, each gas turbine is a new hymn in a swelling chorus of national revival.
BUA’s Unbroken Legacy of Firsts
These new deals do not stand in isolation. They are the natural outgrowth of a legacy already studded with monumental achievements:
For instance, BUA’s cement plants in Edo and Sokoto have broken monopolies and democratized access to construction materials; BUA’s sugar refinery ventures have slashed Nigeria’s import dependency and emboldened the nation’s food sovereignty; the group’s fertiliser plants are fuelling the dreams of thousands of farmers, catalysing a quiet agricultural revolution; and its foray into steel production is laying the skeletal framework for future infrastructure across West Africa.
Now, with these latest Dubai accords, BUA tilts Nigeria’s industrial arc even further towards self-reliance and global competitiveness.
Rabiu’s strategy is clear: Diversify, deepen, dominate, and always, always, deliver.
Why Rabiu Must Be Celebrated
Some names must be etched in marble in the catalogue of nation-builders, and Abdulsamad Rabiu’s surely belongs among them. He is a rare alchemist of vision and execution, a businessman who sees boardrooms not as battlefields for profit alone, but as crucibles for national transformation. He exemplifies the power of purposeful capitalism, the idea that private profit and public progress are not mutually exclusive, but mutually reinforcing.
In celebrating Rabiu, Nigeria celebrates the ethos of excellence. It celebrates the belief that solutions will not fall from foreign skies but will rise from local soil, watered by vision and nurtured by will. He is proof that Nigeria’s destiny need not be outsourced. It can, and must, be self-authored - line by line, deal by deal, turbine by turbine.
When the gas plant roars to life, when the first packets of BUA noodles roll off the assembly line, when the first drops of golden palm oil pour from Alfa Laval’s gleaming tanks, a new Nigeria will begin to emerge, not a nation waiting for aid, but one forging its fate with fire and faith.
In every spinning turbine blade, in every sizzling noodle fryer, in every drop of refined palm oil, Rabiu’s enduring message will resound: “Nigeria shall build and rise.”
R-L: Founder/Executive Chairman, BUA Group, AbdulSamad Rabiu, and General Manager, Shangahi Poemy Automatic Equipment Company Limited, Liu Yong, during the signing event at the BUA Group Middle East Office, Dubai, UAE...recently
R-L: Founder/Executive Chairman, BUA Group, AbdulSamad Rabiu, and Vice-President, Food & Water Division Hub, Alfa Laval PVT Limited, Panjak Masheshwari, during the singning event at the BUA Group Middle East Office, Dubai, UAE...recently
It’s Such a Joy to See the Kind of Trends and Innovations Happening in the Events Industry
Izobe Spiff has fond childhood memories, with parties standing out as her favourite moments. Born to the late lawyer and politician Hon. Dr. Austine Obozuwa, and his wife, Chief Caroline, Spiff recalled how her family was known for hosting elaborate gatherings.
“My mum was the master planner in the family,” she shared on a recent encounter. “She planned everyone’s weddings.”
For her own wedding, it was a teamwork between mother and daughter.
Everyone was involved in the planning and management of any occasion in the family.
“We had hands-on experience. From going to the market to cooking and getting all those little things to ensure the success of the event. As kids back then, we had to make sure that all the cutlery, glasses and crystal were clean and in good condition because you have all of that laid out on the table for people to use.
“It also depends on the kind of party,” she continued. “Sometimes we help in making sandwiches or frying meat. So everyone was hands-on. But as the event planning industry evolved, people now know that as a host, they don’t necessarily need to move a muscle.”
From those early experiences, Spiff developed a strong inclination for event planning. It was no surprise when, after studying law at the University of Benin and practising for five years, she eventually pivoted fully into the events industry. Though a chartered mediator and conciliator, it’s her work in events that has consistently kept her in the spotlight.
Spiff founded Tres Bien Events in 2005 in Rivers State where she completed her mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). After planning a wedding and witnessing how grateful people were to have a professional handle every aspect, she realised there was a gap waiting to be filled.
“Tres Bien is a pioneer event company in the Niger Delta. We saw a gap that needed to be filled and we did. We’re thankful that many other companies have sprung up since then.”
To further hone her craft, she obtained certification in Event Planning from the Blackford Institute, UK. Her first major event, which she planned alongside her mother and siblings, was her parents’ 25th anniversary.
“From putting the record together, setting up the table, inflating the balloons,” she giggled as she recounted the experience. “It’s fantastic that we have vendors who offer these individual services now. We have really grown over those years. The industry has evolved and it’s such a joy to see the kind of trends and innovations happening today.”
One such platform showcasing these innovations is The Event Show, founded by Spiff.
“The Event Show was born out of the need to showcase the events industry in the Niger Delta,” she explained. “I didn’t grow up in Port Harcourt. I grew up in Lagos. I grew up at some point in Benin. At some point in my adult life, I lived in Abuja. So Port Harcourt was somewhere I’ve never been to. I came to serve here. I remained here. I got married here. I started my business here.
“In showcasing the event industry in the Niger Delta, we needed to bond together as event planners professionals, network and learn new and better ways of doing business so we can grow and thrive.”
The first edition of The Event Show took place in 2011 and ran annually until the 10th edition in 2020. It returned for its 11th edition last year, an edition Spiff describes as “bigger and better than we could have imagined.”
Last year’s show highlighted emerging roles in the event space.
“We have carpenters who work with the decorators. We have the stage builders. We have the lights experts. These are different jobs people can do in the event space.”
The transformation often goes beyond staffing to the very ambience and food aesthetics at events.
“Food presentations at events are now innovative. It’s no longer the regular way of piling different food. Now people are putting their thinking caps on and creating more ways to give people that extraordinary experience. They are looking
“In fact, when we started, we had to do a lot of education, lobbying and pleading with parents. Oh, let us do this for your children. Even when the couple comes to us, we always have to meet the parents and convince them why they should allow us to plan their wedding instead of allowing four aunties – one who does rentals, one who cooks, the other one who will buy the drinks and help to chill it. We had to explain to them why they shouldn’t be the ones in charge of everything. So it was something that was needed here.”
To bridge this knowledge gap, Spiff launched Nigeria’s largest Event Professionals Summit, which not only boosted tourism but also provided mentorship for young entrepreneurs.
She noted that clients in Lagos and Abuja are generally more open to event planning services.
“They are more willing to let go and allow the planner to take over. They allow the planner some leeway to choose and advise on vendors and just do good consulting to make sure that their event turns out nice,” said Spiff.
But in the Niger Delta, clients often struggle to relinquish control.
“In some cases, I’ll be a total stranger and turning over control to you becomes a big challenge. But for people who I know, it’s easier to convince.”
Despite this, she gave the region a healthy rating.
“We have our converts but there are people who still need to be preached to constantly. I will give us a 65 heading to 77,” she said with a laugh
Over the years, Spiff has managed events for high-profile personalities and institutions, including the wedding of the daughter of former Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Kenneth Minimah (rtd), the Nigerian Bar Association’s Port Harcourt conference during Olumide Akpata’s presidency, the commissioning of railway projects under former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, the Rivers State 50th anniversary fundraising dinner during Nyesom Wike’s administration, and the Children’s Carnival during Amaechi’s tenure, among many others.
Spiff has a bubbly personality which can be felt miles away. It showed when speaking about her passion.
“It’s the joy of having all the moving parts put in one coordinated sequence. It’s just putting it all together and seeing the smile on people’s faces.”
A serial entrepreneur, Spiff was named South-South’s Excellent Business Personality of 2016 by the South-South People Assembly (SSPA), and listed among Africa’s Top 50 Event Planners by the UAE’s Department of Culture and Tourism. She was also featured on Nigeria’s 60 Most Influential Event Professionals by the Association of Professional Party Organisers and Event Managers of Nigeria (APPOEMN).
Driven by excellence, Spiff has earned numerous industry awards, including The Ford Foundation Prize for Ending Unemployment and Le Meridien’s Award for Exceptional Woman in Rivers State.
at how to garnish and the different styles to meet the ambience of the party. All we need to do is keep pushing the boundaries, encouraging other practitioners to do so, and then we’ll have a really vibrant events industry.”
The Event Show combines keynote speeches, masterclasses, breakout sessions, and exhibitions, all culminating in a fashion event. “It’s just everything for everybody. It’s learning, it’s fun, it’s networking, it’s buying and selling. It’s everything you want in an event.”
Setting up an events planning and management company in Port Harcourt was not an easy walk in the park for Spiff and her team.
She recently published her book ‘The Octopus,’ a definitive guide to excelling in the events industry.
A proud mother of two, she is also an avid traveller, gardener, and golf enthusiast. Above all, she champions entrepreneurship.
“I believe that people should go into business; should have a side hustle. Even my staff, my junior and associate events coordinators, I encourage them to have side businesses just like I’m training my children to do some sort of business which is complementary to their academics and doesn’t serve as a distraction.”
For now, Spiff remains focused on reshaping the narrative of the Niger Delta — moving it beyond oil bunkering and political tension, and highlighting its potential as a thriving hub of creativity and innovation.
Spiff
with KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807, E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com
...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous
Edun Frowns at Lavish Wedding for Son
In Nigeria, the scent of opulence often precedes the groom. But Wale Edun has chosen the less-travelled road, one paved not in gold, but restraint. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy reportedly insisted that his son’s wedding, expected to draw the full registry of Nigerian elites, be kept as modest as possible.
Edun, a man whose Saturdays are indistinguishable from his Mondays, is said to have vetoed any suggestion of a high-octane celebration. For most political figures, this would be out of character. For Edun, it is an extension of policy, fiscal and personal.
The father of the groom is no stranger to the levers of economic reform. As inflation slows, falling to 23.18% in February 2025, its lowest in over a year, Edun’s fingerprints are unmistakable. So too is his philosophy: government must lead by example. While others toast champagne in banquet halls, he offers a lesson in frugality. Clearly, to him, symbolism matters, especially when millions are tightening belts.
This echoes the minister’s broader economic doctrine: curb excess, drive efficiency, and correct distortions left to fester under subsidy regimes and fragmented forex markets. Recent praise from Fitch Ratings, which upgraded Nigeria’s credit profile to a ‘B’, suggests the reforms, however painful, are gaining traction.
Still, Edun’s decision risks cultural backlash. Nigerian weddings are often a social currency; cutting corners is sometimes seen as sacrilege. But the minister, an alumnus of both Wall Street and Marina House, appears unmoved. He has done the arithmetic: symbolism now could yield dividends later. The real gift, perhaps, is a father showing that wealth lies not in display, but discipline.
And so, while the son takes a bride, the father takes a stand—a quiet wedding in noisy times, proving once again that the economy isn’t just spreadsheets. It’s also choices.
Money Marries Money: The Obijackson-Ekulo Power Wedding of the Year
If your name isn’t already on the exclusive guest list for April 22, I’m afraid you’re simply not rich enough to attend! The social event of the season is happening in Okija where Ugochukwu Okonkwo, heir to the Ekulo soap empire, will be tying the knot with Kenechukwu Obiejesi, oil princess of the mighty Obijackson dynasty.
Let’s break it down for those still catching up: We’re talking about the son of Emma Bishop Okonkwo (the man who keeps Nigeria clean with Eva soap) marrying the daughter of Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi (the man who keeps Nigeria moving with Nestoil). This isn’t just a wedding. It’s a corporate merger dressed in traditional attire!
Sources informed that the Acropolis Event Centre in Okija will be dripping with more money than a Central Bank vault. Expect the who’s who of Nigeria’s business, political
In Nigeria, comebacks are rare and second chances rarer. Therefore, Roland Ewubare’s return as Group Chief Operating Officer (GCOO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) is both unexpected and seismic.
Five years ago, Ewubare walked away from Nigeria’s oil epicenter during the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. His abrupt resignation from NNPC amid
and entertainment elite. Expect enough champagne to float a yacht. And there might just be a private performance from whichever A-list artist is currently the most expensive.
The real tea? This union creates what might just become Nigeria’s wealthiest power couple since Dangote’s daughter got married. Imagine combining soap money with oil money. Their future children will probably be born with golden pacifiers!
Rumour has it that the wedding planners had to specially reinforce the dance floor to handle all that collective net worth. And don’t even get us started on the outfits that will assuredly be on display. We know they will be bright enough to light up the whole of Okija town.
For those not on the guest list? Let’s just say this is one occasion where exclusivity speaks louder than an invitation. After all, when wealth marries wealth, the guest list writes itself.
The Return of Roland Ewubare
swirling rumours (ranging from health concerns to executive fallout) marked a sudden end to a towering public career. His farewell note was simple: he was going to the U.S. to be with family. And just like that, one of Nigeria’s most accomplished oil technocrats disappeared from the scene.
But figures like Ewubare do not retire quietly.
A Harvard-trained lawyer with a corporate pedigree spanning Schlumberger, Skadden Arps, and key NNPC roles, he was always more than a bureaucrat—he was the rare “inside outsider,” navigating Nigeria’s oil bureaucracy with global precision and local nuance. Industry veterans never stopped speculating: would he return?
That question has now been answered.
Little wonder Olorogun Bernard Okumagba, former Delta State Finance Commissioner, hailed Ewubare’s comeback as “a testament to his strategic vision and operational depth.”
His appointment, Okumagba asserted, aligns squarely with President Bola Tinubu’s ambitious restructuring of NNPC—particularly the mandate to reposition the corporation
Bronzes in the Bank or Museum? Nigeria Reclaims Its History Amid Economic Unease
In a nation where rising food prices and fuel queues dominate conversation, it may seem odd, almost indulgent, that talks have turned to centuries-old bronze sculptures. Yet, here we are.
Over 100 Benin Bronzes are on their way home from Germany, joining earlier returns from Berlin and Hamburg. Nigeria is, quite literally, reclaiming its past, one artifact at a time.
But in the shadow of economic hardship, what exactly do these bronzes mean to the average Nigerian?
Looted in 1897 during Britain’s brutal sacking of Benin City, these bronzes - once glistening on palace walls - spent over a century in European museums, silent witnesses to colonial theft. Now they are returning, not to a public museum just yet, but to the palace of the Oba of Benin. That decision, made in the twilight of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency, left some German curators flummoxed. Weren’t they promised transparency? Public access?
It raises thorny questions: Can restitution exist without public accountability? Do cultural treasures belong to the state, the people, or the original royal custodians?
Yet beyond politics lies a deeper, less tangible victory. These bronzes are not just metal - they are memory, artistry, and identity smelted into form. Their return is a quiet rebuttal to the notion that African history lives best behind European glass.
Still, some Nigerians might wonder: “Can we eat bronze?” It’s a fair question. With inflation at historic highs, such symbolic wins may feel like misplaced priorities. But perhaps there’s room for both: survival and soul.
As Nigeria prepares to house these treasures in a future museum in Benin City - and hopefully one in Abuja - the bronzes become more than relics. They become reminders that our history is not a handout. It is a right, one that must be protected, exhibited, and above all, owned.
for profitability, transparency, and investor confidence.
Ewubare’s re-entry is more than a high-profile personnel shift; it signals a recalibration. His past leadership at NAPIMS, where he oversaw over $15 billion in joint venture portfolios, and his dual command of NNPC’s Upstream and Ventures directorates, have already reshaped how partnerships with IOCs are managed. His return could extend that influence.
Still, in a rare comment before the announcement, one can imagine Ewubare striking a note of finality: “I’ve done hard labour for Nigeria… I just want to breathe.” But Nigeria, as always, had other plans.
Now, back in the corridors of power, Ewubare carries the weight of expectations. For him, it is not just to reform a sector long plagued by inertia, but to prove that sometimes, the second act is the most transformative.
In his new role Ewubare will be an effective deputy to Bashir Bayo Ojulari who himself is a technocratic superstar.
We wish them well.
For now, the bronzes are coming home. Whether that home becomes a palace or a public institution - well, that’s a story still being written.
Vision, Influence, and Impact: Jennifer Obayuwana is That Woman
Some women make power moves quietly. Then there’s Jennifer Obayuwana, one of the very few who make power moves in Bottega heels, with a Harvard cr edential in one hand and a Rolex catalog in the other.
When she walked out of the Owner/President Management Programme at Harvard Business School, she didn’t just leave with a certificate. She left with proof that intellect, influence, and intuition can reside in one woman. And also, that when luxury leadership can be redefined, it doesn’t have
to be inherited.
Lady Jennifer is not a placeholder at Polo Luxury Group. No, she’s its engine. Under her command, the house of Rolex and Cartier has not only expanded in scope, it has flourished with intentionality. And then there’s Polo Avenue, her brainchild, where Gucci meets grit in Nigeria’s most curated fashion experience.
But perhaps what sets her apart isn’t the portfolio, it’s the poise. From working the sales floor to sitting at boardroom tables across Europe and Africa, she embodies a duality rare in luxury: old-world elegance paired with
startup hustle.
She collects objets d’art, but make no mistake - Lady Jennifer is herself an artefact of ambition. Chairing Women Who Conquer, she channels her privilege into purpose, empowering rural women with more than inspiration: with skill, capital, and voice.
Ina market often defined by shortterm wins and loud branding, Jennifer is playing a longer, quieter game, one that balances legacy and reinvention. She isn’t just steering a luxury empire. She’s becoming a blueprint for what African female leadership looks like when it dares to be brilliant and beautiful.
Ewubare
Obiejesi and Okonkwo
Obayuwana
Edun
Oba Ewuare
Will Former President Goodluck Jonathan Give in to Increasing Pressure?
Back in December, the posters in Kano said it plainly: “Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for President, 2027. He is our Messiah.” But the man himself, serene as ever, seems unbothered. At a recent ceremony in Seoul, where he was awarded the prestigious Sunhak Peace Prize, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan gave no hints of political ambition, only reflections on peace, dialogue, and the fragility of democracy.
Still, the question persists: Could Jonathan return?
It’s not the first time whispers of a comeback have trailed the former president. His image, a symbol of Nigeria’s only peaceful transfer of power from an incumbent, carries nostalgic weight, especially amid growing economic and social frustrations. But nostalgia does not equal intent. Despite pressure from some within the PDP and hints of a brewing opposition realignment, Jonathan has repeatedly stated, both directly and through surrogates, that he is not interested in contesting.
More telling is where he spends his time.
In such a things-might-
While politics in Nigeria churns, Jonathan travels: advocating democracy in Liberia, mediating in Mali, and steering the West African Elders Forum. His foundation remains active in governance and peace-building, not electoral mobilisation. The financial component of his peace prize, he announced, would be channelled to support these initiatives.
Strategically, a return appears improbable. Jonathan would have to wrest the PDP ticket from contenders like Atiku who critics have uncharitably described as a hungrier alternative. Even if he could accomplish that, Jonathan would still have to navigate the memories of his 2015 loss, then go on to facing Tinubu, whose political machine, unlike Jonathan’s, is humming.
Even if a “mega opposition coalition” forms, it’s unclear if Jonathan is willing to anchor it. His silence, in this context, speaks volumes.
So, is there hope for a Jonathan rerun? Going by all the hints, only in the hearts of loyalists and the murals of Kano. For now, the man
seems more invested in post-presidential statesmanship than in re-entering the electoral arena.
Remi Tinubu’s Milk of Human Kindness
not-be-what-they-seem setting, the First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, is carving out her own corner of relevance. Yet it is not with fanfare, but with injections and dignity kits.
Her recent N1billion donation to the National Cancer Fund through the Renewed Hope Initiative may not reverse inflation or fix power outages, but it speaks to a soft power often dismissed in Nigeria’s harsh political theatre: care. At a time when hunger is the headline and cynicism the default setting, the First Lady has made health - particularly women’s health - a political priority. It’s not glamorous, but it’s needed.
Even her fiercest critics, quick to see every gesture through the lens of privilege, must contend with the numbers: 12 million girls vaccinated against HPV in just nine months, thanks in part to her advocacy. These are not abstract figures. They are future women spared the horror of cervical cancer. In a political environment where
Yayi at Work: Let Them Continue Panicking
While Ogun’s political aspirants are busy rearranging their campaign slogans and second-guessing their chances, Senator Solomon “Yayi” Adeola is doing something radical: actual work.
On April 26, while half the state’s political class will still be clutching pearls over whispers of his 2027 ambition, as they have been doing for months now, Yayi will be in Ilaro. No, he will not be plotting, nor posturing, but presenting scholarships and bursaries to deserving students. The venue? Frontier Hotel. The message? Leadership is action, not performance.
It’s classic Yayi. No grand declarations. No theatrical endorsements. Just a steady march of deliverables. And while the punditry continues its fever dream of who’s running and who’s ruined, the senator is running a different kind of campaign—the kind that builds trust, not billboards.
This isn’t new. Yayi’s brand of politics has always been rooted in tangible impact. Roads, empowerment schemes, legislative results— the boring stuff that actually changes lives. Now, he’s offering educational lifelines while others are still drafting rebuttals to rumours.
The contrast is stark: while opponents are frozen in “what ifs,” Yayi is booking venues and signing scholarship certificates. One has to wonder: are they intimidated by what he might do in 2027, or by what he’s already done without saying a word? Whatever answer is given tells one everything.
Make no mistake: this is political theatre of the most disciplined variety. A quiet scholarship ceremony here, a well-timed infrastructure visit there—and suddenly, he’s more relevant than anyone screaming from a podium.
The 2027 race hasn’t begun. But if presence is power, Yayi is already halfway to
By
optics often eclipse outcomes, this is a measurable impact.
But let’s be honest. Senator Remi is not just any First Lady. She is a political thoroughbred - former senator, pastor, wife to a president whose popularity rides a rollercoaster. That makes her every action both a humanitarian gesture and a political signal. For her loyalists, this is the mother of the nation rising to the hour. For her detractors, it’s optics wrapped in philanthropy.
Yet somewhere between both camps lies a simple truth: if a billion naira towards cancer prevention is political theatre, let’s have more of it. Nigerians are tired of empty speeches. They’ll take vaccines and dignity kits if that’s what’s on offer.
So, maybe - just maybe - Senator Remi’s milk of human kindness isn’t performative. Maybe it’s just milk. And in today’s Nigeria, that’s something.
Oke Mosan. And if Ogun’s politicians are smart, they’ll stop watching the man and start watching his method. After all, while others shake in their boots, Yayi simply shows up—with receipts.
Elegushi Foundation Announces Multimillion Naira Empowerment
By all accounts, royalty in the 21st century walks a delicate tightrope. It must be timeless, yet timely; steeped in tradition, yet fluent in the language of progress. Few monarchs wear this dual crown with the grace of His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi (Kusenla III), who this month celebrates 15 resplendent years on the throne of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom. But don’t expect a solemn retelling of the royal journey. Instead, the Elegushi Foundation is marking the occasion in a way befitting a modern-day custodian of both legacy and social good: with a multi-million naira empowerment initiative designed to uplift the underserved. Details of the program remain wrapped in a cloak of mystery, but if history is any guide, the gesture will be as impactful as it is generous. Indeed, Oba Elegushi’s rule has been one of regal relevance. His interventions in health, education, arts, and community development subtly yet profoundly redefined what a
traditional ruler can be. Under his watch, Ikate has evolved from a sleepy coastal stretch into a humming hub of culture, commerce, and social capital.
In true royal-meets-civic style, the Oba is inviting the public to join in the celebration. The date is Thursday, April 24. The time is 9:00 AM. The venue is The Monarch Event Center. According to sources, the plan is to dedicate the entire event to community support and giving back. In other words, the royal palace promises a festive fusion of philanthropy and pageantry.
While the coronation anniversary is cause enough for revelry, the real celebration lies in the continuity of care and culture that Oba Elegushi embodies. In a country where institutions falter and faith in leadership wanes, perhaps this is monarchy at its most modern - ceremonial, yes, but also compassion in motion.
now,
Governor Seyi
Makinde’s words have ricocheted through the political corridors of Abuja and Lagos alike: “Leaders must not make lives better for only a gang in Lagos.” A poetic jab? A policy critique? Or just prelude to a larger ambition?
This isn’t the first time Makinde has subtly - or not so subtlydistanced himself from the federal government’s narrative. Recall his swift rebuttal last year when President Bola Tinubu claimed states received N570billion in hardship funds? Makinde, armed with ledgers and principle, pointed out that the funds were World Bank reimbursements, not presidential generosity. The message? He doesn’t owe allegiance to spin.
Now, during a nationally televised interview, he doubles down, not just on the failures of elite-centric governance, but on his own capacity. “I don’t have any doubt that I have the capacity to occupy the highest office in this land.” That’s less a hint, more a declaration in waiting. Yet, like a man cautious of his echo, he adds: “Is this what Nigerians are asking for?”
And there seems to lie the Makinde paradox. Is he laying the groundwork for a 2027 run? Some critics answer, “Almost certainly!” Is he doing it under the cloak of antiestablishment populism? Some analysts respond, “Undoubtedly!”
But is his criticism of “a gang in Lagos” a swipe at Tinubu, Lagos’s most famous political son? The answer is more elliptical.
Makinde’s choice of words channels the frustration of those outside the urban, connected elite. But they also artfully leave room for interpretation. It’s not personal, it’s structural - or so it seems.
Still, there’s a scent of a campaign in the air. His tone, calibrated but evocative. His critique, pointed but plausible. Nigeria’s political theatre rarely rewards subtlety. But Makinde’s blend of it - part governor, part statesman-in-waiting - makes his ambitions difficult to ignore. Whether he’s a genuine reformer or an opportunist cloaked in concern depends on what he does next. Either way, the Lagos gang heard him. So did everyone else.
Tinubu
Adeola
Makinde
Nigeria is a country where political gestures are often wrapped in tinsel but rarely reach the grassroots.
Jonathan
Ibas and His Expensive Joke
SULTAN ABUBAKAR: A KILLING SPREE?
While President Bola Tinubu is in France, the country is boiling. The Benue and Plateau axis is now a bonfire of killings. Hundreds of lives, property and farmlands are being destroyed by errant people that have defied all kinds of labelling. We seem to be adept at labelling the marauders – herdsmen, Fulani herdsmen, bandits, terrorists. Whatever we want to call them, they are killing Nigerians in their thousands and our forces being adept in catching Yahoo boys and those abusing their ogas on social media seem to have no answer to this latest upsurge in killings. Shebi we all had thought that Buhari being a kinsman was giving them cover, now we have a non-relation with his kinsmen in full control of the security apparatus and the killing is still happening almost unabated.
This oga coincidentally shares a name with my maternal grandfather who was also Ibok. But that my grandfather was a gentleman pastor and would never have agreed to be appointed a sole administrator under this guise.
Well, that is a story for another day. Let me concentrate fully on the hot topic of the day. Since this oga resumed in Rivers State through a “coup by other means,” he has been going on like an emperor, dismantling democratic institutions and behaving as if he has more than the six months his principal prescribed to him.
This is why when the report came out that he had summoned the legitimate Governor of Rivers State, Sir Sim Fubara to his office, the whole country went up in flames. They quickly came out to say it was fake news. Na lie, me I do not believe it was fake news, it was the uproar that made them go back in their yellow cowardly fashion to say na fake news.
Fake news my craw craw infested ass! We must all come out strongly to defend this hard won democracy even though it is being strangled by the very people who claim to have fought for it.
Since the inception of this administration, we have come to realise that all that June 12
My dear Sultan, you even have the mind to carry yourself to Borno with all that your robe. If it happens now how will you run? It’s not a laughing matter, these people fear nobody o, turban or not o. Didn’t they steal a truck belonging to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) the other day?
My oga, abeg stay in your palace and keep sending out statements because it is not a joke out there. The whole of the, North-west, North-east, Middle Belt, South-east and parts of the South-west are in flames simply because their herds must eat or for any other reason. Me, I have surrendered since, losing all hope and relying on fervent prayers that these marauders will on their own be tired and just go because what we are seeing here is a clear inability to be defended by those we have empowered to defend us. Na prayer remain.
and NADECO fight was not for democracy but for a speedy move of the sliding doors so it will be “emilokun.”
Today, Rivers is under military rule – we can label it with anything we want to, the truth is that there is no democracy in Rivers and all right-thinking people should sleep with their eyes wide open.
Mr. Ibas or is it Vice Admiral Ibas, should be made aware very clearly that he is but a temporary speck abi dot in the white sheet of our democracy, and that he should just do his own and go and be mindful of history because even if “dem” send am “mumu” message, there is a way you will carry out the message with maturity and decorum and not with all these ones that we are seeing. Fake or no fake, you have no right to even think of summoning Fubara because he is merely suspended –something that is even being challenged in court, and as such you must tread with caution.
If I were in your shoes sef, I would only be paying salaries because that thing you are doing may soon be termed illegal if our judiciary can just even for once come out of its lethargy and truly be a defender of justice instead of this kwashiorkor behaviour they have been doing since. So my brother, do not by any stretch of the imagination be carried away, do your own and go, and never forget that you are but a speck in our collective bedsheet. Thank you.
ATIKU ABUBAKAR: IT’S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
The day I saw Atiku go to visit Buhari, I closed the curtain on one of the most colourful political careers Africa has seen. Abubakar Atiku has tried and I think it is time he finally throws in the towel. Starting from the customs where he started his career, the man has impacted Nigeria politically, business-wise and even in polygamy enough to earn himself a well-deserved place in the history books. He should just retire and go and enjoy whatever are the fruits of his many labours because what we are seeing here is a gradual but assured desecration of whatever legacy he may have built.
The man is surely on the way to political irrelevance and if he continues like this, even Portable, the errant and irritating Ijebu musician would defeat him in a
small election.
His inconsistency and seeming desperation seem to have blinded his sense of strategy and is now turning him into a political irritant. I am sorry that I am using such strong words but his continued stay in the forefront is blinding us and distracting us from building a strong opposition and a bulwark against this “amala” tyranny that we are facing.
Please, if nobody can tell him to his face, can someone give me an appointment so that I can sit in front of him and stare very clearly into his eyes and tell him straight “Grandpa, can you just retire?” Worse, he will beat me but I would have saved Nigeria from another malignant distraction. Mbok, “wattahell” as my uncle would say, when he saw only one piece of meat in his afang those days – Atiku “wattahell.”
Sultan Abubakar Atiku
Olu-Adegboruwa
Obasa
Ibas
FOR MUDASIRU OBASA, THE BEAT GOES ON
This one has gone deaf. He and his masters have ceased to listen to the voices of reason and continue to get drunk with power. For them, it’s only history and fate that will deal with them, for they have lost the capacity to see reason and see affairs of men, the way drunken sailors see used condoms.
So, they say that one court has declared his removal by a vast majority of his colleagues illegal amongst other things.
You know these people can use legal technicality to even make snow fall in Uyo so this was no surprise. All I can say is that Emperor Bokassa and Idi Amin did worse, today na dustbin we dey find them.
Junior Emperor Obasa, I wish you well, keep up the good work and greet your godfathers for a job well done. Na una dey reign. Keep it up. Sha remember, that no matter how long, truth and justice always sha use to have the last laugh. Prayer is for us all to be alive to see the true judgment of history and then we will have the last laugh. I can’t even wait.
EBUN OLU-ADEGBORUWA: UTOPIAN BY NATURE
If I yab this one now, he will now be carrying “criminal defamation” and be pursuing me up and down because that is the latest way they are using to pressure us down to silence. But this his statement on the NBA wahala with the Rivers State government is annoying and basically almost childish in nature. Saying that it was wrong for the NBA to receive donations and contributions on the back of their conferences because they collect fees and all that from its members is at best utopian and at worst, annoying – kai. I have used that word twice now. This shows my consternation at the statement.
You see a military dictator trying to rubbish a democratic institution like the NBA and you, a prominent member instead of fighting back or at best, keep quiet, you are strengthening that one. Any association can seek support and contributions from anywhere as long as it is legally gotten and judiciously used. Even Elon Musk dey receive donations abi can’t you see Dangote Foundation collecting donations.
My fear when I first heard this thing was that maybe the Rivers State government has either chopped the money or sent N2 million and posted N300 million, like I have experienced in my dealings with some state officials. But that is not the issue here but one funny man in white uniform trying all of his best to rubbish a suspended administration and you carry all of your “SANENESS” to join in slinging the mud. NBA received that money legitimately and the people who gave them the money have not reported being coerced to give the money, and in my books the person asking for the money back has no constitutional right to ask for the money back and as such NBA should keep the money and use it for the purposes it was meant for. Me I will vex if they now go and use the money to hire Portable again o.
Mr SAN, na beg, I dey beg you, if you are less busy, please go and fight that Honourable man that wants to ban porn, that should keep you a little busy.
Come and beat me or go to Ekiti and get their police to come and drag me.
IG KAYODE EGBETOKUN: HOW DO WE HANDLE THIS?
I am sure this IG when he was confronted with this clip of Chinese people sharing money to a troop of well-dressed policemen, he would just tire. He will drop the morsel of amala that he was eating and say – ni bo la tu ja si ba yi.
Struggling with unprecedented crime, insecurity and Sowore who is all over the place shouting that he should be sacked and now these Chinese people have left their Indomie noodles to come and add to
his headache.
I hear they have been summoned but even they should have known that this is all shades of wrong. How do you line up and be collecting cash from anybody talk less of a foreign national for a “job well done”.
For me, it shows the very low level of training in ethics and professionalism in the police force. Even boy scouts from Anyiam Nsit will not line up and be collecting cash like that from anybody.
The fact that it was even a foreign national gnaws at our sovereignty and national pride.
IG should immediately look towards his HR, if police have HR or any department whose job it is to train and instill ethics and professionalism in the force. Most of these policemen don’t even know the ethics of their profession. They don’t know the
rules of engagements, the laws that guide their duty and all of that and this clip very clearly shows that. Yet at every given opportunity when arrest innocent Nigerian, they are always quick to boast with “do you want to teach me my job.”This is not the time to arrest them or use them to play to the gallery as you guys used to do, this is the time for training and reorientation. Thanks.
TUNJI OLOWOLAFE: STAY STRONG, STAY BLESSED
Dr. Olowolafe is one of those people that you really do not see in the spotlight. His effectiveness is felt behind the curtains where he wields stupendous influence that cuts across all strata of society.
The annoying and very sad thing is that these ones will spend a lifetime confusing and misdirecting the young ones, and when they are aged and sagged, they will now make a U-turn after which millions of our daughters have already lost their way.
This one that has lived the life of a butterfly is now reported to be saying that she is now ready to not only marry but also be a second, third, fourth or fifth wife. This one that came out of a marriage in very colourful terms, wrote a disgusting book about the marriage and since then, has been living a life of luxury that has been the envy of many young girls, pushing independence and hedonism.
Today, that the assets are no longer as perky as they used to be and elasticity is no longer
assured, she is said to be pushing to be a fifth wife, craving the legitimacy that comes with that despite years of not giving a damn.
I have three daughters and this is why I am taking this very personal. All these influencers are really not the best for our society, see the lifestyle, the clothes, the lap of luxury and you cannot really see a justification in terms of work done or earnings and then when “market don dry” you come and be craving for marriage.
Let every parent take this story and have a very serious face to face discussion with their daughters o, make them no miss road like this mama o.
Anybody looking for a weatherbeaten, ex-show girl to marry as an alternative wife, now knows where to find one.
I had a very gentle inkling as to what was going on in his personal life during the run towards my stage play on Adekunle Fajuyi where he played a very important role. He was supposed to be a special guest of honour at the command performance in Ado Ekiti having supported very powerfully. But he called late one night and said, “Edgar I cannot come. My wife is not doing too well and I have to be with her. Please keep this to yourself.” I kept it and prayed for her safety. Two years later, the news of her passing hit the airwaves and Nigeria refused to be consoled.
Dr Olowolafe is the kind of man you never forget to have met. Let me confess, I have physically met him only once in my life but the impact he has made with the little he has said to me and by our chats remain profound.
It is no wonder that high society came out in their droves to support him as he sent his beautiful wife in glory to heaven.
It is never easy to lose a loved one and this in itself will not be easy. You can never be prepared; I tell you and this is why I want to join the multitude in seeking God’s merciful comfort for him and his family as he goes through this very difficult period. Take heart my Lord, God will keep you strong.
RICHARD MOFE DAMIJO: YOUR FATHER, YOUR FATHER
The legend has been on the road promoting his new movie- I don forget the name and as such he has been doing things. His appearance in one annoying podcast was the stuff legends are made off.
This podcast is my favourite as the presenter uses satire and humour to irritate and tackle his guests. So, this one on RMD who is as old as his great grandfather really shook social media.
“So, Richard,” he began, and RMD countered, “Your papa, your papa, your papa.” I laughed, I nearly died.
In that sentence, RMD had deepened engagements on so many counts – respect for tradition, humour and sarcasm in show business and how to be a good sportsman.
It is no wonder the clip went viral with all of us laughing but not losing the import of the whole thing. That was a blast I swear and I really enjoyed the whole banter. Well done Egbon, na sir, I go dey call you make you no go abuse my papa o. Well done guys.
Makinwa
Torrent of Honours for Governor
Oyebanji
In Nigeria, among the few governors that have continued to deliver the good dividends of democracy to the citizenry, Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji stands out.
Oyebanji has proven again and again that the people of the state didn’t make a mistake when they trooped out to vote him into power.
Though he is regarded by some as one of the most limelight-shy, yet he has been profoundly impactful. His leadership and administrative acumen are steadily bringing the dividends of democracy in ways that complement and even surpass the work of some of his predecessors.
It was, therefore, an evening of double honour for Oyebanji when he received the Vanguard Newspapers’ Personality of the Year (Good Governance) Award and Energy Times Magazine’s Energy Governor of the Year Award at two separate events held in Lagos.
The two awards, coming barely one month after Governor Oyebanji received the Silverbird Man of the Year Award were predicated on his transformative leadership, inclusive governance and his huge investments in road and power infrastructure, as well as agriculture and community development.
Speaking shortly after the events, Governor Oyebanji said the awards, like the previous ones, belong to the people of Ekiti, whom he said have demonstrated unprecedented support for his administration’s developmental agenda.
He added that the recognition has further placed a necessity on him to do more in terms of lifting the living standards of the people through the right mix of life-transforming programmes, policies and projects.
Governor Oyebanji thanked President Bola Tinubu for putting in place economic policies that have ceded more funds to the states, including Ekiti, thereby paving the way for greater development.
He also thanked Ekiti people at home and in the Diaspora for their support for his administration, stressing that the support of the people has been of tremendous encouragement.
While reiterating his commitment to sustaining the pace of development in the state, Governor Oyebanji said his administration would not relent in its efforts at creating the enabling environment for economic growth, infrastructure development, and social welfare of the citizens.
Anguish as Abisola Kola-Daisi Goes Home
Even if your heart was made of stone, you would have felt the pain when Abisola Kola-Daisi, daughter of the late Oyo State governor Abiola Ajimobi, was laid to rest at a private cemetery in Lagos on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
The former first family of Oyo State had been most distraught since the Grim Reaper snuffed life out of 44-year-old Bisola.
But the pains in the hearts of the family members and those who attended the burial were beyond description.
Her funeral began on Wednesday, with a church service at the RCCG City
of David, Trinity Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Until her passing, she was the Managing Director of Grandex Nigeria Limited, and Founder of Florence H. Luxury (A Multi-brand luxury boutique).
She was also a Special Adviser to Atiku Bagudu, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Planning.
Coming barely five years after her father, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, passed away in June 2020 at the age of 70, her death certainly amounts to running a sharp knife into a wound that is yet to heal in the hearts of the Ajimobis.
When Tech Guru, Leo Stan Ekeh Hosted Uzodimma
As the timeless Chinese maxim says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step,” Chief Jide Taiwo’s meteoric rise to the limelight as an Estate Surveyor and Valuer, and arguably a living legend in a field that has seen many grappling with wherewithal on the next move to break even, has become a talking point for beginners in the property business.
On April 10, the crème de la crème of the Nigerian upscale class gathered to celebrate a man whose vision has transformed homes and properties into an enduring profession. On the day, he had the rare honour of celebrating his 75th birthday as well as the 45th anniversary of his brainchild, Jide Taiwo & Co (JTC), in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The event was indeed an evening of glamour, entertainment and reeling out of endless stories about the celebrant who has been privileged to shape and take valuation, real estate brokerage and property management business to an enviable status. Not done with his achievement within the country, he recently embarked on a global expansion project with the opening of his firm’s London office.
The event, compered by the ace comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka, had the first daughter of Chief Jide Taiwo, Jumoke Anifalaje opening
Last week, Imo State-born e-commerce guru, Leo Stan Ekeh, wowed with his sense of hospitality when he played host to his state’s Governor, Hope Uzodimma.
In their palatial Ikoyi home, both Stan Ekeh and his lovely wife, Chioma, made the Governor and his entourage most welcome on a beautiful evening.
But beyond the lavish reception accorded the state’s number one citizen and his delectable wife in a convivial atmosphere, the meeting was further enlivened by discussions on politics, the economy, and national development.
It was one moment that greatly delighted the other guests, including top politicians, top government officials, captains of industry and
traditional rulers. Ekeh is a businessman, with a far-flung network of highly placed friends around the world. Prior to his emergence as one of the biggest tech moguls in the world, he had embraced success, to the envy of others, attaining a reputation based on hard work, dedication, perseverance and goodwill. But more importantly, he is on a constant quest to rule his world: the nation’s e-commerce sector.
Many who know him like the back of their hands claim that the high-flying billionaire’s net worth is certainly underrated in Nigeria, perhaps for his humility and simplicity.
Their claim is premised on the fact that he has one of the most expensive private jets around, aside from several eye-popping buildings in choice areas in London, Paris, New York and Dubai.
Serenading Stories of an Iconic Estate Valuer, Jide Taiwo, at 75
the floodgates of serenading stories about the celebrant, who 45 years ago planted the firm
Jide Taiwo and Co. Estate Surveyors and Valuers, now a household name in Nigeria, a leading player in the United Kingdom, the United States among other notable countries across the globe.
Anifalaje, who is the Vice Chairman of JTC, noted in her address that it is a true honour to welcome all to the celebration that brings together family, friends, colleagues and clients together to mark “two very special milestones.”
Among the dignitaries that graced the uptown event were former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Chief Oscar Ibru; president of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr Victor Alonge; Prophetess Esther Ajayi; Managing Director of Jide Taiwo & Co, Ibrahim Mohammed, while Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was presumed to attend the event in person had earlier in the day paid a courtesy visit to the celebrant at his Lekki, Lagos, residence to felicitate with the iconic estate valuer on his special day.
Businessman and visionary investor Dr. Babatope Agbeyo is again making headlines with his latest venture. Known for his sharp business acumen and ground-breaking investments, Dr. Agbeyo is expanding his empire with a bold new move that’s set to shake up the industry.
With a track record of success and innovation, his latest investment is already sparking excitement and speculation. As the Chairman of Gem Giant Limited, Dr. Agbeyo is spearheading a revolutionary shift in the gold mining sector. This innovative enterprise is committed to transforming the industry through sustainable practices, cutting-edge technology, and community empowerment.
With a strong focus on environmental stewardship and social impact, Gem Giant Ltd aims to set a new standard for responsible mining, ensuring that economic growth goes hand in hand with ecological preservation and societal development.
With Dr. Agbeyo’s latest move, industry experts are buzzing, with many hailing him as a game changer in the natural resource sector. His visionary approach not only promises lucrative returns but also seeks to uplift local communities by creating job opportunities and supporting infrastructural development in mining regions.
With this bold step, Dr. Agbeyo has no doubt cemented his status as a business
titan, proving once again that his influence extends far beyond traditional investments. As Gem Giant Limited gears up to make waves in the industry, one thing is clear, the future of gold mining is about to change forever.
Kola-Daisi
Oyebanji
Ekeh
Agbeyo
Taiwo
ARTS & REVIEW ARTS &
A PUBLICATION
Revolutionising Global Cinema with Indigenous African Animation
Nissi Ogulu, sister of Burna Boy, pioneers African animation with her Creele Studios’ 3D film SOPO, premiering in May. Yinka Olatunbosun writes
It takes grit to establish one’s self as a multifaceted professional— a recording artist, visual artist, engineer, and entrepreneur. That’s what makes Nissi Ogulu a phenomenon. From working at Jaguar Land Rover to co-founding Kemet Automotive, Nissi has embarked on entrepreneurship, breaking boundaries and widening the lens for African cinema.
Flashback to a few years ago: she started a career in the automotive industry, working as part of the Jaguar Land Rover engineering team that designed the fifth-generation Range Rover.
“This experience was invaluable, allowing me to cultivate knowledge, skills, and industry understanding,” she shares. “Transitioning from Jaguar Land Rover to co-founding Kemet Automotive was a natural progression of my dream to create impactful products with global appeal.”
Her time at Jaguar Land Rover expanded her knowledge, skills, and industry understanding. She gained valuable insights into leadership dynamics, teamwork, and the intricate phases of development and production.
Ogulu is on a mission to promote African excellence and showcase its potential on a global stage. Whether it’s through innovative automotive design, captivating animation, or her music, she is committed to putting Africa on the map in various industries. Would she be caged in an area of strength? Perhaps not. She is an epitome of a bundle of talents.
“It’s quite challenging for me to single out one talent as more defining than the others,” she says with a little smile. “All of these abilities—my music, visual art, engineering skills, and entrepreneurial ventures—are integral parts of who I am. They collectively shape my identity and form the various channels through which I express myself.”
For her, talents are the means through which she expresses herself and contributes to the world. Her core identity is rooted in her character, values, and relationships. “It’s the combination of all these elements—my skills, my passions, and my personal attributes—that truly defines who I am.”
Talking about her Creele Animation Studios, meanwhile. Creele Animation Studios tells African stories, showcasing the continent’s rich cultural heritage through animation. Its mission is to bring African narratives to the global stage, provide authentic representation for younger generations, and make African culture relatable and appealing worldwide. By sharing authentic African voices and experiences, they aim to promote global understanding, foster African pride and self-recognition, and inspire youth with relatable content that resonates deeply. Take her upcoming project, SOPO, a 3D animated short, for instance. It exemplifies Creele Animation Studios’ commitment to telling uniquely African
stories. Set to premiere in May, SOPO represents a significant step in establishing African animation on the global stage. This thoughtprovoking film explores the delicate balance between expectation and passion, highlighting the transformative power of parental support in a child’s development. Through its narrative, SOPO sheds light on crucial themes such as the impact of talent and education on personal growth, the importance of parental support in boosting a child’s confi -
dence, and the profound influence of acknowledgement and praise on future performance.By advancing the mission of cultural representation and storytelling, SOPO aligns perfectly with the studio’s vision.
“Animation offers unique storytelling possibilities that transcend the limitations of reality,” she continues.
“It allows us to visually express abstract concepts and imagination in ways that live-action films cannot.
With SOPO, we wanted to explore the world of music and creativity in a way that’s both fantastical and emotionally resonant.”
Animation, she further explains, gives the artist the freedom to depict what exists in the mind’s eye.“We can create scenarios and characters that might be impossible or impractical in live-action, yet still evoke genuine emotions and connections with the audience. This flexibility is particularly valuable when telling stories rooted in imagination and artistic expression.”
Ogulu’s decision to use animation for SOPO allows her to craft a visual language that echoes the boundless creativity of music. By bringing the vivid imagery sparked by music to life on screen, she aims to create a shared visual experience that transcends the personal and intangible. As a passionate advocate for African animation, Nissi notes that Western and Asian cultures have long leveraged animation to tell their stories, resulting in a thriving industry.
“In contrast, Africa’s vast potential in animation remains largely untapped,” she says. “This is striking, given our rich cultural heritage. By embracing animation, we can create content that resonates
locally and globally, driving job growth, economic development, and a stronger African narrative on the world stage.”
SOPO is another adaptation of the book “This Fela Sef! The Legend(s) Untold” written by Benson Idonije and it essentially details his experience in the creation of Afrobeats. It tells his story as one of the pioneers of the genre. Idonije was Fela’s first band manager, a respected music critic and renowned broadcaster. He provides a wealth of knowledge about the creation of Afrobeat. He has a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and insights in the music space.
The title SOPO, a Yoruba word meaning connection and togetherness, beautifully encapsulates the film’s essence. At its core, SOPO explores the bonds between people, the relationships we form, and our universal desire for human connection. The story beautifully symbolises the connection between generations, particularly through the poignant relationship between a young musician and his father. “Music is a universal friend that comforts, uplifts, and supports us through life’s experiences,” Ogulu explains. “By naming our film SOPO, we emphasise the power of music to bridge gaps and foster connections across generations.”
As part of her mission to redefine African storytelling and elevate animation, SOPO showcases Africa’s potential for producing high-quality animation that resonates globally. By highlighting universal human experiences, the film bridges cultural divides, paving the way for global partnerships and collaborations.
Beyond storytelling, Ogulu highlights the animation industry’s economic potential and Nigeria’s opportunities for growth through collaborations, funding, and infrastructure development. The production of SOPO faced significant challenges, including developing local talent and an unr eliable power supply. To address these issues, the team invested in extensive training programmes and advocated for infrastructure improvements while adapting their workflow. “Animation is a powerful economic driver,” Ogulu emphasises. “It’s like crude oil, holding potential for economic-shifting derivatives.”
She believes animation growth can catalyse industries like film, edtech, gaming, and healthcare, creating jobs and establishing Africa as a global storytelling hub.With Africa’s youth population driving mobile technology, gaming, and animation, the potential is vast. “Seventy per cent of Africa’s population is under 30, with 60% under 25,” she notes. “The gaming industry generated $1.8 billion in 2024, and trends indicate significant opportunities for animation-driven sectors.”
With support in funding, training, and partnerships, African animation can unlock billions in untapped creative value and become a global powerhouse in storytelling.
A shot from the animation movie, Sopo
Ogulu
Printmaking Big Eight for a Lagos Show
Yinka Olatunbosun
The energy at Fobally Art Gallery in Lekki is pulsating as the stage is set for hosting eight grandmasters in printmaking. The show to 30 is a must-see for art patrons, connoisseurs, art historians and critics. The exhibition will showcase the inspiraOkeke, S.I. Wangboje, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Salubi Onakufe, Ademola Williams, Tayo Quay and Dr. Kunle Adeyemi and David Dale as expressed in their evocative artworks.
The curator for the show, Dr. Afuevu Onakufe, expressed his excitement ahead of the group show adding that the audience would witness a wide range of printmaking techniques including plastograph, monoprint, viscosity, lino block, drypoint, serigraph, etching and more. Onobrakpeya, Wangboje and Okeke of the Zaria Art School also known as The Zaria Rebels
Quaye and Adeyemi as well as David Dale in their prints and practice through their studios and in the case of Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya, the Harmattan Workshop Series, Agbara-Otor. On their part, Okeke and Wangboje provided a lot of intellectual insights in the works of other academic and studio-based Nigerian printmakers.
Over the years, this printmaking generationalversities, polytechnics and colleges of education
Yinka Olatunbosun
The lush garden at Miliki, an exclusive spot in Lagos, was a melting pot of creatives in Nigeria recently when a member of the Development Board, MOWAA, Ike Chioke and his wife, Yvonne hosted a fundraiser ahead of the launch of MOWAA campus in Benin-City, Edo State. The event was designed to woo investors in the creative sector towards making the dream institute a reality.
The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) is dedicated to the preservation of heritage, the expansion of knowledge and celebration of West African arts and culture. Thus far, the project has been supported by several international organisations including the Open Society Foundation, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, the Edo State government, and the A.G. Leventis Foundation. The USbased Mellon Foundation has also provided secured support from the National Gallery of Art (NGA), the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), and the British Museum.
With the new wave of foreign aid cuts, it becomes imperative for cultural institutions such as MOWAA to seek support locally from investors who are vested in the creative economy. The fundraiser which began with a reception the exclusive lounge where a documentary on the MOWAA project was screened.
Ike Chioke, who is also the managing director of Afrinvest, later disclosed in a chat how
evening, we're going to talk about it and speak to people who are interested in the arts, who
through internship and industrial attachment to gain professional experiences for the development and spread of printmaking across Nigeria and abroad.
These eight grandmasters are the quintessential eight renowned printmakers who have contributed greatly to the establishment of printmaking in Nigeria from her independence till date. With
peculiar modern and contemporary ideas throughcal explorations in their various studios, they positioned printmaking as a grand creative art form in Nigerian art.
FolasadeAbiola, the Creative Director of Fobally Art Gallery, highlights the pedagogical value of the exhibition.
give birth to more artists to focus and to look into
For Ademola Williams, the looming show is nostalgic, evoking memories of how he began school and discovered Ori Olokun art workshop in Ile-Ife. With rigorous tutelage under the likes of Ola Rotimi, his well-rounded art education sparked a passion that still manifests in his visual storytelling through the metallic sculptures. Retired but not tired, Dr. Adeyemi argued that printmaking transcends time and would know what? It is actually the printmakers right now that have the opportunity to employ more not something you can do alone.As a matter of fact, in the West, where I had done some residencies, there are people that are accredited printmakers. Printmaking creates employment, even in the Onobrakpeya, meanwhile, commended the gallery for its commitment to promoting this movement in art traceable to ancient civilisations girls that were about to get married used to be parents were making clay pots, they were making prints. Print is a democratic way of creating art.
The event also had in attendance the Chairman, Fobally Art Gallery, Mr. Larry Segun-Lean, Nigerian-Irish artist Ben Nwosa and the CEO, Iwalewa Gallery of Art, Femi Williams.
Raising the Bar for MOWAA at a Lagos
MUSEUMS
love culture, understand the heritage and the importance of preserving Nigeria's heritage and traditions because it's really not just a museum
and teaching Nigerians about themselves and about our heritage.
world, and it sits atop the largest archaeological
controlled storage for artifacts in Nigeria and perhaps Africa which is crucial in retrieving the stolen artifacts. The curator for MOWAA, Aindrea Emelife, explained why the safety of the artifacts are non-negotiable in this project.
on thousands of these artefacts insist that if they are to return them, they must be housed in a proper storage facility, and they must be housed
we've done with the museum is just provide a storage space, and any artifact that happens to be there will be beautifully displayed for all
On the opening of the MOWAA Institute slated for November this year, she said that there would be a homecoming of the Nigeria Imaginary exhibition, which was cynosure of all eyes at the Nigerian pavilion with its debut at the Venice Biennale.
what I think will be exciting is a demonstration of a new way of seeing art in Nigeria. We'll be
looking at art that is historical, modern and contemporary in many ways, creating a long continuum of creativity as it relates to West Africa, but principally for Nigeria. The exhibition of Nigeria Imaginary will have contemporary commissions by some incredible artists of Nigerian descent, but also will feature important periodicals that are very important for shaping
When asked about the sustainability plan for the institution, the Director of MOWAA, Phillip Ihenacho highlighted two sources of income.
we're setting up a membership scheme, if you join as a member, that entitles you to a number of privileges; privileged access to exhibitions.
Fundraiser
But also, we run seminars, educational programming, and others. As a member, you are able to access some of these things. And then secondly, we are plugged into the international foundations. Organisations like Ford Foundation, Getty Foundation, Mellon Foundation and others are
The Director, MOWAA, Ore Disu, expanded the conversation to the exciting programmes ahead, including artist residencies, conservation
MOWAA would soon be hosting scholars, traditional craft makers and contemporary creators to foster critical dialogue and collaboration.
Beaming the Spotlight on Nigerian Poetry
Nonye Ahumibe
Chibueze Darlington Anuonye, a Nigerian writer and scholar, has catapulted contemporary Nigerian poets into the global spotlight with his groundbreaking essay, “Facebook Writers: The Emergence of a New Generation of Nigerian Poets.”
Published in the esteemed Research in African Literatures, this seminal work has laid the foundation for studying fourth-generation Nigerian poetry. Its impact is now resonating globally, with Literatur Review translating it into Arabic, French, German, and Spanish. This remarkable achievement cements Anuonye’s position as a leading voice in global literary discourse, shining a light on the diverse visions of Nigerian poets worldwide.
lates the vast landscape of modern Nigerian poetry’s historical beginnings and development. Spanning from pioneer poets to the fourth generation, the article masterfully depicts the intricate relationship between Nigerian society and poetry, showcasing the nation’s socio-political pulse as a catalyst for poetic expression.
The evolution of Nigerian poetry unfolds organically, beginning with the pioneer poets whose early voices were shaped by nationalist sentiments. Wole Soyinka, Christopher Okigbo, J.P. Clark, and Gabriel Okara exemplify this generation, marked by a fervent desire for independence. As poetry progressed, the incorporating rich Nigerian cultural oral traditions and historical elements, further diversifying the poetic landscape.
The second generation, marked by post-independence disillusionment, explored themes of disappointment and struggle with corrupt leadership. This was followed by the third generation, characterised by eloquent critiques of military dictatorship. These poets demonstrated remarkable boldness, often inviting government backlash and giving rise to powerful exile and migration poems.
development. These writers leverage platforms like Facebook for self-publishing and appreciation. Notable poets include Romeo Oriogun, Saddiq Dzukogi, and Su’eddie Vershima Agema. Darlington Chibueze Anuonye, a prominent underscoring the evolving nature of Nigerian poetry.
Anuonye remarkably balances his doctoral research at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, US with his writing, teaching, and editorial responsibilities. As a member of the editorial board of World Literature Today, he contributes to esteemed publications. His interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Diane Seuss in The Hopkins Review became the most read feature of 2024. Anuonye has also co-edited notable
An Anthology of New Nigerian Poets Under in the Time of Coronavirus and Who Gave the
Anuonye
L-R: Chief Commercial Officer, Energy Ventures B.V., Yvonne Chioke; Member, Development Board of the Museum of West African Art, Ike Chioke; Curator, MOWAA, Aindrea Emelife; Executive Director, MOWAA, Phillip Ihenacho; and Director, MOWAA, Ore Disu, at the fundraiser recently
L-R: Bruce Onobrakpeya and Salubi Onakufe at the press briefing
IN THE ARENA
What’s Impeding LG Autonomy?
Ten months after the Supreme Court delivered judgment in the suit filed by the federal government to enforce local government autonomy, it is yet to implement the verdict, raising questions on the motive behind the hurriedly instituted suit, Davidson Iriekpen writes
The wild jubilation that greeted the July 11, 2024, Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy has since died down, leaving those who rejoiced befuddled by what is currently happening.
Recall that in a move that took state governors by surprise, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had filed a suit at the Supreme Court on behalf of the federal government and the 774 local governments, praying the court to grant full autonomy and direct funding to local councils from their share of the federation account.
Widely regarded as a landmark ruling that would rescue local government councils from their rapacious state governors, the Supreme Court had after an expedited hearing, granted the prayers, ordering that the allocations meant for local governments be paid directly to them.
It further declared the practice of state governments retaining local government funds as unconstitutional.
The judgment, carried out by a seven-man panel of the court led by Justice Emmanuel Agim, also held that Nigeria has three arms of government - the federal, the state, and local government.
According to the court, no state government has the power to appoint a caretaker committee because a local government council is only recognisable with a democraticallyelected government.
“A democratically elected local government is sacrosanct and non-negotiable,” the court said, adding that the use of a caretaker committee amounted to a violation of the 1999 Constitution.
The court further held that the state governments have been perpetuating a dangerous trend through their refusal to allow democratically-elected local government councils in their states or through the appointment and removal of caretaker councils. It, consequently, ordered an “immediate compliance” with the judgment.
Immediately the verdict was delivered, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) went into jubilation, declaring that freedom had come to the local governments at last.
Many other Nigerians, including opposition politicians also hailed the judgment.
President Bola Tinubu was also lauded by many for initiating the move to ensure democratic governance in the local councils.
About a month after the Supreme Court judgment, the federal government announced through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to enforce the verdict.
A statement by the Director, Information and Public Relations to the SGF, Segun Imohiosen, named members of the committee to include the SGF himself as Chairman, with other members as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Attorney General of the Federation; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Accountant General of the Federation; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Permanent Secretary (Federal Ministry of Finance); Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation & Fiscal Commission (RMAFC); representative of state governors and representative of local governments.
The committee met for months, and its undisclosed report was further handed over to a review panel, which also submitted a report.
It is, however, surprising that months after the apex court’s judgment for immediate implementation, the verdict has not been enforced.
State governments that were initially jittery that their grip on local government allocations was about to be loosened with the direct payment of local government funds to the councils have since relaxed and contin-
ued their control of the funds as usual.
So, what really could be preventing the federal government and the CBN from implementing the direct payment granted to the councils by the Supreme Court?
Checks revealed that the implementation of the order of the apex court would encounter two genuine challenges, which the state governors would raise at the 10-man meeting.
One is the question of payment of primary school teachers, which is domiciled in the local governments and the payment of workers at the primary healthcare centres, another responsibility of the councils.
However, the first attempt to delay the implementation of the judgment was the threemonth moratorium granted to governors by the federal government in August 2024.
The federal government and state governors had agreed to the moratorium over concerns regarding its impact on salary payments, operational viability, and the conduct of local government elections, among other issues.
As a result, direct payment of allocations to local governments was scheduled to commence in October 2024. In anticipation of the deadline, many states hurriedly conducted local government elections, with ruling parties in those states winning most of the contests.
But in an attempt to frustrate local govern-
POLITICAL NOTES
ment financial autonomy, some governors moved to enact laws requiring local government councils in their states to remit allocations into a joint account.
The controversy surrounding the implementation deepened when the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation stated that it was not directly responsible for enforcing the judgment.
According to the AGF, the responsibility for implementing the ruling and ensuring direct allocation to local governments falls under the purview of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
It is not clear if the AGF gave a written directive to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to that effect.
But in what many saw as another move to delay the implementation, the CBN later introduced a new condition requiring all 774 local governments to provide at least two years of audited financial reports before they could receive their allocations directly.
The apex bank insisted that the local governments must meet this requirement before opening accounts for direct remittance of their allocations.
The condition raised concerns among local government officials and legal experts, who argued that it serves as yet another bureaucratic hurdle to delay the implementation of financial autonomy.
Amid the controversy, some governors allegedly resorted to intimidation and mounting pressure on their local government chairmen not to open the designated accounts to receive direct allocation.
A number of governors are said to be strongly opposed to the opening of CBN accounts, as it would deny them their long-standing access to local government funds.
As a result, they allegedly instructed some council chairmen not to open accounts with the apex bank.
Last week, ALGON accused Fagbemi of frustrating the implementation of local government autonomy.
Speaking ahead of the hearing on a suit filed against the AGF and other members of the implementation committee at the Federal High Court in Abuja, ALGON Secretary General, Muhammed Abubakar, said the AGF’s directive for the CBN to open uniform accounts for all local governments undermines the spirit of the court’s decision.
With all these bottlenecks, one wonders why the federal government instituted the suit and if the judgment will ever be implemented.
Gov Alia Playing Politics With Insecurity
It was a good decision by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, to have cancelled his scheduled visit to Benue State due to a cautionary statement issued by the state government against his trip to the state.
Obi had planned visits to internally displaced persons camps and health facilities in the state, but a statement from the state government warned against unscheduled visits, citing security concerns.
In a statement titled ‘Notice regarding an unscheduled visit to Benue State’, Governor Hyacinth Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, declared that the government could not guarantee his safety.
Later, the Principal Special Assistant to the governor on National Programmes, Civil Society, Voter Education, and Strategic Interventions, Solomon Semaka, in a statement, accused Obi
of attempting to use the state as a platform for political relevance.
The resurgence of attacks and killings since Governor Alia’s administration came to power is mind-boggling.
Instead of tackling these killings, the agents of the state government are more interested in a battle for the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obi had successfully visited Nasarawa and Plateau states where he delivered humanitarian services to the needy and was warmly received by the governors. It appears the agents of Benue State government are not conversant with Obi’s humanitarian record. By denying such a high-profile visitor the right to visit his state on the grounds of insecurity, the governor has not only failed the people in IDP camps, he has also told the world that his state
is unsafe for visitors and investments.
His administration since assumption of office, has established notoriety for fighting politicians from the state who are based in Abuja over the control of APC structure, instead of mobilising them to tackle the common enemies of the state that are perpetrating violence in the state.
The killings escalated as the state government focused on perceived political opponents and how to secure the governor’s reelection in 2027.
In confirmation of the claim that the state is unsafe, bandits killed scores a few days ago, prompting a former Senate President, Senator David Mark to call on the communities to mobilise themselves and resist the attackers.
Nigerians are asking: Is the Benue State government and its agents unwittingly urging President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state?
Fagbemi
Governor Alia
BRIEFING NOTES
Where’re the Anti-Open Grazing Laws?
Ejiofor Alike writes that since the demise of former Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who had mobilised southern governors to enact the Anti-Open Grazing Laws in their states, most of the current governors have demonstrated sheer incompetence and lack of political will to implement these laws, leading to the invasion of their states by foreign mercenaries who are masquerading as herdsmen
Former governor of Ondo State, the late Rotimi Akeredolu will continue to be remembered for the political will he demonstrated in challenging the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s silence on foreign herdsmen that were invading communities across Nigeria.
Akeredolu, as the Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, displayed uncommon courage in tackling both the Buhari presidency and the invaders.
As communities were conducting mass burials of the victims of the attacks and relocating to Internally Displaced Persons’ camps, the agents of Buhari’s administration were blaming the victims, urging them “to learn to live peacefully with their neighbours”.
Unfortunately, the agents of President Bola Tinubu’s administration are singing the same tune by attributing the current crisis in Plateau State to the failure of communities that had lived together for decades to resolve their differences.
But it is obvious that foreign mercenaries are killing Plateau residents to dispossess them of their lands.
A former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep (rtd) had confirmed that the continuous attacks on communities in Bokkos and Bassa local government areas (LGAs) of Plateau State were coordinated, systematic and deliberate to wipe out the people from their lands.
“I want the world to know that the attacks on innocent persons in the state are not herders-farmers clashes. Was it in the farm that people were killed in Bokkos and Bassa; was there a clash? If so, between who and who? We know that the locals were attacked and killed; so, if it is a clash, with which group of people?” he asked.
In the Middle Belt, Plateau and Benue states were the worst hit by these invaders, prompting former Governor Samuel Ortom to sign into law, the Open Grazing Prohibition Bill 2017, which prescribed a five-year jail term for a herder or pastoralist caught engaging in open grazing of animals in Benue State, in May 2017.
Ortom incurred the wrath of the Buhari’s administration for this legislation.
With the actions of the administration favouring the herders, commissioners of police and Divisional Police Officers (DPO) were scared of arresting the herders for fear of victimisation by the police authorities.
The police also refused to enforce the law enacted by Ortom, which prompted him to create Livestock Guards to ensure compliance with the law.
Many southern governors copied Ortom’s
model and enacted the Anti-Open Grazing Laws.
Akeredolu, had in May 2021, declared that no inch of the lands in Southern Nigeria would be ceded to the foreign invaders.
Under his leadership, the 17 southern governors held a historic meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, on July 5, 2021, where they banned open grazing and set a timeline of Wednesday, September 1, 2021 for the promulgation of the anti-open grazing law in all member-states. Apparently miffed by the refusal of the federal-controlled security agencies to arrest and prosecute the criminal herders, the governors condemned what they described as “selective criminal administration of justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the law and fundamental human rights.”
But in a clear demonstration of the Buhari government’s support to the herders, the then Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of
Justice, Abubakar Malami, declared the ban on open grazing by the southern governors as illegal, stressing that it infringed on the freedom of movement of Nigerians enshrined in the constitution.
“It is as good as saying the northern governors come together to say that they forbid spare part trading in the North. Does it hold water? If you’re talking of a constitutionally guaranteed right, the better approach to it is to go back to ensure that the constitution is amended,” Malami added.
Nigerians were obviously shocked that the chief law officer of the country could equate freedom of movement of Nigerians with freedom of movement of cattle.
More shocking was his claim that spare parts dealers who pay taxes and levies, rent shops and conduct their legitimate businesses in accordance with all state laws and the Constitution of Nigeria, are equivalent to armed herders.
Herders invade communities with their cattle and sophisticated weapons, build their tents on people’s lands without paying the land owners, destroy farmlands and crops, rape women, and kill farmers who resist their
NOTES FOR FILE
NBA’s Integrity Under Test
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has found itself in an awkward position that could question its integrity if not properly handled.
The controversy started when the association decided to move its 2025 Annual General Conference earlier fixed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to Enugu, following the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, by President Bola Tinubu.
The NBA had criticised the president for violating the Nigerian Constitution and appointing Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff, as the sole administrator, insisting that it was unconstitutional.
Last week, Ibas asked the association to refund the N300 million which he said the state government under Governor
Siminalayi Fubara paid to secure the hosting rights. But the NBA said it would not refund the money because it was “a gift” for its 2025 Annual General Conference, and not payment to secure hosting rights.
While many have insisted that the NBA should refund the N300 million if indeed it was a payment for hosting rights, others argued that if the payment was a gift to support the association as it claimed, the NBA is not obligated to refund it.
According to them, labour and trade unions, as well as other pressure unions solicit funds from governments and private entities to hold conferences and training programmes without compromising the principles they stand for.
But those who are insisting that the NBA should refund the money, have argued that its acceptance of the ‘gift’ was a betrayal of the
atrocities.
Malami’s claims were viewed as an indication of the level of nepotism and incompetence that characterised Buhari’s administration.
While herdsmen were allowed to move about with sophisticated rifles, security agents clamped down on communities that armed themselves to resist these invaders.
South-west governors established the Amotekun Corps, while some South-east governors created Ebubeagu to arrest herders that violated the grazing laws.
However, most governors under the present dispensation have demonstrated incompetence and lack of political will to tackle these terrorists through the implementation of the existing anti-open grazing laws, despite President Tinubu’s administration’s genuine commitment to end insecurity.
When Buhari’s tenure ended, herdsmen suspended their attacks, except in the Middle Belt, as it was obvious to them that the Tinubu administration was not going to condone their atrocities.
However, the blood-sucking demons have resumed their killings, kidnappings, destruction of farmlands, and other atrocities in Ondo, Ogun, Bayelsa, Edo, Enugu, Bayelsa, Delta and many other states, while most of the governors are focused on 2027 general election.
Most of the governors of the affected states prioritise their political future, over and above the lives and welfare of the people that gave them their mandates.
Ironically, the most audacious attacks in the southern parts of the country were carried out in Ondo State as Akeredolu’s successor, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has not demonstrated the political will to tackle these invaders.
In Benue State where the attacks were previously restricted to the Tiv-speaking areas, the attackers are moving southwards, with the recent attacks in Otukpo LGA, which is under the Idoma-speaking areas.
There are indications that when the Idoma areas are effectively subdued, the next target of the invaders will be the South-east, particularly Enugu State.
Following the recent attacks in Otukpo and Ado LGAs, a former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, had called on communities to mobilise themselves against the invaders.
Mark’s call was an indication of failure of the governors to secure lives and property.
Also following the recent attacks in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, had on Wednesday, banned night grazing and transportation of cattle after 7pm, and also restricted motorcycle movement from 7pm to 6am in the state.
To check these invaders, the southern governors should demonstrate effective leadership by implementing the already existing anti-open grazing laws enacted by their predecessors.
very principles it is supposed to champion.
Whatever may be the case, the NBA has a responsibility to its members, the legal profession, and the citizens of Nigeria to uphold the highest standards of ethics and accountability.
If the money was tied to the hosting rights as Rivers State government has claimed, the NBA must refund it without delay to avoid damaging its image and attracting litigation.
But supporters of NBA have argued that if it was a free gift, the association should allow the Rivers State government to go to court as it threatened.
The court will decide whether a receiver of a free gift is obligated to return the gift if the giver seeks a return of the gift.
However, to avoid unnecessary controversy over financial dealings that could taint its integrity, the NBA should refund the money and keep its integrity intact.
Afam Osigwe
AbdulRasaq
FG’s Wrong Perception of Plateau Killings
With the federal government attributing the persistent attacks on Plateau State communities by foreign invaders, allegedly on a land-grabbing mission, to the failure of long-coexisting community members to resolve their differences, it appears there may be no end in sight to the violence. Seriki Adinoyi reports
Just as the people of Plateau State were beginning to heave a sigh of relief after two decades of persistent attacks on residents by gunmen, the assailants struck again in three consecutive attacks in a period of two weeks, leaving no fewer than 112 persons killed, hundreds of others injured, many displaced from their ancestral homes, and at least 80 houses razed.
Gunmen reportedly launched a deadly attack on mourners at the Ruwi community in Bokkos Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, killing 10 persons. The mourners were said to have gathered at a deceased family’s house in the community when the gunmen swooped on them at a wake-keep.
The Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, Mr. Kefas Mallai, said the invaders took advantage of the mourners’ gathering to carry out the heinous act. He added that security personnel were alerted to the attack, but they arrived after the perpetrators had fled the scene.
“I learnt the perpetrators were killer Fulani herders,” Mallai explained. “When the attack was taking place, I learnt security men were called to the village, but before they could arrive at the place, the killers had finished their evil act and fled the scene.”
A few days after the attack, the gunmen returned to the neighbouring villages of Mangor, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai, killing another 52. In less than one week after the second attack, the gunmen struck again, killing about 54 persons at Kwall in Bassa LGA.
The latest death toll suggests that about 3,000 men, women and children have been killed in violent attacks in Plateau since 2023 when the current administration took over the government.
Like in the past, the killings drew condemnations from the federal and state governments, communities, NGOs, and associations.
In their usual rhetoric, security personnel also threatened to deal with the perpetrators.
But the people seem to be fast losing trust in government and security personnel because for two decades, all they have got after every attack
has been condemnation, relief materials, and endless threats to deal with attackers without any reasonable action.
Before the latest incidents, the tide of attacks had significantly dropped in the past eight months, and the people enjoyed a bit of respite, even planning for the next farming season. They had been chased away from their farms by previous attacks.
Basking in the relative peace in the state, the people praised Governor Caleb Mutfwang for the strategies he put in place to solve the insecurity issues.
Indeed, the governor equipped the security agents with vehicles and gadgets for rapid response. He also strengthened the state-owned security outfit, Operation Rainbow, to respond to the challenge, among many others. But these were not enough to deter the enemy who now strike persistently.
The federal government, with all its military deployments to the state, has not been able to get it right because of its wrong perception and mindset on the cause of the attacks, which were on display during the recent visit and address of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu.
While calling on the soldiers at the headquarters of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Jos to do more to restore peace and prevent recurring crises in the state, Ribadu also called on the people to live together in peace.
He said, “The sad part of the crisis is that when people, who had lived together as one in communities from time to time, tend to be unable to control issues that could probably be resolved through peaceful dialogue, miscreants and criminals take advantage, and little things will spark crises that will get out of control.”
By his utterances, Ribadu, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the condolence visit, believes that the persistent killings in the state are caused by the inability
of members of the community, probably the Fulani and the indigenes who had lived together for ages, to resolve their crises. He, therefore, preached to the communities to learn to tolerate one another.
His position was corroborated by the State House press statement signed by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, where President Tinubu also charged Governor Mutfwang with the necessary political will to resolve the crises and establish enduring peace.
In the statement, the president emphasised the importance of love and unity beyond religious and ethnic lines. He encouraged community, spiritual, and political leaders within and beyond the state to unite and end the cycle of retaliatory attacks that have made life unbearable for affected communities.
“The ongoing violence between communities in Plateau State, rooted in misunderstandings between different ethnic and religious groups, must cease.
“I have instructed security agencies to thoroughly investigate this crisis and identify those responsible for orchestrating these violent acts. We cannot allow this devastation and the tit-for-tat attacks to continue. Enough is enough.”
Many residents of the state believe that if the government thinks that the attackers are members of the communities who are taking advantage of unresolved disputes among the people who have lived together, then the solution to the problem is far from near.
Invaders who are determined to sack people from their ancestral homes, killed over 112 persons in a space of two weeks and disappeared into the air.
And the federal government is treating the attacks as clashes between people living in the same communities for decades?
Recently, the governor raised the alarm that buildings are now being erected in some attacked communities in Mangu LGA where villagers had been chased away.
The federal government should send security personnel to investigate those erecting the buildings and taking over the lands of the villagers who have been chased away from their communities. Does it take rocket science to do this?
It has been repeatedly said that these killers are not Nigerians, and are not the Fulani that had lived with the indigenes in the past but foreign terrorists plotting to resettle permanently in Nigeria.
It is believed that until governments at the federal and state levels begin to treat the attackers as foreign invaders, the killings will persist.
Victims have indeed said that the attackers speak the Fulani language during their operations. But the callousness with which they hack down their victims with swords and guns has shown that they are likely not Nigerians.
Native Fulanis who have lived peacefully with their fellow Nigerians for decades cannot turn overnight to massacre their fellow Nigerians in such a gruesome manner.
On some occasions, children’s heads are pierced with swords and the stomachs of pregnant women are ripped open by this set of people many have described as heartless and callous beasts.
The federal government must be held culpable for not living up to its threat of prosecuting arrested perpetrators. Its mindset on what is happening in the state must change.
The residents argued that those feeding President Tinubu with reports that the attacks are perpetrated by members of the same communities who are unable to resolve internal disputes should stop playing politics with the lives of the indigenous people of the state
According to the victims of the attacks, the invaders should be treated as foreign terrorists who kill mercilessly to take over their victim’s lands.
A governor from the North-east had confirmed that their agenda was to bring all the Fulani from the neighbouring countries and resettle them in Nigeria. This revelation is the root cause of the unending crisis in Plateau.
Governor Mutfwang recently stated that the killings in Plateau are meant to scare the people from their homes. This is why the federal government should act fast to stop what has been described as “genocide.” The people are tired of condolence each time an attack occurs, they want a complete stop to the menace.
Governor Mutfwang
General Musa Tinubu
International Relations Amidst Global Uncertainty
Yusuf Maitama Tuggar
The international order is undergoing significant transformation. Geopolitical tensions, economic realignments, tariffs and trade wars, security threats, climate change, and technological disruptions are reshaping the global landscape in ways that demand strategic recalibration from all nations. Traditional assumptions about democracy and markets are being questioned by state and non-state actors.
As Africa’s most populous country and a key economic and diplomatic actor, Nigeria must protect and promote our values and commitment to democratic freedoms and the celebration of diversity, as we navigate these new complexities with foresight, pragmatism, and resilience.
First, I will outline how we understand the global context and how it shapes our diplomacy. I will then outline the foundational principles of our foreign policy. Finally, I we all share to develop and implement a uncertainties too often seem to mask more hidden opportunities.
The post-Cold War consensus that shaped global governance for the past three decades is increasingly fracturing. The resurgence of great power competition, the fragmentation of multilateralism, and the proliferation unpredictable world than ever in our postindependence history.
The war in Ukraine has reshaped energy markets, disrupted supply chains, and exacerbated food insecurity, particularly for Sudan and the Sahel has illustrated the limits of the old rules-based order, as new state of chronic instability. The global economy pressures, debt crises in emerging markets,
intelligence to digital currencies, introduces opportunities and challenges for economic governance and national security. Climate change continues to pose an existential threat, with Africa disproportionately global emissions.
In this context, Nigeria’s foreign policy must be dynamic. It must ensure that our national interests are protected while we remain a responsible and engaged member of the international community. And If diplomacy is war by other means, the partially be a measure of diplomatic failure. We should invest in capacity and exhaust all available avenues, because the alternatives are much worse. In that sense, the triumph of diplomacy should be measured as much by what we do not see, what we can avoid, and what we do see. To take examples from our history: we still reference - and rightly
channels, direct engagement, third-party involvement, the balancing of principle with practical detail – all tricks in the diplomatic toolbox - that led to the transfer of power in Gambia without a drop of blood spilt.
Tragedies avoided are more easily forgotwith defence budgets escalating around the world, we need to be reminded, even in a transactional world, that diplomacy should take the lead. It is always better to talk. We do not always deliver perfect outcomes, especially where those areas of common interest and good faith are narrow, where one side may face particular local pressures that trump what partnership might deliver. Realistic outcomes are shaped by realistic expectations.
We see the existing order deconstructing. It was an order that did not present a level
and the tools to facilitate peace, prosperity and opportunity. As that order breaks down, what follows is much less clear. It is our responsibility, as the region’s key power, to be a voice for Africa—to play our part in helping create a modern and dynamic order that interests.
And that responsibility is fundamentally diplomatic: securitisation shifts thinking from strategic to tactical, to a reduction in the space for dialogue, compromise and manoeuvre. Security, more than ever, tilts towards hardware and technology. Diplomacy at its best is a very human process of interaction. Of course, a strong defence capability and the unspoken jeopardy it carries can and there are moments when diplomatic routes have failed that the national interest must be defended by force. But sequencinghoods depend on it. Nigeria’s foreign policy has traditionally been anchored on Africa as the centerpiece, supported by non-alignment, economic diplomacy, and global multilateralism. While these principles remain relevant, they must evolve to will outline four strategic pillars approach in this period of global uncertainty. policy approach is strategic autonomy. As global power shifts toward multipolarity, Nigeria must assert greater strategic autonomy in its international engagements. We are strengthen-
ing our bilateral relations with emerging powers like China, India, and Brazil while maintaining constructive partnerships with the United States, the European Union, and traditional allies. We aim to ensure that Nigeria is not merely a passive actor in global align with our national interests.
Our second pillar is economic diplomacy and sustainable development. With the increasing volatility in global markets, Nigeria is prioritising economic diplomacy to attract foreign investment, enhance trade partnerships, and secure developthe African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to consolidate its position as a regional economic hub.
An important case in point, especially of new markets, is the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP; also known as the Pipeline). The project is a planned natural gas pipeline from Nigeria to Algeria. The Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) aims to transport natural gas from Nigeria to Morocco, potentially connecting to the European gas network via the MaghrebEurope Gas Pipeline. Both projects present a unique opportunity to diversify Europe’s gas supplies – and represent potent physical symbols of Nigeria’s place in a new international order.
remains a core priority. To reduce overreliance on hydrocarbon revenues, we are deepening engagement with global partners in renewable energy, technology transfer, and industrialisation. Economic diplomacy also about ensuring that Nigeria is wellvalue chains.
The third pillar is security and regional stability. Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly terrorism, banditry, and piracy,
cannot be addressed in isolation. Our foreign policy recognises the transnational nature of security threats, necessitating a robust regional and international approach. Through ECOWAS, we have spearheaded initiatives to counter military takeovers and support democratic consolidation in West Africa. The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) remains a critical mechanism in
example of a homegrown African solution to an African problem that other partners can key into. With the proper framing and preferred solutions, such an approach is strategies from abroad. Maritime security inhanced through Nigeria’s Deep Blue Project and regional coordination with the African Union and international partners. Under the President Bola Tinubu administration, no single piracy incident has occurred in Nigeria’s territorial waters. Safer sea routes mean lower shipping and insurance costs, which in turn boost industry, jobs, and opportunities.
At a time when global security alliances are shifting, Nigeria will continue to reinforce its defence diplomacy, intelligencesharing mechanisms, and peacekeeping contributions to promote regional and international stability. The world needs a militarily strong Nigeria to keep our region and the African continent safe. The prevailing pay-as-you-go approach to weapons systems requires that Nigeria domesticates production with the help of willing partners. This requires deft diplomacy and diplomatic nous, which the Tinubu administration is deploying via the 4-D (democracy, development, demography and diaspora).
The last pillar is Nigeria’s voice and agency in the global arena. In an era of straining multilateralism, Nigeria remains committed to strengthening global institutions to ensure they are more inclusive and responsive to the needs of developing countries. Nigeria thus continues to advocate for UN Security Council reform, calling for permanent African representation to participation in forums such as the G77, BRICS+, and the Commonwealth ensures that we champion the interests of the Global South in trade, climate negotiations, and is a key priority as Nigeria pushes for a just for African nations and promotes green industrialisation. Multilateral engagement is not merely about diplomacy—it is about leveraging collective action to address challenges that no country can solely tackle, from pandemics to cyber threats.
It is worth noting that a nation’s foreign strategic framework that underpins it. This is why fora such as the Agora Policy Forum are invaluable. Policymakers, scholars, and industry leaders must collaborate to provide thought leadership that informs our diplomatic choices. Nigeria must remain proactive, adaptive, and innovative in its foreign engagements as it navigates global uncertainty. Evidence-based policymaking, a long-term vision, and a commitment to national and continental advancement must underpin our strategy.
Nigeria’s foreign policy during a time of global uncertainty is not merely about responding to external pressures but also about shaping our destiny within the international order. It is about ensuring that our economy is resilient, our security is safedecision-making. As we look to the future, I urge all stakeholders—diplomats, academics, business leaders, and civil society—to play their part in strengthening Nigeria’s global standing. The task is complex, but with strategic foresight and national unity, we will position Nigeria as a formidable force in the evolving international system. Ambassador Tuggar (OON), Minister
Tuggar
How can we tackle insecurity if we do not shut the factory producing bandits, kidnappers, terrorists, robbers, etc? We can budget $10 billion to buy weapons all we like but for as long as children are not going to school and those who go to school end up jobless and idle, the production line for the crimes will remain active. Rather than address the foundations of these endemic issues by applying sound logic to policy making, we are more interested in sleazy and phoney contract awards. And in the warped logic of those milking the system, the money they have made will buy them personal security. They are not asking themselves: how come their mansions in London do not have a fence?
The Lagos house of assembly has asked the state government to enforce the tenancy law which prohibits “unreasonable” rent hikes. “Excessive increment of rents by landlords in Lagos state has led to increase in homelessness,” one member said. “Rents in my constituency have spiked by as much as 200 percent,” another added. Their ultimate solution? Enforcement of rent law in a state with massive housing deficit! Nothing about government building affordable housing estates (as Alhaji Lateef Jakande did in the 1980s), nothing about removing the heavy levies on new constructions, nothing about incentives for private investment. Let’s just enforce the law and rents will crash!
In the area of social order, when Nigerian motorists do certain things on the road — such as parking at a junction or overtaking at a bend — my instinct is to think they are selfish and reckless. But the problem may be deeper. How many motorists actually reason that parking at a junction narrows the space for others to turn? How many motorists reason that when
SEC SCANDAL
After the horse had bolted from the stable, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) came out to say CBEX, the digital trading platform that had been scamming Nigerians for a while with promises of out-of-this-world returns, was not registered to operate in the capital market. The regulator said it was commencing investigations after “investors” had reportedly lost N1 trillion. Typical Nigerian regulator. CBEX had been advertising on social media all along, selling double-your-money schemes to vulnerable Nigerians, yet SEC claimed it did not know. This is a big indictment on its surveillance unit. It is very important for the regulator to clean up its act and become more proactive. Negligence.
they overtake at a bend, they are unsighted and can run into an oncoming vehicle? They may indeed be selfish or reckless but their thinking faculties also need to be inspected. Some road users just do not have the capacity to think or to anticipate danger. Only God knows how many lives are lost daily because of this poor thinking.
The CBEX catastrophe is yet another scam in our long history of “wonder banks”. I grew up hearing about “money doublers” who would help you turn N10 to N20. The police used to warn us that if the man could truly double the money, he wouldn’t be in that business. He would just be at home doubling money for himself. This scam was modernised by fraudsters masquerading as bankers and investment managers. Is it easy to turn $1,000 to $2,000? You can blame our greed and get-rich-quick mentality for the success of the fraudsters, but we also abandon our brains and fall victim. Our decision-making is ruled by emotions rather than wisdom. Judgment is inevitably often lacking.
Finally, it is not just social order and public administration that are devoid of logical reasoning in Nigeria. Public discourse is starved of this cognitive power. Watch the TV, listen to the radio, read the newspapers and go through social media posts. Anyone who has some respect for logic will puke at the quality of debates and discussions on many of these platforms. I once read a post and comments where people were arguing that it is better to create jobs than to build infrastructure. What!!! It is not just the framing of the question (as if building infrastructure does not create jobs) that shocked me but also the arrogance with which people promoted the ignorance. We are in deep trouble!
In my first year at the University of Lagos where I studied mass communication, one of the compulsory courses was ‘Writing for the Mass Media’. The course lecturer was Professor Adidi Uyo, the greatest English teacher that I know of and one whose teaching shaped my use of language till today. He broke down the English language into atoms, taught us the mechanics and techniques, and guided us on how to apply them to journalism. He broke writing for the media into four blocks: Facts, Logic, Rhetoric and Grammar — which he gave the acronym FLORG. Part of classwork was for us to FLORG newspapers by pointing out the errors of facts, logic, rhetoric and grammar in their articles. In regular life, we seem to pay attention to rhetoric (figures of speech, use of flowery language, etc) and grammar (parts of speech, is and was, noun/subject agreement, phrases and clauses, etc). However, in argumentation, we tend to neglect the two critical blocks: facts and logic. This happens so often that I have almost lost faith in public debate in Nigeria. We have eloquent and smart people spewing fluent gibberish on TV, radio and social media day and night. They have zeal, no doubt, but they lack knowledge. Zeal without knowledge is hazardous. An argument that is heavy on rhetoric and grammar but light on facts and logic is as dangerous as a rifle in the hand of a deranged sniper. I read comments on social media posts in advanced societies and I get educated all the time. Yes, they have their lunatic fringe — as is to be expected in any human society — but enlightened voices are not in short supply. For instance, I have read so many arguments on the Trump tariff rampage that I am now better educated on international trade dynamics. There
And Four Other Things…
ON YOUR OWN (OYO)
Oyo state government has decided to surcharge anyone sinking borehole. In the first place, government is supposed to provide water. It has failed so woefully that citizens are now spending their own money to provide water for themselves, despite paying taxes. That should be a shame for the government but our thinking faculty is so impeded that it has instead become a revenue-generating idea: for every meter of borehole sunk, citizens will now pay N14,000. That automatically jacks up the cost of providing water for yourself. States and LGAs, like AMAC, even charge people for using generators. Government is trying to profit from citizens’ response to its own failures. Sickening.
President Tinubu has been in Paris for over two weeks on a “short working visit”. In the meantime, Benue and Plateau states have been witnessing a bloodbath. Prof Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, said Boko Haram is gaining more territories. And the Lakurawa terrorists are unrelenting in their massacre of poor Nigerians in the north-west. I remember when the PDP was in power and how the APC used to take advantage of every terrorist attack to issue statements, creating the impression that it was because President Goodluck Jonathan was incompetent. I try to imagine the statements Lai Mohammed would have been issuing today if the PDP was still in power. Politics!
ENHANCING NIGERIA’S AGENCY IN THE GLOBAL ARENA
As that order breaks down, what follows is much less clear. It is our responsibility, as the region’s key power, to be a voice for Africa—to play our part in helping create a modern and dynamic order that reflects our national and shared interests. And that responsibility is fundamentally diplomatic”.
Tuggar went on to identify the four pillars of Nigeria’s foreign relations in these uncertain times. These are: strategic autonomy; economic diplomacy and sustainable development; security and regional stability; and Nigeria’s voice and agency in the global arena. It appears that the philosophical anchor of our foreign policy going forward will be strategic autonomy, which maintains and builds on earlier stance of neutrality or non-alignment. Roughly, this will mean that the compass of navigation will be Nigeria’s national interests, not sheepish alignment or automatic opposition to any camp.
The foreign affairs minister captured it this way: “As global power shifts toward multipolarity, Nigeria must assert greater strategic autonomy in its international engagements. We are strengthening our bilateral relations with emerging powers like China, India, and Brazil while maintaining constructive partnerships with the United States, the European Union, and traditional allies. We aim to ensure that Nigeria is not merely a passive actor in global affairs but an active shaper of outcomes that align with our national interests.”
Nigeria, he said, will pursue its national interests guided by some of the following: partnerships, investments and development financing for economic growth and sustainable development; fair energy transition and climate financing to promote green industrialisation; design and enforcement of home-grown mechanisms for tackling insecurity in our immediate neighbourhood and beyond; reform and strengthening of global institutions, especially the UN Security Council; and leveraging collective action to address global challenges.
He concluded his address with an exhortation: “Nigeria must remain proactive, adaptive, and innovative in its foreign engagements as it navigates global uncertainty. Evidence-
based policymaking, a long-term vision, and a commitment to national and continental advancement must underpin our strategy… Nigeria’s foreign policy during a time of global uncertainty is not merely about responding to external pressures but also about shaping our destiny within the international order. It is about ensuring that our economy is resilient, our security is safeguarded, and our voice is amplified in global decision-making. As we look to the future, I urge all stakeholders—diplomats, academics, business leaders, and civil society—to play their part in strengthening Nigeria’s global standing.”
After his opening statement, I had a firesidestyle chat with him for about 30 minutes and moderated the interactive session between him and the participants for about one hour. Issues raised and discussed included: his trip to Niger and his assessment of ECOWAS at 50; the reasons for and the pathways out of the multiple crises in West Africa and the Sahel; the failure of the administration to appoint ambassadors in 18 months; the shrinking of Nigeria’s global profile; an interrogation of the concept of strategic autonomy; the gap between international relations research and foreign policy implementation; the decomposition of the nation-state and its impact on relations within and among states; the dissonance between posturing about democracy abroad and democratic realities at home; the link between foreign policy and domestic realities; the impact of limited local governance on development deficits and instability in the region; the implication of the tariff wars on Nigeria and others; regional insecurity and human trafficking; the balance between career and non-career ambassadors in diplomatic postings; and the impact of social media disinformation on foreign relations.
On the whole, the interaction was comprehensive, engaging and productive. The minister gave thoughtful answers and clearly articulated the current direction of Nigeria’s foreign policy, the most lucid I have heard in recent times about our foreign policy, and more fleshed out than the acronym of 4Ds—democracy,
are people making emotional arguments, as usual, but you can see subject-matter experts exploring all the different angles even from their own biases. I am amazed at the respect for facts and logic. If you follow debates on Nigerian social media, you will be crushed by the preponderance of ill logic and twisted facts. I’m always asked why my social media engagement is zero, even when I am constantly under attack. But how do I engage with someone who says the UN will take over a country if protests last for two weeks? Where do we even start the discussion from? How do I argue with someone who doesn’t know the difference between presidential and parliamentary systems? How do I engage with someone who is arguing authoritatively that it is “people’s constitution” that develops a country when the UK, Canada and New Zealand do not even have a constitution? How do you engage with those who don’t want to learn but would resort to insult to cover up their shallow intellect?
Indeed, can a country rise above the intellectual capacity of its leaders and its knowledge industry? Can public policy be any better when there is no rigour in the thinking behind it? Can public discourse be constructive and productive when the thought leaders — or the loudest voices — have no respect for established facts and lack the capacity to reason logically? Can the citizens live an orderly life when they do not think before they act or talk? These are interesting questions we need to ponder upon. While I do not know the possible outcomes of improving our IQ by teaching logical reasoning in secondary schools, I am fairly assured that it is an experiment worth undertaking.
NO COMMENT
Rivers state is fast becoming the drama capital of Nigeria since Chief Nyesom Wike, the former governor, fell out with Sir Simi Fubara, his handpicked successor. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) moved its annual conference from Rivers to Enugu state to protest against the “illegal emergency rule”. The emergency administration retorted: “In that case, kindly return the N300 million you collected as hosting rights.” But the NBA said the N300 million is but a gift (quite some gift in these hard times). Fellow Nigerians, we would never have known of this secret “gift”. Yoruba elders say something like: may people not discover what we were cooking that set the house on fire. Hahahaha.
development, demography and diaspora. The participants offered knowledgeable comments and asked probing questions but in a respectable manner. This is refreshing: discussion of policy issues in a cerebral, not emotional and vacuous way, and devoid of the partisanship, dogmatism, antagonism and gratuitous insults that mask vacuousness and have gravely diminished the quality of public discourse in recent times. We need more discursive and deliberative platforms for more inclusive and effective public policies.
I align with Tuggar on the need to amplify Nigeria’s voice and standing in global decisionmaking. Some of us still remember, with great pride, the period when Nigeria was deemed the undisputed voice of Africa and of the black race. The ‘Africa Has Come of Age’ speech still remains a seminal moment in the annals of our international relations. Nigeria’s role as a frontline state in the fight against apartheid and colonialism in far-away southern Africa, even when largely unappreciated, confirmed our status as the true giant on the continent. Our leadership of ECOMOG to end civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone and to restore a democratic rule in the latter as well as our contributions to global peace missions and even our Technical Aid Corps underscored our willingness to give freely of ourselves to ensure peace and progress in our neighbourhood and beyond. We were a giant not just by size but by deeds, and we naturally commanded the respect and the influence attached to that.
But we fell off the global arena in the last decade and a half. This is partly on account of the inevitable rise of others, especially post-apartheid South Africa. But it is mostly because we have become overwhelmed by our own internal challenges, especially insecurity and because we have been attaching little seriousness to foreign relations beyond just showing up with obscene entourages at international meetings. The rigour of our positions on issues and our understanding of the politics of the international arena vis-à-vis our interests need to improve. We need to be
more proactive, deliberate and strategic. For instance, on the issue of reciprocal tariffs by the United States, a more strategic approach would have been to constitute a multisectoral team to look at the different ways in which Nigeria may be impacted and devise appropriate strategies instead of ministers singing discordant tunes. In a similar vein, we should have experts studiously building scenarios and options about the evolving world order to ensure that we are not caught napping and not left scrambling to make sense of things after the fact.
It is not a vanity project for us to aspire to be a major player on the global stage. We were still under colonial rule when the expiring order was designed. Now, some of the former colonies have come of age. Nigeria is one of them, and we deserve to be rightly considered an emerging power, with the opportunity to speak for ourselves and for others. But we have to get our act together. Getting our act together will include tackling more seriously the domestic challenges (slow growth, creeping insecurity etc) holding us down. Size without strength will not suffice.
This will also demand greater clarity about the outcomes that we seek and much better resourcing of our foreign affairs ministry. We need to also invest in domestic understanding and in building domestic support behind our foreign policy aspirations. Our citizens must understand what direction we are going and why. Even as kids, we knew why Nigeria had a role in the decolonisation of southern Africa. We also need to proactively mobilise all the assets at our disposal. Look at the global reach of our Afrobeats, Nollywood and comedy. For example, Burna Boy had a sold-out concert at Stade de France on Friday night. That is soft power right there, and it is enormous. Clearly, these sectors and artistes exploded onto the world stage and consciousness in spite of the Nigerian state. But their reach can still be creatively leveraged to enhance Nigeria’s standing and influence in the world, especially as we approach a new epoch in international relations.
TINUBU IN PARIS
Donald Trump’s End of a Beginning: The Lessons for Nigeria’s Quest for Strategic Autonomy
United States President, Donald Trump, has a purported good agenda for a new beginning for the people of America. The beginning is ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA). In making America great again, Donald Trump adopted an ‘America First’ policy. MAGA is the strategic objective while America First is the tactical policy. The notion of MAGA clearly suggests that there was the time America was great, and the time America lost its greatness. It is the recognition of the loss of US greatness that ignites the quest to MAGA. In this regard, what made America great in the past? It is a truism that the United States was not one of colonialists whose development was enhanced by exploitation of resources in the colonies. How do we explain the loss of the status of American greatness? And more concernedly, what are the dynamics of MAGA?
In the same vein, what does ‘America First’ mean and imply? Does this not imply national protectionism? CanAmerican interest prevail over multilateral interest? Put differently, whatever is in the interest of the United States must always take precedence over the interests of other countries in international relations. This is the first implication. ‘America First’ is a reflection of ‘don’t care attitude.’ It is about a holier-than-thou, a better-than-thou attitudinal disposition. This is the path that President Donald Trump is treading currently. It is, indeed, a dangerous new beginning that is threatening global peace and insecurity.
And perhaps most importantly, MAGA is not in any way different from the concept of ‘strategic autonomy’ in international relations. Strategic autonomy is essentially about self-reliance and not depending on others for survival. Nigeria’s foreign policy is being redefined to reposition Nigeria in global politics on the basis of the diplomacy of 4-Ds. It is against this background that the understanding of Donald Trump’s end of a beginning should be explained and understood in context and that lessons should be drawn for Nigeria’s strategic autonomy.
Donald Trump’s End of a Beginning
Without whiff of doubt, the United States used to be great, and not simply great, but also super great. She is universally acknowledged as a Superpower. The United States is a global economic, industrial, and military, power. It is a recognized terra cognita for democracy and freedoms of all kinds. Consequently, President Trump cannot be faulted for observing that there has been an erosion of US global influence and that there is the need to MAGA, especially in light of current global developments.
One major source of strength of the United States is the global financial system which is American-dominated. In several critical cases, the 1944 Bretton Woods institutions defined global economic policies. In fact, the United States currently influences the policies of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other international financial institutions. The United States and its western allies are able to dominate the global financial institutions as a result of the principle of weighted voting in several decision-making processes. And true enough, the United States is often referred to as the policeman of the world.
Besides, following end of World War II, the United States played active parts in Africa’s decolonization efforts. This brought much of Africa’s good will towards the United States. United States was then great in terms of justice and fairness. When the issue of implementation of the 1917 William Balfour Declaration on provision of a Homeland for the Jews and the partitioning of Palestine into Israeli and Arab States arose and the Arabs rejected the partitioning, the United States was the first country to recognize the State of Israel. The United States and the United Kingdom played critical roles to support Israel against the Arabs at the level of the United Nations General Assembly. In all these cases, the United States remained a giant and a source of inspirations to many peoples.
Then came the Cold War rivalry between the West and the East, between Capitalism and Communism, between the United States in essence and the Soviet Union. The United States provided leadership for the Western allies, thanks to its militaro-industrial complex. No one knew that the United States had developed atomic weapons until the Japanese miscalculated by attacking US Pearl
Harbor in the wrong belief that such an attack would prevent the United States from entering into World War II on the side of the Allies. Japan calculated that it would take the Americans, at least, six months before reconstituting its destroyed military arsenal and coming to join the war effort of the Allies. When the Little Man was dropped on Hiroshima and the Fat Man on Nagasaki, the world knew quickly that the United States was not only the primus inter pares but had also arrived on the global stage to engage in the management of global questions.
More interestingly, when the Soviet Union was dismantled following the policies of glasnost and perestroika, capitalism and democracy à la Americana were presented as superior systems to that of Eastern Europe which was led then by the Soviet Union. Since the dismantlement, no one talks about two superpowers anymore but only about the United States as the surviving superpower. The situational reality by then was that whenever the United States sneezes, all other countries quickly catch cold.
And perhaps most interestingly, when the NorthAtlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was done in 1949, the western signatories largely depended on the American security umbrella for their defence and security. The United States has, therefore, been partly carrying the financial defence burden of Europe. It is on record that Americans gave economic recovery assistance through the Marshall Plan to Europe. With this, and particularly with the 14 Points of US President Wilson aimed at establishing principles for peace negotiations to end World War I, United States sustained its great power status and got it further enhanced at the end of World War II by acquiring the status of a super power. The United States not only helped to define the attributes of international
The first and immediate lesson for Nigeria is to recognize that the United States is no longer capable of absolute control of global affairs and that the making of a new World Order is most likely to be driven by multiple centres of power. The world has moved away from bipolarity (Soviet Union world and United States world) to unipolarity of the United States world, and from this unipolarity to an impending multipolar world whose membership is still unclear. Secondly, Nigeria’s relationship with both the Chinese and the Americans is quite warm but the apparent Cold War between the United States and China Which Nigeria cannot afford to ignore. In the eyes of China, Cold War is nothing more than a quest for ‘containment, suppression and blame shifting.’ China believes that the United States is only trying to relate with China from a Cold War mentality, while the Americans believe they are protecting US and global interests. Nigeria’s policy of nonalignment and particularly the redefinition of the principle within the framework of the quest for strategic autonomy, is most apt in responding to the Americans and Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi’s warning given to the global south nations that ‘unilateral bullying’ is hurting the rulesbased world and that the United States should roll back its punitive trade tariffs. There is the need for caution. This is where Nigeria’s foreign policy quest for strategic autonomy is most welcome.
behavior following end of World War I, but also largely helped in articulating the direction of global politics after World War II. Consequently, there is no disputing the fact that the United States was truly great. American pride was quite justifiable.
However, the many policies adopted by Donald Trump have completely undermined whatever greatness the United States may want to lay claim to as of today. Donald Trump launched a tariff war on China but does not appear to be able to control the war. When the United States imposed an additional 10% on all imports from China with effect from March 4 and later 20% tariff on all imports from China, the decisions were reciprocated with Chinese announcement of 10-15% tariffs on agricultural and food products imported from the United States.
As noted by Chinese spokesperson, Lou Qinjian, unilateral tariffs violate the rules of World Trade Organisation and also ‘disrupt the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains. More notably, the Chinese believe that ‘instead of issuing threats and using pressure tactics, the US should sit and negotiate on equal footing if there is any dispute or issue because China “will never accept any act of pressuring and threatening.” Astable, sound and sustainable China-US relationship is in the interests of both countries and meets the expectations of the international community.’
Additionally, China put 25 US firms on exports and investments restriction and severalAmerican businesses are complaining. Donald Trump did the same thing to Canada and Mexico. Mexico and Canada are similarly giving Donald Trump a tougher time to the extent that the US President has to suspend the application of the tariffs for about 90 days to allow for possible negotiations. In other words, the right of sovereignty applied by Donald Trump other sovereign presidents enjoy the same right. Consequently, President Trump does not have any monopoly of sovereign rights.
In fact, the exaggeration of President Trump was to the extent that he wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico after the United States. He wants to define the direction and conditions of peace in Ukraine but Russian Putin does not appear to want to play basketball in the mania of the United States. Donald Trump also wants Canada to become the 51st State of the United States but several notable Canadians have lambasted the US president for the ‘insult.’ Canada has also taken a number of measures in retaliation against US tariffs: imposition of 25% tariffs on non-CUSMA compliant vehicles imported into Canada from the United States, 25% tariffs on non-Canadian and non-Mexican content of CUSMA compliant vehicles imported to Canada from the United States, etc.
The European Union also reacted to the US blanket 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports by imposing counter-tariffs on 28 billion worth of US goods. On March 12, 2025 when US tariffs came into force, the EU regretted the ‘unjustified US 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports… We are launching SWIFT, proportionate counter measures worth up to 26 billion euros marching the economic impact of the US tariffs.’ It is therefore EU-US tit-for-tat. The EU, along with Canada, are looking at the EU-US financial bonds from which the US is expected to suffer most if Donald Trump does not stop to rethink.
US placement of tariffs on imported goods into the United States and the reciprocal counter-measures of many trading partners of the United States is nothing more than the protection of the national interest. Donald Trump cannot be blamed for seeking to introduce newstandardsrequiringsteeltobemeltedandpouredandaluminum to be melted and cast in North America in order to prevent China ‘from circumventing trade restrictions.’ Reportedly, Donald Trump wants ‘to stop other nations from taking advantage of the United States, bolster domestic production, and bring jobs back to the US economy.’ This is quite good.
Trump’s New Beginning and Lessons for Nigeria
This policy is not only good for the United States but also for all other countries of the world. If ‘America First,’ why not also ‘Nigeria First’? Why should as of 2025 some five countries have an exclusive right to possess veto power in the United Nations Security Council to the detriment of others? Why the permanency of membership of some countries at the UN Security Council? What about the politics of nuclear arsenal? It is wrong to be preaching the gospel of justice and fairness, sovereign equality and political stability, on the one hand, while also promoting injustice and inequality, on the other. It is against this background that Nigeria’s Foreign Minister’s quest for strategic autonomy as an instrument of foreign policy grand strategy is a most welcome development. This is also why lessons from Donald Trump should be learnt.
Today, the world is witnessing a decline in American influence in global politics, essentially as a result of the conduct and management of MAGA and America First policy under President Trump. As observed by Professor Thomas Piketty of the EHESS (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales) in Paris, ‘the United States is no longer a reliable country. For some, this is nothing new… But the current crisis is new because it challenges the very core of the country’s economic, financial, and political power. The US appears disoriented, led by an unstable and erratic leader with no democratic counterweight.’ Perhaps more importantly, ‘if Trumpists are pursuing such a brutal and desperate policy, it’s because they don’t know how to respond to the country’s economic decline,’ Professor Piketty said (vide lemonde.fr/en/op). Professor Piketty could not have been more correct.
Trump
ENGAGEMENTS
Absent from Abuja, Present in Paris
The Nigerian political opposition is scoring desired attention from the Tinubu’s disappearing antics. In apparent response to the growing outcry of opposition voices and the enlightened citizenry about the president’s prolonged absence in a bad time, the Presidency has just issued a second statement explaining and justifying Tinubu’s mysterious vacation in Europe. The new statement is not different from the original one except that it aims at indicating that the president is at work even if away from his physical office in Abuja. It is becoming futile and even foolish creating an illusion of presidential overwork to cover up whatever else is keeping Tinubu away from Abuja. The man has been absent from his official place of work for longer than makes sense. Period.
Ordinarily, the political opposition has every business commandeering the matter of Mr. Tinubu’s whereabouts. Every misstep of the president is a quarry for the opposition. His inexplicable long absence is of course part of the opposition’s arsenal in the build up to the frenzy of the 2027 campaigns. A president missing in action in a period of general worsening insecurity and anarchic breakdown of order is everybody’s business. Predictably, the opposition has conveniently added the president’s prolonged absence to their growing inventory of anti Tinubu atrocities.
Both Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the LP, leading opposition figures, have screamed out loud that Tinubu has no business being away from the country at a time when the nation is in dire straights. There is trouble everywhere. People are being killed on an industrial scale almost daily in Plateau, Benue, Ebonyi and other vulnerable states. Boko Haram has reportedly returned to full business in Borno and its environs, gobbling up local governments and villages and killing as many soldiers as they can find. The political atmosphere in Rivers state remains uncertain and confusing as the Sole Administrator of the emergency rule there seems somewhat confused about his precise mandate or the exact meaning of emergency rule in a functioning democracy. Whether or not Tinubu willed it, his latest mysterious vacation has given his growing opposition an early consensus.
Very few Nigerians care about where Mr. Tinubu will spend tonight. Fewer still ever seem to notice when the president is present or absent in Aso Villa. The street side logic is that our life circumstances remain the same whether or not the president is at home or abroad, at work or asleep. It is sad that a president that has been in office for just under two years has worked his way to a level of consequential irrelevance and ineffectuality where his presence or absence makes no difference to the people whose mandate he parades. In contrast, his predecessor only managed to get to this point at the middle of his second unimpressive term. At that point, it no longer mattered to mot Nigerians whether Mr. Buhari was coming or going!
From the onset, Tinubu has been mostly abroad anyway. In preparation for his busy air miles presidency, the president hurriedly equipped himself with a super luxury “new” presidential jet bought under a very opaque procurement process or lack of it. Some argue that it is part of his job specification that he jets around the world doing the business of Nigeria. Lobbying for investment. Expanding the reach of Africa’s largest democracy and attending the many meetings that make statesmen something of travelling salesmen. No one has yet explained why and how a na-
tion with dwindling fortunes and strategic importance should be present at every small gathering of world leaders even if Nigeria has tangential interest.
Nonetheless, the more significant side of the argument on Tinubu’s junkets is that an elected president has an implicit obligation to stay home most of the time to man the ever –turbulent boat of the Nigerian state.
Purveyors of this argument go further to insist that the greater part of the president’s attention is required at home. The reasons are many: our nationalism has far too many unresolved grey areas. The business of nation building is far too incomplete for those elected to man the ship of state to stay too far from home for too long.
These clashing perspectives do not quite impress Mr. Bola Tinubu and his handlers. The man loves to work from anywhere else but home or his luxurious Abuja office. He loves to be air borne like his predecessor who would jet out to the nearest European capital to check an ear ache or bad tooth in a small clinic.
For Tinubu, his handlers insist that his far too frequent foreign missions and sojourns have little to do with any specific ailments or health concerns. He just feels uncomfortable with too many distracting visitors from local politicians and associates. For him, the business of overseeing Nigeria is too serious to allow for too long a stream of time wasters. So, he escapes from the rowdy crowd every now and again.
His current absence in Paris is one such example. He was probably seated in the aircraft when his handlers informed Nigerians that the president would be away in France for the next two weeks on a “working visit”, not vacation. During the absence, he would receive and review reports from government departments on the mid term report of his administration. He would be free to summon officials, interview them on the activities of their ministries and departments. For a whole fortnight, the president would work a crowded schedule remotely from Paris!
Where officials need to show up in person, they have to fly to Paris if they cannot fully explain their points on the phone or by email. The president requires a minimum number of aides and assistants to do the heavy paper work required by his mid term assessment. These officials and assistants will incur costs in hotel bills, estacode allowances and other costs. A two week working vacation in Europe will take a significant toll on the national treasury in an economy that is struggling with liquidity issues. It is even a very scandalous public relations gambit to inform Nigerians that their president is gone abroad for a whole two weeks to do the work for which the state lavishly provides for him to perform in Abuja. I hardly can think of any other country where the leadership will embark on such an expensive excursion in the name of a “working visit.”
Of course Tinubu’s handlers have readily drawn our attention to the fact that the president is still working for Nigeria from Europe. In the modern era of real time information technology and speed of light communication, executives can discharge their functions from anywhere without any significant loss of efficiency and effectiveness. That
is hardly at issue.
A president is the political leader of a nation. He is elected to lead people through the vicissitudes of daily life. That is why most leaders only leave home in extreme necessity. And when they do leave to undertake important foreign trips, they adhere to a tight schedule that brings them home as quickly as possible. Political leadership is a homebound undertaking. The leader is not self -employed. He is an employee of the people as an electorate and public in a republican democracy. Every excuse to move from one point to the other must be credibly explained to the people. Such explanations must make sense from a cost benefit perspective and even at the level of common sense.
Casually telling 300 million Nigerians that their president is relocating from Abuja to Paris on “a working visit” is an insult of the intelligence of the people as well as a reckless waste of public funds. The various statements that have emanated from the Presidency on this matter cast a pall on the basic intelligence of the issuing presidential minions that issued them as well as casting the institution itself in very poor light.
Yes indeed, the presidency can be a crowded enterprise. That is why a good number of countries have established presidential retreats outside the official residence of the President. In the United States, the Camp David retreat was designed and established to provide the president with a comfortable and convenient getaway destination. It has all the conveniences of a presidential palace and also a vacation destination but also serves the president as an alternative work station. He can do his daily schedule from there and even host foreign leaders there while breathing the fresh air of a getaway location. Nigeria has so many locations that could host a Camp David- type resort for the president. The Obudu Hills, Yankari Falls, Nike Lake, Ziba Beach, Ikogosi Warm Spring. Each of these and many other locations can host a world class presidential getaway resort built at a cost that is only a fraction of the billions being budgeted annually for renovating existing residences for the President, Vice President and other high officials of state. We can give such locations our peculiar cultural flavor: have resident dance troupes, entertainers etc. We can build helipads, airports and other facilities to ease access to the location. These speculations presume that the reasons that have been advanced so far by the presidency for Tinubu’s current absence are altruistic and basically honest and true. There is a high possibility that the president could be on an extended medical vacation if beer parlour whispers in Abuja are to be believed. In that case, it is still irresponsible of the presidency not to openly inform Nigerians if indeed the president needs overseas medical attention. It is in fact easier to communicate a medical bulletin and save themselves and the public these convoluted and fake adolescent explanations. Nigerians would understand that the president is human and has a right to suffer ailments from time to time for which he might need better medical care than what is available at home.
A man above seventy would be expected to suffer one health issue or the other from time to time. If indeed his personal doctor is in Paris or London, he is well within his rights to undertake such medical trips or even take medical vacations to attend to his health needs while the Vice President acts in his absence. All these Mickey Mouse statements and childish attempts to disguise the truth are devaluing the credibility of the presidency as an institution. The truth is often light in weight. Incoherent lies are heavy baggage on the other hand.
GATHERING FOR CHRISM MASS…
L-R: Vicar General, Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, Right Reverend Monsignor John Aniagwu; Vicar General, Ikeja Region, Very Reverend Father Anthony Fadairo; Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, The Most Reverend Alfred Adewale Martins; Episcopal Vicar, Lekki Region, Reverend Monsignor Paschal Nwaezeapu; and former Episcopal Vicar, Mainland Region, Monsignor Bernard Okodua, during the 2025 Chrism Mass, by the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos...yesterday.
In July 2005, I was aboard an Egypt Air flight from Cairo to Lagos on my way from Saudi Arabia. As we approached the Nigerian air space, the pilot announced that we would be landing in Kano because the Lagos airport had been closed. An airplane had crash-landed and blocked the only runway at the time, leading to the diversion of flights. I found it unsettling as I had meetings to attend and I was unsure of when we would leave Kano. But as we were lamenting over the situation, one passenger said at the top of his voice: “Why will Nigeria not be like this when the country is perpetrating injustice against us in the Niger Delta? Nigeria can never develop until we have resource control!”
That was quite a jump. Some of us were shell-shocked. What is the logical link between Nigeria’s underdevelopment and closure of a runway to evacuate a damaged aircraft? Such accidents can happen anywhere in the world — resource control or not, “true” federalism or not, “fiscal” federalism or not, “restructuring” or not. On the flight, we had been discussing Nigeria’s issues in good spirit. Passengers from different
parts of Nigeria agreed that we were bedevilled with serious problems — many blaming the leaders, some blaming the followers, and others
attributing the situation to structural issues, but our Niger Delta compatriot completely went off the rails.
It is quite obvious that lack of logical reasoning is a major issue in Nigeria, particularly in matters of social order, public discourse and public administration. At the risk of exaggerating this, I would say it is impacting negatively on our quality of life. Have you ever seen signs of “do not urinate here” in a city where there are no public toilets? Have you ever seen someone on a flight trying to force a rectangular suitcase into a square space? Have you ever visited a website with an image showing only the tie and breast pockets of the featured person because a portrait-size picture has been placed in a landscape space? These are clear indications that something is wrong with our thinking.
My friend, David Adeoye, and I always find ourselves discussing Nigeria during our early morning exercise. We try to reason together on our root problems. I would say this article was largely influenced by his suggestion that we need to amend our elementary curriculum to start teaching logical reasoning at that level. Most
students do not progress beyond elementary education. David is of the opinion that our problem-solving capability will improve if we are given to logical reasoning earlier in our lives. It may be of interest here that European countries as well as South Korea and Japan teach critical thinking and logical reasoning into their curricula. The difference is clear. Talking about good governance, we also see that logical reasoning is critical to problem solving. It is vital to policy making. More than anything else, our leaders need to understand logic. When a governor, for instance, wakes up and says he is banning open grazing, the first question I would ask is: so, have you provided the alternative? The easiest thing for a leader to do in the world is to make a pronouncement. The harder part of the job is analysing and preparing for the consequences of the pronouncement. When you want to initiate a policy, you need to sit down, think through it, consult, calculate the costs and plan transition management. That is the logic of a smart problem solver.
Continued on page 37
Enhancing Nigeria’s Agency in the Global Arena
Bolstering a country’s global stature is not just a matter of image and pride. It is much deeper than that. It is a strategic necessity for countries that want and need to be more than bit players in the global arena. As the post-World War II order continues to strain at the seams, it is imperative for Nigeria to navigate the uncharted terrain with tact and to carefully position itself as a strong voice to reckon with on the global stage. We need to do this for ourselves and for others.
Even as some countries become more inwardlooking largely in response to unmet domestic expectations about globalisation, the world remains intimately and intricately connected. Decisions and actions in one far-flung corner of the globe sometimes have outsized impacts on the health and the prosperity of people across the world. The link between the global and the local is yet to be decoupled. Nigeria therefore does not have the luxury of simply minding its internal business or of joining the growing gang of the insular. It is in our enlightened self-interest not only to advocate
for the evolving global order to be a fairer and more just one but also for us to actively join in shaping the structure of what is likely to emerge. But Nigeria’s capacity to do this will not
merely be a function of its current and projected population or of its past reputation or a claim to some form of manifest destiny. Nigeria’s agency will derive from the capacity to sort out its internal challenges; its appreciation of the dynamics of the evolving moment; and its readiness to make the necessary investment in time, thought and money.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, appears to instinctively get this, and maybe not surprisingly too—having had to wrestle with the theories and practice of international relations as a student and a practitioner at the highest levels. On Thursday, fresh from a fence-mending shuttle to Niger Republic, Tuggar had a two-hour, high-level engagement with the crème of the policy, academic and civil society firmament in Abuja. He spoke eloquently and passionately about the need for Nigeria to re-prioritise diplomacy and about the importance of recalibration, pragmatism, resilience and thought-leadership as the country engages with the rest of the world in this uncertain period and in the undefined days ahead.
The minister spoke at the inaugural session of the Agora Policy Forum, an initiative of Agora
Policy supported by the MacArthur Foundation, which is designed to facilitate structured and frank interactions between senior government officials and informed members of the public about current and emerging public policies. The forum aims to provide policy makers the opportunity to speak about the rationale, the direction and the content of public policies and for critical policy stakeholders to provide considered feedback and inputs.
The theme of the engagement with Tuggar was: “Nigeria’s Foreign Policy at a Time of Global Uncertainty.” Tuggar, who had served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany, delivered an opening statement where he flagged the unfolding fragmentation of the current multilateral order. He made a case for Nigeria’s increased agency, via greater emphasis on diplomacy, in ushering in a new and more inclusive world order. “We see the existing order deconstructing,” he said. “It was an order that did not present a level-playing field for Nigeria and Africa.
